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Quest of the Living Dead Part 4: The Deadliest dead
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Short Story by: Walter Attridge
Length 6500
The Deadliest Dead.
By Walter Attridge
There is a sea in the southwest of Arda One that once, long ago could be spied from the southern archipelagos and island chains on the clearest and brightest days of the year. A black sea covered in black clouds. The black sea was an intersection of several powerful ocean currents and as they washed over each other and crashed together they kicked up all the billions of tons of sediment that lay on the ocean floor. That combined with underwater volcanoes had turned the water black as pitch. Opposing currents kept the pollution from running off.
Upon that sea is an island an island draped in darkness from the thick black storm clouds hovering perpetually above. The island was spawned from one of those particularly active volcanoes, making the surface mostly jagged being composed of black volcanic glass and without sunlight from above, devoid of any plant life more advanced than mosses and fungi. Upon that desolate island of broken glass a castle stands.
The castle rests upon a rock precipice jutting from a small mountain at the center of the island. Originally it consisted of a thick high wall with four corners each with a high century tower. An open inner court and a powerful stone keep and hall connected to a vast cathedral with a massive spire at its center. Over the centuries the owner of the castle has in his boredom continued to build upon the original design until a dozen or more spires have grown up around the center like a forest of spears. Some spires have buildings attached then as though they were tumorous masses growing from the inside out. At other places various bridges, some cunningly built and strong and others no more than broken planks and rotting ropes, crisscross the spires like a spiders web. The owner, when he had grown old and wicked, had impressed his peers scattered among the world and the infinite reaches of the multiverse. So they choose to reward him with both the island and the castle. An unassailable fortress and an island cast forever in darkness so its new master need never fear the hated sun.
Inside the castle was an accumulation of art and wealth and other various plunder horded by the lord and haphazardly displayed across every hall and passage way. The lord of the castle Karness was, to put it mildly, greedy frivolous and inattentive and often just as some new tapestry or painting was randomly hung it was just as easily forgotten and left to rot. It would have taken tens of thousands of slaves working themselves to death day and night to maintain the castle and Karness hated humans or indeed any living creature and would only abide a few servants that he could torment. So as the years passed into decades, into centuries the structure rotted as well. But always according to Karness' will the best example being the holes in the ceiling where on those rare clear nights the master could look up at the moon.
One night, on the darkest, longest night of the year, a group of dead men sat frightened in their fortress, and lamented the end of their world. Each more treacherous than the last, they would have been enemies before the cataclysm and every one of them harbored plots against the other. But they were lost and alone, even worse than that they had been rendered irrelevant by their new enemy.
Each member of the council had cause to hate and fear their new enemy but it was strangely enough Karness that was most disturbed by them. This new enemy was in truth nothing more than a zombie horde that had risen up in the years following the fall of the dark lord and the great cataclysm, the event that caused all the worlds volcanoes to erupt at once and spilled billions of tons of ash and dirt into the upper atmosphere poisoning the world. Each of the council had knowledge of zombies and knew them to be the lowest of undead. But these creatures differed in small but important ways. They spread like a disease rather than a spell every human who died regardless of the method excepting when the brain was destroyed, rose again. The bites and scratches of these creatures was universally lethal and they had a single minded hunger for human flesh. Worst of all these new zombies were utterly immune to necromancy. There was no spell no matter how powerful that could control them or turn them or drive them back into thw grave. In the early years of the cataclysm that had been what had destroyed the majority of necromancers and Liches, powerful undead necromancers and the strongest breed of undead. Despite their power they all sought to control the ravening horde rather than act for the greater good and they were all destroyed for their arrogance
Their council that night was a horror to behold. They sat in one of the audience halls around a table of black glass there were a few servants moving about gathering up piles of refuse and cleaning as best they could. These were mostly borrowed help from the other guests, the ones who deigned to surround themselves with humans at all.. They moved about silently all used to serving masters with whom they shared no kinship and who treated them as soulless automations as a way of forgetting what the masters had lost or given away.
Each was a great lord of their particular species, holdovers from a different age. One in which the term undead was a blanket under which dozens of different monsters hid. Now the world had changed, suffered some cataclysmic shift. Much of its magic was dead or fading and a new horror stalked not just the shadows but even the bright corners of the world with impunity. This new threat was insatiable and it had swept over the powers of Arda like a tidal force and in the inevitable chaos the old dark orders fell away along with the forces of light. This new enemy knew no alliance or loyalty and it preyed on the powerful and wicked along with the humble and good. Now some of the last of the great evils had gathered here to try and plot their future.
Leaning against a pitted bronze statue of an impossibly well developed male hero in urban clothing was Hassan the crime lord of Valen. He had ruled vice and corruption in his city as a living man known for capricious whims and savage brutality. When betrayed and killed he rose again as a vengeful ghost, his foul spirit tied to the statue he had commissioned portraying him as a great hero. This statue was the ultimate symbol of his vanity and pride and became his material focus on the earth.
Moving about the hall following a haggard serving girl was Salacia. In life he was a killer. Not for hire like a mercenary or assassin but just for his own pleasure. Moving from town to village to city the man worked as a mediocre carpenter by day and stalked and murdered women by night. Always careful to avoid capture or even suspicion. He lived small and mean and only preyed on prostitutes or women that could easily be lost. He was now a mass of slithering rotting entrails that hung in the chest cavity of a bare skeleton. Tendrils of entrails entwined along his arms and up through the jaw of the skull each ending in a barbed mouth.
Deep in the shadows seated upon Karness' own throne was an armored figure draped in once rich robes now given over to rot and decay. Its enormous claymore was propped up before it the point driven into the lowest step of the dais and the warrior was resting its huge arms on the cross guard. Its helmet was laying near its feet and from the pitch black shadows its eyes shone like orange suns wavering and burning but giving off no light.
From the shadows the Death Knight Lord Victus' ruined, facial muscles contorted into a sardonic smile. Most of the flesh was already rotted away especially around the eyes but there was enough to make out what was once a remarkably handsome face. A face that had won the trust of lords and peasants and had inspired thousands of armies across hundreds of years. Using sorcery and tricks learned from the Dark lord he had lived dozens of lives always infiltrating the forces of the light and always finding a way to betray them. At last he faced an enemy that was not fooled by his lies and charisma. A young ranger who would one day be king saw through the false knights glammer and exposed him for what he truly was. The dark lord punished Victus by giving him a form that would forever draw only hatred and fear.
Their host, count Karness was an ancient vampire who had existed for a millennium feeding upon humanity. He was so old that the agelessness of his foul breed had since given way to a wizened and feral aspect: He seemed at once old and shriveled and also bestial his once human features distorted into that of a bat with a flat nose, pointed ears, and close fangs so long they jutted from his mouth even when it was closed. He was the most pensive of the gathered lords pacing back and forth in front of a huge ornately carved stone fireplace that depicted the fall of one of the vampire's greatest enemies the vampire hunter Richthofen. He was by right of age and power the de-facto leader of this council. Besides his considerable powers as a vampire elder he was also well versed in the necromantic arts, the power over the undead and Karness was perhaps the last being on the planet with access to those secrets. over the years he had bullied the other members of this strange court with those secrets. But now fear gripped his black and withered heart. He wrung his hands and unconsciously fingered the medallion hanging heavily from around his neck. Both Lord Victus and Hassan could see it as well, the deep blue aura that surrounded the vampire lord, but it was only Victus that knew there was little use that particular trick would serve once the negotiations began.
"please sit my lord" Victus called out his voice hollow and booming seeming to come from all dark corners rather than from the armored form. "I will even return the use of your throne" that last dig was meant to rile the old villain up, if for no other reason than to break the melancholy in the room. But the vampire only shook his hand absently and continued to pace.
