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To determine whether variants in the estrogen receptor 1 (alpha) and 2 (beta) (ESR1 and ESR2) genes are associated with cognitive impairment in non-demented elderly men and women.
Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on ESR1 and ESR 2 genes have been associated with a range of hormone sensitive diseases such as breast cancer and osteoporosis. Genetic variations in ESR may also influence cognitive aging but are less studied, especially among men.
We studied 2527 participants enrolled in an ongoing prospective study of community-dwelling elders. Four SNPs from ESR1 and four from ESR2 were analyzed. We measured cognitive function with the Modified Mini-Mental Status Examination (3MS) at baseline and biannually; cognitive impairment was defined as a decline of 5 or more points over 4 years. We calculated odds of developing cognitive impairment across SNPs using gender-stratified logistic regression and adjusted analyses for age, education, baseline 3MS score and in addition for race.
1343 women (mean age 73.4) and 1184 men (mean age 73.7) comprised our cohort. Among women, after multivariate adjustment, 2 of the ESR1 SNPs (rs8179176, rs9340799) and 2 of the ESR2 SNPs (rs1256065, rs1256030) were associated with likelihood of developing cognitive impairment, although the association for rs8179176 was of trend level significance. In men, 1 of the ESR1 SNPs (rs728524) and 2 of the ESR2 (rs1255998, rs1256030) were associated with cognitive impairment. Further adjustment for race attenuated the results somewhat. There was no association between any ESR SNP and level of bioavailable estradiol but testosterone level did vary among 2 of the SNPs (p<0.05).
We found that among non-demented community elders, several SNPS in the ESR1 and ESR2 genes were associated with risk of developing cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that estrogen receptor genetic variants may play a role in cognitive aging.
The genes for the estrogen receptor 1 and 2 (ESR1 or alpha and ESR2 or beta) have several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Differences in ESR1 polymorphism frequencies have been demonstrated among patients with breast cancer, osteoporosis and endometriosis [2,7,9,11,21,24]. The polymorphisms may affect ER gene enhancer activity [17] or gene regulation [1], but how they influence these outcomes is not exactly known. Several polymorphisms have been linked to the modification of the effects of exogenous estrogen on lipid levels in older women [10].
Although not as well studied, genetic variations in ESR may influence cognitive aging. This is important as approximately 50% of genetic factors remain unidentified for sporadic Alzheimer disease (AD). Several case-controls studies [3,12,18], but not all [17], have found an association between several ESR1 polymorphisms (most notably PvuII and XbaI ) and AD. As part of a prospective study of non-demented women, we found that both of the SNPs we examined on ESR1 were associated with likelihood of developing cognitive impairment over 8 years [31]. There are few data on ESR2 polymorphisms and cognitive function or dementia.
Most studies to date have been cross-sectional and only determined the association with advanced cognitive decline such as AD. In addition, few studies have investigated the association of the ESR variations on cognitive aging in men. The goal of this study is to determine whether ESR1 and ESR 2 gene polymorphisms are associated with cognitive decline in both elderly men and women who were non-demented at study onset. We hypothesized that the previously studied ESR1 polymorphisms such as PvuII and XbaI would be associated with cognitive impairment and that in addition, some of the ESR2 polymorphisms would be associated with cognitive outcomes.
Participants were part of the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study, a prospective cohort study beginning in 1997 of 3075 community-dwelling elders then aged 70-79 years old and living in Memphis, TN or Pittsburgh, PA. To identify potential participants, a random sample of white and all black Medicare-eligible elders within designated zip code areas were contacted. To be eligible for the study, participants had to report no difficulties with activities of daily living, walking a quarter of a mile, or climbing 10 steps without resting. They also had to be free of life-threatening cancers and could not intend to move out of the study area for at least 3 years. Seventy-seven percent of all eligible participants contacted agreed to participate in the study. All elders participating in the study signed an informed written consent, approved by the institutional review boards at the clinical sites. This study was approved by the institutional review boards of the coordinating center, the University of California, San Francisco.
Of the 3075 participants, 103 were missing ESR1 and ESR2 genotype data. Of the remaining 2972, 18 were missing baseline cognitive data and an additional 427 were missing follow-up cognitive data (220 died, 14 were lost to follow-up and 193 did not have repeat cognitive testing), leaving 2527 participants in our analytic cohort. There were no differences in genotype frequencies among those with and without cognitive follow-up for all 8 of the polymorphisms among women and for 7 of the 8 ER polymorphisms among men. For ESR2 rs1255998, men with the GG genotype were more likely to be missing cognitive follow-up (26%) compared to men with the CC (15%) or CG genotype (18%) (p=0.007).
The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) was administered to all participants during the baseline visit and repeated at the Year 3 and 5 follow-up visits. It is a brief, general cognitive battery with components for orientation, concentration, language, praxis, and immediate and delayed memory [29]. The maximum (best) score is 100. Cognitive impairment was defined as a 3MS decline of 5 or more points at either follow-up visit as has been previously recommended [14].
ESR1 and ESR2 polymorphisms were genotyped by the 5′-nuclease assay [16] four SNPs were analyzed on each gene. Assays were designed using the ABI Assays-on-Demand service and genotyped using the ABI 7900HT (Applied Biosystems). Each assay included as positive controls, individuals whose genotype was confirmed by direct sequencing, and no template controls as negative controls. The test sample included 5% duplicates as controls to which the experimenter was blinded.
Potential covariates included participant gender, age, race, and whether or not they achieved a high-school level of education. At Year 3, health literacy was assessed using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM), scored 0-66 with scores >60 representing a 9th grade reading level or above. In addition, presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, history of myocardial infarction (MI) and history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were determined using prevalent disease algorithms based on self-report of physician diagnoses and recorded medications, with measurements from the clinic examination used for selected conditions (e.g. diabetes). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), with higher scores indicating greater number of symptoms and a score ≥ 16 consistent with possible depression [19]. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes were analyzed using standard techniques and coded as APOE e4 or no e4. Bioavailable plasma estradiol and free serum testosterone concentrations were measured on a subset of participants (n=831). Estradiol assays were performed at the Royal Marsden Labs (London, England) by an initial extraction by column chromatography and radioimmunoassay using a highly specific rabbit antiserum raised against an estradiol-6-carboxymethyloxime-bovine serum albumin conjugate (EIR, Wurenlingen, Switzerland) and Third Generation Estradiol [I125] reagent (DSL 39120 Diagnostic Systems Laboratories Inc., Texas). The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 7.6% and 17.0%, respectively. Serum concentrations of free testosterone were measured at Wake Forest University using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kit (sensitivity = 0.19 pg/ml, detection range = 0.25-100 pg/ml) from Diagnostic Systems Laboratories, Inc. (DSL, Webster, TX). The intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 4.9% and 9.0%, respectively, for a low level control (1.9pg/ml) and were 3.6% and 13.0%, respectively, for a high level control (26.6pg/ml).
Analyses were conducted with Stata Release 9 (StataCorp. 2005, College Station, TX). We first tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and estimated a measure of linkage disequilibrium within each race/ethnicity group. To determine whether each ER SNP was associated with cognitive impairment, the proportion of participants that developed cognitive impairment was calculated by genotype. Since the rates of cognitive impairment were similar in most cases for the heterozygotes and the homozygotes of the most common allele, we combined them to simplify analyses and presentation of results. We used the Mantel-Haenszel method to calculate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of risk of cognitive impairment across genotype, using the most frequent genotype group as the reference. Interactions between race and gender and each of the ER polymorphisms on cognitive impairment were tested using the Breslow-Day test of homogeneity. Since there were statistically significant interactions between gender and 2 of the 8 ER polymorphisms on cognitive impairment, we stratified all analyses by gender. Thus, the total number of comparisons was 16 (8 SNPs for both genders). We controlled for but did not stratify by race since there were no significant interactions between race and the SNPs on cognitive impairment.
Because age, education, baseline 3MS score and race were strongly associated with the outcome and some of the polymorphisms, we adjusted our analyses for these covariates.. Multivariate adjustments were conducted by assigning each participant to a stratum that was defined by the combination of characteristics they exhibited on all of these covariates. The Mantel-Haenszel method was then used to calculate a common odds ratio across the strata, thereby controlling for the characteristics defining them. This provides a way to adjust for the possible confounding effects of the covariates without estimating a model-based parameter for each of them [5]. For a sensitivity analysis, we ran traditional multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for the same covariates.
We also constructed haplotypes for both ESR1 and ESR2 and tested for associations with cognitive impairment using the R software [23].
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was present in all ESR polymorphisms except for in one of the 8 polymorphisms (ESR1 rs9340799) among blacks (p=0.042). Linkage disequilibrium was very strong between the first 2 ESR1 polymorphisms (D' ranged from 0.369-0.998 in whites and 0.294-0.999 in blacks) and between all 4 ESR2 polymorphisms (D' ranged from 0.977-0.996 in whites and 0.819-0.960 in blacks).
There were 1343 women and 1184 men in our analytic cohort (Table 1). The mean (SD) age of the women at baseline was 73.4 (2.9) and the mean age of the men was 73.7 (2.8); 44% of the women and 34% of the men and were black; 22% of the women and 25% of the men had less than a high-school level of education; 30% of women and 28% of men were carriers of the APOE e4 allele. For women, the most common allele frequencies were: ESR1 rs8179176 A=58%, rs9340799 A=50%, rs728524 A=88%, rs3798577 T=53%; ESR2 rs1255998 C=70%, rs1256065 A=72%, rs1256049 G=95%, rs1256030 C=64%. For men, the most common allele frequencies were: ESR1 rs8179176 A=67%, rs9340799 A=52%, rs728524 A=91%, rs3798577 T=54%; ESR2 rs1255998 C=74%, rs1256065 A=68%, rs1256049 G=95%, rs1256030 C=62%. Other than age, education and race, there were no other baseline characteristics listed in Table 1, including cardiovascular risk factors, that were associated consistently with both ESR SNP and cognitive impairment.
