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Chapter 13 : Truth Will Out
|Rating: Mature
|Chapter Reviews: 2
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I'm doing my best to update as fast as I can before the end of my semester at school is up. I have finals next week, so next week will be fairly stressful and busy for me, so I'm trying to update a lot now before I have little time to do so next week.
Thanks for bearing with me, and thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed!
Be sure to leave a review of what you think! :) Enjoy!
Harry leaned against the wall outside of Pansy Namken's interrogation cell. He had been in the room for a good hour trying to work out small hints here and there from Pansy. After a long effort, he was taking a brief break. He needed time to think things through again and recall his thoughts and questions. So far Pansy had only been slightly helpful, but it was still better than where they had started from.
Harry looked to Pansy through the two way glass. He could see her clearly, slumped back in her chair and groaning to herself. She couldn't see them in return; only Harry on the opposing side of the glass could see her.
Briggs came sauntering up next to him, and he leaned against the wall next to Harry.
"Thanks, Briggs," commented Harry quickly, not tearing his eyes away from Pansy. He was still watching her for some sort of sign.
"What for, Mr. Potter?" he asked, fairly surprised.
"For not stopping me back there," replied Harry. "I was out of line. I was breaching my contract. I could be fired, but you let me go at it my way. And I thank you for that."
Harry truly meant it. He knew he had broken several of his rules in that interrogation room, and he had half expected Briggs to try and stop him, to set him straight, but he hadn't. And for that Harry appreciated him. Harry didn't want to be stopped or set straight. This was all he had; this was the only way he would get anywhere in this case. Briggs seemed to understand that.
"No problem," he answered in a nonchalant tone. "Your son's life is on the line. You're desperate. I get it. Not one of us is going to turn you in for breaching your contract. We're behind you on this."
"Thanks," muttered Harry.
"O'course," said Briggs again. "Besides, even if you do kill Parker Namken, it's reached the point of justified self-defense."
Harry nodded, glad they were seeing things on the same page. "You know, Briggs. I'd been meaning to tell you something. If I don't make it through the end of his, Ron is of course the Executive Auror right now. So he'll take my place, but you will be the next Executive."
The corners of Briggs' mouth tugged up into a smile, and he backed away from the wall, preparing to leave Harry be. "Thanks, Mr. Potter. I'm honored. But there's no need. You'll make it through this."
Then without another word, Briggs turned on his heels and walked away. Harry watched him go and fell into a comfortable silence, slipping back into his thoughts. He didn't know how long he stood there for, but he was startled by the sound of Apparation. He looked down the hall to see Ginny coming his way. He straightened, surprised, but he gathered the meaning of her visit when he spotted the food and coffee in her hands.
She embraced him with one arm, holding the food and drinks in the other, and she placed a kiss against his cheek.
"Hey, Gin," greeted Harry quietly.
"Hi, Harry," she replied. "It's late and I hadn't heard from you or seen you. I thought you could use something to eat or drink."
"That's sweet," he said as he took the coffee from her hands. He immediately took a sip and savored it.
"It hasn't even been a day," Ginny observed aloud, "and you're tearing yourself apart over this."
"Of course I am," retorted Harry, slightly surprised. "He's our son. I have to save him."
Ginny knew this to be true, but even in less than a day, she could see Harry's health deteriorating. There was something more than determination in him. If anything, such determination would keep him going, would keep him looking healthy. No, something else was fueling him.
She tilted her head to the side as she observed this, and she demanded to know what it was.
Harry sighed and looked to the ground in defeat. Of course Ginny could see past any facade he put up.
"Guilt," he answered. "I feel guilty for what's happened. For all of it. It's all my fault."
Ginny looked to him, appalled, and she took his hand. "Harry, this isn't your fault," she encouraged. "How could it be? Neither one of us could have known that Al would be attacked. We couldn't have known."
"No, Gin," he said, shaking his head. "There's more to it."
"All right. Then tell me."
Harry felt in the pit of his stomach that he knew it was time. It was time to come clean to Ginny after so long. After three years of keeping the deepest, darkest secret he had ever held, the secret he most regretted keeping. The secret he had hoped he would never have to share. But it seemed like that moment had finally come.
"Fine. Then I have a lot to tell you, and you'll just have to bear with me and listen," he said. He looked to her, and her expression was stern. She was simply waiting. So Harry began. He told her everything he had kept to himself over the past three years. He told her who the attacker was, as he hadn't even shared that bit of information with anyone yet besides the Aurors. When she seemed surprised beyond belief, he went back to the beginning. He went back to that day at Azkaban and what he found when he was waiting by James' side for him to wake up.
He told her what he saw on his wrist, and he told her of what he knew it to be. When he finished, she was stunned into silence.
"Please say something," whispered Harry after many moments.
"You're kidding me..." she sighed in disbelief. "You're kidding me, aren't you, Harry? You're joking."
"I'm dead serious," he muttered.
Ginny went silence. She pursed her lips as she seemed to analyze the situation, and then she burst as a result. She weakly slapped at his chest, bursting out with the raging temper Harry knew her to hold so well. "How could you do that to our son?! You're telling me some Voldemort-wanna-be has been living in our son for three years and you decided to keep it a secret?! You idiot, Harry!"
"I know," he groaned as he took the scolding. "I know. I wasn't thinking."
"A horcrux, Harry! A horcurx!" she blurted.
"I know what it is, Ginny!" he blurted in return. "Trust me, I had one inside me for seventeen years!"
"Oh my gosh," she moaned. "This does explain so much. It explains why he's so different, why he's always so angry! Harry, he has been lost for three years and you're telling me you have the answer to everything he's been questioning? But how? How is it possible that this even happened? No one died Other than Elias, and he sure as hell didnt sacrifice himself for any one member of our family. So how?"
"I think I worked it out. Ive replayed the events in my head and tried to imagine how it happened. I think I figured it out, but I just I'm so sorry..." he whispered.
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to," said Ginny sourly. "You need to apologize to James, and you need to tell him."
James didn't know how long he had been by Al's side for. He knew the day was ending, for the light from the sun had long ago faded from the window. Instead, it was replaced by the black blanket of night, and within Al's ward, nothing had changed. The room was still devastatingly still and quiet, and his brother was too lifeless for his comfort.
James stirred from beside his brother's bed when he heard the door of the ward open. He lifted his head from the mattress, picking Al's hand up from atop his head. He placed it gently on the mattress and turned. He tried to manage a smile for his father, but found he could hardly manage it.
Youre still here, his father said weakly.
Of course I am, replied James, seemingly surprised that Harry would ever think hed be anywhere else. Im not leaving his side.
You should still take care of yourself, Harry said, even though he felt hypocritical as he did so. He hadnt taken care of himself at all today. Like father, like son, he assumed. In so many ways.
"What's taken you so long?" asked James. "And where are the phoenix tears?"
Harry looked to the ground in defeat. He pulled up a chair beside James and looked at him sternly. "I haven't found one yet. But I'm on it, and I have people on it. We'll find one."
"We don't have much time," muttered James, turning his head to look at his brother.
Al's condition had worsened; James could see it in his face. The life had faded from his cheeks. He was even paler than he was when James had first seen him that morning, and out of the top of his hospital gown, his veins were becoming more and more noticeable. In his neck they were growing thick and appearing a dark blue. James knew beneath his gown, along his chest, stomach, arms, and now neck, his veins were growing bluer and bigger as the poison continued to spread.
"He's dying..." whispered James.
"I know," answered Harry reassuringly, "but we will save him."
James only nodded and looked to his nap. He gave a small start when he felt his father take one of his hands, but he accepted the notion gladly. He let his father clasp their hands tight together, and James expected them to fall into silence, but that wasn't at all what happened.
"James, there's something I need to tell you," breathed Harry. He could feel his heart racing, the heat rising to his face. He could feel his panic beginning to swell inside of him, for the moment he hoped would never come had finally arrived. He had hoped and begged that he would never have to see this day. But it was inevitable now. He had to do it.
"And you may hate me for what I have to say," he whispered, "but you need to know."
James swallowed the lump in his throat, and his stomach churned as he grew nauseous. What could be worse than what had already happened? "O-Okay."
"Remember three years ago?" began Harry. "At Azkaban. You thought you were dead."
How could I ever forget..." he muttered.
"We thought you were dead too. Until Norah felt your pulse, that is," said Harry. "There's a lot more to it than you know. We all thought you were dead; we saw Al kill you. Azkaban started to come crashing down. We nearly had to leave your body at the prison, but Norah insisted, and now I'm glad she did. But that's beside the point. The point is that you were right. You should have died, but something in particular kept you alive. I saw it and I knew immediately what it was, but I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It didn't make sense to me, so I decided to hide it from everyone. Until I figured things out at least, but I didn't, and I decided against ever telling you...Now, I...Now - "
"Dad?" asked James uneasily after many moments. He could tell that his father was more reflecting on his regrets than spitting out the truth, so James urged him on. "Would you quit with the riddles? What the hell are you trying to say?"
"Fine. I'm saying that..." began Harry, and he sucked in a deep breath to finally reveal the truth. After three long years. "I'm saying that you have a horcrux inside you. There is someone living inside you."
James blanched. He was still and quiet for many moments. He blinked rapidly, unbelieving of his father's words. He gave him an incredulous look and almost chuckled. "No," he shook his head. "No, that can't be true."
"Give me your wrist," Harry said plainly. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and prepared himself.
James didn't ask any questions, nor did he have to ask which wrist he wanted. James automatically assumed it was the one that always pained him. He let his father take hold of it, and he turned it so his forearm was facing upward. Then Harry tapped the skin of his wrist lightly, saying weakly, "Finite Incantatem."
Then, before James' very eyes, he watched what appeared to be a layer of his skin quickly disappear. The smooth flesh at the base of his wrist faded from his skin, and it exposed something else beneath it. He watched his wrist grow red, and then in the very center of it a scar appeared in the shape of a lightning bolt, blazing red and burning.
James gasped and he clasped it tightly, staring at the scar identical to his father's on his newly exposed flesh.
He seemed to believe he didn't need any more proof than that. This suddenly explained everything. Why his wrist would randomly hurt, why he was alive. He didn't want to believe it, but he did. He yanked his arm away from his father, holding his wrist with his left hand and staring at the scar in horror. He moaned loudly, jumping up from his chair, his bones cracking from hours of sitting, and he began to pace.
"No!" he begged. "No, no, no! You're lying! You have to be lying. This isn't a horcrux. I am not a horcrux! I don't have someone inside me! You didn't keep this from me; you didn't lie to me about this for three damn years! Please tell me you didn't keep this from me!"
"I'm sorry, James," whispered Harry desperately. "I told you you may hate me."
"How could you do this?!" he demanded to know. He held his wrist away from his body as if it were harmful to the touch, as if it would burn his flesh or it was a disgusting thing to behold.