Appearing suddenly next to the fire place Hassan approached his face a static image "yes Karness it is unseemly for one such as you to behave like some fretting old woman. We are finally getting what we want after almost a century." the vampire stopped and turned regarding the ghost like it was an errant impulsive servant. Normally there was nothing that could touch a ghost unless it chose to manifest itself and even then it required the strongest magic. But the vampire reached out and grabbed the apparition by the throat as if it was just another human. The blue aura around Karness began to pulsate and arcs of blue lightening erupted from the ghost. Victus simply sat and watched the inevitable breakdown of their council with a resigned indifference.
"You dare to speak to me in such a manner" the vampire hissed pulling the writhing silent form closer "I decide when we have accomplished our goals" Salacia stepped from the shadows then perhaps hoping to reason with the count to wrangle this motley crew into something resembling an ordered, united front but the vampire turned its attention to the mohrg and it wisely stopped and assumed a pose of supplication. "any of you that approach me again without my leave will find yourselves taking up residence in your long empty cells in the deepest pits of hell." that last was directed towards Lord Victus who after Karness was the strongest in the room. The death knight made no motion or sound it simply sat and let the threat hang. Karness, who was looking even more desperate and panicked choose to take that as submission and released Hassan and continued his pacing.
Victus continued to watch now becoming somewhat more reassured at how the night would go. They had all gathered this night not only to discuss their own futures but to make alliance with their enemy. These new undead were not made up of an entirely mindless shambling horde. There was another type. The humans called them thinkers a crude but apt name. They possessed all the mental faculties they possessed in life as well as a remarkable resiliency to physical damage and were possessed of a berserk ferocity as they hunted their food of choice, human brains. They were rare and had up until now shown very little in the way of social order mostly being nomads and vagrants moving from meal to meal but they had from the beginning shown a remarkable talent, the ability to control the shambling hordes of their lesser brethren. The control varied from thinker to thinker but it was a control that even the greatest necromancers and Liches had lusted after.
Victus had made contact with a thinker who had other ideas and after some time convincing the paranoid Karness the death knight had arranged a parley. The terms were simple Victus would transport one thinker to the island and they would all sit and negotiate. Karness insisted the zombie understand its place and that they would not be equals. But that when the horde was under the vampire Lord's control and the humans and dwarves finally conquered there would be proper consideration to the thinkers need to feed. Victus considered at the time trying to counsel another tact but knowing Karness' mind the way he did the death knight thought better and worked to set up the meeting.
"It is almost time my lord" Victus called out rising from the throne. It was past time in fact for the death knight to bring the ambassador but Karness had not given the order yet. The vampire turned and stared daggers at the warrior. Then he turned and began to stare into the fire clutching the medallion so tight it would even hurt the vampires hand. Victus worried that the Karness' fear was now unmanning him that he would relent from the meeting rather than face his enemy. Perhaps the old man's fear and paranoia had become so complete it had come around to a sort of wisdom. Finally the Lord's shoulders slumped and he let out a pained sigh.
"Yes... its time bring the creature. I, I want my army" the vampire proclaimed trying to sound brave. Without another word lord Victus stepped back into a deep shadow and was gone. Silence reigned in the meeting room except for a brief shout and then a tittering laugh as Salacia finally killed the serving girl he had been stalking. Neither of the other lords took even the slightest notice. Twenty or so minutes later the large double doors of the hall opened and Lord Victus stepped through behind him was a smaller much more humble shape still hidden in the shadows.
"May I present our guest for the evening master timothy formerly of the village of trees end." Victus called out half mocking half trying to announce the ambassador. What passed through the doors was about as plain and unassuming a boy as any of the lords had ever seen. He was of course dead and had been probably for years though this kind of zombie decomposed slowly. His face and body, even under his plain filthy farmers wools bore the signs of starvation and disease. The skin was tin and drawn tight to the bone with several blackened ulcers, his nose and lips had been worn away exposing cracked and yellowed teeth. In all ways he looked no different than most of the mindless walking dead now roaming the world. All except for his eyes. They were inflamed swollen and yellowed but they were aglow with intelligence and barely contained fury. Even now the thing was gripped by a terrible ever constant pain that drove it to feed gluttonously. For a moment it spied one of the still living servants and almost jerked forward to attack but took a breath and returned its focus to the vampire lord in whose house he was an invited guest.. Timothy as he had been named stepped into the light and dropped to one knee head down.
"Hail Karness Lord of night, master of blood and true heir to the Dark Lord" he cried his voice strong and confident. Karness turned at last from the fire and stared for a long moment, still clutching his medallion and then bade the boy approach with a dismissive wave of his hand. Meekly Timothy looked up to the now helmeted death knight who nodded in approval. Only then did the zombie rise and walk forward.
"that is enough peasant" Karness ordered when they were fifty feet apart and the boy relented. Standing meekly head down. "Know you that I am unaccustomed to parley with so low a creature as yourself and that this is perhaps the greatest honor you will ever know in your existence. I will not bandy words with one so beneath my station I require only answers of you is that clear!" the vampire began to stand more confidently seeing timothy's obvious meekness and his grip relaxed on the medallion
"yes my lord" the zombie replied head down.
"Do you come as an emissary or are you the one who will deliver my army"
"My mistress has your army in her care and awaits your call to arms" that made the vampire smile a little seeing his final victory so close
"Is your 'mistress' one of your... kind or is she some higher creature"
"She is like me my lord and so knowing her place choose to give herself over to you." Karness visibly relaxed and began to let go of the medallion. Victus could still see the blue field around the vampire's body strong as ever. Holding the medallion was never a prerequisite for its protection, it warded against contact with other undead and was more potent around zombies vaporizing any zombie that touched the wearer. The obvious flaw in Karness plan was not lost on Lord Victus
"That is good I like your manner boy so tell me I would learn more of your kind they say that you have all you memories from life. Tell me of yourself." there were also tales that the thinkers were greatly pained by memories of their former lives. Most of them had not been cannibalistic madmen in their former lives and so were somewhat conflicted with their new hunger. This didn't stop them they were just conflicted. To ask showed the vampires sadism starting to come through and that meant he was becoming very relaxed and well with himself. The boy swallowed
"I was born a peasant in a tiny village near the northern borders where the ash snows are worst. Food was scarce but we managed to survive with dwarven supplies and luck. Then we were set upon by raiders from the lake villages and were left with nothing to survive the coming winters. My village starved and I died, then rose as I am now."
"did your family and everyone you knew die as well" the vampire asked smiling.
"Not... immediately" the hesitation was not forced or contrived Victus noticed. As he began to peer into the shadows around the castle waiting...
"so you rose first and fed on them did you, tell me boy who was first" the boy was silent for a moment, Salacia was now visible again and though its exposed bare skull had no expression there was no denying he was enjoying the tale.
"My sister she was a babe in swaddling and easy to get to. After my parents found me there was a panic and my father tied me up but not before I managed to bite him. They tried to keep me secret but soon the town was up in arms and trying to have me brought out and burned. Soon enough by the time the villagers forced the door, my family was not human. There was a panic after that and I escaped in the chaos, and found my mistress."
"I no longer want to hear of a mistress I am your master now and you are both my slaves." the vampire commanded "Now answer my last question. Why has this whore not presented herself for my approval if she truly serves me then she should have come not sent a half wit farmer to tell me amusing tales." when timothy didn't answer right away Karness grew annoyed "Well boy what say you, you were very eloquent a moment ago..." as he trailed off there came the ringing of multiple bells from all over the complex. The pealing of them like a discordant hymn reverberating through the castle.
After that everything seemed to happen at once.
A human guard rushed into the meeting hall. He was helmet less and bleeding from a bite to his cheek.
