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You can thank a last-minute NaNo charge for this chapter. And I did it! Thanks to Corin and Crew I got my 50,000 words in !
It took a few minutes to explain to Teagan that he was not, in fact, under arrest. Corin spread the contents of the folio out on his desk.
"Is this all of it, Eamon?"
"It is, Your Royal Highness. My word on it."
"Very well then, Eamon," Anora said smoothly. "We thank you. You and Teagan are free to go." The arl and the bann left and Anora dismissed the guards with thanks. She closed the door after them and turned back to Alistair and Corin. Corin scooped the letters back into the folio, and handed it to Alistair.
"Go ahead. Take them and read them. You've the right to."
Alistair took the folio and gave his Warden brother a challenging look. "And what if by accident these found their way into a fireplace somewhere?"
Corin's eyebrow lifted. "I don't think that ultimately it would make much of a difference. Everyone knows that Eamon, Anora and I recognize your claim. They think of you as Alistair Theirin. But if you feel you must…"
"No, that's all right. I won't burn them."
"I'm about to retire for the evening," the Crown Prince said with a meaningful look at Anora. "So why don't you take those with you?"
"What about that business about keeping them in Crown hands?"
"When you're done with them, get Fergus to put them in the Cousland vault for you. There's a small one in the suite. Either of you can bring them back in the morning."
"That works. A good evening to you, Your Majesty, Corin."
"Good night, Alistair," the Queen said with a smile that could almost be construed as friendly.
When Alistair had gone, Corin looked over at his wife-to-be and grinned. Cheeks slightly flushed, Anora said, "I assume we're to have that discussion about your…burgeoning…recovery now?"
"Burgeoning…now there's an appropriate term for it," Corin mused. "You do have a way with words, my queen." Noting her unease, his brow furrowed in concern. "Are you truly feeling well enough, Anora? We don't have to, if you're feeling tired or ill. Is it safe for the baby? I'm pretty sure that Fergus and Oriana did it when she was pregnant, but perhaps all ladies aren't the same."
"I feel well enough, Corin. And I will point out to you that if we didn't have a mage on hand we would not even know that I was pregnant yet. We'd merely be suspecting, and probably carrying on as usual."
The Crown Prince brightened. "There is that!" He moved around behind Anora and began to unpin her hair in that careful way of his. Feeling his warm fingers brushing her neck, the Queen shivered.
"This is one of my favorite parts, you know," he breathed beside her ear.
"We've done this once before and you've got favorite parts already?"
"Oh, yes."
Gathering all the pins up in to one hand, Corin set them carefully on the bedside table. Then he undid her braids and combed through them gently with his fingers, burying his nose in the golden swathes at one point. Anora chuckled.
"Why do I think I could cut my hair, set it upon a mannequin, and you'd still have your perfect queen?"
Corin's hands slid between her body and arms and pulled her back against him. "Nonsense. My perfect queen has to have the brain under the golden hair." Those hands slid up to cup her breasts and Anora winced. Corin released them immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"They're rather tender of late. From the baby, I expect."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Hands off, then."
"I think that you can still touch them. Just be very gentle."
"Speaking of vulnerabilities, I'm afraid you're going to have to help me with this quite a bit."
Corin's lips were tracing up and down the side of Anora's neck in a way that made it difficult to concentrate, but she managed to ask, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm not sure I'm up to much of the old pelvic thrusting at present. You're going to have to be on top."
She melted back against him. "I thought we were going to do that after we married. I remember you describing that to me once."
"Oh. Yes. In the sunlight, with your hair all around. I remember too. And I still intend to do that. I intend to do a lot of things with you, Anora," the last being said in that low growl that never failed to thrill her. In a more normal voice, he added, "But for now, the spirit is a lot more willing than the flesh is strong. Help me?"
"I would be happy to."
Disrobing was more workaday than it had been in their previous encounter, given that they were both in day clothes. Corin patiently dealt with all the fiddly fastenings at the back of Anora's gown and her wrists, then slid the confining garment off of her with gentle care. She in turn stripped his shirt and doublet, then unbuttoned his breeches and slid them down those strong, well-muscled legs, along with his stockings. Fortunately, he was wearing house shoes rather than boots and for all that he had complained about losing his muscle tone, she could not discern much damage as of yet. She spent a little time while she was down there stroking up and down the length of those well-shaped legs, which elicited a pleased murmur from her betrothed.
"Come up here," he commanded eventually. "You've still got too many clothes on." When she complied, he spent some time gently pulling her shift off of her shoulders, kissing and nibbling them and her neck. When her breasts were bared, he caressed them with just the lightest of feather touches, touches that caused Anora to gasp and her nipples to crinkle in response. "That's not too hard, is it?"
"No, that's very nice."
"Good. I'll remember that." Undoing her smalls, Corin slid them down to join the shift. Figuring that he could not bend to reach her stockings, Anora started to undo one of the garters, only to be stopped by his hand upon hers.
"Leave them on. You look hot that way." Blushing a little, she smiled at him from beneath her lashes and he grinned back.
"Time for bed." He was cautious, she noticed, about the way he got up onto the high mattress, and Anora clambered up rather inelegantly behind him, only to bounce once, puzzled, when she arrived.
"This feels different. Harder."
Corin was folding the coverlet back and settling back against his pillows. "I had to have it changed," he admitted. "That big, poufy feather tick was killing my back. So I used royal privilege and had them find a straw tick and a wool tick, with a thinner feather bed on top. And I made them put boards over the ropes. Does it bother you?"
Anora bounced a couple more times. "No. It's different, but rather nice. Definitely much more firm, but still soft enough. I think it will be fine."
"Good. I'm just going to lie back here and let you do what you want with me, if that's all right. I'll hold up my end as best I can, but like I said, I really need your help in this." He stretched his arms over his head in one of those gingerly stretches and then left them there when he relaxed. The sight of him, supine and vulnerable, caused a sudden flush of warmth in Anora's nether regions. The damnable boy seemed to know this somehow and chuckled.
"Like what you see?"
"Brat." Anora scooted to his side, reaching out to stroke Corin's chest a bit tentatively. Cailan had always taken the upper hand in their encounters. She did not know if he had given his other lovers this sort of control, but he never had with her, perhaps because he felt himself so dominated in the other parts of their relationship.
Given leave to do as she pleased, Anora bent over and suckled at one of Corin's nipples. He groaned.
Encouraged, she began to work upon both of them with tongue and lips and teeth until they peaked as much as they could, while her hands stroked his chest and taut stomach. One slipped lower and closed about his length, already beginning to firm and feeling much warmer than the rest of him. Corin bucked beneath her when she did so. Stroking him a few times, she then released him to explore that area more closely, caressing the oddly silky black fur upon his balls, then sliding two fingers back to trace behind them. That won her a gasp and another buck.
One of Corin's large, warm hands was now tracing gently over her back and sides and neck, brushing ever-so-carefully against her tender breasts. It was pleasant, but not overly distracting. Anora's hands roamed his body between knees and neck for a time, exploring every dip and crevice. She watched as he became fully erect and wondered if she dared…
Before she could lose her nerve, her head dipped and she took a swipe up the length of him with her tongue. The taste, though slightly musky, was not unpleasant, and Corin's shocked gasp was very satisfying.
"Oh, you wonder, you!"
She ventured a few more licks, and even sucked the tip into her mouth before she lost her nerve. Looking up, she saw that Corin's eyes had darkened to deep blue.
"That deserves a reward," he declared. "I know that you never wanted to do that. Come up here and straddle my head. Hold onto the headboard."
She did as he directed, suspected she knew what he had in mind and was beginning to clench at the very thought of it. It was a somewhat embarrassing position to be in, her thighs splayed to either side of Corin, knees sunk into the pillows, gripping the headboard for dear life. But then, most of sex was embarrassing and ridiculous as far as Anora was concerned. And suddenly, that didn't seem to matter, as his hands gripped her hips and brought her sex down to his lips.
His tongue swiped her end to end and she cried out, arching. And kept crying out as he sucked and probed and licked until the fire built in her belly as it had before. The sensation was almost too much to take, but there was no escaping the strong grasp of his hands no matter how she jerked and before long, Anora was keening as she climaxed.
"Sweet Lady, save us!" she gasped, hanging onto the headboard for a moment, until the stars left her vision. Corin chuckled.
"It's a good thing we both like that."
She lifted her leg and slid to the side, then down beside him on the bed. Seeing his face still wet with her juices, she tutted and pulled up the hem of the sheet to wipe it.
"You are entirely too full of yourself," she chided.
"One part of me, at least," he agreed with a plaintive look. "Do you think you could do something about that?"
She looked down at his erection, swollen and angry-looking, and nodded. Then moved to straddle him once more, lower down this time. An idea occurred to her then and rather than taking him into her immediately, she lowered herself until her wet crotch was pressing the length of him flat against his belly and began to move back and forth, rubbing against it.
Corin's body arched up against hers, he threw his head back and groaned. "Wicked, Anora!" But there was nothing but approval in his voice. When he began to relax once more, she decided that it was time, reached down and placed him at her entrance. Then she began to settle herself carefully down upon him.
She'd never done it in quite this way before. The change in position made things feel different-not unpleasant, just different. And the fact that she was the one who was determining how deep she should take him gave her confidence, in this endeavor where she usually had little. Anora leaned forward, grasping his hands and pressing them against the sheets, pushing back until he was well seated in her and began to move, slowly at first as she got the feel of things.
Her betrothed's eyes were closed, his brow furrowed with that look of intense, almost angry concentration he got while in the throes of passion. Anora's rocking became harder, faster and his fingers clenched almost painfully within hers. He was totally in her control and that realization sent a resurgence of heat through her.
You are mine now, not hers! She gave you up, but I never will! And if that means I have to learn every whore's trick in the book to keep you, then so be it! You belong to me!
She was actually slamming down now, but Corin did not seem to be pained by it. He was gasping and moaning. Suddenly he cried out and she felt the heat of his seed inside her. That brought her over the edge with him for a second time with a cry of her own.
Totally spent, she slumped down onto his chest with him still up inside of her. The sensation of still being connected was oddly pleasing. Dimly, she felt his hands pull the coverlets up over them both. Then they came to rest upon her back, stroking soothingly.
She cracked an eye open, to find a pair of sleepy blue ones looking fondly at her.
"I said it before and I'll say it again. Cailan was an idiot. You were marvelous." Corin yawned.
She was feeling marvelous, as it turned out, boneless and limp and totally at peace.
"You can tie me up sometime, if you'd like," her betrothed remarked.
"What?" The sense of peace vanished.
"I said, you can tie me up sometime, if you'd like. And don't tell me that you wouldn't." Corin's hands left her back to extend above his head once more, wrists crossed together as if bound. Anora felt her cheeks flush furiously, and an echo of earlier arousal ghosted through her.
"See what I mean?"
Dismayed at her response, she asked, "Is that…do normal people do that?"
"Of course they do. Normal people do all sorts of things. When all is said and done, sex is play-time for adults. I'd certainly like to tie you up. Only if you'd let me, of course." His hand came back down to pull her head down to his for a kiss.
"We've got time now, Anora. Time enough to try everything you want."
Alistair was not sure what he was expecting from the letters. Some sign of affection, some indication of regret that Alistair could not be more fully part of the family? But they were remarkably business-like, at least from Eamon's and Cailan's end. Maric's words expressed some concern, if it was only about the adequacy of Alistair's education. In the end, there was nothing for him within the letters, even as there had been nothing for him at Goldanna's house. Though the fact that she was not really his sister was the one bright spot in the whole business.
He read through all of the letters twice, just to make sure that the first reading had not been colored by overmuch expectation on his part, but a second perusal led to the same conclusion that the first one had. Slipping them back into the folio with a muted feeling of discontent, he went out into the sitting room to look for Fergus, but found the Teyrn in the library, reading, with a glass at his hand. He gave Alistair a smile.
"Alistair? What can I do for you?"
Alistair thrust the folio forward abruptly. "Corin said that there was a lockbox here in the suite, and asked if you'd secure this until tomorrow."
Fergus laid down his book and took the folio. "What is this, if I may ask?"
"Eamon's and Cailan's and Maric's letters about me. The proof about my Theirin blood. Corin and Anora made Eamon cough them up tonight."
Fergus' eyes widened slightly. "Oh. I see." He gestured over to the sideboard. "You know where the drinks are. Help yourself while I put this away." He left the room. Alistair poured himself a couple of fingers of Starkhaven whiskey, rather astonished that anything alcoholic was still available in a suite that housed Oghren. But Corin had made a point of keeping the dwarf well-supplied-and apparently had set some boundaries. It was possible to do that with Oghren if he respected you.
The Teyrn reappeared some minutes later and settled back into his former chair.
"Have a seat, if you like, Alistair. I don't mind. That book wasn't all that interesting."
Alistair pulled up another of the large, comfortable stuffed chairs. Fergus took up his own glass and turned it between callused, scarred, swordsman's fingers.
"From the look on your face, the letters weren't what you expected."
"Yes, and no. I guess I was hoping there would be some sign of affection, but I didn't really expect it. If that makes any sense."
"Perfect sense. You've been brought up your entire life to have no expectations, after all." Fergus took a sip of his whiskey. "Do you know what I admire most about you, Alistair?" He smiled at the young Warden's disbelieving look.
"I admire that, despite the fact that you've never been given a moment's consideration or true affection by any of the people responsible for your upbringing (and I do not consider how Eamon treated you affection), you are still capable of love. You're still willing to put your heart out there on the line. And that's special. A lot of people who'd gone through what you have wouldn't be able to do that." Another sip of the whiskey.
"Of course, the fact that you're a good enough warrior to kick Teyrn Loghain's ass doesn't hurt either."
A slight huff of pleased laughter escaped Alistair. "Corin told me once that he wished I'd been fostered at Highever with all of you Couslands. I wish I had been too. I envy what you had."
Fergus shrugged. "And if you had, you might have been dead with the rest of them." He started turning the glass once more. "I'm not looking forward to going back there, I must admit. Though I daresay Rikard is doing everything he can to tidy up before I get there."
"Would you like me to come with you? Is Corin coming?"
"I suspect he will, if I wait until he's well enough to travel. It's more than kind of you to offer. And you'd certainly be welcome too, if you've not got Warden things to attend to." He gave Alistair a direct look then. "It's at least in part due to you that I still have a brother, Alistair. And he's your Warden brother, which sort of makes me your…Warden brother-in-law? Something like that? Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, you're family. In case you hadn't figured that out already."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. It's how we Couslands do things."
Alistair spent a little more time with Fergus after that, chatting about the restoration that was going on, and what had been covered at the recent Council meetings. He'd felt remarkably at ease with Corin's older brother almost from the first. Though the dynamic between himself and Fergus was different from that between himself and Corin. Fergus, because of his greater years, had a bit more of an elder statesman thing happening, whereas Alistair and Corin met more as equals. But the teyrn was anything but stuffy, and there was an intelligence keen as Corin's beneath that scruffy exterior.
Upon leaving Fergus, Alistair found himself at a bit of loose ends. He wasn't tired enough to sleep yet, and he'd already checked and determined that Leli had gone off to the Chantry for some sort of evening devotional service involving music. He wandered the halls of the palace for a while, until the desire for some fresh air took him up on the battlements. It was a pleasant evening, though a bit chilly. The moon was well up and the stars shone clearly in the sky. He'd gone half way around when he saw a small, cloaked figure seated between the merlons, dangling feet over the edge.
As he had once before, he made his tread heavier, so as not to startle. Nerissa Surana's head swiveled around.
"Oh. Hi there, Warden Theirin."
"What happened to 'Hardbody', Mistress Death From Above?"
It was difficult to tell in the moonlight, but Alistair thought that she might actually be blushing.
"The First Enchanter happened. Gave me a big lecture upon upholding the dignity of my new rank. Actually, Irving's given me several lectures. So since he used to be my mentor and I'm actually rather fond of the Boss, I'm trying to do as he asked."
"That seems a shame. I think there are enough people overly worried about their dignity in Denerim already." He watched as she pushed away from the edge and rolled to her feet, a bit awkward in the voluminous robes and cloak. "By the way, what is it with you and dangling your feet over the edges of tall buildings? Have you got a death wish or something?"
"No. Heights don't bother me. I find it relaxing. The wind blows around my feet and I can close my eyes and pretend I'm flying. Weird, I know."
"Did you do that at Kinloch?"
"No. They don't let mages onto the roof at Kinloch. For obvious reasons."
"Those being?"
"Because sometimes they want to jump off of it."
"Oh." Silence fell for a long moment. Nerissa Surana broke it, with an uncomfortable clearing of her throat.
"Warden Theirin, I owe you an apology."
"For what?" Alistair asked curiously. Yes, that was definitely a blush, discernable even by moonlight.
"When you were nice enough to look after me, after the battle…I seem to remember grabbing your ass at one point."
"You remember that? I'm astonished."
The little elf groaned. "So I did do it!"
"You didn't grab. You patted. It was very gentle. My ass survived the experience just fine."
"Even so…I am sorry."
"No apologies necessary. You were hardly yourself at the time."
"Irving said that was what you'd say. Thank you. Just so you know-I'm really not the Circle-slut you might think, given my behavior with you."
"You know-those mage-girls who like to notch their staffs for each of their conquests?"
Alistair suddenly found himself grinning, his earlier malaise dissipated. "But you have a new staff now, Nerissa. How would I know if the old one had notches or not?"
"Very funny, Warden Theirin!"
"Hey! Comrades-in-arms, remember? You insisted. It's Alistair."
"All right then. Alistair." In what was obviously an effort to both change the subject and make polite conversation, Nerissa asked, "So-how is your Wardening coming along?"
"My 'Wardening' is doing just fine. Speaking of which…I was wondering. How would you feel about working as a liason to the Wardens? I find myself missing Morrigan's firepower, though I'm glad I'll never have to admit it to her."
"You want me to…fight with the Wardens?"
"Are you going to invoke the Right of Conscription?"
"Why not? Aren't I good enough?" Her brows drew down and she scowled.
"You're more than good enough. But there are things about being a Warden that aren't so good, things I can't really discuss with anyone who isn't a Warden. Things I'd rather you never had to deal with. So no, I won't Conscript you unless you get Tainted while working with us. Which is a possibility, so you ought to consider it before you give me an answer. A Thaw Hunt is dangerous work. The idea is to kill as many of the straggler darkspawn before they can get back underground. So there are hopefully fewer to breed up for the next Blight."
"I don't have to think about it. I'm in."
"Nerissa, you really should take some time to consider…"
"No. I don't need to. I'm a battle-mage! It's what I do, what I trained my whole life to do. I've gotten exactly two opportunities in my life thus far to use my magic the way it was intended to be used. If I work with the Wardens, I'll get many more. And it beats Firestorming farmland all hollow, though I'll admit that has to be done. But it can be done by the Primals who don't have the balls to work their spells in battle, and we do have a few of those. I'm your girl, Hardbody!"
"All right then. How do we go about this?"
"You need to talk to Irving, of course, get custody of me officially handed over to the Wardens. Which, by the way, makes your Order responsible if I suddenly turn into an abomination and wreak havoc over the countryside."
"Were you planning on turning into an abomination?"
Nerissa snorted. "As if! Demons are so tacky!"
"Very well then. I'll make an appointment with Irving tomorrow."
"Why not tonight? It's not that late and Boss is an old guy and doesn't sleep much anyway."
"If you're sure-I don't want to offend him and maybe lose the chance of getting you."
"And I don't want to lose it either! Let's go!" She grabbed his elbow and tugged him towards the stairs.
The mages had been assigned a couple of adjoining suites belonging to nobles who'd perished in the Blight. Extra beds had been brought in, but even so it was still more luxurious than the living conditions in the Tower. None of the normal folk were complaining, however-the healers, in particular, had been greatly appreciated. There were too many families now who owed a relative's life to the ministrations of a mage.
Templars were stationed upon the entrances to the suites, and among the rooms where the apprentices, journeymen and Enchanters were staying. Kinloch had been emptied to answer Ferelden's need. Only a few mages too old to travel and the recalcitrant Anders had been left behind.
"The Warden-Commander of Ferelden to see the First Enchanter," Nerissa declared as they approached, and the Templar sentries saluted and let them pass.
"Warden," they intoned respectfully, inclining their heads.
Nerissa led Alistair through a sitting room to another door, and knocked upon it.
"Boss, you in?"
"Yes, Nerissa, of course," came Irving's placid voice from the other side of the door. Nerissa pushed it open.
The room had obviously been the suite's library. The original books were still all there, as well as a couple of tables that held those magical additions the First Enchanter had deemed useful enough to risk bringing along. He was seated at his desk with tea to hand. Sharing said tea was Knight-Commander Greagoir.
"Well, shit!" Nerissa Surana said.
What followed was one of the more frustrating half hours of Alistair's life. He began to finally, fully understand the extent of the captivity even mages of higher rank endured. While Irving seemed willing enough to release Nerissa, agreeing that what Alistair proposed was probably the best use of her talents, Gregoir resisted, coming up with one objection after the other.
"Surana has always been too powerful, too uncontrolled!"
"I am not uncontrolled!" Nerissa protested. "My spells go just where I want them to!"
"I was referring to emotional control, which you have given ample proof of a lack of over the years," sniffed the Templar commander. "I agreed to let you elevate her, Irving, because I couldn't argue that she met the magical criteria to be Senior Enchanter. But I have serious doubts about her mental stability, and I won't be responsible for letting her lose to gallivant all over the countryside, blowing up things hither and yon!"
"Nerissa is either a Senior Enchanter, with the rights and responsibilities of that rank, or she is not, Gregoir," Irving said mildly, though there was a look in his eye that might have denoted irritation. "You agreed to her elevation, so it's a bit late to be coming up with gradations of rank and privilege in an effort to control her after the fact."
"The disposition of any mage, regardless of rank, is the right of the Knight-Commander."
"Look, Knight-Commander, I'd only be blowing the things up that Warden Theirin wanted blown up," Nerissa growled. "I'd be blowing up darkspawn! Surely you don't have a problem with that! And the darkspawn might kill me, which possibility must be appealing to you!"
"Appealing though it may be, I have a responsibility to the people of Thedas to uphold," Gregoir intoned sanctimoniously. "And that responsibility precludes letting you run amok as you would like."
"The Senior Enchanter would be under my direct supervision," Alistair noted, keeping a firm rein on his temper.
"You're a Warden!" scoffed Gregoir. "I don't that doubt you're a man of rare ability, Warden-Commander Theirin, but fighting darkspawn and controlling mages are two different things."
"I don't know if you're aware of it or not, Knight-Commander, but I had Templar training before I became a Warden."
"Having some of the training does not qualify you to have charge of such a dangerous mage as Surana."
"All of the training, Knight-Commander. I was about to take final vows when I was conscripted. And I am not unfamiliar with combating hostile mages."
Gregoir's eyes narrowed. "You were not among the companions the Prince took into the Tower."
"No, I wasn't. I was referring to emissaries. Darkspawn mages."
"Such creatures could not possibly be as puissant as a trained Circle mage."
"You'd be surprised."
"Even so, Surana is an exceptionally powerful mage. Without lyrium, there would be no way you could control her."
Alistair's temper snapped, for he could tell that the Knight-Commander was prepared to be obstructionist until his opponent was worn down by weariness, if the superiority of the Templar's arguments did not suffice.
"First Enchanter, Senior Enchanter, I apologize in advance."
Whereupon Alistair did what he'd wanted to do since Gregoir started in with his objections. Had wanted to do, now that he reflected upon it, since Kinloch. Getting to his feet, he gathered all of his strength. The blue aura flared as he nullified all of the magic in the immediate area, then lashed out at the Knight-Commander with the strongest Holy Smite he could manage.
Nerissa dropped to the floor with a muted cry. Irving fell forward, almost into his teacup. The Knight-Commander fell backward in his chair with a very satisfying thud. Silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft moans of the mages. Alistair looked down at Gregoir with a lifted brow. He'd just taken down two of Ferelden's most powerful mages without even breaking a sweat.
"I told you that I could handle Surana, Knight-Commander. Perhaps now you believe me?"


