text:
Hope Unquenchable
Playlist Navigation Bar
Reason to Celebrate, A: 1. A Reason to Celebrate
The Angle: Reference gleaned from: "Of thegns and kings and rangers and things." March 30, 2001. Michael Martinez. www.suite101.com/article.cfm/tolkien/64660
"Halbarad!" Hirthon's son flinched and closed his eyes a moment, leaning against the trees well away from the edge of the clearing. He had come here to hide, to escape the attention of others, but he ought to have known better than to think that he could elude anyone in the Angle. However relaxed the town's mood this evening, no Ranger worth his star could fail to remark his absence, and given enough time, it was inevitable that someone (or several of them) would abandon play to hunt him.
And Aragorn would be both the first to notice and the first in pursuit! Halbarad knew what the other wanted, and at the moment, he was in no mood to give it. Nevertheless, it was difficult to refuse a friend, particularly when that friend was also his liege-lord. So, gathering his strength, he breathed in deeply and tried to settle himself before the other found him. Valar help me, I think I will be sick! A hand landed upon his back, and he realized that he had run out of time as Aragorn leaned forward to get a look at him as he held up a small lamp. The Chieftain of the Dúnedain of Arnor said not a word, and his face was admirably serious, but the twinkle in his grey eyes was unmistakable: clearly, Aragorn was vastly amused by his discomfiture, and Halbarad spared a moment in his misery to vow deadly revenge when the opportunity presented itself. "Halbarad?"
"Yes?" Halbarad asked, managing to convey with that monosyllabic response a world of frosty resentment. Another might have been intimidated, but Aragorn's lips twitched as he fought a smile and shifted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him slightly. Oh no! Halbarad clapped a hand over his mouth, and doubled over, aware of his chieftain's laughter as a ringing in his ears. The other braced an arm about his shoulders, and he could feel Aragorn's hand against the back of his neck, pressing down, and the urge to vomit seemed to disappear… much to Halbarad's disappointment.
"That will not avail you, my friend," Aragorn said, his voice full of suppressed laughter, while Halbarad drew a couple of deep breaths and straightened slowly. The other began to guide him out of the trees, back towards the lighted clearing and the sounds of merriment. "For I shall not be the one to explain your absence to your sister tonight."
"If she were any part my sister, she would understand." Halbarad retorted.
"If you were any part her brother, you would be at her side even now." Which rebuke was unfortunately justified, but Aragorn had no sister, no close kinswoman to give him reason to worry, Halbarad thought. For Gilraen was safely in Rivendell, and his paternal grandmother had died in childbirth long ago. Arathorn's daughter had not lived either, and Ivorwen had passed away two summers ago. "Is it so hard, Halbarad, to wish Dírlas well of the man she has chosen?"
"I begrudge her nothing, Aragorn, as well you know! It is only…" he trailed off, groping for words, struggling more than was his wont, even, to find a way to explain what he felt to the man who was his chosen brother. Usually, Aragorn understood him quite well–better, he suspected, than he understood himself at times. But tonight, the other was silent, waiting for him to speak, and Halbarad sighed. "I love her, Aragorn. As if she were a part of me, and why not? We share the same blood; we have suffered together father's loss and then Eryndar's after but a few months of marriage! I thought his death would kill her!" He shook his head violently and quickened his pace, trying with that movement to ward off the terrible memories and another bout of nausea. "Was not that pain enough? Of all the men in the Angle and beyond, she had to give her heart to another Ranger!"
Aragorn watched his friend's agitated pacing and frowned slightly, knowing that he could say little to ease the other's anguished fear. And in part he could understand whence came Halbarad's dread. He had seen his mother's suffering every year upon the anniversary of his father's death, and he had brought the terrible news to too many wives and sisters to be ignorant of the racking grief the women of the Dúnedain faced. It was perhaps the duty that he loved least–less, even, than giving the orders that sent men to their deaths; less than sitting beside those mortally stricken until the end; and far less than facing peril himself. If it were my sister, would I feel thus? he wondered, and felt a quick spasm of regret that he would never know what it was to love a sister. Isildur's line might have survived the ravages of time and the hazards of the wilds of Eriador, but it had been a narrow chance these past few generations, when one and two-child families had been common. Still, his friend's fears might have seemed somewhat excessive to him, but for recent changes in his own life. Changes that no one, save Elrond, yet knows of! "Halbarad," he murmured gently, catching the other's arm to stay him a moment. "Barahan is a good man, you have said so yourself. You cannot prevent this, and if you were to try, I fear it would be the end of our friendship." He paused, thinking to soften that a bit, but Halbarad sighed gustily and leaned against him, seeming almost to wilt in his arms.
"I know I may not! And I shall not, but if you knew my fears…!"
"I know them," Aragorn murmured, feeling his heart speed at the thought. Pressed close against him, the other felt it, and as Halbarad drew back to gaze considerately at him, he gave a slight smile. "Come back now, and we shall speak later. Dírlas fusses over you enough as it is when you are away, my friend. Give her no cause to do so when you are here, and least of all tonight. Did I not know better, I would say it were your wedding I was called to witness!" Aragorn declared, jabbing the other in the arm, and Halbarad managed a feeble grin in response.
"One day, Aragorn… !" He shook his head, leaving the threat to hang in the air between them, but then he chuckled softly and acceded to the request. The two men turned and made their way out of the woods, back towards the clearing before the hidden town. It was a rare night that saw such light and laughter in the close-knit and wary community of the Arnorian Dúnedain, for caution had been bred into them over centuries of struggle. But a wedding was always reason to celebrate, and on such nights, there was a sense of relief as well as joy. For there must be some release, some way to break the tension and forget our fears for awhile, Aragorn thought. Even so, there were guards on patrol that night, for such noise and brilliance would draw many creatures, not all of them friendly. And though in Gondor no one came armed to such ceremonies, in the Angle, there was not a man who did not bear some weapon, whether sword or dagger, and about the clearing one could find quivers laid against tables or trees. Everyone understood that necessity, and the watch would rotate the shifts frequently so that all were able to enjoy at least a part of the evening. His own stint of guard duty would come in the dead time between midnight and dawn, but for the next several hours, he had naught to do but stand as formal witness to the marriage vows. And enjoy myself!
Beside him, Halbarad paused at the edge of the festivities and Aragorn glanced at his friend once more to reassure himself that the other was alright. Halbarad knew better than to get drunk before his sister's wedding–though given his behavior, others might doubt his claim to sobriety–but he planned to watch him closely to see how his mood unfolded. "Go on!" He half-shoved the other forward, earning a quick glare, but then Halbarad squared his shoulders and wove through the crowd to find the bride, leaving Aragorn to trail along in his wake. Hanging his borrowed lantern upon a pole, Isildur's Heir paused and let his gaze stray over the assembled guests.
This was the first wedding he had attended for quite some time, for he had been in Rohan, Gondor, and finally in Harad for nearly thirty years. In that time, many of the children that he had known had blossomed into young men and women, and his own generation had matured, hardened, earned scars and shed tears; some had suffered wounds that would never heal properly; others had died. The children that now chased each other through the field–dodging their elders and generally causing havoc–had all been born in his absence and he still marveled to see in their faces traces of men and women that he had known when he was eighteen and still ignorant of his ancestry. So much that confused me when first I came here is now so very clear! he thought. He had always felt as though the Dúnedain watched him with unusual interest, but until Elrond had taken him aside one summer's afternoon, he had not known precisely why. My people they are, and knew it ere ever I did. I still feel as though I am not much of a lord to them, so long have I been away, and yet…
"You seem quiet tonight, my lord," a light baritone sounded behind him, and Aragorn smiled as he turned to see Caranthar standing at his shoulder. His father's sole surviving lieutenant, Caranthar was deeply respected by all the Dúnedain, by Aragorn no less than the smallest child. "I thought this was a night to celebrate!"
"It is, and I do," Aragorn replied. "I could scarcely ask for a better home-coming."
"Aye, you did manage to time that quite well. It has been an oddly peaceful three months," the older man admitted, stroking a salt-and-pepper beard as he considered his best friend's son. So very like his sire, and yet so very different as well! Caranthar thought, and then gave in to the impulse. Reaching out, he laid a paternal hand upon the other's shoulder as he said in a low voice, "'Tis good to see you safe, my lord." Aragorn gazed back, and clapped him on the shoulder, smiling slightly ere he was forced to jump back as a trio of children darted between the two of them. "Rascals!" Caranthar growled, but all in good humor.
"Indeed! Was the lead girl not your granddaughter, Caranthar?" Aragorn queried, and the older man rolled his eyes.
"Valar help me, her mother was never such trouble. At least not usually. All right!" Caranthar threw up his hands under the pressure of his lord's knowing gaze. "I admit, Inidhril was… a handful."
"A handful?" Aragorn repeated skeptically, quirking a dark brow as his eyes grew quite mischievous. For Inidhril had a reputation for her high spirits and head-strong ways, and though she was of an age with Aragorn, she had always treated him as a younger brother in need of careful handling. Which was simply another way of saying that she fussed over him unbelievably whenever the opportunity arose. "Is that what you told her husband as well?"
"Her husband agrees with me!" the other retorted, and the two chuckled. "But that leads me somewhat far afield. I had meant to ask if there was aught troubling you, for you do seem somewhat subdued, if I may say it."
"Merely thoughtful," Aragorn replied, turning slightly to survey the crowd again. "It has been a long road since Rivendell!"
"There is no short road, my lord, and if ever you find one, stay clear of it for it will lead to naught but trouble," Caranthar advised.
"Have no fears on that account. But I feel as though much has passed me by in the last three decades," he shook his head, gesturing to the people milling about. "Well and good that I now know much of Gondor and Rohan, and even of the ways of the Haradrim, but I feel as though I still have much to learn of my own people..."
"Yet?" Caranthar asked, sensing that something hovered still at the end of that sentence.
"Yet… for all the long years of absence, this is home, and to see them thus gives me a sense of peace that I have long missed." Absorbed by the swift ebb and flow of the crowd, Aragorn did not see the other's smile, at once tender and proud, for Caranthar had waited patiently over the decades to see what sort of man Arathorn's son would be. And glad am I to have been spared for so long, for my pride could be no greater were he my own child! So much depended upon him, and yet Caranthar doubted that the other realized fully what he meant to all those men and women. Too concerned with learning to fulfil the duties he felt were expected of him, and worrying about his absences, Aragorn seemed to have overlooked the fact that his people were proud of him–that they looked to him with hope and fierce approval for the pains that he took. He is not ours alone, Caranthar thought. He never has been, and that we have not been able to say since Arnor fell! It is time our star rose again, if only briefly, and glad am I that it falls to Aragorn to lead us, rather than another. But even a king must have some time to forget himself.
"Go, Aragorn," Caranthar said after a long moment, and the younger man glanced back at him. "Dírlas cannot wait all night to speak her vows, after all. And then enjoy this time, for who knows when the next such occasion will arise?"
"A good evening to you then, old friend. Give my greetings to Inidhril," Aragorn replied, accepting the gentle dismissal.
"Greetings indeed! If you do not go swiftly, I shall send her after you! Her husband will doubtless appreciate the reprieve," Caranthar growled, and grinned as Aragorn laughingly retreated before that unusual threat.
"Spare me, I beg! A good evening to you, sir!" Turning away, Aragorn quickly spotted Halbarad again and made for him in as straight a line as he could manage. It was an odd sort of dance as he slipped through the knots of people, having to excuse himself as he eased around groups while at the same time acknowledging the salutes that came almost instantly upon recognition of his identity. Eventually, however, he reached his friend, and as Halbarad hailed him, two others stepped forward. Barahan he knew as a Ranger, and the bridegroom offered a polite, if deferential, greeting; Dírlas, having known him since she was a child, was rather less restrained.
"My lord," she said, smiling as Aragorn took her hands in his and raised them to his lips.
"Congratulations, Dírlas," he replied. And when he had eased his grip a bit she freed herself to throw her arms about his neck in a fiercely joyous embrace.
"Thank you for standing for us! Thank you for coming!" she murmured ere she released him to step back, and Aragorn felt constrained to bow.
"It is my pleasure," he replied, glancing then from Barahan to Dírlas, and thence to Halbarad, who aside from looking a bit pale, seemed to have regained control of himself. "The hour draws nigh, and I wish you well of each other!" Barahan nodded, trying hard to suppress a nervous grin as he grasped Dírlas' hand in his, and his betrothed eased closer to him. "Shall we begin?"
Among the Dúnedain of the north, it was customary to begin the festivities in the late afternoon and wait until a particular hour of nightfall to speak vows. In any other people, that might have made solemnity somewhat difficult to attain, but the folk of the Angle were accustomed to harsher discipline. So, when Aragorn sounded the klaxon, silence fell quite suddenly as instruments were set aside and adults hastened to restrain the children. All present pressed forward to watch as bride and groom faced each other. Aragorn stood behind them, and Halbarad took his place at his sister's shoulder, while Barahan's mother stood just behind him as tradition demanded. Aragorn was silent a moment, waiting until he felt everyone's attention was well and truly captured ere he spoke, repeating the words that had been handed down over millennia; words which, from Gondor to Bree, marked the beginning of marriage.
"'As a light in the darkness is the love of a man and woman for each other, and in that light lies the hope of our people.' A year ago today, Barahan, son of Benirion, and Dírlas, daughter of Hirthon, plighted their troth as a test of their love. And has it been found true?" A roar of approval from the crowd came as answer, and Aragorn smiled as he held up a hand for silence once more. "Assuredly it has! Therefore we are met today to see that promise fulfilled. The Evening Star is risen, and the Heron stands now upon the horizon. If you would be bound to each other even as Elwing and Eärendil of whom we spring, then speak now!"
All eyes turned to Barahan, who managed not to flinch under that collective, eager regard, and his voice trembled but a little as he said: "I, Barahan son of Benirion, do bind myself to Dírlas daughter of Hirthon, for as long as my life shall endure. Let the seas rise, let the earth change, let the stars extinguish themselves, I shall not forsake thee!"
