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text:
This thread went from objective to subject really quick!
You guys Democrats?!
Chris posts about performance numbers of the CTS and we're trying to find out where the V2 will end up. I think we're getting close! Good discussion!
Printable View
This thread went from objective to subject really quick!
You guys Democrats?!
Chris posts about performance numbers of the CTS and we're trying to find out where the V2 will end up. I think we're getting close! Good discussion!
"Porker", "Value Leader"
Then bashing a technology you obviously know nothing about, MRC
It is more than apparent that you dislike the car and come off as though you want to see it fail for reasons only you know.
Jasaero, the only thing I could find was. 8:15 for the M5 and 8:09 for the M6. This was right from the M5 Board.
Do a search for V2 and most are supporting the home team in their second attempt to challenge the Germans. :)
Guys this is the forum about the new CTS-V. If you just want to post about why the old V is better, maybe the 2004-2007 forum would be a better place for that.
They have sources for most of the times, but an outdated video link for the 7:52 M5 time. This was probably not an M5 with stock rubber or even street legal rubber for that matter, but pretty sure the V2 will be in this same realm though if given whatever upgrades that M5 might have had. RS6 or better for sure. Has better weight balance than the RS6, but not quite at M5 balance levels. It'll be in the same league no matter how you look at it.
Base 2008 CTS hit 8:40(8:19 for V1) on the ring. :)
Play nice please. :lock:
Aren't they?
Wow, I've missed a lot on this thread!
I agree the V2 has a decent amount of improvements specifically geared to minimize the penalties of the car's ballooning weight but I think that it's a plan they will not be able to continue for long. You can only make the car so wide, the tires so large, the brakes so big, etc., etc., etc.
I mean, what's next? 600hp w/4800lb. curb weight? Eventually, the damn thing's gonna have to be as wide as a Hummer with tires bigger than a Viper! Increase power, add weight and try to keep compensating for it? I just don't think it's the smart way to go.
And my comments about the shocks were mainly meant to point out that IMO, too many people here seem to think they can accomplish things way beyond reality. It's a friggin' shock, nothing more. Like they could make up for all the other suspension components.:cookoo:
My guess would be that if, and when people start seriously racing these cars, those shocks will be among the first things removed.
Only about 5% of CTS-V owners (and that's being generous) really "race" their cars. The other 95% drive to work and back, and enjoy a twisty road on the weekend. Will those 5% ditch the MRC and go with a standard shock? Maybe, but we won't know until someone tests the damn thing!
As an aside: I find it sad that there's more pissing about and degrading of this car HERE on the Cadillac Forums then there is on the M5 board. About 80% positive over there, if you care to have a look. Just sad, really.
If they intend not to buy, that's fine. But I'm going to fill 15 pages of message board arguing about it with them. They will still be arguing about it on these boards when they get :smack:from the new V.
If you guys stop stating the obvious and acting as though it's a feather in your cap, then maybe the conversation on shocks ends. But I doubt you and Norm can do that...
Honestly, I'm getting tired of all the negativity on this board. Anyone know how to add people to your ignore list. All I hear is whining from some people that really isn't adding anything and the car isn't even out yet. :bigroll:
(now I'm whining about people whining):bonkers:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Urban telecommunications network : technology convergence and urban infrastructure
Yigitcanlar, Tan & Han, Jung Hoon (2010) Urban telecommunications network : technology convergence and urban infrastructure. In Yigitcanlar, Tan (Ed.) Sustainable Urban and Regional Infrastructure Development : Technologies, Applications and Management. IGI Global, Engineering Science Reference, United States of America, pp. 77-90.
Draft Version
(PDF 260kB)
Administrators only | Request a copy from author
Rapidly developing information and telecommunication technologies and their platforms in the late 20th Century helped improve urban infrastructure management and influenced quality of life. Telecommunication technologies make it possible for people to deliver text, audio and video material using wired, wireless or fibre-optic networks. Technologies convergence amongst these digital devices continues to create new ways in which the information and telecommunication technologies are used. The 21st Century is an era where information has converged, in which people are able to access a variety of services, including internet and location based services, through multi-functional devices such as mobile phones. This chapter discusses the recent developments in telecommunication networks and trends in convergence technologies, their implications for urban infrastructure planning, and for the quality of life of urban residents.
Impact and interest:
Citation counts are sourced monthly from Scopus and Web of Science® citation databases.
These databases contain citations from different subsets of available publications and different time periods and thus the citation count from each is usually different. Some works are not in either database and no count is displayed. Scopus includes citations from articles published in 1996 onwards, and Web of Science® generally from 1980 onwards.
Citations counts from the Google Scholar™ indexing service can be viewed at the linked Google Scholar™ search.
|ID Code:
|Item Type:
|Book Chapter
|telecommunications infrastructure, urban telecommunications network, technology convergence, black box, information and communication technology, digital divide
|Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification > BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN (120000) > URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (120500) > Regional Analysis and Development (120505)
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification > BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN (120000) > URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (120500) > Urban Analysis and Development (120507)
|Past > QUT Faculties & Divisions > Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering
Past > Schools > School of Urban Development
|Copyright Owner:
|Copyright 2010 by IGI Global
|Deposited On:
|16 Nov 2010 23:40
|Last Modified:
|25 Oct 2016 23:41
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text:
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text:
Boy Scouts Canal Zone BSA, Camp Chagres 1976 CZ Panama
- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Item Category: Fraternal, Political, Organizations
- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Jul 04, 2009
- Channel: Auction House
Boy Scouts of Canal Zone BSA, Camp Chagres 1976 CZ Panama CouncilThis insignia was worn by members of the Boy Scouts of Canal Zone (BSA), Camp Chagres 1976, CZ Panama Council. This patch measures 3 inches diameter. Provenance To date I have purchased 4 collections that contained scouting patches. Two collections from private collectors in the Philippines with many patches from Boy & Girl Scouts of America, several countries in Asia and of course the Philippines. Another collection from a Coin Dealer in Springfield Massachusetts that contained many from BS of America, Canada and various countries in Latin America. One more from a stamps and coins dealer in a permanent swap meet south shore of Montreal with many patches from Canada, Francophone Boy Scouts and Guides of Canada the US and several French colonies. Since I did not buy any of the patches directly from a Scouting source, I can not 100% guarantee they are original but I do guarantee their quality and your satisfaction. Payments Since I travel very often PayPal is the most practical way to pay for your order. If you want to pay cash or with another mode of payment, contact me before mailing your payment so that I can tell you w to send it. Shipping & Handling Free shipping is ... read more


text:
Out-of-town guests and curious locals can get a taste of the Utah food scene through a walking tour of local food establishments.
Christa Reid said she and a partner decided to start their Savor Salt Lake walking tour business, after taking culinary tours in other cities. "We decided that our own home town need to be showcased,"she said.
Savor Salt Lake's initial walking tour includes stops in seven downtown shops: The Lion House, Maxwell's East Coast Eatery, Market Street Grill, Squatters, Bruges Waffles, Caputos and Carlucci's Bakery. If all goes well, the company hopes to add walking food tours of Sugarhouse and Park City, said Reid.
Currently, tours are available this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1; as well as Dec. 7 and 8; and Dec. 14 and 15. All tours start at 11 a.m. and last about three hours. They cost $45 per person and include enough samples for a satisfying lunch.
To book a spot call 801-793-0044 or visit savorsaltlake.com


