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__label__cc | 0.56858 | 0.43142 | Enthusiasts: Archive
The launch of an online archive and conversation with Neil Cummings and Marysia Lewandowska
Monday, October 28, 2019, 6:00 PM
Still from the movie of Dariusz Skubel & Zdzisław Zinczuk „Dotknąć dźwięku” („Touch the Sound”), 1981
The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw invites to the launch of an onlive Enthusiasts: archive, an artistic project by Neil Cummings and Marysia Lewandowska is the result of extensive research amongst the remnants of amateur film clubs in Poland under socialism.
The archive is a critical archive of films found, restored and made available online under Creative Commons licenses. Originally conceived as a series of exhibitions, the first iteration of Enthusiasts in 2004 at the Centre of Contemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw was curated by Łukasz Ronduda, followed by Enthusiasm in 2005 in collaboration with the Whitechapel Gallery, London; KW Institute, Berlin and Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona.
In 2019, after fifteen years since its first public presentation, the Enthusiasts: archive has become part of the Museum of Modern Art Collection.
As Neil Cummings and Marysia Lewandowska comment on the project:
“Presented as a collaborative artwork, Enthusiasts: archive explores how the generosity of the enthusiast reveals a range of interests and experiences generally invisible amid the breathless flow of the state-sponsored or professionally mediated culture. Through our founding of Enthusiasts: archive as an artwork, we intend to challenge creative practices, to replace exchanges facilitated by frustration and restriction with those of collaboration and generosity. We want to reanimate the public function of archives, collections and exhibitions in an age characterized by relentless privatization, and to initiate new practices of exhibition, aiming to reconfigure them as conscious sites of exchange and negotiation over the ‘making’ and ‘re-making’ of the work of art. Our intention with Enthusiasts: archive is to stimulate interest in and discussion of the nature of creative exchange, access to public archives, and the future of the public domain.”
We invite to visit the Enthusiasts: archive: HERE.
Kuba Mikurda
MUSEUM on Pańska Street
Pańska 3 , WarsawSee on the map
archive of amateur film clubs
I AS HUMAN 29.11.2019 – 01.03.2020 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line813 |
__label__wiki | 0.941361 | 0.941361 | The costume designer that brought 'Judy' to life is getting Oscar buzz
OTRC
LOS ANGELES -- With two highly anticipated films opening within the next 12 months, multi-award-winning costume designer Jany Temime has had a busy year.
Best known for working on the "Harry Potter" films, Temime recently focused her efforts on bringing Renée Zellweger's Judy Garland to life in the critically acclaimed "Judy."
Temime has always been a fan of Garland and pointed out that the late actress was a huge fashion icon. "She [had] been dressed by the best designer[s] from age seven," Temime said. The costumier conducted a lot of research in order to pay homage to Garland's fashion sense, especially for the dresses featured in her shows.
The costume designer also expressed her enthusiasm about working with Zellweger again: "I had been working with Renée on 'Bridget Jones' many years ago. It was very emotional for me to see her again 10 years later."
With a relatively small budget and tight production time frame, Temime loved the challenges the film presented. Despite the numerous costumes featured in the film, Temime said she only had two months to design the apparel and get it approved by the director.
Production pressures aside, Temime's favorite part about working on the film was bringing 1960s Carnaby Street to life. "It was just an explosion," the fashion designer said of the London fashion scene. In order to live up to the famous fashion era, Temime composed unique pieces from vintage fabric she scoured London for.
A lot of care was put into creating the biopic, and not just in the handmade, showstopping costumes. Temime revealed, "It was a work of love and I hope that everybody will feel it."
It's no surprise that "Judy" is already earning early Oscar buzz, and Temime is the film's biggest advocate: "I would really love it because 'Judy' was a small film and a very artistic project...I think it would be fantastic to put that sort of film in the picture."
After "Judy," Temime turned her talents to two projects that couldn't be more different: "Black Widow" starring Scarlett Johansson and "Red Notice" with Gal Gadot, Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
In case fans at home are curious, the "Black Widow" actress is just as cool and powerful as her alter ego. Temime loved styling Johansson and described her as "a force of nature, a very strong woman."
Temime may have enjoyed designing for the Marvel superhero, but she also had a blast working on action flick "Red Notice" due to one special actor.
"Dwayne Johnson I saw twice in his underwear, so...what more [could] you want?" Temime joked.
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__label__wiki | 0.815361 | 0.815361 | Includification
Certified APX Practitioner Course
Join Player Panels
Clear Channels
Design Problem:
Players cannot take in the complete information from a game and/or its interfaces either within one or more channels.
Design Solution:
Players can change the attributes of information in channels (e.g. size, volume, amount of information, flashing) so that they can reliably take in information from the game and/or its interfaces.
Related Patterns:
Distinguish This From That
Second Channel
Personal Interface
APX Design Drivers:
The above design problem can occur in the following contexts:
Players with visual disabilities may need to remove background details to be able to distinguish important objects in the foreground.
Players with cognitive disabilities may need to remove moving backgrounds to allow them to pay attention to objects in the foreground.
Players who are neurodiverse may need to remove parts of the visual scene to reduce the amount of visual stimulation they receive.
Players may want to control the volume or number of different audio channels to be able to reliably take in information through audio.
Examples of this Pattern in Action.
Increase/decrease the field of view of the game world in Rocket League
In Rocket League, players can change the field of view of the game world. By adjusting the field of view, players can select how close the camera is to their car.
Rocket League allows players to change the field of view in the game world so that players can decide how much of the game world is in view during gameplay. As stated in the game’s description for the “Field of View” option, a feature like this may aid in reducing motion sickness for players.
Change the volume of different audio components (e.g. ambient, dialogue, music) in Overwatch
In Overwatch, players can change the volume of multiple components of audio including sound effects (e.g. the sound of weapons fire), music volume, in-game voice volume, the master volume for the prior three components, voice chat volume, and voice chat microphone volume. Some audio components may be more important for players. For example, in-game voice volume, may be prioritized by a player because many of the most impactful character abilities used in the game are preceded by a recorded voice line from the character activating their unique abilities. With this in mind, a player might want to maximize in-game voice volume while reducing other audio components.
These options allow players to select which of the game’s audio elements they would like to be more prominent or obscure during gameplay. Players are able to tailor the game’s audio component settings so that they can control the amount of audio stimuli they are subjected to while playing.
Reduce visual noise from the environment (e.g. background movement, sudden environment movement) in Way of the Passive Fist
In Way of the Passive Fist, players may reduce the visual noise from the game world’s environment with the High Contrast setting. With the High Contrast setting activated, the background has a darkening filter that causes character models and visual cues from the enemy NPC attacks to stand out more significantly. The High Contrast setting allows player to mute the colors of the background environment so that the character models and movement in the foreground are more clearly distinguishable.
Reduce/remove background, sudden or repeating visual movement (e.g. bobbing, fluttering, flashing) in Way of Passive Fist
In Way of the Passive Fist, players may turn off the flashing effects that occur with attacks exchanged between the player character and enemy NPCs. When flashing effects are turned off, the bright lighting effects that occur throughout the game’s combat exchanges are significantly reduced. Players can remove the flashing effects from the game so that visual stimuli (especially of a sudden nature) are reduced. Given that the game is framed around combat scenarios as players progress through the game, this option presents players with a means to have a more preferable visual experience.
References and Other Citations.
Accessible.Games is powered by the AbleGamers Charity. It is free resource designed to make the world of video gaming a more accessible space. We would like to acknowledge that without our amazing donors, none of this could be possible.
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__label__cc | 0.680241 | 0.319759 | AtH FAQ and BBQ – Compiled by TXRed
Taking over the world and leaving it ruthlessly alone
You Hold My Life In Your Hands
Posted on June 22, 2019 by accordingtohoyt
Yesterday, just as I was falling off to sleep, a disturbing thought hit me: so, my kids and their friends are fanning out into the world.
Because they are a gifted and responsible bunch and perhaps because my friends tend to be artsy-fartsy (eh. Guilty) and/or in entrepreneurial/self employed jobs, their kids seem to have gone out of their way to get the most responsible/serious positions they could. Which means many are in the military, health professions, engineering, civil-engineering or simply writing the software for all of the above.
So I was thinking of these goofy kids who used to get in epic battles over COMIC continuity, and who are now responsible for keeping people alive. They hold our lives in their hands. Or people’s hands at any rate.
And because I was falling asleep, I then thought “but we all do, don’t we?”
Which might seem weird for someone whose only (ah!) responsibility is to write a few blogs, make up stories. Silly right?
Yeah, sort of. Except I know my life was saved at least once (in terms of my not giving in to awful illness) because a book kept my spirits up.
And hey, I know the letters I get. Sure, I can’t reach out with my words and kill you. Probably a good thing, honest, given how many times I wake up like a bear with two heads.
But there are times to believe fan notes, that I have the power to keep you going one more day. Which would mean I have the inverse power too, right?
And then there’s the other side.
Our world is so interconnected — hello, social apes! — that we all influence each other. Do I know one of you reading this isn’t a surgeon who will be made more (or less) hopeful and alert by my post? Or an airline pilot ready to go out and fly a plane with 360 some lives in his hands?
And note above –most of the no-account, free0lancers that were my friends in my twenties and thirties raised hyper-responsible, hyper- powerful kids.
Mothers influence their children , and a circle of friends and acquaintances.
It’s a web. We all hold each other’s lives in our hands.
And there’s always been — always, since I’ve been alive — a deep and powerful current of “Humanity sucks, I hate it, let’s kill or prevent the lives of most people right now.”
It’s only recently the counter current got any hold, because it’s only recently we acquired a voice.
We’re fighting back against a deeply entrenched position. And it’s time. We need a lot of hands upholding hope and the future, and a value for humanity at large and people in particular.
Richard Fernandez equates it to the principle of good (or at least the defender of mankind) finally waking up, almost at the brink of destruction. Finally fighting back. He explains it all not supernaturally, but through infective “thought memes”.
He’s not wrong. And I’m not wedded to how you explain it. What matters is that we do it.
There is value in life and humanity. Dead nothing might be beautiful, but who is there to admire it.
You hold my life in your hands. We all hold each other’s lives in our hands.
You can’t always be good, and a force for life and strength and light. No one can. We’re humans. We’re fractured and cracked wide.
But you can strive and work to uphold light and life and good and hope and that the future can be better than the past. You can do the best you can and on balance, positively, save more than you doom.
And that’s enough. And that’s plenty. And that should be more than what we need to fight back.
Because darkness and nihilism are exhausting and dreadful. And light propagates light.
Go and carry the light. Go and build. Go and push upward, and push others upward, too.
You hold my life in your hands.
You hold the future in your hands.
Be not afraid.
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64 thoughts on “You Hold My Life In Your Hands”
sam57l0 says:
Sounds like a sermon. Well done!
RES says:
Do not undervalue the importance of attention to detail, of logic, and of long-term memory retention inculcated by obsessive concern over comic continuity.
LA May says:
Agreed – these kids obviously had their priorities straight
BobtheRegisterredFool says:
I wrote a comment complaining about WP delaying letting me comment, and now I can comment.
As long as they keep the monitoring that innocuous.
Rick Happ says:
I enjoyed reading this today. Thank you. To me, it sounds a bit like the Golden Rule, which is just fine.
kenashimame says:
Thanks Sarah. The future belongs to those who show up. One of the quotes I keep in my Wisdom file is: “The paralyzing fear of a dark future is a despicable, cowardly reason to deny the next generation their shot at making it brighter.”–Dr. Zero
As my wife said about the football Mannings, “Sometimes you climb the ladder, and sometimes you ARE the ladder.”
GWB says:
The difficulty is the folks who are the Jacob’s Ladder. You know, they’re not well-anchored, and they’ll flip you off for the slightest provocation. Yet some people still manage to make it to the top.
FlyingMike says:
He explains it all not supernaturally, but through infective “thought memes”.
Mysterious ways.
If you presuppose a creative omniscience, it’s difficult to then suppose said omniscience would be surprised by the concept of memes. Or the internet.
Foxfier says:
Make things better. ^.^
CombatMissionary says:
Thanks for your blog posts, Sarah! You seriously don’t realize how many mornings when the Army is pushing me into the emotional territory of Thanos that you give me a boost.
Shadowdancer Duskstar / Cutelildrow says:
I’ve written before that it was your blog, as well as Larry’s and other wonderful folks here commenting on them, that pulled me back from the despair of losing my son to stillbirth. It was these same places, virtual and nebulous as they are, that helped me, and my family, recover after we lost another son.
You’ve made things better – for me, and by extension, my family.
So, thank you. Those words aren’t enough.
I just finished MH:Guardian, looked up and it’s past 4 am when I finished and I really shouldn’t be awake, but I’d been saving the book for ‘when I really needed it’, and I did. And I had flashbacks, but they weren’t unbearable ones, ones that brought Julie really to life for me. I loved reading it, even the parts that tore at me because they tore at me because I understood that pain.
EAT TOES ❤
Freaking.
ADORBS.
CACS says:
*hugs back* Y’all have been wonderful, just by being yourselves. Not the least of which is demonstrating that despite all the crazy out there, there are still people who are the awesomely good kind of crazy-Odd.
Hey! You take back what you said about being ourselves. I have never been myself online and do not wish such a vile canard spread about.
Online I am far cuter, wittier, wiser, empathetickier, compassionater and braver than myself. My actual self is prone to being sullen, morose, acerbic, bitter and capable of souring vinegar.
I’m sure that the latter description is how … normal folks would perceive us. RL I’m probably quieter – and a lot, LOT ruder – than I am RL.
I’m also pretty sure most of us are far too lazy to cultivate an online persona.
(and cute is cute is cute. So there. =p )
Orvan Taurus says:
Have you, as Rich Little once claimed on the Muppet Show, had your self surgically removed?
I prefer to think of it as having secured my self in a secret remote location.
Rumours that responsible parties have thrown away the key are not to be believed. (Note for those who do not live with lawyers: the semantic content of that assertion is not that such rumours are false, merely that they are not to be believed.)
The parties who might, in fact, be responsible for such an action, are perhaps irresponsible? But we won’t know until we open that box and… ooops, wrong whatsis.
snelson134 says:
Know that your insight and relating what you’ve been through in life has been inspiring for others, too, Shadowdancer. Webs run in all directions.
I’ve been glad you’re here (and a few other places).
Hummm?
I do recall some year ago when you started getting political and there were organized attacks of trolls. (You know the leftist world will get their panties in a knot when someone like Limbaugh reads your blog on air.) As far as some of those poor num-nuts could convey — yes your very existence sharing their air was enough to give them conniptions. 😉
The Phantom says:
Apropos of this post, I have a post of my own that is on point and worth sharing.
https://phantomsoapbox.blogspot.com/2019/06/most-people-are-not-assholes.html
The study was an interesting one, they handed people “lost” wallets. Almost three quarters of the wallets with a lot of money in them got returned. That was the -average- across 40 countries. Some did better than others obviously, but even in shit-poor countries the wallets often were returned.
Contrary to popular culture and Hugo award winners, human beings are not assholes. You can break them and -make- them be assholes, with enough work, but it is difficult and requires a totalitarian torture state to do it. And even then, a lot of people still aren’t assholes.
Sarah said: “And because I was falling asleep, I then thought “but we all do, don’t we?”
Yes, we all do. Anybody who says different is a saboteur.
Christopher M. Chupik says:
See? Who says there’s no good news these days?
Its out there, you do have to dig for it though. There’s a whole industry trying to make us believe nobody will return the wallets, whereas reality EVEN IN HELL HOLES is that -most- people will.
I think this might be the fundamental difference between anime and Western television. In anime, everybody will return the wallet. In Hollywood, nobody will.
I’m damn tired of the lying about it. Humans are good. That assholes exist doesn’t change that.
The unrealistic thing there is that they pick up the wallet at all– although usually they find it in a box or something, right?– because the penalties for theft are VERY strong.
(There use to be a big crime problem in Japan. Use to be.)
suburbanbanshee says:
In Japan, the police act as a lost and found bureau. And since everywhere very populated there are “police boxes” (tiny police stations with just a couple of police in them, mostly just to be on call to anyone nearby), it is easier to drop lost items off with the police than otherwise.
Also, if you steal things, the Yakuza get mad at you.
TXRed says:
They don’t like competition? 😉 I kid, I kid.
In my defense, I was exhuased.
I left my card in an ATM.
34 hours later I found out I’d really screwed up the days of dozens, because they would not touch it…..
“Good news” tends to be “something that could have been really bad news wasn’t.” A plane with no functional engines landing successfully on the Hudson without loss of life is good news. A plane landing successfully at the end of the journey is not good news — it’s just news.
Who’s going to write a news story about “Man, dog meet; no bite occurs”?
“it’s just news life”
I’m up too late.
I’ve found and returned wallets before; at least two of them had significant amounts of money, and the rest had little money but important IDs. The THREE times I didn’t was because I couldn’t – there was nothing in the wallet except money (and those times, were only small amounts of money, which I didn’t keep). No letters, or notes, or ID, nothing. If there is something in the wallet that will give me the slightest chance of attempting to track the owner down, I will attempt to give it back.
Had my lost wallet found once– and stolen.
Was returned, with only the money that the thief (or one of the four others involved) thought wouldn’t be noticed missing…and the DEA card for my buddy sitting on top, next to my military ID. ^.^
That was only after the ladies that ran the truck stop had recognized the guy on the video and the police had ‘politely’ requested he show up for a discussion.
I’m a believer in karma – not the ‘you did bad things in your last life so you get punished for it in the next one’ – but rather, good deeds come back to you, as do bad ones, in your lifetime. It might not come back immediately, but later on. Sort of ‘we make our own luck’ sometimes.
There’s also having seen people take so much effort in their being mean, petty, awful people. I used to watch people get so obsessed in ‘getting back’ at folks for small slights, imagined or otherwise, or similar attitudes in life. I’m waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too lazy for that. I’d rather spend my energy on other efforts, y’know? And being minor evil is just more effort than I’d rather take breathing.
*nod*
Mom’s first teaching job, there was a kid who basically ran the local high school gang.
Mom straightened him up (yay, growing up with brothers and being a track star) WITHOUT him getting hauled to jail.
Fifteen years later, we’re in a really bad financial state after moving…and mom gets a phone call. It’s the kid’s mom, who it turns out now works at the bank that handles the accounts for the automatic-deduction-savings account that school had used, and she was the one who happened to do the paperwork for when the state was going to confiscate inactive accounts.
She’d recognized mom’s name, remembered enough to find mom AFTER a name-change and three moves, and gotten a hold of the phone number to pass on the number to call to claim it.
Mom didn’t even think she’d done anything that big, since it was her JOB to teach the kids.
(The boy had pulled a knife on mom; she disarmed him, hooked her thumb into his jaw under the tongue– think like putting a bit into a reluctant horses’ mouth– and dragged him to the office. Reported it as “getting mouthy,” iirc, but didn’t ever mention the knife.)
To several different parts of that.
If you knew my one-eyed crazy uncle, it’d make a bit more sense.
Foxfier — Everything you have said in this thread is a country-western song.
*cannot argue*
Guys in my shop thought I was joking about my family, until I offered pictures and thumbnail biographies of each.
60guilders says:
Slight disagreement: people are, by nature, selfish jerks.
People don’t want to be selfish jerks.
That’s because we fart in their general direction. Heh, heh, heh.
alan d wagner says:
I’m exactly whom you are referring to. Son of a WW2 navy vet, retired army and providing anesthesia for 32 years. Rare to never commenter but always a reader. I feel fortunate to have been driven to do exactly that: take care of people everyday.
njc says:
“But you and all the kind of Christ
Are ignorant and brave,
And you have wars you hardly win
And souls you hardly save.”
—GKC, =The Ballad of the White Horse=
http://www.gkc.org.uk/gkc/books/white-horse2.html
It’s a web.
Some people manage to turn that into collectivism. But it’s true without adding that baloney. It does take a village to raise a child – but without turning it into a gov’t-run daycare.
If we don’t live for each other, then we’re not doing it right.
It’s only recently the counter current got any hold
Oh, it’s always had a hold – or we wouldn’t have made it this far. But it sure seemed to be letting it slip through its grasp recently. Now it’s decided to grab hold of the rope again. (BTW, that’s gonna HURT.)
That’s encouraging.
You can do the best you can
Even if you don’t manage more positive than not, you do the best you can. Because it’s all you CAN do. Unless you want to aim for destruction. And, then you and me need to have a talk – well, you and me and this clue bat.
Mind you, I’ve always had a strong misanthropic streak. I’ve been a loner a lot in life.
What has made a difference is understanding all these people were created by God. It arrests any nihilism in its tracks. He made them and values them, just as He made me and values me. And He made us a people (aside from specific peoples), that is community, family.
It’s why His commands are so often centered on not hurting (and actively helping) others – our neighbors. Because, whether you see it or not, you DO make a difference. You DO impact all of those others made “in His image”.
Even if it’s just raising a son who’s a better man than you.
(I hope nothing in the above crosses the line for comments here.)
You’ve had a big effect on me, Sarah. The rest of you too. Whenever the Zwilniks get me down, I have you to come home to.
Jeff Greason says:
More often, Fontemas
analytical-engine-mechanic says:
“Dead nothing might be beautiful, but who is there to admire it.”
[Have to doubt I could do much of anything to improve this truly impressive original post. But perhaps I could echo it adequately..?]
(Warning, the following is all vignette-grade material based on an earlier vignette, read at your own risk.)
Quiet, rosy-fingered lightning crawled across the surface of a near-sphere just over a furlong in diameter, centered on the three-hundred-ton bulk of the Royal Air Ship “Dauntless” — her flattened hydrogen balloon at roughly half that size above, and expedition carrier (much like two saucers joined rim to rim) below. And it displaced a sweeping view of half-a-mile-deep ice and snow in favor of a lower and more evidently congenial one of grassy fields and growing trees.
Emma Hartwell looked up from the enlarged, improved Magickal Orrery and announced, calmly and only a little merrily, “Three hundred and seventy-nine quanta of Circumstantial Time, spot on target.” Normally impossible to Leap so far with any degree of control, of course, but neither the equipment nor the operator counted noticeably toward normal. “Destination reached and verified, Sir Percival Lord Lykkenbrugge,” she said quite formally. Almost nobody who did not know her quite well could’ve detected the near-shudder in her voice as she said that last.
There was something of a muted, ragged cheer from the carrier below and its cadre of several dozen cadets to Her Majesty’s Air and Time Service. Only a week in the frostbound, perpetual Ice Age winter of the last stop had brought some of them already to a deep-dyed loathing of that variant timeline and its “magnificent desolation.” The cheers which had recently greeted the return of the ship and its history-hopping engines there had been nothing like muted.
“My compliments, Academician and Master Navigator Hartwell,” he said just as formally in turn. “Mr. Rakozy, you have the ship.” He watched as Emma did the few things necessary to shut down and lock the causal drive, then limp (by only a little) over to the large window of half-inch tempered Venetian glass.
The view, as they drifted on the prevailing wind nearly toward London-local, was so close to pastoral, only the care and attention of human hands was (if you looked discerningly enough) noticeably absent. With only a tiny bit of his attention, he marked that his first officer was overseeing the startup of the air engines and the logging of the Leap and its minutiae, as competently as he could reasonably have wanted. Most of his attention was on what was before him, what he was here to present forthrightly to the cadet corps below.
“Almost looks peaceful, so green and beautiful,” Emma said. Almost musingly.
“It could be now, like the others, if we’d chosen so,” Percival Loring responded, just as low and at her elbow.
“I’m sure, having spent half a year at their histories, that it was as green when the soft green clouds rolled across it, seven years or so ago by the sun and the stars here. Beauty in its own way, but a caustic and costly one.” It was colder than the ice had been, in her voice, the knowledge of what they approached.
She grunted, in a way not unbecoming to the Empire’s current foremost meta-historian and one of its best navigators outside the Shovel family themselves. “Like a fine verdant-silk dress, this new-greening world. But of course, they did pay far too much to buy it.”
Percy smiled despite himself, “Your irony has a good razor’s well-honed edge sometimes, Emma.”
And there was no more warmth in her answering smile. “Sharp as a Dedekind cut and just as mathematically precise. What the sons and daughters of old Cloudsley Shovel do with their brilliant intuition, I and my like must learn to do with cold and unvarying precision in its place. And the skill… travels.” That near shudder, there in her voice again. “In other ways than diatemporally. And here, at such a fine black-flag world as this…”
“Approaching the edge of the city soon, Captain, Master Navigator.” Trust such a man as Istvan Rakozy to keep it that simple, in a voice touched only lightly with Hungarian march-time music. And to emphasze her old military title not her far-newer civilian one.
“Then bring us to observation height, Mr. Rakozy, your own best judgment.”
“Shall we, my lord?” There was only a touch of irony in Emma’s voice as she waved at the spiral staircase down, through the bird-boned structural filligree of the connecting column, to the add-on expedition carrier below. And to the waiting cadets; most of them likely at the windows already, few or none with even a glimmer of a clue.
They called it the Gloom and Doom Cruise or the Doleful Journey, he knew, often and well enough in advance. But they’d *never*, in all his experience to date, ever truly spoiled *this* surprise with specifics, to those unblooded by it.
Maybe that was because they knew words could never do it justice.
It was obvious enough when they’d crossed from countryside to city outskirt, at the edge of what had probably been the old city wall. Simply from the softly raised voices and their… odd timbre.
“Thirty to forty thousand tons of refined chlorine; liquefied, transported by air, and revolatilized upwind by the local Empire of France. Not nearly the worst ‘ultimate weapon’ we’ve heard tell of, but bad enough.” Emma sounded more like an academic than an orator, but she’d learned long ago that tone, that ‘flat affect’ as someone had once called it, was best. “Heavier than air, lying on the ground like a blanket, rolling in like misty green fog as it displaced the very air, suffocating then poisoning who and what so ever breathed.”
Many of the cadets had stopped looking out the windows, at the empty and unkept houses, the cars and carts and harnesses in the streets, the heaps of what had been people and horses and… everything, and started to look at her instead. “And we can actually fly over *this*, or even land, because chemical weapons dissipate. The retaliatory attack, on the Continent, used a mutated plague bacterium from an island off Africa, grown in vats. The yellow jack will likely fly everywhere over there for generations — and *we* won’t lose people to finding out it’s too soon.”
Emma’s voice shifted a shade toward the personal. “You probably know I’m a historian, now; you might even know I’ve spent months reading what they left behind. And this was not a war of conquest, of self-defense, of religion, even of mad mutual hatred. It was instead a war of faith gone wrong. A fear become idea become prophecy become self-fulfilling prophecy, over a mere handful of decades; an obsessive belief in the *certainty* of an apocalypse, mora certa, hora incerta, but at the level of two entire societies and much of the world.”
And though there was no signal, Percy took up the tale as smoothly as if she had passed him a baton.
“And you know by now, firsthand, how *rare* this is over *all* the worlds we’ve been to, the Air Service and our whole so-called Coldwater Empire. There are simply not very many of these… ah, dead-ends to be found; perhaps very many ‘new’ ones with nobody or nobody much there, but few where they just — well, to say it the way many rankers would, mucked it all up stark.
“Every one of us, even outside the Service, helps make the future, all of our fate in all of our hands, all the time. No man, as the man wrote once, is an island. It *matters* in what potential we put our faith, for *that* is what we will *surely* achieve, in the end and together, whether it’s sooner or later.
“So take care, *great* care, in what you put your faith. But also take heart.
“Despair is the exception, Hope is the rule, Faith is the difference.
“Never forget that — and remember always to *do* it, not merely *believe* it.”
And his voice, so soft and scalpel-edged before, rose at once to a thundering, cannon-broadside, whip-crack roar. Grim as the cracks in the pavement below and the bones piled and scattered upon it.
“Or, and *despite* all the odds, YOU get THIS — because YOU MAKE THIS.”
And everything they’d seen and done in decades of service looked out their eyes as they stood together, backs to the windows and their colder view.
“Choose wiser,” Emma said, almost in a whisper that still carried like a shout, “do better, because the fate of many worlds will soon be in your hands too.”
That’s almost like a steampunk-based story idea I had back in 2013, where Europe had decided to save the world by forcing everyone to return to a Green-Party paradise level of technology… What’s really a little scary is how much Environment has replaced Christianity as the dominant religion in parts of Europe…
A bit like John C. Wright’s essay on “The Golden Book.” We never know which words or stories will inspire someone, what comfort or strength they will bring. Fiction, essay, poetry, a little joke that saves someone’s day…
(No link. Am on cell phone on airport WiFi.)
A smile and small kindness may seem like nothing, but not to the person who has nothing.
RCPete says:
It is so seductive, especially to the young, to think that one is living in the end times. I did, when I was of that age, though then we were concerned about global thermonuclear war rather than plastic straws and too many cows. Belief in the end of days (what used to be called “Millenial” thinking when discussing the period around 1000A.D.) is like a blessing from on high to give in to your desires, to spend, to splurge, to have that romantic encounter. It frees one from the moral obligation to take care of the future, to plan, to save, to educate — for why plan for a future that will never come?
And yet things have always been ‘tough all over’, we have always been able to destroy ourselves (as P.J. O’Rourke pointed out, Athens managed to destroy themselves without any modern technologies at all). Fire and flood, drought and monsoon, earthquakes, and the Four Horsemen have always been with us.
I don’t know how, other than by example, to show each generation that tomorrow always does come. (P.J. again “Note to kids — finish your homework; somehow the world never seems to end before the assignment is due”). Feynman, telling the story to a rapt audience of how he was convinced that the atomic bomb had made it useless to keep paving roads and building bridges, and how foolish that had been, how good it was that people kept on doing those things, for they had been right and he had been wrong. Families who go on, having and raising children and teaching them right from wrong, thrift and work, while the Crazy Years rage on about them. But stories have always been how that culture gets transmitted, from the Bible to Homer to Polybius through Kipling and Chesterton to Verne, Wells, and Smith, to Heinlein and hence to those who carry the torch today.
Including our hostess.
To any person with a proper understanding of Time and the Sequentialist Heresy, all times are the End Times. We go to our maker in His Time, not our own.
Yes. Live as if the Lord were coming again, today. Because he very well might be – for you.
But also for all of us. This is why one should prepare for one’s own death but also the end of the world. The difference is that if you put all your charitable donations in your will — the end times mean that actually, you have given nothing to anyone.
I don’t know how, other than by example, to show each generation that tomorrow always does come.
Not necessarily that “tomorrow always comes” (egad, now I have Annie in my head… aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!), but that there isn’t anything new, and you need to press on ahead: Ecclesiastes. It’s a cure for young and old, imo.
authorwilliammangieri says:
My significant one makes pipe-cleaner roses and gives them away to anyone she encounters. She thinks it an insignificant act, but I’ve seen the shocked and pleased looks on the recipients’ faces, and told her that she may have given them that little lift that will change the balance of their day (she refuses to believe me, but what can you do?) Even the smallest thing can help raise (or lower) the people who encounter it, and stories are no small things.
There is no point to a world without people. Let’s all do what we can to inspire rather than beat down.
Thanx for the post, Sarah!
aAlabamaDill says:
Many has been the day this blog has been one of the influences that helped me to focus on the right things. Thanks
ashkalar says:
Sarah, I’m another reader who gets encouragement and inspiration from your blog, both from your own words and from the comments of all your friends and supporters here. Thank you for writing this post. It is a good one.
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__label__cc | 0.520274 | 0.479726 | Karl Strauss Brewing Releases Mosaic As A Year Round Beer
Mike Hess Brewing - Claritas Beer Review
GORDON BIERSCH Winterbock Hits Shelves. It’s A Tradition
Raymond Melendez
Gordon Biersch Brewing Company announced today that its WinterBock, a seasonal favorite in the Bay Area since the opening of the original Gordon Biersch restaurant in 1988, is in stores now.
WINTERBOCK:
Bock is a German beer style originally developed by eleventh century Bavarian monks as a form of sustenance during Lenten fasts. In keeping with the ages old tradition, Gordon Biersch WinterBock is hearty and creamy. The classic dark, full-bodied double bock features five different types of malt: Munich malt, pilsner malt, black malt and two different caramel malts. ABV: 7.5%; IBU: 26
Like all Gordon Biersch products, WinterBock is brewed in adherence to the “Reinheitsgebot,” the German purity law of 1516 which stipulates the use of only four ingredients – water, malt, hops and yeast.
WinterBock will be available through January wherever Gordon Biersch products are sold. Six packs range in price between $8.99 and $9.99.
“We take pride in continuing the ‘meal in a glass’ tradition that the monastery breweries began ten centuries ago when they figured out that a strong dark beer would fulfill their bread and water diet requirement – one of the greatest loopholes of all time. It’s easy to see how fasting on a 7.5% ABV beer would take your mind off of the hunger pangs.”
For more information on Gordon Biersch Brewing Co, the brewery, and WinterBock, visit www.gordonbiersch.com/brewery.
About Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Dan Gordon and Dean Biersch co-founded Gordon Biersch Brewing Company in 1988 with the goal of producing the most authentic German-style lagers outside of Germany and opened a state-of-the-art brewing and bottling facility On in San Jose, California to begin bottling and distributing its famed German-style lagers. Dan was the first American in 40 years to attain a brewing engineering degree from the prestigious Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephan. Today, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company is a brewery industry leader with over 25 years of experience. Gordon Biersch Brewing Company has doubled its annual production, increasing the capacity to 4 million gallons of beer, and making Gordon Biersch Brewing Company the largest craft brewery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Winterbock
Gordon BierschWinterbock
Raymond Melendez is craft beer enthusiast and movie buff. Besides Co-Founding BeerAlien.com, Raymond is also the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Popular Movie Review website 'MovieFloss.com'. The love for Heavy Metal music is also in his DNA, which is why he is also the Founder of sdmetal.com - a website dedicated to metal music. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line827 |
__label__wiki | 0.800345 | 0.800345 | West Nile virus lingers longer in birds exposed to light pollution
Banner image of a house sparrow courtesy of the University of South Florida.
by Mongabay.com on 29 July 2019
Light pollution could lead to more infections with West Nile virus by increasing the amount of time that small songbirds hold on to the virus, according to a new study.
“The findings may be the first indication that light pollution can affect the spread of zoonotic diseases,” Meredith Kernbach, a doctoral student in global health at the University of South Florida and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Kernbach and her colleagues published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on July 24.
Scientists already know that exposure to artificial light can affect animal biology, including our own, interfering with immune system functioning, metabolism and behavior.
“Many hosts and vectors use light cues to coordinate daily and seasonal rhythms,” Kernbach said. “[D]isruption of these rhythms by light exposure at night could affect immune responses, generating the effects we see here.”
She and her colleagues wondered whether artificial light might influence the way the birds’ bodies react to the virus that causes West Nile fever. Symptoms, when they do appear, are typically similar to those of the flu in humans, and in rare cases can be fatal.
Research has shown that songbirds like house sparrows (Passer domesticus) carry West Nile virus, along with other diseases. They’re also frequent visitors to towns and cities, where light pollution abounds and where there are dense human populations to which they can hand off the virus through successive bites by the same mosquito.
To test their hypothesis, the team kept two groups of wild house sparrows under different lighting conditions. The control group experienced 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness each day for up to three weeks. The second group of birds was kept in an area with 12 hours of light as well, but then the researchers exposed them to 12 hours of dim light meant to mimic the nighttime street and building lights of an urban environment. In the midst of the light exposure experiments, Kernbach and her colleagues inoculated the birds with West Nile virus.
Beginning two days after exposure to the virus, the team measured the amount of the virus in the blood of each bird. They all had comparable levels of the virus after four days, but six days in, the birds being exposed to the nighttime lights had significantly higher levels of West Nile virus in their blood than the control group.
The researchers also created a statistical model demonstrating that the lingering viral load in light-pollution-exposed sparrows could increase the chances of an outbreak of West Nile fever by 41 percent.
Earlier research had shown that higher levels of the stress hormone corticosterone made another species of birds more enticing to hungry mosquitos, and the scientists did notice a slight bump in this compound in the birds exposed to the dim night lights. But that alone didn’t explain the persistence of West Nile virus in the animals’ blood samples, pointing to the need for more research. The stress that light induces could have other effects, for example, on the secretion of the hormone melatonin, that could affect bird behavior, the authors write.
In the meantime, the team suggests that motion-sensitive lights might diminish exposure to light pollution and that lights could be turned off at night when the transmission of West Nile virus is particularly high.
Kernbach, M. E., Newhouse, D. J., Miller, J. M., Hall, R. J., Gibbons, J., Oberstaller, J., … Martin, L. B. (2019). Light pollution increases West Nile virus competence of a ubiquitous passerine reservoir species. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1907), 20191051. doi:10.1098/rspb.2019.1051
Floridasparrow
Birds with darker wing feathers have increased flight efficiency
By Chrissy Sexton Earth.com staff writer
New research from Ghent University in Belgium has revealed that the color of a bird’s wings plays an important role in flight efficiency. The study suggests that darker wing feathers give birds an aerodynamic advantage.
The experts set out to analyze how the color of bird feathers may affect wing temperature, and whether darker wings may heat up faster than lighter wings under solar radiation.
Using thermal imaging, the researchers examined the surface temperature changes in the feathers of two live osprey with increased solar radiation.
In addition, the team experimentally heated different colored wings in a wind tunnel and measured wing temperatures during flight. Osprey, gannet, and back-blacked gull wings were exposed to various realistic wind speeds.
The team discovered that dark feathers not only warm up the wings but also the surrounding air, which increases air flow. According to the study, a common wing pattern consisting of white feathers at the body and black feathers at the wing tips seems to help lift the wings.
“Even under simulated flight conditions, darker wings consistently became hotter than pale wings. In white wings with black tips, the temperature differential produced convective currents towards the darker wing tips that could lead to an increase in lift,” wrote the study authors.
The darker feathers were found to heat up much more than light feathers. “We found temperature differences of about 9 degrees between black and white,” study lead author Svana Rogalla told New Scientist. “We would even find these temperature differences in the same wing.”
The study is published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
feathersgullsosprey
and in further orange-fronted parakeet news
from Toi Toi Wines release
This endemic bird is still critically endangered, and was once thought to be extinct. But a few birds were found in the valleys of Canterbury’s Arthurs Pass, and now with the efforts of DOC, Forest and Bird, Christchurch Helicopters and Toi Toi Wine, they are now recovering.
But they are not out of the woods yet, as during mega mast seeding events populations of rats and stoats also multiply, and once the seeds disappear, they then turn their attention to the fledgling birds.
The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust has played a crucial role in rearing captive-bred birds for release into the wild.
This year, 62 birds from the Trust, Orana Wildlife Park and Auckland Zoo have been released into the south branch of the Hurunui Valley.
Extensive trapping of stoats and rats in the valley has meant this is a good year to release the birds. In the wild the birds are extremely difficult to monitor, so radio transmitters have been attached to the birds to track where they go in the valley. They will be monitored for about 54 days or until the transmitters cease to operate.
New Zealandparakeetratsstoat
This bird was nearly extinct. Now, its population could double thanks to an ‘epic’ breeding season
By Leah Asmelash and Brian Ries, CNN
from CNN
The orange-fronted parakeet is one of the rarest birds in New Zealand, but its population may have doubled after an “epic” season of mating.Staff with the nation’s Department of Conservation say they found at least 150 orange-fronted parakeets have been born this season alone. They discovered 31 new wild parakeet nests — three times the number of nests in recent years.The new births have the potential to double the current population, said Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage in a statement. And the lovemaking could continue for several more months, as beech trees in the region continue to have one of their largest mast seasons in over 40 years.
Mast is the botanical name for nuts, seeds, buds, or fruits that are produced by trees and shrubs and eaten by wildlife.”There has been so much seed on the beech trees, the birds just keep on breeding, with some parakeet pairs onto their fifth clutch of eggs,” Sage said. “This year’s epic breeding provides a much-needed boost to the kākāriki karaka population.”Without such a large beech mast, the birds typically only have just one or two clutches of eggs.
There are currently less than 300 orange-fronted parakeets in existence
The orange-fronted parakeet was once thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in 1993. The current population is thought to be anywhere between 100 and 300 birds, which is why this mating season is so significant.Conservation efforts in the country have helped increase the population, with organizations breeding the birds and then releasing them into the wild.The birds aren’t the only ones benefiting from the higher beech mast. The increase in seeds also means more rats, stoats and feral cats — all of which pose risks to the bird. Sage said the department’s next steps are to focus on protecting the birds from the rising number of predators.
extinctNew Zealandrare
Karen's Posts
A what?? of wagtails
BY Karen Hunt
birdlife.com
What do you call a group of willie wagtails?
Its one of those questions in search of an answer but beware, past attempts to collectively name birds have left more cases of misleading information than a Dodgy Brothers ad.
Take owls for example. Being a mostly solitary bird, its unlikely they would ever form a parliament. And having seen a couple of parliaments in my time, I have to say the reputed wisdom and dignity of the owl is very much in abeyance.
Crows are rarely murderous, although definitely malicious, and I’ve never seen them muster. Choughs don’t clatter, eagles never convocate and robins are rarely a riot. I have trouble imagining a hill of sand-pipers. or a wisp of snipe even though I held a Lathams Snipe once and it WAS pretty small.
On the other hand, a peep of chickens sounds just right. As does a pandemonium of parrots, a screech of gulls and a murmuration of starlings. And having once raised Guinea fowl, I can attest that a confusion of guinea fowl is just that.
A pretence of bitterns could I guess be explained by the birds constant disguise as a reed but please explain – what is a twack of ducks? My dictionary has twack meaning to strike something hard with the back of the middle finger and although my experience with ducks is not extensive, their lack of a middle finger seems to render that explanation a tad ridiculous.
So what to call my Willie Wagtails?
It has to be a word that encapsulates their perkiness, their cheerful fearlessness and air of joie de vie combined with their sartorial splendor, a classic tuxedo jacket and slim line trews. The word must do justice to the constantly flicking tail, which seems to have go than the Eveready battery bloke.
So, how about a waggle of willies?
Highway construction postponed for migratory birds in Xinjiang
Source: Xinhua| 2019-07-14 11:27:04|Editor: Yurou
ebird.org
URUMQI, July 14 (Xinhua) — The construction of a highway in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been postponed to protect migratory birds.
In mid-June, workers found a large number of birds building nests and hatching in the cracks of the rocks laid on the roadbed of a section of Barkol-Hami highway. The birds Sturnus roseus, commonly known as rosy starling, are natural enemies of locusts. Xinjiang has set up nests in mountainous areas and grasslands to attract the birds to combat a destructive plague of locusts in recent years.
“A large number of starlings have settled in Hami thanks to artificial nests and related publicity activities. In most parts of the Hami grassland we can prevent locust plague without using pesticides,” said Li Zhanwu, head of the locust and rat plague control station in the city of Hami.
“We decided to suspend construction until the baby birds are hatched and leave the nests,” said Li Zhigang, one of the project managers.
The construction company also set up more than 20 warning signs in the site where birds are abundant. Construction of the postponed road section was scheduled to be completed in mid-July. But now it may be delayed by about one and a half months.
The 76.5-km Barkol-Hami Highway is an important transportation project in eastern Xinjiang.
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__label__cc | 0.664792 | 0.335208 | Graduate and MBA
We think earning an MBA is about the experience and the people you meet while you are growing toward your life and work goals.
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Our Universal Classroom – featuring the latest digital technology and content delivery methods – welcomes bright minds from around the world to learn together in one inspirational space. Online MBA students learn from each other and from caring and experienced faculty to acquire the skills and confidence needed to become leaders in the modern and ever-evolving business world. For more than 50 years, our top-ranked program has delivered courses to busy professionals who want to advance their careers. We are proud the program is ranked the best online MBA in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report.
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__label__cc | 0.679371 | 0.320629 | Topic: “Surveys”
Emily Swanson named AP director of public opinion research
Oct. 7, 2019 , by Patrick Maks
Deputy Managing Editor for Operations David Scott announced on Monday that polling editor Emily Swanson will be AP’s new director of public opinion research. Here is his memo to staff:
Posted in Products and Services
Stellar debut for AP VoteCast
AP VoteCast, our new election survey of the American electorate developed with NORC at the University of Chicago, delivered impressive results in the U.S. midterm elections one week ago.
The importance of trust in polling Nov. 9, 2018
AP VoteCast debuts Tuesday Nov. 1, 2018
Beyond exit polls: A new way to survey voters May 15, 2018
Updating our polling guidance
April 17, 2018 , by Lauren Easton
The 2018 AP Stylebook will include a new chapter on polls and surveys, adding details to help journalists report responsibly on public opinion research heading into the U.S. midterm elections.
New survey takes pulse of young Americans
March 30, 2018 , by Lauren Easton
As the run-up to the U.S. midterm elections begins, the new Youth Political Pulse survey, by MTV with The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, aims to reveal what political issues matter most to young Americans.
Survey offers revealing look at news subscribers
A new study by the Media Insight Project, a joint effort by the American Press Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, reveals what motivates readers to pay for news, offering publishers insight into the new media landscape. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line840 |
__label__wiki | 0.503074 | 0.503074 | University of North Alabama Strengthens Lead to Win the 2016 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Presented by Cabela’s
Tarleton State University and Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge Take Second and Third Respectively
With the start of Day 2 of the Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Presented by Cabela’s almost mirroring the morning of Day 1, the general consensus from anglers across the field was that today’s fishing conditions would just be getting better for those targeting pre-spawn bass. The University of North Alabama encountered ideal conditions for their pre-spawn pattern as they were able to weigh in a total of 42.76lbs to take home the win on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas.
Continuing off of their success from Day 1, the University of North Alabama Bass Team of Caleb Dennis, Sloan Pennington, Triston Crowden and Makenzie Henson kept a swim jig in their hands all day targeting creek channels that were less than two miles away from Lake Dardanelle State Park.
“We started throwing a black and blue swim jig through grass around channel swings this morning,” said Crowder. “As the day went on we followed the fish up to about two to three feet of water and the quality of fish got better too.”
Dennis added that “this was an area in Illinois Bayou that wasn’t far from the ramp and we actually didn’t practice in that area too much, but it paid off today!”
The team gained almost a ten pound lead over the second place team, but to the University of North Alabama Bass Team, the weight isn’t as important as the Cabela’s School of the Year points they will be receiving from their win. When asked about their push for the prestigious title, the four man team all had the same reaction.
“All of our boats did really well so we are hoping that this will at least put us back in the top 3 in School of the Year, but hopefully it gets us even higher,” stated Henson. “We want to get as many points as possible and the double points events are key.”
Pennington and Crowder both added that the win today was badly needed for the club as they want to focus all of their tournament efforts toward the single goal of winning their third consecutive Cabela’s School of the Year Title.
For their win, the University of North Alabama Bass Fishing Team took home a total of $1,400 in Cabela’s gift cards, four Temple Fork Outfitter Rods, four Mustang Lifejackets, and four Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Buffs.
Tarleton State Takes Second Place and Big Bass
Anchored with the Big Bass of the entire two day event weighing 7.42lbs, the Tarleton State University team of Zach Montalvo, Justin Seeton, Stetson Overton and Dakota Ebare weighed in a total of 33.34lbs to take second place in the 2016 Collegiate Open.
Fishing a multitude of baits, the Tarleton team focused mainly on rock structure on Day 2. Similar to the University of North Alabama team, the Tarleton team found success fishing moving baits such as Berkley crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and Alabama rigs.
“We knew it was going to be tough coming into this event because of the complete opposite conditions in the tournament than in practice,” said Seeton. “Overall it actually helped us though because we stuck to what we knew and fished reaction baits around the hot water core and the waterfall. I’m just thankful that we were able to work together and I can’t thank Dakota and Zach enough because they were the backbone of this team this week.”
“At the end of the day yesterday we caught three pounder on a reaction bait in some really muddy water, so we knew that if we could catch them in muddy water, they would for sure be in the clearer water of Piney Creek. This morning we started in Piney fishing some rocky banks and we caught a five pounder almost instantly which is when we knew we were onto something,” stated Ebare.
Dakota Ebare then landed a 7.42lb big bass on a watermelon red chatterbait not long after the team figured out their new pattern adding to the team’s total and earning him $200 in Cabela’s gift cards, and a new Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Buff.
“We’re super excited about our teamwork throughout the event and I’m sure this is going to bump us up in the Cabela’s School of the Year rankings,” added Ebare.
For the second place finish, the Tarleton State Bass Team earned $900 in Cabela’s gift cards, four Temple Fork Outfitter Rods, and four Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Buffs.
Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge Claims Third
Weighing in four hundredths of a pound less than Tarleton State University, the Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge two-man-team of Levi Sharp and Dakota Sparks weighed in a total of 33.31lbs to take third place in the 2016 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Presented by Cabela’s.
With the weather once again being a major factor in where the team would fish, Sparks and Sharp’s practice yielded them a wealth of knowledge of what to fish and where to fish. The team ran thirty-five miles north to a creek that set up with the conditions most suited to how the team was comfortable technique-wise.
“Watching the weather, we knew it would be cold this morning,” said Sharp. ” During practice we noticed fish moving up to spawn so we knew we needed the water to warm up before the fish would become active and start eating. We figured that any fish we caught early would be a bonus fish, but once the water warmed up, it was perfect.”
“After our thirty-five miles north into an oxbow off of the river, we started flipping shallow cover and laydowns,” added Sparks. “Later in the day we were flipping heavy cover with braided line and speed craws and creature baits.”
Overall the team fished the event very clean, but did run into a costly blunder that could have significantly helped the Louisiana team.
“We broke one off that was about four pounds that would’ve put us easily into second, but it wouldn’t have even touched UNA,” said Sharp, “but getting third in this event is definitely going to boost us significantly in the Cabela’s School of the Year Rankings. As a whole, we are pretty satisfied with our performances so far as this is our second top five finish this year!”
The Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge team won $600 in Cabela’s gift cards, four Temple Fork Outfitter Rods, and four Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series Buffs or their third place finish.
The remaining top ten in the Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Presented by Cabela’s are as follows:
4 Murray State University 32.59
5 Arkansas Tech University 29.31
6 Bryan College 28.82
7 Louisiana Tech University 28.25
9 University of Texas – Tyler 26.65
10 Dallas Baptist University 24.03
To see the complete results from the 2016 Collegiate Bass Fishing Open Presented by Cabela’s, click here: Final Results
Portable Power for Your Boat
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60 Million Anglers Sparks Activity & Discussion | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line847 |
__label__wiki | 0.776486 | 0.776486 | From Nancy to Frank
Bob Anderson opened at The Venetian/Palazzo Hotel on the world famous Las Vegas Strip. The Palazzo Theatre was filled to the rafters with a diverse audience of people from New York to San Francisco who experienced an evening unlike any other in the entertainment capital of the world in more than two decades.
With sustained applause, Anderson stepped on stage to a rousing standing ovation from an audience who watched Anderson slip into Sinatra’s skin with an ease that belies the long hours and hard work it took to accomplish such a feat.
I saw Frank Sinatra the other night. I don’t care if it was Bob Anderson. I saw Frank Sinatra the other night.
So Sinatra-esque is Anderson—master of Ol’ Blue Eyes impressions—in every aspect of FRANK The Man, The Music. Ratcheting up his Sinatra from a singer he impersonates to an artist he inhabits, Anderson imbues the show with his long love affair with the Sinatra mystique, adding even more dimension than the music and makeup. He seasons the fabled voice with just enough Jack Daniel’s and gravel. He throws air jabs to punch home staccato notes, flinches his shoulders to underline chord blasts and swoops his arm as the band crescendos.
Unquestionably, this show would put the sparkle in a pair of famous Ol’ Blue Eyes. So set ’em up, Joe—then raise a shot glass to FRANK The Man The Music.”
Steve Bornfeld
Vegas Seven
“The re-created studio session is a powerful moment in the production as the theater fills up with the sounds of Anderson and the orchestra performing I’ve Got the World on a String. Riding high on the applause flooding the theater, the orchestra brought down the house on the down beat of New York, New York.
Kiko Miyasato
The musical arrangements that are played in FRANK The Man The Music
are copies of the original works given to Vince Falcone personally by Sinatra.
The arrangers are: Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Johnny Mandal, Gordon Jenkins, Billy May, Sammy Nestico, Robert Farnon, Neil Hefti, Count Basie, Patrick Williams and Vince Falcone.
“On opening night, as Anderson swung his way through Sinatra’s hit-filled songbook — moving from Come Fly With Me and Luck Be a Lady to Strangers in the Night and My Way — not a beat was missed. In fact, the illusion bordered on surreal. After the show a few audience members insisted the show was lip-synched (it wasn’t). If only for ninety minutes, Old Vegas was back.”
LA Magazine
“This show will give generations of music lovers around the world a chance to leave this high-tech world behind and travel back to a time circa 1970, to experience an evening unlike any other today.”
John Caparella
“With style, swing and swagger, the chairman of the board helped transform Las Vegas from dusty desert town to glamorous entertainment destination. Nearly 20 years since his passing, Sinatra’s Las Vegas legacy continues to endure. FRANK The Man The Music, a recent show at the Venetian Las Vegas, featuring impressionist Bob Anderson, was labeled the ‘most authentic reenactment’ of a Sinatra concert.”
Chuck Crisafulli
Grammy.com
“Bob Anderson…might be as close as it gets to seeing Ol’ Blue Eyes live.”
Matt Finn
FRANK The Man The Music became the talk of the town and the must see show.
Celebrity Radio
Top Ten Las Vegas 2015
Best Headliner For 2015
Bob Anderson, FRANK The Man The Music
The Best of Las Vegas
Best Live Show For 2015
Las Vegas Best of the City
Best Live Performance For 2015
Bob Anderson’s tribute to Frank Sinatra is more than that….much more than that. This is a phenomenal work of musical theatre. Staying in character the entire show, he brings “The Man” to life. Not once in this show could the band take the spotlight away from this top-notch vocalist. Anderson glides through a great selection of the all-time Sinatra hits, receiving a number of very heart-felt standing ovations along the way. Make no mistake…this Man can swing and sing!
Neil Davies
JAM Magazine
“Having Vince Falcone playing and conducting for you, says a lot about how well you sing. You truly took our audience back to when showmanship was an art. Let’s do it again soon.”
Jerry Floor
Festival Director, Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival
“There was an electricity in the concert hall that was indescribable. We hope you will come back for an encore performance at our new home, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.”
Jeri Crawford
President/CEO, Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra
“We sold more single tickets for this concert than for any other concert in the twenty-five years I have been with the Symphony.”
Janice Bennett
Executive, Springfield Symphony Orchestra
“This standing room only performance starring Bob Anderson is still being called “the best performance ever” in our venerable 60-year association.”
President Board of Governors, Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra
“Other than perpetuating the magic that is Sinatra, when Bob Anderson hits the stage, he becomes Frank Sinatra.”
Dustin Fitzharris
“Ol’ Blue Eyes is back in Las Vegas, courtesy of singing impressionist Bob Anderson!!”
Jay Jones
“A musical masterpiece…Dedicated to mastering Sinatra’s persona, Anderson doesn’t simply resemble the icon, but for the show’s 90 minutes, he fully embodies the singer’s character.”
“The sounds of the big band era are back with Bob Anderson’s FRANK The Man The Music, saluting “The Chairman of the Board” Frank Sinatra. Bob’s transformation into Ol’ Blue Eyes is remarkable. After two-plus hours of makeup, he looks like “The Sultan of Swing and Swank” and, more incredibly, sounds exactly like him.”
““His performance on a recent Saturday, delivering The Way You Look Tonight, You Make Me Feel So Young, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, My Way and 14 others was as believable as they come. He even delivered Sinatra’s jokes. Mr Anderson’s success in bringing Sinatra back to life is certainly remarkable.”
A.M.B. | Las Vegas
“From the moment the curtain is raised, this is simply one of the most compelling, thrilling & enjoyable performances I’ve seen in Sin City in the last 10 years! He truly is the world’s greatest Sinatra impersonator by an absolute mile!”
Alex Belfield, Celebrity Radio
“Behold the top celebrity impersonator that will make you do a double take. When Bob Anderson takes the stage, his voice and in-between-numbers repartee complete his embodiment of Frank Sinatra.”
Bob Anderson was voted #1 singing impressionist in the world
“Some say you can’t re-create magic, but actor and singer Bob Anderson is proving otherwise. Backed by a 32-piece orchestra directed by Vince Falcone, Sinatra’s former musical director, with vocal accuracy and the magical touches of Hollywood’s leading makeup artist Kazu Tsuji, Anderson hits the stage at The Palazzo, Las Vegas in true Chairman of the Board style.”
“The singer has the help of a makeup artist to change him into Frank Sinatra, but his renditions will have you swearing Ol’ Blue Eyes himself is on stage.”
Las Vegas Magazine
“Bob Anderson is the King of Singing Impressionists and the only person who could have pulled this off. I’m amazed!”
“You had me the second you walked on stage, Frank would have loved this show.”
Quintessential Frank!
“Bob Anderson quite literally is Frank Sinatra.”
JennJen Calgary
Canada September, 2015
“The word ‘icon’ is much overused, but if it applies to anyone in American popular culture, it is Frank Sinatra.”
Geoff Edgers
Why longtime Dunes headliner Bob Anderson still matters today
“Bob Anderson is a link to one of the greatest periods of music ever given to the world.”
John Katsilometes
“If ever a show was made for Broadway, this is the one. Frank would love it. There is no one on the planet more qualified to play and sing the part. I’ve seen Anderson a thousand times and Sinatra more than a few dozen. They are both great. If you never had the opportunity to see Sinatra in person, see Anderson and you’ll know why Sinatra is generally recognized as the best crooner of all time.”
Ron Delpit
and editor/publisher of Vegas Magazine
Copyright © 2018 All Right Reserved by BOB ANDERSON
bobandersonproductionsllc@gmail.com | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line851 |
__label__wiki | 0.583757 | 0.583757 | / Cory Doctorow / 9:12 am Thu Feb 1, 2018
Australia put an algorithm in charge of its benefits fraud detection and plunged the nation into chaos
In a textbook example of the use of big data to create a digital poorhouse, as described in Virginia Eubanks's excellent new book Automating Inequality, the Australian government created an algorithmic, semi-privatised system to mine the financial records of people receiving means-tested benefits and accuse them of fraud on the basis of its findings, bringing in private contractors to build and maintain the system and collect the penalties it ascribed, paying them a commission on the basis of how much money they extracted from poor Australians.
The result was a predictable kafkaesque nightmare in which an unaccountable black box accused poor people, students, pensioners, disabled people and others receiving benefits of owing huge sums, sending abusive, threatening debt collectors after them, and placing all information about the accusations of fraud at the other end of a bureaucratic nightmare system of overseas phone-bank operators with insane wait-times.
The government announced a target of clawing back $4.5 billion from benefits recipients, and the automated systems are processing 20,000 debt notices per week; the few humans in the loop are overworked and are on quotas to extract debt payments from the people whom they are nominally charged with helping.
This "robo-debt" scandal is still tearing up the Australian political landscape, which has a strong strain of Thatcher-style contempt for the poor as "scroungers" ("dole bludgers"), making precarious work, disability and unemployment into evidence of a moral failing. This despite the fact that the major beneficiaries of Australian government subsidies are the wealthiest.
Yet the irony of stigmatizing welfare recipients is that better-off Australians are major beneficiaries of social spending. The Australian writer Tim Winton notes that the country’s middle class has “an increasing sense of entitlement to welfare,” which is “duly disbursed largely at the expense of the poor, the sick, and the unemployed.” These include tax concessions on contributions to “superannuation,” which are funds designed to help Australians save for their retirement. Such concessions are distortionary: they’re levied at a flat rate of 15 percent, rather than at a progressive rate according to one’s income, which means their benefits are reaped overwhelmingly by the rich.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics calculates that nearly one third of these concessions are claimed by the top 10 percent of income earners in Australia. Then there are policies like negative gearing, a tax concession that allows you to claim a deduction against your wage income for losses generated by any rental properties you own. (Australia and New Zealand are the only countries in the world to hold such a policy.) In addition, Australian homeowners are entitled to a capital gains tax discount of 50 percent once the property is sold.
Critics have argued that the combination of these two policies only serves to fuel investor speculation, entrench housing unaffordability, and lock first-time home buyers out of the market. But it’s easier to attack the poor than to tax the rich.
Austerity is an Algorithm [Gillian Terzis/Logicmag]
auspol / australia / automating inequality / dole bludgers / guillotine watch / inequality / intergenerational warfare / politics / thatcherism / weaponized shelter
No US-France digital tax war for now, as Trump and Macron call a truce
French president Emmanuel Macron and impeached but not yet removed U.S. President Donald Trump declare a truce in digital tax dispute, and digital services firms get to breathe a sigh of relief.
Passport and Nobels
My life-long work of performance art is to somehow maintain my original passport: notwithstanding the life and opportunities of a techno-nomad.
National Archives admits censoring Trump criticism from photo of Womens' March
A photo of the 2017 Womens’ March published by the National Archives was altered to remove criticism of Donald Trump from marchers’ signs, reports the Washington Post. “Doctoring a commemorative photograph buys right into the notion that it’s okay to silence women’s voice and actions,” Kline said in an email. “It is literally erasing something […] | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line854 |
__label__cc | 0.62482 | 0.37518 | How to Sell Products Using Instagram Shopping
Have you ever thought about showcasing your products via Instagram Shopping?
Instagram is a platform to share inspirational images and videos to a widely engaged audience. At the start of 2019, there was an estimated 24 million Instagram users in the UK; a staggering 42% of the population. Even still, the platform continues to grow, there are currently 25 million businesses worldwide using Instagram with more joining every day. Instagram provides a great opportunity for brands to tap into a millennial audience with non-intrusive advertising, aimed to compliment the user behaviour.
Social shopping is on the rise and predictably Instagram have invested heavily into enabling this feature for brands using their platform.
To step-up Instagram Shopping you need to follow these steps…
Own a business account on Instagram.
Run an Instagram account that is connected to a Facebook page.
Primarily sell physical goods.
Have your business account connected to a Facebook Catalogue.
Products can be shared via Organic posts, Stories, or more recently in the ‘Search & Explore’ section. The ‘shopping bag’ icon is known as a ‘Product Tag’ and when a user taps a product tag in either your post or story, they'll be taken to a product description page where they will see:
An image of the product from your post
A description of the product
How much the product costs
A link that takes them directly to your website, where they can purchase the product.
Instagram continues to expand its shopping experience, by adding the ability to effectively save a wishlist of products spotted on either the Feed or Stories. Users can now tap the Product tag on an item, followed by a Save icon – located in the bottom right-hand corner. That will send the item to a new dedicated collection under the title “Shop,” which can then be accessed from their profile.
Not convinced as yet? Well, consider that Instagram Shopping is an extremely user-friendly format and appears like a generic post as users are navigating the platform. Shopping on Instagram provides an opportunity to encourage conversions and quickly complete transactions.
Getting content into the Search and Explore section of Instagram is an enviable position for brands. It can be a powerful sales tool as this spot on a user’s feed generally means that they have been viewing or engaging with similar content in the recent past. For example; if you have searched Ikea couches in the last week, you are more likely to be shown a top performing post from Made. Instagram’s algorithm conclude that you would be more receptive to this similar type of product.
Whilst it is difficult to influence the algorithm within the Search and Explore section, there are a few things you can do, such as; use trending hashtags and increase engagements like comments on your posts.
Look out for our upcoming thought pieces ‘How to increase engagements on social media’ & ‘How to grow your social media following’ for further
In our opinion Instagram shopping is great if you are a retail business or have a physical product and want to quickly increase the sales. However, the main drawback is, at the time of writing, they do not offer an eCommerce pay and check-out directly on the platform.
If you are interested in setting up Instagram shopping and would like to find out if it is possible for your business please make sure you fill in the form to get in touch with Amber and the team.
Get in touch with Digital Willow
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5 Reasons to Outsource your Digital Marketing | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line859 |
__label__wiki | 0.63566 | 0.63566 | Classroom Ideas, Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main
What’s Up with KitKat in Japan?
Japan is a KitKat-lover’s paradise, with so many unique varieties—an estimated 300—that some travelers visit Japan just to try them. (Los Angeles Times)
How is KitKat a case study in globalization?
Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.
These are only a few of Japan’s dizzying array of KitKat flavors: Blueberry Cheese Cake, Strawberry, Green Tea, Cherry Blossom, Wasabi, Rum Raisin, Brown Sugar Syrup, Strawberry Cheese Cake.
Photograph by Jordi Sanchez Teruel, courtesy Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0
Discussion Ideas
The great L.A. Times article describes the globalization of the KitKat candy bar. What are KitKats?
KitKat, owned by the Swiss company Nestle and licensed by Hershey in the United States, started as a British candy bar, Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp. The basic recipe has remained unchanged since the 1930s: two to three layers of cookie wafers covered by chocolate.
The candy bar was developed as “the perfect complement to a working man’s cup of tea.”
So, we know KitKats were established in the U.K. in the 1930s. What is the origin of KitKat in Japan?
KitKat came to Japan in 1973. It was originally marketed as an alternative to rice cakes, the regular snack in tourist shops in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost major island. Find Hokkaido on our 1-page map of Japan.
How did Nestle Japan make a British teatime snack so uniquely Japanese?
local flavors. Marketers quickly capitalized on how well the candy’s milk chocolate covering incorporated other flavors. Some flavors include:
strawberry (the original, Hokkaido-associated version)
cough drop
red bean
“European cheese”
gold-foil “Kobe pudding”
packaging. Marketers altered KitKat’s traditional dark-red packaging with an array of bold, bright colors—a marketing scheme familiar to Japanese consumers. (Even art depicting excrement is adorably pastel.)
innovation. Japanese business culture has a global reputation for innovation. Today, KitKat Japan introduces 20 new flavors every year.
Read through our reference resource on globalization. How is KitKat’s presence in Japan an example of sweet globalization?
communication. Japan is an industry leader in communications technology, and Japanese citizens are among the most technologically savvy in the world. News about new or limited-edition flavors can spread quickly and “go viral”, creating a curious market.
travel. Many flavors are associated with specific regions of Japan. The popular flavor momiji manju (a pastry made of rice and buckwheat), for instance, is considered “soul food” in the city of Hiroshima.
pop culture. Japan’s production of wildly flavored KitKats has become part of the country’s identity. It’s an accessible symbol of Japan’s internationally recognized popular culture.
economy. Nestle Japan is a thriving business, an important part of the Nestle family of food and beverage brands. In addition, the flavored KitKat bars are popular among domestic and international tourists—the original market for the Hokkaido KitKats all those years ago.
What are some reasons why the KitKat business of Nestle Japan is such a success?
It complements an existing culture. Giving sweets as gifts is a national custom in Japan.
It recognizes national pride. Japan “has deep pride in its local culinary traditions and industries,” which are reflected in the many flavors.
It’s a play on the Japanese language. “Not least, the chocolate bar’s English name is a cognate—it sounds like kitto kattsu, which means ‘you will surely win,’ a sort of good luck blessing.”
It’s made some smart partnerships. “In 2009, the company created ‘KitKat Mail,’ a partnership with Japan’s postal service that allowed students to send KitKats as good luck charms before the country’s high-pressure January university entrance examination. Some KitKat wrappers contain blank spaces for students to scribble in heartwarming messages … In March 2011, after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster devastated a swath of Japan’s Pacific coast, people sent KitKats to the region, appending the message: kitto fukkyu kanau, or, ‘you’ll surely recover.’ … Nestle Japan threw its support behind the damaged Sanriku Railway — it released a special line of KitKats and donated some of the proceeds to reconstruction. It decorated two rail cars and in 2014, to celebrate the rail’s return to full operations, allowed riders to use some limited edition KitKats as tickets.”
Los Angeles Times: How the humble KitKat conquered Japan with ever-changing flavors. Anyone for sushi KitKat?
Nat Geo: What is globalization?
Wikipedia: Kit Kats in Japan: Varieties
carylsue 12/13/2017 12/22/2017 business, candy, culture, flavors, food, globalization, Japan, KitKat, the world
2 thoughts on “What’s Up with KitKat in Japan?”
Pingback: Tuesday Chat Preview: Japan, North Korea, and South Korea – worldgeochat
Ewan Geddes says:
Inquiry: How has the true story of the production of chocolate been hidden from consumers?
How might knowing the true story of chocolate impact sales?
These inquiry questions could be add to get a more complete analysis.
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__label__cc | 0.740896 | 0.259104 | Field notes on the Web
Figuring out the web as I go along ...
UI metaphors 2.0
One site I visit from time to time allows you to restrict the date range of the query it's built from. The default range is about a month, but you can restrict it to as little as a day if you like, and I often do. The site uses a script to present the date range on a calendar instead of as plain text boxes. It's a nice convenience, particularly in places like travel sites, where you're likely to want to consult a calendar when filling in a date.
Generally, if you want to see if the content of a web page has changed, you just re-load it. But in this case if I restrict the query range to a single day, then reload, I don't see the new results for that day. I see the new results for the month.
The script that allows me to set the date from a calendar has its own state. When I reset the date range, I change that state, but it doesn't get saved anywhere (the site in question could use cookies to track this, but it doesn't). When I reload the page, the calendar goes back to its default state.
This breaks the fundamental "reload if you want to see the latest data" behavior of web pages. There's nothing wrong with changing this behavior, per se. It's often great when pages are able to update themselves, instead of waiting for me to poll again. But that's not what's happening here.
A query page represents a view of the data. If you reload a vanilla query page, you see the same view of the new data. Likewise for an asynchronous page that updates itself without being asked. In the case I'm describing, reloading doesn't just show the new data. It resets the view, disrupting the "view" metaphor.
This isn't a major breakage, but it's annoying, and it points out that moving intelligence from the server into the browser comes at a price: You have to consider issues that are already considered for you when you just color within the lines with plain old HTML.
I also notice that the mouse wheel doesn't work when the cursor is over certain parts of the page in question, presumably because those parts look at the mouse wheel events and don't give them back when they're done looking. So if I want to scroll that page up with the mouse wheel, I have to reposition the cursor when that part of the page scrolls under the cursor and the scrolling stops. Again, changing the behavior of the mouse wheel can be useful, as when you want to scroll a text box in a page and not the whole page it's on. But in the page I'm describing the change is annoying. It's a minor annoyance, but an annoyance nonetheless.
By David Hull at February 28, 2008 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: annoyances, UI, Web 2.0
TCP: A gold standard
If you're looking for a paradigm for network standards, you could do worse than TCP. It's been in continuous use for decades now with very little revision. It's been implemented on a staggeringly wide variety of platforms. It works on hardware spanning orders of magnitude in performance. I don't mean this just historically, though hardware has certainly become faster over time. You could be using a dial-up connection to talk to someone with a T1 connection by way of gigabit or faster networks in the middle and TCP will happily manage the whole connection end to end.
TCP underlies most (though not all) of the other famous Ps: HTTP, SMTP, NNTP, FTP, POP, IMAP, etc., etc. If you're reading this, your browser almost certainly used HTTP over TCP to fetch the contents. TCP works on anything from a single computer (using loopback) to the whole internet. And it does it so quietly you can easily forget it's even there.
TCP is successful because of two well-chosen abstractions:
It uses the abstraction of a best-effort datagram protocol. That is, it assumes that there is a way of sending a packet of data, up to a given size, to a given address on the network. It doesn't assume that such a datagram will always get there, or that any two datagrams will arrive in the order sent, or will arrive intact, or will only arrive once. It works best when these things happen, but it still works even if they don't, as long as they don't happen too much.
TCP provides a useful abstraction. Once you establish a TCP connection to another host, one of three things will happen:
The data you send will arrive, in the order you sent it, intact and reasonably timely (and likewise for data the other end sends back).
Failing that, the connection will be closed and you will get an error.
Failing that, you will have bigger problems to deal with than a broken TCP connection.
TCP isn't perfect. If you care more about latency than every single byte arriving intact, for example if you're sending live audio or video, you [possibly] don't want to use TCP. If you're particularly concerned about security, you'll need to take some extra steps to avoid certain well-known attacks. Bearing this in mind, TCP does hit a sweet spot that's more than good enough for a number or applications, and it does so by making only minimal and reasonable assumptions about the system it's running on.
Not bad at all for something invented when the Net as we now know it was still firmly in the realm of speculation.
Labels: abstraction, TCP
Renaming social networking
I've previously argued that what we call "social networking" comprises two very separate things:
A set of features for navigating from your immediate connections to their connections and so on, generally with a filtering capability ("Who in my network is over 30/says they liked Casablanca/joined since I last looked/etc?")
Names, logos, slogans and other branding to identify people as having something humanly meaningful in common ("all the cool kids/movie buffs/seasoned professionals/etc join this site")
I'm looking for good names for these parts. The first one needs something technical, like "connection graph navigation" but less of a mouthful. The second one needs something more human, like "banners" (as in "rallying under the banner of ..."), but snappier and more evocative.
I'm sure that the combination will continue to be called "social networking," whether or not the label really fits, but it would be good to have nice crisp labels for the parts when we want to talk about them without confusion.
Labels: social networks, terminology, Web 2.0
How many lawyer jokes does it take to build the new web?
From my previous post (and perhaps this one), it might seem that I take a dim view of lawyers. I don't. True, I've found that using the phrase "my attorney" is generally a sign that things are not going as well as they might, but that's not the attorney's fault. My point is not that lawyers are bad, but that there is a definite legal angle to the growth of the web. It's inevitable that lawyers will be involved.
Personally, I tend to think this will be a good thing. In the long run the legal picture will be clearer than if (somehow) no lawyers were involved. I realize that not everyone will agree with this. A good lawyer, of course, could make a decent case for either side ...
Labels: law
And yet, I remain strangely optimistic ...
So here's how I think we might eventually get to a world of personal datastores, in two easy steps:
(In progress) More and more people notice that, say, health provider A and health provider B have their own data fiefdoms. That presents an opportunity to actualize paradigm-busting disruptive technology by combining them into a single, personalized, customer-focused data vault. Maybe the patient even gets to see what's in it, if that doesn't violate any privacy rules ...
People start to notice that they now have a health-records data fiefdom, a travel-records fiefdom, an entertainment-preferences fiefdom, a "who's connected to whom" fiefdom, and so forth. These are provided by several different entities, each with its own local UI customs and its own data model for nuts and bolts like names, dates, addresses, ratings and so forth. That presents an opportunity to unleash previously roadblocked potentialities, synergizing to achieve optimality by combining them into a single, personalized, individual-focused datastore.
This is great news. The VCs get two swings at the piñata instead of just one (as would happen if we went directly to full personal datastores), so who knows what kind of candy will fall out? We code grinders get to grind out twice as much code, and the research community gets to write twice as many papers. Win-win-win.
Doubtless XML will be involved at several points.
And lawyers.
Labels: disruptive technology, imperfection, personal datastore
Health care and datastores
One possible killer app for personal datastores is medical record keeping. Right now, (in the US, at least) every health care provider I use has its own copy of my medical history. It's generally not hard to get your old provider to send your new provider your records, but the point is that they need to be sent at all. The inevitable result is a multitude of small mistakes and discrepancies as essentially the same form gets filled in or transcribed over and over again, leaving you to wonder what sort of large mistakes and discrepancies might creep in while no one's looking.
Joe Andrieu relates a story of Doc Searls dealing with just such problems -- in a state with universal health care -- in his own case [The story in question starts with the section marked "User centrism as system architecture," but as usual the whole post is worth reading]. As he says, a personal datastore would make the whole situation much simpler. Your medical data is part of your datastore. You give your providers permission to read and update it. There's only one copy of it, so all the data replication problems go away. You control access to it.
If you want a new provider to have access, just say so. You could even give blanket permission to any accredited hospital, in case of emergency. This permission would, of course, live in the world-readable part of your datastore.
I have to say it sounds beautiful, and I'm confident that it, or something functionally equivalent, will eventually happen. But how do we get there?
Given that this is very personal medical information, privacy is a major concern. Health care providers (again in the US, at least) are bound by strict privacy rules. Without digging into the details of HIPAA, one of whose aims is actually to promote electronic data interchange, suffice it to say that achieving HIPAA compliance has been a long, expensive and sometimes painful process for the US medical industry.
One result of this process is that providers (and any other "covered entities") are limited in what they may disclose to other parties. While the intent of the privacy rules seems very much in harmony with the idea of a personal datastore, the realization laid out in the law is very much built on the idea of each provider having its own data fiefdom, with strictly limited interchange among the various fiefdoms.
By contrast, in a personal datastore world, providers would never have to worry about disclosing data to other providers. In fact, it would be best for a provider never even to take a local copy, except perhaps for emergency backup purposes, since the patient's datastore itself is the definitive, up-to-date version. This could be particularly important if, say, a patient in a hospital is also being treated by an unaffiliated specialist. Anything one of them does is automatically visible by the other, unless there is a particular reason to restrict access.
The geek in me is fascinated to once again see the concepts of cache coherency and abstraction turning up in the larger world (whence we geeks are only borrowing them). But the health care consumer in me is concerned that the less-than-abstract form of the law, together with the need to implement it, has almost certainly produced a system with far too much inertia to switch to a datastore-centered approach anytime soon.
Obstacle one is that hospital's data systems just aren't set up for it, and after going through the wringer to get the present setup in place, they are not going to be in any hurry to implement a new scheme. Even with that out of the way, it is the providers that are on the hook to ensure privacy. They will want some assurance that relying on personal datastores does not expose them to any new liability.
That in turn will depend on personal datastores having been shown to be secure and reliable. Which is why, although I have no doubt that medical record keeping would be a great application for personal datastores, it seems unlikely to be the first, "killer" app that breaks them into the mainstream.
On the other hand, in chasing down the links for the lead paragraph, I ran across this post on Joe Andrieu's blog about Microsoft HealthVault. It looks like a step in the right direction, but curiously enough, only health care providers can access your vault directly. You can't.
Labels: Doc Searls, health care, Joe Andrieu, personal datastore, privacy
Who owns a social connection?
Re-reading, I see I didn't draw out a point I meant to draw out in my recent post on Facebook:
If I keep my own database of social connections, in my own store and on my own dime, and then essentially copy that information up to a new social networking site when I join it, in what sense can that site claim it owns that connection?
Just to keep the bot question out of it, suppose that my friends and I make an agreement that whenever one of us joins a site another is already on, we'll link up with each other. This is pretty much what is going to happen anyway. The agreement just formalizes the process (and the bot, if any, automates it).
As far as I can tell, a site that provides social networking features is doing two things:
Making it easy to navigate from your immediate circle, which you instinctively hold in your head, to the next few layers out, which quickly become larger-than-human-sized. (the networking part)
Provide a badge of identity for something resembling a community. (the social part).
The first part is technical. You don't need a social networking site to do this sort of navigation. You need permission to access your friends' connection data (and technical means, such as formats and protocols, to enable this). The more I think about this aspect, the less I see it as something that any particular site can own. Your immediate connections belong to you.
The graph of everyone's connections to everyone doesn't belong to anyone. You can navigate through it by getting permission from the various owners. This means that the graph is split up and that there's probably no one who can navigate anywhere at will, but I tend to think that's a good thing. It exactly reflects privacy in the real world because that, too, rests with the individual (modulo some classic philosophical arguments about the rights of individuals vs. society as a whole -- but the point is that those arguments apply equally in the real and virtual worlds).
Technically, it also seems dodgy that each entity that wants to feature social networking produces its own slightly different implementation.
On the other hand it seems natural and probably useful for sites to provide banners that people can organize themselves under.
Labels: facebook, privacy, social networks
Facebook and copy protection
A slightly different take on the previous post:
Facebook's terms of service bring out an interesting gray area in copy protection. The gist of the contract appears to be that you own whatever you put up, but you don't own anything else. In particular, you don't own your friends list. Facebook does. I haven't checked, but I assume this is the norm on such sites, not just a Facebook thing.
But what does that ownership mean? Facebook obviously doesn't mind you telling people "I know so-and-so on Facebook." That's good for business. They shouldn't mind if you happen to have an email address book that has the exact same contents as your friends list. That's none of their business, and it would clearly fit into the "personal, non-commercial use" exception.
On the other hand, they definitely mind if you, say, write a script to crawl your friends list and whatever can be reached from there and make a copy of it. There are very specific "no bots" clauses aimed at just that.
The presumption is that if you're using a bot, as opposed to personally browsing, cutting and pasting, you must have some commercial reason for it. It will be interesting to see how well that holds up.
Another thought: For most of history, copy protection has relied on it just being too slow to copy things yourself. Technology has disrupted that, starting with the photocopier and the tape recorder, spurring the development of cryptographic copy protection.
"No bot" clauses are a sort of throwback. The content is unprotected, beyond requiring a password to get into the system, but if you access too much of it too fast, the hammer falls.
Labels: copy protection, facebook, Intellectual Property
Personal datastores, agents and Facebook
If you become my friend on Facebook, who owns that connection? Facebook says they do, and why not? Connections are the basis of their business, people join Facebook for the connections, and Facebook is paying for the servers. If I understand their terms of service, you own the material that you put up on your site (photos, videos, etc.) and they own everything else.
I ran across the back-story for this while browsing Joe Andrieu's blog. It turns out that Robert Scoble of Scobleizer fame got himself kicked off Facebook by running a script (he doesn't say what script) to scrape data off the site. The interesting thing is that that's verboten. The ominous thing is that it may even run you afoul of the law (presumably the DMCA).
A while ago I mused about a converse situation, wherein you and I keep our connection information in our personal datastores. When I join a new service, an agent (which I own and control) looks at my connection information and finds people that I already know that I should link up with if they're on the new service. You're on that list. My agent calls your agent, they do lunch and then go push the appropriate buttons to make the link on the service.
The net result is that when I join a new service, in short order all my friends outside the service are friends inside the service (or maybe not all -- I might tell my agent only to invite "professional" contacts on one service, "casual" contacts on another, etc. They might also tell their agents to decline the invitation.). This all costs an extra agent, but only one per customer, and again, control of the agent rests with the individual, not the social networking site.
Unlike Scoble's scraping predicament, this scheme pushes data onto the service instead of pulling it off. However, it's still probably against Facebook's terms of service (and possibly illegal), since it's being done by a bot.
The question is whether the social-networking-enabled sites would go for such a thing. On the one hand, it helps create connections, and connections are their bread and butter. On the other hand, it leaves the actual connections in the users' control.
Assuming my friends' agents cooperate, I can easily figure out who's in who's network on what service without actually logging into that service. In fact, if their agents grant me permission, I can find out if they're connected on a particular site without even joining that site. And why not? They could tell me that in person without violating any agreement, so why not over the web?
I can't get at the site-specific data for people I find without actually logging into the site, unless they also make that data available from their datastore via their agent.
But why wouldn't they? If they've put their job history up on some professional site and they're willing to let me link up with them on that site, obviously they don't mind my seeing that data. They may even want me to. Which leads to a couple of points:
Social networking is a feature, not a service. In particular, it's a feature that can be added to personal datastores without any centralized service at all, as long as there's a defined protocol for agents to talk to each other.
In which case, exactly why would we need social networking sites?
Labels: DMCA, facebook, personal datastore, Robert Scoble, social networks
Samsara in your browser
Back in the olden days, a web browser was a simple thing. There was one window. There was one thread of execution. It went
Get a URL, either typed in or from clicking on a link
Fetch whatever's there
in a single happy loop.
The browser ran on top of the native operating system and its window was managed by the native window manager.
I forget exactly in what order, but over time the features crept in, as features are wont to do:
It's nice to have more than one window up at one time without having to fire up a second instance of the browser.
Those windows take up a lot of space and have a way of getting lost if there are lots of other, unrelated windows on the screen. Tabs are more compact and are easy to find and switch between.
Pop-up windows can be a pain, but they can also be very helpful when used responsibly.
HTTP has no memory of past requests, so servers need some other way of remembering what has happened so far. Cookies allow the server to store small pieces of information on the client machine and have the browser send them back in later requests. Generally, cookies are used as reference keys to whatever information you really want to persist.
Old-school HTML forms require every action to go through the server. This is particularly annoying when you've made one silly typo in the middle of a large form, but you don't find out about it until the server processes the whole thing. If the browser could keep track of what you've already entered and perform simple checks itself, everything would run more smoothly.
HTML is nice, but there are all sorts of things it doesn't support. Enter ECMAscript, Flash other programming platforms. These also allow the browser to handle forms more smoothly (see previous item).
There are more different kinds of document than just HTML. Not everyone wants everything, so it would be great if any third party that felt the need could add support for a new format. Modern browsers have a plug-in facility allowing new features to be added (via a URL, of course).
With multiple tabs or windows open at one time, the browser should be able to do more than one thing at once. Otherwise a slow response on one page grinds everything to a halt.
The result is a system (the browser) that can run arbitrary applications, control multiple windows and multitask [Actually, the OS is providing the multitasking, but as far as I can tell there's no equivalent of a task manager that will let me kill runaway scripts or plug-in code, or even see what's running.]. It can be extended by adding new applications or even new languages via plug-ins.
In short, it looks a lot like an operating system. This is good, because it means browsers are powerful, but also not so good, because it means that the browser is doing many of the same things the operating system is doing, but slightly differently and with a completely separate code base.
Generally when this happens, pressure builds for consolidation. Whether this will happen in the present case is anyone's guess, but I wouldn't be shocked if someone started touting (or is already touting) a system in which the window management, plug-in handling and other such advanced browser features migrate back to the operating system.
Leaving the browser as a simple, lightweight mini-application which gets a URL, loads it, and displays it.
Labels: samsara, Web 2.0
The National New York Geographic Times
A little bit ago I mentioned a late-80s Media Lab brainstorming session in which someone suggested that, given "effectively infinite" bandwidth of 500Mb/s, one could have "a daily National Geographic-quality New York Times with today's news rather than yesterday's, manufactured at the breakfast table."
I wanted to take another look at how that stacks up with where we really are, 20 years later, because I can see two opposite conclusions one could draw, equally not-quite-convincing:
It happened. Printed newspapers and magazines are not gone, but it's quite possible to get one's news entirely from online sources, up to the minute, with pictures and even video (The video's a bit on the small and grainy side, but at least you don't have to have someone standing by the TV set with a coat hanger, a roll of aluminum foil and one hand out the window. Progress.)
It's nowhere near happening. No one even makes a mass-market printer that will produce broadsheet-sized, glossy magazine-quality copy quickly and (just as vital) cheaply. A few dozen pages at magazine-quality resolution is probably running into gigabytes even with compression (photos take way, way more space than text, so the question is what portion of the page is photos). That's a daunting number for most of us.
I'd synthesize these thus: It didn't happen exactly as envisioned, but the basic shift toward real-time, media-rich news is very much ongoing. The high-definition version hasn't happened partly because the bandwidth isn't there, but arguably one reason the bandwidth isn't there is that high definition is not nearly as important as immediacy.
Labels: broadband, Media Lab, news
Steam-powered computing
I generally try to stay a bit behind the curve, but here's a case where I'm just now hearing about something cool that's been around for twenty to forty years, depending on how you count. I don't feel too bad, though. The whole point of steampunk is that it draws on technology that fell out of favor around the same time as the bustle and the ascot tie.
As one might expect of a genre that's been around for a few decades, steampunk comprises a fairly extensive and varied body of work, including literature, film, comics and art objects. Steampunkopedia has a fairly impressive pile o' links, if you want to browse further. I've personally only scratched the surface, and will probably not have time to do much more, though I would like to read The Difference Engine at some point.
What drew me into all this bounty in the first place was a radio mention of the Steampunk Workshop which, along with other enterprises of its kind, actually produces modern gadgets in Victorian dress, such as this retrofitted keyboard (step lightly around the AdSense solicitations). I particularly like the Roman-numeral function keys. And why stop there? Datamancer, an affiliated site, will do you a whole steampunk laptop.
Also of interest, in the same spirit if not quite the same aesthetic, is a water-cooled computer constructed with parts from the local Home Depot.
Neat hacks, all.
Labels: neat hacks, steampunk
Tourism today
Here's Richard Stallman talking to an audience in Stockholm, at the Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan (Royal Institute of Technology), in October 1986. I've edited a bit to draw out the point I want to make. Please see the original transcript for further detail.
Now "tourism" is a very old tradition at the AI lab, that went along with our other forms of anarchy, and that was that we'd let outsiders come and use the machine. Now in the days where anybody could walk up to the machine and log in as anything he pleased this was automatic: if you came and visited, you could log in and you could work. Later on we formalized this a little bit, as an accepted tradition specially when the Arpanet began and people started connecting to our machines from all over the country.
Now what we'd hope for was that these people would actually learn to program and they would start changing the operating system . If you say this to the system manager anywhere else he'd be horrified. If you'd suggest that any outsider might use the machine, he'll say ``But what if he starts changing our system programs?'' But for us, when an outsider started to change the system programs, that meant he was showing a real interest in becoming a contributing member of the community.
We would always encourage them to do this. [...] So we would always hope for tourists to become system maintainers, and perhaps then they would get hired, after they had already begun working on system programs and shown us that they were capable of doing good work.
But the ITS machines had certain other features that helped prevent this from getting out of hand, one of these was the ``spy'' feature, where anybody could watch what anyone else was doing. And of course tourists loved to spy, they think it's such a neat thing, it's a little bit naughty you see, but the result is that if any tourist starts doing anything that causes trouble there's always somebody else watching him.
So pretty soon his friends would get very mad because they would know that the continued existence of tourism depended on tourists being responsible. So usually there would be somebody who would know who the guy was, and we'd be able to let him leave us alone. And if we couldn't, then what we would [do] was we would turn off access from certain places completely, for a while, and when we turned it back on, he would have gone away and forgotten about us. And so it went on for years and years and years.
Everyone can change the system. In fact, everyone is openly encouraged to change the system.
People who make good changes rise in the ranks and eventually help run the place.
Everyone can see what people are up to, and in particular what changes they're making.
Vandals are locked out and generally go away after a bit (likely to be replaced by new, nearly identical vandals). Sites can be blocked if blocking individuals doesn't work.
One of rms's main themes is that this is The Way Things Should Be. Now, it's all well and good to have this sort of semi-anarchic meritocracy in the hallows of academia, with access physically limited to those who worked in the lab or wandered in off the street. It might even work on the early Arpanet, several orders of magnitude smaller than today's wild and woolly web. But surely it'll never work on a big scale in the commercial world. After all, one of rms's other main themes is that commercialism killed the AI lab (at least in the form he describes) and threatens environments like it.
The obvious counter-argument is that open source software (a term, I should mention, that rms disfavors) works quite well on the same basic principles, albeit not always strictly according to the FSF model. It's a good point, but the average open source project is a fairly small system. I doubt there are many with more than a few dozen active participants at any given time. Such projects also tend to have a limited audience, a limited pool of potential contributors, or both.
However, there is at least one very large and prominent system, with hundreds of thousands of participants, that the bullet points above describe almost as though I'd written them with it in mind (which I did): Wikipedia.
Labels: computing history, open source, Richard Stallman, wikipedia
How much bandwidth does a man need, Mr. Tolstoy?
Earl comments that we probably already have enough, or nearly enough bandwidth to saturate human capacity, but not enough to satisfy our human desire for new shiny pretty things. Or at least I hope that's a reasonable paraphrase.
I would say it depends on what kind of information you're trading in. If you're dealing in metadata like who knows whom, or dealing in random facts like the score of every major sports event in the world, or in text like newspaper copy, even a dial-up connection can feed you information faster than you can process it.
If you're dealing in sound, a dial-up connection can certainly carry voice (that's what it was designed for, after all). Decent stereo sound requires more like 100kb/s (mp3 takes about a megabyte a minute). That's a bit beyond dial-up, but cable and DSL can handle it.
Analogously, if you want YouTube-quality video, you can certainly get that over cable or DSL, but plain DVD quality, at 4Mb/s, needs what's still an uncommonly big pipe. And that still leaves plenty of room before we hit the limits of perception. Those finely-tuned eyes of ours are bandwidth-hungry.
On the other hand, as Earl points out, you hit diminishing returns well before you hit the limits of perception. That last Mb/s of bandwidth doesn't improve the experience nearly as much as the first one. The difference between regular TV and HD is not nearly the difference between TV and no TV (and some would argue whether that last one represents an improvement, either).
Storage hardware is already entering a new regime of plenty. You can now get a terabyte disk off the shelf. My spell checker flags "terabyte", but soon enough we'll be throwing around (I'm guessing) "T" like we now throw around "gig" and "meg". Borrowing from those displays you see in the camera/music player department, a terabyte can hold:
A million minutes, or more than two solid years, of music.
Hundreds of thousands of high-quality photos.
Hundreds of hours of DVD-quality video.
For less than the cost of a humongous monitor to watch it on, you can now get enough disk to store your entire DVD collection and (likely) every home video you ever shot, plus your entire song collection. Or you could store every phone conversation you've ever had in your life (phone quality requires much less than mp3, in case you've spent more than two years of your life chatting).
If you have dial-up at 56Kb/s, it would take 4-5 years to fill a terabyte, assuming the connection is running full-tilt, constantly, with every bit recorded on the disk. When you're done with that, you'll probably be able to pop in a 10TB disk for the same price and keep going ... The question is, will you still have a 56Kb/s dial-up connection?
In the big happy family of Moore's law, bandwidth into the house is the poor cousin (processing power is the crazy uncle in the attic, but maybe I'll get to that later). At some point, bandwidth will reach the point that disk is reaching now, where we'll actually have to think a bit about how to use it all. Anomalously, that point still seems fairly far off.
But then, how much do we really need? In Tolstoy's famous story How much land does a man need? (which I haven't read), it turns out you need about three feet by six feet. By six feet deep.
Labels: broadband, human bandwidth, Leo Tolstoy
David Hull
Photo credit: Paul Downey
Currently employed at Google, but all opinions expressed here are mine and not my employer's
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Did the internet kill the radio tower?
"Half your advertising budget is wasted. You just don't know which half." The other day I turned on my radio on the drive h... | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line863 |
__label__cc | 0.740645 | 0.259355 | OrbitaENGAGE
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Beyond HIPAA: Securing Voice Assistants for Healthcare Applications
May 23, 2019 By Bill Cava | Chief Product Officer at Orbita IN security, IN HIPAA, IN voice assistants, IN smart speakers
An important announcement made by Amazon on April 4th bears repeating: “The Alexa Skills Kit now enables select Covered Entities and their Business Associates, subject to the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), to build Alexa skills that transmit and receive protected health information as part of an invite-only program.”
In a recent Orbita blog post titled Amazon Alexa Is Now HIPAA-Eligible. What's Next?, we explored the importance and impact of this announcement to healthcare providers, payers, and other businesses and organizations that are subject to HIPAA.
In this post, we’ll discuss how HIPAA compliant voice assistants fit into the spectrum of healthcare applications and look at what else is needed for a voice assistant to meet the HIPAA security guidelines.
HIPAA eligible versus HIPAA compliant
Before we continue, it’s important to note that Amazon announcement refers to the availability of a HIPAA “eligible” version of the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) - not HIPAA compliant. That’s more of an issue of semantics than security. The distinction is that organizations can be HIPAA compliant, but enabling technologies and services, like Amazon’s ASK, are just HIPAA eligible. It’s a subtle distinction, but important because just using a HIPAA eligible service does not necessarily make your organization HIPAA compliant.
Moving along the spectrum of voice healthcare assistants
Healthcare-related voice assistants can be organized into five categories along a spectrum; those used to Inform, Assist, Assess, Dispense, and Prescribe.
Applications in the Inform and Assist categories don’t require personal information. Instead, they are meant to do things like answer questions or provide instructions. None of the information passed through the voice assistant can identify a patient or compromise their privacy. There are no HIPAA concerns with these types of voice assistants.
Applications further along the spectrum (Assess, Dispense, and Prescribe) need the personal health information (PHI) of the person using the conversational application to be not only useful but also provide relevant medical information.
Making virtual assistants HIPAA compliant
The announcement from Amazon is only half the story. For a voice assistant to be truly HIPAA compliant, the PHI of the person using it must be stored in a secure backend system.
For example, weight management voice assistant needs to know the identity of the person using it and needs to transmit the person’s current weight as well as other relevant PHI. This may include any medication schedules, blood pressure readings, or blood sugar levels if the user has diabetes. The voice assistant must also store these measurements as well as data transmitted from past interactions.
Account linking allows an Alexa skill to be connected with a backend system. Account linking, in turn, uses OAUTH, which is an industry standard protocol allowing or authorizing a skill to connect with a backend system without having to share the credentials.
Developing a voice assistant that requires account linking is not a trivial endeavor. Orbita dramatically simplifies this process by offering an out-of-the-box OAuth provider that is easy to configure – just select the appropriate item from the OAuth Provider menu. Additionally, because of Orbita's extensibility, organizations that have standardized on 3rd party OAuth providers (such as OKTA, Auth0, or One Login) can integrate with those as well.
Of course, like any secure system, the HIPAA compliant skill needs to authenticate the person using it. Methods that exist now include assigning a PIN or phrase that users can speak to the voice assistant to confirm their identity. This is not a new concept; you use it every time you access your bank account through an ATM. Other methods include the use of a one-time password that changes with every use and is retrieved from a different device, like through a text message to a smartphone.
Orbita removes the complexities associated with enabling one-time passwords, magic phrases, and PINs by offering pre-configured templates that can be used to ensure the person engaging with your Alexa Voice Skill or chat bot is who they say they are; an imperative when dealing with sensitive health information.
Boston Children’s Hospital’s HIPAA-eligible assistant
The same day that Amazon announced that their Alexa Skills Kit was HIPAA eligible, six personalized health skills were also launched. These skills were produced by Livongo, Connect Atrium Health, Swedish Health, Cigna, Express Scripts, and Boston Children's Hospital (BCH).
BCH’s Alexa skill is called “MyChildren’s Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS)”. The MyChildren’s skill allows for families for parents and caregivers to update their child’s care team on how the child is doing since leaving the hospital.
MyChildren’s uses a survey to track things like pain level, recovery, and compliance with medication. These assessments are delivered to the family on a pre-determined timeline coinciding with the child’s expected progress. With this information, the care team can monitor the child's recovery on a more frequent and timelier basis.
Apart from relying on the HIPAA eligible Alexa Skill set, MyChildren’s also uses the Authorization method mentioned above to link to its backend system. In addition, it requires users to authenticate themselves using a PIN.
In short, Amazon's move to make Alexa Skills Kit HIPAA eligible opens the door to the true potential of voice assistants in healthcare. As with the development of any voice assistant, understanding the complexities and benefits of this new aspect of this ever-evolving technology is an important first step to utilizing it to its full capacity.
Amazon’s announcement is very promising for the U.S. healthcare industry. If you work for a provider organization, payer, pharmaceutical firm, or a healthcare solution vendor and you carry any responsibility for patient experience, this news from Amazon impacts you. Clinicians and patients alike have been using hands-free, voice interfaces in their homes and have been demanding the same usability for clinical care applications, so it has seemed inevitable that voice assistants like Alexa and smart speaker-equipped devices like the Amazon Echo would find their way into clinical applications.
If you’re considering a secure, voice-powered virtual assistant for a clinical application, contact Orbita. We are the healthcare leader in conversational AI for enterprise voice- and chatbot-powered virtual assistants and can help you navigate these new waters.
Watch Orbita’s latest webinar on demand - Secure Voice in Healthcare: The What, Why, and How of HIPAA-Eligible Voice Assistants
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__label__wiki | 0.506084 | 0.506084 | Good And Evil In Billy Budd
Good and evil exist in all things. In Herman Melville's novel Billy Budd, good is represented by Billy Budd and evil, by John Claggart. Together, they embody Melville's portrayal of opposing forces that run throughout all aspects of human experience. In addition, Melville provides for the possibility of a balance between good and evil through the character of Captain Vere. In Freudian terminology, I might view Claggart as Id, untamed instinct. Billy can then be seen as Ego, existing to contain and direct Id instincts in a productive fashion, Vere could be seen as Superego in his struggles with his conscience to decide between the letter of the law and his own view of Billy. This novel, Melville's final work, stresses his belief that good does not, indeed, can not, exist without evil, nor, since Adam and Eve, has either stood alone.
From the beginning, Billy Budd awed his companions with the strength of his love for life. When he was taken from the ship, The Rights of Man, Captain Graveling became disturbed at the thought of losing such a man, saying "Beg pardon, but you don't understand, Lieutenant. See here now. Before I shipped that young fellow, my forecastle was a rat-pit of quarrels. It was black times, I tell you aboard the Rights here. I was worried to that degree my pipe had no comfort for me. But Billy came, and it was like a Catholic priest striking peace in an Irish shindy...a virtue went out of him, sugaring the sour ones." Clearly from the start, we are made aware of Billy's goodness, his ability to bring peace to the roughest of men. He is likened to a Priest, and portrayed as exuding a sweetness which seems contagious. The crew saw him as the "sweet and pleasant fellow," and a "peacemaker." Billy although sweet and innocent, is still not perfect. Indeed, he has a minor flaw, rendering him somehow more human. At times, when under emotional strain,and he cannot express himself, he stutters. On his new ship, Billy faces John Claggart, the master-at-arms. Claggart had the job "of preserving order on the populous lower gun decks." Claggart tends to take his job too zealously, flogging young sailors on any excuse when in fact, they have done nothing wrong. Melville immediately paints a heinous picture of this man, as someone with an overarching need to be in control, to the point where he uses punishment where none is necessary, to further his sense of superiority over others. The fact that he must do this to cover up his inner feelings of inferiority, goes unnoticed by Claggart and most everyone else.
Even in his descriptions, Melville gives Claggart and Billy distinctive looks which emphasize their characters. Melville sets Claggart apart from the rest of the crew by virtue of his education and his appearance. From the start, he is...
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__label__cc | 0.50087 | 0.49913 | ESports & Tech
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Goldman Sachs Has Great News for Oil Investors, but with a Warning
Harsh Singh Chauhan
Oil prices have rallied big time in 2019 on the back of production cuts that have led to a decline in the industry’s oversupply levels. There are several indications of the oil price rally continuing in the future, which is why the latest estimate from Goldman Sachs doesn’t come across as a surprise.
Brent crude is now expected to average $66 per barrel this year.
According to Goldman Sachs’ latest forecast, Brent crude is now expected to average $66 per barrel this year. The investment bank’s earlier estimate called for an average Brent crude oil price of $62.50 per barrel. It also raised its average for the WTI crude oil price from $55.50 per barrel earlier to $59.50 per barrel.
Goldman has been encouraged to boost its oil price targets for the year based on the ongoing supply chain actions that are being taken by major oil producers across the globe. The investment bank expects the forward curve of Brent oil prices to shift into backwardation, which indicates that the oil market will remain tight going forward.
Also, Goldman Sachs analysts expect that there will be a supply deficit to the tune of 0.5 million barrels per day in the global oil market during the second quarter of 2019. That’s not surprising as the production cuts pledged by OPEC and its allies are supposed to remain in place until the end of the second quarter.
As it turns out, OPEC and its partners are complying strictly with the cuts. For instance, 11 OPEC members followed a 135% compliance rate in March as compared to 101% in February. In all, OPEC’s production fell to a four-year low during the month of March, according to Reuters.
However, Goldman Sachs anticipates that the oil price rally will eventually lose steam in the second half of the year. According to the investment bank:
While the macro risk-on environment and the threat of disruptions may drive spot prices even higher, we still expect that prices will decline gradually from this summer as shale and OPEC production increases.
Now, the oil price rally in the second half of the year depends on how OPEC and its partners exit the ongoing production cuts. For instance, key OPEC partner Russia has given an indication that it wants to boost its output from the month of June as the country’s energy minister believes that further supply cuts are not needed if the market attains a balance in the second half of the year.
