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New Year's Eve.
Jet, aged ten, was alone and trapped and helpless. And he was really fucking pissed off about this turn of events. He's been caught by those firemonsters when he and Smellerbee and Longshot had been pinching their supplies. The winter was bitter and they had run out of everything. A twig snapped under Smellerbee's foot and Jet had told them to run for it. He'd caused a distraction to give Smellerbee and Longshot time to get away. He thought it would be easy to hoist himself up to the branch and make his own get away through the trees. But one of the fire monsters had clobbered him over the head with something and he'd woken up here. He was in a small cell. It was a tiny hopeless little jail cell that Jet hated. His head was pounding. He was colder than he had ever felt in his life.
He thought his situation couldn't get any worse. But then the firemonsters came back.
It was New Years, and Lu Ten was here on the fringes of Gaipan, not in Ba Sing Se with his dear and beloved father. They were going to celebrate the turning of the year together, like they always did. Lu Ten felt a jolt of homesickness for that jovial, kind face. Lu Ten knew that his father would be able to say something to make him feel better. His father could make sense of the world for him again.
But Father had wanted Lu Ten to discover the world for himself and develop his own philosophy. Father had thought that Lu Ten commanding a small squadron from the coast to Ba Sing Se would be a good experience for him. Lu Ten had found so many things along the way that he couldn't just leave, and there were appointments and delays and cock-ups to deal with every single day. They had been delayed in Gaipan region because Lu Ten saw so much that he couldn't let slide.
Atrocities that made him wonder how anyone could do something like that to another person.
Atrocities that made him think disloyal thoughts about his homeland.
Atrocities that made him question what the point to this war even was.
Around a month ago Lu Ten and his troops had come across the charred remains of a village. It was a sad and tragic little place. Lu Ten couldn't forget what they found there – he had tried. The image of those bodies had never really gone away. Lu Ten has just gotten better at not seeing it. They were huddled and piled in the burnt out husk of what was once a barn. The metal padlock, warped and rusted though it was, told the dark truth. These people had been locked in and left to burn. It was sickening
Lu Ten had gone into the woods and promptly lost the entire content of his stomach. It was the first time he'd ever seen a dead body, aside from his mother's at her funeral. And Lu Ten had been so young then and she'd been sick for so long. This sort of death, these pointless, violent village deaths haunted his dreams.
Lu Ten launched an investigation into finding out what happened. The woods were famous for bandits. Bandits were famous for being ruthless. Lu Ten had thought it would all be so easy. He thought the enemy would always be on the other side of the line. But then he and his men had come to the Rough Rhinos camp. They were having a short rest and would stay over the new years holiday. The Rough Rhinos liked to brag. Lu Ten had found out the truth can be so much worse than what you ever expected.
The Rough Rhinos felt no shame over what the had done. They freely admitted that they had travelled through the village and they had wanted to have some fun. Fun. They had locked a whole village of innocent people into a barn and set it alight for sport. The thought revolted Lu Ten. It made him want to kick Colonel Mongke in the teeth, every day for the rest of his life.
Lu Ten had hiked back to the previous watch-tower, just to send a messenger Hawk to his father. He was only a Captain and Colonel Mongke out-ranked him. It wasn't Lu Ten's place to deliver disciplinary action. But he felt like some disciplinary action had to happen if there was to be any justice at all in the world. For now, Lu Ten would go back to the camp and return to his tent and not speak to any of them. He didn't have the will or the energy to even pretend to be polite to the Rough Rhinos right now.
Lu Ten was done for the day. He was done. He was tired in his body. Tired in his head. And so so tired in his heart. He felt like the war had aged him way beyond his eighteen years. Lu Ten felt centuries old. He felt like he was too young for this war. He wasn't ready for it. Wasn't prepared for what it would actually be like. But then again everyone was too young for this war. That was the one constant. Everyone died much too young in war.
But Lu Ten's day was not over yet. When he walked back into the encampment, he heard the distinctive sound of drunken jeers and laughter. But this didn't sound like like the regular new year's revelry. There was a darker, more dangerous edge to the laughter.
It sounded like lynch mob laughter.
Lu Ten heard a young boy's anguished shout.
A child's cry of pain and bewilderment.
Fucking hell!
Lu Ten ran towards the sound.
The fire monsters were bored. They always did the worst shit when the got bored. Maybe someone should teach them all how to play hoop-a-scoot. Make things much more pleasant for everyone really. It was some sort of holiday for the fire monsters and they were drunk and bored and that was a bad combination for Jet.
Jet very quickly became their source of entertainment. As soon as someone they called Captain No-fun left, they had come for him. They had crowded around his cell, just to terrify Jet. They had pinched and poked and prodded him with their weapons and laughter mightily at all the curses Jet swore at them. They had jeered at him about all the terrible things they were going to do to him. For fun.
Jet had swore at them all and lashed out, but he felt so trapped and confined and terrified. The stone walls of the cell and the leering faces of the men had become his whole world and he could see no escape.
One of them got the keys from somewhere and Jet was dragged out by his hair, kicking and screaming and fighting all the way. The firemonsters stood in a big circle around him. Jet looked around the circle and saw a firemonster her recognised. The one from the village. The one who did the terrible thing to his father. Bind rage filled Jet. He launched himself at the firemonster and clawed and scratched and fought bitterly. The firemonster held him off easy. Jet's rage-filled struggles seemed to amuse the rest of them.
They were just playing with him at the moment. Soon it would get bad. But if this was going to be it, then Jet was going to go down fighting. He could try take this firemonster with him. He wasn't going to give the firemonsters the satisfaction of seeing that he was scared.
The big firemonster from the village suddenly flung him off with surprising violence. Jet landed hard. The big firemonster approached him. A flaming fist held aloft. Jet felt frozen in horror. The fist came towards him. Jet raised his arms to protect himself.
The pain seared across his forearms. It blazed into his flesh and his memory.
What a terrible thing it is to be burned.
Jet did not want to die this way.
Jet did not want to die at all, come to think of it.
Who would take care of Smellerbee and Longshot then?
At least they had gotten far away.
They would be back at the hideout, snuggling to keep warm by now.
Jet thought of them safe and snuggling. They'd survive.
They weren't here. They wouldn't have to see this.
Jet was exhausted. He'd been fighting for so long. The big firemonster struck again (with his foot not his fist – he was still playing). It was a resounding blow to the side of his head. Jet's vision swam. Jet closed his eyes and braced himself for a blow that never came. Right at that moment, a loud, furious voice yelled "STOP THIS AT ONCE".
While Lu Ten had been gone, fucking Colonel Mongke and his men had found some poor Earth Kingdom brat from somewhere. It was a boy with messy hair, bare feet and clothes far too thin to keep out the winter chill. Probably an orphan. There were so many of them in this region.
The boy looked like Zuko's age.
He couldn't possibly be older than tenish.
But he seemed tiny in comparison to the large circle of men that surrounded him. He was sprawled on the ground in front of Colonel Mongke. It looked to Lu Ten like the Colonel was going to strike the child.
A dark anger filled Lu Ten. He would not sit idly by while a child was hurt. That wasn't who Lu Ten was. Rank be damned, Lu Ten was going to stop this madness.
He shouted at the top of his lungs and barrelled through the circle of men. They all gasped at his sudden arrival – they had clearly expected him to be gone for a lot longer. Colonel Mongke shot him a disgruntled look at the intrusion. He knew the Rough Rhinos called him Captain no-fun. Here Lu Ten was again – to spoil the fun.
He went over to the boy who looked at him with wild and angry and very surprised eyes. The boy wasn't critically injured – so at least that was a small blessing. Lu Ten positioned himself between the boy and colonel Mongke and demanded an explanation.
A very bitter scene ensued. Colonel Mongke reminded Lu Ten to remember his place. He may be the Colonel's social superior in a Caldera ballroom, but on the field of battle, the Colonel out ranked him. Lu Ten, who was beyond angry and beyond caring about rank, pointed out that this was not the battle field. This was four grown men against a small, unarmed and underfed boy. What a fearsome enemy indeed. Lu Ten told them all that they should be fucking ashamed of themselves.
He felt am odd pang for swearing in front of the boy. Ursa had always been on at him not to swear in front of Zuko and Azula. You've got to set a good example for them Lu Ten, They both look up to you so much. He'd never be able to face either of his young cousins again, if he knowingly let a child be tormented in this way. What kind of example did that set?
Colonel Mongke wasn't having it. He didn't feel that he had to suffer lip from Lu Ten. He challenged Lu Ten to an Agni Kai. But he was drunk as a skunk. Instead of acquiescing to a formal duel – Lu Ten used his superior skills and agility. He launched himself at Colonel Mongke. A short series of kicks and punches and flips later- Colonel Mongke was well and truly beaten. Lu Ten had gotten a little too into the fight. At one point he head flipped Colonel Mongke over his shoulder, just to see the look on the mother-fucker's face. But he landed near the boy, who scrambled backwards quickly, in surprise and fright.
The Colonel was panting and on his knees in front of Lu Ten. Lu Ten fought the urge to kick him in the face. He wasn't this sort of person. The sort of person who would kick someone when they were down. Enough. Enough now. Lu Ten made his point. Lu Ten was freaking the kind out.
Lu Ten jumped on the Colonel and held him down in a restraining hold, with his knee pressing onto the Colonel's spleen instead. Enough to hurt, but not enough to do permanent damage. Lu Ten told the Colonel that he forgot himself. Lu Ten was his superior in every way except age.
Lu Ten told the Colonel and all the gathered men that they were fucking disgraces to the firenation. They had brought dishonour on themselves tonight. He scolded them furiously, until most of them were looking shamefaced. Lu Ten then ordered all the men to return to their tents and sleep it off. They slumped off in dribs and drabs. Lu Ten let the Colonel up and pointing towards the tents. Colonel Mongke shot his a look of loathing and left.
Then Lu Ten was standing alone in the yard with the boy. The boy was still sprawled on the ground. His lip was bloody and he had the start of a black eye forming. He gazed up a Lu Ten, his face filled with fright and fury.
" Have no fear of me. You're safe now boy." Lu Ten said in what was an attempt at a reassuring manner. He took a step towards the Kid – but the Kid immediately flinched away. It tugged at something deep inside Lu Ten, to see a child react to him with such fear.
Understandable fear. In his uniform and helmet – Lu Ten probably looked no different from the soldiers who had done this to the Kid.
Lu Ten took his helmet off and crouched down on to the kid's level. He could see burns blossoming over the kids arms. They were still fresh. He'd have to get some salve on that quickly. The boy scooted back further from Lu Ten. "It's okay - I'm not going to hurt you." Lu Ten assured the Kid. The Kid did not look reassured.
In fact, the Kid fainted dead away.
Jet didn't know what to make of the new firemonster. The one who had charged in from somewhere and stopped the other men. He reckoned this new firemonster was the most dangerous of all the firemonsters. He was the firemonster that all the other monsters were scared of...that had to mean he was really bad.
But yet, the new firemonster had stuck up for Jet and put himself between him and the big firemonster and protected him. Thanks to the New Firemonster, Jet had now learned that the big firemonster was called Colonel Mongke. New spat the Colonel's name like it was an insult, several times. Jet logged that information, that name, away in his mind. It would come in handy, knowing the big firemonster's name, in the future. New then swore and called the Colonel a few names. Then New shot Jet the oddest look. It looked almost apologetic and it was friggin weird.
The Colonel then challenged New. This was a massive mistake. New was totally Badass! New kicked the shit out of the Colonel – Jet felt a morbid satisfaction watching it . The New one made it look fucking easy. It was like swatting a fly. Even though New was half the Colonel's size – he made short work of him. It was brilliant and it was scary.
Even though he was a firemonster, Jet couldn't help but think that there was something inherently graceful in New's movements. Jet wanted to learn to fight like that, with fliud movements and such confidence.
New flicked the Colonel over his shoulder and he landed with a heavy thud right next to Jet. This surprised the shit out of Jet. Jet wouldn't say he was scared, but he did make a wee noise and scramble back from the shock of the sudden thud. He looked up and caught New's eyes. The friggin weird look from earlier, the almost apologetic one, passed over New's face.
The Colonel was on the ground in front of New. For an odd second, Jet wondered if New was going to kick him in the face. Jet could tell New wanted too. How bad could this get? Did firenation people kick each other in the face all the time? It wouldn't surprise Jet if they did.
New didn't kick the Colonel in the face. Instead he jumped on him and smushed his face into the ground and put his knee into his back. He then shouted some more stuff – but Jet couldn't quite hear it. He was feeling dizzy and the world was blurring. His ears felt like the were filled with water or some other gunk that make everything sound foggy. Then the firemonsters started walking away from the circle. New let the Colonel up and he left too.
It was just Jet and New.
New said something and took a step towards him. Jet scrambled back in fear. Well he would later tell Smellerbee and Longshot that he wasn't scared. But truth be told, he had just seen New beat the shit out of the Colonel – who was the worst and baddest man Jet knew. If New wanted, he would be able to break Jet in half.
New then knelt down in front of Jet and took off his helmet. He was youngish for a firemonster. Jet had never seen a firemonster this young. He had a strong jawline and big sad eyes. If he wasn't a firemonster, it would be a nice face. A kind face. But because he was a firemonster – he couldn't possibly be kind. He said something else, but Jet didn't understand it.
Jet felt like he was swimming deep underwater. All the sounds, everything New said had to get through fathoms before Jet heard it. Everything was swaying. Then New said something else and reached towards Jet. Jet tried to lurch back away from him, but then the whole world lurched and everything went black.
Lovely wonderful readers, this is a little ficlet that is too long for a drabble. It's about an encounter between Jet and Lu Ten. It will fit with the stalking universe. It's not as light hearted as some of my other works. I'm trying for a serious tone here, so this fic is somewhat of an experiement. However this idea crawled into my brain and would not go away.
Anyway in Jet's troubling obsession, I mentioned that Jet had a bad experience in jail. This is the experience he's referring to in that chapter.
Also I just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone for being patient with me on the NSFZ updates front. Chap 13 is half written. I've been working on it a bit each day - But I'm just a bit time poor. I know that I haven't updated in foreeeeeever. I'm so sorry guys. Teaching has just been really hectic and tiring (I'm loving it though). My writing time has been cut back a little. However, I'll be finishing prac at the end of next week, and then I will have much more time to write.
Til then...


