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Step into the magical time machine that is ... A Vintage Christmas
Thursday, November 22, 2012
It's been called "a magical time machine," reaching to whatever place hearts hold memories close and secure.
Then the City of Portsmouth's free Vintage Christmas Trolley was incorporated, and the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce incorporated the Holiday Doors contest. "The hotels offered packages, the retailers sponsored carolers and this year Seacoast Local is an official community supporter reinforcing the whole idea that Vintage Christmas makes Portsmouth 'the Christmas capital of North America' because it is an authentic community effort," she says.
"By saying we're the Christmas capital of North America, Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth proclaims that residents and visitors will enjoy an authentic holiday experience that comes from all of our hearts. If we offer the best celebration, world class shows, a classic candlelit Stroll in a historic neighborhood, tax-free holiday shopping, free transportation around town and the warmest hospitality from hotels to restaurants to shops to the people you meet on the streets of Portsmouth, all of us should benefit by having full houses throughout the month of December."
A writer for Yankee magazine, in the November/December 2012 cover story, proclaims, "If another city does a better job of celebrating Christmas, I have yet to find it."
The holiday decorations, vignettes and role-players at Strawbery Banke Museum's Candlelight Stroll are designed to carry visitors into holiday lives from the past 300 years in the Portsmouth waterfront neighborhood of "Puddle Dock."
The 10-acre museum and its 37 historic buildings and role players recreate "'A Winter's Eve on Puddle Dock" by welcoming visitors into the 1919 Russian Jewish kitchen of Mrs. Shapiro as she prepares the Hanukkah celebration, the parlor of the Victorian mansion of NH Governor Goodwin and a 19th century tinsmith and hearth cook in the Wheelwright House. Colonial soldiers warm themselves around the bonfire. The wagon drawn by a winter-furry farm horse, Doc, makes the rounds along the dirt lanes lined with the flickering wood-and-glass candle lanterns that are the signature of Candlelight Stroll.
Each year, says Lawrence J. Yerdon, Strawbery Banke Museum President and CEO, "we make Candlelight Stroll different, while keeping all the cherished traditions our visitors anticipate experiencing alive," says Lawrence J. Yerdon, Strawbery Banke Museum President and CEO. "This year's 'Winter's Eve on Puddle Dock' theme is portrayed in different eras of our 300-plus year history in this Portsmouth waterfront neighborhood through its seasonal sights, sounds and aromas," he adds.
It's said that the pace, the beauty, even the candlelight slows the holiday rush down to a pace that people really appreciate and love to share — over and over. One visitor commented, "It's the kind of place you wish were your child's first experience with Christmas lights because it's so calm and peaceful and child-friendly. You walk along the candle-lit paths and then you step into one of the decorated houses and it's like opening a present."
Vintage Christmas is no less than a classic New England holiday, says Seacord. "Everything is authentically Portsmouth, even the 'Nutcracker' at The Music Hall is the locally-produced '1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker,' "she says.
Candlelight Stroll is created with real candle lanterns, fresh greens and natural materials handmade at Strawbery Banke Museum, and the houses and role players tell the story of holidays in this Portsmouth neighborhood through more than 300 years. Local school children sing carols in the square.
" 'Vintage Christmas' is a great experience whether you come just for a stroll or a show, grabbing a bite to eat before or after, exploring a walkable city — whether in the winter sun or checking out live music after dark," says Lynch.
With music and more, the Music Hall offers holiday shows to suit every taste. It all translates to "good fun!" says Kathleen Soldati, director of marketing at The Music Hall. The hall will be festively decorated with wreaths and holiday lights.
"We have a deep curatorial bench. Our curators work hard to 'bring the world to Portsmouth,' "says Soldati. "We have had Natalie MacMaster here in the past and she is always a holiday favorite. 'Merry Funny New England Christmas 2012' has been here twice before and always has a great reception."
"Merry Funny New England Christmas," 8 p.m. Dec. 21, is a contemporary classic holiday show and this year, "Comedy Central" comedian Juston McKinney, a Granite State resident, and the Gaudy Baubles will be featuring new comics, new material and new music.
Acclaimed fiddler Natalie MacMaster returns for performances at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec 2 of "Christmas in Cape Breton."
"This place (the Music Hall) is like an extension of my living room; inviting and musical. And the roar of the crowd is wondrous," MacMaster recalls.
Cape Breton is known for its traditional fiddle music, brought to the island by Scottish immigrants, and has been well preserved by artists such as MacMaster and her father, legendary Cape Breton fiddler Buddy MacMaster.
Her show highlights include world-class step dancing and her energetic fiddle delivering Celtic melodies and Christmas carols. She will be joined in both shows by Oyster River 5th and 6th graders, directed by Beth Struthers.
Kent Stephens' Stage Force also is back at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 to the Loft with "Ragpickers Dream," a holiday celebration of stories, laughter, poetry and song, with new material and old favorites from a wide variety of classic and contemporary sources.
Members of the Great Bay Academy of Dance, the Seacoast's noncompetition dance education center for dancers of all ages, keep the focus local in "An 1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker" Dec. 14-16 at the Music Hall.
The audience once again gets to star in "Messiah Sing!" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Music Hall. New this year is 6:30 p.m. rehearsal for ticketholders.
Soldati promises the "Vintage Christmas Kick Off" at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at The Loft, featuring the Mara Flynn Trio with Kent Allyn and Ben Baldwin, will be "a great coming together of everyone involved in the monthlong celebration."
So as not to be overwhelmed by all the month has to offer, Lynch offers this tip:
"Go on the Web site for a complete list of events, trolley schedule, etc., and make a plan for celebrating the holidays," she suggests. "The Web site also includes links to hotels and restaurants. When you arrive in town, park the car and hop on the free trolley and take the full 20-minute route to get an overview of the city — making a note where you want to return to."
The fun is about to begin!
(For complete details, log on to: www.vintagechristmasnh.org )


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Swanstone Bathroom Vanities
Factory-certified Swanstone fabricators whose works are represented by Westside Wholesale, have years of experience in design, fabrication and installation of countertop surfaces. Create an estimate one starting with your measurements or schematics and basic selections. And let us work with you in choosing final patterns, styles and features like with Swanstone, the world's best known leader in manufacturing plumbing.
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Every person is unique when it comes to his or her designing taste and understanding of beauty. That is why the contemporary sanitaryware industry offers a wide variety of styles and designs of bathroom vanities. Whatever tastes a customer may have like classical, traditional, contemporary or something in-between, a correctly chosen bathroom vanity is sure to become a central focal point in any bathroom environment. It offers both variety of styles and rich functionality. A wide range of professional designs, materials, additional features and combinations will definitely find the right path to the heart of any potential customer matching his or her unique personality, style and taste.
Before making a purchase of a new bathroom vanity it is necessary to give answers to the following core question. This will help to clear up the overall situation and make up one's mind according to the key required characteristics.
- What material can be suitable for your bathroom interior?
- What is the size of your bathroom and how much space can you devote to the new vanity unit?
- What should be the height of the future vanity top?
- What style and design are preferable for you? Would you like to have a frame or frameless version?
- Who will mainly use the new bathroom vanity?
After all of the questions have been answered, it's time to decide upon the style trend. When choosing the right design or style it is necessary to remember that it should reflect your inner world and deep personality. A wise way to create a quiet atmosphere in the bathroom is to combine several styles, materials, accessories and so on.
Traditional Style is characterized by decorative trim-work and classical features. The cornerstones of its representation can serve furniture-style cabinets with subdued color and ornate molding implementations. This is a special mood that would hardly ever go out of style. All the details used in the traditional style provide a pure harmony of sophistication and tranquility balance. The cabinet finishes and textures are smoothly processed and the metal accessories are polished and classically shaped.
Contemporary or Euro-Asian Style is characterized by smooth, sleek, and symmetrical arrangements. It features a minimalistic nature completed with clean unbroken lines, plane décor, and unique curves and angles.
Casual Style has a relaxed simple nature, free from complicated heavy lines and intricate designs. It provides more functional than decorative features. Colors are used in soft pastels and natural shades tones. Metal details and cabinets itself are performed in a slightly aged and worn appearance.
Eclectic Style features a gentle and smart mixture of different styles, designs, and looks. Such tendency provides this style with a unique charm and personality.
Whatever style you choose, a bathroom equipped with a modern vanity will look gorgeous and offer improved functional possibilities.

subset: commoncrawl


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Daisy Dot Rug, Royal Navy/Yellow
No longer available
Tiptoe through the daisies every day with our petal-perfect rug.
3' wide x 5' long (36" wide x 60" long)
5' wide x 8' long (60" wide x 96" long)
8' wide x 10' long (96" wide x 120" long)
Hand tufted of 100% wool.
Backing is made of recycled canvas with odorless synthetic latex.
Use with our Rug Pad (sold separately).


