question stringlengths 14 1.69M | answer stringlengths 1 40.5k | meat_tokens int64 1 8.18k |
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The Kumbh Mela is the biggest event in the Hindu calendar and is marked by celebrations on this scale only once every 12 years.
Grand processions with marching bands, camels and elephants - these are the displays the different religious orders have been putting on here in the last few days as they gather together for this holy festival.
It is a spectacular affair, displaying at some times a spirit almost of carnival, and at others, of peace and spirituality.
On the banks of the Ganges, pilgrims from all over India are coming to bathe.
This spot, at Allahabad, is particularly holy - and this is a particularly auspicious time. Many of the people here say bathing here brings absolution and a great blessing.
"We've come to bathe in the river and commune with God," one man told me.
"We're poor people - this is our way to salvation."
"I've come to get the blessings of the Ganges and to pray," added another.
"This is a very auspicious time."
Devotional music is played across the vast area of the site most hours of the day.
The Kumbh only happens on this scale once every 12 years<|fim_middle|>askar Bhattacharyya, adviser to British tour company Cox and King's, shows me round the luxury camping site they have set up.
"There are two kinds of tents - the deluxe ones are specially made and designed by us. They're probably the grandest tents which have ever been made in India for people to stay in," he said.
It's a new direction for the Kumbh, which is still more spiritual than commercial in atmosphere.
But those days, he says, might not last for long because foreign interest is growing rapidly.
"I think a lot of people have come across it quite accidentally in travel magazines, surfing the web, bits and pieces here and there.
"There's going to be a lot of people who've probably had no connection with India but are coming to see an amazing show. And it is an amazing spectacle," he added.
The Kumbh is still more about temples than tourists - but its size and reputation increases with every event.
To outsiders, it is an exotic spectacle - but for many Hindus it is an important reminder of the profound role the spiritual still plays here despite the many changes of modern times. | - and the organisers have been planning for months.
Some people say the 12 year cycle signifies the movement of the planets.
But local historian Vinoy Chandra Pandey says the practice dates back almost 1,000 years, and has very pragmatic origins.
"If you have special occasions once in a while, a larger number of pilgrims could come here. Swamis and gurus could come here.
"It's said that sometime in the 10th or 11th century, some sayers got together and said: let's meet every 12 years. It's not possible for us to meet everybody every year at all these different places," Mr Pandey said.
The administrators have had to make plans for an influx of tens of millions of people.
They have had to build new roads, bridges and electric substations and of course many thousands of tents.
Bh | 182 |
Danny Yee's Book Reviews
Subjects | Titles | Authors | Best Books | Search | Latest
Trees: Their Natural History
Peter A. Thomas<|fim_middle|>pp
Book Reviews by Danny Yee |
Cambridge University Press 2014
A book review by Danny Yee © 2021 http://dannyreviews.com/
In Trees Thomas focuses on the functional, engineering aspects of trees and how they solve various problems. He draws on anatomy, physiology, cell biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, and so forth, but the details there are only deployed as part of the broader story. Variation between taxa, for example, is mostly relegated to summary tables.
Four chapters cover the major components of trees: leaves; trunks and branches; roots; and flowers, fruits and seeds. These are structured around questions. The chapter on trunk and branches, for example, asks: how does the trunk grow? do all trees get wider? how does water get up a tree? how does bark cope with the tree expanding? — as well as describing elements such as bark, growth rings, rays, and knots.
There are chapters on tree growth — the limits to size, the balance between roots and shoots, the role of budding, the timing of annual growth, growth rings — and on the various factors that determine a tree's shape — gravity and wind and light, biomechanics, and budding and branching and flowering. There are chapters on propagation — seeds, vegetative propagation, grafting, and breeding — and on aging and senescence — defences against herbivores, insects and fungi and threats from cold, fire, wind and drought as well as water stress as an ultimate limit to growth.
"We have seen above that the tree is built up by continually adding new modules, just like a wall is built by adding new bricks, small in themselves but capable of adding up to a large imposing structure. But if every bud on a tree grew into a branch the canopy would soon become a hopeless tangle of dense branches. A 100-year-old oak should have 99 orders of branching rather than the 5-6 that actually exist. Temperate trees rarely show more than 5-8 orders, and tropical trees 2-3 or at most 4 orders of branching (tropical trees generally have bigger leaves requiring a less-fine network of branches to hold them. The potential tangle is prevented in three main ways." [Preventing too many buds, shedding branches, and reducing branch lengths.]
A brief final chapter "Trees and Us" touches on some of the benefits of trees — carbon storage, pollution control, heat management, psychological well-being — and problems with roots. The other chapters also have material on human-tree relationships: on protecting trees from digging, transplanting trees, shaping trees, and so forth.
Trees is nicely illustrated, with both diagrams and photographs. I found it an engaging way to approach the subject, really nicely presented: I found the first edition secondhand and then bought this second edition, which is substantially expanded and improved.
- buy from Bookshop.org (UK)
- buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
- share this review on Facebook or Twitter
- books about plants + botany
- books published by Cambridge University Press
%T Trees: Their Natural History
%A Thomas, Peter A.
%I Cambridge University Press
%D 2014
%O paperback, 2nd edition, further reading, index
%G ISBN-13 9780521133586
%P 401 | 706 |
Home » Blog » Joel's Surgery<|fim_middle|> optimistic that it will be benign since the other tumor was also benign.
Thank you so much for all your prayers! Thank you for joining us in helping those in need. | Success! Back home!
Joel's Surgery Success! Back home!
Update January 4: Joel was released from the hospital and is healing well! This has been such an amazing journey and I'm so grateful! Praise the Lord for all He is doing in Joel's life! And thank you so much for joining us in prayer, rallying the forces of heaven on Joel's behalf.
The doctors performed a followup CT scan and everything looks great! He will have one more followup CT scan on the 23rd. The surgeons mentioned he will need one more surgery in about three months. We need to get the details on this when we meet with them next. In the meantime, please keep him in prayer!
Update December 27: Thank you for praying! This was such a major surgery on such a little guy, and by the grace of God, Joel continues to surpass the doctors' expectations. The doctors used the term exceedingly well for his progress! Joel was transferred out of the ICU the evening of the 23rd. His incision is healing well, there's no swelling or pus! They want him to stay for at least another eight days to keep the incision clean. Since Joel lives in a hut with dirt floors and no running water, it would be much harder to keep it clean and sanitized there. Please keep praying! We praise the Lord for all He is doing. Notice also, the smile Joel's mom has in the photo below. Thank you, Lord! And thank you all, for your prayers and the support that is changing these lives! I'm so grateful!
Update December 22: Joel is awake now and doing well! Praise the Lord! They are currently planning on moving him out of the ICU this evening. Thank you for interceding for Joel and his mom and the hospital staff. It's amazing how well he is recovering. Please keep praying!
Update December 21: I'm so grateful! The doctors were able to take Joel off the ventilator! He is fully breathing on his own now. Please continue praying! He will hopefully be able to leave the ICU tomorrow. Please keep Joel's mom in your prayers as well. Even though everything is going well, it's so hard for her to see her baby this way. Thank you so much!
December 19: Praise the Lord! Joel is now out of surgery and it was a success! He is still sedated and recovering in the ICU. This was a very major surgery. Please keep praying for his quick recovery.
The doctors removed a 740-gram (1 lb, 10 ounces) tumor from his brain (!). This was pressing against his eyes causing them to bulge. They were able to remove the entire tumor and have sent it for biopsy. The doctors are | 574 |
Grammy Museum Exhibit<|fim_middle|> at 90,000, mainly because "Columbia's story is so complicated," Wilentz explained. "Not in the way you might think -- corporate skullduggery and back-stabbing and all the rest -- there's plenty of that. We're in the Clive Davis Theatre, what can I say? Sorry I just couldn't resist."
STORY: Clive Davis Makes Deal for Memoir
Back to the serious subject at hand, Wilentz emphasized Columbia's auspicious standing as the first record label and a driver of technology and went on to explain that the people who founded the label "were not music people -- they were business men who wanted to make the most money they could."
The more things change, the more they stay the same? Not quite, it seems, seeing as the drivers of this project, Stringer and Columbia's Steve Barnett, have lived and breathed this book with the same passion they used to push the Adele album.
The Columbia Records exhibit opened to the public on Nov. 7. See some of the highlights on the official Grammy Museum website.
Twitter: @THRMusic
Shirley Halperin | Celebrates 125 Years of Columbia Records
10:30 AM PST 11/11/2012 by Shirley Halperin
Maury Phillips
Said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow of the release of the five-pound tome: "it's an understatement to call it a milestone -- it's a powerful testament to the brand of Columbia Records."
The 125-year legacy of Columbia Records was recognized at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on Wednesday night with the opening of a new exhibit inspired by the just-released book 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story.
The five-pound tome, written by historian and Princeton profession Sean Wilentz and published by Chronicle Books, is a beautifully curated collection of anecdotes and images chronicling the storied legacy of the country's first record label. Among the legends featured: Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Leonard Cohen, Beyoncé and many more.
PHOTOS: 'Who Shot Rock & Roll': Tupac, Elvis and Amy Winehouse Take Center Stage in Exhibit
To commemorate the release of the book, the result of two-and-a-half years of work and around 96 weekly conference calls, Columbia Records chairman Rob Stringer revealed, some 200 industry dignitaries gathered for an early look at the exhibit and to hear remarks by Grammy Museum executive director Bob Santelli, Recording Academy president Neil Portnow and author Wilentz, whom Stringer called "a master storyteller [whose] words are truly poetic."
The author himself joked of the book's ever-growing word count. What was originally conceived as a 30,000-word book ended up | 374 |
Mariana's foster parents just bought her a brand new bike. All she needs is a cool new helmet and she will be ready to ride for this spring.
Mariana is one of the sweetest kids you could imagine. She loves to make others happy, and she is kind to everyone she meets. Mariana works hard in school and enjoys going to a community center after school. She likes to color and spend time with her siblings. She is a resilient child with a big smile and even bigger heart.
Children's<|fim_middle|>iana will love her new helmet. It goes perfectly with her bike. Thank you for granting this wish!"
Children's Square USA receives the wish!
Mariana receives the gift from Children's Square USA!
Want to Help Children Like Mariana? | Square USA requests this wish for Mariana.
Amy grants the wish for Mariana! Thanks Amy.
"Love that you enjoy getting out and riding. We hope you find a great new helmet that looks perfect on you and keeps safe!"
One Simple Wish sends the gift to the Children's Square USA for Mariana.
Andrea sent an update on the wish for Mariana.
"Hi Amy, thank you for your generosity! Mar | 86 |
Tác giả: Har<|fim_middle|> notice puzzling discrepancies in the world around her. She has entered, she realizes, a parallel existence, which she calls 1Q84 - "Q is for 'question mark.' A world that bears a question." Meanwhile, an aspiring writer named Tengo takes on a suspect ghostwriting project. He becomes so wrapped up with the work and its unusual author that, soon, his previously placid life begins to come unraveled.
As Aomame's and Tengo's narratives converge over the course of this single year, we learn of the profound and tangled connections that bind them ever closer: a beautiful, dyslexic teenage girl with a unique vision; a mysterious religious cult that instigated a shoot-out with the metropolitan police; a reclusive, wealthy dowager who runs a shelter for abused women; a hideously ugly private investigator; a mild-mannered yet ruthlessly efficient bodyguard; and a peculiarly insistent television-fee collector.
A love story, a mystery, a fantasy, a novel of self-discovery, a dystopia to rival George Orwell's 1Q84 is Haruki Murakami's most ambitious undertaking yet: an instant best seller in his native Japan, and a tremendous feat of imagination from one of our most revered contemporary writers.
Penguin Random House UK
Liên kết: Bộ dưỡng da chiết xuất từ Gạo Rice & Ceramide Moisture The Face Shop (Mới) | uki Murakami | Xem thêm các sản phẩm Science Fiction & Fantasy của Haruki Murakami
1Q84 "Murakami is like a magician who explains what he's doing as he performs the trick and still makes you believe he has supernatural powers... But while anyone can tell a story that resembles a...
Nhà cung cấp:Penguin Random House UKXem thêm các sản phẩm Science Fiction & Fantasy bởi Penguin Random House UK
1Q84 (Paperback)355.000 đ
Giới thiệu 1Q84
"Murakami is like a magician who explains what he's doing as he performs the trick and still makes you believe he has supernatural powers... But while anyone can tell a story that resembles a dream, it's the rare artist, like this one, who can make us feel that we are dreaming it ourselves." (The New York Times Book Review)
The year is 1984 and the city is Tokyo.
A young woman named Aomame follows a taxi driver's enigmatic suggestion and begins to | 221 |
Finding someone that you love so much that you want to spend the rest of your lives together is among life's greatest joys. Great things await you, both on your wedding day and in your marriage.
Much like your marriage will be, your wedding day is going to be one of the defining stories of your life. It's the day it all begins. It's the day you commit to one another in front of family and<|fim_middle|>. Due to the custom nature of products and services, all sales are final. Prices are subject to change without notice. | friends. It's the day you've spent so much time planning for. And it's surely going to be one of the biggest parties you'll ever know.
I feel like I'm the lucky one, though. I get to capture it and show it to you. The smiles. The love. The joy. The tears. All the hope, all the love, all the crazy that the day holds, I'll photograph it and deliver it to you, naturally, beautifully, and without any unnecessary embellishments. Just the wonder and the joy and the love that exists between you and your family and friends on the most important day of your lives.
All custom wedding packages include an in-person planning session, a personalized wedding day timeline, a complimentary engagement session, and a gallery of professionally edited, high-resolution digital images to remember and relive.
How long would you like me to stay?
Would you like me to bring along a second photographer?
Each album is crafted by hand using the finest archival materials to ensure a long life, and will be personally delivered to you in a beautiful storage box. When you order an album, you'll receive watermarked web-sized digital versions of the photos that appear in the album, which are perfect for sharing on social media.
A square 12" x 12" with thick lay-flat pages containing about 45 photos of your choosing, as well as your choice of photo for the cover. Additional photos may be included for $50 each.
A square 8" x 8" hardcover album with thick lay-flat pages containing about 25 photos of your choosing, as well as your choice of photo for the cover. Additional photos may be included for $50 each.
All gift prints are printed with a lustre finish and are matted and backed with museum grade, 4-ply matboard. When you order a gift print, you'll receive the watermarked web-sized digital versions of each photo, which is perfect for sharing on social media.
Framed in an 11" x 14" mat.
Framed in an 8" x 10" mat.
50% is due at the time of booking; the balance is due one week prior to your session | 458 |
Palmetto Country Club is a private golf course and country club where guests must be accompanied by a member in order to play.<|fim_middle|>, swimming, tennis, fitness center, private meeting and events rooms.
We invite you to experience this Jim Lipe/David Toms designed course, set in the northern hills of Louisiana. The varying landscapes, sandy bunkers, strategic water placement, offer a wide variety of challenging golf shots at this 18-hole championship layout that you will love to play again and again.
Please call 318-965-2400 for current rates.
Call 318-965-2400 for rates and tee times.
Contact Palmetto Country Club at 318-965-2400 for more information and details on holding a golf outing at the course.
Contact Palmetto Country Club at 318-965-2400.
Contact Palmetto Country Club at 318-965-2400 for onsite or nearby dining options.
This profile was last updated on 07/15/2012 and has been viewed 3,624 times. | The course is an old traditional layout that was redesigned in 1999. Our club features other amenities such as dining | 25 |
This paper investigates how the concepts of value network analysis and control points can be used as a<|fim_middle|> VCE). The programme is jointly funded by the Mobile VCE's industrial member companies and the UJ Government, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). | valid methodology to identify profitable business models for the mobile telecoms industry. The paper's focus of analysis is on application platforms that result from the generative system that is the mobile Internet combined with mobile devices, further enhanced by advanced user interaction modalities. Conceptual parallels are drawn between the concerns of "cyberlaw" scholars and those of companies that make up the mobile telecoms industry in order to provide a theoretical basis for this paper. "Cyberlaw" scholarship concerns the need to legally control, or regulate, the Internet against abuse, whilst maintaining its innovatice essence. The mobile telecoms industry seeks to control the mobile Internet for profit, whilst maintaining its capacity for innovative and appealing content and services. As part of this research, current and emergnet revinue models are identifies for the components that make up the mobile industry. Methods of analysing these business models are proposed using value networks and control points, which are functional areas in a value chain or network where power can be exercised, as the unit of analysis. This method of analysis is illustrated with an initial example and an agenda for further research is outlined. The work covered in this paper is part of a current research programme, namely the User Interfaces for Breakthrough Services work area of the Core 5 Research Programme of the Virtual Centre of Excellence in Mobile & Persnoal Communications (Mobile | 271 |
Home Andalucia HAM HUNT: In search of the world's best jamón in Spain's Andalucia
HAM HUNT: In search of the world's best jamón in Spain's Andalucia
The town of Jabugo is home to one of the oldest curing cellars of jamón, Spain's finest delicacy
Diana Tang
8 Aug, 2018 @ 15:59
Princeton students Diana Tang and Grace Lee set off in search of the World's Best Jamón
READY TO SLICE: Jamón
SEVE slices expertly through the leg of jamón Ibérico, clamped on a jamonero to hold it in place. In moments, 11 wafer-thin slivers are placed in front of us on a gold-trimmed plate: cuts of babilla on the left, maza in the middle, punto on the right.
Jose Severiano Sánchez García "Seve" is a maestro cortador, in charge of the slicing the delicately cured ham. And he's just one of many individuals involved in this lengthy field-to-table process.
OLDEST: Cinco Jotas
The transformation from Iberian pig to world-renowned Jamón de Bellota Ibérico takes about five years: two years fattening the pigs, three years curing the meat in the cellar.
Our journey of discovery begins in Jabugo, a charming town in the heart of Huelva's Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche nature park. Here you'll find the curing cellars of Cinco Jotas, one of the oldest and most widely-respected jamón brands in Spain for their acorn-fed 100% Iberian ham.
The cellars were built over a century ago and provide an intricate account of the entire artisan process. It all starts in the dehesa with Iberian pure-breed pigs, the only animals of the species that have fat distributed throughout their bodies, creating the veins of white that run through a slice of jamón. Once the pigs are mature and fit enough to fend for themselves at around 100 kilograms, they are released into the dehesa, a Mediterranean forest managed by humans. The pigs cover a distance of 50 km and devour four km of grass every day, giving the meat its characteristic lean muscle. For around ten months, they forage for food, gaining about a kilo of weight a day.
DEHESA: Pigs graze on acorns
The montanera is pig heaven, a period of three-to-four months ending around January or February when the acorns (bellotas) fall from the oak trees in the dehesa. During this time, the pigs live almost exclusively on acorns, eating up to seven kilos a day until they weigh around 160 kilograms. This diet is crucial. Acorns are rich in fatty oleic acid, also found in olive oil, giving the jamón its rich aroma, shiny texture, and olive oil flavour. The locals often refer to Iberian pigs as 'olives on legs'. Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico is known as the healthiest cured meat on earth, rich in high density protein, good cholesterol and Vitamin E.
After the plentiful montanera, the pig is mature at about two years old and over the winter, they meet their destined fate at the matanza (slaughter); or as the people of Jabugo put it, the 'sacrifice'. Then, the curing process begins.
Three maestros take part in this final journey lasting around 18-30 months: the maestro de salazón, maestro perfilador, and maestro de secadero. These three figures, respectively, are responsible for packing the fatty legs in sea salt, carving off the excess fat and drying the carefully-prepared leg in the curing cellar. They are absolutely essential for the final delivery of that fine cut of jamón to our plate.
DRYING: Legs in the curing cellars
Legend has it that jamón was first 'invented' when a pig fortuitously stumbled into a channel with very salty water and drowned. When the townspeople roasted the deceased pig they were pleasantly surprised at its rich, aromatic taste. They later found that the hind leg could be preserved longer and given deeper flavour when it is salted.
The maestro de salazón covers the fresh and fatty legs of Ibérico pigs in sea salt for approximately a week. After the salt is washed off the legs are stored in a cold room for one to two months to allow the salt to penetrate through the skin to the flesh.
HOOKED: Hanging from metal hooks
Next, the maestro perfilador steps in to trim off the excess fat which speeds up the drying process. Then the legs are hung from the metal hooks that line the ceilings of the curing cellar, where the magic happens. During the drying period, the leg loses half its weight as fat drips away. As the seasons pass, mould forms causing chemical changes on a cellular level, creating the complex flavours.
At last, the maestro de secadero conducts the puntatura – sniff test. The maestro at Cinco Jotas inserts the cala – a short needle made of horse bone – into the jamón and determines whether it's ready with the briefest of sniffs yet in those few seconds he can discern more than 100 aromas.
All these steps ensure a perfect balance of many different flavours: sweet, savory, silky, tangy, and many more.
With a newfound appreciation for the complexities of jamón making (and growling stomachs), it was time to savour the jamón in front of us.
García, who has worked at Cinco Jotas for over 27 years, recommends we try it with a glass of dry sherry and tackle the cuts from left to right.
TASTY: The three different cuts of jamón
First, the babilla from the part commonly called flank steak. These deep sheets of red are pleasant and chewy, with a mild taste that isn't too overpowering – a great starter.
The maza is the juiciest, most aromatic cut on the hind half of the jamón. The intense, creamy taste hits first but the pungent and explosive aftertaste leaves us craving more.
The punta has the greatest intensity of flavour as all the sweetness and spices from the oxidation process collect here, at the hip end of the leg, as the fat drips down. These thin slices pack concentrated savoury flavour in every bite.
<|fim_middle|> Toledo synagogue became a symbol of anti-Semitism in Spain - 29 Sep, 2018 @ 11:05
FIN-ESSE: Exploring Malaga's most famous seafood dishes - 9 Sep, 2018 @ 10:05
Flavours of Córdoba: A tour of Córdoba's tastiest dishes - 20 Aug, 2018 @ 09:00
Retracing the footsteps of Lorca, Granada's most celebrated poet, during his centenary year - 19 Aug, 2018 @ 09:00
Cristiano Ronaldo ditches home in Spain for new palatial pad in Italy - 18 Aug, 2018 @ 10:08
Posters encouraging tourists to jump off balconies spotted in Brit holiday hotspots in Spain - 16 Aug, 2018 @ 17:49
Why have jellyfish invaded the Costa del Sol? - 12 Aug, 2018 @ 13:00
Malaga launches hospitality recycling campaign on Spain's Costa del Sol - 11 Aug, 2018 @ 10:00
HAM HUNT: In search of the world's best jamón in Spain's Andalucia - 8 Aug, 2018 @ 15:59
Malaga taxi drivers have stopped their strike until September - 2 Aug, 2018 @ 18:50
jamon de la bellota
Previous articleChelsea pays €71.6 million to Spain's Athletic Bilbao for Kepa
Next articleGunshot fired on Costa del Sol sees bullet narrowly miss two policemen's heads before flying through neighbour's living room as they watched TV
HAMMING IT UP: Andalucia's award-winning jamon stars at Oscars after-party
Why was Winnie the Pooh banned in Spain ahead of Chinese president's state visit this week?
Police intercept almost 11,000 packets of expired jamon about to be put back on sale in southern Spain
British carers given four years in jail for defrauding elderly couple of €270,000 in Alicante – but will KEEP...
Open date REVEALED for 'deliberately torched' Marbella chiringuito originally opened by Eva Longoria | So now you know. But, can we really say that Jamón de Bellota 100% Ibérico is the world's best jamón? After one tasting we're not qualified to judge. But if there is such a thing as perfection, it comes pretty close.
About Diana Tang
How a | 64 |
Social Justice encompasses reaching in and reaching out. It means caring for our members AND caring for our community, our country, our world. Sometimes that involves something as small as just 'being there' to listen to someone. Sometimes that means taking action on important issues.
The UUA Advocacy Witness Team has three<|fim_middle|> and recycled, of course) and a willingness to learn and make thoughtful changes to your lifestyle! If interested, call the church office, 563-243-4972, and leave a message.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clinton works in conjunction with Terracycle to recycle Candy Wrappers, Cheese Packaging, Chip Bags, Dairy Tubs, Energy Bar Wrappers, Inkjet Cartridges, and Colgate Oral Care products. Pat Walke will also take any and all of your plastic recyclables with any number from 1 to 7 to the Jackson County DAC, where they will be recycled responsibly. Bring your items to the kitchen or Green Sanctuary area in the Olympia Brown Room and we will literally take it from there!
Special services throughout the year feature programs and collections for social action. | newsletters to help you keep updated on important social justice opportunities Visit Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA's) Social Justice pages. One of their actions is Lobbying for BGLT Equality. They are asking UUs to visit their representative or senator's district or national office and ask them to support BGLT equality by working on the following issues: Repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell; supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act; Marriage Equality, and stricter Hate Crimes enforcement.
Through participation in the annual Clinton non-violence march and other events, we strive to show that we stand on the side of peace, justice and equality. The Sisters of St. Francis at the Canticle in Clinton strive to achieve these goals. Many of us have connections and associations with the Center for Active Nonviolence and Peacemaking.
On the fourth Sunday of each month, offering donations that are not marked for pledges are donated to a non-profit organization that whose values reflect our UU principles.
Every year, we participate in this UU Service Committee program. GAYT boxes are taken home by each family and set on the table where meals are eaten. Family members are encouraged to think of all the people who have less to eat than they do, while putting enough cash into the box to feed a "guest" for that meal. The boxes are returned and the money collected is turned in to the UUSC who shares with us what worthwhile causes the money has been--and is--being used for.
Members of the Clinton UUF are working on a program to inform, cooperate with, and challenge other community members to do their part in rescuing our Earth from the effects of years of overuse and abuse.
At this point, we are focusing on using a UUA-sponsored program called "A Low Carbon Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds." Experts say that we (inhabitants on this planet) have no choice but to join together NOW to help save Earth as we know it. UUF member Pat Walke will coordinate and lead these workshops, on an as-needed basis. All you need is the workbook (available at the sessions, used | 446 |
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What money is available to help my practice?
How can I access support?
The BMA recently released guidance describing various funding and support streams available to general practice. The first thing to do is consider what you actually need. In England, most of the funding is being allocated through CCGs, so contact them to see if they can help.
Dr Dean Eggitt, medical secretary at Doncaster LMC, told Pulse that he recommends all practices have a one-sheet business plan that they send to the CCG all year to access whatever funding is available, particularly around winter when funding streams tend to open up.
This should state specific examples of what you want, which could range from new hardware (like a spare ECG machine) to business training for the practice manager. The business plan should include: the problem, the potential solution, how much it's going to cost, and how you're going to prove that it had a positive outcome, with facts and figures to back up your argument.
What support is there if the practice is short of doctors?
If you are concerned about potential retirements, the Retained Doctor Scheme [1] helps support GPs who might otherwise leave general practice, but can't work more than four sessions a week. It was updated in July 2016 to offer more money, which is available until June 2019. The enhanced payment is open to current retained GP (RGPs), GPs who are not currently practising and any GPs who can provide their GP dean with 'compelling evidence that they are intending to leave practice and would do so without this scheme'. GPs must be on the performers list and intend to work less than 208 sessions a year.
The GP will be paid a bursary of up to £4,000, depending on the number of sessions they work and the practice can claim £76.92 per session that the RGP works (previously this was £59.18). To apply, download a form from your local deanery and send it to the local GP dean, who manages the scheme.
There is also a Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice scheme [2] to subsidise (but not fully fund) practice pharmacists, a follow-up to last year's pilot. Details are expected before the end of the year, but the aim is one pharmacist per 30,000 of population and groups of practices will be expected to work together on bids. The GPC recommends starting to put together a bid now, as last year the turnaround from announcing the pilot to the closing date for applications was very short.
Can I get training for my staff?
There is £45m available over five years to train reception and clerical staff to carry out active signposting and managing clinical correspondence. This will be allocated to CCGs in autumn on a per-head-of-population basis to hand out appropriately.
There are 300 free places for the next three years to train individuals in leadership as part of a general practice improvement leader programme. The deadline for<|fim_middle|> and improvement support.
Local teams will identify eligible practices using local intelligence as well as some national criteria, which include CQC rating, low QOF achievement, lack of staff and support from the LMC, CCG or NHS England local area team (as this indicates that external bodies have significant concerns about the practice). Local teams should have identified practices for the £16m 2016/17 money by 18 October, but it is still worth sending a business plan to them in case there is flexibility in the deadline, or for future years of the GP resilience programme.
There is also the £10m Vulnerable Practices Fund [4]. The deadline for areas to agree support for practices is 31 October, but some teams may not have allocated funding and not all the money has reached practices. Contact your CCG to find out if there is any funding available and if not you may be able to access the GP resilience programme.
What support is there if I'm struggling mentally?
From January 2017 GPs will be able to access a free confidential service for psychotherapy assessment and treatment. GPs will be able to access face-to-face support across 13 regions in England for general psychiatric assessment and treatment, addiction related health problems and one-to-one and group psychotherapy sessions, run by the Hurley Clinic. You will be able to access this through a confidential national self-referral phone line, website and app.
If you need support now and can travel to London, you can get treatment at the practitioners health programme there.
What support is there outside England?
Support outside England varies depending on region, so contact your local health board to see what support is available for you. In Wales, some health boards have employed additional doctors to plug gaps, in Scotland, some NHS boards offer direct support to practices, and in northern Ireland there is help on a case-by-case basis, but it will all vary depending on area.
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Support for practice managers and practice nurse development has been promised, but there are no details yet.
Is there any support I can access if my practice is struggling?
NHS England has announced various funding streams to help practices. The General Practice Resilience Programme [3] is a four year £40m fund. Local teams (the CCG in most areas) will offer practices items from a 'menu of support' that includes: coaching or mentorship, support with workforce issues and change management | 115 |
Novelist Rachel Lyon will be the next Editor in Chief of Epiphany
By Emily Temple
Today, in a press release, the Board of Directors of Epiphany announced that Rachel Lyon, author of Self-Portrait With Boy, founder of the Ditmas Lit Literary Series, and Literary Hub contributor, will be taking over the<|fim_middle|> economically disadvantaged writers, and marginalized writers of all stripes.
I'm excited to get started.
Rachel Lyon
book news Epiphany literary magazines Rachel Lyon | role of Editor in Chief. The board noted that "Rachel has a multitude of talent and cares deeply about writers and writing; she understands Epiphany and what we are trying to achieve."
The same press release included a letter from Lyon:
Dear Epiphany readers, writers, lovers, and enthusiasts:
I am overjoyed to take up the position of Editor-in-Chief, and honored to follow in the footsteps of Alex Gilvarry, Tracy O'Neill, and Odette Heideman—a veritable parade of whipsmart literary talents.
I've long admired Epiphany from afar. If you're reading this, you probably already know all about the world-renowned authors, poets, and translators whose work has appeared in Epiphany's pages. You probably already know about its commitment to emerging writers. I bet you're also aware of the exciting changes that are happening now, in Epiphany's present moment: its growing web presence, for instance. The excellent new criticism series The Epiphanic. The terrific short stories published under the title "Varieties of Estrangement." Maybe you even attended this year's smash-success fête.
So I'd like to invite you instead to consider with me Epiphany's future. Imagine for a moment all the writers we haven't yet published, but will. The fiction writers who will craft complex new worlds for us out of nothing. The essayists who will illuminate for us some arcane corner of culture, or narrate for us in brilliant specificity a unique history of their own. The translators who will give voice to writers working in other languages. The poets whose work will become a new light by which to see.
We read, I think, foremost in pursuit of epiphany: a crystalline sense of empathic understanding that remains in the spirit long after the particulars (words, sentences) are forgotten. As editor, then, committed to this journal in name and in essence, I will be on the lookout for fresh, intelligent literature of clarity, truth, and wit. I will be committed to publishing writers of color, LGBTQIA writers, | 425 |
ReviewsAlbums
Fiery Furnaces: I'm Going Away
Josh Frank
Like their namesake, the Fiery Furnaces exhibit a flame-like propensity for shifting and moving rapidly. This is evident both in their music, which is spontaneous and unpredictable, and in their career —each of their seven albums almost sounds like the work of a different<|fim_middle|> and more melodic than the band's previous work, but it also exhibits a tightness and a knack for narrative storytelling that are striking. The band switches between fast garage-rock and funk-inspired jams, with a staggering variety of instruments picked up along the way. Eleanor Friedberger's tenor is strong and joyful, and against the backdrop of her brother's strong instrumentals, it's positively earth-shaking.
The term "experimental rock" is usually too vague to be at all useful, but it applies perfectly to I'm Going Away. Without being self congratulatory or grandiose, the album is a constant work-in-progress, with an experiment or surprise around every corner. I wasn't crazy about every track, but they all seemed to change the more I listened to them, and depth, and not perfection, is the mark of a band that has fully matured.
In A Word: Flying
fiery furnaces
Interview with Eleanor Friedberger: Writing Her Own Love Letter
Claire Suellentrop | band. But in a world of small rock bands that seemingly break up before the press is cooled on their first record, this perpetual morphing seems to be the reason that this brother and sister duo is so long-lived.
It's this constant change that's also the reason for the success of I'm Going Away. It's softer | 66 |
What Is Antifreeze and What Is It Used For?
Artur_Nyk/Shutterstock
Andy Jensen
Jul 26, 2021 | 2:32 PM
What is antifreeze?
What is antifreeze used for?
What is antifreeze made of?
What color is antifreeze?
How do I check my antifreeze?
NASCAR gets away with running just water in their cooling systems, so why do you and I have to use antifreeze? If it's called "antifreeze," implying cold weather driving, then why do we also call it "coolant"? And why is antifreeze sweet? Just what is antifreeze anyway? Here are the answers to everything you probably ever wanted to know about the benefits of antifreeze.
Antifreeze is a liquid that circulates in the cooling system primarily as a heat exchanger between the engine (picking up heat) and the radiator (shedding heat). This lets the engine run at the optimum temperature for performance, efficiency, longevity and emissions. While primarily acting as coolant, it's also an "anti-freeze" liquid, preventing the cooling system from freezing solid in cold weather.
You've seen jugs of antifreeze at the auto parts store, or even the grocery store. Widely available and affordable, this critical fluid isn't changed out nearly as often as oil, and there have been many changes to the stuff over the years, leaving many drivers unfamiliar with antifreeze.
Automotive antifreeze has three primary uses: It lowers the freezing temperature, raises the fluid's boiling point and prevents corrosion.
Prevents freezing
The primary ingredients in antifreeze prevent the formation of ice crystals, lowering the freezing point of the liquid to a chilly minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit. This refusal to freeze prevents engine damage in extremely cold weather, circulating fluids through the engine and cooling system as it warms up.
Cooling properties
Antifreeze is often called "coolant," since it circulates in the cooling system and subcomponents like the water pump, radiator and thermostat. It cools the engine by raising the boiling point of the fluid to approximately the operating temperature of the engine and then drawing away the excess heat. These cooling properties combined with the pressurized system prevent the antifreeze from boiling off, and it remains a liquid.
Prevents corrosion
Fluids plus metal is a recipe for rust, especially when you add heat. Antifreeze additives prevent rust and corrosion, enabling longer engine life. Antifreeze's ability to prevent internal corrosion is one of the many reasons engines last longer than ever.
There are a few different ingredients depending on the age, brand and type of antifreeze.
Water: Despite all the warnings against using straight water, your cooling system will<|fim_middle|>ifreeze, combining inorganic and organic antifreeze.
Unlike engine oil, your engine's antifreeze doesn't have a handy dipstick. However, there are a few ways to check your antifreeze and keep everything at the right temperatures.
Look at the overflow tank
It should be above the "hot" and "cold" lines when the engine is respectively warmed up or cold. If it is low, you can add more. The premixed antifreeze just requires you to pour it into the overflow tank or radiator, while undiluted antifreeze needs you to mix it 50/50 with distilled water.
Check your owner's manual
That book in your glove compartment that many ignore offers a bunch of advice. Under the maintenance section, it has a recommendation for changing your antifreeze. Most recommend changing fluid at 60,000 miles or more, with some even suggesting 150,000 miles. Keep it changed on schedule and you won't have to worry about it.
Antifreeze testing
If you really want to check the condition of your antifreeze, grab a cheap coolant tester, available for less than $5 from any auto parts store. Simply unscrew the radiator cap, drop in the tester's inlet hose, and draw up a small amount of coolant. The arrow will display the antifreeze's boil-over and freeze-protection levels.
Have a feel
Dip a finger into the radiator or coolant overflow tank (please, only when the engine is completely cool). Antifreeze should feel slick and smooth, not gritty. Grit suggests contaminants, meaning you need a fluid change ASAP.
What Is a Battery Trickle Charger?
How Often Should You Change Your Cabin Air Filter
How Long Does It Take to Get an Oil Change? | operate best at 50% water and 50% antifreeze. If you buy a pre-diluted antifreeze mix, you're buying a good amount of water.
Ethylene glycol: This is the primary ingredient in modern antifreeze. It's a compound that prevents ice crystal formation in water, dramatically lowering the freezing temperature. It's literally anti-freeze. This is also where the sweet smell and taste come from.
Glycerol: This was the original antifreeze that ran in cars 100+ years ago. Also called "glycerin," this compound gives antifreeze its viscosity. Oddly, it also has a sweet taste.
Propylene glycol: This is a new main ingredient in antifreeze, a synthetic organic compound that is odorless, colorless, nontoxic and less dangerous than ethylene glycol.
Additives: Additional ingredients such as phosphate and sodium benzoate prevent corrosion and keep the pH in balance.
Ask any four of your friends what color is antifreeze, and you'll likely get four different answers. Your friends aren't necessarily wrong, as antifreeze can be any number of colors, and before you ask—no, these aren't different flavors.
The most common color of antifreeze over several decades, this stuff is still on the shelves and in radiators today. Today, it's called "conventional" or "inorganic" antifreeze.
What antifreeze is orange? It's called "Dex-Cool." This is the newer stuff, filling cooling systems starting in the 1990s. Whether your vehicle comes with green or orange antifreeze, keep buying that color. And just remember, you cannot mix the colors or you'll have a serious and expensive engine problem.
European cars often have a blue antifreeze mix, though you can find it in American vehicles as well. This could be a "hybrid" ant | 402 |
One of the pieces I rediscovered during my recent closet clean out was this navy trench coat (last worn here). I get so bored with my outerwear this time of year so I try to rotate which coat I'm wearing at least a couple times a week. My warmest options are this cocoon coat and my puffer coat but I made this lightweight trench appropriate for temperatures in the high 30s with a warm sweater underneath and my favorite plaid scarf. I also swapped out my usual dark denim for white skinny jeans and suddenly felt like I had a totally different winter look. I'll definitely be trying the same with my other outerwear options (this and this).
I kept the accessories to my everyday basics: a signet ring that was a gift from my cousin Emily, a favorite clutch that goes with everything in my wardrobe, and ankle boots that share a name with my puppy Rory. Do you have a favorite navy trench coat (or one in a different color)? Would you wear white jeans in winter?
Cute outfit, love that coat!
Perfectly chic and effortless! I've been looking for a trench coat like yours.
Love this trench! My only trench coat is navy as well, and I absolutely love it. My puffer is also navy. I guess navy is my favorite for outerwear! I love how<|fim_middle|> so adorable!
I love that clutch! And your booties!! Such a cool outfit.
So cute and preppy–just your style! love how a closet cleanout can help make some really cute new outfits!
whoa i really love these boots – putting on the wish list now!
i would totally wear white jeans in the winter, would give all my sweaters a new look + you look great!
I really love the scarf you used in this outfit!
I am obsessed with every one of your outfits and this is no exception!!
Shop Embellished Sandals, Black Lace Bralettes, Gold And Silver Jewelry, Black Pump Shoes and more. Get this widget. | cleaning out your closet and not shopping forces you to wear what you own, even things you've forgotten about or always pass over. It makes you appreciate your things that much more.
I just bought a red trench coat and can't wait to try it out. Perhaps I can use your idea and wear it in the cold with layers instead of waiting for warmer temperatures!
As warm and cozy as my puffer coat is, I'm tired of it! So pumped to go back to trenches and cropped jackets!
Love that trench coat and those booties – | 110 |
It has an elegant curved roof and diamond-design trellis side panels that are ideal for climbing plants.
Made from FSC Certified, pressure treated timber, it comes with a 10 year guarantee against rot for extra piece of mind.
The Daria<|fim_middle|> roof and diamond-design trellis side panels that are ideal for climbing plants where the blooms will smother the rustic timber.
The arch has an adjustable width of up to 1.8m, allowing you to adapt the piece to suit any garden size or arrangement. Both aesthetically pleasing in its natural state, as well as covered in a variety of climbing plants, the Daria Arch is a versatile garden feature that will look stunning year after year.
Includes curved roof and 2 side trellis panels. | Arch is designed to act as both a welcoming addition to garden pathways and walkways or as a standalone decorative feature to add height and interest to areas of interest. It has an simple yet stylish curved | 39 |
It is beneficial for a business in California to choose the right telephone service provider. You have to conduct thorough research and evaluation of the options you have before settling for the one that best suits your needs. After all, many people use telephone services for communicating with their business colleagues. Therefore, having the best mode of phone service is vital to the success of business. You have to make sure that you always go with the right service type and provider. The two primary business phone services in California are: traditional analog telephone service and a VoIP service. It is critical that you understand the difference between these two phone services before making your final decision. You can compare the best small business phone services below.
What is California Business VoIP Phone Service?
An alternative to traditional landline service, VoIP has become increasingly popular with new businesses as well as older companies that switch after realizing how VoIP can increase productivity and reduce operating costs. Although the technology is over ten years old now, it initially suffered from poor call quality due to limits in broadband technology. That issue is no longer a concern due to the widespread deployment of superior broadband networks, and adaptation of VoIP is expanding rapidly. VoIP now offers the same call quality as analog phone service while providing more features at a better price. VoIP works by sending voice calls over the internet rather than through traditional analog telephone lines, so it is important that you have a fast and reliable business internet connection available. To see if your internet connection in California<|fim_middle|> VoIP providers in California offer plans designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes. You could have a small company with only five lines, or a large corporation that uses thousands of extensions for multiple departments. There is a VoIP service that meets your business needs.
Next, you can use MyRatePlan to look at different offers from business VoIP providers in California. Compare their services, prices and reputation for serving businesses in the area. Getting a good deal is great, but having a consistently working phone system is crucial to your business' success. A low rate is not good enough if the company does not have a positive track record for excellent customer service and being reliable.
What is Traditional Business Phone Service in California?
This large and old infrastructure is expensive to support. This is why using traditional phones is so much more expensive than VoIP in California. The network requires regular maintenance and is analog, meaning it is inefficient when it comes to transferring long distance messages.
Almost all local businesses make use of a PBX (private branch exchange), which directs any incoming calls at their California office. The PBX makes it possible for businesses to use different call features, including caller ID, multiple lines, live seminars, call waiting, voice messaging, etc.
If you do decide to manage your California organization's communications with an analog PBX, you should consider that changing or upgrading it is often complicated and definitely not cheap. Several PBX providers allot each client a restricted number of outside lines. In these cases, if your corporation ever expands and you have a need for more lines, you'll have to buy more machines in order to support this expansion. | will support VoIP service, use the MyRatePlan internet speed test.
VoIP service providers offer plans tailored to businesses of all sizes and provide essential features like voicemail and call waiting, as well as advanced productivity features including automated line attendants and remote access. Whether your business needs a few lines or you need several thousand, VoIP providers in California can meet your requirements and help to increase the efficiency and profitability of your business.
Most business | 89 |
ananovareviews
Maheshwari Public School, Jawahar Nagar 45 th Annual Function-2022
The air of gaiety and festivity engulfed the premises of Maheshwari Public School, Jawahar Nagar with the celebration of its Annual Function, Satyanubhuti, a grandiloquent cultural bonanza highlighting the need for Buddha's teaching in the present-day scenario. The event was held in the glorious presence of the esteemed members of ECMS, Chairman Sh Kedar Mal Bhala, and Vice Chairman Sh. Bajrang Lal Baheti, General Secretary Education Sh Madhu Sudan Bihani, Hon. Secretary CA Amit Gattani, Treasurer CA Anil Kumar Sharda, Building Secretary Mr. Sumit Kabra , School Principal Mr. Ashok Vaid, Parents. Staff and Students. The Chief Guest of the day was Sh. Lalit Maheshwari (Retd IPS) and the Guest of Honour was Dr. Jit<|fim_middle|> impact of the teachings of Buddhism on the furious ruler Ashoka, who exerted himself strenuously for the propagation of Buddhism which he ultimately found solace and peace of mind. Parents and guests seemed glued to the complete programme having a glint of pride in their eyes as they watched the mesmerizing performances of the students. The event was a great success which was concluded with a Vote of Thanks by the Head Boy of the school followed by the National Anthem.
Education • Events
Chiropractic service camp at
Chanchalben Mafatlal Patel College of Physiotherapy
Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication (HJUJ)
Picasso Animation College, Jaipur
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MPS Annual awards and Cultural Meet (Primary) 30.12 22 | endra Singh Makkar ( HOD and Director Cardiology, EHCC). The day started with the auspicious lighting of a lamp at the Saraswati Temple of the school. The school auditorium ' Takshashila' was set in a grandeur arrangement. The guests were given a floral. They were adorned with a shawl, a traditional saafa & a memento as a token of gratitude. Chairman , MPS gave a welcome address to the august gathering.
The vision of ECMS and MPS was presented by Gen. Secretary of Education and Hon. Secretary MPS, JN in which they expressed their keen desire of creating a dynamic environment to bring out the best of every student in a holistic manner. They said that along with learning, ECMS focuses on the complete development of a child, creating a strong foundation for them to emerge as wise leaders rooted in their ethnicity and culture. School Principal read out the annual report of the school enumerating the achievements of the sites. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the parents who have shown unflinching faith in the institution. In the Award Ceremony, Awards and Certificates were conferred on the students under multifarious categories. The dignitaries of the day congratulated the students for their stupendous accomplishments and acknowledged the efforts of the school in the multifaceted growth of its students. Then there was the time of unveiling the Annual School Magazine, "ARCHWAY" which was the greatest attraction of the day. The cultural program had colourful and enthusiastic presentations of orchestra, songs, dances and drama which highlighted the deep | 315 |
Rarely available contemporary home located in highly sought after Holly Knoll Estates. Sophisticated architectural design with views of nature from every window. Vaulted ceilings, floor to ceiling windows. Wood burning fireplaces in living room and family room. Pellet stove in lower level office/gym. Updated Master bath in 2018 with Silver Travertine (limestone) & natural pebble stone in the shower. Hall bathroom updated in 20<|fim_middle|> flows into nature. The most choice lot in the development, 17 acres of breathtaking forest sit directly behind this property. Fascinating design features throughout. All sliding doors replaced. HVAC 2014. Roof 2018. Water filtration system 2017. Garage flooring epoxied. Driveway resurfaced 2014. Minutes to Loch Raven Reservoir. 1 Year Premium HMS Warranty. | 18 with ceramic tile and barn doors. Tranquil and thoroughly modern architecture combine to create a Zen-like retreat; a home that seamlessly | 27 |
Published September 16, 2020 11:55am EDT
CBS All Access rebranding as Paramount+ in early 2021, promises new original series
The company is hoping to expand its reach internationally
By Tyler McCarthy FOXBusiness
Viacom CBS announced that it's rebranding the CBS All Access streaming service to the more all-encompassing name "Paramount+" in early 20<|fim_middle|>ined version of "Behind the Music" and a true-crime docuseries based on the hit TV show "Criminal Minds."
The network also announced a revival of "The Game" as part of BET's programming. | 21.
The company announced in a press release that now that CBS has merged with Viacom, it can offer more content to users than it previously could when CBS All Access got its start in 2014. The company also notes that it hopes to bring a "leading portfolio of broadcast, news, sports and entertainment brands" to more international markets, eyeing Australia, Latin America and the Nordics in 2021.
"Paramount is an iconic and storied brand beloved by consumers all over the world, and it is synonymous with quality, integrity and world-class storytelling," Viacom President and CEO Bob Bakish said in a statement. "With Paramount+, we're excited to establish one global streaming brand in the broad-pay segment that will draw on the sheer breadth and depth of the ViacomCBS portfolio to offer an extraordinary collection of content for everyone to enjoy."
VIACOMCBS CUTS UP TO 400 JOBS: SOURCES
CBS All access is changing its name. (CBS)
In addition to a name change, the company is hoping to stay competitive in the ever-growing streaming wars by offering more than 30,000 episodes and movies from BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and more leading up to the 2021 rebranding.
"The response from consumers in just the early weeks of the service's expansion already illustrates the tremendous opportunity ahead of us in bringing these phenomenal ViacomCBS brands together in one premium streaming home under the new Paramount+ name," said Marc DeBevoise, chief digital officer of ViacomCBS and president and CEO of ViacomCBS Digital. "With the addition of even more content from across the portfolio as well as the new exclusive originals we are announcing today, we look forward to the early 2021 rebrand and bringing existing and new subscribers more of the compelling, genre-spanning live sports, breaking news and mountain of entertainment ViacomCBS has to offer."
AS SHARES TANK VIACOM CEO BOB BAKISH SAYS THE MERGED COMPANY WON'T DO ANY DUMB DEALS
The company also seized the opportunity to announce some new original shows in development for when the Paramount+ rebrand takes place. New shows include "The Offer," a scripted series about Oscar-winning producer Al Ruddy's time working on "The Godfather;" "Lioness," a CIA drama led by Taylor Sheridan of "Yellowstone" fame; a reimag | 507 |
Head Coach Bill Self
Yearly History
Virtual Guide
1,000 Point Scorers
All-Time Player Stats (PDF)
DeBruce Center
Seating Chart (PDF)
No. 5 Jayhawks Fall at Iowa State, 72-64
Final Stats | Notes
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State used a suffocating defense and clutch shooting down the stretch to upend No. 5 Kansas, 72-64, Saturday afternoon at a sold out Hilton Coliseum.
KU fell to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in Big 12 play, while Iowa State improved to 15-6 and 5-3 in conference<|fim_middle|>-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. | action. The loss snaps KU's 10-game winning streak and spoils a 13-game stretch without a Jayhawk loss to the Cyclones dating back to 2004-05.
All five of KU's starters scored in double-figures with senior guard Tyshawn Taylor leading the way with 16 points and 10 assists. It marked Taylor's first double-double of the season. Junior forward Thomas Robinson added 13 points and seven boards.
The turning point in the game came when Iowa State's Tyrus McGee scored on a runner in the lane and completed a three-point play with 6:07 remaining to give ISU a 56-53 advantage. The series whipped the home crowd into a frenzy and gave the Cyclones a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the afternoon.
ISU held a 36-23 edge on the glass, including 7-1 over the final eight minutes of the game.
KU tried to mount a rally in the closing minutes with field goals by Robinson and Taylor on back-to-back possessions, which cut the lead to three. However, Chris Babb's steal and three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining proved to be the final dagger.
KU had trouble taking advantage of Cyclone mistakes early. Despite 13 ISU turnovers in the first half, KU converted those possessions into just 11 points.
With just its second sellout of the season, Iowa State came out on fire and jumped out to a 19-11 lead before the second media timeout of the game.
Kansas used a 10-0 in the later stages of the first half to take its first lead of the contest. Taylor highlighted the surge, as the senior guard had a mid-range jumper and a pair of fast break layups – the second gave KU the lead at 31-29 with 3:32 remaining in the first half.
However, the Cyclones scored the next five points to close the half up 37-34.
The Jayhawks opened the second half on an 11-2 run with all five Jayhawks on the floor scoring during the first four minutes of the period. Elijah Johnson's three-point basket from the far corner capped the rally at 45-39.
However, Iowa State answered with a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to regain the lead and control of the game.
Iowa State's Royce White led all scorers with 18 points in the game, including 14 in the second half.
Kansas will look to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season against Oklahoma on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse. Tip | 563 |
Cristobal previews spring football for the Ducks
After a shoutout to Oregon's women's basketball team, Ducks coach Mario Cristobal previewed fall camp
Cristobal previews spring football for the Ducks After a shoutout to Oregon's women's basketball team, Ducks coach Mario Cristobal previewed fall camp Check out this story on USATODAY.com: https://usat.ly/2FjNCVa
AP Published 6:51 p.m. ET March 6, 2018
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Oregon opens spring practice on Wednesday under coach Mario Cristobal. But before he even got his preview press conference underway on Tuesday, he shared his thoughts on another Oregon team, the sixth-ranked women's basketball team.
The Oregon women are coming off their<|fim_middle|> good! Go Ducks!"
More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | first-ever Pac-12 tournament championship and are expected to host first-round games for the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is on Monday.
"I know we'll be there in full support," Cristobal told reporters in Eugene before getting down to football business.
Cristobal replaced Willie Taggart, who bolted to take his dream job at Florida State. The team's co-offensive coordinator, Cristobal was hired soon after Taggart left after players publicly campaigned for him.
Cristobal's debut as coach came in the Las Vegas Bowl, which the Ducks lost to Boise State. Oregon finished the season 7-6.
Running back Royce Freeman and offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby are among those who have since moved on. But the Ducks return quarterback Justin Herbert, who missed five games last season with a broken collarbone. Linebacker Troy Dye is also back.
"Certainly we're excited as can be about spring ball. It's always that time of year when there's a lot of hope, a lot of new players, some guys that have developed and it's their time," Cristobal said. "You certainly have an opportunity to set your goals for your team, to improve, to elevate the standards."
Both Herbert and Dye are atop the spring depth chart, as is running back Tony Brooks-James and safety Ugo Amadi.
Center Jake Hansen and safety Nick Pickett are injured but are expected to return before the end of the spring. Linebacker Sampson Niu is out for the entire session.
The focus, Cristobal said, will be on fundamentals with an aim on reducing penalties and turnovers. Consistency is another point of emphasis.
"You can never be good enough at technique, you can never have enough polish on your craft," Cristobal said.
The Ducks will practice on April 7 at Franklin High School in Portland. The annual spring game is set for April 21 at Autzen Stadium.
Overall, the Ducks want to "establish a culture of excellence."
"We want to develop an intolerance for anything or anyone that does not uphold the standards of our culture," he said. "It's important to our guys to make being a Duck a very important, a very difficult club to be a member of, because of the sacrifices that we make and how hard we work."
Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt posted to Twitter: "Getting a lot done. First practice tomorrow. Definitely ready to get back out on the field. Really appreciate the players in meetings today. Retention is | 517 |
here's one of them attached. action shot!
Cool, let's hope for a new album.
apart from this pic (and there's another one there from january this year) - is there anything more known about what peter is doing and how he's doing these days? seems there's no current info around at all about my all-time favourite guitar player - and for quite some time now, sadly . . .
lazy poker - the main source of info about Peter Green has really shifted away from boards such as this to Facebook. Several groups there have occasional updates on Peter, mainly from his nephew / saxophonist Joe Green.
Check out Then Play On ... Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac for example, but there are several other similar groups. Many are "Closed Groups" on Facebook where you have to request joining in order to<|fim_middle|> Friends tour from about 7 or 8 years ago now, doubt we'll see him playing out in public again. But didn't we say that in the mid-80s? Again in the early '90s? Just when you count him out, he comes back. | post there, and your posts to the group don't show up on your personal Facebook timeline.
From one of my sources, Peter's still buying guitars at a fairly good clip, so he's gotta still be fired up to play. Just don't know if he's into letting us in on it these days. Since we HAVEN'T heard any new material from him since that little "Peter Green & | 82 |
Sharper Image Lelo Elise 2 Personal Massager
Lovense is a Singapore-based sex tech company that produces remote-controlled sex toys, as well as software. The company's mission is improving the way people experience pleasure. The company's products are designed for both men and women. The remote-controlled toys are available with a variety of features, such as:
Lovense toys for sex are sophisticated and engaging. Thanks to their unique syncing capabilities that mimic your partner's movements even if you're hundreds of miles away. The app allows you to sync your toys to your music library, which means you can create your own patterns and rhythms.
Made from ABS and silicone plastic, Lovense Sex toys for children are healthy for the body. They also have the smoothest, highest-quality silicone. The sex toys can be comfortably placed between women's feet and is designed to provide her a sexually enthralling experience while she strokes.
Lovense sex toys use Bluetooth technology to deliver an intense experience. It is possible to connect the devices to a third-party app that lets you and your partner play with the devices simultaneously. This technology allows you to replicate the real-life sensation of sexual intimacy without the risk of touching.
The Lovense Lush 3 sex toy is compact and lightweight and measures around three inches long. It has an insertable bulbous portion which provides an intense stimulation. The tail part is textured and comes with a standard c-shape, which allows you to feel stronger vibrations than other brands.
If you're looking for an sex toys with remote controls that is as fun as it is easy to operate, the Lovense Lush 3 is an great choice. This toy comes with an app that you can download onto your tablet or smartphone to control it from a distance. You can also select the mode and intensity you want, with the added benefit of a video call feature that lets your companion to see your actions.
The Lovense Lush 3 is more sturdy than its predecessor. Its durable, flared base keeps the toy from slipping through your sphincter and into your penis. This toy is ideal for penis shaft stimulation or ball stimulation. The best method to purchase a Lovense product is to go to the official website. You can also look out for sales they run at times, based on where you live. Sometimes, you can save up to 50% on these toys.
The Lovense Lush 3 is made of silicone and is body-safe. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means that it is able to get submerged into water up 30 minutes. It's also simple to clean.
The Lovense Max 2 is a small device that is able to increase sexual stimulation. It's packaged in a basic box that includes the sex toy, USB charging cable, and a user manual. It's not that costly either. One downside to the device is that it's not equipped with any additional accessories, like cleaners or lubricants. Lovense may add those things to future versions.
The Max 2 can be controlled remotely with an app called the Lovense Remote app. It lets you modify the levels of vibration and patterns for the device. It can also be synced to a partner's device via Bluetooth. This lets you have a realistic experience of cybersex from a distance away. Lovense also has a variety of other products.
The Lovense Max 2 has seven vibration modes that vary from basic to intense. You can select the mode that is most suitable for your partner. You can also alter the frequency of the vibrations so that they are more or less so.
The Lovense Gush is a portable hand-free, vibrating sextoy that offers comfortable, all-over stimulation. Its size is adjustable and features ridged sides to ensure maximum stimulation. It connects via Bluetooth to it's Lovense Remote app. This app allows you to customize the Gush's patterns and manage it through your smartphone.
The Lovense Gush is designed to give gentle vibrations, which create a pleasant buzzing sensation. It also has built-in music recognition for Spotify playlists. It requires 65 minutes to fully charge and offers 1.5 to 2 hours of battery time. The device also requires a water-based lube as well as pairing to the Lovense app.
Lovense Gush is easy to utilize and can be utilized during both solo play and sexual sex that is penetrative. It can help provide an unrestricted stimulation that allows you can focus on the needs of your partner. It intensifies sensations and produces bigger orgasms.
Ferri Lovense is a smartphone app that allows you to connect with people through the application. It's features include video and voice calls. Additionally, you can send messages or vibration patterns. It can also be used to make and make voice memos. This application can be utilized by anonymous users and cam performers.
Ferri is compatible with<|fim_middle|> usage and up to five day of battery standby. It's made from ABS plastic and body-safe silicone and is protected by a one-year warranty.
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Kiiroo Onyx 2 Sleeves | Bluetooth 4.0 and is compatible with Mac and Windows PCs. It allows you to control your device via an app or on the phone of your friend. The app allows you to alter the sound and the pattern to create the perfect ambience. There are four preset sound patterns that you can choose from. You can also alter the speed and frequency.
The Ferri Lovense can be charged using USB or an adapter for power. Its charging time is of 60 minutes or about two hours, based on the usage. It has a magnetic cap and an sculpted body. It also features a rounded edge that targets external pleasure points.
Hush is a great way to use Hush to make your love life more exciting. It's clever in its design and is easy to remove when you are done. However, it can be quite loud especially when you turn it to the maximum setting. If you're planning to utilize Hush when you're in public it's best to use it when you're on your own.
In order to use Hush for the first time, you'll need to sign up with the application. Then, you'll be able to locate your friend and connect your devices. Once you've paired them, you'll be able to play with your partner's toy from a distance. You can even transmit your partner's vibration patterns in real-time. You'll have the same control as with Bluetooth, including loop and float functions. It also allows you to video chat with your friend while you control Hush.
Hush plug Hush plug is made from silicone and is water-resistant. It should be cleaned with a mild soap or sex toy cleaner. It is important to select a cleaner that is fragrance-free and antibacterial. Once cleaned, Hush must be thoroughly dried.
Lovense has released a upgraded version of its Edge face-stimulation device called the Edge 2. The Edge 2 has a number of improvements over the original and includes a magnetic charging port that makes it easier to use. The Edge 2 also features an improved antenna layout and design to ensure more secure connections. The Edge is a new model that Edge features a larger bulb located just above the neck, which provides more stability and P-Spot stimulation and an upgraded battery that will last longer than the predecessor.
Lovense Edge 2 can be controlled by an app on your mobile phone. The app allows you to connect vibration patterns to music or sounds on your phone, and wake up with vibration alarm. The app also lets you manage the Edge 2 from a distance. There are two applications for controlling it, so you have the option to choose which one works most effectively for you.
Edge 2 Edge 2 comes with four different vibration patterns and each one has its own intensity level. To pick the most suitable one, hold the power button for 3 to 5 seconds. The Edge 2 will then briefly beep. The level of intensity can be altered using the four intensity settings, and the Edge 2 has four pre-programmed patterns that you can choose from: wave, pulse fireworks, pulses, and earthquake. The app also lets users change the patterns and intensities.
Nora Lovense Nora Lovense is a sexual toy that comes with a range of attributes. It is made from medical-grade silicone, which is non-allergenic and safe for your body. It includes a handle made of medical-grade ABS plastic. The handle is comfortable and ergonomic to grasp. And , unlike other like-minded products Nora is able to be washed by using just mild soap and water.
Nora has a rotating head that gently massages your g-spot while transferring vibration from your motor in the clitoral region. You can alter how intense the massage is by adjusting the settings, which include the vibration intensity and rotation speed. It is also equipped with a companion app that allows you to remotely control Nora. Using this app, you could even transfer control to your partner via Bluetooth as well as Wifi.
Nora comes with a USB rechargeable battery that can last for up to four hours of continuous | 821 |
Disability Confident Employer: ASCG works with Shaw Trust
ASCG has been working closely with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the charity, Shaw Trust to give people with disabilities a chance to have a bright career with ASCG.
After employing two team members through Shaw Trust, we have been recognised and accredited with a Level 2 Disability Confident Committed accreditation, which will be renewed in 2021.
Meet David Pearson
David<|fim_middle|> meet General Manager, Michael Richardson and HR Business Partner Dawn Hunter- Thompson who offered David a career with us. Since that day, David hasn't looked back, saying: "When I arrived on my first day I was over the moon. It felt like winning the lottery. At first, I was quiet and wasn't very confident with my work, but now I'm sticking on three labels at a time!"
Michael added: "The first time I met David, I knew I had to do everything I could to be in a position to offer him a job on my team. His work ethic and passion for his job are second to none. I'm so happy that David has settled and feels so comfortable at ASCG, he fits into the team and operation so well. I have no doubt David has a lot of happy years ahead of him at ASCG, and I look forward to working with him for years to come."
David is a true inspiration, a real role model and an asset to our workforce. Swapping letters for garments has proven to be an easy transition for David, and it's great to see and hear that he is loving working at ASCG as much as we are enjoying having him here. | used to work for his local council, completing operative tasks such as fulfilling envelopes, boxes and such, working alongside other people with physical disabilities. David recalls: "I count my blessings that I am so lucky. I used to work with people who were blind, had no arms and had prosthetic legs. I am so grateful every day." Sadly, David was made redundant by the council, which really knocked his confidence. He thought he would never work again, describing himself as hitting rock bottom.
David was introduced to ASCG by Shaw Trust in 2018. He came in to | 119 |
As a person who loves the creativity of designing a robot I also have a competitive streak in me. As a coach I want my team to do well in the competition but I need to remind myself that it's not about the scores.
When I am volunteering at events, as a referee, I see a number of parents that are coaching from the sidelines. Admittedly, I have also been a parent that coached from the sideline.
Referee teams have regular discussions to review the rules and how to properly enforce them but that's not our primary job. Our job is to educate the students on fair play. The Vex design is to advise students before they make an error and to only<|fim_middle|> your advice when they have a problem but then again maybe they wont. Either way it's okay. | hold them accountable when there is actual intent to break a rule. I find that many adults get hung up on the rules and the score instead of enjoying the spirit of the competition.
We need to remember that the competitions are what drive our students to learn and make better robots – but that's it. My preference would be that the coaches and parents hang back and let the teams experience their success and failures on their own. The teams know what they have to do. Maybe they will seek | 97 |
D23 Event : Pandora: The World of Avatar Set to Open Summer 2017, New Renderings Released, Night View Concept-Art of DHS Star Wars Land, Epcot Overhaul, and more...
Yesterday at the D23's Destination D: Amazing Adventures presentation, Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts unveiled a new rendering showing how Disney's Hollywood Studios Star Wars Land will look at night. The land will take on a whole new dimension after dark and feature adventures and surprises around each corner.
He also revealed that a Star Tours update is also underway at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland park in Anaheim, California, to bring more stories from a galaxy, far, far away to life in the parks.
A new adventure to Star Tours – the Adventures Continue attraction will be added. Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm teams are currently in production to add an exciting new mission to the attraction based on elements from Star Wars Episode VIII.
Let's move to Animal Kingdom and Pandora – The World of Avatar as Bob Chapek also gave a construction update about the new land which is now officially scheduled for an opening at Disney's Animal Kingdom in summer 2017. Three renderings were also released showing new locations in Pandora : the World of Avatar.
Pongu Pongu will be a special drink location with a design that is as eclectic as its Expat owner...
Satu'li Canteen will be the main restaurant in Pandora – The World of Avatar and will feature Na'vi art and cultural items.
At Windtraders, travelers will be able to find Na'vi cultural items, toys, science kits, and more.
He also shared a look at a recent construction milestone - scaffolding has just been removed from the entry bridge into the new land (near Tiffins restaurant), officially connecting the land with the rest of the park.
According to the storyline developed by Walt Disney Imagineering and Lightstorm Entertainment, this bridge was built during a time when a destructive company called the RDA came to Pandora. Now that they're long gone, nature is breaking down evidence of their presence. This bridge will soon serve as an entry into the base camp of Alpha Centauri Expeditions, the eco-tour group that is preparing Pandora for future explorers and adventure seekers.
The story of the bridge is just our first look inside this land, which fulfills the original mission of Disney's Animal Kingdom of being a park that honors animals and natural environments "real, ancient and imagined."
The entire Pandora – The World of Avatar land will transport guests to a visually stunning world complete with floating mountains and bioluminescent plants. Here, guests will be able to experience two excursions that will truly push adventure to the next level. First, the family friendly Na'vi River Journey will send guests down a sacred river hidden within a bioluminescent rainforest.
Their journey will end in an unforgettable encounter with a Na'vi Shaman, a figure who has a deep connection to the life force of Pandora.
And second, the Avatar Flight of Passage excursion will offer the jaw-dropping experience of riding on a Banshee over the world of Pandora.
Last but not least, a good news for all Epcot fans as Bob Chapek at Destination D announced that an overhaul is in the plans for WDW Epcot! Chapek said that he asked WDI creative team to "dream big" about the upcoming transformations and that the park will become "more Disney, timeless, relevant, family-friendly" while staying faithful to Epcot original vision of an edutainment park. Well, let's give him the benefit of the doubt about that one, would we?
Libellés : DHS Star Wars Land, epcot, Pandore: The World of Avatar
How Wanda CEO Wang Jianlin Prepares His Counterattack Against Shanghaî Disneyland
As you know Wanda's CEO Wang Jianlin - real estate tycoon and richest man in China - is self declared Disney's biggest foe and determined to make Shanghaî Disneyland a financial failure. His famous quote "One tiger is no match for a pack of wolves - Shanghaî has one Disney while Wanda, across the nation, will open 15 or 20 theme parks" is now famous and two theme parks built at the speed of light have already open in Hefei and Nanchang.
Now, Wang Jianlin did a series of announcements recently which shows that he's ready to spend an enourmous amount of money to win the battle, but this time things has changed a bit as he's apparently also learning from his mistakes - the park which opened in Wuhan in 2014 has closed just 19 months after its opening for "upgrades". So, let's see what were Wang Jianlin different moves during the last weeks as it might give an idea of what he prepares for the future.
First, on October 15 we learned that Wanda hired Andrew Kam, previously at the head of Hong Kong Disneyland. Andrew Kam will serve as "vice president of Wanda's Cultural Tourism Group, which is planning to build and operate a series of large-scale theme parks across China". Well, this first move is not necessarily a bad one as not only he hired someone who was at the head of a major theme park, but also a Disney one, which basically gives Wang Jianlin the knowledge of how his biggest competitor create theme parks, not to mention to learn what will be Disney's future projects in advance as Andrew Kam probably kept some connections inside the Mouse.
Then, a few days after, on October 26, Wang Jianlin and "his delegation" went to visit Shangha<|fim_middle|>ed Kong: Skull Island !...
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First Trailer for Disney's Live Adaptation of Beau... | î Disneyland. I suppose that Andrew Kam probably told him something like "well, you know, it might be a good idea that you'll go at Shanghaî Disneyland to see by your own eyes how Disney do it..." No surprise, Wang Jianlin declared during his visit: "The visit to Shanghai Disneyland is both an observation and study". And there is a lot to study at SDL for Wang Jianlin if he wants to understand the secrets of what makes a Disney park unique.
Then, and for sure impressed by the quality of Shanghaî Disneyland rides Wang went back to his headquarter, probably gather his "war council", and a few days ago an official press release from Premier Rides announced that Wanda has signed a contract with them "to build one of the most cutting-edge attractions ever to be introduced to the theme park industry".
Here is the full press release in case you missed it: The Wanda Group has awarded Premier Rides a major contract to design and build one of the most cutting-edge attractions ever to be introduced to the theme park industry. The first-of-its-kind attraction will set a new standard for technical innovation and will reinforce Wanda's stated goal to be the leader in China's themed entertainment industry. The project will represent the most significant investment to date by Wanda on a single attraction and will introduce stunning new technologies that are sure to impress Wanda's millions of fans.
Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides commented on the award stating "Premier Rides is incredibly respectful of Wanda's commitment to build the best, world-class attractions and world-class theme parks throughout China and beyond. Their dedication to providing high-end thrilling immersive experiences is very impressive and we are honored to be a part of their vision for success. The Wanda team is very focused and works hard to ensure the best possible product. Premier has great synergy with Wanda."
Premier Rides is known for focusing on large, technically complex projects that incorporate the newest technologies and has provided the ride equipment for award-winning attractions like The Revenge of the Mummy™ at Universal Studios and Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The project with Wanda takes ride technology to the next level and will raise the bar on expectations throughout the industry. Cloaked in a high level of secrecy, details of the project are being kept very quiet.
Seay added "We are honored to be part of Wanda's team which is absolutely focused on providing the newest and most exciting rides to the entertainment industry. The contract with Wanda is one of the largest ever for Premier Rides and we are very grateful for the trust placed in us. The themed entertainment business is very strong right now and Premier is in a growth phase to meet the industry needs. We are highly focused on the Asian market as its expansion continues to lead the industry and it has become the focus for the best the industry can imagine."
So, so far, Wanda has hired Andrew Kam former head of HKDL, signed a contract with the folks of Premier Rides who know what a good ride mean, and tour Shanghaî Disneyland for inspiration... And then, came the BIG announcement ten days ago: the Wanda Group will invest $15 Billion to compete with Disney in China. Yes, you've read it well: 15 BILLION Dollars, i.e THREE times the cost of Shanghaî Disneyland. Actually, to be fair, Wanda signed an agreement with the municipal government of Changsha in China's Hunan province to spend more than $7,3 billion on a Wanda City theme park in that city, plus another $7 billion on 15 shopping plazas throughout the province. It still makes $7,3B for one theme park only, 50% more than what Disney has spent on the whole Shanghaî Disney Resort, including SDL Hotels.
But wait, there is more as two days ago Wanda unveiled its second $15 billion development project in one week, pledging to build a major theme park in China's historic Xi'an Province for 50 billion yuan ( always $7.3 billion ). The rest of the investment will go into various developments across the region, including 19 commercial plazas. When someone announces in less than ten days two $15 billion projects including two theme parks for a cost of $7,3 billion each either you consider it's pure madness or that the guy is serious and you start to have a closer look at "what the hell is happening". And i don't mention that Wang Jianlin also bought two weeks ago Dick Clark Productions - who organize the Golden Globes, the American Music Awards, and more, for about one billion dollars, adding to Wanda's portfolio that includes the AMC theater chain and film-production company Legendary Entertainment ( more about that one in a moment ). Wanda's empire is also expanding on the movie production front as a huge "Movie Metropolis" is under completion in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao, where Wanda hopes to lure foreign productions to its massive soundstages. And Wanda also announced the creation of a multi-billion dollars investment fund to invest in all six Hollywood Studios. At first Wang Jianlin wanted to buy one of Hollywood "majors" studios and until recently he had some views on Paramount Pictures but, there, it started to raise an alert and 16 U.S Congressmen urged that Hollywood Studios should be consider among "national security" saying that "any Chinese company that benefits from "illegal subsidies" could pose a strategic, if not overt, national security threat as there have been "growing concerns about China's efforts to censor topics and exert propaganda controls on American media". Apparently Wang Jianlin got the message and decided instead to create this investment fund. Last but not least, let's not forget the $3.3 billion investment in the Europa City project near Paris announced last February, which will include a theme park.
From any angle you look at all this, you know that Wanda prepares something big and that Wang Jianlin is decided to spend billions and up to his last yuan to win the battle with Disney. Yes, BUT sometime billions are not enough. Sure, with $7,3B spent on each park you can create truly amazing theme parks IF you have the right creative people - he might hire plenty of SDL Imagineers that Disney fired recently after the park opened - the right rides manufacturers - Premier Rides is a good start and a deal with Dynamic Attractions could be a good move, too - and also a serious budget for rides and parks maintenance over the years, generally the weak point in China. But here is the problem: even with all this, if there is no emotional connection for the guests it won't "work" as well as when there is one. Think about Disneyland Indiana Jones adventure, for instance. IJA is undoubtedly one of the best rides ever created but would you enjoy the attraction as much if it was not linked to Indiana Jones but to an unknown hero that you've never heard about? It still will remain a great ride, but as much enjoyable emotionally speaking? Probably not. And that's what Wanda is missing, characters beloved by millions and characters to whom people can identify. Someone once said that each Disney's animated classics were trailers for the Disney theme parks, and it's not totally wrong, even if it was not the primary intention. And that's where the purchase of Legendary Entertainment can be of some help for Wanda. Legendary Pictures produce among dozens of others Pacific Rim, the latest Godzilla, the upcoming Kong : Skull Island, and many more, and all these are characters that Chinese know and with which you can design great rides. Godzilla is still the property of TOHO Studios in Japan and Universal has a deal on King Kong ( a swell as on Godzilla in Japan ), but this can be resolved probably, specially with a man who's spending billion of dollars each week. And i wouldn't be surprised if the lack of characters IP was also the reason why Wanda tried to buy one of Hollywood major studios. Though with the upcoming Wanda investmend fund in Hollywood movies they might be in good position to ask for the use of IP in their Chinese parks in exchange of millions of dollars that will help a movie to get into production...