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Jason Barile, a software test lead on the Visual Studio Team System source control team, is now blogging:
My name is Jason Barile, and I'm blogging from the Research Triangle area in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC. I'm a Software Test Lead in the Visual Studio Team System group. If you haven't heard about this product yet and you're a software developer, project manager, or tester in a large development group, head over to our Microsoft.com page to learn more. (And before I forget… we're hiring!)

subset: commoncrawl


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Not that this will every change Mr. Fry's mind in the least, but a wise counselor once taught us that, when it comes to love–gay or straight–the activities may be different, but the feelings are the same.
- This summer, at the movies…
- Easter Egg Hunt List
- Irish dance showcase at Warwick High School
- Roots and Blues 2017
- Reel Reviews: 2017 Oscar picks
- 'American Idiot' at EPAC
- Warwick grad producing 'Million Dollar Quartet' at Dutch Apple
- 'Somewhereville Station' revisits the 50s and 60s
- St. Patty's musical at Ephrata Main
Freedom of choice
Ephrata Review,
In her recent "good feeling" items being submitted by Review correspondent Michelle Brenner, she included – Pastor Steve Cornell's column in the Sunday News. I also read the pastor's Sunday column of good feeling opinions.
I reviewed the (Sunday, Feb. 25) column, "Michael Sam and the liberal media" by Steve Cornell. The kind pastor's review of the gay college athlete Michael Sam was presented without homosexual discrimination. We know his view of love and compassion for all gay people was appreciated by female gay clerics. The name lesbian was never mentioned.
Incidentally, here is a (Lancaster Intell/New Era) Feb. 1, 2014, front page, gay report: "Lancaster native Theda Good will officially become the first gay pastor to be licensed for ministry in the nation's largest Mennonite denomination on Sunday." The carnal name lesbian is shunned by gay female clerics.
If someone had told me 30 years ago that a Mennonite denomination would have a lesbian as their licensed gay pastor, I would have never believed it. For God will surely hold the Mennonite church accountable for their female ordination doctrine. There are three other denominations in Lancaster County that may ordain a gay female.
In his homosexual column, Pastor Cornell never rebuked the ordination of gay clerics. The pastor showed a kind tolerance for the gay athlete Michael Sam, he never labeled the man "carnal." All men may live the same carnal lifestyle in a secular culture.
We are a (King James Version) congregation and we do cherish our U.S. "freedom of religion," be a home missionary and spread the gospel words of a loving God found in John 3:16-17. Freedom of choice, is a noble Bible theme found in Acts 17:11.
John William Fry
2 Comments
Barry as always your wisdom shines through for the rest of us.. Hoping you are still the humorous soul I knew a few years back….and by the way thanks for marrying me…lol


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BeschreibungDuring the last decade, argumentation has attracted growing attention as a means to elicit processes (linguistic, logical, dialogical, psychological, etc.) that can sustain or provoke reasoning and learning. Constituting an important dimension of daily life and of professional activities, argumentation plays a special role in democracies and is at the heart of philosophical reasoning and scientific inquiry. Argumentation, as such, requires specific intellectual and social skills. Hence, argumentation will have an increasing importance in education, both because it is a critical competence that has to be learned, and because argumentation can be used to foster learning in philosophy, history, sciences and in many other domains. Argumentation and Education answers these and other questions by providing both theoretical backgrounds, in psychology, education and theory of argumentation, and concrete examples of experiments and results in school contexts in a range of domains. It reports on existing innovative practices in education settings at various levels.
InhaltsverzeichnisIntroduction, Nathalie Muller Mirza and Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont
Part I. Theoretical Foundations
Argumentation as an Object of Interest and as a Social and Cultural Resource, Eddo Rigotti and Sara Greco Morasso
Psychosocial Processes in Argumentation, Nathalie Muller Mirza, Anne-Nelly Perret-Clermont, Valerie Tartas, and Antonio Iannaccone
Argumentation and Learning, Baruch B. Schwarz
Argumentative Interactions and the Social Construction of Knowledge, Michael Baker
Argumentative Design, Jerry E. B. Andriessen and Baruch B. Schwarz
Part II. Practices
Developing Argumentation: Lessons Learned in the Primary School, Neil Mercer
Argumentation in Higher Education: Examples of Actual Practices with Argumentation Tools, Jerry E. B. Andriessen
The Argumentum Experience, Sara Greco Morasso
Author Index
Subject Index
PressestimmenFrom the reviews: "The book Argumentation and Education provides a very wide panorama on argumentation theories. ... Textual genres help students to situate and compare argumentation practices in all the sociolinguistic practices. ... Hence, analysing more situations engaging students in direct dialogue, without any technological mediation, would have been interesting. ... transformations are crucial to the understanding of links between argumentation and education. In this matter, a didactic approach ... is most suitable for describing and explaining how social and cultural practices transform into academic ones." (Roxane Gagnon, Bulletin Suisse de Linguistique Appliquée, Issue 91, 2010) "This edited collection is a very welcome addition to texts in the field of argumentation and education. ... When woven in with the editors' own background in social psychology and psychology, the resulting cocktail is a well-balanced, heady and powerful one. ... In total there are only ten contributors-but they are all key thinkers in the field and eloquent writers too. This is a book well worth recommending to university libraries and especially for courses on argumentation at school and higher education levels." (Richard Andrews, Argumentation, Vol. 24, 2010)
Untertitel: Theoretical Foundations and Practices. 2009. Auflage. Previously published in hardcover. Sprache: Englisch.
Verlag: Springer
Erscheinungsdatum: November 2014
Seitenanzahl: 252 Seiten
Format: kartoniert


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the case of the zombiesMature
it was early morning and we was having breakfast including simon and i had a vision of someone being slaughtered by zombies so i prepared for the fight and then there was a knock at the door it was the zombies and i answered it and we started shooting instantly and we managed to kill them all we was so glad that the city was back to normal so we celebrated with a barbeque full of cooked steaks we enjoyed that it was a change from blood sam loved so did simon i was just tired so sam suggested that everyone go to bed so we did willingly as we was all very tired so we went to sleep and in the middle of the night i was woken up by a loud howling so i got dressed and i went to meet ariel still half asleep he wanted me to accompany him to the morgue to see his son i asked whether he could have waited till morning but he said it was an emergency so i went with him snd he cried and i comforted him then he told me to go back to bed so i did and i was asleep within seconds and then sam joined me as well cuddling me. sam woke us all up in the morning and cooked us breakfast simon wasn't definitly used to living like this i laughed at simon and he scowled at me and that made me laugh harder, i rushed outside and hid in the bush whilst still laughing i ended up being sick from laughing too much. i came back in and then simon said that he forgave me and i apologised for laughing at him. we went for a pizza then and talked about our pasts


