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April 26, 1996
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Friday, April 26, 1996
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New Braunfels Herald Zeitung
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New Braunfels, Texas
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New Braunfels Herald Zeitung (Newspaper) - April 26, 1996, New Braunfels, Texas FRIDAYUnicorns are back in the baseball playoff chase. See Sports, Page 5. SOCBBl New Braunfels Herald 410 M016 10/22/99 183 so~ue:st hicrof-ublishing 2627 E YANDELL DR EL PASO, TX 79903- 14 pages in one section ■ Friday, April 26.1996 Serving Comal County and surrounding areas ta more than 144 years ■ Home of HBNK MOIMOI Vol. 144, No. 119 Inside Editorial.............................. .............4 Sports................................. .....5 Comics............................... ............8 Market Place..................... 10-13 I Stammtisch Birthday wishes from tho Horald-Zsftung! The New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung extends birthday wishes to: Goat Monroe, Carol Ward, James Cole, Louise Wolfe, Elizabeth Espinosa, Melissa Krause, Hortence Rojo, and Lauren Bracks (eight years). Happy anniversary wishes to: Dorothy and John Lehr (SO years), Cynthia and Mark Keith and Oscar and Elizabeth Barbera (21 years). To have a birthday or anniversary listed here, call 625-9144. Pollen Count Mold—997 Grass—24 Oak—331 Pecan—32 Hackberry—0 Mufcerry—0 (rein mon ii nrl in pant par cubic motor of tit. Roarings Man yesterday. Information provided by Or. Frank Hampoi.) River Information Comal Rhrer—206 cubic foot per second, down 3 from yesterday. Edwards Aquifer Panther Canyon Wet —624.65 feet above sea level, down .05 from yesterday. Project Graduation mooting Canyon High School Project Graduation committee will meet Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the Commons area of Canyon High School. All senior parents are especially encouraged to attend. Biaippr In Cibolo tomorrow bi The Cibolo Bowling Club will hold its annual barbecue beef and sausage supper Saturday. April 27, beginning at 11 a.m. Barbecue beef, sausage and all the trimmings will be served. Large plates are $4.50 and small plates are $3.50. A raffle will be held, with the top prize being a set of patio furniture. Tickets are available at the Cibolo Bowling Club and from club members. Other activities planned for the day include a country store, a bake sale, old-timers bowl-inQ at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., mixed pot bowling at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., women's pot bowling at 7 pm, men's pot bowling at 9 p.m. For informaton, call 658-2248. or Sue Janak at 779-3008. Sty!* show benefits symphony On Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. in the New Braunfels Civic Center there will be a style show, with fashions made from cotton found at Mission Valley Textiles. The show will be a benefit for the Mid-Texas Symphony Guild. Tickets are being sold by Mid-Texas Symphony debutantes and by Mission Valley Textiles and Retail Outlet. Call Debbie Meek at 620-4869, Patsy Vann at 625-1422 or Mission Valley Textiles at 620-4607. Eagles Auxiliary rummage sale will be held Saturday, April 27 at Eagles Hall from 8 am. to 4 p.m. Members are urged to start bringing articles to Eagle Hall so everything can be sorted and marked for the sale. To get donations picked up, call 625-7243 or 629-3224. VFW chapter 163 to moot Wednesday Comal County Chapter 163 meets at 7:30 p.m., May 1, at the Post Home on Peace Avenue. Election of officers will be held. MICHAEL DARNALL By MELANI! GERIK Staff Writer A J vc 4U ■RUS .i- HemM-Zeituna photo by I Haha Carroll weeps next to the memorial marker ana tree dedicated to Sheldon Lindsey at Smithson Valley High School at a ceremony yesterday. Saying Goodbye Students, family memorialize Sheldon Lindsey with tree planting at high school fives. Betty Klaemer, Sheldon's aunt, said she was touched by the emotional expression shown by the students. "This is something that's only supposed to happen to other people," Klaemer said. "This is not supposed to happen close to home." On the cover of the portfolio was a cross Sheldon designed The drawing also is on a sign in front of the Lindsey house east of Bulverde. Students who visited the house signed their names on the back of the sign. Also in the portfolio was a winning team entry for a design of a radio-controlled car. Sheldon had made the preliminary drawing, while another student added the finishing touches. The design was entered into regional competition, where it won first place. The next step is state competition in a few weeks. "We're glad that we could keep some of his stuff going," said Scott Stoore, a TSA adviser, who organized Thursday's activities. Smithson Valley High School students remembered their friend Sheldon Lindsey's "good things in his life" Thursday afternoon. Mote than SO friends, teachers and relatives gathered around a newly planted tree in front of the high school to pay tribute to Sheldon in song, words and his design work. Sheldon, 17, was found shot to death with his mother, Pennye Lindsey, 42, in their Oak Village North home in March. The Comal County Sheriffs Office has ruled that the mother and son were killed by Stanley Lindsey, Sheldon's father, who later shot himself. In tribute to Sheldon, Tisha Carroll sang "If I Had Only Known," a song lamenting the sudden loss of a friend without getting the chance to say good-bye. Students participating in the Technological Society of America presented portfolios of Sheldon's computer-assisted drawings and other graphic designs to Sheldon's rela- County to proceed with Faust St bridge project By DENISE DZIUK Staff Writer Despite preliminary figures coming in $120,000 over the estimated cost of refurbishing die Faust Street Bridge, die Comal County Commissioners voted Thursday to proceed with the project with the understanding it is limited to the budgeted amount unless additional grant money is received. Representatives from LAW Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. presented a feasibility study to the commissioners. In that study, drey recommended structural repairs, new truss coating, a new wooden headway, new guardrails, new lighting, and the removal of an existing walkway along one side of the bridge, which is "in remarkably good condition." The estimated total of the project is $570,000. Previous estimates put the cost at $450,000, with $90,000 coming from the county and the remainder from a grant. "We haven't gone out for bids yet Conceivably, it could come in lower or higher," said County Judge Carter Casteel. "This is an estimate on your part" County Engineer Tom Homseth told the commissioners that the study included structural lighting that was not inducted in the first plans. He recommended the court authorize die project to proceed with the understanding that it is limited to a $450,000 budget. He said the county could then apply for an additional grant to help pay for lighting, painting the underside of die bridge and any additional costs. Commissioner Danny Scheel said he believed spending any more of the county's money for the restoration would be a "great injustice." He cited several concerns of constituents, and said there were only a few people who would benefit at a great cost to the county. He said any additional money should come from grants or donation*. Commissioner Cristina Zamora said she wanted the project to proceed. "Destroying it is not cost effective, and is not in die best interest of die taxpayers," she said. Casteel said several private entities have already agreed to contribute toward die project, but did not specify how much they would donate. She said the county would also continue looking for support. The court approved Homseth's recommendation, and a second grant will be submitted by the May I deadline. In other business, the county celebrated County Government Week this week and tied it to die 150th anniversary of Comal County. The court recognized at their meeting several past public officials, received a presentation on die history of the courthouse, and was given a plaque and the flag that flew over the capitol on the 150th birthday of the county. Police check out flier calling for gang protest at KKR rally By MELANIE GERIK Staff Writer The New Braunfels Police Department is investigating the validity of fliers claiming to call a gang truce in protest of the Ku Khix Klan rally. "I'm trying to establish a root for it," said New Braunfels police Lt. Felix Roque. Police have received one confirmed complaint about the fliers, Roque said. He declined to identify where the flier was found. The hand-printed, photocopied flier urges the "blue and red to sign up here" for a 24-hour truce in protest of the Klansmen coming to New Braunfels June I. "The KKK will meet in our Plaza, but they won't be the only ones there, the Crips will be there and the Bloods, too," according to the flier found on the windshield of car owned by a Herald-Zeitung employee. On the bottom right hand comer, the words Leader, R.C.F., Crips and a symbol are written. Although the flier may turn out to be fake, the police department will take precautions on the night of the rally, Roque said. "We'll prepare for it as if it were real ... just like we're preparing for the KKK rally," he said. The Ku Klux Klan has applied for a permit to rally on the Plaza June. I. HemU-ZHung photo by MICHAEL DARNALL Marcus Puma stands In front of Ma now business. Purtle brings experience to new car dealership By DAVID SULLENS Publisher Hazardous waste collection slated Saturday Now is a great time to clean out the inside of die garage or under the kitchen sink. The city of New Braunfels and Comal County are holding a household hazardous waste collection day Saturday. Residents can bring in recyclable materials such as used motor oil, used oil filters, auto batteries, tires, paint, md antifreeze at no charge. There will, however, be a charge of $1 per pound, including the container, for garage and garden items, cleaning products, and paint supplies. There are also several items that simply will not be accepted at the collection. These include trash, ammunition, industrial waste, explosives, medical waste, fireworks, commercial waste, flares, smoke detectors, radioactive material, and gas cylinders. New Braunfels Assistant Fire Chief Elroy Friesenhahn said the collection is scheduled for Saturday, horn 9 arn to 3 p.m. behind Fire Station #2 on Loop 337. He said the collection is being jointly funded by the city and county at a cost of $60,000 to 90,000. He said this is what it costs to dispose of the material collected. "This $1 a pound is strictly a token of the total," he said. "It costs us $3 to $5 a pound to dispose of it." Friesenhahn said between 500 and 600 cars participated in the last collection, and 2,000 tires were brought in Volunteers are still needed to help at this year's collection. Anyone wanting to volunteer or get more information on the collection can call 608-2120. Restrictions on water use in place in city New Braunfels residents are subject to waterering restrictions, but those guidelines are not the same as other communities in the area are now facing. According to a New Braunfels city ordinance, a year-round conservation measure is in effect, banning the use of water sprinklers from IO a.m. to 4 p.m. on any calendar day, said Don Ferguson, assistant to the city manager. That ban applies to private and commercial properties. However, residents are allowed to water their landscape with sprinklers from 4 p.m. to IO a.m. any day of the week. In New Braunfels, it is also lawful to water your lawn at any time if you utilize a hand-held hose (with a manual or automatic shutoff nozzle), bucket or drip irrigation system, Ferguson said. The city's water conservation ordinance used to be much stricter until the city began to utilize surface water for a majority of its water needs, Ferguson said. lf drought conditions persist and water usage increases, however, the city ordinance allows for stricter conservation measures to be taken. Non-compliance with the city's water conservation ordinance can result in a misdemeanor offense, and upon conviction, a fine of between $50 and $500 can be assessed. Each day's violation will constitute a separate offense. Marcus Purtle, formerly general manager for Milt Ferguson Motors in New Braunfels, says his Select Motor Co., the business he left that dealership to found, will offer relatively new vehicles that have been through a certification program. "We will check everything and if something needs to be done to the car, I will do it or have it done," Purtle said last week. "When you get in one of our cars and turn the radio cm, you will know it's going to come on... The new business formally opened April I at a new facility at 719 Landa, next door to the Herald-Zeitung. "We've already sold quite a number of cars," Purtle said. "The response has been good and everybody has commented on the quality of the cars we have." Select Motor Co. focuses, Purtle said, on cars and trucks five years old or newer. "We'll have some cars older than that," the firm's owner said, "but our focus will be the newer vehicles." "We're going to work hard," he continued, "to get the best transportation with the most popular option packages at below market prices." In addition to his certification program, Purtle says he has implemented what he calls "the Select Value Price." "We will price the cars competitively and the prices will be posted right on the cars," he elaborated. "There won't have to be any of that haggling where the customer asks die price of a car and the salesman asks what the customer is willing to pay and on and on." Purtle said he has contacts with a variety of financial institutions and will have finance plans available "to fit anyone. I won't have to turn anyone down." Purtle has earned recognition both professionally and as a civic leader over the years. He has been named a Buick Professional Sates Master, a GMC Truck Sales Master, and is a member of the Pontiac Master Sales Guild And, under his leadership, the Milt Ferguson dealership received awards that included the Oldsmobile Citation of Service, on three different years, the GMC Customer Satisfaction Excellence Award, the GMC 5-Star Performer award, the Buick Award for Excellence and the Pontiac Service Excellence Award He joined the New Braunfels dealership in 1987. Puitle's career began in 1973 when he became a sales associate with Kay Powell Chevrolet in New Boston. In 1975 he moved to Fuselier Chevrolet-Buick in Atlanta, Texas, as that dealership's general sales manager. He joined George Pharis Chevrolet in Sugarland in 1977 as sales manager, but was quickly promoted to business manager. In 1980 he became one of 32 national sales representatives for The John Henry Company of Lansing, Mich., and developed sales in the South Texas area from 130 active accounts when he began to 1,100 when he left that firm in 1983 to become a managing partner of a Ford-Mercury dealership in Eagle Lake. Purtle came to New Braunfels from Eagle Lake where he successfully established and managed Riceland Ford-Mercury. Purtle is a member of the Comal County Fair Association and serves on four committees, publicity, long term planning, entertainment and sponsorship. He also is actively involved at present with a steering committee looking into the feasibili* ty of establishing a YMCA in New Braunfels. He is a member of Oakwood Baptist Church and he and his wife, Deanne, have three children, Jerry, IO, Jason, 5, and Leslie, 16 months.lf nobody shows up at the Klan rally, the message will not be heard. See Opinion, Page 4. ;
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Codi: Meeting The New GirlMature
She was pretty, and was obviously from California. She had the golden tan that I had, but mine was from the opposite side: Florida. I saw her walk up the steps, her straight blonde hair flowing behind her, blue eyes taking in every single thing. She was probably as tall as I am, but I wore heels today, so my normal 5'7" was increased to 5'10".
"Hey." I called to her, my voice as girly as ever. Everyone who heard me turned, hoping I was calling out to them. "New girl." I finished, as everyone sadly turned their head.
"Hi." She said, stopping. She turned towards me, and stepped aside as someone approached the steps.
"You're from California aren't you?" I asked her, although it wasn't really a question. I already knew the answer. She looked nervous, her face said it all.
"Yeah. L.A" She said. I nodded in approval, which seemed to make her a little less nervous.
I smiled, looking at my two best friends, and giving them a look, which said "She'll be one of us in no time." The bell rang and she turned to go, obviously waiting to see what I would do.
"See ya around Hollywood." I said to her, dismising her. She turned to go, and with a smile, opened the doors to the building.
"She's nice." Ashley said, as we entered the building together, walking side by side to our homeroom.
"She barely said anything." Veronica said to her, rolling her eyes. I laughed, and listened to them bicker, as I did every morning.