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Safe Workplace
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|This way of making taco salad seems perfect to me!
(Next up for our Month of Daily Phase One recipes is my favorite way of making taco salad, first posted in 2008. This salad is something I always make for myself when I'm doing Phase One, and little containers of this taco meat and black bean mixture are something I always have in my freezer. You'll need to use lean ground beef and low-fat cheese to make this diet friendly. I also make my own Ranch Dressing with light mayo, which allows me to eat this more often!)
Do you love trying new foods, or do you have old favorites that you eat over and over again? If your answer was "Both," maybe you're suited for the life of a food blogger! If you're writing a food blog about recipes, you need to keep coming up with something new to try frequently (for the blog, that's what we tell ourselves.) On the other hand, even the most adventurous food blogging cook probably has things they make regularly.
Kalyn's Taco Salad
(Makes enough meat/bean mixture for 4-5 salads. I recommend doubling the amount of meat/beans and freezing it so you can have taco salads in your future!)
Ingredients for meat/bean mixture:
1 lb. low fat ground beef (less than 10% fat)
1/2 tsp. Spike Seasoning
1 tsp. olive oil (to saute ground beef, use more or less oil depending on your pan)
1 can black beans (can use kidney beans or small red beans)
1 T chile powder (New Mexico chile powder preferred, this is a very mild ground red chile powder)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. ground Chipotle chile peppers (or use any other type of hot chile powder or chili sauce)
(You can also substitute 2 T Kalyn's Taco Seasoning for the spices used here.)
2 cups water
Ingredients for each salad (this makes a large, whole meal salad):
3 cups romaine lettuce, torn, washed, and spun dry
3 T ranch dressing (I make the dressing from Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix that's combined with buttermilk and light mayo)
3/4 cup meat/bean mixture (or more)
1 cup diced tomatoes or cherry tomatoes (if using large tomatoes, drain them in a colander after chopping)
1/4 cup grated cheese (I use low-fat four cheese Mexican blend)
South Beach Diet Suggestions:
All the ingredients here are low on the glycemic index, so this could be eaten for any phase of the diet. However, if you're a South Beach dieter, it's pretty important to use low-fat ground beef, low-fat cheese, and a dressing without too much fat in this salad, because the combined fat in the meat, cheese, and mayonnaise might make this a "once in a while treat" for South Beach. I wouldn't try to reduce the fat by using fat-free salad dressing or mayonnaise, because I don't want the added sugar that fat-free products have, but I do use light mayo in the dressing.
More Taco-ish Salads to Try:
(Recipes from other blogs may not always be South Beach Diet friendly, check ingredients.)
Southwest Chicken Salad
Cilantro-Lover's Leftover Chicken Salad
Turkey Taco Salad from City Mama
Catalina Taco Salad from Ramblings from a Gypsy Soul
Creamy Cojita Cilantro Dressing for Taco Salad from The Feast Within
Breakfast Taco Salad from Foodaphilia
Healthier Taco Salad from Two Fat Als
Taco Salad from Culinary in the Country
Simple Taco Salad from Greens and Grains
I find these recipes from other blogs using Food Blog Search.


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My name is Chris and I am from Calgary Alberta in Canada. I am working towards a degree in Actuarial Sciences from the University of Calgary, and I am employed part time at Petland where I help take care of the animals and sell pet supplies.
I have had an interest in Buddhism since I was a teenager, but I haven't been practicing very much until just recently. I have spent the last couple of years of my life in turbulent and unsatisfying relationships and have been struggling with my school. I hope to find the answers to some of my questions here so I can become a better meditator and improve relationships with my friends and family.


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(4 reviews)
In Stock
Ships within 2 - 3 Business Days
To Order by Phone Call 1-866-316-4814
2011 -
Emmy Award
(based on 4 reviews)
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 4 customers
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By McBeirne
from Howell, NJ
Comments about this product:
It is visually beautiful and the poems are lovely. Great for my family but would also be perfect in a classroom.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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The Children bring carry creative hope
By Moon Man
from Florida
About Me Avid Moviegoer
Great teaching voices for children and adults. A reminder that children have the magic and the voice and it needs to be revealed and tapped and held dear.Children will be able to tap that creative self if they are helped and allowed a voice, a dong and a dance early on.
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Exquisite Portrait of Poetry Enthusiasm
By Quicksilver
from Hudson, NY
About Me Movie Buff
After showing my 3 and 1 year old grandchildren, I'm going to film my granddaughter reciting the 3 poems she created so far.She'll learn close-ups, editing, and music accompaniment.A script might be introduced too.
(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)
By ArtistWithin
from San Jose, CA
About Me Casual Viewer
This is the most charming introduction to poetry for children and adults. The wide variety of poems and readers is entertaining. The definitions of poetry are more insightful than most graduate courses.
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text: Time to bust out those pearly whites for National Smile Week! Nothing makes us smile more than redefining the way our customers experience ice cream. netdoctor has an article called Benefits of Smiling that explains some of the ways wearing a grin makes you a healthier person. Here's a few we liked: Laughter and smiling reduces stress and releases endorphins. Stress has been linked to many health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Laughter burns … Continue reading


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Shorts and Skirts
CategoriesActive Shorts
Hiking Shorts
Running Skirts
Hiking Skirts
Outdoor Research
The North Face
Sierra Designs
Mountain Hardwear
Priceless than $25
$25 - $49.99
$50 - $99.99
$100 and above
Recent Short/Skirt Reviews
Marmot Hayes Cargo Short
Decent hot weather hiking shorts. Wouldn't recommend them unless deeply discounted. The 34" waist was too small so I returned them for the 36" which I kept, but they are inconveniently too big. GREEN Olive. Full review
Kuhl Z Cargo Short
Pricey but very well made hiking shorts with thoughtfully designed pockets and waist size adjustment feature. You can tell the designers really did sweat the minor details of these shorts, thus the higher price. Wish list: Shorten the inseam and use a slightly heavier cloth so the fiddly inner sash button can be eliminated; add a couple more belt loops to the waist or perhaps make provisions for suspender buttons. I like both, the hanging hook loop sewn in next to the back belt loop and the alpine… Full review
RailRiders Jammin' Short
Best pair of shorts I have ever owned. Still wear two pairs that are 10+ years old and have hiked 500+ miles. These are the best all-purpose shorts I have ever owned. I rarely wear anything else. They are lightweight, comfortable, and extremely rugged. I have spent months at a time hiking/bushwhacking in just a single pair and the only hole they have is from a stray ember during a summer bonfire. The elastic waist makes them comfortable and they fit nicely on a variety of waist sizes. They dry super… Full review
Mountain Hardwear Elkommando Kilt
This is a great product for summer hiking and unrestricted movement. I wore this on the AT this weekend and loved it. However, you do get a few looks and some comments. Do not worry and come up with some snappy comebacks. As for the fit, I ordered a large and my waist is a 35-36 and it fit just right. However, if I gain any more weight they will be really tight. It has an adjustable belt but there is not much adjustment in the waist. It appears waterproof/resistant but I have not worn it in the… Full review
Sierra Designs Dricanvas Short
These shorts have the pockets you need and the fit you want if you are serious about hiking and backpacking. They look nice, feel great, and are clearly designed with the backpacker in mind!! These shorts fit really well. They allow for a full athletic range of motion. When wearing a pack there is no abrasion or rubbing of any kind. I prefer a bottom layer to have belt loops instead of the integrated belts. I find the built in belts always get tangled and rarely remain tight. Adding my own webbing… Full review
Columbia Whidbey II Water Short
The Columbia Whidbey II shorts are a fantastic pair of shorts that are quite versatile. Whether you are hiking, swimming, or playing a sport, these shorts will keep you going and keep you cool! I bought these shorts this past spring and have worn them A LOT this spring and summer! These shorts are a well-fitting and relaxed pair of shorts with an elastic waist and built-in belt. You can keep them comfortably fitting or cinch them down if the trail gets rugged or you need to dive into a swimming… Full review
Gramicci Men's Original G Short
It is soft and good quality material. True to size. It is soft and good quality material. True to size. Full review
Purple Rain Activewear Hiking Skirt
Love my skirt! The pockets allow for hands-free, purse-free activities. Super comfortable, wears well (can take a beating) and washes up great. As far as active skirts go, I haven't found anything that works this well (and looks this cute!). Full review
Purple Rain Activewear Hiking Skirt
I love this skirt! The material is lightweight and comfortable. I wear it backpacking and on my rafting trips as it dries very quickly. It falls at a great height right above the knee. I would recommend this product to anyone that needs a skirt for outdoorsy applications. Full review
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Rolling Stones, Dylan, More On Soundtrack Of 'Not Fade Away'
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tracks from the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan lead the soundtrack of Not Fade Away, an upcoming film set in the 1960s about a young rock band from New Jersey trying to make it big. The movie is written and directed by David Chase, best known for creating the now-classic HBO series The Sopranos. The soundtrack has been compiled by the film's executive music producer, Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, who also performs several songs on the soundtrack with fellow E Streeters Max Weinberg and Gary Tallent under the name The Twylight Zones.
Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante for Chase on The Sopranos, said in a statement, "Helping David realize his vision was one of the most satisfying projects of my life. Watching these young actors meet every challenge we threw at them was also quite inspiring."
Two of the film's young stars, John Magaro and Jack Huston, performed the fictional band's songs themselves in the movie and on the soundtrack.
Other artists featured on the soundtrack include Bo Diddley, the Sex Pistols, James Brown, the Rascals, Van Morrison, Robert Johnson, Elmore James and more.
The soundtrack will be released digitally via iTunes and all other online stores on December 18th, with the movie arriving in theaters on December 21st.
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Hunting and more, there are groups to help
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Our Page 1 story of 12-year old Teagan House highlights an organization called Hunt of a Lifetime. They offer hunting and fishing opportunities to kids up to 21 years old who suffer from a life threatening illness. Teagan has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and his muscles are deteriorating. Hunt of a Lifetime and its network of volunteers supplied everything for Teagan to become a hunter, even if just for a weekend.