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"Great job by our special teams when you look at how we won the field position battle. (Dan) Conroy, three for three. Three big kicks, to come out and do that really in his first opportunity to kick three of them and be perfect on that. Big kicks, all over 40, one 50 yarder. Great job by him. Also, Keshawn Martin with his returns, set ups and different things. That's a big positive and then Kevin Muma kicking off, he had great coverage down the field so those three factors I think lead to, I don't know if I want to say dominance on special teams, but I think today was a very big special teams day.
"When you look at us defensively, you got to put them away. You have to be able to put them away. And they made plays when they had to a little bit. We always had to look at things and say - is that a critical error? Is that a physical error? Is that a mental error or is that a structural error? Every single thing that happens out there and that's what we do. So we'll evaluate that. We played pretty well but two series we have to get off the field. Two different series. We did a good job down there with a jail break screen and we stopped them on the 1-yard line and they ended up kicking a field goal, but we did a good job keeping them out of the end zone so that was a positive. Offensively, I thought we played pretty well. You can't turn the ball over there at the end. You can't turn the ball over on the one yard line. Other than those two, which are critical errors, I thought we played pretty well offensively. We have to come up with more third down plays though. As I said before, we work to get better, we're chasing perfection. Notre Dame comes to us but we're getting ready for that game. That will be exciting, it's a night game. The atmosphere, it's going to be exciting."
One area of concern is how there seemed to be struggle in making tackles.
"I thought we tackled very well last week. We did not tackle as well this week on the perimeter. I saw some missed tackles. I saw some big hits and they ran through those. So we need to continue to try and work it. I think you get better as a tackling team as you move through your season. It's tough to go live during the season in practice because you can't risk injury. We work through different drills and we try to alleviate that problem."
One area the Spartans head coach is always happy to see perform well is the running game. Dantonio felt there was continued improvement from the Spartans offensive line as Edwin Baker rushed for 183 yards and a score.
"I think our offensive line is playing well and I think we have good running backs. I said that on the outset, going into the season. Those guys are a year older now. They're more experienced. They have more confidence. They understand the nuances of the running game. They understand what type of blocking they're getting exactly versus what front, those types of things. They run better. I thought it was a positive that we had no offside penalties on offense and defense. No misalignments as far as formation. We stopped some unforced penalties and that's a positive. I thought our offensive line did a great job. They have done it for the last two weeks. The challenge is going to be next week."
For the Spartans the next test will come next Saturday night as Notre Dame will come to Spartan Stadium off a loss to Michigan.


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Houston Doctor Challenges Obamacare In Court
Many of you don't like Obamacare. It's been challenged unsuccessfully in court. One Houston area physician is looking for a rematch.
Steven Hotze filed a lawsuit against the government, and told Matt Patrick the reason he filed suit comes down to simple dollars and cents.
"Our insurance agents have told us we're going to have a dramatic increase in our premiums. They may double. They can't tell us how big the increases are going to be," Hotze said.
Hotze says the law would kill small businesses.
"I talked with a number of other business owners who say they can't afford it. They don't make enough profits. They will not be able to run their business profitably. They are going to have to drop all the insurance they have on their employees," Hotze explained.
Hotze thinks his suit has a chance because Obamacare originated in the Senate.
"All revenue raising bills have to begin in the House. As it turns out the revenue raising part of this bill began in the Senate," Hotze explained.
Hotze's goal when it's all said and done?
"We are asking the judge in federal court in Houston not to allow Obamacare to take place in Texas," Hotze stated.
Hotze says if he has to, he'll take the suit all the way back to Washington for a second shot at the Supreme Court.


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text:
9 Things That Slow Down Your Metabolism!
Photo: Getty Images
This one is for you if you're trying to lose weight... here are ten metabolism-killers you should know about! A lot of them are common sense. But some are pretty surprising....
1. A weird eating schedule. Eating at the same time every day
helps your body to burn calories more consistently. If you eat
unpredictably, your body will try to store more fat.
2. Pesticides. Researchers in
more pesticides on their produce experienced a greater dip in metabolism than others.
3. Sleeping less. When you're low on sleep you tend to move
around less, which slows your metabolism down. Also, your body uses less energy at rest.
4. Eating too little. On a diet your metabolism naturally slows
down, to conserve energy. To lose weight, it's better to exercise MORE instead of eating LESS.
5. Sitting in one place. Even only 20 minutes in the same
position can slow down your metabolism. Obviously this is just a
temporary thing . . . but if you're ALWAYS sitting down, your metabolism will ALWAYS be slower than it should be.
6. Jet Lag. Some research suggests that disrupting your
circadian rhythm will slow down your metabolism.
7. Not getting enough calcium. Calcium plays a role in how your
body decides whether to burn fat or store it. And a high-calcium diet can help you burn more fat.
8. Being dehydrated. Pretty much everything in the body depends
on water. If you're not drinking enough of it, you'll burn up to two
percent fewer calories.
9. Skipping breakfast. By the time you eat breakfast, you've
already gone for ten or more hours without food. And that makes your body try to conserve energy. One study said that people who skip breakfast are almost FIVE TIMES more likely to be obese.


text:
Deals of the day- Mergers and acquisitions
Oct 3 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1130 GMT on Monday:
** U.S. asset manager Janus Capital and London-listed rival Henderson Global Investors on Monday said they had agreed to an all-share $6 billion merger to cut costs and improve their global reach.
** Canada's second-biggest pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) said on Monday it had partnered with Indian financial services firm Edelweiss Group to invest up to $700 million over the next four years in stressed assets and private debt opportunities in India.
** The Pakistan Stock Exchange Ltd has received interest from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and other foreign companies about buying a stake of up to 40 percent, its managing director said on Monday.
** Food giant Nestle and Britain's R&R Ice Cream have completed a transaction to create their new Froneri ice cream and frozen food joint venture, Nestle said on Monday.