"I couldn't bear to tell you!" said Harry. He didn't realize just how selfish his actions had been three years ago until he voiced it aloud. "I saw it, and I knew. I knew someone was inside you, but I didn't want you to have to go through what I went through. I didn't want you to have to question who you are, to face an identity crisis such as I did when I realized what my scar was! I couldn't bear it. I was just happy you were alive, and that was enough. I panicked. I was only thinking of your best interest. I thought that whole ordeal was over; I thought that scar would be a constant reminder of what we went through, and I just wanted it all to be behind us! I knew you would never move on, and even worse, I got rid of mine by dying. You...I didn't - and still don't - know how to handle yours! What will happen to you when you're old and you die? What will happen to you with that piece of a soul in you?! I panicked, and I needed time to think it through before I panicked you as well! And then I just...I couldn't bring myself to tell you."
"You had no right to keep this from me!" he blurted. "This is my body! This is my life, this is - "
"I know," groaned Harry. "I thought I was making the best decision possible."
James seemed to temporarily forget about his anger with his father, for he was struck with a very different and very vital question. His eyes went wide as he continued to hold out his wrist. He didn't know if he wanted to ask. He didn't know if he truly wanted to know.
"Dad," he asked, his voice nothing more than a whisper, "whose horcrux is this?"
Harry pursed his lips. He didn't want to answer.
James demanded once again to know who resided in his body. "Dad, who is inside me?!"
"Parker Namken..." Harry desolately whispered.
James felt himself grow still. He felt that hole in his stomach, which had weighed him down heavily since his father had said he had something to tell him, grow bigger and sink deeper and deeper. He was briefly so shocked that silence and stillness took over him, and then that tranquil shock quickly faded. It was replaced with the anger he was so used to possessing these days. He growled, and he raised his hands and began to claw at his face with his nails in frustration as he groaned.
"NO!" he roared, unwilling to believe it, but even so he knew it to be true. "No, no, no! NO! He is NOT alive! He is NOT INSIDE ME!"
Harry rose quickly. He briefly thought that perhaps he should have told him this news elsewhere, but he knew that he would have never managed to pull James away from Al's bedside without telling him why. It was inevitable that their conversation would take place at St. Mungo's, but Harry could at least try to help James contain himself as to not attract the attention of the hospital workers. He went to James' side and tried to pry his hands away from his face.
"Shh," he tried to say soothingly to him. "Quiet, James. Just calm down."
"How can I calm down?!" he shouted. "How can I calm down when this bastard is inside me!"
He yanked his wrists out of his father's grasp, and he scanned the room quickly. Harry didn't know what for, and he was caught off guard when James began to scour the room. He went to the table by Al's bed and ran his hands over the contents, knocking over the glass of water, throwing the books onto the floor. He whipped around, his eyes wide and frantic as he was in search for something.
"What are you doing?!" asked Harry in horror as he watched his frantic son.
James was shaking in anger and fright as he continued to look for whatever it was. Then he violently whipped back around, and Harry could see that James was struck with an epiphany. He picked up the glass cup of water he had just knocked over, and he threw it onto the ground. It shattered, water and glass flying off it all directions on the floor. The glass crunched beneath James' shoe as he made way for the largest piece of glass. He snatched it up from the ground, and then Harry, completely mortified, watched him drive the glass into the base of his wrist.
"No, James!" Harry cried out, and he leapt forward. He tried to reach out for the shard of glass in James' grasp.
He watched James wedge it deeper into his wrist, not even crying out or shouting in pain, just grunting as he gouged the glass into his wrist. Blood covered his hand, rolled down the base of his wrist and splattered on the floor. Harry then realized what he was doing. He was trying to cut out his scar; he wanted it gone, and perhaps he thought that detaching the scar from his skin would remove the horcrux.
"I want him out!" begged James. "Out! He has to get out!"
"Stop it!" Harry demanded, and his hands fumbled with James' blood coated ones. His fingers slipped on James' hand with the blood. "Cutting the scar out of your wrist won't get rid of the horcrux! That's not how it works! So stop it! Stop hurting yourself."
Harry finally pried his hand away from the glass, and Harry gently pulled it out of his wrist. He threw it onto the ground, and he clasped his palm over the large wound in the base of his wrist. He applied a decent amount of pressure as to minimize the blood loss. When he had a firm grasp on James' wrist and he knew he wouldn't try to hurt himself anymore, he looked to his son. With his bloodied and free hand, he slapped his palm against his forehead in frustration.
Harry could see the tears forming in his eyes as he squeezed them shut in frustration, and he shook his head, his blood smearing across his forehead as he did so. His words were difficult to decipher as he spoke over his cries.
"He can't, he can't," he cried out. "He can't be in me. I can't be the reason he's alive! Dad, he can't be alive because of me. No. This can't be."
"I'm sorry," was all Harry was able to manage.
James looked to his wrist, to where his fathers hand was clamped over the gaping wound he had caused in his skin. He hated the sight of it. That scar was suddenly a reminder of everything that had gone wrong in his life for the past three years, of why everything was a sudden and never-ending hell hole. It suddenly explained so much. He understood now why he was so angry all the time; because Parker had been a soul full of anger, and of course with a bit of Parker residing inside him, there was no doubting it had had an effect on James' attitude. It had changed him over the years. He knew it was why he was so easily angered these days. He knew why his wrist would randomly hurt him. It explained everything.
James suddenly remembered that day at the coffee shop when he had had his meeting with Clancy. It had hurt an exceptional amount that day. Why? Had he been around Parker? Had he been close to him? He assumed he would recognize the face of the man who had ruined his brother's life and changed his so drastically. He looked to his father and voiced this thought.
"It hurts. All the time, and this is why," he mused. "Not long ago there was a day when it hurt like hell. Why then?"
"I thought about that," answered Harry, for he remembered the day when James had come to the house and had explained how his wrist had hurt him. He remembered asking him questions, hoping to inadvertently gather up some sort of information. Now they could finally fit the pieces together. "Mine always hurt me more when Voldemort was making plans against me or was near me. I think you had to be near Parker that day."
"B-But I was in public," breathed James. "In a muggle coffee shop. I don't understand."
"Think about who you saw, who you met, who you spoke to," encouraged Harry. He had long ago thought that perhaps Clancy's new boyfriend was in fact Parker Namken. James had given Harry the guy's name, sure, but that was no proof at all. It was easy to lie about your name.
"I only met her boyfriend," he rolled his shoulders in questioning. "Nolan. Nolan was his name. Nolan Paxton...N.P. - "
His voice trailed off, and his eyes went wide. N.P. His initials. It was just P.N. backwards. His anger was suddenly back, for he knew everything in that moment. It all came to him. His blanket of ignorance was suddenly lifted off everything; he could see and think clearly. And how had he been so stupid?! He had met Parker again! He had sat with him, he had shaken his hand, he had had a civil conversation with him! He had looked him in the eye, and he hadn't realized the man he truly was beneath it all. How could he have been so stupid?!
"Oh my god..." moaned James. "No, no, no. NO, I can't believe it! I'm such a fucking idiot! I spoke to him! I looked him in the eye and introduced myself. I was nice to him!"
"I know," answered Harry. "I figured it out, but you have to try and control yourself James. Not in here."
At the mention of control, James only discovered more of how this horcrux had affected him. How it had completely changed his life. "Control myself?! This is why I'm so angry now. This is why I get so angry all the time! Because he's such a hateful person, bitter and full of anger! Shit, that's what's happened to me over these three years! It's all him."
James rubbed his forehead, groaning, but Harry kept trying to look him in the eye. "Calm down, Jamie."
"Calm down?!" he demanded to know. "How the hell do I calm down?! I don't know who I am anymore! I knew I had changed; I know I'm different! But this is why! What does that make me?! Huh, Dad? What does that make me?!"
"Stop," pleaded Harry, and he latched onto his son's face. He cupped his narrow jawline with his hands, and rubbed his son's cheeks with his thumbs. He hated seeing James like this. So desperate and so seemingly lost. He knew it was his fault, but this was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. "It makes you my son. My son, James, and nothing less. I know what this feels like. Believe me. I didn't know who I was either, but you have to trust me. You're no different."
James seemed to momentarily give into his father's consoling, for he closed his eyes under his father's touch and briefly nodded, but then he seemed to jolt back to reality. He beat his father's hands away from his face, and he shook his head in protest, backing away from his father.
"No!" protested James. "No. I am different. I'm not me. And it's all your fault."
He made way for the door. He needed to leave. He had to think all this through; it was too much to take in.
"Where are you going?!" asked Harry in surprise.
"Away from here. Away from you. I have to think," he said, and then he violently whipped back around to face his father, and he pointed a threatening finger at him, "but you are going to go find a phoenix! You are going to save my brother. You're the reason he's dying in that bed anyways..."
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Jack Hanna Films Show at Big Cat Rescue
Thank you every one who made the Jack Hanna show a success. He loved the placeand said he will keep coming back to help support what we are all about. He said no where has he ever seen a place where the cats had so much room and such thoughtful planning for the cat's natural behaviors. He couldn't get over the soft gloss of their coats, the abundance of things for them to do and how content they all seem. He was amazed that you are all volunteers and how you come from such diversified walks of life.
They may come back for more film footage before the final product is aired. The show called Jack Hanna's Wild Adventures aired on Sat. morning at 8:00 am (11:30 some places) on NBC April 29 and May 6, 2000. If you missed the program you can order it for $10.35 at www.junglestore.com and ask for Show #2165 Big Cat Rescue. Jack's promotional description reads: "In Tampa, more than 200 unwanted, abused or abandoned animals, most of them exotic cats, have it made for the rest of their lives at the sanctuary on Easy Street. Jack finds out from the founder of Big Cat Rescue that caring for 23 species of cats, including Bengal Tigers, Barbary Lions, Leopards, Lynx, Ocelots and Caracals is a labor of love." Thanks again for making this a huge success!
We did lots of every day things the day Jack Hanna came to Big Cat Rescue. We rescued a pair of cougars who were homeless as the result of a divorce. Big Cat Rescuers were on the road three days to pick them up and deliver them safely to Big Cat Rescue. Here they are being unloaded by Jack Hanna, and Volunteers Jon McKinney, & Scott Lope while Carole Baskin looks on.
Here he is with Volunteers, Scott Lope, Daniel Capiro, Victor Alonso, Jon McKinney, Veterinarian Dr. Stacie Wadsworth and Carole Baskin releasing the rescued cougars, Cody and Missouri into their new Cat-A-Tats at Big Cat Rescue.
Big Cat Rescue does not allow contact with the big cats between guest or volunteers any longer.
At right, Jack Hanna participates in the Feeding Frenzy and hand feeds Sarabi the lioness, while Judah, the Barbary Lion awaits his turn in the background. Jack Hanna has raised 18 lions in the past.
At left, Jack Hanna joins a school group on tour which is being led Big Cat Rescue's Educational Director. They are stopped in front of Jumanji the black leopard. Education is the key to Saving Cats in the Wild and our survival.
We also filmed a successful opossum release but don't have still photos available. Jack Hanna was really smitten with our rare White Servals but they were being shy and we didn't get any film of him with these exceptional cats. Jack Hanna was kind enough to sign autographs for all the Volunteers and to answer all of our questions. We feel privileged to have had him spend this beautiful day with us and hope he will revisit whenever he's in town.
|Here he is seen with Mocha the Bearcat, Might Joe the Ringtailed Lemur and Makia the Brown Lemur.On January 21, 2000 Jack Hanna visited Big Cat Rescue and filmed an episode for his Saturday morning show called Jack Hanna's Wild Adventures.
|Big Cat Rescue President, Jamie Veronica and Jack Hanna at Big Cat Rescue during film shoot.
|Jack Hanna and Founder, Carole Baskin break for a photo opportunity as the camera man tries to retrieve all of his equipment from the lemur and bearcat enclosure behind them.
Note: We no longer allow contact with the cats here and haven't for a very long time.
Show transcript:
Back to Big Cat Rescue Celebrities
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subset: commoncrawl


