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Arms: Perhaps the most liked muscle group to train of all time. They are easy to get a nasty pump going, they develop quickly, and of course, draw a lot of attention from other people as soon as they begin to grow even slightly. It has even been suggested that a man's arms are what women find to be the most attractive feature of a man's body.
Regardless of how you may or may not feel about this, Blackstone Labs' very own golden boy Cody Montgomery teams up with rising star and soon-to-be celeb-status athlete Tristen Esco take us on a journey to bicepular/tricepular enlightenment.
Watch as the two up the intensity time and time again, pushing it to the limit the way so few are capable of doing.
Use this as a model for your own training routines and get swole. Do it! | {
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8.15.2015
The world you create for yourself is a reflection of the quality of energy that you emanate. While one cannot control what goes on in one’s external environment, one can control how one responds internally. Be mindful of what you internalize. Release anything that continuously causes you emotional discomfort, visualize something better replacing it, and begin to see your life change. Be patient with yourself. #mindfulness#transformation#souliloquy#thichnhathanh 🙏🏻 | {
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Parks and Rec FYRE Parody at Spirit Awards Video Feb. 2019
If Parks and Rec Had a Fyre Festival Situation, "Jerry" Would Take One For the Team
Sorry, Jerry Gergich, but out of all the Parks and Recreation characters, he's most likely to take one for the team. I mean, he went by the wrong name during the entire show, for crying out loud! While the NBC series ended in 2015, it appears actor Jim O'Heir has no problem settling back into his "Jerry" personality, especially when it helps out an old costar.
When Aubrey Plaza hosted the Spirit Awards on Feb. 23, O'Heir channeled the famous Andy King from Netflix's FYRE documentary for a hilarious parody video. Watch the video above to see how O'Heir secured the water bottles for Plaza. Spoiler alert: Things ended a little differently than they did for King. | {
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Agoramania Soap Box
Disclaimer: Blog participants are solely responsible for the content of the comments they post here. Soap Box blog comments are subject to the site's Terms and Conditions of Use and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or approval of USAB2C.com, America's Business To Consumers, Incorporated and/or its subsidiaries.
The technology behind China's J-20 stealth fighter may have come from a US plane shot down during the Kosovo war, Balkan military sources say.
Adm Davor Domazet-Loso, Croatia's military chief of staff at the time, claims Chinese agents took parts of a downed F-117 stealth jet in 1999.
The F-117 had been shot down by a Serbian anti-aircraft missile during a Nato bombing raid.
China's J-20 stealth fighter had its first test flight earlier this month.
Currently, the United States is the only nation with a fully operational stealth plane.
'Reverse-engineer'
Nighthawks were the world's first stealth fighters - planes that are almost invisible to radar.
When the F-117 was shot down in 1999 during Nato bombing, it was the first time one of the jets had been hit.
Military officials and experts say they believe that some of the parts found themselves in Chinese hands, which allowed China to replicate them to develop similar technologies.
The Pentagon has downplayed concerns over China's stealth fighter "At the time, our intelligence reports told of Chinese agents criss-crossing the region where the F-117 disintegrated, buying up parts of the plane from local farmers," Adm Domazet-Loso told the Associated Press news agency.
"We believe the Chinese used those materials to gain an insight into secret stealth technologies... and to reverse-engineer them," he said.
A senior Serbian military official confirmed that some of the pieces were removed by souvenir collectors, and that some ended up "in the hands of foreign military attaches".
Alexander Neill, head of the Asia Security Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, said the proposition was highly possible, as Serbia and China had a very close relationship during this time and routinely shared intelligence.
"At that time the Chinese had a close relationship with Serbian military intelligence and in that regard - just as an intelligence-sharing relationship - a windfall such as a F-117 would be gold dust, and any modernising military worth its salt would examine anything of that nature extremely closely," he told the BBC.
He said it would be very difficult to know for sure, but that China had during that time a "rapacious appetite" for technology which would help them with their modernisation programme.
"Given the history of Chinese espionage, it is clear that China has had a very covert history of acquisition," he said.
'No interest'
Parts of the F-117 wreckage, including its left wing, cockpit canopy, ejection seat, pilot's helmet and radio, are on show at Belgrade's aviation museum.
Zoran Milicevic, deputy director of the museum, said: "I don't know what happened to the rest of the plane. A lot of delegations visited us in the past, including the Chinese, Russians and Americans. But no-one showed any interest in taking any part of the jet."
China's Chengdu J-20 stealth jet is expected to be operational some time between 2017 and 2019.
Some analysts have claimed this sign of military strength will worry the US government, but the Pentagon has played down concerns over the fighter.
"Developing a stealth capability with a prototype and then integrating that into a combat environment is going to take some time," US director of naval intelligence Vice-Admiral David Dorsett said earlier this month.
China's official military budget quadrupled between 1999 and 2009 as the country's economy grew. In 2010 it stood at $78bn (£50bn).
But the US has by far the largest defence budget in the world at just over $700bn. | {
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iPhone Battery Replacement Prices Will Go Up Starting January 1, 2019
Apple just announced their new iPhones and while the iPhone XR at $749 does represent a more affordable option compared to the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, it is still pretty pricey. It is understandable that there might be some iPhone owners who would rather cling onto their older devices to try and squeeze as much out of it as possible.
If you’d like to give your old iPhone new life, changing its battery could help and if you have yet to take advantage of Apple’s iPhone battery replacement program, you really should become come 2019, prices will be going up. At the moment Apple is charging customers $29 to replace the batteries on their older iPhones.
However this program will come to an end at the end of the year and starting January 1, 2019, those prices will be going up according to an updated support document which reveals that for all iPhones that are seeking out-of-warranty battery replacements, it will be priced at $49, save for the iPhone X which oddly enough will cost more at $69.
Given that Apple had previously charged customers $79 for battery replacements, a price hike of $20 isn’t too bad, but like we said if you have yet to take advantage of this offer (Apple is limiting this to one repair per iPhone), you probably should since you get to save yourself some money. | {
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Jamia Wilson
Jamia Wilson is a feminist media activist, organizer, and storyteller. A proud member of Generation Catalano, Jamia loves cartwheels, waxing nostalgic about Judy Blume and Denise Huxtable, and talking about reproductive justice. Connect with her at www.jamiawilson.com or follow her on Twitter.
