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So OpenMP would be considered a standard library and replace <threads>?
Phoronix: Many Features Proposed For C++14
C++14 is the next update for the C++ programming language. While slated as only a minor extension to C++11, there are several new features being proposed...
So OpenMP would be considered a standard library and replace <threads>?
No it will add not replace threads.
All I want is modules. Pls Herb. End the textual inclusion nightmare.
But I don't think modules will land this decade, if ever. Because adding a fifth parameter-passing method is more important than, say, not crashing whenever you throw an exception from a shared library. Who cares about modules or encapsulation or terrible copy-paste coding (sorry, "textual inclusion"), now you can have rvalue-references and a dozen standard optional random number generators!
having written high performance massively parallel software my experience with openMP is quite unimpressive. Gains are typically quite sub linear, more log-like. It's okay as a stop gap for trying to upgrade old non thread safe software. IMHO new vector unit technology can be dramatically faster. In my experience there are 2 levels of parallelization: instruction level. best left to vectorization techniques, and task level parallelism which is an issue of software design and not a coding problem.
Bah C++11 was awesome, but this C++14 list looks like it was writen by somebody who want to code Java. It is all extensions to the standard library that no one uses anyway. Yawn.
If you apply it to the outermost loops, with each loop iteration doing lots and lots of work with minimal critical sections, gains can be very close to linear, in my experience.
OpenMP is a wonderful, wonderful way to make software multi-threaded without major rewrites.


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UC San Diego will transform California and a diverse global society by educating, by generating and disseminating knowledge and creative works, and by engaging in public service.
We will align our efforts to be a student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public university.
Read the 2014 Strategic Plan Executive Summary.
Campus Profile
UC San Diego's rich academic portfolio includes six undergraduate colleges, five academic divisions and five graduate and professional schools. The university's award-winning scholars are experts at the forefront of their fields with an impressive track record for achieving scientific, medical and technological breakthroughs.
Read our Full Campus Profile.
Campus Timeline
The University of California, San Diego is one of the top-ranked public research universities in the nation. This timeline chronicles the development of UC San Diego from the site of a U.S. military training ground and a marine research station to the innovative, vibrant institution that it is today.
View the full Campus Timeline.
Principles of Community
The Principles of Community is a collaboratively developed statement, issued by the Chancellor, that provides a framework for diversity and affirms the unique contribution of each member of the UC San Diego community.
Read the Principles of Community.
Chancellor & Leadership Team
Pradeep K. Khosla, a distinguished academic leader and electrical and computer engineer, began his tenure as UC San Diego's eighth chancellor on August 1, 2012. Chancellor Khosla previously served as dean of engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. There, he set the strategic direction for undergraduate and graduate education and research, and was elected University Professor, the highest distinction a faculty member could achieve. He also initiated undergraduate curriculum reform, successful diversity efforts, multidisciplinary research centers and graduate offerings, and international programs.
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Pure Essential Luxury Print Boxer
Item# 163019RT
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Rated 5 out of 5 by FLSTFAN comfortable Very comfortable, with nice waitsband. Also fit well under jeans. April 3, 2014


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High school roundup: Dover tops Memorial, wins fifth straight
Saturday, May 11, 2013
MANCHESTER — The streaking Dover High School baseball team won its fifth straight game and its sixth in its last seven with Friday's 5-3 win at Manchester Memorial in Division I action.
The Tigers (8-4) host Gilford next Wednesday. Berlin fell to 5-6.
Brennan Riley started and went seven innings. Andrew Lang took the loss.
Spaulding returns to action Monday at home against Bedford.
Flanagan went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and was also the winning pitcher. Ferrelli went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Caroline Schoenbucher led the offense, going 4 for 4 with a three-run homer (her fifth of the season) and five RBIs. Makayla Harris was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and Kristin Boduch had a double.
Spaulding 5, Salem 4
Lauren Jones and Amanda Riley each had four hits, including a double and a triple, for the Bears (10-2). Jess Ohrenberger had three hits. Kianna Daudelin was the winning pitcher and struck out four.
Kennebunk is 5-2.
Portsmouth 9, Milford 0
Dover completes its season Wednesday home against Alvirne.
Gavin Frisbee won the 200 (24.94) and the 4x400 relay won (3:54.79).


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Leading fashion designer Sue Wong announced today the launch of Sue Wong for Walt Disney Signature, a high-end dress line inspired by Disney's "Alice in Wonderland." Tim Burton's highly anticipated film, featuring favorite characters from the classic Lewis Carroll tales, hits the big screen on March 5, 2010 (U.S. theatres). The line developed in collaboration with Disney Consumer Products will launch nationally in February 2010 as a special limited edition collection for Spring 2010.


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Obama proposes $714M for Kansas biodefense project
Published on -4/10/2013, 12:11 PM
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- President Barack Obama's budget proposal sent to Congress on Wednesday includes $714 million to build a new federal biosecurity lab in Kansas, the largest proposed federal expenditure for the project to date.
Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas said the recommendation signals the administration's support for building the $1.15 billion lab, which will study large animal diseases and develop measures to protect the nation's food supply.
"After almost a decade of work by a whole bunch of folks, this is certainly good news," Roberts said. "We're not there yet, but it's a milestone."
The Department of Homeland Security would build the lab at Kansas State University to replace a facility at Plum Island, N.Y.
The recommendation comes amid federal budget debates over reducing the nation's spending levels and controlling debt, which had prompted some discussion about scaling back the project's size and scope or possibly keeping the current research lab in New York.
Roberts said spending and debt issues haven't changed, nor have federal across-the-board cuts of some $85 billion, but he was confident the administration was behind getting the new lab built.
"What has changed is the commitment to get the lab done. The administration is finally coming across," said Roberts, who was to speak with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano later Wednesday.
Roberts said the proposal will require additional financial commitments from Kansas, which will be worked out by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and legislators.
State officials have long promoted northeast Kansas as a potential site for the lab, seeing it as crucial to efforts to create a strong biosciences industry and create more than 300 well-paying jobs. The state has said it's committed to issuing up to $105 million in bonds to help with the project.


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Illinois Public Media News
In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources
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September 26, 2012
Page 505 of 893 pages ‹ First < 503 504 505 506 507 > Last ›
WILL Newscast audio
NPR News
Venezuela Cuts Oil Subsidies To Caribbean Nations
Despite Protestation From Brazil, Trial For 840-Pound Emerald Will Continue
Pharmacists Group Votes To Discourage Members From Providing Execution Drugs
California's Death Row, The Nation's Largest, Runs Out Of Room
Airstrikes In Yemen Intensify, Hit Refugee Camp
Judy Woodruff Recalls Assassination Attempt On President Reagan
Prosecution Rests In Case Against Admitted Boston Marathon Bomber
Ex-Feds Accused Of Pocketing Bitcoins During Investigation
Ex-Israeli Leader Ehud Olmert Found Guilty Of Corruption
An Unexpected Wilderness Cam At Britain's 10 Downing Street
More NPR News
WILL Highlights
The hidden racism of young white Americans
From PBS NewsHour: Look at data that shows the percentage of whites in each age group espousing racist ideas.
WILL-AM and reporting partners win AP Awards
A series by Illinois Public Media reporting partners won an AP award for Best Investigative Report. Former IPM reporter Sean Powers was named Best Reporter.
More than 100 people became new Friends of WILL during February. We're excited to have them as supporters!