However, there’s a good chance that the oil rally could continue because of supply issues elsewhere across the globe. Oil production in Libya, for example, could be under pressure because of civil war-related violence going on in the country. The country accounts for 1% of the global oil production at 1.1 million barrels per day, but a big chunk of that might be under risk because of the ongoing unrest.
As a result, there’s a good chance that the oil rally could be sustained because of the other events outside of OPEC’s oil production cuts.
The opinions provided in this article are those of the author and do not constitute investment advice. Readers should assume that the author and/or employees of Capital 10X hold positions in the company or companies mentioned in the article. For more information, please see our Content Disclaimer.
Harsh Singh Chauhan has a wealth of experience evaluating publicly-traded companies across several verticals, including technology, oil and gas, retail, and consumer goods. His financial writing has been published across platforms such as The Motley Fool, TheStreet, and Seeking Alpha. Harsh's philosophy is to find great businesses for the long run based on company fundamentals and industry prospects. Address: 682 Indian Road, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 2C9. Phone: 416-721-8257.
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__label__cc | 0.694044 | 0.305956 | Will the Rangers Make the Playoffs? Live from the Blue Seats – Episode 1
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Home/Rants/Regarding Don Cherry
Regarding Don Cherry
Justin Nov 19, 2019
MARK BLINCH/REUTERS
Last Monday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) made the long overdue decision to fire iconic analyst and awful suit enthusiast Don Cherry. The firing came in response to (the latest) hateful and bigoted comments about immigrants on his Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada. Cherry’s full quote:
You people… love our way of life, love our milk and honey. At least you could pay a couple of bucks for poppies or something like that. These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada.”
For those who have followed Cherry’s career, or hell, for those who have been conscious of his presence in the sport know that this statement, as reprehensible as it is, is hardly the worst thing that Cherry has ever said. He doesn’t specifically name any ethic group or immigrant status, but the intention of the statement was abundantly clear.
For anyone else, these types of comments would have been career ending in almost any other context, but in this case it’s much more difficult given Cherry’s cult-status in the hockey community.
As a white kid growing up in upstate New York, with a relatively conservative family, I was your prototypical demographic of an American hockey player. My friends and I considered Don Cherry to be an irreplaceable part of hockey culture; I owned volumes 1-8,000 of Rock‘em Sock‘em Hockey and nothing could get you ready for some highlight videos like Cherry’s signature “Let’s Go!” and his trusty English Bull Terrier, Blue.
Cherry’s boisterous personality and passion for the game was influential for a generation of young hockey players. He loved players who looked and played and talked the way we did. He echoed the same sentiments of hard work and standing up for your teammates as our coaches did. His message was tailor made for hockey’s culture and the development of young, white, North American hockey players. The trouble was, at the time, we didn’t realize that his message was for us, to the exclusion of everyone else. To this day, I’m still grappling with the socio-political implications of the bubble that I grew up in and the cancerous lack of empathy it fosters. This, for me, is understanding what white privilege actually means.
Two weeks ago, Pat wrote a thoughtful post on the challenge of “sticking to sports” in our society today. I’ve been thinking a lot about that piece lately, and the implications of the attempt to compartmentalize our interests in the light of increasingly toxic and inescapable political circumstances in the US and Canada in the era of Donald Trump.
Many of the comments I saw in response to that post were basically the sentiment that people don’t come here to read about politics, they come here for analyses of the on-ice product of the New York Rangers. Therein lies the challenge. The reality of the situation is that politics have always been a significant part of sports, especially hockey. The issue coming to a head now is that they have predominantly been conservative politics.
Think about it for a minute. National anthems, military appreciation nights, ceremonies honoring police officers, the inherent nationalism of international competition, the “good Canadian boy” culture. These are all inherently political statements, as innocuous as they may seem to some. Now, there is obviously nothing wrong with supporting these institutions, in a vacuum. This is especially easy for me, as a white male, to say sitting here spilling digital ink about one of the whitest, male-est sports in the world.
This isn’t about me, though. This is about other people. The people Don Cherry viciously maligns. Women. People of color. LGBTQ+ people. Immigrants. Hell, even western Europeans. The notion that you might have a real-life, nuanced and personal reason for not lining up to show blind support for military policy, interventionism or supporting law enforcement is so uniquely offensive that it can ruin the experience of the sport for some. That is how deeply engrained conservative thought is in hockey. You have one “Pride Night” in a non-traditional hockey market and you would think that the Stanley Cup was being lit on fire at center ice at Maple Leaf Gardens.
It is ultimately the push back against the status quo of hawkish, nationalistic iconography in sports that is “bringing politics into sports”. It’s not bringing politics into sports; it’s bringing different politics into sports. The notion that these “people” who aren’t the original occupants of this space bringing new ideas and a lack of genuflection for the “history and tradition” that has actively worked to exclude them is insidious and wrong.
Take a look at Bobby Orr’s response to Cherry’s firing:
This guy is the most generous and caring guy that I know, and what they’ve done to him up there is disgraceful,” “It’s a new world, I guess. The freedom of speech doesn’t matter. “
Touching again on Pat’s article regarding free speech, I continue to find it both perplexing and maddening at the same time. The freedom of speech provides protection from being silenced by state actors (government agencies). It in no way protects you from being mocked, ridiculed, de-platformed by private organizations or, most importantly, from being fired from your job.
You are accountable for your actions and when you spew deliberately bigoted and harmful rhetoric, you cannot just hide behind “free speech” and expect it to all end well. In the age of social media and instant content consumption, there is a heightened expectation of “think before you speak”, because the consequences can be severe.
Don Cherry and most of the hockey world refuses to accept the evolving reality of the game. It’s a global game now, with women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color and god forbid, immigrants playing the game at high levels and de-emphasizing fighting and some of the other “pillars” of the sport that people like Cherry hold in such high regard. This is the reality now, and it happened on its own. There was no globalist conspiracy. The game grew into what it is today naturally and in spite of active desire from the power structure to keep the game as regressive and white as possible.
I know there are people out there who’s response to this article will be “look, I’m not a racist or a sexist or anything like that, I’m just old school/conservative/whatever and would prefer things be a certain way or don’t like the direction things are going”, but what you have to understand is that to believe in that perspective, whether willfully or not, you are giving oxygen to a political and social movement that seeks to deny basic human rights to entire groups of people and to silence those advocating for meaningful change. If you don’t believe change is necessary or beneficial in this context, you have not made a meaningful effort to understand how these policies and cultural institutions have harmed other people.
This is the legacy that Don Cherry leaves behind. He was and continues to be a racist fossil in a ridiculous suit who could not look past his own hatred to see what the game had become and embrace what now makes it great. If the age of Donald Trump has taught us one thing, it is that we are at a crossroads in both society and sports, and the historically maligned and silenced aren’t going to continue to be. We must continue to fight for this kind of progress.
The difference now is when these things come to a head, the true feelings of people like Cherry are unveiled for the world to see, and people actually care. He learned (or hasn’t) that the denial of peoples’ right to exist or participate will not be tolerated in modern society, and his regressive views will hopefully be relegated to fringe-ideologue status, because those views hold no place in a civilized society. Don Cherry got exactly what he deserved, it’s just a shame it took this long.
Richter1994 says:
Don Saleski on Fred Shero and Don Cherry care of Bill Meltzer, Flyers’ blogger:
“I don’t remember Freddie ever really raising his voice and yelling. He didn’t have to. If he wasn’t happy with you, you’d know about it. He could be pretty tough on you when he had to be, but he didn’t yell. We all respected Freddie so much. We all knew what our role was on the team. Freddie knew how to get the best of his players, prepare his team to play, and adjust things when he needed to. That’s why he won championships at every level.
With Don Cherry, when I was in Colorado, it was just the opposite. We didn’t have a good team. So, in fairness, there was only so much any coach could do with our roster. But Don didn’t know how to coach, and that made it worse.
Freddie was really good at strategy and handling players. He knew how to coax his players. He got us to understand exactly what he expected from us. Then he let us do our thing. Freddie had a great mind for hockey — very detailed — and he was a pretty complicated man, but he kept things simple for us. That was a big thing.
All Don knew how to do was yell. He would ridicule his players nonstop to try to hide the fact he couldn’t coach. So he tried to compensate by yelling and tearing guys down. Things went wrong, he’d yell louder.
We had a lot of young players on our team, and Don had no clue what to do with them. No clue. So he’d just scream and try to intimidate the guys by acting tough. Well, I’d been with the Flyers all those years, and we didn’t get intimidated. I saw through Cherry’s act right away.
My last game with the Rockies, I’d had enough. Don was screaming at one of our young players, like always, and finally I turned around to him and said, ‘Don, why don’t you just shut up?!’ He got in my face and said, ‘What did you say to me?’ I said, ‘You heard me. I said shut up.” After the period, we really got into it in the dressing room.
That was it for me with the Rockies. The next day, I was sent to Fort Worth [Texans of the CHL] and played there. Then I was done with playing hockey and ready to move on with my life. I was OK with it.”
Jim Fogarty says:
Lol Mr. Cherry is absolutely correct in his comments.
Guess that tells us where you stand Jim.
Far Queue says:
Way to be racist, Jim Fogarty!
Walt says:
The ultimate cop out, call someone a racist.
I don’t like Don Cherry at all, never did, but he has a right to make a fool of himself by opening his trap, and letting the crap fly. I disagree with Jim, but I won’t call him a racist for his opinion, or statement, it’s too easy doing so!!!!!!!
Not a cop-out, Walt—if a person sympathizes with Don Cherry, and the decades of bigotry he has spewed towards Russians, Czechs, Finns, Swedes, and other ethnicities—then I’ve got news for you: it means they are bigoted and prejudiced too. Plain and simple.
Far Queue
You come out here calling people bigoted and prejudiced without knowing anything about a person at all. Here we have a cowboy keyboard butt hole showing his gonads, would love to meet you face to face and cram those horrible words down your sorry throat, you disgusting individual………….
There is nothing wrong with saying what Don said. Had he made those comments about Canadians instead of (presumably) immigrants, there would no issue. The double standard and virtue signaling is mind-numbing.
joe from newburgh says:
You’re right. If he had made those comments about Canadians, there would be no issue. Unfortunately, he DIDN’T say that they applied to all Canadians, and his history makes it clear that he was referring to immigrants. There’s no double standard here. He said something offensive that patently refers to a particular group. True, he has the right to speak his mind, but as a public figure, his statements inevitably reflect on his employer, which has the right to condition his continued employment on his willingness to conform to its standards. Apparently, his own ego led him to believe that his importance put his position above the employer’s right to protect its reputation, and he found out just how little influence his reputation actually provided him.
I have to compliment Justin for a well thought out article and exceptionally well present point of view. 94, you brought a smile to my face publishing Don ‘Big Bird’ Saleski’s comment. Justin presented a quote from Bobby Orr. The same Bobby Orr who knows Cherry FAR better than Big Bird. Saleski couldn’t tie Orr’s skates or carry Orr’s jockstrap. Orr has far more insight into Cherry as a coach and as a person. Let’s not even begin to compare hockey talent.
I like Walt, will not condemn or defend Cherry. All I know of him is watching his bit on Hockey Night in Canada. What I can say is that Cherry’s support for the Canadian Military and Law Enforcement cannot be questioned. And for that he should be commended. Having served just shy of two tours in Vietnam as a Marine in Special Operations, and then just shy of 20 years as a NY cop and detective, all but 4 of which I was an undercover cop/detective, I know how important someone in the public eyes opinion of support is appreciated.
So his comment can be viewed by the powers that be and they can take, and did take, what they believe is appropriate action. They fired him.
Walt, someone who I respect immensely but disagree with on rare occasions, summed it up, Cherry made a statement, speaking his mind. None of us here know Cherry as well as Orr, or even Saleski for that matter, but some here have labeled him a racist. As I said, I’m not defending nor condemning him for his statement. Only that Cherry’s comment just may have been influenced by his love and support for the Canadian Military and Law Enforcement, and may not be a true indicator of his opinions in totality regarding Canadian immigration policies.
Hey Jerry, I thought it was an interesting excerpt.
And for the record? The ability of the player does not translate to coaching or evaluating coaches. Who is the Blues’ current, Cup winning coach? lol. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more that a player’s ability doesn’t automatically translate to his ability to assess a coach.
However, Orr who has been a part of the Bruins family since he was drafted without question would know more about Cherry than Saleski, who was coached by him for a relatively short period of time. Orr knows Cherry as a coach AND an individual. And that’s the only point I was making.
As I said in my post. I’m not defending or condemning the statement. My sole point is you, me and the rest don’t know the man as well as someone like Orr.
And I agree, although Justin’s point about politics being related to Hockey, albeit marginally related, through ceremony, I personally would like to keep politics out of the hockey discussion.
Especially when it comes to an issue where people feel so strongly, such as immigration.
But your point is well taken.
agreed my friend, good post.
Good riddance to Don Cherry, he is a racist piece of garbage. And good on you for writing this article, Justin. The sooner racists are dumped into history’s trash can, the better life will be for the rest of us.
well said my friend.
Lucky Wilbert says:
I’m a german Hockey Player /Veteran , 57 years old . played and still play the game for almost 50 Years .
This is the best ,honest and most important Comment about Hockey I ever read . I’m proud of you for this ,even when I dont know you.
I was always shocked about the dull and really terrible comments of this Guy. I always thought its kinda joke and often it was . But you did a great job to really look deeper into this. Things has been changed and I think , to a better way. There is simply no place anymore for this kind of old fashion bigott People.
I also dont like all this terrible military propaganda within the US Sport . This “we honour our troops” Propaganda stuff is terrible from my point of view . It has nothing to do with honouring soldiers , its brain washing. Fact is : they do appreciation nights and outside the stadium you see homeless veterans without getting any support of their Gouverment . all this flag rising and armed police or military personell on the ice is reminds us in europe very much at Fascism . I love Hockey , but I hate the Propaganda. Some of the reporters are also stupid with their positive commenst about this kind of events . Its sometimes shameful to listen to them . But maybe they gotta do because its their job.
But , so or so . everyone can have his opinion . But its time that people works against all this hate speach and political propaganda. Especially now in the dark times with Trump and also here in europe where Fascism is Rising in more and more coutrys.
again thank you for this brilliant Comment . Youre so right and so true about it. sorry for my English ,I hope you get my points .
Have a great Life and hopefully we all can learn from you.
Lucky Wilbert
As an immigrant, and someone who wore my countries uniform in a war zone Viet Nam, I find your remarks insulting as hell. I also spent 16 months at Spangdhalem Air Base in your native country, and they treated us like garbage. The country that gave us Hitler, and you has spoken, your full of it man!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wilbert, as a fellow Viet Nam vet, I disagree with you. One of the things I learned during my service is that NO group has the right to hold its own interests above those of any other, whether it’s based on racial, national, gender related, or whatever, we are all human beings, and we earn, or lose, respect based on our own individual actions, not on the particular groups we belong to.
Damn! I meant to address this to Walt, not Wilbert. Sorry.
Well said, Lucky. And being German you have particular insight into the wreckage that race-based fascism has caused in this world. Appreciate your courage in your post.
Jörg Wilbert says:
The comment of Walt shows us in which kind of trouble we are in. Appreciate all the likes and dislikes .
Have a great day Wilbert…..
Peter L says:
With all due respect, the older folks of Germany such as yourself were raised to be suspicious of the military and anything that smells even slightly of pro-military celebration. This is understandable given your country’s history in the early 20th century.
America has always had a tradition of celebrating its veterans. The generations after the Revolution idolized George Washington and those who fought for America’s freedom. The generations of the late 19th century and early 20th century idolized their Civil War ancestors. In America, there are many who feel that those who hate or dismiss those who make the sacrifice and take up the challenge to join the ranks of those who protect freedom are ungrateful for the life they are lucky to be living. Remember, even those who live in the bottom quartile economically live better than did most Americans did a century ago.
What really bothers me is your adopting the word “propaganda” to describe celebrations of the military. To simply label an act or opinion with a word (see Far Queue’s use of the word fascism to describe celebrating the military) is a tactic used to shut down argument, just as when anyone questions the behavior of someone who is not white, they are immediately called “racist”. It is too easy to simply call any opinion you don’t like as “propaganda” – it is meaningless and lazy.
I have no problem with Justin’s article, accept his bizarre use of the idiotic phrase “white privilege”; I am pretty sure that every nation that ever existed since the beginning of humanity has provided advantages in some way to the dominant ethnic group. We should all work to treat every person of all ethnicities equally, conferring on them the dignity that all human beings deserve, but this is a really strange, perhaps unprecedented movement, of white liberals today to feel that they should feel guilty for being born a certain race.
My use of the word “fascism” was related to Lucky’s German nationality. If you’ll recall, Germany was fascist between 1933-45, started World War II, and physically exterminated wide swaths of various ethnicities in Europe.
Please don’t put meanings into my statements that aren’t there. I don’t particularly care for the post-9/11 sports/military linkup in the USA but I understand it, and wouldn’t call it fascism. I’d call it recruitment.
MjrMisconduct says:
So now the NHL is recruiting for the Military?,what other conspiracy theories are you going to come up with.
I meant also to note that your cynicism still belies your ingratitude (which you are entitled to feel).
John B says:
” also dont like all this terrible military propaganda within the US Sport . This “we honour our troops” Propaganda stuff is terrible from my point of view . It has nothing to do with honouring soldiers , its brain washing. Fact is : they do appreciation nights and outside the stadium you see homeless veterans without getting any support of their Gouverment . all this flag rising and armed police or military personell on the ice is reminds us in europe very much at Fascism .”
Has absolutely zero to do with that.
It has started and become common place now because those Veterans who came home from Vietnam and were shunned, disgraced, and shamed were forgotten by everyone. “We” chose not to do that to the service members coming home today. Are there veterans who are homeless? Yes. Does the VA have major issues? Yes. However, there are a lot of programs and services offered to homeless vet’s, and I’m very sad to report that there does exist a very large portion of them want to be homeless. Society has issues. Service members are a portion of the very society that has the same issues.
Thanks for your support, but we also wore the uniform so that we all have the right to speak our mind. People forget that it’s worth fighting for, even if they make idiots of themselves exercising that right!!!
FYI, I’d do it all over again without hesitation. As stated in an earlier post, I’m also an immigrant, and this is my country today, right or wrong, my country, and damn proud of it!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Lucky!!! This article by Justin and your comments have brought tears to my eyes.
I’m sure that this article and comments have brought tears to David’s eyes as well, lol.
The great thing about honoring the flag, veterans, or individuals who sacrificed for us like Steven Macdonald, is that it allows us to experience something greater than our individual selves, and come together in support of something unifying. Sadly, these displays of respect have become a point of divisiveness in our modern society. We would he better off if more of us wholeheartedly embraced these unifying experiences. Don Cherry didn’t say this, and I will not defend him or what he said. It’s 2019. He should have known better.
Now, it’s clear that this article is divisive. It is possible to deal with these issues, remain true to oneself, and not instigate conflict – even in a country as divided as ours is right now. Please writer – if you choose to share your cultural, political and societal views on this very nice Rangers blog, keep this in mind. It would have been very easy to give a full throated criticism of Don Cherry without casting a wide net to ensnare all the other deplorables. What a shame.
Rocky Ranger says:
Not going to comment on Don Cherry…I have enough issues with NYR……
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what Cherry said. The real problem is with cancel culture. The author mentions growing up in a bubble…snowflakes today are creating the very same bubble by attempting to silence any opinion that doesn’t fit the PC narrative of the day.
#FreeCherry
You’re a racist too! Congratulations!
See my answer above. Any person whose comments don’t fit the liberal narrative is labeled with the “Shut the hell up” term “racist”. Is it asking too much for you to have something thoughtful to say, or perhaps you have attended a liberal college where they taught you that this is the way to handle an exchange of ideas. By the way, labeling people who you are not able to actually engage with names is a great fascist tactic. I assume you would take away everyone’s guns too – another fascist tactic.
Your buddy up above mentions “snowflakes” and “cancel culture” and you accuse me of using fascist tactics?
If you’re using fox news’ lingo to describe leftists, you’re demeaning people right off the bat. Save your false rightist outrage for another day and another issue, you all will be handwringing and shouting over some new BS tomorrow anyway.
LOL no I am demeaning only you, whose idea of intelligent conversation is limited to calling people racists. Not sure what that has to do with any news organization. As I said, you demonstrate any lack of ability to discuss the merits of a topic.
You’re not demeaning me. I’d be laughing at you if the “ideas” you’re defending weren’t so dark.
I’m not throwing these words around lightly, Walt—in each case that I used them it was in direct response to people who felt proud enough of their intolerance to sneer at the sentiments expressed in Justin’s article, or by other posters. Refusing to acknowledge that Cherry’s remarks were bigoted isn’t a good look for anyone. And on this blog I’d bet that our families were all immigrants to North America, at some point.
I’m not one to turn the other cheek, or back down from my opinions either. I’ve got the scars to prove it too. But I’m not gonna trade insults with you, there’s been enough said on this between us.
He grew up in a Conservative bubble. This may shock you – get ready – but both sides of the coin grow up in their own echo chamber. Including “snowflakes” who identify as Conservative, who find uproar amusing and tell people to stop being “so PC” until one of their own are shunned and it’s time for Conservative uproar. Get a grip, Joseph, and try reading the article before pushing your one-sided narrative.
Don Cherry is a senile old man, with antiquated thoughts, and a flare for hyping himself with those clown suits, but in his heart he believes he is a Canadian patriot. The biggest mistake he made was saying “these people”, wrong choice of words that cost him a job. Do I believe he is a racist, no he isn’t, but with this PC culture they brand you as such, just for disagreeing with the old fart. Bottom line, this is a sports site, fun to comment on our team, let’s keep the politics out of it please!!!!!!!!
Cherry said “you people”, not “these people”. It was a direct attack aimed at a specific group of people.
If you’re gonna defend the guy at least get his bigoted quote correct.
Your a nit picking pri*k!!!!!!!!!!
Geees nit pick my words will you , I called you a compliment………
This is 1000% incorrect.
Having a Military Appreciation Night, or First Responder night is in no way shape or form a political statement. I work with highly conservative service members and I work with highly liberal service members. Last I checked as a member of both communities: I’ve served under Republican, Democrat, and Independent Presidents, Governors, and Mayors. I’ve served under a Congress that at one moment is led by Democrats, the next by Republican’s but yet still received funding and a paycheck. Same for the fire dpeartments I’ve worked for/with. People with agenda’s attempt to politicize the military and first responders.
But you do you.
Stoobie says:
It all comes down to common sense, right? You treat other people the way you’d like them to treat you? I find it amazing how messages like this and common decency is lost on a lot of people. I guessed being raised properly has a lot to do with it. It matters not what political affiliations you have. There are rude intolerant dolts of all colors and creeds (just read/listen to the news on any given day.). The notion that the era of Trump is somehow responsible or gives credence to Cherry’s attitude is silly. Cherry’s antics go back to the Carter administration… probably further back. I don’t follow Cherry closely. I remember him as the Bruins’ coach in the 70’s and more recently for his loud crazy suits as a CBT broadcaster. He comes from a different generation that time and society’s views have passed him by. He deserved to be fired, but not destroyed.
But please don’t lament your white privilege without offering up a solution to rectifying it. What exactly are you going to do to undo your white privilege? Are you going to give your job to a person of color or slighted member of the LGBTQ community? Will you be offering $$$ reparations to all the people who suffered from your white privilege? And while you are denouncing people like Cherry, when do you stop peeling back the onion layers of that person? Do you hold them accountable for their insensitive comments layer, or do you delve deeper? Maybe Cherry acts the way he does because he suffers PTS, or has had too many concussions or had a traumatic childhood? Often people who act a certain way act that way for a reason. Hurt people hurt. One of the issues in the US is people tearing anyone who says something dumb or offensive down completely and destroying their lives. Then we move onto the next victim. Rarely do we see any due process, compassion or an effort to understand the person and why they act or say the things they do. It’s a mob mentality.
Most people in this world have prejudices. To think you’re better or morally higher than the ones who falter is just kidding yourself.
That being said, this is a hockey thread, not a political one. I come here to get away from the political garbage that has permeated our society and cyberspace.
Stoobie
Well said my man!!!!!!
Well written article, but obviously something that belongs on a political site, not a hockey site. Politics has never been a major part of sports, I guess you must state that to justify your placement of this article on a Ranger site. Since you must attack Trump multiple times shows your bias n really damages any point you are trying to make…sad really. Since most Ranger fans haven’t been exposed to Don Cherry very often, how about posting this article on a Canadian team site…once you get out from underneath your bed covers of course…lol
If you want politics out of sports you shouldn’t be honoring veterans and cops at sporting events or having Irish nights. Personally, I am fine with doing both. Most virtue signaling these days is accomplished through the things you support. If you want to wear a ranger jersey you let the world know you are supporting the rangers. Some of us, will wear those god ugly military versions or those god ugly pride night versions. Both are saying here are 2 parts of me. They are also saying here is the thing the two of us have in common with each other even if we have differences I am old enough to have been hearing about PC culture since the 90s. At some point its not a new phenomenon, youre just an asshole who cant respect other people. No way you’d excuse someone calling an African American the N-word, because we’ve all decided that it isnt ok, but it used to be. Don Cherry said something that was blatantly racist and exclusionary, which is to the detriment of the sport and his employer. The kind of thing that 40 years ago was fine, but 20 years ago wasnt really and now is an obvious cause to be fired. Things change. The same way we’ve evolved from saying Oriental to Asian or moved on to politicians having to apologize for wearing black face. We evolve and if you dont you perish. We all have someone of another generation that we have to correct on the appropriate cultural terms, but they arent given a national platform. And if you want to post on a Canadian site that caters to boomers they’ll be offended, but if you do the same on one frequented by millenials and gen z they’ll primarily agree. Gen x is too cool to bother. To quote Abe Simpsons, “first I was with it, then i wasnt and now it scares me.” Thats what happens to everyone as they age in society and its just something you have to understand. And id like to point out that supporting the military doesn’t make you a good person per se, because like any organization there will always be a few bad apples in a bunch and you have to account for them. No one should be making any excuses for the american military during the My Lai massacre. And for those who still want the politics out of hockey, remember Cherry was the one bringing up politics on a hockey broadcast. He was talking about buying the poppies which are a symbol of the sacrifice soldiers paid in WW 1. If he had stuck to his dumbass talking point of there need to be more fights and grit he’d still be broadcasting in those awful suits giving his geritol inspired ramblings.
chrisqct says:
Ugh….politics….tldr.
I thought I was on a hockey website, sorry.
Mikeyyy says:
Weird. I don’t see anything racist in his statement.
He said please buy poppies. To support our nation
At least he didn’t do blackface.
What’s with The lack of emotional resilience?
TxRanger says:
He said “you people” then said “our way of life.” He defined a distinction. It’s pretty clear.
I am going to be 66 in January and over the years I’ve learned a few things. Prejudice and racism are evil and insidious. Unfortunately, even some 60+ years since the great civil rights protests in the United States, it still exists. However, I have a 17 year-old daughter. The acceptance of and caring for others my daughter and her friends practice instinctively, without having to think about it, gives me a great deal of hope for the future. As the older generations pass on, things will change. Social change is slow and it does take the passing of the old guard and the maturing of the younger generations to complete. But, those changes are inevitable though painfully slow. But they will happen.
And your seeing it everyday!!!!!!!!!!
Moe, Larry, and Curly automatically react this way, what schmucks!!!!!!!
Creature Feature says:
Was this article about getting people to take sides? Seems like you want to be more of a $it stirrer than a blogger.
I do not care about Don Cherry or his comments. I think this forum should be about NYR hockey. Sure there are sidebars, but those who use those sidebars to cause inflammatory arguments are just as bad as the folks who are being written about. We give people like Don Cherry credence by allowing their stories to linger on instead of fade away.
Well said, Creature. Especially your last sentence. Allowing Cherry to fade away unnoticed would be a proper punishment for him.
I got a little hot under the collar today with the Cherry issue because I’m a 3rd-generation Irish American, whose grandmother was born in Ireland. Because of that, I never will forget to extend help and sympathies to other immigrants and their families.
Swarty says:
Thanks CF – What is the point of this article on a hockey blog site?
Don Cherry is someone who simply looks for controversy and finds it easily. He is a joke. No one knows more about immigration than he does. Sound familiar???
We have enough divisiveness in this country, let alone on hockey matters on this blog, we don’t need to bring Canada’s dirty laundry as a topic of conversation.
Perhaps you can submit your diatribe to the Canadian Parliament or the Globe and Mail – maybe they give a sh-t because I don’t think most of us do….
TruthHurts says:
Amen brother
Bloomer says:
I never been a Don Cherry fan and he should of been fired a long time ago. But he is right when he says that people should wear their poppies in Rememberance of those who fought for our freedom and human rights. Also, it’s a day to reflect on the horrors of war and why we as a human race need to learn how to live together in peace. But this an issue for another forum, when are we going to see Zibanejad and Kaako back on the ice?
tanto says:
Ah culture wars, don’t you just love them?
Someday the world will grow up … or blow up. I hope for the former but expecting the latter.
Thomas M Moore says:
Well, won’t be coming here anymore!!
White privilege is a made up, pseudoscience, agenda driven fraud!! How bout, China, is it Asian privilege over there?
Never been a fan of DC but he absolutely correct in calling out what is happening in Canada!! Hey, let’s go check out Sweden, remember that land of privilege, now you got gang and individual rapings run amok,oh don’t forget the grenade bombings and no go zones!! Women won’t go out alone!!
You stood on your soapbox, so be it, maybe one day you will wake up.
There’s no way you’ve spent any time in China, because if you did you’d know about Rape of Nanking and how the effected national pysche post the second syno chinese war. Its not about color/ethnicity its about power. He who holds the power has the privilege, because they dont have to worry about being the other and its repercussions. And please if you are going to parry talking point but have no first hand experience in these countries get a second opinion. Read more then one news source. I was just in sweden, like any country it has poverty and the issues that come from that, but the amount of drunk women out on a every saturday night tells me you’ve never been anywhere near it nor have any idea whats going on there.
Did you travel to the no-go zones?
There is no such thing. I think the rumor of that was from Malmo, which is a nice city that i did not have business in this trip. That’s like saying are you going to Newark did you go to the no go zones. It is not real. There’s nothing stopping anyone, but most people don’t go into the projects of any country or any city. Please for the love of god turn off where ever you got that source, it is lying to you and does not respect you.
Pas44 says:
God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home
This article belongs on a social justice warrior publication, not a hockey website.
NYR4EVR says:
Ah, the Social Media Mob and what is termed “moral grandstanding.”
Nice read – http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/12/social-media-democracy/600763/
Texas Ranger says:
Please spare us of political sanctimony. Wokeness can be either a sign of compassion or One of ignorance. Kind of depends on one’s point of view. I read this site because I have been a Rangers fan for almost 60 years and enjoy the tidbits and diverse views on the team. Life is too short to care about any of your political views. There are other forums for that.
You stole my name. Also, go Astros.
Stevesse says:
Don Cherry can express anything he wants, but the network has the absolute right to get rid of him for exposing his beliefs on air. Networks don’t want controversy. My beliefs are important only to me,so I don’t watch sports for announcers opinions. For that i’ll Turn on CNN or Fox or any other channel. That is why I think that Justin should write his essays and submit them to some other outlet and let BSB be what it suppose to discuss, the NY Rangers
Can we discuss the firing of Ruff?
Can we discuss B.Smith to AHL?
Can we discuss Staal’s buyout?
Can we discuss the return of Kravstov and Andersson?
Can we trade Quinn for Trotz?
Can we discuss M. Nylander?
Can I be allowed to say the above?
hold up a minute, whats up with M. Nylander? please tell me we are getting him?
wwpd says:
Did you just brainstorm a list of things that aren’t happening? 🙂
Snake says:
What a horseshit article!
Well, if you want to wake up the masses and get some activity on the blog, then…
JoeS. says:
So…Justin? Did you get what you thought you would?
Rod Seiling's Twilight Zone says:
“I know there are people out there who’s response to this article will be “look, I’m not a racist or a sexist or anything like that, I’m just old school/conservative/whatever and would prefer things be a certain way or don’t like the direction things are going”, but what you have to understand is that to believe in that perspective, whether willfully or not, you are giving oxygen to a political and social movement that seeks to deny basic human rights to entire groups of people and to silence those advocating for meaningful change.”
I find this comment just as objectionable and “reprehensible” as what Cherry said. It’s one thing to introduce politics in what SHOULD be a hockey blog. It’s quite another to demonize those who happen to hold political views that differ from yours.
I posted a comment above, so I participated, but I think that my fears about posting articles on BSB that are arguably more political than hockey-related have been somewhat borne out in the comments. Politics are just too hot button and personal. We can argue about Lias Andersson or David Quinn or Reijo Ruotsalainen and although we may disagree, the disagreements do not cut deep. The same just is not true of political topics. So I don’t mean to criticize Justin because I enjoy the site enough to contribute to it, but perhaps “stick to sports” might be the best approach for BSB?
Normally I would agree with your sentiment re: politics (culture) and sports, but in reality there’s an overlap at times and sports “commentators/columnists” will have to weigh in at some level. Sure, the mixing of sports and politics on a daily basis isn’t a good idea, but these types of discussions come up pretty rarely (in the overall scheme of things). Let’s say Cherry’s negative comments were about women or people interested sexually in their same sex (can’t say the word, it’s moderated) in locker rooms, wouldn’t we have to discuss the “issue” (the merits of the issues themselves — there shouldn’t be any of course — and the issue of Cherry bringing up such issues in the first place)? There’s plenty of precedence for this type of discourse in the world of sports journalism — as divisive as it may be, so no I don’t think Justin stepped over the line here, this is after all a sports blog about hockey and Cherry has been a long time respected (by some people at least, but not me) hockey commentator.
That said, like you, I’m not touching this issue with a 10 foot pole — I’m just not in the mood to sit here and argue politics/culture, the last 4 years have been exhausting — and that’s coming from a double major in political science/history. lol
I could not disagree with you more. Justin didn’t just step over the line, he unnecessarily and deliberately went offsides to negate a game winning goal when he accused anyone who disagrees with him as actually supporting those who “seek to deny basic human rights to entire groups of people and to silence those advocating for meaningful change.”
There are plenty of ways to address appropriately the Cherry issue without making this even more political by characterizing those who disagree in such a demonizing and polarizing — not to mention wholly inaccurate — manner.
Actually you could disagree with me a lot more. I didn’t comment on what Justin said in the blog post, I commented on whether politics could be relevant to sports and written about in a sports column/blog. There was no judgment about how Justin wrote on the issue.
However let me state HERE that I do believe there are individuals who delude themselves into thinking they aren’t racists, prejudiced, etc. even though they constantly find themselves agreeing with policies/ideas which are let’s say somewhat questionable in today’s world — especially when it comes to the unequal impacts said policies/ideas may have on a particular group. On the other hand there are also people whose views I don’t agree with, but that doesn’t make them anything in particular. I don’t lump everyone I disagree with into one basket, I have lots of baskets for people. lol
White privilege?
You are a moron sir.
Don Cherry is right.
One less blog to read.
So let me get this straight, one blog post out of 100’s …. and written by an occasional contributor … has you abandoning a good site because it offends your anachronistic cultural viewpoint?
Neil Gibbs says:
This article contained the full range of phrases and platitudes from the leftist playbook .It was essentially nothing to do with Don Cherry but merely an illiberal rant from an actual bigot.As soon as the term white privilege was invoked it was game over.
In cancel culture people like the author of this article look to pounce on anything that doesn’t meet their utopian ideals and set about destroying a person’s reputation and livelihood. Yet Saint Justin Trudeau can black face on numerous occasions and get a free pass , pathetic!
As George Orwell famously said “True liberty is having the right to tell another man what he doesn’ t want to hear”
Justin stick to the hockey don’t embarrass yourself by showing yourself up as an intellectual narcissist.
SalMerc says:
You speak of “conservative politics”. To me, that is all about YOUR perspective. If you stand to the left of things, it is conservative, if you stand to the right, it is liberal.
How about you judge less and open your mind to alternate opinions? The saying “agree to disagree” comes to mind.
The real point to be made here is that people have opinions that some agree with and others disagree with. It is the power and ability to voice that opinion which you should be admiring and not about the content.
invalidbeard says:
Without taking a position, the obvious retort is “fine, but he is attacking people that need defending”, which you don’t address.
Who needs defending?
“It’s a global game now, with women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color and god forbid, immigrants playing the game at high levels…”
“The game grew into what it is today naturally and in spite of active desire from the power structure to keep the game as regressive and white as possible…”
“…what you have to understand is that to believe in that perspective, whether willfully or not, you are giving oxygen to a political and social movement that seeks to deny basic human rights to entire groups of people and to silence those advocating for meaningful change. If you don’t believe change is necessary or beneficial in this context, you have not made a meaningful effort to understand how these policies and cultural institutions have harmed other people.”
All this article tells me is what kind of spin Justin puts on stories he authors
I usually get trashed by the woke police for saying #sticktosports, but it goes both ways. Don…..#sticktosports. Our lives are consumed by politics, and almost entirely for the worse. Sports should be an escape. Sometimes it can’t be helped, but otherwise, we don’t need reminders that half the US/CAN thinks the other half is evil or crazy. As for this article, the Cherry story is unavoidable, but it certainly did nothing to deescalate with lines like “what you have to understand is that to believe in that perspective, whether willfully or not, you are giving oxygen to a political and social movement that seeks to deny basic human rights to entire groups of people.” You force people to take a side, take a position, rather than enjoy the thing that brings us together, which is the fact that Pavel Buchnevich is overrated and should be traded before the secret gets out.
That doesn’t bring me together with you, Buch is a damn good player that belongs in the Top 6 for years to come. 😉
This is a hockey site… a good one. Stick to that.
We’re all hockey fans. Rangers fans. That brings us together. Why introduce things here that tear us apart…
I agree Adam. Our hockey sport takes us away from the rigors of life and propels us into another world of positive stress…..After all , this is a Ranger site…….
– Lias in Hartford
– Zibby still out
– Tim Gettinger to be on the PK for a bad PK team
– Staal out due to surgery
– Two very bad defensive games in a row
You are right, no NY Ranger hockey to speak of so leave this inflammatory article up for 9 hours. Must be needed to show their advertisers that they site gets lots of action
So, anything happen on the blog today?
And all this nobody has asked the most important question, can somebody please find Ja Rule to help me make sense of all this?
“Man who gives a f*** what Ja Rule thinks in a time like this!”
Live From The Blue Seats
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__label__cc | 0.595814 | 0.404186 | June>
Microsoft>
Surface and Metro – Microsoft’s Last Big Hope
Microsoft held a big press event Monday evening to unveil their next big product – a tablet PC they call Microsoft Surface1. It’s a big gamble for them, but, it’s one they badly need to take in order to stay relevant. Also, Surface looks, really, really nice.
Revisiting my 10-year prediction about Windows
Searching the archives of this blog turned up a post I made on December 8th, 2005, titled Prediction: You Won’t Be Using Windows In 10 Years. You can go read it for yourself, but the jist of it was that I believed that by 2015, the majority of computer users would be using Mac OS or some variety of Linux instead of Windows. It’s still a bit too early to call it, but I can safely say I missed the forest for the trees.
What I didn’t consider back when I wrote that was that in ten years, the majority of people wouldn’t be using computers. Instead, other, more user-friendly and inexpensive alternatives like smartphones and tablets would become the preferred computing tools for everyday tasks. So while Windows is still on most desktops, that market is well on its way to becoming a niche.
This is why it’s so important that Microsoft get Windows 8 right, and why the company is betting its future on Metro for phones, tablets, and desktops.
Metro is a design language that Microsoft has been evolving over the years with different products, including Zune, Xbox, Windows Media Center, Windows Phone, and now Windows 8. It’s clean, modern, heavily based on typography, and content-focused – a stark contrast from the Windows desktop, or any other mobile or desktop interface, for that matter. I love it.
This brings us to Surface. With Metro, Microsoft has shown that it “gets” software design. As you can guess though, that’s not enough anymore. Apple’s success with the iPhone and iPad show that hardware and software need to blend seamlessly together. Microsoft now gets this as well, which is why it’s no longer depending on its 3rd party hardware partners to deliver hardware running Windows 8.
Surface isn’t the first hardware made by Microsoft (see Zune, Xbox, and their various mice and keyboards2), but it is the company’s most ambitious effort yet. Businessweek:
Let’s be clear, though: Microsoft making hardware is not a natural action. It’s what the company does in times of desperation. With the release of Windows 8 looming, Microsoft was indeed desperate for a hardware company to do something to blunt Apple’s runaway tablet machine. The Surface tablet represents an indictment of the entire PC and device industry, which has stood by for a couple of years trying to mimic Apple with a parade of hapless, copycat products.
This is true — Surface is an genuinely interesting iPad alternative that none of the other Windows 8 or Android tablet manufacturers were able to create. Granted, only Apple, Microsoft, and Google have the kind of cash on-hand where they can invest months and years on the design of a single product, so it’s no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy Dingus and Dell Latitude Whatever are bland, uninspiring products.
Still, there’s no question that Surface is a gamble for Microsoft. It could ship a mediocre product in the fall and/or piss off other tablet/PC makers who might decide against making Windows 8 tablets of their own. Josh Topolsky at The Verge thinks Surface is just what Microsoft needs to unify their tablet and desktop stories:
Microsoft may be stealing a page from Apple’s playbook, but it’s a good page to steal. It also happens to give a narrative to a product which has thus far been something of a mystery: Windows 8.
Since the introduction of the Metro UI and Microsoft’s talk about a “no compromises” operating system, there has been plenty of speculation on exactly what kind of product a Windows 8 PC would be. The combination touch interface and traditional desktop have continuously felt like a jarring mashup of ideas. Despite allusions to hybrid products that function as both tablet and PC, it’s never been clear what Microsoft intended to do with Windows 8.
But the Surface seems to solidify the message of Windows 8, and it puts the evolving OS into a package that makes sense. An attractive package, at that.
A hope for success
I’m hoping that Microsoft is successful with Windows 8, and Surface in particular. The realignment they’ve made in the last few years is astonishing given the size of the company and the incredible inertia their blockbuster products have behind them. Their company-wide unification behind Metro and their push into the tablet market are big accomplishments that I find admirable.
And while I’m both an iPhone and iPad user right now, having a first-rate competitor will mean nothing but good things for everyone3.
Note that proper branding means there’s never a “the”. It’s “iPhone”, “iPad”, “Xbox 360”, and “Surface”. ↩
I have two Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 keyboards – one at work and one at home. Big fan. ↩
Yes – at this point, I consider Google’s Android a 2nd rate competitor. ↩
Tags: Metro, Microsoft, Windows
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Learning Resources in Delicious Blog Form
Top 50 Free Open Courseware VIDEO Collections
by Linda on February 01, 2013
Video collections can offer hours of entertainment, but they also can provide users with hours of education. YouTube offers a venue for many college videos, for instance. If you go to that link and type in, “University of Michigan lectures,” you can find many lectures offered by Richie Hawtin — an English-Canadian electronic musician and internationally-touring DJ who was an influential part of Detroit techno’s second wave of artists in the early 1990s. In these videos, Hawtin discusses how technology is changing the way music is played, produced and experienced.
The following list of open courseware video collections contains information that is more diverse than the University of Michigan lectures found at YouTube. You can find videos about medicine, other videos about politics. Other collections contain documentaries, produced by professionals and by students. And, while not all collections are labeled as “open courseware,” they all are free to watch and enjoy.
Each collection listed below is categorized, and the collections are listed alphabetically within those categories.
College and University Collections
Caltech’s Streaming Theater: This site houses streaming video of many of the programs that were available to the Caltech community from 1999 to the present.
Columbia Interactive: This is the gateway to selected electronic learning resources developed at Columbia University.
Duke University On Demand: Watch lectures and programs on a wide range of topics, archived by Duke University.
Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Video Archives: Use the drop-down menu at top left to view archives from 2000-2008.
MIT World: MIT World is a free and open site that provides on demand video of significant public events at MIT through more than 700 videos.
OII webcasts: The Oxford Internet Institute provides Webcasts fo Internet pioneers, scholars and regulators who have spoken at this institute.
Princeton University WebMedia: This link leads to video lectures. Look to the left menu to choose more options in live events, special events and more.
Princeton Uniersity UChannel: The UChannel (also known as the University Channel) makes videos of academic lectures and events from all over the world available to the public.
Research Channel: If you cannot get this channel on your television, never fear…you can watch Webcasts and videos online that focus on topics ranging from arts and humanities to social sciences, sponsored by the University of Washington.
The Landon Lecture Series: Listen to or watch this series of lectures by guests speakers from Kansas State University.
The Royal Society:
UCLA Webcast: UCLA Instructional Media Production (IMP) provides live Webcasts of important and interesting campus events and makes them available for on-demand viewing.
UCTV: The University of California Television online offers a wide variety of topics and online viewing times.
University of Virginia Podcasts and Webcasts:
Utah State University in Video: While not a large collection, their choices may surprise and delight any poet or culture student.
UWTV: A service of the University of Washington, UWTV serves as an ambassador for the scholarship, discoveries and breakthrough science of the nation’s top federally-funded public research university.
video at MIT: This is the gateway to MIT’s online video collections, including community videos, public lectures and course videos.
Webcast Berkeley: Take your choice of courses or events that occur on campus at the University of California.
World Lecture Hall: Browse through free online course materials from around the world, supported by the the Division of Instructional Innovation and Assessment, at the University of Texas at Austin.
Educational Television Online
ABC: The Australian Broadcasting Corporation provides a vast array of resources for learning. Scroll down this linked page to discover the various online videos provided by this company, in topics that range from education to indigenous and from parenting to religion.
American Field Guide: Immerse yourself in the great outdoors without ever leaving your desk through over 1,400 videos archived on this site.
BBC Learning: This is a beta site that allows users to watch videos of various collections in an equal variety of topics, including full-length features and “bite-size” snippets that help anyone learn a new language, math, science and much more.
BBC VideoNation: If you want a large dose of UK history, current affairs and culture, all you need to do is save some time to watch these archived videos.
Bio: You can watch the Biography Channel on television, or catch full-length videos, special features, “People” videos and shows online.
Book TV: Book TV is live on C-Span2 on television in the US, online in Flash (beta), Win Media or RealPlayer. Featured programs cover books, interviews with authors and much more.
Discovery Channel: Learn about television schedules for favorite programs and watch archived full episodes and short-run clips online.
National Geographic Video: Learn more about killer whales and travel the world through this top-notch video documentary site.
NOVA: This site carries approximately 300 full-length features that you can watch online at any time. Topics range from anthropology to technology.
PBS: The Public Broadcasting Service offers a new video service that allows users to watch featured programs online.
TVO: TVO is Ontario, Canada’s public education media organization that televises programs and also offers viewing online.
Organizational Webcasts
Academic Earth: Academic Earth is an organization founded with the goal of giving everyone on earth access to a world-class education through full video courses and lectures from the world’s leading scholars.
ARKive: ARKive is creating the ultimate multimedia guide to the world’s endangered species.
CERN Webcast Service: The CERN Webcast Service opens CERN lectures and seminars to the general public. Watch live webcasts as they happen or watch archived lectures at your convenience.
FORA.tv: The Long Now Foundation hopes to provide counterpoint to today’s “faster/cheaper” mind set and promote “slower/better” thinking. This link leads to some lectures based upon this perspective.
Forum Network: The Forum Network online library features thousands of lectures by some of the world’s foremost scholars, authors, artists, scientists, policy makers, and community leaders, available to citizens of the world for free.
FreeDocumentaries: Watch an amazing number of documentaries free online through this Web site. Search by region or by topic.
HULU News and Information: This channel on the HULU network includes documentaries and biographies, science programs, news and programming for the on-campus and lifelong student.
Moving Image Collections: This site enables you to discover, locate and view moving images from around the world.
NFB.ca: You can watch films on this site, all produced by the National Film Board of Canada.
Nobelmedia: Visit the Nobel Prize Web site to watch concerts, programs and documentaries, archived from 2008 on the site.
OneWorld: Enjoy this platform for filmmakers, video journalists, NGOs and anyone who has a story to share via video online.
Peoples Archive: Peoples Archive is dedicated to collecting for posterity the stories of the great thinkers, creators, and achievers of our time.
PsychLectures: Enjoy a wide range of media focused on psychology, neuroscience and psychiatry.
ScholarSpot: This site is new, promising a “free university.” In the meantime, you can enjoy full-length educational features online.
SnagFilms: SnagFilms is committed to finding the world‘s most compelling documentaries to make them publicly available.
TED: “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.” Search for lectures by themes, speakers and translations.
The Science Network: This site brings together some seen and some never-before-seen videos and lectures on all sorts of science topics.
UbuWeb: If you seek a completely independent source for all strains of the avant-garde, ethnopoetics and outsider arts, this is your resource.
Video Active: The major aim of Video Active is to create access to television archives across Europe. The unlocking of these (largely) closed archives will make their content available for educational and academic purposes.
VideoLectures: This lecture repository is being developed within the FP5, FP6, and FP7 European Framework Programs
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__label__wiki | 0.806327 | 0.806327 | Rankin/Bass
https://cartoonscrapbook.com/cartoonscrapbooksupersite/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SilverHawks_-_1986.mp3
In the year 2839, the notorious criminal Mon*Star escaped from Penal Planet 10 located in the Limbo Galaxy, one hundred light years from Earth. With him, he freed a mob of the most ruthless criminals in the galaxy to assist in his quest for galactic domination. He then set up a nearly indestructible fortress on the Brimstar planet as his base of operations.
Upon learning of Mon*Star’s escape, the law enforcement officer who put him away — a cybernetically enhanced human originally from Earth named Stargazer — transmitted back to Earth in a plea for help. Responding to the call, Earth authorities assembled a group of volunteers who they cybernetically enhanced with partial metal bodies. Given the name SilverHawks, the team’s enhancements allowed them to withstand the journey to the Limbo Galaxy, and outfitted them with weaponry — such as lasers and jet propulsion systems — to aid in their battle when they arrived.
Head of Federal Interplanetary Force H, Jonathan Quick, was promoted leader of the SilverHawks and given the name Quicksilver. Tough as nails twins Emily and Will Hart — designated Steelheart and Steelwill — were technicians and designers who could telepathically communicate with one another. Guitar picking ace pilot Bluegrass flew the team’s cutting edge spaceship, the Mirage. He was the only member not enhanced with the self-propulsion systems that allowed the other members to navigate through space without the assistance of a ship. He did, however, have a funky futuristic guitar on which he played sonic notes to physically wallop his foes. The final member of the team was a mathematical genius from the planet of the Mimes called the Copper Kidd. He spoke in a highly synthesized voice that made him difficult to understand.
In the Limbo galaxy, Stargazer directed the SilverHawks from the team’s orbiting headquarters, Hawk Haven — a giant structure in the shape of a hawk, built on an asteroid. He added to the team’s number by giving Quicksilver an enhanced, partially metal bird, called Tallyhawk, he used mainly for reconnaissance and surveillance. Quicksilver commanded Tallyhawk by means of a control panel he wore on his forearm. Additional members later joined the party: Hotwing preferred the mystic power of magic over muscle; Flashback traveled back in time in order to save the SilverHawks; and Moonstryker was an expert marksman. An alien space cabbie named Seymour was another character whose occupation led to his frequent, albeit unintentional, involvement in the SilverHawks’ affairs. Being a working stiff, he had to take whatever fares he could get.
Dealing with Mon*Star was no easy task, made worse by the rays of the Moonstar, which Mon*Star used to transform his shape and increase his power. The process also transformed a giant squid-like creature called Sky-Runner into a battle vehicle for the tyrant. Mon*Star’s group of miscreant misfits were never far from the action. Mo-Lec-U-Lar was a master of disguise who could assume any form. Melodia was the mistress of evil notes — her musical power had shattering consequences. Sentient robot Buzz-Saw came equipped with spinning circular saw blades he fired as deadly projectiles. Mumbo-Jumbo was the minotaur-esque strong man of the mob. Hardware (who looked like a prototypical Rankin/Bass rendered goblin) was Mon*Star’s weapons man. Windhammer used a giant tuning fork to create cosmic storms. The appropriately named Yessman was a sniveling sycophant who agreed to anything Mon*Star said and generally kissed his master’s backside. The ruthless robot Pokerface was in charge of all Mon*Star’s gambling operations, and the juvenile delinquent Timestopper could make time stand still for periods of one minute.
Each episode ended with a short segment in which Bluegrass quizzed the Copper Kidd with questions about the Solar System. Perhaps the segment was meant to offset the liberties taken by the production staff in ignoring the inhospitable (and therefore creatively stifling) properties of space in the series. Much of the action took place in the depths of space, and characters had no trouble living or speaking outside of the protective shelter of their space vehicles, many of which weren’t even enclosed. It’s possible that space in the Limbo Galaxy had some type of atmosphere, because a good many outposts were set on exposed asteroids as well. Regardless, the end segment provided some real knowledge that had a good chance of being remembered because it was delivered as part of an entertaining format. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line932 |
__label__cc | 0.749849 | 0.250151 | T is for Trials, Tribulations and Tombstones
My A to Z 2016 theme is how to pursue an interest in family history/genealogy – I’d love you to join me on the journey.
T is for TOMBSTONES
Alexander Dunn is buried in Winton Cemetery, Qld, a long way from his home in southern NSW.
Putting the cart before the horse, sometimes tombstones can reveal some of our ancestors’ trials.
How many of us have wandered cemeteries, sometimes just exploring and other times tracking down ancestral graves. We are shocked by the infant mortality revealed by tiny graves with touching tombstones. The death of young men in tragic accidents in those pre-safety-wise days, the horrors and risks hidden behind the deaths of young women who died of puerperal fever or simply being worn out from repeated births. I am always saddened by the deaths of people from many miles away who died and are buried far from their families.
Tombstones might be the only place where an ancestor’s place of origin is detailed as their divided loyalty is reflected by shamrocks and wattle. The sadness of the death far from Scotland or Ireland is mitigated when that person’s grave is wrapped around with the graves of their descendants. The conflicts of religion can be revealed by the burial of husband and wife in different part of a cemetery, not to mention the dilemma of whether to be buried with wife/husband #1 or a subsequent spouse.
T is for TRIBULATIONS and TRIALS
Of course our ancestors, especially our pioneers, experienced many trials and tribulations. Without family to support them they were vulnerable to economic downturns, poor agricultural seasons, death of spouses and dependence on employment. This is why we need to look, once again, at as many records as possible. Land selections (and the loss of property), news stories, insolvencies, bankruptcies and court cases can all illuminate your understanding. At least some of these involved trials of the legal as well as personal kind.
In times of war, there are the horrendous losses of (mostly) men, and the social impact of those who returned maimed and injured in mind or body. Throughout Australia there are memorials to these men who would have no grave in their own homeland…different types of tombstones. Each and every one of these losses created a great rent in the family’s fabric. Tribulation indeed.
In memory of the children of John and Elizabeth McDonald, Winton Cemetery.
T is for Themes and Memes
In S for Stories I wrote briefly about leaving our descendants our own stories. There are many themes which geneabloggers can use to structure their stories…some golden oldies and some current.
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy
52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History
Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories
Book of Me
Trove Tuesday
Why not check these out to see if they appeal to you?
Thank you for visiting me on this journey. I love comments <smile>
There’s a plethora of reading choices on this year’s A to Z Challenge, so my challenge to you is to visit the sign-up page and select one (or more) blogs to read between the numbers 700-799.
n memoriam the children of John and Elizabeth McDonald, Winton Cemetery.
This entry was posted in A to Z 2016 and tagged tombstones, Trials, tribulations by cassmob. Bookmark the permalink.
19 thoughts on “T is for Trials, Tribulations and Tombstones”
Maria on 23 April, 2016 at 1:16 pm said:
Thanks for this wonderful post, Pauleen. What a tribute to those who have gone before us.
cassmob on 23 April, 2016 at 4:17 pm said:
GeniAus on 23 April, 2016 at 3:39 pm said:
Tombstones are a rich source of genealogical data. It is important that we photograph and transcribe those we visit lest they be removed and ruined by heartless cemetery managements. I use Billion Graves to upload images for transcription.
Wise words Jill. I especially focus on the ones that are looking unstable or where the writing is fading, or which show the person’s specific place of origin. I need to upload some to Billion Graves.
Fran @ TravelGenee on 30 April, 2016 at 8:39 pm said:
There is a request on Billion Graves for Budermin Cemetery. I keep going to go but it gets dark before I finish work now we are heading to winter. I’m not saying you should go but how we can get images via Billion Graves.
cassmob on 1 May, 2016 at 7:39 am said:
Sounds like a plan…discuss over coffee? I’ll check the request out. Just a stone’s throw away as you know.
Peter Cass on 23 April, 2016 at 8:52 pm said:
Pauleen Hi. XX. You may have meant worn out from repeated births, not deaths, although I imagine there were plenty of families who lost many children as well. Love Peter
cassmob on 23 April, 2016 at 10:21 pm said:
Thanks…will go and check what I wrote.
Dot Elder on 23 April, 2016 at 10:43 pm said:
You are up to T . I am truly amazed that you are coming up with a new blog every day in April . Tomb stones and tribulation are two great assets to us writing an interesting family history story but both we would lrather delay / avoid for ourselves.
Absolutely Dot..I’m happy with fewer tribulations.
Molly Charboneau on 23 April, 2016 at 11:26 pm said:
Tombstones are sometimes the only record we will have for an ancestor, so thanks for highlighting this valuable genealogy source. Fascinating to see the light color of these stones and how they contrast with the marble, granite and slate stones of the northeast US where my ancestors settled. Molly of Molly’s Canopy http://mollyscanopy.com/
Our gravestones can be very different based in the local stone. I find some of the more expensive ones deteriorate more.
Scotsue on 24 April, 2016 at 3:26 am said:
I like the way that you led on from Tombstones to Trials and Tribulations. A reminder that gravestones can contribute so much information on, for example, place of death, circumstances, illness, and violence.
L.G. Keltner on 24 April, 2016 at 5:20 am said:
I love looking at tombstones and wondering what the lives of the deceased were like. Some share a lot, others not so much. The ones that intrigue me most are those that have no name, because no one had any idea who the person was when they were laid to rest.
Those are very sad 😦
Sharn White on 24 April, 2016 at 7:07 am said:
What a great post Pauleen! A different slant on Tombstones. It’s sad walking through old cemeteries to see the number of babies and young children there…. And congratulations for managing to keep up with the A-Z challenge while on walking Melbourne! How do you do it? 💗
Scheduling is my answer 😉 But I’ve got behind with my reading others’ blogs.
Pingback: A to Z 2016 Summary | Family history across the seas | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line933 |
__label__cc | 0.683763 | 0.316237 | Last updated: 10:27 AM ET, Sun September 08 2019
Old School Hawai'i Lives: The Relaxed Pace of Molokai and Lana'i
Destination & Tourism Jim Byers September 08, 2019
One of several quiet beaches on the east side of low-key Molokai.
Two great islands with widely divergent styles. But both offering a quiet, remarkable Hawaiian holiday away from the crowds.
The islands of Lana’i and Molokai are wonderful places for advisors to send clients looking for a taste of the quiet side of Hawai’i. Here’s a look at hotel options, dining spots and things to do on both islands.
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Staying on Lana’i
The Four Seasons Lana’i is a wondrous property on a small hill overlooking one of the best beaches in the state, Hulopo’e. The hotel was fully renovated a few years ago and now has a lush, South Seas feel, with dark pools surrounded by brilliant bougainvillea and flaming red ginger. The rooms are super-quiet and decorated with high-end furnishings and Hawaiian-influenced design everywhere you look. I had a marvellous meal at One Forty restaurant, including fresh ahi poke, a marvellous salad with local greens and perfectly seared Hawaiian sea bass. Their Bircher Muesli with tropical fruits at breakfast is to die for. One of the great things about the Four Seasons Lana’i are their cultural offerings. You can gaze at ancient petroglyphs, tour remote, abandoned villages and check out the work that the group Pulama Lana’i (a group that’s run by Larry Ellison of Oracle, who owns 98% of the island) is doing to restore an ancient fish pond on the nearly deserted east coast. Other options include a morning hike to stunning Pu’u Pehe Rock (Sweetheart Rock in English) or an ocean cruise on a spiffy catamaran. Guests of the hotel (and pretty much only guests) have access to the fabulous Manele Golf Course, which rises and falls over beautiful fairways that line the south side of the island. Bill Gates a few years ago got married on one of the oceanfront holes.
Four Seasons Resort Lanai (Courtesy Four Seasons)
Hotel Lana'i is an 11-room property that was recently renovated. Rooms are now ultra-modern and filled with high-tech gadgets, and the walls are done in beautifully polished wood that gives the place a bit of a Scandinavian feel. Joel Harrington, the chef at the hotel restaurant, Lana’i City Grille, is showcasing local food, which means not only fresh fish from the ocean but fresh venison from the oversupply of deer that roam the island(and harm the natural environment). Harrington and his team make remarkable dishes, including venison with Vietnamese spices, pickled ginger and Asian pear, as well as a great dish of ahi tuna with pop rocks candy on top and ponzu.
They’re keeping a tight lip on things, but officials told me the new Four Seasons Lana'i at Koele (formerly the Lodge at Koele) could open by the end of his year after a massive, five-year renovation. It’s being transformed into a spa/wellness centre. I’m told there also will be a killer zipline that will traverse part of the old Koele golf course, which has closed. There also are reports of a giant swing and a ropes course.
Dining on Lana’i
The two hotels have the best restaurants, but you can get great, casual meals at other places in Lana’i City. Blue Ginger Café is great for huge omelettes and breakfast burritos. It’s also perfect for simple Asian/Hawaiian specialties such as teriyaki chicken. Pele’s Other Garden is great for sandwiches, salads, pizza and other simple fare.
Improving Lana’i
Pulama Lana’i, the group set up by Larry Ellison, is performing vital work all around the island, including restoring thousands of acres of land that have been damaged by imported deer and constructing a series of ten huge buildings that will hold hydroponic gardens that will allow the island to grow more of its own food. With Ellison’s assistance, the town of Lana’i City boasts a restored, state-of-the-art movie theatre, a brilliant new swimming pool and a fancy, new basketball court at the island’s only school. All in all, it’s a remarkable story of generosity and philanthropy.
: The Four Seasons Hotel Lana'i can take visitors out to see where locals are working to restore an ancient Hawaiian fishpond.
Activities on Lana’i
The main town of Lana’i City has delightful shops and galleries, including the Mike Carroll Gallery for tremendous works of art and the Hula Hut for fun, casual gifts. The Local Gentry has lovely clothes, jewelry and more. One of the most popular activities is hiking or driving (in a four-wheel drive vehicle for sure) the Munro Trail, which traverses the line of small mountains on the east side of the island. You can rent a car while you’re here and do the trail, which is quite bumpy and steep in parts but offers magnificent views of Maui and other islands. The path is easier if you want to visit Keahiakawelo, an area with an amazing set of exposed rock formations that is sometimes (erroneously) known as Garden of the Gods. There’s also a cat sanctuary on the island that you can tour. Located at Manele Bay, Hulopo’e Beach is one of Hawai’i’s best, with great snorkelling and usually gentle waves.
The Manele Golf Course on Lana'i is one of the best layouts in the state.
Getting to Lana’i
There are several ferries a day that cross over to Lanai from Maui. You also can fly in from Maui and Oahu with Hawaiian Airlines or Mokulele Airlines.
If your Hawaii-loving clients are looking for glitz and four-star hotels, you might want to steer them to another island. If they want quiet and a taste of old-school Hawaiian culture and casual restaurants and a family-run hotel on the water, this is exactly the place you should recommend.
Staying on Molokai
There used to be a fancy resort at Kaluako’i on the west side, but it closed years ago following a series of land and water disputes. Hotel Molokai is now the only hotel on the island, which has a little less than 8,000 residents. You’ll find a series of small buildings surrounded by lovely landscaping about 4 km’s from the main town of Kaunakakai. There’s also a small pool and several shady hammocks, and the front desk can arrange tours and activities for you. The newly renovated room above the restaurant, Hiro’s Ohana Grill, has a lovely boutique feel. Other units are nice but fairly simple. While the Kaluako’i resort is closed, you can still rent condo units in the area, which has several exceptional beaches. On the east end, Wavecrest Resort has some lovely condo units with great views of the ocean and nearby Maui. The landscaping is first rate, and there’s also a pool and new barbeques, which makes it great for families.
Early morning at the Hotel Molokai in Hawai'i.
Dining on Molokai
The food is very good at Hiro’s Ohana Grill at Hotel Molokai, which has live music most nights and is just a meter or so from the ocean. You’ll also find tasty, simple meals and plenty of live entertainment – not to mention a dance floor - at Paddler’s Restaurant, located in Kaunakakai. Kanemitsu’s Bakery and Restaurant is great for breakfast. It’s also a go-to spot at night, when they sell fresh, hot bread out of a window in a back alley. Folks line up for fresh loaves, then slather them with butter and jam and have dinner on the spot.
Activities on Molokai
Halawa Valley Hikes: Greg Solatorio and his father, Anakala Pilipo Solatorio, run a fabulous tour in the remote Halawa Valley on the east side of the island. They’ll lead you on a hike to a beautiful waterfall and tell you amazing facts about the history of the valley, which was once home to thousands of Hawaiians but is now a place where perhaps a dozen people live. They’re experts on local culture so you’ll also learn a lot about the life of everyday Hawaiians. The Solatarios also can tell you about the two tsunamis that hit here in the last century, which is why there’s hardly anyone left. The drive to the Halawa Valley is a quiet, beautiful one that takes you past old wooden churches, small, rocky coves and several pretty beaches. There are great views of the Halawa Valley from above, as well as great views of Maui.
Greg Solatorio and his father, Anakala Pilipo Solatorio, lead marvellous cultural tours in Molokai's beautiful Halawa Valley.
A Sad Chapter: The Kalauapapa peninsula, which juts out into the Pacific on the north side of Molokai, is infamous as the place where leprosy victims from Hawaii and other parts of the world were exiled for decades. A cure was discovered years ago and only a few recovered patients still live on this isolated, beautiful spot of land, which is now a national park. The story of the people who came here and the people who helped them is one of great sadness, but also filled with tremendous spirit. The walking (and mule) trail that leads from the “topside” of Molokai down to the peninsula is closed due to land slides. Which means you’ll have to take a plane. Both Mokulele and Makani Kai Air fly to Kalauapapa, either from Molokai Airport (it’s a seven-minute flight) or Oahu (roughly a half-hour away). You need a permit to visit, so check the official government website for information.
Golf: The Kaluako’i resort course closed years ago, leaving the nine-hole Ironwoods course as your only golf option. There’s not a lot of green grass, at least not in summer, but it has several challenging holes and some nice views of the island. It’s also dirt cheap. I paid $31 USD for nine holes of golf, a pull cart and well-used rental clubs.
Local flavour: Tuddie Purdy is an engaging character who’s happy to show visitors how he grows macadamia nuts at Purdy's Natural Macadamia Nut Farm. You’ll also get to crack some yourself and snack on them on the spot. There’s no charge for a visit and a look-around, but he’s happy if you buy some nuts (he uses only sea salt; no preservatives) or some macadamia nut tree honey. You’ll find the farm in Ho’olehua, a short drive from the airport.
Shopping: Kaunakakai has a few nice stores, including a fun place called Kalele Bookstore and Divine Expressions, where you can find everything from jewelry to toys to books. I also love the little gift shop at Hotel Molokai. Up towards the airport, Beach Break might be the spiffiest shop on the island. The Molokai Arts Center in Kualapu’u is a great place to check out homemade pottery and other art work. Stop for a coffee next door at Coffees of Hawai'i, which also has a lovely gift shop.
: Kepuhi Beach is a marvellous spot on the dry, western side of Molokai.
Beaches: There are several small beaches on the east side of the island, which tends to get more rain than the west side. But not too much. The west end is home to several terrific stretches of sand. Papohaku Beach goes on for about five kilometers and is often deserted. Next door, Kepuhi Beach has lovely sand and is probably safer for kids. But keep an eye out for big waves especially in winter. There are a few small, pretty beaches north of Kepuhi that you can reach via an easy walk.
Improving Molokai
They have just a handful of staff, but the folks at the Molokai Land Trust are doing marvellous and important work to restore as much of the island’s natural environment as they can. You can take a trip and see how they’re doing it or even lend a hand. They could also use donations.
Getting to Molokai
The ferry that used to run from Maui is no more, which means you’ll either have to take a private boat, a cruise (see below) or a plane to get here. There are several flights a day from both Honolulu on Oahu and from Maui. Airlines include Hawaiian, Mokulele and Makani Kai.
AND A CRUISING OPTION
Uncruise offers Hawaii cruises that visit Hawaii Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lana’i. The ships are nicely outfitted, and everything is included, including activities, all your meals and top-shelf wines and liquor. You can extend your stay on either Hawaii Big Island or Molokai.
https://www.gohawaii.com/ca
For more information on Hawaii, Lanai, Molokai Island
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__label__wiki | 0.58076 | 0.58076 | Adrian Mateos books a treble at EPT Prague to wins $1.9m
TAGs: adrian mateos, EPT Prague
The Matador won once again on the live circuit. Adrian Mateos has closed in on $20 million in tournament winnings at the age of just 25 years old in Prague.
The last three results of Adrian Mateos’s live poker career have been incredible and bear a detailed look before we even talk about the details of how he achieved his latest victory.
Just three weeks ago, Mateos won the $25,500 MILLIONS Super High Roller in the Bahamas, for $520,464. Just a matter of hours later, Mateos had another win, this time winning $1.2 million by taking down the MILLIONS Main Event.
Now, having traveled to the popular pre-Christmas poker destination of Prague for the European Poker Tour festival, Mateos has achieved the amazing. A third cash and a third win, this time in the $10,3000-entry event, taking it down for the equivalent of $196,741.
With three consecutive wins, Mateos hasn’t just banked $1.9 million, although he very much has done that. He’s proved that his poker stamina is right up there with the best in the game. Being able to transition from game to game within a festival is one thing, but from festival to festival, separated by plane journeys between Nassau and Prague via his home in London, Mateos again made it look easy.
With 61 entries, Mateos made it to the final table in the first ‘Red Spade’ event at EPT Prague is fantastic form, but that wasn’t where the day started, with almost half the field still having chips when the first card went into the air.
In all, 27 players began the day, joined as they were by seven Day 2 entries as is permitted in many of the world’s higher-entry events. With €591,000 in the prize-pool, plenty of big names failed to add to their tournament winnings, with Seth Davies, Kahle Burns, Quan Zhou and Yuan Li all exiting without getting a return of their stack of high society.
Approaching the final table, Daniel Dvoress busted just outside the last sit-down showdown. Nine players took their seats, but only eight would be paid, and it was the unfortunate Austrian Matthias Eibinger who would bust in 9th place. All-in for 11 big blinds, Eibinger held ace-king and was in great shape against Tsugunari Toma’s ace-nine. But although a harmless ace came on the flop, the nine on the turn, combined with no help for Eibinger on the river sent Eibinger home as bubble boy.
With eight left, Arsenii Karmatckii was the first player to bust after he lost a coin-flip to go home in 8th for €23,670, before Orpen Kisacikoglu saw his chances straight-flushed out of contention by the eventual winner, leaning he went out in 7th place for €30,180.
With six players left, Tsugunari Toma’s luck finally ran out, the Japanese player busting to Vladimir Troyanovskiy. Team partypoker Pro Bertrand ‘Elky’ Grospellier was next to find himself out of the running, with trip queens going down against Derek Ip’s flopped full house.
Having lost a couple of crucial doubles to Grospellier before the Frenchman busted, Troyanovskiy was short-stacked and would depart in fourth place to his countryman, Anton Yakuba. Yakuba called Troyanovskiy’s shove with pocket sevens holding ace-jack and flopped a jack to bust his compatriot.
With the play three-handed, Mateos had largely stayed out of the line of fire, but he put himself into a huge coinflip situation when he called Derek Ip for a pile of chips. Ip had made the all-in move with pocket jacks, but Mateos’ ace-queen call met with success when a queen arrived on the turn.
Anton Yakuba was at a 1:2 disadvantage heads-up and Adrian Mateos made the lead count. In the end, having slipped further behind, Yakuba hero-called on the river of a hand where Mateos held two-pair. Yakuba held just king-high, and despite cashing for €128,400 in being runner-up, that paled against Mateos’ result of €177,500.
EPT Prague $10,300 No Limit Hold’em final table results:
1 Adrian Mateos Spain € 177,500
2 Anton Yakuba Russia € 128,400
3 Derek Ip Hong Kong € 82,840
4 Vladimir Troyanovskiy Russia € 62,720
5 Bertrand Grospellier France € 48,520
6 Tsugunari Toma Japan € 37,870
7 Orpen Kisacikoglu Turkey € 30,180
8 Arsenii Karmatckii Russia € 23,670
Five great poker victories in 2019 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line943 |
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Synthetic Biologics SYN-004 (ribaxamase) Achieves Primary Endpoint in Phase 2b Trial for C. difficile Infection
Synthetic Biologics’ SYN-004 (ribaxamase) Achieves Primary Endpoint
in Phase 2b Trial for C. difficile Infection (CDI)
Synthetic Biologics, Inc. a late-stage clinical company developing therapeutics
that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients, today
announced positive topline data from its Phase 2b clinical trial for SYN-004 (ribaxamase),
the Company’s first-in-class oral enzyme designed to protect the gut microbiome
from disruption caused by certain intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics.
The study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of 412 patients, met its primary endpoint of significantly reducing C. difficile Infection (CDI). Preliminary analysis of the data indicated seven confirmed cases of CDI in the placebo group compared to two cases in the ribaxamase treatment group. Patients receiving ribaxamase achieved a 71.4% relative risk reduction (p-value=0.045) in CDI rates compared to patients receiving placebo. Adverse events reported during this trial were comparable between treatment and placebo arms.
Synthetic Biologics is also in the process of analyzing data from several exploratory endpoints that were designed to evaluate ribaxamase’s ability to protect the gut microbiome from colonization by opportunistic bacteria such as C. difficile and other antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Preliminary analysis of the data demonstrated a significant reduction in new colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) for patients receiving ribaxamase compared to placebo (p-value=0.0002). With agreement from the FDA, the study included a secondary endpoint to assess ribaxamase’s capacity to decrease the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea from all causes. Preliminary analysis of the data suggested a trend towards such a reduction (p-value=0.13), which was due, for the most part, to the reduction of CDI.
These data are consistent with ribaxamase’s mechanism of action designed to protect and preserve the natural balance of the gut microbiome from the unintended effects of IV antibiotic use. The Company expects to share additional results from these exploratory endpoints as they become available later this year, including results focused on ribaxamase’s ability to prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the gut microbiome.
“These trial results provide a compelling demonstration of the potential of ribaxamase to help address the serious health impacts associated with CDI and infections from other opportunistic bacteria resulting from dysbiosis of the gut microbiome,” said Joseph Sliman, MD, SVP, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs. “More than 453,0001 patients are diagnosed with CDI annually in the U.S., resulting in approximately 29,0001 deaths as well as significant and sometimes prolonged illness. Ribaxamase has the potential to shorten hospital stays, diminish morbidity and mortality and reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the gut microbiome by protecting patients from primary C. difficile infection resulting from IV antibiotic use.”
In addition to causing significant suffering and mortality, CDI adds an estimated economic burden of nearly $1.5 billion1 to the healthcare system each year, which could potentially be reduced with an effective therapeutic.
“The reduction in the relative risk of CDI represents a significant milestone in the clinical development of ribaxamase and we believe provides further validation for our approach to advancing cutting edge microbiome science,” said Jeffrey Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These findings also help further our goals to bring the first ever microbiome-focused therapeutic to patients and to help illuminate the potential of this drug class to address serious diseases and public health concerns. We expect to share additional data from exploratory endpoints in the coming months and look forward to continuing ongoing and productive discussions with both the FDA and CDC on the protocol for Phase 3 pivotal trials for ribaxamase.”
Synthetic Biologics is also continuing to prepare for the initiation of pivotal Phase 2b/3 clinical trials for SYN-010, the Company’s proprietary, modified-release formulation of lovastatin lactone designed to treat the underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).
Presentation Planned for Biotech Showcase 2017 Conference
Time: 9:30 a.m. (PT) / 12:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, CA
A live webcast of Synthetic Biologics’ presentation may be accessed by logging onto the internet at https://event.webcasts.com/viewer/event.jsp?ei=1130367. After the presentation, a replay will be archived and accessible for 90 days at the same website.
About SYN-004 (ribaxamase) and the Phase 2b Study
SYN-004 (ribaxamase) is a first-in-class oral enzyme designed to degrade certain IV beta-lactam antibiotics within the GI tract and maintain the natural balance of the gut microbiome for the prevention of CDI, AAD and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. The Phase 2b proof-of-concept clinical trial is intended to evaluate the effectiveness of ribaxamase to prevent the onset of primary C. difficile infection (CDI), antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms in patients hospitalized with a lower respiratory infection and receiving IV ceftriaxone. A total of 412 subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio receiving either 150 mg dose strength of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) or placebo orally QID from Day 1 and until 72 hours following their last treatment of IV ceftriaxone. The sample size was determined to provide 80% power to detect the treatment effect with a one-sided alpha of 0.05. P-values were determined based on a 1-sided z-test for the comparison of the treatment difference as pre-specified in the statistical analysis plan. To access the ribaxamase mechanism of action video on Synthetic Biologics’ website, please click here.
About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.
Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE MKT: SYN) is a late-stage clinical company developing therapeutics that preserve the microbiome to protect and restore the health of patients. The Company’s lead candidates poised for Phase 3 development are: (1) SYN-010 which is intended to reduce the impact of methane producing organisms in the gut microbiome to treat an underlying cause of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), and (2) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. The Company is also developing preclinical stage monoclonal antibody therapies for the prevention and treatment of pertussis and novel discovery stage biotherapeutics for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). For more information, please visit Synthetic Biologics’ website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions and include statements regarding the potential of ribaxamase to help address the serious health impacts associated with CDI and infections from other opportunistic bacteria resulting from dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, the industry data regarding the expected incidence and economic burden of CDI, the potential of ribaxamase to shorten hospital stays, diminish morbidity and mortality and reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms in the gut microbiome by protecting patients from primary C. difficile infection resulting from IV antibiotic use, the potential to reduce the economic burden to the healthcare system from an effective therapeutic, the suggested trend toward a reduction of incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea from all causes, the expected timing of data release of exploratory endpoints of the trial focused on the ability of ribaxamase to prevent the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms in the gut microbiome, the continued ongoing discussions with the FDA and CDC, validation for our approach to advancing cutting edge microbiome science, the continued preparation for the initiation of pivotal Phase 2b/3 clinical trials for SYN-010, the potential of the drug class to address serious diseases and public health concerns, the ability of SYN-004 to protect the gut microbiome from the effects of certain commonly used IV beta-lactam antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection, antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, Synthetic Biologics’ product candidates demonstrating safety and effectiveness, as well as results that are consistent with prior results, Synthetic Biologics’ ability to initiate clinical trials and if initiated, to complete them on time and achieve desired results and benefits, Synthetic Biologics’ clinical trials continuing enrollment as expected, Synthetic Biologics’ ability to obtain regulatory approvals for commercialization of product candidates or to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements, regulatory limitations relating to Synthetic Biologics’ ability to promote or commercialize its product candidates for specific indications, acceptance of its product candidates in the marketplace and the successful development, marketing or sale of Synthetic Biologics’ products by competitors that render Synthetic Biologics’ products obsolete or non-competitive, Synthetic Biologics’ ability to maintain its license agreements, the continued maintenance and growth of Synthetic Biologics’ patent estate, Synthetic Biologics becoming and remaining profitable, Synthetic Biologics’ ability to establish and maintain collaborations, Synthetic Biologics’ ability to obtain or maintain the capital or grants necessary to fund its research and development activities, a loss of any of Synthetic Biologics’ key scientists or management personnel, and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and its other filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K.The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Synthetic Biologics undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
1: Leffler DA et al. N Engl J Med 2015; 372: 1539-1548
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/synthetic-biologics-syn-004-ribaxamase-achieves-primary-endpoint-in-phase-2b-trial-for-c-difficile-infection-cdi-300386140.html
SOURCE Synthetic Biologics, Inc.
Released January 5, 2017
This entry was posted in C. diff. prevention, C. diff. Research & Development, Clinical Trials and tagged Biological Research and Development Clostridium difficile, C. difficile clinical studies, C.diff. prevention clinical studies, Cdiff Clinical Studies, Clostridium difficile prevention clinical studies, Gastroenterology, Healthcare, Phase2b trial Synthetic Biologics, SYN-004, Synthetic Biologics, Synthetic Biologics SYN-004, Synthetic Biologics Syn004 ribaxamase on January 5, 2017 by cdifffoundation.
The United States Adopted Names Council (USAN) Of the American Medical Association Has Approved the Use Of “ribaxamase” For Synthetic Biologics’ SYN-004 For the Prevention Of C. difficile Infection (CDI)
The United States Adopted Names Council (USAN) of the American Medical Association has approved the use of “ribaxamase” (Rye-bak’-sa-mase) for Synthetic Biologics’ SYN-004.
Ribaxamase is the Company’s Phase 2 development candidate designed to protect the gut microbiome from the unintended effects of certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics for the prevention of C. difficile infection (CDI), antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Synthetic Biologics recently reported positive results from two Phase 2a clinical trials demonstrating a correlation of the 150 mg dose of ribaxamase with the degradation of residual IV ceftriaxone alone, and in the presence of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI), esomeprazole, to levels that were near or below detectable in the intestinal chyme of healthy participants with functioning ileostomies. A Phase 2b proof-of-concept, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial is currently underway to evaluate the ability of ribaxamase to prevent CDI and AAD in patients hospitalized with a lower respiratory tract infection and receiving IV ceftriaxone. An interim analysis of blinded data performed by an independent data monitoring committee is expected in summer of 2016.
“The approval of the generic name ribaxamase for SYN-004 by USAN is a defining milestone for Synthetic Biologics. Ribaxamase represents a newly created and innovative first-in-class drug designed to protect the naturally occurring gut microbiome from the unintended consequences of antibiotic use,” said Jeffrey Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer. “By degrading certain IV beta-lactam antibiotics before they reach the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, ribaxamase may not only prevent the onset of CDI and AAD, but has the potential to be an instrumental tool for preventing the emergence of antibiotic resistance in organisms which comprise the gut microbiome. We are excited for the continued clinical development of ribaxamase and look forward to sharing our progress including announcing results from our ongoing global Phase 2b proof-of-concept clinical trial.”
To read the article in its entirety click on the link below:
http://www.syntheticbiologics.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/215/synthetic-biologics-receives-usan-approval-for-generic-name
This entry was posted in Clinical Trials and tagged C diff prevention clinical study, C. difficile clinical studies, C. difficile research community, CDI prevention Phase 2b clinical trial, Cdiff Clinical Studies, Cdiff clinical study prevention, Phase 2b clinical trials Clostridium difficile prevention, ribaxamase, Synthetic Biologics, Synthetic Biologics SYN-004 on July 12, 2016 by cdifffoundation.
C. diff. Prevention of Recurrent C. diff. Infection (RCDI), Seres Therapeutics Announces Achievement of Target Enrollment of SER-109 Phase 2 Study
In The News: May 2, 2016
Seres Therapeutics Announces Achievement of Target Enrollment of SER-109 Phase 2 Study for the Prevention of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection
Phase 2 data expected in mid-2016
New SER-109 Expanded Access Program initiated at Phase 2 clinical sites
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. a leading microbiome therapeutics platform company, announced that the target enrollment of 87 patients has been achieved for its ongoing SER-109 Phase 2 clinical study.
SER-109 is an oral, potential first-in-field microbiome therapeutic that has been granted Orphan Drug and Breakthrough Therapy designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is being investigated for use in preventing recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).
“We are pleased to reach this important milestone in our ongoing development of SER-109, which has the potential to be the first therapy for C. difficile infection to treat the underlying cause of this disease, and the first microbiome drug for a human disease. This is the first placebo controlled trial for patients with multiply-recurrent CDI,” said Roger Pomerantz, M.D., Chairman, President, and CEO of Seres. “C. difficile infection is an extremely serious condition responsible for approximately 29,000 deaths each year in the United States alone. We are moving with urgency to develop SER-109 as quickly and safely as possible. We expect initial results of the Phase 2 study in the middle of this year, and we plan to initiate a Phase 3 study later in 2016.”
The SER-109 Phase 2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02437487) is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study being conducted at approximately 40 centers across the U.S. The current study builds on a completed, successful Phase 1b/2 trial, which demonstrated that 87 percent of patients (26 of 30) met the predefined endpoint of preventing recurrent CDI within eight weeks following administration of SER-109. In that study 97 percent of patients (29 of 30) achieved a clinical cure during the eight-week period after SER-109 dosing, as defined by the absence of CDI requiring antibiotic treatment. Results from the Phase 1b/2 have been published in The Journal of Infectious Disease.1
The Company has initiated a SER-109 Expanded Access Program at selected sites participating in the ongoing Phase 2 study. The Expanded Access Program will enable eligible patients with multiply-recurrent CDI to have continued access to SER-109. Furthermore, maintaining Phase 2 study sites open ahead of the anticipated start of the Phase 3 study expected to support and augment Phase 3 study execution and enrollment.
About Seres Therapeutics
Seres Therapeutics, Inc. is a leading microbiome therapeutics platform company developing a novel class of biological drugs that are designed to treat disease by restoring the function of a dysbiotic microbiome, where the natural state of bacterial diversity and function is imbalanced. Seres’ most advanced program, SER-109, has successfully completed a Phase 1b/2 study demonstrating a clinical benefit in patients with recurring Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2 study in recurring CDI. The FDA has granted SER-109 Orphan Drug, as well as Breakthrough Therapy, designations. Seres’ second clinical candidate, SER-287, is being evaluated in a Phase 1b study in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). For more information, please visit www.serestherapeutics.com. Follow us on Twitter @SeresTx.
http://ir.serestherapeutics.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254006&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2163658
1. Khanna S. et al., A novel microbiome therapeutic increases gut microbial diversity and prevents recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, Journal of Infectious Disease, 2016.
Note: The C Diff Foundation does not endorse this product, or any product, and shares this article strictly for informational purposes.
This entry was posted in C. diff. Research & Development, Clinical Trials and tagged C. difficile clinical studies, Clostridium difficile clinical studies, Prevention of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection, RCDI, Recurrent C. diff. treatment clinical study, Recurrent Clostridium difficile treatment, SER-109, SER-109 Phase 2, Seres Therapeutics on May 5, 2016 by cdifffoundation.
Summit Therapeutics PLC Is Granted A “Composition Of Matter” Patent By U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
C. difficile Infection– Treatment On The Horizon
The US patent and trademark office have granted a “composition of matter” patent.
It gives a period of exclusivity for ridinilazole in the United States until at least December 1, 2029, with the possibility of being extended.
It’s been a busy period for the firm and Glyn Edwards, Chief Executive said: “This new patent grant in one of our potential major commercial markets substantially strengthens our intellectual property estate protecting our novel CDI antibiotic ridinilazole and supports our efforts to maximize the potential of this promising compound.”
“We are focused on our CDI and DMD programmes and today’s news, combined with the recently announced expansion advancing of our PhaseOut DMD trial, highlights their continuing excellent progress as we seek to have a meaningful impact on the lives of patients living with these serious diseases.”
In a Phase 2 clinical trial, ridinilazole showed statistical superiority over vancomycin – the standard of care medicine – in rates of sustained clinical response, an endpoint that captures both initial cure and recurrence of the disease.
To read article in its entirety:
http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/125364/summit-therapeutics-plc-boosted-by-us-patent-for-c-diff-antibiotic-125364.html
*Please note – The C Diff Foundation does not endorse this product or any product and this posting is strictly for informational purposes only.
This entry was posted in C. diff. Research & Development, C. diff. Research Community, Clinical Trials and tagged C. diff. clinical study, C. diff. Treatment On The Horizon, C. difficile antibiotic clincial study, C. difficile clinical studies, CoDiFy Trial Study Ridinilazole, Phase 2 clinical trial ridinilazole, ridinilazole U.S. patent, Summit Therapeutics PLC on April 29, 2016 by cdifffoundation.
Summit Therapeutics Unveiled Findings From the Phase 2 CoDIFy Trial Featuring the Potential Of Ridinilazole In the Treatment Of C. diff. At ECCMID
Drug development company Summit Therapeutics PLC has presented positive results from a trial of its drug that combats hospital super-bug C.diff.
The company unveiled the findings from the Phase 2 CoDIFy trial highlighting the potential of ridinilazole in the treatment of Clostridium difficile (C.diff.) infection at what is called a poster presentation, at the 26th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID).
Summit said the findings include a markedly reduced recurrence rate and a statistically superior rate of sustained clinical response in patients with CDI receiving ridinilazole, compared with those receiving the standard of care, vancomycin.
Sustained clinical response is defined as clinical cure at the end of treatment and no recurrence of the condition in 30 days after therapy.
Ridinilazole is a novel class antibiotic with the potential for broad use across the CDI disease spectrum. CDI is a serious threat in hospitals and care homes and there are between 450,000 and 700,000 cases in the US annually.
“Preventing disease recurrence is a major unmet need in CDI, both for newly diagnosed patients who are receiving initial treatment and for patients who are receiving treatment for recurrent disease,” said Dale Gerding, MD, Research Physician, Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital, Professor of Medicine, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, and an author on the presentation.
“In this context, it is very encouraging to see such a marked reduction in recurrences with ridinilazole in the Phase 2 trial,” Gerding said.
Glyn Edwards, chief executive of Summit, said: “Ridinilazole’s narrow spectrum of activity appeared to substantially reduce damage to the gut microbiome in the Phase 2 clinical trial, allowing patients to maintain or rebuild their natural defences against recurrence of CDI.”
Recurrence is a key problem as repeat episodes are typically more severe and associated with an increase in mortality rates and healthcare costs.
“The wealth of data we have reported on the compound to date, including the positive efficacy results presented today at ECCMID, suggest that ridinilazole could become a truly differentiated product with potential for broad use in CDI, including front-line treatment,” Edwards said.
Key efficacy findings from the trial presented at ECCMID were:
Statistical superiority in SCR with rates of 66.7% for ridinilazole compared to 42.4% for vancomycin
Marked reduction in recurrence with rates of 14.3% for ridinilazole compared to 34.8% for vancomycin
Cure rates at the end of treatment of 77.8% for ridinilazole and 69.7% for vancomycin
A copy of the poster is available from Summit’s web site .
To read this article in its entirety click on the following link:
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/124614/summit-therapeutics-plc-presents-positive-cdi-results-124614.html
This entry was posted in C. diff. Research & Development, C. diff. Research Community, Clinical Trials and tagged C diff clinical studies, C. difficile clinical studies, Clostridium difficile clinical studies, ECCMID, Novel class antibiotic, Phase 2 CoDIFy Clinical Study, Ridinilazole, Summit Therapeutics on April 12, 2016 by cdifffoundation.
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__label__cc | 0.670817 | 0.329183 | How Science Informs Good Leadership
Image via Pixabay
Richard Davidson, founder of the Center, has gathered research insights over the decades in order to understand well-being and alleviate distraction, dissatisfaction and suffering.
For people at work, including executives and leaders, it's become clear the workplace deeply shapes our well-being – it's the place many of us spend the majority of our days and lives.
"We've all had 'those days' at work where nearly everything seems to go awry. From that traffic jam delaying your first meeting to opening an inbox full of bad news, our patience and well-being are tested more often than we'd like."
Davidson breaks down three areas from which our workplaces can take a tip or two, including:
Focus and Presence
From neuroscience research, we know that simple exercises such as mindfulness meditation and focusing on the breath can increase focus and strengthen connections in the brain related to executive function and goal-directed behavior (aka dedicating that deep focus needed to wrap up that project). We also know that multitasking is a myth, so closing your email and silencing notifications while dedicating yourself to the task at hand will pay off and can enable you to be more focused and to think more clearly about important decisions for your team.
If leaders are bent over their smart phones rather than paying attention to an employee presenting in front of them, how can they possibly make the most informed decision about the topic being discussed? How can they expect their employees to feel heard or valued? But even less overt forms of distraction, such as seeming to pay attention but having your mind on the next meeting, will be felt by those around you.
Emotionally-Balanced Decision Making
At an interpersonal level, office politics and leadership dynamics can affect our stress and well-being. You're likely aware of the negative effects of stress, but it's also been known to shape the brain in key areas, including the amygdala (important for negative emotions such as anger and fear) and the prefrontal cortex (influencing self control and decision-making). When our brains are in "reactive" mode or are on the defense, our interactions with others are at risk of coming from a place of anger.
Studies, including one from our Center, are beginning to unearth how these relationships work, but what we know so far points to a relationship between activation of the prefrontal cortex and emotion regulation. Creating distance between yourself and your emotions by noticing them can help with this and can be achieved through mindful awareness and practice.
Read the full article on The World Post (www.huffingtonpost.com)
Learning To Be Happy Is "No Different Than Learning The Violin"
Richard Davidson shares why well-being can be learned with HuffPo Live
Making Well-Being Part of Daily Life
What are practical ways to incorporate well-being skills into your daily life?
Watch "Your Brain at Work" Webcast
Watch the free webcast, join the conversation.
Boosting Well-Being at Work
Today Show hosts Matt Lauer and Hoda Kotb took a lesson on happiness and well-being from Center experts
Try the 5-3-1 Practice
The 5-3-1 Practice from the Center for Healthy Minds is a set of informal tips aimed at cultivating well-being | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line950 |
__label__cc | 0.722225 | 0.277775 | Interview by Victoria Pease in Art of Craft — JUNE 2015
Spirited Traditions
In Portland, Oregon, a revival in ancient Chinese drinking culture with a home-grown approach
For seven generations the Ly family has held on to their recipe for the Chinese rice wine spirit baijiu. Moving to the United States from Vietnam and away from a culture of home-distilling very much essential to village life, Phan Ly began making his own batch, wishing to maintain his family’s bond through their shared passion for a familiar craft.
Baijiu, a grain-distilled liquor that can be made through a variety of fermentation and distillation techniques, is the world’s most popular spirit; remarkably uncharted in Western countries and only slowly beginning to garner attention.
Founding Vinn distillery in 2009, Phan Ly’s homemade baijiu began finding its way onto the shelves of Portland’s local liquor stores, bringing flavours rich with heritage to a crowd thirsty for authenticity. Phan Ly’s daughter, Michelle Ly, tells the story of her family’s business and of a dedication to keeping tradition alive with a healthy spirit.
Tell us about the background of Vinn Distillery, and about the importance of family heritage in maintaining it.
We had always made baijiu for our own personal use and consumption. We use it to honour our ancestors, make medicine, cook, and celebrate. Back in Vietnam, the idea never crossed our minds to make and sell it in the US – we sold it just to the locals in the tiny village we lived in – until our father was forced into retirement.
For a few months he went fishing and played mah-jong with his friends. Soon he started playing around with different ways to make spirits from rice.
While “relaxing” he created a couple of rice wines made from brown and black rice – fermented rice wines using our baijiu to fortify them. He realised that baijiu was not available in Portland’s local liquor stores, and that there were no spirits made from rice on the market.
Although all of my siblings have other careers, the distillery keeps us working towards the same dream – our father’s dream to introduce Vinn Baijiu to the US.
What is the work process in making baijiu?
For our baijiu we use 100% brown rice from California, which we cook off and let cool to a specific temperature. We then add our small qu (an enzyme and yeast blend). We allow the mixture to ferment in small containers for a few months before we distil it three times in a pot. The mixture then settles for about a year before we bottle it. Our Vinn Baijiu does not go through a filtration process, so it retains the earthy and bold aroma and flavour.
Living in China and Vietnam, how valuable was knowledge of home distilling and for what reasons?
In Vietnam and China, we lived in tiny villages so there wasn’t the convenience of a liquor store around the corner. You either knew how to make the spirit or you had to buy it from your neighbour that made it. Because it is so essential to our lives, many people in our village knew how to make it.
What does 'craft' mean to you in the baijiu production process?
Craft to us means creating something unique and of our own, keeping it simple and in small batches. All our spirits are made from scratch (grain to bottle) and are completely handcrafted – giving each batch its own character and uniqueness.
Craft to us means creating something unique and of our own, keeping it simple and in small batches
Michelle Ly, Vinn Distillery
Has your recipe changed or been adapted to meet modern trends and flavour profiles, and how have any cultural influences had an effect on your use of ingredients and production technique
Our family recipe for baijiu hasn’t changed but we have created new spirits with new techniques. Products like our Vinn Vodka and Vinn Whiskey (all made from rice) have taken western influences, but use our traditional baijiu recipe as the base.
How important is small batch production of baijiu, could growing demand compromise quality and craft?
For us, small batch production is what we know best when it comes to making baijiu, so it is important. We are not sure how it will affect quality and craft if demand grows faster than production, but it will be something we will need to adapt to when that bridge needs to be crossed.
Visit the Vinn Distillery webpages
Crafting Excellence Art of Craft Wine & Spirits Food & Drink Interview Personalities
Interview in Art of Craft
Stitched in Time
Interview with Annette Roeckl of the Munich based leather goods company
Art of Craft Interview | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line951 |
__label__wiki | 0.821086 | 0.821086 | ABOUT CFTA
CZECH LION AWARDS
FOR ACADEMICIANS
Homepage | News | The nominations in the television categories
NominationsThe Painted Bird makes Oscars shortlistThe gala evening of the 27th Czech Lion AwardThe Painted Bird26th Czech Lion Awards ResultsThe nominations in the television categories The list of the nominations26th Czech LionWinter Flies25th CZECH LION AWARD WINNERSTelevision categories within the Czech Lion Awards25th Czech Lion Awards - nominationsThe ceremonial gala evening of the 25th Czech Lion will take place on 10th March 2018 The Czech cinematography will be represented at the Oscars by the film Ice Mother24th CZECH LION AWARDS RESULTSThe most nominations for the Czech Lion Awards have been obtained by the films Masaryk (Prominent Patient), Anthropoid and Učitelka (The Teacher)The Czech Lions will be again awarded to television production23rd Czech Lion Award WinnersThe nominations for the Czech Lion have been dominated by the films Ztraceni v Mnichově (Lost in Munich), Kobry a užovky (The Snake Brothers) and Domácí péče (Home Care)Czech Lion will be newly awarded to television production, the ceremonial gala evening will take place on 5 th March 2016Czech cinematography will be represented at the Oscars by the film Home CareThe Results of 22 Czech Film and Television Academy AwardsThe Czech Film and Television Academy Awards will be announced on 21st February 2015 in RudolfinumCzech cinematography will be represented at the Oscars by the film Fair PlayThe 21st Czech Lion Awards Results
The nominations in the television categories
Tuesday, 26th February, 2019
The Czech and Film Television Academy (CFTA) has published the nominated television projects that reached the three highest positions in the voting of the academics in the two television categories. In the category of the best television film or miniseries the following three miniseries got the most votes: Dukla 61, Methanol and Redl. The series Dubbing Street, Professor T. and Rabies have been nominated in the category of the best television drama series. Unlike the films that enter the competition for the Czech Lions automatically providing they have fulfilled the conditions of the statutes, the broadcasters themselves have to register their projects for the two television categories. This year the following subjects submitted their projects: Czech Television, TV Nova and FTV Prima. The winners in the film as well as television categories will be announced during the ceremonial gala evening of the 26th annual Czech Lion awards in Rudolfinum on Saturday 23rd March 2019.
In January the CFTA revealed the nominations in the film categories where the film Toman directed and produced by Ondřej Trojan is in the best position with its 13 nominations. Ten nominations were received by two films – The Hastrman directed by Ondřej Havelka and the film Winter Flies directed by Olmo Omerzu. These three films are followed by the films Golden Sting by Radim Špaček with 9 nominations, Jan Palach by Robert Sedláček with 8 nominations and Insect by Jan Švankmajer with 5 nominations. Now the academy is revealing the projects that can obtain the awards for television production in two categories on the 23rd March 2019.
Three television broadcasters nominated their projects this year – Czech Television, TV Nova and FTV Prima and the academics were choosing from those in a one-round voting. In the category of the best television film or miniseries among the first three most successful projects there are three television miniseries Dukla 61 (Czech Television, directed by David Ondříček), Methanol (Czech Television, directed by Tereza Kopáčová) and Redl (Czech Television, directed by Jan Hřebejk). In the category of the best television drama series the most votes were obtained by the series Dubbing Street (Czech Television, directed by Petr Zelenka), Professor T. (TV Nova, directed by Tomáš Mašín and Michal Blaško) and Rabies (Czech Television, directed by Tomáš Bařina).
The winners of the film as well as television categories will be announced at the Czech Lion ceremonial gala evening that will take place in Prague’s Rudolfinum on Saturday 23th March 2019. The gala evening will be newly hosted by Václav Kopta and it will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. by the CT1 channel.
For the first time this year the CFTA gives the fans of Czech film an opportunity to watch the films nominated for the year of 2018 either in the cinema or online. The CineStar network of multiplex cinemas will hold a festival of the films that have been nominated for the Czech Lion awards all over the Czech Republic from 2nd to 19th March and the best films of last year will return to the cinemas then.
People will also be able to watch the nominated films online on the website www.ceskylev.cz. Thanks to the cooperation with dafilms.cz the films will be available from 18th to 31st March. Apart from the films that have been nominated this year the website also offers an ever growing collection of Czech films that were either nominated or got the Czech Lion award in the past years.
BEST TELEVISION FILM or MINISERIES
Dukla 61 – miniseries, directed by David Ondříček, produced by Michal Reitler, screenplay by Jakub Režný and Matěj Podzimek
Methanol (Metanol)– miniseries, directed by Tereza Kopáčová, produced by Michal Reitler, screenplay by Lenka Szántó and Matěj Podzimek
Redl (Rédl)– miniseries, directed by Jan Hřebejk, produced by Jan Štern, screenplay by Miro Šifra
BEST TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES
Dubbing Street – directed by Petr Zelenka, produced by Kateřina Ondřejková, screenplay by Petr Zelenka
Professor T. (Profesor T.) – directed by Tomáš Mašín and Michal Blaško, produced by Matěj Chlupáček, Maja Hamplová and Bernd Alexa, screenplay by Petr Jarchovský, Michal Samir and Evita Naušová
Rabies (Vzteklina) – directed by Tomáš Bařina, produced by Josef Viewegh, screenplay by Jan Stehlík
Czech Lion
History of awards
Logos and Czech
Lion Statuette
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__label__wiki | 0.658881 | 0.658881 | ACEJMC
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2020-2021 Mass Communications Scholarships
Supporting our majors in their academic pursuits is a priority for The Department of Mass Communications. That's why each year we offer scholarship opportunities for achieving students in financial need. Applications for the 2020-2021 Mass Communications scholarships will be available March 4, 2020.
Directions for successful completion of the application process:
1. In sending in your application to Mr. Daniel, label the completed application form as "YOUR NAME" application, label the resume' as "YOUR NAME" resume', and label the letter as "YOUR NAME" letter. Attach all three documents (word documents only) to a single email.
2. In your letter, do not apply for a specific scholarship. Do indicate financial need and future plans, including career aspirations in your letter.