"And I, Dírlas, daughter of Hirthon, hear thy words, and accept thy suit, Barahan son of Benirion. I shall cleave to thee, and to thee alone, for as long as my life shall endure. Let the seas rise, let the earth change, let the stars extinguish themselves, I shall not forsake thee!"
As they spoke, Barahan's mother and Halbarad each took the hand of son and sister and laid the one in the other. Aragorn was pleased to note that there was no trace of that former wrenching fear in his friend's expression. He even managed a slight smile as he bowed to Barahan and then withdrew to one side. Aragorn laid his hands over those of husband and wife, saying, "As it has been witnessed, so be it!"
And that was the end, as Barahan kissed Dírlas in full sight of everyone, and the celebration continued in earnest. Aragorn watched the two move away into the crowd once more, and then sighed softly, well content, ere he turned to Halbarad once more. Gripping the other's shoulder comfortingly, he murmured, "Was that so terrible?"
"If I get sick later on, you are coming with me!" Halbarad replied in an undertone.
"As if I would leave you to your own devices!" Aragorn retorted, biting down on a smile that would go quite unappreciated by his friend in that moment. "Come, Halbarad, you have done your duty so you may as well take the sweet with the bitter. Enjoy yourself. Ask Lanaríel to dance with you!"
"Tell me, did you learn such cruelty of the Haradrim? You know she hangs on me!"
"It is only a dance, my friend," Aragorn replied, refusing to let the other slide back down into his solitary misery.
"Only a dance, he says! I do not see you joining that group."
"Alas, I have no partner," Aragorn sighed, as if regretful, though his eyes sparkled. Halbarad gave him a fulminating look, but then blinked, seeming to gaze past him. And then a most unexpected grin stole across the other's features, which expression sent warnings up and down Aragorn's spine.
"Aragorn, my friend, you are the most eligible bachelor in the entire town. The day that the Heir of Isildur cannot find a woman willing to partner him in any dance he likes I shall hold that the end of the world is come. Fortunately, it seems that that dark day is postponed yet again," the other said.
"What do you–"
"Aragorn!" Aragorn turned to see a dark-haired, bright-eyed woman nearly upon him, and beyond her, he saw Caranthar standing there with a wicked grin upon his face. Likely it matches the one Halbarad wears this very moment! he thought, and staggered as Inidhril threw her arms about him.
"Father said to come find you, and I can see why. You are too serious, Aragorn!" Without asking permission, and in spite of Aragorn's greater strength, she half-dragged him towards the dance square. Isildur's Heir quickly recovered himself, however, and took the lead, for it would not look very good for the Chieftain of the Dúnedain to seem so manifestly unwilling to partner her. Nevertheless, the look he shot over his shoulder at his friend and cousin was priceless.
"Vengeance is sweet," Halbarad sighed contentedly as Caranthar came to join him.
"I did warn him," Caranthar replied, "Truly, though, I played but a small part in this. You know she loves him."
"I know," Halbarad replied with a smile. "So do we all! I think me, however, that you might consider Fornost in need of your services for a time, sir. If Aragorn does not devise some retribution, surely her husband shall!"
"Arion is a good man, and he knows well that Inidhril sees Aragorn as a part of our family. He has no objections. I only hope that someone will catch our chieftain's eye, and soon! One never knows how fortune shall twist, and Isildur's line has had bad luck these past two generations." The pain in the older man's voice was palpable, and Halbarad darted a surreptitious glance at him. Caranthar's friendship with Arathorn was legendary in the Angle, and the older man's face was bleak with the memory of that loss. Some wounds never heal! Halbarad felt a great sympathy for the other, who had in his day served his friend and lord even as Halbarad now served Aragorn. The haunted look in the other's eyes as he followed the path of his best friend's son was more than he could bear.
"Do not fear for Aragorn, sir," Halbarad said softly, easing closer so that no others would overhear them. "His is a different fate from his father's, and my heart tells me that the test of his strength is not yet come, and shall not for many a year. We shall not lose him as we have others." He had never confided that secret to anyone before, but as Caranthar turned to him, he was glad that he had made an exception. The other's relief was almost painful to behold, but then the older man managed a smile and nodded.
"Good lad," he said softly. Then, shaking off the mood, he said in a firmer voice, "Well, you do not need me to hover over you tonight. Go on, then. Find yourself a lass to dance with before Aragorn returns, or I think I shall fear him less!" And with that, Caranthar ambled away, leaving Halbarad to contemplate the wisdom of those words. But his eyes went instead to his sister and Barahan who led the others in the dance. I wish I could be so certain of Barahan's destiny! If anything happens to him… If anything happened to him, he did not know where he would find the strength to see Dírlas through a second such loss. For a time, he truly had feared that his sister would die of grief, even as Elves sometimes did, and the thought of facing another tragedy made him feel sick all over again. She is happy now, and for that I am glad, truly I am! But it is a dangerous business, to love a Ranger. Do I not know it well enough myself? He had lost friends, men whom he counted almost as family (and some of them were) and he hated the thought of laying yet another white stone upon the funeral plain.
Just then, the music ceased, and amid the applause of the onlookers, couples broke up and reformed, and Halbarad frowned, glancing about suddenly. His attention had been so fixed upon Dírlas that he was rather surprised to find that he had lost track of Aragorn. Likely he seeks Arion to come and reclaim his wife, he thought, returning his gaze to Barahan and his sister. Barahan leaned down and kissed her again, whispering in her ear, which roused a number of protective, brotherly instincts that needed quickly to be suppressed. She is his now, Halbarad, so watch yourself!
"Traditionally, the bride and groom are to leave quietly and slip away into the night. They cannot do that, Halbarad, if you continue to watch them like a hawk." Aragorn's amused voice at his elbow startled him badly, and Halbarad folded his arms across his chest to try and cover his reaction.
"Barahan is a Ranger. If he cannot worm his way out of this company unnoticed, then he has much to learn still ere he is worthy of that star," he replied.
"I think I have never seen you in so contrary a mood, my friend," Aragorn shook his head and caught the other's arm in a firm grip as he turned him away from his sister and into the crowd once more. "Unless it were that one night in Bree, " he added pointedly.
"Must you remind me of that?"
"Only if you insist upon providing a comparison. Now, I note that while I took my turn with Inidhril and a few other lasses, you did not seek out the fair Lanaríel. If I have to ask her for you, I shall be quite irritated with you."
"Please do not!" Halbarad begged in an undertone, and the sincerity of that request caught Aragorn's full and somber attention. Glancing around, he spotted a table pushed to the far end of the clearing; it stood in an island of space, for most people were closer to the dance grounds, which made it ideal for his purposes. Pulling Halbarad along, Aragorn slithered through the thinning edges of the crowd 'til he reached his destination.
"Sit down," he told the other, and Halbarad obediently sank down onto a bench, while Aragorn took a seat opposite him. "You have fancied Lanaríel since I first knew you, and you admit she seems more than fond of you. Yet you say naught to her. This runs deeper than your sister's marriage, and I would know what it is that troubles you. Tell me!"
Confronted with all the authority of his chieftain and the weight of a friend deeply worried, Halbarad knew he could not deny the other an explanation, even if he knew it was a cowardly excuse he was about to plead. "Dírlas married when she was twenty-three… too young, meaning no offense to your mother, Aragorn." For Gilraen had married at twenty-two, even younger than Dírlas, and it struck Halbarad forcibly that both of their marriages had ended in the same tragic manner. "I worried about her then, and when Eryndar was slain… I cannot, Aragorn, do you not see that?" He lifted his eyes and met the other's searching stare. "I cannot do that to another… leave her ever waiting, ever worrying." He shook his head. "'Tis hard enough to watch friends die and know that one day you may have to bring news of my death to Dírlas."
Aragorn was silent a long while, seeming to consider this, but at last he sighed and bowed his head, leaning forward on his elbows to ask in a low voice, "Do you tell me that you will not court Lanaríel because you fear to leave her a widow?"
"Yes." And because I would not hurt you either that way, Halbarad thought to himself, watching his friend carefully. I see what it does to you to tell others that a husband or son will not return. How could I ask that of you, when I know well that you will be called upon to do so one day? I know it! I feel it in my bones, and have since we were twenty years old, alone on the road for the first time. But he was not about to tell the other that, for there were some things that one did not share, not even with one's best friend. Not even when my best friend has every right to order me to confess! Let it lie, Aragorn. Take the bait I offer–for it is true enough. Take it, and look no further!
"I would argue with you if I thought it would change your heart," Aragorn said at length, pinning him with smoke-dark eyes. "As it is, I will say only that I think you make a mistake, Halbarad."
"Mayhap, and do not think I am unashamed by this, but… I simply cannot!" Halbarad replied, feeling relief ripple through him as the other accepted his excuse without question. Both men sat silently for a time, and after a bit, Halbarad found himself unable to withstand the other's gaze. Bowing his head, he stared down at the table, seeking some way out of this conversation. After a time, he felt Aragorn's hand upon his arm, and glanced up again to see the other smile sadly at him and shake his head.
"You are my brother, Halbarad, but in this at least I think we shall part ways. But know that I expect you at my wedding, whatever your fears."
"Of course! When the time comes, as it must, I shall be there." And then Halbarad paused, eyes narrowing as he took in the gleam in the other's eyes and realized that what he had taken for a hypothetical statement was nothing of the sort. "Aragorn?" His friend's smile grew broader at that query, and Halbarad stared, feeling torn between joy and incredulity. "Do you tell me…?"
"Yes, I do."
"You–!" Halbarad quickly lowered his voice, leaning forward further. "Who is she? And when? You have been gone for thirty years! How could you find the time…?"
"It is very recent, and I fear it may go very ill with her father," Aragorn admitted. "And she is not one of our people."
"Please tell me she is not one of the Haradrim!" For some reason, Aragorn seemed to find that quite funny, for he laughed outright at the suggestion. "Then whence comes she? Gondor? Rohan? Bree?"
"Nay, none of those."
"I begin to run short of guesses, brother, and if you do not wish a thorough trouncing, you had best tell me now!" Halbarad threatened, which was really quite pointless since Aragorn usually won their wrestling matches. Still, when the inspiration struck, he occasionally got the better of him, and at the moment he was feeling quite inspired.
"She is someone I have loved a very long time, though I have had little hope of that love ever being returned," Aragorn said slowly, and Halbarad heard the undertone of amazement still in the other's voice as he spoke. "Arwen is her name."
"Arwen?" Halbarad blinked, and felt his jaw go slack. "Arwen Undómiel? Of Imladris?" At his friend's nod, Halbarad shook his head sharply, trying vainly to break free of the shock. "Varda's stars, you do not aim low, do you?"
"You sound like my mother," Aragorn complained, though he was clearly fighting a smile.
"Shock reduces all men–and women–to the same numbed level," Halbarad retorted. "And Elrond does not yet know?"
"He knows, and we have spoken of it. I decided it would be best to make my stays in Imladris brief for the next decade or so."
"And you have been hiding this for the past three months?"
"Not hiding… "
"What would you call your silence then?"
"Discretion," Aragorn replied, and Halbarad rolled his eyes. Lightning quick, he struck and cuffed the other sharply in the arm. But Aragorn, just as quick, managed to trap his hand against his shoulder. "And I shall continue on with that discretion, for I would not risk Elrond's wrath. Keep it quiet, my friend. You I can tell, and I would tell for I cannot hold this entirely to myself," he said, offering a slight smile that nonetheless lit his eyes to their very depths. "It will be a long wait in any case, for Elrond's acceptance of our betrothal is conditional."
"Upon what?"
"Upon a claimant to the thrones of both Gondor and Arnor, and I have many years of toil ere I earn that chance. You understand." It was not a question, and as the other's hand tightened about this own, Halbarad nodded firmly.
"I do. I shall not breathe a word," he said, and smiled. "I am glad for you, though."
"Thank you. And now you know why I understand your anguish, for now it is my task to stay alive long enough…" Aragorn sighed softly. "For like you, I would not cause her pain!"
"Never fear, you have all of us at your service in that endeavor," Halbarad vowed. "If we can in any way prevent it, your Arwen shall suffer no grief on your behalf, for we, too, would not be left bereft! Truly, Aragorn," he insisted, seeing that the other shrugged off such words. "You have our loyalty, but also our love. Know that! Feel it, and do not ever doubt it."
"Then I shall strive to be worthy of it, for your love is no small gift," Aragorn replied, and rose. Halbarad did as well, and the two men stared at each other a long moment ere Isildur's Heir gave a low chuckled and clapped Halbarad's shoulder, drawing him into a fraternal embrace as he pointed to two figures going swiftly away from the light and back into the town proper. "There she goes, my friend, with her Barahan. Wish them well!"
"He will never hear the end of this! That is stealth?"
"And if you tease him too unmercifully, I shall not stand in his way when he challenges you."
"Oh, very well. Not that I fear him, but I would not deprive my sister of her husband's attentions while he recovers from the thrashing he would get if he so dared!"
"Generous of you," Aragorn remarked. "Well, if we have finished our business, and if you will not dance, then at least go back and let your friends have at you for a time. The brother of the bride is never allowed to escape his sister's wedding unscathed, you know."
"Are you certain that the guard could not do with an extra man?"
"Do you question my judgment?" Aragorn demanded, raising a brow in mock severity, and Halbarad sighed as he yielded.
"All right! I go, I go! You need not hover. Go find another partner ere Inidhril claims you again!"
"I think I shall. Until tomorrow, then!" Aragorn bid his friend farewell, watching as the other made his way back into the heart of the crowd, and a cry went up as a number of the men–Rangers and relatives, mostly–swarmed about him. He knew not what the others had decided to inflict upon Halbarad, but he was certain it would be entertaining to watch. Nevertheless, in spite of his words to his friend, he remained where he was, gazing at the people gathered in celebration. My people. He sighed softly, feeling the powerful emotions that attached to those words: love and fear and fierce loyalty. I was bonded to them–married, I suppose–ere ever I looked upon Arwen, and I shall not fail them! A moment more he lingered, feeling the weight of that awesome responsibility, and then he drew a breath and made himself set it aside for a moment. Not entirely, for he could never be free of his obligations, but enough so that they would not impinge unduly upon him tonight. For tonight we have reason to celebrate, all of us! With that, he returned to the babble of voices and laughter, to the welcome of the Dúnedain as they greeted him once more as he moved among them, and he knew himself to be truly at home once more.
Playlist Navigation Bar