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Our special coverage of the closest race for years
Fault Lines on the city's homelessness crisis
23 Mar 2010 04:38 GMT | Politics, US & Canada, Latin America, Mexico, United States
Barack Obama, the US president, has reiterated his administration's support for Mexico's fight against drug traffickers.
Violence along the US-Mexico border has skyrocketed since Felipe Calderon, the president of Mexico, sent government troops to confront the drug cartels.
Now there is a growing feeling that the military strategy has been counter-productive.
Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez reports.
Source: Al Jazeera
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The clear-cutting of forests is thought to have played a role in Malaysia's worst flooding in decades.
Environment, Asia Pacific, Malaysia
Activists in the Czech Republic demand that a pig farm built over a former WWII era concentration camp be shut down.
Politics, War & Conflict, Human Rights
In religiously conservative Brazil, women risk jail time and their lives to undergo the procedure that is illegal but commonplace.
Health, Human Rights, Latin America
Trash is a fast-growing import in the Scandinavian country, which turns it into heat for people's homes.
Environment, Europe, Sweden
Two guards killed and about 30 wounded as al-Shabab gunmen storm university complex in town of Garissa, police say.
War & Conflict, Africa, Al-Shabab, Kenya
At least 30 soldiers and gunmen killed along with two civilians in ambushes on security checkpoints.
War & Conflict, Middle East, Egypt
When big pharma blocks essential HIV/AIDS medication to the third world, it is the poor who suffer.
Human Rights, Science & Technology, Health
We follow the rise of Malaysia's first professional female mixed martial artist as she faces the fight of her life.
Sport, Asia, Malaysia
Al Jazeera World follows the everyday lives of Aleppo residents living amid the ongoing conflict and destruction.
War & Conflict, Politics, Syria: Broken Nation
Persecuted Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar face a dangerous journey on their way to freedom in Thailand and Malaysia.
Human Rights, Malaysia, Myanmar


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OSA Members are encouraged to join up to five technical groups free of charge. Associating with these groups ensures that you will receive updates on OSA publications, meetings and activities in your areas of interest.
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If you need assistance, please contact OSA's Customer Service department by submitting a Help Ticket, by calling us at +1 202.416.1907 (Worldwide) or 1.800.766.4672 (US/Canada only) or by e-mailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Our Customer Service office is open from 07:30 to 18:00 (East Coast Time) Monday through Friday.
If you are not currently an OSA Member, we encourage you to join today! OSA's Technical Groups are categorized into technical divisions and groups, and you will have the option to select up to five technical groups during your enrollment process.


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Drax wrote:Hi Guys,
Well I guess I'm first then.
I'm from, Victoria on the edge of Melbourne on the Gipssland side.
Loving the forum, but I haven't had much time to post.
I'm hoping to go camping soon in the Brisbane Ranges or Lake Elziabeth in the Otways - just waiting for some time off work or a decent weekend.
John B1 wrote:Gday...
Wellllll ..... technically, we are from Victoria - Sale in Gippsland .... although we are travelling full-time.
Only joined this site yesterday ... so how lucky, now I can bump up the numbers for Vics who visit the site this week.
Cheers and happy travelling
Julie & John
Bradd wrote:I visit the forum fairly regularly, but lack of camping this year has left me with little to talk about.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests


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Middleton residents weigh in on school warrant
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
MIDDLETON — Saturday morning during the town's deliberative session on school-related warrant articles, voters engaged in a lively discussion and considered options for students.
Earlier this school year, the buses were reportedly breaking down and arriving late to pick students up. Some students were on board when a vehicle began sparking last September and the state Department of Transportation said one of the district's buses has a cracked frame cannot be used until it is repaired for $11,000. Around that time, the board began investigating other options for student transportation.
Amendments were considered for Article 9 which asked voters to appropriate $10,000 into the capital reserve fund for school buses if Article 6, 7 or 8 do not pass in March. After a long discussion and a roll-call vote, that total figure was amended to request $25,000 for the reserve fund, to be taken from the general fund balance should funds be leftover.
Potential for withdrawal from SAU 61
Things became a little heated as some residents, in response to Article 11 — for forming a feasibility study to research withdrawal from the AREA/tuition agreement with Farmington — said they felt like their vote last year was not taken into account.
Current board member Janet Kalar proposed a warrant article then to flat-out withdraw from the tuition agreement, and the warrant was knocked down in a close vote by residents. Town Moderator Jack Savage noted around 10 years ago, the town also considered a withdrawal from the Farmington district.
This year, the school board presented a proposal to form a committee to study the feasibility and suitability of withdrawal under guidelines set forth by the State Department of Education. In six months, the committee would have to draft what a withdrawal proposal would look like and what effect, good or bad, that move would have on Middleton children.
Welford noted with the formation of the feasibility study, town residents would still be the final deciding party on whether to leave Farmington.
With only two of the some 40 townspeople in opposition, the article was accepted.
One resident asked if the SAU would be altering its services. Welford said while around eight paraprofessionals will be cut, the district has actually added services, including the addition of a "sophisticated" computer lab and graphic arts system at Farmington High School.
Other items to be taken up at the ballot box include whether the community shall place reports of auditors, committees and others on file for public review (Article 2) and the election of new district officers, including two school board members (Article 1).


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Useful information can be used by your tour directors while traveling through Vermont; inclucing fun facts, film location or historic markers along the way.
1- First in the Nation (PDF): Did you know that the first marble quarry was started at East Dorset in 1785 by Isaac Underhill. 2- Vermont Facts (PDF): Vermont has 3 official state rocks: Marble, Granite and Slate. 3- True Vermont Quiz (PDF): The poet Robert Frost is buried in the cemetery of Bennington's Old First Church. What does the inscription on his grave say? The answer: "I had a lover's quarrel with the world". 4- Secretary of State Kids' Page: History and Government information. 5- Filmed in Vermont: (list) Click here for Google map. Part of the Forrest Gump movie was filmed in Woodstock. 6- Historic Markers: More than 100 historic markers are located around the state.


