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Did you just win a Grand Prix and witness your rival run out of fuel? Since Formula One cars come with aerodynamic sidepods, it's easy to do the decent and brotherly thing: drive up and give a lift.
The liftee in the blue and yellow Williams is Nigell Mansell, who won the 1991 British Grand Prix while an attack in the closing laps by Ayrton Senna saw his McLaren run out of fuel a few corners before crossing the line for second place. On his victory lap, Mansell stopped by Senna and his stricken McLaren, Senna clambered onto the Williams's sidepod, grabbed the airbox, and the two drove off to the pits. At pretty high speed for a man sitting on a slippery pod of carbon fiber.
We're Driving the 2024 Integra Type S, What Do You Want to Know?
Photo Credit: Pascal Rondeau/Allsport


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What is the difference
of people who are handicapped and special needs
are they not all people too?
why must we be judged by our appearances, and
making us feel alone in the world.
why do we constantly put stress on each other, and
why cant we all just get along?
what is the difference?
don't we all have souls, arms, and legs?
whats the difference?
just because we look different,
doesn't mean we are a different species, mutants or freaks of nature.
What is the difference?

subset: commoncrawl


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Cuts for Kids
It's midday on a Wednesday in late October and hair stylist Theresa Santana is finishing up trimming 2-year-old Ian Linhart's hair.
"He used to scream coming in," Ian's mother, Kate Linhart, said.
Linhart, a Cohasset resident, said she's been taking Ian to Snip-its children's hair salon in Hingham's Derby Street Shoppes for more than a year. Over the last three months, she said, Ian has overcome his fear of the scissors – aided by the chain's haircut-themed cartoon characters and child-friendly stylists.
Snip-its was founded in 1995 by Joanna Meiseles, who two years earlier had received poor treatment while attempting to videotape her son's first haircut at an "adult" salon.
The Natick-based company has grown rapidly since it began franchising in 2003. That year, before signing a five-store franchise agreement with a couple in Georgia, there were five Snip-its in existence.
Now, three years later, there are 60 Snip-its locations in 24 states – including 11 in Massachusetts – and the concept is still growing. The company is No. 30 on the 2007 Franchise Times 55 list of fastest-growing franchises, and Meiseles sees no end in sight.
"The number I keep in the back of my mind is 500," Meiseles said of her target number of franchises. "But we can't know for sure."
Meiseles attributes much of Snip-its' success to her decision to develop a distinct brand image, as opposed to simply opening a kid-specialty shop.
"I started to do research in the industry and the market – the niche I was trying to get into," she said. "There wasn't anything distinct, you wouldn't know the difference between one and the other."
She set Snip-its apart by working with animator Bruce Barry to come up with a cast of seven proprietary cartoon characters, which star in videos and video games that keep children occupied while their hair is cut.
The feature, combined with a line of Snip-its hair products, has facilitated the turnkey nature of the franchise, allowing a short learning curve for franchisees who have never before worked in the hair care industry.
Meiseles said she has targeted married couples who, much like herself, have had bad experiences taking their children for haircuts at adult salons or barbershops. And, she says, so far the strategy has been successful.
Todd Volpe, owner of Snip-its in Hingham, opened the franchise after trekking from his home in Pembroke to the Snip-its in Chestnut Hill in an attempt to alleviate his son Daniel's haircut-related apprehension.
"For a lot of kids, it's a really scary thing to go and have your hair cut," Volpe said. "Daniel was my first (child) and I didn't even realize how scary it was."
A salesman by trade, Volpe had never worked in the hair care industry prior to opening his franchise. He said the Hingham shop's success – it recently celebrated its third anniversary – has a lot to do with hiring people who are devoted to putting children first.
As her son Ian played with a spring-loaded vampire toy, his reward for a tear-free cut, Linhart expressed her rationale for choosing the salon.
"Everyone here is used to dealing with kids, they can deal with them when they're crying," Linhart said, bending down to unwrap her son's other reward, a lollipop. "They know how to do a quick haircut so they can get the child in and out of the chair fast, which is nice."
A.J. Bauer may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Stretched Canvas Prints
These images are suitable for canvas prints which I strectch on a 5/8 inch thick pine frame. The largest size is 15x20 inches with gallery-wrapped sides. The final image is coated with a sealant to protect against scratches and stains. They are available for $95 each and can be seen at the Sea Biscuit Restaurant on the Isle of Palms, SC, at the Tidewater Gallery in the Houston Northcutt Shopping Mall in Mount Pleasant, SC, and at the Howartthou Cafe next to the Terrace Theatre on James Island, SC. Or you can order them directly from me. These prints are also available through SmugMug on various papers and other media. Note that the colors are oversaturated in Windows Internet Explorer.Read More


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HILLSBORO, Ore. — There's mischief afoot in one suburban Portland neighborhood, but police say it doesn't involve the typical spray paint or broken windows. No, we're talking pastry here — maple bars smeared on cars, doughnuts left atop windshield wipers, pastries littering a yard.
One woman told officers she's seen more than a dozen incidents of food smeared on cars. Not just pastry, but yogurt, cakes and eggs. She alerted police July 11.
The next day, another woman told police her vehicle had been hit six times — twice with a maple bar, once with a cinnamon doughnut, once with pink yogurt, once with "bread soaked in a white slimy liquid" and once with red potato salad.
The crime wave in a northeast Hillsboro neighborhood has been going on for six weeks, The Oregonian reported Monday.
Police think the victims of the night-time vandalism are chosen at random and kids are likely behind it.
Lt. Mike Rouches says officers are investigating and extra patrols have been added.
Still, he adds, "In my 25 years in police services, I have never investigated or seen a criminal mischief involving pastries."
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Words and Photographs by Peter Turnley
Rudy and Courtney on the #2 train in the Bronx, after midnight Halloween night
Very late Friday evening, I got on a #2 train heading north through the Bronx, New York. I wanted to see life on the trains on Halloween night, late, as people rode home. Once past the 135th Street stop, very few people were on the train with me. As I reached the end of the line, way out in the Bronx, I got off the train to return to Manhattan. I sat down on an elevated subway platform, in the rain, and waited for nearly half an hour for a train heading south to arrive.
It was cold, and I felt quite alone. This moment reminded me of how alone it would be possible to feel in life. I have been near that feeling a few times, and I longed to get back on a train and return home.
When I boarded the train returning south to Manhattan, initially there were only a couple of other people in the car with me. When the train paused at a Bronx stop, two people, a young man and woman, sat down in front of me. At first I wasn't sure they were together, and the beauty of each of them captivated me. They both looked very much alone as well, and in their own world, and tired. Soon, the young woman leaned over and put her head on the shoulder of the young man.
I made a few photographs of them with out them being aware, and pushed myself to stand up and cross the train and lean near their faces. I said, "excuse me, I'm a photographer, and I'm riding the train photographing people tonight, and you both are so beautiful, could I please make a photograph of you?" They looked at each other and looked back at me and nodded okay.
I made several photographs, quietly, my heart excited by the gift of this moment. I handed them a card and asked them to contact me so I could send them a photograph. Then I sat back down and rode many stops in silence. When the train came to my stop and I got up, as I walked by the couple I said, "you offered me a beautiful gift tonight and I want to thank you." They both responded quietly, but strongly, "we thank you."
And this is for me, is what life is all about. Good night.
—Peter Turnley
12:30am, Nov. 1, 2014, on a train in the Bronx, New York
The A train, W. 4th Street, Manhattan, at 8 p.m. on Halloween 2014
A mother and her children return home to the Bronx after Halloween
Coral Foxworth, on the #2 train in Harlem
Text and photos © 2014 by Peter Turnley, all rights reserved
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OAK BROOK, IL – James A. Skinner, CEO of McDonald's, served up a whopper when he announced that Ronald McDonald is gay.
"I am thrilled to announce that Ronald McDonald, the Chief Happiness Officer of McDonald land, is a homosexual," said Skinner to a group of about 100 reporters and journalists outside the company's Illinois headquarters. "He always was and he always will be."
In a post announcement interview with the Weekly World News, Skinner said that the decision to "out" Ronald McDonald as a homosexual was a difficult one, though he felt it needed to be done.
"Revealing Ronald's secret was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do," said Skinner. "It weighed on my conscience for years. But now that the secret is out I feel like I can move on."
Willard Scott, best known for his work on NBC's Today Show, first created the Ronald McDonald character in 1963 for a local television commercial on WRC-TV, a TV station in Washington, D.C.
Scott said he saw Ronald McDonald as gay from the very beginning.
"When I first conceived of the idea for Ronald McDonald, I knew he was going to be gay," said Scott. "You have to remember, though, that was back in the sixties, so the company would never let me go public with his sexuality."
"But this is a different era," added Scott. "I think people are much more accepting of homosexuality, and it's about time that Ronald McDonald is outed for who he really is."
Fans of Ronald McDonald have shown overwhelming support for the character's recent "coming out."
"I always thought he had a very feminine quality about him," said Rosie Knopff, 40, of Weedsport, NY. "The curly red hair, the make up, the shapely figure – yeah, he's definitely gay. I don't know how I missed it."
Skinner said he doesn't think Ronald's sexuality will stop people from visiting the restaurant.
"I don't think a true McDonald's fan would care whether or not Ronald was gay," he said. "This is the 21st century. People are much more open-minded."
Skinner has yet to comment on the sexuality of Grimace, Birdie, or the Fry Kids, though next week he plans to announce that the Hamburglar is a confirmed child-molester.