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MALIBU COUNTRY - "Shell Games" - Reba is thrilled when Geoffrey gets Mr. Bata to agree to have one of her songs recorded, but is insulted when he wants a rapper (Travie McCoy) to record it in her place; Lillie Mae discovers that she has a secret admirer; and Cash tries to tone down his southern accent in order to fit in with his school peers, on "Malibu Country," FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16 (8:31-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/NICOLE WILDER) REBA, JAI RODRIGUEZ
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Illinois Wedding Venues with Pool Views: Click the wedding venues listed below for detailed information and photos. And find even more Chicago and other Illinois wedding venues by region, guest count, catering options and other criteria.
|Special Offer
|Real Wedding
|Wandering Tree Estate
|North Barrington
|Loyola at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens
|Vernon Hills


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I know there is lots of info here on spots on that route. But I am finding it hard to make up my mind where I want to go and what to see, so I am hoping some of you avid campers can give me some tips on your favourites.
My sister is coming down from Europe with her two teenage kids for the month of July. And my 7yo daughter and I will be joining them for a 3 week adventure in a rented motorhome. The idea is to drive up to South QLD at a leisurely pace and then drive back down in 2 days (though we may fly down a bit earlier).
So far we have on our to see list the Gold Coast theme parks - a must when you live down South! I would like to have a look around Byron Bay and that area and my daughter loves snorkeling and marine life. And unfortunately that is as far as I got!!! My sister says her teenagers will just be happy to soak up the exotic environment and experience the bush and the wildlife. So National Park camping will be a must. I know it will be busy that time of year so will probably want to avoid the most popular places. I don't think the motorhome is 4WD though. We are not planning on booking now either, so that would exclude us from the popular parks anyway. We will call ahead a couple of days in advance to check availability and book.
My daughter and I love the coast, but we'd be happy to venture a bit inland too and find some nice rivers, creeks or lakes. I love being near water...


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Thompson Aquatic Center plan back before council this week
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
DOVER — The proposed Jenny Thompson Aquatic Center will once again be discussed at this week's City Council meeting.
The proposed plan details a 50-meter, 8-lane pool and a smaller teaching pool located at Maglaras Park. The facility will hold a number of classes, including diving, scuba, water polo, kayaking and synchronized swimming sessions. They are also looking to hold senior fitness, rehabilitation swimming and programs for the youth and those with special needs, along with traditional swimming lessons.
The resolution on Wednesday's City Council agenda does not commit City Manager Michael Joyal to anything, according to Trefethen. "The Manager would have to come back to the Council for any final agreements or contracts."


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Michael Jackson tribute in Rochester Nov. 10
Saturday, November 3, 2012
ROCHESTER — Experience the essence of Michael Jackson when the Rochester Opera House presents King Michael: A Glorious Tribute to the King of Pop on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. (doors 7 p.m.). Celebrate the life of the greatest entertainer of all time in this multi-media spectacular, featuring artists approved by the King himself. Feel the electrifying power of Michael Jackson's most thrilling hits: Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller.


text: Info Search results 2 items matching your search terms. Filter the results. Item type Select All/None Collection Page Event File Folder Form Folder Image Link News Item Templated Document Collection (old-style) Person New items since Yesterday Last week Last month Ever Sort by relevance · date (newest first) · alphabetically Acute Hepatitis A evades immune system more effectively than chronic cousin Finding points new direction for study of chronic Hepatitis C Located in News / 2011 News Hepatitis C virus hijacks liver microRNA Mechanism explains how virus survives in the liver and how a new antiviral works Located in News / 2012 News


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Disney Princess Magical Sounds Potty System
by Disney | Item #: 260164 | Model #: Y9401 | (1) |
We're sorry, this item is not available in your selected Club. Check another Club
The Disney Princess Magical Sounds Potty System™ makes toilet training easier and less intimidating for your toddler. The fun Princess design and magical sounds encourage your toddler to use the potty as her first toilet. The potty seat has a soft cushion for your child's comfort. This product also becomes a trainer seat for your family toilet, and the sturdy base converts to a handy step stool.
- Lift-out pot for easy emptying and cleaning
- 2 AA batteries included
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
7.5"H x 12.5"W x 12.75"D
Component Country
USA And Imported
Ask & Answer
Warranty InformationThis product is covered by the Sam's Club Member Satisfaction Guarantee.
There is no additional information available for this item.


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Santa's Christmas Chest Giveaway 2013
Kahikina Food Basket Feed-A-Thon 2014
Zip Isle Adventures Valentines
Astroday 2014 Gallery
Imiloa Astronomy Family Fun Day
DC 6am to 10am
DC's show notes
Brad 10am - 3pm
Lyman Medeiros 3pm to 7pm
Gavin Todd 7pm - Midnight
Ford Ironman broadcast
Our sister station KWXX is the official radio station of the Ford Ironman World Championship. Like the KWXX Ho'olauele'a we get to help. DC & Captain Dave & Brad Freeman were glad to go along and help out with reports. Here are some pics taken inbetween the broadcasting chaos! Saturday October 8th, 2011
Headed for Kona!
Photo 1 of 23
DC, Captain Dave & G Cruz bound for Kona for the Ford Ironman. Already having too much fun. Careful G. Your face will get stuck like that!
Headed for Kona!
Scorched Saddle Road
Friday afternoon
We got our credentials
Kona Sunset Magic Sands
Kona sunset
Captain Dave & G Cruz
Outrigger lobby on Saturday morning
Set up time
Kathy Leonard & Brad Freeman
Setting up
Broadcast table reserved
Race about to start
Ready to go!
Last of the swim finishers
DC & Captain Dave
Bikers heading out
Finish line madness
Boss man with the photographers
DC & Brad Freeman at Splashers
Finish line panorama
DC, Chris Leonard & Captain Dave


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Style 11694
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Phoebe Strole, one of the stars of David Hwang's Kung Fu, explains how the play forces audiences to see Bruce Lee as a human being and not just a martial artist.
At a press event for the new Broadway musical Doctor Zhivago, stars Lora Lee Gayer and Kelli Barrett sing a duet from the show.February 24, 2015
Scenes from the Broadway production of "The Lion King"January 21, 2010
Join Berry Gordy, the cast and more for a sneak peek of Motown the Musical.February 10, 2014
New York Spring Spectacular creators Warren Carlyle, Diane Paulus and Randy Weiner are heating up Radio City Music Hall beginning March 12! See them talk about bringing their love letter to New York City to the stage.December 10, 2014
Dylan H. Thompson chats about the pros and cons of wearing his birthday suit onstage in the all-nude off-Broadway musical comedy Naked Boys Singing.August 29, 2013
School of Rock is looking for pint-sized rockers! Broadway.com headed to an open call at the Winter Garden Theatre to chat with the Broadway hopefuls and see them show off their skills for casting directors.January 28, 2015
On this week's super-duper-exciting episode of The Broadway.com Show, we pay tribute to a dazzling Star of the Week, get Frozen 2 and Beauty and the Beast movie updates and tons more.March 18, 2015
Bryce Pinkham and Jefferson Mays of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder answer your questions about wardrobe malfunctions, dressing like a lady and playing the villain.October 21, 2014
Learn about the national tour of the Tony-winning revival of Stephen Schwartz's Pippin. Schwartz, director Diane Paulus, circus creator Gypsy Snider and more talk about why this musical spectacle is unlike anything you've ever seen before.November 7, 2014
This week, our cooking buddy Kirsten Wyatt is cooking up some spicy meatballs and talking shop with Telly Leung (The World of Extreme Happiness).March 19, 2015
Broadway.com ventured to Brooklyn restaurant Lobo, where playwright Robert Askins moonlights as a bartender, to hang out (and get drunk) with the cast of the possessed puppet comedy Hand to God.March 3, 2015
Steven Pasquale sings his 11 o'clock number from The Bridges of Madison County in the recording studio. Get the album now!May 8, 2014


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The Tennessee Wilderness Act, sponsored by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Bob Corker (R-TN), would create the 9,000-acre Upper Bald River Wilderness Area and expand five existing wilderness areas.
Thanks to the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964, the U.S.
The measure failed to reach the 60-vote threshold required for inclusion thanks to a bipartisan effort, as both Republican and Democratic senators opposed it.
That is why legislation has been introduced to protect these lands yet again, granting the area another opportunity for well-deserved and long-overdue recognition and conservation.
Thanks to a new bill in Congress, one of America's greatest wild places -- the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska -- might become permanently protected as a wilderness area.
Aldo Leopold co-founded The Wilderness Society in 1935, but his influence stretches far beyond that.
Throughout 2014, as we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we have said the most apt celebration of the landmark law would be for Congress to work with renewed determination to conserve our most special landscapes—including those we have worked for years to protect.
New research and maps released Nov. 19 outline with new clarity the exact routes that big-game species use to migrate to winter and summer ranges.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed several pieces of locally-supported legislation on Nov. 13 that would protect irreplaceable wild landscapes, signaling hope for the current "lame duck" session of Congress.
The Wilderness Act celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Sept. 3, 1964, the Wilderness Act created our National Wilderness Preservation System and a means by which Americans can protect wilderness.
Tweets about "@wilderness"
President Obama has vowed to urge Congress to designate new wilderness in the Refuge. Encourage him to keep fighting for this threatened land.


