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With InstaRead Summaries, you can get the essence of a book in 30 minutes or less. We read every chapter and summarize it in one or two paragraphs so you can get the information contained in the book at a faster rate. This is an InstaRead Summary of The Hard Thing about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. Below is a preview of the earlier sections of the summary: Introduction - Ben explains that every time he reads a self-help or management book, he thinks about the fact that it didn't really address the hard things like laying people off or having good people start demanding unreasonable things. The problem with self-help books is that they try to provide a recipe for dealing with difficult, dynamic situations. Challenging situations cannot be solved with a formula. Instead of using a formula in this book, the author presents his story as he progressed from an entrepreneur to CEO to venture capitalist. He shares some of the lessons he has learned along the way. He explains that although circumstances may differ, patterns and lessons resonate with each experience. For the last several years, he has shared lessons learned on his popular blog. Many people have emailed him to ask about the stories behind the lessons. Ben shares that he has been inspired along the way by many family members, friends, and advisers who have helped him. Hip-hop/rap music has also inspired him because these artists aspire to be both great and successful. He also admires that rappers see themselves as entrepreneurs.
©2014 Instaread Summaries (P)2014 Instaread Summaries
"good summary"
succinct summary. gives points to remember and some insight into the style of the full read
"Better to listen to the full version. "
Better to listen to the full version. The summary is not enough and does not bring the essence. Ben's experience is the beauty of the book which does not come through the summary
"great summary"
I'd recommend it to anybody going into the software or technology the right and adequate choices
"not very useful"
Most of these summaries are poorly done and feel like they were outsourced to subminimum wage minimum competence people. Most are not good summaries.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Your website is the window that opens your business to the world. If you need to make your business known to the world, then the best thing to do is to design a website. If the design is done properly, it is a question of time before your business gets known to the world and you will get more patronage like never before.
The world is lived online today. Many more people come online for one reason or the other. In actual fact, more than 80% of those who buy things around the world first visit the internet before they go out to make their purchases. If you reside in Tampa, Florida, you can choose any of the web design tampa service providers to help build a website for your online business.
Web design is not rocket science. It is something really simple and anyone can learn it. However, you do not need to design it by yourself if you do not have the skill or you do not have the time; you can contact any of the tampa website design service providers out there to set the ball rolling.
They will help put up a wonderful website that will transform your business like none other. You can learn about web designing in many outlets today. Gone are the days when it will take forever before you can grasp how a website can be designed. But these days, things have been simplified.
There are so many course materials that you can work with out there. Many of them will give you step by step guidance on how to design a website. They will also present video recordings of how it can be done effortlessly. Materials that do not come with video descriptions of web deigning will have pictures of how it can be done.
Just look around for such materials and set the ball rolling without delay. With the help of website design tampa service providers, you can learn better and faster how to design websites and set up an online business.
Many of the tampa bay web design outlets are ready to teach you how to design website without charging you too high. They are more interested in imparting knowledge than in making money out of you. Many of them are located in your neighborhood in Tampa, Florida and you can link up with them today if you so desire. They will give you value on every dime you spend.


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241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
About the Listing
This immaculately cared for home is 'move in ready'! Newer flooring and carpeting, updated attic insulation. Very nicely landscaped yard and outdoor patio area to enjoy and relax. Nice quiet and friendly neighborhood.
Share Listing
Property Details for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 1 Three-Qtr
Lot Size: 0.23 Acres
Lot Dimensions: 80x125
Year Built: 1960
Garage Dimensions: 1 car
Garage: Attached Garage, Driveway - Asphalt
Style: (SF) One Story
Water: City Water/Connected
Sewer: City Sewer/Connected
Square Feet: 1916
Above Ground Sq Ft: 1154
Below Ground Sq Ft: 762 (approx)
Room Information for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
Main Floor
Living Room: 13x19
Dining Room: 9x10
Kitchen: 10x10
Bedroom 1: 11x13
Bedroom 2: 9x10
Bedroom 3: 11x14
Lower Floor
Family Room: 13x24
Bedroom 4: 12x13
Hobby Room: 9x13
Dining Room Description: Informal Dining Room, Eat In Kitchen, Kitchen/Dining Room, Living/Dining Room
Family Room Characteristics: Lower Level
School Information for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
School District: Amery
School District Phone: 715-268-0272
Interior Features for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
Appliances: Range, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Washer, Dryer
Air Cond: Central
Heating: Forced Air
Fireplaces: Yes
Basement: (762 sq Finished) Full, Finished (Livable), Partial Finished, Drainage System, Concrete Block
Exterior Features for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
Lot Description: Tree Coverage - Light, No T.C. Metro Phone
Lot Dimensions: 80x125
Roof: Asphalt Shingles, Pitched
Zoning: Residential-Single
Financial Considerations for 241 Montgomery Street, Amery, WI 54001
Tax Amount: $2,838
Taxes w/Assessments: $2,838
Tax/Property ID: 201007390000
Tax Year: 2016
Monthly Payment = $0
INRIX Drive Time
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The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than the owner of this website are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.


text: self-driving cars Driverless Cars May Arrive Sooner Than You Think By Kate Lochte • Apr 9, 2014 Steve Jurvetson, Wikimedia Commons Car manufacturers are working towards providing cars with enough sensory capacity that they will drive while you read, sleep, or watch a movie. The reality of these cars may not be so far off. On Sounds Good, Kate Lochte speaks with freelance tech and science reporter Ucilia Wang, a UC Berkeley graduate, whose work appears in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the UK Guardian. The Morning Cram [the look Ma, no hands! edition] By Whitney Jones • Oct 3, 2012 Wikimedia Commons From NPR: Californian Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that clears a path for self-driving cars to become street legal, but obstacles still remain for the robotic vehicles.