subset: commoncrawl


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Attractive 151m² apartment with 3 bedrooms and very elegant interior design.
On the fourth floor of a listed building with great architectural value we find this charming 3-bedroom apartment with a surafce area of 151m².
This pristine new property offers an open-plan kitchen and living area with plenty of natural light and views of Calle Rosselló below.
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The building is situated in the heart of Barcelona's exclusive Eixample district. The area is home to many Modernista architectural works and World Heritage Sites, including Gaudí's Casa Milà (La Pedrera), as well as numerous luxury fashion brands, boutiques, sophisticated restaurants and gastronomical delights, making it one of Barcelona's most glamorous and charming locations.
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How Canada Responded To Humanae Vitae
Msgr. Vincent N. Foy's classic describing the "Tragedy At Winnipeg," first published on the 20th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, is now on the web.It is a penetrating account of how things went wrong in Canada, a microcosm for the rest of the world.
The sidebar to the article offers a generous array of Msgr. Foy's other fascinating writings on the subject, including a comprehensive treatise on Recovering Humanae Vitae In Canada.
This article, How Canada Responded To Humanae Vitae is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
Do not repost the entire article without written permission. Reasonable excerpts may be reposted so long as it is linked to this page.
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The links in the article are no longer available.
However, Msgr. Foy's writings are now at:


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For rent by Apro Global Nigeria VERIFIED22 Feb 9:57 amIkeja, Lagos
A lovely 5 bedroom duplex with a room BQ all rooms en-suite,
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Shared Dome King
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This option is to share a king sized bed in a dome, with the person of your choice. You'll both need to book your tickets at the same time (£1300pp) and then email us to let us know who you'll be sharing with.
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Fforest's iconic domes have hardwood floors, bespoke furnishings and an amazing view from those bay windows. This ticket is for a shared king sized bed, in a dome shared with two other people (including your bed mate). You'll need to let us know who you'll be sharing a bed with and you'll both need to book your tickets together.


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Riva Yacht Harbour Hotel
No prices found through our partners. Please contact the business directly or check some of our recommended alternatives.
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- Shuttle bus service
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- Pets allowed
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TripAdvisor Reviews Riva Yacht Harbour Hotel Hvar
Travel Blogs from Hvar
Rubbing shoulders with the hidden rich and famous
... detect any movement on the patio, couldn't see anyone sitting at the somewhat hidden tables. Nevertheless, we sat, listened and clapped like everyone else until the Killers came out with a perfect rendition of The Rolling Stones, Satisfaction. Too perfect were these killers - on the way back home I fed Elenka a couple of forkfuls of crow. She said that at least she'd gotten me out of the apartment.
The old part of ...
Last 3 days
... find out whats wrong but Dinas mum thinks either a small pelvic fracture but most likely a groin strain. Goes quite nicely with my sprained ankle and pulled calf muscle from running up mountains in Montenegro. Anyway, when we made it to the town we couldn't understand why there were so many people given the few that were around during the day.
Obviously this place was all about the night life and bar occupancy, so we sat down on a bar by the marina and had ...
Amazing Ride and a Fracture
... and small vineyard. The couple offered us some homemade grappa and then wine from their grapes. Since many were done biking for the day, it wasn't hard to enjoy their beverages! They also made some delicious salads and homemade pastas with veggies from their garden. Sitting on their patio with amazing food was a wonderful way to end my favorite day of biking out of all our trips. The route, the views and scenery were just ...
6 September to 10 September
... is amazing and creates a great atmosphere. We saw Romeo and Juliette which commenced at 8:45pm and finished at 12:30am....even though we were all very tired it was sensational. 7 September We bid Rod and Maureen farewell as they continue their travels around Italy together. With now only 4 of us we were off to Bled for the next 3 nights. A pic of the map is included. It was a long trip on the train from Verona to Venice then a change for ...
The Wisdom of a Waiter
... powerful. It is the fate of the slaughtered, to become a wall full of smiling, ordinary, innocent faces, unwittingly and tragically hurled to death and permanent exhibition.
The opposite end of the room shows a twenty minute documentary on a loop that tells the story of the Srebrenicia massacre, a startling and awful account that creates a numb silence upon its completion.Two testimonies stood out amongst many grim stories. One lady recalled being parted from her ...


