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1. Nine Lives
In a time now clouded by memories of grief and sorrow, the Valar could see them coming in the twilight around Telperion and Laurelin. They hid and played in the shadows that danced between the trees, shades of silver and gold that fled every time they sensed a presence. None of the Valar had seen their form clearly, for they leaped and they curled with liquid grace and vanished like dreams in the sunlight.
It was Nienna who first approached them. Something of her sorrow lured them closer to her outstretched fingers and for a fleeting moment their amber eyes shone under the light of Laurelin. And once more they ran away from the Valar, their soft fur sparkling with mischief and mirth.
But they came back.
First it was a sniff of the outstretched hand; then it was a hesitant stroke of fur against flesh and then a shy purr. Then came the time where the creatures curled on Nienna's knees and stared at her face with their huge, luminous eyes that reflected wisdom greater than their mortal shape. Nienna took them into her heart and in her Halls at the West of the World. But their joy could not be confined in Valinor and their line traveled to Arda and mingled with the lives of the Firstborn and later with the Aftercomers. And although their descendants had little of the grace of those that came first, they still ensnared the hearts of the people of Middle Earth.
During the years of strife and warfare, they were neither servants of Darkness nor agents of Light. They rested under the Sun and under the Moon they waited, licking their whiskers and grooming their fur.
For the affairs of Elves and Men matter little to cats, unless they interfere with their meals.
Berúthiel would never forget the day Limua came into her life. The future queen was still a girl when her feet led her to the swollen form of an animal in advanced labor at a remote corner of her family's garden. In awe, she watched the young cat give birth to no less than nine kittens. All were black, like their mother; all, but one, the younger of the litter and the most unlikely to survive. She hid them at the back of an unused section of her father's stables and everyday she fabricated all kinds of excuses to sneak away from her tutors and visit her feline friends.
Having no other children of her age to play with, Berúthiel found in this family of cats a new world of laughter and carelessness. The way the mother cared for the kittens affected her deeply, since her own mother had died during childbirth and her father had distanced himself, leaving her upbringing to trusted servants. She would stare at their ebony forms and lose track of time, as if in every dark sparkle of their fur the mysteries of heavens unfolded. The young girl took an oath to save the little white kitten, the one its siblings kicked and stepped on during their struggle for food.
Whenever his fur was soiled she gently cleaned him up and placed him on his mother's belly so he could nurse. When the kittens finally grew enough to eat solid food, she brought them scraps from the table and everything she could steal unnoticed from the kitchens. The best treats she kept for her white friend, whose fur was no longer dull and dirty but shone like the single star among his midnight siblings. She named the white kitten Isilme, the word she had heard that elves use for moonlight. She could not recall the origins of the word; probably one of her father's visitors had mentioned it.
Or perhaps it was the kitten that had whispered the word in her ear, during the nights she had hid him under her covers and he would purr blissfully on her neck, singing in his own tongue songs and lullabies from when the world was young.
In her homeland the rats were many and the cats were always welcome to keep her home and lands free from vermin. No one took notice of the cats, for most were black and hunted at nights.
The girl soon grew to a woman and the woman became a Queen. Her cats followed her to her royal chambers, despite the disapproval of her handmaidens and the king's advisors. Berúthiel kept them away from her bed every time her husband spent the night in her chambers and the cats soon came to accept this new arrangement. All, but one; Isilme never welcomed the newcomer in their life. Stubbornly, he would sit on the windowsill like an alabaster statue, watching closely every move the king made. And no treat or threat could keep him away for long.
At first, King Tarannon Falastur was amused. But in time this feline behavior took its toll on his mood, for he felt the cat's amber eyes burning his skin. Tarannon felt as if the cat was stalking him, lurking in the shadows behind him and waiting for a moment of weakness to sink his fangs in his throat. Having no desire to admit that the presence of an animal made him nervous, he distanced himself from his wife. But he still cared for her, despite her withdrawn ways and her obsession with those creatures. Her advice had proven valuable on several occasions in which she had warned him regarding ill deeds in his court.
What the King was not aware of was Berúthiel's source of information. He had guessed that it involved the usual women's gossip, but this involved a lot more. At nights, Isilme and his siblings would roam the streets of Osgiliath. The gossip of servants, the dealings in shadows and the deeds in the dark were all seen by their feline eyes and in morning all nine cats reported them back to Isilme. He would then crawl up and nest in Berúthiel's arms and purr in her ears the tales that were neither lies nor gossip; they were warnings of foul play that could endanger her regal status and the cats' welfare.
People grew nervous around the queen who was never alone. The fact that she was still childless became a matter of several discussions behind closed doors. They all deemed her barren, for no one had suspected the truth. The king's visits to her bed were now rare and his affections were given elsewhere. And deep in her heart Berúthiel felt comfortable with this arrangement, since the fear of childbirth and the death of her own mother weighted heavily upon her heart. She dreaded a possible pregnancy and the effect it could have on her health. Should she die giving birth to an heir, who would then tend to her cats?
Nonetheless, her ways were strange to the people of Gondor. They came to despise her black and silver clothing, never thinking that black cats shed a lot. Her bare chambers were the topic of many muffled discussions among servants, who ignored the simple truth that cats break things. And the malformed statues that stood in their gardens, sculptures of headless children and tortured bodies were the result of several felines climbing on top of them and knocking them down. She tortures the cats, some claimed, after hearing the howls that sometime came from her room at nights. But no family is without quarrels and among Berúthiel's cats fights were not uncommon.
What could have been her downfall?It was the yellow eyes that gleamed under the moonlight and witnessed a steward adding many a coin into his purse. Or it could have been the amber eyes that burned a captain's back as he embraced a pale form that belonged to another than his wife. Or perhaps it could have been the hands of a servant who misplaced small pieces of her Lady's jewelry into her own pouch. Hearts were bitter and malevolent and soon words reached the king's ears, pouring poison into his mind. She is a worker of evil, they said, and the cats are her servants. They feed off the children's breath at nights, they claimed, and they can steal a man's virility. They spy on the king's subjects, they protested, and twist the truth to fit their petty plans and evil scheming.
King Tarannon Falastur rejected their words at first, but soon they mingled with his own fears and suspicions. Had not he been childless? Hadn't he felt the white cat's eyes burn his flesh with evil intent? Had not the queen known those things that men wish most to keep hidden? And the time came when under the pressure of his court he was driven to act against his wife.
Berúthiel's protests fell on deaf ears. How could she make them see that neither her ways nor her cats were evil? They had already deemed her evil, driven by their own fears and guilt. The king had little choice than to sentence her to exile. His advisors urged him to send the guards after her cats and hunt them down with fire and noose and spears, but the wail that left Berúthiel's throat made their hearts shudder. A touch of unspoken sorrow fell over the king's court and Tarannon, fearing that greater magic was at work, ordered the cats to accompany the fallen queen's exile.
The night before Berúthiel's departure for the Black Sea, the king had a visitor. He started from a restless sleep to face a white cat seated on top of his chest. Tarannon's blood froze and all sound was drowned in his throat. The cat stood motionless and calm, with his huge amber eyes fixed on the king's face. For several moments neither cat nor man moved; then Isilme twitched his tail, licked his whiskers and jumped out of the window and into the night. But the king would never feel safe again, for the cat had spoken to his mind that night.
You may be King of Men, but I have nine lives. You haven't seen the last of me yet.
The way to the West had been concealed from mortals since the time of Ar-Pharazon. But legend has it that by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar some fortunate mortals had reached the Undying lands.
Not all of them were human.
When the ship with a cat sculpture as a figure-head on the prow came to Valinor, nine black cats jumped off the empty deck. Nienna came from her Halls at the West to welcome the little ones home. They came to her feet purring with tails erect and trembling, treating her as a friend long lost. None other was found on the ship; just the memory of a presence and the hint of a ghost, a taste of bitter tears and the flash of a white tail that were now the lament of the north wind.
With sorrow in her heart, Nienna sheltered the black cats under her grey cloak, grieving the passing of the two that never reached Valinor.
But in the dark alleys of the towns and hamlets of Middle Earth, among the dirt, the mud and the shadows, a pair of amber eyes is often seen. They gleam and they sparkle in the anticipation of the hunt, old and patient. Then the flash of an ivory fang and the squeal of a rat indicate the eternal struggle of life and death, until Elves and Dwarves and Men have all perished and the beasts will reclaim Arda.
It cannot take more than nine lives.
Written for my white cat Lugh, who is my Isilme.
1. "She was the nefarious, solitary, and loveless wife of Tarannon, Berúthiel lived in the Kings house in Osgiliath, hating the sounds and smells of the sea and the house that Tarannon built below Pelargir at Ethir Anduin. She hated all making, all colors and elaborate adorment, wearing only black and silver and living in bare chambers, and the gardens of the house in Osgiliath were filled with tormented sculptures beneath cypresses and yews. She had nine black cats and one white, her slaves, with whom she conversed, or read their memories, setting them to discover all the dark secrets of Gondor, so that she knew those things " That men wish most to keep hidden", setting the white cat to spy upon the black, and tormenting them. No man in Gondor dared touch them; all were afraid of them, and cursed when they saw them pass. At last King Tarannon had her set on a ship alone with her cats and set adrift on the sea before a North wind. The ship was last seen flying past Umbar under a sickle Moon, with a cat at the masthead and another as a figure-head on the prow. And her name was erased from the Book of the Kings."