About Rookie
Rookie is an online magazine and book series for teenagers. Each month, a different editorial theme drives the writing, photography, and artwork that we publish. Learn more about us here, and find out how to submit your work here! | {
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new New Technology CADCAM Provides A Total Solution
Improve productivity and solve more design challenges with New Technology CADCAM, one of the UK's most established SOLIDWORKS resellers. Here are some of the reasons why UK customers including Adlens, Robert Welch, RJ Hunter and Seagate work with UK MD Chris Horn and the team.
If you need to make a professional fithess video or any commercial video in Miami , wedding video in Miami, you can use Artsingle Productions services Miami videography and Miami Photographer : any type of Miami video production, family, portrait wedding photography in Miami, studio photography and much more. Please visit their website to learn more : artsingle.com | {
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Hello! My name is Lee Ann and I am the daughter-in-law to the Giesbrechts. I have learnt much about gardening from helping out in the greenhouse, but I hope that through writing this blog, I will learn more and be able to share the things I have learnt with you! | {
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Land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone
Land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone (LOICZ) is a scientific core project of the International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP)
What is LOICZ?
LOICZ is an international research project involving scientists from across the globe who have been investigating changes in chemistry and physics, and in the biology, of the coastal zone since 1993. Beginning in 2003, LOICZ has expanded its areas of research to include social, political and economic sciences so that its current and future research incorporates the human dimensions of the coastal zone. The results from the research are used to explore the forcing and effects of global change on coastal systems and the central role humans play as active agents of change and in response to change. This includes vulnerability and adaptation of the socio-ecological coastal zone systems in light of changing environments and degrading or growing options for land and sea use. The central paradigm is to provide the scientific underpinning for better informed decision making or, in other words, to protect coasts and coastal goods and services for future generations. The goal of LOICZ is:
"to provide the knowledge, understanding and prediction needed to allow coastal communities to assess, anticipate and respond to the interaction of global change and local pressures which determine coastal change".
LOICZ is engaging in new research to inform the scientific community, policymakers, managers and stakeholders on the relevance of global environmental change in the coastal zone.
What is the coastal zone?
The coastal zone represents the interface between the land, sea and atmosphere. Almost half the world's population lives within this zone including many of the world's poor and including 70% of the world’s mega cities. Coastal zones have been and remain to be “society’s edge” – an area where social and cultural as well as economic development is concentrating. The coastal zone has the following characteristics:
Various user groups compete for land and sea resources. This often results in conflict eventually causing deterioration of the coastal zone. In same cases (e.g. island states) the coastal zone serves as the only pillar of the national economy.
It is a preferred site for urbanization.
Why is the coastal zone important?
A large proportion of the World’s population lives at or near the coast and relies on the health and maintenance of coastal environments. The coastal zone is diverse with productive habitats important for human welfare and ecosystem functioning.
The demands placed on the coastal environment for space to live and natural resources to exploit is increasing as populations grow: Protecting coastal zones for all their natural, economic, social and aesthetic values becomes even more important as these demands generate increasingly unsustainable resource use in the future.
The coastal Zone is one of the priority areas where society urgently needs advanced governance systems to set the stage for sustainable decision making in response to the accelerating demands and the challenges of climate change.
The scale of the coastal zone in the LOICZ science includes river-catchments and continental shelves where these geographical extensions are meaningful for coastal processes and development scenarios.
LOICZ research
Coastal Vulnerability: Why coasts are sensitive to natural and man-made changes and how the changes bring risk to environmental health and human welfare.
How natural and man-made changes affect the surroundings and “ingredients” available at the coast for societies to use (Ecosystem effects, incl. goods and services).
How human activity in contributing river-catchments can change and influence the coast.
The transport and changes in, sediments and nutrient cycles in coastal and shelf waters and at the sea bottom – water interface.
How managing activities and underlying governance systems can support future generations in the coastal zone.
LOICZ research is being carried out by a global network of scientists whose contributions in form of affiliated projects, individual publications and/or workshop participation all build the LOICZ excellence base. Projects contribute scientific information on a variety of spatial scales from local via regional to the full global scale. Modelling on various levels of complexity and methods for up scaling and comparative integrated analysis and assessment are supporting cross cutting activities. A key activity focuses on capacity building and training in summer schools, master courses and visiting scientist arrangements. LOICZ builds and maintains a global network of collaborating institutions for this purpose.
The mid-term perspective
Subsequent to the publishing of the Science Plan which sketches the broad scientific frame, LOICZ identified three Priority Topics to focus on in the mid-term future in all of which the themes outlined above are pertinent and represent a continuum of science research. In order to keep LOICZ responsive and flexible these Priority Topics are “living” science directions subject to continued review. In the following they are summarized:
Priority Topic 1: Linking social and ecological systems in the Coastal Zone
The objective of the topic is to gain insights on the likely future state of the marine environment in various economic and social scenarios.
The ecosystem approach (underlying "ecosystem based management") regards humans to be an integral part of current natural systems. There are large numbers of deterministic and stochastic models that examine various facets of the natural environment, and similarly large numbers of models dealing with human social systems. However, there have been very few attempts to couple them together into a single socio-ecological system that consider the system to consist of an assemblage of interdependent life forms - including humans - and their non-living habitats and resource base, the integrity of which is highly dependent upon human decisions. Work within this topic aims to focus on:
Conceptual modelling: LOICZ will explore how models can incorporate dynamic interpretations of data and source empirical data to populate models.
Quantitative models: Mechanistic or stochastic models operate at various different scales and levels of complexity and this topic will explore how scale affects system properties requirements for data as well as mixed methodology approaches to accommodate the entire scale of systems.
Scenario-building and decision support models: One of the most exciting challenges for system models is to gain insights on the likely future state of the marine environment through their application in various economic and social scenarios.
This topic encapsulates a) examining the changes in loads associated with human activities in coastal watersheds as well as other human-induced effects, and b) examining the response of coastal and shelf ecosystems to these changes. To the extent that we can extend or develop LOICZ approaches to apply to coastal governance, activities under this topic will also address issues of and “coastal and probably river-basin management”.
Runoff, groundwater flows, nutrient and sediment loads are all affected by human activity and especially human-induced changes in climate and land use. These may be addressed using a variety of relatively simple analytical tools, including nutrient accounting approaches and large-scale hydrologically based models. The goal is to extend existing approaches either geographically or methodologically, and to permit estimation of nutrient loads, their uncertainty and variation.
The coastal and shelf systems response has been addressed earlier in LOICZ by estimating the metabolism of coastal and shelf ecosystems using the LOICZ budget methodology. This methodology will be refined and extended, specifically in an attempt to also address issues of coastal sustainability and governance. The use of additional modelling approaches will be evaluated to determine whether such approaches are more appropriate to address particular coastal management questions.