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Chamber seeks nominations for Citizen, Business Leader of year
Thursday, January 24, 2013
ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2013 Citizen of the Year Award and 2013 Business Leader of the Year Award.
Both of these prestigious awards will be announced and presented at the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner Dance & Awards Banquet being held on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Recipients are provided with an award at this event and are then announced in the Chamber newsletter and Eblasts. Recipients are also recognized on the Chamber website throughout the year and appear in the Rochester Holiday Parade, produced annually by the Chamber.
Be sure to visit the Chamber's Online Community Calendar for upcoming events and activities that organizations including the Chamber are hosting! Don't forget to post your own company's events here as well for free! Access the calendar by visiting www.rochesternh.org.


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DescriptionIronwork with whimsy makes this Butterfly magazine rack a work of art. Scrolls of flat metal are expertly welded to create a magazine rack you'll want to display with your favorite magazines and newspapers. Beautifully hand finished in bronze, the Butterfly magazine rack holds a hidden benefit. The magazine rack folds flat for easy storage and mobility. How's that for metamorphosis?Iron MetalHand finishedFolds
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Results 16 to 30 of 47
November 19th, 2011, 01:39 PM #16
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Very useful overview, Kat. Thanks much.
So we have a general definition of YA as bildungsroman: coming-of-age stories. And we have a specific system: a collection of publishing financial and organizational mechanisms. Into the meshing gears of which every writer with a YA product to sell must venture.
The Internet marketing and ereader phenomena complicate matters because categories can overlap. A book can simultaneously be "on" the YA shelves, and "on" the adult shelves. Because there are no physical shelves, only database categories.
But a writer cannot be in two places at the same time: speaking to a classroom of high school students at a writing class. And sitting on a panel at a convention for adult writing. S/he has to timeshare, and time spent on one activity takes away time spent on another.
To selfishly return to my situation, I can place THE SUPER OLYMPIAN online in the YA category, and switch it to SF at some future date with few problems. It is not going to be published as a print edition and placed on bookshelves until at least a year in the future, and it may never be. I'm a writer just starting out, as far as the world knows, and there are no expectations good or bad for me.
Also, Amazon and B&N have several mechanisms to lead customers to other books they might like, such as the "Customers who bought this also bought this" and Package deal gadgets. And the Author Page which includes a photo, short bio, and a list of your books. That last lets readers interested in one book explore the others.
So I'm still seriously considering putting up OLYMPIAN in the YA category. I'll know better when I have a cover for it, which will take at least a week to create. Then it takes a day or two to convert to the Kindle and the Nook formats. So meanwhile my subconscious will be working on this question.
November 20th, 2011, 12:13 PM #17
Well, YA authors go to conventions. Usually, they write both adult and YA and market both.
Basically, if you're hoping to reach an audience of mainly teens, then list it YA. If you're hoping to reach an audience of mainly adults, then list it as adult. You're perfectly free to market to both groups and with a young protagonist this is common, but you're picking a main target to concentrate on for the audience and being sure to try to use those marketing channels.
November 21st, 2011, 08:03 PM #18
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From another thread.
In a lot of teen comedies it's all about losing your virginity. In some teen tragedies it's about experiencing some awful event. Two kinds of loss of innocence, one sexual, one emotional. Not really becoming an adult, in my opinion.
In real life maturity most often happens gradually. In fact, at well into the sixties I feel I'm still learning about myself and the universe and growing more mature and capable. But I don't see myself as immature. I see a lot of supposed adults who think they are but are not. They haven't grown up, they've just become even more self-centered and narrow-souled. And stopped growing.
In YA books maturity also most often comes slowly, over the course of the book. Not that anyone becomes perfectly and totally mature in those books, but they go a long way toward it.
The Shapechanger Tales are all speculative. What happens if someone becomes, in effect, a superhuman?
That's what happened to Peter Parker, who becomes Spiderman when he's bitten by a radioactive spider. He goes out and fights criminals. They not being challenging enough, the writers introduce super-criminals. But part of the resonance of Peter which has kept him around in several incarnations is that he has the usual problems of ordinary humans. Earning money after he leaves high school. Taking care of his aging grandparents. Courting an ordinary girl.
Meg Cabot's popular PRINCESS DIARIES is about a young girl who discovers she is a princess of a European country, destined some day to rule. The movie about the character introduced Anne Hathaway to the world.
I have several different protagonists who become shapechangers. One is Mary McCarthy, 53 year old peasant wife, mentally sharp and emotionally tough. In OLYMPIAN it is Sasha Canaro.
She is not an ordinary teenager. (Is there such a thing?) She's modeled on several child athletes who I've known personally over the years and others I've read about. Some of them are pushed into it by parents, some by the state. But a lot of them conceive of it on their own, sometimes at astounding ages. However they get their start they are very tough and stubborn people. Not always easy for others to be deal with.
At 17 Sasha becomes a shapechanger. In a good part of the book Sasha is learning about her new abilities and adjusting to how they are affecting her life. Now she is so superior physically that competition with ordinary humans is no challenge. Being tough and getting tougher is a large part of being an athlete. It's part of the ... fun?
So what new challenges can she find? The answer goes through her senior year in high school and through the Olympics. But it goes beyond. And this is where the book becomes questionable as YA fare. Do any teenagers, or enough of them, care about the years past high school? Enough to buy and enjoy THE SUPER OLYMPIAN?
I suppose I'll just have to find out.
November 21st, 2011, 11:24 PM #19
The YA audience is typically about 11-16. That's the core group. (The official designation is 12 and up.) Readers older than that may be reading YA, even extensively. A few readers younger than that range may as well. Typically, that 11-16 year old age range is reading about protagonists who are in the 15-19 years old age range, sometimes slightly older or slightly younger. So if she's 17 or 18, it's not an issue for YA. If, however, Mary starts at 53 and goes immortal from there, then it may get a little more complex because stories about adult are usually considered for adults, even if teens may read them.
In adult fiction, there is no age range of reader or protagonist. While a teen protagonist under twenty is liable to have some asking you if it's YA, traditionally adult SFFH has plenty of teen protagonists. So it's not really an issue there either, especially as you are indie publishing rather than trying to persuade an adult fiction or YA fiction imprint to invest in the series.
The big issue, as you have already identified, is who are you going to target your main marketing of the book towards, who are you hoping to have as your initial fanbase. While you can market as extensively as you like, the basic channels for a young teen audience or an adult one are ones that you should try to hit depending on your attempted market. Yours may be a case where some of the sub-series of the Shapechanger Tales that are teen-based, like Sasha's, are done as YA and others, like Mary's perhaps, are done as adult. This is what McCaffrey did with her Pern books and is not unusual.
Last edited by KatG; November 21st, 2011 at 11:29 PM.
November 28th, 2011, 01:00 AM #20
November 28th, 2011, 10:15 AM #21
So if you sell your rights to a children's publisher or imprint, then your work will be assigned an age group and if it's for teens, it will be YA. If you sell the rights to an adult publisher or imprint, then it will not be given an age group and it will not be YA. The YA books are sold for regular retail customers in the YA section of the bookstores in those countries that have children's areas and YA sections. The adult books are not sold in the children's section. (If they are considered classics that fit junior high/high school curriculums, they may be marketed to the schools as teen level works.)
This did not used to be a big issue in retail trade because YA was tiny. Now YA is huge in some countries like the U.S. and makes lots of money. More adults read YA titles than they did before. But the age group system for children's and educational publishing has not changed.
There are three ways where you might write a book with a young protagonist intended for an adult audience and end up in the YA section:
1) You sell your rights to an adult publisher in your home country/territory. You try to sell your rights abroad to other countries, but the publishers most interested in it are that countries' children's publishers for YA. This frequently happens when foreign authors are selling to the U.S., such as Alison Croggon. It's not necessarily a bad strategy as you can greatly increase the size of your audience. But again, it's you the author selling to a YA publisher, so you know that you are marketed as YA in that territory.
2) You sell your rights to an adult, large publisher that has children's imprints. Because of scheduling issues, imput from major booksellers and maybe early reviewers, they want to move you to one of their children's imprints, publish it in YA and cross-market to adult. This is happening a bit more often now that YA is huge, but it's not going to happen a lot in fantasy because a large chunk of adult fantasy has teen protagonists and teens buy adult fantasy books and so it's not really necessary (although you may have a better shot at a film deal in YA.) But if they think they can get good interest from the schools, it may be proposed.
3) You sell your rights to an adult publisher who is cross marketing it between YA and adult, in which case you'll likely be in both sections of the bookstore. This is basically what Baen is doing with Weber. Weber had an idea, wanted a YA title and Baen doesn't have a YA line but they may be testing doing one, so working with their long time bestselling author Weber is ideal; they cross market and if it sells well in YA, they do more titles like that and eventually start a YA line, like Tor did.
So largely the author controls where it goes and largely the titles are separate in their industries but because YA is lucrative, titles that can work as YA may find a better audience there to start and there may be cross-marketing schemes, usually in cooperation with the author. Because the author of the YA title has to do certain things -- you have to hit up certain reviewers, you do signings at kid bookstores, you may have to go to libraries and schools, you are going to be dealing with teen fan mail, etc. There are YA promotional channels that are going to be used if your book is being pushed in that age group.
So sell it to Scholastic and you're YA. Sell it to Tor YA and you're YA. Sell it to Bantam Spectra, and you're adult. The more important thing is to connect with readers whether they are teens or adults and to hit as many potential audiences as possible. (And the teens frankly are more loyal. )
November 28th, 2011, 10:22 AM #22
I really don't get it, Kat. I'll explain.
I've got YA on my shelves from Del Rey (Landover), Harper Voyager (Seven Realms, Abarat, arguably Riftwar), Tor (Great Alta), Pan Macmillan (Un Lun Dun), Gollancz (Wizard Knight) and others. None of those labels are YA in nature, but they have YA imprints - but these aren't labelled as such. I've got Scholastic, Hodder Teens (I think), Atom and I think some others that are clearly YA.
So I really don't get it. Are some of those titles YA only because people have said they're YA, or what?
November 28th, 2011, 05:06 PM #23
Interesting issue. Kat's discussion is very enlightening. I do wonder, though, about the part of the conversation that was brought up earlier and that was, at least in the background, a part of the OP. Is YA less serious than Adult? Is it less advanced topically? Does a YA label on a book equal a disappointment for an author? Does a book's labeled audience degrade its content...to say it bluntly.
I have enjoyed thoroughly several YA books and I've never quite agreed with the idea that books about children and youth or books for children and youth are inferior. Often times, they aren't even all that different. Adults absolutely can learn from the tales of the young, just as a young person can learn of life through the story of an elder. Also I think sometimes the things children face are just as profound or difficult as the things adults face and not just because they are young.
On the other hand, in my own writing I am playing with how to make my book, which has a teenage protagonist, appeal more to an adult audience. I'm not sure if I would be disappointed were my book published (I would be absolutely thrilled if my book were published no matter what) as a YA book, though I would hope adults would also read it.
November 28th, 2011, 05:48 PM #24
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As for me, I'm still debating which category to pick when I put my next book online. Here is my cover in the sizes used by B&N and Amazon for each book. I wonder if it would appeal to teenagers.
Are there still fans for futuristic Star Wars kind of sci-fi? Or have they all gone over to the dark side - fantasy?!
November 28th, 2011, 10:32 PM #25Originally Posted by Laer
YA is not a philosophy. It's not a style of writing. It is not a method to simplify one's thinking. It is not a difference in depth, theme, etc. from books in the adult section. There is some content in adult publishing that you probably won't find in YA publications (though that border line changes all the time,) and YA titles will always have teen protagonists while titles sold in the adult section may or may not have them, but that's about it for established differences. That a book is sold in the adult section does not mean that it won't appeal to teens, but if it is not also sold in the YA section and marketed as YA, then it's not YA. YA is the market in which the books are sold, not qualities of the books themselves. The sales figures that Laer trotted out for this thread are not, for YA, all the books with teen protagonists. They are all the books sold in the YA market/sections/publishers' YA lines.
Which is why the figures don't tell you anything about the books themselves. What it tells you is that the YA market is expanding at a faster rate than the general fiction (adult) market. Since the YA market has been in an expansion since 1998 from a very tiny market, and bolstered by t.v. and film adaptations directed at the teen audience since around 2001, this is hardly surprising. YA market venues and channels have been expanding along with the rest of children/teen products and media.
So Riftwar is not YA, just because someone thinks the "style" is teenish, Loerwyn, and because a lot of teens read it. Un Lun Dun, however, is YA. It was marketed as YA, sold in the YA market and to schools, Mieville promoted it as YA, etc. If you go to American Amazon, where the book is published by Del Rey, and you look down at the publisher information, you'll see the age group: Reading Level: 10 and up.
The book was also, because Mieville has an extensive adult audience, crossmarketed to that adult SFF market that contains Mieville readers. And this seems to be the interesting thing about the British market -- while they have the YA market and the children's/YA publishers, etc., they don't necessarily post age group info in listing the book. Pan Macmillan has reissued all of Mieville's work with a common cover treatment and so that includes Un Lun Dun. Canada is also rather like this -- titles will be listed in Teen, but there won't be a "Reading Level" entry necessarily, though it will almost always be on the cover. But the YA market is not a mysterious thing.
I think that authors expect to be told what their book is -- YA or adult, as if there is some quality that will determine it. (And there are numerous myths about what YA books are supposed to be.) But that's not how it works. The author decides what market he will chiefly go after. If they sell to a YA publisher, it's going to be YA because it will be in that market. And the author promotes it as YA. But that doesn't mean that the author is forbidden to market to adults either and vice versa. So when you're trying to figure out if a book is "YA," the question is what market is it chiefly being marketed in, which includes who the publisher is, whether the main reviews are School Library Journal or Publishers Weekly, is it being sold to schools, is it in the YA section of bookstores, does it have an age group posted on it, what the author does for promotion, etc.
November 29th, 2011, 03:14 AM #26
So, the reason I don't exactly get it is pretty much just because publishers in my country do it differently?
November 29th, 2011, 01:06 PM #27
At a YA level, Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy actually deals with moral ambiguity--an issue with which even many adults are uncomfortable. It's my own belief that young people are quite able to deal with complex thought, as long as the characters and the story appeal to them.
Last edited by Window Bar; November 29th, 2011 at 02:55 PM. Reason: sp.
November 29th, 2011, 01:26 PM #28
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Publishers and book stores use the terms in a very SPECIFIC sense, however. And that is where a lot of the confusion comes in.
November 29th, 2011, 03:47 PM #29
The confusion is A) people confuse what might appeal to teens with what is sold specifically to them and their schools; B) because a novel may be sold first as an adult and then later also as a YA book or vice versa, as both adult and YA, as adult in one country and YA in another, etc., and because people believe there must be something fundamentally in the books that differentiates YA from adult rather than things like publishers using one market or another, they try to center in on YA as a style which is a hopeless task; and C) people like to be the ones who get to decree how things are sorted and come up with all sorts of interesting systems that usually ignore the publishing business and large amounts of data that doesn't fit the systems.
This is parallel to the confusion of category markets and general fiction, with many people convinced that the category shelves in a bookstore mean something more than expansion marketing channels, while totally ignoring how publishers work. (It actually kind of relates somewhat to my and Fung Koo's dead horse beating in the other thread.)
In the case of YA, it's understandable confusion. But as writers, you will be making choices about what publishers to approach if you're approaching publishers. (And Laer's sales figures were from publishers, not indies.) And part of that choice, if you have a teen protagonist, will be whether you're going to approach adult publishing imprints, children's/YA ones or both and see which market wants you most. And another choice, should you get a deal with a publisher, will be when selling foreign rights to other countries, are you going to their children's/YA publishers, adult publishers or both. So understanding that YA is a market in case publishing folk suggest going into that market may be important. You have a big say in whether it will be in the YA market or not and what you will do promotionally for that YA market if it is.
That the YA market is profitable, that a good percentage of the bestsellers and mid-listers are doing well in YA is clearly evident. But it doesn't really tell you much about the adult fiction market. There are very clear reasons for the growth of the YA market over the last fifteen years, and again, it has little to do with the adult fiction market.
November 29th, 2011, 04:07 PM #30
Well, thanks for trying to explain, Kat.
I think my brain just melted out of my ears.