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Buying tech on a budget? These 15 gadgets are the very best on the market for their price — from speakers to content streamers, coffee machines, and computer peripherals.
When it comes to portable systems, thin and light is the modern day mantra, and they don't come much thinner or lighter than the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. But being thin and light brings with it compromises, but by adding a few essential accessories into the mix, you can create a mobile working platform that is second to none.
Back due to popular demand – all the parts you need to build a sub-$300 PC. Want a good, solid PC but don't want to spend the earth or trust an OEM with the job? Read on.
While the cloud has appeared just in time to offer free and easy access to gigabytes of storage space, some people like to keep their data close to hand. Here are some of the best portable storage devices money can buy that will help you keep your data safe.
Even new handsets can break or go missing. Safeguard your precious photos with easy-to-use cloud services that deliver massive amounts of storage for low or no cost.
Cloudera chief architect Doug Cutting talks about the in-memory and cloud-related tech that will soon allow Hadoop to squeeze more value from big data.
IBM researchers are demoing an intelligent storage system that works something like your brain. Here's how it works.
Is there a case for more than 8GB of RAM? Sure there is, but the bang for the buck trails off.
Securely erasing drives before you sell a computer keeps your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Good news: it's easier than ever to fully erase data.
Erasing functioning hard drives is easy, but how do you prevent data from being recovered from dead or dying hard drives?
Introduction video for the July 2015 special feature on enterprise storage
ioSafe's CEO Robb Moore visited ZDNet UK's offices to show off the company's fireproof, waterproof, shockproof, crushproof and theftproof external hard drives and SSDs
At an Apple press event in New York City, executives from the company announce a new initiative to reinvent textbooks. The new software will attempt to unify online databases and the printed word into a single tool for students.
At Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison discusses the company's new cloud offering. Ellison says: "The key difference is that our cloud is based on industry standards and supports full operability with other clouds and data centers on-premise."
At the RSA 2011 conference here in San Francisco, technology futurist Paul Saffo talks to eBay's chief security information officer about how the company's intent on building an eBay version in the cloud to handle its growth. The private cloud will have the ability to run in its own data center or with a third-party data center.
At the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, new company President Mark Hurd introduces Exadata X2-8, an upgrade to the current Exadata system. The new system offers better processor performance, more memory, and full database encryption.
Would you like to charge your mobile phone without ever having to plug into an electrical outlet? The University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University are both developing materials to enable the storage of energy inside clothing. ZDNet correspondent Sumi Das explores the schools' work on "smart" clothes.
At Oracle's OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, CEO Larry Ellison previews the company's Exadata Version 2 computer. He says the new database computer is designed for online transaction processing and data warehousing. He adds that Exadata 2 can do faster processing at a much lower cost than can its biggest competitor, IBM.
Experts address the issue of confidence in the cloud for important data storage
A charger cable that also backs up and restores your phone, MEEM is easy to use and works well. The only drawback is a relatively steep price.
This Lightning and USB 2.0 flash drive is useful, but also shows how iOS makes it complicated to work with files.
The latest version of Disk Director gives PC enthusiasts and IT departments the tools to handle the latest hardware and software platforms.
With two high-performance memory modules onboard, this implementation of LSI's popular MegaRAID HBA uses flash to cache frequently accessed data, boosting storage performance without the upheaval or cost of switching from magnetic disk to SSD.
This major update of Dell's Compellent storage technology adds an additional tier of low-cost MLC SSD drives. Also in the mix is a new high-density HDD enclosure, plus deduplication and compression for the Fluid File system clustering option.
With everything needed to take backups and recover data in one self-contained appliance, Barracuda Backup is an economic and easy-to-use solution. It also offers scalable replication both to other appliances and the cloud, with fast live booting of backup images locally or in the cloud another key benefit.
The ioSafe Solo is bulkier, heavier, slower and more expensive than less robust external drives. But it works well enough, and if you need your data to survive being burned and flooded, you can put your trust in this device.
The ioSafe Rugged Portable isn't the smallest, lightest, fastest or most affordable external hard drive, but it performs well enough and is extremely rugged. If you really need to protect your data on the road, look no further.
Network storage doesn't come much easier than this, with very little expertise needed to manage the 12-bay Drobo B1200i. It's also fast, with three iSCSI ports, lots of redundancy and data-aware tiering — just like enterprise products costing a great deal more.
A scalable network storage appliance best suited to datacentres in mid-sized companies, the RackStation RS3412xs lacks enterprise-class features — but that's reflected in the price.
D-Link's no-frills approach to NAS will be attractive to businesses who need the storage basics without unnecessary complications. But those looking for a 'do-anything' system should look elsewhere.
The ReadyNAS NV+ v2 is nicely designed and built, and Netgear's X-RAID2 technology does a good job of managing the 4-bay array discreetly. The web-based management tool's redesigned UI is an improvement, but we'd like to see more more add-ons for the new ARM-based platform.
The QNAP TS-419P II holds its own on features in the competitive NAS market, although it's let down in some of the smaller details such as locking drive bays.
The N4200PRO is a flexible four-bay NAS enclosure with some good extras. It's fairly easy to manage, has a wide range of modular applications and performs well. The integrated mini-UPS is a great idea, giving added peace of mind in critical environments.
A highly scalable and very flexible NAS/iSCSI appliance, Synology's DS3611xs has performance and capacity to spare. It will appeal to mid-sized companies requiring fast and reliable access to large amounts of data.
IBM launches flash arrays for smaller enterprises, aims to court EMC, Dell customers