Now, to find and hire the right creatives and the ride companies will be the easy part for Wanda, specially when you are a billionaire like Wang Jianlin. But to make sure that Wanda's future theme parks will be as good as Disney, Wang Jianlin will need another victory over his biggest enemy and it's one that no money can buy as it is: himself. From what i've been told Wang Jianlin has no understanding of the industry in which he is trying to compete. May be his visit to Shanghaî Disneyland opened his eyes but so far he didn't realize that all he was doing was taking western concepts and throwing a Chinese robe over it and calling it Chinese. The Wanda guys also have a reputation for hiring western experts, bring them out for the press and then ignored everything they said because they think they know better. Until recently all they were doing was buying rides and ideas from the west, paying for it once and then copying without understanding what makes them special.
So, it seems that Wang Jianlin has still a long road to go before being a true competitor with the same quality than Disney and may be his "pack of wolves" won't hurt Disney "tiger", finally...
Related articles to learn more about Wanda projects and Wang Jianlin: Wall Street Journal, Shanghaist, Hollywood Reporter HERE and HERE, New York Times.
Pictures: copyright Getty, Wanda, Hollywood Reporter
Libellés : Shanghaî Disneyland, Wanda, Wang Jianlin
First Trailer For The Awaited Kong: Skull Island !
The first trailer for the awaited Kong: Skull Island has been released and so far, looks good. I specially like the new appearance of King Kong which looks somewhat between the original 1930's movie and the one in Peter Jackson's Kong movie ( in which i didn't liked too much the look of Kong ).
Kong: Skull Island will open in theaters on March 10, 2017 and was directed by John Vogt-Roberts and the cast includes Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, and John C. Reilly. Then you have the supporting cast featuring Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Thomas Mann, Shea Whigham, Toby Kebbell, and Eugene Cordero.
Picture and video: copyright Legendary Pictures
Libellés : Kong: Skull Island, Kong: Skull Island trailer
Hong Kong Star Ferry Announces New Route With 27 Years Old Renovated "World Star" Ferry Between Hong Kong and Hong Kong Disneyland Starting this December !
It don't look like but this is great news, and it'll be for sure a romantic way to go from Hong Kong to Hong Kong Disneyland during your next visit: The Hong Kong company which own the Star Ferry sailing from Hong Kong harbor to Kowloon has announced that it has recently transformed the 27-year-old "World Star" ferry into an environmentally friendly tour boat - which will sail a new route between Tsim Sha Tsui and Disneyland - in a bid to attract more tourists to explore Hong Kong on the water. More from The Standard:
"The HK$14 million refurbished "World Star" is expected to start operating daily on the new route by the end of this month, or early December.
It will pass through the SAR's landmarks, including the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals and Tsing Ma Bridge, during its trip, which will take passengers from Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier to Disneyland in Penny's Bay in about 45 minutes.
Tourists who want to join the tour must purchase a HK$180 same-day return ticket ( $23 - 21€ ), with which they will be able to enjoy the snacks provided on the ferry as well. For about HK$200 ( $26 - 24€ ), World Star will also take tourists on a night trip to enjoy "A Symphony of Lights" - the nightly multimedia show involving more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour.
Star Ferry estimated the new ferry, which provides charter services, will carry more than 350 passengers per day once it starts operating, and the company expects to break even in six years' time.
General manager Johnny Leung Tak-hing said the new ferry will mainly target foreign tourists, as he believes "they like watching midstream operations and destinations, such as the container terminal."
The World Star was originally the ferry plying the Wan Chai-Hung Hom route.
Co-funded by the Pilot Green Transport Fund of the Environmental Protection Department, it has now been given a new life to become Hong Kong's first diesel-electric powered ferry. The eco- ferry brings about substantial reduction in smoke emission, but higher propulsion efficiency after undergoing the transformation.
With the introduction of the diesel- electric engine, the chimney stack above the roof will be of decorative use to preserve the iconic image of the Star Ferry.
The same section located at the interior upper deck of the ferry has been removed, which creates a larger interior compartment with an uninterrupted view from one end of the boat to the other."
Libellés : hong kong disneyland, Hong Kong Star Ferry, World Star Ferry
Shanghaî Disneyland Wins Three THEA Awards
The THEA Awards are to theme parks what the Oscars Academy Awards are to movies, i.e the most prestigious awards that any Imagineer can get. The annual IAAPA - International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions - is currently happening in Orlando and Shanghai Disneyland Resort won on Tuesday three main THEA awards from the Themed Entertainment Association.
Shanghaî Disneyland park is the recipient of the THEA award of outstanding achievement, an award that the park - and of course all the Imagineers and workers who built it - deserves totally. And the winning award for outstanding attractions went to Adventure Isle Camp Discovery and Treasure Cove Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure ride.
I couldn't agree more with these awards as these are truly the most "perfect" attractions in the park. However, you'll note that TRON Lightcycles Power Run didn't get a THEA award. And, although i think that the Imagineers who built SDL Tomorrowland did a super job, i consider that it's also fair that the TRON ride didn't get one. There is a lot of things in the TRON attraction which are truly great - starting my the magnificent dome and lighting as well as the ride vehicles design - but, in my opinion, the ride is not perfect. Surprisingly the TRON ride was even a disappointment for me and the main reason is a simple one: it should have last at least one more minute, if not two. The ride would have been one minute longer or more it would have been more immersive as we would have had the time to truly be immersed in TRON's world. Currently, you have barely the time to realize where you are - in TRON's grid - that it's already over. I'm pretty sure that Tomorrowland Imagineers are not responsible of this and that the reason why the ride don't last one or two minutes more is an executive decision to save money.
Disney's Central Florida's theme parks were shut out of the Thea awards this year but Disney won another award for "connected immersion" for Haunted Mansion: Ghost Post at Disneyland, California.
Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts posted today: "These awards are a testament to our talented Cast Members, who continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation as we bring treasured Disney stories and characters to life in our Parks and Resorts around the world".
Universal Studios Hollywood was recognized for its themed food and beverage experience in its Springfield area, and also received the Thea Classic award for WaterWorld – A Live Sea-War Spectacular.
Other winning attractions awards went to WhiteWater's Slideboarding for 'technology on a limited budget'; Mack Ride Systems' Suspended Power Coaster for 'innovation'; the 5D Castle Theatre in China; House of Eternal Return by Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, N.M.; Meet Vincent Van Gogh Experience, a touring exhibit; Transformations at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, Calif.; the Senate Immersion Module at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in Boston; Le Dernier Panache, Puy du Fou, Les Epesses, France for live show; and Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims of Les Trois-Moutiers, France for 'eco-friendly destination'.
Jerry Railton, founder and chairman of Entertainment Design Corp. won the Buzz Price Thea Award, a lifetime achievement honor. Peter Chernace of The Chermack Group won the distinguised service award, which was renamed the Peter Chernack Distinguished Service Award in his honor, posthumously.
IAAPA last at the Orange County Convention Center until this Friday.
Here is the full THEA award text for the three awards won by Shanghaî Disneyland, with official SDL pictures:
Shanghai Disneyland, China - Theme Park
The 12th Disney park, sixth Magic Kingdom and largest of the Disney castle parks is excellence on an international scale. Shanghai Disneyland, which opened June 16, preserves the best of Walt Disney's original vision, while pioneering a host of dazzling new creations.
It is a massive and successful, state-of-the-art world-class achievement with groundbreaking technology and creative design, production and execution.
Shanghai Disneyland photo ©Disney
Within its six themed lands (Mickey Avenue, Gardens of Imagination, Fantasyland, Treasure Cove, Adventure Isle and Tomorrowland) are elements both classic and new, with many first and new attractions specifically tailored to the Chinese audience.
Disney, one of the world's biggest entertainment companies, took time to rethink its core brands in the context of the host country. Culture, technology and creative are seamlessly integrated to deliver a guest experience that is, in the words of Bob Iger, "authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese."
Camp Discovery, Shanghai Disneyland, photo ©Disney
Camp Discovery, Shanghai Disneyland, China - Attraction
Camp Discovery is comprised of three major components: Challenge Trails; The Vista Trail; and Excavation Site. All are set at the base of an iconic waterfall mountain. The Excavation Site is a hands-on dig area for younger visitors. The Vista Trail is a walk-through area at ground level that affords views of those on the more daring Challenge Trails. The Challenge Trails proper are the primary attraction of this area and feature three unique, ropes-course options through spectacular settings, integrated into the mountain: Hidden Falls Chamber; Echo Cavern; House of the Ancients. Camp Discovery delivers hands-on, participatory entertainment and a variety of experiences that cater to guests of all ages and appetites for adventure and that will continue to engage over multiple visits. Camp Discovery is ambitious in scale and complexity, rich in story, and big on adventure.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure,
Shanghai Disneyland - Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement -
Attraction - photo ©Disney
Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Shanghai Disneyland, China - Attraction
This attraction at Disney's newest park embodies excellence in concept; it is a signature next-step achievement that reinvents and reimagines Pirates of the Caribbean. Based upon the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that first opened at Disneyland in 1967, "Sunken Treasure" is housed in a mammoth 175,000 square foot facility in the park's Treasure Cove land, and features Captain Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones from the blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The ride is an eight-minute adventure that plays out in 10 major scenes, with seamless technology, a new controllable boat ride system, operatic scale scenery, large format projection, special effects, illusions and next-gen Audio-Animatronics technology. Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure represents the pinnacle of Disney storytelling, immersive design and advanced technology.
Pictures: copyright Disney and more, Disney
Libellés : Shanghaî Disneyland, Shanghaî Disneyland THEA Awards, thea awards
Rogue One : A Star Wars Story : New Posters and 360° 8K Video!
Lucasfilm has released the above cool Imax Poster for Rogue One : A Star Wars Story released this December and i also add below two others Rogue One posters.
Now, ILMxLAB has teamed up with Verizon for Rogue One: Recon, a new 360° video experience that's connected to what happen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. "This short video lets viewers experience Star Wars from the perspective of an everyday Rebel X-wing pilot in space, culminating with a fight in an unexpected battle against the evil Empire." Not only the video is a 360° video, meaning you can move the image with your mouse left, right, up and down but you also have the choice of definition, and can even watch it not in 4K but in 8K8 Warning: the 360° effect does not work with Safari but works with Firefox.
Pictures and video: copyright Lucasfilm
Libellés : Rogue One : A Star Wars Story, Rogue One : A Star Wars Story Posters, Rogue One : A Star Wars Story Video
First Trailer for Disney's Live Adaptation of Beauty and the Beast !
That's it, the first trailer for Disney's live adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" is on line, and here it is!
D23 Event : Pandora: The World of Avatar Set to Op...
How Wanda CEO Wang Jianlin Prepares His Counteratt...
First Trailer For The Await | 4,505 |
<|fim_middle|> Inc. | If this is a valid account, then an email has been sent to this email address with instructions for resetting the password.
What is the VA ELT program?
The electronic lien and title (ELT) program is a method by which the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a lending institution (lienholder) exchange vehicle and title information electronically. Instead of printing a paper title and mailing it to the lienholder, the VA DMV transmits title information electronically to the lienholder's ELT service provider.
The ELT program lowers processing costs and increased efficiencies for all parties by eliminating the mailing, filing and retrieving of a paper title.
Who is required to participate?
All lenders who process 50 or more titles annually.
How do I get my title?
At the time of release, a paper title will be generated and mailed to the vehicle owner or designated recipient. Additional print options are available and state print fees will apply.
How do I enroll in the VA ELT program?
Simply complete the Enroll Here form below and a DDI representative will be in contact with you shortly.
DDI Technology provides premier software and service solutions that increase process efficiency and simplify information management.
© 2019 Decision Dynamics, | 248 |
This special limited edition has been signed by Pete Souza.
This deluxe collectible volume has been designed to stand the test of time. It is printed on heavy matte art stock, with every photograph protected by gloss varnish; bound in rich blue cloth, stamped with foil; and inserted into a durable clothbound slipcase, debossed with Souza's signature and mounted with a laminated photographic print. It also includes a separate 8-by-10-inch print of one of Souza's iconic photographs of the President, suitable for framing and display in your home<|fim_middle|> who became our President. We see President Obama lead our nation through monumental challenges, comfort us in calamity and loss, share in hard-won victories, and set a singular example to "be kind and be useful," as he would instruct his daughters. The result is a portrait of exceptional intimacy and a stunning record of a landmark era in American history. | .
Each page of this extraordinary 352-page book is 12 inches wide by 10 inches tall. It weighs approximately eight pounds. This is the ultimate celebration of the historic Obama years.
This is the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's historic presidency, captured in unprecedented detail by his White House photographer.
Pete Souza served as Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama's full two terms. He was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. Souza took nearly two million photographs of President Obama, capturing moments both highly classified and disarmingly candid.
Obama: An Intimate Portrait reproduces Souza's most iconic photographs in exquisite detail, more than three hundred in all. Some have never been published. These photographs document the most consequential hours of the Presidency--including the historic image of President Obama and his advisors in the Situation Room during the bin Laden mission--alongside unguarded moments with the President's family, his encounters with children, interactions with world leaders and cultural figures, and more.
Souza's photographs, with the behind-the-scenes captions and stories that accompany them, communicate the pace and power of our nation's highest office. They also reveal the spirit of the extraordinary man | 251 |
History of Surfing
You climb into your wet suit, grab your board, and paddle out into the depths of the sea. You are surrounded by nothing but the rhythm of the ocean and you wait patiently for the next breath to take place.
Surfing has a long history that has been around since humans could swim. It's a sport with spiritual roots that continue to live on today. Dating back to ancient Polynesia, surfing is<|fim_middle|>. The art of surfing is referred to as heʻe nalu, which translates into English as "wave sliding."
Hawaiians took surfing very seriously and even saw the construction of surfboards as a spiritual event. They would choose wood from one of three types of trees found on the islands, Koa, ʻulu, and wiliwili. The shapes and sizes varied but could reach up to 18 feet in length and weigh over 100 pounds. Surfing required a great deal of patience and skill in order to maneuver the long boards.
One of the most iconic Hawaiian surfers is Duke Kahanamoku. He is considered to be the father of surfing and a legend among modern surfers today. He rode the never ending waves of Waikiki, one of Hawaii's most famous beaches. Duke was also an accomplished swimmer and earned three Olympic gold medals for his superior skills.
Today, surfing is enjoyed all across the world from the Gold Coast of Australia to the California waters of San Diego. The popularity of the sport has grown and now features big name events such as Vans Triple Crown and Pipeline, both held on the North Shore of Hawaii.
For more great information and How-To tips on surfing check out http://www.wikihow.com/Surf. The site includes info on:
Surf Etiquette
Catching a Wave
Surf's Up Dude! | said to have started in the Hawaiian Islands prior to the voyage of Captain James Cooke.
The Hawaiian people embraced surfing as more than simply a sport but instead, made it into an art that became entrenched in their culture | 42 |
27th National Salsa Day 2010
By Javier Rivera | 04-17-2010
Saludos amigos, I'm Javier Rivera, and this month I will tell you what happened at the Dia Nacional de la Salsa.
As dictated by Puerto Rican law, every third Sunday in March is National Day of Salsa. Created by radio producer Pedro Arroyo for Puerto Rico's salsa station Z-93, the 27th edition of "Dia Nacional de La Salsa" took place this year at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan.
This one day salsa festival serves a purpose of not only watching the best and the up-and-coming salsa bands but also honoring those people who have made a major contribution to this music. This year was not an exception. The event paid tribute to three gentlemen who truly are valuable to the spread of salsa music all over the globe: Johnny Ortiz, known as the composer of thousands of salsa songs such as "Catalina La O," "Lirica Borinqueña," " Lluvia de Tu Cielo" and many others; Hector Maisonave who managed many salsa artists during the salsa boom of the '70 and early '80 in New York City and was the first promoter to take salsa music to Madison Square Garden; and Angel Luis Cordova, otherwise known as "Paleco," who is the band boy of excellence in Puerto Rico.
At 1 p.m., the announcers from Z-93, "El Cacique," "El Hachero" and "El Buho Loco," officially announced the beginning of this year's salsa festival. Julito Alvarado & Del Sur Al Norte began to warm up the crowd with their repertoire from their album "En Salsa." Next, Timbalero Don Perignon and his group La Puertorriqueña were on stage keeping the flame alive with music from their latest release, "Aqui Si Que Hay." Next, "The Musical Flag of Puerto Rico,"<|fim_middle|>, Jerry Rivas, Victoria Sanabria and Moncho Rivera.
Last but not least, after a 10-year hiatus, Grammy winner "The Prince of Salsa" Luis Enrique finished the day singing a medley of his romantic hits and also sang tunes from his latest production "Ciclos," including his hit "Yo No Se Mañana."
All in all, the 27th edition of The National Day of Salsa was the mecca of all salseros from all over the world. A day of quality music and camaraderie made with people from all over the Caribbean and where we all came united as one big family.
Rivera is CEO of Latin Roc Entertainment (www.latinroc.com) and host of Esencia Latina on Jazz90.1 FM/WGMC-FM radio from 6-10 a.m. Saturdays and on www.jaz091.org. Contact him at latinroc@gmail.com. | El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, burned up the stage with their unique style, leaving the crowd wanting for more. As a surprise, the announcers from Z-93 paid tribute to Eddie "La Bala" Perez, sax man of El Gran Combo who together with Rafael Ithier founded the group and has been playing for 57 years since the times of Cortijo y Su Combo.
The next two groups brought a touch of nostalgia to the event and to those old-school salseros that were attending. La Corporacion Latina went on stage and dazzled the thousands of fans at the stadium with their repertoire of classics such as "Vagabundo," "Desengaño Parte 1" and songs from their new album "De Regreso." Next, from Loiza, La Orq. Zodiac with singer Paquito Perez evoked a rush of memories that was felt throughout the stadium as the crowd began to sing and chant the hits "El Negro Zambu, "Tremendo Problema" and the classic "Panteon de Amor."
At this point in the event, the best musicians of Puerto Rico under the name of National Salsa Day band under the direction of Louis Garcia, plus Pedro Brull, Ray De La Paz, Luisito Carrion, Yolanda Rivera and Gilberto Santa Rosa, sang two songs each written by honoree Johnny Ortiz. At the end of the set all the singers came together to sing "La Raza Latina" along with Charlie Aponte | 308 |
Q: how to present a 2d array in an 1d array with a size of height or width I have the problem that I want to do parallelization with Android Renderscript. For this I have to allocate my input data to renderscript and allocate them back. I want to do big matrix multiplications with the size of 8x8 or 64x64 matrices. There are two problems:
1) I<|fim_middle|>[b] but not vector[a*b] Exist there a possible solution?
A: I'm not sure that I fully understand your problem.
Let me try to make a general suggestion based on what I understand.
You can create a wrapper class that transform input index to the internal index via getters and setters, this wrapper can also implement java.lang.Iterable.
A: To help with the second part of your problem, bind the matrix Allocations to the Renderscript separately and pass rsForEach another Allocation that is sized to the number of operations you want to perform. You can use values set in this Allocation and/or the x argument of the root() function to help you find where to operate on the matrix data.
My answer for operating per row/column of an image gives more details.
| cannot allocate two dimensional arrays.
2) forEach executes the loop as often as the size of the allocation. E.g. The input vector has 10 elements the loop will be executed 10 times.
To find a solution I did coding. So my matrix is generated randomly in a byte array. This byte array will be coded row or column to an integer array. So I put a 2d array in a one dimensional array with the size of the length. On the other side (Renderscript) I have to decode them, calculating the result and put the back with the allocation. I want to avoid the coding and to speed up the application. Someone know a better solution for my problem?
array[a][b] --> vector[a] or vector | 154 |
Since 1813, Seth Thomas Clocks have worked<|fim_middle|> on the back of your Seth Thomas atomic clock to "Run." Wait for it to adjust to the correct time. The automatic time-adjustment process can take up to 45 minutes, but is usually completed much sooner.
It is only necessary to repeat the time-setting process after changing the AA or CR2032 batteries.
For best results, use only new batteries. | to advance time-keeping technology. In their version of an atomic clock, Seth Thomas uses an internal chip to offer the same autosetting features of true, radio-controlled atomic clocks. Using an internal chip is particularly beneficial to customers who have difficulty using traditional radio-controlled atomic clocks due to interference caused by televisions, computers and many common building materials.
Place your Seth Thomas atomic clock face-down on a table or desk and locate a series of buttons labeled "PST," "MST," "CST" and "EST" on the back of the clock. Press the appropriate button to set the time zone.
Turn your attention to the small lithium battery-powered digital clock display on the back of your clock. With the correct time zone set, the digital display should accurately reflect the current local time.
Locate the AA battery compartment on the back of your clock. Put two new AA batteries into your clock's battery compartment.
Set the "Mode" switch | 190 |
After spending the time between the World Wars occupied by France, Lebanon picked and chose what French elements they held onto (eg, they went for the coffee, while opting against forcible French occupation). Letting you eat/drink their choices, Cafe La Maude. Situated in the former Latte Lounge in NoLibs, CLM's a soft-opened French/Lebanese sidewalk cafe offering pastries, sandwiches, and hot and cold drinks in an interior featuring black and white upholstered banquettes, white marble and black wooden tables, and portraits of dogs sipping coffees along the wall -- how else would you expect them to play all that poker for the past 107 years? Cold drinks include homemade orange lemonade, The Glacé (a signature house-brewed iced tea), and the Caffé Caramelle Latté Glacé (espresso with vanilla syrup, caramel sauce, and cold milk), while warm sips're made from La Colombe grinds and include coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, and the Caffé Latté After Eight, decking espresso with whipped cream and shaved chocolate (no one likes their sweets fuzzy). The edibles: bagels plus sweet and savory pastries baked off-site by a former Le Bec<|fim_middle|>ampoline. In another move held over from French cafes, outdoor seating (complete with an awning) will open up sometime in the next few weeks, a setup so cushy, it'll prompt these Lebanese to battle your forcible occupation. | Fin guy, along with a yet-to-be-set board of sandwiches, paninis, and Middle Eastern dishes like hummus topped with marinated fava beans and a side of scrambled eggs called Foul Moudamas, and the dry yogurt/vegetable salad Traditional Zaatar pita wrap, not a Zoltar pita wrap, because in this economy, how're you supposed to afford a loft big enough for a tr | 86 |
Here's a<|fim_middle|> can greatly reduce operational complexities, and increase organization effectiveness, while delivering industry leading ROI. | conversation that's all too familiar in the world of a Managed Services Provider (MSP): a business customer calls in with an legitimate issue around security, and is unable to see anything about it in their view. Because security tools are complicated (think chess and martial arts wrapped into one intense game of logic and defense), presenting information around security concerns is inherently tough. Tools like ArcSight, QRadar, provide important insights for security professionals, but how do you let a paying business customer see what they want to see without overwhelming them, or, worse, inadvertently revealing information proprietary to another client? It's a question that's actually easier to answer than it seems, and it starts with HTML content protection.
For Managed Service Providers and IT organizations that act as service providers, HTML content protection is an essential element in delivering customer-facing views of third-party tools safely and securely. By engaging content filtering and modification capabilities of a tool like edgeSuite, MSPs and IT professionals can effectively harden or secure most web-based applications by controlling which features of an application's user interface are dynamically filtered or modified before presentation to the user. Additionally, applications may be modified to "behave properly" within the browser (e.g. remove pop-up windows).
HTML Content Protection is a unique and powerful capability of the web integration engine in edgeSuite. This is the key component of Edge's patent for Secure Information Display and Consolidation Technology. The web integration component detects, modifies, stores, and disseminates information being retrieved from the web applications integrated through the edgeSuite framework. It is designed to incorporate any number of fully interactive dynamic applications into a single cohesive view. From an administrative perspective, edgeSuite manages user access and control to fully interactive applications and web content based on user, domain, and role.
Learn more about how edgeSuite | 364 |
Get off auto crash course 5<|fim_middle|>R camera is preferable but not essential. | week course – during this course you will consider the basics of digital photographic image-making. You will be guided through the course, assistance will be offered to beginners, and more in depth advice to more experienced photographers.
The course provides strong foundation for photography beginners, sharpening your skills and bettering your practice. You will be fully supported and will have the opportunity to develop your own personal practice.
The course is practice based with specific projects from week to week. Each class will include a crit session where you will be encouraged to share your photos and receive feedback, as well as form opinions about other students' work.
This course is for beginners or photographers who have basic knowledge and wish to brush up on their skills.
You will need a camera (DSLR or bridge), notepad, pen, and memory stick for every session. A DSL | 167 |
Welsh Assembly Members saw first-hand today how a deposit return scheme (DRS) could work when MCS took a DRS machine to a drop-in event at the Senedd.
The Reverse Vending Machine took centre stage at the event in Tŷ Hywel, accepting bottles and cans and printing out a voucher which, when the scheme is up and running, would be exchanged for the initial deposit.
Hannah<|fim_middle|> AM, David Melding said: "I'm so pleased to be able to bring this event to Cardiff Bay to give Assembly Members first-hand experience of how a deposit return scheme vendor actually works in practice. | Blythyn, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government (left in pic) who has responsibility for waste and recycling said: "It was interesting to have the chance to test the deposit return machine at the #StopthePlasticTide showcase today.
"It's distressing to see and hear about the amount of plastic, cans and lids which are being found on our beaches and in our seas and it is heartening to see the work the Marine Conservation Society does in reducing beach and marine litter.
Sponsoring | 104 |
Senate Panel Advances Judicial Nominee on Party-Line Vote
by Matthew Daly
A divided Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed a top aide to President Donald Trump for a federal appeals court post Thursday, despite complaints from lawmakers about his refusal to answer questions about his record at the Education Department and the White House.
Steven Menashi, an associate White House counsel, was recommended, 12-10, for a seat on the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. All 12 votes in favor of Menashi were by Republicans, while all 10 Democrats voted no.
Senators from both parties complained that Menashi failed to answer questions at his nomination hearing, and Democrats said he has a troubling record on immigration, race, women's equality and LGBTQ rights.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the panel's top Democrat, said Menashi "has a long history of attacking those with whom he disagrees" and said his refusal to answer questions "makes it difficult for us to fulfill our constitutional role to advise and consent" on presidential nominees.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., called Menashi "a calamity" and a "wacko" and said his past writings and record as a Trump administration lawyer make him dangerously unqualified.
Democrats said they were especially unhappy about a report Wednesday night in The New York Times that Menashi played key role in a plan by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to deny debt relief to thousands of students swindled by for-profit colleges.
"I think it's really appalling that this committee only learned about this memo (by Menashi) through a leak in The New York Times," Feinstein said, noting that Menashi had refused to answer senators' questions about the student debt program during his hearing or in writing afterward.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Menashi "could have been more forthcoming, quite frankly," but that Menashi believed he owed the White House and Education Department confidentiality.
"He's a lawyer that buys into what they are trying to do," Graham said, referring to the Trump administration.
Graham, who expressed frustration with Menashi during his September hearing, said the nominee "has written some really weird stuff" and is "different than I would have chosen." But he said Menashi is qualified for the federal bench.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., also expressed frustration at Menashi's failure to answer his questions, but blamed White House lawyers who "over-coached" Menashi and urged him not to cooperate with the committee.
"Some of his views are eclectic, and some of them I don't agree with," Kennedy said of Menashi, "but his views are very, very carefully reasoned."
Addressing senators from both parties — and himself, Kennedy urged lawmakers not to<|fim_middle|> that. We all have, but it's gotten worse every day I've been here."
The panel's vote sends Menashi's nomination to the Senate floor.
Menashi has come under fire for his past writings, including some in which he assailed "leftist multiculturism" and accused gay rights groups of exploiting the 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard.
Menashi also has been criticized for his work on immigration with White House adviser Stephen Miller and at the Education Department, including on a policy that offered new guidance on investigating campus sexual assaults. Critics say the change allows schools to apply a tougher standard of evidence for sexual violence than other civil rights cases and violates Title IX, a federal law forbidding discrimination based on sex in education.
Protesters disrupted his nomination hearing, shouting "Title IX is on the line."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called Menashi's nomination "an embarrassment to this country" and "an insult to millions of hardworking young Americans saddled by student debt, an insult to women, the LGBTQ community and everybody who believes in the rule of law."
Mario Puzo's THE GODFATHER, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone on Blu-ray & Digital from Paramount Home Entertainment!
COLLATERAL on 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo from Paramount Home Entertainment!
Eddie Murphy Favorites Prize Package!
Will NYE in Puerto Vallarta Become a Gay Superspreader Event? | decide on nominees based on ideology.
"I don't think we ought to consider honest disagreements to be character flaws," Kennedy said. "I've contributed to | 30 |
Jeanette Mckee should not work in the court house!
McKee abuses her current position! Why should we give her more power?
Jeanette McKee's husband is Randell Dean McKee. Randall is a dangerous man. I believe Jeanette used her position in the office to keep him out of trouble, and allow him to bully neighbors. I believe Jeanette McKee used her power to make police reports and case documents disappear. I also believe it took us years to even get reports written because of her position and the deference provided to her family by the Sheriff's Office and the Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
The bullying was so constant and continual, that we had to move out of our dream house in April of this year to protect ourselves and our children. You can see my "for sale" home here. All documents referenced below are attached for your viewing under Just the Facts.
The McKee family was friends with my family until New Years Eve in 2007.
Randell McKee ("Randy") was a frequent drinking buddy of my husband, Chris. During this time, I remember hearing Randy brag all the time to anyone who would listen about his wife's power in the Courthouse.
He liked to say "My wife is Jeanette Duncan McKee, and I can do whatever I want in this town".
At first, I thought he was just a proud husband bragging about his wife.
As time went on, to my disappointment, I learned that Randy was right!
Once, I remember mentioning plans to hire a lawyer to try to negotiate an amendment to a ticket citation and summons I received for speeding. She asked me to give her my copy of the ticket. I did. A few weeks later, she told me that "it has been taken care of<|fim_middle|> the front door [of the the Parrish residence]. The rock struck the door causing the glass to shatter... Parrish presented me with his Caller ID. I observed where McKee had made several phone calls to Parrish on today's date... I informed McKee of his Miranda Rights... [McKee] stat[ed] he was asleep on the morning of 1/1/2008, until my arrival at his residence. I informed McKee I had knowledge that he had made the phone calls to Parrish on today's date. McKee did admit that he made phone calls at that time....."
The report notes that there was an offense of Property Damage 2nd Degree, and that photos and evidence was taken at the time of the report.
The police report taken on May 30, 2013 by Deputy Randy Duncan includes the following: "McKee became aggravated due to the conversation of the driveway before using his open hand striking Parrish's hat from his head. Parrish advised that while McKee was striking his hat from his head he made contact with the right side of [Parrish's] face with [McKee's] hand.... Parrish advised there is an ongoing problem between him and McKee."
The Incident File associated with the July 4, 2014 dispatch by Deputy Number 0137 (name was not included on the report) includes the following: "Reporting Party [Chris Parrish] advises on going problem with neighbor." Since the McKee house is the only house directly next door to the Parrish residence, the neighbor must be either Mr. or Mrs. McKee.
The file indicates that the interview with the Reporting Party was completed at 10:47 PM. The file was amended later that evening to change the event type from "HARASS" to "COMPLANT". This is a downgrading of the event.
The Incident File associated with the October 12, 2013 dispatch by Deputy Numbers 0107 and 0147 (names not included in the report) includes the following: "The neighbor threw a beer bottle at [Kim Parrish's] husband's truck and was verbal with [Kim] and [Chris Parrish].... on going problem". Again, the Neighbor must be either Mr. or Mrs. McKee.
The file indicates that the interview with the Reporting Party was completed at 6:47 PM. The file was amended later that evening to change the event type from "DISTURB(OTHER)" to "COMPLANT", downgrading the severity of the event.
The first try, no dice.
On March 25, 2014, the Prosecuting Attorney, Forrest Wegge, writes to Ms. Parrish, "Based upon our review of the above report, criminal charges will not be filed at this time.... Most importantly, we are not issuing criminal charges because of ... Lack of Evidence."
On November 22, 2013, the Prosecuting Attorney, Forrest Wegge, writes to Mr. Parrish, "Our offices have issued charges against Randell Dean McKee for the offense of: Assault, 3rd Degree".
On June 4, 2014, the Prosecuting Attorney, Forrest Wegge, writes to Mr. Parrish, "This letter is to inform you that the case against Randell D McKee has been set for Trial on 9/3/2014 at 1:30 PM in Division 6.
Do you think perhaps Mrs. McKee is using her influence to delay justice in these matters?
Do you think someone who abuses her power in this manner should be elected and allowed to continue to protect her husband, who continually harasses and assaults the very citizens Jeanette says she will serve?
I ask that you DO NOT vote for Mrs. McKee for Circuit Clerk, for these obvious reasons. | ". Wouldn't you know it? It was! I didn't attend the court date, never received any further communication from the court or any court officer. It just, somehow disappeared!
Randy McKee really was right.
I witnessed Randy McKee selling illegal substances - he wasn't afraid.
I witnessed Randy McKee breaking numerous traffic laws - he wasn't worried.
I witnessed Randy McKee swearing, fighting and threatening others - he thought he was untouchable.
New years eve party gone wrong.
At a neighborhood New Year's Eve Party, a drunken Randy McKee physically assaulted my husband, Chris Parrish. The homeowner and host of the party escorted Randy out of the party and to Randy's home. There were several witnesses to this incident.
The police report taken on January 1, 2008 by Deputy Mayberry includes the following: "[Mr. McKee] had arrived at [the Parrish] residence this morning and attempted to provoke [Mr. Parrish] into a physcial confrontation. Parrish further stated he refused to come out of his residence at which time McKee picked up a rock approximately 2 inches in diameter... and threw it at | 239 |
Celebrate New Zealand's biggest week of fashion with pop-up sales, goodie bags and martini hour.
New Zealand Fashion Week is here, so it's time to dig out your vintage Zambesi coats, snazzy sequins and head on down to the Viaduct for a wild week of fashion, glamour and a truck load of goodie bags (let's be honest, everyone loves free stuff).
If you've got a busy week but want to catch some of the action, Fashion Weekend is hosted especially for those<|fim_middle|> Week runs from Monday, August 28 through to Sunday, September 3. The public part of the week, NZ Fashion Weekend, takes place from September 1-3. | who only have a window of free time across the weekend but don't want miss out on the fun.
The NZFW team recently announced that there will be three extra shows added to the weekend itinerary (Hailwood, PIA and Flo and Frankie) due to popular demand. As the event schedule fills up, we've picked our favourites to check out over the three days.
Fashion Weekend 2017 kicks off on Friday, September 1 at 11am with the Fashion Lunch, a show designed to cater to the "discerning business woman" and featuring seasonal trends and colours. Enjoy catering from the world class team at Mint Kitchen while eyeballing your potential new wardrobe.
One of New Zealand's most iconic designers, Adrian Hailwood, will be showing his collection on Sunday afternoon. Adrian will be interviewed on the catwalk (pre-show) by Sonia Sly of fashion podcast 'My Heels Are Killing Me', where the pair will discuss the inspiration for his most recent collection, to what it's like to create a fashion show. Hailwood will then show his Spring/Summer 2018 collection which is bound to be timeless and beautiful like the rest of his work.
A highlight of Friday night will be the WORLD show; from the use of zany fabrics, experimental lighting and alternative music, it's a full spectacle you won't want to miss. Following the idiom 'a leopard can't change its spots' as the brand's 28th year show theme, you're in for a theatrical experience.
Fashion Quarterly and Miss FQ collection, The Edit, features a variety of different labels ready to wear straight off the catwalk. Expect in-season pieces from Kate Sylvester, moochi, Zambesi and Liam, curated by FQ editor Sally-Ann Mullin and styled by the team at FQ. Great for all ages, budgets and styles.
Alma Wong, Hera Couture, Daisy, Modes, Vinka Design, Margaret Wray, Anna Schimmel, Jessica Bridal and Trish Peng are gearing up to show off their most exquisite, breathtaking bridal gowns and outfits for entire bridal parties. Get ready to fall in love with this magical show, regardless of whether you're married, getting married, or just love a bit of glamour and lace.
The weekend also offers the chance to pick up some of your favourite designer's pieces for up to 50% off (or more depending on how much of a haggler you are). That Tigerlily dress you were longing for all summer, you may get to finally be able to purchase with a very generous discount.
Both Saturday and Sunday at 10am, the Designer Fashion Pop-up Sale will open to the public, but be prepared for a mad rush. You'll see a different side to the laid back, calm Kiwi punter we're used to. This sale is madness.
If you pride yourself in being a serial bargain hunter and want to escape the queues, then you can pick up a VIP pass that allows you entry at 9am to peruse in peace.
With all that window shopping you're going to need some fuel. That's where the Belvedere pop-up bar comes in. The vodka is celebrating its first year at NZFW with an onsite bar offering a cocktail menu created by Belvedere Ambassador Mick Formosa. Treat yourself to an espresso martini, ruby spritz, polish mule or the daily martini hour from 5pm-6pm.
New Zealand Fashion | 716 |
There are so many instances when tiles are broken while working on a project and thrown away instantly. Sometimes, when mishandling takes place at a warehouse, home or in transit, tiles are damaged beyond use. Obviously, you will be perturbed over the damage. But keep beating about the bush is not an answer to your problem. You must know that left over or broken tiles can be used to make a mosaic rather than getting these thrown away. With a little effort, your broken tiles may help decorate your walls as well as floors, pillars and lobby, etc. marvelously. So, don't throw it away and instead preserve these to make as many as design patterns you are willing to create. The following few steps, if taken, make you aware of the fact that how a mosaic is made out of broken tiles.
Fuel your imagination and get an innovative idea in your mind to make a beautiful mosaic design. Do one thing, first sketch a drawing according to your plan. This sketch would help you guide properly to prepare a design as you ever dreamt off.
Collect your broken tiles into color categories. When you have all of your broken tile pieces, lay them onto the surface that you want to decorate. Cut a piece of cardboard and lay out broken tile pieces as<|fim_middle|> from being cut with shard or sharp edged pieces of broken tiles.
Mosaic pattern for wall, floor and pillars, etc.
Now-a-days mosaic patterns have become a great healer or boon for your floor, wall, pillar, etc. If a tile is broken or some cracks have developed on the surface of a pillar, wall or floor tile, then you need not to go to buy a tile for getting it fixed on the place from where you have chipped off the broken or cracked tile. Do one thing, collect the broken pieces and add some colorful small pieces of tiles to make an attractive mosaic design pattern. Start laying or fixing these pieces on wall, pillar or floor exactly on the place from where you removed the broken tile pieces. Fix these pieces applying with mastic or glue or any adhesive. Once you have created an even adhesive surface for tiles, inlay these according to your design concept. Now, allow to dry the spot for at least 24 hours. If moisture prevails than you have to wait for another 1-2 days. You can use soft cloth for rubbing off the excess cement that covers the tile pieces. And you will see the damaged space turned into beautiful mosaic design spot and become the centre of main attraction for your family members, guests and loved one. Now you have a beautiful Mosaic within your sweet home.
Grout is cement which can hold your tiles in place. It can be bought dry or pre-mixed. There is wide range of colored grouts available in the market. Spread the grout on top of your broken tile pieces surface to fill in all the spaces. Seal the grout properly. Allow it to dry slowly. At the conclusion of your project for making a mosaic from broken tiles, spray it with a grout sealant to maintain its all time glowing and elegancy to its perfection. Wet your sponge and softly wipe grout off of the surface.
Now, we hope you will fully aware of the techniques for turning a damaged space into a beautiful mosaic design spot without having incurred a huge amount on it. Get stunning results without investment. | per the sketch drawn before you go to make a mosaic tile. You can place the large piece in the middle and put around all the smaller pieces. If your pieces are bigger than you need, break them into desired or small pieces. Pieces can be square, rectangular or triangular.
Now it's time to design a mosaic. Affixed broken tiles on the surface with some glue, mastic, thinset, adhesive or cement. Create a variety of decorative mosaic tiles depending upon the type and quantity of broken tiles. Adhesives have a chemical property. So for precautionary measures, you must put on your gloves while using adhesives to joint or put the broken tile pieces tighter and sealing its grout properly. Gloves would also protect your fingers | 150 |
Anuj Sharma: Direct impact through civil engineering
Posted on September 10, 2014 January 4, 2022 | Jessi Strawn
Anuj Sharma, associate professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering. Photo by Greg Nathan, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
New CCEE associate professor's work improves efficiency and safety of transportation
"One of the most satisfying parts of my career is working on real problems people are facing and seeing that work implemented in the field, making a<|fim_middle|> whether solar- and wind-powered traffic lights could provide a self-sustaining hybrid power source for rural areas, where getting power from the grid is expensive.
"We were looking at economics and safety, which involved vehicle simulator studies to determine if people would be distracted by the small windmills on the traffic lights," he explains.
Sharma also explored active traffic management, including building ramp meters and using variable speed limit signs to better progress traffic.
At Iowa State, he will continue working on projects to improve safety measures on Iowa's roadways.
"We want to develop performance metrics so we can figure out how to best use our budgets to improve the transportation system," Sharma says.
This work involves getting data from different streams, including roadway sensors and videos as well as cell phone providers. The end goal is to improve the experience for drivers by identifying sections of roadways that need more attention, such as bottlenecks on interstates.
He'll also be looking at work zones and how to improve safety, along with vehicle-to-vehicle communication. "We are developing a proposal to implement a testbed in Iowa to evaluate the best ways to connect vehicles in such a way that it improves the efficiency and safety of roads."
On campus, Sharma will be teaching 1.5 courses this year. This fall, he'll be co-teaching a course with Jing Dong, assistant professor of CCEE. Sharma will be instructing students on optimal traffic signal timing. He says this knowledge is especially helpful for students who may someday become city traffic engineers.
Next semester, he'll be teaching geometric design, which is also important part of transportation. "Roadways need to be designed so the geometry of their paths are best aligned for the vehicles using them. As is the case with most of what we do in civil engineering, it all comes back to safety," Sharma says.
Having been in the Midwest since working on his doctorate, Sharma says Iowa State's a great place to continue his career. He received his Ph.D. in civil engineering from Purdue University (2008), his M.S. in transportation from Texas A&M (2004) and his B.S. in civil engineering from the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (2001).
Sharma's entire career has been focused on positioning himself to make a difference. Even the year he took as a programmer analyst after earning his bachelor's was done with his future in mind. "The civil engineering industry would benefit from having more computer science background so we can do analytics in transportation. The position I took as a programmer gave me a chance to fine-tune my skills so I could apply them to civil engineering," he explains.
With advancements being made in transportation, Sharma is excited to see what contributions he will make in the years ahead. "By the time my 3-year-old daughter is driving, I think the way we commute on the roadways will not only be safer, but the overall experience for drivers will be much improved."
Academics Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering CoE News Research Anuj Sharma civil engineering Iowa State University College of Engineering Roads Traffic Transportation
Previous: Laurimar Goncalves Vendrusculo: Applying agricultural engineering knowledge to scientific career
Next: University and College of Engineering have another year of record enrollment | difference," says Anuj Sharma.
Sharma, who joined Iowa State's Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering as an associate professor this fall, says most of his research is focused on decision making for better operations as well as safety decisions in the transportation system.
His position is jointly funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation, so he splits his time evenly between teaching and researching.
"Having that close connection with the Iowa DOT means I can have an immediate impact with my research, and that's always been my dream," he says.
Sharma works at the computer as students look on during a traffic signal project. Photo by Craig Chandler, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Sharma started his career in academia at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where his research program began gaining traction. He managed a federally funded project to assess | 166 |
Q: How do I keep only unique words within each string in a vector? I.e. remove ALL duplicates Lets say my data looks like this:
vector = c("Happiness with KK Happiness without KK", "I love some coding I love major coding", "fun 2 fun 3")
I want to remove ALL duplicate words, including the first instance of each duplicate word. So, my output would look like<|fim_middle|> love some coding I love major coding", "fun 2 fun 3"),
id = seq_along(vector)) %>%
unnest_tokens(word, vector) %>%
count(id, word) %>%
filter(n == 1) %>%
summarise(vector = paste(word, collapse = ' '))
#> # A tibble: 3 × 2
#> id vector
#> <int> <chr>
#> 1 1 with without
#> 2 2 major some
#> 3 3 2 3
Probably overkill, honestly, but it depends on your larger context.
A: You can also use table function to obtain frequency and select the only ones whose frequency is 1.
sapply(strsplit(vector," "), function(x) names(table(x))[t(table(x))[1,] == 1])
| this:
[1] "with without"
[2] "some major"
[3] "2 3"
Basically, it's similar to this problem: How do keep only unique words within each string in a vector. However I don't want to keep even the first instance of a duplicated word.
I tried to use strsplit() along " " and duplicated() to split each string into its various words and then detect duplicates.
The issue with using duplicated() is that it only returns a logical vector of the second instance of the duplicate word. Furthermore, using strsplit() gives me the output in the form of a list, which really complicates things, for example, when I want to obtain a subset of the duplicate words (usually something like df[duplicated(df)] which doesn't work on lists).
A: Use duplicated to check forwards and back taking advantage of fromLast=TRUE:
lapply(strsplit(vector, "\\s+"), function(x)
x[!(duplicated(x) | duplicated(x,fromLast=TRUE))]
)
#[[1]]
#[1] "with" "without"
#
#[[2]]
#[1] "some" "major"
#
#[[3]]
#[1] "2" "3"
A: A text-mining approach with tidytext:
library(dplyr)
library(tidytext)
data_frame(vector = c("Happiness with KK Happiness without KK","I | 293 |
Since 1862, Roger&Gallet, perfumer ap<|fim_middle|>50 years !
Since 1862, Roger&Gallet writes as history of perfume where parisian refinement & senses enchantment get mixed. Creator of well-being through perfume, R&G takes care, with each of its product, to imagine beneficial sensorial experiences. Fresh fragrant waters, Oils, Eaux de Cologne, round perfumed in heart Soaps, are as many moments of happiness & travel invitations. An unsespeced richness improved for more than 150 years !
And find us on www.roger-gallet.com and on Facebook www.facebook.com/rogergallet to live a unique sensorial experience. | othecary in Paris, writes an history of perfume where parisian refinement & senses enchantment get mixed. Creator of sensorial experiences for body pleasure & mind well-being, R&G proposes a generous products range full of delicacy, for multi-sensorial pleasures rituals. Fresh fragrant waters, Oils, Eaux de Cologne, round perfumed in heart Soaps, are as many moments of happiness & travel invitations. An unexpected richness improved for more than 1 | 96 |
If you've decided to invest in business broadband for your small business you may want to think about the type of package you'd like to buy. Here, we run through a list of features to consider when choosing a broadband package and explain exactly what they mean.
One of the first things to consider is how fast you need your business broadband connection to be and how many people will be using it.
Business broadband packages in general start from 8 Mbps and range up to 24 Mbps. If only one person in the business is using your connection, speed may not be a critical factor and you could save money by switching to a slower connection. But if you have multiple users, you may want to consider an upgrade.
Do ask yourself, 'would a slow connection reduce the productivity of you or your staff?' Similarly, do you have any business-critical operations that depend on the speed of your broadband connection? These considerations together should give you a good idea of how fast your connection realistically needs to be.
The good news is that, with business broadband, you can always guarantee that your connection will be faster than a domestic connection of the same speed. This is<|fim_middle|>, which costs them more money than they need to pay. If you run a small business with just one user who accesses emails and the internet, you could save money by agreeing to a download limit. Alternatively, if you find you're being charged exorbitant rates for exceeding your download limits, an unlimited package may suit you perfectly.
Technical support is one of the most important features to consider when choosing your business broadband package. You need to ask yourself the question - what is more important to you - service or cost?
Again - do any business critical functions rely on you having a working broadband connection? If your internet connection were to go down, would it affect your profits of productivity dramatically? If so, you may want to consider a supplier with excellent technical support with tight service level agreements on repairs.
Finally, the price you pay for your business broadband will usually have a bearing on your decision when choosing a package.
Ultimately, the cost of your broadband will depend on your answers to all of the questions above. If you want unlimited downloads, high speeds and excellent customer service, you may have to pay more than a 'cheap-as-chips', budget supplier is charging.
But, if cost is your main consideration and you just want the cheapest broadband that actually works, we can help you with that too!
If you're still unsure which business broadband package could benefit you, or if you simply want to know the best deal available, call us today on 0800 970 0077 and one of our business saving experts will gladly talk you through the options that could be best for your business. | because business broadband packages give you a lower contention ratio, which simply means that less people will be using the same server as you to access the internet.
Another important factor to consider is whether or not your business needs unlimited downloads or if it can cope comfortably without them.
Many businesses find themselves on a business broadband tariff that includes unlimited downloads | 66 |
Welcome New Advertiser: Moonlight Madness
SEMO TIMES is pleased to announce a new advertiser: Historic Downtown Dexter Association. This Friday they will be holding their Moonlight Madness event and on December 6 they will be hosting Christmas Open House and Polar Express Experience. For more information, check out our Downtown Dexter issue<|fim_middle|>." The Bunny Patch | .
Nov 13,
Donna West and Dexter's Ben Franklin – from our Downtown Dexter Issue (Oct 16)
There is nothing that fits the description of "Americana" more than an old fashioned "five and dime" store. There was a time when almost every small town had a "Ben Franklin" store, a five and dime named after the famous American forefather who declared "a penny saved is a penny earned." Not many Ben Franklin stores have survived in our country, but one does in Dexter. "This store, originally Weber's Variety Store, was founded in 1909," explained Donna West, now the store's manager. Then in the 1930's, she said, it became "Weber's Ben Franklin." West said the stores are franchised, but now less than a hundred "Ben Franklins" still survive nationwide. The store is still a "five and dime," but
- by Tammy Hilderbrand
The Metro Gallery – from our Downtown Dexter Issue (Oct 16)
Erin Brown has a passion for art. That's why she opened Metro Gallery at 1 East Stoddard in Dexter. "I come from a family that has always loved art," she explained. She also loves Dexter. That's why she opened Metro Gallery and Powder Room & Boutique in Dexter. And, she believes in bringing the world to Dexter through her goods. "We have jewelry and art here from all over the world," said Brown. "Our jewelry artists come from Turkey, Africa, and from all over the U.S. It is all handcrafted." The Metro also carries hand-crafted candles, pottery and, even, goat's milk soap. "We go on road trips to find these treasures," she said, in addition to their annual buyers' markets
Mr. Charlie's – from our Downtown Dexter Issue (Oct 16)
Photo - Charlie and Charlie (not sure which one is which) Charles West has been in downtown Dexter for a long time. He now operates "Mr. Charlie's" at 22 East Stoddard Street. "I've operated a store downtown for 40 years," explained West. For many years, he had stores in both Dexter and Malden. At one time he had both a furniture and shoe store. "Then I retired, or at least thought I'd retire," said West. But, once again, he was drawn back to downtown Dexter. He said it's a hard habit to break. "Downtown Dexter has gone through a lot of stages over the years," said West. It's had boom times and then times when things weren't looking so great.
- by Steve Hankins
The Bunny Patch – from our Downtown Dexter Issue (Oct 16)
When a pageant, prom or formal approaches it's time for a visit to The Bunny Patch. Owner Peggy Barks' shop enjoys mainstay status in downtown Dexter, and has serviced generations of patrons for 27 years. On Monday, SEMO TIMES found Peggy at the back of her temporary location, sitting at a sewing machine designing custom fittings as she has for a couple of generations of clients. Her large, 8,000 + square-foot shop is in the midst of renovations, she explained. After so long in the same location, Barks decided her store could use a face lift. "I don't have even half my inventory here," she said. "It will be very, very nice when we get back there | 720 |
Cookin' the Books (Hardcover)
By Amy Patricia Meade
Literary caterer Letitia '<|fim_middle|>okes to death from arsenic poisoning after dousing her main course in hot sauce, Tish suddenly finds herself fighting to save her business - and her reputation. It seems that very few of Hobson Glen's residents escaped Binnie's disapproval. But who would want her dead, and why?
Mystery & Detective - Cozy - Culinary
Mystery & Detective - Cozy - General | Tish' Tarragon fights to save her reputation and catch a killer when a murder occurs during a fundraising dinner for the local library. Letitia 'Tish' Tarragon has just moved to Hobson Glen and opened a new restaurant and catering business, Cookin' the Books Cafe. So when her new landlord, Schulyer Thompson, recommends her to Binnie Broderick, the executive director of the local library, Tish is delighted. Binnie needs a last-minute caterer to create a literary inspired three-course dinner for the library's annual fundraiser, one of the highlights of Hobson Glen's social season. But there's a problem: Binnie Broderick is a notoriously difficult woman to please. And when she ch | 151 |
An introduction to the Business School's Marketing research group, including its list of academic staff members, group research and seminar series.
The Marketing Group undertakes research on marketing and consumption practices, with many projects focusing on the food and services sectors. The group contains experts in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, and its research contributes to theory, practice, and public policy.
Members of the Marketing Group engage in international research collaborations and are committed to dialogue across disciplines. Thus many of its projects draw on theoretical frameworks from sociology, psychology, industrial economics, organisational studies, management studies, creativity, childhood studies, and social studies of technology, for example; research has been published in leading international journals within and beyond the marketing discipline.
The network aims to foster links between researchers interested in narratives around the<|fim_middle|>Members of the Marketing group have been successful in obtaining Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding for a number of prestigious seminar series.
The Marketing group have co-hosted two conferences on the subjects of child and teen consumption, and on interpretive consumer research.
Details of past and present research projects involving Marketing are detailed on the Edinburgh Research Explorer. | family and representations of family life in popular culture.
| 10 |
Released in 1967, "Itchycoo Park" by Small Faces is a prominent example of tape flanging. The song was a major inspiration to a couple of young men who, in 1971, went on to found Eventide and create the world's first pro audio effects box, the Instant Phaser. The Instant Flanger followed a few years later.
Eventide wants to hear your original remix of the "Itchycoo Park" stems using the new Instant Phaser Mk II or Instant Flanger Mk II plug-ins. All genres of music are accepted, so get creative! Free 30-day demos of Eventide's plug-ins are available for the contest.
Audible use of Eventide's Instant Flanger Mk II or Instant Phaser Mk II.
The remix contest will be judged by the hosts of the Gear Club Podcast and some of their illustrious guests.
Remix track must be uploaded to SoundCloud.
The song name must include "Eventide – Itchycoo Challenge (username Remix) *Eventide Remix Contest*" to be eligible.
Example: "Eventide – Itchycoo Challenge Jane<|fim_middle|> "Eventide" may be substituted for "I get high" per song rights' usage, copyright rules.
Ended – Enter to Win This Ibanez SR875 Bass!
Ended – Win This Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Bass! | Smith *Eventide Remix Contest*".
Remix must include the new Eventide Instant Phaser or Instant Flanger. Any other manufacturer's hardware product or plug-in may also be used.
Submit your file along with SoundCloud link using the entry form on this page. Only one entry per participant.
If/when chorus of the song is used, only one instance of | 73 |
To start, when in doubt, bring a coat. Even<|fim_middle|>orgeous is a morally inappropriate event. This is not that Op-Ed piece. | if weather.com says it's going to be 50 degrees the day you arrive, there are still going to be those days when it's incredibly cold and you don't want to be jacketless.
As for all other aspects of your wardrobe, the culture of your abroad destination is likely going to be different than at Cornell. Ask people who've travelled to your destination before what people wear, especially when it comes to going out. The bandage skirts, crop tops and sky-high heels that are standard in Ithaca are not always the norm overseas. And in places like Copenhagen – my home for a semester – the cobblestone makes any shoes besides wedges or flats impractical. You may have packed more than you could ever wear, but bring the wrong clothes and you might as well have come naked.
Moving on to hygiene – bring shower shoes! Just because your program says you have a single with your own bathroom does not mean that your shower will be barefoot friendly. Seriously, don't be like me and shower on a slab of cardboard until you find the city's only pair of rubber flip-flops for a heaping $40 dollars. Plus, who knows what kind of sketchy hostels you'll be booking for your weekend excursions, better safe than fungus-y.
On another bathroom related note, if you are particular about your facewash, makeup remover or any other toiletry, bring it with you! CVS (much like normal deodorant) does not exist in Europe and chances are, your selection will be slim and in the native language. Maybe you are fluent in whatever language that is, but even so you probably don't know how to say "non-comedogenic facial cleanser for sensitive skin." Regardless of your preferences or lack thereof, you should bring at least a trial-sized amount of all essential hygienic products. The last thing you want to find after 15 hours of traveling is no shampoo.
Additionally, depending on the country, acquiring prescription medication can be a difficult to impossible feat. To avoid scrambling to get your birth control before the end of the month or anything else you absolutely need, bring at least two months supply with you. And if you're a Dayquil junkie, it's a good idea to stuff a few of those bottles in your suitcase as well.
Now let's talk nourishment. If you have a favorite granola bar or packaged meal of choice (i.e. Mac & Cheese), make sure to find room in your suitcase for a hefty amount. Whatever it is, your city won't sell it and you will miss it. Plus, when you've spent you're first few lunch breaks getting lost, you'll be glad you packed those Clif Bars. On a side note for the ladies (or maybe some of you guys too), if your chaser of choice is Crystal Light, be sure to bring a box or two because those heavenly crystals don't exist abroad. And as if you needed justification for bringing food, you will then have an excuse to fill all that eventual suitcase space with new clothes!
Of course, with every country there are specific items that will be helpful to have. The best thing you can do is ask people who've been on your program beforehand what they've needed. Worst comes to worst, if you don't bring something, you can get a version of it wherever you are, but it just might cost you!
Liz Waldorf is a junior in the College of Human Ecology. She may be reached at lwaldorf@cornellsun.com. Notes from Abroad: TRAVEL TIPS appears on Thursdays.
Every year there is invariably an Op-Ed piece written in The Sun suggesting that Filthy/G | 753 |
View source for Rolie Polie Olie
Back to page | ← Rolie Polie Olie
{{Rolie Polie Olie|title1 = Rolie Polie Olie|image1 = [[File:Rolie_Polie_Olie.jpg|thumb|left|400px]]|row1 = [[Ralph Eggleston]]|row2 = Science fantasy|row3 = [[William Joyce]]|<|fim_middle|>04 in the USA. Set in [[Polieville]], [[wikipedia:France|France]] and produced by Nelvana, Treehouse & Sparx*, ''Rolie Polie Olie'' won a Gemini Award in Canada for "Best Animated Program" in 1999. The show also won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" in 2000 and 2005. William Joyce won a 1999 Daytime Emmy for Best Production Design for this series. The show has a vintage atmosphere reminiscent of the 1950s to mid-1960s, with futuristic elements. == Cast == * Cole Caplan as Olie Polie * Kristen Bone as Zowie Polie * Joshua Tucci as Billy Bevel * Robert Norman Smith as Spot (Olie's Dog) (Bark) and Space Dog (Space Boy's Dog) (Bark) * Adrian Truss as Mr. Polie (Olie and Zowie's Dad) with an Canadian accent and Uncle Gizmo with an Hick accent * Catherine Disher as Mrs. Polie (Olie and Zowie's Mom) with an Midwestern accent * Len Carlson as Pappy with an Canadian accent * Noah Reid as Screwy * Jennifer Gould as Miss Triangle * Ellen Ray Hennessy as Bonita (Billy and Binky's Mom) * Rebecca Brenner as Polly Pi * Philip Williams as Baxter (Billy and Binky's Dad) * Michael Cera as Little Gizmo with an Hick accent * Sunday Muse as Binky * Richard Binsley as Dicey (Billy's Cat) (Meow) The music also featuring the licensed public-domain soundtracks such as: * "Nutcracker Suite: Dance of the Reed Flutes" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky * "Nutcracker Suite: Trepak" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky * "Moonlight Sonata" by Ludwig van Beethoven * "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Edvard Grieg * "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov * "Mars, the Bringer of War" by Gustav Holst * "1812 Overture" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky * "Pictures at the Exhibition: Promenade" by Modest Mussorgsky * "New World Symphony" by Antonin Dvorak * "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner * "Symphony No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven * "Carmen: Toreador March" by Georges Bizet * "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Franz Liszt * "Can Can" by Jacques Offenbach [[Category:TV Series]] [[Category:Browse]]
Template:Rolie Polie Olie (view source)
Return to Rolie Polie Olie. | row4 = Disney Channel|row5 = Nelvana|row6 = United States|row7 = Nelvana <br>|row8 = English|row9 = 90 ([[List of Episodes]])|row10 = October 4, 1998 - February 12, 2004|row11 = Disney Channel}} '''Rolie Polie Olie''' is the American-Canadian-French children's television series produced by Nelvana, Sparx, Sprakling, Cuppa Coffee Studios, Curious Pictures, France 3 Original Production, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Original Production, and Disney Channel Original Production. It was distributed by Disney Channel, CBC Television, and France 3 and created by William Joyce, Maggie Swanson and Anne Wood. The show focuses on a little robot that is composed of several spheres and other 3-dimensional geometric shapes. The show was one of the earliest series that was fully animated in CG and the first CG-animated preschool series. Rolie Polie Olie aired on Disney Channel, CBC Television, and France 3 from October 3, 1998 to May 28, 2005. '''Rolie Polie Olie''' aired from October 4, 1998 to February 12, 20 | 272 |
CHEYENNE, Wyoming – The Laramie County Community College women's basketball team<|fim_middle|> 36-35 and the two teams would exchange leads up until about 1:00 minute remaining when the Golden Eagles pulled away.
The Golden Eagles shot 31.1 percent from the field, 26.9 percent from the three-point line and 75.8 percent from the free throw line. Laramie County only committed eight turnovers on the night and forced CWC to 19 turnovers.
LCCC now sits at 11-7 on the season and 2-1 in Region IX North play.
Haylie Anderson (Clearfield, Utah) led the Golden Eagles with 20 points shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line and going 6-of-19 from the field. Ja'Kia Wells (Mesquite, Texas) had 18 points and completed the double-double with 10 rebounds. Courtney Walker (Las Vegas, Nevada) had four steals and dished out four assists. Two other Golden Eagles were in double figures scoring as Aerial Stephenson (Garland, Texas) had 16 points and Karli O'Brien (Rapid City, South Dakota) added 14 points.
Up next, the Golden Eagles will host Sheridan College Sat. Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. | defeated Central Wyoming College 78-72. The Golden Eagles failed to get anything going on the offensive end in the first five minutes but bounced back strong to close out the quarter.
LCCC held the advantage at the break | 46 |
I Have A Novel To Share
thewimpykid 2020-01-08 05:27:27 UTC #1
For years, I have had a passion for creative writing and have written a whole bunch of novels. When I found this section of the TTV message boards, I thought maybe I could share one of my novels on here.
The novel that I'm going to share is titled Playtime. I wrote it about a year ago, when I was up at my college's spring semester. The novel Playtime revolves around a 14-year-old boy named Hunter Brooks whose father is an inventor, and he creates a machine that can scan its surroundings and create a new dimension based off of what it scans. Trouble arises when Hunter's little brother and sister get their hands on the machine and accidentally use it to scan their massive toy collection. Hunter finds himself inside a dimension where all of his siblings' toys have came alive (think Jumanji meets The Lego Movie).
Like most of my novels, I'm hoping to get this one published one day. So I'm hoping that, when I have posted every chapter, you guys can give me feedback on the story that I have written. I'm only gonna upload one chapter at a time, since the message boards probably have some kind of character limit. (next post will be chapter 1).
The future was not looking so bright for Hunter Brooks. It wasn't even a month after he'd been released from jail, and he wasn't doing very well in school. Up until the day he'd stolen from a store, he had been doing okay in life. But ever since he'd been arrested and put on trial, the downward hill had gotten steeper and steeper.
Hunter was fourteen years old, living in Georgia with his parents and two younger siblings. His father was a skilled inventor, and a successful one at that. He owned his own shop and had sold his inventions to dealers all over the state. Because of his success, the Brooks family lived in a nice house with two floors and a basement where Mr. Brooks housed his workshop.
Because of his background, you would think that Hunter would turn out to be a good kid. But you'd be wrong. When Hunter was little, his parents used to spoil him. They'd always buy him candy, or toys, or anything he asked for. But things changed when Hunter was eight. His mom had gave birth to twins, Isaac and Ellie. With the addition of two extra kids, Hunter's parents had decided to cut back on the money-spending. They still tried to indulge their kids, but not as much as before.
Of course, the damage had been done. Hunter would often sulk when his parents refused to buy him that big Snickers bar on the grocery store shelf, and get jealous of his friends' cool stuff. To compensate, Hunter's parents taught Hunter to share with Isaac and Ellie. They managed to set aside at least some of their differences through sharing ice cream sundaes and playing video games together.
Even so, there were still falling-outs between Hunter and his siblings. They'd have disagreements, or get greedy and hog something to themselves, or just play pranks just to be mean. That's what siblings do, after all.
But one day, when Hunter was thirteen, things went a little too far. Hunter and his family were at a gas station filling up their car's gas when Isaac and Ellie demanded their mom to get them some chips. Their mom had caved, buying a bag of chips for both Isaac and Ellie. Hunter had asked for a bag of his own, but his mom had told him to just share with Isaac and Ellie.
Well, Hunter had asked his siblings to share, but they had refused to do it. Hunter pleaded, but his siblings ate their entire bags of chips. Hunter was really upset about that. He had dug a few coins out of his pocket and went back into the store. Unfortunately, the coins only added up to fifty-one cents, and a bag of chips cost a dollar.
That was Hunter's breaking point. He had taken a bag of barbecue chips, stuffed it in his pocket, and smuggled it home. Hunter ate the bag of chips alone in his room, and he thought he'd beat it. But a couple days later, a policeman had showed up at the Brooks' front door. Hunter had been caught on camera stealing the bag of chips from the store, and the cops were here for him.
To make a long story short, Hunter was sentenced to six months in jail. The six months extended through the remainder of the summer, past his fourteenth birthday, and well into his freshman year of high school. Before he went back to school, Hunter had had to take a bunch of classes to make up for the school time that he'd missed. He'd managed to pass those classes by some miracle, but he was seriously behind his new classmates in high school.
For all his time in jail, and even when he was released from jail, Hunter's mind
was overshadowed in shame. He had replayed the gas station incident over and over in his head, and he had realized how stupid he had been to steal a bag of chips over such a stupid reason. Granted, Isaac and Ellie were in the wrong for not sharing with Hunter, but what Hunter had done was way worse. Now, because of his impulsive thinking, he had a criminal record that might prevent him from getting into a good college or business in the future. He was lucky his school had even accepted him back.
The only high points in Hunter's life came with his father. He often brought
Hunter down to his workshop to help with his projects, which Hunter enjoyed. Through his hours with his dad, Hunter had gained skill with his hands and a basic knowledge of technology. And when he came home from jail, Hunter was surprised to find that he'd retained almost all of the skills he'd learned.
But even within Hunter's family, there were still issues. His siblings Isaac and Ellie had an immense toy collection. Every Christmas and birthday, they would make big wishlists and end up getting half the stuff they wanted. By the time they were six, they had a big fire station, a plethora of stuffed animals, a fleet of space corps vehicles, a huge princess castle, and heaven knows what else. They spent hours upon hours playing with their toys and going on crazy adventures.
Ordinarily, Hunter wouldn't have a problem with any of this. After all, he had passed down his old toys to Isaac and Ellie when he had outgrown them. But Isaac and Ellie would always demand Hunter to play with them, even when he would rather be doing anything else. Half the time, Hunter's mom would make him play with his siblings.
The worst part? Whenever Hunter played with Isaac and Ellie, they hardly ever let him actually "play" with anything. Hunter would just end up sitting and watching while all the Mechanicle guys fought each other.
Mechanicle was a toyline full of action figures and playsets that was all the craze with kids nowadays. Isaac had gotten a couple action figures for his birthday right before Hunter went to jail, and then ended up getting a bunch of huge playsets. Then Isaac and Ellie had went on the computer and read up on the toys' backstories. Now they were like walking encyclopedias for Mechanicle.
Even though he wasn't into toys anymore, Hunter had curiously gone onto the Mechanicle website to see what the big deal was. But he couldn't get himself into any of the lore. There were just so many story threads, and so many characters (some of which didn't even have toys!), and so many weird concepts, it was ridiculous that all this was attached to a bunch of action figures. Hunter had seen Alabama family trees that were less complicated.
Needless to say, Hunter Brooks hated his life. He had two younger siblings bombarding him with Mechanicle crap, and everyone at school looking at him like he was a criminal, and grades that were dangerously close to failing. He didn't see how anything could improve.
On the weekend that our story begins, Hunter was working with his dad on a new machine. Over the past year or so, Hunter's dad had been experimenting on ways to teleport objects or people. He had succeeded in making an apple disappear and reappear on the other side of the room. But during his studies, Hunter's dad had discovered the possibilities of creating new dimensions. He had made a deal with his company to perfect his teleportation machine by the end of the year, and had succeeded. It was 2005 now, and Hunter's dad had gotten into creating new dimensions.
"There are old stories of wizards creating new dimensions to house dangerous monsters," Hunter's dad told him. "If they can do it, so can we!" He was very devoted to his work indeed. Whenever a new idea entered his head, Hunter's dad would get to work on it as soon as he could and work on nothing else until he'd perfected his idea. This time was no exception.
Hunter and his dad had agreed to work together on the project on Friday the 14th, right after Hunter got home from school. Hunter got home, put his backpack away, and went downstairs to the basement where his dad's workshop was. His father was already waiting for him.
"Welcome home, son," Hunter's dad said. "How was school?"
"Not great," said Hunter. "I've got a math test next week, and I know I'm gonna flunk it."
"You sure about that?" Hunter's dad asked.
"Well, yeah," I said. "I've been doing horribly in math lately. There's no way I'm gonna pass that test."
"Do you have a study guide?"
"Even if I did, it wouldn't do any good," said Hunter. "I'm just not doing good in school right now."
"I don't think that's true," Hunter's dad said as he put on a pair of goggles. "Mom told me that your Homeroom teacher told her that you have a 2.7 GPA."
"Will that really be enough to pass my first year, especially when I missed the first half of the year? Will I really get to my sophomore year, or even further?"
"I believe in you, son," Hunter's dad answered. "I'm sure you'll make it through high school, and into college-"
"Not college," Hunter said. "I've got jailtime on my record. That won't-"
"-put off every college," his dad finished for him. "You don't have to graduate Harvard or Yale to be successful in life. And even if you don't get a college degree, I can get you a job in my business."
Hunter didn't respond. As much as he enjoyed building stuff with his dad, he didn't see himself doing that for the next fifty years. He'd rather become a repairman or a mapmaker, but he knew he'd never get that opportunity. All because he'd stolen a chip bag of all things.
Hunter and his dad didn't talk much as they worked on the machine. They were designing it with the idea that the machine would scan its surroundings and use them as a template of sorts for creating a new dimension. Hunter's dad had tried a machine that could make a dimension from nothing, but to no avail. His new theory was that the machine would need material to work with for creating a new world.
Hunter and his dad spent several hours crafting the pieces and assembling the machine. By the time they were done, the machine was about the size of a couch cushion. It had a control panel on the side and a portal rim that unfolded from the top. When unfolded, the circular portal rim would have a three-foot diameter. It would scan its surroundings, then power up a world generator in its computer.
"Well, Hunter, I think we did a good job," Hunter's dad said when they had finished the machine.
"It should," Hunter's dad answered. "We can test it in the morning."
"Why not right now?"
"Because Mom's probably finished making dinner by now. And I've got a work meeting tonight."
"I am getting hungry," Hunter admitted.
The Brooks family had chicken noodle soup for dinner. While they ate, Isaac and Ellie were talking nonstop about-you guessed it-Mechanicle. Isaac was bragging about how he'd played some online game and got to a new level, but everything was going in one ear and out the other with Hunter.
"Hey Hunter!" Ellie asked.
"What?" Hunter replied.
"We want you to play with us tomorrow!"
"Please? Tomorrow's Saturday, and we're gonna play all day."
"Hard pass," said Hunter.
"But we've hidden the six keystones in the T-Rex mountain and in the city bank and Princess Ariana's castle and the race trophy and-" Isaac started.
"I said no," said Hunter.
"We're gonna go on a big adventure to find the keystones so the Elemental Masters can activate the portal to get back to the Great Creators-"
"N-O, spells no!" Hunter interrupted. "Seriously, how did you two make it to the first grade?"
"Hunter, be nice," Hunter's mom said. "You should really play with your brother and sister."
"Well, then, you can spend all day doing homework tomorrow," his mom said. "It'll probably help you with school."
Hunter cringed. "I hate homework," he said.
"It'll help you with your grades," his mom reminded him. "Like we've talked about several times, you won't get far in life if you drop out of high school."
"What if I end up dropping out of high school anyway?" Hunter asked. "Ralph Feldstein says that seventy percent of kids who commit crimes end up dropping out of high school and then live in their parents' basement when they're thirty."
"That kid's full of baloney," Hunter's mom scoffed. "Even if he was right, there's a chance you're part of the thirty percent of kids who still go on to be successful."
"But what's the point?" Hunter asked. "What's the meaning of life? We're all gonna die anyway, so-"
Hunter's mom put down her fork. "Hunter, I really think we need to get you to a therapist."
Hunter threw up his hands. "Yeah, maybe we do!"
"Tell you what," Hunter's mom said. "I'll call a therapist after dinner, and see when we can set up a meeting."
"Sure," Hunter mumbled. But internally, he didn't see how a therapist could help him work things out.
End of Chapter 1...
The next morning, Isaac slept in late. Usually, he'd wake up early to see what the cartoon channels had in store, but for some reason his body had decided to stay asleep till 7:00. He probably would've slept even later, but then Ellie shook him awake. "Wake up, wake up!" she said.
"What do you want?" Isaac mumbled.
"I found something in Dad's workshop!" Ellie said as she pulled something to the side of the bottom bunk where Isaac slept (Ellie slept on the top bunk).
"You what?" Isaac asked as he sat up.
"I woke up and was bored with watching TV, so I went down into Dad's workshop," Ellie explained. "And I found this!"
Isaac looked at the thing Ellie had brought back up. It was as big as a couch cushion and made entirely out of metal. There was a computer interface on the side of it. "Whoa," said Isaac. "What is that?"