text: Home Security Cameras SLIDESHOW Capture the Spirit of Halloween in Pictures Create spooky special effects with your digital camera, a photo editor, a flashlight--and a lot of imagination. By Dave Johnson, PCWorld | Oct 25, 2009 5:00 PM PT Share All Slides SLIDEFEATURED PRODUCTS The Season for Spookiness Shoot a Jack-o'-Lantern DIY Haunting Create Spectral Layers Fake an Alien Invasion Disintegrate the Target Add a Phaser Blast Make Some Magic Experimentation Pays Off Share this Slideshow Direct link: The Season for Spookiness It's the season for spookiness. And virtually since the beginning of photography, people have used cameras to capture glimpses of the supernatural--both intentionally and unintentionally. Back in 1917, for example, little girls posed with magical fairies. These days, quaint old photos featuring paranormal juxtapositions look obviously fake, but that doesn't stop people today from investigating creepy photos of supernatural phenomena as avidly as ever. Why not celebrate Halloween by making your own "spirited" photos? It's easy. All you need is your digital camera, a tripod, some candles or flashlights, and the patience to wait until nightfall. If you want to take your photos to the next level, pick up some pumpkin carving tips from ExtremePumpkins. And when you're ready, follow along for some tips on taking spooky photos this Halloween. Shoot a Jack-o'-Lantern Jack-o'-lanterns are the epitome of Halloween. But how do you get a great photo of one? The key is to take your picture in the dark and let the candlelight inside the pumpkin provide most of the illumination.As with all low-light photos, your shutter speed must be pretty slow, so you'll get better results if you mount the camera on a tripod. Automatic exposure will work, but for best results you should set your camera to manual exposure and set the shutter speed to about a second.If you rely exclusively on the candles inside for lighting, your pumpkin will appear in silhouette. To provide more uniform illumination--and at least a hint of pumpkin orange--set up a few candles in front of it. Or take the photo early enough in the evening that the crepuscular light will help illuminate your scene. Another effective trick: Instead of using a single candle inside the jack-o'-lantern, pack several of them into it to make the face glow more strongly. Alternatively, you can use a larger aperture--like f/4 instead of f/8--on your camera so that the light in the will pumpkin have a greater effect on the exposure.When you get your photos onto your PC, feel free to tweak the brightness, contrast, and sharpness. But don't change the white balance: Your image editor will probably try to "fix" the color in the scene by shifting the spooky orange glow to an ordinary white. DIY Haunting Tired of hanging out in cemeteries for hours without catching even a glimpse of ectoplasm? You might consider making your own ghost instead. In the old days, performing this kind of trick involved rigging up your camera to create a double exposure. Now it's as easy as using the opacity control and layers in your favorite image editing program.Consider, for instance, this terrifying photo of the infamous Jackson Hotel Ghost (which looks suspiciously like a Happy Meal toy). Scared? Don't worry: It's just a layered composite of two photos: A close-up shot of Lisa Simpson in a Halloween costume taken from my aren't-you-too-old-for-that toy? collection, and a shot of a hotel near Salt Lake City. You can accomplish much the same effect with a photo of your own "ghost" and a shot of your backyard at night, for example. Create Spectral Layers To create this fright fest, start by opening the picture of your ghost in an image editor. (Incidentally, did you ever notice how similar Lisa Simpson in a ghost costume looks to Garfield in a ghost costume?)I'll explain how to proceed using Adobe Photoshop Elements. If you're following along, choose the Magnetic Lasso Tool from the sixth cubby in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. In the Tool Options palette atop the screen, make sure that Feather is set to a small number, like 3 pixels. Next, click on an edge of the ghost and then carefully drag your way around the entire outline, little by little. Double-click on the starting point to complete the selection. When you're done, choose Edit•Copy to copy the ghost to the clipboard. Open the photo you want to use as a background. Choose Edit•Paste. Use the Move Tool (it lives in the topmost cubby of the toolbar) to position the ghost to your liking. You can also resize the ghost by grabbing one of the corners of the selection box.For the finishing touch, go to the Layers palette on the right side of the screen and drag the Opacity slider until it has just the right amount of transparency--probably around 40 percent. Fake an Alien Invasion When I was in college, I took my geeky love of Star Trek, added a dose of night photography, and came up with the perfect 3:00 a.m. hobby: creating special-effect photos of my roommates shooting and disintegrating each other with phasers. Though it didn't help my grades, it was a lot of fun. Back then, I achieved all of those cool effects "in the lens," using flashlights, very long exposures, and a healthy dose of luck. These days, you can get similar--but far better--effects in an image editor.You'll need to start with a photo that poses two people in a dramatic scene, preferably (in honor of the season) in sci-fi Halloween consumes. Once the photo is in your image editor (I'll demonstrate with Photoshop Elements), immediately copy it to a new layer by choosing Layer•Duplicate Layer from the menu; then click OK.Next you need to make the unfortunate target disintegrate. As a first step toward making him glow with phaser energy, carefully create a selection region. Start by clicking the Magnetic Lasso Tool from the sixth cubby in the toolbar on the left side of the screen. Next, click on an edge of the subject and carefully drag your way around the subject, a small amount at a time, until you've worked your way all the way around to the starting point. Double-click there to close the selection. Disintegrate the Target Next, we need to make the selection bigger than the subject's body. To do that, choose Select•Refine Edge, and then increase both the Expand/Contract and Feather values. As with many aspects of photo editing, this step is more art than science; move the sliders around until the expanded selection looks about right to you. If you need a better view of the expanded selection, click the Custom Overlay Color button to see what the selection looks like against a solid red background. When you're happy with the result, click OK.It's time to add some glow. Choose Enhance•Adjust Lighting•Levels and jack the brightness all the way up to maximum by dragging the white point (the arrow under the right edge of the histogram) all the way to the left. Click OK, and you should see a glowing, pure white region where the subject used to be.Now we can take advantage of layers to adjust the overall effect. In the Layers palette on the right side of the screen, change the layer's opacity until you get the effect you like--if you have the same taste in glowing effects as me, it'll probably be in the neighborhood of 40 percent. Add a Phaser Blast We now have a pretty convincing disintegration scene, but what about the phaser beam? This is a lot easier to create on the PC than it was to mock up back in 1985, since most image editors let you draw a perfectly straight line by holding down the Shift key.In Photoshop Elements, start by removing the selection: Choose Selections•Deselect. Next, click the Brush tool in the tool palette's seventh cubby from the bottom. Check the brush size in the Tool Options palette; I went with a size of 20. You'll probably want a white beam. To get one, double-click the foreground color at the very bottom of the toolbar on the left side of the screen, and then choose white from the color selector. Click OK. To paint a phaser beam, position the brush where you want the beam to start, and then click and release. Hold down Shift and click on the end point. The program will draw a perfectly straight line between the two points. Make Some Magic Sure, it's fun to create special effects with software. But did you know that you can draw your own pictures by adding light in a controlled way? That's how I got this spooky shot of my daughter shooting beams of light from her hands--and you can use the same technique to create your own magical photos.You'll need to use a digital camera that has some sort of long exposure mode. Ideally, you'll be able to set the shutter speed to at least 16 seconds. I've found that 8 seconds is a bare minimum amount of time to do anything, and you'll get more-satisfying results if your camera has a 16- or 30-second exposure setting. You'll also need to set the camera on a stable surface. A tripod is ideal, or you could set it on a desk, table, chair, or similar surface. Finally, you'll need a flashlight or two.Now that you have your supplies ready, wait for nightfall and position your camera for a photo. Your surroundings should be as dark as possible--in a room with the lights turned off, for example, or outdoors away from street lights. Press the shutter release to start your long exposure, and then use your flashlight to "inject" light directly into the scene. Experimentation Pays Off Since this technique relies on moving a flashlight around in the dark, you have to experiment--and you won't get perfect results every time. Still, you can stack the deck in your favor by choosing your camera settings wisely.Since the shutter needs to be open for so long, the only aspect of your camera that you can control is the aperture. If you use a small aperture (which equates to a large number like f/18), the effect of the light will be diminished. A large aperture (that is, a small number like f/4) will admit a lot more light, which means that any ambient light will illuminate the entire scene; however, it also means the flashlight's beam will appear brighter. Start with an intermediate aperture like f/8, and vary it to see how different values affect your photos.Finally, the way you point your flashlight can produce dramatically different effects. I recommend pointing the flashlight directly into the camera lens, because that will give you the most immediate and dramatic result. But as an alternative, you could try shining the flashlight at objects in the scene instead. In a perfectly dark room, for example, you might experiment with selectively illuminating subjects.For more ways to get in to the spirit of Halloween, see these items:• Scary Fonts• Halloween Games for the iPhone• The 15 Freakiest Web Sites• Costume Ideas - Halloween [iPhone app] Next Up: Check out these related slideshows The crazy sights of CES 2017 Black Friday deals: Best smart home tech discounts Best Deals of the Week, October 31st - November 4th - Deal... Best Deals of the Week, August 15-19 - Deal Alert Best Deals of the Week - Deal Alert Echo Show Ships on Wednesday, Buy 2 and Get a $100 Discount Right Now - Deal... Amazon Prime Gets You 50% off Razer Wildcat Controller for Xbox One, Windows... 60% off iClever Travel Power Strip with Surge Protector and 4 USB Ports - Deal... Related Slideshows The crazy sights of CES 2017 Black Friday deals: Best smart home tech discounts Best Deals of the Week, October 31st - November 4th - Deal Alert Best Deals of the Week, August 15-19 - Deal Alert Best Deals of the Week - Deal Alert The cord-cutting gear from CES that's most likely to find a place in... You Might Like Email a friend To Use commas to separate multiple email addresses From Privacy Policy Thank you Your message has been sent. Sorry There was an error emailing this page.


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Reviewed By Blake S (Mukilteo, WA) Reviewed for a 2011 GMC Sierra —4/26/2017 10:41 PM
I would definitely buy them again. Install was very easy on my ICI bumper, they feel and look very sturdy and they are very bright.
Reviewed By Don Z (Spring Lake, MI) Reviewed for a 2011 GMC Sierra —1/4/2017 5:11 AM
Auto Anything was great I ordered the light received it fast. The light was exactly what I was looking for it included all the wiring, and mounting brackets. Which it really didn't say that in the description so I ordered brackets which I didn't need. But I called Auto Anything and they refunded my money. No hassle at all. I was so happy I purchased the same thing for my son. Hooked it up on my Kubota RTV X1100 and wow my son and I were both very impressed.


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Victoria Justice's "The First Time" Trailer: Watch Now!
Posted Tuesday October 2, 2012 9:20 AM GMT
Giving eager fans an initial glimpse at their new film, Samuel Goldwyn Films released the theatrical trailer for "The First Time" on Monday (October 1).
The Jon Kasdan-written and -directed comedy features "Teen Wolf" star Dylan O' Brien, "Victorious" actress Victoria Justice, and "Dan In Real Life" star Britt Robertson, among others.
As for the film's plot, the Rom-Com centers on the first weekend of a fledgling romance between two high school kids.
"The First Time" will offer a limited release on October 19, but you can check out the trailer now in the player below!