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Feb 16 | Shawn Micallef at Toronto's Kiever Synagogue
Shawn Micallef's off-kilter guidebook, Stroll, has been credited by adoring readers for opening their eyes to the intriguing and colouful histories embedded in Toronto's architecture. Appropriately, Micallef will participate in a panel discussion entitled 'Lost and Found Spaces: Buildings, cities and the stories they tell,' in the company of urban photographer David Kaufman and architectural historian Sara Ferdman Tauben, who'll be launching her new book, Traces of the Past: Montreal's Early Synagogues.
The event is presented by Makom, a progressive, Toronto-based Jewish community organization.
All are welcome. Expect refreshments, music and book signings after the talk.
Admission is $5 at the door.
Read the full event listing here.


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The Corona McLeod Fire Tool features tempered steel tines for maximum strength and long service life. 48"L American Ash wood handle allows you to work in an upright position to help reduce back strain. Versatile—use the McLeod Tool for raking, scraping, grubbing and tamping. Meets performance specifications of the U.S. Forest Service.
© 2016 Ariens Specialty Brands LLC
CAGE Code: 3ZEL7 | DUNS: 18-854-1176
Reference Number: WB0000


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Discovery Center Museum
711 N. Main St.
Rockford, IL
Unwanted pumpkins become parking lot projectiles when flung from our giant trebuchet!
Bring your used pumpkins, create your own catapult, and learn how to lob for a smashing good time!
Included with Museum admission:
$7 adults
$7 children
Members and kids age 1 and younger are free.


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The table below looks at the statistics for knowledge and experience of Q1 Labs products and/or services in IT jobs advertised for the Bracknell region. Included is a guide to the salaries offered in IT jobs that have cited Q1 Labs over the 3 months to 29 August 2016 with a comparison to the same period in the previous 2 years.
The figures below represent the IT labour market in general and are not representative of salaries within Q1 Labs.
The following table is for comparison with the above and provides statistics for the entire Vendors category in permanent jobs advertised in the Bracknell region.


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A stretched canvas print is a print on canvas that has been stretched over a frame.
Stretched Canvas Prints are ready to hang. They do not require any additional framing
or matting.
Resembling the dispersal of light through a prism, this print by Sam Falls is surprisingly emblematic of his work as a photographer, which he began dabbling in due to an early interest in physics and the physical perception of light and color.


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Layvin Kurzawa's opener for the visitors after the break was cancelled out by Montpellier's on-loan AC Milan forward M'Baye Niang, who followed up to score on his league debut after his penalty was saved by Danijel Subasic midway through the half.
Monaco stayed second in the standings with 42 points from 20 games, two points behind PSG who travel to bottom club AC Ajaccio on Saturday (1600 GMT).
Montpellier, the 2012 champions, remained one place above the relegation zone in 17th with 18 points and are now four points clear of the bottom three.
"we can't be satisfied as we wanted all three points but we knew Montpellier would be aggressive," Monaco midielder Joao Mountinho told BeIN Sport.
"Let's focus on keeping that second place for now but we still have the title in the back of our minds."
Monaco lead third-placed Lille, who host Stade Reims on Sunday, by two points.
After a dull opening half, Monaco went ahead when fullback Kurzawa headed home from James Rodriguez's free kick.
But Eric Abidal, again the weak spot in the Monaco defence, brought down Remy Cabella in the area in the 67th minute.
Although Subasic parried 19-year-old Niang's penalty, the striker tapped in the rebound to earn a share of the points.
- Sports & Recreation
- Soccer
- Montpellier


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Definition of stagnate in English:
verb[no object]
1(Of water or air) cease to flow or move; become stagnant.
Example sentences
- Pointed out was the fact that due to the closure of these sluice gates there was no flow of water, resulting in water stagnating in the khazan lands.
- 'So every time it rains, water stagnates there, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying the malaria virus,' he added.
- The still waters stagnate as discarded bottles float to the surface.
stop flowing, become stagnant, become trapped;
become foul, become stale;
fester, putrefy
1.1Cease developing; become inactive or dull: teaching can easily stagnate into a set of routines (as adjective stagnating) stagnating consumer confidence
More example sentences
- It does not require an Einstein to see that traffic does not flow it stagnates around Chippenham.
- Relationships have to keep moving forward or they stagnate and die.
- The exchange rate went up, and the economy stagnated for six years.
languish, decline, deteriorate, fall, become stagnant, do nothing, stand still, tread water, be sluggish
Mid 17th century: from Latin stagnat- 'settled as a still pool', from the verb stagnare, from stagnum 'pool'.
Words that rhyme with stagnateabate, ablate, aerate, ait, await, backdate, bait, bate, berate, castrate, collate, conflate, crate, create, cremate, date, deflate, dictate, dilate, distraite, donate, downstate, eight, elate, equate, estate, fate, fête, fixate, freight, frustrate, gait, gate, gestate, gradate, grate, great, gyrate, hate, hydrate, inflate, innate, interrelate, interstate, irate, Kate, Kuwait, lactate, late, locate, lustrate, mandate, mate, migrate, misdate, misstate, mistranslate, mutate, narrate, negate, notate, orate, ornate, Pate, placate, plate, prate, prorate, prostrate, pulsate, pupate, quadrate, rate, rotate, sate, sedate, serrate, short weight, skate, slate, spate, spectate, spruit, state, straight, strait, Tate, tête-à-tête, Thwaite, translate, translocate, transmigrate, truncate, underrate, understate, underweight, update, uprate, upstate, up-to-date, vacate, vibrate, wait, weight
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: stag·nate
Definition of stagnate in:
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
= trending


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Canning Jar Hummingbird Feeder
This handmade feeder creates a rustic look wherever you hang it. Handmade in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Hummingbird Canning Feeder has a one-piece copper carriage for easy hanging and two flowered feeding stations. Feeder will hold 1 pint of hummingbird nectar. Add a little country to any porch. Approximately 8'' high and 5'' wide.
Manufacturer model #: 2010.
- Handcrafted
- 1-piece copper carriage
- 2 flowered feeding stations
Need Help? 7 days a week: 7am to 10pm CT or call 1.800.227.7776 anytime