"I think it's some kind of computer," said Ellie.
Isaac got out of bed and lifted the machine to get a better look. "This is heavy," he said.
"I know," his sister replied. "If you're wondering how I got it up the stairs, so am I."
"What does this do?" Isaac asked as he pressed a button on the computer interface. Instantly, something unfolded from the top of the machine. Isaac and Ellie watched as two arcs of metal unfolded and curved above the machine. The two arcs formed at the top, making a circle wide enough to ride a tricycle through.
"Whoa!" Isaac exclaimed. "What's that supposed to do?"
"We should ask Dad," said Ellie.
"Is he awake yet?" Isaac asked.
"No," said Ellie.
"Well, let's go get breakfast," said Isaac.
"I already ate," said Ellie.
"Of course you have," said Isaac. He and his sister went downstairs, leaving the machine sitting in their room, among the many toys they had set up on the floor ready for their big adventure.
Hunter woke up just a few minutes later. He was considerably grumpier than he was on most Saturdays, because he knew that his siblings would be begging him to play with him, and his mom would make him do it ("What else are you gonna do?"). Heck, they'd probably be in his room within half an hour, ready to wake him up for their big playtime. Hunter might as well get out of bed now, because there was no way he'd get out of playing with his siblings.
As Hunter walked down the hall, he went by Isaac and Ellie's room. They had left their door wide open, offering a full view of the stuff strewn about their floor. There was that big Mechanicle village, and that princess castle, and that colony of dinosaurs and cavemen, and that big metal circle-
Wait a minute. Big metal circle? Hunter looked again, and he was surprised to see his dad's machine set up in the kids' room. The main computer interface was set right beside the Mechanicle villagers' city, and the portal ring was expanded to its full extent.
"Isaac! Ellie! What are you doing with Dad's machine?" Hunter called. But of course his siblings didn't hear him, because they were probably watching TV. Shaking his head in frustration, Hunter went into their room to get the machine. He knelt down to look at the control panel. The buttons weren't labeled, but Hunter was sure he remembered which button did what. His dad had had a diagram of what each button was supposed to do, which Hunter had looked at while helping to wire the circuitry.
But the button knowledge seemed to have leeched away from Hunter's brain. Even though he'd spent hours down there with his dad, the machine's control panel was now obsolete. He pressed what he was pretty sure was the button to open/close the portal rim, but nothing happened. He pressed another button, but nothing happened.
"Now look what you did," Hunter grumbled. He pressed a third button, but this one had a different effect. When Hunter pressed this button, a camera eye popped up out of the machine and extended two feet high. The camera pivoted around the room and cast a blue light on everything; the walls, the furniture, and the toys littering the floor. The machine cast a humming noise as the camera retracted.
"Oh no," said Hunter. He frantically pressed several more buttons, trying to turn off the machine. But he just made things worse; the machine's portal rim began to vibrate and glow blue. A pulsating blue vortex appeared in the middle of the portal rim. Hunter pressed one more button, hoping that this would turn off the darn machine. But it
didn't.
By this point, Hunter was panicking. Had he damaged the machine in some way? If he had, then his father would be furious. They had spent all that time making the machine, and now it was broken. And if Isaac and Ellie hadn't stolen the machine in the first place, then this wouldn't have happened.
And yet, there was something about that vortex that compelled Hunter to touch it. It was so bright, so pulsing, Hunter just couldn't look away. The effect was almost hypnotic, causing Hunter to reach out his hand and touch that vortex…
"Touch" isn't really the right word. Since the vortex wasn't made out of solid matter, Hunter couldn't physically touch it. But when his hand came into contact with the portal, it started to prickle all over. As Hunter watched, his fingers started to dissolve into colorless dust particles that swirled into the vortex. Shocked, Hunter tried to withdraw his arm. But it was too late; the vortex drew Hunter's arm, and then his whole body, into it. The prickling sensation spread over every inch of Hunter's body, until it felt like his whole body was "asleep." As the dissolving spread to his head, Hunter began to feel faint. The last thing he remembered before fading into nothingness was trying to call for help, and his voice failing him.
After what felt like an eternity, Hunter finally woke up. He found himself lying on a hard stone surface, with voices echoing in his ears. He blinked his eyes and looked around. He was lying in a street in the middle of some kind of city. But it was no ordinary city; the buildings were tall and alien, and there were no sidewalks, traffic lights, or even lines painted on the road. Instead, there were chutes going all around the buildings and dipping down to the road every once in a while. It all looked like something out of a science fiction movie.
But the strangest things were the beings standing around looking at Hunter. They were all about four feet high, with hard metal bodies and robotic joints. They looked like robots, but there was something about them that felt organic. Their body movements were smooth and natural, and there was something about their faces that seemed almost...human. They wore masks of varying shapes and colors, but the masks had holes in them for eyes and mouths. Through the holes, Hunter could see organic-looking faces. The eyes still looked like points of light, but they widened and dilated like human's eyes did. And their mouths looked anything but robotic.
"Who is this?" one of them asked.
"Is it a human, from the other city?" another asked.
"It can't be," said a third. "He seems different."
"Okay," Hunter said, standing up. "Who are all of you?"
"We're the villagers living in the city of Voyo," said a being that wore an purple hexagonal mask with extra holes in its cheeks and forehead. "And you are…"
"Hunter. Hunter Brooks," said Hunter. "And did you say I'm in the city of Voyo?"
"Yes, you are," said another being. This one's mack was orangish-yellow, with a mouth opening that was much bigger than his actual mouth. The result was that he always looked like he was smiling creepily. "The first city to ever be built by our forefathers."
Voyo...why did that sound so familiar? For that matter, the beings surrounding Hunter reminded him something, but he wasn't sure what. All he was sure of was that that machine had created a new dimension, and now Hunter was in it. He had to find a way out.
"Do...do you...have you guys seen a portal anywhere?" Hunter asked.
"Portal?"
"There was a portal, when the Great Creators sent the Elemental Masters to save us from the Shadow cultists," the purple-masked villager answered. "But it's deactivated since the six keystones powering it have been lost."
"What-where is the portal?" Hunter asked.
"It's just a few streets away," said a villager who wore a blue mask. "We can take you there."
"Please do," said Hunter.
The villagers eagerly led him down the streets and around several corners. As they walked, Hunter saw some more of the buildings lining the streets. And strangely, these looked familiar as well. There was something about those spires, and the way those doors were shaped...where had Hunter seen those before?
After a few streets, they came to a center square. In the middle of the plaza was a large pedestal with a large, round portal rim on top of it. It looked kind of like the portal rim on Hunter's father's machine, but it was constructed with a completely different style. It had little grooves in the sides that made its pieces look like pistons, and at the top were sculptures of twelve humanoid figures, all united and looking down at whoever stood before them.
"Is that the portal?" Hunter asked.
"It is," said the orange-masked villager. "The portal where the Elemental Masters came to save our city."
"Save your city?" Hunter asked. "From who?"
"Why, from Tenebris and his followers, of course," said the villager.
Suddenly, everything clicked. Not just the designs of everything around Hunter, but the names and phrases he was hearing. Elemental Masters. Tenebris. Great Creators. These were all from Mechanicle. Somehow, Hunter had been sucked into the world of Mechanicle. "This...this is bad," he said.
"What's bad?" the purple-masked villager asked. "The Elemental Masters already defeated Tenebris and his organization of Shadow cultists."
"Shadow cultists-what?" Hunter asked.
The villagers all exchanged glances. "I think we'd better take you to Turan."
Vexus_Prime 2020-01-09 00:08:19 UTC #4
Dear thewimpykid,
My colleagues and I have just finished a reading of the first chapter from your debut novel "Playtime". We have come to the conclusion that it is really quite flawed. The main complaint we had was the consumption of soup with a fork as seen here and here:
thewimpykid:
The Brooks family had chicken noodle soup for dinner.
Hunter's mom put down her fork.
As you might be aware, soup, especially that of the "Chicken Noodle" variety, is typically liquidus. One typically consumes this type of food with the utensil known as a spoon. However, your characters do not. We are quite concerned your characters will become malnourished by not consuming soup with the proper tools.
In addition, my colleagues and I are also very concerned that a 13-year-old spent 6 months in prison, for shoplifting a bag of chips worth approximately $1.00 USD plus tax. It would have been much more believable if he spent 11.78 years in prison instead.
We also found that the tenses were quite hard to follow, as the narrative swapped from first to third-person narration multiple times, as seen here:
"Even if I did, it wouldn't do any good," said Hunter.
We look forward to reading the next chapter, and hope you do not publish this work in it's current form.
- The Conglomerate
P.S We do not believe you are in college.
Well, interesting feedback.
Vexus_Prime:
your debut novel "Playtime"
This is actually not my debut novel. I wrote a whole bunch of novels before this one.
My colleges and I
I'm a little unclear what you mean by this. Are you meaning to say "colleagues?" Because if actual colleges are reading this...then wow.
As you might be aware, soup, especially that of the "Chicken Noodle" variety, is typically liquidus. One typically consumes this type of food with the utensil known as a spoon.
My bad. Thanks for pointing out these inconsistencies.
In addition, my colleges and I are also very concerned that a 13-year-old spent 6 months in prison, for shoplifting a bag of chips worth approximately $1.00 USD plus tax. It would have been much more believable if he spent 11.78 years in prison instead.
My goal with this setup was for the main character to do something that wasn't a huge felony (such as killing a person or vandalizing private property) but bad enough that he'd have reason to worry. However, you seem to be suggesting that I made a factual error in what his punishment would be. Granted, a 13-year-old spending 11.78 years in prison for shoplifting doesn't seem that believable to me, but you clearly know more about this matter than I do, so I'm not gonna argue.
1.) I never said I will publish this novel in its current form. Part of the reason I'm posting it on here is to get feedback, which you have given me. To that end, I thank you.
2.) Chapter 2 was already posted. I don't know if you read it, but...it's there, and the next chapter will come soon. What intrigues me, however, is that in your opening paragraph, you said the first chapter was quite flawed, and towards the end, you tell me you look forward to the next chapter. I will not complain, because if you're looking forward to the next chapter, then that's a good sign.
Why is that? Is it because of the typos you observed in my writing? Because I am telling the truth when I say I'm in college.
Nonetheless, thanks for giving me feedback. Since you seem to enjoy combing over my work, I'll get the subsequent chapters out soon.
Traykar 2020-01-09 00:49:51 UTC #6
Nah, he'd spend at most up to 2 months in jail for petty larceny, that as well as a $500 fine.
Two months in jail and a $500 fine for shoplifting. I was pretty uncertain about that when I was writing this novel. THNX for clearing that up.
The orange-masked and purple-masked villagers led Hunter down the street, past the portal pedestal, and toward a smaller, more hut-like building where Turan lived. The orange-masked villager introduced himself as Hewlie, and the purple-masked villager introduced himself as Nutara.
"Who is this Turan?" Hunter asked.
"He's the oldest of us villagers," said Hewlie. "He serves as our village elder."
"Your village elder? But this is a city," said Hunter.
"Voyo wasn't always a city," said Hewlie. "It started out as a village, where Turan was in charge in his younger days. But in the years since, it's been built into a much bigger city."
Hunter, Hewlie, and Nutara were only a few houses away from Turan's hut when it happened. Out of the corner of his eye, Hunter saw something move in an alley to his right. He looked at the spot where he had seen the movement, but nothing was there.
"Uh...are you sure that that Tenebris guy is gone?" Hunter asked.
"Of course," said Nutara.
"Right…" Hunter said, not entirely convinced. He'd endured hours of playtime with Isaac and Ellie, and he knew that there were other bad guys in Mechanicle besides Tenebris. Sure, some of them might have been Tenebris' servants or allies or whatever, but Hunter's knowledge was limited.
Suddenly, someone or something jumped out from the alley on the left. It moved so fast, Hunter couldn't make out its shape until it had landed on its feet and was walking toward him. It was ten feet tall, with four scorpion-like legs and a humanoid upper half. It carried two knives in its hands, each shaped like a crab's claw. Weirdest of all was its head. It had a vaguely humanoid face, with slit-like yellow eyes and a devious sneer. But its forehead and skull extended into a crest-like extension that extended backward. There were two protrusions from the base of the skull that curved around the head, ending in points that made them look like some kind of insect's pincers. The figure was made of a material that certainly wasn't flesh and blood, but it moved naturally like the villagers did.
"Well, well, well," said the four-legged being in a hard, cold voice. "Now who might this be?"
"I'm Hunter," said Hunter.
"Hunter, you say?" asked a deeper voice. Everyone looked to see a tall, hulking brute coming out of the shadows where Hunter had seen movement before. This one was much more humanoid than the four-legged being, with two thick legs and an upper half that was so huge, it was a wonder he didn't topple over. He had two arms that...well, "beefy" doesn't seem to be the right word, as this was a mechanical-but-not-mechanical being like the rest of them. His fists were big enough to crush human skulls, and he had a chunky head that looked like a metal chunk slapped onto his body. His face was elongated to look like a wolf's, and there was a red monocle covering his right eye.
"Yes, that's my name," said Hunter. "Who are you?"
"Hunter, these are bad guys," Hewlie whispered. "You don't want to mess with them!"
"My name is Brict," said the hulking brute. "And this is my partner Septra," he added, indicating the four-legged being.
"But that is not our main concern," Septra said, regarding Hunter the way a mob boss would regard a con artist who had swindled him. "Where are you from, and what are you doing here?"
"I-I came here by accident," said Hunter. "It was my dad's machine that malfunctioned, and then I woke up in the middle of the street-"
"So you're the Outsider," said Septra.
Brict's jaw dropped. "The-the Outsider? No, he can't be."
Nutara nervously cleared his throat. "Uh, yes he can...can't he?"
"Yeah, you could say that I'm an outsider," said Hunter. "I'm not from here, and I have no business here. So if you'll excuse me, I need to go find a way home."
Hunter started to walk away, but Septra stuck out one of his feet and tripped Hunter. "You're not going anywhere," Brict said as he picked up Hunter by his right shoulder and lifted him into the air. "You are-"
"Let him go!" shouted a voice from across the street. All heads turned to see four figures coming their way. Three of them were the size of normal humans, with strongly built body frames and different colored armour. All three of them carried their own unique weapon. The fourth was the size of a regular villager, with a walking staff and a frail form.
"The Elemental Masters," Septra cursed.
"This kid belongs to us!" Brict shouted.
"No, he does not," said the tallest of the three beings. This one wore red armor and carried a sword whose blade was shaped like a giant flame. His red mask had a furrowed brow carved into it, but everything below that acted like liquid metal. It was as if the mask and face were one.
Septra's eyes narrowed. "And what business do you have with him?"
"More business that you do," said the red warrior. He stood before Septra and pointed his sword at the monster.
Septra took a step back. He eyed the red warrior with hate, but in his eyes, there was a trace of fear. "Brict, let the boy go."
"But-"
Brict pursed his metallic lips and, literally, let Hunter go. Hunter fell in a heap onto the ground. "But don't think we won't be back, boy," Brict added as he and Septra retreated back into the alleyways.
"Who were those guys?" Hunter asked.
"Septra and Brict are a pair of thugs living in Voyo," said the second tall warrior as he helped Hunter to his feet. This one had green armour, and he carried a large, battle axe-like hatchet. His green face had a cocky yet amiable expression. "They make trouble wherever they go."
"Well, thanks for saving me," said Hunter.
The third warrior, whose armor was bright yellow and whose mask/helmet was shaped like a ball of energy, cracked his knuckles. "It was no sweat. Even those two know better than to pick a fight with Elemental Masters." To prove his point, he unfolded his hands, which were actually large pincer-like claws.
"So...you're the Elemental Masters?"
"Yes, we are," said the red warrior. "My name is Pyras, master of fire. "This is Aeras, master of air, and Electras, master of-"
"Electricity," Hunter finished. He had heard those names more times that he would've liked, thanks to Isaac and Ellie. It's one of the basics of having siblings that were obsessed with something-you know all the basics of said something whether you want to or not.
The shorter, elderly villager stepped up to Hunter. "Ah, I see you are the Outsider," he said.
"You're Turan," Hunter guessed.
"Indeed I am," said Turan. His mask was crimson and egg-shaped, with grooves in the sides to represent facial wrinkles. He wore a smooth brown robe over his metal body, and he walked with a thick wooden walking stick. "And it seems that what the Great Creators have told me is true."
"Let me guess-the Great Creators are your gods?" Hunter asked.
"They are indeed," said Turan. "And it seems that you are the Outsider that they told me of."
"The Outsider? What are you talking about?" Hunter asked. "I'm just a kid whose dad's invention went wrong."
Aeras looked at Hunter quizzically. "Your dad's invention?"
"Perhaps it would help if you would explain where you were from," Pyras suggested.
"I just did," said Hunter. "Kind of. My dad made a machine that can create new dimensions by scanning its surroundings and using those surroundings to write a template for the new dimension. And then my brother and sister took the machine into their room and left it there. And I just woke up, like, fifteen minutes ago, and then I saw what they did and tried to take the machine back down. But then I accidentally activated it, and it scanned all around…" Suddenly, Hunter realized what must have happened. "Oh no," he said.
"Oh no what?" Electras asked.
"Isaac and Ellie had their toys all over the floor," said Hunter. "Their Mechanicle stuff, and their dinosaurs, and their castles...the machine must have scanned them and created a dimension where those toys are alive!"
Pyras, Aeras, Electras, Turan, Hewlie, and Nutara exchanged glances. "I'm sorry, what are you talking about?"
Hunter took a deep breath. "I know this may sound crazy, but you're all toys."
"Toys? No, we are biomechanical beings created by the Great Creators to inhabit this world," said Hewlie.
So this is how Woody felt when he was talking to Buzz Lightyear, Hunter thought. "Well, I mean, maybe in this dimension, you're probably real robot beings that were-"
"We are biomechanical beings, not robots," said Turan.
"What does 'biomechanical' even mean?" Hunter asked.
"It means that we're metal-based life forms," said Pyras. "Though we do have traces of organic substances, the Great Creators made us out of metal and similar substances. By definition, we are living things-just made out of different materials that others are."
"I guess that makes sense," said Hunter. "But in my world, you're a bunch of action figures. And your city is a big playset with buildings and vehicles and stuff."
More glances were exchanged. "When did you say you created this 'alternate dimension?'" Aeras asked.
"I dunno. Twenty minutes ago?" Hunter guessed.
Pyras shook his head. "Time must move differently in your world. My brothers and sisters and I were created centuries ago."
Hunter sucked in one cheek. "Well, maybe you guys were downloaded with knowledge of your backstories, or something," he said. "Like Buzz Lightyear."
"Who's Buzz Lightyear?" Nutara asked.
"Never mind," Hunter said as another thought came to him. "Do you guys know any people that aren't from Mechanicle? Like, policemen, or princesses, or-"
"We've been to a handful of cities beyond Voyo," said Pyras. "We've met various peoples who have...interesting customs."
"Racing cars, and living in big pink castles," said Pyras. "And attempting to tame dinosaurs."
So the Mechanicle toys weren't the only toys that the machine scanned. It must have gotten all of Isaac's and Ellie's other toys as well. "Well, I need to get out of here," said Hunter. "How did you say I showed up here?"
"There was a bright light above that one street," said Hewlie, "And then a bunch of dust particles swirled into existence and joined together to form you."
"So...there wasn't a portal of any kind," said Hunter.
"Nope," said Hewlie. "You saw that we had to walk a ways to find the Elemental Masters' portal."
"Great," Hunter grumbled. "How am I gonna get home now?"
"Oh, but you can't leave yet!" said Turan. "If you're the Outsider, then you're the one who's gonna help us defeat the ultimate evil!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Hunter. "Didn't you say you already defeated this Tenebris character?"
"Yes, we did," said Pyras. "Just weeks ago, in fact."
"Then you must've already defeated the ultimate evil," said Hunter. "Why would you even need me?"
"We do not know that yet," said Turan. "But we will surely know soon."
Hunter did his best to hold his temper. This conversation was going absolutely nowhere. "Look, are you going to help me, or not?"
"Of course we will help you," siad Pyras. "One of the tasks the Great Creators entrusted us with was guiding the Outsider and helping him succeed in his goal."
"Well, I'm sorry, but I have no idea what any of this Mechanicle nonsense is," said Hunter. "If you could explain it to me, then that would be nice."
Turan nodded. "Yes, I think we should," he said. "Send for the other Elemental Masters," he told Pyras, Aeras, and Electras. "I think this boy needs a full orientation."
End of chapter 3. And P. S, thanks for the feedback you've been giving me so far.
Hunter was taken back to the city square, where Turan and all of the Elemental Masters gathered. Hunter had already seen three Elemental Masters, but there were some he hadn't met. As he was escorted into the city square, Hunter saw three more Elemental Masters coming to see the Outsider. Hunter vaguely recognized their body shapes and colors from his playtimes with Isaac and Ellie, and he had a rough idea of which colored heroes had which powers. He was sure the blue one was water, the white one was ice, and the black one was earth.
"Elemental Masters, I present to you the Outsider," Turan said, indicating Hunter.
"So this is him," said the blue Elemental Master. She had a female voice, a smooth, graceful body, and two short axes for weapons. "The one that you said would come."
"My name's Hunter," said Hunter. "What are all your names?"
"I am Hydras," said the blue Elemental Master.
"I am the master of earth, Terras," said the black Elemental Master. His mask, unlike the others, was harder-edged and had cold blue eyes. He carried two drill weapons that looked like giant screws, with their sharp ends and helical ridges spiraling from the tip to the rim.
"And I, Glacias, am the master of ice," said the white Elemental Master. Like his fellow Elemental Masters, his face moved like it was made of liquid metal. But, unlike the others, he had a permanent scowl. This, along with his mask having a permanently furrowed brow, gave him a very aloof presence. He carried a double-bladed sword and a round shield.
"Right then," said Pyras. "Now that we're finished with our introductions, Hunter, would you please share with us what little you know of our history?"
Hunter cleared his throat. "Well, I know that you guys are always fighting bad guys, like that guy Tenebris," he said. "I've heard some stuff from my brother and sister, and it sounds like Tenebris wants to destroy Voyo to honor a god, or something?"
"You aren't far off," said Pyras. "You see, when the world was new, there were two primordial deities that embodied the two primary elements-light and shadow. In fact, those were their names-Light and Shadow. For centuries, they lived in harmony and watched as the Great Creators created the world and all of the beings who inhabit it."
"Great Creators...I guess those are pretty self-explanatory," said Hunter.
"They are," Pyras continued. "But after a while, Light and Shadow began to have...disputes."
"They both started to take on pride, and greed," said Hydras. "They knew they were superior to everyone and everything in the universe, since they were primordial beings. They were already recognized as such, but they wanted to rule the world themselves. They felt that they deserved it, since they were older than anyone-even the Great Creators."
"But there was a problem," said Turan. "Light thought he should be the sole ruler, and Shadow saw himself as more fit. This led to them fighting, and shaking the balance of the universe. You see, the universe's existence depends on balance between light and shadow. If Light or Shadow killed one another, it would tip the balance too far and cause the universe to unravel itself."
"So the Great Creators were forced to put both Light and Shadow in an unending sleep," said Pyras. "That way, they would still exist and allow the forces of light and shadow to exist in harmony, but there would be no more conflicts between them."
"For a while, the problem was solved," said Terras. "But here, in our world, there were still people who worshipped Light and Shadow as gods. They would make sacrifices, pay tribute to Light and Shadow. But there was one cult who took it too far."
"Tenebris," Hunter guessed.
"Yes," said Pyras. "Tenebris, along with his ally Prohahka, discovered ancient runes telling of Shadow's and Light's desires to rule the world themselves. They then led their organization of Shadow worshippers in a quest to conquer the world in Shadow's name."
"Were there not any Light worshippers?" Hunter asked.
"There were," said Pyras. "They were led by Claritas, a shapeshifter like Tenebris. They opposed Tenebris' cult when it tried to take over the world, though they weren't a very effective force."
"Those were dark days," said Turan. "You never knew who was secretly a follower of Tenebris, or Prohahka, or both. They were plundering every village in sight, murdering innocent lives, laying claim to priceless artifacts. We had to fortify the city of Voyo, as it was Tenebris' biggest target."
"Right around that time was when the Great Creators sent us to Voyo," said Glacias. "Us Elemental Masters had been created for this very purpose-to protect innocent lives from any evils that might exist in this world."
"Claritas was more than happy to team up with us," said Hydras. "We were starting to gain an edge in the war when Tenebris and Prohahka created the Rahrok."
"Rahrok...I remember Isaac and Ellie talking about them," said Hunter. "Aren't they those big, spiked, worm-headed people with the jaws and staffs?"
"They were," said Terras. "There were six of them, and they had elemental powers of their own. But, worst of all, each of them had control over two elements. Pyrok controlled fire and time, Attrok controlled both electricity and magnetism, and Turrok controlled both earth and metals. Those are just a few examples."
"Tenebris is lucky he had them on his side," said Aeras. "Those things went right up to Claritas and tore her from limb to limb."
"So how did you defeat them?" Hunter asked.
"There was a heroic villager," said Pyras. "He went by the name of Tathai. He was unexpectedly bestowed powers of light, and he came and helped us destroy the last of the Rahrok."
"And, later, he went with us to defeat Tenebris," said Hydras. "It was him, Pyras, Terras, and I versus Tenebris in his underground lair. Tathai pinned Tenebris down while the rest of us brought down the cave's ceiling. We made it out, but Tathai and Tenebris were both buried under a ton of rock."
"Tenebris was never seen again," said Pyras. "Once his followers had heard that their leader had been killed, they disbanded. Some tried to keep fighting, but they were no match for us Elemental Masters."
"So...Tenebris is dead," said Hunter.
"We are sure that he is," said Aeras. "Granted, he was not easy to kill. Tenebris in his natural form was a cloud of energy, capable of forming its own body or possessing one. He had been in a body of his own when he was killed."
"We were wary, those first few days after his defeat," said Pyras. "But as time has gone by, we have had less and less doubt that Tenebris is dead. If he were still alive, he would surely have shown his face by now."
"Okay," said Hunter. "Tenebris, bad, and dead. Elemental Masters, good. Light and Shadow-asleep and unable to cause any damage."
Pyras nodded. "Precisely."
Turan cleared his throat. "Except, we are unsure where you fit in."
"Is this where you explain that 'Outsider' thing?"
"It is," said Turan. "You see, some years ago, I was communing with the Great Creators, and they told me that in the future, a being known as the Outsider, someone from a different world entirely, would one day come and save us from the ultimate evil. They said that it would be someone who was not an Elemental Master, nor a being of their own creation. And I have reason to believe that that someone is you."
"Well, after the war with Tenebris, I didn't see what could possibly be worse. I prayed to the Great Creators once more, asking when their prophecy would come true. They told me that it was very near, and that the Outsider would come to our city in three days' time." Turan looked Hunter square in the eye. "This conversation occurred three days ago."
"Uh...no," said Hunter. "I'm not the Chosen One or whoever. I'm just a kid, and not a very gifted kid at that."
"Yes," said Hunter. He hesitated before saying, "I've never done anything great, or won any awards. I'm just...not cut out for anything great."
"Electras expressed similar self-doubts to me, right before he single-handedly won a critical battle against Tenebris," said Pyras.
"That's not-I just…" Hunter couldn't think of anything to say. "I don't know if I can be anything."
"Of course you can," said Aeras. "You just have to believe in yourself."
"Well, what are you guys gonna do?" Hunter asked. "Start teaching me to fight or something?"
"That would be a wise course of action," said Turan. "Of course, assuming you are up for it."
"No, I'm not," said Hunter. "I can't be the Outsider. I have to get back to my world."
"Well, so do we," said Terras. "The Great Creators told us that we could only return to them when we had fulfilled our mission. And our mission wasn't just to save the people of Voyo. We were also told that we had to guide the Outsider and help him fulfill his destiny."
Hunter sighed. There was no changing these people's minds. "Well, is there anything more you have to say?"
"No," said Hydras.
"Then I'll just be going," said Hunter.
"To where?"
"Just-just to look around," said Hunter.
Pyras nodded. "I understand. I remember when the Great Creators first created me and gave me life. A mission like yours is a lot to process."
Hunter walked the streets of Voyo, looking around the weird, stylized buildings and villagers walking about the streets. He wasn't sure why the machine had added all of this to the dimension. Isaac and Ellie were spoiled, sure, but even they didn't have a whole city's worth of Mechanicle buildings, or a villager population this large. Maybe the machine had cloned the things it had scanned, so that the city would be at its full size.
Before long, Hunter came to a tall, fortified wall. It was twenty feet in height, with ladders on the sides that led to the ramparts. Curiously, Hunter climbed up the nearest ladder and got to the top. The defending wall was high enough that it gave Hunter a good view of the surrounding countryside. He could see the sun rising in the sky, giving him an idea of which ways were north, south, east, and west. Right now, Hunter was facing to the east.
Looking out over the parapet, Hunter could see what lay beyond Voyo. About five miles away from Voyo was another town. Only this one was much more normal. Hunter could make out houses that resembled the ones from the real world, along with what was unmistakably Isaac's fire station.
Just north of the normal city was a forest of lush green trees. The trees were glowing with magic sparkles, and in the middle of the forest, the spires of a pink castle were visible. Judging by the conical spires, hot pink bricks, and rainbow flags waving from the tallest spire, it was clear that that was a princess castle.
Even farther to the east, beyond the forest and the castle, was a desert landscape. There wasn't much to see there, really. Just a handful of cacti and miles of sand. A much more interesting sight was down south, where there was a long range of mountains. The mountains were tall and imposing, and some of them had snow covering the tops. But in the middle of the mountain range was a patch of dark storm clouds, hovering over a valley from which a red glow was emanulating.
"Enjoying the view?" Hunter looked to see Pyras standing there, looking out at the countryside himself.
"You could say that," said Hunter. "Have you ever been outside Voyo?"
"Of course we have," said Pyras. "Tenebris wasn't interested in just attacking our city, you know."
"He sure wasn't," said Hunter. "My brother and sister-they like to have their Mechanicle toys attack their other toys."
"Well, we did have allies in other places," said Pyras. "As did Tenebris."
"Those guys that tried to capture me earlier-were they in league with Tenebris?"
"You mean Septra and Brict? No, they weren't. They never worshipped Shadow or Light, so they held no sympathy for either side. In fact, they mostly kept away from our conflict."
Hunter looked back at the mountain range, where he could see that stormy red area. "This ultimate evil...what is it?"
"We'll likely know when the time comes," said Pyras. "Are you worried?"
"Yes," Hunter admitted.
Pyras nodded. "I understand. There were times when I felt discouraged when we were fighting Tenebris. I was tempted to surrender to his forces. But I had my teammates there to encourage me. I had a responsibility as their leader, and I couldn't show my fear. My teammates helped me accomplish my goal."
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"I'm trying to tell you that you won't be alone in this," said Pyras. "Us Elemental Masters were tasked with assisting the Outsider, and we will do so."
Hunter sighed. He'd had quite enough of arguing about this Outsider business. Suddenly, another thought occurred to him. "Well, what about those keystones?" Hunter asked. "Didn't you say they powered up the portal to the Great Creators?"
"They do," said Pyras. "The portal gives us access to the Great Creators' realm, but it will not operate without the keystones."
"Are we gonna have to find them?"
"My brethren and I will, eventually," said Pyras. "Why?"
"Because my brother and my sister were talking about it," said Hunter. "They said something about needing them to get back to the Great Creators."
"Did they, now?"
"Yeah, they wanted me to play with them and have a big adventure where you'd find all the keystones."
"A big adventure, you say?" said Pyras.
"Yes," said Hunter. "They had hidden all the keystones in their other playsets, so that you could find them."
Pyras frowned. "In our world, the keystones are missing because Tenebris stole them. And when his cult disbanded, the members took the keystones with them. Up until now, we weren't sure where the keystones went."
"What do you mean, 'until now?' Do you think I know where all the keystones are?"
"Not really. But do you?"
"Well, Isaac and Ellie were talking about some of the places where they put the keystones," said Hunter. "But I don't remember all of them."
Pyras started to say something, then stopped. "It slipped my mind," he muttered.
"What did?"
"Just last night, the Great Creators came to Turan in a dream and told him where we would find the keystones," said Pyras. "He was telling Aeras, and Electras, and I about his communion with the Great Creators earlier this morning. He would've told us more, but then we saw you being assaulted by Septra and Brict."
"So...he knows where they are?"
"Apparently so."
"We'd better ask him, then," said Hunter.
"Good idea," said Pyras.
By the time they got back to Turan's hut, Hydras, Terras, Aeras, Glacias, and Electras were already there with the village elder. The six of them were gathered around Turan's table, where he had drawn a map on a sheet of parchment. "You're just in time," said Turan. "I have drawn a map of where the six keystones are hidden."
Hunter looked at the parchment map. He could see Voyo drawn and labeled on the eastern side of the map, while everything else he'd seen from the defending wall was also on the map. Also, there was an ocean taking up a good chunk of the northern side of the map.
"I've marked every place on this map where the keystones are hidden," said Turan. "They're marked with red dots on the map."
"Where should we start?" Hydras asked.
"Probably at whatever's nearest," said Glacias. "Like, say, the other city where the humans live."
Hunter looked the map over. He saw red dots in areas labelled as the Dead Desert, Dino Valley, Lord Vulcon's Kingdom, the Power Race Track, the City, and Princess Ariana's castle. He recognized everything from the huge collection of playsets that Isaac and Ellie had forced him to watch them play with. "Some of these might be kind of...dangerous."
"I wonder what a Shadow cultist would be doing in the humans' city," said Hydras.
"Maybe he settled down there after he'd had enough of the war," Terras suggested.
"We know Lord Vulcon was in league with Tenebris," said Glacias. "It makes sense that he'd have one of the keystones."
"It does look like we have our work cut out for us," said Aeras.
Suddenly, a white-masked villager burst into the hut. "Elemental Masters! We need your help! Now!" he cried.
"What's going on?" Hydras asked.
"We-we're under attack!" said the villager. "They're climbing over the walls and invading the city!"
Pyras drew his sword. "Who's attacking?"
"Kakkarak," said the villager. "A whole horde of Kakkarak."
"What are Kakkarak?" Hunter asked.
"Looks like you're about to find out," said Aeras.
thewimpykid 2020-01-09 22:01:07 UTC #10
Hunter followed the Elemental Masters as they left Turan's hut and ran out into the streets. They ran towards the outer defending wall, where large bionic spider-like beings were crawling over the walls and into the city. Villagers were trying to fight back with tools, weapons, and whatever they could find, but most of them fell under the monster spiders.
"What are those things?" Hunter asked.
"Kakkarak," said Pyras. "They shouldn't even be here."
The Kakkarak were bigger than timber wolves, with six thick pointed legs and narrow red eyes. They all had different colors-some were green, some were black, some were grey, some were red, and some were blue. Their bodies were shaped like beetles' bodies, with hard rounded shells and soft bodies underneath where their legs protruded from. But, unlike beetles, the shells were all one piece that covered their whole bodies. There was a row of vertical spikes going down their backs, right between their two slit-like eyes. Scariest of all were their legs. Four of the legs were angled downward, for walking. But the two frontmost legs were angled upward, almost like arms. Between the two forelegs, right below their shells, each Kakkarak had a gaping, toothed mouth.
A blue Kakkarak saw the Elemental Masters coming and screeched menacingly. It ran at them with forelegs raised, but Pyras was ready. He swung his sword and cut off the Kakkarak's left foreleg. Screaming in pain, the Kakkarak slugged Pyras in the chest with its good foreleg. Pyras stabbed the Kakkarak in the face, killing it. Pyras shoved the limp Kakkarak aside and ran to meet another two monstrous spiders.
Hunter watched as the Elemental Masters fought the Kakkarak, using both their melee weapons and elemental powers as they fought. Fire, water, ice, cyclones, lightning bolts, and boulders were flying everywhere, killing Kakkarak left and right. But more just kept coming.
One Kakkarak, which had a bright red shell, got through the Elemental Masters' defenses and saw Hunter standing there. It ran at Hunter, its mandibles clicking in anticipation of the fleshy meal that awaited it. Hunter turned around and ran in the opposite direction. He hadn't even gone ten feet when the Kakkarak caught up to him and body-slammed him onto the ground. Before Hunter could crawl away, the Kakkarak had rolled him onto his back and was snapping at him. Hunter pushed against the Kakkarak, determined not to let those jaws bite off his face. Hunter could feel his bones trembling, straining to match the Kakkarak's strength. The Kakkarak pushed back, coming so close that its fangs actually scraped Hunter's nose.
Just when death seemed inevitable for Hunter, Hydras spotted the conflict going on behind her. She whirled around, thrust her axe in the direction of the Kakkarak pinning Hunter down, and shot a blast of water at the Kakkarak. The monstrous spider was thrown away as if hit by a fire hose. Hunter got to his feet and faced Hydras. "Thanks for-that," he said.
"Don't mention it," Hydras replied as she drove her other axe into an oncoming Kakkarak. "You should leave now. You're not ready for something like this."
"You're right," said Hunter. He turned to run to safety, but it was already too late. Kakkarak were getting past the defending line of villagers and Elemental Masters and running into the city. The monstrous spiders were smashing into houses, attacking villagers, and starting to spin webs between buildings.
"There's too many!" Electras said as he zapped a brown Kakkarak with his electricity.
"But what are they doing?" Glacias asked as he pointed to the wall where the Kakkarak were coming over. Someone or something was pounding the wall from the outside...as if the Kakkarak had a battering ram. Cracks were appearing in the wall with every hit.
"They're breaking down the wall!" said Aeras.
"Well? Stop them!" said Pyras. He, Hydras, and Glacias raced for the defending wall where the battering ram was. They frantically ascended the ladder and looked down at what was smashing into the wall. Sure enough, the Kakkarak had a massive battering ram that was hammering away at the defending wall. It was fifteen feet long, twelve feet high, and made of a wicked navy blue metal. The battering ram head was shaped somewhat like a Kakkarak's shell, with bronze plating and a chiseled front end. Kakkarak soldiers were using their forelegs to pull the battering ram back, and letting it go.
Without hesitation, Glacias thrust out his double-bladed weapon and froze the battering ram in an enormous block of ice. The surrounding Kakkarak gaped at their frozen battering ram in awe, then looked up at the parapets. Clicking angrily, they began to scale the wall to tear the Elemental Masters from limb to limb. Hydras blasted the first wave away with a jet of water, but there were still more.
As Pyras, Hydras, and Glacias fought the ascending Kakkarak, the Kakkarak on the ground began to push their frozen battering ram out of the way. As they did so, more Kakkarak came pulling another battering ram toward the defending wall. "You've gotta be kidding me!" Hydras exclaimed when she saw the second battering ram.
"We'll just have to-" But Glacias was cut off when a white Kakkarak pounced on him and sent them both tumbling off the parapet.
Pyras looked down at the oncoming battering ram to see that there were two humanoid figures marching in front of it. One of them was obviously the king, judging by the way the Kakkarak walked behind him and gave him space. His head was shaped much like a de-masked Voyo villager-shriveled, gray, and with wicked red eyes. He wore a silver crown with a face plate that covered his mouth. The rest of his body was covered in blood red armor. His fingers were so long, so curved, and so pointed, they looked like talons.
The Kakkarak king, along with his second-in-command, went off to the side as the battering ram was brought up to the defending wall. The Kakkarak soldiers pulled the battering ram back as far as it would go, then released it. The battering ram sent the defending wall crashing down on contact.
Inside the city, everyone stopped cold. Hunter, Terras, Aeras, Electras, and the villagers watched in horror as the Kakkarak king stepped through the wreckage of the defending wall. "Citizens of Voyo!" he boomed. "Welcome your new leader, Brintoco!" he gestured to himself.
"Brintoco?" Electras asked.
"I've heard of him," said Terras. "He's bad news."
Brintoco led the last hundred or so Kakkarak charging into the city. Terras rushed to intercept Brintoco, whirling his drill weapons like crazy. But Brintoco was ready. He slashed Terras across the face and kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling. Brintoco laid his foot on Terras to hold him down, then reached down and tore off a chunk of his torso armour. Terras cried in pain as this happened.
"Oh gosh," Hunter gasped. He watched as Brintoco left Terras and advanced farther down the street. Another Kakkarak launched itself at Hunter, but he saw it just in time. He dove out of the way and grabbed a spear from a fallen villager. He jabbed the spear into the Kakkarak's face, wounding it badly enough that it lost interest in him and turned away.
Hunter turned to see another humanoid figure, who was Brintoco's second-in-command, coming for him. Like Brintoco and the Kakkarak, this person was made of living metal-a biomechanical being like everyone else in Mechanicle. But this one was obviously female, with high-heeled boots, feminine curves, and a chest shaped like a woman's breastplate. Her armor was mostly black, with some highlights of electric blue. In her hand, she held a long, sharp-edged scimitar designed to hook an enemy's blade and maybe even cut it in two. The being had a pronounced lizard-like face, with slit-like red eyes and hair-like metal wires that made up a large braid at the base of her head and dreadlocks going down her neck.
"Well what have we here?" the female warrior mused. "A human living in the city of Voyo?"
Her voice was so seductive, yet so scary, it filled Hunter with fear. He dropped the spear he was holding and took a step back. "No," he said. "I-I-I'm not from here."
The female warrior raised her eyebrows in surprise. "So you aren't from the City, or from any of the southern kingdoms," she said. "Could you be...the Outsider?"
The female warrior was distracted by a commotion behind her. She and Hunter looked to see Pyras fighting his way through several Kakkarak, toasting them with red-hot fire. When the last of them had been burned to dust, Pyras faced the female warrior. "Prohahka," he said, his voice full of contempt. "We meet again."
"I thought it would be you, Pyras," said the female warrior, whose name was Prohahka. Without hesitation, she advanced on Pyras and slashed at him. Pyras parried the strike, then pulled his sword out before Prohahka could hook his weapon. He willed his sword to light on fire, ready to scorch Prohahka. He sliced Prohahka across the chest, burning through her armor. Prohahka doubled over, grimacing, but she did not give up. As Pyras moved in for another strike, she reached her left hand out like she was going to Force-choke him. Prohahka's fingers glowed as the flames covering Pyras' sword died down. It was Pyras' turn to double over as he realized that Prohahka had snuffed out his elemental power. Two Kakkarak pounced on him as Prohahka turned to face Hunter.
But by the time she did so, Hunter had already gone off running. Prohahka shrugged, knowing that she could deal with him later. Right now, she had to take care of her utmost task. She marched along with the Kakkarak as they went farther into the city.
After several streets, Prohahka had came to the city square, where several Kakkarak were cornering Hunter against the portal. "This is it," said Prohahka. "The means by which I can awaken my master."
The Kakkarak backed away as Prohahka stepped closer to the portal. Hunter, frozen with fear, couldn't bring himself to move. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice sounding less calm than he intended. Prohahka cast him a disapproving glance, then looked down at the portal's empty keystone slots. "We don't have the keystones!" said Hunter.
"You think I don't know that?" Prohahka asked. She glared down at Hunter with her cruel red eyes. She stepped closer to him and focused her gaze on him. The stare was creepy, almost hypnotic. It was like Prohahka could see through Hunter, and was discovering everything hidden inside him. "Well," she said. "You are an...interesting being."
"Uh-yeah," said Hunter.
Prohahka grabbed Hunter by the shoulder and forced him against the pedestal. "Listen here, Outsider," she threatened. "Tenebris would want me to tear you from limb to limb, but I am willing to show mercy. Leave this dimension now. Do anything in your homeworld, but do not stay in this world!"
"How-how did you know about-"
"I know all," said Prohahka. "This isn't the place for you, boy. Those foolish Elemental Masters think you're the Outsider who will save them, but they are wrong. If you try to interfere with my plans, then you will fail horribly. It will lead to a very painful death for you."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not necessarily," said Prohahka. "If you leave this world, then you won't have to worry about being the Outsider. Then again, you won't be able to amount to anything in your world, either."
Hunter had no words. Prohahka must have seen very deep into his mind.
"Think about it, boy," Prohahka said as she let him go and left.
For a minute there, Hunter just sat there, not knowing what to do. The scary thing was, Prohahka was right. Hunter didn't feel like the right person to be the Outsider, but he knew he wouldn't get very far in his old life, either. What choice did he have?
"Hunter!" Hydras called as she ran toward him. "What happened?"
Hunter shakily stood up. "I-we-we gotta leave," he said.
"Leave? Why?" Hydras asked.
"We...we can't win," said Hunter.
"He's right," Pyras said as he parried a Kakkarak's strike. "There's just too many Kakkarak. And they have Prohahka on their side."
"But we can't abandon Voyo!" said Hydras.
"We'll come back for the villagers," Pyras promised. "Right now, we have to leave."
Hunter, Pyras, and Hydras left the city square and ran for the city gate, which was about a hundred feet away from the hole in the defending wall. "What are you doing?" Glacias asked as they ran past him.
"We're retreating," said Pyras. "Now."
"But we can still stop Brintoco!" said Glacias. "He hasn't-"
Pyras looked Glacias square in the eye. "Did you just question an order from me?"
"Yes," Glacias admitted.
Aeras joined the group as they reached the city's front gates and busted them down. "Where are Terras and Electras?" he asked.
Hunter looked around. "I don't know!"
"We'll have to hope they make it out," said Pyras. "Now come on!"
Hunter, Pyras, Hydras, Glacias, and Aeras ran as fast as they could away from Voyo. A small group of Kakkarak chased after them, but they stopped when they were sure that they weren't coming back.
The five survivors slowed to a walk after about a mile of running. They looked back at the city behind them, and they saw that it was already covered in thick green Kakkarak webs. "They've defiled the city," Hydras said, unable to keep the distaste out of her voice.
"We will go back and save the city...won't we?" Glacias asked.
"Not right now," said Hunter. "Those spiders are probably waiting for us to come back."
"Well, where are we gonna regroup?" Aeras asked.
"The other City," said Pyras.
"Is there somewhere we can stay there?" Hunter asked.
"I would hope so," said Pyras. "Let's go."
They still hadn't recovered from the battle. As the group walked down the road towards the City, they barely spoke any words. After an hour of walking, they came into the normal (ish) human City. They entered a street of small, one-story houses and street lamps. After spending the morning in Voyo, the city looked almost foreign to Hunter.
There were a couple civilians walking down the street. One was walking his dog, and another was checking his mailbox. "So...who are we gonna ask?" Aeras asked.
"We should probably talk to the police," said Hunter.
"Oh sure," Glacias said sarcastically. "Let's see the cops go to Voyo and put Brintoco and Prohahka in handcuffs."
"That's not what I had in mind," said Hunter. "I meant, like, maybe they could help us find somewhere to live." There was a short pause where all four Elemental Masters stared at Hunter. "It's the way we do things where I'm from."
"Well, if you want to do it that way, then fine," said Pyras. He walked up to the man who was checking his mail and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me," he said.
The man looked up and was surprised to see an Elemental Master standing there. "Oh my word!" he said.
"Yes, it's me," said Pyras. "Do you know where Officer Janson is?"
The man shrugged. "Probably at the station with the other cops."
"Thank you," said Pyras.
"Officer Janson?" Hunter asked.
"We've worked with him before," Hydras explained. "We know where his station is."
The five of them walked through the streets, following Pyras' lead. They soon came to a police station with two garages, a three-story main building, a jail cell on the side, and a helipad on top of the jail cell. Inside the garages were a police car and a prisoner transport van. There was a fire truck parked next to the police station.
Pyras was the first to enter the police station's foyer, followed by Hunter, Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias. They entered to see a policeman standing behind the front counter, talking to a fireman. The policeman wore a black police suit with a polished badge. He had a slick brown crew cut and a face that was hard to judge. He could've been in his late thirties, or early fifties. He had a five o'clock shadow and smooth cheeks with hardly any wrinkles.
When the policeman looked at him, Hunter suddenly felt a surge of fear. Over the past year, every time he had gone face-to-face with a police officer, it hadn't been good. First there was the shoplifting incident, and then Hunter's jail sentence. He had seen policemen escorting criminals into the jail on several occasions, and on every one, the policeman had looked at Hunter like he had just committed murder or vandalism or something. The worst part was, Hunter had known full well that he was guilty.
Luckily, this policeman wasn't aware of Hunter's crimes. In fact, Hunter wasn't even the first thing he saw. "Well, well, well, the Elemental Masters have returned," said the policeman.
"Yes, we have," said Pyras. "We have an emergency."
"What is it? Are those thugs Septra and Brict giving you trouble?"
"Worse. Much worse. The Kakkarak have invaded our city."
The policeman's face lost its color. "It can't be."
"It is," said Hydras. "We just escaped, like, an hour ago."
"And we're looking for somewhere to stay," Hunter added. "Until we figure out what to do next."
The policeman nodded. "Yes, we can find a place for you," he said. "I'll have Officer Schmidt-"
The fireman spoke up. "Officer Janson, I can let them stay at my station."
The policeman-Officer Janson-raised an eyebrow. "Sam, are you sure you want to-"
"Yes, I'm sure," said the fireman. He wore a silver helmet and had a flat, oval-shaped face. Every inch of skin that wasn't covered by clothing was thickly calloused, and he had biceps that bulged through his sleeves. His knit-together eyebrows made him look serious, but there was something in his eyes that didn't seem so grim. Almost...lonely.
Officer Janson shrugged. "Well, if you wanna let them stay at the fire station, that's fine," he said.
"Great," said Sam. "You guys come with me."
Sam the fireman led Hunter and the Elemental Masters outside to where his fire truck was waiting. "You can get in shotgun," he told Hunter. "The rest of you can just hang on to the sides."
Hunter got in the fire truck's front cab, while Sam got in the driver's seat. "This is cool," he said.
"You like fire trucks?" Sam asked.
"I used to when I was little," said Hunter. "One time a fireman came to my kindergarten class and told us all about how he fought fires."
"Nice," said Sam.
It was only a five-minute drive from the police station to the fire station, which had just the one garage for the one fire truck. And the fire station office had two floors, as opposed to the police station's three.
"Right this way," Sam told Hunter and the Elemental Masters. The six of them entered the fire station's ground floor, where there was a front desk, phone, and coffee maker. At the end of the room, there was a fire pole going from the top floor. "So this is the office where I take phone calls and respond to emergencies," said Sam. "And upstairs is where you'll be sleeping."
They went upstairs, to a floor that was basically one big bedroom. There were two bunk beds and a TV, not to mention the fire pole at the end of the room. There were fire alarm bells hanging on the wall.
"This is your bedroom?" Pyras asked.
"It is," said Sam. "It's been pretty empty since my teammates disappeared, so you-"
"Your teammates disappeared?" Hunter asked.
"Yes," said Sam. "I used to be the fire chief, until my squad and I went to go put out a fire at a hospital. Well, we put out the fire, but then my teammates just disappeared!"
Just disappeared. "That's right," Hunter said. "That one time when Isaac took his firemen over to his friend's house, and how he was complaining that his firemen had 'just disappeared,'"
"Yes, my fireman friends did disappear," Sam affirmed. He spoke with the air of a middle-aged man who had watched his friends and family grow old and die, and was fearing the possibility of dying himself. "They went into the burning building, while I kept on squirting water from my truck's hoses. The fire was put out, but my teammates never left the building. Ever since then, it's just been me."
"I am terribly sorry to hear of your loss," said Aeras.
Sam sadly closed his eyes. "I went looking for them, so I could at least bury them in the yard behind our fire station. But there was not a trace of them."
"That sucks," said Hunter.
Sam looked between Pyras, Hydras, Glacias, and Aeras. "There's supposed to be twelve of you, aren't there?"
"Twelve, originally," said Pyras. "But, sadly, some of our Elemental Master brethren went down the wrong path. Because of that, they are no longer with us. As for the other two…"
"As far as we know, they're still fighting the Kakkarak in Voyo," said Hunter.
"I'm sure they've been killed or at least thrown in jail by now," said Glacias.
"You-you have a jail in Voyo?" Sam asked.
"We technically don't," said Pyras. "It's Turan who owns the city jail and the keys to it. But if Brintoco and the Kakkarak have taken over the city, I'm certain they will have taken control of everything."
"We might have some trouble getting our city back," said Hydras. "Especially if the Kakkarak are involved."
Hunter sat down on a bed. "Well, these Kakkarak, I don't know much about them. Other than that they're big, and scary."
"They're from the moorlands to the south," said Hydras. "They are a very territorial species, who kill anyone who trespasses in their homeland. Except for Brintoco."
"And...he's their king?"
"Indeed," said Glacias. "He was made king by the Great Creators, but was forced to sign a treaty between him and Turan. Brintoco was unhappy that he was confined to the moorlands where the Kakkarak lived, and he despised that treaty."
"Except now, he's violated that treaty by invading Voyo," said Pyras. "And if he's got Prohahka with him, then things are even worse."
Prohahka. Hunter shuddered at the name, as it put images of that cruel, cunning warrior that had cornered him against the portal and seemingly saw everything in his mind. "She...she was pretty scary," said Hunter.
"What did she do to you?" Hydras asked. "I saw her-"
"She, like, I don't know, read my mind?" said Hunter. "I didn't even say anything, and she talked to me like she knew me. And there was that thing she did to Pyras…"
"Those are her powers," said Pyras. "Mind reading, and taking away our elemental abilities. Our powers recharge after a while, but until they do, we have to rely on our melee weapons and fighting skills."
"The question is, what was she doing with the Kakkarak?" Hydras asked.
"She probably convinced Brintoco to violate the treaty," said Pyras. "So she could invade Voyo and get revenge on us."
"And she said something about awakening her master," said Hunter.
"When she was pinning me against the portal pedestal, she said that she could use the portal to awaken her master. Whoever that is."
"<|fim_middle|>le-shaped claw into him. The claw didn't kill Aeras, but it left a dent in his armor. "Hunter, I hope you've got that keystone out!" Aeras shouted.
"Almost...got it!" Hunter shouted as he finally dislodged the keystone. His pull was so hard, he had stumbled backward when the keystone broke free. But before he could help Aeras, the skull bone shifted under his feet. With a sickening crack, the T- Rex's lower jaw broke off of the mountain and went sledding down the side. Hunter fell against the jaw's teeth, while Aeras and the raptor went tumbling over the side. Hunter reached out to grab Aeras, but he was unable to reach him.
The jaw bone hit the ground and lodged there like a snowboard in a patch of snow. Hunter climbed out of the jaw and saw Aeras lying there, alongside the raptor that had tumbled down with them. The raptor shook off its pain and hissed angrily at Hunter. As if on cue, Rexy stepped up behind the raptor. The raptor barely had time to look around before Rexy took the raptor in his mouth. Rexy chewed on the raptor, shredding it into smaller pieces that would go down his throat better. Rexy swallowed what was left of the raptor.
"Wow," said Hunter. "Thanks, Rexy."
As if on cue, Pyras, Hydras, Glacias, and Glug came stumbling out of the cave at the bottom of the mountain. "Did...did you get the keystone?" Pyras asked.
"Yes, I did," said Hunter. He looked at the source of all the trouble in his hand. It was about the size of a calculator, made of a pearly white material. Not only did it have swirls of rainbow and was giving off a brilliant glow, but Hunter could also feel some kind of magical energy emulating from it. He had no doubt that this was a magical keystone that could open a portal to another realm.
Pyras nodded in approval. "Well, one down, five to go," he said.
Hunter looked at Aeras, who was still lying on the ground. "You okay?" he asked.
Aeras grimaced as he stood back up. "I'll be fine," he said. "That raptor's claw didn't do too much damage."
"Good," said Pyras. "If we're gonna find the other five keystones, then we're all gonna need our strength."
"More key-stones?" Glug asked.
"Yes, we're gonna have to leave Dino Valley," said Hunter. "And probably face even more danger." He still hadn't fully recovered from the raptor chase. He was pretty relieved to have survived, but they had almost been killed twice just for this one keystone. At this rate, who knew what lay ahead?
Glug frowned. "Friends leave Glug?"
"Yes," said Hunter. "But you were a big help to us here."
Glug smiled. "Me help friends."
"Yes, you did," said Hunter. "We appreciate that."
"Me hope you find key-stones," said Glug.
"So do we," said Pyras. "So do we."
Hunter, Pyras, Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias were hoping that when they returned to the fire station in the City, then Sam would have some information on where in the City that the next keystone would be. They knocked on the fire station's front door and waited for Sam to answer.
It took a minute, but Sam answered the door. "Hey guys," he said. "Did you get your keystone?"
"Yes, we did," said Hunter.
"Have you found out where the keystone here is?" Pyras asked.
Sam sighed. "I'm very sorry," he said. "I talked to Officer Janson while you were gone, and he and I looked over the records of the people in the City. No one on record was a supporter of Tenebris."
"Are you absolutely sure?" Hydras asked.
"Yes," said Sam. "Officer Janson looked through all the records of everyone in town."
"Are you sure no one had lied on their records?" Glacias asked.
"We toyed with that idea," said Sam. "But obviously, we couldn't have gone to every house and question everyone while you were gone."
"Even then, they might still lie," said Pyras.
"Maybe you could have the police search all the houses," Hydras suggested.
"Huh," said Sam. "That's not a bad idea at all."
"How about you present that idea to Officer Janson," said Pyras, "While we track down the next few keystones."
"Sure, I can do that," said Sam.
"Where are we gonna go next?" Aeras asked.
"Come inside," said Sam. "The map's still on the front table."
So the five of them went inside, where Sam had the map to the keystones laid out on the front office table. "So, Dino Valley, check," said Pyras. "City, we're working on it. What we have left are the Power Race Track, the Dead Desert, Princess Ariana's castle, and Lord Vulcon's Kingdom."
"You might want to go to the Power Race Track," said Sam. "They're having a big race tonight."
"They are?"
"The Power Races were founded just two weeks ago," said Sam. "People from all over have been gathering to see the races, or enter the races themselves. They're all competing for a big, shiny trophy."
"Hm," said Pyras. "We ought to investigate that matter."
"What about the Dead Desert?" Hydras asked. "Where could a keystone possibly be hidden in there?"
"Maybe the cursed badlands," said Aeras. "Where the mummies' tombs are located."
Pyras looked over the map. "I think we should split up," he said.
"What-split up? Why?"
"Prohahka's probably organized a hunting party by now," said Pyras. "To find the rest of the keystones before she does, we'll need to cover more ground in less time."
Glacias nodded. "I agree," he said. "Where will we go?"
"We should go to the Power Race Track, and Princess Ariana's castle," said Hydras. "If we're gonna get the keystone from Lord Vulcon's Kingdom, then we'll all have to go together."
"You're right," said Pyras. "Glacias, Hydras, and Aeras, you three go to the Power Race Track. Hunter, you and I will go to Princess Ariana's castle."
"I take it you'll be meeting back here?" Sam asked.
"Yes, by tomorrow morning," said Pyras. "If Hunter and I aren't here by then, then you should come looking for us. We will do the same for you."
"Sounds like a plan," said Aeras.
"Right," said Pyras. "Let's go."
Before they left, Pyras decided to leave their keystone with Sam. Everyone agreed that it would be safer to leave the keystone in Sam's care than to risk being caught by Prohahka when they had the keystone on them. Hunter and Pyras wished Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias luck as they departed for Princess Ariana's castle.
Princess Ariana's castle was located in a magical forest to the north of the City. There was a paved road leading from the City into the forest, until the pavement faded into a dirt road that went through the forest. As Hunter and Pyras walked down the road and into the forest, it was as if they were entering a fairy tale. The road was lined with brightly colored flowers and was illuminated by a beautiful sun. The trees went as high as a two story building, glittering with what looked like fairy magic. From up above, Hunter could hear birds chirping and singing, adding to the overall soothing feel of the forest.
As they moved down the road, they saw more roads coming in and joining with the one they were on. There were people coming from those roads, heading in the same direction Hunter and Pyras were. The people wore old-style medieval tunics, dodgy-looking pants, and black leather boots. They were talking excitedly as they went, as if they were headed for some big event.
"This seems a little...medieval," said Pyras.
"Maybe it's because Princess Ariana is supposed to be a fairy tale princess," said Hunter.
"Fairy tale?"
"It's an old story, about princes and witches and things like that," said Hunter. He almost brought up Disney, but then he realized Pyras probably didn't know what Disney was. "And it can also have dragons, or mermaids."
The road widened into a huge clearing in the forest. In the clearing, there was a fence surrounding a beautiful castle with many turrets and pointed towers. It was built from many large, pink bricks, while the tiles covering the towers' roofs were deep purple. The topmost spire had a flagpole on top, with a rainbow flag waving in the breeze.
"There it is," said Hunter. "It's her castle."
All of the people that they had seen on the street were gathering into a large crowd of people. They were filing through the gate, walking down a stone pathway that led straight to the castle's open front doors. Guards dressed in shiny gray armor were lined up on either side of the stone pathway, spears in their hands.
"What do you think they're doing?" Hunter asked.
Before Pyras could answer, a man in a navy blue suit came running up to them. "Pyras, you came!" he exclaimed.
Pyras looked at the man quizzically. "I'm sorry, what?"
"You came to Prince Handsome and Princess Ariana's wedding!" said the man. "Prince Handsome wasn't sure you'd come, but here you are now!"
"Who said anything about a wedding?" Pyras asked.
"The prince and princess are getting married," said the man. "Don't you remember? I came to Voyo just last week with the message from Prince Handsome."
"Oh, that's right," said Pyras. "I completely forgot about it."
"Well? You gonna come in?" the man asked. "The ceremony's happening in just a few minutes."
"Uh...yes," Pyras answered, not wanting to be rude.
"You got invited to the wedding?" Hunter asked as he and Pyras entered the gate and walked down the stone pathway.
"Apparently yes," said Pyras. "It wasn't actually me who that messenger came to. He reached Terras first, and then Terras mentioned it to me later. But the reason I forgot about it was because Septra and Brict were making trouble that day, and I had to help deal with them."
"But why would the prince and princess invite you to their wedding?" Hunter asked. "Do you...know them?"
"Not really," Pyras admitted. "I think they invited us Elemental Masters out of gratitude, since there was a time when Tenebris and Prohahka had kidnapped them to use as slaves, and we saved them."
They entered the castle and found themselves in a large entry hall. There were murals of the king and queen on the wall, and the floor was adorned with a massive colorful rug. Hunter and Pyras followed the other wedding guests as they went down the entry hall towards the wedding room.
"Right this way," said a guard that was standing aside the entrance to the wedding room. Of course, "wedding room" isn't really the right word. As Hunter stepped into the room, a hush immediately fell over his mind. The room looked and felt like a chapel, with its two rows of church pews and pulpit near the front. Above the pulpit was a stained glass mural of a man and woman holding hands while watching a sunset. The mural was colorful and beautiful, as if it had been crafted by angels. In fact, the whole wedding room was very elegant. Everything was smooth and shiny, with no dirt even from the guests that were entering. At the back of the room, there was a line of priests standing behind the pulpit and reverently singing a religious song. The song had no discernible lyrics, but it added the the calm and happy atmosphere.
Hunter and Pyras sat down in a pew on the right row. They watched as all the other wedding guests found a place to sit, waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. Once everyone had seated, the singing priests sat down in a row of pews behind the pulpit. Another priest, who wore blue robes embedded with flecks of gold, stepped up to the pulpit. "Thank you all for coming," he said. "We will now begin the ceremony. Please welcome Prince Handsome."
At the other end of the room, the doors opened to allow Prince Handsome to walk in. Prince Handsome was...well, handsome. He had smooth brown hair, dreamy black eyes, smooth cheekbones, and a warm smile. He wore a white suit with large gold buttons, brown dress pants, and gold epaulettes on his shoulders. Watching him walk across the room toward the pulpit, Hunter could immediately understand why he was called Prince Handsome. He was the embodiment of male attractiveness, and would be a chick magnet if he went to Hunter's school.
Prince Handsome took his place in front of the pulpit, happily looking up at the priest at the pulpit. "And now," said the priest, "Let Princess Ariana come forth." Every head turned as the princess entered the room. The moment he saw Princess Ariana's face, Hunter forgot how to think. Her face was so delicate, and her eyes were so beautiful, and her hair was so luscious and red, and her lips were so red and perfect, and her dress was so ornate and pink, and her body was so nice, and her smile was so amazing…
Hunter's mind fought back after a minute, but he still couldn't take his eyes off of Princess Ariana. He had seen some pretty cute girls at school before. And he didn't like admitting it, but he had a celebrity crush on Britney Spears. But Princess Ariana blew every other female out of the water. She was so beautiful, and yet it wasn't in vain. She was just naturally beautiful. Unlike the models on the covers of magazines, Ariana was beautiful without makeup or plastic surgery or anything like that.
"Welcome, Princess," the priest said as Princess Ariana took her place opposite Prince Handsome. "Now, to begin the ceremony…"
At first, the ceremony was somewhat fun to watch. Prince Handsome and Princess Ariana were smiling at each other, taking each other's hands, and just anticipating the moment when they could kiss. It was so sweet, like something out of a fairy tale where they all lived happily ever after. Hunter almost wished he could have a happy ending like that. If only he could get through high school and college, and find a good job, and then settle down with the girl of his dreams. And then…
As Hunter thought about it, he realized that it couldn't happen. He still had a criminal record, which would make it hard to do any of those things. It wasn't fair, Hunter thought as he saw Prince Handsome and Princess Ariana kiss. Hunter made one little mistake, and it would prevent him from getting anywhere in life. He'd just be living in his parents' basement, watching all his friends go off and start lives of their own while he lived out the rest of his meaningless existence.
Seriously, what was the point of even living anymore? Even if Hunter did get a college degree, there would still be the issue of finding and keeping a job. And if he did find a soul mate, he would have a job mantaining the relationship. Besides, if his wife were to die, then he'd go back to living depressed and lonely. And, one way or another, Hunter would end up dying, along with all his friends and family and everyone he'd ever known. And then the world would keep going on without him. In the grand scheme of things, Hunter could never have been born and the world would still be the same.
Hunter was so lost in thought, he didn't even stand up to produce applause with the rest of the people in the wedding room. He barely perked up when the priest told them to go to the dining room for the wedding banquet. He just sort of followed Pyras as they all left the room.
End of Chapter 10...
The wedding banquet was held in a large, royal dining hall. There was a long table full of food set up near the end of the room, with circular tables set up all around.
Princess Ariana and Prince Handsome were the first to get food, followed by Ariana's parents and Handsome's parents. The other royal dignitaries got their food, and then the guests were finally allowed to dig in.
There wasn't too much food that Hunter didn't like. He ended up getting a plate of steak, scalloped potatoes, sliced apples, and a cinnamon muffin. He sat down at a table to enjoy his food, but he found himself picking at the steak. He was just so lost in thought, and so discouraged. As beautiful as the wedding was, Hunter and Pyras were still no closer to finding their keystone. Hunter was sure that Hydras, Glacias, and Aeras had already gotten the keystone from the Power Race Track by now, and here they were just sitting at a wedding ceremony.
Meanwhile, Pyras was mostly glossing over the food table. Since he was a biomechanical being, he did not need to eat food in order to survive. He'd never really tried to eat, though, so he figured he might as well try a piece of steak. As he was leaving the food table, Pyras ran right into Prince Handsome and Princess Ariana. "Well, well, well!" said Handsome. "One of the Elemental Masters did decide to show up!"
Pyras forced a smile. "Yes, I'm glad you invited me."
Handsome looked at Pyras' plate. "Ah, um, if you can't eat food, then you don't-"
"I've never tried," said Pyras. "But that doesn't mean I can't do so now."
"Let's find a place to sit," said Handsome. He, Ariana, and Pyras looked around and saw the table Hunter was sitting at. They sat down with him.
"Are you with Pyras?" Ariana asked.
"Yes, he is," Pyras said as he picked up the piece of steak on his plate. He turned it over in his hands, trying to figure out where the best spot would be to take a bite. He brought it up to his mouth and bit off a piece. He chewed it slowly.
"Well?" Prince Handsome asked.
"I don't...taste it," said Pyras as he swallowed the bite of meat.
"I mean, it didn't have any taste to me," said Pyras.
"Maybe because you're mostly made of metal, and you don't have taste buds," Ariana suggested.
"Maybe," said Pyras. "But in any case, we're not here to dine on fancy food."
"Well, what are you here for?"
"We're here for a keystone," said Pyras. "I take it you remember Prohahka?"
Ariana shuddered. "I try not to."
"Well, she's still alive. She and the Kakkarak have invaded Voyo, and now Prohahka's trying to find all six keystones so she can go and awaken Shadow," Pyras explained. "And supposedly, there's a keystone here in your castle."
"What does this keystone look like?" Handsome asked.
"It's big enough to fit in your hand. It's white, and glowing, and it emulates energy."
Handsome's face lit up. "As a matter of fact, I do have something like that!"
"You do?"
"It was in the evil witch's lair," said Handsome. "I found it when my soldiers and I were going to kill the evil witch. I was planning on giving it to Ariana as a wedding gift, but if you need it, then I'd be willing to turn it over."
"Please do," said Pyras.
"I will be right back," said Handsome. He got up and left the table.
"How many keystones have you found already?" Ariana asked.
"Once Prince Handsome brings his back, two," said Pyras. "And three of the other Elemental Masters are currently recovering the third."
"Sounds like the keystones are scattered all around the world," said Ariana.
"They are," said Hunter. "We have a map pointing us to the Dead Desert, and Lord Vulcon's Kingdom, and-"
Princess Ariana's face was drained of its color. "Did-did you say Lord Vulcon?"
"Yes, I did," said Hunter.
"Oh my glory," said Ariana.
"What's Lord Vulcon's deal, anyway?" Hunter asked. "I've been hearing about him like he's this evil king, or sorcerer, or something."
"He's both of those things," said Ariana. "He used to be a knight in the kingdom down south, but he was exiled for practicing black magic. He formed his own kingdom in the dark mountains, and now he wants to wage war on the kingdom that exiled him."
"No wonder he was a supporter of Tenebris," said Hunter.
Pyras nodded. "Next to Prohahka, he was Tenebris' most loyal supporter. In fact, rumor has it that Lord Vulcon went looking for Tenebris after we defeated him."
"I was held captive by him once," said Ariana. "He threatened to sacrifice me to finish forging his magic sword, or something like that. Luckily a band of knights saved me, but Lord Vulcon…" she shuddered. "I wish you the best of luck dealing with him."
"Thanks," said Hunter. "We're gonna need it."
Ariana gave Hunter her first good look. "So you're...Pyras' companion?" she asked.
"You could say that," said Hunter.
"He's the Outsider," said Pyras. "He's the one who's-"
"No, I'm not," said Hunter. "I know you think so, but it's not who I'm meant to be."
"Well, then, who are you meant to be?" Ariana asked. "What are your dreams?"
"I-I don't have any," said Hunter. "I know I'm not going to amount to anything."
Pyras sighed. "Hunter, this attitude has to stop. You are a capable young man. I saw how you did in Dino Valley."
"You don't understand!" said Hunter. "Just because I outran a couple of dinosaurs, doesn't mean I'm a good fighter, or leader, or planner. Prohahka saw this, and she saw how badly I've been doing in my world."
"Well, just how badly have you been doing in your world?" Ariana asked.
Hunter took a deep breath. "You're not gonna like this," he warned. He explained the story of his family's gas station excursion last summer, and how he'd stolen from the store, and how he'd served six months in jail.
"So...all this over a bag of chips?" Ariana asked when Hunter was done with his story.
"Yes, it's stupid," said Hunter. "I was an idiot, and then I was basically a criminal."
"Just because you were a criminal then, doesn't mean you'll be a criminal in the future," said Pyras.
"Even if I won't, I'll still have a criminal record," said Hunter. "And it'll probably prevent me from getting a good job when I'm older. And then I'll end up living on the streets, and then I'll die depressed and lonely. I just...I just don't see the point in trying anymore."
Pyras and Ariana exchanged glances, not sure what to say. "Hunter-it's not that bad," said Ariana. "You can still move forward in life."
"You shouldn't let your one setback destroy the rest of your life," said Ariana. "You can still work forward, do good things to compensate for the bad things."
"It's not just my criminal record," said Hunter. "I'm not doing too well in school, either. I've got a math test coming up, and I know I'm gonna fail it."
"Hunter, listen to me," said Pyras. "If there's one thing I've learned in my experience as the leader of the Elemental Masters, it's that belief that you will fail will lead to you actually failing. If you believe you will succeed, however, then you are likely to succeed. I'm not saying success comes easily, but confidence is key."
"I guess you're right," said Hunter. "But how can I find confidence when everything is so...hopeless?"
"Everyone has a purpose in life," said Pyras. "You just have to work to find yours."
"From the way it sounds to me, the best thing you can do right now is pass high school," said Pyras.
"Assuming I can even make it back to my world," said Hunter. "We still haven't gotten anywhere on that front."
"Maybe the Great Creators can help you with that," said Pyras. "Once we defeat Prohahka and the Kakkarak, I'll take you to the Great Creators so they can send you home."
Hunter smiled. "That sounds like a deal. I'll help you save your city, and you'll help me get home."
"Well, that's not what I was trying to say, but yes, I suppose so."
"There's a lot of innocent people that'll die if you fail," said Ariana. "So there's that, too."
"You're not...you know, worried that Prohahka will try to invade here, are you?"
"Of course I am," said Ariana. "I know that if she awakens Shadow and brings him to this world, then we're all doomed. But if you're really the Outsider, then I'm certain you'll stop her."
Right then, Prince Handsome came back with the keystone. This one was identical to the one they had found in Dino Valley, with its pearly white glow and pulsating magical energy. "Is this the keystone you are here for?" he asked.
"It is," said Pyras. "Thank you so much."
"Our pleasure," said Handsome.
"Well, we should probably be leaving now," said Hunter. "We gotta meet the other Elemental Masters back at Sam's fire station. They're off getting another keystone, and…"
"We're still glad you came to our wedding!" said Princess Ariana.
"Oh yes," said Pyras. "Congratulations on getting married."
"Good luck," said Ariana as Hunter and Pyras stood up. "I hope you find the rest of the keystones."
"Of course," said Hunter.
Prohahka stood at the edge of the City. She knew that one of the keystones was hidden somewhere in the City, and she knew what she would have to do to find it. But right now, she was talking with one of her Kakkarak scouts. Even though Kakkarak did not speak English, Prohahka had learned to understand their language from Brintoco. The scout had came to her from the magical forest, carrying disturbing news with it. The scout had seen a legion of people gathering at Princess Ariana's castle, with an Elemental Master among them. Later on, that same Elemental Master had been seen leaving the castle alongside a human companion, taking a keystone with them.
"This Elemental Master had a human companion?" Prohahka asked. A little red "trouble" light had gone off inside of her.
The Kakkarak scout nodded.
"It wasn't the Outsider, the human boy from Voyo, was it?"
The scout nodded once more.