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Well, I agree with that, too (re: Marah). You can have a basic or underlying disagreement, agree to disagree about it (or not), while still allying on other issues about which you share a similar perspective.
It's those grey areas again. Life is full of them, imo. (Yeah, yeah, cite book,make joke ---whatever).


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Villone declines Yanks' arbitration offer
Villone declines arbitration offer
Villone, who returned Thursday from a 12-day vacation in Italy, spoke with his agent, Scott Boras, before making his decision. Villone has drawn interest from five or six teams, several of which may be willing to give the reliever a two-year contract.
"To decline it was the best option I had," Villone said in a telephone interview. "Closing my doors too quickly on a possible multi-year deal didn't make sense."
Villone, who turns 37 in January, went 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 2006, his first season with the Yankees. A native of Upper Saddle River, N.J., Villone enjoyed playing so close to home.
"I love New York and want to play there again, but I'm not going to shut the door on playing someplace else," Villone said. "At this stage of my career, I have to do what's best for my family."
Villone contemplated accepting the arbitration offer, but with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement rules which allow a free agent to re-sign at any time regardless of whether he accepts or declines arbitration, Villone decided to keep his options open.
"If you're asking me today, New York is the only place I'd consider a one-year deal," Villone said. "But a two-year deal is still my preference."
Villone had an impressive first half last year, posting a 2.27 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .201 average in 36 appearances. He struggled after the All-Star break, as hitters batted .301 against him and his ERA in 34 outings was 8.35.
Boras dined with general manager Brian Cashman on Wednesday night, with Villone's future among the topics of discussion. Villone told Boras he didn't want to hear the status of his conversations with any teams until there were solid offers on the table.
"I try to keep things simple for myself," Villone said. "It's easier that way."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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my bad, its in Settings -> Reading to change number f posts appearing.
and to change the top post its: open that post in admin and remove the sticky setting.
Hi, How can I get my blog to show all my posts. It seems if I add a new one it kicks off the oldest one. Have any idea where I can set this to display all?
Also, there seems to be like a featured blog that sticks to the top of the main blog page. How is this set?
i dont think i did anyway. I have my wordpress website in websitename/dev/worpress/. Should it be in that file? I can't find it in there is that where it should be?
Hi, I'm getting an internal server error as follows: 500 – Internal server error. There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.
It happened around the time I edited functions.php to include google anyaltics, but all I did was comment it out.
So it couldn't be over that.
From replacing my current website with a back up from a few days ago it works but the styling and images are all off.
Please help?
Thank you.


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Page 3 of 3
Pelicans swooped by, a Swainson's thrush banked its song off the basalt—I was surrounded by "the wonder of nature." But I turned my attention to study the nature of wonder: my son, immersed in his surroundings.
He clambered across the rocks, through the wild raspberry and barely-flowering Solomon's seal, oblivious to my observation, picking up stones, placing them back, shaking branches and letting the water fall on his head. He was still fishing, just without a rod and reel, and I was reminded of something he told me at age three while exploring on a morel hunt: "I'm finding everything I see."
"Hey," he said, snapping me out of my reverie: "Look at this owl pellet. I think it has teeth in it."
Sure enough, the bottom tooth that had once belonged to a small rodent protruded from the grayish pellet, along with two small bones that someone from another age might have carved into whistles.
"It makes me hungry," he said. "For s'mores."
With fingers still covered in tacky scorched marshmallows that had been smashed between graham crackers and chocolate the night before, I unzipped the tent and glanced out, sans eyeglasses, at two blurry aspens backed by a blushing sky. My own Monet, I thought.
I lay there looking out at the river musing about whether I was spoiling Luca by letting him catch more 20-inch trout in a weekend than I had caught in my entire first five years of fly fishing. Having taught myself to fish, I wondered what, exactly, I wanted to teach my own son about my passion.
Not much, really, I concluded, except that fishing was a wonderful ritual, by turns mindful and mindless: nothing the water itself, over time, won't teach.
Soon I heard the growl of Newmack's boat motoring upriver, and it was time to break camp. There would be an hour or so of shadow in the canyon, and Newmack had mentioned that pitching streamers, particularly crayfish imitations, might fool one of the Missouri's whopper Brown trout, like the 12-pound denizen one of the Lodge's clients had landed in 2010.
Half an hour later, not two strips into the retrieve of my first cast, the line lurched tight. Luca raised his arms in joy as a big rainbow, 4 pounds on my mental deli scale, exploded through the river's surface. The lanky post-spawn hen came quickly to net. I released her without much fanfare, with as much respect for the creature as I could muster at 7:30 in the morning, and headed with Luca down shore for the takeout and the trip home.
Always take a different road out than the one you took in, my grandpa used to say. Why not? After finishing off a little road fuel, a fabulous filet cooked by chef Geoffrey at The Lodge at Eagle Rock, we made our way home over Flesher Pass, where the high mountain streams were beginning to clear, albeit slightly. Newmack had generously offered us a hot shower and a room for the night, but Luca was anxious to get home and do some more camping.
An introspective father, a writer, can know failure at every turn, every sentence, but you know you haven't flubbed your first father-and-son camping trip when you pull into the garage and your son asks if you can pitch the tent in the backyard.


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Virtual crate diggers got a hold of an early Kanye West track that he produced and laid vocals for with a singer/songwriter named Myleka. It never got an official release, but it surfaced online yesterday (Sept. 16) over at Fake Shore Drive.
"If you got any little freak in you, then I'ma find it/These n---as read the pimp manual, but I designed it," he raps on the song "Candy," believed to be from his Roc-a-fella Records days prior to his 2004 debut, The College Dropout.
A version of the track, with its seductively wailing violin chords, eventually landed on Trina's second album, Diamond Princess (2002), as "B R Right" featuring fellow Southern rapper Ludacris and R&B group Blaque on the background vocals. The single, the third from her LP, was a Top 30 hit on the U.S. Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)


