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Chapter 16 : Cleansing Flames
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'Prometheus Thane,' said Hermione Granger's patronus, its voice still echoing through the Great Hall, 'is dead.'
'Amazing, he's managed to resurrect himself. Someone go write to Voldemort's old supporters, they'll be thrilled.' Scorpius snapped his fingers, and the smile he gave the patronus when it turned its incorporeal gaze upon him was tight, arrogant. 'Your research is wrong. I'm right.'
'There are times I forget you're a Malfoy. This isn't one of them.'
Scorpius gave an elaborate bow to hide the twisting in his gut. 'Thank you.'
'It wasn't a compliment.' The patronus cocked its head half an inch. 'You'll need to do better than just saying we're wrong.'
'Simple.' Scorpius opened his hands. 'I remember what happened that night. I saw him. That's who he looks like.'
'Though memories were tampered with. Simple dispelling shouldn't work,' said Methuselah, nudging his glasses up his nose. 'Obliviation's more complicated than that.'
'So there's no guarantee your memories are accurate, Malfoy,' said Hermione's patronus, and there was a colder edge to her voice he couldn't place which he really didn't like. For the first time he was glad he wasn't talking to her face to face. There was an expression some people got, people who'd known his father, his grandfather, where they looked like they were expecting him to show off the less pleasant traits of the family line. He hated seeing it. 'The memories could have been falsified, or -'
'I... don't think they were. I think Malfoy's right.' Everyone stared at Rose for a heartbeat. Then they looked upwards to check the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall and see if the skies were raining blood yet. She cleared her throat. 'I've not been studying the ritual as intently as Jones, but I looked at it to see if it would give any clues as to the curse -'
'It doesn't,' said Methuselah archly.
'I know that now. My psychic powers weren't functioning at the time.'
'I said it wouldn't.'
'I've studied this illness more, I might have seen something you've missed!'
Scorpius raised his hands. 'While this is fascinating, can we get back to the part where Weasley was telling everyone I'm right?'
Her glare turned on him, but she continued anyway. 'My point is that an aspect of the ritual was clearly to protect those performing it, and us via proximity, against the curse, the illness. While it's difficult to protect against spells like that, it's even more difficult to protect just against one specific spell and allow all others to pass through unhindered. Magic is magic.'
'You're saying that the protection against the illness, that night, might have granted Malfoy some protection against the Obliviation?' said Lockett, eyes beady, but she looked convinced.
'I think it's possible it's the cause of the Obliviation being weak enough that a simple Finite Incantatum could breach it. It's difficult to say; a dispelling does nothing to the rest of us, but according to Malfoy's recollection we were all unconscious, our memories didn't need tampering with.' Rose opened her hands, gaze landing on her mother's patronus, and for a moment the determined look in their eyes matched. 'I believe his memories are accurate.'
'Thank you, Weasley.' Scorpius beamed.
'Of course, he might be wrong in identifying the person from those memories,' Rose finished.
He gave her a look of betrayal. 'You can't just be nice, can you, Weasley?'
For a moment he thought she was going to shout at him; then she drew a deep, careful breath. 'I'm looking at the evidence. Not my feelings,' she said, and the tone of her voice, sincere and firm, was enough to surprise and confuse him into silence.
'I don't think it's impossible for Scorpius to be right,' said Hermione's patronus. 'I just hope he's not.'
Lockett lifted a hand to forestall any further indignant comments. 'What did you find? And what makes Malfoy so sure he's our man?'
'He looks like him, to start with,' drawled Scorpius, as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. 'And in so far as I can make a guess at his skills and personality, he matches. He was a Ravenclaw, an avid member of the Duelling Club, an outstanding student in Defence, Potions, Arithmancy, and others - he broke your record, Ms Granger, getting a perfect score in all three at OWL and at NEWT level.'
'If he was so great,' said Selena, 'then how come he wasn't a prefect or Head Boy? I've never heard of him.'
'You make a habit of keeping track of past prefects and Head Boys, Rourke?' wondered Rose.
'Miss Rourke is correct,' said Methuselah, who did have such a habit, just for rainy days. 'He is neither.'
'Older members of staff might have heard of him if they were awake,' said Scorpius. 'He clashed with many of them regularly. He was arrogant and insubordinate and thought he knew best.'
Albus gave him a fond grin. 'So, nothing like you?'
'Nah, mate. His school records are brilliant,' said Scorpius, with a self-effacing smile. 'Even his disciplinary record, which is as long as a Weasley's.' He frowned, looking at his surroundings. 'Present company excepted.'
The patronus looked, despite itself, amused. 'Point made. I have not had access to all of this information, but everything Scorpius had found from the school record matches.'
'So why's he supposed to be dead?' said Scorpius.
'That is what reports from the Peruvian Ministry have suggested.' There was a beat as the patronus surveyed them all. 'The Thane family are very old and were, until eighty years ago, very rich. You won't have heard of them for two reasons: their fall from grace, and their fondness for international dealings which took them away from British eyes and only intensified when they were disgraced.'
'Disgraced eighty years ago.' Albus frowned. 'Grindelwald?'
'Percival Thane, Prometheus' grandfather, was one of his most avid British supporters, trying to bring his attitudes and sensibilities from the continent. He also gave Grindelwald's movement a good deal of the family fortune, and so when Grindelwald fell, the Thane wealth and reputation went with him.'
'So he's from a line of Dark Magic supporters. That bodes well,' said Rose, and Scorpius felt another twist in his gut as he looked at the tense expressions of her, Lockett, Selena, and even Albus.
'The Thanes moved out of Britain; they still had a lot of contacts and influence domestically and abroad, which made people like Percival Thane useful international ambassadors to countries which were still more sympathetic to Dark Magic. The Thanes could keep foreign relations friendly, and they were out of trouble.'
'They let them keep working for the Ministry?' said Albus.
Hermione's patronus gave a rough approximation of a shrug. 'They hadn't been charged with any crime. The Thanes stayed abroad, though being a traditionalist, Percival Thane sent his son to attend Hogwarts. This was in the post-war years; Voldemort was gathering strength but this was before the huge surge of popularity in the 1970s. Jericho Thane didn't seem to show any interest in the movement, and he didn't return to Britain after he left Hogwarts.'
'Did he also go into diplomacy?' asked Rose.
'Jericho Thane set up an enchantment firm in America, producing high-end magical items. They were rather successful, and even acquired a government contract to produce equipment for the US Department of Magic. It all went wrong in the early 2000s, though, when it was found out they'd been selling equipment to countries against whom the Department and allies, including the British Ministry, were upholding magical embargos.'
Albus quirked an eyebrow. 'Dark magic-using countries?'
'Most often, but even some with poor records on Muggle-born and Beasts and Being treatments, like Mongolia. The company was ruined and the Thane fortunes reversed, again. This happened immediately before Prometheus Thane attended Hogwarts.' Hermione's patronus looked at Scorpius. 'Scorpius has covered his school years. Inauspicious and yet successful. He never officially returned to Britain after leaving school, either, but he didn't become an entrepreneur like his father. Prometheus Thane looked like he would become a simple Ministerial aide, and was assigned to the Ambassador to Macedonia, but within two years had abandoned his job and went missing. He would show up a few months later involved with the extremist groups promoting centaur rights in the region.'
'Pro-centaur rights?' Rose looked bewildered.
'He had been involved in the Ministry's efforts to make the Macedonians open up a dialogue with the centaurs; the Ambassador thought he was young and idealistic and had been swayed to their side, though even the wizards on the centaurs' side used extreme and even violent methods to pursue their goals. Within six months the Macedonians had hunted them down, but Thane wasn't amongst them.
'A year later he was in Belize, involved in the magical conflict there with Guatemala. This was a war which broke out over trade disputes; there was little which connected it to the cause in Macedonia. When that conflict ended he was briefly arrested by authorities in Egypt for affiliation with a pro-Dark Magic group in Cairo.'
'Of course he was,' mused Albus.
'Except,' said Hermione's patronus, 'that he made a deal, gave them information, and was let go. The assessment of the Egyptians was that he had no idealistic links with the movement, and was nothing more than a wand-for-hire.
'The rest of his record reads much like that. Where groups or governments would pay for someone with skills, Thane could be hired. He was recorded as being involved in fights, in the development of magical items and even, yes, some custom curse-work. But nothing of this sort of scale. The last time he appeared was working with insurgents in Paraguay three years ago, and he was reported killed in an explosion from an attempt to disrupt a government protection ritual which went awry.'
'So he fought, a lot, against governments and for Dark Magic causes,' Albus said.
'You're hearing selectively,' said Rose, much to Scorpius' surprise. 'He worked with pro-Centaur rights groups as well - and didn't the Paraguayan magical government collapse three years ago and it was the insurgency that took over?'
'The new government is much more popular, domestically and abroad. I think quite a few witches and wizards in Britain would have been called insurgents twenty-five years ago,' agreed Hermione's patronus.
'So instead of a follower of bad causes, he's a mercenary without a cause. I'm not sure if that's better,' said Albus.
'No, which is why I hope that Scorpius is wrong and that he isn't who we're dealing with. He's not the most dangerous person I can imagine out there, but he is dangerous - he has a lot of contacts and has demonstrated himself to be astonishingly resourceful in extreme circumstances; he's had the sort of experiences most witches and wizards his age couldn't dream of. And worse, there's no telling of his motivations - I see no obvious reason why he would engage in plaguing Hogwarts of his own accord, and if he is working for someone, his allegiances lie, as Albus says, with money. There's no telling what they want.'
'Does it... matter?' Selena blinked as everyone turned to her. 'I mean, of course it matters to find out who did this, but does it matter to us? He set up the ritual, the school's been cursed - he's going to be in Tahiti by now drinking something out of a coconut with a little umbrella in it.'
'He might still be out there,' said Albus, tensing. 'Something sent those Redcaps after us.'
'Not necessarily.' Methuselah nudged his glasses up his nose. 'Ritual uses Dark Magic components. Ritual remains, continuing to spread infection. Ritual has had corrupting influence upon Forbidden Forest. Centaurs were agitated on Day Zero. Likelihood remains that agitation of local magical life is due to continual presence of magic of ritual.'
'So not only is the ritual continuing to keep sick people sick, it's continuing to mess up the area? Great.' Albus sagged.
Hermione's patronus shifted to look at Lockett. 'Before Scorpius prompted me for my findings, you said you had good news, Professor.'
Lockett blinked, as if she'd forgotten any such thing - but then she brightened, and Scorpius raised his head. He hadn't heard anything, not from her and not from Rose when he'd brought down breakfast as usual. Rose, too, looked curious; she clearly hadn't been included in Lockett's findings.
'I do. I've still not been able to identify what "Phlegethon" is in a magical sense; it doesn't match anything in terms of reagents, curses, cures, rituals, or so forth. But I'm pleased to say that the results from the latest batch of remedies have come in, and though the effect on the symptoms of the infected has been minimal there has been an effect.' She straightened, the first genuine smile in weeks toying about her lips. 'I am confident in expressing that this curse cannot be transmitted by anything other than humans.'
The patronus looked pleased, but Scorpius merely looked bewildered. 'How, exactly, does that help us?'
'We can use owls,' said Rose, beginning to beam. 'We can get supplies shipped in quicker, we can initiate communication as fast as an owl can fly to Hogsmeade -'
'And we can send messages in to you. Thank you, Professor. I'll need to review your findings so I can present them properly to the Minister, as only he has the power to authorise a change in the quarantine protocol like that, but that should be cleared up with a matter of days, if you're right.'
Grins spread across the faces of all of them, even Lockett, and Scorpius fought to force his own. It wouldn't do to look dour, or at least unenthused, when stood in the middle of them like this. They'd ask questions. And for such a curious soul, Scorpius hated questions. He felt perfectly comfortable with this hypocrisy.
They drifted off after that, Lockett set to give Hermione's patronus an extensive verbal briefing on their findings, as they still couldn't ship the physical documents out of the castle without the Minister's say-so. Albus went back to check on the warding, as he'd been doing more regularly since the Redcap incursion, and so, eager to avoid the eyes of the others, Scorpius said something about heading for the Library, which would prove to be an utter lie as his feet carried him out of the Great Hall, onto the grounds, and in the direction of the lake.
Day Fourteen. September was dying all around them, and with it, summer; the trees were turning from the joy of green to the glory of gold, and wistfully he could remember autumn spent kicking up piles of leaves and magically catapulting conkers across the courtyard at Hector Flynn -
No, no, he'd not really cared about Hector Flynn when he'd been younger, had he? A Quidditch rivalry alone didn't make him a target for torment. Who had it been? Scorpius frowned to himself as he reached the edges of the lake, the sun bright in the clear, late morning sky, its rays reflecting off the water and almost bright enough to blind. It was hard, he considered, having enemies. So many people to keep track of.
'Al didn't mean it like that.'