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Call Now 678-792-8053
I have enjoyed snakes for a while now, though I have to admit before I started this venture into wildlife control I was scared stiff of any snake poisonous or non. I had nightmares about them when I was young. They were almost as terrifying as zombies.
Now however I love them and everything that they do. I have learned a lot about these fascinating creatures and continue to learn more every day!
Atlanta, GA Snake Removal by snake control and snake removal experts are the best avenue by far when you have a snake in the yard or even a snake in the house. Identifying a snake in Atlanta, GA can even be difficult sometimes by seasoned professionals. don't handle a snake at all!!! unless you are sure it is non-poisonous and then wear the proper gloves or preferably use a snake tong.
If You don't have a snake tong then you are probably not certified to determine the species of snake and again it would be safer and smarter to contact your local snake control agent and let him or her deal with it.
Atlanta, Snake Control and treatment typically consists of removing the food source that the snake are feeding on. typically this is rodent in nature, though most snake will eat insects, lizards and even other snakes. The Wildlife Professionals of Marietta GA will determine to cause of the issue and give you options to eliminate the issue.
Atlanta, GA Snake extermination is not always needed, even if you feel it is. Killing a snake won't fix the underlying issue that you have. If a snake is in your home, it is not an accident the majority of the time so let your wildlife professional help you with your decisions.
Snakes are fascinating creatures. They stretch the very fabric of both fantasy and fear.
Most Snakes in Atlanta, GA really don't want the attention that they receive, in fact snakes would rather be behind the scenes all together. They serve a function that is ecologically beneficial. From insects to rodents , these snake we fear help keep our homes and business clear of these ever increasingly nasty pests.
One thing however is clear! When a snake finds it way into your house or business it is never a good thing, at least for the dwellers. We remove Snakes from homes and business.
When snakes are found co existing with humans it is typically a red flag for issues you may not even know you have.
Snakes in Atlanta, GA are only after food , so if they are in your home or business there is a sound reason for it! Snakes will follow rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels and even bats into your home and will hunt and feast on them until the population is at a point that they will leave to allow for re population. Snakes are far from ignorant. They understand for the most part of how to allow a food stock for future use.
Acworth, Alpharetta, Atlanta, Auburn, Austell, Avondale Estates, Blairsville, Bowdon, Braselton, Bremen, Buford, Canton, Carrollton, Cartersville, Cedartown, Chamblee, Clarkston, College Park, Conyers, Covington, Cumming, Dacula, Dallas, Decatur, Doraville, Douglasville, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Ellenwood, Ellijay, Fairburn, Fayette, Fayetteville, Flowery Branch, Forest Park, Glen Haven, Grayson, Greensboro, Hampton, Hapeville, Hiram, Jasper, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Kennesaw, Lake Lanier Islands,Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Lithia Springs, Lithonia, Locust Grove, Loganville, Mableton, Marble Hill, Marblehill, Marietta, McDonough, Milton, Monticello, Morrow, Newnan, Newtown, Norcross, Peachtree City, Powder Springs, Riverdale, Rockmart, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Scottdale, Senoia. Smyrna, Snellville, Stockbridge, Stone Mountain, Sunny Side, Suwanee, Tallapoosa, Tucker, Tyrone, Union City, Villa Rica, Vinings, Westoak, Woodstock .
As In Atlanta, GA Snakes in are in every state of our country. you will at one time or more in your life run across them, whether in your garden, garage or even in your home.
Eastern Rat snakes found in Atlanta, GA are one of my favorite snakes just because they are so fascinating. For one thing they don't need the sun to metabolize their foods. this means that they don't have to be out in the sun to digest their meals. they hang out in crawl spaces and even attics for months at a time where other snakes would need to come and go.
So its no wonder that in Atlanta, GA I am called on most of my reptile calls to remove them.
Marietta GA Copperhead Snakes or Agkistrodon Contortrix
Theses snakes can vary in color from grey to Brown Cross bands to light brown variations.
When Copperhead snakes are born (alive, and not from eggs) they look like adults except for the yellowish or greenish tail coloration.
In the Summer(Hot) Months Copperheads become nocturnal.
In Spring and Fall they are often found on Wooded Hilltop Rock Outcrops with a southern exposure.
Mother Copperhead snakes typically give birth from August to October depending the area or state they live in, and they give live birth and not from eggs.
Food consists of insects, frogs, toads, lizards,small birds, other snake and they love rodents.
Atlanta, GA Prairie Rattlesnake: Crotalus Viridus
a Pitt Viper Snake, Has one of the largest rattles of most if rattlesnakes. Dark Gray or Brown Blotches, Head body and tail are greenish gray to brown. Tails bands are similar color to body blotches, belly grayish white. youth looks similar to adults.
Habitat: Rocky Canyon or open prairies with abundant small wildlife that burrow to feed upon. They are burrow explorer experts.
in Spring and fall they prefer south facing hillsides with large rock outcrops.
Summer months they become nocturnal exploring the grasslands and prairies for food such as lizards, mice, rats, chipmunks, gophers, prairie dogs and other smaller snakes.
Atlanta, GA Pigmy Rattlesnake:
Atlanta, GA Western Diamond Back Rattlesnake:
The Western Diamond Back Rattlesnake is considered one of the largest rattlesnake in the U.S.A .These Pit vipers are dangerous to livestock, pets and human.
Size ranges for 10 inches to 60 inches (that's five feet long) These awesome snake are born alive and not from eggs. their venom is a hemotoxic venom that attacks the blood system
Atlanta, GA Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake:
The Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake found in the U.S.A .These Pit vipers are dangerous to livestock, pets and human.
Size ranges for 10 inches to 8 feet in length and weighing in at around 10 pounds. These awesome snake are born alive and not from eggs. their venom is a hemotoxic venom that attacks the blood system
You can find theses pit vipors around dry pine, Flatwoods, Pine leaf litter, and Coastal Scrub or brush areas.
Atlanta, GA Water Moccasin Snake:
Atlanta, GA Coral Snake:
Atlanta, GA Timber Rattlesnake:
Atlanta, GA Massasaugas Rattlesnake :
A List of Snakes that we remove through out the United States of America Are as followed:
Cottonmouth removal, Water Moccasin removal, Atlanta, GA Garter snake removal, Brown Water Snake( looks like a Water Moccasin), Coachwhip removal, Eastern Ribbon Snake removal, Florida Brown Snake Removal, FL Ringneck Snake removal, Mudsnake removal, Marietta GA Pigmy Rattle Snake removal, Pine Woods Snake removal, Red Rat Snake removal, King Snake removal, Hognose Snake, yellow Rat Snake Removal, Corn Snake Removal, Atlanta, GA Coral Snake removal, Atlanta, GA Diamondback rattle Snake Removal, Marietta GA Rattler Removal, Black racer Snake Removal, Banded Water Snake Removal, Black Rat Snake removal.


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Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. Come back when you're older.
Shop our exclusive collection of limited edition prints and styles created in partnership with some of our favorite brands. Hurry these go fast!
Our top picks for the most popular brands, items and toys for the whole family. Whether you're looking for the perfect gift or shopping for a special someone, we have you covered.


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This iconic waterpark is set to welcome guests in the fourth quarter of 2012.
YAS WATERWORLD AQUA PARK, in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is destined to be the "best waterpark in the world" when it opens.
Located directly across from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the waterpark will be spread over 15 hectares and it will contain over 40 rides, slides, and attractions, including four one-of-a-kind attractions, that will set this park apart from any ever built. In order to create a truly immersive experience, the waterpark is being developed from a unique storyline that is representative of the local Emirati culture and heritage.
Farah Leisure Parks Management, LLC. is now recruiting for a diverse and multi-cultural team of colleagues who live the core values of the company, by creating laughter and smiles, creating trust through actions, continuously improving and taking pride and ownership in the work of the waterpark, in order to provide Guests an "Out Of This World" experience. The company offers colleagues various Training & Development Programs, Recognition & Reward Programs, sports competitions, social events, career growth opportunities and most of all, a fun and entertaining place to work!
Interested applicants (from the Philippines) may apply at Chesham Recruitment Inc., a POEA-licensed agency, which has an excellent track-record, in relation to both overseas employers and Overseas Filipino Workers. Chesham has been in the industry since 2004 and is one of the best agencies, with integrity and is well known for sending Filipino workers to prestigious employers abroad. No placement fee will be collected from applicants and the processing fees are minimal.
Below is the listing of job openings at Yas Waterworld Aqua Park: · 14 Attendants · 5 Cashiers · 11 Ambassadors · 3 Entertainers · 9 Tellers · 3 Finance Purchasing Assistants · 16 Cashiers · 20 F and B Attendants · 16 Commis · 4 Laundry Assistant · 2 Tailors · 52 Technicians · 6 Photographers · 30 Sales Associates · 46 Attendants · 142 Lifeguards · 4 Storekeepers · 1 Admin Coordinator · 43 Team Leaders · 38 Assistant Managers
Applicants who will pass the initial telephone screening will be invited to a free seminar and personal agency interview, before the employer's arrival on April 21-22, 2012, for the final interview. Application is now on going!
Send your latest resume (Word-format) with latest picture, position you're applying for, previous work experience and employment record at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Chesham Recruitment Inc. (POEA: 241-LB-081208-R) is located at Suite 219, The Peninsula Court, Makati Avenue, corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1226, Metro Manila with contact numbers, 750-0640; 750-0641; 750-0642.
Source OFWguide. Official Website here.
The writer bears no direct relation to the hiring agency. Discretion is a must.