Overall, cognitive impairment (3MS decline ≥5 points over 4 years) occurred in 352 (26%) of the women and 266 (22%) of the men. In unadjusted analyses, cognitive impairment was associated (either statistically or trend-level significance) with 3 of the 4 ESR1 polymorphisms among women: rs8179176 (GG vs. AA or AG, OR=0.61; 95%CI 0.40-0.94), rs9340799 (GG vs. AA or AG, OR=0.76; 95%CI 0.57-1.02) and rs728524 (GG or GA vs. AA, OR=1.33; 95%CI 0.98-1.80) (Table 2a). Heterozygotes and homozygotes that were grouped together did not differ from each other in terms of cognitive impairment except for with rs728524 (GG vs GA, OR=2.36; 95%CI 1.15-4.80). After adjustment for baseline age, education and 3MS score, the association with ESR1 rs8179176 was slightly lessened (GG vs. AA or AG, OR=0.65; 95%CI 0.42-1.01), the association with ESR1 rs9340799 was strengthened (GG vs. AA or AG, OR=0.73; 95%CI 0.54-0.99), and the association with ESR1 rs728524 became non-significant (GG or GA vs. AA, OR=1.23; 95%CI 0.90-1.70). Further adjustment for race led to similar results.(Figure 1a).
Cognitive impairment was associated with 3 of the 4 ESR2 polymorphisms among women in unadjusted analyses: rs1255998 (GG vs. CC or CG, OR=1.51; 95%CI 1.06-2.13); rs1256065 (CC vs. AA or AC, OR=0.51; 95%CI 0.32-0.81); rs1256030 (TT vs. CC or CT, OR=0.58; 95%CI 0.39-0.85) (Table 2a). Heterozygotes and homozygotes that were grouped together did not differ from each other in terms of cognitive impairment except for with rs1255998 (CC vs CG, OR=0.66; 95%CI 0.50-0.87). Adjustment for baseline age, education and 3MS score led to similar results except for rs1255998, which became non-significant (GG vs. CC or CG, OR=1.25; 95%CI 0.87-1.80). Further adjustment for race resulted in a lessening of the association between rs1256065 (CC vs. AA or AC, OR=0.69; 95%CI 0.43-1.12) and rs1256030 (TT vs. CC or CT, OR=0.72; 95%CI 0.49-1.07) (Figure 1a).
Among men, cognitive impairment was associated with 1 of the 4 ESR1 polymorphisms in unadjusted analyses: rs728524 (GG or GA vs. AA, OR=1.79; 95%CI 1.25-2.57) (Table 2b). Heterozygotes and homozygotes that were grouped together did not differ from each other in terms of cognitive impairment. After adjustment for baseline age, education and 3MS score, results were similar. However, additional adjustment for race resulted in no association (Figure 1b). Cognitive impairment was associated with 2 of the 4 ESR2 polymorphisms among men in unadjusted analyses: ESR2 rs1255998 (GG vs. CC or CG, OR=1.96; 95%CI 1.29-3.00) and ESR2 rs1256030 (TT vs. CC or CT, OR=1.48; 95%CI 1.02-2.14) (Table 2b). Heterozygotes and homozygotes that were grouped together did not differ from each other in terms of cognitive impairment. After adjustment for baseline age, education and 3MS score, cognitive impairment was still significantly associated with rs1255998 (GG vs. CC or CG, OR=1.68; 95%CI 1.06-2.65) and rs1256030 (TT vs. CC or CT, OR=1.56; 95%CI 1.07-2.29). Further adjustment for race made the association with rs1255998 non-significant, but resulted in a significant association with rs126065 (CC vs. AA or AC OR=1.98; 95%CI 1.24-3.16) and strengthened the association with rs1256030 (TT vs. CC or CT, OR=1.91; 95%CI 1.28-2.83) (Figure 1b).
We found statistically significant interactions between gender and 2 of the 8 ER polymorphisms on cognitive impairment. ESR2 rs1256065 genotypes AA and AC vs. CC were associated with lower rates of cognitive impairment in women and higher rates in men (p for interaction =0.005). The ESR2 rs1256030 genotype TT vs. CC and CT was associated with lower rates of cognitive impairment in women and higher rates in men (p for interaction =0.001). There were no significant associations between plasma estradiol levels and any of the 8 polymorphisms in men or women. However, testosterone level did vary among 2 of the SNPs associated with cognitive impairment (ESR2 rs1256065 for women and ESR rs1255998 in men, p<0.05 for both). When we added testosterone concentration to the adjusted model, results did not change appreciably, nor did the gender interactions. There was no interaction with APOE e4 and ESR SNPs on cognitive impairment.
Traditional multivariate logistic regression models yielded very similar estimates of odds ratios and confidence intervals. In addition, haplotype analyses were in broad agreement with our polymorphism analyses [4]. For example, in both men and women, those with ESR1 haplotypes containing an A in rs728524 were less likely to have cognitive impairment than those with a G in that position. Women with ESR2 haplotypes containing a C in rs1256065 were less likely to have cognitive impariment than those with an A in that position. Men with ESR2 haplotypes containing a C in rs1255998 and in rs1256030 (especially GAGT) had less cognitive impairment than others.
Among approximately 2500 community-dwelling elders, risk of developing cognitive impairment was associated with 2 of the 4 ESR1 and 2 of the 4 ESR2 SNPs among women and among men, risk of cognitive impairment was associated with 2 of the 4 ESR2 SNPs. Additional adjustment for race, however, tended to diminish some of the associations although in other cases, it strengthened them.
To our knowledge, no previous studies have investigated the role of ESR2 SNPs and cognition in women or the role of either the ESR1 or ESR2 SNPs and cognition in men. However, our results are generally in line with prior investigations of ESR1 SNPs and risk of development of AD in women. Case-control studies have reported that the ESR1 PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms are associated with AD and cognitive impairment [3,6,15]. We previously found, as part of a prospective study, that the PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms were associated with rates of 4-year cognitive decline in older women [31]. These SNPs correspond to ESR1 rs8179176 (PvuII) and rs9340799 (XbaI) and thus, our and other groups' prior results for XbaI and PvuII were confirmed in the present study suggesting that these associations appear to be robust. Recently, Kravitz and colleagues reported that 2 ESR1 SNPs (including rs9340799) but no ESR2 SNPs were associated with cross-sectional cognitive performance in middle-aged women [13]. Interestingly, in that multi-ethnic cohort, the associations between the SNPs and cognitive function varied by race/ethnicity.
The strong association between the ESR1 and ESR2 SNPs and likelihood of developing cognitive decline is also consistent with a large body of animal and molecular data suggesting that estrogen exerts a beneficial effect on the central nervous system [20]. Estrogen receptors are located throughout the brain, especially in areas involved in learning and memory such as the hippocampus and amygdale [27] and the enzymes necessary for sex steroid biosynthesis have been identified in these same regions [28]. Ovarectomized ESR1 knock-out mice have impaired performance on a hippocampal-dependent cognitive task that is reversed with estradiol administration [8]. The abundant localization of the ESR2 in human hippocampus supports a role for this receptor in cognition as well [22,25]. Indeed, number of ESR2 has been found to be increased in the brains of patients with AD compared to elderly controls [25].
The polymorphisms may affect ESR gene enhancer activity [17] or gene regulation [1], but how they influence cognitive outcomes is not exactly known. It is possible that the SNPs influence sex hormone levels and this in turn, affects cognitive function. Some previous studies have reported that certain ESR1 variants are associated with estradiol levels in older women but not in men [26]. Additionally, an ESR2 polymorphism (a polymorphic dincucleotide CA repeat in the noncoding 3′-portion of the gene) has been associated with total and free testosterone levels in young women [30]. However, we did not find any significant associations between plasma estradiol levels and any of the 8 polymorphisms in men or women. While 2 of the SNPs were associated with serum concentration of free testosterone, statistical adjustment for this measure did not account for the association between the SNP and cognitive impairment. Finally, there is animal data and emerging human studies to suggest that there may be an interaction of ESR1 SNPs with the APOE e4 allele on risk of developing AD [6]. However, we did not find an interaction with APOE e4 and any of the ESR SNPs on cognitive impairment.
Compared with previous association studies, our study has several strengths. First, we had a relatively large sample with 1343 women and 1184 men who had genetic analysis and cognitive testing over time. Second, we had a wealth of data on comorbidities and demographics that we could adjust for in order to determine if the association between ESR SNPs and cognitive decline were independent of these possible confounders. Thirdly, we were able to determine if there were gender and race interactions for the association between genetic variations in ESR1 and ESR2 and cognitive impairment since our cohort was comprised of nearly half men and women and Blacks and Whites. While we did not find an interaction with the ESR SNPs and race on cognitive decline, we did find differences in SNP frequencies by race and the association with cognitive decline was attenuated with adjustment for race. Interestingly, there was a gender interaction with the 2 ESR2 SNPs and risk of cognitive impairment whereby both SNPs conferred a decreased risk of cognitive impairment in women and an increased risk in men. This was not accounted for by adjustment for level of sex hormones.
While this is the first study to examine the prospective association between ESR1 and ESR2 NPs and cognitive function in a large prospective study of elderly men and women, we are limited in the interpretation of our findings due to the lack of etiology of cognitive impairment. Participants in our cohort also did not undergo a clinical evaluation to determine whether the cognitive impairment was due to vascular disease or AD. We also had some participants without follow-up cognitive testing which may have limited our ability to evaluate prospective associations with change in cognitive function. Furthermore, we did not conduct correction for multiple comparisons, although we limited our analyses to studying the 8 SNPS listed only.
We found that among non-demented community elders, several SNPS in the ESR1 and ESR2 genes were associated with risk of cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that estrogen receptor genetic variants may play a role in cognitive aging.
Funded by N01-AG-6-2101, N01-AG-6-2103, N01-AG-6-2106 and R01-AG021918. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute on Aging.
There are no actual or potential conflicts of interest for any of the other authors.