Unfinished Tales, Part 4, Ch II The Istari Note 7
2. At the end of the Akallabêth, Tolkien hints that some mortals 'by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar... had come to the lamplit quays of Avallónë...'. It is just possible, then, that some unusually fortunate mortals had come to the Undying Lands at some point in the Third Age, before the Ring-bearers' ship at the Age's end.
From the The Encyclopedia of Arda.
Author's additional notes:
This story is inspired from a passage in Tolkien's Unfinished Tales, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It concerns the life of Queen Beruthiel and her ten cats. According to this passage, Beruthiel was like an evil witch and the cats were her minions.
But we never really hear her side of the story. Taking into consideration that history is written by the victors, there can be more to it.
Additionally, Tolkien was Catholic. And the Christian Church has a long history regarding the persecution of alleged witches and their cats, especially black ones. (No offense to people of Christian faith. I know very well that the vast majority of Christians love cats dearly). So I tried a different approach in this, hoping that my story will shed some light in one of the darker characters of Tolkien's work.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.


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Tag: justice league
Showing results 203-242 of 398
The Week In Geoff Johns Comics: Casual Violence
ROBOT 6's J. Caleb Mozzocco investigates the latest issues of "Justice League," "Aquaman" and "Green Lantern," noting casual violence is "the one consistency I see between Johns' storytelling and the tone of the New 52."
"Justice League" #12 Second Print Cover Shines New Light on Superman/Wonder Woman Kiss
DC has released a first look at Jim Lee's second print variant cover for "Justice League" #12 written by Geoff Johns, depicting a kiss high above the Earth between Superman and Wonder Woman.
Will Warner Bros. Use "Justice League" To Introduce A New Batman?
Given an expected 2015 release for "Justice League," it's likely little surprise that a new rumor suggests Warner Bros. will use the ensemble film to introduce the studio's new Batman before it relaunches the franchise.
S.H.I.E.L.D., Justice League, The Walking Dead: August 29th Comic Reel
Joss Whedon brings "S.H.I.E.L.D." to ABC! Brett Ratner rumored to direct "Justice League!" New details on "The Walking Dead" season three! Plus, new "Thor: The Dark World" developments and more!
The Many Kisses of Superman and Wonder Woman
With "Justice League" #12 relationship-changing kiss on everyone's minds, CBR's Brian Cronin leads us on a look back at the history of Superman and Wonder Woman's previous romantic embraces.
Match.com Reveals Superman & Wonder Woman's First Kiss, Dating Profiles
In anticipation of Superman and Wonder Woman's foray into dating in "Justice League" #12, DC has released a first look at the couple's first in-issue kiss with insight into their relationship via Match.com dating profiles.
PREVIEW: Johns and Lee's "Justice League" #12
DC has released a preview of "Justice League" #12 written by Geoff Johns with art by Jim Lee. The Justice League continues their descent into "The Villain's Journey" on August 29.
Justice League, The Avengers, Star Wars: Detours: August 27th Comic Reel
Wachowskis rumored to helm "Justice League!" Joss Whedon talks about Helicarrier design for "The Avengers!" Seth Green and Matt Senreich's "Star Wars: Detours" debuts trailer and clips! Plus, "Thor: The Dark World" and more!
Superman, Wonder Woman Revealed as DC's New Power Couple
Jim Lee's variant cover for "Justice League" #12 reveals the new romantic status quo for DC Comics' Superman and Wonder Woman, whose budding relationship Geoff Johns states will impact the entire DCU.
DC Comics Solicitations for November 2012
DC Comics has released their full solicitations text and images for product being released in November, 2012, including the latest from Before Watchmen, "Justice League," "Batman," "Green Lantern" and more.
Who Should Join The Movie Justice League?
If Warners and DC go ahead with a "Justice League" movie, who should join the cinematic version of the team? SPINOFF wants to know your seven favorite soldiers.
Should Warners Give Up On A Justice League Movie?
With Ben Affleck reportedly turning down the director's gig on a planned Justice League movie, SPINOFF wonders: Should Warners just give up trying to get its own Avengers off the ground?
Justice League, Dark Knight Rises, Kick-Ass 2: August 9th Comic Reel
Ben Affleck may or may not be directing a "Justice League" film! Storyboards reveal a different mask for Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises!" "Kick-Ass 2" finds its Dr. Gravity! Plus, "Alf" comes to the big screen and more!
Ben Affleck Already May Have Passed On "Justice League"
While Warner Bros. may want Ben Affleck to helm the long-discussed Justice League movie, a new report contends the director of "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Town" isn't interested.
Warner Bros. Reportedly Seeks Ben Affleck For "Justice League"
If DC Comics premier superteam ends up being the next big screen step for Warner Bros. Studios, then actor/director Ben Affleck may be at the helm to bring Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman together...but who would he play?
CCI: Jim Lee on Art, DC Comics and "X-Men"
Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher and one of the biggest artists in the industry, takes the spotlight at CCI, giving drawing lessons to fans and answers to burning questions.
CCI: DC's Justice League & Green Lantern Panel
Geoff Johns and Jim Lee bring a wide slate of DC Comics creators and heroes in a Comic-Con lovefest for Justice League and Green Lantern, teasing more heroes in "Earth Two," new details on the Third Army, the future of Shazam! and more.
CCI: Hands-On With "Injustice: Gods Among Us"
Warner Bros. Interactive brought a fight to CCI with a playable demo of "Injustice: Gods Among Us," NetherRealm Studios' new Justice League fighting game. CBR has a hands-on report and the new Comic-Con trailer.
Rocksteady Developing "Batman" Prequel Game Featuring Justice League
Rocksteady Studios, the developer behind "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Arkham City," is believed to be developing a new installment of the video game series that will feature Superman, Wonder Woman and others.
DC Comics Solicitations for October, 2012
DC Comics has released their full solicitations text and images for product being released in October, 2012, including the latest from Before Watchmen, "Justice League," "Batman," "Green Lantern" and more.
Christopher Nolan Won't Produce "Batman" Reboot or "Justice League"
"The Dark Knight Rises" director Christopher Nolan insists he won't have any involvement in Warner Bros.' planned Batman franchise reboot or the in-development Justice League movie.
Dark Knight Rises, Man of Steel, The Walking Dead: July 9th Comic Reel
Christopher Nolan and the cast talk "The Dark Knight Rises!" "Man of Steel" gets an AR banner! A first look at Michonne in action on "The Walking Dead!" Plus, "The Avengers 2" rumors and more!
Tony Daniel Joins "Justice League" For Two Issues
After announcing his departure from "Detective Comics," artist Tony Daniel will reteam with Geoff Johns for two issue's of DC's best-selling "Justice League" focusing on the Cheetah.
DC Covers "Justice League," "Before Watchmen" and More
DC has released a vast array of new covers including Jim Lee's "Justice League" #11, Frazer Irving's "The Shade" #10 variant and a diverse offering of "Before Watchmen" by Phil Jimenez, Joshua Middletown and José Luis García-López.
Pipeline - 6/12/2012
Augie looks ahead to three titles from Robert Kirkman's Image imprint, as well as the collected editions DC Comics will release this fall, not the least of which is an Amanda Conner art book.
DC Comics Solicitations for September, 2012
DC Comics has released their full solicitations text and images for product being released in September, 2012, including all of the publisher's Zero Issues, the latest from Before Watchmen, "American Vampire" and more.
VIDEO: Artemis Rejoins The Ranks Of "Young Justice"
Cartoon Network has released two new clips and a batch of stills from this weekend's all-new DC Nation episode of "Young Justice" featuring the return of Artemis to the team.
Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, Justice League: June 6th Comic Reel
Emma Stone introduces a new "Amazing Spider-Man" clip! Is "Black Panther" Marvel's next stand-alone film? "Justice League" finds its screenwriter! Plus, "The Hobbit" production update and more!
Warner Bros. Finds "Justice League" Screenplay Writer
Warner Bros. has hired screenwriter Will Beall, who is already writing the studio's "Lethal Weapon" and "Logan's Run" reboots, to pen its big screen "Justice League" adaptation.
Pipeline - 6/5/2012
"Batman" and "Justice League" are two of the most popular New 52 titles from DC Comics. This week, Augie looks at their first collections before weighing in on the latest "Before Watchmen" promotion.
"The Tragedy of Triumph" & More Abandoned Comic Book Storylines!
Each week, CSBG examines abandoned comic book stories later explained away by later writers, including the strange example of Justice Leaguer Triumph, a retcon character who got... retconned.
New DC Nation Clips Featuring Justice League Detroit's Vibe
In addition to clips from this weekend's all-new episodes of "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern: TAS," Cartoon Network has released excerpts from its newest short featuring Justice League Detroit member Vibe!
DC Comics Solicitations for August, 2012
DC Comics has released their full solicitations text and images for product being released in August, 2012, including the latest from Before Watchmen, "Earth 2," "Green Lantern," "Justice League" and more.
DC Releases Jim Lee's 4-Page FCBD Gatefold Image
In less than a day, you'll be able to get your hands on the full issue, but to whet your appetite, DC Comics has released Jim Lee's 4-page gatefold image from Geoff Johns' New 52 Free Comic Book Day Justice League story.
Lobo, Wonder Girl Arrive on DC Nation
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CBR TV @ C2E2: Johns on "Aquaman," FCBD "Justice League" & More
Geoff Johns spoke with CBR TV at C2E2, divulging further details about the publisher's incoming Free Comic Book Day offering, the recent controversy surrounding a new character in "Aquaman" and more.