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Select passengers for this flight
Here you can select the passengers for this flight reservation.
The list includes those of your company's employees who have access to the Finnair Corporate Online services. By default the logged-in user is selected and marked as the primary passenger, and his or her contact information is added in the reservation. However, you can also book flights for others and exclude yourself from the reservation. The primary passenger's contact information can also be changed on the Passenger Details page.
If some passengers are missing in this list, you can add them manually to the reservation on the Passenger Details page.
#OFFER.POINTS#*restrictions apply
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Norrköping used to be the centre of the Swedish textile and paper industry in the 19th century, but it has rapidly transformed from an industrial city to a vital city of culture. The red brick factory buildings along the banks of the Motala Ström River now house an extensive range of museums and terrace restaurants, as well as the beautiful Louis de Geer concert hall. The idyllic landscape of the beautifully restored industrial area split by canals is crowned by the spectacular Kungsfallet waterfall.
Other sights worth seeing in Norrköping, known as the Manchester of Sweden, include the city museum, a cactus park and the Arbetets Museum (the museum of work). Children will find the Kolmården Zoo the best part of their holiday. The largest zoo in the Nordic Countries has a dolphinarium and a safari park where visitors can observe animals from their cars.
The airport is located 4 km east of Norrköping.
Flights operated by Flybe


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With a maximum of 4 students per class, this course provides 24 hours of tailored prep in a small-group setting to help you focus on what you need to master. Choose in-person or convenient LiveOnline instruction.
FeaturesMaximum 4 students per classHours: 24 hours of in-person or web-based instructionPractice tests: 1 in-class practice test, 13 additional SAT and 2 additional ACT testsStudy tools: Access to both our SAT and ACT Online courses with 40–60 hours of video lessonsOther Features: Interactive Admissions and Financial Aid WorkshopsGuarantee: A higher score or your money back
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En español | Caring for someone else can mean a lot of stress — and a lot of time in the car. Driving to doctors' appointments, tests, the pharmacy and even just trips around town can take on another level of complexity when you're responsible for someone else's needs.
See also: AARP Driver Safety
But if you have a car that supports your caregiving efforts, life will be that much easier. Here's what caregivers need to look for when shopping for a car.
Access for people
If you or someone you're caring for has limited mobility, ease of entry and exit is a big deal in a car. Life will be easier for people caring for children if little ones can get into the car by themselves or, at the very least, if you don't have to contort yourself to buckle them into car seats.
Avoid low-slung sports cars and mile-high trucks and SUVs. Instead, minivans and crossovers offer good ease of access.
Minivans, such as the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey, don't require a huge step up to get into the vehicle, and their seats are at hip level for many adults, which means they're easy to lower yourself into and get out of. Most minivans also offer doors that can be opened and closed remotely.
Crossovers ride slightly higher than cars do, but not as high as off-road SUVs, so getting in is easy. Look for doors that can swing wide and provide plenty of interior room for everyone to get situated. (The Toyota Venza, Jeep Patriot and Hyundai Tucson all have easy-access height and doors.)
Access for stuff
Caring for someone else often means traveling with a lot of stuff. Make things easy on yourself by getting a car that can handle extra cargo and makes loading and unloading easy. Most crossovers and minivans offer remote-opening rear hatches. For example, on the GMC Terrain, you can hit a button on the key fob and the cargo area will open. That's a big help if you're fumbling with children and bags in a busy parking lot.
Also consider how high the cargo load floor is, particularly if the person you're caring for has heavy equipment that needs to be transported. On some crossovers, you have to lift very high (above your hips or waist) to get items into the cargo area. If you're dealing with a heavy wheelchair, that will take a toll on your back. Before buying a car, take the gear you usually carry with you to the dealership and see how easy it is to load and unload.
Desirable technology features
One way a car can make caregiving easier is by having the right interior technology. Depending on your needs, the technology can be as simple as a radio so you can play soothing music for an agitated passenger. Or the technology can be a communications service that will connect you to emergency workers if needed.
A navigation system can be a big help to any caregiver, particularly if you travel out of town a lot. Most navigation systems can quickly find and direct you to the nearest hospital or pharmacy; some can even use the phone book to find doctors' offices.
The navigation system on many Ford, Honda and Hyundai models can find medical care easily. (They can also locate restaurants and movie theaters, for when you need a break!) Since navigation systems on new cars can be expensive, you might try a portable unit, which can be purchased at an electronics store. Portable GPS devices usually cost less and do many of the same things as installed models.


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Pokemon Black Version 2 - NDS
by Nintendo | Item #: 774388 |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Return to the captivating Unova region two years after the events of the original Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games - the first time in the core Pokémon game series that a storyline has continued from one game to another. In Pokémon Black Version 2, players can explore new areas, discover gyms with new leaders and see how everything has changed in the last two years.
- Players must take on the role of a Pokémon Trainer in the Unova region. As they work to unravel the mystery behind Black Kyurem and White Kyurem, they'll need to face down opponents such as Gym Leaders and other Pokémon Trainers.
- The Unova region has changed and grown in the two years since the original Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games. The first areas players travel through are completely new, and some characters from the previous games have grown and moved into different roles.
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Summary Report for:
31-9099.02 - Endoscopy Technicians
Maintain a sterile field to provide support for physicians and nurses during endoscopy procedures. Prepare and maintain instruments and equipment. May obtain specimens.
Sample of reported job titles: Endoscopy Technician
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings
- Clean, disinfect, or calibrate scopes or other endoscopic instruments according to manufacturer recommendations and facility standards.
- Perform safety checks to verify proper equipment functioning.
- Maintain or repair endoscopic equipment.
- Collect specimens from patients using standard medical procedures.
- Assist physicians or registered nurses in the conduct of endoscopic procedures.
- Prepare suites or rooms according to endoscopic procedure requirements.
- Place devices, such as blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeter sensors, nasal cannulas, surgical cautery pads, and cardiac monitoring electrodes, on patients to monitor vital signs.
- Conduct in-service training sessions to disseminate information regarding equipment or instruments.
- Attend in-service training to validate or refresh basic professional skills.
- Position or transport patients in accordance with instructions from medical personnel.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
|Endoscope maintenance units or accessories — Automated endoscope washers; Scope reprocessing equipment
|Endoscopic printers or accessories — Endoscopic image printers
|Endoscopic snares or snare wires or accessories — Endoscopic snares
|Flexible endoscopes or accessories or related products — Flexible endoscopes; Flexible sigmoidoscopes
|Wheelchairs — Patient transport wheelchairs
Technology used in this occupation:
|Calendar and scheduling software — Scheduling software
|Electronic mail software — Email software
|Medical software — Patient electronic medical record EMR software
|Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
|Word processing software — Microsoft Word
|Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
|English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
|Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
|Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
|Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
|Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
|Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
|Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
|Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
|Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
|Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
|Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
|Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
|Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
|Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
|Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
|Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
|Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
|Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
|Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
|Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
|Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
|Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
|Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
|Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Work Activities
|Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
|Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
|Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
|Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
|Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
|Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
|Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
|Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
|Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
|Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Work Context
|Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 100% responded "Every day."
|Contact With Others — 83% responded "Constant contact with others."
|Exposed to Disease or Infections — 78% responded "Every day."
|Telephone — 68% responded "Every day."
|Work With Work Group or Team — 63% responded "Extremely important."
|Face-to-Face Discussions — 70% responded "Every day."
|Spend Time Standing — 58% responded "Continually or almost continually."
|Physical Proximity — 58% responded "Very close (near touching)."
|Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 63% responded "Extremely important."
|Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 79% responded "Every day."
Job Zone
|Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
|Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
|Related Experience
|Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
|Job Training
|Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
|Job Zone Examples
|These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include food service managers, electricians, agricultural technicians, legal secretaries, occupational therapy assistants, and medical assistants.
|SVP Range
|(6.0 to < 7.0)
Percentage of Respondents
|Education Level Required
|High school diploma or equivalent
|Post-secondary certificate
|Some college, no degree
Interest code: RIC
|Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
|Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
|Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Styles
|Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
|Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
|Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
|Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
|Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
|Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
|Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
|Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
|Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
|Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Work Values
|Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
|Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
|Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Related Occupations
|Histotechnologists and Histologic Technicians
|Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
|Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
|Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
|Nuclear Medicine Technologists
|Radiologic Technologists
|Respiratory Therapy Technicians
|Surgical Technologists
|Neurodiagnostic Technologists
|Dental Assistants Bright Outlook
Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages data collected from Healthcare Support Workers, All Other.
Employment data collected from Healthcare Support Workers, All Other.
Industry data collected from Healthcare Support Workers, All Other.
|Median wages (2014)
|$16.64 hourly, $34,620 annual
|State wages
|Employment (2012)
|107,000 employees
|Projected growth (2012-2022)
|Faster than average (15% to 21%)
|Projected job openings (2012-2022)
|State trends
|Top industries (2012)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014 wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2012-2022). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.