PubMed Central Canada is a service of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) working in partnership with the National Research Council's national science library in cooperation with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NCBI/NLM). It includes content provided to the PubMed Central International archive by participating publishers.


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Blaine stared at the door of the motel, the number 103 staring back at him. He shivered slightly as a cold breeze blow around him. It was the day after he had got the call from his mother and he was standing there in his Dalton uniform trying to work up the courage to knock on the door. Kurt was behind him and it was getting dark. They had gone home after school to drop Amber off before coming here. Blaine hadn't told his little sister about where they were going because, frankly, he was scared that his mother might just run off again.
"Are you ok?" Kurt asked, placing a warm hand on his back. Kurt had come with him because Blaine had been silently freaking out about this reunion all day yesterday and Kurt had wanted to be here to support him, something Blaine was very grateful for. If Kurt wasn't here then Blaine was sure that he would be staring at this door forever, or he wouldn't have come at all. Blaine nodded, taking a deep breath, and then knocked on the door.
A couple of seconds passed and Blaine could hear movement inside the room. The door opened and Blaine forgot to breathe for a moment.
The first thing he thought was that his mother looked younger, as she looked at him with wide eyes that were already beginning to fill with tears as she saw her son for the first time in years. Her dull eyes that he remembered were now bright and her skin didn't look as tight and worn. She had a glow about her. She looked well kept with tidy clothes and make up on. Blaine couldn't ever remember her with make up on, unless it was to cover her bruises on her face. Her hair was just as beautiful as ever, cut shorter but was shiny and smooth, like he remembered when he was a child.
"Blaine! You've grown so much!" She gasped, putting her hands to her mouth. She seemed unsure of what to do as she took a step forwards. Blaine tensed as he thought she might hug him but she seemed to think better of it and moved aside to let the boys in.
"How have you been?" She asked, as the two teenagers stepped into the small motel room. There was a double bed and a small kitchen area. It looked clean but basic.
"I can't believe you go to Dalton now." She said, a wide smile on her face as she looked at Blaine's uniform, "I'm so proud of you, when I left you were really struggling in school and now you go to the best private school in Ohio."
Blaine nodded, feeling uncomfortable. He noticed that his mother seemed to be rambling a bit, obviously nervous as well.
"Is this your friend?" She asked, looking to Kurt who was standing next to Blaine, their arms just touching as he looked round the room. Kurt smiled politely and held out his hand to shake as Blaine said,
"This is Kurt Hummel." He said, "My... my boyfriend."
Blaine was expecting his mother to react negatively and maybe kick them out. He had been nervous about telling her but he didn't want to hide who he was. Instead she just smiled, taking Kurt's hand and shaking it.
"I'm Donna." She told him. A wave of relief filled Blaine at her response and he felt slightly more comfortable in her presence. It didn't make him any less angry though.
"Do you want a drink?" Donna asked, going to the mini fridge that was in the kitchen area.
"No thank you." Both the boys said in unison as the woman got out some sparkling water. She leant back up and smiled at Blaine, tears still in her eyes. Blaine however was biting back questions and accusations. The mere sight of her was making his skin crawl and he felt like his stomach was bubbling with boiling rage. Kurt reminded him to stay calm though with a soft touch on his back. He had to get through this meeting for Amber.
They all sat round the small table that accomplished the room and there was a silence for a moment while the mother and son got their heads and questions together.
"How did you get my number?" Was the first one that Blaine asked.
"My friend got hold of me, she told me that you went round the house and wanted to see me." Donna started, "I tried calling the house but I got the answering machine; I left a massage but I was scared that your Father would just delete it so I called Dalton and they gave me your call phone number."
"You left a massage on the house phone?" Blaine asked, realising now why his dad had been so angry the other night. It was her fault Amber got hurt. His firsts clutched in his lap as he stared at her.
"Yeah." She said, her voice now small as she looked at Blaine's angry features. He clutched his teeth together, struggling not to scream at her. Kurt seemed to notice and put his hand on Blaine's fists, trying to loosen them.
"Why did you leave?" He asked, needing to get this question out of him. He needed an answer. Donna looked down at her lap, fiddling with the fabric of her skirt.
"I couldn't stand it anymore." She whispered, "I had sunk too low, I needed to get away from him."
"Where did you go?" Blaine asked, not taking his eyes off her.
"I went to the Philippines for year and stayed with my Father's brother and his family." She told him, looking back up at him. Blaine couldn't quite look her in the eye though, so looked at her hair. He had always loved her hair. So unlike his and Amber's.
"You would love it there, Blainey, it is so beautiful." She smiled, a dreamy look on her face, "I'm going to take you and Amber one day."
"What about afterwards?" Blaine asked, ignoring her.
"I came back to America and I got an internship in New York at a real estate office." She said. Her eyes had gone back to her lap as she fiddled with her skirt, "It was tough and I had to get an evening job as a waitress to support myself but it was worth it. I'm quite a successful real estate agent now."
"Did...Did you ever think of us?" Blaine asked, a bare whisper. He felt Kurt's tighten over his fists as he struggled to keep his voice level. Donna looked up into Blaine's eyes and he bit his lip as he realised that her eyes were identical to Amber's.
Despite their Asian heritage, Amber had got most of her looks from their Father. Her blond hair, her curly locks, her freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks and her lackey limbs all mirrored their father's, while Blaine, apart from his curls, looked a lot like their mother. But Blaine could see now that Amber had inherited one thing from their mother. Her eyes were the same shape and the same colour as the woman sitting in front of him. They even had the same eyelashes.
"Always." Donna said, a tear rolling down her smooth cheek, "I thought of you two everyday and I've always regretted leaving you."
"Then why didn't you come back?" Blaine asked, "You could have token us with you."
Donna shook her head, wiping her cheek as more tears fell.
"I was a terrible mother." She said, "I couldn't even concentrate on daily tasks by the time I left, I was too dependent on alcohol, I couldn't even look after myself"
"But you thought Dad could!" Blaine nearly yelled.
"I... I thought you would be safe with him, he had never hit you." Donna confessed. Blaine shook his head in disbelief and pulled up the sleeve of his blazer to reveal the mostly hidden cast.
"He did this by shoving me down the stairs." Blaine told her, his voice laced with rage, "Right from the top, he just pushed me, the doctor thought I might have had a broken neck. I also broke 2 ribs and my face was all bruised from where he had punched me."
Donna winced, shaking her head, not wanting to believe it.
"Last year he smacked my head against the coffee table and then left me unconscious and bleeding in the middle of the room. Amber had to call the ambulance. She was only 11 at the time and she had to deal with her older brother bleeding from the head and the paramedics trying urgently to keep me alive."
Kurt felt sick as he listened to this. Blaine had never been so blunt about the way his father had treated him. He could see that Donna had paled as well, as heavy tears fell down her face. She reached over the table where Blaine's hand was placed. He pulled it away like lightening, glaring at the woman as a sob escaped her mouth in shock.
"He hit me, punched me, kicked me, spat on me because I'm a fucking fag!" Blaine snarled and Kurt flinched as he said that word. It sounded like poison on his tongue.
"I could cope with it all because he never touched Amber." Blaine continued, "But then he kicked me out and Amber was left on her own-I had no idea what he would do to her and that scared me more than anything, even more than sleeping in a dark, empty car park every night."
Donna was visible shaking as she listened to Blaine's words.
"And then Dad heard your voice on the answering machine and got angry again." Blaine told her, his voice just below a yell, "He hit her! He hit her because you left a damn message on the answering machine!"
He stood up, his fists clutched and his eyes dark. He looked down at his mother, glaring at her as she cried.
"So why you were off discovering how beautiful the Philippines are and trying to feel good about yourself, we were here with Dad, who you knew was violent. I had to do your job by raising Amber and looking after your Mum." Blaine was yelling now. Kurt had never seen him this angry before. It was scary to watch and he couldn't imagine how Donna was feeling as she coward underneath his glance.
"You weren't even at the funeral." Blaine said, his voice now breaking, "Your own Mother and you didn't even come to say goodbye."
"I'm...s... sorry." Donna cried, "I was...trying to get...better...to be a better mum."
Blaine shook his head, before pushing his chair back and storming out of the room. Kurt stood up as the door flew open and gave Donna a pitiful look. He couldn't say she didn't deserve this outburst from Blaine but Kurt could tell that she meant what she said about trying to be a better mum. She was just gone about it the wrong way.
"I'll go calm him down." Kurt told her, "He is just angry."
He didn't wait for a reply but followed Blaine out of the room. He found him by the car; his head leaning against the window as he breathed deeply to calm himself.
"I hate her." Kurt heard him say as he approached.
"She wants to make things right." Kurt told him, placing a hand carefully on his back. He was scared that Blaine might blow up again. Blaine looked up, his eyes focusing on Kurt. They were full of angry tears.
"It's not that simple! She left us! Amber was only 8, she didn't understand what was happening." Blaine told him, biting his lip. He sighed, turning around and leaning against the car.
"I understand why she left." Blaine said quietly, "I understand why she had to get away from my father, I'm just pissed off that she didn't take us with her."
Blaine looked slightly defeated as he looked at his feet.
"I hate that I have to ask her for help when I've doing it on my own for pretty much my whole life."
"Why do you have to? You could live with us." Kurt said. Blaine looked up at him, his eyes gentle and a small, sad smile playing at his lip.
"I am very gratefully for everything your family is doing for me and Amber, but the chances of them being able to adopt Amber is very slim, they have to prove they can afford to look after her and with three teenagers already in the house and their mortgage and your Dad's health bills it is highly unlikely." Blaine said, truthfully.
Kurt bit his lip and Blaine could see that he was upset by this bluntness. Also the mention of his father's health always upsets him. Blaine reached out his arms and Kurt moved into them, allowing Blaine to wrap his arms around him.
"And us living together can't be that healthy for our relationship." Blaine told him, "I'm scared that you seeing me all the time will make you bored of me."