C2E2: DC All Access
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PREVIEW: "Justice League" #8
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Johns Prepares "Justice League" for Graves
A new villain tied to the League's past is born in the next Jim Lee-drawn arc of DC's #1 series! Geoff Johns reveals his origins, shares new details on (and exclusive art from) Shazam and teases the answers awaiting on FCBD.
DC Comics Solicitations for July, 2012
DC Comics has released their full solicitations text and images for product being released in July, 2012, including the latest from Before Watchmen, "Earth 2," "Batman," "Justice League" and more.
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HOME Illinois Fighting Illini Gear Illinois Fighting Illini Shoes & Socks (45 items) Product ID: 484606
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Never fall short on style when supporting your Fightin' Illini — sport these versatile Interchangeable flip flops! These comfy flops feature team-spirited fabric panels on the thong that can be removed and replaced via hook and loop fasteners on the back for a new look. These flip flops will score major style points, keep your feet happy and ensure your Illinois game day look stays fresh! Additional interchangeable straps can be purchased separately. XS fits sizes 5-6; SM fits sizes 7-8; MD fits sizes 9-10; LG fits sizes 11-12. Sizes are approximate.
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Cards with numbers and words. May be used for word walls, flashcards and games.
Interactive template to show a number four different ways. Write the number, draw the number, show the number using a ten frame, and create an equation. Numbers 5-10.
Interactive Flipchart game. Enhances basic addition and counting skills. Roll the dice and move along the number line, first player to reach the end wins!


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Rawlings VELO Senior League Baseball Bat: SLVEL9
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The Rawlings VELO Senior League Baseball Bat (SLVEL9) and the 2014 Marucci Black Senior League Baseball Bat (MSBB148) will be very different in their construction. The Rawlings VELO will be a single piece, all alloy model while the Marucci Black will have a hybrid construction (composite handle and alloy model). That being said, both bats will still have a balanced swing weight
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Delightful Dwarf Stories
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In the Deep Places: 3. Reflections of Immortality
The need to move, to fight, was nearly overpowering. Legolas held himself absolutely still, not trusting himself to move, lest he break. He might have injured Pippin. As it was, the young Hobbit was shaken, and his wrist would bruise. Legolas had been so keyed up, so hyper aware, that he had reacted to the threat without thinking. Only the realization that the sound had come from below them, out of range, had prompted him to drop his bow and draw a knife instead. Had he drawn an arrow, as was his first instinct . . . Legolas shuddered.
He had been trained from earliest memory to be a warrior. The growing Shadow in Mirkwood permitted no other choice. Without the power of a Ring, the Wood-elves needed every member capable of stringing a bow to defend their home. Through a combination of necessity and personal temperament Thranduil had raised his seven sons with a military discipline foreign to the other Elven realms. Natural Elven playfulness was tempered by duty, and his father was ever critical, ever demanding. Legolas' grandfather and two eldest brothers had been lost, along with two-thirds of Mirkwood's forces, in the Last Alliance. It was a lesson that the family never forgot. Even Legolas, who had not been born until the Third Age, felt the loss on a keen personal level.
Thranduil had survived his grief only by channeling it into a relentless drive for perfection, from himself, from his sons, from his people. A warrior must never make a mistake, must never slip, for such an error might be fatal. And Thranduil's sons were held to an even higher standard, for there was always the chance that they might be called upon to assume command of Mirkwood's forces, or even the rule of the kingdom itself. In the Shadow over Mirkwood, Elven immortality could not be taken for granted.
So it was that family discussions revolved around military strategy, and affection was expressed most often through correction and criticism. The greater Thranduil's pride and love for his sons, the more stringent were his demands upon them. In Legolas' case, natural talent had blended with iron discipline to make him the most gifted archer that Mirkwood had ever seen. And this in turn raised the bar of Thranduil's expectations, and more, Legolas' expectations of himself.
An Elf might be joyful or sorrowful, mischievous or melancholy, playful or solemn, or any combination thereof. But always, always there was control. A Wood-elf was always aware of the most minute detail of his surroundings, always in complete control of his actions. He never reacted blindly, never drew a weapon without a target. And yet . . . only centuries of drills – never fire blind, if you cannot see your enemy use your knives – had prevented Legolas from stringing an arrow at that critical moment. It had been far closer than ever should have been allowed.
Legolas stared into the shadows past the doorway of their chamber. Keen though his eyes were, he could make out only the vague outline of humps of rubble, slightly darker in the inky blackness where Mithrandir's light did not reach. He could hear the shifts of his companions as they slept. Pippin was sitting against the wall with arms wrapped around his drawn up knees, staring blankly at the well. Gimli's mail scraped against the rock as he shifted position. The Dwarf's stentorian breathing rasped harshly in the stillness. Legolas was vaguely grateful that Gimli had not gone to sleep. He could not have borne the Dwarf's snores this night.
Mithrandir was also awake, it seemed. The wizard was lying on his side facing the wall, his breath slow and regular, but there was an air of tension around him that did not speak of sleep. Legolas stretched his senses out further. Somewhere there was a faint drip, drip of water against stone. The flapping footfalls had ceased. No echo of the hammer taps remained.
Yet even as he listened, Legolas felt strangely cut off from the world around him. Sound was distorted in the dead air, and no light pierced the darkness. But more than that, he felt alone. As a Wood-elf, Legolas was accustomed to having his own senses extended and augmented by the forest of his home. The trees responded to the creatures in their midst, and nothing entered Mirkwood without affecting their song.
The Elves were naturally attuned to the rhythm of life around them. The tree-song was a fundamental part of Legolas' being, and so much a part of his senses that he hardly thought about it, until it was gone.
But now, cut off from any manner of growing things, trapped in a world of stone and iron, Legolas was disoriented and adrift. Though his senses were still keener than those of his companions, by his own standards he was nearly deaf and blind. He was striving to compensate for a sense that he could not even explain fully to the mortals around him.
Watching as they rested peacefully, Legolas was struck by how very different they were, how alien their perceptions were to his own. He had noticed these differences before in his friendship with Aragorn, but then they had seemed a small thing. Mortals slept with their eyes closed – how that had startled him the first time he had patrolled with the Ranger! He had shaken the Man awake, certain that he must be grievously sick. He had laughed when Aragorn had explained it to him, but spent the rest of the night watching him closely. It had taken several more night watches to convince him that the Man would not die in his sleep.
Mortals sank in deep snow, and had limited powers of sight and hearing, and could not seem to move in a forest without crashing through the underbrush like wounded múmakil. And yet these things had seemed so minor, insignificant in comparison to the gifts they offered. Legolas had been raised to have a strong suspicion of outsiders, for Thranduil's people bore the scars of the Last Alliance deeply. Everyone had lost family or friends in the War, and many of those who had not succumbed to grief had later passed away over the Sea. The Mirkwood Elves would have accepted this loss as a necessary part of their long battle against the forces of evil, but at the last their tragedy was compounded, their victory made meaningless, by the treachery of Man.
But Legolas was young, and had not seen Isildur's betrayal personally. Though he loved his people, and felt their pain, he had a more open mind than his elders. It was perhaps this openness that prompted Elrond to choose him for the Fellowship, and that allowed him to appreciate his companions.
Legolas had learned that mortals possessed a keen awareness of time. For all the love that the Eldar had for Middle-earth, they did not mark the time spent there. One yén flowed into the next seamlessly, the only change coming in the growing Shadow. But mortals counted every year, every day, every hour with obsessive precision. They celebrated each year of their lives, marking the anniversary of their birth with gifts and special feasts. Legolas found this custom enchanting, though he was unable to explain it to his father or brothers.
"They count the days until their death," Thranduil had marveled. He was sitting on his throne, a crown of autumn leaves entwined in his golden hair. Legolas had just finished his report of the latest trade negotiation with the Men of Laketown. Occasionally, as a gesture of respect, and as a way of checking up on the mortals so close to Mirkwood's borders, the Elves visited Laketown for these necessary meetings rather than summoning the Men to Thranduil's halls.
Such visits were invariably dull: long, tedious meetings with minor interludes during which the Elves were gawked at suspiciously by Men who never seemed to appreciate that the security and prosperity they enjoyed was due to their trade with the Elves. Worse still, in the evenings the more friendly of the mortals would attempt to show hospitality by dragging the Elves into smoky, dark taverns and forcing tankards of ale and hours of off-key singing upon them.
It was a common joke among Mirkwood's guards that they would rather join the Southern patrols (which ventured nearest the encroaching evil of Dol Guldur and hence suffered the greatest casualty rate) than provide escort for the Laketown trading parties.
Certainly Legolas shared this opinion. Yet Mirkwood's youngest prince showed a remarkable amount of patience, even friendliness, toward the Men. This may have been due in part to his long admiration of Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond who always seemed to be in the company of one Man or another. It was known, among noble Elves at least, that the house of Elrond maintained close ties to the heirs of Isildur. The twins spent a great deal of time with the Dúnedain, and nearly always brought one with them on their infrequent visits to Mirkwood.
Despite his strained relationship with Elrond Thranduil received them graciously, for he needed the support and wisdom of Imladris as he fought on the darkest front of the Elves' Long Defeat. But he was ever cool toward the heir of Isildur, and forbid his own sons from speaking to him. Thus Legolas' earliest encounters with mortals were generally at a distance, and inextricably bound up with his observations of the adventurous, exciting twins.
