text:
Vionora arrives at the Stormwind Harbor...
20:52:23 [Emmerán]: She told us quite plainly that she seeks the end of the world and all life.
20:52:26 [Stepanos]: You talk in circles
20:52:30 [Tirien]: Jus' like you weren't there for any'a my times with 'er.
20:52:34 [Vionora]: Leave him alone.
20:52:38 [Tirien]: So -
20:52:44 Stepanos looks at you.
20:52:51 [Stepanos]: Ah. Something wicked this way comes
20:52:56 Emmerán turns suddenly at the voice, reaching for his staff
20:53:03 You look at Tirien.
20:53:09 [Stepanos]: Your swimming partner has arrived.
20:53:11 [Vionora]: You don't have to do this.
20:53:24 Tirien slips a hand behind his pack while their attention is on her.
20:53:29 Stepanos motions at his comrades. "Put away your blades, Guardians. Tirien says she is righteous. We have nothing to fear"
20:53:48 [Tirien]: Quit puttin' words in my mouth.
20:54:02 Emmerán looks to Stepanos
20:54:04 [Stepanos]: we were telling him your story
20:54:12 You look at Stepanos.
20:54:17 [Stepanos]: You said we do not know her like you do
20:54:22 Stepanos glances at Tirien
20:54:24 You look at Tirien.
20:54:52 Tirien turns to Stepanos, "You say she's an enemy. I say she's a person."
20:55:08 Vionora flinches a little.
20:55:13 Stepanos nods at Tirien.
20:55:16 [Stepanos]: Go on
20:55:19 [Stepanos]: Ask her
20:55:32 [Tirien]: V. Do these folks here think you're their enemy?
20:55:36 [Stepanos]: If she truly is a friend, she will not lie. like she told us, there is no need to
20:55:44 Tirien rolls his eyes.
20:55:50 [Stepanos]: We cannot stop what is coming, right
20:55:53 Vionora crawls with shadows; they obscure her figure, except for her gray-glowing eyes, and the glowing marks on the backs of her hands.
20:56:16 You look at Tirien.
20:56:18 Stepanos points toward her hands. "Tirien, she bears the mark of the plague. See?"
20:56:35 Stepanos laughs at Tirien.
20:57:00 [Stepanos]: she surrounds herself with shadow
20:57:08 Tirien is ignoring Stepanos and looks at Vionora with his smile.
20:57:16 [Vionora]: Stop smiling at me.
20:57:20 Stepanos nods at Emmerán.
20:57:29 Stepanos looks at Tirien.
20:57:47 [Vionora]: The warlock who bound me... he knows now.
20:58:00 Tirien keeps it up, though sighs a little. He arcs a brow, "Knows what?"
20:58:14 [Tirien]: Wait, woah, did you get it then?
20:58:41 [Hegran]: Get what?
20:59:05 [Vionora]: No... I'm his, now.
20:59:33 [Stepanos]: And what of Accalia, Elf?
20:59:51 Tirien narrows his eyes a little in slight confusion, "I doubt that."
21:00:02 [Stepanos]: Has it retreated back into the foul pit from which it wallows in fear?
21:00:35 Stepanos looks toward Anton. "Perhaps we should call for the Reverend Smithe?"
21:00:35 Vionora closes her right hand, the one emblazoned with the amber mark. "She will come. When the time is right. And the longer it takes... the more her power grows. Another powerful one was marked tonight. It spreads."
21:00:50 Stepanos smiles
21:01:01 [Stepanos]: And what will happen when the time is right?
21:01:07 You look at Hegran.
21:01:13 [Vionora]: Who are you?
21:01:37 [Hegran]: I am a Guardian of the Light.
21:01:42 Tirien keeps his attention solely on Vionora. "What d' ya mean yer his, V?"
21:02:31 Vionora doesn't answer that. She can't look at Tirien. Instead, she looks at Stepanos. "When the time is right, Accalia will enter the mortal realm, and hunt all life to extinction."
21:02:43 Stepanos turns toward Hegran. "I suppose Accalia will arrive and give us all cookies and cream, eh, Hegran?"
21:02:56 [Stepanos]: Oh
21:03:01 Stepanos nods, looking at Tirien
21:03:07 [Hegran]: Oh I hope they're chocolate chip!
21:03:16 [Stepanos]: Her words, not mine
21:03:23 Stepanos nods at Hegran.
21:03:32 [Stepanos]: Oatmeal and raisin
21:03:46 [Stepanos]: Hunt all life to extinction
21:03:49 Emmerán stifles a chuckle
21:03:55 Stepanos nods. "Sounds like an end of the world to me"
21:04:13 [Hegran]: With oatmeal and raisin cookies, the world would end pretty quick.
21:04:32 Stepanos frowns at Hegran's lack of seriousness in this matter
21:04:43 Tirien isn't laughing, "Ain't nothin's gonna end." he speaks with certainty.
21:04:54 Stepanos looks at you.
21:04:58 Vionora does look at Tirien now.
21:05:05 [Stepanos]: Is he right, Witch? Is the world truly safe?
21:05:19 [Hegran]: Or are you the Fel demon we say you are?
21:05:36 Emmerán looks at you.
21:05:59 [Vionora]: There is no undoing what has already been done. Accalia has gathered immense power in the two months since the mark has spread. If she stepped into the world today, Stormwind would fall.
21:06:07 [Stepanos]: Because, for some reason, we've taken a liking to Brother Tirien. We want him to live a long, fruitful life with plenty of people to drink and swim with
21:06:36 Stepanos looks at Tirien.
21:06:46 Stepanos nods at Hegran.
21:06:50 [Stepanos]: well done
21:06:51 Vionora 's gaze moves, slowly, to Stepanos. She stares at him.
21:06:59 Tirien tries to meet her gaze, but at this distance it's hard to.
21:07:12 [Hegran]: You are an odd one woman.
21:07:21 Stepanos stares at Vionora as she approaches
21:07:30 [Vionora]: I would like that too.
21:07:32 Hegran looks at you.
21:07:46 [Vionora]: But he will die.
21:07:46 [Stepanos]: But alas, if your beast is released, then that will not happen
21:07:52 Vionora steps back.
21:07:58 [Stepanos]: All life will be hunted to extinction
21:08:07 [Stepanos]: YOUR words, shadowspawn. Not mine
21:08:07 [Tirien]: She won't be released, cause V still has her say in th' matter.
21:08:18 Vionora is again not looking at Tirien.
21:08:26 Stepanos shakes his head. "No, lad. She's making it happen"
21:08:32 [Emmerán]: You would let your friend die?
21:08:40 [Vionora]: ...I have no choice.
21:08:47 [Stepanos]: One always has a choice
21:09:31 Vionora shakes her head. "One always has the illusion of choice," she says quietly.
21:10:17 [Emmerán]: So you will release an Old God, and it will kill your friend here?
21:10:27 Tirien looks to Vionora in earnest, "V, what did that Warlock do?"
21:10:40 [Vionora]: Yes. And then I will not die.
21:10:58 Vionora speaks as though Tirien did not address her.
21:11:04 [Hegran]: But your friend, and everyone else will.
21:11:14 [Vionora]: Yes.
21:11:22 Tirien glances over his shoulders at the men.
21:11:28 Tirien glares at Stepanos.
21:11:30 [Emmerán]: You see Tirien, she is going to get you killed.
21:12:08 [Hegran]: What kind of a friend would just let you die knowing they would gain immortality?
21:12:15 [Vionora]: Gain?
21:12:29 [Vionora]: It's a curse.
21:12:35 [Emmerán]: There is always a choice, and she has chosen a path that will end your life.
21:12:44 Tirien shakes his head at their comments.
21:13:26 [Hegran]: She's spreading the curse to strengthen this Old God. She's chosen to contribute.
21:13:48 Tirien snaps at Hegran, "Yeah well she ain't cursed me!"
21:13:53 You look at Tirien.
21:13:55 [Hegran]: To my death, your death, and everyone else's death.
21:14:16 [Hegran]: What about the thing inside of you?
21:14:26 [Hegran]: How did that get there if not by her hand?
21:14:40 [Tirien]: Know how long this's been here?
21:14:47 Tirien grips his gut, "You really wanna know?"
21:14:54 [Hegran]: Please, enlighten me.
21:14:57 Vionora gazes at Tirien.
21:15:00 Emmerán raises an eyebrow at the man
21:15:43 [Tirien]: Months.
21:15:50 [Tirien]: This shit has been with me for months.
21:15:57 [Tirien]: And guess who made it worse?
21:16:10 [Tirien]: You fuckers. Not her.
21:16:50 [Hegran]: Only because we didn't fully remove it when we had the chance.
21:16:58 [Hegran]: At your request.
21:17:03 Tirien stands off against Hegran. "There ain't no chance'a that."
21:17:11 [Tirien]: An' no chance y'all can understand.
21:17:13 [Vionora]: Tirien... You shouldn't be here.
21:17:38 Emmerán looks from the two men to the elf
21:17:46 [Hegran]: What is it that's inside of you then?
21:18:07 [Hegran]: What is there that the Light can't free you from?
21:18:33 [Tirien]: Family.
21:18:33 [Vionora]: The Light was a lie.
21:18:43 You look at Tirien.
21:19:20 Emmerán looks to the Elf "The Light is not, and never has been a lie, Shadowspawn."
21:19:48 [Vionora]: I was told I could find redemption in the Light. And I looked, for six and a half years. All I got was more suffering.
21:20:16 [Hegran]: What do you mean Tirien?
21:20:40 Tirien glares up at the man, "What I mean is there ain't no way th' Light can solve my problems."
21:21:01 [Emmerán]: Suffering comes from the Darkness. not the Light
21:21:07 You look at Emmerán.
21:21:10 [Hegran]: Only because you continue to run and hide yourself in the shadows.
21:21:16 [Vionora]: Then the Light couldn't save me from the darkness.
21:21:35 [Emmerán]: Or you never truly wanted to be saved.
21:21:48 Vionora 's eyes widen, and she takes a step back as though struck.
21:22:08 Tirien grits his teeth. "Call me a coward again."
21:22:47 [Vionora]: No..
21:22:47 [Hegran]: Continue to act as one, and i'll let your actions speak the brand for you.
21:23:23 [Tirien]: I know my options, Guardian.