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What is a T3 Test?
A T3 Test is a lab test that measures the T3 level. People in Ridgecrest, CA order the T3 Test for general screening or when tracking their levels.
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50 Awesome Open Source Apps You've Never Heard Of
Experts estimate that the number of open source apps available doubles every fourteen months. Sourceforge alone has more than 260,000 projects, and with so many open source apps now available from so many different repositories, it can be hard to keep up.
For this list, we've highlighted some newer open source tools you might have missed. We also included some gems from obscure categories, like Mandelbulbs, gene sequencing, and knitting, to name just a few. Other open source tools on the list are good projects that are overshadowed by older, better-known projects, and at least one is an old favorite that has a new name.
We hope you enjoy our list of open source apps you've (probably) never heard of. And if you've heard of some awesome apps that we haven't, feel free to offer suggestions in the comments section below.
1. Turnkey Linux
First launched in 2008, Turnkey provides pre-configured virtual appliances based on open source applications. Their most recent offering is a backup and migration appliance, and they also offer LAMP stack, Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, File server, Ruby on Rails, and dozens of other appliances. Operating System: Linux.
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Interview: Tom Araya of Slayer
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:35:38
Slayer Photos
Slayer Videos
Slayer are an eternal source of musical mayhem.
They've injected their classic vitriol into this summer's installment of The Rock Star Mayhem Festival, giving some girth, gusto and authority to the package tour. Playing for an hour right before Marilyn Manson, Slayer have been simply immolating and impressing crowds across the United States all summer. The tour hasn't wound down yet either, and there's no rest for the wicked.
Slayer singer/bassist Tom Araya took some time in between making mayhem to talk to ARTISTdirect.com about Slayer's forthcoming epic World Painted Blood, their current tour, serial killers and the real witching hour…
You've done OZZfest, Tattoo the Earth and Extreme Steel. What separates Mayhem?
Easy—there isn't another summer tour going on right now [Laughs]. That's what separates it from the other ones. It's the only one left. How can I compare it?
Has your experience been different on this tour from those other packages?
Yeah, this one has actually been a really good experience. There's a good chance it's because of the people we've got working with us in our own little circle. OZZfest was organized. Mayhem is really well organized. The organizers put together a really strong metal bill. They purposefully and intentionally wanted to get the audience that they got, which is a huge metal audience [Laughs]. The second stage has really good up-and-coming bands that kids want to see. Some of the OZZfests didn't have a conglomerate of bands in a certain style of music. They tried to get a variety. In some cases it worked and in some cases it didn't. OZZfest started off as a great idea, but it kind of lost its momentum. This tour is just a gathering of metal bands.
Mayhem is very decidedly metal.
That's what I was getting at. This tour is very focused! It's like a focus group [Laughs]. It's doing really well. The attendance that it's gotten blows my mind. We've been doing capacity crowds up to sell-out crowds, which is really cool.
Would you say Slayer has mastered art of the minimalist stage setup with one or two really cool props? All you needed at Mayhem was the flaming pentagram.
We go on the philosophy of "less is more." With using pyro, we were afraid of where to use it and how much, but it's worked out really well. We don't really need a lot. The music in this band has always done the talking. All the lights and the flames are little extras.
You play a varied setlist too. It includes the classics that people have to hear, but you add in songs like "Jihad."
Looking at the set the other day I felt it was a solid cross section from the very beginning of our career until now. There are a few records missing in between, but there's a very big cross section of songs that we play. We only have an hour to play. We're not very big on trying to pick a different setlist every night. We like to hit you in the face and then leave.
Well, if you didn't play "Angel of Death" and "Raining Blood" there would most likely be a riot.
Oh yeah, I know [Laughs]. That's exactly it. A signature note to our career is a less than two minute song [Laughs].
Slayer fans are so rabid that if they didn't hear those songs they would probably burn the venue down.
We're well aware of that [Laughs].
Keeping the setlist constant is a safety precaution.
Yeah, we make sure that certain songs are played. As far as adding new songs every night, we'd rather focus on the staple songs. The better we get at them, the tighter and faster the set gets. It makes for an exciting show.
Speaking of speed, new songs "Psychopathy Red" and "Hate Worldwide" maintain Slayer's traditional speed and intensity.
Everybody is going to love the new album. It's awesome. It's very classic Slayer. It's everything you want to hear in a Slayer album. You won't be disappointed, let's put it that way.
Does World Painted Blood continue Slayer's storytelling tradition?
It does [Laughs]. The title track is actually really cool. It's the one song that I can't wait for everybody to hear. There are a few tracks on there I can't wait for the world to experience, but the title track is just big [Laughs].
What was the genesis of it?
Shit, it fell together like a lot of the songs did on this album. We had the music, and then we started working out the parts. Jeff brought in words, and he kept bringing in words. I offered some words and lyric ideas. There are a lot of dynamics in the song. I think everyone is going to enjoy it. It's a very big song. That's all I've got to say [Laughs].
What's the story behind "Psychopathy Red?"
We recorded that one last year in October with two other songs. That was the song that initiated the idea of staying in the studio and recording as opposed to doing a tour in January and February. "Psychopathy Red" was the first one we recorded, and it just fell together. Boom, it was done! We had it done in less than a week. We figured that we should just work on a whole album. The bulk of material came out when we were in the studio while we were recording, which is new for us.
Was "Psychopathy Red" the album's catalyst?
Yeah, that one sparked it. That's about a Russian serial killer named Andrei Chikatilo. He came out in the '80s around the same time that Jeffrey Dahmer and an Englishman by the name of Dennis Nilsen were doing what they were doing—you know what I mean? Dahmer and Nilsen were doing the homophobic thing, and this Russian guy was doing the little kid thing. All three were killing and eating their victims. We came out with a seven-inch vinyl for "Psychopathy Red." All of the record and song information is in Russian. It's pretty cool.
Are there other serial killers on World Painted Blood?
Actually, there's just one. The other songs are written in the first person—in the eye. They're not particularly about a person or a specific serial killer.
Would you ever want to take these characters and write a book or movie to accompany the music?
I haven't really thought of that [Laughs]. We've had friends suggest ideas and stuff like that though.
Do you watch a lot of movies while you're writing?
It depends on the movie. Sometimes if I'm writing on a subject and I happen to watch a movie that deals with that subject, things will spark. I'll write scenes of what I see and try to describe them the best way I can. Books do that too. Jeff wrote about Unit 731, which was a Japanese military medical unit that did experiments on people to judge different things. A subject like the philosophy and the theory behind frost bite will inspire me—different ways to survive frost bite. You look these up on the Internet. You want to read up on it and make sure that what you're singing about is what you're trying to convey. You have to do a little reading [Laughs].
It always seems like Slayer records require some research.
Oh yeah! It's good research because I'm learning! In the middle of all that I'm learning. You're teaching the fans something too [Laughs]. They'll go, "Wow, what's that?" Then they'll research the true story and all of the disgusting details.
Slayer has created its own myth. Kids can still pick up Hell Awaits or Reign In Blood, delve into them and ask questions.
There are definitely stories behind a lot of our songs.
That's probably why you have such devout and crazy fans.
[Laughs] I don't know! That isn't why we have crazy fans. When we put out our first record, Show No Mercy, on Metal Blade, it tripped the label out because we had sold so many records. We sold something like 16,000 copies, which blew their minds. They immediately wanted another record, so we did the Haunting the Chapel EP. We didn't have quite an album but we had an EP. To me, it was surprising when we had such a strong response to the first album. It blew my mind. Right out of the gate, we sold quite a bit. I guess at the time it was unheard of for Metal Blade because they immediately wanted another record. They got the EP, and then we gave them Hell Awaits. It was the same thing with Reign In Blood. Right away it sold a lot of records, and the response we got was really surprising.
Being a father, do you need to get into "Slayer Mode" before you go on stage or in the studio?
That's something I've always done. My life hasn't changed at all since I had kids. Before we go on stage, we have a one-hour stage call. That one-hour is when I start trying to get my mind set and get focused. I'm not really amping myself, but I go through everything. I hope I don't forget words. In that hour, I prep. Jeff and Kerry warm up their fiddle playing then. They stretch. They headbang while they're practicing. We give ourselves that hour. It's the time we use to psych up and get ready for the show.
So it's the witching hour?
Exactly, that's the witching hour [Laughs].
—Rick Florino


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Memory Mysteries and Improvement Techniques
Memory improvement and thinking techniques are critical no matter your age. Everyone wants the ability to store, retain and recall information quickly and easily. Whether you are a teenager studying for the SATs or an elderly person trying to share your childhood memories with your grandchildren, memory is important. And when we feel that our memory is failing, we often get stressed or upset. However, don't be discouraged. There are ways to keep yourself and your brain in tip-top shape. This is where memory improvement and thinking techniques, along with memory software, come into play.
Memory Improvement and Thinking Techniques
A variety of memory improvement and thinking techniques are well known to help keep your mental abilities sharp. We all know the basics: eat a healthy diet, exercise more, sleep more, maintain healthy relationships, smile, and keep your stress in check. But in addition to these basics, there are some specific memory improvement and thinking techniques that can be used. For example, using associations, visualizations, or acronyms may be helpful. Repeating information that you have learned throughout the day may help too, or breaking down the information to be memorized into smaller pieces. One way to remember things is to use as many senses as possible to create links and ties to information. And, of course, you need to pay attention and listen; a focused attention is the first step to a good memory.
Memory Software
In addition to the many memory improvement and thinking techniques listed above, memory software may be very helpful. If you're uneasy because you're starting to have difficulty remembering things, take comfort in the fact there are ways to sharpen and continue to improve your memory. Exercising your brain, whether through specific memory improvement and thinking techniques or memory software, is a definite must to keep up your quality of life.
About the author
ABDERISAK ADAM is an author, blog writer and a PhD candidate in the institution of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology. He is also the owner and webmaster of www.study-habits.com, a website dedicated to the discussion of study techniques in the context of higher education. Adam is the author of a number of publications including 'The Study Guide PRO'. You can connect with him through Google+, Linkedin or by submitting a form.