"Masters" he choked out "all over the castle there are hundreds, hundreds of th-" he was cut off as a great cacophony rose over the ringing of the bells at first it was indistinct and then it coalesced into one enormous word like a battle cry
"BRAAAAIIIIINNNSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!" Even Victus who had helped arrange this particular betrayal was taken aback that so many had been gathered and that there were even so many thinkers in all the world.
Karness and timothy both moved at once, but not with the same intent. The vampire stepped back clutching his medallion and letting out a frightened hiss. Timothy broke into a full sprint right at the vampire his arms up and crossed to protect himself and his face turned.
Even with a vampire's speed and grace at that range all Karness could think to do was to raise his free hand and let loose a squamous blast of arcane energy. An uncivilized frightened reactionary move but the blast had terrible power behind it. It hit with a sound like a thunderclap drowning out the screams from outside, and the shock wave rocked the entire chamber. The fireplace they were standing near was blown apart, scattering piles of magically ignited fuel everywhere and sending up billowing clouds of ash and soot. The floor shuddered and the roof was near collapse several beams creaked and fell scattering guano and dirt.
Still clutching the medallion Karness frantically swiped at the clouds. Looking in all directions. Something moved silently before him and before the vampire could turn and fire again Timothy was already on him the blast had done its work both arms were gone up to the forearm on the right and the elbow on the left all that was left were protruding jagged bones extending each a foot long on both arms, his face was gone along with his jaw, eyes ans half his skull but the rest of the body was intact if badly burned. The sound it made as it rushed and jumped onto the vampires was nothing less than an animal scream gurgling from its neck hole.
The thinker slammed into Karness jumping at the last second driving both knees into his stomach. The right arm bone plunged into Karness chest right at the heart and the jagged point found its mark, the left bone drove into the vampires neck between the artery and the trachea. Timothy, still screaming incoherently, furiously drove the left bone into the vampires throat and face again and again hitting him three time before they had even fallen back pulling the thinker on top of him. The right bone was still lodged in the lords chest steadily pushing deeper driving right through the heart. Karness was still gripping the medallion
After a few more seconds the vampires face and neck were a ruin, one eye was gone his jaw torn loose, half of his brain was exposed, and the neck had been almost completely hacked through only hanging on by a few scraps of muscle and the spine. The Lords survival instincts finally cut through the pain and with his right hand he reached up catching what was left of timothy's arm and tearing it away along with the shoulder and a sizable chunk of the thinkers chest. Karness let go of the useless medallion and driving the free arm down broke away the arm bone in his chest though he failed to dislodge the makeshift "stake". Lastly the vampire vomited forth a gout of blood that combined with his own arcane power ignited on contact with air and hit timothy full in the chest. The force of it threw the zombie into the air and back thirty feet. The other arm was gone as well as the remainder of the chest leaving its upper body only a melted burned skull and a spine with a few scattered bones jutting carelessly from the framework. Its legs were beating furiously and the body was trying to turn itself over and find a way to its feet. But the vampire was not interested in continuing the fight
Karness was crawling in the other direction wailing from the pain and damage that had been inflicted. Already there were signs he was beginning to heal but the damage was still too great and the poisoned infected bone lodged in his heart was taking its toll. His mouth, or what was left of it was working furiously trying to work out some spell or incantation, but the jaw was still only hanging by a few pieces of flesh and he was choking on his own blood.
As he crawled his hand found a foot, a large boot belonging to an armored warrior that until only a few momenta ago he had trusted implicitly. The death knight without preamble or speech stomped on the beseeching hand and with his claymore cleaved what was left of the vampires neck. The body, he threw into a pile of flames and it ignited like it was soaked in pitch. For a moment he looked into the vampires blank rolled back eyes and then threw that in as well. Arrogant fool The death knight thought Still clinging to the old ways too proud and vain to admit that you fought a superior enemy. In his mind the knight had weighed the pluses and minuses and after meeting Timothy's mistress he knew what the winning side was and moved first to secure his place.
In the meeting hall the thinkers had already gotten through the door and were killing what was left of the servants there. Salacia had stood and fought swinging its tentacles and beheading several of his attackers but they had all managed to surround and overwhelm the mohrg they then began leisurely crushing his skeleton and pulverizing the entrails that made up its body and intelligence.
All that was left was Hassan and he was well suited to this type of enemy. Being intangible none of the zombies could touch him.Bolts of lightening and frost erupted from the ghost but had little effect on the creatures lacking the power to incinerate them or freeze them to shattering.
Just then a battered trumpet blared and the gathered zombies stopped and with an odd sort of military precision assembled at the entrance to the meeting hall. Stepping over the battered doors first was a headless horror, even to the death knight. The creature was impossibly long limbed and tall moving in on its hands and feet in a grotesque spider walk the neck was freakishly long the esophagus jutting from the neck like a monstrous tongue. It seemed genderless with huge portions of flesh missing or rotted so badly so as to be unrecognizable. It seemed to snuffle around as it moved searching for food.
The thinker that entered was obviously a female but stood out from the crowd for her outlandish and lascivious appearance. Her flesh was pale but untouched by rot and she showed that fact off through her tattered vestments, torn in strategic points to allow a view of her breasts , belly and thighs. This one was Black Alice a lieutenant to the mistress, recognized by Victus because of her odd piercings, expertly crafted and anchored to her flesh. She possessed spikes all along her forearms, and shoulders with smaller spike along her face and breasts. Scarified tattoos marked her back and legs and she walked as though trying to show herself off to all assembled.
The last to enter was clothed in simple looking leather armor, expertly crafted marking her as an adventurer. She looked to be of middle years but was fit and well proportioned with a fighters grace and poise. A mop of simple black dirty hair hung in a loose ponytail tied with simple cord. the skin around her face was a pale and drawn white with the flesh around the cheeks, nose and lips already shriveled and black but not yet fallen away so that with a little effort she could be made to look human. What was different about her was her right hand and left eye. The original eye had been removed or lost and in its lace was an orb far too large that it swelled from the socket and bulged out of her temple It was yellow and red with an orange iris spinning of its own volition, always turning and staring at different points. Lastly her original right arm had been removed below the elbow and replaced with a man's arm, muscular and clawed. The hand was also yellow with flaking dried skin and had several metallic objects implanted in the forearm. As Victus stared at it the hand seemed to occasionally glow blue and pulsate.
The death knight knew this hand and eye and it was the source of her great power. He also suspected the true intelligence at work within this simple looking woman. The hand and eye were once the property of the Lich lord Vecna a former Dark Lord and practically a god in its own right. The actual Vecna had been destroyed centuries ago but His hand and eye remained as potent sources of arcane power. But those who had the courage to take possession of these weapons also became the thralls of Vecna's incorporeal spirit. He saw that now as he watched the mistress he thought he could sense the presence of the Lich in this unassuming dead girl. He was of course very wrong...
Though for now this was the "mistress" though she never called herself that her name was simply Kaye a peasants name without title or household. Victus made to intercept her and make his greetings, but she ignored him, ignored her entourage and headed to the ruined form of timothy still smoldering on the cold stone.
"My poor timothy" she said and touched the ruined skull. At her touch the blind deaf thing stirred and the spine and skull moved to push against her hand like a cat nuzzling it master. While it nuzzled she reached out with the right hand and grasped the skull. All at once a dozen tiny sparking bright red flames erupted all over timothy's body. Where the flames burned the bone or tissue was consumed and reduced to white ash. Soon his body was a bright angry red blaze and even sooner there was nothing but an outline of that same powdery white ash. "Thank you my friend" she said solemnly. Victus being oblivious to the genuine emotion of the moment and how it showed the flaw in his theory stepped up to the thinker.