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Islamographic presents an exclusive infograph of 'Ten Must to do things' for parents to build their children's character.
[Click on Image to Enlarge]
I'm getting married -Yay! There is so much to be done- designer dress, jewellery, footwear, bags, make-up artist, salon etc. How many days will the wedding celebrations continue? How many functions? Theme of the day? What about the dance preparations? Do we have enough time to rehearse the dances in-sync? Oh wait- I almost forgot, the photographer! 'Capturing memories that will last for a life-time.' I want my wedding album to be the most creative. I'll update my face book profile pictures and cover photos every day. Why not share my happiness with the world?
Many of us start considering these things as soon as the wedding bells start ringing in our head. The fairy-tale we had been reading, watching and dreaming of since our childhood is finally becoming true. So what do I do to prepare myself for this life-altering event? Yes! I Know! I need the wedding glow. I can't be a dull bride. Manicure, pedicure, whitening facial, skin treatments, weight-loss plans, gym programs (Obviously, I can't be a fat bride. What will people say?)
But….What happens once we say 'Qubool Hai'? The fairy-tale wedding, the excitement of the events, the food, the glittering dresses, and need not mention the never ending laughter. What happens when all of this comes to an end and a new chapter in our life begins? What happens when the first time we get into an argument with our husband? What happens when someone from the in-laws says something that hurts you deeply? What happens when misunderstandings arise? This is the time when it truly hits us that the fairy-tales always promised a happily-ever-after, but this is not what we had imagined. What does this 'happily-ever-after' mean anyway?
We are so focused upon the fairy tale wedding events and the preparations that we forget to make preparations for the real life drama that would follow-on later.
Expectation vs. Reality
There will be times when you face criticisms and you will feel that you aren't appreciated for your efforts.
The Satan gives a big reward to the subordinate who has created differences and distances between the husband and the wife in the form of arguments, disagreements and fights.
My dear sisters, the relation of a husband and wife is the first relation to come into existence i.e. that of Hazrat Adam (as) and bibi Hawa (as). The Satan gives a big reward to the subordinate who has created differences and distances between the husband and the wife in the form of arguments, disagreements and fights. We, at times, have such high expectations from our marital lives that even a slightest issue disrupts the harmony which we had imagined; and we tend to give up hope. Marriage is a relationship upon which you and your spouse have to work coherently. Learn to adjust, learn to give-in, to forgive, understand each other and above all respect one another. May Allah (swt) guide us to the best of knowledge and Iman.
Ibn Qayyim said: "The (path) always starts with trials and tests, then comes the period of patience and reliance (upon Allah (swt)), and the end is enlightenment, guidance and victory." (Shifaa' Al-Aleel)
Fill with food 1/3 of your stomach's capacity.
Instructions for meals:
Air and Water
Fill 1/3 of your stomach with water and allow the last 1/3 left for air.
Instructions for water consumption:
Body Fitness and Hygiene
Spiritual Connection
You were sitting there, on the couch,
Well dressed, smart, no slouch
With hair well-trimmed and glasses neat,
The beard just made it all the more sweet.
Your shy smile and your gaze at the floor –
I knew it then that there is more.
With our Mahrams right there with us,
We discussed our interests and what suits us.
The conversation lasted for just a few minutes,
Enough to help us get our tickets
To start this movie of life and adventure
With each other as companions, we write our own scripture.
With the will of Allah (swt) comes opportunity,
And the aid too comes from Allah (swt) only.
Istikhara, my family and my instincts
Helped me make a decision remarkable and distinct.
Little did I know you are the light to my dark,
The answer to my prayers, my own benchmark.
You held me, helped me took all my faults,
You converted them all and gave me exalts.
Alhamdulillah, you are the coolness of my eyes,
My guardian now and the reason for my smile.
You encourage me to work hard and pursue high goals
For this life and hereafter and to perfect my loopholes.
You are pious, caring, sometimes panic, mostly calm,
May your knowledge increase as a student of Islam.
You love to teach and correct what's wrong,
You made me a better Muslim and human being along.
You care for your grandmother, aunt and mom,
You strengthen ties of kinship, maintain your Salah and Saum.
You are honest and brave and provide for me,
Your love is as big as a wide open sea.
You keep your promise and never fake one,
Whatever you say, I consider it already done.
You give me space with my friends and family,
You are the reason for my growing personality.
You share with me the highlights of the day
And discuss the details too with energy and play.
You invest time in our religion and relationship –
I pray I enter Jannah with you in my companionship.
You know how to balance work and family life,
You are active, sporty and want the same from your wife.
You are intelligent and cute, smart and funny, too,
You are my tall, dark and handsome, my price charming in blue.
You wipe away my tears, understand my pain,
You deal with my tantrums with no complain.
I shout, I cry in anger, I flare,
With you I am myself, none to you I compare.
We both make mistakes, fight for many reasons,
Like any married couple, we have our fall seasons.
But either apologizes and the other one follows,
Ask Allah (swt) for forgiveness, or else we are just hollows.
I never thought I could write again, to myself I swore
Or feel for a poem, like I used to before.
It is the thought of you that I sit after years, today
To compose a poem, hope it suits you I pray.
Love gets it started, mercy keeps it going.
Every day it blossoms, may Allah (swt) keep us growing.
In health and wealth, and success may we have Barakah,
Protect us from evil eye, sins and grant us Tawbah.
To my better half, my knight in shining armour
This poem is a mere symbol of my endeavour
For all the love and respect I have for you,
And the Jannah I yearn for you and me, too.
"O you, who believe, be supporters of Allah (swt)…" (61:14)
"The Twins of Faith 2014" conference was a life-changing experience. Helping in the cause of Allah (swt) was something I had longed to do. This conference was my chance. This was the first time I had volunteered in such an event. The tension and excitement were both at their peak before the event.
I was first given the job to sell tickets. I had to go to my school, friends and family members and tell them about the event, convincing them to come. Believe me, it was no walk in the park. I only managed to sell five tickets to my family members. In school, none of my friends were interested. I was really disappointed. I told them about how beneficial and gratifying it would be, but still I got a response in the negative. I gave up all hope and started thinking what a Fitnah filled world it was, but I remembered that our job was to remind people – Allah (swt) is the One, Who can change the hearts. So I kept reminding them and they finally got interested, but it all ended in vain, when their parents did not allow them. Frankly, I was quite upset but I kept my calm.
Now about the responsibilities I had on the day of the event. I was an usher at the registration desk. We were summoned to "Marriott" at 7 o'clock in the morning, so we headed for the venue right after praying Fajr. It was still dark outside. It seemed like a small job to perform, just like a drop in the sea, as the older volunteers were assigned all the hard tasks; however, I found satisfaction in the fact that one should not belittle his good deeds. The Prophet (sa) said: "Do not belittle any good deed, even meeting your brother (Muslim) with a cheerful face." (Muslim) Furthermore, we were told in the weekly meetings that deeds were based on intentions, and I did it solely for Allah (swt). The rewards of deeds are based on the intentions (Bukhari). Time and again we were reminded to keep a smiling and cheerful face, as it makes the people feel welcomed, and it also is a Sunnah. The event was a blast and a great learning experience. They told about the rights of parents, how they are the easiest route to Jannah, and the rights of children. Even though many problems arose, everybody had a great time. The volunteers and the team members handled every situation calmly, always showing a jovial demeanour.
The best thing was that we were within close proximity with the shaykhs. We got the best seats in the house, right next to the stage. The dinner with the shaykhs was great, as they related their lifetime stories. It was a highly learning experience. The meetings were fun, and everybody had a great sense of humour – we were helping in the cause of Allah (swt), while being social and active in the community.
There's unexplainable anguish,
And unbearable pain!
My heart feels heavy while,
I stare my surroundings in vain!
I am in a state of denial,
I am experiencing agony,
I want to escape the truth,
Oh Allah, I want to flee!
The hand that rocked my cradle,
Is not in the world, no more!
I can't change what's happened,
As it was your will, I know!
But the reality is killing me,
Agonizing, this pain is so much!
My heart seems to tear apart,
Nothing to console me, as such!
I feel I have lost my shelter,
I feel so insecure,
My mother was my refuge,
She was my Jannah's door!
Her voice echoes in my ears,
I can still feel her touch,
Her beautiful smile and face,
I can't forget, It's really tough!
Although my 'Ma' has departed
To her abode that's final,
I want to acknowledge,
The goodness of her survival ….
Her beautiful patience,
Her demeanor that was lively,
Her kind words and deeds,
Her dua's that came timely!
Oh Ummi, I miss you badly,
While you submit to His summon!
I know you are in a better place,
You are in Allah's perfect care,
You have finally met your Creator,
You are much happier there!
May Allah lighten up your grave,
And may He shower His mercy,
On you, O Ma, so you may,
Reach eternal bliss and be…
A resident of the Paradise,
His rewarded and blessed one,
May you be granted the highest rank,
In your journey, that has just begun!
Mu'adh bin Jabal, said:
I said:"O Messenger of Allah (swt), tell me of a deed which will take me to Paradise and will keep me away from the Hell-fire."
He said: "You have asked me about a great matter, yet it is indeed an easy matter for him to whom Allah (swt) Almighty makes it easy. (It is) that you worship Allah (swt) without associating anything with Him, that you perform the prayers, pay the zakat, fast during Ramadan, and that you make the pilgrimage to the House."
Then he said: "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire; and a man's prayer in the middle of the night."
Then he recited: "Their sides forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knoweth what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do." (As-Sajdah 32:16-17)
Then he said: "Shall I not also tell you about the peak of the matter, its pillar, and its topmost part?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah (swt)."
He said: "The head of the matter is Islam (submission to Allah (swt)), the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is Jihad."
Then he said: "And shall I not tell you of the controlling of all that?"
I said:" Yes, O Messenger of Allah (swt)."
So he took hold of his tongue and said: "Restrain this."
I said: "O Prophet of Allah (swt), will we be held accountable for what we say?"
He said: "May your mother be bereft of you! Is there anything that topples people on their faces (or he said, on their noses) into the Hell-fire other than the jests of their tongues?" (Tirmidhi)
This Hadeeth is related by Maudh bin Jabal himself. Maudh asked Prophet Muhammad (sa) a question and we note that the main concern of the Sahabah was to go to Paradise. Maudh bin Jabal not only wanted information but he also wanted to put it into practice. When you acquire the knowledge, your main concern should be to go to Paradise and be away from Hellfire.
Sometimes people seek knowledge to feel good, but we should always seek knowledge in order to make ourselves closer to Allah (swt).We need to look within our hearts and ask, 'Why am I learning?' The signs that show you are not learning for the sake of Allah (swt) is when you are frustrated, impatient and hasty – this is when you are learning to boost your ego. But when you learn for the sake of Allah (swt); you know that Allah (swt) will appreciate your learning.
In the light of Prophet Muhammad's (sa) response
1.Worship Him Alone
People usually make their desires their god. Allah's (swt) Majesty demands that He be worshiped alone, without any rivals. Allah (swt) is the Most Rich, He doesn't accept it if we associate anyone with Him. We cause our own destruction when we are a slave of someone else or something else besides Allah (swt). Allah (swt) does not need our worship; He will leave us with our Shirk.
So don't make the knowledge a desire; acquire knowledge to draw yourself closer to Allah (swt).
2. Establish Prayer
This advice is being given to one of the Sahabah, not to someone new to Islam. Our struggle and aim should be to perfect our Salat. We need Allah's (swt) help to fulfill this task. We should always feel that our last prayer was not so perfect and hence try to improve the next one.
3. Pay Zakat
This is the only way to purify our money/wealth. It is one of the rights of people over us. Understand that paying Zakat is an obligation- just like Salat and fasting.
4. Fasting is a Shield
The Prophet (sa) fasted every Monday and Thursday and in the months of Muharram and Shaban. He used to fast on the white days or the white nights (i.e. the 13th, 14th, and 15th of every lunar month), and the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah. We have been ordained to fast in the month of Ramadan. This is important as fasting teaches us obedience to Allah (swt) and puts us in a state of calmness and piety.
5. Pilgrimage to Makkah
To acquire Paradise, we must do what Allah (swt) wants us to do. All the obligations discussed above are the minimum what we can do to enter Paradise. Quantity is not important – it is there to satisfy ourselves. But Allah (swt) wants the quality. If we get these five pillars right; we will enter Paradise.
The Gates of Paradise
There are a variety of doors – you can do one, two or all three. When Allah (swt) opens the doors of good deeds grab them, stick to them. Everybody is unique and the path you choose to Paradise is also unique. You must not rely on one particular deed to take you to Paradise. Whatever Allah (swt) makes easy for you; you should do, and ask Allah (swt) to accept it.
Charity can be a smile, caring for somebody, carrying something for somebody, the best Sadaqah is giving money for the sake of Allah (swt).
Praying in the depths of night means the beginning of the last third of the night. According to Ibn Rajab in 40 Hadeeth of An-Nawawi, three types of people whose prayer gets readily accepted, are:
Blessings of Jihad
Jihad is a blessing that allows us to become closer to Allah (swt). Scholars say that Jihad is the greatest act of worship and the most important deed after the obligatory acts. Through Jihad, Islam was protected and preserved and became dominant, where other nations lived under its rule peacefully with their rights maintained. (40 Hadeeth of An-Nawawi)
Mind Your Tongue
Restraining and controlling our speech is the most important act to achieve good. The one who controls his tongue controls all his affairs. If we cannot control what we say, the result will be chaos and Fitnah like in the time of Caliph Usman (ra).
Hence this Hadeeth provides evidence that good deeds can surely become our ticket to Paradise.
Our preconceived notions about individuals often hinder us from gaining insight into the real meaning of life and learning novelty from unexpected people. Upon seeing a rowdy teenager, we immediately dismiss that he/she can teach us sense of responsibility. Similarly, aged people are instantly dismissed as agents of conformity.
For me, the realization that each individual has something different to teach came about six years ago. Sitting on the beach side, I remember being oblivious to everything but my failure. I had yet again failed to live my life up to the standards I had set. Even the captivating movement of the waves did nothing to alleviate my sense of despondency until I saw him – a young boy of around twelve.
I remember wondering: what was it in his face that jolted me from my ponderings? How come this boy in tattered clothing compelled me to look at him? Then, I realized – it was his smile, a carefree, full of life smile. And yet again I wondered: what did this unfortunate boy have to smile about? His tattered clothing was evidence of the fact that he belonged to the underprivileged class. Also, he went around selling flowers, which was a further testament of the fact that he lacked even the basic rights of education, while indulging in child labour. Then how come his eyes twinkled, as if he had no worries at all?
So why should I sulk, when smiling is better. Allah (swt) does not give you everything. You have to do with what you have, and what I have is my smile.
My mind was occupied with these thoughts, when a voice called out, "Beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady!"
I looked up and saw it was the same boy. Before I could stop myself, I blurted out, "How can you smile so unconditionally, when life has nothing to offer to you?"
"Well, I only have this smile, no money, and you ask me why do I smile? Does my smile make you feel insecure?" he inquired hurtfully.
I was taken aback by this; I said, "Dear, what I meant was how do you smile so beautifully, under such circumstances?"
He again flashed one of his smiles and said, "Well madam, you know what?
When I smile, people see only my face and they forget about my clothes. My smile is magic. It brings money. I smile, people pay. So why should I sulk, when smiling is better. Allah (swt) does not give you everything. You have to do with what you have, and what I have is my smile. You look sad, why don't you smile too, and maybe everything will be alright."
With that, I gave him fifty rupees. And with a smile, he moved on to his next customer, leaving me with my thoughts and his message.
This conversation changed my perspective. I realized that tough times come in everyone's life, but those, who rise beyond them, know the real meaning of life. The boy was right – nobody has everything; but only those are happy, who believe what they have is enough to strive for a better life.
Her frail legs carrying my growing load,
Facing hardships, yet such care she showed,
Despite being delicate and petite,
Always active and up on her feet.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
Indulgent hands work for hours on end,
On her gallant soul I can always depend.
Her eyes well up seeing me in pain,
My loss is her loss, my gain her gain.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
Her valued advice, devout and sincere,
She's always listening, she's ready to hear.
Warm are her gestures, reassuring too,
Blend of love n care, she's a soothing hue.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
That encouraging pat she gives to my back,
Giving me whatever I seem to lack.
Her supportive words echo in my head,
'I know you can do it,' she has always said.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
She lends me her shoulder to cry on,
I know she prays for me at early dawn.
Hiding her worries while smiling at me,
Disguising her fears being brave as can be.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
Solemn tears she sheds while praying for me,
Beseeching her Rabb, they are part of her plea.
Her Duas do wonders like nothing else would,
They turn evil away and then it's all good.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
Oh how much I long for that cheering hug,
Those Duas she makes on her prayer rug.
Her presence makes my day worthwhile,
I could give the world for her single smile.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
There's nothing more pleasing than her charming face,
She's the essence of comfort, compassion and grace.
Her thoughts are honest, her feelings so pure,
She can never mean harm, I'm always so sure.
Who can love me as my precious mother?
No one would, none other.
How blessed I am for His favours to me,
Her being in my life is written in my decree.
Feeling a glimpse of Allah's love in her ways,
Inexplicable it is, in a single phrase.
I now know who loves me more than my mother,
Allah it is, He is like none other.
Image courtesy: www.mentalhealth4muslims.com