Scorpius blinked as Rose's voice cut through his reverie and he turned to see her crossing the lawn towards him, Artemis a smoky bundle in her arms, for once appeased. Seeing the outside, getting fussed over, and not having to walk seemed to be the cat's ideal state of being.
His waved a hand vaguely. 'Who did I throw conkers at in third year?'
Rose looked a bit taken aback by the question. 'Me?'
'Nah, I only kicked leaves at you. And only once, Al told me off so I stopped. There was somebody.'
For some reason she was taking his question halfway seriously, her eyes going to the stretch of water as she stopped next to him. Artemis squirmed in her arms and looked up at him with bright, inviting green eyes. Despite himself, Scorpius reached down to scratch behind her ear - and immediately she latched onto his index finger with sharp teeth.
'You bastard,' he hissed, yanking his hand back.
Artemis just went back to curling up against Rose, who ignored the entire interchange as if he hadn't sworn at her cat and her cat hadn't decided he was her favourite snack. Eventually she nodded. 'Saxby. It was Saxby you used to torment.'
'Oh yeah, he reported me to a prefect for setting off a stink-bomb on the Express and Slytherin started the year with negative points.' Despite himself, Scorpius grinned. 'Saxby's all right. He unclenched.'
'I think his options were to unclench or have a nervous breakdown.'
'Poor guy. I mean, it's got to suck being a smart guy in a House with Methuselah Jones, who casts an academic shadow so long Boggarts probably grow in it, but that's Jones. He's probably not even human, it doesn't really count to be beaten by Jones, he's just unreal. But he didn't even have a shot at second place with you around...'
He glanced sideways to see her shift Artemis into a one-handed hold as she brushed that springy, disobedient lock of hair behind her ear, the movement surprisingly bashful. 'Yes, well,' Rose said awkwardly. 'I wasn't the only one to beat Saxby in tests. Matty always did very well.'
'Matty,' Scorpius echoed with a frown. 'Why do you call him that, Doyle hates that?'
She tilted her nose up. 'You're not the only one, Malfoy, who can do things just to get a rise out of others.'
He fought a grin. 'Why'd you two break up, anyway? You seemed, you know, pretty good, pretty similar...'
'Has it occurred to you that having a boyfriend who's similar might be really, really annoying?' Rose scratched Artemis' belly. 'And nice try, Malfoy, to get me to tell you it's none of your business and storm off, but you're not dodging the issue.'
'What issue?'
'You didn't answer me when I got here. Albus really didn't mean it.'
Scorpius assumed an expression of innocence. 'Didn't mean what?'
'Don't be like that. He didn't mean what he implied talking to Mum. About people with parents involved in Dark Magic, like he wasn't surprised Thane turned out to be a nasty piece of work after his grandfather's connections. I saw the look on your face.'
'And here was me thinking I'd do well at poker.'
She swatted him on the arm and he looked at her, surprised. 'I'm trying to help, you idiot,' said Rose, but she spoke wryly, not angrily. 'There's no way he thinks that sort of thing about you - that because of your father and grandfather, you're automatically going to go bad. If he did, don't you think he'd have run a mile that first time on the Hogwarts Express instead of sitting with you?'
Scorpius couldn't fight the awkward, self-conscious smile that rose to his lips at the memory. He'd been eleven years old and alone on the Hogwarts Express and avoided by any student with parents who'd known to tell their children, "don't get close to the Malfoys" until, of all people, Harry Potter's son had introduced himself. Of course, Scorpius had only tolerated him then because he'd known it would piss his father off...
But then his expression turned stiff. 'I don't want to be the exception.'
'You're not. Al's a smart guy. He's just tired, and unsurprisingly he's keen to paint Thane as a great big evil. It's always easier, Mum says, for us to think people who're against us are complete monsters. That way we don't have to think about the ways we're like them.' Rose looked him up and down. 'Except that's all you can think about with Thane, isn't it?'
Scorpius managed to force a scoff. 'Yes, I think that because we both have complete arseholes for ancestors I'm predestined to become some sort of rogue mercenary wandering the globe. Actually, that sounds pretty cool; sign me up for that, pronto.' He turned to her, defensive now her words had hit uncomfortably close to home. 'What do you want, Weasley?'
She met his gaze, unflinching. 'To try to make you feel better, because you're obviously upset.'
He gaped. 'Why?'
'Because I realised something.' Now Rose did look a bit more awkward, and drew a deep breath. 'We're stuck in this together.'
'Well noticed -'
'Stop it, stop being a prat, Malfoy, and listen to me.' Again, she spoke more wryly than harshly, and relaxed as she rolled her eyes. 'This is the point. We're in trouble, we're in hard times, and they're not made any easier by you and me going at each other like we're competing for... for...'
His lips twisted as she flailed for a word. 'House Cup?'
'You never cared about the House Cup. I never cared much about the Quidditch Cup. We never did actually compete. But, whatever.' Rose waved a dismissive hand. 'It doesn't help. We're in this together. We can't just be at each others' throats, making enemies of one another because of what we think or... assume the other did.' She looked briefly bashful, then shoved the hesitation away and pressed on. 'We have to stick by each other. So consider this a peace offering.'
'Peace offerings usually involve, you know, offerings. What've you got?'
'I've got this cat.' Rose looked down at Artemis, who purred. 'My offering is that I won't give her to you so she can maul your face off?'
Scorpius narrowed his eyes. 'I will accept your gracious offering. What's brought this on? The good news?'
'In case you didn't notice, Malfoy, I tried to have this conversation three days ago. You just didn't listen,' said Rose, tart at last.
'Oh, no.' He shook his head, turning to look back across the shining expanse of the lake. 'That doesn't sound like me. I always listen to you, Weaselby.'
She didn't answer, but also turned to the lake, watching the glorious light of dying summer as the sun wrung out the few bright beams it had left for the year. Then she dumped Artemis into his arms and laughed as he yelped when the cat clawed up his shoulder, onto his head, and used it as a springboard to bound into the tree above them.
Two days later Scorpius was stood in his room, changing out of his Quidditch gear after joining Albus on a mercifully-quiet patrol. Since the Redcap attack they'd taken to doing them twice a day, which meant for more fun in getting out flying, but more shredded nerves as every bit of movement they saw around the perimeter was thought to be an attack until they looked twice and realised it was just a deer or squirrel.
So he took longer than he might have done to unwind after each patrol. Took an extra-long shower, even considered trying to get tea sent up if he thought the House Elves wouldn't send him instead something horrible. As such he was still in his dressing-gown, emerald-green and luxurious enough to make Selena jealous, when there was a hammering at the door and Albus' familiar voice.
'Scorp! Hey, Scorp, open up!'
Albus was still in his Quidditch gear, but wore a beaming smile despite his fatigue when Scorpius let him in, and he stood in the middle of the room. 'Owls are in. Lockett must have given the go-ahead this morning when we were checking out the north side. They've been sent from Hogsmeade; only took them a few hours.'
Something twisted in Scorpius' gut. '...from the Ministry?'
'From home.' Albus was still grinning, and now Scorpius saw he brandished a bundle of papers. He pulled one free and the sick feeling deepened in Scorpius' stomach before he saw, when Albus shoved it into his hands, that it was just a blank piece of parchment. 'Look!'
'I'm looking,' said Scorpius slowly, 'and yet, I see nothing.'
Then, the ink ebbing up from the paper itself, words spread onto the surface in a tight, cursive script. Mister Padfoot would like to say the impression is mutual.
Scorpius looked at Albus, confused. 'What is this?'
'James sent it.' Albus beamed.
'He sent magical insulting paper.' Scorpius quirked an eyebrow. 'Our salvation is at hand.'
Mister Wormtail would like to point out that you seem to need all the help you can get. Mister Moony adds that even magical insulting paper would likely raise the level of discussion in this crisis.
'Cute,' drawled Scorpius to the parchment. 'What do you think of me burning you?'
Mister Prongs most courteously invites you to shove it.
'Give it here,' said Albus at last, and pulled out his wand. 'This was my Dad's. My grandfather - Prongs - he made this.'
'Your grandfather was James Potter,' Scorpius pointed out. 'Unless something heinous happened with Lily Potter that I'd really rather not know about.'
'James Potter is Prongs. Here.' Albus tapped his wand on the parchment and drew a deep breath. 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good.'
Scorpius swore as the paper changed. Not because magical paper was anything unusual in his way of life, but as the words scrolled out and then the ink swirled and shifted to present the perfect, to-scale depiction of Hogwarts and the grounds, going on and on as Albus unfolded it further than it had looked like it was capable of folding, it seemed the only appropriate response. 'The hell is this?'
'The Marauder's Map.' Albus sounded infinitely proud. 'My grandfather and his friends made it. My uncles Fred and George stole it from the old caretaker's office, then gave it to my Dad. James nicked it from his desk drawer in his third year - how do you think he managed to give the prefects the run-around like he did? He had this map! It shows everything and everywhere on the school grounds, and better - it shows where everyone is.'
Scorpius peered down at the paper gleefully. 'This is going to make everything easier. From finding each other to the patrols to...' He paused and frowned. 'Well, that's about it for now, but it's something!'
'Isn't it? I caught James with it once in our fourth year, and I was a bit hurt he didn't give it to me after he left school,' said Albus with a small frown. Scorpius looked at him sharply - that sort of confession from Albus was like anyone else admitting they'd been heartbroken by such an oversight. 'He said he wanted me to earn it, which probably meant he wanted me to jump through hoops. But this was the first letter in. He said he thought we'd need it.'
'More than he bloody will playing Quidditch, anyway!' Scorpius agreed. 'Is that the only letter through?'
'No, there's...' Albus' voice trailed off, and his shoulders sagged. 'There were plenty. Mum and Dad wrote to me, Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione wrote to Rose, there were letters for Selena and Jones...' He cringed.
Scorpius sighed, and wasn't sure if the twist in his gut was loosening from relief, or if it was just numbing from disappointment. 'And nothing for me. Of course not.'
'What? Of course there is!' Albus looked horrified at the idea, and pulled a sealed letter from his pile of papers, handing it over. 'There's just... the one... I mean, letters from abroad would take longer, they could only have written them this morning, too...'
'From the three pages you're holding from your mum and dad I think it's clear they've had that bad boy written in advance and just waiting for when it could be sent,' said Scorpius, turning over the letter, the address in a familiar hand, and cracking open the seal.
Silence fell upon them as Scorpius unfolded the single page of letter inside and read, and Albus shifted his feet awkwardly. The clock on the wall ticked with, Scorpius thought, unnecessary volume, and he could hear the creak of the leather of Albus' uniform with every uncomfortable fidget he gave.
Then Scorpius gave a flat snort and looked up. 'Well, that was about as heartwarming and affectionate as I should have expected.'
Albus sagged. 'Oh, Scorp, I really do think he just doesn't know how to -'
'"Scorpius",' Scorpius began to read. He straightened up, whole body language becoming the kind of arrogant self-control that might be expected of a scion of the House of Malfoy, and his voice became tighter, more aristocratic. '"I expect this letter finds you in agreeable health" - expect, note, not hope, and agreeable, not, you know, good. "It was to my satisfaction to learn that you have not been afflicted," blah blah blah, indications that everyone else is lesser so it doesn't matter that they're infected, oh, and now, my favourite bit: "The name of Malfoy is back on household lips with your involvement in this crisis. It would be most disappointing if you brought the family into ill-repute by any mistakes your inattentive nature and lack of dedication could cause."'
He got no further. When he'd started reading, the anger that had settled in his heart had been cold - that same cold, frozen disappointment and frustration that had marred his relationship with his father for most of his life. But speaking the words out loud, saying them even to Albus, who knew more than most and had likely guessed the rest, was too much, too raw, and Scorpius ripped the letter in half with a noise of anger, scrunching them up.
'Into ill-repute!' he echoed with a bark of bitter laughter. 'As if you becoming a Death Eater wasn't a bloody stain on the family honour!' One balled-up half of the letter was hurled into the fireplace. 'As if Lucius going off and murdering people for Voldemort didn't give us a bit of a dodgy reputation!' The second half followed it in short order, and Scorpius clenched his fists, driving his fingernails into the palms of his hands even when it hurt. 'But you have to hope that I don't screw this up? One second you make it sound like everyone else can die so long as the Malfoy survives, and the next you make it sound like you're expecting me to make a national joke of myself!'
Albus was by his side by then, reaching awkwardly to put a hand to his shoulder, but Scorpius shrugged it off angrily, going to storm over to the fireplace and glower at the flames that flickered as they consumed his father's hateful words.
'I'm sorry, mate,' said Albus instead, sounding cowed. 'Guess I should have saved the good news of the map 'til last, huh?'
Scorpius scrubbed his face with his hand, tensing his shoulders. 'No, I - thanks. Thanks for giving me something to laugh at. For bringing me the letter. For listening to me rant.' Then he turned, and when he did he wore the lopsided smile that was his favourite and most comfortable shield. 'So my Dad's an arse. That's hardly going to make the front page of the Prophet, now, is it?'
'No, but it's not cool that he's still being like this even as we are now. It's not a time for him to be petty, or to be superior. You're family -'
'Not everyone's family's like yours, Al.' Scorpius managed to keep his words light and gave a casual shrug. Albus looked about as unconvinced as was possible, but he didn't push it, and Scorpius crossed over to pat him on the shoulder. 'Come on. Let's go take a look at that map...'