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|650 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|2 nights
Beautiful view from this spacious studio located above our detached garage near the Ferry Terminal. Studio room is furnished with Murphy queen size bed, sofa and love seat, small round table and chairs, small closet, refrigerator, microwave, and kuerig coffeemaker. Three-quarter bathroom with shower. Fresh clean towels and hair dryer provided. Flat screen TV and WiFi included. Located less than a 3/4 mile from the ferry terminal, 13mi from downtown, and 6mi from airport. Enjoy a short walk down to the beach where you can watch the porpoises, humpback whales, eagles, herons, plus more. Nearby (approx 2.5mi) are restaurants, bar, gas station, convenience store, and Auke Bay harbor where you can rent kayaks.
We have lived in Juneau for over 50 years (my husband moved here in the late 1960's and I was born and raised here). We very much enjoy being with our family and friends in this beautiful town and community.
Tom and Nelda purchased this studio in 2006
We purchased this property in 1998, and we added the detached garage and studio in 2006. This location (Auke Bay) is one of the beautiful areas that receives less precipitation than other places in Juneau. Our place is clean and our neighbors are friendly. Beautiful view from the studio where you can watch the eagles and herons soar above the cove or perched up in a tree. You may see an occasional black bear hanging out in the cove too.
This is an ideal location where you can enjoy short walks, hiking trails, biking, or you can take a day trip on the Ferry to Haines or Skagway.
A good location for being able to travel to downtown Juneau and also to travel out the road to many trails and beaches and awesome sites.
We stayed 9 nights, and it was very comfortable and roomy and warm and clean. Tom and Nelda thought of everything that we would need for a comfortable stay.
Tom and Nelda provided a lot of information about things to do and see in Juneau and the surrounding area. They also gave good recommendations on favorite places to eat.
View out the windows overlooking the ocean was great.
It was a very quite place to stay.
We do not think we could have found a more perfect place to stay.
Excellent property just up the street from the ferry terminal. Away from the noise of downtown and all the cruise ship tourism, but not too far to drive into Juneau when wanted. Close to beaches, Mendenhall, and a Safeway for necessities. Hosts are very welcoming and the property is top notch. Anything and everything is available to you when you stay. We did not want to leave. Can we move in? 😉
This loft was exactly the "homeaway" that we were looking for! The decor was warm and inviting, the furniture was comfortable, and Tom and Nelda were quite helpful and accommodating. The home is in walking distance to several wonderful hiking trails and beach recreation areas and about 2 miles to the bus stop and a GREAT waffle place. I would recommend having a rental car for your stay because Juneau covers a very large area and offers a lot to see and do, however if you enjoy walking and don't mind utilizing public transportation then you can fair just fine. Tom and Nelda have generated a portfolio of the various hikes and activities that Juneau has to offer as well as recommendations for places to eat and helpful tools to assist in getting around town during your stay. They also offer complimentary coffee (locally roasted) as well as delicious local jam and a variety of in room entertainment options should you decide to stay in for a day. To be completely honest though, get out there and see everything you can. Juneau has a tremendous amount to offer for site seeing and Tom and Nelda give you all of the tools necessary to seize this opportunity. I highly recommend their guest home. They capture the local charm and you feel immersed in it the moment you cross the threshold. They are lovely people and the area is absolutely breathtaking, so get out there!
We stayed with Tom & Nelda in 2015 and had a such a good experience that when the opportunity to come back to Juneau presented itself I didn't look anywhere else! They are great hosts who were quick to answer email and text questions.
Accommodation is a very large, modern studio apartment with lovely views from all windows. Lots of extra sitting areas, cozy TV area, bed is very comfortable with lots of extra bedding available. Private bathroom has plenty of towels. Studio is located at Auke Bay about 20 minutes from downtown Juneau which was perfect - no cruise ship traffic! Location is suited for brisk morning walks along Auke Bay.
We had a wonderful time in Juneau and having wonderful accommodations made it all the better. Tom and Nelda are great hosts and provided the little things that make trips memorable.
Very helpful couple from sightseeing tips, where to eat. Heating was great and we did not hear another voice during our three nights unless we went looking for Tomand Nelda. Location was one minute to or from the ferry which is very handy as the Alaska State Ferry wants cars to check in two hours early. Kitchen was well supplied too. Thanks for making our stay so nice. Richard and Gerrie, Irvine , California.
|Rental Period
|Minimum Price
|Additional Nights
|Weekend Night
|Monthly *
|Event Price
My Standard Rate
1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
2 night minimum stay
for 2 nights
My Standard Rate
2 night minimum stay
for 2 nights
|Cleaning Fee
|Refundable Damage Deposit
|Tax Rate
* Approximate monthly price. Actual pricing will depend on the days of the month you stay.


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- This event has passed.
Shrewsbury: Friends of the Library Summer Bandstand Concert
July 19, 2012Free
Event Navigation
Blackstone Valley Bluegrass will perform from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the town bandstand in Shrewsbury. Bring your families, dinners, blankets, and lawn chairs for a fun evening on the common. The free concert is sponsored by the Friends of the Shrewsbury Public Library. Rain location is Shrewsbury Senior Center, 98 Maple Ave.


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You have noticed "click fraud" on your AdWords account which is costing you money. Through some investigation you were able to find a list of IP addresses responsible for this click fraud. Filter these IP addresses from your AdWords account.
You can only filter IP address on a campaign level. Go into each campaign that you would like to exlcude IP addresses for, and remove them following these steps.


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Stolen Transmission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|Stolen Transmission
|Alternative rock, Electronica, Indie
|Country of origin
|United States
|Official website
Stolen Transmission was an American independent record label founded in 2005 by Sarah Lewitinn and Rob Stevenson. They have released albums from well-known artists such as Innerpartysystem, Monty Are I, and Schoolyard Heroes.
The label started in 2005 by former Spin editor, Sarah Lewitinn, who quit the magazine to create the label, and Rob Stevenson, a music executive for Island Def Jam. It began as an imprint of Island Def Jam.
In late 2007, Stolen Transmission parted ways with Island Def Jam due to the reconstruction of it, and Stolen Transmission is currently running completely independent.[1]
- The Audition[2]
- Bright Light Fever
- The Horrors
- Innerpartysystem
- Monty Are I
- The Oohlas
- Permanent Me
- The Photo Atlas
- Schoolyard Heroes


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The Japanese are famoulsy green-fingered in their own right - the gardens of imperial Kyoto and ancient Nara are admired and replicated around the world - but this year Tokyo's Okura Hotel has invited key representatives from 10 nations to display their own horticultural heritages in the 11th Annual World Gardening Fair.
The ambassador of Jamaica, Miss Claudia Barners, has designed a garden that will be displayed from early May in the hotel's Heian Room alongside creations by the wives of nine other ambassadors to Tokyo.
Designs that capture the diverse gardening culture of the Philippines, Morocco, Greece, the United States and Jordan, all of which have taken part in previous exhibitions, will this year be joined by landscapes drawn up by the wives of ambassadors from Cambodia, Norway, Samoa and Bulgaria.
"The event is held each year to provide guests with opportunities to come into contact with different cultures and to enable them to enjoy a variety of flora from five continents that they would otherwise have little chance of experiencing for themselves," Shoko Amano, a spokeswoman for the Hotel Okura, told Relaxnews.
Last year's display included a fairytale recreation of the forest of Hansel and Gretel by the German ambassador's wife, including a log cabin with walls made of biscuits, candy and pretzels.
A series of other events will run in conjunction with the gardening fair, including a Festival of Cuisine presenting the most famous dishes from the 10 participating nations, an exhibition of National Geographic photographs and a display of botanical art.
The event will be opened by her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and all proceeds are to go to the Save the Children charity.
Dates: May 1- May 5
Times: 10 AM to 8 PM but until 5:30 PM on the final day. Gardens to be illuminated from 5:30 PM.
Prices: Y1,000 (€8.14) in advance for adults and Y700 (€5.70) for children; Y1,500 (€12.20) at the door for adults and Y800 (€6.50) for children.
Venue: The Hotel Okura, 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001
Further information: +81 3 3224 6731
JRReuse content


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You are here
This Constitution Day, Stand Up for the Right to Vote
This election season, the right to vote is under siege.
Conservatives throughout the country, led by the tea party, are changing election rules to disenfranchise ordinary Americans – passing restrictive voter ID laws, shortening early voting hours, and making it more difficult to register to vote.
Tell your state's top election official to stand by the Constitution on its 225th anniversary and make sure that all eligible voters in your state can cast a vote this fall.
Contact your state's top election official…
Vermont's Secretary of State Jim Condos showed us all what responsive civil service looks like with a quick reply to the emails he has received on voting rights from Constitutional Progressives in his state. In his reply, Secretary Condos reaffirmed his commitment to stand strong against efforts to restrict the vote in Vermont.
For the Secretary's full take, please check out this op-ed, which he wrote earlier in the year for the Huffington Post. There, he argues, quite persuasively, that "[d]enying eligible voters the ability to use their constitutionally protected right to participate is the real voter fraud."
Thanks to Secretary Condos for his email and for his continued commitment to ensuring that all eligible voters in Vermont can cast a vote this fall.


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ED Magedson – Founder
Ripoff Report
A.h.m.s.i. - American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc.p.o.box619063 dallas,tx 75261-0963 Internet United States of America
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text:
It took me awhile to get around to it, but I have
permission to post some photos of seedlings at Mid-
America. Wasn't bright enough to get the parentage at the
same time, but I am gaining sympathy for the amount of work
these guys have to do to get those wonderful irises out to
all of us each year. So maybe I'll get around to asking in
Robin Shadlow
zone 5 NE
where I can't resist trying some frozen pollen on 'Rosalie
Figge' You'd think I'd know when to quit (yeah right)
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text:
Stop Go Where to Go?
On January 22, 2006 by Donncha With 5 Comments - Abstract, Cork, Ireland, Lights, Long Exposure, Night, Photos, Urban
Rush-hour traffic in Cork is as bad as in any other city. I went the other way and took the back road to Blarney.
5 Comments
January 22, 2006
Theres so much going on in this shot. I love it. Thanks for the tips btw. I'll have to get out & take some more using the advice you gave me. 🙂
January 22, 2006
absurd! 😉
January 23, 2006
Pretty chaotic scene. I like all the traffic lights. Is the red light on?
January 23, 2006
I think there are too many people having too many cars 🙂 Did you walk home?
February 15, 2006
very nice !!!!


text:
Brand Label: La Hearts
ITEM MOVED TO ARCHIVE: On August 29, 2016 3:47 pm, Fashion Stylist Online noted this item may be out of stock at Pacific Sunwear of California Inc because it was not referenced in their latest online catalog. If this item is out of stock at Pacific Sunwear of California Inc, you may be able to find similar fashions sold there or elsewhere on our La Hearts Designer Brand Directory.
Available for Purchase Online at Pacific Sunwear of California Inc for $24.95Pin It
A thermal knit tank top is enhanced by classic tie-dye in this LA Hearts piece. Plus, it's finished with a deep scoop neckline and cropped cut for a modern, feminine appeal. Style this cropped tank top with joggers or girlfriend jeans for laid-back style. Scoop neck Mauve wash has a distressed graphic on front Cropped cut Soft, thermal knit Model is wearing a small Model's measurements: Height: 5'9" Bust: 32" Waist: 24" Hips: 35" 95% modal, 5% spandex Machine washable Imported.
Shop other brand label items from La Hearts on FashionStylist.com.
This item was published for sale online by Pacific Sunwear of California Inc on August 29, 2016 3:39 pm and last updated by us August 29, 2016 3:47 pm.
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New promo codes and links offering limited time promotions, sales coupons, and special offers on La Hearts designer fashions and accessories will be posted on each designer label apparel page. For the latest up to date information on this La Hearts Tie Dye Thermal Cropped Tank Top | Clothing fashion item, including product specifications, ordering options, pricing, shipping details, high resolution pictures, shopper comments, and other sales media, visit the Pacific Sunwear of California Inc Online Store.