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I don't know about you, but the MLB trade deadline has exhausted me. There were a lot of trades this year, so my head's kinda spinning. My beloved Orioles only managed one little trade with the Dodgers for Mr. Flat & Breezy, so I'm not too upset. Thank God I'm not a Pirates fan. Yikes! You can check out everything that went down here.
Enough about the trade deadline, let's see what else is happening around the sports world. If you have some time to waste, take a trip with me after the jump for some time-wasting goodness!
An open letter to the Royals from Big League Stew: Trade Greinke?? [Big League Stew]
Speaking of the Royals…has anyone seen pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth? [The Rookies]
Hold up! Michael Vick to the Patriots? Don't laugh…it may just work. [Dan Shanoff]
Raise your hand if your coach is a chauvinist. Hello, Detroit Lions! [Shutdown Corner]
Hiding your inner hockey fashionista self? Hide no more and design your own hockey sweater! (h/t Puck Daddy) [The Sporting Store]
Missing hockey like whoa? Yeah, me too! No fear, NHL.com and NHL Network bring us "30 in 30" starting tomorrow. Isn't there 31 days in August? [NHL.com]
A wedding song draft on a sports blog?? Yeah it's happening over at KSK. Be sure to check out the video clip at the beginning of the post. It's awesome and well worth the five minutes. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
Lastly, if you are going to shop this weekend, here's a coupon for the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy for 30% off. From Teach for America: "From Thursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 2, you can receive 30 percent off any in store purchase made at the Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy – with five percent of your net purchases going to benefit Teach For America." So support Teach for America, and go buy some clothes!
Have a fun weekend, ladies! Oh and if you happen to design the most awesome hockey sweater in the generator above, please share it with all of us in the comments!


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At the 2016 Games Developer's Conference, we announced a new addition to the AdMob mediation platform: rewarded video ads. This new
avenue for monetization offers users the option to engage with ads in exchange
for in-app rewards. Our growing list of mediation partners includes:
Choosing AdMob for
your rewarded video mediation platform gives you access to ad content from all
of these networks, and allows you to develop against a single API from AdMob.
Rewarded video ads are requested and displayed using the the new RewardedVideoAd and GADRewardBasedVideoAd classes. Here's an example showing how to request a rewarded video ad on
RewardedVideoAd mRewardedVideoAd = MobileAds.getRewardedVideoAdInstance(this);
mRewardedVideoAd.loadAd(AD_UNIT_ID, new AdRequest.Builder().build());
And here's the iOS equivalent:
GADURewardBasedVideoAd *rewardedVideo = [GADRewardBasedVideoAd sharedInstance];
rewardedVideo.delegate = self;
[rewardedVideo loadRequest:request withAdUnitID:adUnitID];
You can find additional documentation on rewarded video ads in our publishers get started guides (Android | iOS). Mediation documentation not specific to rewarded video ads can be found in
the mediation get started guides (Android | iOS).
If you have any questions about rewarded video mediation, you can reach us on
our forum. You can also find us on Google+, where we have updates on all of our Google Ads developer products.


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Tag Archives: Madeleine Sherwood
Letting Go
Have you ever experienced a lot of chaos in your outer world? Construction happening around you on a regular basis? Snafus at work or drama amongst your friends and family? Have you ever considered that this outer chaos may be … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Acting, Acupuncture, Anger, Anxiety, Arts, Being in the moment, Body, Body Wisdom, Buddhism, Chiropractic, Cleanse, Colon Hydrotherapy, Cranial Sacral, Crystal Healing, Dance, Deep Tissue, Depression, Detoxification, Emotional Release, Emotions, Everything is Perfect, Fear, Film, Getting Real, Growth, Healing, Holistic, Hurt, Improv, Inner World, Jake's Gift, Julia Mackey, Jungian Dream Therapy, Letting Go, Love, Madeleine Sherwood, Meditation, Radical Forgiveness, Reiki, Rolfing, Rose Quartz, Sadness, Self, Self Love, Spoken Word Poetry, the BIG one, Yoga Leave a comment