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Reviewed By Rodney R (NEW BOSTON, MI) Reviewed for a 2014 Dodge Ram —9/8/2016 8:01 AM
While appearance and fit and finish of these steps are great, the standout feature for me is the mounting brackets. They have a reverse bend on one edge, are heavy gauge and stiff, stamped with left and right markings ("D" & "P") and have the same coating applied to them as the steps. I weigh 250 lbs and don't question the capability of them at all.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chapter 3.3Mature
"What did you do that for?" I complained, pulling myself out from under Owen's arm.
"What did I do?" He asked innocently.
"Come over and act all protective and possessive. We were getting on well until you showed up."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise I was interrupting anything,' Owen said defensively. "In fact, from where I was standing he was looking confrontational, I didn't like the way he was looking at you so I thought I should come over and make sure he knew you weren't alone."
"You're not my brother, Owen," I said, getting far angrier than I thought I would, the alcohol clearly beginning to have an effect on me after only a few sips. "I don't need you to protect me."
"I'm sorry, I thought I was doing the right thing. Maybe next time I'll leave you to fend for yourself." Owen retorted, sweeping away from me in a huff. I forced myself to go against my natural instinct to go after him and apologize for being so rude to him. He has to know that you're not interestedI heard Alex's voice tell me in my head. It's not fair otherwise.
I wasn't usually one to listen to voices in my head but this time I knew the voice was right. I liked Owen but no more than as a friend, whereas he clearly had other ideas. Wrapping his arm around me when I was talking to Lloyd seemed to be a very possessive gesture, telling Lloyd to back off because I was Owen's. I didn't like that. I was no one's property and I didn't wish to be treated as such, to be fought over like a toy two children want to play with at the same time. For once, I wanted to make that choice.
I took an angry swig from the bottle in my hand in an attempt to numb the urge to hit something that was bubbling up inside me. It seemed to work as I felt the tension drain from me and inner calm was restored. I didn't even know where my anger was coming from, I wasn't naturally an angry person so why had Owen's actions prompted such a strong reaction from me? I didn't think I wanted to know the answer.
Trying to shake the encounter off, I left the kitchen in search of Aislinn or Lily, they would be able to put me back to my normal self. When I couldn't see Lily I assumed she was surrounded by a group of her guests or busy doing hosty-type things. Aislinn on the other hand was much easier to find, nervously looking around the room at the sea of people, slightly bewildered by it all.
"You alright?" I asked as I approached. "You're looking a bit lost."
"I feel it," Aislinn replied. "I thought you weren't drinking." She nodded at the bottle in my hand.
"I'm only having the one, Lily insisted and she's not really in the mood to take no for an answer. And anyway, I think I'm going to need it."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Nothing that bad," I reassured Aislinn when I saw the worried look on her face. "Just Owen taking a step more than necessary."
"Should I ask what happened?"
"I was talking to this guy, Lloyd, and we were getting on well until Owen turned up. He put his arm around me like he was telling Lloyd to back off and I was already taken."
"He just wants to make sure you're alright, that's all."
"I wish he would warn me beforehand that he's going to act like a possessive boyfriend every time a guy so much as glances in my direction. It's not his job."
"That's the alcohol talking," Aislinn said disapprovingly, making a grab for the bottle in my hand. "Give it to me."
"Don't you start as well, Aislinn," I protested, holding the bottle out of her reach. "I thought university was a place where you learnt how to be independent and find yourself. This is me finding myself."
"What has gotten into you, Nessie?" Aislinn asked, stunned by my behaviour. "You're acting really strangely."
"How do you know?" I asked confrontationally, my mouth now working independently from my brain. "What if this is the real me and the person you've known for the last week isn't actually real?"
"Stop it, Nessie, you're being stupid now." Aislinn's tone held no hint of humour and even through the slight haze of alcohol that was blurring my mind I could tell I'd gone far enough and it was time to stop.
"I'm sorry," I said, putting the bottle down. "I don't understand why I'm acting like this. Maybe talking to Alex has opened up something I would have preferred to stay hidden."
"You need to stop letting Luke dominate your life."
"How did you know this is about him?"
"Every time I see you looking up at the board at his picture your eyes are tearing up."
"I didn't realise it was so obvious," I said, looking down into my lap and feeling strangely ashamed of myself. "What do you think I should do, Aislinn?"
"Honestly? I don't think you'll like what I want to tell you."
"I think I need to hear it, even if it's going to hurt," I said, bracing myself for what Aislinn was going to say.
"In my opinion, you need him out of your life. Not forever," she hastily added after seeing the shock on my face, "but just for a while. Just until you've moved on and can bare to look at him without bursting into tears."
"Am I really that bad?" I asked, cringing at the thought of Aislinn seeing me staring at Luke's photo.
"I don't mean to offend you," Aislinn began, "but you did look very puppy-eyed and forlorn." I could see she was fighting to hold back a smile and one small elbow in the ribs from me sent her into hysterics. "I'm sorry," she spluttered, aware that I was now laughing at her.
"It's alright," I replied. "I probably needed you to tell me that anyway."
"So you're not going to be all angry and confrontational again?"
"I'll try not to be."
"In that case, tell me about this Lloyd. Is he in this room?"
"I don't think so," I said as I looked at the bodies crammed into the centre of the room, dancing to the steady pulse of the bass.
"Then you'll just have to describe him to me. So, what does he look like?"
"He's very tall," was my first comment, "at least by my standards. He's at least six foot three, if not taller. He has quite a handsome face, very open and engaging. I think his hair was a sort of dark blonde, it was hard to tell because the lights were down low."
"He sounds very dreamy," Aislinn said, but there wasn't a lot of enthusiasm behind the words or any sort of envy that I had seen him first. But a glint appeared in her eyes that unsettled me. "In fact, I think we should go find him for you." In one swift movement she had risen from her position against the wall, grabbed my free hand as was dragging me into the crowd of people.