Prohahka growled in frustration. It couldn't be Hunter Brooks. Prohahka had looked into his mind and seen the hopelessness he carried in his heart. She had advised him that his best option would be to give up and distance himself from Prohahka's conflict with the Elemental Masters. And yet he had ignored her advice, and helped obtain the keystone from Princess Ariana.
No matter, Prohahka told herself. She had a map, too, and she also had personal connections to some of the people who possessed keystones. Prohahka had already been to Lord Vulcon and promised to bring him at least one Elemental Master in exchange for his keystone. She had also gone to the location of another keystone, one that the Elemental Masters hadn't found yet. This one, it turned out, was also possessed by a former ally. Not only had said ally willingly given Prohahka his keystone, but he had also agreed to help her set up a trap...
Hydras, Glacias, and Aeras left the Power Race Track successful. They had entered the race stadium while the race was in progress, and seen a picture of the trophy on a video screen. The trophy, it turned out, had a keystone built into it. Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias found their way to the commentator's box, where the person who called himself the Racemaster was watching over the race.
After finding their way to the commentator's box, the Elemental Masters had found that the Racemaster was actually a Mechanicle being dressed in human clothes. It turned out he had been one of Tenebris' supporters, but after Tenebris died, he had decided to join the racing industry. Since he had presented a trophy that was made from a keystone, the racing officials had decided to make him the Racemaster.
To the Elemental Masters' surprise, the Racemaster was very willing to let them have the keystone. He said that he no longer held sympathy for Tenebris or Prohahka or anyone from Mechanicle. For all the Racemaster cared, the Elemental Masters could have their keystone back.
So after a little talk with the racer who won the race, Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias left the Power Race Track with another keystone in their possession. They made it with lots of time to spare, too-they had to be back at Sam's fire station by morning, and it wasn't even midnight yet.
"Well," said Glacias, "That was much easier than I expected."
"Yeah, it was," said Aeras. "Imagine if we'd had to enter the race ourselves!"
Hydras smiled. "They wouldn't have even let us," she said. "But they did let us have the keystone for nothing."
The Power Race Track was located between the City and the Dead Desert. As they left the race stadium, Aeras looked over to the east and saw the Dead Desert. "Speaking of keystones…"
"What is it?" Hydras asked.
"You think we could get the keystone from the Dead Desert?"
"No. Our plan was to get the keystone from the Power Race Track, then meet Hunter and Pyras back at Sam's fire station," said Glacias.
"We've got until morning," Aeras insisted. "Besides, we're not the only ones looking for the keystones."
He didn't even need to mention Prohahka's name. "You do have a point there," Hydras admitted.
"Come on, guys," said Glacias. "We've got three keystones and a lead on the fourth. I think the odds are playing out in our favor."
"But if Prohahka gets even one keystone, then it'll be extremely difficult for us to get it from her," said Hydras. "Heck, who's to say she hasn't gotten one we haven't found already?"
"I can't argue with that," said Aeras.
Glacias sighed. "Fine," he said. "But don't expect me to stand up for you when Pyras finds out we disobeyed his orders."
So the trio went to the east, toward the Dead Desert. They watched as the ground faded from dirt to sand as they entered the desert. "So we've got the entire desert to search," said Glacias. "Where do we start?"
"The mummy tombs," said Hydras. "Where else would the keystone be hidden?"
"Well, then, let's go there," said Aeras.
They headed in the direction that they knew the mummies' tombs were located. But before long, the sand under their feet started to feel cold. It didn't bother Glacias, as his element was ice, but Hydras and Aeras could feel their metal feet going numb. They looked down and saw that the "sand" they were walking on was actually snow. "Snow? In the desert?" Hydras asked. It shouldn't have been possible for it to snow in a desert, but here they were. They had gone from sand to snow in, like, a minute.
"This is just...strange," said Glacias. He looked out to the east, and he saw that the entire desert was covered in snow and ice. Even the tall mesas that dotted the edge of the desert had literally turned to ice.
"Who do you think did this?" Aeras asked.
"What do you mean, 'who?'" Glacias asked.
"It's just-snow and ice in a desert, it seems...unnatural," said Aeras.
Glacias shrugged. "Well, I can tell you right now, it wasn't me," he said.
"No, I know it wasn't you," said Aeras. "I was just saying-"
"Did you see that?" Hydras asked.
Hydras looked around. "I could've sworn I saw something move up ahead."
Aeras and Glacias looked ahead, to where the topography started to disrupt and create hills. "I don't see anything," said Aeras.
Perhaps Hydras had been imagining things. "Let's just keep going," she sighed.
They went onward and crossed over what used to be a sand dune. Now that it was covered with snow and ice, it couldn't really be called a "dune." More like a snowy hill. As the Elemental Masters reached the top of the hill, it started to get less and less snowy, with the ice that had been underneath the stone exposed. Aeras was beginning to descend when it happened. His metal foot slipped off the icy ground, and he fell flat on his face. Aeras started to slide down the hill.
"Aeras!" Hydras shouted as she reached for him. But Aeras had already slid out out of her reach, and Hydras toppled over herself. Aeras pulled out his hatchet and dug it into the side of the hill, stopping his fall. But then Hydras slammed into him, causing Aeras to lose his grip and the both of them to slide to the bottom.
"Well that happened," Aeras grumbled when they had reached the bottom. He looked up to see Glacias casually walking down the hill, doing so as easily as if he were walking on a regular hill. Glacias was the Elemental Master of ice, so of course he knew how to walk on ice without taking a tumble. But at least he picked up Aeras' hatchet on the way down.
"You guys okay?" Glacias asked as he tossed Aeras the hatchet.
"We're good," said Hydras. But she paused when she heard a noise. "What was that?" she asked.
"Nothing," said Aeras. "Why are you being so jumpy?"
"I thought I heard some ice cracking…" said Hydras. She looked around at the surrounding hills. She didn't see anyone or anything, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"Maybe my hatchet started a crack when I dug it into the ice," said Aeras.
"Maybe," said Hydras. But she drew both of her axes, making herself feel a little safer.
The trio was starting to climb the next hill when it happened. All three of them heard a loud clicking noise, like some gigantic bug walking across the ice. The noise was mixed with a mechanical whirring sound. Whatever was making that sound, it was just over the hill.
"What. Is. That?" Aeras asked.
"I don't know," said Glacias, drawing his double-bladed sword.
Hydras hefted her axes. "I guess you were right," she said to Glacias. "Coming here wasn't such a good idea."
"Are...are we sure that that's bad news?" Aeras asked hopefully. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself that whatever was coming over that hill was friend rather than foe.
The answer came when a large, black, scorpion-like robot climbed over the edge of the hill. It was as long as two school buses, and had a robotic tail that extended thirty feet high. It had six long, pointed legs that resembled those of the Kakkarak. The robot's arms were stubby, yet their claws were large and serrated. The robot had a head-like cockpit with a dark blue windshield. Inside the cockpit was a driver who looked awfully familiar.
"Uh-oh," said Glacias. If that was who he thought it was, then they truly should not have came here.
"We can take him," said Aeras. "There's three of us, and only one of him."
As if in answer, the scorpion robot raised its right arm like a military commander withholding his troops. It pointed forward, giving a signal. Immediately, Kakkarak and black-suited human soldiers came over the surrounding hills and down towards the Elemental Masters.
"Uh...maybe we can't," said Aeras.
The scorpion robot crawled down the hill, and its front cockpit opened. The driver stood up in his seat and faced the Elemental Masters. He was dressed in a black jumpsuit, with a gold chain around his neck. He had thin facial features, a pencil mustache, and a shaved head. "So you're the Elemental Masters," he said. "I've heard about you."
"Who are you?" Hydras asked.
"My name is Professor Tick-Tock," said the robot's driver.
"Professor Tick-Tock?" Glacias scoffed. "That's your name?"
"Yes," said Professor Tick-Tock. "And you are trespassing in my territory."
"What are you talking about? This is the Dead Desert!" said Hydras.
"Not anymore, it's not," said Professor Tick-Tock. "It's my testing grounds for my freezing bombs. I've been developing them for months now, trying to create one that can freeze time. But so far, I've only succeeded in freezing the desert!"
"Right," said Hydras. "We're not trying to put your plan on ice or anything. We're just here to obtain our keystone."
Professor Tick-Tock laughed. "Oh, you won't find any keystones here," he said. "I was warned that you would come here to get my keystone, and would likely try to stop me from freezing time. Well, I don't want that. And luckily, the Kakkarak are more than willing to help me stop you."
Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias exchanged glances. "I think Prohahka beat us here," said Glacias.
"But why isn't she showing her face right now?" Aeras asked.
"I hardly think that's our biggest worry right now," said Hydras. She watched as Professor Tick-Tock sat back down in his scorpion robot's cockpit and fired up the engine. The scorpion robot snapped its claws as it crawled forward.
Not even bothering to wait, the Kakkarak and black-suited people-who must have been Professor Tick-Tock's goons-came charging forward. Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias stood back to back, their weapons drawn. They hacked away at the first tier of enemies, but there were many more coming. One of the black-suited goons thrust a transparent blue spear at Aeras, but he deflected it. As the two were pushing against each other, a Kakkarak came for Aeras with its mandibles clicking like crazy. Aeras turned his hatchet in an arc that sent the spear flying out of his goon's hands, and then sliced into the Kakkarak's head.
"There's too many of them!" Hydras exclaimed.
"Not if I have anything to say about it," said Glacias. He thrust his hand out, and a barricade of ice spikes froze into existence in front of him. The spikes impaled several goons and stabbed a few Kakkarak, while scaring the rest into stepping backward. "Back away from us, all of you!"
"Yes, back away!" Professor Tick-Tock ordered. "It seems I'll have to deal with these guys myself." The scorpion robot advanced on the three Elemental Masters, its claws snapping angrily.
"No, you back away!" Aeras shouted. He charged at the scorpion robot and leaped for its cockpit head, even summoning wind to boost his jump. He brought his hatchet down on the cockpit's canopy windshield, creating a big crack in it. Professor Tick-Tock growled and pulled a lever inside the cockpit. The scorpion robot reached out with its left claw, grabbed Aeras, and threw him off the cockpit.
Hydras had been stepping forward to attack the scorpion robot herself, but faltered when she saw what happened with Aeras. She knew there had to be another way to defeat the robot, but…
Hydras fixed on an idea. "Glacias, I know how to defeat it!" Not taking her eyes off the advancing robot, she whispered her idea in Glacias' ear.
Glacias ground his teeth. "That had better work," he said.
"Be ready," said Hydras. She crossed her axes across her chest, Wonder Woman-style, and focused her elemental energy into them. Once she had built up the right amount of energy, she thrust her axes forward and sent a powerful tidal wave against the scorpion robot. The blast hit the robot right in the cockpit head, causing a little bit of water to leak into the cockpit. As the water was dripping off of the robot, Hydras willed it to gather into one big blob of water under the robot. As she was bringing the water upwards, Glacias did his part. He froze the rising water into an enormous ice spike, which went right up through the robot's scorpion body. Glacias even conjured some extra ice to add to the spike's mass.
The ice spike grew to the size of a sixteen-wheeler as it went upward. It smashed the scorpion robot's body, sending its parts flying everywhere. The cockpit head broke off and rolled to the ground, with Professor Tick-Tock cursing in rage.
The surrounding goons and Kakkarak watched in horror as the whole scene unfolded. "Retreat!" one goon shouted. He, along with most of the goons and a handful of Kakkarak, turned and ran away from the battlefield. Those that remained just stood there, unsure of what to do.
"Nice one," Aeras said as he regained his senses.
"We gotta get out of here," said Hydras. "We have to warn Pyras that Prohahka has one of the keystones."
But, as they ran westward, Professor Tick-Tock managed to punch a hole through his cockpit's windshield. "Stop them!" he commanded. "Don't let them escape!"
Heeding his orders, the black-suited goons and Kakkarak regrouped and ran after the Elemental Masters. "Oh great," said Aeras. "How are we-"
"Just keep moving!" Hydras urged. The trio ran off into the night, in the hope that they would lose their pursuers.
It was almost midnight when Hunter and Pyras knocked on Sam's fire station's front door. They were hoping that he would've talked to Officer Janson and set out a warrant for the keystone.
What they got, however, was a much more pleasant surprise. Sam answered the door while wearing his fireman suit. "Ah, great timing," he said.
"What, did you find the keystone?" Hunter asked.
"You could say that," said Sam. "After you left, new evidence came to light about who we were looking for. Officer Janson was looking at the records of who has moved into the City since Tenebris' defeat, and there was only one person. We went to his house and searched it, but we did not find a keystone."
"The civilian was refusing to divulge what he had done with his keystone," said Sam. "But I suggested that he might have hidden his keystone in the bank. Officer Janson had other stuff to take care of at the time, but he agreed to meet up with me and search the bank later on tonight."
"And you're leaving right now?"
"Yes," said Sam. "You two can come with me."
"Don't mind if we do," said Pyras.
A few minutes later, Hunter, Sam, and Pyras were in Sam's fire truck, driving to the city bank. The bank was located just a few blocks away, just down the street from the hospital. Sam pulled over right across the street from the bank, then got out with Hunter and Pyras.
"Looks like we beat Officer Janson here," said Sam.
Hunter looked up at the bank. It was two stories high, with an ATM machine beside the front door and a skylight up top. He could see the lights on inside, meaning that the bank was open. Hunter wouldn't have thought that a bank would be open at this time of night, but here it was.
However, something didn't feel right. The front door was thrown open, and Hunter couldn't see anyone behind the front desk. Suspicious, he entered the bank. "Hello?" he asked. "Anyone here?" No answer. He peeked around the front desk and, to his horror, saw the bank teller laying spread-eagled on the floor.
"Oh my gosh," Hunter gasped.
"What is it?" Pyras asked, sticking his head into the bank. His eyes widened when he saw the dead (?) bank teller.
"There must've been a robbery or something," said Hunter.
If it was possible for a metal face to lose its color, then it happened with Pyras in that moment. "You-you don't think-"
"I do think," said Hunter. He had a very clear picture of what had happened, and he didn't like it one bit.
"C'mon!" said Pyras. He ran upstairs to where the vault was, with Hunter following behind him. The whole way, Pyras prayed to the Great Creators that he was wrong. He couldn't be this unlucky, could he?
Unfortunately, he was. Pyras and Hunter reached the second floor to find the vault's door yanked off its hinges, with wads of dollar bills littering the floor inside the vault. "No, no, no!" Pyras wailed as he dug through the piles of money, looking for the keystone.
"Why couldn't we have thought of this sooner?" Hunter asked as he started rifling through the vault himself.
"I knew something like this would happen sooner or later," Pyras grumbled.
"That keystone has to be in here somewhere!" Hunter said in an attempt to lift both of their spirits. But it did no good; the keystone just wasn't in there.
Pyras stood up. "Keep digging around," he said. "I'm gonna go outside and let Sam know about this. Officer Janson too, if he's shown up."
Pyras went downstairs and out the bank's front door. "Sam," he said. "I've got some bad news."
But before Pyras could answer, he heard people calling his name from across the street. To his surprise, he saw Hydras, Glacias, and Aeras running toward him. "Pyras, thank goodness we found you," said Hydras. "We weren't sure if you'd gotten back from Princess Ariana's castle, but here you are."
"What happened?" Pyras asked.
Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias gave Pyras a hurried explanation of their encounter with Professor Tick-Tock in the Dead Desert. "We're lucky we escaped," said Hydras.
"So let me get this straight," said Pyras. "You three disobeyed my orders and went beyond the Power Race Track, and almost got killed because of it?"
"Don't blame me!" said Glacias. "I voted against it!"
"That's not the point," said Aeras. "The point is that Prohahka beat us to the keystone in the Dead Desert!"
"I don't think it was in the Dead Desert to begin with," said Hydras. "I think Professor Tick-Tock set up a base in the Dead Desert and happened to take his keystone with him, and then Prohahka visited him in his base and then-"
"Well, I think she's been here, too," said Pyras. "Someone broke into the bank, and we can't find the keystone."
Sam's eyes widened. "Then-what do we…" He trailed off when he saw the Kakkarak crawling out of various hiding places-alleys, rooftops, manholes-and surrounding them. There were about forty of them, all of which were eyeing the Elemental Masters hatefully.
"They've caught up to us!" Hydras shouted, drawing her two axes.
Pyras drew his sword. "They were following you?"
"Apparently!" said Glacias.
"But what would they want from you?" Pyras asked.
"Oh, you would be surprised," said an all-too-familiar female voice. A cold metal hand slammed onto Pyras' shoulder, and a chill spread throughout his biomechanical body. He felt that sensation again-his elemental power being drained away. He dropped his sword in fear and looked to see who was standing behind him. He had known who it was the moment he heard the voice, but that didn't make the sight any less shocking.
"Hello, Pyras," said Prohahka, grinning evilly.
Hunter sifted through the stacks and piles of money in the bank vault, hoping that whoever had broken in hadn't taken the keystone. But after fifteen minutes of searching, Hunter came up empty-handed.
"Sorry Pyras, it's just not here," said Hunter. "Pyras?" He had been so wrapped up in rooting through the vault, he'd almost forgotten that Pyras had gone outside to talk to Sam. Hunter walked out of the vault and looked out the window, hoping to see Pyras talking with Sam and maybe Officer Janson. But, to his surprise, Pyras wasn't out there. The only person in the street below was Sam-and he was lying unconscious.
Hunter barely had time to think uh-oh when he saw a police car pull up next to the bank. "Well finally!" Hunter muttered to himself. "What took Officer Janson so long?"
Officer Janson got out of his car and pulled out a gun. As he entered the bank, Hunter went downstairs to meet him. "Officer Janson!" Hunter said as he came down the stairs. "You've-"
"Freeze, mister!" Officer Janson shouted.
"What? Why?"
"I said freeze!" Officer Janson ordered, pointing the gun at Hunter's chest.
Hunter reluctantly raised his hands. "It-it's not what it looks like-"
"You have the right to remain silent," said Officer Janson. "Come over here."
This scenario felt all too familiar. Hunter remembered the day that the police had came to his house after finding out about him stealing that bag of chips and then taken him to be tried. The situation had played out differently, but Hunter knew what he had to do: let the cop handcuff him and take him to the car, and not argue with anything the cop does or says.
But internally, Hunter was totally freaking out. He had basically been framed for a crime he didn't commit. He was certain that Prohahka had been the real culprit, along with her Kakkarak cronies. She had probably gone to the house of the Tenebris cult member that Sam and Officer Janson had tracked down, and then questioned him about where his keystone was. Since Sam had said that the former cultist had refused to open up, Hunter doubted that he would've been any more willing to help Prohahka. Then again, with Prohahka's mind-reading powers, she probably didn't need to force him to tell her.
Hunter didn't have any proof, but he suspected that Prohahka may have been the reason Pyras had disappeared. Since Sam had been knocked out, Prohahka and her Kakkarak had probably captured Pyras and taken him somewhere. But where would they be taking him, and why?
Hunter waited in the back of Officer Janson's police car while Officer Janson performed CPR on Sam and woke him up. Immediately, Sam looked around and realized what had happened. Hunter couldn't hear their conversation, but it looked like Officer Janson was calming Sam down and assuring him that he'd look into everything that had happened around here.
After Officer Janson sent Sam home, he got back into his car. "Thanks for being patient, young man," he told Hunter. "Now let's get you down to the station."
"But I didn't do it!" said Hunter. "Sam told you, didn't he?"
"We'll question you at the station," said Officer Janson. "Then we'll call Sam and see what he has to say."
On their arrival at the police station, Officer Janson took Hunter straight to the jail cell. "This is where you'll sleep for the night," said Officer Janson. "We'll question you in the morning, when you're a little calmer."
"But I'm calm now," said Hunter.
"Kid, you've just been arrested after robbing a bank. I'm not buying that you're calm," said Officer Janson. "A good night's rest is what you need."
Hunter sighed. It wasn't until now that he'd realized how tired he was. He'd woke up that morning and got sucked into this dimension, and then ran all over the world and got involved in several major battles. He found himself collapsing on the jail cell's bed. Even though it was cold and uncomfortable, Hunter fell asleep real quick.
The next morning, at 6:00 sharp, Officer Janson came to Hunter's cell and knocked on the metal bars. "Wake up, kid," he said. "It's questioning time."
Hunter rolled out of bed and went up to the cell door. "I'm telling you, it wasn't me," he said.
"We'll be the judge of that," said Officer Janson.
Officer Janson slapped on the cuffs and led Hunter to the police station's confession chamber. Hunter was sat down on a short blue bench facing a desk where Officer Janson sat. Right in front of Hunter was a microphone wired to a computer on the desk.
"Start talking, kid," said Officer Janson. "Tell me exactly what you did at the bank last night."
"Well, Pyras and I were tagging along with Sam to do your check of the bank," Hunter started, "Because that one guy refused to give up his keystone. So we got there, but we saw that the door was open and the bank teller was dead. We went upstairs to see if the thief had taken the keystone. Pyras went outside to talk to Sam while I kept looking, but I didn't find the keystone. I went outside to tell Pyras, but he was gone, and Sam was unconscious. And then you came, and...you know what happened from there."
"Yes, I do," said Officer Janson. "It seems like you're telling the truth, as my lie detector hasn't gone off."
"This is a lie detector?" Hunter asked, pointing to the microphone.
"It is," said Officer Janson. "But your story doesn't explain who did rob the bank, and what happened to Pyras."
Hunter was about to suggest asking Sam, but then he remembered what Officer Janson had said last night. "Let me guess-Sam's waiting right outside the door," Hunter assumed.
As if on cue, Sam walked in the room. "I'm here, Officer Janson," said Sam. He looked and saw Hunter sitting on the bench. "Has he-"
"Yes, he has," said Officer Janson. "Please, sit down and tell us your side of the story."
Hunter sidled aside as Sam sat down in front of the lie detector. "So I went with Hunter and Pyras to the bank, and then they went inside to look around. I waited outside for a few minutes, and then Pyras came outside. But then the other three Elemental Masters-Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias-came and-"
"Wait. The other Elemental Masters came?" Hunter asked.
"It's not your turn," said Officer Janson. "Sam, please continue."
"So the Elemental Masters were talking to each other about where they'd been, and then suddenly the Kakkarak came out of nowhere. They had Prohahka with them, of course. She used her powers to take away the Elemental Masters' power, and then she ordered the Kakkarak to capture them. The Elemental Masters tried to fight, but the Kakkarak wrapped them up in their cocoons. They knocked me out, too."
Officer Janson nodded. "Did Prohahka drop any hints about whether she had stolen the keystone from the bank?"
"Yes," said Sam. "She said that yes, she'd stolen the keystone, and then hung around in case any Elemental Masters came. She seemed pretty happy that she got all four of them, because I guess the other ones escaped Professor Tick-Tock's ambush."
"Professor Tick-Tock," Officer Janson grumbled. "I know that madman."
"Yeah, apparently he's trying to freeze time in the Dead Desert or something," said Sam.
Officer Janson stroked his chin. "If he's on the loose," he murmured, "Then we should probably call-"
"Ahem?"
"Sorry, keep going."
"The last thing I remember hearing before I got knocked out was that Prohahka was taking the Elemental Masters to Lord Vulcon," said Sam.
A sledgehammer hit Hunter's chest. "Lord Vulcon?"
"Yes," said Sam.
"Are-are you sure that's what she said? Not some other guy?"
"No, she said Lord Vulcon," said Sam.
"Oh no," said Hunter, his heart filling with dread. He had thought nothing could be scarier than Prohahka, but everyone had talked about Lord Vulcon like he was the devil. Princess Ariana had been frightened just talking about him, since she had been held captive by him once. And to think that Prohahka was taking the Elemental Masters to his kingdom…
"They-they're probably there by now!" Hunter's voice was louder than he'd intended. Looking at Officer Janson angrily, he added, "We could've stopped them!"
"Just you, against a horde of Kakkarak?" Officer Janson asked.
Hunter opened his mouth, but no words came. He'd been nailed.
"No, it's my fault," said Sam. "I shouldn't have brought you two to search the bank with me."
"It's not your fault, Sam," said Hunter. "It's Prohahka's."
"But-but you're not gonna try to rescue them, are you?" Sam asked.
"I mean...Officer Janson does have a point," said Hunter. "I'm just me, against Prohahka and whatever Lord Vulcon has in his kingdom."
"I'm not trying to degrade you," said Officer Janson. "I'm just-"
"Stating the facts, I know," said Hunter. "And those facts are true."
"But Prohahka has a keystone, doesn't she?" Sam asked. "And if she's going to Lord Vulcon's kingdom, then she's probably got another one. And if she talked to Professor Tick-Tock, then she has another. And if Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias had the keystone from the Power Race Track on them when they came back…"
"Then Prohahka has four of the six keystones," said Hunter. "We've only got the ones from Dino Valley and Princess Ariana's castle."
"I don't like those odds," said Sam.
"But what do we do?" Hunter asked.
"Well, I mean, you're the Outsider," said Sam. "You can probably think of something."
Hunter didn't know what to say. He'd came up with ideas, sure, but he'd had help from Pyras or Hydras or somebody almost every time. But now, no one was here to help him. Hunter was all on his own.
"Well...we have to save the Elemental Masters," said Hunter. "One way or another, we can't win this without them."
"So you're saying you're gonna go and rescue them," said Sam.
"Well…" Hunter hesitated. "I mean, I guess it would be the right thing to do, since they've helped me through all this. Besides, if what Princess Ariana told me is true, then Lord Vulcon's going to do some pretty bad things to them."
"You're pretty brave," said Sam. "Going to Lord Vulcon's kingdom all by yourself."
"Um, I was thinking you should drive me there," said Hunter. "If I go on foot, I might not make it in time."
Sam nodded. "I was thinking the same thing," he said. "Are we free to go?" he asked Officer Janson.
Officer Janson shrugged. "Well, I suppose you've proved yourself innocent," he said. "Go ahead and rescue the Elemental Masters."
Of course, that proved to be easier said than done. Sam took Hunter right outside to his fire truck and got into the cab. "Here we go," said Sam.
"So what have you heard about Lord Vulcon?" Hunter asked. "Have you talked to anyone that's been to his kingdom?"
"I've heard rumors," said Sam. "I've heard that he has a fortified castle that he calls a fortress. His kingdom was established in a dark, stormy area in the mountains, filled with volcanoes and lava rivers."
"Princess Ariana said she was captured by Lord Vulcon once," said Hunter. "And apparently some knights rescued her."
"Those knights were probably from the kingdom south of Voyo," said Sam. "The one Lord Vulcon was originally a member of."
They drove out of the City and toward the mountains to the south. They went on a dirt road that went past Dino Valley and between two of the mountains. As they neared the valley, Hunter saw four people walking along the dirt trail. "Speaking of knights…" he said.
Sam saw the knights, too. "Huh," he said. "They're probably from the other kingdom."
"Pull over, Sam," Hunter blurted out. He wondered…
The four knights stopped and turned to look at the fire truck that was pulling over next to them. "Hey, knights!" Hunter said as he got out of the truck.
"Who are you?" the lead knight asked. He, along with the rest of his knights, was dressed in silvery blue armor with a blue horsehair plume. He wielded a long, bronze sword and a shield big enough to snowboard on. On his shield and chestplate was a coat of arms depicting a scroll with ancient writing.
"My name's Hunter," said Hunter. "Are you knights from the kingdom?"
"If you mean the kingdom of Anthrall, then yes," said a second knight. His sword was more of a blue color, and his coat of arms was a brown chain. His voice was hard and deep, like a wrestler's.
"Uh...is Anthrall the kingdom where Lord Vulcon was banished from?"
"It is," said the first knight. "And we are on a mission to stop him."
"I knew it!" said Hunter. "That's where I'm going, too."
The deep-voiced knight scoffed. "You're just a boy," he said. "What business do you have dealing with Lord Vulcon?"
"He's holding my friends the Elemental Masters captive," said Hunter. "And I'm going to rescue them."
"The Elemental Masters?" the third knight exclaimed happily. His sword was colored silver, and his coat of arms depicted a diving bird-maybe a falcon. "You know the Elemental Masters?"
"Yes, I do," said Hunter. "And I have to save them. I don't want Lord Vulcon to do whatever it is he does to his prisoners."
"Well that's pretty noble of you," said the fourth and final knight. His coat of arms was a whirlwind of green shaped like a cyclone, and his sword was an emerald green.
"You must really like the Elemental Masters."
"I do," said Hunter. "They've saved my life more than a few times since I got to this world. I can't let them die."
The first knight shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "But Lord Vulcon's kingdom is a very dangerous place. We've been there once, because Princess Ariana needed rescuing, but we barely made it out with our lives. It is no place for a peasant boy like you."
Pursing his lips, Hunter played his last card. "I'm the Outsider," he said. "I'm supposed to do things like this."
All of the knights exchanged glances. "I knew it! I knew the Outsider was coming soon!" said the third knight.
The second knight raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain that you are ready to face Lord Vulcon?" he asked.
"I am," said Hunter. "And my friend Sam can drive us in his fire truck. It'll make your travel much quicker."
The first two knights exchanged glances. "We'll accept your help," said the first knight. "But on our way, we would like to hear the story of how you came to know the Elemental Masters."
"You will," said Hunter. "What are all your names?"
"I am Cedric the Wise," said the first knight. "Leader of this quartet."
"I'm Barda the Powerful," said the second knight. "The punch and muscle of our team."
"My name is Fendrel," said the fourth knight. "And this is Merek. He's the youngest."
Smile lines appeared around Merek's eyes. "It's very nice to meet you, Hunter!"
"He does get excited," said Cedric. "But if we point him in the right direction, then he'll keep going until the job is done."
"Right then," said Hunter. "Let's get going."
The fire truck's cab could only fit three people, so Cedric, Fendrel, and Barda all had to ride on the sides of the truck while Merek rode in the cab with Hunter and Sam. During the drive through the mountains, Hunter told Merek everything that had happened since he had accidentally activated his dad's machine.
"Whoa," said Merek. "I wish I could've done all that."
"You sure?" Hunter asked. "It was all pretty scary."
"Yeah, but look at all the stuff you did," said Merek. "If you were in Anthrall, then you would be honored for your bravery."
"Oh yeah, I'm sure," said Hunter.
"I'm serious," said Merek. "There's people like me who are eager to perform acts of heroism. That's why I became a knight."
"Yes," said Merek. "For years, I looked up to warriors like Cedric and Barda and admired their bravery. I wanted to be a knight, so I could be a hero too. I spent most of my youth training and training and training, so that I could be a good knight. Barda would tell me I was too impulsive, but I didn't let that stop me. I kept on training, knowing that I could become a knight."
"And you did," Hunter guessed.
"Indeed," said Merek. "The day that the King knighted me was the happiest day of my life. He made me even happier when he assigned me to be a part of Cedric, Barda, and Fendrel's team. The four of us made a great team, especially during Tenebris' regime."
Tenrbris...Hunter couldn't go very far in this world without hearing that name. "So...now you're going to stop Lord Vulcon?" Hunter asked.
"It's part of the King's plan," said Merek. "My team and I are gonna sneak into Lord Vulcon's fortress and figure out a way to lower the drawbridge, so that the King and his army can invade. And, while we're in there, we need to figure out a way to destroy Lord Vulcon's magical sword."
"Sword...Princess Ariana said something about that," said Hunter.
"He's been forging an enchanted sword that will give him unspeakable power," said Merek. "The one thing he needs to complete it is a sacrifice."
"So that's why Prohahka brought the Elemental Masters to him," said Hunter. "She probably did it in exchange for Lord Vulcon's keystone."
"Well, it's a good thing we still have two of the keystones back at my fire station," said Sam. "As long as Prohahka doesn't know about that, we'll be fine."
As they drove down the road, the sky above them started to darken. Hunter could still see traces of sunlight from above, but it was mostly obscured by dark red storm clouds. Under the storm clouds, everything in the valley became tinged with red. From outside, Barda reached over and knocked on Sam's cabside window. "We'd better get out now," he warned.
Sam pulled his fire truck over. "Are we gonna go on foot from here?" he asked as he got out of the cab.
"Sadly, yes," said Cedric. "A fire truck would call too much attention in this land."
"Well, let's go," said Fendrel.
The six of them went down the road as it started to open up. "So what's our game plan?" Merek asked.
"The plan," Cedric explained, "Is to enter the kingdom, steal one of the enemy's battle wagons, and ride it to Lord Vulcon's fortress. Once we make it there, we'll sneak in via a secret entrance in the side of the fortress. Then we'll rescue your Elemental Master friends and get that drawbridge down. Then we'll go to confront Lord Vulcon."
"I like that plan," said Fendrel. "Except, where are we gonna find an enemy battle wagon?"
"That shouldn't be too hard," said Cedric as they came into full view of Lord Vulcon's kingdom. Hunter had heard so many terrible things about Lord Vulcon's kingdom, and about the evil knight lord himself, that he expected the worst from the place where he lived. Unfortunately, the kingdom was exactly what he'd expected it to look like. The ground was made entirely of black volcanic rock, with red cracks in it that revealed lava below. There were several forests of dead, withered trees that resembled thorn bushes. Several outposts dotted the area, made from dark red rood and charred black bricks. Lightning flashed in the clouds overhead.
Worst of all was the large, imposing fortress toward the south of the area. It was shaped like a U with corners instead of curves, with its walls built into the volcano behind it. The walls were easily a hundred feet high, and its central tower was at least twice that height. The walls had a couple of smaller towers and catapults, which were manned by black-armored knights. The central tower had an enormous brazier of fire on top, making it look like some miniature volcano. The front of the tower housed a drawbridge big enough for a small yacht to rest on. The drawbridge was raised, providing no way over the lava moat that surrounded the fortress and volcano behind it.
"So that's it," said Hunter.
"Yes, it is," said Barda.
"Oh boy," Merek squeaked, surveying the land of evil before them. "I think I just peed a little."
"Excuse me?" Barda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I-I just…"
"You've been here before, haven't you?" Hunter asked.
"He hasn't," Cedric answered.
"Didn't you guys rescue Princess Ariana that one time?"
"We did, but Merek wasn't with us when we did," said Fendrel. "The King didn't think he was ready to go to Lord Vulcon's kingdom."
"But-but I'm ready now," Merek said, trying to put on a brave face. But through his helmet's eyeholes, everyone could see the fear in his eyes.
"It's okay," said Hunter. "We're all scared."
Cedric pointed at the land before them, where black-armored knights were charioteering horse-drawn battle wagons. The wagons were like miniature houses on wheels, with space for carrying soldiers and miniature prison cells. Each wagon was drawn by two horses. "We'll need to get one of those wagons," said Cedric. "That'll be our key to navigating this land of evil."
Obtaining an enemy battle wagon was much easier than they expected. One battle wagon was parked beside one of the dead-tree forests, with the two black-armored knights who operated it sitting in front of a campfire.
Fendrel was more than happy to go in front of the evil knights and dance a jig to some imaginary music. "Hey guys!" he said merrily as he danced. He put up his helmet's visor so the evil knights could see his giddy smile. "Bet you guys haven't seen me doing this before!"
The two evil knights exchanged looks of confusion. "Really?" the first one asked. "This is what Anthrall sends us?"
"Why yes!" said Fendrel, grinning from ear to ear. "Everyone needs to have a little fun! Even you!"
"Should we kill him?" the second evil knight asked. He didn't notice Hunter, Merek, Sam, Cedric, and Barda sneaking up behind him and his comrade.
"Of course we should!" said the first evil knight. "Let's-"
"Give us your battle wagon?" Barda asked. He ripped the evil knights' helmets off their heads and clonked them in the heads. The knights counted stars as they fell on their faces. Before they could regain their senses, Barda and Cedric tied them up and stuffed gags in their mouths.
"One battle wagon for us," said Merek.
"Fendrel sure seems to have a sense of humor," said Hunter.
"I used to be a court jester," said Fendrel. "I still know a thing or two about making people laugh."
"Nice," Hunter said as he looked over the battle wagon. It was about twenty feet long, with a seat at the front for someone to control the horses, a prison cell at the back to hold one prisoner, and a miniature cabin big enough for five or six people to sit in. Cedric stole one of the evil knights' helmets and chest armor, put them on over his own armor, and took the horses' reins while everyone else huddled up in the wagon's cabin.
As they rode through the land of evil, Hunter couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Most of the enemy knights they passed gave them sideways glances, and every time it happened, Hunter was worried that one of them might have gotten suspicious and went off to tell Lord Vulcon. He tried to assure himself that everything was all right, but he couldn't. This place was just too creepy, radiating too much evil. He wondered if Brintoco and the Kakkarak would've liked to rule this kingdom, rather than Voyo.
As they neared Lord Vulcon's fortress, the ground under them started to rumble. Through the cracks in the volcanic rock, the lava underneath started to glow brighter. "Uh, guys," said Hunter. "I think we may have a problem."
"Yes, we do," Cedric said from up front. "This is where the lava starts to spew out of the ground and form geysers."
"Lava geysers?"
"We'd better hold on," said Barda.
Cedric whipped the horses pulling the wagon, urging them to go faster. The horses neighed in anguish and went at full gallop. As they started to go faster, a torrent of lava burst out of the ground a few yards away. The geyser went as high as a London bus.
"Not so faithful," Hunter said as another lava geyser erupted five feet to their right.
"C'mon, horses!" Cedric yelled as he whipped them again. "Get us out of the geyser area!" That, along with the geysers erupting all around them, urged the horses even more. They put on an extra burst of speed and made it past the halfway point of the geyser area.
"We're almost there," said Merek, clearly trying to convince himself.
"You think?" said Sam.
Before Merek could reply,the ground underneath them rumbled. "Get out! All of you!" Barda yelled. He threw open the wagon's side door and leaped out. Hunter followed suit and jumped out of the wagon just as a lava geyser erupted directly underneath it. For a few seconds, the air around him was so hot, it singed every hair on his body and melted his shoes' rubber soles. As the lava settled back into the hole where it came from, Hunter looked around. He, Barda, Fendrel, and Sam had all successfully jumped out and were scattered across the rumbling ground, and Cedric had been catapulted twenty feet away. But half of the wagon had been burned to nothingness, and the other half had upended right in front of the geyser.
"Is everyone okay?" Sam asked.
"Where's Merek?" Hunter asked.
"Here!" a weak voice called. Hunter got up and rushed over to what was left of their battle wagon. Merek was pinned underneath a section of the wagon's roof, struggling to get out. "Help me, please!"
"Like you have to ask," said Hunter. He grabbed the piece of roof and tried to lift it, but it was too heavy for him. "Could someone give me a hand?"
Sam, who was nearest, came over to help. Together, Hunter and Sam lifted the piece of roof until Merek could crawl free. "Thanks, guys," said Merek.
"Come on, we've gotta get out of here!" Barda urged. He, Fendrel, Hunter, Sam, and Merek ran toward the edge of the geyser area, where Cedric had already reached. As soon as the ground stopped rumbling under their feet, they slowed to a walk so they could catch their breath.
"Okay," Hunter said between pants. "That was intense."
"We can't rest now," said Cedric. "We're closer to Lord Vulcon's fortress than ever."
They turned to see the fortress looming against the dark, stormy red sky. It was now only a mile away, if that. "So where's this secret entrance?" Hunter asked.
"There's a tunnel somewhere," said Cedric. "It goes under the lava moat and leads into Lord Vulcon's dungeons."
"Well, where is it?"
"It's to the west," said Cedric. "Follow me."
The six of them went to the west, in the direction where Cedric said the tunnel would be. They tried to keep their heads down, so that the evil knights on the fortress' parapets wouldn't see them, but it was hard not to cast glances up at the fortress. It was so huge, and radiated so much evil, it was kind of mesmerizing. It looked like something out of, say, The Lord of the Rings.
"It should be around here somewhere," Cedric said as they got to a cluster of rocks. "Hidden under a large rock."
Everyone immediately got to flipping rocks over, looking for a secret tunnel of any kind. It took several minutes of searching, but Merek finally uncovered a dark tunnel big enough for a person to sidle through.
"Well done, Merek," said Cedric.
Fendrel's eyes widened as he looked at the fortress' tallest tower. "Uh, guys…" he said.
Fendrel pointed to a parapet on the tallest tower, where a dark figure was standing. It was clearly a knight dressed in black armor, but this wasn't like the others they'd seen. This one seemed to radiate a red glow.
Hunter could feel the rock fall into his stomach. "Please tell me that's not Lord Vulcon," he said.
"It is," said Barda. "Hurry, get in the tunnel!"
Hunter didn't have to be told twice. He hopped down into the tunnel, followed by Sam, Merek, Fendrel, Cedric, and Barda. "He-he still saw us, didn't he?"
"I'm afraid so," said Fendrel.
"Does he know about this secret passage?" Hunter asked.
"We aren't sure," said Fendrel. "This is the tunnel we used when we were rescuing Princess Ariana, and we know Lord Vulcon didn't know about it back then."
"All we can do right now is move forward," said Cedric. "If Lord Vulcon knows we're here, then we mustn't dilly-dally."
As they started to descend the dark tunnel, a light suddenly appeared. "What's that light?" Merek asked.
"My flashlight," Sam answered. "I always have one on me for situations like this."
"Boy, you thought of everything," said Hunter.
"I tried to," said Sam. "Too bad I lost a few things in the lava geysers."
With a light to illuminate their way, the group should've felt reassured. But the sight of Lord Vulcon had really shaken them up. They were so paranoid, every small scraping noise caused their hearts to leap.
"You don't think there's gonna be-" Merek started to say.
"Don't think about that," said Cedric. But not even a minute later, he heard a falling rock. "Sam, put your light out," he said.
But the loss of light made things all the more creepier. Hunter's pupils were at their widest extent, and he could still barely see his own hand in front of his face. He began to get a little encouraged when he finally saw a red torchlight up ahead. "Is that-"
"I see it, too," said Barda. "Stop." They halted in their tracks, not even daring to breath. They watched the torchlight flicker, half expecting a plethora of evil knights to come charging around the corner. But nothing happened.
"Right with me," Cedric commanded. He drew his sword and cautiously advanced forward. He heard the distant clinking of chains and raised his fist. "Wait for me."
The other five companions watched nervously as Cedric walked around the corner to where the torchlight was coming from. For about thirty seconds, they waited breathlessly. And when Cedric poked his head around the corner and beckoned them forward, they let out sighs of relief.
"We're here," said Barda. "Right in the dungeons." The exited the tunnel to find themselves in a dank, dark dungeon chamber made from black stone and with cells made from dark crimson metal bars. It almost looked like a volcano cave lit by torches. Looking back at the tunnel they had came from, Hunter could see why it had gone unnoticed by Lord Vulcon or any of his soldiers. The hole in the wall was relatively small, turning sharply into the corridor. Looking straight at the tunnel, it might have passed for another niche in the hall.
"Okay," said Hunter. "We're in the dungeons. Now where are the Elemental Masters?"
"They should be around here somewhere," said Cedric. "Hunter, Sam, Barda, you three look for the Elemental Masters. Merek, Fendrel, you two come with me. We'll get that drawbridge down."
"Got it," said Hunter. "Good luck."
"Same to you," said Merek as he, Fendrel, and Cedric went off.
Barda, who had been in the dungeons before, led Hunter and Sam through the halls of cells. They encountered several of Lord Vulcon's guards along the way, but Barda's strength and skill with the sword was more than a match for them.
They passed lots of locked cells, many of which had rotting skeletons inside of them. Looking at them, Hunter tried not to imagine what the Elemental Masters might look like when he found them. Actually, now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure what happened to Mechanicle beings when they died. They were made of mostly metal, so did they just rust away until they were gone, while any organic parts rotted like on a regular being? And, for that matter, did they have spirits that left their bodies when they died? If so, where did those spirits go? Maybe back to the Great Creators, who would judge them like God would in Hunter's world? Whatever the case, Hunter did not want to let it happen to his friends.
Eventually, they rounded a corner to see a cell where Pyras, Hydras, and Glacias were chained and locked inside. The three of them were sitting against the cold stone wall with their arms held above them by shiny black shackles. Their weary expressions faded when they saw Hunter, Sam, and Barda coming for them. "Hunter?" said Pyras. "What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you," Hunter answered. "I came out of the bank to see that you were gone, and then Officer Janson came and thought that I had been the one who robbed the bank, when really it was Prohahka."
"Curse Prohahka," Hydras grumbled. "She probably wanted to land you in jail so you wouldn't be a nuisance to her."
"Well, it didn't work," said Sam. "I was a witness to Hunter's innocence, and I was able to talk Officer Janson into letting him go."
Barda grabbed two of the cell door's bars and pulled them apart. The bars shifted like they were made of Silly Putty, parting to form a space big enough to wriggle through. "Didn't Hunter say there were four of you captured?" Barda asked.
"There were," said Pyras. "They took Aeras to sacrifice for Lord Vulcon's sword."
"THEY DID WHAT?" | Awaken her master…" said Pyras.
"Why would she need the portal to awaken her master?" Aeras asked. "Unless…"
"You said she worshipped Shadow, right?" said Hunter. "So if she wanted to use the portal to awaken her master…"
"...she was intending to go to the realm and find Shadow so she could awaken him," Pyras finished. "Unless-"
"She knows about the keystones," said Hunter. "She said so."
"We-we can't let her find them," said Hydras. "If she finds Turan's map, then-"
"We'll have to find the keystones first," said Pyras. "Sam, you have a piece of paper?"
"Yes, I do," said Sam.
"Hydras, it's your chance to prove that you have a photographic memory," Pyras told Hydras. "Draw a map and label where all the keystones are."
Sam and Hydras went downstairs to start working on the map, while Glacias and Aeras followed. Pyras started to follow himself, but faltered when he saw Hunter just standing there. "Is something wrong?" Pyras asked.
"You...you're not gonna make me go with you, are you?" Hunter asked.
"Well, yeah," said Pyras. "You're the Outsider, aren't you?"
Hunter did not answer.
"Is there still a problem, Hunter?" Pyras asked. "You're not still worried, are you?"
"When-when Prohahka was talking to me, she warned me," said Hunter. "I mean, I guess she probably saw my self-doubt and was trying to do some kind of reverse psychology. But what if she was right?"
"Tell me exactly what she said."
"She said that if I interfered with her plan, then I'd fail. She basically said that I wouldn't succeed anywhere-here or my world." As Hunter said it, it felt all the more true. If he went back to his home dimension, then he'd just be on the same failing course as a D student with a criminal record to his name. But if he stayed here, then he'd likely get himself killed. "I-I just-I don't have a reason to be here. You and your friends can stop the Kakkarak without me. I'm of no use to you."
Pyras shook his head. "I don't care what Prohahka, or Brintoco, or anyone says about you," he replied. "In my book, anyone who travels with a group has a place in that group, and is important to it." He pulled out his sword and tapped Hunter on either shoulder with it. "You're one of us. Now come downstairs, where we formulate our plan."
Brintoco stood in the city square, looking down on all the villagers that had been rounded up along with the village elder Turan, the Elemental Masters Terras and Electras, and the thugs Septra and Brict. Brintoco was standing on a pedestal separate from the portal's pedestal, allowing him to stand over everyone else. Kakkarak surrounded the city square, making sure nobody tried to escape.
"Citizens of Voyo," said Brintoco. "I am Brintoco, king of the Kakkarak, and now the king of your city."
Turan looked hatefully up at Brintoco. "We will never bow to you!" he shouted. "You have no right to rule over us!"
"Oh, but I do," said Brintoco. "I was the first warrior the Great Creators ever created, even before the Elemental Masters." He cast a hateful glance at Terras and Electras. "I should've been respected, honored, made one of the Great Creators' shock troops. But instead, I get kingship over the cursed moorlands, bound there by a petty treaty.
"Now, however, I am declaring myself the ruler of Voyo, in place of this wizened old fool Turan. Whilst I assume his role of leadership, Turan will be sent to the city's prison."
"No! You can't!" Turan protested. But as he said it, a Kakkarak came up to him and grabbed him with its two forelegs. Turan's feeble strength was no match for the Kakkarak's grip as it carried him off to the prison cell.
Electras ground his teeth. He and Terras had had their power snuffed out during the battle earlier, but some of Electras' power was starting to come back now. He could already feel energy running through his body. As his mechanical parts started to tingle, an idea formed in Electras' mind. He inched closer to Brintoco's pedestal and summoned what little energy that had formed. As Brintoco was saying, "But now, my Kakkarak and I will rule your city. You shall-" Before he could finish, Electras struck. He thrust out his hand and sent a bolt of electricity at Brintoco. Brintoco was knocked off his feet, his body crackling with electricity.
Immediately, all the Kakkarak began clicking angrily. Electras stepped forward, ready to deliver another strike. But he wasn't the only one who was ready. Prohahka, who had been standing beside Brintoco on the pedestal, thrust out her hand and pressed it against Electras' forehead. White light glowed from Prohahka's fingers as Electras cried out in pain.
"A good try," Brintoco said as he stood up, "But you won't defeat me." He looked down on Electras and Terras. "Take these two Elemental Masters to the prison." Before any Kakkarak could step forward, Septra placed his hand on Electras' shoulder. "Excuse me?" Brintoco asked.
"We can take them," said Septra. He was grinning evilly, relishing the thought of Elemental Masters sitting powerless in prison.
"If you insist," said Brintoco.
Septra took Electras by the shoulder and guided him out of the city square. Brict stepped up to Terras and lifted him by his neck. "I've waited a long time for this," he said as he carried Terras after Septra and Electras. Terras didn't even bother trying to fight. His powers hadn't come back yet, and even if they had, then he'd be in the same situation as his comrade.
"I'm glad someone is willing to comply with my regime," Brintoco said, watching Septra and Brict walk away with admiration. "Now, is there anyone else who needs to be sent to prison?" Brintoco asked the multitude.
All the villagers shook their heads. After seeing the Elemental Masters, their guardians and idols, get taken out so easily, it killed their spirits like nothing else could. "Excellent," said Brintoco. "Now leave me."
As Brintoco was walking off the pedestal, Prohahka stopped him. "My king," she said, though she looked less than happy about calling Brintoco her king. "If I may ask, there is something I feel we should take care of."
Brintoco raised an eyebrow. "What may that be?"
"Four of the six Elemental Masters escaped," said Prohahka. "I feel that we should find them, and deal with them."
Brintoco scoffed. "Let them come back to us! We'll capture them, and lock them in our prison, and perhaps even kill them."
Prohahka, reading his mind, could tell that in spite of his hatred of the Elemental Masters, Brintoco did not want to leave his new city for fear that someone would try to take over while he was gone. Of course, Prohahka didn't care about that. Her plan was not affected at all by Brintoco's rulership of Voyo. All she needed was an excuse to leave the city with a squadron of Kakkarak, in search of what she needed to complete her plan.
"I didn't say you had to lead such an expedition," said Prohahka. "I would like to offer to do so myself."
Brintoco pondered this for a moment before asking, "You are certain that you can find the Elemental Masters?"
"Of course I am," said Prohahka. "The escaped Elemental Masters cannot have gotten that far by now. I can promise that, within two days, I will have found and exterminated those Elemental Masters."
"Very well," said Brintoco. "If you want to undertake this mission so badly, I'll allow you to do it. But I'll also hold you to your promise of two days."
"Thank you, my king," said Prohahka.
"I'll round up a swarm of Kakkarak to assist you," said Brintoco.
"Excellent," said Prohahka. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there's one more thing I have to take care of before I embark on my quest."
Prohahka grinned as she walked away. She had successfully conned Brintoco into giving her exactly what she wanted. When she had entered the Kakkarak's territory, it had been no accident. She had been there because Tenebris' Shadow cult had been disbanded, and she needed help.
After Tenebris' defeat, it had became clear that a higher power would be needed to overtake the Elemental Masters and plunge the world into darkness. Prohahka had resolved to awaken Shadow and bring him into the world to conquer it himself. But the only way to do that was to go to the Great Creators' realm, which would require using the portal in Voyo. The first stage of Prohahka's plan had been to overtake Voyo and force the Elemental Masters out, which she would not have been able to do on her own. So she had gone to the Kakkarak and talked their king into violating the treaty and invading Voyo.
Now that Prohahka had control of the city as Brintoco's second-in-command, it was time for the second stage of her plan. During Tenebris' war with the Elemental Masters, he had stolen the portal's keystones and given them to several of his minions for safekeeping. But, when his cult had disbanded, the members that had possessed keystones had all gone their separate ways without ever talking to one another again. To activate the portal to the Great Creators' realm, Prohahka would need to find the keystones scattered across the world. With Brintoco's support, Prohahka would now have a bunch of Kakkarak at her back to deal with whatever problems she might face. The Kakkarak might not have been as formidable as the Rahrok, but they were still a powerful species on their own. But, after seeing into that human boy's mind, Prohahka had realized that tracking down the keystones would be easier than she thought. She just needed one thing.
Prohahka went down to the prisons where Turan, Terras, and Electras were being held. The prison was being guarded by four Kakkarak, who willingly let Prohahka past with no qualms whatsoever. Inside the prison, there were six one-person cells, only three of which were occupied by the current prisoners. Prohahka went straight for the cell that housed Turan, ready to delve right into his mind.
"What do you want from me?" Turan asked.
Prohahka smiled. "Oh, nothing much," she said. "Just a little inside information."
Turan, who knew of Prohahka's powers, immediately tried to block the thoughts he knew she was looking for. "I have nothing," he said.
"Is that so?" Prohahka asked. She had seen inside the so-called "Outsider's" mind, and she knew about the map that Turan had drawn. Turan was trying to think about other things, things beyond the current situation, but it was no use. The image of the map was swimming to the front of his mind, becoming clearer by the second.
Prohahka closed her eyes and focused on the image of the map, burning the image into her own brain. Once she was certain she had the map memorized, and knew all the places that it indicated had keystones hidden, she relinquished her powers. "Thank you, Turan," she said.
"You-you didn't-"
"I've learned what I need to know," said Prohahka.
Terras and Electras had been listening to every word of the conversation, and they didn't like what they heard. "Stop! You can't!" said Terras. He stamped his foot in an attempt to will a slab of earth to rise up and block Prohahka's exit. But he forgot; Voyo's prison was specially designed to relinquish any powers that its prisoners might possess.
Prohahka cast an evil grin in Terras' direction. "Oh, but I can," she said.
"Our-our brethren will stop you!" Terras shouted.
"Oh, they can try," said Prohahka. "I would love to see them try…"
Hunter, Pyras, Hydras, Aeras, Glacias, and Sam stood around the fire station's office desk, looking at the map Hydras had drawn. "Okay, so according to your map," Pyras was saying, "There's actually a keystone here in this city."
"But where might it be?" Aeras asked.
Hunter looked at Sam. "Do you know anyone in here that used to be part of Tenebris' cult?"
"I do not," said Sam. "However, if I talk to Officer Janson, I might be able to investigate this matter."
"Sounds good," said Pyras. "Perhaps you could do that while we go off to find another keystone?"
"Of course," said Sam. "Anything to help you."
"So what's the nearest keystone?" Aeras asked.
Hunter looked at the map. "It looks like it's Dino Valley," he said.
"Dino Valley," Sam said, shuddering. "I know a guy who went there with his kid."
"Yeah? What happened?"
"The kid loved dinosaurs and really wanted to see them. But then when his dad took him to Dino Valley, the kid had almost got eaten by a T-Rex. It traumatized the kid so much, he lost his love of dinosaurs."
"Wow," said Hunter. The crazy thing was, something very similar had happened to him. When he was, like, two or three, he had been very curious about dinosaurs. But when his parents had took him to see Jurassic Park, he had been REALLY freaked out. The movie was so scary, it killed his interest in dinosaurs for years to come.
Glacias scoffed. "Well, we've seen worse things than dinosaurs."
Pyras looked between everyone. "So, Dino Valley it is?" he asked.
"Yes," said Hydras and Glacias.
"I guess so," said Hunter.
"Right then," said Pyras. "We leave immediately."
Sam stood to his fullest height and tried to look confident. "I'll have the location of this City's keystone by the time you get back."
"Thank you so much," said Hunter.
The five companions left Sam's fire station and went south toward the mountains. According to the map, Dino Valley was in the foothills of the mountain range, several miles north of Lord Vulcon's kingdom. As they walked toward the mountains, Hunter saw the patch of storm clouds over that one area again. Hunter didn't have the map on him, so he couldn't confirm this, but he wondered if that area was where Lord Vulcon's kingdom was. He had heard that Lord Vulcon was in league with Tenebris, implying that he was a bad guy. But what kind of bad guy was Lord Vulcon? Was he some kind of monster that lived in a kingdom of shadow?
The mountain range's foothills were mostly made of sandy tan rock. There were dark green ferns and shrubs here and there, and a couple of water pools. As the group descended down a dirt road that led down into those foothills, the temperature started to heat up. Not super hot, mind you, but warm enough to melt a block of ice in just a few minutes.
As they walked, Hunter's heart began to speed up. Even though he was scared of what may lay ahead, he was somewhat excited, too. Despite being scarred for life by Jurassic Park, he had sometimes fantasized about seeing a real live dinosaur. His third grade teacher used to joke that he saw real live dinosaurs every day, when he walked by birds sitting on the power lines, but Hunter always shrugged those off. In his eyes, birds were not true dinosaurs. He wanted to see a Triceratops, or a Brontosaurus (Apatosaurus, whatever), or even a T-Rex.
After a while, the dirt road led down between two tan plateaus. As they entered the valley, Hunter saw the bleached white skull of a Triceratops sitting aside the dirt road. "I guess we're in Dino Valley now," said Hunter.
"We are," Pyras said as they rounded a corner. As they rounded it, they saw the sight of their lives. There was a huge oasis, where Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Iguanodon, Ankylosaurus, Parasaurolophus, and even a few T-Rex were drinking from the immense water hole. There were palm trees on the far side of the drinking hole, where a couple of Brachiosaurus were eating the leaves from the branches. Hypsilophodon and Troodon were going between the larger dinosaurs, trying to avoid getting stepped on as they went to get a drink. Among all the dinosaurs were cavemen, wearing thick furry cloaks and sporting luxuriant hair and beards.
"Oh my word," Hunter said, his jaw gaping in awe. These were living, breathing dinosaurs! Not some weird theme park robots, but real dinosaurs! Without hesitation, Hunter walked toward the nearest edge of the drinking hole, where a Triceratops was happily drinking. He walked closer to the Triceratops, watching it bend forward to drink from the water pool. It was surreal, to see its eyes blinking and to hear it gargle with water. The way the sun reflected off its brown scales and bone-white horns...Hunter had dreamed of this moment his whole life.
Hunter reached out and touched the Triceratops' side. Its skin felt rough and leathery, like a reptilian elephant. Hunter had stroked the skin for several seconds when it happened. The Triceratops raised its head and turned to look at Hunter. On seeing him, the beast glared at him and made a guttural growling noise in its throat. "Uh, uh, sorry!" Hunter stammered, his awe vanishing on the spot. He quickly backed away from the Triceratops, hoping not to make it any madder. When Hunter had gone twelve feet away, to where a caveman was watching, the Triceratops went back to drinking.
"You not bother Triceratops," said the caveman. He was five feet in height, wearing a furry brown toga adorned with dinosaur teeth. He had thick, neck-length black hair and a beard so scraggly that no amount of brushing could have straightened it out. His features were almost exactly like the Neanderthals Hunter had seen in movies, with a prominent brow, a rounded-out nose, and lips that were the same color as his skin.
"Uh, no," said Hunter. He watched the Triceratops finish drinking and walk away. "That wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done."
Pyras, Hydras, Aeras, and Glacias came up to them. "Enjoying seeing these dinosaurs?" Pyras asked.
"I mean, yeah," said Hunter.
The caveman smiled at Hunter. "You my friend," he said. "You Glug's friend."
"Glug's friend?"
"Me Glug," said the caveman, gesturing to himself.
"You're name is Glug?" Hunter asked. The caveman nodded.
Glacias scoffed. "Who gave you that name?" he asked.
Glug cocked his head at the Elemental Masters. "You knights," he said. "With armor."
"Uh, no," said Aeras. "We're Elemental Masters."
Pyras lit his hand on fire. "With elemental powers."
Glug's eyes widened at the fire in Pyras' hand. "You make fire!" he gasped.
"Yes, I do," said Pyras.
Hunter suddenly saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He looked to see a large T-Rex walking in their direction. It was a dark shade of red, with a lighter-colored belly and blue stripes going across its back. Its expression wasn't as mean or scary as the T-Rex from Jurassic Park, but it was scary nonetheless. It was twenty feet tall and forty feet long, with a mouth big enough to swallow a medium-sized dog whole. Worst of all, it was eyeing Hunter.
"T-Rex!" Hunter exclaimed. "We'd better-"
"Rexy not eat you," said Glug.
"Uh, he's a carnivore," said Hunter, not bothering to take his eyes off the approaching T-Rex. "Of course he's gonna eat me!"
"T-Rex and Spino not eat other dinos at water hole," saig Glug. "He my friend."
"He means that the dinosaurs don't attack each other at the drinking hole," said Hydras. "They all come here to drink in harmony." Glug nodded, confirming Hydras' statement.
The T-Rex looked down at Glug, making a grunting noise in its throat. "Me and Rexy go home now," said Glug.
"Rexy? You call that T-Rex Rexy?"
"He my pet."
A caveman that had a pet T-Rex? All right then.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Glug," Glacias said, though he didn't sound too happy. Clearly, he wanted to be out of there as quickly as possible.
"Wait," said Hunter. "Glug, have you seen a keystone anywhere?"
Glug cocked his head. "Key-stone?"
"Yes," said Hunter. "Like...what do the keystones look like?" He looked at Pyras for support.
"The keystones are glowing white stones, about the size of one's hand," said Pyras.
Glug shook his head. "There no glowing stones," he said.
"You sure?" Hunter asked.
"No glowing stones."
Hunter sighed. "Well, we'd better start looking," he said.
So they said good-bye to Glug and Rexy (who eyed Hunter in a very disturbing manner) and set out across Dino Valley. They passed herds of Triceratops, and raptors tending to their nests, and cavemen trying to start fires in their caves. But with all the things they saw, it was difficult to know where to start.
"So...where would a keystone be in all this?" Hunter asked.
"Well, let's think," said Pyras. "Why would a former member of Tenebris' cult come here, and where would he hide a keystone?"
"Maybe he was a caveman and wanted to go back to his old life?" Hunter suggested.
"No, there weren't any cavemen in Tenebris' ranks," said Hydras. "I imagine there was a cult member who found his way here, and then got eaten by a dinosaur."
"Okay, but what kind of dinosaur?" Aeras asked. "And did the keystone...you know…"
"Ugh, I hope we don't have to dig through a bunch of dinosaur poop," said Hunter.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Pyras.
"Maybe the cavemen could give us some pointers?" Aeras suggested.
"No!" said Glacias. "These cavemen cannot help us. They cannot even think for themselves!"
"Hey, Glug wasn't that bad," said Hunter. "He seemed pretty friendly."
"Nonetheless, I am not sure the cavemen will be of much help to us," said Pyras. "Their intentions are good, yes, but they aren't very bright."
"But we're still at a dead end," said Hydras. "We still don't know where to start looking for that keystone."
"Wait, I just had a thought," said Hunter. "Is there anything here that's, like, a dinosaur mountain, or a caveman hut, or something?"
"There might be. Why?"
"Because I know my siblings hid a keystone in their dinosaur playset," said Hunter. "I think it was some kind of dinosaur mountain."
"Well, in that case, there's plenty of mountains here that we could look," said Hydras.
"It wasn't just a mountain," said Hunter. "It had a bunch of dinosaur bones all over it, like a giant T-Rex skeleton."
"Well, it shouldn't be too hard to miss something like that," said Aeras.
Pyras looked around at the surrounding mountains. "I don't see any giant skeleton mountains," he said.
"Well…" Hunter trailed off. He had heard loud footsteps coming from a nearby forest. He looked to see a large, two-legged dinosaur emerge from the trees. It was as tall as a giraffe and was a bright shade of orange. It had a long crocodile-like head, long and slender arms, and a tall sail going across its back. Because of these features, Hunter recognized it as a Spinosaurus.
"Uh-oh," said Aeras.
The Spinosaurus saw Hunter and the Elemental Masters and licked its chops. The dinosaur tromped toward them, ready to devour them all. "Get away from us!" Glacias yelled. He raised his dual-bladed sword and charged at the Spinosaurus. He went in for a blow, but the dinosaur was quicker. It chomped down on Glacias, lifting him into the air. The Spinosaurus shook Glacias from side to side like a dog playing with its toy. Glacias dropped his sword, but that wasn't going to stop him. He clenched his fists and summoned his ice powers. The temperature in the Spinosaurus' mouth dropped by fifty degrees as ice filled its mouth. The Spinosaurus gagged, startled by the sudden cold in its mouth. It retched like crazy, spitting out Glacias and the ice he had generated.
"Run!" said Hunter.
"Run?" Pyras asked.
Hunter ignored Pyras' doubt and ran away from the Spinosaurus. Aeras and Hydras followed suit, much to Pyras' dismay. Pyras turned to face the Spinosaurus, but the dinosaur just knocked him out of the way. The Spinosaurus had seen three of its potential meals running, and it had decided it would rather chase down its food than fight it. The Spinosaurus ran after Hunter, Hydras, and Aeras, shaking the ground with every step.
Hunter's heart jackhammered against his ribs as he ran. He could hear the Spinosaurus' roars behind him, and was now starting to feel its breath as it started to gain on him. He was half expecting to be snapped up and eaten, like that bathroom stall guy from Jurassic Park. Right when all seemed lost, Hunter looked up and saw a T-Rex heading in their direction.
"Run for the T-Rex!" Hunter shouted. He remembered a very similar scene from the third Jurassic Park movie, where the two titanic dinosaurs had been chasing the humans and ended up fighting each other. Maybe if that could happen now, then Hunter and the Elemental Masters could get away.
As they got closer to the T-Rex, Hunter realized that it was Rexy, the T-Rex from the oasis. Glug the caveman was standing right next to it, brandishing a crude spear. "Rexy, kill!" Glug shouted, pointing his spear.
At first, Hunter wasn't sure if he was pointing at him or the Spinosaurus. But it became clear when Rexy stomped forward and roared at the Spinosaurus. The Spinosaurus skidded to a halt and roared at the Rexy as if to say, Hey! These people are my food! But Rexy chomped at the Spinosaurus, missing its head by inches. The Spinosaurus snapped and clawed in retaliation, scraping the side of Rexy's face. Rexy roared in anger and bit down on the Spinosaurus' neck. The Spinosaurus writhed and shook, trying to break free, but it was no use. Rexy pinned the Spinosaurus to the ground and bit down harder, crushing its neck in the process. The Spinosaurus fell limply to the ground.
Glug grinned. "Rexy save friends!" he said.
"Yeah," said Hunter. "Thanks, Rexy."
Pyras and Glacias ran up to them. "There you are," said Pyras. "I see you've ran into that caveman again."
"Yes," said Hydras. "Thank you, Glug. And Rexy."
"Me like to help friends!" said Glug.
"Think you could help us find the keystone?" Hunter asked.
Glacias frowned. "I thought we already established-"
Hunter ignored him. "Glug, is there a mountain that looks like a dinosaur skeleton?" he asked.
"Skeleton mountain?" Glug asked.
"Yeah, like a T-Rex," said Hunter.
Glug grinned from ear to ear. "T-Rex mountain!" he said. "Me take you there!"
"You can take us?"
Glug nodded.
"C'mon guys," said Hunter. "I think he knows where that mountain is!"
Glug led them through Dino Valley, down a path he obviously knew. They followed him around some small mountains that they had seen before, and then they realized why they hadn't been able to see the skeleton mountain before; it had been obscured by said small mountains.
But as Hunter rounded the corner, he saw the mountain that they had been looking for, standing in all its majesty. Granted, it was kind of small to be considered a mountain-only a hundred and fifty feet high. It consisted of mostly a huge slab of stone, with enormous T-Rex bones sticking out of it. It was as if a T-Rex had died and rotted away, and then had a bunch of dirt and stone erode around it to create a mountain. The T-Rex's head was located near the top of the mountain, with its ribcage located directly under. There was a large, clawed, bony foot sticking out of the mountainside right above the bottom. A bony tail wrapped around the side of the mountain.
"That's...interesting," said Pyras.
"That's where we'll find the keystone," said Hunter.
"Key-stone, glowing rock?" Glug asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Glowing rock up there," Glug said, pointing at the T-Rex skeleton's head. Among its thick, cracking teeth was a large glowing stone. Hunter couldn't see many details from this far down below, but it appeared pearly white with some swirls of rainbow.
"That's the keystone," said Pyras. "We just need to figure out how to get up there."
Hydras looked the T-Rex skeleton mountain up and down. She saw that there was a tunnel going through the mountain, which was visible through the skeleton's ribcage. The skull's mouth opened to another tunnel, and there was a cave going into the bottom of the mountain. "Does that tunnel lead to the top?" she asked.
"No go in cave. Raptors eat you," said Glug.
"Raptors?"
"Raptors live here," Glug answered. It was probably the first real sentence he said.
Nevertheless, it cast worry over the group. "Well, we'd better start climbing," said Hunter.
"Are you kidding? We can't climb this thing," said Glacias.
"We'll just have to fight our way through those raptors," said Pyras. He drew his sword and entered the cave, followed by Hydras and Aeras.
"Come in with us," Glacias said as he followed the others.
"We'll be fine," Glacias insisted. He pushed both Hunter and Glug, forcing them to walk into the cave.
The cave angled upward almost immediately, no doubt going higher into the mountain. It had virtually no illumination, forcing Hunter to follow Pyras' flaming sword for light. Hunter could see bones littering the floor, no doubt bourne of the animals that the raptors had eaten.
They passed several forks in the tunnel, each of which led down another tunnel that looked just like the one they were going through. "Are you sure you know where we're going?" Aeras asked Pyras after going through several such forks.
"Of course I'm sure," said Pyras. "Look, there's light up ahead!"
Indeed, there was light coming from the tunnel up ahead. Pyras extinguished his flame as they entered a chamber full of raptor nests and eggs. Light came from an opening in the side, covered by the T-Rex's ribcage.
"Eggs," said Glug. He was looking around apprehensively, as if he was expecting a raptor to pounce on him any second. "They protect eggs."
"Look," said Hydras, pointing. Lying against the cave wall was the body of a humanoid Mechanicle being. Its metal body was rusty and lifeless, with its head torn off. "Do you think-"
"That Tenebris' follower had taken his keystone here, and was ambushed and killed by the raptors?" Pyras finished for her. "Yes, I think that that happened."
"But the keystone's not in this room, remember?" said Glacias. "It's in the T-Rex's skull."
"Then we'll have to-"
Pyras didn't even get to finish. He was cut off when a raptor leaped out of the shadows and pounced on him. He didn't even have time to react; the raptor pinioned him to the ground and made him drop his sword.
Hydras whirled, swinging her two axes at the raptor. But a second raptor leaped out and attacked her. Hunter, Aeras, Glacias, and Glug backed toward the cave wall, but then they heard a growling behind them. They turned around to see two more raptors standing there, ready to pounce.
"Glaaah!" Glug yelled as he stabbed his spear at one of the raptors. The spear sank into the raptor's flesh, causing blood to dribble down the raptor's body. Angered, the raptor slashed at Glug and missed him by a fraction of an inch. Glug punched the raptor in the head and stabbed it again, hitting it in the heart this time.
Glacias engaged the second raptor, swinging his double-bladed sword like a Chinese martial artist with a bo staff. The raptor looked for an opening, then lunged at Glacias. Glacias stepped out of the way and kicked the raptor to the ground. Before the raptor could get back up, Glacias conjured a chunk of ice around the raptor's neck. The raptor tried to get back up, but the ice weighed it down. The raptor growled in frustration as it tried to pry the ice off. The ice was stuck on there like some enormous collar.
But there was no time to celebrate the victory. More raptors came running from the tunnel that Hunter, Glug, and the Elemental Masters had came from. They had heard the commotion in their nest cave and were coming to attack the intruders. "We'll hold them off!" Pyras called in Hunter's direction. "You get the keystone!"
"But where do I go?" Hunter asked.
"C'mon," Aeras told Hunter. Holding his hatchet at the ready, Aeras took Hunter by the hand and led his through the cave toward another tunnel. A raptor came in their way, but Aeras beheaded it with a swish of his hatchet. He and Hunter ran up the tunnel, praying that it would lead to the T-Rex skull.
Sure enough, after some climbing, they found themselves in the literal mouth of a cave. They stood on the skull's lower jaw, which gave them a pretty decent view of the surrounding area. Hunter could see Rexy at the base of the mountain, waiting for them to come out.
But this was not the time for sightseeing. Hunter went straight for the keystone and tried to pull it out. But to his surprise, it was wedged between the teeth really good. "Ah great," said Hunter.
"Get it out," said Aeras. "We got company!" He watched as two more raptors came running up the tunnel and into the T-Rex's throat. He immediately engaged the raptors, determined not to let them reach Hunter.
Sweat beaded down Hunter's face. As if the situation wasn't bad enough, now he had to dislodge the keystone while Aeras was fighting two raptors in the background. Hunter grabbed the keystone with both hands, pulling it with his full weight. The keystone started to shift, but it still wasn't coming out. Good glory, was that thing coated in superglue?
Aeras chopped the head off one of the raptors, but the other one pounced on him. The raptor slammed its left leg on Aeras' chest, jabbing its sick | 7,957 |
Петигреновое масло (лат. foliorum Aurantii; нем. Petigrainöl; фр. Ess. de Petit-Grain; англ. oil of Pettigrain) — группа эфирных масел, получаемых перегонкой листьев, молодых ветвей, поросли и только что завязавшихся плодов различных видов сем Citrus. Масло это сначала получалось исключительно в Южн. Франции, а теперь французские выходцы ввели производство его в Парагвае и американское масло постепенно выт<|fim_middle|>еролиевое масло
Померанцевое масло
Петигреневое апельсиновое масло
Эфирные масла из цитрусовых | есняет на рынке французское, хотя это последнее и превосходит его по запаху; надо впрочем отметить, что французское масло бывает значительно чаще фальсифицированным, чем парагвайское. Уд. вес П. масла 0,885 —0,91; α D = от — 3° до + 4°. От 40 до 85 % масла составляют уксусные эфиры линалоола и гераниола. В vorlauf'е содержится лимонен, а в Nachlaufe какой-то сесквитерпен. Лимонен при этом получается только тогда, когда в обрабатываемый материал входили плоды; листья и побеги дают П. масло совершенно без лимонена. Некоторые образцы П. масла содержат цитраль; содержание его в масле указывает, что в обрабатываемом материале находились листья или побеги лимонного дерева. П. масло имеет весьма большое применение в парфюмерии.
Источники информации
Энциклопедический словарь / Брокгауз Ф. А., Ефрон И. А.