"That wouldn't happen." Kurt told him. Blaine laughed gently.
"You say that now by we've only been going out a couple of months, we are still getting to know each other."
Blaine sighed into Kurt's hair, rubbing his back gently as he looked at the motel room that housed his mother at the moment.
"If we move back in with Mum, then I can go to college because I'll know Amber is looked after." Blaine said quietly. He still hated having to depend on his mother, but it probably is the only way to have any kind of normal life.
Kurt moved back and smiled at him softly, cupping his cheek and kissing him, reassuring him that everything was going to be ok.
Once Blaine had paced the length of the car a few times, he had calmed down enough to go back into the room. Kurt was leaning against the wall, while Donna sat on the bed and Blaine looked down at her from where he stood.
"I don't know if I can do it." Donna mumbled, holding a fistful of tissue to her mouth.
Blaine had just told her that the only way for them all to feel safe again is if she gave a statement to the Police about her husband.
"We need to get rid of him." Blaine told her, "We need to feel safe when we go out and when we're sleeping at night."
"But I don't know if I could face him again." She said, her eyes full of fear. Blaine sat down next to her and placed a hesitate hand on her shoulder.
"You need to do this." He told her, "You need to do it for Amber...and me."
Donna looked up at him and nodded slowly, straightening her shoulders to look stronger then she felt.
Everything over the next couple of weeks went really quickly that Blaine found it hard to keep up.
The first thing they did the next day was go to the Police station and report his father for every single thing that he did to them over the years. It was emotionally exhausting for both him and his mother, who spent the whole time crying as she relived the abuse that happened over her marriage with the man. Blaine really did feel sorry for her and seeing his mother's pain again just made him hate his father even more.
After they had finished at the Police station and had got a restraining order against the man, Amber was reunited with her mother. The young girl was a lot more forgiven of her then Blaine was and they behaved like they had spent no time apart.
Their father was arrested and put on bail to await his trail. Donna had hired a very good lawyer who managed to get the man banned from going to the house. As it was a joint deed to the house, Donna wasn't able to sell it yet as was her plan. Her job gave her a very good wage and as she was so well known in New York, she easily transferred to Lima. Even though he would never say this, Blaine was very impressed that she had built such a name for herself in real estate in just 4 years. Kurt told her for him though.
Donna brought a new house in Lima for the three of them to live in. It was just 5 blocks away from Kurt's house, something that caused a lot of happiness for the two boys. Being that close to each other seemed so wonderful and unreal. It was a beautiful house; simple but something the three of them needed desperately. A new start.
They couldn't go back to the old house. It was full of dreadful memories that all of them wanted to forget. Blaine still had to lay with Amber sometimes as she got nightmares of their father coming into the house and hurting them. Blaine still got these nightmares as well but he didn't tell anyone. He knew Kurt knew though. Ever since that drunken night where he told Kurt everything, the brunet had learnt to read him like a book. He seemed to know everything that Blaine was feeling and thinking all the time.
"Are you ok?" Kurt asked him as they laid on a mattress on the floor of the new house. They had spent the day painting the walls of his new bedroom, as well as Amber's, the hallway and the bathroom. They had been too tired to build the bed frame so had just collapsed on the mattress, exhausted from the day's work. The strong smell of paint drafted around them but they didn't care as they snuggled together.
"Yeah, just tired." Blaine mumbled, burying his head in Kurt's chest. The cast on his arm had been taken off the day before so he now had full use of his limbs. His arm seemed a bit weak at the moment and it hurt if he used his wrist too much, but other than that he was happy to have it back to normal.
Kurt kissed Blaine's forehead, smiling as he looked down at him. Blaine looked up, returning the smile. Everything was getting better now and he felt so much happier. His relationship with his mother was slowly growing and Amber seemed brighter. And now he was lying in bed with the boy he was desperately in love with. He still hadn't told Kurt but he was getting more confident now about saying it. He knew that Kurt wouldn't reject him now.
"I'm going to miss you." Blaine told him, rubbing their noses together. He was referring to Kurt going to New York next week for sectionals. Kurt pouted, kissing him before replying.
"I know, but I'll get you a present."
Blaine popped himself up on his elbows and lent down, capturing Kurt's lips with his. Kurt's hand found its way to Blaine's neck, pushing him down slightly so their kiss deepened. Blaine sighed softly on Kurt's lips; the feel of his lips sending pleasant shivers down his spine.
"You taste so good." Kurt breathed and Blaine moaned slightly as he was pulled even closer so he was lying completely on top of Kurt. Blaine felt so happy as Kurt kissed him, running his hand down his slim body and resting his hands on Kurt's hips. Shivers ran through Blaine's body as Kurt ran his hands through his hair, tagging slightly as they both got hot and excited.
"We need to slow down." Blaine whispered onto Kurt's lips. He knew that Kurt wanted their first time to be special and the knowledge that his little sister was right next door was going to make both of them uncomfortable. Kurt stopped his movements and opened his eyes and looked at Blaine with slightly amused eyes. Their lips were still touching and Blaine licked Kurt's slowly. Kurt kissed him again but this time it was slower and Blaine smiled into the kiss, his lips tingling from the feel of Kurt's soft lips pressed against his.
"I've got something special planned." Blaine told him, "We just need someone's parents to go away somewhere so we have an empty house."
Kurt smiled, kissing Blaine again. It was as if he couldn't get enough of his lips. Blaine felt the same way. Kurt's lips were just so sweet and smooth. They felt like heaven pressed against his skin. Blaine lent back down, curling up against Kurt and hugging his arms around Kurt's middle.
"I feel like a teddy bear." Kurt laughed, rubbing Blaine's back in smooth circles. Blaine closed his eyes and smiled, burying himself deeper into Kurt's neck.
"The best teddy bear in the world!" He told Kurt causing the other boy to laugh.
"Good to know." He said, kissing Blaine's hair. They both fell asleep pretty quickly, dreaming of New York, candles and soft mattress.
Blaine sat sniff as a board as he looked at his father who came through the doors of the court. He was lead to a table near the front and sat down. Blaine was left to stare at the back of his head as he felt his mother tense next to him.
It was the start of the summer holidays and his father's trial had begun. They were sitting near the front of the court; their lawyer just in front of them. Amber was sitting on the other side of their mother and Kurt was sitting next to Blaine, with Burt and Finn the other side of him.
Blaine could feel his mother shaking next to him and put a hand over her hand which was clutching the edge of the bench. At the touch, she moved her hand so now she was clutching his hand instead. Amber, who was surprisingly calm, took her other hand and smiled at her mother comfortingly.
"I call to the stand Donna Cheng." Said one of the lawyers, and her grip on her children's hands tightened. Blaine gave her a small smile and she looked at him for a moment, her eyes full of fear. She looked at Amber and a look of realisation came over her. She nodded before standing up and walking slowly to the witness stand.
Amber moved over to Blaine and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a slight squeeze. He watched intently as his mother answered the questions fired at her. Tears ran down her cheeks as she explained the physical and emotional abuse she endured. She was caught off guard as his father's lawyer took over and straight away asked why she abounded her children. Blaine looked at her as she hesitated. She looked to them, where they were sitting. They were both dressed in smart clothes but they still looked so young, especially Amber who was looking nervously at the lawyer. Blaine held her close, trying to protect her from the atmosphere of the court room. It was quite scary and Blaine felt as if there were too many people and not enough air in there.
Donna took a deep breath and looked back to the lawyer.
"I left because at the time I thought I was just as much a danger to them as he was due to my dependence of alcohol, which was my coping mechanising-it made me forget what was happening and it numbed the pain." She told the court, "I left and went to rehab so I didn't need alcohol anymore and I got myself a job so I could support my children."
Donna looked back at Blaine then and he could see the sincerity in her eyes. He gave her a small nod. It was such a simple action but through it Blaine transferred his forgiveness and his gratefulness. Donna noticed and she gave him a smile, wiping her eyes as she did so. With his forgiveness Donna was able to answer the rest of the questions with confidence.
Amber was asked to the stand next. Blaine bit his lip as he watched her walk up to the box. She looked so small in-between the four walls and he could tell she was nervous as she placed her hand on the bible. Their lawyer had told them that seeing such a young girl on the stand would provoke the jury's emotions and they were more likely to find their father guilty. They didn't have a lot of physical evidence to go by; just a few medical reports from Blaine and Donna's trips to the hospitals and a few police reports. So the witnesses were all they had really. The lawyer had managed to get in some of their neighbours and Finn had also been called as a witness, as he had witnessed the attack on Kurt.
Blaine felt a hand on his fist that he hadn't realised he had clutched as he watched Amber answer the questions. He didn't look away from her but he knew that the hand belonged to Kurt. He unclenched his fist and laced their fingers together, glad Kurt was there to keep him calm.
By the time Amber was finished, her calm persona had broken down and she was shaking and crying. Blaine stood up as she came over to them and hugged her tightly.
"Court is adjoined for the day." The Judge called out. She was a women, something that their lawyer said was a good thing because she would sympathise with them more. Blaine smiled at her gratefully and led Amber out. They were closely followed by everyone else. Their lawyer started talking quickly with their mother and Finn, Burt and Kurt came over them.
"You were amazing Am." Finn said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Finn and Amber had grown quite close over the last couple of weeks and Finn was really happy about it because he said that he had always wanted a little sister. They all were like one big, strange family now.
Amber smiled up at Finn, her head resting against Blaine's arm.
"You don't have to do it again." Blaine promised her. Amber nodded, wiping the tears away and trying to hold her head high. She had gone very quiet but after a trip to Breadstix and a hot chocolate from Finn, she cheered up enough to talk freely and cheerfully to everyone. The two families had grown very close and it wasn't unusual to see members from both at each other's houses. Donna always popped into the Hummel-Hudson house for a chat and a cup of coffee with Carole and they met up often for lunch. Amber went round very often to their house after school to bake with Carole and get help with her homework from Kurt. Blaine went round every Sunday after work to watch the highlights of football games with Burt and Finn, as well as going over nearly every day to see Kurt. Finn came round to the Anderson-Cheng house to help decorate and do DIY tasks. Kurt came round just as often as Blaine to see them, and it wasn't unusual for the two families to have dinner with each other round the two houses or at a restaurant; mostly breadstixs. It was a very different atmosphere then when they were living with their father but it was a nice, happy atmosphere and they felt like one big happy family.