text:
CeBIT 2010: Linux Successes, Challenges
At the Open Source Forum of CeBIT 2010, the Linux Foundation's Jim Zemlin named three reasons for Linux's success. He also identified three possible challenges for the free platform.
"Every occupant in the Western world, every stock exchange uses Linux daily," Zemlin began his talk, "whether it is in a Google search or a mobile phone." After 18 years of existence, Linux is ubiquitous, Zemlin reported.
He continued by supporting his assertion with facts: 2,700,000 lines of code went into the 2009 kernel. Ninety percent of the kernel authors work primarily on the Linux core, which has long since lost amateur project status. It would cost a company $10.8 billion to build a Linux kernel from scratch, while Linux firms are already earning $50 billion annually in the enterprise market.
Zemlin mentioned three trends that would ensure Linux's further success. First, Linux saves money, which is a major competitive advantage during the world financial crisis. Second, the platform is compatible with every new class of device where a mobile phone and computer converge. The Linux Foundation is already active with Intel and Nokia in this respect on the MeeGo project. Televisions, e-book readers, and digital photo frames are also candidates for Linux platforms.
The third factor favoring Linux is the market move away from products to services. SaaS runs on Linux and open source software. Google runs on Linux. Mobile operators profit from their services, with customers getting the phone or netbook as a bonus, thanks to Linux without its licensing fees.
Next to presenting this generally positive future outlook, Zemlin also identified some challenges that Linux must face. As always, these include Linux's standardization that would guarantee interoperability. One way to address this is through the Linux Standard Base (LSB) internal to the Linux Foundation. The second factor is the ongoing legal adversity. "In the U.S.," said Zemlin, "patents are a catastrophe. Too much is patented." Here common legal defense has been active in the form of organizations such as the Software Freedom Law Center and the Linux Legal Defense Fund. Lastly, the world of free software needs to learn a bit from Apple to make its products more user-friendly and fine-tune their outward appearance. The software ought to be "free and fabulous."
How to support all this? Zemlin naturally suggested becoming a member of the Linux Foundation.
Issue 199/2017
Buy this issue as a PDF
Red Hat Announces OpenShift.io
Red Hat takes its IDE online.
Microsoft Bakes Linux into Windows Server
Microsoft is slowly becoming a Linux vendor.
Fearless Coyote, Linux Kernel 4.11 is Out
The new kernel makes swap implementation more scalable, which will help cloud providers.
Docker Appoints Steve Singh CEO
The new CEO comes from a very strong SaaS background.
Docker Announces Linux Kit and Moby Project
Both projects help organizations build their own containerized systems.
Ubuntu Returns to Gnome as Its Mobile Plans Shatter
Mark Shuttleworth has resumed the position of CEO of Canonical.
Microsoft is Shutting Down CodePlex
Microsoft's open source code hosting platform CodePlex will come to an end after a more than 10-year stint.
Fedora 26 Alpha Released
Comes with Gnome 3.24
Old Linux Kernel Bug Discovered
The bug was introduced back in 2009 and has been lurking around all this time.
OpenSSH 7.5 Released
The new release deprecates the sshd_config UsePrivilegeSeparation option.