text:
Dwarves and Elves
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In the Deep Places: 4. Encounters in the Dark
Still, it would be good to make certain that no enemies tracked them. And Gimli welcomed the chance to walk the passages of Khazad-dûm. His flickering light only hinted at the vast columns that lined their small side corridor, the awesome work of ages past. Gimli shifted the torch to his left hand, awkwardly holding it together with his axe, and trailed his right hand reverently along the intricate carvings of the passage wall.
Centuries had his kin toiled here. The greatest craftsmen of Middle-earth had devoted their lives to this city of the Dwarves. They had shaped blank stone into sweeping archways and towering columns. Where others had seen only a black pit, they had realized the possibility of beauty. In the greatest irony of Dwarven secrecy, they had even embraced the derogatory name given by the Elves. They had taken Moria, and made it a kingdom to surpass all others. In the bitter depths under Caradhras, they had created a cathedral unmatched by any other structure in Middle-earth. It was the work of generations, the work of genius. But more, it was the work of love.
Gimli's breath caught and he felt a great swelling of pride in his chest. He could have fallen to his knees and thanked blessed Mahal that he was born to such a people. His kin had created this! No matter the fate that befell them, Moria was an accomplishment to be sung of through all the Ages of Arda.
Gently he brushed a fragmented design in the wall beside him. Pride was tempered with a deeper sorrow that choked his throat. The labor, the skill, the strength that his people had put into Khazad-dûm was lost. These passages should have been filled with light, singing with the ring of Dwarven steel and machinery. But they were silent. The walls were cold and the echoing spaces whispered with the voices of lost souls. This was their greatest accomplishment, and their greatest downfall. It was fitting that pride be mixed with sorrow, and Gimli was honored to walk their monument, and remember them in the only way he could. If only he didn't have to share it with the Elf.
Legolas was well ahead of him, moving with deceptive speed. The Elf paused frequently in the narrow passage, listening, but then slipped on so quickly that Gimli could hardly see his movements. He seemed to know without looking the swiftest path through the rubble, and he moved silently in the gloom with effortless grace. He was a good thirty feet ahead of Gimli when he reached the opening of their side passage and stopped before the archway that had confounded Gandalf.
Gimli followed more slowly, using his torch to pick out the path and occasionally tapping the rock with the butt of his axe. These caves were full of unstable shale and hidden pits that might give way suddenly. Despite his height Legolas weighed considerably less than Gimli, and the Dwarf had seen the way he moved over snow and in tree branches. Just because the path held for the Elf did not mean it would not give way under Gimli, and he was taking no chances.
He paused for a moment in a relatively clear area and looked ahead. He was perhaps 15 feet from the open archway where Legolas stood before the three branching passages. The Elf was turned toward him, his head bowed as if listening. A lock of golden hair had worked free of his braids and fell across his cheek. He stood still, his eyes closed and his dark brows drawn together in concentration.
Gimli was about to move forward again when something about the Elf stopped him. He narrowed his eyes, considering. Legolas was well beyond the range of Gimli's small torch. The smoldering rags cast light for only a few feet about him, and the path ahead was lost in shadows. Yet Gimli could see the Elf clearly. He could see the way Legolas' hands moved slightly, the long fingers tightening on his bow. He could see the shift of his shoulders and the spill of his hair as Legolas turned his head. There was no light, and yet Gimli could see every detail, even to the color of his hair. Gimli took a step back and tipped his head to look at a different angle, scowling. There could be no doubt about it. The Elf was glowing.
It was faint: a dim light that barely illuminated the rocks immediately around Legolas, but it was there. Gimli wondered why he had not noticed it before. But the light of Gandalf's staff would have likely obscured the glow. As for their previous journey, it certainly would not have been noticeable by day. And Gimli had made a point of not looking at the Elf during the two weeks of night marches after they left Rivendell. Besides, Legolas almost always took the rearguard of the Company, or else went scouting ahead out of sight. He had avoided the Dwarf's company as much as Gimli had avoided his.
With a sigh of disgust Gimli raised his torch and stumped forward again. He was prepared for the dark, the musty air, and the treacherous footing of their road. He could even cope with the sense of utter loss that pervaded the ruin of his people's glory. But this was a bit much. He was trapped in the company of a glow-in-the-dark Elf. Truly the Valar had a twisted sense of humor.
Legolas opened his eyes as Gimli came up to him. "You move so loudly, Master Dwarf, it is a wonder you do not cause these halls to cave in on us. We shall have no need to search for Orcs. You will bring them to us."
Gimli snorted. "Don't be absurd. None can match a Dwarf for stealth in the mines. It is you who give us away."
Legolas raised a skeptical eyebrow. Gimli flushed and gestured awkwardly toward the Elf. It really seemed too absurd to put into words. "You're . . . you're glowing." Legolas glanced down at himself, then at Gimli, and shrugged. "And you are not." They stared at one another for a moment, and then Legolas turned away. "Have no fear, Master Dwarf. I have centuries of experience at concealment. And your torch gives far more light than do I. If you will control your breathing and footfalls, we will be in no danger."
I can put out the torch if need be. I wonder how one puts out an Elf? Gimli reluctantly pushed aside the image of himself dousing Legolas with a bucket of water and focused on the task at hand. "Well, Master Elf, it was you that brought us out here. Which way do we go? Back along the path we came?"
Legolas shook his head. "We passed no signs of Orc habitation. The yrch will be further in the labyrinth, away from the entrance. They will come from ahead of us."
Gimli grunted. "Orcs have a keen sense of smell. And they know these paths better than we do. They might circle around and track our trail. We cannot let them surround us. More than one of Thráin's companies was lost that way during the War."
Legolas gave him an odd look. "Did you serve in the war of the Dwarves and the Orcs?"
Gimli laughed shortly. "That was long before I was born. But I know my people's history. We do not leave the record keeping of Middle-earth to the Elves alone."
Legolas froze for a moment and then said softly, "No, I suppose not. But many valiant deeds were done in that time. It is good that you remember them." Gimli stared. Was the Elf actually praising Dwarven valor? But Legolas continued, in a strange tone, "Still, those companies did not have Elves with them. Yrch will not stop to formulate strategy or lay traps when they encounter Elves. Their hatred is so great, they can think of nothing save the blood lust." He gazed into the dark for a moment, and Gimli saw that his eyes were fully dilated, the pupils filling the iris and dark with memory. "We have no need to worry about such tactics. If they catch my scent, they will come by the most direct path and will not stop for thought."
Gimli blinked, not at all sure that was an encouraging prospect, but then Legolas seemed to come back to himself. "Our time is limited. We should scout the passages ahead and report our findings to Gandalf."
The plan was a reasonable one, but Gimli had not missed the edge of tension in Legolas' voice, nor the way his eyes continuously scanned the darkness around them. The Elf was drawn as taut as his bowstring, and standing there in the dark was not helping matters. For a moment Gimli considered feigning ignorance of his companion's state and drawing the discussion out longer, just to irritate Legolas further. But the Elf's left hand was now straying toward the knives at his back, and Gimli thought better of it. Dwarves weren't ones for extended debates in any case. Shifting his axe to his right hand, Gimli moved toward the center corridor.