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The Puget Sound area entices many, given its natural amenities. But there are constraints, notably: Where will the people live? Michael Luis, writing for Crosscut, details the challenges, which are significant.
After 20 years of growth management we still don't have a very good grip on this question. We know we do not want to sprawl forever, like the big, fast growing cities of the Sunbelt. But we have never come up with a plausible alternative.
Seattle is increasingly home to only the affluent, as housing prices outstrip median household incomes. Those further down the wage ladder must live farther out.
But there is a problem, a very big one. And that is transportation. Once removed from the city, suburbanites confront congestion horrors.
So, back to cities. How do we fit a growing population into urban centers confined by both geography and transportation? Luis suggests three immovable objects to doing so.
- Urban Growth Boundary, mandated by the Growth Management Act
- resistance to density
- lifestyles
Those who live in single-family homes strenuously object to multi-family units in their neighborhoods. Though inhabitants of other countries, as Luis points out, have lived in densely packed built environments for centuries, Americans, in the words of James Kunstler, desire their own "log cabins" in the cities. Luis:
The fact remains that preservation of existing low-density zoning is a primary expectation of local governments, and there is no constituency outside the housing industry pushing for higher densities. The political formula is simple: Most voters already own homes and have no stake in expanding the supply of them.
Young people may start their families in multi-family units, but then seek larger accommodations with yards and fences to raise their children. But unless they can afford to spend upwards of a million dollars or more, they'll be forced into the cheaper suburbs, necessitating dreaded commutes along the always-congealed freeway corridors.
Luis does not seem optimistic about our collective ability to solve the problem. He concludes:
The problem of providing housing for the next wave of growth is not a planning or economic question, but a political one, and it is a question that the region's leaders need to get a grip on. Growth management, as carried out at the local level, has had two big successes: preserving the Cascade foothills and creating vibrant urban centers. There is no technical barrier to city and county leaders doing the rest of the job, primarily finding creative ways to house families that don't involve lengthy commutes.
But before they can do that effectively, the state, which created this political mess in the first place, needs to come back to the table. The GMA needs to be tweaked to acknowledge two important truths. First, planning for population growth and unit count is too abstract; we need a finer grain of planning that considers real people and households and their needs. Second, local governments are hardwired to respond to their current residents, not their future ones, and assuming they will take tough votes on density without strong guidance and incentives is unrealistic.
Ah, politics. Oh, and planning. We Americans are not very good at either.


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After setting a good pace in Spain and securing their second podium of the season in Monaco, Renault are on the up - but what are their chances of breaking into the big four?
When testing began for 2010, Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes were clear frontrunners, establishing a premier division followed by the rest of the established teams in a close gaggle, with the new teams following on some distance behind.
But development is moving fast. Red Bull are now in a league of their own on pace (if not yet with solid reliability) but after Ferrari slipped down and Mercedes failed to deliver on their recent upgrades Renault are now very close to breaking into the mix.
At the end of January, when the new Renault was launched, Renault technical director James Allison warned: "Whatever our pace is, we have a very aggressive development programme planned for the car and we are confident that we will be returning to fight for podiums and race wins very soon."
And there are plenty of reasons why they could now go on and do that on a regular basis...
1) Diffuser-led design
The standout design feature on the Renault is at the back, with a one of the largest double diffusers on the grid. Like McLaren, Renault has connected the upper section of their double diffuser to the lower part of the rear wing but it is even more extreme as it has been drawn out very wide. It has given them good additional downforce, which helps to warm up the tyres, and although it can make it more sensitive to ride height changes, the design seems to be working and is well balanced with a complex front wing.
2) Fast development
Renault may have started from a lower base than their rivals, but the steps they have brought to the track at each race have provided them with bigger jumps. The key to their development, perhaps, is the class-leading CFD centre that Renault installed 12 months ago. It is now well up to speed and, say the team, delivering results on detail design such as brake cooling as well as conceptual layouts - something that CFD is usually said to struggle with. Coupling this with a full wind-tunnel programme should ensure the new parts keep coming.
3) Circuit suitability
Like the Red Bull, the Renault appears to be happy on low-speed, high traction sectors as well as fast flowing areas and this offers more opportunity for development as developments can work on all circuits, not just specific ones. On top of that, the team believes the next two grands prix could suit them particularly well.
4) Efficient structure
When the team was taken over by new investors, a major restructure was required, and that takes time. The machine had to become leaner but, as shown by Brawn, that can improve efficiency and after almost half a year Renault is now well positioned to take advantage.
5) Racing strategy
The Renault pit wall is sharp. The team sees itself as a 'true racing team' and bosses feel they have capitalised on every opportunity presented to it this year - resulting in performances that have punched above their weight. More of the same, with a faster car, should see them punching even higher.
6) Robert Kubica
The team's potential for resurgence is not just all about those in the design room - Robert Kubica is the key to driving them forward.
Kubica was central to the restructure, and although he almost aborted the project before it got going, he was quickly convinced that the team had plans to move forward - and saw the potential to 'do a Schumacher' and make the team his own.
Kubica applies constant pressure. His blunt style of feedback went down badly with BMW and, often seen as negative rather than constructive, he was not listened to. Renault appears to be reading him better, and the relationship in the garage has strengthened their combined potential.
Renault engineering chief Alan Permaine has described him as "the hardest working driver I have ever come across" and he is often in the garage up to midnight before a race, keen to provide precise feedback that will make the car better for him to drive.
While he can only offer limited feedback on aerodynamic developments, his precise feel for the car has allowed him to hone the brakes and steering to make the car suit his style. A high level of intelligent feedback is essential for development and as the driver who is providing this, Renault has naturally steered focus on him.
The direct feedback on new parts from Kubica has also helped Renault press on with a focused development plan, race by race.
"Each race has seen an improvement in our fortunes," said Allison. "Even in Spain, where we had probably one of our worst finishes of the year, the basic pace of the car was a step up relative to the weekend before and we were better relative to our competitors."
Asked if his team can maintain that development, the answer is an emphatic "yes!" and he added: "We have brought a sizeable update to every race and we expect to do the same at every event this year. Plus there are one or two projects that may bring us bigger steps."
Red Bull should be okay for now, but Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren should be nervously looking over their respective shoulders...


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Everything you need to know about the whole pregnancy journey with advice from experts and other moms who've been there.
From the hilarious to the heartwarming to the latest and greatest parenting topics, we've got parenting covered.
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Easter is one of the holidays my kids enjoy the most; going on Easter egg hunts, dyeing eggs, meeting the Easter Bunny and more. To add to their excitement, I decided to make some special Easter placemats with them.These placemats are super easy to make with colorful washi tape and letter stickers. Your kids can even help! Follow the step-by-step directions to make your own.