text:
Argentina to provide kosher food to hospital patients
The agreement signed Wednesday by Argentina's minister of health creates the service that will be available in every public hospital in the country. More ▸
The agreement signed Wednesday by Argentina's minister of health creates the service that will be available in every public hospital in the country. More ▸
A death row inmate is suing the Connecticut Department of Correction claiming he is an Orthodox Jew and is being denied kosher food. More ▸
A federal judge rejected a request by a Venezuelan Jewish detainee for an emergency transfer from an Alabama prison over complaints that it was not providing kosher meals. More ▸
A French entrepreneur is marketing a kosher caviar substitute he hopes will capitalize on demand from observant Jews for gourmet foodstuffs. More ▸
A Venezuelan Jew imprisoned in Alabama who sued the federal government demanding to be served kosher food is seeking a transfer to another prison. More ▸
The Manischewitz Company, well known for its Passover foods, was sold just days before the holiday. More ▸
From pepperoni-less pizza to sushi sans eel, grocery chain's South Florida outposts cater to observant Jewish consumers. More ▸
A federal judge ordered the Florida prisons service to provide kosher meals to all prisoners with a "sincere religious basis." More ▸
The delivery of kosher and halal food in emergency situations would be made easier under a measure approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. More ▸
An amendment under consideration in the U.S. Senate would add kosher food to emergency food assistance. More ▸
WatchRebel Israeli lawmaker snags selfie with Donald Trump
Also From 70 Faces Media


text:
Tail of the dogMature
Wind ruffled the dog's thick black coat and he lifted his nose into the air and inhaled new scents all around him. The glint of a coin reflected in his amber eyes and he snatched it from the floor in his jaws.
Claws clicking on the pavement the dog trotted confidently down the alley way with the coin still gripped between his teeth, although saliva began to drip from his mouth. At the end of the alley way a bundle of rags moved and the man sat up and stretched. His long tangled black hair hung in his eyes as he shouted out aloud, 'Bob, where ya been ya little cur!'
The dog ran up to the man, dropped the coin at this feet and waved his tufty tail with glee. Bob turned around and around on the piece of dirty blanket and lay down nose to tail. With his eyes closed he was soon dreaming of chasing rabbits and his paws twitched and his nose wrinkled in excitement.
The man picked up the coin and turned it over between his dirty hands, with nails as black as coal. 'Well I'll be damned,' he muttered and tucked it into his pocket. He lay down, put his arm around Bob and fell asleep with a broad grin on his dirt-ingrained face.
The coin slipped through the hole in his pocket and rolled away down the alley way, chinking loudly as it hit the uneven ground.


