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Last month, Athene Donald was asked to describe a minute of her job.
Most of the minutes of my job would not be all that exciting to watch. Watch Short Geologist scowl at her in-box! Type furiously away! Scribble notes while shuffling between several extra-large pieces of paper!
Even in the field, at any given time I'm likely to be on the phone or taking notes of some sort. Or dragging awkward/heavy objects around. But I do have exciting minutes. For example, when the driller cuts open an acetate liner and there's all sorts of cool layers of soil and bits of unidentifiable metal. Or he shakes out the rock core and there's a vug with giant crystals inside. Sometimes I don't have the joy of discovery, but instead the joy of bushwhacking through thickets or mashing mud around. Sometimes I'm doing boring stuff but there's a territorial grouse or squirrel chattering at me for entertainment. And watching a drill rig in action can be cool if you really stop to look at how all the pieces work together.
When I'm in the field, usually I'm juggling a bunch of stuff at once, and if nothing's going wrong at that minute, I'm probably preparing for the next thing that will need to be fixed. But it's worth taking some time out to appreciate those minutes which are terrific.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
One minute of work
Posted by Short Geologist at 6:42 PM
Labels: field rants, things I like
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Wednesday, November 26. Mark Latham's goals are to land a couple of hits on the Government and go home for Christmas. Tuesday, December 2. Mark Latham is the Opposition Leader in the last week of Parliament before the summer break and an election year.
The collective gasp of reporters, swarmed around the Labor bloke who announced the result on Tuesday, echoed those throughout Parliament House. The jaws of John Howard and Peter Costello dropped when someone advised the Coalition party room meeting of the result. Even those who voted for him were in shock all week at what they'd done. How on earth did this happen?
The Age political correspondent Louise Dodson told us on Friday. The Labor factional system had finally fallen apart. Labor MPs were looking into their own heads, hearts and souls and making up their own minds. Labor's shadow attorney-general Rob McClelland, a straight up and down decent bloke in the NSW Right, liked Latham's potential but decided on Beazley. Experience counts. On the night before the vote, Latham suggested he have a word to an old footy mate of McClelland, Robert Stone.
Stone was flabbergasted when McClelland rang - he's not a political kind of bloke. "Latham," he said, when McClelland asked for whom he should vote. "Putting Beazley back in again would be like putting me into a first-grade team again."
McClelland walked into the big meeting to the news from a Latham supporter that if he voted for Beazley the vote was tied. He voted for Latham. Why? "I thought, let's have a go."
What's a bloke to do when he's leader before he's ready and sits in the leader's chair in Parliament, his head spinning, hearing the Government spit out his vitriol against his own colleagues over the years - and about George Bush and quite a few other very important people. His tentative ideas for policy change in several books on how to marry Labor ideals with market capitalism and globalisation are thrown in his face. And his first wife has a go at him!
Latham's life on fast forward, before his eyes. Out of Parliament's hell, he's put to the torch by a media competing with the Government for the title of the person who first provoked Latham's temper and exposed his instability.
In and out of Parliament, Latham kept his body relaxed and still. His face remained impassive. He admitted mistakes, explained that people grow in life, defended plain speaking while promising to cut the crudity now he was alternative prime minister. He did all right, Mark Latham, in the most intense and bare-knuckled baptism of a leader for a long, long time.
I reckon a fair few Australians of all political stripes will want Latham to be given a fair go. They're interested in last week's instant transformation of the dynamics and norms of Australian politics in the Howard era. They love him or hate him. They're having a look. And Latham is telling them he's a multilayered person and sure, you mightn't like some things about him, but judge the whole after he's done the job for a while.
Latham feels the responsibility he's taken on at the core of his being. When his father died too early, his mates at the local pub and ALP branch - 30 of them - donated $2 a week each for three years to help young Mark go to university. They saw a bright boy from a poor family in Sydney's western suburbs and gave him a good chance in life.
Webdiary columnist Harry Heidelberg summed up the Latham challenge to Howard for the crucial battler vote: "He's not pandering to the constituency John Howard covets so much, because Latham IS that constituency. He can't be much more authentic than that." What did readers reckon? At one extreme, John Hawkins: "Most Australians are fed up with the way politicians carry on and Latham is the worst offender. The Labor party elected this crude and rude whippersnapper as leader. Please cut out the verbal crap and get on with the job, governing Australia."
At the other, Will Fiala: "Things are looking up, eh?"
Margo Kingston is the political editor of The Sydney Morning Herald online. Her Web Diary is at smh.com.au/webdiary. Her analysis of Latham's election, "Shock and awe politics: now Labor at last has a go", is at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/05/1070351774763.html.