The result was predictable, though not as Thranduil might have hoped. Rather than scorning mortals, Legolas was fascinated by them. The ways that Men and Dwarves differed from each other, as well as from the Firstborn, piqued the young Elf's curiosity. This was not unnoticed, and the result was that the unpleasant task of visiting Laketown had increasingly been foisted off upon the youngest prince. He might have disliked it, but he did his duty with grace and discipline. He certainly never threatened to shoot the locals, as Thranduil's third son Ellomë had done after being subjected to innumerable quantities of pipeweed smoke and a forty-five minute rendition of "The Lay of Leithien."
Indeed, curiosity often overcame distaste, with the result that Legolas allowed himself to be drawn from the clean Elven campsite near the river and into Laketown itself, to observe mortal merry-making. It was there, in a slightly less smoky tavern than usual, that he had witnessed the birthday party.
Thinking back over the events, Legolas tried to capture the spirit in a way that his father could understand. He had finished his formal report, standing before the slightly raised dais in the small natural clearing where the king held court in peacetime. The rest of his negotiating party had been dismissed, and Thranduil stretched out his long legs in a signal that formalities were complete, for the moment.
"I do not believe that they count the days until death, Sire," Legolas said finally. "None of their songs spoke of such a thing. Rather they count the days of their life thus far, and regard the years they hold as a measure of their accomplishments."
Thranduil raised his eyebrows disbelievingly. "And yet they know that death is inevitable. Surely they must recognize that each year they count past is another closer to the end. They cannot deny their mortality. It must be a strange Doom of Ilúvatar indeed, that they look forward to it."
Legolas frowned. "Perhaps," he said. "And perhaps it is the knowledge that their time is limited that makes them treasure each day so. We love Middle-earth, Father, and yet do we love it as they do? How long have we held Greenwood against the Enemy? Should we not take pride in that accomplishment, measured in years? And," he added with a hint of mischievousness, "shall we not be grateful for our king, and celebrate his birth?"
Thranduil stiffened, and sat up straight in his chair. "I hardly believe that you have so neglected your lessons as to forget the date of our arrival in Greenwood. And as for the other, how long would you count the years, my son? Into the thousands, the tens of thousands? To what end? Would not such a custom become a farce? We continue, to the end of Song. Counting the time of the Song is meaningless."
Legolas opened his mouth to argue, but the king raised a hand in dismissal. "You may look up the year of your birth in the histories, if you are curious. And you may add an additional hour of study to your discipline this evening, to remind you that we do not leave the record-keeping of Middle-earth to mortals alone." He turned away and motioned a guard to bring in the next postulant.
Legolas closed his mouth and bowed. He turned and walked with quiet grace from the clearing, careful not to show his anger in posture or expression, though Thranduil was no longer looking at him. He held himself in check until he reached the seclusion of the trees, where he could launch himself up into the branches and run. He did eventually return to spend an additional hour in Mirkwood's library that evening, as ordered, but first he spent two hours in knife work on the practice fields, in order to exhaust his anger to the point that he could think clearly.
He should never have mentioned the birthday celebration to the king. The negotiations with the Men of Laketown had gone well, and Legolas had arranged a settlement that would profit Mirkwood greatly in the coming years. But his father had said naught of congratulations or even acknowledgement. Always Thranduil seemed to hold him back, to give him the simplest of assignments. And now, when he had accomplished his task and proven himself worthy of responsibility, the king was distracted by a passing description of mortal custom and dismissed him as a wayward child.
There was something meaningful in the mortal view of time, Legolas was sure of it. But his father would not see it. Legolas did look up the date of Thranduil's birth, and kept quiet note of the day for several years. But the king was correct. Such ritual was meaningless for the Eldar. An Elf-child's development might be measured by age, but after he reached physical maturity and attained full rank among Mirkwood's warriors time had little meaning. An Elf was reckoned young or old by the tone he sang in Ilúvatar's Song. With the passing ages they grew in wisdom and patience, and their tone became deeper and more resonant with the harmony of Ennor. Legolas' own faer was driven by an eagerness for new experiences that would have marked him a youth, even were he not one of the last of the Elves born in Middle-earth.
Yet however many Ages passed, he would retain a sense of playfulness and mischief, as did all Elves that did not succumb to grief. It was necessary, lest the gift of years grow heavy and the heart be crushed by weight of experience under Shadow. Legolas often marveled at the seriousness of Men. They had so few years in Middle-earth that they had the luxury of an intensity that no Elf could afford. Measuring the years was a gift of the Second born, and an indication, to Legolas' mind, of their value in Ilúvatar's Song. But there was no point in arguing this to Thranduil.
The king's mind was set, and would not be changed. Legolas held his tongue, but continued his observations of mortals when the infrequent opportunity arose. It was as a commander of a small scouting party some centuries later that he chanced upon Elladan and Elrohir on the east bank of the Anduin, and was introduced to their brother, Estel.
Wary though Legolas naturally was of strangers, he soon found a sense of kinship with the tall young Man. There was an almost Elvish air about him, and Legolas sensed the blood of Númenor in him, truer than in all his ancestors who had previously visited Mirkwood's halls. Gradually suspicion gave way to friendship, for in Aragorn Legolas found a keen wit and a sense of adventure and curiosity to match his own. They would meet and travel together when chance and duty allowed. Legolas took him patrolling Mirkwood's borders, and found the Man's woodcraft a near match to the Elves'. Also, the great racket that the Man made in the brush served to draw spiders to them, giving Legolas an easier shot and allowing them to kill many of the foul beasts without having to venture into their web-ridden nests.
Their friendship was noted by the other Elves, of course, but few questioned the young prince directly. Legolas had proved himself an adept warrior many times over. As a captain of Mirkwood's forces he was subject to no command save the king's, and he skillfully avoided his father's censure. Biased though he was, Thranduil would not order his sons concerning their personal lives unless they endangered Mirkwood's people. And Legolas was careful to ensure that his friendship with Aragorn never interfered with his duties to the guard or to the court.
So Thranduil could not order him to cease his visits with the Ranger, though the king did not scruple to make his displeasure known. Even more than his distrust of Isildur's line, Legolas knew, Thranduil feared attachment to mortals of any kind. They were by their very nature transitory, and grew from strength to frailty in a breath of wind. To become attached to a mortal was to invite sorrow and despair when the inevitable end came.
The life expectancy of Elves who gave their hearts to mortals was greatly reduced. And even if the Elf survived the grief, Middle-earth too often lost all appeal in the aftermath. The Sindarin connection to Middle-earth was stronger than that of their Noldor kin, but could still be weakened by grief. It was their isolation that allowed the Mirkwood Elves to remain, even as their brethren in Imladris and Lothlórien faded and passed over Sea. Thranduil had lost two sons to mortal treachery, he told Legolas. He would not lose another to mortal love.
And yet Legolas believed that the benefits of mortal companionship far outweighed the risks. There was a sense of impermanence about them that forced one to appreciate every moment. Men burned with a white-hot flame that flared up in an instant and threw the world into stark relief before it faded. The intensity of it seemed to consume them from within, leaving its mark on their features, but giving them wisdom as well. Legolas had been amazed at the great changes in his friend the first time he had encountered Estel after a short absence. His face had grown more rugged and weathered, and small lines around his eyes bespoke great experience and growing wisdom. Small gray threads in his dark hair showed the passage of time, like ash, Legolas thought, from the burning within. He later calculated how much time had passed since he had last seen his friend, and been shocked to realize that twenty years had slipped by.
After that he made an effort to keep track of the seasons, and not allow too much time to pass between visits. Thranduil insisted that he stay in Mirkwood, but Legolas led patrols along the kingdom's borders, and occasionally he was allowed to carry messages to Imladris. He sought these opportunities, for a mortal friendship could not be taken for granted.
Yet now, as he kept watch in a cavern a league below Ennor's surface, Legolas couldn't help but wonder if his father had a point. Aragorn was a close to an Elf as a Man could be; yet he slept. The evil grew ever nearer, close and thick as the choking darkness about them, yet the mortals slumbered without care. Pippin was alert and watchful, but Legolas could see weariness in his eyes. And the Dwarf . . . Gimli's kin had actually built this black pit, and took pleasure in shutting away the stars and free air. He was at ease here, and sat relaxed against the wall, for all that he watched Legolas from the corner of his eye. The Elf was cut off from the song of growing things, trapped by stone and iron, feeling the Shadow growing every stronger, and surrounded by beings whose perceptions and thoughts seemed suddenly completely alien to his own.
Legolas drew a deep, shuddering breath and closed his eyes. His hands traced the smooth wood of his bow, taking comfort in the familiar touch as he tried to center himself. He forced his thoughts to focus on the slow rhythm of his breath as he sought the calm center within himself. Slowly the rock tightness of his neck and shoulders eased, his hands relaxed against his bow as he sought the meditative state as he might do prior to a battle.
This faltered somewhat as he came up again. Automatically, as he felt calm soothing away the previous tension, he allowed his senses to spread out again and sought the familiar forest song to complete the process. But it was gone, and in its place was only an echoing void of darkness and stone. Legolas shied away from it, and forced himself to ignore it. Still, the meditation had worked, and though he was still alert and wary, he was no longer keyed to the breaking point.
Thus he did not start or jump when Mithrandir suddenly rolled over and cast off his blanket. The Istar met his gaze for a moment, then got up and went over to Pippin. Legolas was aware as the wizard spoke softly to the Hobbit and sent him to bed, but most of his attention was focused once more on the impenetrable darkness beyond the door.
He turned sharply back toward Mithrandir at the sound of him rummaging in his pack. And it was all he could do to suppress a groan as the wizard drew forth his pipe. As much as he might like some mortals, Legolas did not and could not appreciate some of their odder habits, and Mithrandir seemed to have developed a taste for the most unpleasant habit of all.