text:
221-299 Elm Street has a Walk Score of 31 out of 100. This location is a Car-Dependent neighborhood so most errands require a car.
Nearby parks include Cowling Park and London Commercial Business Historic District.
Nearby schools include London High School, London Elementary School and London Elementary School.
The closest grocery stores are Save-A-Lot, mygofer and Amway Global - The Flax Group.
Nearby coffee shops include LTown Coffee, Fine Designs & Interiors Ltd and LTown Coffee. Nearby restaurants include Central Ohio Restaurant Association CORA, Rothwell's Neighborhood Restaurant and Pizza Hut.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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What is the sound of one million yuan flapping?May 31 2013 Thomas Morton Travel
VICE on HBO Outtakes
The tobacco industry in Indonesia is virtually unregulated. The result? Over two-thirds of all men are smokers, and it is commonplace for children as young as six to take up the habit. Tobacco is a $100 billion industry here, with TV and print ads everywhere. While investigatingMay 23 2013 Thomas Morton News
VICE on HBO Outtakes
The Fat Farms of Mauritania
Appetite-inducing pills have become the new way to pack on the pounds.May 14 2013 Thomas Morton News


text:
Say it Ain't So! Connecticut Legalizes Slavery!!
You'd think America, a place of refuge for the suppressed, would be the first to realize slavery is wrong.
Connecticut joins Massachusetts in the disgusting trend of making slavery legal.
We don't understand why they can't get off their lazy asses and do their own chores!!! Momma Perez would NEVER let us get away with it!
If only we could give Massachusetts and Connecticuta big, BIG spanking.


text:
|01 Jul 2012
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
ipod and phone usb working but input device drivers not installing
mobo biostar ta990fxe
cpu amd phenom 965
os Windows 7 home
12gb ram
when i plug my ipod in its drivers install just fine yet when i plug in mouse , xbox controller and thumb drive it says failed to install device drivers code 43. ive taken out the cmos batery and unpluged the power and the devices all work on my laptop so there not all bad. mouse im trying to get working is a tt azoures
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Brad King ULTIMATE MACA ENERGY - Powder - Helps to Increase Energy and Stamina, Slow the Aging Process, Improve Libido, Improve Mental Clarity and Memory, and Boost the Immune System.
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10.6: Use some very old scanners under Snow Leopard
VueScan from Hamrick software handles an incredible number of scanners. It's not freeware but it is worth every penny it costs. It is very well supported and free updates are posted regularly.
10.6: Use some very old scanners under Snow Leopard
Vuescan sounds nice, but before spending $40 on it, I suspect I might very well just buy myself a new scanner and shelve my 10 year old Agfa 1212, sigh.
10.6: Use some very old scanners under Snow Leopard
The latest version of VueScan beats many of the scanning programs provided by the manufacturers in terms of features and results.
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Plans have finally been worked out, and the show's national tour will start in November of this year, with Len Cariou (just finishing up The Dinner Party), Mariette Hartley and Hank Stratton starring. Blakemore will again direct, with stops to begin in Los Angeles and move to San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Detroit, Philadelphia and Boston, according to spokesperson Molly Haydon.
Copenhagen closed on Broadway Jan. 21 of this year, after 21 previews and 326 regular performances.
Copenhagen's original cast consisted of Philip Bosco, Michael Cumpsty (now in 42nd Street) and Blair Brown. Bosco and Cumpsty remained with the show up until the final performance. With only three actors and a minimal set design, the play recouped its investment costs in July. Copenhagen is also one of the rare non-musical shows to be honored with an original cast recording — released Nov. 13, 2000 by the Fynsworth Alley label.
The drama concerns a real-life 1941 meeting between two world-famous physicists, one Danish and one German, and imagines the nature and ramifications of the conversation-cum-confrontation that took place. The play has also won the Drama League and Drama Desk Awards for best play and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best foreign play.
Author Frayn will see his biggest hit, Noises Off, revived on Broadway this fall. Best known for her television work, actress Hartley appeared in A.R. Gurney's latest, Buffalo Gal, at Williamstown this summer. Last year she played Irina Arkadina in an Old Globe mounting of The Seagull. Actor Cariou (Applause, Dance a Little Closer) won a Tony for playing the vengeful barber in Sweeney Todd. Stratten, who plays proud physicist Werner Heisenberg, should be right at home in the German wartime milieu; he comes from the national tour of Cabaret.
Designing the show are Peter J. Davison (set and costumes), Mark Henderson (lighting) and Tony Meola (sound).