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Chapter 5
Petals on the floor
Rectifying past mistakes
Duel in the flames
"How ironic it is that one of the most terrible nights of the Silver Order's history led to such great change… For all the horror that occurred that night, for all the innocent lives lost or ruined in both the Soulsnatcher's attack and the events that followed because of it, it is that bloodthirsty monster that was arguably the catalyst for bringing the Order into the modern age."
[Excerpt from the writings of Sister Belladonna Justitia]
None of them seemed able or willing to break the silence. Apart from the hiss and crackle of flames spreading through the meditation chamber, there was no talk, no motion, only the Soulsnatcher, Lady Lily, Drake, and Zero himself, locked in stalemate. And Lady Nadeshiko, Zero reminded himself, either unconscious or dead in the monstrous wolf's grip. And Naole, still dazed in Drake's arms, still helpless. Any moment now, he thought, someone would break the spell and all hell would break loose, but as long as no one moved and no one spoke-
"You," growled the wolf again.
So much for that. There was an unnatural gleam in his crimson eyes, visible even beneath his heavy brow. The word was directed at Zero, but despite wracking his brain for the answer, he could not imagine how the wolf recognized him, or what provoked such seething rage. He was used to being hated on principle, but the only wolf Zero interacted with with any degree of regularity was Drake, and this, clearly, was no Drake. While he searched for an answer, and while the Soulsnatcher still had a hostage, it was best to try to stall. "Sorry," he said as he raised his blade and dropped into a counter stance. Better to go on the defensive until he had a grasp on the wolf's fighting style. "I can't say I can place you. I think I'd remember a face like yours…"
"Murderer!" Froth flew from Stalker's jaws. "You're one of them! The ones that killed Mother!"
More confused than ever, Zero blinked. No one had ever accused him of that before. "What the hell are you talking abou-"
Any further attempt to unravel the mystery was derailed by a chilling, wordless howl of rage as Lady Lily Argenteus, the graceful and benevolent head of the Silver Order – Lily the aged, Lily past her prime, Lily whose days on the field were behind her – rushed the wolf that captured her daughter with hellfire in her eyes, her greatsword's edge for his neck. Heedless of the spreading flames, heedless of the danger, heedless of the chaos around her, Lily charged at the Soulsnatcher like a frenzied boar. Steel met steel, the heavy clang resounding through the chamber as Stalker raised his stolen cutlass to protect himself.
Lily would not stop. She gave no quarter, clashing against the flat of the cutlass again and again until it was in danger of being cleaved straight through. With every swing, she snarled: "Take… your hands… off… my… daughter…!"
Pushed into a purely defensive position by the savagery of her assault, his weapon near its breaking point, Stalker did the only thing he could do: he hauled his prisoner up to his level and put his claws to her unprotected throat.
And still Lily charged… until she saw Nadeshiko stir feebly and let out a soft moan. Alive. She was alive, by the grace of the Goddess. Alive, but being used as a living shield. Halfway through her charge, Lily froze…
"That's better, Milady," said the monster, his blood-caked lips curling into a cruel smirk. "You know the pain of losing family, yes? You and Mother would have much to talk about."
Lily trembled where she stood, eyes wild, pupils shrunken. She could not hear the wolf's words, could not feel the heat of the flames licking at her from all sides. In that moment, the only things that existed were herself, Nadeshiko, and the filthy, ragged claws that were a hairsbreadth from stealing her away.
"Milady," Takaishi was saying. The ronin's voice was distant, as if he were on the other side of a vast canyon rather than right beside her. "Milady, we still have him outnumbered, I can still help you save her! Milady!"
"No, Takaishi, I rather think not." The sound of that voice reignited the heat of Stalker's anger. Half of him longed to drop the girl and rip Takaishi apart, but he forced himself to keep his tone level and his mind focused on what he still needed from his hostage. Slowly he pressed a single claw into Nadeshiko's velvety black fur, found flesh underneath, and broke it. Though his belly still swirled with more than enough blood to both sustain him and contribute to the Legion, the coppery scent of even the tiniest little red beads was as intoxicating to him as the finest liquor… oh, that scent! Not just any blood, but the blood of an Argenteus, perhaps the most prestigious family in all the world. Ravenous hunger seized him and tore at his insides, but not yet. The moment was not yet right. "You are fortunate, Milady, that I already have enough souls," he said. "Though I have no doubts that Lady Nadeshiko's soul is mighty indeed. I do, however, need one last thing from your daughter…" His claws dug underneath the floris's spaulder, ripped the plate and its lames and straps away with one savage motion. Now, now was the time. In full, brazen view of her mother and Takaichi, as if daring them to try to stop intercede, he bared his fangs and plunged them into Nadeshiko's neck and shoulder.
Two generations of the Argenteus house screamed at once: one in agony, the other in anguished denial of the horror before her. White-hot fire seared through the nerves of Nadeshiko's upper body, but far worse than the pain was humiliation of the foul beast digging his fangs in, savoring the taste of her flesh as he greedily drank from her mangled shoulder, an oversized leech suckling her lifeblood away. Her free arm flailed at him, numb and still half-asleep, but he would not be deterred, latched onto her and draining away her strength. Her vision swam, the meditation chamber was all a blur, her mother was screaming but the sound was distorted, as if she were underwater… The disgusting, damp, earthy warmth of the Soulsnatcher's body pulled away from her as he let her drop, and bitter cold crept into the seeping wound. As quickly as it returned, her consciousness slipped away again as she collapsed.
In the mad rush that followed, neither Lily nor Zero paid any heed to the spreading flames. The Grand Mistress's greatsword gouged a divot in the floor as she let it fall, uncaring where it should land. Her only thoughts were for her child, whom she gathered in her arms and held tight. Hot blood oozed through her robes, staining the white linens deep red, but still she cradled Nadeshiko, heaving sobs of mixed terror and relief.
Zero sidestepped them both and took a flying leap, then brought his sword screaming down in a Hayabusa-Ougi, an overhead slice designed to split a foe in half from skull to tail. Rage, fear, and disgust fell by the wayside… for now he was deep within the Centerpoint, mind and body and skill in balance. There was only himself and his opponent, a monster that needed to be stopped at any cost.
And Stalker registered surprise bordering on real anxiety, less at the onslaught itself than the sudden deadly focus of the squirrel ronin. Instinct brought his battered cutlass up to deflect the blow, but the impact reverberated into his bones just the same. A cutlass versus a katana was a far more even match than Lily's massive greatsword had been; both were primarily slashing weapons, the katana swift and light, and the cutlass stronger and heavier. Takaishi's sword required both hands to wield effectively while his blade was best used single-handed, but that only bought him a slim advantage. Once recovered from the shock of the clash, Takaishi tilted his sword at an angle, and brought it up for a horizontal strike at his ribs. Too late to parry the blow; Stalker rolled to one side to avoid it and answered with a thrust to his foe's shoulder, only to have it knocked aside by the katana's flat. A blistering dance ensued between the two, sparks flew wild and firelight gleamed in scratched and pitted steel, and Stalker's surprise gave way to rage once again. To run across Takaishi of all people, here on this night with his mission almost complete! The injustice of it all was kindling to the furnace of his rage, and he let it blaze to fuel his strength, his need for revenge…
From the chamber's archway, Drake watched the battle stupefied. Despite part of his brain screaming at him, his tired old limbs refused to move from the spot. Too much to process…
The image of Lady Lily in a berserker rage, who charged battle against a brute at least twenty years her junior and held her own. She resembled her great-grandmother so closely that the white wolf's heart mourned at the sight. Long ago, long before any of the others in this room were born, he had watched Lady Crocus charge into battle with that same indomitable spirit… the spirit he was once convinced could never be broken. Now Lily knelt amid the flames, rocking softly back and forth as she embraced her injured daughter, fragile as spun glass.
The brute wolf now called the Soulsnatcher, whom he recognized as the miserable creature he met in Tasakeru weeks prior, the one that attempted to prey on Muranaka and Lady Hanami. The one that spoke with such venom of the injustices done to him by his pack, the one with the feral hunger in his eyes that Drake had seen too many times before in others just like him. Algol had been dead, he was sure of it. The sound and feeling of snapping the young brute's spine haunted him like a vengeful ghost. Yet here he was, right before his eyes, having fought off the entire Order by himself, caked the blood of dozens and more insane than ever. Drake could no longer deny the truth: the Soulsnatcher's methods were wrong, his abilities were wrong, and Gods only knew what else was wrong with him, but the fact that he was here, now, seeking blood… it meant that all of this was Drake's fault.
Takaishi's sister dazed in his arms, in what state the Gods only knew, but heedless of the violence and chaos around her. And lucky for it, he supposed. Such a small thing she was, and so young, too young to witness this kind of carnage. Takaishi had entrusted him with keeping her safe, the best course of action was to flee before the entire east wing burned down. But that would mean-
"Put me down," said a small, shaky voice at his chest.
"Eh?" Drake looked down.
Takaishi's sister stared up at him with tired but defiant hazel eyes. "Put me down."
"Young Lady Takaishi," said Drake, "you're not well, and your brother specifically instructed me to keep you sa-"
"Aniki is being stupid. I don't know what's going on, but I know someone needs my help. Put me down."
So Drake did. The doe took a few wobbly steps, paused to catch her breath, then weaved through the scattered and smoldering cushions of the meditation chamber to kneel at Lily's side. "Grand Mistress," she said with a short but respectful bow, "I need to dress Lady Nadeshiko's wound so we can get her out of here. We don't have much time."
"I…" It seemed to take a few seconds for Lily to process that someone was speaking to her. The fog of grief and worry that choked her mind gradually gave way to reason. "Sister… Sister Naole… but y-you're an apprentice…"
Naole's ears turned back as she blanched. "I'm not a full-fledged healer, but I know what I'm doing, Milady. Trust me."
Reluctantly, Lily released her grip on her daughter. "Promise me. Promise me she will be-"
"She will be all right, if we hurry. Help me lay her down, gently."
Working together, the two lifted Nadeshiko, carried her back to the archway away from the fires, and eased her down into a lying position. With that done, Naole raised her arm and tore at the sleeve of her apprentice healer's robe with her teeth. A long strip of woven cotton came away; she kept working at it until half the sleeve was unraveled. "That's good, Milady." Naole withdrew a tiny flask from an inner pocket of her robes, uncorked it, wrinkled her snout at the heavy fumes, and held it over Nadeshiko's wound. "Now, you'll need to hold her still, because this is going to sting like hell even if she's not awake for it…"
Drake averted his eyes from the half-circle of ragged holes in Nadeshiko's shoulder. The stench of blood was hard enough for him to bear.
It was a test of skill versus endurance, a battle that Zero felt himself losing bit by bit. Whatever kind of monster the Soulsnatcher was, whatever abilities he possessed, they seemed to afford him an inexhaustible supply of energy. Even the most gifted swordsbuck, one who could achieve the Centerpoint at will and stay in it through all distractions, even he could only swing a blade for so long before tiring, and Zero never thought of himself as particularly gifted. Whereas the wolf, damn him, gained more understanding of his blade with every parry. To make matters worse, the chamber filled with acrid smoke as the broken lantern's flames spread around them, smoke that stung his eyes and made it progressively harder to breathe. Not optimal conditions. Outfighting Stalker seemed less and less likely as the duel dragged on; that left outsmarting him as the only viable option.
Think, Zero demanded of himself. He's angry. More than angry, he's furious with me. Anger leads to mistakes. If I can use that anger… Both blades locked together. Zero stared his foe right in the eyes and dared to pluck his strings: "Whoever your mother was, if she was anything like you, I can't say I'm sorry for what happened to her."
Stalker's bloodied eyes flashed with hatred. "Insolent cur… I swear by the stars, until Mother returns, I'll make you writhe in her stead!" Snarling, he wrenched his blade free, then brought it crashing back down. A wild and unfocused strike that Zero sidestepped easily, but there was still enough raw strength behind it to fell someone twice his size.
Until Mother returns. So he was not only enraged, but more insane than Zero ever thought. The simple explanation was that the wolf was raving mad, but something nagged at him, the suspicion that there had to be more to it. If he could just glean a little more from him… "I don't even know who you are!"
The Soulsnatcher rose to the bait. Fur bristled all the way down his spine to the tip of his tail as he raised his sword to bear and hissed: "Know this: I am Stalker, child of the forest, called 'Soulsnatcher' by your kind. I exist to rain the fires of vengeance upon you, and upon those who murdered Mother and all my brethren! All Outcasts shall suffer… but before you die, I shall make you watch as I take your beloved flower mage's life. Slowly. I shall bleed her to the last…"
Realization hit Zero like a thunderbolt. Stalker spoke of things he could not know and could not have seen, unless… The thing that the wolf wore on his left biceps, the thing that until now Zero had mistaken as some kind of grotesque armband. It was not so at all, it was a body. A corpse. A spider… "N'Ktane," he said softly. A susurrous whispered down the back of his neck to the tip of his tail. And now he recognized the violent smear of a tribal mark splashed in red across the wolf's chest, barely visible beneath the blood that caked his fur: a crude, misshapen hourglass. "You think your mother is N'Ktane…"
His moment of distraction was all that Stalker needed. Abandoning all reason in his fury, the wolf threw down his sword and pounced upon his hated enemy. No claws or fangs for him this time; they would work too fast, and Takaishi needed to suffer…
Naole's ears stood up straight. The sound cut through everything else: the sizzle of the frames, the unnatural quickness of Lady Lily's breath, the small groans that filtered through Lady Nadeshiko's clenched teeth as the alcohol burned in her wound, all those faded before the sickening, dull thud, thud, thud of the Soulsnatcher hammering away at Zero with clublike fists. An unknowable power seized Naole in that moment, bid her to guide Lily's hands over the makeshift bandage and press down. It forced her to stand, fists clenched and tail raised like a flag. It made her scan the burning meditation chamber for something, anything that she could use as a weapon…
Beneath him, Zero Takaishi sputtered blood and fragments of teeth . Not enough. Mother needed him to suffer more, suffer enough for each and every one of the siblings killed when the cavern collapsed. Not just killed, murdered. The injustice of that monstrous act… it brought the memories of the wolf he used to be to the fore, of the wolf who was bleached and banished for no crime at all. In his mind, Takaishi's bloodied and swollen visage took on that of the pack elders, the ones who refused to see. All the more reason to make him hurt. A hard object fell from the inner lining of his jacket; too small to work as a proper bludgeon, but solid enough to inflict damage. Stalker snatched it up and raised it high. No mercy, no quarter, only-
"Get off of him!" The voice came from behind. It was followed by a blunt strike to the back of his skull. Not enough to cause pain, but enough to give him pause. Stalker turned and looked over his shoulder.
There stood a scrawny doe squirrel in the ruined garb of an apprentice healer of the Silver Order, her robes spattered with blood and missing most of one sleeve. She clutched a porcelain vase in her small hands, and her hazel eyes were wild.
Stalker stared. It made no sense; why would anyone come to Takaishi's aid, given his crimes? Surely the Order had to hate him too, though not as much as he. Yet this doe was- Wait. Most squirrels looked alike to him, but the colors of her fur and the angular shape of her face were familiar. Her hair and eyes were different, but there was a resemblance. And that scent of stubborn pride, of defiance and arrogance. "A sister," he said aloud, the corners of his lips curling into a demon's grin. "The murderer Takaishi has family. How fortuitous…"
The doe raised her makeshift weapon. The effort seemed to tax her, as she wobbled slightly on her feet. "Get off of him, I said! I'm warning you!"
This tiny scrap of a thing, threatening him in his moment of glory? Stalker guffawed and sneered at her. "You warn me? And what will you do, little maiden?"
Fury blazed in Naole's eyes, and the hair on the back of her neck bristled. "My name is Naole Takaishi, you bastard!" With that, she brought the vase crashing down on his skull, shattering it to pieces.
Time seemed to slow for Stalker as porcelain shards rained down on him. The blow was more a surprise than anything, barely more than a nuisance, but the audacity behind it, that was what irked him. Bad enough that Takaishi should live without punishment for his crimes, now his sister was intent on further antagonizing his family. Still, there was something to be said for her spirit. Perhaps killing her would make Takaishi suffer? Killing her, or even better… {He made a slow grab for the girl to gauge her reaction. It was a pleasing one: she cried out a word and swerved to avoid it, dropping what remained of the vase. The word she yelled was "Aniki!"
Aniki. Old Standard. The ancient squirrel language was never one that Stalker bothered to learn in his former life, but he had heard that word before. Now what did it mean? Something relating to family. Was it a warning to her brother? Or perhaps not a warning, but… a call to action? He turned, realizing too late. Battered and bloodied, Zero Takaishi had already risen behind him, a knife-like shard of porcelain clutched in his raised fist. Stalker's crimson eyes widened in disbelief-
His howl made the rafters above them tremble. Both Takaishi siblings fell, scattered by the wild flailing of his arms. Half his vision was dark, the blasted tree rat had taken his eye… how dare he, how dare they… A simple death was too good for either.
Zero blinked blood out of his eyes and dove for the blurry figure of his sister, felt for her hand, and clutched it. "Are you insane?!" he hissed in the direction of what he was reasonably sure was her ear.
"You're welcome," came the reply. He could hear her smirk.
"Dammit," he spat. "We need to get out of here before this whole temple burns! Naole-"
Hideous, unnatural strength wrenched the two of them apart. Looming out of the flames like a demon from Beneath, Stalker struck with both fists at once. The shock of the blow was too much for Naole; she crumpled like an abandoned doll-
Zero's snout exploded with agony and his vision trembled at the edges, but he clung tenaciously to the sliver of consciousness remaining to him. With nothing more than his claws, he swiped at the dark shape that hoisted Naole over its shoulder. That shape's remaining eye burned the color of fresh blood, and its sharp fangs gleamed in the firelight as it spoke: "Be honored, Takaishi. Not only shall your sister's blood complete the first of my legion, she shall also be its first meal. A proper sacrifice for Mother."
"Let go of her, you bas-" Again the wolf's fist smashed into him. More than his fist, he held tight to something hard and round and surging with power. A chill cut through the burning haze of pain consuming his body as he realized what that thing was. No…! As he crashed to the floor, with all his remaining strength, Zero filled his lungs and shouted to the one remaining person who might yet make a difference: "DRAKE, STOP HIM! DON'T LET HIM GET OUTSIDE!"
At the arch, Drake threw aside his walking stick. Never mind the flames, never mind the countless failures that led him to this point, never mind the weakness of his great age. Bones and muscles alike screamed inside him as he vaulted across the burning chamber, over the heads of Lady Lily and her daughter, less than two meters behind the brute fleeing with his unconscious prisoner. This was it: a second chance. Not one that he deserved, but one he had to take. For the Takaishis' sakes, for the Argenteus family's sake, for the sake of the Order itself. Stalker, formerly Algol, was his mistake, a mistake that led to so much tragedy, but if just one more tragedy could be prevented…
Drake ran. He ran as he had not run in fifty years or more, though daggers pierced his heart and lungs with every step. He could do it. He had to do it.
Ahead of him, the younger wolf laughed, pouring on speed. The tiny Abram's Way exit door was just at the end of the hall, leading out onto the street and to freedom. He did not slow in the least as he barreled for that door; between himself and the unconscious Naole, there was enough weight between the two to carry them right through it. The magical wards that kept the door from opening save to authorized personnel only protected it from the outside… Still, even if he did intend to crash through that door, it was likely the impact would slow them. Drake could still make it. He could still-
Then he saw the monstrous brute raise his free arm high, his fingers wrapped around a small grey object. An object that began to glow, dull yellow first, then rising in hue to blinding white-
It was when Drake realized what that object was that his burst of strength left him. All his years caught up with him and clung to his body like chains of lead… for the thing that Stalker carried was the stone that fell from Zero's jacket, a spellstone. A boltpath stone, ready to be unleashed and spirit them both out of reach to stars knew where. Boltpath spells were grounded inside the temple's borders, due to the protective magic suffusing the walls, but when he set foot outside-
If it had enough charge for a full transport, Drake had already lost. He had lost before he even began the chase.
If it didn't have enough charge… there wouldn't be enough left of Stalker or Naole for it to matter.
Wheezing and stumbling to a halt, his muscles torn and his bones burning, he watched with helpless dread as Stalker and Naole broke through the door, tearing it off its hinges. The moment they were free of Aedis Centralis's protective barriers, Stalker roared the spellstone's invocation in triumph: "RELEASE!"
A burst of light, and a rumbling crack of air rushing in to fill the void. They were gone, both of them.
Drake's entire body sagged as if he were about to melt into the scratched ebony floors, a miserable puddle of old, useless flesh and tired bone.
Not only had he failed, he never had a chance.
Takaishi's sister was gone, now the prisoner of a deranged monster. The Order was in ruins. Nadeshiko lay bleeding, possibly dying, and Lily was all but shattered by grief.
All his fault. All because he was not strong enough.
Everything, all of it, was Drake's fault.