Despite her cheerful mood in the evening, that night Amber crept into Blaine's room and curled into bed with him. She was shaking as Blaine pulled her close and hugged her.
"It was horrible seeing him looking at me." Amber told him, "He had this weird smirk the whole way through and it was so creepy."
Blaine rubbed her back as she told him this, feeling angry at their father for making her feel so uncomfortable. The man wasn't going to change any time soon though, if ever.
"After this week we don't ever have to see him again." Blaine told her, a promise he was definitely going to keep. Amber nodded, hugging Blaine tightly.
"Good luck tomorrow." She told him, "You went through a lot more than I did."
Blaine looked slightly confused and she looked up at him.
"He hit me once." She told him, "I lost count how many times he hurt you-I'm really sorry, I always feel bad about it."
Blaine's eyes softened and he shook his head.
"I'm glad he didn't hurt you like he hurt me, it would have broken me even more if you had to go through that." Blaine told her. Amber sighed softly and closed her eyes, her arms hugging Blaine.
"You're the best brother in the world." She whispered before drafting off. Blaine laughed quietly, kissing her forehead before following her to the land of dreams.
Blaine tried to blank out his experience in the witness stand. It definitely was an experience he wanted to forget.
He felt claustrophobic within the four wooden walls. It felt like there was no way out. He felt his father's stare on him as Blaine answered the questions asked, first by his mother's lawyer and then by his father's. The first lawyer was kind and spoke to Blaine as if he was an adult but the second one was cruel and patronising. He tried to twist everything that Blaine was saying and it was very frustrating.
"So if your Father was hurting you why didn't you tell anyone?" The lawyer asked, pacing the space in front of the witness stand. He was looking from Blaine to the jury.
"I was scared that they would take Amber away and put her into care." Blaine said, "And the Police had been called over loads of times because of disruptions caused by my Dad and they still hadn't done anything so I just assumed no one care."
The lawyer turned to Blaine and Blaine felt himself shiver as he noticed how cold his eyes looked.
"But if things were so bad at home wouldn't it be better that Amber was placed in another home?" The lawyer asked. Blaine could hear the accusation in his tone and he knew the lawyer was doing to make Blaine look like the bad guy. He didn't protect his sister and the jury will see that.
"I wouldn't know where she was going." Blaine tried to explain, now turning to the jury, who nearly all had blank expressions, "She could have gone to a much worse place."
"So you admit that it wasn't that bad at home with your Father?" The lawyer asked.
"No! Of course it was!" Blaine said, turning back to him, "He shoved me down the stairs and nearly killed me at least twice."
"But he never touched your sister?"
"No." Blaine said, "Not until that night when I picked her up, she had a massive bruise on her face."
"But you didn't see your dad do it?"
"Well...no." Blaine said, getting angry, "But I know he did it, Amber wouldn't lie, she is the most honest person I know."
"Is it true that you're gay?" The lawyer suddenly asked. Blaine was caught off guard by the sudden and off topic question and his mouth fell open slightly.
"Object!" The other lawyer yelled, standing up, "What does Blaine's sexual orientation have to do with this case?"
"Withdrawn." His father's lawyer said but Blaine could see the smile on his face. The damage was already done.
Blaine had been warned that this may happen. The jury would look less favourable on Blaine if they knew he was gay. It was a harsh fact but it was true. Some people may think that it was his fault that his father beat him because he is a gay.
Blaine bit his lip as he looked at the jury. The majority of them where guys and Blaine knew that the court had tried to get people that weren't parents as that may bias their decision. Therefore there was a lack of motherly warmth on the jury and Blaine knew that this may not help them win their case. He just hoped that they believed them.
As Blaine stepped off the stand he couldn't help but look at his father who was staring back, a smirk on his lips. His eyes were dark and a chill went up Blaine's back as he looked at him. Just looking at him sent a wave of fear through Blaine and the man knew that. But Blaine wasn't going to let him scare him anymore.
So Blaine stared back, holding eye contact and keeping his head high and proud. He was going to show the man that he wasn't that scared little boy anymore.
Inside though, Blaine was feeling petrified. Court was adjoined for the day and they left for home again. Blaine shut off as Kurt led him out to the car. He wanted to forget his father's face and the cruel, cold stare. He wanted to forget the humiliation of being asked about his private life in front of such a large crowd and he wanted to forget all the questions and accusations that were thrown at him. He just wanted to forget it all.
He was quiet as they drove home, just staring out of the window blankly. Kurt's hand was entangled with his but he barely felt it as Kurt slowly rubbed his thumb against Blaine's skin. Blaine was tired and worn out and he just wanted this court case to end. Tomorrow was the last day and the jury had to come up with a decision by then. Blaine was really nervous about it and he just wanted it to be over.
He was also quiet during dinner, which Carole had made while they were at court, but no one seemed to notice. Amber and his mother also looked quiet tired and wary and Amber went to bed early to avoid having to stay up to think about tomorrow's verdict. Blaine helped tidy up before he felt himself being dragged gently away.
Kurt led him up to his room and sent the door before turning to look at him. Blaine looked down at his feet for a second before he felt tears form in his eyes and fall quickly down his cheeks. Before he even realised that he had started to cry, Kurt's arms were around him and Blaine was sobbing into his chest.
"I'm sorry." Blaine cried, ashamed to be crying in front of Kurt again.
"It's ok." Kurt told him softly, rubbing his back gently in smooth circles, "It's ok to cry, Blaine, it's been a very tough year for you."
Blaine nodded, his whole body heaving in heavy sobs. He hid his face from Kurt by burying into his shirt and clutching it with tight fists. Normally Kurt would tell him off for messing up his clothes but right now he let Blaine cry and held him close.
Eventually Blaine calmed down and his tears slowed. The cry had helped him sort his thoughts out. He didn't feel as empty now and he was glad that Kurt had allowed him to have the moment of weakness.
Sometime during the cry Kurt had led Blaine to the bed and had rocked him gently to calm him. Blaine was now curled up in Kurt's lap, his head resting on the boy's chest.
"It will all be over tomorrow." Kurt whispered to him. Blaine nodded, hiccupping slightly, before straightening up and losing in the tie that felt like it was strangling him. He threw it onto the floor and unbuttoned the first few buttons, looking at Kurt with red rimmed eyes. Kurt looked back with a look of sad admiration.
"I have something for you." Kurt said, stroking Blaine's arm in long slow strokes. Blaine raised his eyebrows in interest and wiped his eyes.
"What is it?" He asked, his voice slightly croaked. Kurt smiled and got up off the bed.
"I need to burrow your guitar." He told Blaine, who looked even more interested now. He sat crossed legged on the bed and watched Kurt pick up his guitar from the corner of the room and walk back over to the bed. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to Blaine and positioned the guitar on his lap, streaming slightly.
"Finn has been teaching me how to play." Kurt told him proudly, "I only know a few songs at the moment, but I've been practising this one song over and over again because I really want to play it to you." He lent his forehead against Blaine's and smiled as they breathed the same air.
"I can't believe how much you've been through and I think you're so amazing for handling it as you have, but I know you don't think that way." Kurt said. Blaine bit his lip as Kurt continued,
"It hurts when I hear you talk about yourself." Kurt told him, his own eyes moist with unshed tears, "I hate that you can't see how amazing and wonderful you are, you're a great brother, a great son and a great friend."
Blaine looked away at this, shaking his head slightly. He didn't feel like he was any of these things. Kurt cupped his chin and turned his head so they were looking at each other again.
"You are." Kurt told him, "And I knew you wouldn't believe me so I'm going to let one of your favourite artists tell you instead."
Kurt withdrew his hand and started strumming the guitar before he started to sing.
Made a wrong turn
Once or twice
Dug my way out
Blood and fire
Bad decisions
That's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Blaine felt his breath catch as Kurt began to sing. Blaine loved this song, and Kurt singing it was amazing. His unusual voice fit the tone really well.
Mistreated, misplaced, missunderstood
Miss, no way it's all good
It didn't slow me down
Always second guessing
Look, I'm still around…
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
You are perfect to me
Kurt looked directed at Blaine as he sang. He meant every word that he was singing and Blaine could see that in his eyes. He had such a look of fierce determination.
You're so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
When Kurt sang this line Blaine looked away, feeling the weight of the words. Kurt nudged his shoulder against his to make him look at him. Kurt smiled softly and continued. Blaine leant against him, listening to the words and the soft voice.
So complicated
Look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough
I've done all i can think of
Chased down all my demons
see you do the same
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
You are perfect to me
Kurt turned his head and leant their foreheads together as he sang the last verse. He sang it quieter, only strumming the guitar a few times. Blaine looked into his blue eyes, which were shining, and smiled as their tears mixed together on their cheeks.
You are perfect to me
You're perfect
You're perfect to me
Pretty, pretty please if you ever ever feel
like you're less than, less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please if you ever ever feel
like you're nothing
you are perfect to me
The last words were so soft that only Blaine could hear them. They rang softly in his ears as Kurt leant forward and kissed Blaine so softly he felt like crying all over again. He could feel the love being transferred from Kurt's heart into him. It felt like heaven.
"I love you." Kurt whispered on his lips and Blaine opened his eyes to look at him, shocked. This was the first time that Blaine had heard Kurt say these words and it made him feel so happy. He could see the love in Kurt's eyes as he looked back at him, a hand gently caressing Blaine's cheek.
"I love you too." Blaine told him, smiling through his tears.
No more words were needed as they lied back onto the bed. Those simply words were all that mattered as they held each other and fell asleep.
"We find the defendant guilty."