"Well spoken my lady" he said trying to get her attention. As she turned to him and rose she had to almost look straight up up to look him in the face. "Inspiring words are the beginning of securing loyalty. But as I will instruct you. fear and demonstrations of power are the key to keeping it." She considered his words and then moved towards the statue and the long ignored ghost who was trying to seem inconspicuous. At the sight of her Hassan stopped and fell to its knees.
"Please" The ghost pleaded I can serve you I can be of use I-" before he could finish Kaye lifted her right hand and the statue was hurled through the roof and flung out to see. The ghost screamed realizing what was about to happen and then began to pull, frantically trying to grab for any purchase even as his shade was pulled away to a watery prison.
"Displays such as that lord Victus?" she turned and said a smile on her blackened lips. The death knight was not pleased by the way she said that. But he also needed her I've already tied my horse to her wagon as it was said in the trenches and he had no intention of missing out on the resurrection of Vecna. Somewhat disturbingly just as he thought of that he realized that the other thinkers had taken a healthy distance from the two of them.
"Are you truly so arrogant" she began and the death knight began to power up an attack he had held in reserve for just this sort of eventuality "that you believe that the only way I or my kind could rise is with your help and the help of a spirit long made impotent with isolation. Vecna is in here but just as a gibbering senile old man I have conquered him and his knowledge and powers serves me. And very soon I will have one of my own kind that will be more than enough of a replacement for y-"
Before she could finish the death knight struck out with his right hand unleashing a fireball more than capable of vaporizing this upstart corpse and all her brethren in one blast. His kind could only do such a thing rarely but it seemed appropriate given just how badly todays events had transpired. The blast struck and the flames began to expand blossoming into a maelstrom of heat and pressure. And then it shrunk and condensed and became a tiny corona of swirling heat and gas in the palm of Kaye's right hand. Time froze as Victus pulled off his sword and was already into a swing meant to cleave her in two. The death knight simply stopped in mid swing helpless. The girl stared at the tiny blossom in her hand and the death knight knew it was his time to be swept away with all the rest of its kind. The new queen of the dead lifted her upturned palm and tilted it and the explosion became a shaft of pure energy that punched through Victus' sword arm and chest through his back through the back wall into the island and into the ocean.
Lord Victus fell to his knees the claymore clattered useless to the ground along with his helmet. There was no pain only an odd emptiness as though a vital connection had been severed. There were limits, even for a creature as powerful as lord Victus and he knew that he had just been pushed far beyond those limits and he supposed that he was dying. Though it was a contradiction in terms there was no other way to describe that ebbing broken loss. The queen of the dead sauntered over to him as he swayed on the blackened filthy floor. Behind her that long limbed headless thing was at her heels its esophagus lolling out. The others were starting to gather behind her as well.
"Do you know what we are" Kaye said squatting down and lifting his face to hers "do you know why this happened to us" her original eye was inflamed and yellow with sickness the same sickness that killed and reanimated her, sick with rage and pain, for the first time since being resurrected and given his awesome powers Lord Victus felt fear.
"no..." he whispered. It was almost a plea. Behind the queen a dozen or more of the same kinds of faces were gathered behind they were all looking down.
"that is why you are useless to me." And with that he was destroyed, the negative energy that sustained his being was ripped away and his bones fell clattering to the floor covered in rusting pitted armor. The castle began to shudder finally feeling the effects of its masters death. Kaye looked about and shook her head then called out in a voice that reached all her "children" on the island
"Come to me... don't leave me alone in the night with my pain and I will never leave you." Black Alice approached and embraced her . They embraced like family, holding each other hard and tight trying to find some kind of comfort in each others arms. They all came on now all packing tightly together hugging each other and the one in front. Some were weeping if they still could, the tears mostly mucus flecked with blood. Outside a chain formed all through the halls and the outer keep and they all embraced or touched another where there wasn't room. Each of them cursed by stupid random misfortune. Each made a monster for no other crime than starving, or being sick or just dying, Each taking comfort from the other,
An instant later they were all gone, gone to inflict their misery on a world that could not save them. And the black castle on the black island floating on the black sea collapsed in on itself and was never seen again.
The End.
© Copyright 2017 Walter Attridge. All rights reserved.
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Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Using Both Fasomax and Miacalcin for Osteoporosis
I had taken Actonel for several years but my bone density T score continued to decline. My doctor then prescribed Miacalcin instead of the Actonel. After 2 years the T score showed very little improvement and still remains in the osteoporosis range. I am now taking Miacalcin and Fasomax. Can this combination of medications create any interaction or over-medication? (my insurance is suggesting only the Fasomax when trying to refill the Miacalcin)
I would agree with your insurance. Usually one osteoporosis drug is sufficient. Be sure you are taking the Fosamax correctly and that you are getting the recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D. If you have not checked your 25 hydroxy vitamin D level, it might be good to do that. If there has been a significant decrease in your bone density ("significant" in this setting is a technical term meaning a decrease above the level of error in the equipment), you should probably have an evaluation for secondary causes of osteoporosis with an osteoporosis specialist.
Margery Gass, MD
Formely, Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati

subset: commoncrawl


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If you assume that the phase voltages are equal and opposite you can wire current transformers in series - multiply the current you measure by 110 rather than 220V. And get e polarity right (!)
QuoteIf you assume that the phase voltages are equal and opposite you can wire current transformers in series - multiply the current you measure by 110 rather than 220V. And get e polarity right (!)Thanks, and I gather that if you didn't get the polarity right, you'd see seriously out-of-whack results (i.e. it wouldn't damage anything in particular or cause a fire). I'm pretty sure a voltmeter/ammeter will be able to sort this out before you wire it into an actual circuit.I intend to do most of the breadboarding and proof-of-concept using "light bulb" loads for 120V and perhaps rigging both a symmetric and an asymmetric 240V load (though I will have to put in a 240V circuit in order to do that, I have a sub panel in my workshop with which I can make that happen).
Hello nearby bay area arduino fan!
I think the two CTs with secondary wired in series is going to give some problems. Household power as you stated around here is split phase 220. There is a L1, L2, and a neutral wire. All the 110 circuit breakers are usually wired alternately to the L1 and L2 buses and neutral and any 220 loads are wired just to L1 and L2 branches. So if you have a CT on each of L1 and L2 and series their outputs that would give you a total of what all the 110 branches are consuming, however won't the 220volt loads be 'double counted' in that scheme, as the 220 load current will be passing through both CT's?
I would figure that the 180º phase difference between the legs would work in favor of tying them together. Perhaps parallel instead of serial...?I wish I had paid more attention in physics...--R
A split phase electricity distribution system is a 3-wire single-phase distribution system, commonly used in North America for single-family residential and light commercial (up to about 100 kVA) applications. It is the AC equivalent of the original Edison 3-wire direct current system.


text:
The general availability of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016 is here and offers more mobility, stronger business insight, and enhanced cloud services. The new release works closely with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and Office 365 to help empower employees with easy-to-use native apps. Join this webinar to learn about the exciting new features and understand how your organization can benefit from these enhancements.
We will cover the following NAV 2016 release features including:
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text:
Rhino Cellular Inc.
Electronic communications enhancer consisting of technology in the nature of antennas and computer chips for the purpose of improving signal reception to cellular telephones, portable radios, mobile telephones and televisions
Perfect for these industries
Words that describe this mark
This is a brand page for the CHIPTENNA trademark by Rhino Cellular Inc.
in Sag Harbor, , 11963.
Write a review about a product or service associated with this CHIPTENNA trademark.
Or, contact the owner Rhino Cellular Inc. of the CHIPTENNA trademark by filing a request to communicate with
the Legal Correspondent for licensing, use, and/or questions related to the CHIPTENNA trademark.