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Shares of Internet software products company Perion Networks (PERI) are recovering after disappointing results hammered the stock last month.
The Israel-based company's second-quarter results missed expectations on Aug. 12, and management's forecast was weak. The stock tumbled 14% to a four-month low. It's now bouncing back, forming a double-bottom base with a buy point at 13.55.
The pattern is volatile, yet has signs of accumulation. Combined with the weaker outlook, Perion is a riskier proposition.
Still, Perion is an industry leader. Of 11 stocks in IBD's education and media software industry group, Perion had the highest sales growth in the last fiscal year at 70%. Its three-year annualized sales growth rate of 44% is the industry's second best after Pandora (P), which has grown sales 77% over the same period.
Earnings increased 44% in Q2, a drop-off from 105% the prior quarter. But sales growth has remained solid, ranging from 104% to 159% the past three quarters.
Perion has added search-engine partners such as Yahoo (YHOO), Ask.com and Microsoft's (MSFT) Bing, while relying less on Google (GOOG).
But the implementation of these partnerships "has taken longer than we expected, dampening our second-quarter results and pushing revenue expected in the third quarter into the fourth quarter of the year," CEO Josef Mandelbaum said in the earnings announcement.
Mandelbaum said the changes should improve results in Q4 and 2014.
An analyst at Roth Capital Partners agreed.
While the search difficulties will remain a factor in the short term, "we believe (Perion) is well positioned for strong growth" in Q4 and 2014, Jared Schramm wrote. He cut 2013 estimates but maintained a buy rating.
Perion has three main businesses. Incredimail manages multiple email accounts and Facebook messages, with some customization tools. Smilebox is a photo-sharing service. SweetIM is an instant messaging application that lets users personalize their communications.
All operate on the "freemium" model, in which the software is free but supported with ads, and premium versions are paid.
Perion also develops products for mobile phones and tablets, as the company targets growth in the mobile market.