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Stjepan Hauser
|Stjepan Hauser
Stjepan Hauser in 2011
15 June 1986
Pula, Croatia
Stjepan Hauser (Croatian pronunciation: [stjêpaːn xǎuser]; born 15 June 1986) is a Croatian cellist. He is a member of 2Cellos, along with Luka Šulić.
Early life and musical training[edit]
Hauser was born in Pula into a musical family, where he began his musical education. He has a sister who is a journalist in Pula. Hauser finished secondary school in Rijeka. He studied in Zagreb, London, and later in the United States under Bernard Greenhouse.[1]
Although still in his twenties, cellist Stjepan Hauser has already performed in more than 40 countries across all the continents including successful debuts in Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Southbank Centre and many more.
He is laureate of UK's international competitions and awards such as: PLG Young Artists Auditions 2009., J & A Beare Solo Bach Competition 2009., NYOS Staffa Award 2009., Philharmonia Orchestra- Martin Musical Scholarship Fund 2009. & 2008., Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition 2009 & 2007., Tunbridge Wells International Young Concert Artists Competition 2008 & 2006., Computers in Personnel International Concerto Competition 2008., Frankopan Fund Award 2006., MBF Music Education Award 2006 & 2005. He is also prize winner of international cello competitions and awards such as Adam Cello Competition in New Zealand 2009., and VTB Capital Prize for Young Cellists 2009. All together Stjepan collected a total of 21 first prizes among national and international competitions and as consequence he was invited to perform twice on Gala concerts for H R H Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace.
This young cellist has worked with the most revered cellists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, Heinrich Schiff, Frans Helmerson, Arto Noras, Ralph Kirshbaum, Valter Despalj, Philippe Muller, Thomas Demenga, Young-Chang Cho, Valter Despalj, Reinhard Latzko, Karine Georgian, Roel Dieltiens and Alexander Ivashkin to mention a few. He completed his undergraduate studies with Natalia Pavlutskaya in London and postgraduate studies with Ralph Kirshbaum as a Dorothy Stone Scholar at RNCM in Manchester and with Bernard Greenhouse in USA.
In October 2006 he was the only[citation needed] cellist chosen to perform in the gala concert at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence for the late Mstislav Rostropovich. Following the success of this appearance Stjepan has been invited to perform at the most prestigious festivals in Europe. At the International Holland Music Sessions 2009, he was chosen to participate in "New Masters on Tour" concert series, presenting young artists in prestigious concert venues all over Europe.
Together with the Slovenian violinist Lana Trotovsek and Japanese pianist Yoko Misumi, Stjepan is a member of the renowned Greenwich Trio described by legendary cellist Bernard Greenhouse as the "New Beaux Arts Trio."
The Trio won series of first prizes in the international chamber music competitions in UK, Belgium and Italy. The Greenwich Trio has had masterclasses with Amadeus Quartet, Alban Berg Quartet, Guarneri Quartet, Beaux Arts Trio, Trio Fontenay, Menahem Pressler, Bernard Greenhouse, Ivry Gitlis, Stephen Kovacevich, Ralf Gothoni, Niklas Schmidt, Arnold Steinhardt, Valentin Erben and Eberhard Feltz. ... They have already performed in some of the most prestigious European international music festivals. In March 2008 they performed Beethoven's Triple Concerto with conductor Barry Wordsworth and in September the same year they played in the sold out opening festival at King's Place, London.
In January 2011, Hauser, along with friend and fellow cellist Luka Šulić, performed a cover of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal which was played solely on cello. In just a few days, the music video for this cover became a YouTube sensation.[2][3][4]
Under the name 2Cellos, Hauser and Šulić recorded an album with Sony Music Entertainment, which was released in July 2011.[5]
In January 2012, they appeared as the special musical guests on Fox's hit TV series Glee where they performed "Smooth Criminal" in the Michael Jackson tribute episode. This was the first time that an instrumental duo had performed on the show in this coveted guest spot.[6] The 2Cellos' arrangement of the song, which featured actors Grant Gustin and Naya Rivera, sold incredibly well debuting at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 Digital Songs Chart and landing their debut album in the Top 100.[7]
In May 2012, he won four Porin awards, two with Luka Šulić (2Cellos), and the other two for his collaboration with Damir Urban on their album "Urban & Hauser."[8]
- ^ Nina Ožegović (21 December 2012). "Stjepan Hauser - hrvatski virtuoz na dvoru britanske kraljice" [Stjepan Hauser - Croatian virtuoso at the court of the British Queen] (in Croatian). Nacional. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
- ^ "VIDEO: Stjepan i Luka postali hit na YouTube u samo dva dana. I Hollywood je poludio za njima". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian) (Jutarnji list).
- ^ "Hrvatski čelisti hit na YouTubeu". www.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian) (Jutarnji list).
- ^ ""Smooth criminal" na violončelu hit na YouTubeu" (in Croatian). Novi list.
- ^ D'Andrea, Niki (6 June 2011). ""Welcome to the Jungle," As Performed by 2Cellos". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ^ "2Cellos score a hit from Glee". noise11.com.
- ^ ""Smooth Criminal" Single Featuring 2CELLOS and GLEE's Grant Gustin and Naya Rivera Debuts At #10 on the Billboard Digital Songs Chart". Retrieved 21 April 2013.
- ^ "2Cellos primili osvojene Porine" (in Croatian). dulist.hr. May 30, 2012.
See also[edit]


text:
Yesterday, the official Star Wars YouTube page released a teaser trailer from 1976 previewing the original Star Wars film.
Things have really changed over the years!
First of all, this trailer doesn't open with the typical 'A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.' Oh, no. This one begins with a simplistic,
"Somewhere in space, this may all be happening right now."
The film was originally billed as a story about 'a boy, a girl, and a universe.' It was also referred to as a 'big, sprawling space saga of rebellion and romance.' Which, when you think about it is kind of creepy knowing what we know now.
This would lead people to believe that there is a romance brewing between Luke and Leia, which I guess for a while there, there was. However, when you look back now and think about it, knowing that they are actually brother and sister makes that assertion just downright creepy.
However, I digress.
I have always loved going back and watching trailers from older movies like the original Star Wars. It really gives you a perspective on how much technology has advanced over the years, and how much harder it was for filmmakers like George Lucas to give us the illusion of fantasy and space travel with so little at their disposal.
Do you think that in 1976, Twentieth Century Fox had any idea what they had their hands on? Do you think that anyone, even the Father of the Force himself, knew what kind of a juggernaut that this franchise would ultimately become?
It really is amazing to think about.
Here is a look at the trailer that started it all.


text:
Eric Decker
Photo by Associated Press /Chattanooga Times Free Press .
published Thursday, March 13th, 2014
Stories this photo appears in:
There's a ton of college hoops happening. In fact, our Pop, who is a bona fide college hoops junkie, will spend double-digit hours glued to the TV the next few days. In fact, the 5-at-10's parental units will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary on Saturday, and Pop was late to the ceremony back in 1969 because Davidson and UNC went to overtime in an NCAA tournament game. Good times.


text:
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|Irving, Texas, United States
|Hip hop
|Years active
|Universal Republic
|Juan "Play" Salinas
Oscar "Skillz" Salinas
Play-N-Skillz are an American record production duo from Irving, Texas, consisting of brothers Juan "Play" Salinas and Oscar "Skillz" Salinas, who are also rappers.[1] Their production has won several Grammys including the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2007 for their production on the single "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone, and the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III (2008), which included their production on the single "Got Money".[1][2]
Raised in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas, the Latino American brothers started producing music in their mother's apartment.[3] They met Houston rapper Lil Flip, leading to work on his album U Gotta Feel Me (2004) and a deal with Universal Records.[3][4] They released their album The Process (#85 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums) in 2004.[5][6] The team has also produced for artists such as Lil Wayne, Afrojack, David Guetta, Pitbull, Akon, Flo Rida, Lil Jon, Wynter Gordon, and Ludacris.[citation needed]
In September 2009, the duo signed a joint venture deal with their own label, G4 Muzik, and hip-hop mogul Steve Rifkind's record label SRC.[6] In a press release, Steve Rikfind, Founder and Chairman of SRC said, "The music they make is incredible and their innate knack for finding great talent is impressive."[citation needed] In an interview, Skillz of Play-N-Skillz said of the deal, "This label deal will allow us to showcase our executive side as well as our creative and artistic sides. I'm very excited about the future of G4 Muzik." In October 2009, Play-N-Skillz signed local talent Inertia to their label G4 Muzik.[6]
In 2011, Play-N-Skillz began a partnership with Jose Cuervo Platino Tequila and they are now considered to be the face for the brand.[citation needed] In addition, Play-N-Skillz recently co-wrote David Guetta's first single, "Where Them Girls At" featuring Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj which charted in over 21 countries within days of release.[citation needed] In June, Play-N-Skillz released a critically acclaimed electronic inspired mixtape entitled "Fireworks" which was a major viral success.[citation needed] In November 2011, Play-N-Skillz signed a production deal with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope. Their upcoming album, Alter Egos is due for release in 2012.[citation needed]
Legal Action[edit]
In June 2011, Play-N-Skillz sued Lil Wayne for $1 million over the "Got Money" rights. [7][8]
- 2003: Texas 2 Da World
- 2004: The Best of Lil' Flip & Play N Skillz '
- 2005: The Album Before The Album
- 2005: The Process
- 2007: The Titaniq Prequel (Hosted DJ Smallz)
- 2009: Recession Proof
- 2011: Platino Lifestyle
- 2011: Fireworks
- 2011: Red October
- 2012: Fireworks 2.0
- "Freaks" (2004) featuring Adina Howard, Krayzie Bone
- "Call Me" (2004) featuring Chamillionaire
- "Latinos Stand Up" (2005)
- "Get Freaky" (2006) featuring Pitbull
- "One Mo Gin" (2008) featuring Lil Jon, Krayzie Bone, Bun B
- "Boom" (2008) featuring Nina Sky & Pitbull
- "Checkin My Fresh" (2008)
- "Come Home With Me" (2009) featuring Akon
- "Angel Eyes" (2009) featuring Akon
- "1, 2, 3, 4" (2010) featuring Pitbull & Paul Wall
- "I Just Wanna F*ck" (2010) featuring Three 6 Mafia & Nelly
- "Things We Do" (2010) featuring Snoop Dogg
- "Wonderful Life" (2011) featuring Bun B
- "Dallas Freaks" (2011) featuring Dorrough & Too Short
- "Richest Man" (2012) featuring Pitbull & Shelby Shaw
- "Say Goodbye" (2012) featuring Akon
Guest appearances[edit]
Production discography[edit]
External links[edit]