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Rafa Benitez is close to finishing his worst season as Liverpool manager. After such a campaign it is not only fair but necessary to ask the big questions. For example: what has contributed to this year's regression? Who is to blame? Is it the manager's fault? But what is more important than the questions themselves is a sober, representative analysis of them.
I think that Benitez is an easy man for the English press to dislike. His impersonal managerial style, ruthlessness with regards to player roles within his formation (employing Gerrard wide midfield in much of 05/06 a case in point), and a tactical acumen perhaps more appreciated in foreign shores all contribute to a less-than-flattering media portrait. On many occasions the epithet 'lucky' has preceded the utterances of his name with media commentators levelling three criticisms in his direction: his 2005 Champions League success was with an 'inherited' team, his transfer activity has exhibited terrible judgment, and that his tactics are either costly (zonal marking) or too negative.
The first claim can only bear any weight due to Carragher and Gerrard. The truth is however that Carragher only became the stalwart he is now because Benitez moved him into the centre of defence and Gerrard, I'd argue, has become a better player under Benitez (as mentioned here). Furthermore I think it would be short sighted and naively nostalgic to suggest that Reina, Carragher, Agger, Johnson, Kuyt, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard and Torres are not an improvement on Dudek, Finnan, Cisse, Traore, Diouf, Baros et al.
Benitez's transfer activity has had its flaws fixated on heavily in the media. Consider the purchase and hasty sale of Robbie Keane (a large portion of the fee recouped) and the attention it garnered in comparison to a Shevchenko or a Veron. All managers get it wrong and Benitez is no different but he certainly has had his hits (Reina, Mascherano, Alonso, Torres) underplayed and his misses (Keane, Riera, Voronin, Pennant, Morientes are some that stand out) augmented. As for this season, Johnson offers the team a much needed attacking option from full back and, though he has made mistakes this term, is young enough to learn the positional awareness required to be a good defender. Any judgment on Aquilani must wait until the player has had an uninterrupted run of games and, while we may reprimand a manager for purchasing a long term injury, what we cannot do is prematurely brand the player a flop.
The discussion on Benitez's tactics is indicative of the critical bias that pervades media commentary. Zonal marking is a glaring example of this; Liverpool consistently boast a stubborn defence and concede less than most teams in the league from set pieces yet when a mistake is made the reactionary defensive experts on Match of the Day castigate 'the system'. The fact that man marking is an alternative does not mean it must be employed – looking over a long enough time period shows that Liverpool are successful exponents of zonal marking.
Finally the argument that Benitez's style is too defensive, too negative, is an aesthetic judgment that should temper the necessity to win alongside a need to entertain; a winning fan base is entertained. Last season there were no attacks on the team's tactics (they scored the most in the league) because the crucial difference is they were winning matches. I do think that Liverpool are prone to being overly cautious (especially this year: see here) but isn't this discipline and defensive rigidity the very reason that they, under Benitez, have performed to a consistently high level in two legged Champions League affairs (two finals, a semi final and a quarter final)? Is the manager perhaps doing the best he has with what's available, hence the focus on being defensively sound instead of attempting an overtly attacking game?
I think it would be a mistake to blame Rafa Benitez unanimously for Liverpool's terrible campaign: Gerrard has had his worst season on record, Torres has been frustratingly sidelined, and the club's financial descent coupled with an unforgiving media that have a tendency to side against him has all taken a cumulative toll. My criticism of Benitez this year would be that his lack of man-management has at times cost him. When players have needed to be inspired to perform, to find their best on an afternoon where everything seems hopeless, there has been no indication that the manager has offered anything (of course this is purely speculative from my part).
When Gerrard is off form and Torres is unavailable other players need to maximise their output and it just hasn't materialised this year. I would also argue that last season the team overachieved with many players doing exactly what has been lacking this year: playing beyond their means. The judgment is not an attempt to slander but rather a curious observation on the psychology of confidence in the professional game. Barring Alonso the team is largely unchanged yet the output of its players has markedly decreased since a mentally taxing previous year. The question of whether sacking Benitez is the right course of action leads me to reject the notion completely. This is a proven manager, not a 'lucky' manager, who broke the stranglehold of Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga by twice becoming Champions with Valencia (and a Uefa Cup to boot). And since coming to Anfield the club has won a Champions League (competed again for the crown two years later) and, twelve months ago, accumulated enough points to win the league in most years. One bad season cannot change these facts. The reaction to one bad season however can steer the club either to failure, or success.
If you enjoyed this, you can follow me on Twitter
Not a bad article with some reasoned points, however for some time the "expert pundits" have been under the same illusion that you seem to suffer from. Liverpool don't play zonal marking they employ part man to man and part zonal just like most of the other teams do.
Good lord, a rational, intelligent, balanced and well-thought out piece.
You'll not last long on here!
Spot on!!! and well done.The minority, calling for Rafa to go, need to snap out of it and, realise that we have one of the top 5 managers in the world!!!!!.
Spot on mate, all the doubters should ask themselves one question why has Rafa come under this unprecedented attack from pundits and press is it that they all love liverpool or is it that they see Rafa as the eventual threat to Man U I think the answer is not difficult do you.
You have it spot on. Thanks for this the article. I am sure that the true liverpool fans will distinguish that the issues leading to lower thanpar performance cannot be loaded on RB. He definitely needs our support
Agree with most of your points, good article.
For me the season did not kick off well and we have been chasing ever since. Why did we not start well ? Rafa did not get the players that both he and the team were expecting. Without those key roles filled, it created strain on the plans Rafa had.
Also the media tend to bang on about injuries at Arsenal, and United, but Liverpool has had a heap of players out injured for periods of time.
Don't blame a poor season just on Rafa, there were players, owners, media and financial issues that hampered us too.
Great balanced view. I 100% agree with the observation of Benitez: a very good manager but one who appears to lack man-management skills (Riera's outburst seems to highlight that).
His high turnover of players suggests he could have done better on the team building front, but given other managerial options that could take over at Liverpool, he still seems the best bet to push Liverpool forward to a title.
Spot on although I fear that the malaise has run deeper and Benitez will struggle to continue with the dressing room no longer behind him. Torres has been unequivocal in his support of Benitez in the past but that relationship also appears to have broken down – evidence of his poor management that you allude to.
Overall, I believe his legacy will be that he restored Liverpool to Europe's elite with a record over his tenure that no other manager can match – yet ultimately underperformed in the league. In the context of the mess that Houllier left us in, it has been a good but far from great reign
the disgraceful stench at lfc tht is rafa benitez must go. All you deluded "fans" can send as many emails as you like, but the fact remains rafa is not adaptable, he has been worked out by every team in europe, to the point where even Reading ca beat us. He has to go. If rafa stays, we are setting ourselves up to drift furthur away from winning anything.


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Navigation: Home : Chevrolet : 1957 Chevrolet Belair 2 Door Coupe
1957 Chevy Belair 2 Door Coupe. Beautiful head turner and runs great. Two door hard top (no post). All original parts. Frame off restoration. Pretty much everything on this car is original, down to the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror. Original 283 V8(engine rebuilt four years ago by Jasper). Dual exhaust. Powerglide automatic transmission. Paint and body in excellent shape but some rust on bumpers - I was planning to have them re-chromed if I were to keep the car. Otherwise not much to fix. Interior also in excellent shape. I put in four new radial whitewall tires; the spare is the original(never used). Matador Red and Ivory classic combination. Interior is red and black. Padded red dash. Manual windows work smoothly. No a/c. Odometer 7900. Garaged.
Contact Information:
Ahmed M.
Bethesda, MD
Phone: 301-229-7330
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Best Time to Call: Evening
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1957 Chevrolet Belair 2 Door Coupe brought to you by OldCars.com classic car classifieds