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Here's the deal. I hate The Hobbit. You really seriously couldn't pay me to read Lord of the Rings. I read the first page of the first Harry Potter book and thought, well, it's for kids. Why would I want to read this when I'm not a kid? And that's not even going into what appears to me from the outside to be a remarkable lack of imagination - they're trainee wizards, so they ride around on broomsticks. Broomsticks? Are you shitting me? That's the best you could come up with?
I read Pullman's His Dark Materials and wasn't impressed. The heroine - and here I'm vaguely recalling - doesn't particularly in my recollection so much discover what's going on in her world as get told it straight out by various adult protagonists. Dull. And then there's the talking bears. Talking bears? How did they get that way? Did they evolve? Or what? Now, admittedly, this is a kid's book, and if you're young enough you're probably happy to just accept that at face value. But me? An adult? Eh. Now, I've got talking fish in my books, but they either evolved that way, or were radically redesigned by another species using highly advanced technology. I'm the first to admit to the liberal use of handwavium in my stories, but to me magic is the worst kind of handwavium - oh, it's magic, as if that explains everything. Science has a clear definition, but what, then, is magic? I have no clear idea.
On the other hand, and just to prove what an enormous hypocrite I really am, I'm a big fan of Jonathan Carroll, undoubtedly a fantasy writer. Why this should be so when I hate the former kind of fantasy isn't a question I can't immediately answer, except insofar as to say that it has something do with being set in our very real world.
It's that connection that gives me something to hold on to that Lord of the Rings does not - with the latter, my first reaction on hearing about it as a kid was, where is Middle-Earth? Is it on Earth? An alien planet? Where? And if I didn't know, I couldn't possibly figure out why on Earth I should care about anything set there.
Now, I'm not saying my position is unassailable. I just could never bring myself to believe in fantasy worlds of the aforementioned variety. SF was the literature of human endeavour, of pushing back the limits of the known world and coming to first understand and then control it. It was about the future, the coming world. Fantasy seemed retrogressive, backwards, wishful thinking for some impossible age that never could be and never would be.
Let me just stress here that I'm talking here about my feelings as a young reader. I'm not dissing the genre, just trying to say why I never really got along with it when I was growing up. If someone gave me a book with dragons in it when I was a kid, I'd say, how does something that big get airborne? How does it breathe fire? How come they never explode in mid-air?
Undeniably impossible things happen in Carroll's books, but somehow it's the dissonance with reality and the jarring effect it produces that's so effective for me. Here's what appears to be the normal world, and suddenly it turns out there's something about it you don't understand, that you can't explain, and that might be very, very threatening. That I can appreciate; that, somehow, resonates with me emotionally. The world appears to be one way, now it appears to be another. The tables have been turned.
Same with Mark Danielewski's House of Leaves, one of my absolute, all-time favourite works of fiction. It's magnificent. You never, ever, ever find out just what it is haunting the echoing, abyssal halls of the endless house; you only know that its realm may be infinite. This is people from our world, exploring the edges of what constitutes our reality, and retreating in fear from whatever may lie just beyond that edge, just beyond the known, the safe and the quantifiable. Somehow, this has satisfied me entirely through several re-reads.
A work closer to traditional fantasy that is also one of my favourites is Robert Holdstock's equally magnificent Mythago Wood. But I don't think of it as fantasy, I always thought of it as science fiction. The protagonist and his father have clearly thought out and developed theories as to the nature of Ryhope Wood; they take the apparently magical and make an attempt to quantify it, to understand it and ultimately control it where a thousand lesser writers might simply have had their characters take the apparently magical at face value. They are, again, exploring the absolute limits of our reality, and looking a ways beyond into the face of the terrifying unknown.
Even closer to traditional fantasy is Michael Moorcock's The War Hound and the World's Pain. I've not really read much Moorcock fantasy, but this is one of the few. And, it's great, perhaps because it's set in our own (past) world. Somehow, that makes all the difference.
So here's a question for you. Given that I really, really don't get on very well with the traditional stuff, what would you recommend to me to read? Or, what fantasy would you recommend to someone who really doesn't get on very well with fantasy at all?
For what it's worth, I've been considering Lev Grossman's The Magicians because it's getting such good write-ups. I read an excerpt that got me interested for various reasons, so I figure it's worth checking out. Any opinions?