text:
It didn't work.
Your mouth would be duct taped and your nose would be stuffed
(Source: nickdel95, via h-i-l-a-r-i-o-u-s)
And she looks at you sing like:
You're just into it:
And she joins in and y'all are like:
(Source: eternitarian--, via manda)
Taking as slow as possible to get there and get back.
(Source: popthatpoptart, via manda)
(Source: imyourhearteater, via manda)
(Source: fuckyeahthefeelingyouget, via manda)
but they're just like:
(Source: toocooltobehipster, via manda)
(Source: venus-its-my-bitch, via manda)


text:
After weeks of confusing ups and downs and plenty of underachieving, the Golden State Warriors are finally starting to hit their stride. With the amount of talent in the Dubs' starting five and the offseason departure of Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry, it was no surprise that Golden State's bench was a little lackluster by comparison. But thanks to the acquisition of Steve Blake and a few guys getting healthy, it's not shocking that the Warriors' recent success coincides with Golden State's reserves playing their best basketball of the season.
After Klay Thompson's clutch game-winner in Indiana on Tuesday and an easy road victory against the Boston Celtics last night, the Warriors have now won seven of their last nine games since the All-Star break (with the losses coming to the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, two teams vying for the No. 3 spot in the East who have won a combined 15 of their last 20 games). But what's been most impressive is how balanced the Warriors' offensive attack has been since Blake arrived.
Since the All-Star break, there have only been nine performances of 20+ points, yet the Dubs have gone 7-2 in those nine games. Whereas Stephen Curry was relied on to drop 25-35 points per game near the beginning of the season for the Warriors to get wins, now the balanced scoring of the Dubs is catching teams off guard. Curry had a triple-double in New York and put up 34 points in a losing effort to the Raptors, yes, but he hasn't had to carry the load for the Warriors offensively as much as before.
It's been a collective team effort that's helped ease the pressure. A healthy David Lee is back to scoring buckets in the paint. Klay Thompson has put up 25 points in two of his last four games. Even Andre Iguodala has chipped in to some degree on the offensive end, reaching double figures last night for the first time since Feb. 20. But if you're looking for the biggest reason Curry's been able to take it a little bit easier lately, you need look no further than Golden State's vastly improved bench.
Blake is really the key to the whole equation. Though he's only averaging 4.4 points per game since the Dubs acquired him, he's also doing a tremendous job setting up his often offensively inept teammates up for good looks (3.6 assists per game, which is a decent amount for a guy who only averages 19.8 minutes per game). More importantly though, Blake serves as a ball handler for the reserves, which means Jordan Crawford is no longer playing out of position as a backup point guard.
With Crawford able to play off the ball, his offensive production has increased. He's still a bit of a gunner and the Warriors should still expect to ride the highs and lows of his game, but he's also scored in double figures in five games since All-Star Weekend. Moving on to Jermaine O'Neal, it's hard to swallow how many crunch time minutes Mark Jackson is giving him right now, but the veteran has provided decent interior defense and is averaging 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game since the break.
Marreese Speights has still been largely hit or miss, but even Harrison Barnes is starting to get in on the act. Barnes struggled last night and finished with just three points on 1-of-8 shooting, but he had reached double figures off the bench in four of his prior five games. Meanwhile, Barnes' fellow 2011 NBA draft pick Draymond Green hasn't been getting a lot of credit despite doing a ton of things all over the floor. He doesn't blow you away in any one category, but his defense, his rebounding, his occasional offensive production and his knack for filling the stat sheet in limited minutes makes him a valuable and versatile asset.
In their last nine games, the Warriors' reserves are averaging almost 39 points per game, a significant improvement from the 24 points per game the Dubs' bench was averaging just a few weeks ago (a mark that was 29th in the NBA, for reference). The Warriors will still need Curry to go off in the playoffs for them to knock off one of the West's top four seeds. Klay Thompson can't disappear, Andre Iguodala needs to knock in a few threes and both David Lee and Andrew Bogut need to stay healthy. But if the Dubs can consistently get this kind of production from their bench, Golden State will be extremely tough to deal with in the first round.
Tags: Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors Bench Golden State Warriors Bench Coming Around Warriors Bench Problems


text:
Gerry Adams - Panorama Interview [1982]
Cut from a 1982 Panorama special....
- published: 28 Mar 2013
- views: 15696
- author: Joseph Dwyer
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams continued to be questioned about the murder of a Belfast mother-of-10 in police custody tonight as one of her sons revealed he was too scared to tell detectives who he believed was responsible. As the 65-year-old politician was quizzed about the notorious IRA killing of Jean McConville - a crime he denies any role in - Michael McConville spoke of his fears of making a statement to the police in case he or other family members were shot by republican extremists for informing. "The IRA robbed a family of their mother growing old, they took everything away from us," he said. Mr...Belfast Telegraph 2014-05-01
The case against Liam Adams goes back to 1977 but came to public prominence in the past four years following a UTV Insight programme in 2009 when Áine Adams made...The Irish Times 2013-10-02
Sinn Féin president gives evidence as his brother faces 10 counts of alleged sex abuse against his daughter ...The Guardian 2013-04-23
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams remained in police custody for The Protestant leader of Northern Ireland's power-sharing government has launched a blistering attack on his...U~T San Diego 2014-05-04
Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams was released without char A police evidence file documenting Gerry Adams' Irish Republican Army career has been delivered to British...U~T San Diego 2014-05-05
Like World News?
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams remained in police custody for Police in Northern Ireland arrested Sinn Fein party leader G Former Irish Republican Army members and Sinn Fein party colleagues say Northern Ireland police are casting a wide net in efforts to prove that party leader Gerry Adams once commanded the outlawed IRA and ordered the 1972 killing of a Belfast mother of 10....U~T San Diego 2014-05-03
There were elements of finality for two members of the Adams family in Belfast yesterday but not for the third, the Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. At Laganside Crown Court in the city centre Liam Adams was taken away by prison officers to serve a 16-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter Aine. She referred to her "absolute relief that this nightmare seems at last to...The Irish Times 2013-11-28
There were elements of finality for two members of the Adams family in Belfast yesterday but not for the third, the Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. At Laganside Crown Court in the city centre Liam Adams was taken away by prison officers to serve a 16-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter Aine. She referred to her "absolute relief that this nightmare seems at last to...The Irish Times 2013-11-28
Attorney General John Larkin is to review a decision not to prosecute Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams for allegedly withholding information on his brother. Liam Adams was convicted last week of raping and abusing his daughter, Áine, over a six-year period in the 1970s. Director of Public Prosecutions Barra McGrory asked for a review of the decision not to prosecute Gerry Adams....BBC News 2013-10-07
Liam Adams, the younger brother of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, has been convicted of raping and repeatedly abusing his daughter as a child. Liam Adams, 58, is a former member of Sinn Fein and a one-time IRA commander. He was found guilty by a jury of 10 offences committed against his daughter Aine, who waived her right to anonymity. She was aged between five and nine at...Belfast Telegraph 2013-10-02
Northern Ireland officials will review conduct of Sinn Féin president, who admits he held back information on Liam Adams ...The Guardian 2013-10-07
Gerry Adams (Irish: Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh; born 6 October 1948 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála (TD) for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern Ireland and the largest nationalist party. From the late 1980s onwards, Adams was an important figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, initially following contact by the then Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader John Hume and subsequently with the Irish and British governments and then other parties. In 2005, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) indicated that its armed campaign was over and that it is now exclusively committed to democratic politics. Under Adams, Sinn Féin changed its traditional policy of abstentionism towards Oireachtas Éireann, the parliament of the Republic of Ireland, in 1986 and later took seats in the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly. However, Sinn Féin retains a policy of abstentionism towards the Westminster Parliament, but since 2002, receives allowances for staff and takes up offices in the House of Commons.


text:
Definition of sick benefit in English:
sick benefitLine breaks: sick bene|fit
Short for sickness benefit.
More example sentences
- On January 31, the judge approved cuts in wages and sick benefits effective February 1 through May 31 for the company's mechanics and cleaners.
- Meanwhile, 150 technicians, members of CWA Local 3673 in western North Carolina, continue their walkout against excessive forced overtime and Verizon's demands for give-backs in family and sick benefits.
- Black women had significant leadership roles in thousands of lodges in cities ranging from New Orleans to New York that dispensed vast amounts of sick benefits, many continuously for decades.
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Word of the day demoralize
Pronunciation: dɪˈmɒrəlʌɪz
cause (someone) to lose confidence or hope


text:
CREDIT - imbc
CREDIT - imbc
compressed to winRAR file - 3.3MB
download it here
Comeback stage
Taeyang – Solar(Intro) + I need a girl(feat.GD) + Just a feeling
Jang YoonJung – Olleh
Baby VOX's Kan MiYeon(feat.MBLAQ Mir) – Crazy
Summer Special stage
Orange Caramel – Magic Girl
Norazo – Curry
HOT debut
miss A – Bad Girl Good Girl
New Song
Super Junior – No Person Like You
4minute – I My Me Mine
Bobby Kim(with Common Ground) – Like A Man
LPG – Doorbell of Love
SORI – Hero
Volume up stage
CNBLUE – Love
Sistar – Push Push
Infinite – Come Back Again
Flower – I Remember… I Love You…
Vanilla Lucy – French Love
2wins – Star
Wanna stream it? Stream starts at around 16:00 KST.
Try it here: http://snsdcentral.net/stream (be sure you stream it when the time is right)
cr: snsdcentral
Yesterday, trot queen Jang Yoon Jung honestly spoke out about her relationship with comedian No Hong Chul and the rumors behind it on MBC's television show "Golden Fisheries." She claimed that the various rumors that spread during and after her relationship caused her to undergo the hardest time of her life.
The singer explained that when the two were dating, wedding and pregnancy rumors were circulating, but she did not take them to heart since they were false. However, gossip continued to thrive even when the couple decided to break off their ties due to their very different personalities. Just when the two mutually decided to remain as friends, breakup rumors began to explode in the media, putting them in a very difficult situation. The two could not deny such news reports in fear that it would only feed the fire.
The rumors would not cease as some claimed that "the breakup was due to No Hong Chul's mysophobia" or because "Jang Yoon Jung's parents were against the marriage." What was worse was when someone said that "she went to the United States to have a famous person's baby." These false rumors gave Jang and her parents shock.
Jang Yoon Jung ended the show with a note saying that "living as a female celebrity is like being able to look through a restroom made of glass." It is very depressing to hear the hardships many female entertainers have to go through.
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NEWS TRANSLATED BY: motoway065 @ soompi