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Condition: Standard
All Product Details
How does our sense of morality arise from the structure of the brain?
What does the latest research in language acquisition tells us about the role of culture in the way we think?
What does current neurological research tell us about the nature of time?
This wide-ranging collection of never-before-published essays offers the very latest insights into the daunting scientific questions of our time. Its contributors—some of the most brilliant young scientists working today—provide not only an introduction to their cutting-edge research, but discuss the social, ethical, and philosophical ramifications of their work. With essays covering fields as diverse as astrophysics, paleoanthropology, climatology, and neuroscience, What's Next? is a lucid and informed guide to the new frontiers of science.
Laurence C. Smith: Will We Decamp for the Northern Rim?
At stake is no less than the global pattern of human settlement in the twenty-first century.
Christian Keysers: Mirror Neurons: Are We Ethical by Nature?
Evolution has equipped our brains with circuits that enable us to experience what other individuals do and feel.
Nick Bostrom: How to Enhance Human Beings
Given our rudimentary understanding of the human organism, particularly the brain, how can we hope to enhance such a system? It would amount to outdoing evolution. . . .
Sean Carroll: Our Place in an Unnatural Universe
The early universe is hot and dense; the late universe is cold and dilute. Well . . . why is it like that? The truth is, we have no idea.
Stephon H. S. Alexander: Just What Is Dark Energy?
Dark energy, itself directly unobservable, is the most bewildering substance known, the only "stuff" that acts both on subatomic scales and across the largest distances in the cosmos.
Sarah-Jayne Blakemore: Development of the Social Brain in Adolescence
Using modern brain-imaging techniques, scientists are discovering that the human brain does indeed change well beyond early childhood.
Jason P. Mitchell:Watching Minds Interact
Perhaps the least anticipated contribution of brain imaging to psychological science has been a sudden appreciation for the centrality of social thought to the human mental repertoire.
Matthew D. Lieberman: What Makes Big Ideas Sticky?
Big Ideas sometimes match the structure and function of the human brain such that the brain causes us to see the world in ways that make it virtually impossible not to believe them.
Joshua D. Greene: Fruit Flies of the Moral Mind
People often speak of a "moral faculty" or a "moral sense," suggesting that moral judgment is a unified phenomenon, but recent advances in the scientific study of moral judgment paint a very different picture.
Lera Boroditsky: How Does Our Language Shape the Way We Think?
Language is a uniquely human gift, central to our experience of being human. Appreciating its role in constructing our mental lives brings us one step closer to understanding the very nature of humanity.
Sam Cooke: Memory Enhancement, Memory Erasure: The Future of Our Past
Once we come to understand how our memories are formed, stored, and recalled within the brain, we may be able to manipulate them—to shape our own stories. Our past—or at least our recollection of our past—may become a matter of choice.
Deena Skolnick Weisberg: The Vital Importance of Imagination
One of the main ways in which both adults and children learn about the world around them is by asking "What if?" using their imagination to think about what might have happened in the past or what might happen in the future. Far from being used only for childhood games or daydreams, this ability to get outside of reality can have profound effects on our interactions with reality.
David M. Eagleman: Brain Time
The days of thinking of time as a river—evenly flowing, always advancing—are over. Time perception, just like vision, is a construction of the brain and is shockingly easy to manipulate experimentally.
Vanessa Woods and Brian Hare: Out of Our Minds: How Did Homo sapiens Come Down from the Trees, and Why Did No One Follow?
In the six million years since hominids split from the evolutionary ancestor we share with chimpanzees and bonobos, something happened to our brains that allowed us to become master cooperators, accumulate knowledge at a rapid rate, and manipulate tools to colonize almost every corner of the planet.
Nathan Wolfe: The Aliens Among Us
While viruses have to infect cellular forms of life in order to complete their life cycles, this does not mean that causing devastation is their destiny. The existing equilibrium of our planet is dependent on the actions of the viral world, and its elimination would have profound consequences.
Seirian Sumner: How Did the Social Insects Become Social?
We would like to know what the conditions and selection pressures were that tipped the ancestors of the eusocial insects over the ledge and down toward eusociality.
Katerina Harvati: Extinction and the Evolution of Humankind
It is now clear that humans (whether fossil or living) are not immune from biological forces and that extinction was (and, indeed, is) a distinct possibility.
Gavin Schmidt: Why Hasnt Specialization Led to the Balkanization of Science?
Even as scientific output has increased exponentially, concerns have been raised that growing specialization will end by making it impossible for scientists in different fields to communicate, let alone collaborate.


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Charles Dickens' ivory toothpick sells for $9,150
An ivory and gold toothpick once owned by Charles Dickens has sold at auction for $9,150 (that's £5,600) – no, really, his toothpick! It is engraved with the writer's initials and has a retracting mechanism. One lucky collector will really be able to wow his or her visitors. "Hey, you will never guess what I've got over here," they'll say.
Wouldn't you be tempted to use the toothpick just once? After all it's been in a very famous mouth.


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Alien hand syndrome
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alien Hand Syndrome (also known as anarchic hand, AHS or Doctor Strangeglove Syndrome) is a condition that seems to cause a person's hand to move on its own. [1]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Definition of Alien hand syndrome, MedicineNet.com. Retrieved 30-08-2011.