text:
August 28, 2016
The weather is not cooperating with Colorado's largest hot air balloon event.
The 27th Colorado Balloon Classic was expected to draw some 250 thousand spectators.
But far fewer people have been willing to brave the rainy, cold weather.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover was still a Pittsburg councilman in 1997 when he dreamed up a special event for teens in his city.
"It was called a youth conference then," he said, "and it was centered around education. We wanted to engage youths and find out what their interests were."
Fewer than 300 attended, as he recalls, and the scope of activities was minimal. But that effort laid the foundation for what would become an annual event -- Federal Glover's Youth Summit -- featuring speakers, performers, educational workshops and growing numbers of participants for a daylong program.
More than 800 youths from 26 schools attended Saturday's 14th edition at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, where motivational speaker Shaun Derik kicked off the day with a rhythmic, hand-clapping presentation that packed a lot of messages into 45 minutes.
He told his audience that he was criticized and lacking self-esteem as a youth before a music instructor complimented his piano playing one day. ("The first compliment I ever received," he said.) The lesson was not lost: Words can be powerful -- for good or bad -- and people need to be careful how they use them.
He also learned that being good at something required practice. Being better required more. If he wanted to be a great musician, he had to practice until he was.
"Success doesn't happen by accident," he said. "It happens on purpose."
During a high-energy performance that featured comedy, dance and song, Derik shared messages that resonated with the crowd: 1) Surround yourself with friends you admire; 2) Decide who you are, or others will decide for you; and 3) Always look forward, not backward.
"Do you know why windshields are bigger than rearview mirrors?" he asked. "It's because what's in front of you is so much more important than what's behind you."
Glover said each year's goal is to find a speaker who can "inspire our young people to talk about the issues that are going on in their lives -- someone who's motivational with a clear message."
Saturday's event invited youngsters to attend any of 18 workshops in morning and afternoon sessions, with topics ranging from employment tips and financial literacy to cyber-bullying and dating violence. Experts in CPR were on hand to demonstrate the basics for any youngsters thinking about signing up for a full-day course.
Glover said bells and whistles have been added as the Youth Summit has evolved. Saturday's lunchtime break was a virtual three-ring circus. A helicopter from the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office and a fire engine from the Contra Costa Fire District were available for inspection. The Pittsburg police K-9 division went through exercises. The Antioch Martial Arts Academy offered a karate demonstration. Food was prepared by New Mecca restaurant.
Funding came from several sources, including the Keller Canyon Community Grant Fund, Calpine Energy, NGR, Shell and Phillips 66. Other participants included nonprofits such as the Youth Service Bureau and Contra Costa Crisis Center, with representatives on hand to explain their services.
Before youngsters left, they received bus pass vouchers and advice on how to navigate the transit system safely. It was a lot packed into one day.
Glover's brainstorm, hatched 17 years ago, has come a long way.
Contact Tom Barnidge at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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MARTINSBURG - Delores and Dale Bailey shared their life stories recently with folks at Berkeley Senior Services, revealing the lovely people and dear friends that they are.
Delores was born on Jan. 23, 1937, to Norman and Wilda Alice McCleary Puffinburger, at Points. She is the third of nine children.
The family lived in Levels, starting out in a small house without electricity and a spring for water. There was no bathroom and they washed in a small wash pan, and larger tub for Saturday night bathing.
Article Photos
(Submitted photo)
Delores and Dale Bailey are longtime volunteers at the Berkeley Senior Services location in Martinsburg, where they are charter members of the center's walking club that meets on Wednesday mornings.
Life was full of chores, and everyone helped. Dee helped plant and weed a garden, picked the vegetables at harvest time and helped can them for winter. She picked peaches in the day and worked in the packing house at night. She helped her dad get wood and carry it in for the stoves, and there were always lots of inside chores too.
Dee went to Levels Grade School - which grew from two to three rooms over the years. It was heated with a potbelly stove and was always open, even during snowstorms.
Dee walked about a mile to catch the bus to Romney High, and rode it for an hour to get to school.
"I studied my lessons by coal oil lamps. My mother always had food on the table and made and baked bread every other day. ... We never locked our house doors. People were honest. We knew everyone," she recalled.
Dee was raised in the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren. She remembers well the two weeks of revival services each year, when the Sunday meeting was all day. Everyone brought food to share for the noon meal outside on tables under the trees, then back for more services after the meal. Vacation Bible School week each summer was a fond memory too.
When Dee was a teenager she went to a Christmas program at the Bethel Methodist Church. She's so glad she did, because she met Dale that night, the man who became her husband.
The night after the Christmas program, Dale came to Dee's church and offered her a ride home. Their friendship began and they started dating.
Dee graduated from Romney High School in May of 1955, and she and Dale were married in June the same year in Cumberland, Md., after dating about 18 months.
Dee and Dale lived in Romney for about two and half years, and she was called to the Martinsburg Computing Center, where she worked for 23 years, retiring at age 58.
Dale's life began near Paw Paw in 1934. He was the fifth of eight children born to Leonard and Emily (Jane Ashbrook) Parrill Bailey. Three of his siblings are still living.
The family was living in Paw Paw when the war broke out. The street lights would be turned off during blackouts, and there were ration stamps, and stamp books for war bonds.
The family moved to Hampshire County around 1942, and Dale attended Bethel Grade School, a two-room school house, for several years. When he was around 9, he went to live with his Aunt Julia and Uncle Bill Parrill, to help on their farm. Dale worked hard at his duties, like carrying water from the spring and cutting wood for cooking and heat. Also, there was no electric in that area until 1952, so Dale, like Dee, studied by coal-oil lamps. Telephones did not come until 1954, but a battery-operated radio provided entertainment.
Dale accepted the Lord in 1949 at the Bethel Methodist Church during a revival service. He attended Paw Paw High School in Morgan County.
After graduating in 1952, Dale went to Moundsville to work with his cousin Early Wayne Parrill. Later, he went to work in the ammunition area, and then finally, in data processing at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pa., along with 17 others from Hampshire County and Paw Paw area. At that time almost everyone left the area to find work, and most went to Baltimore or Washington, D.C. Dale went home every weekend with his buddies. They would travel back roads in his 1936 Chevy, with hopes of spotting the Puffinburger girls of Levels, one of which was Delores, taking a Sunday stroll. Levels is on the Jersey Mountain, and Dale lived on the east end of Spring Gap Mountain, with around 13 miles between them.
The 13-mile gap was soon depleted when Dee and Dale officially met at his church Christmas program and later married.
Dale was drafted into the Army in 1956 at age 22. Dale was inducted in Fairmont, went via train to Ft. Jackson, S.C., then flew to Ft. Hood, Texas, where he trained for six months as the 553rd Armored Infantry Battalion of the 4th Armored Division.
In 1957, Dale's whole battalion was sent to West Germany, assigned to the 3rd Armored Division, where they were on maneuvers nine months of the year, or at a large training area in the south of West Germany.
After Germany, he went to Fort Dix, N.J., then served two years in the active reserves and two years inactive. When he returned to Chambersburg, Dale went back to work at Letterkenny Army Depot in data processing, until transferring to Martinsburg Computing Center in 1969. He retired in 1989, after 36 years, at age 55.
Dale and Dee raised three children. Their son Wendell lives in Alexandria, Va. Their daughter Wendy lives in Virginia Beach, Va., and their son Ward lives in Flagstaff, Ariz. They have four grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, and always enjoy spending time with them.
They attend the First Baptist Church in Martinsburg, and have been married for 55 years.
Dale and Dee have been volunteers at the Senior Center in different capacities over the years and have made many friends. They are charter members of the center's walking club that meets on Wednesday mornings.
Anyone who would like more information on Berkeley Senior Services programs, volunteer opportunities or donations can contact Kevin Knowles at 304-263-8873, ext. 130.


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Project Description
Construction Updates
Weekly Project Meetings
Maps & Documents
Project Contacts
The City of New Germany is undertaking a City-Wide construction project to improve the City's streets and utilities. The project includes the reconstruction of the sanitary sewer, watermain, storm sewer, bituminous surfacing and concrete curb and gutter.
The affected streets include:
Construction is anticipated to start in mid-June 2012 and continue through July of 2013. The Contractor will complete the construction in several different phases. Access to businesses will remain open as much as possible. Traffic will be detoured around the Construction sites via construction signing.
Bolton & Menk, Inc. is an eminently qualified firm providing professional engineering and surveying services to public clients in the Upper Midwest and private clients throughout the world.


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The Broke and the Beautiful: Pop Music Edition
This week on The Broke and the Beautiful, the company that hosted Michael Jackson's memorial concert danced into administration. We also report on a TLC band member falling into bankruptcy and boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman's bankruptcy trustee's bad news for Ponzi-scheme victims.
The company that put on deceased pop star Michael Jackson's memorial concert in Wales has moonwalked into administration. According to the Western Mail, Global Live Events LLP was formed in March by producers Michael Henry and Chris Hunt, who both left the partnership the day of the concert—Oct. 8. The company, which has offices in London, New York and Los Angeles, held the concert without support from several of Jackson's family members.
TLC band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins may have fallen from the limelight in the early 2000s, but she crept back into it after reports of her recent bankruptcy filing broke out. Watkins filed for Chapter 13 protection on Halloween (h/t TMZ), and court documents show she owes money on her Mercedes, has medical debt and is $105,000 behind on the mortgage for her Atlanta home. Included in Watkins's estimated monthly $8,821 in expenditures are $200 worth of clothes and $300 in laundry and dry cleaning expenses (guess she's not scrubbing them herself).
The bankruptcy trustee for Ponzi-scheme operator and boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman may be breaking victims' hearts and making them cry. As the Orlando Sentinel noted, trustee Soneet Kapila said the recent $7.5 million settlement with MTV will, instead of repaying victims, cover other litigation toward recovering more money linked to the Ponzi scheme, which duped investors out of $300 million and lasted for more than a decade. "It is not because we want to hold on to the money," Kapila said. "But the bank litigation…is going to be the driving force in any future distribution to the victims."
You can bet that the trustee for businessman Bradley Ruderman is happy this week after he settled a high stakes poker claim with actor Tobey Maguire. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Maguire's agreement with Chapter 7 trustee Howard Ehrenberg called for him to pay $80,000 and to report that he hasn't received more money than those winnings from Ruderman. Maguire also denied knowing about Ruderman's Ponzi scheme.
In the same week that Fox Sports failed to put Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig on the witness stand in the Los Angeles Dodgers case, the beleaguered ballclub may have dug out a new bidder. According to the Los Angeles Times, TV and radio host Larry King has teamed up with Dodgers suitor Dennis Gilbert, who'd be managing partner if his group won the team. "It would be a thrill of a lifetime to be a part owner…of a team I grew up rooting for," King told CNN.
Lenny Dysktra pleaded guilty to grand-theft auto in October, and this week, the New York Daily News nailed Dysktra's first post-plea interview. In the interview, the baseball player turned financial guru said he realized his addictions and ego cost him his fortune. Dysktra said his demons came in the forms of alcohol, pain pills, party drugs and the high he got from spending money. "The way I lived my life helped me in baseball. But when you're spending $28,000 for a bottle of wine and liking it? Nothing was ever enough," he said.
-Katy Stech contributed to this article.