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Bentley lunged in my direction, and I could feel my people backing away behind me. I stood firm. The mutant bulldog landed with both front paws first, the impact so heavy that spittle and moisture was flung from his massive body.
A low, guttural noise tore its way from Bentley's throat as he surged forward again. I could hear yelps and shouts of alarm from the crowd behind me.
Wood splintered, cracked, and finally gave way. Behind Bentley, the husk of a fire-scorched building collapsed. Chains that had been lashed to the building's wooden supports trailed from the dog's harness as he bounded toward Bitch. Of everyone present, only Bitch and I held our ground as the dog barreled into his master, practically bouncing with joy.
Bitch, for her part, wrapped her arms around his head as he lifted her off the ground. "Good boy!"
He's just a dog. Beneath the three-thousand-ish pounds of muscle and the exterior of tangled muscle and bone, he was still a dopey dog who adored his master. Bitch had given him what he'd been yearning for since he was abandoned or abused in his past life. She'd offered him the affection and companionship he'd been wanting for years.
I could relate. Not in terms of Bitch, specifically, but I could relate.
"Get to work clearing that up!" I ordered. My swarm augmented my voice to carry it across the crowd of my followers. There were twenty-two adults and twenty kids. With Coil's assistance, I'd brought in work gloves and black hazmat suits, but most people were wearing only the lower body of the suits. It was too warm for the full suits, and the masks were largely unnecessary. Everyone was dripping from the rain, but nobody was really complaining. I rather liked it; it was refreshing in the otherwise warm day.
A generator stirred to life a short distance down the street, and there was something of a rush as people hurried to get away from the intimidating presence of the big bad supervillains and their mutant animals. That, and there was something of a fight to get the power tools. There were only so many circular saws and chainsaws to go around, and anyone who didn't have one was tasked with carrying the cut wood instead.
I created a barrier of bugs to stop one of the teenagers from reaching for a circular saw.
"If you're under eighteen, you don't get to use power tools," I called out. "Priority goes to the people who know how the tools are used. Able bodied adults get second dibs. Listen carefully to the guys who know what they're doing, and work somewhere dry if possible. We've had enough casualties, let's not have anything stupid happening with someone slipping or losing their grip in the rain. If someone's being an idiot, tell Sierra, and she'll inform me."
Sierra glanced at me and nodded.
I turned my attention to Bitch.
"You owe me," she said. The rain had plastered her short hair against her scalp. Her gang of four people stood by with dogs on leashes: Barker, Biter, a college-aged kid with the scars of four parallel claw marks running across his face, and a girl with her arm in a sling. They didn't look scared, like my people had, but they still didn't look fantastically thrilled to be in close vicinity to one of Bitch's dogs on full throttle.
Nevermind that you were the one that came here early. "Of course. We'll get you and your people some lunch."
She frowned. "Lunch?"
There was a bit of a pause. I waited patiently as she considered the idea.
"Fine," she decided.
"Come on," I told her. "We'll go to my place while we wait for the others."
While Bentley had been helping to tear down and dismantle the derelict building, I'd been contemplating how I'd leverage Bitch's early arrival to mend fences and rebuild some trust. I'd decided on something simple, as that seemed to work best with Bitch. I imagined that she hadn't paid a lot of attention to stuff like food as she took hold of her territory. Odds were good that she'd asked Coil for a lot of easy food she could stuff in her pockets and eat on the go. She probably wouldn't pay much attention to stuff like seasonings or variety in courses.
I'd recently spent some time looking back on our past interactions. Her perspective toward me had zig-zagged between a kind of hesitant acceptance and hostility. We'd met, she'd attacked me. We'd gone to the bank robbery, and she'd been open and excited, only to do a one-eighty and start shouting at me after misinterpreting something I said. Two steps forward, one step back. Until I'd left the group and then been outed as an undercover operative a short while later. That had been a good solid one-hundred steps back.
Recovering from that breach of trust had proven far more difficult than anything that came before. Not quite impossible, though; I'd apparently proved myself in the recent past, because Bitch was making an effort on her end. She was here earlier than I'd asked, for one thing, and she hadn't murdered me when I asked for a hand with some things I couldn't handle with my own power.
She glanced back at her group and whistled once, making a 'come hither' gesture. I couldn't tell if she was signaling her dogs and expecting the people to follow or if she was treating her own people like she did her dogs. She grabbed the chain at Bentley's neck and used it to lead him.
Barker and Biter looked pretty unimpressed, either way. Barker especially.
We didn't talk as we made our way to my headquarters, and I was okay with that. Every exchange between us was one more chance for me to inadvertently offend her, and the silence gave me a bit more time to consider how to tackle all of this. I was used to feeling like I had to approach every conversation with a strategy, planning out what I was going to say so I didn't sound like an idiot. That went double for Bitch, because a slip-up could set me back days or weeks in terms of our friendship.
Should friendship even be my goal? Maybe I was better off just trying to be a teammate.
If it was just for my sake, I could probably convince myself. As it stood, though, I was thinking of Bitch. I felt like I would be abandoning her to a pretty lonely existence if I didn't at least try.
I let them into my lair, after sweeping the area with my bugs to check for any observers, unlocking and opening the shutter. Charlotte had experienced a few sleepless nights since the scare three nights ago, so I'd given her permission to take it easy here, with the warning that I'd have guests and would want her assistance. She still looked a little wary as Bitch, Biter, and Barker entered.
"Hamburgers?" I asked Bitch. She nodded. When I looked at her minions, they signaled agreement. Good. Easy and simple.
"Charlotte, would you mind? Maybe fries, too, if you know how to make them on the stove?"
"I don't, but there's some in the freezer that I can do. They aren't bad," she replied.
"Good. When you have a second, some towels for the dogs, too."
I led the others into the sitting area on the ground floor. With the shutter up, some dim light filtered through the rain-streaked windows. Bitch was outside, tending to Bentley, who had yet to shrink to a more normal size.
I stepped outside to give her directions to where she could stow Bentley until he'd returned to a more normal size, pointing the way to the beach. She marched off with the one-ton monstrous dog, not offering a response.
Which left me to deal with her people in the meantime.
Barker and Biter gave me something of a George and Lennie vibe, with the smaller guy as the brains of the outfit, the larger one as the big oaf. While I didn't have any major clues to Barker's powers, Biter was clearly a physical powerhouse. He stood over six feet in height with a severe underbite exaggerated by a metal bear-trap style band of metal around his lower jaw. His teeth, I saw, were filed into points. His costume featured spiked knuckle-dusters and a number of leather straps and belts over his clothes. Each length of leather was studded with sharp spikes.
Barker was an inch or two shorter than me, his hair and beard cut short enough that there was more skin than hair showing. His eyes seemed overly large for his face, with heavy lids and folds around them that made him look older than he probably was. His 'costume' consisted of a black sleeveless t-shirt, jeans and tattooing around his mouth. I'd seen him in something more conventional when Coil had introduced him to us, but now the only sign of his parahuman nature was the faint smoke that curled out of his mouth. Just going by his lack of bulk and short stature, I thought I might be able to take him in a no-powers fist fight.
I'd nearly forgotten about Bitch's henchpeople in the chaos of dealing with the Nine and all of the fallout that had ensued. I realized I knew very little about them.
To my surprise, it was Biter who did the talking. He had a low voice, and his words were muddled by some combination of the mouthgear and the underbite. "You get along."
I folded my arms.
He spread his hands, "How?"
"How do Bitch and I get along?" I asked.
He nodded.
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable talking behind her back."
The girl with her arm in a sling spoke up, "She acts like she's frustrated with us. And I think we're frustrated with her."
"I don't want to be rude, but that's really her business with you." They're her property, her territory. If I screwed around with her minions or started something, it would effectively be stepping on her toes.
"You can't offer us any tips?" she asked.
She looked so hopeful. Damn it.
"I can, but it's going to sound pretty damn basic. Be honest, be absolutely clear in what you're saying. Be obedient, but be assertive. Don't let her walk all over you or she will walk all over you. At the same time, if you think there's something worth arguing over, be prepared to fight tooth and nail for it, because you'll be in a weaker position if you fight over it and lose. Respect her space and her things, and remember that she's your boss above all else."
"She doesn't act like a boss," Barker said, and he made it sound almost insulting. Puffs of the dark smoke spilled from his mouth with each word, but they seemed to carry further than cigarette smoke would. It seemed to be tied to the stress or emphasis on the sounds that drove it forward. "She does her own thing and she leaves us to clean up shit."
"Adapt," I told him. "That's all I can say. If you've proven yourself reliable, showed that you're willing to clean up after the dogs and take care of them without complaining, she'll test you in other ways. That'll be your chance to prove you're useful."
He sneered, looking at the girl and the boy with the scars on his face. "She's cutting them more slack than she's cutting Biter and me. We shouldn't have to prove anything."
"What do you do? Your powers."
He looked up at me. "You want to see?"
I shrugged.
The puff of smoke that accompanied the word detonated like a small thunder-clap, mere inches from my face. I flinched, but it hadn't been intended to harm. Only to alarm.
He sniggered. I'd never met anyone who really sniggered before.
I could see how Coil thought Barker and Bitch would be a match. I could also see where there would be some friction between the two.
I sighed a little, watching as Barker looked to the others, then over at Charlotte, as if they'd be joining him in his amusement. None did. Biter earned a brownie point in my book by staying quiet and simply watching.
I caught my baton from behind my back and swung it underhand, still folded up, into Barker's chin. His teeth clacked shut with percussive force, and I stepped closer to push at his upper body while hooking at the chair leg with my foot to pull it in my direction. He toppled backwards, his head hitting the wall behind him.
I didn't have a full measure of his ability, but I did know his mouth was his weapon. It made me look weaker, but I stepped back so his legs and the chair seat gave me cover in the event that he decided to attack me.
For extra measure, I drew the bugs out of my costume and sent them straight for his nose and mouth.
He went bug-eyed as he sat up, coughing and sputtering in an attempt to clear the bugs from his airway. After one rolling cough, he created another detonation in and around his mouth, obliterating a majority of the bugs I'd tried to gag him with.
I glanced at Biter. He was still seated. Good. I'd somehow thought that the guy would be stepping up to defend his partner, making this a two-versus-one fight.
Barker was climbing to his feet. I saw him falter, then start coughing again, gagging.
The capsaicin had kicked in.
"That's the sort of thing you have to watch out for," I told him, as he fell to the ground, writhing and coughing, tears welling in his eyes. I kept my voice level. "You're in my house, my territory, and you fuck with me? That's the sort of thing that would get you in your boss's bad books if you did it to her."
"He has," the boy with the scars on his face spoke.
Barker only gagged in response.
"Guess that's why he deserves shit duty," I commented. I leaned against the wall, folding my arms, my telescoped baton still in one hand.
Bitch had chosen that moment to return. She stared at the scene. Me standing idly by as Barker was curled up on the floor, wheezing and making pathetic noises, a few stray bugs crawling across his face.
She looked at me, glaring.
"He started it, I finished it," I told her.
She looked at Biter, who shrugged and nodded agreement with my statement. Bitch seemed to accept that as answer enough. She picked up his chair, moved it a few feet so it wouldn't be in Barker's way as he kicked and spasmed, and sat down.
"I'm surprised there's no objections about me attacking your partner," I told Biter.
"Your house, your rules, you said."
"What do you do? No demonstrations, please."
"I make parts of myself bigger." He pointed to his mouth, then to the fist with the spike-studded knuckle-duster. "Open wide, swing with bigger hands."
Nothing that would have been that great against the Nine. I couldn't blame Bitch for leaving them behind.
"Fair enough." I addressed the two unpowered individuals from Bitch's group. "And you two? Why were you picked for her team?"
"I was just starting my first year as a vet before everything went to hell," the girl said. "Needed money to pay my boyfriend's hospital bill, was offered more than enough. He got better a week ago, then broke up with me. Not even a thank you. Guess I'm still here because I don't have anywhere else to go, and I like taking care of the dogs."
I saw an opportunity. "Did you have a dog growing up?"
"Greyhounds. Eclaire and Blitzen."
"Blitzen? Like the reindeer?"
"No. Like German for lightning. And Eclaire is French."
I could see Bitch was tense. Something about this line of conversation?
I guessed what it might be and continued the questioning. "Why greyhounds? Don't they need a lot of exercise?"
She shook her head. "No. They're running dogs, but they only need about a half-hour of walking a day. They work really well living in an apartment, which we were."
"They howl," Bitch said.
"Only if they're unhappy," the girl protested. She glanced down as Barker thumped on the ground with one fist, then looked up at Bitch and smiled a little, "And ours were happy."
Bitch seemed to accept that.
"Do you have a dog now?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I don't have the money. Or I didn't have money, before Leviathan came. Student loans and living expenses kind of ate up whatever I made. I'm hoping to save up enough with the work I'm doing now."
"You buying the dog?" Bitch asked. She seemed interested, now, but there was still a tension, as if she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. One wrong answer, and this could turn ugly. I could only hope the girl had the right answers.
"I kind of want another greyhound, because it's what I grew up with… and you'll get greyhounds from an animal rescue ninety percent of the time. There's one I'm pretty fond of that's in one of your shelters, but he's yours, of course."
She'd taken my advice about respecting Bitch's ownership. Good.
"Greyhound? Chase or Ink?" Bitch asked.
Bitch frowned. I tensed, ready to jump in and distract with some mention of food.
Grudgingly, Bitch said, "Rather they have a proper home than stay with me."
I could see the girl's eyes widen in surprise. "I didn't- um. Thank you."
"If I see him in some cage in a shelter after you've taken him home, I'm going to track you down and dismember you," Bitch growled.
I could see from the expression on the girl's face that she believed Bitch. Still, I saw her steel herself as she replied, "If I fuck up, I deserve it."
There wasn't much more I could do to help that conversation. I had hope that this would set Bitch's underlings in the right direction.
While they continued talking, I stepped away to check on the hamburgers that Charlotte was cooking on the stove.
"Is he going to be okay?" she asked me.
It took me a second to realize who she meant. I looked back at Barker. "Yeah."
"I mean, is he going to attack us?"
"I dosed him with pepper spray, basically, as well as a few stings and bites to add to the hurt. That'll generally put someone down for half an hour, so I don't think he's a threat. I don't think he's stupid enough to attack with Bitch and I here."
She nodded, but she didn't look relieved. I would have asked what was up, tried to pry for more clarification on just why she hadn't slept well, or why she was so easily spooked, but I was interrupted by the vibration of my phone.
I stepped up into my lair to take the call.
"We're a few minutes away," Lisa told me, the second I picked up.
"Bitch is here already," I answered. "Come in the front door when you get here."
"Righty-o. Ta ta."
She hung up.
I took a second to compose myself, alone in the second floor of my lair. Dealing with people, the sensitive management of Bitch and her underlings, pretending confidence where I didn't necessarily have it, and thinking of all the little details that would help me convey the image of someone confident and powerful… it was draining. It meant standing straighter, having the answers, thinking two steps ahead and using intimidation and fear to prevent any argument or insubordination like Barker's little stunt. It meant retaliating in excess to any slight or disrespect.
Barker had pushed me, I'd left him mewling like a baby.
At the same time, I faced a dilemma on the opposite end of things. I wanted to help people, and I wanted to build friendships with the others. With the way Bitch sort of mandated that I go the extra mile, it was hard to be nice to her without seeming weak to others.
Well, what they didn't see didn't hurt them.
I stepped downstairs.
"Bitch?" I asked. "A word?"
She frowned, glancing at the food.
"We'll be done before the food is," I promised.
She followed me up the stairs.
"It's not complete," I admitted, walking over to where I had fabric draped over a workbench. I picked up one piece and flicked it out. "I just figured you'd want to see it and voice any complaints before the others got here, so your voice doesn't get drowned out."
She took it from my hands. It was a jacket, not dissimilar to the one she'd lent me once upon a time, but it was naturally lighter. There was a hood with a fluffy fur border at the edges, extending around in front of her shoulders. Besides the zippers and buttons, the fur was the only thing I hadn't made myself.
"I dyed it dark gray. I figured if you wanted it any color, you'd want it something dark, so I can tint it dark red, dark blue, dark green, or whatever you want."
She stared at it, her forehead creased.
"It's spider silk. Tensile strength like steel, but flexible enough to resist wear and tear that steel wire would experience. And it's lighter than the steel would be. Knives won't cut it. I figured you'd want a heavier feel, judging by the jacket you lent me before, so I put rectangular panels of armor in between the inner and outer layer to give it more substance. I originally meant for there to be an undershirt or something you can wear to protect your upper body for when you don't have it zipped up, but I kind of cannibalized it for my own costume, after I burned my legs. I'll have the shirt ready for you in a week or two. Here, there's leggings, too. They survived."
I picked up the leggings. Unlike the jacket, they were skin-tight.
"I don't wear tights," she said.
"I thought you could wear them under your pants if you were expecting a serious fight. I gave you an inner layer with a really fine weave for the inner thighs, for when you're riding, so there's less chafing."
"Uh huh."
"I went out of my way to give you lots of pockets like you had in the other jacket. I don't think it'll be too hot. There's zippers in the armpits so you can ventilate some cool air inside, and you can detach the hood if you want, but I liked how it looked with the fur. I'm planning an inside liner for when it's-"
"It's fine," she interrupted me. "Stop talking. It's good."
"Yeah? I didn't get a chance to get your measurements, so I went by memory, based on the jacket you lent me."
She pulled it on and adjusted the front. "Fits fine."
"Here," I said. I turned around and grabbed the next piece. I handed it to her.
She turned it around in her hands. I'd cheated and formed the base sculpt out of chicken wire, covering the remainder with layers of dragline silk and painting the end result. It was, as close as I'd been able to manage, a recreation of what her power did to her dogs in the form of a mask. Except I'd made it half human and half dog.
"Looks like Brutus," she said.
I didn't see it, but I didn't see fit to correct her either.
She pulled it on.
"It's just a little bit flexible, if you want to bend any bits that are rubbing in the wrong place, or shape it to fit your face better."
"It's fine," she said. She adjusted her jacket again.
"If you want me to change anything-"
Her refusal was so curt it gave me pause. I couldn't tell if she was upset or happy.
I forced myself to keep my mouth shut. I'd give her a few seconds to let me know either way. If she didn't, I was ready to escape by pointing out that lunch would be waiting for us.
"You made stuff for the others?"
"But I didn't ask for it. I told you to fuck off when you asked me for my measurements, remember?"
"I made it anyways."
She adjusted her mask, turning it so it hung off one side of her head. She was glowering at me. "Why didn't you listen when I told you to fuck off?"
Two ways I could interpret that question. "Don't worry about it. Look, the hamburgers will be ready soon…" I trailed off.
An awkward silence reigned. I turned to head downstairs.
"What do you want for this?"
I looked over my shoulder. "What? Nothing."
"You're trying to get some favor from me."
"No, I'm really not. It might feel like it, with the timing and what we're going to talk about with Lisa and the others, but it's really not. You're free to argue and disagree with me or the rest of us, just like usual. The costume's a gift."
"I don't get many gifts."
I shrugged. What was I supposed to say to that? I couldn't help but feel that if I were a little more socially adroit, I'd have had a snappy answer.
She kept talking. "All of the stuff I've gotten, it's been with strings attached. Used to get gifts from one of my foster dads," she paused. "And I get the money from Coil."
"Those aren't really presents. They're more like bribes or enticements. Really truly, this is no strings attached. You can act like you normally would, I won't expect any different."
Again, that glower.
I swallowed. "Wear it or don't wear it. It's okay either way. It's not a big deal."
"I'll wear it," she said.
When I turned to head downstairs, she followed.
I guess that means 'thank you'.
We were greeted by the others in the kitchen. There was just enough time to grab and prepare our burgers before the others arrived. Grue, Tattletale, Imp, Regent and Shatterbird. They turned down the offer of food, and together, we ventured back upstairs.
With everyone gathered in my headquarters, I handed out the costumes. Like Bitch's, the other costumes were in various stages of completion, primarily with minor details missing or askew. I ate while the others tried it all on.
Lisa's costume was virtually the same. The complicated aspect had been maintaining the crisp differences in color without any bleeding of black into lavender or vice versa. There'd also been the issue of getting the mask to fit her face well. I'd accomplished the former by making the black and lavender pieces separately and attaching them to a gossamer-thin sub-layer when I was done. We had the boys and Shatterbird turn away while Lisa and Aisha changed at one end of the room. The mask was a failure, it didn't sit right around the eyes, but I was left with an idea of what to do.
Grue's costume was not unlike his motorcycle leathers in terms of thickness and design, making him one of the most heavily armored of our groups in terms of the amount of material he was wearing. His headwear was the part I'd changed the most: I'd modeled the face-plate after a figurine he'd bought at the market. It was a step away from the visor he'd worn up to now, more demonic than skeletal. The only real trick there had been making it non-porous enough that his darkness wouldn't bleed through. A quick experiment proved that my efforts had turned out alright. In costume, the face-mask down, the darkness framed his mask but didn't cover it unless Grue forced it to. A demon's face in dark gray in a vaguely human-shaped twist of darkness.
For Regent and Imp, I'd settled on bodysuits and masks. Regent would wear his beneath his costume and Imp would wear hers as a simple black bodysuit, complete with a scarf and the horned mask Coil had provided.
There was more to do: belts, Imp's scarf, Tattletale's mask and Bitch's shirt, not to mention finishing my new mask, and my plans for different masks for our various minions.
When we'd been fighting the Slaughterhouse Nine, I'd lamented the fact that I hadn't better outfitted the team, and people had been hurt where the costumes would have otherwise protected them. In the days I'd had to wind down, focusing on getting people organized and working on cleaning up the area, I'd been in range to get a serious effort going on the costumes.
I was satisfied with this.
By all appearances, they were too.
"Safe to turn around," Tattletale told the boys.
They did. I gestured, and people found seats in the various chairs.
"Feels like we're different people than we were an hour ago," Imp said, looking around.
I considered her words. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I think it's more accurate to say we're different people than we were a week ago."
There were some nods. I glanced at the scar on Tattletale's cheek, at Shatterbird, who stood obediently behind Regent, and at Grue, who had transformed more than any of us.
And I couldn't forget the change I'd undergone, even if I didn't have the objectivity to nail down exactly what about me was different from a week ago. Sure, my costume was different, and I had the three hundred pound beetle that was resting on the roof.
"You wanted to touch base?" Brian asked, after he'd pulled off his mask.
"I had some words with Skitter," Lisa answered. "I think it's about time we all got on the same page."
"In terms of tactics?"
Lisa shrugged, "There's that. I think working independently is kind of throwing us off, and it leaves us weak against any coordinated attacks from the Chosen. We work best when we complement one another."
Alec shrugged. "Okay. That's easy enough to arrange. Not really a reason to throw a major group meeting."
"There's something else," I said. I swallowed, looking at Regent, Imp and Bitch. "I've already talked about this at length with Lisa, and I've discussed it some with Brian. This isn't an easy topic to broach, because it sort of fucks with the team's status quo."
That had their attention.
"I guess the question is, how keen are you guys on continuing to work for Coil?"
"Are we talking quitting in the short-term or what?"
"I don't know exactly what we're talking about, because so much depends on how you guys respond and how things unfold in the next while," I said. "But this thing with Dinah, I'm not happy with it. I know Lisa and Brian have their issues with that, even if they don't share my perspective in how culpable we all are in that."
"I'm not responsible at all," Aisha pointed out.
"Aisha," Brian's tone was a warning.
"Just saying."
"You aren't responsible, I know," I told her. "I get the impression you'd side with Brian, Lisa and me if it came down to it. The people I'm really directing this question at are Alec and Rachel. I'm under the impression they're the least invested in helping Dinah out, and they're most interested in what Coil has to offer."
"Doesn't Brian have a stake in this?" Alec asked.
Brian shrugged. "Coil approached me a few days ago about increasing my pay. I think he knows I'm not that reliant on him anymore. I got into this because I wanted to get Aisha away from my mom. With the way things in the city have been turned upside-down, I know and Coil knows that I don't need help. The fact that I can say I've got money saved up, I can arrange to get a place and Aisha's safe and sound with me? That's almost enough to decide the court case as is."
"And mommy's on a bender," Aisha said. "Don't think it'll end anytime soon."
It was odd, but Brian looked more upset at hearing that than Aisha was about saying it aloud. Hadn't he grown up with his dad?
"So it's really down to you two," I addressed Alec and Rachel.
"If I were to say I wanted to stick around? That I like the status quo?" Alec asked.
"That's fine," Lisa said. "You'd be an asshole and a prick, but we'd work around you."
"That's vague," Alec commented.
"We can't exactly share our game plan with you if we're going to wind up on opposite sides," I pointed out.
"It's a hassle. Why make things complicated for all of us, because one member of our group has a moral quibble?"
"A preadolescent girl was kidnapped, with our help, and she's spent the last few months in a dungeon, drugged out of her mind, all so Coil can use her power," I said. "That's not a quibble."
Alec sighed dramatically. "I'm just pulling your legs. World's going to end in a couple of years. Won't kill me to help you make peace with yourself before it does."
There was a long pause where nobody spoke.
"Nice, Alec." Brian said.
Alec chuckled. "What? It's true. That Dinah kid said it was. Don't pretend it's not going to happen. Might as well live it up before everything goes to hell in a handbasket."
"There's a chance it won't," I replied, my voice quiet. "And with the sheer variety of powers out there, there's got to be an answer."
"That optimism's bound to be wearing thin by now," Alec commented.
"Enough," Brian said.
"Why are you guys freaking out? Because I'm calling you out on your willful blindness? The world's gonna end, and I'm okay with that. Therefore I'm saying I'll go along with your plan, whatever it is. Why argue with me?"
Brian sighed.
"Bitch?" I asked. "I know Coil's set up your dogs in those shelters, and we'd be asking you to potentially lose that, depending on how this plays out, but…"
"I've managed without money before," Bitch said. "Smarmy bastard conned me. Promised me I'd be left alone if I joined the group. That hasn't happened. If he thinks I'll forget that because of what he's given me, I'd like to see the look on his face when he finds out how wrong he is."
"Thank you," I said.
"So we're all in?" I asked.
"It was fun," Alec shrugged, "That's why we got into this, wasn't it? Easy money, fun, get to do what we wanted. No pressure, no responsibilities. It's become something else. So maybe we end that."
"I don't necessarily want to end it," I said. "I'm not talking about taking Coil head on, and I do want to preserve my territory, if I can help it. It's helping people."
"So what do you want?" he challenged me.
"For right now? I mainly wanted to know you're on my side. I really appreciate that you are," I said. I looked at Bitch and repeated myself, "Really."
"And for the future?"
"We've got an awfully small window," Lisa said. "One and a half weeks, roughly, before Dinah's power is back online. Once that happens, Coil becomes a thousand times harder to take on. There's the mayoral elections, the question of whether the city gets condemned-"
"What?" I cut in.
"It's arguably more expensive to fix the problems here than it is to abandon the city entirely. Depends on what the consensus is from the President and all the other folks in charge."
"If that happens, what will Coil do?" Brian asked.
"Leave. Start over somewhere else, transporting any resources he can, leaving behind all liabilities. He might bring some of you with him, offering some hefty bribes. Somehow I don't think he'll bring Skitter. Even my own currency is running pretty thin," Lisa shrugged.
"He can't afford to lose you," Brian said. "You're too dangerous as an enemy."
"Oh, I think he's studied me enough to feel pretty confident he can off me if he wants to," Lisa said. "Trick is making it a sure enough kill that there's no chance of it backfiring on him."
"And me?" I asked, feeling a pang of alarm.
"He knows your weak points. The gaps in your power, your dad, your identity, your morals. You already know that."
I did, but hearing it said so clearly, it was one of those cases where having the details laid out in front of me didn't make me feel more confident.
"So this is going to be a different kind of fight," Brian mused. "It's about control and subterfuge. If he figures out what we're doing, if we clue him in, he's probably better equipped than any of our past opponents when it comes to knowing how to deal with us. If the city gets condemned, we're boned. And if Dinah gets her powers back, he'll be impossible to beat."
"That's the gist of it. Even I don't know what he has planned for his endgame, here. It's looking pretty ugly, to be honest." Lisa counted off the points on her fingers. "The Chosen will be gunning for us, Coil's got a small army of pretty excellent, well-equipped soldiers at his disposal, he's got some pretty fucking heavy hitters with the Travelers, the heroes are going to be going into overdrive to establish some sort of control and last but not least, he's Coil."
"Well," Alec said, chuckling a little, "At least we'll have something to help pass the time while we wait for the world to end."