text:
Comfort Suites
4820 Techniplex Dr.
Stafford, TX 77477
Phone: (281) 565-5566
Fax: (281) 565-5050
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons Avenue
Houston, TX 77020
+1 713 686 9494
Sa to Sa from 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM,Mo to Fr from 03:00 PM to 04:15 PMSaint Arnold of Austria (580-640 CE) is credited with the great miracle of quenching the thirst of his many caretakers with only one cup of beer that never ran dry. Saint Arnold Brewing Company, started in 1994 by two Rice University graduates, is the city's first microbrewery and is named after this saint. No brewing additives or preservatives are used, and to keep it pure, there is no pasteurization. Examples of the company's bestsellers include Kristall Weizen, Brown and Amber Ale. The brewery is not open for general drinking, but you can take tours on Saturday from 11a to 2p with tours leaving on the hour and 3p on weekdays. A beer tasting comes with every tour and unlike Saint Arnold, you won't have to share.
Earn valuable points toward free nights.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
SUN VALLEY, ID - JULY 10: Fred Wilpon, majority owner of the New York Mets, attends the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 10, 2014 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Many of the worlds wealthiest and most powerful executives from media, finance, and technology attend the annual week-long conference which is in its 32nd year. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.
Subscriber Content Read Preview
Subscriber Content Read Preview