21:23:33 [Tirien]: Yeah, sure, I can get this shit exorcised.
21:23:36 [Tirien]: But I'll die.
21:23:53 [Hegran]: Why would you die?
21:24:25 Vionora continues looking at Anton, no words to say.
21:24:30 [Tirien]: Because it IS me. This shit in me is mine an' without it, I die.
21:24:43 [Tirien]: So instead of running to death I choose to stay and endure.
21:25:05 Tirien steps toward the man, leveling a stubborn gaze up to him, "So call me a coward again."
21:25:11 Emmerán takes a few cautious steps toward the elf "why will you not fight against this? Are you so sure that there is nothing you can do to stop it? you will kill your friend?"
21:25:34 [Hegran]: And be tainted like you are? Miserable as you are?
21:25:46 [Vionora]: I tried... I tried...
21:25:58 Tirien nods once, slowly. "It's better t' keep livin' with shit than run from it."
21:26:23 [Hegran]: I saw the way you looked at your bottle of FOUL liquid. Like it could save you from the pain you carry.
21:26:27 [Emmerán]: You tried? But you gave up. You stopped fighting the Darkness.
21:26:45 [Hegran]: Well it can't. It will only worsen your Darkness.
21:27:27 Vionora sinks to the ground. The shadows over her disperse.
21:27:45 [Vionora]: The only way to make the suffering stop...
21:28:10 [Tirien]: It helped. Not anymore. Not it's just a habit, one I'm tryin' to stop.
21:28:20 [Tirien]: Guess who's helped me with that? V.
21:29:02 [Hegran]: You seemed happy enough to take a drink when I walked up to you earlier.
21:29:27 [Emmerán]: You hide behind a "lack of choice" but you really just gave up on fighting.
21:29:32 [Tirien]: You seemed happy t' lay down yer sword an' take up farmin'.
21:29:39 Vionora flinches again.
21:29:53 [Vionora]: No...
21:29:56 [Tirien]: Wait. No. Ya didn't. Because ya don't just break that shit over night.
21:30:38 Tirien caught the tail end of Anton's comment and Vionora's reaction and glances over his shoulder.
21:30:58 [Emmerán]: If any part of you still cares to fight, tell us how to stop this all from happening
21:31:27 Stepanos looks at Emmerán.
21:31:29 Tirien turns, "Hey! Who the fuck are you?"
21:31:45 Tirien stands in Anton's way.
21:31:48 Stepanos moves toward Tirien
21:31:50 Vionora lowers her head, her blonde hair falling to partially hide her face. She doesn't speak.
21:31:54 Emmerán looks the man in front of hum up and down
21:31:57 [Stepanos]: He's a friend trying to save YOUR friend
21:32:11 [Tirien]: I'm seein' a different thing here.
21:32:46 [Tirien]: I'm seein' a bully. Someone who doesn't know what he's talkin' about.
21:32:51 Stepanos stares at Vionora. "Tell us, Vionora. Tell us how to stop it."
21:32:53 [Hegran]: We're trying to stop an evil being from ending the world. I'm not sure what else you could be seeing.
21:33:00 Stepanos looks at Hegran.
21:33:35 [Stepanos]: He's blind, Hegran. Blinded by Fel burning in his soul
21:33:38 Stepanos looks at Emmerán.
21:33:46 [Vionora]: ...She can be defeated. She was, seven years ago.
21:33:47 [Stepanos]: Tirien
21:33:55 Vionora keeps her head bowed as she speaks.
21:33:57 [Stepanos]: And we can do t again.
21:34:01 Hegran looks at you.
21:34:11 [Vionora]: But so long as any of the once-marked live, she can return again.
21:34:13 Tirien backs up from Anton.
21:34:26 Emmerán maintains eye contact with Tirien "I'm trying to help. I see that your friend has suffered, and still is. I'm trying to stop her from killing everyone. I'm trying to get her to fight this."
21:34:26 Stepanos nods. "Can the marks be undone?"
21:34:32 Tirien tires to get between the three of them and Vionora.
21:34:52 [Stepanos]: Surely the marks can be removed.
21:35:29 [Tirien]: Ya ain't helpin'. I don't care about th' end'a th' world.
21:35:44 [Hegran]: So you don't care about the ending of your life?
21:35:51 [Stepanos]: You will lose her, Tirien, if it does
21:36:00 Vionora is silent.
21:36:06 [Stepanos]: And she will lose you.
21:36:12 [Tirien]: An' that won't happen.
21:36:16 [Stepanos]: So you contradict yourself
21:36:29 [Emmerán]: And if what she says is true, she will still be alive. Alone. Forever. Is that what you want for her?
21:36:47 [Tirien]: Ya keep speakin' as if it's gonna happen.
21:36:54 Stepanos leans into Anton, whispering. "Focus on her. I'll keep my attention on Tirien"
21:36:56 [Hegran]: So does she.
21:37:04 Vionora shakes her head slightly, helplessly.
21:37:15 [Stepanos]: Tirien! Are you daft, man?
21:37:28 [Tirien]: With everyone sayin' it's gonna happen, I ain't surprised!
21:37:29 [Stepanos]: Listen to what you say
21:37:51 [Stepanos]: You talk in circles. You claim to care for her, yet want to do nothing to save her
21:37:52 [Vionora]: Tirien.. Leave... Go...
21:38:04 Stepanos holds up his hand. "Stay, Tirien"
21:38:10 Stepanos looks at Anton
21:38:14 Emmerán steps to the side and kneels down, looking at the elf on her level "Help us fight this. Save everyone. Save Tirien. Save yourself."
21:38:18 [Stepanos]: You must hear the truth
21:38:20 Emmerán kneels down.
21:38:31 Vionora raises her head enough to look at Anton.
21:38:48 [Vionora]: ...You're right.
21:38:54 [Vionora]: I didn't want to be saved.
21:39:04 [Tirien]: I ain't gonna do nothin' that has a chance t' lose V.
21:39:07 Vionora rises to her feet. The shadows eclipse her again.
21:39:10 Stepanos looks past Tirien to Vionora
21:39:19 Emmerán rises to his feet quickly
21:39:24 [Stepanos]: You already are, Tirien
21:39:28 Stepanos steps backwards
21:39:44 [Vionora]: Tirien. It's time for you to leave.
21:39:53 [Emmerán]: Don't let the Shadow consume you.
21:39:54 [Stepanos]: If you leave, Tirien, you will lose her
21:39:59 You look at Tirien.
21:40:08 [Vionora]: I'm already lost.
21:40:36 [Emmerán]: No one is ever too lost to be found by the Light
21:40:53 [Stepanos]: Yet you can still be saved. There is always hope within the Light
21:41:08 Tirien takes a step closer.
21:41:11 [Stepanos]: The marks. Can they be removed?
21:41:21 You look at Tirien.
21:41:23 [Stepanos]: Tirien. Stay by her side. Keep her safe, lad
21:41:33 Stepanos looks at Anton, then at Hegran
21:41:51 Hegran takes a step back
21:41:58 Tirien looks at her, ignoring the three behind her and speaks quiet enough for her to hear.
21:42:27 Emmerán glances at Stepanos
21:42:34 Stepanos shakes his head
21:42:46 Stepanos shrugs, meaning he didn't hear anything
21:43:30 You nod at Tirien.
21:43:34 Stepanos slowly slips his sword from its sheath, quietly and more than likely unheard
21:43:54 Tirien winks at her and tosses down what he pulled from his belt when she first showed up.
21:43:55 [Vionora]: Go.
21:44:00 Stepanos mouths the word, 'ready' to Hegran and Anton
21:44:12 Emmerán reaches for his staff
21:44:29 Hegran reaches to his swords, not yet drawing them
21:44:43 Stepanos coughs as the smoke bomb is released
21:44:48 Stepanos looks at you.
21:44:53 Vionora looks at the three crusaders before her, unaffected by the smoke.
21:44:54 Tirien slips away in the smoke, a vague after image left in his place.
21:45:19 Hegran draws his swords as the smoke disperses
21:45:31 [Stepanos]: So, you managed to get him to leave after all
21:45:35 [Stepanos]: To what purpose?
21:45:46 [Stepanos]: So you could continue the lie?
21:45:53 [Stepanos]: We will find him again, you know
21:45:53 [Vionora]: Perhaps.
21:46:00 Stepanos nods. "Most certainly"
21:46:03 You look at Stepanos.
21:46:18 [Vionora]: You will be as helpless as I am. All of you.
21:46:27 [Stepanos]: You are not helpless
21:46:46 [Stepanos]: The forces of the world will be arrayed against you and your master
21:48:39 [Vionora]: The ironic thing is he seeks to save me too.
21:49:22 [Stepanos]: He is blinded by your Shadow
21:49:50 [Hegran]: He is blinded by more than her Shadow.
21:52:18 [Vionora]: But it is futile.
21:52:39 Vionora summons the shadows. They spring from the ground around the three men like the nightmarish tentacles of Old Gods, seeking to entrap them.
21:52:41 Stepanos nods. "Of course it is. As it always was."
21:52:52 Hegran draws his weapons expecting an attack
21:53:32 Stepanos dons the helmet fixed upon his belt and raises his sword in salute. "Light's mercy be on you"
21:55:32 Hegran swats away Vionora's tentacles with the back of his hand and laughs
21:55:45 Emmerán as the shadows form around him Anton closes his eyes and Light pushes it back around him, though not very well.
21:56:22 Stepanos seeing the tentacles creeping forward, easily dodges the filth-like Shadow, casually stepping aside and swinging his massive two-handed weapon at the Shadowspawn
21:57:45 Vionora reaches up and catches the massive sword with her bare hand. At point blank, she stares him down with her gray eyes. Then with superhuman strength, she throws him back.
21:58:28 Hegran spins around in a whirl of blades bearing down on Vionora
21:59:53 Stepanos 's sword is jarred from his hands, still hanging in the grasp of the witch. Shaken, but not stirred, he grasps it once more and pulls
22:00:20 Vionora lets go of the sword after she pushes Stepanos back, and dodges back from the whirlwind.
22:00:22 [Stepanos]: Light take you, Filth!
22:00:41 Emmerán dashes over to the other two and begins to cast a spell to shield them from attacks
22:00:45 Stepanos stumbles backwards, losing his balance for the most part and spinning around backwards in order to catch himself
22:01:30 Stepanos cursing, he gathers himself for the counter attack
22:01:31 [Vionora]: The Light didn't want me.