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"Ive got no concerns at all. Ive got a family that are going out there. The FA have spoken to us security-wise and Ive got every confidence in them and with family going out there. I am looking forward to it. I am excited. I think every single player is. Were all really looking forward to going and getting out there. I went there a couple of months ago with Arsenal and things were fine out there. There were no troubles or worries whatsoever, so Ive had the experience of going there not so long ago. I cant wait to get back.


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a goldfinch instant
on the top of a young fir
hit by first sunlight
Paul William Friedrich grew up and was educated in New England; has lived in Europe, India and Mexico; and has taught languages, literature, linguistics and anthropology at many universities. His poetic publications include four chapbooks (e.g., Bastard Moons and Handholds) and two books of poems and translations (old and new): From Root to Flower and Harmony in Babel: Selected Poems and Translations. Other publications include The Meaning of Aphrodite, The Gita within Walden, and Agrarian Revolt in a Mexican Village. He has seven children and has commuted by car between Chicago and Lexington, Virginia for 19 years.
Recent Books
a goldfinch instant: Concord to India Haikus
Paul William Friedrich's a goldfinch instant is in the spirit of Basho – but it breathes with Henry David Thoreau as well. Haikus "from Concord to India" are embedded in a prose poem that will be of particular interest to readers familiar with Friedrich's poetry as well as his work in anthropology and linguistics – and that will be a delight for readers who encounter Friedrich here for the first time. It begins when "a goldfinch instant / on the top of a young fir / hit by first sunlight" triggers a memory of an afternoon with fourteen year old Nicky, one of Friedrich's children to whom the collection is dedicated. Read more…
Buy a goldfinch instant: Concord to India Haikus
The Gita within Walden
This book explores and interprets the myriad connections between two spiritual classics, Henry David Thoreau's Walden and the Bhagavad-Gita. Evidence shows that Thoreau took the Gita with him when he moved to Walden Pond. The books have much in common, touching on ultimate ethical and metaphysical questions. Paul William Friedrich looks at how each work speaks to fundamental problems of good and evil, self and cosmos, duty and passion, reality and illusion, political engagement and philosophical meditation, sensuous wildness and ascetic devotion. Read more…
Other Books
Harmony in Babel: Selected Poems and Translations
The Princes of Naranja: An Essay in Anthrohistorical Method
The Language Parallax: Linguistic Relativism and Poetic Indeterminacy
Proto-Indo-European Trees: The Arboreal System of a Prehistoric People
Agrarian Revolt in a Mexican Village
Walden's Political Thoreau. The Concord Saunterer: A Journal of Thoreau Studies. v. 16.
A Tragedy of Language and a Language of Tragedy: Madam Bovary and Anna Karenina. In C. O'Neill, et al., eds., Poetics, Self, Place: Essays in Honor of Anna Lisa Crone. Bloomington: Slavica. (Coauthored with Domnica Radulescu)
Alexander Pushkin, Wisdom Poet. Russian Literature. IV: 503-528.
Tolstoy and the Chechens: Problems in Literary Anthropology. Russian History. 30(1-2): 113-145.
Lyric Epiphany. Language in Society. 30: 217-247.