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Second, these other engines provide many more tools which make the process of making the game easier, and that's the whole purpose of it. Big companies license engines because it makes their life easier, they can concentrate on doing the game instead of doing all the work on the engine.
What Torque is doing is great, but if you want to achieve the same results you'd get on these other engines, it'd require an overhaul, AKA, too much time spent on it.
Hopefully though, the community will improve the engine.
The press release + linked blog post are not clear. Does the drop include the editor and other pipeline tools, or not?
Employee David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake
09/11/2012 (9:56 am)
Not really. You get the full engine and source code. The Toolbox still has some proprietary QT code in it so we cannot currently release its source, but we are hoping to get it updated with the open source version of QT after the release so that everyone has access to those internals as well.
Examples: Fallout 3/NV. Are those games good? Heck yeah! Would better graphics improve on the roleplay experience? Most probably!.
Fallout 1/2 (just to mention a saga where their games are vastly different). Are those games good? Of course! (I do not personally "love it", but I can easily see why many people do) Would they benefit from better graphics? Mmmmh, not much. They rely more on text than on visuals to tell a story.
Team Fortress 2: Is that game good? Holy shit yes! Would it be better with more realistic visuals? Uhhhh, no. It's artstyle doesn't work that way.


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Welcome to the Disney & Orlando Secrets Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community...
It's easy, fast, totally free (and always will be) and you'll be able to start chatting immediately :)
That was one expensive holiday!: Day 5 – World Showcase
Discussion in 'Trip Reports' started by wickesy, Oct 24, 2008.