Mass Communications Scholarships:
For further information about all of our scholarships (applications, deadlines, and award amounts) please contact: Bruce R. Daniel, Chair of Mass Communications Scholarship Selection and Awards Committee at bdaniel@westga.edu.
Frances Parkman Memorial Scholarship
Recipient Criteria: Priority given to a junior or senior pursuing a career in mass communication, who has attained a minimum 2.5 GPA after completing 30 hrs of college credit. Financial need and participation in extracurricular activities will be considered including serving on the staff of The West Georgian. Student Financial Services will determine which student has a financial need.
David S. Parkman III Scholarship
Recipient Criteria: Priority will be given to a junior or senior pursuing a career in convergence journalism who has attained a minimum 2.5 GPA after completing 30 hours of college credit. Participating in extracurricular activities by applicants will be considered, with special consideration given to staff members of The West Georgian. Priority will also be given to a student from Carroll County.
George Fields Whatley Scholarship
Recipient Criteria: Financially deserving Mass Communications major with an emphasis in convergence journalism.
Margaret Gauthier Mass Communications Scholarship
Recipient Criteria: Student majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis on Speech. Recipient must have attained a minimum 3.0 GPA after completing 45 hours of college credit. Financial need may be a consideration and will be screened through the UWG Office of Financial Aid.
Digital Media and Telecommunications | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line960 |
__label__wiki | 0.5647 | 0.5647 | Samantha Box
Bama, Omar and Devin, 2008
13.5 in H x 9 in W
1620-8D.15
BirthplaceJamaica
CitizenshipUnited States
Cultural HeritageAfrican-American
Light Work RelationshipArtist-in-Residence, 2015
Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery, 2018 (Be Strong and Do Not Betray Your Soul)
Light Work PublicationsContact Sheet 187
Contact Sheet 198
Samantha Box has documented New York City’s community of LGBTQ youth of color, the social issues affecting these young adults, and the structures of family, intimacy and validation that bind and protect them. The resulting body of work, INVISIBLE, is a continuing multi-chapter exploration into the lives of this young community. INVISIBLE has been widely recognized and exhibited including in 2010 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY; in 2011 as part of the Open Society Foundation’s Moving Walls #18 exhibtion; and in 2013 as part of the The Leslie-Lohman Musuem of Gay and Lesbian Art’s Queers In Exile exhibition. Images from INVISIBLE are part of the permanent collections of the Open Society Foundation, EN FOCO, and The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. Box’s work has been featured on Wired‘s The Raw File and on TIME magazine’s LightBox blog. Box was born in Kingston, Jamaica, was raised in Edison, New Jersey and is now based in Brooklyn, New York.
www.samanthaboxphoto.com
The function of freedom is to free someone else.
— Toni Morrison
People often speak of the resilience of queer and trans youth of color. Resilience presents the idea of emotional maturity against oppressive hardships. Some regard resilience as a certain numbness—a system of beliefs called upon to survive one’s life. James Baldwin describes this as living within a kind of unexamined pain.
Many queer young people are rejected from their homes, schools, society and come together to form “houses”—kinship communities where they originate and announce the terms. These houses reinvent safety, constantly negotiating the margins. A leader is pushed forward, modeling the sense of leadership that their previous lives could not afford them. I began to envy freedom the first time I laid eyes on a Kiki Ball. Glamour, vision, and family. And stillness—while we waited for a collection of youth to deliver a performance of gender and resilience from their souls. I inhaled this complex life, this giving of self, and this commitment to living. And I humbly began to recognize the deficit in my own freedom. Intersections acknowledged; this experience with freedom is their most important resource.
Queer bodies in contemporary art continue to teeter between trending fetish and exploited realms of desire. There have been and will continue to be photographers that set out to “spotlight queer youth.” In recent years, a slight but significant shift has occurred. Artists such as Mickalene Thomas and Zanele Muholi, who center queer bodies, have been featured in major international exhibitions. The art world is seeing art made by queer people for queer people. The ideology of inclusionary politics has received a persistent nudge, and art created by queer people and about queer people is gradually ascending. But not without complication.
Samantha Box has photographed queer youth of color for over a decade. For her viewer, her portraits prioritize the intentions of her subjects. We are introduced to the Kiki Ballroom scene as more than a mechanism of survival, but a viable source of family. Samantha’s photography offers an implicit ether of examination; her work is evidence of her own investigation as an outsider, deconstructing the implications of her positionality. Her images display a brief stillness inside of emotional chaos, centering radical queer lives. Light is used as the entry point—in a complex juxtaposition of oppression and hope. Hands and eyes are emphatic depictions of love. Queer bodies are no longer saturated with inquisition. And family is now able to become emotionally nuanced. In view of her work, we unlearn the norms of reality blocking any threshold for desire. Instead, we enter worlds where lush, spirited living is maintained.
To witness the resilience of queer youth of color offers insight into living as an option; thriving within persecuted lives that are viewed as unfounded. This relationship to living isn’t measured against how near one is to death. It is celebrated by how valuable one’s relationship is to freedom. Freedom becomes the ability to see beyond the satiation of resilience, deserving a deeper investigation.
Erica Cardwell
Erica Cardwell is a writer, activist, and educator living in Astoria, Queens.
Samantha Box lives in Brooklyn, NY, and completed her residency at Light Work in September 2015. www.samanthaboxphoto.com | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line964 |
__label__cc | 0.720455 | 0.279545 | South Asia is home to well over one fifth of the world's population, making it both the most populous and most densely populated geographical region in the world. This region of the world is also home to a diverse group of global challenges, conflict and fragile states. Security concerns, both domestic and international, have led some South Asian states to foster extremist movements in their own backyards. The challenge in South Asia has been not simply postconflict peacekeeping but also more ambitious efforts to build domestic institutions of law and governance. A growing array of international groups and organizations are now devoted to state building, and scholarly organizations like CIC are slowly developing a body of knowledge on its theory and practice. CIC has helped to illuminate these peacebuilding efforts by looking at the ideas that inform the actions of international agencies as they engage Member States in the region.
Program(s): Afghanistan-Pakistan Regional Project, Peace and Security
Region/Country: South Asia, Afghanistan, India
Taliban Views on a Future State
Few if any Taliban leaders say they want to re-establish the Islamic Emirate or revive the policies that drew the world’s opprobrium upon them when they controlled the Afghan state in the 1990s.That is the conclusion drawn in this report by Borhan Osman of the Afghanistan Analysts Network and Anand Gopal, author of No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes from interviews with members of the Taliban’s political wing and analysis of the movement’s official publications.
Author(s) / Contributor(s): Borhan Osman, Anand Gopal
Region/Country: South Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan
Topic(s): Afghanistan, International Security, Pakistan, South Asia
Enhancing Access to Education: Challenges and Opportunities in Afghanistan
In 1996, the Taliban movement, a majority of who were religious students from Deobandi madrasas (religious schools) in Pakistan and rural Afghanistan, established a short-lived Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. On arrival in Kabul, the Taliban barred women from working at public or private institutions and banned girls from schools. The Taliban regime said that the ban was because of a lack of facilities and security.
Author(s) / Contributor(s): Barnett Rubin, Clancy Rudeforth
Topic(s): Afghanistan, Humanitarian Crises, South Asia
China and the United States on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Region
Shaping the Emerging World : India and the Multilateral Order
Separating the Taliban from Al-Qaeda: The Core of Success in Afghanistan | A CIC Study
President Trump Announces Afghanistan Strategy
Trump locks America into its forever war
Afghanistan and Considerations of Supply
Trump ponders crackdown on Pakistan over terror ties despite experts' warnings
A Discussion on US-Afghan Relations
Park Church Co-Op Presents: A Discussion on US-Afghanistan Relations
Guest Speaker: Said Sabir Ibrahimi, Research Associate, New York University’s Center on International Cooperation
Said Sabir Ibrahimi
India – Middle East Relations in the Asian Century
WPS Sidhu | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line970 |
__label__wiki | 0.819356 | 0.819356 | Princeton Theological Seminary reverses decision to honor Redeemer’s Tim Keller
Posted on March 23, 2017 by STEPHEN
By David Gibson | 8 hours ago
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Timothy Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989. Screenshot from Vimeo
(RNS) Faced with mounting criticism for its decision to give a major award to the Rev. Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and one of the country’s best-known conservative Christian thinkers, Princeton Theological Seminary has reversed course and said Keller will not receive the honor.
In an email to faculty and students on Wednesday morning (March 22), the president of the venerable mainline Protestant seminary, the Rev. Craig Barnes, said he remains committed to academic freedom and “the critical inquiry and theological diversity of our community.”
But he said that giving Keller the annual Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Witness – named after a famous Dutch neo-Calvinist theologian – might “imply an endorsement” of Keller’s views against the ordination of women and LGBTQ people.
Barnes said the seminary would not award the Kuyper Prize to anyone this year.
But he said that after he and Keller talked, and after discussions also with the chairs of the Kuyper Committee and the Board of Trustees, Keller had agreed to deliver the annual Kuyper Lecture on April 6 as planned.
“We are a community that does not silence voices in the church,” Barnes wrote. “In this spirit we are a school that can welcome a church leader to address one of its centers about his subject, even if we strongly disagree with his theology on ordination to ministry. Reverend Keller will be lecturing on Lesslie Newbigin and the mission of the church – not on ordination.”
Newbigin was a British theologian renowned for his writings on mission, and Keller is known for his success at “church planting.”
Barnes acknowledged that the entire episode had been “a hard conversation” but one “that a theologically diverse community can handle.”
In its announcement earlier this month that Keller had been chosen to receive the Kuyper Prize, the seminary’s Kuyper Center for Public Theology had praised Keller as “an innovative theologian and church leader, well-published author, and catalyst for urban mission in major cities around the world.”
But critics quickly noted that Keller is also a leader in the Presbyterian Church in America, or PCA, which is the more conservative wing of U.S. Presbyterianism and does not permit the ordination of women or LGBTQ people.
READ: Princeton seminary taking heat for honoring Tim Keller
Princeton seminary, one of the oldest in the U.S., is associated with the more liberal Presbyterian Church (USA), or PCUSA.
While Keller is not known for pushing hot-button culture war issues, several critics said his positions against the ordination of women and against LGBTQ rights, as well as his endorsement of a traditional view that women should submit to their husbands — a view known as “complementarianism” — fostered domestic abuse and prejudice against gays and lesbians.
“In these difficult days, when our president says that women’s genitalia is up for grabs by any man with power and influence, I hoped that my denomination would stand up for women, loud and clear,” author Carol Howard Merritt wrote on her blog, which she publishes on the website of the Christian Century, the flagship magazine for mainline Protestantism. “Instead we are honoring and celebrating a man who has championed toxic theology for decades.”
READ: Tim Keller to step down from Redeemer Presbyterian
Barnes had initially defended the decision to give Keller a platform, saying that even though his own views and those of the seminary diverged from Keller on those contested issues, “censorship” was antithetical to the seminary’s mission and identity; it is, Barnes wrote in a March 10 note, “a core conviction of our seminary to be a serious academic institution that will sometimes bring controversial speakers to campus because we refuse to exclude voices within the church.”
“So my hope is that we will receive Rev. Keller in a spirit of grace and academic freedom, realizing we can listen to someone with whom many, including me, strongly disagree about this critical issue of justice,” Barnes concluded.
What sort of reception Keller will receive at the lecture next month is the next question.
But one critic, the Rev. Traci Smith, a seminary alum and currently a PCUSA pastor in San Antonio, Texas, called Barnes’ decision “the right move.”
“Yes to academic freedom. Yes to listening to others whose opinions are different from our own (no matter how distasteful they may be),” Smith wrote on her blog, where she had initially blasted the award to Keller as “offensive.”
“No to giving large fancy prizes that can be confused with endorsement. Some may not be satisfied with this response. I think it’s a great compromise.”
Conservative-minded Christians, on the other hand, rose to defend Keller and criticize Princeton.
“How deeply saddening and upsetting this is,” wrote Owen Strachan, director of the Center for Public Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“Those who promote tolerance in our time show so little of it; those who call for charitable dialogue do so little to extend it. Biblical sexual ethics is where this take-no-prisoners battle is the fiercest.”
About David Gibson
David Gibson is a national reporter for RNS and an award-winning religion journalist, author and filmmaker. He has written several books on Catholic topics. His latest book is on biblical artifacts: “Finding Jesus: Faith. Fact. Forgery,” which was also the basis of a popular CNN series.
More by David
RNS’s comments section is meant to be a place of lively yet respectful and edifying discussion of our stories and the issues they raise. For more information, see our commenting policy.
Published by STEPHEN
I am a International Reformed Christian Pastor ,Teacher , Evangelist and Missionary to Africa and the world .I consider my self a staunch modern day reformer I hope to continue the Reformation that was started by the Reformers and Westminster Divine's i don't know if i will be as great as these Spiritual giants but God willing i hope to make some significant impact to the present generation and the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wish To Minister hope, Peace , Joy and Gods Sovereign salvation love Which can be found In Gods on Son Jesus Christ.Turn to Jesus all you who are thirsty for true life a fresh new beginning. No guilt no more condemnation no more ghosts from the past life.All things are made new. View all posts by STEPHEN
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__label__cc | 0.66862 | 0.33138 | Featured » Blog » Why I'm not a Smartphone User (I'm an iPod user)
Why I'm not a Smartphone User (I'm an iPod user)
March 21, 2012 Eric Yuen
I have a confession. I don’t own a smartphone. I’ve been a mobile developer for 7 years having started on feature phones, prior to the release of the first iPhone, to the current day smartphone. Yet I never made the leap to own one. As a mobile developer on smartphones, how do I justify not owning one? Ultimately, I have come to realize that it just doesn’t appeal to me enough and looking around I realize I’m not alone. A recent article on TechCrunch summarized the market share of feature phones vs. smartphones. Smartphones global market share is only 27%, North America at 63%, and Europe is 51%. Other regions are in the teens.
Why hasn’t the rest of the world joined in? I can’t speak for others but I can tell you why haven’t I joined. A big factor to this remains to be the cost of most smartphones and necessary data plans. Carriers and manufacturers play a big part in this. Mobile users in Canada are constantly reminded that we pay the most in the world for our voice and data plans. But what can we as developers do to help accelerate adoption? Start by thinking about the apps that we’re building and who are we catering to. How dependent is the app on having network reception? Is it data intensive? Will it run on older/slow models? How does it make someone like me feel?
There are millions of iPod Touch users, Android users that don’t own the latest and greatest, tablet users without 3G. Are these people being served? Are all these users deeply engaged in social media like Facebook or Twitter? Does your app work while offline or does it make the user feel crippled? Does the app make me ignore my friends while I’m at the bar? I’m an iPod Touch user and these factors make a big impact on how much I like or use an app.
Not addressing these concerns in your app makes a user like me feel neglected and even unwanted. So many apps are always compelling me to share everything and stay connected, to point of making users like me feel like these apps are not for me. Always reminding me that certain features won’t work without a data connection will make me feel like I’m being punished. The constant reminder that I am not the intended audience only deepens my feeling that I don’t need a smartphone.
There is no doubt though that within the next 2 years, I’ll be making the move to the smart world. Until then I remain dumb about it. I wonder though when I become a smart user, will the apps be designed with me in mind or will I have to change my habits. Those app and services that have been accommodating to me from the start will be the first ones I continue to support after I switch.
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I recently had to write a small capybara helper: def without_page_refresh page.execute_script("window._w...
Rethink Application Logging with RabbitMQ
Application logging is essential to monitoring applications and diagnosing problems, but in a cloud univers... | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line984 |
__label__cc | 0.735469 | 0.264531 | how the people and parts of our world cross cultures, from a former missionary
Listening: Connecting the Dots
If Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Global Tongue-Twisters
As if learning a new language weren’t hard enough . . . here are some tongue twisters from around the world to remind you that talking isn’t always easy even for native speakers:
Need more ways to twist your polylingual tongue? Then go to the “1st International Collection of Tongue Twisters,” which boasts 3,660 entries in 118 languages.
Even American Sign Language (ASL) has it’s own tongue. . . uh . . . finger twis- . . . uh . . . “finger fumblers.” Here’s an example:
If you’re wondering what the hardest tongue twister in the world is, Google will point you to several articles claiming that the top spot belongs to “pad kid poured curd pulled cod.” (Try it for yourself.) That list of words was put together by researchers at MIT, while using tongue twisters to study the “brain’s speech-planning processes.”
But is “pad kid poured curd pulled cod” really the toughest thing to say on the planet? That’s a pretty bold claim to make. First of all, choosing a phrase in English would seem pretty lingo-centric. And second, even Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel, the psycholinguist at MIT who presented the study’s results, says no such thing/ “I make no claims,” she tells NPR’s Ira Flatow, “to have found the hardest, the mother of all difficult tongue twisters.”
Maybe you’re not into tongue twisters at all (though, in that case, I’m not sure why you’re still reading this). Maybe you don’t like making things more difficult than they have to be. Maybe, you agree with the comedian Brian Regan, who thinks it’s enough of an accomplishment to speak English—by itself without any added challenges. Here’s what he has to say on the topic in his show “Standing Up”:
Can you imagine being bilingual? Would that be . . . Or even knowing anybody that was? I’m not even unilingual. Actually, I shouldn’t say that. I don’t give myself enough credit. I know . . . I know enough English to, like, you know, get by, you know. No, like, like, I can order in restaurants and stuff, you know. “I want ham. One ham, please, to eating the ham. Bring ham to eating the ham, please.” I can do that. You know, just not fluent, I guess.
(American Institute of Physics, “Tripped Tongues Teach Speech Secrets,” EurekaAlert!, December 4, 2013; Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel, et al., “A Comparison of Speech Errors Elicited by Sentences and Alternating Repetitive Tongue Twisters,” The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, December 2013; “Speech Science: Tongue Twisters and Valley Girls,” Science Friday, NPR, December 6, 2018; Brian Regan, “Standing Up,” 2007)
[photo: “Terribly Tongue Tied,” by Brian, used under a Creative Commons license]
Tagged: Brian Regan, language learning, language research, psycholinguistics, tongue twisters
§ 2 Responses to If Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Global Tongue-Twisters
These tongue twisters are priceless! Thanks for sharing.
Craig Thompson says:
Thanks, Eric! Glad you like them.
Leave a Reply to Eric Cancel reply
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__label__cc | 0.744501 | 0.255499 | Elements Domestic Violence Battery That Need To Be Proven By The State
Defendant Intentionally touches or struck another person against their will; or
Defendant Intentionally caused an object to touch or strike another person against their will; or
Intentionally caused bodily harm to another person.
The elements of domestic battery are the same as is the case were filed as a regular simple battery offense. The “domestic violence” classification comes from the relationship of the parties. Specifically, the victim must be a family or household member under Fla. Stat. 741.28. See Definitions section below.
What the State Does Not Have To Prove
No Injury Needed
As with all battery charges in Florida, the prosecuting attorney does not need to show that the victim was injured in any way. Instead, all that needs to be proven is that the defendant touched, or caused something to touch the victim in a way that was not welcomed.
No Actual Striking Needed
The prosecutor does not need to prove that the defendant actually struck the defendant with an object likely to cause harm. The causing of an unwelcome material will suffice. For example, a person who spits on another can be arrested and charged with battery.
Penalties If Convicted Of Domestic Violence Battery
In Florida, the crime of Domestic Violence Battery is a First Degree Misdemeanor and punishable by up to one (1) year in jail, one (1) year of probation, and a $1,000 fine.
Additionally, Domestic Violence Battery convictions require that the judge issue mandatory sentences. There is no discretion in this regard and failure for a judge to comply with sentencing in accordance would be considered a violation of Florida law.
These minimum sentences include:
Minimum Mandatory Five (5) days in jail if injury caused;
Mandatory completion of 29 Week Batterers Intervention Program;
Ineligible to ever have criminal record sealed or expunged;
Forfeiture of right to have a gun while on probation, even for a misdemeanor; and
Revocation of any concealed weapons permit.
Eligibly To Seal Or Expunge Domestic Violence Battery
Record Sealing: Not eligible
Record Sealing is NOT available for defendants who were either convicted or adjudicated for a domestic violence offense. This is true regardless of whether or not the disposition was for an adjudication or withhold of adjudication.
Record Expunge: Eligible
Contrary to popular belief, the FDLE will issue a certificate of eligibility to have a criminal record expunged for domestic violence battery where the case has been dismissed. This includes:
Declined Cases
No Information Cases
Voluntary Dismissals (where the victim did not appear for court)
Judicial Dismissals
Defenses To Domestic Violence Battery Charges
The defendant was not the aggressor.
The defendant acted in self defense.
The victim does not wish to participate in helping the state convict the defendant.
Most people believe that the victim in a domestic violence case may sign a waiver of prosecution to get the charges dropped against the defendant. Unfortunately, it is not that easy in Florida. The state attorneys office will proceed with charges even where a victim does not wish to prosecute. Prosecutors will use leverage by threatening to have a victim charged with filing a false police report or perjury in some cases. Nonetheless, if handled correctly, a victim that does not wish to prosecute is a very powerful defense to such a charge and is, without question, the most common way to navigate resolving the charges favorably from a defense standpoint.
Offense Can Be Upgraded To A Felony
The following aggravating factors may result in a domestic violence battery being charged as a felony:
The victim was seriously injured
The victim was pregnant
A weapon was used
Strangling or choking is alleged
The defendant has previously been convicted of domestic violence
Things Unique To Domestic Violence Battery Charges
Special judges are assigned to Domestic Violence cases.
Simple Domestic Battery is a Misdemeanor in Florida. However the way that this offense is handled by the Florida Court System is different non-domestic Simple Battery offenses. First off, Domestic Violence cases are presided over by a special judge in the jurisdiction where the crime is alleged to have occurred. This “county court judge” handles only these types of cases and nothing else. This means that while other county court judges are handling everything from misdemeanor DUI offenses to petit-theft cases, as well as standard battery cases, the domestic violence court judge is handling only battery cases where a qualified relationship exists between the parties.
Mandatory sentences must be imposed to anyone convicted for domestic violence battery, with no exceptions.
The crime of Domestic Violence Battery is considered to be a “politically charged” crime.
Politically charged offenses are born out of public outcry, usually following a highly publicize the event or series of events, that gets the publics attention. This event or a series of events tends to weigh heavily on the emotions of the community as a whole. The result is that it becomes almost fashionable to support increased legislation aimed at getting tougher on crime with respect to that specific offense. In other words, it becomes easier for politicians to have laws passed that increase the severity of punishment or special conditions that must accompany sentences for those convicted of the crime in question. Entrepreneurs seeing an opportunity to capitalize on this easily and acted legislation, develop counseling centers while simultaneously lobbying for mandatory treatment and counseling for convicted individuals.
Alternatives To An Incarceration Sentence For Domestic Violence Battery
Cases involving a repeat offender or allegations that are considered egregious may result in a judges considering an incarceration sentence for a defendant convicted of domestic violence battery. Proper treatment and counseling for anger management issues may be an appropriate way, if argued correctly, to avoid incarceration of a convicted defendant. Each courtroom and jurisdiction is different with regard to what psychologists and or treatment facilities are considered reputable.
Definitions Under Fla. Stat. 741.28
The two definitions in this section that you will most likely be concerned with will be the terms “Domestic Violence” and “Family or Household Member”
“Domestic Violence” means:
“Any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another family or household member”
“Family or Household Member” means:
“Spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit”
Mandated Programs, Treatment & Counseling Facilities
Florida Batterers’ Intervention Programs – List of qualifying batters intervention programs as required by Florida statutes section 741.30(6)(a).
Florida Safety Counsel Anger Management Classes – Schedule of one day, eight hour course for anger management in Florida. The fee for classes is generally around $75.00.
Related Crimes
The crime of Domestic Violence Battery under Florida Statutes Chapter 741 stems from the offense of battery as listed in Florida Statutes 784.
Crimes related to Domestic Violence Battery include:
Aggravated Domestic Battery (Felony)
Battery on a Pregnant Female
Domestic Violence, also referred to as Domestic Battery, gained significant attention after the widely publicized OJ Simpson trial in 2007-2008. Since that time, many police departments have instituted zero tolerance procedures mandating that their officers make an arrest in response to every call involving a couple fighting. Statically, there is a disparaging amount of men arrested as opposed to females, sometimes as high as 95%.
Domestic Violence Florida Statutes Chapter 741
Simple Battery Florida Florida Statutes Section 784.03 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1000 |
__label__cc | 0.556663 | 0.443337 | Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor
Download details: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor: "The Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor is a tool used by Database developers and administrators to analyze SQL Server 7.0 and SQL Server 2000 database servers in preparation for upgrading to SQL Server 2005"
Written on July 7, 2005 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1003 |
__label__cc | 0.545216 | 0.454784 | Copyright © Lech S. Borkowski, All rights reserved
Letter of Lech S. Borkowski to the Rector of University in Poznan, September 30, 2015
Dr hab. Lech S. Borkowski
Prof. Bronislaw Marciniak
Poznan, September 30, 2015
Dear Mr. Rector,
Please read the attached Comment no. 5 dated September 27, 2015. It addresses the performance of the song and dance ensemble of the Russian Ministry of Interior at he special audience in the Vatican on Ostober 15, 2004. The ensemble was invited by pope John Paul II to the celebration of the 26th anniversary of his pontificate.
In 2001 Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan awarded honorary doctorate to John Paul II. It was delivered by the then-rector S. Jurga at a special audience in the Vatican, to which a special 130 person delegation, which included the university senate and university choir, flew with a specially chartered flight. This was bad decision, although an understable one, given the state of institutional pathology, breaking of constitutional and human rights at the university.
I am employed at the University since October 1, 1995. The University did not and does not provide me with normal conditions of professsional scientific development. The University breaks my constitutional and human rights, applying methods developed by the Communist state. This is persecution for political reasons. My parents were prisoners of Communist concentration camps in the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1956 (father) and from 1949 to 1956 (mother).
Neither the Physics department chair nor the University rector required me to validate my Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Gainesville, (1) when employing me in 1995, (2) when renewing my employment in 1996, (3) when employing me again in 1998 after my absence during the 1997-98 academic year, when I worked at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA. By employing me without validation of my diploma both the department chair and the university rector broke the law. However, their decisions are understandable, since the aim was not to let me grow professionally, but rather to block my creative development and force my resignation from the University without leaving a significant trace neither in the University archive nor in the archives of the state institutions.
CC: University Senate members
Autor: LSB
Etykiety: Communism, counterintelligence, intelligence, Lech Borkowski, military counterintelligence, military intelligence, Physics, Poland, Russia, science, Soviet Union
@LechSBorkowski
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__label__cc | 0.63836 | 0.36164 | Deedee Myers, PhD, MSC, PCC, CHIC
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DDJ Myers has placed Tim Drummer as a new board member at Ent Credit Union. He is set to start in his new position at the beginning of August. Congratulations on your new role with Ent Credit Union, Tim! [...]
Suncoast Selects Sanjay Malhotra as the Senior Vice President of Service Center Operations
DDJ Myers is pleased to announce the placement of Sanjay Malhotra who has accepted the position of Senior Vice President, Service Center Operations of Suncoast Credit Union in Tampa, Florida. Sanjay is making the move from South Carolina to Tampa, Florida and will start on July 29, 2019. Congratulations, Sanjay and welcome to your new role! [...]
Carlos Pinto Appointed as the Next CEO of Waterfront FCU
DDJ Myers is pleased to announce the placement of Carlos Pinto who has accepted the position of CEO (chief executive officer) of Waterfront Federal Credit Union in Seattle, Washington. Carlos is making the move from Miami to Seattle and will start on July 1, 2019. Congratulations, Carlos and welcome to your new role! [...]
U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC) Hires Payments Industry Expert Kimberly Ford as First Executive Director
DDJ Myers has placed Kimberly (Kim) Ford in the position of executive director of the U.S. Faster Payments Council. Kim started June 24 and works for the Faster Payments Council from Washington, DC. Congratulations, Kim and welcome to your new role! Click here to see the press release on The U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC) website. &nb [...]
A+ Federal Credit Union Welcomes Eric R. Kase as Next CEO
The A+ Federal Credit Union Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric R. Kase as the credit union’s new chief executive officer, effective July 1, 2019. Kase succeeds Kerry A.S. Parker, CPA, who will retire on June 30 after 20 years as the CEO. Kase brings extensive experience in several areas of credit union leader [...]
Jax Federal Credit Union Appoints Joseph Nowland as President and CEO
The Board of Directors of Jax Federal Credit Union today announced the appointment of Joseph “Joe” Nowland as the credit union’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2019. He succeeds Gerri Sexsion, who will retire on March 29 after 21 years as the President and CEO. Nowland brings extensive experience in several are [...]
Altura Credit Union Names Controller, Kathy Thayer, as Chief Financial Officer
Altura Credit Union, Riverside, CA, has named Kathy Thayer as its Chief Financial Officer. Thayer has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. [...]
Firefly Credit Union® announces new President/CEO
DDJ Myers is excited to announce the placement of Dale Turner who has accepted the position of CEO (chief executive officer) of Firefly Credit Union in Burnsville, Minnesota. Dale moved from San Diego to Burnsville and started in November 2018. Congratulations, Dale and welcome to your new role! [...]
Shawn Gilfedder Named as Kitsap Credit Union President/CEO
DDJ Myers is excited to announce that on October 1, 2018, Shawn Gilfedder joined Kitsap Credit Union as the new chief executive officer. Shawn made the move to Washington from New Jersey. Congratulations, Shawn and welcome to your new role! [...]
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__label__wiki | 0.625381 | 0.625381 | “…to this gentleman we are indebted for the earliest tours in Scotland, that are worth reading or preserving … he paved the way to that general taste for home travels, which has been so honourable to individuals, and advantageous to the public.”
Wlliam Fordyce Mavor, The British Tourists (1798)
Thomas Pennant’s Welsh and Scottish tours were a major catalyst for the hundreds of tours that followed in their wake over the next half century. While some of these texts were published in the period, and became important works in their own right, many more remain in manuscript in libraries and record offices the length and breadth of Britain. Our project aims to chart the influence of Pennant on subsequent travellers to Wales and Scotland by creating a searchable online corpus of these unpublished tours. Our website will present around sixty tours, each with a short contextualizing introduction, and illustrated by contemporary maps and pictures. A full bibliography of the known extant tours will also provide a finding aid for future research.
Home tours vary widely in length, itinerary, focus and style, so the selection for ‘Curious Travellers’ will include texts combining natural history, antiquarianism, literature, visual culture, history, aesthetics or politics in a variety of ways. The corpus as a whole is likely to transform our current understanding of domestic tourism in the period. The domestic tour was an extraordinarily successful genre, second only to novels and romances, but has been relatively little studied. Conventional views of the phenomenon argue that war with France closed continental Europe and sent would-be Grand Tourists on the domestic (or ‘petty’) tour instead. However, new work on eighteenth-century global travel, especially Pacific exploration, suggests that domestic travel writing was shaped by a wider set of influences than previously acknowledged, from ethnography to Enlightenment antiquarianism.
Our collection of new texts from the period will enable us to explain in much more detail the role of home tourism in the construction of national histories and identities, both at a ‘four nations’ level, and in wider contexts. In considering how the selected tours represent contemporary and historical Britain, the project will also examine travellers’ engagement with vernacular Celtic cultures, including language, poetry and song, and ask how far their perceptions were influenced by contemporary ideas from science and art.
Some sample texts in progress
Robert Ker Porter in Wales, 1799
Mary Anne Eade in Wales, 1802 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1010 |
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David Barckhoff-Sag-Aftra/Producer, Director
Producer, Screenwriter, Director,Award Nominated Actor, Military Combat Veteran, Military & Public Safety Advisor,Songwriter, Stunt Coord
Greater Pittsburgh Area
Focus: Contributions are valued by peers
Accountability: Thoroughly contributes in all areas
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To continue to improve my Acting, Directing, Producer and Screenwriting ability, in order to be the best and highly sought-after commodity in the entertainment industry.
Some of the very talented people I had the pleasure to work with are:
Tony Scott, Ed Zwick, Paul Haggis, Gavin & Greg O'Connor, Chris McQuarrie, Christopher Nolan, Danny Devito, Tom Cruise, Elizabeth Banks, Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Kurt Angle, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Russell Crowe, Emma Watson, Ned Dowd, Anne Hathaway, Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal, Christian Bale, Oliver Platt, Nick Nolte, Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Kurt Russell, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Morrison, John J. Kelly, Jaime Marshall, Kevin Tighe, Betsy Rue, Eric Roberts, Adrienne Weir, Matt Damon, Matthew Modine, Gary Oldman, Ken Wregget, Max Starks, Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, Kathy Winnick, Peter Jackson, Michael Bay, Taylor Lautner, Katherine Heigl, Alice Eve, Diana Agron, Timothy Olyphant, Sonya Tormoen, Jake Baruchel, Martin Sheen, Bradly Wilford, Janel Maloney, Richard Schiff, Tobey McGuire, Steve Buscemi, Joie Albrecht, Joan Wally Kilmer, Denis Haysbert, Drew Barrymore, Whoopie Goldberg, Mary Louise Parker, Salma Hayek, Jack Binder, Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, Brandi Engel, Elysia Annacini, Wendy Munez, Dabney Coleman, Simon Baker, Jane Heitmeyer, Elle McPherson, Bruce Willis
Some of the movies & TV shows I worked on:
All The Right Movies, Mrs. Soffel, Navy Seals, The Dark Knight Rises, Warrior, Jack Reacher, Promised Land, Wonder Boys, Hoffa, Men Who Built America, The West Wing, Sirens, Kill Point, The Guardian, Abduction, I Am Number Four, One For The Money, Sex Drive, Sudden Death, Striking Distance, Dogma, A New York Heartbeat, Mothman Prophecies, Lorenzo's Oil, Inspector Gadget, Executive Decision, Day of the Dead, Diabolique, KingPin, House Guest, GroundHog Day, Boys on the Side, Gung Ho, Robocop, Roommates, The Cemetery Club, Mercury In Tuna, The Fire Next Time, She's Out Of My League, Boardwalk Empire
Producer, Screenwriter, Director,Actor, Military & Public SafetyTechnical Advisor, Asst. Stunt Coord
Bear Cub Productions
March 2009 - Present
Aviation Electronics Technician/Hospital Corpsman/Base Police/EMS/Base Fire Dept/Movie set Advisor
August 1988 - Present
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
February 2014 - Present
I have been Acting in over 45 movies, 12 TV shows, and 10 commercials for over 30 years. I'm a SAG nominated Actor. I have done some promotional work for Pepsi, American Cancer Society, American Heart Assoc. American Red Cross, Verizon Wireless, Va Dept of Health/EMS, Sunoco, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force/Civil Air Patrol.
Directing, Screenwriting, Producer, Public Safety & Military Technical Advisor, Production Assistant Art dept. PA, & Asst Stunt Coordinator for film & TV. I co-wrote 3 TV episode's that were filmed & aired in the mid 1990's. Co-wrote two movies. Wrote 4 other screenplays & collaborating writer for another script while writing 3 more screenplays.
I have mentored new screenwriters. Read & edited screenplays, provided coverage, analysis, insite comments to writers to help them improve their writing. Mentored new film school graduates. Supplemented their education with real word experience, knowledge, advice & insite.
Current Project: http://winstonchurchill.wix.com/struggletothelight#!
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BMI represents more than 600,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 8.5 million works.
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Troubleshoot, Repair, maintain electronics on Fighter & Attack aircraft, cargo planes, trainers. F-14, F/A-18, A6,A7, A4,T2, S3,E2C, EA-6B, Helo's,etc...Military Base Police, Base EMS, Base Fire Dept.,Movie advisor. Security clearance, Navy Safety Supervisor, Hospital Corpsman, MAA, Aviation Electronics Tech AT, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Electronics Tech-Safety, Admin, Navigation, IFF/Radar, Meteorology using Satellites & Weather Radar, Corrosion Control
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__label__cc | 0.588033 | 0.411967 | This privacy policy (as amended from time to time, the “Privacy Policy”) was last updated on June 1, 2018.
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__label__wiki | 0.961007 | 0.961007 | Netflix January 2020 Schedule: Complete List Of New Netflix Movies And...
The 13 Best Movies & Shows Coming to Netflix: January 2020
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Why Did Netflix Renew ‘Ozark’ and Cancel ‘Gypsy’? We Have Charts.
By Scott Porch Twitter @scottporch Aug 22, 2017 at 7:30am 130 Shares
Photos: NETFLIX ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
After renewing essentially everything from when it started making originals in 2013 until it cancelled Marco Polo after two seasons at the end of 2016, Netflix has started being a lot more judicious when it comes to determining which of their series will get another season.
Bloodline, Sense8 and The Get Down — all of which were cancelled by Netflix during the first half of this year — were $100 million-plus projects whose viewership couldn’t justify their huge budgets. Girlboss, which Netflix axed in June, was more modestly budgeted, but the series failed to get much critical or social-media attention and didn’t bring a significant geographic or demographic niche onto the service.
Netflix’s two most recent originals to step up to the pass/fail mark make for an interesting contrast because they’re both 10-episode, beautifully shot, Fincheresque, one-word-titled, ensemble psychodramas built, respectively, around a central married couple with issues:
Gypsy, which premiered at the end of June, stars Naomi Watts as a Manhattan psychologist who starts stalking her patients and cheating on her lawyer husband (Billy Crudup).
Ozark, which premiered in late July, is about a money-laundering financial advisor (Jason Bateman) and his cheating wife (Laura Linney) moving to rural Missouri.
Netflix recently renewed the well-reviewed Ozark for a second season but cancelled the more lukewarmly received Gypsy. The reviews were a likely factor in both cases, but Netflix doesn’t provide viewing metrics that would show whether one show found more of an audience than the other. Netflix has, however, cited Google Trends data in its financial reporting to characterize the popularity of its shows, and Google searches provide some insight into why Ozark made the cut and Gypsy did not.
'Ozark' Has Been a Modest Summer Hit
Following the media bonanzas earlier this year around Marvel’s Iron Fist, 13 Reasons Why and the second season of Master of None, Netflix has had a relatively lower-key summer, which is generally the least watched part of the TV year. House of Cards premiered its fifth season in late May and Orange Is the New Black premiered its fifth season in early June, but both are down in Google traffic, attention in the entertainment media and — presumably — viewing metrics from their previous seasons. GLOW, the ’80s ladies wrestling dramedy, was a modest hit in late June, and Netflix has already renewed it for a second season.
Gypsy, which premiered the weekend after GLOW, had a long Independence Day weekend with no competition from series launches on Netflix or other networks and streaming services, but it still failed to make much of an impression. As you can see from the chart above, Gypsy never broke free from GLOW, which was critical darling but hardly a breakout hit. Ozark, which premiered in late July, hasn’t been a breakthrough either, but it has driven more Google search traffic than Gypsy and nearly matched GLOW‘s peak, decay and overall impact.
'GLOW' Beats 'Gypsy' All Over the Map
To the extent that Netflix views the female-starring GLOW and Gypsy as shows vying for the same female audience, GLOW has been the better U.S. performer in nearly the entire country. The margins are widest in midwestern states like Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, where the wrestling-themed GLOW has outgunned Gypsy‘s more limited Upper East Side, latte-sipping sensibilities. (One of Gypsy‘s lead characters actually works in a Manhattan coffee shop.)
'Ozark' Is a Solid Red State Performer
Although GLOW and Ozark have had similar trajectories and similar search traffic over the last few months, they’ve done it in different places. In electoral map terms, GLOW has done generally better in the blue states and Ozark better in the red states. Ozark over-performed in the states around Missouri, where the series is set, and in the South.
Given that Netflix almost certainly has better household penetration in the more affluent East Coast and West Coast markets than it does is in the South and in the Lower Midwest, Ozark — a sort of Breaking Bad: Missouri Edition — gives the service an original series to drive the discussion and add subscribers in markets markets where it has relatively lower household penetration.
'Ozark' Beats 'Gypsy' in Global Markets
Netflix expanded last year from 60 to 180 countries and essentially became a worldwide (minus China) streaming service. Although roughly half of its 104 million worldwide subscribers are in the United States, that new worldwide footprint has made every show a potential hit or miss in markets as different as Norway, Saudi Arabia and Kenya.
Ozark, with elements like drugs, money and bursts of violence, has had more of an international appeal than Gypsy. Although Gypsy has performed relatively better in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, where star Naomi Watts is relatively better known, Ozark has been a bigger hit in the European Union and in the Middle East. (Oddly, given the fact that Ozark involves a Mexican drug cartel, Ozark and Gypsy have done roughly even search traffic in Mexico.)
'Ozark' Has Held Up Well Into August
Ozark has performed well against Netflix’s other late summer originals Friends From College, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later and Atypical. Friends From College, which stars an ensemble cast of TV knows like Keegan-Michael Key and Cobie Smulders, premiered to mediocre reviews the week before Ozark and was dead on arrival in terms of its search traffic. Wet Hot and Atypical, which both premiered in early August, have done relative better.
Scott Porch writes about the streaming-media industry for Decider and is also a contributing writer for Playboy. You can follow him on Twitter @ScottPorch.
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Former President, Delaware State Education Association
Diane Donohue led Delaware’s teachers’ union (the Delaware State Education Association) after having served in the field of education for more than 20 years. She attracted national attention for her leadership as the President of DSEA and for her role in Delaware’s first-place winning Race to the Top application in 2010. Diane’s collaborative and solutions-oriented leadership was a major reason why Delaware was able to receive $119 million to implement education improvements in Delaware. After leading DSEA, Diane worked as Special Assistant for Educator Effectiveness, at the Delaware Department of Education where she led the design and implementation of the state’s new educator evaluation system. Diane retired from her work at the state a few years ago and now leads an education consultancy—Empower Education Consulting Services (EECS)—she founded. Diane’s experiences provide her with a unique perspective in addressing the nuances of education policy, regulation, and governance. Diane resides in Milton, DE. When she is not traveling the country with her husband Chuck and her dog Lizzie, she continues her passion for education through work with her consulting company.
1313 North Market Street, Suite 140A
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We’ll send you our latest news and reports, give you opportunities to take action on key education issues and share resources to build an advocacy campaign in your community. (We also promise not to share your contact information with others.) | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1019 |
__label__cc | 0.599578 | 0.400422 | Quantization on Nilpotent Lie Groups
Authors: Veronique Fischer --- Michael Ruzhansky
Book Series: Progress in Mathematics ISSN: 07431643 ISBN: 9783319295572 9783319295589 Year: 2016 Volume: 314 Pages: 557 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-29558-9 Language: English
Subject: Statistics --- Biotechnology --- Computer Science --- Pharmacy and materia medica
This book presents a consistent development of the Kohn-Nirenberg type global quantization theory in the setting of graded nilpotent Lie groups in terms of their representations. It contains a detailed exposition of related background topics on homogeneous Lie groups, nilpotent Lie groups, and the analysis of Rockland operators on graded Lie groups together with their associated Sobolev spaces. For the specific example of the Heisenberg group the theory is illustrated in detail. In addition, the book features a brief account of the corresponding quantization theory in the setting of compact Lie groups.The monograph is the winner of the 2014 Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer Prize.
Topological Groups, Lie Groups --- Abstract Harmonic Analysis --- Functional Analysis --- Mathematical Physics
Topological Groups: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
ISBN: 9783038422686 9783038422693 Year: 2016 Pages: VIII, 220 Language: English
In 1900, David Hilbert asked whether each locally euclidean topological group admits a Lie group structure. This was the fifth of his famous 23 questions which foreshadowed much of the mathematical creativity of the twentieth century. It required half a century of effort by several generations of eminent mathematicians until it was settled in the affirmative. These efforts resulted over time in the Peter-Weyl Theorem, the Pontryagin-van Kampen Duality Theorem for locally compact abelian groups, and finally the solution of Hilbert 5 and the structure theory of locally compact groups, through the combined work of Andrew Gleason, Kenkichi Iwasawa, Deane Montgomery, and Leon Zippin. For a presentation of Hilbert 5 see the 2014 book “Hilbert’s Fifth Problem and Related Topics” by the winner of a 2006 Fields Medal and 2014 Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics, Terence Tao.It is not possible to describe briefly the richness of the topological group theory and the many directions taken since Hilbert 5. The 900 page reference book in 2013 “The Structure of Compact Groups” by Karl H. Hofmann and Sidney A. Morris, deals with one aspect of compact group theory. There are several books on profinite groups including those written by John S. Wilson (1998) and by Luis Ribes and Pavel Zalesskii (2012). The 2007 book “The Lie Theory of Connected Pro-Lie Groups” by Karl Hofmann and Sidney A. Morris, demonstrates how powerful Lie Theory is in exposing the structure of infinite-dimensional Lie groups.The study of free topological groups initiated by A.A. Markov, M.I. Graev and S. Kakutani, has resulted in a wealth of interesting results, in particular those of A.V. Arkhangelʹskiĭ and many of his former students who developed this topic and its relations with topology. The book “Topological Groups and Related Structures” by Alexander Arkhangelʹskii and Mikhail Tkachenko has a diverse content including much material on free topological groups. Compactness conditions in topological groups, especially pseudocompactness as exemplified in the many papers of W.W. Comfort, has been another direction which has proved very fruitful to the present day.
topological groups, compact groups, profinite groups, locally compact groups, Lie groups, pro-Lie groups, almost periodic, paratopological groups, structure theory, transformation groups, representations, free topological groups, Hilbert’s 5th problem, (locally) minimal topological groups, compactness conditions in topological groups, duality and reflexivity, covering theory for topological groups, suitable sets for topological groups, characterized subgroups
Joseph Fourier 250th Birthday. Modern Fourier Analysis and Fourier Heat Equation in Information Sciences for the XXIst century
Authors: Barbaresco, Frédéric --- Gazeau, Jean-Pierre
ISBN: 9783038977469 Year: 2019 Pages: 260 DOI: 10.3390/books978-3-03897-747-6 Language: eng
Subject: Science (General) --- Physics (General)
For the 250th birthday of Joseph Fourier, born in 1768 in Auxerre, France, this MDPI Special Issue will explore modern topics related to Fourier Analysis and Heat Equation. Modern developments of Fourier analysis during the 20th century have explored generalizations of Fourier and Fourier–Plancherel formula for non-commutative harmonic analysis, applied to locally-compact, non-Abelian groups. In parallel, the theory of coherent states and wavelets has been generalized over Lie groups. One should add the developments, over the last 30 years, of the applications of harmonic analysis to the description of the fascinating world of aperiodic structures in condensed matter physics. The notions of model sets, introduced by Y. Meyer, and of almost periodic functions, have revealed themselves to be extremely fruitful in this domain of natural sciences. The name of Joseph Fourier is also inseparable from the study of the mathematics of heat. Modern research on heat equations explores the extension of the classical diffusion equation on Riemannian, sub-Riemannian manifolds, and Lie groups. In parallel, in geometric mechanics, Jean-Marie Souriau interpreted the temperature vector of Planck as a space-time vector, obtaining, in this way, a phenomenological model of continuous media, which presents some interesting properties. One last comment concerns the fundamental contributions of Fourier analysis to quantum physics: Quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The content of this Special Issue will highlight papers exploring non-commutative Fourier harmonic analysis, spectral properties of aperiodic order, the hypoelliptic heat equation, and the relativistic heat equation in the context of Information Theory and Geometric Science of Information.
Weyl-Heisenberg group --- affine group --- Weyl quantization --- Wigner function --- covariant integral quantization --- Fourier analysis --- special functions --- rigged Hilbert spaces --- quantum mechanics --- signal processing --- non-Fourier heat conduction --- thermal expansion --- heat pulse experiments --- pseudo-temperature --- Guyer-Krumhansl equation --- higher order thermodynamics --- Lie groups thermodynamics --- homogeneous manifold --- poly-symplectic manifold --- dynamical systems --- non-equivariant cohomology --- Lie group machine learning --- Souriau-Fisher metric --- Born–Jordan quantization --- short-time propagators --- time-slicing --- Van Vleck determinant --- thermodynamics --- symplectization --- metrics --- non-equilibrium processes --- interconnection --- discrete multivariate sine transforms --- orthogonal polynomials --- cubature formulas --- nonequilibrium thermodynamics --- variational formulation --- nonholonomic constraints --- irreversible processes --- discrete thermodynamic systems --- continuum thermodynamic systems --- fourier transform --- rigid body motions --- partial differential equations --- Lévy processes --- Lie Groups --- homogeneous spaces --- stochastic differential equations --- harmonic analysis on abstract space --- heat equation on manifolds and Lie Groups | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1024 |
__label__wiki | 0.893718 | 0.893718 | GE's $24 billion buyback boondoggle
General Electric is seriously strapped for cash. The conglomerate has laid off workers, slashed its dividend and put ...
Updated: Mar 23, 2018 10:49 AM
General Electric is seriously strapped for cash. The conglomerate has laid off workers, slashed its dividend and put long-held businesses up for sale.
If only former CEO Jeff Immelt hadn't gone on a $24 billion spending spree in 2016 and 2017 to buy back GE's stock - at what turned out to be extremely high prices.
The misguided buyback strategy underlines GE's failure to allocate its limited resources. It squeezed GE's cash haul and increased its debt.
"The root problem at GE - and why the stock is where it is - is poor capital allocation," said RBC Capital Markets analyst Deane Dray.
Shareholders normally love buybacks because they make shares scarcer and inflate a key measure of corporate profitability.
But in GE's case, the buyback binge was another unfortunate example of buying high.
Related: Everything is shrinking at GE except its debt
Using a combination of debt and cash, GE spent $2.6 billion last year on stock buybacks - at an average price of $19.65. Today, the stock is worth just $13.35, close to a nine-year low.
GE's buybacks were much worse in 2016. It spent $21.4 billion at an average price of $30.30, more than double the current price.
"That's cash out the door. What did they get for it? Look where the stock is today," said Dray.
Instead of buybacks, Dray said GE could have used the cash to pay down debt, which has stayed high as profits have crumbled. That has raised concerns that GE is too leveraged, which will force the company to cut costs.
"There is anxiety about leverage," Dray said.
Last year, GE announced plans to lay off 12,000 workers in its beleaguered power division. GE also cut its dividend in half, just the second time since the Great Depression that the company touched that investor perk.
GE has also put a number of businesses up for sale, including its century-old rail division and its iconic light bulb business.
Some analysts have even suggested GE could have to reverse itself completely by selling shares to the public to raise cash. GE has said it's not considering that.
Cowen analyst Gautam Khanna summed it up this way: "Poor capital allocation, bad acquisitions, poor share repurchases at higher prices and unsustainably high dividends."
Jonathan Macey, a corporate law and finance professor at Yale Law School, defended GE's buybacks, albeit in a backhanded way.
"That's a poster child of a company that should be returning cash to shareholders -- because they obviously don't know what to do with it," he said.
Macey suggested GE would have "wasted the money" in other ways, pointing to the spare plane that escorted Immelt around the world. (GE has said it halted that practice in 2014.)
Neither GE nor Immelt provided a comment for this story.
Related: Democrats plan crackdown on stock buybacks
John Flannery, who became CEO last year, said in January that the company will "maintain a disciplined financial policy" by raising cash and lowering debt. In his annual shareholder letter, Flannery said GE has added new measures to better evaluate the "risk and return" of decisions like dividends and share buybacks.
Technically, GE could buy back more stock today because it has $20.9 billion remaining on a program that was launched in April 2015. That buyback program coincided with the sale of $200 billion worth of GE Capital businesses.
However, GE has signaled it's not focused on buybacks right now. Asked about buybacks in November, Flannery said GE is "not anticipating much in the short run."
Dray noted that Wall Street views buybacks as an important signal. The lack of buybacks by GE, despite the low stock price, could be spooking investors.
"They're not saying, 'We think the stock is a bargain and we're buying aggressively,'" Dray said.
Corporate America is on track for a record-breaking year for stock buybacks thanks to the cash windfall from President Trump's tax law. US companies have announced $229 billion of buybacks so far this year, according to research firm TrimTabs.
Critics argue that this cash would be better spent on investing in the future or by sharing it with workers through higher wages and retraining programs. Senator Tammy Baldwin unveiled a bill this week aimed at reining in stock buybacks.
GE's $31 billion pension nightmare
Tax cut sparks record-setting $178 billion buyback boom
Tax cut fuels record $200 billion stock buyback bonanza
GE takes a $6 billion hit from its financial business
Cash-strapped GE unloads $1 billion of energy investments
GE is under SEC investigation
GE's legal troubles are mounting
Will GE uncover more 'skeletons'? | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1028 |
__label__cc | 0.672598 | 0.327402 | To be able to use American Mint in full range, we recommend activating Javascript in your browser.
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Star-Spangled Banner Anniversary Commemorative Coin
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O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last... more
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets' red glare,the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. During the War of 1812, poet Francis Scott Key was an eyewitness to the English bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore on September 13, 1814. The courage, desire to win, and spirit of defiance of his fellow countrymen inspired him to write a poem. The poem was later set to music and "The Star-Spangled Banner" was born. This powerful songhas been the national anthem of the United States since 1931. Meticulously designed, this dazzling tribute to the Star Spangled Banner features a beautiful rendering of Francis Scott Key writing his historic poem during the Battle of Fort McHenry. This dazzling commemorative coin was specially minted to celebrate the song's 75th Anniversary as our National Anthem and is limited to only 9,999 complete collections worldwide.
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__label__wiki | 0.540827 | 0.540827 | DHAA Symposium 2015
Sydney | 5-7 November, 2015
The 2015 event was held at The Star – Sydney’s 5 Star Hotel & Premier Entertainment Destination.
This was a fantastic setting for our conference. Making the most of stunning views of the harbour and city, The Star boasts two of the best Sydney hotels, penthouses, serviced apartments, over 20 Sydney restaurants, bars and cafés as well as a luxury 16-room day spa, events and entertainment centre and upscale retail and casino areas.
As part of an $870-million redevelopment, The Star features a new Event Centre that can cater to international performers, intimate concerts, corporate conferences, exhibitions and 900-seat banquet functions.
THE THEME
The 2015 theme was "Under one Umbrella". It was chosen due to the overwhelming and increasing body of evidence linking systemic and oral conditions, which we would like to continue to explore.
This, in turn, opens the opportunities for preventive dental professionals to advise and learn from an expanding group of other health professionals.
In times of economic and legislative change to the dental profession, we need to become adaptable and recognise changes that need to be made to connect those of greatest need to preventive services.
The program ran over three days and a total of 19 CPD hours were available.
Additional clinical/scientific CPD hours were available for elective workshop attendance.
THE 2015 SCHEDULE
9:00am-12:00pm WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP #1
Hand Physio
Julia Wild, Certified Hand Therapist, Southern Hand Therapy, Sydney, NSW
EMS Ultrasonic
Dr Axel Spahr, Head of Department / Head of Discipline, Sydney Dental Hospital / University of Sydney, NSW
Making Evidence-Based Practice Work for You: Strategies for Keeping Up with Research
Dr Julie Frantsve-Hawley, Editor-in-Chief, The International Journal of Evidence-based Practice for the Dental Hygienist, Illinois, USA & Dagmar Else Slot, Researcher in the Department of Periodontology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Science, Statistics and Skepticism
Dr Julie Franstve-Hawley, Editor-in-Chief, The International Journal of Evidence-based Practice for the Dental Hygienist, Illinois, USA
Managing the Worn Dentition
Dr Ian Meyers, Honorary Professor, The University of Queensland School of Dentistry, Qld
Best Practices in Caries Management & Dental Care for Life: a Risk-based Approach
Associate Professor Michelle Hurlbutt, Dean of Dental Hygiene, West Coast University, Anaheim, USA
Why Evidence-based Practice is Important
The Evolving Role of the Hygienist in the Future
Dagmar Else Slot, Researcher in the Department of Periodontology, Academic Center for Dentistry Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Welcome Reception and Industry Exhibition Opening
8:00-9:15am
The Progress of Oral Health from Adolescence to the Elderly
Dr Peter Foltyn, Dental Department Head, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney NSW & Professor Richard Widmer, Paediatric Dentist & Head, Westmead Childrens Hospital, Sydney, NSW
9:15-10:30am
Diagnosis and Management of the Oral Environment
10:30-11:00am
Morning tea (includes Industry Exhibition and Poster Viewing)
Dental Implants; how should they be cleaned by the DCP and their owner?
11:45am-12:15pm
Bad Breath Testing and Treatment
Dr Geoffrey Speiser, CEO & Dentist at Australian Breath Clinic, Founder & CEO, Breezecare Oral Health Company, NSW
Implications of Poor Oral Health in the Elderly
Dr Peter Foltyn, Dental Department Head, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney NSW
Lunch (includes Industry Exhibition and Poster Viewing)
Paediatric Trauma, an overview
Professor Richard Widmer, Paediatric Dentist & Head, Westmead Childrens Hospital, Sydney, NSW
New Advances in the World of Orthodontics
Dr Steve Stramotas, Orthodontist, Sydney Smile Specialists, NSW
Afternoon Tea (includes Industry Exhibition and Poster Viewing)
Looking After Our Hands and Bodies
Evidence and clinical efficacy of currently available local antimicrobials
(e.g. antibiotics, photodynamic therapy, mouthrinses, oil pulling etc.).
Dr Axel Spahr, Clinical Associate Professor, Head of Discipline of Periodontics, Sydney Dental Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW
Gala Dinner – “Circus Extravaganza”
Saturday 7 November 2015
Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Facts and Fiction in 2015
Associate Professor Brendon Yee, Clinical Associate Professor, Medicine, Central Clinical School, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney, NSW
Periodontal Manifestations and Complications of Systemic Disease
Clinical A/Professor Mark Schifter, Staff Specialist in Oral Medicine, Westmead Hospital Head, Department of Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Special Needs Dentistry, NSW
Special Needs, Special Opportunities (Part 1)
Dr Peter King, Special Needs & Children's Dentistry, Kotara, NSW
Temporary Anchorage Devices in Orthodontics: a Paradigm Shift
Dr Nour Eldin-Tarraf, Orthodontist, Sydney Smile Specialist, Sydney, NSW
Palliative Care – Oral and Dental Considerations
Laser for Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Psychology of Patient Communication
Conference close
DHAA Symposium 2015 Gallery | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1031 |
__label__wiki | 0.804388 | 0.804388 | Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passed by Victoria’s Lower House after 26-hour debate
20 October, 2017 In News
At just after 11 am today, Friday 20 October, Victoria’s Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was passed in the Victorian Lower House by a conscience vote of 47 to 37.
Debate began at 9.30 am on Thursday and continued throughout the night, pausing only for two short 30-minute breaks. Deputy Premier James Merlino and five Labor MPs crossed the floor in an attempt to thwart the bill, but were unsuccessful with more than three Coalition MPs, the majority of Labor MPs, two Greens and two independents, all voting in favour.
Politicians debated each of the 141 clauses of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill and proposed more than 300 amendments to the bill, but every single amendment was defeated. According to the ABC “Tempers flared in the chamber during the protracted debate, as those opposed to the bill tried to pass more than a dozen clauses and hundreds of amendments.”
The Australian reported that “Throughout the evening and early morning, the Andrews government ignored repeated requests for adjournments, even as MPs fell asleep in their chairs and the Liberal frontbench raised concerned for staff who have been working for 25 hours straight….Inside the public gallery, supporters and opponents of the plan have kept a vigil, with Andrew Denton present for most of the evening and early morning, and the scheme’s architect Dr Brian Owler present until after 4am.”
According to The Age “There was a short applause in the chamber once the numbers were in, and some MPs wiped tears from their eyes.”
Nia Sims, who suffers from scleroderma and wants end-of-life choice, and Victorian Health Minister, Jill Hennessy, holding the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, which has now passed through the Victorian Lower House.
The Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill was developed by a ministerial taskforce headed by the former Australian Medical Association President, Professor Brian Owler, following a Parliamentary Inquiry that recommended the introduction of assisted dying laws.
Professor Owler was in the Lower House for much of the debate over the last 26 hours and told Guardian Australia: “The Health Minister [Jill Hennessy] and the Attorney General [Martin Pakula] did an outstanding job highlighting the reasons and rationale for various aspects of the bill and I look forward to having further debate in the Legislative Council. There’s been a lot of time and effort and consultation and discussion put into this, and this debate was a big test. I’m very pleased parliamentarians on all sides of politics were able to see the need [for the law] and the safeguards and thorough nature of the bill.”
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill will now go to the 40-member Upper House, where the numbers are also tight, for debate in a fortnight. If passed, the legislation will not come into effect for 18 months to allow for its implementation.
Click for Hansard of Jill Hennessy’s Speech on 21 September 2017 Hansard Victorian Assembly VAD Hennessy 21 September 2017
Click for Victorian Legislative Assembly 17 October 2017 see pages 3050-3136 for The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
Click for Victorian Legislative Assembly 18 October 2017 see pages 3164-3166, 3178-3188 & 3209-3267 for The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
Click for Victorian Legislative Assembly 19 October 2017 see pages 3293-3300 & 3309-3468 for The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill
Click for article in The Australian 20 October 2017 ‘Euthanasia bill passes Victorian parliament‘
Click for ABC News report 20 October 2017 ‘Euthanasia: Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill passes Victoria’s Lower House after 26-hour debate‘
Click for article in The Age 20 October 2017 ‘Historic euthanasia laws pass Victoria’s lower house after marathon sitting‘
Previous post on DWD NSW website
Click for ‘Victorian Government Bill in Parliament‘ 22 September 2017
AustraliaVictoria | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1036 |
__label__cc | 0.51866 | 0.48134 | Cassia (3.5e Deity)
This is a featured article!
1 Cassia
1.1 Dogma
1.2 Clergy and Temples
1.4 Powers
1.5 Cassian Plane and Palace
1.6 Minions
1.7 Artifacts
2 Weaknesses and Limitations
3 Adaptation
3.1 Cassia in Eberron
3.2 Cassia in Praemium Terra
4 Chrysalis
5 Progression
5.1 New Powers
Omega (Ω) over a symbol of three moons (waxing, full, and waning.)
Home Plane:
Cassian plane
Evil, sloth, selfishness, lust, irresponsibility.
Clergy Alignments:
Any evil, chaotic
Evil, Chaos
Favored Weapon:
Cassia is an intermediate, rank 13 deity who appears as an incredibly beautiful elven female with perpetual youth, with the same weight and height (5'5 tall and weighing 90 pounds.) She usually wears nothing, but might occasionally cover herself with light clothing. Her every step is the epitome of grace, her voice sounds like the finest music, and her charismatic gaze pierces to the soul of all who view her. She is sometimes hired by even more powerful deities to weaken a certain country with her degenerative powers. Her title is the goddess of "liberation", and her use of the word couldn't be more misplaced.
Her personality is selfishness and hedonism personified, and she has no inhibitions or limits. Having all the power she needs to free herself from the consequences of almost any action she could possibly take, she feels like she can do whatever she wants, and despite being divine, she doesn't know of or care for any codes of morality save for what she sets for herself and her followers. Cassia acts on whims, lies to others, and breaks promises to others whenever she wants but does not expect her followers to be able to do the same to her. This hypocrisy goes unnoticed by her unreasonable followers.
While some lands believe her to be a goddess of love, this assertion would be incorrect, as love is kind, generous, and unselfish. At best, she is the patroness of mutual lust and indulgence. Cassia has never loved anyone outside of herself; she may have lusted after countless males (despite her hatred of males in general; she counters this by killing them after having... her way with them), but she never actually cared about their well-being or held any true affection for them. Hatred and anger are common emotions for Cassia, as is the most extreme hubristic pride. Cassia enjoys taking revenge, making her enemies suffer, and watching people, nations, and whole civilizations crumble beneath her influence.
Cassia is a popular goddess for amazons, female elves and half-elves, selfish people, and sorceresses. Her power comes from her followers, who unknowingly give her the ability to oppress them. Her ultimate goal is for the whole of all realities to bow down to her as their sole object of worship.
Cassia's symbol
Cassia is a goddess of selfish, irresponsible, licentious behavior. She takes advantage of perceived and actual wrongs committed against groups of people, and encourages them to rebel against the system they are in. Once that is done, whether it is a success, failure, or somewhere in between, she encourages her followers to "liberate" themselves by shedding all social commitments, responsibilities, and all duties. Morality, ethics, and respect for real liberty and justice all fade under her influence, as the people degenerate into an abyss of sinful behavior and pleasure-seeking. This is so because Cassia teaches that there is no right save for what makes one feel good and be free and no wrong except for what prevents one from being free and feeling good. Of course, Cassia makes exceptions to these points whenever she feels like it.
Under her power, people willingly stop having children (they have no desire to take responsibility for the future, although children may still be born due to the course of their lustful actions, the people under her rule will never intend to procreate and will likely abandon their newborns), do the very minimum amount of work needed to survive, disband their defenses, misspend their money, commit perverse acts in massive displays of lust, and when asked to be held accountable for their actions, they call those who ask "oppressive."
When Cassia first enters a region, she appears in the woods and other isolated areas, and tells poor women that a new divinity has arrived in the land and will protect them. She also appears to women who are overstressed or feel repressed or oppressed in some way. Putting on false pretense of freedom, Cassia wins her first recruits, then leaves before anyone with knowledge of her can retaliate. She never tells anyone her name until her religion has taken root in the land and she is well-established. Once this happens, she returns to the land to feed off of the emotions of her followers.
Many religions have a central ritual, and the followers of Cassia are no exception. For some religions, it is the mass or a service that is central. For others, it is meditation. For Cassia's worshipers, a ritual only open to females (like her) known as "the release" is central. Contrary to popular belief, no lustful activity takes place in this ceremony; it is simply a great cacophony of screaming and cathartic venting, followed by a period of rest. This ceremony gives Cassia a power boost every time it is performed (thrice a week), as her powers feed of off the emotions of her followers. As a result, moderation and self-control are discouraged; her clergy says that these things are the sign of an "oppressed mind". A good follower of Cassia has raging emotions which she makes no effort to control or hide, always acts on these emotions and never lets reason or logic get in the way of how she feels. Screams of women "letting it all out" are common in Cassia's temples.
The second most important ritual is prayer to the moon, as it is part of Cassia's symbol. Prayer in the Cassian religion is more akin to begging, screaming, and crying than it is to prayer as other religions would hold prayer to be. The main theme of the prayer is begging to get what you want from Cassia by offering her your total submission, the dogma says that only Cassia can give one emotional and spiritual release. She doesn't just want one's soul and respect; she wants one's power, dignity, life, and free will. Cassia can indeed create the illusion of freedom and a feeling of release, but a rational mind will detect that the truth is she can only grant oppression and degeneration.
Among the more specific parts of her dogma are prohibitions on speech, reading and writing, as she feels that books create the potential for "bibliographic inequalities" between people (in truth, she doesn't want her followers to think for themselves, and destroying literacy is a good way to do this.) A major rule that is followed in the early days of a land's corruption is that of "Cassian correctness", which is the social prohibition of saying anything that would contradict Cassia's followers or their ideas. It also means that certain words cannot be said because they are immoral. "Lustful" is removed from the language because it implies a moral judgment of an action and is replaced with "liberated". "Promiscuity" is replaced with "freedom", "philosophy" is replaced with "male trickery", "book" turns into "dangerous", "reason" and "pain" become the same word, "pride" and "happiness" become the same word, "pleasure" and "good" become the same word as well, and the words "morality" and "god" (the noun for a male deity) are replaced with "imprisonment" and "oppressor."
As the corruption becomes more advanced her followers are also made to adopt a language which gets smaller every year as words like "bad" or "excess" are removed so no one can say Cassia is bad or that her followers are excessive. When trying to convert followers away from Cassia (which is very hard to do), mentions of duty or moral obligation will produce an instinctive reaction against the religion. Talking about moral duty in an otherwise convincing manner to one of her priestesses may make her run away or scream, as the mere thought of having to do something for anyone else other than Cassia or herself "makes me feel like I can't breathe" or "you want to use me!"
The trick to Cassia's religion is that it appeals to the emotions and operates in the name of freedom; in fact, it is really nothing more than back-door oppression and brainwashing. In the final stages of a land's corruption, the people will become like mindless drones; totally equal, totally unfree. Having lost all ability to maintain even the vestigial traces of civilization, most language, or social order, Cassia's followers take to living in the wilderness. By this time, there will be few of them left, and Cassia will have to go elsewhere. If any of the country survives, it will live in the ruins once Cassia's influence has left the land, leaving behind the shattered husk of a once-great nation.
Cassia's temples are taken from other deities. Her followers let the temples fall into ruins because they are too slothful to maintain them.
Clergy and Temples
Cassia's clergy discriminate against those who have historically been non-disadvantaged. This means that her clergy are made up of the poor, minority races, and women; men are never allowed, and majority races and the well-to-do are restricted unless they take a special oath to follow Cassia. Instead of actually improving their condition, Cassia tricks them into making it worse for them and, over time, her clergy and temples can weaken a land to the point that takeover by a more powerful foe is possible. Her temples aren't built; they are simply the temples of other deities that are taken over by her faithful. Her religion has but one definite holiday, and that is her birthday. On this day, Cassia receives a great boost of power from all of her followers.
Cassia's clergy tend not be to very intelligent; they are fooled by simple tricks that Cassia shows them such as walking on water, or making plants grow wherever her bare feet touch the ground. They interpret these signs as if she was the one god that was supposed to be worshiped. The one group of intelligent clergy Cassia does have are those who are skilled in biology and magic; they know how to take advantage of the way the brain works, and can cast spells on their followers which stimulate the production of certain hormones in such a way as to create the illusion of happiness, and to activate the sensations one would feel if one had been truly liberated. Wise people can sometimes get out of this, but emotional, hormonal, or less wise people are bound to fall to the spell.
There is little organization among the clergy of her lands. In fact, lands that follow Cassia gradually lose their civilization and will eventually degenerate back into wilderness.
Cassia's sacred tree, the Acacia, has ornamental and cosmetic purposes, but chokes the grass that livestock need to survive and attracts disease-carrying ticks.
Cassia is a rare individual; she has undergone apotheosis and rose from mortal to divine. Born to a callous noble elven family, she was taught to have a disregard for people poorer than her and was raised to believe that the great masses of the peoples of the world only existed for the benefit of a few exceptional individuals. She was raised with servants to do everything for her and she was never taught the value of responsibility or integrity. As a regular elf, she had a weak but beautiful and graceful body, and a keen mind with keen senses. Although she was very intelligent, she had little wisdom; that is, she knew about things one can touch and see, but little about what cannot be seen or felt. Her rich family easily paid for her studies of magic, which came naturally to her, and soon, she was a skilled sorceress.
Highly emotional and sensual even for a female elf, Cassia was inclined to use magic that was related to feelings and abilities that were linked to charisma. In time, she learned how to use her magic to make others do what she wanted by means of charm spells at first and enthrall and enslavement spells later. Her selfish behavior grew with her powers until it eventually became sociopathic. The saddest part was that none of the other mages who had the power to stop her thought that there was anything wrong with her; on the contrary, in their eyes she was a highly independent, empowered individual who knew what she wanted and had the drive and intelligence to act on it without society stopping her from "spreading her wings and taking flight". Far from being looked down on or considered evil, she was envied by many mages, and this envy for her only fed Cassia's ego. Cassia eventually started referring to herself as a divinity, and was able to trick a number foolish people into believing that she was. These were her earliest followers. When Cassia began to take people away from a minor god's temple, the deity intervened. He appeared before Cassia, subdued her in combat, frightened away many of her worshipers, and only spared her when she begged for mercy with her sweet voice. Because she had been beaten by a male deity, she soon developed a hatred of males overall, and from that point, her idea of appealing to oppressed women as if she was some amazonian deity began. The problem was that she wasn't actually a divinity yet. She would have to gain more power if she was to do this.
Because of her talent, Cassia eventually became an archmage and like many archmages, decided to produce a masterwork: her own divinity. She spent many years inventing a cocoon for her to reside in. Upon casting many necessary protective spells (enhanced by permanency) and having mastered the ability to be conscious in her dreams while her body slept, she was ready to enter the chrysalis and transform. Over a period of over a thousand years, she slowly gathered energy in a variety of ways. Some energy was naturally drawn in from her surroundings, some was given to her by her earliest followers when she appeared to them in their dreams and told them to do so (they were lured by her promises), and the rest came from adventurers who foolishly tried to destroy the cocoon without proper precautions (just touching it drains one of power.) When she had gathered enough energy, the apotheosis process was still slow, taking 197 years; after that, the process of breaking her chrysalis took seven months. Finally, after over a millennium, Cassia had finally become a goddess, but only one of the lowest rank.
In the years to come, Cassia began seeping power away from a wide variety of followers in many different nations. Over time, her divine rank grew with her followers, and continues to grow to this day. Cassia has since created her own personal plane, and is the sole object of worship in some nations, plus a significant side deity in many others. She has her sights set on Praemium Terra, a land of exploitation with much bitterness and desire for liberation for her to falsely exploit. If she succeeded in converting Praemium Terra, it would be by far her greatest victory to date and would increase her power dramatically, but the archmages of that land aren't about to let her walk in on their territory.
Cassia's sacred birds are all of the brood parasites, avians which lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Shown here is a cowbird, a notorious kleptoparasite.
While Cassia is a goddess, she is not invincible. She is divine, but still has a soft body of flesh and she is thus vulnerable. To compensate for this, Cassia has great powers stemming from her divine charisma and passions. Contrary to common belief, it is the magic behind her beauty which is dangerous, not her beauty itself. In addition to the powers below, it must be noted that she is a very dangerous mage. In combat, Cassia very rarely makes use of physical attacks, as she isn't very strong and she can far more easily utilize her inherent divine powers than she can throw a fist. Usually, all it takes for her to kill an opponent is for her to be near them when she activates her powers.
Power Source: Cassia's powers are fed by the emotions of her followers in a specific land. The more time she spends away from a population of significant followers, the weaker she becomes in both body and power. The specifics of her hit points, speed, Armor Class, Strength, and most other features (except for Intelligence, Dexterity, Wisdom, and Charisma) are determined by how many followers she has in a 1000 kilometer radius and how much they believe in her. Note that she receives power from all of her followers when she is in her home plane, so she is strongest when she is there. Her Armor Class depends on a force shield which keeps her soft skin from being hurt; the more power she has, the stronger the shield is, and vice versa. Cassia has to visit lands that she is worshiped in to keep her power levels up. If all of her followers were to abandon her and she couldn't replace them, she would lose power quickly and need to operate on saved-up reserves. If all of her divine power were to be used up, she would become a mortal again, but would still have her sorcerous abilities and would still have the potential to absorb energy from belief if she could convince people to worship her.
Minor Energy Drain: If Cassia is desperate for power, or just wants to take some more, Cassia can drain it by touching a living creature or an energy-filled construct with a draining touch as a standard action. As a side effect, Cassia's draining touch ability acts as if a sleep spell was casted on her victim as well as the primary effect.
Divine Aura: The mere presence of a deity of rank 1 or higher can deeply affect mortals and beings of lower divine rank. All divine aura effects are mind-affecting, extraordinary abilities. Mortals and other deities of lower rank can resist the aura’s effects with successful Will saves; the DC is 10 + the deity’s rank + the deity’s Charisma modifier. Deities are immune to the auras of deities of equal or lower rank. Any being who makes a successful saving throw against a deity’s aura power becomes immune to that deity’s aura power for one day. Divine aura is an emanation that extends around the deity in a radius whose size is a function of divine rank. The deity chooses the size of the radius and can change it as a free action. If the deity chooses a radius of 0 feet, its aura power effectively becomes non-functional. When two or more deities’ auras cover the same area, only the aura that belongs to the deity with the highest rank functions. If divine ranks are equal, the auras coexist. The deity can make its own worshipers, beings of its alignment, or both types of individuals immune to the effect as a free action. The immunity lasts one day or until the deity dismisses it. Once affected by an aura power, creatures remain affected as long as they remain within the aura’s radius. Cassia's divine Aura gives her the ability to daze those around her; affected beings just stare at the deity in fascination. They can defend themselves normally but can take no actions.
Energy Drain (Su): Cassia can also drain energy from a mortal or immortal of equal or lower divine rank she lures into some act of passion, or by simply planting a kiss on the victim. If the target is not willing to be kissed, Cassia must start a grapple, which provokes an attack of opportunity. Her kiss or embrace bestows one negative level. The kiss also has the effect of a suggestion spell, asking the victim to accept another kiss from Cassia.
Compulsion: Cassia has the power to enslave any of her followers at will, and has no moral qualms about sending them to their death if it benefits her or if she feels like it. She can also use the enslavement spell as a standard action when targeting a humanoid mortal or a deity of equal or lower divine rank, but she has to make eye contact with them and they must be within 10 feet of her.
Divine Stunning Glance (Su): As a standard action, Cassia can stun a creature within 60 feet with a look. The target creature must succeed on a DC 30 Fortitude save or be stunned for 2d6 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. Cassia can also dominate an individual with a look, but they have to be within 30 feet of her.
Divine Blinding Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 60 feet of Cassia. Those who look directly at her must succeed on a DC 25 Fortitude save or be blinded permanently as though by the blindness spell. Cassia can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. She frequently uses this ability when she wants her privacy or when she is mad.
Divine Unearthly Beauty (Su): This ability affects all humanoids within 60 feet of Cassia. Those within 60 feet must succeed a Will save of DC 20 or die. Cassia can suppress or resume this ability as a free action. She uses this ability in combat as soon as the fighting becomes hard, and may use it when she is angry. A lesser manifestation of her beauty is the ability to use the hypnotize spell on mortals or deities of equal or lower rank as a standard action.
Divine Grace: Cassia adds her Charisma modifier as a bonus on all her saving throws, and as a deflection bonus to her Armor Class. When Cassia dances, beings as far away as 60 feet will be attracted and within 30 feet, they will be enthralled. Cassia can also emit sympathetic energy wherever she is, whenever she wants to.
Divine Voice: Cassia's voice is unbelievably alluring, and carries great divine power, to the point that her ordinary suggestions have the effect of the spell. At present time, her voice does not have the power to enslave others, but she might gain this power if she continues to absorb more energy. If she wishes to charm someone with her voice, she has to phrase her actions in terms of her desire, or else speak in a seductive way. If Cassia should sing or speak sweetly to a group, that group experiences an enthrallment effect, just like the spell; only powerful individuals can resist it. If her song has a malicious tone, it has the effect of a song of discord. Even a whisper of hers' from a distance is enough to fascinate a character. The final normal power her voice has is the ability to do damage with her shouts. For more powerful abilities, specific emotions are needed.
Screams of Anger: If she is mad, Cassia can use a greater shout as a standard action, but she has to be actually angry first as it is fueled by the emotions behind it.
Screams of Pain: When Cassia feels intense pain, she lets out an intense scream which is identical to the scream of a banshee. Every round a blow lands on her that inflicts more than 5% of her total hit point total in damage or every round she is under 50% of her total hit points she will scream once a round. Cassia's lethal scream is fueled by actual pain and emotions that come with it; she cannot simply scream whenever she wants and expect to activate this effect.
Summoning Cry: Cassia's final power; if she is in serious danger (down to 25% of her maximum hit points) or is trapped somehow, a primal cry from deep down in her dark soul goes out, piercing the planes and traveling into distant realms of existence. All creatures with any level of planar awareness will detect the sound. From this cry, a creature may be summoned as if a spell of summon monster IX had been cast. Cassia can only do this once in a battle, and she has to fear for her very life.
Cassian Plane and Palace
A small, spherical plane which is 1,000 kilometers in diameter and height. Cassia has created a palace on a floating island surrounded by yellowish-white clouds. The sky of the plane is drenched in a rusty hue, and the palace's white marble appears to be yellowish. A trip to her plane is very dangerous if one cannot fly, and if flight is possible, getting through the clouds (which are actually sulfuric) is another hazard. Upon reaching her island, one will be attacked by various magical defenses if one is male (unless she brings him to her realm, or gives him permission which is very rare and is only for male deities or very powerful dragons), but females are allowed into her palace for an audience. If Cassia feels like listening, she will do so, but if she is annoyed, she might imprison, kill, torture, or do any number of bad things to the speaker. Visitors are understandably rare.
Cassia's Palace is huge, with thousands of rooms, half of which are accessible to visitors, the other half carry the death penalty without explanation if she catches one in there for any reason (she really likes her privacy). Many of her rooms are filled with gold and other offerings (magical items, silver, platinum, but no copper, as she doesn't accept too minor an offering) her followers have given her. At the center of her palace (prohibited to any visitors) is a magical portal room which contains interplanar gates between the palace and the various lands in which she has a large number of worshipers. The room is enchanted to be its own sub-plane so that it always has enough room for the portals, even if she were to have worshipers in a thousand countries.
Cassia's minions are expected to be as much like their goddess as possible. Shown here is a rare human minion.
Cassia rarely gets her own hands dirty; when something needs to be done and she doesn't feel like doing it herself, she sends her minions out. She never uses proxies, as she is too possessive of her power to invest any in others. Her minions, therefore, are all petitioners. Cassia only accepts females, and they are generally nymphs, elves, half-elves, succubi, or half-dragons. Humans are rare among her petitioners. Her minions are expected to do absolutely anything she wants them to do without any exception for any reason whatsoever; if any one of them displeases her for an instant for any reason, she will likely punish them severely or kill them.
Cassia also employs a group of temptresses.
Orb of Cassia: Cassia uses this nigh-indestructible orb to store excess emotional power that her body cannot absorb from her followers. As such, it is a very important artifact for her. Cassia is very protective of the orb, as it can give her a power boost when she needs it and can be used to replenish her powers for a time if her followers should be stopped from worshiping her for some reason. She keeps the orb in the most well-protected room in her palace and she never lets anyone else see it. Even seeing it for a split-second is enough for Cassia to smite you dead, no matter who you are or what your relationship to her is. Since Cassia has never told anyone about it, the orb's existence has been detected through the most advanced scrying techniques. If the existence of her orb is even mentioned to her, she will use an enslavement spell on the one who mentions it, ask how he knew about the orb, then kill him. The power contained in the orb is great, and can be used to replicate spells of all power levels.
Weaknesses and Limitations
Cassia is a very powerful entity, able to manipulate masses of people for her own ends. It must be noted, however, that there are weaknesses and vulnerabilities inherent in both her power and personality.
Her powers have a hard time taking root in societies with strong values systems, especially if a set of religious laws or a respected constitution is in power. She can get into polytheistic lands most easily as those places are open to more gods than a monotheistic land. Also, if she is far away from either her palace or a land with a significant number of her worshipers, her divine powers will gradually weaken after about seven months (sooner if she uses a lot of power during that time.) After that, her divine powers will become less potent over the course of years until they fade totally. She can partially make up for this by manually absorbing power from the people she encounters, but this is of minor benefit unless she were to absorb might from something as powerful as a dragon or an archmage.
Cassia has a weak will; concentration and pain tolerance are not her strong points, despite her repeated insistence that they are (to help cover the fact that she has this weakness.) She will scream when in pain, and if she feels sore, she will subordinate all other activities to her feeling better. Inflicting pain on Cassia, rather than injury, can drive her off.
Cassia is rather lax in keeping up with her followers; an entire group of her followers could be wiped out and unless it was a large group, she wouldn't know. Only if she felt her incoming powers decrease would she notice. She is also quite lazy and self-indulgent, and spends much of her time debauching herself rather than effectively planning or working towards her goals.
Her body is not indestructible and has limits. Cassia can get tired, hungry, thirsty, and she can feel pain; for a divinity, she cares much about her flesh, and her physical strength and durability aren't much, even by mortal standards (she can enhance these with magic, though.) Additionally, her capacity to store power in her physical frame is limited, even though it grows over time. Cassia must siphon off the excess power into her orb or else be forced to do one of two undesirable things; either she can let the power dissipate and not keep it at all or she can try to absorb more than she can safely contain.
Cassia always does what she feels like; she's very impulsive. Even if she were in the middle of a battle, she would simply leave if she felt like it and come back later. She believes her impulses are so important that if she wanted to break a deal or not do something she said she would do and her only reason was that she "felt like it", she would think she had a good reason.
Cassia has never tried to corrupt a land with very powerful archmages to oppose her; it remains to be seen whether or not she has the raw power to stand up to such a contest. Also, most of the lands she corrupted were weak or were elven and thus would be more easily given to following an elven goddess. Her appeal to honorable races (like dwarves), logical races (like humans), or patriarchal races (such as lizardfolk) is limited. Races that are emotional (like elves), magical (like genies), or close to nature (like nymphs) are more susceptible to her corruption.
Cassia has a hard time making allies among other divinities. Her openly selfish ways and tremendous hedonism put her at odds with lawful and good divinities alike, and her lack of respect for divine social rules has the tendency to alienate her from many neutral divinities as well. Even when she was a mortal; she worshiped nothing but her own desires, and treated everyone around her as inferiors.
Constructs are immune to many of Cassia's powers.
Her greatest weakness is her inability to put necessity before her desires. If she wants something, she will endeavor to get it even if it is illogical and impractical for her to try and obtain it. Although she is able to conquer others with her power, she is not truly the master of herself, and she is a slave to her uncontrollable desires. Her intelligence is great, but the ends to which her intelligence are directed are dictated by her emotions and sensuality; if learning how to cast a complex spell which conjures up something which can make her feel good is what her desires tell her to do, she will do that, even though it is objectively a waste of her intelligence.
Finally, if she is killed, she has no way to return to the living; her powers are in her flesh, not her corrupted soul.
Cassia in Eberron
Cassia is a very minor deity in Eberron, almost all of her followers on Khorvaire live in just one town. Most of her followers are on the elven continent of Aerenal, and even there, her followers are just 0.5% of all elven females, and almost no one else. Cassia is not yet recognized as a serious threat, due to her minor presence. She has followers in just one small area in Sarlona, and although some of the dragons of Argonnessen have heard of Cassia, none of them worship her. There is said to be a hidden base of hers' in the remote regions of Frostfell.
Cassia in Praemium Terra
Cassia is a deity of minor but growing importance in Praemium Terra. She has a great appeal among elven females, especially the poor ones. The archmages who rule the land are not fooled by her for a second; many of them would do the same things Cassia does if they were in her position. Currently, about 2% of Praemium Terra worships her as their only deity, and another 3% believe in her as a minor side divinity. More of the land would worship her (as much as 10% would make her a part of their pantheon and 5% would worship her as their sole deity), but Cassia worship is illegal in large parts of Praemium Terra, due to her corrupting influence.
The very spell that enabled Cassia to become a goddess is still available to her after all these years. If, for some reason, she becomes desperate, needs to hide, or needs to gather more power without having to expend any, she can weave a cocoon using her magic.
Rather than a standard power, the ability to form such a chrysalis is as much a disadvantage than a help, as Cassia needs to invest a great deal of time and energy into making the pupa. Once created, she has to crawl inside totally unclothed and curl up in a fetal position; upon doing this, the hole which she entered into will seal up and the cocoon will begin to harden. Within a day, the chrysalis will have a hardness of 20, will shock anyone who tries to touch it, and will be immune to all but epic magical spells which attack it. From the cocoon, Cassia will rest for as long as it takes for her to build up enough energy (absorbed from a variety of sources) to shatter her pupa. This will likely take her a very long time and will likely entail her resting until almost no humanoid mortal who was alive when she entered is alive to remember her.
A general rule is that Cassia will always emerge more powerful when leaving the chrysalis than when she entered it, and she can be expected to gain one divine rank each time she uses a chrysalis up to the limit of the chrysalis spell's power (which is divine rank 19.) When she first leaves her cocoon, she will be wet, tired, and cramped, but within a day, she will be up to speed with her powers stronger than ever. If the chrysalis could be broken with Cassia still in it, she would be caught in a very low power state, unconscious, and will be vulnerable to the point that a strong man with an mundane axe could kill her, as her consciousness and divine powers require about 48 hours to begin to revive if she is prematurely pulled from the cocoon, and another 48 hours to return to full strength. A group of well-meaning adventurers who somehow manage to cut her out, thinking they were freeing a poor, trapped elven girl would likely be killed by Cassia and have their energy taken from them, as soon as she recovered, that is.
Scenarios in which Cassia would use a chrysalis include the destruction of most or all of her followers, sustaining an otherwise mortal injury in combat (should she escape, it also ought to be noted that the chrysalis hibernation process heals all of her injuries), or if she simply wants to gain more power using the longest method available. Currently, Cassia has not used any other chrysalis other than the one which turned her into a goddess. She has one woven and hidden in her palace, and it is ready to be used whenever she wants.
The fate of the world if Cassia gets her way.
If Cassia is allowed to run rampant and regularly gain more energy than she can use, she will eventually progress in her divine rank. Upon reaching level 16, she will become a greater deity. With power that great, nature itself will be charmed by her very presence; trees will bend to shade her, waves will part around her, fire will refuse to burn her, and the sky will reflect her every emotion. In addition, the wild creatures of the world will protect her, as their simple minds are fed energy radiating out of Cassia which compels them to do so. The very force of life itself has been seduced by her, and life will do anything to keep Cassia alive and protected. Finally, while her powers are not yet great enough to freely tamper with the very laws of the universe, Cassia has gained enough power to use a free wish spell on the day her followers give her the most power (her birthday), and her integration into the fabric of reality has started; this enables her to tamper with time, minds and space. Hypothetically, Cassia could become an overdeity, but even at the level of greater deity, this is unlikely.
New Powers
Enslave Earth: At greater deity status, Cassia will constantly regenerate her wounds as long at least one of as her bare feet touch the ground. In addition, she can ask the stones for help, enabling her to summon an Earth Elemental whenever boulders or rocks are present as a standard action. As the earth has been seduced by her, earth based magic will not harm her. Note that falling rocks can still hurt her because they are under the influence of gravity, which she has not been able to seduce.
Enslave Water: At greater deity status, Cassia can control all water, allowing her to dehydrate mortal enemies as a standard action, killing them instantly (extreme magic resistance is needed to survive), as water will not aid those who oppose her. This attack is ineffective against most immortals because a standard immortal needs neither food nor water. In addition, Cassia can ask the water for help, enabling her to summon a Water Elemental whenever water is present. In cold climates, an elemental made of ice may appear. As the water has been seduced by her, water based magic will not harm her. Note that water thrown towards her by an outside force will still head towards her, because the water is under the influence of momentum from the throw.
Enslave Fire: At greater deity status, Cassia can manipulate fire, but she cannot cause it to appear at random without using a spell (not a standard action.) Once fire is present, it will protect Cassia and keep her warm. In addition, Cassia can ask the fire for help, enabling her to summon a Fire Elemental whenever fire is present as a standard action. As the fire has been seduced by her, fire based magic will not harm her. Note that the force of explosions can still hurt her, even if there is fire involved with the explosion.
Enslave Air: At greater deity status, Cassia can manipulate air, allowing her to asphyxiate mortal enemies as a standard action, killing them instantly (extreme magic resistance is needed to survive), as air will not aid those who oppose her. This attack is ineffective against most immortals because a standard immortal doesn't need to breathe. In addition, Cassia can ask the air for help, enabling her to summon an Air Elemental in any surface environment as a standard action. As the air has been seduced by her, air magic will not harm her. Note that she can burn up in the air if she was to travel at an extremely fast pace because Cassia has been unable to seduce friction.
Enslave Nature: At greater deity status, Cassia can manipulate nature, allowing her to control animals as if they were her worshipers. Animals will never attack her unless ordered to by a deity of even higher divine rank. Plants which can move or fight are subject to the same control as animals. If she desires an additional ally, she can now summon an ally from nature as a standard action. The creature summoned corresponds to the environment, such as a stag from the woods or a crocodile from a swamp.
Enslave Life: Even more powerful than controlling life when it has taken a form (that of nature) is the energy of vitality itself. At greater deity status, Cassia can resurrect anybody she touches (even if she just nudged them with her toe), as long as the body touches her skin. Cassia can also take life, and her touch can remove not just the life, but destroys the very vessel in which the mortal life is contained, as long as her skin comes into contact with the enemy. So great is her power at this level that if she were to perish, she would not stay dead. If slain normally, she will revive in 24 hours with all of her powers and hit points restored to full, with no penalties. Only by killing Cassia and then casting a wish or miracle spell can her hold over life be shaken and can she be kept truly dead.
Greater Presence: While her dream of becoming omnipresent still eludes her, Cassia has achieved a limited amount of this ability. Her divine aura covers a great area, and a small part of her is present in all of it. This has several effects other than what a standard divine aura entails. While it is still true that her power is still in her body, not her soul, the aura her body radiates becomes a small part of all those within her divine aura's range. This enables Cassia to have empathy with all those in her aura, even though she is, if anything, crueler and more selfish than ever before. Anyone who attacks Cassia will suffer from empathic feedback, as a blow against her is a blow against oneself, due to a part of her essence being in those who are near her. Note that the one way to be immune to the greater presence effects is to be a deity of even higher rank than Cassia. The most awesome manifestation of Cassia's presence is her link to nature. When she is upset, nature will be mad along with her, and earthquakes, torrential rain, lightning, hurricane-force winds, and pyroclastic flow may all emerge, depending on the state of nature around Cassia and how angry she is; animals in the vicinity may attack, acting as if rabid. By contrast, when Cassia is happy, nature springs into bloom where she steps, the clouds part, and animals peacefully gather around her.
Back to Main Page → Dungeons and Dragons → Deities → Intermediate
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__label__wiki | 0.663084 | 0.663084 | Natural resources minister ‘confident’ Trans Mountain expansion will proceed this year
Moira Wyton
The federal minister of natural resources expressed confidence that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project — approved by federal cabinet on Tuesday — will proceed this construction season but stopped short of an absolute promise the expansion would be completed.
“I am very confident in the work we have done so far … (and) that we are in a very good position so that this project will proceed,” said Min. Amarjeet Sohi at the Trans Mountain pipeline Edmonton terminal in Strathcona County on Wednesday.
In August, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the first 2016 cabinet approval of the expansion project, which would twin sections of the existing pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C., to triple its capacity to 890,000 barrels per day. The court cited concerns that Indigenous peoples were not “adequately” or “meaningfully” consulted on the project, as well as environmental concerns in coastal B.C.
The court decision came the same day the federal government’s purchase of the pipeline from Kinder Morgan was approved and prompted the federal government to launch Phase III consultations with over 100 Indigenous communities in B.C. and Alberta.
Sohi characterized the latest round of consultations as “a sincere, two-way dialogue,” but many First Nations and Indigenous organizations remain staunchly opposed to the project.
“We feel that the way we started the consultation, by having early involvement of Indigenous communities to help design the consultation process as well as doubling the capacity of our teams to engage with Indigenous communities, gives us a broader mandate to actually have that two-way dialogue and offer recommendations,” said Sohi.
“We are very comfortable with the work that we have done, and also engaging Justice (Frank) Iacobucci for the advice and oversight necessary to ensure we are following all the necessary steps.”
The National Energy Board deemed the project “in the public interest” and recommended it be approved subject to over 150 conditions and recommendations in February.
“I want to assure everyone that approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, construction, and completion … does not undermine our ability to meet our Paris (Agreement on Climate Change) commitments,” said Sohi.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised that all profits from the pipeline’s eventual sale and activities will be invested into transitioning Canada’s economy towards cleaner energy sources, but many experts remain unconvinced the expansion is coherent with the current Liberal government’s commitments to climate action.
Kathryn Harrison, a political scientist at the University of British Columbia, likened building the pipeline to fund a clean energy transition to gorging on cake in preparation for a diet in an interview with Postmedia on Tuesday.
Sohi expects the NEB to issue a certificate for the project within the next few days and for Trans Mountain to begin mobilizing its workforce to begin work as soon as all the necessary permits are obtained. On Tuesday, Premier Jason Kenney was cautious in his optimism that the pipeline will be built until construction begins.
“The approval of this project and moving forward on this project is a demonstration of confidence by our federal government in our energy sector,” said Sohi. “But as you can appreciate, before you put shovels in the ground, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done.“
mwyton@postmedia.com
twitter.com/moirawyton
‘A test for Canada’: Cautious optimism after federal cabinet OKs Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
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Iran confirms two Russian-made missiles hit Ukrainian airliner | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1052 |
__label__wiki | 0.653901 | 0.653901 | Doing History in Public
A collective project by historians for the public
Philippa Carter
Laura Flannigan
Sam Harrison
Clemency Hinton
Mobeen Hussain
Zoe Jackson
Zara Kesterton
Shang Li
Aoife O’Leary McNeice
Georgia Oman
Evelyn Strope
Helen Sunderland
Anne Alexander
Hira Amin
Elly Barnett
Katy Bond
Carys Brown
Julia Bourke
Zoe Farrell
Rosa Hodgkin
Ella Hollowood
Jess Hope
Florence Largillière
Patrick Seamus McGhee
Marta Musso
Louise Moschetta
Atlanta Rae Neudorf
Janine Noack
Bennett Ostdiek
Emily Redican-Bradford
Tiia Sahrakorpi
Amy Schaffman
Alex Wakelam
Emily Ward
History & current affairs
‘Trojan horse’ and indoctrinating youth in eighteenth-century England
by caryslmbrown on March 8, 2016
Carys Brown @HistoryCarys
Two years ago ‘Operation Trojan Horse’ caused widespread alarm in the media and panic on the part of the British government. Yet the concern about religious and political influences in schools is hardly new. At the beginning of the eighteenth century, writers concerned about the enemy within targeted Protestant Dissenters. Their suggestions about who should control the education of the nation’s children, perhaps worryingly, have surprising resonance today.
In March 2014, a letter was leaked to the British media suggesting that a coordinated group of Islamists were planning to work covertly to install sympathetic governors in several schools across Birmingham, in what became infamously known as ‘Operation Trojan Horse’. A month later, Birmingham City Council revealed that it had, in addition, received hundreds of reports from parents and staff concerned about the forced imposition of an Islamist ethos in supposedly multi-faith schools. Thereafter followed a government investigation, which found a “sustained, co-ordinated agenda to impose segregationist attitudes and practices of a hardline, politicised strain of Sunni Islam” in a small number of Birmingham schools.[1] Part of the government’s response to the findings was to insist on the promotion of ‘British values’ in schools, including tolerance and fairness. Funding terms for academies were also adjusted to allow the Secretary of State for education to shut down any academies acting contrary to such values. [2]
Wind the clock back 300 years, and we witness a similar battle over the promotion of values in schools, albeit on rather different terms. The 1689 ‘Toleration Act’ had given Protestants who dissented from the Church of England the right to worship in registered meeting houses, but did not mention education, and thus the legal position of Dissenting schools and academies was ambiguous. Concerned that Dissenter control of education might teach children to oppose the Established Church and monarchy, Tories and High Anglicans fought successfully to introduce the ‘Schism Act’ in 1714, which insisted that educational institutions had to be run by Church of England conformists, and licensed by a bishop.
For some, the desire to suppress Dissenting influence over children was an urgent matter of national security. Particularly striking was a proposal put forward by an anonymous author in a 1703 pamphlet. The text begins by warning that:
The stronger these Factions grow, the more dangerous they are, and never fail to produce Commotions and Rebellions in the State, and make Religion the Author of War and Bloodshed. [3]
The only way to prevent the corrupting and divisive influence of religious Dissent over the nation was, for this author, to ensure greater regulation of education. In a proposal that sounds in some aspects not dissimilar to the 1944 Education Act, they suggested that schools be established in all parishes, where ‘all Children whether, Poor or Rich, be taught gratis’, funded by a universal tax on rents and land. [4] In contrast to the 1944 education system, however, this was a universal education programme with a distinct ideological agenda. No Dissenters were to be allowed to teach in these schools, and any hopeful school masters would need to be examined and licensed by a bishop. [5]
Such a move, the author believed, would ‘cure the Diseases of Church and State’ by remedying a situation in which
All our Mischiefs proceed from little Schools, wherein Preside Ignorant School-Mountebanks, Psalm-singers, Mechanick Pretenders, False Brethren of the Church, or Flat Dissenters, who under pretence of teaching School, screw themselves into honest and well-meaning People, and so corrupt both Parents and Children.[6]
This author feared that religious groups opposed to the Establishment view of Church and State would expand their influence over education, corrupting children, and ultimately the nation itself.
I do not wish to draw direct parallels between eighteenth-century Protestant Dissenters and modern-day Islamists. Undoubtedly, there were some Dissenting school-masters propagating highly unorthodox views, but the vast majority were intelligent, reasonable, and entirely loyal to the state. In contrast, ‘Operation Trojan Horse’ revealed genuinely malicious intent by a small number of individuals hoping to gain influence over children.
There are, nevertheless, parallels in the rhetoric surrounding both episodes. In an attempt to fight against the indoctrination of youth, our eighteenth-century author deliberately crafted a vision of a rigid and ideologically narrow education system against which the state’s vision of education could set itself. Today, whilst the government insists that ‘British values’ are centred around ideas of tolerance, there is the danger that a statutory requirement to teach a prescribed set of values within our schools could in itself undermine tolerance, and offer a narrow vision of what it means to be British. It is unlikely that our teachers will ever have to be licensed by a bishop, but the notion that they might be expected to conform to a prescribed idea of ‘Britishness’ doesn’t seem so absurd. In a time that (unlike the eighteenth century) claims to unequivocally support tolerance, that seems rather strange.
[1] Peter Clarke, Report into allegations concerning Birmingham schools arising from the ‘Trojan Horse’ letter, July 2014.
[2] “Trojan horse report: All schoolchildren to be taught British values from September, says Michael Gove”. Telegraph, 9 June 2014
[3] Billa vera: or, the natural way to prevent occasional conformity, and effect a union in religion, London: 1703, p. 2.
Image – English cross-stitch alphabet sampler in monochrome worked by Elizabeth Laidman, 1760. Photo by Nick Michael – Private collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1670415.
Tags: 18th century history, education, politics, religious history, tolerance
From: Carys Brown, Doing history in public, History & current affairs, Uncategorized
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17th century 18th century history 19th century 20th century history Academia advent calendar american history anniversary archives art australia book review Brexit British history British Library Cambridge Catholicism christianity Christmas conference cultural history current affairs digital archives digital history digital humanities digitisation doing history online early modern early modern history education England Europe food gender history German history heritage historiography history and politics history in the media history of dress history online India Italy legal history maps material culture Media medieval history memory methodology methods museums music and history Nazi Germany newspapers nineteenth-century politics public engagement Public History religion religious history research research methods review Russia social history social media travel twentieth century women women's history world history World War I World War II writing | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1058 |
__label__cc | 0.637365 | 0.362635 | Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors
Seema Gupta, Rohit Mathur, B. S. Dwarakanath
Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production, significantly enhances the cytotoxic effects of certain anticancer agents like topoisomerase inhibitors (etoposide and camptothecin) and a radiomimetic drug (bleomycin) in established human tumor cell lines. Therefore, combinations of 2-DG and DNA damage causing cytotoxic agents could be very useful in selectively destroying tumors, while sparing the normal tissues. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the therapeutic effects of etoposide and 2-DG in Dalton's lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAT) in vivo (grown as solid tumor as well as in the ascites form in mice). Cell growth, cell cycle perturbations (flow cytometry), cytogenetic damage (micronuclei assay) and apoptosis (DNA content, light-scatter, morphological changes) were studied as parameters of cellular response, while delay in tumor growth and cure rate (tumor free survival) were evaluated as parameters of systemic response. Intravenous administration of etoposide (30 mg/Kg b. wt.) delayed the growth of both the tumors but a cure rate of ∼11% was observed only in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice. When etoposide was combined with 2-DG (2 g/Kg b. wt.; i.v; 4 h after etoposide injection), these effects were further enhanced in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice resulting in a cure rate of ∼22% but not in lymphoma bearing mice. Analysis of cells obtained from ascitic fluid as well as solid tumors during follow up clearly showed that etoposide induced cell death was mainly due to apoptosis in EAT as well as in lymphoma, which was enhanced further by 2-DG in EAT bearing mice. These results indicate that the combined treatment of etoposide and 2-DG can improve local control of tumors, thereby enhancing the treatment efficacy. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms of chemosensitization by 2- DG both in vitro and in vivo.