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Public Auto Auctions
Used Cars and Trucks Sold Weekly as Low as $1000
Buying a Car Online with eBay Motors
What to Look For When Buying a Used Car or Truck
Best Public Auto Auctions in Virginia West Virginia
Online Auto Auctions Information
Download the Public Car Auctions App – Available on Apple iOS™, Google Android™, and Microsoft Windows Phone™
How to Sell Your Car Online or Locally
What to Look For When Buying a Used Car or Truck
Buying a used car can be both intimidating and tedious. It is the second largest purchase after mortgaging a home. Almost every used car on the road will have some sort of issues whether it is performance, mechanical, check engine light, brakes, scams, engine … [Read More. ]
Best Public Auto Auctions in Virginia West Virginia
Looking for a public auto auction in Virginia near you? Below is a full list of car auctions that are open to the public in Virginia and West Virginia. These are a great way to get that nice car or truck that you want without paying high dealer … [Read More. ]
Online Auto Auctions Information
With the internet age, buying and selling a used car or truck has changed dramatically. Buyers and sellers can now engage on websites such as eBay Motorsor Craigslist Autos. While these are great resources for used vehicles for sale online, major … [Read More. ]
Download the Public Car Auctions App – Available on Apple iOS™, Google Android™, and Microsoft Windows Phone™
The Public Car Auction Network App is Now Available for Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phones Find auctions near you, sorted by state View auction inventories with photos on your phone Step-by-step GPS directions to auction … [Read More. ]
How to Sell Your Car Online or Locally
Often, when trading in a used car to a dealer for newer one, the car dealer will only give the "trade-in" value of a car. This is typically much less than one could get selling it themselves, but buyers often take the offer because it is quick and easy. … [Read More. ]
Buying a Car Online with eBay Motors
Need Financing? Compare new and used auto loans at LendingTree.com! While public auto auctions have been around for many years, the ability to bid and purchase a vehicle from an online auction from the comfort of your home … [Read More. ]
Best Auto Auctions in Alabama
Alabama is a wonderful state to find a public car auction and easily save some $$$. The list below is contact and website information for public auto auctions in Alabama. Be sure to contact the location before arrival to verify their operating hours … [Read More. ]
Public Car Auction Buyer's Guide
If you are curious about buying a car at a car auction, this guide can help you along the way. The entire process is surprisingly easy compared to other ways of buying a car. At an auto auction, you do not have to worry about high-pressure sales tactics at a … [Read More. ]
Auto Auctions in North Carolina
North Carolina is a great place to visit a public auto auction! There are a few located around the state that are open to the public. These car auctions offer used cars and trucks from bank repos, trade-ins, private seller cars, police impounds, and … [Read More. ]
Police Impound Auctions and Tow Auctions in Georgia
There are several police impound and tow auctions around Georgia – with most of them being around metro Atlanta. While they are open to licensed car dealers and the public, these auctions are better suited for those that already have some car auction … [Read More. ]
Five Mistakes to Avoid at a Public Auto Auction
When visiting an auction, there are certain mistakes that many car buyers make. The most common ones are listed below with tips on how to avoid them. Buying a car or truck from an auto auction can be a positive experience as long as you come prepared. The … [Read More. ]
Tennessee Car Auctions
The beautiful state of Tennessee is known for its mountains and landscapes. It also happens to be a great state to visit a car auction. There are several located throughout TN. These auctions offer a great opportunity to save money on a cheap used … [Read More. ]
Download the Public Car Auction App!


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Sleep Disorder Center
Not getting enough sleep? You are not alone. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans gets less than six hours sleep per night. If you are living with a sleep disorder, it is more than an inconvenience. Lack of sleep can impact your mood, work performance, and relationships.
Most importantly, it can seriously affect your health. Chronic sleep loss is linked with heart disease, depression, diabetes, and obesity.
The Roger Williams' Sleep Disorders Center is here to help you get the rest you need. At our center, the first step is a thorough medical and sleep evaluation. Some patients spend the night at our sleep lab, a specially designed facility with the feel of a comfortable hotel room. Here, our highly trained staff can closely monitor you while you sleep. We use the latest tools to measure brain wave activity, muscle movements, heart rate, and breathing while you sleep. This gives us a clearer picture of obstacles that might prevent you from getting a good night's sleep.
To learn more, please call 401-351-2747.
Medical Director
Dr. Franklin McCool, ABIM
Board certified in Sleep Medicine
Sleep Disorders Center Coordinator
Laurie Poirier


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Artist Inspired
Jean Shin
"Records were melted and sculpted to form a cascading wave, dotted with bursts of colorful labels. The resulting structure speaks to the inevitable waves of technology that render each successive generation of recordable media obsolete. The piece also aims to physically manifest the ephemerality of music as well as one man's musical tastes, as represented by his personal record collection."
© Thantharat Nithiyaemolarn, all rights reserved


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This mornings cartoon for the run-up to the European Championships from Dotmund features the Czech Republic and Karel Poborsky's dog. Don't forget, you can see plenty more Dotmund artwork here, and you can read his trenchant opinions on just about everything here.
You can download the Twohundredpercent Euro 2012 spreadsheet here (for Excel 2007), whilst a version that will be compatible with older versions of Excel is available here.
You can follow Twohundredpercent on Twitter by clicking here.


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It might be a bit early to start working in those gardens, but it's not to early to start planning for them. Sears has a great deal on this Craftsman Evolv 5-Piece Garden Tool Set, which is marked way down from $17.99 to only $8.09!
Set includes: hand trowel, transplanting shovel, cultivator and kneeler in a convenient carrying bag.
- Great for gardening in tight spaces, containers or open gardens
- Ergonomic resin handle with gel grip insert that cushions the hand for maximum comfort
- Thumb rest provides comfort and leverage
- Stainless Steel tool head is durable and long lasting
- Convenient hang up hole at handle end
- 5 Year Limited Warranty
I think this could make a great Mother's Day Gift for that mother or grandmother who loves to garden or just enjoys working outside. 🙂
To save yourself a little money on shipping, you can choose to use the FREE store pickup option as well.
The easiest way to locate this item is going to be by searching for product number 07164935000, and then you shouldn't have any trouble finding it.


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Trade News
Gases and welding company Afrox with its Welding and Cutting Application Development Service aims at enabling the South African industry to overcome critical skills and capacity shortages.
Demand for expertise in the welding and cutting industry has mushroomed in recent times with the emergence of large-scale power, petro-chemical and mining projects, as well as widespread infrastructural development, says Afrox's Manufacturing Industries business manager Johan Pieterse, however, the necessary skills and knowledge base is lagging far behind
This has become increasing apparent as many of these projects require new materials and approaches with which companies have limited experience, hence the growing demand for the specialised engineering skills that most companies cannot afford today, says Pieterse.
In the recent economic downturn, companies have struggled to increase capacity, improve efficiency and ultimately become more cost-effective in their operations..
Pieterse points out this has a knock-on effect on the core business drivers of companies, including quality, productivity and safety, as well as on the expenses incurred..
"These areas are key and reducing costs and improving efficiency are far beyond simply introducing cheaper components, but rather about the introduction of processes that reduce risk, increase productivity and, therefore decrease the overall cost of welding and cutting operations," says Pieterse.
The Afrox Application Development team comprises development specialists with the capacity to audit complete welding and cutting processes, make recommendations, and develop procedures for client-specific applications. This is done through the completion of surveys and reports, which review the capabilities of each process component and includes the condition and operation of equipment, as well as safety standards.
The team also has application-specific support specialists, who provide evaluations and advice in specialised aspects of welding and cutting processes, such as pre-heating.
Afrox specialists might also be deployed to train company employees in the safe operation of equipment. Pieterse identifies safety as an indispensable requirement amongst clients primarily involved in welding and cutting processes in the automotive, shipping, rail, power generation, petrochemical and construction industries.
He comments that Afrox's ability to provide expertise in the welding and cutting processes comes from years of experience, and through its partnership with its parent company, international gases and engineering corporation The Linde Group.
Pieterse says that Afrox has acquired specialised engineering skills and access to world class training and the latest technology as a result of this partnership. These resources have placed the company in a position to assist in growing the local industry, he adds. The company is currently providing equipment and trainers for welding training initiatives that have been established by local construction businesses.
Pieterse adds that Afrox is a manufacturer of gases and welding equipment, and has an on-site facility for the testing of processes and components. This, he says, allows the company to offer complete solutions in terms of process development.
Market Development Manager Tim Jaques adds, "Afrox is focused on working closely with industries and customers, in order to align its capabilities with industry needs and requirements, thus being able to offer the best possible products, solutions and services to our customers. In addition to this, Afrox leads the industry in offering state of the art new innovations providing leadership in efficiency and productivity for our markets"


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Scanrapid Estonia OÜ offers a full range of high-quality services in
logistics and forwarding.
Acting not only as a shipping-line agent, but also as a forwarder, we can find the best solution for the client from any point of departure to any destination in the world.
Established in year 2000, the company has large experience in
providing the following services:
– Container transport all over the world ("K" Line agent in Estonia)
– Worldwide RO-RO service (KESS agent in Estonia)
– High & Heavy and oversized items transportation
– LCL service all over the world
– Air freight service
– Warehouse services
– Road transport to/from Europe and Russia
– Railway services
– Custom Clearance
– Transit to Russia, Ukaraina and Belorussia via Baltic Ports
– We will handle Latvia and Lithuania shipments also
Scanrapid Estonia OÜ is the member of Estonian Logistics and Freight Forwarding Associationon and Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.