22:01:51 Vionora brings her hands together. A shadow nova explodes outward from her.
22:01:53 Hegran slows his whirlwind, stopping off to the side of Vionora.
22:03:21 Hegran gets blasted off balance by the nova
22:04:09 Emmerán stands against the nova, his shield stopping it from hitting him.
22:04:14 Stepanos throws his hands up at the shadow blast, growling in pain as the darkness overwhelms his sight
22:04:59 Emmerán throws his hand out and calls light out towards the elf
22:06:49 Vionora staggers when the light pierces through the shadow nova and strikes her full on. It sends her flying back into the crates and she collapses to the ground with a muffled cry of pain.
22:07:10 Stepanos 's demeanor improves dramatically, as he watches Anton heroically avoid the witch's assault and retaliate, blasting the creature with Light
22:07:20 Stepanos cheers at Emmerán!
22:07:32 Hegran cheers at Emmerán!
22:07:50 Emmerán takes a defensive stance and smiles at the elf
22:07:50 Stepanos readies his sword and charges forth, preparing an exorcism with the strike
22:09:17 Vionora catches her breath and throws herself to the side, dodging Stepanos' attacks.
22:09:20 Stepanos lifts his hand before swinging, sending a pulse of Light enhanced energy pouring toward the Elf
22:10:36 Hegran throws his sword at the Elf, spinning it as it leaves his hand making it spin around her multiple times before stopping
22:11:16 Vionora growls, a low, feral sound, and dodges that attack as well. Her dodges bring her close to Anton.
22:12:07 Emmerán throws out his hands as a cascade of Light comes pouring out at friends and foe, healing and harming
22:13:24 [Hegran]: The Light SHALL be Victorious!
22:13:59 Vionora flinches when the Light strikes her again. "Stop doing that!" She throws out her hands, and a dark coil of shadow, laced with fel purple and feral amber, appears in her grasp. She throws it at Anton and it moves, snakelike, to wrap itself around the priest.
22:14:06 Stepanos cheers, as Anton once again blasts through the fiend's shadow, rejuvenating his spirit and closing his burns
22:17:01 Stepanos seeing Anton yanked into the Shadows surrounding the Elf, Stepanos lifts his hand, fills himself with Righteous energy and prepares to Turn the Evil from Anton's presence [Turn Evil]
22:18:05 Emmerán cries out as he is dragged forward, surprised at his shield failing
22:18:54 Vionora hisses as the shadows over her darken to absorb the impact of the Light.
22:19:11 Stepanos frowns in anger as the attempt fails, seeing the Shadows darken from the absorption
22:20:26 Hegran cries out in rage then runs to Anton's side, defending him from harm, and unleashing another wail of rage
22:21:37 Vionora is knocked aside by Hegran. She falls back a step, keeping her feet, but separated from her target.
22:23:06 Emmerán stumbles back and unleashes an explosion of Holy Light [Holy Nova]
22:24:51 [Emmerán]: Let the Light fill you, Brothers! Stand against her Shadow!
22:25:01 Vionora is struck and cries out, but grits her teeth. She glares hatefully at Emmeran, and raises her right hand, the Eclipse-marked hand, to point at him. "The Light has only ever deemed me unworthy! No matter what I did! It knows no mercy... it is a lie!"
22:25:26 Hegran stands in front of Anton to defend him
22:25:48 Vionora throws a lance of darkness as Hegran moves. It shoots toward him instead of Anton.
22:26:00 Stepanos lets loose a cry to the Light, raising his sword high in Judgement. "Retribution is the only Judgement you shall have, witch!"
22:26:10 Stepanos waves at Hegran.
22:27:11 Hegran grunts in pain and stumbles as he's pierced through his strong arm, but still stands strong against the threat
22:28:46 Stepanos Raises his sword, sending a hammer of Righteous Light hammering from the heavens, directly over Vionora. "The Light Judges you, fiend!"
22:29:09 Stepanos sprouts golden wings atop his back, creating a glow around the Paladin
22:30:04 [Stepanos]: Let the Light Judge you witch! Back to the Shadows from which you came!
22:30:12 Vionora is struck by the hammer, dropping down to her knees as she gasps in pain.
22:30:15 You kneel down.
22:31:35 Hegran raises his better arm and launches a rocket from his gauntlets to blast the elf as she's on her knees
22:32:43 Vionora dives to the side, narrowly avoiding the explosion of the rocket when it impacts the cobblestones. She comes up in a crouch.
22:32:47 You kneel down.
22:33:09 Emmerán slowly walks backwards while channeling Holy energy into Hegran's wounds
22:35:19 Vionora rises to her feet. Her eyes have begun taking on a new hue... Amber, like the mark.
22:35:59 [Vionora]: Enough of this.
22:36:02 Stepanos stares with fervent eyes at the Shadowfiend, seeing that it's severely wounded and near defeat
22:36:48 Vionora summons all of the shadows on the surrounding docks. They slither and crawl toward each of the men, until near each of them forms a worg made of pure shadow, with gleaming amber eyes and a maw that is purple with fel.
22:37:29 Vionora stands back and watches as each of them lunge for their targets.
22:37:30 Stepanos sees the shadows, and calls out to his Guardians. "Steady Guardians! The Light shall push them back!"
22:39:05 Stepanos A blast of pure, blinding Light destroys the worg attacking him, sending it breaking into splinters if glistening shadow crystals
22:39:42 Hegran tries to block the shadow beast, but fails and is bitten
22:39:56 Emmerán stumbles back as the worg leaps at him and bites him on the shoulder, driving him to the ground
22:41:17 Stepanos points his blade at Vionora, seeing his friends fight their own worgs and sensing the time is ripe to strike. Wings glowing atop his shoulders, his pronounces the sentence: Execution
22:44:40 Stepanos grips his blade in anger, as the creatures Shadows once again absorb the executioners Sentence
22:45:50 Vionora snarls as she absorbs the holy energy. At the same time, she lunges forward at Stepanos, attempting to seize him by the neck.
22:47:09 Vionora seizes him successfully, lifting him in the air...
22:47:36 Stepanos attempts to parry the surprising lunge, but fails, being suddenly lifted into the air by the monster - held around the neck and gurgling from the hold
22:49:26 Hegran seems to grow with his rage, [Avatar], bashing the shadow worg with the pommel of his blade
22:50:50 Vionora | The worg is smashed, The shadows lose their cohesiveness somewhat and the thing staggers, stunned.
22:51:59 Hegran growls at the worg ferally and bares his teeth
22:52:46 Emmerán squirms back away from the worg, using his good arm to cast a spell to place a shield on Stepanos [Power Word: Shield] and then stammers a prayer on himself [Clarity of Will]
22:53:59 Vionora | Anton's worg shrugs off the Light and growls, a reverberated, dark sound.
22:55:46 Vionora reaches up with her other hand, tearing off Stepanos helmet. She throws it at the nearest target, which happens to be Hegran. Then she slams Stepanos into the ground.
22:57:28 Stepanos lies down before Emmerán.
22:58:11 Stepanos growls as his helm is ripped form hi head, then grunts as the ground meets him rather rudely as he's thrown to the ground
22:59:11 Hegran gets hit in the back of the head with the helmet of his respected leader, enraging him further
22:59:12 Stepanos still conscious and alive, he throws his hand toward the witch, Hammering her with the Light's Justice
23:00:24 Stepanos 's eyes widen as nothing streams forth, hearing the ringing of the Church bells in the distance as wooziness fills his head
23:02:18 Hegran runs to his Charges side, slashing at the Worg attacking him sensing he might destroy it with this blow [Impending Victory]
23:03:10 Vionora | Anton's worg leaps between Hegran's legs like liquid shadow, dodging the strike.
23:05:44 Emmerán , leaning on his staff, stands to his feet and utters a [Power Word: Shield] on Hegran, then speaks the [Prayer of Healing], filling the Order with the holy Light.
23:07:26 Vionora | Hegran's worg lunges for his back.
23:08:40 Stepanos feels inspired as he sees Hegran destroy the Worg that attacked him
23:08:52 Vionora | Anton's worg goes for the healer again, snapping for his weaving hands.
23:09:13 Hegran side steps the worg, and slashes at it with both blades [Raging Blow]
23:10:31 Emmerán jerks his hands away from the worg as it hits his shield, dissipating it into shadow
23:10:37 Vionora meanwhile stares down at the pinned paladin. She has him by the gorget, so her fingers aren't touching his skin... but she intends for that to change. She reaches for his face with her other hand.
23:10:51 Hegran yells a challenge at Vionora through the dissipating figure of his enemy, taunting her to attack him
23:12:45 Stepanos sees the Shadowfiend's hand reaching for his face and rolls, coming to his knees and hefting his blade. The Light may have faded, but the time has come for the Elf to feel the bite of cold steel from a midbody
23:12:54 Stepanos ||Swing of a [Crusader Strike]
23:13:11 Stepanos kneels before Emmerán.
23:13:15 Stepanos kneels before Emmerán.
23:14:52 Vionora attempts to block the strike, but the blade glances off her arm.. and is driven straight through her body, impaling her. Her eyes widen but she doesn't make a sound.
23:15:47 Stepanos cries out in Righteous Glory, calling his Guardians to go all in
23:17:38 [Vionora]: ...This again.
23:17:50 Hegran cries out to rally his allies [Battle Shout] and charges at the Elf slashing at her [Raging Blow]
23:17:57 Vionora closes a hand around the blade as it runs red with her blood.
23:20:05 Vionora is struck by the dual blows, unable to dodge with the sword transfixing her.
23:21:06 Hegran screams in joy as his blades sink deep into his enemy
23:21:19 Emmerán rushes over to the other and slams the end on his staff to the ground, sending out a [Holy Nova]
23:22:14 Vionora flinches at the Light but it doesn't seem to harm her. Her gaze has gone distant, and faded back to gray.
23:22:26 Stepanos follows suit, preparing to reverse,
23:24:26 Tirien || A howl echos after the toll of the harbor bell. Night seems darker, more oppressive as lights dim. From the ramp barrels down a shadowed figure of Fel spikes, claws, and almost inhuman form. His charge toward Stepanos ends in a brute kick.