См. также
Петигреневое померанцевое масло
Петигреневое лимонное масло
Н | 325 |
Saving Cannabis Culture; Ideas for Combatting the Post Regulation Blues
Judith Stamps
Sixteen days to go until Health Canada announces its new plan for medical cannabis, and hopes are sinking. Mine are, anyway. Dispensaries raids continue in Ontario, sending menacing vibes to Canada's cannabis growers, the ones not sanctioned as LPs; to Canadian patients who choose dispensaries as the source of their medicines; and of course, to the dispensaries themselves. My sense of foreboding is based on two guesses. One, that the raids in Ontario are about money; and that there are well funded lobbies fixing for a legal fight with non-LP cannabis growers and medicine makers. Second, that the Trudeau government has no fondness for cannabis culture, and will set out to weaken it however it can. Am I off base? I hope so. If the Health Minister comes out to say: LPs, carry on; MMAR growers, carry on; municipalities, you may license dispensaries if you wish; and patients, you may grow your meds or buy them at the shop of your choice; and thank you for the service you have all provided to Canadian patients; I shall recant, humble myself, and eat my copy of the latest Cannabis Digest, if that's not too corny a pun. Of legal battles, soon to come, I will say little. I leave that topic, with confidence, to the experts in the field, who for nearly twenty years, have brought us this close to legalization. This blog is about preserving cannabis culture.
I begin by offering two definitions of culture, supplied by a dictionary search. One: "the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement, regarded collectively." And two: "the knowledge, art, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by people as members of society." By either definition, there is such a thing as cannabis culture. It is diverse, and internally conflicted, as are all cultures. But it is real, and worth preserving. Its contemporary expression can be seen in dispensaries, established in the1990s; in the concurrent invention and continuous refinement of medicines, and methods of intake; in the accompanying advances in growing techniques and cannabis strains; in the mountains of research literature on all of the above; and in the network of related associations. These elements are infused, too, with the cannabis culture of the 1960s and 70s, responsible for the beginnings of a legalization movement in this country. Many of the values established in this period remain essential to cannabis culture today. These include the commitment to individual liberty; the welcoming of diverse races, cultures and sexual orientations; rejection of war and other types of violence; the rejection of consumerism as a way of life; a corresponding DIY mentality; and an embrace of spiritual beliefs, in particular, of new age religions. Today, those values include a commitment to environmental health, and the rebirth of romanticism, the love of nature that dis-establishes humans as the centre of the universe, and ascribes consciousness to all living forms.
Many Canadians, indeed, most Canadians, do not know that the published works on cannabis history and cultivation would fill a modest bookstore, and the research literature, a small library; that their authors are intelligent, and hard working, and have, over seventy years, formed the basis of much of the knowledge we have today on the subject. Thanks to the collectors of patients' stories, we have a our disposal the concept of being 'illegally healed.' To this concept we must now add others: illegally educated, illegally aware, illegally talented, and illegally informed. That Canadians have had little incentive to be thus informed is due to the plant's negative legal status, to the fact that it remains illegal for bookstores to carry literature seen as promoting cannabis, to the willful ignorance of journalists and police, and to ill mannered, but legally informed, media-driven rhetoric that focuses on criminality.
This rhetoric creates a clash between mainstream-Canada and 'harmful' Canada, and divides us. But we don't have to stay divided.
Here are some ideas on forces that may unite us, and some practical thoughts on how to harness them.
Cool Consumerism,<|fim_middle|> Force: Provincially Centralized
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Digest Admin·April 14, 2016 | Remixed. Sixties and seventies culture was, by its nature, divisive; it rested on rejecting a life dedicated to buying the spin-offs of post war industries: K-rations refashioned into convenience foods, petrochemicals fashioned into pharmaceuticals, and tanks refashioned into designer objects. But consumer culture has persisted. And in its persistence, it unites us, oddly. It doesn't unite us in a way that I love, as it is impossible to separate consumer culture from its contradictory origins. Post World War II North Americans bought the hope of democracy, and equality; but settled in the end, for a hollow equivalent: material goods. Mainstream politics, for example, remained opaque, leaving North Americans unable to participate meaningfully in choosing their governments. But they could choose their cars. At the same time, economic elites grew in power and influence, so citizens could hardly feel equal to them. But they could wear the same clothes, and use the same technologies. It's a chilling history, perhaps, but for better or worse, we continue to love buying stuff. And in this matter, cannabis culture has much of quality to offer. Besides bud and extracts, it offers hemp clothing, building material, and food; superb glass pipes, bongs, and vapourizers; related music and artwork; and beautiful glossy books on all aspects of cultivation. In whatever is to come, patients will be allowed home gardens, providing for a further expansion in the manufacture and sale of lights, fans, soils, nutrients, and for the slightly lazy, pre-fab grow closets. And there is more. Cool stuff sellers today have the opportunity to offer discounts to patients, seniors, and people on disability pensions, increasing their own Karma, and raising the craft industry's public image.
This consumer culture needs home shows. Health Canada has succeeded in painting cannabis fans as child predators, and cannabis, the new ASSASSIN OF YOUTH, except that now it's merely intelligence that is at stake. So do not look to buy a booth at the PNE, CNE, or any other commercial fair, open to the general public. The commercial displays one sees at conferences are a step in the right direction, but conferences can be expensive, and thus divisive in their own way. Besides, the idly curious will not pay $50.00, much less $500.00, to attend an event that is iffy from their perspective, with speakers unknown to them. But they probably would pay a few dollars to peruse rows of booths, talk to the people tending them, and pick up literature. Ditto for many patients and activists, by the way, for whom some cannabis-related events are becoming ever less affordable.
Possible places of Information on Health Concerns: especially ageing, and general stress. We need health fairs that cater to an ageing population, and to a general population used to soothing its nerves with alcohol, over the counter meds, and prescription drugs with lists of side effects that, in near-micro print, regularly fill a space 8"x11". I believe that many Canadians are aware of this dilemma, and would welcome reference material and informed conversation, were they convenient to access. For reasons noted earlier, attempts to join forces with other health fairs may not fly. Dispensaries that have space, and have received city licenses, can perhaps afford to think about open house events that call out to the timid, but interested. They might think about stocking some standard literature: histories, medical treatises, cannabis-science books. (There's a Jack Herer colouring book out there. I've seen it.) They might also think about establishing a lecture series.
Through the raid driven gloom, I see that we are likely to find ourselves this fall—patients, general fans, growers, processors and sellers—sloshing about in a new, fear informed, touched up version of Harperism, with its hyper-securitized framework of regulations. Thus, renewed efforts at public outreach will be essential, and an important companion to legal challenges, if we have them. And for that, some preparatory work is in order. For my part, as I can barely keep up with the array of new Canadian cannabis industry associations out there, I plan forthwith to learn who and what they are. A blog in the near future, therefore, will offer a comprehensive list, with discussion. But—and here's where I am going with this—we really need a free, or very low cost, public event, or better, a regular series of events, that features booths run by each and every one of these associations. There is a massive, grey cannabis industry in Canada, and it must become a bit brighter, and a bit more visible. As reefer madness prejudices are deeply ingrained, and deeply felt, such events, unremarkable in style, but rich in new content, may strike the right emotional chord.
I have an image of a cannabis library, lodged in a community centre that holds a dispensary, and a vape lounge, but separate enough that it can be accessed on its own. The library would be stocked with as good a collection of books, newspapers, magazines, and videos as can be mustered, to be used on site, in a comfortable space, staffed by a librarian. It could have materials for sale, offer help in online searches, and advertise its presence wherever it could. Admittedly this is an academic's vision, and a senior citizen's one at that. But there are similar folks out there. Alternative cannabis centres are there for the imagining. What's yours?
Will such centres defeat the power of wealthy lobby groups? Probably not. But LPs and other big players must work to combat the same set of cultural demons that everyone else in the industry faces. These are the demons created by security mania, and by Health Canada's new scare campaign, centering on young brains. In this new battle for influence and power, cannabis culture, made visible, has much to offer that is irreplaceable.
Cannabiscannabis culturelegalizationRegulation
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What is<|fim_middle|>5 classes, you can gain new skills and unlock your potential.
What is mobile framing?
"Mobile framing" is a kind of framing that can only be found in cinema & video. "Within the confines of the image we see, the framing of the object changes. The mobile frame thus produces changes of camera height, distance, angle, or level within the shot.
What is crossing the line in film?
Crossing the Line (Reverse Cut) Crossing the line is a very important concept in video and film production. It refers to an imaginary line which cuts through the middle of the scene, from side to side with respect to the camera. In this example the camera has crossed the line.
What are three most commonly used shots in movies?
Generally speaking, we can break this down into three main shot sizes: Long, Medium, and Close. Long shots (also commonly called Wide shots) show the subject from a distance, emphasizing place and location, while Close shots reveal details of the subject and highlight emotions of a character.
Why use a wide shot?
A wide frame has myriad uses. It can be used to establish the relationship of characters to each other or to their surroundings, reveal more information about scene than mere medium or close shots do, can be used as a visual breather for the audience after extended use of tighter frames.
What is a moving shot called?
A tracking shot is any shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded. The camera is then pushed along the track while the scene is being filmed or moved manually when using a handheld rig.
What is cinematic shot?
Cinematography is the art of motion pictures. So a cinematic shot is a shot that resembles that of a motion picture, or "Film" or "movie". Basically, any video for instance could be considered a cinematic if it had Film like characteristics.
What are the types of shots in film?
The basic types of shots in a film are:
The extreme wide shot.
The wide, also known as a long shot.
The full shot.
The medium shot.
The medium close-up shot.
The close-up shot.
The extreme close-up shot.
The establishing shot.
How many shots are in a movie?
The average film has around 1250 individual shots. Action films and Blockbusters often have more than 3000 individual shots.
What is it called when a character looks at the camera?
The film term for accidently looking into the camera is called "spiking the camera/shot or lens.
How many shots are in a scene?
It varies a lot. On a short I DPed in the spring (shooting HDV) with a decent-sized crew we managed about 3 scenes in an 8-hour day, averaging about 25 shots per scene.
What is the opposite of a close up?
Long shot.
The opposite of the close-up. Here the object of main interest is, or appears to be, far removed from the camera. This shot can also be one that covers a landscape or large interior.
What is a big close up?
In photography, film, and television, a standard shot size which shows a detail of a foreground subject filling the entirety of the screen. A BCU of a person would show their face from forehead to chin. In semiotic terms, such unusual shots are marked. See also close-up.
What are close up photos called?
The term 'close-up photography' has no scientific definition. It is generally understood to mean any photo that shows the subject closer and in more detail than we're used to seeing in everyday life. It can be applied to a tightly cropped head shot, a flower stamen or even the moon.
Whats the difference between medium and medium tall?
What is a gloss medium?
What are the three types of medium?
What is a medium to firm mattress?
What is medium low heat?
What is a rooting medium?
Which mattress is best firm or medium?
What is a fabric textile medium?
Does the sound travel if there is no medium?
What is a GP medium?
Are ovens hardwired?
Can rats get in through dog door?
What are the influences of Rizal during his childhood?
How do I sync my Alexa lights to my music?
What are the limitations of computer? | a medium shot used for?
Asked By: Laurel Gfrereis | Last Updated: 5th April, 2020
Category: hobbies and interests video production
The medium shot is a general, all-purpose shot. Medium shots are used for dialogue sequences, and they allow the viewer to pick up on the character's movements and gestures. Body language is important to conveying emotion, and the medium shot remains close enough to capture that emotion.
Also, what is the meaning of medium shot?
A medium shot (also referred to as MS), or waist shot is captured at a medium distance from the subject. It is used for dialogue scenes, but also depict body language and more of the setting.
Furthermore, what is a close up shot used for? A close-up shot is a type of camera shot size in film and television that adds emotion to a scene. It tightly frames an actor's face, making their reaction the main focus in the frame. The director of photography films a close-up with a long lens at a close range.
Likewise, people ask, what is a medium wide shot?
Medium wide shot (American shot) shows a character usually cut off across the legs above or below the knees. It is wide enough to show the physical setting in which the action is taking place, yet it is close enough to show facial expression.
What makes a medium shot natural?
In some standard texts and professional references, a full-length view of a human subject is called a medium shot; in this terminology, a shot of the person from the knees up or the waist up is a close-up shot. In other texts, these partial views are called medium shots.
What is a POV shot in film?
A point of view shot (also known as POV shot, first-person shot or a subjective camera) is a short film scene that shows what a character (the subject) is looking at (represented through the camera). The technique of POV is one of the foundations of film editing.
What is a cowboy shot?
cowboy shot (plural cowboy shots) (film) A shot framed to include a region from the actor's head to mid-thigh.
What is a two shot in photography?
A two shot is a type of shot in which the frame encompasses two people (the subjects). This framing is often used for shots of two people kissing or in moments of great dramatic tension. In classic movies, long takes were often used in which several types of shots were used without cutting.
Why do you use a wide shot?
A wide shot tells the audience who is in the scene, where the scene is set, and when the scene takes place. Wide shots allow actors to utilize their physicality and give the director a lot of space in which to work. With more than 7 | 561 |
Daily Izmir and Pergamum Biblical Cities Tour By Flight
You can send "Daily Izmir and Pergamum Biblical Cities Tour By Flight" tour to yourself or to your friend by e-mail or sms.
Tour Code: TRD147
Ancient Pergamum: Acropol Ancient Site
The healing centre of ancient Pergamum: Asclepion Ancient Site
One of the nicest ancient sample dedicated to the Egyptian Gods: Red Basilica
Overlooking the Izmir city: Kadifekale
Imagine the ancient bazaar of Izmir: Izmir Ancient Agora
The oldest church in Izmir<|fim_middle|> the cascading water, glancing upon pure nature or exploring the ancient ruins.
From Pamukkale
Aphrodisias Ancient City, Ancient Stadium, Hadrian Bath & Temple of Aphrodite, Aphrodisias Archaeological Museum, Pamukkale [...] | : Saint Polycarp Church
Give a photo break at Konak Square
Walk in the shopping centre of Izmir: Kemeralti
In one day visit 2 biblical cities Pergamum and Izmir. Christianity was born in the Holy Land, but it became a world religion in the Land of Asia Minor (today's Turkey). The Seven Churches of Asia Minor are all located in Turkey; Pergamon is the "throne of Satan," referred to by St.John in the Book of Revelations (Rv 2:12-17). Pergamon Acropolis, The temple of Zeus, the Temple of Emperor Trojan, the Theatre, the Pergamum Library, Arsenals, Red Basilica, and the Ascleion medical center after visiting all of them, we will drive back to Izmir. Izmir is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation mentioned in the Bible as "the suffering church" (Rv 2:8-11). At the same time Where Saint Polycarp was martyred. We will visit St.Polycarp Church, Ancient Agora, Kadifekale Castle, Konak Square, Clock Tower, and Kemeralti bazaar.
Starting Points: Turkey/Ankara
Route 1 Pergamum Acropolis and Zeus Altar
Flight from Ankara to Izmir. Pergamon Acropolis The area that includes the sacred areas of the Bergama state and the royal palaces, theatre, Zeus altar, Athena temple, Trajan and Hadrian temple, city settlement area, Demeter holy area, Gymnasiums, upper and lower agora is known as the Acropolis. The Bergama Zeus Altar, a monumental and religious building built by the Attalos Dynasty, which ruled the Kingdom of Pergamon, is among the most important works of art history, with the marble-covered frescoes on it. The work, which was brought to Prussia in the 1870s, is now exhibited at the Berlin Pergamon Museum.
Pergamum Acropolis
Route 2 Pergamon's Asclepion Healing Center
The Asclepion sanctuary, on the other hand, is an open space with stoas inside and various buildings on the east side, including a library, a promenade, a theatre, water and mud baths, a sleeping room and a tunnel. The snake figure on the marble column located in the entrance square of Asclepion is the symbol of pharmacy today. In Asclepion, different treatment methods were used. In Asklepion, where studies such as treatment with water sound and dream analysis with suggestion method were carried out, patients with psychological problems were treated with water sound in tunnels.
Route 3 Pergamun RedBasilica
Red Basilica, also known as the Temple of the Egyptian Gods, was built in the 2nd century AD. Red Basilica, a huge building complex with a length of 265 meters and a width of more than 100 meters, was one of the largest buildings in Pergamon. It is believed that the Red Basilica was built in the name of the Egyptian god's Isis, Osiris and Serapis in the 2nd century AD. During the Forbidden periods of Christianity, the Red courtyard, one of the places where Christians gathered and worshipped, was the only church whose exact location is known from the seven churches mentioned by St. John in the Bible. Have you ever wondered why the name of the Red courtyard, also called the Temple of Serapis, is the Red courtyard? The answer is pretty simple. Because the material used in the construction of the structures is red fire brick.
Red Basilica
Route 4 Kadifekale Castle of Izmir
The crown of Izmir: Kadifekale. After a long period of silence, the castle, which became invisible in the 20th century, surrounded by buildings, has the distinction of being the calmest and most beautiful place in Izmir with the partial repairs and landscaping works carried out in recent years. Kadifekale, which was established at a point that dominates the gulf in the centre of Izmir, was built by Lysimachos, one of his generals, on the instructions of Alexander the Great in the 3rd century BC. Established at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level, Kadifekale is located on an area of 6 kilometres. The north and east walls and five towers of the castle, whose east and south walls were completely destroyed, survived. The height of the towers is 20-35 meters. There is a large arched cistern from the Byzantine Period and the remains of a mosque in the castle.
Route 5 Agora
Agora means city square, bazaar and market place, meeting area. Smyrna Agora was built as a rectangular shape. There is a very large courtyard in the middle. There are columned galleries around it. Stoas found in the north and south were unearthed during the excavations. These stoas are located on the basement floor. The north stoa was built in basilica style. The Agora of the new Smyrna, which was moved to Kadifekale by Alexander the Great, welcomes its guests with all its splendour and beauty, right next to today's commercial life. Remains of ancient Smyrna can only be reached at a few points today. The most important of these points is the Smyrna Agora, which is known as the Agora Ruins.
Route 6 St Polycarp Church
St Polycarp Church, one of the oldest churches in Izmir, has a history dating back to 1625. It is dedicated to St Polycarp, who was burned and killed by the Romans in the Roman Stadium for his church belief. It was built with the permission of Suleiman the Magnificent with the help of the King of France. The church had seen several fires and was repaired due to its destruction. The artist depicted the story and death of St Polycarp on the frescoes of the St Polycarp Church repaired by Raymond Pere, a French painter and architect who lived in Izmir. The bell tower was later added to the church. Being one of the most important historical beauties of İzmir, the building hosts many local and foreign visitors today.
St Polycarp Church
Route 7 Konak Square and Clock Tower
The heart of Izmir beats in Konak, the centre of the city. It covers the areas that form the core of Izmir centres, such as historical Kemeralti, Alsancak, Basmane and Konak Square. At the same time, it is the main source of culture, art and entertainment for the entire Izmir centre.
Route 8 Kemeralti Bazaar and Free time in Bazaar
Kemeralti Bazaar, which is one of the first places to come to mind when talking about places to visit in Izmir, dates back to the 1600s. It has continued to be one of the most important trade areas that has not lost its importance since ancient times. Kemeralti Bazaar consists of 15 thousand workplaces spread over an area of 5 km. This feature makes it the world's largest open-air shopping area.
End Points: Turkey/Ankara
• 4 Airport Transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
• Archaeological sites parking fees.
• This is a private tour/activity, only your group will participate.
• Cable Car
• Admission fees to the museums and sights.
• Personal expenses not included.
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Domestic flight tickets
• Gratuities to tour guides and drivers.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and casual dress code.
• Guests should watch their steps at all times in order to avoid injuries to people with mobility impairments.
• Hat, sunscreen, and umbrella for the rainy or sunny days, especially days that can be hot in Archaeological sites.
• You may pay the entrance fees by credit card or Turkish Liras (The Museums charging only Turkish Liras and Credit cards).
• Each person must submit a copy of their passport to us in advance.
• Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 10 minutes prior to your scheduled pick-up time
• This tour operated with just your party and a guide/driver
• Complementery Turkey Map, Pergamon Broucher
• The tour document with details and confirmations will be e-mailed after your prebooking
• Infant seats are available
• Not suitable for wheelchair users
• All customer touchpoints are frequently cleaned
• Social distancing is maintained in vehicles.
• Masks required
• This tour is available all year round
TRD26 • 5 Hours (Half Day) • 1 City • 2 Places
Discover Alanya city within 5 hour. Tour to popular tourist destinations such as UNESCO World Heritage Sites listed, Alanya Castle and Tersane.
€91 Price varies by group size
TRD144 • 8 Hours (Full-Day) • 1 City • 2 Places
Tour To Sardes Ancient City And Artemis Temple - By Flight
By flight from Ankara for a discovery travel. Full day tour to one of the seven churches of revelation, Sardes Ancient City and Artemis Temple of Sardis.
Sardes Ancient City, Artemis Temple of Sardes Ancient City
TRD64 • 16 Hours (Full Day) • 1 City • 1 Places
16 Hours Full-Day Gallipoli Anzac Tour
Full day tour to ANZAC and Gallipoli Battlefiel; Ari Burnu (Anzac landing place), Lone Pine Cemetery (Australian memorial) Johnston's Jolly (Anzac trenches).
Daily Gallipoli Tour, Anzac Cove, Gallipoli Day Tour from Istanbul Itinerary
TRD114 • 9 Hours (Full Day) • 1 City • 5 Places
Aphrodisias and Pamukkale Tour
From Pamukkale Hotels full day tour for everyone likes walking along | 2,106 |
Careers in International
Displaying 1-10 of 7,853 results.
CDL-A Driver - Flatbed - Home every Weekend!
Coastal Ashburn, VA View
Legal Secretary (IP)
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Mc Lean, VA View
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Harman International Reston, VA View
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CDL-A OTR Drivers - 1 Yr. OTR EXP Req'd - Lease Purchase Opportunities - $90K Avg. Annual Salary
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System Security Analyst
Azzur Group Herndon, VA View
Company Truck Driver
Ascent Global Logistics Germantown, MD View
Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in International
TechnoServe - Headquartered in Washington, D.C., TechnoServe is a non-profit helping "entrepreneurial men and women in poor areas of the developing world to build businesses."
See the complete TechnoServe profile
R/GA - Everything that I've come across related to R/GA has impressed me, which is why you absolutely need to check out their entry level job opportunities.
See the complete R/GA profile
NAVTEQ - NAVTEQ's entry level opportunities seem to be focused in two areas: Research & Development and Accounting; however, I'll bet they have jobs in<|fim_middle|> profile
HP - If you like HP\'s products, then you should head over to HP's Jobs site to see if any of their entry level jobs catch your eye.
See the complete HP profile
Ernst & Young - Legend has it that Black Friday is the first day that major retailers "go into the black," so we're looking at jobs with Accounting behemoth, Ernst & Young.
See the complete Ernst & Young profile
LEWIS PR - LEWIS PR's Job listings show that most of their jobs are based in the UK, but they also have entry level Account Executive positions all across the world.
See the complete LEWIS PR profile
Rainforest Alliance - Well if you're interested in Jobs with Rainforest Alliance, you're in luck, because there are a lot of them. Many are perfectly suited to new college grads.
See the complete Rainforest Alliance profile
Red Ventures - Red Ventures has quite a few job openings at their Charlotte, NC, and many of them look like great opportunities for new and recent college graduates.
See the complete Red Ventures profile
Save the Children - Why not help yourself and make the world a better place at the same time by applying for an entry level job with Save the Children?
See the complete Save the Children profile
Tishman Speyer - Tishman Speyer is hiring for its entry level Analyst Program, which is directed towards developing their next generation of real estate professionals.
See the complete Tishman Speyer profile
Bazaarvoice - Bazaarvoice has all kinds of jobs for people with all types of academic and experiential backgrounds. They want to make commerce social again and need your help
See the complete Bazaarvoice profile
Point Carbon - Right now, the two job openings at Point Carbon that look most promising for new college grads are Sales Executive and Marketing Coordinator.
See the complete Point Carbon profile
World Learning - Right now, World Learning appears to have two entry-level job opportunities available in Washington, DC.
See the complete World Learning profile
Ford Models - Getting an entry-level job at Ford Models doesn't look like it's an easy task, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try.
See the complete Ford Models profile
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Shriners Hospitals for Children has quite a few entry-level job openings, and they do a nice job of organizing their Job Opportunities.
See the complete Shriners Hospitals for Children profile
MindShare - MindShare does a great job of listing what experience is needed for jobs, and whether or not a position is well suited to a new college grad.
See the complete MindShare profile
Astadia - Although we were able to find a number of entry-level jobs listed on Astadia's Careers page, we were disappointed by the user experience.
See the complete Astadia profile
Trendstop - Trendstop doesn't appear to be hiring for full-time positions in their London office, but they do have a number of part-time and freelance jobs available.
See the complete Trendstop profile
Christie's - We often hear that working at auction houses entails hard work and low pay, but it's hard to pass up the glamour of working at Christie's.
See the complete Christie's profile
Sun Microsystems - Sun Microsystems is certainly a technology company at heart, but because of their size, their entry-level job offerings extend well beyond technical positions.
See the complete Sun Microsystems profile
Mars & Co. - Mars & Co. is a consulting firm located in Greenwich, CT that was promises "only consultancy of consequence to guarantee fidelity."
See the complete Mars & Co. profile
Google - Google is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and if you don't know what the company does, we suggest you google them to find out!
See the complete Google profile
Wilderness Inquiry - Based in Minneapolis, MN, Wilderness Inquiry is about "making high-quality outdoor experiences accessible for everyone."
See the complete Wilderness Inquiry profile
American Express - There's no credit / charge card company that treats its customers as well as NYC based American Express does.
See the complete American Express profile
Pi Media - Pi Media is a Toronto, Canada based content creation company – North America's largest in fact.
See the complete Pi Media profile
PlayPumps International - PlayPumps International makes play equipment that act as water pumps. You've always known of child labor as a bad thing; well, it's not in this case.
See the complete PlayPumps International profile
Bliss - Bliss is headquartered in NYC and they're a luxury spa that has also developed their own successful line of spa products.
See the complete Bliss profile
Check out the latest job and internship postings in international.
See more companies with entry level jobs and internships in international: | other ares too.
See the complete NAVTEQ profile
Rockstar Games - It's amazing how many job openings Rockstar Games has, so whether you're an artist, programmer, or marketer, there's probably something for you.
See the complete Rockstar Games profile
Polaris Project - It's hard to believe that human trafficking happens so close to home. That's why the Polaris Project exists and why you should consider joining their team.
See the complete Polaris Project profile
Racepoint Group - Racepoint Group is currently seeking a new college grad for an entry level Account Coordinator position in its Washington, DC office.
See the complete Racepoint Group profile
Concur - Concur has grown significantly since it was founded in 1993, and they seem to still be growing as they're hiring now—even at the entry level.
See the complete Concur profile
Invention Machine - If you head over to Invention Machine's Jobs page, you'll see that they have a number of job openings at their Boston, MA office right now.
See the complete Invention Machine profile
The School for Field Studies - The School for Field Studies sounds like a really cool educational institution, which is why you might want to consider a job with them.
See the complete The School for Field Studies profile
Fleishman-Hillard - Fleishman-Hillard is currently seeking an Account Assistant in its Boston office. This position is a mix of "traditional" and "new" public relations.
See the complete Fleishman-Hillard profile
Right To Play - Right now, Right to Play's Jobs page has a number of openings posted. None are explicitly entry level, but there are still a couple worth checking out.
See the complete Right To Play profile
?What If! - ?What If! is constantly working on cool projects, and this is obviously reflected in their jobs. They have a number of openings include one for new grads.
See the complete ?What If! profile
VistaPrint - VistaPrint has built a $400 million online printing business in less than 10 years, so it's no surprise that they're hungry to recruit top entry level talent.
See the complete VistaPrint profile
Kayak - If you love travel and are fascinated by how search engines work, then a job with Kayak might be the perfect way to begin your career.
See the complete Kayak profile
lululemon athletica - Everyone at my gym is wearing lululemon athletica, and the retail stores around here are packed, so it's no big surprise that they're hiring.
See the complete lululemon athletica profile
Omniture - I find web analytics absolutely fascinating, and if you do too, then a career with Omniture might be something worth considering.
See the complete Omniture profile
Helen Keller International - Helen Keller International has a number of job openings listed on their Jobs page that look suitable for new college grads.
See the complete Helen Keller International profile
GoodBarry - GoodBarry currently has 5 job openings, but only 2 of them are based in the US - .NET Web Development Ninja and Technical Support Engineer.
See the complete GoodBarry profile
Coca-Cola - Surprisingly, Coke doesn't appear to have any sort of entry level hiring program. If they do, they certainly don't mention it on their website.
See the complete Coca-Cola profile
PricewaterhouseCoopers - Instead of investing significantly in product development, PwC puts its effort into recruiting. This effort is evident on PwC.tv - PwC's Campus Recruiting Site.
See the complete PricewaterhouseCoopers | 753 |
Reuters Duped On Iranian Nukes
Published by AJStrata at 3:08 pm under All General Discussions,Iran
How many times do we need to be warned before we get serious?
END UPDATE
I was stunned to see this Reuters news item flash across the screen (especially in the post 9-11 world of hyping intelligence):
U.S. atomic expert doubts report of Iran weapons work
David Albright, head of the U.S.-based Institute for Science and International Security think-tank and a former U.N. arms inspector, said the report was off the mark on one key issue and glossed over two others.
In a statement, Albright said the article repeatedly characterised the laptop's contents as information about a nuclear warhead design "when the information actually<|fim_middle|> us drop our guard!
3 Responses to "Reuters Duped On Iranian Nukes"
axiom says:
AJ: David Albright is the first person that former head[Mahdi Obeidi] of the Iraqi Atomic Energy program contacted via sat phone once American troops arrived in Baghdad. One of Albright's first questions to Obeidi was if he had material or evidence that had not been examined by inspectors. Obeidi responded "yes". The evidence was buried in Obeidi's garden.
Albright should at least be publicly acknowledging the fact that Iranians are under at least as equal threat as Iraqi scientists while the government was using them to acquire nuclear weapons.
In addition, you would expect Albright to make more mention of the Libyan centrifuge program considering that the UN didn't know anything about it until after the Iraq invasion.
The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » Rep Senators Screw Us All says:
[…] Search Home | About | Terms « Reuters Duped On Iranian Nukes […]
The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » Fly By 11/19/05 says:
[…] And this is what I posted on regarding a Reuters' article siting a error prone 'WMD expert': This 'rationale' is proposed by someone who missed Saddam's nuclear WMD intentions 15 years ago, and the logic is frighteningly shortsighted. It is a blatant attempt to grasp onto a severely narrow scenario to support the theory there is no threat from Iraq with regards to nuclear weapons. […] | describes a re-entry vehicle for a missile.
"This distinction is not minor. The information does not contain any words such as nuclear or nuclear warhead. The 'black box' carried by the re-entry vehicle may appear to be a nuclear warhead, but the documents do not state what the warhead is."
No, the distinction is not minor – but if anyone cared to rub two brain cells together the implication is not what David Not-So-Bright would be selling Reuters.
Here is a bio on David Albright (what an perfect oxymoronic name):
Albright cooperated actively with the IAEA Action Team from 1992 until 1997, focusing on analyses of Iraqi documents and past procurement activities. In June 1996, he was the first non-governmental inspector of the Iraqi nuclear program. On this inspection mission, Albright questioned members of Iraq's former uranium enrichment programs about their statements in Iraq's draft Full, Final, and Complete Declaration.
From 1990 to 2001, Albright was a member of the Health Advisory Panel appointed by Colorado Governor Roy Romer.
Yep, ex-DNC chairman Roy Romer. David Albright appears to be a card carrying liberal.
But let's see how good David Albright is at determining whether a nation is a nuclear threat or not. To set the stage recall that Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons program was finally exposed in 1995 after the defection of Hussein Kammel – Saddam's son-in-law. From 1991, post Gulf War I:
Just two hours after U.S. warplanes began attacking Iraq on January 16, President Bush went on national television to report the goals of the assault. "As I report to you, air attacks are under way against military targets in Iraq. We are determined to knock out Saddam Hussein's nuclear bomb potential," the president said, before ticking off other objectives.
The prominence Bush gave to Iraq's nuclear "potential" repeated a theme that the administration began pushing vigorously last November as a rationale for the use of military force against that country. But after a months-long investigation of the requirements any country would need to build nuclear weapons, and an assessment of Iraq's ability to meet those requirements, we conclude that Saddam Hussein was many years away from developing usable nuclear weapons.
Does this sound familiar? I thought so too.
Indeed, the Iraqi nuclear bomb-making capability was so primitive that the international sanctions put in place after the August 2 invasion may have had more substantive effect than the tons of bombs dropped by U.S. and allied planes five months later. "There may be good reasons to go to war with Iraq," one U.S. government official said before January 16, "but Iraq's nuclear program isn't one of them."
Well Albright should have eaten those words in 1995 when the stunning truth of how close Saddam really was finally came out.
But back to Re-entry Vehicles (RVs) and Nuclear Warheads. If you ever watched True Lies with Ahnold you have seen the form of a nuclear warhead housed in the RV. RV's are specific to nuclear war heads on ballistic missiles and NOTHING else. The nuclear bombs you see in something like Season 2 of 24 or Armaggedon are the bare-bones version. But RV's are for one thing: penetrating the atmosphere from a missile launched into space on a ballistic (non-orbiting) path.
There is no other use for the RV with conventional explosives – because the payload size is too small to carry sufficient quantities of explosive. Albright skirts this fact in his duping of Reuters
A further important question sidestepped by the report, Albright said, was whether Iran could build the relatively small atomic warhead able to fit into the triconic re-entry vehicle — a missile nose cone made up of three distinct shapes.
Based on publicly available photos of Iran's 2004 test launch of such a missile, a nuclear warhead would require a diameter of 600 millimetres — a major challenge for Iran, according to Albright.
He said the diameter of the warhead in a design given to Libya by the disgraced father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, was about 900 millimetres.
"A legitimate question is whether Iran could successfully build such a small warhead without outside help," Albright said.
BS. It all depends on kiloton yield for size (or is Albright going to claim there is no such thing as nuclear artillery rounds). Also, that 'outside help' could come in the form of missiles from North Korea – which does have the technology for larger RV sizes.
This 'rationale' is proposed by someone who missed Saddam's nuclear WMD intentions 15 years ago, and the logic is frighteningly shortsighted. It is a blatant attempt to grasp onto a severely narrow scenario to support the theory there is no threat from Iraq with regards to nuclear weapons.
It is a dangerous proposal because it can fool the uneducated, like a Reuters reporter, into believing this is a strong argument against Iran's intent to build nuclear weapons. It is a laughable argument – but who could tell except us space cadets?
There is no need to engineer an RV if there is no nuclear warhead to put into it. None. Absolutely none. While nuclear weapons can exist without the RV – RV's by themselves are a waste of engineering time without the warhead.
Read his words again:
The information does not contain any words such as nuclear or nuclear warhead. The 'black box' carried by the re-entry vehicle may appear to be a nuclear warhead, but the documents do not state what the warhead is
They probably do not include the words 'space' and 'atmosphere' but that would not mean these were funny shaped torpedoes! The words probably do not include 'long range ICBM' – so should we conclude the RV is for use with an artillery mortar or rocket launcher? How about used with a sling shot?
Ballistic missiles are the long range threat everyone dreads because the world does not have a robust defense system from nuclear tipped ballistic missiles at this time. The best we have is the Patriot System, but it is not robust and not meant for long range ballistic missiles (SCUDS are medium range missiles).
This is the scary form of misleading intelligence – the kind which can make | 1,321 |
Q: Installing Ubuntu 14.04 before Windows8.1 Error 0xc000000e the BCD of your PC is missing or contains error I install Windows usually<|fim_middle|> do I solve it? Thanks.
A: Here is Microsoft's response to a similar problem.
Attempt 1: Try Windows Repair.
Attempt 2: Use Bootrec.exe to rebuild BCD.
Attempt 3: Us BCDedit.exe to restore BCD manually.
| before Ubuntu, but because there wasn't Windows after experiencing some hard drive problem I installed Ubuntu-Gnome-14.04 before Windows, but I am unable to install either Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 afterwards.
The error I encountered every time I try to make the installation using the USB key (because the DVD drive of my laptop is broken) is:
Windows Boot Manager
Windows failed to start.
A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
File: \Boot\BCD
Status: Oxc000000e
Info: The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains error.
How | 143 |
Retrospection
Sarah E Orlando Noah Rayman
Pizza Tut
The Pizza Hut stands across from the gated Giza Pyramid complex, next to the "Beauty Perfume & Papyrus Palace."
By Noah S. Rayman Mar 28, 2012
The Pizza Hut stands across from the gated Giza Pyramid complex, next to the "Beauty Perfume & Papyrus Palace." The company icon, store layout, server uniforms (red and black) are all familiar. Even the menu items are identical—mostly—except for some rare exceptions: pepperoni, which isn't halal, is absent from the toppings list, and I've never seen a beef shawarma pizza in the U.S. But I'd never<|fim_middle|> S. Rayman '12, former Associate Managing Editor, is a Social Studies concentrator in Winthrop House. Of the two articles he has written for Fifteen Minutes, both have been about Egypt. | actually been to a Pizza Hut, so it was all new to me.
I was in Egypt with Charlie, a friend from school and my roommate in Cairo, working at a newspaper for the summer, and we had made the trip out to the pyramids as soon as we had a day off from work. We too were tourists. After exploring all morning in the 104 degree heat, we took a lunch break at the Pizza Hut across the street. Until then, the King's Chamber at the center of the Great Pyramid had been our only refuge from the sun and the army of unofficial tour guides and memorabilia salesmen wandering that corner of the unfriendly desert.
The Pizza Hut was upstairs from the KFC (fried chicken, we'd decided, was too heavy in this weather) and faced the Giza Necropolis. We sat down at the window in the air-conditioned room and ordered a cheese pie with cheese-stuffed crust, bread sticks, and two Cokes. When in Rome.
The window framed the entire Giza Plateau. Immediately below, the taxi driver who said he would drive us back to downtown Cairo "for cheap price" stood, waiting for our exit. In the foreground, the Great Sphinx eyed the Stuffed Pizza Rollers at the table next to us.
Behind the statue, we could just make out the helipad for VIP visitors beside one of the Pyramids, where Charlie and I had slumped with an overpriced bottle of Dasani water. In the distance, as Shelley would say, the lone and level sands stretch far away.
An hour earlier, Charlie and I had entered the inner chamber of the Great Pyramid. The oldest (and only surviving) of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Pyramid was built as a tomb for the fourth dynasty Pharaoh Khufu and completed in 2560 B.C. We visitors entered through the "Robber's Tunnel," ascended the angled Grand Gallery—some 150 feet long—and arrived at the King's Chamber. The granite room was bare, save a partly shattered sarcophagus at one side. Charlie flashed his Blackberry into the tomb. I checked to see if I had service.
But by now the waitress had arrived with our pizza, bread sticks, and soda. She asked us kindly, and in perfect English, if we wanted anything else. Sending her off with a broken and smile-ridden "kol tammam"—all's good—we turned to our meal. I peeled opened my Coke with the pull-tab, different from American stay-tab can-opening mechanisms but resulting in the same familiar and comforting swoosh.
Reaching for a slice, Charlie raised the inevitable question: how could an ancient civilization have constructed such behemoth structures? Answering himself, he recalled the conversation with our taxi driver a few days before.
The man had explained that everything we'd been told about the pyramids' construction was wrong, forcing us to conceive of the Disney Channel as something other than absolute Fact.
"You will see," he said, "the bricks are too massive, the pyramids too tall."
"Then how were they built?" we asked.
The driver mulled the question over in his head, for a moment—perhaps formulating the English translation: "Tall people."
The steaming, greasy, cheese-filled crust sagged as we ate the slices New York-style. "Man," I said to Charlie, "I wish there was a Pizza Hut in the Square."
That evening, we passed through Tahrir Square. People were selling t-shirts for the revolution. Protests would pick up later that month.
There's a Pizza Hut there, too, but we never went.
—Noah | 756 |
The stock is up more than 10% over the past week and now sits just below the 11 strike. With the stock 10.70 this call calendar is now worth .75 versus the original .54 at risk. So decent gains so far, but alot more is possible and where the stock is is perfect for this trade.
From a trade management standpoint there is one main thing to keep an eye on. Obviously if the stock were to stall here, or even pull back slightly this would continue to make money. The April calls will start to decay rapidly with the stock at or below 11. However, if the stock were to keep going higher and not even pause there is some risk to messing up this good trade by allowing the stock to get too high above 11 before April 18th. Therefore the leash here should probably be more to the upside. If the stock gets to 11 or higher it may make sense to roll the April call out to July, creating a vertical call spread. There's no rush to do that obviously, the trade is in perfect shape for now. And the more patience shown on the April calls, the more the reward near term. But it's something to keep an eye on.
On the flipside, if the stock were to pull back a little it should be fine as long as we're not talking sub 10 level. The earnings event is after April expiration so as those short April calls decay, the<|fim_middle|> stop at original cost probably makes sense. | July's should hold value pretty well (and just trade on delta) because they capture that event.
To recap, over the next few weeks sideways is perfect, slightly higher is perfect, even slightly lower is fine. A big move higher and a roll is in order, a big move lower and a normal | 61 |
Little Argus: Jan. 29
Little Argus: Jan. 29 Little Argus: Jan. 29 Check out this story on CurrentArgus.com: https://c-cargus.co/1SNq0M5
Carlsbad Current-Argus Published 1:01 a.m. MT Jan. 29, 2016
Calendar(Photo: Claudio Divizia, Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Carlsbad Current-Argus offers the Little Argus as a complimentary service to non-profits and community organizations for the purpose of running public service announcements and/or publicizing community activities.
Little Argus submissions may be sent to news@currentargus.com at least 24 hours in advance of the first day the announcement is desired to run. Submissions should be kept to 50 words or less and include crucial information such as time, date, location and contact<|fim_middle|>Spring showcase: The 6th Grade Academy will be performing their Spring Showcase on Feb. 4 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Carlsbad Intermediate School Auditorium. The public is invited.
Bark in the Park: CPAWS is planning another "Bark In The Park" in April and we are looking for volunteers and sponsors to help with this fun event. Please call Darya Ramirez at 200-8536 for more information.
Riverblitz: The 2016 Riverblitz will be on March 12 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. This is an annual event to clean up the Pecos River both in the city and in the county areas. Supplies can be picked up at 7 a.m. at the Riverwalk Rec. Center. Lunch will be provided at 12 p.m. at the Recreation Center. For more information call Mary Garwood at 575-234-7925.
Menudo fundraiser: The American Legion Auxiliary will be having a menudo and posole fundraiser on Feb. 13 at 2311 Legion. Cost is $10 for a 32 oz. cup. Carry out or dine-in. The fundraiser will run from 8 a.m. until sold out. For more information call 885-2493.
Community Focus: Community Focus invites anyone interested in our great community of Carlsbad and Eddy County to their weekly Friday meetings. Meetings are at IHOP at 2529 S. Canal St. in Carlsbad. From 7-7:30 a.m. there is a meet-and-greet, breakfast ($7) is at 7:30 a.m. and the presentation is at 8 a.m. Anyone wishing to promote their organization to community-minded people, please contact Richard Bradley at rbradley1@farmersagent.com to register.
Volunteers needed: United Way is seeking volunteers for Tax Help New Mexico. Training will be provided to individuals interested in assisting with tax preparation for seniors and low income individuals. For more information, please call the United Way office at 575-887-3504 or email 211@unitedwayofcarlsbad.org.
Jewelry classes: The North Mesa Senior Recreation Center offers a class on beaded jewelry with instructor Frieda Bates every Wednesday from 5:30-8 p.m. as one of the many activities held at the center each week. We have a fitness room, pool tables, bingo, card games, quilting and much more. Membership is only $7.50 a year for anyone over 40. Come as a guest and check out what all we have to offer.
Volunteer opportunity: Keep Carlsbad Beautiful offers both volunteer and community service hours (court ordered, school programs, civic organizations, etc.) for community clean up projects year round. To sign up, call Mary Garwood at 575-234-7925.
Prayer revival: Cavern Baptist Church, 110 Russell St., will be open at noon every Wednesday for non-denominational prayer. There is no set program. Come and pray as you will, silent, out loud, or in a group.
Drug disposal: Dispose of unwanted medications (pills, tablets) anonymously at the drop box in the entrance to Carlsbad Police Department, 602 W. Mermod. Liquids, ointments, needles, inhalers are not accepted but can be disposed of at a drug take-back event in spring or fall. Sponsored by Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition and City of Carlsbad.
Heat assistance: United Way of Carlsbad & South Eddy Counties 211 program will be assisting families in completing paperwork for the Heat NM program paid for through Salvation Army. The assistance will be a maximum of $120 per account and assistance may only be received once a year. United Way staff will be available from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. M-F and may be reached by calling 575-887-3504 or dialing 211.
AARP: AARP meetings are held at 3 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the North Mesa Senior Recreation Center located at 1112 N. Mesa (behind Denny's). AARP membership is only $5 a year. Membership to NMSRC is required to attend meetings at a cost of only $7.50 annually for anyone age 40 and older. For more information, please contact NMSRC at 575-885-6487.
Donations needed: CPAWS, an animal advocacy 501(c)(3) is looking for donations in order to continue our free dog and cat food giveaway and our dog house project. CPAWS qualifies low income families to receive free dog and cat food to help them keep their pets. All animals must be spayed or neutered within 3 months in order to continue to receive food. Please contact Suzanne Hathon at 575-302-2341. Donations can be made at Carlsbad National Bank, acct. #66141. Call us to receive a tax deductible form as donations are tax deductible. Thank you from CPAWS.
Computer classes: The San Jose Center is offering free one-on-one computer lessons. Lessons are on an individual basis and based on what you need to learn and the time that you need. For more information, call the center at 575-885-1402.
Bereavement services: Golden Services Home Health, Hospice and Counseling offers bereavement support services and counseling for individuals and groups. If interested in participating please contact Pastor Jason Shirley or Pastor Dave Rogers at 575-885-3082 for an appointment.
Bow and arrow lessons: "CenterShot Ministry" has started a new 8 week session held every Tuesday from 6-7:15 p.m. at Blodgett Street Baptist Church, 1500 W. Blodgett. Sessions are free and will run from Jan. 19-March 8. Equipment is provided and ages 8 and up are welcome.
Silent auction: P.E.O. Chapter BB will hold a silent auction fundraiser from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 6 at First Presbyterian Church, 309 W. Shaw Street. Light refreshments will be available. All proceeds from the auction will be used to support P.E.O. philanthropic projects. The silent auction is open to the public. For more information, please contact Ann at 575-706-1363 or Kathy at 575-706-4290.
Report graffiti: The Carlsbad Community Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition and Keep Carlsbad Beautiful invite you to report graffiti to the City of Carlsbad for free removal with owner permission. Call 575-887-1200 or dial 311 from a land line. You may remain anonymous.
Early College applications: Carlsbad Early College High School is now accepting applications for the Class of 2020. All applications are due by 3:45 p.m. March 15. Applications and additional information about the application process may be found online at http://www.carlsbadnmschools.com or in the guidance office at Carlsbad Intermediate School. Please contact Maaike Thomas, College Advisor/School Social Worker with questions at 575-234-9415 or maaike.thomas@carlsbad.k12.nm.com.
Instructor needed: The North Mesa Senior Recreation Center offers a variety of activities for adults ages 40 and up. We are currently looking for a volunteer ceramics instructor. If you are interested, please call the center at 575-885-6487 or stop by at 1112 N. Mesa (behind Denny's).
Meals for the homeless: One Love Community Outreach is providing meals to the homeless and less fortunate in Carlsbad every Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1314 S. Canal. For more information or to donate, contact Cody Franco at 575-302-0795 or onelovecommunityoutreach@gmail.com.
Volunteers needed: The Volunteer Hospital Auxiliary, Pink Ladies & Red Men, of the Carlsbad Medical Center need volunteers with the front desk, coffee cart, surgical waiting, gift shop, patient ambassadors and other activities. For more information, call Anita Buff at 575-234-2859 or Norma Kelley at 575-887-6269.
Tax help: Tax Help New Mexico at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 1302 W. Pierce St. will be open to prepare taxes starting Feb. 1. The site will be open Monday and Thursday evenings 6-9 p.m. and on Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. You will need a picture ID for yourself and your spouse and social security cards for all persons to be reported on the return as well as all of your income documents, insurance documents and expense documents.This service is on a first come first served basis.
Read or Share this story: https://c-cargus.co/1SNq0M5
Shooting threat investigated at Carlsbad school
Claire Chase campaign stops in Carlsbad
Oil and gas generated $3.1 billion in revenue
Five free days? Head to New Mexico's public lands
More time, material needed to fill Carlsbad Brine Well
New Mexico House speaker hears Hobbs, Lea County's issues | information.
Because this is a free service and space is limited, submissions will be printed on a rotation, meaning announcements are not guaranteed to run every day.
Announcements with no clear end date will be removed at staff's discretion.
Please call 575-887-5501 for more information.
Veteran benefits workshop: Dwight Lee PR Lucas VFW Post 8703 and New Mexico Department of Veteran Services will be hosting a benefits workshop on Jan. 29 at 1 p.m. Service representatives will be available to answer questions regarding filing claims with the VA, increasing benefits, and eligibility for programs and services. Workshop will be held at the Carlsbad VFW, corner of San Jose and Wood. Any veteran with questions about benefits are invited to intend. For more information call 575-302-0881.
Voting: Absentee voting for the Artesia and Carlsbad school district elections will begin Jan. 8 and end on Jan. 29. Absentee in person voting can be done from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. at the Artesia Clerk's Sub Office and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Carlsbad Clerk's Office. Call 575-885-3383 to request an absentee application. hoo
Pre-School Storytime: The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park will be hosting pre-school story time on Jan. 29 at 9:30 a.m. A short walk in the zoo will take place after, weather permitting, followed by another activity. There is no fee to enter the Visitor Center, but to enter the zoo regular admission fees apply. For more information call 887-5516.
Pet food: The CPAWS monthly dog and cat food giveaway for people who qualify will be from 9-11 a.m. Jan. 30 inside Carlsbad Tractor Supply. Limited spay/neuter certificates and rabies certificates will be available. Get there by 9 a.m. to get yours.
Mule Deer Foundation Dinner: Mule Deer Foundation Annual Banquet will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Elk's Lodge, 1558 Elk's Drive. Tickets are $50. Email David Ripley at ripleyda@gmail.com to purchase.
Childbirth classes: Carlsbad Medical Center's Women's Services Department will have a free childbirth class from 1-4 p.m. Jan. 30 in the CMC private dining room at 2430 W. Pierce. Food will be provided. Topics will include the stages of labor, C-sections, anesthesia care, breastfeeding, infant care and postpartum care. A tour of the Women's Services unit will also be provided. For more information, call 575-887-4264 or 575-887-4265.
Donuts: JMA students will be selling Krispy Kreme donuts from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in front of La Tienda to finance their senior class trip.
Volunteers needed: Eddy County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is seeking caring, committed citizens to become advocates for abused or neglected children living in foster care. These children have been placed in protective custody of the state by the court. CASA provides the training for volunteers who will be looking out for the child's best interest. Three to four hours per week and an interest in being a powerful voice for these vulnerable children is required. Must be 21 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and pass criminal background check. Training is scheduled to begin in the spring. For more information, call 575-887-5966, email casaeddyco@windstream.net, visit eddycountycasa.org or visit the office at 118 W. Mermod St.
Book fair: The BOGO Scholastic Book Fair will be at St. Edward School, 805 Walter St., Feb. 22-25, open daily from 3-4 p.m. Stock up on your children's library with this buy one get one free sale! There will be a family event from 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 23. There will be plenty of door prizes raffled off!
Democratic convention: The Democratic Party of Eddy County Pre Primary Nominating Convention will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 13 at the IBEW Union Hall, 608 N. Main in Carlsbad. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. This event is open to the public. All registered Democrats who attend this event will nominate and elect delegates to the state Pre Primary Convention. For more information, call Christy Thomas at 575-302-3209 or email eddycountydemocrats@gmail.com.
Carlsbad Overeaters Anonymous: COA will meet weekly at noon on Saturdays at 3127 National Parks Hwy, next to Tractor Supply. No dues, no fees, no weigh-ins, no diets. Call 432-250-5439 or 575-571-1025 for more information.
Dance: The San Jose Center will hold a Valentine's Dance from 6-9:30 p.m. Feb. 5. Music will be provided by DJ Pete Subia. Door prizes will be awarded and drinks will be provided. Must be 40 years of age or older and we ask that you bring a finger food dish to share. No alcohol is allowed. For more information, call 575-885-1402.
Docent training: Docent training at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park will be on eight consecutive Thursdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 4-March 24. Bring a sack lunch. The cost is $35 and includes docent manual, polo shirt and year membership to the zoo. Bilingual docents are especially needed. Call 575-887-5516 for more information.
Class: A free class for diabetics and non-diabetics is from 6:30-8 p.m. the first Monday of every month, sponsored by Carlsbad Family Health Center at 2013 San Jose Blvd. The Feb. 1 class will be "Keeping New Year's Resolution" hosted by Susan Blankenship CNP. For more information, please call 575-887-2455.
Spay and Neuter Certificates: Spay and neuter certificates will be given out at the Cat's Meow on Feb. 2. For more information, call 885-3234 or 885-9653.
Celebrate Recovery: You are invited to Celebrate Recovery which meets each Monday night at 5:30 p.m. as a safe place to address your hurts, hang ups, and habits (addictions). 1502 W. Mermod. Info: 1-800-601-4530.
Musicians needed: The North Mesa Senior Recreation Center is currently looking for entertainment for our dances, either bands or a DJ, who are willing to volunteer their time and play for strictly donations. Our dances are held every Wednesday and Friday evening from 7-9:30 p.m. If you are interested, please call either Dina Navarrette or Tina Swindell at 575-885-6487.
Dog houses: Do you need a dog house? CPAWS has small and medium doghouses for those who qualify. Must be picked up. Call Vickie at 575-885-5406.
Board elections: American Little League will have board elections for the 2016 season at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in the office at the Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex, 3001 W. Lea St. Anyone interested in serving on the board should plan to attend. For more information, contact Matt Castro at 575-499-6637.
Historical Society: The South East New Mexico Historical Society will meet on Feb. 1 7 p.m. at the Carlsbad Municipal Library Annex. The speaker will be Kenda Josselet, Assistant Professor of Government & History, NMSU-Carlsbad. Her topic: "Remember the Women of New Mexico". The public is invited.
Class of '66 Reunion: Any member of the Class of 66 interested in planning the 50th reunion please come to 314 W Mermod (ATC LLC) at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2. Watch for more information at cshsclassof66.org.
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Marisa Lobo: When fundamentalism becomes a straitjacket at the service of a conservative political agenda
May 27, 2016 May 27, 2020 Hermes Fernandes
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By Hermes C. Fernandes
Think of a cultured woman, a writer, well-articulated, trained, and post-graduated in an important branch of the humanities, but whose discourse totally disagrees with the social movements that promote human rights and women's empowerment. Is this possible? Yes, how? What ingredient added to those I have listed above could transform a potential feminist and human rights activist into someone of anachronistic stance, doing a disservice to the social causes that she should defend? The evidence seems to point to religious fundamentalism.
For those who haven't connected the dots yet, I'm talking about the controversial psychologist Marisa Lobo.
If his performance was restricted to the religious space, it might not cause so much fuss. But by the way, Marisa has less modest ambitions. Taking advantage of the projection she had when having her professional record revoked accused of mixing her belief with her clinical practice, the Christian psychologist has been an easy figure moving through the corridors of power, as well as in political or religious events, always flanked by equally controversial figures and prominent. Pastor Silas Malafaia, deputy Marco Feliciano and Senator Magno Malta are among the guarantors of his public image.
He used social media extensively to help promote the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, joining with his mentors. And of course, he celebrated the fall of the president and the rise of Michel Temer.
At no time did he touch criticism for the fact that there are no women among the ministers chosen by the interim president. But she was one of the promoters of the campaign raised by Malafaia's wife in support of the new first lady (Bela, demure, and home).
In a comment made by journalist Noblat on his profile on the twitter, although there are no women or blacks in charge of the ministries, there would be at least two homosexuals, so LGBT activists should be satisfied. So far, the psychologist who advocates "gay healing" has not manifested itself. The fact is that, when it is politically convenient, both she and her gurus turn a blind eye to anything they disagree with. Does she blindly believe that the two gay ministers of the Temer government could be cured? Would an exorcism session solve it? Or would it be better to let it go in the name of common interests?
I don't particularly believe in gay healing. I believe that homosexuals, everyone, without exception, needs healing. But not to cure your homosexuality. They need to be healed from the wounds opened by our hypocrisy and prejudice. I don't think Marisa should agree with me.
For her and so many others who do a fundamentalist reading of the Scriptures, what gays need is to abandon their perverse and abominable practice, whether through therapy, or through exorcism, or even penance.
Recently, Marisa Lobo posed with her new book "The ideology of Gender in Education" alongside the newly appointed Minister of Health Ricardo Barros. She wrote on her Facebook page: "I took the opportunity to alert you about the imposition of gender ideology in education and how this child indoctrination can generate psychological disorders in children such as Gender dysphoria, among others." According to the psychologist, "gender ideology is also a health issue, # SaúdeMental." Also according to his report: "He was extremely friendly, attentive and answered me in that way." This is over. The MEC is now from the DEM "that is, it filled me with hopes, that our children will really deserve care from the ministry of education and Health that is now his ministry "(sic).
It is unfortunate to know that a years-long struggle to combat intolerance and prejudice in the school environment could suffer a setback due to the religious lobby.
In the community I pasture, a boy of just 11 years old, a colleague of some of our children, committed suicide by taking pellets and choking himself with a plastic bag, for not enduring the bullying suffered at school due to his sexual orientation. Sad to know, this is just one of the countless cases. However, religious fundamentalism is so blind that, in addition to making the soul-sick, it starts the conscience, depriving us of both a critical sense and compassion and empathy.
What psychologist Marisa Lobo mistakenly calls "gender ideology", is nothing more than a sensible attempt to combat prejudice within the classroom. And it is not limited to gender bias, but also ethnic, religious, and even what victimizes the physically and mentally disabled.
There is a lack of mercy in the religious discourse of those who present themselves as followers of Jesus. Perhaps they forget that, in the words of St. James, "the judgment will be without mercy for those who do not use mercy."
For the psychologist and her class, the government would be encouraging pedophilia and homosexuality through booklets distributed in schools. The aim would be to destroy Judeo-Christian values along with the traditional family model. There would be a communist conspiracy in the Gramscista style, to deconstruct any and all social structures, starting with the family, thus setting the stage for the installation of a totalitarian world government. What she may not know, or pretend not to know, is that policy for diversity has been adopted in the most developed countries in the world (most traditionally Christian), starting with the USA, the largest capitalist nation on the planet. On the other hand, it is not adopted in socialist countries like Cuba and China, much less by Russia (which according to<|fim_middle|> million at their stop, we will gather twice as much on our march to Jesus.
Ah if Christians knew that many of these manifestos are just demonstrations of political power! It is for these and others that, every day, the number of displaced persons grows alarmingly. A mass is unhappy with the direction taken by the churches.
When will we take to the streets in favor of the oppressed? When will we let go of our arrogant stance and reach out to those in need?
As long as we keep our finger in the list , in an inquisitive spirit, the world will give us another finger, the middle one.
When churches cease to be electoral corrals and become centers of citizenship; when you stop worrying about your own navel and turn outward, then hope will triumph. The finger that previously pointed out the errors, will now point the way.
Holiness in its place, without frills and fricots
I must confess that my reluctance to address this issue is due, first of all, to the stigma it carries. However, I felt challenged to break with my own prejudice and to navigate these troubled seas under the auspices of grace.
Would there be an approach on the topic that did not incur legalism, falling into a human attempt to achieve merits before God through its performance? I am convinced that it is. We need to seek a biblical definition of what holiness is, without the heavy religious rancidity.
Being holy does not mean being morally pure, perfect, or endowed with a mature spirituality. The Corinthian Christians were called by Paul "sanctified in Christ Jesus" and "saints, with all who everywhere call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours" (1 Cor. 1: 2). Nevertheless, the same apostle declares that he cannot address them as "spiritual, but as carnal, as children in Christ". He justifies himself: "Are you still carnal because, with envy, strife, and dissension among you, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men?"(1 Co.3: 1,3). Who would have ever imagined that there could be envious, contentious, carnal saints? But have! And how is it! However, their imperfection does not disqualify them as saints.
Nor is being a saint giving special powers to someone as is usually done in the canonization process of the Catholic Church.
So what is the meaning behind the term "holiness"?
The Hebrew word translated "saint" is Kadosh, which means only "separate".
Under the guise of holiness, the Christian church has literally separated itself from the world around it and has developed a ghetto culture. Holiness is confused with alienation.
It was from a misunderstanding that Dutch Protestants imposed the apartheid regime in South Africa. Originally, the motives were not ethnic, but religious. White Christians did not want to risk having their faith diluted in the religious fetishism of Africans. Fearing to have the purity of their faith compromised with syncretism, they preferred to delimit perimeters, where whites and blacks would live segregated. We all know where it went.
Sanctifying has much more to do with "separating from" than "separating from". Peter says that we are an elected generation, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, the acquired people, to announce the virtues of him who called you from darkness to his wonderful light (1 Pet. 2: 9). Now, how will we announce something to those from whom we have separated? What purpose would there be to announce something to those in our own group? In order for us to be heard, we have to mingle, have a social life, move between men, not as aliens, but as one of them. We are saints, however, we are not ETs.
To sanctify is to separate in order to distinguish, not to separate. And to distinguish is to assign exclusive meaning. Therefore, it can be said that to sanctify something or someone is to recognize the particular place that must be occupied by him.
See, for example, Pedro's recommendation:
"Rather, sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord; and always be prepared to respond with meekness and fear to everyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you. " 1 Peter 3:15
If we give sanctification the meaning it usually gives, this recommendation makes no sense. How could we sanctify the One who is already the Most Holy? How can we make Him even more holy than He already is? If holiness is about perfection, how could we make Christ even more perfect? In addition to being the height of presumption, it would be a paradox. How to make Him purer? Or give it more power? However, if we consider the definition presented here, Pedro's recommendation will take on a very special meaning.
To sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts is nothing more than to reserve a special place for Him. Although there is a captive chair in our hearts for all that is dear to us, for example, for our family and friends, the throne of our life must be exclusive to the Lord. He will always have primacy in everything. We attribute to Him a different meaning, which can never be shared with any other being.
The same apostle warns us:
"But since he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your way of life; because it is written: Be holy, for I am holy. And if you invoke by Father the one who, without respect for persons, judges according to the work of each one, walk-in fear, during the time of your pilgrimage, knowing that it was not with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, that you were rescued from your vain way of life that you traditionally received from your parents. " 1 Peter 1: 15-18
Note this: holiness has more to do with behavior than with compartment. I run the risk of being misinterpreted here and judged to be legalistic. It's not about this. It is not a matter of submitting to a tangle of rules, but of resignifying life. Whoever realizes how holy life is, will never live inconsequentially. Our actions reverberate in eternity. We were rescued from our vain way of life, inherited from our ancestors. We are no longer hostages of the moment. We were asked to go further, transcending time and space. Therefore, it no longer makes sense to adopt the motto of the samba chorus that says "let life take me, life takes me …"
The sanctity of life lies in its purpose. Our existence is much more than a road accident. We were engineered by God to fulfill a purpose. I am at risk of appearing mushy for this statement. But a life without purpose is also without meaning. We are more than just medical records. More than extras in the fabric of existence. We are each protagonist, or as Mandela would say, "captains of our soul".
Paul expressed this understanding when he declared: " But I do not care about anything, nor do I consider my life precious, as long as I joyfully carry out my career and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of the grace of God" (At.20: 24). In other words, Paul was willing to face martyrdom if that, in any way, contributed to the fulfillment of the purpose of his existence. After all, it is only worth living for something you are willing to die for. The sanctity of life, therefore, consists of the meaning we attach to it. When we are no longer here, the steps we have taken will continue to echo, the fragrance of the sacrifice we have made will continue to be exhaled by those who succeed us on this journey.
We do not need altars! Don't you dare to canonize us! Don't even bother to hide our idiosyncrasies and contradictions under the veneer of an idealized biography. May our victories are celebrated and our mistakes serve as a warning. But let everyone know that we seek to live fully according to the purpose for which we were imbued, despite sometimes being distracted.
The biography of a saint is not a map for the next generations, but only a record of those who sought to make their stay on this planet worthwhile. Lived and let live. He embodied his mission. He spent and let himself be consumed by the flame of passion that moved him.
In the next post, I will talk about sanctification and the individuation process.
How to Protect Personal Information Online
For those who choose the method of doing things based on convenience, the Internet may be their best friend without them even realizing it.
You can tell people what you are up to by posting messages, call people, and order everything from food to furniture without leaving your sofa.
There are many factors that make the Internet a great tool, and it can make life easier whether it comes to work or play. However, this can also mean that it can easily be taken for granted.
It works well, therefore, it must be safe, right? Not necessarily so.
The Internet is a crowded arena, so in the same way that you would need to be wary of pickpockets when in a crowded place, it is necessary to protect your personal information online. Recognizing the fact that criminals have no qualms about taking their illicit trade from the street to the Internet will help reduce the risk of your personal information getting into the wrong hands.
There is a range of simple steps that you can take to make yourself safer when you go online:
When using a computer other than your own personal one, always ensure that the 'remember me' option is not ticked so that your username and password are not retained on that computer. Always remember to log out.
Keep up to date with the latest security software that can be used on your computer and make sure that you are using the best firewalls and anti-virus software.
Some websites will record when you last logged in and display this the next time you log in, so check this to ensure it matches your actions and immediately reports it to the company if you find something is amiss.
Many websites from which you can make purchases will give you the option of saving your payment details. Avoid this by unticking the relevant box, which will give you peace of mind in the event that the company gets hacked.
Do not use the same password for all of your online accounts – once a hacker steals one of your passwords, all of your accounts are then vulnerable.
Staying with passwords: don't make them easy. If you use 'password', '12345678', your own name, your pet's name, or any other such obvious option – change it now! The strongest password is a random set of letters (a mixture of upper and lower case), numbers, and characters.
When using online banking, make use of the security measures have in place, such as a secure key. Though they might be annoying and cause you to spend a few minutes more getting into your account, imagine the annoyance and time that would be needed to try and retrieve money stolen from your account.
If you receive an email that purports to be from your bank requesting that you reply with your password on the basis of some problem with your account, do not reply. Report it to the security department of your bank and then delete it. No reputable bank will email you to ask for your password, so it is sure to be a phishing email.
Avoid unfamiliar websites and clicking on links that do not relate to a company that you are used to using.
While the use of the Internet allows you to avoid wasted time down trawling around the shops, this does not mean that you should ignore sensible security measures that you would employ when out in the real world. Be wary and do not assume that every part of the Internet is like the other.
There are many situations in which the hackers appear to be working faster than those charged with the security of websites, which leads to a story where the bad guy wins. Accordingly, it is not prudent to solely rely on the security of the websites that you use.
By taking some precautions, you can help to ensure that your details remain safe and that you do not have to worry about checking whether you might be on the list of victims who have had their details stolen.
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Kreg PRS2100 Bench Top Router Table Review | some, will resurface as a great communist power). You will understand …
Undoubtedly, the countries in which diversity is most hard-fought are theocratic, where the fundamentalist view of Islam prevails.
If the evangelical group continues in its aggressive lobbying the current government, we run the risk of seeing a kind of gospel Taliban implanted in the country.
There is an urgent need to reaffirm and redouble the vigilance over the secularity of the Brazilian state. To paraphrase the Protestant reformer Martin Luther, God acts in the world through two arms, that of Law (state) and that of Grace (church). The problem is when the arms decide to cross. Both are paralyzed as if they are trapped in a straight jacket. The challenge, therefore, is to maintain each power in its sphere. Religion has its importance. Even the most skeptical will agree. But it is not authorized to extrapolate its sphere and impose its dogmas and doctrines on society as a whole.
Behind the pulpit of the church I pastor, I am not a psychologist. I can even quote Freud, Jung, and so many others. But I cannot transform the service into a therapeutic session. Similarly, in the office, the pastor must give way to the therapist. There is no place for religious discourse. The same applies to the field of politics. In the plenary there are no pastors, no priests, no pais-de-Santo, but only representatives of the people. As in the pulpit, there should be no candidates looking for votes, nor politicians looking for support for their agendas. If we keep each activity in its own sphere, social progress will be consolidated without religious interference, and religion, whatever it may be, will have guaranteed its right to worship and publicize its beliefs and values.
I already apostatized … and you?
Paul had already been warned about the persecution he would suffer in Jerusalem. Stubborn and obstinate, he did not listen to anyone. After all, as he himself said, he did not consider his life precious, as long as it fulfilled the purpose of his existence. Not even Agabus, a renowned prophet, was able to dissuade him with his staged prophecy. The apostle was willing not only to be arrested for the love of Christ but also to die for the cause of the gospel. Arriving in Jerusalem, he had a big surprise. His fame had preceded him. So much so that James summoned the elders to welcome him and hear from him a report on the fruits of his ministry among the Gentiles. Such a reception disarmed Paul. When could he imagine he would be greeted with such pomp? After listening carefully, Tiago and the others wanted to add nothing. The gospel preached by Paul among the Gentiles seemed to be the right measure, going through the apostles' "quality control". However, there was a small problem … Someone would have spread the word about Paul teaching the Jews to apostatize from Moses, failing to fulfill the rites prescribed in the Law. There was only one way to undo this "misunderstanding", by giving a "shut up" -Boca "in his slanderers: Paulo would have to take a vow to shave his head and report to the temple. In order not to create further embarrassment for the apostles, he did not even bother to argue. He joined four others and passed the razor over his head. failing to comply with the rites prescribed in the Law. There was only one way to undo this "misunderstanding" by giving a "shut up" to his slanderers: Paul would have to take a vow to shave his head and appear in the temple. In order not to create further embarrassment for the apostles, he did not even bother to argue. He joined four others and passed the razor over his head. failing to comply with the rites prescribed in the Law. There was only one way to undo this "misunderstanding" by giving a "shut up" to his slanderers: Paul would have to take a vow to shave his head and appear in the temple. In order not to create further embarrassment for the apostles, he did not even bother to argue. He joined four others and passed the razor over his head.
I am sure that this episode was one of the few that Paul repented for the rest of his life. The same Paul, who seemed willing to be beheaded for the love of Christ, now let himself be shorn to make media of the religious Jews in Jerusalem. Result: the preservation was of no use. As soon as the Jews caught him in the temple, they tried to accuse him before everyone and narrowly did not take his life. Had the Roman soldiers not intervened, Paul would have been beaten to death (Acts 21: 10-32).
What strikes me most in the passage summarized above is the fact that Paul was accused of apostatizing Moses. Was this a fair accusation? I am convinced that it is. In a sense, the Gospel is an apostasy. From ancient Greek απόστασις (apostasis), apostasy means "to be far from" and has the sense of a definite and deliberate departure from any belief or doctrine.
Why would Paul and the rest of Jesus' followers have apostatized from Moses?
John, the author of the fourth gospel, offers us a precious clue:
"For we have all received from its fullness, and grace upon grace. Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. " John 1: 16-17
In the text above, we realize that Moses and Jesus have different and antagonistic proposals. One brought the law, the other, grace, and truth. The Law served as a basis for building a system that is based on human performance. It is, therefore, a system based on merits, of the type, "do this and you will live". The grace revealed in Jesus dismantles this system. Some argue that Law is the foundation of Grace. Therefore, the Kingdom of God would be a "grace over law" system. Others argue that the Kingdom of God is a "law on grace" system, that is, grace saves us from sin and places us in the lap of the law. Therefore, one is introduced into the kingdom by grace, however, staying there will depend on our performance in keeping the law. It was this error that the Galatians incurred. They started in the Spirit (100% dependent on grace) and ended in the flesh (dependent on performance). What we read in the introductory chapter of the gospel of John is that the Kingdom of God is"Grace upon grace". Grace is the foundation of grace itself. In other words, it is a grace from beginning to end, with no place left for human merit. Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, Alpha and Omega, or in the famous words of Paul, "he who started the good work" and will finish it within the established time (Phil.1: 6). Therefore, when yielding to grace, we apostatize from Moses. There is no way to reconcile the two systems, the meritocratic and the aristocratic . They are water and oil. Different temperatures. One is hot. The other, cold. To try to mix them up is to warm up the gospel. And this was the reason why Christ rejected the Laodicean church.
Those who are seated in the heavenly regions in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2: 6), should never wish to occupy the "chair of Moses" , occupied by the scribes and Pharisees at the time of Jesus (Mt.23: 1-4). However great the glory of the old covenant, it cannot be compared to the glory of the brand new and definitive covenant celebrated on the cross. The glory shining on Moses' face when he came down from Mount Sinai is overshadowed by the glory of love manifested on the cross at the top of Golgotha. Paul says that the glory of the law was fading. So Moses covered his face as he came down from the mountain. He realized that with each step he took, the splendor diminished. However, "we are not like Moses," says the apostle "apostate". Unlike him, we do not cover the face, because we are conducted "from glory to glory"to the ultimate glory (2 Cor. 3: 13-18). We can compare the difference between the glory of the law and the glory of the gospel to the difference between the brightness of the moon and the brightness of the sun. One night, the moon appears rising, the next, full, and then waning. Therefore, its glory varies in intensity according to the season. However, the sun maintains the same glory at all times. If the moon insists on continuing in the sky during the day, its splendor is overshadowed by the majestic presence of the sun. Knowing grace and then going back to the law, is like causing an eclipse, where the moon dares to outshine the sun. This, however, has no value for this, as it does not have its own shine. Its splendor depends directly on the light of the star king. This is true of the law. Whatever glory you have depends on grace. If it passes in front of you, the day gets dark.
I recently received a nasty comment on my Facebook timeline, accusing me of destroying what had been built by the generation that preceded me. However, do not confuse the removal of the scaffolding used in the construction of the building with the demolition of it. The law served us as scaffolding. As soon as the Word pitched His tent among us, the scaffolding had to be removed. In the building of the Kingdom of God, grace serves as the foundation, walls, and ceiling. Everything else is just scaffolding.
– But isn't everything the same? – some could imagine. The answer is no! Paul says that the Law, represented by Mount Sinai, produces slaves, while grace produces children (Gal.4: 24-25). Although both systems produce faithful people down to the core, the motivation behind this faithfulness will be different. One's faithfulness rests on the expectation of the reward, while the other's faithfulness rests on gratitude.