After these words were spoken Blaine didn't hear anything else. He felt his shoulders relax and his hands rise to his mouth in disbelief as his mother started to cry with relief and his sister hugged him tightly. He saw Burt glare at his father with a very satisfied look on his face and Kurt wrapped his arms round Blaine and Amber as their father was lead out of the court room to be put behind bars. Donna looked at Blaine and put her hands on his cheeks as tears rolled delicately down her face.
"It's over." She said, and tears started to form in Blaine's eyes as she brought him towards her and hugged him tightly. Blaine closed his eyes as he buried his face in her hair and breathed in her motherly scent.
It was over.
One year later
"Stop daydreaming and help me." Kurt laughed, breaking Blaine's thoughts. He turned around and smiled as he looked at his boyfriend. Kurt was dressed in grey overalls with the arms tied around his waist, a white t-shirt that was splinted with paint. He was holding a paint roller that was covered with light blue paint. His hair was sticking up and an arm was placed on his hip, a smile on his face as he looked back at Blaine.
"I'm sorry." Blaine told him, walking over and kissing him on the lips gently. Blaine had been staring out of the window, watching the boats below him on the bay. They had just moved to New York and were suppose to be decorating their apartment. His mother had brought them the small but comfortable apartment from the money that she had got from selling their old house.
Blaine liked to think of it as selling all of his bad memories so he can get new, happy ones in this apartment in this city with the person he loves.
"We should get some cushions for the window seat." Blaine told Kurt as they started painting the walls again.
"So you can daydream so more?" Kurt laughed, looking at him.
"I like watching water." Blaine told him, sticking out his tongue, "It's peaceful."
He felt Kurt smiling at him and turned to him, returning the smile. He then touched his paint brush to Kurt's nose, wetting his skin with blue paint.
"Hey!" Kurt gasped. He tried wiping the paint off but it just smudged some more. Blaine doubled over in laughter as he looked as the paint spread across Kurt's face.
"It's not funny!" Kurt told him, a look of mock angry on his face. He then launched forward and grabbed Blaine around the middle, before smearing paint across his face and neck.
"Stop!" Blaine laughed, fighting against Kurt's hold. He gave up and spun around to look at him. Kurt still had a slight glare in his eyes but it softened as he looked at Blaine. He wrapped his arms around Kurt and leant in to brush their noses together.
"I'm so glad I'm here with you." Blaine whispered, staring into Kurt's blue eyes. The paint matched them perfectly and was the reason Blaine had chosen the shade to go in their new living room. A blush formed along Kurt's cheeks, making Blaine chuckle quietly as he leaned in to kiss Kurt again.
"I love you." He told Kurt and they both smiled.
"I love you too Blaine Anderson."
They stood together, arms wrapped around each other and covered in drying paint. It didn't bother them though as today was the first day of the rest of their lives. A happy life filled with love, kisses, hugs and laughter.
And Blaine couldn't wait.
Oh my God! This is over!
I'm so sorry it took forever but I've been crazy busy the last month and I suck at endings so I didn't want to rush this. I got major writer's block and I didn't want to force an ending because I knew it would be rubbish. I mean, more rubbish than this because this was a pretty crappy last chapter. I just wanted to sum it all up and make sure that everyone had a happy ending so here it is.
Ok, so the senior year bit. I had two ideas about where Blaine went and I shall put them in this bit so you can decide as the reader what happened.
Wes and David offer to pay half of Blaine's tuition each so he can go back to Dalton. I imagine their parents are really rich so it would be ok. Blaine goes back to Dalton because in my heart that is where he belongs, and he becomes one of the Head Warblers.
He still gets the offer from Wes and David but he decides to go to McKinley and it plays out like season 3 is. I think also it is a better excuse to transfer then what the show has given us. He joins New Directions and he spends the year making out under the bleachers with Kurt. :D
The song used in this was You are prefect by Pink, the acoustic version. In my head this scene was beautiful and touching but I don't know how it transformed onto the page. In the last chapter I forgot to say, the song was Crystal Ball by Pink.
The last scene with the paint was inspired by this picture: .com/gallery/#/d4bfm1p by muchacha10 who is (I'm sure most of you know) the most amazing Klaine artiest I've seen. I was going to end with them in the apartment, I just didn't know how, and then I saw this and I thought it was perfect.
Thanks for everyone that followed this and please, please, please review! I really want to know how I did.
Thank you again.


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Near the village of Cockerham, the very appropriately named Barry Light runs this small and friendly microlight school. Lessons are offered in flex wing microlights that are stable and easy to fly with a completely open cockpit, which ensures all round views of the rolling countryside.
Taking off from the short landing strip at Moss Edge Farm, you will soon be airborne above the Lune Valley with views towards the picturesque Morecombe Bay. This is traditional west coast seaside at its best and you'll get to see it all from the air - and it certainly has the 'wow' factor.
Microlight lessons in Lancashire are offered seven days a week, all year round, subject to suitable weather. On all lessons there will be a safety briefing and time to admire the views from the air, as well as have a go at flying the flex wing light sport aircraft, giving you a feel of how the craft handles on the ground and in the air. On longer flight durations you will have an insight into more advanced techniques as well as more airtime.
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"I attended the accident and emergency ..."
About: Hexham General Hospital Hexham General Hospital Hexham NE46 1QJ
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I attended the accident and emergency for a disslocated finger, the staff and service were brilliant and was out within an hour, i'd recomend this hospital to anyone!
Response from Hexham General Hospital 7 years ago
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Animal Farm chapters 1-3 Review. Re-read pages 51-53. What do you, as the reader, think is suspicious about the pigs behavior? How are the pigs breaking the commandments of Animalism?
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What happens at the Battle of Cowshed? What military decoration was created? Who receives this "medal"?
Dramatic irony=the reader has greater knowledge than the narrator or characters themselves
4. From whose perspective is the story of Animal Farm told? How would you describe this perspective (think about what the narrator knows)?
Hint: horse-brass=horse harness decoration
Refer to your Animal Farm webquest and notes about allegory in Animal Farm to answer the question.
How did Stalin (Communist totalitarian dictator) control and "deal with" those that questioned his beliefs and actions?


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Penispedia.De - Info
penispedia.de receives about 336 unique visitors and 1,009 (3.00 per visitor) page views per day which should earn about $4.53/day from advertising revenue. Estimated site value is $2,580.11. According to Alexa Traffic Rank penispedia.de is ranked number 831,316 in the world and 0% of global Internet users visit it. Site is hosted in H�st, 07, 47652, Germany and links to network IP address 22.214.171.124. This server doesn't support HTTPS and doesn't support HTTP/2.
How popular is penispedia.de?
- Daily Unique Visitors:
- 336
- Monthly Unique Visitors:
- 10,080
- Daily Pageviews:
- 1,009 (3.00 per visitor)
- Alexa Rank:
- 831,316 visit alexa
- Alexa Reach:
- n/a (Percent of global Internet users)
Visitors by countryCurrently Not Available
Where do visitors go on this site?Currently Not Available
Competitive Data
- Domain:
- penispedia.de
- Rank:
- n/a
- Organic Keywords:
- 0
- Organic Traffic:
- 0
- Organic Cost:
- $0.00
- Adwords Keywords:
- 0
- Adwords Traffic:
- 0
- Adwords Cost:
- $0.00
- Domain Authority:
- 8
- Page Authority:
- 1
- MozRank:
- n/a
Backlinks Report
- Total Sites Linking In (Alexa):
- 11
- Total Backlinks:
- 32
- Follow Links:
- 29
- Nofollow Links:
- 3
- Referring Domains:
- 8
- Referring IPs:
- 8
How socially engaged is penispedia.de?
- Facebook:
- 139
- Google +:
- 2
- Linkedin:
- 0
- Stumbles:
- 0
- Buffer:
- 0
- Pins:
- 0
How much penispedia.de can earn?
- Daily Revenue:
- $4.53
- Monthly Revenue:
- $135.90
- Yearly Revenue:
- $1,653.45
Daily earning by countryCurrently Not Available
How much money do penispedia.de lose due to Adblock?
- Daily Revenue Loss:
- n/a
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- Monthly Pageviews Blocked:
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- Yearly Pageviews Blocked:
- n/a
Daily revenue loss by countryCurrently Not Available
How much is penispedia.de worth?
- Website Value:
- $2,580.11
Where is penispedia.de hosted?
- Server IP:
- 22.214.171.124
- Host Europe GmbH
- Server Location:
- H�st
Other sites hosted on 220.127.116.11There are no other sites hosted on this IP
How fast does penispedia.de load?
- Average Load Time:
- (376 ms) 96 % of sites are slower
Page Speed (Google PageSpeed Insights)
Suggestions Summary
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Google Safe Browsing
MyWot.com Reputation Ratings
- Trustworthiness:
- 74
- Vendor reliability:
- 74
- Privacy:
- 74
- Child safety:
- 57
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Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:35:04 GMT
Content-Type: text/html
Content-Length: 3349
Connection: close
Server: Apache
Last-Modified: Thu, 07 May 2015 15:05:40 GMT
ETag: "83338a4-d15-5157f3eab5900"
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text:
VideoHive Race Track Titles 01 122037
After Effects Project Files \ Openers \ Electric
Race Track Titles 01 122037 by videostyle @ VideoHive
After Effects Project Files \ Openers \ Electric
After Effects Version: CS4, CS5 File Size: 396mb Requires Plugins: No Resolution: 1920x1080
**This project has been updated with some improvements including optional lens flares. Please re-download if youve already purchased.
Slick Time Lapse with beautiful, realistic 3D titles. Cars streaking down highway with slow shutter time lapse, billboards in scene are ready for your logos, ads or footage to be dropped onto them. 2 Versions included. One with red 3D text, the other with chrome 3D text. Each version has 2 titles and a logo and can easily be modified to have as many of each as you need. Customizable text, logos and billboards. Billboards can all be the same or be modified to all have different graphics on them. And because the timelapse is so easily looped and edited, you can add as many titles as you like in a row in your NLE, like I did in this demo video with just cuts between various renders.