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Chapter 15: Comfort and Solstice
"You're my son, Kurt. And Rogue is your adopted sister."
Those words reverberated with earth shattering force. Rogue had received a letter from Mystique. She met her in a construction site under stormy skies. Kurt insisted on tagging along, driven to find out the truth about his past. A clue came in the form of a dream Rogue had, which turned out to be memories she absorbed from Mystique. Now it all fell into place. The truth was out. And a dark secret had finally been revealed.
"You're…my mother?" gasped Kurt, shaking his head in disbelief.
Rain started falling. Lightning flashed in the sky above. But such conditions went utterly unnoticed.
"Yes," said Mystique, nodding her head in confirmation, "Where else would you get eyes like that?"
Kurt couldn't believe it. An enemy of the X-men was biological mother. A cold feeling coursed through his veins. He wanted to know about his past and he found out. But for Rogue, it was too much.
"So all this time…Ah had a brother ya never told meh about?" she said with scorn in her tone.
"I had my reasons," said Mystique in defense.
"Bullshit!" spat Rogue.
"It's true!" yelled Mystique as rain poured down her face, "If you absorbed my memories, you saw what happened! I…I let someone experiment on Kurt. But when I saw what he was doing I grabbed him and ran!"
"You…you let someone experiment on me?! Your own son?!" exclaimed Kurt.
"I thought he could help you!" she yelled in a rage, "I tried to get away, but I…"
She couldn't continue. Even for the cold, hardened Mystique it was too difficult to say. But Rogue pieced it together. The memory played over in her mind. This time it was completely clear.
"Ya dropped him in a river," choked Rogue, "Ya dropped him, but ya knew he survived didn't ya?"
"So you left me…" said Kurt, his tone thick with anguish as he gazed coldly at the shape shifter.
Mystique's face contorted in pain.
"It was the only way!" she said, "I couldn't drag you into my life."
"That didn't stop ya from adoptin' meh!" quipped Rogue.
That sent Mystique over the edge. She couldn't believe she was hearing this. She was fuming. Her own children were against her. It sparked a surge of rage and anger that went beyond anything the shape shifter had felt before.
"You have no idea what it was like!" yelled Mystique, "You think I wanted to leave my son behind?! You think it hasn't haunted me every waking hour?! It's why I reached out to you, Rogue! You were a four-year-old mutant girl who nobody wanted! You filled a void in my heart! I raised you like my own! Don't you believe me?"
Rogue and Kurt stood in a conflicted state. It was a lot to take in. There was no denying how much this meant to Mystique, but looking into the eyes of the woman they now knew as their mother all they could see was hatred and anger. There was no denying her dedication. But her actions told the story.
"But if ya loved us so much then why didn't ya tell meh Ah had a brother?" said Rogue in a strained tone.
"And vhy didn't you ever try and contact me?" added Kurt, fighting tears of anguish.
"It…it was better this way," answered Mystique.
"Better by keepin' secrets from us?" spat Rogue bitterly.
"I had to!" yelled Mystique with further frustration, "You have no idea how sick this world is! I've tried for years to build a life by taking on the appearance of other! I live in a world of lies!"
"But ve're your children!" shot Kurt, "Ve vould understand! Ve vould be zhere!"
"Not if you've experienced the side of humanity I've seen," said the shape shifter in a dark tone, "You know better than anybody how hard it is to hide who and what you are. Even being a shape shifter, I have to hide my face. I do it because humanity considers me a freak. That's why I joined the Brotherhood. I wanted to work to make the world safer for the both of you."
Kurt and Rogue exchanged conflicted looks. Mystique was a master of deception, but she bore everything now. There was so much anger in her soul. She had no faith in humanity. She had no desire for peace. All she wanted was a better world for them even at the expense of inflicting harm on others.
"Mama…" began Rogue, shaking her head in remorse.
"I know Xavier has put naïve ideas into your heads," Mystique went on, "But that's why I'm here now. Together, we can be a family again and fight for a world where we don't have to live with our faces hidden from society."
"But zhat's exactly vhat zhe Professor believes in!" argued Kurt.
"Xavier is a stubbornly idealistic," scoffed Mystique, "What I'm talking about here is being realistic. I've seen how they treat those who are different. I've seen the hatred humanity is capable of."
"Zhat's not true!" shot Kurt, "Vhat about zhe good in humanity? Should ve just forget about zhat?"
"Any good humanity managed is snuffed by hatred," said Mystique coldly.
"You're wrong!" yelled Kurt in defiance, "Vheren't zhe people you left me vith human? Zhey loved me for who I vas even zhough so many others didn't! You expect me to forget about zhat?!"
A hard scorn fell upon the shape shifter's face. Even as she gave them the cold hard truth, Xavier's ideas hung strong. These were her children. She had no desire to fight against them. She refused to lose them.
"Kurt…Rogue…Xavier has brainwashed you," continued Mystique, "He's put naïve ideas into your minds and…"
"He's teachin' us to have faith in humanity, mama!" shot Rogue, "Ah know it sounds far fetched and all for ya, but ya know what? There's more to it than that! Ah've only been at the institute for a couple of days and Ah've seen the things ya never told meh about!"
"Rogue, listen to me…" said Mystique vehemently.
"No YOU listen!" shot Rogue, her face within inches of the woman who raised her, "Ah thought we were doin' our kind a favor at the Brotherhood! But all Ah've seen from you and the rest of those slobs ya call a team is bunch of thugs that this ain't about helpin' mutants! It's all about helpin' ourselves! How does that do the world any good? Hell, Ah wouldn't blame the world for bein' afraid of us for that!"
Kurt tried to pull Rogue back, but she shook his grasp off. Tears were streaming down her face. Her heart was breaking, yelling at her mother like this. But she had to let it out. This was her life and she was making her own choices for a change.
"Xavier teaches us to use our powers to help people," said Rogue, her lips quivering with anguish, "Ah thought Ah was gonna spend the rest of mah life hurtin' everybody Ah touched. But the X-men have shown meh that it's possible to make a difference. They've given meh a life and a purpose."
"But you had a purpose with the Brotherhood!" yelled Mystique.
"Only because ya didn't give meh a choice!" spat Rogue, "Well guess what? Ah got a chance to see the other side of the story that ya wouldn't tell meh!"
"Only because that Summers boy wanted to use you," said Mystique bitterly.
"And you didn't?" said Kurt, matching his mother's bitterness.
Mystique was fuming. This couldn't be happening. She could feel her children slipping away. Xavier had taken them from her and so had Scott Summers. She felt sick. Her son was with Xavier. Her daughter was sleeping with the leader of the X-men. And nothing she did got through to them.
"I'm your mother!" she said strongly, "I gave you life! I took you in! I spent years trying to make a better life for you and this is the thanks I get?!"
"A better life?" scoffed Rogue, "Ya call the Brotherhood a better life?"
"They have more of a future than Xavier!" shot Mystique, "I had hoped that you would see that. But I guess being X-men has made you forget about your family."
The shape shifter's words hurt. Kurt had to hold Rogue back from going off again, but Mystique wasn't finished. Clenching her fists, she made one final stand.
"I'm going to leave you two with one last chance," said the shape shifter in a serious tone, "Either come with me and fight as family or stay with the X-men and fight fading dreams. Which is more important? Your family or your friends?"
Kurt and Rogue swallowed hard at the predicament Mystique had put them in. Even after all her deception, she was still their mother. They were family whether they liked it or not. But she lived in a different world. Her life was guided by anger and hatred. They could see so much of it burning in her eyes. And looking back at each other, their choice was clear.
"Ah'm sorry, mama," said Rogue with a sob, "But mah place is with the X-men."
"Same here," said Kurt with a look of remorse, "I'm sorry ve can't be a family, but zhis is who ve are."
Mystique felt a hard sting through the pit of her soul. She gave them a choice and they chose Xavier. She had lost her son. She thought she could save her daughter. Now she didn't have either. She was forced to hide her tears, maintaining a stern expression. Her talents as a shape shifter allowed her to hide many things. But hiding this pain was harder than she ever could have imagined.
"Is that your final choice?" said Mystique, her words devoid of emotion.
"Yes," Rogue choked, seeing the anger in her eyes.
Bowing her head in remorse, Mystique let out a defeated sigh.
"That's too bad. We could have worked a lot of things out. I guess this means we'll have to do this the hard way."
Kurt and Rogue's eyes widened, but before they could do anything Mystique snapped her fingers and in an instant, a silver and white streak burst out of the surrounding area and spun around them at blinding speeds. Falling back in shock, a tornado-like wind formed and caused them to lose their balance.
"What in the…" exclaimed Rogue.
"You-can't-run-from-us-that-easy-Roguey!" taunted Pietro as he zipped around them at breakneck speeds.
Dirt from the construction area picked up, choking Kurt and Rogue in a blinding haze. Toad, Freddy, and Lance emerged as well, surrounding the whirlwind in combat ready stance.
"Can't believe they fell for it, yo!" grinned Toad.
"Man they're gullible!" laughed Freddy, "Nobody disrespects the Brotherhood and gets away with it!"
They all watched as Kurt and Rogue choked on the dirt while struggling to keep their balance. All the while Mystique watched on indifferently, hiding whatever emotion was burning within.
"I'm sorry, my children," she said in a low tone, "But I won't let you slip away again."
Kurt and Rogue tried to regain their composure, but the dirt kicked up was too thick. It was impossible to see or concentrate. Kurt attempted to teleport, but if he couldn't see where he was going he could wind up infused in a slab of concrete. He tried to hold onto Rogue, but the wind was too strong.
"Light's-out-suckers!" taunted Pietro.
"My thought's exactly!" came a voice.
Suddenly, a burst of telekinetic energy shot through the site and knocked Pietro off his feet, sending him tumbling towards a steel beam at breakneck speed.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed before getting knocked out cold by the impact.