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Sediment Rainwater Filters
Sediment rainwater filters are designed and recommended for outside water use to filter sediments down to 80 microns. If you are looking for a rainwater filter that filters down to 15 microns, then you should use a Triple Action Water Filter. This is recommended for inside water use.
Why Should I use a Rainwater Sediment Filter?
You should always use pre-filtration (such as rain heads and first flush diverters) to remove large debris before the rain enters your water tank. However small particles of debris may still enter the rainwater tank and then be drawn by the pump into your supply line. You should use a sediment water filter:
- to remove debris particles that may have gone through any pre-filtration you have installed
- to protect your pump and prevent the blockage of sprinkler heads
- to prevent debris from entering any high pressure cleaning pipes
- to provide cleaner water for external use (for example if you are using your tank water to top up your pond or swimming pool)


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A lot of my pictures of Michelina/Tina are on my other computer, so I can't let you laugh at those right now. I have wanted a dress form for years, and I even purchased one a few months ago from Hancock's. I bought the Medium size so I could unscrew it to be as fat as me. I unscrewed all the knobs, but no way on earth could I get that thing to look like me. It doesn't take into account shoulder slope, boob slope, high hip, sway back, high waist, prominent shoulder blades, round back, etc. I decided to research the "do it yourself" dressform on you tube. You make it by wrapping duct tape all around your body until you nearly suffocate, and then you cut it off -- well, your helper cuts it off. My husband had heard my friend, Phylly, and I talk about it -- although I had no idea he was actually listening.
One day a few weeks ago, my husband came into my sewing/quilting studio and walked up to me and took my hands in his hands. HOW SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
He said he didn't know what to get me for Christmas. He said he had been researching dress forms on the internet and you tube and told me he wanted to make me one for Christmas. I tried not to drop over in a dead faint that he actually had not only heard me talk about a dress form but had RESEARCHED it! Awesome! I told him that was a GREAT idea.
He said he didn't know what to get me for Christmas. He said he had been researching dress forms on the internet and you tube and told me he wanted to make me one for Christmas. I tried not to drop over in a dead faint that he actually had not only heard me talk about a dress form but had RESEARCHED it! Awesome! I told him that was a GREAT idea.
He went to the local hardware store and purchased 8 rolls of duct/duck tape. He also decided that he was going to try his own system, so he purchased about 12 cans of insulation foam in the squirt cans. You spray it into a hole/space/cavity and it expands. He had determined that he would use the foam to make my boobs stay put because some of the makers on you tube had difficulty with the boobs staying stuffed with polyfill.
Sooooooooooo....last weekend, after church, Jerry came up to my studio with the tape and the spray in hand. I decided I better find something to wear UNDER the tape. Most wear a big tee shirt. I didn't want to wear a big tee shirt because I'm already big enough! I chose a Cudl Duds long sleeve top with a crew neck for my top and a tight leotard short for my bottom. I wanted the upper part of my legs to be wrapped so I could use Tina for pants fitting also. I'll let you know why that was a bad idea later.
About the name: Michelina/Tina. When Jerry got me all wrapped up in the tape, and I looked in the mirror, my first thought was, "OMG, I look like the Michelin Tire Man!" I decided to call her Michelina. Later, when I showed the picture to my friend, Phylly, she said I looked like the Tin Man and should call her Tina.
-----------I'm back and it is several days later. Life got busy all of a sudden. Back to the duck tape dress form. Below are pictures of the dress form AFTER it was cut up the back and removed from my body -- then thrown in the car for a trip to our other house 150 miles away -- then brought in out of the car and stuffing attempts begun.
Jerry had brought the insulation foam boobs and decided he would put them into the dress form first. Only problem was, the dress form was all squished and funny looking. Remember, Jerry decided to make the boobs out of insulation foam by filling my bra up with it. Seemed logical.
The foam kept squirting out for hours. I couldn't imagine that my body actually resembled these oddities. Jerry opened Tina up and tried to put the boob blobs into Tina. But, NO! The cavities in the dress form and these foam boobs did not match at all. The form was way too small. We then decided that we should put the dress form back on my body and stretch it out. Sounds simple, huh? Check out the dress form...
Remember how I said I would tell you later why NOT to use stretch garments under the tape? Check out the bottom half of Tina. Looks like the incredible shrinking butt! I could not start to get this thing back on my body. The stretch in the shorts I had worn sucked everything all up and it was NOT going to UNsuck.
I got a pair of scizzors and cut the bottom off of Tina. That left me with very little to work with, and I was so exasperated by then, I just threw the whole thing in the trash. We decided we would start all over -- someday.
On December 29th, "someday" came. I was reading the new issue of Threads magazine when I noticed an ad for a dress form from Fabulous Fit. I went to the website and checked it out. I went to Pattern Review and checked out the reviews on it. All were very good. I decided to call FF and have some questions answered. The main thing I wanted to know was how do you adjust for LENGTH: Shoulder to apex, shoulder to waist, waist to knee, etc. The not-very-friendly lady (probably just the New York lingo) acted like I was crazy to even ask such questions. All is very, very, very simple and anyone can do it, and on and on. I asked her what her return policy was, and I think she stopped breathing for a minute. Finally, she said, "You better be sure to choose the right one." I had asked her what one, and she said Size 8. Since I have not worn Size 8 since I was 8, I couldn't imagine that could work. She then said a Size 10 would work. You have to start with your frame as it would be if not lathered with layers of fat. That made sense.
After two long distance calls with FF, I ended up ordering Marsha (named that because she looks like a marshmallow). On sale at $400 off, Marsha was $1300.
I told myself that it was okay to make such an extravagant purchase because, after all, Marsha was 1/10th of the cost of my last sewing machine.
She is suppose to arrive in two weeks. I will post my progress with her as it develops. Here is a picture of her as a Size 10. And, yes, I actually used to look like that. If I would just lose about 25 pounds, I could look like that again. BUT, I ask myself, WHO CARES what I weigh?
Hence, I will make clothes that fit my current body shape.
Hugs, Joy


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Now hiring for all skill levels! Looking for a great job that fits your skills and expertise? PeopleReady has the job for you! Hiring for these industries: Construction, Hospitality, Manufacturing & Logistics, Warehousing & Distribution, Waste & Recycling.
- Wednesday, October 25, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- 10344 Whalley Blvd
- Drop in welcome!
- Hosted by PeopleReady
- For more information, contact 604-951-6337 or online at www.peopleready.com
This event has two sessions, with the first on Tuesday, October 24th!
This event is part of Surrey Newcomer Employment Week. See what other great events are going on!
Please note, you could win a $100 Mall gift card if you:
- subscribe to Surrey LIP e-updates and/or
- re-post Surrey LIP facebook/twitter posts about Surrey NEW activities and/or
- participate in Surrey NEW online evaluation
You could also win a ticket to Surrey NEW Closing Ceremony that will take place at Surrey City Hall in October if you Share a Story about your employment/employer and how your company benefited from hiring immigrants/refugees (email your story to firstname.lastname@example.com). Learn more at Surrey NEW main page!