"No!" Legolas' voice cracked like a whip behind him. Surprised, Gimli turned back to look at the Elf. He was standing rigid, staring past Gimli into the black passage, his bow clenched in a white-knuckled grip. "There is evil there, but it is not Orcs. It . . . it is deeper, older . . ." Legolas closed his eyes a moment and drew a slow breath. When he opened his eyes and continued his voice was calm. "It is far from us now, but no Orc would use that path. We would find nothing, and we might disturb something best left to rest. Mithrandir will not choose the straight road."
Gimli stared at the Elf in disbelief. How could he possibly know anything about any of the paths ahead? There was no sound or sight Gimli could detect to distinguish the center passage from either of the side corridors. More likely Legolas would simply prefer to take the ascending path to their right. He probably hoped to climb up to ground level, and perhaps find some shaft for natural light. The great city of Khazad-dûm was said to have many such openings to the surface, used to illuminate grand artifacts or chambers of state. In truth it was a sight that Gimli himself would have loved to see. But if there were lighted spaces above, they would be the last places inhabited by Orcs. The Elf was making ridiculous claims in a transparent effort to avoid descending deeper into the darkness. Well, Gimli thought, it was time to call his bluff.
"Very well, then," he said. "We'll hunt them deeper." And he plunged down the steps into the left hand passage. He fully expected Legolas to call him back, but no cry was forthcoming. He could not hear the Elf behind him – perhaps he had simply frozen with fear at the thought of going deeper underground. Gimli kept going. He didn't need the Elf in any case – let him stay there in the archway until Gimli returned. But as he descended doubt grew in his mind. What if his mind cracks from the strain? Gandalf trusted you to guard him – you know he cannot abide the stone and the shadows. Elves are weak in any case; will you abandon your duty? Gimli gritted his teeth and kept going, but slower now. What if his madness drives him to attack the Company? You may risk the safety of the Ring-bearer, because you could not handle one Elf. Gimli stopped. There was no choice but to go back and persuade the Elf to come, or maybe even go with him to the upper chambers. Probably there were no Orcs within these caverns. Whatever Durin's Bane had been, it was not Orcs. The Elf might well be the greater danger at this point, and Gimli could not leave him alone. He sighed and turned around, and nearly ran straight into Legolas' chest, where the Elf stood not two paces behind him.
Gimli cried out in shock and dropped his torch. He stumbled backward, nearly falling on the crumbling steps, and Legolas seized his wrist to steady him. "What are you doing, Dwarf?" the Elf hissed. "This is no time for games. We must go forward!"
Gimli panted, his heart pounding in his throat. His knees were weak and his limbs leaden with shock. It was a moment before he found his voice. "Me! You're the one sneaking up on people from behind! I ought to put a bell around your neck. Crazy Elf, I could have been killed!"
One corner of Legolas' mouth quirked and his eyes danced in amusement. "I was not 'sneaking up' on you, Master Dwarf. I simply do not choose to stamp and crash about like a cave troll. But fear not. If the Orcs are as hard of hearing as you are, even your movements will not alert them to our presence."
Gimli sputtered, but Legolas bent swiftly and picked up the torch. He thrust it at the Dwarf, and Gimli was forced to grab the handle lest his beard be singed. "As pleasant as this stairway is, I fear it is time to move on. Come along, Master Dwarf." With that Legolas slipped past him and moved easily down the stairs.
There was no choice but to follow. "Cave troll," Gimli muttered to himself as he picked his way cautiously after the Elf. "I'll show you a cave troll. I ought to lob my axe at your head. See how well you move then, Elf." He thought he heard a snicker from ahead of him, but he ignored it. It was amazing how quickly the Elf switched from near paranoia to amusement. One moment he seemed likely to attack anything that moved, the next he was acting as if unaware of the surrounding caves. Gimli was unsure if this was a symptom of Legolas' growing instability, or just normal Elf behavior. In any case it did not matter. All Elves were crazy anyway. He supposed that he ought to be grateful that the creature wasn't singing.
Legolas could hear the Dwarf's heavy breathing behind him as he moved lightly down the stairs. This passage seemed to descend forever. Unlike the previous corridors, there were no columns or engravings along the sides. It was just a tunnel with rough-hewn steps, going endlessly down into the dark. Legolas could feel the weight of stone above increasing, the utter silence growing even deeper as they moved in the dark.
But the oppressive sense of evil had actually lessened. The air was foul with the stench of Orcs, but that was familiar and could be dealt with. The focused weight of malice was still there, but less intense than it had been above. Standing before the archway above, Legolas had been certain that the source was far from them yet, perhaps leagues away in this twisted labyrinth. But the central corridor had been resonant with its presence. That path would be the first step toward it. Perhaps Mithrandir was right, and it was a Doom they could not avoid. But Legolas did not see that they had to go rushing into its arms either.
Something was waking, the long sleep of Ages falling away as an evil unlike any he had felt before bent its thought toward them. Almost he could feel the heat of flame on his skin, hear the shift of great wings in the dark. If he turned his head quickly enough, he might catch a glimpse of Shadow, visible in its hate. He was young, and the horrors of the Second Age were only legend to him. But this was something that transcended years. Legolas had never seen the terrors that his father had told him of, yet this presence sent a shock of recognition through him. The Shadow had taken form here, and it pulsed with the rhythm of his soul. Elf and Maia and Shadow were come together, and the Bane of the Dwarves had been first the Enemy of the Elves. The Ring was calling, and Legolas could feel the bat-flutter of a response at the back of his mind. Morgoth . . .
So it was that he felt nearly giddy with relief when they chose a different passage and descended, away from the resonance of evil. The physical darkness was nothing compared to that Shadow, and the weight of stone seemed a small thing. The loss of Ilúvatar's Song was an ever-present ache, but even that was tolerable in his relief. It was childish, he knew, and they could not escape that presence indefinitely. But in his fey mood, he did not care. Mithrandir would certainly choose the ascending passage, for he surely felt the evil resonance of the straight path, and this descending stair stank of Orcs. Soon they might climb up to free air, or even light. Legolas could have sung for joy at the thought.
They descended through three twisting turns and then the stair finally ended in a small open space with openings to two other corridors. Legolas could not be certain of direction in the dark caverns, but he thought that they branched to the east and south. Both were straight and level for the short distance he could see in Gimli's torchlight. There was no sound but the faint drip of water somewhere in the depths. He could detect nothing to distinguish one passage from the other, or to indicate which they should take.
Gimli came up beside him as he stood surveying their choices. "And which way now, Master Elf?" The Dwarf sounded slightly out of breath, and his voice was heavy with sarcasm. Legolas supposed that he might have preferred a slower descent of the stairway behind them, but the Elf could not be bothered with Dwarven limitations at the moment. He looked from one dark archway to the other. "Whatever happened to the superior abilities of the Dwarves? Must you rely on Elves to direct you even underground?"