The whirlwind quickly died down and the dust settled. Toad, Freddy, and Lance took defensive poises, letting out a grunt of frustration. The X-men just couldn't leave them alone. Scott, Jean, Evan, Kitty, and Wolverine didn't look pleased with their stunt, especially Scott. His eyes never left Rogue as she and Kurt remained surrounded.
"Game's over, Mystique!" growled Wolverine, drawing his claws.
"You!" yelled the angry shape shifter, "This doesn't involve any of you! This is between me and my children!"
"Children?" said Evan with a look of shock, "Dude, when did this happen?"
"Long story, mien friend," said Kurt, clearing his throat from the dust, "All you need to know is Mystique tricked us!"
"What part of that's supposed to shock me?" muttered Kitty, "You guys alright?"
Still reeling from her mother's betrayal, Rogue cleared her throat and narrowed her gaze on Mystique. A look of determination never left her face. Her own mother had broken the trust she valued so. Now her choice was clear.
"No! Ah'm pretty damn far from bein' alright!" said the angry Goth, "But at least Ah know who Ah can take it out on!"
"Rogue?" said Kurt with a weary look.
Ignoring the surrounding Brotherhood, Rogue charged towards Mystique with rage in her eyes. The shape shifter had little time to react. On instinct, years of fighting experience kicked in against the daughter she helped raise.
"YOU LYIN' TWISTED BITCH!" she cried, throwing a fury of punches at her mother, "HOW COULD YA DO THIS TO MEH?"
"Augh!" grunted Mystique, blocking each hit, "Rogue! Stop this!"
The fight went on, the raging emotion driving Rogue's fury. The Brotherhood hesitated to help, but they had other concerns as they stared down the X-men.
"Rogue!" yelled Scott as he ran towards his girlfriend.
"Back off, Summers!" bellowed Freddy, now standing in his way.
"Out of my way!"
Unleashing an optic blast, the immovable Blob held strong. Scott was determined to get to Rogue, but the Brotherhood wasn't going to make it easy for them. Meanwhile, Toad and Lance joined in the fight. Toad went for Evan while Lance went for Kitty. As usual, the Brotherhood was overconfident.
"Come on! Come on! What you got? What you got?" taunted Toad as he hopped around Evan.
"What are you gonna do, Tolensky? Hop me to death?" grinned Evan.
"I could. But how bout this!"
Taking aim, Toad spat a glob of slime at Evan. His reflexes kicked in and he dove off to the side to avoid the shot. Toad prepared to shoot again, but this time it was Sypke's turn. Lining his arm with bony spikes, he unleashed a barrage that forced Toad to leap out of the way. But when he landed, he left himself open for a quick hit with an oversized barb that pinned him a pile of gravel.
"Ack!" grunted Toad, the barb penetrating his pants and underwear to give him a world class wedgie.
"Gotta work on that aim, swamp breath," taunted Evan, standing in triumph.
Over with Lance, Kitty was hesitant to attack. She and Lance had been flirting and talking since the X-men recruited her back home. She thought he wasn't like the rest of the Brotherhood, but the hallow look on his face left little room to argue.
"Lance! You don't have to do this!" she urged.
"Sorry Kitty," he said, clenching his fists, "But this is my choice."
Rolling his eyes back into his head, Lance unleashed a wave of tremors. They were strong, intense enough to knock everybody off their feet. Even Rogue had to halt her assault on Mystique in order to maintain her balance. Debris from the site fell from the steel scaffolding, but Kitty managed to phase through it.
"Lance!" she yelled over the commotion.
"He ain't gonna listen, half-pint!" grunted Logan, "Ya gotta take him down!"
"How?!" she exclaimed.
"With that special move I taught ya last week!"
A mischievious grin formed on her face as Kitty regained her poise and shot up to her feet. Lance tried to turn up the intensity, but his concentration left him too open and Kitty exploited it. Attacking with drive that could only be learned from the Wolverine, the young mutant elbowed Avalanche in the face while simultaneously kneeing him in the groin.
"Ugh!" grunted Lance, his eyes widening as the paralyzing pain shot through him.
"Wow, guess that training really does pay off," grinned Kitty.
The tremors stopped, allowing Rogue to resume her fight with Mystique. But before she could renew her attack, the shape shifter tackled her to the ground.
"You ungrateful little brat!" spat Mystique, "After everything I've done for you THIS is how you repay me?!"
"Mother, stop!" yelled Kurt, trying to tear his mother off Rogue.
"Stay back, son! You've already made your choice!" said Mystique coldly as she elbowed him off.
Mystique was fighting back and gaining the upper hand. She now had Rogue tackled to the ground. Scott was quick to take notice, but Blob wasn't giving him any openings.
"That all you got?" taunted Fred, "I'm the freakin' Blob! You can't beat me!"
"Wanna bet?" said Jean, seeing her chance.
Using her telekinesis, Jean released a heavy wrecking ball from a nearby machine. With a focused mind, she swung it around to build momentum. Fred was still occupied with Cyclops's blasts. Taking aim, the young psychic sent the heavy object directly at the immovable Blob.
"Ahhhhh!" yelled Blob, stumbling off to the side and landing head first in a cement mixer.
"Ain't so immovable now, bub," grinned Logan, casually flipping the switch and causing the mixer to spin.
"Hey! Get me out of here! When I get my hands on you I'll…"
But that was all Freddy got out before he got a mouth full of cement.
Now free from further impediment, Scott set his sights on Mystique. She still had Rogue pinned, but Rogue was putting up a major fight. So full of rage, the southern mutant kept struggling. Mystique tried to restrain her, but after the stunt she just pulled her rage was just too great.
"I…won't…let go…again!" grunted Mystique through the epic struggle.
"Hey Mystique!" shouted Scott in a stern tone, "Hands off my girlfriend!"
Adjusting the settings on his visor, Scott unleashed a picture perfect shot that impacted Mystique square in the chest. The force was great enough to send her flying, freeing Rogue in the process. Still on the ground, Scott and Jean went to help Rogue up. She was dazed, distraught, and emotionally drained. But the feeling of her boyfriend's soft grip helped ease her troubled state.
"Are you okay, Rogue?" asked Jean as Rogue returned to her feet.
"No," she said bitterly, "But Ah'm gettin' there."
Taking her hand, Scott pulled Rogue into a soft embrace. She quickly sank into his arms, craving the comfort only he could give. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. And through the anger and distress, she let out a hard sob.
"It'll be okay, Rogue," said Scott softly, "I'm here now."
Upon recovering from the blast, Mystique arose to see her daughter crying in the arms of an X-man. It made her blood boil, but at the same time it sent a surge of pain through her soul. She made her adopted daughter, the little girl she took in all those years ago, cry. It was a sight she never wanted to see, but she made it happen because of what she had done.
Trying to get up, she was met with the imposing sight of Wolverine standing over her. His claws were drawn and he bore a threatening look, further dissuading the shape shifter from making things worse.
"Don't even think about it, lady," grunted Logan, "Rogue's with us and so is elf. Accept it or keep fightin'. Either way is fine by me."
Kurt teleported next to him and was soon joined by Kitty and Evan. Her team was defeated. Her children were lost. If she fought any longer she'd only cause more pain. And seeing the look in the eyes of her son and daughter was painful enough.
"This isn't over," she said in a menacing tone.
"Yes it is, mother," said Kurt in a strained tone, "I'm sorry, but zhis is how it has to be."
Full of bitterness, Mystique turned her back. The Brotherhood was slow to recover, groaning in pain from their defeat. The day was lost. The best the shape shifter could do was prevent further damage.
"Ugh!" grunted Pietro, his head still ringing as Mystique forced him up.
"Get up. We're leaving," she said in a low tone.
One by one the Brotherhood got up. They gave the X-men angry stares, but Mystique's orders were clear. There would be no more fighting today. Lance didn't eye Kitty, who stared at him with a distant gaze. No words were needed at this point. Their path was clear.
Taking one last look at her children, Mystique saw the hurt in her eyes. In addition, Scott still had a protective arm around Rogue. It still made her sick, but there was nothing more she could do. A hard lump formed in the shape shifter's throat. She was a master at hiding emotion, but this was just too much. A slight tear fell down her face, but she didn't allow her children or the X-men to see it.
"Come on, team," said Scott, holding Rogue close, "Let's go home."
"Home…" said Rogue, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Yeah, that sounds nice."
Managing a smile, Scott slipped his arm around her waist as the X-men left behind the complications they had just endured. Kurt and Rogue held their heads low, still reeling from Mystique's betrayal. The truth was difficult and harsh. But by the sides of their friends, the pain wasn't as bad.
And for Rogue, it was a new beginning.
Kurt and Rogue spent the rest of the night letting the days events sink in. The whole way back, Rogue stuck close to Scott while Kurt kept to himself. Nobody said a word. It was a lot to take in, knowing they were siblings and Mystique was their mother. Life had a ways of taking dramatic turns. There was no telling where they would go from here. But at least they didn't have to go it alone.
When they got back, Rogue retreated to her room while Kurt spent a quiet moment on the back balcony. Meanwhile, the Professor discussed the new situation with Logan and Ororo in his study. It had been a day of revelations. Everybody was physically and emotionally drained. Yet plenty of uncertainties remained.
"So elf and stripes are siblings…" said Logan, chewing on a toothpick as he, Ororo, and the Professor sat before the soft glow of the fire, "That's gotta mess with your head."
"Yes, I can't imagine how they must feel," said Ororo with a distant look.
"Indeed," agreed Xavier, keeping his gaze on the burning embers, "And I'm sure it will take time for Kurt and Rogue to make sense of it all. Mystique may be an enemy, but she is a major part of their lives."
"Think she'll try something like this again?" wondered Logan, throwing away his toothpick.
"She's their mother, Logan. It's not a matter of if. It's merely a matter of when."
A heavy silence fell over them. Despite her cold poise, the shape shifter showed just how dedicated she was to her family. Even though her stunt hadn't work, Mystique was a tenacious fighter. She would never leave her kids behind. But then again, they would not leave their friends behind either.
"I guess we'll just have to be ready," said Ororo, still holding onto a sense of optimism.