text:
Portugal Jerseys & Apparel
With an impressive run at EURO 2012, Portugal will be ramping up for the coming international qualifying games and 2014 World Cup. Show your love for A Selecção in brand new Portugal jerseys and fan gear featuring the countries official colors and emblems. Shop a variety of Portugal soccer gear including official on-field apparel, hats, soccer balls and more designed by Nike.Affordable flat rate shipping and easy returns.
Related Searches: Portugal Jersey | Portugal Jacket | Portugal Shirt
There are no products matching the selection.


text:
h1 SEEGRID Project Scope notes:
The SEEGrid community http://seegrid.csiro.au is progressing a project to extend GeoServer to support "Community Schemas". Please see the Use Case document for more information on why.
This is a small project with enough funds for a few months total effort, but the implementation team, Rob Atkinson and Peter Barrs from Social Change Online http://socialchange.net.au, have a fair bit of experience in Java based WFS implementations including many of the ideas presented here, and we're working closely with the sponsoring agencies and Simon Cox (one of the main GML editors, and WFS RWG) - so we are confident we can create some sort of an outcome.
This project arises out of a larger project, "Solid Earth and Environment Grid - Information Services" https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/Infosrvices/RoadmapDocument to explore deployment of a GML-derived application schema within a sector comprising a range of business processes, scientific activity and typical data access services.
For specific thoughts related to the requirements to support "community schemas" see the following sections:
- https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/Infosrvices/InformationViewpoint#Community_models
- https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/Xmml/InformationModels
- https://www.seegrid.csiro.au/twiki/bin/view/Xmml/WebFeatureService
Initial project is aimed at supporting "Observations and Measurements" model against relational databases.
This requires, at the very least:
- GML output mapped to a predefined schema
- related features as attributes (properties)
- multi-valued properties
- ability to exploit non-spatial objects containing geometry (x,y,z points in particular)
- ability to link features from different feature stores (shapesfiles and db tables for example)
Code base release strategy
Our aim is to work as closely as possible with the mainstream Geoserver community to:
- agree on an approach
- explore ideas and design requirements we may have missed
- make the effort as accessible as possible to any who want to exploit it
- promulgate the concept of interoperable data, not just protocols
- see the outcomes fitted into the core capabilities and release schedules.
Is this a Geotools or Geoserver Issue?
It is understood that much of the actual coding is likely to take place within the Geotools codebase. We have nevertheless initially focussed on the WFS implementation because this set of Geotool users are going to have the greatest affiinity for the project requirements, and be the group whose uptake of improvements will drive improved interoperability in practice.
8 Comments
Make your own life more easy get the loans and all you need.
Usually I compose my book reports in the car. Nevertheless, it is not possible to do the same with sports essay paper. Such kind of writing I get to the academic papers writing corporations.
Some dissertation writing services are presently looking for the interesting theme connected with this good topic for the thesis help composing.
Whether we cherish it or not, formerly in our lives, we would obligate to carry out term papers and other written . It is doubtless not accessible but very elegant to construct a research about this good topic. To do that, you need to read many of articles and books, or you can just order some kind of work and then use plagiarism checker made by http://www.plagiarismsearch.com and save your time like some quick help with the American Dream.
I am a college student and I require a lot of money to spend for different issues. Thence, I do not attempt to utilize very expensive essay writing services. I need affordable prices for term papers!
I never stick approaching my goal. I generally utilize various ways, thus, its' common that I buy college papers. Furthermore, I get some extra scores doing that!
Students usually are willing to get the best stuff. But, you should know a proper way to separate high quality stuff. In fact, if you buy term paper, you should get guarantees that an essay writing corporation is respected.
I am able to share the facts just about custom writing companies. I am a skilled essay papers writer therefore, I will state that is worth to buy term paper. Custom writing corporations save your our time offering supreme stuff!


text:
Forgot Password | Create Account
If you already have a camping.com.au Username and need to convert your account click here. Simply log in with your Username and your account will be automatically converted.
by Poodle Jewel » Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:33 am
by dicko77 » Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:41 pm
by GypsyLady » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:36 am
Return to Queensland
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


text:
Rosco1 wrote:Now...I have nowhere to put my ''stuff'' when we go camping........
Rosco1 wrote:we really don't have the room to keep all my toys & Gypsy
Rosco1 wrote:We can't get 1/2 our stuff in the CT that we got in that trailer.
Titch2 wrote:How can you say that to a man, who takes a blow up couch camping GL :lol: :lol:
GypsyLady wrote:All packed up and ready to head off to Mon Repos tomorrow. Hope it is as good this year as last. They tell me the turtle numbers have surpassed last year's lot already....hope that does not mean they have run out of them already.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


text:
Marionville Models
Marionville RC Models. Specialist Remote Control Retailer of Cars, Boats, Planes, Helicopters and much more
Marionville Models
Scale Planes - Nitro/Petrol RC Radio Controlled
RC Shop > RC Shop > Planes - RC Radio Control > Fuel Powered RC Planes > Scale Planes - Nitro/Petrol RC Radio Controlled >
We guarantee that our products will be of the highest quality and sourced from official UK distributers.Checkout our in store video
We pride ourselves on high levels of on-time parcel deliveries from £4.79....Read More
We are more than happy to help you. Call 0131 317 7010 or you can email us...Click Here


text:
Upgrade your browser now! It's worth doing!
How good do you think this game is?
Mouseover to pick your rating
Your vote has been recorded.
It looks like you quite liked this game, why not tell people about it?
Please like and share this game!
Copy + paste this code onto your website so your visitors can play it!
If you are a WordPress user you will first download the iFrame Plugin. Once installed, copy the following code into your website to make this game show:
Like this game? Why not tell the world about it!
Add a game card to a forum signature or on your website
A graph over time showing the total number of plays this game has had
Various details about guests and Scirra member plays
Aww shucks no-one has +1'd this yet! Why not be the first?
For the development of the project invite artists / ANIMATION! Everyone who wants to help, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com!
If you feel this comment is not in the spirit of the site or discussion, or for any other reason, submit this report.
Scirra Arcade is an online HTML5 arcade for games made with Construct 2. All authors have verified that they own the rights to all uploaded content.
Copyright © 2011 onwards Scirra Ltd.All rights reserved.


text:
Delightful Dwarf Stories
Playlist Navigation Bar
Dance of Terrible Grace: 1. Dance of Terrible Grace
Does that shock you? Does it not fit your image of an elf, care-free and ethereal, Fa-la-la-la-laley, welcome to the valley? That I kill, with arrow and twin white blades, with fierce joy and pride in my speed and strength?
In the dark of Moria the orcs found us in the Hall of Records. My bow sang as they burst through the barred door. I gloried in the smooth rhythm of nock and pull and release. Each arrow flew like the little death of love, delivering the greater death of war. When at last my quiver was exhausted I drew my blades and began the dance.
The blood of orcs runs black, black as the night they favor, black as night without stars. Their blood ran in ribbons down my blades, yet could no more stain them than the night can besmirch the moon. Most fell to a single thrust, but one, stronger and faster than the rest, fought some time with me, wounding me. I felt no pain in the heat of battle; only the red blood on my tunic warned me that I had been kissed by the enemy's blade.
His sword was smeared with my blood. He stopped there and licked at that bit of red. I gave the fell creature that moment without attacking. He thought to daunt me with the gesture, but it did not concern me--I would be the last thing he tasted. Let him die with my blood on his tongue, my blade in his heart.
Someone, one of the hobbits, perhaps, screamed then. I looked towards the sound, but Aragorn had already leaped to the hobbits' defense. When I looked back my enemy was falling, a dwarven axe half-buried in his throat.
"He was mine," I growled.
The dwarf braced his foot against the orc's head and pulled his axe free. "You were too slow, elf," he growled back. His boot was black with blood.
He spun and threw one of his smaller axes at an advancing orc and then ducked under the sword of another standing on his cousin's tomb to chop at its legs. The orc jumped clear and swung at him again. The dwarf fought it with mighty swings of his axe, batting its heavy sword aside as if it were a child's willow wand. He fought with power where I would fight with speed, yet still he possessed a grace and elegance to his movements. He quickly backed the orc against the tomb and cleaved head from neck.
"For Balin!" he cried, kneeling by the tomb and bowing his head.
Aragorn had killed the last orc while I was watching the dwarf's battle. We fled then, for the full force of orcs in Moria was more than our small fellowship could withstand. I pulled the dwarf from his grief and as we ran I saw him, as flushed and alive with the light of battle as myself. I knew him then for beautiful.
Playlist Navigation Bar


text:
"I've ordered XL . This shorts run way larger than normal soccer shorts. They're like basketball shorts. Order one size smaller. Otherwise they're fine shorts." (E6893)
"Nice gift for the team. Even though I ordered all "Large" rings, they were various sizes." (E10241)
"Cannot believe the gloves you get for this price! The finger protection is awesome! Hope they keep getting more in stock. I would love to get more as my son grows. Great product." (E758)
Holloway Collegiate LSU Tigers Ball Park Jersey [E35258]


text: GoPro is proud to welcome you to the 2012 Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah. Check out one of the most punishing competitions in all of extreme sports as riders drop the rocky cliffs and open canyons! Featuring: Brett Rheeder Tyler McCaul Brandon Semenuk Darren Berrecloth Music Mochipet, "The Battle of Dinotropolis" View More


text:
Rega Elex-R
Best stereo amplifier £800-£1500, Awards 2014. Rega builds on the strengths of the excellent Brio-R and give us another terrifically musical amplifier100%Our rating
Pathos Lògos Mk II
This is a case of having your cake and eating it. Combines aesthetics and great sound0%Our rating
Yamaha A-S3000
Sound quality is good but needs to be better to fully justify that hefty price0%Our rating
Unison Research Triode 25
Yet another superb design from Unison Research. Great to use and even better to listen to.0%Our rating
Fatman MI-Tube 2
If you're looking for a budget stereo amplifier with a distinct twist, the Fatman could be worth a listen0%Our rating
Cambridge Audio Azur 851A
A good proposition; worth a look0%Our rating
Roksan Kandy K2 BT
A delivery packed with power and punch, but some of the heart and soul is missing0%Our rating
Sony TA-A1ES
TA-A1ES isn't perfect, but it's talented enough in key areas to demand serious consideration0%Our rating
Devialet 110
Devialet has delivered an exceptional all-round package. The 110 is an amplifier to lust after0%Our rating
Naim Supernait 2
The Supernait 2 is a terrific amplifier. It delivers a huge slice of Naim's addictive sound at a still sensible price0%Our rating
Stereo amplifiers reviews & products
We found 368 products for '


text:
• Highly-polished sterling silver and carved Western swirl reversible pendant enhancer
• Marquise, copper bezel-set pink mother of pearl cabochon on one side
with brass bezel-set gold on the other
• Measures 2-1/8" long x 5/8" wide and features a polished snap hinge bail
• Made in America with gemstones from around the world
This reversible Canyon Road enhancer glows with a bold and elegant light. On one side, gleaming pink mother of pearl is highlighted in a copper bezel, while the radiance of gold mother of pearl gemstone shines in a brass bezel on the reverse side. Both looks are designed to brighten your wardrobe-- stamped sterling silver surrounds the pink gem and highly polished sterling silver borders the gold. This contemporary and fashionable treasure will add warmth and style to your mixed metal wardrobe.
Learn more about our jewelry
Carolyn Pollack brings you Santa Fe's version of Rodeo Drive. Canyon Road captures the essence of Santa Fe's style - sophisticated, bold and elegant. Textured Western detailing in sterling silver and brass glows with the moonlit magic of mother of pearl.
Like all fine jewelry, Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Jewelry should be handled carefully. Store jewelry in a plastic bag, dry and wrapped in tissue paper, when not being worn or displayed. Clean sterling silver with a silver polishing cloth when necessary, but never subject to chlorine, silver dips, chemical solutions or ultrasonic cleaners, as these substances can cause the genuine gemstones to discolor. Never wear jewelry in a swimming pool.