text:
DeM Banter: not sure I am buying Friedman's theory. Agree we need a plan and this might look good on paper…but let's ponder execution. Who do you arm? Who are you empowering? Who are the rebels? Can this organization sustain the country and the rule of law? Or do we help create another vacuum to match much of the Middle East? No easy answers…
New York Times
September 4, 2013
Pg. 23
The Obama team has clearly struggled with its Syria policy, but, in fairness, this is a wickedly complex problem. We need a policy response that simultaneously deters another Syrian poison gas attack, doesn't embroil America in the Syrian civil war and also doesn't lead to the sudden collapse of the Syrian state with all its chemical weapons, or, worse, a strengthening of the Syrian regime and its allies Hezbollah and Iran. However, I think President Obama has the wrong strategy for threading that needle. He's seeking Congressional support for a one-time "shock and awe" missile attack against Syrian military targets. The right strategy is "arm and shame."
Let me explain. Count me with the activists on the question of whether the United States should respond to the Syrian regime's murder of some 1,400 civilians, more than 400 of them children, with poison gas. If there is no global response to this breaching of a universal taboo on using poison gas, the world will be a much more dangerous place. And only America can spearhead a credible response: Russia and China have rendered the United Nations Security Council meaningless; Europe is a military museum; the Arab League is worthless; all others are spectators. We are out front — alone. We may not want to be, but here we are. So we must lead.
But upholding this norm in the context of the Syrian civil war is not a simple matter. Start with the fact that probably the only way to produce a unified, pluralistic, multisectarian Syria is for an international army to come in, take over the country, monopolize all weaponry and referee a long transition to consensual rule. Syrians can't forge that on their own now. But such a force is not possible in this century, and Iraq demonstrated how hard it is for even that option to work.
Thus, the most likely option for Syria is some kind of de facto partition, with the pro-Assad, predominantly Alawite Syrians controlling one region and the Sunni and Kurdish Syrians controlling the rest. But the Sunnis are themselves divided between the pro-Western, secular Free Syrian Army, which we'd like to see win, and the pro-Islamist and pro-Al Qaeda jihadist groups, like the Nusra Front, which we'd like to see lose.
That's why I think the best response to the use of poison gas by President Bashar al-Assad is not a cruise missile attack on Assad's forces, but an increase in the training and arming of the Free Syrian Army — including the antitank and antiaircraft weapons its long sought. This has three virtues: 1) Better arming responsible rebels units, and they do exist, can really hurt the Assad regime in a sustained way — that is the whole point of deterrence — without exposing America to global opprobrium for bombing Syria; 2) Better arming the rebels actually enables them to protect themselves more effectively from this regime; 3) Better arming the rebels might increase the influence on the ground of the more moderate opposition groups over the jihadist ones — and eventually may put more pressure on Assad, or his allies, to negotiate a political solution.
By contrast, just limited bombing of Syria from the air makes us look weak at best, even if we hit targets. And if we kill lots of Syrians, it enables Assad to divert attention from the 1,400 he has gassed to death to those we harmed. Also, who knows what else our bombing of Syria could set in motion. (Would Iran decide it must now rush through a nuclear bomb?)
But our response must not stop there.
We need to use every diplomatic tool we have to shame Assad, his wife, Asma, his murderous brother Maher and every member of his cabinet or military whom we can identify as being involved in this gas attack. We need to bring their names before the United Nations Security Council for condemnation. We need to haul them before the International Criminal Court. We need to make them famous. We need to metaphorically put their pictures up in every post office in the world as people wanted for crimes against humanity.
Yes, there's little chance of them being brought to justice now, but do not underestimate how much of a deterrent it can be for the world community to put the mark of Cain on their foreheads so they know that they and their families can never again travel anywhere except to North Korea, Iran and Vladimir Putin's dacha. It might even lead some of Assad's supporters to want to get rid of him and seek a political deal.
When we alone just bomb Syria to defend "our" red line, we turn the rest of the world into spectators — many of whom will root against us. When we shame the people who perpetrated this poison gas attack, we can summon the rest of the world, maybe even inspire them, to join us in redrawing this red line, as a moral line and, therefore, a global line. It is easy for Putin, China and Iran to denounce American bombing, but much harder for them to defend Syrian use of weapons of mass destruction, so let's force them to choose. Best of all, a moral response — a shaming — can be an unlimited response, not a limited one.
A limited, transactional cruise missile attack meets Obama's need to preserve his credibility. But it also risks changing the subject from Assad's behavior to ours and — rather than empowering the rebels to act and enlisting the world to act — could make us owners of this story in ways that we do not want. "Arm and shame" is how we best help the decent forces in Syria, deter further use of poison gas, isolate Assad and put real pressure on him or others around him to cut a deal. Is it perfect? No, but perfect is not on the menu in Syria.