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Dec 22 , 2014
The Daily Fetch
Happy Tail: This Angel seemed "sent from heaven"
Everybody needs an angel, and Mary and Henry Neidert are no exception. After their beloved Samoyed, Laika, died of a rare blood disorder, they were heartbroken. Their daughter, Christina, who lives nearby, was just as disconsolate. They had all loved Laika. Eventually the Neiderts were ready to open their hearts to …


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SARAH HARDING wouldn't look out of place in Dallas with that barnet.
The GIRLS ALOUD star was attending a gallery which included a photo
taken by her.
In the old days there's a chance the snap would have been taken in a pub
But since she's started to look after herself better, Sarah's more sensible.
She opted for a street shot of London instead.


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This property is no longer available.Search for Available Property.
665 acres in Warren County, Georgia
Compass South Land Sales presents B & B Farm, a 665 Acre outdoorsmans paradise. Perfectly located in Warren County, Georgia, B & B is just two hours from Atlanta and 1 hour from Augusta. This fully operational farm features a lavish 22,000 sq. ft. Main Home with an exceptional Chefs kitchen and stunning interior design throughout. Sunset views from the back deck highlight the 50,000 gallon heated pool. A separate guesthouse and 2 hunters cabins all feature lake views. The property features 625 Acres of High-Fence hunting for trophy Whitetail deer with heated, fully enclosed deer stands. Harvestable Timber and Bermuda/Bahia grass abound. B & B features a perfectly maintained road system throughout the property guiding you to the 5 stocked lakes, strategic deer stands and food plots.
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Kanck addresses Democrats meeting to defend ecstasy comment
South Australian Democrats MP Sandra Kanck says her party colleagues have listened carefully to her defence of her comments that the drug ecstasy is not dangerous.
Ms Kanck has tonight attended an extraordinary meeting of the state executive of the Democrats.
The meeting has been considering her political future.
Just before 7:00pm eight members of the Democrats' executive arrived at the party office in Black Forest in Adelaide.
Four other members including the party's state president, Richard Pascoe, had already gathered inside.
Ms Kanck arrived later by herself and left the meeting in 20 minutes.
In that time she defended her comments that the illegal drug ecstasy is not dangerous, reading from a statement released to the media earlier today.
Ms Kanck will make a statement tomorrow.
Topics: states-and-territories, adelaide-5000


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It is the fundamental responsibility of the federal government to provide for our mutual defense. And though national security is not foremost on many people's minds right now, sometime in the near future we will face a national security crisis again. Insurgents are gaining power in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran is on the verge of a nuclear weapon. Pakistan is unreliable and sitting on a nuclear arsenal. Hostilities are growing in many corners of the world. History assures us that another security crisis will come. When it does, it is absolutely essential that we be prepared. We must keep our military strong. We must provide our troops with the tools that they need to succeed.
But that doesn't mean the military shouldn't be exposed to the same scrutiny that the rest of the government will face. By closing overseas bases and streamlining operations, the military can sustain some reductions in spending without hurting national security.
Source: http://www.chrisstewartforcongress.com/seven-steps-to-reclaim-freedom/


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Press8 Mobile Extension Phone
By 359 North Inc.
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Extend your Press8-compatible business PBX service. Use this app to complement or replace your physical business phone.
Multiple Line Calling
Use up to three separate accounts and business phone numbers
Switch lines on the fly, option to setup iPhone call
Dial 3 and 4 digit extensions within your company
Visible status indicators that your accounts are valid
Caller ID & Privacy
Make business calls with your iPhone without giving away your iPhone number
The person you call sees the caller ID of your business account number, not your iPhone ID
Separate Business and Personal Contacts
Separate contact list (add from your iPhone Contacts)
Separate recent calls (keep your business calls separate)
Desk Dialer Capability
Use Press8 Mobile Extension to setup calls from your desk phone
Voice and Fax Messages
Visual Display – touch to download
Forward voicemails and faxes by E-mail
Keeps downloaded messages on the iPhone – no wasted bandwidth after first download
Business Call Records
Call detail records stored in your Press8 Web-based control panel
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must have an account with Press8 Telecom to use this app.
What's New in Version 2.2.1
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iPhone Screenshots
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- Category: Business
- Updated: 26 April 2017
- Version: 2.2.1
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- Language: English
- Developer: 359 North Inc.
- © 2017 359 North Inc.
Compatibility: Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone.


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Nagarjuna elated over response for Shiradi Sai music
The songs of the movie Shirdi Sai have impressed the music lovers across the state. So the audio CDs of the film are selling like hot cake. Elated Nagarjuna took to his Twitter page to share his excitement. The Tollywood actor tweeted, "I am overwhelmed with the response to shiridisai songs/amararama is great song to start your morning with/thank u Keervani. 30 days to the release of shiridisai."
Shirdi Sai is the cinematic of land mark life episodes of Shirdi Sai Baba and the music will be one of the highlights in the film, which has 13 songs, 2 bit songs and a bhajan. MM Keeravani, Madhu Balakrishnan, Sunitha, Nagarjuna, Shankar Mahadevan, Shweta Pandit, Deepu, Aditi Paul, Hariharan, Malavika, SP Balasubramaniam, Sonu Nigam, Teeshanigam, Saikumar, Revanth, Rahul Sipligunj and A Chaitra have sung the songs.
Shirdi Sai is directed by K Raghavendra Rao and produced by Mahesh Reddy and Girish Reddy. Bhaktha Suresh Kumar has written the story, while Paruchuri Brothers have penned the dialogues for the film. Akkineni Nagarjuna is playing Shirdi Sai Baba, while Kamalini, Srikanth and Srihari appear in other important roles.