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Absolutely top quality tall boots in soft leather. Zip and elastic at back and laces up the whole front.
After every ride, dampen a clean sponge and wring thoroughly. Wipe to clean. Dry off with clean towel.
I have had my boots for like 2/3 years now and they are still in perfect condition! They wear extremly well and i use them for everyday riding and for competitions! always get compliments towards them in my bsja group! defiantly recommend, super boots!Written on by Anonymous
These boots are very smart and unique in style but also practical, confortable and surprisingly warm .. I wear them everyday for several hours and they are wearing really well. Will definately buy another pair and recommend to other. Good purchase and worth the money.Written on by Anonymous
I Purchased these looks because they were different then any other boot I've seen but I can honestly say they were the most comfortable to as well almost no break in would buy these again.Written on by Poptarttocool
Love my boots, love the comments that I get when riding in then, and just generally love them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very sad that pony or riding club wont let me ride compete in them, even thought they have a perfectly great traditional foot, but hey ho. Have had to buy a plain black pair as well especially for them, but wont be giving up my horze boots for a while!!Written on by H
I bought these boots almost a year ago as a Christmas present for myself. On the initial pair that I bought one of the snaps over the heel broke and I had to return them. Fortunately I decided to get a second pair and these held up perfectly. Overall I love these boots because of their unique design and quick break-in time. The elastic laces make them super comfy and the special lining keeps them cool in summer and warm in winter. A few things did not work so well, the clip that holds the laces kept coming off and I eventually lost one. I am not sure where to find a replacement, so currently I have to tie a knot. The other thing is that these boots have extremely thin soles. They are not super comfy to ride or walk in for any extended amount of time. This may be due to the fact that I am used to the super nice foot bed in my other tall boots from a different maker. The leather on these boots is ok quality - would not pay full price though. I'd say the leather is on the soft/thin side which makes the boots "collapse" and the foot looks a bit "worn" instead of keeping a nice shape. However, the fun factor is undeniable and I get loads of complements on the look.Written on by Colorado Girl
Overall a reliable comfy boot. They have a different look to them and are adjustable to calf size.Written on by Mel
I have been searching for ages for a tall boot that will fit my calves. I don't have a HUGE calf but it has muscle (not fat) so it doesn't squish well into other tall boots (AT ALL!). I was at the Mane Event in Red Deer 2014 and I was going back to another booth to buy a pair that didn't quite fit my feet but I needed a pair for an upcoming show. I passed a small corner booth and I looked at them initially because I thought they looked weird because they were not the traditional all black boot. Once I asked to try them on (they were less than half the price of the other pair I was going to buy) the lady told me that you can undo the laces, do up the zipper and then tie the laces to your calf size and I fell in love. For my first pair of boots I couldn't have gotten better quality, a better fit and a better price. I'm so glad SOMEONE came up with this idea of the laces :) The only con I have is that I have to go buy longer elastics because my calf size doesn't allow me to use every hole and still have enough to put through the flap at the top…but it doesn't bother me none :DWritten on by MeggyMagoo
As the heat of summer bears down upon us, it can make saddling up to go for a ride a dreaded, rather than an anticipated, activity. But it doesn't have to be that way – there are countless ways that you can keep yourself cool in the saddle during the summer. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
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A good pair of tall boots can make your outfit appear polished and stylish. For some competitions, tall boots are a necessity. Here are some things you'll want to consider when buying a pair of tall boots.
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Many dressage tests are lost in the warm-up ring. Often with the right preparation and planning you can avoid many of the "warm-up traps" that can unravel you and your horse...
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Cold weather can often cause an unpleasant experience for both horse and rider. Therefore, it is important to take proper precautions when it is wet, cold, and uncomfortable outside.
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Chaps and riding boots made from elegant leather are very durable and will fit perfectly to the shape of the rider. Before that happens however, riders must break in their...
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Oliver Ekman-Larsson's power-play goal with 2:28 remaining in regulation gave the Coyotes a victory at Jobing.com Arena in the final preseason game for both teams.
With Scott Hannan off for elbowing, Ekman-Larsson's wrister beat Alex Stalock to snap a 1-1 tie. Radim Vrbata's second-period goal gave the Coyotes the lead before Bracken Kearns beat former San Jose goaltender Thomas Greiss at 5:28 of the third period to get San Jose even.
"I thought it was a good evaluation game. There was good pace to the game," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "They play hard and they play honest, so to have any success, you'd better play that way yourself. There weren't a lot of great plays made in the game, but there were a lot of solid plays."
Greiss stopped 25 shots and Stalock made 24 saves as both teams rested their starting goaltenders.
"It was a good night for us to evaluate players," San Jose coach Todd McLellan said. "It was a tight game, with not a lot of space."
Both teams start their season at home on Thursday. The Coyotes open against the New York Rangers; the Sharks host the Vancouver Canucks.


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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 19) -- Beacon Enterprises, Inc., of Yonkers, N.Y., is conducting a program to replace the seat-attachment hardware on more than 120,000 stationary exercise bikes because of reports that some customers failed to follow the assembly instructions properly and were seriously injured when the metal seat post unexpectedly broke through the seat.
The manufacturer, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced that the voluntary recall involves units of its Scandia model 462 dual-action cycler built between August 1976 and July 1980. The bikes were sold under the Beacon name through catalogs of major merchandisers including Montgomery Ward and Alden's, and at a number of retail stores nationwide, Some units also were sold through catalogs of Sears, Roebuck and Co, under the Sears name as model 2930. Retail prices ranged from about $20 to $30. No exercise bikes other than Beacon's Scandia model 462 or the Sears model 2930 are involved in the recall.
Beacon and the CPSC warn that if customers ignore the products assembly instructions and neglect to secure the seat with a bolt and nut supplied in the parts bag accompanying each bike, the unit's plastic seat may be punctured by the seat post. The CPSC said that no reports of injury were received when the bikes were properly assembled.
According to the CPSC, six injuries were reported between 1979 and 1981. No injuries were reported from bikes sold by Alden's or Sears.
As part of its voluntary program, the manufacturer is providing a free replacement kit consisting of a bolt, lock washer, nut, warning decal, and instructions for attaching the seat. The kit also tells customers how to look for signs of possible seat failure, The CPSC said that design changes for the seat mount which the company made starting in August 1980 limit the recall to units manufactured before that date. Exercise bikes built after August 1980 bear orange-red decals on the seat tops.
The agency said that owners of units without the seat bolt and nut in place should stop using them and contact the manufacturer. Owners of units with the bolt and nut in place should make sure that the nut is secured tightly. Beacon has established a 24-hour telephone service to provide full information about the product and to take orders for the free replacement kits. Consumers are urged to call 212-683-9288 collect for further details about the recall.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of
thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the
nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or
mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household
chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at
301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing
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Greg Mitchell on media, politics, film, music, TV, comedy and more. "Not here, not here the darkness, in this twittering world." -- T.S. Eliot
Amazing how well he does with a teleprompter and a friendly audience. Too bad he's running for president of the United States, not the Senior Class or he'd be well qualified.
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September 18, 2002, 08:00:00 AM
WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has developed a set of in- depth continuing education courses for health care professionals on the unique health issues of veterans through a special program known as the Veterans Health Initiative (VHI).
"We have talented, dedicated health care providers in the VA system," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "However, very often they have no military experience of their own from which to draw insights. The Veterans Health Initiative is an effort to help them understand some of the health concerns that can arise from military service, including illnesses relating to combat and different climates and settings."
VHI independent study modules are written for health professionals and are available on the Internet at www.va.gov/VHI. Topics available so far include:
The modules feature photos of military scenes, illustrations, bibliographies and, in some cases, first-hand accounts by veterans, in addition to a review of medical management of the condition. At the end, readers can take an online test on their knowledge of the subject.
"Having a better understanding of how certain health problems are linked to military service and the recommended evaluation and treatment approaches will enhance care for veterans," said Dr. Susan Mather, VA's public health and environmental hazards chief officer, whose staff is spearheading the VHI with the help of experts throughout VA and in collaboration with VA's Employee Education System.
"Health care providers from VA and the Department of Defense can earn continuing education credits for completing the modules, but all health care professionals who care for veterans will gain from reading the material," Mather added.
# # #
People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and updated fact sheets can subscribe to the
VA Office of Public Affairs Distribution List.