Legolas held himself still while the wizard packed and tamped down leaf in his pipe, but when he produced a small coal and issued forth a stream of smoke, the Elf could bear it no longer.
He circled the well and walked over to Mithrandir. The Istar watched him calmly through a growing haze of pipeweed smoke. "You do not sleep," he said quietly when Legolas stopped before him.
"Nor do you," returned the Elf. "I believe that you gave Pippin the watch."
Mithrandir shrugged. "I had need for thought. I must decide which path we shall take. The middle passage is the most level, and seems to be soundest, but there is a feel about it that I do not like."
"There is a feel about this whole place that I do not like," Legolas muttered. He bowed his head for a moment, trying once again to find the source of the icy dread that curled up the back of his neck. But there was nothing, only the omnipresent weight of stone above and the silence. He looked up again to find the wizard watching him with raised brows. "Shadow is all around us, Mithrandir, as great as in the very bowels of Dol Guldur. Is this truly the only way open to us?"
"I fear that choice was taken from us by the Watcher," the wizard replied. His voice was low and tinged with concern. "We must go on. Will you manage it?"
Legolas stiffened. "I am no stranger to the Shadow, nor even to caves. My mind is clear. But I tell you there is something here, more than Orcs or Shadow. There is evil watching us, such as I have never felt. You know this. We must get out of this place, we must leave now."
Mithrandir shook his head. "The evil of which you speak cannot be escaped so easily. It is a part of our Doom, I think, and we can only meet it as best we can. And that means allowing the Company to rest, and taking time to choose our course as wisely as we are able. We cannot go rushing blindly into the dark, choosing passages at random."
"I said naught of going blind," Legolas said. "I will trust you, Mithrandir, as I have always done. But I will not sit by and wait for evil to find us. At least permit me to scout our path, to see what dangers await us in the passages ahead. Then you may choose in certainty, and swiftly."
The bowl of Mithrandir's pipe glowed briefly as the wizard sucked upon it. "You say your mind is clear, but what you propose is folly. I have no need of such knowledge, if the getting of it puts one of our members at such risk. You know nothing of these passages, and you have no skill in Dwarven mines. To wander alone in the dark is utter foolishness."
Legolas seized upon the weak point in the wizard's argument. "Then I shall not go alone. Aragorn will scout with me. He has been here before."
But Mithrandir was shaking his head, and his eyes flashed with growing exasperation. "You will not put another of the Company at risk because you cannot abide staying still in the dark. The mines are vast, and Aragorn did not pass through this portion. Moreover he is sleeping, and I will not disturb his rest."
Legolas hissed as a hot coil of anger curled in his chest. "I am an Elf. We are children of the stars, and our people lived ere sun or moon gave light. It is not mere darkness that troubles me. Do not think to dismiss my counsel so easily. We are in danger. I propose a reasonable method of determining the nature of the threat, and how close it comes to us. At the very least Orcs may be on our trail, roused by Pippin's stone. I will not permit you to let evil catch us unawares."
Mithrandir sighed. "An Elf you are indeed, Legolas Thranduilion, and your pride leads you to folly. I admit that a scouting of our path may be useful, and if Orcs follow us I would not have them come too close. But you are the last member of this Company that I would choose for such a mission. Darkness you may know, but the caves wear upon you, and drive you to recklessness. Even the Hobbits are more suited to this place than you."
Legolas might have made a comment at that point that would have reflected poorly on his upbringing, but he was prevented by a deep voice that spoke from behind him. "Of course he cannot cope in the mines. Only a fool would send an Elf to do a Dwarf's task."
Legolas whirled to see Gimli regarding him with a dark gaze. The Dwarf met his eyes for a moment, then pushed heavily to his feet and picked up his axe. "I will scout the paths ahead, and take care of any Orcs that might pursue us."
Mithrandir breathed out a long plume of smoke, and Legolas held his breath until it dispersed. "I do not doubt your expertise in the mines, Gimli, but this is not the Lonely Mountain. This labyrinth is beyond your experience, and in any case it is still foolish to travel alone."
Legolas had a split second to decide. His first instinct was to support Mithrandir in quelling the Dwarf's arrogance. Gimli had been far too free in his boasts of Dwarven superiority ever since they had first approached Moria. Legolas would dearly love to see the Dwarf reminded of his shortcomings. But that would mean that Legolas would be trapped here in this small cavern with the Dwarf and a smoke breathing wizard until Mithrandir deigned to allow the Company to move on. Legolas was desperate to get out of the enclosing walls, at least, even if it were only to face the greater dark of Moria, and even if he had to endure the Dwarf to do it. To move freely was worth even the greatest sacrifice, he told himself, and spoke before he could change his mind.
"Then the Dwarf and I will go together," he said. "He has enough stone craft to avoid leading us over a cliff, I think, and I will prevent any Orcs from skewering him."
Mithrandir and Gimli turned toward him with identical expressions of shock, and Legolas lifted his chin defiantly. Gimli looked like he was going to object, but then Mithrandir spoke. "This is not the place for games, Legolas. You and Gimli have done nothing but torment one another since we left Rivendell. One of you alone is too great a risk, but both of you together is begging for disaster. A false step could lead to tragedy, and a distracted warrior is no warrior at all."
Legolas stiffened, but Gimli spoke first. "We are not children, Gandalf," he said, and there was a wealth of wounded pride in his voice. "We have never endangered the Company, and we will not do so now."
Legolas nodded, not caring that he was agreeing with the Dwarf. "You bid us to be friends, Mithrandir, and to assist you. Friends we are not, but we will assist you nonetheless. I will not let the Dwarf's blockheaded stubbornness give the advantage to our foes."
Gimli glared at him briefly, but said, "And I will not let the Elf's featherbrained arrogance betray us. There is too much at stake."
Mithrandir sighed gustily. Legolas felt a small curl of triumph at this. They had countered the wizard's arguments, and truly he had no choice but to let them go. Even the echoing shadows would be a blessed reprieve from this stony sarcophagus. Mithrandir caught his eye and glowered. Legolas smiled back – surely the wizard was about to admit defeat. But Mithrandir cast about for a moment and then came up with a new objection.
"You have no light. Even Legolas cannot see without some illumination, and we have no torches."
"I have senses other than sight," Legolas began, but Gimli interrupted. "Of course we have a torch. Men and Elves might be careless about such things, but a Dwarf is always prepared."
Gimli stumped over to his pack and began rummaging in it. Legolas watched him with some bemusement. If the Dwarf did manage to produce a torch, so much the better, for then Mithrandir would surely have to admit defeat. But with or without a light, Legolas was determined to go. He had spoken truly when he told the wizard that the darkness in itself did not bother him. Far more than mere blackness pressed in upon them, and no amount of light would counter the Shadow, or fill the desolate silence of the void. Legolas actually hoped that they would encounter Orcs. He desperately needed to move, to fight, anything to break that smothering silence.
"Aha!" Gimli straightened up triumphantly. He held a small throwing axe in his hand, and was winding torn rags about its head. He produced a small bottle of grease and smeared the rags liberally. Then with a spark from his flint and tinder, the rags caught in smoky flame. They seemed to produce more smoke than light, but would no doubt provide illumination enough.
"Will that not damage your weapon?" Legolas asked curiously. The Dwarf was always possessive of his things, and setting a good throwing axe ablaze seemed out of character. But Gimli snorted. "Dwarven craft is not so flimsy as the weapons to which you are accustomed, Master Elf. The head is tempered iron, and it is driven straight into the iron core of the handle. The wood may char a little, but the axe will hold."
At any other time, Legolas would have taken issue with the Dwarf's casual dismissal of Elven craft, and challenged him to a test of their respective merits – Gimli's helmet, perhaps, against one of Legolas' arrows. In view of the probable outcome of such a test, Legolas might even allow Gimli to take the helmet off first. But at the moment all that mattered was that Mithrandir was finally looking resigned to letting them go. The wizard had run out of arguments to deter them, and offered only a final token warning. "Very well then. But be careful, both of you. Return here within two hours and report your findings."
Legolas did not ask how they were expected to tell the time without reference to moon or stars, for Gimli was nodding absently. If depending on Dwarven time sense was the worst fate that befell him in these benighted mines, Legolas thought, he would be grateful indeed. He bowed to Mithrandir and turned, and did not look back as Gimli followed him through the doorway.
Múmakil: Sam's Oliphants. The TwoTowers, Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
yén: translates as "year," but actually equivalent to 144 of our years. This is the Quenyan word, used because that's what Tolkien uses in the books, and I felt that the Sindarin version (idhrin) was too obscure for most readers to recognize easily. Return of the King, Appendix D: The Calendars
Ellomë: From él, star, and lômë, dusk. "Star-dusk." I made it up, source The Silmarillion appendix.
Ennor: Sindarin equivalent of Arda, Earth, The Silmarillion
faer: Sindarin equivalent of fëa, soul. The Silmarillion
Estel: Hope. The name given to Aragorn/Strider/Thorongil/Elessar when he lived in Rivendell. Return of the King, Appendix A part v.
Legolas Thranduilion: Greenleaf son of Thranduil. But you already knew that.
Next up: Chapter 4. Time for the action part of this action/adventure/angst story.
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Suspect in bride's death loses bail appeal
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
DOVER — Matthew Tsopas, facing negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated charges after allegedly causing the head-on collision that killed a newlywed bride last month, failed to get bail for release in a Dover Superior Court hearing Tuesday.