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Winter fun around Denver
Standing one mile above sea level in the state of Colorado is the city of Denver, which offers views like no other.
Denver and the surrounding cities are home to the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, historic landmarks and beautiful scenery — not to mention Coors beer. The city makes for a great hub to take some day trips to surrounding areas.
There is so much to see and do it can't all be taken in during one season. There are many reasons to go in the winter or spring, when the majestic mountains are draped in snow.
On top of the world
Just south of the mile-high city is Colorado Springs, a winter wonderland with postcard views.
A climb by car is a great way to see the scenery of Pikes Peak. Known as America's Mountain, Pikes Peak stands tall above the Rocky Mountain range at 14,115 feet.
Although visitors may not be able to travel all the way to the summit in winter months, the trip up and back is well worth a traveler's time. The area is known for its lack of humidity, which allows visitors to experience the beauty of the snow without the bone chilling cold.
For those who love to ski, the north side of the mountain hosts skiing opportunities and snow climbing up the couloirs — narrow, steep gullies on the side of a mountain. Other activities in winter and spring include snowmobiling, hiking, skiing and snowboarding. For more information on things to do year-round visit pikes-peak.com.
Also in the Colorado Springs area, a scenic drive through the Garden of the Gods is a must. The red-hued spiking rock formations of this National Natural Landmark against Pikes Peak's snow-capped background is spectacular. Throughout the year, the visitor and nature center and museum are open, offering interactive exhibits. Visitors can learn how the formations came about at the Geo-Trekker theater experience. Hiking, biking and rock climbing are available at the park.
Visit gardenofgods.com for park and rock-climbing regulations and information on hours of operation.
Natural wonders
A visit to the 415-square-mile Rocky Mountain National Park adds to the scenic enjoyment for Denver travelers. The park offers 300 miles of hiking trails, beautiful starry nights and wildflowers in the warmer months, as well as Trail Ridge Road, 50 miles of scenery open from about Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day in October. Winter recreation includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and ranger programs. Check online for avalanche and snow conditions. If you don't have equipment, rentals are available in Estes Park and Grand County, and information can be found at visitestespark.com and visitgrandcounty.com.
The park is home to elk, moose, mule deer, coyotes and many birds and other animals. Drive along the Highway 34/Fall River corridor on the east side of the park to look for bighorn sheep.
Information on alerts, park regulations, maps and activities can be found at nps.gov/romo.
Georgetown, Colorado, is home to the largest herd of bighorn sheep in the U.S. A viewing area is on I-80 west of Denver. It is a great place to visit and maybe have the chance to see the rock-climbing, sure-hooved sheep. Early morning or early evening are the best times to search for the animals.
The sheep are very hard to spot — they blend into the mountain — but the trick is to watch for a head to move. It is also possible to find them grazing alongside the road traveling west from Denver just before the viewing site. Bring your own binoculars or use the scopes available at the area.
A trip to Denver offers visitors great hotels, history, shopping, nearby casinos, a great food scene, art and so much more. For more information on places to stay, eat and have fun visit denver.org.