text: poverty Texas lawmakers hope to impose drug tests on welfare recipients By Jonathan Baker • Dec 18, 2016 Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Texas Tribune The State of Texas has some of the strictest eligibility requirements in the country for welfare benefit applicants. Eight Years After the Great Recession, Oklahoma's Poverty Level Remains High By Jonathan Baker • Nov 30, 2016 news9.com Oklahoma's poverty rate remains above the national average. As News 9 reports, more than 600,000 Oklahomans are living in poverty, according to the latest numbers out from the U.S. Census Bureau. That works out to one out of every five residents in the state. The state's poverty rate has held steady since the Great Recession of 2008. Almost half of Oklahomans who live in poverty have jobs. And three out of four have a family to feed. US Ag Secretary Launches New $400M Rural Poverty Initiative By Jonathan Baker • Oct 12, 2016 politico.com This week U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $400 million federal program to reduce rural poverty in America, reports The Lexington Herald-Leader. In Oklahoma, Poverty Has Several Causes By Jonathan Baker • Aug 16, 2016 oklahomawatch.org A Tulsa World story about rural poverty in Oklahoma has been garnering a good deal of attention over the past week and a half. Nationwide, poverty is more of an issue for rural dwellers than urban Americans. Fifteen percent of the rural U.S. population lives in poverty, compared to 12 percent of the urban population. In Most US Cities, the Middle Class Is Shrinking By Jonathan Baker • May 17, 2016 Pew Research Center / businessinsider.com Over the course of this young century, the gap in American cities between the haves and have-nots has continues to widen, reports Business Insider. The Pew Research Center recently analyzed Census Bureau data, looking at the state of the middle class in America's metropolitan areas. In the Texas Pahnandle, 1 in 7 Struggles to Afford Food By Jonathan Baker • May 4, 2016 A new study has found that one in seven residents of the Texas Panhandle struggles to put food on the table regularly. The report was compiled by a Chicago-based nonprofit group called Feeding America. The Map the Meal Gap study found that 16 percent of those living in the Texas panhandle are "food insecure," according to Amarillo.com. Governor Touts Poverty Reduction, but Many Still Struggling By Megan Hart • Mar 11, 2016 Andy Marso / KHI news service From the Kansas Health Institute: More than half of Kansans who found jobs after losing assistance remain in poverty. Gov. Sam Brownback made his case Thursday for why Kansas food stamp reforms should be a national welfare-to-work model, even though the study he used to support his claim showed almost 80 percent of Kansans affected remained in poverty. Half of Texas households one crisis from poverty By Adam Vos • Feb 6, 2014 Ben Hasson / Texas Tribune 50% of households in Texas are "liquid-asset poor," or lack the savings to pay for three months of basic expenses, according to a report released last week by a non-profit that seeks to alleviate poverty. Texas: Number of Children Living in Poverty on the Rise By Cindee Talley • Dec 3, 2013 netexas.bucknerconnect.com The percentage of children living in poverty has risen 47 percent since 2000 , despite an improving Texas economy reported the Texas Tribune.


text:
Russian doping scandal spreads to wrestling, sports minister prepared to quit
By Jack Stubbs
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's sports minister said on Tuesday he was prepared to resign over a raging doping scandal in his country which could cost more Russian athletes their places at the Rio Olympics after "tens" more cases of cheating were exposed in wrestling.
Russian wrestlers may now join the country's track-and-field athletes in being barred from competing at the Games in August, after an internal Russian Wrestling Federation (WFR) investigation uncovered multiple doping cases, WFR President Mikhail Mamiashvili said.
The disclosure came a day after four Russian athletes were exposed as having tested positive for the banned drug meldonium, further damaging Moscow's efforts to overturn a doping suspension in time for the Olympics starting in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday his sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, would remain in his position despite the scandal. Mutko later said, however, that he was prepared to end his eight years in the job if asked to do so.
"The country has a leadership who take these decisions. When I see that the matter concerns me, I will leave my post," R-Sport news agency quoted him as saying.
Russian sport was thrown into turmoil last year when a report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exposed endemic cheating and corruption in Russian athletics.
Russian athletes have been suspended from international competition and will miss the Olympics if the country cannot get the ban overturned -- a humiliating blow to the pride and prestige of a sporting superpower.
Since then, at least 18 Russian sportsmen and women have tested positive for meldonium, complicating Russia's drive to prove itself compliant with international anti-doping standards. Continued...


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Articles tagged keir dullea
12 May 2008 // 11:00 PM
While the horror classics of 1968 may have indeed revitalized the genre, few today are aware of these movies' impact on the canon...if they acknowledge them at all.READ more
24 Jan 2008 // 10:00 PM
It was the year of the behemoth box set, the multi-disc triumph that tried to give long suffering fans everything their demanding little digital hearts ever desired. Here are PopMatters' 30 picks for the best DVDs of the year.READ more
28 May 2007 // 11:00 PM
The serious Science Fiction film genre is dead or at least on cinematic life support. As the new millennial marches forward, and an omnipresent production paradigm that substitutes spectacle for smarts, futurist filmmaking is definitely gasping for breath.READ more
7 Feb 2005 // 1:00 AM
The film's primary appeal is the bizarre turn by Noel Coward as Wilson (one of several 'eccentrics' the film trots out to otherize London even as it pathologizes at least one of the yanks).READ more
1 Nov 2001 // 3:00 PM
In this light, '2001' and the revolutionary epoch of its making seem a mere Technicolor blip in an otherwise olive drab post-World War II empire.READ more
Perfume Genius "Die 4 You" (Singles Going Steady) // Music
Katy Perry "Bon Appétit" ft. Migos (Singles Going Steady) // Music
Fleet Foxes "Fool's Errand" (Singles Going Steady) // Music
Vince Staples "Big Fish" (Singles Going Steady) // Music
'Full Throttle: Remastered' Is Both Updated and Dated
// Moving Pixels
"Full Throttle: Remastered is a game made for people who don't mind pixel hunting -- like we used to play.READ the article


text:
While the mining services sector appears on track to generate decent returns for this financial year, the outlook for the next financial year is very bleak. Many contractors are seeing their order books diminish as miners shelve major projects and aggressively target cost cutting. As the pool of revenues becomes shallower, these companies will be forced to tender on lower margins in order to secure work.
But there is one project that contractors are looking to with a glimmer of hope – indeed, it is a project that has the potential to reinvigorate the mining services sector, but its approval is currently riding on a wing and a prayer.