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Kenmore 12'' Stainless Steel Deep Covered SkilletItem# 00809583000 | Model# 9583
Follow this item and we'll let you know when the price drops
Specifications & Dimensions
|Product Overview:
|Pan Type:
|Fry pans/skillets
|Induction Cookware:
|Color Family:
|Materials & Finishes:
|Stainless steel
|Non-stick Coating:
|Dishwasher Safe:
|Oven Safe:
|To 400 deg.
|Warranties & Coverage:
|General Warranty:
|1 year
|Pan Size:
|12 in.
Ratings & Reviews
Product Description
Sizzle at the stove with this 12-inch Kenmore deep skillet that includes a convenient clear glass lid. A stainless steel encapsulated copper bottom is designed to cook evenly on most heat surfaces, including electric, gas, ceramic and induction. The tempered glass top lets you watch your food without letting essential moisture escape. Stay-cool, ergonomic handles and flared edges make stirring, flipping and pouring a snap -- so dish up your most delish with this covered cookware!
- Set: Skillet and cover
- Dimensions: 12 in. diameter
- Stay-cool ergonomic side and top handles
- Flared edge
- Oven safe and induction suitable
- Materials: Stainless steel and copper
- Care: Dishwasher safe
- Imported
- Available for Gift Wrap
Added on December 19, 2012
Overall, others give this:
Bridgeport, CT
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I use this pan all the time, good quality for the price
Rochester, NY
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We have been using this skillet for a couple of months now. It seems to be constructed well. The extra handle in the front is a big plus because this skillet can be heavy depending on what you are cooking. It seems to clean-up pretty well (white vinegar gets every think looking good).
Colville, WA
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We purchased this item during the hoopla of XMAS 2013 UPS and late packages. It arrived early, no problems! The skillet is well made with heavy duty rivets (I've seen smaller in a Cab Over Truck) that unquestionably are there to stay. The lid is heavy duty glass, and the pan itself will last a lifetime. In fact, you need to figure out who you're leaving it to when your gone, it will last longer than you will :-) The only possible negative would be for a person with weak wrists. If you fry chicken and wish to pour out the grease, count on a two handed lift- this is not your aluminum "throw it away in a year" kind of pan. We are delighted with it!
Los Angeles, CA
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This is a high quality stainless steel frying pan. It is a bit heavy (this pan feels very durable), but looks like it will stand the test of time. The glass lid is nice too and is also heavy duty.
Ellicott City, MD
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i liked this product it is good it was in a way i accepted it is heavy but good for deep frying things ,i use it for frying only or when have to use on bulk
Anahuac, TX
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Very nice size, heavy, feels durable.
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text:
organic luxury mattress 10"
organic luxury mattress 10"
|Comfort Level
816 (queen)
Organic cotton,
latex & wool
The Perfect Organic Quartet
Combines four of the finest organic bedding ingredients into one exceptional design for a superior level of comfort and support. These include organic encased coils, organic latex, organic wool and organic cotton. Cushion-Firm feel is just right for most people. Also available in latex-free.
Combines four of the finest organic bedding ingredients into one exceptional design for a superior level of comfort and support. These include organic encased coils, organic latex, organic wool and organic cotton. Cushion-Firm feel is just right for most people. Also available in latex-free.
|Organic Cotton Fabric & Filling
Organic cotton is the purest form of cotton and a healthier alternative to synthetic fabrics and foams. Naturepedic uses only U.S. grown and certified organic cotton as filling for its mattresses and buys directly from USDA certified sources. This increases purity, organic reliability and support for U.S. farmers. The surface fabric is soft to the touch and easily stretches to conform to your body.
|Organic Support Coils
Our coils are individually wrapped in certified organic cotton fabric and hand assembled for unmatched quality. This method ensures isolation of movement and pressure point relieving comfort that contours to your body. Designed to provide a strong and supportive base. Made in our GOTS certified organic facility.
|Organic Latex Foam 3"
After harvesting from the rubber tree, the latex sap is cured into a comfortable luxurious foam. Unlike synthetic and even all-natural blends, we only source our latex foam from reputable certified organic suppliers, ensuring purity, fair labor practices and support for healthy farming to protect our planet's latex forests. The finished foam is certified to the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).
|Organic Wool Batting
Wool wicks away moisture, provides natural fire protection, and offers temperature regulation, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. GOTS certified organic wool facilitates healthy, well treated sheep and the elimination of harmful chemicals in the processing of the wool.
|NO Flame Retardant Chemicals
Due to its innovative natural design and intelligent mattress construction, this mattress passes all Federal and State flammability standards without the use of any fire retardant chemicals or FR barriers. This is achieved through superior product design, the use of more natural materials (i.e. organic cotton fabric, organic cotton fiber and organic wool batting) and the elimination of polyurethane foam.
|Quality Workmanship
Naturepedic is a family owned business located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Our workers are skilled Amish craftsmen that take pride in their work, paying special attention to every detail to ensure long lasting durability. We are proud to offer the very best organic mattresses available anywhere.
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Not only are our individual materials certified, but the finished mattress is certified as well. This ensures that all components meet a healthy non-toxic standard. Certified by OTCO to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). All Naturepedic products are also tested for chemical emissions and certified according to the most stringent GREENGUARD® "select" certification standards. More Certifications
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Quartet Organic Luxury Mattress
Comfort Level: Cushion-Firm
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text:
85th Academy Awards ceremony spreads the wealth
Monday, February 25, 2013
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
"I never thought I'd be back here, and I am because of so many of you in this academy," said Affleck, who shared a screenplay Oscar with pal Matt Damon 15 years earlier for their breakout film "Good Will Hunting."
"The story was so top secret that the film's director is unknown to the academy," MacFarlane said. "They know they screwed up. Ben, it's not your fault."
"Argo" also claimed the Oscar for adapted screenplay for Chris Terrio, who worked with Affleck to create a liberally embellished story based on an article about the rescue and part of CIA operative Tony Mendez's memoir.
Terrio dedicated the award to Mendez, saying "33 years ago, Tony, using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, Tony got six people out of a bad situation."
The foreign-language prize went to Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke's old-age love story "Amour," which had been a major surprise with five nominations, including picture, director and original screenplay for Haneke and best actress for Emmanuelle Riva, who turned 86 on Sunday and would be the oldest acting winner ever.
The top prize winner at last year's Cannes Film Festival, "Amour" follows the agonizing story of an elderly man (Jean-Louis Trintignant) tending his wife (Riva) as she declines from age and illness.
Haneke thanked his own wife for supporting him in his work for 30 years.
"You are the center of my life," Haneke said.
"I just happen to be wearing the kilt," said "Brave" co-director Mark Andrews, who took the stage in his trademark Scottish garment.
The upbeat musical portrait "Searching for Sugar Man" took the documentary feature prize. The film follows the quest of two South African fans to discover the fate of acclaimed but obscure singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, who dropped out of sight after two albums in the 1970s and was rumored to have died a bitter death.
"Thanks to one of the greatest singers ever, Rodriguez," said "Sugar Man" director Malik Bendjelloul.
There was a rare tie in one category, with the Osama bin Laden thriller "Zero Dark Thirty" and the James Bond tale "Skyfall" each winning for sound editing.
William Shatner made a guest appearance as his "Star Trek" character Capt. James Kirk, appearing on a giant screen above the stage during MacFarlane's monologue, saying he came back in time to stop the host from ruining the Oscars.
"Your jokes are tasteless and inappropriate, and everyone ends up hating you," said Shatner, who revealed a headline supposedly from the next day's newspaper that read, "Seth MacFarlane worst Oscar host ever."
The performance-heavy Oscars also included an opening number featuring Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum, who did a classy dance while MacFarlane crooned "The Way You Look Tonight." Daniel Radcliffe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt then joined MacFarlane for an elegant musical rendition of "High Hopes."
Halle Berry introduced a tribute to the Bond franchise, in which she has co-starred, as the British super-spy celebrated his 50th anniversary on the big-screen last year with the latest adventure "Skyfall." Shirley Bassey sang her theme song to the 1960s Bond tale "Goldfinger." Later, pop star Adele performed her theme tune from "Skyfall," which won the best-song Oscar.
Barbra Streisand injected some musical sentiment into the show's segment memorializing Hollywood figures who died in the past year as she sang "The Way We Were," the Oscar-winning song she did in the film of the same name.
Academy officials said all performances were sung live.
Fans had pondered how far MacFarlane the impudent creator of "Family Guy," might push the normally prim and proper Oscars. MacFarlane was generally polite and respectful, showcasing his charm, wit and vocal gifts.
MacFarlane did press his luck a bit on an Abraham Lincoln joke, noting that Raymond Massey preceded "Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis as an Oscar nominee for 1940's "Abe Lincoln in Illinois."
"I would argue that the actor who really got inside Lincoln's head was John Wilkes Booth," MacFarlane wisecracked, earning some groans from the crowd. "A hundred and 50 years later, and it's still too soon?"
Online: http://www.oscars.org
AP writers Christy Lemire, Sandy Cohen, Beth Harris and Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.