text:
by Scribe Figaro
There were unpleasant things, the fighting of youkai, the endless traveling. Youkai taijiya were strong, and were fierce, but there were not nomadic. At least, they weren't before Naraku came. But their fortress was gone, and their numbers were decimated.
But their ways were not lost, for Sango kept them within her. This had been a thing of sadness once, but now it was a thing of great pride. The village was lost, and she would waste no more time dwelling on such a thing. Taijiya adapted, and thus Sango had adapted. She would fight with her friends, and share her vengeance with them. And, if at all possible, she would save her brother, and forgive him of the things she had seen him do.
But there were also pleasant things about the life she now led. She met new people every day. She met people who respected her, respected her friends. She had fought so hard for praise from her father, praise given so rarely that she knew every time he offered it, it was meaningful and well-earned. He loved her, loved her so much he would not let his affections for his daughter taint his evaluation of her abilities, loved her so much that he would not let her training fail because he was afraid of scolding her, or of being disappointed in her.
And thus it was strange, for Sango to come across so many villagers, to be given such thanks. She had fought alone before, fought the weaker insect-youkai, but now she fought in a whole other league. She did not know if her father had ever come across such strong youkai as she had defeated with her hanyou, houshi, and miko friend.
She knew what it was to be respected, to be thanked for her skill and effort, but she knew the difference between the reception she received previously, and the reception she received now. Before, she fought youkai who were nuisances, who attacked food stores and livestock, who frightened women and children, and who very rarely would kill some unwary traveler who went too far from the village proper after dark. But now, she fought true demons, horrible demons, creatures that thought nothing of racing into a peaceful village at daybreak and killing everyone within a matter of minutes, feasting on them, burning the village to the ground, and moving on to the next. Sango knew the difference between a thing that kills because it is hungry, and a thing that kills because it enjoys killing. The things she fought now were true monsters, and the relief of the villagers they saved was so sincere she sometimes didn't know how to deal with it.
This morning was a good example. A bear youkai extermination went well the previous night, and all of them slept well afterward in one of the nicer homes the village had to offer. Their farewell had been brief but warm – dozens of them came to see them off, thanking them, some with gifts, some with tears. The young boys surrounded Inuyasha and Houshi-sama, burying them in compliments and unrestrained idoltry, begging them to demonstrate their moves again, or to teach them how to be demon-slayers, or to bring them along as apprentices. Inuyasha was standoffish, as always, but Sango could tell by his posture he was more embarrassed than anything else. Houshi-sama, of course, dealt with the children beautifully, kneeling down, speaking to them in hushed, excited tones that mimicked their own, telling them to work hard for their families, to build up the strength to be demon-slayers, and to watch out for their little brothers and sisters. She watched him talk to the children, patting them on the head, smiling so sincerely, and it made her blush. She loved him. She loved seeing how he played with children. She loved knowing what a great father he would become.
They left, and traveled nearly an hour before they realized they were missing some supplies. It was her turn to buy food for the journey, but it slipped her mind that morning, and now they only had enough rice and fish to last a day. They offered to go back with her, but she refused. It was a short journey, especially with Kirara, and there was no reason for all of them to be inconvenienced. She would catch up with them by the time they stopped for lunch.
Houshi-sama made eye contact with her, for just a moment. It was a look she received from him often, subtle to the others but very clear to her. Though he never said anything when he gave her that look, she eventually understood it to mean something like this: I am here for you.
She knew that, of course, but the reassuring look was something she came to expect from him, never overwhelming, but always reinforcing the fact that he cared for her. He dealt with her at arms' length, as he dealt with all things that were important to him. It was not his style to tell her he loved her. She knew that already.
She was subtle too. She returned the look, meeting his eyes, and with the slightest nod of the head, or upturning of one corner of her mouth, responded. I know. Thank you, Houshi-sama.
So she turned back to the village on Kirara's back, at a fast pace, but not running. She was in no hurry, and took advantage of the chance to be alone in her thoughts for the brief time it took her to get to the village. She wasn't quite sure why she wanted to be alone, but it might have something to do with Houshi-sama. Perhaps she just wanted a few moments to fantasize about him, to think about him and blush, without her friends prying into her thoughts. Perhaps she just wanted to say his name, here, where no one else could hear it.
It was a good name. But she would keep calling him Houshi-sama for a while yet.
She was finished with such thoughts when she arrived at the village. The villagers had gone on to their farming, which was good, as she hated reappearing after saying goodbye. She went straight to a rice-seller near the edge of town.
"Taijiya-san!" she said, excitedly. The woman was young, not much older than Sango herself. She was re-tying the knot on her head scarf as Sango appeared, and finishing that, immediately ran to the storefront and bowed.
"We realized we were missing some supplies shortly after we left," Sango said. "I was hoping we could get three pounds of uncooked rice, and a pound of dried fish, if you have any."
"Of course!" Smiling, the woman turned to the rice-bucket behind her and began to measure out a portion.
Sango fidgeted slightly.
"So . . . I suppose with the youkai gone, things are back to normal around here."
The woman laughed curtly.
"The children are back to fighting with bamboo swords instead of helping with the fields. My husband's gambling again, and cheating at it. Things are back to normal, all right."
She shook her head, placing the rice measure aside, producing something from inside her kosode.
"Here, look at these. My husband's been caught cheating twice now, and what does he do? He just buys better dice. Spent a fortune on these, saying they're from Nara, that nobody will ever catch him again. How the hell is he going to help me carry the rice when that den owner finally breaks his arms?"
Sango reflexively held her hands out as the rice-seller dropped a pair of dice in her hands.
"These are loaded dice?" Sango asked. She rolled them in her hands. They looked normal to her.
"Roll them out on this counter and see."
Sango shook them in her cupped hands and rolled them out. Six and four. Even.
"Try it again."
Sango tried three more times. Different numbers came up, but they added up to evens each time.
"They always land on even?" Sango asked.
"Not always, but most of the time. It'll land on odd maybe once every five times, just to make it look like all the evens are just a lucky streak. If you play a few rounds with someone on one of these dice, he'll never know the difference. But after two or three games, it's going to be obvious what's going on."
Sango rubbed the bone-white faces of the dice, admiring the feel of the rounded corners, and the luster of the black painted dots. She had played gambling games with the other taijiya, though not for money, and she recalled those dice being roughly cut. These looked expertly made, and if they were indeed cut oddly, or weighted, she could not tell.
"So even an expert gambler would be fooled, if you only played a short while with him?"
"Absolutely," the rice-seller said. "But nobody with any passion for gambling can play a short while. My husband would win for one night, but he'd keep using these damn dice until he got caught."
The woman placed the rice on the counter.
"Could I . . ." Sango squeezed the dice in her hand. "Could I buy these from you?"
The woman laughed.
"Buy them? Dear, if you promise to take them far from here, you can have them. No matter how hard I try to hide them, my husband will find them sooner or later. Take them, please, with my blessing."
Sango smiled. "Thank you."
She wasn't sure she was going to use the dice. She was certain of it at first, when she took them a week ago. But it was risky. Houshi-sama trusted her, and she did not want to betray that trust. Yet he also acted poorly around her. And she wondered sometimes, whether he had stopped spying on her when she bathed, or if he had simply become much better at hiding.
He groped her that afternoon while she was polishing Hiraikotsu, and that's about the time she decided that he was well-deserving of some very serious embarrassment. It was only fair.
They had separate rooms that night, since it was a large inn, and they had a great deal of money from the last extermination. They ate together, and retired to their separate chambers.
Sango waited about an hour, then made her way to Houshi-sama's room.
He was surprised to see her, but slipped on that smirk of his very quickly, and expressed his gratitude for her finally coming around, and would she like a back rub? With every word she felt less and less pity for what she was about to do.
She brought him sake. She knew he was bigger than her, and more accustomed to the drink, so if she drank as much as him she would probably be throwing up while he was still sober. But she drank very little, and filled up his cup immediately after every sip, like an obedient teahouse-girl.
He knew this was odd behavior. She was trying very blatantly to get him drunk. Not enough that she could take advantage of him. But enough that he would be slow to realize any trickery she was about to pull.
It was good that theirs was a quiet relationship, as she could not think of things to say as they drank together. She was too eager to think about other things.
Eventually, she began to ask him about gambling.
"Like dice. Have you ever played?"
"Well, yes, but it's not much of a game. No real skill involved, just luck."
"I've never played," Sango lied. "But I came across a pair of dice a few days ago, and it got me thinking that I wanted to learn how to play. Since I couldn't sleep tonight, I was wondering if you would play with me for a while, and teach me."
She pulled the dice out from the fold of her kosode, and placed them on the spot of floor between them.
"These are very well-made," Miroku said, picking them up. "You bought these?"
"They were a gift."
He put them down.
"Well, it's a very simple game. It won't take long to teach."
Miroku drained his sake-cup, wiped the inside dry with his sleeve, and then dropped the dice in. Rattling them for a moment, he slammed the cup upside-down on the floor.
"Even or odd?" he asked.
He lifted the cup. Below, the dice read two and six.
"Even it is," he said. "You win this round."
"What did you bet?" she asked.
"What did you bet, Houshi-sama? As this is a gambling game, we must bet."
"You don't want to practice a bit first?"
She shook her head.
"Well, I'm not sure what to bet," he said. "I have our money with me, but as it's not mine, I cannot bet it."
"And all I have with me are my clothes," Sango said.
Miroku swallowed audibly.
"I see . . ."
"But I certainly can't bet those," she said.
"Certainly not."
"Because I might lose, and then I would be naked."
"Of course."
"That would be very uncomfortable," she said. "If Houshi-sama stared at me, while I was naked."
"It would be scandalous," he agreed.
"It would be very wrong," she agreed.
Sango took up her sake cup and drank it in one gulp. Keeping the cup to her lips, she stared at him over the brim.
"So I better not lose," she said. "Houshi-sama, I believe I just won your kesa."
Miroku nodded slowly. He untied the knot on his shoulder and unwrapped the article from around his body, folding it reverently and passing it to Sango.
"Roll the dice again, Houshi-sama."
He did so.
"Even," Sango stated.
Again, it was even. With bemusement, Miroku untied his heavy black koromo and passed the robe to Sango. She could not resist nuzzling the warm material, for just a moment.
"So comfortable. I wish my clothes were this warm," she said. She smiled. "I guess I can start wearing this now, though, since I won it from you. Roll again."
Miroku sighed. Again, evens. Again, Sango won.
"This isn't fair," Miroku mumbled.
Hiking up his hadagi, he pulled off the kyahan on his right leg.
"Both of them, Houshi-sama."
"Anything in pairs counts as one. What good is one kyahan?"
"I think you are more experienced at this game than you say you are," Miroku said.
"I think you are a sore loser," Sango said.
Both kyahan were set before Sango.
One more round. Even again. He would become suspicious soon, but he was about to lose everything.
She suspected he was trying very hard not to blush as he unfastened the tie on the right side of his hadagi and slipped the garment off his strong shoulders. She felt a rush within her as she studied his well-defined chest, the muscles in his upper arms and thighs, the muscles on his stomach.
Here she sat, fully dressed, staring at her Houshi-sama, who wore nothing but a fundoshi.
"If I lose the next round," Miroku said, "I fear I'm going to be slapped. A lot."
"We'll see."
"I assume you're sticking with even?"
"Of course. It is lucky for me tonight."
Miroku rolled the dice and lifted the cup. Six plus one. Odd.
She wasn't too surprised. The dice wouldn't land on even every time. The next time, she was sure, Miroku would lose.
Sango untied her mo-bakama and unwrapped it from around her hips, handing it to Miroku.
The next round was again odd.
Just a fluke, she thought. She reached in the sleeves of her kosode, untying the knots that secured the tekkou to her forearms, and slid them off.
Odd came up yet again.
"You're cheating!" she hissed. "You're throwing the dice wrong!"
"I assure you I'm not. Why don't you throw them yourself?"
"I will," she said, hiking up her kosode and untying the kyahan around her calves. These too she gave to Miroku.
She took the dice in her hands, shaking them furiously, spilling them out with a loud clatter.
"Even," she called out.
"You're not supposed to guess if you're casting the dice," Miroku said.
"I don't care. I'm calling even."
She lifted the cup. Three and two. Odd.
"You pervert!"
"You called it yourself, Sango."
Shaking her head, she unfastened her obi and tossed it toward him.
"What good is an obi without a kosode, I wonder?" Miroku mused.
Sango slipped her kosode off her shoulders and threw it at his face.
"Such nice stitiching," he said. "I expect this would fetch quite a lot at the next village we pass, ne, Sango?"
"Roll the damn dice."
She sat before him, dressed in a hadagi, arms crossed over her chest, as the material was likely thin enough for him to see the outline of her chest otherwise. At the next round, one of them would be naked.
She knew what he had done. He switched the dice on her. After only a few rounds, he must have realized she had even-loaded dice. What were the chances he had odd-loaded dice somewhere on him, identical to her own, and managed to switch them without her knowing?
She glanced at his heavy black robe, folded beside her. The material was so thick, so large, that it was quite possible he had dozens of tricks concealed inside it. She had not felt the sack of coins, or stack of sealing scrolls, or the small container of ink, that she had seen him produce at times. She had been trying so hard to look aloof at him undressing that it would have been easy for him to surreptitiously palm another pair of dice and beat her at her own game.
The dice were rolled. The cup sat between them. Sango smiled.
"Odd," she said.
Miroku blinked.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, sukebe. I know you switched the dice. Odd."
"Sango . . ."
"I'm not going to fall for it, Houshi-sama. Odd."
So saying, she leaned forward and lifted the cup herself.
Two and two. Even.
"How?" she stuttered.
"Because I cheated," he said, "you don't have to do anything. The game is over."
"You cheated so that you would lose."
He shrugged.
"Since I cheated to begin with, it was really just a matter of who outsmarted who."
She stood.
She was blushing furiously, and her fingers fumbled at the tie of her hadagi. But she was determined. She was determined Houshi-sama would not see her as a hypocrite. As someone who was afraid. Ashamed. Threatened.
Staring him in the eyes, she unfastened her hadagi and let it fall to the floor.
He cast his eyes downward.
"Sango, it is enough. Please…"
"Don't belittle me, Houshi-sama. I take my games seriously. If you can't keep control of yourself you had no business playing. Are you some boy who can't look at a woman without losing it?"
He smirked, looking up.
"In situations where most women would be the most timid, you are always the most bold. It is rare for a day to go by where you do not surprise me, or impress me, or simply frighten me."
She gave him a sideways glance.
"Which reminds me," she said. "I don't really expect you to do anything strange, but if you do, I've already planned out five ways to break you. Would you like me to describe them to you?"
He waved one hand, while righting the sake-cup with the other and then filling it. "No, no. Please don't spoil the fun." He leaned back in a pose that looked very much like the accomplished gambler she knew he was, and brought the cup to his lips.
"I guess I should make the most of this, then. A pity I didn't expect this sort of thing from you, or I would have asked Kagome to lend me one of her picture-making toys."
So saying, he let his eyes wander. He stared shamelessly, expression changing from ambivalence to studiousness to boyish wonder and curiosity. His gaze enveloped her, caressed her, and with each movement of his eyes, as his focus moved from one feature to another, she found herself looking with him, thinking as he did.
Here was her hair, black, straight, long, with tufts before each ear, a style she knew was popular in her own village, her bangs thick, curled over her forehead. Here were her eyes, wide, brown, eye shadow above each, powdered coral, unless it had faded by this evening, or she forgot entirely to apply it this morning. When was the last time she had looked in a mirror, for that matter?
Now her face, her small nose, her upturned mouth, her teeth biting the edges of her lips in nervousness, her blushing cheeks. Her ears, perhaps a bit larger than she would have liked. Her shoulders thin but too muscular for a woman. Her arms, strong and well toned. Her breasts, larger than she ever wanted them to be – she had bound them since she was thirteen years old, tighter and tighter to slow their growth, but her body grew with belligerence, and her chest ached with the binding, so that at sixteen she admitted defeat, and relied on the heavy top of her taiji-ya uniform to accommodate her ever-more-womanly form. She still in some ways desired a flat chest that would not interfere with a sword draw, that would not sway like a counterweight on casting Hiraikotsu, that would not ache when she ran, and that would not beckon to Houshi-sama's hands like ripe fruit.
He spent his attention upon her chest, as she knew he would, but she did not scold him or cross her arms over her chest. She studied his face, seeing him struggle to look somewhere else, seeing him look to her eyes again, the slightest look of apology. Then there was her stomach, muscles barely visible, betraying her lifestyle as a fighter and a woman whose livelihood was her body – flexibility and strength, the ability to run and leap and kick. His eyes followed the slope of her belly, the curve of her thighs, her knees, calves, and feet.
He finished the cup, placed it aside, and bowed deeply.
"I lament that now the autumn moon and the summer sky hold no beauty for me anymore. My perception of beautiful things has changed entirely. Compared to what I have seen tonight, the most lovely garden is naught but weeds and foul things."
"Idiot," she muttered, picking up her hadagi. As she pulled it over her shoulders he poured another cup and stood up.
"However, I do feel much closer to Buddha now, and for that I must thank you."
He brought the cup to her face, too close for her to take it in her own hands without an awkward movement, but slowly enough she could have done so if she chose. She merely tightened the knot at her side and returned his gaze.
"Because I have understood great mysteries. The enigma of joy and suffering. The number of stones in Kyoto. That sort of thing."
He brought the cup to her lips, turning his head so he could make sure not to spill any. She parted her lips, and sipped, very slowly. He smiled, and drew the cup away, and a drop rolled over her bottom lip and made it numb.
"I am of course dreaming, right?" he asked. "Something in the sake?"
"Yes," she said. "You're actually in a ditch somewhere. Small children are poking you with sticks as we speak."
"I see. Forgive me, I spilled . . ."
He leaned forward, kissing her, drawing his tongue over her bottom lip, drawing away numbness with warmth, and when he leaned back she smiled, and slapped him across the face so hard the cup flew from his hands and rolled in a spiral on the tamati, and she kept smiling.
"Are you awake yet, Houshi-sama, who dreams such unlikely dreams?"
He rubbed his face. "Sadly, no. This dream might last all night. You may as well lie down and get comfortable."
"I could kick you a few times between the legs," she suggested helpfully. "Just give me a minute so I can stretch," she said, hiking her hadagi to mid-thigh and leaning forward.
"That would make your promise to me difficult," he said. "The part about children was rather integral to the entire deal."
"We could adopt them. Ready, Houshi-sama?"
"On second thought, I feel my eyelids fluttering. Yes, very nearly awake now. I should lie down so I don't awake too disoriented."
"Oh?" she said, her lips drown into a pout. She watched him put away the cups and organize his clothes as she slowly collected her own.
He placed down his bedding and lay there as he watched her dress, and he made no attempt to hide it.
When she was decent enough to be seen leaving his room she approached him, kneeled beside him, and kissed his cheek.
"Soon," she whispered.
"When you are ready," he said.
"Of course I'm ready. It's just . . ."
"Making it last," he said.
"Yes. Little tastes."
"We'll starve to death this way," he warned.
"No," she said. "But we may go crazy."
He smiled. "I'd like that."
"Love is madness anyway," she said.
"I know. Isn't it wonderful?"
She placed the dice in his hand.
"For next time," she said.
Authors Note: "There Was a Ship" is at a crossroads, so I won't be updating it until I can make a some decisions on how convoluted I want to make the storyline. Until then, I have a couple stories like this around to distract everyone.