Velardi said Tsopas had previous history of criminal mischief in 1995 and has shown he is unpredictable and destructive based on his actions of the night of the accident.
Velardi said after Tsopas struck the vehicles he proceeded down Route 4 and attempted to pass another vehicle before the head-on crash that resulted in the death of Preiss.


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Chocolate Chip Brownies
I have been offline for a little bit due to this as I am back in Penang, so I feel totally relieved that my contributor is helping me to fill in the void with new baking recipes. After I posted the brownie butter cake recipe, I came to realize just how much my readers love baking, and that they also love chocolate and brownies. So this chocolate chip brownies recipe is for you.
There are many variations of brownies, plain old baked brownies, chocolate mint, salted caramel, peanut butter, etc., but nothing beats chocolate chip brownies in my opinion. These cake squares are dense, rich, and studded with white chocolate chips plus chopped pistachio, so every bite is extra decadent and sinful. It's a recipe that no one can resist, even the pickiest eater, I assure.
If you are looking for the absolutely best brownie recipe, this is it. I won't convince you anymore with my words, but I will let you judge for yourself with the pictures in this post. This chocolate chip brownie recipe is a keeper, yielding fudgy, chocolatey, moist, simply perfect brownies every time! Give it a try.
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7 comments... read them below or add one
Wud appreciate if u can give measuremts in ozs or gms for butter, flour n sugar.
I am sorry for your loss, But I have to say I baked these Chocolate Chip Brownies for my children and they loved them. Thank you for the lovely pictures, the detail is fantastic.
Hi! May I know if you use a particular brand of dark chocolate? Thanks!
Hi Bee, do you have cookies receipe similar to Famous Amos type of texture? I like the crunchiness… Many thanks.
Hi. I'm sorry to comment an old recipe post, but I've a question.
I'm having trouble figuring out between dark chocolate and baking chocolate.
Can you give me brand examples, especially those in Malaysia?
Hi, I tried baking last week. After 35mins of baking, the edges are firm and I left it to cool completely. When I tried to cut the brownie, its wet and sticky inside. I baked for another 40mins but still not totally dry. When the brownie are not sticking to a skewer, its rather dry and does not taste good. Please advise where it went wrong?


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text: Southern Utah provides numerous hiking opportunities through some of the most spectacular scenery on earth. There is something for almost everyone from short, leg stretchers on well maintained paved paths to true wilderness adventures and everything in between. Dixie National Forest offers alpine trails of easy to moderate difficulty, the National Parks offer a range of hiking experiences both guided and not (pictured at left is "Wallstreet" in Bryce Canyon National Park) and some local communities offer more leisurely hiking options. Follow the links below for detailed descriptions and directions to some of the most popular hiking trails within easy driving distance of Willow Glen.


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ClassLink allows you to ban students from using the Internet as well as preventing students from downloading certain file types such as MP3.
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We collaborate with our partners to reimagine what's possible and take their organizations or networks—and their impact—to the next level.
We guide and facilitate individuals working across organizational and sector boundaries to solve problems as a high-impact network.
We engage essential, diverse stakeholders around smart, efficient, highly collaborative planning processes.
We help identify long-term, bold goals that define success and develop ways to track progress.
We help design clear, compelling strategies and action plans—plans that can be executed.
We assess and develop opportunities for organizations and networks to increase sustainability, with core expertise in social enterprise.
We unleash potential. Through a highly disciplined leadership development and coaching program, we support individuals in accessing their own courage and skills, while bringing them the tools, data, and approaches to do their best work, every day.
Once we've developed the high concept, our work is just beginning. We're known for rolling up our sleeves and working as an extension of your team to get the job done. Ask around and see for yourself.
To read more about how we work with partners and the resulting impact, explore our case studies.
While we're focused on ensuring all people thrive, our key areas of emphasis include:
- Poverty
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We seek partners who:
See potential to take their organization's or network's impact to a whole new level.
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If one of these describes you, we want to get to know you. Contact Us.


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Fly away with our adorable wings of desire sterling silver pendant! This silver necklace features a trendy winged heart design; the wings are shining sterling silver with black antiqued detail while the heart is filled with small sparkling white cz stones that glitter in the light. This necklace is 16 inches long and has a lobster claw clasp, and the pendant itself measures 1.25 inches across. Wear this cute silver necklace with any of our styles of silver wing jewelry for a great accessorized look!
Eve's Addiction.com wants you to be a happy customer. We want you to be completely satisfied with the sterling silver jewelry that you receive from us, as we only sell high quality silver and cubic zirconia cz jewelry. We do understand that you may not like your purchase for some reason.
You may return or exchange your jewelry within 60 days of purchase if you are not satisfied with it. The jewelry must be returned in its original condition for a refund or exchange. Engraved, personalized, photo, monogram, name and initial, chocolate and clearance items are not returnable or exchangeable.


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Watson, Keisha (2010)
The use of emerging informatics techniques to evaluate the delivery of NMAETC programs to address HIV and AIDS disparities. Journal of the National Medical Association, Vol.102, No.12 (Dec 2010): 1116-1122. Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Keisha Watson, Bradley Boekeloo, Ning Shang, Christiana Metzger, Goulda Downer.
Wei, Sha (2010)
Combination effects of salvianolic acid B with low-dose cele coxib on inhibition of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2010 May 25. [Epub ahead of print]. Yuan Zhao, Yubin Hao, Ji H, Fang Y, Guo Y, Sha Wei, Yanfei Zhou, Xiaowu Pang, William M. Southerland, JA Califano, Xinbin Gu.
Weir, Roger (2010)
Association of physical activity level and stroke outcomes in men and women: A meta-analysis. Journal of Women's Health, Vol.19, No.10 (Oct 2010): 1815-1822. Lien Diep, John Kwagyan, Joseph Kurantsin-Mills, Roger Weir, Annapurni Jayam-Trouth.
Wells, Jean (2011)
Promotion and retention of African American accountants in The 21st century US public accounting profession: A summary Of findings and a Call for action. Journal of Diversity Management, Vol.6, No.4 (2011): 9-18. Louis J Stewart, Jean Wells, Frank K. Ross.
Wesley, Barbara D (2011)
African American and Latino patient versus provider perceptions of determinants of prenatal care initiation. Matern Child Health J., Vol.15, Suppl.1 (Dec 2011): S27-34. Allan A. Johnson, Barbara D. Wesley, El-Khorazaty MN, Utter JM, Bhaskar B, Hatcher BJ, Milligan R, Wingrove BK, Richards L, Rodan MF, Haziel A. Laryea.
Westover, Jeff (2011)
References and further reading. In: Erik Martiny, African American Sonnets: A Companion to Poetic Genre, 234–249, 2011.
While, Douglas F (2010)
Cytotoxic effects of N-(3-Chloro-1,4-dioxo 1,4-dihydro-naphthalen-2-yl)-benzamide on Androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cell lines. Anticancer Research, Vol.30, No.2 (Feb 2010): 519-27. Yasmine M. Kanaan, Douglas F. White, Jharna R. Das, Solomon Berhe, Oladapo Bakare, Hillaire Kenguele, Desta Beyene, Yanfei Zhou, Agnes A. Day, Robert L. Copeland Jr.
White, Patricia M (2010)
Predictors for survival of penetrating trauma using emergency department thoracotomy in an Urban Trauma Center: The Cardiac Instability Score. J Natl Med Assoc., Vol.102 (2010): 126-130. Suryanarayana Siram, Tolulope Oyetunji, Shaneeta M. Johnson, Amal L. Khoury, Patricia M. White, David C. Chang; Wendy R. Greene, Wayne A.I. Frederick.
White, Shenita (2011)
Breast reconstruction: current and future options. Breast Cancer, Vol.3 (2011): 93–99. Henry Paul Jr, Tahira I Prendergast, Bryson Nicholson, Shenita White, Wayne AI Frederick.
Whitfield, Keith E (2010)
Assessing mild cognitive impairment among older African Americans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Early View (Articles online in advance of print), Published Online: 12 Jan 2010. Alyssa A. Gamaldo, Jason C. Allaire, Regina C. Sims, Keith E. Whitfield.
Whitfield, Keith E (2010)
Assessing mild cognitive impairment among older African Americans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Vol.25, No.7 (2010): 748-755. Gamaldo, A.A., Allaire, J.C., Sims, R.C., Keith E. Whitfield.
Whitworth, Horace (2011)
A new extreme-value probabilistic framework for predicting fatigue crack initiation life of notched components. ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011, Vol.8 (2011): 371-380. Gbadebo Owolabi, Horace Whitworth.
Whitworth, Horace (2011)
Bearing stress analysis of pin-loaded elliptical holes in laminated composite joints. ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, IMECE 2011, Vol.8 (2011): 245-252. Aluko, L.O., Horace Whitworth.
Whitworth, Horace A (2011)
A micromechanics-based fatigue damage process zone. Procedia Engineering, Vol.10 (2011): 496-505. G.M. Owolabi, L. Shi, H.A. Whitworth.
Whitworth, Horace A (2011)
Deconstructing engineering education programmes: The deep project to reform the mechanical engineering curriculum. European Journal of Engineering Education, Vol.36, No.3 (2011): 269-283. Busch-Vishniac, I., Kibler, T., Campbell, P.B., Patterson, E., Guillaume, D., Jarosz, J., Chassapis, C., Emery, A., Ellis, G., Horace Whitworth, Metz, S., Brainard, S., Ray, P.