And, if you don't know a good technique for real 3D text without a plugin, this will be worth the purchase just for the text technique. The customizable 3D text objects can be dropped into any other AE comp and will react to your camera like a 3D object. Comps are numbered for step by step customization requiring little to no After Effects knowledge. FREE FONT link in instructions. Music and sound FX are not included. NO PLUGINS REQUIRED . All time lapse footage and animation are in full HD 1920X1080 . Great for any modern, urban, car, automobile, driving, night, light, streaks, timelapse, high-tech or travel related project. Enjoy!
Note: I am also willing to upload Uncompressed, ProRes or any other high resolution movies to my website for download with proof of Videohive purchase of this project.


text:
My sis Rose went to have a CT SCAN for her hernia at a local Morristown TN diagnostic center. They called her back 3 hours after appt time and then they would NOT even assist her to get on the CT scanner. She calls me balling her eyes out. They treated her like shit. So upset.
She has made herself an appt at University of Tennessee with Dr Greg Mancini. UT has always been compassionate with her obesity.
Rosie had gastric bypass and lost over 200 lbs. BUT had to have it reversed in order to save her life and ended up gaining 90 lbs back. She cries about her weight all the time.
Rosie's Roho inflatable wheelchair cushion no longer holds air and she has a decubitus ulcer aka pressure sore now . Her Insurance won't cover a new seat cushion for another 3 years. The darn seat costs almost $700.00 which we don't have.
I am going through a search of my own identity and what I want in life
….About to give up.
So many things at once


text:
I'm not quite sure how this happened, but apparently I've become Richard Viguerie's penpal. Richard, as some of our older readers may remember, was a protege of Billy James Hargis, a founding father of the Christian Right, and an equal opportunity sexual predator who broadmindedly diddled both the boys and girls in his youth choir, the All American Kids, showing no hint of favoritism or prejudice. Later, Richard went on to pioneer the use of direct mail in political campaigns, proving that if you blanket voters with libelous screeds just before election day, giving the defamed party no time to respond, then our Democracy will be strengthened, and our various branches of government will enjoy an even greater surplus of victorious, if soulless dickweeds. Well, now Richard's discovered email, and he won't leave me alone:
Demand that Gwen Ifill be fired as the moderator of the Vice Presidential debate!Dear Fellow American:The mainstream (liberal) media's smear campaign against Governor Sarah Palin has been one of the ugliest chapters in the history of modern witch hunts.
As we all know, the history of modern witch hunts stretches from Pastor Thomas Muthee's heroic battle against a sorceress who summoned the power of Satan to cause fender benders in Kenya, all the way to Pastor Muthee's invoking of God's help to elect Sarah Palin governor of Alaska.
Well, it has just become uglier—just when you probably thought that was impossible.
I was just thinking that was impossible! How did you know? GET OUT OF MY HEAD…!
It turns out that the "moderator" of the Thursday, October 2 vice presidential debate—PBS anchor Gwen Ifill—has a clear conflict of interest.
She's been embezzling scare quotes.
Ms. Ifill is the author of a forthcoming book celebrating the politics and career of Senator Barack Obama. Her book is titled The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, and is scheduled to be published on Inauguration Day—January 20, 2009. She obviously has both an ideological and a financial interest in the success of the Obama-Biden campaign, one of the parties to this debate.
Wait…Obama's going to be debating the Republican vice presidential nominee as well as Biden? Palin's pulling a debate train?!
If that isn't a clear conflict of interest, I don't know what would be.
How about coaching one candidate with the aid of pilfered briefing books, and then going on TV afterwards to praise that candidate's performance without revealing your role in the event? That would really be a conflict of interest, unless you were wearing a bowtie, in which case you automatically receive a dispensation from the Pope, or the Commissioner of Baseball, or somebody.
This serious conflict of interest was not disclosed beforehand to Senator John McCain or to his vice presidential running mate, Governor Sarah Palin.
I can't believe those slimy bastards thought they could slip this ringer past Governor Sarah Palin, a woman who reads any and all newspapers!
To be fair, when Governor Palin says "reads," she means "skims," and by "skims" she means, "whatever words she happens to glimpse that are still visible between the starbursts of liquid hamster shit when she changes the paper in the Habitrail."
In the words of attorney and TV host Greta Van Susteren, they "should have been told before the campaign agreed to have her moderate. It simply is not fair—in law, this would create a mistrial."
To be honest, I tend not to pay a lot of attention to the legal opinions of women named Greta who've had a lot of plastic surgery unless we're negotiating the price of a Swedish massage.
The American people deserve an honest and transparent moderation of this debate.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming your moderator for tonight's debate...


text:
I'm sure you all know the problem: When using custom objects or controls in XAML you need to add a xmlns:bla="clr-namespace:MyDotNetSpace" declaration to each XAML file (which can be thought of as the C# using statement).
Although this is now comfortabely supported by Visual Studio Intellisense, some other solution would be nicer to have..
As I always want to do things like "Microsoft" does ;-), I thought of ways how to add my .NET namespaces into such nice looking Uri namespaces..
I found the solution for it, which is really easy:
[assembly:XmlnsDefinition("http://blogs.msdn.com/knom/wpf/XmlnsDemo", "Knom.WPF.XmlNs")] namespace Knom.WPF.XmlNs { ... }
Just decorate your namespace with this XmlnsDefiniton attribute and map an Xml-namespace to your .NET namespace.
Now you can simply reference the namespace by using:
Tired of using the prefix (like my:..)? For this there're two tricks:
[assembly:XmlnsPrefix("http://blogs.msdn.com/knom/wpf/XmlnsDemo", "max:")]
This will specify a default prefix of max: for the xml namespace. If you drag in the control in the designer, this prefix will be generated for the namespace.
An interesting, but dangerous option is multiple .NET <--> XML namespace mappings: You can map different .NET namespaces into one xml namespace.
Consequently you can map YOUR .NET namespace into the default xaml namespace like this:
[assembly: XmlnsDefinition("http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation", "Knom.WPF.XmlNs")]
This way your namespace is now part of the XML namespace normally included as default namespace. So you won't need to specify ANY prefix for your classes. Disadvantage: The transparency which class is included in which assembly is lost..


text:
VOO is a talent management company that works with influencers and video creators offering assistance in channel management, channel growth, advertising and optimization. We enable YouTube personalities to take their hobby to the next level and start earning revenue from their videos through advertising and reserved brand deals. We work with a mixed multi-genre base of channels that come together to form our family of elite creators on YouTube.
OFFICE ADDRESS: 130 Old Street, London England, UK- EC1V 9BD
We also work with a vast number of media publishing houses and rights-holders to ensure content is delivered effectively and with monetary options. If you are a content owner and would like to learn more about our copyright library management and working with VOO please click here and contact us.


text:
One last steep step to scale
Believe me - this Indian cricket team can walk on water. Believe me - they can stride across a pit full of burning coal and come out unscathed. Believe me - if India could win the match against South Africa on Wednesday, they can win anything.
© CricInfo
Just think of the scenario as it was, with South Africa at 192 for one after 37 overs. They needed only 70 runs from 13 overs with nine wickets intact, which translates into a run-rate fractionally over five per over. The batsmen did not have to do anything silly or go for the big hits. Singles and twos would have sufficed for South Africa to wrap things up.
Surely a comfortable victory was only a matter of time. The bookies had closed their books, the TV commentators were already looking ahead to South Africa's opponents in Sunday's final, and who could blame them? On the field of play, the Indians seemed to have virtually given up. The body language said it all - the drooping shoulders, the mournful look, the sad eyes, the slow walk, they were all tell-tale signs that the Indians had almost thrown in the towel.
And then came the metamorphosis. Not, for a change, through the fall of a wicket but with a batsman retiring hurt. As Herschelle Gibbs wended his way back to the pavilion, Jonty Rhodes came out to join Jacques Kallis. In the dressing room, awaiting their chance to bat if required, were Boeta Dippennaar, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock.
© CricInfo
And then there was Virender Sehwag. The man with the golden bat now became the man with the golden arm. Sehwag can do nothing wrong at the moment, and much the same can be said about the team too. Giving Sehwag the task of bowling the 48th and 50th overs, allotting Zaheer Khan the 49th, was obviously going to be a gamble. But Ganguly and his think-tank were willing to take the risk. Such a bold outlook in a tense situation is to be appreciated.
Astonishingly the South Africans, faced with a similar situation, played it safe. It might have helped if Pollock had promoted himself in the batting order, ahead of a Klusener now a pale shadow of the hero who almost won the 1999 World Cup for South Africa. The supreme irony was that Pollock finally came to the crease in the last over but had not yet faced a ball when the match ended.
From the Indian viewpoint, the most encouraging aspect was the ability to rise from the dead, as it were. Indian cricketers traditionally are not known to be fighters with the never-say-die attitudes of the Australians. But Wednesday's performance was something else. It will not only further raise their confidence already high after the smooth annihilation of England but will also will help earn much greater respect from any future opposition.
The same cannot be said about the South Africans, who have lived up to their dubious reputation of being champion chokers. Remember the Hero Cup semi-final against India in 1993, the World Cup quarter-final against the West Indies in 1996, the World Cup Super Six encounter and the semi-final against Australia in 1999? One has almost lost count of the number of times South Africa have not been able to convert a winning position into victory.
But the focus is now on India. They are one steep step from the summit, and with the way things are shaping up, the team with a muchmaligned bowling line-up and with fielding standards not yet up to highest international levels - though the youngsters have certainly helped lift that aspect of the game - could end up winning the ICC Champions Trophy. First the mini-World Cup and then the World Cup early next year? It's a heady thought, but first let us emerge triumphant on Sunday. One last thought. India were semi-finalists in 1998 and finalists in 2000. Will the upward graph now have the perfect finish?