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Here's some big news for those of you enamored of the intersection between science and junk food. Alex Talbot of Ideas In Food is coming to Nick Elmi's ITV for a one-night-only pop-up. And he's bringing his fried chicken and donuts with him.
Fried Chicken Comes to East Falls
In Riva's Arthur Cavaliere has opened his second restaurant in East Falls. Cavaliere has placed Foghorn at 4213 Ridge Avenue, in the long vacant space that once held Fork & Barrel and before that, the Pour House. Foghorn is a fried chicken restaurant that offers a tight menu of half and whole fried chickens as well as a fried chicken sandwich.
SouthGate Turns One
One of the best Korean fried chicken joints in town, SouthGate, is turning one. Known for their Korean style fried chicken and green tea waffles, they just recently made the cut for our fried chicken field guide.
Also, they're turning a year old this week. And to celebrate they're offering $4 Koren fried chicken wings, $4 Sapporo pints, and $6 Sake Punch. Stop in today or tomorrow between 5 and 11 P.M. to help them mark the occasion.
SouthGate [Foobooz]
Best of Philly: Eat More Fried Chicken
Best of Philly 2016 is now online as well as at newsstands. Check out the best in fried chicken as well as the rest of the Best in food, drink, shopping, beauty, health, fitness, fun and games.
Everyone is getting in on the fried-chicken-slapped-on-a-bun game these days, but the fried chicken sandwich (pictured) at Samwich (1040 North American Street, #1101, Northern Liberties, and 600 Catharine Street, Bella Vista) rises above the finger-lickin' fray. A spice-blended, crispy-skinned, buttermilk-brined bird is topped with house-made bacon, pepper jack cheese, ranch dressing and sweet and sour pickles. You'll need two hands and about 20 napkins.
Love and Honey: Fried Chicken and Pies for Northern Liberties
Todd and Laura Lyons, two professional chefs and residents of Northern Liberties are planning to open Love & Honey Fried Chicken, a fried chicken and pie restaurant at 1100 North Front Street. The restaurant will occupy 900 square feet of the refurbished refrigeration warehouse at the corner of Front and Wildey.
Todd Lyons is a Senior Research and Development Chef at Campbell's Soup Company and has been perfecting his fried chicken recipe over the years. Laura has also been in the food business since graduating from Culinary Institute of America, where the couple met. Laura has been working on pie crusts and dessert recipes for the past year, teasing she's gained 10 pounds for the city.
Field Guide: Where to Find the Best Fried Chicken in Philadelphia
While Philly isn't a traditional bastion of poultry excellence, its fried chicken game has gotten strong. Today's restaurants have innovated, resurrected classic styles, and even won awards for dunking birds. So check out these joints (some new, some old) next time you feel like getting a little fried chicken in you. We give you: the best fried chicken in Philadelphia.
Tale of the Tape: Federal Donuts Versus Shake Shack
With today's announcement of the Chick'N Shack going national, we knew we'd have to put the Shake Shack fried chicken sandwich up against Federal Donuts' version. So that's what we did, bolstered by the knowledge that there was no crazy line at Shake Shack, newest Fooboozer, Kelly Alderfer and I headed first to Federal Donuts at 1632 Sansom Street and then up the block to the Shake Shack at 20th and Sansom.
As for the verdict to which fried chicken sandwich was better, read on …
Shake Shack's Chick'n Sandwich Goes National
Beginning today, all Philadelphia area Shake Shack locations will now offer the Chick'n Shack chicken sandwich. The Chick'n Shack is made with from a hormone and antibiotic free chicken breast that is slow-cooked in a buttermilk marinade before being dipped into batter, dredged through seasoned flour and fried to crunchy goldness. The chicken breast is then topped with pickles, shredded lettuce and a buttermilk herb mayo with chives, parsley and thyme. Just like the burgers, the Chick'n Shack is served on a potato roll. Spice up the Chick'n Shack with Louisiana hot sauce, new at all Shake Shack locations.
Steak Nights at Kensington Quarters
We have always thought it a bit odd that Kensington Quarters doesn't have a steak on its dinner menu but as we were explained, when you buy the whole cow, there's only so many filets. If a wonderful steak is what you crave, there's one night you can reliably get a steak at the Fishtown butcher shop and restaurant. Every Sunday night, chef Damon Menapace offers a special steak cut from the butcher's case.
Bud & Marilyn's Begins Serving Lunch
Bud & Marilyn's is now serving lunch Monday through Friday. Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's latest restaurant is serving up the likes of fried chicken by the bucket (pictured) and smoked beet reubens.
Lunch is served from noon to 3 p.m. and the menu is broken down into five sections including chicken and hot buttered buns.
The buns section includes:
- Chilled Lobster Buns
- Korean Glazed Toful Buns
- Nashville Hot Buns


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Question: I previously asked if I could travel to Spain with five and half months of validity left on my passport instead of six. I received a reply that Spain only requires 3 months, so I should be fine.
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Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Passport Expiration FAQ.


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Where was I again?
Oh yes. Steak. This recipe is at its very best when made with little filet tenderloins. I know they are pricy, but they are absolutely perfect when you make them this way, and you're worth it!! But first, you want to start off by making the butter so it is all ready when your steak is. You start with some soft butter, and mash it up with whatever combination of herbs and spices take your fancy. I like fresh tarragon and minced shallots and a little ground pepper, but fresh rosemary, sage and parsley are also wonderful – so is minced garlic. Etc, etc. Herb butter is also great in scrambled eggs by the way. Just saying.
Now to start the main event! You begin by sauteing the garlic and shallots in a heavy skillet for about 10 minutes until they are brown and crispy. Scoop them out, make sure the heat is nice and high, and now it's time for the filets.
Make sure you dry them off thoroughly with a paper towel, sprinkle them with salt and pepper and place them in the pan at least an inch apart from each other. (Any closer and they will steam rather than sear, and we don't want that!). If you like them rare to medium rare the way we do, cook them for 4 minutes on each side, and don't move them at all while they are cooking – this is how you get a nice crusty sear. If your steaks are thicker than 1 1/2 inches, or if you like them a little more well done, increase the cooking time a minute or two on each side.
Now scoop them out, smear them with a little herb butter and let them sit for a few minutes…this will let the juices settle inside the steak rather than running out all over your plate when you cut into them. It will also give your glorious butter some time to melt all over your steak.
Now serve them up with the crispy garlic and shallots alongside of them, and all of the sudden the fact that your grill is in dry dock until the snow melts won't feel so bad! Especially if you follow them with baked hot chocolate (click here for that one) for dessert. We can all eat salad tomorrow…we promise!
- 2 beef tenderloin filet mignon steaks, about 1½ inches thick
- Salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped herbs (your choice of tarragon, parsley, rosemary, sage, etc)
- Bring steaks to room temperature, dry them with a paper towel and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Make herb butter by mixing two tablespoons of soft butter with 1 tablespoon of your choice of chopped herbs. You can also add fresh ground pepper if you like!
- Heat remaining butter with olive oil in a heavy larget skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic cloves and shallots and cook until the garlic is browned, about 5-10 minutes. Remove garlic and shallots and set aside.
- Raise heat to high and add the steaks, making sure they are at least once inch apart. Cook them without moving them for 4 minutes. Turn them with tongs and cook another 4 minutes. (This will cook them medium rare - adjust the cooking time if you like them more well done, or if your steaks are thicker than 2 inches).
- Remove the steaks, spread them with herb butter and let them sit for 5 minutes. Then serve with the browned garlic and shallots scattered around them.