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Bragger S1
37,289pages onAdd New Page
this wiki
this wiki
Bragger S1 was a large golden woodsman Mechanical Beast created by Dr. Hell.
Bragger S1 was sent out by Baron Ashura alongside Zaurus F1 to try to locate and destroy Mazinger Z. They both start to cause caos around the mountains drawing Mazinger and Aphrodite A out to fight, Buragga tried cutting into Aphrodite A several times with his axe and lasers but was shot in the back and destroyed by Mazinger's missiles. Mazinger then battled with Zaurus and after decapitating the mechnical beast he is attacked by Demonger J5, after destroying Demonger the destruction that had been caused opend a large crack in the ground which acidentaly awoke the she demon Sirene.


text:
My brain was flooded with too much emotion; confusion, rage, pain, worry, sorrow. I need to get a grip on myself. I just can't. Fear and desperate anger make my blood sting.
"Emily?" I say into the silence.
I felt Leah nod in my arms. "She's not talking to anyone at the moment... she would never in a million years talk to you of all people right now. But do you want to see her?"
I didn't really know if I wanted to. But I needed to. I didn't want to see the wreck she was, but I needed to help. I needed to hold her and tell her everything would be alright. Make her feel happy, like when Sam was still alive.
I nod. Hoping I didn't regret it.
Emily is stood like a ghost in the doorway. I force myself not to gasp.
Emily. If Sam was here she would be smilling sending a pinkness to her soft cheeks, she would be wearing make-up and there wouldn't be a hair out of place. She'd be laughing, cooking, joking.
But Sam wasn't here anymore. So Emily's face showed mascara smudges around her puffy eyes, obvious that she had been cryin recently. No smile on her face, no pinkness in her cheeks, she was one colour – pale. Pale meant hurt. Pale meant worry. Pale meant fear. Her hair was unbrushed, her scars across her face were inflamed, like they had just happened, and her house smelt like she hadn't cooked for days.
She doesn't smile or laugh when she sees me. She bursts into tears and slams the door closed.
I knock again, light this time. "Emily?" I say softly.
I could hear her heart-broken sobs through the wood of the door. "Go away." She says harshly, so unlike her.
"Emily? Please?" I ask, tears forming in my eyes. "Can I come in?"
"Go away Jacob. Just go away." She wails.
Leah puts her hand on my upper arm and tries to drag me away. No chance. I stand my ground.
"Please Jacob… just go." She sobs.
"Why? Emily, I have to talk to you."
She's silent for a long moment. "No. Go away."
"Emily… please."
There's a loud bang on the door. "No!" She screams. "I can see him on your face! In your eyes! I have to be reminded of him everytime I look in the mirror, I don't need your help! I can manage fine on my own! I'm trying to forget!"
"No Em… don't forget. Don't ever, ever forget him." I whisper.
"I have to." She murmers.
I shake my head. "No you don't. He wouldn't want you to forget him. He wouldn't want you to be sad, or angry. He would want you to be happy, and joyful of the precious moments you spent together."
"Jacob…" Leah says, tugging gently on my arm. I turn and glare at her, her arm drops.
I hear a sniff. "Jacob… I am beggin you. Please go away."
I was getting through to her. "I miss him too Em. He was like a brother to me. I can't imagine how it feels to loose someone like that, but I know how I feel. We're sharing the same pain here.I don't want to know how you feel, and neither does Sam. He wouldn't want you to feel like this. He's gone, I know. But that doesn't mean he isn't in your heart… like there should be. Like he is in mine." I blink back my tears. "Please Em. Open the door."
Silence. Shuffling. The door opens.


text:
Help meMature
"Alyssa, will you help me clear up the balloons?" Mikail asked me, smiling; I nodded, slightly nervous that it would be just us two clearing up. I went over to where the hoops were and bent over, starting to pick the ones by my feet. "Hey," I heard him say from standing behind me.
I turned and smiled at him, "Hey." I replied, not quite sure what I what I had to say for myself, and it was obvious he had something to say.
"When did you first have sex?" His straight-to-the-point question stunned me into silence for a second or so, until I snapped back into my right mind;
"About 6 months ago. March." I said. It was. A week or so before Jack's 16th birthday. We decided we were both ready - although, unbelievably, I had been ready before him. He said nothing, only nodded, and picked up a few more balloons.
"I want you." He stated. The bluntness didn't shock me as much this time, but the statement itself, and how he said it so casually as if anyone could. I turned towards him again, finding that he was already looking at me. "But I don't just want you in.. there," He continued when I didn't reply, "I want you in a bed too. Yes?"
The question at the end of that seemed out of place, so I assumed it meant 'do you think you'd like that?'. So I replied with an honest; "Yes."
"Do you want me too?"
"Will you meet me again? At six?" He asked. The balloons filled one of our fists each, and there were no significant bits left on the ground. I nodded, but failed to reply verbally as I heard my Dad call me. He was walking up the path with James skipping a few paces ahead of him. Without looking back; I took the ice cream pot I left by the bench, and my handful of balloon bits, and made my way over to the bin on the way back to the beds. "Did you understand?" I heard Mikail call after me. I nodded again and turned back to walk away, viciously casting the shreds of rubber into the bin.
The remainder of that afternoon consisted of me going over my thoughts. My thirst got the better of my need for relaxation; and so I decided to get a drink from the bar. Standing up, I saw that a giant connect-4 was being played right in the pathway that was the quickest way. I slipped on my shoes and walked around in the opposite direction.
Mikail was constantly kept in my peripheral vision as my head remained fixed forward, held high. I decided to get the drink that was bright red, some mix of pineapple/apple/other fruity juices with some red food colouring of some sort in it. I will say that it was the type of drink that had its place in my heaven. I planned to walk the same direction back, but I caught his eye, and I caught him staring. I took a deep breath, and walked towards him.
I deliberately walked with a little more bounce, and reached up a hand to ruffle the back of my hair as I approached him. "Six o'clock?" He muttered. He had caught me unexpectedly by actually speaking. Making a quick recovery, I raised one side of my lips into a half smile, and lowered my eyes, before returning them to look deep into his.
"Maybe." I grinned, and continued to walk away.
My flirty, non-committal reply made me feel a little better about myself. Firstly, he was asking for it, which kinda made it seem like he genuinely wanted me, which obviously made me feel good in itself. Secondly, I wasn't showing him that I was gagging for it myself. I suppose I wasn't, I wanted him, but, I wasn't thatdesperate, was I? I certainly didn't want him to think I didn't want it… even though that would be the best thing to feel. My 'maybe' was obviously a 'yes'. I knew it, and he must've known it.
Later, whilst I was sat on the side of the pool, I heard a "Psst." from behind me. I turned my head to see Mikail walking towards me. He bent down beside me and said whispered quietly in my ear, "Am I seeing you at 6? You said maybe."
"Yes, I meant yes." I answered reassuringly, I didn't want him to think I was rejecting him, when that was the opposite of how I wanted to make him feel.
"Okay. Well I'll see you at 6." He started to get up, when a thought came to me;
"Wait," I waited for him to lower back to my level, "I usually go back to my room before 6, I'll meet you afterwards. After dinner."
"Hmm, are you sure?" I nodded. There was no way I could hold that off, they'd know I was waiting around for something, and would be more likely to notice what for. Besides, I needed to get ready, after washing my hair, it needed drying and so forth. "Okay, sexy." He added, and I overly-noticed his hot breath on my neck as he did, spreading goose-bumps over my shoulders.
As I had assumed, at around quarter to 5, we head back up to the room. I took James and a card-key up first with my bag. I found myself anxious to get into the room at get ready more than the other nights, more nervous than excited. My foot was tapping impatiently the whole 20 second lift-trip to the second-to-top floor where our room was.
I almost broke into a jog at the speed I was walking to our door, and missed the first couple of times I attempted to put the car-key in the slot. Once in, I put it in the slot inside that activated the electricity, and stuck the TV on for James to entertain himself while I was showering. I almost emptied the entire conditioner bottle that was supplied – which didn't matter so much as they were replaced during room-service every afternoon. The hair dryer that was in the bathroom had no heat-control, as I had learnt from the nights before; so it was cold to start, and then got painfully hot, thus trying to get it to dry quickly was a huge nuisance. I decided to just leave it and let it curl for once instead.
I left the room with my parents and James with a pair of my short-shorts and a deep blue vest top. I spent the entirety of dinner wrestling with the moral side of my conscience. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go through with this a second time. I still had Jack for a start. The thoughts of the side of him I saw in my dream, although they weren't real events, still seemed to push me towards the idea of seeing Mikail a second time. Who was I kidding? I didn't have enough strength to do what was right against what I wanted.