"Indeed," said Xavier, "But for now we must help Kurt and Rogue in every way they can as they come to terms with who they are and who Mystique truly is."
It was a hard pill to swallow. But what's done is done. A lot had changed and there was no telling just how much it would continue to do so.
"Ya think they'll be alright?" mused Logan.
Professor Charles Xavier, in all his confidence, smiled at his friend's words. Rogue had Scott. And Kurt now had Rogue as a sibling. Their lives had been complicated to no end as a result of their mutation. Now it had been complicated even more with Mystique. But in the end they still came together.
The Professor may not have been able to empathize with Kurt and Rogue's predicament, but if the feelings he sensed were any indication then they would have all the support and strength they would need for this time of great transition.
"Logan old friend…I have a feeling they'll be just fine."
As the hours ticked by, Rogue sat wide awake in her bed. Hugging her knees, the young women went through the complicated events that had devastated her world. She came to Bayville a complete outsider, cursed with powers that imprisoned her in her own body. But all that changed when Scott entered her life and showed her that she could connect with another person and share her heart.
If that hadn't been stressful enough, Rogue went up against her own mother. Not only had Mystique been disgusted by her relationship with Scott, she tried to take it away from her. All the while the shape shifter had kept a secret from her about her past that would forever change her life. She had been hanging around a brother and didn't know it.
Resting her head on her knees, Rogue gazed out the window at all the changes that had affected her life. Her heart stung with Mystique's betrayal, but at the same time there was plenty to be thankful for. She had a boyfriend she loved, fought for a cause she actually believed in, and even had a sibling to turn to for when times got rough. No doubt her life would never be the same, but there was still plenty of reason to be hopeful.
Lost in her thoughts, Rogue was abruptly brought out of her daze by a knock at the door.
"Rogue?" came Kurt's distinct tone from the other side.
Not getting a response, he entered anyways to see his adopted sister still sitting on her bed. While he couldn't blame her, he couldn't end this night without speaking to her one last time.
"Hey, I zhought you might still be up," he said, sitting next to her.
"Yeah," she said in a monotone voice, "Kinda hard to sleep after everythin' that's happened."
"Tell me about it," sighed Kurt.
A heavy silence fell over them. It was hard to digest. They had been siblings and never realized it. It brought many strange feelings, but at least they didn't have to face them alone.
"So…" began Kurt.
"So…" repeated Rogue.
"So vhere do ve go from here?" he pondered
"Ah don't know," sighed Rogue, "What do ya do after your mama betrays ya? What do ya do after ya find out ya got a little brother?"
"Beats me," shrugged Kurt, "But I…I honestly vouldn't mind having you as a sister."
That got Rogue to divert her gaze from the window and face the younger boy who she was undeniably connected to.
"Ya really mean that?" she said with hope in her eyes.
"Of course," smiled Kurt, taking her hand in his, "You're a great person, Rogue. You've shown me zhat. And Brotherhood or not, ve're related now. And I don't know about you, but I zhink it vould be nice having a sibling to turn to vith all the zhings ve have to deal vith. Don't you?"
It was remarkable to think that this boy was her brother now. But as she looked into those yellow eyes of his, Rogue couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah," she said softly, "Ah would too."
Another silence fell over them. Only now, it was far more comfortable. They had a lot to work out, but all that could be done with time. And now that they were together after this ordeal, they had plenty of it to work things out.
"I promise you, Rogue, vhatever you're going through now, I'm here for you," said Kurt, giving her hand a squeeze, "Being Mystique's son is hard to get over, but you of all people can understand zhat. And besides, it's not a total loss. I mean, ve got new family out of it!"
"Guess we did," said Rogue with a smile, "Thanks, Kurt."
"Anytime, mien sister," he said, returning her gesture.
The night had been full of surprises and this was no exception. But regardless of what had happened Kurt and Rogue had something to build off of together. There was no telling where it would lead them, but they would find it together.
As Kurt got up to make his leave, he saw Scott standing in the doorway waiting for his chance. Smiling at his friend, Kurt gave Scott a friendly nod. He was his sister's boyfriend now. As if their lives weren't eventful enough, there was still one last matter to take care of.
"Take good care of her," said Kurt under his breath, "She's mien sister, you know."
"I will," replied Scott, "I promise."
"And do me another favor…" he said, his voice shifting to one of discomfort, "Do as much as you can to keep vhat you two do in private on zhe down low. You're not just sleeping vith Rogue now. You're sleeping vith my sister."
Scott and Kurt shared an awkward moment, but it had to be done. No doubt things would be different now that Rogue was Kurt's sister. Kurt already scolded himself for thinking about them having sex earlier. It was going to take a while to get over it, but that was just one of the little things. Now that they were family they had much more time to work it out.
Kurt retreated to his room with a smile, leaving his sister and her boyfriend. Tomorrow would bring a new beginning. But first, Scott and Rogue had their own things to work out. It was very late and everybody else was fast asleep. Despite being tired and drained, Scott and Rogue still had the energy to share one last moment together. And for Rogue, he was the one person she needed most at the moment.
"Hey sugah," smiled Rogue, "Come to kiss meh goodnight?"
"That and see how you're doing," said Scott, closing her door and sitting besides her, "You had me worried for a while."
"Ah know," she sighed, "It's just a lot to take in. First Ah find out Ah have a brother and then mah mama tries to take us away."
"Yeah, hell of a day, huh?"
"That's puttin' it lightly," muttered Rogue.
Hugging her knees again, Scott moved in closer. She quickly sank into his warmth, resting her tired head on his shoulder. The comfort his presence offered was still as strong as ever, his warm presence easing her troubled soul.
"It still hurts," she went on in a strained tone, "Mystique's still mah mama and Ah love her, but…she betrayed meh. She…"
"She'll always be your mother, Rogue. And she'll always love you," said Scott, giving her a warm hug.
"Doesn't make it any easier," said Rogue bitterly.
"You made your decision and so did she. I can't say I know how it feels, but I can say I know what it's like to be in pain. And now that you're here with friends and a brother, you don't have to face these things alone."
Sobbing hard at his words, Rogue slipped her arms around Scott's neck and turned to face him. Gazing into the ruby quartz glasses that covered his eyes, she smiled warmly as he wiped away her tears. Her heart was still aching after Mystique, but Scott Summers still made it soar with such passion and love.
"You're right," said Rogue warmly, "And Ah have a very special someone to thank for startin' it all."
Caressing his face, Rogue captured her boyfriend's lips in a soft kiss. Slipping his arms securely around her waist, Scott kissed back. The warmth and comfort offered by such intimacy knew few bounds. They had come a long way since they first met and yet they still had so much further to go.
Rogue's life would never be the same. And it was all because she connected with this boy. He gave her so much. Enraptured in his strong arms, there was nothing she couldn't overcome. And after a night so full of drama, there was only one way they could conceive of to start things anew.
"Scott…" she said as the kiss parted, "Make love to meh."
Scott looked at her with little surprise, but smiled none-the-less.
"After everything that's happened?" he said, tracing a hand down her face.
"Can ya think of a better way to cap off a night like this?" smiled Rogue.
Surrendering to their passions, Scott and Rogue embraced one another in a tender moment. Their lips met softly as yearning desire overtook them. Holding her lover close in an upright position, Rogue hooked her legs around her lover held him closely. Tasting her sweet lips, Scott let out an impassioned moan to the woman who meant so much to him.Despite all the drama, loss, and confusion Scott and Rogue went on to make love. Slipping under the covers, they rolled around naked in a daze of kissing, moaning, and bodily movements. It was a special moment, taking on so much significance after everything they had been through. New beginning or not, the most important part of their lives had stayed the same. They found something special in each other and it changed them forever.
Collapsing atop her naked lover, Scott and Rogue panted hard. Their bodies were glowing with sweat. Warm feelings of love and contentment filled their souls. They had come together through enormous complications, but there was no denying how deep their feelings were.
Lying beside one another, their naked bodies entwined from such passionate lovemaking, Rogue smiled as she lay atop her lover. Still panting, she caressed his face and gave him one last soft kiss.
"So…where do we go from here?" she wondered.
"Honestly? I don't know," said Scott, tracing his hand up from her hips to her beautiful face, "But I do know this though…wherever the future may lead, I take comfort in knowing I'll have an amazing woman by my side every step of the way."
More tears formed in Rogue's eyes. Only this time, they were tears of joy.
"I love you, Rogue," said Scott softly.
"Ah love you too."
Capping of a profound night, Scott and Rogue came together in one last kiss before slipping into a world of dreams secure in each others' arms. Things were sure to change in the complicated world they lived. The issues surrounding Mystique, the Brotherhood, and her family were sure to continue. But lying in the arms of her lover, Rogue wasn't worried at all.
Once cursed to by her powers, she now had someone so close to her that she treasured with all her heart. It was amazing how this man had changed her life. They came together so suddenly, yet what they shared was undeniable, unbreakable, and above all untouchable.
AN: There you have it. My first Scott/Rogue fic is finished. I figure this is a good place to end it. So what did you think? Please send me your feedback via email or post it on the fanfiction website. Thank you all very much for reading and I wish everybody the best.
The hardest traps to escape are the ones we set ourselves.