On Wednesday, May 22, 2002, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for
CHIPTENNA by
Rhino Cellular Inc., Sag Harbor 11963.
The USPTO has given the CHIPTENNA
trademark serial number of 78130460.
The current federal status of this trademark filing is ABANDONED - NO STATEMENT OF USE FILED.
The correspondent listed for CHIPTENNA is
Edward H. Rosenthal of
Frankfurt Garbus Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC, 488 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10022
The CHIPTENNA trademark is filed in the category of
Computer & Software Products & Electrical & Scientific Products
The description provided to the USPTO for CHIPTENNA
is Electronic communications enhancer consisting of technology in the nature of antennas and computer chips for the purpose of improving signal reception to cellular telephones, portable radios, mobile telephones and televisions.
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text:
This project is essentially a de-branded version of Mozilla Firefox, spun off from IceWeasel for Debian Linux distros.
Other Useful Business Software
User Ratings
User Reviews
I hate this WeaselIce cuz my kid told me to install it and ever since I installed it, I had random music playing, trojan virus, as well as an effect similar to Google Chrome's "Troll your friends". Kill Anal and kill a dog. I will rape your family if you download this cancer ebola aids.
Absolutely not in the spirit of the original project. Comes with propietary software plugins and installs unwanted toolbars and search engines across your other browsers, as of may 2014. Used to ship a trojan apparantly, see other rewiew, this is not present anymore, but there is an impression that some builds in changing types of undesirable code foreign to iceweasel. Uninstalled immediately and had to clean my chrome browser, too.
It runs great but I uninstalled because of one unresolved problem. TrendMicro Anti-Virus (8-30-2010) said the IceWeasel for Windows Installer has Troj_Gen.CZ0057 (which is their code name). It is a low level Trojan threat they said. It was in the installer download and my Firefox profile after running the exe. Possibly other locations. I will update my review to thumbs up if this is a false positive. Otherwise I have gotten only good downloads here on Sourceforge. Wanted to warn people.


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Kimi Raikkonen has brought a new maturity to his work for the Ferrari team according to team principal Stefano Domenicali.
Day: February 12, 2014 articles archive
The first technical innovations of 2014 in detail
F1 technologyPosted on
Every team bar Lotus turned up to the first test with new cars built to drastically changed regulations. John Beamer casts his eye over the notable innovations.
Signs point to Williams-Martini deal
F1 Fanatic Round-upPosted on
In the round-up: Williams-Martini deal on the cards • Symonds surprised by rival designs • Red Bull retain vented nose


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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Some Homestead High School students and teachers gathered Tuesday to pray for Isaac Griffith, a former Homestead grad and football standout. He was seriously injured in a swimming accident in Sarasota, Florida Monday night.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department, Griffith had been drinking with a few friends before going to the beach to swim. Once he got in the water, a current took him 15 feet away from the swim buoy. Tyler Zimske played on Homestead's football team with Griffith. He organized the prayer meeting after school Tuesday. He said he found out about the accident Monday night.
"It didn't feel real," Zimske said. "I'm still kind of numb about the whole thing."
He said he's hard to believe such a talented football player is in this type of condition.
"Isaac's kind of like unstoppable on the field, and it's just weird seeing him down like this," said Zimske.
Chad Zolman, Homestead's head football coach, received a call from Griffith's father, Shannon, Monday night. Zolman said Shannon Griffith was looking for assistance to get down to Florida to be with his son. Eventually, he was able to find a way down to Florida. Zolman said it was hard getting the news of what happened to Isaac.
"We feel like we have a family member who's hurting right now, and our kids know it," said Zolman.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has released an statement as of 6 p.m. Tuesday regarding Isaac's progress and statement from his parents:
Indiana University freshman Isaac Griffith remains in a medically induced coma in Sarasota Memorial's Critical Care Unit. His condition is critical, but stable. Doctors say he is showing small, but incremental improvements.
Isaac's parents, Shannon and Kim Griffith are by their son's side and deeply grateful for the prayers and support from friends and followers across the states. They have asked for privacy during their son's recovery and shared the following statement:
"We deeply appreciate the prayers and outpouring of support coming to us through tweets, calls and messages, both from Florida and Indiana. We are seeing positive signs throughout the day and winning small battles that give us hope."
Late Tuesday night, Isaac's father tweeted an update on his progress.
Shannon Griffith tweeted that Isaac remains on a ventilator but doctors have turned it down to 50 percent. Shannon said his family continues to pray for Isaac's lungs to show signs of healing and they are also praying antibiotics prevent any infections. He also said the family continues to talk to Isaac because they believe he can hear them.
Isaac remained in a critical care unit at Sarasota Memorial Tuesday night.


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Mental Health
Have Mental Health Questions? Ask a Psychiatrist Online
Welcome to JA.com. Thank you providing such detailed information in your question and "Already Tried" sections. It is truly wonderful to read about such a pro-active, and loving parent working to provide the best support for their son!
I've done a very detailed search of the resources and treatment options. I think what's absolutely critical at this time is that you make sure your son gets the very best "evidence-based" (science-proven) treatment for depression. I'm sure you've heard of CBT or cognitive behavior therapy for depression. Recent research and component analysis of treatment (looking at what part of the treatment works best and why) has shown that it is the "behavioral activation" component of CBT that is the most effective. It's also uniquely designed to systematically address the motivational issues you've described in your question, very effectively.
It is difficult or impossible to identify which inpatient or residential treatment programs effectively apply behavioral activation (BA) as a central component of their treatment. I strongly advise 1) learning as much as you can about BA and sharing this information with your son and other supportive family members; and then, 2) Contact Dr. Martel Directly. Since he is the key researcher and founder of the treatment approach he is the best person to ask about the perfect treatment fit for your son to available programs and therapists in your area.
I hope my answer is genuinely helpful to you. If not, let me know what you feel I've missed. I can then improve my answer or opt-out of your question so that another mental health expert provides you with an answer.
If you find value in my answer, please don't forget to press the "Accept" button so that I'm paid for my time researching and answering your question.
I wish you and your family the very best!
Thanks...I do believe that what you've described is the right approach. My problem is where to get the help. Living at home last summer was not productive ....he was unable to complete on line classes and with few friends around he left for school feeling even more down and unproductive. He wants to stay in CT (we live in VA) and continue seeing his therapist, but for many reasons that's not a good idea. Nothing has really changed in the way of his mental health so we don't expect him to "get better" in an anvironment where he is totally unsupervised. Also Jason will not communicate with us for days which is extremely worrisome. We don't know if this is possible, but we would love to get him into an in-patient treatment center so he can work on his problems fulltime. If however, our insurance will not cover at least some of the costs we can not go this route (2 others in college). Our next option is an out patient center that meets several times a week. Unfortunately in my research I can't find a center that he would be able to commute from home. If we have to pay for him to stay in an apartment somewhere in order to attend a top of the line facility we would like to investigate that option. My question to you again....do you know any highly recommended treatment centers that have experience with bipolar? If you could possibly come up with some options for us to look into we would be most grateful and certainly willing to pay for your time. Thank you so much
Thank you for your response. I'm just going to take a few moments to read...
I've read what you've written here carefully. I'm very sorry to hear that you must be really suffering at times. My focus is always on making sure that the treatment approach is the best. It may even turns out that seeing a behaviorally trained therapist to do activation therapy would be best. My advise would be to contact Dr. Martel with your questions, laid out in simple point form, - your son's diagnosis, and that you're looking for a list of treatment program day or inpatient, in your area that has a strong BA component. You can also ask for therapist recommendations for BA. As far as recommending a treatment program in your area, independent of the kind of treatment goes, I can opt out of this question and another Expert may be more familiar with your general area resources. Does that make better sense? No need to pay for this answer if that's your choice. I don't mind at all.