text:
'Forbidden Envy'
Written for the Sparkle Awards Challenge
Summary: 'He watched from the confines of the apple tree, burning in jealousy and want. His heart reached out to her as she stood in the sun, speaking to the russet skinned monster of his all-too-real dreams. There was nothing else to do but observe as she taunted him subconsciously with her every move, every look, every word.
There was nothing else to do but obsess over his Forbidden Envy…'
Love is a complicated thing, that much is true in this life. Despite all the fairy-tale romances on TV and in books, spoken out-loud by every-day people stricken with the feeling of endless ecstasy and romance, it is a hard, fruitless labor that leads to nowhere but sorrow and pity for either one or both parties involved. Whatever the romanticizing, fool-hardy vultures of a lover's culture have ever told you about love, I would discard it completely, burning it in the pile of rubbish and filth where it belongs.
Because 'love'—true, unadulterated, pure and real love—is full of pain and unending affliction. It's a fight for a victory that can't possibly ever be won; a race to a finish line that can't possibly exist.
It is an endless failure.
And perhaps I am being pessimistic about the whole thing. Perhaps I am taking too much into consideration my own personal experiences rather than the 'bigger picture'. I'm sure there have been plenty of successful love-lives and relationships. I'm also sure that there have been people that have had a very easy and simple love experience; people who are able to fall into that state of eternal bliss and happiness. There might be those who never go on worrying whether or not they'll ever be able to have their love in their arms forever.
I am not one of those fortunate, select few people.
And why do I think this? Why do I feel as though my whole world is an endless midnight? Why is it as though my heart is a black hole, bottomless and empty, void of emotion and happiness?
Two words: Bella. Swan.
Of course, those two words are probably not enough to describe her. Beautiful. Perfect. Enigmatic. Captivating. Innocent. Remarkable. Pure.
And I was… me.
Edward Masen. Imperfect. Selfish. Unsatisfied. Pathetic. Fool-hardy. Upstream without a paddle.
And all of this was proved by the fact that I was currently sitting high up in the bright green foliage of the old granny-smith apple tree of my family's home, spying on the one person who actually meant something to me. It was proven in the way that I watched; jealous, searing in spite and hatred as I looked on to the scene below.
"Yeah, I'm off tomorrow, why?" she spoke. I couldn't see her face, hidden as her back was towards me. But I could see how she leaned to the side a little on the ball of her left foot; noticed how she held her right arm behind her back with her left hand, a tell-tale sign that she was nervous. Her smooth white skin was set off perfectly by her deep royal blue tank top; her curves more than hinted at by the slightly tight faded blue-jean shorts that she wore that showed off the back of her toned and impeccable legs that were pillars of perfection. Waves of chocolate mocha curls fell in large and natural ringlets down to the curve of her backside. The light and springy summer breeze wafted those curls about, swaying them in its caress, and casting tints of gold from the shards of Michigan sun raining down on her. She glowed like an angel.
And she was more than desirable. She was more than wanted. She was the purest form of temptation; the Eve of my life, the apple of my soul.
The same way couldn't help the longing feeling for her, I couldn't help the acidic, putrid bile that rose in my throat as the russet-skinned monster spoke back to her. He looked down at her, iron-black eyes cast in lust. His mouth opened, white teeth flashing and words flowing forth as smoothly and hitch-free as any line delivered by a well-trained actor.
"I wonder, if it's okay with your adoptive parents, if you would like to go out with me tomorrow evening?"
I grimaced, I growled, I held onto the harsh, rough bark of the apple tree as resentment flowed through my veins like a poison. It was thick and heavy in my system, coating all of my organs and blinding rational thought.
I wanted to rip his throat out. How dare he ask for a date with my Bella? Dare assume that he could even consider the thought of taking my Bella out, alone, with no parental supervision? The supervision of my parents, who would ensure that this… this boy, this teen, this hormonally imbalanced pup would do nothing to harm my Bella.
'She isn't yours though, is she?' a cruel, taunting voice said in the back of my mind. It stabbed at my heart like an ice-cold dagger, freezing inside me. It was a voice that had resounded in my mind for a while now.
Bella shifted her weight from her left foot to her right. Her head tilted down a little to the side and then back up again. I could almost imagine the way her doe-eyes would look up, peaking through thick lashes. They would beckon, they would call. They would speak infinite words, and she wouldn't even have to open her mouth. Her teeth would pull her bottom lip in, chewing nervously of the supple pink flesh there, wishing for someone to kiss those gorgeous lips.
She would inadvertently make herself irresistible.
"I… I don't know Jake. I had some things planned with Edward tomorrow. He's only in for a few days before he goes back…" she trailed off. I smirked, despite myself.
'Yes, turn him down. Spend some time with me…' the more selfish, greedy part of me rejoiced.
A cackle escaped his vile lips and a large, plate-sized hand reached out, took a strand of that silk-soft hair and put it behind a rounded ear. I had to keep myself from jumping down, attacking him, throttling him for touching her. It would be seen by anyone else as just an innocent act, I saw it for what it was.
He was touching her. He was giving himself a reason to be able to lay his hands on her body.
"Edward? Your brother? Don't you get enough of him already?" he asked, folding his arms over a grizzly-bear's chest.
She tossed her hair, catching the light in strands that had not yet been soaked in its rays.
"I like spending time with him, he's hardly ever around, what with college," she reasoned.
'She defended me!'
He rolled his eyes. "His problem, right? Come on, you've been all cooped up in there with him and your parents. Take a ride on the wild side," he coaxed. I narrowed my eyes.
Who did he think he was, trying to get Bella to move her way out of my company?
I saw her shoulders rise in a sigh, though I couldn't hear it.
"I don't know, Jake."
"Come on. Just this once? You can't possibly find him interesting, I mean, doesn't he like, write music and shit? What are you going to do, sit around all day and listen to that?" he quipped.
There was a small silence for a moment, immeasurable by seconds or minutes or hours or days. It seemed to go on forever. I hung onto the silence though, waiting for her to reply. As much as I wanted her to turn him down, I knew that it was most likely not going to happen.
I knew my adopted sister. Though she was a strong-willed individual, she tried oh so hard to please everyone.
Even this vile, insignificant competitor to my Bella's affections.
She moved her hands from behind her to rest at her sides, swinging slightly there. She turned her head, casting her eyes down to the ground, eyeing a patch of decaying brown grass. She seemed to stare at it, contemplating, before turning her head back, and staring straight at me with the side of her face.
Her check was flushed rose-petal-red, bottom lip out in a pout that had been there since the first day that she arrived at our house three years ago. Her half-faced expression was first surprised; taking in the fact that I was up here, in this tree, spying—as crass as the word was—on her. There was a hint of recognition, though, and I couldn't help but wonder if she had known all along that I was up there to begin with. And then I watched as her expression morphed from that look of surprise to betrayal. I could only imagine what she was thinking. Probably questioning why I was watching her after she had warned me to never intrude on her personal life again…
Three months ago, Edward's last visit
I was walking down the hallway, making my way towards the guest room of my parent's house—my old house—to find a book on music theory for a paper I was supposed to write. Being the middle of the semester, it was probably not a good idea for me to have put off the assignment for so long, but being back here with the family was just too much of an opportunity to pass up. Having let the whole thing slip by until just a few days until I went back was not the smartest thing to have done, but I was using my time in a way I deemed otherwise productive: hanging out with Bella.
Ever since college had started, I had been so busy away at the campus. For the first three or four months I wasn't even able to come and visit I was so busy. This was my first visit up here since starting school and I had been spending most of my time catching up with Bella. I enjoyed spending the days with her.
She had matured a lot while I was away. Even just a year and a half younger than me, she was as intelligent and well-versed as anyone my age. She had a mind, and she had a heart. It was great hearing her talk about all her friends, her activities at school. Her ever-changing likes and dislikes throughout the year, movies she had seen, music she had heard. One of the many topics that popped up where her best friends Alice Brandon and Rosalie Hale, two people she shared a close relation to.
I smiled, thinking about how much more out-going she was now compared to how she was when she had first come here. She used to be so quiet, reserved. Now she was like an open book. She spoke so much about her life, letting me know so much about herself and telling me practically anything that seemed to cross her mind. It was a great thing; it had allowed me to get closer to her than anyone in my family before, perhaps more than I should have. I felt for her more than anyone that I had ever known before, cared for her more than my own self, more than what a brother usually would for his sister.
I supposed you could say I was in love with Bella.
No, you could say I was in love with Bella. The months away at college had taught me that. The days just didn't seem right when she wasn't around. They were empty, dark. Like a moonless midnight hanging above me. Of course, I was wise to keep my feelings and my thoughts to myself. Bella and I, we weren't blood-related, but we had grown up the last few years together as brother and sister.
And as much as I hated it, I would keep it that way. I was sure that she was totally oblivious to my affections for her. It was easy for me to keep my feeling hidden under the surface for just myself to know. She wouldn't know about it; I wouldn't let her. Knowing her it would only make her feel more inclined to feel the same way for me.
And I wouldn't want to influence her own feelings just to see if she felt the same way.
I continued to make my way down the hallway to my room. Thinking about Bella and our not-there love-life split my mood into two directions like a fork in the road. Where I loved to think about her, her face in my mind putting a smile on my face, it also made my heart cry out, wishing that we had it better.
I passed Bella's room, about to ignore the door completely. She had told me she had some weekend work in there she had to do, and that she would come out when she was done. I got about a foot past the door before I heard a voice inside. A male voice. I stopped in my tracks, moving backwards and stopping right outside her door. Her light was on, shining out through the gap in between the bottom edge of the door and the floor. I heard muffled whispering from inside, and I knew that I would be able to hear better if my ear was to the door.
I hesitated.
I heard the voice again.
I placed my ear gingerly to the wood.
"…you ready?" said the unfamiliar person.
There was a pause before Bella's voice floated to me. "Yes…"
Silence met my ears before I heard a creaking sound followed by a sigh of content. A shift resounded from the other side of the door, and I heard a moan.
"Oh, Bella…"
I balled my fists. That was a sound of ecstasy, a sound of pleasure. I clenched my jaw at the thought of someone even thinking about touching her, even wanting her in such a way. She was only seventeen, barely an adult—not even an adult.
But isn't that how I thought of her, everyday?
I drew in an even breath through my nose. I shouldn't be standing here, listening to what went on behind her doors. I should be in my room doing my work, not paying attention to what she allowed someone else to do to her body. I was her brother, not her keeper. For some reason, I couldn't allow myself to move. My ear stayed where it was as she spoke again.
"Touch me there, Jason," she sighed. I blanched. Who was Jason? She had never mentioned him before, and I had never seen him around. I couldn't imagine the thought of him being here before, doing—
An audible groan hammered my ears now, making me shake in anger. What was he doing to her to make her utter such a passionate sound? What could he possibly be doing to make her want this? She wouldn't want it, would she? Not my Bella.
Why wasn't I in there to stop him from ruining her?
Again I heard a creak, this time knowing full well what it was: the sound of a mattress. I heard the combined heaviness of heated breathing, the ruffling of the removal of clothes. There was a small break in that, during which time I heard the words "Did you bring them?" flow like water from my sweet Bella's lips.
I couldn't listen anymore.
I probably should have left well enough alone, let her have her moment in bliss. But something told that if I didn't, I would hurt forever knowing what I had let happen.
My hand clasped around the cold unfeeling metal of the brass, twisting it just like my heart when I saw the scene inside Bella's room.
Her face was turned towards me, shock evident in her wide round eyes. Her lips were parted, pink tongue resting on her bottom teeth as stifling silence met my ears, no coherent thoughts able to pass my mind.
She was lying on her back, nothing covering her body but a lacy blue bra and a pair of white cotton panties. The knee on the side that I was on was cocked up, a boy of around seventeen or eighteen with auburn hair settled in between her silky legs. He was shirtless and pant less, save for the pair of boxers whose waistband was in his fingers as if he were getting ready to pull them down. I looked to see a half-opened condom wrapper lying on the cotton folds of the purple bedspread.
I couldn't think, couldn't speak. I saw red flecks in my eyes. I felt hot anger boil beneath my skin, bubble and brew up to the surface. I wanted to throw something, anything. Destroy all that was in my way, go on a warpath. If it was possible, I would shoot fire from all my visible orifices at the despicable boy lying on her bed.
It should be me. And as much as I hated this… Jason for thinking he could have her that way, I hated myself even more for wanting the same thing.
The boy—Jason—looked from me to Bella with wide olive green eyes. He was in shock, that much was certain. He should be. I could see in his eyes that he was afraid. He had better be. I would kill him. Rip him to shreds, burn the pieces. Leave no trace of him or the hideous act that he would have performed.
This was something that I hadn't felt in a long time. Blinding, untouched rage.
It was my rage that kept me rooted on the spot. I wanted—oh, how I longed to rush across the room—to take that boy in my hands and throttle him within an inch of his life. But I couldn't bring myself to do so. I was incapable of mobility.
Bella was the first one to move, the first one to speak. She sat up quickly, forcing this… Jason to scurry to the end of her bed. She gathered up her lilac colored bed-sheets, pulling them over her and covering her pale and sweat-shined body.
I wished she hadn't.
Her mouth worked in angered words against me, pulling me from my thoughts. My sick, twisted and turmoil-filled thoughts.
"Edward! What are you… Get out!" she shot at me, fury evident in her words. I looked from her body onto her face. It was flushed, sweaty. Small strands of her beautiful hair stuck to the smooth skin of her forehead. Her breathing was labored and her lips were turned down in what seemed to be an embarrassed grimace, eyes flashing dangerously.
And she was breath-taking.
And why now, of all times to feel this… this feeling? The time that I find her in bed with someone, about to do something that I would have never pictured her doing; the time I find her about to willingly give herself to another is the time I feel inexplicable jealousy and anger towards another person. I shouldn't be feeling this, now was not the time.
'So wrong.'
In the midst of my thinking, the boy dared speak.
"Hey man, you're kind of interrupting," he said, annoyed. He spoke as if he had some sort of right to Bella. Like he had some kind of sick claim to her simply because he was in her bed.
He would pay.
As if moving on their own accord, my feet carried me quicker than I had ever moved before across the room. In a blurry instant I was in front of Jason. I grabbed him by his shoulders, digging my fingers into his skin as I pushed him off of the bed, nearly making him fall before I slammed him up against the opposite wall of Bella's room. His auburn-covered head hit the wall with a loud and painful sounding thud, bouncing off the vertical surface a few times before it stopped.
I hoped he got whip-lash.
"What did you say?" I hissed out barely above a whisper. He didn't speak. I pushed him again.
"What the hell did you say?" I repeated. He shook his head, trying to get words to come out. Bella spoke up.
"Edward, let him go! Let him go now!" she practically shouted at me. I ignored the words, shoving Jason up against the wall again. He would answer me. I wanted him to answer me. I wanted him to beg me not to beat the ever-lasting shit out of him.