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text:
Just a matter of hours after he was named as one of the many nobodies to be flown out into the jungle for this year's return of the now mindbogglingly dull, I'm a Celebrity, Joel Dommett has now been caught out in a leaked Skype sex tape.
Now I know what you're wondering. Who the fuck is Joel Dommett and who the fuck watches I'm A Celebrity? Well apparently Joel is a comedian who made an appearance on the depressingly shit British rendition of Impractical Jokers. I'm warning you – don't even watch it just to see how shite it is, it's not even mildly amusing for Christ sake.
As for I'm A Celebrity, well – I don't know who watches it. I also don't know why they can keep calling it I'm A 'Celebrity' when the only celebrities on the show this year are Larry Lamb and Carol Vorderman, reports The Sun.
Join us #RaiseAMug for @macmillancancer #coffeemorning pic.twitter.com/Xy0pWd1H9a
— Joel Dommett (@joeldommett) September 30, 2016
Speaking about the Skype sex tape, apparently the old burden leaked a matter of years ago when strangely, Joel was even less of a nobody than he is now.
The series of gifs which spread like wildfire revealed Joel revealing all as he sits close to laptop wanking his blue veined sausage like there's no tomorrow.
In one of them, the old boy looks like he's in a considerable amount of pain which isn't great.
To be fair to Joel, he opened up about the leakage pretty honestly, telling the BBC that he was tricked into filming himself masturbate by someone who claimed to be a girl who was interested in him.
He added: "I thought for a second, then immediately typed… 'Why not?!'". But it wasn't to be, as the person on the other side of the webcam was recording him.
He said:
I messaged her afterwards. No reply. I messaged her the next day.No reply. I messaged her a week later. No reply.
So it turns out I wasn't having Skype sex at all, instead someone was basically watching me watching porn. Like a perverted Goggle Box.
I'm A Celebrity returns this Sunday at 9pm…


text:
Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (DDIG)DDIG Update:
Please note that only proposals whose focus falls within the scope of (1) the scientific area of the Behavioral Systems Cluster of IOS or (2) any scientific area in the Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) will be eligible.
|DEB Program Officer
|(703) 292-8480
|IOS Program Officer
|(703) 292-8423
Students doing international research, having a formal affiliation with a foreign research institution, may contact the appropriate program in NSF's Office of International and Integrative Activities.
Solicitation 13-568
Important Information for Proposers
A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 17-1), is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 30, 2017. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 17-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.
Full Proposal Deadline Date
October 12, 2017
Second Thursday in October, Annually Thereafter
The National Science Foundation awards Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in selected areas of the biological sciences. Proposals must fall within the scope of any of the clusters in the Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) or the Behavioral Systems Cluster in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). These grants provide partial support of doctoral dissertation research for improvement beyond the already existing project. Allowed are costs for doctoral candidates to participate in scientific meetings, to conduct research in specialized facilities or field settings, and to expand an existing body of dissertation research.
This program provides educational opportunities for Graduate Students . Individuals interested in applying for funding should see the program guidelines above.
What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)


text:
Good product!
Verified Purchase
Good product!
I should mention this product contains pure chitosan. I tried another brand before, also from iherb, but it contains chromium! I couldn't see any results from that brand, but this one works great. Thanks iherb for carrying it!
Good Value
Posted by Reviewer2213538 on Jan 21, 2012 | Verified Purchase
When you compare chitosan products, don't just look at the price and the number of capsules. Look at how much chitosan is in each capsule. You will be amazed at the differences you find.
Good product!
Posted by Reviewer1187801 on Jul 14, 2012 | Verified Purchase
I should mention this product contains pure chitosan. I tried another brand before, also from iherb, but it contains chromium! I couldn't see any results from that brand, but this one works great. Thanks iherb for carrying it!
Fat blocker and fiber filled
Posted by notsteveaustin on Jan 12, 2008 | Verified Purchase
This shellfish derivative is a good source of bulk in its own right but when taken before an overly fatty meal, it works like those expensive products that flush the fat out before it clings to your thighs or belly. I don't use it with every meal, usually just before we go out to eat and I know I will be over-doing it with the rich foods.
Before a fatty meal
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We are VERY healthy eaters but when go out with friends, taking this before a fatty meal REALLY makes a difference.
Shortness of breath
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I have difficulty breathing after taking it!!!!!!!!
Posted by 5323287804233221106 on Sep 06, 2014 | Verified Purchase
If you can afford this one then go the bulk buy. Helped me with the down sizing thing.
Good quality product
Posted by 4669693988845461808 on Oct 23, 2015 | Verified Purchase
I tried different Chitosan on iherb, i think this one is very good because it works as adsorbent and does not give side effects. The only downside is that the minimum serving size is 4 big capsules.
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I have been using this for a little over a week in sync with a portion controled diet. I use it a dinner when I eat a little more than planned. It is very convienient becuase you take it with the meal as opposed to 30 mins prior as with some Chitosan supplements... I lost 2 lbs the first week using it... so far so good...
Posted by Reviewer1772219 on Oct 23, 2010 | Verified Purchase
I haven't noticed a difference at all when taking the chitosan. Didn't really do much as far as fiber either. Disappointed
Posted by Reviewer1364572 on Feb 02, 2012 | Verified Purchase
An excellent product. Recommended seller. Fast shipping.


text:
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The THINK Conference was created by CO-OP Financial Services to put a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by credit unions every day. It's a credit union event for credit union employees, but you won't find the standard conference format or see typical industry speakers. What you will find is innovation and inspiration, leaving you with actionable, take-home insights to help your credit union succeed.
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text:
Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it, runs the warning at the top of a horror story written by W W Jacobs more than a hundred years ago. For decades, the Liberal Democrats wished for an indecisive election that would deliver a hung Parliament in which they held the balance of power, rescuing their MPs from the spectre of eternal irrelevance.
But the grim reality of being a junior partner in a coalition is brought home by today's findings, from a poll of polls, which gives the Liberal Democrats only 11 per cent of the popular vote. It is their worst showing since the acrimonious end of the old Liberal-SDP Alliance 20 years ago. If there were a general election today, on these figures, the number of Lib Dem MPs would fall precipitously – from 57 to a mere 15.
At the same time, David Cameron is feeling the heat from the Conservative right, who accuse him of selling out too many of the party's core principles for the sake of holding the Coalition together. This creates the odd situation in the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency, where the Conservative Party machine claims to be running a full-scale by-election campaign while their leader silently prays that the Tory candidate does not do well enough to humiliate the Lib Dems by pushing them into third place.
There are many pitfalls to coalitions, but that does not mean that we ask or expect that this coalition will be the last. Coalitions work well in other democracies, and in the UK we are going to have to learn to live with them. As a report this week from the Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank pointed out, there were 85 seats in the UK Parliament which neither the Conservatives nor Labour won in last year's election. This increasing tendency by voters to opt for one of the smaller parties suggests that we are in for a sequence of hung parliaments, even if the public votes no in the May referendum on voting reform. If they vote yes, we may never see another parliament in which any party has an outright majority.
There is ample evidence that public opinion is in favour of coalitions in the abstract, but they do not like all of what they see when faced with them in practice – the obvious example being Liberal Democrat MPs reneging on their election promise to oppose higher tuition fees for university students, an about-turn that has cost them so dearly in the opinion polls.
But horse-trading and the abandoning of manifesto pledges are a necessary consequence of hung parliaments, since no party has the voting strength to enforce its programme without negotiating with others. As the weaker party in the Coalition, the Lib Dems were inevitably going to be the ones making the more painful compromises.
But the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will have to do more than simply stand loyally in David Cameron's shadow while support for his party vanishes, which seems to have been his strategy to date. We are in an absurd situation in which leaders of both sides of the Coalition say that they are separate parties who will fight against one another at election time, but will not say openly what it is that they disagree about.
Lib Dem ministers would not have been caught out by undercover reporters last month uttering criticisms of the Tories in private if they had only had the nerve and honesty to say such things publicly. The Government would not collapse if the public occasionally listened in while Vince Cable and George Osborne sorted out their differences. A bit more openness would make for more transparent government, and might save the Liberal Democrats from implosion.
- More about:
- David Cameron
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text: English-language environment @ ITMO: first successes Maria Didkovskaia, Foreign Language Training Center, Director EN.IFMO.RU EN.IFMO.RU Classes for teaching staff Testing – 500 staff members Groups by levels EAP & AW groups Studying for Cambridge exams Over 40 teaching staff – certificates Progress to higher levels New programs for staff, teaching in English (DD programs) EN.IFMO.RU EN.IFMO.RU Classes for administration Testing – 150 staff members Groups by levels Studying for Cambridge exams Over 40 administrative staff – certificates Progress to higher levels EN.IFMO.RU EN.IFMO.RU English for Bachelors Pre-testing – 250 students (pilot) Groups by levels Studying for Cambridge exams 10 best students – certificates Native speaker for the B2 groups New classes for students going abroad for DD programs EN.IFMO.RU Something new? Pilot – successful. All new bachelors –> 4 hours of English as of 2015 Analysis of administrative staff attendance and progress –> new requirements University Study Skills Course – for Bs and Ms Native speakers –> for teaching staff Designing EL syllabi of major subjects for 3rd & 4th yr Bs EN.IFMO.RU Innovative approach to EL environment EN.IFMO.RU Challenges? Opportunities? Resistance to change (institutional and personal) Insufficient level of English of teachers Initiation of interest in studying in EL in high-school children (contests, festivals etc) Involvement of students in international activities of ITMO University There's always room for improvement =) Maria Didkovskaia firstname.lastname@example.com