23:26:13 Stepanos is caught completely off guard, but not enough to lose his grip on his weapon. He's sent rolling across the ground, tumbling with his sword underneath
23:26:24 Stepanos lies down before Emmerán.
23:26:31 Vionora is jerked as the sword is pulled out of her and falls to her knees.
23:26:34 You kneel down.
23:28:23 Vionora puts one hand over her midriff where the blood flows freely. She stares at the ground where the blood is dripping and pooling. Then she speaks. "Even if you killed me now, I would not die. And Accalia would still come." She rises, turning to put her back to Tirien as she looks at the crusaders.
23:29:18 Vionora reaches behind her, touching Tirien's arm, and the two of them simply vanish. No smoke. No shadows. They are just gone.
23:29:22 Stepanos rolls to a stop, facing the attacker and the witch. Another minion has joined the fight, yet blood flows freely from the Elf. He hears what she says
23:29:23 Tirien || Tirien's knees give out momentarily as he lets out a muffled gasp of Fel-garbled pain.
23:29:30 Tirien is taken.
23:29:39 Stepanos kneels before Emmerán.
23:29:58 Stepanos gasps, then struggles to his knees, grunting from the effort
23:30:30 Hegran howls in rage as the two disappear "Where have the cowards run to?!"
23:30:47 [Stepanos]: Back to the shadows from which they came
23:30:54 Stepanos slowly stands to his feet
23:31:05 Emmerán leans against his staff heavily letting out a sigh
23:31:33 Stepanos 's face grows into an incredibly large smile, as he looks at his two companions
23:32:00 [Hegran]: Quite the experience I would say.
23:32:01 Stepanos lifting his sword into the air, he cheers: "FOR THE RIGHTEOUS LIGHT! HUZZAH!"
23:32:53 Hegran raises his swords to the skies and lets loose a War Cry to the Light
23:32:57 [Emmerán]: Let's celebrate when we aren't still bleeding
23:32:58 Stepanos cheers!
23:33:01 Stepanos cheers!
23:33:09 Hegran cheers!
23:33:19 Emmerán says a few prayers to close the wounds
23:33:28 Stepanos pats Anton on the shoulder. "You saved us all, Anton"
23:33:56 [Hegran]: The battlefield is the place to celebrate Brother! Have I shown you nothing?
23:34:03 Stepanos nods at Hegran.
23:34:21 Emmerán lets loose a slight chuckle
23:34:21 [Stepanos]: Brother Hegran is correct. Here, on this hallowed ground where Shadow fell to the Light!
23:34:42 [Stepanos]: By all that is sacred, THIS is the place for celebration
23:35:08 [Hegran]: Lord High Commander, could we call a page with a feast out here?
23:35:12 Stepanos walks to stand in front of Anton. "Your actions saved the day for us, Guardian."
23:35:24 Stepanos nods. "First things first"
23:35:42 Hegran gives Anton a Fist to Light salute
23:35:49 Stepanos turns to Hegran. "Do you agree, Hegran, that without the aid of our brother, that we would have fallen?"
23:36:25 Emmerán looks uncomfortable with the praise "I.. I did what any would have"
23:36:33 [Hegran]: He truly was the Hero of this day
23:36:51 Stepanos nods. "And has always been the voice of reason when emotion might have ruled."
23:37:21 Stepanos smiles at Anton. "Anton Emmeran, High Priest and Guardian of the Righteous Light!"
23:37:25 [Stepanos]: Kneel
23:37:33 Emmerán kneels before Stepanos.
23:37:42 Hegran kneels before Emmerán.
23:38:13 Stepanos places his sword atop Anton's shoulders. "By all that is sacred and Holy, Under the White Light of Righteousness, I hereby name you HIGH INQUISITOR."
23:38:48 Emmerán is stunned speechless...
23:38:53 [Stepanos]: Through you actions, you have shown yourself worthy to wear the mantle. Rise, Inquisitor and be recognized
23:39:29 Emmerán rises to his feet slowly
23:39:35 [Stepanos]: From now and to days beyond, let all who walk under the Light know that Brother Anton Emmeran is High Inquisitor of the Righteous Light
23:39:56 Stepanos bows before Anton
23:39:57 Stepanos bows before Emmerán.
23:40:26 Stepanos stares at Anton
23:40:44 [Emmerán]: I.. you honor me Lord High Commander..
23:41:02 Stepanos extends his hand to clasp Anton's. "No, it is you who honour us."
23:41:07 Hegran whispers praise on behalf of Brother Anton
23:41:31 [Stepanos]: And now, we shall eat
23:41:35 [Emmerán]: By the Light I swear to honor this position
23:41:39 Hegran cheers!
23:41:47 Stepanos summons a page, who comes running with a tray of food, as if by magic
23:41:56 [Stepanos]: So shall it be done
23:41:59 Emmerán clasps Stepanos' hand
23:42:03 [Hegran]: A feast in honor of Brother Anton!
23:42:12 [Stepanos]: A feast indeed!
23:42:22 [Stepanos]: and an exploding tank
23:42:52 [Emmerán]: I would think there would be better craftmanship here in Stormwind
23:43:06 [Hegran]: you would think they might have worked out the bugs with as many have rolled through here already
23:44:10 [Stepanos]: So, Anton. What will be your first order of duty, now that you've been elevated to your proper place?
23:46:26 [Emmerán]: Making sure the two of you don't get yourselves killed seems to be a full time job
23:46:31 Emmerán chuckles
23:46:48 Stepanos nods as he gobbles a hunk of hog shank. "True"
23:47:08 Stepanos looks at Hegran. "That was some blow you rained down upon the witch. Perfect timing"
23:47:36 Hegran lifts an entire bird off the table and forgets his table manners, eating the fowl as a wild animal would
23:47:49 Stepanos chuckles at Hegran.
23:50:41 [Stepanos]: Now that we've accomplished that, we still have to deal with the Old God
23:51:01 [Stepanos]: Shame her minion spirited her away. We had her
23:51:37 [Emmerán]: The Light would have seen justice
23:51:46 [Stepanos]: One more strike and she was done
23:52:00 Stepanos nods
23:52:11 [Stepanos]: And then we could have held an Inquisition
23:52:27 [Hegran]: With our new High Inquisitor
23:52:37 Stepanos ||the page brings more food to satisfy Hegran's never-ending stomach
23:53:04 [Hegran]: These cooks will see me fat yet!
23:53:17 Stepanos looks around at the grounds, spotting his battered helm lying in the pathway
23:53:25 Stepanos kneels before Hegran.
23:53:25 [Emmerán]: That the creature had to flee, that the Light was with us, it is truly a blessing
23:53:35 Stepanos lifts the helm and gives it the once over
23:53:53 [Hegran]: That thing hurts by the way!
23:54:09 Stepanos chuckles. "You should have it ripped from your head! THAT hurt"
23:54:38 Stepanos holds it up. "Oblong. What did you do? Sit on it before returning to the fight?"
23:54:50 [Hegran]: I imagine you've withstood harsher blows than that though High Commander
23:55:19 [Stepanos]: being tossed to the ground by the creature... not sure I have
23:55:27 [Hegran]: I may have stumbled a bit after having it bashed against my head and stepped on it...
23:55:32 [Stepanos]: If not for Anton, I might have a broken back
23:55:38 Stepanos laughs at Hegran.
23:56:05 [Emmerán]: And what of Guardian Hegran? The only one to stay on his feet the whole time!
23:56:48 Stepanos nods, looking at Hegran. "Look at his size. Who could knock him over"
23:56:57 [Hegran]: Gifts of my birth High Inquisitor. Not like the skills used to keep us alive.
23:57:03 Stepanos shakes his head, tearing another piece of fish away from thable. "Not I"
23:57:18 Emmerán chuckles
23:57:33 [Stepanos]: If that kick had been aimed at him, the minion would have a broken leg
23:57:52 Stepanos grins "And we'd have taken them both!"
23:58:02 Stepanos tosses the bones into the grass nearby
23:58:08 [Hegran]: Or he would have a nub in its place
23:58:14 Stepanos laughs at Hegran.
23:58:33 [Emmerán]: You hear that? Next time get yourself kicked.
23:58:43 Hegran crunches on the bones and sucks the marrow from them.
23:58:51 [Stepanos]: Light! If your aim had been a few inches lower, Hegran, she would have been cut in half
23:59:05 [Emmerán]: We now know how to defeat the Old God. Let it kick Hegran Grey.
23:59:15 Stepanos nods. "That's it!"
23:59:18 Hegran laughs.
00:00:03 [Stepanos]: You heard her mention being under the control of a warlock, didn't you?
00:00:23 Emmerán nods solemnly
00:00:37 Tirien bows down graciously.
00:00:43 [Stepanos]: Though, after this disaster, she might be scrubbing chamber pots in an Ogre camp
00:00:44 [Hegran]: I do remember that. I meant to tear the name from her before she left.
00:01:28 Stepanos stifles a yawn, suddenly feeling his age
00:01:40 [Stepanos]: Gentlemn, I think I shall retire to a local inn
00:01:57 [Stepanos]: Or hearth back to Light's Flame
00:02:17 Stepanos pushes himself away from the table
00:02:17 [Emmerán]: Indeed, it is late. And rest will help us all heal better from our wounds.
00:02:38 [Hegran]: With us not knowing where they might lurk, it would make me more comfortable to know you were at the Light's Flame Lord High Commander.
00:02:50 [Stepanos]: Guardians, we did the Light's work this night. We shall sleep well knowing we sent the Shadow scurrying in fear
00:03:04 Stepanos nods. "We should all return there"
00:03:28 [Hegran]: Through the squeezey portals once more!
00:03:28 [Emmerán]: Agreed, that would be for the best
00:03:32 [Stepanos]: We won this round, but there will be others
00:03:37 Stepanos nods at Hegran.
00:03:45 [Stepanos]: I still get the shakes afterwards
00:03:51 [Stepanos]: Unnatural
00:04:03 [Hegran]: It doesn't feel right going into something so small.
00:04:21 [Hegran]: I fear sometimes that only part of me will fit!
00:04:22 [Emmerán]: I don't know, it's never bothered me as much.
00:04:26 Stepanos lifts his hearth stone from his belt
00:04:33 Stepanos looks at Refurbished Steam Tank.