Whitworth, Horace A (2011)
Microstructure-dependent fatigue damage process zone and notch sensitivity index. International Journal of Fracture, 2011, 15p. [Epub ahead of print]. Owolabi, G., Egboiyi, B., Shi, L., Horace Whitworth.
Whitworth, Horace A (2011)
Microstructure-dependent fatigue damage process zone and notch sensitivity index. International Journal of Fracture, Vol.170, No.2 (2011): 159-173. Gbadebo Owolabi, Benedict Egboiyi, Li Shi, Horace Whitworth.
Whitworth, Horace A (2011)
A micromechanics-based fatigue damage process zone. Procedia Engineering, Vol.10 (2011): 496-505. Gbadebo.M. Owolabi, Li Shi, Horace A. Whitworth.
Williams, Carla D (2010)
DRD2 single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with nicotine dependence in an urban population of African American smokers. The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 60th Annual Meeting. November 2-6, 2010. Washington, DC. B. Arrey, Pradeep Karla, C. Williams, S. Wilson, L. Ricks-Santi, T. Mason, Muneer Abbas, Victor Apprey, George Bonney, W. Anthony, Georgia M. Dunston
Williams, Carla D (2011)
Association of secondhand smoke exposure with nicotine dependence among Black smokers. Addictive Behaviors, Vol.36, No.4 (Apr 2011): 412-415. Shondelle M. Wilson-Frederick, Carla D. Williams, Mary A. Garza, Ana Navas-Acien, Mark R. Emerson, Saifuddin Ahmed, Jean G. Ford.
Williams, Dana A (2010)
Contesting Black male responsibilities in August Wilson's Jitney. In: Alan M. Nadel.(ed.), August Wilson: Completing the Twentieth-Century Cycle, 30-40. Iowa City: U Iowa Press, 2010.
Williams, Danielle (2010)
The role of PI 3-kinase p110ß in AKT signally, cell survival, and proliferation in human prostate cancer cells. Prostate (7 Jan 2010). [Epub ahead of print]. Karen M. Hill, Sara Kalifa, Jharna R. Das, Tahira Bhatti, Martha Gay*, Danielle Williams*, LaTonia Taliferro-Smith, Angelo M. De Marzo.
Williams, Deborah (2011)
Gene, exercise and memory study (GEMS): A randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of standardized aerobic exercise on neurocognition and neurodegeneration in african americans with mild Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's and Dementia, Vol.7, No.4, Suppl.1 (Jul 2011): S615-S616. Thomas Obisesan, Richard Gillum, Nisser Umar, Vernon Bond, Deborah Williams.
Williams, Kendall (2011)
Characterization of elements of polynomials in βS. Semigroup Forum, 2011, Articles not published yet, but available online Article in Press. Kendall Williams.
Williams, Melissa T (2011)
Free movement of skilled labor under the caribbean single market: St. kitts-nevis's vision for unity. Journal of Third World Studies, Vol.28, No.1 (2011): 83-114. Melissa T. Williams*.
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2010 MuchMusic Video AwardsMore galleries
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Headlines around the world about Mayor Ford's tumour
Ford was making headlines around the world again on Wednesday.
PHOTOS: FanExpo characters, celebrities & cosplay
CityNews reporter Christine Chubb shares the best cosplay, celebrities and other sights at the 20th anniversary of FanExpo Canada.
Woman dead, man injured in Entertainment District shooting
There's no word on any arrests.
IN PHOTOS: Remembering actor & comedian Robin Williams
Photos from Robin Williams' entertainment career and personal life.
IN PHOTOS: Storm activity across GTA, southern Ontario
A severe thunderstorm riipped through the GTA, while a tornado touched down in Angus late Tuesday afternoon.
$10K reward offered in armoured truck robbery at Fairview Mall
It's alleged on the evening of Jan. 20, two men held up a couple of guards at gunpoint.
1 dead after crash on QEW in Mississauga
The OPP said the man was a passenger in a van which hit a Ministry of Transportation truck.
15 must-see Contact photo exhibits and public installations
The month-long photography festival begins May 1 featuring the work of 1,500 artists and photographers at 200 Toronto exhibits.
Man seriously hurt in Vaughan crash
The man crashed his car into a pole on Highway 7, near Martin Grove Road.
Funeral for OHL player held in Toronto
Terry Trafford, who played centre for the Saginaw Spirit in Michigan, died March 3.


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Be Merry Address Labels I bought this set of labels for rehearsal dinner invitations. I loved the design and the colors. I love that you have a choice of fonts, color and size. You can really make it your own. Will definitely use again.


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Dive deep into selective adjustments, blemish correction, and batch processing in Camera Raw.
Learn how to master the features in Camera Raw and improve the exposure, color, and quality of your photographs.
Sharpen your images like a pro in Adobe Camera Raw, Lightroom, and Photoshop.
Learn advanced techniques to improve images with creative color, sharpening, and other effects in the Develop module in Lightroom.
Learn how to make nondestructive adjustments that boost the quality of your images and restore lost detail using the Develop module in Lightroom 5.
Provides in-depth training on Camera Raw 7, the Photoshop CS6 component that enables photographers to open and manipulate raw format images.
Author and teacher Chris Orwig guides photographers through the process of editing and enhancing images with creative color, sharpening, and other effects in the Develop module in Lightroom 4, the popular asset management program.
Provides in-depth training on Camera Raw 6, the CS5 component that enables photographers to open and manipulate images more flexibly and efficiently.
Chris Orwig enthusiastically explores a Photoshop plug-in that is a must-have for any serious photographer.
"I'm a new subscriber. I'm 10 minutes in and I can't thank you enough. I'm learning what would normally cost me nearly $1,000!" —Melissa K.
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Premium Centurion Magnetic Whiteboard - Aluminum Frame - 4'H x 6'W
Volume discounts available.
Ghent's Premium Centurion whiteboards are the ultimate in terms of quality and durability. Constructed with porcelain-on-steel, these boards will withstand years of everyday use without scratching, staining or ghosting. This aluminum-framed 4' 1/2" x 6' 1/2" Premium Centurion dry erase board with fiberboard backing is magnetic and easy to clean. Add a 1" cork map rail for maximum versatility. Backed by Ghent's 50-year guarantee, the Centurion is the ideal choice for classrooms, conference rooms and training centers.
Centurion dry erase boards are now packaged with Smart-Pak Trays, which include a 23 1/2" box style marker tray with plastic end caps for safety. Designed for better shipping and easier installation, Smart-Pak Trays reduce packaging waste by 25 percent and potential damage by 55 percent.
Key Features
- Highest-quality porcelain-on-steel writing surface
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- Writing Surface: Porcelain-on-steel
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- Frame: Aluminum
- Height: 4' 1/2"
- Width: 6' 1/2"
- Other: 1" cork map rail optional
- Warranty: 50 years


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Latest: Syngene Launches Sensitive PXi Access Imaging Range for Unrivalled Detection of Faint Ban...
Latest: Advanced Pre-Pregnancy Genetic Screen Now Available in the UK
Latest: Join ZEISS at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2015
Latest: Antibiotic Resistance – a Growing Threat to Food Safety?
Latest: Video Highlights from Pittcon 2015
Latest: Thermo Fisher Scientific to Resell Prosolia's PaperSpray® Technology as Factory Option to...
Latest: ZEISS Announces Partnership with ECR Engines
Antibiotic Resistance – a Growing Threat to Food Safety?
Alejandro Uribe-Benninghoff Tests the New SelectScience Website
Syngene Launches Sensitive PXi Access Imaging Range for Unrivalled Detection of Faint Bands on Larg...
Malvern to Showcase New Products for Life Science and Industry at ACHEMA 2015
10 Ways to Improve Your Lab's Water Quality
New Drugs of Abuse Applications
Measuring Small Volumes of Nanoparticles Using the Mastersizer 3000 and Hydro SV
Effective DNA Extraction Method for Molecular Diagnostics on Wood-Decay Fungi
High-Yield Plasmid DNA Purification Using PureYield™ Plasmid Miniprep System
The Vanquish Platform: Major Improvement in Throughput and Resolution of Xanthones in Man...
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text: Port Huron Police say an 11-year old child was attacked and his headphone and cell phone stolen Sunday evening when a car with five Fort Gratiot and Clyde Township teens rolled up next to him at 12th and Lyons Street. The child was not seriously injured and gave police a description of the car which was later found with the suspects inside...two were charged with unarmed robbery and the three others with possession suspected marijuana. Investigations into the incident are continuing.


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4/2/2015 5:52:50 AM. For Customer Service, please call 800.606.6252
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inventive party idea. Replica Thomas Edison bulbs glow old-school on the patio. 20 5W incandescent bulbs light up on black plastic cord, indoors or out. Bright idea: String around an outdoor umbrella for a fun party vibe.
Details and Dimensions
edison string lights.
- 20 Edison-style 5W incandescent bulbs
- Black plastic cord and shades
- Indoor or outdoor use
- Connect up to five strands
- UL-listed learn more
- Made in China
BulbHeight: 3.25" Diameter: 1.5" StringHeight: 253"
Return/Exchange Policy
Our policy is simple. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, we promise an appropriate refund, credit or exchange.
non-furniture items
We will accept merchandise returns of non-furniture items within 90 days of customer receipt.
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If you are not satisfied with your Stock furniture purchase, you must contact us within 7 days of delivery or pickup to arrange a return. The item must be returned within 30 days of delivery or pickup. The item will be inspected upon return, and a refund amount will be determined based on its condition. For furniture orders placed online, please call us at (800) 606-6252. For orders placed through a store, please contact the store where the sale originated.