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Two good choices, but I'll go for the home 'upset" with the Pats.hobbes27 11-01-2014 02:55 AM
That's an interesting, informative, and pretty easily digestible advanced stat.Matt Kocsan 10-31-2014 06:27 PM
Let the Jim Harbaugh to Michigan rumors continue!
It will be interesting to see who Michigan and...
F/+ was devised by Brian Fremeau and Bill Connelly (head of Football Study Hall at SB Nation) to be...KabaModernFan 10-31-2014 05:39 PM
Um... forgive me, but what is F/+?Matt Kocsan 10-31-2014 05:05 PM
Things don't ease up for Florida State either. Their next three games are home against Virginia...KabaModernFan 10-31-2014 04:28 PM
Just a reminder, you have some college football viewing options for tonight, both of them featuring...Matt Kocsan 10-31-2014 04:23 PM
I do think somebody's going to get them. It might not be until the national championship game, but...Matt Kocsan 10-31-2014 02:54 PM
Olsen has had an ankle injury that was not helped by Mr. Burfict, but I don't know that that's the...Nancy 10-31-2014 01:36 PM
Now, the Rams have a experienced personnel voice in GM Les Snead, who apparently is meshing well with HC Jeff Fisher - their first draft in 2012 is looking pretty decent right now. I guess you could call it a 'strong coach/strong GM' model, where the coach has a clear idea of what type of team he is building, and the GM does a good job (along with the scouts) of finding the right players for those systems. Snead has final authority, but clearly he and Fisher are on the same page with their personnel choices.
The Browns are apparently trying to follow this same model (as much as we can tell from the owner's comments), and it can work well if the right people are hired for both coach and GM. Even as a Steelers fan, I wish the Browns well in their rebuilding process; I think this ownership change will end up being a good thing for the team on and off the field.
The Lions suffered from diffused personnel decisions after Russ Thomas died.
Thomas was a lousy GM, but he made the calls. The owner, Will.i.lost, couldn't fire people and Russ was his friend and William owed him big time personally, so Russ stayed. Then when Russ died, the org chart went nuts.
That's why bringing in Millen wasn't a bad idea. The real problem was that after 2-3 years, it was clear Millen stunk, but Ford couldn't fire anyone.
Clear understand of who you should fire when a team is talent poor is essential, but then you have to FIRE them and try somebody else.
Give me an owner who is a self made bastard anyday, rather than an inheritance wimp.
The only thing you need to know about Ford, is that his family kicked him out of the car business because he didn't come up to the standards of Executive Management of the US Auto Industry.
'nuff said.
I agree with you about synergy. In order to be successful, an organization must have a vision of the kind of football they want to play and the kind of players they want to have. Coach and GM must be in sync. You can't win otherwise.
Pittsburgh is a good example of this. So too are the New York Giants. New England famously drafts for character. Under Dimitroff, the Falcons are trying to set the same kind of standard.
For me, it begins with a GM who believes in a certain philosophy and who hires a head coach who shares that philosophy. From there, they work together to make it happen. Top down management with a common vision.
There is only one set of firings that I struggle to understand. In Oakland.
I think it's unusual for a first-year head coach to assemble his team and then, after just one season, can his offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, special teams coach and linebackers coach.
I understand they had a disastrous season. And the offense was horrible. But if you don't believe in the guys you hired, why give them a job in the first place?
Did Dennis Allen not get to hire the guys he wanted the first time around? Or is this a Bill Cowher deal where he fires a slew of coaches to save his own job after a bad season?
Lessons learned?
We know coaches without QB's have a short lifespan in the NFL.
If you're a top candidate for a head coach job, do you decline the job if there's no QB on the horizon?
On the one hand, there are only 32 of these jobs. They're precious and valuable. On the other hand, what's the point if you're only going to be fired?
I'm thinking Whisenhunt and Buffalo, but it might as well be Reid and Arizona, or anybody and KC.
And given the above, aren't Chicago and San Diego the most coveted jobs?
An interesting trend in the NFL is the power sharing between coach and GM. There has never been a hard-and-fast rule about this, but generally the accepted structure was that the GM hired the coach.
Today Clark Hunt said that in order to attract top coaches, you have to give them more power and have them report directly to the owner. By the looks of it, it's not just successful NFL coaches who can demand this kind of power. It sure sounds like Nick Saban and Chip Kelly can too.
Is this a fad, or an enduring and fundamental shift in how the NFL does business?
Just want to go on record as saying I like how the Chargers have gone about their business. Mostly, that's because they've followed the Standard Model.
They hired a GM who has a reputation for finding good players. And they let him hire the head coach.
It could fail, of course. Neither man has held his job before. They are unknown quantities. But I like the method. It signals an ordered structure to how the Chargers do business.
I guess we all sit and wait for a few years to see.. no other way to discern a credible answer to that question, at least no other way to do so without being an NFL insider in the good ol boys club.
Trust me, from that level of management, no one knows much outside the inner circle. It's a tight club, and those in it protect their own. No different than executive level management in my sector. We protect our own in the same way.
Until they see the light of day as ""the guy" no one outside that circle has any idea of the guys ability. The circle precludes that, simply because they can. Once he's "the guy" in the public light, they can no longer shelter him. His actions are 100% out there for all to see. He's gotta stand on his own on his big boy legs.
I'll give telesco the opportunity to do so before I judge him...