Priority Topic 3: Linking governance and science in coastal regions
Addressing the LOICZ primary goal mentioned above this Topic integrates across the five themes of LOICZ. Its focus is on “coastal communities” defined to include policy makers, managers and stakeholders and “coastal ecosystems” embracing Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), coasts and their associated watersheds.
The approach will be to select sites for an analysis of success factors in bridging between ecosystem science and governance. The analysis will focus upon successes and failures in instigating the changes in human behaviour (institutions, markets and civil society) that mark the implementation of a coastal ecosystem management initiative. In general the analysis will examine coastal governance within the context of the next larger system, a watershed, a Large Marine Ecosystem or geographic region. The analysis will address three central questions:
How are overviews of ecosystem condition being developed and trends being communicated?
How can coastal ecosystem governance initiatives affect the behaviour of societies more effectively?
What are the resulting outcomes and how can we improve upon them?
LOICZ outputs & dissemination
LOICZ research is being communicated and taught through workshops which result in the publication of the Reports and Studies Series. Developments within LOICZ are published in a Newsletter and regular (multi annual) reports for general reference to activities, accomplishments and progress. Scientists involved in LOICZ also publish their results in a wide range of scientific journals, conference proceedings and manuals. The LOICZ IPO provides and maintains an interactive database and search engine for affiliated projects which enables world wide exposure and promotion of individual projects and scientific activities.
Modelling & typology
Modelling is an important activity that illustrates the results of LOICZ research and identifies the research needs of the future. Natural systems such as ecosystems are usually very complex, and models are tools that help conceptualize, integrate, and generalize knowledge. LOICZ works to produce models that explain and forecast how factors, such as water, salt, sediment, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, affect the coastal zone and is working to develop scenarios that investigate the implications of these changes on society.
The variety of physical, biological, chemical, social, political and economic factors that influence the coastal zone, and the length of the globe’s coastline, does not allow measurement of all of them and at every possible location. LOICZ therefore develops typology approaches (“typology” literally means the study of types where things are classified and made comparable according to their characteristics) of the world’s coasts based upon available scientific information and data. One purpose of this is to look at multiple, sometimes complex datasets and to find a way to cluster the various parameters included in order to arrive at meaningful and comparable coastal classes. The next step is to visualise those and synthesise a picture of current and future coastal functioning, interaction of society and climate and to predict future scenarios. The typology relies on a growing coastal database which in the future will build in a variety of land-based and human dimensions variables. Multi-user interfaces are under development. The typology also helps to identify gaps in our scientific knowledge and geographic areas that require more investigation.
LOICZ management and governance
The LOICZ project is managed by an International Project Office (IPO) that is responsible for the administration of the project on a day-to-day basis. Scientific guidance is provided by an international Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) that oversees the development, planning and implementation of the LOICZ activities.
Regional Nodes (until early 2007 in Singapore, Colombo, Accra*, and foreseen in Yantai and Athens) facilitate the engagement by scientists, managers and decision makers at a regional level with LOICZ research and to ensure that the research carried out by LOICZ is relevant to regional needs. | {
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Bids on airport turned down by town council
Two sealed bids for the purchase of the Rimbey airport opened in council at its Monday meeting did not net the desired outcome for the bidders.
The airport will not be sold.
At its meeting, Oct. 24, council opened a bid from Gerald Ernst, Peter Couchman, Paul Kusch and Wayne Danser to purchase the airport for $52,500. They also opened a bid from The County of Ponoka to purchase the airport for the sum of $1.
Council had advertised for the sale of the airport with a reserve bid of $125,000. The property has been assessed at $104,600.
Both bids were rejected by council, who discussed the issue in-camera.
“We are not interested in selling the airport,” said Mayor Rick Pankiw. “We don’t see any advantage to it.”
He noted the airport was not purchased from Ponoka county originally, as was stated in the Review earlier. The incorrect information was provided by former interim CAO Donna Tona.
Pankiw said the airport was purchased from Transport Canada. He said the airport is, however, on county land.
After coming out of the in-camera session council passed a motion to charge 2015 lease rates for the hangers at the airport. The fees are to increase by 10 per cent per year for the next five years.
“We’re back to where we were (in 2015) regarding the airport,” he said.
Peter Couchman, one of the pilots who put in a bid for the airport said he is very disappointed with council’s decision.
“I was hoping they would have more foresight,” he said. “It is a very sad day for me.”
Couchman said he “will almost certainly sell his hanger” which he owns at the airport.
Couchman said he sees council’s decision as “the beginning of the end” for the airport. “You can’t expect the airport to survive without much needed expertise,” he said.
The men who put in a bid to purchase the airport had plans to bring it back to its original state. They planned to upgrade it to include 24-hour use and obtain the status of ‘registered airport’ with Transport Canada. | {
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SAN JOSE (CBS SF) — Police arrested a man Sunday morning in San Jose suspected of ramming a stolen car twice into an occupied police vehicle late last month.
Officers arrested Juan Aguilar at 5:11 a.m. on suspicion of ramming a police vehicle on the morning of Oct. 25, prompting two officers to shoot at him.
Three officers were on foot patrol shortly after midnight in the 400 block of Wooster Avenue west of U.S. Highway 101 when they heard over the police radio that a stolen car was headed their way, police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference last month.
One of the officers, who’s been identified as Jared Yuen, had just entered his patrol vehicle he saw the stolen car with Aguilar allegedly inside. Aguilar allegedly changed gears and backed up into a cul-de-sac, Garcia said.
Yuen attempted a high-risk traffic stop on Aguilar, who allegedly didn’t comply and drove head-on into Yuen’s patrol vehicle. Aguilar allegedly then drove in reverse, crashed into a parked big-rig and drove again into Yuen’s patrol vehicle, Garcia said.
In defense of Yuen, the two other officers, who’ve been identified as Marco Mercado and Julien Taylor, fired at Aguilar, who fled the scene, police said.
The stolen car was found empty about a mile east in the area of McKee Road and El Rancho Verde Drive a short time later, according to Garcia.
Officers and K-9 units searched the area, where they took a man who was hiding into custody on a misdemeanor warrant for resisting arrest, Garcia said.
Investigators later determined the man they had in custody wasn’t Aguilar, police said.
Yuen was left with a minor injury to a lower extremity. He was transported to a hospital and then released, the chief said.