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Surety Bond Form
Fingerprint Processing
Other Department Forms and Guidance
FinCEN Forms and Guidance
Electronic Surety Bonds (ESB)
Electronic surety bonds (ESB) will be available in NMLS starting January 23, 2017.
New company license applications submitted after January 23, 2017 will be required to meet all surety bond requirements by completing the electronic surety bond process. See the ESB Adoption Map and Table for more information.
Companies are required to convert their existing surety bond to NMLS via the submission of an ESB by December 31, 2017. See the GA ESB Conversion Plan for more information.
Fingerprint Processing
As of 9/12/2016, criminal history background checks on MU2 individuals should be authorized and submitted through the NMLS.
FinCEN Forms and Guidance (for compliance with applicable federal laws):
- FinCEN Requires Electronic Filing for MSB Registrations and other Reporting
- Enroll in FinCEN's BSA E-Filing System - Types of Forms Supported by BSA E-Filing:
Currency Transaction Report (FinCEN Form 104)
Suspicious Activity Report by Money Services Business (FinCEN Form 109, formerly 90-22.56)
Registration of Money Services Business (FinCEN Form 107)
- MSB Registration Query website
- Money Service Business (MSB) Information (Links off-site to FinCEN) - This link will take you to a website created to address the needs of a special category of financial institutions under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) referred to as Money Services Businesses or MSBs. Click on the link above to learn more.


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Northern Colorado softball goes 2-3 during Cyclone Invitational in Ames, Iowa
Ashleigh Waterland
Kelci Cheney
The UNC softball team went 2-3 during the Cyclone Invitational, which took place Friday through Sunday in Ames, Iowa.
The University of Northern Colorado (2-3) split games Friday and Saturday before a loss Sunday.
Throughout the five-game weekend, the Bears gave up only 10 walks and had 15 doubles.
On the final day of the tournament, UNC had a three-run sixth inning, but the Bears were still one run short against South Dakota State (1-4) in a 4-3 loss. The rally was sparked by a home run by senior outfielder Lindsey Smith, who led the team in home runs last season with 13.
Sophomore outfielder Ashleigh Waterland and senior designated player Jamie Pollak both scored in the sixth as well.
Saturday, the Bears began with a 4-0 victory against South Dakota State. The win was pitcher Kelci Cheney's (1-1) first shutout, and the sophomore had a career-high 10 strikeouts against only two walks in the game.
Sophomore center fielder Morgan Yuhas knocked in two runs during the win.
The second Saturday game had a different tune for UNC. The Bears were leading 5-1 against Indiana State heading into the final frame, but a seven-run inning by the Sycamores put the Bears three runs down in the bottom of the seventh.
Waterland hit a home run, driving in sophomore pitcher Mikayla Duffy (0-1) to bring the Bears within a run, but the team was unable to get another run across the plate to move the game into extra innings, with Duffy taking the loss.
Friday brought a split day for UNC, as the team started with a 3-2 nine-inning loss to Indiana State before defeating Indiana at Purdue Fort Wayne (2-2), 5-4.
The Bears began the Cyclone Invitational by adding extra frames against Indiana State. UNC was up 2-0 going into the bottom of the fifth when Indiana State tied it up.
Neither team scored another run until the bottom of the ninth, when the Sycamores had an RBI single to end the game. Junior UNC pitcher Megan Wilkinson was saddled with her first loss of the season.
The game against IPFW gave UNC its first win under head coach Shana Easley. Smith and Waterland were the big two at the plate, with two RBIs each.
The Bears will travel to Waco, Texas for the Miken Classic to compete against Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, Baylor and the University of the Pacific among other teams starting at 9 a.m. Friday against Texas A&M at Corpus Christi.
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Canadian oil producers warn of supply shortfalls after wildfire
By Ernest Scheyder
WANDERING RIVER, Alberta (Reuters) - CNOOC Ltd's Nexen is the latest Canadian oil sands company to warn customers it may not be able to fulfill supply contracts in the wake of a massive wildfire, as producers scramble to get facilities back online.
Nexen has issued a force majeure for all of its May production of Canadian heavy crude, two sources said on Thursday. Four major oil firms have now declared force majeure, a contract clause to remove liability for unavoidable catastrophes.
The fire that blazed through oil sands hub Fort McMurray, forcing the evacuation of about 90,000 people last week, has moved into sparsely populated woodlands further east.
It spans 241,000 hectares (596,000 acres), growing much more slowly than before, but still posing a threat. Cool temperatures are helping contain it, but hot, dry weather is expected starting Saturday, said Chad Morrison, Alberta's senior wildlife manager.
"We're long from over in this fight," he said on a conference call with other officials.
Nexen's Long Lake facility, located south of the community known as Fort Mac, sustained minor damage from the fire, Alberta officials said this week.
Three major oil firms warned last week they will not be able to deliver on some contracts for Canadian crude.
BP Plc and Phillips 66 alerted customers some grades of Canadian crude would not be available, while Suncor Energy, Canada's largest producer, warned clients that some supplies from the region would be disrupted by the fires. Continued...


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|This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (January 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Metarealism is a direction in Russian poetry and art that was born in the 1970s to the 1980s. The term was first used by Mikhail Epshtein, who coined it in 1981 and made it public in the Soviet magazine "Voprosy Literatury" in 1983; see below his "Theses on Metarealism and Conceptualism" from 1983 and the following years [1] Also: Third Wave: The New Russian Poetry. Ed. K. Johnson & S. M. Ashby. Preface by M. Epshtein, A. Wachtel, A. Parshchikov. University of Michigan Press, 1992 ISBN 0-472-06415-0, p. 10, 53, 184 [2], Tom Epstein's essay «Metarealism» in the anthology Crossing Centuries: The New Generations in Russian Poetry. Ed. High, John. NY: Talisman House Pub., 2000 ISBN 1-883689-90-2, ISBN 978-1-883689-90-2, p. 87-89, and Marjorie Perloff "Russian Postmodernism: An Oxymoron?" in Postmodern Culture, Volume 3, # 2, January 1993 [3].
M. Epshtein insists that in its philosophic dimension metarealism is "metaphysical realism," while "stylistically" metarealism is "metaphorical" realism. (See the most detailed explanation and exposition of this term in Epshtein's articles "Theses on Metarealism and Conceptualism" [4], "A Catalogue of the New Poetries" (Russian version) Archived September 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. and in its English version [5] Thus, "meta" means both "through" and "beyond" the reality that we all can see; hence, "metarealism" is the realism of the hyperphysical nature of things. The main expression of its essence is given through a non-visual metaphor or, according to another Epshtein's term, a "metabola" (rather than hyperbole), that means "transfer" or "transition," opening many dimensions. [See part 3 in Archived September 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.. "Metabola" is different from the symbol or a "visual" metaphor, because it assumes the interosculation of realities. See: M.Epshtein. After the Future: the Paradoxes of Postmodernism & Contemporary Russian Culture. University of Massachusetts Press, 1995, 416 p. ISBN 0-87023-973-2, ISBN 0-87023-974-0, pp. 40–50. Metarealism has very little to do with surrealism, since it appeals to the superconscious and not to the subconscious, thus opening up a many-dimensional perception of the world.
What is metarealism?[edit]
Metarealism is synonymous to metaconscience, which means beyond psychological consciousness, beyond a subjective psychological polarized view of reality. Metarealism seeks to depict the reality which exists beyond that psychological subjective perspective. Metarealism proposes not only to communicate further than the pictorial aspect of the perception of other dimension of reality, but also the essence of those dimensions and their relation to us as human beings. Metarealism then becomes a tool for the evolution of consciousness; just like in the old days artists painted sacred art to depict their vision of the reality they perceived, through their spiritual interpretation of other dimensions. Metarealism could be considered a sacred art, in that it also tries to depict, through a [metaconscious] perspective, the essence of reality as perceived by a metaconscious mind. Meta meaning, a holistic view of reality as perceived by a metaconscious mind, who sees reality as a whole rather than from a subjective personalized intellectually fragmented point of view. Metarealism is the materialization in pictorial form of the reality of other dimensions and their direct effect, and relation upon us. Metarealism tries to depict the relations between those dimensions of reality and how we psychologically interpret them through our sub mental symbolism.
Metarealism in visual art[edit]
According to Bernard De Montréal,[1] most contemporary visual arts are involutionary art that expresses the dissimulated frustrations and struggle of the unconscious self in her search for real identity through the euphoric, sub mental symbolism of the art form an avocation of the soul that has little in common with the interdimensional identity of the self.
Conscious or mental art "metarealism" when created by an metaconscious artist is inspired from the higher self, and is a channel for the dictation of the conscious science of art, instead of being simply a lower form of self-expression, a cultural artefact of relative value.
The mental artist has little need for unconscious expression and directs her creative "expiration" toward the exploration of higher consciousness through her art, rather than simply entertaining a fictitious role. Art in its astral form belongs to our kind of civilization. We still need its contention that there is more to reality than appears at first sight. Art in its higher form is therefore created by a totally new human being.
External links[edit]
- Mikhail Epstein: A Catalogue of the New Poetries
- Mikhail Epshtein: Theses on Metarealism and Conceptualism
- Marjorie Perloff "Russian Postmodernism: An Oxymoron?" in Postmodern Culture, Volume 3, # 2, January 1993
- On Russian Meta-Realist Poetry: A Conversation with Ilya Kutik - article by Reginal Gibbons
- On Rhyme - article by Reginald Gibbons
- Tomas Epstein: Dictionary of Russian Literature
- What is metarealism? - article by Vika Bregeda
- Словарь литературных терминов/Dictionary of the Literary Terms
- Encyclopædia Britannica
- Lyn Hejinian and Russian Estrangement by Jacob Edmond, p. 13-111
- Englishing Metarealism by Patrick Henry, UofCA, Berkeley
- Владимир Аристов. Заметки о "Мета". For its English translation, see: Re-entering the sign : articulating new Russian culture by Ellen E Berry; Anesa Miller-Pogacar. Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 1995 ISBN 978-0-472-10301-0
- Metarealism in art - its roots in the works of Giorgio de Chirico
- 20th Century painters of Metarealism
- About Russian metarealism - Interview with D. Dragilew, in German
- Metarealism
- Metarealism - article by Charles Sabourin, who quotes from the "Theses on Metarealism" by M.Epshtein
- Article by Charles Sabourin about Bernard De Montréal
- Severskaia O.I. IAzyk poeticheskoi shkoly: idiolekt, idiostil', sotsiolekt. (Language of Poetic School: Idiolect, Idiostyle, Sociolect) M.: Slovari.ru; Institut russkogo iazyka im. V.V.Vinogradova RAN, 2007. 126 p. Soft. ISBN 5-903021-05-0. 500 copies. In Russian. The offered edition reflects the experience of language description of one of leading schools of the modern Russian poetry, metarealism, as a "social dialect" of poetic language. Poetics of I.Zhdanov, A.Parshchikov, A.Dragomoshchenko, S.Soloviev, V.Aristov, I.Kutik, E.Dayenin is considered in comparison with Russian conceptual and ironic poetry, and also with poetic principles of some foreign authors. The reader is able to get an idea about a peculiar "philosophy of language" of metarealists, constants of their poetic world, metametaphor, "poetic theater" and other things.