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Best of Matt Smith: Series 6 (2011)
Across the next couple of months Doctor Who TV is running a series of polls to celebrate Matt Smith's era. We want you to cast your votes on every episode and at the end we'll be comprising a list to find the top scoring.
To wrap up we want your overall score for each series of Smith's era out of 10, continuing with Series 6.
This is also your last chance to vote for all of the 2011 episodes before the polls close.
COMMENT GUIDELINESPlease be civil and keep article comments relevant and on topic. Flag and report any offensive/trolling behavior, or contact us with details.
Please do not post SPOILERS including anything from leaked episodes! Your account could be banned. For complete details on our comment policy please read.
Series 6: 9.83/11 (89%)
The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon: 11/11 (100%)
The Curse of the Black Spot: 8/11 (73%)
The Doctor's Wife: 10/11 (91%)
The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People: 9/11 (82%)
A Good Man Goes to War: 11/11 (100%)
Let's Kill Hitler: 10/11 (91%)
Night Terrors: 10/11 (91%)
The Girl Who Waited: 11/11 (100%)
The God Complex: 8/11 (73%)
Closing Time: 9/11 (82%)
The Wedding of River Song: 11/11 (100%)
The Doctor, the Widow, and the Wardrobe: 10/11 (91%)
Fantastic series in my opinion. The best series of the revival:
The impossible astronaut/Day of the moon- 10/10
The curse of the black spot- 7/10
The doctor's wife- 10/10
The rebel flesh/The almost people- 8/10
A good man goes to war- 10/10
Let''s kill Hitler- 7/10
Night terrors- 5/10
The girl who waited- 9/10
The God complex- 8/10
Closing time- 7/10
The wedding of River Song- 10/10
A great series, but i hated Night Terrors!
I loved this series and all the episodes! :D
A more consistent series, apart from that awful christmas special
Out of 10?
seriously underated! but definitely the least consistant series. i think this, along with series 1 and maybe 7, is probably my favourite series because when it does well it does create classic episodes. the opening 2 parter, drs wife, agmgtw, gc,cl and wors were all excellent imo! its just a shame that Curse, the clone episode and that Christmas special completely let the series down. im in the minority in that I love the arc and the doctor's impending doom gave the whole series an element of tension and drive. i think the series split was a mistake as instead of increasing anticipation, the sudden shift in tone (lkh) and lack of a prominent arc wiped out all of the previous tension. still, ill gov this a 9/10 because i love it so much :D
Funnily I seem to like the ones others hate and vice versa. TGWW bored me to tears and yet LKH I really enjoyed. TDW was dreadful (IMO) but TIA and DOTM was I felt a brilliant and very "Doctor" opening. I think the main issue was that this season was where things just started to get too complex and silly.
Overall despite more good individual epps than bad, this was a distinctly average *season* because of the arc.
What would you score The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon? 10/10! It was my first episode :-) Of course it's exceptional! :D
7/10. It's good, but it's not great.
I'd give Series 6 as a whole 8/10. A great one for sure, but not quite as great as the other two Smith/Moffat series.
I loved season 6
Am I the only one who actually liked this series?
This season had the biggest quality drop from opener to closer. All of the problems of Moffat's run started cropping up slowly during this season, and it went from an absolutely brilliant opener to one of the cheapest and badly executed finales in television. Several episodes (the opener, Doctor's Wife, Girl Who Waited) are fantastic but the rest were average and had a couple bad episodes (Closing Time (except Stormageddon) and Night Terrors) and we got a taste of the monstrosity that would be season 7
3. The season I hate more of the Welsh revival. Nice episodes in the middle (I am a fan of the underrated "Rebel Flesh/Almost People", as well as of "The God Complex") but I cannot bear the main story arc, and I hope I will be paid the next time I will have to see "Let's Kill Hitler", a waste of time.
The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon: 8/10
The Curse of the Black Spot: 8/10
The Doctor's Wife: 9/10
The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People: 8/10
A Good Man Goes to War: 5/10
Let's Kill HItler: 1/10
Night Terrors: 2/10
The Girl Who Waited: 6/10
The God Complex: 9/10
Closing Time: 2/10
The Wedding of River Song: 3/10
The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe: 4/10
Overall Series Score: 5/10
there were some great episodes here but the season felt all over the place so 4/10
I've said it before, but series 6 is massively underrated. I mean, the arc mostly doesn't work (although the two-parter that kicks it off is pretty stellar), but most of the standalones are rather great. "The Doctor's Wife" and "The Girl Who Waited" are classics, with "The God Complex" being just shy of a classic itself. And "Closing Time" is one of the most fun episodes of Doctor Who ever, while also having that great speech from the Doctor to Stormaggeddon. I think the Flesh two-parter is pretty solid, too. So, Impossible Astronaut/DOTM = 9/10, COTBS = 1/10, The Doctor's Wife = 10/10, Rebel Flesh/Almost People = 6/10, AGMGTW = 7/10, Let's Kill Hitler = 4/10, Night Terrors = 2/10, TGWW = 10/10, God Complex = 8/10, Closing Time = 8/10, TWORS = 7/10. Which comes out to an even 6/10 for the series as a whole, which feels about right.
The Impossible Astronaut will always be special to me. This was the first episode I saw as transmitted, and I will never forget the excitement leading up to it. And then the Doctor gets killed right away. Dang. Impossible story telling, impossible start to a series. Can't get much better than this. Day of the Moon is brilliant in its own right with the extraordinary idea of using the Apollo moon landing as was written. 9/10 averages out these two.
Curse of the Black Spot. Average. But it has that wonderful bit in the middle of the Doctor talking to the Captain about how sharing adventures make them so much better.
The Doctor's Wife. Or, what happens when a fairytale Doctor has hallucinogenics on board the TARDIS, and wishes really hard. Poor Amy is even affected, names her perfume "Petrichor". For the girl who has always wanted to smell like dirt. Well, wet dirt. Which is mud. How alluring, just dab a bit behind each ear. Poor Rory. Moffat whatever were you thinking in bringing the TARDIS to life and not making her Tinkerbelle. Oh wasn't Moffat. Nevermind. Great episode, though. 8/10
Rebel Flesh/Almost People. Matt was the only good thing I remember about these two. 5/10
A Good Man Goes To War. And so does the Doctor. Rory is great. A good episode, one of my favorites, but not perfect enough for a 10. So it's a 9/10.
:: break :: Whine incessantly about a mid season break. Think ugly thoughts to BBC. Whine some more.
And we're back to our regularly scheduled Who. :)
Let's Kill Hitler. Melody and/or River. Great fun. Energetic. Ambitious. Confusing. The Amelia interface told the Doctor (and us) several times that he couldn't regenerate, 'cuz she'd been counting, and we all thought it was because of the poison which didn't kill Melo..River. 8/10
Night Terrors. No. 3/10 ghastly
The Girl Who Waited. Showcase for Karen. OK. Great for Matt's alienness. 8/10
The God Complex. 8/10
Closing Time. Average
The Wedding of River Song. Our out of sync lovers bowtie the knot. Good, but something felt off, and I've never figured out what. Still 8/10.
TDTWaTW. Imaginative. Beautiful sets. Best ending when the Doctor shows up at the Pond's door at Christmas. Extra points for the TARDIS in the snow. Always a stunning visual. But none of this saves me from rating it poorly. Ties with Night Terrors for series 6 least favorite episode.
While Series 5 had a strong sense of consistency on its side, Series 6 has a few more really stand out episodes. I appreciated the darker, more arc-driven direction that it took, and - while it all unfolded a bit too fast - I was ultimately satisfied by the resolutions and complications. But it's the standalone episodes which stand out in Series 6: The Doctor's Wife, The Girl Who Waited and The God Complex all score 10/10: The most episodes of any series. Other episodes are almost as good, and I would probably give them a 10 too if they were among the stories of any other series.
A Christmas Carol - 9/10 | The Impossible Astronaut - 9/10 | The Curse of the Black Spot - 4/10 | The Doctor's Wife - 10/10 | The Rebel Flesh - 8/10 | A Good Man Goes To War - 9/10
Let's Kill Hitler - 6/10 | Night Terrors - 5/10 | The Girl Who Waited - 10/10 | The God Complex - 10/10 | Closing Time - 2/10 | The Wedding of River Song - 5/10
9/10 for me! While not quite as strong as Series 5, Series 6 was still very good! Matt, Karen and Arthur all stepped up their performances as they were more comfortable in the roles and showed different sides to their characters. Matt echoed Sylvester McCoy as he kept plot details and secrets under wraps from his companions and Karen showed a more vulnerable Amy and blew us all away with her performance in TGWW. I liked the story arc though at times it became too complicated and illogical. The Silence were great villains. The concept is just fantastic and they're undeniably creepy. The directing and cinematography became really cinematic this series as evidenced in the Series opener with it's glorious images of Utah. Murray Gold crafted several new inspiring tracks my personal favourites being The Wedding of River Song and The Majestic Tale of a Madman with a Box. The scripts could've been more consistent like Series 5 whereas Series 6 had some episodes that peaked and others that hit lows for example TCOTBS and CT are very cheesy and don't deliver on their premises however AGMGTW and TIA/DOTM have tight plotting and well-explored themes. On the whole not as strong as Series 5 but still a brilliant series!
This season averaged out to a 9/10 for me, but I bumped it up to a 10/10, because it was the first season I started watching and it got me hooked.
To be commended for its ambition but fatally flawed by the showrunner falling in love with writing River Song over the show's lead. This will always be River Who for me and, unfortunately, the pay off was not strong enough to justify the convoluted arc. A glorious failure (IMO, of course...)
I really enjoyed this series, there were only two below average episodes. Curse of the Black Spot and Night Terrors just didn't work for me. However this series contains some of my favorite shows.
Especially "Let's Kill Hitler" which had to be be the funniest, unexpected, madcap of all of 11's episode.I loved it because it answered missing Melody Pond plot quickly.I suspect most people thought that plot line would go on for several episodes. It really had everything A Doctor Who episode could ask for. Historical, Future and a major plotline for the companions resolved.
Let us not forget the great season resolution to one of the most tense questions ever: How will The Doctor avoid his death?Time all jammed together is one of the most innovative and clever "problems" the Doctor had to encounter
5/10 The first half of the series was great and then after AGMGTW it went downhill culminating in that awful wedding :(
Average for the series is 6.83333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333..., sp my score for it is seven.
Average score 5.33, so the season should get a 5 ... but I'll cheat and give it a 6 anyway, because I don't want the awful Doctor/Widow/Wardrobe to count against it. :^) It included some truly excellent stories, including the season-opening Silence two-parter, The Doctor's Wife (if I skip the frankly unpleasant Harlan Ellison sequences), A Good Man Goes to War, and my favorite Moffat-era-but-not-by-Moffat episode, The Girl Who Waited--all eminently re-watchable.
Unfortunately, there were also Curse of the Black Spot, Let's Kill Hitler, Night Terrors, Closing Time and the two-part Flesh tale (not counting the Christmas disaster), lowering the average back town to terran levels.
And I did enjoy this year's subplots--Who killed the Doctor? Who is River? How can Amy be both pregnant and not pregnant?--more than I did season 5's smiley face.
I gave Series 6 a 6/10 overall. It started well with a strong two parter. It had a couple of brilliant episodes in 'A Good Man Goes To War' and 'Lets Kill Hitler', but it also had some awful episodes, such as 'Night Terrors', 'The Almost People' and 'The Rebel Flesh'.
Averages 9.38 so Season 6 gets a 9/10
Season 5 averaged 95.7 so a 10
The season has four episodes that I really like, six if I ignore the opening two-parter's role in the big story-arc. These episodes are all 8 or 9/10, but they are not enough to save the season I dislike enough as a whole for me to use the word "hate". 3/10.
Except for a few dips, overall the series wasn't too bad, a decent one I guess. So 7/10?
Pretty much everything in this series is either an 8, 9, 10 or a 3, 4, 5 out of 10. Just shows how up and down the series was.
That trailer was brilliant. Ah, those were the days...
I gave it 6/10 as it's my least favourite Moff series, some good episodes, but I didn't like the arc(s) particularly
All my votes for series 6 average out to 8.1 so it's an 8 again from me (series 5 was an 8 too). :)
The best series so far for me. After my favorite opener, it continued its brillance with instant classics such as The Doctor's wife, AGMGTW, The girl who waited, the god complex, and (yes I know this one is more divided) the wedding of River Song. Add to that mix some very enjoyables episodes (Let's kill Hitler, Closing time) and a two parter that had some interresting ideas to it even if it didn't all work out (rebel flesh/almost people) all of that mixed with an heavy story-arc really well handled. But no series is without flaws and COTBS and Night Terrors were both painful to watch, so I'll have to settle for a 9/10 and hope that series 8 will be this perfect run of episodes I've dreamed of since series 1.
I personally don't see the reason for the hatred of Black Spot and Night Terrors. Those are two of my favorite episodes of all time!
To be honest, this series was a bit of a let down. The story arc was an interesting idea. I would have prefered not to have one, but the one we got was pretty good. The problem is the quality of the stories. There were a few good ones (the two part opener and the mid season finale), but for the most part they were pretty average at best. The biggest disappointment was series 6b. I liked The God Complex, but even that wasn't an extremely memorable episode. I know a lot of people will argue that I've missed The Doctor's Wife, but to be honest, I'm not a massive fan of that one. I see it as a pretty average story. All up I feel that, while definetly still an interesting series that has some great moments, series 6 is the weakest series of the show's revival to date. 6/10.
Glad to see all this love for The Impossible Astronaut / Day of the Moon. One of the greatest Who stories ever in my opinion and the Silence were just exceptional. Hats off to Moffat for creating his second "classic" monster. What a contribution to the shows legacy
After the extraordinary reimagining of Who by Moffat and Matt in season 5, moffat exerts his confidence with the introduction of a bold and intricate story arc and brings on board new high profile writers. The coup is Neil Gaiman, a huge fan of matt Smith's portrayal who produced one of the undisputed masterpieces of Who, The Doctor's Wife. Rory becomes more central to the plot with karen Gillan demonstrating that she is the most talented actress to ever play a companion and Arthur Darvill sealing the deal. The three of them shine together as the TARDIS finds its ideal occupants. To then add the wonderful, River, Moff's greatest ever female creation ( and that is saying something from a man who has given us so many well rounded and memorable characters), who takes centre stage.
Matt notches up his acting to 11. So many riches in this season. I loved the return of Craig, the heartbreaking resolution of Amy's struggle to find her baby, badass Rory, the magnificent Impossible Astronaut two parterr and the stunning Wedding of River Song. One slightly less than stellar episode - Black Spot, but otherwise Moff's hugely ambitious ambition pays off superbly.
For me, not as great as 5 and as perfect as 7A but further evidence that Who had become a rich, intellegent, well acted, stunningly photographed and confident show on par with the best on television and had shrugged off the cartoonish, niche show in seasons 1-4. Season 6 made me fall back in love even more deeply with the show I had grown up with and which Moffat and Matt returned back to its true heritage.
9/10 - Mark off for Black Spot
Season 1 - 4/10
Season 2 - 1.5/10
Season 3. - 2.5/10
Season 4 - 2/10
Specials - 0/10
Season 5 - 9.5/10
Season 6 - 9/10
@RoweMatthew :| Give me 5 valid reasons why you didn't like it
@Nightmarish Nope- I loved it!
@Nightmarish Noup. With the exception of The Curse of the Black Spot and Night Terrors I though all of the episodes were very very good.
Oh, I forgot about "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe", which was a 4/10, which makes it 6.33, but that rounds down to 6 anyway.
I meant "so" not sp. Sorry.
Seriously? Hoe can you hate RTD's era that much? I respect it's your opinion but it doesn't stop me from disagreeing:
Series 1: 8.5/10
Series 2: 9/10
Series 3: 9/10
Series 4: 10/10
Specials: 8/10
Series 5: 9.5/10
Series 6: 6/10
Series 7: 8/10
@Maryanne123 That's why I love this show: people can like so many different things... I couldn't disagree more with your comment and your hagiography of an overrated writer. I really cannot see how you can score less than 7 or 8 each Davies's seasons and give 9 to 5 and 6. I find 6 horrible and River insufferable!
@Maryanne123 I agree with your sentiment on Series 1-4, though would rank them slightly higher as they weren't all bad :)
Season 1 - 7/10
Season 2 - 3/10
Season 3. - 6/10
Season 4 - 6/10
Season 5 - 10/10
Season 6 - 11/10
I generally disliked the RTD episodes. Before I was a big fan of Doctor Who, I would watch a few episodes on Netflix. I didn't know anything about them beforehand, but whenever I saw "Written by Steven Moffat," I knew it was going to be a great episode.
@Maryanne123 I love your enthusiasm and agree with much of what you said... but series 1-4 were the exact opposite of niche. They were designed to draw in the bigger audiences and had better average ratings than Moffat's era.
@Basically Just Regenerating Again @RoweMatthew
I know you weren't asking me, but:
1) The pacing was all over the place.
2) Madge saving her children and husband with love is just a stupid solution which is over used in the Moffat era.
3) There was no real threat- the Harvesters were funny but childish and unnecessary.
4) It was annoyingly quite boring.
5) It was lacking in real body and direction.
But, I loved:
1) The beginning (escaping the spaceship).
2) The ending (with the Ponds).
It's a kind of quality guaranteed seal, isn't it. I woukd have rated 10s era as all 0/10 as I literally can't bear to watch Tennant/10 but there was a magnificent Moffat penned episode in each and I have a soft spot for Impossible Planet, not sure why as it isn't that great an episode but I love Toby and his possession . i also like Freema. It annoys me though that she was wasted as a character.
For me the inclusion of poor old Tennant in a tv show is a guarantee it will be ludicrously dramatic or maudlin but he surprised me in Broadchurch probably because he had his performance reigned in. The other zillion things he has been on since Who have all been flops anyway, so good for him I guess in at least having one hit show after Who. Wonder if he gets lucky again.
@KingoftheOod4450 @Maryanne123 They were designed to draw in the bigger audiences and had better average ratings than Moffat's era.
Overnight* ratings. In fact, there are far more people in the country/in the world actually watching it since 2010. And anyway, ratings are not good examples at all. (I completly disagree with Maryanne's view on RTD's era though)
@KingoftheOod4450 @Maryanne123 Series Four: 8.41m
Series Seven: 8.19m
Bearing in mind that's mainly due to Journey's End and the overhype surrounding it, nothing has really changed. Also, ratings are just a sign of how many people watched something, not whether or not they enjoyed it.
I meant niche family time viewing, probably incrrect use of the word. Perhaps undemanding or commonplace is more what I meant! Thanks.
@DW_girl @The Exploding TARDIS @RoweMatthew
1. The Pace was fine! It helps keep the story going without going to fast or slow.
2. Well, it's Christmas, so this story is one that kinda should be lovely, instead of violent and bloody.
3. Do you want The Silence or The Weeping Angels to be threatening the kids? At Christmas?
4. It was fun, energetic, and exciting. No Idea what you mean. 5. It had enough body and direction. Again; No Idea.
Meh my problems with 10's era boil down to a few of RTD decisions with the charecter, mainly his some what obsession with rose ( who while I love Billie was not to fond of as a charecter) and his vanity issues. I also didn't like how the show was basically about her even when she wasn't around. I also wasn't fond of the whole "doctor is dying arc" which I think is moronic especially when we knew he would just regenerate unlike Moffat's series 7 trenzalore arc where he was on his last regeneration and I thought he actually was gonna die.
But everything else I feel was good. Do I think he is overrated? hell yes, but I don't think he's a bad writer at all.
Series 1 10/10
Series 2 7/10
Series 3 8/10
Series 4 6.5/10
Specials 7/10
Series 5 8/10
Series 6 6/10
Series 7 9.5/10
Exactly! Not everyone agrees that Moff era is better than RTD and fair enough as we all have different opinions but simply a fact that more people watch now than ever before and it remains as popular. Don't think this will raise any contoversy here as people are reasonable.
Exactly. No ratings decline at all since Moff took over. In sddition to fact more people watch in different ways ( and thus is not measured), the blips in RTD ratings relate to Event Episodes such as JE or Kylie not a reflection on the entire season and the AIs are exactly the same.
= same or more people watching now in UK
= more people watching now than before worldwide, esp in US ( Matt IS the doctor for most Americans)
= same AI as ever was.
Continues to be popular thanks to Moff reinventing show to keep audience happy.
Whoops forgot to add that when you take iplayer and streaming into account, in fact Moff's seasons rated thevsame or higher than RTD, it's just that people watched it differently. This is in line with how people now tend to view tv but the way ratings are measured have not caught up. In addition, globally Who is more popular now than at any time. Finally, crtically Moffat's Who is much more lauded than at any time and is now accepted as mainstream drama. When Who or Matt are nominated for BAFTAs or NTAs along with other BBC dramas, it doesn't look out of place.
Best not to mention ratings though; one big kettle of fish!