The writer of Hebrews draws an interesting comparison between Jesus and Moses. He testifies that Moses was faithful "in the whole house of God", but "as a servant", while Christ is faithful as a Son "over the house of God" (Heb. 3: 1-6). Therefore, He is worthy of much greater honor than Moses. The servant's faithfulness is different from the son's faithfulness, regardless of circumstances, rewards, results, etc.
The problem is not the law itself, but what it produces in us. In other words, the problem is us. Whoever wants to follow Christ must renounce the claim to achieve perfection through the fulfillment of the law. This is what Jesus calls renouncing himself.
Grace makes us depend entirely on the Spirit, and no longer on our performance. Furthermore, by overriding our arrogance and conceit, grace makes us more compassionate and tolerant of others' mistakes. The rigor of the law yields to the gentleness of grace.
This happened in the "tight skirt" that the scribes and Pharisees tried to give Jesus in the episode when they brought Him a woman caught in bed with a man who was not hers. Brazenly, those proud religious said: "Master, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. Now, Moses orders us in the law to be stoned. So what do you say? " (Jo.8: 3-7).
They were those same religious who, according to Jesus, occupied the chair of Moses. What they did not know was that the same Moses accused them before God (John. 5: 45-47). We were not called to be promoters of justice in the heavenly court, but to occupy the seat of advocate for sinners with Christ. And this was the role that Jesus played at that moment, going out in defense of an adulteress, treating her as a gentleman does, not a judge.
Everyone knows what Moses says, but few listen to what Jesus' lips say. What voice are we echoing? Just check if our hands still carry stones; if our fingers are still pointed at sinners or if our hands are extended to help them from the justice of the sanctuaries on duty.
Moses already has to preach on every corner, as the disciples concluded in the first general assembly of the church (Acts 15: 19-21). Our mission is to preach the gospel, the good news of the Kingdom of God.
I apostatized from Moses, how about you? Will you want to get average with the shrimp? Go on … shave your head … maybe they'll give you a discount.
Desigrejados, unite!
Jesus respected the religious system of His day, even though He knew the high price He would have to pay for His boldness. He said that we would do even bigger works. And why bigger? Who are we to overcome our Master?
The fact is that when Jesus walked among us, the religious system, however, refined it seemed, was still rudimentary compared to our day. Today, if we want to follow in Christ's footsteps, we will have to respect a true religious industry, where people are seen, now as products, now as customers, now as gears.
What is often called "discipleship," is nothing more than the production of serial followers, lead soldiers, perfect replicas of their mentors and leaders? This was not what Jesus planned when he recruited His first disciples in Galilee. It was never His claim that the church would become a lunatic factory.
Authentic discipleship is one that challenges us to embody the message of Christ, making us transforming agents of the Kingdom, infiltrated in a corrupted society. True discipleship is what sends sheep among the wolves.
The most important thing is not to fill the church, but to fill the world with the knowledge of God.
As we break hereditary curses, the gap between generations widens, and thus 'existential curses' are perpetuated. We seek inner healing, while outside, there are social wounds that need to heal, hemorrhages that have not yet stopped.
We discussed the sex of angels, while little angels, abandoned in the streets, are harassed daily by those who should protect them.
We reacted violently against laws that could harm the church, but we don't care about laws that harm the neediest, undermining their rights.
The craze for mosquitoes and swallowing camels!
– Clean your feet thoroughly when entering the temple to avoid damaging the new carpet. Amen or not amen? And don't forget to write in another congress to be held at the hotel, for a trifle of 400 reais.
We become a caricature of the church of Jesus.
While society is dealing with issues of the first magnitude, we turn to ourselves, concerned with quarrels.
– We can't lose to gays, can we? If they gathered three | 3,125 |
Lake Okanagan Resort again under new management
Vancouver-based Cozystay Holdings Inc. took over management of the resort on May 15
Karissa Gall
May. 31, 2019 <|fim_middle|> a vacation-rental platform and property management company based in the Lower Mainland.
According to CEO Galen Cheng, Cozystay will work to improve operations at the resort and attract more international travellers, especially from Asia.
READ MORE: Lake Okanagan Resort sold
"We have a strong vision for what this property can become and we are looking forward to leading this exciting new chapter for the resort," Cheng said.
To improve operations, he said they will replace the current bedding with linens and mattresses of higher quality by the end of this year, and install a smart-lock property entry system.
He said the new entry system will allow for automatic check-in and check-out with an app. They are currently negotiating with a smart-lock company in the U.S. and he said he expects the hardware and software updates at the resort will be complete sometime next year.
Cheng also said the app will provide navigation support so that guests have an easier time finding the resort.
"It will guide them to the right place and they can use the app to open the door and do the check-in by themselves," he said.
Other Cozystay standards, he said, include safety certification and insurance coverage, professionally furnished properties, a bonded and insured cleaning team and highly trained account managers.
Aside from the standards, he said they plan to collaborate with local businesses on events and guest experience packages, and improve food services at the resort.
The resort restaurant, which opened mid-May and will remain open until the end of September, only serves lunch and dinner, which Cheng said has been a challenge in the past because a lot of guests have requested breakfast.
"They only provide dinner and lunch, but we want to have our guests have a very good experience when they stay in our accommodations, so we want to try… co-operating with local restaurants," he said. "We are going to try to contact Tim Hortons. If they can provide some delivery it will make the guests feel comfortable."
Cheng said they will have a grand opening sometime in the summer. In the meantime, he said guests are being told the resort is under new management and they have implemented a new pet-friendly policy at the properties.
karissa.gall@blackpress.ca
Safeway to rebrand several stores as FreshCo
B.C. forest companies get first test for new logging licence rules | 12:00 p.m.
The Lake Okanagan Resort in Kelowna is once again under new management.
Since May 15, the 300-acre property has been under the administration of Cozystay, | 47 |
Yami Gaut<|fim_middle|> all time. | am Looks Ethereal On the Global Spa Cover
Back to Filmy Buzz
Yami Gautam turns the muse for the freshly launched Global Spa magazine. The magazine which was earlier called Asia Spa has gone through a revamp and will be now an international magazine which targeted towards the Indian and Middle Eastern markets.
Yami Gautam took to her social media and dropped the cover page. She captioned it, "Once upon a shoot...Shot by @rohanshrestha, Styled by @alliaalrufai & @shraddhalakhani, Hair and make-up @florianhurel"
Yami was selected as the launch cover star suiting the magazine's sensibilities to have someone who appeals to these markets and with the recent success of Uri being a massive blockbuster; she was a prominent name for the special launch issue.
Shot in the beautiful locations and prominent sites of Doha, Qatar, Yami looks every bit stunning and delicately beautiful in the sunny backdrop of this small middle- eastern nation.
Veteran actress Rekha was present to launch Yami's cover for the Global Spa Magazine where Yami was also given the Wellness Personality Award from the hands of legend, Rekha herself.
Yami Guatam is known for her fitness and style quotient. Talking about her style and wellness mantra, she added, "My wellness mantra; eat healthy, stay happy, have nice people around you who makes you happy and bring out the best version in you"
After making her debut in Shoojit Sircar directorial, Gautam then starred as a strong wife in the action thriller Action Jackson (2014), a young woman in the crime thriller Badlapur (2015), a high-school girl in the romance Sanam Re (2016), a blind woman in the romantic thriller Kaabil (2017) and a lawyer in the social-problem film Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018).
Her highest-grossing release came with the action thriller Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), which finds place among the highest-grossing Indian films of | 439 |
DNI Clapper: Presidential Transition a 'Vulnerable Time' in Face of 'Most Complex' Global Threats
By Bridget Johnson Sep <|fim_middle|> on Capitol Hill on Feb. 9, 2016, before a Senate Armed Services hearing on worldwide threats. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON — The director of national intelligence cautioned at a gathering of intel and national security professionals that the transition to the next presidential administration will be "a very vulnerable time for the country" as "we're facing the most complex and diverse array of global threats that I've seen in my 53 years or so in the intelligence business."
DNI James Clapper noted to the Intelligence & National Security Summit on Wednesday that "about the only thing we'll be rolling out the door in the next four months is me."
The next president, he said, will be greeted by "a world of unpredictable instability, in which two-thirds of the nations around the world are at some risk of instability in the next few years."
Case in point: Africa. Between 2010 and 2015, the DNI noted, 52 presidential elections were held on the continent of 1.1 billion people and there were more than 1,130 armed conflict events resulting in "conservatively" over 50,000 fatalities.
Clapper added that climate change will be an "underlying meta-driver of unpredictable instability" in the coming decades.
"Major population centers will compete for ever-diminishing food and water resources and governments will have an increasingly difficult time controlling their territories," he said. "And so because of all of these factors, after ISIL's gone, we can expect some other terrorist entity to arise and a cycle of extremism which will continue to control us for the foreseeable future. And by the way, our more traditional adversaries like Russia and China and Iran and North Korea will continue to challenge us."
The director noted that evolving technology could be friend or foe, as "self-driving cars and 3-D printing have the potential to revolutionize our lives for the better or they could present vulnerabilities that are very hard to predict."
"I know a lot of people of been feeling uncertainty about what will happen with this presidential transition. Been a lot of catastrophizing, if I can use that term, in the 24-hour news cycle, and of course, on social media. So I'm here with a message. It'll be OK," Clapper said.
The first meeting at the White House, led by the White House Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough, between the administration and the two campaigns' transition teams occurred about two weeks ago, and Clapper said he was "struck by how sober and professional and courteous and civil the conversation was."
The director said the current intelligence community "represents a pillar of stability during such a transition."
"…That's why we're already briefing the candidates to help reduce uncertainty for our next president, whoever it is, so that he or she will step into the Oval Office with as good an understanding of our complex and uncertain world as we can help provide."
Clapper stressed that the presidential daily briefing is not being shared with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
"A completely separate team produces and coordinates the cross-agency effort to brief the candidates. And in fact, in our effort to try to make sure that there's no political influence on the briefings, the candidate briefing team does not coordinate with the White House and only career intelligence officers give the briefings, not political appointees like me," he said.
"Similar to prior elections, we set ground rules months before the briefings started, which the White House concurred with, on June 22. And the IC has essentially been operating independently since then. We have a list of topics that we offer to each candidate. They can ask for briefings on any or all of them. They can also ask for briefings on new topics. If we give briefs on new topics, we'll make sure both candidates have a chance to get those same briefs. Otherwise we don't tell either campaign or the public what happens in those briefings: not what topics each candidate shows interest in or gets briefed on, not how either candidate reacts and not what questions get asked."
Clapper told of briefly meeting President Kennedy as a young Air Force ROTC cadet, about a year before beginning his intelligence career.
"There's simply no way you could have told me in 1962 that I'd spend six-plus years briefing our nation's first African-American president," he added. "That's something my parents would have been astounded by, my father certainly, and my mother would have been very proud of."
"…We're better, or like to think we are more integrated than we were six years ago when Vice President Biden swore me in as the DNI; although I'm going to leave it for somebody else to grade my term paper."
Tags: 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN DONALD TRUMP HILLARY CLINTON INTELLIGENCE TERRORISM WHITE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY | 08, 2016 3:19 PM ET
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper prepares to testify | 26 |
A must see; the details & quality will<|fim_middle|> planing. 2000 sqft large crawl space for storage and much more. Big flat back yard & deck for family barbecues. This home was custom built with all the bells and whistles. You see the 3 car garage which is heated and have electric openers for all 3. Once inside you will love the beautiful house! There is a solid oak stairway railing, gold plated chandelier (beautiful), Leutron light switches, Carrier heat pump, low 'E' windows, 16″ centres on all walls, 11/16″ T and G plywood sub floors, commercial type heat and cool ducting, built in vac, silent floor joists, 60 gal hot water tank, coved ceiling in dining room. | impress. The features include heat pump, triple garage, oak doors, Brazilian tile, 6 ft oval air jet tub, 42 oz carpets. Easy use kitchen, lots of cabinets, extra large shower to the fenced backyard and sprinkler system. Built with the highest quality materials, meticulous | 59 |
Marina Endicott
Unlike Dolly—a character in her critically acclaimed novel, Good to a Fault—Marina End<|fim_middle|> friends during one autumn week after the 50-something protagonist suffers a fall and subsequent mental rearrangement. Warm and witty, Close to Hugh is a sharply observed comedy about youth and age, art and life, and love and death.
Married and the mother of two, Marina lives in Edmonton.
Appearing in 43. Saturday Night SpeakEasy, and 53. Reading Women: Biscotti and Books
Website: marinaendicott.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marina.endicott
Twitter: @marinaendicott | icott has never stolen a book. But, she admits, "I certainly would have, if it had occurred to me." Growing up, she spent much of her time in the family library. "Whatever was in the shelf was my meat."
Reading inevitably led to writing. Though she trained and worked as an actor, director, and dramaturge in Canada and England, Marina never stopped scribbling stories and poems in between her other duties. Finally, she submitted one of those stories to a literary journal. Since then, she's never looked back.
Her début, Open Arms, was shortlisted for the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award. Her second, Good to a Fault, won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book, Canada and the Caribbean and was shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. The Little Shadows was a Globe and Mail Best Book of 2011 and was shortlisted for a Governor General's Award.
These honours are well deserved. Wry, yet compassionate; profound, yet playful; deeply thought and deeply felt—Marina's writing appeals to critics and ordinary readers alike.
Her newest release promises the same rich satisfactions. An exuberant, poignant study of two generations on the cusp of change, Close to Hugh tells the story of what happens to a close-knit group of | 276 |
Minimalism does not take kindly to people's "stuff." Though two empty nesters loved the clean lines of the space they'd found high in a Lake View tower designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, they loved their stuff more.
The couple had just sold their house in leafy Oak Park and were looking forward to a new life in the city. Their new place was actually a merged unit, the result of combining two adjacent 1,400-square-foot apartments, so a gut<|fim_middle|> Lamaster-Millett made walls out of the stacks of art and philosophy books dear to her clients. Many of the rooms are delineated by tall sets of shelves with clear EcoResin backs that allow light to reach the apartment's interior. "It looks like wallpaper, but it's not," the husband says. | rehab was in order.
Lamaster-Millett's first move was a shocker for any strict Miesian. Taking the visual point where the apartment's lake vista hands off to city skyline, she slashed a stylistic diagonal right through the heart of Mies's right-angled box. The southern half of the apartment responds to the tangled greenery below in Lincoln Park, offsetting nature's effusiveness with hard materials such as a tile floor made from recycled stone in the living room and crisp rust-colored laminate cabinets in the kitchen.
To the northwest, where the apartment overlooks a flat gray cityscape, the architect chose warmer natural materials—cork tile, wood, and strand-woven bamboo walls—to take the chill off the metropolitan tundra.
Last came the "stuff" issue. | 162 |
Tag Archives: Enigma
David Lynch: The Art Life
Posted on May 29, 2017 by carlosdev
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
(2016) Documentary (Janus) David Lynch. Directed by Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes and Olivia Neergaard-Holm
David Lynch is one of the most celebrated, iconoclastic and cerebral directors in cinematic history. From his breakout in 1977 with Eraserhead, his filmography has an impressive list of films including Elephant Man, Dune, Mulholland Drive, Wild at Heart, Blue Velvet, The Straight Story and of course the legendary TV series Twin Peaks which he has just resumed with a sequel on Showtime. While he hasn't made a narrative feature film since 2006 (Inland Empire), he has remained busy with a plethora of short films (most of which can be found on his website) as well as writing music and painting.
This documentary is mainly directed by longtime admirer Nguyen and the hero worship is evident. Nguyen emulates the style and the pacing of a Lynch film which I suppose is appropriate; therefore rather than getting a straight documentary film that tells Lynch's story as a filmmaker, we get the director himself narrating the story of his childhood, adolescent and young adult years essentially leading up to Eraserhead. We see that his first love is painting (which he continues to do to this day) and that he lived a fairly normal, suburban life in the 50s and early 60s as his research scientist father moved them regularly to states in the Pacific Northwest and Big Sky country.
Lynch speaks very warmly about his mom who once she discovered his talent at drawing refused to buy him coloring books although she bought them for his siblings. This had the effect of forcing Lynch to use his imagination and coming up with his own pictures rather than filling in the blanks for someone else's.
So where does the darkness that fills almost all of Lynch's art, both cinematic and painting, come from? Lynch, notoriously reticent, is cagey about that. He discusses an incident in which he and his siblings were playing outside after dark when a naked woman, bleeding from the mouth, staggered onto the cul-de-sac on which he lived and sat down on the curb and wept. Lynch talks about not knowing what to do, and apparently the incident stayed with him; it sounds very much like a moment out of his own films.
Lynch had a love of painting and when he discovered that the father of one of his school chums was artist Bushnell Keeler, he knew he had a calling. Keeler encouraged him, allowed him to rent space in his workshop and when David's father threatened to throw him out after the two argued about a curfew, Keeler came to the rescue and assured the elder Lynch that his son was working hard on a passion, something he wished his own son would do. Keeler also helped get Lynch into the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where Lynch began to thrive.
If you're looking for a movie that is going to explain the influences on Lynch's cinematic career, or explore his methodology and inspirations, you've not going to find it here. The film ends essentially with Eraserhead and none of his other cinematic works gets so much as a mention here. In true Lynch style, we get next to nothing of what we want to know and instead have to make do with what he's willing to tell us. That may drive less enthusiastic fans bonkers but his diehard followers will nod sanguinely and enjoy the ride.
This is the rare documentary that isn't a parade of talking heads. There's only one here – Lynch himself – and we see him throughout, wreathed in a fog of cigarette smoke (Lynch is more or less a chain smoker and has been since youth), an everpresent glass of Coke at his side. Mostly he paints on-camera although from time to time he plays with his toddler daughter Lula (to whom the film is dedicated) or stares off contemplatively into the distance. This is a bit of a double-edged sword. The film isn't cluttered but at the same time we get no other viewpoints. We see images of his brothers, his sister, his friends (like the inimitable Jack Fisk) but we don't hear from them. Everything in this movie is through Lynch's eyes, or the eyes of the filmmakers.
Consequently we're left to gaze at Lynch painting, smoking and reminiscing. He can be a charming raconteur but there are times he starts an anecdote, pauses, then says "I can't talk about that right now" and moves on. Like the painting he is working on, it is left intriguingly but infuriatingly unfinished for the audience. Sadly at least for my part, I found this somewhat boring after awhile. It was the cinematic equivalent of reading a Wikipedia entry and served to make one of the most interesting filmmakers extant actually boring. That's unforgivable as far as I'm concerned.
REASONS TO GO: The filmmakers do an admirable job of making this look and pace very much like Lynch's own work.
REASONS TO STAY: This is very much for Lynch fans. We get no other point of view other than Lynch's own.
FAMILY VALUES: There is a little bit of profanity, some art nudity and a whole lot of smoking.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: The film was funded through a Kickstarter campaign; those who gave money at a certain level were awarded Producer credits.
BEYOND THE THEATERS: Amazon, iTunes
CRITICAL MASS: As of 5/29/17: Rotten Tomatoes: 89% positive reviews. Metacritic: 75/100.
COMPARISON SHOPPING: Richard Linklater: Dream is Destiny
FINAL RATING:4.5/10
NEXT: Fate of the Furious
Posted in New Releases | Tagged art school, cinema, Cinema365, curfew, David Lynch, David Lynch: The Art Life, Documentary, Enigma, Eraserhead, Films, grant, imagination, Janus Films, movies, Pacific Northwest, painting, Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts, reviews, suburbs, toddler, two block radius | Leave a reply
Posted on January 14, 2015 by carlosdev
Beauty and the Beastly
(2014) Biographical Drama (Weinstein) Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Rory Kinnear, Allen Leech, Matthew Beard, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, James Northcote, Tom Goodman-Hill, Steven Waddington, Ilan Goodman, Jack Tarlton, Alex Lawther, Jack Bannon, Tuppence Middleton, Victoria Wicks. Directed by Morten Tyldum
During World War II, one of the crucial technological breakthroughs made by Nazi Germany was the development of Enigma, a virtually unbreakable code using an ingenious machine whose code key changed daily. The Germans did virtually all their communicating with it and were able for that day to relay orders from command to the fronts quickly and efficiently. The Allies found that breaking that code would be the key to winning the war – and the code was considered unbreakable.
British Intelligence, in the person of Commander Denniston (Dance) and the mysterious Stuart Menzies (Strong) of the nascent MI-6 are looking for the best and the brightest cryptographers to break the code. Currently their team based in Bletchley Park is led by Hugh Alexander (Goode) has had no success and at midnight each day all their work comes to naught as the Germans change the code key.
Into this mix they bring Alan Turing (Cumberbatch) , a brilliant mathematician and cryptographer. He is also arrogant and a social misfit, unable to communicate with even the barest cordiality with his team. He dreams up a machine that can calculate combinations of letters and numbers faster than even the human brain, one that can go through an infinite number of calculations without stopping in the course of a day. Unfortunately, it proves expensive and cumbersome and is yielding no results. Denniston is eager to shut the project down but Alexander surprisingly stands up for Turing with whom he has butted heads endlessly.
Turing needs more help and he gets it in a comely young woman named Joan Clarke (Knightley). Brilliant in her own right and intellectually Turing's equal in many ways, she is held back because she's got breasts and apparently those cumbersome things prevent her from thinking clearly and concisely because….well, I don't get it but it has to do with hormones and…I don't know, because men have been idiots for a very long time?
In any case the team has to weather the frustration of knowing that every day they don't solve the code that thousands of Allied soldiers die. Denniston is completely out of patience and has given the team a hard deadline to get results. Menzies also lets Turing know that someone on his team is funneling information to the Soviets. Finally there's the awful realization that even if they do solve the code, they have to make sure the Germans don't guess that they've broken it – otherwise they'll just improve their machine and then the Allies will be back to square one, which means they'll have to decide which information to act on – which also means letting people die when they might possibly have saved them, which leads to tragic consequences for one member of the team.
Beyond that Alan has a secret of his own – he likes boys and not just in a fraternal way. Homosexuality is illegal in Britain and if word got out that Turing is one it will be all the ammunition Denniston needs to get rid of Turing. Actually, there is one thing Turing likes more than boys – that's Christopher, the creation he has built to crack the code and Christopher is, in a very large part, the forerunner of modern computers.
The real Turing would be credited by no less than Winston Churchill for winning the war, but nobody knew the extent of his involvement until just 20 years ago when some wartime secrets were declassified. In fact that Enigma had been broken at all was a very closely guarded secret that Turing himself didn't even take credit for and when asked, he would say he worked in a radio factory during the war. But far from being grateful for his service in saving millions of British lives, he was convicted of being a homosexual and disgraced, forced to take chemical castration treatments. A year after his treatments were completed, he died of cyanide poisoning, ruled a suicide although there are those who think that the poisoning may have been accidental.
This is the first English-language film for Norwegian director Tyldum (Headhunters) and it's already netted him praise and award nominations including the DGA award. He shows a very good eye, juxtaposing scenes in the bucolic Bletchley Park campus with the spartan lab facilities filled with all sorts of electrical gear.
Tyldum is fortunate in his casting as well, with Cumberbatch turning in a performance that has already garnered major award recognition and is likely to be bringing in an Oscar nomination later this week. It is certainly one of the most outstanding performances of the year. Turing portrayed here is awkward and unlikable, honest and blunt to the point of rudeness. He is supreme in his knowledge that he is right and doesn't like to waste time arguing the point. He knows he has a momentous task ahead of him and while outwardly at times he may seem to look at it as a game, a kind of brain teaser, there are moments when he lets slip that he is fully aware it is anything but. He is tormented and dreadfully unhappy, brilliant but alone in his brilliance. He also has a tender heart which breaks easily. The only person he can truly confide in is Joan and even in her case he can't tell her everything.
Cumberbatch isn't alone. Knightley turns in another sterling performance as the brilliant but repressed Joan, whose parents discourage even the hint of impropriety but she yearns to do something that makes a difference and has the intellect to do it, but is unable to exercise it because of attitudes towards women at the time. Only Turing gives her the opportunity to flower and she is extremely grateful – to the point when he asks her to marry him she says yes even though he only does it to keep her at Bletchley. Joan in Knightley's capable hands is a thoroughly modern woman in a very snazzy wartime suit.
In fact the film manages to capture the period nicely, although this is<|fim_middle|> amount of violence and some scenes of extreme tension and fear.
TRIVIAL PURSUITS: The Enigma machine depicted here wasn't a prop; it was an actual Enigma that was loaned to the production by a collector.
NOTABLE HOME VIDEO FEATURES: There are some newsreel and archived material which are used to explain what inspired the making of the film. The Blu-Ray version makes this available in the U-Control Picture-in-Picture function.
BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE: $127.7M on a $62M production budget.
NEXT: Thor: The Dark World
Posted in DVD Review | Tagged 1940s, Bill Paxton, cinema, code breaker, David Keith, depth charges, Destroyer, DVD Reviews, Enigma, Erik Palladino, Films, Germans, Harvey Keitel, Jack Noseworthy, Jake Weber, Jon Bon Jovi, Matthew McConaughey, movies, prisoners of war, Robin Askwith, sacrifice, stealth, submarine battle, submarines, Thomas Kretschmann, torpedo, U-571, Universal Pictures, war thriller, World War II | Leave a reply
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Movies, Cinema, Films | definitely a movie with modern sensibilities. Tyldum parallels the attitude towards women hampering Joan's career with the attitude towards homosexuality being a constant fear for Turing although one gets the sense that he felt that due to the indispensable nature of his war contributions that the government would turn a blind eye and maybe they did but that attitude certainly caught up to him.
What happened to Alan Turing was disgraceful and a waste of human potential. However, the movie made about his work does honor him and that's very important to remember – not all film biographies are this respectful. Many who knew Turing have commented that the movie was fair in its depiction of Turing who was at turns arrogant, brilliant and sweet. One of the great performances of the year is reason enough to go see this, but there are many others as well.
REASONS TO GO: Cumberbatch gives an award-worthy performance, and receives ample support from the rest of the cast. Does honor the memory of Turing well.
REASONS TO STAY: Could have cut down on the repetitious scenes of the cryptographers failing to solve Enigma.
FAMILY VALUES: Depictions of drug use and one scene of disturbing violence are what got this an "R" rating.
TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Cumberbatch, who is distantly related to Turing, wore dentures based on Turing's actual dental imprints as did Lawther who played Turing as a young boy.
COMPARISON SHOPPING: The Theory of Everything
FINAL RATING: 9/10
NEXT: The Gambler
Posted in New Releases | Tagged Alan Turing, beard, Benedict Cumberbatch, biographical drama, Bletchley Park, British Army, Charles Dance, chemical castration, cinema, code breaker, codes, computer, cyphers, Enigma, Films, homosexuality, Keira Knightley, logic circuits, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode, MI-6, movies, reviews, Rory Kinnear, scandal, schoolboy crush, socially awkward, Soviet spy, The Imitation Game, Tuppence Middleton, Weinstein, World War II | Leave a reply
Posted on November 22, 2013 by carlosdev
The crew of a WW2 sub has 99 problems and you're not one of them.
(2000) War Thriller (Universal) Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Jake Weber, David Keith, Thomas Kretschmann, Jack Noseworthy, Tom Guiry, Will Estes, Terrence "T.C." Carson, Erik Palladino, Dave Power, Derk Cheetwood, Matthew Settle, Rebecca Tilney, Burnell Tucker, Robin Askwith, Carsten Voigt. Directed by Jonathan Mostow
After the success of Saving Private Ryan, movies about the Second World War began to creep into the studio release schedules in the first years of the new millennium, with this film and Pearl Harbor (among others) both hoping to recapture the magic of the Steven Spielberg classic.
This time, the focus is on the submarine service of the U.S. Navy. Lt. Tyler (McConaughey) is the very competent exec of the S-33, one of the Navy's older rustbuckets. He is chafing for his own command, but hasn't been able to get the recommendation of his commanding officer (Bill Paxton), so he continues to be second in command as the battle in the Atlantic shipping lanes continues to go badly for the Allies. German U-Boats continue to sink allied ships at a terrifying rate and the navy is virtually powerless to break their codes.
However, that's about to change. During a battle at sea, a U-boat is left crippled and sends a radio signal to Berlin. Allied intelligence manages to figure out what happened (don't ask how, since they supposedly don't know German codes) and have sent a taciturn intelligence officer, Lt. Hirsch (Weber) and a gung-ho Marine (Keith) to lead a mission to rendezvous with the crippled German sub posing as its supply vessel and steal the Enigma decoder and codebook. Along with them they bring Tyler, his respected by the men chief (Keitel) and a group of seamen to help take over the sub.
After a bloody battle, they manage to secure the German U-boat and get the decoder, when the REAL supply boat arrives and sinks the American submarine. The survivors are left aboard a vessel that's unfamiliar and in which everything is written in a language they can't read. To make matters worse, the U-boat is still crippled (although they manage to make some jury-rigged repairs) and is engaged in a cat-and-mouse game with a German destroyer.
Mostow manages to capture the claustrophobic feel of submarine service of the time, and the amazing stress that comes with avoiding depth charges, enemy torpedoes and the pressure of the deep. The sacrifice and bravery of the men and the coming of age of Tyler are the center of the storyline. Along the way, you get a pretty good idea of what terror a depth-charge barrage can be.
In the early years of his career McConaughey was a bit wooden more often than not but here he plays the heroic role with a certain amount of stoicism. Keitel plays the cliché gruff ole seadog pretty well, considering it's not the kind of role he's known for. But then nobody really expects the acting to be this film's strong point. It's the stomach-knotting tension that makes or breaks U-571 and there are times when this movie makes you want to leap out of your skin. However, they are unable to maintain the atmosphere consistently.
The reality of submarine service during the war, as nasty as this movie depicts it, was way more intense. If you are looking for a more realistic portrayal, try Wolfgang Petersen's Das Boot, which is THE best submarine movie ever done. If that doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat, nothing will.
WHY RENT THIS: Realistic sub battles. A good sense of tension. Keitel makes a terrific seadog.
WHY RENT SOMETHING ELSE: Inconsistent. McConaughey was a bit too laid back.
FAMILY MATTERS: A pretty goodly | 1,316 |
Touching the horizon
Great Adventures of Jenny and Goose
When Goose discovered the horizon, she climbed until she could try to find an end to it in the Bisti Badlands in New Mexico.
Jenny Johnston/Special to the Herald
I love the desert in springtime. Indian paintbrush blushes alongside the trails and desert birds flit about overhead, diligently building nests, whistling while they work. Somehow the aridity and dust has an incomparable way of washing my soul clean, and the wild quietness of the landscape allows solitary thoughts to linger long enough in my mind to find meaning in their appearance.
Spring has sprung and the desert has been beckoning us for an adventure.
After a quick breakfast of champions, we stopped to pick up our friend, geological wizard and prospector extraordinare Bob Ross, and we were off. Goose knew we were heading for the desert but the spot was a surprise. That morning, over doughnuts and vanilla milk, I'd promised her a trip to a sandstone fairytale land, where mysterious rock formations could be anything she imagined them to be. To a place where dinosaurs had once roamed the earth and the weight of ancient water had compressed the seabed into a sandstone<|fim_middle|>, I want her to be the seed that takes a trip from the ground in the breeze and crosses the horizon.
"If the dandelion seed never left the ground and journeyed past where the earth and air met, it would miss out on the adventure to grow somewhere new," I told her.
"And it would miss the opportunity for someone to find it and blow it to make wishes mama," Goose said to complete my thought.
Walking back to the car, the horizon surrounded us in every direction as far as the eye could see and, with her little hand in mine, I couldn't help but smile and feel the breeze on my face.
We are indeed surrounded by opportunity, and it is beautiful that we get to reach for it together.
Jenny can be reached at jennyandgooseoutdoors@outlook.com
Recent Great Adventures of Jenny and Goose
Water from a stone
Slaying dragons in the wild blue yonder | path, laden with fossilized reminders of a time long gone 70 million years ago.
"We are going to explore the Bisti Badlands," I told her.
"Sounds like a trip to timeout land. I'm not going anywhere bad," she announced, adjusting her faux halo in the rearview mirror.
I assured her that we'd find something good in the badlands and, after much convincing, we wiped the powdered sugar evidence off our fingers and were off.
Just beyond the trailhead, we were greeted by a geological wonderland. Within minutes, Goose had already found a dinosaur bone, photographed and confirmed authentic by Bob himself, and amassed enough petrified wood to nearly reassemble an entire tree.
"This place isn't so bad after all," she said, dropping to the desert floor to make an impromptu sand angel. I knelt down in the cool sand next to her angelic outline and we watched as clouds drifted across the horizon.
"How far away is that mama, the place where the sky touches the earth," Goose asked.
I thought for a moment on how to explain the horizon to a precocious 4-year-old, and then it hit me in one of those moments that the quiet of the desert allows to linger long enough to find meaning in.
"The horizon is right in front of you," I told her. "The sky is touching the earth right in front of us, just the same as it is far away."
I wanted her to understand the horizon is where the edge of the earth meets the edge of the sky, and when you reach the edge of something you have found yourself facing opportunity. Goose climbed the highest point she could find, and I watched from below as she scooped up some soil and let it fall back to the earth from the hill above.
I wanted her to question, does the sky have the opportunity to experience the earth and the earth the opportunity to experience the sky?
"When the wind blows the sand from the surface, they find a way to experience each other," I told her from below.
You can't take an opportunity if you aren't willing to take some risk and initiative. You have to be willing to find the edge and then reach over to the other side. The horizon is Mother Nature's way of reminding us that, to attain things, we have to keep moving forward. The edge is not its endpoint. It's simply where opportunity begins.
While in reality you could walk and never physically reach the horizon, we all have a personal horizon in front of us where our sky touches our earth, where our dreams touch our reality. If we can find the strength to take a chance and move from the edge of one to the other, then that is where we find personal opportunity.
I want to set an example for Goose to be the sand on the surface that gets to experience the sky | 576 |
Akwa Ibom indigenes in South Africa urge Sen. Akpabio to transform Niger Delta ON OCTOBER .
Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delter affairs
Mr Kingsley Ibokette, President, Akwa Ibom Indigenes Association in South Africa, has urged Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta to transform the area. Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta<|fim_middle|> in Uyo, nicknamed `Nest of Champions'. That stadium attracts international matches which made the state to become popular. "We expect the minister to implement policies and programmes that will also make our country and Niger Delta region become popular and attractive,'' he said. Ibokette called on stakeholders and the people of the area to support the minister to achieve set goals aimed at improving their living standards.
Previous PostPrevious Breaking: Appeal court sends Melaye packing, order fresh election ON OCTOBER 11.
Next PostNext Psychiatrists call for mental health education to curb suicide. | Affairs Ibokette told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday from Pretoria, South Africa, that Akpabio had the experience to accomplish the task. "As governor of Akwa Ibom, Akpabio used the `Uncommon Transformation Agenda' to build massive infrastructure in the state. "We urge him to use the same agenda to tackle the numerous challenges facing the Niger Delta Area,'' he told NAN on the telephone. According to Ibokette, the Niger Delta region produces the wealth of the country and deserves to get the best for its people. "Akwa Ibom State Association in South Africa commends President Buhari for Akpabio's appointment. We are optimistic that the minister will deliver,'' he said. Also read: We're committed to achieving 24hrs electricity for every household by 2021 — Gov Emmanuel The president urged the minister to ensure that critical infrastructure that will impact on the lives of the people were developed. "We equally plead with the minister to implement programmes that will tackle poverty, improve education, touch the lives of the elderly and retirees and create employment for the youth in the region. "As the governor of Akwa Ibom, he built the Godswill Akpabio Stadium | 258 |
Suggested Readings on Academic Integrity
The Cheating Culture: Why More<|fim_middle|> writer or information from a research resource into the text of your paper.
Citing Creative Commons Materials
Find models and suggestions for citing Creative Commons images, video clips, music, or other materials.
Find books, articles and websites which deal with academic integrity issues.
Learn how to create an annotated bibliography for a class assignment or for your own use as a researcher and writer.
Learn more about Zotero – a citation management tool to help you keep track of and organize various references for papers and projects.
See Trinity University's definitions of plagiarism and consider how to avoid these situations.
Detecting Plagiarized Material
Information and links for faculty members and others to use in detecting plagiarized materials. | Americans are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead, David Callahan
Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty, James M. Lange
The Complete Guide to Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism, Colin Neville
Doing Honest Work in College: How to Prepare Citations, Avoid Plagiarism, and Achieve Real Academic Success, Charles Lipson
Foundations for Learning: Claiming Your Education, Laurie L. Hazard & Jean-Paul Nadeau
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth
The Little Book of Plagiarism, Richard A. Posner
Articles and Websites
Claiming Your Education: Becoming Part of a Scholarly Community
Pearson Higher Ed.
The New Cheating Economy
Wolverton, B. (2016, September 2). The New Cheating Economy. Chronicle of Higher Education, A40–A45.
Rethinking Plagiarism in the Digital Age
Evering, L. C., & Moorman, G. (2012). Rethinking Plagiarism in the Digital Age. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 56(1), 35–44.
The Writer's Handbook
The University of Wisconsin-Madison published this document to be used as a student handout for preventing plagiarism in academic writing.
Annotated Bibliography Guide
MLA Style, 8th ed.
APA Style, 7th ed.
Chicago (Notes-Bibliography Style), 17th ed.
Chicago (Author-Date Style), 17th ed.
See also the online version of the Chicago Manual of Style
Turabian (Notes-Bibliography Style), 9th ed.
Turabian (Author-Date Style), 9th ed.
ASA Style, 6th ed.
Citing Sources in the Text of a Paper
Including a list of Works Cited at the end of an essay is not enough. Learn how to cite the use of a source in the text of your paper.
Using Information from Sources in the Text of a Paper
Review five different methods for including the words of another | 449 |
SAVE THE DAY SE<|fim_middle|> have even picky eaters asking for more!
Creamy Mexican Dip- Add 2 Tbsp of Mexican blend to 1 cup of cream cheese and blend together. Tastes great with Frito's.
Family Favorite Dip- Add 2 Tbsp of Alvi's to 1/2 cup of mayo and 1/2 cup of sour cream and mix well. Tastes great with Kettle chips.
Dill Dip- Add 2 Tbsp of The Real Dill to 1 cup of sour cream and mix together. Tastes great with veggies.
Thank you Save The Day! | ASONINGS- LITERALLY SAVED THE DAY!
Our family recently moved into a new home, as in literally only a few weeks ago. We worked hard to get things settled in as quickly as we could. Unfortunately, our relocation happened just as school started and during my boys birthday weeks. I really wanted to throw them a party; however, needed it to be stress free! We decided to put together a last minute party. That is where Save The Day Seasonings, saved the day! I was sent a few sample seasonings which are great for making dips and marinating meats. There wasn't a drop of dip left, so I'd say they were a hit.
Save The Day Seasonings are easy to use with any food and any skill! We are always busy and on the go. I don't always have time for a complicated meal. I love that I can choose a meat, sprinkle on the seasoning and throw it on the grill and it will come out an amazing meal.
I love that they are healthy option for seasoning food. They are all-natural, no MSG, Gluten-Free and have No additives, fillers, dyes or preservatives.
The seasonings are restaurant quality blends that | 245 |
Last January 10th, ALP held their monthly meeting at Exploreum at SM Mall of Asia. Members who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty, VP Jett Aguilar, Secretary Christopher Louie Lu, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan with directors Iah Serna , Shubhashish Banerjee and Mike Enage; Fung Yu and Ruel Berm<|fim_middle|> Treasurer and NAW chairman Andrew Ian Chan discussed on the finalization of ALP's National Astronomy Week which will be held on February 14-20, 2016. Full details will be announce next week. Lastly, ALP President James Kevin Ty then tackle on the preparation for the upcoming March 9th Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia. Meeting ended at around 5:30pm and this was followed by their tradiitonal AstroKapihan and Cutting Edge SM MOA visitation.
ALPers listen to the various lecture and discussion topics during the meeting.
ALP director Shubhashish Banerjee tackles on the 2nd installment series of his Astronomy 101 basic astronomy lecture.
ALPers had a great dinner get together after the meeting.
ALPers also made a store visitation at Cutting Edge SM MOA to get an updates on their latest telescope models.
ALPers had their traditional AstroKapihan to end the night.
Copyright @ 2003 - 2016 Astronomical League of the Philippines, Inc. All rights reserved. | udez. Meeting started at around 3:30pm with ALP Secretary Christopher Louie Lu giving a run down on latest Celestial Highlights for the month of January, This was followed by the next basic astronomy series by ALP director Shubhashish Banerjee on entitled Astronomy 101. Shubhashish talked about practical astronomy and how to add Astronomy to your day to day life without spending a lot of money. There are ways to explore and appreciate the universe without spending big bucks. He also discussed about the objects visible around constellation Orion and emphasized upon planning the things to see before actual star gazing sessions. The session concluded with a quick feedback from audience for future sessions.
Afterwards, ALP | 147 |
Izučenie anglijskogo, putem čtenija (srednij uroven') -- užastikov.
It was almost six o'clock, so I thought I'd buy a beer and go out and sit by the swimming pool and have a little evening sun.
I went to the bar and got the beer and carried it outside and wandered down the garden. It was a fine garden and there were plenty of chairs around the pool. There were white tables and huge brightly coloured umbrellas and sunburned men and women sitting around in bathing suits. In the pool itself there were three or four girls and about a dozen boys, all splashing about and making a lot of noise and throwing a large rubber ball at one another.
I stood watching them. The girls were English girls from the hotel. I didn't know about the boys, but they sounded American, and I thought they were probably young sailors from the American ship, which had arrived in harbour that morning.
I went over and sat down under a yellow umbrella where there were four empty seats, and I poured my beer and settled back comfortably with a cigarette. It was pleasant to sit and watch the bathers splashing about in the green water.
The American sailors were getting on nicely with the English girls. They'd reached the point where they were diving under the water and pulling the girls up by their legs.
Just then I noticed a small old man walking quickly around the edge of the pool. He was beautifully dressed in a white suit and a cream-coloured hat, and as he walked he was looking at the people and the chairs.
He stopped beside me and smiled. I smiled back.
He inspected the back of the chair for safety, then he sat down and crossed his legs.
'A fine evening,' he said. 'They are all fine evenings here in Jamaica.' I couldn't tell if his accent was Italian or Spanish, but I felt sure he was some sort of a South American. He was old, too, when you looked at him closely. Probably around sixty-eight or seventy.
'And who are all these? These are not hotel people.' He was pointing at the bathers in the pool.
'I think they're American sailors,' I told him.
Suddenly one of the young sailors was standing in front of us. He was still wet from the pool and one of the English girls was standing there with him.
'Are these chairs free?' he said.
'Thanks,' he said. He had a towel in his hand, and when he sat down he unrolled it and produced a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. He offered the cigarettes to the girl but she refused; then he offered them to me and I took one. The old man said, 'Thank you, no, but I think I will have a cigar.' He took a cigar out of his pocket, then he produced a knife and cut the end off it.
'Here, let me give you a light.' The American boy held up his lighter.
The old man removed the cigar from his mouth, moved his head to one side and looked at the boy.
The man paused and examined his cigar, and I must say I didn't much like the way he was behaving. It seemed he was trying to embarrass the boy, and at the same time I had the feeling he was enjoying a private little secret.
'I'll bet I can,' the boy said.
'Sure, I'd like to have a Cadillac.' The boy was still smiling.
'My what?' The boy stopped smiling.
The boy sat quite still, staring at the bathers in the pool. Then he remembered that he hadn't lit his cigarette. He put it between his lips, opened the lighter and turned the wheel. It lit and burned with a small, steady, yellow flame, and the way he held his hands meant that the wind didn't get to it at all.
'Could I have a light, too?' I said.
He stood up and came over to light my cigarette. There was a silence then, and I could see that the old man had succeeded in disturbing the boy with his ridiculous suggestion. He was sitting there very still, obviously tense. Then he started moving about in his seat, and rubbing his chest and stroking the back of his neck. Finally he placed both hands on his knees and began tapping his fingers against them. Soon he was tapping with one of his feet too.
'Are you serious about cutting off this boys finger if he loses?' I said.
'Certainly I am. Also about giving him my Cadillac if he wins. Come now. We will go to my room. Would you like to put on some clothes first?' he said to the boy.
The old man led the way back through the garden to the hotel. He was excited now and that seemed to make him walk with more energy. 'Would you like to see the car first? It's just here.' He took us to a pale-green Cadillac.
'That's a nice car,' the boy said.
We all went up the stairs and into a large pleasant double bedroom. There was a woman's dress lying across the bottom of one of the beds.
The drinks were on a small table in the far corner, all ready to be poured, and there was ice and plenty of glasses. He began to pour the drinks, and then he rang the bell and a little later there was a knock at the door and a maid came in.
'Yes, sir, I'll try. I'll try to get them.' And she went.
The old man handed round the drinks. We stood there drinking: the boy; the English girl, who watched the boy over the top of her glass all the time; the little old man with the colourless eyes standing there in his elegant white suit, drinking and looking at the girl. I didn't know what to think about it all. The man seemed serious about the bet and he seemed serious about the business of cutting off the finger. But what would we do if the boy lost? Then we'd have to rush him to hospital in the Cadillac that he hadn't won. It would all be a stupid, unnecessary thing in my opinion.
Then the maid came in again. In one hand she carried a butcher's knife, and in the other a hammer and a bag of nails.
'Good! You got them all. Thank you, thank you. Now you can go.' He waited until she had gone, then he put the things on one of the beds and said, 'Now we will prepare ourselves, yes?' The old man moved the little hotel writing-desk away from the wall and removed the writing things. 'And now,' he said, 'a chair.' He picked up a chair and placed it beside the table. 'And now the nails. I must put in the nails.' He fetched the nails and began to hammer them into the top of the table.
We stood there, the boy, the girl and I, watching the man at work. We watched him hammer two nails into the table, about fifteen centimetres apart, allowing a small part of each one to stick up. Then he tested that they were firm with his fingers.
Anyone would think that he had done this before, I told myself. He never hesitated. Table, nails, hammer, knife. He knows exactly what he needs and how to arrange it.
'And now,' he said, 'all we want is some string.' He found some string. 'All right, at last we are ready. Will you please sit here at the table?' he said to the boy.
He tied the string around the boy's wrist, then several times around the wide part of the hand, then he tied it tightly to the nails. When he finished it was impossible for the boy to pull his hand away. But he could move his fingers.
He hurried over to the bed and picked up the knife. He came back and stood beside the table with the knife in his hand.
'Are you ready?' I asked the boy.
'And you?' to the old man.
'Quite ready,' he said and he lifted the knife up in the air and held it there about sixty centimetres above the boy's finger, ready to cut. The boy watched it, but he didn't react and his mouth didn't move at all. He only raised his eyebrows and frowned.
With his thumb he raised the top of his lighter, and again with his thumb he turned the wheel sharply. There appeared a small yellow flame.
He didn't blow the flame out; he closed the top of the lighter on it and waited for perhaps five seconds before opening it again. He turned the wheel very strongly and once more there was a small flame.
No one else said anything. The boy kept his eyes on the lighter. The man held the knife up in the air and he too was watching the lighter.
'Seven!' Obviously it was one of those lighters that worked. I watched the thumb closing the top down on to the flame. Then a pause. Then the thumb raising the top once more. The thumb did everything. I took a breath, ready to say eight. The thumb turned the wheel. The little flame appeared.
'Eight!' I said, and as I said it the door opened. We all turned and we saw a woman standing in the doorway, a small black-haired woman, rather old, who stood there for about two seconds then rushed forward, shouting, 'Carlos! Carlos!' She grabbed his wrist, took the knife from him, threw it on the bed, took hold of the man by his jacket and began shaking him with great strength, talking to him fast and loud and fiercely all the time in some Spanish-sounding language. She pulled the old man across the room and pushed him backwards on to one of the beds.
'We were only having a little bet,' whispered the old man.
'I suppose he bet you a car,' the woman said.
'He has no car. It's mine. And that makes it worse,' she said. 'He has bet you when he has nothing to bet with. I am ashamed and very sorry about it all.' She seemed a very nice woman.
'Well,' I said, 'then here's the key to your car.' I put it on the table.
'We were only having a little bet,' whispered the old man again.
'He hasn't anything left to bet with,' the woman said. 'He hasn't a thing in the world. Not a thing. In fact I myself won it all from him a long time ago. It was hard work, but I won it all in the end.' She looked up at the boy and she smiled, a slow, sad smile, and she came over and put out a hand to take the key from the table.
Down below there was only a vast white sea of clouds. Above there was the sun, and the sun was white like the clouds, because it is never yellow when one looks at it from high in the air.
He was still flying the Spitfire.* His right hand was on the controls. It was quite easy. The machine was flying well. He knew what he was doing.
He glanced down again at his right leg. There was not much of it left. The bullets had hit him, just above the knee, and now there was nothing but a great mess and a lot of blood. But there was no pain. When he looked down, he felt as if he were seeing something that did not belong to him. It was just a mess which was there; something strange and unusual and rather interesting. It was like finding a dead cat on the sofa.
He still felt fine, and because he still felt fine, he felt excited and unafraid.
I won't even bother to radio for the ambulance, he thought. It isn't necessary. And when I land I'll sit there quite normally and say, 'Some of you fellows come and help me out, will you, because I've lost one of my legs.' I'll laugh a little while I'm saying it; I'll say it calmly and slowly, and they'll think I'm joking. Then when I get out I'll make my report. Later I'll go up to London. I'll take that bottle of whisky with me and I'll give it to Bluey. We'll sit in her room and drink it. When it's time to go to bed, I'll say, 'Bluey, I've got a surprise for you. I lost a leg today. But I don't mind if you don't. It doesn't even hurt ...' We'll go everywhere in cars. I always hated walking.
Then he saw the sun shining on the engine cover of his plane. He saw the sun shining on the metal, and he remembered the aeroplane and remembered where he was. He realized that he was no longer feeling good; that he was sick and his head was spinning. His head kept falling forward on to his chest because his neck no longer seemed to have any strength. But he knew that he was flying the Spitfire. Between the fingers of his right hand he could feel the handle of the stick which guided it.
I'm going to faint, he thought. He looked at the controls. Seven thousand metres. To test himself he tried to read the hundreds as well as the thousands. Seven thousand and what? As he looked, he had difficulty reading the dial and he could not even see the needle. He knew then that he must get out; that there was not a second to lose, otherwise he would become unconscious. Quickly he tried to slide back the top, but he didn't have the strength. For a second he took his right hand off the stick and with both hands managed to push the top back. The cold air on his face seemed to help. He had a moment of great clearness. His actions became automatic. That is what happens with a good pilot. He took some deep breaths from his oxygen mask, and as he did so, he looked out over the side. Down below there was only a vast white sea of cloud and he realized that he did not know where he was.
It'll be the English Channel, he thought. I'm sure to fall in the water.
He slowed down, pulled off his mask, undid his safety equipment and pushed the stick hard over to the left. The plane turned smoothly over on to its back and the pilot fell out.
As he fell, he opened his eyes, because he knew that he must not become unconscious before he had opened his parachute. On one side he saw the sun; on the other he saw the whiteness of the clouds, and as he fell, as he turned in the air, the white clouds chased the sun and the sun chased the clouds. Suddenly there was no longer any sun but only a great whiteness. It was so white that sometimes it looked black, and after a while it was either white or black, but mostly it was white. He watched it as it turned from white to black, and then back to white again, and the white stayed for a long time but the black lasted only a few seconds. He seemed to go to sleep during the white periods and to wake up just in time to see the world when it was black.
It was white when he put out a hand and touched something. He took it between his fingers and felt it. For a time he lay there, letting the tips of his fingers play with the thing which they had touched. Then slowly he opened his eyes, looked down at his hand and saw that he was holding something which was white. It was the edge of a sheet. He closed his eyes and opened them again quickly. This time he saw the room. He saw the bed in which he was lying: he saw the grey walls and the door and the green curtains over the window. There were some roses on the table by his bed and beside the roses was a small medicine glass.
This is a hospital, he thought. I am in a hospital. But he could remember nothing. He lay back on his pillow, looking at the ceiling and wondering what had happened. He was staring at the smooth greyness of the ceiling which was so clean and grey, and then suddenly he saw a fly walking upon it. The sight of this fly touched the surface of his brain, and quickly, in that second, he remembered everything. He remembered the plane and he remembered the dial showing seven thousand metres. He remembered jumping out. He remembered his leg.
It seemed all right now. He looked down at the end of the bed, but he could not tell. He put one hand underneath the bedclothes and felt for his knees. He found one of them, but when he felt for the other his hand touched something which was soft and covered in bandages.
She was not good-looking, but she was large and clean. She was between thirty and forty and she had fair hair. He did not notice more than that.
'I've lost a leg,' he said.
'That's nothing. We'll get you another one. Now you must go to sleep. The doctor will be coming to see you in about an hour.' She picked up the medicine glass and went out.
But he did not sleep. He wanted to keep his eyes open because he was frightened that if he shut them again everything would go away. He lay looking at the ceiling. The fly was still there. He was still watching it when the nurse opened the door and stood to one side while the doctor came in. He was an Army doctor with some military ribbons from the last war on his chest. He had a cheerful face and kind eyes.
'You'll soon be walking again.' The doctor took his wrist to check his blood pressure. He said, 'Some of the lads from your base were ringing up and asking about you. They wanted to come and see you but I said they'd better wait a day or two. Just lie quiet and rest for a bit. Got something to read?' He glanced at the table with the roses. 'No. Well, the nurse will look after you. She'll get you anything you want.' Then he went out, followed by the nurse.
When they had gone, he lay back and looked at the ceiling again. The fly was still there and as he lay watching it he heard the noise of an aeroplane in the distance. He lay listening to the sound of its engines. It was a long way away. I wonder what it is, he thought. Let me see if I can recognize it. Suddenly he moved his head to one side. Anyone who has been bombed can tell the noise of a German Junkers 88. It is a noise one cannot mistake.
He lay listening to the noise and felt quite certain about what it was. But why was there no alarm and no guns? That German pilot was certainly taking a risk coming near Brighton alone in daylight.
The aeroplane was always far away and soon the noise faded into the distance. Later there was another. This one, too, was far away, but he was sure he recognized the sound. He remembered the noise clearly from air battles he had fought.
He was puzzled. There was a bell on the table by the bed. He reached out his hand and rang it. He heard the noise of footsteps down the corridor. The nurse came in.
The nurse came to the side of his bed and began to straighten the sheets.
She brushed back the hair from his forehead with her hand.
She went out and came back almost immediately with a packet of cigarettes and some matches. She gave him one, and when he had put it in his mouth she struck a match and lit it.
'If you want me again just ring the bell.' She went out.
Later, he heard the noise of another aircraft. It was far away, but nevertheless he knew that it was a single-engine machine. It was going fast; he could tell that. It wasn't a British aircraft. It didn't sound like an American engine either. They make more noise. He did not know what it was and this worried him greatly. Perhaps I am very ill, he thought. Perhaps I am imagining things. I simply do not know what to think.
He did not answer. She rubbed some more soap on him and began to wash his chest.
He said, 'None of the soap is very good now and, of course, with hard water it's hopeless.' As he said it he remembered something. He remembered the baths which he used to take at school in Brighton. He remembered how the water was so soft that you had to take a shower afterwards to get all the soap off your body. He remembered that sometimes the school doctor used to say that soft water was bad for your teeth.
He did not finish the sentence. He had thought of something; something so unbelievable that for a moment he felt like telling the nurse about it and having a good laugh.
She looked up. 'The water isn't what?' she said.
She wiped the soap off his leg and dried him with a towel.
That night he could not sleep. He lay awake thinking of the German aircraft and of the hardness of the water. He could think of nothing else. They were German, he said to himself. I know they were. But it is not possible, because they would not be flying around so low over here in daylight. I know that it is true, and at the same time I know that it is impossible. Perhaps I am ill.
Perhaps I am imagining all this. For a long time he lay awake thinking these things, and once he sat up in bed and said aloud, 'I will prove that I am not crazy,' but before he had time to think any more, he was asleep.
He woke just as the first light of day was showing through the gap in the curtains at the window. He remembered the Junkers 88 and the hardness of the water; he remembered the large pleasant nurse and the kind doctor, and now the doubt in his mind began to grow.
He looked around the room. The nurse had taken the roses out the night before. There was nothing except the table with a packet of cigarettes and a box of matches. The room was bare. It was no longer warm or friendly. It was not even comfortable. It was cold and empty and very quiet.
His doubt and fear grew so that he became restless and angry. It was the kind of fear one gets not because one is afraid but because one feels that there is something wrong. He knew that he must do something; that he must find some way of proving to himself that he was either right or wrong, and he looked up and saw again the window and the green curtains. From where he lay, that window was right in front of him, but it was ten metres away. Somehow he must reach it and look out. The idea took hold of him and soon he could think of nothing except the window. But what about his leg? He put his hand underneath the bedclothes and felt the bandages around what remained of his right leg. It seemed all right. It didn't hurt. But it would not be easy.
He sat up. Then he pushed the bedclothes away and put his left leg on the floor. Slowly, carefully, he swung his body over until he had both hands on the floor as well; then he was out of bed, kneeling on the carpet. He looked at what remained of his right leg, wrapped in bandages. It was beginning to hurt. He wanted to lie down on the carpet and do nothing, but he knew that he must go on.
With two arms and one leg, he crawled over towards the window. He would reach forward as far as he could with his arms, then he would jump and slide his left leg along after them. It was painful but he continued to crawl across the floor on two hands and one knee. When he got to the window he reached up, and one at a time he placed both hands on the sill. Slowly he raised himself up until he was standing on his left leg. Then quickly he opened the curtains and looked out.
He saw a small house standing alone beside a narrow lane, and behind it there was a field. In front of the house there was an untidy garden, and there was a green hedge separating the garden from the lane. He was looking at the hedge when he saw the sign. It was just a piece of board nailed to the top of a short pole, and because the hedge had not been cut for a long time the branches had grown out around the sign so that it seemed almost as if it had been placed in the middle of the hedge. There was something written on the board with white paint. He pressed his head against the glass of the window, trying to read what it said. The first letter was a G, he could see that. The second was an A, and the third was an R. One after another he managed to see what the letters were. There were three words, and slowly he spelled the letters out aloud to himself as he managed to read them. G-A-R-D-E A-U C-H-I-E-N, Garde au chien. That is what it said.
Now the pain in his right side was very great. It felt as if someone was hitting the end of his missing leg with a hammer and suddenly the pain became so bad that it affected his head. For a moment he thought he was going to fall. Quickly he knelt down again, crawled back to the bed and got in. He pulled the bedclothes over himself and lay back on the pillow, exhausted. He could not forget the words on the sign.
The pain was still great under the bandages, but he did not wish to tell this woman anything. He looked at her more carefully now. Her hair was very fair. She was tall and big-boned and her face seemed pleasant. But there was something a little nervous about her eyes. They were never still. There was something about her movements also. They were too sharp to go well with the relaxed manner in which she spoke.
She put down the basin, took off his pyjama top and began to wash him.
'Well, just ring the bell if you want any more.' And she went out.
He had just finished eating when the nurse came in again.
She said, 'Wing Commander Roberts is here. I've told him that he can only stay for a few minutes.' She signalled with her hand and the Wing Commander came in.
'Sorry to bother you like this,' he said.
He was an ordinary RAF officer, dressed in a rather badly fitting uniform. As he spoke he took a printed form and a pencil from his pocket and he pulled up a chair and sat down.
Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, changing trains on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o'clock in the evening. The air was very cold and the wind was like a flat blade of ice on his cheeks.
Billy was seventeen years old. He was wearing a new dark blue overcoat, a new brown hat, a new brown suit, and he was feeling fine. He walked briskly down the street. He was trying to do everything briskly these days. All successful businessmen, he had decided, were brisk. The top men at Head Office were brisk all the time. They were amazing.
There were no shops on this wide street, only a line of tall houses on each side, all of them looking the same. They had grand entrances and four or five steps going up to their front doors, and it was obvious that they had been very grand houses indeed. But now, even in the darkness, he could see that the paint was coming off the doors and windows, and that the handsome white exteriors had cracks and patches from lack of repair.
Suddenly, in a downstairs window that was illuminated by a nearby street lamp, Billy saw a printed notice leaning against the glass in one of the windows. It said BED AND BREAKFAST.
He stopped walking. He moved a bit closer. Green curtains were hanging down on each side of the window. He went right up to it and looked through the glass into the room, and the first thing he saw was a bright fire burning in the fireplace. On the carpet in front of the fire, a pretty little dog was curled up asleep. The room itself, which he could only see in half-darkness, was filled with pleasant furniture. There was a piano and a big sofa and several comfortable armchairs; and in one corner he saw a large parrot in a cage. Animals were usually a good sign in a place like this, Billy told himself, and it looked to him as if it would be a pretty decent house to stay in. Certainly it would be more comfortable than a pub.
On the other hand, a pub would be more friendly than a guesthouse. There would be beer and cards in the evenings, and lots of people to talk to, and it would probably be a lot cheaper, too. He had stayed a couple of nights in a pub once before and had liked it. He had never stayed in any guesthouses and, to be perfectly honest, he was a tiny bit frightened of them. The word 'guesthouse' suggested watery vegetables and greedy landladies.
After hesitating like this in the cold for two or three minutes, Billy decided that he would walk on and look at the pub before making up his mind. He turned to go.
And now a strange thing happened to him. He was just going to step back and turn away from the window when his eye was caught and held in the most peculiar manner by the small notice that was there. BED AND BREAKFAST, it said. BED AND BREAKFAST, BED AND BREAKFAST. Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, forcing him to stay where he was and not to walk away from that house, and the next thing he knew, he was actually moving across from the window to the front door, climbing the steps that led to it and reaching for the bell.
He pressed it. Far away in a back room he heard it ringing, and then at once - it must have been at once because he hadn't even had time to take his finger from the bell-button - the door swung open and a woman was standing there.
She was about forty-five or fifty years old, and the moment she saw him, she gave him a warm welcoming smile.
'Please come in,' she said pleasantly. She stepped to one side holding the door wide open, and Billy found himself automatically starting forward into the house: the force or, more accurately, the desire to follow her was extraordinarily strong.
'I saw the notice in the window,' he said, holding himself back.
'It's all ready for you, my dear,' she said. She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes.
It was amazingly cheap. It was less than half of what he had been willing to pay.
She seemed terribly nice. She looked exactly like the mother of one's best school friend welcoming one into the house to stay for the Christmas holidays. Billy took off his hat and stepped inside.
There were no other hats or coats in the hall. There were no umbrellas, no walking-sticks - nothing.
The old girl is slightly mad, Billy told himself. But at nine pounds a night, who cares about that? 'I should've thought you'd be simply full of visitors wanting to stay,' he said politely.
'But I'm always ready. Everything is always ready day and night in this house just in case an acceptable young gentleman comes along. And it is such a pleasure, my dear, when now and again I open the door and I see someone standing there who is just exactly right.' She was halfway up the stairs, and she paused, turned her head and smiled down at him. 'Like you,' she added, and her blue eyes travelled slowly all the way down the length of Billy's body, to his feet, and then up again.
They climbed up more stairs. 'And this one is all yours,' she said. 'Here's your room. I do hope you'll like it.' She took him into a small but charming front bedroom, switching on the light as she went in.
'Thank you,' Billy said. 'Thank you very much.' He noticed that the bedclothes had been neatly turned back on one side, all ready for someone to get in.
'That's all right,' Billy answered brightly. 'You mustn't worry about me.' He put his suitcase on the chair and started to open it.
'Very well, then. I'll leave you now so that you can unpack. But before you go to bed, would you be kind enough to come into the sitting room on the ground floor and sign the book? Everyone has to do that because it's the law, and we don't want to break any laws at this stage in the proceedings, do we?' She gave him a little wave of the hand and went quickly out of the room and closed the door.
The fact that his landlady appeared to be slightly crazy didn't worry Billy at all. She was not only harmless - there was no question about that - but she was also quite obviously a kind and generous person. He guessed that she had probably lost a son of her own or something like that, and had never recovered from it.
So a few minutes later, after unpacking and washing his hands, he walked downstairs to the ground floor and entered the sitting room. His landlady wasn't there, but the fire was still burning and the little dog was still sleeping in front of it. The room was wonderfully warm and comfortable. I'm a lucky fellow, he thought, rubbing his hands. This is great.
He found the guest-book lying open on the piano, so he took out his pen and wrote down his name and address. There were only two other names above his on the page and, as one always does, he started to read them. One was a Christopher Mulholland from Cardiff. The other was Gregory W. Temple from Bristol.
That's funny, he thought suddenly. Christopher Mulholland. That name sounds familiar.
'Such charming boys,' a voice behind him answered, and he turned and saw his landlady walking into the room carrying the tea tray in front of her.
'They sound somehow familiar,' he said.
Billy watched her as she busied herself with the cups and saucers. He noticed that she had small, white, quickly moving hands, and red fingernails.
There is nothing more annoying than a thing like this which remains just outside one's memory. He hated to give up.
He crossed the room slowly, and sat down on the edge of the sofa. She placed his teacup on the table in front of him.
Billy started drinking his tea. She did the same. For half a minute, neither of them spoke but Billy knew that she was looking at him. Her body was half-turned towards him and he could feel her eyes resting on his face, watching him from over her teacup. Now and again he caught a peculiar smell that seemed to come from her direction. It wasn't unpleasant, and it reminded him - well, he wasn't quite sure what it was. New leather? Or was it the corridors of a hospital?
'I suppose he left fairly recently,' Billy said.
Billy put down his cup slowly on the table, and stared at his landlady. She smiled back at him and then put out one of her white hands and patted him comfortingly on the knee.
'How old are you, my dear?' she asked.
There was a pause. Billy picked up his teacup, drank some more and then put it down again in its saucer. He waited for her to say something else but she seemed to have fallen into another of her silences. He sat there, looking ahead, biting his lower lip.
She nodded towards the dog curled up so comfortably in front of the fire. Billy looked at it. Suddenly he realized that this animal had all the time been as silent and motionless as the parrot. He touched it gently on the top of its back. It was hard and cold but perfectly preserved.
'No, thank you,' Billy said. The tea tasted faintly bitter and he didn't really like it.
Holding her teacup high in one hand, moving her head slightly to the left, she looked at him out of the corners of her eyes and gave him another gentle little smile.
Mr Boggis was driving the car slowly, leaning back comfortably in the seat with one elbow resting on the open window. How beautiful the countryside is, he thought; how pleasant to see signs of summer again.
He took one hand off the wheel and lit a cigarette. The best thing now, he told himself, would be to drive to the top of the hill. He could see it about a kilometre ahead. And that must be the village at the top of it.
He drove up the hill and stopped the car just before the top of the hill on the outskirts of the village. Then he got out and looked round. Down below, the countryside was spread out in front of him like a green carpet. Perfect. He took a notebook and pencil from his pocket, leaned against the car and allowed his eyes to travel slowly over the landscape.
He could see one medium-sized farmhouse over on the right. There was another larger one beyond it. There was a house surrounded by tall trees that looked rather old, and there were two possible farms away on the left. Five places in all.
Mr Boggis drew a quick sketch in his book showing the position of each so that he'd be able to find them easily when he was down below, then he got back into the car and drove up through the village to the other side of the hill. From there he saw six more possibles - five farms and a big white eighteenth-century house. He studied the house carefully. It looked very grand. That was a pity. He excluded it immediately. There was no point in visiting the rich.
In this area then, there were ten possibles in all. Ten was a nice number, Mr Boggis told himself. Just the right amount for a relazing afternoon's work. He decided to take the old house with the trees first. It looked dilapidated. The people there probably needed some money. Mr Boggis got back into the car and began driving slowly down the hill.
Apart from the fact that he was at this moment disguised as a vicar, there was nothing very strange about Mr Cyril Boggis. By trade he was a dealer in antique furniture, with his own shop in London. The shop wasn't large, and generally he didn't do a lot of business, but because he always bought cheap, very cheap, and sold at very, very high prices, he managed to make quite a good profit every year. It was said of him by some people that he probably knew as much about French, English and Italian furniture as anyone else in London. He also had surprisingly good taste, and he was quick to recognize and reject an ungraceful design, however genuine the piece might be. His real love was for the work of the great eighteenth-century designers, Chippendale, Robert Adam Inigo Jones, Hepplewhite, Sheraton and the rest of them.
During the past few years, Mr Boggis had achieved great fame among his friends in the trade by his ability to find unusual and often rare items with amazing regularity. Apparently this man had a source of supply that was never-ending. It seemed that he only had to drive out to it once a week and take what he wanted. Whenever they asked him where he got the things, he would smile and say something about a little secret.
The idea behind Mr Boggis's little secret was a simple one, and it had come to him as a result of something that had happened one Sunday afternoon nearly nine years before, while he was driving in the country.
He had gone out in the morning to visit his old mother and on the way back, in the countryside, his car had broken down, causing the engine to get too hot and the water to boil away. He had got out of the car and walked to the nearest house, a small farm building about fifty metres off the road, and had asked the woman who answered the door if he could have a jug of water.
While he was waiting for her to fetch it, he had glanced in through the door to the living room and seen, not five metres away, something that made him so excited that sweat began to pour down his face. It was a large armchair of a type that he had only seen once before in his life. Each arm of the chair was beautiful and delicate and the back of the chair was decorated with flowers made of wood. The top of each arm was made to look like the head of a duck. Good God, he thought. This chair is late fifteenth century!
He looked further through the door and there was another of them on the other side of the fireplace!
He couldn't be sure, but two chairs like that must be worth thousands of pounds up in London. And how beautiful they were!
When the woman returned, Mr Boggis introduced himself and asked her if she would like to sell her chairs.
Why would she want to sell her chairs? she asked.
No reason at all, except that he might be willing to give her quite a high price.
And how much would he give? They were definitely not for sale, but just for fun, you know, how much would he give?
Thirty-five pounds. Well, well, that was very interesting. She'd always thought they were very old. They were very comfortable too. She couldn't possibly do without them. No, they were not for sale, but thank you very much anyway.
They weren't really very old, Mr Boggis told her, and they wouldn't be easy to sell, but he did have a client who rather liked that sort of thing. Maybe he could go up another two pounds - call it thirty-seven. How about that?
They bargained for half an hour, and of course in the end Mr Boggis got the chairs and agreed to pay her something less than a twentieth of their value.
That evening, driving back to London in his old car with the two wonderful chairs in the back, Mr Boggis suddenly had the most brilliant idea.
If there is good furniture in one farmhouse, he said to himself, then why not in others? Why shouldn't he search for it? He could do it on Sundays. In that way, it wouldn't interrupt his work at all. He never knew how to spend his Sundays.
So Mr Boggis bought maps of all the countryside around London, and with a pen he divided each of them up into a series of squares. Each of these squares covered an actual area of ten kilometres by ten, which was about as much territory as he could cope with on a single Sunday. He didn't want the towns and villages. It was the isolated places, the large farmhouses and the old country houses, that he was looking for; and in this way, if he did one square each Sunday, he would gradually visit every farm and every country house around London.
Every Sunday, he was going to be a nice old vicar spending his holiday travelling around for the 'Society', making a list of the antique furniture that lay hidden in the country homes of England. And who was going to throw him out when they heard that? Nobody.
And then, when he was inside, if he saw something he really wanted, well - he knew a hundred different ways of dealing with that.
To Mr Boggis's surprise, the scheme worked. In fact, the warmth with which he was received in one house after another was, in the beginning, quite embarrassing, even to him. Sooner or later there had, of course, been some unpleasant incidents, but nine years is more than four hundred Sundays and all that adds up to a lot of houses visited.
Mr Boggis continued to drive, and now it was all farmhouses. The nearest was about a kilometre up the road, set some way back in the fields, and in order to keep his car out of sight, Mr Boggis had to leave it on the road and walk about six hundred metres along a track that led directly into the back yard of the farmhouse. He always parked his large car away from the house he was visiting. He never liked people to see his car until after the deal was completed. A dear old vicar and a large, modern car somehow never seemed quite right together. Also the short walk gave him the opportunity to examine the property closely from the outside. This place, he noticed as he approached, was small and dirty and some of the farm buildings were in a very bad state.
There were three men standing in a close group in a corner of the yard. When these men saw Mr Boggis walking forward in his black suit and vicar's collar, they stopped talking and became absolutely still, three faces turned towards him, watching him with suspicion as he approached.
The oldest of the three was Rummins and he was the owner of the farm.
The tall youth beside him was Bert, Rummins's son.
The short flat-faced man with broad shoulders was Claud.
None of the three men moved. At that moment they were all thinking the same thing - that somehow this vicar, who was certainly not the local fellow, had been sent to look into their business and to report what he found to the government.
'May I ask if you are the owner?' Mr Boggis asked, addressing himself to Rummins.
Mr Boggis handed his card and Rummins took it and held it up close to his face.
Mr Boggis explained the aims and ideals of the Society for the Preservation of Rare Furniture.
'We don't have any,' Rummins told him when he had finished.
He led the way to the back door of the farmhouse, and Mr Boggis followed him; so did the son, Bert, and Claud. They went through the kitchen, where the only furniture was a cheap table with a dead chicken lying on it, and they entered a fairly large, extremely dirty living room.
And there it was! Mr Boggis saw it immediately, and he stopped and gave a little cry of shock. Then he stood there for five, ten, fifteen seconds at least, staring like a fool, unable to believe, not daring to believe what he saw before him. It couldn't be true, not possibly! But the longer he stared, the more true it began to seem. There it was standing against the wall right in front of him, as real and as solid as the house itself. And who could possibly make a mistake about a thing like that? Yes, it was painted white, but that didn't make the slightest difference. Some fool had done that.<|fim_middle|> for a long time and that there would be no money at all to go with the child.
They were still arguing at six the next morning when suddenly, in the middle of it all, an old aunt (her name was Glosspan) arrived from Virginia. Without taking off her hat and coat, without even sitting down, she announced firmly to the gathered relatives that she herself intended to look after the baby boy. She would take full responsibility, she said, for the boy's education - and all the costs - and everyone else could go home. She went upstairs to the nursery and took Lexington and went out of the house with the baby held tightly in her arms. The relatives simply sat, stared, smiled and looked content.
And so the baby, Lexington, left the city of New York when he was thirteen days old and travelled southwards to live with Great Aunt Glosspan in the State of Virginia.
Aunt Glosspan was nearly seventy when she took Lexington to Virginia, but you would never have guessed it. She was as youthful as a woman half her age. She had a small, but still quite beautiful face and two lovely brown eyes. But she was a strange old woman. For the past thirty years she had lived alone in a small cottage high up on the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, several kilometres from the nearest village. She had three cows, some fields for them, some land for growing vegetables, a flower garden and a dozen chickens.
And now she had little Lexington, too.
She was a strict vegetarian and thought that eating animal meat was not only unhealthy and disgusting, but cruel too. She lived on foods like milk, butter, eggs, cheese, vegetables, nuts and fruit, and she was happy to think that no creature would ever be slaughtered for her sake.