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Wednesday, September 30, 2015
From Fantasia to Fantasyland (UK 1978)
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 2:32 PM 0 comments
Labels: 2d animation, animation, disney, disney nine old men, film history, history
Monday, September 28, 2015
Falter | Cinema Spot | 2015
Created by Jung von Matt Vienna
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 1:14 PM 0 comments
Labels: animation, art, commercials, design, layout, motion graphics
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Scorsese on Scorsese (2004)
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 8:59 AM 0 comments
Labels: cinema, directing, filmmaking, history, Martin Scorsese
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
BBC Documentary: In Search of Steve Ditko (Co-Creator of Spider-Man)
Steve Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist and co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. Below is the BBC documentary In Search of Steve Ditko. It highlights Ditko's influence and contributions to the comic book industry.
Also for more history and backstory check out DIAL B for BLOG's two part feature on Steve Ditko.
Part One / If This Be My Ditko
Part Two / Doorway To The Unknown
In Search of Steve Ditko (Part 1 of 7)
Also for more history and backstory check out DIAL B for BLOG's two part feature on Steve Ditko.
Part One / If This Be My Ditko
Part Two / Doorway To The Unknown
In Search of Steve Ditko (Part 1 of 7)
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 10:41 AM 0 comments
Labels: bbc, comic artist, comics, design, documentary, drawing, foundation, history, marvel, steve ditko
Friday, September 18, 2015
Visual Effects Advice from Film & TV Experts (BAFTA)
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 1:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: bafta, film industry, foundation, history, job, vfx
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Everything is a Remix Remastered (2015 HD)
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 12:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: design, filmmaking, music, production, remix, story, storytelling
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Glen Keane: Future of StoryTelling 2015
The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) aims to answer this question by bringing together leaders from the worlds of media, technology, and communications to explore how stories are changing in the digital age.
// Future of StoryTelling Summit
Also check out the vids on the FoST YouTube Channel
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 11:49 AM 0 comments
Labels: AR, future, glen keane, layout, story, storytelling, virtual reality, VR
Wednesday, September 09, 2015
BBC Series: The Secret of Drawing
via BBC
// The Secret of Drawing
1: The Line of Enquiry
2: Storylines
3: All in the Mind
4: Drawing by Design
View Episodes 1-4 here
// The Secret of Drawing
1: The Line of Enquiry
2: Storylines
3: All in the Mind
4: Drawing by Design
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 2:55 PM 0 comments
Labels: bbc, design, drawing, foundation, layout, sketching, tradition art
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
PBS Special: Walt Disney Life and Legacy (2015)
// American Experience: Walt Disney
'Coming to American Experience September 14 & 15 is the unprecedented look at the complex life and enduring legacy of one of America's best-known storytellers – Walt Disney. Featuring rarely seen footage from the Disney archive, scenes from some of his greatest films, and interviews with biographers, animators and artists who worked on his early films, as well as the designers who helped turn his dream of Disneyland into reality, this two-night, four-hour film reveals the makings of the man who would leave an indelible mark on our nation's cultural history.' via PBS
Clip: Working for Walt Disney
Also worth a read:
// Displaced Disney Tech Worker: How They Replaced Me, Other Americans, With Cheap Foreigners On H1B Visas
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 10:47 AM 0 comments
Labels: 2d animation, animation, disney, film history, history, mouse, walt disney
Friday, September 04, 2015
Mad Max: Fury On Four Wheels
Back in 2011 when I was working on Happy Feet 2 at Dr.D Studios in Sydney I got a chance to see George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road pre-production presentation for Warner Bros. It was set up in a large room in a corner of the studio for a few weeks. On display were some of the concept vehicle models (including the large War Rig model that's in the vid), character model sheets from Weta Workshop and various props. They also had 17mins of test footage on loop showing some of the dramatic stunts and choreography for one of the chase sequences. It was an amazing presentation and quite a juxtaposition with dancing penguins we were currently animating!
Check out concept artist Christian Pearce's Deadly Sleds
// Deadly Sleds
Posted by Bryon Caldwell at 3:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: behind the scenes, concept, design, filmmaking, George miller, mad max, WETA
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North Korean scientists are thought to have attained the ability to build uranium-based nuclear bombs on their own, cutting the need for imports that had been one of the few ways outsiders could monitor the country's secretive atomic work.
According to evidence gathered by two North American experts, material published in North Korean scientific publications and news media shows that Pyongyang is mastering domestic production of essential components for the gas centrifuges needed to make such bombs.
The development further complicates long-stalled efforts to stop a nuclear bomb programme that Pyongyang has vowed to expand, despite international condemnation.
If Pyongyang can make crucial centrifuge parts at home, outsiders cannot track sensitive imports, which could spell the end of policies based on export controls, sanctions and interdiction that have been the centrepiece of international efforts to stop North Korea's nuclear programme over the last decade, Joshua Pollack, a Washington-based expert on nuclear proliferation, said.
"If they're not importing these goods in the first place, then we can't catch them in the act," said Pollack, who gathered the evidence with Scott Kemp, an expert on centrifuge technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "We won't necessarily see anything more than what the North Koreans want us to see."
The state of North Korea's nuclear programme is of vital concern to Washington because Pyongyang wants to build an arsenal of nuclear-armed missiles that can reach American shores.
The North has conducted three nuclear tests of apparently increasing power since 2006, most recently in February, and it is believed to have a handful of crude plutonium-based bombs. Many experts estimate, however, that Pyongyang has not yet mastered the miniaturisation technology needed to mount a warhead on a long-range missile.
Fuel for North Korea's plutonium bombs has been made in a reactor that is large and easily monitored. But uranium-based weapons are more difficult for outsiders to investigate because the centrifuges needed to enrich uranium for bombs can be easily hidden from satellites and prying inspectors.
The UUS and others long suspected North Korea was clandestinely developing a uranium programme, despite denials from Pyongyang. US officials confronted North Korea in 2002 with claims its scientists were pursuing uranium enrichment, sparking a nuclear crisis. In a reversal, visiting Americans were shown in November 2010 what they called a sophisticated, modern uranium enrichment facility with 2,000 centrifuges at the North's main nuclear facility.
Restrictions on imports to North Korea are tightening thanks to China, which is a key ally of Pyongyang but also has been pressing it to give up nuclear weapons. A notice posted on the commerce ministry's website on Tuesday listed 236 pages of items and technologies banned from export to North Korea because of their potential use in manufacturing weapons of mass destruction.
International sanctions banning nuclear weapons-related shipments to North Korea did not stop its progress even when it relied on imported equipment, but the US enjoyed some success tracking the parts allegedly used in the programme. In 2007, for instance, the then US nuclear envoy, Christopher Hill, said Washington had evidence that Pyongyang had bought equipment used only for uranium enrichment.
News media reports and unclassified government documents showed North Korea imported large amounts of centrifuge parts in the early 2000s, Pollack said, but an apparent dearth of observed imports since then suggests that Pyongyang is making the necessary components at home. He said the knowhow for domestic production of key parts appears to have been in place no later than 2009.
Pollack said he and Kemp found "strong and clear" evidence in state media photographs taken inside North Korean factories of specialised lathes that produce the strong metal cylinders needed for centrifuges.
He also spoke of accounts in North Korean propaganda and technical journals of iron and steelmaking consistent with the production of an extremely hard steel alloy that can resist high rotational speeds in centrifuges, although the final step of the process was not described.
Pollack said their research also found scientific reports and patent awards describing work on technologies for crucial centrifuge parts. Those include vacuum pumps that remove air from centrifuges and pipes before uranium-bearing gas is added and electronic devices that control the speed of the electric motor in the base of each centrifuge.
North Korea's nuclear programme is cloaked in secrecy and treated domestically as a national treasure. The small, impoverished country says it must defend itself from US attempts to overthrow its political system.
It is not clear whether North Korea has made bomb-grade uranium, and Pyongyang says the programme is for peaceful, energy-generating purposes. But analysts strongly suspect that, even beyond the facility Americans toured in 2010, Pyongyang has other uranium enrichment facilities that could be producing large amounts of weapons-grade material.
Earlier this year, during a barrage of threats aimed at Washington and Seoul, Pyongyang vowed to resume all its nuclear fuel production. Recent satellite imagery appears to show that North Korea was restarting its plutonium reactor.