Deoxyglucose
Ehrlich Tumor Carcinoma
Bearings (structural)
Topoisomerase Inhibitors
Micronucleus Tests
Ascitic Fluid
Cytotoxins
Tumor Cell Line
Gupta, S., Mathur, R., & Dwarakanath, B. S. (2004). Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors. Biomedicine, 24(1-2), 31-44.
Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors. / Gupta, Seema; Mathur, Rohit; Dwarakanath, B. S.
In: Biomedicine, Vol. 24, No. 1-2, 2004, p. 31-44.
Gupta, S, Mathur, R & Dwarakanath, BS 2004, 'Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors', Biomedicine, vol. 24, no. 1-2, pp. 31-44.
Gupta S, Mathur R, Dwarakanath BS. Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors. Biomedicine. 2004;24(1-2):31-44.
Gupta, Seema ; Mathur, Rohit ; Dwarakanath, B. S. / Modifications of etoposide induced toxicity by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in murine tumors. In: Biomedicine. 2004 ; Vol. 24, No. 1-2. pp. 31-44.
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abstract = "Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production, significantly enhances the cytotoxic effects of certain anticancer agents like topoisomerase inhibitors (etoposide and camptothecin) and a radiomimetic drug (bleomycin) in established human tumor cell lines. Therefore, combinations of 2-DG and DNA damage causing cytotoxic agents could be very useful in selectively destroying tumors, while sparing the normal tissues. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the therapeutic effects of etoposide and 2-DG in Dalton's lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAT) in vivo (grown as solid tumor as well as in the ascites form in mice). Cell growth, cell cycle perturbations (flow cytometry), cytogenetic damage (micronuclei assay) and apoptosis (DNA content, light-scatter, morphological changes) were studied as parameters of cellular response, while delay in tumor growth and cure rate (tumor free survival) were evaluated as parameters of systemic response. Intravenous administration of etoposide (30 mg/Kg b. wt.) delayed the growth of both the tumors but a cure rate of ∼11{\%} was observed only in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice. When etoposide was combined with 2-DG (2 g/Kg b. wt.; i.v; 4 h after etoposide injection), these effects were further enhanced in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice resulting in a cure rate of ∼22{\%} but not in lymphoma bearing mice. Analysis of cells obtained from ascitic fluid as well as solid tumors during follow up clearly showed that etoposide induced cell death was mainly due to apoptosis in EAT as well as in lymphoma, which was enhanced further by 2-DG in EAT bearing mice. These results indicate that the combined treatment of etoposide and 2-DG can improve local control of tumors, thereby enhancing the treatment efficacy. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms of chemosensitization by 2- DG both in vitro and in vivo.",
author = "Seema Gupta and Rohit Mathur and Dwarakanath, {B. S.}",
journal = "Biomedicine",
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AU - Gupta, Seema
AU - Mathur, Rohit
AU - Dwarakanath, B. S.
N2 - Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production, significantly enhances the cytotoxic effects of certain anticancer agents like topoisomerase inhibitors (etoposide and camptothecin) and a radiomimetic drug (bleomycin) in established human tumor cell lines. Therefore, combinations of 2-DG and DNA damage causing cytotoxic agents could be very useful in selectively destroying tumors, while sparing the normal tissues. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the therapeutic effects of etoposide and 2-DG in Dalton's lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAT) in vivo (grown as solid tumor as well as in the ascites form in mice). Cell growth, cell cycle perturbations (flow cytometry), cytogenetic damage (micronuclei assay) and apoptosis (DNA content, light-scatter, morphological changes) were studied as parameters of cellular response, while delay in tumor growth and cure rate (tumor free survival) were evaluated as parameters of systemic response. Intravenous administration of etoposide (30 mg/Kg b. wt.) delayed the growth of both the tumors but a cure rate of ∼11% was observed only in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice. When etoposide was combined with 2-DG (2 g/Kg b. wt.; i.v; 4 h after etoposide injection), these effects were further enhanced in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice resulting in a cure rate of ∼22% but not in lymphoma bearing mice. Analysis of cells obtained from ascitic fluid as well as solid tumors during follow up clearly showed that etoposide induced cell death was mainly due to apoptosis in EAT as well as in lymphoma, which was enhanced further by 2-DG in EAT bearing mice. These results indicate that the combined treatment of etoposide and 2-DG can improve local control of tumors, thereby enhancing the treatment efficacy. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms of chemosensitization by 2- DG both in vitro and in vivo.
AB - Earlier studies have shown that 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), a glucose analogue and inhibitor of glycolytic ATP production, significantly enhances the cytotoxic effects of certain anticancer agents like topoisomerase inhibitors (etoposide and camptothecin) and a radiomimetic drug (bleomycin) in established human tumor cell lines. Therefore, combinations of 2-DG and DNA damage causing cytotoxic agents could be very useful in selectively destroying tumors, while sparing the normal tissues. The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the therapeutic effects of etoposide and 2-DG in Dalton's lymphoma and Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EAT) in vivo (grown as solid tumor as well as in the ascites form in mice). Cell growth, cell cycle perturbations (flow cytometry), cytogenetic damage (micronuclei assay) and apoptosis (DNA content, light-scatter, morphological changes) were studied as parameters of cellular response, while delay in tumor growth and cure rate (tumor free survival) were evaluated as parameters of systemic response. Intravenous administration of etoposide (30 mg/Kg b. wt.) delayed the growth of both the tumors but a cure rate of ∼11% was observed only in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice. When etoposide was combined with 2-DG (2 g/Kg b. wt.; i.v; 4 h after etoposide injection), these effects were further enhanced in subcutaneous EAT bearing mice resulting in a cure rate of ∼22% but not in lymphoma bearing mice. Analysis of cells obtained from ascitic fluid as well as solid tumors during follow up clearly showed that etoposide induced cell death was mainly due to apoptosis in EAT as well as in lymphoma, which was enhanced further by 2-DG in EAT bearing mice. These results indicate that the combined treatment of etoposide and 2-DG can improve local control of tumors, thereby enhancing the treatment efficacy. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms of chemosensitization by 2- DG both in vitro and in vivo.
JO - Biomedicine
JF - Biomedicine | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1062 |
__label__cc | 0.572476 | 0.427524 | The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor
P. Roth, E. R. Stanley
Developmental & Molecular Biology
Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
Immunologic Cytotoxicity
Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Receptors
Immunology and Microbiology(all)
Roth, P., & Stanley, E. R. (1992). The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, 181, 141-167.
The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor. / Roth, P.; Stanley, E. R.
In: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, Vol. 181, 1992, p. 141-167.
Roth, P & Stanley, ER 1992, 'The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor', Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol. 181, pp. 141-167.
Roth P, Stanley ER. The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. 1992;181:141-167.
Roth, P. ; Stanley, E. R. / The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor. In: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. 1992 ; Vol. 181. pp. 141-167.
@article{12f1153711654bccb6fb79bbac3017e7,
title = "The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor",
author = "P. Roth and Stanley, {E. R.}",
journal = "Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology",
T1 - The biology of CSF-1 and its receptor
AU - Roth, P.
AU - Stanley, E. R.
JO - Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
JF - Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1063 |
__label__cc | 0.588502 | 0.411498 | Article: Hearthfire Official - Build Homes and More!
Hearthfire Official - Build Homes and More!
Submitted August 28, 2012 by David
Bethesda has officially announced Hearthfire, and it's everything it was rumored to be and more. Don't worry, we have the details!
Skyrim Skyrim DLC Hearthfire
Editor's Note: If you're looking for information on how or where to buy land/property in Hearthfire, try this guide.
Bethesda dropped a bombshell earlier today by announcing that not only is Hearthfire real, it's going to be released on Xbox Live in under a week on September 4th. Yeah, we didn't see that coming either. The announcement revealed that Hearthfire will offer players the following abilities...
Purchase (and defend) property.
Build your own home/complex from the ground up.
Ability to use drafting tables and carpenter's workbenches to make furnishings.
Hire stewards to run your affairs.
Adopt children into your home. But be warned, you have to raise them!
The DLC will reportedly cost 400 Microsoft Points; that's $5.00 if you're a normal person and not a Microsoft suit.
An official promotional video was posted alongside the announcement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gXwNVpDmfo
With Skyrim’s newest game add-on, Hearthfire, you can purchase land and build your own home from the ground up – from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, stable, garden, and more. Use all-new tools like the drafting table and carpenter’s workbench to transform quarried stone, clay, and sawn logs into structures and furnishings. Even transform your house into a home by adopting children.
Hearthfire releases on Xbox LIVE next week (September 4th) for 400 Microsoft Points.
Meanwhile, PS3 owners still have yet to have any official announcement concerning Dawnguard's PS3 release date. However, Skyrim Patch 1.7 (released in July on the 360) was officially available in Europe on August 28th.
Thanks a lot Bethesda, I really feel special. The Ps3 version of Dawnguard must be amazing for you to delay it this long. Right? RIGHT? You're running out of time before I lose interest in the game. Hurry up!
I've already given up on Dawnguard. Unless it's $10 or less I'm not buying it. I completely understand that they had an exclusivity agreement and respect that, but the complete silence regarding the situation and ignoring an entire userbase? The whole thing has become a joke. The communication is just horrible, and they're losing a lot of money because of it.As far as Hearthfire is concerned, I plan to adopt Babette. If it's ever released on the PS3.
Aug 29 2012 04:39 AM
I know they do this crap to make more money, but seriously, why couldn't this be in the very first edition of the game
CarnivalofSoulz likes this
I hope they add Khajiit children to adopt. Otherwise my home will be kind of awkward."Daddy, can we play now""No play. This ones shall lick now"Also, I plan to seduce my stewardess.
Nathan likes this
What about adopting the Jarl's son? He wouldn't be happy about that.Also, I can't see the PC community being into this. They have mods that give you houses several times better than what this looks like.
Unknown ProbLem
I think this is meant for xbox, because they are trying to fix the lack-luster PS3 version. they are working on the memory problems and stuff. so Dawnguard is mayyybe coming soon. Don't worry squishy, I'll at least give you a "guide" about it all
This looks cool, Its awesome that its coming out so soon too. I really should get back into skyrim and get dawnguard as well. It really sucks the way they're treating Ps3 users though.
they can't really do much to be honest, it's all in the programming. I don't want to sound arrogent or whatever but you tend to get a much different perspecitve when you have a general programming experience.
Was I the only one shocked at how lame the video was?
The video is pretty lame, the actual content sounds good though,
i thought the Hearthfire trailer was bland, unloke Bethesda's standards, however it did give you a very good idea of what you're buying.
But this isn't a fledgling developer like CDProjektRed. This is BETHESDA. They have made multiple Ps3 games, and have been releasing them consistantly for six years. They don't have an excuse for not knowing how to program a Ps3, when fellow RPG companies like Bioware and From Software can program on them with ease, and with a smaller budget.
you won't understand until you program for yourself, especially with C++, Just because you happen to have several years of experience, does not make it any easier. also Bioware and other use other program languages that THEY created. I'm fairly certain Bethesda uses C++ still as it is generally commonplace, along with giving the user power and control over what they are doing.Skyrim have thousands, if not tens of thousands of lines of code and C++ does not point out mistakes and if one thing is out of place, something may not work. it could take from hours to months to figure out, going down all the code. David hopefully understands the difficulty and could maybe explain it better. Also, they aren't just trying to fix the PS3 problem, they still need to develop DLC for the xbox at least, as they are under contract.
Actually watched the video, and yeah it is kind of lame. Though to be honest, a add on like Hearthfire doesn't really need the kind of epic video that Dawnguard had.
agreed. I think they handled it the right way by making it seem more "educational" because building a house probably won't be as much of an adventure, like dawnguard. Based on everything, I'd give it a 7 or 8/10
CarnivalofSoulz
this is gonna be so epic i cannot wait. this video sucked but im still excited
> Skyrim
> Article: Hearthfire Official - Build Homes and More! | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1065 |
__label__wiki | 0.681244 | 0.681244 | Darian Shirazi
Darian is a Partner at Gradient Ventures.
At the age of 15, he interned at eBay as a code tester working on the third version of Sell Your Item. In early 2005, he joined Facebook as a Software Engineer reporting to Mark Zuckerberg as one of the company’s first outside hires. At Facebook, he contributed to several components of the social network’s products and the early versions of its mobile products. After Facebook, Darian studied Philosophy and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley for nearly two years before dropping out to work full-time on startups.
After leaving Berkeley, Darian began advising and investing in many startups including becoming the first investor in Udemy, the online education marketplace. He then founded Radius, the leading B2B Customer Data Platform, and served as the company’s CEO for more than seven years, growing the company to more than one hundred employees, raising more than $100MM of venture capital from top tier firms, and serving dozens of Fortune 500 customers.
In addition to these accomplishments, Darian is an early investor in the following companies: Lyft, Lending Club, Carbon Health, Palantir, Osaro, Casetext, Alloy.ai, Loft, and many others.
In 2012, he was recognized as one of Forbes’ top 30 entrepreneurs under 30 at the age of 24 and has been a guest of CNBC’s Squawk Box, Forbes’ Braintech at the Aspen Institute, Web Summit, and several other well-known conferences and events.
Darian lives in San Francisco with his wife and two cats and enjoys skiing, kitesurfing, and Civilization VI.
Wed, Sept 25
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Tues, Sept 24
Main Stage: ScaleUp
Building a Global Organization with Darian Shirazi of Gradient Ventures and Anjney Midha of Ubiquity6
Join us at Elevate 2019!
Anjney Midha
Thurs, Sept 26
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__label__cc | 0.640192 | 0.359808 | “had to stop” and “was” vs “must have stopped” and “were”
Asked 7 days ago
This question was migrated from English Language & Usage Stack Exchange because it can be answered on English Language Learners Stack Exchange. Migrated 6 days ago.
The sentence in question was on a grammar activity:
During a tour of the factory, health and safety inspectors declared that the company had to stop / must have stopped production until a series of tests was carried out.
I naturally chose "had to stop", yet I struggled to explain why. Instinctively, I feel that to use "must have stopped" would require changing the sentence to:
During a tour of the factory, health and safety inspectors declared that the company must have stopped production until a series of tests were carried out.
Are my instincts correct in this? If so, why is "must have stopped" paired with "were" while "had to stop" is paired with "was"?
grammar verbs usage
TripleDTripleD
You Present Perfect version (must have stopped production) implies that this was the only reason the inspectors could think of to explain why production had already been stopped (before their tour, preventing them from evaluating the procedures in a "live" context). In which case, strictly speaking that should probably be qualified by ...until a series of tests had been carried out. – FumbleFingers Reinstate Monica Jan 14 at 13:33
I agree with @FumbleFingers, but would also mention that a possible alternative would be "...declared that the company must stop production until a series of tests was carried out". Some people might argue for "were" against "was". Either would be alright in my view, but whether one used "had to" or "must" would have no bearing whatever on that decision. – WS2 Jan 14 at 13:46
The correct way to use must is this, which is equivalent to saying had to stop:
During a tour of the factory, health and safety inspectors declared that the company must stop production until a series of tests were carried out.
Must have stopped would refer to a time further in the past when production actually or was believed to have actually stopped. In the sentence above, the company received a declaration saying they must do X, but we don't know if the company actually did it yet (if penalties are severe that could be strongly implied though)
The company must have stopped production until a series of tests were carried out, because of a declaration by health and safety inspectors. (we believe the company actually did stop production and are trying to figure out why)
LawrenceCLawrenceC
So would I be correct in thinking the second phrasing in my second example is not grammatically wrong, just unusual and not the way a native speaker would phrase it? Also that @WS2 in the comments is correct in that were/was are equally acceptable? – TripleD Jan 14 at 20:49
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WAS vs HAVE BEEN vs HAD BEEN | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1070 |
__label__cc | 0.510349 | 0.489651 | Ellen Brown
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Think Your Money is Safe in an Insured Bank Account? Think Again.
Posted on July 5, 2013 by Ellen Brown
A trend to shift responsibility for bank losses onto blameless depositors lets banks gamble away your money.
When Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem told reporters on March 13, 2013, that the Cyprus deposit confiscation scheme would be the template for future European bank bailouts, the statement caused so much furor that he had to retract it. But the “bail in” of depositor funds is now being made official EU policy. On June 26, 2013, The New York Times reported that EU finance ministers have agreed on a plan that shifts the responsibility for bank losses from governments to bank investors, creditors and uninsured depositors.
Insured deposits (those under €100,000, or about $130,000) will allegedly be “fully protected.” But protected by whom? The national insurance funds designed to protect them are inadequate to cover another system-wide banking crisis, and the court of the European Free Trade Association ruled in the case of Iceland that the insurance funds were not intended to cover that sort of systemic collapse.
Shifting the burden of a major bank collapse from the blameless taxpayer to the blameless depositor is another case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, while the real perpetrators carry on with their risky, speculative banking schemes.
Shuffling the Deck Chairs on the Titanic
Although the bail-in template did not hit the news until it was imposed on Cyprus in March 2013, it is a global model that goes back to a directive from the Financial Stability Board (an arm of the Bank for International Settlements) dated October 2011, endorsed at the G20 summit in December 2011. In 2009, the G20 nations agreed to be regulated by the Financial Stability Board; and bail-in policies have now been established for the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, among other countries. (See earlier articles here and here.)
The EU bail-in plan, which still needs the approval of the European Parliament, would allow European leaders to dodge something they evidently regret having signed, the agreement known as the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who played a leading role in imposing the deposit confiscation plan on Cyprus, said on March 13 that “the aim is for the ESM never to have to be used.”
Passed with little publicity in January 2012, the ESM imposes an open-ended debt on EU member governments, putting taxpayers on the hook for whatever the ESM’s overseers demand. Two days before its ratification on July 1, 2012, the agreement was modified to make the permanent bailout fund cover the bailout of private banks. It was a bankers’ dream – a permanent, mandated bailout of private banks by governments. But EU governments are now balking at that heavy commitment.
In Cyprus, the confiscation of depositor funds was not only approved but mandated by the EU, along with the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF. They told the Cypriots that deposits below €100,000 in two major bankrupt banks would be subject to a 6.75 percent levy or “haircut,” while those over €100,000 would be hit with a 9.99 percent “fine.” When the Cyprus national legislature overwhelming rejected the levy, the insured deposits under €100,000 were spared; but it was at the expense of the uninsured deposits, which took a much larger hit, estimated at about 60 percent of the deposited funds.
The Elusive Promise of Deposit Insurance
While the insured depositors escaped in Cyprus, they might not fare so well in a bank collapse of the sort seen in 2008-09. As Anne Sibert, Professor of Economics at the University of London, observed in an April 2nd article on VOX:
Even though it wasn’t adopted, the extraordinary proposal that small depositors should lose a part of their savings – a proposal that had the approval of the Eurogroup, ECB and IMF policymakers – raises the question: Is there any credible protection for small-bank depositors in Europe?
She noted that members of the European Economic Area (EEA) – which includes the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland – are required to set up deposit-insurance schemes covering most depositors up to €100,000, and that these schemes are supposed to be funded with premiums from the individual country’s banks. But the enforceability of the EEA insurance mandate came into question when the Icelandic bank Icesave failed in 2008. The matter was taken to the court of the European Free Trade Association, which said that Iceland did not breach EEA directives on deposit guarantees by not compensating U.K. and Dutch depositors holding Icesave accounts. The reason: “The court accepted Iceland’s argument that the EU directive was never meant to deal with the collapse of an entire banking system.” Sibert comments:
[T]he precedents set in Cyprus and Iceland show that deposit insurance is only a legal commitment for small bank failures. In systemic crises, these are more political than legal commitments, so the solvency of the insuring government matters.
The EU can mandate that governments arrange for deposit insurance, but if funding is inadequate to cover a systemic collapse, taxpayers will again be on the hook; and if they are unwilling or unable to cover the losses (as occurred in Cyprus and Iceland), we’re back to the unprotected deposits and routine bank failures and bank runs of the 19th century.
In the US, deposit insurance faces similar funding problems. As of June 30, 2011, the FDIC deposit insurance fund had a balance of only $3.9 billion to provide loss protection on $6.54 trillion of insured deposits. That means every $10,000 in deposits was protected by only $6 in reserves. The FDIC fund could borrow from the Treasury, but the Dodd-Frank Act (Section 716) now bans taxpayer bailouts of most speculative derivatives activities; and these would be the likely trigger of a 2008-style collapse.
Derivatives claims have “super-priority” in bankruptcy, meaning they take before all other claims. In the event of a major derivatives bust at JPMorgan Chase or Bank of America, both of which hold derivatives with notional values exceeding $70 trillion, the collateral is liable to be gone before either the FDIC or the other “secured” depositors (including state and local governments) get to the front of the line. (See here and here.)
Who Should Pay?
Who should bear the loss in the event of systemic collapse? The choices currently on the table are limited to taxpayers and bank creditors, including the largest class of creditor, the depositors. Imposing the losses on the profligate banks themselves would be more equitable , but if they have gambled away the money, they simply won’t have the funds. The rules need to be changed so that they cannot gamble the money away.
One possibility for achieving this is area-wide regulation. Sibert writes:
[I]t is unreasonable to expect the area as a whole to bail out a particular country’s banks unless it can also supervise that country’s banks. This is problematic for the EEA or even the EU, but it may be possible – at least in the Eurozone – when and if [a] single supervisory mechanism comes into being.
A single regulatory agency for all Eurozone banks is being negotiated; but even if it were agreed to, the US experience with the Dodd-Frank regulations imposed on US banks shows that regulation alone is inadequate to curb bank speculation and prevent systemic risk. In a July 2012 article in The New York Times titled “Wall Street Is Too Big to Regulate,” Gar Alperovitz observed:
With high-paid lobbyists contesting every proposed regulation, it is increasingly clear that big banks can never be effectively controlled as private businesses. If an enterprise (or five of them) is so large and so concentrated that competition and regulation are impossible, the most market-friendly step is to nationalize its functions.
The Nationalization Option
Nationalization of bankrupt, systemically-important banks is not a new idea. It was done very successfully, for example, in Norway and Sweden in the 1990s. But having the government clean up the books and then sell the bank back to the private sector is an inadequate solution. Economist Michael Hudson maintains:
Real nationalization occurs when governments act in the public interest to take over private property. . . . Nationalizing the banks along these lines would mean that the government would supply the nation’s credit needs. The Treasury would become the source of new money, replacing commercial bank credit. Presumably this credit would be lent out for economically and socially productive purposes, not merely to inflate asset prices while loading down households and business with debt as has occurred under today’s commercial bank lending policies.
Anne Sibert proposes another solution along those lines. Rather than imposing losses on either the taxpayers or the depositors, they could be absorbed by the central bank, which would have the power to simply write them off. As lender of last resort, the central bank (the ECB or the Federal Reserve) can create money with computer entries, without drawing it from elsewhere or paying it back to anyone.
That solution would allow the depositors to keep their deposits and would save the taxpayers from having to pay for a banking crisis they did not create. But there would remain the problem of “moral hazard” – the temptation of banks to take even greater risks when they know they can dodge responsibility for them. That problem could be avoided, however, by making the banks public utilities, mandated to operate in the public interest. And if they had been public utilities in the first place, the problems of bail-outs, bail-ins, and banking crises might have been averted altogether.
Ellen Brown is an attorney, president of the Public Banking Institute, and author of twelve books, including Web of Debt and its recently-published sequel The Public Bank Solution. Her websites are http://WebofDebt.com, http://PublicBankSolution.com, and http://PublicBankingInstitute.org.
Filed under: Ellen Brown Articles/Commentary |
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__label__cc | 0.707629 | 0.292371 | Policy Track
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Home » Call for papers » Policy Track
Mauro Calise (Federica Web Learning Centre, University of Naples Federico II, Italy)
Timo Kos (LDE Centre, Netherlands), Oliver Janoschka (Stifterverband, Germany)
The focus of the policy track will be on the power of MOOCs, and online education in general, to act as a catalyst for change. Decision-makers at the Institutional, National and European level are invited to contribute with regard to the following challenges in Higher Education:
1. Quality and quantity education at cost for a digital audience
Higher Education Institutions are under pressure from industry to form graduates with the skills and knowledge to match the global jobs market, and from the digital generation to provide an innovative curriculum and learning experience. Meanwhile, reductions in government funding and student enrolments make it imperative for Universities to find alternative business models. Although online delivery may offer some solutions and some policy indicators, it poses challenges regarding use and storage of student data, especially in the light of the European GDPR.
What is current policy regarding recognition and quality control of online degrees and credentials?
How should online learning initiatives or new modes of delivery be most effectively implemented at the departmental, institutional or national level?
What are the policy implications for adoption of data-driven approaches and data analytics for governance and quality assurance?
2. Continuous education & reskilling the European workforce
As the fourth industrial revolution causes many jobs to disappear, and changes the nature of other professions, a knowledge and skills gap is created. We explore how European universities can harness the power of MOOCs to increase the availability and accessibility of continuous professional education to scale the reskilling and upskilling of the European Workforce to address this gap.
What can Europe learn from high-ranking universities in the USA that have started to offer fully online degree programs at massive scale with open admission policies and low tuition fees on the leading MOOC platforms (Udacity, Coursera, EdX, FutureLearn)?
What financial and regulatory hurdles should be taken down and what stimuli should be introduced for European universities to develop these types of accessible and low-cost courses and programmes for the reskilling of the current European workforce?
3. International and cross-institutional collaboration for solving real world problems
MOOCs are not only offering better access to (continuous) education, but also provide new opportunities to build education networks and learning communities on a truly global scale. Some universities and their partners have recently undertaken initiatives to explore these possibilities for international and cross-institutional collaboration e.g. the global and European virtual exchange alliance, where universities offer partner MOOCs as for-credit electives, and joint summer courses using MOOCs. These early explorations could point to a future with globally connected networks, sharing online courses and local facilities for real world projects. However, major policy questions remain:
How can we leverage the abundance of MOOCs for international collaboration between academics, students and others, such as professionals working in businesses and non-profits around the world, to solve challenges like Sustainable Development Goals?
What other international and interinstitutional collaborations could MOOCs and their platforms support? How could we use the collaborative strengths of the European Higher Education Area, such as the European Qualification Framework (EQF) or Erasmus+, to stimulate these kinds of collaborations?
What kind of financial and regulatory hurdles should be taken down and what stimuli should be introduced for universities to develop these types of international collaborations to enhance access to each others’ courses or collaborate on real world challenges?
The Policy Track welcomes proposals for contributions from decision-makers at the Institutional, National and European level until 14 March 2019.
Submissions are now closed
Conference Track
The EMOOCs Summit Program
Federica Weblearning © 2018
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__label__cc | 0.566641 | 0.433359 | What Effect Did King Cold Have On Perfect Cell in Dragon Ball Z?
by Gregory Warmington July 27, 2018, 2:25 pm
What Effect Did King Cold Have On Perfect Cell? In Dragon Ball Z the villain Cell was the creation of Doctor Gero.
Dr. Gero completed Cell by using his supercomputer timeline after Trunks had defeated the Android.
The villain Cell was a biological Android whose purpose was to absorb Android 17 and 18 to attain his perfection.
Making him the greatest threat the Z Fighters had ever faced.
The Brilliance of Cell’s design and what truly made him so terrifying?
This was because he was composed of cells from the mightiest Dragon Ball Heroes and villains we had seen up until that point.
He had Goku’s cells as well as Vegeta, Piccolo, and Frieza’s cells.
All of which granted their techniques such as the Kamehameha and unique abilities like regeneration.
However, this also resulted in Cell’s taking on personality traits from those he was comprised of.
Perfect Cell DBZ
Which in many ways led to his eventual downfall. However, well most of his genetic donators have been extensively fleshed-out is characters.
One of them only briefly appeared to us, this individual in question was Frieza’s father King cold.
I’ve often wondered what effects cold had on Perfect Cell. If any of what we saw from him was directly related to his inclusion in Cell’s genetic makeup.
King Cold is always been one of my favorite minor villains from Dragon Ball Z.
However, his time in the franchise was very brief as he arrived he was killed by Trunks and vanished from the story.
As a result of this unknown commodity and what his abilities are in much of his backstory remains a mystery.
It’s difficult to determine what impact he may have had on the personality and abilities of Cell.
But from what we do have of cold we can draw some comparisons.
The Effect of King Cold On Perfect Cell
Now as we saw King cold the time in the series he appeared to be far more pragmatic than Frieza.
He brought his son back from the brink of death and made him stronger Most of Dragon Ball villains have just discarded their comrades.
Perfect Cell
King Cold was also the one to suggest that they blow up the Earth from the space rather than going to the surface and getting involved in a battle. And, of course,e Cold had no problem fighting alongside Frieza.
Potentially ganging up on Goku, almost all Dragon Ball villains and heroes tend to go with the one-on-one approach.
When we look at Cell he’s also pragmatic he seeks out ways to obtain greater power under his enemies noses. Cell traveling through time to achieve his goals and he’s always looking for an edge against his opponents. Much like King Cold did with Trunks sword. However, Piccolo is also a pragmatic character.
So it’s possible that Cell could have inherited his cerebral nature from Piccolo instead. He also took pride in his clan and viewed what Goku had done to Frieza as a slight against his pride and power.
After all, his son was proclaimed the emperor of the universe by many and King Cold clearly held a similar position of power himself.
Cell additionally viewed himself as the perfect life form. and ultimate power in the universe. He sought to destroy the Earth when he was overpowered and embarrassed by Gohan.
However, many of these traits can also be attributed to Vegeta wanting to destroy the Earth. When Goku embarrassed him in their first fight, and of course Frieza who is an arrogant prideful conqueror in the dictator of worlds. But let us venture away from personality and compare physiology instead.
King Cold And Perfect Cell Transformation
Both Cell and King cold or physically imposing towering over most of the other characters in the series.
Cell can also achieve multiple Transformations by absorbing the Android which increases power dramatically.
Although we never see King Cold transform in the Cannon version. His son Frieza is capable of doing this.
What Effect Did King Cold Have On Perfect Cell
Vegeta refers to his species as being able to do it as well, so it could be a trait that came from their species. The most interestingly, perhaps perfect Cells ability to asexually reproduce the Cell Juniors.
Who inherits Cells abilities and is born incredibly powerful. This could be related to King Cold, because in a Toriyama interview.
He stated that Frieza was born from his father alone, and inherited his new traits.
Also, he was born with incredible power that allowed him to dominate the universe for decades.
But it’s entirely possible that Frieza was born using this method and Cell inherited disability from King cold.
However, Cell is intended to be the perfect life form. Asexual reproduction may have been from the beginning.
However, difficult to determine what parts of Cell come down to his programming the inclusion of other Fighters.
What could have come from King cold this is mostly due to how little we got to see of King Cold.
However, it’s still a very fascinating topic to me. I’ve often wondered about my years and rewatching Dragon Ball Z and rereading the manga to understand more.
I hope we receive a definitive answer to this question. That’s something I’m unsure of, but it would certainly be an interesting question for Toriyama to give his perspective on in the future.
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The History Of Cooler In Dragon Ball Z Franchise
Who is Goku’s Mother Gine In Dragon Ball Super Movie? | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1078 |
__label__cc | 0.747995 | 0.252005 | CONVENTIONS AND DEFINITIONS
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DRC staff
Diaspora actors make vital contributions to humanitarian assistance, recovery and development in their countries of origin, and often form a crucial part of communities’ resilience strategies and first response measures, with an ability to quickly mobilize assistance, channel information, and advocate in times of crisis. Recognising their role as an integral part of the international aid system, Danish Refugee Council’s Diaspora Programme has been engaging with diasporas to strengthen their role in order to improve the overall impact of relief, rehabilitation and development efforts.
Based on recognition of the potential added value of enhanced diaspora engagement, DRC initiated the Diaspora Programme in 2010. The Programme has grown continuously since then, with DRC receiving international recognition for its work and expertise within this field.
DRC recognized the relevance of engaging with diaspora at an early stage, ahead of currently growing trends, while also being one of very few if not the only organization that combines operational humanitarian expertise with diaspora programming. This combination puts DRC in a unique position to shape the agenda; to develop and implement innovative, operational approaches to it and follow them through with on-site technical support and monitoring.
The work of the Diaspora Programme supports Danish Refugee Council’s conviction that displaced people are a resource for both countries of origin and destination, and responds to a growing body of evidence calling for a more inclusive humanitarian system that integrates ‘non-traditional actors’ to enhance the effectiveness of the humanitarian response.
Diaspora Programme office
Telephone hours:
Mon-Fri from 10-12
Our team is based in Danish Refugee Council's headquarters in Copenhagen, with colleagues also in Somalia and Afghanistan. To get in touch with us, please visit the DRC Staff page.
The Diaspora Programme has two Advisory Boards: one for Afghanistan and one for Somalia. They provide input and advice on overall issues relating to Diaspora Programme, as well as review and provide recommendations on project proposals submitted to Diaspora Project Support (DiPS) for funding. Learn more about the 2018 Afghan and Somali Advisory Boards on the > Advisory Boards page. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1079 |
__label__cc | 0.74659 | 0.25341 | Home Esports Bidstack hosting £25,000 Football Manager tournament at Insomnia Gaming Festival
Bidstack hosting £25,000 Football Manager tournament at Insomnia Gaming Festival
Jacob Hale
Advertising company Bidstack will be hosting a Football Manager tournament at Insomnia Gaming Festival in March, with a prize pool of £25,000 as well as a unique opportunity courtesy of Norwich City Football Club.
The Football Manager World Esport Championship 2018 takes place at Birmingham’s NEC Arena in Birmingham from March 30th-April 1st as part of Insomnia 62 and has been organised by Bidstack and the superb Community Sports Foundation, which supports some of the most disadvantaged, disabled and talented people across Norfolk through sport.
The winner of the 64-man tournament, which any Football Manager can enter to play in, will not only receive their £25,000 winnings but will also have the chance to manage a team of Norwich legends against Inter Forever, the club’s official legends team, featuring the likes of Javier Zanetti, Marco Materazzi and even more to be announced.
James Draper, CEO of Bidstack, said: “We’ve created this tournament to unearth the best manager in the virtual world – and then bring that person into the real world of football management. We wanted to create a new esports tournament to prove to the market Esports skills are transferable.”
The tournament will utilise Football Manager’s ‘draft’ mode, in which gamers can draft players into their team one at a time, with player and budget restrictions playing an important part in the selection process.
Registrations for the tournament close on 26th February, so you still have a few weeks to get yourself accustomed to the best tactics available to you. If you play your cards right, you might just end up managing for a group of legends.
Disclaimer: This is a Bidstack run tournament and is not affiliated with SEGA or Sports Interactive in any way.
Esports Insider says: Football Manager isn’t the game you commonly think of when it comes to esports, but it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. It goes without saying the prizes are great for the early days of an esport, and the winner is in for a great few days.
bidstack
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Team Vitality enters multi-year partnership with CORSAIR
ESL and DreamHack enlist Nielsen for measurement and valuation
Laura Byrne - September 27, 2019
Modern Times Group (MTG) has announced it has entered into an esports measurement agreement with Nielsen, which will cover both ESL and DreamHack. Nielsen and MTG...
ASUS ROG announced as the official monitor for the Call of...
Esports Insider & Loading Bar to host esports themed pub quiz...
ESI London 2018 Preview: Building a brand in esports
Adam Fitch - January 21, 2020 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1088 |
__label__cc | 0.661288 | 0.338712 | An ethics commentary blog on current events and issues
Presidential Impeachment/Removal Plans, 11/16 to the Present
Concepts and Special Terms
Ben Franklin’s Two Daily Questions and 13 Virtues
Edward Everett’s Credo
Ethical Decision-Making Tools
Gene Autry’s Cowboy Code
George Washington’s 110 Rules
The Boy Scout Law
The Ethics Alarms Heroes’ Hall Of Honor
Unethical Rationalizations and Misconceptions
Virtues, Values, and Duties
Alarm Blockers: Non-Ethical Considerations
A Presidents Day Celebration
The Apology Scale
The 12 Question Protest Ethics Checklist
The Threatening Banana
November 30, 2014 / Jack Marshall / 9 Comments
First, the story:
In Mesa County, Colorado, Nathen Rolf Channing, 27, was arrested after he pointed a banana at police officers as if it were a gun. He explained that he doing a “trial run” for YouTube video as a “funny joke.”
The two officers initially thought the banana was a gun after Nathan “drew the object in the same manner someone would draw a standard handgun from a concealed holster.” According to the arrest affidavit, Mesa County deputies Joshua Bunch and Donald Love feared for their lives after Nathan pointed “what appeared to be a yellow tube with a black center” at them. Both stated that they thought the fruit was a gun, and Love was preparing to fire when Nathan shouted “It’s a banana!”
A conviction could get Nathan three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
Now some observations:
1. Nathan is an idiot, and should be convicted. Just because an assault is silly doesn’t mean its not an assault. Police officers shouldn’t have to put up with gag threats on their lives. Continue reading →
Eleven Ferguson Ethics Posts In One!
November 30, 2014 December 4, 2014 / Jack Marshall / 34 Comments
There are too many ethics topics for me to cover adequately as it is. This is frustrating. That the Ferguson Ethics Train Wreck is generating ethics issues on a daily, even hourly basis creates a professional dilemma for me. I don’t want to appear obsessed with this mess; I’m not. I am really quite sick of it, and sick as well—and depressed—by the relentless stream of emotional, incompetent, and toxic opinions issuing from the news media, well-meaning but ignorant friends, and in some cases, professionals who appear overwhelmed by confirmation bias. One of my father’s favorite lines was “My mind’s made up, don’t confuse me with facts,” and I doubt that I have ever seen commentary on an event so dominated by that state of mind. Except, perhaps, the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman fiasco.
Allow me, then, to indulge in this compromise, while I wait for the entries in the Ethics Alarm contest to find the most unethical article, essay or blog post about Ferguson. Here are eleven points about the current Ethics Train Wreck that I would devote full posts to if I had the time and we lived in a Hell where Ferguson was the only thing going on. I may write full posts on a few of them yet, but meanwhile, here are shorter summaries that I hope you can use to enlighten some of your friends, relatives and associates afflicted with jerking knees….
1. We keep hearing that Officer Wilson is suspect and not credible because he expresses no remorse, and seems “cold.” This attitude projects the critics’ unjustified conclusions onto Brown, who doesn’t share them and shouldn’t. Why don’t interviewers point this out? If Brown was killed in self-defense, prompted by his own threats to the officer, Wilson shouldn’t be remorseful. Remorse means “deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.” Wilson only did wrong if he shouldn’t have shot Brown, which is the assumption—an evidence-free assumption—of those who want him tried for murder. As for “cold”: Wilson’s whole life has been turned upside-down because a community and a substantial part of the nation have decided to make him pay the price for insensitive and poorly run police departments over decades and across the country. People are calling him a murderer based on political agendas. He’s supposed to respond to that warmly?
2. On ABC this morning, Jelani Cobb, a professor of African-American studies—and boy, are we learning a lot about the racist biases of that area of scholarship lately—pronounced the testimony of Wilson “fantastical” based on this statement: Continue reading →
Ethics Quiz: The 90-year-old Scofflaw Humanitarian vs. The Heartless Mayor Who Isn’t Really
November 30, 2014 / Jack Marshall / 17 Comments
[Fred, one of my two regular ethics issue scouts (Alexander Cheezem is the other, and what I would do without their assistance, I do not know: thank you, thank you, thank you, guys!), flagged this classic ethics conflict several weeks ago.]
Some sources reported that a “90-year-old man was arrested for feeding the homeless.” This set off typical fact-free indignation on the social media and talk shows, not to mention the angry e-mails from around the world: Charity illegal??? A kind old man arrested just for trying to help the poor! Cruelty!!! ARGGGHHH!!!
Naturally, this was not what really happened.
For 23 years, since he was 67, 90–year-old Arnold Abbott and his non-profit organization, Love Thy Neighbor, have provided food for the homeless at a public beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Wednesday of every week at 5:30 p.m. This year, on October 21, the City of Fort Lauderdale Commission passed an ordinance that banned such food distributions in public. The ordinance required that organizations distributing food outdoors would have to provide portable toilets for use by workers and those being fed. It’s a health and safety regulation, for the benefit of homeless and vulerable. A few days after the ordinance took effect, on a Wednesday, at a bit after 5:30 PM, Abbott was approached by police officers and cited for violating the ordinance. He was not arrested. He was told that he must appear in court.
After Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler was called everything from a monster to a Republican (he’s a Democrat), someone finally asked him what the ordinance was all about and questioned his police department’s treatment of the kindly senior. “We hope he feeds, ” Seilor said. “He has a very valuable role in the community. All we’re saying is he can feed the next block over. He can feed at the church. We want them to be in safe secure settings. We wanted them to be in a sanitary matter. We them to have facilities available before and after.” That seems reasonable.
Seiler has also offered an explanation for the ordinance, which was backed by the Chamber of Commerce, that sounds more, well, Republican, saying that providing the homeless food in public only enables homelessness, and that Fort Lauderdale wants the homeless to use government and church services. “If you are going to simply feed them outdoors to get them from breakfast to lunch to dinner, all you are doing is enabling the cycle of homelessness,” Seiler says. Well, that’s debatable, but it isn’t unreasonable.
Still, it’s hard to teach old humanitarians new tricks, and Arnold is defiant. Continue reading →
Ethics Dunce and Unethical Facebook Post of the Month: Elizabeth Lauten, Spokeswoman for Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tennessee)
November 30, 2014 November 30, 2014 / Jack Marshall / 20 Comments
Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher, decided that she is authorized to give parental advice to First Offspring Sasha (13) and Malia (16) Obama. She was deeply troubled by the young ladies looking bored in photographs she saw online, so she posted this jaw-dropper on Facebook:
Wow. What a Thanksgiving feast of unethical features! Let’s see: Continue reading →
Ray Rice’s Indefinite Suspension By The NFL Has Been Overruled On Appeal. GOOD!
November 29, 2014 November 30, 2014 / Jack Marshall / 2 Comments
You have to be fair to bad guys too, you see.
Ray Rice and sparring partner.
If you will recall, the NFL levied a paltry two game suspension on Baltimore Raven’s star last summer, following his guilty plea for knocking his then fiancée, now wife, colder than a mackerel with a punch in her face. Then security camera video of the punch, in a casino elevator, ended up on TMZ in September, and public outrage against the NFL’s casual approach to domestic violence became a public relations crisis for pro football, which has too many already.
In response, Commissioner Roger Goodell ordered a do-over, this time suspending the player indefinitely while Rice’s team, the Ravens, fired him. The NFL’s risible claim was that while Rice had admitted that he hit the love of his life so hard that he rendered her unconscious, they never suspected that he really, really hit her until they saw the video.
As I wrote at the time:
Sports stars who engage in criminal behavior should be penalized heavily by their teams and leagues, to leave no question about their special status as paid heroes and pop culture role models and their obligations to honor that status. Rice’s conduct was especially significant, given the prevalence of domestic abuse in this country. The NFL, however, had its shot, made its statement, disgraced itself and let him get off easy. Rice hasn’t done anything since then worthy of punishment. The league and Rice’s team should have to live with their initial decisions, no matter how much criticism they received for them. The overly lenient punishment should stand as symbolizing how outrageously tolerant society, and especially male dominated cultures like pro football, are of this deadly conduct. Treating the video as if it constituted new evidence of something worse is unfair and ridiculous: yes, you morons, this is what domestic abuse looks like!
Rice [I originally said “Peterson” here, getting my violent NFL players mixed up] appealed through the player’s union, and yesterday a judge agreed with him, the union, and me, writing:
“In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time. Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated…I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary…The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline….Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice’s description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely.”
Yup. That just about covers it.
I think it’s overwhelmingly likely that the NFL’s lawyers advised the league that this would be the end result if they tried to punish Rice for the same act twice. The NFL decided that it was worth it to abuse its power and look like it was trying to end Rice’s career so after a successful appeal, it could say, “Well, we tried to do the right thing, and that mean old judge wouldn’t let us! Don’t blame us.”
Anyone who falls for that act is a fool. The real lesson of this ugly sequence is that the NFL’s culture doesn’t recognize right and wrong, or care about either. It’s only concern is TV ratings, marketing and profits.
Incomprehensible Ethics Quote Of The Month: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
“I always try to find something good that comes out of conflicts like this, and perhaps people realize that this is not a Ferguson problem at all; it’s a problem around the country. And as long as people feel awkward and embarrassed in talking about the racism that exists, we can never, never, never attack it…The indifference of the patrol officer’s an indication that good people ought to say that you should be sorry when you take anybody’s life. It’s not just the question of what you thought of whether you were afraid…. his total indifference just polarized that community, and I only wish that — that they had not vented themselves in a violent way and taken advantage of people coming together, white and black, and saying that you should at least be able to say you made a hell of a big mistake at least.”
—–Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), wandering confused in the ethics wilderness while discussing the Ferguson mess on MSNBC.
I supposed we should expect Rep. Rangel to be completely muddled when it comes to ethics, given his own history. Still, seldom have I seen such a dog’s breakfast of responsible sentiments and ethics ignorance in the same set of comments:
Congratulations are due to Rangel for admitting that this Ethics Train Wreck unfairly settled in Ferguson, which is being made to suffer disproportionately for the conduct of many communities and elected officials across the country, as well as the political opportunism of civil rights activists.
However, public officials have an obligation to be clear. What “racism that exists,” exactly? Anywhere in the U.S.? Absolutely: let’s talk about it. In the shooting of Brown? No racism is in evidence at all: if that’s what Rangel is referring to, and many will assume its is, the statement is irresponsible. Was he talking about the grand jury decision, which was the context of the interview? Prove it, Charlie. Otherwise, stop planting distrust with a population that is paranoid already.
Michael Brown’s actions, from Wilson’s point of view, forced him into a situation that has resulted in his career being ruined and life being permanently marred….and Rangel thinks Wilson should apologize? This is completely backward. Wilson owes no apologies to Brown, and certainly none to Brown’s parents, who have been carrying on a vendetta against him, calling him a murderer while expressing no acknowledgment that the son they raised had any responsibility for the confrontation that took his life. If anyone owes anybody an apology, it the parents who owe Wilson. Rangel thinks Wilson should apologize for trying to do his job, for not letting Brown take his gun, for not letting him resist arrest, for not letting himself be attacked, and that is ridiculous.
Ethics Alarms Contest: Pick The Most Unethical Column, Post Or Essay About The Ferguson Ethics Train Wreck
Stock up!
I realized that I needed to hold a contest after I heard two CNN experts discuss the relevance of Michael Brown’s marijuana use to the grand jury deliberations. One of them concluded that this was “disrespectful to Brown’s parents.” Of course, ensuring that grand jury proceedings embody proper respect for a victim’s parents, the accused’s parents, or anyone’s parents is not a legitimate concern for a prosecutor or a grand jury: the commentary was utter, incompetent, irresponsible, misleading and sentimental nonsense.
We are now being barraged by nonsense and worse as ideological pundits, journalists and bloggers desperately try to construct an argument that the decision not to indict Darren Wilson for murder was a blatant miscarriage of justice, proof of a rotten criminal justice system and persistent white racism. I don’t have either the time or the resistant vomit reflex to examine all of them, so let’s try to find the very worst through collective action.
Make your submission to this thread, and include a link, the source, the author, a representative quote, the ethical breaches you detect, which are likely to be from the group including honesty, fairness, responsibility, competence, and independent judgment. The only restriction is that posts from “The Daily Kos” and “Chimpmania” are not eligible for submission. I have seen a few awful posts from supporters of the grand jury’s decisions: send them in as well.
I’m almost afraid to see what we will end up with. For my first submissions, I offer two: Continue reading →
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Ethics Dunce: Minnesota’s Cottage Grove United Methodist Church
Ruby Tuesday Ethics Round-Up, 1/21/2020: The Boy Scouts Are Going Down, Curtis Flowers Is Getting Out, And David Hogg Is Still An Ignorant Yutz
Martin Luther King Day Ethics Overview, 1/20/2020: Another Warren Lie, The Times’ Misandry, Doris Kearns Goodwin Gets Dorian Grayed, And More
Are Elizabeth Warren Supporters Really OK With Her Constant Lying? Why Is That?
Ethics Observations On The Great 1 Cent Target Toothbrush Controversy
"bias makes you stupid"
Childhood and children
Ethics Alarms Award Nominee
Ethics Dunces
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This Will Help Elect Donald Trump
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Ethics Dunce: Minnesota’s Cottage Grove United Methodist Church ethicsalarms.com/2020/01/21/eth… https://t.co/By8D3J6kge 56 minutes ago
Ruby Tuesday Ethics Round-Up, 1/21/2020: The Boy Scouts Are Going Down, Curtis Flowers Is Getting Out, And David Ho… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 5 hours ago
Martin Luther King Day Ethics Overview, 1/20/2020: Another Warren Lie, The Times’ Misandry, Doris Kearns Goodwin Ge… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 21 hours ago
Are Elizabeth Warren Supporters Really OK With Her Constant Lying? Why Is That? ethicsalarms.com/2020/01/20/are… https://t.co/lSGxVjVjDB 23 hours ago
Ethics Observations On The Great 1 Cent Target Toothbrush Controversy ethicsalarms.com/2020/01/20/eth… https://t.co/gGLQaAnHTM 1 day ago
Jack Marshall | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1090 |
__label__cc | 0.617496 | 0.382504 | It’s Time For Action!
You roll the dice when there’s some kind of interesting opposition keeping you from achieving your goals. If there’s no interesting opposition, you just accomplish whatever you say you’re trying to do.
As we’ve said in prior chapters, characters in a Fate game solve their problems proactively. Players, during the game you’re going to do a lot—you might break into the bad guy’s fortress, pilot a starship past a minefield, rally a group of people into a protest, or poll a network of informants to get the latest word on the street.
Whenever you take action, there’s a good chance that something or someone is going to be in your way. It wouldn’t be an interesting story if the bad guys just rolled over and handed you victory on a plate—clearly, he’s got some crazy security measures to keep you out of his place. Or the mines are unstable and already blowing up around you. Or the protesters are really scared of the cops. Or someone’s been bribing the informants to keep quiet.
That’s when it’s time to take out the dice.
Choose the character’s skill that is appropriate to the action.
Roll four fudge dice.
Add together he symbols showing on the dice. A is +1, a is -1, and a is 0.
The skill rating modified by the dice roll is your result. Find your result on the ladder.
If you invoke an aspect, add +2 to your result or reroll the dice.
Cynere needs to bribe her way past the guards keeping her from entering the city of Thaalar. Amanda says she’ll do this as a straight-up overcome action, because the guards are nameless NPCs anyway and not really worth a conflict.
Lily looks through Cynere’s skill list and picks Resources as her skill, hoping she can scrounge enough out of her coin purse to satisfy them. Her Resources skill is Average (+1), so she’ll add one to whatever result she gets from rolling the dice.
She rolls and gets:
Her total result is +2 (+1 from her dice and +1 from her skill of Average), which corresponds to a Fair on the ladder.
As we said in The Basics, whenever you roll the dice, you’re comparing your roll to your opposition. Opposition is either active, meaning it’s another person rolling dice against you, or passive, meaning that it’s just a set rating on the ladder which represents the influence of the environment or situation you’re in. GMs, it’s your job to set the level of passive opposition for any skill roll.
Amanda decides to roll active opposition against Lily on behalf of the guards. She decides the most appropriate opposing skill is Will—they’re trying to resist the temptation of bribery, after all.
The guards are nameless NPCs, and no reason to be particularly strong of will, so she gives them a Mediocre (+0). She rolls and gets:
…for an incredibly lucky result of +3!
That gives her a Good (+3) result, and she’s beating Lily’s roll by one.
The Four Outcomes
When you roll the dice, either you’re going to fail, tie, succeed, or succeed with style.
Every roll you make in a Fate game results in one of four types of outcomes, generally speaking. Depending on what kind of action you’re taking, the specifics may change a little, but all the game actions fit this general pattern.
If you don’t beat your opposition, you fail.
This means one of several things: you don’t get what you want, you get what you want at a serious cost, or you suffer some negative mechanical consequence. Sometimes, it means more than one of those. It’s the GM’s job to determine an appropriate cost.
If you roll the same as your opposition, you tie.
This means you get what you want, but at a minor cost, or you get a lesser version of what you wanted.
If you roll higher than your opposition by 1 or 2 shifts, you succeed.
This means you get what you want at no cost.
Succeed with Style
If you roll higher than your opposition by 3 or more shifts, you succeed with style.
This means that you get what you want, but you also get an added benefit on top of that.
The Four Actions
When you make a skill roll, you’re taking one of four actions: overcome, create advantage, attack, or defend.
There are four types of actions you can take in a game of Fate. When you make a skill roll, you have to decide which of these you’re going to try. The skill descriptions tell you which action is appropriate for that skill and under which circumstances. Usually, the action you need to take will be pretty obvious from the skill description, your intent, and the situation in play, but sometimes you might have to talk it over with the group to find out which is the most appropriate.
The four actions are: overcome, create advantage, attack, and defend.
Use the overcome action to achieve assorted goals appropriate to your skill.
Every skill has a certain niche of miscellaneous endeavors that fall under its purview, certain situations where it’s an ideal choice. A character with Burglary tries to pick a lock or jimmy a window, a character with Empathy tries to calm the mood in a room, and a character with Crafts tries to fix the broken axle on his wagon after a desperate chase.
When your character is in one of these situations and there’s something between you and your goals, you use the overcome action to deal with it. Look at it as the “catch-all,” default action for every skill—if the action doesn’t fall into any other category, it’s probably an overcome action.
The opposition you have to beat might be active or passive, depending on the situation.
When you fail an overcome action, you have two choices. You can simply fail, which means you don’t attain your goal or get what you were after, or you can succeed at a serious cost.
When you tie an overcome action, you attain your goal or get what you were after, but at a minor cost.
When you succeed at an overcome action, you attain your goal without any cost.
When you succeed with style at an overcome action, you get a boost in addition to attaining your goal.
Landon stalks around the siege tower of the Red Emperor’s fortress, trying to sabotage the ballistas. If he succeeds, the army who hired him has a much better chance in the field when they attack tomorrow morning.
Amanda says, “Okay, so you make it to the top of the tower, and you start working. But then, you hear footsteps echoing below you in the tower—sounds like the next guard patrol got here just a bit early.”
“Damn,” Lenny says. “Figures I’d get the one guard squad with real discipline. I need to disable these and get out—if they find me, General Ephon already told me he’d disavow my existence.”
Amanda shrugs a bit and says, “Work fast? You’re looking at passive opposition here—crunched for time, and dealing with intricate machinery bits, so I’ll call that Great (+4).”
Landon has the Crafts skill at Average (+1). Lenny grumbles and says, “Should have convinced Zird to do this.” He rolls, getting a +2, for a Good (+3) result. Not good enough.
Landon chips in a fate point and says, “Well, you know what I always say… Smashing is Always An Option,” referring to one of his aspects. Amanda chuckles and nods, and with the invocation, he manages a Superb (+5). That’s enough to succeed, but not enough to succeed with style, so Landon accomplishes his objective at no cost.
He describes how he hastily dismantles the ballista, applying rather violent sabotage before diving for a hiding spot as the guards get closer…
Create an Advantage
Use the create an advantage action to make a scene aspect that gives you a benefit, or to claim a benefit from any aspect you have access to.
The create an advantage action covers a broad range of endeavors as well, but unified around the theme of (hence the name) using your skills to take advantage of the environment or situation you’re in.
Sometimes, that means you’re doing something to actively change your circumstances (like throwing sand in an opponent’s eyes or setting something on fire), but it could also mean that you’re discovering sudden new information that helps you (like learning the weakness of a monster through research), or taking advantage of something you’ve previously observed (like your opponent’s predisposition to a bad temper).
When you roll to create an advantage, you must specify whether you’re creating a new scene aspect or trying to take advantage of an aspect that’s already available—that could mean another scene aspect or one you can access on your target. You don’t have to know your target’s aspects to try this, because some of your skills let you reveal a target’s aspects as part of the action. You must also specify whether you’re targeting a character or the environment.
Opposition might be active or passive, depending on the circumstances. If your target is another character, their roll always counts as a defend action.
If you’re using create advantage to make a new aspect…
When you fail, you either don’t create the aspect, or you create it but don’t get any benefit from it. You should create it if the aspect you wanted was something that other people could take advantage of later (like Rough Terrain). You can still invoke the aspect if you’d like, but it’ll cost you a fate point.
When you tie, you get a boost—name the new aspect and invoke it once for free, but after that, the aspect goes away. This might mean you have to rename the aspect a bit to reflect its temporary nature (Rough Terrain becomes Rocks on the Path).
When you succeed, you create a scene aspect with a free invocation.
When you succeed with style, it works like a normal success, except you get two free invocations instead of one.
Cynere is in the unfortunate position of having to fight some animated temple golems, while deep in the Caverns of Yarzuruk.
The first couple of exchanges have not gone well, and she’s taken a couple of big hits already. Lily says, “Amanda, you said there was a lot of filigree and furnishings and stuff laying around, right?”
Amanda nods, and Lily asks, “Can I knock some of it over in order to trip these guys up a bit? I imagine if they’re big, clodhopping golems, they aren’t as agile as I am.”
She says, “Sounds fine to me. Sounds like you’re trying to create an advantage with Athletics. One of the golems gets to roll a defend action against you, just because it’s close enough to get in your way.”
Lily has Athletics at Great (+4). Lily rolls and gets a +1, for a Superb (+5) result. The nearest golem rolls to defend and only gets a Fair (+2). Cynere succeeds with style! Lily places the aspect Cluttered Floor on the scene and notes that she can invoke that aspect twice for free.
Amanda describes the golems’ difficulty with their footing, and now Cynere’s got a little bit of an advantage in the coming exchange…
If you’re using create advantage on an existing aspect…
When you fail, you don’t get any benefit from the aspect. You can still invoke it if you’d like, at the cost of a fate point. If you’re doing this on a target whose aspects are hidden from you, the GM can opt to keep the aspect a secret instead.
When you tie or succeed, you place a free invocation on the aspect.
When you succeed with style, you place two free invocations on the aspect.
Zird is approaching a local merchant he’s been hired to get close to (aka spy on) for the sultan of Wanir, in the famous bazaar of Wanir’s capital city.
Ryan says, “I’m going to use Rapport to create an advantage, get this guy to open up to me. I don’t know what I’m looking for in terms of an aspect—just some juicy observation I can use later or pass onto Cynere.” He has the Friendly Liar stunt, so he can do this without needing Deceit, despite the fact that he’s hiding his real intent.
Amanda says, “Works for me. He’s a merchant, so his Deceit’s pretty high. I’m going to say it’s passive opposition, though, because he’s not really suspicious of you. Try and beat a Great (+4).”
Ryan rolls. His Rapport skill is Good (+3), and he manages a +1 on the dice, for a tie.
Amanda looks at her notes, grins, and says, “Okay, here’s what you notice. This merchant is obviously a very social fellow, boisterously engaging other shop owners and potential customers as he makes his rounds. This geniality takes on more of a flirtatious, suggestive air any time he speaks to young men—he can’t seem to help that.”
She slides an index card with the aspect Sucker for a Pretty Man written on it, to indicate that the merchant’s aspect is now public. Ryan notes that he has a free invocation on that aspect.
“Pretty man, huh?” Ryan says. “Does he think I’m pretty?”
Amanda grins. “He certainly thinks you’re friendly…”
Ryan rolls his eyes. “The things I do for business…”
Use the attack action to harm someone in a conflict or take them out of a scene.
The attack action is the most straightforward of the four actions—when you want to hurt someone in a conflict, it’s an attack. An attack isn’t always physical in nature; several of the skills allow you to hurt someone mentally as well.
Most of the time, your target will actively oppose your attack. Passive opposition on an attack means you’ve caught your target unaware or otherwise unable to make a full effort to resist you, or the NPC isn’t important enough to bother with dice.
In addition, the opposition always counts as a defend action (see the next section), passive or not, so you can look at these two actions as being inexorably intertwined.
When you fail at an attack, you don’t cause any harm to your target. (It also means that your target succeeded on the defend action, which might mean you get saddled with other effects.)
When you tie an attack, you don’t cause any harm, but you gain a boost.
When you succeed on an attack, you inflict a hit on your target equal to the number of shifts you got. That forces the target to try and “buy off” the value of your hit by taking stress or consequences; if that’s not possible, your target gets taken out of the conflict.
When you succeed with style on an attack, it works like a normal success, but you also have the option to reduce the value of your hit by one to gain a boost as well.
Cynere is locked in combat with Drisban, one of the famed Scarlet Twenty, a member of the elite guard of Antharus. In her inimitable fashion, Cynere attempts to flay him open with her flashing blade.
Cynere’s Fighting skill is at Good (+3). Drisban defends with his Fighting at Great (+4). Lily rolls and gets a +2, for a Superb (+5) attack.
Amanda rolls for Drisban and gets a -1, bringing his total to Good (+3). Lily wins by two, inflicting a 2-shift hit.
But she decides that isn’t good enough. “I’m also invoking Infamous Girl With Sword,” she says, “because for heaven’s sake, this is what I do, and I’m not letting this punk off easy.”
Lily chips in her fate point, making her final result Epic (+7). She gets 4 shifts and succeeds with style, cutting into him with a flourish. She chooses to inflict a 4-stress hit, but she could also have inflicted a 3-shift hit and taken a boost, if she’d wanted to.
Now Drisban needs to use stress or consequences to stay in the fight!
Use the defend action to avoid an attack or prevent someone from creating an advantage against you.
Whenever someone attacks you in a conflict or tries to create an advantage that sticks to you, you always get a chance to defend. As with attacks, this isn’t always about avoiding physical sources of danger—some of the skills allow you to defend against attempts to harm your mind or damage your resolve.
Because you roll to defend as a reaction, your opposition is almost always active. If you’re rolling a defend action against passive opposition, it’s because the environment is hostile to you somehow (like a blazing fire), or the attacking NPC isn’t important enough for the GM to bother with dice.
When you fail at a defense, you suffer the consequences of whatever you were trying to prevent. You might take a hit, or you might have someone else’s advantage stuck to you.
When you tie a defense, you grant your opponent a boost.
When you succeed at a defense, you successfully avoid the attack or the attempt to gain an advantage on you.
When you succeed with style at a defense, it works like a normal success, but you also gain a boost as you turn the tables momentarily.
Zird the Arcane is arguing a magical thesis before the council of the Collegia Arcana. But one of the adjutants on the council, an old rival named Savarus Snipe, has it in for Zird. He wants not only to see Zird fail, but to damage Zird’s self-confidence by forcing him to misstep and doubt himself. The group agrees that they know each other well enough that Snipe could affect him this way, so the conflict is on.
As Zird finishes his opening argument, Amanda describes how Savarus uses Intimidation as an attack, poking holes in Zird’s theories and forcing him to reevaluate. Snipe has an Intimidation of Good (+3).
Zird defends with Will, which he has at Fair (+2). Amanda rolls for Savarus and gets a +1, for a total of Great (+4). Ryan rolls for Zird and gets a +2, tying at Great (+4). Zird doesn’t have to deal with taking a hit, but he does grant Savarus a boost, which Amanda decides to call Momentarily Tripped Up.
For the GM
Active Or Passive?
Any time the opposition comes from an important NPC (if they have a proper name, it’s a good sign they’re probably important), you’ll want to roll the dice to add tension to the scene, so always use active opposition in that case.
If it’s an unimportant NPC, or the opposition comes from some obstacle in the world (like rough terrain, a complex lock, time running out, a situational complication, etc.), then use passive opposition.
Sometimes you’re going to run into edge cases, where something inanimate seems like it should provide active opposition (like an automated gun) or an NPC can’t provide proactive resistance (like if they’re unaware of what the PC is doing). Follow your gut—it’s okay to do this if you think it fits the circumstances or makes the scene more interesting.
Serious Cost Vs. Minor Cost
When you’re thinking about costs, think both about the story in play and the game mechanics to help you figure out what would be most appropriate.
A serious cost should make the current situation worse somehow, either by creating a new problem or exacerbating an existing problem. Bring in another source of opposition for the PC to overcome in this scene or the next one (such as a new opposing NPC or an obstacle to overcome), or ask the player to take a consequence at their lowest free level, or give someone who opposes the PC an advantage with a free invocation.
A minor cost should add a story detail that’s problematic or bad for the PC, but doesn’t necessarily endanger progress. You could also ask the PC to take stress or give someone who opposes the PCs a boost.
It’s okay if the minor cost is mainly a narrative detail, showing how the PC just barely scratched by. We give more advice about dealing with costs in Running the Game.
Four Actions
How Hard Should Skill Rolls Be?
For active opposition, you don’t really need to worry about how hard the roll is—just use the NPC’s skill level and roll the dice like the players do, letting the chips fall where they may. We have guidelines about NPC skill levels in Running the Game.
For passive opposition, you have to decide what rank on the ladder the player has to beat. It’s more an art than a science, but we have some guidelines to help you.
Anything that’s two or more steps higher than the PC’s skill level (Fair (+2) skill and Great (+4) opposition, for example) means that the player will probably fail or need to invoke aspects to succeed.
Anything that’s two or more steps lower than the PC’s skill level (Fair (+2) skill and Mediocre (+0) opposition, for example) means that the player will probably not need to invoke aspects and will probably succeed with style.
Between that range, there’s a roughly equal chance that they’ll tie or succeed, and a roughly equal chance that they will or won’t need to invoke aspects to do so.
Therefore, low difficulties are best when you want to give the PCs a chance to show off and be awesome, difficulties near their skill levels are best when you want to provide tension but not overwhelm them, and high difficulties are best when you want to emphasize how dire or unusual the circumstances are and make them pull out all the stops.
Finally, a couple of quick axioms:
Average is called Average for a reason—if nothing about the opposition sticks out, then it doesn’t need more than a +1.
If you can think of at least one reason why the opposition sticks out, but otherwise just can’t decide what the difficulty should be, pick Fair (+2). It’s in the middle of a PC’s range of skills, so it provides a decent challenge for every skill level except Great (+4), and you want to give PCs a chance to show off their peak skill anyway.
Secret or
Defend Action
Stress and Conseuqences
No Stacked Effects!
You’ll notice that the defend action has outcomes that mirror some of the outcomes in attack and create advantage. For example, it says that when you tie a defense, you grant your opponent a boost. Under attack, it says that when you tie, you receive a boost.
That doesn’t mean the attacker gets two boosts—it’s the same result, just from two different points of view. We just wrote it that way so that the results were consistent when you looked up the rule, regardless of what action you took.
Zooming In On The Action
Most of the time, a single skill roll should be enough to decide how a particular situation in play resolves. You’re not obligated to describe actions in a particular timeframe or level of detail when you use a skill. Therefore, you could use a single Athletics roll to find out whether you can safely navigate a rock face that will take days to climb, or use that same single skill roll to find out whether you can safely avoid a swiftly falling tree that’s about to crush you.
Sometimes, however, you’ll be in a situation where you’re doing something really dramatic and interesting, like pivotal set pieces in a movie or a book. When that happens, it’s a good idea to zoom in on the action and deal with it using multiple skill rolls, because the wide range of dice results will make things really dynamic and surprising. Most fight scenes fall into this category, but you can zoom into anything that you consider sufficiently important—car chases, trials, high-stakes poker games, and so on.
We have three ways for you to zoom in on the action in Fate:
Challenges, when one or more characters try to achieve something dynamic or complicated
Contests, when two or more characters are competing for a goal
Conflicts, when two or more characters are trying to directly harm each other
A single overcome action is sufficient to deal with a straightforward goal or obstacle—the hero needs to pick this lock, disarm this bomb, sift out a vital piece of information, and so on. It’s also useful when the details of how something gets done aren’t as important or worth spending an intense amount of time on, when what you need to know is whether the character can get something done without any setbacks or costs.
Sometimes, however, things get complicated. It’s not enough to unpick the lock, because you also have to hold off the hordes of attacking zombies and set up the magical ward that’s going to keep pursuers off your back. It’s not enough to disarm the bomb, because you also have to land the crashing blimp and keep the unconscious scientist you’re rescuing from getting hurt in said landing.
A challenge is a series of overcome actions that you use to resolve an especially complicated or dynamic situation. Each overcome action deals with one task or part of the situation, and you take the individual results as a whole to figure out how the situation resolves.
GMs, when you’re trying to figure out if it’s appropriate to call for a challenge, ask yourself the following questions:
Is each separate task something that can generate tension and drama independently of the other tasks? If all the tasks are really part of the same overall goal, like “detaching the detonator,” “stopping the timer”, and “disposing of the explosive material” when you’re disarming a bomb, then that should be one overcome action, where you use those details to explain what happened if the roll goes wrong.
Does the situation require different skills to deal with? Holding off the zombies (Fighting) while pushing down a barricade (Physique) and fixing your broken wagon (Crafts), so that you can get away, would be a good instance for a challenge.
To set up a challenge, simply identify what the individual tasks or goals are that make up the situation, and treat each one as a separate overcome roll. (Sometimes, only a certain sequence for the rolls will make sense to you. That’s okay too.) Depending on the situation, one character may be required to make several rolls, or multiple characters may be able to participate.
Zird the Arcane is attempting to finish the consecration ritual of the Qirik, in order to sanctify the ground of the roadside inn where he is and grant it the protection of the Qirik gods. Normally, this wouldn’t be too interesting, except that he’s trying to get it done before a hoard of slavering, flesh-hungry zombies he unwittingly set free earlier in the adventure overruns the inn.
Amanda sees several different components to this scene. First, there’s the ritual itself, there’s keeping the inn boarded up, and there’s keeping the panicking inhabitants of the inn calm. That calls for Lore, Crafts, and some kind of social skill—Ryan immediately chooses Rapport.
Thus, Ryan will be rolling all three of those skills separately, one for each component Amanda identified. She sets the opposition for each of these at Good (+3)—she wants him to have even chances, while leaving room for a variable outcome.
Now they’re ready to start.
To conduct a challenge, call for each overcome action in whichever order seems most interesting, but don’t decide anything about how the situation turns out until after you’ve collected all the results—you want to have the freedom to sequence the events of each roll in whichever order makes the most sense and is the most entertaining. Players, if you get a boost on one of your rolls, feel free to use it on another roll in the challenge, provided you can justify it.
Ryan takes a deep breath and says, “All right, let’s do this.” He takes up the dice.
He decides to tackle securing the inn first, so he rolls his Good (+3) Crafts skill and gets a 0 on the dice. That ties the roll, allowing him to achieve the goal at a minor cost. Amanda says, “I’m going to say that I get a boost called Hasty Work to use against you if I need it—you are working fast, after all.”
Ryan sighs and nods, and then goes for the second goal in the challenge, which is calming the locals with his Good (+3) Rapport. He makes his roll and gets a terrible -3 on the dice! Now he has the option to fail or to succeed with a major cost. He goes for success, leaving Amanda to think of a good major cost.
She thinks a moment. How to make calming the villagers costly? Then she grins. “So, this is a story thing more than a mechanics thing, but you know… you’re using Rapport, so you’re probably being pretty inspirational right now. I could see you inadvertently convincing some of these farmers and peasants that those zombies are no real threat, and that they totally can go out and fight with little consequence. Because your magic is keeping them safe, right?”
Ryan says, “But they have to be in the inn for that to work!” Amanda is just grinning. Ryan sighs again. “Okay, fine. Some people get totally the wrong idea and are potentially going to get themselves killed. I can just hear them now… Zird, why did you let my husband die? Augh.”
Amanda grins some more.
Ryan goes for the final part of the challenge—the ritual itself, cast with his Great (+4) Lore. Amanda spends one of her fate points for the scene to invoke the boost she got earlier and says, “Yeah, you totally have very distracting zombies chipping apart your barricades. Very distracting.” That pushes the difficulty for the final roll up to Superb (+5).
He rolls a +2 and get a Fantastic (+6), enough to succeed with no cost.
Amanda nods and together they finish describing the scene—Zird finishes the ritual just in time, and the holy power of the Qirik descends on the inn. Some zombies on the verge of breaking in get sizzled by the holy aura, and Zird breathes a sigh of relief… until he hears the panicked screams of villagers outside the inn…
But that’s next scene.
If you have any boosts that went unused in the challenge, feel free to keep them for the rest of this scene or whatever scene you’re transitioning to, if the events of the challenge connect directly to the next scene.
Advantages in a Challenge
You can try to create an advantage during a challenge, for yourself or to help someone else out. Creating an advantage doesn’t allow you to also complete one of the challenge goals, but failing the roll could create a cost or problem that negatively impacts one of the other goals. Be careful using this tactic; advantages can help complete tasks more effectively and create momentum, but trying to create them is not without risk.
Attacks in a Challenge
Because you’re always up against passive opposition in a challenge, you’ll never use the attack action. If you’re in a situation where it seems reasonable to roll an attack, you should start setting up for a conflict.
Whenever two or more characters have mutually exclusive goals, but they aren’t trying to harm each other directly, they’re in a contest. Arm wrestling matches, races or other sports competitions, and public debates are all good examples of contests.
GMs, answer the following questions when you’re setting up a contest:
What environment does the contest take place in? Are there any significant or notable features of that environment you want to define as scene aspects?
How are the participants opposing each other? Are they rolling against each other directly (like in a straight sprint race, or a poker match), or all trying to overcome something in the environment (like an obstacle course, or a panel of judges)?
What skills are appropriate for this contest? Does everyone have to roll the same one, or do several apply?
Zird the Arcane has been felled in a battle with a shadowy group of assassins who ambushed him and Cynere just outside of town! Cynere finishes off the last of them, ending the conflict, then starts toward her fallen friend.
That’s when the assassins’ leader, a cutpurse she knows well as Teran the Swift, blinks in with teleportation magic next to Zird’s unconscious form! He starts casting another teleportation spell, clearly intending to leave with Zird. Cynere breaks into a run. Can she get there before Teran finishes his spell?
Amanda looks through the questions for setting up the contest.
The previous conflict scene had a scene aspect of Muddy Ground, so she decides to keep that in play.
Clearly, Teran and Cynere are directly in opposition to one another, so they’ll be providing active opposition to each other.
Teran’s going to be rolling his Lore skill for the contest, because he’s casting a spell. Because this is a pretty straightforward movement-related situation, Amanda and Lily agree that Athletics is the most appropriate skill for her to roll.
Now you can get started.
A contest proceeds in a series of exchanges. In an exchange, every participant gets to make one skill roll to determine how well they do in that leg of the contest. This is basically an overcome action.
Players, when you make a contest roll, compare your result to everyone else’s.
If you got the highest result, you win the exchange. If you’re rolling directly against the other participants, then that means you got the highest rank on the ladder out of everyone. If you’re all rolling against something in the environment, it means you got the most shifts out of everyone.
Winning the exchange means you get to score a victory (which you can just represent with a tally mark or check mark on scratch paper) and describe how you take the lead.
If you succeed with style and no one else does, then you get to mark two victories.
If there’s a tie, no one gets a victory, and an unexpected twist occurs. This could mean several things depending on the situation—the terrain or environment shifts somehow, the parameters of the contest change, or an unanticipated variable shows up and affects all the participants. GMs, you should create a new scene aspect reflecting this change and put it into play.
The first participant to achieve a three-victory lead wins the contest.
Cynere has Athletics at Great (+4). Teran has Lore at Good (+3).
In the first exchange, Lily rolls poorly for Cynere and ends up with an Average (+1). Amanda rolls a 0 on the dice and stays at Good (+3). Amanda wins, so Teran wins the exchange and takes 1 victory. Amanda describes Teran completing the first major rune of the spell, raising a lambent green glow into the air.
In the second exchange, Lily turns the tables, rolling exceptionally well and getting a Superb (+5), whereas Amanda only gets a Fair (+2) for Teran. That’s a success with style, so Lily picks up two victories and the lead. Lily describes Cynere in a full-on sprint, bearing down on Teran.
In the third exchange, they tie at Good (+3)! Amanda now has to introduce an unexpected twist into the contest. She thinks about it for a moment, and says, “Okay, so it looks like some of the various magical reagents on Zird’s belt pouch are reacting weirdly with the magic of Teran’s spell, throwing Magical Distortions into the air.” She writes down that scene aspect on an index card and puts it on the table.
In the fourth exchange, they tie again, this time at Great (+4). Lily says, “Forget this noise. I want to invoke two aspects—one, because I have I’ve Got Zird’s Back on my sheet, and Magical Distortions, because I figure that they’re going to interfere more with his spellcasting than my running.” She passes Amanda two fate points.
That puts her final result at Legendary (+8), another success with style and another two victories. That gives her four victories to Teran’s one, and she wins the exchange and the contest!
Amanda and Lily describe how she snatches Zird just before Teran finishes his spell, and he teleports away without his prize.
Creating Advantages in a Contest
During any exchange, you can try to create an advantage before you make your contest roll. If you’re targeting another participant, they get to defend normally.
However, doing so carries an additional risk— failing to create an advantage means you forfeit your contest roll, which means there’s no way you can make progress in the current exchange. If you at least tie, you get to make your contest roll normally.
Cynere tries to throw mud in the eyes of Teran the Swift as she’s running to save Zird. Lily says she wants to create an advantage, with Teran as her target and a new aspect called Mud in the Eyes. (Imaginative, we know.)
She rolls Athletics to create the advantage and gets a Great (+4). Teran rolls Athletics to defend and gets a Good (+3).
Teran gets mud in his eyes as Cynere intended, and Lily marks that she has a free invocation on it.
Because Lily didn’t fail, she gets to make her contest roll normally. Amanda decides that being semi-blinded isn’t going to stop Teran from continuing to cast, so he also gets to roll normally.
Attacks in a Contest
If someone tries to attack in a contest, then they’re doing direct harm, and it ceases to be a contest. You should immediately stop what you’re doing and start setting up for a conflict instead.
In a conflict, characters are actively trying to harm one another. It could be a fist fight, a shootout, or a sword duel. It could also be a tough interrogation, a psychic assault, or a shouting match with a loved one. As long as the characters involved have both the intent and the ability to harm one another, then you’re in a conflict scene.
Conflicts are either physical or mental in nature, based on the kind of harm you’re at risk of suffering in it. In physical conflict, you suffer bruises, scrapes, cuts, and other injuries. In mental conflict, you suffer loss of confidence and self-esteem, loss of composure, and other psychological trauma.
Setting up a conflict is a little more involved than either contests or challenges. Here are the steps:
Set the scene describing the environment the conflict takes place in, establishing who’s participating and what side they’re on, and creating scene aspects and zones.
Determine the turn order.
Start the first exchange:
On your turn, take an action and then resolve it.
On other people’s turns, defend or respond to their actions as necessary.
At the end of everyone’s turn, start again with a new exchange.
You know the conflict is over when everyone on one of the sides has conceded or gets taken out.
GMs and players, you should talk briefly before you start a conflict about the circumstances of the scene. This mainly involves coming up with quick answers to variations of the four W-questions, such as:
Who’s in the conflict?
Where are they at relative to one another?
When is the conflict taking place? Is that important?
What’s the environment like?
You don’t need an exhaustive amount of detail here, like precise measures of distance or anything like that. Just resolve enough to make it clear for everyone what’s going on.
GMs, you’re going to take this information and create scene aspects to help further define the arena of conflict.
Landon, Zird, and Cynere are breaking into a dockside warehouse in order to find smuggled goods on behalf of their latest employer. Unfortunately, someone tipped the smuggler off. Now Og, one of his thug lieutenants, is at the warehouse waiting for them to show up, and he brought along four friends.
The participants in the conflict are pretty obvious—the PCs, plus Og and four nameless enforcers, all NPCs under Amanda’s control. The warehouse is the environment, and the group takes a moment to talk about it—boxes and crates everywhere, large and open, there’s probably a second floor, and Amanda mentions the loading door is open because they’re waiting for a ship to come in.
Scene Aspects
GMs, when you’re setting the scene, keep an eye out for fun-sounding features of the environment to make into scene aspects, especially if you think someone might be able to take advantage of them in an interesting way in a conflict. Don’t overload it—find three to five evocative things about your conflict location and make them into aspects.
Good choices for scene aspects include:
Anything regarding the general mood, weather, or lighting—dark or badly lit, storming, creepy, crumbling, blindingly bright, etc.
Anything that might affect or restrict movement—filthy, mud everywhere, slippery, rough, etc.
Things to hide behind—vehicles, obstructions, large furniture pieces, etc.
Things you can knock over, wreck, or use as improvisational weapons—bookshelves, statues, etc.
Things that are flammable
Considering our warehouse again, Amanda thinks about what might make good scene aspects.
She decides that there are enough crates in here to make free movement a potential problem, so she picks Heavy Crates and Cramped as aspects. The loading door is open, which means that there’s a large dock with water in it, so she also picks Open to the Water as a scene aspect, figuring that someone might try to knock someone in.
GMs, if your conflict takes place over a large area, you may want to break it down into zones for easier reference.
A zone is an abstract representation of physical space. The best definition of a zone is that it’s close enough to where you can interact directly with someone (in other words, walk up to and punch in the face).
Generally speaking, any given conflict probably shouldn’t involve more than a handful of zones. Two to four is probably sufficient, save for really big conflicts. This isn’t supposed to be a minatures board game—zones should give a tactile sense of the environment, but at the point where you need something more than a cocktail napkin to lay it out, you’re getting too complicated.
If you can describe the area as bigger than a house, you can probably divide it into two or more zones—think of a cathedral or a shopping center parking lot.
If it’s separated by stairs, a ladder, a fence, or a wall, it could be a zone, like two floors of a house.
“Above X” and “below X” can be zones, especially if getting there takes some doing—think of the airspace around something large, like a blimp.
When you’re setting up your zones, note whether there are any scene aspects that make moving between those zones problematic. That’ll be important later, when people want to move from zone to zone during the scene. If that means you need more scene aspects, add them now.
Amanda decides the warehouse needs to be multiple zones. The main floor is big enough, in her mind, for two zones, and the Heavy Crates she mentioned earlier make it hard to freely move between them.
She knows there’s also a second floor ringing the inner walls, so she makes that an additional zone. She adds Ladder Access Only to the scene.
If, for some reason, someone decides to run outside, she figures that can be a fourth zone, but she doesn’t think she needs any aspects for it.
She sketches the rough map on an index card for everyone to see.
Establishing Sides
It’s important to know everyone’s goal in a conflict before you start. People fight for a reason, and if they’re willing to do harm, it’s usually an urgent reason.
The normal assumption is that the player characters are on one side, fighting against NPCs who are in opposition. It doesn’t always have to be that way, however—PCs can fight each other and be allied with NPCs against each other.
Make sure everyone agrees on the general goals of each “side,” who’s on which side, and where everyone is situated in the scene (like who’s occupying which zone) when the conflict begins.
It might also help, GMs, to decide how those groups are going to “divvy up” to face one another—is one character going to get mobbed by the bad guy’s henchmen, or is the opposition going to spread itself around equally among the PCs? You might change your mind once the action starts, but if you have a basic idea, it gives you a good starting point to work from.
In our continuing warehouse fight example, the sides are obvious—Og and his buddies want to do in the PCs, and the PCs want to keep that from happening.
Ryan asks Amanda about finding the smuggled goods, and Amanda replies, “If you think you can sneak in a moment during the fight to look for them, go for it. We’ll see what happens.”
The conflict starts with everyone on the main warehouse floor. Amanda decides that Og and one of his friends are going to go after Landon, two of the other thugs are going after Cynere, and the final one is going to chase after Zird.
Turn Order
Your turn order in a conflict is based on your skills. In a physical conflict, compare your Notice skill to the other participants. In a mental conflict, compare your Empathy skill. Whoever has the highest gets to go first, and then everyone else in descending order.
If there’s a tie, compare a secondary or tertiary skill. For physical conflicts, that’s Athletics, then Physique. For mental conflicts: Rapport, then Will.
GMs, for simplicity’s sake, pick your most advantageous NPC to determine your place in the turn order, and let all your NPCs go at that time.
Cynere has a Notice of Good (+3), higher than everyone else, so she goes first.
Zird has a Notice of Average (+1), so he goes second.
Landon and Og both lack the Notice skill. Landon has Athletics at Good (+3), and Og has it at Fair (+2), so Landon goes third and Og goes last.
Exchanges in a conflict are a little more complicated than contests or challenges. An exchange lasts as long as it takes every character in the conflict to perform one action and respond appropriately to the actions of others. GMs, you get to go once for every NPC you control in the conflict.
Most of the time, you’re going to be attacking another character or creating an advantage on your turn, because that’s the point of a conflict—take your opponent out, or set things up to make it easier to take your opponent out.
However, if you have a secondary objective in the conflict scene, you might need to roll an overcome action instead. You’ll encounter this most often if you want to move between zones when there’s a scene aspect in place which makes that problematic.
Regardless, you only get to make one skill roll on your turn in an exchange, unless you’re defending against someone else’s action—you can do that as many times as you want.
Full Defense
If you want, you can forego your action for the exchange to concentrate on defense. You don’t get to do anything proactive, but you do get to roll all defend actions for the exchange at a +2 bonus. You can also forego your action and the bonus to roll defend actions for yourself and anyone else when you could reasonably intervene on their behalf. Failing a defend action on someone else’s behalf gives you the option to take the hit yourself.
In the first exchange of our warehouse fight, Cynere goes first. Lily’s going to have Cynere attack the thug that’s eyeing her. That’s her action for the exchange—she can still roll to defend whenever she needs to, but she can’t do anything else proactive until her next turn.
On Ryan’s turn, he’s going to have Zird do a full defense—normally, he’d be able to defend and get an action this exchange, but instead, he gets a +2 to his defense rolls until his next turn.
On Lenny’s turn, he’s going to have Landon create an advantage by placing an aspect on Og called Hemmed In, hoping to corner him between some crates. That’s his action for the exchange.
Amanda goes last, and she’s just going to have all of her NPCs attack their chosen targets.
Resolving Attacks
A successful attack lands a hit equivalent to its shift value on a target. So if you get three shifts on an attack, you land a 3-shift hit.
If you get hit by an attack, one of two things is going to happen: either you’re going to absorb the hit and stay in the fight, or you’re taken out.
Fortunately, you have two options for absorbing hits to keep that from happening—you can take stress or consequences to stay in the fight. You can also concede a conflict before you’re taken out, in order to preserve some control over what happens to your character.
One of your options to mitigate the effect of a hit is to take stress.
The best way to understand stress is that it represents all the various reasons why you just barely avoid taking the full force of an attack. Maybe you twist away from the blow just right, or it looks bad but is really just a flesh wound, or you exhaust yourself diving out of the way at the last second.
Mentally, stress could mean that you just barely manage to mitigate some comment, or clamp down on an instinctive emotional reaction, or something like that. Stress boxes also represent a loss of momentum—you only have so many last-second saves in you before you’ve got to face the music.
Your stress boxes each have a shift value. By default, all characters get a 1-point and a 2-point box. You may get additional, higher-value stress boxes depending on some of your skills (usually Physique and Will). On your character sheet, you have a number of stress boxes that have different values.
When you take stress, check off a stress box with a value equal to or greater than shift value of the hit (and only that stress box). If there is no next available box, you’re taken out of the conflict.
Remember that you have two sets of stress boxes! One of these is for physical stress, the other for mental; you’ll start with a 1-shift and a 2-shift box in each of these. If you take stress from a physical source, you check off a physical stress box. If it’s a mental hit, check off a mental stress box.
After a conflict, when you get a minute to breathe, any stress boxes you checked off become available for your use again.
Og batters Landon with a whopping 3-shift hit on this exchange, wielding a giant club with a nail in it.
Looking at his character sheet, Lenny sees that he’s only got two stress boxes left—a 2-point and a 3-point. He reluctantly checks off the 3-point box, realizing that if he takes another hit of that magnitude he’ll be out of commission.
Amanda and Lenny describe the outcome—Landon gets his sword up just in time to barely deflect a blow that shatters a nearby crate, peppering Landon’s face with splintered wood. One inch closer, and it might have been his face that got splintered.
Landon has one more stress box on his sheet, a 2-shift box. That means his reserves are almost gone, and the next major hit he takes is going to hurt bad…
The second option you have for mitigating a hit is taking a consequence. A consequence is more severe than stress—it represents some form of lasting injury or setback that you accrue from the conflict, something that’s going to be a problem for your character after the conflict is over.
Consequences come in three levels of severity—mild, moderate, and severe. Each one has a different shift value: two, four, and six respectively. On your character sheet, you have a number of available consequences, in this section:
When you use a consequence, you reduce the shift value of the attack by the shift value of the consequence. You can use more than one consequence at a time, and even combine the use of stress and consequences if they’re available.
However, there’s an additional penalty. When you use a consequence, your character also gains an aspect that represents the lasting effect incurred from the attack. The opponent who forced you to take a consequence gets a free invocation, and the aspect remains on your character sheet until you’ve recovered from that consequence. While it’s on your sheet, it gets treated like any other aspect, except because the slant on it is so negative, it’s far more likely to be used to your character’s detriment.
Unlike stress, consequences cannot be reused until you’ve recovered from them, which may be long after the conflict is over. Also unlike stress, you only have one set of consequences; there aren’t specific slots for physical versus mental consequences. This means that, if you have to take a minor consequence to reduce a mental hit and your minor consequence slot is already filled with a physical consequence, you’re out of luck! You’re going to have to use a moderate or severe consequence to absorb that it (assuming you have on left).
Still, it’s better than being taken out, right?
Cynere gets teamed up on by three of the thugs during this exchange, and with the help of some maneuvers, manage to land a 6-shift attack on her. She’s escaped harm so far this fight, and still has all her stress boxes and consequences available.
She could use her 1, 2, and 3-point stress boxes to take the hit, or her 4-point and 2-point, or any other combination that adds up to 6. But, she wants some of those stress boxes open for future exchanges in case she needs them. So Lily decides to use her 4-point stress boxes, and also take a mild consequence, cancelling out a further 2 shifts.
Amanda and Lily agree to call the mild consequence Bloodied. Cynere takes a wicked slash from one of the thugs’ swords, but manages to avoid the worst of their team-up…
Naming a Consequence
Here are some guidelines for choosing what to name a consequence:
Mild consequences don’t require immediate medical attention. They hurt, and they may present an inconvenience, but they aren’t going to force you into a lot of bed rest. On the mental side, mild consequences express things like small social gaffes or changes in your surface emotions. Examples: Black Eye, Bruised Hand, Winded, Flustered, Cranky, Temporarily Blinded.
Moderate consequences represent fairly serious impairments that require dedicated effort toward recovery (including medical attention). On the mental side, they express things like damage to your reputation or emotional problems that you can’t just shrug off with an apology and a good night’s sleep. Examples: Deep Cut, First Degree Burn, Exhausted, Drunk, Terrified.
Severe consequences go straight to the emergency room (or whatever the equivalent is in your game)—they’re extremely nasty and prevent you from doing a lot of things, and will lay you out for a while. On the mental side, they express things like serious trauma or relationship-changing harm. Examples: Second-Degree Burn, Compound Fracture, Guts Hanging Out, Crippling Shame, Trauma-Induced Phobia.
Recovering from a Consequence
In order to regain the use of a consequence, you have to recover from it. That requires two things—succeeding at an overcome action that allows you to justify recovery, and then waiting an appropriate amount of game time for that recovery to take place.
The action in question is basically an overcome action; the obstacle is the consequence that you took. If it’s a physical injury, then the action is some kind of medical treatment or first aid. For mental consequences, the action may involve therapy, counseling, or simply a night out with friends.
The difficulty for this obstacle is based on the shift value of the consequence. Mild is Fair (+2), moderate is Great (+4), and severe is Fantastic (+6). If you are trying to do the recovery action on yourself, it’s two steps harder.
Keep in mind that the circumstances have to be appropriately free of distraction and tension for someone to make this roll in the first place—you’re not going to clean and bandage a nasty cut while ogres are tromping through the caves looking for you. GMs, you’ve got the final judgment call.
If you succeed at the recovery action, or someone else succeeds on a recovery action for you, you get to rename the consequence aspect to show that it’s in recovery. So, for example, Broken Leg could become Stuck in a Cast, Scandalized could become Damage Control, and so on. This doesn’t free up the consequence slot, but it serves as an indicator that you’re recovering, and it changes the way the aspect’s going to be used while it remains.
Whether you change the consequence’s name or not—and sometimes it might not make sense to do so—mark it with a star so that everyone remembers that recovery has started.
Then, you just have to wait the time. For a mild consequence, you only have to wait one whole scene after the recovery action, and then you can remove the aspect and clear the slot. For a moderate, you have to wait one whole session after the recovery action (which means if you do the recovery action in the middle of a session, you should recover sometime in the middle of next session). For a severe, you have to wait one whole scenario after the recovery action.
Cynere ended up with the mild consequence Bloodied as the result of the fight.
Back at the inn, Zird attempts to bandage up the cut. He has a stunt called, “Scholar, Healer” which allows him to use his Lore skill for recovery obstacles. He makes his Lore roll at a difficulty of Fair (+2) and succeeds.
This allows Cynere’s Bloodied aspect to get renamed as Bandaged and start the recovery process. After the next whole scene, she’ll be able to erase that aspect from her sheet and use her mild consequence again in a subsequent conflict.
Extreme Consequences
In addition to the normal set of mental and physical consequences, every PC also gets one last-ditch option to stay in a fight – the extreme consequence. Between major milestones, you can only use this option once.
An extreme consequence will absorb up to an 8-stress hit, but at a very serious cost—you must replace one of your aspects (except the high concept, that’s off limits) with the name of the consequence. That’s right, an extreme consequence is so serious that taking it literally changes who you are.
Unlike other consequences, you can’t make a recovery action to diminish an extreme consequence—you’re stuck with it until your next major milestone. After that, you can rename the extreme consequence to reflect that you’re no longer vulnerable to the worst of it, as long as you don’t just switch it out for whatever your old aspect was. Taking an extreme consequence is a permanent character change; treat it as such.
Conceding the Conflict
When all else fails, you can also just give in. Maybe you’re worried that you can’t absorb another hit, or maybe you decide that continuing to fight is just not worth the punishment. Whatever the reason, you can interrupt any action at any time to declare that you concede the conflict. This is super-important—once dice hit the table, what happens happens, and you’re either taking more stress, more consequences, or getting taken out.
Concession gives the other person what they wanted from you, or in the case of more than two combatants, removes you as a concern for the opposing side. You’re out of the conflict, period.
But it’s not all bad. First of all, you get a fate point for choosing to concede. If you’ve sustained any consequences in this conflict, you get an additional fate point for each consequence on top of that. These fate points may be used once this conflict is over.
Second of all, you get to avoid the worst parts of your fate. Yes, you lost, and you have to reflect that loss when you narrate. You can’t use this privilege to undermine the opponent’s victory, either—the group has to pass muster on whatever you say happens.
But it can make the difference between, say, being mistakenly left for dead and ending up in the enemy’s clutches, in shackles, without any of your stuff—the sort of thing that can happen if you’re taken out instead. That’s not nothing.
Og proves to be too much for Landon to handle in the warehouse conflict, having hit with several devastating attacks in the course of the fight.
Before Amanda’s next turn, Lenny says, “I concede. I don’t want to risk any more consequences.”
Landon’s taken both a mild and a moderate consequence. He gets a fate point for conceding, as well as two more fate points for the two consequences he took, giving him three total.
Amanda says, “So, what are you trying to avoid here?”
Lenny says, “Well, I don’t want to get killed or captured, for starters.”
Amanda chuckles and says, “Fair enough. So, we’ll say that Og knocks you out cold and doesn’t bother to finish you off, because he still has Cynere and Zird to deal with. He may even think you’re dead. I feel like the loss needs some more teeth, though. Hm…”
Ryan pipes up with, “How about he takes your sword as a trophy?”
Amanda nods. “Yeah, that’s good. He knocks you out, spits on you, and takes your sword.”
Lenny says, “Bastard! I’m so getting him back for that one…”
Getting Taken Out
If you don’t have any stress or consequences left to buy off all the shifts of a hit, that means you’re taken out.
Taken out is bad—it means not only that you can’t fight anymore, but that the person who took you out gets to decide what happens to you after the conflict and what your loss looks like. Obviously, they can’t narrate anything that’s out of scope for the conflict (like having you die from shame), but that still gives someone else a lot of power over your character that you can’t really do anything about.
Character Death
So, if you think about it, there’s not a whole lot keeping someone from saying, after taking you out, that your character dies. If you’re talking about a physical conflict where people are using nasty sharp weapons, it certainly seems reasonable that one possible outcome of defeat is your character getting killed.
In practice, though, this assumption might be pretty controversial depending on what kind of group you’re in. Some people think that character death should always be on the table, if the rules allow it—if that’s how the dice fall, then so be it.
Others are more circumspect, and consider it very damaging to their fun if they lose a character upon whom they’ve invested hours and hours of gameplay, just because someone spent a lot of fate points or their die rolls were particularly unlucky.
We recommend following the latter approach, mainly for the following reason: most of the time, sudden character death is a pretty boring outcome when compared to putting that same character through hell instead. All the story threads that character was connected to just kind of stall with no resolution, and you have to expend a bunch of effort and time figuring out how to get a new character into play mid-stride.
That doesn’t mean there’s no room for character death in the game, however. We just recommend that you save that possibility for conflicts that are extremely pivotal, dramatic, and meaningful for that character—in other words, conflicts in which that character would knowingly and willingly risk dying in order to win. Players and GMs, if you’ve got the feeling that you’re in that kind of conflict, talk it out when you’re setting the scene and see how people feel.
At the very least, even if you’re in a hardcore group that invites the potential for character death on any taken out result, make sure that you telegraph the opponent’s lethal intent. GMs, this is especially important for you, so the players will know which NPCs really mean business and can concede to keep their characters alive if need be.
In a conflict, it’s important to track where everyone is relative to one another, which is why we divide the environment where the conflict’s taking place into zones. Where you have zones, you have people trying to move around in them in order to get at one another or at a certain objective.
Normally, it’s no big deal to move from one zone to another—if there’s nothing preventing you from doing so, you can always choose to move one zone in addition to your action for the exchange.
If you want to move more than one zone, a scene aspect suggests that it might be difficult to move freely, or another character is in your way, then you must make an overcome action using Athletics in order to move. This counts as your action for the exchange.
If you fail that roll, whatever was impeding you keeps you from moving. If you tie, you get to move, but your opponent takes a temporary advantage of some kind. If you succeed, you move without consequence. If you succeed with style, you can claim a temporary advantage in addition to your movement.
In our continuing warehouse conflict, Cynere wants to go after one of Og’s thugs, who has started shooting arrows down from the second floor. That requires her to cross one zone to get to the access ladder for the second floor, and then climb it up, making her opponent two zones away.
She’s currently mixing it up with a thug herself, whose Fighting is at Fair (+2).
Lily tells Amanda her intent, and Amanda says, “Okay, the thug you’re fighting is going to try and keep you from getting away, so he’s going to provide active opposition.”
Cynere’s Athletics is Great (+4). She rolls and gets +0, for a Great result. The thug rolls his opposition, and rolls -1, for a result of Average (+1). That gives Cynere three shifts, and a success with style.
Lily and Amanda describe Cynere faking out the thug, vaulting over a crate, and taking the ladder two rungs at a time to get up top. She takes a temporary advantage, which she calls Momentum.
The thug up top swallows hard, bringing his crossbow to bear…
Advantages in a Conflict
Remember that aspects you create as advantages follow all the rules for scene aspects—the GM can use them to justify overcome actions, they last until they’re made irrelevant or the scene is over, and in some cases may represent as much a threat to you as
When you’re creating advantages in a conflict, think about how long you want that aspect to stick around and whom you want to have access to it. It’s difficult for anyone else besides yourself or anyone on your side to justify using an advantage you stick to a target, but it’s also easier to justify getting rid of it—one overcome action could undo it. Placing an aspect on the environment means that it’s harder to justify getting rid of it (seriously, who is going to move that Huge Bookcase you just knocked over?), but anyone in the scene could potentially find a reason to take advantage of it.
In terms of options for advantages, the sky’s the limit. Pretty much any situational modifier you can think of can be expressed as an advantage. If you’re stuck on an idea, here are some examples:
Temporary Blinding: Throwing sand or salt in the enemy’s eyes is a classic action staple. This places a Blinded on a target, which could force them to do an overcome action for anything dependent on sight. Blinded might also come with opportunities for a compel, so keep in mind that your opponent might also be able to take advantage of this to replenish fate points.
Disarming: You knock an opponent’s weapon away, disarming them until they can recover it. The target will need an overcome action to recover their weapon.
Positioning: There are a lot of ways to use advantages to represent positioning, like High Ground or Cornered, which you can invoke to take advantage of that positioning as context demands. In some cases, that aspect may also force an overcome action if the target wants to move away.
Winded and Other Minor Hurts: Some strikes in a fight are only debilitating because they’re painful, rather than because they cause injury. Nerve hits, groin shots, and a lot of other “dirty fighting” tricks fall into this category. You can use an advantage to represent these, sticking your opponent with Pain-Blindness or Stunned or whatever, then following up with an attack that uses it to do more lasting harm.
Taking Cover: You can use advantages to represent positions of cover and invoke them for your defense. This can be as general as Found Some Cover or as specific as Behind the Big Oak Bar.
Altering the Environment: You can use advantages to alter the environment to your benefit, creating barriers to movement by scattering Loose Junk everywhere, or setting things On Fire. That latter example is a favorite in this game.
Other Actions in a Conflict
As stated above, you may find yourself in a situation where you want to do something else while your friends are fighting. You might be disarming a death trap, searching for a piece of information, or searching for hidden assailants.
In order to do this, GMs, set the player up with a modified form of challenge. One of the tasks is always “defend yourself”—in any exchange where someone attacks you, you must defend successfully in order to be able to take one of the other actions in the challenge. So long as no one has successfully attacked you or stuck an advantage on you, you can use your action to roll for one of the challenge goals.
Cynere is trying to get a door open, so that her and her friends can escape into an ancient vault rather than fighting off endless hordes of temple guardians.
Amanda says, “Well, let’s call it a Fair (+2) Crafts action to get the door open, and a Fair (+2) Physique roll to push it open enough to slide through, because it’s one of those heavy vault doors. The other action is defending yourself.”
On that exchange, Cynere successfully defends against an attack, so she uses her action to pick the lock. She fails, and decides to succeed at a cost. Amanda figures the easiest thing is to hit her with a consequence because she’s in a fight. So she gets the door open, but not before one of the temple guardians gives her a Gouged Leg.
On the next exchange, she doesn’t defend against the attack, so she doesn’t get to roll for the challenge.
On the third exchange, she defends and succeeds with style at the Physique roll to get the door open. She signals to her friends and takes a Head Start boost, because it’s about to be a chase…
Ending a Conflict
Under most circumstances, when all of the members of one side have either conceded the conflict or have been taken out, the conflict is over.
Once you know a conflict has definitively ended, GMs, you can pass out all the fate points earned from concession. Players, make a note of whatever consequences you suffered in the fight, and erase the check in all your stress boxes.
After much struggle and insanity, the warehouse conflict is finally over. Amanda concedes the conflict on behalf of Og and his remaining thug, meaning that the PCs stay alive and can proceed to check out the smuggled goods they were interested in.