She did not know very much about babies but that didn't worry her. At the railway station in New York she bought some things for feeding the baby and a book called The Care Of Infants. What more could anyone want? When the train started moving, she fed the baby some milk and laid it down on the seat to sleep. Then she read The Care Of Infants from beginning to end.
Strangely there wasn't any problem. Back home in the cottage everything went well. Little Lexington drank his milk and cried and slept exactly as a good baby should, and Aunt Glosspan was filled with joy whenever she looked at him and she kissed him all day long. By the time he was six years old, young Lexington had become a most beautiful boy with long golden hair and deep blue eyes. He was bright and cheerful, and already he was learning to help his old aunt in all sorts of different ways around the farm, collecting the eggs from the chicken house, making butter, and digging up potatoes in the vegetable garden. Soon, Aunt Glosspan told herself, she would have to start thinking about his education.
But she could not bear the thought of sending him away to school. She loved him so much now that it would kill her to be separated from him for long. There was, of course, that village school down in the valley, but it was a horrible-looking place, and if she sent him there, she was sure they would start forcing him to eat meat as soon as he arrived.
The boy looked at her with his large blue eyes, and gave her a trusting smile. 'That would be nice,' he said.
'Animals,' she answered with disgust.
Soon after that, the lessons began. There were five subjects, including reading and writing, but cooking was the most popular with both teacher and pupil. In fact, it soon became very clear that young Lexington was a talented cook. He was clever and quick. In so young a boy, this surprised Aunt Glosspan and she could not quite understand it at all. But she was very proud of him and thought that the child would have a wonderful future.
'How good it is,' she said, 'that I have such a wonderful little fellow to look after me when I'm old.' A couple of years later, she left the kitchen for ever, and put Lexington in charge of all household cooking. The boy was now ten years old, and Aunt Glosspan was nearly eighty. Alone in the kitchen, Lexington immediately began experimenting with dishes of his own invention. There were hundreds of new ideas in his head. Hardly a day went by without some wonderful new dish being placed on the table. There were many delicious inventions. Aunt Glosspan had never tasted food like this in all her life. In the mornings, before lunch, she would go outside the house and sit there in her chair, thinking about the coming meal. She loved to sit there and smell what came through the kitchen window.
Then he would come out, this ten-year-old child, a little smile of pleasure on his face and a big steaming pot of the most wonderful food imaginable in his hands.
'Do you know what you ought to do?' his aunt said to him, eating the food. 'You ought to sit down and write a cookbook.
He looked at her across the table, eating slowly.
And that same day, Lexington began writing the first page of that great book on which he worked for the rest of his life. He called it Eat Well And Healthily. Seven years later, by the time he was seventeen, he had recorded over nine thousand different recipes, all of them original, all of them wonderful.
But now, suddenly, his work was interrupted by the death of Aunt Glosspan. She was ill during the night and Lexington found her lying on the bed screaming with pain. She was a terrible sight. The boy wondered what he should do. Finally, to cool her down, he fetched a bucket of water from the river and poured it over her head, but this only made her worse, and the old lady died in an hour.
After crying bitterly for several minutes, because he had loved his aunt very much, he carried her outside and buried her in the garden.
Darling boy, I know that you have never been down the mountain since you were thirteen days old, but as soon as I die you must put on a pair of shoes and a clean shirt and walk down into the village and find the doctor. Ask the doctor to give you a death certificate. Then take this to my lawyer, a man called Mr Samuel Zuckermann, who lives in New York City and who has a copy of my will. Mr Zuckermann will arrange everything. The money in this envelope is to pay the doctor for the certificate and for the cost of your journey to New York. Mr Zuckermann will give you more money when you get there, and it is my wish that you use it to continue your work on that great book of yours until you are satisfied that it is complete in every way. Your loving aunt, Glosspan Lexington, who had always done everything his aunt had told him, put the money in his pocket, put on a pair of shoes and a clean shirt, and went down the mountain to the village where the doctor lived.
'How deep did you bury her?' the doctor asked.
Lexington now left for the city of New York to find Mr Samuel Zuckermann. He travelled on foot, and he slept under bushes, and he lived on berries and wild plants, and it took him sixteen days to reach the city.
Lexington had never seen anyone like Mr Zuckermann before, either.
He was a small man with a large nose, and when he smiled, bits of gold flashed at you from lots of different places inside his mouth. In his office, he shook Lexington warmly by the hand and congratulated him on his aunt's death.
'I suppose you know that your dearly loved aunt was a woman of great wealth?' he said.
'I mean five hundred thousand dollars,' Mr Zuckermann said.
'How kind you are,' said Lexington.
'But how much does that leave for me?' the youth asked.
So Mr Zuckermann called his chief clerk and told him to give Lexington fifteen thousand dollars. The youth, who was delighted to be getting anything at all, accepted the money gratefully and put it in his bag. Then he shook Mr Zuckermann warmly by the hand, thanked him for all his help, and went out of the office.
'The whole world is in front of me!' Lexington cried as he went into the street. 'I now have fifteen thousand dollars to help me until my book is ready. After that, of course, I shall have a lot more.' He stood in the street, wondering which way to go. He turned left and began walking slowly down the street, staring at the sights of the city. 'I must have something to eat. I'm so hungry!' he said. The boy had eaten nothing except berries and wild plants for the past two weeks, and now his stomach wanted solid food.
He crossed the street and entered a small restaurant. The place was hot inside, and dark and silent. There was a strong smell of cooking-fat. Lexington seated himself at a corner table and hung his bag on the back of the chair. This, he told himself, is going to be most interesting. In all my seventeen years I have tasted only the cooking of two people, Aunt Glosspan and myself. But now I am going to try the food of a new cook and perhaps, if I am lucky, I might get a few ideas for my book.
The waiter took a dirty handkerchief from his trouser pocket and shook it open. Then he blew his nose loudly. 'Do you want it or don't you?' he said, wiping his nose.
'One pork and potatoes!' the waiter shouted, and somewhere in the back of the restaurant, far away in the darkness, a voice answered him.
The waiter disappeared and soon returned carrying a plate on which there lay a thick grey-white piece of something hot. Lexington leaned forward anxiously to smell it.
The waiter stepped back a little, watching the youth.
'I have never in all my life smelled anything as wonderful as this!' Lexington cried, seizing his knife and fork. 'What is it made of?' But the waiter was moving backwards towards the kitchen. Lexington cut off a small piece of the meat and put it into his mouth, beginning to eat it slowly, his eyes half closed.
The waiter was now watching him from the other end of the room.
The waiter came cautiously back to the table, seized the money and put it quickly into his pocket.
'Have you never had roast pork before?' the waiter asked, staring.
'Perhaps your aunt didn't know how to cook it,' the waiter said.
Lexington was at once taken to the kitchen, and there he met the cook, who was an old man with large, unpleasant red patches on his skin.
'This will cost you another hundred,' the waiter said.
The cook raised his right hand and began scratching his neck.
'In fact, we've been getting a lot of it recently from the meat factory in place of pork,' the cook declared.
The cook, after taking the money, told Lexington how to cook pork, while the youth, not wanting to miss a single word, sat down at the kitchen table and recorded every detail in his notebook.
'Is that all?' he asked when the cook had finished.
The cook gave him the address, and Lexington, after thanking them both many times for their kindness, rushed outside and went by taxi to the slaughterhouse.
It was a big brick building, and the air around it smelled sweet and heavy. At the main entrance gates, there was a large notice which said: VISITORS ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. Lexington walked through the gates and entered a yard which surrounded the building itself. He then followed some signs (THIS WAY FOR THE GUIDED TOURS) and came to a small hut near the main building (VISITORS' WAITING ROOM). After knocking politely on the door, he went in.
There were six other people in the waiting room. There was a fat mother with her two little boys aged about nine and eleven There was a bright-eyed young couple and there was a pale woman with long white gloves, looking straight ahead, with her hands folded in front of her. Nobody spoke. Lexington wondered whether they were all writing cookbooks, like himself, but when he put this question to them aloud, he got no answer. They just shook their heads and smiled.
Soon the door opened and a man with a pink face came into the room and said, 'Next, please.' The mother and the two boys got up and went out. About ten minutes later, the same man returned. 'Next, please,' he said again, and the couple stood up and followed him outside.
Two new visitors came in and sat down - a middle-aged husband and a middle-aged wife, the wife carrying a basket.
'Next, please,' said the guide, and the woman with the long gloves got up and left. Several more people came in and took their places on the wooden chairs. Soon the guide returned for the third time, and now it was Lexington's turn to go outside.
'Follow me, please,' the guide said, leading the youth across the yard towards the main building.
'How exciting this is!' Lexington cried.
Three men, wearing long rubber boots, were taking a dozen pigs into the shed just as Lexington and the guide arrived, so they all went in together.
Inside, the shed was simply a bare wooden room with no roof, but there was a metal wire with hooks on it that kept moving slowly along the length of one wall. When it reached the end of the hut, it suddenly changed direction and climbed upwards through the open roof towards the top floor of the main building. The twelve pigs were brought together at the far end of the hut. They stood quietly and looked anxious. One of the men in rubber boots pulled a length of metal chain down from the wall and advanced upon the nearest animal from the back. Then he bent down and quickly put one end of the chain around one of the animal's back legs. The other end he put on a hook on the moving wire as it went by. The wire kept moving and the chain tightened. The pig's leg was pulled up and back, and the pig itself began to be dragged backwards until it reached the end of the hut, where the wire changed direction and went upwards. The creature was suddenly pulled off its feet and was carried up. The pig's cries filled the air.
The rubber-booted men were busy catching the rest of the pigs, and one after another the animals were hooked on to the moving wire and carried up through the roof, crying loudly as they went.
At this point, while Lexington was staring upwards at the last pig, a man in rubber boots came up quietly behind him and put one end of a chain around the youth's own leg, hooking the other end of the chain to the moving belt. The next moment, before he had time to realise what was happening, Lexington was pulled off his feet and dragged backwards along the floor of the hut.
But nobody seemed to hear him, and five seconds later the unhappy young man was pulled off the floor and lifted up through the open roof of the hut upside down, hanging like a fish.
The guide took a cigarette out of his mouth and looked up at the youth hanging from the chain, but he said nothing. The men in rubber boots were already on their way out to collect the next pigs.
'Oh, save me!' Lexington cried. 'Let me down! Please let me down!' But he was now nearing the top floor of the building, where the moving belt entered a large hole in the wall, a kind of doorway without a door; and there, waiting to greet him, in dark-stained rubber clothes, the slaughterer stood.
Lexington saw him only from upside down, and very quickly, but he noticed the expression of absolute peace on the man's face, the cheerfulness in his eyes and the little smile. All these things gave him hope.
'Hi, there!' the man said, smiling.
'Quick! Save me!' Lexington cried.
'With pleasure,' the man said, and taking Lexington gently by one ear with his left hand, he raised his right hand and quickly cut the boy's throat with a knife.
The belt moved on. Lexington went with it. Everything was still upside down and the blood was pouring out of his throat and getting into his eyes, but he could still see a little. He thought he was in a very long room, and at the far end of the room there was a great smoking pot of water, and there were dark figures half hidden in the steam. These figures were dancing round the edge of the pot and they were holding long sticks. The belt seemed to be travelling right over the top of the pot and the pigs seemed to be dropping down one by one into the boiling water and one of the pigs seemed to be wearing long white gloves on its front feet.
Suddenly Lexington started to feel very sleepy, but it was not until his good strong heart had pumped the last drop of blood from his body that he passed out of this, the best of all possible worlds, into the next.
In East Africa there was a young man who was a hunter, who loved the plains and the valleys and the cool nights on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. In September 1939 war had begun in Europe and he had travelled over the country to Nairobi and was training to be a pilot with the RAF. He was doing quite well, but after five weeks he got into trouble because he took his plane up and flew off in the direction of Nakuru to look at the wild animals when he should have been practising spins and turns. While he was flying there, he thought he saw some rare animals, became excited and flew down low to get a better view of them. He flew too low and damaged the wing, but he managed to get back to the airfield in Nairobi.
After six weeks, he was allowed to make his first cross-country flight on his own, and he flew off from Nairobi to a little town called Eldoret two thousand metres up in the Highlands. But again he was unlucky; this time he had engine failure on the way, due to water in the fuel tanks. He kept calm and made a beautiful forced landing without damaging his aircraft, not far from a little hut which stood alone on the highland plain with no other building in sight. That is lonely country up there.
He walked over to the hut, and there he found an old man, living alone, with only a small garden of sweet potatoes, some brown chickens and a black cow.
The old man was kind to him. He gave him food and milk and a place to sleep, and the pilot stayed with him for two days and two nights, until a rescue plane from Nairobi found his aircraft, landed beside it, found out what was wrong, went away and came back with clean petrol which enabled him to take off and return.
But during his stay, the old man, who was lonely and had seen no one for many months, was glad of his company and of the opportunity to talk. He talked a lot and the pilot listened. He talked of his lonely life, of the lions that came in the night and of the elephant that lived over the hill in the west, of the heat of the days and of the silence that came with the cold at midnight.
On the second night he talked about himself. He told a long, strange story, and as he told it, it seemed to the pilot that the old man was lifting a great weight off his shoulders by telling it. When he had finished, he said that he had never told that to anyone before, and that he would never tell it to anyone again, but the story was so strange that the pilot wrote it down as soon as he got back to Nairobi. He wrote it in his own words, although he had never written a story before. Of course he made mistakes because he didn't know any of the tricks that writers use, but when he had finished writing he left a rare and powerful story. We found the story in his suitcase two weeks later when we were packing his things after he had been killed in training. The pilot seemed to have had no relatives and because he was my friend, I took the story and looked after it for him. This is what he wrote.
The old man came out of the door into the bright sunshine, and for a moment he leaned on his stick and looked around him. He stood with his head on one side, looking up, listening for the noise which he thought he had heard.
He was small and over seventy years old, although he looked nearer eighty-five because of illness. His face was covered with grey hair, and when he moved his mouth, he moved it only on one side of his face. On his head, indoors or outdoors, he wore a dirty white hat.
He stood quite still in the bright sunshine, his eyes almost closed, listening for the noise.
Yes, it was again. He looked towards the small wooden hut which stood a hundred metres away in the field. This time there was no doubt about it; the cry of a dog, the high, sharp cry of pain which a dog gives when he is in great danger. Twice more it came and this time the noise was more like a scream. The note was higher and sharper, as if it were torn from some small place inside the body.
The old man turned and walked across the grass towards the wooden hut where Judson lived, pushed open the door and went in.
The small white dog was lying on the floor and Judson was standing over it, his legs apart, his black hair falling all over his long face, sweating through his dirty white shirt. His mouth hung open in a strange lifeless way, as if his jaw were too heavy for him, and there was spit down the middle of his chin. He stood there looking at the small white dog which was lying on the floor, and with one hand he was slowly twisting his left ear; in the other hand he held a heavy wooden stick.
The old man ignored Judson and went down on his knees beside his dog and gently moved his thin hands over its body. The dog lay still, looking up at him with sad eyes. Judson did not move. He was watching the dog and the man.
Slowly, the old man got up, rising with difficulty, holding the top of his stick with both hands and pulling himself to his feet. He looked around the room. There were dirty bedclothes lying on the floor in the far corner; there was a wooden table made of old boxes, and on it a blue pot. There were chicken feathers and mud on the floor.
The old man saw what he wanted. It was a heavy iron bar standing against the wall near the bedding and he went over to it, thumping the hollow wooden floorboards with his stick as he went. The eyes of the dog followed his movements as he walked with difficulty across the room. The old man changed his stick to his left hand, took the iron bar in his right, came back to the dog and, without pausing, lifted the bar and brought it down hard upon the animal's head. He threw the bar to the ground and looked up at Judson, who was standing there with his legs apart. He went right up to him and began to speak. He spoke very quietly and slowly, with a terrible anger, and as he spoke he moved only one side of his mouth.
Then, as the tide of anger rose and gave him strength, he found more words. He looked up and spat them into the face of the tall Judson, who moved back towards the wall.
The old man did not say anything. For a moment it looked as if he were going to hit this creature. He half raised his arm, dropped it again, spat on the floor, turned round and went out of the door into the sunshine. He went across the grass to where a black cow was standing in the shade of a small tree. The cow was eating, moving its jaws regularly, mechanically, as it watched him walk across the grass from the hut. The old man came and stood beside it, stroking its neck. Then he leaned against its shoulder and scratched its back with the end of his stick. He stood there for a long time, leaning against the cow, scratching it with his stick, and now and then he spoke to it, whispering quiet little words, like one person telling a secret to another.
There was shade under the little tree, and the country around him looked rich and pleasant after the long rains, because the grass grows green up in the Highlands of Kenya, and at this time of the year, after the rains, it is as green and rich as any grass in the world. In the distance stood Mount Kenya with snow on its head, with a thin stream of what looked like white smoke coming from the top where the cold winds made a storm and blew the white powder from the top of the mountain. Down below, on the slopes of that mountain, there were lions and elephants, and sometimes during the night one could hear the roar of the lions as they looked at the moon.
The days passed and Judson went on with his work on the farm in a silent, mechanical way, taking in the corn, digging the potatoes and milking the black cow while the old man stayed indoors away from the fierce African sun. He only went out in the late afternoon when the air began to get cool and sharp, and then he always went over to his black cow and spent an hour with it under the tree. One day, when he came out, he found Judson standing beside the cow, looking at it strangely, standing with one foot in front of the other, gently twisting his ear with his right hand.
'What is it now?' said the old man.
At dawn the old man sat, as he always did, looking out of his window, watching Judson come across from his hut to milk the cow. He saw him coming sleepily across the field, talking to himself as he walked, dragging his feet, leaving long dark green marks across the wet grass, and carrying the petrol can which he used for the milk. The sun was coming up and making long shadows behind the man, the cow and the small tree. The old man saw Judson put the can down and he saw him fetch a box from beside the tree and settle himself on it, ready for the milking. He saw him suddenly kneeling down, feeling under the cow with his hands, and at the same time the old man noticed that the animal had no milk. He saw Judson get up and come walking fast towards the hut. He came and stood under the window where the old man was sitting, and looked up.
'The cow's got no milk,' he said.
'You stole it.' The old man was leaning further out of the window, speaking quietly with one side of his mouth. 'I'll beat you for this,' he said.
By evening, the cow was full and the old man watched Judson take good thick milk from her.
The next morning she was empty. In the evening she was full. On the third morning she was empty again.
On the third night, the old man went to watch. As soon as it began to get dark, he positioned himself at the open window with an old gun lying on his lap, waiting for the thief who came and milked his cow in the night. At first it was dark and he could not even see the cow, but soon a three-quarter moon came over the hills and it became light, almost as if it were daytime. But it was bitterly cold because the Highlands are two thousand metres up, and the old man pulled his brown blanket closer around his shoulders. He could see the cow well now, just as well as in daylight, and the little tree threw a shadow across the grass, since the moon was behind it.
All through the night, the old man sat there watching the cow, and except when he got up and went back into the room to fetch another blanket, his eyes never left her. The cow stood calmly under the small tree, chewing and staring at the moon.
An hour before dawn she was full. The old man could see it; he had been watching it the whole time, and although he had not seen the movement of the swelling, all the time he had been conscious of the filling as the milk came down. The moon was now low, but the light had not gone. He could see the cow and the little tree and the greenness of the grass around the cow. Suddenly he moved his head quickly. He heard something. Surely that was a noise he heard? Yes, there it was again, right under the window where he was sitting. Quickly he pulled himself up and looked over the sill to the ground.
Then he saw it. A large black snake, a Mamba, nearly three metres long and as thick as a man's arm, was sliding towards the cow. Its small head was raised slightly off the ground and the movement of its body against the wetness made a sound like gas escaping from a jet. He raised his gun to shoot. Almost at once he lowered it again - he didn't know why - and he sat there not moving, watching the Mamba as it approached the cow, listening to the noise it made as it went, watching it come up close to the cow and waiting for it to strike.
But it did not strike. It lifted its head and for a moment let it move gently from side to side; then it raised the front part of its black body into the air under the cow and began to drink from her.
The cow did not move. There was no noise anywhere, and the body of the Mamba curved gracefully up from the ground and hung under the cow. The black snake and the black cow were clearly visible out there in the moonlight. For half an hour the old man watched the Mamba taking the milk of the cow. He saw the gentle movement of the snake's body as it sucked at the liquid until at last there was no milk left. Then the Mamba lowered itself to the ground and slid back through the grass in the direction from which it had come. Again it made a soft noise as it went, and again it passed underneath the window where the old man was sitting, leaving a thin dark mark in the wet grass where it had gone. Then it disappeared behind the hut.
Slowly the moon went down behind the mountain in the distance. Almost at the same time the sun rose in the east and Judson came out of his hut with the petrol can in his hand, walking sleepily towards the cow, dragging his feet in the wet grass as he went. The old man watched him coming and waited. Judson bent down and felt the underneath of the cow, and as he did so, the old man shouted at him. Judson jumped at the sound of the old man's voice.
'It's gone again,' said the old man.
'I think,' said the old man slowly, 'that it was a native boy. I was sleeping a bit and only woke up as he was leaving. I couldn't shoot because the cow was in the way. I'll wait for him tonight. I'll get him tonight,' he added.
Judson did not answer. He picked up his can and walked back to his hut.
That night the old man sat up again by the window, watching the cow. For him there was this time a certain pleasure in waiting for what he was going to see. He knew that he would see the Mamba again, but he wanted to be quite sure. And so, when the great black snake slid across the grass towards the cow an hour before sunrise, the old man leaned over the window sill and watched the movements of the Mamba as it approached the cow.
He saw it wait for a moment under the animal's stomach, letting its head move slowly backwards and forwards half a dozen times before it finally raised its body from the ground and started to drink the milk. He saw it drink for half an hour, until there was none left, and he saw it lower its body and slide smoothly back behind the hut from where it had come. And while he watched these things, the old man began laughing quietly with one side of his mouth.
Then the sun rose up behind the hills, and Judson came out of his hut with the petrol can in his hand, but this time he went straight to the window of the hut where the old man was sitting, wrapped up in his blankets.
Judson was scratching his head with his left hand.
'He may have a knife,' Judson said.
Judson said, 'Yes, I'll take my stick. When he comes, I'll jump up and beat him with my stick.' Then suddenly he seemed to remember something. 'What about the noise the cow makes when she's chewing?' he said. 'I couldn't stand that noise all night.' He began twisting at his left ear with his hand.
'You'll do as I tell you,' said the old man.
Judson had never been invited into the old man's house before. He followed him in, happy that he would not have to lie all night in the hole. There was a candle burning in the room. It was stuck in the neck of a beer bottle and the bottle was on the table.
'Make some tea,' said the old man. Judson did as he was told. The two of them sat down on a couple of wooden boxes and began to drink. The old man drank his tea hot and made loud sucking noises as he drank. Judson kept blowing on his tea, drinking cautiously and watching the old man over the top of his cup. The old man kept sucking at his tea until suddenly Judson said, 'Stop.' He said it quietly, and as he said it, the corners of his eyes and mouth began to tremble.
'What?' said the old man.
Judson said, 'Why should I tell you?' He did not look up.
Judson looked up. A ball of spit rolled down his chin, hung for a moment in the air and fell to the floor.
He went back to the hut, went upstairs, wrapped himself in blankets and took up his position by the window. It was early still. The moon was nearly full and it was rising. It shone on the snow on top of Mount Kenya.
'The cow's making that noise all the time,' said Judson.
'Good, and I'll shoot you if you get up now,' said the old man.
For another hour or so the crying continued, then quite suddenly it stopped.
'I'll watch,' said the old man. 'It should be fun.' He was leaning out of the window with his arms resting on the sill. Then he heard the soft noise under the window, looked out and saw the black Mamba, sliding through the grass towards the cow, going fast and holding its head just a little above the ground as it went.
Judson lifted his head quickly and looked up. As he did so he saw the Mamba and the Mamba saw him. There was a second, or perhaps two, when the snake stopped, pulled its head back and raised the front part of its body in the air. Then the stroke. Just a flash of black and a slight thump as it hit him in the chest. Judson screamed, a long high scream which did not rise or fall, but remained constant until gradually it faded into nothingness and there was silence. Now he was standing up, tearing open his shirt, feeling for the place in his chest, crying quietly and breathing hard with his mouth wide open. And the old man sat quietly at the open window, leaning forward and never taking his eyes away from the scene below.
Everything happens very quickly when one is bitten by a snake, by a black Mamba, and almost at once the poison began to work. He fell to the ground, where he lay on his back, rolling around on the grass. He no longer made any noise. It was all very quiet, as if a man of great strength were fighting with someone whom one could not see, and it was as if this invisible person were twisting him and not letting him get up, stretching his arms through the fork of his legs and pushing his knees up under his chin.
Then he began pulling up the grass with his hands and soon after that he lay on his back kicking gently with his legs. But he didn't last very long. He gave a quick shake, twisted his back, then lay on the ground quite still, lying on his stomach with his right knee underneath his chest and his hands stretched out above his head.
Still the old man sat by the window, and even after it was all over, he stayed where he was and did not move. There was a movement in the shadow under the little tree and the Mamba came forward slowly towards the cow. It came forward a little, stopped, raised its head, waited, and slid forward again right under the stomach of the cow. It raised itself into the air and began to drink. The old man sat watching the Mamba taking the milk of the cow, and once again he saw the gentle movement of its body as it sucked out the liquid.
While the snake was still drinking, the old man got up and moved away from the window.
'You can have his share,' he said quietly. 'We don't mind you having his share,' and as he spoke, he glanced back and saw again the black body of the Mamba curving upwards from the ground, joining the underneath of the cow.
All day, when not selling petrol, we had been leaning over the table in the office of my petrol station, preparing the raisins. We had a hundred and ninety-six of them to do altogether, and it was nearly evening before we had finished.
Through the window we could see a car arriving at the petrol pumps, with a woman at the wheel and about eight children in the back, eating ice creams.
'We ought to be going soon,' Claud said. 'The plan won't work if we don't arrive before sunset.' He was getting nervous now.
He went quickly from pump to pump, locking each one.
He disappeared into his hut behind the petrol station, and I went and changed my yellow sweater for a blue one.
When we met again outside, Claud was dressed in a pair of black trousers and a dark-green sweater. On his head he wore a brown cloth cap pulled down low over his eyes.
'What's under there?' I asked, staring at his unusually thick waist.
He pulled up his sweater and showed me two very thin but very large white cotton bags tied neatly and tightly around his waist. 'To carry the stuff,' he said.
It was a calm, sunny evening, with little clouds hanging motionless in the sky, and the valley was cool and very quiet as the two of us began walking along the grass on the side of the road that ran between the hills towards Oxford.
'Have you got the raisins?' Claud asked.
Ten minutes later, we turned left off the main road into a narrow side road with high bushes on either side, and then it was all uphill.
'How many keepers are there?' I asked.
'You never asked for my opinion,' I said.
And that was the truth. In fact, until the day before, Claud had never even offered to discuss with me the subject of poaching. Often, on a summer's evening when work was finished, I had seen him disappearing up the road towards the woods; and sometimes as I watched him through the window of the petrol station, I would wonder exactly what he was going to do, what tricks he was going to practise all alone up there under the trees at night. He seldom came back until very late and he never, absolutely never, brought anything with him on his return. But the following afternoon - I couldn't imagine how he did it -there would always be a pheasant or a rabbit hanging up in the hut behind the petrol station.
This summer he had been particularly active, and during the past couple of months he had been going out four and sometimes five nights a week. But that was not all. It seemed to me that recently his whole attitude to poaching had changed. He was more purposeful about it now, and I suspected that it had become a kind of private war against the famous Mr Victor Hazel himself. Mr Hazel was extremely rich and his property stretched a long way down each side of the valley. He was a brewer, with no charm at all and few good points. He hated all poor people because he himself had once been poor, and he tried to mix with what he believed were the right kind of people. He hunted and gave shooting-parties and every day he drove a big, black Rolls-Royce past the petrol station on his way to and from his factory. As he drove by, we would sometimes see his great, shining face above the wheel.
'Why the sudden invitation?' I had asked.
He paused and there was a look of pride in his eyes as he thought for a moment of his father, the great inventor.
'What is method number three?' I asked.
'Your father was very clever,' I said.
Claud closed his eyes and shook his head.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Claud's mouth beginning to open.
I paused for ten seconds to allow him time to understand.
Claud was staring at me.
'How many pills have you got left?' he asked.
'Are you mad?' I cried.
What is it now, I wondered. What's he trying to do?
'This is almost the last chance we have before the season starts,' he said.
My God, I thought suddenly. He wants to wreck Mr Victor Hazel's opening-day shooting-party.
Mr Hazel's party took place on the first of October every year and it was a very famous event. Gentlemen, some with noble titles and some who were just very rich, came long distances, with their dogs and their wives, and all day long the noise of the shooting rolled across the valley. There were always enough pheasants for everyone; each summer the woods were filled with dozens and dozens of young birds at great expense, but to Mr Victor Hazel it was worth every penny of it. He became, if only for a few hours, a big man in a little world.
Now, twenty-four hours later, we were on our way. We had been walking steadily for about forty minutes, and we were nearing the point where the path curved round to the right and ran along the top of the hill towards the big woods where the pheasants lived. We were about two kilometres away.
'I don't suppose these keepers might be carrying guns?' I asked.
'All keepers carry guns,' Claud said.
I had been afraid of that.
'It's mostly for the foxes,' he added.
'So is poaching,' Claud said.
We walked on for a while in silence. The sun was low on our right now, and the road was in shadow.
We had reached the top of the hill and now we could see the woods ahead of us, large and dark, with the sun going down behind the trees.
'You'd better let me have those raisins,' Claud said.
I gave him the bag, and he put it gently into his trouser pocket.
Five minutes later we were there. The path ran right up to the wood itself and then went round the edge of it for about three hundred metres, with only a few bushes in between. Claud slipped through the bushes on his hands and knees and I followed.
It was cool and dark inside the wood. No sunlight came in at all.
'This is frightening,' I said.
Claud was very nervous. He was walking just ahead of me. He kept his head moving all the time and his eyes were looking from side to side, searching for danger. I tried doing the same, but I soon began to imagine a keeper behind every tree, so I gave it up.
Then a patch of sky appeared ahead of us in the roof of the forest, and I knew this must be the feeding grounds.
We were now advancing quickly, running from tree to tree and stopping and waiting and listening and running on again, and then at last we knelt safely behind a big tree, right on the edge of the feeding grounds, and Claud smiled and pointed through the branches at the pheasants.
The place was absolutely full of birds. There must have been two hundred of them at least.
'Do you see what I mean?' Claud whispered.
It was an amazing sight - a poacher's dream. And how close they were! Some of them were not more than ten steps from where we were kneeling. They were brown and so fat that their feathers almost brushed the ground as they walked. I glanced at Claud. His big cow-like face showed his pleasure. The mouth was slightly open, and there was a kind of dream-like look in his eyes as he stared at the pheasants.
There was a long pause. The birds made a strange noise as they moved about among the dead leaves.
We knelt close to the ground, watching the keeper. He was a small man with a cap on his head and a gun under his arm. He never moved. He was like a little post standing there.
The keeper's face was shadowed by his cap, but it seemed to me that he was looking directly at us.
'I'm not staying here,' I said.
Slowly, never taking his eyes off the keeper, he reached into his pocket and brought out a single raisin. He placed it in his right hand and then quickly threw it high into the air. I watched it as it went over the bushes, and I saw it land within a metre of two birds standing together beside an old tree. Both birds turned their heads at the drop of the raisin. Then one of them jumped over and ate it quickly.
I glanced up at the keeper. He hadn't moved.
Claud threw a second raisin; then a third, and a fourth and a fifth. At this point I saw the keeper turn his head away to look at the woods behind him. Quickly, Claud pulled the paper bag out of his pocket. With a great movement of the arm he threw the whole handful high over the bushes. They fell softly like raindrops on dry leaves. Every pheasant in the place must have heard them fall. There was a noise of wings and a rush to find the raisins. The birds were eating all of them madly.
'Follow me,' Claud whispered. 'And keep down.' He started moving away quickly on his hands and knees, under cover of the bushes.
I went after him, and we went along like this for about a hundred metres.
We got to our feet and ran, and a few minutes later we came out through the bushes into the open safety of the path.
'I think I'll go, too,' I said.
'You're a great poacher,' Claud said. He sat down on the grass bank and lit a cigarette.
The sun had set now and the sky was a pale blue, faintly coloured with yellow. In the wood behind us, the shadows and the spaces between the trees were turning from grey to black.
'How long does a sleeping pill take to work?' Claud asked.
The man had appeared silently and suddenly out of the half-darkness, and he was only thirty metres away when I saw him.
We both looked at the keeper as he came down the road towards us. He had a gun under his arm, and there was a black dog walking at his feet. He stopped when he was a few steps away, and the dog stopped with him and stayed behind him, watching us through the keeper's legs.
'Good evening,' Claud said in a nice friendly way.
This one was a tall man of about forty with quick eyes and hard, dangerous hands.
Claud did not answer this.
Claud sat on the bank, smoking his cigarette and looking at the keeper's feet.
'No, you couldn't,' Claud said.
All this made me rather nervous.
'I've been watching you for some time,' the keeper said, looking at Claud.
We wandered off down the road, the way we had come, leaving him standing there, and soon the man was out of sight in the half-darkness behind us.
'Let's get out of here,' I said.
'Come in here,' Claud said.
There was a gate on our left leading into a field, and we climbed over it and sat down behind the bushes.
We sat quietly behind the bushes, waiting for the keeper to walk past us on his way home.
The keeper came softly along the road with the dog walking beside him, and we watched them through the bushes as they went by.
'He won't be coming back tonight,' Claud said.
A few minutes later, I followed Claud back into the wood. It was dark in there now, and very silent, and we moved cautiously forward.
'Here's where we threw the raisins,' Claud said.
I looked through the bushes. The area was illuminated by the moonlight.
I could just see Claud's face under his cap, the pale lips, and the large eyes with excitement dancing in each of them.
'Are they asleep?' I asked.
We stood there for a long time, waiting for something to happen.
Claud looked at me quickly.
'Your father was clever,' I said.
At that moment there came a soft thump from the woods.
It was a heavy sound, as if a small bag of sand had been dropped from about shoulder height.
Thump! 'They're pheasants!' I cried.
We ran back into the wood.
'Where were they?' I asked.
We searched for about another minute.
'Here's one!' he called out.
When I got to him, he was holding a wonderful bird in both hands. We looked at it closely with our torches.
Thump! 'There's another,' he cried.
All around us, pheasants were starting to rain down out of the trees. We began to rush around madly in the dark, sweeping the ground with our lights.
Thump! Thump! Thump! This lot fell almost on top of me. I was right under the tree as they came down, and I found all three of them immediately. They were warm, the feathers wonderfully soft in my hands.
'Where shall I put them?' I called out. I was holding them by the legs.
Claud was standing with the moonlight streaming down all over him and a great bunch of pheasants in each hand. His face was bright, his eyes big and bright and wonderful, and he was staring like a child who has just discovered that the whole world is made of chocolate.
'It's beautiful!' he cried, and he threw down the birds he was carrying and ran off to look for more.
It was easy to find them now. There were one or two lying under every tree. I quickly collected six more, three in each hand, and ran back and threw them with the others. Then six more. Then six more after that. And still they kept falling.
Claud was madly happy. He was rushing about under the trees. I could see the beam of his light waving around in the dark, and each time he found a bird, he gave a little cry of pleasure.
For three or four minutes, the pheasants kept on falling. Then suddenly they stopped.
We went on searching. We looked under every tree within a hundred metres of the feeding grounds - north, south, east and west - and I think we found most of them. At the collecting point there was a very big pile of pheasants.
'It's wonderful,' Claud said. 'It's wonderful.' He was staring at them in a kind of dream.
'We'd better just take half a dozen each and get out quickly,' I said.
'One, two, three, four ...' He began counting them very carefully, picking up each bird and laying it down gently to one side. The moon was directly above now and everything was illuminated.
'I'm not standing around here like this,' I said. I walked back a few steps and hid myself in the shadows, waiting for him to finish.
I did not doubt it for a moment.
We started loading the pheasants into the bags.
'There'll be a taxi waiting for us in the road,' Claud said.
We finished loading the pheasants, and I tried to carry my bag on my shoulder. The bag had about sixty birds in it and it was heavy. Very heavy.
We started off through the black woods, pulling the pheasants behind us.
'We'll never get them all the way back to the village like this,' I said.
'Charlie's never disappointed me yet,' Claud said.
We came to the edge of the woods and looked through the bushes into the road. The taxi was there, not five metres away. Claud said, 'Charlie boy,' very softly, and the old man behind the wheel put his head out into the moonlight and gave us a smile. We slid through the bushes, dragging the bags after us.
Two minutes later we were safely inside the taxi, driving slowly down the hill towards the village.
'There's a dozen of them for you, Charlie,' Claud said.
'What are you going to do with a hundred and twenty pheasants?' I asked.
'Put them in the freezer at the petrol station,' Claud said.
'Bessie Organ!' I was absolutely amazed. Mrs Organ was the wife of the local vicar, Jack Organ.
'I don't know anything,' I said.
'Bessie's a clever girl,' Charlie said.
We were driving through the village now and the street lamps were still on and the men were wandering home from the pub.
'The vicar loves a roast pheasant,' Claud said.
The taxi turned left and went in through the gates of the vicar's house. There were no lights on there, and nobody met us. Claud and I put the pheasants in the hut behind the house, and then we said goodbye to Charlie Kinch and walked back in the moonlight to the petrol station. I don't know whether or not Mr Rabbetts was watching us as we went in.
'Here she comes,' Claud said to me the next morning.
'Bessie - Bessie Organ.' He spoke the name proudly, as if he were a general referring to his bravest officer. 'Down there,' he said, pointing.
Far away down the road, I could see a small female figure advancing towards us.
'What's she pushing?' I asked.
I could just see the small face of a baby sitting up high in the pram.
'You can't fit sixty or seventy pheasants into a pram,' I said.
'You can if it's got a good, deep space underneath it, and if you pack them in tightly, right up to the top. All you need is a sheet.
We waited by the pumps for Bessie Organ to arrive. It was one of those warm, windless September mornings, with a darkening sky and a smell of thunder in the air.
Claud lit a new cigarette. 'Bessie is never in a hurry,' he said.
He looked at her through the smoke of his cigarette. Then he took the cigarette out of his mouth and looked again.
'She does seem to be going rather quickly, doesn't she?' he said carefully.
'She's running', I cried. 'Look!' Bessie had suddenly started to run at top speed.
Claud stood very still, watching the woman; and in the silence that followed, I thought I could hear a baby screaming.
At this point, Bessie was about two hundred metres away from us, but was approaching fast.
The small, high voice in the distance was growing louder every second.
'Perhaps the baby's ill. There are a thousand and one things that can happen to little babies like that,' Claud said.
A long lorry loaded with bricks came up beside Bessie, and the driver slowed down and put his head out of the window to stare. Bessie ran on, and she was so close now that I could see her big red face, with the mouth wide open, breathing heavily.
Suddenly, out of the pram, straight up into the air, flew an enormous pheasant.
Claud let out a cry of terror.
The fool in the lorry going along beside Bessie roared with laughter. The pheasant flew around sleepily for a few seconds, then it lost height and landed in the grass by the side of the road. Bessie kept on running.
Then a second pheasant flew up out of the pram.
Then a third and a fourth. Then a fifth.
Bessie covered the last fifty metres at a great speed, and she came running up to the petrol station with birds flying up out of the pram in all directions.
'What's going on?' she cried.
'Go round the back!' I shouted.
we could reach her she had seized the screaming baby in her arms and dragged him out of the pram.
'No! No!' Claud cried, running towards her. 'Don't lift the baby! Put him back! Hold down the sheet!' But she wasn't even listening, and as the weight of the child was suddenly lifted away, a great cloud of pheasants rose up out of the pram - forty or fifty of them at least - and the whole sky above us was filled with huge brown birds beating their wings madly to gain height.
Claud and I started running up and down, waving our arms to frighten them away. 'Go away!' we shouted. 'Shoo! Go away!' But they were too drugged still to take any notice of us, and within half a minute they had come down again and settled themselves all over the front of my petrol station. The place was covered with them. They sat wing to wing along the edges of the roof and a dozen, at least, were sitting on the office window sill. Others were sliding about on top of my second-hand cars. One bird with a fine tail was sitting on top of a petrol pump, and quite a number sat at our feet, shaking their feathers.
Across the road, a line of cars had already started forming behind the brick lorry, and people were opening their doors and getting out and beginning to cross over to have a closer look. I glanced at my watch. It was twenty to nine. At any moment now, I thought, a large black car is going to come along the road from the direction of the village, and the car will be a Rolls-Royce, and the face behind the wheel will be the great shiny brewer's face of Mr Victor Hazel.
'They attacked him!' Bessie was shouting, holding the screaming baby to her chest.
'You go on home, Bessie,' Claud said, white in the face. | The paint could be removed. But good God! Just look at it! And in a place like this!
At this point, Mr Boggis became aware of the three men standing together in a group watching him carefully. They had seen him stop and stare and they must have seen his face turning red, or maybe it was white, but anyway they had seen enough to spoil the whole business if he didn't do something about it quickly. Mr Boggis put one hand over his heart, fell into the nearest chair and breathed heavily.
'What's the matter with you?' Claud asked.
Bert fetched him the water, handed it to him, and stayed close beside him, staring down at him.
'I thought maybe you were looking at something,' Rummin said.
He was holding one hand over his eyes in a gesture of pain and now, very carefully, he looked through two of his fingers.
The thing was still there. Yes - he had been right the first time! There wasn't the slightest doubt. It was really unbelievable!
What he saw was a piece of furniture that any expert would have given almost anything to have; it was a dealer's dream. Among the most important examples of eighteenth-century English furniture are the three famous pieces known as 'The Chippendale Commodes' and here was the fourth Chippendale Commode! And he had found it! He would be rich! He would also be famous! Each of the other three was known throughout the furniture world by a special name. This one would be called The Boggis Commode! Just imagine the faces of the dealers in London when they saw it tomorrow morning! There would be a picture of it in the newspapers, and it would say, 'The very fine Chippendale Commode which was recently discovered by Mr Cyril Boggis, a London dealer ...' What excitement he was going to cause!
This commode was a most impressive, handsome piece, made in the French style with four elegant legs that raised it about thirty centimetres from the ground. There were six drawers: two long ones in the middle and two shorter ones on each side. The front was beautifully decorated along the top and sides and bottom. The handles, although they were covered with white paint, appeared to be excellent. It was, of course, a rather 'heavy' piece of furniture, but it had been made with such elegant grace that the heaviness was not apparent. It was wonderfully beautiful.
'How are you feeling now?' Mr Boggis heard someone saying.
A little unsteadily, he began to move around the room examining the furniture, one piece at a time, commenting on it briefly. He could see that there was nothing of value apart from commode.
'Machine-made,' Mr Boggis answered quickly, examining the fine work. He began to walk away but then turned slowly back again. He placed one finger against his chin, laid his head over to one side and appeared deep in thought.
He looked around and saw the three men standing absolutely still, watching him with suspicion, three pairs of eyes, all different but all mistrusting.
'What you mean to say is, you'd like to buy it,' Rummins said.
'How much were you thinking of offering?' Rummins asked.
Mr Boggis opened his mouth, and then quickly shut it again without making a sound. He was beginning to shake with excitement.
When Bert went forward to the commode and pulled out one of the big middle drawers, Mr Boggis noticed the beautiful way in which the drawer slid open. He saw Bert's hand go inside the drawer among a lot of wires and strings. 'You mean this?' Bert lifted out a piece of folded, yellow paper.
Mr Boggis was fighting to hide the excitement that was making him feel light-headed. Oh God, it was wonderful! With the original bill, the value had climbed even higher. What would it be now? Twelve thousand pounds? Fourteen? Maybe fifteen or twenty? Who knows?
It was beautiful - a warm patch of old wood, rich and dark with the true colour of its two hundred years.
'What's wrong with it?' Rummins asked.
The three men moved a little closer to look at the wood. There was an atmosphere of interest now. They were always interested in hearing about new tricks.
They leaned forward, their noses close to the wood, first Rummins, then Claud, then Bert. The three men continued to stare at the little patch of dark wood.
'This feels normal,' Rummins said, ready to argue.
From his jacket pocket, Mr Boggis took out a small screwdriver. At the same time, although none of them saw him do it, he also took out a modern little screw which he kept well hidden in his hand. Then he selected one of the screws in the commode - there were four in each handle - and began removing all traces of white paint from its head. When he had done this, he started slowly to unscrew it.
It was not difficult, as he put his hands over the old screw and pulled it out, for Mr Boggis to exchange it for the new one hidden in his hand. This was another little trick of his, and through the years it had proved a most rewarding one. The pockets of his vicar's jacket always contained a quantity of cheap modern screws of various sizes.
Rummins glanced up from examining the screw. 'You didn't tell us what you were going to offer,' he said.
'It's worth more than that for firewood!' Claud said.
'Make it fifty,' Rummins said.
A delicious thrill ran all the way down the back of Mr Boggis's legs and then under the bottom of his feet. He had it now. It was his. No question about that. But the habit of buying cheap, as cheaply as possible, was too strong in him now to permit him to give in so easily.
'Make it thirty-five,' Rummins said.
Mr Boggis walked out into the yard and through the gate and then down the long track that led across the field towards the road. He found himself laughing uncontrollably, and there was a feeling inside him as if hundreds of tiny bubbles were rising up from his stomach and bursting in the top of his head. He was finding it difficult to stop himself from running. But vicars never run; they walk slowly. Walk slowly, Boggis. Keep calm, Boggis. There's no hurry now. The commode is yours! Yours for twenty pounds, and it's worth fifteen or twenty thousand! The Boggis Commode! In ten minutes it'll be loaded into your car - it'll go in easily - and you'll be driving back to London and singing all the way!
'And what will happen if it won't go in the car?' Claud asked.
Rummins paused to consider this new idea.
Within a couple of minutes, Claud and Bert had carried the commode outside and had laid it upside down in the middle of the yard. In the distance, halfway across the field, they could see a small black figure walking along the path towards the road. They paused to watch. There was something rather funny about the way the figure was behaving. Every few seconds it would start to run, then it did a little jump, and once it seemed as if the sound of a cheerful song could be heard from across the field.
'I think he's mad,' Claud said, smiling to himself.
Rummins came over, carrying the tools. Claud took them from him and started work.
The wood was hard and very dry, and as Claud worked, a fine red dust fell softly to the ground. One by one, the legs came off, and Bert bent down and arranged them neatly in a row.
Claud stepped back to examine the results of his labour. There was a pause.
Bert went and fetched the axe and gave it to Claud who then, with a long-armed high-swinging action, began fiercely attacking the legless commode. It was hard work, and it took several minutes before he had the whole thing more or less broken in pieces.
Once upon a time, in the city of New York, a beautiful baby boy was born, and his joyful parents named him Lexington.
Her husband kissed her and told her that any woman who could have such a beautiful baby as Lexington deserved to go anywhere she wanted. So that evening they both dressed themselves in their best clothes and, leaving little Lexington in the care of a trained nurse who was costing them twenty dollars a day, they went out to the finest and most expensive restaurant in town.
After a wonderful evening, they arrived back at their house at around two o'clock in the morning. The husband paid the taxi driver and then began feeling in his pockets for the key to the front door. After a while, he announced that he must have left it in the pocket of his other suit, and he suggested they ring the bell and get the nurse to come down and let them in. A nurse who was costing them twenty dollars a day must expect to have to get out of bed occasionally in the night, the husband said.
So he rang the bell. They waited. Nothing happened. He rang it again, long and loud. They waited another minute. Then they both stepped back on to the street and shouted the nurse's name up at the nursery window on the third floor, but there was still no answer. The house was dark and silent. The wife began to become frightened. If the nurse couldn't hear the front doorbell, then how did she expect to hear the baby crying?
'You mustn't worry. I'll let you in.' He was feeling rather brave after all he had drunk. He bent down and took off a shoe. Then, holding the shoe by the toe, he threw it hard and straight through the dining-room window on the ground floor.
'There you are,' he said, laughing. He stepped forward and very carefully put a hand through the hole in the glass and undid the lock. Then he raised the window.
'I'll lift you in first, little mother,' he said, and he took his wife around the waist and lifted her off the ground. Then her husband turned her round and began moving her gently through the open window into the dining room. At this moment, a police car came driving silently along the street towards them. It stopped about thirty metres away and three policemen jumped out of the car and started running in the direction of the husband and wife. The policemen were all holding guns.
'Hands up!' the policemen shouted. 'Hands up!' But it was impossible for the husband to obey this order without letting go of his wife. If he had done this, she would either have fallen to the ground or would have been left half in and half out of the house, which is a very uncomfortable position for a woman; so he continued to push her upwards and inwards through the window. The policemen, all of whom had received rewards before for killing robbers, shot at them immediately. Although the policemen were still running, they hit both bodies several times and killed both of them.
So, when he was no more than twelve days old, little Lexington became an orphan.
It soon became clear that none of the relatives wanted responsibility for the child, and they talked and argued all through the day. Everybody declared an enormous desire to look after him, and would have done so with the greatest of pleasure but their apartment was too small, or they already had one baby and couldn't possibly afford another, or they wouldn't know what to do with the poor little child when they went abroad in the summer, or they were getting old, which would surely be very unfair on the boy. They all knew, of course, that the father had been heavily in debt | 2,422 |
There is some first evidence that nonhuman animals as dolphins and parrotlets use referential signals for different social companions and thus have mental representations of their conspecific<|fim_middle|> the acoustic cues of calls revealed high similarities between the calls that were directed to the young by their parents and calls that were directed to the young by the group members. Although very similar there was enough difference between the calls of parrotlets recorded to allow individual recognition of the caller. Only the calls used for the youngest bird were more different. We conclude that the group members take over the same labels that parent use for their offspring. This process will occur around three month after fledging when the young were independent from their parents and recently integrated into the group. | s. In a former study we found out that spectacled parrotlets (Forpus conspicillatus) use specific contact calls to refer to their family members and thus label their pair mates and their young. In the present study we wanted to know whether the labels parents give to their young were also used by other members of their group. We recorded contact calls of the parents and four group members that were directed to four juveniles at the age of three to seven month. Recordings were made when an adult and a juvenile were separated from the group and interacting with one another during spatial but not visual separation. Discriminant function analysis of | 128 |
Pre-Departure Letter
Greetings from Oslo Innovation Week: An Insider Guide to Norway's Capital City
On October 16, 2014 November 26, 2015 By Amanda EfthimiouIn Europe, NorwayLeave a comment
I'm writing to you from Oslo, the beautiful capital of Norway. Although it's a bit chillier here than I expected, I'm enjoying connecting with my fellow innovators at Oslo Innovation Week, the largest innovation convention in Europe. There are over 50 events happening across the capital, and the event draws entrepreneurs, investors, and developers. Last year Innovation Week had over 6,000 people from a variety of sectors. I'm looking forward to attending an event today called Celebrating Female Entrepreneurship & Creativity. Should be a nice event discussing women in innovation, specifically within the Northern European landscape.
Below is a guide with some fun facts and interesting sites if you find yourself in Oslo.
Basics: Oslo has a population of 638,500. In 2013 Oslo tied with the Australian city of Melbourne as the fourth most expensive city in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)'s Worldwide Cost of Living study.
Oslofjord
Name: No one knows exactly where the name Oslo came from. Os can mean a range of hills, a ridge, or a reference to a Norse god, and Lo may mean a field. Oslo can then mean a "field of gods" or "the field below the hill."
History: One of the oldest capitals in Europe, Oslo was originally settled in Viking times, at around 1000AD.
Geography: Norway is known for its fjords. A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea with steep land on three sides. The Oslofjord has 40 islands.
Weather: The average temperature in Oslo in summer is 16°C (68F) and in winter its -4C (24.8F). Right now it's 8C (46F) outside!
Did you know: Oslo is the home of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded on December 10th every year at Oslo City Hall. The last time a Norwegian won the Prize was Fridtjof Nansen in 1922, for his work in aiding the millions in Russia struggling against famine.
Fame: Henrik Johan Ibsen, the famous 19th century playwright known as the father of realism, was born in Norway. He is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare, with major works including Brand, An Enemy of the People, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, Ghosts, and The Master Builder.
Art: One of the most famous works of modern art, The Scream, was painted by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Three of the four versions of the painting can be found in Oslo: a painted version at the National Gallery, and a painted and pastel version at the Edvard Munch Museum.
Being the art nerd that I am, I found the spot where Munch painted this scene<|fim_middle|> I never would have thought I would find such good Asian food in Scandinavia!
Coffee: This one's for the coffee fanatics: Tim Wendelboe, an espresso bar and coffee training center, is considered to be the best coffee in Norway. Having tried it myself, I have to say the coffee is pretty darn delicious. The foam in my cappuccino was perfection. Tim himself was the World Barista Champion in 2004.
Delicious Tim Wendelboe coffee made with Love
Drink: Alcohol is quite expensive in Norway, with a glass of beer averaging at $11 and a bottle of wine at a restaurant averages at $46. But Norwegians still enjoy going out and having a drink or two. I came across this great spot called Kulturhuset near the center of Oslo. A coffee shop by day, this bar dims its lights at night as young Norwegians turn off their laptops for the day and begin playing shuffleboard while catching up with friends.
And always be sure to say takk, which means thank you!
Hadet bra (goodbye)!
This article also appears on Women's iLab to inspire the next generation of female leaders.
Berlin. November 15, 2016
New York. August 3, 2016
Tulum. June 23, 2016
Havana. June 15, 2016
Antigua. May 30, 2016
amaiou.com | (A quick Google search showed others who had done the same thing and had written out the directions). For those of you who wish to re-live The Scream moment, it's along a road called Valhallveien on a hill overlooking the center of Oslo.
I wasn't kidding when I said that I'm an art nerd.
Language: koselig (koo-she-leh) literally means "cozy." But the word is actually an important cultural term that represents a type of Norwegian utopia. It means that everybody is warm and safe, everyone is on equal terms, and everyone has what they need at any particular moment.
Architecture: Barcode, one of the most protested building projects in Oslo, consists of a row of new multi-purpose high-rise buildings. Tenants of the buildings include PriceWaterHouseCoopers and Deloitte.
Right across the street is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and the national opera theatre in Norway. The Oslo Opera House is an architectural marvel, designed by renowned architecture firm Snøhetta. The white marble and sloping design at the endge of the Oslofjord gives the allusion of being on a glacier, sliding down on some snow.
Standing on the Oslo Opera House slope
Food: I fell in love with the typical Norwegian open faced sandwiches, which consists of a dark, dense bread and topped with butter, cheese, some sort of meat or fish topping, cucumber for some crunch, and Norwegian remoulade, which is like a mayonnaise with a special kick. I also had some of the best Hot Pot I've ever had – | 327 |
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Again, you have to deal very carefully here as it is a matter of your sleep or insomnia. Attempting something new for a pair of days and specifically when items are provided with complimentary trials, is not a poor suggestion.
Well, by kind we can categorize them right into 3 various groups. The memory foam bed mattress comes on the top as they are one of the most popular ones. These mattresses offer a lengthy lifespan, they are readily available at a competitive cost, and their sturdiness ratings are way much better compared to their counterparts. simmons beautyrest greenwood reviews The second sort of bed mattress we wish to state here is called Latex Foam. They are additionally popular in offline as well as online markets. You can find latex foam's natural as well as synthetic versions. They come comprising on a poly foam base whereas their core is composed of multiple latex layers to supply sleepers with more convenience. Right here comes the third and the last main kind of cushions. You can call it either innerspring cushion or springtime cushion directly. These were very typical in the USA and Europe. The innerspring cushions come outfitted with mechanical springtimes to<|fim_middle|> verified, the chances are that they would certainly talk about much more the weak points of a product that its excellent factors– this is all-natural for us humans as well as it excellent for you as a new customer to remove the products that do not fit you. Review at least 20 evaluations by previous customers prior to you make the decision. The even more reviews you can read the much better. There are uncommon possibilities that an item is a great deal better compared to exactly what it has been defined by the customers, yet many of the time if the reviews are reliable, it would certainly offer you a wonderful understanding into the experience of using the bed mattress that you could not obtain from anywhere else. | give the customer with type of a lift. Nevertheless, today's generation has started doing not like innerspring cushions. All of us recognize, our behaviors are changing with the flow of time. Being constituents of an internet-based society, we now have brand-new issues to resolve, and our lifestyle is bringing adjustments in our sleep habits.
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As pointed out above also, among the most significant advantages of online buying is the accessibility to countless user reviews. If the customers are | 252 |
The Chic Organization – 1977-79 Selection Reworked
By Greg Wilson on June 25, 2018 in DJ / Club Culture, DJ Appearances, Manchester, Remixes / Edits
Last year, Isaac Ferry, who runs Gouranga, which has hosted some of my live mixes on SoundCloud, asked if I'd be up for doing something more bespoke, suggesting I focus in on Chic, given both their history and more recent renaissance as one of the must-see live feelgood experiences of the festival calendar.
The mix idea appealed, but I just didn't have the time to give it my attention at that point, so we filed as something we'd go back to when time allowed. A few months later, when I was booked, along with Crazy P, to support Nile Rodgers & Chic at Manchester's Castleford Bowl, I made a mental note that this would be the perfect time for me to do the mix for Gouranga, providing me with a solid deadline to aim for. I'm now happy to say mission completed. Here's the mix 'The Chic Organization – 1977-79 Selection Reworked', clocking in at exactly an hour:
I finally got around to focusing on putting this together last week, having kept an eye on my deadline thanks to the constant online anticipation for the upcoming gig, which takes place this Wednesday. I'd decided the criteria for my approach would be to combine an hours-worth of edits and reworks of tracks written and produced by Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards (as The Chic Organization Ltd), including<|fim_middle|>ite Tuff Guy, Todd Terje, Deep & Disco, Chewy Rubs, DSD and In Flagranti are respresented here. Full tracklisting with SoundCloud upload.
Chic Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chic_(band)
Sister Sledge Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_Sledge
Sheila & B. Devotion Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_and_B._Devotion
ADE, Bernard Edwards, Bryan Ferry, Castleford Bowl, Chewy Rubs, Chic, Crazy P, Credit To The Edit Vol.3, Daft Punk, Daz Digs Disco, Deep & Disco, DSD, Gouranga, In Flagranti, Isaac Ferry, Killer Funk Disco Allstars, Late Nite Tuff Guy, Leroc Sportif, Nile Rodgers, Norington, Sheila & B. Devotion, Sister Sledge, Steve Dahl, Todd Terje, Tony Thompson
Peter Stringfellow
Greg Wilson's Discotheque Archives #25
6 Responses to The Chic Organization – 1977-79 Selection Reworked
rashley (@Rashleybyname) June 25, 2018 at 1:57 pm #
Love this mix – accompanied with sunshine, just perfect for reliving my youth
Russel June 25, 2018 at 8:34 pm #
Thank you, Greg – tremendous work
Luigi June 26, 2018 at 5:10 am #
a really marvellous work, that's OK !!
Luis Antezana June 26, 2018 at 7:04 am #
Super thoughtful write-up. Thank you for respecting these masterpieces and sharing with us.
Pam June 28, 2018 at 7:33 pm #
Loving it, loving it, loving it, thanks Greg, great work
Claudio Ridolfi July 16, 2018 at 7:24 am #
State of the art of "re"mixing some of the Chic Oranization's repertoire. Waiting for part 2 😉 | , of course, Sister Sledge, whose own success was Chic-generated, their hit-laden 1979 album 'We Are Family' also written and produced by Rodgers & Edwards, and featuring huge club favourites 'Lost In Music', 'He's The Greatest Dancer' and 'Thinking Of You'. All the inclusions are versions I've played on numerous occasions in a live context during the past decade, each one a firm crowd favourite.
Chic had a sound of all their own, the crack rhythm section of Rodgers (guitar), Edwards (bass) and drummer Tony Thompson providing the highly infectious grooves that characterised their records. They would be massively influential as a consequence, their anthemic tracks still loved all these years later, with a new younger generation still embracing their good time vibe in the same way their parents might have.
The mix consists of 12 edits / reworks of 9 tracks, all of which happened to be originally recorded during 1977-79, the years which saw Disco peak and decline, with Chic at the helm during those halcyon days, their own recordings providing 4 US top 10 singles, including a pair of #1s ('Le Freak' being the 3rd best-selling US single of the entire decade), before the Disco bubble was burst big time, becoming a dirty word as the '70s segued the '80s, the term Dance replacing it for the Billboard club chart, although much of this was still Disco under another name.
Chic's reign as Disco royalty ended with their second #1, 'Good Times', in 1979, released just as the Disco Sucks movement was gaining momentum, lobbying radio to return to a more Rock based format, Disco having staged something of a musical coup of the airwaves. Less than a fortnight after 'Good Times' was issued, the infamous Comiskey Park Disco Demolition Night was staged in Chicago, with shock jock Steve Dahl provoking a homophobic / racist frenzy as a bonfire of records by Disco and black artists burned. The shock value of this spectacle served to spread the anti-Disco rhetoric nationwide, and certainly hastened Disco's demise during the second half of '79 – the satire of Disco Sucks causing many people to turn away from a music they'd previously loved, if only for fear of being behind the times. By 1980 Disco was very much yesterdays thing as far as the music business, which had benefitted so much from its impact, was concerned.
For as big as people think Punk might have been at this point in history, it was Disco that was the major money-spinning gift that kept on giving, pouring big bucks into the coffers of the music industry, Punk small-fry in comparison. To provide perspective, during the years 77-79, there were over 30 chart-topping tracks that could be categorised as Disco – almost half of all the US #1s during those years. Further to this, 8 of the 20 best-selling US singles of the entire '70s were Disco-related releases issued within this timeframe. Then you add the juggernaut that was the double-album 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack, issued in late-'77 and featuring the music of the Bee Gees and others, which, until Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' came along in 1982, was the biggest selling LP of all-time. Disco wasn't just a scene, it was a full-on phenomenon.
Against this background its remarkable to think that Chic would never have another top 40 US hit after the chart-topping 'Good Times', their early-'80s releases failing to maintain the group's status. More than any other band, Chic were the main casualties of the Disco Sucks climate, and although Rodgers & Edwards continued to write and produce for others, including Diana Ross and Debbie Harry (Rodgers would also go on to work with David Bowie and Madonna), their time in the limelight was through, as it was for Sister Sledge, whose follow-up album was a commercial disappointment (although they'd top the UK chart in 1985 with the Nile Rodgers produced single 'Frankie', a much poppier affair).
Chic disbanded after their seventh album, 'Believer' in 1983, with Rodgers and Edwards pursuing separate directions. They'd reunite in the early '90s, touring and releasing their first album in 9 years, 1992's 'Chic-ism'. Edwards, however, fell ill in 1996, just before a Chic concert in Tokyo, dying later in his hotel room as a result of pneumonia. He was the man behind some of music's most recognisable basslines, but at the time of his death his legacy, and that of Chic, had become shrouded, the group never receiving anything near to their level of acclaim their music and influence merited.
A revamped Chic became active again with the new millennium, but in 2010 Nile Rodgers was diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he thankfully received the all-clear 3 years later. During this period his wonderful autobiography 'Le Freak – An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco And Destiny' was published.
I remember an Australian promoter who'd booked Chic to headline a festival I was appearing at in 2012 telling me that they were surprised at just how many people weren't aware of who Chic are, yet when you mentioned tracks like 'Le Freak', 'I Want Your Love' and 'Good Times', they knew them immediately.
All that has changed now, although its Nile Rodgers' name that might be more familiar to many these days, the charismatic guitar icon re-entering popular consciousness with a vengeance following his contributions to Daft Punk's 2013 album 'Random Access Memories', not least on the global mega-hit 'Get Lucky', for which he also made a video appearance alongside the robots with fellow contributor Pharrell Williams, the single gaining a 'record of the year' Grammy. All this is well overdue, Rodgers' legacy, creating some of the defining records of the '70s and '80s, finally gaining fuller acknowledgement.
Chic made a triumphant appearance at Glastonbury in 2013, and have since wowed audiences throughout the world with what is, in essence, one of the great songbooks of Pop culture. Nile Rodgers has been on some journey, and continues to travel at relentless speed, spreading the joy around the globe.
My mix contains 6 edits / reworks of 5 Chic tracks, 5 of 3 Sister Sledge singles, plus my edit of the Rodgers & Edwards written and produced 1979 hit for French act Sheila & B. Devotion, 'Spacer', which featured on my recent 'Credit To The Edit Vol 3' compilation.
Isaac from Gouranga is Bryan Ferry's son and was key in helping me license Roxy Music's 'Love Is The Drug' to open the 2nd volume of 'Credit To the Edit' back in 2009. 4 years on he commissioned a remix of the 1985 Bryan Ferry favourite 'Don't Stop The Dance', which I did with Derek Kaye (our first of a dozen remixes together). Nile Rodgers played on 'Don't Stop The Dance', Roxy Music's image of sophisticated glam being a key Chic inspiration when the group formed in 1976.
I first came across Chic as total newcomers in October 1977 when I picked up an import copy of their first single, 'Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)'. It was surefire, a sensational groove carousel, immediately huge on my nights at the Golden Guinea in New Brighton despite not being available in the UK until it was rush-released here in late-November, going on to reach #6 and sparking a run of 5 top 10 hits here.
Unbeknown at the time, I'd bought New York City's 'I'm Doin' Fine Now' (1973) when I was a young teenager, before I'd started DJing. I'd subsequently learn that Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards both played on this record – the first hit they contributed to, the record going top 20 on both sides of the Atlantic. They had their own group, The Big Apple Band, back then, who gigged around New York, but the change of name to Chic came about when another Big Apple Band, led by Walter Murphy, beat them to the punch with a monster Disco novelty hit, 'A Fifth Of Beethoven' in 1976 (Rodgers and Edwards are sometimes wrongly attributed as playing on this record).
I'd meet Nile Rodgers briefly at Bestival on the Isle Of Wight in 2013 before being part of a panel at Amsterdam's ADE dance music conference / festival the following month alongside not only the Chic legend, but another seminal Disco figure, Giorgio Moroder – needless to say it was humbling to be sat alongside 2 people who shaped dance culture to such a level, Giorgio's renaissance also coming on the back of the Daft Punk album, which had a track, 'Giorgio By Moroder' named in homage to the great Italian producer, who defined the European approach to Disco, most notably in 1977 via his timeless co-production (with Pete Belloti) of Donna Summer's electronic atom-splitter 'I Feel Love'.
It was a privilege to play all these incredible recordings in advance of their UK release. I acquired them, with the forementioned exception of 'Dance, Dance, Dance', as DJ promos, which would generally give you a month or so with the track ahead of its commercial availability – my relationship with the record companies in London reaping dividends. Fred Dove, the promo head at WEA, had a streamlined DJ mailing list that was notoriously difficult to get on, but once you did, as I was fortunate enough to have done, despite only working in a backwater seaside town, I was guaranteed regular packages of amazing tunes through my letterbox, and all for free – it was a real coup at the time, believe me! WEA were one of the only labels that would mail you US promos, so we were getting the records as soon as they could be shipped over to the UK and posted out to you – can you imagine having a track like 'Le Freak' or 'Good Times' weeks ahead of your local contemporaries?
WEA, of which the Atlantic label is represented by the A, had both Chic and Sister Sledge on their roster. Sister Sledge was an Atlantic act I'd known from their pre-Rodgers & Edwards recordings, including 'Mama Never Told Me' and 'Love Don't You Go Through No Changes On Me'. My introduction to the Chic-ified version of the group was on receiving a US promo 12" with 'He's The Greatest Dancer' on one side and 'We Are Family' on the other (now what a double-header that was to announce your re-invention), again giving me local exclusivity for a period of time. The 'We Are Family' album, released on Atlantic's Cotillion subsidiary, would spawn a quartet of hits, with 'Lost In Music' and 'Thinking Of You' also gaining classic status.
These are all records that are ingrained as part of life's soundtrack for me, imbued with a particularly special resonance given I was a fresh-faced 17-19 year old when I first played them – musically, it was a wonderful time to be young, experiencing what is now solidified as club culture and history, then fermenting around you from the roots out.
So to put this together, in a sense, serves a double purpose, combining my own homage to that youthful, hopeful time, whilst illustrating how great music can be relevant way past the era in which it was made, especially when you have DJs who can give these tracks a contemporary twist, bringing them to an audience who weren't born at the time of the original releases.
Apart from a few of my own edits, the work of Killer Funk Disco Allstars, Norington, Leroc Sportif, Daz Digs Disco, Late N | 2,565 |
\section{Introduction}
This comunication is based on the paper \cite{beta}
Non commutative (NC) quantum field theory (QFT) may be important for physics
beyond the standard model and for understanding the quantum
Hall effect \cite{DN}. It also occurs naturally as an effective regime of string theory \cite{CDS,SW}.
It led Connes and Chamesddine \cite{Connes} to reformulate the standard model in terms of a spectral triple on a simple non commutative geometry.
The simplest NC field theory is the $\phi_4^4$
model on the Moyal space. Its perturbative renormalizability
at all orders has been proved by
Grosse, Wulkenhaar and followers \cite{GW1,GW2,RVW,GMRV}.
Grosse and Wulkenhaar solved the difficult problem of ultraviolet/infrared
mixing by introducing a new harmonic potential term
inspired by the Langmann-Szabo (LS)
duality \cite{LS} between positions and momenta.
Many on the techniques of commutative field theory have been generalized to include this model. The parametric representation of this model has been established in \cite{GR}. Dimensional regularization has been performen in \cite{dimreg} and the Complete Mellin representation has been introduced in \cite{melin}.
The Hopf algebra associated structure was introduced in \cite{ConKrTV}.
Models with more general propagators have been analysed in \cite{propaga}. There parametric representation has been introduced in \cite{param2}
It is now tempting to conjecture that commutative renormalizable theories in general have NC renormalizable
extensions to Moyal spaces which may imply some new parameters.
Once perturbative renormalization is understood, the next problem is to
compute the renormalization group (RG) flow.
It is well known that the ordinary commutative $\phi_4^4$
model is not asymptotically free in the ultraviolet regime.
It is easy enough to understand this phenomenon in the commutative theory. The coupling is given by the amputed one particle irreducible four point function $\Gamma^4$. To each vertex there correspond two propagators, thus the effective coupling is given by
\begin{eqnarray}
\lambda_{i-1}=\frac{\Gamma^4_i}{Z^2_i} \; ,
\end{eqnarray}
with $Z$ the wave function renormalization.
For a theory with UV cutoff $\Lambda$, one can follow the evolution of the effective coupling with the scale by means of the function $\beta(\lambda)$ defined as
\begin{eqnarray}
\beta(\lambda)=\frac{d\lambda^{nu}}{d\ln\Lambda}\Big{|}_{\lambda^{ren}=ct.} \; .
\end{eqnarray}
Alternatively, in multiscale analysis one uses the definition
\begin{eqnarray}
\beta(\lambda)_i=\lambda_{i-1}-\lambda_i \; .
\end{eqnarray}
For the commutative $\Phi^4_4$ theory, the effective coupling varies with the scale. This phenomenon is easily enough understood at the first order in perturbation theory. For the $\Gamma^4$ function we have a non trivial contribution coming from the bubble graph. On the other hand the tadpole, being local gives only a mass counterterms. and consequently $Z=1$ at one loop.
A detailed study shows that if one wants a non zero renormalized coupling constant one needs to start with a large bare coupling constant. Actually the bare coupling becomes zero for some finite UV cutoff. Conversely, for all finite bare couplings the IR theory is trivial (i.e free). This is a serious problem in commutative field theory and has was baptized the "Landau ghost". The infinite quantities subtracted by renormalization are picked up again in this new divergence.
This problem almost killed the QFT. Being an universal phenomenon, exhibited by many field theories, including electrodynamics, it almost led to abandoning QFT as a reasonable description of fundamental intercations. Fortunately QFT was saved by the discovery of ultraviolet asymptotic freedom in non-Abelian gauge theory \cite{thooft}. But in some sense even the asymptotic freedom is not entirely satisfying. It is more like the ghost turned upsind down: it is the UV theory that becomes trivial.
It is true that such a theory makes much more sense than a theory with ghost, and this allows the
introduction of the standard model for elementary pareticles. Nevertheless IR phenomenon (corresponding to a large coupling non perturbative regime) like quark confinement can not be easily understood. Morover the flows of the three couplings in the standard model do not converge to a unified constant. In order to achieve the convergence of flows one could for instance introduce supersymmetry, but this is problematic as no detection of any super symmetric partner has ever been made.
This same phenomenon blocks the construction of the commutative $\Phi^4_4$ model. One could argue that constructive field theory is more an academic question than a true physical problem, but with out a constructive argument perturbative computations have no meaning. For instance the perturbation series could be sensless starting with the first order!
It was noted in \cite{GWbeta} that the non commutative $\phi_4^4$ model does not exhibit any Landau ghost
at one loop. It is not asymptotically free either.
For any renormalized harmonic potential parameter $\Omega_{ren} >0$,
the running $\Omega$ tends to the special LS dual point $\Omega_{bare} =1$ in the ultraviolet. As a result
the RG flow of the coupling constant is simply bounded \footnote{The Landau ghost can be recovered
in the limit $\Omega_{ren}\to 0$.}. This result was extended up to three loops in \cite{DR}.
This is due to the fact that in NCQFT the tadpole is no longer local! We have a non trivial wave function renormalization starting with the first order! Moreover it exactely compensates the bubble contribution in the beta function! If one generalizes such an argument to all orders the theory would be finite but not trivial all along its RG flow!
In this paper we evaluate the flow at the special LS dual point $\Omega =1$, and prove that
the beta function vanishes at all orders using a kind of Ward identity.
We think the Ward identities discovered here might be important for the
future study of more singular models such as Chern-Simons or Yang Mills theories.
\section{Notations and Main Result}
\setcounter{equation}{0}
We adopt simpler notations than those of \cite{GWbeta,DR}, and normalize so that $\theta =1$,
hence have no factor of $\pi$ or $\theta$.
The bare propagator in the matrix base at $\Omega=1$ is
\begin{equation} \label{propafixed}
C_{m n;k l} = C_{m n} \delta_{m l}\delta_{n k} \ ; \
C_{m n}= \frac{1}{A+m+n}\ ,
\end{equation}
where $A= 2+ \mu^2 /4$, $m,n\in \mathbb{N}^2$ ($\mu$ being the mass)
and we used the notations
\begin{equation}
\delta_{ml} = \delta_{m_1l_1} \delta_{m_2l_2}\ , \qquad m+n = m_1 + m_2 + n_1 + n_2 \ .