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Now that is the way to end a game, to win with effectively the last kick of the game you would struggle to find a scenario which can be bettered in football. It may not be the winner on the final day of the season but when you consider the turn of events during the game the relief, joy and ecstasy experienced in one special moment will live long in Gunners' fans memories. The fact that it was Danny Welbeck who got the winner made for a Hollywood script in its execution.
Other than the fact that many Gunners fans most likely spent the rest of their Valentine's day with a loss of voice I'm sure the spouses of those very same fans will have enjoyed the company of their partner in one of the best moods of their lives (well, those who didn't decide to celebrate the victory down the pub for the rest of the day).
Leading up to this game the pressure was on the Gunners to get a result to avoid losing touch with Leicester. Home advantage meant little, you only had to see Leicester's result at the Etihad last week to realise that Arsenal were coming up against a team in top form playing with no fear whatsoever. Much talk was over how the Gunners would cope with the pace of the Leicester attack and the overwhelming consensus was the choice of Gabriel to partner Koscielny at the back was best to deal with the threat of Vardy, Mahrez et al.
About an hour before kick-off news filtered through that Gabriel was in fact injured and Per Mertesacker had returned to the line-up. Not the news everyone wanted to hear however it is easy to forget Mertesacker has got to where he has in his career never having pace. Reading of the game and 100% focus is equally important and I stand corrected for also having kittens when the team news first broke.
Generally we did ok handling the pace of Leicester, understandably the red card to Danny Simpson made defending somewhat easier in the second half but it is those very moments in the past where Arsenal have shot themselves in the foot from a comfortable position. You need to be focused, well organised and concentrate at all times to reap the benefits of the victory gained. Not forgetting Koscielny was replaced at half time and the slightly raw and less pacey Callum Chambers replaced him. The chances that Leicester did create were more down to great build up rather than exposing any lack of pace.
This post is less focused on providing a match report and more focusing on the key points of the game so it is definitely worth touching on Ozil's performance.
Now if I'm being honest yesterday happened to be one of the worst performances I have seen from Mesut Ozil in a long time. I am one of his biggest backers and this season has certainly been one of his best in an Arsenal shirt but yesterday absolutely nothing was coming off for him. Every neat flick and trick did not come off; he dwelled on the ball that micro-second longer than usual which resulted in him getting dispossessed in good positions and his head seemed to drop at the frustration. I do not even recall hearing his recent chant being heard from the stands and that can only be testament to a performance below the excellent high standards which have been set.
Having said that the key assist to the winner came from the very boot of Mesut Ozil. If anything it proves that when you have class players on the pitch even if they are having a bad game there is always the possibility of that one piece of quality that can be produced to win you the game. Take your star player off at your peril, well done Arsene on keeping the faith.
Special notice goes to Danny Welbeck for his fantastic winner after such a long time out injured. He may not be everyone's cup of tea but he certainly endeared himself that little bit more to Gunners fans in his time with the club. His naming on the bench came as a surprise given Arsene's caution in handling his comeback but at the final whistle the choice was justified.
The tough games are coming thick and fast with Man United, Barcelona and Spurs game not too far away it hits home how important 3 points were yesterday. It is hoped the recent blip is now behind the Arsenal and a chance to prove true title resolve will be taken with both hands.
Enjoy your day people


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A life honored.
Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there, both in and out of my own life.
My childhood was sweet, largely due to my father. My Mama and I were close but it was my Daddy I connected with the most. He was my hero. He still is. He met my mother through family. She and his sister were roomies, kind of a Lucy and Ethel setup; and their stories were funny. But this is not their story. At that time my Daddy was in the Navy, and my Grandfather met my mother, deciding she was the right woman for one of his five sons. They corresponded via mail while he was still enlisted and fell in love when he came home after his service.
I loved (and still do) to hear his stories about those Navy days. Being enlisted between conflicts allowed him to travel on a carrier ship as store clerk and see Japan, Hawaii and the Phillipines. But his heart was lost when he went to Alaska. I think part of it remains there. He always said he would go back but, sadly, life did not allow for that dream to play out thus far. He is 82. If I had the means I would take him myself!
Growing up with my Dad was about honesty. He didn't mince words and taught me early how to laugh at myself. What's not to love about a man who will don a hula hoop just to show his kids how it is done?
Or take his kids to the park on a Sunny California Sunday.
I loved to hear my Dad talk about his growing up years, happily lost in the glow of the 50's, his stories so good I actually envied him that time of innocence before the glare of Vietnam bore down on the 60's. His high school was the oldest in Baton Rouge.
My Dad grew up on the river in Louisiana, his father a fisherman, and his parents had a small grocery store in town in later years. He told us all of his 'poor child' stories with the rich joy of someone who loved his life in spite of its challenges. Every Christmas we heard about the lean years when he got firewood in his Christmas stocking and the one time he got new pencils. He described their walking to school and taking a shortcut through the wet woods and hearing water mocassins hissing with each step.
He described the flooding of their little house when thr river crested beyond its banks and having to leave until it receded. Then his Mama would just sweep out the mud and debris and start all over. He told me how he and his brothers often had to go to town to fetch his daddy before he spent his paycheck on frivolous things. I think he liked to gamble a bit.
A closer look will show he has holes in those shoes right at the toe. They were hardworking, loving people. The 50's were prosperous compared to their own growing up years.
I always remember my Daddy smiling through it all. I can still hear the chinking of his cane knife on Saturday morning as he hand trimmed the grass from the sidewalk after he mowed. It was my job to fetch him glasses of ice cold water, even though my mother scolded that drinking cold water in the heat would give him a heart attack. I always got him what he wanted because this was the man who would bring me a glass of ice water in the middle of the night if I called out. I loved the sound of the ice tinkling in the glass as he swirled it, making it cold for me. To me that is what love sounds like. He was always there for us, for the big moments, like a first step…
He still mows his own grass at 82 and still has the same smile.
My mother passed away some years ago and he has had another wonderful lifetime with my stepmother and friend, Ruby. Coco, their puppy in this photo, is gone now too but they have a new 'baby' named Sprinkles. He treats his puppies with all the love and adoration that he treated us growing up. I have too many photos and too many memories to share in one post but we love you Daddy. Never forget that!
Happy Father's Day! 💕
And here are a few other great fathers I know. If you tap and hold the photos you can read the captions.


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We're a little late to the party on the Erin Andrews saga (though our bro-site Deadspin has been all over it from day one), but since the story is still making headlines, it seems appropriate to weigh in, even a week later. Let us break it down for you: Erin Andrews is an ESPN interviewer who wore a "skimpy outfit" (pictured) when she was in the locker room at the Cubs/Brewers game on July 29th. The next day, GateHouse News Service columnist Mike Nadel wrote a scathing essay criticizing Andrews' unprofessionalism and taking her to task for placing "her hand suggestively on [Alfonso] Soriano's left bicep" and generally "playing the sexpot."
He also said that her costume choice was a disruptive presence in the clubhouse. Since Nadel's July 30th column, the sports sections of several newspapers and the blogosphere have been alight with commentary. Andrews herself called the hubbub over her low-cut dress "sad" and told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that "when there's a big game between the Cubs and Brewers going on, it's sad that [my body] is what their focus is on." Fellow female sports journalist Trenni Kusnierek is firmly in the anti-Andrews camp, and she told a Milwaukee sports blog earlier this week, "Erin is a beautiful girl with a body I'd kill for. I know she's hotter than me. But, she'd still be better looking in a professional outfit, not just in glorified lingerie. As a female in the same business, I wish she'd realize how damaging it is to an entire gender when she carries herself in that manner. It sets us all back to a time where female sports reporters were all seen as husband hunters who were only in the business to catch a cheap glance."
I'll admit it, I'm not a frequent baseball watcher, and so I don't know if Andrews' outfit is as wildly inappropriate as Kusnierek and Nadal purport. However, I think Kusnierek is way off the mark when she says that Andrews short skirt is "damaging to the entire gender," because those sorts of histrionics are just as damaging. Deadspin'sA.J. Daulerio struck a middle ground when he wrote, "Honestly, sports blogs (Deadspin included, obviously) are shameless in the promotion and objectification of Erin Andrews, but the reality is she wouldn't have ascended to that level of deification had she not shown some level of competency to go along with her other physical attributes." But several questions still remain: was Andrews initial wardrobe choice inappropriate? Should her wardrobe choices be a non-issue in the first place? Is this entire "scandal" just further evidence that sexism in the sports world is so deeply entrenched that it's the accepted mode of behavior? Sports nuts, enlighten us!
Mike Nadel: Blonde Bombshell Can't Distract Red-Hot Cubs [Norwich Bulletin]
Erin Andrews: "My Overall Reaction Is That It's Really Sad." [Star-Tribune]
A Female Journalist's Take On The Erin Andrews Story [OnMilwaukee.com]
Related: The Erin Andrews Floozy-Dress Mess Gets Dissected From All Angles
The Erin Andrews Backlash Has Officially Begun


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Few things terrify me or make me as self-conscious as walking into my doctor's waiting room.
No, no, it's not because of my doctor. Dr. V, who is my GP is an absolute darling and I am half in love with him. He's punctual. He's thorough. He listens to what I have to say, does not medicate unless absolutely essential. And whenever I'm not well, he calls me up to check on how I'm doing. And never once, in the 15 years that I have known him, has he given me an injection 🙂 So if my doctor is such a nice guy, why am I so scared of walking into his waiting room? Read on…
One of the places that Dr. V consults from is a clinic near my house. It is not a particularly well-managed clinic, but since the timings and location are convenient for me this is where I go. Dr. V's consulting hours at this clinic overlaps with that of Dr. K, a hugely popular consulting gynaecologist and a fertility expert. To give you an estimate of her popularity, let us assume that for every patient of Dr. V, there are 30 for Dr. K ! While the former's patients are mostly elderly men and women, the latter's patients are women in various stages of pregnancy.
Now imagine walking into a room full of pregnant women and their accompanying family member/friend and feeling every eye on you. I don't know about you, but I feel very self-conscious. I didn't always feel like this, but my visits to the clinic and interactions I've had at the waiting room over the years, has made me so.
These have been interactions based on certain assumptions on the other person's part. Assumptions made automatically, and perhaps even unconsciously, because I am a woman in the reproductive age range, and who is visiting a clinic where a gynaecologist is consulting. Assumptions played out at the clinic in a tragi-comic way, and navigating which has been quite a task as I have found out, starting with the reception desk.
Continue reading "Pregnant pauses: Conversations in a doctor's waiting room"


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Archuleta, Jacob - Physical Education Aide
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Toynae, Layton - Nurse
Valdez, Stanley - Instructional Facilitator
Vasquez, Rosa - Pre-K Aide
Villalba, Elizabeth - 3rd Grade Bilingual (Math & Science)
Villasana, Rebecca - 3rd Grade Bilingual (ELAR and Social Studies)
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