text: "Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars, fulfills itself" W. C. Doane I can be silly and playful. I love to smile, I try to always keep a positive attitude. I'm an artistic individual, can be dramatic at times and is a very family orientated. I'm a movie holic, loves cheese pizza but is Lactose intolerant. Literature and photography I adore. Shopping is my therapy and i'm a huge fan of Vampires.


text:
I've gone from shock and awe to disbelief to abject terror watching the two JTM commercials with Bronson and Chris.
At first, they were so bad it was like performance art, lampooning bad commercials.
Now, though, they frighten and confuse me.
I've gone from shock and awe to disbelief to abject terror watching the two JTM commercials with Bronson and Chris.
At first, they were so bad it was like performance art, lampooning bad commercials.
Now, though, they frighten and confuse me.
Is it solipsistic in here, or is it just me?
I try not to eat prior to any game because they play that stupid commercial about a dozen times during it.
Bronson's a far worse singer then he is a pitcher..... so he has that going for him.
"In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)
Creepy is when they add the scary Burger King dude in the mix.
"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women." - Nora Ephron
JTM has the most insanely bad marketing department in the world.
Every year they amaze me with their new terrible ad lol
Go Reds!
Baseball Bliss
Im a normal guy blessed with the ability to hit a baseball. - Sean Casey
I have to hear the audio version of that one on the radio. Heck, would you rather they bring back the "more more more" ad with that woman at the grocery?
Head On headache cream is a great example of this strategy. They have ridiculous TV ads that have built a name so that people recognize the product at the pharmacy.
But what is JTM, and what does "together again" have to do with anything?
so it's the meat, not a deli/sandwich place? packaged deli meat like "hormel"?
I'm a big fan.
"Baseball is a very, very complex business. It's more of a people business than most businesses." - Bob Castellini
I love it! Ever since I heard the radio version a few days ago, understood the lyrics, and figured out that none of it makes a lick of sense, meaning Bronson with the acoustic guitar and the wind machine in the dugout fits in perfectly....
it is performance art!
"What would your feelings be, seriously, if your cat or your dog began to talk to you, and to dispute with you in human accents? You would be overwhelmed with horror. I am sure of it. And if the roses in your garden sang a weird song, you would go mad." --Arthur Machen
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[caption id="attachment_7728" align="alignright" width="190"] Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) goes through the line at the Operation USO Care Package assembly event on Sept. 11 in Washington, D.C. USO photo by Mike Theiler[/caption]
Seventy members of Congress turned out for an Operation USO Care Package (OUCP) assembly event on September 11 in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. But putting together the much-appreciated bags of goodness for troops downrange wasn't the only thing on their minds.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and with the staggering rise in military suicides in recent years—as of July the Army was on pace for a 200 suicides this year alone—there appears to be an even greater drive to address the issue than ever before. The USO spoke to a few Congressmen who attended the OUCP event about the rising rates of suicide in America's military ranks. Here are their thoughts:
Rep. Sylvestre Reyes (D-TX), founding co-chair of the USO Congressional Caucus
"I am proud that Fort Bliss is leading the way through mental health screening and counseling in the Army. It's something we want to keep supporting and pushing forward so that not a single military person feels the desperation to have to contemplate committing suicide. Only then can we as a nation say that we've done everything we can to support our men and women in uniform and their families, because the solution is going to be to involve the families so they can have that support system."
Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), member of the USO Congressional Caucus
"The main thing is getting them together with their loved ones. A lot of the suicides are over personal relationships that may have deteriorated while [a service member] is overseas. … There's a whole host of things. Some of it is a direct result of PTSD and traumatic brain injury. I think we have a responsibility to deal with it. They suffer enough and risk enough when they're in a combat position, that suffering and risk [should] not continue when they get home. They need to be embraced by their families, their loved ones, their communities and this country."
If you are a service member or veteran dealing with tough times—or are concerned about a member of the military family in this type of situation—visit the Veterans Crisis Line at veterancrisisline.net or call 1-800-273-8255.
— Eric Brandner, USO Director of Story Development
More from the USO
May 24, 2017
After Struggling to Find His Place in the World, Marine Finds Two Families – and His Place in Both
Deron Johnson didn't plan on joining the military, but he ended up a Marine. He also didn't anticipate becoming a fraternity brother at Texas A&M, but then came Theta Chi and its history of supporting the military - and the USO.
May 15, 2017
USO Operation Birthday Cake Brings the Party to Service Members in Japan
When Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffrey Lee received an urgent call to head to his work station one morning, he thought there was something seriously wrong, but there was no emergency. Instead, he walked into his own surprise birthday celebration, courtesy of his wife, USO Yokosuka and the Operation Birthday Cake Program.
May 13, 2017
'I'll Never Forget It": Why a USO Fourth of July T-shirt Can Mean So Much
Years ago, I wore my USO T-shirt to a Houston Astros game. Someone stopped me and said, "Thank you, sir." I turned to see a man holding his young son by the hand. He said he was active duty, leaving soon for Afghanistan.