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We require a 50% deposit for all Special Order upholstery items. This deposit is nonrefundable after a 72-hour change/cancellation window. These items are made to your specifications and cannot be returned or exchanged.


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Where No Excavator Has Gone BeforeApril 19, 2010 6:37 am | Articles | Comments
If you put a man in a big machine, like this excavator, chances are at some point he'll try to do some crazy stunt with it. The people at Liebherr are no different. To prove the strength of their hydraulic system, they put this excavator to the ultimate test: a vertical climb. It's hard to explain here, so direct yourself toward the videos to see for yourself.
We Are Under AttackApril 19, 2010 5:35 am | by Mike Rainone, co-founder, PCDworks | Articles | Comments
Our only salvation is to out-innovate the rest of the world. In March, I spoke at the World's Best Technology (WBT) conference in Arlington, TX, addressing a large venue of venture capitalists and other parties interested in my company's new wastewater treatment system, the Water Phoenix.
Manufacturing's Old Age ProblemApril 19, 2010 5:32 am | by by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | Blogs | Comments
I thought I knew what a deadline was in college, but when I was miraculously able to translate my English literature degree into a full-time writing job, I learned what this really meant. When someone is paying you to do something, you get it done—plain and simple. What this occasionally means for me are long nights, early mornings, and a rare summer Saturday spent getting laptop burns on my legs instead of sunburns.
Eliminate Compressed Air WasteApril 19, 2010 5:08 am | Product Releases | Comments
EXAIR (Cincinnati, OH) introduces the new Summing Remote Display for the Digital Flowmeter, making it easy to monitor compressed air consumption from a convenient location. With the push of a button, the display cycles to show the current air consumption, usage for the previous 24 hours, and total cumulative usage.
Hydrogen Still An Automotive FrontrunnerApril 19, 2010 4:36 am | by Arthur Max, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
BERLIN (AP) — Hydrogen, one of Earth's most abundant elements, once was seen as green energy's answer to the petroleum-driven car: easy to produce, available everywhere and nonpolluting when burned. Hydrogen energy was defeated by a mountain of obstacles — the fear of explosion by the highly flammable gas, the difficulty of carrying the fuel in large, heavy tanks in the vehicle, and the lack of a refueling network.
Geely Considers Shanghai For Volvo HeadquartersApril 19, 2010 4:28 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | Comments
SHANGHAI (AP) — Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Co. may locate the China headquarters and factory for Volvo Cars in Shanghai once its takeover of the Swedish company is finalized, an official said Monday. The plan, reported in the state-controlled newspaper Economic Observer, calls for Volvo to set up its headquarters in the Shanghai suburb of Jiading, home to Volkswagen AG's joint venture with local carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp.
Toyota To Pay Record $16 Million FineApril 19, 2010 4:13 am | by Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says Toyota has agreed to pay a record $16.4 million fine for failing to properly notify federal authorities about a dangerous pedal defect. The fine is the largest-ever penalty paid by an automaker to the U.S. government. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that by failing to report safety problems, Toyota put consumers at risk.
Woman Dies In Victaulic Plant FireApril 19, 2010 4:12 am | News | Comments
ALBURTIS, Pa. (AP) — Authorities in eastern Pennsylvania say one of the two people injured in a fire at a pipe manufacturing plant has died. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim says 37-year-old Bridgette Geist of Walnutport died at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. An autopsy Friday concluded that her death was accidental.
Main Street: The Recession Is Over? Yeah, RightApril 19, 2010 4:08 am | by Meghan Barr, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
TWINSBURG, Ohio (AP) — The clerk at the candy shop does not want to cry. She is determinedly cheerful, a professional smiler, dressed head to toe in bright turquoise. But standing next to a display of plastic-wrapped candles and teddy bears, her face crumples at the most basic of questions: Are you doing OK? "I'm sorry," she says, wiping her eyes with a shirt sleeve, her voice a shaky whisper.
Microsoft: Supplier Broke Labor Laws For Teenage WorkersApril 19, 2010 4:07 am | by William Foreman, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — Two factories that make Microsoft Corp. products in southern China violated overtime regulations and failed to properly register the use of workers aged 16 to 18, officials said Monday. The problems at the plants in the city of Dongguan were initially raised last week by the National Labor Committee, a New York-based nonprofit that monitors the treatment of foreign workers by U.
Detect Harmful Gasses And FlamesApril 16, 2010 12:07 pm | Product Releases | Comments
Notifier by Honeywell (Northford, CT) has developed two new lines of gas and flame detection products designed to work with fire alarm and life safety systems in industrial facilities: Sensepoint XCD and FD Series lines. The Sensepoint XCD detector can be used to monitor industrial sites for a wide range of toxic and flammable gasses, and it provides diagnostic, alarm, and gas concentration values from multiple sensors.
GM Embraces Deadly Sin: 'EN-V'April 16, 2010 11:50 am | Articles | Comments
GM is predicting a revolution in the way urbanites get from one place to another, and it doesn't involve two legs or four wheels. The EN-V concept car proposes to send its drivers about on two wheels, like a Segway, using electric batteries and a bit of technological know-how. While the EN-V doesn't have much to show for range or speed, it could make up for it in convenience and price.
Avoid Flying DebrisApril 16, 2010 11:44 am | Product Releases | Comments
Frommelt Safety Products (Milwaukee, WI) has unveiled the new Kwik-Snap interlocking safety curtains, designed to protect industrial and manufacturing employees from weld flash and flying debris. The curtains feature snap fasteners along the sides, and mounting hooks for ease of installation.
Prevent Industrial ExplosionsApril 16, 2010 11:28 am | Product Releases | Comments
Flexaust (Warsaw, IN) offers a new permanently static dissipative hose meant to prevent static buildup and reduce the potential for explosions in powder handling, plastics extrusion, and related applications. The hose features a seven-strand copper ground wire embedded in a thermoplastic polyurethane alloy to provide clean ESD protection.
Market Update for April — Regulatory IssuesApril 16, 2010 10:09 am | by Karen Langhauser, Editor-In-Chief, Food Manufacturing | Articles | Comments
The large number of recalls in recent history has caused consumers to doubt the safety of our food supply as well as stimulated scrutiny of regulatory agencies in the food industry. While FDA and USDA guidelines, policies and inspections are devised to ensure the safety of our nation's food supply, they still can be a source of frustration and confusion within the food industry, and their efficacy is sometimes called into question.
Avoiding Pink Easter EggsApril 16, 2010 9:37 am | Articles | Comments
Established in 1978, Kinnerton today is part of Zetar Plc, and can boast a turnover of £60 million ($92 million). At its manufacturing plant in Fakenham, the company produces confectionery ranging from Easter eggs and Advent calendars, through to chocolate bars and chocolate miniature figures, as well as chocolate lollipops.
Innocent iPads Detained By Israeli CustomsApril 16, 2010 7:16 am | by by Karen Langhauser, Editor, Manufacturing.Net | Blogs | Comments
Yesterday, global media sources were abuzz with news that Israel has banned imports of the Apple iPad , citing concerns that the unit's wireless frequencies are not compatible with national standards. American WiFi standards permit broadcasting at a higher power than European standards; Israeli standards mirror those of Europe.
Conveyors Get Dynamic, CoolApril 16, 2010 6:34 am | Product Releases | Comments
Dynamic Conveyor (Muskegon, MI) offers a rapid part cooling system used in conjunction with a DynaCon modular conveyor system that provides instant cool air in the hottest environments, such as production lines, manufacturing processes, injection molding, and others. The unit creates cool air up to 25 degrees below room temperature, and provides up to 60,000 BTU/hour.
Circular Sawing Without The StrainApril 16, 2010 6:33 am | Product Releases | Comments
PORTER-CABLE (Towson, MD) introduces its new heavy-duty 15 Amp Circular Saw (PC15TCSMK), which offers a lightweight construction (9.5 lbs) for a more comfortable grip. An angled auxiliary handle allows users to naturally and comfortably hold the saw without impeding line of sight.
See The Little ThingsApril 16, 2010 6:32 am | Product Releases | Comments
Olympus Canada Inc. (Markham, Ontario, Canada) and Hitachi High-Technologies Canada have announced a new partnership to make Olympus the exclusive distributor of the new TM3000 Table Top Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The new fully-automated, table-top SEM offers 30,000X magnification, good depth of field, a compact size, and affordability.


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On February 7th, flurries were in the air and over a foot of snow already blanketed Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx. But that didn't stop 65 volunteers from coming out to the riverfront for February's ConSERVE NYC event.
At SCA we believe Earth Day is every day. Join us this April to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day as a national holiday. With SCA service events nationwide, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved. Don't see an SCA event in your region? Connect with other opportunities in your area at www.serve.gov. Whether you serve with us, join another group effort, or celebrate on your own, we want to see how you serve! Tag @the_sca in the month of April or use hashtag #SCAserve and we will share your photo updates.
Event: Stories & In the News
Despite freezing temperatures, over 450 DC-area residents rallied together at Anacostia Park to celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service through a morning of volunteering on the riverfront. Among the volunteers in attendance were special guests Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, and SCA President and CEO Jaime Matyas.
In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, SCA rallied almost 250 volunteers for our largest service event to date in NYC — joined by special guest U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power.
National AmeriCorps Director Bill Basl joined 65 SCA volunteers on 11/11 at Fort Mahan Park to honor Veterans Day through service.