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Extraordinary Thinker:
Thought Leader
Virtue, Character, Success,
Achievement, Learning, Relationships, Governance
is a Chinese philosopher, moralist, and
reformer (B.C. 551 - 479).
Since Confucius' teachings and philosophy was so
advanced, it was the education for China and the World for 2,000 years. It is
Confucius did not put into writing
the principles of his philosophy; these were handed down only through his
To be able under all circumstances to
practice five things constitutes perfect
virtue; these five things are
gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and
and courage are
the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
He who exercises government by means of his
virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place
and all the stars turn towards it.
If a man takes no thought about what is
distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be
virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.
If a man remembers what is right at the
sign of profit, is ready to lay down his life in the face of danger, and
does not forget sentiments he has repeated all his life when he has been
in straitened circumstances for a long time, he may be said to be a
complete man.
The firm, the enduring, the simple, and the
modest are near to virtue.
Fine words and an insinuating appearance
are seldom associated with true virtue.
I have not seen a person who loved virtue,
or one who hated what was not virtuous. He who loved virtue would esteem
nothing above it.
Virtue is more to man than either water or
fire. I have seen men die from treading on water and fire, but I have
never seen a man die from treading the course of virtue.
If a man withdraws his mind from the
love of beauty, and applies it as sincerely to
the love of the virtuous; if, in serving his parents, he can exert his
utmost strength; if, in serving his prince, he can devote his life; if
in his intercourse with his friends, his words are sincere – although
men say that he has not learned, I will certainly say that he has.
Character & Personality
By nature, men are nearly alike; by
practice, they get to be wide apart.
The superior man is firm in the right way, and not merely firm.
The superior man thinks always of virtue;
the common man thinks of comfort.
The will
to win, the
desire to
succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys
that will unlock the door to
personal excellence.
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first
Everything has its beauty but not everyone
sees it.
The superior man is satisfied and composed;
the mean man is always full of distress.
The superior man...does not set his mind
either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.
There are three things which the superior
man guards against. In youth...lust. When he is
strong...quarrelsomeness. When he is old...covetousness.
To see what is right, and not to do it, is
want of
courage or of
Without an acquaintance with the rules of
propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.
In his errors a man is true to type.
Observe the errors and you will know the man.
When we see men of worth, we should think
of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should
turn inwards and examine ourselves.
He with whom neither slander that gradually
soaks into the mind, nor statements that startle like a wound in the
flesh, are successful may be called intelligent indeed.
With coarse rice to eat, with water to
drink, and my bended arm for a pillow – I have still joy in the midst of
these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as
a floating cloud.
Our greatest glory is not in never falling,
but in
rising every time we fall.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble
Success depends upon previous
preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.
The man of virtue makes the difficulty to
be overcome his first business, and success only a subsequent
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make
them crimes.
To be wronged is nothing unless you
continue to remember it.
A man who has committed a mistake and
doesn't correct it, is committing another mistake.
When you have faults, do not fear to
abandon them.
What the superior man seeks is in himself;
what the small man seeks is in others.
If a man takes no thought about what is
distant, he will find sorrow near at hand
The cautious seldom err.
When a man's knowledge is sufficient to
attain, and his virtue is not sufficient to enable him to hold, whatever
he may have gained, he will lose again.
He who will not economize will have to
Wheresoever you go,
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your
If you shoot for the stars and hit the
moon, it's OK. But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people
don't even shoot.
The man who moves a mountain begins by
carrying away small stones.
It does not matter how slowly you go so
long as you do not stop.
Things that are done, it is needless to
speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame.
To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
The man of wisdom is never in two minds
about right and wrong; the man of benevolence never worries about the
future; the man of courage is never afraid.
The superior man is distressed by the
limitations of his ability; he is not distressed by the fact that men do
not recognize the ability that he has.
The Three Armies can be deprived of their
commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his
The superior man, when resting in safety,
does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he
does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does
not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered,
and his States and all their clans are preserved.
The superior man cannot be known in little
matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may
not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little
There is one single thread binding my way
together...the way of the Master consists in
doing one's best...that is all.
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to
love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are
difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
If you think in terms of a year, plant a
seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years,
teach the people.
I hear and I forget. I see and I
I do and I
I am not one who was born in the possession
By three methods we may learn wisdom:
First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is
easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
The more man
meditates upon good thoughts, the
better will be his world and the
world at large.
Study the past if you would divine the
They must often
change who would be
constant in
In a hamlet of ten households, there are
bound to be those who are my equal in doing their best for others and in
being trustworthy in what they say, but they are unlikely to be as eager
to learn as I am.
He who merely knows right principles is not
equal to him who loves them.
without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a
night without moon and star.
He who learns but does not
The essence of
knowledge is, having it, to
apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.
Even when walking in the company of two
other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of
the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.
The scholar who cherishes the love of
comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
Those who do not study are only cattle
dressed up in men's clothes.
The determined scholar and the man of
virtue will not seek to live at the expense of injuring their virtue.
They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their virtue complete.
The man who in view of gain thinks of
righteousness; who in the view of danger is prepared to give up his
life; and who does not forget an old agreement however far back it
extends – such a man may be reckoned a complete man.
Look at the means which a man employs,
consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal
The people may be made to follow a path of
While you are not able to serve men, how
can you serve spirits?...While you do not know
Virtue is not left to stand alone. He who
practices it will have neighbors.
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
Respect yourself and others will respect
It is more shameful to distrust our friends
than to be deceived by them.
It is not the failure of others to
appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your
failure to appreciate theirs.
When anger rises, think of the
Do not impose on others what you yourself
do not desire.
Tsze-Kung asked, saying, 'Is there one word
which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?" The Master
said, "Is not Reciprocity such a word? What you do not want done to
yourself, do not do to others."
Recompense injury with justice, and
recompense kindness with
Have no friends not equal to yourself.
Never give a sword to a man who can't
It is only the benevolent man who is
capable of liking or disliking other men.
A youth is to be regarded with respect. How
do you know that his future will not be equal to our present?
The superior man is modest in his speech,
but excels in his
The superior man acts before he speaks,
and afterwards speaks according to his actions.
Speak the truth, do not yield to anger;
give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go
near the gods.
language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said
is not what is meant, then what must be done remains undone; if this remains
undone, morals and art will deteriorate; if justice goes astray, the people will
stand about in helpless confusion. Hence there must be no arbitrariness in what
is said. This matters above everything.
It is not possible for one to teach others
who cannot teach his own family.
He who speaks without modesty will find it
difficult to make his words good.
To see and listen to the wicked is already
the beginning of wickedness.
Silence is a true friend who never betrays.
To govern is to be correct. If you
set an
example by being correct, who would dare remain incorrect?
In a country well governed, poverty is
something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is
something to be ashamed of.
The strength of a nation derives from the
integrity of the home.
He who exercises government by means of his
virtue may be compared to the north polar star, which keeps its place
and all the stars turn towards it.
An oppressive government is more to be
feared than a tiger.
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text:
5-Hour Energy should make a separate slogan for Coachella for when that "2:30 feeling" on Sunday afternoon hits. You know, that time when your head is pounding, your throat is parched and you're left brain is screaming at you for deciding to pay in excess of $300 to watch Santigold in temperatures that would fry an egg on your forehead.
Do you want to see Metronomy?
No, where the fuck is the frozen lemonade man and my mom? I want to go home.
For both weekends, Sunday proved to be the hottest of the three days. Sunscreen mixed with sweat (and tears) as people once again sought shelter under the tents. Sets in the shade–like Real Estate–prime time viewing because of location, location, location. Those who had taken a day of respite in Saturday's more instrument/rock-driven lineup licked their lips at the thought of Nero, Calvin Harris, Justice and AVICII while Gotye proved to be a major pull for that one song that plays on the radio every 30 minutes.
Tired or not, festival-goers were egged through the day by the promise of what was to come at the end of the night. Weeekend One'ers were awed by the guest appearances on the last set of the night on the main stage, while Weekend Two'ers, driven by the hype of Tupacalypse2012, circled Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's closer as must-see. During Coachella's second coming, it seemed that the whole world was watching for the reappearance of the enlightened Shakur, as Craigslist prices skyrocketed for loose wristbands and police presence was greater than ever on the fairgrounds. Tupac came and went though with few hitches, and spectators left buzzing as they were herded like cattle through the exit, already chattering about how they could get back for 2013.
Read our reviews below from Weekend One and Weekend Two below…
First Aid Kit- Weekend One
Festivalgoers unfamiliar with First Aid Kit might have passed the group by based on the band's name alone, which sounds like the band name for a set of skinny and undertalented alt-boys shoegazing and bemoaning the world. But the two Swedish sisters–who belted out open-hearted harmonies with a blend only sisters could make–couldn't be farther from that image. As they paid their respects to the greats in "Emmylou" and elicited cheers with "Lion's Roar," the two siblings also made great show of their other assets: their long flowing hair. Swishing their hair around in a made-for-Coachella Pantene commercial, the sisters ended on a royal note with "I Met Up With the King" and "King of the World." Girls everywhere–and a few dudes–made mental notes to grow their hair out for next year.
Real Estate- Weekend Two
Escaping the sun's death rays, many came to Real Estate just past 4 p.m. to escape the sweltering heat before rallying for Sunday night's sets. The boys from New Jersey revelled in the heat, tailoring a set that eliminated most of the winding and sometimes hypnotizing instrumentals in favor of their more pop offerings. Nerdy and endearing as always–nothing says I love the desert more than a Hawaiian shirt–lead man Martin Courtney led the quintet through "Beach Comber" and some of the best from full debut Days. For those in the audience in a daze, Real Estate provided a subtle reminder to the real reason Coachella was established in the first place: a chance to discover the best up-and-coming artists. Biggest crowd pleaser "It's Real" came with no frills while the Alex Bleeker-sung "Wonder Years" ensured that the band's set would live long in the annals of crowd nostalgia.
Beats Antique- Weekend One
If Gogol Bordello went too mainstream last year with numerous festival appearances, Beats Antique is the off-kilter answer. The actual music, whose heart-pounding tribal and world beats featured, well, a lot of harmonic scales and eclectic percussion, was not the draw. The crowd could have danced along blithely, but most wised up and kept their eyes on the stage. Two belly dancers curved and swayed through most of the set, but in the last ten minutes, things got really nutty. Announcing that they were about to "take things to the next level," the group donned an array of animal masks and began dancing around chaotically. A raven, a skeleton and a weird ant pranced around on stage, and a girl in a mouse mask feigned banging a zebra from behind. Not something you see every day, even at Coachella.
The Hives- Weekend Two
The rumors of The Hives' death have been greatly exaggerated. And that's perfectly fine with the band. Without releasing an album for the last 5 years, the Swedish quintet arrived on Coachella's main stage on Sunday to show the world that they were still, indeed, alive and kicking. Are they ever.
Taking the stage in full penguin suits–top hats, coattails and white bow ties–Scandinavia's finest wrote their new lease on life with a set that recalled old times. At the center of it all was Howlin' Pelle Almqvist who was a relentless hypeman, promoting the band's up-coming release Lex Hives to no end. Likening the Weekend Two set to their third of a trilogy–The Hives first played Coachella in 2003, Almqvist remarked, "This is 'Luke I am your father' and all the shit." The banter, necessary to fill the gaps between the band's rapidfire songs like "Main Offender," was incessant. Another gem: "Fuck the sun, I'm a cold-blooded Swede," he said, asking the crowd to flip the bird at the setting yellow orb. Consummate performers, The Hives had everything working in the 100 degree heat, right down to their infamous roadies, who dressed as ninjas played tambourines, retrieved tossed drum sticks on command and untangled the lead singer's never-ending microphone cord. "Hate To Say I Told You So" was a must, but closer "Tick Tick Boom" was the highlight, as Almqvist asked the crowd to lie down and look at the stars (in broad daylight) before running into the crowd to shake hands Obama style and signing off with a full bow.
Gotye- Weekend One
Gotye's no fool. The Australian rocker knows his fame Down Under hasn't translated yet to anything over here except love for his one radio hit. We even spotted a girl wearing a "Somebody That I Used to Bone" tank top. At least she's being honest. As the sun set, the Mojave tent was packed to the brim of people waiting to hear, well, that song. We briefly contemplated the sheer ballsiness involved if he'd chosen not to play it, but he did — and not even as the last song. When the first xylophonic notes of "Somebody That I Used to Know" rang out, the cheers and the ensuing sing-alongs were so loud that Gotye (hipster pro-tip: it's pronounced like Gaultier) couldn't even be heard. Kimbra was there for her requisite 30-second cameo, and once the song ended, the crowd shrank in half. But those who stayed were treated to a few more tracks, including the particularly groovy closer "Learnalilgivinandlovin," whose funky beat left the dispersing crowd shuffling away with rhythm and a smile.
Justice- Weekend Two
For all the flack that Justice has received for Audio, Video, Disco, it doesn't seem like the Parisian duo has changed much. There's still the iconic cross. There's still the Marshall stacks. And there's still a mind-melting live show. Taking the main stage just after the last slivers of light escaped Indio, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay took the crowd to church with a set that fed off of †. Teasing their most famous offerings "D.A.N.C.E." throughout the set while using others like "DVNO" for drawn-out transitions, Justice were unlike any other big electronic attraction at the festival. There was no "Le7els" or any of the other incestual hits that kept emanating from the Sahara Tent. This was pure Justice-created, and Justice-tailored material. From the powerful Auto remix of "Stress" to AVD single "Civilization," Ed Banger's marquee act were at the height of the game and unwilling to compromise. Aside from a few awkward pauses in the set–de Rosnay held his hand aloft Tommie Smith and John Carlos style for a good minute before a "We Are Your Friends" rework–Sunday's set, the pair's third in six years at Coachella, was unforgettable.
Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg- Weekend One
Rumors swirled all week leading up to the first Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg set –notably that Nate Dogg was going to return via hologram. Dre and Snoop kickstarted the set–Snoop puffing joyfully on a joint the size of a highlighter–with "Next Episode" and ran through other hits like "Kush" and "Gin and Juice." They paused to reflect on Nate Dogg with, of all things, a Ken Burns-esque slideshow of his photos with a few childhood snapshots thrown in for nostalgic measure. Maybe the rumors were wrong? Then came the guest stars, who almost overshadowed the two main performers: Wiz Khalifa for "Young, Wild and Free" and 50 Cent for "P.I.M.P." and "In Da Club." Dre even brought out Kendrick Lamar, who had performed on Friday, for a brief bit. Eminem made a reluctant appearance as well for "I Need a Doctor" and "Til the Lights Go Out." But when Tupac's hologrammed form appeared glowing and floating over the stage, people lost it. Some were scared–it was more than a bit eerie to see him as if back from the dead–while others legitimately thought the deceased Shakur had come out of hiding from his home in Cuba just for Coachella. But as his image (or, really, that of an actor they apparently trained to look and move like him then videotaped) gestured and rapped "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted," you couldn't help but feel as if it was the real thing–until his image left the stage by zapping and disappearing on the spot in a cloud of fairy dust. Until next time, holo-Pac. Until next time 'Chella.
First Aid Kit — Emmylou (download)
The Hives- Tick Tick Boom (download)
Justice- Stress (Auto Remix) (download)