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The black Sikorsky gently lowered to the ground, the downdraft from the rotor blades beating circles into the fresh snow. Even before the helicopter had landed all the way, a man leapt out. The cold windbeat against his dark trenchcoat as he walked towards the house in front of which they had landed, followed closely by two LitPols with rifles, who had alit from the helicopter after him. His hair was cut close, and his face wore a frown and the duress of many years.
The house , on the other hand, looked like any other. A simple two-storey affair, done up in red bricks and tiling. A small white patio, with a few chairs out. He wasn't sure what to think of the setup. It definitely did not look like the residence of Antagonist Zero.
The door of the house opened and another LitPol officer allowed the man in. The two LitPols with rifles stayed outside. The LitPol officer led the man into the kitchen, from where a side door opened into the garage. As he walked through the house, he noticed the small things that were all wrong with this house. A complete absence of paintings, statues or books. The walls were a pale shade of grey. The ceiling was stark white. Several banned words came to his mind. Dull. Humdrum. Unimaginative. Pedestrian. But that was before the government-ordered lexicon was enforced. Now they would call this normal.
Normalcy. That was what this was all about. To prevent the deviation from the standard mean, the widely accepted. To quelch the uniqueness of an individual, for the good of the community.
The Antagonist movement was exactly what the name suggested, a movement to antagonize the creative, the inventive, the innovative. A sort of anti-protagonist movement. The exact time when the movement started could not be pinpointed clearly. A few men and women, driven perhaps by jealousy or even hate. Jealous of the fact that the writers and artists of the world could afford to lose themselves in their work, while the rest of society suffered the drab starkness of reality. Hating the fact that creative license gave them this freedom to enjoy their work. And out of this jealousy, this hate, a revolution was born, led by a person whose identity had been lost in the annals of time. As Antagonist Zero put it, he had become a nameless shadow, devoid of culture and traits so that others would realize how unimportant, how futile the arts were, how unnecessary they were. And then they would emulate Antagonist Zero to become the conforming herd of sheep that they were meant to be. All equal in their banality. All normal.
The movement struck a chord with more people than had ever been expected. Political parties were formed, pressure groups and support systems put in place. Those who would not yield were bought off, or killed. The people's consciousness was subverted, moulded into thinking that they did not need art or music or literature.
That was when the burnings began.
That was also roughly when the man in the trenchcoat decided he needed to keep his options open. He remembered how at first the feeble protests against the Antagonists started. Peaceful protests and candlelit marches which the Antagonists combated with brute force. But it was not the violence that was the Antagonists' greatest weakness. It was their consistency. The Antagonists were too predictable, their modus operandi too familiar. It would not take long for them to be outwitted. For the Antagonists to sustain, they needed to innovate, to be unpredictable, something that was not in their capability or their party policy to do. And they couldn't possibly defeat an enemy they couldn't understand. So they hired someone else to do the job for them.
The LitPol opened the door for him, and once he went through, shut the door behind him.
"So, Commander Smith, what is new on the Oblit front?" A low, soft voice that could only be described as sterile spoke up.
Commander Smith was vaguely aware of a nebulous figure, hidden in the shadows on the far side of the garage. He cleared his throat to reply.
"We have good news on many accounts. Most importantly, the one they called Eloosive is dead."
"Dead? Are you sure?" The tremor in Antagonist Zero's voice was unmistakable.
"I shot him myself. I watched him die." Commander Smith had a hard time keeping his voice neutral. Eloosive's conversation with him was still fresh in his mind.
"Well, you've done a good job then. What did you do with the body?" The words were simple, but the glee hidden in them was equally clear.
"Even in death, he will be Eloosive. His body was buried in an unmarked location. We don't want a martyr out of him, do we?"
"No, I suppose we don't. And what of the other one who was found to be a collaborator?" Antagonist Zero's voice had regained its usual flat tone.
"Private Addams. He is of no importance to us. To be honest, his poetry is quite…bad."
"You read his poetry?!" The voice had grown a tad sharper.
Commander Smith couldn't quite control the anger in his voice.
"Look, do you have any idea what I'm doing for you here? You hired us Obliterators to do all your thinking for you. You want us to do all your dirty creative work, come up with plans and plots and schemes. Everything I do is against the very foundation of the Antagonists. You know it just as well as I do. I'm here to do the job you cannot do. So why don't you just let me do my job?"
"Commander, don't forget, that is precisely every reason why you should keep your creativity to a minimum. You and the other Obliterators are a necessary evil, one that is useful to the cause, yes. But not integral. As long as you are useful, you will live." The lack of tone in the voice did nothing to mitigate the threat Antagonist Zero had just made.
"Any other news?"
The commander forced down a curt reply, and said, "We have made contact with some of the Eastern countries, many of which already have strict curbs on freedom of speech. They are …warming to our ideals. We will receive word from them shortly."
"That is indeed good news. The Asians always had a good sense of their priorities. And what of Operation BTL?"
"One of our crack explosives team is in France right now. By tomorrow, the Louvre will be demolished. There will be protests from the French government, but nothing to be worried about."
"Excellent. The French make my head spin. Is that all?"
"One more thing. Our preliminary tests on our bio-weapons are in progress. They target creative minds specifically, so we should have appropriate beta test results soon."
"Very well. Keep me posted. Are we done?"
Smith hesitated for a minute before saying, "Yes, AZ, I think we are."
As he boarded the Sikorsky, he heard a small beep. He sat down inside the helicopter and then took out a small handheld display device from his inside pocket. The glow from several green dots on the display lit up his face. Tracers, on tabbed Protagonists. Smith pushed a switch and the green lights disappeared. The screen now showed only three red lights now. More tracers. But these weren't tabbed Protagonists. They were free and moving. Smith was counting on the age old method of triangulation. If even two of them met at a point, he would know that he had found an important hideout of the Protagonists. Maybe he'd even stumble onto Nick himself.
Of course, he wasn't ready to share this information with Antagonist Zero, just yet. He didn't plan on expending his usefulness that quickly. He still had a job to do. The Obliterator took out his laptop and started entering data furiously.