00:04:41 [Stepanos]: They keep trying, don't they
00:04:43 Hegran looks at Refurbished Steam Tank.
00:04:50 [Stepanos]: Never seems to get past that point
00:04:57 [Hegran]: And failing...
00:05:05 [Stepanos]: One would think a Goblin was running the works yard
00:05:15 Emmerán reaches for his own hearthstone
00:05:34 Hegran pulls the hearth from a bag on his belt.
[[ This fight scene was moderated using the battle system described here. ]]


text:
Boffi takes a turn to rustic in white tiles
With the resurgence of crafted, handmade goods, even the precisely engineered stainless-steel aesthetic of Italian kitchens is getting a makeover.
"We are responding to what people want now," says Boffi CEO Roberto Gavazzi.
The company's newest lines, which build on Vienna-based Norbert Wangen's timeless, efficient K2 kitchen design that Boffi adopted in 2003, have recycled, distressed wood counters, steam-darkened sustainable acacia cabinets and surprisingly humble, traditional veneers that have been used for centuries: handmade ceramic tiles with low-relief arabesque patterns.
Unlike colorful Ottoman originals, these nostalgic matte-glazed Duemilaotto tiles of fired clay, designed by Boffi Creative Director Piero Lissoni, are all white, like monochromatic plateresque moldings on Hispano-Moresque buildings.
The creamy white 1/2-inch-thick square tiles in three mix-and-match designs sometimes vary slightly in size depending on how much they shrink or warp in the firing. The occasional discrepancy adds to the overall handcrafted effect, but grout between the 15-by-15-centimeter (almost 6 inches) and 20-by-20-centimeter (almost 8 inches) tiles makes it easy enough to clad precisely engineered Boffi kitchen island stove hoods or form custom backsplashes and wall treatments.
"They almost look Victorian," says Cardenio Petrucci, owner of Dzine, the showroom that showcases Boffi kitchens and baths in San Francisco. That's no coincidence: The new tiles are made by Domenico Mori in Macerata, south of Venice, in kilns that have been in use since the 19th century. They may well have supplied the dowager queen.
At a glance
Expert opinion: "A kitchen is no longer a craft shop," says Boffi designer Norbert Wangen, 48. "It also has a social and aesthetic function." While he likes spare, efficient designs that are timeless, a kitchen can also be organized and decorated in the manner of other living spaces.
"We are no longer in the '70s when everything 'designed' had to look avant-garde," he says.
The new Piero Lissoni tiles "soften the Boffi look," says Dzine owner Cardenio Petrucci. They are handmade near Boffi's Milan headquarters and can be made and delivered within two months.
Pros: The all-white tiles can be mixed and matched for a custom look. Tiles are as easy to clean as stainless steel but don't show fingerprints. The tiles are intended to fit Boffi hood sizes perfectly, so there is little waste.
Cons: The tile-clad hoods can weigh as much as 600 pounds. Metric grids are harder to apply to American construction planned in inches.
Price: $20-$32 per tile
Resources: dzinestore.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
David Bowers sent me a copy of his book, David M. Bowers: Evolution of an Artist, and, holy cow, is it beautiful. (And I'm not just saying that because he had a nice word to say about me in the intro. Thanks, David!) His work is a fascinating amalgamation of renaissance, contemporary, surreal sensibilities.
David has done a number of my favorite Tor covers. I always loved working with him -- besides being a total sweetheart, his dedication to the pure act of painting is clear in every picture. He has focused on his gallery career the past few years career and seeing this body of work collected in one place is very impressive.
The production values of the book, itself, are in line with his own impeccable craftsmanship -- incredible printing, sturdy pages, beautiful die-cut jacket, and all the paintings are presented with lots of clean white space around them. Between the art and the presentation, no one can step into my office without picking it up and a "Wow!"
Thursday, December 13, 2007
David Bowers
David Bowers sent me a copy of his book, David M. Bowers: Evolution of an Artist, and, holy cow, is it beautiful. (And I'm not just saying that because he had a nice word to say about me in the intro. Thanks, David!) His work is a fascinating amalgamation of renaissance, contemporary, surreal sensibilities.
Labels: Art Books
5 comments:
- Carl V. Anderson said...
That looks like a wonderful, high quality book. I always enjoy it when art books have some written material to go along with the pictures. David Bowers is one of the artists whose work I look forward to seeing in Spectrum every year. His are works that you can look at time and time again and see different interesting and amazing detail. They are like I SPY pictures for adults!
- Lana Gramlich said...
I'll have to see if we have this in our library system. If not, I'll make sure we order it. We have lots of patrons that would be interested.
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text:
Hot on the heels of BBC's hit show, Britain's Worst Driver, comes a similar series for us Yanks called, The Streets of America: The Search for America's Worst Driver. Hmm...wonder what they're looking for.
According to Variety, A. Smith and Co. plans to produce the show for the Travel Channel. We hope this isn't just one big hackneyed joke with weekly episodes featuring stereotypically female drivers, though with a background including being credited with the production of Hell's Kitchen, I Survived a Japanese Game Show and the upcoming Crash Course, anything's possible. Who's the worst driver you know? [via Variety]


text:
Surprisingly absent however was any evidence of nuclear zombies; while the opponents employed some degree of necromancy in their arguments, no "nuclear zombies" were spotted at the meeting. (To which I wryly observed during the meeting, "All that zombie defense training for nothing...")
For those who missed it, I did a bit of live-blogging at the ANS Nuclear Cafe as well as live-tweeting the meeting (as @sskutnik, under the tag #MOXchat - and #MOXsnark as my snarkiness level progressively increased throughout the meeting...) Meredith Angwin of Yes Vermont Yankee was following the meeting via Twitter and has already posted her thoughts; I've been a bit delayed up until now (such is the life of a professor...), but I wanted to get in my impressions from the meeting.
Strong turnoutWe had an extremely healthy contingent of students in attending, both from the University of Tennessee (where we had a little over 20 overall) as well as Chattanooga State's local ANS section (as seen in the bright blue and orange shirts in many pictures). A great deal of credit for this goes to Laura Scheele, the Outreach and Public Relations director for ANS national, who coordinated with both the UTK and Chattanooga State sections as well as organizing a welcome hospitality room (always popular with students!)
PopAtomic Studios, who put together some very cool pro-nuclear signs. (One anti-nuclear activist who wandered into the hospitality room as Suzy was putting together some of her signs before the meeting rolled her eyes and said, "You have got to be kidding." Whimsy, it would appear, is lost upon the opposition. Such a lack of whimsy of course did not stop her from helping herself to some cookies courtesy of ANS.)
No zombies, but zombie arguments
As I noted above, there was a surprising absence of zombies at the Chattanooga hearing; we speculated as to whether the budding thespians had caught wind of our plans to organize on the hearing and decided to head off to greener pastures (or at the very least, softer targets).
In a rare, refreshing display of honesty, one housewife-cum-activist (this being pretty much her own self-description: "My husband pays the bills, which allows me to do this full-time"), while reading off of a notecard of pre-prepared talking points, admitted, "I don't really understand this, but I'm going to read it anyway..." There were numerous "technical" (speaking very generously) arguments of dubious merit pertaining to MOX fuel - they could be summarized essentially as follows:
- MOX fuel burns (thermally) hotter, so it's more dangerous
- These reactors "weren't designed" for MOX fuel
- MOX fuel is ill-understood and experimental
- MOX fuel with weapons-grade plutonium behaves differently than reactor-grade plutonium
- MOX fuel leads to much more rapid neutron embrittlement of reactor pressure vessels
Some of these arguments I've handled before, but let's go through them again.
Thermal output
As to the thermal output - indeed plutonium does release somewhat more energy than uranium upon fission. However, the reactors are being run at the same thermal output - which is controlled the same way we control uranium-only cores: with chemical shims (like soluble boron), burnable poison rods, and control rods - all of which keep the total temperature of the reactor the same as before by controlling the rate of fission.
Reactor physics of MOX fuel
Beyond this, many of the opponents arguments came from half-complete understandings of how reactors work; it was particularly apparent that they were being fed cherry-picked half-truths to convey a sense of technical credibility to their arguments. For example, opponents argued that MOX fuel makes the reactor more difficult to control. In a limited sense, this is true; plutonium has about 1/3 the fraction of delayed neutrons (~0.2%) as U-235 (~0.64%).
[Aside: In reactor theory, neutrons come in two forms - "delayed neutrons," which come from fission products or decay products (on the order of a few milliseconds to a few minutes after fission), and "prompt neutrons," which are the neutrons released at fission. Reactors are typically run as "delayed critical" - meaning that the delayed neutrons are the component which keeps the chain reaction going; the reactor is in fact subcritical (not self-sustaining) from prompt neutrons alone. The existence of delayed neutrons is what allows for a reactor to be safely controlled, namely by allowing for smooth, easily controlled changes in reactor power.]
Here's the problem with the opponents' argument; nobody is proposing to run a full core solely upon plutonium fuel. Rather, the TVA proposal would, at a maximum be looking at a 40% core of MOX fuel, ramping up from an initial loading of around 4%. Further, there is of course an ongoing trend with nuclear opponents, that somehow there is a completely non-existence of an engineering discipline. A key issue to stress here is that before any fuel assembly is loaded into a reactor, an inordinate amount of engineering work is done to know just how the fuel will behave to ensure it will be done safely. No one is simply doing engineering by the seat of their pants, contrary to the beliefs of some.
Once the argument that MOX fuel is somehow "experimental" is knocked down, opponents quickly come back with a new variant - that somehow plutonium of weapons-grade variety (i.e., with a Pu-239 content over 90%) behaves substantially differently than that of reactor grade origin (where Pu-239 is about 55-70%, with about 20-25% Pu-240).
However, once again - these are things which are well-understood from an engineering perspective; the amount of plutonium in the MOX rod is determined by how much "reactive worth" is necessary. One of the students who spoke (and was later quoted by the Times-Free Press) has actually studied this exact issue (differences between weapons-grade and reactor grade plutonium for reactor fuel) and found minimal differences in reactor behavior. In other words, this is most certainly not some "experimental" fuel never tried before - all of this is well-understood physics.
Everyone's a reactor engineer...