text:
Please note that as of October 24, 2014, the Nokia Developer Wiki will no longer be accepting user contributions, including new entries, edits and comments, as we begin transitioning to our new home, in the Windows Phone Development Wiki. We plan to move over the majority of the existing entries. Thanks for all your past and future contributions.
Series 40 UX checklist webinar - companion article
This article is companion for the UX Checklist for Series 40 Full Touch webinars to be held in October and November 2012. It covers both sessions: 31st October 2012 and 1st November 2012.
Series 40
This webinar provides pointers you can use to perform a basic user experience (UX) check of your Series 40 full-touch app, even if you have no formal experience in UX design. In it we review a list of some of the worst UX mistakes that we found in real-world app testing, and provide some specific solutions to these problems.
This checklist covers some basic UX mistakes, and is a great starting point if you're not a UI design expert. Check out Series 40 UI design library for more advanced information and resources.
This wiki page is the "companion" to the webinar. It includes:
- Webinar exercises and proposals for how to solve them.
- Link to Q/A from the webinar sessions (will be added).
- Link to slide deck (will be added).
- Link to recording (will be added).
- Webinar announcement
- Register:
- A custom view acts as a launchpad screen. Which chrome elements do you add? Please think of various possibilities.
- How do you open the item menu and what do you place in there?
- How many touchable items can you fit into a full screen layout?
- Which icon sizes are used in Series 40 full touch?
- Are these colors compliant?
- Foreground: 33FFAA
- Background: AAFF33


text:
Gerber began its baby care line in 1960, and now markets more than 350 Gerber branded products. Bottles, teethers, breastfeeding accessories and spill-proof cups are just a few of the products now being distributed to babies and parents around the world and in 2003, Gerber introduced a new line of Breast Therapy products, designed to make breastfeeding a more comfortable experience. Much has changed since that summer night in Daniel and Dorothy Gerber's kitchen when the company was created. But the Gerbers' commitment to excellence has remained a constant guiding force through the years. Gerber today is as dedicated to the well-being of babies all over the world, as it was when it began in 1928. And as it will be in the years to come.
Side Snap Mitt Cuff Shirt, 2 Pack
Training Pant in White (Pack of 3)
by Gerber Baby Care
Newborn Organic bodysuits (Pack of 4)
Newborn Side Snap Mitt Cuff Shirt in White (Pack of 2)


text:
As seen on the National Geographic Channel.
Sale Price:
Every day thousands of men, women, and children attempt to enter the United States illegallysome looking for work, some seeking a new life, and others trying to smuggle drugs or other contraband. Many will do whatever it takes, often risking their lives by crossing treacherous terrain. Now, follow the officers and agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they scour the inhospitable landscape at one of the busiest border crossings in the country, seeking to fight terrorism and intercept illegal entrants from the air, on the ground, and at the ports of entry.
Episodes include Rio Grande Reefer, Bullets Over the Border, Meth Mobile, Contraband Corridor, Hidden Tunnel, Cartel Cash Stash, Teenage Drug Mules, Tunnel Smoke-out, Midnight Drug Trap, Cocaine Paradise, Cocaine Dump Truck, Cash in the Tank and Murder Capital.
Not available for shipment outside of the U.S. and Canada.
DVD-R Format
The DVD-R is a non-rewriteable digital format that is compatible with most commercial DVD players. The DVD-R format is created with MPEG2 Variable Bit Rate Compression with stereo sound.
How our DVDs and DVD-Rs Differ
Customers who purchase programs in the NG DVD-R Library will receive a non-interactive, play only disc. There is no chaptering information on these DVDs, but there are chapter marks approximately every five minutes, which make it easy to fast forward through a program. The DVD-R format provides the digital video and audio quality you expect from all of our DVDs.
NOTE: The NG DVD-R titles are not closed-captioned. We apologize for any inconvenience this limitation may cause.
Title List


text:
Aurora Blade
Aurora Blade is a 2D Fantasy browser-based MMORPG with fast paced action time battles. Chose from four classes and help cleanse the world of evil. Battles hundreds of different monsters across varied environments or challenge fellow players to duels in the arena!
Publisher: IGG
Playerbase: Low
Graphics: Low Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Duels / Arena
Filesize: None
Pros: +Simple gameplay. +Plenty of quests keep the game well paced. +Large game world to explore.
Cons: -Repetitive battles. -Can't see avatar on map. -Poor English translations. -Paying players receive large benefits.
Aurora Blade Overview
Aurora Blade is the first browser based MMORPG released by IGG. Set in a medieval fantasy world, Aurora Blade is quite advanced for a browser game. Players start their adventures in the Aurora Seaport where a short tutorial and a series of quests introduce them to the game's basics. During character creation players have four classes to chose from and they are:
Warrior - Masters of melee attacks, Warriors are proficient in various melee weapons. Warriors wear heavy armor and can absorb a great deal of physical damage.
Mage - Practitioners of the arcane arts, Mages use spells from a safe distance to inflict heavy blows. Mages only wear the lightest of armor to ensure they can freely channel their magic.
Knight - Well rounded fighters who use ranged and melee attacks. Most similar to Archers in other games, Knights make cunning foes.
Priest - The supportive spellcasters of Aurora Blade, Priests possess healing and buffing spells to aid their allies. Experienced Priests can even resurrect the dead!
Aurora Blade Screenshots
Aurora Blade Feature Video
Aurora Blade Full Review
By, Erhan Altay
First announced in late 2008 and released to open beta several months later, Aurora Blade is the first browser based MMORPG by the online games portal IGG. Best known for bringing anime inspired MMORPGs like Tales of Pirates to the North American audience, IGG is making a big push into the browser based gaming market. How well does IGG's first browser game hold up? Read on to find out!
RPG Archetypes
Rare among browser games, Aurora Blade plays much like a traditional MMORPG. The character creation process is very similar to what you would expect from a client based game. There are two game serves, each named after a planet; Mercury and Venus. Players each have five character slots per server which is more than enough since there are only four classes. Players can chose what gender and race their character will be but oddly there is only one race choice — human. My guess is IGG plans to add additional races eventually since there wouldn't be a point in mentioning race otherwise. There is no appearance customization beyond gender selection which is forgivable since the avatars are quite detailed and even show a bit of animation.
Welcome to Port
Before actually getting started, players are prompted to set individual passwords for their characters which I found to be a hassle. Once this is done, players finally enter the game world and find themselves on 'Adventurer Ferry.' A small tooltip prompt appears on the right side of the screen to explain the game's basic navigation. It can be skipped but is worth running through at least once. Most of the interface should be self explanatory to veteran gamers. The mouse alone handles all movement. The game word is broken down into a series of locations each with a name bar that appears next to it on the main game area. Players can instantly move from one location to another with the click of the mouse. Interestingly, Aurora Blade allows players to set their desired resolution but the default 1024×768 should suffice. It becomes very obvious from the beginning that Aurora Blade is a quest heavy game. I found this to be very helpful since it helps give the game a sense of direction and makes it 'feel' more like a traditional RPG.
Hunting in the Forest
Like any good fantasy RPG, new players are first tasked with a series of talking quests followed by requests to hunt down the local wildlife. Combat is fast paced and works like the system in many turb based games like Myth Wars 2 Online. Combatants will exchange blows based on individual timers and can set special instructions as they wait. To demonstrate, my Knight automatically fires an arrow every few seconds against my target but at any time I can click my skill icon on the toolbar to queue that skill as the next attack. Unfortunately the first few levels are rather bland since players have limited skill and item options during battles but things quickly pick up. The game provides new players with three Adventurer's Boxes which can be opened at levels 5, 10, and 15 respectively. Each contains pieces of equipment, consumables like potions, and even cash shop items like temporary damage and experience boosts. I went ahead and used my items as fast I could but those of you planning for the end-game may wish to preserve the premium items until higher levels.
The Battle Never Ends
Botting has always been a major issue in MMORPGs and the problem is only magnified with browser games due to the fact that it is much easier to find programs to automate actions when you don't need to deal with a full screen client game running. IGG seems to have taken the same approach in Aurora Blade as they did in GodsWar Online and that is to give players built in botting features. Players can click on a monsters name and click [AutoFight] to start a battle against a never ending stream of that particular enemy. There may be ways to automate the use of skills and potions as well but I haven't experimented with them, I simply set my character to autofight a weak monster and went web surfing. If players escape from an AutoFight, there is a 10 minute cool down before they can use it again though death doesn't seem to trigger this wait time. This feature may take much of the interaction out of the game but at the very least it evens the playing field. If this system were not built in, many players would use third party programs to achieve the same results and have an unfair advantage over other players.
Long Term Commitments?
Ease of access is the main attraction of most browser based games and Aurora Blade is no exception. This is a game that can be played on one tab while surfing the web or getting work done on another. There are several features available to try and give the game deeper, more lasting appeal but they are not very unique. A simple marriage system is in place which rewards players various titles depending on how long they've been together. Each class has an extensive skill tree which allows multiple paths of specialization. PvP functions are optional and allow players to challenge one another to duels. An arena is available in cities which matches players together for PvP bouts without the need for one player to manually challenge the other to a fight. Finally, Aurora Blade has an old time cheesy MMORPG feature to extend the life time of the game. When players reach the max level of 60 they can do a rebirth quest which resets their level and allows them to grow more powerful than before and use special gear.
Final Verdict: Good
Aurora Blade is a fun 2D game that manages to emulate the style of a MMORPG on the browser. The combat and interface are similar to old school RPGs which give game a retro feel. There is a large world for players to explore though poor chat functions, a small population & built in automation features make it feel like a lonely place.