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So now two weeks have passed and the ring had remained on my desk in question, totally unchanged.
But there's one other thing, something else, that had changed in this course of time...
I walked down the hallway towards my next class when I felt a firm grip on the upper part of my arm which pulled me towards wherever it was coming from.
When I regained myself it was an empty classroom I was in, right beside the door. He locked the door, "Oh Coop," I wrapped my arms around his neck and I felt his lips touch mine, making the hair stand up on the back of my neck. And every time this happened I kept hearing a voice in my head saying, "More, more please."
But it was always just a kiss. And then, Cooper wrapped his arms around me, burying his face into my neck, "I've missed you so much. I'm so glad I have you back again."
Not quite, for our relationship was secret to all except for Bridget. It was awful of me, I knew, but I didn't know what else to do. I think I loved Cooper, but I also liked Broderick.
I was confused, so confused.
Cooper let go of me and our procedure continued with him leaving the room first, then I'd leave after waiting for people who saw him to pass by.
It seemed as soon as I left the classroom, Broderick was there, "Hey baby I feel like I haven't seen you in ages. Where you've been?" he leaned down to kiss me.
I felt nothing but a pair of lips against mine, "Yes well, I've been around. And we're heading to Pysch together are we not?"
His face hardened, "And so will your little friend."
I rolled my eyes while taking his hand to begin moving, "What is that suppose to mean? Jealous?"
"Ha, I'm jealous of no one. You're right, there's nothing for me to fear about that skinny little boy."
Was he so wrong.
When we arrived in the lecture hall Broderick and I took our usual seats towards the front. I could feel a pair of eyes on my back and I casually turned m head around to see Cooper. He presented me with no emotion but I knew he'd be smiling. I gave a tiny half-smile before turning my head slowly back to the front. Broderick put his arm around me and whispered, "I'm curious to know who you were looking at."
But our professor came into the hall, giving me an excuse to not answer, "Good afternoon class," Mr. Teuner received nothing but grumbles and groans from his audience.
He clapped his hands together, a habit I've noticed of his, "Today we are going to learn how to tell people's real emotions in their words," he walked from behind the desk and strolled along the front row while speaking, "By the end of this class, most of you could go out and get a job in criminal investigation and figure out when anyone's lying. So," he stopped, stared straight at me, "Why don't we use the happy couple as an example. Miss Farro," he took the small amount of stairs to reach Broderick and me, and suddenly I really wished we sat in the back, "So answer this question, you're dating Mr. Reams, correct?"
"Are you happy with him?"
"Yes," I was sure I said it as calmly and as sure as possible, but if anyone could detect my unsure feelings, it was Professor Teuner.
He definitely did catch whatever it was to prove I was lying, but instead he turned away from us and began making his way back to his desk, "That's wonderful Miss Farro. I'm sure the wedding will be a beautiful and happy one."
I laid low for the rest of lecture, trying so hard not to turn and glance at Cooper.
The rest of the day was uneventful until Cooper and I were walking together, heading to my house. We went by the school field to see the football team practicing, "Oh shit Coop. Quick! Walk faster walk faster!"
But I heard a whistle blow and someone yelling me name right after. Then Broderick was huffing, exhausted, behind me, "Can I talk to you...alone?"
"Uhm, okay," as soon as I agreed he had grabbed my forearm a little too tightly and pinched my skin, but I didn't say anything as I was dragged away.
Broderick pulled me so I was staring at him, appearing quite menacing to me in his football gear, "Do you think what we have is a joke?"
I stared at him incredulously, "What? No? What are you talking about?"
"You're...you're with him again," he spat.
"What?!" I felt anger filling me now, "You're at football practice. My friend offered to walk me home so I don't have to be alone."
Broderick ran his fingers through his sweaty curls, "Then what's with all these rumors? People seeing you sneaking around, people always seeing you with him."
I shook my head, "I never knew nor would see you to be so god damn jealous. Perhaps you should stop listening to rumors and focus more on your team and game and beer!" I shoved him out of my way as I said this, storming back towards Coop, grabbing his arm, "C'mon, let's go."
And I didn't look back.
We were planning on picking up Bridget and the go out, to dinner or a movie or something like that. But when we entered the room, Bridget wasn't there, "How strange," I murmured. Cooper just made himself at home, flopping right onto my bed and closing his eyes.
I came across a slip of paper with my name on it lying on her desk. I picked it up and unfolded it, seeing Bridget's fancy, almost impossible to read cursive:
Dear Sophie
Sorry about leaving so suddenly, but my mother had become ill and I had to leave immediately for the hospital. The room is open for you...and anyone else to use.
My face was already beginning to turn a slight pink as I could feel warmth settling there. I knew what she was suggesting in her note, but there was no way I would suggest it, "She's at the hospital with her mother," I stated to Cooper, unsure if he was awake or not. The note was shaking in my hand as I spoke, realizing that we were in fact alone.
"Oh? Did it say what's wrong with her?"
I shrugged though he probably could not see, "Just that her mom's sick," I went to stand in front of my bed, "I hope her mom's okay," I wrapped my arms around my chest, sincerely worried.
"Oh I'm sure she is. Bridget will probably call you if something real bad happens. Now come here," Cooper tugged me onto my bed, settling on his chest. It felt familiar, almost too familiar. But it was a good familiarity, the kind that made your chest feel full and complete.
"God I missed you," he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me against his chest, burying his face in my hair.
I turned my face towards his, receiving a shower of kisses.
But these kisses were different than before, more urgent and intense.
Suddenly, Cooper was directly on top of me, both arms on either side of me almost like a trap, a trap I definitely did not want to escape from. I found myself pulling him close, but close wasn't close enough. As we were still kissing, I felt him against my leg, making butterflies soar about in my stomach from nerves. I haven't done this before! I didn't know what to do!
But Cooper's hand was already on my back fumbling with my bra strap. I found my own hands unbuttoning his shirt; my mind wasn't working anymore, just my body.
Cooper was shaking, so much in fact that I had to joke, "Scared Coop?"
He stopped kissing my chest to chuckle, "If only, if only."
If only, if only indeed.
If only Cooper had never broken up with me, If only we had stayed together like we wanted to, then everything would be perfect.
But "if" is such a horrid word, full of regret and worrying over the past. This was now, and this was going to happen, whether I was scared shitless or not, "Uhm Cooper? You do have something, right?"
"Of course."
And it hurt. God it did hurt and I bit his shoulder to fight back the yelps of pain, since I still didn't want him to know I was a virgin. But then the good feelings everyone talks about began.
And when it was all over, we just laid there in each other's arms. I was exhausted, which I found to be strange, but I didn't notice it because I was still on Cloud Nine.
At that point Cooper started laughing, "That was well worth the wait. Was that any more amazing than with Broderick?"
"Broderick?" I squeaked, "Uhm...well..." The Cloud Nine feeling was falling fast with that name being uttered.
My stutters made Cooper's face fall and his laughter ended abruptly, "Well, you don't have to tell me or anything you know-"
"No!" He jumped with my shout, "I mean, well-"
"Can I tell you something?"
My heart skipped a beat. What could he say? Sorry Sophie, but I only liked you because I wanted to take this from you, I'll be going now? I wouldn't know if I could even live after that.
"This was kind of my first time."
"You know this...I haven't done it before."
I was in total disbelief. What did he wait for all this time, "But you, you could've done that with anyone. In high school, I thought that's what you were doing and..."
"Soph, there wasn't anyone I wanted to give this to in high school. I waited for the right person."
Still in shock, my voice came out in a quiet whisper, "Me?"
"Of course. I mean, Soph, I've always been in love with you."
My eyes grew wide with his words. He loved me? Always has? Some people never hear those words.
I thought I was going to be one of them, "Coop, since we're all being honest here, I think it's time I am too."
"Look I'm sorry if this is totally not how you feel and right now you feel absolutely awkward but I-"
I covered his mouth with my hand as I laughed, "Can you let me talk first?"
When I was sure he wouldn't start blabbering again I removed my hand from his mouth, "As it turned out, this was my first time too. I...I didn't want you to know because I was worried this wasn't your first."
It was his turn to be surprised, "But...Broderick, you've been dating him for almost over a year."
"So what? Maybe I just wanted to wait for the right person too," I sniffed, probably feeling a little too proud over that statement.
"Well, I'm just glad that you thought the right person was me," Cooper began leaning forward to kiss me after this, so I decided to beat him to the punch. His lips were always so inviting and comforting to me, making me want to kiss him and never stop.
The best part was that for once, we didn't stop. We continued all through the night, kissing and snuggling, making love and merely just drinking each other in. After all, neither of us knew if this was the last time we could be together like this. For all we knew Broderick could break the door down right now and end everything. So we enjoyed every minute of that night together, the night filled with a bittersweet atmosphere and our prayers for the sun to never rise.
But the sun did come up. I could feel its warmth on my face as its light shone through my window.
I couldn't find the will to get out of bed, but I at least opened my eyes.
Cooper's face was in front of me, arms still around me in a sleep embrace. The sun was in my eyes, making it hard to see, but I could make out the shape of his face and his messy hair extra messy from sleep and sex. Was he awake? The sun made it almost impossible for me to tell.
Then there was a knock at the door. I immediately tensed up, expecting the worst: Broderick.
"Relax Soph, they'll go away eventually," Cooper's voice was low and groggy with sleep.
Whoever it was knocked again. They'll go away, I thought, they'll decide I'm not home eventually. Trying to put my heart at ease, I snuggled closer to Cooper's bare chest.
Another knock, "Sophie, I know you're in there."
I shot upright. It was Broderick. I looked down at Cooper to see his eyes were wide with worry, "Get up get up!" I hissed.
What to do? My eyes flashed everywhere, thinking of a plan.
"Sophie, you know I have a key."
Fuck! "Hold on dear. I'm...I'm in the tub."
"Oh ok."
Quickly, I picked up Cooper's clothes from the floor and threw them at him, motioning to the closet. As he snuck inside I turned on the tub's faucet and stuck my head under the flow of water. After I turned the water off I grabbed a towel from the floor and wrapped it around my naked body, praying to the lord this would work, "I'm almost ready," I called out.
"Alright!" Strange, did he sound excited?
To finish off my plan I took my perfume and sprayed it all over the room and my body, trying desperately to mask the smell of sex, "Coming."
When I opened my door I realized I had to be in for something; Broderick's eyes were as red as his hair, "Well this is a pleasant surprise Broderick," I tried to put a smile with my words.
"I wanted to surprise you. Looks like the surprise is on me," he looked hungrily at my skimpy towel, making the feeling of bile rise in my throat, "Can I come in?"
No, "Yes I suppose so. It's messy though."
He sure didn't care if it was messy or not and didn't take his time entering my room, "It smells good in here."
"I used bath beads. It's probably all over this room."
Broderick came up behind me, moving my wet hair away from my neck and leaning in, "Mmmm, jasmine. Very nice, Sophie."
The bile was crawling up my throat again, making me tear myself away from him. I tried to busy myself by picking up clothes off my floor.
"So," Broderick stopped me, "What allows me to have such a presence like yours here, in this state," he stood perhaps a good two feet taller than me. He was huge, "C'mon Sophie, let's forget all about marriage, you're basically undressed already."
This was all wrong. I felt like I was cheating on Cooper, when Broderick was the on I was dating. I put my hand to my forehead; feeling like the world had been flipped upside down in one night. His hand settled above my breast where the hem of my towel sat, as my eyes settled on the too familiar belt sitting on the floor.
"Coop," I whispered, eyes growing wide.
"What was that dear?"
My face shot up from the belt and I removed his hand from my towel, "No, Broderick you're drunk. As usual," I shoved him away and he lost his balance, plopping onto my bed, "But...Sophie..."
"Why do you never ask me this when you're sober?"
"Just take that little towel off for me..." he reached over to me again, only for me to swat his hand away.
Unfortunately, the alcohol started talking to him. Broderick got back on his feet and grabbed my tiny wrist, slamming me onto the bed and trapping me like Cooper, only I squirmed, desperate to be freed, "Broderick, stop, please."
He couldn't hear me; he was off in another time, another place. He tore my towel away and tossed me onto the group, "You're going to pay Sophie Farro fro ever saying no to me," he enunciated each syllable to me while crushing me further into the floor with his muscle, squeezing the life out of my hands. At this point I was crying, desperate. Cooper was in the closet, I knew, so close to saving me, but I knew that if he'd show his face, Broderick would kill him, "Broderick please," my tears began to trickle down the sides of my head, past my temples.
Then he stopped. He stopped crushing me, distracted by something. I turned my head to follow his gaze, but quickly turned away from it like it had burned my skin.
It was Cooper's belt. Broderick picked it up while his other hand held both of my arms above my head. The belt was waved in front of me, "What is this?" he asked in such a calm voice that it terrified me even more than yelling could.
I took a look at the belt. It was such a plain thing, made of worn brown leather with a silver buckle. But it was the belt that my hands ran across last night and unbuckled with hastiness and plenty of nerves.
I turned my head away again from Broderick and the belt, "I have no idea."
He let go of my wrists to grab my chin and force me to look at him, "What is this?" his teeth grinded as his patience was quickly being lost.
"It's just a stupid belt Broderick. It could be anything."
And before I could think, before I could even blink, Broderick took Cooper's belt and whipped me with it on the chest, in line with my collarbone.
The shock of the action came before the searing pain, "B-Broderick."
He got up, straightened his clothes and began walking to the door.
"B-Broderick," I rolled over onto my stomach, crying. I studied him through the tears in my eyes, "Broderick."
When the door slammed I lost myself completely and curled into a ball, sobbing for everything. The pain from my chest and my wrists, the pain from Broderick's hatred, everything.
Cooper practically jumped out of the closet and gathered me into his arms. He managed to have gotten dressed while he was hiding I noticed. He put his fingers to the skin that was taken off by his own belt, making me flinch for the first time from his touch, "Sophie, I'm so sorry."
And that was all that was said. After that he just held me close in hopes my shuddering sobs would settle. But they wouldn't. Why should they? I knew this time I had really screwed up.
I could only hope Broderick was drunk enough that he'd forget all about this.