Gimli's boots creaked as he shifted his weight. "It was your Elven fancies that brought us down here. Any sensible Dwarf would know better than to descend when the level above was not secure. So tell me what your superior senses tell you now, or we will go back and take the straight road above."
Legolas breathed out softly. Was that movement in the left hand passage? No, it was only the flicker of Gimli's torchlight. "You would be foolish indeed to take that path, Master Dwarf. The evil is less here, but I feel no difference between the corridors. Were we in a forest road . . ." he stopped. Were they in a forest, the trees would indicate which path led to the Orc stronghold. They would eagerly welcome him, and guide him, for all forests were home to the Wood-elves. But these were mines. And mines . . . mines were home to the Dwarves.
He turned sharply to look at Gimli. The Dwarf backed up a step, lifting his axe nervously. "What do they tell you?"
Gimli stared at him, not quite meeting his eyes. "What does who tell me?"
Legolas gestured to the stone walls, never looking away from Gimli's face. "The stones. The caverns, the mines. This was your people's home for centuries. Surely they remember you. What do they say? Which path should we take?"
Gimli's mouth fell open in clear disbelief. "They say nothing. They are rocks, nothing more. Are you feeling all right? Perhaps we should return to Gandalf –"
Legolas sighed impatiently. "This is no time for Dwarven secrecy. Were we in my home, I would not keep the meaning of the tree-song from you."
Gimli was trying hard to keep up with the Elf's flight of fancy. He thought that he had heard Legolas say something about the trees before on occasion, talking to Aragorn or Gandalf during their earlier journey, but he had ignored it. "'Tree-song?' The trees . . . sing?"
Legolas nodded, his face utterly serious. Gimli could see no sign of madness in his eyes. "The trees, the plants, the stars . . . even the stones, if they have known Elves long enough. They are all a part of Ilúvatar's Song. They sing of life, and wind, and sun, and rain, and they welcome Elves, and warn of danger. I know that mortals do not hear the Song clearly, but surely the stones here must welcome Dwarves. You are kin, are you not?"
Gimli bristled. The mysteries of Dwarven beginnings were not something he would share with an Elf, much less a clearly insane Elf. "You are mad. There is good stone here, but it is inanimate. It is a thing. It is not alive. And it is certainly not our kin."
Legolas shook his head. "I never said that the stone was alive. But . . ." he lifted a hand, trying to express something that any Elf would have recognized without words, "it is a part of life. It resonates with the Song of creation. Can you not hear it?"
Gimli stared at him a moment longer, but the Elf was plainly serious. Finally Gimli turned away. He did feel something. There was a bone-deep connection that any Dwarf felt with solid stone and good craft. Slowly he lifted a hand to touch the wall of their chamber and closed his eyes. He traced a finger lightly along the crumbling remains of a triangle pattern carved in the rock. He thought of the Dwarf that had once carved it, working for hours, perhaps, patiently coaxing the pattern from the yielding stone. Almost he could hear the slow chip of a chisel in the dark.
A whisper teased at the back of his mind. There was something here . . . not song, but maybe the potential for song. It was something Gimli never would have noticed, had Legolas not insisted that he try. But now that he opened his mind to the possibility, it seemed that maybe the Elf was right. Perhaps, if it could be shown how to sing . . . Gimli stepped back and opened his eyes. His glove was thick with grime. I have spent far too much time with this fool Elf. I shall be as mad as he is, soon.
"There is nothing." Gimli was pleased that his voice did not shake in the slightest. "Only an Elf would be crazy enough to sing to trees and rocks. We use the stone, we do not talk to it."
Legolas stared at him a moment longer, but Gimli met his eyes defiantly. Finally the Elf bowed his head and turned away. "Then it is true," he whispered. His voice was strained. "Perhaps even Ilúvatar has abandoned us here. All is death, and not even the stars will remember us." He was silent for a moment, then he turned back to Gimli and his eyes were bright with fey recklessness. "We may as well choose a path at random, or split up. Death will find us in any case."
Gimli snorted. "I said that we use the stone. It can give answers, if used properly." With that he lifted his head and gave a short, sharp shout. "Ai-yi!" Legolas leaped back in shock as the sound reverberated in the small space and echoed down the branching passages. But Gimli stood listening intently, and he smiled.
"The echoes are shorter in the eastern passage. It is blocked perhaps 30 feet down. Nothing can get through there. The southern passage is open, however. That way will lead to the Orcs, if there are any."
Legolas was staring at him in frank astonishment. "Yes, and every Orc in the mines will be rushing to find us here!"
Gimli looked at him smugly. "You wanted to know which way to go, and now we know. Besides, Orcs hunt by smell and sight, not sound. And I thought you said that they would find us in any case."
Legolas' mouth tightened briefly, but he started toward the Southern passage. "I said that Death would find us, not Orcs."
And as Gimli followed him down the corridor, he thought that an odd distinction to make.
The Southern passage was much larger than the previous corridors they had traveled. It was about 15 feet wide, and lined on either side with columns that stretched up to vanish in the darkness overhead. The floor was level and solid, and a central path about five feet wide had been cleared of loose rubble. But there were many large boulders and hills of crumbling rock that leered over them on either side of this path.
They had traveled perhaps 200 yards down the corridor when Legolas stopped so abruptly that Gimli nearly walked into him. The Elf stood with head bowed for a moment, listening. Then he turned, and Gimli could see that his eyes were bright and he was quivering with some suppressed emotion. "They are coming," he said.
Without another word Legolas ran to the side and leaped easily upon a boulder that was twice Gimli's height. He stood for a moment, staring into the inky dark of the passage ahead, and then jumped lightly down. He was smiling as Gimli joined him. "They carry torches. There are twelve of them, four torchbearers and eight others. They are mountain goblins, and they bear swords, spears, and linked mail armor. There are three archers."
Gimli blinked at this sudden flood of information. "They outnumber us six to one."
Legolas gave him a scornful look. "Do you wish to turn back, Dwarf? I can manage this little party, if you are afraid."
Gimli glared at him. "A dozen Orcs is nothing for a Dwarf. I only meant that an ambush would be our best strategy."
Legolas nodded. "We must dispatch this group quickly. It is likely a scouting party sent to investigate Pippin's stone. But more will come, roused by your shout at the cross-road."
Gimli gritted his teeth for a moment. "Do you take me for a fool, Elf? The Orc stronghold will be far deeper than this level. We have passed no other wells or shafts. My locator cry would never travel so far. If we eliminate these scouts no others will trouble us."
Legolas shifted his grip on his bow. "We have not explored all passages. You cannot be certain of that." They glared at each other for a moment, and then Legolas sighed and looked up the corridor again. "It does not matter. We can cope with Orcs." For a moment it seemed as though he would say something more, but he was silent.
Gimli hefted his axe impatiently. "So we ambush them," he prompted.
Legolas nodded distractedly. "Yes. Wait here, and stay behind these boulders. I will go ahead. After they pass me, but before they reach you, I will draw their attention. They will turn their backs to you, and then you may complete the trap."