text:
Lie Down in the Darkness, Rise up from the Ash
36. The Road to Minas Tirith
Of a sudden, one of the riders broke from the company, urging his mount to the rear, ere he pulled up short to stare into the distance. Faramir stood in his stirrups, squinting as he surveyed the field. Not that he could see much, but at that moment, a second rider appeared in a dusty cloud: Damrod rode straight up to his captain, and came to a halt at his side, brutally curbing his terrified mount, cursing as the animal minced and trembled.
"They come, Captain, and quite a few they are. They are nearly upon us," the Ranger lieutenant panted, then swore again. His sweat-streaked face paled, and he flinched at the high, far sound of a Nazgûl looking on, calling, for all they knew, encouragement to those who hunted them.
Faramir's jaw clenched, but he nodded, turning his horse and making for the company he had just left. Sweeping past the knights bringing up the rear, he went straight for the head of the column of infantry, feeling eyes turn toward him as he passed, with Damrod hard on his heels. When he had reached the van and the standard-bearer there, he paused once more, and again turned his mount, so that now he faced the company. Raising his voice, he drew his sword and called out:
"Final orders, men!" Pointing beyond them to the City with the weapon, he cried, "The gates are nigh, and our enemies also. Rearguard, keep your shields on your backs. At the run, now, and hold formation—come what may, hold formation, and do not pause until you have passed the gates! Go!"
After which, Faramir leaned on his horse's neck and coughed violently, dimly aware of Damrod interposing himself between his captain and the men, and leading his horse a little ways away. Faramir simply clung to the reins, helpless against the spasm. His lungs ached and his throat burned, and he had given up on ever clearing his vision of tears. It had been bad enough when the ash had simply rained down upon them. But on the long retreat from Henneth Annûn, through Osgiliath and step by bloody step down the road to the Rammas Echor, passing armies had disturbed the layer of it that lay upon the ground, so that an eagle (were there one to brave the reek and arrows) might have marked their movements by the clouds of ash stirred up. Particularly when their enemies closed with them, the ash rose up thick as fog.
Within those clouds, it was a shadow world. Men squinted, for those four rows forward were indistinct shapes, friend and foe impossible to distinguish. Battle was a chaos under the best of circumstances, and these were far from them: Faramir did not want to think about the number of men killed by their own comrades in a panic of mistaken identity, as someone would come fleeing back into the ranks when a company broke, into the midst of startled and frightened men who, unsure of his name or allegiance, reacted exactly as they had been taught.
Meanwhile, he and his officers—whether of the Rangers or of Boromir's command at Osgiliath, or, lately, companies from the wall that had fallen in with him—were running themselves beyond ragged in the effort to coordinate the retreat: unable to see himself, he sent them in as close as they could to the fighting ranks to see what was afoot and report it back to him. Sometimes they returned; too often, they did not. He himself had tried to keep a watch on the central columns, but in the main, his orders were issued based on the reports of his lieutenants-turned-couriers—on their reports, and on pure faith that nothing had changed dramatically in the time it took for his men to grasp the situation, and return to repeat it to him.
Three days, Faramir thought wearily. It had been three days of purest unrelieved agony for those covering the retreat—really a rout at this point—and it might well be a fourth. In fact, it was probably fairer to say it was the fourth: though the sun did not show herself, he knew it was late in the day, for the Enemy's ranks were growing bolder. They at least seemed to know where the sun stood, even if the concealing clouds allowed them to walk abroad at any hour.
But Faramir did not want to think of a fourth day—three had been bad enough. This was his second horse; Damrod was on his fourth, and just last night, he had lost one of Boromir's last remaining lieutenants to a sudden charge from the right as the Enemy had pushed them from the walls and onto the fields. Since then, they had been running, ever and anon overtaken by the Enemy's light cavalry, who would rain arrows down upon them. Faramir had put those with shields to the rear, to cover their more vulnerable fellows, but in the end, it was up to his own mounted knights to drive off the raiders, and the slower companies that drew nigh while Faramir's men were otherwise engaged. Only thus had they any hope of reaching the walls and some measure of safety, but the ranks of horsemen were thinning... It occurred to him that they had not given, perhaps, their best account of themselves, but at the moment, he did not care. All that mattered now was that half a mile down the road were the City Gates, and he had to see the remainder of his infantry safely through them before the heavy cavalry could break from their enemies and end this nightmare of a march.
Which meant one more charge. One more charge to clear the enemy from their heels, and then Faramir could take his knights home. Just one more, Faramir told himself, attempting to rally his spirits even as he forcibly mastered the coughing. Damrod was beside him still, and Faramir blinked to find him holding out an unstoppered water skin. "May as well, Captain," Damrod said, sounding hoarse himself. "This is as calm as we'll see until we're behind the gates."
So he said, and left unspoken the unwelcome rest: that they might not make the gates. That the Enemy had driven them this far, and was coming on with sudden speed and ferocity, and that this had to mean something. Drink up and know a little last relief—Damrod had no need to say it, it was in his face when he looked at his captain. Such was the logic of war, and Faramir hesitated only a moment before he took the proffered water skin and tipped his head back.
"Thank you," he murmured when he had done, and passed it back to Damrod, who himself took a few sips. Faramir for his part turned his mount back northwards. Above the ashy haze kicked up by his men, he could see the ramparts and towers of the Minas Tirith—close enough, seemingly, to touch. Between them and himself, a half-mile stretch of land and a company of infantry fleeing as quickly as order permitted. It was time. Turning once more, he glanced at Damrod, who gave him a nod.
Touching his spurs to his mount's sides, he urged the animal forward, to where the knights sat their horses in formation, anticipating his command. Damrod fell into place on his right, and Faramir raised the captain's horn that he rarely used in Ithilien to his lips. As he drew breath, he could see a new cloud forming on the southern horizon: cavalry on the move. His command went out, an incongruously sweet note:
Obediently, the horses began to move: first at a walk, and though Faramir had seen and ridden dozens of charges—half of them in the past three days, or so it felt—for some reason, this first stage seemed unbearably slow, as if the air had turned to water, or time itself had changed its substance and flowed no more freely but trickled by, each moment passing with an effort and an effort to pass for those who lived it. But at length, they built to a trot, and then to a canter; by then, the second file was shooting over their heads: the Rangers and few mounted bowmen of Boromir's company did not bother with aiming, they simply loosed what they had into the on-coming ash cloud in the hopes of whittling the enemy's numbers somewhat.
Answering arrows came back, and all along the line, shields went up. Faramir felt several of them strike his shield; others fell harmlessly beyond the ranks or passed through them without hitting anyone; but to either side, he saw men and horses fall away, heard the screams of wounded animals and men, and the curses of comrades seeking to avoid trampling fallen friends or being borne down by them.
And then there was no more time for observation. The shapes within the haze became men in red and gold and wild-eyed horses at the last moment—time enough for one good look, ere everything dissolved into chaos. A lance embedded itself in Faramir's shield, and he grunted at the shock of the collision, but did not hesitate: he brought his sword down hard and clove through a weak point in his foe's armor, just at the shoulder. Blood sprayed, and he ducked beneath a scimitar, kneed his mount to the right and caught a horse's flanks in a back-handed slash.
The first pass was over almost before he could think to give the command to turn, but the knights of Boromir's company knew their business, and the Rangers had learned it quickly in the retreat. Horses squealed as their riders commanded them to turn, and the entire formation wheeled, reversing itself to charge back towards the line of Haradrim, who also were turning. Valar be praised! some part of Faramir's mind thought, for the Haradrim might have continued; they might have decided to make their final run on the infantry, who would have slain some of them, certainly, but encumbered and exhausted as they were, and without the line of spearmen to bring down a cavalry charge, would have gone down to death within sight of safety.
Which meant only that it was his men who would die before the gates. He heard the warning call from the right: "They're flanking us!" And indeed, they were, to either side. Both Haradrim and Gondorrim had made their pass as short as they could, Faramir because he had to be concerned about his foot men, and so needed to keep the distance between his knights and the Haradric line as small as possible, that they might be able to catch their enemies before they could make more than one pass through the vulnerable retreating ranks. The Haradrim had perhaps counted upon this, and upon the fact that the shorter the distance between them, the more their numbers favored them: there was not enough space between them for either company to reach full speed, which meant Faramir's company would not have force enough to break through the enemy lines and retreat. The Haradrim would mob them, and between their numbers and the exhaustion of Gondor's men, there could be only one end to this tale.
All of this Faramir recognized in a split instant, and as he urged his men onward—for what other choice was there?—he raised his sword high, as the words welled up from some depth of his soul and came spilling from his lips unbidden:
"Rage, O spirit of Gondor—sing for us!
Enflame us, men of Gondor, to rise up now and ride:
For wrath and ruin and this day's ending! "
And then the Shadow fell. It was as if his very words had called the night upon them, and it came upon bat's wings, and screamed with a fell voice. Faramir's horse shrieked and went nearly straight up, pawing the air, while Faramir clung the reins with hands gone numb suddenly. Cold pierced him through and through, and nausea struck hard. He was not alone in that—he could hear someone retching nearby, and others weeping, calling out in terror as the wraith-fear stretched out its invisible claws to catch and shake them. Everything faded.