The same goes for whether reactors are "designed" for MOX fuel; reactors are designed to remove efficiently remove heat from fuel rods and contain radioactivity. Reactor cores are designed to distribute fuel assemblies such that the rate of fission (and subsequently reactor power) is as evenly distributed as possible, with minimal peaking. Thus, the argument that somehow reactors are not "designed" for MOX-loaded cores run at the licensed and designed reactor power is utter nonsense, based upon a total misunderstanding of how reactors are designed and operated.
Finally, one of the most bizarre and self-contradictory arguments was the idea that MOX fuel will uniquely lead to accelerated materials issues with reactor pressure vessels - i.e., neutron embrittlement. Again, an argument based upon a half-truth. The average number of neutrons released in fission by plutonium is again higher than uranium (a quantity known as "nu-bar"; nu-bar for Pu-239 is about 2.98, compared to 2.6 for U-235, about a 15% difference). However, the actual quantity of interest - the neutron flux (i.e., the number of neutrons actually flying around in the reactor) is directly proportional to the rate of fission - itself proportional to the reactor power. In other words, if the reactor power is held constant, all other things being equal the neutron flux will also be about the same. (There are some minor differences here, getting deeper into the technical details, but the end result is that the net difference in neutron flux basically ends up being a wash.) In other words, the argument that somehow plutonium-based fuels will somehow uniquely lead to accelerated neutron embrittlement is utterly bogus - completely notwithstanding the fact that NRC regulations require regular sampling of reactor pressure vessel materials (a "coupon" is taken from the vessel itself and tested for properties of embrittlement).
...or an economist
Not surprisingly, many armchair economists were also present among the opponents, with several pointing out the fact that the disposal of surplus plutonium in MOX fuel costs more than vitrification and disposal in a geologic repository (in this case, likely WIPP in New Mexico) in glass logs. A response to this - repeatedly brought up by myself and others present is that fissioning the plutonium is the only way it can ultimately be permanently destroyed. (This perhaps most brilliantly summarized by Dr. Howard Hall, who noted that "as a chemist, the most difficult thing for me to do is to put an atom back together after it's been fissioned.") Opponents also neglect a few key issues as well - the first and most important of which is that we have a standing agreement with Russia to destroy this plutonium in MOX fuel, namely because of Russian concerns about future retrievability in glass log form. (While the plutonium is rendered far more inaccessible in glass log form compared to its original metal pit form, it is clearly not impossible even with present technology to recover; by contrast, plutonium fissioned in MOX fuel is both destroyed, with the remaining material both contaminated with "nuisance" species like Pu-240 and Pu-242 as well as being trapped in a form which would need to be processed, while being protected by a lethal radiation field.)
Additionally neglected is the fact that the DOE has already made the decision to go the MOX route and has already invested considerable resources in making this happen, meaning any savings argument is moot; the meeting at this point involves TVA's decision to accept the MOX fuel for reactors. (Topical limitations did not stop MOX opponents from airing a laundry list of complaints against nuclear energy writ large, particularly with respect to TVA.) However, even assuming abandoning the MOX program was under consideration (neglecting technical concerns and focusing strictly upon the economic argument being presented), given the funds already committed to the MOX fabrication facility, we are well past the point where vitrification (a technically inferior solution) would even save money on the balance.
Of course, economics was not always the strong suit of opponents; a particularly amusing moment of the evening was when one opponent began his speech indicating how he hadn't paid an electric bill in over two years thanks to his home solar panels, then proceeded to preface an argument against the relative economics of MOX by saying, "As a TVA ratepayer..." It was quite clear that the meaning of "ratepayer" wasn't quite understood.
The importance of being nice
One of the most surprising things to me about the overall tone of the meeting was the general air of civility in the affair. Perhaps my expectations had been set too low on the basis of some of the zombie theatrics of Greenpeace types at prior TVA hearings (not to mention some of the horror stories Meredith Angwin has reported in connection to Vermont Yankee meetings), but overall MOX proponents and opponents alike were polite and respectful of one another. (This did not prevent the odd condescending remark from the protestors - one of the more personally enraging ones went along the lines of, "I'm glad to see all the students here tonight - but we don't need cheerleaders for MOX here, we need solutions." As if the years of hard work students put into their degree programs is irrelevant.)
One thing I stressed to students beforehand was the sage advice I took to heart from Meredith: be nice. (And if you can, bring friends.) More importantly, I tried to stress the importance of being courteous and respectful even in the face of opponents who at times took a hostile, dismissive, or even condescending tone. (At several occasions in the evening Angwin was referred to as our "patron saint" of pro-nuclear activism...) [Edit: Meredith notes that her frequent co-blogger / co-activist Howard Shaffer is even more active; I would happily amend to note the two as "co-patron saints" of nuclear activism...]
A particularly interesting facet of the meeting was in how one could readily identify MOX opponents before they even got to their arguments - solely by their tone of voice. In nearly every case, opponents would grow progressively louder as they spoke, some nearly shouting by the end (despite the presence of a microphone and room small enough that none of this was necessary).
That being said, each side respectfully allowed the other to speak - there were no disruptions or booing; generally speaking, there was even polite applause for each speaker despite whose side they represented. (An interesting finish to the story; when we wrapped up and headed out to dinner afterwards, the opponents ended up at the same restaurant, sitting at a table right next to us. While there was some mildly belligerent exchanges between one opponent and one of our students, generally speaking both sides were again polite and respectful to one another.)
Showing up mattersLest anyone doubt the impact of knowledgable people simply showing up at meetings like this, I offer the following exercise in compare & contrast: Take a look at the coverage of the MOX hearing in Chattanooga (attended by an overwhelming number of ANS local section members from the University of Tennessee and Chattanooga State) versus the hearing on Thursday in Decatur, Alabama (near the Brown's Ferry reactor, one of the proposed TVA sites for burning MOX fuel). (For further contrast, have a look at the before and after reporting of the Chattanooga meeting as well).
The distinction in coverage when knowledgable nuclear advocates are present could not be more clear; in their absence, a small caravan of nuclear opponents traveling from meeting to meeting are allowed to speak unopposed as the singular voice of "the public." (Take a look at the articles and see if you can't spot some repeated names, for example.) There is little question in the Decatur coverage whether a contingent of the public exists who supports the program (apparently, they don't) - instead, opponents have been allowed to freely carry the day, completely unchecked.
Without trying to belabor the point too much: showing up matters. Reporters have no technical basis to evaluate the questionable claims of nuclear opponents (which really, the MOX opponents unabashedly represented); nor do reporters have any reason to seek out the existence of an opposing view when it is absent from public forums such as these. By contrast, when knowledgable individuals show up to these meetings, particularly in large numbers, their presence simply cannot be ignored - even if their numbers may be underreported. (The Chattanooga Times-Free Press reporter indicated about a dozen students were present; by my count, we had about two dozen from the University of Tennessee alone in two vans, not even counting the over two dozen from Chattanooga State.)
Final thoughts
Something to stress here in all of this - and again, something I made sure to emphasize with the students coming on their own time despite busy class schedules - is that in addition to the simple importance of speaking out at events like this (something I feel is an ethical obligation of nuclear professionals), one of the most important aspects here is to have fun. Outreach events like this can be stressful, especially with opponents ready to label students as simple shills or puppets of the "nuclear corporatocracy" to use one opponent's terms. Some of this came from having some fun with opponents' catchphrases - "Don't fall into the MOX pit!" and "Are you cheerleading or finding solutions here?" were repeated more than once in humorous fashion afterwards.
Events like this fulfill a vital part of the role of organizations like ANS to inform the public such that decisions are made on the basis of facts and not simply demagoguery, but that also doesn't mean that they can't also be a fun way for students and professionals to get together to share their passion for technology they see as vitally important for society's future.


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Daniel Woodrell awoke from colon cancer surgery a few years ago a changed man. Or at least a changed writer.
At the time, Woodrell was finally getting widespread -- and far too long-awaited -- attention because of the Academy Award-nominated adaptation of his hard-as-nails novel "Winter's Bone." It was an elemental book, mean and raw, hewn from the poor, rocky dirt of the Ozark Mountains.
It's a world most would be happy to have him revisit forever more. But as he opened his eyes in the recovery room, Woodrell saw a different path in front of him, one that would change his focus as a writer. It was as if along with the tumor doctors had removed the hard part of him, the part that enjoyed getting bloody to the elbows in the bleak, gray and very real world he's created in unforgettable novels that also include "Give Us a Kiss" and "The Death of Sweet Mister."
"It does alter your way of seeing the world around you," Woodrell said. "I don't think I can write a book as nihilistic as some of my early ones. They're so bleak. I don't think I would enjoy that as much anymore. You really become fixated on ways out."
"The Maid's Version," his first novel since "Winter's Bone" was released seven years ago, is the first of two books Woodrell conceived while under anesthesia. In large part they're a tribute to his family and the place their lives were centered around for decades -- the fictional West Table of his books is a not very thinly disguised version of West Plains, where he's lived for the past two decades after a childhood spent visiting.
"The Maid's Version" recounts the deaths of 42 people in an explosion at a dance in 1929 as told through the eyes of a young boy's grandmother, an angry, aging maid who's known little but poverty and disappointment. The book is based on real events that even today, nearly a century later, haunt the town.
The book is populated by the desperation, dark moments, ill-conceived choices and lifelong prejudices and hatreds that drive Woodrell's other books, but there are also sunny moments and humor. The next book will be set in the 1960s and will take his characters out of the Ozarks altogether, completing an escape from rural poverty few others in his fiction could imagine.
This change of heart has been making its way into his regular life as well, Woodrell says as he sits in a recliner in the modest home he shares with Estill. There are memories all around him. His mother was raised in a house about 200 feet away and the grandfather he spent summers with was not far the other way. But the man who writes so convincingly about the unshakeable ties of the family bond now finds himself alone in West Plains, and feels a bit of wanderlust again, like the days of his youth spent hitchhiking.
"My family has been in this specific neighborhood since 1910," he said. "I'm it, though. I'm the last one in the county. It's all over for us down here."
Like the Dunahews of "The Maid's Version," Woodrell's real life family has spread to the wind, chased away by the hard economic realities of rural living. Now, as he tries to decide if he'll leave, he's often struck by what he might be missing if he goes to St. Louis or farther afield.
"I've been afraid to move," he said. "There're a lot of little things you just won't hear from reading the newspaper or something. There are a lot of things you can hear in the air that you can't read somewhere. About half the stories are anecdotes I heard around town."