Gimli opened his mouth to protest, but the Elf was already moving. He slipped easily between the boulders at the right hand side of the passage, then paused and glanced back. "Keep your torch hidden, and stay behind the rocks until the bow work is done and I signal you. I would not wish to take you for an Orc in this dark." And before Gimli could think of a response to that, Legolas was gone.
Standing to his full height, Gimli could just look over the nearest boulder. He followed the Elf's progress as Legolas ran lightly ahead. Despite the glow that surrounded him, Legolas was actually hard to see. Somehow he seemed to fade against the rocks and chipped columns. It was clear that he did know something about concealment, Gimli acknowledged grudgingly. Legolas was careful to stay on the right hand side of the passage, presumably keeping the rubble and side columns between him and the approaching Orcs that Gimli could not see. He made no noise as he moved swiftly over the loose rubble. Were it not for the contrast that his light made in the absolute dark of the passage, the Elf would have been impossible to detect at all.
Gimli watched until Legolas vanished behind a column, and then settled down with his back to the boulder. He propped his torch against a nearby mound of rubble and ran his hand slowly over the edge of his axe. That fool Elf had better not get himself killed. He'd be even more of a hindrance dead than he is alive. He did not acknowledge the faint worry that twisted in his gut. Nor did he recognize the fleeting sense that, were something to happen to the Elf, he would miss him.
Legolas ran easily until he could no longer see Gimli's torchlight. The absolute black of the passage closed in around him, relieved only slightly by the faint glow immediately about his own body. He trailed his hands over the boulders that littered his path, creeping silently through them until he had counted 200 steps from the Dwarf's position. He looked back, but Gimli had concealed himself well, and no sound or flicker of light betrayed the Dwarf's position.
Pleased, Legolas selected a cluster of boulders that ranged from eight to ten feet high, with considerably greater girth. He leaped up onto the smallest one and looked over its neighbor and down the passage. There were the Orc torches, and the figures themselves were easily distinguishable in their light. They were perhaps 300 yards down the corridor, though it was difficult to judge distance in the unrelieved darkness of the passage. He could hear them clearly, as they walked with the swift chittering gate of mountain goblins. Legolas stretched carefully along the top of his boulder. The larger rocks around it would conceal him from their sight. They might still catch his scent, but there was nothing he could do about that. He listened closely, tracking their progress toward him.
This was a waiting game he had played many times, with spiders and Orcs in the southern regions of his father's kingdom. Closing his eyes to the blank darkness about him, he could almost pretend he was back there now. The sound and stench of approaching Orcs was the same. But the cold stone beneath his cheek held none of the life present in even the sleepiest of Mirkwood's trees, and the silence made it more difficult to track the Orcs. He was used to sensing the Enemy's minions through the change in the forest tone, and his own ears seemed a poor substitute.
But they were coming . . . closer now. He doubted that they had anything to do with the greater evil that brooded in the depths below, but they were still servants of the Shadow. This was a threat he could counter, an enemy he could defeat. So long had they walked in Shadow, with the weight of stone and malice growing ever stronger until he thought his very soul would be crushed under the strain. So long had he struggled to compensate for the loss of Ilúvatar's Song, fighting his own mind and ingrained responses until it seemed that he must escape this tomb somehow or go mad. Now finally, finally there was an escape, an outlet for the endless tension. He listened to the Orcs draw closer, and his heart thrummed in anticipation.
They were nearly to him. They were passing directly below. They were moving past. Legolas shifted forward just enough to see the glow of their torches as they went by. There, they were past him. If he waited until they were just a little further on, in range of the Dwarf . . . suddenly, one of the rear-guard stopped. Legolas froze. He had made no noise, and he was certain the creature could not see him. The Orc snuffed the air, turning its flat face upward. It growled something to its companions in the black speech, and Legolas flinched in pain as the evil tongue assaulted his ears.
The other Orcs stopped, and shuffled about, sniffing the air. Legolas did not wait for more. Clearly they had scented him, though how they could smell anything through their own thick stench was beyond him. If he remained atop the boulder he risked being surrounded. He leaped to his feet and cried loudly, "Gilthoniel A Elbereth!" The Orcs were turning toward him, dropping their torches as they drew their swords, and he leaped down with an arrow already nocked to his bow. He fired the first shot while still in mid-air, and three more followed in swift succession. The fourth Orc was dead before the first had yet fallen to the ground, but the remaining eight had overcome their shock and were racing toward him. He strung two arrows simultaneously and shot one Orc between the eyes while the second arrow sang past its ear and into the neck of the companion behind it. He was aiming by instinct – there was no time to sight along the arrow shaft, and it was too dark anyway. The bow was a part of him; he could feel that the shot was true even as he released the string, and the song of battle pulsed through his veins.
But they were upon him now, and there was no room for bow work. In a single swift movement he stowed his bow at his back and drew out his knives. They flashed white in the torchlight and he spun, stabbing one Orc through the chest. The knife stuck there and he let it go, continuing his turn to slash another through the throat and making a full circle to pull the knife from the first Orc's chest even before it slumped to the ground. None were firing arrows now – the fight was too close and hot for that. He lifted his head and called "Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu!" And he smiled to hear the sound of a Dwarven battle cry from an Elven throat. What would my father think to hear that? Then he heard Gimli's answering cry, and the Orcs closed in upon him, and there was no more time for thought.
That fool Elf should have let them come closer to me, Gimli thought as he raced forward. He left his torch behind and gripped his axe in his right hand as he ran. He had been startled to hear Dwarf speech in a musical Elven voice, but it was clearly the signal Legolas had spoken of. He pushed his legs to carry him faster as he pounded up the middle of the corridor. There was no point in concealment now, and Gimli did not intend to go stumbling through the rubble at the sides. As it was he'd be lucky to get there before the Orcs finished the Elf off. Then as he reached the torches that flared up where the Orcs had dropped them, he paused to collect his bearings. Looking up, he saw the fight for the first time, and caught his breath.
Legolas was dancing. Or at least, that was what it looked like. Gimli could not see the surrounding Orcs – they were only small black shadows in the darkness that occasionally passed between him and the shining Elf at their center. Legolas whirled and raised a knife, and there was a shower of sparks as he caught an Orc blade in a ring of metal on metal. Then the sword was gone, drawn back into the mass of shadows, and the Elf was spinning in another direction. His long golden hair fell over his shoulders as he completed the turn, a white blade slashed and Legolas leaped away from a gout of black blood that was just visible in the glow around him.
The Elf's eyes were shining, and though his face was drawn in concentration, he was alive with the grace and beauty of his dance. Gimli stood frozen for a long moment, watching. Something shifted in his chest, and for one instant he was grateful just for the chance to witness such a sight. Then he caught the flat gleam of eyes as an Orc slipped between the archer and the boulder at his back, and he found his voice. "Elf! Behind you!"