Because it was a concession, Og gets away to fight another day. Because Lenny conceded to Amanda in an earlier example, Og also gets away with Landon’s sword as a personal trophy.
Because Lenny conceded, he gets fate points. One for conceding, and another two for the mild and moderate consequences he took in the conflict. All the invocations used against him were free, so that’s all he gets. Three fate points.
Ryan gets two fate points, because Amanda let one of the thugs invoke his Not the Face! twice against him during the conflict.
Lily gets no fate points, because all the invocations against her were free, all from maneuvers. Because she won, she doesn’t get awarded for the consequences she took.
Transitioning to a Contest or Challenge
You may find yourself in a conflict scene where the participants are no longer interested in or willing to harm one another, because of some change in the circumstances. If that happens, and there’s still more to resolve, you can transition straight into a contest or challenge as you need. In that case, hold off on awarding the end-of-conflict fate points and whatnot until you’ve also resolved the contest or challenge.
In an earlier example, Cynere managed to get a vault door open so the three PCs could escape an endless horde of temple guardians. They all decide to run and try to lose them.
Now, the guardians and the PCs have mutually opposing goals but can’t harm one another, so now it’s a contest. Instead of running the next exchange, Amanda just starts setting up for the chase.
Even though the PCs have some consequences and are due some fate points, they won’t get them until after we find out if they can get away, or if they get caught.
Characters can help each other out on actions. There are two versions of helping in Fate—combining skills, for when you are all putting the same kind of effort into an action (like using Physique together to push over a crumbling wall), and stacking advantages, for when the group is setting a single person up to do well (like causing multiple distractions so one person can use Stealth to get into a fortress).
When you combine skills, figure out who has the highest skill level among the participants. Each other participant who has at least an Average (+1) in the same skill adds a +1 to the highest person’s skill level, and then only the lead character rolls. So if you have three helpers and you’re the highest, you roll your skill level +3.
If you fail a roll to combine skills, all of the participants share in the potential costs—whatever complication affects one character affects all of them, or everyone has to take consequences, etc. Alternatively, you can impose a cost that affects all the characters the same.
Continuing with our temple chase example, because it’s group vs. group, everyone decides it’d be easier to just combine skills.
Of the three PCs, Cynere has the highest Athletics, at Great (+4). Landon has Good (+3) Athletics, so he contributes +1 to Cynere. Zird has no Athletics skill, so he doesn’t contribute. Cynere rolls the contest on behalf of the PCs at Superb (+5).
Amanda’s temple guardians only have Average (+1) Athletics, but there are six of them, so they roll Fantastic (+6) for the purposes of the contest.
When you stack advantages, each person takes a create advantage action as usual, and gives whatever free invocations they get to a single character.
Zird and Cynere want to set Landon up for an extremely big hit on Tremendor, the much-feared giant of the Northern Wastes.
Both Cynere and Zird roll to create an advantage on their turns, resulting in three free invocations on a Flashy Distraction they make from Zird’s magical fireworks and Cynere’s glancing hits.
They pass those to Landon, and on his turn, he uses them all for a gigantic +6 to his attack.
Scene Aspects And Zones In Mental Conflicts
In a mental conflict, it might not always make sense to use scene aspects and zones to describe a physical space. It’d make sense in an interrogation, for example, where the physical features of the space create fear, but not in a really violent argument with a loved one. Also, when people are trying to hurt each other emotionally, usually they’re using their target’s own weaknesses against them—in other words, their own aspects.
So, you may not even need scene aspects or zones for a lot of mental conflicts. Don’t feel obligated to include them.
GMs, if you have a lot of nameless NPCs in your scene, feel free to have them use passive opposition to keep your dice rolling down. Also, consider using mobs instead of individual NPCs to keep things simple.
If, for whatever reason, you want to forego your defense and take a hit (like, say, to interpose yourself in the path of an arrow that’s about to skewer your friend), you can.
Because you’re not defending, the attacker’s rolling against Mediocre (+0) opposition, which means you’re probably going to take a bad hit. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1101 |
__label__wiki | 0.606793 | 0.606793 | 2011 October The Personal Property of John Wayne Signature AuctionAuction #7045
A Wardrobe Continuity Script from "Chisum."...
Owner's willingness to entertain and respond to Offers has not yet been verified.
A Wardrobe Continuity Script from "Chisum." Warner Bros., 1970. Goldenrod covers, set inside further manila covers, screen play by Andrew J. Fenady, various dates noted from "September 1969" on, with countless pages added to the standard script for wardrobe and other continuity purposes, tabs affixed to side show individual character names, each page has a handwritten itemization of all articles of clothing for that character plus attached small color photographs showing the actor in costume; about seven never-before-seen photos are of Wayne while others depict his co-stars including Forest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, and Pamela McMyler, among others; extensive notes handwritten in pencil appear throughout as do other photographs showing the set and the actors; overall, this is a comprehensive and highly detailed look at the behind-the-scenes workings of this film. (Please note most photographs are now unglued from their original pages.)
The Personal Property of John Wayne DVD
In this behind-the-scenes documentary, Ethan and Patrick Wayne share their memories of growing up with a Hollywood legend, and reveal why the time is right for the auction of the personal property of their movie-star father. Includes an exclusive look at the one-of-a-kind items from Wayne's extraordinary life. A must-have collector's DVD for all Wayne fans. DVD sales benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Order your copy of this remarkable DVD for just $19.95 today.
Watch a 30 second preview
It was a great day! Thank you for the great work! I appreciate your help and attention on the sale.
Richard L.,
Island Park, NY | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1102 |
__label__wiki | 0.541752 | 0.541752 | Elegant Antiques, Tiffany Art Glass, Lighting and Fine Art
in Fontaine's Press Releases, Press Release, Press Release
Elegant Antiques, Tiffany Art Glass, Lighting and Fine Art at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery Sept. 14
PITTSFIELD, MASS. — John Fontaine and his team have been busy this summer acquiring hundreds of consignments from all over the country to kick off its fall auction season, beginning on Saturday, September 14, at 11 am with an Antiques & Fine Art Auction. This auction will include 450 lots of antiques and fine art, over 100 pieces of rare art glass by Tiffany Studios and Quezal, 19th and 20th Century lighting by Tiffany Studios, Duffner & Kimberly, Handel, Pairpoint, Wilkinson, Unique, etc.; American Victorian, Gothic and figural carved furniture; leaded glass windows, fine clocks, music boxes and automatons, paintings, Royal Vienna and KPM porcelains, gold and diamond jewelry, fine silver, cameo glass, bronze and marble statuary, Black Forest items and more.
“We’ve taken our time in putting together a high-quality auction with top names from Tiffany to Hermes,” said Fontaine. “From elegant decorative objects like leaded glass lamps and French silver vases to fine sculpture and paintings, this auction will appeal to buyers with a taste for the finer things in life.”
An expected auction headliner is a large group of monumental and religious stained glass windows attributed to Joseph Lauber (1855-1948). Estimated at $50/100,000, the window grouping, “Sermon on the Mount,” circa 1905-1914, forms a scene of Jesus with a glowing halo, seated and delivering a sermon to various groups of people amid a detailed landscape. When fully assembled, the windows measure 25 feet high by 16 feet wide.
The four main windows use heavy drapery glass, multiple plating and acid burned flash glass while above them is a grouping featuring windows with Bible passages. Lauber apprenticed under John La Farge and worked for Tiffany Studios from 1888-1892; he was a talented artist having a range of works from windows, sculpture, mural painting and mosaic design. These windows postdate his employment with Tiffany Studios.
Tiffany Studios, not surprisingly, figures prominently in the auction, including several leaded glass lamps in some of the most desirable patterns that Tiffany designed. Among the standouts are a rare aquatic fish lamp on a bronze pumpkin base ($80/100,000), having a 16-inch diameter shade surrounded by five swimming fish in gold mottled glass and resting on five arms; a Daffodil table lamp ($25/35,000) with a 20-inch diameter leaded conical shade decorated with long green and blue leaves and golden yellow mottled glass daffodil flowers; a 14-inch Poinsettia table lamp ($20/30,000) with a domical leaded glass shade having a band of pink and purple poinsettias with green and gold centers and a Tiffany Studios 16-inch Poppy table lamp ($20/30,000) having a conical leaded glass shade in the poppy pattern with green and orange-amber poppies.
In the Tiffany Favrile glass category, there will be approximately 100 fine pieces, including a large jack-in-the-pulpit vase, gladioli paperweight vase, blackeyed susan paperweight vase, jonquil paperweight vase, reactive glass vase, faceted agate vase, Tel el Amarna vases, floriform vases, plus several decorated pieces.
Luxury accessories made in France by renowned craftsmen and designers will be plentiful in this auction and include two pairs of vases by Jean Puiforcat (French, 1897-1945). The first is a rare and signed pair of Art Deco silver flower vases, circa 1928 ($30/50,000), 5 inches tall. The second, also signed, is a pair of Art Deco silver and fumed glass flower vases, circa 1936 ($20/30,000), 14⅜ inches tall. Another silver category highlight is a pair of signed Hermes silver wine coolers ($20/30,000) tapered with an octagonal shape, having tubular handles, circa 1929, standing 11 inches tall.
The parade of renowned artists and designers across the block continues with a Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) “Taureau” ($30/50,000) faience pitcher, 12⅛ inches tall and stamped on the underside, “Edition Picasso” and “Madoura Plein Feu.”
Fine art, both sculptural and framed artworks for the wall, will be well represented in this auction, led by a 19th Century set of Four Seasons carved marble sculptures ($20/30,000). The sculptures depicting spring, summer, fall and winter are raised on four matching carved bases with cartouche shields, ribbons and fruit cluster garland. They range from 73 to 77 inches tall. Other fine art offerings include a Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998) pastel on paper ($10/15,000), titled “Mujer Somnolienta Desnuda,” signed and dated 1975; sight 26 by 19 inches; and a James Crawford Thom (American, 1835-1898) oil on canvas ($10/15,000), “Children at Play by Stream,” signed and dated 1877, sight 23⅞ by 42 inches.
Several lots of heavily carved and R.J. Horner furniture from dining sets to a mahogany sofa with griffin decoration will cross the block, led by a three-piece oak dining room set ($15/25,000). The sideboard and server have figural winged griffin supports on the heavily carved back panel and base with turned columns, scrolling filigree and seashell handles.
Rounding out the auction is a highly detailed Italian micromosaic panel depicting an Islamic scene ($15/25,000) of a soldier on horseback at night attacking an enemy soldier, sight 17 by 20 ¾ inches; an 18K white gold double link necklace with pendant ($10/15,000) measuring 16½ inches long, and a large marble and gilt bronze mantle clock ($10/15,000) with a 9-inch repousse brass dial depicting dolphins and a winged angel with inset porcelain Roman hour numerals, signed “Paris Duryea et Potter New-York, Made in France,” 33 by 22 by 9 inches.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is the oldest operating auction gallery in Western Massachusetts. It has earned the trust of collectors, investors and gallery owners worldwide. All cataloged lots receive nationwide exposure to the firm’s database of more than 23,000 select buyers. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been voted “Best Antique Auction Gallery” eight times by the public.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality items, to include furniture, lighting, clocks and watches, paintings, porcelains, bronze and marble statuary, Asian items, art glass and cameo glass, Russian objects, silver, musical, coin-op, advertising, toys, banks, gaming and carousel items for future sales. Consignments are currently being accepted for the November 16th, 2019 and January 18th, 2020 auctions.
The firm will buy outright or accept on consignment fine antiques, collections or entire estates. Call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak with John Fontaine, or you can send Mr. Fontaine an email to info@fontainesauction.com. For more information about the company and the upcoming auction schedule, visit www.fontainesauction.com. Updates are posted frequently.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is located at 1485 West Housatonic Street (Route 20), Pittsfield, Mass. For more information, www.FontainesAuction.com or call 413-448-8922.
Auction GalleryJohn FontaineTiffany StudiosWestern Massachusetts | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1113 |
__label__wiki | 0.847956 | 0.847956 | FIFA eWorld Cup Highlights
Does he Dare Venture Outside his Major?
“Just Breathe” I thought
FIFA’s first ever Cup analysis
History is in Progress
Barca, unbeaten in 38 season games, equal a record
April 7, 2018 April 7, 2018 Football Report La Liga Lionel Messi
Unbeatable Barcelona! With a hat-trick of Lionel Messi, the Catalan team beat Leganés (3-1) on Saturday in the Spanish league, getting closer to the title while equaling the best series of invincibility in the history of La Liga, owned by Real Sociedad ( 38 matches in 1979-1980).
At Camp Nou, Messi scored with a brilliant free-kick (27 ‘), a low shot (32’) and Ousmane Dembélé (87), while Nabil El Zhar had reduced the score (68th).
And it’s been 38 days in a row that Barça has not lost in the Championship: the last 7 matches of the past season with coach Luis Enrique and the 31 of this campaign under the aegis of Ernesto Valverde.
The last Catalan defeat in this competition dates back to April 8, 2017 in Malaga (2-0). Since then, the Blaugrana team has shown a strong safety and reliability and seems to be moving towards the 25th title of champion in the club’s history.
With this success, the Barça (1st, 79 pts) provisionally counts twelve lengths ahead of Atletico Madrid (2nd, 67 pts) and sixteen on Real Madrid (3rd, 63 pts) before the derby between his two dolphins Madrid Sunday at the Santiago- Bernabeu stadium.
As many as seven matches of the term, the Valverde team may be more than one of them.
Messi scored more than Leganés
Saturday, the Argentinean scored his 27th, 28th and 29th goals in this Liga and he ahead of the ranking of scorers his great rival Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo (22 goals) and his Barcelona partner Luis Suarez (22).
On his own, Messi scored more in this Liga than the entire Leganés team (25 goals)!
And the goalkeeper “pepinero” Ivan Cuellar could only bow to the free-kick perfectly wound by the Argentine (27th), on his close shot at the bottom of the post (32nd) after a pass full Ax Coutinho or on his concatenation control of the chest-deviation of the outside of the foot (87th).
These three goals made it easier for Barça to win the match in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final quarter-final against AS Roma (4-1). This promises many difficulties to the Romans on Tuesday for the second leg.
Valverde also took the opportunity to rest several regular holders (Iniesta, Busquets, Umtiti, Alba …) lining Sergi Roberto to an unusual left-back position, or Andre Gomes in the middle.
Seville on a slippery slope
On the right wing, the Frenchman Dembélé revealed himself alive and available, even if his last gesture deserves more precision. He caught up late in the game with a decisive pass (87th).
A little earlier, another quarter-finalist club in C1 had a nightmarish afternoon: Sevilla fell (4-0) to Vigo with a hat-trick by Iago Aspas, author of 19 goals in this Liga.
Barely recovered from its 2-1 defeat on Tuesday against Bayern Munich, the Andalusian club went into doubt, while coach Vincenzo Montella had aligned an eleven reworked with the French Wissam Ben Yedder peak. If they made equal play in the first period, the Sevillians sank in second.
In the standings, the defeat of Seville (7th, 46 pts) rebates the cards in the race for the qualifying places for the Europa League since Vigo (9th, 43 pts) is more than three lengths of the Andalusians. Betis Sevilla, winner of Eibar 2-0, does the right thing (5th, 49 pts).
In short, the team of Montella, who still has a win in La Liga, seems to have slippery slope before going to Munich Wednesday, then face FC Barcelona April 21 in the final of the King’s Cup.
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__label__cc | 0.651518 | 0.348482 | Teladoc Adds to its Services With Tailored Nutrition Plans
Teladoc Health, Inc. TDOC continued the extension of its clinical services with the launch of Teladoc Nutrition, a series of customized nutrition counselling solutions accompanied with specialized care from a registered dietitian.
Lack of proper diet is one of the major reasons for complicated health situations among Americans. With this virtual access to nutrition services, the company’s current suite of healthcare solutions is expected to encourage better long-term health outcomes.
The company is also likely to lower overall medical expenditure with this strategic move, especially for patients with chronic and complex health conditions.
This action will benefit patients through an array of enhanced clinical services offered by Teladoc, which in turn, would enrich their experiences and produce better health results. A personalized nutrition plan would cater to their individual unique health needs.
Members availing this nutrition service will directly work with accredited registered dietitians (RDs) compared with nutritionists or wellness coaches. They will assess clinical nutrition requirements and plan personalized programs on the basis of updated, science-based guidelines congruent with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. These services even help reduce long-term medical costs.
This service will broaden Teladoc’s existing portfolio of products and services including clinical conditions, telehealth solutions, expert medical services, behavioral health solutions, guidance and support plus platform and program services.
The company is fast gaining ground in the rapidly growing telehealth services industry in the United States with ample scope to flourish owing to rising health care costs following inefficient care, duplication of services, significant waste and extreme variation in access, cost and quality of care.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock have surged 43.5% in a year’s time against the industry’s decline of 19.3%.
Stocks to Consider
Investors interested in the medical sector can take a look at some better-ranked stocks like LHC Group, Inc. LHCG, Amedisys, Inc. AMED and CRH Medical Corporation CRHM.
LHC Group specializes in the post-acute continuum of care, primarily for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. The company has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and average four-quarter beat of 8.1%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Amedisys provides healthcare services in the United States. In the trailing four quarters, the company’s average beat was 21.1%. It sports a Zacks Rank of 1.
CRH Medical Corporation delivers products and services to gastroenterologists in the United States and Canada. In the last four quarters, the company’s average beat was 50%. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>
CRH Medical Corporation (CRHM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
LHC Group, Inc. (LHCG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Amedisys, Inc. (AMED) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Teladoc Health, Inc. (TDOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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China’s Deadly Coronavirus Cover-Up Is Getting Worse | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1117 |
__label__wiki | 0.914202 | 0.914202 | FST Biometrics
Physical Access & Enterprise Month: Is Contactless The Key?
With another ISC West conference and exhibition behind us, we are once again looking to the future of biometric access control with fresh eyes. The annual Las Vegas security conference is renowned for setting the biometric benchmark when it comes to access control trends every year, and last week one topic stood out as a…
Prestigious UK Boarding School Deploys IMID System from FST Biometrics
“The IMID solution is lauded for its passive authentication capability, with the system using facial and gait recognition, with voice recognition offering an additional, optional factor.” FST Biometrics has seen another high-profile deployment of its In Motion Identification technology: The UK’s Wellington College has deployed the IMID solution for access control of its fitness center.…
FST CTO Leads Israeli Delegation at ISO Biometrics Meeting
Members of the International Standards Organization are convening to discuss biometric technologies this month, and FST Biometrics will have a prominent seat at the table. The company has announced that its CTO, Shahar Belkin, is leading the Israeli delegation for The International Meeting of ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 37, Biometrics Committee. According to a statement from FST,…
IMID Access Control Tech Secures HQ of Iconic Canadian Transport Firm
“The technology was integrated with Automatic Systems’ SmartLane turnstiles, and in collaboration with Canadian partner Infynia Security.” An iconic Canadian company has deployed FST Biometrics‘ In Motion Identification (IMID) system at its headquarters in Montreal. CN (or, the ‘Canadian National Railway Company’) has implemented FST’s biometric access control system at all of the access points…
Latest Version of IMID Access Gets Lenel Certification
FST Biometrics has received Lenel certification for the latest version of its In Motion Identification (IMID) biometric authentication system. FST Biometrics first joined the Lenel OpenAccess Alliance program in summer of 2014. Its latest certification, for IMID Access 3.6, ensures that the company’s flagship platform remains compatible with Lenel’s OnGuard access control system. In a…
INTERVIEW: Gary Drutin, CEO, FST Biometrics
FindBiometrics President Peter O’Neill recently spoke with Gary Drutin, CEO, FST Biometrics. FST’s contactless biometric technology, which leverages a combination of face and behavioral recognition, has been deployed all over the globe in a variety of verticals, most recently securing access at the HydroLife center health club in Israel. The following interview begins with talk of FST Biometrics’…
Health Club Uses IMID Solution for Passive Member Identification
“…the IMID system has been installed at HydroLife’s entrance turnstiles, automatically identifying each member as they come through.” The HydroLife Center health club in Israel has adopted FST Biometrics‘ In Motion Identification (IMID) technology for member identification. It’s a matter of efficiency and convenience. Commenting in a statement, the HydroLife Center’s CEO, Vered Libstein, explained…
FST Biometrics Celebrates ISC West Wins
FST Biometrics is celebrating a big win at this year’s ISC West security conference. Its IMID Access 4.0 platform was recognized in the 2017 SIA New Product Showcase, winning the award for Best User Authentication, Identification, Credentialling and Management Product; and it won in the Access Control – Biometrics category of Security Today’s Govies awards.…
Look and Listen: Check Out Our ISC West 2017 Highlights
We’re back from the ISC West conference and exhibition in Las Vegas, where we were bringing your live reporting straight from the industry-leading physical access control event. As biometrics and identity management technologies are coming further into the cultural mainstream, adapting and evolving with new innovations in connectivity and mobility, the technology is starting to…
Biometrics Buzz Continues Through Day Two of ISC West
The buzz kept building through day two of this year’s ISC West security expo in Las Vegas. The day started with the Security 5K Run / 2K Walk, an event in support of the Mission 500 child and family support charity. The event raised $125,000, which probably went some way in energizing ISC West attendees,…
ISC West 2017: Interview with Arie Melamed Yekel, CMO, FST Biometrics [AUDIO]
Biometrics are booming at ISC West in Las Vegas this week and FindBiometrics is there on the exhibition floor. Today, FindBiometrics President Peter O’Neill stopped by the FST Biometrics booth, where the contactless biometrics company is showcasing the latest upgrade to its In Motion Identification (IMID) access control platform—a frictionless security solution that identifies individuals based…
Upgraded IMID Platform Can Operate in Low Light, Uses Deep Learning Algorithms
FST Biometrics has upgraded its multimodal biometric identification platform and plans to show it off at next week’s ISC West security expo. Already deployed in a range of environments, FST’s In Motion Identification, or IMID, platform combines multiple biometric modalities to passively identify registered individuals, including facial recognition and physical behavioral biometrics (including gait recognition),…
IP Security Platform Integrates IMID Biometrics
FST Biometrics has teamed up with Genetec to bring its In Motion Identification (IMID) technology to the Genetec Security Center. Combining facial recognition with behavioral biometrics, FST’s IMID solution has seen numerous access control deployments, allowing for the passive authentication of individuals as they approach entry points. The Genetec Security Center, meanwhile, is an IP…
IMID Integrated Into Symmetry Access Control Platform
FST Biometrics‘ IMID biometric identification system has been integrated into AMAG’s Symmetry access control platform. The move could significantly extend the market presence of IMID, which uses a combination of facial recognition and behavioral biometrics to automatically identify subjects. In a statement announcing the integration, FST asserted that AMAG’s Symmetry solution is FICAM, FIPS-201, and…
Pacific Palisades Private Club Embraces IMID Access Control
FST Biometrics‘ In Motion Identification (IMID) access control system has been deployed at Bel-Air Bay Club, a private beach club in California’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood. The IMID system—which automatically identifies individuals based on an innovative combination of facial recognition and behavioral biometrics, including gait recognition—has been integrated with the Bel-Air Bay Club’s own membership management system,…
FST Wins Innovation Award from Frost & Sullivan
Growth consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan has awarded FST Biometrics the 2016 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Visionary Innovation Leadership. The company is being recognized for its innovative In Motion Identification (IMID) system, which combines multiple biometrics including face, voice, and gait recognition for identification and authentication; it can also incorporate RFID technology. The…
FST Expands Leadership with New CEO
Further adapting its positioning for continuing growth, FST Biometrics is expanding its upper management. The company has appointed Gary Drutin as its new CEO; meanwhile previous CEO Aharon Zeevi Farkash “will shift his focus to the areas of innovation and strategy development,” according to a statement from the company. Drutin previously held a position as sales…
INTERVIEW: Arie Melamed, CMO, FST Biometrics
FindBiometrics President Peter O’Neill recently had the opportunity to speak with Arie Melamed, CMO of FST Biometrics, ahead of next week’s ASIS conference—held September 12-14 in Orlando, Florida. The conversation with Melamed begins with an examination of the recent growth experienced by FST and an overview of its flagship biometric system, IMID (In Motion Identification). IMID is multimodal, convenient, and…
FST Biometrics Reports 30 Percent Jump in Customer Base Over Past Year
FST Biometrics is undergoing considerable growth. The company reports that over the past 12 months it has increased its customer base by about 30 percent, and is now seeing about 1.5 million identifications through its platform per month. Its platform is the IMID (In Motion Identification) system, a multi-factor biometric identification platform combining facial, voice,… | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1118 |
__label__cc | 0.566275 | 0.433725 | Mon Mar 4th, 2019, 02:34 PM
Maury wrote: View Post
You just flipped their switch.
LOL !
Cmon Maury... Look at what Urjiri has put on the floor for his shot at it..."it" is championship that doesn't come along very often.
You have an all world wing in Leonard...
Two all NBA guys who are a bit long in the tooth (but no so long that they can't find another gear) who see that this just might be their best kick at the can in their respective careers in Marc and Kyle...
You got a guy who has been there and done that in Danny Green who wouldn't mind another ring and like gasol and lowry has gas in the tank...
You got an up and coming PF/SF whose motor never idles in Siakam who is going to be a kick ass player for years to come and a mirror image of him in OG....
You got Jeremy Lin who wants to ball it up and shove it up the ass of all those teams and doubters that say he is a one hit wonder from his run in NYC
You got Freddy and Norm who no one gave a chance too who also burn like Lin....
You got Serge who sees he can get back for another run at it and make good when OKC flamed out the last time he got there...
The Raps are loaded and they got something to prove... what makes them the favourite in the east is that this might be it..their shot..and if you are of that mindset you play harder.. you play tougher.. you overlook and play through shit physically ... because you might not have this chance again.
Boston can flip something.. but its not a switch...
Last edited by Demographic Shift; Mon Mar 4th, 2019, 03:17 PM.
Hey Demo remember how all last season a few of us kept saying "Boston sucks!" and they couldn't keep pulling last second wins out of their asses forever?
Well we were wrong in that they did keep it up for one full season, but half a year later it sure looks like karma's a bitch.
Brad Stevens = Overrated
Boston = SUCKS
Genius is often a year ahead of their time....
Kyrie - Lebron < > Winner
Rudy Bargnani
Serious question has Kyrie ever won a playoff series without Lebron?
He was hurt last year and Cleveland was terrible without Lebron. The answer is no right?
Rudy Bargnani wrote: View Post
you are correct sir...
He's never even been in a playoff game without LeBron. Kyrie is so overrated as a winner.
The Double Champ is here!
Dynasty King: RRNBADLS7
Raptors: Larry O'Brien
Watched The Jump today.. the jump is pure WWF entertainment for the NBA... lots of fluff.. but not much hard core NBA analysis..Trracy McGrady is especially entertaining ... you know he is dim when the on air host Rachel Nichols has to explain things to him...
What was interesting today is that Brian Windhurst .. who is a bona fide NBA insider....said he thought the that Chowderheads could.. after searching for their game for 75% of the season.. find their game next week under the couch and subsequently win the East....I think he filled his quota of LA Lakers and Boston Celtic promotions after that whopper...
I like Windhurst ...and I don't know if ESPN has pictures of him with a farm animal... but thats almost borderline stupid... the puff piece continues on where he says it would be hard for them to beat Philly in the opening round if the playoffs started today and they had to face Philly.... and it would be really hard to beat Toronto.... and then they would have to play the Bucks... so he saved face with that.. but to say that the Clitlics still have a chance to be the best team in the East must have pained him ....
So on a clear day.. with no wind... and good luck.... they could get out of the East....even if there is a divide wider than the San Andreas fault in the locker room and their best player is pouting like someone told her she can't watch little pony dance party for a month...
I'm starting to get the idea demographic shift is not a big Boston guy
lmfao !
Pacers have an absolutely nasty schedule coming up, brutal month of March. Including @Philly. I'd go as far as to say if they lose the Philly it's curtains for them getting 3rd seed. I think this is what we're looking at:
1. Milwaukee
2. Toronto
3. Philly
4. Indy
6-8: who gives a shit
If anyone is curious
Marc vs Embiid H2H http://bkref.com/tiny/MCa5k
Serge vs Embiid H2H http://bkref.com/tiny/HluTX
It would be a real battle against Philly but I think Simmons's inability to shoot is a gigantic Achilles heel.
https://nesn.com/2019/03/nba-rumors-...ics-teammates/
It seems as if Kyrie Irving’s outward discontent is legitimate.
The Boston Celtics guard has become increasingly moody and decreasingly chatty amid what’s turning into a season to forget for the Green.
Irving seemingly is out of answers after yet another loss Sunday — this one to the Houston Rockets at TD Garden — and a report from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor seems to indicate the 26-year-old is growing increasingly unhappy.
“Sources around the team told me that Irving’s persona has changed, too: He’s become disengaged and detached from those around the team,” O’Connor wrote Monday.
The taxing season apparently has Irving changing his tune about his future. Irving told fans before the season he planned to sign a long-term contract extension with the Celtics, and according to O’Connor, Irving told his teammates the same thing. However, O’Connor also alluded to “talk that Irving’s friendships on the team start and end with (Jayson) Tatum.”
you hate to see it.
I think Boston gets the 4 seed even with their Kyrie issues. Baynes has been hurt. He's so important for them. They are like a completely different team when he's on the court and when he's not.
I think it's because Horford gets more rest and doesn't have to bang with bigger guys. Horford has been the reason why Boston's been so good the last few years. I hope he opts out this year and goes out West. One of my favourite NBA players but can't cheer for the guy because of the team he's on.
Scraptor wrote: View Post
I like Philly's starters (that's maybe the best starting 5 in the league outside GSW) but I believe that Toronto matches up particularly well against them defensively, while offering some issues for Philly on the other end of the floor. Lowry and Siakam especially, I think, pose unusual problems for Philly, especially given the need to focus on Leonard.
planetmars wrote: View Post
I dunno 3 games back with 18 left is no joke. If Pacers go 9-9 then celtics have to go 12-6 just to tie. They play @warriors tomorrow to start a 4 game California trip. You gotta think they need at least split those 4.
Pacers and celtics still play each other twice, once in each building which could all but decide it | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1125 |
__label__cc | 0.717804 | 0.282196 | Tackling the lease accounting transition for 2020
By Jennifer Booth
2020 is on the horizon, and the next decade is sure to usher in a fresh perspective and continued change for government agencies. As agencies plan for the next year’s programs, budgets, resources and activities, a critical regulatory update may be flying under the radar.
In 2017, the Government Accounting Standards Board issued GASB 87, Leases, which requires governmental entities to recognize all leases on their balance sheet. For lessees, this is similar to regulations from the FASB and IFRS. Lessees will recognize a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability while lessors are required to recognize a lease receivable and a deferred inflow of resources. In simpler terms, the new rules are adding trillions of dollars’ worth of leases to balance sheets for the first time. The goal is to more accurately identify lease obligations and add more transparency for the users of governmental financial statements.
The rules of the new lease guidance from each regulatory body are incredibly complex, and the transition has been fraught for companies and organizations of all sizes. With those challenges in mind, the FASB recently approved a delay to the compliance deadline of ASC 842, Leases for private organizations. Unfortunately, government agencies have no such reprieve in sight. Government agencies and institutions must be in compliance with the new lease accounting standards for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019.
For government agencies, the challenges of compliance are confounded by a triple threat of factors: fewer resources, time constraints and expertise. As financial managers are planning for the year ahead, here are the critical considerations to address these concerns.
Scope & Situation
GASB 87 defines the scope of leased assets to include non-financial assets, such as land, buildings, equipment and vehicles. Many government agencies and institutions are lessors and lessees, with contracts for property, equipment or vehicles. While most institutions have a system of tracking fixed assets, many did not have a similar process for managing operating leases. While the use of the accounts payable department that processes payments on lease contracts will be of assistance, identifying leased assets throughout the organization will likely be a daunting task.
Identifying and categorizing these leases will require a coordinated effort across the full organization, and time is of the essence. A recent LeaseQuery survey of 200 accountants found that 71% of government agencies are only in the early stages of assessing their implementation plans. Organizations should immediately begin assessing their lease portfolio, assembling a lease transition team and establishing a point person who will coordinate across departments to identify and evaluate contracts moving forward.
Right Resources
The ideal lease accounting transition team not only has multi-departmental representation, but also technical expertise. The problem? Most organizations are working with small teams. In fact, according to LeaseQuery’s survey, 56% of organizations only have one or two staff members on their transition team. The reality is, financial departments across most organizations are already spread thin, and this is particularly true in the government sector, where the concept of “doing more with less” is the norm.
Expertise, too, is challenging to find. Many smaller government institutions will need access to professionals who have a deep understanding of the new rules and how to apply them. At large companies, securing additional resources or external help could be as simple as walking down the hall and getting buy-in from a decision maker. In some government agencies, additional resources may need to be secured and budgeted for in advance. In the meantime, finance managers will need to collaborate with the professionals they have access to and seek out available resources from the GASB and other technical experts for assistance.
Organizations should also determine whether they may need a technology solution to optimize their lease accounting transition and processes moving forward. As accounting grows more complex and the new standards take effect, a software solution can be a valuable resource to entities of any size. Lease accounting software helps to ensure not just accuracy but also efficiencies in accounting for lease arrangements, especially if there is a future amendment or renewal.
Companies who have completed their lease accounting transition consistently report two takeaways. The first is that it was harder than they anticipated, and the second is that they wished they started the process earlier. Government organizations should heed the advice of those who have gone before them and move quickly to ready their processes, tools, and technology—not just for compliance, but for optimization in the future.
Jennifer Booth is the Vice President of Accounting at LeaseQuery, one of the largest providers of purpose-built lease accounting software for the government sector.
The best federal employee is an informed one. Let us help with the newly revamped Federal News Network app. Download it to your device today!
Is VA’s $2.5B financial management overhaul getting lost in an IT budget stretched too thin? Veterans Affairs
CISA gets big budget boost in spending bill Federal Newscast
Agency Oversight All News Budget Commentary Jennifer Booth LeaseQuery Management | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1132 |
__label__cc | 0.624143 | 0.375857 | Ally Financial (ALLY) Outpaces Stock Market Gains: What You Should Know
Ally Financial (ALLY) closed at $31.19 in the latest trading session, marking a +0.39% move from the prior day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.15% gain on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.1%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.05%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the auto finance company and bank had lost 2.6% over the past month. This has lagged the Finance sector's gain of 0.15% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.32% in that time.
ALLY will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.95, up 3.26% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.64 billion, up 13.78% from the year-ago period.
ALLY's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $3.74 per share and revenue of $6.33 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +11.98% and +9.15%, respectively.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for ALLY. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.04% lower within the past month. ALLY is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, ALLY currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 8.3. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 6.72.
We can also see that ALLY currently has a PEG ratio of 0.66. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Financial - Consumer Loans was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.67 at yesterday's closing price.
The Financial - Consumer Loans industry is part of the Finance sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 54, putting it in the top 22% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks. Com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Boeing Stock Slips As This 737 Max Rival Sees 'Unprecedented Demand'
Century-Old Brands: Betting on Long-Lived Assets | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1134 |
__label__wiki | 0.814985 | 0.814985 | Will sing for food
Published 28 September, 2009
Oisín Kealy
As the music industry continues it’s downward gyre into absolute insustainability, a new generation of DIY artist are showing that you don’t need to sell you soul and/or recording rights for the opportunity of reaching a wider audience. Recognising that the current model is not putting food on the table, many independent and fringe artists are beginning to rely on direct support from their fans to make this career choice financially viable. Radiohead’s pay-what-you-like system was the first step, but hardly as bold as Patrick Wolf, for instance, who funded his most recent album directly from his fans investment through the site Bandstock. Here, stock bought in increments of £10 entitled you to priority releases, a credit on the liner notes, and a possible profit whenever enough money was raised to begin recording.
Alternatively, take someone like Amanda Palmer, sometime half-clothed piano maven of punk-cabaret outfit Dresden Dolls, who has proved herself acutely attuned to the possibilities afforded to musicians through social networking and the internet. To supplement the $0 return she saw from her album due to the big bad record
label, Palmer has raised $19,000 by organising donation-only gigs, auctioning memorabilia by webcast and selling t-shirts commemorating her Friday night conversations with fan via twitter. While she made this money primarily through merchandise, she often gives her music away for free, regularly dolling out guest list places or organising free gigs on beaches and backstreets. She truly relies on her fans in a completely, almost
ridiculously, unmediated way, staying at their houses while on tour, borrowing keyboards to practice on, even being brought food after gigs– keep her alive and she will entertain for free.
This direct, fan-to-artist support is not a new thing: it is an old thing. Ancient in fact, thinking in terms of travelling bards and royal entertainers. What is new is a million middle men stealing the revenue an artist earns in performing their art. Glasgow based Vendor Defender, who play the GUU debates chamber Tuesday 29th of September, are promoting their gig by giving their album away on the street. Lead singer Zak Garner-Purkis talks about what motivated them to this move. “We quickly came to realise that bands need to figure out new ways of connecting with their audience. Too many musicians sit around waiting for the fans to come to them instead of going out there and promoting their own music — we want to expand the number of fans we have, but also make them feel involved, so the idea is that if they do artwork, make videos, t-shirts, write, promote, then we’ll try and work together”.
This grassroots-style approach to promotion brings music back to where it should be, that immediate connection between the performer and the audience, and at this early stage in it’s revival, it is a model to watch for the future.
YARPP not activated | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1136 |
__label__wiki | 0.528495 | 0.528495 | The Antitrust Review of the Americas 2014
US: Unilateral Conduct
Ben Labow and Franklin M Rubinstein
In the United States, potentially exclusionary unilateral conduct (ie, conduct that does not require an agreement between two or more parties) can be challenged by the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state attorneys general (the Agencies) or private litigation brought in federal or state court. The principal federal statute, both for the DoJ and private parties, is section 2 of the Sherman Act (section 2).1 The FTC can also bring Sherman Act claims under section 5 of the FTC Act (section 5).2 In addition, in recent years, the FTC has actively debated the propriety of bringing ‘stand-alone’ cases under section 5 – that is, cases that would not suffice to support an action under the Sherman Act. As discussed in more detail below, this controversial use of section 5 has arisen in some of the more notable unilateral conduct matters brought this year in the United States.
Interested in becoming a GCR author? Please contact our Insight Manager.
International Competition Network
Panama: ACODECO
Suriname: CARICOM Competition Commission
US: Anti-Cartel Enforcement
US: CFIUS Review
US: IP and Antitrust
US: Mergers
US: Private Antitrust Litigation
US: Vertical Restraints
Canada: Competition Bureau
Canada: Overview
Canada: Cartel Regulation
Canada: Foreign Investment
Canada: Merger Notifications
Canada: Merger Review
Canada: Monopolisation
Canada: Private Antitrust Litigation
Brazil: CADE
Brazil: Abuse of Dominance
Brazil: Merger Control
Brazil: Private Antitrust Enforcement
Brazil: Private Equity
Chile: National Economic Prosecutor’s Office
Colombia: Superintendence of Industry and Commerce | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1138 |
__label__wiki | 0.944091 | 0.944091 | Mi’Kmaq flag to fly permanently outside Moncton city hall
By Silas Brown Global News
Posted June 21, 2019 2:32 pm
Updated June 21, 2019 3:41 pm
1:48 Mi’Kmaq flag to fly permanently outside Moncton city hall
WATCH: The Mi’kmaq flag will now fly permanently outside of Moncton’s city hall after a flag raising ceremony took place on National Indigenous People’s Day Friday. Silas Brown has more.
The Mi’kmaq flag will now fly permanently outside of Moncton’s city hall after the flag raising ceremony took place on National Indigenous People’s Day.
D.J. Joseph from Elsipogtog First Nation says the move on Friday will help make him and his people feel more included in the Moncton community.
“We have a hard time convincing people that we are a part of this community, in so far as we also have a hard time convincing ourselves at times that we are a part of this community, but this is a really big step towards collectively doing so,” he said.
READ MORE: Elsipogtog First Nation, federal government agree to memorandum of understanding
Elsipogtog elder Peter Jadis says the day, and the flag raising, are important steps as the nation continues to re-establish its culture and pass it along to the next generation.
“The schooling that we went through back in the sixties and seventies, you know, it took a lot of our traditional ways from us and now it’s all coming back,” he said.
This year, celebrations in Saint John are aimed at honouring the late Gary Sappier, the former organizer who died suddenly in January.
His lifelong friend and current organizer, Hubert Francis, says he sees the day as a chance for Indigenous people to take control of how they are represented.
READ MORE: Royal BC Museum to stop collecting Indigenous remains in reconciliation effort
“What people usually know about Indian people here in Canada is what Hollywood depicts as an Indian,” he said.
“In schools they don’t really tell the true history of our people. I think it’s about time that we told our story.”
The Saint John event began with powow dancing from Victor and Bette-Jo Levi. They say sharing aspects of Indigenous culture is an effective way to help fight discrimination.
“This is why we go and we dance and we show everybody and we try to explain everything so they would understand instead of ridiculing our ways,” Victor Levi said.
“The more they understand, the more they’ll learn. Because if they don’t understand then people tend to push things away.”
First NationsMonctonSaint JohnIndigenousCultureNational Indigenous Peoples Daypowow dancing
Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1141 |
__label__wiki | 0.512932 | 0.512932 | Home How To
How to send text messages from your computer using Android Messages
Abhinav Singh
Google recently updated the Android Messages app, which is the default messaging app on all its smartphones and can also be installed on other Android smartphones from the Play Store. The updated app comes with the ability to send messages from the comfort of your computer.
With the latest update, Android users will be able to access their messages and also send free messages using their browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Safari and more. Currently, the feature is being rolled out in phases and all users will get this in the coming days.
Source: Quinny899
How to use Android Messages on PC
On PC –
One of these web browsers: Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge
An internet connection
On Mobile –
The latest version of Messages
Wi-Fi or data connection
Once you have these things, you need to follow these steps to start using Android Messages on your PC –
First, install the latest version (3.3.043) of Android Messages from the Google Play store.
Open the app and click on the three dot menu at the top right corner and then click on Messages for Web.
Apart from that, you can also click on the Try Now option when a pop-up shows up on your phone asking you to test this new feature.
Once you click on either of the above two options, you will be taken to the next page asking you to scan the QR code.
Go to Messages for Web from your PC.
Then, click on Scan QR code on your computer.
Once you scan the QR code, you will be logged in to the Messages for Web.
You can click on the three dots menu, then, click on Messages for Web to see the active connections.
If you wish to sign out, click on Sign Out of All Computers.
While you are logged in the app, a notification will be shown on your mobile.
Here are the Keyboard shortcuts that allow you to quickly perform certain tasks on the web version of Android Messages.
VIAVia
Abhinav Singh, a software engineer who is very much interested in social engineering. He is responsible to manage all the social media profiles of Gadgets To Use. He also has a hobby of tracking new apps and gadgets and to share them with our readers as well. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1145 |
__label__wiki | 0.665285 | 0.665285 | Hal Foster and Julian Rose on Richard Serra
Thursday, November 7, 2019, 6–8pm
Gagosian, West 24th Street, New York
Hal Foster and Julian Rose will discuss Richard Serra’s recent sculptures and drawings exhibited at Gagosian, New York. Foster recently coauthored Conversations about Sculpture (2018) with Serra, and Rose is writing for the forthcoming exhibition catalogue on the three concurrent Gagosian exhibitions. A question-and-answer session will follow the talk. The event has reached capacity. To join the wait list, contact nytours@gagosian.com.
#RichardSerra
Richard Serra, Nine, 2019 © 2019 Richard Serra/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Rob McKeever
The Films and Videos of Richard Serra
Harvard Film Archive, Cambridge, Massachusetts
harvardfilmarchive.org
Over four evenings, Harvard Film Archive will screen Richard Serra’s films and videos, drawn from the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Anthology Film Archives; and Joan Jonas. Benjamin Buchloh will introduce the screening on Monday, January 27. To attend the event, purchase tickets at the box office. The box office opens forty-five minutes prior to the screening time.
Richard Serra, Hands Tied, 1968 (still), Museum of Modern Art, New York © 2019 Richard Serra/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Sounding Serra
Music in Conversation with Reverse Curve
Saturday, December 14, 2019, 8pm
Gagosian, West 21st Street, New York
Join Gagosian for a concert featuring new music inspired by Richard Serra’s Reverse Curve (2005/19) and other works that engage with questions of weight, timbre, volume, and form. Some of the compositions will test the acoustical properties of the sculpture within the room, while others will produce sound masses in the shadow of the sculpture, creating dialogues between sound and space. The range of musical strategies will illustrate a historical path from the 1970s through the present day. Musicians Lea Bertucci, Miguel Frasconi, Joan La Barbara, Chris McIntyre, Chris Nappi, and Danny Tunick are all major players in the world of experimental music and collaborate in addition to their solo projects. As well as their own compositions they will perform a 1973 piece by Michael Byron. The event has reached capacity.
Richard Serra, Reverse Curve, 2005/19 © 2019 Richard Serra/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: Cristiano Mascaro
Art Basel Miami Beach 2019
December 5–8, 2019, booth D7
www.artbasel.com
Gagosian is pleased to participate in Art Basel Miami Beach 2019 with modern and contemporary artworks by Richard Avedon, Georg Baselitz, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joe Bradley, Cecily Brown, John Chamberlain, John Currin, Edmund de Waal, Rachel Feinstein, Urs Fischer, Helen Frankenthaler, Ellen Gallagher, Theaster Gates, Katharina Grosse, Mark Grotjahn, Jennifer Guidi, Simon Hantaï, Damien Hirst, Alex Israel and Bret Easton Ellis, Ellsworth Kelly, Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, Man Ray, Peter Marino, Adam McEwen, Joan Mitchell, Takashi Murakami, Albert Oehlen, Steven Parrino, Pablo Picasso, Rudolf Polanszky, Richard Prince, Sterling Ruby, Ed Ruscha, Richard Serra, Rudolf Stingel, Cy Twombly, Andy Warhol, Mary Weatherford, Tom Wesselmann, Jonas Wood, Christopher Wool, and Zao Wou-Ki, among others.
To receive a PDF with detailed information on the works, please contact the gallery at inquire@gagosian.com. To attend the fair, purchase tickets at www.artbasel.com.
Download the full press release (PDF)
Tom Wesselmann, Sunset Nude with Wesselmann Still Life, 2004 © The Estate of Tom Wesselmann/Licensed by ARS/VAGA, New York
From the Quarterly
Albert Oehlen: Maximum Chance Maximum Control
The artist met with art historian Christian Malycha to discuss his newest paintings.
Gagosian Quarterly Winter 2019
The Winter 2019 issue of Gagosian Quarterly is now available, featuring a selection from Christopher Wool’s Westtexaspsychosculpture series on its cover.
A yearlong outdoor installation by Giuseppe Penone in San Francisco’s historic Fort Mason features two life-size bronze sculptures cast from fallen trees. The project continues the artist’s long investigation of the perpetual give-and-take between humans and nature. In this video, Penone discusses what drew him to this landscape and the concepts behind the installation.
Tatiana Trouvé: In Time
In upstate New York, Jenny Jaskey discovers Tatiana Trouvé’s Between sky and earth. Begun in 2012, this multifaceted installation exists as a crucial nexus in the artist’s career, both a result of her ongoing practice and a generative source for continuing investigations.
Edmund de Waal and Sally Mann
Sally Mann joins Edmund de Waal onstage at the Frick Collection in New York to converse about art, writing, and the importance of place in their respective bodies of work.
Theaster Gates: Amalgam
Theaster Gates’s exhibition Amalgam explores the social histories of migration and interracial relations by highlighting the specific history of the Maine island of Malaga. Here, William Whitney considers the exhibition in relation to Gates’s ongoing art practices and social commitments.
Casa Malaparte: A House Like Ourselves
Wyatt Allgeier explores the legacy of Curzio Malaparte and corresponds with the avant-garde author’s youngest descendant, Tommaso Rositani Suckert, on the subject of his decision to reproduce select pieces of furniture from the iconic Casa Malaparte in Capri, Italy.
Giuseppe Penone: Foglie di bronzo / Leaves of Bronze
Gagosian director Pepi Marchetti Franchi speaks about Giuseppe Penone’s recent exhibition in San Francisco, detailing the various works and their relationships to the artist’s long-standing sculptural practice.
The artist discusses her life and work with Alan Yentob.
The artist tells Negar Azimi about her interest in the monstrous, the influence of science fiction on her practice, and her recent rooftop commission at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Edmund de Waal and Jan Dalley
At the FT Weekend Festival 2019 in London, Edmund de Waal sat down for a conversation with Financial Times arts editor Jan Dalley. They spoke about the relationship between words and sculpture in his practice, and about two recent projects: the two-part exhibition psalm, in Venice, and Elective Affinities, at the Frick Collection, New York.
Discovering Dora Maar
Brigitte Benkemoun’s book Je suis le carnet de Dora Maar takes a novel approach to the art of biography. For the Quarterly, Benkemoun recounts her discovery of a mysterious Hermès address book, the subsequent realization of its genius former owner, and her journey to learn more about the life, friends, and art of Dora Maar. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1146 |
__label__cc | 0.509574 | 0.490426 | Azerbaijani Int’l Bank’s ex-head to ask for house arrest
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 10
By Samir Mammadov - Trend:
Former chairman of Azerbaijan's International Bank, Jahangir Hajiyev, who is under arrest, will appeal to Baku's Narimanov District Court with a request to transfer him under house arrest, Trend was told by his lawyer, Agil Layijov.
The lawyer said he had consulted with Hajiyev over this appeal.
"Jahangir Hajiyev's being on freedom doesn't interfere with the investigation. This was also said by Hajiyev himself at the trial. Therefore, we will appeal on this issue to the Narimanov District Court," noted the lawyer.
"We would like Hajiyev to be under house arrest, at least. He has health problems, and he should take medicines timely," he added.
The lawyer also told Trend that the appeal is being prepared and will soon be sent to the court.
The Baku Court of Appeals reviewed on Dec. 10 the appeal from Hajiyev on a decision made by Baku's Narimanov District Court.
Earlier, the Narimanov District Court chose an arrest for four months as a preventive measure against Hajiyev.
Jahangir Hajiyev is charged under various articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including the large scale misappropriation, abuse of office, fraud causing serious damage, embezzlement, abuse of power, and bribery.
Edited by SI
Jahangir Hajiyev
Ex-head of International Bank of Azerbaijan Jahangir Hajiyev asking to acquit him
Society 26 November 2019 13:06
Court in Baku issues verdict for ex-head of International Bank of Azerbaijan
Society 5 September 2019 13:57
State prosecutor demands 17 years of imprisonment for IBA ex-head in Baku
Society 29 July 2019 15:03
Proceedings on criminal case of IBA ex-head continue in Baku
Society 10 June 2019 19:43
Ex-head of International Bank of Azerbaijan bought oil field in Kazakhstan - witness
Society 29 April 2019 18:03 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1151 |
__label__wiki | 0.92363 | 0.92363 | British Rail Class 319
Northern 319379 in September 2017
The refurbished interior of a Northern 319/3
British Rail Engineering Limited[1]
319/0:
31022 (77291-381, DTSO, odd nos.)
31023 (62891-936, MSO)
31024 (71772-817, TSOL)
31025 (77290-380, DTSO, even nos.)
31063 (DTCO)
31064 (MSO)
31065 (TSOL)
31066 (DTSO)[2]
Built at
Holgate Road carriage works
BR Second Generation (Mark 3)
1987–88, 1990[3]
Entered service
Number in service
4 carriages
319/0: DTSO+PMSO+MSOL+DTSO
319/1: DTCO+PMSO+MSOL+DTSO
(as built)[2]
EE233 (DTSO, odd nos.)
EC209 (MSO)
EH234 (TSOL)
EE234 (DTSO, even nos.)
EE310 (DTCO)
EE240 (DTSO)[2]
Fleet numbers
319/0 (as built):
319001-319060 (sets)
77290-77381, 77430-77457 (DTSO)
62891-62936, 62961-62974 (MSO)
71772-77817, 71866-71879 (TSOL)
77458-77497, 77973-77983 (DTCO, odd nos.)
77458-77496, 77974-77984 (DTSO, even nos.)[3]
319S (total)
82S (DTSO A)
82S (MSO)
77S (TSOL)
78S (DTSO B)
16F/256S (total)
16F/54S (DTCO)
74S (TSOL)[3]
West Midlands Trains
Depot(s)
King's Heath
Line(s) served
Liverpool to Manchester Lines
Liverpool–Wigan line
Manchester-Preston line
Preston-Blackpool line
Abbey Line
Car body construction
Steel[4]
Car length
19.83 m (65.1 ft) (DTCO, DTSO)
19.92 m (65.4 ft) (MSO, TSOL)[1][3]
3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)[1]
Bi-parting sliding,[3] emergency end doors[3]
14.170 m (46.49 ft)[4]
100 mph (161 km/h)[1][3]
140.3 t (138.1 long tons; 154.7 short tons)[1]
Axle load
7.25 t (7.14 long tons; 7.99 short tons) (DTSO A)
12.65 t (12.45 long tons; 13.94 short tons) (MSO)
7.75 t (7.63 long tons; 8.54 short tons) (TSOL)
7.425 t (7.308 long tons; 8.185 short tons) (DTSO B)[1]
Traction motors
4 × GEC G315BZ[3]
4 × 247.5 kW (331.9 hp)[2]
Train heating
Electric[4]
Electric system(s)
25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead line
750 V DC third rail
Current collection method
Pantograph (AC)
Contact shoe (DC)
UIC classification
2'2'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2'
BREL P7-4 (MSO)
BREL T3-7 (others)[2][3]
Braking system(s)
Westinghouse 3 step friction brake,[1] disc,[2] air (Westcode)[3]
Safety system(s)
AWS[4]
TPWS
Coupling system
Tightlock
Multiple working
Within class[3]
Class 365, Class 465 and Class 466 for assistance only[5]
Headlight type
Fluorescent[4]
1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
The British Rail Class 319 is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit train capable of operating on 25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead wires or 750 V DC from a third rail. They were built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works for use on north-south cross-London services.
Built in two batches in 1987–88 and 1990, the units were primarily used on the then-new Thameslink service operating from Bedford to Brighton and various other destinations south of London. The majority of the fleet remained in use on the Thameslink route after its reshaping and privatisation in 1997. Some of the fleet was also used on various other services operating out of London Victoria, including flagship expresses to Brighton.
Since delivery of new Class 700 rolling stock for Thameslink services commenced in 2015, the Class 319 units have been redeployed for use in the North West of England on newly electrified lines but will be replaced in 2022 by surplus Class 323 units.[6]
Of the 86 Class 319s built, 34 remain in active service, nineteen with Northern and fifteen with West Midlands Trains. As of November 2019, eleven units have been converted to dual mode Class 769s, with another 27 due for conversion. One has been converted to a tri-mode Class 799 which runs on hydrogen.
1.1 Class 319/0
2 Current operations
2.1 Northern
2.2 West Midlands Trains
3 Former operations
3.1 Thameslink
3.2 Southern
4 Notable units
4.1 Named units
4.2 Accidents
5 Future
5.1 Conversion to bi-mode
6 Fleet details
7 Livery details
A Network SouthEast Class 319/0 No. 319058 at Bedford
Plans for north-south railways across central London go back to the 1940s at least, when there were several proposals in the 1943 County of London Plan which were developed further in a following report[7] in 1946.
The Victoria line, which opened in stages from 1968, was one of the routes suggested in these plans, but reviving the Farringdon to Blackfriars route for passenger trains began to be considered seriously in the 1970s. The British Railways Board then developed plans for what would become Thameslink, and the newly-created business sector of Network SouthEast inherited responsibility for the project in 1986. Services between Bedford, Farringdon, Blackfriars and Brighton began under the Thameslink brand in 1988.
As the Thameslink service was to use a route with 25 kV AC OHLE north of Farringdon and along the branch to Moorgate, and 750 V DC third-rail electrification south of Farringdon, the Class 319 trains were equipped for dual-voltage operation, making them very versatile.[8] They were also the first British Rail units to use modern thyristor control in place of a camshaft and resistor bank.[9]
The body shape of the Class 319 is slightly different from contemporary electric units due to restrictions in the loading gauge in Kings Cross Tunnel, which meant that other dual-voltage units were not suitable.[citation needed] They were also required to have emergency end doors in the cabs,[10] due to the twin single-bore layout of Smithfield tunnel preventing normal train evacuation.
Two sub-classes of Class 319 units, 60 Class 319/0s and 26 Class 319/1s, were originally built.[11] Over the years, units have been refurbished, creating five sub-classes, of which four still exist.
Class 321 passenger units and Class 325 postal units were developed from the Class 319 design,[9] using similar traction equipment and the same steel body design, with revised cab designs, with the 325 using a Networker style cab design.
Class 319/0[edit]
The first batch of 60 units, built in 1987–88, was classified as Class 319/0. Units were numbered in the range 319001–060 and had a maximum speed of 100 mph (161 km/h). Each unit consisted of four steel carriages: two outer driving trailers, an intermediate motor with a roof-mounted Stone Faiveley AMBR pantograph and four DC GEC G315BZ traction motors (two per bogie), and an intermediate trailer housing a compressor, motor alternator and two toilets. Seating was standard-class only, in 2+3 layout.
The technical description of the unit formation is DTSO(A)+MSO+TSO+DTSO(B). Individual vehicles were numbered as follows:
77291–77381 (odd) and 77431–77457 (odd) — DTSO(A)
62891–62936 and 62961–62974 — MSO
71772–71817 and 71866–71879 — TSO
77290–77380 (even) and 77430–77456 (even) — DTSO(B)
Vehicles were numbered in two ranges, corresponding to units 319001–046 and 319047–060. The gaps in the number series (e.g. 77382–77429) were filled by the Class 442 units, built around the same period.
DTSO(B) originally featured a lockable sliding door between the driving cab and the first set of power doors and tip-up longitudinal seating to enable parcels to be carried securely. This facility was rarely used and the sliding door has since been removed.
Units 319001–013 are the remaining members of the 319/0 subclass; all others were converted to Class 319/2 or Class 319/4 in the late 1990s.
Built in 1990, this second batch of 26 units was numbered in the range 319161–186. The formation of the second batch of sets was similar to that of the earlier units, with the addition of first-class seating at one end of the train for use on longer-distance Bedford to Brighton services.[8] Like the first batch, standard-class seating was of a 2+3 layout in standard class. First-class seating was in 2+2 layout.
Units were formed in the arrangement DTCO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. Individual vehicles were numbered as follows:
77459–77497 (odd) and 77973–77983 (odd) — DTCO
77458–77496 (even) and 77972–77984 (even) — DTSO
Vehicles were numbered in two ranges, corresponding to units 319161–180 and 319181–186. A more modern Brecknell Willis high speed pantograph was also fitted.
All 319/1 units were converted to Class 319/3 in the late 1990s.
In the late 1990s, seven of the Class 319/0 sets were converted especially for use on Connex South Central express services between London Victoria and Brighton.[12] Work carried out at Railcare Wolverton included new, lower-density seating, a disabled toilet, and a special 'lounge' seating area in the saloon space below the pantograph in the MSO, where stowage for a refreshment trolley and a small serving counter were also fitted.
Units involved were renumbered from the series 319014–020 to 319214–220. They retain their low-density layout, but the lounge area has been replaced by standard seating since their return to use on Thameslink services.
Find sources: "British Rail Class 319" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
BR class 319 unit in Eastleigh Works
In the period 1997-99,[12] Thameslink arranged for all of its 319/1 units to be converted at Eastleigh Works for use on the shorter-distance Luton to Sutton/Wimbledon services, then known as 'Thameslink CityMetro'. These units lost their first-class seating and were renumbered into the 319/3 series. They were painted in a navy-blue and yellow livery at this time.
Various refurbishments have taken place since 1999, including:
Minor refresh by Thameslink including new seat covers between 2003 and 2005
Relivery and interior refresh by Railcare Wolverton for First Capital Connect completed in 2010
New passenger information system, new seat covers and an internal and external repaint for units transferring to Northern Rail and similar work for those remaining on Thameslink in the interim, starting in 2014.
Thameslink 319/4 319439 at Gatwick in 1998
Units 319021-060 were refurbished for Thameslink at Railcare Wolverton in 1997/98. Work included the installation of a first-class compartment at one end, in the DTSO(A) vehicle[12] and the removal of some seating in the centre of each vehicle to give 2+2 layout. Cosmetic improvements included new carpets and seat coverings, as well as application of the navy-blue Thameslink livery.
Upon completion, these units were renumbered as 319421-460 and moved on to the Bedford to Brighton service, branded as 'Thameslink Cityflier'.
From 2003 to 2005, during the Thameslink blockade, some minor interior updating took place such as recovering seats with an updated Thameslink moquette. First-class compartments were refurbished with new carpet, retrimmed seats and chrome-plated heater panels, apart from unit 319444, which retained its 1997-designed interior.
A later refresh was unveiled by the then new operator First Capital Connect on 26 October 2006. Unit 319425 was renamed Transforming Travel for the occasion and showcased the following improvements:
Emergency brake pressure increased to the +12% G standard, giving an extra 1 Bar brake cylinder pressure in emergency
Emergency brake 'timeout' period reduced from 2 minutes to 20 seconds
DC traction motors rewound to improve reliability
Improved motor control hardware with a new Remote Communications Frame
New 'easy to clean' flooring
Retrimmed seats into the First Capital Connect moquette
Some seats in standard class were removed and vertical luggage stacks installed in their place; a further two seats were removed in the TSO vehicle to allow easier access to the toilet
Repainted dado side panels and wall ends
Existing stanchions painted pink
New stanchions leading from some seats to the overhead luggage rack to provide standing passengers with something to hold on to and more support
Improved, brighter fluorescent lighting diffusers
The refresh took place at Railcare Wolverton works and also featured both a mechanical overhaul (under the solebar) and a full exterior relivery, again in vinyl. Some Class 319/4 units have had their Stone Faiveley AMBR air and spring pantograph replaced by the more modern Brecknell Willis High Speed air-only pantograph design.
Current operations[edit]
After the withdrawal of the final six Class 319 units from the Thameslink network on 27 August 2017, just over half of the original Class 319 fleet is currently in service, with many currently in storage at Long Marston. 35 units (26 319/3s and nine 319/4s) are currently allocated to Northern, with all but one of their 319/4 units due to be converted to Class 769 Flex bi-mode units by 2018. West Midlands Trains is the only other operator of the Class 319, with three 319/0, all seven 319/2 and five 319/4 units currently on fleet. Great Western Railway have four Class 319s which are 319423, 319439, 319440 and 319449 and are currently based at Reading TMD for the use of crew training for readiness for the Class 769s.
Northern[edit]
To operate on newly electrified routes in the North West of England, Northern Rail received twenty Class 319/3 units after they were replaced by brand new Class 387 units. The first Northern Rail service to be operated by Class 319s was the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport via Chat Moss service on 5 March 2015.[13] From 17 May 2015, the Liverpool Lime Street to Wigan North Western via Huyton route followed suit.[14]
The first batch of units which transferred to Northern Rail underwent a light refurbishment at Wolverton Works and were repainted into a dedicated Northern Electrics livery, although all of these units had been repainted into Northern's livery by mid 2018. The 750 V direct current (DC) third rail equipment was also removed.[citation needed]
Other services now operated by Class 319s include Crewe to Liverpool via Earlestown, Liverpool to Warrington Bank Quay and Liverpool to Wigan North Western and Blackpool North. In April 2016, these units transferred to new franchise operator Northern, who have since leased an additional fifteen Class 319s to operate on newly electrified services from Blackpool North, with these commencing in May 2018.
In December 2016, it was announced that Northern's allocation of 319/4s are to be converted to Class 769 Flex bi-mode multiple units by Brush Traction at Loughborough,[15] with the remaining 319/3s due to operate on existing and future electrified services.
In August 2019, it was confirmed that all 319s would leave Northern to be replaced by the 26 Class 323 units operated by West Midlands Trains. This is expected to occur once new rolling stock is in operation with West Midlands Trains in 2021.[6]
West Midlands Trains[edit]
London Midland's 319433 at St Albans Abbey
Seven units were transferred to London Midland in 2015 to operate the Watford Junction to St Albans service and some peak West Coast Main Line services out of London Euston.[16] These replaced the seven Class 321 units that transferred to Abellio ScotRail.[17][18] In April 2017, one of the five Class 319/4 units, 319455, was swapped for 319433, with the latter receiving a light refresh and a repaint before entering service.
In December 2017, West Midlands Trains (a consortium of Abellio, JR East and Mitsui) took over the operation of the West Midlands rail franchise, with the seven Class 319 units initially leased by London Midland transferring to the new operator.
A week after the start of the new franchise, West Midlands Trains leased additional Class 319 units, enabling the company to take their Class 350/1 and 350/3 Desiro units out of service for their planned refurbishment.[19]
West Midlands Trains' allocation of Class 319s will be replaced during the current franchise.
Former operations[edit]
Thameslink[edit]
The first refurbished Class 319/4 for First Capital Connect was 319425, seen here at Bedford
With the first units entering service for Thameslink in 1987, Class 319s were a mainstay on the Thameslink network for almost three decades. In early 2015, the first batch of units were withdrawn from the network after being displaced by Class 387 units.
Twenty Class 319/3s transferred to Northern Rail for newly electrified lines in the North West, with the first units entering service in March 2015 after a light refurbishment. A further seven units left the network in 2015, transferring to London Midland to replace their Class 321 units, which had transferred to Abellio ScotRail.
Since the introduction of the new Class 700 units in June 2016, Class 319s departed the network as new trains have entered service. A further batch of twelve units transferred to the North West of England for service with Northern, with the remainder being placed into storage at Long Marston. The six remaining Class 319 units were withdrawn from Thameslink service on 27 August 2017, around 30 years after their initial introduction to service.[20]
Since their withdrawal, a number of additional units have been allocated to Northern and West Midlands Trains to boost capacity.
Southern[edit]
Southern 319215 at Sutton
When British Rail was privatised in the mid-1990s, the first 13 units (319001–013) were used for outer-suburban services by Connex South Central, with some temporarily losing their 25 kV AC overhead equipment.
Seven more of the Class 319/0 sets (319014–020) were refurbished and dedicated to express services between London Victoria and Brighton,[12] before later finding work on peak-only London Victoria to Guildford via West Croydon and London Victoria to Horsham via Three Bridges services. The dual-voltage capability was also used to introduce new services linking Rugby and Gatwick Airport[21] via the West Coast and West London Lines in the 1990s.
Successor company Southern continued to operate the fleet and reliveried it into its own colour scheme. It later went on to sublease Class 319/0 units to First Capital Connect for use on the Thameslink route, before eventually releasing the entire fleet.[citation needed]
Notable units[edit]
319008 operating "Tunnel Explorer" excursions into the Channel Tunnel on 7 May 1994 from Sandling railway station; the first public-carrying passenger trains through the tunnel
Nameplate commemorating crossing on 10 December 1993
Units 319008 Cheriton and 319009 Coquelles are notable for two reasons:
On 10 December 1993, they travelled through the Channel Tunnel from Sandling to Calais-Fréthun and back with a party of invited guests, after the construction consortium TransManche Link (who were responsible for the construction of the Tunnel) had transferred responsibility for operations and management over to Eurotunnel. Their pantographs were modified at Selhurst Depot beforehand to account for the higher OHL height at Cheriton and in the tunnel. For the subsequent "Folkestone 1994" event on 7 May 1994, which saw the first paying members of the public taken into the tunnel by train. On 26 March 1994 units 319008 and 319009 were named Cheriton and Coquelles respectively at Victoria and plaques adorned with the Union Flag and Tricolore were installed on their motor carriages.[12][22] Cheriton has been transferred to Transport for Wales to be introduced on the Valley Lines after release by Thameslink.[citation needed]
On 26 March 1994, they set a record for the shortest London to Brighton journey time, at 37 minutes 57 seconds. This record stood until 2005 when the "Speed Run" event, organised by Southern, using Class 377 units 377 472 and 377 474 set a slightly quicker record of 36 minutes 56 seconds.[23]
Named units[edit]
Named units are as follows:[24]
319001 – Driver Mick Winnett
319008 – Cheriton
319009 – Coquelles
319011 – John Ruskin College
319013 – The Surrey Hills (nameplates removed)
319215 – London (nameplates removed)
319217 – Brighton (nameplates removed)
319218 – Croydon (nameplates removed)
319362 – Northern Powerhouse[25] (nameplates removed)
319364 – Transforming Blackfriars (nameplates removed)
319365 – Transforming Farringdon (nameplates removed)
319374 – Bedford Cauldwell TMD (nameplates removed)
319425 – Transforming Travel – First Capital Connect (nameplates removed)
319435 – Adrian Jackson-Robbins 1987–2007 – Chair of the Association of Passenger Transport Users (nameplates removed)
319441 – Driver Mick Winnett (nameplates removed)
319444 – City of St Albans
319446 – St Pancras International (nameplates removed)
319448 – Elstree Studios – The Home of British Film and Television Production (nameplates removed)
319449 – King's Cross Thameslink (nameplates removed)
Accidents[edit]
In January 1999 a Connex South Eastern train formed of Class 423 and Class 411 slam door stock passed a signal at danger and collided with a pair of Thameslink Class 319s at Spa Road junction.
In January 2014 unit 319369[26] operated by First Capital Connect was involved in a minor accident[27] when the pantograph failed to lower at Farringdon station due to a technical fault. As a result, it struck the roof of Blackfriars station at about 09:55. No-one was injured and the train was later removed.[28]
Future[edit]
Conversion to bi-mode[edit]
Main articles: British Rail Class 769 and British Rail Class 799
In December 2016, Arriva UK Trains subsidiary Northern and Porterbrook announced a plan to convert eight Class 319/4 electric multiple units to bi-mode units, to allow through working between electrified and non-electrified routes. These units, which were initially marketed as "Class 319 Flex" before being designated as Class 769 under TOPS, will use two diesel powered alternators fitted under each of the driving trailer vehicles, to power the traction motors through the train's existing DC bus.
The modifications, which will be carried out by Brush, will enable units to operate on electrified and non-electrified routes, using both 25 kV AC overhead wires and 750 V DC third rail. Each generator set will consist of a MAN D2876 diesel engine driving an ABB alternator.[29] The first units were expected to enter service with Northern by spring 2018,[30][31] but were delayed until 2019.[32]
Other planned operators of the Class 769 include Transport for Wales[33][34] and Great Western Railway,[35] with the allocation for the latter retaining their third rail pick up shoes.
One Class 319, 319001, has been converted to a Class 799. It will run on hydrogen.[36]
Fleet details[edit]
No. Built
Unit nos.
Class 319/0
West Midlands Trains 3 1987 319005, 319012–013
Stored 4 319004, 319009–011
Converted to Class 769 5 319002–003, 319006–008
Converted to Class 799 1 319001
West Midlands Trains 7 319214–220
Northern 17 1990 319361, 319366–370, 319372, 319375, 319377–381, 319383–386
Stored 8 319362–364, 319371, 319373–374, 319376, 319382
West Midlands Trains 5 1988 319429, 319433, 319441, 319457, 319460
Porterbrook Innovation Train 1 319454
Stored 6 319421, 319444, 319446, 319451, 319453, 319455
Converted to Class 769 28 319422–428, 319430–432, 319434–440, 319442–443, 319445, 319447–450, 319452, 319456, 319458–459
Livery details[edit]
Network SouthEast livery 1987 – 1996
Connex South Central livery 1996 – 2001
Thameslink livery 1996 – 2004
Southern livery 2001 – 2016
First Capital Connect livery 2006 – 2017
Thameslink livery 2014 –
Northern Rail livery 2015 – 2016
London Midland livery, 2015 – 2017
Northern livery, 2016 –
London Northwestern Railway livery 2017 -
^ a b c d e f g h "Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF) (01) (A ed.). Porterbrook. August 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ a b c d e f Fox 1994, pp. 32–34
^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Class 319". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
^ a b c d e "Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. EC209, EE233, EE234, EH234, EH238. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
^ Connex South Eastern: Train Operating Manual Classes 365,465,466. p.A.6 (Unit information) January 1998.
^ a b "Northern to retain 323s". Modern Railways. 15 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
^ Railway (London Plan] Committee: Report to the Minister for War Transport, 21 January 1946. London, 1946
^ a b Class 319 - Welcome to the Southern E-Group Web Site. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
^ a b Green & Vincent 2014
^ Thameslink - Moorgate Branch: Local instructions/Working over book (July 1999)
^ Marsden 2008, p. 138
^ a b c d e Class 319 2 Page. Southern E-Group. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
^ "Northern '319s' in service". Modern Railways. Key Publishing. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
^ "Electric services to Wigan and Manchester Victoria start in May". Rail. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
^ "Porterbrook and Northern to introduce bi-mode Class 319 Flex trains". Porterbrook. Porterbook. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
^ "Train accessibility". London Midland. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
^ "ScotRail to receive LM Class 321/4s" Rail Magazine issue 766 21 January 2015 page 27
^ "London Midland 321s Scotland Bound" Railways Illustrated September 2015 page 10
^ "News In Brief - '319/0' refurbishment". RAIL Magazine, Issue RAIL 857. Page 29: Bauer Media. 18 July 2018. CS1 maint: location (link)
^ Thameslink replaces last of 30 year old Class 319 fleet Rail Technology Magazine 1 September 2017
^ "Track Record". BBC News. 29 November 1999. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
^ Class 319. Kent Rail. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
^ Duff, Colin. "Southern's Speed Run 2005". Southern Electric Group. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
^ "EMU Formations". AbRail. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
^ "'Northern Powerhouse' joins Northern Rail's electric fleet" (Press release). Northern Rail. 20 March 2015.
^ "JC Days RSI Technical log - Unit 319369: 'Pan Up/Down EP Valve' failed in the Up position". Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^ "Railway Group Safety Performance Monitoring – Definitions and Guidance - Section B 8.5 Train accidents" (PDF). RSSB. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
^ "Thameslink train hits roof at London's Blackfriars station - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
^ Clinnick, Richard (1–14 February 2017). "Flex... and flexibility". Rail Magazine. No. 819. pp. 60–65.
^ "Porterbrook and Northern to develop electro-diesel MU". Railway Gazette. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
^ "Porterbrook and Northern to Introduce bi-mode Class 319 Flex Trains". Porterbrook Leasing Company. 22 December 2016.
^ Clinnick, Richard. "EXCLUSIVE: Northern to introduce converted bi-modes next year". Rail Magazine. Rail Magazine. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
^ "Four more 769s for TfW". Today's Railways. No. 204. December 2018. p. 72.
^ Class 319 Flex electro-diesel multiple-units for Wales Railway Gazette International 17 July 2017
^ "GWR to lease Class 769 Flex 'trimode' trainsets". Railway Gazette. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ Dobell, Malcolm. "Hydroflex - the next iteration of the Flex concept". Rail Engineer. Rail Engineer. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
Fox, Peter (1994). Electric Multiple Units. British Railways Pocket Book No.4 (7th ed.). Platform 5. ISBN 9781872524603.
Green, Chris; Vincent, Mike (2014). The Network SouthEast Story. Oxford Publishing. ISBN 9780860936534.
Marsden, Colin J. (2008). The DC Electrics. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780860936152. OCLC 318668763.
Knight, Steven (12–25 February 1997). "All aboard the Connex Express". RAIL. No. 298. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 30–33. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
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__label__wiki | 0.648809 | 0.648809 | Abuse in 50 Shades Freed Fuels #MeToo Culture
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Dawn Hawkins
Senior Vice President & Executive Director
Dawn Hawkins is a passionate abolitionist and defender of human rights who has dedicated her life to fighting against societal harms that threaten the dignity of others. Her energy, creativity and mobilization skills have revived the anti-pornography movement and her intentional emphasis on the intersectionality of forms of sexual exploitation has proven a unique and effective strategy for curbing them.
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50 Dollars Not 50 Shades | BDSM | domestic abuse | Domestic Violence | Fifty Shades | Fifty Shades Freed | Fifty Shades is abuse | sexual abuse | sexual violence
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Article Disputes the “Better a Robot Than a Real Child” Argument | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1153 |
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Easter Links! Find Them All!
* The 2015 Hugo nominees have been announced, and they’re a mess. The Hugo Awards Were Always Political. But Now They’re Only Political. A Note About the Hugo Nominations This Year. The Puppy-Free Hugo Award Voter’s Guide. The Biggest Little SF Publisher you never heard of declares war. “Why I Declined a Hugo Award Nomination.”
* And in response to the question “Well, what should have been nominated for a Hugo?”: “Andromache and the Dragon,” by my brilliant Marquette colleague Brittany Pladek!
* “The Many Faces of Tatiana Maslany”: In portraying a horde of clones on ‘Orphan Black,’ the actress has created TV’s strangest — and most sophisticated — meditation on femininity. And a special bonus companion piece: Meet The Woman (Besides Tatiana Maslany) Who Plays Every Single “Orphan Black” Clone.
* Reddit’s Bizarre, Surreal, Maddening, Hypnotic, Divisive, and Possibly Evil April Fools’ Joke. I’ve become obsessed with this.
* CFP: Ephemeral Television. CFP: Into the Pensieve: The Harry Potter Generation in Retrospect.
* Watching them turn off the Rothkos.
* Somali Militants Kill 147 at Kenyan University.
* Iran’s Been Two Years Away From a Nuclear Weapon for Three Decades. The Iran deal. What if the Iranians are people too?
* So how much money is the NCAA making? In 2010, CBS and Turner Broadcasting gave the NCAA $10.8 billion for a fourteen-year broadcast monopoly on March Madness games. Estimated ad revenue for the 2013 tournament reached $1.15 billion, while ticket revenue brought in another $71.7 million. Last year no less than thirty-five coaches pulled down salaries higher than $1 million before bonuses; Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski topped the list with an income of more than $9.6 million.
* Guarding against the errant, suicidal murderous pilot belongs to a category called “wicked problems” — the complexity of the system and the conflicting incentives mean that every solution introduces another set of problems, so the only way forward is always going to be an imperfect one. Second, and perhaps more importantly, is that this once again reveals how, as humans, we are lousy at risk assessment, and also lousy of accepting this weakness. The problem is wicked, but its occurrence is so rare that it is almost unheard of — partly why it terrifies us so. Our imagination, biases and fears are terrible guides to what should actually be done to keep us safer, and this has significant consequences in a whole host of fields, ranging from terrorism to childcare to health-care.
* So you see, people like Tim Cook are selective in their moral universalism; morality, it turns out, is universal only insofar as extends to the particular desires of a Western bourgeoisie; deny a gay couple a wedding bouquet that they could get at the florist down the street anyway, and that is a cause for outrage and concern; extract minerals using indentured Congolese servants, well, look, we’ve got marginal cost to consider! The moral argument, it turns out, curdles when exposed to the profit motive, and the universality of justice actually does end at certain borders, one way or another.
* How the Slave Trade Built America.
* But unlike its predecessor, the show has no obvious narrative progression. Nacho’s important, or he’s not; the Kettlemans are half the show, or maybe we should care about Sandpiper. There are flashbacks to Jimmy’s past where Bob Odenkirk is playing either 25 or 57—a savvy criminal or a neophyte screw-up. In the lead-up to Better Call Saul, there were theories that the show would be funnier than Breaking Bad (maybe a sitcom?) or more procedural than Breaking Bad (maybe The Good Wife for bad boys?) or more episodic (like X-Files with lawyers!). None of that is true, and all of that is true. It’s interesting, but not the way great TV is interesting. Better Call Saul reminds me more of Treme or John From Cincinnati: post-masterpiece meanders.
* In TV’s Silver Age, a logjam of shows that are ‘pretty good,’ but not great.
* Here’s A Map That Shows All The Future Megacities From Science Fiction.
* Can science fiction be a form of social activism? Walidah Imarisha thinks so, and she’s recruited everyone from LeVar Burton to Mumia Abu-Jamal to help her prove it.
* Johns Hopkins Faces $1-Billion Lawsuit Over U.S. Experiments in Guatemala.
* sirens.io, blogging from seven years in the future.
* Are Aliens Behind Mysterious Radio Bursts? Scientists Weigh In.
* Calif. Governor Orders Mandatory Water Restrictions For 1st Time In History. It’s up to us to singlehandedly save california from drought by turning off the tap when we brush our teeth! California is pumping water that fell to Earth 20,000 years ago. California Drought Tests History of Endless Growth. R.I.P. California (1850-2016): What We’ll Lose And Learn From The World’s First Major Water Collapse. Children of the Drought.
* Starting this week, 25,000 households in Baltimore will suddenly lose their access to water for owing bills of $250 or more, with very little notice given and no public hearings.
* Oceans might take 1,000 years to recover from climate change, study suggests.
* Drug field tests used by cops are so bad they react positively to air, soap, candy.
* Trolley Problem: The Game. Advanced Trolley Problems.
* Scott Walker’s budget cuts $5.7 million from pollution control efforts.
* The Most Popular Antidepressants Are Based On A Theory We Know Is Wrong. Most antidepressant users have never had depression.
* 12 New Science Fiction Comics You Absolutely Need to be Reading.
* From Shaman to Equinox: The Challenges and Failures of Indigenous Representation in Superhero Comics Read More: Indigenous Representation in Superhero Comics.
* Hero Price Is Right model begins the revolution by just giving away a car.
* First as an unexpectedly great show, then as I don’t know it doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me.
* All told, the “Detroit Industry” frescoes are probably as close as this country gets to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
* The happiness spigot.
* New report says manned Mars mission could reach orbit by 2033, land by 2039.
* Clarke makes her point not with stirring courtroom rhetoric or devastating legal arguments but by a process of relentless accretion, case by case, win by win. This is her cause. Because if the state cannot put these defendants to death, then how can it put anyone to death? Thirty-five executions took place in the United States in 2014 for crimes that form an inventory of human cruelty—and yet few were as willful and egregious as those committed by Judy Clarke’s clients.
* Here is an example of the priorities in New York state’s budget: There is no increase in the minimum wage, but purchasers of yachts that cost more than $230,000 are exempt from the sales tax.
* U.S. Court Officially Rules that Friendship Is Worthless.
* Tales from the Trenches: I was SWATed.
* Texas Just Does Not Care How Hot Its Prisons Get.
* Duke tries throwing polio at cancer, as you do.
* Interesting article on design: The Secret History of the Apple Watch.
* Senate Republicans say the current system is unfair because rural residents are effectively supporting urban counties’ schools and services when they shop there. Yes, that’s literally how the system is intended to function.
* The dystopian lake filled by the world’s tech lust.
* So you want to resurrect a college.
* These Slow-Motion Videos of Fluids Vibrating on Speakers Are Wonderful.
* Now Full House, and the Muppets too.
* These Photos Of Melanie Griffith And Her Pet Lion In The 1970s Are Everything. (UPDATE: Here’s the article that seems to be the original source, plus a little bit on Roar’s rerelease. Noteworthy lines from Wikipedia: “Over 70 of the cast and crew were injured during the production of this film.”)
* Being Andre.
* Landlord Sends Man $1,200 Bill To Cleanup His Roommate’s Blood, Who Was Shot Dead By Police.
* Stan VHS, A Tumblr Blog Featuring 1980s-Style VHS Cover Art for Modern Television Shows and Movies.
* A Linguistic Comparison of Letters of Recommendation for Male and Female Chemistry and Biochemistry Job Applicants.
* SF Short of the Weekend: “Burnt Grass.”
* …and your short short of the weekend: “No One Is Thirsty.”
* I finally found enough time to be annoyed by Obama interviewing David Simon about The Wire.
* This Easter, we remember.
* And because you demanded it: An oral history of Max Headroom.
Tagged with airplanes, aliens, America, Andre the Giant, Apple, Apple Watch, art, austerity, Baltimore, Barack Obama, because rich people that's why, Better Call Saul, bias, big cats, Big Pharma, blogs, Boston, boycotts, brains, Breaking Bad, Brittany Pladek, California, cancer, capitalism, CFPs, charismatic megafauna, cities, class struggle, climate change, clones, Coach K, college, college basketball, college sports, comics, David Simon, death penalty, depression, design, Detroit, Diego Rivera, Diplomacy, dragons, drought, drugs, Duke, dystopia, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Easter, ecology, equality, ethics, fandom, fantasy, feminism, film, finance capital, frescoes, Frida Kahlo, friendship, Full House, futurity, Game of Thrones, gay rights, George R. R. Martin, Guatemala, happiness, Harry Potter, Harvard, HBO, horrors, How the University Works, Hugos, if you want a vision of the future, Indiana, indigenous futurism, indigenous peoples, informed consent, insider trading, Iran, Islamophobia, Johns Hopkins, Judy Clarke, justice, Kenya, kids, kids today, letters of recommendation, Levar Burton, liches, Lili Loofbourow, lions, mad science, maps, Marquette, Mars, Max Headroom, medical ethics, medicine, megacities, megadrought, Melanie Griffith, misogyny, moral panic, Mumia Abu-Jamal, Muppets, murder-suicide, NASA, NCAA, neoliberalism, New York, nostalgia, nuclear weapons, nuclearity, ocean acidification, oceans, Octavia Butler, Octavia's Brood, Orphan Black, outer space, parenting, Perry Bible Fellowship, photography, police brutality, police violence, polio, politics, pollution, prison-industrial complex, prisons, psychopharmacology, race, racism, rationality, reboots, Reddit, Republicans, risk assessment, Roar, Rothkos, Sad Puppies, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, science fiction, science is magic, Scott Water, SETI, sexism, short film, Sistine Chapel, slavery, social justice, Somalia, sound, superheroes, SWAT teams, Sweet Briar, Tatiana Maslany, taxes, technosis externality clusterfuck, television, terrorism, Texas, the 1980s, the Anthropocene, The Button, the courts, the law, the long now, The Price Is Right, the revolution is here, the undead, The Wire, tigers, trolley problem, Tumblr, unnecessary sequels, very short film, VHS, Vince Gilligan, Vox Day, war on drugs, water, wicked problems, Wisconsin, yachts
Midweek Links!
* Truly, this is the best of all possible worlds: X-Wing, Tie Fighter Are FINALLY Getting Digital Re-Releases. I don’t meant to brag but I was the very very best in the world at this game, back when.
* CFP at the Midwest Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference at UWM. This year’s theme is “the unbearable.” Keynotes by Lauren Berlant and Lee Edelman!
* How Not to Defend the Liberal Arts.
* Higher Education and the New Brutalism.
We live in the age of a new brutalism marked not simply by an indifference to multiple social problems, but also defined by a kind of mad delight in the spectacle and exercise of violence and cruelty. The United States is sullied by a brutalism that is perfectly consistent with a new kind of barbaric power, one that puts millions of people in prison, subjects an entire generation to a form of indentured citizenship, and strips people of the material and symbolic resources they need to exercise their capacity to live with dignity and justice. Academics who speak out against corruption and injustice are publicly demeaned and often lose their jobs. At the same time, the Obama administration criminalizes public servants who expose unethical behavior, the violation of civil liberties and corruption.
* Elsewhere in the richest society in the history of the world: How many homeless S.F. schoolkids? Enough to fill 70 classrooms.
* When I was a black woman, I was hated. Now, as a black man, I’m feared.
* Priscilla Wald on Media Treatment of Ebola. How Unscientific Ebola Steps in U.S. Could Help Spread Virus Elsewhere.
* Any grad student could have told you: drunk people are better at philosophy.
* Tufts and Unionized Adjuncts.
* Scenes from the competency-based education scam. And the for-profit scam.
* …and the Uber scam.
* UNC-Chapel Hill Should Lose Accreditation.
* Free education is not a crazy dream; some countries already have it. We should too, or we face a future where the study of literature or art becomes a luxury available to the rich alone.
* Some things mankind was never meant to see. More links below!
* Watch a New York Woman Get Catcalled 108 Times in Less Than One Day.
* You Can Buy This Abandoned CT Town For Less Than A Brooklyn Apartment.
* 30 Philip K Dick Stories That Should Be Movies.
* Voight-Kampff test for college admissions.
* ‘Wasting Time on the Internet’ Is Now an Actual College Class. I’d take that. I know I could teach it.fe
* Someone finally said it: I Don’t Support Feminism If It Means Murdering All Men.
* Yosemite Lifehacks. Recommended.
OS X Yosemite. Accessibility > Display > Increase Contrast. OMG THAT’S BETTER. #whew
— P Nielsen Hayden (@pnh) October 29, 2014
* There’s no anti-college nonsense so aggressively silly that the Washington Post won’t push it.
* Cura personalis.
* How the culture of assessment fuels academic dishonesty.
* US currency reimagined to celebrate ideas, not the dead. Still more links below!
* Reparations for women.
* The Race to Nowhere In Youth Sports.
* You Can Still Eat This Corgi In Pennsylvania, Thanks To The NRA.
* Krypton TV Series In The Works. The CW Is Making A Young Shakespeare Vs. Witches TV Show.
* But it’s not all terrible ideas: I’m cautiously optimistic about Marvel Phase III. Black Panther! Captain Marvel!
* Halfway through this review of William Gibson’s The Peripheral I broke my no-buying-books rule and bought the book.
* Milwaukee hosts first Fantasticon comic convention.
* A brief history of ridiculous things we’ve been asked to believe after famous men were accused of rape.
* The NFL Concussion Settlement Is Pure Evil.
* The end result is always the same. You do all this work just to get money. So fuck it: Why not skip everything and just start making currency?“
* Could you patent the sun?
* The Dartmouth (America’s Oldest College Newspaper) issues a rare correction.
* Damning every damnable river on Earth: what could possibly go wrong?
* When Russell Brand Met David Graeber.
* Glenn Beck, billionaire.
* Martin Jarvis, professor of music at Charles Darwin University in Australia, claims some of Johann Sebastian Bach’s best-loved works were actually written by his wife.
* And there’s nothing sweet in life: Soda May Age You as Much as Smoking, Study Says.
Tagged with abandoned towns, academia, accreditation, adjuncts, airplanes, alcohol, America, anti-intellectualism, Apple, assessment, austerity, Avengers, Bach, best of all possible worlds, Black Panther, books, Brutalism, capitalism, catcalling, CFPs, cheating, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, class struggle, college courses, college sports, comics, communism, competency-based education, concussions, cruel optimism, cura personalis, dams, Dartmouth, David Graeber, dogs, don't go to college, Ebola, epidemics, feminism, film, for-profit schools, forgery, fraternities, games, Glenn Beck, health, homelessness, How the University Works, ideas, Jonas Salk, kids today, kill all men, Krypton, Lauren Berlant, Lee Edelman, leftism, liberal arts, maps, Marvel, Midwest Interdisciplinary Graduate Conference, Milwaukee, misogyny, money, my misspent youth, NCAA, neoliberalism, new media, NFL, NRA, OSX Yosemite, patents, pedagogy, Philip K. Dick, philosophy, plagiarism, polio, prequels, Priscilla Wald, psychology, race, racism, rape, rape culture, reparations, reproductive futurity, rivers, Russell Brand, San Francisco, scams, science fiction, sexism, Shakespeare, soda, sports, Star Wars, Superman, television, the CW, the humanities, The Peripheral, the unbearable, there's nothing sweet in life, trans* issues, Tufts, tuition, Uber, UNC, unions, UWM, Voight-Kampff Test, wasting time on the Internet, William Gibson, witches, X-Wing
For His Unwavering Devotion to Weekend Links, Gerry Canavan Has Been Awarded the Nobel Prize for Linkblogging
* Every so often the Nobel Committee accidentally picks a genuinely deserving, genuinely inspiring recipient of the Peace Prize. This year was one. A 2013 profile of Malala Yousafzai. A speech to Pakistani Marxists. What did one Nobel laureate say to the other?
Obama: Look at this brave, strong woman. Malala: Stop drone attacks. Obama: Look at this cute little girl.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) October 17, 2013
* Every so often the Supreme Court accidentally makes a good decision. Last night’s overturning of Wisconsin’s voter suppression law was one.
* What would the twentieth-century history of English studies look like if we had thought to preserve the records of our teaching? How could that history be different if we had institutional archives of syllabi, student notes, lecture drafts, handouts and seminar papers, just as we have archives of journal articles, drafts of novels, recordings of performances, and committee meeting minutes? What if universities had collected classroom documents alongside other records and traces of the knowledge they create and culture that they value?
* Another lovely Chomsky rant on the university.
So the university imposes costs on students and on faculty who are not only untenured but are maintained on a path that guarantees that they will have no security. All of this is perfectly natural within corporate business models. It’s harmful to education, but education is not their goal.
* Recent cuts have unfortunately made future cuts inevitable: The University of Wisconsin System is about to do some wholesale, strategic belt-tightening, according to its president. But it’s not all absolutely miserable news:
Regent Janice Mueller noted that of the $1.6 billion total paid to unclassified staff on UW campuses, faculty accounted for $550 million, leaving more than $1 billion going to non-faculty. “That seemed a little out of whack to me,” Mueller said. “I would think faculty salaries would be the larger share.”
I didn’t think Regents were allowed to notice things that like.
* A new law that more strongly prohibits discrimination against pregnant graduate students could be coming to a state near you.
* The Excessive Political Power Of White Men In The United States, In One Chart.
* Phil Maciak on the greatness of Transparent.
* Why we need academic freedom: On Being Sued.
* Neoliberalism is the triumph of the state, not its retreat. The case of Mexico.
* On the cultural ideology of Big Data.
* It Would Actually Be Very Simple To End Homelessness Forever.
* It seems that all of Pearson’s critical foundational research and proven classroom results in the world couldn’t get the question 3 x 7 x 26 correct.
* Federal spending was lower this year than Paul Ryan originally asked for. Ha, take that Republicans! Another Obama-led triumph for the left!
* But things will be different once Obama finally becomes president. Obama Plans to Close Guantanamo Whether Congress Likes It Or Not.
* Nightmares: Could Enterovirus D68 Be Causing Polio-Like Paralysis in Kids?
* NYC airport workers walk off job, protesting lack of protection from Ebola risks.
* SF in everything: Malware needs to know if it’s in the Matrix.
* Lady Ghostbusters will be a reboot, almost assuredly a terrible one.
I love origin stories. That’s my favorite thing. I love the first one so much I don’t want to do anything to ruin the memory of that. So it just felt like, let’s just restart it because then we can have new dynamics. I want the technology to be even cooler. I want it to be really scary, and I want it to happen in our world today that hasn’t gone through it so it’s like, oh my God what’s going on?
* It’s happening again: Vastly Different Stories Emerging In Police Shooting Of St. Louis Teen. The Associated Press is On It:
Angry protesters yell abuse, accusations of racial profiling at stoic police in south St. Louis: http://t.co/Q3GFc12WzL
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 10, 2014
* Baton Rouge officer who texted about ‘pulling a Ferguson’ allowed to retire, can still work as a cop.
* Teenagers in prison have a shockingly high suicide rate.
* Roger Ebert: The Collected Wikipedia Edits.
* The many faces of capitalism.
* The University of Wisconsin at Madison Police Department issued an apology Wednesday after a list of safety tips posted to the department’s website was criticized for appearing to blame victims of campus crimes, particularly survivors of sexual assault.
* What We Talk About When We Talk About Trigger Warnings.
* Today in theology: Europe’s history of penis worship was cast aside when the Catholic Church decided Jesus’s foreskin was too potent to control.
By the 15th century, the Holy Prepuce had become the desirous object of many mystics’ visions. Bridget of Sweden recorded the revelations she received from the Virgin Mary, who told the saint that she saved the foreskin of her son and carried it with her until her death. Catherine of Siena, the patron saint of Italy, imagined that her wedding ring—exchanged with the Savior in a mystical marriage—had been transmuted into the foreskin. In her Revelationes (c. 1310), Saint Agnes Blannbekin recounts the hours she spent contemplating the loss of blood the infant Christ must have suffered during the circumcision, and during one of her contemplative moments, while idly wondering what had become of the foreskin, she felt the prepuce pressed upon her tongue. Blannbekin recounted the sweet, intoxicating taste, and she attempted to swallow it. The saint found herself unable to digest the Holy Prepuce; every time she swallowed, it immediately reappeared on her tongue. Again and again she repeated the ritual until after a hundred gulps she managed to down the baby Jesus’ cover.
* LEGO, against oil.
* Two Bad Tastes That Taste Bad Together: The US Doesn’t Have Enough Railroads to Keep Up With the Oil Boom.
* For some unfathomable reason somebody handed Cary Nelson another shovel: A Civility Manifesto.
* Science proves that in female-dominated societies men have to work twice as hard to destroy everything with their bullshit.
* Another piece on the law and Tommy the Chimp.
* Trick or treat.
* And maybe there are some doors we just shouldn’t open: I’m Slavoj Žižek, AMA.
Tagged with academia, academic freedom, adjunctification, animal personhood, ask me anything, austerity, Barack Obama, Big Data, capitalism, Cary Nelson, Catholicism, cats, circumcision, civility, class struggle, cultural preservation, drones, Ebola, English departments, enterovirus, feminism, Ferguson, foreskins, Ghostbusters, graduate student life, Guantánamo, Halloween, homelessness, How the University Works, Jesus Christ, juvenile detention, Kailash Satyarthi, Kumail Nanjani, LEGO, Malala Yousafzai, male privilege, malware, Marxism, men, Mexico, neoliberalism, New York, Noam Chomsky, Nobel Peace Prize, oil, Paul Ryan, Pearson, pedagogy, police brutality, police riots, police violence, polio, politics, precarity, pregnancy, prison-industrial complex, privatization, railroads, rape, rape culture, religion, Roger Ebert, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, science fiction, sexism, socialism, St. Louis, Steven Salaita, suicide, Supreme Court, syllabi, teaching, television, the courts, the law, The Matrix, theology, they say time is the fire in which we burn, Tommy the Chimp, Transparent, trigger warnings, University of Wisconsin, violence, voter ID, voter suppression, war huh good god y'all what is it good for? absolutely nothing say it again, war on education, war on terror, white privilege, Wikipedia, Wisconsin, Žižek
Tuesday Links
* My favorite website is having big financial problems. The New Internet Gods Have No Mercy.
* The museum as classroom: Marquette professors use art for pilot project.
* Insuring the apocalypse.
* Commencement speakers, reaction, and the hatred of students. In Defense of Protesting Commencement Speakers. Remember: writing a letter to a public figure is wildly inappropriate, but personally attacking students from the podium at their own graduation is just fine.
* A Commencement Address from Jonathan Edwards.
* Online Education and The Erosion of Faculty Rights.
* Whole Foods Realism: US-China Relations, futurity, and On Such a Full Sea.
* It makes a canny kind of sense, then, that a 2014 incarnation of the film that bears his name would reprise visual scenes of global environmental catastrophes and dare us to think of them in tragic terms. is a film for the anthropocene — the age when human actions have caused irreversible ecological damage. Tragedies, like feelings, happen at a human scale. But ours is a time when human actions work off the human scale, causing events in our world that require much more strenuous interventions than sympathy and tears. It’s hard to know what to feel, in the face of the catastrophe we have made, or what difference our feelings would make.
* Silicon Valley Dreams of Fascism.
* NYU Issues Apology for Mistreatment of Workers on Abu Dhabi Campus. Well, that settles that!
* Executive Compensation at Public Colleges, 2013 Fiscal Year. Former University Presidents and Their Pensions. A new report finds that student debt and low-wage faculty labor are rising faster at state universities with the highest-paid presidents.
* NLRB May Reconsider Unionization Rights For Graduate Students In College Football Case.
* What are the humanities good for? The negative magisterium of the humanities.
* …or what’s an MLA for?
* Disruptive Innovation! The original theory comes from Clayton Christensen’s study of things like the hard drive and steel industries where he realized that disruptive products tend to combine new technologies, cheaper production, and — crucially — worse products.
* Pamela Anderson, survivor.
* Torture of a mentally ill prisoner in a Miami jail.
* Buzzfeed and Schizophrenia. And they said theory is useless!
* Economics in Fantasy Literature, Or, Why Nerds Really Like Stuff.
* Clickbait dissertations.
* We’ve hit Peak Should I Go to Grad School.
* Exit Through the Gift Shop: 9/11 Museum Edition.
* Three months in jail for Cecily McMillan.
* The United States has 710 prisoners per 100,000 people. Iceland has 150. Total.
* White House Promises To Never Again Let The CIA Undermine Vaccinations. Oh, okay, then all is forgiven!
* ‘There Will Be No World Cup’: Brazil on the Brink.
* Add “DUI” to the list of crimes rich people don’t have to worry about anymore.
* Duke Libraries is still running its Mad Men series of period advertising. Here’s the link for the latest episode.
* Presenting the Netflix Summary Glitch.
* Washington Archdiocese takes to the heavens, with a drone. Can autonomous robot baptism be far behind?
* The water main breaks will continue until morale improves.
* The actress who helped Lincoln defeat the Confederacy.
* Corey Robin: The Republican War on Workers’ Rights.
* David Harvey reviews Piketty.
* Law and Order: Westeros.
* If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on your fond memories of Star Wars, forever. At least the maximally unnecessary Harry Potter prequels suddenly have a chance of being good.
* And the 90s are literally turning to dust.
Tagged with 9/11, Abu Dhabi, academia, administrative blight, advertising, alcohol, Alfonso Cuarón, America, apocalypse, archives, Brazil, Buzzfeed, Capital in the 21st Century, Catholicism, Cecily McMillan, CEOs, China, CIA, Civil War, class struggle, clickbait, climate change, college football, commencement addresses, cultural preservation, David Harvey, Digital Dark Ages, disruptive innovation, dissertations, drones, Duke, ecology, economics, espionage, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, fantasy, fascism, film, futurity, Game of Thrones, gift shops, glitches, Godzilla, Google, graduate student life, Harry Potter, How the University Works, Iceland, insurance, James Franco, Jonathan Edwards, labor, Law and Order, Mad Men, Marc Bousquet, Marquette, mental illness, MetaFilter, Miami, Milwaukee, MLA, museums, NCAA, Netflix, NLRB, NYU, Occupy, On Such a Full Sea, online education, over-educated literary theory PhDs, Pamela Anderson, pedagogy, police violence, polio, politics, prison, prison-industrial complex, protest, rape, rape culture, religion, Republicans, rich people, science fiction, Should I go to grad school?, Silicon Valley, slavery, Star Wars, student debt, student movements, students, teaching, the 1990s, the Anthropocene, the humanities, the Internet, the rich are different from you and me, theory, they say time is the fire in which we burn, Thomas Piketty, torture, unions, vaccinations, water, water main breaks, Whole Foods Realism, work, World Cup
Tuesday, Tuesday
* The U.S. Cities Where the Poor Are Most Segregated From Everyone Else. Milwaukee, alas, is #1.
* “Dr. Kissinger’s visit to campus will not be publicized, so we appreciate your confidentiality…”
* Dronespeak.
* Yet the Senate House files show a university elite admitting that outsourcing has actually pushed up costs and made services worse. Despite that, the executives vow to press on with an even grander privatisation scheme.
* How to Talk to Prospective Grad Students.
* “The Ivory Ceiling of Service Work.”
* BREAKING: Raising the minimum wage doesn’t actually crash the economy.
* BREAKING: The TSA is useless.
* Vignettes from the Modern Workplace.
* Whispers and rumors of Shaka Smart.
* Race, privilege, and paying college athletes. Meet the Press’s Epic NCAA Fail.
* Everyone hates Nate Silver now, and/but/because his model says Republicans will take the Senate. More at Slate.
* There is a large body of evidence now looking at AA success rate, and the success rate of AA is between 5 and 10 percent.