Officers this morning stopped and arrested Aguilar on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle and possessing methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and burglary tools.
Aguilar was booked into the county jail on suspicion of the offenses he was arrested on Sunday and on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer and auto theft.
Garcia said Yuen has been with the department for two years and Mercado and Taylor each for three and a half years.
This was the first officer-involved shooting to be captured on the department’s new body-worn cameras and has helped in the investigation, but the footage won’t be released to the public, Garcia said. | {
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Designcommotion.com ~ Home Design Ideas
Cabin Antler Decor Tags
Winter Is Coming, Time To Apply Cabin Decor
Gilmat Interior, 2017-10-05 07:26:57.Cabin decor adds improvement to your cabin. Remember that cabin is the perfect place to retreat at winter. Decoration you add to the cabin will influence how it will be warm and comfortable during the winter. Cabin is usually decorated with rustic style. Look at the expression of rustic cabin furniture. The furniture spreads warmth to the cabin interior. It makes the cabin more comfortable. Indeed, it is not only from the furniture but also from the decors and ideas for decorating.Then you need to shop cabin decor first. First plan is make a list of what decors you want to buy. The decors you buy will be displayed on the cabin wall, ceiling and floor. You can start with looking at the images of the cabin interior decoration. You may see some decors on the cabin interior decoration then. To make a good list, you can look at the list of popular items for cabin decor that is provided from certain online store. They have selected what decors you may need.If you have bought all from the list of cabin decor, then it is the time to decorate or display your cabin. Remember that any decors you buy, you will not miss log cabin decor. Rustic log decoration should be more entertaining for winter season. It is so warm and comfortable, too. Looking at the images of cabin interior decoration gives you an easier way to see the ideas to decorate the cabin. However, you will not follow all ideas that are in the pictures.You need more personal ideas. Remember that this is for your family retreat. You cannot just copy the ideas of cabin decor that you can find from the images as those ideas are created for other families. You may take some but not all. Think about what your family loves more. Wall decoration, furniture, flooring ideas and others including lighting can completely decorate the cabin interior.As long as this cabin decor comes with rustic design, then DIY ideas will be considered with rustic decoration. If you have inspirations about rustic interior decoration, you can apply those inspirations to your cabin. However if it is not, then your creativity will lead you decorate the cabin impressively. Images of cabin interior decoration can inspire you but the decision to decorate your cabin should be based on your personal feeling as well as your family’s feeling.
Farmhouse Dining Table With Original Designs And Finishes
Gilmat Table Design, 2017-11-04 19:39:17.Dining table design will always attract anyone who is in the dining room. Even, the design of the dining room can influence how the beautiful moment of dining time can be created. It is because the design of the dining table will directly become the part of your dining room interior design and decoration. So, each design of dining table has its own expressions. If you want to have a memory of your childhood, you can look at how farmhouse dining table is designed and built.This dining table is really impressive due its original designs and memory you have with that table. Today, if you see farmhouse dining table in the market but it is built and finished by machine where it cleanly cut, you cannot say it still has the original accents. It is because you will say it has original designs and accents when the table is handcrafted and hand-finished. So, make sure that the table is hand finished. When it is hand finished, you can look at the accents and details that are more natural.This is what you will love about farmhouse dining table. It still has natural expressions of the genuine hardwood. No wonder if the price of this table is huge remembering it is made of genuine hardwood then made and finished by hands of an expert. Look at how pine farmhouse dining table can be excellently designed and finished. Pine wood has its own accents comparing with other woods like oak, cherry or others. The wood type can influence how the finished look of the table.Farmhouse dining table may be made of genuine hardwood or by old reclaimed barn wood. It depends how the designer or handyman makes it. It has thick table top as well as strong legs that have natural texture of wood. You have a choice either to buy or build the table by your own hands. Remembering the table may have hefty price, you may think to build it by your own hands.If you build this farmhouse dining table, you need the right plan. Here, you have more choices on how the table will be finished. If you want something classic, you can consider paint it in white. Look, white farmhouse dining table looks classic and old too. This table design can be a wonderful choice. Indeed, it depends on how you will love the finished look of this table design.
Best Baby Bath Tub You Must Have
Gilmat Bathroom, 2017-11-04 15:57:24.Being a mother is a miracle. Furthermore if it is for the first baby, you may even not be able to describe how happy you are. You will have great moments with your baby for all the baby activities including when the baby is bathing. When you are bathing and cleaning your baby, you surely will touch your baby. Your touches mean a lot to him or her. However, you need to make sure your baby get the comfortable position when he is bathing including ensuring his safety with the right baby bath tub.Indeed, you need to have the right bath tub that is designed for a baby. If you use adult bath tub, it is slippery and can be dangerous for the baby. It is difficult for cleaning your baby. Luckily, today there is a wide selection of baby bath tub that you can find. This is a bath tub that is designed for the comfort and safety of the baby including giving your baby the right position so you can bathe and clean the baby comfortably too. You just need to find the best one from the wide collection here.If you look for baby bath tub online, you surely have a large variety of materials, design, size and colors. You need to select the baby bath tub with the durable material, design that your baby like including the right size to ensure the comfort and safety of the baby. Colors of the bath tub can influence the baby’s moods. So, it is a good idea to pick the bath tub with colors that your baby likes. Bright and fun colors must be more interesting for baby.As long as you have a wide selection, then it is recommended to read the baby bath tub reviews first before shopping. The reviews from the manufacturers describe the bath tub in detail including the price. Otherwise, reviews from the customers can give you how the customers feel after they use the baby bath tub. More rating stars of certain type or product can be in your list of selection.So, you need to be more selective in selecting the right bath tub for your baby as you have a very wide selection. Shopping online is a good idea as you will not only have a wider choice but also can find the best one with the price that you want. Besides that, you can read the review for each type of bath tub from the customers who have bought the tub.