Legolas did not look at him or say a word, but he suddenly leaped straight up and back to land on top of the boulder behind him. The Orcs stumbled in confusion at the sudden disappearance of their foe, but Gimli did not pause to marvel at this latest feat of Elven gymnastics. He took two strides forward and planted his feet, and the first swing of his axe neatly parted an Orc from its head. The second was more prepared, and parried his blow with its sword. Gimli twisted his axe around and swung it down, forcing the Orc blade to the ground. Then with a sudden jerk he snapped the Orc sword and brought his axe swinging up to cleave through the plate armor at its chest.
There was a flash of gold as Legolas leaped overhead, and then the Elf was blocking the last Orc as it advanced upon Gimli. Gimli wrenched his axe free from the chest of his foe and turned. Legolas was parrying a massive Orc that blocked his knife with its sword and then thrust forward a long spear, forcing the Elf to leap back. Gimli circled carefully, watching. The Orc was grunting in excitement, all its attention focused on the Elf before it. Legolas leaped to the side, and the Orc turned to follow, and Gimli saw his chance. With a great swing he cleaved the Orc's helm and split the creature's head in two. There was a sudden wash of blood, and Gimli staggered as the stench hit him. Then he saw the flash of a blade from the corner of his eye, and he pulled up his axe handle to block it. There was a clash of metal, and he found himself blocking Legolas' knife.
Elf and Dwarf stood frozen for a moment, staring at one another over their locked weapons, and then they broke apart and whirled to stand back to back. But the corridor was empty. All the Orcs lay dead, and their torches guttered on the stone floor. Gimli could feel his heart pounding, and the heat of Legolas at his back.
All was silent. Legolas could hear the Dwarf's heavy breathing, and feel his own adrenaline start to fade. He had slashed to catch the Orc, and been surprised to find that Gimli had already done it. I shall have to remember that in the future, he thought absently, the Dwarf can be relied on in battle. Then Gimli gave a great cry, and Legolas turned to see the Dwarf lift his axe over his head in triumph. "Ai! Ai yi Khazad ai-mênu!"
Legolas laughed aloud in a rush of relief. Two members of the Fellowship had defeated twelve of the Enemy's servants! Surely Elbereth herself guided them. What could Shadow do to them? Stone and death and shadow and flame – they would face them all, and they would defeat them! He spun lightly on the ball of his foot. "Gurth an Glamhoth!"
Elf and Dwarf looked at one another, and laughed.
Gilthoniel A Elbereth!: Elven battle cry, "Elbereth Starkindler." The TwoTowers and The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 211.
Khazad ai-mênu!: Dwarven battle cry, "The Dwarves are upon you." The TwoTowers.
Gurth an Glamhoth!: "Death to the din-horde (Orcs)" Source: Tuor's cursing of the Orcs, The Silmarillion, translation provided by www.councilofelrond.com
Next up: Chapter 5. Meddling in the affairs of Wizards.
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Latest update : 2011-06-09
Strauss-Kahn supporters look for a new presidential candidate
Supporters of Dominique Strauss-Khan are now looking for a new presidential candidate. We take a look at the series of cyber-attacks recently carried out by Hacker group Lulzsec. And artist Spencer Tunick is asking for web users' help in financing his next project.
Strauss-Kahn supporters looking for a new presidential candidate
'Génération DSK' is about to change its name. This collective which backed Dominique Strauss-Kahn's candidacy for France's 2012 Presidential Elections will soon be closing down their website. The former IMF chief's supporters have been plunged into turmoil because of the charges he is facing. They had already begun preparing his return to the French political scene online.
In addition to the former poll leader's official communication, numerous online initiatives had been set up in recent months. One group of campaigners created the site "DSK dans le texte", a collection of statements and speeches made by the socialist, who was more or less a definite for the presidential race.
Other supporters had created a site called "Vrai et Faux" meaning true or false, to help put a stop to rumours and lies started by opponents. The site suspended its activity following Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrest.
The 'Club DSK' continues to back him through this difficult period. Founded in 2010, this was the first group set up to support his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. And according to its founders, there has been a recent increase in orders for these T-shirts: a play on words using Barack Obama's famous 2008 slogan.
But it looks highly unlikely DSK will be running for president, and his supporters must decide who to support in October's socialist primaries. Strauss-Kahn supporter the Mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb, is concerned the ballot will turn into a fratricidal war. On his blog he asks the candidates to come to an agreement and present a unified front.
Hacker group Lulzsec behind a series of cyberattacks
A group of hackers are spreading fear on the web. Over the past few days, the Sony Pictures and Nintendo web sites have been victims of cyber-attacks. A hacker group called Lulzsec has claimed responsibility for these attacks on its web site, saying they did it for fun.
These invasions expose weaknesses in security systems for multi nationals. This is the second time Sony has been attacked in just a few weeks. The latest attack led to information from millions of users' private accounts being posted online, and a great many musical files and money off vouchers were also published and shared on the Internet.
Last week, the group attacked the web site of the American public television network, PBS. The hackers notably posted an article on the welcome page, claiming Tupac, the famous rapper killed in 1996, was alive and well and living in New Zealand. Lulzsec, which denies any links to the hacker group Anonymous, said they did not like a PBS report on Wikileaks.
The latest cyber-attack for which Lulzsec has claimed responsibility involved hacking into the servers of an FBI related organization. The collective says this was in response to Barack Obama's new cyber security policy, in which cyber-attacks are now considered as acts of war.
The group's Twitter account has over 400 000 followers and in just several weeks, Lulzsec has become one of the web's most famous hacker groups. And the FBI is actively looking for the pirates and is currently carrying out investigations to identify them.
Spencer Tunick finances new project with Internet fundraising campaign
American artist Spencer Tunick is famous for his photographic compositions of hundreds of naked people amid magnificent scenery, and he has asked web users to help finance his new project via the site "Kicker Starter". He has raised around 115 000 dollars online to help finance a work called "Naked Sea", using Israel's Dead Sea and of course scores of nudes.
The Museum of Me
A virtual exhibition created from the information you post on social networks. This site was launched by a famous computer manufacturer. It compiles all the messages, photos and favourite things you share online to exhibit them in a digital museum. The application provides an interesting retrospective on a web user's online presence and the amount of data he or she entrusts to social networks.
Video of the day
This section of road in Braives, Belgium, is currently causing a buzz online. Over a distance of 5 km, this road has no less than 250 roads signs and twenty or so traffic islands to slow traffic down. To highlight the absurdity of this layout, one disgruntled motorist uploaded this video accusing the Minister of Public Works of being responsible, who in turn is defending himself, demanding the web user withdraw the video, which has stirred up even more controversy over this surreal road.


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Abby stung me on the nose.