text:
FLASHBACK: Paul McCartney Busted In Tokyo
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
It was 33 years ago today (January 16th, 1980) that Paul McCartney was arrested in Tokyo, Japan for bringing 7.7 ounces of marijuana into the country. Fans were stunned at McCartney's action seeing as how he had lobbied so hard to be granted a work visa to perform in Japan after Wings was turned away in 1975 due to his previous drug busts. McCartney made no effort to conceal the large plastic bag of pot; instead he simply placed it among his clothes in his suitcase.
Wings' 11 concerts -- which were to be the second leg of a proposed world tour -- were quickly canceled. McCartney, who was facing a seven-year prison sentence, was known in the detention center as "Prisoner Number 22" and spent his time in his eight-by-four cell exercising and reading science fiction books brought to him by wife Linda McCartney. Rather than accept special treatment, McCartney opted to bathe with the fellow prisoners during his nine-day stay behind bars.
George Harrison was the only former Beatle to formally reach out to the McCartney's during the ordeal, sending an international telegram to the Hotel Okura for Paul and Linda stating: "Thinking of you all with love. Keep your spirits high. Nice to have you back home again soon. God bless. Love, George and Olivia."
According to several legends John Lennon and Yoko Ono played a crucial role in the McCartney bust and release. According to one scenario, while heading West through New York City, McCartney called Lennon to share some of this "dynamite weed" he'd scored. Lennon blew McCartney off, but infuriated that the McCartney's would be staying in the Presidential Suite at the Hotel Okura -- where the Lennon's stayed each summer -- thus ruining their "hotel karma," he complained to Yoko. According to several Lennon insiders, Yoko used her influence to tip off the customs department to the contents of McCartney's suitcase. Others believe that it was Yoko who pulled strings in getting McCartney off the hook and deported -- rather than jailed for the full seven-year term he faced for trafficking. McCartney was released from jail and immediately deported on January 25th, 1980.
McCartney reexamined the entire Tokyo bust a decade later while compiling the 2001 solo documentary Wingspan: "Looking back on it from this perspective, I can't believe I did it. It's wacky, y'know, and this comes over in the film, 'cause we devote a segment to that. I think, 'I do not believe. . . ' And when you see the guy in customs opening my suitcase and pulling out not a small amount -- the guy is pulling out, it's a huge amount of it -- I do not know what was going through my head, tell you the truth (laughs), and it makes me go cold just to watch that segment."
We asked him if he thinks subconsciously he might've actually wanted to get busted: "I think that it might, psychologically, it might have been that. There might have been something to do with that, because I think I was ready to get out of Wings. I think also, more importantly, we hadn't really rehearsed much for that tour, and I felt very under-rehearsed. I cannot believe that I would have myself busted and put in jail nine days just to get out of a group. I mean, let's face it, there are easier ways to do it than that -- and also having to pay a million (British) pounds to the promoters in default. I think the only thing; it might have just been some deep, psychological thing. It's a weird period for me."
Author Christopher Sanford, who wrote the recent biography McCartney, says that the Japan bust essentially ended Wings' live career: "He did some thinking in that jail cell. And I know Linda had a tepid reaction, at best, to going out on the road. And I suspect that she probably sat down with him when they got home after that ordeal, and said 'What the hell are we doing here? We don't need the money, the kids don't need to do this, and let's go back to the farm.'"
McCartney's 1980 Japanese pot bust wasn't his last run-in with the law. In 1984, McCartney was busted for possession inside his Barbados resort villa after buying pot on the beach. It was McCartney's fourth pot-related arrest, having been arrested twice for possession in 1972: once after being mailed pot while tour in Sweden, and again later that year for growing the illegal weed on his Scottish farm. At the time McCartney told authorities that he had been given seeds by fans and was unaware that they would "come up illegal."
McCartney has had only one pot run-in in America. In 1975, while driving in Los Angeles, the McCartney's were busted for possession of pot after blowing through a red light, with the car -- allegedly -- almost completely smoke-filled. Linda, who was a U.S. citizen, told police that the pot was hers, and was arrested and later fined.
After the 1980 bust in Japan, McCartney canceled all the group's scheduled dates and in May released McCartney II, his first solo album in a decade.
Wings recorded sporadically in 1980, putting finishing touches on a still-unreleased album of outtakes titled Cold Cuts, as well as holding two sets of rehearsals in July and October for an album which was to be produced by the Beatles' producer George Martin. To the group's dismay, when McCartney and Martin began the sessions that fall for the Tug Of War album, McCartney was recording as a solo act.
Wings were officially disbanded following co-founder Denny Laine's departure in April 1981. McCartney returned to Japan on his own in 1990, 1993, and 2002.
Photo Courtesy of PRPhotos.com
Your browser does not support script
Internet Explorer Users Click Here To See What's On-Air
Contest Rules
Contact Us
Copyright 2014. Eves Broadcasting Inc.
Site Designed and Maintained by MME
Music News
Search our Music Database
'Like' Us On Facebook
Local News
On-Air Now
Listen Live With Our App


text:
Just rename the distro Timelord already! :3
Phoronix: Kubuntu Could Be Open To External Sponsors
The Ubuntu Technical Board would not object if Kubuntu, the Ubuntu KDE derivative, were to be sponsored by some organization outside of Canonical...
Just rename the distro Timelord already! :3
It really is immaterial whether Kubuntu continues in the Canonical fold as far as the user is concerned. It is the superior quality of the UI that must be maintained, along with the extensive repositories of application software. Anything that does that would get my support. If Shuttleworth is on a campaign to further marginalize Canonical's products, well, so be it. Anyone want to buy a slightly used Ubuntu t-shirt?
I'm half amazed that Kubuntu had paid developers in the first place. Not to be harsh but I always found it to be one of my least favorite KDE distributions. I eventually settled with Arch Linux which has great KDE maintainers. I think the mountain of patches that Ubuntu/Kubuntu uses really makes the distribution suffer in the end.
It really does not make any sense for Kubuntu to maintain their own KDE packages. They should rather package the latest KDE software directly in Debian together with Debians packagers and treat them just like all other packages that are imported into Ubuntu every 6 months from Debian and then stabilized.
>Jonathan Riddell, the lead Kubuntu developer at Canonical, is set to be tasked with non-Kubuntu work following the Precise Pangolin release.
Im pretty sure that I read aseigo say on his blog that this was already the case BEFORE the release and that Jon was working on Bazaar for Canonical during this cycle for 12.04. So it should give us a good idea of what Kubuntu with more community work will look like this month..
And lets not forget he has a bad accident and was out of commission for a while as well.
However Kubuntu offered a very consistent, integrated and rather painless(*) upgradeable Desktop. This has been proven useful for me in corporate use, where a common software baseline helps focus on your real business. I don't think you want to have Gnome 2, Unity and Gnome 3 alltogether in your company, which kind of happens if you install Ubuntu out of the box. One could argue whether you want to manager "your own corporate distro", but that requires a lot of resources, which would be useful elsewhere.
That's why I personally would regret if Kubuntu would disappear altogether in favor of a bunch of installable packages.
(*) Certainly each KDE release introduced new hardware related issues with kwin on particular graphics hardware and major backend changes like Akonadi/PIM integration required changes in your software configuration. However the user experience didn't change too much and all issues faced were related to one underlying desktop environment (here: KDE) instead of multiple (Unity, Gnome).


text:
- Flat Rate Shipping. Any Size Order! -
- A Portion of Proceeds Benefit Miami Athletics -
HOME Miami Hurricanes Gear Miami Hurricanes T-Shirts Miami Hurricanes T-Shirts Ladies (261 items) Product ID: 862854
Main Content
Ladies, look hot and keep cool while supporting the Hurricanes! This Script Boy Beater tank top features a distressed screen printed team name on the chest and a slim fit. Just watch out when you sport this to the next Miami game. You may distract the Canes from the game while you're cheering on the sidelines!
- 100% Cotton fabric
- Distressed screen print graphics
- Imported
- Lightweight ribbed tank top
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Slim fit
- Tagless collar
Hurricanes Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we've seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author's […][Read More]
You are here: Home / Archives for nitty gritty details


text:
Filter By
Legal Docket
Challenged a provision of the PA Juvenile Act that barred Philadelphia adjudicated youth from returning to their regular public schools after they were discharged from residential delinquency placements.
Filed a civil rights suit against the detention center for violating the substantive due process rights of a 13-year-old boy with serious mental health problems by failing to protect him from harm while being detained at the center.
Challenged the presence of armed juvenile probation officers in school buildings.
Argued that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles convicted of homicide offenses are unconstitutional.
Motions were filed with the juvenile court seeking nunc pro tunc relief on behalf of youth who in York County had been adjudicated delinquent for sex offenses prior to December 2012 when the SORNA law went into effect. The motions for nunc pro tunc relief ask the court to reconsider their classification as juvenile sex offenders and remove their information from the sex offender registry.
These briefs involved a thirteen-year-old student who was questioned by four adults, including a uniformed police officer, on school grounds regarding a series of break-ins. Juvenile Law Center argued that the student should have been considered in custody for Miranda purposes.
1315 Walnut Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Sign up for our email list:
Stay informed about our recent work, policy changes, and upcoming events.
Follow us Facebook Twitter


text:
A Bride for a Ride is a 2009 TVB television comedy-drama from Hong Kong based on the traditional Pingtan story of the same name. Set during the prosperous Ming Dynasty of China, the drama revolves around the rich and influential Wong family and their comedic ties with Chow Man-ban, a young and handsome scholar who has a specialty in cross-dressing. To prove his worth to Wong Sau-ying, his ideal lover, he cross dresses as a beauty in a lantern festival so he can get closer to her. Sau-ying's older brother, Wong Lo-fu (Tiger Wong), sees Man-ban's beauty and kidnaps him home.
Click here to list more Chin Kar Lok's DVD titles