Perfect Armoire Wardrobe For Your Bedroom
Gilmat Bedroom, 2017-11-04 15:51:09.When you are thinking about furnishing your bedroom, then you will think about furniture that is built with design and style you like. You need more personal touches for decorating your bedroom interior so the room will not be boring. Sometimes, themed decoration creates a monotone appearance and you can easily feel bored when it looks monotone. Therefore, when you are looking for the perfect armoire wardrobe, then you will consider the wardrobe with design, style, size and color that you like most.There is a large collection of bedroom armoire wardrobe you can find here. Each of them has different look. They have different finishes too. It can be little bit confusing to pick the best armoire wardrobe as all of them look wonderful. Then, it is not easy to pick the best one as all of them look best for your bedroom interior. That is why you need to follow your intuition. If you want to buy the wardrobe, make sure you select the best one based on how you will use it first, then you can select it by the design.When you consider this armoire wardrobe by your needs, then you can be more selective where it means you can find the best one that meets your standard. Look at the wardrobe that has the right dimension. The wardrobe that has drawers can be much better as you can store your personal items including your jewelries. The more storage the wardrobe has, then the more versatile it will be. It is because the drawers can work as organizers too.To know the size or dimension as well as the storage that the armoire wardrobe has, you need to look at the inside of the wardrobe. Open the wardrobe’s doors then see the storage spaces including the number of the drawers. You need to find the wardrobe that can keep your clothing well and organize your small personal stuffs like jewelries. The right design can be seen how the inside of the wardrobe is.Then it is about how it looks like. Painted armoire wardrobe can be a good choice if you want the wardrobe has the color as you like. You can paint it in black or other paint colors. Follow the accents of your bedroom interior to ensure the paint color you select to the armoire wardrobe will match with the bedroom interior. You can also let the wardrobe with natural color for a neutral accent.
Wooden Floating Bookshelves For Limited Room Space
Gilmat Decoration, 2017-11-04 10:08:21.Floating Bookshelves are a good design of bookshelves that is good to be used in minimum space. If your floor plan is already full with furniture and it is impossible to add new furniture, these floating shelves can be a good idea to add more books storage space in limited space. You do not need to provide space in the floor instead you could use your plain wall. Besides it is functional to use in small space, it is also kind of decorative furniture that make your wall become interesting and accentuate.Floating shelves design is unique. It does not have shelves legs to make the shelves stand instead this shelves will be mounted on the wall. It makes the bookshelves does not require any flooring space. These bookshelves are made with variety of materials such as wood, aluminum, and plastic. However, if you like to have an appealing and pretty bookshelves, wooden bookshelves are the suitable choice. Wood is very natural and looks elegant that is suitable to be used in any rooms.Whether you want to have floating shelves with simple bookshelves or decorative bookshelves, you could have it. Some of the design is just simple with square or rectangle book space but some of them are made with different variety of models that are unique and decorative. You could find the bookshelves that are similar with tree branch or other kind of shapes. It will make the room much more accentuate and decorative.The floating design of the bookshelves allows you to provide space for your books. You could organize the books so when you want to find the book, you could find it in a short time. You should not find it in all of the rooms in your house because the bookshelves already provide the exact place for your book. You could access your books easily whether you want to take or put the book in the bookshelves.If you think about the way to add more storage in limited room space, you could think about the floating shelves. With this kind of bookshelves you do not need to provide flooring space because these bookshelves will be installed on the wall. The wall that is useless can be the place to mount the bookshelves as well as make the wall more decorative. Your plain wall design will be more decorative with the existence of the Floating Bookshelves.
Read This; Advantages Of Round Dining Table Design
Gilmat Table Design, 2017-11-04 19:48:51.Many stores offered their dining table designs. You have hundred choices just right in front of your eyes. It can be little bit frustrating to pick the best dining table as there is a wide selection. Then, you can start with the shape of the table. If you are considering round dining table, you have chosen the right dining table. It is because there are advantages you will get when you pick this table. This dining table will not only look good for your dining room interior but also comfortable for you to enjoy the dishes.First of all, round dining table is the right choice to save your dining room floor space. Most of dining table is built in large size. For the small dining room, this needs the right solution. Luckily, brilliant designer make dining table in round shape to save more spaces but still able to accommodate more people. It is because this table has no corner. So, you just need to pick this able with size you like. The round dining table for 8 has the size the can surprise you as well as your dining room space.Second, this table comes in various designs. It can be said that from rustic to modern and even contemporary dining table may come in different shapes. However, if you look at the picture gallery of round dining table, you can find this table in various designs. For rustic design such as farmhouse round table with thick and genuine wood while for modern or stylish design, you can look at the roundtable that is made of glass. It is excellent and transparent. It is great to save more space as it can invisible.Third, you can find this round dining table in expandable feature. One of the most popular round tables in the market is the table that is designed with the ability to expand. This is called with expandable round dining table. This dining table has round shape and finished with an idea where it can be expanded when you need in larger space. Even, you can find this table with technology where it can expand by itself. You just need to press a single button then it will expand or back to the normal size by itself. It is impressive.Sure, there are more advantages you can get when you have this round dining table. You can find this table in various finishes where it can be with its natural wood color or coated for glossy finish. You can paint this table in various colors too. Any finish ideas you pick, this table design is impressive. You just need to complete the table with the right chair designs.
Wonderful Counter Height Dining Table Collections In Trends
Gilmat Dining Room, 2017-11-04 19:29:25.Your dining room is a valuable room for every single family member. This room is where memory and story are created. So, anything you will add to this room, it will become a part of memory. Therefore, you need to create this room with wonderful appearance starting from selecting the right dining room furniture set. Furniture is the point of dining room decoration. If you want something looks slimmer but indeed wonderful, counter height dining table should be in your list.This dining table looks incredible in both small and large dining room. You can have a dining room interior in elegant but still has the classical accents. This counter height dining table can be modern but still keeps its natural expression. So, it doesn’t matter about what theme you select for the dining room. This table will enhance the room interior from the center space. It can be more when you have this table and the chair in one set. It is because these counter height dining table sets have a complete expression.To make this table set looks more wonderful, indeed, you will start picking this table design with the finish you like. There is a large collection of counter height dining table you can find in the market. You can find the table in round or rectangle shape. Both the table and chairs can be finished with black paint color to make it look more elegant. You can find the table set is just coated with its natural color. It looks traditional but with excellent finish makes this table set impressive.This counter height dining table and the chairs look more incredible when you decorate the dining room in airy look. Build the dining room with more windows. Let the sunlight enter the room as well as the gentle breeze. It means you will enjoy the outdoor view from the dining room. Then, these counter height dining table and chairs will look more incredible by its designs, colors and expressions. The dining room can be more comfortable too as it is warm and fresh.Add decoration ideas for both the counter height dining table and the dining room interior. For the table, you can have the table with or without linens. Both of them are wonderful. If you add flowers on the table while the dining room is built with airy look, it will create really natural dining room interior design. It is even more wonderful and comfortable. You will absolutely love your dining room with this table set and the ideas.
What Wardrobe Closet Design You Like?