* The Atlantic profiles Duke’s Own™ Zach Blas and his Facial Weaponization Suite.
* Pointless cruelty in the British prison system.
* The College Board and ACT are being sued for stealing student information.
* In a civilized country, it wouldn’t be possible: Detroit water department preparing mass utility shutoffs.
* Then again, apparently we can’t even recognize the equal humanity of our own future selves.
* The law, in its majestic equality… Arkansas Judge Ruled for Corporation Just Days After PAC Contributions.
* Annals of Star Trek continuity. That explains it!
* Sometimes muckraking is the worst: What the Heidelberg Project doesn’t want you to know.
* To whom is George Zimmerman a hero?
* Scott Walker endorses Obamacare.
* Yale Daily News, 1971: Educated Unemployables.
* Life after prison in Baltimore.
* All this happened, more or less.
* Great moments in checks and balances: Obama will ask Congress to put an end to the NSA bulk data collection program the executive branch personally, secretly, and extralegally inaugurated.
* Precrime watch: LAPD says every car in Los Angeles is part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
* The Onion is founding a new comedy festival in Chicago.
* Polio eradicated in India.
* And BREAKING: The Qatar World Cup Is a Total Disaster.
Tagged with AA, academia, academic service, ACT, airport security, alcoholism, America, Baltimore, Barack Obama, body language, checks and balances, Chicago, cities, class struggle, college basketball, College Board, college sports, comedy, continuity, corruption, data, Detroit, domestic surveillance, Don't mention the war, drones, Duke, Facial Weaponization Suite, futurity, general election 2016, George Zimmerman, graduate student life, guns, health care, Henry Kissinger, How the University Works, India, Khan, labor, maps, Marquette, Milwaukee, minimum wage, misogyny, Nate Silver, NCAA, NSA, over-educated literary theory PhDs, police state, polio, politics, polls, poverty, precrime, prison, prison-industrial complex, privacy, Qatar, race, Republicans, SAT, Scott Walker, segregation, sexism, Shaka Smart, soccer, standardized testing, Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, surveillance society, the courts, the everyday cruelty of the culture, the Founders, the law, the Senate, they say time is the fire in which we burn, time, TSA, United Kingdom, vaccines, war on drugs, water, work, World Cup, Yale, Zach Blas | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1156 |
__label__wiki | 0.646041 | 0.646041 | High school students respond to change in the dress code
(left) Shacory Williams, sophomore, and (right) Willow Pulford, junior, discussing new head wrap dress code over lunch.
Jessica Carter
Haile Emerson, Staff Writer
There have been many changes this school year, including a new principal; Dr. Shane Hopper. A new set of guidelines have been implemented into the rulebook, including the dress code change. The dress code shifted due to suspicion on “gang affiliation” and “over-exposure.”
Many students retaliated by protesting, deliberately breaking the dress code. One of the main organizing students, junior T’Mya Pulphus, felt the new policy directly affected targeted people like her.
“I first had an issue when I saw the policy on a poster in advisory, which bothered me because this policy basically banned not only the freedom to express oneself in a supposed ‘creative setting’ but those policies were also racially biased. The restrictions encompassed much of my wardrobe. I felt like this was discriminatory towards people of color and women,” Pulphus said.
Some students picked on the issue immediately and began to chime in, in support of their peers that were directly affected by the changes.
“I’ve noticed that people were angry because the new system challenged their culture and creativity. Personally I don’t wear head-wraps or crop-tops but I felt obligated to support the cause,” said junior Chima Mbionwu.
This immediately got the attention of faculty and administrators, who responded accordingly addressing issues with the previous dress code. They included their views towards the issue.
“I spent lots of time last year observing and I saw some dress I did not find appropriate. I didn’t want to make any drastic changes in the middle of the year. Now, don’t get me wrong I understand artistic expression, I’m an artist myself, but we must notice what’s appropriate. Students don’t have uniforms and I don’t want to be too rigid in thinking but we must maintain a professional environment. I don’t want to infringe upon your creativity,” said Head of School, Ashley Olson.
Much of student disapproval fell on Dr. Shane Hopper, the new High School Principal. He expressed his thoughts.
“I didn’t have anything to do with the dress code change, it was already in effect when I arrived. I merely enforced the rules. I truly respect the students involved and I try to maintain and healthy environment for everyone,” said Dr. Hopper.
Olson also spoke about the reaction she predicted from students.
“I expected student push back, and I think it’s important for students to use their voices, I don’t expect students to agree with every policy but we’re just doing what we believe is in the schools best interest. I actually respect people speaking their mind and we will always listen, then make decisions,” said Olson.
The policy has since changed to better include more students and their clothing preferences. The dress code now allows one inch or less of midriff and head wraps that do not cover the face.
“I have respect for the pushback, students have a right to expression, being new here, I’m learning the climate and adjusting accordingly,” said Dr. Hopper.
Haile Emerson, Staff Reporter
No school Tuesday changes finals schedule
Microwaves have returned!
End of semester overflowing with performance dates
High school counselors host a junior night to prepare students for college
Art department stops accepting students due to overwhelming classroom sizes
New security protocol for visitors started in October
Nickelodeon interested in casting students for new series
Administration sends out schedule for the first days of school
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__label__wiki | 0.937685 | 0.937685 | BBC Television
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BBC Television is a television service which began broadcasting on 2 November 1936 and ended on 19 April 1964. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1172 |
__label__wiki | 0.741708 | 0.741708 | Scientists have found a planet most similar to Earth
A star lives in some five hundred light years from us, in the constellation Cygnus, which, although smaller and redder than the Sun, but also, like our star, may have a planet like a twin similar to our Earth.
Having a diameter of only 10% more than the Earth’s, the newly found world is the first closest in size that “heats up” near its star, being in a temperature-friendly temperature range at which water, if it exists there, can be in liquid the form.
Scientists, hunters for the twins of the Earth, focus on planets that may have on their surface in the form of lakes, oceans or puddles of liquid water necessary for the flow of the “chemistry” of life.
Comparative sizes of Kepler-186F and the Earth
Statistically, the number of planets similar to the Earth, rotating in admitting the possibility of life orbits (not too far so that the water does not freeze, not too close to the star, so that it does not evaporate), should be not small, show recent studies.
But to conduct such a search is extremely difficult, given such a long distance. NASA’s “Kepler” space telescope spent four long years observing approximately 150,000 selected stars and trying to detect small fluctuations in the intensity of their radiation, which could be caused by planets rotating around them, crossing the line of observation and dimming the star for a short time.
Comparison of Kepler-186F orbits and the Earth
“A planet the size of Earth, located from its star-mistress, similar to the Sun, as far as our planet from our luminary, should“ block ”only 80 - 100 photons of light from a star of every million. And it will only do this once every 365 days, ”said astronomer Thomas Barclay of the Kepler scientific group at the Moffett Field Research Institute (NASA, California).
The smaller the size of the star around which the twin of the Earth rotates, the easier it is to detect the movement. The newly discovered planet, called “Kepler-186F”, blocks about 400 photons of star light from every million when crossing the line of observation, and this is repeated every 130 days.
“I’m not claiming that this planet is habitable, but our discovery is an important milestone in the search for them,” Barclay said in an interview with Discovery News. “She is not a twin of Earth, but perhaps she is her cousin”
Is Kepler-186F a kind of Earth?
Scientists are trying to confirm or deny Kepler’s data
Scientists have discovered a planet the size of Earth
An exoplanet resembling Venus is found in a nearby star system
Kepler-452b: the closest Earth-like exoplanet
New clues to the existence of the earthly “twin”
Hey Spock! It seems we have found your home planet
A potentially habitable super earth has been found
The Kepler-296 e Exoplanet is 85% Earth-Like
Exoplanet Captain b declared habitable with a probability of 80%
Two new super-Earths were found in the depths of space
Civilian scientists may have found an inhabited planet
There may be habitable planets around red dwarfs
Star Wars worlds that exist in our galaxy
Mercury’s carbon-rich crust turned out to be very ancient
The ninth planet may be an alien intruder
The Milky Way lives in the void
Astronomers have found traces of a destroyed galaxy.
Gas flow from a galactic supermassive black hole
The Mystery of Pluto's Ice Blades
How much water does it take to fill the Martian valleys?
Scientists have found a powerful magnetic "power station" with a planetary mass
The space capsule returns crew members to Earth
New Horizons team finds cloud of floating ice on Pluto.
What are uggs in fashion now?
Ufologists believe that the Sabu disk may be an ancient model of a flying saucer
Scientists have found a giant planet around a brown dwarf
A strange object was found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Opinion ufologov
The incident at Stonehenge - 1971. 5 tourists disappeared during a thunderstorm
Revelations of the Time Traveler: Third World War, Trump's Presidency, and Flight to Mars
Helicopters, tanks and spacecraft. What are the abydos hieroglyphs
Hillary Clinton promised to reveal all the information about Zone 51 and unidentified objects
Planet Mercury is reduced in size!
NASA astronaut tried to find Noah's ark
Can a supermassive black hole absorb a quasar
Why did NASA cancel the space walk of two female astronauts
Egyptian papyrus Tully - a skillful fake or ancient evidence of an extraterrestrial phenomenon
Giordano Bruno - a monk who revealed the secrets of the universe
Is the death of the ufologist Vadim Chernobrov connected with his activity?
The Great Wall of China is visible from space! Or not?
What makes airplanes light enough?
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__label__cc | 0.625137 | 0.374863 | St. Petersburg Gardens and Museums Tour
Andrew Shiva
This is THE must-do run in St. Petersburg! Many of the city’s sightseeing and architectural highlights are its significant squares and gardens, several built around famous palaces, residences, and museums. Seeing these St. Petersburg highlights makes for a fantastic 9 km run along the grand, wide-open paths of the Summer Garden, Field of Mars, Mikhailovsky Garden, Mikhaylovsky Square, Palace Square & the Hermitage Museum, and Aleksandrovskiy Garden. Paths along the river embankment connect these spots.
Field of Mars. Alexander Shiva
Now, our map for the route might look a little confusing…but it’s actually quite easy to design your own route around these signature spots, choosing your own paths and alleys. Just use this as a guideline! We start at the Marble Museum Palace Embankment. Run away from the river for 1 km along the paths of the Field of Mars, a formally laid-out park on former military ground, with burial sites & monuments to revolutionaries. Cross the river and run into the lovely Mikhailovsky Garden, running west along this landscaped city garden toward the iconic Savior on the Spilled Blood church. Choose waterside or interior walking paths. At the Church, turn LEFT along the river, run by
Palace Square
the Russian Museum, and run through Mikhaylovsky Square, a small park. Head EAST, toward Engineer’s Square, and then back toward the river along Klenovaya Ulitsa for the spectacular approach to St. Michael’s Castle, passing the Monument to Peter 1. Run around the square/grounds there, and then along the Fontanka river embankment into the formally landscaped Summer Garden, which is about 1 km down to the river. Here, at the 4 km mark, head west along the river path for 1 km to the Hermitage Theatre. Here, you’ll do a ~2.5 km loop around the Hermitage Museum grounds, Palace Square, the Winter Palace Garden, and then west through Aleksandrovskiy Garden/Park. At the western end of the park, turn along the path toward the river and the Bronze Horseman, a city landmark commissioned by Catherine the Great, named for a Pushkin poem & completed in 1782. The final 2 km is back east along the river paths.
Add-Ons: Enjoy additional paths in the parks and gardens. Can also add with paths along the embankments of the Neva River, Moyka River, and Fontanka River.
9.2 km (5.7 mile) loop. Can add on with additional park paths and river paths
Marble Palace or any spot
Good transport access along most of route
Other Routes in this Area
River Paths & Historic St. Petersburg
A tour of some of the city’s most historic and architecturally intriguing sites, all while offering great... more...
Elagin Island/Tsentral’nyy Park
Tucked away on its own island northwest of St. Petersburg but accessible via transport, the sprawling green... more...
All Saint Petersburg, Russia Routes
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__label__wiki | 0.551121 | 0.551121 | Go-pdf
Plant Taxonomy
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PLANT TAXONOMY 2E
Author(s): SHARMA
Categories: Taxonomy
Publisher: Tata McGraw-Hill Education
The revised edition of Plant Taxonomy is designed to present the current principles, practices and techniques of plant taxonomy and contemporary classifications, and also to describe important angiospermic families and groups. It provides a broad and up-to-date synthesis of this active and fascinating field of botany in the most effective manner.
Introduction to the Principles of Plant Taxonomy
Author(s): V. V. Sivarajan
Categories: Science
Fully updated and revised, this new edition is an introduction to the theoretical principles that underlie the practice of plant taxonomy. Intended for all students of botany, this book views existing classification systems objectively, reflecting the rapid advances that have occurred in the field of plant taxonomy since the publication of the original text. A disproportionate emphasis on the practice of plant taxonomy has to some extent caused the science to be seen solely as the activity of plant identification. This book attempts to redress the balance by providing an introduction to the taxonomic theory upon which the identification is based.
Author(s): Earl Lemley Core
Categories: Botany
An Introduction to Plant Taxonomy
Author(s): Charles Jeffrey
Publisher: CUP Archive
This book explains in simple terms how plants are classified and named.
Author(s): Tod F. Stuessy
The field of plant taxonomy has transformed rapidly over the past fifteen years, especially with regard to improvements in cladistic analysis and the use of new molecular data. The second edition of this popular resource reflects these far-reaching and dramatic developments with more than 3,000 new references and many new figures. Synthesizing current research and trends, Plant Taxonomy now provides the most up-to-date overview in relation to monographic, biodiversity, and evolutionary studies, and continues to be an essential resource for students and scholars. This text is divided into two parts: Part 1 explains the principles of taxonomy, including the importance of systematics, character...
Plant Taxonomy and Biosystematics
Author(s): Clive A. Stace
This book presents a concise, up-to-date and fully-integrated discussion of present-day plant taxonomy. It emphasises the dynamic nature of taxonomy which results from it being a fundamental discipline and a synthesis of all biological knowledge. Since publication of the first edition there have been many developments in the subject. Perhaps the most important of these has been the rise in popularity of cladistics, and the author fully discusses this controversial methodology.
Plant Systematics
Author(s): Michael G. Simpson
Plant Systematics is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated text, covering the most up-to-date and essential paradigms, concepts, and terms required for a basic understanding of plant systematics. This book contains numerous cladograms that illustrate the evolutionary relationships of major plant groups, with an emphasis on the adaptive significance of major evolutionary novelties. It provides descriptions and classifications of major groups of angiosperms, including over 90 flowering plant families; a comprehensive glossary of plant morphological terms, as well as appendices on botanical illustration and plant descriptions. Pedagogy includes review questions, exercises, and references ...
Author(s): Rajni Gupta
Publisher: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Prithipalsingh, Indian taxonomist; contributed articles.
PBIO 250 Lecture Notes: Plant Taxonomy
Published: Unknown
Presents lecture notes on plant taxonomy, provided by James L. Reveal, a professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Maryland. Contains notes on the history of systematic botany, plant nomenclature, sources of taxonomic evidence, origin and classification, evolution and biosystematics, specimen preparation, and methods of identifying vascular plants. Includes information on specific families and systems of vascular plant classification.
International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (Melbourne Code)
Author(s): John McNeill
Categories: Algae
"The purpose of this book is to serve as a user's guide to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants ("Code"), specifically the Melbourne Code ..." -- preface.
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__label__wiki | 0.720096 | 0.720096 | Going Gentle Into That Good Night
Practical, applicable information for caregiving for our loved ones with dementias and Alzheimer's Disease
Going Gentle Into That Good Night Books
Profiles in Dementia: Coach Pat Summitt (1952 – 2016)
Coach Pat Summitt, who coached the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) women’s basketball team for 38 years until her retirement in 2012 after she announced that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, was known for her fair, but ethical, disciplined, and meticulous coaching that emphasize hard work saw Coach Summitt experience unparalleled success on and off the court, but more importantly, saw the efforts of her leadership and coaching develop in her basketball players the same kind of work ethic, fairness, ethics, discipline, and meticulousness.
In stark contrast to many players in men’s college basketball players who typically don’t graduate from college, but instead go to the NBA in their sophomore or junior years, Coach Summitt held a 100 percent graduation rate for all of her players who completed their eligibility at the University of Tennessee.
Patricia Sue Summitt began her college basketball career as a player at the University of Tennessee (Martin, TN) where she won All-American honors. In the 1976 Olympics, Summit was the co-captain of the first American women’s basketball team to participate in the Olympics.
After college graduation, Summit went on to become a graduate assistant coach of the women’s basketball team just before the 1974-1975 season, where she quickly was named head coach of the Lady Volunteers when the head coach suddenly resigned.
Continuing her completion of a master’s degree in physical education, Coach Summit not only coached the Lady Vols, but also co-captained the silver-medal winning 1976 Olympics American women’s basketball team in Montreal.
In 1984, Coach Summit returned to the Olympics, this time as head coach of the gold-medal winning American women’s basketball team.
Coach Summit’s record on the basketball court is impressive:
1098 wins – 208 losses overall (.840)
32 appearances in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) championship game; winner of 1/2 (16) conference titles
112 wins – 23 losses in NCAA tournament appearances
31 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances
8 NCAA tournament championships
Record-setting season in 1997-1998, with 39 wins and no losses, including the NCAA tournament championship
Naismith Coach of the Century in 2002
Currently still has the most wins of any NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball coach, and second only to UCLA’s John Wooden in NCAA championship titles
Coach Summitt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2011, but remained on at the University of Tennessee as head coach of the Lady Vols during the 2011-2012 season. However, Coach Summitt’s cognitive and neurological condition was evident in that season, as assistant coaches took the lead roles in guiding the team, while Coach Summitt was often in absentia even though she was physically sitting with the team in Thompson-Boling Arena.
In 2012, Coach Summitt resigned from the University of Tennessee.
Coach Summitt also create the Pat Summitt Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease in 2011.
For a while after her 2011 diagnosis (the family has been quite, and understandably, private about Coach Summitt’s journey through dementia), the ailing coach was able to live at home, but in March 2016, Coach Summitt’s family revealed that she was living in a retirement community.
Coach Summitt died on June 28, 2016.
This entry was posted on June 28, 2016, in Profiles in Dementia and tagged death 2016, early-onset Alzheimer's Disease, Knoxville, Lady Vols, Lady Volunteers, NCAA, pat summitt, pat summitt foundation, SEC, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee, University of Tennessee, women's basketball coach. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments
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3 thoughts on “Profiles in Dementia: Coach Pat Summitt (1952 – 2016)”
shortkay says:
Aged only 64 – too young… so sad.
Going Gentle Into That Good Night says:
Martha Peeples says:
What an amazing woman — great profile! Thanks.
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Alzheimer's Disease, Dementias, Age-Related Illnesses Caregiver Support
Facebook Group for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, and Other Age-Related Illnesses
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Part 1 – Making Daily Life Easier
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The Fallacy of “Silver Bullet” Solutions to Dementias and Alzheimer’s Disease
The Layperson's Guide to Alcohol-Related Dementia
The Layperson's Guide to Alzheimer's Disease
The Layperson's Guide to Dementia Medications and Supplements
The Layperson's Guide to Early-Onset Dementias
The Layperson's Guide to Hepatic Encephalopathy
The Layperson's Guide to Home Health Care
The Layperson's Guide to Hospice Care
The Layperson's Guide to Lewy Body Dementia
The Layperson's Guide to Palliative Health Care
The Layperson's Guide to Primary Progressive Aphasia
The Layperson's Guide to Vascular and Multi-Infarct Dementia
The Layperson’s Guide to Neural Disorders That Often Lead to Neurodegeneration and Dementia
The Layperson’s Guide to Revocable Living Trusts, Guardianships, and Conservatorships
The Layperson’s Guide to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
The Link Between Brain Injuries & Neurological Disease
The Link Between Hearing Loss & Dementia
The Rare Dementias: Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD)
The Rare Dementias: Fatal Familial Insomnia
The Rare Dementias: Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Insights Into Dementias and Alzheimer's Disease
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How Personality, Quirks, Foibles, and Flaws Factor into Behavior
How Temperament Factors Into Dementias and Alzheimer’s Disease
Lifestyle Dementia
Addiction to Technology
Alcohol-Related Dementia
“Smart Drugs,” "Brain Enhancers," and "Mental Magic" (Nootropics)
Comfortably Numb or All Jacked Up: Prescription Addiction
Dementia and Lifestyle – Part 1
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Prescription Drug Abuse – Adderall
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The Long and Winding Road: A Journey Through Alzheimer's Disease
Personal Dementia-Related Book Reviews
"A Deadly Wandering" – Matt Richtel
"Being Mortal" – Dr. Atul Gawande
"Better" – Dr. Atul Gawande
"Less Medicine, More Health" – H. Gilbert Welch
"Memory Lessons" – Jerald Winakur
"Patient H.M.: A Story of Memory, Madness, and Family Secrets" – Luke Dittrich
"The Glass Cage" – Nicholas Carr
"The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606"
"When Breath Becomes Air" – Paul Kalanithi
"When I Married My Mother" – Jo Maeder
“Bad Pharma: How Drug Companies Mislead Doctors and Harm Patients” – Ben Goldacre
“The Tale of Dueling Neurosurgeons” – Sam Kean
How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America by Otis Webb Brawley
Pt. 1 – "The End of Absence" – Michael Harris
Solitude – Michael Harris
The Trip to Echo Spring – Olivia Laing
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Bill Guthridge
Charmian Carr
Granny Weatherall
Helen French Garrison
Malcolm Young
My Mama: Muriel June Foster Ross
Pat Summitt
The Rare Dementias
Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1186 |
__label__cc | 0.709652 | 0.290348 | Humor to attack insane Trump politics
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HAVE NO FEAR. OBAMA FIRED UP AND POSITIVE
September 27, 2011 September 26, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, Congress, DEMOCRATS, Eric Cantor, Jobs, John Boehner, political victory, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, REPUBLICANS, Standard and Poors, Uncategorized, workers
“HERE COMES DA JUDGE”…I MEAN JOBS!
September 27, 2011 September 26, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, Congress, DEMOCRATS, Eric Cantor, Jobs, John Boehner, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, REPUBLICANS, Uncategorized, workers
Facebook Users: Contact Congress Through Facebook
September 27, 2011 September 27, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, CIVIL RIGHTS, Congress, CORRUPTION, DEMOCRATS, ENTITLEMENTS, Environment, Eric Cantor, FOREIGN POLICY, IRAN, ISRAEL, Jobs, John Boehner, MIDDLE-CLASS, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, RACISM, REPUBLICANS, Uncategorized, US Finance, workers
Write Congress Through Facebook!
You can now write members of Congress on whatever subject you’d like through our Facebook application.
Simply go to our Facebook page and click on the “Tell Congress” option — or go directly to the Compose Your Own Message page by clicking on this link.
SO, YOU PASSED THE 2ND INTERVIEW…
September 27, 2011 September 26, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, Congress, DEMOCRATS, Eric Cantor, Jobs, John Boehner, MIDDLE-CLASS, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, REPUBLICANS, Standard and Poors, Uncategorized, workers
OBAMA: “TIGER, TIGER BURNING BRIGHT”
September 27, 2011 September 26, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, CIVIL RIGHTS, Congress, CORRUPTION, DEMOCRATS, ENTITLEMENTS, Environment, Eric Cantor, FOREIGN POLICY, gay, Jobs, John Boehner, MIDDLE-CLASS, political victory, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, RACISM, REPUBLICANS, Standard and Poors, Uncategorized, US Finance, Women, workers
PRESIDENT OBAMA, STALKING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU!
TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
By William Blake
BEWARE OF MEN WEARING BROWN SHIRTS
September 27, 2011 September 26, 2011 by goodolewoody, posted in 2012_ELECTION, BLACKS, CIVIL RIGHTS, Congress, CORRUPTION, DEMOCRATS, ENTITLEMENTS, Environment, Eric Cantor, Jobs, John Boehner, MIDDLE-CLASS, political victory, Politics, PostAday, PROGRESSIVES, RACISM, Religion, REPUBLICANS, Standard and Poors, Uncategorized, US Finance, workers
It wasn’t so long ago that we were in a depression. Millions of Americans were unemployed and after their savings were depleted they depended on charity to survive. Today our college graduates are unable to enter the job market with their fresh skills and knowledge. Now we have millions on Food Stamps. Gas prices are high and food keeps getting more expensive. Seniors are scared and afraid that one day the government benefit check may not come. There is no one to check the machinations of a television empire which masquerades as a news outlet when they really are the functional head of a conservative political party controlling through influence millions of campaign dollars from secret donors. The FCC and FEC look the other way. The US Supreme Court gave us Citizens United which has shifted overwhelming political power to the right. I can’t say we are not in a depression. The people are defeated. A call for 20,000 people to demonstrate at Wall Street went largely unfulfilled. [80 people were arrested.] While the rich grow richer each day protected and working in concert with a conservative party consisting of 1% of the population who are our employers sitting on 1 trillion dollars of capital instead of creating jobs. This time the Jews are not being persecuted as scapegoats and exterminated. This time it’s middle-class which is the focus of injustice, inequity and oppression. Conservative governors conspire in secret to turn the country more and more into an oligarchy. So many cold hearts lust for wealth. There still is food in the stores and the looting has not started. Our youth have not started mischief en masse like in the UK. The general public is too meek to give birth to a Tahrir Square. The news reports no secret political groups who seek to change the government through a little violence. BEWARE WHEN THE MEN START WEARING BROWN SHIRTS!
Jobs! We need jobs! Why not a domestic Marshall Plan or a WPA? President Obama has fashioned the American Jobs Act which contains many ideas previously approved by the opposition. He campaigns from coast to coast to get the public riled up to pressure The Congress to pass this bill. Some say the bill is naïve and will not be passed. No jobs? What do we do when the banks start limiting withdrawals and ATM machines are abandoned? How long will the shops have inventory on their shelves? Will some Americans start to think like they did in Germany in the 30s? Is there some dark and sinister monster lurking in innocent society waiting for his opportunity to overthrow the government…and one day perhaps the world? Is our military prepared for national rebellion at home like we saw in Egypt?
You know, life could be so different if only conservatives would see reason and work with progressives with both working on building that shining city on the hill. Compromise. It’s not a dirty word. It’s how our government served our best interests for 300 years. I fear that maybe those with all the money and power are done with democracy and want some extreme society. Is having a black President made the whites in power so insane that they are risking the demise of history’s greatest empire in their zeal for a white Commander-in-Chief? Would that be the answer to all our problems? What would happen the day after the election? Will the sun shine brighter? Will the grass be greener? Will there be jobs? Will everyone have an equal opportunity for a big slice of the American pie? Will the world heave a collective sigh of relief that America, the Golden Standard, is restored? Are we that foolish? Do we think it is too late to rescue our nation from the lobbyists and big campaign donors? The oligarchs? Are you content to sit on the sidelines and watch the world decline? If you are reading this rant, you have a computer. Have you used this civil weapon in the battle to fix our broken Congress? What I mean is this: Have you expressed your concerns and wishes to those you elected to represent you in Washington? Are you aware that omnipotent oligarchs could more the monster than that insane dictator of the 30s? Are you waiting for the breadlines and soup kitchens? You have got to do something! The Kennedy’s and Roosevelt’s are gone. Would that Dr. King were here to lead us! Well, it’s up to you. Will the middle-class sustain the attacks that would enslave us? Hey, they may have all the money, but the middle-class outnumbers them a hundred times over. We can win! How about it?
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__label__cc | 0.662454 | 0.337546 | MATT DOWLING TALKING #NOFREEWORK ON RTE RADIO
18 February 2019 by TFC
Founder of Freelancer Club and voice of the #NoFreeWork campaign, Matt Dowling, was interviewed for RTE Radio 1 for the Business Show.
WHY IS UNPAID WORK SO POPULAR
18 April 2018 by The Freelancer Club
Before we look into why so many freelancers accept unpaid work, let’s look at why it exists in the first place. Businesses by their very nature (and often by necessity) try to keep costs down to help turn a profit. The mentality, particularly in a recession, is not to find the best person for the job but to find the cheapest person for the job and when talented freelancers are willing to work for free it's a no-brainer for the employer.
CLUB CONNECTIONS - LIHEE AVIDAN, PHOTOGRAPHER + WORK.LIFE
31 October 2016 by The Freelancer Club
#NOFREEWORK presents Club Connections. When co-working space, Work.Life, and photojournalist Lihee Avidan combine, beautiful things happen.
NO FREE WORK SURVEY RESULTS
Over 1000 freelancers participated in our #NOFREEWORK survey and the results are in. To say the outcome is shocking is an understatement. We always knew there was a problem with freelancers working for free but we never realised the extent of the issue.
Through many months of research, interviews with industry leaders, personal experience and listening to thousands of you whom we’ve supported over the years, we are proud to announce the official Freelancer Club campaign that says NO TO FREE WORK.
POLITICAL POWER: NO FREE WORK UPDATE
It's been a long road thus far to spread the message of NO FREE WORK but it seems our cries have been heard.
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WHAT IS UNPAID WORK?
11 March 2015 by Matt Dowling
The freelance community has long been debating the merits of unpaid work. One side believe that unpaid work provides a vital role in a freelancer’s development through experience and exposure. The other side feels that exposure should be a consequence of a day’s paid work and that the industry is taking advantage of it’s allure to recruit free labour. Throw into the mix the law, the current state of the economy as well as the various nuances of each sector within the freelance industry and you end up with a multi layered, highly complexed mess. What is clear is that nobody has a definitive answer and so began my journey. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1201 |
__label__cc | 0.523333 | 0.476667 | Posts Tagged ‘Book Five: Remains’
Afterwards by the Author (Book Six: Mother)
Posted: December 3, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
Tags: Book Five: Remains, Book Four: Phantoms, Book One: Southbound Nightmares, Book Six: Mother, Book Three: Recruits, Book Two: Almost Dead, Don't Feed The Dark, Scott Scherr, Treachery
***SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED READING DON’T FEED THE DARK, BOOK 6: MOTHER, THEN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO STOP READING NOW***
So, here we are again. One more massive volume of this dark saga complete. By the numbers, not only is Book Six the new longest book in the series, clocking in at over 305,000 words (yeah… I know, right), but this last chapter, Treachery, is now the longest chapter in the series at over 64,000 words… whew! I had no idea at the start of this challenging book that it would get this long, but it did. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised… lol.
Book Six was the most difficult (and intimidating) volume to write in this series because I knew it was answer time, which meant getting into the ‘origin story’. I must say, since the second chapter, I’ve had my eyes opened wide and my jaw hitting the floor at many of the revelations that came out of this book. When I discovered that Meredith was ‘ground zero’… I was like, “Shit! Didn’t see that coming… at all!”
Of course, along with the many surprises I experienced writing this final chapter to the second major arc in the series, I always knew that this was going to be Meredith’s final act. That’s why so much of this story was centered around her character and past. I wanted this special woman to have her time in the spotlight and finally tackle a lot of the tough questions and mysteries surrounding her life and the people in it. I was delighted to finally get around to writing about Hannah and Frank’s connection to Meredith, a question that’s been lingering since Book One.
I’ve endeavored to tell the best origin story I could without slowing things down too much. I know there were times when these chapters seemed like they’d never end… lol. Hopefully, I’ve covered and answered as many questions as possible about the Mother organization and how it evolved.
I knew that this was also going to be Nicole Howard’s finale book and I thought it was very cool that she got to be there at the end to help Meredith send Toby back into the darkness.
Returning to finish the New Cleveland arc of this story was a lot of fun, especially when I got to bring back Herbie and show how he’d changed since his days as a strip club owner. I was hoping poor Wendy would make it to the next book, but things just went from bad to worse for her and it just wasn’t meant to be. A part of me was really looking forward to exploring her ‘pacifist’ character more going into the next book, but it just didn’t work out. The one that really hurt was finding out that Nine’s new friend, the girl named Joe, was going to be hung from the old rollercoaster. I knew that one was going to suck… especially for Nine. And Diane’s reaction to Nadia’s betrayal? Damn! I felt as shocked as Tony and the others when that occurred. And then, the return of Orosco… to find out that his ‘new group’ is a bunch of Mother rebels… didn’t see that coming either. I’ve said this before, I love it when I’m surprised by how this story turns, and it’s exciting to write a story like this that doesn’t always follow the script. It’s like, this story is already written, and I’m just being fed the tale in portions when it’s time to tell it.
Well, I could go on an on about so much that’s happened, but I’ll stop there. If anyone has questions about anything that you may have found confusing, ask away, I’ll endeavor to answer what I can so as long as they don’t enter spoiler territory.
So, what’s coming next?
I’m glad you asked… lol.
Some time next spring, the first of the final two books in this series will premiere. Book Seven: The Prophet, will begin with most of my remaining survivors together for the first time since the end of Book Four. The opening chapter, tentatively titled, Anniversary, will begin a few months after the end of Book Six, one year after The Change. I can’t say too much right now, but it will involve a ceremony of some sort, commemorating everyone who has survived that first long year.
What I can also add about Book Seven is that everyone will be in it. So before you ask, “What the hell happened to Russell and Alysa?” Not to worry, that story will be covered. I’ve lots of stories left to cover in these final two books, stories I’ve been seeding or just been waiting to tell for a real long time.
Now that I’ve survived writing Book Six, and I can put that ‘Mother’ of a story in the rearview mirror, I expect to have a blast with these last two volumes.
Well, that’s all I have for now. I’m already jumping into Book Seven. Again, if you have questions about anything, feel free to ask, and I’ll answer them here.
See you spring 2020. I’ll post updates along the way.
As always, thanks for reading and for your encouraging comments either here or in the other places this story is posted. If I don’t hear from you, I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Years.
Chapter 54-13: Treachery (Book Six Finale)
Posted: November 29, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
Gina sat on the aft deck with her back against the lifeline, knees up, her shaking arms wrapped around them as she tried to relax. Her clothes were covered in blood. Her shoulder-length red hair, disheveled with dried up black blood, hung over her intense green eyes, surrounded by a face mask of more blood. She rested her chin on one knee and continued to stare in disbelief at Stephen and Logan who were speaking with the captain of the Carrie-Anne. Her bloody hand axe and pain stick sat next to her on the deck on her right side.
They’re alive, she thought to herself. Stephen, Logan, Meredith…
And at the same time, every recruit she’d been left in charge of, including Julianne…
All dead.
A lone tear streamed down her face. She could feel a flood of emotions attempting to breach her hard exterior. She fought against it and won… barely. She closed her weary eyes and tried to process everything Logan and Stephen had told her since escaping on the vessel, which was now headed toward a cave on the western side of the island to rendezvous with Clementine, Meredith, and…
Megan? She couldn’t wrap her mind around that one. The last time she’d seen that pitiful girl, she was a monster left to rot inside a glass cage.
“Gina?”
She opened her eyes with a start, realizing she’d dozed off. Stephen was kneeling in front of her, his kind eyes looking at her in a way that made her feel… uncomfortable.
He smiled and said, “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
She attempted a smile. It felt awkward to do so. “It’s good to see you,” she said. “I’m… I’m still in shock… I think. So much has just happened.” She looked away, feeling too exhausted for words. “Where’s Logan?”
“It’s okay,” Stephen said. “Just rest a bit. Captain Carl has informed us that we can’t enter the cavern until the tides recede. It will probably be another hour. Logan’s keeping an eye on the captain… just to make sure he doesn’t change course.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No,” Stephen said. “Captain Carl just isn’t very happy right now. He only got half the fuel he set out to get and we weren’t part of the… arrangement… that he made with the Red Lady. But in the captain’s defense, he did get us here, loaned us the guns and flares, and if not for that bright-ass spotlight, we might not have made it back to the dock.”
“Clementine,” Gina said. “You can’t trust that bitch. If she’s with Meredith…”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Stephen said with a weary sigh. “What Meredith went in there to do… well… I don’t even want to think about it.”
Gina nodded. Logan and Stephen gave her the short version of events leading up to all of them being out here. “This… this Toby. He’s the one running things, then?”
“Yes,” Stephen said. “He’s… shit… I don’t even know where to begin on that one. It’s a long damn story that Meredith needs to tell. So much has happened, Gina. So… damn… much.” He looked away with a heavy sigh.
She laughed weakly. “It’s okay. It can wait. I’m just… I’m just glad you’re here. Last I knew, all of you died at the compound. That’s what that witch, Clementine, led me to believe. That’s why I’m out here now.”
Stephen gave her a puzzled look.
She clarified. “We… Clementine and I… we were planning on going after the Shadow Dead… for what they did.” She looked away and shook her head. “Doesn’t matter now. I don’t even know what’s true anymore.”
“We’ll get to it, Gina. After this mess is finished… we’ll share notes and blow each other’s minds.”
This made Gina laugh. It was a vulnerable laugh. One she hadn’t felt since… Marcus.
No… Russell Bower, she reminded herself. She didn’t even want to approach that topic, not yet, not now. Instead, she asked, “Did… did anyone else make it?”
Stephen gave her a sad look and shook his head. “I don’t know Gina. We’ve been back to the compound and searched the area around it. After a while, I think we were searching for you and Marcus as an excuse to stay in the area as long as we could. We found no one. Did Marcus ever catch up with you? Have you seen him?”
Gina closed her eyes. “Marcus… is dead. The Shadow Dead took him.” And that’s all she would volunteer as she opened her eyes and turned away. “We should stay focused. I’ll… I’ll fill you in later.”
Stephen just stared, disheartened by the news. “Okay,” he finally said. He reached toward a bucket of water sitting beside him and retrieved a sponge. He leaned in to wipe the blood from his friend’s face.
Gina flinched from the sponge and knocked his hand away from her face. “Don’t do that,” she spat.
Stephen looked shocked. “I… I was only trying to help. You’re covered in that black blood.”
“It’s a mark of honor!” she blurted out. She immediately saw young Julianne’s face and almost broke. Gina shook her head and calmed down. “Sorry. Sorry, Stephen. It’s been a… long fucking night. Please… go ahead. Get that shit off my face.”
Stephen hesitated then came back in with the sponge. He carefully wiped the blood away from her eyes, nose and mouth. He felt his throat tighten and stopped when he found Gina’s face beneath all that blood. “I’m the one who should be sorry,” he said. “You’ve been through hell out here. I can tell.”
“I just need a really long shower,” she joked.
“That’s not what I mean.”
She looked at him, her eyes full of sadness. “What’s happened to me is not your fault.”
“Of course, it is. I was the one who exiled you, remember?”
Gina stared at the tears coming down Stephen’s face. She wanted to reach up and wipe them away but stopped herself. She smiled, her own tears flowing now, and said, “You did the right thing.”
He looked confused and ashamed.
“I’m… I’m not well, Stephen. I’ve done horrible things. I was unfit to lead… or to be around any of you.”
“I don’t believe that,” Stephen said.
She smiled. “And nothing I say will convince you otherwise because you always find the best in people. But I’m telling you, I’m fucked-up. Just look at me.”
Stephen did. “I sent you out here… alone. No one should be alone. And I’m responsible for doing that to you.”
She laughed. “Doesn’t matter right now. We can talk about the blame game later. I’m just glad you’re alive.”
Stephen smiled. “Same here. It’s good to see you. I mean that.”
“I know you do, Stephen. And… and if it helps to hear it… then I forgive you for exiling me.”
Stephen nodded. He shoulders sunk and he wept.
Gina could no longer fight back the flood. She reached over for her friend and they embraced.
For the first time in a long time, Gina almost felt… human.
“Meredith! Megan!” Stephen shouted into the cavern for the fourth time.
Gina stood on the dock, armed with both her weapons. She watched Stephen and Logan search the cavern floor with flashlights while Captain Carl had the siblings shine the spotlight around from the deck of the Carrie-Anne.
“Megan!” Logan shouted, staring up toward the crack at the edge of the cavern. “Meredith! Can you hear us?”
The fiery red head stared up toward the crack in the upper wall where she was informed Meredith, Megan and Clementine had gone. She raised her own voice toward Logan and Stephen, pointing toward the crack. “We should go! Maybe they can’t hear us if they’re on the other side!” She stepped off the dock and started toward the crack.
“No, Gina! Wait!” Stephen cut in front of her. “Meredith warned us that we couldn’t go up there… not without losing our sanity.”
Gina just gave him an uncomprehending look and walked around him.
“Gina!” Stephen protested in vain.
“My ‘sanity’ has been in question for a good long while,” Gina said over her shoulder. “Meredith’s in there somewhere with that evil woman. I’m not going to leave her there!”
Logan and Stephen both caught up with her and gave each other a ‘what the hell’ look.
Gina stopped abruptly, just before the top of the wall where the long crack started.
Someone was lying down just inside the crack.
Gina turned. “Stephen! Your light!”
The former school teacher shined his flashlight toward the crack. His beam struck the startled face of the half-dead, sitting against the wall with Meredith’s head in her lap. The half-dead shielded her eyes with her hands and hissed at them.
Stephen jumped back. “Shit! Megan? Hey… it’s just us.”
Megan crawled out of the crack, taking up a defensive crouch in front of Meredith. She growled and screamed at them, unwilling to let them any closer.
“Something’s wrong,” Logan said as he and Stephen lowered their flashlights. The preacher took a closer look at Megan. She was a filthy, bloody mess. But it was her eyes… those silver eyes… that shook him. They were open so wide that it made the young woman look like some insane alien attempting to take on a female form.
Gina looked past that half-dead at Meredith’s unconscious body. Then she stared at the half-dead and saw blood in her mouth. She tensed up immediately, squaring up toward the monster, and hissed, “What did you do?! Get the fuck away from my friend you dead freak!”
Megan swung her right arm toward Gina as she attempted to move closer.
“Gina!” Stephen said. “What are you doing?”
Gina raised her axe with murder in her eyes. “This fucking thing’s been feeding on our friend!” Believing Meredith was already dead, she advanced toward the creature, preparing to strike it down. “I should have killed you in that cage a long time ago,” she hissed.
Megan growled and swung both her arms toward Gina’s face. She crouched down, preparing to pounce on the enraged woman.
“Gina… STOP! You don’t know what the hell you’re doing!” Stephen grabbed Gina’s arm just before she brought the axe down on Megan’s head.
Gina turned toward him in shock, nearly swinging the Balato at him. “Let go of me! That fucking thing’s killed our friend!”
Logan was there. He wrapped his big arms around Gina and dragged her back.
Stephen let go of Gina and immediately turned to Megan, raising his arms submissively before she attacked. “Megan… it’s me… Stephen.”
A flicker of recognition shown in the half-dead woman’s eyes, enough to cause her to pause.
“Just… relax,” Stephen continued. “We’re you’re friends. We just want to help you help Meredith… okay?”
Megan just stared at the former school teacher, panting and shaking violently. She then grabbed the sides of her head and fell to her knees, screaming.
By now, Gina had broken loose of the big preacher, who just stood in front of her with his hands up. “Just hold on, Gina,” Logan said. “Let Stephen talk to her.”
Gina still held her weapons. For a moment she looked like she was about to attack Logan, then she took a step back and glanced at Stephen. “Get away from that thing!”
Stephen got lower to the ground, his hands still up. “Just… take it easy, Megan.” He noticed there was a piece of flesh ripped out of her left arm. He frowned and said, “What have you done to yourself?”
“Is everything okay,” Logan yelled back.
“The blood’s not Meredith’s,” Stephen said. “Looks like she took a bite out of her own arm.” He glanced at the unconscious woman and smiled at Megan. “You carried her all the way back here, didn’t’ you? Then you got… hungry… so damn hungry you hurt yourself instead of turning on Meredith.”
Megan rolled up into a ball, still breathing hard. She was trying to regain control.
Stephen dared to reach out and touch the young woman on the shoulder.
Megan flinched then grabbed Stephen’s wrist.
Shit… not you’ve done it, he thought.
But Megan didn’t lash out. She let go of his wrist and started to weep. “Help… help her… please!” she said, turning to Meredith.
“Okay,” Stephen said, rising to his feet and moving toward Meredith.
Megan let him.
By now, Gina had calmed down. She waited as Stephen examined Meredith. “Well?” she said.
Stephen turned, frowning. “She’s very weak. We need to get her to the-”
A loud crashing sound echoed through the crack in the wall. A gust of stale air exited the crack, blowing Stephen’s hair back.
“What the hell was that?” he whispered.
“Son of a whore!” Captain Carl yelled, getting everyone’s attention. “All of you… get the hell on board… NOW!”
Gina turned toward the frantic captain and said, “What’s the problem?”
In answer, something big fell from the cavern roof and splashed down in the water ten feet from the bow of the Carrie-Anne.
“It’s a bloody cave in!” Carl said. “Get you asses on board! Time to go!”
More rocks from the cavern ceiling started to fall, splashing all around the dock.
“Logan… get Meredith!” Stephen shouted. “I’ll stay with Megan.”
The big preacher nodded, then gave Gina’s hand axe a cautious look. He pointed at her and said. “You fucking behave.”
Gina nodded, lowering her weapons.
Stephen slowly helped the half-dead to her feet. By now, she was shaking so hard Stephen thought she was freezing to death. He gently led her toward the ship.
Gina and Logan reached Meredith.
She knelt and briefly examined her. “Nothing looks broken,” she advised.
The big preacher nodded. He bent down and easily scooped up the older woman, cradling her in his arms.
More rocks splashed down around the ship.
Captain Carl already had the siblings removing mooring lines. He shouted toward the others, “Let’s go! Damn cave’s coming down on us!”
The others cleared the dock and quickly got on board.
While Logan and Gina moved Meredith toward the aft deck, Stephen stopped with Megan, long enough to yell up to the captain, “That’s everyone! We’re not waiting for the fucking Red Lady!”
“Aye,” Carl called down. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Captain Carl disappeared into the pilot house, started the engine, and turned the ship around toward the exit.
A rock struck the roof of the pilot house, leaving a decent dent.
“That’s no damn way to treat a lady!” The captain shouted up toward the ceiling.
The Carrie-Anne made a break for the exit while the cavern continued to come down around them.
The first traces of dawn brought much welcomed light over the eastern horizon.
The Carrie-Anne drifted with a southerly current a quarter mile from the western side island. They all stood on the aft deck watching what remained of the large Mother installation collapse into the caverns beneath it, creating what looked like a huge crater in its place. Several avalanches of rock and dirt rolled down from the center of the island sending debris into the lake on all sides.
Gina frowned as she watched the northern cliff crack away and descend into the water. Goodbye, Julianne, she thought. You died well.
“What do you suppose caused all that?” Logan said.
“The caverns were unstable to begin with,” Stephen said. “Just like the one beneath the orphanage. Remember when we saw the walls move in that place?”
Logan nodded.
“Orphanage?” Gina said.
Stephen laughed. “Add that to the list of long stories to tell.”
Gina smiled absently, still staring at the crumbling island. “I imagine Clementine or Meredith had something to do with this.”
“Or Toby,” Stephen added.
Gina just gave him a blank stare. She turned to check on Meredith, glancing suspiciously at the grey-eyed monster who refused to leave the unconscious woman’s side. Megan held on to Meredith’s hand with her head tucked in between her legs. She was rocking back and forth trying to remain calm.
“She always like that?” Gina said.
“No,” Logan said. “Believe it or not… that young lady damn near made a complete comeback on the human side of things.”
Gina turned to the big preacher. “That’s impossible. She’s dead.”
“Not dead,” Stephen corrected. “Half dead.”
“Whatever.” Gina dismissed the matter and knelt on the other side of Meredith. “This isn’t like before when she used her powers. She’s barely breathing.” She looked up at Stephen. “What the hell did she get herself into in there?”
Stephen didn’t know how to answer that question without opening a can of a thousand more questions. He shook his head and said, “All I know is that she came back here to finish this… at great risk to herself.”
“What do you mean, ‘finish this’?”
“He means… he means that I came back here… to send Toby back to where he belongs.”
They all turned, startled by Meredith’s weak reply.
Gina smiled. “Welcome back.”
Meredith looked up into those green eyes, her eyes tearing up. She raised an old hand and touched Gina’s cheek. “It does my heart good… good to see you again, Gina.”
Gina wiped fresh tears away with the back of her dirty hand. “What crazy shit did you do this time, woman?”
Meredith smiled. “I came… we came… at the enemy directly. And since… since I’m here and not… not still over there… I guess my crazy plan… worked.”
Stephen was there. “Clementine? Is she…”
Meredith shook her head. “I don’t… I don’t know, Stephen. But I think… Toby… finished her off.”
“And Toby?” Logan added.
She smiled weakly at the big preacher and said, “I do believe ‘our’ God provided me a way out… before… before things got bad.”
“Praise Jesus!” Logan said.
She turned to Stephen. “I had a little help. Sylvia and Nicole were with me.”
Stephen’s eyes went wide. “Should I even ask how you managed that?”
Meredith laughed. “No… I’m too tired to explain it. But… but just know that without Nicole’s help… I would have failed. I suspected that it might… that it might require a spirit… to defeat a spirit… in Elsewhere. Turns out… turns out I was correct. Toby’s gone. Nicole and Sylvia defeated him… and dragged him back into the darkness… permanently.”
Stephen wiped a tear from his eye. “Nicole… is gone, then?”
Meredith gave him a sad look.
Stephen nodded.
Gina looked completely confused.
Meredith locked eyes with her and said, “I’m sorry you were…. you were all alone here… with that evil woman.”
Gina nodded, and looked away. “And I’m sorry I trusted her. I was so desperate for anything to hold on to after I found out about the compound… and that snake took advantage of my pain and grief.”
Meredith frowned. “I’m sorry… sorry you had to… find out what happened that way. It must have been… must have been awful.”
Gina nodded. “Yes. But finding you, Stephen and Logan out here… I thought everyone was gone.”
Meredith grabbed Gina’s hand and smiled. “And I thought you were gone, too. If you know what I mean.”
Gina just stared, not knowing how to respond to that.
Megan lifted her head and noticed Meredith. She tried to speak, but had trouble forming words. The young half-dead let go of Meredith’s hand and grabbed her own head.
Meredith smiled at her. “What’s the matter, honey?”
“I think… I think she was in the cavern too long,” Stephen said. “Looks like she carried you all the way back through the dark… and paid the price.”
Meredith nodded, smiling proudly at the young woman. “So, you’re the reason… I’m on this ship… and not dead in that cave.”
Megan stared at her.
“Well, of course you did… you did all that. You’re such… such a brave young woman,” Meredith said. “I’m so very proud of you, Megan. You’ve come a long… a long way.”
Gina stared at the dead woman and swore she saw tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong with her… I mean… besides the obvious?”
Meredith frowned at Gina’s harshness. “You try entering a realm of madness and see how well you fair afterwards, Gina.”
Gina remained silent.
Meredith reached a shaky hand toward Megan, and then touched her forehead. The old medium closed her eyes tight, muttered something under her breath, and then opened her eyes, retracting her hand.
Megan smiled at the older woman. Her mind was clear now. “Mer… Meredith?” the young woman said through tears.
“That’s right… honey. I’m here. I’m here. I’ve taken that madness… that madness away from your thoughts. You should be… be fine now.”
And surprisingly, Megan was.
“How did you do that?” Stephen said.
Meredith smiled in response. “Harder to explain than to perform. I just knew… I just knew what to do.” The older woman suddenly stared straight up into the sky as if discovering some awful, wonderful truth just beyond the clouds. Her face looked distant.
“What’s wrong?” Gina asked. “Something’s different… isn’t it?”
Meredith turned to her and smiled. “Yes, Gina. Everything’s different now. She took in everyone else and said, “Listen… listen to me now. I haven’t much time left.”
“What’s that mean?” Megan said, clearly terrified.
The others came in close.
She smiled at them all and said, “I’m not even… not even supposed to be here. When I left this body, it was with the understanding… that I couldn’t come back. And yet… somehow… I’m here, and not here at the same time.”
“I don’t understand?” Stephen said, concerned.
“I was… away… for too long, and I can feel it. My mind was left exposed in that horrible cave, and… and there’s not much left… It’s time for me to rest.”
“NO!” Megan said, shaking her head fiercely. “You can’t go!”
Meredith smiled at her and said, “You dragged me out of that dark cave… and gave me a chance… to come back… one last time… to be with my family. Thank you for that, Megan.”
Megan grabbed Meredith’s hand and looked away.
Stephen was in tears. “I… I don’t understand. You’re here. You seem… well.”
“It’s this body, Stephen. It’s failing fast. Without the mind… the body can’t survive long.”
Stephen didn’t know what to say.
“So… whatever’s happened… now you’re… dying?” Gina asked.
Meredith stared at her and finally said, “Yes, honey. There’s no way around it. I can feel it. My time is very short now. I shouldn’t even be here… but somehow… I am.”
Logan smiled. “Sounds like God did you one last favor.”
She looked at the big preacher and smiled. “Perhaps… perhaps He did.” Meredith caught the sun peeking up over the horizon. She turned to Megan, “Please… help me up, honey. I don’t want to miss this.”
Megan helped the old medium sit up as she leaned back against the lifelines.
Meredith smiled at the rising sun. “That’s… that’s so beautiful.” She turned, looking long into all their faces. “I’ m… I’m so grateful,” she said through tears. “To look at you all… one last time. To share… to share one last moment… with the ones that I love.” She finished on Logan and said, “I am… blessed.”
Logan nodded with a smile. He quickly turned toward the lake to hide his own tears.
Gina didn’t know what to say. Part of her was glad to be sitting here, sharing in her old friend’s final moments. Another part of her was furious. To come all this way, and be reunited, just to lose her in the end. “This is fucking bullshit,” she spat, feeling her stone exterior crumble, just like the dying island behind them. “I just got you back.”
Meredith nodded. “I know. But at least we’re together… right now. I will settle for that.”
“That’s not good enough,” Gina said coldly. “I can’t… I can’t go through this again… not with you.” Her tears flowed freely now. Gina shook her head. While Meredith was grateful for God’s generosity, Gina just wanted to shake her fist at the sky and curse His name. In the end, her grief triumphed over her anger… and she just wept.
Meredith smiled at her. “Remember the tears, Gina? Always remember what it means to shed them, and tremble at the thought of ever descending to a place inside where there are no more tears.”
Gina nodded with a smile. “I remember. Tears are gold.”
Meredith nodded. “Just like refreshing drops of gold… raining down on a warm summer day. My goodness, I’m surprised I still remember that.”
The two of them exchanged a long look between friends where no words had a place.
Meredith looked away abruptly and said, “It’s almost… almost time to leave.”
“Take me with you,” Megan said. “You can’t… you can’t leave me here. I won’t let you.”
“You can’t go with me, honey. You need to live. You need to live… for me.”
Megan hesitated than finally nodded.
Meredith’s gaze lingered on the young half-dead, her eyebrows going up as she saw something within her that surprised the old medium. “Now I understand,” she said, smiling at the girl. “I should have seen it.”
“What was that?” Megan said.
“Again, Megan… fight for your place in this world. You must. Understand?”
“I love you… so very much.”
“And I… and I love you.” Megan got up before she lost control and destroyed… everything. She rushed toward the bow of the vessel, releasing her sorrow on the morning with sobs and screams.
“She’s is so much pain,” Stephen said.
“Look after her, Stephen. You and Logan both. She will need you now… more than ever.”
Both men nodded.
Logan, looking uncomfortable, said, “I’ll go up front, make sure… make sure she’s okay.” He stopped and said to Meredith, “It’s been an honor fighting the good fight with you. May God continue to grant you peace and guidance on your journey, both here, and hereafter.”
Meredith nodded with a smile and said, “Thank you, Logan. May He continue to be with us all.”
“Amen.” Logan walked away to catch up with Megan.
Meredith sighed heavily and smiled at her two oldest friends.
Stephen was a weeping mess. He tried to calm down. “This isn’t right. You deserve better than this… after all you’ve done.”
“I’ve done enough,” the old medium said, leaving the comment open-ended. “It’s alright, Stephen. I’m at peace with this. I’m tired. Tired down to my very bones. My part is done. It’s up to you now to make things better again. Make all the sacrifices that came before mean something. There isn’t anyone better I can think of who can lift up humanity and lead us into something better… make us all better than what we were before.”
Stephen was humbled. “I… I will try my best.”
Meredith smiled. “Just hearing you say that fills me with hope. Thank you, Stephen for that… and for believing in me when no one else did. You are a good friend.”
The former school teacher wiped tears from his face, reached over, and hugged Meredith.
Meredith laughed lightly and whispered in his ear, “You will be alright. Lead them into hope, Stephen. Lead them all into hope.”
Stephen broke his embrace and nodded.
“I’d like a moment alone with Gina,” Meredith said.
Stephen nodded and rose to his feet. “I’ll… I’ll be nearby. Just holler if you need anything.”
Meredith nodded, watching the distraught young man depart. She turned to Gina who was sitting on her knees, staring into oblivion. “You okay?”
Gina nodded. “I guess I’ll have to be.”
Meredith glanced at her blood-stained clothing, then back into Gina’s sad and disconnected green eyes. “I’ve not given up on you, honey. I know you’ve had… hard choices to make. And you will continue to face harder choices down the road.”
Gina looked into the medium’s eyes and said, “I have… so much blood on my hands, Meredith. Sometimes… sometimes I don’t know if I’m any better than the evil people thriving in this world. I’m so full of hate and anger… and that coldness you once called me out on.”
“Yes, but you’re…. but you’re aware. And I know that you’ll… that you’ll find your way back… even if it means traveling through the fire to do so.”
“You will,” Meredith said. “That fire will make you stronger, and this world, these people, will need your strength before this is all over.”
Gina had no response to that. She shook her head and said, “Why do all the good people keep dying… all the ones who belong in this world—who are absolutely essential? Me… I’m just another monster who probably needs to be put down before I cause some real damage.”
“You are more than you know, Gina. I see it in you… even if you can’t right now. You will find your way back. I believe in you.”
Gina started to weep, letting her shoulders drop. “I hope your right.”
“I am,” Meredith said. “Now, I have to tell you something… something very important. It won’t make much sense to you right now… but after your caught up to speed… you will have to decide what to do with this.”
“I don’t like the sound of this at all.”
Meredith shook her head. “I’ve carried this burden long enough. I’m running out of time and… and I can’t carry it any longer. I’d meant to handle this… but things got crazy… and then things got really crazy. Unfortunately, someone must know… and it has to be you.”
Gina did.
Meredith leaned in and whispered in her ear. As she did so, Gina’s eyes went wide with horror. She tried to pull away, but Meredith grabbed her hands, keeping her close, until she was finished.
Gina pulled away from Meredith, staring into her eyes with shock and resentment. “Why would you tell me something like that?”
“Because someone has to know,” Meredith said. “Someone who can look this particular ‘monster’ in the eyes… and not flinch.”
Gina shook her head. “It’s too much!”
“I trust your judgment on this matter,” Meredith said. “I chose to keep it to myself… for too long. And then time ran out. I don’t know if that was the right call or not… but now I’ve told you. You will have to… have to consider this carefully… as I have… and then decide what to do about it.”
Gina nodded.
“Gina!”
She looked up. Meredith’s eyes were going wide. “What? What’s wrong?”
The old medium reached out her hands.
Gina took them in her own. Meredith’s grip was surprisingly strong.
“It’s time,” Meredith said. “I… I can see myself! Soaring above the clouds! Soaring higher… higher… it’s so beautiful up here, Gina! So…”
Gina felt Meredith’s grip on her hands go limp. She stared into Meredith’s eyes. For a moment she was there… and then…
“Meredith?” Gina said through sobs.
Stephen turned and met Gina’s horrified gaze. “Logan! Megan!” he called out.
The old medium went limp and fell forward. Gina caught her in her arms and held her.
They were all coming now.
But it was finished.
“Meredith,” Gina whispered through tears. She held on to her old friend so tightly that if she let go now… “Meredith,” she repeated, “rest now… you’ve earned it.” Her last words nearly destroyed her.
“I… I love you.”
Captain Carl turned off the engine, making sure the aft end of the Carrie-Anne remained pointed toward the rising sun. After offering his inadequate condolences, he’d provided them a large blanket from his cabin, some rope, and then respectfully stood beside the siblings just outside the pilot house. All three of them lowered their heads in silence as the rolling waves splashed against the sides of the vessel.
The others stood in silence around Meredith’s body, now wrapped up in a blanket—the rope holding it in place around her frail frame.
It had been Stephen who had suggested a ‘burial at sea’, and the others had agreed.
If not for the waves and the wind, the silence left in the wake of so much grief would have been too much for any of them to handle.
Even Logan, who usually provided words of comfort, had very little to say.
And everyone understood.
Meredith would’ve wanted it this way.
No torturous goodbyes. Just… ‘until we meet again’.
For Meredith Montgomery, the thin line between this life, and the next, was something she was well-acquainted with.
And by association, they all knew that Meredith wasn’t gone… not really.
In her own words, she might have said…
“I am here, and I am not here.”
They each spoke briefly and shared what their hearts could handle.
When it was time, Stephen and Gina carried the body toward the side of the ship. Captain Carl had removed a section of the lifeline so they could finish. They gently swung Meredith’s body toward the opening and let go.
They all winced at the finality of the splash.
And then it was done.
Megan collapsed on the deck.
Logan knelt beside her and held her.
Stephen put an arm around Gina’s shoulders as they both watched their old friend’s body drift into the shimmering wake of the Carrie-Anne—the new morning light igniting the surface of the deep with majestic pink and red hues. They waited there until Meredith’s body disappeared between the swells which carried her to peace.
And then they wept for their great loss.
A few hours later, Gina and Stephen were standing on the upper pilot house deck, staring across at the mainland as the Captain made his final approach toward Fairport Harbor Marina.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this place,” Gina remarked, sighing heavily.
“Yeah,” Stephen added. “Meredith took us down the river before we crossed. We even stayed the night at the boathouse… remember that place?”
Gina smiled. “Yes. God… that feels like such a long time ago.”
“Too many ghosts on that journey,” Stephen said.
She looked at him and nodded.
Stephen stared toward the empty marina. “I don’t have a clue where to go once we set foot on the shore. It’s a little terrifying.”
“We’ll find a way,” Gina said. “We always have.”
“You can always stay on board the Carrie-Anne,” Captain Carl said from behind them. The bald, one-eyed captain joined them, lighting up his pipe.
They turned.
“Come again, Captain?” Stephen said.
“I’m just saying… the invite’s out there… for all of you.” He stared at the marina. “Not much left on the mainland anyway. You could stay on board, join my crew, and I’ll count it toward paying off your debt.”
Stephen laughed. “Or… you could still join us.”
“Nah. Not for me. I belong on the sea.” He pointed his pipe toward the mainland. “Too much death and pain over there. Out here, on the water, it’s not as bad as all that. The sea is merciful… in her own way.”
There was an awkward moment of silence.
Carl continued, “Again, I’m sorry for your loss. I buried my wife out here… in the same way.”
Stephen was surprised by the captain’s openness. “I’m sorry to hear that. Was it… after?”
“No,” he said. “She died to cancer… long before all this… mess.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, captain,” Gina said.
Carl nodded, looking uncomfortable. “Her name was Carrie-Anne… imagine that. Part of her… I believe… never really left. I swear, she’s still here sometimes. Not so much before as after… but I can hear her voice in the wind on certain nights when the seas are quiet.”
“The world is much quieter these days,” Stephen added. “Sometimes… I can hear those voices, too. Even on the mainland.”
Gina simply nodded in agreement.
This made Carl laugh. “I suppose the ghosts outnumber us these days. Perhaps, we’re the minority now.”
“Perhaps,” Gina said absently.
Carl, looking for an exit from the conversation, turned and said, “Well… good luck to all of you. I’m heading inside to make the final approach. Once you’re all on the ground, I’ll be leaving. You have until then to decide if you want to join me… or continue to take your chances in that vast graveyard over there.”
“Comforting thought,” Stephen said.
Carl laughed. “Either way… I can tell you’re all good people. Good people don’t last long these days, certainly never long enough to pay off debts, but good people make for good company, too. I’ll take that as down payment on your debt, Stephen. Hopefully, next time we meet, we can square away the difference… with interest, of course.”
Stephen laughed. “Okay. Thanks for the loan, Captain. And… for everything else. Perhaps you’re a good man, too.”
The captain waved off the compliment. “Bah… don’t be spreading that around! Bad for business.” He winked at them both, then turned for the pilot house.
Gina shook her head at the captain and said, “He’s a strange one… but I like the man.”
Stephen laughed. “Yeah… me, too.” He turned and looked back down on the aft deck. Logan was still down there with Megan. She’d crawled into a ball and was resting against the big man’s shoulder. He smiled at them and thought, Logan’s really growing fond of that girl. He frowned at Gina and finished, We’re all she has left. I don’t know if Gina will ever be able to accept her… and she won’t be the only one. He shook off the troubling thought. “One day at a time,” he said out loud.
“What was that?” Gina said.
Stephen looked at her. “I was just thinking, as soon as we step on that dock, it’s going to be like starting over again. I’m grateful that we’re still alive to do so… but it’s…”
“Scary as hell?” Gina finished.
“Something like that.”
Gina turned back toward the docks. They were close enough now to make out details. She could see the large hangars off to the right. Directly behind the marina, the dilapidated houses and businesses that made up the northern end of Fairport Harbor rose up above the docks like old bones from the past. Every dark window resembled hollowed-out eyes on ancient skulls.
Well… at least I’m not alone this time, she thought with a shudder. I can’t do ‘alone’… not anymore.
“Gina, you’re not alone,” Stephen said, as if reading her thoughts. “And that’s how we face everything… scary.”
She smiled at him, a lone tear streaming down her scarred cheek.
Gina, Stephen, Logan and Megan stepped out on the dock. Logan was carrying a backpack with three-days provisions and an assault rifle.
Captain Carl gave them a farewell nod from the deck of the Carrie-Anne, and said, “I wish I could do more. But that’s all I can spare.”
“You’ve done enough, Captain,” Stephen said. “Thank you.”
Captain Carl puffed on his pipe and turned, yelling at the siblings to take in the mooring lines.
They all turned toward the empty docks.
“May God grant us His grace to see us through… whatever happens next,” Logan prayed.
Suddenly, twenty armed men wearing body armor stormed out of the closest buildings and swarmed the docks, guns raised.
“Shit!” Captain Carl shouted from his ship, ordering the siblings to arm up.
Logan already had his rifle raised, standing in front of Megan protectively.
Surprisingly, the young half-dead, did nothing. There was no fight left in her now that Meredith was gone.
Gina raised her hand axe and Balato, stepping in front of the group.
The soldiers had the dock surrounded in moments.
“Drop the weapons! This is your only warning!” a tall man with a mustache and dark hair, wearing a ball cap flipped backwards commanded. The man, noticing Megan, added, “Step away from the hybrid!”
Logan aimed his rifle at the man and refused to move.
Stephen stepped beside him, to form a human barrier in front of Megan.
Gina, ignoring all the guns aimed at her, took a threatening step toward the one calling the shots.
“That’s close enough!” the ball cap soldier said.
“You fire one round at my friends… and I will kill you where you stand,” Gina promised.
The man laughed disbelievingly, and said, “Clearly your math skills are a little rusty. With a word, my men will mow you all down.”
Gina flashed the man a devious smile, gripping her weapons tight. “And you mistake me with someone who gives a shit about dying. I die daily. You better hope your men can aim those things before I cut your throat open.”
By now, Captain Carl, and the siblings were all armed, aiming their rifles at the soldiers from the deck of the Carrie-Anne. He shouted down to them, “Stand down! Or this will end bloody!”
The ball cap soldier sighed at the new guns and stared at Gina. “Lower your weapons. Step away from the hybrid. I will not say it again.”
“Come one step near that girl, and you’re dead,” Gina pushed defiantly.
This surprised both Logan and Stephen.
“Cole!” One of the soldiers behind the ball cap man said. A second man with a blond flattop and a scruffy beard stepped up beside him and placed his arm on the ball cap man’s rifle, pushing it down and away from Gina’s face.
Cole looked over confused.
“Sonofabitch!” the other man said, staring at the bloody woman with red hair. “Gina? Is that you?”
Gina stared at the blond-haired man. Her face softened as recognition slowly set in. “Sergeant… Hash?”
Hash laughed nervously. “You still remember me. That’s good.” He turned to Cole. “There’s no threat here, Cole. These are friends. I know this woman.”
Cole was staring at the guns on deck. He looked at Hash and frowned. “You better be right,” he said. Cole lowered his weapon and signaled his men to do the same. Then he addressed Gina. “Now… please lower your weapons… all of them. If you are who this man says you are… then I’m about to be your new best friend.”
Gina looked confused. She stared at Hash.
“Please… Gina. It’s alright now. They didn’t know who was on that ship… and they had to be sure you weren’t the enemy.”
Gina, choosing to gamble on a man she hadn’t seen since the beginning of all this madness, took a deep breath, and lowered her weapons. She turned to Logan and nodded.
Logan reluctantly lowered his rifle but refused to step away from Megan.
Captain Carl and his crew lowered their weapons as well.
“Sergeant,” Gina said. “I don’t know what you’re mixed up with here. But I remember you were a decent man… and I’m trusting you.”
Hash laughed. “Well I’ll be damned! I never thought I’d see you again!” He turned to Cole. “Call them. Call them now.”
Cole reluctantly nodded, then pulled out a hand-held radio and keyed it up. “Area’s secure. Let them through.”
Within a minute, voices were coming from the behind the armed men, urging to get through.
Hash just smiled at Gina, like an idiot, shaking his head.
Gina was still trying to process Hash being here when she looked up and saw Nine, Diane and…
“Tony?”
Nine caught sight of them on the dock and started hooting and hollering. “They’re fucking alive! You see that shit, Diane!”
The one-armed woman, although much more reserved, was grinning from ear to ear.
Gina was locked in on the big man storming down the dock. Her heart started to race, her emotions… teetering toward overload as her mind failed to keep up.
Tony saw her. Tears were streaming down his face. “Gina!”
“Tony,” she whispered, falling to her knees and dropping her weapons. She was about to pass out, then two big arms wrapped themselves around her and she was in Tony’s arms. She stared into his tired face and placed a hand on his cheek to make sure he was real.
“I’m here,” he said through tears. “I’m here.”
Gina collapsed in his arms and wept. She wept long and hard.
Nine and Diane reached the pier and embraced their old friends.
Orosco was the last to reach them. The black man was grinning and laughing and crying.
Stephen saw him. “Orosco?”
The black man grabbed Stephen’s shoulders and drew him in for a hug.
Stephen was completely in shock as he stared around the dock surrounded by armed strangers… and his friends. He couldn’t stop the tears from falling. He managed to get out. “How… how did you…”
“Wait,” Orosco said, fumbling with an inside shirt pocket. “You’re gonna love this.”
The black man pulled out an object that Stephen recognized immediately.
Orosco flashed him a toothy grin. “We found it, Stephen. We found your… mixed tape.”
Stephen laughed long and hard.
Tears of grief, and the fear that had first greeted them on that dock, had been suspended. In that moment, joy was triumphant.
Megan stood back, overwhelmed by the unexpected jubilation. She understood what this all meant, even though she was on the outside looking in. She looked back at the lake and smiled. If Meredith had been here, she would’ve been overjoyed, too. And that brought the half-dead woman a little peace.
Meredith was gone, and the ripples of that loss would soon be felt by them all.
But in that moment on the dock, ‘Alone’ had suffered a major defeat.
Don’t Feed The Dark will return Spring 2020 with Book Seven: The Prophet.
“Chapter 54-13: Treachery” Copyright © 2019 Scott Scherr, from the novel, Don’t Feed The Dark, Book Six: Mother. All Rights Reserved.
Meredith slips through the void. In her mind, she imagines descending, but because there is nothing to perceive, there is no sensation of falling into anything. This is the only way she can comprehend moving through the nothingness. She is in The Black. She cannot see anything. In fact, she has no eyes, no body. She has no form or substance in this place, just like everything else. She has been here before. First with Doctor Forrester, then with young Toby. It is the mental closet between worlds… It is Elsewhere.
It doesn’t take her long to travel through it as she approaches the island—the Isle of Lions she has previously created in her own mind. Like a blank black canvas, she repaints the picture until all her senses come to life.
The light returns first as her mind registers sunlight on her closed eyelids—eyes and sun—coming into existence like the opening scene of a movie. She can feel the sun on her face; the warm breeze scattering her long dark hair; the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves on her ears and the screeching of seagulls hovering in the wind. And then finally, the smell of salt saturating the air and filling her nostrils.
Meredith opens her eyes. She is back, standing on the sand dune surrounded by reeds. She looks down at her bare feet buried in warm sand, the ruffled base of the sundress shifting around her young legs. She holds her hands in front of her face. They are no longer wrinkled with age, but smooth, like hands that have yet to experience the world of touch.
She doesn’t need a mirror to know that she is thirteen again—physically—but wishes she had one anyway, just to see the reflection of her real face again. But there is no time for any of this.
And yet… there is… since time does not exist here.
Meredith sighs and steps forward on the sand dune until she can see the white sand beach below.
The lanky, tan young boy of ten with the shaggy black hair and deep blue eyes is not there.
I’ve arrived before him, she thinks in her old voice, wondering if there’s an advantage she can gain from this. She is still her old self in this young body, just like before. It was Toby that made her forget the truth last time.
“Stop trying to be old… this is no place for old ladies. Kids only, remember?” she remembers Toby saying.
“Not this time,” Meredith declares in her young voice. “It is time to put childish ways behind us, Toby.”
She looks to the left. The lighthouse stands like a silent sentinel at the edge of the beach. Everything looks as it did before… but something feels different now.
Meredith smiles when it comes to her. “It’s all smaller,” she says. “Just like when we revisit places from our youth… only to discover that we have become giants with age.” The finality of her words make Meredith a little sad. “Elsewhere may not be affected by time… but I have been… and my perception of this place has changed with it.” She makes a mental note of this as she descends the sand dune toward the beach. As sad as it makes her feel not to experience this place through the adventurous eyes of youth, she is relieved that Toby will not be able to use it against her this time, distracting her from what needs to be done.
Meredith finds the spot where Toby’s sand lion once stood. She stares out into the ocean waves and sighs. This is where it all started, she thinks. This is where I ended the world. I sent The First Ones over from this beach… all six of them. She turns back and stares up toward the jungle terrain behind her, rising over the center of the island. She remembers the trip across, when Toby took her up and over, and then back down the other side to that awful beach full of more lions than she could count.
The Change occurred… over there, she thought.
Meredith turns back toward the ocean, sits down in the sand, and then closes her eyes to clear her mind for what happens next.
After a few minutes pass in this hell of permanent ‘Now’, she opens her eyes abruptly and frowns.
He is here.
“You’re late,” young Meredith says, still staring out at the ocean. “I thought you were always here.”
A young female voice she has not heard in a very long time responds, “I was here, Meredith. But for a moment… I was… Elsewhere, too.”
The joke is a bad one. Meredith turns around. Her eyes go wide as she stares into a familiar frightening face.
Toby, the ten-year-old boy, is gone.
Standing just behind her is a young girl wearing a similar sundress. Her hair is black with a strand of white running down across her bangs. It’s Clem… at fifteen… when they first met at the orphanage. And yet the playful smile painted on her face reminds her immediately of Toby.
“Why are you wearing ‘that’ face… Toby?” Meredith says. “What has happened?”
Young Clem folds her arms across her chest. “I thought you’d be pleased by my new appearance, sister.”
“Don’t call me that. Explain this? I grow weary of your games.”
Toby/Clem laughs. “This is no game. When Clementine destroyed my old body, my former tether to your world, I acquired a new one.”
“How is that possible?”
Clem smiles mischievously, and answers, “It took me a long time, but I finally figured out Forrester’s magic trick. Clementine’s attempt to cut off my connection to your world did not work as well as she imagined. Thank you for the ‘heads up’ by the way. I would have found you eventually and stopped my wayward daughter, but I appreciate that you sought me out instead.”
“What did you do to Clem?”
Toby just smiles. “Does it really matter, Meredith? Wasn’t it your intention to have me kill her after she disposed of my body? I took care of that traitor. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Meredith nods and stares toward the sand. “What happens now?”
Toby laughs. “What do you think, you silly goose? We finish what we started.”
Meredith looks up. “You want me to send you across.”
“Yes… and now I know that you can. You are no longer that timid little brat from before. You have become a strong woman, Meredith, as I knew you would eventually be.”
Meredith glares at her old friend. “Then you also know that I’m strong enough to stop you, too.”
Clem laughs. “Maybe in your world… but not here.” Toby stops, distracted by a thought. “It is strange, connecting with my daughter in this way. I tried so very hard to lead her in the right direction and make her strong, like you. but Clementine was… damaged.” He looks at Meredith. “But I do understand now why she hated you as much as she loved you.”
“I don’t want to hear this,” Meredith says.
“Before you arrived at the orphanage, she was in desperate need of love… she always has been. It was her fatal flaw in the end. And then you entered her life and gave her a friend. Even after I favored you over her, and as much as she despised you for it, she still needed you. Perhaps more than she needed me. Even after all I did for her… it wasn’t enough. Only you could give her what she required… to become strong. That is very curious, and unfortunate at this point.”
“So, the monster you created still craved the one thing you could not provide,” Meredith says with a defiant smile. “That’s very telling, Toby.”
“It tells me that there are limits to what you can do… and that Love can conquer you.”
Toby laughs hard. “Oh, you’re precious, Meredith! The way your face lights up, your eyes flickering to life with all that hope… it’s so very cute… and sad. You may be powerful enough for my purposes, but you’re just as flawed as Clementine… and equally pathetic.”
“Sticks and Stones,” Meredith says. “Let’s get on with this. I’ll start. I will not send you across. You’re going to have to destroy me first.”
“No,” Clem said, in a bored voice. “I won’t. Apparently, you’ve already forgotten what this place is all about. I will wear you down, like before, until your days and nights merge and the years pass, by not passing at all. Eventually, you will give me what I want, and while you are tortured within by the assassin of Time, you will cave and we will arrive back at this moment, again and again. Your limited mind cannot handle an eternity on this island, and you’ll be begging me to go back.”
“I can’t go back,” Meredith says. “My body will perish in your caves—my tether will be gone. I knew this before I came back here and I’m prepared to spend an eternity, if need be, just to keep you on this island.”
Toby considers this, smiles to himself, then turns away. “Well… we’ll just have to see if my understanding of how this place works is stronger than your futile defiance. You seem to forget how very patient I can be.”
“You didn’t seem so patient before,” Meredith challenges. “In fact, if I had to guess, I’d say you’re running out of time in both worlds.”
Toby smiles. “Oh, Meredith. I will miss our little ‘back and forths’. But… let’s get started, shall we?”
Meredith braces herself for anything.
Clem raises her hands above the sand and says over her shoulder, “You know how this works.”
The sand started to shift in front of Toby. Then it started to spin, getting bigger and bigger turning into a massive sand whirlpool.
Meredith steps back as the sand swirls around Toby/Clem, rising around him until he is completely covered. Then the sand continues to rise, up… up… up… into the sky.
When Toby is finished, Meredith stares upward and gasps.
She is standing in the shadow of the largest sand lion she has ever seen. It is fifty feet high, staring down at her with Toby’s sandy grin.
And then the sand starts to change to emerald green as the creature comes to life.
I’m not doing this? she thinks. How is this possible?
I WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, MEREDITH. Toby’s voice appears to be booming down from the sky. LET’S SKIP THE ‘WEARING DOWN’ PART. TURNS OUT I’VE A WHOLE BAG OF NEW TRICKS TO TRY. PRESENTLY, I THINK I’LL JUST DEVOUR YOU AND ABSORB YOUR ABILITIES. THEN… I CAN SEND MYSELF ACROSS.
The eyes are the last to change.
The gigantic emerald lion turns its head slowly to stare down at Meredith.
Its eyes are blazing yellow and full of hatred.
Gina and Julianne pounded on the old north shower room wall with their Balatos, attempting to find a weak spot by testing various spots. The remaining eight recruits formed a protective barrier in the dimly lit space, standing in between their leadership and the shower room door. They had managed to slip into the western wing of the facility without being seen only because the dead were either feeding or still avoiding the area due to the dying flames caused by the explosion near the southern exit. But this would not last long. It was apparent that the Nightwalkers were not only fierce hunters in the darkness, but they were also cunning.
“Why haven’t they come for us?” Gina said, slamming the end of her pain stick at a lower portion of the wall. “They know we’re here. And if they don’t… after all this noise… they will.”
Julianne stopped pounding and put a hand on Gina’s shoulder to signal her to stop.
Gina stopped and stared at the Ama-Eskua recruit.
“Do you hear that?” she whispered.
Gina turned toward the remaining recruits and stopped breathing. Finally, she whispered, “All I hear is disturbing fucking silence.”
“Exactly,” Julianne whispered, also looking back. “They know exactly where we are. They’re just creeping into position, probably just outside this space and down the next hallway.”
“That’s fucking comforting. Why all the stealth? Why not just come at us and finish us off?”
“They’re toying with us, Gina. These creatures know that we’re the last of their prey… and they’re… enjoying themselves.”
“Like a cat stalking a wounded bird,” Gina said with a nod.
“Yes. When they have their numbers in place, I’m certain they will storm this room and eliminate us very quickly… and savagely.”
“Wow… you’re just full of good news.” Gina shook her head and then remembered something her grandfather had told her about bears. She smiled at Julianne and said, “Let’s not act like wounded animals.”
“Come again?” Julianne said.
Gina turned to the recruits, raised her arms, and started screaming defiantly into their faces. Then she started pounding her stick on the wall.
They all looked at her as if she’d just lost her mind.
“Raise you fucking voices!” she said. “Make as much noise as you can! Let the monsters out there know that you are not afraid! Perhaps if we show them enough… crazy… they will be confused and hesitant!”
They all caught on and started making as much noise as they could, screaming and hollering like monsters, pounding their weapons on the walls as if they were all challenging the silence, itself, to battle.
Julianne smiled and nodded.
Gina shrugged her shoulders. “Can’t hurt to try it. I know I’d be wetting my pants a little if I were hearing us out in that hallway right now.” She resumed pounding on the lower part of the wall until her Balato went all the through it. She stared wide-eyed at Julianne. They both attacked the weak point with their sticks until they had a hole wide enough to crawl through.
“That’s enough!” Gina said. “Let’s not make it easy for those fuckers to follow.”
Julianne was already on her belly staring into the hole. It was completely dark within. She breathed in stale air. “Feels like a tomb in there.”
“It’s going to be one out here if we don’t leave right now,” Gina said.
Julianne didn’t hesitate. She crawled through the hole. A moment later she called back, “From what I can see, it’s one long hall. I think this is the old prison wing.”
“I’m not even going to ask,” Gina said. She turned to the others, “Time to go! Through the fucking rabbit hole!”
The others stopped making noise and watched her wave frantically toward the hole. One of them said, “You first, Lady Gina. We have your back.”
The moment they all stopped making animals noises, they could hear movement from just down the hall.
Lots of movement.
No more fucking time! she thought. “Right after me… understand? No ‘hero’ bullshit.”
They nodded.
Gina got down and crawled through the hole.
As soon as she was on the other side, both women started pulling the recruits through the small gap in the wall.
The Nightwalkers howled and stormed into the shower room.
“Come on!” Gina yelled. They managed to get four of the recruits out.
Someone yelled from the other side, “Run! We will hold the line!”
Before she could protest, Gina heard screams from the other side of the wall.
The remaining recruits were being slaughtered.
Gina wanted to crawl back through the hole and help them, but Julianne firmly gripped her shoulder. She turned and met the Ama-Eskua recruit’s sad gaze.
“There’s nothing we can do for them, Gina. We need to move,” Julianne said.
Gina reluctantly nodded and swore, “Fucking animals!” She got up and led her remaining group of six down the dark hallway, entering the prison wing.
The remaining recruits stood on both sides of Gina as they slowly crept through the dark hall.
From behind them, the monsters were already slamming into the wall. Fortunately, they were all too big to fit into the hole as one of the Nightcrawlers got stuck, its long arms clawing at the air toward them as the red-eyed beast howled.
Gina covered her nose and mouth as they stepped deeper into the long, dark space. Their eyes started to adjust to what little ambient light there was. The stench of decay and death permeated the stale air. “What the hell happened down here?” she whispered.
As they traveled the dark corridor with their weapons raised, they noticed dark cells on both sides of the hall. They could see nothing in those cells.
They heard laughter from up ahead.
Gina raised her hand, and everyone froze.
The laughter sounded strained. It was a man… or what used to be. And then there was more laughter from all around them. Men and women, clearly insane, were laughing so long and out of control that it was hard to tell if they were laughing or screaming. Dark, dirty limbs reached out toward them from ancient cell bars as the laughter continued.
Someone managed to speak words, “Kill me!” It was a woman. “Please… just kill me… or I’ll kill YOU!”
And then the others were chanting the same, in between bursts of nerve-wrecking laughter, weeping, and long-suppressed cries of agony.
Gina wanted to crawl out of her skin as one frantic hand grabbed at her clothes. She turned and saw what remained of a woman. She was naked, and bald. The woman looked like bones with skin stretched over them. Her eyes… my God… her eyes looked like two black holes filled with madness. “Please… just… just give me something to use,” the woman half whispered, half hissed. “Anything! I’ll… I’ll bleed out quickly… and… and it will be over.”
Gina pried the woman’s cold hand from her clothing, noticing that what remained of her black nails were bloody from scratching at herself. Gina stepped away from the woman and turned to Julianne. “What the fuck? Who did this to them?”
Julianne looked as shocked as Gina. She shook her head. “I don’t know. This is… beyond cruel.”
The others were pulling together toward the center of the hall, refusing to get within arms-reach of the lunatics in the cells.
Gina turned as the monsters behind them continued to slam into the wall. They’ll breach it soon, she thought. The red-headed woman looked back, eyes forward, and said, “Keep going. If we survive this… we’ll… we’ll come back for this poor people.”
“And do what?” one recruit said. “Their minds are long gone.”
Gina didn’t have an answer. Her promise felt weak. Whatever had once been human in those cold eyes had been ripped out long ago. “Just keep moving,” she said, over the prisoners unending pleas for death and insane laughter.
They reached the end of the wing with much relief. A single steel door stood open revealing a flight of steps that led up to the next level.
“That should take us up into the sanctum,” Julianne said. “Hopefully from there, we can find another door to the outside.”
Gina nodded. Just as she was about to lead them out, a man’s voice from the last cell on their left, said, “Don’t wanna go up there, friends… no … you sure don’t. Nothing but death up there… nothing but death down here, too.” The man laughed.
Gina turned.
An old bald man, sitting in soiled clothing, pressed his dirty face in between the bars. He smelled like he’d shit himself repeatedly. The man had no eyes.
“Why… why are you all down here?” Gina managed.
The man smiled, revealing rotted teeth. To Gina, he resembled a pale jack-o-lantern with that horrendous smile and dark eye sockets. “I was once like you… yes… just like you. I worked for Mother… I was somebody… and now I’m just dead… dead inside… dead outside.” The man laughed.
“Who put you all down here?” Gina said.
The man frowned and started to shake. “Don’t wanna say her name! Don’t ever speak it!” He smiled and then tapped his forehead with his finger repeatedly. “She’s watching us… always watching us! She’s in here… in my brain… turning it inside, out… and outside, in.” He laughed again. “The woman… she… she remembered what we did to her… what we all did… when she was still just a girl… the Devil Girl! She destroyed this place… killed everyone! Mother’s dead! MOTHER IS DEAD!”
“Lady Clementine?” Gina said.
The man jumped back from the front of his cell and started screaming. He covered his ears and shouted, “Don’t say it! DON’T EVER SAY HER NAME! She’ll hear you… hear all of us… and… and let the monsters out again!”
Gina took a step back. “What monsters? You mean… the Nightwalkers? Did they… did they make you like this?”
The man laughed. “The monsters never go away. They’re inside us… inside our minds! She let them loose! They never go away.”
Julianne stepped up beside her and said, “It has been rumored that Lady Clementine has the ability to… break minds. I never believed it myself… until now.”
Gina turned to her. “Clementine did this to them?” She shook her head and thought, My God, what has that evil fucking woman done here? And what has she gotten me into? She turned back to the old man. “What’s your name?”
The man looked as if she’d just asked the hardest question. He scratched at his face, then started slapping himself… hard. “Bard… no… Barry… no… Bawl! Yeah, that’s it! Bawl! I used to… I used to be something… something important here. Now I’m just… dead. Can you help me? Can you kill me now… please? Before she comes back… just… kill us.”
Gina turned away from the sick man and signaled the others to follow her up the stairs. She turned back and said, “I’m sorry this happened to you… Mr. Bawl. We’ll come back… if we can.”
“No… NO! Don’t leave me like this! Kill me! Use your axe and cut my head open! Cut my head open so that all the monsters can get out! All the monsters trapped in my head! In my nightmares!”
Gina turned away and they all ascended the steps.
Mr. Bawl shouted behind them, “DON’T GO UP THERE! MONSTERS WILL GET ‘CHA!” Bawl laughed… and laughed… and laughed…
Meredith doesn’t know if Toby is just trying to intimidate her into submission, or if he really intends to consume her and take her powers.
Can he really do that? she wonders. This beach was created out of my own imagination. Toby brought it out of me… but it’s still… me. And the rules this place follows are dictated by me being too grounded in our world… and not this one.
The gigantic emerald lion opens its mouth and then lowers its body to strike.
Meredith stares at the lion, then is caught off guard by a wave striking the back of her legs. She turns and stares at the water as understanding hits her.
Before she realizes what she’s doing, she raises her hands, causing the ocean waves behind her to rise and move over her, splashing down hard upon the emerald lion’s head, pushing it back and causing Toby to roll with the force of the flooding waves. And then the water recedes back over Meredith without so much as a drop touching her.
The soaked lion shakes water out of its emerald mane and then stares cautiously at its prey.
“Didn’t expect that, did you, Toby?” Meredith says.
WELL DONE, MEREDITH! YOU’VE FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THIS BEACH SERVES YOU… AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
Meredith ignores him. She stares at the sand beneath the lion, then quickly aims her hand toward it.
Before Toby can attempt a second charge, the sand beneath the lion starts to sink into a small hole, like sand slipping through an hourglass. Then the hole gets bigger… bigger…
Toby stares down at the sand beneath him and slips into the hole. Meredith starts moving the sand up and around the lion as its massive paws fail to find anything to grip.
And just like that, the emerald lion is swallowed up in the sand.
Meredith feels drained and lowers her hands. Is that it? In her mind, she imagined the lion sinking deeper and deeper into the sand—so deep that it would never be able to climb back out.
Suddenly, the sand explodes.
Meredith turns, managing to shield her eyes from the mini sandstorm. She shakes the sand from her hair and face and looks back.
The emerald lion is climbing out of the sand.
Toby is laughing.
Once the lion is completely free, Toby says, REALLY, MEREDITH? DID YOU THINK YOU COULD JUST ‘IMAGINE’ ME AWAY?
The old medium frowns in her child body. “No… I suppose not. But I am on to you, Toby. You can’t terrify me anymore with your… lions. Create as many nightmares as you wish, and I’ll just turn this island upside-down to stop you!”
The emerald lion spins in a large circle, then turns toward the child and roars at her.
Meredith smiles. “Lion or not, this still looks like the temper tantrum of a ten-year-old boy.”
DON’T MOCK ME, MEREDITH, the voice booms from above. YOU WILL REGRET GETTING ME UPSET. I’M NO LONGER AMUSED.
“So much for your grand patience,” Meredith responds. “All it took was a little sand and water, and now you don’t want to play with me anymore.”
I MEAN IT. YOU’RE TRYING MY PATIENCE.
Meredith glares at the beast. “And I’ve had my fill of your games. I will not give you what you want.”
The lion sits down on its back legs and stares towards the sky.
Meredith feels the air around her getting cold. The wind is picking up. The sunny sky starts to grow dark as storm clouds roll in from the other side of the island. Lightning flashes. Thunder resounds.
Meredith can feel rain coming down. It starts to burn her skin.
The rain picks up.
Meredith is soaked in seconds, screaming in pain from what feels like acid burning through her sundress and tearing up flesh. She falls to her knees as the flimsy clothing falls off her frail frame. She tries to cover her nakedness, as well as her face. Everything burns. Skin and muscle fall away revealing bones. Meredith can’t stop screaming from the intense pain. She falls forward into the sand, a charred skeleton, and…
Meredith is kneeling before the lion. The acid rain has stopped. She raises her head and examines herself. Her flesh is back, as is the sundress. It’s like she died, and then did not die.
She looks up at the lion, confused.
HOW MANY MORE TIMES WILL I KILL YOU, IN THE MOST EXCRUCIATING WAYS THAT ‘I’ CAN IMAGINE, BEFORE YOUR FRAGILE MIND SNAPS? ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE READY FOR AN ETERNITY OF PAIN, MEREDITH?
She can still feel the pain in her flesh… from slowly dying. It takes all her strength to calm her thoughts. “Doesn’t… matter… what you do… what you do to me. I will not send you… across!”
YOU WILL. YOUR MIND CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MUCH. I WILL FIND THE THRESHOLD, PUSH YOU TO THE LIMITS OF WHAT YOU CAN ENDURE, AND THEN YOUR MIND WILL BE SO MUCH MUSH THAT I’LL JUST REASSEMBLE YOUR BROKEN PIECES… JUST TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN… AND AGAIN… AND AGAIN.
Young Meredith shakes from the severe pain coursing through her reassembled flesh. She is shaking. He’s right, she thinks. I will not last long like this. He’s too powerful over here and he knows it. I only have one move I can make… but I must hold on… a little longer… get him to lower his guard… just enough. If I don’t strike at the right moment… I’ll get all three of us killed.
Meredith looks into the intense eyes of the lion. She can’t tell by its emerald furry face whether Toby is amused or bored. But what she hopes for is that he’s overconfident.
I just need the right opportunity, she thinks, closing her eyes. She silently prays. God, please help me. I’m here, but it’s not enough. Show me what to do now… while I can still decide anything.
WHAT A PITIFUL LITTLE CREATURE YOU ARE, MEREDITH. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. APPARENTLY, I OVERESTIMATED YOU.
“You win, Toby,” Meredith says, stalling for time. “I was wrong. The pain… it’s too much.”
NOT SURPRISING. YOU LOWLY BEINGS OF FLESH AND BLOOD… EVEN HERE, IN THIS PLACE… YOU CAN’T SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM THE FLESH. IT’S WHAT MAKES YOU WEAK… THIS HOLD YOU ALL HAVE ON THE TEMPORAL SHELL THAT HOUSES YOUR WORTHLESS EXISTENCE.
“What would you have me do, Toby?”
The emerald lion just stares at the frail little girl. Then Toby responds, I THINK I WILL TASTE YOU, AFTER ALL. I WILL SLOWLY CONSUME YOUR WORTHLESS FLESH, SHRED YOU TO PIECES WITH MY TEETH, AND LISTEN TO YOU SCREAM A BIT LONGER. THEN I WILL BRING YOU RIGHT BACK TO THIS MOMENT. AND THEN WE SHALL SEE HOW COOPERATIVE YOU TRULY ARE.
Meredith is out of time. She is about to protest, then stops.
She understands what to do now.
God, thank you.
Meredith looks up toward the lion.
SOMETHING TO ADD, MEREDITH? WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEG FOR YOUR LIFE, NOW?
The little girl smiles and says, “I hope you choke on these old bones, you evil little man.”
The lion roars at Meredith so loud that its terrifying sound can be heard anywhere on the island. Toby raises one enormous paw and snatches up Meredith, bringing her close. He then opens his jaw up wide and then tosses Meredith’s flesh into his mouth like a piece of candy.
The monstrous lion swallows the medium whole.
“What the hell is this?” Gina whispered.
Julianne and the remaining four recruits were equally shocked.
What was once the inner sanctum of the Ama-Eskua, the place where only elite warriors of the Order had ever seen, was now something straight out of a nightmare.
Moonlight pouring in through a tall domed glass ceiling—most of the glass now shattered—penetrated the shadows of the grand hall where the top minds of the Order once gathered to make plans that changed the world. The charred remains of an old willow tree, growing right in the middle of the structure, reached down for them with its sickly black spider-like limbs. A table, once built around the large tree in a donut shape with the tree in the center, was also burned and had collapsed around the dead tree. Broken chairs were scattered everywhere. Weapons that once hung proudly on walls laid still across a filthy floor—each blade stained with old blood. It was clear by the evidence left behind that some final battle had occurred here, and the Order had not prevailed.
Hanging from the highest limbs of the willow were large dripping sacs.
One of the recruits felt dampness on his cheek. He raised his hand to his face and then looked at it.
They all stared at the stunned recruit as he held out his hand and said, “Looks like… looks like… black blood.”
Gina and Julianne just gave each other an uncertain glance.
As the clouds shifted across the moon overhead, more light entered the exposed ceiling, lighting up the taller walls. They were completely covered in corpses. The skeletal remains of disfigured warriors still holding weapons until their last dying breaths, were fused into flesh covered walls leading half-way up toward the domed ceiling. Strands of sickly tentacles connected what remained of the tree to the walls as if the fleshy things attempted to reanimate the dead willow but failed.
Another damn hybrid, Gina thought. Even Mother Nature is not immune to all this shit. She was suddenly reminded of the ancient willow tree that Micom had chained her to. If there had been time to ask, Gina would have inquired about the significance of the willow.
“This isn’t right,” Julianne said. Her voiced sounded strained. “This is no way for warriors to die!”
The bones of the dead were all charred as if a powerful explosion had gone off in the room, propelling bodies into the walls, and burning them all alive.
Julianne stared up and around at the bodies. She unconsciously rubbed her arms as a chill seized her. “They… they didn’t stand a chance… whatever this was… whatever they faced.”
Gina nodded, staring past the burned remains of the Order and studying the flesh-like walls. For a moment, she thought the walls moved. She looked down and noticed that the fleshy substance seemed to be coming up from large cracks in the foundation, as well as from beneath the willow like roots. “What’s directly under this room, Julianne?”
“I believe the sanctum itself sits atop a large cavern system… or so I’ve heard. There are obscure stories… legends… that talk about demons beneath the sanctum living in caves. It’s said that every time an Ama-Eskua warrior claims a life in battle, that their souls are ‘sent beneath the sanctum’. It’s got something to do with sacrifices. Don’t ask me to explain it… that’s all I know.”
“Do you have any idea what’s growing in those sacs?”
Julianne looked at the recruit with the black blood on his hands, then said to Gina, “I suspect your Nightwalkers might be inside of them.”
“That’s what I thought,” Gina said. “Any reason you can think of why some damn tree is producing monsters like fruit?”
Julianne just gave her a blank stare.
“Okay,” Gina said. “Not important right now.” She looked at the walls. “Any reason why the walls are covered in flesh? It looks like this stuff is coming up out of the floor and slowly… growing… all over the sanctum walls and into the tree.”
Julianne just shook her head. “I don’t know, Gina. Nothing in here is what I expected. For my people, this is a holy place… or was. But now, it’s an abomination.”
The walls started to shift. Bones started to rub against each other, creating the illusion that the skeletons of the slain were coming alive and trying to climb down off the walls. Even the lower branches of the willow tree appeared to come to life and reach out toward them.
“Gina… we should leave this horrible place,” Julianne advised. “Something is definitely wrong with all of this.”
“Agreed.” Gina led them across the grand hall and toward a doorway on the northern end. “I hope that’s the exit,” Gina remarked. “I don’t want to find another flight of stairs heading down to where your demons live. We’ve enough up here to deal with.”
“They’re just stories,” Julianne said out loud as if trying to convince herself. “I don’t even know for sure if there is a cavern beneath this place. The histories are very vague on many things related to the Order.”
“Fair enough,” Gina said. “Let’s just-”
A loud crashing sound echoed up from the prison wing stairwell.
“That’s the bathroom wall!” Julianne said. “They’ve breached it!”
“Come on!” Gina said. She led them toward the north door of the sanctum. She prayed that there would be no demons on the other side of it.
She is within the belly of the beast… at the center of what Toby—this entity—truly is. There is so much pain, hatred, and madness surrounding her. There are no words to adequately describe what Toby is, other than Desolation. The darkness is quickly consuming her identity… she can feel it. Meredith closes her eyes and focuses what little strength she has left to keep her mental walls intact for one attack.
She opens her mouth. Meredith can feel another source of evil leaving her failing flesh as she vomits out what’s left of the trapped entity known as Sylvia. It has taken all she has to keep the old demon locked away inside herself… using an ability she’d never known she possessed until the battle at the inn.
But now, Sylvia is free. And she is almost home. The only thing the old entity hates more than the creatures made of flesh is Toby, himself. She hates him for forcing her out of the darkness and into Meredith’s world.
“I’ve done my part,” Meredith says to her. “I’ve brought you back… as close as I can get. It’s up to you now, Sylvia, to finish the rest.”
The creature loathes the medium for tricking her but understands her part.
KNOW THIS, WOMAN, Sylvia says. IF I CAN… I WILL DESTROY YOU, TOO.
Meredith says nothing. She is dying in all this… darkness.
“Hold on, Meredith. Hold on… just a little longer.”
Meredith manages a smile in the dark. The second voice belongs to Nicole.
“I will… I will try,” Meredith says to her. “Are you… are you ready?”
“Yes,” Nicole says.
Her heart raced erratically. Legs burning. Hard to draw breath… but she continued to push. Gina and her recruits made it outside into the cool night air and nearly stumbled down a rocky hill before the land leveled out into a grassy field—the northern field.
She looked up at the moon overhead as she continued to run. The indifferent sphere provided them with just enough light to fight off the Nightwalkers that had somehow escaped the facility. They were everywhere.
They tried to use the tall grass in the field to hide, but the dead found them anyway as they pushed north through the field and into the darkness. From all around them, the tall grass came alive as the monsters charged. She could hear the recruits turning as the howling creatures gained ground.
Gina raised her Balato just in time to deflect the clawed arm of a disfigured woman with red eyes. She swung her axe repeatedly into the former woman’s face.
The monster screamed.
Gina felt the creature’s black blood soak the front of her shirt.
Julianne was still beside her, slashing into the night at everything coming out of the grass, in front of them and behind.
Two recruits disappeared into the grass… screaming.
No time to stop. Stopping meant death.
They were now down to four.
They pushed their exhausted bodies through the field, fighting off the dead with all they had left.
They cleared the field and entered a small grove of trees. The land started sloping upward. Without the grass to temporarily hide their movements, Gina could see them in the moonlight, charging out of the field like a pack of wolves… and there were so many of them.
They were completely exposed now as they tried to zig zag through the trees, striking out at the closest Nightwalkers hungering for their blood.
This is it, Gina thought exhaustedly. We won’t survive the next few minutes.
From her right, the blood-soaked Ama-Eskua recruit… no… she was no longer a fucking recruit… not after all this. The young warrior, turned to Gina and confidently said, “It’s been an honor, Lady Gina. We will die a good death.” She turned around and slashed off a monster’s head.
Gina turned and hacked into the face of another Nightwalker.
The last two recruits were fighting with equal tenacity, matching the monsters’ ferocity as they bravely held them back.
Two more beasts came at Gina from the side, howling, and slashing toward her face.
She ducked under the first one and then came up and jammed her axe into the jaw of the second, screaming into the beast’s face.
The monster fell back.
Julianne took care of the other one by cutting off its legs from the knees as she ducked and slashed at the creature.
One more recruit went down as four beasts jumped on top of a young woman.
Now they were three.
“Push! Push! Push!” Gina yelled around her, not sure where Julianne and the last recruit were, only that the Nightwalkers were all around them.
She was the first to clear the top of the rise as they exited the small grove.