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Purchase this article with an account.
Rishi Bhardwaj, Robert P. O'Shea, David Alais, Amanda Parker; Probing visual consciousness: Rivalry between eyes and images. Journal of Vision 2008;8(11):2. doi: 10.1167/8.11.2.
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© 2017 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
During binocular rivalry, one stimulus is visible (dominant), while the other stimulus is invisible (suppressed); after a few seconds, perception reverses. To determine whether these alternations involve competition between the eyes or between the images, we measured suppression depth to monocular probes. We did so in conventional rival stimuli and in rival stimuli swapping between the eyes at 1.5 Hz (both sorts of rivalry were shown either with or without 18-Hz flicker). The conventional conditions cause rivalry that could involve either competition between the eyes or between the images or both. The eye-swapping conditions cause rivalry that could involve competition between the images. Probes were either a small spot or a contrast increment to one of the rival stimuli. Using both yes–no and forced-choice procedures, we found that conventional conditions yielded large suppression depth and that eye-swapping conditions yielded small suppression depth. Weak suppression during image rivalry is consistent with conventional rivalry's involving competition between eyes and between images and flicker-and-swap rivalry's involving little, if any competition between eyes and mainly competition between images.
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WinRAR Full Active Version 5.30 Beta 5 Final Free
WinRAR 5.30 Full Version Active is a propelled information pressure utility that backings a wide exhibit of configuration including RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, ACE, TAR, GZip, UUE, ISO, BZIP2, Z and 7-Zip. It empowers you to make, arrange and oversee files in an agreeable and brisk way. The perplexing pressure calculation it uses makes little chronicles, sparing circle space and empowering speedier record sharing. Sound and design records advantage from a unique documenting calculation, one that doesn't make a trade off on quality. It incorporates Windows Explorer alternate ways for simple get to and backings modifiable also.
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Amid our tests, the pressure and decompression procedure worked amazingly quick, and that ought to happen for your situation as well, at any rate if your PC has the capacity handle the undertaking. The main issues you could experience are entirely identified with equipment assets, as working with 3 or 4 documents in the meantime could be somewhat overpowering for slower PCs.
WinRAR without a doubt accompanies a standout amongst the most progressive capabilities at present available and despite the fact that it's not offered for nothing, it stays one of the main pressure instruments that you can introduce on Windows nowadays.


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Burn My Shadow
12" Vinyl Single Record
Product Details
- Sep 04, 2007
- Hip Hop & Rap
- 5060100662824
- 8.6 oz
- new (we only sell new items)
- Surrender All
Much-anticipated new 12" from UNKLE on the SURRENDER ALL label. A little taste for what's in store both on their upcoming album and in thier new live show, "BURN MY SHADOW" features vocals from IAN ASTBURY (THE CULT), and is already "The Hottest Record In The World" on RADIO 1s ZANE LOWE show. Beautifully packaged with full color sleeve, illustrated insert, and pressed on red vinyl. This is worth it.


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The Apple of Her Eye
Frankly, Adam's had enough of all this tomfoolery. Eve can just about say the same.
"Hi, Adam!"
"Hello, Eve."
The Man was sitting atop a large rock (which he possessively referred to as "The Boulder") in the middle of the clearing that he and Eve called home. Instantly when walking into their sun-sprinkled domain, Eve was aware of something awry.
"How was your day?" She tentatively inquired.
"Good, good," Adam said in a tone that didn't match his words. His eyebrows realigned themselves like caterpillars. "And yours?"
Eve felt her cheeks burn and stared at the green grass of the clearing. "Fine."
"Ah," Adam sounded disappointed. He repositioned himself atop the boulder, staring down at Eve. "What were you up to?"
She avoided eye contact. "You know. The usual."
"Down by the lake, then." She nodded firmly.
"Funny." Adam's eyes glinted. "I was down by the lake."
Eve abruptly felt her stomach undergo a dropping sensation. "Well I didn't see you—"
"I didn't see you either."
"I left just after the bullfrogs finished harmonizing."
"Were the Lion and the Lamb with you?"
Eve ran a hand over the nape of her neck. "No, I think they wanted," she coughed, "Alone time."
"Unlike some people."
Eve sighed, aggravated. "Adam—"
"You make things harder by lying to me, you know."
Eve stamped her foot. "Look, Adam, it isn't--"
"Any of my business?" Adam rose to his full height. Atop the boulder he was towering over the already petite woman. "Don't you dare say it isn't any of my business." He clenched his jaw. "I don't like him."
Exasperated, Eve quickly replied, "Yeah, you've made that very clear, Adam. But Lu—"
"The Snake," Adam corrected, tired of making this particular connection. "It's the Snake. Call it what it is, Eve."
"Lucifer," Eve continued, if only to spite him, "Doesn't deserve all of your suspicions."
Adam swallowed his consternation. "Oh, really."
Adam ran an index finger over his ribcage, which he did often when the two were fighting. "Enlighten me."
"Eve cleared her throat. "He's really sweet, and charming, and—"
"If you say polite, you'll have bluffed too much."
Eve groaned. "Well, he's sweet and he's charming, anyway. And he promised to bring me a gift the next time we meet!"
"You're not allowed to see him again."
Eve paused.
"What did you say?"
"You heard me. I disallow it."
Eve stood there as the two stared each other down, before turning and storming away from Adam.
"You aren't in charge of me," She muttered.


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For most players, this will be the first Bobblehead that you collect. Before you take the G.O.A.T. exam, head to your father's desk and grab the Medicine Bobblehead.
Above: Don't forget to teabag your dad before you leave
Above: If you missed this Bobblehead during the tutorial, don't despair. Later on, you'll receive a quest that requires you to head back into Vault 101
Evergreen Mills is west of Megaton, just to the east of Smith Casey's Garage. Head into the Bazaar and make your way up the winding paths. When you reach the pool table, head to your right. Stay to your right, and keep an eye out for the small passage in the back of room. Check the shelf behind the counter for the Barter Bobblehead.
Above: The Bobblehead's hiding behind the lamp on a shelf


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Are you an holistic or well-being therapist?
You're my kind of person! Having previously worked as a therapist, I understand your challenges and I really want to help you to help others.
If you are struggling to get to grips with online marketing tools – whether that's getting them set up and understanding how to use them, or coming up with an easy to implement strategy to follow – then I can help. I use simple, jargon-free, step-by-step training and support to give you the skills and confidence needed to use the technology with ease, saving time and helping you reach more customers.
Is your fear of technology holding your business back?
Technology can help your business to grow, find you more customers and make life easier.
But there's the jargon, the choices, the hassles… It's enough to make you want to throw your computer out of the window sometimes!
Just Ask Julia can help you through the maze and make it all seem simple.
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Pop your details in the form below to receive monthly news about my training events, special offers, news and simple techie how-to tips. Sign up today and give it a whirl – if it's not your thing you can unsubscribe any time you like, that's cool!


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Bringing certain Halloween costumes to life often requires a few special touches. For add-ons such as makeup or spooky novelty contact lenses, consumers often head to the web. But not all Halloween costumes and accessories found online may be safe.
According to brand protection firm MarkMonitor, the internet is rife with counterfeit Halloween costumes and accessories. Those hunting for a Halloween bargain may be directed to a site selling potentially dangerous counterfeits.
Purchasing a counterfeit item could lead to lasting physical damage, says Akino Chikada, senior brand protection manager at MarkMonitor. To avoid having a fright-filled night become truly scary, consumers should be cautious when shopping online for Halloween accessories.
Decorative contact lenses
Popular Halloween looks often involve the use of colored contacts or fake blood, but these accessories can cause harm if not purchased from a reputable site.
"Anything that has direct application or contact with your body can be a danger," Chikada told ConsumerAffairs, adding that novelty contact lenses found online may, in fact, be counterfeit.
Unwittingly purchasing decorative contact lenses from a counterfeiter can lead to eye infections, poor eye health, or other serious repercussions. Chikada notes that only licensed doctors can legally sell contact lenses.
Spotting a counterfeiter
The internet can be a great place to find unusual items that may be difficult to track down in stores, but consumers should be on the lookout for counterfeiters. Here are a few of the tip-offs that may differentiate a counterfeiter from a legitimate site.
- Low, low prices. If search terms such as "cheap" or "discount" originally led you to the site and the prices look too good to be true, be careful. It may be a counterfeiter.
- Lack of details. The site may look professional at a glance, but a scammer may not have a legitimate "About" or "FAQ" page. A slight misspelling of a popular domain name (called "typosquatting") can also be a red flag.
- Failure to spell out return policy. Reputable sites will let you know what the return policy is up front.
- Bad reputation. Do a search for "vendor+scam" and see if the website or seller you're dealing with is mentioned on any scam warnings.


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RBI JE Result 2016
RBI JE Result 2016 will display shortly by the Reserve Bank of India. To check RBI Junior Engineer (Civil/Electrical) Results applicants need to wait for some time, it will announce very soon through eh official website.
Candidates who have attend the written exam on 5th July which was conducted by the Reserve Bank of India for filling varied vacancies for the post of Junior Engineer (JE) (Civil & Electrical). Now the organization will be going to declare RBI JE Result 2016 through its official website.
Applied candidates we know you're nervous towards your result but you have to keep some patience and think positive because the department will soon announce the date of declaration of scorecard which we update here on this same page, so applicants visit our website regular.
Name of Organization: Reserve Bank of India
Name of Examination: Written Exam
Post Name: Junior Engineer (Civil & Electrical)
No of Posts: Various Posts
Job Location: All over India
Date of Examination: 5th July 2016
Status: Soon Declare
Link: www.rbi.org.in
RBI Junior Engineer (Civil/Electrical) Merit List 2016
As per the official notification, the merit list will be made on the basis of their merit list so applicants are able to check RBI Junior Engineer (Civil/Electrical) Merit List 2016 only after the declaration of Scorecard.
If applicants are really eager to check their marks of examination then they may check the answer keen of JE Online exam, it will available before the scorecard and merit list declaration by the organization.
Merit List is the toll which shows selected candidate's names for next process of recruitment or admission. All such applicants whose name will display in merit list that will call for Interview by the COE (Controller of Examiner). We wish the applicant who is reading this page; they name will also display in selected candidates merit list. "Hope makes the person strong".
Steps to Download RBI JE Result 2016
- Applied candidates may download their result after the declaration by taking help form the steps which is given below:
- First of all, aspirants need to go to official website.
- Thereafter move on what's New Section.
- Form the section, applicants need to hit suitable link to view scorecard.
- Now enter roll no and date of birth.
- After inputting the details, scorecard will open.
- Save it and download from the internet.
- Now finally get hard copy.
Important Link:
Candidates Visit on OfficialLink to Get Result


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Credit NotesShawn Thompson Photography #
Nodakphoto #1395960
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Jolene Danielson #1206306 Tekno Doll swimwear Designer
nodakphoto Photographer
Shawn Thompson Photo Photographer
Kayla M Williams Model
Tekno Doll Swimwear Clothing Designer
Stephan of Boreal Light Photographer
Bree Templer Model
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