And then a horn call broke through the blackness, even as a coughing roar sounded, and the air roiled about them. Faramir blinked, and found he could see once more, found that somehow, he was still horsed, and that despite the terror, he was facing forward, forcing his shivering mount to stand.
"Amroth for Gondor! Amroth to Faramir!" voices shouted, and a blue standard fluttered in the foul wind. Raising his eyes, he saw the fell-beast, its wings beating awkwardly as it struggled to stay aloft. There was an arrow just behind and beneath one great wing, and the Nazgûl that cried out were dismayed for once, as their fellow attempted to pull back. The Haradrim were calling out as well, one part of their formation attempting to turn to meet the onslaught of the Swan knights, as the others continued on towards Faramir's disordered ranks.
"Form up!" he cried, and seizing the horn, blew once more upon it. "Square up!"
Somehow, they managed to pull four lines together, stacked one behind the other. It was the best they could do with no time left them, and when the point of the Haradric formation collided, it met four ranks head on. The line bent, then broke, as Faramir's men—those he had managed to order—absorbed the shock, and line after line slashed and cut and bludgeoned those who passed through them. It was a bloody affair—momentum favored the Haradrim, and they took many down with them as they passed, but not without cost. Those who broke through in the end, lagging well behind the rest of the line, emerged bleeding and fatally slowed, as the more scattered remnants of Faramir's light cavalry fell upon them.
Then of a sudden, they were enveloped in blue and silver tabards, as the Swan knights arrived at last. "Faramir!" There was a buzzing in his ears, as if a hundred flies beat their wings within his head at once, and Faramir was dimly aware of himself, of his body as he raised his sword overhead, shouted some incomprehensible order, kneed his bleeding, gasping horse about. Within, he was reeling, as if sunstruck, and all the while his body continued as if by habit to play the captain's part. "Faramir-lad!"
"Get in line, form up, men, now!"
"Faramir," Imrahil's voice spoke from nigh at hand, and Faramir blinked at last, and then again, 'til the blue shape before him became the Prince of Dol Amroth. His uncle was looking concernedly at him, keeping a certain safe distance as he said again, "Faramir, answer me if you can. Are you hurt?"
"Am I...?" Faramir shook his head, winced, but he glanced down at himself and found nothing obviously wrong. No reason, certainly, to be breathing as hard as he was, surely. He sheathed his sword, and clutched the pommel of his saddle against a wave of weakness.
A gauntleted hand grasped his upper arm, and glancing sideways, he saw his uncle, now beside him. "Talk to me, lad," Imrahil murmured quietly. "Do you need a surgeon?"
"No." The word came out thickly, and Faramir shut his eyes, swallowed painfully. Breathe! Opening his eyes once more, he forced himself to sit up straight, not to sag in the saddle, and as if that habit of posture were some magical key, he felt his head beginning to clear at last. "I am all right, Uncle. Another pass and it might have been otherwise, but you came just in time."
"You are certain?" Imrahil asked, eyes worried still.
"Aye. Well timed, your arrival, and well-shot as well."
"The fell-beast, you mean? That was not our doing. I brought no archers with me."
Faramir frowned. "But it was not one of mine, either. I saw the arrow. At that angle, it came from beyond us."
"Then it must have been from one of the archers on the ramparts, though I cannot fathom the eye that can pick such a target and hit it," Imrahil replied.
"Nor I," Faramir replied, staring at the great walls of Minas Tirith. Then: "But we should return to the City now, while we can. How many men have I still? Where is Damrod? Mablung? Is Teldar here?" Faramir looked about, seeking his lieutenants. He could see his men, back in line again amid Dol Amroth's ranks. Faces grey with exhaustion and fear looked back at him, but they sat their horses nevertheless, awaiting their orders. "Damrod?"
"I am here, Captain!" Damrod appeared suddenly. He had a cut above one eye, and was walking a horse—not the one he had ridden earlier, but apparently his fifth mount. It seemed familiar, and Faramir frowned at it, and at the odd mass hung over the back. Grimly, his lieutenant continued: "I have Mablung."
"Ah." It did not hit as hard as it ought to have. Shock comes in many forms, but its common feature is the inability to feel. He had learned that once, as a lad still training for war. And he had found, in the years that followed such lessons, that shock had its uses. It let men continue when otherwise they might not. Shaking his head, he gestured for Damrod to mount up. "Let us get the men home. Come!"
So it was that the Swan knights and the knights of the City and the Ranger-dragoons returned to Minas Tirith. The men on the ramparts sent up a cheer for them, but Faramir scarcely heard it. He had enough to do to command his face as he sat and looked out over the pitifully reduced company he had brought home. And what of the infantry? he wondered. Catching sight of a pair of men standing upon the stairs near the gates, one of them in a torn, dusty, and bloody tabard of the City, and with a commander's badge still discernible upon it, he turned to Damrod.
"Get the men settled in the barracks on Rath Ennorin. If needed, they will be sent for, but my orders for now are to sleep the next two watches. Find the rest of the company and tell them likewise. Send someone to speak with the armory about their gear. Then go get some rest yourself, Damrod," he told his lieutenant.
"Aye, my lord," Damrod replied, and saluted ere he hailed one of the healer's lads near the funerary cart to come take his horse and its burden.
"Sound orders, Nephew," Imrahil said, as he reined his mount in beside Faramir. "You should follow them."
"I cannot, Uncle, and you know it," Faramir replied, turning back to the pair of commanders upon the stairs. "Father will want my account, and there are things he should hear immediately." Faramir sighed as he undid the chin-strap and pulled his helm off. He had not thought overly much of Frodo and Sam since the beginning of the retreat—there had been no time, though when first the scouts had brought news of the oncoming army, he had spared them a thought, wishing them speed to escape Ithilien ere the Enemy's forces could take the land entirely. But now that he had a moment to himself, the need to report to Denethor about that matter returned full force, and dread with it, for he doubted not how his father would receive such news.
Which was perhaps why he clicked his tongue and urged his weary horse towards the stairs, ignoring Imrahil who trailed after him. Swinging down from the saddle, he handed his mount off to a handler, and took the stairs, his uncle right behind him.
"Captain," both commanders murmured, as they bowed their heads and crossed their hands upon their breasts in salute.
"Commanders," he replied, and he peered closely at the battle-filthy badge that the one bore. North Gate company, he realized, and the name returned to him then. "What news of the foot, Commander Ingold?"
"As many as last left you made the gates, and we await our orders, my lord," the man replied.
"Good man," Faramir murmured, relieved, and laid a hand upon the other's shoulder in gratitude. Then: "Speaking of good men, I would know who made that shot from the walls. Did you see him?"
"No, my lord, but—" Ingold began, but was spared the need to continue, for just at that moment, a small number of men clattered down the stairs, one of them wearing a captain's badge on his black and white surcoat.
"I have brought him, Captain," the newcomer said, and gestured then to a tall, lithe soldier who removed his helm to reveal pale golden hair. At that, Ingold stiffened, surprised, as the captain continued: "This is Legolas the elf, and glad are we to have him."
Legolas? For a split second, Faramir could not quite grasp the feeling of familiarity that that name brought with it. But the errand to his father brought it back swiftly enough: Legolas the elf, one of Frodo's companions. And so also one of Boromir's companions...
Beside him, Imrahil was speaking: "Long have we heard of the skill of the Elves with bow and arrow, but only in tales. I never thought to learn the truth of them. You have our thanks, Master Elf."
"You are most welcome, my lord prince," Legolas replied, and made him a polite bow.
"Yes, you have my thanks as well," Faramir said, remembering himself, and the elf nodded this time. "Is my brother here?" he asked, glancing about for Boromir's familiar figure, though not hopefully. If he were here, surely Uncle would have told me; surely, unless he were with Father, he would have come to greet me himself by now... To his surprise, it was not Legolas who answered, but the captain of the watch who had brought the elf:
"He has not come, my lord," the man replied, regretfully, and Faramir felt his dread deepen. Where are you, Brother? It was on the tip of his tongue to demand an explanation, but mindful of the anxious faces of the soldiers standing by, he bit back on the impulse, saying instead:
"That will have to wait, then. But we shall speak again, I hope, for I should like to hear your tale," he said to Legolas.
"As it happens, the lord Steward bid me present myself to him again, once you had returned. If I may," Legolas said, glancing at the guardsman who stood closest to him, "perhaps I could accompany you to the Citadel. We could speak after we learned the Steward's will."
Afterwards. Faramir considered this a moment, but then nodded. It has kept this long, the news can wait a little longer, whatever it may be. "Very well. Ingold," he said to the North Gate lieutenant-commander, "find Lieutenant Damrod—he shall tell you my orders. My lord prince," he said then, turning toward Imrahil, "you have command here until orders come saying otherwise."
"As you will it, Captain," Imrahil replied, and nodded, and if his speech was formal, his eyes were clearly worried.
"I am fine, Uncle," Faramir insisted in a low voice, as the two of them hurried back down the stairs and towards the courier stables for fresh horses.
"You have a strange notion of 'fine,' Nephew, if that is so. But enough," Imrahil said, silencing Faramir with a quick press of his shoulder. "I shall say no more for the moment, save that I hope your lord father knows well enough when to rest a man. Go now! I shall attend to matters here."
"Thank you," Faramir said, pausing a moment to watch as Imrahil made his way back to his men and began dispersing them to the wall. Then he turned to Legolas and his escort, who had followed at a polite distance to allow Imrahil and Faramir to speak. "Let us hurry, gentlemen, for there is much to tell and little time to tell it in."
Rage, O spirit of Gondor—sing for us!
Enflame us, men of Gondor, to rise up now and ride:
For wrath and ruin and this day's ending!
First line inspired by Homer, last line by Éomer (obviously). See the opening of "Iliad" for the former, and "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," RotK, 131 for the latter.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.