Gilmat Interior, 2017-11-04 15:44:44.Your bedroom should be furnished with the right furniture design. You will consider the design of the furniture to personalize your bedroom interior. It is because your bedroom is a personal room where you need to design and decorate with more personal touches. Your personality will lead you to some ideas that you love to add. This is including for selecting the right wardrobe closet remembering there is a wide selection you can find in the market. You can absolutely find the right wardrobe closet sale then.This closet works as storage for your bedroom. You need it in functional and attractive design. There are also the closets for your bedroom in very stylish design following the trend. This closet can organize your personal stuffs like jewelry or others and sure your clothing too. You may find this wardrobe closet with some drawers and cabinets. Drawers and cabinets work as an additional storage so you can use it for your personal items. Just find the right tips and ideas to organize inside the closet.In the market, there is a wide range of the selection collection from well-designed wardrobe closet to meet your standard. The close is made of excellent material such as oak, cherry or other wood types. The designs are varying. Even you can find portable wardrobe closet that can be placed to any rooms with any interior decoration. This closet can be moved to any room easily. It is light but indeed it is durable as it is also made of high quality material.If you want more personal touches on your wardrobe closet, then order a custom design is a good idea. You can select the material. Also, you have more options to customize the style and size to meet the interior decoration of your bedroom. You can consider the finishing idea too as you can find the close in natural color, black, white or even mirrored finish. All of them are awesome to add to your bedroom. Custom design can meet your highest standard.Otherwise, if you just want to shop this wardrobe closet that is available in the market, you will select the closet from traditional to contemporary design. Modern closet design for your bedroom looks incredible too. For modern design, you may even find multi-purpose wardrobe closet. It has more advantages as it can be used by any purposes. Modern wardrobe design looks more versatile. It is an excellent design to shop.
Dining Room Table Sets; Create Wonderful Dining Room Instantly
Gilmat Dining Room, 2017-11-04 19:20:25.Your home room will never be said as dining room when it has no dining room furniture. So, the way it is called as dining room because it has the furniture. However, it is not that easy of course. Dining room is used for every family member even guests to get together. So, this room should be designed and decorated as how dining room interior should be. You cannot instantly create wonderful dining room except with the right decoration and dining room table sets.By this furniture set, you can complete your dining room space instantly. This furniture set looks incredible as it has the same accents. This makes you consider picking the furniture in one complete set rather than buy the table and chair separately. So, if you want to complete your dining room interior decoration, the best idea to get it is by purchasing dining room table sets. You will not only have the table and chair in one set but also the various designs, styles including with various materials.Indeed, dining room table sets provide a complete accent that can be added to your dining room interior. You may need to see the pictures where this table set can come in 4, 5, 6 and more pieces. It depends on how large the table is and how many numbers of the chairs that you need. If you want the table for more people, then you need the table in larger size while the number of the chairs can be selected by following the people who will sit on those chairs.Easy, dining room table sets will indeed take more spaces of your dining room floor space. However, it doesn’t mean small dining room cannot be perfected with this table set. Look, round dining room tables for 6 are well designed even for small people. Round dining table is the perfect solution to save more spaces due its round shape. Besides that, if you want more, you can find the table with drop leaf feature or buy expandable round dining table set.Don’t forget about the finish. Dining room table sets can be elegantly finished. It looks stylish, elegant and incredible depending on how the table is finished. Actually, it depends on what material selected to build this table. Oak wood is an incredible wood type to build elegant and classy dining table set. It means both the chairs and table will be made of oak. It looks really wonderful.
Shop Oval Coffee Table To Complete Your Room
Gilmat Table Design, 2017-11-04 19:52:43.Coffee table has the same functions even by different designs, shapes and sizes. However, they have different accents depending on how they are designed. However, if you want to have a coffee table with artistic design and can surely complement your room interior, you can look at the collections of oval coffee table. This coffee table has unique shape. It is not round or rectangle. But indeed, it has long size and has no corner. This table can act more than as coffee table due its shape and size.Oval coffee table can be paired with any room interior design. From traditional to modern and even luxurious room interior design can be absolutely complemented with this table. It is because of the unique shape of the table as well as various designs and styles. Also, this table comes with various finishes too. This allows you to be more selective finding the best one that you want. This coffee table can instantly furnish and complete the room space.If you have modern living room interior, including for minimalist and simple room decoration, look how modern oval coffee table can instantly complete the end space of the room. The modern cut makes this table looks excellent. Even you may find this table with clean cut for versatile design. So, you can place this oval coffee table at your living room even as the table of the living room sofa. It looks great. It can be more when you can find the right finish. For modern design, it can be finished with glossy look.Oval glass top coffee table is also a good choice to pick to complement your modern room interior design. Here, you can determine if the table has glass top only or has the top with wood and glass. Both of them look excellent. However, if you pick oval coffee table with pure glass top, it can be invisible. It means, if you put this table in the small space where the wall space is painted in white, this table will be invisible and indeed it makes the room space looks larger.If you love something elegant, this oval coffee table offers elegant and stylish design too. Look at this coffee table that is made of oak wood and finished glossily. The natural color of oak and glossy finish make this table looks classy. Adding with under shelf, it makes the table more versatile. You can make it as an organizer for your books or other stuffs that you can put on the shelf of this table. | {
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Miners push ASX over 4500
Australian stocks climbed higher on Friday, driven higher by the major miners on the back of strong commodity prices.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was 28.3 points, or 0.63 per cent, higher at 4,506.0, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up 27.9 points, or 0.62 per cent, at 4,518.0.
On the ASX 24, the December share price index futures contract was 27 points higher at 4,516, with 29,888 contracts traded.Regional markets in Australia and around Asia slightly outperformed the US leads from overnight.
CMC Markets senior trader Tim Waterer said that was a good thing that appeared to indicate traders were better absorbing the daily grind of positive and negative news out of the US about negotiations to resolve its looming fiscal cliff.
The cliff refers to a series of tax hikes and spending cuts due to automatically come into effect from January to deal with the nation’s massive budget deficit.
‘‘The market has hit the end of month finish line with some gusto today,’’ Mr Waterer said.
‘‘The market is learning to absorb comments by politicians, like in the US last night (Republican House speaker) John Boehner saying something negative about there being no substantive progress in talks but the market shrugged it off today.’’
Global miner Rio Tinto helped drive up the bourse climbing $1.57, or 2.75 per cent, higher to $58.75.BHP Billiton posted a more modest 18 cent rise to $34.39 and Fortescue Metals lifted five cents, or 1.3 per cent, to $3.91.