Thanks agian, How can I contact Dr. Martel? Can you transfer my question to another Expert and I'll awat an answer or do I need to start the process over. If so, how can I request an expert that may be familiar with my area?
No problem. One of the links I gave you is the page with Dr. Martell's contact info (e-mail and phone) I'll opt-out of this question and it will be re-posted for the other mental health experts to see. They will usually start a chat session with you if you're present or they will leave a message and check back periodically for your response. They will be able to see our exchange, and know very clearly as well that you're looking for a program in your area that your son can commute to etc. I will also forward the question to another expert that is currently online. Is that ok?
Here's the contact link again separately for your convenience:
Thank you so much....you've given me a place to start...I contacted my Ins co and we have both in and out of network benefits so maybe we can invetsigate inpateint facilities . Thanks again and please, if you have any additional information to share or you want to present the case or my questions to another professional please feel free and contact me by email.


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by JORDAN AUBEY
Police officers in Neosho, Missouri are reminding each other to be patient, as officials sift through city-wide budget problems.
City departments in Neosho have been operating on necessity, rather than desire.
Workers are being asked to spend money only on what they need but city hall is working towards finding some sort of relief.
"It's very disappointing to have built our department to the point where it was, where in 2010 we were on the road to a big crime reduction for three years in a row, and this was going to be the biggest year ever," says Neosho Police Chief Dave McCracken.
There used to be 26 officers with the Neosho Police Department.
Now there are 14, and crimes reported have gone up as patrols have gone down.
Change from 2009 to 2010:
Chief McCracken says it is just a matter of time before insurance companies start raising rates for home and car owners.
"When the insurance companies go to set rates, they look at all that," says McCracken. "We're not able to prevent the crime that we have done so in the past."
At city hall, new Neosho Finance Director Martha Mundt is busy investigating the past and trying to find a future for police officers and other city employees.
Last year, a former city manager was convicted of illegally transferring funds throughout the city's budget.
"Since there was the comingeling of restricted revenues with general revenues, moving forward with confidence is more possible if we know where we are historically," says Mundt. "And when there's the comingeling of those monies, it is hard to determine how much we have, specifically in general revenue."
During the period in question there were only $2,000 cash in Neosho's general revenue fund.
The city's new finance director is trying to see if the situation has improved.
"The part that we are still working on the analysis on, the residual balances that were there at September 30th of 2010, we're trying to determine what the correct allocation of those is between the general fund and the other sales tax funds," Mundt says.
Among other expenses, the city still has to pay off loans totaling $1.5 million.
And there is more number crunching needed to pinpoint funds and make sure current expenses do not surpass revenues.
In the meantime, city operations continue on the bare necessities.
"That's what we're doing right no," says Police Chief McCracken. "We are just trying at every point to save money, and to try to build our reserves back up in this city."
Neosho does have a new revenue source to help with city finances. City hall has just begun to receive some property tax income from taxes collected before December. The tax rate is 42 cents for every $100 evaluation.


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MOST JOURNAL readers have been well aware of the initiative to pass an ordinance restricting certain abortions within the city, as well as the contentious debate that has ensued.
However, the events of the last few weeks, in which specific physicians and a freestanding birth center were targeted by groups opposed to abortion, moved outside the realm of a public legal struggle over values.
The New Mexico Affiliate of Certified Nurse-Midwives has a membership with a spectrum of beliefs about the background debate on legal timing of pregnancy termination.
We are united, however, in our vigorous support for the health care professionals involved, who are among the most highly respected men and women in our professional community.
We are very proud of the accredited birthing center staffed by certified nurse-midwives, where the birth of a baby was unfolding at the time the "protesters" approached the center, a place dedicated to safe, joyful birth.
The implied threat of a group of bullhorn yelling zealots at such a center cannot be overstated.
The actions of this out-of-state group included a similar tactic at the private home of a physician who has supported the safe care of women, babies and their families for many years in New Mexico.
As nurse-midwives we seek out cooperative relationships with the most patient-centered physicians in the community; our practices depend upon it.
We trust that the safety of women, babies and their care providers – both midwives and physicians – will be considered as the non-negotiable value within Albuquerque.


text:
Modi says Cong's new slogan is 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan'
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of neglecting farmers' plight and slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP) over women's safety in Uttar Pradesh.india Updated: Mar 30, 2014 02:40 IST
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of neglecting farmers' plight and slammed the Samajwadi Party (SP) over women's safety in Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing rally at Baghpat in UP, he said that it was time for 'kamal (BJP's poll symbol lotus)' and 'Modi', exuding confidence about the BJP's win in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, which start on April 7.
He touched upon the rebellion of 1857 in his address at Baghpat, the region that played a key part in what many describe as India's first war of Independence.
"People then fought for 'swaraj' (self-rule) and a British-free India. Today, people have to fight for 'suraj' (good governance) and a Congress-free India."
The Gujarat chief minister also launched a scathing attack on the Congress over its manifesto for the summer elections, saying, "Congress only knows how to make pre-poll promises." Modi had earlier accused the Congress of making false promises in its manifesto.
Taking a dig at the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre, he said, "(Independent India's second PM) Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan was 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan', the Congress government's slogan is 'Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan'...Farmers are forced to commit suicide during the UPA rule."
Modi also attacked the Congress for not doing enough for armymen and farmers.
"Today, those who safeguard the nation are not safe. Today, soldiers are being beheaded and their heads are taken away (by Pakistani Army)."
He expressed his displeasure at the Pakistan prime minister's visit to India after Indian soldiers were beheaded. "Why didn't the (Indian) prime minister tell his Pakistan counterpart that it was not the right time to visit India?"
Modi also turned the heat on the SP-led UP government. "Do you trust any of those in power in Delhi or Lucknow?" he asked at the rally. "UP will be benefitted only when dynasty politics comes to an end."
Citing lawlessness in the state, he said, "What kind of situation is this where our mothers and daughters do not feel safe?"
Modi's barb came a day after the news of a journalist being raped in the state's Mirzapur district surfaced. Addressing a rally in Lucknow last month, Modi had alleged "150 riot cases" were reported in UP under the Akhilesh Yadav-led government.
Modi stressed development in Gujarat — which has emerged as a disputed issue ahead of the general elections — and said, "If there is two minutes of power cut in Gujarat, that's news. But it's news in UP when power comes."
UP, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, is high on the BJP's agenda. The state will see the saffron party's PM nominee fighting from Varanasi on May 12, the last round of polling.
(With IANS inputs)


text:
The Thumbtip is the most useful item in magic. Available in a variety of sizes.
Also available Darwins Thumbtip Book - Trick after trick and trick using the wonderful Thumb Tip is described in this concise book. Harry Blackstone gets it all off to a great start with his opening remarks, and from there on in it's magic all the way. Over 100 terrific effects with devices that every magician owns or will soon!
Standard - 48mm long, 22mm opening
Soft - 54mm long, 22mm opening
King - 60mm long, 22mm opening
XXL 52mm long, 27mm opening
Fingertip - 50mm x 18mm
Little Fingertip - 45 mm x 16mm
No reviews yet. Do you own this product? Write a review.


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|12 December 2012
New Memberportfolio
Fergal Costello
Dublin, Ireland
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Shocker Short VFX Film- Would there be any interest for this to become a feature?