text:
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeTim G Apr 28, 2012 9:29 AM (in response to martyn singleton)
You can find data-only SIM cards here: http://www.embeddedworks.net/pcategory.php?mn=wsim
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeHarald Naumann Apr 30, 2012 5:45 AM (in response to martyn singleton)
Martyn, developers that are interested in can get 1 to 3 days trainings on Wireless M2M free of charge. 22 - 24th. of May in Dortmund and 25 - 27th. of Sep. in Berlin
Form for registration: http://www.box.com/s/lakuesy1po/1/247810095/1928331089/1
Please excuse the text in German. All lessons are in English.
Day 1: Positing: GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, WIFI, Bluetooth Smart and GSM cell locating
Day 2: Controlled by Smartphone: WIFI, ANT+, Bluetooth Smart, NFC,GPRS, HSPA
Day 3: Internet of Things
I expect to get free of charge test SIM cards for all participants.
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeEric Wood Feb 12, 2013 3:59 PM (in response to martyn singleton)
I am working on a project that requires GPRS DATA SIM cards. I would like competitive USA rates and possibly Canada. I would like the option for an sms plan as well. Can someone point me in the right direction?
Ideally, I would like an option on a 100mb/month data only card and a 5mb data plan with an sms rate.
Thank you.
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeMarissa Iovino Feb 13, 2013 5:59 PM (in response to Eric Wood)
Hi Eric,
I am head of GPRS/GSM accounts at Aeris Communications. If you are unfamiliar with Aeris,
we are an M2M cellular network provider for both global GSM and CDMA technologies, as well as LTE in the next few months. We've built out an entire network dedicated to only machines (no cellular handset traffic), and with that we have very unique capabilities and offerings unlike other major carriers and MVNOs across the globe.
We have competitive rates in the U.S. and Canada and will customize any rate plan to fit your unique business model.
If this is a conversation you would like to have, please shoot me an e-mail with your availability, and we can schedule a time to talk.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Kind Regards
Marissa Iovino
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeEugene Kim Feb 26, 2013 12:52 PM (in response to Eric Wood)
Hi Eric,
I can definitely help you with M2M in Canada. I work for WPCI, Bell's largest corporate activating dealer and Bell's oldest dealer. We have extensive experience in M2M applications. For pricing, we offer flex plans that start at $10/month and pooled plans that start at $8/month. Please send me a note and we can discuss - email@example.com
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & Europemark brothwood Feb 13, 2013 6:59 AM (in response to martyn singleton)
Hi Martyn,
I can help you with what you are looking for. I can supply a data only sim with sms capabilities, pool or aggregate the data as needed and give you ability to roam and network steer across all UK, European and US networks for the same price. All sims are manageable on line via our web portal to give complete control, flexibility and transparency for the sim estate.
My email address is firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like to drop me an email, I will be able to go into more detail about your M2M solution and costing etc.
Re: Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & EuropeRoxy Gutierrez Nov 20, 2013 2:29 PM (in response to mark brothwood)
Looking for DATA only sim cards in USA & MEX
- if they Roaming
- prepaid
- DATA only
- Standard size
- how much is the activation
- Have minimum recharge
- that has no due date for recharge
- provide the platform to take control of the sim card
- The sim card that we need is for GPS only
- We need the AP#
- email@example.com


text:
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Summary
Latest news
GTA: San Andreas Steam update corrupts saves, strips music and removes HD resolutions
Probably due to the recent re-release on Xbox 360, GTA: San Andreas has been updated on Steam. That should be good news. The only small problem is that it's removing a bunch of features and creating a whole load of new issues.
PCGamesN report that old saves have been overwritten and no longer work, 1080p and HD resolutions have been removed, and 17 songs have been stripped from the game's soundtrack.
Benzies: Rockstar has about "45 years worth of ideas" for Grand Theft Auto
Rockstar North president Leslie Benzies has said they've got almost half a century's worth of ideas left for more Grand Theft Auto, and yes, Rockstar have "got some ideas" for GTA VI rattling around.
Right now though it's all hands on deck for GTA Online, "plus we have some other things" like DLC and 'stuff' - "I don't know how to describe it exactly". It's called 'Bully 2' hopefully.
Rockstar create Spotify and iTunes playlists for GTA radio stations
Fancy a blast of nostalgia in the ears? Rockstar Games has gone ahead and "compiled the official set of playlists" for the Grand Theft Auto series, including Chinatown Wars. Some tracks are missing however.
Only music already available via the two services are included in the playlists, but Rockstar hope to "add the original songs" created for the games. Only want to listen to the commercials?
Rockstar muses on "one big world containing all" GTA cities
Producer Leslie Benzies of Rockstar Games dreams of a video game world where all their iconic spoof-heavy cities were happily connected to one another in a single Grand Theft Auto title.
It's an ambitious goal to be sure given the breadth of scope Rockstar pour into their GTA universes. In the context of this 'super GTA' - reimagining Vice City "would be very interesting."
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas now on PlayStation Network
Rockstar Games has finally brought perhaps the greatest ever instalment to the Grand Theft Auto series to the digital shores of the PlayStation Network. The PS2 classic will cost you £11.99 / €14.99.
The US PlayStation Network is already enjoying the Los Santos gang life. Rockstar has released an 'introduction' video for San Andreas, reminding us who's who in a 20 minute clip.


text:
Boss Xtreme BX 600
Boss Xtreme TwinDrag reels offer fisherman the ultimate in versatility.
Anglers will love their effortless, precision casting capabilities with
exclusive AccuCast and once hooked up, the ease in which they can control the
fight with a responsive lever drag. Those anglers looking to move fish
quickly can crank down hard on the TwinDrag to battle the largest game fish with
heavy, braided lines. The exclusive TwinDrag system also supplies
ultra-smooth drag operation, which results in fewer broken lines and less pulled


text:
Don't let high gas prices siphon extra dollars from your wallet this summer. Before you pay at the pump, check out the best gas prices in your area at www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/states/index.shtml
Accelerate Your Savings
After you fill up, follow these no-cost tips to save gas – and money:
- Check your owner's manual to determine the right octane level for your car and do not exceed it. The higher the octane, the higher the gas price. (Note: All gas pumps must post the octane rating on them under the FTC's Fuel Rating Rule.)
- When traveling this summer, avoid packing items on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by 5%.
- Take life in the 'slow lane.' Although every vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly when you hit 60 mph. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.31 per gallon for gas.
- Use cruise control on the highway to help maintain a constant speed and reduce fuel consumption.
- If doing a road trip, inflate your tires on the higher end of the manufactures suggested psi. May be a little stiffer ride, less tread on the road leads to fuel savings for you.
- If you're thinking about buying a vehicle, check out the Green Vehicle Guide to help you choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient model to fit your needs. A vehicle that gets 30 MPG will cost you $903 less to fuel each year than one that gets 20 MPG (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.61). That's a savings over $4,500 over five years.1


text:
Tool Logic Survival and Rescue Firesteel Fire Starter
|Eligible for 25% Off A Single Item! (see promotion details)
|Eligible for Free Shipping, No Minimum! (see promotion details)
|Members of The League get 5% back when you spend $100! (see promotion details)
Product Details
The Tool Logic® Survival and Rescue Firesteel fire starter features a razor sharp blade and emergency signal whistle plus a premium magnesium alloy fire starter. The Swedish made FIRESTEEL combined with a special notch on the SL3 blade delivers an intense shower of sparks at over 2500 degrees. It will even spark when wet. It weighs just 2.7 oz and deserves a place in your backpack or emergency survival kit.
- Model Number: SL3
- 3-in stainless blade
- 1-hand operation
- Liner-type lock
- Water-tight cavity
- Emergency whistle
- Blackened stainless clip
- Lanyard hole
- Magnesium alloy firestarter
- Weight: 2.7 oz


text:
French Press
The concept of the French press was thought of in the 1840's but never made it to market until the early 1900's when Melior released a French press with an efficient filter which became so popular, that Bodum purchased the original design.
The simplicity of the French press confuses some people at first until they see it in use for the first time. See our video showing how-to-use a Bodum Chambord French Press here: Bodum Chambord Coffee Press. We carry an extensive selection of styles and sizes from the best French Press manufacturers including Bodum, Bonjour, Espro and Frieling.
1 - 17 of 17
1 - 17 of 17


text:
Hiking Boots & Shoes
Explore your surroundings in Women's Hiking & Walking Boots from Sportsman's Guide. We have top tier Hiking Boots brands including Merrell and Danner Hiking or Walking Shoes that are both stylish and durable. Browse our popular Camo Hiking Boots and Camo Hiking Shoes Below!
Grid List
Sort By:
1-1 of 1
- 1
Women's Reebok® Composite Toe Hiking BootsNon-Member $139.99 Buyer's Club Discount Applied at Checkout!
1-1 of 1
- 1
You won't be afraid to venture anywhere with Trail Shoes from Sportsman's Guide. Try more brands like Ad Tec and Reebok! So go ahead, get the hiking boots you need to rise above the toughest terrain and save BIG!


text:
This washer is no longer recommended, due to the lack of service and support. This washer from Fisher and Paykel is very efficient in terms of water use and electricity consumed, costing only about $21 annually in power, and using only 26 gallons per laundry load. The CEE (Consortium ForEnergy Efficiency) rates this washer as […][Read More]
You are here: Home / Archives for fisher and paykel


text:
Home/Archive/Documents/JFK Assassination Documents/JFK Documents - Central Intelligence Agency/HSCA Segregated CIA Collection (microfilm)/HSCA Segregated CIA Collection (microfilm - reel 4: Cherne - Conte)/
Reel 4 of a microfilmed set of CIA documents to which the House Select Committee on Assassinations had access.
Subjects: Leo Cherne, Rogelio Cisneros Diaz, Harold Citrynell, Luis Ernesto Conte Aguero.
© Mary Ferrell Foundation. All Rights Reserved. |Press Room |Our Policies||Site Map


text:
GEVALIA Skinny Cappuccino
Don't let your love of a tasty treat get in the way of a healthy lifestyle! With 40% fewer calories than regular Gevalia Cappuccino, Gevalia Skinny Cappuccino offers a sensible taste sensation with the touch of a button. The melodious fusion of bold espresso and frothy non-fat milk creamer delivers supreme satisfaction.
- This package includes 8 Fat-Free Milk Creamer T DISCS and 8 Gevalia Espresso T DISCS; you use one of each for every cappuccino
- 40% fewer calories than regular Gevalia Cappuccino
- These T DISCS brew together to make an 11 fl oz mug of lower-calorie cappuccino
How to Make It
- Place your favorite (11 fl oz) mug on the cup stand.
- Shake the Fat-Free Milk Creamer T DISC and insert it into the brewer. When the green Auto light comes on, press the button.
- After a moment of brewing, the orange Stand-by light will display. Replace the Creamer T DISC with the Espresso T DISC. When the green Auto light comes on, press the button again.
- The espresso will brew through the foam, then you can enjoy a delicious mug of this cappuccino with ease.