Energy stocks also shone, with Woodside Petroleum lifting 20 cents to $33.80 and Santos improved by 1.92 per cent to $11.14.
Making news on Friday, grocery wholesaler Metcash said net profit for the six months to October 31, 2012, fell 13 per cent to $82 million, compared with the prior corresponding period.
Metcash was down 8.0 cents, or 2.28 per cent, at $3.43.Supermarket owner Woolworths was seven cents worse off at $29.28 with more defensive stocks struggling.
Qantas reported a drop in revenue seat factor - a measure including passenger numbers and distances flown - for the fourth month in a row.
Qantas shares were 0.5 of a cent, or 0.38 per cent, higher at $1.325 while rival Virgin Australia had a better day, up one cent, or 2.33 per cent, higher at 44 cents. | {
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IN THE NEWS
Would You Pay $5,000 For Wine And Beer Glasses Made Of Cheese?
It’s a product that could steal the heart of any cheesehead: wine and beer glasses made out of cheese.
But the price? Not so gouda: $5,000 for a set.
The bank-busting drinking receptacles are being offered as a promotion by Finlandia Cheese in honor of Finland’s 100th anniversary as an independent nation on Dec. 6.
Snack time makeover with SnackTimeTM Cheese Sticks
Finlanda® Cheese, the renowned cheese maker noted for being one of the most highly regarded cheese brands in America, announced today that it is giving snack time a makeover with the lauch of its new SnackTimeTM Cheese Sticks.
10 new dairy products for June Dairy Month
DairyFoods.com (Deerfield, IL – UVPM: 54,151): Featured Finlandia’s new Spreadable Butters with Canola Oil in a roundup of new dairy products on June 6. The brief highlighted that the low-sodium butters are made with non-GMO canola oil and provided their calories and sodium content. Retail prices, sizes and images of the products were also included.
FINLANDIA CHEESE TAKES TOP HONOR AT UNITED STATES CHEESE CHAMPIONSHIP
Finlandia® Cheese the renowned cheesemaker noted for being one of the most highly regarded cheese brands in America, today announced that its premium Finlandia Swiss Cheese recipe has been named “Best of Class” in the Swiss Cheese Style category at The United States Championship Cheese Contest, which took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin earlier this month. Produced by Guggisberg Cheese of Millersburg, OH and known for its distinctively rich and nutty flavor, Finlandia Swiss Cheese is crafted from the purest milk from cows not treated with rBST, and is carefully aged for 100 days for a delicious, robust flavor. | {
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This Branch Closing Policy Template (approximately 11 pages) is available to purchase from BankPolicies.com in Microsoft® Word format for $100.00.
Want to ensure your purchase from BankPolicies.com remains current? Add a Product Update Protection Plan to your shopping cart to ensure that you will automatically receive an updated version every time it is revised via e-mail within one year from the last date of purchase. This timely and cost-effective solution ensures that you stay on top of federal regulatory changes and industry recommended best practices.
When updates are made you will receive detailed information regarding why the product was updated and what has changed within the product in our Product Update Notification e-mail correspondence. This enables you to make an informed decision on whether to make any changes to the policy or procedure you implemented for your financial institution from the revised template.
Since 1999 our dedicated staff of career banking industry professionals are ready to keep your financial institution up to date with the latest bank policy standards and industry best practices. Purchase your bank policies from us today and rest easy knowing you have the right team helping you and your organization stay compliant with various laws, rules and regulations that may apply. We look forward to earning your business for all of your bank policy needs and thank you for the opportunity to serve you now and in the future whenever you may need us. | {
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With over 25 years experience, we work hard to bring each customer the best possible service and quality available. We look forward to working with you on your next project. We welcome your questions and thank you for your interest.
Grounds Guys offers local lawn care, lawn fertilizing, and lawn edging in Denver. This professional has many years of experience in lawn care, lawn fertilizing, and lawn edging. They have professionals who offer quality lawn care, lawn fertilizing, and lawn edging.
Jones Tree & Lawn, Inc. has tree experts who are insured. Jones Tree & Lawn, Inc. has a team of tree professionals handling tree service jobs. This individual is one of the professional tree arborists who handle tree service.
Denver’s Finest Creations was established in 2015 as a family company with a hard-working, honest and reliable crew. We are a licensed and insured, Denver based company who works residential and commercial landscaping projects in the Denver area and surrounding cities. If you have larger, out of town projects, please contact us as we would be willing to discuss.Integrity of our craft and how we treat our customers is something that sets DFC aside from our numerous competitors. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of work and getting your project finished on time.Our main focus is landscaping and design and we
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Hire Majestic Tree Svc & Landscaping if you need a business that provides licensed and insured tree service, tree removal, and tree trimming for residential and commercial clients. They receive among the best tree service, tree removal, and tree trimming reviews. They so safe, efficient and dependable tree service, tree removal, and tree trimming.
Grounds Guys does landscaping, lawn care, and lawn fertilizing. Their tree trimmers do a wide range of landscaping, lawn care, and lawn fertilizing. Using modern sets of equipment, this expert offers landscaping, lawn care, and lawn fertilizing.
Brothers Landscaping handles various types of yard work, including curbing, planting, and more. With 6 strong employees, they also build water features like ponds and waterfalls. All phases of landscaping, we specialize in custom fire pits as well as custom benches. If you can dream it we can design it and make it a reality. From sprinkler installs to fencing give us a call for a free estimate. 720-641-4926
I'm very skilled and have been doing tree care for 18 year and I can handle any of your tree care need at an affordable price. I done use a bucket truck enless I really have to. I'm a small family ran business so I can usually come in cheaper that most company's because my over head isn't as much as most. I can handle any of your tree care needs special timely manner get your free estimate today
Having some of the best rated arborists, Jones Tree & Lawn, Inc. can provide residential lawn care, lawn fertilizing, and lawn aeration in Arvada. These tree experts handle lawn care, tree service, and lawn fertilizing. Expect this team to showcase experience and dedication by completing every task you require. | {
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All The Rappers’ Johnsons: Low Blows OnThe Gossip Game
Last night’s episode of The Gossip Game was pretty action-packed with Drama and Vivian’s disagreements, but there was a moment during the show that we don’t want to get overshadowed by all that yelling. K. Foxx vs. Ebro, y’all… how do you feel about him “joking” about her being intimate with the artists she interviews?