text:
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"Evening Sail," by Sandy Nelson, oil on canvas measuring 24 X30 inches
"A long day sailing invites the sailors to come home late, taking to port just at dusk. A good meal, a glass of wine are all that's needed at the end of the day of working the sails. Tomorrow is another day of taking the wind."
Thank you for shopping at Skipjack Nautical Wares & Marine Art Gallery, dealers in authentic nautical maritime antiques, collectibles, maritime ship salvage and hardware. OUR STORE offers for sale exceptional, quality nautical furniture and furnishings, nautical lamps and lighting, marine instruments, model boats, nautical gifts and decor. We're everything nautical!
Skipjack's Marine Art Gallery features exceptional works of art in various media representing artists from our region and as far away as New Zealand! Each artist that we show is chosen for their unique style of artwork, and has an artist page where you can preview their individual work. You can also browse art categorized by genre.
Please visit our online store again soon or if in the Hampton Roads (Tidewater) coastal region of Virginia, visit our marine gallery in historic Olde Towne Portsmouth. We're just a short distance from Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg and the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and just across the river from downtown Norfolk. By boat, we're located at mile marker "0" of the Atlantic Intra-coastal Waterway!


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Without Breakfast
Standard Room is good for two persons and is ensuite with one queen bed, air conditioning, cable TV, private bath and free Wi-Fi access.
Basic 2 / Max 3
Without Breakfast
Deluxe Double Room is good for 2 persons up to 1 extra person can be accommodated in this room at Php 200.00 per person. Charge is payable at the hotel. Ensuite with one queen bed, air conditioning, cable TV, private bath and free Wi-Fi access.
Basic 2 / Max 3
Without Breakfast
1 Bed Apartment is good for 2 persons up to 1 extra person can be accommodated in this room at Php 200.00 per person. Charge is payable at the hotel.
Ensuite with one queen and one single beds, air conditioning, mini fridge, kitchenette, cable TV, private bath and free Wi-Fi access.
Located 30 minutes away from the Caticlan Airport by boat, Sulu Plaza Boracay is a beachfront property in Station 3 that offers peaceful accommodations, perfect for guests who want to escape to paradise. The hotel is accessible via regular public transport routes, and shuttle services are also offered by the hotel, at a surcharge.
At Sulu Plaza Boracay, your comfort and convenience are given top consideration. Guests are treated to complimentary drinks upon arrival at the hotel. The hotel also has a beach bar and a Thai restaurant on-site. WiFi internet is free and can be accessed at public areas within the hotel's premises.
Each room at Sulu Plaza Boracay is fully air conditioned, and comes equipped with a cable TV, and most rooms have a balcony offering a good vantage point of the ocean. The attached toilet and bathroom has a shower with hot and cold water, and bath essentials are also already provided for. Additionally, WiFi can also be accessed from within the rooms.
Key attractions such as D'Mall, D'Talipapa, and other bars, restaurants, and shops are within close proximity to the hotel, and can be accessed by trike. Guests can also enjoy various activities on the island such as parasailing, banana boating, island hopping, and paraw sailing. Riding the ATVs and Buggy Cars give guests the chance to explore the other facets of the island.
With its convenient location, practical facilities, comfortable rooms, and pocket-friendly rates, Sulu Plaza Boracay offers a one-of-a-kind vacation experience that will surely leave guests relaxed and rejuvenated.
|Station 3 Ambulong, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan (Show Map)
|Hotel is located in Station 3, situated directly on the front beach.
Directions & Landmarks
From Caticlan Seaport, ride a boat going to Boracay which takes about 30 minutes, Then take a multicab or trike going to Station 3 which takes about 15 minutes.
Total Number Of Rooms
Restaurant Information
Name of Restaurant: Sulu Thai
2 restaurants (Within 2 minutes by walking distance)
On-Site Credit Card Facilities
|VISA, Master
Room Facilities
Room Amenities
Hotel Facilities
Although this hotel is quite old and rooms look tired, everything you will need to really enjoy Boracay is here. Located on the beachfront of Station 3, hotel is very near public transport and is very accessible. Room comes with a full size ref and double burner. This made our stay very affordable. They also have complete sets of plates, cuttlery and cups and glasses. They also provide for pots and pans and other kitchen utensils. We were able to cook our own meals using the very fresh catch off the sea. They also changed our sheet everyday we were there. On our second day, we swam very early and left some dishes on the sink for later washing, but to our pleasant surprise everything was washed and put away when we returned from the swim. Service totally made us overlook the3 Things You Love about This Hotel: Value for money, able to cook own meals, location Room: Standard Room* - PAY AT HOTEL - Standard Room Stay Date: 08/21/2017 to 08/23/2017
Super clean and super nice. For the price of course you will expect less in the facilities but you'll be extremely satisfied with the cleanliness of this hotel. Our stay was very comfy.3 Things You Love about This Hotel: Good Service, Good food, Good price Room: Standard Room* - Standard Room Stay Date: 08/15/2017 to 08/18/2017
The owner was great.We arrived late at night *night before our expected date of arrival* So I asked the owner if he could give us a discount for that night coz our confirmed reservation is for the following day.He charged us PHP1000 good for 3 adults w/ 2 year old child for the additional night, much cheaper than staying at dormitory type coz they are going to charge you PHP600 per person.The location was great also,very near in Talipapa where you can buy affordable pasalubong and foods. Few steps from the hotel, you can find mineral water refilling station. Hotel is located right in-front of the beach.The room was so clean, bathroom was very clean also.3 Things You Love about This Hotel: value of money,clean facilities,location Room: Deluxe Room - Deluxe Room Stay Date: 10/02/2016 to 10/04/2016


text:
memcmp, wmemcmp
Compares characters in two buffers.
int memcmp( const void *buf1, const void *buf2, size_t count ); int wmemcmp( const wchar_t * buf1, const wchar_t * buf2, size_t count );
Compares the first count characters of buf1 and buf2 and returns a value that indicates their relationship. The sign of a non-zero return value is the sign of the difference between the first differing pair of values in the buffers. The values are interpreted as unsigned char for memcmp, and as wchar_t for wmemcmp.
Required header
<memory.h> or <string.h>
For additional compatibility information, see Compatibility.
All versions of the C run-time library.
// crt_memcmp.c /* This program uses memcmp to compare * the strings named first and second. If the first * 19 bytes of the strings are equal, the program * considers the strings to be equal. */ #include <string.h> #include <stdio.h> int main( void ) { char first[] = "12345678901234567890"; char second[] = "12345678901234567891"; int int_arr1[] = {1,2,3,4}; int int_arr2[] = {1,2,3,4}; int result; printf( "Compare '%.19s' to '%.19s':\n", first, second ); result = memcmp( first, second, 19 ); if( result < 0 ) printf( "First is less than second.\n" ); else if( result == 0 ) printf( "First is equal to second.\n" ); else printf( "First is greater than second.\n" ); printf( "Compare '%d,%d' to '%d,%d':\n", int_arr1[0], int_arr1[1], int_arr2[0], int_arr2[1]); result = memcmp( int_arr1, int_arr2, sizeof(int) * 2 ); if( result < 0 ) printf( "int_arr1 is less than int_arr2.\n" ); else if( result == 0 ) printf( "int_arr1 is equal to int_arr2.\n" ); else printf( "int_arr1 is greater than int_arr2.\n" ); }
Compare '1234567890123456789' to '1234567890123456789': First is equal to second. Compare '1,2' to '1,2': int_arr1 is equal to int_arr2.
Not applicable. To call the standard C function, use PInvoke. For more information, see Platform Invoke Examples.


text:
speculative bubbles
From The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, Second Edition, 2008
Edited by Steven N. Durlauf and Lawrence E. Blume
Back to topBack to top
We review some work on speculative bubbles on asset prices. Some empirical evidence suggests that asset prices fluctuate more than their fundamental values, and so asset pricing bubbles do occur. Empirical tests on bubbles are inconclusive. Also, most commonly used models in macroeconomics and finance can generate bubbles only under rather specialized assumptions.
agency problems; arbitrage; asymmetric information; backward induction; behavioural finance; bounded rationality; fiat money; fiscal theory of the price level; fundamental theorem of asset pricing; infinite horizons; liquidity constraints; martingales; Mississippi bubble; noise traders; overlapping generations; present value; public debt; quantity theory of money; South Sea bubble; speculative bubbles; stock price volatility; strategic behaviour; transversality condition; tulipmaniaBack to top
How to cite this article
Iraola, Miguel A. and Manuel S. Santos. "speculative bubbles." The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Second Edition. Eds. Steven N. Durlauf and Lawrence E. Blume. Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics Online. Palgrave Macmillan. 22 November 2017 <http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_S000205> doi:10.1057/9780230226203.1589


text:
About This Game
- Summary
- Specifications
- Features
- Game Editions
You are standing at the peak of one of the world's greatest ski runs. It is eerily quiet and the view of the mountains below is incredible. You are completely focused on the job in hand - to descend the slope at breakneck speed, cutting through the gates and executing the all important jumps without reducing your speed. You are against the clock, against your fellow competitors and, of course, against the terrifying mountain itself. You hear the familiar countdown, take a deep breath and off you go...
- Supported Functions
- Number Of Players: 1-12
- Online
- Skiing action featuring the four international categories of skiing Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G events
- 48 real ski runs down 12 of the world most renowned mountains including Val d'Isere, Lillehammer and Lake Louise.
- Manage every aspect of your professional life - hire and fire staff, negotiate sponsorship deals, design your own training schedules and enter races that you will perform well in.
- Manage your finances carefully - win races to earn more money then go to the stores to buy new equipment.
- Single race, career and multiplayer modes for up to 12 people
Alpine Skiing 2005Release Date: June 10, 2005
Alpine Skiing 2005Publisher: Midas Interactive EntertainmentRelease Date: Europe only
Help us solve the toughest (or most puzzling) game puzzles and challenges.
Our attempt to answer issues which most commonly occur on IGN's wikis.