text:
«Ruska nagrada»
– project in the field
of public diplomacy
Fund activities
About the Project
Harmonious and comprehensive development of any country in the political, cultural and business sectors nowadays is impossible without communication and cooperation with other nations. By the relationship between countries, we ultimately mean business, contacts, specific actions of people who are not just among political leaders but cnstitute the majority in arts, culture, religion, business. They create the foundation, strengthen and cement the relations between the countriesin economic, cultural and spiritual spheres, promote mutual understanding between nations, assist the growth of mutual respect and thus stability in the political sphere.
It is very important when society does not forget the merits of these people and notice them publicly. "Ruska Nagrada" with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian World Foundation is called upon to perform this function.
"Ruska Nagrada" started its life in the Balkans. The first ceremony took place in 2011 in Montenegro, dedicated to the 300 of political relations between Montenegro and Russia.
The "Ruska Nagrada" ceremony was received well in the cultural, political and business spheres. As a result of that, the Organising Committee decided to make it an annual event in Montenegro.
Exhibition of works of Jelena Markovic
In Budva (Montenegro) in the exhibition hall of the hotel Avala, the fund "Ruska nagrada" was successfully held an exhibition of outstanding montenegrin artist Jelena Markovic. More than 300 people visited the exhibition. The opening was attended by the Deputy of Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Montenegro Alexandr Konev with wife, the Honorary Consul of Russia in Montenegro Boro Djukic. Director of the "Ruska nagrada" Goran Shkatarich opened the exhibition. At the opening of the exhibition was held a mini concert, the audience were pleased by their art children Kolya and Olesya Palitsins.
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Exhibition of works of Jelena Markovic
Fund "Ruska nagrada" in the gallery of the hotel Avala (Montenegro, Budva) is holding the exhibition of works of famous Montenegrin artist Jelena Markovic. The exhibition devoted to the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism. The exhibition opens on August 22.
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The award "Ruska nagrada 2015"
On July 24 in Montenegro, in Budva within the ceremony of opening of the Honorary Consulate of Russia, in the presence of a large number of honorable guests, including His Excellency the Ambassador of Russia in Montenegro Nesterenko Andrei Alekseevich, passed the award ceremony "Ruska nagrada".
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Ruska nagrada 2015
Оn April 16 in "The House of the Russian Abroad by the name of Alexander Solzhenitsyn" was held the Moscow session of the International Celebratory ceremony "Ruska nagrada".The ceremony was held with the support of "The Society of Montenegrins in the Russian Federation".
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Ruska nagrada 2015
The award "Ruska nagrada" will be awarded in 2015 for the fifth time. This year the ceremony will be held in two sessions: in Moscow on April 16 in "The House of the Russian Abroad by the name of Alexander Solzhenitsyn" and traditionally on August 10 in Montenegro. The ceremony will take place on April 16 with the support of the Embassy of Montenegro in Russia and with the participation of "The Society of Montenegrins in the Russian Federation". The ceremony will be attended by prominent politicians, artists, businessmen and academics, heads of state organizations and agencies of Russia, Montenegro, Serbia and Hungary.
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The Union of Veterans of the National Liberation War and anti-fascists of Monten...
State Duma Deputy, International Grandmaster, Multiple World Chess Champion, Merited Master of Sports (USSR) Anatoly Karpov
Dear friends!
My cordial greetings to the participants, organisers and guests of the IV international ceremony of "Ruska Nagrada"!
This ceremony by right is a very significant event in the cultural and humanitarian life of Montenegro and Russia. Its significance especially incr...
Konstantin Iosifovich Kosachev, Head of the Federal agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, compatriots living abroad and international humanitarian cooperation
Dear friends!
On behalf of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, compatriots living rabezhom and international humanitarian cooperation and myself I cordially greet the participants, organizers and guests of the the III International ceremony "Ruska nagrada"!
Vladimir Yakunin, the President of JSC Russian Railways
I am sincerely grateful for the high praise of my activities in developing the cultural links between Russia and Montenegro and I am thankful for the offer to accept the Honorary Diploma and Commemorative Plaque of Ruska Nagrada (Russian Award) at the celebratory ceremony on 10 August 1012 in Herzeg Novi, Mont...
Mikhail Efremovich Shvydkoy, the Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation
Dear participants of the ceremony and the "Ruska Nagrada" laureates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,
Please accept my sincere and friendly greetings as the Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation to all participants of...
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Official web-site of The House of the Russian Abroad by the name of Alexander Solzhenitsyn writes about the celebratory international ceremony "Ruska nagrada 2015".
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International common slavonic cultural and educational journal "Slavic soul" informs about the celebratory international ceremony "Ruska nagrada 2015".
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Tourist web-portal Raymond-agency.com writes about the celebratory international ceremony "Ruska nagrada 2014".
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All publications
Partners 2015
© "Ruska nagrada" 2010-2017


text:
Harris Home Children Can Aim For The Stars Thanks To Verizon Wireless
HUNTSVILLE, AL — One never knows who the next Neil Armstrong, John Glenn or Sally Ride is going to be, but children from The Harris Home for Children are going to get the chance to see if they have "the right stuff" thanks to Verizon Wireless.
Twelve children ages 9-12 from Harris Home's after-school program will attend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp from July 7-12 on scholarships donated by Verizon Wireless. The nation's largest wireless provider is covering all expenses - camp activities and materials, lodging, food, and even flight suits with name tags for the children.
"Practically every kid dreams about being an astronaut at some point during childhood," said Jim Davis, district manager, North Alabama, for Verizon Wireless. "We had a chance to provide these children with the opportunity to get that experience in a renowned program like Space Camp, and we found some very deserving children at Harris Home. To say we're excited about the scholarships is a huge understatement."
As part of the Space Camp's 20th anniversary celebration, Verizon Wireless secured 12 scholarships for the weeklong Space Camp. Scholarship winners were selected by Harris Home staff based on improvement in academics, behavior, and interpersonal/social skills.
Harris Home's after-school program, established in 1995, is a collaboration between Harris Home, Madison County Department of Human Resources and the
Huntsville City and Madison County School Systems. There are approximately 20 children in the program, the majority of whom are considered "at risk" youth. The program gives children an outlet for help with school subjects, interaction with other children and enrichment activities.
Space Camp activities include simulated Space Shuttle missions, IMAX® movies, training simulators (such as the one-sixth Gravity Chair), rocket building and launches, scientific experiments, and lectures on the past, present, and future of space exploration.
"Our children have been looking forward to this since the moment we told them about it," said Shafunda L. Holtzclaw, director, public relations & resource development for Harris Home for Children. "They likely would never have the opportunity to attend a program like Space Camp. It could be a dream-come-true for many of them, and it could foster new interests in math, science or in the space program for others. It's a wonderful gift Verizon Wireless has given to these children."
There will be a special luncheon for all children in the after-school program (and their guardians), Harris Home staff and Verizon Wireless employees at the Space Center prior to the start of camp. Lunch will be provided, and youngsters will be able to try out some of the training tools from Space Camp and participate in other activities.
About Harris Home for Children
Harris Home for Children, Incorporated, is a private, non-profit 501C (3) agency licensed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources as a foster care institution and child placement agency. Harris Home for Children is a multi-service agency that seeks to improve the quality of life for children between the ages of 6 and 18 who have experienced conditions of homelessness, abuse and neglect.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.
To update your profile or remove yourself from automatic News Delivery, please visit the Verizon Wireless Customized News Service Center.