The Ozarks have been good to Woodrell, after all. Long a critical favorite with a cult following among crime writers, he was exposed to a wider audience through "Winter's Bone." Spare and economical, yet enduringly beautiful, his work has exposed the Ozarks and their people in much the way William Faulkner showed the world post-Civil War Mississippi and Cormac McCarthy redefined the West.
Yet even as he was compared with literary legends, he struggled to sell books. A former editor kept him working for a long time when his books weren't selling and the support of fellow authors like Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos helped spread his name as they themselves grew in popularity. Lehane says he's been drawn to "an unassailable authenticity" in Woodrell's writing.
"I run out and buy the books when they first come out," Lehane said in a phone interview last week. "I usually read them in the first two or three days of publication. There's very few writers I do that for anymore or who I respond to that way anymore. I went out and I bought the new book two days ago as soon as it came out. I'm halfway through, and it's an amazing style, a stylistic 180. Which I didn't think he -- or really any writer really -- is capable of. It's marked. It's very noticeable."
Woodrell, 60, had no idea this part of him existed. He'd already tossed out a few false starts for his "Winter's Bone" follow-up when he was diagnosed with cancer. After the surgery, he was left feeling mushy and weak by the chemotherapy, but held onto the idea of taking a closer look at his own family's history during the slow recovery.
He knew he was taking a chance -- just as he'd finally reached the kind of popularity, and solvency, he'd always sought. He knew there were logical reasons to shelve the idea, but he just couldn't shake it.
"You realize you're alive while you're alive and you better notice it then, because later it's hard to see," Woodrell said. "There are other kinds of triumphs or other kind of spiritual growths or spiritual progressions that interest me now that I would have laughed at 25 years ago. I realized there might be monetary or financial reasons to jump in and write a 'Winter's Bone Retriumphs' or something and nobody would object to me doing that in publishing. But it would be a waste of my time and they always take a little longer than you thought they would take. Try to stay focused on what really matters to you, then Devil take the hindmost. You hope it succeeds and other people like it."
Author changes literary direction
Daniel Woodrell awoke from colon cancer surgery a few years ago a changed man. Or at least a changed writer.


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Students at prep.
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LUBBOCK - ALN Apartment Data has released November data for apartments in the Lubbock market.
*Same store is everything in a market except for apartments in initial lease-up.
Read more at ALN Market News.
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.


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As I read Sojourners, I am struck by how often the real issue seems to come down to one simple question: What is a Christian? "Intelligent Religion," by Ted Peters (December 2005), is a good example. To so-called Christian fundamentalists, Peters is no more a Christian than an indigenous animist relating to spirits in rocks and trees in a remote corner of some "uncivilized" wilderness.
Jim Wallis also touches on my question in "When I First Met Bonhoeffer." Jesus' teaching in Matthew 25:34-46 is clear: "Then shall he answer them, saying, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.'" Despite this unequivocal statement, people who reject this teaching out of hand are still accorded the title of devout Christian and granted authority by the mass media, the political party in power, and the presidency of the United States as spokespeople for the faith.
The ascendancy of so-called fundamentalist Christianity (it is, in fact, only fundamentalist about a few select things) is peculiar to the United States. What can conceivably cause the pendulum to reverse so that a Christianity that truly embraces the whole Christ becomes the standard by which "What is a Christian?" can be answered?
William Glasner
Victor, New York


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During launch and entry, crew
members wear the crew altitude protection system, which consists
of a helmet; communications cap; pressure garment; anti-exposure,
anti-gravity suit; gloves; and boots.
The crew wears escape equipment over the CAPS during launch and
entry. It consists of an emergency oxygen system; parachute harness,
parachute pack with automatic opener, pilot chute, drogue chute
and main canopy; a life raft; 2 liters of emergency drinking water;
flotation devices; and survival vest pockets containing a radio/beacon,
signal mirror, shroud cutter, pen gun flare kit, sea dye marker,
smoke flare and beacon. Manual activation of the parachute automatic
opening sequences is provided, as well as manual release of the
parachute main canopy.
On orbit, optional clothing and equipment include underwear, urine
collection devices, eyeglasses, communications headset, emesis bag,
flashlight, Swiss army knife, kneeboard, pens and pencils, stowage
bags, watches and food and drink containers.
Crew clothing and equipment used during on-orbit activities include
flight suits, IVA trousers, IVA jackets, IVA shirts, sleep shorts,
IVA soft slippers, underwear, scissors/lanyard, pocket dosimeter
and pocket food.
Crew clothing is designed for use by 90 percent of the male and
female population, the 5th to 95th percentile.
Curator: Kim
Dismukes | Responsible NASA Official: John Ira Petty | Updated: 04/07/2002Web Accessibility and Policy Notices


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Tonight was "Sonny" for the Rays
What a difference a day makes. Maybe the day off on Monday put our bats to sleep. Good thing Andy was pitching tonight………..We needed to stay winning to keep pace with the Red Sox.
Trivia Fact of the Night:
Joe Dimaggio beat out Ted Williams for the American League MVP award in 1941, even though Williams hit for a .406 average and had one of the best seasons of his career.
The Good,The Bad,and the Ugly
The Good
There was a lot of good tonight, but the main good has to go to the pitching performance of Andy Sonnanstine who improved to 4-1 on the season. the win also let the Rays stay on pace with the Boston Red Sox. That makes this weekends series even more important.
Sonnanstine went 8 innings and only gave up a lone run tonight via a Brian Roberts single to right that scored Adam Jones in the bottom of the third inning. Andy also only surrendered 6 hits in the game and had 5 strikeouts.
Honorable mention "Good Guys":
*** Rays catcher Dioner Navarro must be seeing the ball extremely well this year. Navarro went 2-5 tonigt and stayed at .400 for the season. Dioner also picked up two RBI's and threw out speed merchant Brian Roberts attempting to steal second base in the bottom of the first inning.
** Eric Hinske, who was the DH , tonight hit a two run homer to right in the top of the 4th inning to bring Evan Longoria home. Longoria had reached base on an infield single to short.
* I have to give the number one star to the entire team of the Rays right now. Since this was the last game in April 2008, they set records for wins, team pitching ERA, bullpen ERA, and Carl Crawford has scored more runs than any other Rays' player in our short history.
The Bad
The is not a huge amount of Bad tonight, except that two Rays players did not get to celebrate hits tonight in the contest. Carl Crawford went 0-4 tonight, but scored a run, and Aki Iwamura also did not get a hit, going 0-3, but also scoring a run tonight.
The only other "stat" that can show any negative tonight, is the team left 9 men in scoring position tonight.
The Ugly
I have a habit of ripping the game attendance by fans, and tonight I will not shy from a away game crowds numbers. Camden Yards is in a beautiful area of the Baltimore Inner Harbor area. It is a masterpiece of a ballpark, but a crowd of 11,944 people, which is 24.8 % capacity is a crime.
These teams are vying for first place in the American League East in a year where it is wide open right now. To get momentium and fan support now is critical to a chase later the season. Baltimore and the Rays have been partners in the bottom rung of the East ladder for some time, and to see each of them clawing for the prize is an inspiration to baseball fans. True baseball fans.
Get a grip Oriole fans,. Do not blame the Nationals, like your ownership group does, show support in any ways possible to show the guys who wear your colors you are proud of the team. I wear my Rays cap every day to work, every day.
Former Rays Player of the Night:
Tonight's Rays former player is the Cincinnati Red's Ryan Freel. He went 3-5 tonight with an RBI to up his average to .321. Ryan has been the subject of trade romurs both before the year and recently involving several teams. Freel has been doing much of his work in the Cincy outfield this year.
Do not forget, the Rays game on Thursday is an afternoon affair that will be broadcast starting at 12:30 P.M. on the Florida sports Network (FSN).


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Although the German economy continued to report growth in the second quarter, that was not enough to save the eurozone as a whole from shrinkage.
Reuters reported Tuesday that Germany's economy managed to grow 0.3% in Q2, and even France managed to remain flat rather than contracting, but the two together were not enough of a bright spot to keep afloat the economy of the 17-country bloc. The eurozone contracted by 0.2%, and looked to promise further gloomy news as Germany's ZEW sentiment index, which acts as a predictor rather than looking at results achieved, dropped for the fourth month in a row.
Austria and the Netherlands grew 0.2%, while Finland shrank 0.7%. Portugal shrank 1.2%, while Spain contracted 0.4% and Italy 0.7%
After a flat Q1, the eurozone's drop in Q2 indicated that the struggle is not over to contain the fiscal woes of the group, and economists expect that the downward trend will continue.
"It was a touch better than we expected, but I think overall it confirms the idea that the eurozone is in a recession phase," Aline Schuiling said in the report. Schuiling, economist at ABN AMRO, was quoted saying, "What we see is a vicious circle of budget cuts, high interest rates in the periphery and sovereign debt rising. Policymakers are moving very slowly. There are limited prospects for growth in the eurozone. We expect another contraction in Q3."
While Germany has been chugging along steadily, expectations are that the trend can't continue forever. Joerg Kraemer at Commerzbank said in the report, "Growth turned out to be pretty solid. But this could be the last positive piece of news out of Germany for some time."
He added, "The German economy could contract in the summer. It is fundamentally in good structural shape, but can't decouple from the recession in the eurozone, plus the global economy has also shifted down a gear."
France is expected to contract in Q3 as well, according to its central bank. Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici was quoted saying, "These figures are not excellent, but at the same time France is not in recession while the majority of its European partners are."


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WENDS. The Wends (also known as Sorbs or Lusatian Serbs) are a Slavic people concentrated in East Germany near Bautzen and Cottbus in the upper Spree River valley, an area long known as Lusatia. They speak Sorbian, which is divided into two dialects, Upper Sorbian and Lower Sorbian. The language was originally written with Gothic letters, although since 1937 the Latin alphabet has been used. Wends have never had an independent nation, and their homeland has always been surrounded by Germans. During the Middle Ages the Wends survived the raids and massacres of German Eastland horsemen; especially during the Nazi years they were pressured to assimilate the German culture, and gradually they have adopted the German language and many customs, although they still retain a separate identity. In 1840, before overseas migration began, there were about 164,000 Wends in Lusatia. In the 1980s there were only 60,000. Outside Germany, most of the Wends settled in two areas, Australia and Texas. The desire for better economic opportunity was probably the main reason for Wendish immigration to Australia and to Texas a few years later. Although scholars dispute the role of social and religious factors in the process, Texas Wends commonly express the belief that their forefathers came here solely for religious freedom. Around 1848 small groups of Wends began immigrating to Australia, where many Germans had already settled. These pioneers sent letters home, many of which were published in local newspapers, and which influenced Wends still in Europe. A small group of Wends came to Austin County around 1849–50 and were quickly absorbed into the German community. In 1853 a group of thirty-five Wends left Bremen for Texas. They were shipwrecked off the coast of Cuba, but eventually made their way to Galveston, and from there to the communities of New Ulm and Industry.