"Say it!" I commanded. His mouth began to move, but nothing but unintelligible mumbles came out of his mouth.
I shoved him again.
"I—I… Yo, I'm sorry!" he got out.
"I'll make you sorry," I hissed out. As he began sputtering again, I brought my left arm back. My hand formed a tight angry fist, cocked back and ready to raise hell on his face. I barely heard the 'Edward, no!' behind me before my hand shot forward, giving me a satisfactory 'crunch'.
I could feel the bone give way under my fist, over and over and over and over again. I didn't think, I just acted. A crimson tide rained from Jason's face, and all I could do was hit him again to satisfy my need for him to suffer.
And again.
And again.
And again.
Over and over. I couldn't stop, I wouldn't stop. My fury was unending, going on for eternity.
"Stop it! Just stop it now!" Bella's voice came from behind me as my hand went forward once more. It registered my mind, clicked. She wanted me to stop, needed me to stop. The pain was evident in her voice. But I didn't want to stop.
"Edward! Please! Stop it!" This time, along with her words, there were fists. Somewhere in between my hitting Jason and her yelling at me, she had gotten up, crossed the room, and began hitting my back relentlessly with her little fists. She pulled at my arms, trying unsuccessfully to move me. Her nails scraped across my skin, probably leaving claw marks in the process.
"Leave him alone! Stop!" she repeated again. I didn't want to; God knows I didn't want to. But my hands fell to my sides as she pushed past me, trying to get to a battered Jason, comfort her broken would-be lover.
I was numb as I saw her go up to him; try to make sure he was okay. I was numb as he pushed past her, ignoring her attempts to brush away the flowing blood still pouring from his face. I was numb as tears poured down her face as her anguished eyes looked after him as he quickly pulled on his clothes, muttering in a way that was supposed to be under his breath.
He called me crazy. I was.
He called me a bastard. Likely.
He said he wouldn't ever come near her again. He had better not.
And then, all was quiet. Jason was gone, having slammed the door closed behind him in his haste to get away from me. I was alone in the room with Bella, nothing but our breathing making a sound against the air. She erupted.
"How dare you! Who do you think you are?! You had no right, Edward, no right at all! What the hell did you do that for?!" she screamed, pummeling me once more with her fists. I looked down at her, her face not looking at mine but rather to the floor as her hair whipped around as she continued to attack me. I could swear I could see furious, hot tears flying around.
They broke me.
But I stood there, letting her yell whatever angry words she had for me. I stood there, still as a statue taking whatever she gave me as she cried and yelled. Because if one thing was certain, it was that no matter how angry I was at Jason, I was more despised at myself for allowing my emotions to get the better of me and hurt Bella. Even trying to protect her—because in my mind, that's what I called it: 'protecting'—I harmed her more than helped.
"Ugh, you're such an idiot Edward! Why did you do that?!" she panted out. Her punches came slower and less frequent now, barely even touching me. She backed away, her feet carrying her to her bed as be buckled against it, sitting on the edge. Her breathing was slowing from the quickened pace that it was. Her hands were fisted in the material of her bed sheets, the comforter no longer covering her.
How was I supposed to answer that question? 'Why did you do that?' I could always tell her the truth, that I was blindingly in love with her, jealous that another had her so much that she would be willing to give herself to. I could tell her that I had to make him pay for even thinking that he could have her for himself. I could have told her that the envious rage that I felt blinded me.
I could have.
But I didn't.
"I—I… I just… I don't know," I finished lamely. "I walked by your door, and I heard what was being said and—"
"You were listening in on in my room?" she asked incredulously. I sighed.
She sighed, and shook her head. "You were totally overreacting—"
"What did you expect me to do, finding you and him like… that?" I interrupted. She scoffed.
"Left me alone to do as I pleased." I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, and is that what you do with every teenage boy you know? Whatever you please?" I said bitingly. I know I shouldn't have, but my anger was coming back as she continued do defend Jason.
"Maybe, and what's it to you? My body, my rules, and you had no right to spy on me and overreact like a crazy person!" she yelled. I was about to open my mouth, but she stopped me by holding her hands up. "No. You're not Mom and Dad, you're not my boss, or my keeper, or my—" She stopped short, taking in a deep breath through her nose. She closed her eyes for a moment before going on. "You can't just bust in and do that, Edward. I'm not a little kid."
"But you're my little sister." 'Oh, but I wish you were so much more.'
She shot me a fiery look.
"Then act like it. Don't act like some crazed b—father, and go off attacking people. Promise me you won't spy on me like that again," she said. I thought about it for a moment, thought of arguing with her and saying that I would do damn well what I pleased to keep some random sleaze from touching her.
I wanted to tell her she was mine. But I had done enough damage to her for the day. I had upset her; I had made her cry, all because of my jealousy. I couldn't do that again, at least, not where she would know.
And I couldn't say no to her anyway.
"Of course."
End Flashback
The days after making that promise three months ago had proven to be hard. I tried not to let what I had seen, heard, done, affect how my relationship with Bella was. But in truth, it did change. I tried to not let her presence affect me so much, tried to make my feelings dissipate into the dark past. The fact that I loved her much more than I should had now not only made my life miserable, but I had upset Bella by taking my jealousy and warping into a violent rage.
Essentially, I tried to fall out of love with her.
I had for weeks—even after I had left home and was back on the campus—tried and tried to make myself see Bella for the less-than-perfect creature that she was. Had tried to pull apart everything that she had done, everything that she had said, and seen it for what it was. I tried to turn her flaws from a mild grey to darkened black, painting her that way so that she seemed more a nuisance and an unwanted candidate for my affections rather than the headliner of my mind.
I analyzed everything she had ever done; all her quirks, all her short-comings, hoping to love her less so I could move on and prevent myself from hurting her more and inadvertently myself.
At first, it worked. She made me hate her those first weeks after I went back to college. Why should I waste my life on someone who obviously did not want me, who obviously was oblivious to my feelings? Why should I go on vying internally for a person who couldn't see what she was enough to save herself for someone who meant something? Why should I go on with a wilting heart waiting for my true love to come along and kiss my spell goodbye? I told myself to forget the wasted labors of love, move on. Then maybe I could find happiness in myself and in life.
Because why should I want someone less than total perfection?
And then I began to realize—as time wore on, and I began to try to go about with other companions—how could I not love her for all her wrongs? How could I not love someone who was so impossibly humanly and amazing that she made me fell so many things at once? I berated myself; beat myself internally for what seemed like eons for trying to turn my heart against her. It was her flaws I loved so much, her uniquely imperfect personality that made me want her so much. The others—oh, the other women I sought comfort in so futilely to forget her—could never possibly compare to her, and it was foolish of me to think that they possibly could.
And through my revelations, I also realized that if I truly loved her, I would treat her more like my sister than I had ever before. I would distance myself; immerse myself in school, anything, to keep from going off like I had done with Jason.
Of course, sitting in an apple tree and spying on her wasn't helping the matter much. Watching her now, accepting the date with Jake as she turned her head away from me with an angry fire in her eyes was bound to put us back in the same emotional muddy rut as we had been three months ago.
"Awesome!" he said triumphantly, slathering a smirk on his face at her words: 'Of course I'd like to go out with you tomorrow, Jake. I'd like nothing better, in fact.' "I'll just pick you up, seven good?"
There was a pause.
'Please say no. Just forget you ever agreed…'
I sighed, turning my face away from the scene. Why I tortured myself, I had no idea. I leaned my head onto the bark of the tree, idly swinging my feet in the air. I tuned out anything else the two were saying, not wanting to dive deeper into the pile of shit that I would be in when Bella was done talking, and would be coming over here to bite my head off.
Yet again, I sighed.
I looked up, trying to find something to take my mind off the pathetic way my life seemed to revolve around Bella. Staring into the foliage of the branches above me, I looked at all the bright, emerald apples hanging from brown stems above me. Each one shined against the light of the sun, reflecting their own individual resilience in their smooth, impeccable skins. They each were almost too perfect.
All but one.
Hanging in the middle of an array of blemish-free Granny-Smith apples was a single, bruised apple. From another side, a different angle, it could probably have been mistaken for just another perfect, unmarked fruit. But from where I was sitting, I could see a single, lopsided light brown bruise decorating its side, making it a one-in-a-million on the apple tree.
For some reason, this apple—this solitary, unremarkable apple—caught my attention more than all the otherwise more appealing apples on the tree.
I needed to reach out and grab it.
I shifted my weight, swinging one leg over to the other side of the tree branch to balance myself so that I wouldn't fall. I scooted up, placing my hands in front of me to brace myself. Pulling my body up, I reached my hand forward, stretching my fingers out to their fullest extent. At first, they barely brushed up against the smooth skin of the apple. Then suddenly, a light wind rose up, caressing the apple and pushing it ever forward into my waiting hand.
I grasped around it, pulling it easily off the branch that it was resting on, sending the leaves of it rustling lightly. Placing it in my other hand, I scooted back carefully on my precarious perch until my back hit the trunk of the tree. I rolled it in my hands, inspecting it.
It was a really vibrant shade of green. It was more lime-jade than the others, rather than a consistent shade of jade. Small specks of light brown dotted it around where the larger brown spot was, but it didn't diminish the beauty of the apple anymore. It had a great beauty in its blemishes, a sort of finer quality for being less-than-impeccable, if you will.
For some reason, a reason I couldn't quite place, the apple that I held in my hands seemed significant. It was as if it represented something that I couldn't grasp at the moment. Perhaps…
"Edward! Edward, what the hell are you doing up there?!" I jumped, surprised at how immersed in my thoughts I was. I tore my eyes away from the apple, looking down to a very agitated Bella. Even angry, panting—most likely having run over here—and covered in a light sheen of sweat, she was marvelous. Her mouth was turned down slightly in that frown that made her look like a vengeful goddess. Her doe-eyes flashed, and if there was a wind blowing right now, she'd look like a Fury herself.
I cleared my throat.
"Enjoying the scenery," I said simply. She rolled her eyes, scoffing and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Don't bullshit with me, Edward," she fumed. "What are you doing up there, and tell me the truth."
I sighed.
"Okay, I was watching you," I told her bluntly. I mean, she had seen me; she had come to confront me. What was the point in lying? It would have done me no good.
"Why?" she hissed out. I shrugged.
"I don't know. Maybe I like seeing my sister making dates with random guys she's barely known for a week," I pointed out. She snorted.
"I happen to have known Jacob for two weeks, thank you very much, and unlike some people, he actually pays attention to me up front rather than hiding from me on a daily basis and sneaking up trees to watch me and my private business. You've been avoiding me like the plague, Edward, so why now are you suddenly oh so interested in seeing what I do and whom I do it with?" Her voice came out like shards of glass cutting against me bitterly. It was true, I had been avoiding her at most costs this week, but I hadn't thought that she had noticed. And if she had, would it have really upset her so?
I looked down on her. "I didn't realize that you were so upset by it. I'm sorry," I said repentantly. She held her head up high and haughty.
"Good, you should be." Then she sighed, and closed her eyes for a brief moment. Her head turned down towards the ground before bringing it up, hitting me with the full force of her eyes. She shook her head. "I shouldn't be so mad, but it's just frustrating when you constantly just… Just… Ugh. It's just frustrating, okay, when you seem to want to not be around me, or even have me in the same room, and then you do something like this. I just don't get it at all, Edward."
She cast me one forlorn look before turning on her heels, making her long walk back to the house. I watched her retreat silently, wishing that there was somehow something that I could do to make it up to her.
I probably didn't have an idea bright enough to fill a light bulb.
I sighed—for what seemed like the millionth time today—and turned my attention back to the solitary green apple resting in my hand. I had momentarily forgotten about it, what with my brief encounter with Bella, and so that seemed like a good focus for my warped thoughts. Staring at it, once more contemplating the pull that this solitary piece of fruit had on me, it hit me then and there, like a sonic boom going off.
Quickly, I hopped off the limb of the tree, landing with a hard thud on the emerald grass below me. I made sure to have the apple securely in my hand; I didn't want to drop or damage it.
Straightening up, I looked over towards where Bella was still walking. It was a slow, leisurely pace, but she had gotten fairly far; she was already halfway to the front of the country house where she lived.
I broke out in a run. "Bella!" I called loudly. She instantly stopped in her tracks, turning slowly before facing me. Her face first held a look of surprise, and then morphed into a reserved mode.
She watched apprehensively as I ran up to her. I skidded to a stop in front of her, panting as I caught my breath.
"Bella, wait," I said, holding my hand—the one without the apple in it—out in a sign of surrender. She eyed me before speaking.
Instead of answering I took her hand in mine. I tried not to think of how smooth and wonderful it felt in my palm as I looked into her eyes. Bringing my other hand up, the one with the apple, I placed it lightly in her hand. With both of mine, I closed her fingers around it so that it was safe in her hand.
"Sorry?" I asked. She looked down to our intertwined hands, staring with an unfathomable expression look on her face. Then, almost sporadically, a grin broke out on her face.
"Your peace offering?" She looked back up to me, her eyes laughing. I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth. I nodded.
"Yes." She chuckled, shaking her head and turning away from me. I was confused as she walked away. And then she turned around. Her head was down, looking at the apple in her hands. Then, she turned her face towards me, and looked me dead square in the eyes.
A blaring grin broke out on my face as I watched her turn away, but not before she brought the apple up to her pink lips, taking a bite with her wonderfully straight white teeth. I watched as she smiled, retreating into the wind.
She had accepted my apology. And in a way, I found a way to find peace within that.
Because the apple had been more than just a peace offering between us. It had been more than just a bit of autumn fruit hanging in the wind. It had been a symbol. It was a symbol of my forbidden love, the fruit I was never allowed to touch. It was riddled in bruises, but just as my heart was, it kept on living, thriving past its less-than-perfect life and going despite its shortcomings. It was as green as the raging envy that I knew I would always feel for her, something that would be there for all eternity. By giving that apple to her, I had given her something that would always be hers.
It represented my struggles, my plight. It represented all that I had felt for my Bella, all that I wanted and all that I needed. There was a subtle message written within its blemishes.
The representation of everything she was to me.
It told the story of my love, as untouchable as the moon and unreachable as the stars.
It told the story of my Forbidden Envy, the one I would never have.
Lennixx: *Wipes brow* WOW! It's finally out in the open! Gosh, it took me forever just to get through it!
So, this is my entry for the Sparkle Award's first challenge, the Apple Challenge. All guidelines can be found with the following link: http://thesparkleawards(DOT)yolasite(DOT)com/challenge(DOT)php
All entriescan be found with the following link:
[Be sure to replace all (DOT) with periods]
Big HUGE thanks to my ninja-beta, TRDancer. She's AMAZING. I swear, she puts up with my insanity daily, for multiple hours at a time. She rocks my socks.