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Ligne Woven Top, Women's, Size: Large, White
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Donut and Raccoon CardsPosted April 09 2012
I just listed two new cards in the shop: A Donut Card and Raccoon Card! Many people have requested the donut design as a card so here it is, and of course the Raccoon is just too darn cute not to have in a mini size. So there you go! Two new two-color cards and just in time for the Abbot Kinney Festival on Sunday!


text: Hi Guys Be careful in using W7 WMP. There's a little legal "nasty" in that it says " Usage will be sent to Microsoft" plus some discalimer saying that "Information is only collected for "Statistical Purposes". Whilst I don't believe in Microsoft "Conspoiracy" theories I just don't like the idea of this sort of stuff going willy nilly to a large corporation -- If they can't even kepp their own internal OS'es from hitting the torrents then what chance is there of keeping this sort of info away from prying eyes. It's a bit like the Police saying -- we only collect details about crimes for "Statistical Purposes" --Of course the Police want to use the statistics to help them in preventing further crimes. The Same I' sure with info over WMP to Microsoft -- possibly it will go to the Music and Media moguls to foist yet another botched "DRM" system to be foisted on us --I'm in favour or protecting intellectual property rights but if I've legally paid for music / films etc I want to be able to play them WHENEVER and WHEREVER I Want. Cheers jimbo


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Our websites
This is Stockholm
Modernity meets tranquility. Trend-setting restaurants and vibrant nightclubs next to idyllic archipelago. Welcome to a city where it is easy to breathe – and to feel your pulse.
Tyresta National Park, 40 minutes away by subway and bus, is one of the largest untouched woodlands in Sweden outside the alpine areas. The area has a beautiful virgin forest and was made a national park in 1993.
The park has a 30-kilometer perimeter and a wide variety of unique plants and animals. Pack a picnic and take a walk in the wild, magical forest. Stop to pick berries or swim in one of the lakes. Take bus 807 or 809 from Gullmarsplan to the Svartbäcken stop. Take connecting bus 834, getting off at the Tyresta By station, which is near the park's main entrance. There is a café and farm shop in Tyresta By and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Also worth seeing are the exhibits at Naturum (Nationalparkernas hus). The building is shaped like a map of Sweden and is characterized by its eco-friendliness and natural materials.
Tyresta By
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Half-Life (Movie) Confirmed By J.J. Abrams, Not Half-Life 3
Yes, you read "Half Life" and "confirmed," but don't get excited there -- Half Life 3 is no closer to hitting stores then it was yesterday (we think at least -- silly Valve refuses to tell us anything, don't they?) But we do have Valve news of some sort, and in an area that they have yet to make much of a mark in -- the very tricky realm of video game movies.
Way back in the far away year of 2013, J.J. Abrams and Gabe Newell united, announcing to the world that they are apparently media mogul BFF's and, like, totally wanted to make sweet sweet multimedia content together. At the time they mentioned two projects of interest: a game that Abrams' Bad Robot came up with, and big screen adaptations of two of Valve's biggest franchises: Half-Life and Portal. And though we know next to nothing about that Bad Robot game (or even if it still exists), those movies are still very much in development, apparently.
Whilst promoting 10 Cloverfield Lane, (itself from the director of the Portal: No Escape short film that rocked the internet some time ago),J.J. Abrams confirmed to IGN that he's still working on adapting both Valve properties to the big screen. The producer/director/whatever you want him to be declared that he didn't have an "exciting update" on the pair of films, but did state that writers are currently working on drafts of the screenplay. Which, hey, actually sounds like a pretty substantial update to me, but whatever. — J.J. gonna Abrams.
In any case, I'm curious to see what becomes of this, mostly because it could lead to Valve remembering that, woah, they make video games! And any chance to remind them of that makes for a noble cause, if you ask me.
Just give up Half-Life 3 Valve. We will do anything you ask, lord Gabe. We will do your bidding, we will sacrifice the blood of the innocent for you, anything, please senpai notice our cries for a sequel!


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Dado Square Building Kit
- This building kit includes 35 two-dimensional plastic pieces that can be used to create three-dimensional designs. Explore architectural principles - proportion, color, balance and structure - with sloted squares that interlock. Construct buildings, space rockets, or abstract sculptures.
- - Made of durable, heavy duty food grade plastic
- 35, three-inch interlocking squares with each set
- Package dimensions: 3.5" square
- Ages 3 and up
- Item #: FA0301


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The Value of Truth (4 of 7) by Stan Coffey
This content is part of a series.The Value of Truth (4 of 7)
Series: Restoring Lost Values
Stan Coffey
1 John 4:1-6
We've been talking about values. Today I want to talk about the value of truth.
I was reading an article in this week's Amarillo Globe News that talked about how Americans no longer value the truth. They were talking about an entertainer who went on the Jay Leno program and this particular young lady made up a story that wasn't true, yet she went on that program and told it for truth. When a lot of people found out it wasn't true that it was just for entertainment, they were really upset and confused and she said, "Well, after all, it's just entertainment."
That's just an example about how Americans today are so careless about truth.
The Bible warns us in this passage about discerning from truth and from error. Probably, more than any other time in Christian history, God's people need to know how to discern what it truth.
I John 4:1-6 (1)"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2)Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3)And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (4)Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."(5)They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6)We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."
The Bible tells us that there are two great invisible spiritual forces at work. There is the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. The scripture writes to tell us that we must test the spirits to see whet ...
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Sale Agreed
Superb 3 bedroom semi-detached residence with integrated garage in excellent condition throughout. Popular much sought after location on the outskirts of the town with easy access to the N2 and all amenities. Offering wonderful value for money with many additional features and extras.
Features: Hardwood front door, UPVC double glazed windows and doors, window blinds, maintenance free exterior, OFCH, satellite t.v, low maintenance exterior, integrated garage, 120m².
Accommodation: Entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen / dining room, utility, guest w.c., landing, bathroom, 3 bedrooms (master en-suite), integrated garage.
DIRECTIONS: Take R181 out of town centre for 1km. Turn left just after Broomfield Construction. Property is 0.25 km on the left.
24 O'Neill Street, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan,
Tel: 042 966 3344
PSRA Licence No. 002252