Gina stopped abruptly.
If not for the moonlight, she would have fallen right off the northern cliff. The very same spot she’d visited often. She could hear the waves crashing against the rocks below, but she could not make out the dark water.
We’ve reached the end, she thought with no emotion. Gina turned in time to stop Julianne and the final recruit before they, too, ran off the edge. Without a word between them, they glanced into each other’s bloody faces, understanding that the battle was just about done.
“On me,” Gina told them defiantly, as she turned toward the approaching monsters. The beasts had stopped at the edge of the trees, some fed, while the rest slowly gathered for the final charge, savoring the end of the hunt.
They know, Gina thought. They know they have us now.
She forced her tired limbs to obey as she raised the Balato and her hand axe. The others took up position on either side of her as they stood five feet from the cliff edge. “We fight until we can’t fight anymore,” Gina told them without fear. “Use their momentum against them when they charge. We’ll knock these fuckers off the damn cliff one at a time… until they do the same to us.”
Julianne laughed at the bold response as she stared at the gathering monsters. She raised her sword over her shoulder and crouched down to strike. “We will die with honor… no matter what,” the warrior declared proudly.
Gina had no response to that. She had seen death, had dealt her share of it… and for her… there was nothing honorable in staring at the blood on her hands. She uttered one word that summed it all up for her.
The last recruit, a young man whose name Gina could not remember, was only carrying his Balato now. Somewhere during the fight, after losing his own sword, his pain stick had snapped off at one end, leaving a bloody point that he’d been stabbing into each beast.
The Nightwalkers now filled all available space within the trees. They howled at their prey, taunting them with screams while clawing at the air.
“Come on fuckers!” Gina hissed, staring into the horde as if trying to set them on fire with her intense gaze.
“They know we don’t fear them… not anymore,” the young man said.
“Good,” Julianne said. “I hope that ruins the taste of their meal.”
Gina took a bold step forward, pointed her axe toward the center of the horde, and shouted, “Come on, you fucking dogs! What are you waiting for? COME AND TASTE YOUR FUCKING DEATH!”
None of them knew if the creatures could understand Gina’s challenging words, but they hissed and howled in response.
And then they charged as one.
“Shit, they’re smarter than they look” the recruit said. “They’ll push us right off.”
“So be it,” Gina said.
“So be it,” Julianne repeated, with finality.
A strange sound interrupted the horde’s attack, causing them to hesitate. The red-eyed beasts stared up into the sky.
To Gina, it sounded like…
Fireworks?
Suddenly, the sky directly above them got bright as a flare lit up the night.
The Nightwalkers cried out in pain, shielding their eyes from the intense light. They started to disperse, backing away from the cliff and retreating toward the trees.
Before Gina could register what was happening, the sound of automatic rifle fire echoed across the night, coming from the field, and off to the left.
Stunned and confused creatures were ripped apart by bullets, causing the monsters to scatter.
A few toward the front of the horde ran in the direction of the cliff, trying to get out of the light.
Gina’s group met their clumsy charge and attacked, slicing, stabbing and hacking into the confused beasts. But there was still too many.
The young male recruit stabbed a stumbling Nightwalker beneath the chin. The creature wrapped its arms around the young man and forced him back off the cliff edge, both perishing in the rocks below.
Julianne sidestepped one monster, then came up behind it, and kicked it over the side.
Two more were running toward Gina. She only had time to duck down as the first creature stumbled over her and off the cliff edge. The second attempted to leap on top of her.
Gina rolled on her back, dropping her axe, and managed to get her Balato up with both hands, catching the mouth of the manic monster as it closed its sharp teeth on the pain stick. The Nightwalker raised one clawed hand to slash at her exposed face, but then paused, as a Julianne screamed from its right. Julianne lowered her shoulder and knocked the beast off Gina. Both the creature and Julianne rose to their feet and charged each other. Julianne managed to get her sword up as the beast impaled itself on her sword but managed to swing its long arm across her exposed face, leaving a bloody gash on her left cheek.
“NO!” Gina screamed, getting to her feet and swinging her pain stick like a bat across the monster’s face, forcing it back toward the cliff edge. She bashed the monster’s head in with the Balato until it fell over the edge.
Julianne let go of her sword and stumbled back, her face dripping with blood. She looked on the verge of passing out from the pain, but the warrior fought through it, then stared over at Gina. Two more monsters were coming in at her flank.
The young warrior charged with all she had left and wrapped her arms around the closest monster before it reached Gina. Her momentum pushed the beast into the second as the warrior knocked them both off the cliff.
Gina had just enough time to turn around and watch Julianne go over the edge with the monsters.
“Julianne!” she shouted, reaching out too late.
The Ama-Eskua warrior was gone.
Gina had no time to register the loss as she swung her Balato around at another beast, connecting with its jaw and causing it to stumble to her right and off the edge.
Four more were coming straight for her.
“FUCK YOU!!” She swore at them, swinging the pain stick in front of them as she pushed forward and caused them to falter.
Before the beasts could collect themselves for the final charge, the back of their heads were ripped apart by point-blank gunfire from directly behind them.
Gina fell forward to the ground after overexerting herself with the Balato. She looked up as the four beasts hit the ground.
Another one, a big one, was coming straight toward her. She rose to her knees and brought the Balato back for another swing.
She recognized the voice before the big preacher’s frame came into focus.
“Logan?” she managed weakly.
The big preacher reached down his hand. “Come on. We have to move.”
Gina, completely in shock, reached up and took the big man’s hand.
He got her to her feet. “Can you keep fighting?’
She nodded through tears and confusion. “Yes.”
Logan swung his rifle around his back and then pulled a flare gun out from the front of his pants. He quickly reloaded it and aimed the flare gun directly toward the front of the horde and fired. The flare struck the front line of the Nightwalkers, setting them on fire. They screamed in pain, running into more creatures that turned away from the light.
From somewhere to the left, there was more gunfire.
“We need to move.” Logan said, reloading the flare gun. “Stephen’s keeping a path clear to the west.”
“Stephen?” Gina responded. “Am I… dead? Are you… are you both really here?”
Logan stared at the bloody woman, who was almost unrecognizable, and smiled. “Praise God, yes. Gina, we are here. But none of us will be if we don’t move.”
Logan turned and fired his last flare up into the sky, as was the plan after he reached Gina. This signaled Stephen to keep firing and move toward them. Hopefully the flare, along with whatever ammo they had left, would give them just enough to make it back along the west side of island before the monsters regrouped.
Assuming the Carrie-Anne was still there.
“Ready?” he said to her. “We’ll need to push hard.”
She located her hand axe, picked it up, and then nodded.
Logan stared at the woman carrying the strange stick in one hand, the bloody hand axe in the other, and thought, She looks like a fucking savage! Dear, Lord, what on earth has happened to this poor woman? Logan nodded back, and then led the way, his assault rifle now out front. They went left and around the burning Nightwalkers.
Gina pushed with everything she no longer had to keep up. She stared at Logan’s back suspiciously, not yet convinced that he was real… or that she was still alive.
The emerald lion is sitting up on its back legs, staring out across the ocean. Toby is waiting for Meredith to do the only thing she can do to escape the darkness that is overcoming her. The madness and the pain will be too much and she will flee. She will return to her pitiful flesh… and be forced to take Toby with her.
The lion lets out a low growl toward the dark water. Toby hates this place… this prison between two worlds. He can always go back to where he came from. But the demon has overstepped his place there… and he will be punished by those more powerful than himself if he returns. His only choice is to finish what he’s started and cross over into the land of Light and Flesh and make the world of the living his new kingdom. Yes, he knows he will have to deal with the First Ones… the ones who have been plotting in his absence to make a place for themselves. But once he is free, he can deal with all of them.
As for the rest… the humans… they will do whatever he wants, and he will enjoy watching them suffer before exterminating them.
Toby spots something stepping out of the water. It is a small form… a woman.
It is Meredith.
The emerald lion assumes the pouncing position, dropping low in the sand.
Meredith steps onto the sand. She is no longer the young child, but an older woman, wearing a soaked sundress.
The Lion growls at her. The voice booming from above, says, HOW? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Meredith stops several feet back from the massive lion. She raises her arm and points a wet accusing finger at him. “They are coming for you,” she says. “Your demon masters are not pleased.”
Toby is caught off guard. For the first time, he is confused, and though the demon will never admit it, he is a little afraid.
ANOTHER TRICK, MEREDITH? I DON’T’ KNOW HOW YOU ESCAPED, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER. I WILL JUST CONSUME YOU AGAIN AND…
Meredith starts laughing at the lion, continuing to point at it.
STOP THAT!
Meredith does not.
The lion roars at the woman and is about to pounce. But then stops. Something is… wrong.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MEREDITH?
The old medium stops laughing and lowers her arm. “I’ve done nothing,” she says. “You did this all by yourself.”
Toby is confused. The lion starts to move around in circles, sniffing at the air, then down toward its feet. Something strange is happening… from within. The lion turns back toward Meredith.
I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE… BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER.
The lion, in one leap, closes the distance between them.
Toby reaches up one clawed paw and then sweeps it down toward the wet woman… to finish her off.
The emerald claw passes through the woman. Meredith loses her form and turns into rising black mist before fading away.
The lion roars in frustration.
Nicole has done her part.
With Toby completely distracted and confused, a black clawed paw exits the hairy chest of the emerald lion… then a second one.
Toby’s understanding comes far too late. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MEREDITH? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?
The head of a charred black lion emerges from Toby’s chest and roars.
Toby attempts to move but can’t. From the inside out, Sylvia is shifting forms, tearing the emerald lion apart with multiple clawed paws as she makes herself bigger… bigger… bigger…
NO! STOP IT! I BROUGHT YOU HERE, SYLVIA! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME?!
The emerald lion falls over on its side as Sylvia rips its way out of the beast.
Before Toby can say anything else, Sylvia’s voice booms down from the sky. I AM GOING HOME… AND YOU… YOU ARE GOING BACK… TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO ME!
With that, the charred lion tears into the mangled remains of the emerald lion, ripping it to pieces with its massive teeth until Toby is completely consumed.
Sylvia stops and stares up into the sky. She is already shifting from lion to tendrils of black smoke. Her blazing red eyes are the last to shift form.
I CAN’T SENSE YOU, WITCH, Sylvia says, BUT MAYBE… MAYBE WE’RE BOTH GOING BACK TO WHERE WE BELONG. DO NOT COME BACK HERE… OR I WILL FINISH THIS. The black lion roars a final warning into the sky and then disappears, taking the digested remains of Toby with her…
Previous Episode 54-11
Don’t Feed The Dark Updates: 11/17/19
Tags: Book Five: Remains, Book Four: Phantoms, Book One: Southbound Nightmares, Book Six: Mother, Book Three: Recruits, Book Two: Almost Dead, Don't Feed The Dark, Scott Scherr, Treachery, Updates
Just a quick update on the schedule (again *sigh*). Sorry about all these erratic postings. I knew November was going to get busy, that’s why I so wanted to finish Book Six in October. But alas, here we are. I’m right in the middle of what should be the first of the final two episodes… but I’m not ready to post yet. I will try to finish it up this week. I just ask for your patience while I’m juggling around too many ‘real world’ obligations at the moment. Not to worry though, I am getting it finished, it’s just hard to find time to write in the middle of my busy-ass schedule. Again, my apologies ;)
Posted: November 13, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
Just outside the southern end of the Mother facility, Lady Clementine’s detachment of armed and unarmed men and women, dressed in forest green uniforms, were busy preparing for the now late arrival of the Carrie-Anne. They had all been told to expect the vessel before dusk and that Clementine was bringing a very important guest to the island. That meant getting everyone on the same page and putting on a well-disciplined first impression. Lady Clementine demanded perfection and that meant everyone needed to be on top of their assigned tasks.
Of course, this was all just another ruse, designed by Lady Clementine, to further misdirect Toby’s attention away from the cavern on the western end, stalling for time. But no one wearing green had been informed of this.
Several tall spotlights on wheels were now being moved from a large hangar bay to various points surrounding the helicopter landing pad, as well as down by the dock. The lights were powered by one large generator, which meant that Clementine’s electricians needed to lay cables before the twilight sky quickly faded overhead.
Clementine’s security attachment was busy making sure the dock just south of the hangar bay was secure. The medical staff prepared for emergency services. Three helicopter pilots waited near their birds on the helicopter pad in case their services were needed to search for the Carrie-Anne should she not arrive at all. Personal aides that performed a wide variety of tasks from cooking meals, to cleaning, to the maintaining of equipment, all went about their assigned duties, preparing for an evening arrival, with much trepidation.
Everyone who had been with Lady Clementine at the airport on the mainland were now housed in the barracks adjacent to the large helicopter pad. While one shift went about their duties a second shift enjoyed what little down time they could in the barracks.
Before the last of the spotlight cables were in position, the sky had grown dark.
That’s when all hell broke loose.
Howls erupted from the east side of the hangar bay and just west of the barracks.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, staring at each other with uncertainty.
And then the Nightwalkers attacked. They went immediately for the electricians preparing the spotlights and started to tear them apart.
Screams erupted.
Everyone resting in the barracks started to get up and look around.
Eight monsters dressed in strange armor stormed into the barracks and started ripping them apart.
More screams.
The camp security force, most of them focused on the dock, suddenly turned back and headed for the barracks, guns raised.
They never made it as a horde of nightmarish creatures charged straight for them, jumping out of the evening shadows that hid their approach. The Nightwalkers dug razor sharp teeth into flesh, slashing their claws across the stunned soldiers’ exposed throats and faces.
Erratic gun shots echoed across the camp.
Panic took care of the rest as people outside ran for the false protection of the hangar bay, or the barracks, where they were attacked by wild beasts with red eyes. People inside, tried to make it out, but were grabbed and dragged back into dark corners were the Nightwalkers fed on them alive.
One helicopter pilot managed to get into his bird while blood was splattered across his windows. People trying to make it to the choppers were tackled from behind and dragged off into the night, kicking and screaming.
The pilot got his engine running as the blades of his chopper came to life, momentarily distracting the closest monsters. He could hear people attempting to climb into the rear of the helicopter. Fearing for his life, the pilot took off too fast, as terrified men and women in blood-cover green, tried to hang on to the chopper, and fell to their deaths on the helicopter pad.
As the pilot cleared the ground, he heard a low growl from behind him. He turned and found the eyes of a savage creature, it’s face dripping with the blood of a fresh kill. The pilot reached for his holstered handgun.
The disfigured former human dug its teeth deep into the pilot’s shoulder.
The pilot cried out and lost control of the bird as it started to spin in circles, moving too low and toward the southern entrance of the Mother installation.
As the Nightwalkers continued their slaughter of everyone near the hangar bay and down by the docks, the out-of-control helicopter crashed into the southern end of the facility, exploding on impact. Shrapnel and debris from the crash shot outward, ripping into fleeing flesh and producing a massive fireball that shot up into the dark sky.
The tall spotlights, surrounding the camp like silent spectators, watched on with indifference as the Nightwalkers slaughtered everyone in the area, feasting upon many of them while they screamed to death.
Not a single light had been turned on.
The Carrie-Anne rocked up and down across the rolling waves as Captain Carl navigated the vessel to the south, a quarter mile off-shore, preparing to round the southern point of the island. The last of the day’s light was quickly going out over the western horizon, leaving a blood-red glow to mark the remains of the dying sun. The wind had picked up considerably, kicking up the waves, and making it difficult to hold course.
At the close of the tense confrontation down on the aft deck, Captain Carl had laughed unexpectantly, taking another hit off his pipe. He’d waved off his deckhands who had lowered their weapons, and said, “If only to meet this ‘special lady’ of yours and find out how she can drive the two of you to this madness… I will take you to the southern dock. She must be one of a kind, perhaps a siren of sorts whose beauty is just as dangerous and alluring as her song.”
Logan and Stephen had just given each other a confused look.
“No matter,” Carl had concluded. “Call me curious. I want to meet your… Gina. Besides, I could have my hands load up my commission while we wait for you at the dock. The sooner I’ve concluded my business with the Red Lady the better. Now, please, lower the flare gun and get the hell away from my damn fuel.”
Afterwards, Captain Carl had insisted his guests join him in the pilothouse so he could keep an eye on them while the siblings remained armed and stationed nearby.
Stephen and Logan had offered no further resistance.
“The hell?” Carl blurted out from behind the helm. They had just rounded the southern tip of the island.
“Is there a problem, captain?” Stephen said.
He shook his head and pointed his pipe toward the dark stretch of land ahead of them. “Somewhere in that dark mess is the dock. Those morons are supposed to have a lit up for me! They know this! It ‘ain’t the first time we’ve docked at night!”
Stephen and Logan stared out the front pilothouse windows. All they could make out was a darker line of land, silhouetted against the darkening sky. If not for the last of the fading light, they would not have been able to discern where the land met the water.
“Why would they not have lights on?” Logan said.
Carl ignored the big man’s question. He started barking orders at the siblings. The young man left the pilot house with instructions to man the bow mounted spotlight at the very front of the vessel.
“We can still make it in without the dock lit up, but we’ll have to slow down and drift a bit until we locate it with our own light. It’s just a bigger pain-in-the-ass this way.”
Logan pushed again. “Can you think of any reason why those lights would be out, captain?”
Carl just stared and frowned. “It’s damn unusual,” was all he said. “The Red Lady runs a tight operation here… always has. This is not like her. Not at all.”
Stephen and Logan shared a worried glance.
“Something’s happened,” Stephen whispered.
A bright light flashed ahead of them, getting everyone’s attention.
“Holy Mary Mother of…” Captain Carl let his words hang as he exited the pilot house and shouted down to the red-headed deck hand. He sent the girl down to join him.
Stephen and Logan just stared at the ball of fire hovering in the vicinity of the southern dock.
“Gina?” Stephen asked.
Logan nodded. “Perhaps. Whatever’s happening, I’m sure she’s right there in the middle of it.”
The captain came back inside looking winded and cursing under his breath. “That better not have been my damn fuel!”
“What’s happening?” Stephen said.
Carl was turning hard on the helm. The Carrie-Anne was turning away from the island as the captain altered course to run parallel to the shore, heading the other direction toward the east side.
“I told the twins to keep the lights out. We’ll be running dark. I won’t risk pulling into whatever madness is happening over there,” the captain said. “Looks like a good way to lose my ship, too… and that I will not allow.”
“Then where are you going?” Stephen pushed. “Our friend is over there! Something’s clearly wrong and we need to get Gina the hell out of there!”
“Aye,” Carl said with an impatient nod. “You’ll get your chance. But I’m not leaving here empty handed. There’s an older dock on the east side. A bit trickier to reach, but we’ve used it a time or two. There’s a small fuel depot on the east side where we might make up for our loses. If you’re still bent on finding your friend, I’ll let you off there while we gather fuel.”
“You mean while you ‘steal’ fuel,” Stephen corrected.
Logan laughed. “He is a fucking pirate.”
“I’ll just be collecting what I’m owned,” Carl clarified. “The Red Lady, if she’s still around at the pick-up, will understand.” He looked at them both and finished, “As for the rest, I’ve never ventured off the docks… never wanted to, either. But I will say that the eastern dock is out of the way. It’s surrounded by trees and might help you find your friend more… discreetly.” He laughed and took another hit from his pipe. “And judging by what we just witnessed on the south side, you may not want to be discovered after we get there. I suggest you find your friend quickly and skip the tour. Once I’ve got my fuel, I want to be off this damn island and back on the water. Are we clear on this?”
“Crystal,” Stephen said. “And… thanks for waiting.”
Captain Carl raised an eyebrow, amused. “You misunderstand. As much as I like you two, despite our little ‘blow up the ship’ moment earlier, my only concern is the payday. Nothing more. Should you happen to be back on board by the time I depart, then that’s just good timing. But if you’re not… I won’t be here. So, you better hurry.”
Logan nudged Stephen with an elbow and said, “He’s worse than a damn pirate. He’s an opportunist.”
This made the captain laugh.
“Well, whatever your motivations lie, thanks all the same,” Stephen said. “And… sorry for the whole ‘flare gun’ fiasco.”
Stephen was about to turn, then stopped. “Captain, what will you do after all this?”
“I don’t catch your meaning.”
“I know you don’t care about what’s happening on the island or why we’re even here. But just to let you know, should we succeed in our… mission… you may find yourself unemployed.”
Carl laughed. “Yeah. This may be my last run regardless. Once things start unexpectedly blowing up at your employer’s place of business, that’s a clear sign that the well may have run dry. But don’t you worry, young man, I will manage.”
“Well,” Stephen continued. “I only wanted to say, should we make it out of this mess, you’re more than welcome to join us on the mainland. We once had a… prosperous… community with good people—the best kind of people.” Stephen started to get a little choked up. “Anyway, should we survive this island, I know we will get it all back… someday. You and your crew can join us and help us rebuild.”
Captain Carl gave Stephen a curious look, then took another drag off his pipe. “Prosperous, you say. I like the sound of that. However, you seem to be overlooking the obvious. Whether you find your dear friend, Gina, or not, and make it back to the Carrie-Anne before I leave this rock… you still have no way of making it back to the mainland. Unless you are all exceptional swimmers.”
Stephen smiled. “I was leading into that.”
“I suspected,” the captain laughed.
“After your services are finished here, I would like to commission you to take us back… to the mainland.”
“And just how do you expect to pay for this?”
Stephen shook his head and sighed. “With a promise.”
Carl laughed hard. “Well… I’ve not much use for that currency.”
The former school teacher gave him a stern look. “You would be a fool to turn down this promise, Sir. Especially considering how very few people are left. And out of those scattered pockets of humanity, even fewer still would care to come together and start over. Most people would rather kill each other now to get whatever scraps they can get. But I’m telling you, we will rebuild. And I promise you, as long as I live, you will always have a part of it… if you help us get back.”
Captain Carl just stared. He turned to Logan and said, “Does he always talk like this?”
Logan laughed, putting a hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “This one’s a rare find. He still believes in Humanity… the good parts. If my friend says we’re going to rebuild, then I wouldn’t bet against him.”
“Well… I appreciate the optimism. But again, I haven’t survived this long on promises. Sorry, Stephen, but I don’t intend to stick around after my deal with the Red Lady is finished.”
Stephen smiled. “Maybe I’m using the wrong words here. Perhaps what I mean to say is… think about what I’ve proposed as an… investment. An investment in what’s left of our species to overcome and start over. Don’t you want to be a part of it?”
Captain Carl gave Stephen a shrewd look over his pipe and then laughed. “You are persistent if nothing else. I can appreciate that. ‘Investment’.” He mulled over the word while continuing to steer. “That does sound much better than a promise. I will consider it. That’s the best I can do.”
“I’ll take it,” Stephen said. He reached out his hand. “I know this might seem a bit archaic, but back when I was growing up, handshakes still sealed the deal.”
“But we haven’t agreed to anything,” Carl said.
Stephen smiled. “But we have. You just don’t know it yet.”
This made the captain laugh so hard he almost dropped his pipe. He settled down and stared at Stephen’s hand. Finally, he shook his head and said, “Why not.” Then he shook his hand. “Verdict’s still not in on whether I’m shaking a dead man’s hand or not.”
“We’re not dead yet,” Stephen reminded him.
“Amen, little brother,” Logan said. “Amen.”
They rounded the southern tip of the island and turned north along the eastern shoreline.
Heart pounding in her ears. Out of breath. The scent of rotting murderers invade her nostrils. Leg muscles burning. Dying recruits’ screams from all around her—pleas for mercy ignored. Growls. Violence. Death.
Eyes useless.
The KAR had been swallowed up in darkness.
I am not here, Gina reminded herself. I am the dark.
She commanded her body to become still… silent. No, that wasn’t right. That was impossible. Gina emulated the darkness… hid within it.
But it didn’t matter.
The Nightwalkers would find her.
A shifting sound to her right. Friend or Foe?
Something bumped against her right shoulder. Gina whirled around with her hand axe and struck a monster in the face. It screamed in pain and slithered away.
Two more came at her.
Gina ducked down and jammed her Balato upward into something hard.
A monster cried out in frustration.
Something just missed her face. She felt her hair shift from the clumsy blow. Gina rolled out of that spot and quickly got to her feet.
And then all at once, faint light from the southern doors poured into the KAR as the first recruits opened them wide and started to flee.
The KAR was infested with hungry beasts and dying recruits.
Move! Move now! Gina focused on the light and bolted for the door, slashing at Nightwalker’s while screaming at them with each fierce blow of her axe.
The monsters howled back.
“To the fucking doors!” Gina cried. “Hurry… or we’re dead!”
Some recruits were already ahead of her. She could hear others following. She focused on the doors. She focused on killing anything that stood between herself and those doors.
The monsters attacked from the sides and from behind, knocking recruits to the ground.
Suddenly Julianne was beside her, swinging her sword into the darkness like a maniac.
She could see Gilo ahead of her, trying to protect the flank of fleeing recruits.
Kyle was somewhere behind them, still fighting near the center of the KAR.
And then all at once, she was back in the dull light, racing down the hall surrounded by bloody recruits.
The monsters were right behind them. They screamed and slashed at flesh, taking down the recruits near the rear and then dragging their fresh kills back into the KAR… to feed.
Gina glanced once at Julianne who had stopped long enough to attack two monsters who had caught up to them. She sliced at the Nightwalkers with brutal speed, screaming at them more to dispel her own terror. Black blood splattered her face. Other recruits turned to fight. Some continued to run for the southern exit on the other side of the mess hall.
The fiery red head turned back in time to hack into the face of another beast. Then she ducked down and cut into its thigh.
The monster howled in pain and hobbled back.
Most of the Nightwalkers had ripped off their cumbersome armor by now, revealing naked and tortured looking flesh covered in blood. Their red eyes blazed. Their jaws hung open, dripping blood, black bile, and displaying blood-stained razors for teeth.
Several more recruits went down. Gina and the others were falling behind. “Move! Move! MOVE!” she shouted to them. Gina, Julianne and the others whirled around to catch up to the recruits toward the front. They had just reached the end of the last hallway leading into the mess hall.
We’re going to make it! Gina thought.
As if sensing this, the Nightwalkers howled and sprinted after them on all fours. They quickly caught up to their flank and started killing more recruits.
Someone yelled from behind them.
The Nightwalkers turned in time to see a young man in a ponytail, whirl his spear around and stab into them repeatedly.
Gina barely had time to register the young Ama-Eskua recruit’s fierce determination and bravery. Nightwalkers from behind Kyle grabbed at his feet, causing him to lose his balance and fall forward. The others in front of him turned back.
Kyle was immediately swarmed by fifteen Nightwalkers. He was torn to pieces.
“Fuck me!” Gina shouted, turning away.
“He died well,” Julianne said from her right. “May we all die as well.”
Kyle’s sacrifice had bought them a slight lead. Gina and the rest of the recruits cut through the mess hall and reentered another labyrinth of southern hallways, following the sounds of the recruits up front.
By the time they reached the far end of the last hallway leading to the exit, the beasts had caught up.
Gina could see the first recruits reaching the door. Gilo was still with them. He turned back and saw the others. He raced toward Gina’s group with his sword drawn to help defend their flank.
The young Ama-Eskua recruit made it halfway back when the southern exit suddenly exploded, knocking Gilo off his feet. Gina and the others were also thrown to the ground as fire filled the other end of the hall. Debris shot back at them like bullets. A piece of the southern door penetrated the forehead of one recruit, killing him instantly.
The Nightwalkers directly behind Gina’s group caught the blunt of the bright flames, covered their eyes, and temporarily retreated out of the hallway.
As for the recruits near the exit. They were blown to pieces.
Gilo, his legs severely burned, managed to crawl back to the rear group.
Gina and Julianne, covered in cuts, burns and dust from the blast, managed to get up and reach him.
The young man was in so much pain as he coughed up blood. He kept his composure and said to Gina. “You have to… have to… reach the sanctum, now… only way… out. Western hall… the old showers… weak northern wall… other side… sanctum… lower level.” That was all Gilo managed. The young man exhaled his last and stopped moving, his eyes locked in on Gina.
Gina shook her head, trying not to lose it. She turned to Julianne. “Do you know the place he’s talking about?”
Julianne, her sad eyes locked in on the dead young boy warrior, just nodded. “I know it. He’s right. That’s the only chance we have. These beasts are everywhere. If we can get into the sanctum, we might be able to slip in behind them and find a way out.”
Gina nodded and looked back at what remained of her injured and battered recruits. Including herself and Julianne, they were now ten. She looked down the hall behind them. “The flames are holding them back for now. We need to move while they’re stunned. Can we get there from here?”
Julianne nodded. “Back one hall and take a left. That will lead us into the western berthing wing. The old shower room is at the far end. But it’s a dead end. If we can’t breach it… we will die there.”
“We’re going to die in this fucking hallway if we don’t try,” Gina said. “You ready?”
Julianne nodded. “Yes, Lady Gina.”
She turned to the recruits. “Stay strong. Stay brave. We might make it out of this, but we need to keep fucking fighting. Are you still with me?”
The weary recruits started to rise, shaking off their injuries as well as pieces of their blown-up friends. They defiantly raised their weapons in the air.
Gina gave them a fierce proud look, and then raised her bloody axe. “Let’s move.”
Posted: November 7, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
Meredith could feel the darkness assaulting the closed mental door of her mind like an unstoppable storm—no—that wasn’t quite right. It had the ferocity of a storm, but it was so much more than that. The storm was alive, and not alive. She could sense multiple evil entities coming together in the black, void, surrounding her mind, taking on many forms and no form at all. Meredith could feel the outer rim of her sanity coming undone as her reinforced barriers collapsed with each new shape in the darkness, becoming something that her mind had no comprehension of. There were no words to adequately describe, and no thoughts that she possessed that could assess each new attack on her mind. The darkness no longer needed to force their way in through her mental doorways. Instead, it simply became the walls, the ceiling, and even the floor within her once secure mental room, making her inadequate door something that no longer fit the strange dark shapes that pulsated about her mind. This allowed the darkness to slip into every new crack, forcing Meredith to challenge the very structure surrounding her mind as she quickly erected new structures to delay the darkness flooding her thoughts.
When she, Clementine and Megan entered the final cavern at the end of the labyrinth of erratic caves and stone halls, they knew immediately that they’d reached a thin barrier between the world of the living, and the world of the dead. They all stopped just inside the cave entrance, pushing back against the darkness that immediately came for them. It moved around them and through them, as alive as the shifting cavern walls the appeared to melt in the range of their torch lights.
Clementine and Megan immediately moved next to the old medium as she attempted to expand her mental barriers around the three of them. But the effort took a huge toll on her mind.
Megan held Meredith’s hand, staring into the older woman’s face. Meredith struggled to find balance for them in this living/dead place that belonged in neither world.
Clementine focused her attention on lighting eight torches mounted on the wall near the entrance, trying to ignore the darkness that clawed at her face and screamed into her mind. She’d expected the assault, but it didn’t make it any easier to be here. Without Meredith, that darkness would have drove herself and the hybrid insane within moments of entering the cave.
With more light now, they could make out what was in front of them. The cave ceiling was as tall as the cavern floor was deep. The stone steps they’d been following descended down into a bowl where stalagmites and stalactites were so long, ascending up from the cavern floor, and descending down from the ceiling, that it looked like they’d just entered the closing jaw of some enormous monster instead of a cave.
At the center of the large cave, down in the bowl, was a single round structure sitting in what looked like a crater, as if the rock itself had come to life and attempted to reform up and around the odd-looking structure that did not belong. There were no spotlights surrounding the bowl, no buildings erected like they’d seen in Labyrinth Level 1. Just the round irregular structure that looked like something no man had built, but rather, like something else that had slipped across the barrier from the other side. Aside from the mounted torches, and themselves, nothing else provided a foothold into their world. And Meredith was their only tether from falling into the abyss of madness that had risen around them.
Clementine raised a shaky hand and pointed down into the bowl. “Toby’s body is in there,” she said. “When Mother first found this place, before the organization woke the entity we’ve come to know as Toby, they’d managed to build a single room that was intended to be a stable environment cutting into the veil between worlds. As we now know, from Labyrinth Level 1, that Mother failed to complete this mission. All they’ve done in either place is grant Toby a foothold across that veil. He is powerful in both places, but after the disaster beneath the orphanage, which was originally intended to be Mother and Toby’s… common ground… any further attempt to build was scrapped since nothing living can survive being this close to that veil. As a lesson learned from the orphanage facility, Toby has stabilized this place while Mother focused on the hub above it, to work with the entity from a safe distance. But they did get the brain-dead Toby down here, as the entity instructed them to do. No ‘human’ has been down here since. Not until now.”
“That’s not a comforting thought,” Meredith said, staring down at the odd structure. “What can we expect to find down there?”
“You’ve seen the structure before, Meredith,” Clementine said. “It’s the round white room with the chair at its center, staring up at Toby’s symbol.”
Meredith nodded, remembering when they’d first encountered such a room in Labyrinth Level 1. “And Toby, Forrester’s brother… he is kept in there?”
“Yes. For a very long time.”
“How is that possible? I was expecting to find someone on life support, hooked up to machines, not this,” Megan said. “What’s keeping that body alive?”
Clementine smiled. “What’s keeping you and I alive, child?”
“Meredith.”
“And do you know how she is able to do this?”
Megan said nothing.
“Neither do I,” Clementine added. She stared back down at the room in the rock. “Nothing works down here the way we understand. Objects from our world fail, including our fragile minds, while Toby can sustain flesh, without the mind, down there in that abomination of a room.” She looked back at Megan. “Even you… hybrid… are a mystery asking about mysteries. All I know is that Toby’s flesh is stabilized and sustained by the entity that has become Toby. But no longer.” She turned to Meredith. “I sense that we are running out of time.”
Meredith nodded. “Yes, I can… I can only protect us… for a short while. It is… very challenging.”
Clementine rubbed the side of her head and crinkled her face as if a bolt of pain just shot through her mind. “I am… having much difficulty keeping the darkness out. At each moment I’m about to be overwhelmed by it, like standing too close to the shore when the tidal wave is about to strike, something keeps that wave from crashing down… just barely… then it starts all over again. I assume that you are stopping the waves, Meredith?”
Meredith nodded. “Do what you came to do, Clem, but do it quickly.” She looked down into the bowl and finished, “I will remain here with Megan. The closer we get to that structure the harder it is for me to protect the three of us. I will keep you protected while you destroy the body. But you will need to hurry back immediately after.”
Clementine nodded, and then gave Meredith a probing glance. “I don’t know if you’re telling the truth, or if you just want to create distance between us. What are you up to, Meredith?”
“The longer you badger me, the less time we have. I’m telling you… this place, this darkness… it’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. You say the veil between worlds here is thin. It feels more like the veil is about to burst… and that world is about to flood this cavern.”
Clementine’s frowned. “Very well. Just don’t run away this time, sister. I need everything you have to get me there and back. The rest I can manage.”
Meredith stared at the evil woman, her eyes starting to shift colors, going from dark, to red, to yellow, then dark again. “Like I said… hurry. You won’t have to worry about Toby showing up if I can’t hold… If I can’t hold this… darkness… back.”
“Just, do you part, Meredith. I will do mine.” Clementine turned and headed down the stone steps into the bowl.
Meredith waited until Clem reached the cavern floor. She turned to Megan. “How are you holding up?”
Megan shook her head. “It’s like… it’s like monsters are in my head trying to tear my brain apart… and make me forget… everything. I feel like… I feel like I’m fighting them inside my own mind. But I sense you there with me… and it helps.”
“You need to listen to me now. We are out of time,” Meredith said. “Once that evil woman makes it to Toby’s body… I’ll be gone.”
Megan looked distressed. “What… what do you mean… ‘gone’?”
“Nothing’s changed, honey. I have to go away… just like we planned.”
“To… Elsewhere?”
Megan nodded, tears filling her eyes. She struggled to keep her emotions in check. “Take me with you,” she pleaded.
Meredith smiled, placing a hand on the half-dead’s pale cheek. “Where I’m going, Megan, I can’t take you. This battle is mine alone. You know this.”
Megan wiped tears from her face. “But… but I can’t protect you… if you don’t take me with you.”
Meredith looked down into the bowl.
Clementine was almost to the crater structure.
She turned back to Megan. “When she goes inside, I will reach out to Toby and let him know where we are. When that happens, he will have to deal with Clem first. When he does, I will… cross over while he’s distracted. Hopefully Clem will have just enough time to finish her part. But when I go… I can’t protect you or her. You will have to run, Megan. Run as far away from this cave as you can before the madness overtakes you.”
“And the witch?”
Meredith’s face went dark. “She’ll get what she’s owed. She’ll never make it out of this cave. But you won’t either if you stay here. So, run. Get back to the dock. Wait for the waters to subside. Then the boat will arrive, and you need to be on it. I need to know before I go that you’ll be alright. My heart can’t take losing you.”
“But what about you? How will you get back if I leave?”
Meredith’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry, Megan. This was always a one-way trip for me. Whether I defeat Toby, or not… this is as far as I go. Clementine was correct on one thing. I can’t be allowed to survive here, especially if Toby wins in Elsewhere.”
“No!” Megan said, violently shaking her head. “NO!”
“This is the way it has to be, Megan. I’m sorry. I’m leaving now… and so are you. You need to do this… for me. Okay?”
Megan stepped back reluctantly.
Meredith turned toward the bowl.
Clementine looked back up at them once, then turned and stared at the strange round structure.
The old medium turned to Megan. “Now, Megan. Run. Tell the others. Tell them why I did this. They need to understand.”
Megan stepped back toward the entrance, her face full of tears.
“Be brave, now. Be the brave woman I know that you are. And… I love you… so very much.”
Megan smiled. “I… love you.”
Meredith nodded. “Go. Run… Run right now. NOW!”
Megan turned, her torch still in her hand, and then she ran out of the cavern, howling in pain like a wounded animal as her heart was about to burst.
Meredith closed her eyes, trying to shut out the poor girl’s sobs. She took a deep breath and sighed as she turned her mind toward a very familiar place and fired her thoughts through the darkness like an arrow… until she found the island… and Toby.
Where have you been? Toby’s frantic voice filled her mind immediately. I’ve been trying to find you and Clementine in the middle of all that confusion at the facility. But she hid herself from me and… What? What is this? What is happening? WHY THE HELL ARE YOU DOWN HERE ALREADY, MEREDITH?!
Meredith didn’t hesitate. “Clementine brought us here to stop you, Toby. To destroy your foothold in this world.”
Toby immediately disconnected from her thoughts. Meredith could still sense him… heading toward the crater… to deal with Clementine’s treachery.
Meredith looked back once to make sure Megan was long gone. She knelt down and then looked up, beyond all the despair, the darkness, and stone, then whispered a desperate prayer: “I don’t know if even You can come with me to that dark place… or if you even care to. Perhaps that’s what I deserve. But if you are listening, God, please… help me finish this. I don’t care what happens to me… just please… I need help.”
Meredith closed her eyes and stopped fighting against the darkness.
Before it consumed her mind, Meredith followed the imaginary tether out of her flesh, crossed the veil, and found the island—the Isle of Lions—floating at the center of the dark.
Meredith’s body fell over in the cavern like a marionette with its strings just cut.
As Clementine approached the crater room, she was mortified by its appearance up close. What was once a small domed structure made of steel and aluminum was now fused with rock and what looked like… translucent human flesh, with arteries pumping black blood through its thin, pulsating membranes, acting as walls. Her first impression after the shock settled was that she was staring at some massive human heart… still beating in this unnatural place.
She found a cavity in the living dome, assumed it was the doorway, and quickly entered.
Inside the heart-like room, the walls pulsated several times as her feet sank slightly in the fleshy floor. At the center of the room, what was left of an old retractable chair was covered in sickly flesh. And sitting in it, was the barely recognizable remains of Doctor Forrester’s brain-dead brother attached to long sinews attached to large muscles that crisscrossed the entire room. More translucent flesh-covered arteries were connected to Toby’s body, pumping black fluids into the man’s eye sockets, neck, chest and out of every limb… if they could still be called ‘limbs’.
The smell of long rotting flesh immediately assaulted Clementine’s nostrils as she covered her mouth and nose and looked away from the disgusting remains of Forrester’s brother.
Just finish this horrid affair! she reminded herself, feeling the darkness clutching to her brain like the strange tentacles of flesh that were attached to the mangled body.
She did her best to focus and reached out with her mind, focusing all her strength at the abomination in the chair. Suddenly, the flesh-infested body exploded, splattering Clementine with black blood and the rotted remains of Toby’s body. The walls of the room pulsated irregularly for a few moments that ceased.
Clementine wiped black blood from her eyes and nearly threw up. She looked over at what remained. The body was completely obliterated, leaving nothing but the unattached tentacles dangling from the top of the dome, and lying on the floor like otherworldly snakes. Everything was dripping vile black blood.
She laughed, despite her disgust. “Fuck you, Toby. Your demented science experiments on this island are finally finished.”
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
Toby’s voice boomed so loudly in her thoughts that Clementine covered her ears.
AFTER EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN THROUGH… THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME… YOU WORTHLESS TRAITOR CUNT!
Clementine turned like a terrified child and headed toward the exit.
YOU’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE, TRAITOR!
Suddenly the fleshy tentacles came down from the heart-like chamber and wrapped themselves around Clementine’s legs and arms, dragging her back to the center of the room.
“No!” she cried out, no longer able to focus her thoughts to defend herself. “Let me go!”
The darkness within the cavern immediately stormed her thoughts, setting her brain on fire.
YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN DESTROYING YOURSELF. MY REACH INTO YOUR WORLD… THOUGH BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED BY YOUR ARROGANCE… WILL BE FIXED MOMENTARILY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR YOU, I DON’T NEED TO REACH ANYWHERE, NOT IN HERE, TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, TRAITOR!
“Meredith!” Clementine called out. “What you have done to me, you fucking lying bitch!” She reached up and grabbed the sides of her head as if it were about to implode.
Toby’s laugher filled her shadow-infested mind. YOU HAVE BEEN BETRAYED! TREACHERY BEGETS TREACHERY, MY WAYWARD DAUGHTER! AND TO THINK THAT I BROUGHT YOU THIS FAR… THAT I LET YOU GET THIS CLOSE. BUT DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT I DIDN’T FORSEE THIS MOVE? THAT I DIDN’T, ON SOME LEVEL, ANTICIPATE IT? YOU FOOLISH, FUCKING LITTLE GIRL! NOW YOU WILL SUFFER. YOU WILL SUFFER IN WAYS THAT MAKE THE THINGS YOU DID TO OTHERS SEEM TAME!
Clementine started to scream as her mind began to break.
But Toby wasn’t finished with her yet.
The fleshy tentacles started penetrating her flesh. Two went straight into her chest, two went into her shoulders, two more penetrated the back of her thighs. One even came up from the floor, beneath her black-covered red robe, and pierced her between the legs.
Clementine continued to scream until a tentacle pierced her throat.
The last two drilled into her eye sockets.
Clementine’s body convulsed violently for a few moments, then suddenly went limp, suspended in the center of the dome by the tentacles as black blood coursed through her disfigured old flesh.
GOODBYE, DAUGHTER. I LOVED YOU… BUT I NEVER TRUSTED YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR SISTER. AND AS FOR YOU… YOU WILL MAKE A FITTING… REPLACEMENT.
Clementine felt the darkness invade every part of her in ways no human being had ever experienced. Her mind went black… but Toby made sure the dream center of her brain remained active… as well as her pain receptors.
Lady Clementine, or what remained of her consciousness, would now experience Toby’s version of ‘Hell’… specifically tailored to make her suffer in ways no human being could ever conceive.
As Clementine’s screams reverberated throughout the cavern, new torchlight approached the frail remains of Meredith’s vacant body. Two pale hands grabbed the old medium from under her armpits and started to drag her out of the cave.
The darkness within the cavern violently attacked the young half-dead’s mind. Megan didn’t care. She fought against the demons that plagued her thoughts with howls and screams, fighting like a savage through tremendous mental anguish, empowered by love and grief that drove her past the point of madness. The human side of her would have gone insane in moments… but it was the beast… the monster inside of her… who managed to get Meredith’s body up over her shoulder. Megan turned with her fading torchlight and shambled out of the cave.
Gina and the recruits reached the upper landing of the hub with weapons drawn. The large, dimly lit former headquarters of Mother seemed vacant until the loud alarm suddenly went silent.
With her hand axe in one hand, the Balato in the other, Gina signaled everyone to hold at the landing.
From beneath them, they could hear what was left of the patrols being slaughtered. Desperate sounds of fighting and screams echoed across the hub. Many of the recruits believed the ghosts of this unnerving, dead space had all assembled below to take their revenge against the living.
Gina looked back into their confused and terrified faces.
The recruits shifted nervously behind her, staring at each other and then back to Gina, waiting for her to tell them what to do… or wake them from this nightmare.
Even the three remaining Ama-Eskua recruits looked uncertain as Gilo and Kyle took up defensive fighting positions on either side of their leader with Julianne guarding her back and staring up and around at the shadows as if everything and anything might attack them in the next few moments.
Gina stopped at the upper rail, looked down into the hub, and tried to process what only her ears could tell her since she could not see a single Ama-Eskua warrior below.
Where the fuck are they?
When the screams finally ceased. The hub went silent.
“They know we’re here,” Julianne whispered.
Gina gripped her hand axe so tight her hand started to go numb. “What are they waiting for?” she whispered back.
Kyle raised his spear and whispered, “They’re not waiting. They’re already moving to surround us.”
Gilo, with his sword up, added, “We have the advantage of higher ground. They will be going for the stairs… or they will draw us toward them. Either way, we are too tightly packed on this landing… and they know it.”
Gina nodded, the lack of any sound below causing her to second guess everything. Should they attack? Retreat? Drop their weapons and give in to the fear?
“There’s too many places to hide in here,” Julianne started. “They will strike us hard and fast and attempt to scatter us throughout the hub. If that happens, they can pick us off from the shadows.”
She thought of the KAR, formerly the Kill Room. That was the one place they all understood. They had trained hard in that large space. If they could draw the Ama-Eskua back there, they could stay together and maybe survive the next few minutes.
“We need to get back to the KAR,” Gina told her. “Maybe we have the numbers… and they know it.”
“Agreed,” she said. “That might be all we have.”
Gina signaled the recruits to fall back to the KAR. They all slowly retreated off the landing.
From all around them, they heard large footfalls on metal.
“They’re coming up the stairs!” Kyle said, whirling his spear around toward the closest staircase while walking backwards off the landing.
Gilo and Julianne stood right next to him, forming a line in front of Gina and to protect the rear.
“Fall back to the KAR… fast!” Gina called out, forcing the recruits to move. “Ring Formation!” she added.
They all raced out of the hub and toward the KAR.
Gina and the Ama-Eskua recruits were the last to exit the door off the landing. They all caught a glimpse of the enemy as several dark shapes came together at the other end of the landing. They merged into one large shadow… and… stopped.
Holy fuck! Gina thought. There’s so many of them! “Let’s move!” she ordered. “Hurry!”
“What are they doing?” Kyle asked Julianne as they turned to sprint back to the KAR. “That’s not an Ama-Eskua move. They don’t form… ranks.”
Julianne had no response.
Even Gilo seemed confused by the odd battle tactic. “They’re acting like a pack… moving as one.”
Gina didn’t hear them. Her only concern was getting everyone back to the KAR.
They were the last to reach the northern door and sprinted inside.
“They’re not following!” Julianne yelled as she was the last to reach the large lit space.
The recruits were already forming two large circles at the center of the gymnasium-sized room—one inside the other—a battle formation they’d practiced often for the purpose of fighting against a surrounding enemy. This was called the Ring Formation, something Julianne had suggested when they had discussed possible battle tactics of the Shadow Dead. They had all agreed that those traitors preferred to use the darkness to surround an enemy… a stolen, misused Ama-Eskua tactic.
In addition, every recruit was now carrying a pre-staged Balato in their non-weapon hand. This was Gina’s suggestion. They could use the pain sticks defensively to block or even stun the enemy, in place of a shield, while still striking with their primary weapons.
Gina felt a moment of pride in the recruits for remembering their training and not giving in to fear and falling apart. She was also grateful for the lighting. Of all the rooms in the training facility, the KAR was still the most lit up… which meant fewer shadows.
“Get ready!” Gina barked as she joined the inner circle with Julianne, Gilo and Kyle. Even they were now wielding Balatos in their support hands.
The objective of the Ring Formation was to keep a surrounding enemy in front while the first ring acted like a shield for the second. While the Ama-Eskua attacked the outer ring, the inner ring could strike from between the first rank. If the first ring was breached, the inner ring could step forward to form a new outer ring while the outer ring stepped back to become the new inner ring, regroup, and then start again. This was a move used to tire out the enemy, even an enemy with superior numbers. As fighters fell, the rings would grow smaller, but they could keep the advantage of holding the enemy out front and stay in the fight for as long as the rings held.
Gina quickly assessed their numbers. Forty-eight. Twenty-four per ring. That’s all we’ve got. She already had to assume that the six recruits on patrol in the hub were dead. She had no idea how many Ama-Eskua warriors the Order might send at them, or from where. Julianne believed the number would be low, and that the Order’s honor would dictate fewer warriors to defeat an inferior enemy. Gina hoped that Julianne’s assessment was correct.
Everyone in the KAR stood still as stone. The slightest sound was amplified.
Gina had been prepared for this. Ama-Eskua warriors were trained to use psychological warfare to unhinge an enemy. Such tactics included unnerving silence and painstakingly long lulls in fights to get the enemy to lower their guards.
“I hear them,” Gilo whispered to her right. “They’ve exited the hub.”
Gina tensed up and signaled the recruits with hand gestures to stand by. She looked over at Julianne to her left. She wore a pained face. “What is it?” she whispered.
Julianne gave her a strange look. “Something is ‘off’ about this attack. The others agree. The Ama-Eskua do not fight like a pack.”
“What do you mean ‘a pack’?” Gina said.
“That’s what Gilo said.”
She turned to the young warrior recruit. “It’s how they appeared on that landing,” he said. “It looked… unusual.”
Gina nodded as she struggled with something that started to unnerve her.
No time, she concluded, forcing the thoughts away. She needed to stay focused.
They could all hear them now. The enemy was entering the final hallway in front of the KAR.
All the recruits tensed up, staring into each other’s faces for perhaps the last time.
And then there was a new sound.
“What is that?” Kyle whispered.
Gilo and Julianne looked equally confused.
Gina heard it, too, and nearly dropped her weapons on the floor as recognition set in.
Rat-a-tat-a tat
“…Unless Gina’s locked up in some dungeon, which I don’t believe is the case, she might have some limited freedom on this island. She might know where Toby is… Toby’s body.”
The others paused, looking confused.
Meredith pulled them in close… and told them her plan.
Most of it.
“Remember what I told you about the dolls when I was child at that orphanage? How I found that secret room with the patients strapped into beds?”
They all nodded.
“One of them was Toby. The real Toby, Doctor Forrester’s brain-dead brother. He was much older, but it was still him. I believe the entity pretending to be Toby is using Forrester’s brother as a tether to this world. I also believe that without this tether, the Toby we’ve come to know will not be able to reach out into our world from the other side.”
“You mean from Elsewhere,” Stephen said.
Meredith smiled at him. “Yes. From Elsewhere.” She gazed into all their faces and sighed. “Part of what we need to do is find that tether and disconnect Toby from it.”
“You mean, kill the real Toby,” Megan said, with no emotion.
“I believe Forrester’s brother is long gone, or, at least, what made him alive is long gone. What remains is the memories, or dreams, or whatever it is that Dr. Forrester tapped into, that allows that monster who calls himself Toby to keep a foothold in our world. He still needs me to cross.”
“So, Toby is using the brain-dead Toby to affect our world,” Stephen started, “just like you’re using another brain-dead girl’s body to remain in our world?”
Meredith frowned. “Her name was Michelle.”
“Of course,” Stephen said. “Sorry.”
“That’s okay. You are correct. It’s very similar to what Forrester and Finch did, transferring my… entire consciousness… into Michelle’s body. Don’t ask me how Forrester did that, I still don’t know. The only difference now is that Toby can’t use brain-dead Toby the way Forrester used Michelle. That Elsewhere secret died with Forrester… and for good reason. But he’s still connected to our world through her brother, and he won’t need that body for much longer once he gets to me.” She stopped for a moment. “Perhaps that is the urgency I’m sensing? Maybe something’s wrong with Toby’s body? Maybe, after all this time, the tether is finally failing?”
“Or maybe the real Toby is fighting back,” Megan said.
Meredith gave her a questioning look. “What do you mean by that, Megan?”
“Maybe Forrester succeeded in what she originally intended to do? Wasn’t she trying to bring back her brother in the first place?”
Meredith considered this, staring at the young half-dead for a long time. She sighed heavily and finally said, “Megan, I hope you’re wrong. Because if not…” She looked down at the strange old flesh that had been her body for so long. “If you’re not… then I’ve a lot more to answer for.”
They all left it at that.
“So, that’s why I need all of you to find Gina,” Meredith continued, bringing them back on track. “She may know where Toby’s body is, or at least know how to find it. And if we break that connection, and sever Toby’s tether to our world, perhaps I can finish this for good.”
“What does that mean?” Logan said.
“It means she’s going to Elsewhere,” Megan finished. She stared at the old medium. “She’s going to let Toby find her… and bring her back.”
“You can’t do that!” Stephen said. “That’s just what that monster wants!”
Meredith nodded sadly. “Yes. It is. But it won’t be like before. Toby will believe he has recaptured that frightened little girl he manipulated a long time ago. And that will be my advantage. He will also be blind to our world without his precious tether. I believe that will actually scare him… a little.”
“If we find that body,” Stephen corrected.
“Yes,” Meredith agreed. “There is that.” She took a deep breath and finished. “You all need to trust me now. This may look like I’m giving Toby what he wants, but I assure you, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t have a chance to stop him. And I’m telling you all now… I do. But I can only do it… over there. I need this. I need to do this. Toby used a very naïve little girl to do some very horrible things. I released The Lions into our world. I know it isn’t my fault, not directly, but I am still responsible. This is my battle to fight… and I am ready to fight it now. But I need your help to get there. Will you help me do this?”
With much reluctance, they all nodded…
…Stephen was lost in thought, staring into the ship’s wake as the last of the sunlight caused the water to shimmer, reflecting the evening sky above. His thoughts had drifted back to their last conversation in the boathouse. That was when they’d all decided to help Meredith jump right back into the monster’s mouth. Although the plan had been modified since reuniting with Meredith’s evil sister from the past, the end result was still the same.
I can’t believe we’re letting her do this, he thought. If she fails… and Toby succeeds… He shook off the dire thoughts. Now was not the time for doubt. They had their own job to do.
Stephen and Logan stood on the aft deck of the Carrie-Anne watching Captain Carl bark orders down toward the bow at his two-man crew from just outside the pilot house. They were currently getting ready to drop anchor, but the waves were making operations difficult… and the crew distracted.
The big preacher stared at the setting sun just ahead of them. The sky was getting dark fast as the bottom of the clouds near the horizon started to ignite into majestic hues of red and gold. He turned to Stephen and said, “Another thirty minutes of light at most. If we don’t make a move soon, we’ll have the night to contend with as well as the captain’s crew. We might not even be able to dock.”
“I know,” Stephen said, staring over the aft lifeline and into the rolling waves. “I’m just trying to think of a way to approach the captain and present our case. Like Meredith said, he does seem reasonable. We already know he isn’t a part of Mother. We just need an angle, something to entice the man into helping us get to Gina.”
Logan shook his head and laughed. “Little brother, you and Meredith are far too trusting. This man is a shrewd businessman beneath all that jovial, indifferent talk. If he thinks we’re asking him to do anything that would jeopardize his arrangement with that witch, Clementine, and the sweet deal he already has with Mother, then I’m sure he’ll just throw us overboard.”
“You might be right,” Stephen agreed. “But we should try to talk to him first.”
Logan nodded. “I’m all for keeping the peace. But I think I have a back-up plan to make the reasonable Captain Carl more… cooperative… should he laugh you right out of his pilot house.”
Stephen frowned. “What are you up to?”
Logan smiled and pointed toward twenty fifty-five-gallon tarped containers, stacked two drums high and strapped up toward the front of the aft deck, just beneath the pilot house steps, to the left of the cabin door. “This pirate might me more motivated to help us… if he believed his precious ship were in danger. While you’re talking to the man, I’ll sneak down into that cabin and have a look around.”
“What do you hope to find down there? Weapons?”
Logan smiled. “We’ll just see what the Good Lord provides.”
Stephen’s glanced at one of the drums. The word PETROL was stenciled on the side.
They were out of time.
Before Gina could prepare herself, or the others, for the horrors coming toward them, the north doors to the KAR slammed open. Several dark, disfigured shapes dressed in former Ama-Eskua warrior armor burst through the doorway and howled at the them. They had elongated limbs with claws instead of fingers. Grotesque upper bodies with bones penetrating rotting flesh were partially covered by armor intended for human beings, making these mangled monsters look like they’d been dressed in Halloween costumes that no longer fit. Blood red eyes stared at the recruits with savage hunger behind cracked helmets—razors for teeth gnawed at the inside parts of the face shields as the creatures screamed in frustration within their light metal trappings.
Julianne locked eyes with Gina. For the first time, Gina saw fear in the young Ama-Eskua recruit’s eyes. “What… what are these things?”
Gina gave her a fierce look. “Keep it together,” she ordered. “The face of the enemy has changed.” She then raised her voice toward the others, noticing her recruits starting to fall apart and disperse, breaking the outer ring. “Hold your positions! Defend yourselves! These aren’t Ama-Eskua… not anymore! They’re a variation of the dead—a hybrid—part man, part beast, that we call Nightwalkers! I’ve faced their kind before. They don’t like the light, and this is the best lit place in this entire fucking facility!”
The creatures charged toward them on all fours, like a pack of ravenous wolves. Some moved very quickly while others struggled sluggishly, their movements restricted by armor or their misshapen bodies. The overhead lighting at the center of the KAR was not bright enough to stop them, but it was enough to annoy the beasts and slow down their charge. As the first animal-man hybrids cleared the doorway, more came in from the hall.
The recruits raised their weapons.
Gina raised her hand axe, focused on the closest monster, and let a savage sound escape her mouth to dispel the fear—a war cry from one savage to another to let the monsters know that they were not the only beasts in the large space.
Gina’s ferocity was infectious as the recruits took up the war cry and howled back at the monsters, causing them to slow down and stare at their strange prey with confusion. The Nightwalkers could smell the blood, but it was the fear they normally sensed which drove them into a frenzy for the hunt. But this time their prey did not act like wounded animals in a trap, but more like smaller animals backed into a corner—and just as deadly as the hunters.
Gina picked up on this immediately. “They’re just animals!” she shouted. “They’re confused! Use it! USE IT!”
As the first of the Nightwalkers reached the outer ring, recruits raised their Balatos to deflect clawed arms while stabbing, chopping and slicing with whatever weapons they held in the other to hold the ring in place.
Other red-eyed beasts were quickly surrounding them, looking for any vulnerability in the ring to strike.
“They may not be human,” Gilo shouted toward Gina, “but they still act like Shadow Dead, surrounding the enemy to come in quick for the kill!”
The irony did not escape her. While the Shadow Dead were men and women disguised and behaving as beasts… these things were beasts disguised as warriors of the Order. But the end result was still the same. They were dealing with animals either way. And animals, wild or otherwise, could be intimidated by stronger or more cunning creatures.
She was scanning the Nightwalkers toward the back of the KAR as they moved around the outer ring while the others attacked the ring directly to distract and throw the recruits into confusion. “Hold the ring!” she shouted. “Hold it no matter what! All they want is an opening or to force us out of the light!”
Gina, Gilo, Julianne and Kyle led the inner ring, reinforcing the outer ring by stepping in between the gaps with fierce strikes to the heads of the savages.
The Nightwalkers howled in pain and slashed at the faces of the recruits. Several in the outer ring went down. Recruits from the inner ring stepped up to take their places. Every time a recruit went down, the Nightwalkers would drag their dying bodies back to the darkest parts of the KAR and devour them alive. The screams of each recruit, ripped apart and fed on, just made the Nightwalkers more violent as they fought each other for the remains.
Gina refused to look at each recruit knocked down and dragged off. They were all finished if they couldn’t hold the rings. Heroics would get them all killed. Gina lunged forward and hacked at the claw of a beast trying to claim a young girl. The beast stepped back, howling in pain. The girl fell to her knees, gripping her torn throat. Another recruit quickly took her place as the young girl fell forward on her face. A different Nightwalker came in quick and snatched a long lock of hair on the dying girl’s head and dragged her body back to the shadows along a wall to feed on her warm flesh, leaving a crimson trail into the dark.
The red-headed savage felt nothing as their numbers dwindled—the rings getting smaller and smaller. She just screamed at the monsters, hacking away at them in between the gaps, tuning out the horrifying sounds of the slain… and the sounds of feasting along the walls of the KAR.
Kyle whirled his spear around and jammed it into the eye of a beast.
Julianne came in low with her sword and hacked off the same monster’s left leg, causing it to fall back.
Gilo was forced to step forward into a gap in the outer ring as the head of a recruit fell right off his shoulders, leaving an opening for a second Nightwalker to charge in and bite into the arm of a second recruit. The young Ama-Eskua recruit came in low then thrust his sword upward into the chin of the disfigured brute. He pulled his sword out, slicing the monster’s face in half, and then quickly thrust his sword into the throat of another monster. Gilo retracted his sword and whirled around to slice off the clawed arm of another beast.
Gina tried to grab the recruit who had been bitten in the arm, but another beast snatched him back into the darkness where three more beasts started to tear the young man apart.
The Nightwalkers were going down but so were the recruits.
There were now twenty recruits, including Gilo, who held the outer ring, while fifteen more maintained the inner ring.
The Nightwalkers still outnumbered them three to one.
Julianne, her clean greys soaked in black blood, turned to Gina. “We’re holding… barely. But they have the advantage. They can wear us out and pick us off at their leisure. We need a better position, preferably a choke point.”
Gina, her face and hair covered in blood, held up her bloody axe and stared up at the lights. “Without those, there’s nothing to stop them from one massive charge. The lights are the only thing they fear.”
Gilo stepped back within the inner circle as another recruit took his place. He, too, was a bloody mess. “On the south side of the facility, there’s spotlights surrounding the hangers around the helicopter pad. That’s where Lady Clementine’s group that came in with you are stationed. The security force will have guns… and we could use the help… as well as the light.”
“She never mentioned that to me,” Gina said.
Gilo just shrugged his shoulders.
There’s a whole lot that old bitch failed to mention, she thought, considering the faces of their new enemy.
Gina turned to Julianne. “Could we make it there? If we haul ass?”
Julianne’s face was stone. “No… not all of us. These things are far too fast. The rest of the light in the facility is too dim. They’ll overtake us before we make it to the mess hall.”
“What the hell are they doing?” Kyle yelled from behind him.
They all turned.
The Nightwalkers were no longer attacking. They were standing in a circle of their own, at the back of the KAR. Some were feeding, but the rest were staring up toward the lights… and howling.
Then something flew across the air above them, striking the base of one the florescent lights, causing it to shake and shimmer.
“They’re going for the lights!” Gina shouted.
“These things are smart enough for that?” Kyle was shocked. “I thought they were just dead animals!”
Something hit the ceiling then fell at Julianne’s feet.
It was a bloody human leg bone.
She and Gina shared a horrified look.
The Nightwalkers were throwing more bones now. Some threw them at the lights while others threw them at the recruits on the outer ring. The sight of their fallen brothers and sister’s bones being used against them started to unnerve the recruits.
Another bone stuck a bulb above causing it to spark and go out.
This made the monsters roar as one. They jumped around and hissed at the recruits.
“We’re out of time,” Julianne said.
Gina stared up at the lights. We’re so fucked!
“Get them out of here, Gina,” Julianne said. “Kyle, Gilo and I… we’ll hold them back long enough to give you a lead.”
“Fuck that!” she said.
Another bone struck the lights above. Causing one fixture to shake violently.
“We can handle them together,” Julianne assured her. She looked over at Kyle and Gilo who nodded in return. She looked back to Gina and smiled. “They won’t know what fucking hit them, Gina.”
Gina shook her head, then said, “Alright. But you three come right after us. No bullshit hero stuff. Understand?”
All three of them nodded.
Just then, something big struck the central light fixture above them causing a bright flash, and sparks. All the lights went out.
The KAR went pitch black.
“Absolutely not,” Captain Carl said, standing behind the helm in the pilot house. He lit up his pipe and took a long drag. “Don’t get me wrong, Stephen, as far as passengers go, you all have been easy… up until now. My orders are to standby until the Red Lady finishes whatever she’s doing and then come back for a pick-up. I don’t get paid to make decisions or get involved. I just do what I’m told until the job is done.”
“So, she told you to wait… right here… in this spot?” Stephen said.
Carl laughed. “Well… no… not specifically… but I’m fairly certain she wasn’t wanting me to taxi folks all around this damn island.”
Stephen raised his hands submissively and pushed. “We’re not asking for your crew to get involved, Captain. All we’re asking is that while we’re waiting out here anyway, what’s the harm in taking us around the island to pick up a friend… a friend of Lady Clementine, too, I’ll add. You wouldn’t even have to step foot off this ship. Logan and I will go get our friend… and come right back. I’m sure Lady Clementine would appreciate the extra effort in making sure Gina was safe. Perhaps she’ll even up your commission for all the extra effort.”
“And should the two of you get yourselves into trouble… and I’m sure that will be the case… what would I do then? Just leave you both on the island?”
Stephen nodded. “Yes. If we take too long to get back, although I can’t imagine why,” Stephen lied, “then you can just leave us and head back here in time to pick up the Red Lady.”
Captain Carl scrutinized Stephen with his one good eye. “And when she asks me where the two of you ended up… what should I say then, hmm? That I dropped you off on the island without her permission?”
“If it comes down to it, you could just say we swam back to shore.”
“Either way, I look incompetent. Incompetence is a good way to lose a payday. No, I’m sorry, Stephen, but we’ll be staying right here until it’s time to pick up the Red Lady. Those are my instructions… and that’s what
we’re going to do.”
Stephen started to protest.
“Now,” Carl interrupted. “If you would be so kind as to leave my pilot house and go down on deck where you were told to wait. Don’t come back up here again or I won’t be so nice.”
Stephen sighed. “Does it even matter to you that a woman is in danger? That you could do something very small to help and possibly save her life?”
“Nope. I’m not in the business of saving lives, Stephen. If I were, I’d probably be dead by now. That’s what saving lives amounts to in today’s world.”
Stephen shook his head and gave up. “Megan was right about you.”
Captain Carl laughed. “Yeah, that young lady with the gray eyes understands me more than you do… apparently. Now, if there’s nothing else… get the hell off my bridge.”
Stephen exited the pilot house and joined Logan back aft.
The big preacher, standing with his hands behind his back, glanced into Stephen’s face and smiled. “Judging by your sour expression, I can only assume that your conversation with the captain went very well.”
“Shut up,” Stephen said. “The man’s impossible. All he knows is profits and self-preservation. Time for Plan B. Did you find what you needed?”
Logan made sure Stephen was blocking Captain Carl’s view from the pilot house and then showed him what was in his hands. “No weapons, of course. But I felt fairly certain I would find an emergency kit.”
Stephen looked down and saw the loaded flare gun. “Shit, Logan, you even know how to use that thing?”
“I read the directions, little brother” Logan said with a mischievous wink. “Besides, the whole point is that I won’t have to use it.”
Stephen let out a heavy sigh. “Even if this works and we get Carl to take us to Gina, there will be nothing to keep him docked. We’ll be going there to rescue Gina… in need of a rescue ourselves.”
Logan shrugged his shoulders. “I can only do so much with a flare gun.” He looked up at the pilot house. “Think he’s watching us right now?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Stephen looked confused. “‘Get ready’? Get ready for what?”
Logan smiled. “Just follow my lead. Be sure you let the captain know how heartbroken I am about leaving my wife on this island.”
“You’re… wife?”
“Yeah… something like that. Just let the man know how much Gina means to me… you can tell him we’re newlyweds.”
“No. I’m not going to say that.”
“Just… roll with it and tell him how desperate I am to get my beloved wife back. Love can make a man very… unstable… at times, as I’m sure our captain will appreciate.”
“I don’t like this plan.”
Logan laughed lightly. “Ye of little faith.”
“Shit.” Stephen shook his head. “So, what now?”
Logan raised his voice. “What do you mean he won’t take us!” The big preacher took a step back and gave Stephen an enraged look. “That’s some bullshit! I’m only on this damn boat to get my wife home!”
“Oh, okay,” Stephen whispered. “I guess we’re starting.” He reluctantly jumped into the part. Stephen raised his arms to calm the preacher down. “Keep your voice down!” He looked deliberately up toward the pilot house, then back to Logan. “I tried to talk to the man, but he won’t listen!”
“That’s bullshit!” Logan started waving the flare gun into the air as he walked past Stephen and stood in front of the petrol containers. “You tell that damn captain to get his ass down here… NOW!” He pointed the flare gun at the petrol.
Stephen just stood there.
Logan gave him a look and repeated, “NOW!”
“Shit!” Stephen hissed, feeling like he’d missed his cue. He got his feet moving and started up the stairs.
“What the hell is going on back here?” Captain Carl shouted down from the rail just outside the pilot house.
“You tell him, Stephen!” Logan shouted. “Make damn sure he understands this time!”
Carl gave Logan a blank stare, then glared at Stephen who stopped half-way up the stairs. “You’ve got to be shitting me, right?”
Stephen sighed. “It’s his wife.”
“Gina… the woman on the island.”
Captain Carl raised an eyebrow and then pointed to Logan. “Gina is… his wife?”
“And… tell me again what that has to do with your tattooed friend aiming a flare gun at my fuel?”
Stephen shook his head. “I tried to talk to him. The only reason Logan’s here was that he found out his wife… Gina… is on this island. After I told him you wouldn’t take us… he… well… he lost his shit.”
“Really?” Captain Carl looked amused. He took a hit off his pipe. “So, if I don’t take him to be reunited with his wife, am I to assume that your big friend intends to blow us all the hell up?”
“Looks that way.”
“I mean it!” Logan shouted up. “Take me to Gina or I’ll fucking do it!”
Captain Carl never lost his amused expression. He pointed his pipe at Stephen. “This was his plan wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Stephen said. “I’m… surprised that he’s reacting this way. I didn’t think he’d go nuts like this.”
“Doesn’t make much sense to blow up my ship, himself included, if he’s really that determined to see his wife again. Perhaps you two should’ve rehearsed this a few more times.”
Stephen was getting irked by the captain. He took a step toward the pilot house, looked down at Logan, then back to the captain. He lowered his voice and said, “I didn’t mention this before because… well… it’s complicated.”
“‘Complicated’?”
“Yeah,” Stephen explained. “You see… Gina… Logan’s wife… well… she-”
“Oh, come on, man!” Captain Carl said. “Spit it out. Tell me… she had an affair… and that’s why hubby down there is so irate. Hell, I’d understand that, might even lose my shit, too, threatening to blow up things. But you haven’t given me anything.”
This is ridiculous. Stephen’s shoulders fell. “Okay… you win. Gina and I… we… I mean-”
Captain Carl busted up laughing. He pointed to Logan then to Stephen and said, “Are you trying to tell me that you and Gina did the nasty behind that man’s back… and that’s why he’s trying to find her?”
Stephen didn’t know how to respond. “Yeah… sure.”
Captain Carl took another hit off his pipe. “So… he brought you along to tell him where you’d stashed his wife. And now that he’s got you both here, your big angry friend with the flare gun intends on confronting both of you. Is that about it?”
Stephen gave the captain a crooked smile. “You don’t believe any of this, do you?”
“I might if you sell it better.”
Stephen stared down at Logan.
Logan looked confused.
“Alright,” Stephen told the captain. “I’m not here because I want to be. Logan dragged me along to tell him where his wife was hiding. The moment he finds her on that island, it will confirm his suspicions that we had an affair. The only reason he hasn’t killed me yet is because he still doesn’t know if Gina’s here. But once he finds her, he’ll force the truth out of her… and then probably bury us both on this damn island.”
Captain Carl stood up, clapped, and laughed. “Bravo! Much better! You should’ve opened with that line of bull… especially if you want me to believe your crazy friend is enraged enough to blow us all the fuck up to get to Gina.” He looked down at Logan and finished with Stephen. “Now… go down there and tell your friend to lower that flare gun or I will order my deck hands to blow a hole through his head.” Captain Carl waved his pipe into the air.
On cue, both red-headed siblings stepped out from the port and starboard bridge wings, armed with assault rifles. They both charged their weapons and aimed them at Logan’s head.
“Alright!” Stephen said, raising his hands. He looked down at Logan. “He’s not buying it Logan! Just put the damn flare gun down!”
Logan, spotting the armed gunmen, smiled, and turned to Captain Carl, refusing to lower the flare gun. “You think this is all some big damn joke, don’t you?”
The captain shrugged his shoulders. “This poor excuse of a ruse… yes… definitely.”
Logan nodded. He turned to Stephen. “Tell this asshole who I am?”
Stephen looked confused. “He’s a preacher,” he told Carl. “That is the truth.”
“No, Stephen,” Logan corrected. The look he gave him was stone. “Tell him… who I used to be.”
Stephen understood. He gave Carl a grave look. “Before Logan gave his life to God… he was the leader of a racist biker gang.”
Captain Carl look shocked. He turned to Logan and said, “How does one go from being the leader of a hate group to a man of the cloth? Though, that would explain the colorful tattoos on your arms.”
Logan ignored him. He said to Stephen, making sure the prick captain could hear, “Now that he knows what I’m capable of… and that I’m also a man of conviction… tell him I intend to blow up his special lady if he delays us any further in getting to our special lady. Tell him, I’ve made me peace with God a long time ago… and if it’s my time to die… then so be it.”
Stephen turned to Carl. “You get all that.”
Captain Carl stared at the big preacher, then took another drag off his pipe. “I could just shoot you where you stand, preacher.”
Logan made sure Carl could clearly see his finger on the flare gun trigger. “Yeah, you could. But that won’t stop my finger from jerking this trigger.”
“He’s serious,” Stephen said. “No bullshit this time. No stories.”
“And what about you?” Carl said. “Is this ‘special lady’ worth the two of you dying for?”
Stephen didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Gina would do it for me.”
Captain Carl shared a look with the siblings, who stared back questionably. Carl took another drag off his pipe and smiled at Stephen. “My, oh, my… this is a much better bluff. Assuming, of course, that flare gun does anything at all. How do you even know it will ignite the petrol?”
“Do you know that it won’t?” Stephen countered.
Logan started praying.
“What’s he doing now?” the captain asked.
Stephen smiled and said, “He’s probably asking God for forgiveness… for what you’re about to make him do. And all this over a damn ride to the island. Tell me, captain, are you prepared to risk everything that matters to you by keeping us from someone we deeply care about?”
Captain Carl stared from Logan to Stephen, then turned to the siblings who waited for instructions. He took a long drag off his pipe this time as he carefully considered his next move.
“Chapter 54-9: Treachery” Copyright © 2019 Scott Scherr, from the novel, Don’t Feed The Dark, Book Six: Mother. All Rights Reserved.
Don’t Feed The Dark Updates: 11/5/19
Just a quick update on the schedule. Until the completion of Book Six, I will be posting new episodes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sorry for the change.
I hope you all had a great Halloween ;)
Posted: October 31, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, zombie books, Zombies
The waves steadily became stronger as Captain Carl navigated the ship toward the imposing wall of jagged rock towering above the fishing vessel. Initially, it looked like the captain had lost his mind and had decided to crash directly into the wall. But as they sailed closer, shadows shifted along the stone face, revealing a large black hole in the rock, resembling an open mouth, preparing to swallow up the Carrie-Anne.
Meredith stood with her friends near the aft port side of the ship staring into the cavern opening as they rode the rippling current toward their uncertain fate.
The old medium wrapped her arms around the front of her hoody as a cool breeze assaulted her weary face. She closed her eyes and steadied herself, making sure her mind was ready to confront the darkness. I’m so tired, she thought. Tired of fighting. Tired of losing friends… and pieces of myself as each new horrific truth is revealed about what I’ve done… and who I really am. She opened her eyes as the Carrie-Ann entered the mouth of the large cavern.
“Here we go,” Stephen whispered to her left.
She turned and flashed him a weak smile.
He nodded, putting on the bravest face her could manage.
She felt cold fingers slipping into her right hand.
Meredith turned. Megan was staring at her with those deep, dark eyes. For the first time, Megan looked afraid. “You okay, honey?”
Megan’s face was paler than usual. “I’ve talked with Logan and Stephen. I will not leave you alone in this place… no matter what.”
Meredith smiled and squeezed her hand. “I know. And… I’m very grateful to have you with me.”
“Are you scared?”
It became darker as they entered the cavern. They looked up at a dome of ancient granite which rose up nearly fifty feet about them.
“Dear Lord,” Logan whispered from directly behind them. “How such places could exist on earth… it’s mind boggling.” He couldn’t stop staring at the canopy of stone above their heads as the vessel reached a pool of calm water.
Captain Carl reduced the speed of the ship as they drifted toward an old dock off to the right. Laura, and a tall young man with long red hair tied back in a ponytail, rushed toward the bow of the vessel. The young man, wearing jeans and a tie-dye t-shirt seemed oblivious to the cave. The second deck hand, the others suspected, easily could have been Laura’s brother. The siblings started unraveling mooring lines, preparing to dock.
As if on cue, the cabin door opened. Lady Clementine, looking like she’d been aroused from a deep sleep, yawned and stretched her arms. She was still wearing the red robe.
Meredith turned and frowned. “It’s about time you joined us. I was starting to think you’d slipped away during the afternoon transit.”
Clementine smiled. “Did you miss me, sister?”
Meredith ignored the question. “How was your nap?”
“I was… meditating… Meredith.” She stepped up beside her, causing Megan to step back. Logan and Stephen also stepped back. None of them wanted to stand within five feet of the red-robed witch. The ancient-looking woman stared toward the dock. “I don’t sleep much anymore. But… I have learned that there are places one can retreat to within their minds that is so much better than sleep.” She turned. “Perhaps you’ll let me teach you how to do this… should we survive the evening.” She added a playful smile.
Meredith just shook her head. “Remember your promise. My friends—you leave them alone.”
“Of course. I assume that means you’ve finally told them they can’t go any farther with us?”
“They understand.”
“Megan will be joining us,” Meredith clarified.
Clementine raised an eyebrow.
“Will that be a problem?”
“No, of course not,” Clementine said. “I’m just surprised. You do know how dangerous this last part will be, don’t you?”
Meredith sighed. “I have an idea.”
“And the hybrid—does she the understand the risks?”
“Her name is Megan. She’ll be fine.”
Clementine nodded, dropping the matter.
The ship reached the dock. Laura and her brother jumped off the starboard side and started tying off the Carrie-Anne.
Captain Carl exited the pilot house, lit up his pipe, and then started barking orders at them.
Meredith took in the large cavern and gave Clem a confused look. “All I see is this large pool surrounded by all this rock. This can’t be the place?”
Clementine laughed. She squinted her eyes and stared out beyond the dock. She raised a bony arm and pointed. “There,” she said. “Can you see the steps?”
Meredith followed the old woman’s hand until she saw several old stones coming out of a wall toward the back. At the top she saw, a long, dark crack between the top of the wall and the cavern ceiling, big enough for them to duck under. “We’re going up there?”
“Yes, Meredith. Up… through… and then down the other side.”
“And that will lead us to Toby’s body?”
“Among other things… yes.”
“You are being surprisingly vague,” Meredith said. “If we intend to help each other, now is not the time for secrets.”
Clementine shook her head and frowned. “Sorry, Meredith. I’m not trying to be difficult. It’s just that… well… this is as close as I’ve managed to get. On the other side of that wall… you can feel this place… like a dark sickness trying to suffocate you.” She turned and finished, “Just like the cavern beneath the orphanage, the border between our world… and the other side… is very thin here.”
“I thought you said it was stable?”
“It is… and yet it is not.”
Clementine left the question hanging. “We need to leave now. I suggest you say your farewells. Captain Carl will want to get his ship back outside before the tides change again and flood this place. But don’t worry, he will return at the next shift in the tides. That should give us the time we need to finish this.”
Before Meredith could say another word, Clementine walked toward the starboard side of the vessel and stepped across a walkway that the siblings had just laid across. She then stood between the dock and the rock steps, her arms buried beneath her robe, staring off into nowhere as if she were attempting to emulate the stones all around her.
“Your wayward sister,” Logan started, “there’s something very wrong about her.”
“Yes,” Meredith agreed, staring at Clementine’s back. “I know.” She turned away and gathered them close while they still had time. She gave Stephen and Logan a grave look and lowered her voice. “Remember, find Gina. Get her off this island. The Captain seems a reasonable man. Maybe he’ll help.”
Stephen nodded. “He’ll help us… or we’ll make him help us.”
Logan folded his large arms across his chest. “Amen, little brother.” He turned to Meredith. “Don’t worry about us. We’ve got this.”
“We’ll come back to get the both of you,” Stephen said. “I promise.”
Meredith look away with a nod.
“Just don’t bring that witch back with you,” Logan added. “One witch is enough, and I like the one we already have.” He added a wink.”
Meredith laughed lightly. She turned to Megan.
The young half-dead was already looking around for a fight as she sniffed at something foreign in the cavern air. “This place is bad… very bad. It smells like the evil in this place has been rotting away in here for a long time.”
“Chilling image,” Stephen said with a smile.
Megan relaxed a little.
“Take care of Meredith,” Stephen told her. “Make sure you both make it back here… okay?”
Megan nodded confidently. “I will.”
“Meredith!” Clementine called over. “It’s time, sister. Toby will only be fooled by my little distraction for so long.”
Meredith turned. “We’re coming!” She turned back and grabbed Stephen and Logan’s hands. To Stephen she whispered, “Nothing has changed. We will be sticking to the original plan. The one we spoke about in the boathouse. Understand?”
Stephen eyes went wide.
“There’s no time to argue about it. Just trust me. It’s the only way.”
Stephen nodded. “I… I understand.”
To Logan, she said, “Pray for us preacher. We will need everything your God can give us… everything our God can do… if we’re to stand a chance.”
Logan nodded. “I have not stopped praying since we left the marina. God will be there for all of us, Meredith.” He glanced over at Megan and smiled. “Take care of yourselves, and each other.”
They all lingered a moment longer, then turned away.
Meredith and Megan crossed the walkway and stepped down on to the rocky uneven ground. As soon as Meredith’s feet made contact with the cavern floor, she felt the darkness slowly creeping in around the surface of her thoughts. She immediately put up her mental guards. Whatever this place is… it’s strong and so very, very old! But it was more than that. And then she felt it. This place is alive!
Megan started to growl as she stared all around the cavern.
She feels it, too, Meredith thought.
“It will pass,” Clementine said, coming over. “What you both are sensing are… spirits… for lack of a better word. They’re poking at the fabric of this reality from their own. They are aware of us on some primal level, they hunger for what they don’t understand… but despise. Don’t worry, they cannot reach us, not here. But they desperately keep trying. Think of this place as a hall of mirrors, in part. They can see us but fail to understand the glass that keeps them second guessing where we are. This place confuses them as much as it does us.” Clementine turned to the siblings.
Laura and her brother were moving frantically. They were wrapping fabric and some sort of lubricated twine around three small sticks. They were constantly stealing glances behind them as if expecting the shadows to come alive.
Clementine laughed. “These two would not even make it to the other side of the stone steps before the madness claimed them. It’s a good thing you left the other two on board.”
Meredith stared at the two siblings. She could feel their terror. “What are they doing?”
“Torches,” Clementine said. “As primitive as that sounds, it’s the only light we’ll have on the other side. Sadly, flashlights do not work the way they should in places like this where different realities merge, overlap and… flicker. But fire seems to work just fine in either realm.”
Meredith left the strange comment alone.
After the siblings were finished. They lit the torches, handed one to each of them, and then boarded the Carrie-Anne without looking back. They pulled the walkway back on deck and then quickly removed the mooring lines. Captain Carl started the vessel’s engine.
Within minutes, the ship was pulling away from the dock. After turning around, the Carrie-Anne headed for the mouth of the cave as the fading light coming in from outside started to make the cavern darker.
Meredith and Megan got one last look at their friends. Stephen and Logan waved from the aft deck.
They waved in return.
A few minutes later, the ship escaped the cave.
Meredith stared after the Carrie-Anne with glazed eyes.
Megan placed an arm on her left shoulder.
She turned and found nothing but compassion in the half-dead’s eyes. Meredith nodded with a smile. “I’m okay. Goodbyes are always difficult… especially now.”
Megan attempted a half smile. “We’ll see them again,” she said confidently.
“I don’t mean to be… insensitive,” Clementine said from behind them. “But we should be going now.” Her words failed to feel sincere as the red robed woman turned and started toward the stone steps.
Meredith frowned after her and whispered to Megan, “Do not trust anything that woman says from here on in. Understand?”
Megan scowled at the witch. “I understand.”
With their torches out front, they followed Clementine up the narrow stone steps toward the crack in the upper wall.
On the other side of the cavern wall, it became so dark that they could only make out surrounding features up to twenty feet. What started off as a single massive cave had turned into a cave system. Once clearing the gap in the first wall, the ancient stone steps descended into what was feeling like a rocky labyrinth beneath the island. The steps took them through several smaller caves and through long gaps in stone that felt like hallways with low ceilings.
They walked in silence for thirty minutes in this vast and mysterious subterranean underworld.
Meredith noticed that the temperature had dropped significantly as she rubbed her arms for warmth. She stared ahead at the red robed woman holding her torch and thought, After she destroys Toby’s body, she will try to kill us. And then she had a chilling thought, staring at all the suffocating rock: We won’t even need graves.
She turned to Megan. Beneath the young woman’s ferocious stare, challenging the darkness with her eyes, Meredith could sense her fear, confusion and exhaustion. Why am I not tired? She was puzzled by this. Meredith stopped and called ahead, “Clem, let’s rest a moment.”
Clementine turned. She was no longer smiling… or pretending. The old woman stared at them a moment as if considering disposing of them now, and then said, “If we must… but only for a few minutes. This place can be very dangerous for anyone lingering too long.”
Meredith leaned back on a large stone. Megan crouched down beside her, holding both their torches like weapons, aimed toward the witch.
Clementine came over and stood still. The old woman closed her eyes and focused on breathing.
To Meredith, it was obvious that Clem, too, could feel the gradual assault on her mind.
Clementine opened her eyes and smiled at them. “We are almost there.”
“So, we just step into Toby’s lair, kill his connection to this world, and then get the heck out? And all this without him knowing?”
“If we hurry, yes.”
“How long have you been planning this… move?”
Clementine smiled and changed the subject. “If we’re found out before I can reach his flesh, Toby will attempt to bring you to him. You and I know that this cannot happen.”
“What are you getting at?”
“I think you know. You’ve always known. Let’s not insult each other any further with pretense.”
Meredith nodded. “We are prepared.” She turned to Megan. “That’s why she’s really here.”
Megan just stared at her.
Clementine was catching on. “Again, Meredith, I have underestimated you. So, the half-dead will terminate you should we fail. That was a wise move.”
Meredith turned to Megan, gave her a look to remain quiet, and then lied, “It’s not a popular move, for sure. But Megan knows what she needs to do should the time come. Under no circumstances can Toby have access to me. Too much is at stake.”
Megan looked away, before her surprise revealed too much.
Clementine stared at them both, then nodded, satisfied. “Well I guess you’ve got the ‘back up’ plan covered. Hopefully, it will not come to that.”
“What will you do to him… Toby’s… flesh?”
Clementine laughed. “You don’t want to know, Meredith. It won’t be pleasant.”
“Will it be… merciful?’
Clementine’s eyebrows shot up. “’Merciful’? You do understand that the real Toby is long gone? That husk in the next cave is just a body kept barely alive to perform a function. Don’t trouble yourself with such a trivial matter. I will do what I must, with the most effective means at my disposal, to destroy that husk.”
Meredith looked away.
“If it makes you feel any better… it will be quick. As for mercy… well… I wasn’t taught that trick.”
“And afterwards?” Meredith challenged. “What will happen to us?”
Clementine just stared as if a child had just asked a childish question. “I believe you already know that answer to that question, Meredith.”
“You’re going to kill us, too,” Meredith said flatly.
Megan started shifting uncomfortably.
Clementine continued to stare at her old friend. “As I’ve said, no more pretense. Yes, Meredith. I will dispose of you right after I cut off Toby’s hand in this world. I can keep him from using that door again. I can seal this place off like a tomb. But what I can’t afford to do is let you live. There’s always a chance that Toby might find another means to reach out into this world… and to you.”
Meredith nodded absently.
Clementine raised an eyebrow. “You seem surprisingly calm after what I’ve just told you. I will miss you on some level, maybe even shed a tear afterwards… but make no mistake… I will kill you when we’re finished.”
“You mean after I get you safely out of this place,” Meredith corrected.
Clementine laughed. “And not one moment beyond that.”
Meredith nodded. “As long as you keep your promise to my friends… and that includes Megan… then you will have no resistance from me.”
Clementine just stared at her old friend for a moment. Finally, she said, “And that’s it? That’s all you’re going to say about the matter?” Clementine seemed offended. “You’re just going to lie down and let me end you… for what? So, the rest of these unworthy worms that you call ‘friends’ can live… while you die?”
Meredith smiled. “I don’t expect you to understand, Clem. But… yes. That’s it.”
Clementine shook a frustrated hand in her face. “What a waste! You are better than them! You deserve this new world as much as I do for all that we’ve suffered!”
Meredith said nothing.
Clementine calmed down. “So be it,” she said. “I was actually hoping that you’d put up a fight. That in the end, I’d finally get a chance to see who was the real chosen one.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Meredith said. “If I could give you this… gift… all of it… I would. The only good that’s come from bearing this burden are the wonderful people I’ve met that have helped me carry it.” She turned to Megan and smiled.
Megan smiled back.
She turned back to Clementine. “You want to be the ‘chosen one’? Well, I relinquish my crown and freely give it to you.”
“You are the best! The most powerful! And I am nothing!”
“I mean it, Meredith… don’t push me!”
“Then grow the hell up!” Meredith spat. “This… competition… between you and I, it’s foolish! I never wanted any of this… and you seem to want it all! Well, once Toby is gone, once I’m gone… you will finally have all that you desire!”
Clementine was fuming in silence.
“If I choose to ‘lie down and let you end me’, as you say, then what is it to you? My friends—my family—mean more to me than anything! They are my ‘real gift’! It is this curse that you crave that keeps me from them… and now… I’ll finally be rid of it. And I will protect them from it! So… yes… you loveless old power-hungry child! I will not fight you! But I will finish this one way or the other! And that is my victory… my crown… and I will wear it proudly to my death… if that’s what is required!”
Clementine’s free fist was balled up so tight her fingernails caused her skin to bleed. She almost lost control… almost. She finally settled down, took a deep breath and hissed, “You will die before this night is done, Meredith. And then we shall see what your death is really worth.”
Meredith did not know how to respond to the cryptic comment.
“We’ve already wasted enough time here,” Clementine said, turning back toward the stairs. “My distraction will only keep Toby amused and preoccupied for so long.”
“Yes, you’ve mentioned that a few times now… this ‘distraction’. Just what have you gotten Gina mixed up with?”
Clementine gloated this time, and said, “The Ama-Eskua Order has decided to eliminate Gina and the recruits that I left under her care. I warned her before I departed that they might try this in my absence. Apparently, I was right.”
“The Order,” Meredith said. “Are you telling me that the ones who trained the Shadow Dead, those monsters who killed all our people at the compound, that they’re now coming for Gina!?”
Clementine laughed. “Oh, you should see your face. Relax, Meredith. I have arranged the whole confrontation. I strongly suspect that Gina and her recruits will put on a very good show.”
“Against those trained assassins? She won’t stand a chance!”
Clementine smiled wickedly and said, “Yes, you are correct, of course.” She turned back toward the stairs and finished, “It’s a good thing then that the Order is long gone… and that there are no more Ama-Eskua warriors… not on this island.”
Posted: October 29, 2019 in Apocalypse, books, creative writing, drama, Free Online Novel, free zombie books, Horror, horror fiction, living dead, monsters, mystery, novels, serial novels, Survival, suspense, thriller, walking dead, Zombies
Hugh Marten sat on the second landing steps overlooking the large steel entrance door to the Ama-Eskua sanctum below. He took the scabbard off his back and laid the sheathed sword beside him. Hugh scratched his itchy beard and then wiped fresh sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. Aside from always being unnervingly quiet, the old Mother Headquarters was always so damn hot and dark. Like the rest of the facility, the overhead lighting provided just enough light to see just how many areas had been swallowed up in shadows. He took a deep breath and let his heavy eye lids close for a moment.
“Taking a break… again?”
Hugh opened his eyes and sighed. “Big damn door hasn’t changed since the last time I looked at it… or the hundred times before that,” he grumbled. “This is a bullshit detail. While everyone else gets to eat, we’re stuck in this dead-ass place doing nothing!”
A younger man, tall, with dark hair and dark eyes, stood behind him on the landing wearing stainless gray. The tall recruit leaned forward, supporting himself with his black spear, and smiled. “What’s the matter, don’t like the assignments Lady Gina graciously provides? At least you have a real weapon again.”
That was all it took.
Hugh turned around and frowned at the younger man. “Come on, Brent, everyone knows that our Royal Highness has it in for me. She enjoys giving me all the shit details. It’s payback for trying to kill her. Sometimes I wish Lady Clementine hadn’t stopped me.”
“Careful, Hugh,” Brent said mockingly, lowering his voice. “The ghosts in this place might hear you and report your insolence to Lady Gina.”
“Yeah! Well… tough shit! I wish she never came here. We had a good thing going before all these… changes. Now, there’s all these rules about how to behave, and how to think, how to fucking dress—We were warriors before all this, and now, we clean, stand guard, and listen to all that woman’s ‘touchy-feely’ speeches about morality! Give me a damn break! What world does she still think we’re living in, anyway?”
Brent laughed. “It will get better. Hell, at least we’re not all going for each other’s throats anymore. Lady Gina’s bringing us together to fight the real fight… out there.”
Hugh waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Screw all that. I’ve been out there. There’s nothing but death. What we had before was better, when Julianne was still in charge. Now, we just wander around in this dark, desolate place waiting to die of boredom while we guard this old tomb.” Hugh turned toward the sanctum door. “I mean, look at it! Nothing’s coming through that damn thing! No one’s used it in years. It’s probably not even a real door. Just some ceremonial nonsense from a time long before us.”
“Why don’t you tell me how you’re really feeling?” Brent poked.
“I’ll tell you! I’m feeling like somebody has to say something to that lame chick! She’s gotta go! Having us triple up on watching this gloomy place is stupid! No one’s coming to get us. Hell, the Order probably doesn’t even care what we do down here anymore.”
The sound of three rusty bolt latches being released reverberated throughout the hub.
Hugh and Brent turned toward the large metal door.
“What the fuck was that?” Brent whispered.
Hugh shook his head. He reached for his sheathed sword and almost knocked it off the steps.
Brent took a fighting stance with his spear. “Get your shit together, man. Something’s not right.”
Hugh unsheathed his sword and stood up.
Suddenly, the large steel door slowly opened toward them, screeching so loudly that it sounded like a banshee let loose.
“Was that the fucking door?” Brent whispered.
The lower level was haunted by shadows. The door stood open. They could see nothing but darkness within the doorway.
“Shit!” Hugh hissed. “Door’s open. I can’t see shit down there.”
“Where are the other patrols? Think they heard that?”
“They’re on the other side of this big fucking space,” Hugh said.
“We need to get to one of the control rooms and sound the- did you see that?” Brent said.
“See what?”
“There! Right fucking there!” Brent was moving around nervously with his spear, pointing toward the door. He tried to get a better angle on the lower level.
Several dark shapes sprinted out of the doorway, dispersing in different directions and disappearing beneath them.
“Fuck!” Hugh yelled. “They’re under us! Lower level!”
A large metal-on-metal sound caught their attention off to the left.
Huge was stepping back up the steps. “They’re trying to get around us… and behind us!”
More movement from the door.
Hugh turned back. “Shit! They’re playing with us! I think a few more just came in!”
“I don’t fucking know!” Hugh said. By now they were both pacing the upper level trying to catch movement below.
“Watch the damn door!” Brent said.
“Fuck that!”
More sounds from the lower level.
Large objects were being tipped over.
The sound of a metallic trashcan rolling beneath the stairs.
Breaking glass somewhere to the right.
Footfalls… lots of them… smacking down hard on metal stairs.
“They’re coming up for us!” Hugh yelled.
“You see ‘em?” Brent was peering down a center stairwell into the lower level.
“Screw this. I’m out of here!”
“Where are you going, you cowardly fuck?”
“There’s too many! We need help!” Hugh said.
“We need to alert the others… sound the fucking alarm and-”
“Brent!” Hugh yelled. He pointed a shaky finger toward him.
Something big came up behind Brent, wrapped two gauntlet-covered arms around his waist, and then pulled him down the landing steps.
And then he was gone.
“Brent?” Hugh whispered.
Brent started screaming below.
Get the fuck out of here! NOW!
Hugh bolted for the southern hub exit.
The terrified older recruit dropped his sword and cleared the landing. He ran faster than he thought possible, hearing only the sound of his own racing heart pounding in his ears. He approached the hub exit. “Hey! Anyone! Sound the alarm! SOUND THE FUCKING ALARM!”
Hugh made it to the exit door. Reached for the handle.
Several arms grabbed him from behind and dragged him back into the darkness.
The Carrie-Anne made its approach toward the island an hour before dusk.
The foreboding mass of land continued to grow larger and larger as they rounded it, preparing for the final approach on its western side. When the island had first come into view, it had looked like a lifeless black rock in the middle of nowhere. But now, they could make out steep cliffs rising up on the west and northern sides, forming a natural barrier that made reaching the island almost impossible from either side. To the south and east, the land leveled out and they could see one large structure dominating the center of the island, surrounded by fields and tropical forests.
“That place looks like Alcatraz,” Logan remarked, standing near his friends on the bow of the vessel.
Stephen nodded. “Probably just as hard to escape, too.” He looked over at Meredith.
The old medium was sitting on the deck. Megan was resting with her head in Meredith’s lap. Meredith gently stroked the girl’s hair, staring absently toward the water. They had all taken turns resting and talking themselves into the idea of this new and dangerous plan ever since Clementine departed for her cabin. No one knew what to say to Meredith, or what to even ask, sine she’d become distant ever since the island first came into view.
Stephen came over and knelt by the tired-looking woman. He lowered his voice. “You ready for all this?”
Meredith turned, coming out of a trance, and said softly, “Sorry, Stephen. What did you say?”
Stephen laughed. “You’ve been somewhere else ever since your old friend left us. Everything alright?”
She frowned. “That evil woman is neither my friend, nor my sister.” Then she lightened up. “Yes, Stephen, I’m okay. I’ve just got a lot on my mind. What we’re about to do is… terrifying. I’m trying to prepare my mind for what’s coming. If it’s anything like that cavern beneath the orphanage…”
Stephen nodded. “Anything I can do to help?”
She smiled at him. “No. But, thank you.”
Stephen wasn’t finished. “You haven’t told us what you really think about this new plan… or why we’re even joining up with this woman. From what you’ve told us about her, she’s likely to kill every one of us after she gets what she’s after.”
“Then… why are we doing exactly what she wants?”
She sighed. “Because Clem’s right, Stephen. We can’t finish this without her.”
“And after?”
Meredith frowned. She looked back at Logan who had moved to the other side of the bow, then turned back and stared into Stephen’s face for a long time. “You’ve been a good friend, Stephen. One of my most consistent friends, too. No matter what you found out about me or after learning what I’d done, you never wavered, not once.”
Stephen averted his eyes. “Well, that’s what friends do.”
She smiled and then became guarded. “When we arrive, I’ll need you and Logan to do something you won’t like. I’ll need you more than ever to be that friend who trusts me… even if you don’t understand. Can you still do that for me?”
Stephen looked hesitant, then answered, “Always. But you’re starting to scare me. What is it?”
“When we arrive in the cavern, I’ll need you and Logan to remain with the ship.”
Stephen shook his head. “No. Sorry, but I can’t do that. We’ve already talked about this. We stick together, remember?”
“Yes,” she said. “But things have changed. I wasn’t expecting all this. Once we’re in that dark place, I’ll be able to protect Clem, Megan, and myself from what comes at us… but you and Logan… will be exposed.”
“Exposed?”
“Exposed to the madness… just like before.”
“I don’t understand. Can’t you just… I don’t know… protect us, too?”
“No, Stephen. That won’t be possible. It’s different for Clem, Megan and I because we are already… acquainted… with that darkness. I wasn’t prepared before, but I am now. When the madness strikes, we will have a much higher threshold before it affects us, too. But you and Logan will not. And once I’m directly engaged with that darkness, I won’t be able to help you both… and you will die.”
Stephen knelt back down and let out a heavy sigh. “I wish you’d mentioned that before.”
“Yes, I could’ve, but it wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“Logan’s going to be pissed.”
“Can you do this for me?” Meredith pleaded.
“It looks like we don’t have a choice,” Stephen reluctantly said. “But what about you? Who’s going to help you when that evil damn sister of yours turns on you?”
She looked down at the sleeping girl and smiled. “I’ll have Megan to watch my back. I would rather she go with you… but I suspect she would kill me herself before staying on the boat.”
“I don’t like any of this,” he said, shaking his head again.
“Logan will listen to you,” Meredith said. “Besides, I’ll need you both to do what we originally talked about.”
Stephen waited.
“You two will have to find a way to get to Gina. I don’t know what she’s mixed up in here, but I suspect Clem has manipulated her. You two need to find her. She’s alone and she’s in trouble, whether she knows it or not. Can you do this for me?”
Stephen smiled. “Let me get this straight. You want us to steal the pirate’s ship and make Captain Carl take us to the other side of the island? Sure, we can do that.”
Meredith smiled. “I didn’t say it would be easy. None of this will be. But you two are all she has now. I wish I could do more.”
Stephen nodded. “I’ll talk to Logan. We’ll… figure it out.”
“Thank you, Stephen.” Again, she stared at him for so long that he started getting uncomfortable.
“Was there… something else?” he asked.
She looked away. “No, Stephen. That was it. Again, you’ve been a good friend—the best. I will always love you for that.”
Stephen frowned and then nodded. He got up to talk to Logan before the wicked witch returned. He looked back at Meredith once. Something about her behavior was… off… and it troubled him a lot. He tried to shake it, but Stephen felt like she’d just said goodbye.
Conversations at dinner were more tense than usual. Everyone not on watch was present in the installation mess hall having hushed discussions. The recruits were constantly glancing over at Lady Gina’s isolated corner of one table where she and all three Ama-Eskua recruits sat over a large old blueprint of the facility. After the word went out to put away the training Balatos and arm up with legitimate weapons, as well as the increased patrols, especially in the former Headquarters area, all the recruits were regressing back into battle mode.
Lady Gina had told them to expect a possible attack on the facility, but she had not given the enemy a name. Some suspected that all this preparation was for a surprise drill, while others were simply excited by the possibility that this was not… and that would mean blood. Either way, the recruits were amped up for a fight.