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Spring Sowing? Use Kelp!
We've seen a massive increase in productivity when Zelp Kelp Powder is used with root crops.
This is a breakthrough; a complete game changer for efficiency and output levels for commercial growers, which will be directly and immediately reflected in their income.
With Spring sowing just around the corner, a commercial scale testimonial shows remarkable results when Zelp kelp powder was used.
NZ Kelp customer Nigel Greenwood experienced a 27% increase of 1st grade carrots last Autumn.
Half the carrot crop was sown with Zelp at the rate of 23kg/ha while the other half was sown without. The resulting crop from the Zelp bed produced 41,684kg/ha of 1st grade carrots compared with 32,909kg/ha from the control bed. In bottom line terms, Nigel's $483 investment gave him a $7,898/ha return.
Alongside in house trials on radish, carrot, chicory and potato at the Beattie farm, Nigel's independent trial demonstrates the tremendous potential for Zelp when it is sown with seed. "Zelp works equally well in organic or conventional agriculture and horticulture; as well as with coated or uncoated seed".
Roger ran a trial on his Banks Peninsula farm with brassicas which produced 49% greater yield when 2kg Zelp kelp powder was sown with uncoated rape and turnip seed, compared to the control. Increased germination of turnip was the main factor.
"It was instantly possible to see the huge quantity of turnip in the paddock with Zelp compared to the control crop. There were an average of 7 turnips per square metre where 2kg Zelp per ha was sown with the seed, compared with less than 1 per 10 square metres in the control section of the paddock." See photo comparison.
Kelp will work best when your paddock fertility is at its optimum level. Zelp kelp is extremely high in antimicrobial properties, high in growth hormones, contains a large number of bioavailable nutrients, is high in complex sugars and has the ability to keep a moist environment around germinating seeds.
Roger Beattie is amazed that we've got all the way to the 21st century and have only just realised that dried Giant Kelp can have a staggering effect when used with seed.
The business is growing rapidly. "We want lots of people to be using Zelp on root crops because we now have evidence that it's the best way to use this product." Roger is so convinced of success that he's inviting all his customers to clearly record and share their results with him. He promises to refund the cost of the Zelp to the customer who he believes has achieved the most significant result.
"We can't wait to see how productivity increases for our customers. We're following more trials with spuds, and brassicas and new uses with barley, asparagus, berries and all kinds of other fruit and veges".
Roger and Nicki Beattie set up NZ Kelp and have been ocean harvesting Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) off the Akaroa coast line for over a decade, with an organic dried kelp product range for animals, plants and people. The point of difference to other kelp, is that NZ Kelp harvest from live and slowly but constantly dry the Giant Kelp so as not to denature it.
As NZ Kelp continues to build its customer base, they launched Zelp Powder Pots for Gardens and Pets in 2013. "We know that not everyone grows crops by the hectare and wanted to give everyone the opportunity to access Zelp – whatever their land size".
Valére Kelp Pepper for health & nutrition has also remained a popular product and is widely available in stores throughout New Zealand and the UK.
As the fastest growing plant in New Zealand, Giant Kelp works as fast as it grows!
The NZ Kelp Retail and Wholesale product range