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Her name held an important space in his heart. Her beautiful smile never fails to keep him breathless each time.
Taichi let out a rough sigh. He already knows his best friend would never look at him the same way he does with her but he can't help thinking about her everytime.
He looked out into the city from the window of the train and pictured her smiling face. He closed his eyes and tried to bring back her harmonious voice and her soothing laugh in his head. It always calmed him down and gave him that strangely good feeling inside.
When he opened his eyes, he looked around the deserted, solitary carriage.
Chihaya…He thought… I need you.
He wanted to see her now and he wasn't going to be patient about it. He decided that he'll stop in the next station and run to her house. He wanted to let Chihaya know everything about his feelings. She had a strong grip of Taichi's heart in her hand which made it hard for him to easily brush it off and forget about his love for her and he didn't wanna live another day keeping his feelings for her any longer.
Afraid of being rejected and afraid that he might lose her, he had always locked his true feelings for her ever since childhood.
When he got off from the train, he held his schoolbag tightly and ran as fast as he could, heading towards the exit and into the familiar street of Chihaya's neighbourhood.
The wind brushed his brown messy hair. The coolness of the breeze stroked his face as he hurriedly ran to his sweet destination.
He was so excited and nervous, he couldn't wait any longer. He must see her. He must tell her everything.
He saw the Ayase's residence and his heart beated faster. He didn't know if it was from the running or if it was the excitement building up inside him. He ran to the front of Chihaya's house, ready for the next best thing.
Beep, beep. His phone notified a text. He grabbed his cellphone from his pocket and read the text.
His running came to a stop.
It was from his girlfriend. All of a sudden, all the excitement built inside him came crashing down. He then felt guilt, confusion and nervousness, in a bad way.
The text read: "Taichi-kun, I'll be waiting outside the station tomorrow. Please don't forget."
He had forgotten all about his girlfriend. He was so oblivious to everything but Chihaya and the love for her inside him.
What was I thinking? Chihaya wouldn't possibly hear me out.
She'll think it's a joke. It's me…she definitely won't take it seriously.
He gripped the phone tightly in his hand. The screen on his phone appeared blurry to him as the coward side of him slowly took over. All the excitement and life in his eyes disappeared on just a single second.
"Taichi?" a familiar, serene voice broke his thoughts. It had a lovely ring to his ear which was enough to quicken his heartbeat again.
He turned around slowly to meet her mesmerising brown eyes.
The sun setting behind her almost blinded him. He could only see the shadow of a tall girl with her hair being swayed by the wind gently. He shielded his eyes with his hand from the harsh sunset and was able to see the smiling face of the girl he admired ever since they were little.
"Chihaya…" he finally found the words. The word that was more important than any other words.
"I- I…Um..." He stammered as she walked towards him grabbing his hand away from his face.
"Did you come to practise karuta with me?" she asked, blocking the setting sun from his face as she drew her face closer to his with that mischievious smile of hers.
He suddenly remembered the time at her birthday party the karuta club surprised her in the middle of the night. The closeness of their faces, their lips just inches away from each other as he ate the cake from Chihaya's spoon.
He felt embarrassed as the memory vividly created an image in his head.
"Chi-chihaya, um…I just wanted to uh—"he struggled for the words. Where did the words go when he absolutely needed to say something? He didn't want to look deep into her eyes and be sucked in her beauty.
"Wanted to what? Do you need something?" she let go of his hand and backed away from him, looking at him with her arms across her chest, she continued "If you don't need anything, move away from my way so I can go into my own house."
He stood there frozen, unable to move and say a decent word other than her name. He looked at the ground while she looked at him and suddenly noticed something odd about him.
"Taichi, are you ok?" she asked, hitting him with her schoolbag, "Don't be so weird!"
After what seemed like eternity, he finally broke the long pause.
"Chihaya, I need to tell you something…" he started, he moved his gaze to her worried face and gulped, hoping for the best.
Here it goes, he thought to himself.
"I'm in love with you…Chihaya..."
Kay guys, I live in UK so some of the words may be spelled differently than the US :)


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Leon Edward Karole, 73, of Summit, died at the home of a family member in Cedar Grove on Friday, April 13, 2001. Born in Jersey City, he lived in Basking Ridge for many years before moving to Summit 12 years ago. Mr. Karole was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the South Atlantic Theater aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Princeton. After being discharged from the Navy, Mr. Karole attended Seton Hall University in South Orange, where he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration. During his early work years, Mr. Karole attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he received a master's degree in qualitative analysis. He also taught computer related courses at the college level.
Mr. Karole was the senior vice president of management information systems at Singer-Kearfot Engineering in Little Falls, where he had worked for 18 years before retiring in 1987.
In retirement, he enjoyed golfing and handicapping race horses.
Surviving are his wife, Ellen; a son, Steven of Glen Ridge; three daughters, Regina Elberg of Cedar Grove, Jane Newschwander of Kenneth Square, Pa., and Alicia Visotski of Aiken, S.C.; a brother, John Karole of Ridgewood; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial, 7 Summit Ave., Summit, followed by mass in St. Teresa of Avila Church, Summit.
Donations can be made to the Center for Hospice Care, 187 Millburn Ave., Millburn, N.J. 07041, or to St. Peter's Preparatory School Scholarship Fund, 144 Grand St., Jersey City, N.J. 07032.


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text: Bye, Bye Blackbird Bye, Bye Blackbird Big band with vocal - Medium EasyBy Dean Martin. Arranged by Myles Collins. Swing. Full score and set of parts. Published by Lush Life (JL.LL-2190). Usually leaves our warehouse: Within 2 to 3 weeks More info Add to Cart { "catalogRefId":"19214149", "productId":"prod19214149", "quantity":"1" }


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30 Incredible Warmachine Digital Paintings for Privateer Press
Privateer Press, founded in December 2000, is an award-winning role-playing game and miniature wargame production and publishing studio. They produced board games like Warmachine, Hordes or the Iron-Kingdoms. Hundreds of thousands of players all over the world enjoy playing their games.
Warmachine is a fast-paced and aggressive squad-based tactical action game set in the steam-powered fantasy world of the Iron Kingdoms. Players take on the role of elite soldier-sorcerers known as warcasters. Though immensely powerful combatants in their own right, the warcasters' true strength lies in their ability to coordinate and control the mighty warjacks- massive steam-powered combat automatons that thunder across the battlefield wielding powerful weapons and engaging battle in a clash of iron and steel.
An illustrator (Andrea Uderzo) from Italy has drawn a large number of incredible Warmachine painting & illustrations for Privateer Press. Today's post is the collection of these digital paintings for your inspiration.
Warmachine MKII
Goreshade Warmachine
Khador Army
Mercenaries Army
Cygnar Army
Retribution of Skyra
Legion of Everbligt
Minion Metamorphosis
Trollbloods Warmachine
Skorne Metamorphosis
Circle of Orboros
Epic Thagrosh
Epic Lylyth
Epic Doomshaper
Epic Madrak
Summer Rampage
Thorn Warmachine
Epic Madrak
Pirates Cover Warmachine
Mysterious Passenger and Holt
Margan Vain


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Opticon OPH Charging Cradle CRD1006-01
Quantity in Cart:Click Add To Cart to Order
Shipping Weight:1.00 lbs.
Opticon OPH Charging Cradle CRD1006-01 CRD1006-01
Opticon Barcode Scanner OPH Cradle (RS232/USB, Includes Power Supply)
Condition: Brand new with original manufacturer warranty. Most items in stock.When ordering this item, use this part number: CRD1006-01