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Josh Hamilton, the Natural, is easily the most beloved athlete in the state of Texas, and that is most certainly saying a lot. In a state where football is, was, and always will be king Josh Hamilton is more popular than any football player in the state.
As a former heroin addict, he's a symbol for overcoming adversity. He's an openly-Christian athlete; which goes down very well in a southern state like Texas. He also happens to be one of the most naturally-gifted people to ever play the game of baseball. His body, more brittle than it should be from years of doing hard drugs, is always the only question with Hamilton. He manages to get bad press when he has been caught drinking, but that is only ever a big deal because Josh Hamilton is someone we are supposed to look at as a role model. Charles Barkley once accurately noted that paid to be a role model; but when the story of the player precedes his production - which is to say people are drawn to him first for his background and second for his abilities - then the player inevitably becomes a role model. You better believes Hamilton is a role model in Texas.
He has yet to get seriously injured this season. If he somehow manages to play the entire season without catching the injury bug it will be the first time he has ever done it. It makes for perfect timing as well, because this is a contract year for Hamilton.
He has said that he wants to be paid "like an elite player", and while no one can possibly doubt his ability, any team that would guarantee him "elite" money in the Albert Pujols/Carl Crawford range would be making a decision as considerably bad as both of those deals made by Anaheim and Boston. Last year was a contract year for Pujols, and he responded by turning in the worst statistical calendar season of his otherwise Hall of Fame career. Angels owner Arte Moreno did not care about any of that and signed Pujols to one of the largest contracts in the history of professional sports. No one can honestly call the Pujols deal "smart" because it's not.
Deals are investments. A good general manager never has to dump a contract like you see on a near-daily basis leagues like the NBA. It is difficult to maneuver, but when a player is in his 30's and is demanding a deal for 7+ years you have to be able to rationalize it for the long term, especially considering that most modern baseball deals are back-loaded
Nolan Ryan has expressed much appreciation for Josh Hamilton. He loves the guy. So do Ranger fans far and wide. They love the guy. Announcers and columnists love the guy. Casey Affleck is preparing to direct a biopic of Hamilton. Hollywood even loves the guy.
Now, here's where it gets hairy.
Josh Hamilton wants the contract that he signs this winter to be the last contract he'll ever have to sign. That's what being paid "like an elite player" is all about. It's about job security, it's about need, it's about comfort, and it's of course about the money. With teams like the Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and Marlins tossing around money to any top-tier free agents that it will stick to, it's hard to retain a guy like Hamilton for a price that makes sense.
Prince Fielder was the no. 2 free agent last winter and the Tigers signed him to his fat deal for reasons that had as much to do with his ability as they did with the fact that his father is somewhat of a quasi-legend of the Detroit Tigers. Fielder is overweight and has seen his numbers decline over the last few years. In fact, he is arguably the player that has been affected the most by the rise of this new pitcher's era. As of the publication of this article he is on pace for 29 home runs, which would be his lowest total since his rookie season. Home runs are supposed to be his specialty, but he garnered the paycheck he wanted simply by benefitting from a tight market. The real spenders - New York and Boston - already have overpaid guys at first base, so Prince most definitely missed out on what could have been an absurd deal.
Jon Daniels has been game-planning this scenario as sure as he was game-planning signing Yu Darvish seven whole years ago. He has the highest-rated prospect in the minors at Double-A Frisco, one Jurickson Profar, waiting to be called up for the stretch run. Profar could have been included in deals for either Zack Greinke or Josh Johnson but Daniels wasn't going to pull the lever on that and now the would-be superstar shortstop waits. If Daniels decides to re-sign Hamilton to the $150-200 million contract that he wants then he will likely let current shortstop Elvis Andrus (represented by Scott Boras) walk to another team and install Profar as the franchise shortstop. If Hamilton is not re-signed then Ian Kinsler will likely move to the outfield and Profar will play either second base or shortstop with Elvis Andrus.
Once again, the brilliant work of Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels has led to a seemingly-infinite stable of young talent coming up from the minors. They are in the position where they are likely going to lose one cornerstone of their offense and defense, but they will certainly have a worthy replacement to fill that hole if need-be.
I just don't see Jon Daniels committing that kind of money to a player who will be 32 by next year's All-Star break. Hamilton is somewhat of a quasi-legend himself. Even so far as Jon Daniels' own career, as acquiring Hamilton from the Cincinnati Reds was the very first brilliant move he made as general manager of Texas. Giving up starting pitcher Edinson Volquez for the risky former drug addict/former no. 1 overall pick defined Daniels' career, and decisions like that - including when he brought Colby Lewis back from Japan -- have come to define how the Texas Rangers approach the game of baseball.
Frankly, as much as I love Hamilton as a player, I don't think Daniels should pull the lever on a deal because someone... some team out there will sign him to an absurd contract. And, whoever does it will be doing it as much for his abilities as for his presence... what he means to the fans with very presence on the baseball field. And sometime she'll hit 4 home runs in a game. You know... the stuff of legend... Josh Hamilton is full of it. But is he worth anchoring the future of franchise? I don't think he is, and while Daniels and Nolan Ryan are no doubt enthusiastic about Hamilton, his suspension of contract talks until the season ends doesn't bode well for Texas' chances to re-sign him.
It echoes what Albert Pujols said to Cardinal management before last season; and if anyone still thinks that franchise brand identity survives need only look to Albert Pujols. Hell, it's the Cardinals; the third most-successful franchise in Major League history. And they were immediately coming off of their 11th World Series title.
Overpaying players is a trend that will never end. Someone will pay Josh Hamilton $200-or-so million dollars until he turns 40, it just won't be the Texas Rangers. That's not how Texas operates. That's not how Texas got to be the two-time reigning American League champions. He told Ranger fans a long time ago that he was building a framework to last, and that they would have to experience some bad years before that framework would properly materialize. Now that is has finally materialized Daniels plans to fulfill his plan, and it doesn't involve giving aging players too much money.
I would love to see him in a Cubs uniform, though... trotting the base paths of Wrigley. Who knows? Maybe Theo Epstein is looking to make a splash. Maybe take back the front page from Robin Ventura's south-side squad? That seems to be all it takes these days.
Either way, Josh Hamilton is going to get paid, and I'm happy for him. He deserves it, and whichever team pays him deserves him, and all of the pleasure and pain that comes with his legend.749924