Short Film Shocker
VFX by Ruadhri Brennan
Shot and made on a cost of 500
Last edited by Shockerfilm : 12 December 2012 at 01:44 PM. Reason: No link
|12 December 2012
Always Learningportfolio
Dylan Saunders
Dublin, Ireland
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,970
Someone else posted this video a couple of months ago. I remember asking if the lane shots were done at the back of Batchelors Walk in Dublin. I don't think I got a reply, but it was definitely the same video you posted.
I like to learn.
|12 December 2012
Part-Time Blenderite
Giancarlo Ng
Quezon City, Philippines
Not sure as a feature film in this style as it would be a bit like "Chronicle" but missing the chemistry of 2 other characters with powers to fill out 100 minutes.
But as a TV series it probably will work.
Gives off a vibe like "Heroes" but with an edge to it.
I get it that the guy at the start should be like some kind of burglar? But the actor they got didn't "sell" enough the look and feeling of "astonished expendable extra" that I think the scene of breaking into the Shocker's lair called for.
Also not sure what the point was of the "heart/beef jerky" attached to window. But the main setup, of a serial killer who has unexplained origins and has supernatural powers does sound like a good setup for a TV series - either with a hero with no powers looking for this killer, the killer being an anti-hero, or a hero with powers (in secret) who is looking for this Shocker serial killer.... many ways to go with this one.
"Your most creative work is pre-production, once the film is in production, demands on time force you to produce rather than create."
My ArtStation
|12 December 2012
Part-Time Blenderite
Giancarlo Ng
Quezon City, Philippines
Originally Posted by Shockerfilm: Thank you very much, very interesting points, and thank you very much for taking the time to watch it.
I watched it three times!
My first thought... seeing the room covered in newspaper and the bloody heart/thing was "Aah.. it's an urban vampire".
But.. I'm not so sure.. since he walked out in daylight just fine.
The robber... don't get me wrong.. I think he's a good actor... But he seemed miscast as "bungling burglar".. You wanted someone closer to a kind of "Home Alone bungling burglar".
Now, I know that my suggestion has sort of the risk of making the whole thing feel comedic. But you already have a strong color tone... so when the guy starts bungling around and looking out of place...in such a dim setting that the audience can see... When the Shocker appears... it just emphasizes the burglar has no power over the Shocker.
You need a "squeaky worthless guy" to provide the foil so that the Shocker's power is exaggerated by interaction.
Here's an example from "The Dark Knight Rises" of using this type of visual.
Note: The intensity and "strong eyes" of the burglar actually looks more suitable for the hero chasing the Shocker - either as a cop or detective with or without powers of his own - Shave optional.
"Your most creative work is pre-production, once the film is in production, demands on time force you to produce rather than create."
My ArtStation
Last edited by CGIPadawan : 12 December 2012 at 02:02 AM.
|12 December 2012
New Memberportfolio
Fergal Costello
Dublin, Ireland
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Oh man, If I could even touch the quality and sense of foreboding in that scene I would be a happy man. Currently in development on another project at the moment, however your points are extremely interesting. I'll absolutely look into them, the thing with this short is I think I didn't give it all the pre-production time it needed. I was slave to the actors schedules, but I should have given it at least one more re-write. You're correct about that confrontation sequence in particular.
Thanks again.
|12 December 2012
Waiting for pixels to dryportfolio
Artist / Illustrator
Intergalactic Freelancer
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,373
I saw the short and I think yout did a good job on something that probably had a lot of constraints, money, time or manpower wise. I recently did a shoot for a small concert and I was reminded of how much effort goes into filming!
So hats off for bringing your project to conclusion!
Here are the points that I observed, and I would personally change / rewrite / reshoot.
- I loved the opening shot, I loved the lighting with the newspapers against the window and the 'shocker' still asleep. This probably kept me hooked enough to keep watching and not clicking away after a minute.
- I felt the storytelling with the burglar was a bit off in places. Somehow it was not 100% apparent (maybe 80%) that he was burgling the place at the beginning. I would suspect a different behavior I guess.
- The street scene was well done, if just too predictable. At that point you just know the baddie will show up, so mix things up a bit here and re-think the scene, think the beginning your short and also the example of Bane CGIPadawan gave you. It isn;t bad at all, it was OK, but you probably want it great.
- I liked the FX with the electric wall, it was apparant as a VFX piece, but for your budget, not bad at all.
- At some point you want to have a bit of dialogue / establishing the context of the Shocker. Why would I feel for the Shocker in the first place? He seems like an evil dude, killing and so on. Sofar this trailer established there is this world where the Shocker has free reign. I'd love to know a bit of his motive, even in this trailer, or just a bit more context of this world we are about to see. If you've seen the trailer for Iron Man 3, this was pretty good storytelling "Some call me a terrorist, I consider myself a teacher." <- Awesome line and in a few sentences a frame of reference is established and offsets nicely with the motives and drive of Stark. (Protect his girlfriend, the people he cares about, his inner struggle at that point)
What line would the Shocker be telling the audience?
These are just a few points, I would definitely encourage you to keep developing your skills!
|12 December 2012
New Memberportfolio
Fergal Costello
Dublin, Ireland
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Some people have mentioned your point about the burglar. That's an error on my part, he kicks in the door quite loudly, but then is suddenly sneaking around the house; I should have seen the obvious mistake in logic there immediately. Hindsight's a great thing I guess. In the original cut of the film the Shocker had the line ''It begins'' right at the end. But we decided to cut it out, perhaps I should not have done so, could have hinted at the audience about his character. Thanks very much for your kind words and points, they are all very much appreciated as is you taking the time to watch it.
Kind regards.
|01 January 2013
Part-Time Blenderite
Giancarlo Ng
Quezon City, Philippines
Granting I don't know what the bloody pulp is on the window I did think the Burglar would be astonished by it.. then the Shocker suddenly interjects:
"The last person who tried to burgle my home ended up leaving pieces of himself on my window."
Then the Burglar reacts in horror (the pay-off).. and then he makes a run for it in the street. :P
Yeah I know that's very old fashioned in a 70's 80's film sort of way.... but those kind of gags are fun.
Also it chains a double-gag:
1) The Burglar sneaks (instead of kicks) the door to get in.
2) The Burgar barges out of the door wailing and running into the street to get out.
"Your most creative work is pre-production, once the film is in production, demands on time force you to produce rather than create."
My ArtStation
|01 January 2013
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,066,472
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text:
Phoenix International Communications Inc.
The re-birth of webOS.
Phoenix is making webOS possible again by creating strategic alliances with companies from around the world with the same vision for webOS. The results will be new and innovative designs of webOS devices and making them available to people, like you, by the users and fans of webOS.
Phoenix International Communications (PIC) is a group of volunteers from around the world with a considerable undertaking; to assist in the development, manufacturing, and implementation of new hardware running webOS. The hardware, phones, and tablets need to be manufactured to run the new Open Sourced webOS software that was created by Palm and made available by HP, the owners of webOS.
PIC is divided into groups: marketing, development, and finance. Each group has a mandate to further the cause, creation, and marketing of the product.
Our vision is to build a version of webOS with that Phoenix touch that will start a fire throughout the social sphere, internet and beyond. Even though we have made great leaps in making that come true, we are small and we can't do it alone. If you are curious and want to dig deeper to find out what we are about, feel free to send us an email telling us how you'd like to help. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Catch up on the latest news, drawings, and special events.
If you share the same passion, contact PIC and see if you can join the team and help push webOS into the hands of users around the globe.


text:
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LEBANON JUNCTION -- The water pressure problem continues in Lebanon Junction.
At the July council meeting, discussion continued about problems with some residents' water pressure since the city changed over to Louisville Water at the beginning of the year.
A representative from Kentucky Engineering PLLC told the council they plan to present a draft of solutions at the next meeting.
Council member Tim Sanders asked why they would be having problems with the water pressure when all that happened was change of supplier.