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Varis, Illias and Faun are part of a caravan, a glamour cast upon them to disguise their identities. To all but the caravan master, the three heroes are merely elven treasure seekers. The caravan stops at the base of an old mountain range and the three depart.
Ambassador Riunda receives the three heroes in her private chamber within the human Emperor's palace. "The humans have defiled the tomb of an ancient half-elf, Shadras the Betrayer. From his tomb they stole many treasures, but of most interest are five urns. Within these urns is a great and dark magic. While the elves are not powerful enough to recover these by force, fortune has brought us a slight boon: One of the urns has been stolen away; my scrying reveals the urn lies deep within an ancient dwarven stronghold.
"The Emperor has already assembled a mercenary party to recover the treasure, but they are not yet sure where to being the search. These human mages are skilled and clever, however, and we can only assume that they will send the party off within a matter of hours.
"You three must travel west, to the dwarven stronghold. And go quickly! The hired thugs must not recover the urn. Return the urn to our own land, to Etharch Deanach. If possible, discover who knew to steal such a thing. And for the safety of our people, do not let your identities or mission be known."
The three elven heroes make their way up the side of the mountain pass in the dusk, along an ancient path now left to beasts. As they climb, the slight beating of wings reveals the silhouette of a winged humanoid flying above them from the east. It disappears into the mountain above.
Faun is deep within the heart of Shileagh, the Great Willow. He has cast aside his elven form and communes with the Grovemaster's spirit. Grovemaster Earthsunder's voice is strained and rasping, spiritually scarred by the Upheaval centuries ago.
"Faun. The Great Trees are dying. The elves are in a Winter Age and may not last into the Spring. Take this seed and begin our Knots anew."
The flock of crows that is Faun takes the fist-sized seed into their number and flies from Shileagh's heart._
The great entrance is in view, only one of a gargantuan pair of doors intact. A makeshift wall encircles the entrance, behind which are a pair of scaly creatures, bored with their watch duty. Without hesitation, the three skillfully kill the guards without raising any alarm.
Within the dwarven hall is grand, angled pillars reaching to a ceiling hidden in shadows. The glamoured light from Faun's pipe acts as a soft torch; brightening and dimming with every puff. Wide stairs at the hall's end descend into darkness. From beyond come the sounds of industry, metal on stone, creaking ropes, diminutive chattering, and a deep growl barking orders.
The elves approach unnoticed to see an even greater hall beyond the stairs. Within the hall's center is a shaft leading deep into the mountain. Above this, suspended by knots of ropes and a tree trunk carved into a crude pulley, sways a massive dwarven statue. The statue is crawling with the diminutive, scaly creatures and topped by one singular lizard-man haloed by frost. Beyond the pit stands a beast of a thing, a dragon-headed woman in polished armor, a heavy leather cloak across her back.
Illias, the elven ranger, sends an arrow into the ropes, snapping one and sending the statue swaying around the pit. The dragonborn furiously shouts in Draconic, astounded by the incompetence. Another arrow barely misses the pulley, alerting the monsters to the heroes' presence, and sending the statue plummeting to the floor. The stone colossus smashes into the ground, spilling kobolds across the floor, before sliding down into the shaft.
Moments later the mountain shakes and a thundering roar bellows from beneath the earth.
The elves advance in earnest, eager to slay these monsters. At Faun's beckoning, snakes erupt from the ground and carrion birds erupt from the air. Illias' arrows fly fast and often, as if backed by a band of archers. The knight Varis is a fearsome wall, pushing into the dragonborn and its kobolds with swings of his mighty hammer.
The singular kobold's ice magic brings freezing tendrils from the earth and air, wrapping Varis' legs and blinding the ranger. Faun retaliates savagely and many kobolds fall torn and half-devoured.
Varis' great strength shatters the ice as the dragonborn thunders forth; the two clash with hammer and sword. The ranger's arrows pierce the kobold sorcerer first in the hand and next in the skull.
The knight's hammer strikes the dragonborn squarely in the jaw, spraying blood and sharp teeth punctuated by flickering lightning. His attack is met in kind with both sword and a cascade of electricity; Varis falls to his knees. Faun explodes into a flock of ravens to fly across the pit and shield the knight with his own body. But Varis musters one final blow. With one fluid motion, rises past his companion and brings the hammer arcing into the dragonborn's face. Scales and bone are shattered and one terrible eye are burst.
With the a furious roar, the dragonborn spreads her leathery wings and falls into the dark pit, hot-white flashes flickering against the sides of the shaft. Soon after the mountain again shakes and an infernal roar bursts forth.
The battle over, the elves consider their next path. The octagonal hall has exits on all walls save the far diagonals, each with wide stairs leading further down into the rock. Before the north exit stone benches and other rubble is pushed up to serve as a wall. Crude markings along the wall depict dwarves killing kobolds, accompanied by some message in draconic runes indecipherable to the elves. The entrance itself is flanked by ornate carvings of dwarves falling in glorious battle. A beautiful oak tree has been etched across the archway; it seems strangely elvish.
Intrigued, the elves proceed cautiously, their keen eyes and hands searching for traps. As they proceed down the stair, the walls on either side depict a history of the dwarves of this outpost. The elves are unversed in dwarvish writing and must discern the past through images alone.
In ages long past, when the orcs and duergar rose against all order, both elves and dwarves made a great alliance. All was glory until the elves betrayed their allies and abandoned the dwarves at their most perilous hour. Upon the day of a great battle, only a single wing of elven cavalry remained true; many died and the forces of evil won. These heroes forever after lived as exiles sheltered by their dwarven allies.
From ahead, beyond the hall and within the tomb, the sounds of industry are heard. Dwarvish orders, a low shuffling and the slightest sound of stone grating on stone. The advancing elves halt and reconsider. The knight stays back while the ranger readies an arrow. The druid becomes many and scatters into the room, hoping to be unnoticed or ignored as stray crows.
Inside is a dwarven tomb, filled with the aftermath of a one-sided battle. But where the dead should be lying in heaps the kobold corpses are animated and stumbling, bearing loads of broken stone. Dwarven spirits float among them, pushing, cajoling and harrassing. Where a kobold lifts a stone to its place, a ghost glides in working earth magic and mending the broken sarcophagi.
One dwarven spirit stands larger than the rest, and from his manner and stance he is the obvious leader. The druid Faun returns to his companions and advances again into the chamber, this time as an elf. The singular dwarf turns from his overseeing and eyes the elf with narrow eyes.
"Hail, dwarf."
The dwarf bends down to a knee, "Hail, friend elf." His voice rises, it is almost a question.
Faun swallows his distaste, "I am Faun."
The ghost rises and smiles, "Lord Hammerfist Slatefoot."
"And why are you here?"
"Not long ago we were forever to stay in the mighty halls of the dead. Drinking and fighting and fucking. But a dark force has defiled this stone, and our spirits were stolen from our final home and condemned here."
With a translucent hand, Lord Hammerfist waves toward the unnatural kobold servants.
"We slew those who entered our tomb. And put them to work! Ha! But some magic prevents us from leaving this place to clean these halls. Unless," the dwarf narrows his eyes, "you truly are a noble ally."
Again Faun suppresses pride, "I will rid this menace."
The dwarf laughs heartily and from his chest pulls out a magnificent ring. It is a brilliant metal, angular and inset with a strange blue gem.
"Take this ring, Faun. Wear it and you are an anchor for our spirits. Call on us when the time comes!"
Faun bids farewell and Lord Hammerfist returns to his work, shoving a stumbling kobold zombie.
The three heroes reunited, Faun explains his encounter.
Illias spits. "Pah! Dwarves! If only we could clear these ruins of kobolds and dwarves."
The druid eyes the luminescent ring, "If that is the way of things."


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sometimes i say something
and everybody shuts up
and just looks at me
or i post something
and no one
or like when i tell the sort-of truth
and pay the awful price
for that terrible semi-lie
gosh i'm such a shrute
i swear i was raised this way
by the belt and the glare
and the slamming door
and some other stuff
thank you mr. robert silverberg!@#%#$%^
let's go back to when i was three.
in my dr. denton's, i got to stay up
and watch the wizard of oz
and the monkeys, the flying monkeys
made me cry and to this day
i fear the flying monkeys
forward to ten
and maria dubbeld sends me love notes
and shows me her underwear in the girl's bathroom
and to this day i faint when i meet dutch women
forward to fifteen
lieutenant uhura gets the soft focus
never mind
(space! the final frontier!)
forward to twenty-one
and this demon scot named aldous
makes me listen to ELP at a party
on headphones
get the idea?
in all the universe, there is only one byronius
except now, according to E's dad
there might be an infinite number
and i was thinking that if we all got together
busby berkeley could direct us in excellent vast marching shapes
and somehow, somehow
that would fix me.


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OCT 08, 2013 - Huffington Post
A Must Read - Share
ST. LOUIS (RNS) Kristen Leslie began her 2003 book, "When Violence Is No Stranger," with a verse from Psalms, a nod to her training as a theologian.
"It is not enemies who taunt me — I could bear that; it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me — I could hide from them. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend…"
The book's subject was acquaintance rape, and it got the attention of a chaplain at the Air Force Academy. The school was then reeling from a Pentagon report indicating that 7 percent of its cadets reported being the victims of rape or attempted rape. Nearly
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