\end{equation}
There are two version of this theory, the real and complex one. We focus on the complex case, the result
for the real case follows easily \cite{DR}.
The generating functional is:
\begin{eqnarray}
&&Z(\eta,\bar{\eta})=\int d\phi d\bar{\phi}~e^{-S(\bar{\phi},\phi)+F(\bar{\eta},\eta,;\bar{\phi},\phi)}\nonumber\\
&&F(\bar{\eta},\eta;\bar{\phi},\phi)= \bar{\phi}\eta+\bar{\eta}\phi \nonumber\\
&&S(\bar{\phi},\phi)=\bar{\phi}X\phi+\phi X\bar\phi+A\bar{\phi}\phi+
\frac{\lambda}{2}\phi\bar{\phi}\phi\bar{\phi}
\end{eqnarray}
where traces are implicit and the matrix $X_{m n}$ stands for $m\delta_{m n}$. $S$ is the action and $F$ the external sources.
As before, denote $\Gamma^4(a,b,c,d)$ the amputated one particle irreducible four point function with external indices set to $a,b,c,d$, and $\Sigma(a,b)$ the amputated one particle irreducible two point function
with external indices set to $a,b$ (also called the self-energy). The wave function renormalization is $Z=1-\partial \Sigma(0,0)$ where $\partial\Sigma(0,0)\equiv\partial_L \Sigma = \partial_R \Sigma = \Sigma (1,0) - \Sigma (0,0)$ is the derivative of the self-energy with respect to one of the two indices $a$ or $b$ \cite{DR}.
Our main result is:
\medskip
\noindent{\bf Theorem}
\medskip
The equation:
\begin{eqnarray}\label{beautiful}
\Gamma^{4}(0,0,0,0)=\lambda (1-\partial\Sigma(0,0))^2
\end{eqnarray}
holds up to irrelevant terms \footnote{Irrelevant terms include in particular all non-planar or planar with more than one broken face contributions.}
to {\bf all} orders of perturbation, either as a bare equation with fixed ultraviolet cutoff,
or as an equation for the renormalized theory. In the latter case $\lambda $ should still be understood
as the bare constant, but reexpressed as a series in powers of $\lambda_{ren}$.
\section{Ward Identities}
We orient the propagators from a $\bar{\phi}$ to a $\phi$.
For a field $\bar{\phi}_{a b}$ we call the index $a$ a
{\it left index} and the index, $b$ a {\it right index}. The first (second) index of a $\bar{\phi}$ {\it allways} contracts with
the second (first) index of a $\phi$. Consequently for $\phi_{c d}$, $c$ is a {\it right index} and $d$ is a {\it left index}.
Let $U=e^{\imath B}$ with $B$ a small hermitian matrix. We consider the ``left" (as it acts only on the left indices) change of variables\footnote{There is a similar ``right" change of variables, acting only on the right indices.}:
\begin{eqnarray}
\phi^U=\phi U;\bar{\phi}^U=U^{\dagger}\bar{\phi} \ .
\end{eqnarray}
The variation of the action is, at first order:
\begin{eqnarray}
\delta S&=&\phi U X U^{\dagger}\bar{\phi}-\phi X \bar{\phi}\approx
\imath\big{(}\phi B X\bar{\phi}-\phi X B \bar{\phi}\big{)}\nonumber\\
&=&\imath B\big{(}X\bar{\phi}\phi-\bar{\phi}\phi X \big{)}
\end{eqnarray}
and the variation of the external sources is:
\begin{eqnarray}
\delta F&=&U^{\dagger}\bar{\phi}\eta-\bar{\phi}\eta+\bar{\eta}\phi U-\bar{\eta}\phi
\approx-\imath B \bar{\phi}\eta+\imath\bar{\eta}\phi B\nonumber\\
&=&\imath B\big{(}-\bar{\phi}\eta+\bar{\eta}\phi{)} .
\end{eqnarray}
We obviously have:
\begin{eqnarray}
&&\frac{\delta \ln Z}{\delta B_{b a}}=0=\frac{1}{Z(\bar{\eta},\eta)}\int d\bar{\phi} d\phi
\big{(}-\frac{\delta S}{\delta B_{b a}}+\frac{\delta F}{\delta B_{b a}}\big{)}e^{-S+F}\nonumber\\
&&=\frac{1}{Z(\bar{\eta},\eta)}\int d\bar{\phi} d\phi ~e^{-S+F}
\big{(}-[X \bar{\phi}\phi-\bar{\phi}\phi X]_{a b}+
[-\bar{\phi}\eta+\bar{\eta}\phi]_{a b}\big{)} \ .
\end{eqnarray}
We now take $\partial_{\eta}\partial_{\bar{\eta}}|_{\eta=\bar{\eta}=0}$
on the above expression. As we have at most two insertions we get only the connected components of the correlation functions.
\begin{eqnarray}
0=<\partial_{\eta}\partial_{\bar{\eta}}\big{(}
-[X \bar{\phi}\phi-\bar{\phi}\phi X]_{a b}+
[-\bar{\phi}\eta+\bar{\eta}\phi]_{a b}\big{)}e^{F(\bar{\eta},\eta)} |_0>_c \ ,
\end{eqnarray}
which gives:
\begin{eqnarray}
<\frac{\partial(\bar{\eta}\phi)_{a b}}{\partial \bar{\eta}}\frac{\partial(\bar{\phi}\eta)}{\partial \eta}
-\frac{\partial(\bar{\phi}\eta)_{a b}}{\partial \eta}\frac{\partial (\bar{\eta}\phi)}{\partial \bar{\eta}}
- [X \bar{\phi}\phi-\bar{\phi}\phi X]_{a b}
\frac{\partial(\bar{\eta}\phi)}{\partial \bar{\eta}}\frac{\partial (\bar{\phi}\eta)}{\partial\eta}>_c=0 .
\end{eqnarray}
Using the explicit form of $X$ we get:
\begin{eqnarray}
(a-b)<[ \bar{\phi}\phi]_{a b}
\frac{\partial(\bar{\eta}\phi)}{\partial \bar{\eta}}\frac{\partial (\bar{\phi}\eta)}{\partial\eta}>_c=
<\frac{\partial(\bar{\eta}\phi)_{a b}}{\partial \bar{\eta}}\frac{\partial(\bar{\phi}\eta)}{\partial \eta}>_c
-<\frac{\partial(\bar{\phi}\eta)_{a b}}{\partial \eta}\frac{\partial (\bar{\eta}\phi)}{\partial \bar{\eta}}> \ ,
\nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
and for $\bar{\eta}_{ \beta \alpha} \eta_{ \nu \mu}$ we get:
\begin{eqnarray}
(a-b)<[ \bar{\phi}\phi]_{a b} \phi_{\alpha \beta}
\bar{\phi}_{\mu \nu }>_c=
<\delta_{a \beta}\phi_{\alpha b} \bar{\phi}_{\mu \nu}>_c
-<\delta _{b \mu }\bar{\phi}_{a \nu} \phi_{\alpha \beta}>_c
\end{eqnarray}
We now restrict to terms in the above expressions which are planar with a single external face,
as all others are irrelevant. Such terms have $\alpha=\nu$, $a=\beta$ and $b=\mu$.
The Ward identity for $2$ point function reads:
\begin{eqnarray}\label{ward2point}
(a-b)<[ \bar{\phi}\phi]_{a b} \phi_{\nu a}
\bar{\phi}_{b \nu }>_c=
<\phi_{\nu b} \bar{\phi}_{b \nu}>_c
-<\bar{\phi}_{a \nu} \phi_{\nu a}>_c
\end{eqnarray}
(repeated indices are not summed).
\begin{figure}[hbt]
\centerline{
\includegraphics[width=100mm]{fig1.eps}
}
\caption{The Ward identity for a 2p point function with insertion on the left face}\label{fig:Ward}
\end{figure}
The indices $a$ and $b$ are left indices, so that we have the Ward identity with an insertion on a left face\footnote{There is a similar Ward identity obtained with the ``right" transformation, consequently with the insertion on a right face.} as represented in Fig. \ref{fig:Ward}.
\section{Proof of the Theorem}
We start this section by some definitions:
we will denote $G^{4}(m,n,k,l)$ the connected four point function restricted to the planar one broken face case, where $m,n,k,l$ are the indices of the external face in the correct cyclic order. The first index $m$ allways represents a left index.
Similarely, $G^{2}(m,n)$ is the connected planar one broken face two point function with $m,n$ the indices on the external face (also called the {\bf dressed} propagator, see Fig. \ref{fig:propagators}). $G^{2}(m,n)$ and $\Sigma(m,n)$ are related by:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{G2Sigmarelation}
G^{2}(m,n)=\frac{C_{m n}}{1-C_{m n}\Sigma(m,n)}=\frac{1}{C_{m n}^{-1}-\Sigma(m,n)} \, .
\end{eqnarray}
\begin{figure}[hbt]
\centerline{
\includegraphics[width=60mm]{fig4.eps}
}
\caption{The {\bf dressed} and the bare propagators}\label{fig:propagators}
\end{figure}
$G_{ins}(a,b;...)$ will denote the planar one broken face
connected function with one insertion on the left border where the matrix index jumps from $a$ to $b$. With this notations the Ward identity (\ref{ward2point}) writes:
\begin{eqnarray}
(a-b) ~ G^{2}_{ins}(a,b;\nu)=G^{2}(b,\nu)-G^{2}(a,\nu)\, .
\end{eqnarray}
All the identities we use, either Ward identities or the Dyson equation of motion
can be written either for the bare theory or for the theory with complete mass renormalization, which is the one considered in \cite{DR}. In the first case the parameter $A$ in (\ref{propafixed}) is the bare one, $A_{bare}$
and there is no mass subtraction. In the second case the parameter $A$ in (\ref{propafixed})
is $A_{ren}= A_{bare} - \Sigma(0,0)$, and every two point 1PI subgraph is subtracted at 0 external indices\footnote{These mass subtractions need not be rearranged into forests
since 1PI 2point subgraphs never overlap non trivially.}. Troughout this paper $\partial_{L}$ will denote the derivative with respect to a left index and $\partial_{R}$ the one with respect to a right index. When the two derivatives are equal we will employ the generic notation $\partial$.
Let us prove first the Theorem in the mass-renormalized case, then in the next subsection
in the bare case. Indeed the mass renormalized theory used is free from any quadratic divergences, and remaining logarithmic subdivergences in the ultra violet cutoff can be removed easily by going, for instance, to the ``useful" renormalized effective series,
as explained in \cite{DR}.
\begin{figure}[hbt]
\centerline{
\includegraphics[width=120mm]{fig2.eps}
}
\caption{The Dyson equation}\label{fig:dyson}
\end{figure}
We analyze a four point connected function $G^4(0,m,0,m)$ with index $m \ne 0$ on the right borders.
This explicit break of left-right symmetry is adapted to our problem.
Consider a $\bar{\phi}$ external line and the first vertex hooked to it.
Turning right on the $m$ border at this vertex we meet a new line (the slashed line in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}). The slashed line either separates the graph into two disconnected components ($G^{4}_{(1)}$ and $G^{4}_{(2)}$ in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}) or not
($G^{4}_{(3)}$ in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}). Furthermore, if the slashed line separates the graph into two disconnected components the first vertex may either belong to a four point component ($G^{4}_{(1)}$ in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}) or to a two point component
($G^{4}_{(2)}$ in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}).
We stress that this is a {\it classification} of graphs: the different components depicted in Fig. \ref{fig:dyson} take into account all the combinatoric factors. Furthermore, the setting of the external indices to $0$ on the left borders and $m$ on the right borders distinguishes the $G^{4}_{(1)}$ and $G^{4}_{(2)}$ from their counterparts ``pointing upwards": indeed, the latter are classified in $G^{4}_{(3)}$!
We have thus the Dyson equation:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{Dyson}
G^4(0,m,0,m)=G^4_{(1)}(0,m,0,m)+G^4_{(2)}(0,m,0,m)+G^4_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)\, .
\end{eqnarray}
The second term, $G^{4}_{(2)}$, is zero. Indeed the mass renormalized two point insertion is zero, as it has the external left index set to zero. Note that this is an insertion exclusively on the left border. The simplest case of such an insertion is a
(left) tadpole. We will (naturally) call a general insertion touching only the left border a ``generalized left tadpole" and denote it by
$T^L$.
We will prove that $G^{4}_{(1)}+G^{4}_{(3)}$ yields
$\Gamma^4=\lambda (1-\partial \Sigma)^2$ after amputation of the four external propoagators.
We start with $G^{4}_{(1)}$. It is of the form:
\begin{eqnarray}
G^4_{(1)}(0,m,0,m)=\lambda C_{0 m} G^{2}(0, m) G^{2}_{ins}(0,0;m)\,.
\end{eqnarray}
By the Ward identity we have:
\begin{eqnarray}
G^{2}_{ins}(0,0;m)&=&\lim_{\zeta\rightarrow 0}G^{2}_{ins}(\zeta ,0;m)=
\lim_{\zeta\rightarrow 0}\frac{G^{2}(0,m)-G^{2}(\z<|fim_middle|>term corresponding to this kind of two point insertion will be substracted on the left hand side of eq.(\ref{opening}), but not on the right hand side. In the equation for $G^{4}_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)$ one must
therefore \textit{add its missing counterterm}, so that:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{Open2}
G^4_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)&=& C_{0m}\sum_{p} G^{4}_{ins}(0,p;m,0,m)\nonumber\\
&-&C_{0m}(CT_{lost})G^{4}(0,m,0,m)\,.
\end{eqnarray}
It is clear that not all 1PI 2 point insertions on the left hand side of Fig. \ref{fig:insertion} will be ``lost" on the right hand side. If the insertion is a ``generalized left tadpole" it is not ``lost" by opening the face $p$ (imagine a tadpole pointing upwards in Fig.\ref{fig:insertion}: clearely it will not be opened by opening the line). We will call the 2 point 1PI insertions ``lost" on the right hand side $\Sigma^R(m,n)$. Denoting the generalized left tadpole $T^{L}$ we can write (see Fig .\ref{fig:selfenergy}):
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{eq:leftright}
\Sigma(m,n)=T^{L}(m,n)+\Sigma^R(m,n)\, .
\end{eqnarray}
Note that as $T^{L}(m,n)$ is an insertion exclusively on the left border, it does not depend upon the right index $n$. We therefore have $\partial\Sigma(m,n)=\partial_R\Sigma(m,n)=\partial_R\Sigma^R(m,n)$.
\begin{figure}[hbt]
\centerline{
\includegraphics[width=90mm]{fig5.eps}
}
\caption{The self energy}\label{fig:selfenergy}
\end{figure}
The missing mass counterterm writes:
\begin{eqnarray}\label{lostct}
CT_{lost}=\Sigma^R(0,0)=\Sigma(0,0)-T^{L}\, .
\end{eqnarray}
In order to evaluate $\Sigma^{R}(0,0)$ we proceed
by opening its face $p$ and using the Ward identity (\ref{ward2point}), to obtain:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{S2}
\Sigma^R(0,0)&=&\frac{1}{G^{2}(0,0)}\sum_{p}G^2_{ins}(0,p;0)\nonumber\\
&=&\frac{1}{G^{2}(0,0)}\sum_{p}\frac{1}{p}[G^2(0,0)-G^2(p,0)]\nonumber\\
&=&\sum_{p}\frac{1}{p} \biggl(1 -\frac{G^{2}(p,0)}{G^{2}(0,0)}\biggr) \, .
\end{eqnarray}
Using eq. (\ref{Open2}) and eq. (\ref{S2}) we have:
\begin{eqnarray}\label{S3}
G^4_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)&=& C_{0m}\sum_{p} G^{4}_{ins}(0,p;m,0,m)\nonumber\\
&-&C_{0m} G^{4}(0,m,0,m) \sum_{p}\frac{1}{p}
\biggl( 1- \frac{G^{2}(p,0)}{G^2(0,0)} \biggr) \, .
\end{eqnarray}
After some manipulations using mainly the Ward identity, detiled in \cite{beta} we obtain the final result
\begin{eqnarray}\label{g43}
G^4_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)&=&-C_{0m}G^{4}(0,m,0,m)\frac{1}{G^{2}(0,0)}\frac{\partial\Sigma(0,0)}{1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)}
\nonumber\\
&=&-G^{4}(0,m,0,m)
\frac{A_{ren} \; \partial\Sigma(0,0)}{(m+A_{ren}) [1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)]} \ .
\end{eqnarray}
Using (\ref{g41final}) and (\ref{g43}), equation (\ref{Dyson}) rewrites as:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{final}
&&G^4(0,m,0,m)\Big{(}1+
\frac{A_{ren}\; \partial\Sigma(0,0)}{(m+A_{ren}) \; [ 1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)] }\Big{)}
\\
&&=\lambda (G^{2}(0,m))^{4}\Big{(}1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)+\frac{A_{ren}}{m+A_{ren}}\partial\Sigma(0,0)\Big{)}
[1-\partial_{L}\Sigma(0,m)]\, .\nonumber
\end{eqnarray}
We multiply (\ref{final}) by $[1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)]$ and amputate four times. As the differences $\Gamma^4(0,m,0,m,)-\Gamma^4(0,0,0,0)$ and $\partial_L\Sigma(0,m)-\partial_L\Sigma(0,0)$ are irrelevant we get:
\begin{eqnarray}
\Gamma^{4}(0,0,0,0)=\lambda (1-\partial\Sigma(0,0))^2\, .
\end{eqnarray}
{\hfill $\Box$}
\section{Conclusion}
Since the main result of this paper is proved up to irrelevant
terms which converge at least like a power of the ultraviolet cutoff, as this ultraviolet cutoff is lifted towards infinity,
we not only get that the beta function vanishes in the ultraviolet regime, but that it
vanishes fast enough so that the total flow of the coupling constant is bounded.
The reader might worry whether this conclusion is still true for the full model which has
$\Omega_{ren} \ne 1$, hence no exact conservation of matrix indices along faces.
The answer is yes, because the flow of $\Omega $ towards its ultra-violet limit
$\Omega_{bare}=1$ is very fast (see e.g. \cite{DR}, Sect II.2).
The vanishing of the beta function is a step towards a full non perturbative construction
of this model without any cutoff, just like e.g. the one of the Luttinger model \cite{BGPS,BM1}.
But NC $\phi^4_4$ would be the first such \textit{four dimensional} model, and the only one
with non logarithmic divergences. Tantalizingly, quantum field theory might actually behave
better and more interestingly on non-commutative than on commutative spaces.
Steps in this directions have been taken in \cite{const1,const2}.
\medskip
| eta,m)}{\zeta}\nonumber\\
&=&-\partial_{L}G^{2}(0,m) \, .
\end{eqnarray}
Using the explicit form of the bare propagator we have $\partial_L C^{-1}_{ab}=\partial_R C^{-1}_{ab}=\partial C^{-1}_{ab}=1$. Reexpressing $G^{2}(0,m)$ by eq. (\ref{G2Sigmarelation}) we conclude that:
\begin{eqnarray}\label{g41}
G^4_{(1)}(0,m,0,m)&=&\lambda
C_{0m}\frac{C_{0m}C^2_{0m}[1-\partial_{L}\Sigma(0,m)]}{[1-C_{0m}\Sigma(0,m)]
(1-C_{0m}\Sigma(0,m))^2}\nonumber\\
&=&\lambda [G^{2}(0,m)]^{4}\frac{C_{0m}}{G^{2}(0,m)}[1-\partial_{L}\Sigma(0,m)]\, .
\end{eqnarray}
The self energy is (again up to irrelevant terms (\cite{GW2}):
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{PropDressed}
\Sigma(m,n)=\Sigma(0,0)+(m+n)\partial\Sigma(0,0)
\end{eqnarray}
Therefore up to irrelevant terms ($C^{-1}_{0m}=m+A_{ren}$) we have:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{G2(0,m)}
G^{2}(0,m)=\frac{1}{m+A_{bare}-\Sigma(0,m)}=\frac{1}{m[1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)]+A_{ren}}
\, ,
\end{eqnarray}
and
\begin{eqnarray} \label{cdressed}
\frac{C_{0m}}{G^{2}(0,m)}=1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)+\frac{A_{ren}}{m+A_{ren}}\partial\Sigma(0,0) \, .
\end{eqnarray}
Inserting eq. (\ref{cdressed}) in eq. (\ref{g41}) holds:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{g41final}
G^4_{(1)}(0,m,0,m)&=&\lambda [G^{2}(0,m)]^{4}\bigl(
1-\partial\Sigma(0,0)+\frac{A_{ren}}{m+A_{ren}}\partial\Sigma(0,0)
\bigr) \nonumber\\
&&[1-\partial_{L}\Sigma(0,m)]\, .
\end{eqnarray}
\begin{figure}[hbt]
\centerline{
\includegraphics[width=140mm]{fig3.eps}
}
\caption{Two point insertion and opening of the loop with index $p$}\label{fig:insertion}
\end{figure}
For the $G^4_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)$ one starts by ``opening" the face which is ``first on the right''. The summed index of this face is called $p$ (see Fig. \ref{fig:dyson}). For bare Green functions this reads:
\begin{eqnarray}
\label{opening}
G^{4,bare}_{(3)}(0,m,0,m)=C_{0m}\sum_{ p} G^{4,bare}_{ins}(p,0;m,0,m)\, .
\end{eqnarray}
When passing to mass renormalized Green functions one must be cautious. It is possible that the face $p$ belonged to a 1PI two point insertion in $G^{4}_{(3)}$ (see the left hand side in Fig. \ref{fig:insertion}).
Upon opening the face $p$ this 2 point insertion disappears (see right hand side of Fig. \ref{fig:insertion})!
When renormalizing, the counter | 892 |
The Old Lady Who Was Really A Dog
No your eyes are not deceiving you, what we<|fim_middle|>olle, in the London 19th Century Photographer Database
James Charles Bertolle, in the London 19th Century Photographer Database
British Banjo Makers, Part 1
Labels: Anthropomorphic Dogs, antique dog photo, Breed : Terrier, Islington, London, Photographer : Bertollé & Sons, Photographer : James Bertollé
Location: 268 Caledonian Rd, London N1 0NG, UK
David Vantassel 28 August 2019 at 22:04
Quickly this site will indisputably be famous among all blogging people, because of its fastidious articles or reviews.
Ruff Hero
Sandeep 11 September 2019 at 21:10
I take my dog to the dog park and it has solved the dog being anti-social a lot
Fermi, Enrico 24 September 2019 at 04:26
Keep it up!! You have done the nice job having provided the latest information.click
peter smith 10 October 2019 at 03:12
Your articles and blogs are inspirational.
constructiondumpsterSan Diego | have here is not a delicate old lady, but a little terrier dressed up! The shoulder of the dog's owner can just be seen on the right as they hide behind the carefully placed fabric curtain to hold the dog up for the exposure.
The Victorian era was one where the relationships & connections between the human and animal kingdom were hotly debated. In art and literature the dog became symbol that could represent any number of values and social stereotypes. Depictions of anthropomorphic dogs (dressed as humans) helped the anti-vivisection movement of the time to bring the debate on animal treatment to a wide audience.
Illustrations by Victorian Illustrator Harrison Weir, c1870s
With the photograph I'm certain however there was no bigger social commentary going on, just a bit of fun! Who won't want to see if their favourite pet suited a dress and bonnet?
The photograph was taken in London by Bertollé & Son's Studio, 268 Caledonian Road, Islington. The Studio was operated by photographer James Parton until 1857 when he was succeed by James Bertollé.
The Studio stayed in the Bertollé family, and his son, James Lewis William Bertollé continued the business, with his own son joining him in 1890 (another James!) James Charles Bertollé.
James Lewis was a banjoist as well as a photographer, teaching James Charles to play the instrument at an early age. By 1897 James Charles was not only working as a photographer with his father but playing banjo concerts and teaching between 30 and 40 banjo lessons per week. The Studio at Caledonian road must have been very busy! At the studio they also sold "Dexter" banjo's, named after James Charles' banjo duet band name "The Dexters".
The Studio at 268 Caledonian road is still standing, and is now several grade-II listed flats.
260 to 268 Caledonian Road
The reverse of the photograph mount
Harrison Weir, Anthropomorphism, and moralizing books for Children and Adults, Simon Cooke Ph.D, 2013
Victorian Medicine and Popular Culture, Louise Penner, 2015
The Dog's Grand Dinner Party, McLoughlin Brothers, illustrated by Harrison Weir, 1870
James Barton, in the London 19th Century Photographer Database
James Bertolle, in the London 19th Century Photographer Database
James Lewis William Bert | 532 |
Linden Lab hires Lewis PR
SAN FRANCISCO: Linden Lab, creator of popular social networking video game Second Life, has selected Lewis PR as its global AOR.
by Keith O'Brien / October 12, 2006
Second Life is a digital platform where individuals can create avatars - or digital personas - and pursue alternate lives, replete with revenues, accessories, and car and home purchases.
Catherine Smith, Linden Lab's marketing director, said it sought a firm to serve as a "press attaché of an emerging country," adding that Lewis viewed their role as becoming "the ministry of PR in Second Life.
"The amount of interest being generated is too much," Smith said<|fim_middle|>40,000. | . "We have a lot to do, and we have a ways to get there."
"Our main focus is to communicate what Second Life is to a bigger audience," said Morgan McLintic, Lewis VP. "It's a hot media property at the moment. We want to expand that and reach a broader audience."
Lewis will help create Linden's press office and launch language-specific software clients in Germany, Korea, and Japan. The agency will also pursue partner communications, helping companies understand the influence of Second Life.
Smith said that the company's goal was to get in front of target verticals, and go more mainstream when its ready. The Second Life platform has garnered much tech press, including a thick guide to the land in the most recent issue of Wired.
Billings are undisclosed. Lewis beat out one other undisclosed agency Flashpoint PR, which had represented Linden since April 2005, declined to pitch for the global business.
The community's resident count as of September was 7 | 200 |
The Weekend Brew: Who's In Your View?
Life get's out of control sometimes, even for a semi-control freak like me. You try to keep it all together, striving for order in your messy, calm in your chaos and cool in your hot flashes. But really, life moves at a much faster pace than I can keep up with.
In the hustle and bustle of life, It's easy to become short sighted, only able to see the looming mess and chaos — the unfinished laundry, the homeschool books (boxes and boxes of them) that you are still trying to sell, and the untidiness of your home.
On those days, I long for a different view. I want to sit and gaze out the window into the clear blue sky, or take a long walk by the creek and hear the water rushing beneath my feet. When this one screams "Gal<|fim_middle|> upon Jesus. In dark days and in sunny days. He is the Author of our lives.
AMEN Jedidja! Have a blessed week.
I loved what you have reminded us of here, Barbie. We must "set" the Lord before us – He must be firmly in place. Then no matter what our day brings, we will not be shaken or moved because we will know He is going before us. Beautiful thoughts, Barbie! Blessings!
Always love when you stop by Dolly!
I've sure felt like that before…I think of the Psalm, "oh that I had wings like a bird, I would fly away and be at rest". A different location isn't always possible is it? But, a different mindset and focus is always available! I'm glad we can encourage each other during these times. Much love to you, Barbie!
So thankful to have you along on this journey Elizabeth. Praying you have a beautiful weekend.
Thanks for visiting Rebecca. Have a blessed weekend.
Thanks for stopping by Lyli!
He will never fail us, Barbie! So true, and such a wonderful inspiration and encouragement for the weekend. Thank you!
I loved this Barbie! I know sometimes I spend my life looking out the rear view mirror instead of looking ahead. God is always before us -leading us and making the path clear. Praying we all look ahead today and glimpse the view! Blessings!
AMEN! Have a beautiful weekend Mary!
So thankful for you Satin, and your beautiful heart for the Lord. Hugs!
Oh how I'm fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. I need Him so much these days. I'm so grateful that even though I have a terrible tendency to lose sight of Him when life is easy, the moment I call out "Jesus, save me!" His strong hand reaches down to grab mine.
I've been praying for you my friend, and will continue to do so. May you sense His presence and feel His overwhelming peace.
Super words of encouragement. It is so important to slow down and enjoy the present of the present in His presence – the other stuff can wait.
Thanks for stopping by Chris. Have a lovely weekend.
So very encouraging. Enjoy your weekend.
Oh, I want to see Him always in front of me too. What a beautiful message to begin the weekend with . . . and one I should read again every Monday. Delighted to see you working with that lovely Satin. 🙂 Love you, friend. Have a blessed weekend.
So thankful for Satin and her beautiful work. Have a beautiful weekend! | gon, take me away", she scurries off to find a place to call beautiful, something to take her attention off the ugliness of the day.
I was reminded of this verse a week or so ago, of how David set the Lord before him. The scripture is a promise that the Lord will not abandon our soul. And again, I am reminded that I must speak to my soul, and say, "Rise up, soul, and bless the Lord!" Even in times of trouble, David placed the Lord in front of Him. He knew that by keeping His eyes on the Lord, His feet would not fall, and He would not be shaken.
On those days where I want to turn and run for the hills, the greener pastures, and the quiet moments, I need to check my view and make sure that Jesus is still in front of me, in plain sight. By looking at Him, my perspective about everything else changes.
Have you checked your view lately? Ask the Lord to show you a glimpse of Himself, and fix your eyes on Him. He will never fail you!
very encouraging barbie! thank you.
It's often so much easier to focus on the mess rather than the Master of the mess.
So true Sandra. Thank you for stopping by.
Oh, it is so easy to get caught up in the business of life! I am learning more and more (thank goodness!) to appreciated my time, and fill it to the fullest! It is so precious, and I don't want to miss out on anything that God brings to me. ♥ Love the artwork!
Yes, it is. Most days I feel like my life is running me and I'm trying to catch up. Blessings!
beautiful graphic for the content !
He is before us on so many levels – Creation beauty is definitely one !
Thank you for stopping by Sharon! Praying you have a blessed week.
Thanks Barbie for the beautiful, honest and powerful blog. I'm happy with it. Let's continue look | 409 |
Burger King's Net Neutrality Explainer Might Just Be the Easiest to Digest
In a recent video, the world's fifth largest fast-food chain explores what happens when you restrict customers access to the Whopper.
By Abbey White Updated January 25, 2018
net neutrality whopper from burger king youtube video
Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
In the battle over net neutrality, apparently one fast-food chain is king when it comes to understanding what's at stake, and it's none other than the home of the Whopper.
Last year Google, Twitter, Amazon, Netflix, and other internet giants pushed back against the Federal Communications Commission's attempt to deregulate the internet. At the time, the concept—that an internet provider could charge customers different and increasing rates to gain more access to content (like access highways)—was somewhat foreign to most average Americans, who have become accustomed to the "open internet" model.
While a vote by the FCC last December essentially overturned regulations preventing telecom companies from tiering the internet in this way, some U.S. legislators, citizens and companies have continued efforts to protect net neutrality, and that list has now expanded to include Burger King. Yesterday, the world's fifth-largest fast-food chain released an explainer video on the pitfalls of net neutrality using its very own signature sandwich. After asking several random strangers on the street what net neutrality was (and not getting very clear or informed responses), the fast food giant takes us into a location converted for a social experiment of sorts. Once inside, we see the process for ordering and receiving food has been slightly altered.
Customers are told by<|fim_middle|> per second" or Mbps rate. The faster you want your burger, the more you pay. Opt for the lower Mbps rate, and you'll have to wait—even if your burger is there and ready. While certainly not scientific, it is intriguing to watch the hilarious, cringe-worthy, and impassioned reactions to the idea of Whopper access (and thus "internet access") being controlled this way.
This combination of stunt marketing and brand activism (that does encourage you to sign a petition in support of net neutrality) is a new vein in the fast-food viral marketing push of recent years. But it's also just a clever way of exploring the expectations we attach to things like food or the internet, and how deeply ingrained the "fast" in fast-food service is.
By the end of it and with Whoppers in hand, most customers seem to have the light-bulb turned on. And while it's not clear why Burger King would be so invested in upholding net neutrality, the home of the Whopper does makes clear where it stands in the fight for equal internet access: "The Internet," the last line of the video reads, "should be like the Whopper sandwich: the same for everyone." | fake employees that the company is shifting its focus towards selling chicken sandwiches and chicken fries, "so now they are slowing down access to the Whopper." When ordering, one has the option to choose between three prices (from around $6 up to $26) that are determined by the "making burgers | 61 |
Omicron forces cancelation of ISU Grand Prix Final in Japan
The International Skating<|fim_middle|> host the Grand Prix Final "at short notice" if needed.
Australian Open: Winning in two sets in first round made me more confident, says Halep | Union (ISU) has canceled its Grand Prix Final in Osaka, Japan, after being informed by local organizers that the event could not go ahead as planned.
The Grand Prix showpiece was due to be held from December 9 to 12, but an ISU statement on Thursday said that the "complicated" situation surrounding travel restrictions meant it could not proceed.
Japan shut its borders to foreign visitors earlier this week in a bid to stop the spread of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus.
READ MORE: Countries close borders to foreigners amid Omicron fears
"Unfortunately, considering the complicated epidemic situation involving travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, safety concerns and logistical challenges, the organization of the event was extremely challenging," a statement from the ISU read.
"The Japan Skating Federation and the Local Organizing Committee tried their best to find solutions but ultimately concluded that, regrettably, they are unable to organize and hold the event as planned...
"The ISU will evaluate a possible postponement to hold the event at the end of the season and will take a decision as soon as possible. The ISU thanks the Japan Skating Federation for their efforts and cooperation."
The Grand Prix Final features the best performers from the season's ISU series.
This year's ladies' singles event was particularly anticipated among fans and was set to feature five Russian skaters out of the six contenders.
Renowned Russian figure skating trainer Tatiana Tarasova has already said that Russia could step in to | 299 |
The Upshot|Six Years Later, We're Still Litigating the Bailouts. Here's What We Know.
When Wall Street imploded in the fall of 2008, a few things were apparent at the time: that the economic consequences would be dire; that the financial industry was in need of major reform; that the impact of the crisis would be wide-ranging.
But here's what was not at all apparent, or at least not to me as a reporter covering it all: that six years later, we would still be litigating, metaphorically and literally, who was at fault and what ought to be done to create a stronger financial system.
Were the policy makers who led the fight against the crisis — principally the Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and the New York Fed chief, Timothy Geithner — heroes who rescued the global economy through creativity and bravado? Were they stooges of Wall Street who funneled hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to the financial industry? Did they wield power with a vindictive, arbitrary approach that left them picking winners and losers? Should the policy makers have been more stingy? More generous? More consistent?
With the economy still not fully recovered from the recession brought on by that crisis, those arguments can seem as raw and relevant today as they were in 2008.
This week, A.I.G. shareholders went to court to argue that the Federal Reserve's bailout of the company was an illegal taking of private property; the three chief engineers of the bailout are to testify next week.
Meanwhile, my colleagues James B. Stewart and Peter Eavis reported that, contrary to the longstanding contention of the officials involved, the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, which set off the most intense phase of the crisis, might not have been inevitable. Some analysts at the New York Fed, they wrote, concluded that fateful weekend in September 2008 that Lehman might have been solvent and a plausible candidate for a bailout.
And in a less prominent story, a court tossed out claims by shareholders of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two housing finance firms taken over by the government a week before the Lehman bankruptcy. Investors in the companies said the government shouldn't be able to hoard their now-huge profits.
The events of the fall of 2008 and the factors that led to them have been rehashed in numerous books and scrutinized by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. But after all these years, America remains deeply conflicted about what our government did on our behalf.
How should the new legal proceedings and press reports shape our perception of this crucial time? Here are some key questions, and my best guesses at the answers based on my years of reporting and my reading of a range of journalistic accounts, memoirs of those involved, and internal documents released through litigation.
Could the government have saved Lehman Brothers? Mr. Geithner and the others involved have long claimed they had no legal tools to rescue Lehman Brothers and prevent its bankruptcy filing because the company was insolvent (with financial obligations greater than its assets). The provision of the Federal Reserve Act that the Fed used to bail out Bear Stearns and A.I.G. allowed it to make loans against good collateral, not to give money to a financial institution willy-nilly. And indeed some later analysis, including one by William R. Cline and Joseph E. Gagnon, has tended to confirm that Lehman was insolvent, not just temporarily short of cash.
By the weekend of Sept. 13, 2008, there was bailout fatigue. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had been taken over by the government a week earlier; Bear Stearns was rescued a few months before that. There was a "no more bailouts" consensus in the Bush administration and in both parties in Congress. Going into the weekend when Lehman Brothers failed, Mr. Paulson pre-emptively leaked<|fim_middle|>. Yet to get the banks to agree to haircuts, they would need to threaten the very thing they were looking to avoid — to send one of the world's largest insurance companies into the same kind of disorderly bankruptcy that had already enveloped Lehman Brothers.
Were policy makers arbitrary and random in their decisions? "South Park" once gave a memorable answer, involving the wanderings of a headless chicken. For the public, the decisions on whom to bail out, nationalize or allow to fail surely seemed random. Bear Stearns? Government-assisted bailout. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Government takeover. Lehman Brothers? Bankruptcy. A.I.G.? Bailout.
To the policy makers involved, the decisions seemed methodical and grounded in the unique circumstances of each firm involved and their legal authorities. Is it a bank? Is it solvent? Is it systemically important?
But the policy makers were reluctant to lay out in advance some framework of what institutions would be rescued and which weren't, viewing strategic ambiguity as their friend. They didn't want to pre-commit. That added to the uncertainty of a difficult time, and with hindsight some clearer sense of the rules of the game when the financial system is under stress might make the consequences less severe.
The Great Depression was 80 years ago, and people are still debating the causes and response. Perhaps the 2008 crisis is destined to be the same. To the question we began with — were the financial leaders heroes, benefactors of Wall Street or vindictive decision-makers, the answer that is coming into focus is this: all three. | to the press that there would be no bailout (this was first reported in Andrew Ross Sorkin's book "Too Big to Fail" and confirmed in Mr. Paulson's memoir).
The mind-set was "we have to draw the line somewhere, and that somewhere is here." Against that backdrop, one can imagine that Mr. Geithner, once it became clear there was no private sector rescue of Lehman in the offing, turned his attention to containing the damage of a bankruptcy.
It remains true that the key policy makers never had a clear-cut plan for how to rescue Lehman. But they didn't have one because they didn't seek one.
If they had rescued Lehman, would it have mattered? Would the entire course of world economic history have been changed?
This is of course unknowable, but there's plenty of reason to think that even if Lehman Brothers had been rescued, sooner or later the crisis was going to spread to a firm too big or too broke to do anything about, particularly in the absence of the bank bailout legislation that didn't pass until early October — and only after the Lehman failure prompted big enough drops in the stock market to get Congress's attention.
In other words, even had Lehman been saved, the crisis would have come to a head with A.I.G. a few days later, or Morgan Stanley a few days after that, or Wachovia or Citigroup. Would one of those results have been better or worse than what actually happened? That's the part that is anybody's guess.
Why did the government bail out A.I.G.? The most controversial action that the Paulson-Geithner-Bernanke triumvirate took that fall was to bail out the insurer A.I.G. The three will be asked to explain their actions on the stand in the A.I.G. shareholders' lawsuit.
It must be a strange feeling for the three, after taking years of abuse from Congress and the public for throwing taxpayer money at the insurance company, to now testify in a trial over whether they should have offered even more generous terms. The officials involved have been open about their anger at the decisions that got A.I.G. in trouble in the first place.
A.I.G., besides being a giant company that insured everything from homeowners' policies to jumbo jets, owed billions to major global banks from its ill-conceived business guaranteeing the value of highly rated securities backed by mortgages.
The Fed bailout of A.I.G. was in no small part about ensuring that those banks would get the money they were owed: $12 billion each for Deutsche Bank and Société Générale, for example. The obvious question, asked many times now, is why the Fed did not insist that those banks take "haircuts" on what they were owed given A.I.G.'s near-bankruptcy and government bailout. That would certainly seem like the fair course.
But the policy makers' answer is also becoming clear: To demand haircuts from the banks would have defeated the point. The entire goal of the bailout was to avoid a default and the unpredictable ripple effects it would create | 633 |
Greek Orthodox church at World Trade Center reopens at last
The new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine hosted its first liturgy service on Tuesday to mark the Feast of St. Nicholas and is preparing to welcome visitors who want to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center in New York. It is the only house of worship destroyed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Karen Matthews
NEW YORK (AP) — More than two decades after a tiny Greek Orthodox church in lower Manhattan<|fim_middle|> its first liturgy service on Tuesday to mark the Feast of St. Nicholas and is preparing to welcome visitors of all faiths who want to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"Today is a joyous day for America and for New York," said Michael Psaros, chair of Friends of St. Nicholas, the group tasked with raising funds for the church. "We invite all of America to please come visit, to come to the cenotaph that was created and built in memory of 3,000 people who were martyred and murdered on Sept. 11."
Completion of the project, one of the last pieces of the newly built World Trade Center complex, once seemed in doubt.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the World Trade Center, battled in court over where the new church would be built before agreeing to Liberty Park just south of the main trade center site.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in 2014, but construction came to a halt in 2017 when the archdiocese fell behind on payments.
Work resumed in 2020 with the goal of opening St. Nicholas in time for the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2021. That goal was not quite met, though the church was ceremonially lighted to mark the anniversary last year.
But on Tuesday, icons depicting heroes of Sept. 11 as well as Christ and the saints watched over a service conducted largely in New Testament Greek.
"This is the resurrection of St. Nicholas Church," said Olga Pavlakos, the vice president of the parish council and a third-generation member of the St. Nicholas community.
Another worshipper from a family that attended the old St. Nicholas, Maria Yatrakis, said she had tears in her eyes when she went inside the new church. "To see it back up like this, to see it so close to the Statue of Liberty, which represents all the immigrants who helped make this church, is very moving to all of us," Yatrakis said.
The church where Greek immigrants gathered a century ago was a converted tavern that was eventually dwarfed by the office buildings that grew around it. The new church was designed by Spanish-born architect Santiago Calatrava in the style of historic Byzantine structures including the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, with a central dome flanked by towers.
The church is covered in marble from the same Pentelic vein in Greece where the Parthenon's stones were quarried, and at night its dome, through the translucent marble panels, shines like a beacon.
The iconography inside was painted by a monk from Xenophontos Monastery in Mount Athos, Greece, known as Father Loukas. The Rev. Alexander Karloutsos, the former vicar general of the archdiocese and a key player in the rebuilding of the church from the beginning, said Father Loukas was asked not just to create traditional icons but "to show the reality of Sept. 11."
In one panel depicting the day of the attacks, boats sail to rescue people fleeing the destruction as the twin towers burn. In another, Christ greets first responders including police officers and firefighters at the Resurrection.
"This is the first icon you will ever see in the Orthodox tradition that includes contemporary scenes for the Resurrection," Karloutsos said. "We've never done that before in any Orthodox church in the world."
St. Nicholas' price tag after years of cost overruns is about $95 million, Karloutsos said.
Calatrava, who also designed the train hub known as the Oculus at the trade center, said he has visited St. Nicholas often as it neared completion, though he was not at Tuesday's ceremony.
"I regret I couldn't be there," Calatrava said from his office in Zurich. "I think it became a very beautiful piece. I'm very proud."
Calatrava said that when he has visited St. Nicholas with friends, "they tell me it's a jewel. And I think it is a little bit like that. It is something small but very significant in this particular place of New York overlooking the memorial as a part of all the reconstruction of lower Manhattan."
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Attack on Rushdie shows divisions among Lebanese Shiites | was destroyed by the falling south tower of the World Trade Center, that church's far grander replacement opened to the public this week in an elevated park overlooking the rebuilt trade center's memorial plaza.
The new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine hosted | 51 |
When I think of the word "leader," some truly grand visions come to mind. Generals, presidents, dictators, activists, scientists, royalty–the list goes on and on. However, the more I think about what it means to be a leader, the more I realize this term should not be reserved just for those who charge battlefields or make great speeches. Leaders, truly, are everywhere.
John Quincy Adams once said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." That means that a kid on the playground standing up to a bully for his friend is a leader. A parent working tirelessly to give his/her child every opportunity imaginable is a leader. A teacher going above and beyond the call of duty to meet the needs of her students is a leader.
Every single one of you is a leader because, every single day, you inspire your students to dream and learn more. You ask them to challenge themselves because you see the potential they have and everything they can be. Every single one of you is a<|fim_middle|> lives, and it is because of this that we provide the professional development resources and tools necessary to help you continue your personal and professional growth. With five excellent certification programs (21st Century Administrator, Campus Technology Specialist, Technology/IT Director, iPad, and Chromebook), Lunch and Learn and Get Your Google On webinars, and the TCEA Social Community, you are fully set up for success to continue on your path of leadership while inspiring those around you.
So, while you may not be a world leader, your ability to affect change in this world is truly unmatched. You are a leader, and we thank you for your inspiration.
Tech and Treat: A Free, Fun-Filled Webinar for Everyone! | leader because, every single day, you inspire your colleagues to do more. You push them to be better today than they were yesterday, creating a ripple effect of learning and teaching that touches your entire community.
TCEA recognizes the fact that our members are already leaders in their every day | 57 |
Everly-Wheatley Funerals and Cremation
Plant a Tree for Rosa
Rosa R. Harrison
September 18, 1930 ~ December 3, 2020 (age 90)
Our beloved Rosalie Reamy Pulman Harrison, from Alexandria, VA passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2020. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughters Deborah (Roger) Bullock and Sue Ellen (Joe) Bonifer, grandchildren, Jed (Charmian) Bullock, Jacob (Marie) Bullock, Jaime (Dylan) Hullinger, Kelly (David) King, and Jesse aka Bumper Grant<|fim_middle|> high school. She worked for City Hall in Alexandria, VA in the finance department for 34 years. After retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and donating her time to Meals on Wheels. Forever in our hearts. A graveside service will be held December 11, 2020 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM at Mount Comfort Cemetery, Alexandria, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, 21530 Coltons Point Road, Avenue, MD 20609.
To plant a tree in memory of Rosa R. Harrison, please click here.
Mount Comfort Cemetery
6600 S. Kings Hwy
Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad
21530 Coltons Point Road, Avenue MD 20609
Email: info@sdvrs59.org
Web: https://www.sdvrs59.org/
© 2021 Everly-Wheatley Funerals and Cremation. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | , and great-grandchildren, Cyril, Kenny, Eddie, Hallie, Brody, Bear, Kylee Rose and Summer. She was preceded in death by her husband George Edward Pulman and then William Harrison. Rosalie moved to Colonial Beach, VA at a young age and graduated from Colonial Beach High School where she played basketball all four years. She moved back to Alexandria, VA after graduating | 79 |
Recently, I had the joy of receiving a rental checkout from my first private pilot student. He now flies corporate jets as a Captain, and he probably has over 8,000 hours. It was an incredible experience to fly again with my dear friend Paul Scott. The best part was the time we had before and after the flight, to reminisce about our old flying days together at Naples airport, to remember old friends, and to learn where they are today. It has been 18 years since I gave Paul his first introductory lesson in an old Cessna 172.
For my checkout with Paul, we flew an old C172M model, which felt underpowered and sluggish compared to the Cessna 182's and C172SP's I have been flying. It probably felt like flying a brick compared to the Phenom's and Beech-jets Paul flies<|fim_middle|> those lessons to other pilots as well. Thank you Paul for a wonderful blessing the other day. | now as a Captain. Nonetheless, it was an incredible day with my dear old friend Paul. With our move to the Naples area, I will be close to my old friend again, and I hope this will not be the last time we fly together, and I am convinced it will not be the last.
What a joy it is to share the joy of aviation with friends. Paul reminded me during our flight that I had taught him to put the ignition keys on the dash, so, as we were pre-flighting the aircraft, we would know the keys were not in the ignition switch as we walked around the propeller. He reminded me of the other little lessons or "isms" I taught him nearly 20 years ago, lessons that he teaches even today. It is a gift to know that in some way, you had a part in helping someone achieve their life-long dream, and to help a flight student learn the basics of flying. In Paul's case, he has carried into his professional flying, many of those little disciplines that I taught him back in the day. I imagine he is passing on some of | 226 |
Community Ecological Governance
Africa is now feeling the<|fim_middle|> so does the recognition of community-based seed systems. This is especially so given the high levels of malnutrition in many places. Community-based seed systems emphasize diversity, which in turn strengthens nutrition. This area is focused on researching, identifying, reviving, improving and popularizing African indigenous seeds.
The broader meaning of the SEED in this context is the entire production, storage, and distribution systems of indigenous crops and animals with associated African norms, customs and practices.
Communities are encouraged to understand and priorities the indigenous SEED against the so-much-marketed modern seeds promoted by foreign companies. NAPE and its partners build each others' capacity around their seed work in communities.
NAPE will facilitate communities involved in seed-related work to organize and hold seed and food fairs, as platforms for sharing indigenous seed and associated knowledge. The experience of these will be continually documented and shared between partners. A bigger emphasis is put on women's role as the main custodians of indigenous seed.
EARTH JURISPRUDENCE
There is growing recognition of the need to transition our governance systems e.g. laws and policies from being human-centred to Earth-centred, which comply with the laws of our planet Earth to maintain the health and integrity of the whole. Inspired by the wisdom of indigenous peoples and Earth, cultural historian Thomas Berry referred to this philosophy and way of living as Earth Jurisprudence. Earth Jurisprudence principles include respecting:
Earth's laws and limits
Customary governance systems of indigenous/local peoples including protection of Sacred
Natural Sites and Territories,
Duty of care to protect the Earth Community and future generations.
SACRED NATURAL SITES
Sacred natural sites are respected as sources of life, water, cultural and spiritual values and tradition, identity, wisdom, community cohesion and livelihoods. They include forests, trees, water bodies such as rivers, caves, rocks, hills, burial places or any other natural ecosystems defined and respected as such by the community. They are critical places where the custodian community gathers and conducts ritual and seasonal ceremonies for the health and wellbeing of the ecosystem and communities, as well as to address social problems such as disputes and illness in the community. Surrounding areas are often the source of livelihood for the communities, including traditional beekeeping, spice production and ecologically sustainable agriculture.
Communities in Hoima and Bullisa districts of Bunyoro region, Uganda, are reviving their traditional practices and customary governance systems for the protection of sacred natural sites around Lake Albert.
Accompanied by NAPE, these communities are defending their ancestral lands from mining, commercial fishing, a game reserve and other activities which directly impact on and restrict access to the sacred sites, undermining their cultural and spiritual practices.
A published report, by NAPE, on opportunities within Uganda's legal framework for the recognition of sacred natural sites also calls for their declaration as no-go areas for mining and other commercial projects.
Work is underway to develop a legal precedent that will secure recognition of the rights of local custodian communities to govern and protect Lake Albert as a sacred lake. This would be another first in Africa, affording legal protection to an ecosystem based upon recognition of the customary governance systems of local communities.
Below is a quotation from a statement by an African net work of custodians to The African Commission on the rights of indigenous Peoples.
"The whole Earth is sacred. Within the body of our Earth there are places which are especially sensitive, because of the special role they play in our ancestral lands. We call these places sacred natural sites. Each sacred natural site plays a different but important role, like the organs in our body. All of life is infused with spirit.
Sacred natural sites are embedded in territories, which relate to the horizontal, vertical and energetic domains. A territory includes plants, animals, the ancestors' spirits, all life in the land, including humans, and reaches deep into the Earth including and beyond the subsoil, rocks and minerals, and up into the celestial constellations in the sky.
Sacred natural sites and territories exist everywhere, including in Africa. They are spiritual places created by God at the time of the Creation of our Earth, where our custodian communities have been praying and giving offerings since time immemorial. Our responsibility is to protect God's Creation, and to ensure that these especially sacred places are not disturbed in any way. Their role and significance cannot be replaced.
Sacred natural sites and territories are sources of law. They are centers of knowledge and inter-generational learning. Our customary governance systems are established through our relationship with and responsibility for sacred natural sites and territories. Our customary laws are derived from the laws of the Earth, as interpreted from and applied at our sacred natural sites and territories. As custodians, we have a responsibility to ensure that our governance systems comply with the laws of the Earth, the laws that govern life."
YOUTH CULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY
This theme is about engaging both School & out of school Youth and elders to engage in dialogues. The dialogues involve deliberate intergenerational learning, especially traditional and functional education. The elders explain the traditional culture and values to the youth. They try to instill discipline, morals and acceptable behavior for girls and boys.
The biodiversity bit of knowledge /education looks at nature appreciation and conservation.
The Youth are encouraged to participate in the "Going back to the Roots" discussions where important cultural issues that relate to their health, skills, behavior and general way of living for now and the future are dealt with. It appears as if young people are seeking for more connection to their roots and culture to give them a sense of identity. The African Biodiversity Network (ABN) where NAPE is a strong partner, has facilitated YCB practices such as SEGNI, in Ethiopia, Wilderness experiential learning, Intergenerational learning and Graine Future in Bennin-West Africa. These are practices that NAPE is planning and encouraging its community based partners to take up such experiences that give young people that sense of identity and purpose in life.
The objective of the YCB theme is to have men and women well brought up in the traditional cultures that inculcate good morals and values for a better society that respects nature.
ACTIVITIES OF CEG
3.1 Conducting community based research on indigenous seeds and associated knowledge.
3.2 Popularizing Earth Jurisprudence as a complementally form of law based on Customary law to protection of nature and society values
3.3 Facilitating dialogues for Custodians of Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) to revive traditional practices for conservation of Nature.
3.4 Engaging Government and other stakeholders to influence policy on nature conservation using traditional community practices.
3.5 Empowering communities to revive their traditional food production systems and regain their food sovereignty.
APPROACHES EMPLOYED.
NAPE employs unique approaches and methodologies that present traditional environment and bring back the African memory of social cohesion. The approaches include;
Community dialogues;
Community dialogues are meetings that are held amongst community members of same or different age groups. They are of the following characteristics;
They are organic and allow for free flow of ideas brought up in an informal manner.
The participants are free to present what they feel; being aware of what is palatable and acceptable in a social gathering.
Participants are given enough time, but not too much, to express a point.
The facilitator is a good listener and sieves the critical ideas while writing or not.
The discussion is characteristic of personal or and community stories. If a dialogue is of custodians of Sacred Natural Sites; the story of origin is told which is a story that brings the traditional, cultural and spiritual background of the community.
The dialogue progresses from the story of origin, the situational analysis, meditation and reflections to consensus building.
The facilitator ,in a none directional manner, presents or calls one of the participants to present an issue/topic for discussion which is discussed by all .The discussion is in form of observations, supplementary, clarifications, questions etc.
The participants are encouraged not to try and write everything that is mentioned in the dialogue.
Eco-mapping and seasonal calendars.
The communities, especially clan leaders and Custodians of Sacred Natural Sites live in specific areas and the SNS are also located in specific areas known as Territories. There are natural land forms ,rivers, forests, lakes ,animals, birds and other forms of life which are nonhuman (ecosystems and biodiversity) in these territories.
In order for communities to revive the traditional customs and practices, after a series of dialogues where they discuss and analyze their past, present and future ecological and socio-economical situation, they draw the ecological maps of their territories, which show what was done where, when and by whom. The ecological maps are a mental picture translated in physical drawings on the ground by the communities.
The maps are followed by seasonal calendars, usually the months, the associated seasons and activities carried out in those seasons are written in their language. This exercise is done in a participatory manner, ensuring that the knowledgeable elders are present to provide particular information on what used to be done so many years ago.
The maps visually help the communities to see what the situation used to be, what it is and what is desirable. What is desirable is what the community is advocating for and is a quest for revival and restoration of the ecology and community governance systems that can sustain the situation.
Nature appreciation;
Community Ecological Governance asserts that the earth is a dynamic living whole whose complex processes have maintained the conditions for all life over millions of years. It requires us, as humans, to understand our place with the complex web of life as interconnected and interdependent with millions of species and to develop our personal and collective Earth –centered thinking and practice.
During the community dialogue, participants take time to appreciate nature by sitting, meditating and reflecting. By this they connect with nature and their souls
CURRENT WORK ON CEG, 2016
NAPE are completing the project on" strengthening African Civil society Net works to address the rapid growth of extractive industry "
The project is a 3-YR project Funded by the European Commission (EC) which started in 2013 and is ending in 2016 Feb. It is jointly implemented by 5 Partners of ABN in Africa.
We have started a 2-yr Project funded by OSIEA through our UK Partner Gaia "Promoting People and Women centered approaches to protecting Lake Albert Ecosystems and Peoples Livelihoods. The project is jointly implemented by Gaia, ANERD and NAPE in the Districts of Hoima and Buliisa.
We are popularizing the Earth Jurisprudence as a wider aspect of African Customary law and a complementary law in conservation of Nature.
We will be mobilizing communities and doing studies on indigenous food production systems.
See below some of the work done in previous period.
A report of accomplished activities on CEG
A MEETING REPORT FOR THE COALITION OF SACRED NATURAL SITES CUSTODIANS FOR PETITIONING THE KING OF BUNYORO AGAINST GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOS).
Report of the legal Training
Press release on custodian petition
Report of the paralegal training
NAPE AND PARTNERS LAUNCH ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS RESEARCH (ALR)
NAPE NOW OFFERING FREE COUNSELING ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
EXPERIENCED ARTISANAL GOLD MINERS IN BORAX METHOD TRAIN KASSANDA MINERS DURINGAN EXCHANGE LEARNING FACILITATED BY NAPE
A SNAPSHOT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AMIDST THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN UGANDA
NAPE PILOTS LEGAL AID CLINICS IN THE ALBERTINE REGION
ENVIRONMENTALISTS REMAIN FIRMLY OPPOSED TO TURNING BUGOMA FOREST INTO A SUGARCANE PLANTATION
NAPE DONATES COVID-19 PREVENTION MATERIALS TO 5 DISTRICTS IN UGANDA
NAPE WINS 2019 UGANDA RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT (URI) AWARD AS THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR | full force of the extractive industries, as world attention shifts to this continent that until now has been relatively untouched in this regard. As technology becomes more sophisticated it brings within reach previously unreachable minerals.
Oil is being found everywhere it seems, with the oil companies suspiciously undaunted by climate change discussions. And these discussions seem to be going nowhere, while the impact of climate change is being increasingly felt across the continent. Though more attention is being paid to renewables it remains a mystery why this attention is not far greater, given the potential of renewables to mitigate climate change. One can only assume that this relates to the economic and political power of the extractive industries.
Many African governments have tied their 'new growth' strategies to these extractive industries. This, in turn, is leading to a fast increase in demand for energy across the continent. Resistance to the onslaught of the extractive industries is still minimal in Africa, especially compared to what is happening elsewhere in the world.
The multinational corporations' drive to move fully into Africa continues in the field of Agriculture too. 'Investment' in large plantations, also referred to as land grabbing, seems to be continuing apace. Furthermore, the MNCs are very much behind the push for green revolution farming for small-scale farmers in Africa, willingly offering funds to Obama's G8 food and nutrition initiative, which in turn is twisting African Governments' arms in various ways. One example of this is the push for laws and protocols related to seed via the regional economic blocks such as ECOWAS, SADC and COMESA. These laws and protocols put plant breeders' rights at the forefront and largely ignore community-based seed systems.
Land grabbing continues to intensify. Governments, and traditional authorities shirking their responsibilities as custodians of customary and ancestral rights to land, thereby dispossessing communities' access to land and other natural resources required for productive activities. Women are being particularly hard hit by this.
The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at least give more recognition to the importance of biodiversity and moving towards a healthier planet (SDGs 2, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 and 15) and are an improvement on the old Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, as long as the same economic development framework and the mindset that goes with it remain, they are unlikely to be effective. It is this economic model of non-stop economic growth that gives license and support to the activities outlined in the paragraphs above.
Along with all this, and very relevant to the work of NAPE, is the ongoing disconnection of young people from their roots and culture as they adopt a western mindset.
Another worrying trend is the growing intolerance of some religions towards traditions and culture. At the same time, while there is more recognition of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in Uganda, the slow-to-change mainstream education set-ups still demean and belittle IKS and the traditions and culture that go with it. There is also the danger that academic interest in IKS will distort and highjack this source of knowledge.
NOTE:Thomas Berry'quotation on sustainability of cultural distortion
Turning to donor funding, most bilateral support seems to be continuing or shifting to support of industrial land-use practices. At the same time the greater emphasis on accountability, while apparently a good thing at face value, means that it is becoming more difficult to get funding for process-oriented work as opposed to 'project' funding. This is also affecting independent funders such as Church organizations who now get more of their funding from Governments. While there is greater recognition for sustainable land-use approaches such as Agro ecology, there is little funding allocated to this sector. The above background forms the rationale for NAPE's program called the Community Ecological Governance (CEG)
Definition of Community Ecological Governance
Community Ecological Governance is a term used to describe customary governance systems rooted in the laws of Earth. Elders play a vital role in upholding the ecological knowledge and customs, practiced over generations, which sustain the wellbeing of sacred natural sites, ecosystems, territories and communities. CEG contributes to the emerging philosophy and practice known as Earth Jurisprudence or Earth Law underpinning customary governance systems in Africa.
NAPE's unique approach and methods bring the depth of connection that leads to the strong sense of caring for, and connection to, the land that is necessary if whole communities are going to galvanize effectively towards management of their ecosystems. Without this depth of concern and connection, the tendency will be to continue treating symptoms in isolation
1 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM
To promote revival of African indigenous cultural knowledge and thinking to address the increasing loss of Biodiversity and African food Sovereignty and reduce climate change in Uganda.
AREAS OF FORCUS
2. PROMOTING AFRICAN INDIGENOUS FOOD AND FOOD SOVEREIGNITY (COMMUNITY SEED AND KNOWLEDGE –CSK)
As the push for plant breeders' rights intensifies, | 1,019 |
"Prospective and Dyadic Associations Between Expectant Parents' Prenata" by Robin S. Edelstein, William J. Chopik et al.
During the transition to parenthood, both men and women<|fim_middle|>. | experience hormone changes that are thought to promote parental care. Yet very few studies have explicitly tested the hypothesis that prenatal hormone changes are associated with postpartum parenting behavior. In a longitudinal study of 27 first-time expectant couples, we assessed whether prenatal hormone changes predicted self and partner-reported parenting outcomes at three months postpartum. Expectant fathers showed prenatal declines in testosterone and estradiol, and larger declines in these hormones predicted larger contributions to household and infant care tasks postpartum. Women whose partners showed larger testosterone declines also reported receiving more support and more help with household tasks. Expectant mothers showed prenatal increases in testosterone and estradiol, and larger increases predicted lower partner-rated support. Together, our findings provide some of first evidence that prenatal hormone changes may indeed be functional and that behaviors associated with these changes may be detectable by co-parents.
Edelstein, R. S., Chopik, W. J., Saxbe, D. E., Wardecker, B. M., Moors, A. C., & LaBelle, O. P. (2016). Prospective and dyadic associations between expectant parents' prenatal hormone changes and postpartum parenting outcomes. Developmental Psychobiology, 59(1), 77-90.
which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1002/dev.21469. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving | 312 |
New eye care unit now fully open at Musgrove Park Hospital
21st December 2021 (last updated 21st December 2021)
The final part of a brand new £4.4 million eye care unit has opened at Mus<|fim_middle|> busiest – which previously could have led to the postponement of planned surgery.
The development is one part of Musgrove 2030 – an ambitious programme to transform the hospital's facilities and ensure people are cared for in the right place to meet their health needs.
The eye care unit has dedicated changing rooms and private waiting areas, as well as rooms for anaesthetists and surgeons to speak confidentially to, and examine, patients before their operation.
Patients are able to access the unit direct from the car park without needing to walk through the main hospital building. The unit has also been designed to meet the needs of people with impaired vision.
This new eye unit is in addition to the new outpatient macular and glaucoma hub at Chard Hospital, which together will help patients get the excellent eye care they need, in a timely way.
Plans are progressing for the development of new diagnostic centres for ophthalmology outpatients, which are expected to be in operation at sites in Taunton and Yeovil in Spring 2022.
Mr Ed Herbert, a consultant ophthalmologist at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"The completion of our new eye care unit is a tribute to the teamwork, commitment and resilience of our whole team – both clinical and behind the scenes – who continue to work hard to deliver the best care for our patients.
"There are a myriad of different elements needed to build and commission a safe, efficient operating theatre, and to transfer operations. To implement all this in such a short timescale has been an incredible achievement. Our team continues to be adaptable and resourceful to ensure all runs smoothly.
"The unit has an improved waiting area for patients, given us a greater degree of protection from winter bed pressures, and restored inpatient operating capacity to other surgical specialties.
"The second theatre means that our whole ophthalmology team at Musgrove Park Hospital is back in one place so we can work together more efficiently for the benefit of our patients.
"We also want to thank our hospital League of Friends and its donors for kindly raising money to buy new operating trollies and recording kit for the unit."
Jonathan Brindley, Sales and Marketing Director for ModuleCo and project sponsor, said:
"All of us at ModuleCo take great pride in our continued partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and supporting them to deliver specialised care to their communities. The feedback from the surgical team when using the facility is excellent.
"It is pleasing to see that we have been able to deliver upon what was originally promised in terms of timescales, quality and the permanent feel and performance of the final build." | grove Park Hospital.
Following the installation of a brand new ophthalmic theatre suite in a new building next to our day surgery centre earlier in the year, an adjoining second specialist ophthalmic theatre suite has been created as part of the development.
The new unit means eye surgery can continue even when the hospital is at its | 65 |
After obtaining a Bachelors Degree in<|fim_middle|>. I greatly appreciate her consulting and highly recommend her skills for anyone. | the Texas Panhandle to the Front Range of Colorado, Tammy landed in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico to continue her career in digital marketing and public relations. When she's not busy developing communication programs for business owners Tammy enjoys snowboarding, CrossFit, yoga, playing with her dogs and connecting with new people!
Great support and communication is essential for long-term relationships with clients. Tammy is committed to her clients' success! It's been a pleasure to work with and learn from her. Truly a memorable experience.
Two thoughts come to mind when I think of Tammy. She is incredibly smart and creative and her marketing expertise appears almost effortless. She brings an enthusiasm and passion to her career and creates evangelistic customers on every project she undertakes.
Tammy is a go-getter when it comes to her writing. She writes about topics the target audience is eager to learn about, which give not only detailed insight, but decisive objectives on how people should handle and manage social media for brand management as well as personally. She is an asset to any content team.
Tammy is one of the more positive people I know. She has strong social media skills and always conducts herself in the most professional matter. I definitely believe she would be an asset to a company seeking a motivated, passionate and hard-working person.
It was an absolute pleasure working with Tammy! You can present any product or service to her and she will tell you the best way to market it. Her modern marketing tactics through SMM (Social Media Marketing), SEM (Search Engine Marketing), and other avenues are second to none | 321 |
I had some kale that I needed to use up, and smoothies are always great ways to use extra fruit and greens that you're not sure what else to do with. 🙂 So I began searching for kale smoothie recipes and found this one at Green Plate Rule. The site mentions that kale has 10 times the vitamin C, 4 times the vitamin A, almost 2 times the vitamin<|fim_middle|>!
Linked to Strut Your Stuff, Full Plate Thursday, These Chicks Cooked, Foodie Friday, Sweets for a Saturday.
This entry was posted in Beverages/Smoothies, Food and Recipes, Healthy Eating, Summer/Summer Holidays and tagged banana, Beverages, breakfast, brunch, Carrot, Everyday, fruit, pineapple, recipe, smoothie on May 25, 2011 by nancyc. | K, and more calcium and vitamin B6 than spinach does. Wow-I had no idea kale was so super-nutritious!
…but it blends up into a really nice, thick smoothie–the perfect consistency!
Add all ingredients into a high-powered blender and blend until smooth, at least 1 minute. Pour into glasses and serve.
I'm starting to use kale a little more since it's so healthy. I like it in smoothies and soups. I think it's a little bitter for salads so I don't use it that way much. What different ways have you tried using kale?
This entry was posted in Beverages/Smoothies, Food and Recipes, Healthy Eating and tagged featured, Frozen banana, green grapes, green smoothie, Kale, orange, Orange juice, Pear, pineapple, smoothie on April 12, 2014 by nancyc.
Carrot Cake Muffins from The Slim Down South Cookbook and a Giveaway!
I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd be having another giveaway for a cookbook with healthy recipes, and here it is! It's a Southern Living cookbook–they always have such great recipes!–and it's called The Slim Down South Cookbook. I had a chance to review it, and the publisher is also providing a giveaway copy for one of you! See the end of the post for details on how to win this giveaway!
…which will inspire you to start making some healthy, appetizing food!
The book begins with a chapter called "A Healthy Southern Plate" which includes some great healthy lifestyle tips along with a 14-Day SLIM Eating Plan. You'll find additional healthy tips in the other chapters, too, which have recipes for every meal, along with desserts and snacks. Calorie and nutrition information is included with every recipe.
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
Whisk together oil and next 3 ingredients; add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Fold in carrots. Place paper baking cups in 18 muffins cups, and coat with cooking spray; spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full.
Bake at 350˚F for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I must have filled my muffin cups a little fuller, because I ended up with 17 muffins instead of 18. But I liked how full and rounded they turned out, so I'd probably do that again. My baking time was 22 minutes. I was out of cooking spray, so I filled my paper liners without spraying them and that worked out fine–the muffins just stuck slightly to the liners.
THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Congratulations to Cathy, whose comment #22 was chosen via random.org as the winner!
Now for the Giveaway…if you'd like to enter to win a copy of The Slim Down South Cookbook, leave a comment on this blog post between now and Wednesday, January 29, at 10 p.m. (CST)–the random drawing will be made from the comments on this post only! The winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org and announced on Thursday evening, January 30. Winner will be notified via email (if winner does not respond in 3 days, I'll do another drawing). Giveaway limited to readers in the Continental U.S. and Canada.
Note: If your comment doesn't show up right away, it just means I need to click on it to approve it before it's visible–I do this because of spam comments that sometimes come through!
This entry was posted in Food and Recipes, Muffins, Biscuits, Scones and tagged baking, breakfast, brunch, carrots, healthy recipes, muffin, pineapple, The Slim Down South Cookbook on January 26, 2014 by nancyc.
Here's a great-tasting, healthy smoothie to get your day off to a good start! I found the recipe over at realsimple.com. I love having smoothies for breakfast during the warmer months of the year…they're so easy and quick to make. This smoothie has pineapple, orange juice, carrots and half of a banana in it–so if you like these ingredients, you'll want to try this out! The recipe calls for fresh pineapple, but I substituted canned pineapple chunks because that's what I had on hand.
Place the pineapple, ice, orange juice, carrot, and banana in a blender. Blend until smooth and frothy.
That's all there is to it! It also makes a great afternoon snack when you're craving something sweet but want something healthy | 1,004 |
Home News Attack on US Capitol Leaves One Dead and Congress Undeterred to Uphold...
Attack on US Capitol Leaves One Dead and Congress Undeterred to Uphold Democracy
The capital of the USA has been under an imposed curfew since 6pm local time, following a breach of the Capitol by a crowd of thousands of pro-Trump demonstrators.
The protesters turned into rioters as a mob was able to breach security and successfully enter the Capitol building; leaving one woman dead and Senators in session ducking for cover.
Security services moved to evacuate Senators as pipe bombs were reported in nearby buildings.
Security were seen drawing their weapons as the crowd attempted to force its
way into the Chamber.
Security forced to draw their weapons as the Capitol is breached by protestors.
Trump is reported to have encouraged rioters hours beforehand through public statements and tweets which have since been blocked and removed by Twitter and Facebook.
The Senators were scheduled to go into session to confirm the certification of the tabled results of the 2020 Presidential election, declaring President Elect Joe Biden, the winner.
The results have been formally certified by the USA Electoral College, confirmed after the US Judiciary at all levels rejected 62 legal challenges against the voting results from the Trump campaign. The acceptance of the results is a formality for the US Senators to acknowledge the election results.
President Trump had issued a challenge to his Vice President, Mike Pence, who Chairs the Senate; to use this opportunity to dispute the election results.
The Vice President publicly declared in response, that after a full evaluation of his role, he is clear that he has no such right of challenge.
It is reported that the breach by protestors of the Capitol follows a rally led by President Trump and his supporters, where he continued to declare the election stolen.
In the House when security was breached by the protesters, the Vice President was evacuated along with Senators and those who were in the public gallery.
At the height of the breach, President Elect Joe Biden publicly called on President Trump to tell his supporters to stop their actions.
The President following that, made a public statement still insisting that confirming that the election was stolen, but that the supporters needed to stop and assist law enforcement officials.
After waiting for calm, the Senators have since gone back into session to complete their task, with Vice President re-opening the Session saying, "Those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win".
Vice President and Chair of Senate, Mike Pence.
Senators returned to the Capitol under heavy guard, carrying with them the certificates of electoral votes that were rescued from rioters who broke into the chamber.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed to resume the interrupted proceedings and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said after returning to the Senate, "The United States and the United States Congress have faced down much greater threats than the unhinged crowd we saw today. We've never been deterred before. And we'll not be deterred today. They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed".
"This failed insurrection only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic."
In a public statement, former Republican President George W Bush said, "Laura and I are watching the scenes of mayhem unfolding at the seat of our Nation's government in disbelief and dismay. It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic."
Reaction of World Leaders
World leaders have responded calling for a peaceful transition of power, describing the day's events an "attack on democracy".
From New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, tweeted that "democracy – the right of people<|fim_middle|> democracy".
"Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld – and it will be," he wrote on Twitter.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the "disgraceful scenes".
"The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power," he wrote on Twitter.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the scenes from the Capitol were "utterly horrifying".
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Next articleSSAB Has Uniforms and All Your Back to School Needs | to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully – should never be undone by a mob".
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the "distressing scenes" and said he looked forward to a peaceful transfer of power.
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians were "deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on | 68 |
Travis Laplante & Peter Evans Secret Meeting
By Nilan Perera
The state of virtuosity these days has been pushed into a state of critical mass. There are many musicians out there who have a firm grip<|fim_middle|>, being a duet, has implications of conversation, which is admirably executed in a balance of phrases as well as some really amazing high speed jousts. This release will blow away a lot of people by virtue of sheer intensity.
However, the topics of conversation between the two do not vary significantly in the pieces presented, and in that respect, it's much less satisfying than it could have been overall. (NNA Tapes)
IMPROV & AVANT-GARDE
More Travis Laplante & Peter Evans | on nearly everything technical that can be done on their instrument and a lot of it may be the result of an increase of support from a multiplicity of schools. But, "Can you play the blues?," or rather, can you be musically coherent? Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it?
This release features Travis Laplante (tenor saxophone) and Peter Evans (trumpet); both perform from a broad palette of sounds. The music ranges from drum-like pops to farts to whispers to Coltrane, like sheets of notes executed with blistering speed and precision. The amount of information is staggering and the ride is quite thrilling.
The format | 139 |
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