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Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Advanced Gynecologic Cancer
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- How to Read a Study Record
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Docetaxel may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving daily doses of docetaxel may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of docetaxel in treating patients with refractory or recurrent advanced gynecologic cancer.
|Cervical Cancer Endometrial Cancer Fallopian Tube Cancer Ovarian Cancer Peritoneal Cavity Cancer Sarcoma Vaginal Cancer Vulvar Cancer
|Drug: docetaxel
|Phase 1
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Phase I Study of Metronomic Daily Dosing of Docetaxel in Women With Progressive or Recurrent Gynecologic Cancer
- Maximum Tolerated Dose [ Time Frame: Up to 180 Days ]Determine the maximum tolerated dose of metronomic docetaxel in patients with progressive or recurrent gynecologic cancer
- Response to Treatment [ Time Frame: Up to 180 Days ]Determine the response rate in patients treated with this drug.
- Pharmacokinetics [ Time Frame: Day 1 through Day 5 ]Determine the pharmacokinetics associated with this drug in these patients.
|Study Start Date:
|March 2004
|Study Completion Date:
|December 2008
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Metronomic Docetaxel
Docetaxel will be administered by daily injection via pre-filled syringes into the patient's accessed subcutaneous port.
Drug: docetaxel
Three patients will be enrolled and dosed at each level; from dose level 1 of 2.9 mg/m^2/day up to dose level 6 of 6.4 mg/m^2/day
Other Name: Taxotere
Detailed Description:
- Determine the maximum tolerated dose of metronomic docetaxel in patients with progressive or recurrent gynecologic cancer.
- Determine the response rate in patients treated with this drug.
- Determine the pharmacokinetics associated with this drug in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.
Patients receive docetaxel intravenously (IV) over 1-2 minutes daily for up to 6 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of docetaxel until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients must have histologically confirmed advanced, refractory gynecologic cancer.
- Patients must have received prior chemotherapy, and must have residual or recurrent disease after initial therapy or after subsequent therapy.
- Patients must have at least one site of bi-dimensional measurable disease as defined in section 9 or must have evaluable but radiographically non-measurable disease associated with CA-125 > 50 units/ml on two measurements at least one week apart. Baseline measurements and CA-125 must be obtained for all patients within four weeks before registration.
- Patients must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1.
- Patients must not have received any hormonal or immunologic therapy for 2 weeks or cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for 4 weeks (nitrosoureas and mitomycin C require 6 weeks) prior to registration.
- Patients may not have a history of prior malignancy in the past 5 years other than non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ carcinoma of the cervix.
Patients must have documented adequate organ function within 4 weeks of registration defined as:
- Marrow: WBC ≥ 3000/mm3, ANC ≥ 1500/mm3 , Hgb ≥ 8.0 g/dl, platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3
- Hepatic: Total Bilirubin ≤ ULN, SGOT or SGPT and Alkaline Phosphatase must be within the range allowing for eligibility, as in the table below
SGOT or SGPT: Meets 1 of the following criteria:
- Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND SGOT or SGPT normal
- AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND SGOT or SGPT normal
- AP normal AND SGOT or SGPT ≤ 5 times ULN
- AP ≤ 2.5 ULN AND SGOT or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
- Renal: BUN ≤ 30 mg%, creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg%
- Age ≥ 18 years
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or lactating. The agents used in this study may be teratogenic to a fetus and there is no information on the excretion of agents into breast milk.
- Patients of reproductive potential must use effective birth control, preferably with barrier methods.
- Prior history of myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure or significant ischemic or valvular heart disease.
- Patients with known brain metastases are not eligible.
- Peripheral neuropathy must be ≤ grade 2.
- Patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 must be excluded.
Patient must given written informed consent indicating the investigational nature of the treatment and its potential risks
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00287885
|Study Chair:
|Levi S. Downs, MD
|Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
|Responsible Party:
|Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00287885 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
UMN-WCC-35 ( Other Identifier: Women's Cancer Center, University of Minnesota )
0307M50626 ( Other Identifier: IRB, University of Minnesota )
|Study First Received:
|February 6, 2006
|Last Updated:
|November 6, 2012
Keywords provided by Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota:
recurrent cervical cancer
stage III cervical cancer
stage IVA cervical cancer
stage IVB cervical cancer
stage III endometrial carcinoma
recurrent endometrial carcinoma
stage IV endometrial carcinoma
fallopian tube cancer
stage III ovarian epithelial cancer
stage IV ovarian epithelial cancer
stage III ovarian germ cell tumor
recurrent ovarian germ cell tumor
stage IV ovarian germ cell tumor
recurrent ovarian epithelial cancer
recurrent uterine sarcoma
stage III uterine sarcoma
stage IV uterine sarcoma
stage III vaginal cancer
recurrent vaginal cancer
stage IVA vaginal cancer
stage IVB vaginal cancer
stage III vulvar cancer
recurrent vulvar cancer
stage IV vulvar cancer
ovarian sarcoma
ovarian stromal cancer
peritoneal cavity cancer
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Fallopian Tube Neoplasms
Endometrial Neoplasms
Peritoneal Neoplasms
Vulvar Neoplasms
Vaginal Neoplasms
Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Uterine Neoplasms
Genital Neoplasms, Female
Urogenital Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Uterine Cervical Diseases
Uterine Diseases
Genital Diseases, Female
Fallopian Tube Diseases
Adnexal Diseases
Abdominal Neoplasms
Digestive System Neoplasms
Digestive System Diseases
Peritoneal Diseases
Vulvar Diseases
Vaginal Diseases
Antineoplastic Agents
Tubulin Modulators
Antimitotic Agents
Mitosis Modulators
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Most of you have probably heard of Tecumseh Products. There's a good chance your father's lawn mower or snow blower ran on a Tecumseh engine.
Tecumseh Products Co. (TECU-A) however began a precipitous, almost straight line earnings decline, from peak per share earnings of $6.56 in 1999, to a large loss of over $5 per share in 2006. Operating losses of less severity have occurred into 2009.
TECU-A underwent a large restructuring in 2007, selling what became a money losing small engine business, while retaining its core compressor business, which is a world wide leader in its markets. TECU-A's compressors are used in residential and commercial refrigeration equipment, dehumidifiers, window and central air conditioning units, and heat pumps. After the restructuring, which included shuttering a Brazilian manufacturing operation, Tecumseh was able to pay off all its long-term debt.
The difficult pill to swallow with this company is just as Tecumseh was returning to profitability in 2008, the recession came along and whammied its end markets. The end result being TECU-A will probably lose something like $3.70 per share (Value Line estimate) in 2009. In fact today, 11/04/09, Tecumseh reported a net loss of $.87 per share for the third quarter of 2009.
So what do Charles Brandes, as well as Frankin Templeton which owns 7% of the company, see in this apparent dog? It is a prime example of a Benjamin Graham asset play. Tecumseh's book value per share is $25. At a closing price of $10 TECU-A is trading at a 60% discount to book value. Tecumseh also has $85 million in cash on hand which is roughly $4.50 per share on 19.7 million fully diluted shares. Not bad for a $10 stock with no long-term debt.
Again, margin of safely comes to mind. With almost half TP's market capitalization in cash, and at 40% of book value this stock has considerable upside, With world wide economies beginning to improve TP could be profitable in 2010 and solidly profitable in 2011 and thereafter. TP traded as high as $37 as recently as mid 2008 but need only trade up to book value to provide a 150% return from today's close.
Disclaimer: The author has a position in TECU-A
Most of you have probably heard of Tecumseh Products. There's a good chance your father's lawn mower or snow blower ran on a Tecumseh engine.


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2017 Reference Guide: Page 506