text:
Skip to main content
Choose a State Calendar or the All States Combined Calendar
MONDAY, May 6, 11 a.m.
Larry R. Jackson Library
1700 N. Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL
RSVP by 5/3 toJoy Morgan, 863-646-4937
Cindy Scialabba, 352-668-4007 or
Lunch provided by CVS Caremark.
(No meeting in June or July.)
The information provided on the PHA website is provided for general information only. It is not intended as legal, medical or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with qualified professionals who are familiar with your individual needs.
801 Roeder Road, Ste. 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Patient-to-Patient Support Line: firstname.lastname@example.com Privacy Policy Provide Feedback & Report Bugs
Designed by Matrix Group International, Inc.® | © 2015 Pulmonary Hypertension Association. All Rights Reserved.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) awarded PHA the Abbey S. Meyers Leadership Award in 2012 for outstanding service to PHA members in advocacy, education and other key areas.


text:
Experience Michiana: February 4th, 2013
Having trouble with this video? Let us know.
About This Episode
Episode #331
On tonight's show, we're talking to Maestro Tsung Yeh and Mayor Pete Buttigieg about "A Valentine from Gershwin." Then the Downton Abbey theme is coming to Ruthmere Mansion and much more.
- Original Airdate:
- February 4, 2013
Also In This Episode
- Live Music Calendar


text:
This is a scenic and educationally packed trip as history comes alive in locations throughout this tour. Your trip begins and ends in the capital of the United States, Washington DC. There's plenty of sightseeing to be done in Washington DC, and your sightseeing tour covers the highlights. In Colonial Williamsburg, see history recreated as costumed villagers add charm and authenticity to the quaint streets. Also visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home; Mount Vernon, the home of George and Martha Washington; Sinking Spring Farm, where Lincoln was born; Harper's Ferry, where John Brown made his raid on the U.S. arsenal; and Gettysburg Battlefield, where Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address. This special departure is highlighted by a visit to the Ford Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot, and a dramatic reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg, complete with soldiers, cavalry and cannon fire.This vacation also includes beautiful scenery. Enjoy vistas of the Shenandoah Valley from the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and stop at the Luray Caves. At the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains sits the popular mountain retreat of Gatlinburg, where you'll spend two nights. In Kentucky, the scenery changes to the green pastures, whiteboard fences, and columned estates of Kentucky Bluegrass Country. These are just a few of the many features you'll enjoy on this vacation. History and beauty—this trip has it all!
Sightseeing:In Washington DC, Alexandria and Lexington; orientation tour in Richmond, Arlington House, Mount Vernon Colonial Williamsburg, Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg re-enactment, Battlefield of Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Luray Caverns, Kentucky Horse Park, Sinking Spring Farm, Whiskey Distillery, Colonel Sanders, Museum of Appalachia, Biltmore Estate, Chimney Rock, Stonewall Jackson House, Lee Chapel & Museum, Museum of the Virginia Military Institute, and Monticello.
Scenic Highlights:Harpers Ferry National Park, Kentucky Bluegrass Country, Shenandoah National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Natural Bridge.
Local Guides for sightseeing in Washington DC and Gettysburg; services of a professional Tour Director.
Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.
Today begins with a visit to old town Alexandria, a quaint historic town on the Potomac River that boasts some of the finest historical architecture, galleries and shops. Alexandria's riverfront was an important port during the Colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War periods. During a GUIDED WALKING TOUR learn about the events leading to the union occupation of Alexandria and life in the city during the civil war. Next guided sightseeing shows you the graves of American heroes, including those of John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, in beautiful Arlington National Cemetery. Here, visit Arlington House, home of Robert E Lee the renowned confederate general. Afterwards, your guided tour of the capital continues with photo stops at Capitol Hill and the White House, with visits to the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials. View landmarks such as the Willard Hotel and enjoy a visit to Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Your evening is free for independent activities. This evening, join an optional evening outing featuring a delicious dinner followed by an illumination tour of Washington's famous memorials.
This morning, visit MOUNT VERNON, the beloved home of George and Martha Washington, overlooking the banks of the Potomac River. Time to explore the most popular historic estate in America. Then head to Williamsburg, between the James and York Rivers, where the very earliest European settlers established their first colonies.
Today is dedicated to COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, where American heritage is proudly preserved in the reconstructed buildings and historical displays. Take a stroll down quaint streets and browse through homes, gardens, taverns, shops, and exhibits. In the Hall of Burgesses, listen as costumed interpreters debate the controversial steps that led to the Declaration of Independence. (CB)
Head to the site of the Battle of Gettysburg where your visit will coincide with the annual GETTYSBURG RE-ENACTMENT, one of the largest and finest of its kind where you will learn why this was the decisive campaign of the civil war. Enjoy a number of living history events with people dressed in clothes and uniforms of the era and you will experience the cannon fire, cavalry charges and infantry battles of the Union and Confederate armies as you watch the two forces re-enact the events of July 1863. (CB)
This morning begins with a stop at the BATTLEFIED OF ANTIETAM for a guided tour which highlights the events of the bloodiest battle during the Civil War with over 23,000 casualties in a single day. Afterwards, head for HARPERS FERRY, where in 1859 John Brown made his ill-fated raid on the U.S. Arsenal. En route to Shenandoah, stop at LURAY CAVERNS for a guided tour, then up to the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains for magnificent vistas of the Shenandoah Valley (CB)
Through lumber and limestone country into wonderfully wild West Virginia. After a lunch break in Lewisburg, a Civil War battlefield, travel to Fayetteville and stop at New River Gorge Bridge, the world's third-longest steel-span bridge, rising 876 feet above the river. Then, on to Beckley, the heart of West Virginia's "smokeless" coal industry, for an overnight stay.
Before entering Kentucky we stop in the state capital of Charleston, West Virginia, the one-time home of Daniel Boone. As you cross the state border, the scenery changes to green pastures, white-board fences, and the columned estates of Kentucky bluegrass country—backdrop for the movie Seabiscuit. Arrive in Lexington, the "Heart of the Bluegrass." This afternoon, enjoy a fascinating visit to the KENTUCKY HORSE PARK, from where legends like Man o' War and Secretariat conquered the racing world. The visit includes the International Museum of the Horse; the Hall of Champions, where famous horses from the past enjoy their retirement; the Parade of Breeds; and many other exhibits and demonstrations (CB)
Travel on Bluegrass Parkway and stop at SINKING SPRING FARM, where Abraham Lincoln was born. A replica of the original log cabin is preserved as a shrine to the best-loved of American presidents. Visit a true working WHISKEY DISTILLERY, and learn about the production of the very finest Kentucky Straight Bourbon, for which Kentucky is famous. Overnight in Bardstown, Kentucky's second-oldest city and "Bourbon Capital of the World." Evening is at leisure.
This morning's journey takes you along Kentucky's scenic backroads to Bardstown to visit the CIVIL WAR MUSEUM with its story of the Civil War and one of the largest collections of rare Civil War memorabilia in the country. After lunch, on to Corbin for a short visit to COLONEL SANDERS' original fried chicken restaurant, which is now a museum. This afternoon, visit the fascinating MUSEUM OF APPALACHIA, with 65 acres of farmland and a number of historic cabins, barns, and other buildings—even a frontier privy! The next two nights are in Gatlinburg at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains. (CB)
As one of America's most popular mountain retreats, Gatlinburg offers something for everyone. You might want to spend a day at world-famous Dollywood, an 88-acre landscaped theme park inspired by Dolly Parton and her love for the mountains, family, and country music. Tonight's optional outing features the Dixie Stampede dinner show, an action-packed evening filled with friendly North and South competition, thrilling horse-riding stunts, spectacular special effects, and phenomenal musical productions. (CB)
Drive right through the center of the Smokies along the spectacular Newfound Gap Road, peaking at 5,046 feet. Into North Carolina and a stop at the 7,500-acre grounds of BILTMORE ESTATE, built by George Vanderbilt, grandson of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. Then, on to dramatic CHIMNEY ROCK. Take an elevator carved through solid rock up to the granite monolith for views over Hickory Nut Gorge. Overnight in the Asheville area, hometown of American author Thomas Wolfe.
Blue Ridge Parkway runs from the Great Smokies to Shenandoah National Park without a single traffic light along its 470-mile route. Take in a portion of the parkway today, from Fancy Gap to Roanoke. Stop at the tranquil setting of Mabry Mill, one of the most photographed spots in the country. Next up: a visit to Natural Bridge, a 215-foot-high arch in a wooded setting, once owned by Thomas Jefferson. George Washington's initials are still visible on the cliffside, from his work here as a young surveyor. (CB)
The day begins with a guided tour of the Stonewall Jackson House that lets you experience the pre-war life of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and introduces you to the man who became a legend. Visit Lee Chapel & Museum, preserved as Robert E. Lee left it for the last time on September 28, 1870. Also visit the MUSEUM OF THE VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE and discover its Civil War past. This afternoon's highlight is the graceful home of the third U.S. president, Thomas Jefferson. The MONTICELLO ESTATE reflects Jefferson's skills as an artist, architect, and designer. It is the only house in the U.S. that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List of international treasures. We follow with a short sightseeing tour of Richmond, capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The final leg of your journey takes you back to Washington DC. (CB)
The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Dulles or Reagan International Airports are included. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Washington DC further with a variety of exciting optional activities.
Transportation:Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring.
7 continental breakfasts
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on the Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains with Civil War Anniversary:


text:
1-800-369-4669 | Live Chat | Contact Us
Save up to 20% OFF entire order*
Promotional activewear makes your brand part of everyday life. Staples Promotional Products has the sports apparel, running and exercise clothes your company needs for wellness promotions, race events, lifestyle marketing and more.
Deals! Get them now
Get email updates on the latest exclusive
offers and events!
Get started
Join us on
Canada Customers | Visit Staples.com | Visit EWay.com | Visit Order.StaplesAdvantage.com | Staples RewardsTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
| Site Map | © 2015 Staples, Inc. All Rights Reserved.