In the fall of 1854 a newly established congregation of nearly 600 conservative Lutheran Wends, led by John Kilian, left Germany to join their countrymen in Texas. The group constituted the only mass exodus of Wends. Traveling first by railway and steamship to Liverpool, England, the Wends embarked on an English ship, the Ben Nevis, for the journey to Texas. While in Liverpool, however, a number of Wends contracted cholera, and seventy-three of them died on board the ship. After a three week stop in Queenstown, Ireland, to remove the sick and fumigate the ship, the Ben Nevis sailed for Galveston, where it arrived on December 15, 1854. Galveston was having a yellow fever epidemic. From December to January the Wends walked the eighty-five miles to New Ulm and Industry. Two lay leaders of the congregation, Johann Dube and Carl Lehmann, went on ahead thirty miles and purchased a league of land in what is now Lee County. At first services were held in one room of Kilian's two-room house, but the group set aside ninety-five acres for a church and school, later called St. Paul's. This was the first Missouri Synod Lutheran church founded in Texas and is thus the mother church not only of the Wends, but of all conservative Lutherans in Texas. After their first tiny log church was erected, individuals purchased farm acreage and town lots, built crude dugout houses for shelter, and established what became the community of Serbin. In 1860 Serbin had a post office. After 1871, however, a new railroad connection made nearby Giddings the business and commercial center of the region, and Serbin declined in both population and influence.
Over the years, due to religious dissension and economic pressures, the Wends spread throughout south central Texas. Today the leading Wendish centers are in Lee, Fayette, Williamson, Coryell, and Bell counties, especially in the towns of Serbin, Warda, Giddings, Fedor, Manheim, Loebau, Lincoln, Winchester, La Grange, Thorndale, Walburg, Copperas Cove, The Grove, Vernon, Swiss Alp, New Ulm, Industry, Noack, and Aleman. Substantial numbers of people of Wendish descent also live in Houston, Austin, and Port Arthur. While most Wends consider themselves Germans, they have maintained an ethnic identity. Early restrictions against intermarriage have relaxed over the years. Nevertheless, many individuals still claim there have been no intermarriages in their families since the arrival of the Ben Nevis. Early Wends practiced many distinctive customs, of which perhaps the most noticeable to outsiders was the German Lutheran custom of wearing black wedding dresses by Wendish brides to represent the grief and hardship of marriage. This custom died out by the 1890s. Religious conservatism militated against wearing bright colors, dancing, secular singing, or any other kind of frivolity. The Wends valued education, and today St. Paul's still has an accredited parochial school. Church congregations regularly paid for the higher education of promising young men who wanted to become pastors or teachers. In the 1980s Concordia Lutheran College in Austin still received considerable Wendish support.
The proximity of German neighbors eventually resulted in cultural assimilation and adaptation. At the time of their migration, most of the Wends spoke Wendish and German, and those who spoke only Wendish learned German after they moved to Texas. Most of the Wends in Serbin and all of the Wends who settled elsewhere had adopted German as their primary language by the time of World War I. The shift from Wendish to German is documented in the Giddings Deutsches Volksblatt, the principal German-language paper in the area. The newspaper, although largely written in German, also contained articles or letters in Wendish. Wendish, however, was gradually supplanted, reflecting the general shift to German language. By the 1930s the language had begun to die out in Texas, and few people remained who were still completely fluent. In the 1980s only a few people could still speak the language. In rural Wendish areas German continued to be used for church services until after World War II, but today it has also largely died out. The Texas Wendish Heritage Society, founded in 1971, actively seeks to preserve and, whenever possible, revive remnants of the Wendish culture. One project involves an attempt to translate and publish all early Wendish documents. The society, which had about 350 members in 1994, maintains a Wendish museum at Serbin and annually participates in the Folklife Festival of the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio. The art of Easter egg painting has been maintained as a Wendish tradition. Wendish Fest, an annual festival held at Serbin in September, celebrates the Wendish heritage of the area.
Anne Blasig, The Wends of Texas (San Antonio: Naylor, 1954; rpt., Brownsville: Springman-King Printing, 1981). George Charles Engerrand, The So-called Wends of Germany and their Colonies in Texas and in Australia (University of Texas Bureau of Research in the Social Sciences 7 [Austin, 1934]). Daphne Dalton Garrett, The Art of Decorating Wendish Easter Eggs (Warda, Texas: Garrett Historical Research, 1987). Sylvia Ann Grider, The Wendish Texans (San Antonio: University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures, 1982). H. T. Kilian, Kurzgefasster Auszug aus der Geschichte der ev. luth. St. Pauls Gemeinde N.A.C. zu Serbin (Giddings, Texas: Giddings Deutsches Volksblatt, 1904). John Kilian, Baptismal Records of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Serbin, Texas, 1854–1883, ed. and trans. Joseph Wilson (Easley, South Carolina: Southern Historical Press, 1985). George R. Nielsen, In Search of a Home (University of Birmingham [England] Department of Russian Language and Literature, 1977; rev. ed., College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1989). Gerald Stone, The Smallest Slavonic Nation: The Sorbs of Lusatia (London: Athlone Press of the University of London, 1972). Stephan Thernstrom, ed., Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press of Harvard University, 1980).
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Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and stare at your new ESPY award. It's so shiny! Where should you put it? On the mantel? Or in a box in the attic? Yeah, I vote for the attic box too. LET'S GO!
MARY KNOWS BEST – 9:00PM (SyFy – An NBC/Universal network) It's the series premiere about this professional psychic and her kooky family. Her son never needs to ask for her to pass the mashed potatoes. SHE ALREADY KNOWS. I visited a psychic once because someone got me a coupon as a goof. And it was a BLAST. They always make you feel so cosmic and special. The psychic I saw pointed to my head and said, "You got a lot going on up there, don't you?" Oh, yes. I definitely do. I've got unicorns and Cinnamon rolls and monkeys using elliptical trainers. It's a real fiesta up there. ANTICIPATION: SHE PREDICTS YOU'LL WATCH!
FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES – 10:00PM (SyFy – An NBC/Universal network) And another new SyFy series, this one investigating/debunking paranormal claims. Tonight's premiere includes a ghost car in Georgia. That's right. A GHOST CAR. You won't know it's there until it's tailgating two inches behind you! Freeeeakkky. ANTICIPATION: GHOST CAR! THE CAR THAT'S A GHOST!
NICU – 10:00PM (Discovery Health) And yet another brand new reality show, this one set in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) of a hospital. That's right: sick babies. Little, tiny, helpless babies fighting for their… wait, you're crying already, aren't you? It's okay. Totally understandable. I know people who have had kids in the NICU, and even when the kid turns out perfectly fine, there isn't anything more agonizing than having a new child in there, I assure you. ANTICIPATION: SICK BABIES!
BETTER OFF DEAD – 8:00PM (TCM) When I was a kid, I remember seeing the Claymation sequence with the hamburger rocking out to Van Halen and failing to understand, at the time, that lots of people in Hollywood did acid. I know better now. ANTICIPATION: THIS IS PURE SNOW!
BOSTON MED – 10:00PM (ABC) Two interns get hazed by the doctors. Really? Doctor haze each other? "Oh Steve, I put a transplant liver in your locker. SUCKER!" I would not go to this hospital. ANTICIPATION: BIOHAZARD PRANKS!
Thursday Watch List: Psychics! Ghost Cars! Sick Infants!
Welcome to Watch List, where we identify five things on TV to watch while you stay at home and stare at your new ESPY award. It's so shiny! Where should you put it? On the mantel? Or in a box in the attic? Yeah, I vote for the attic box too. LET'S GO!


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The KANIA Blog » fashiongalleriesnewyork
KANIA X NYFW17 SS18' Encore Presentation: Oct 14th 2017
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On Saturday Oct 14th 2017 at 8p we will be doing an Encore Presentation of the KANIA S/S18 New York Fashion Week Show at Audi Ottawa!! From Ottawa to NYC and back again!!...
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Yesterday I took a look at the Scientology building on Fountain Avenue, which is very near the hotel I stayed in on Vermont. Holy shit that place is creepy.
Think the name is big enough?
The building is a former hospital, and it's massive. The paint job makes it very conspicuous – it's like a blue Oz.
There are security guards and guardish-looking people with belts festooned with surveillancey equipment all over the place. The street that runs along the east side of the fortress building is named L Ron Hubbard Way. It's a public street but I felt very…not on public property while I was walking north on it.
It looks like fascism; it looks more like fascism than fascism did. It's like fascism cartoonishly exaggerated and made visual.
Creepy. creepy. creepy.


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Reference: C024.410.11.081.20
Diameter: 40.00 mm
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EUR 395.- Recommended retail price (incl. VAT)
Case: DS Concept Stainless steel 316L
Bezel: Stainless steel 316L
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Movement: Swiss Made Quartz PrecidriveTM End Of Life
Water resistance: Up to a pressure of 10 bar (100m)
Bracelet: Stainless steel 316L
Buckle: Stainless steel 316L Butterfly clasp with 2 push-buttons


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Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 12:18 - Jokes and anecdotes, Latin Translation, Medical Latin TerminologyFerunt difficiles partus statim solvi, cum quis tectum, in quo sit gravida, transmiserit lapide vel missili ex iis, qui III animalia singulis ictibus interfecerint, hominem, aprum, ursum.
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Posted by Administrator
It is said that labor complications are solved at once when a stone that has been used to kill three living souls at three blows: a human being, a boar and a bear, is thrown over the roof of the house where there is a pregnant woman.
(Natural History, 28.33)
Via: Cabinet of Roman Curiosities


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