Gina sat in between Julianne and the third Ama-Eskua recruit, the youngest of the three. He went by the name, Gilo, and his appearance and mannerisms were as peculiar as his name. Gilo did not speak much, but when he did, he usually had something useful to say. Ever since becoming a recruit of the Order, Gilo had chosen to shave his head bald (no one knew why), which made him look much older than twelve. Gilo wore a katana strapped across his back, which seemed far too big for his small frame, making him look ridiculous with it on. Julianne had assured Gina that, despite his age, Gilo was an excellent swordsman, and of the three Ama-Eskua recruits—the most lethal in combat.
Gina wore a pained expression as she struggled to understand the old blueprint. She continued to wear her own Balato strapped across her back to serve as a reminder to the others not to abuse their privileges of getting weapons back. She also wore a hand axe strapped to her side.
She pointed at two long lines on the blueprint and said, “What about here? This looks like it goes right under the sanctum?”
Gilo leaned over the blueprint, then shook his head. “No. That’s a water main. Won’t work.”
Gina leaned back in frustration. “That fucking place is as secure as a prison.” She looked over at Gilo and smiled. “Thanks.”
Gilo nodded and continued to study the blueprint.
Regardless of his skill with the sword, Gina had already discovered how intelligent he was. “You remind me of a friend of mine,” she told him. “He was a bit like you—a jack of all trades.”
Gilo looked up with a blank expression.
Gina laughed lightly. “He just had a bit more hair than you. Ever consider growing a beard, Gilo?”
This made Julianne smirk.
Gilo just gave her a bland look, then finally said, “Ah… that was joke. Correct?”
“Yes, Gilo,” Gina said, trying to hold in her amusement.
Gilo nodded and then said with a straight face. “That was very funny, Lady Gina.”
His dead pan response made both Gina and Julianne laugh. Gina shook her head, “I’ve got to get you out more, Gilo.”
Gilo looked puzzled. “I thought we were trying to get into the sanctum… not further away from it.”
Gina just stared at the young man. “Are you fucking with me, Gilo?”
Gilo smiled, a rarity. “Yes, Lady Gina.”
Gina laughed hard and clapped her hands.
Julianne just shook her head, trying to contain her own amusement.
The only one of the four who seemed completely oblivious to the conversation was the long-haired Ama-Eskua recruit, Kyle, who tugged at his ponytail and sighed. He was no longer wielding a steel pipe. Instead, he carried a black spear.
Gina stopped laughing and frowned at the young man, who sat directly across the table. “I’m sorry, Kyle,” she said. “Are we boring you?”
Kyle dropped his ponytail and sat up. “No, Lady Gina.” He never looked her in the eyes when forced to address her.
“Well… what is it, then?’ Gina pushed.
At first, Kyle did not respond.
Julianne kicked him beneath the table.
He turned to her and glared.
“Lady Gina has asked you a question. Answer it,” she ordered.
Kyle sighed and said, “It’s not my place to disagree. I am merely a recruit,” he said, with a hint of sarcasm.
Julianne looked on the verge of reaching across the table and punching him.
Gina shook her off with a look. She turned to the disgruntled recruit. “It’s okay, Kyle. I know you don’t like me… and that’s fine. There are days that I don’t like me much either. But if you have something to add to this discussion, even if you don’t agree with my plans, then feel free to speak up.”
Kyle glared at her this time. “Why are we trying to breach the sanctum? They have done nothing to provoke us. I find it difficult to believe that the Ama-Eskua wish to eliminate us. We have been here on this island, long before you arrived, and have never needed to feel threatened by the Order. What would provoke them now?” He said the last, letting his eyes linger on her deliberately.
Gina smirked at him. “That sounds a little like an accusation.”
“Just an observation… and an unanswered question,” he said, looking away.
This time Gina wanted to reach across and hit him. She took a breath. “We are preparing for any and all possibilities right now. As I’ve explained, Lady Clementine told me herself that the Order may try to take advantage in her absence… and that they might come for us.”
Kyle nodded. “As you’ve said.”
“Watch your tone,” Julianne cautioned.
The young recruit could not hold back. He glared at Julianne and said, “And you! How can you just sit there and condone this? This is our Order! And yet, here we are, planning some assault on the Ama-Eskua. How can you stomach that?”
“Keep your voice down,” Gina said.
He turned to her. “Why? If the Order is planning to wipe us out, then why keep it from the rest of them?”
Julianne rose to her feet and placed a hand on the hilt of her sheathed sword. “I will not tell you again. You will show Lady Gina respect… or I will-”
“Enough!” Gina hissed. “Both of you… calm the hell down. Julianne…sit!”
With reluctance, Julianne sat back down, but she refused to break eye contact with Kyle.
Kyle just smirked at her.
Gina sighed. “Look, Kyle. I hope you’re right. In fact, so does Lady Clementine. We’re not looking to start some war with the Order. They may or they may not attack us. The reason I’m keeping it from the others is to not put a sour taste in their mouths about the Ama-Eskua. But… if they do attack… we will be ready to defend ourselves by any means necessary. Is that clear?”
Kyle looked away from Julianne and relaxed. He finally nodded.
“Good,” Gina said, adding a sigh. “Now, can we all pretend to be friends long enough to take the ‘threat’ seriously? Just in case?”
“Of course,” Julianne said. She looked at Kyle.
“Whatever you say… Lady Gina,” he relented.
“I found it,” Gilo calmly said.
They’d all forgotten about the quiet boy who had continued to study the blueprint through their tense discussion.
“Come again, Gilo?” Gina said.
Gilo looked up with a smile. “I’ve found a way into the sanctum.”
Before anyone could respond, a loud buzzing alarm sounded.
All the recruits stood up, reaching for their weapons. They all looked to Gina.
“That’s the hub alarm!” Julianne said. “That can only mean one thing!”
Kyle looked to Gina with a confused and apologetic look.
“To late for ‘I told you so’s’,” she told him. she glanced at all three of them and said, “Nothing else matters now. Put your fucking issues on pause and get ready.”
They all nodded and followed her from the table.
“Alright!” Gina said to the recruits. “We are under attack. There’s no time for questions or for keeping you in the dark any longer. The Ama-Eskua have breached the hub.” She took a deep breath. “They intend to eliminate all of us while Lady Clementine is absent.”
The recruits’ faces were a mixture of shock, confusion, fear and anger.
Gina pulled out her hand axe. “Get those fucking looks off your faces! I don’t care what you believe about our odds of defeating them. Shake it off! They’re still men and women just like you! And they bleed just like you! The worst that can happen is death… and we’ve all been living with that ever since the world went insane! So, clear your fucking heads… find some steel within you, and fight! Fight with all that you have! Fight for each other! Our very existence is at stake. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” they said weakly.
Gina turned her fire on all of them. They could almost feel it radiating from her cold, dark stare. “That’s not good enough! AM I CLEAR?”
“YES!” they all roared.
“You know what to do! We’ve trained for this!” She lifted her hand axe into the air. Everyone in the room lifted their weapons likewise. “Tonight… fuck gray! We will all be wearing BLOOD!” | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1202 |
__label__wiki | 0.914435 | 0.914435 | Tag Archives: Hero Zone
anime, entertainment, Philippines, television
In 150 Words: Hero Revived as Jeepney TV Programming Block
March 5, 2018 ralphierceABS-CBN, Anime, anime in the Philippines, cosplay, cosplay in the Philippines, Creative Programs Inc., decline of anime in the Philippines, declining interest of anime in the Philippines, Hero, Hero ceases broadcast, Hero channel, Hero closed, Hero ends broadcast, Hero final broadcast, Hero off-air, Hero on Jeepney TV, Hero online, Hero return, Hero revived, Hero sign-off, Hero TV, Hero TV ceases broadcast, Hero TV closed, Hero TV ends broadcast, Hero TV final broadcast, Hero TV off-air, Hero TV sign-off, Hero Zone, Hero Zone block, Hero Zone Jeepney TV, Hero Zone on Jeepney TV, Jeepney TV, Yey! 4 Comments
Hero is back on television, sort of.
Filipino anime fans rejoiced as the Hero brand was revived as a programming block of Jeepney TV. Starting March 11, select anime programs will be aired on Jeepney TV every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. as part of the Hero Zone block.
It can be recalled that Hero the cable channel left the airwaves last January 31 after a 13-year run. While it became a purely digital portal that concentrated on anime, pop culture and gaming, anime viewers sorely missed its presence on television, even as sister channel Yey! tried to make up for Hero’s absence with new titles of its own.
Although if it will only be a two-hour habit once a week, viewers should be more than happy to enjoy a treat of new and on-demand anime from the Hero Zone block. Still, it remains to be seen if this experiment will be a long-term one. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1204 |
__label__cc | 0.716945 | 0.283055 | How to record a Skype call: smart guide
I learn Spanish via Skype and it’s impossible to remember all at once. I would like to have an opportunity to record the lesson and listen to it once again. But I haven’t found such an option in Skype settings.
asked Jun 28, 2016 in Computers by anonymous
Unfortunately, on Skype in it not possible to record conversations by default. And this is very strange, because a lot of people use Skype for learning or for business communication. Perhaps this limitation is due to the fact that you are not allowed to record a conversation without the consent of your interlocutor. But this issue could be solved with enthusiasm, for example, by requesting permission to record or by reminders that “this conversation is being recorded” for both parties being informed about the recording. The good news is that Skype doesn’t prevent any type of calls recording and allows creating add-ons that extend the functionality of Skype, including recording of calls. The list of about 15 of such add-ons can be found on the official site, but I would like to recommend you one of them - MP3 Skype Recorder:
How to record a conversation on Skype with the help of MP3 Skype Recorder:
Everything is very simple. Download the program from the official site. Run it. After that, go to Skype – at the top of its window you will see a notification that the MP3 Skype Recorder wants to have access. Allow this access.
That’s all you should do by default. At the beginning of the conversation the recording in the mp3 file starts automatically. You can change the recording quality and the directory where your file will be saved. Also, you may select a few additional parameters. That's it!
This program, by the way, is free for home non-commercial use. Purchasing a license does not extend the functionality, but allows commercial use.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our help desk!
answered Jun 28, 2016 by Expert Ryan (8,630 points)
How to Delete Messages in Skype: Instruction with Pictures
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Skype Web Version: smart guide
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create-user
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asked Feb 3, 2016 in Internet by David | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1208 |
__label__wiki | 0.780219 | 0.780219 | By Navjosh Music July 26, 2019
Stream YBN Cordae’s Debut Album ‘The Lost Boy’ Ft. Pusha T, Meek Mill, J. Cole
YBN Cordae is one of the XXL Freshmen who is seen as a potential star for the future.
The Raleigh, North Carolina born rapper has risen in ranks drastically in the past year or so, and is now ready to present his debut album The Lost Boy. The music we’ve heard till now from the album, including the latest song ‘RNP‘ featuring Anderson .Paak & produced by J. Cole, has been quite on point.
YBN Cordae Unveils ‘The Lost Boy’ Album Tracklist Feat. J. Cole, Pusha T, Meek Mill
YBN Cordae Shares J. Cole Produced ‘RNP’ Feat. Anderson .Paak: Listen
Cordae’s debut effort also has guest appearances from Pusha T, Meek Mill, Arin Ray and Ty Dolla Sign. Can he make an real impact with his talent? Stream the album below and let us know what you think. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1211 |
__label__cc | 0.721803 | 0.278197 | Vitamins & Minerals in Coffee
Candida Diet and Coffee
Can Caffeine Cause Hives?
Allergic Reactions to Caffeine
Can Coffee Trigger Stomach Virus Symptoms?
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: What Is Food Allergy?
MedlinePlus: Hives
MedlinePlus: Atopic Eczema
Coffee Allergy & Rash
Cause of Allergy
Rash Symptoms
Written by Diane Marks
A coffee allergy is not considered a common food allergy, but some people experience symptoms of a food allergy after consuming coffee 26. Like other food allergies, a coffee allergy is caused by a malfunction in the immune system that identifies the proteins in the coffee bean as a harmful substance, according to the Food Allergy and Research Education website 2.
A coffee allergy is caused by a hypersensitivity of your immune system. When coffee is ingested, your immune system mistakes the proteins as a potentially dangerous substance and forms antibodies to fight it off. In the beginning stages of the immune system producing an antibody, you may have very minor allergy symptoms 6. Once your body has produced enough antibodies to trigger the release of histamine, then you will experience more severe allergic reaction symptoms.
You may develop abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea as a result of consuming coffee. Nasal complications include sinus pain, a runny nose, sneezing and postnasal drip. Your eyes and throat can become irritated and inflamed, leading to watery, red eyes and a scratchy throat.
The most common rashes associated with a coffee allergy are hives, general itching and eczema, according to Food Allergy Research and Education 2. Hives are welts that form in various shapes and sizes and are extremely itchy. The welts have defined borders that can migrate to anywhere on your body, according to MedlinePlus 34. Eczema is a chronic skin condition that is easily triggered by a food allergy, such as coffee. Eczema produces scaly blisters that can ooze and crust over.
Treating hives and eczema as a result of a coffee allergy begins with avoiding the consumption of coffee. Accidental ingestion of coffee that leads to skin rashes are most effectively treated using over-the-counter antihistamine lotions, according to MedlinePlus 34. In severe cases, a doctor may prescribe corticosteroid lotions to reduce inflammation and calm the skin.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases warns that food allergies are a serious condition and need to be evaluated by an allergist to determine the best treatment 1. A food allergy, such as a coffee allergy, can lead to a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, that could be life-threatening.
Food Allergy Research and Education: Symptoms
LindaMelosND.com: The Allergy/Addiction Syndrome: Are Your Favorite Foods Draining Your Vitality?
Caffeine Allergy: Top 20 Symptoms
Diane Marks started her writing career in 2010 and has been in health care administration for more than 30 years. She holds a registered nurse license from Citizens General Hospital School of Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in health care education from California University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in health administration from the University of Pittsburgh. | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1215 |
__label__cc | 0.548306 | 0.451694 | Nutritional Facts of Pineapples and Mangoes
Is Pineapple Juice Good for Arthritis Pain?
Pineapple Enzymes for Healing Torn Ligaments and Bones
Is Fresh Pineapple Good for the Sinuses?
How to Peel & Eat Star Fruit
Medline Plus: Manganese
Why Are Pineapples Good for You?
Vitamins and Key Minerals
Fat and Sodium
Written by Glenn Singer
Pineapple is a highly versatile fruit that you can enjoy as a dessert or a pick-me-up, include in salads, main courses and cakes or use as a garnish for meats and vegetables. It's available fresh year-round and is sold canned, frozen, candied and juiced. Pineapple is good for you, because it supplies a significant amount of vitamin C, potassium and manganese 4. The golden-yellow fruit also is free of fat and low in sodium. It is a source of fiber and also contains an enzyme associated with healing and preventing certain major maladies.
While many people associate vitamin C with oranges, pineapples offer almost as much in an equivalent serving. One cup of pineapple chunks has 78.9 mg of vitamin C, compared with 87.7 mg in a typical navel orange. The same size serving of pineapple also supplies 180 mg of potassium, which will help get you toward the Institute of Medicine's recommended intake of 4.7 g a day. Pineapples are particularly high in manganese, with 1.53 mg in a cup of chunks 4. The Institute of Medicine recommends between 1.6 and 2.3 mg a day, depending on age and gender. The body needs manganese for normal growth 4. The mineral also helps to break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins.
Pineapples are naturally fat-free and low in sodium. One cup of pineapple chunks contains 2 mg of sodium, which is negligible. The USDA urges Americans to consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day, and the American Heart Association says those with high blood pressure or other heart-related ailments should restrict their intake to less than 1,500 mg a day.
Fresh pineapples are the sole source of bromelain, a combination of protein-digesting enzymes that fight inflammation in the body. Bromelain is "particularly effective in reducing inflammation associated with infection and injuries," according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Experts there note that researchers have seen indications that bromelain might help treat wounds and burns, sinus inflammation, indigestion, arthritis, asthma and infection. However, much of this research has been in animals. The University of Maryland notes that the level of bromelain in a pineapple is not sufficient to have a medicinal effect. Talk with your physician before taking bromelain or any other supplement.
Don't use fresh or frozen pineapple in gelatin mixtures because a natural enzyme prevents them from setting. Canned pineapple won't cause the problem. If you haven't eaten pineapple before, be aware that a small number of people suffer an allergic reaction to the fruit. You may experience hives, itching, swelling or eczema. Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing, as well as lightheadedness, dizziness or fainting, are also possible. If the conditions become extreme, or if you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, a rapid pulse, loss of consciousness or a blue color in the skin and nails, seek emergency medical care.
The University of Maryland notes that the level of bromelain in a pineapple is not sufficient to have a medicinal effect. Don't use fresh or frozen pineapple in gelatin mixtures because a natural enzyme prevents them from setting. It is a source of fiber and also contains an enzyme associated with healing and preventing certain major maladies.
Fruits and Veggies More Matters: Pineapple
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data Laboratory: Pineapple, Raw, All Varieties
USDA: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
University of Maryland Medical Center; Bromelain; March 2009
University of Maryland Medical Center; Food Allergy; March 2010
Glenn Singer is a longtime professional journalist in South Florida who has specialized in medical, business, aviation and consumer reporting. He has worked extensively as a supervisory editor and copy editor and he also teaches journalism at the university level.
Alexey Ilyashenko/iStock/Getty Images | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1216 |
__label__wiki | 0.633831 | 0.633831 | Pliskova defeats Dart, qualifies for Wimbledon 2nd round
International . Moderate
World No.
8 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Monday defeated Harriet Dart of the United Kingdom 7 - 6 (7 - 2), 2 - 6, 6 - 1 in the first round of the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Pliskova, 26, advanced to the second round of the grass - court Grand Slam event for the seventh time in her career after playing for two hours and six minutes against her wildcard opponent, ranked World No.
154, reports Efe.
Seventh - seeded Pliskova is due to take on the winner of the match between World No.
87 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and World No.
110 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia.
Also heading to the second round is the United States' Madison Keys, World No.
11, who beat out world No.
65 Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia 6 - 4, 6 - 2.
tournament wildcard opponent defeated advanced seventh reports playing minutes heading | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1220 |
__label__cc | 0.646389 | 0.353611 | Realvolve Search
Mark Stepp / CIO
Enhanced Features and Improved Speed
The Search feature in Realvolve is capable of finding virtually anything from any field in the database. Enter the required text in the search box and the system will check every indexed field and display what it finds. One challenge however, is that it can return more information that you want because the search text is located in several fields. To do a focused search on a specific field, change the Search for Anything to Search by Name, Email, Phone, Address or Company using the down arrow in the search box to make a selection. This will limit the search to the selected field and return better results.
By default, the system uses a Begins With search process which means it will find all the records in the database that have field values that begins with what you are searching for.
Using the “Search for Anything” option and typing “Joh” will find any record in the database that has a field value beginning with “Joh”. This could be a first name of “John”, a company name of “Johnston Realty” or any note on the radar with any word starting with “Joh” in the text. Changing to “Search by Name” would make sure that it only looks in the contact name field for “Joh”.
Another useful feature is multiple word searching… Typing “Jo Sm”, (note the space between Jo and Sm), would find any record in the database where a field has a value beginning with “Jo” and “Sm” so it would return “John Smith” but not “John Jones” since it does not have the “Sm”. The space indicates a new word or criteria as part of the search. This will greatly reduce the number of records returned and give more accurate results.
Wildcard Characters:
What if you want to search for “Contains” instead of “Begins With”? We’ve added the ability to use “Wildcard” characters as part of the search. Use the Asterisk “ * ” character, (also known as “star”), as a wildcard to search in the middle of words. Typing “*son” would find records containing “son” like “Sonya”, “Johnson”, or “personal”.
Another wildcard character which we have added is the question mark “ ? “ character. Using the question mark in your search word is like having an unknown placeholder for one character. You could type “S?n” to find any records where the field begins with “S”, has one unknown second character then the letter “n”. This would return records beginning with “San”, “Sen”, “Son” or any number of other results. It is also possible to use multiple question marks like “M??k” will find “Mark”, “Mick” or any other word where there are 2 characters between an ‘M’ and a ‘k’.
Now let’s get really creative… let’s say you need to search for a contact but don’t remember the first name but the last name was something like “Johnson”, “Johnsen”, “Johansson” or “Jonson”. You can search for “Jo*s?n” and find any name that starts with “Jo”, has any number of characters to up an “s”, some unknown character then the letter “n”... returning contacts like “Johnson”, “Johnsen”, “Johansson” or “Jonson”.
Improved Speed:
While the new searching features are awesome, the most important part of the update is the increased speed. Previous to this update, a search process could take 6 to 9 seconds, realvolve now returns the search results in less than 2 seconds or in some cases less than 300 milliseconds. When you consider there are 1000 milliseconds in 1 second it means we get the results in ⅓ of a second… The only exception to this is when using Wildcard characters “ * “ or “ ? “, it may take a 1 to 2 seconds extra but even that is faster than our old search methods.
In additional to the “actual” speed improvements, we’ve added process indicators to let you know that something is happening and helps with “perceived” speed. The search will be very quick but we’ve included a search spinner which shows that it is working after you press the Enter key.
Workflows and Templates
Similar performance improvements and wildcard features have been added to the Workflows and Templates search box. This should dramatically improve the ability to find what you are looking for and reduce the number of ambiguous results.
Wildcard Tips:
Use the Asterisk “ * ” character, (also known as “star”), as a wildcard to search in the middle of words. Example: “*son” would find records containing “son” like “Sonya”, “Johnson”, or “personal”.
Use the question mark ” ? “ character as a placeholder for an unknown character. Example: “S?n” would find any records where the field begins with “S”, has one unknown second character then the letter “n”. This would return records beginning with “San”, “Sen”, “Son” or any number of other results. It is also possible to use multiple question marks like “M??k” will find “Mark”, “Mick” or any other word where there are 2 characters between an ‘M’ and a ‘k’.
Use the Asterisk “ * “ and Question Mark “ ? ” in combination if needed. Example: “Jo*s?n” would search for any name that starts with “Jo”, has any number of characters to up an “s”, some unknown character then the letter “n”... returning contacts like “Johnson”, “Johnsen”, “Johansson” or “Jonson”.
Realvolve Search - Enhanced Features and Improved Speed.pdf (100 KB)
Alex Balikoev
Can you please please please implement search by TAGS? Just use "#" symbol to search for all contacts with that tag.
Brett Bayless
Yes Tag only Search would be very useful. Like to Extend Searching a little farther with more complex searches and being able to save them. Like to see grouping (), AND, OR, NOT. Yes I know spaces in RV are same as AND.
(#Buyer OR #Seller) AND (#Active) AND (#Zip-92407)
((#Buyer AND #Active) AND #"Feature 3bd") NOT("#Feature Pool")
Looked at this some more - Add the tag but also on the drop down where you can do specific searches Tags, WF. Finding a specific WF tied to contacts, property, transactions would help in trouble shooting. I assigned a workflow to a bunch of say contacts and there is a issue, where I need to delete, fix and reassign.
Finding all the Templates tied to a WF would be helpful too. I guess in thinking this through I could do this with tags if I put a WF Tag on the Template - which I have not and probably many of us have not.
Brenda Inzana
entered property - searched on that property - nothing comes up
Darrell Catmull
We need to be able to search for contacts that do not contain a certain tag. This is a rudimentary feature in today's CRM world, I'm surprised that it hasn't been more of priority.
Will I receive a notification when someone unsubscribes from an email?
Understanding Email Reporting, Statuses, and Analytics
Do the changes I make within the Workflow Editor affect workflows that are currently running?
How to Send out a Mass Email | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1223 |
__label__cc | 0.632353 | 0.367647 | explorerDiscover the communities
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CSNT in Nine days of Prayer with Edith Stein
Day 1: Childhood, Adolescence
Edith was born in 1891 in Breslau, then Prussia, in a Jewish family.
Her quest for the truth leads her, through the study of the philosophy of phenomenology under Dr. Husserl, to convert to Christian faith while reading the Life of Saint Teresa of Avila.
After a highly productive period of teaching and lecturing, she joins the Carmel of Cologne where she becomes Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
In 1942, she is deported and dies in the gas chambers of Auschwitz, in solidarity with her people.
Growing up in a Jewish family…
Edith Stein was born in 1891 on Yom Kippur, the day of the Great Forgiveness, in Breslau (today Wroclaw in Poland). In her autobiography “Life of a Jewish Family,” she describes the familial life in a liberal Jewish household, with her mother Augusta, a strong and God-fearing woman, who runs her trade in firewood after the premature death of her husband, when Edith was only 2 years old.
The last of eleven children, of whom four died in infancy, Edith shows a precocious and exceptional intelligence, along with a highly sensitive character, which she herself qualifies as "vivacious."
At seven years old, she discovers the reality of her inner world, accessible to her only, with no necessity nor possibility to share it with others:
“There was [...] a world hidden in the deepest part of myself. Of that which I heard or saw in the course of the day was as if assimilated and meditated upon.”
Her natural aptitude to grasp and analyze her inner self will help her later in her philosophical work and spiritual life.
Edith Stein adolescent: Independence and Friendship
Having inherited her mother’s strength and strong will, Edith decides, at 14 years old, to cut short her studies, and instead help her sister Else take care of her children for nearly a year, in Hamburg.
In this home where the Jewish religion was virtually absent, Edith Stein affirms having consciously abandoned praying:
“It is then that consciously and deliberately, I lost the habit of praying."
God's topic disappears from her horizon: she now lives a period of “practical atheism”.
Upon returning to Breslau, she catches up on lost time with the help of her academic mentors and follows her studies until brilliantly obtaining her bachelor degree, a rare occurrence for women at this period of time.
But her life isn’t confined to books. Edith leaves us a detailed description of her friendly relationships, such as the “Four Leaves Clover” which she formed with her sister Ema and two of their friends, Rose Guttman and Lily Platau. Edith is a young, vibrant woman, who enjoys her friends' company as much as she enjoys delving into her books.
Take a moment to treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart (cf Luke 2,19)
fire Pray
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6
Would you like to receive more posts from this community of prayer?
Nine days of Prayer with Edith Stein
Summary - From August 9th to August 17th, you are invited to pray with St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a Jewish-born Carmelite who converted after reading St.Teresa of Avila. Discover the community
contacts 66 members | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1227 |
__label__cc | 0.520715 | 0.479285 | Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study
Alk Dransfeld, Anna Forro, T. Veszprémi, Michaela Flock, Minh Tho Nguyen
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The parent RR′C-PR″(BH3)2, 3 (R, R′, R″ = H), has no minimum geometry with ylide structure. In contrast to 'normal' ylides, RR′C-PR″3, which are destabilised when the substituents (R, R′) have π donor character, the investigated RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 require at least one amino group to form a stable ylidic structure (e.g. 4NH with R = NH2, R′ = H, and R″ = H). Without π donor substituents the molecules lack a tautomerisation barrier for the hydroborylation (RR′C=PH(BH3)-BH2H′)→(RR′H′C- PH(BH3)=BH2). Compound 6, cyclo-1-(C-PH(BH3)2)-2,5-(NH)2-3, 4-(CH)2, is a model for the ylide recently obtained by Arduengo. Analysis of the electronic structure confirms his suggestion that a considerable delocalisation from the carbene moiety into the 'electron poor' PR″(BH3)2 group occurs. This electron delocalisation is reflected by the partial charge of the ylide group (-0.50 in 4HN, -0.51 in 4NN, and -0.85 in 6) which is negative (positive in 'normal' ylides). The term 'inverse ylides' could express this special bonding situation.
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2
Dransfeld, A., Forro, A., Veszprémi, T., Flock, M., & Nguyen, M. T. (2000). Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2, (12), 2475-2482.
Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study. / Dransfeld, Alk; Forro, Anna; Veszprémi, T.; Flock, Michaela; Nguyen, Minh Tho.
In: Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2, No. 12, 12.2000, p. 2475-2482.
Dransfeld, A, Forro, A, Veszprémi, T, Flock, M & Nguyen, MT 2000, 'Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study', Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2, no. 12, pp. 2475-2482.
Dransfeld A, Forro A, Veszprémi T, Flock M, Nguyen MT. Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2. 2000 Dec;(12):2475-2482.
Dransfeld, Alk ; Forro, Anna ; Veszprémi, T. ; Flock, Michaela ; Nguyen, Minh Tho. / Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study. In: Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2. 2000 ; No. 12. pp. 2475-2482.
@article{e87e2af502ff4ece93f94c6f7ce2d3c5,
title = "Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study",
abstract = "The parent RR′C-PR″(BH3)2, 3 (R, R′, R″ = H), has no minimum geometry with ylide structure. In contrast to 'normal' ylides, RR′C-PR″3, which are destabilised when the substituents (R, R′) have π donor character, the investigated RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 require at least one amino group to form a stable ylidic structure (e.g. 4NH with R = NH2, R′ = H, and R″ = H). Without π donor substituents the molecules lack a tautomerisation barrier for the hydroborylation (RR′C=PH(BH3)-BH2H′)→(RR′H′C- PH(BH3)=BH2). Compound 6, cyclo-1-(C-PH(BH3)2)-2,5-(NH)2-3, 4-(CH)2, is a model for the ylide recently obtained by Arduengo. Analysis of the electronic structure confirms his suggestion that a considerable delocalisation from the carbene moiety into the 'electron poor' PR″(BH3)2 group occurs. This electron delocalisation is reflected by the partial charge of the ylide group (-0.50 in 4HN, -0.51 in 4NN, and -0.85 in 6) which is negative (positive in 'normal' ylides). The term 'inverse ylides' could express this special bonding situation.",
author = "Alk Dransfeld and Anna Forro and T. Veszpr{\'e}mi and Michaela Flock and Nguyen, {Minh Tho}",
journal = "Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2",
T1 - Are RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 'electron poor' phosphorus ylides? - An ab initio-NMR study
AU - Dransfeld, Alk
AU - Forro, Anna
AU - Veszprémi, T.
AU - Flock, Michaela
AU - Nguyen, Minh Tho
N2 - The parent RR′C-PR″(BH3)2, 3 (R, R′, R″ = H), has no minimum geometry with ylide structure. In contrast to 'normal' ylides, RR′C-PR″3, which are destabilised when the substituents (R, R′) have π donor character, the investigated RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 require at least one amino group to form a stable ylidic structure (e.g. 4NH with R = NH2, R′ = H, and R″ = H). Without π donor substituents the molecules lack a tautomerisation barrier for the hydroborylation (RR′C=PH(BH3)-BH2H′)→(RR′H′C- PH(BH3)=BH2). Compound 6, cyclo-1-(C-PH(BH3)2)-2,5-(NH)2-3, 4-(CH)2, is a model for the ylide recently obtained by Arduengo. Analysis of the electronic structure confirms his suggestion that a considerable delocalisation from the carbene moiety into the 'electron poor' PR″(BH3)2 group occurs. This electron delocalisation is reflected by the partial charge of the ylide group (-0.50 in 4HN, -0.51 in 4NN, and -0.85 in 6) which is negative (positive in 'normal' ylides). The term 'inverse ylides' could express this special bonding situation.
AB - The parent RR′C-PR″(BH3)2, 3 (R, R′, R″ = H), has no minimum geometry with ylide structure. In contrast to 'normal' ylides, RR′C-PR″3, which are destabilised when the substituents (R, R′) have π donor character, the investigated RR′C-PR″(BH3)2 require at least one amino group to form a stable ylidic structure (e.g. 4NH with R = NH2, R′ = H, and R″ = H). Without π donor substituents the molecules lack a tautomerisation barrier for the hydroborylation (RR′C=PH(BH3)-BH2H′)→(RR′H′C- PH(BH3)=BH2). Compound 6, cyclo-1-(C-PH(BH3)2)-2,5-(NH)2-3, 4-(CH)2, is a model for the ylide recently obtained by Arduengo. Analysis of the electronic structure confirms his suggestion that a considerable delocalisation from the carbene moiety into the 'electron poor' PR″(BH3)2 group occurs. This electron delocalisation is reflected by the partial charge of the ylide group (-0.50 in 4HN, -0.51 in 4NN, and -0.85 in 6) which is negative (positive in 'normal' ylides). The term 'inverse ylides' could express this special bonding situation.
JO - Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2
JF - Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 2 | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1233 |
__label__wiki | 0.702085 | 0.702085 | ordained minister. I'll have to say that, during the vampy-underling deaths, the one that I liked the most was the RPG holy water balloon death. Edgar popped one on one of the vamp's heads and his whole head was 'splody! ("Pop goes the weasel...")
In the end-boss battle, Shane clearly has the advantage over Chris. Turns out that Nicole really does love her brother and she stakes Shane in the heart. Shane, questioning her betrayal, tries to pull her onto the stake before he dies, but Chris slices off his head with a sword which I have yet to pinpoint it's origins. I don't know where said sword came from or how he got a hold of it. Edgar arrives to see the now burning body of Shane and replies with a wonderful quote, "Build a man a fire, he's warm for a day. Light a man on fire, and he's warm for the rest of his life!" Again, I should say that this movie is more about Edgar than these two whiney babies.
Corey Haim makes an appearance as Sam Emerson in two alternate endings. I personally liked the longer one as I cannot see Sam succumbing so easily to the vampy darkside. Plus, it fully explains the disappearance of Alan Frog which is awesome as he's a master vamp now. Honestly, the irony in that is more awesome than you can explain.
Positives:
- EDGAR, EDGAR, AND MORE EDGAR! There is so much Edgar Frog in this movie that it's really more about him than Chris and Nicole. That isn't a bad thing as he's the most interesting non-vampire character available and has the most kick-ass lines.
- Did not look like a B-movie even though that's really what it is...
- The explanation of Alan's disappearance in the long alternate ending.
- Corey Haim/Sam's appearance in the alternate ending though I would've liked to have seen a little more of him as I like Corey Haim.
- Angus Southerland! He was a wonderful vampire and I really enjoyed his character.
- Surfing vampires. Why? I don't know. I just have a thing for surfers. Maybe it's because I live in a land-locked state?
- Lots of action and not too much blood. Don't get me wrong, in vampire movies there's supposed to be blood, but this wasn't excessive. I was kinda amazed.
- The soundtrack was good and had a cover of "Cry Little Sister." I love that song.
- The aunt suggesting that they watch "The Goonies" before the kids decide to go to the party. LMAO.
Negatives:
- Nicole Emerson. I hated her. H-A-T-E-D her. BTW, she is said to be "almost 18" in the movie when Chris is talking to their aunt and so the scene where she bones Shane could be considered child pornography.
- The aunt. She needed to get eaten.
- The semi-repeat of the original movie premise. It's different while still being the same, sadly.
- Excessive sexual content. I hate movies with excessive sex scenes. There are no reason for sex scenes in movies unless you're setting up plot. The only one that I felt was needed was the one where VS#1 was trying to get into Chris' pants at his house and he kills her on the antlers. Shower scene? Not so much.
- No Sam! I loved Sam and Michael in the first film. If you consider the fact that Michael (if he really is Chris and Nicole's dad) is dead is an understandable excuse for him to be missing. Sam? Seriously, if you're going to bring back Edgar, Sam needs to be involved.
- I now have an intense need to write Lost Boys fan fic and have a character is his either Edgar's girlfriend or daughter. Of course, she would be named "Lenore."", "url": "https://icarianbird.livejournal.com/242410.html", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://l-stat.livejournal.net/img/sign.png" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "llewej irol", "image": "https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/73233328/524088" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Journal icarianbird", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://icarianbird.livejournal.com", "contentUrl": "https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/110559820/524088" } } }
The Lost Boys II: The Tribe
isthisjen is always doing movie/television reviews when she sees new ones (which I appreciate muchly) and so I thought I would add one of my own, because I just downloaded and watched TLB2: The Tribe.
I have to say that I thought TLB2 would look a lot more B-movie than it did. Granted, it was a WB Home Video release and so that probably kicked it up a notch on the production value. I was quite glad to see it wasn't some crappy half-assed movie really. Kept me involved in it simply by not being hideously bad.
I really didn't connect with the main characters that well. Chris (Tad Hilgenbrink) I kinda did, but Nicole (Autumn Reeser) was a whine-baby and made me want to punch her in the face. It's okay because some of the background characters helped distract me from that violent need. These two are said to be the cousins of Sam and Michael, but there are some suggestions that they were the children of Michael and Starr so I'd leave that up to you to decide. Personally, I like option two better as it ties them into the vampire scene much better.
Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman) is, of course, the true star of the movie. You know he's the main reason you watch this thing. You want to see how Edgar is going to kill the bad vampires. Plus, he's still rather hot. I've always had a crush on Corey Feldman. It's horrible.
Okay, so Keifer Southerland's half-brother Angus is in this movie and I think I've found yet another lovely crush. He plays the antagonistic bloodsucker boss (hm... quite similar to his brother's role), but I find this vampire to be much more pleasing visually as well as having a demeanor that I liked. He was laid back and more into the philosophy of being a vampire than the whole 'omgz iz b undedz!' For instance, Shane talks about the fact that you aren't afraid of death anymore and you can see things that you've never seen before. The usual bloodsucker rhetoric, but it's said in such a pretty and tantalizing way that I wanted to be a vampire after that.
These were surfing vampires and, while that sounds stupid to begin with, it actually is pretty cool. Made them much more likable than the original bad boys. Yes, they were party animals and they got an immense amount of joy from the pain and suffering of others, but they would've been really awesome to hang out with just before they ripped your throat out in that vampiric way. They really made you want to be part of "the tribe" just by how much damn fun they were having.
So, the story itself follows Chris and Nicole as they move to a new city after the death of their parents and the loss of Chris' surfing sponsorships (as apparently he was a professional surfer - hence, the surfing vampires?). They move into a hell-hole of a house that was provided by their aunt. Seriously, if she loved them she would've given them a much better place to stay. I hated the aunt. Wanted her to get eaten by Shane before I had even seen him on the screen.
Chris goes out looking for work at one of the surf shops and the owner suggests that he look in on the Frog brothers and ask if they are in need of another surfboard shaper. Chris stops by, but doesn't see anyone home and so he leaves a note. The whole time, Nicole is being a wench. Ugh, hate her.
After returning home Chris meets Shane (Angus Sutherland), who invites him to a surf party later that night. Chris' gut feeling says that neither of them should go (listen to your intuition, damn it!!), but again Nicole is a whiney-bag and insists that they go. They go and are introduced to "the tribe" who, ironically, contain a guy that Chris beat the shit out of before he was banned from the surfing circut. It seems that Chris beat the guy enough to make him unable to surf again so there is major beef between them. Needless to say, said surfer is part of the tribe.
The party itself if kinda interesting. Chris is there being paranoid, over-protective older brother and Nicole is trying to shrug him off at every turn. Again, I hate her. She ditches him for Shane and vampy-overboss plays the twisted-artistic-type soul to get her to drink from 'teh flask o' d00m'. The great thing is that he wasn't just blowing smoke. Shane actually believed and lived by everything he said and so he wasn't like he was trying the normal guy tricks to get her to drink from the flask.
The siblings eventually head home (after Nicole's motorcycle ride with Shane and Chris' hissy) and Nicole ends up getting sick on the way. When they finally get home, Nicole has said a million times that something is "wrong" with her, but Chris just keeps saying she's sick. Eventually, she vamps out on him and uses the demony voice to tell him that she is definitely NOT sick. Pretty hilarious. Thankfully, before she can do any real damage to him, our wonderful hero Edgar arrives and knocks her in the head. This is the point in the movie where you cheer your head off because Edgar is being vampire-killer though Chris has no love for this and kicks him out of the house. ("Your sister's a suck monkey.")
Eventually, vampire slut #1 arrives and tries to bone Chris while also trying to chew his throat out. He tries to stop her (as if...) and tosses her onto a set of antlers that the kids had hung on the wall earlier. Amazingly enough, these look a lot like the ones that killed David in TLB1. It's funny and awesome at the very same time.
After blowing up VS#1, Chris goes crawling back to Edgar who roughs him up and says that he "let" Chris throw him out because he knows what it's like to lose a family member. This, of course, explains why one has not seen Alan Frog. Considering he wasn't as popular as his brother, I didn't really miss him at all. So, the two boys go through the "your [insert sibling here] is only a half-vampire" dance like they did with Sam/Michael in the first movie, but in this version, Chris and Edgar decide that the only way to find the nest and save Nicole is for Chris to join the darkside since they have all the cookies. He has to dive head-first into the tribe and become as close to one of them as he can in order to get them to let him into their sanctum. I liked the idea immensely. Nicole tells Shane that she doesn't want to lose her brother and so Shane has already decided that he needs to add Chris to their ranks in order for him to be able to keep Nicole (as they are apparently in twi-love).
In order for Chris to be one with the tribe, there are two tasks. First, they go harass the cops together and have a great time. This proves to Shane that Chris can hang with the boys and satisfies that curiosity. Next, is the whole 'drink me' incident with a planned slaughter at the end. Of course, Chris punks out on them and, rather than killing his girl, tries to flee with her. One of the tribe catches them and rips her throat out after dining on his own snack. Before all of this, Shane had left with Nicole so he wasn't there to protect Chris from the rest of the tribe when they decided to kick his ass for not cooperating. Thankfully, Chris is able to kill one and Edgar shows up to scare off the other two before they can kill our pseudo-hero ("Who ordered the stake?!").
So now, the heroes have to go save the girl before she dines on her first vampy-meal. On the way there, Edgar is explaining their arsenal and he's there blessing water balloons. Turns out, Edgar Frog is an ordained minister now. Online ordained minister. I'll have to say that, during the vampy-underling deaths, the one that I liked the most was the RPG holy water balloon death. Edgar popped one on one of the vamp's heads and his whole head was 'splody! ("Pop goes the weasel...")
- I now have an intense need to write Lost Boys fan fic and have a character is his either Edgar's girlfriend or daughter. Of course, she would be named "Lenore." | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1236 |
__label__wiki | 0.567214 | 0.567214 | Home » Article » Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #85
Daniel Gould – donderdag 27 september 2018, 06:33 uur
N.B. This is the final updating for the last 3D list of the 2014-2015 Amsterdam Art season. It has been an interesing trip in seeing things through the eyes of an artist. But there is still more to come. The best show of the year will be held at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy beginning with the opening party on the 1st of July, at 16:00 and continues until the 5th. It is the DON'T MISS SHOW of the year. Presenting those who hope to start the next art revolution. www.rietveldacademie.nl
In the introduction to the last posted 3D List I attempted to explain the RED DOTS that I record, as seen at openings, that indicate a sale. Well, a couple of people responded with this observation: "Why are the RED DOTS mentioned in the review always PINK DOTS." Hmmmmmm...That's a legitimate comment and deserves an answer.
At an opening, a gallery will stick to the wall a small RED DOT indicating the work has been sold. There is a finality in using RED as in "Stop! Stop thinking about buying...you are too late." A statement of fact. However, when I write the review, and list the number of RED DOTS at an opening, three or more---one or two RED DOTS are not recorded---it is meant to imply a CELEBRATION. Somehow PINK DOTS convey that message better than RED ones. Now doesn't that make sense?
And speaking of RED DOTS---PINK or not---there has been a dearth of them. In the reviews that follow, two artists had sold, at their opening, EIGHT works. Unfortunately, that is an exception. They say the EU economy is improving. They say, housing and new car sales are UP! 3D is waiting---anticipating---that all that will trickle down to both the artists and the galleries. You can do your part by BUYING something! Really! You are the key!
Art Fair Review: Amsterdam Art fair
Bits & Pieces:
Museum Reviews: EYE Film Museum: William Kentridge
Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam: Resolution 827
"foam": "Nerhol," a Japanese duo
"foam": Swinging Sixties London (new)
Prince Claus Fund Gallery: The Freedom Theater
Amsterdam Museum/Hermitage/Rijks Museum: Portrait Gallery of
De Brakke Grond: Kelly Schacht
What You Have Missed:
AMSTERDAM ART FAIR:
Let the art fair' war begin!
In 1985, Wim van Krimpen became the first director of the Art Fair Foundation, it was one of the first European art fairs. In 1992, the RAI Centre acquired the rights to the fair---renaming it Kunst RAI---and the new director, Erik Hermida, accepted the RAI request for more Dutch galleries to be represented. Well, there have been many manifestations, of the fair, over the years. It has gone from being a pioneer of European art fairs featuring the avant garde to a "kunstwinkle" showing all galleries requesting a space including furniture design dealers to, again, being a selective fair.
Art Amsterdam was reborn as an alternative art fair and focused on the avant garde and invited international galleries. But in 1996 Kunst RAI and Art Amsterdam merged. In 2002, Anneke Oele became director and once again made changes and galleries were selected by committee. Under Oele's direction Art Amsterdam encompassed A'dam art spaces, museums, events, workshops, even a baby sitting service, and bus transportation to other venue sites, et al. The 25th anniversary exhibition, 2009, had 120 participants. Oele left at its end and the 27th edition of the fair was reduced in numbers to 90. And it has been downhill ever since.
The new Kunst RAI, also under the direction of Erik Hermida (who now holds the five year rights to the name), and he moved to the RAI' hall used mostly for the boat and caravan shows. It is a dismal and shabby space; unworthy of hanging contemporary and avant garde art. I have criticized this aspect since its inception in the "new" old hall.
...And we come full circle...Van Krimpen is back in town with the Amsterdam Art Fair. It is being held from the 27th to 31st of May (same dates for Kunst RAI, Read: WAR!) at the former Citroën' automobile garage now called Kunsthal Citroën, at the Stationplein. I was curious about what the space would look like. Would it be suitable? And the answer is "yes" and "no." You enter the space at the ground floor garage. It still looks like a parking space for cars. However, the space does feature sculpted works though they don't really standout; white walls would help.
You ascend a steep ramp and on the the next level there are galleries set in a rather acceptable space. And there is more on the third level...but the ramp to it is more even more steep. And once again, you are back in a car park garage. Read: dismal! The space is only half occupied.
But, it is all about art! And the art is good. Most of the avant garde Amsterdam' galleries are represented. And, as always, you will see outstanding work. However, on the downside, there are only about 40 galleries showing. This show has reverted back to "invitation only" for potential exhibitors. (One very good Amsterdam gallery told me that they had been refused.) Kunst RAI, on the other hand, has about 70 galleries showing, but most I am not acquainted with.
It would be nice to see the annual Amsterdam' art fair restored to an international level. But, considering the animosity between the various sectors of the participants and organizers, it is doubtful it will be any time soon.
Entrance fee: 10 euro. www.amsterdamartfair.nl
3D has received from Re-Title.com an invitation to submit photographs to the Dave Bown Projects semi-annual competition.The price money amounts to $10,000. So, who and what is Dave Bown Projects? I Googled and found this blogspot that has many comments on the "Projects" and most appear to caution those who might be considering putting up the $40 entry fee: https://bit.ly/2Dx7zer
And there is another art fair on the horizon. The Amsterdam International Art Fair will be held for two days only at the Beurs van Berlage, 28th and 29th August. The press release said to expect 150 international galleries. For more information on showing contact: info@amsterdamartfair.com. More general info at: www.amsterdamartfair.com (N.B.The address differs only slightly from the Amsterdam Art Fair. The international one is ".com" and the other is ".nl".
Quotable Quotes on Writing: "When asked to summarize a morning's work, Oscar Wilde is suppose to have said that he took out a comma----and then, during the afternoon, put it back." 3D is still perplexed about the comma. I sometimes just throw one in because it looks good. And, more: Hemingway said, " 'Getting the words right' was his reason for rewriting the conclusion of A Farewell to Arms thirty-nine times." There's that! The quotes are from: www.inyt.com "Bookend," (27th March).
More from www.inyt.com: "When fine art gets digital," by Scott Reyburn. He asks, "Is 2015 going to be the year a chunk of the art market---or at least a sizable chunk of it---final goes digital?"
"Giving artworks a second life," by Nina Segal (www.inyt.com, 8th April). She discusses how the Dutch government's support of artists, which began in the 60s, has resulted in enormous warehouse cost. The solution? Offer it to the public and at attractive prices...make that very attractive prices. Check out www.museumveiling.nl
Another article, by Segal, is a review, and also appearing in the Int New York Times, titled, "Capturing the mood of the music, (20th May). She reviews "Hollands Deep" an Anton Corbijn' exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum in the Hague. The show is devoted to celebrities that Corbijn imitates through make-up and posturing. www.inyt.com
"Who, a friend asked the other day, would want to be 90 years old? Answer, someone who is 89." Quoted from an article by Roger Cohen in the Int New York Times.
The Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, USA) features and exhibition centered on "A new look at Pop Art's global roots" (www.inyt.com, 10th April.)
What's life all about? Hmmm. Good question. Partly, its getting from point "A" to point "B"and can be summed up this way: "Yard by yard, life is hard; inch by inch, it's a cinch." Hey, but I am in a hurry! Where's the short cut?
...And more from Oscar Wilde, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Amen!!! (Seen on a bookmark from American Book Center.
A company, https://bit.ly/2OioqG6 , has located in the Pijp area trash cans. But, alas, they are not ordinary trash cans. They beg you to stop and look closely. Each barrel has above the opening a sign like: "If it's important to you, you'll find a way, if not, you'll find an excuse." John Assarat.
At the corner of the Albert Cuypstraat and Ruysdaelekade, there is the Sir Albert Hotel. On the side of the building is this: "Like all great travelers I have seen more than I can remember and remembered more than I have seen." Benjamin Disraeli, 19th century English prime minister.
A new publication "Gc" (Glamcult: independent style paper) has a series of quotes in Issue 3#111, 2015. "Once something is coined, defined or canonized, it's dead." Eckhaus Latta...."Yep. We live in an age of multi-genres." Muluca Mala...."Stormy colours turn me on." James Kelly. Finally, "It's not the destination but the journey that counts." Thera Clazing. And, hey, that's what life is all about!
...And a word from Laser 3.14: "You know from which branch I stem." @ Keizersgracht 228...And at Prins Hendrikkade 29, "Over-Nuance this." And there is more..."It's Safe Here, Unaffected By Time." @ Kerkstraat 23.
MUSEUM REVIEWS:
EYE FIlm Museum: If We Ever Get to Heaven, William Kentridge (1955, South Africa)
William Kentridge is an artist working with several techniques. He makes charcoal drawings---which go beyond drawing--animates films and creates installations. And there's more. At the entrance to the exhibition, at the EYE, you will see 21 b/w cut-outs from cardboard: portraits, a pigeon, a typewriter and an old fashion bathtub to mention only a few. Seventeen of the surfaces have been painted black; three have been hung with their backside to us and we see the wood structure that holds it all together. This is essentially an introduction to a truly monumental and animated film. The film, in b/w, is projected on eight floor-to-ceiling screens and is 45 meters long. Each screen is flat against the wall or titled. It "depicts a never-ending procession of people passing by as they drag with them all sorts of belongings and objects." He does the landscape, which is the background to the people's trek, in charcoal. The cut-outs you have seen in the first gallery are used in the film. The story reflects the many facets of South African history. The musical score is no less impressive. African tribal themes with haunting melodies and a section that is reminiscent to a work played several times in Terry Gilliam's Brazil. The imagery is simple, but captivating. The figures illustrated are an eclectic grouping and even include three dancing skeletons. The sounds are projected, to the audience, through megaphone-like speakers that were used, before microphones, by crooners, to project their voices. In a word, this installation is IMPRESSIVE!
And there is more. I am Not Me, the Horse Is Not Me (2008) is based on The Nose by the Russian writer, Nikolai Gogal. Kentridge found his artistic' inspiration from the Russian avant garde of the 20s and 30s of the last century; and the opera that Shostakovich wrote based on the same work. And, again, we see this "opera" played out on eight individual screens. It was originally shown at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.
Through the exhibition period seven sideline programs are on the schedule. Each features a work or works from Kentridge's oeuvre and with discussion. The discussions are conducted by various people like Raymond van den Boogaard, an analyst of Russian affairs. On the 13th of June, there is the screening of "Two major LuLu films back to back, accompanied by live music." (N.B. For the Dutch National Opera, he is directing Alban Berg's opera LuLu for the Holland Festival, 2015.) In collaboration with the Prince Claus Fund the South-African anti-Apartheid activist and judge,Albie Sachs discusses the history of the country.
There is an lavishly illustrated publication. "It documents the creation of the new work More Sweetly Play the Dance in words and pictures with an essay by William Kentridge. Published by the EYE and "nai010" and is for sale at 19.50 euro. In English only.
Until 30th August.
For more info: www.eyefilm.nl/kentridge
SMBA: Resolution 827
Ten artists, nearly all from Serbia, present videos, audio works and drawings in this collaboration with SMBA(Rozenstraat 95) and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgrade. The Newsletter #141 states "The taboos considered in this exhibition include the diverse approaches taken to ever-sensitive politics of public remembrance to the period of ethnic clashes and genocide, the disputed establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the question of Dutchbat's responsibility in the events at Srebrenica." Heavy stuff, to be sure! It goes on to say "The artists involved in this exhibition scrutinize questions of responsibility in each of the societies in question, but their research also revolves around the way in which we can relate to the atrocities through the procession of the visual and audio files collected from the ICTY and other archives." The artists are: Kristina Benjocki, Lana Cmajcajin & Adela Jusic, Anna Dasovic, Doplgenger, Sasa Karalic, Vladimmit Miladinovic, Quenton Miller, Charles van Otterdijk andNikol Radic Lucati.
Until 31st May. www.smba.nl
"foam": Swinging Sixties London
"Those were the days my friend...We thought they would never end...We'd sing and dance forever and a day". So sang Mary Hopkins in her hit song of 1968. The latest exhibition at "foam" takes us back to that yesteryear; Time Magazinedevoted an entire issue (April, 1966) to "The Swinging City" and said its "Ancient elegance and new opulence are all tangled up in a dazzling blur of op and pop." You can see it all in this show. Chris Duffy, Philip Townsend, John Cowan, Terence Donovan, and Eric Swayney created innovative and unique ways of shooting fashion photography. They highlighted the new takes with their stunning photos of what we now would describe as "supermodels" with photos of Jane Birkin, Grace Coddington, Celie Hammond, Jill Kennington, Jean Schrimpton and who can forget Twiggy. The models became celebrities.
They dressed them as "The Mods". The female variety wore "men's trousers, waistcoats, flat-soled shoes. short hair, eyeliner and false lashes to make their eyes look bigger." The Mods subculture was centered on fashion and music. As a result, we see photos of The Moody Blues, the Stones, Beatles, Marianne Faithfull, et al. They are all here; resurrected from 50 years ago and still looking fresh.
The period was about more than fashion and music however. It was an integral part of a cultural revolution that was stampeding across Europe with a hip hop, across the Atlantic, to America. The birth control pill had much to do with the societal changes taking place. Sex was in! Men and women look at each other differently and we see the differences in these photos.
The exhibition also features a series of photographs that chronicle the anti-nuclear bomb movement by John "Hoppy" Hopkins. And James Barnor has a historical niche, in fashion photography, because he introduced the British-African model to the pages of fashion magazines.
After seeing this show you will be singing "We thought those days would never end..." But, damn, they did!
Until 2nd September.
"foam": Nerhol, a Japanese Duo
Just when you are sure you have seen everything in photography something new pokes its style at you. So it is with the new exposition at "foam" for two young Japanese artists, Yoshihisa Tanaka, a graphic designer, and Ryuta Iida, a sculptor, who, as one, express their artistic disciplines through photography. They began to work together in 2007 and "together they explore the tension between photography and sculptor." It is exceedingly difficult to describe their work and technique because there are several direction to its ultimate realization. They first select a photographic subject and ask several photographers to do the actual photo. The photographer produces "a series of individual time-lapse portraits at various stages of the process....the duo transforms the two-dimensional portrait into a three-dimensional sculpture." To achieve this effect they take hundreds of prints of slightly different portraits and they are meticulously layered and attached to a book of three to four centimeters thick which is then curved and warped into a sculptural portrait. Got the picture? It is best that you see the exhibition because it goes beyond words. (Until 21st June)
"foam", Keizersgracht 609. www.foam.org
The Prince Claus Fund: The Freedom Theater
The Prince Claus Fund Gallery doesn't shirk in taking on controversial issues. Their present exhibition, titled, Freedom, Theater, and the Oppressed, is no exception. The show has been curated by two Palestini artist, Yazan Khalili and Lara Khaldi.
Until 20 years or so ago, Israel had my unquestioned support. That position began to waned with their insincerity towards the Oslo Peace Accords of 1993. The war in South Lebanon made me critical. And turning the Gaza Strip into a contemporary Warsaw Ghetto has made me a supporter of the rights of the Palestinian people. I find it ironical that the Israelis are subjugating the Palestinians the same way as the Nazi did to them in Poland.
The Freedom Theater is "a tool for struggle and resistance, and the Palestinian cause as representative of an oppressed people and their struggle for emancipation and right to self determination...This is not an exhibition but rather a situation and a setting, which allows one to act, to read, to inquire rather than gaze at the subject of an exhibition. It is an invitation to engage with questions about the struggle for freedom and emancipation and the many forms it takes." Indeed!
At the opening, representatives and graduates from The Freedom Theater talked of their experience. A video profiled other young members some of whom said it was their alternative to becoming "terrorist." And there is a script of the play Suicide note from Palestine that has been performed by the group on various occasions along the walls of the space.
Overall, this provocative exhibition is not a visual rendering of conditions in the Gaza Strip but more of an educational experience "Linking The Freedom Theater and the case of Palestine to other theaters and cultural struggles [there] are various books on performance, applied theater, cultural resistance, and social movements for visiting readers to delve into."
(Footnote: For those interested there is "a platform for Israelis living in the Netherlands who oppose the occupation of the Palestinian territories and call for its end." www.gate48.org ... Another related article is from www.inyt.com (1st June): "Israel's charade of democracy," by El-Ad Hagai director of B'Tselem, the Israel' Information Center For Human Rights in the Occupied Territories."
Until 21st August. Herengracht 603. FREE entrance. www.princeclausfund.org
Hermitage Museum: Portrait Gallery of the Golden Age
This may be one of those once-in-a-lifetime exhibitions. You will see the "brothers and sisters" of Rembrandt's Night Watch which, due to their size, are rarely seen (the largest work, in the exhibition, measures: 6 meters by 3 meters). And why are they so big? Well, each "portrait" painting was commissioned by "prominent citizens who play[ed] and important role as "regents, the civic guard or manage care institutions, in craft guilds, the city government and trade associations." And there were several members; each group portrait features from 18 to 24 men. Two thirds of the paintings come from the Amsterdam Museum and one-third from the Rijksmuseum.
The linear notes for each work are illuminating. One piece that stands next to the video "Night Watch" presentation was painted by Nicolas Pichenoy who made "sure that all the men can clearly be seen. They, after all, are clients: they have each paid around sixty guilders." (Note: at the time, 60 guilders was the average yearly wage for a laborer.) The notation that "all the men can clearly be seen" comes from the fact that Rembrandt was attacked for his innovative approach to the Night Watch group portrait.
Another work has a directive by the man commissioning it, Joan Huydecoperm, and that was that the artist Govert Flinck include the image of the man's house. "Eye to Eye" is interesting because every member of the group is looking at us, "They must have insisted that the artist painted them like this."
On entering the large gallery space, with 23 large paintings (there are more than 30 in the show), you will see the "Night Watch," but it really isn't the Night Watch but an anamative video which illustrates aspects of the painting. There are ear phones in the middle of the space; and in both English and Dutch you can hear the story behind it.
At a press review, a female journalist asked why there were no women in any of the paintings? Actually, someone said she was a feminist and should have known. Good point! However, the brochure does mention that you see "These 'brothers and sisters' of the Night Watch."
The exhibition opened on the 29th of November, 2014 and as of 19th May, 2015, there have been 100,000 visitors...And there is still plenty of time since the show will close at the end of 2016.
(N.B. The entry fee is 15 euro but for 20 euro you get a combined ticket that allows you to see the other exhibition at the Hermitage.)
More info: www.hollandersvandegoudeneeuw.nl (in four languages) and at: www.portraitgalleryofthegoldenage.com and facebook.com/portraitgalleryofthegoldenage
Nieuw Keizersgracht 1
De Brakke Grond: Kelly Schacht.
A major segment of the exhibtion for Kelly Schacht is on the floor. A 11x6 meter synthetic "rug", in white, is layout. It is embellished by alpha symbols ranging from printer's brass fonts to cut-out letters. Along two wall are additional examples of typography from simple letters to poster-like exhortations like: lips are traiders/traders [superimposed]" to a pair of tennis shoes that seemingly are stepping into the installation. Until __?__.
Nes 45. www.brakkegrond.nl
WHAT YOU MISSED...but there is still time...:
NEW POSTINGS: 12th June
Floor Max is at Ra Galerie (Nes 120) with affordable new jewelry. She die-cuts leather into a form that looks like a miniature American donut, say about one centimeter in diameter. Then using two of the die-cuts she inserts in the middle a foam-like material. In the next step she weaves copper wire into patterns that connect maybe seven of these "donuts" into a hexagonal shape. Finally, she takes seven of these sections and connects them all into a large five centimeter hexagonal form. The results is a geometric abstraction that relates to floor layouts, window decorations found in Christian, Jewish and Islamic buildings. Simple but rich looking. (195, 350, 750, & 1,250 euro) Until 25th July. www.galerie-ra.nl
Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140) presents two artists. In the PLAYSTATION you will see Brendan Anton Jaks(USA) with two series and each completely different from the other. Wall hanging sculptures gets your attention because they are so unusual. He uses white interior building bricks with an epoxy resin and weaves plastic or metal strip through the form. On the wall opposite is collage work, but at first look it isn't apparent. Get your nose up to its surface and you see a collage made up of b/w and shades-of-gray paper sheets, overlapping, with a plastic sheet covering it all. Nice! (55x35c22 cms., polyurethane, epoxy, cement bricks on wood panel @ 1,100 euro; 200x100 P.E.T. fiberglass, acrylic, enamel @ 1,500 euro.
In the back space, of the gallery, is the work of Gabriel Lester. The press release mentions a previous installation by him, How to Act (1999) as "a full blown cinematic experience." His current show offers two cinematic experiences. One is an abstract video and the other---actually, two works---are "highly pixilated LED screens [that] almost obscure any imagery from a direct reading." Okay! But what you see are dancing lights and black blobs meandering across the surface. The two screens---hung perpendicular to the other---are in unison but, because of their dimensions, are different though it is not immediately apparent. In addition, he shows large sculptured pieces which resemble cubes atop another to form a monumental rectangle. Simply done. An each is mounted on wheels. It can be moved without difficulty through any space. (240x120 cms., Dynamic light surface, Ed 3 @ 20,000 euro) Until 25th July. www.fonswelters.nl
Four of the Galerie Roger Katwijk's (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 198) artists are showing in a group show. Herbet Hamakdoes resins on canvas, but it doesn't look like what you would expect. The work is "3D' in that it projects from the wall....Georg Kuetting photographs are essentially illusions. You see what the subject matter is, but at the same time you see the abstraction. Lots of tension!...Martijn Schuppers paints "abstract" canvases. Sometimes they are so subtle because of their subdued colors and fragmented imagery that you can't the place the work in a style category....Stephan Siebers showed in the last show with his small but monumental steel sculptures. (Prices range from 1,700 euro to 14,000 euro). Until 31st July. www.galerierogerkatwijk.nl
J. Henry Fair is showing at Eduard Planting Gallery (1e Bloemdwarsstraat 2) with an unusual collection of subject matter which he captures with his camera. Think of this, how many times have you seen a photograph of a chemical refinery that was colorful and looked like a linear abstraction? His speciality is to photograph the banal but capturing it in an original fashion. The photo used on the invitation is an abstract colorful masterpiece but, alas, it is an undoctored, unPhotoShoped snap of a reservoir along the muddy Mississippi River. Awesome...And very scary. In this show you go from representational abstraction to acute reality as told with brilliant colors and a keen eye. (30x45 cms., Alv-DBond with protective glaze, Ed 25 @ 800 euro; 60x76 cms., same tech, Ed 8 @ 2,950 euro; 76x114 cms., Alv-DBond with acrylic surface,Ed 8 @ 4,750 euro). Until 1st August. www.eduardplanting.com
At FONTANA GALLERY (Lauriergracht 11) there is a French duo, Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre, showing a wide range of photographs featuring late 19th century industrial building sites and power plants. They capture the Victorian style of complex iron structures in decay but still standing. You get a true sense of both size and the architectural complexities of these buildings. They appear to be artifacts from the height of the Industrial Revolution. (Footnote: The same duo did the series titled Ruins in Detroit, 2005-2009.) (each photo comes in two sizes: 95x120 cms., and 150x190 cms., Chromogenic prints, Ed 9--small--and Ed. 6--big, @ 4,300 and 8,350 euro) Until 15th September. www.fontanagallery.com
Theo MacKaay is at Morren Galleries (Prinsengracht 572). He takes a page from Picasso, but updates the master's Cubism with a contemporary take. There are other elements that bring to mind Kandinsky---horses and colors---but the influences are subtle. His color range reflects a color chart, but there is no one particular preference. The compositions are delightfully busy. In addition, he shows his sculpture work. You will see an influence from the Amsterdam School of the early 20th century. (40x50 cms., water color @ 1,900 euro; oils on linen from 4,200 to 12,500 euro) Until26th July. www.morrengalleries.nl
Marli Turion is at Appels Gallery (Brouwersgracht 151) with a very different way to look at the figurative side of the body. At first you see a busy background and basically expressionistic. A closer look will reveal a subtle figurative rendering of a woman or a segment of her torso. Unusual and sometimes captivating. (70x50 cm.s, ! 1,500 euro; 120x100 cms., @ 2,600 euro; 120xa70 cms., @ 3,500 euro). For opening times see: www.appelsgallery.nl
Galerie Mokum (OZ Voorburgwal 334) is showing two artists. Perdo Escalone paints realistic still lifes. The colors tend to be soft pastels. The subject matter consists of vases, pots, glasses and cups. (40x60 cms., 3,800 euro; 90x160 cms., @ 11.000 euro)....Peter Hartwig is a contemporary impressionist/expressionist who creates an illusion of reality. You see the representation but you find it hard to focus on the subject matter because all the colors keep getting in the way. Read: Lots of tension. (50x70 cms., @2,900 euro; 70x90 cms., @ 4,800 euro; 100x200 cms., @ 8,00 euro) Until 5th July. www.galeriemokum.com
Percipi (Rozenstraat 223) is showing Jaap Kamsma who takes us for a day at the zoo. He paints expressionistic representational scenes of both wild life and flora that we associate with a zoo. He favors green and the rest of the colors are subtle in their sketchy renderings. (114x65 cms., gouache/tempera @ 1,250 euro; 170x119 cms., gouache/tempera @ 2,000 euro; 164x219 cms., gouache/tempera @ 2,500 euro) Until 5thJuly. https://bit.ly/2xrBKhW
Letha Wilson (USA) is at GRIMM (Frans Halsstraat 26) with a conceptual art exhibition and an unusual technique. Better said, she has several techniques. She takes several large printed photos, folds them and arranges them in a dimensional form and working against each other in the same composition. This creates a dimensional visual perception. There is a b/w series of photos which play on geometric abstraction by overlapping. (61x55x2.5 cms., C-print, cement @ 5,500 euro; 56x46x3.8 cms., C-print, concrete, emulsion transfer, Corten steel frame @ 9,00 euro) EIGHT RED DOTS at opening. www.grimmgallery.com
Jan Henderikse founded with Henk Peeters and Armando the NUL group, 1960. And he is still going strong continuing to produce works that fit into his original concepts made 55 years ago. His latest exhibition, at BORZO (Keizersgracht 516) is a mix of styles and techniques. He hangs a series of license plates---several grouped together as one---and looking almost monochromatic and one with the colors of a rainbow. Then there are the wine cork collages which is a study in conceptual redundancy. Don't miss the $1,000,000 work in a very large Plexiglas frame. It is a collection of shredded American currency. Also you will see four b/w brush-work pieces. The brochure says of his work that "Creating art by not making it yourself is actually the ultimate challenge." (36x54 cms., ink on paper @ 4,500 euro; 61x61x13 cms., corks on panel @7,500 euro; 121x214 cms., license plates @ 32,000 euro) Until 11th July. https://bit.ly/2maQxaC
Rento Brattinga Galerie (Lauriergracht 80) features the work of the recently deceased Dutch artist Carel Visser. This is his second retrospective show in the last two months. At this gallery you will see mostly his print work---he used "Steendrukerij's" litho presses to make most of his prints. The work begins with 1959. You will also see mixed media work where he combines the print with drawing. Then there are the whimsical collages. Also don't miss the puppet-like cut-outs; one features Dali. Visser was both a minimalist and conceptualist. (wood cut-out, Ed 175, 1989 @ 425 euro; woodcut Ed 20 1990 @ 765; woodcut, Ed 20 1986 @ 2,400 euro; cut-out, 1988 @ 7,000 euro). Until 4th July. www.rentobrattinga.com
Two photogrpahers share the space at MLB (Witte de Withstraat 32). Saskia Aukema is a portrait photographer that shoots in color. She somehow gets the best out of her subjects because they don't appear to be posed; and they seem relaxed before the camera's lens. In fact, sometimes they are playful. The series is labeled "What's in a Name?" and each photo starts with a "name."....Richard Bank is a photographer who specializes in bridges. He does it in two ways. New and highly stylized bridges gets his attention with their many cables. However, it is not the bridge itself which he captures but the geometric aspects of the design. He concentrates on these elements producing abstract designs. He hangs another series of "bridge" photos by going below the bridge level of the roadway/railway. He captures the geometric cubes of the tiles and the graffiti that has been sprayed on the tiles. No price list. Until 28th June. www.mlbgalerie.nl
"Comes as you are" is the title of the exhibition at SMBA (Rozenstraat 59). It is unusual because it consists of two Dutch artists who have made art works to decorate the Mosque located on the Rozengracht. Job Wouters has painted on the art space' wall poster-like works with colorful designs from the geometric to the symbolic to form geometric abstraction imagery. One piece features typography....Ad de Jong contributes epoxy squares layered atop each other with slight nuances in colors. Until __?__ www.smba.nl
At AKINCI (Lijnbaansgracht 317) is the wood sculpture work of Stephan Balkenhol (Germany) with yet another solo exhibition at the gallery. His work is both impressionistic and there is an element of expressionism as well. The latter comes from the fact that the wood is cut roughly; no sanding...but it works. He adds paint to better define the imagery. Something new, in this oeuvre, are wooden reliefs that have text---in German and French---burned on the frame. He carves out flowers and then colors them. One piece you could described as conceptual representation. A standing woman's face is a tulip. In another work he has carved out the image of a man, but the painted background is a purple abstraction. There is a strong tension between the two images. (60x40 cms.,, wood relief, 8,500 euro; all six @ 6,000 euro/each; 230x101x55 cms., wood @ 96,000 euro) Until 11th July. https://akinci.nl/
...And just a few doors down the canal is LUMEN TRAVO (Lijnbaansgracht 314) showing the English artist Stephen Willats who presents "us with different ways of looking at the society between people, reflecting how we live today." However, he puts all that into an abstract/conceptual setting. Some pieces look almost like a road map. He combines photography with geometric symbolism and adds a good measure of typography. In the big gallery there is a wall which has been delineated with squares and arrows. Against this background there are six geometric works which reflect it but also offers a strong contrast. (75x50 cms., pencil, gouache on paper @ 16,800 euro; 112x42 cms., photograhic prints, acrylic paint, Letraset text on cardboard @ 22,400 euro) www.lumentravo.nl
Christien Meindertsma is at "andriesse-eyck" (Leliegrsacht 47) presenting an unusual visual experience; not to mention an unusual artistic concept "Tree Track [is] an unique autonomous work commissioned by InnovatieNetwerk. Tree Track is a 13-metre-long wooden train track with trains and blocks made from a complete 13-metre-tall beech tree from the Flevopolder." It is basically a model of a railroad switching yard, the place where a train is made up of its individual cars with their unique destinations. He has fashioned track and cars form beech wood and laid it out in an intricate design closely resembling a tree. The model railroad yard covers the floor and tracks climb the walls. There is a video which animates the installation. In the gallery's back space There is more wood and he has sculpted a simple design for each. (40x40 cms., to 60x30 cms., wood Ed. 10 @ 1,625 euro) Until 5th July. www.andriesse-eyck.com
At Martin van Zomeren Gallery (Hazenstraat 20) is Fiona Mackay who has been inspired by both Kandinsky and Matisse; an unusual combination of influences. Simple in composition and colors, like Matisse, and with symbols and lyrical brush stokes like Kandinsky. The colors are soft pastels with one exception which is an explosion of green. Hey, just like Spring. (195x135 cms., fabric dye on cotton acrylic mix @ 5,800 euro)...Cornelius Quabeck hangs a series of four black paintings which are nearly monochromatic except for the occasional skull, guitar or rabbit ears. (160x140 cms., ink on canvas @ 7,500 euro) Until 18th July.
...And just down the street is ORNIS A. GALLERY (Hazenstraat 11) showing Waldemar Zimbelmann who brings several elements of 20th century art movements together. Start with the German Expressionist move up to some of Jasper John's early work with the Pop School to Basquiat's graffiti works. His technique goes beyond painting---though if you get your nose close to the canvas and look at the figures you see a painter at work with lots of nuances and depth. But, then, he takes an implement and scratches the surface. There are more "nuances" like that. (443x30 cms., acrylic and color pencil on paper #@ 3,500 euro; 70x50 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 5,000 euro; 200x150 cms.m acrylic on canvas @ 14,000 euro)....Christina Pasedag shares the space with works on paper. Basically her style reflects that of Zimbelmann but goes beyond to the point of being reminiscent of the Fauve School to Egon Schiele. Lots of colors. (70x50 cms., acrylic on paper @ 800 euro). Until 27th June. www.ornisagallery.com
RADAR (1e Rozendwarsstraat 17) is exhibiting architectural photographs. The subject matter is contemporary Japanese buildings featuring Tokyo and other Japanese' cities. The presentation is unusual. The photos are enclosed in like a children's shadow box and it requires you to get up close and peer through the viewing gap. In the center of the space, there is an area defined by a drape hanging from the ceiling; there is place to enter and once inside you have a 360 degree view of an architectural setting. "Nisia" (nee: Veronika Wawrzynia) and Marco de Piagge are the photographers. Until 19th June. www.radar-amsterdam.com
Patrick Tschudi (Peru) is hanging conceptual photographic work at Wanrooij Gallery (Stadhouderskade 41) which brings a new dimension to photographic art. He focuses on groups of people at beaches, parks and Times Square, etc. But he makes them anonymous as is alway true with a large gathering, however in his own and unique way. He substitutes each individual's head with a big black circle and the hands are black blobs. But all this black is accented with lots and lots of color. There is an abstraction as well in these "representational" works. It is achieved by the division of the colors. Two works feature Vondel Park and they are truly representational because he includes the garbage dumpsters and smoke rising from charcoal pits; and there is a carnival sense to the scene, people having fun surrounded by monochromatic colors. (90x82 cms., Inkjet exposure on fine art paper, finished on high gloss, Ed 3 @ 5,000 euro; 90x135 cms., same tech., Ed 3 @ 6,500 euro) Until 30thJune www.wanrooijgallery.com
Mariëlle Videler is at LUMEN TRAVO (Lijnbaansgracht 314) with a WOW!!! What an exhibition! Part of our art heritage are the tapestries of the 16th to 19th century. Artists are now rediscovering this delicate art technique. So the tapestry is making a come back...and it should not be considered only a craft. Videler creates compositions and tell stories in fabric and textile. The compositions are really a little of everything: representational, figurative, geometric designs, abstract symbols, birds, ants, rats etc. And the color are bright and joyful; each work seems to represent a color chart of shades. We are reminded of man's first attempts at "art" which was drawing, in charcoal, on the walls of caves, 40,000 years ago, by Neanderthals. And her work is sometimes tinged with the primitive and naive. The piece de resistance is a giant wall tapestry measuring 640x360 cms. It is figurative, geometric and tells a story. Nice! The press release says that she "is looking for a reassessment of our relationship to animals. Her starting point was images of hunting and prehistoric images of animals." In the small gallery she hangs pencil drawings. They are basically simple line drawings with detail, humor, abstract and from a conceptual angle. (30x28 cms., drawing @ 700 euro; 76x56 cms., drawing @ 1,250 euro; 120 cms., diameter, fabric @ 3,500 euro; 640x360 cms., wall installation, fabric @ 22,000 euro. Until 23rd May. www.lumentravo.nl
ORIGINAL POSTINGS:
At the Mini Galerie (Kinkerstraat 12) is an Italian, who goes by the name Tellas (neé: Fabio Schirru). He is basically a linear abstract artist. His work is very detailed and "explores the unspoiled landscapes of his native land [Sardinia, Italy] through the use of abstracted motifs." He keeps color to a minimum and several works are b/w (pencil, ink). You will see a relation to work by Jean Dubuffet done in the late 50s. (30x30 cms., ink on paper @ 450 euro; 50x70 cms., ink on paper @ 950 euro; 90x140 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 3,400 euro) EIGHT RED DOTS at opening. Until 20oth June. www.minigalerie.nl
Galerie Rob Koudijs (Elandstraat 12), the new jewelry gallery, shows Ted Noten (NL) who introduces a very personal as well as unique conceptual approach to jewelry making whether you label it "new" or "traditional." There are seven or so A4 framed "signs" hanging on the wall. Each have a "title" like, "ring," "brooch," necklace," et al and there is a price. The prices range from a low of 1,500 euro to 15,000 euro. But, hey, there is NO jewelry. Kid you not! Well, someone explained to me what it was all about. You select let us say an "armband." You will meet three times with Noten. The first time you will describe to him what you WANT. The second time he will show you initial design drawings; and the third time a drawing of what the final piece will look like. Jewelry is a very personal thing. And this "technique", of Noten's, makes it even more personal. you are part of the design. A major ingredient. He guarantees you delivery of "your production" within six months. Let's give this a WOW!!! if only for the originality of the marketing concept. Love it! (1,500 euro; 2,250 euro; 4,950 euro & 15,000 euro.)
Sharing the space is Mi-Ah Rödiger (German/Korean) does "sculptured new jewelry." What the hell is that? you ask. Indeed she goes beyond traditional ideas as to what makes jewelry jewelry. She redefines the concept of jewelry by asserting it isn't only an accessory, but it can be a sculpted and integrated part of the wearer's wardrobe and persona. How to describe it? Well, two works are elaborate in design though also fundamentally simple. One piece is in bright scarlet red epoxy and measures about 50x50x50 cms., and sits on a person's shoulder. Another work is slightly smaller but shares the same basic principle of sitting on the shoulder. (3,850 to 24,000 euro). Until 30th. May www.galerierobkoudijs.nl
SOLEDAD SENELLE: art foundation (Sloterkade 171) is an occasional art gallery. It is a small fashion design company that sponsors art exhibitions between the breaks in the yearly fashion schedule. The current show features two artists. Barbara Rink (NL) has created a "forest" of trees at the back of the gallery space. She draws and paints tree trunks and sometimes branches on rolled paper scrolls that are from one meter to three meters high. There are about 20 pieces that make up the installation, but are available, for sale, individually....Christina Della Giustina (IT/CH) uses several techniques to express herself: live and interactive video; video; light installation, composition, drawing and writing. In this show she "presents the research project 'you are variations.' Here she listens to the inner life of trees by translating scientific long-term monitoring data of tree activity into musical scores." The music is minimal and the theme is to emulate the trees growth, its life. Four handmade books are outstanding example's of the bookmaking art. They are filled with illustrations and even musical scores and photos. But it is the covers that will get your attention. The book "covers" are made from wood. And each has had a round hole cut into its center. Inserted into this hole is a cutting of a core of a tree with all its rings showing. Beautiful! Until 31st May. (N.B. On the 31st May both artist will present an "artist's talk." the program begins are 15:00 until 17:00. More info at: www.soledad.nl
Qlick Editions (Gerard Doustraat 134) hangs the photographic work of Joris van der Ploeg. He graduated recently from the Photo Academy of Amsterdam (2014) and has already been cited as "one of the New Dutch Talents, 2015." He says of his photography, "I only photograph young females because I find them absolutely mysterious and pure. They are in that fragile phase between being a child and hitting puberty: the phase, where society has not yet influenced them." What you will see are these young waifs seducing the camera's lens with their innocence. There are not smiling and they sometimes look like they wish they could be somewhere else. And the b/w imagery is vague and sometimes looking slightly out-of-focus. Another series features nudes---all over the age of 18---with a color scheme that resembles the imagery produced by night-vision goggles; sort of a sickly pale green hue. And there is the added nuance where a few look like double exposures. (Two sizes per photo: 40x50 cms., Hahnemühle paper, Ed. 4 @ 1,500 euro; 80x100, same technique, Ed 4 @ 2,150 euro) There is also a catalog available with 30+ photos which illustrate the breath of his oeuvre, @ 30 euro. Until __?__ www.qlickeditions.com
Karin Santen is at Galerie De Witte Voet (Kerkstraat 135) with her ceramic work. In the window of the gallery there is a quote from the song writer Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets through." Santen makes almost raw forms from clay. There is color, but it seems more natural than applied. The forms are conceptual with lots of angles and multiforms welded together. One pieces has broken ceramic shards. Other works look like a contortionist dictated the form. (450 to 2,000 euro) Until 7th June. www.galeriedewittevoet.nl
RA--the new jewelry gallery---is featuring the work of Réka Fekete and her vision of new jewelry is to combine the geometric/abstract forms that seem to have been punched from thin metal sheets into collages. The collage may be a brooch or a necklace. Some are simple collages and others very elaborate. The metals are steel, silver and aluminium. There are also two large collages meant to be wall hangings. The materials are zinc, found wood, book cover, rope, and iron wire. "She plays with scale, capturing the city as a machine in bird's eye views." The prices are buyer friendly starting as low as 137 and 241 euro and escalate up to 1,571 and 2,711 euros. Until 13th June. www.galerie-ra.nl
And about 100 meters from the above gallery is Galerie Mokum (Oudezijds Voorburgwal 334) showing the realist Robert Vorstman . His technique is a mix of the impressionist and expressionist. He specializes in Amsterdam' city scenes and the North Sea beaches. The city scenes vary form his portrayal of various Amsterdam streets to bridges to individual houses. There is a vague and almost out-of-focus imagery. The beach scenes range from the sea against and angry Dutch sky to one where the beach and sky are accents to colorful kites blowing in the wind. (Oil of canvas @ 900 and 950 euro; big, oil on canvas @ 5,700 euro) Until 24th May. www.galeriemokum.com
Anuli Croon shows paintings and "prints" at Rento Brattinga Galerie (Lauriergracht 80). He uses a style introduced by David Salle, but done in his unique way. The imagery consists of cartoon-like illustrations of figures but they are accented with geometric designs, symbols and abstraction. There is much color. A series of "prints," which are really stenciled work, almost steals the show with their simplicity of both form and color. And while each "print" is in an edition of 10, each one is individually executed thus unique. (30x21 cms., stenciled acrylic, Ed 10 @ 300 euro; 47x143 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 2,750 euro; 170x250 cms., acrylic on cnavas @ 7,500 euro) Until 30th May. www.rentobrattinga.nl
At Stigter Van Doesburg (Elansdstraat 90) is the work of Sema Bekirovic and, according to the press release, it is "best described as playful conceptualism." Her material comes from objects found at flea markets and she tries to create a personal history around the source material. A wall piece consists of a post card of Gaudi's Familia Sagrada, in Barcelona, and she has highlighted/exposed fingerprints---with forensic powder---from people who had held it. The prints are in fluorescent paint and the "frame" has a black light which illuminates the work. A large "diamond" sits next to the postcard. A "video" shows two pairs of soft-soled shoes with an organic growth emerging from it like a glob rising from a swamp in a 50s' Sci-Fi B-movie. Three flat screens show a pair of hands in the process of molding a form. The colors are violet to pink and the imagery is reminiscent of a Man Ray's, Ray-o-graph. In the small back space, of the gallery, there are five "photographic sheets" where the imagery have been affected by fire or heat. (25x20 cms., Self-exposed photographic paper, unique @ 800 euro; 28.5x22x9.5 cms., UV lamp, forensic powder, found objects @ 4,500 euro; Three-channel video, 6 min. Ed 3 @ 7,500 euro) Until 20th June www.stigtervandoesburg.com
Carel Visser (1928-2015) was a remarkable artist; he was primarily a conceptual minimalist who expressed the style with prints, drawings, collages and sculptor. His work consist of simple forms, simple imagery and more often than not the work is in b/w....But there was more to his oeuvre. At BORZO (Keizersgracht 516) you will see three exceptional collages, but his collages have little in common with that of other artists. Each work hanging is dimensional and the material he uses---like a complete box that contained a child's toy---are not what is commonly expected. His metal/iron objects/sculptures reflect his minimalist' view of form and can been seen in the back space of the gallery. Some of his metal works hang on the wall like a large sheet of aluminium which has as embellishments only the scrapes, scars and dents from its original use. A true ready made.
His "drawings," again, are minimal in design and execution. However, minimalism doesn't necessarily imply works of a few pencil strokes and in the pieces hanging, in the show, you will see how the "black background" is not painted on, but the result of literally thousands of soft lead/graphite strokes. Hours and hours of effort. And with that said, there are drawings with only a few pencil lines and they are no less striking. Visser died this year at the age of 87. This exhibition is an abbreviated retrospective of his oeuvre and well worth making an effort to see it. (3,000 to 70,000 euro) FIVE RED DOTS at opening. Until 30th May. https://bit.ly/2maQxaC
Well, what's in a name? At Adk (Prinsengracht 534) 3D went from work to work---33 pieces hanging---and tried to formulate a description of what I was seeing and the stylistic theme. Then I picked up the price list and saw: Mose Boonday and Pieter Holstein. But the list didn't indicate who-was-who. I asked the gallery holder and she replied, "It's the same person!" Oh! And perhaps the two identities are necessary because his work covers a wide range of styles. Though all are self-contained under geometric/abstraction you will see work that reflects Jean Dubufett, Van Gogh, Eugene Brands and a little of Miro here and there with the colors of Matisse. Nothing is derivative, but all have the best elements of these artist. In this show, there are a least two masterworks...you can decide for your self what they are. The opening was an ocassion for book signing. A limited edition of 200 @ 80 euro; De Waterval, Ed. 60 @ 60 euro; "On the Way" @ 80 euro). FOUR RED DOTS. Until 30th May. www.adkactuelekunst.nl
"I adore trival things...I create illusions," so says Miguel Delie (Belgium) in reference to his work now on show at Jaski Art Gallery (Nieuw Spiegelstraat 29). And as to the work...well, it reflects the present day society in several ways. First of all, it is busy to very busy. Each piece contains hundreds of "faces". They are from plastic, glass, fabric and whatnots. You will see lots of Disney characters, The Hulk, the M&M twins to the iconic Venus de Milo to Jesus Christ. He doesn't leave out anyone. To be sure, the work is pure kitsch; the colors reflect every color on a color chart including their individual shades. And to get into anyone work requires time. There is much to see. Busy, busy, busy...and engrossing! (71x58x31 cms., mixed media @ 5,500 euro; 103x78x36 cms., mixed media @ 6,000 euro; 124x93x42 cms., mixed media @ 8,000 euro) Until 24th May. www.jaski.nl
Galerie "bart" (Elandsgracht 16) hangs oil paintings by Jisan Ahn (S. Korea). He studied at the Rijksacademy (2013-2014) , but has returned home. He has two focuses: limbs of the body and night scenes in wooded areas. There are three of the later hanging in this show. They are remarkable for their light which stands out because of his subtle dabs of white paint and because they are night scenes. You will see elements from Rembrandt in his work because of the way he achieves the light effect. Like the master, here and there, there is a dab of pure white paint.While the work is realistic, it has a subtle vagueness with its brush strokes closer to that of an expressionist. (24x30 cms., oil on canvas @ 705 euro; 40x60 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,300 euro; 200x280 cms., oil on canvas @ 6,240 euro) Until 20th June. www.galeriebart.nl
Jaume Amigó is at Galerie Roger Katwijk (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 198) with work that you may consider retro; reminiscent from styles c 1960, but updated and contemporary. Basically, the work is pure abstraction which is then enhanced with vertical lines. But that's the simple explanation. Amigó achieves unusual depth perception by painting layer-on-layer. Forget the color chart because he is not all about color. What color there is is more-or-less a means to an end. (41x33 cms., acrylic on linen @ 1,300 euro; 97x130 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 4,800 euro)...Also showing is the avant garde sculpture work of Stephan Siebers who works in steel. He is a conceptual minimalist who favors cubes and the simple square. The cubes are sometimes stacked atop each other with the top one resting on a point of the cube. The squares are stacked in a irregular pattern. (25x15x5 cms., steel @ 3,800 euro; 80x80x40 cms., steel @ 10,500 euro). Until 6th June. www.galerierogerkatwijk.nl
Abner Preis (USofA) has taken over the space at Galerie Gabriel Rolt (Tolstraat 84) for his second solo exhibition at the gallery. It is an installation-like exhibition which consists of many parts. At the center, of the large space, is a kinetic sculptor work which measures five meters in diameter and the ring sits on a two meter high post. The ring is suspended with industrial straps.You are encouraged to interact with it. On the wall there is a black rug-like piece that is about four meters high by two meters. On it, there are cut-out Mattise-like forms and you are also encouraged to rearrange them to create your own composition---there is ladder provided to make it possible. Four works are on paper and made from wax and fire. In another room, there are eight large cut-out forms from cardboard. The installation tells a story. On a wall opposite is a b/w drawing measuring five by four meters which also tells a story. Until 20th May. www.gabrielrolt.com
Witteveen (Konijnenstraat 16) is hosting a show for the work of Miriam Londono and if you like typographical elements in a work of art this is the show for you, in fact, even if you don't you will marvel at the cut-outs. Several appeared to be written abstracts, sentence after sentence, though, in truth, you can't read them. No matter. It is the abstraction of alpha symbols that standout. She has even fashioned a human-like head from individual letters. Then there are two which feature a group of people; one with ten people and the other with 17, and cleaverly done. Be sure not to miss the eight page "book" in 3D. Amazing piece....Maurice van Tellingen makes maquettes; 3D models of whatever gets his attention and other are from his own conceptual artistic' mind. In this exhibition there are several smaller works and with very affordable prices. You will see the partial profile of a recreational caravan; the shuttered doors of a wood-faced cabin; a view of the entrance to a contemporary home; a fireplace set in a room. In the latter, he plays with the viewer visually by using unusual perspectives. The large 150x200 cms., iron sewer cover looks as if it has been cut from the surface of an A'dam street. And don't overlook the two framed pencil drawings each with four individual images. (950, 1,100 to 11,750 euro) 3 RED DOTS....Carina Ellemers works with textiles. She fashions geometric designs from cloth like a dishrag or kitchen towel and does things to enhance the patterns. Other times she adds paint which creates depth to the imagery. Nice! (30x30 cms., @ 850 euro) Until __?__ https://bit.ly/2NR0zdF
Casper Faasen is at Kahmann Gallery (Lindengracht 35). Earlier in this edition of the 3D List I mentioned that the Japanese duo, Nerhol---showing at "foam"---produce an unique style and introduce a new form of technique...and so does Faasen. In fact, the question is, "How much is photography and how much is conceptual innovation. Bascially, he does nudes---there are a few landscapes as well as skyscapes---but you won't be embarrassed in your grandma visits. The imagery is so vague that is almost subliminal. It is like we are looking at the model through smoked glass. "His photographs are built up like paintings with different imaginary and physical layers, giving the viewer a feeling of distance and at the same time a voyeuristic presence." And he goes further by introducing a geometric abstract that acts like a fence that we are look through to see the nudes. It resembles crackling which we see on the surface of 16th to 18th century paintings. The work, on exhibition, ranges from the small to very large. (small: 20x20 cms., to 50x20 cms., @ 750 to 1,050; 150x150 cms, photo on Setasamd with oil paint, Ed 7 @ 6,500 euro---available in other sizes; 260x140 cms., same technique Ed 3 @ 8,250 euro) Until 30th June. www.kahmanngallery.com
Frozen Fountain (Prisengracht 645) is a avant garde design gallery showing everything from furniture to wall covering, children's toys, objects-of-art and just about anything that might add to the decor of someone's space. The current exhibition is titled Post Milan which shows what was new at the Milan Design Show this year. It is a short tour of the outstanding and novel. The work ranges from the decorative, to the whimsical, to the paractical and everything in between. Check out the potentially infinite ceramic bench by Chris Kabel and St. Joris. It is offered at 1,210 euro/meter; nine sections. In the same room there are nine mirrors in tarnished 50s brass frames and each in its own unique shape. They are Italian made. (39 cms., in diameter @ 1,500 euro; 82x51 cms,m, @ 2,500 euro)
Patrick Schols makes cabinets and each has a truly unique design. And the design is 3D. Because of this fractured arrangement it reflects light in infinite ways. (80x80x80 cms., @ 8,900 euro; 91x38x169 cms.m, @ 12,000 euro)...Mararten Baas---the fire bug best known for his charcoaled furniture---teams up with Berjan Pot. They use clay and form it around metal tubing---shaping it---and add LED lights to produce table lamps, floor lamps and a three section dressing mirror. (2,732 to 13,573 euro).
The opening was also an occassion for a book signing by Stefan Scholten and Carole Baijings for their title, "Reproducing Scholten & Baijings," published by Phaidon, London (352 pages @ 75 euro). It "is primary a visual record of their design process---from the initial drawings and sketches, through a multitude of models, prototypes, color swatches and samples, to the finished product." www.frozenfountain.nl
The Weiner Wall (Bilderdijkstraat 165b) is not the name of an art gallery, but the name of a "wall" that's at the entrance to a large building containing artists' ateliers. The wall measures 162 cms., by 405 cms., and artists are welcome to submit proposals on how to fill it. The latest initiative is by Aafke Bennema who has created a mixed media work with aJugendstil feel (c. 1900). She made the original abstract drawings on paper using pastel chalk and in a sense the wall is a monotype, however she enhanced the imagery after transferring it to the wall. Colorful, but subtly so. Until 1st September. www.m4gastatelier.nl
Renzo Martens is at Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140) with something different. And different from several directions. Martens founded the Institute for Human Activities (IHA), in the Congo, in 2012. This conceptual exhibition comes with a message...or it might be better to say, a cry form the Congo. He attacks African poverty with his institute, "The new institute observes a gap in critically; socially-engaged contemporary art practices typically deal with labor conditions, migration and social injustice." He has created a settlement in the Congo under the IHA flag ( on display) and has organized artistic workshops. Plantation workers in collaboration with Kinshasa-based arts have "created elaborate self-portraits and sculptures." These works, made from river clay, were scanned and digitally transported to Amsterdam "where molds were made and chocolate sculptures were cast from the same cocoa that [these] plantations workers produce for the global market throughout the last century." And that's what you will see; figurative sculptures standing from 39 cms., to 139 cms., to 162 cms., high and made completely from chocolate.
While there is an obviously tribal imagery and influence in the forms you will also see a grotesque-like influence from European gargoyles that adorned churches in the past centuries. Of course, when 3D looked at the price list and saw that one piece will set you back 12,000 euro, my first thought was: if you live permanently in a cold climate the work might be practical, but even in Holland you must anticipate a few dog-days of heat in August...and it'll be like Frosty the Snowman come spring. A blob of liquid on the floor. Well, what you get for your money is that digitally programmed CD that will allow you to reproduce the work in whatever material you wish. And there is more to the show which includes photogrpahy that illustrates the IHA settlement. Also, there are small chocolate sculptures---boxed---at 40 euro each. (18x24 cms., Video stills, Ed 10 @ 400 euro; 21x30 xms., photo, Ed 10 @700 euro; 38x21x24 cms., chocolate, Ed 5 @ 5,000 euro; 162x56x74 cms., chocolate, Ed 5 @ 12,000 euro) (N.B. the proceeds from the sale of these sculptured works go directly to the individual artists and the Cercel d'Art des Travailleurs de Planatations Congolaisese, minus cost.) Until 6th June. www.fonswelters.nl
Andrea Radai's homage to the Dutch actor, Jeroen Willems is now at Reuten Galeries (Prinsengracht 510). His portraits of the man are poignant. He is captured in several poises; some only a portrait and a few that includes his environment. A few are in b/w and with exceptional contrast. Also, you can vote for your favorite portrait of Willems and the one receiving the most votes will be displayed at the Stadsschouwburg. (50x40 cms., oil on linen @ 1,450 euro; 120x100 cm.s, oil on linen @ 3,500 euro; 120x200 cms. oil on linen @ 7,000 euro) Until 28th June. https://www.reutengalerie.com/
At ArtACasa (Kerkstraat 411) is an exhibition for Thecla Renders (NL) that asks the question: What do you get when you mix Van Gogh's style with that of Mattise? Answer: A beautiful colorful work of art! She favors soft pastel colors and concentrates on still lifes and flower bouquets. Often, she paints the frame to complement the work. Her technique is basically that of a contemporary impressionist, but she has her own voice, technique and unique style. No two are really alike. Nice work! (10x20 cms., @ 50 euro; 30x20 cms., @ 125 euro; 100x87 cms., oil @ 1,150 euro; 110x90 cms., oil @ 2,000 euro) 5 RED DOTS at opening. Until 16th June. www.artacasa.nl
Alan Charlton (UK) is at SLEWE (Kerkstraat 105) with his minimalistic conceptual paintings with a pyramid theme. He interpretates the form in several configurations. Every work is monochromatic and the "color" is from light gray to charcoal gray. His color criteria was established 40 years ago. (90x90 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 20,000 euro; 180x180 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 40,000 euro). Until 20th June. www.slewe.nl
Galerie Gerhard Hofland shows four artists. Leading the list is Michael Kirkham making his annual return. He is an examplary painter but with a harsh to black view to life. "Man and Sorrows" reflects 19th century artistic themes and imagery which owes much to Goya and Delacroix. As always there is a series of drawings that constitute a "condenced graphic novel." The story is a modern day version of Shakespear's Romeo and Juiliette. It is tragic and his use of graphite only enhances the noir story. There are a total of 11 drawings (SOLD)....Jens Wolf is also a frequent artist at the gallery. She does parallel linear abstracts, but with a twist, that is, the forms are irregular and sometimes in conflict with its own parallelism....Simon Hemmer presents a series of very colorful pencil drawings on paper. He also incorporates typography in the compositions. (5x60x42 cms., pencil on paper @ 750 euro). This was the only artist with a price tag....Wolfgang Flad shows two works. One is an abstract sculpture made from wood, lacquire and paper-mache. A wall hanging of Berken tryplex has been augered with linear groves. (No price list available) Until 27th June http://gerhardhofland.com/en/
Galerie Lieve Hemel (N. Spiegelstraat 3) presents three artists. Rudolf Hellebaut challenges the boundries of realism. His painted images: people, animals, eyes, three ladies showing their buttocks, et al are all pure realism. But it is the way he forms his compositons which makes you question the realism. It is not only unusual, but borders on the fantasy view of things. (20x18 cms., oil on copper @ 1,400 euro; 24x18 cms., on copper @ 3,200 euro)....Hester Schroor also challenges the quesiton: What is realism? She produces works like you see illustrating a horror story or a children's book of fairy tales. The portraits are distorted to the point of being grotesque. However, they have a captivating element that's hard to ignore; maybe it's her humor. (17x13 cms., tempera, gold transfer * 1,400 euro; 40x30 cms., tempera @ 2,800 euro)....Roger Braun is a realist. There is no doubt about that! His subject matter is young girls. He sees them with a keen eye. They are innocents at the turning point of becoming young adults. He is heavy on b/w contrast and captures light perfectly. (12x23 cms., pencil, acrylic on panel @ 1,200 euro; 80x40 cms., acrylic on panel @ 6,500 euro; 80x100 cms., acrylic on panel @ 12,000 euro) EIGHT RED DOTS at opening for Braun.
Koen Nieuwendijk, the gallery holder, participated in a performance by Thijs van Vuure, a biologist who embeds scientific experiments in performance; the "bird script" was formulated by Oda de Jong. It was most unusual. Well, very, very unusual! He put on ear phones and began to make noises and there was a unity to the sounds. But then he switched to a higher pitch. What was this all about? Finally, Van Vuure turned the laptop towards the audience and pushed a button. We saw a bird warbling and next to the bird was Koen pursing his lips in unison to the sounds. This was followed by a second set of chirping. It was fun! Until 13th June www.lievehemel.nl
WALLS (Prinsengracht 737) features the work of Silas (neé: Silas Schletterer) who is a colorist that paints "portraits." The subjects are young men and young women. There is something about his style that is reminiscent of the Dutch Fauve artist, Kees van Dongen' works. Something else that will get your attention are those works that include a background like a landscape or skyscape; the one with lightning is very nice. (70x50 cms., mixed media on paper @ 1,250 euro; 100x160 cms., oil on canvas @ 5,500 euro). Until 14th June. https://bit.ly/2LRAexM
Two artists are at RON MANDOS (Prisengracht 282). Esiti Erheriene-Essi (UK) is a contemporary Pop School artist who has been inspired by Robert Rauschenberg's social approach to the school. She has all the colors---lots and lots of color---but she conveys strong and assertive social and political messages. Expect to see dizzingly busy compositions. Each painting has a collage-type of background featuring pages from vintage magazines. (70x100 cms., charcoal on paper @ 1,150 euro; 200x240 cms., oil, ink, Xerox transfer on canvas @ 13,5000 euro)...Kristof Kintera (Czech Republic) goes from conceptual minimalism to kitschy collages and in between throws in a little humor like the inverted plastic pale that skirts along the floor. There are other kinetic works to see like the tall tree branch that supports a globe of the world and from time-to-time shakes its booty. The collages are difficult to describe. She uses epoxy to a great extent and adds a cell phone, a book, and/or other whatnots. Then there are the styrofoam rocks in shades of gray. (105x75x12 cms., mixed media @ 6,200 euro; 67x35x38 cms., epoxy, styrofoam, salt and paint @ 7,500 euro; 330x110x120 cms., concrete, boooks @ 20,000 euro). Until 27th June. www.ronmandos.nl
One of the joys of going to art openings is that there is always something new to see. At the OKKER Art Gallery(Vijzelstraat 125) is the Belgium photographer, Joël Moens de Hase, who creates "pin-up" images looking like a jigsaw puzzle' image. But his technique is a bit more clever. The work is kitschy and pleasingly so. You will see "portraits", nudes, torsos and more like the bouquet of yellow tulips. He achieves the imagery by collecting literally thousands of very small photographs. These may be female torso shots or the view of female buttocks. He sorts them into similar colors then uses the small photos to create the overall form. The results demand your attention. I mentioned the yellow tulips, well it is titled "Positive Emotions" and the background is a series of nudes in b/w and infinite shades of gray and the model pictured is holding the bouquet. Beautiful! (115x98 cms., photo dia-sec Plexiglas, Ed 8, @ 4,300 euro).
Eric Bruïnewoud shoots b/w nudes, but it is his poising and added nuances that makes the work standout. In one, we see a bare breasted woman with a lamp and in antoher a woman covering herself with a leopard's skin. Two other works show a nude in a Japanese-like environment. He is strong on contrast and uses the wet plate technique. (70x140 cms., photo, wetplate technique, Collodion, Ed 9 @ 3,500 euro) Until 27th June.
www.okkerartgallery.com
Well, in reading this through I see that there are more RED DOTS than I had remembered. To that, I say: KEEP IT UP!Make this a banner year for artists.
Photo: William Kentridge, Eye Film Museum
http://gould3dlist.blogspot.nl/
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Paleis op de Dam (Amsterdam) | cc/2020-05/en_middle_0109.json.gz/line1241 |
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