text:
Debbie Dowling
3920 Mayberry Road
Timmonsville, S.C. 29161
(843) 383-0895
Puppy Deposit Agreement
A deposit of $_250___ has been sent to the seller to be applied towards the purchase of a puppy. The balance due is to be paid before the puppy is picked up. The puppy must be picked up by the agreed pickup date below or you forfeit this deposit, unless prior arrangements have been made with the seller. The puppy will not be released to the new owner until the balance is paid in full. The purpose of the deposit is to insure the purchaser's intent to purchase the puppy. The deposit is non-refundable should the purchaser, for any reason, change his or her mind about purchasing the puppy. The deposit may be refunded if the health of the puppy has deteriorated.
I have read the above and agree to these conditions.
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text:
According to incubator Rock Health, funding for digital health projects increased by 45% in 2012. It's a hot sector – and here, in a video series, is attorney Michael Esquivel, partner in law firm Fenwick & West's Start-ups and Venture Capital Group, to talk about the opportunities:
"Digital health" is what's happening at the intersection of technology and healthcare, with companies that are asking: how do we engage the end user, the consumer, the patient using mobile and wireless technologies?
Among other things, attorney Esquivel describes the emergence of a new type of start-up in the space: "health oriented but consumer facing" – which leads to more opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors (and added value for consumers)….
Hot companies in digital health? Here's two: Cardiio (with a heart rate app for iPhone), HealthTap (patients ask physicians questions about their health) … companies that, according to Esquivel, are creating the next evolution in personalized medicine.
The videos:
- Digital Health: Revolutionizing Healthcare
- Digital Health: Where is the Action for Entrepreneurs?
- Hot Companies in Digital Health
Topics for further reading: Life Sciences – mHealth – Healthcare – Telemedicine – Medical Devices


text:
Caught in the light buoyancy of feeling secure.
Forgive the unsavoury lateness and my ashamed absence but I would confess that upon brief reflection I find myself insecurity free. In part I would like to thank the wonderful Angela for providing the prompt that proved this to me. If there were a fate it was all too present in the enchanting eyes of her visual dare; a photo so intoned with my WIP that it caught me off guard. I surprised myself by not attempting to pressure my characters onto this prompt, I find it unnatural to fit a previous piece to a new catalyst and always try for something original. For the simple reason that my notepad was at hand I began scrawling the tale of forbidden love, entranced by their movements and becoming increasingly ecstatic as I continued to the next page.
I am unabashed to feel pride in my piece, I shattered the restraining barrier of short flash fiction I have found daunting and believe I am capable of nurturing it into a short story. It gave me confidence in the Faerytaleish plot quietly forming in the netheregions of the Drafts, which anticipates its release in the coming week...
Admittedly complacent in my euphoria of optimism I am keenly aware of the development I have experienced and expect good things. I am certainly delighted in my gradual evolution and have fulfilled the goals I had not realised had been raised, leaving only a vast expanse of possibilities waiting to be sampled.
(Also I blame my negligence on a spontaneous aversion to my laptop and the arrival of unrelations from the distant reaches of the continent. Or maybe my creativity was too busy with my new guitar seshs and the discovery of making pancakes from scratch)


text:
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Reality of jam
Strawberry season = strawberry freezer jam
And lest you think it's all sewing, jam making, rainbows and unicorns...
My reality is messy. I just photograph the pretty.
9 comments:
- Kim said...
Have you gotten addicted to flying that helicopter? Had to put my DH in a 12 step program for his :0)
Those pictures are making my mouth water!
Happy Gardening
- June 19, 2013 at 9:29 AM
- Kar said...
Strawberry jam is the best! I have got to find some of those plastic lids for my jars. :)
- June 19, 2013 at 12:58 PM
- diane said...
I need to make some freezer jam too.
- June 19, 2013 at 3:22 PM
- Lee D said...
I can smell the jam bubbling away in big canning pots. We don't get many local berries here like in the East. :( enjoy your jam
- June 19, 2013 at 5:49 PM
- Paige said...
One of the things on my summer "list" is to look into making jams and preserving. I'm kind of scared of homemade-things-in-jars-for-long-times but it looks so yummy and homey!
- June 19, 2013 at 9:02 PM
- Kristen said...
Oh, oh, the joy of strawberry jam freshly made. I miss that so much.
Can't have it in the house any longer thanks to daughter or at least making that die for jam.
Perhaps I should usher her out for a day or two....;)
Your pictures are stunning, and many tummies are now grumbling.
Helicopter fun or was it trying to take off with a small jar of jam for someone? :D
- June 19, 2013 at 9:37 PM
- Beth said...
That looks soo good. I might have to try making some.
- June 20, 2013 at 7:30 AM
- Ann said...
I made not freezer jam last year and it was "too runny" "not enough berries" for my husband so I will have to try a freezer version.
- June 21, 2013 at 1:50 PM
- Lynne Shandley said...
I bought strawberries and raspberries specifically for making jam today. a) they are in, b) I had hooked my last jar of commercial jam out of the fridge and it was mouldy! Time for freezer jam but I'll make a small amount and put it in small jar....
- June 23, 2013 at 9:52 PM


text:
[EN] The environmental organisation Greenpeace International has confirmed in its press release of 15 June 2014 that it has lost 3.8 million euros on the international currency market. According to the Amsterdam-based nonprofit organisation an employee entered into contracts to buy foreign currency at a fixed exchange rate while the euro was gaining in strength. This resulted in a record loss when closing accounts at the end of last year.
1. Did Greenpeace act as a speculator or did they just fail in their hedging strategy?
When reading the press one may get the perception that the investments of Greenpeace may not be in line with their ideals since it seems to be common sense that everything linked to financial instruments belongs to the world of speculation. It is, however, important to always distinguish speculators from organisations investing in financial markets to cover their financial risk exposure on the physical market (hedging).
- Hedgers reduce their risk by taking an opposite position in the market to what they are trying to hedge. The ideal situation in hedging would be to create one effect to balance another. Financial risk management creates stability and helps the organisation to secure its margins. Find more information here.
- Speculators make bets on rising or declining markets. Speculators are not interested in bull or bear markets and are thus vulnerable to both the downside and the upside of the markets. Therefore, speculation can be extremely risky. For example, if a speculator believes that a commodity is overpriced, he may sell it without even owning it and wait for the price to decline, at which point he or she will buy back the stock and realise his profits.
Even though we do not have more details on the financial instruments involved in this particular case, it is likely that Greenpeace did not act as a speculator but just failed in their attempt to hedge their Euro positions.
2. Why does it make sense for Greenpeace and other NGOs to invest in financial markets?
Financial instruments are not only used by speculators but also by organisations to secure multiple financial risks. Greenpeace officials have explained that its finance team frequently conclude contracts to hedge euro positions against currency fluctuations since the organisation is funded with many different currencies and valuations may change rapidly. This problem of volatile currencies is applicable to all NGO who receive a disproportionate amount of donations from Europe which is then redistributed in different currencies to other countries.
The following illustration shows the need to secure FX positions in international NGOs:
By using adequate financial instruments, NGOs (as well as any other organisations) can cover their financial assets against this scenario and protect their budgets. However, this action requires a good knowledge of the risk exposure (considering all positions and correlations), an adequate understanding of the hedging strategies, an appropriate risk management policy (including procedure and thresholds) and an independent analysis of the different hedging offers in the market. By omitting one of these key elements the wrong financial instrument could be selected and thus the risk of losses increased.
3. Why is independent expertise so essential before hedging currency positions?
After this incident, the management of Greenpeace International indicated that the staff member involved thought he was acting in the best interest of the organisation but did not fully understand the nature of the operations and even if he was a senior member of their finance unit he made a serious misjudgment. In addition, he neither respected internal procedures in place nor requested support of an external and independent expert before contracting the financial instruments.
It is, however, important to remember that INDEPENDENCE of an expert (or consultant) is a prerequisite when analyzing any kind of risk mitigation. "Independent" need to be understood in two ways:
- Independent means "external specialist": external specialists have treated similar issues in many different scenarios and environments. They will bring the appropriate knowledge and expertise to your organisation to ensure the implementation of efficient risk mitigation strategies.
- Independent means "100% independent": brokers, insurance companies, banks or other companies providing financial instruments follow rather their objectives to sell financial products than providing advice. It is, therefore, recommended to assess the risk exposure by contracting experts who focus on customized advice instead of costly financial products.
Taking the example of Greenpeace, we can see that hedging currency risks with financial instruments can bring tangible benefits to the organisation. However, the associated risk need to be covered by an ethical code of conduct which avoids a repetition of similar scenarios. Bringing independent expertise into the organisation should be the first step to regain confidence of Greenpeace supporters and donors.
DMO, 16 June 2014
About TALA Consult
TALA Consult is a management consultancy company specializing in financial risk management and cost optimization. In particular, we focus on risks inherent to the supply chain. Instead of mere cost killing, our approach combines cost saving and risk optimization levers to deliver true savings as well as to provide a clear and sustainable return on investment to our customers.
Our consulting advice varies from quick recommendations for your on-the-spot needs to sustainable and holistic optimization of your processes and organisation. When needed, we provide efficient and cost effective outsourcing solutions.