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- The harness is a bit confusing at first(no instructions) but we figured it out. I like that it has snaps so you can change out the rings to use a different size dildo if you want. The lubes are travel/ trial sized. The vibe has good power and a nice soft feel to it, it is a bit small, but is good for warming up. Haven't watched the video, but it seems like a good intro to toys. All in all, pretty good set to toss in a bag for a weekend of fun and exploration.
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Published on: March 25 2015


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Photos of the PS4 Slim have appeared on Gumtree (and later removed) selling for £295, showing a smaller version of the current 500GB PS4 model. The unannounced model is expected to replace the current standard PS4 model according to the Wall Steet Journal, who have spoken to "people familiar with the matter". WSJ says that the new PS4 model will be revealed at the PlayStation Meeting on September 7th 2016.
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- - This item's measurements are:
- Drop 39cm
- Pendant Length 10cm
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Roberto Cavalli takes inspiration from Far East gardens to create this stunning gold-plated and silver-plated necklace. Enameled in neutral shades, each petal is set with glittering Swarovski crystals. This substantial design can be worn at multiple lengths - showcase yours against a dark dress.
Shown here with: Alberta Ferretti dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, Victoria Beckham clutch.
- - Gold-plated and silver-plated brass
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- - Cream, beige and black enamel, can be worn at multiple lengths
- - Lobster clasp fastening
Product Code: 407799
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text: Taking your baby swimming is an event that is a special bonding time but keeping warm when getting changed after the swim can be a lesson in juggling a wet baby, swimming gear and clothes. That's the bit that's not quite so much fun, but a big hooded fluffy towel designed with extra double thickness will help make things alot easier. The Cuddledry Swim Towel will make sure baby's skin and hair dry as quickly as possible, the absorbent bamboo and pure cotton blend will effectively draw moisture away so that baby is all warm and snuggly before you know it.


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Echuca Moama Holiday Villas
Select your stay dates to check availability at Echuca Moama Holiday Villas
Echuca Moama Holiday Villas
About the Hotel
Property Location
When you stay at Echuca Moama Holiday Villas in Moama, you'll be in a shopping district and convenient to Moama Bowling Club and Port of Echuca. This 4-star apartment is within the vicinity of Echuca Moama Tourist Centre and Rich River Golf Club.
Make yourself at home in one of the 2 air-conditioned rooms featuring kitchens with full-sized refrigerators/freezers and stovetops. 42-inch plasma televisions and DVD players are provided, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include microwaves and coffee/tea makers, and you can also request cribs/infant beds (complimentary).
Enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a garden. This apartment also features complimentary wireless Internet access and barbecue grills.
Business, Other Amenities
Free self parking is available onsite.
Hotel Facilities
- Parking (limited spaces)
- Free parking nearby
- Outdoor pool
- Number of buildings/towers - 7
- Total number of rooms - 2
- Number of floors - 1
- Garden
- Free WiFi
- Free self parking
- Barbecue grill(s)
Room Facilities
- Microwave
- Stovetop
- Iron/ironing board
- Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
- Kitchen
- Plasma TV
- Shower only
- Separate dining area
- Separate bedroom
- Washer/dryer
- Separate living room
- Free WiFi
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- DVD player
- Hair dryer
- Air conditioning
- Private bathroom
- Coffee/tea maker
- Ceiling fan