So here’s what went down. After K. Foxx reported a story about someone who looked like Joe Budden dropping trou during Hot 97’s morning show, Ebro was all “word is you’ve seen all the rappers’ johnsons,” and followed it up by saying “word is that’s how you got your job too!”
You can hear the record screech, right? Not only is Ebro her co-host on the show, but he’s also her boss. Radio is of course entertainment, but is that right for him to say to her, as a co-worker, friend, or superior?
Immediately offended, the incident escalated and led to K. Foxx cursing at Ebro in the station office, making her look equally, if not more, out-of-pocket. Makes us wonder what would Angela Yee have done in this position, especially since being a woman in an industry full of dudes can be tough to swallow. Watch the clip and weigh in on the poll below! | {
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Money News
Tough times still ahead for consumers, says expert
Thu 11th Mar 2010
Richard Perks, director of retail research for Mintel, stated it was an "obvious" fact that such costs for the consumer would rise and added it was likely they would end this year worse off than in 2009.
He said: "I don't see this as the start of things picking up. I think we've had the pick-up, and on the whole incomes are being squeezed again now."
The British Retail Consortium (KPMG) found that last month UK retail sales values rose 2.2 per cent in comparison with February 2009.
Food sales slowed due to the snowy weather, meaning shoppers stocked up during January but non-food items such as clothing and footwear showed strong gains.
According to the Local Data Company, some town centre shopping areas saw crowds reduce by a fifth, and across Britain vacancy rates in public places shot to 12 per cent. | {
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“Engaging with the suppliers who provide adherence to product specification is one of the procurement best practices for buyers looking to reduce their spend,” says SpendEdge procurement analyst Anil Seth. “Also, suppliers who have the ability to provide after-sales support including responsiveness in resolving the client issues are the preferred suppliers among the buyers,” added Anil.
Looking for more procurement insights from this report?
SpendEdge sample reports are free of charge and provide insights that focus on the cost-saving aspects of procurement and the optimization of category spend.
Procurement experts at SpendEdge expect the following factors to play a key role in influencing the global category spend for cement.
Rapid industrialization in developing economies
The rise in global population and shift in social structure toward nuclear families
Rise in government spending on upgrading infrastructure
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In an education focused event in New York today, Apple showed of its new version of iBooks and its new creation tool, iBooks Author.
iBooks 2 has a strong focus on textbook design, layout, and easy glossary searching. The books will focus on visuals in landscape mode and straight text in portrait mode. Like any good textbook, the Apple versions will have Q&A sections, critical thinking questions, and are packed full of images. Also included is a streamlined highlighting system that automatically converts your highlights into study cards. High school textbooks are priced at $14.99 or less. iBooks 2 is available for free as an update to iBooks in the iTunes App Store right now.
To accompany the new bookstore, Apple has a new textbook creation app called iBooks Author. The app tries to make book creation as simple as possible with drag and drop functionality, templates, widgets, and organization tools. It's available as a free download in the Mac App Store right now. In order to preview the books you create you need to update to a new version of iTunes, which is also available now.
Finally, iTunes U is getting an overhaul and an app today. It will allow students to access lectures, notes, and streams directly from an iPad in the same way they would an online class. Once exclusive to universities, it's now available to K-12 schools as well. If universities support it, the app will fully integrate with textbooks in iBooks. iTunes U is available as a free download in the iTunes App Store right now. | {
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Free money
Friday, November 30, 2018 9:15 AM
Comments (0)
Just what is free money? Free means something that doesn’t cost anything. Money is what is used to buy anything. So free money is something that doesn’t cost you anything that you can use to buy anything. Well that’s clear as mud!
Okay so it is the giving time of year, Christmas. The religious side aside, and I don’t say that lightly as setting the religious side of Christmas aside is like telling the sun not to rise. Thankfully it just isn’t going to happen. But for today let’s look at the giving side. The monetary giving side. This is where that free money just might come into play.
There aren’t too many of us who haven’t received a gift card as a gift because a gift card is a gift that’s easily given as gifts go. The gift card is a monetary gift that you can spend but it has its limits. It takes into account your tastes. Sometime in the past you said within earshot of a gift card giver. “Oh, I just love the meatballs they make at this restaurant.” Cha-ching gift card to you for that restaurant. “Just look at these wonderful earmuffs I just bought at my favorite store in the mall.” Clunk, clunk. Gift card to you to shop at that store anytime earmuffs are on sale! Or how about this one, “I was looking at that HUGE on line store that sells EVERYTHING and found a rope that is twisted left handed, just what would anyone do with that?” Boom you now have a gift card to an online merchant. But, yep a “but!” But you will have to set up an account to use that gift card—and pay the shipping too because shipping is not covered with the gift card!
If you see anything there that might fit what you plan to give, STOP! I’m not saying to stop giving, just think about this. If you were to ask for a gift card what would you hope for? In asking some of the people around me we have, all but one or two, come up with this. If you are going to give a gift card, don’t do it--just give the money you will spend on the gift cart. And here’s why…
There are three types of gift card getters. Hopefully they will all say thank you—but that’s where they all split off to take their own paths. The first gift carder uses it before the sun goes down buying just the right fishing lure, earrings or toy. Usually spending just a touch over the amount of the card. Done and done.
Second types of receivers will set the card on a shelf, counter, dresser, or in a drawer for later just to find it about a year later. It has either expired or as sneaky as it sounds the store has gleaned a significant percentage off of the value of the card—for bookkeeping costs! So the card will go back into the drawer because it is very embarrassing when you are in line and are going to use the card just to find out it has expired or after fees are deducted you don’t have enough to buy what you have in your cart!
Number three will put the gift card in a wallet so it is there when the time is right to use it. Oh number three is very grateful for the gift but really the meatballs or earmuffs really weren’t all that great. They will use the card if they ever go to that place again. But not really a fan of the meatballs or earmuffs after all.
Putting all that under your hat are you like me and now see that just good ole cash is a better way to go? Oh I am all for gifts, don’t get me wrong. I love the paper, ribbon, bows, tags, boxes, Styrofoam peanuts, dogs and cats playing in the aftermath. Let’s not get carried away and only give coin. But as I have heard grandparents who live far away say, “I just don’t know what the grandkids are into,” Well if you don’t know don’t give them a piece of plastic, give them what you would want if you were them—free money. Cash, chook, folding coin, hard money, ready money, petty cash! If it makes you feel good to buy a gift card buy one for yourself. Come on you know that is what you are really doing when you buy one. Isn’t it?
Happy shopping, wrapping, sending, and especially giving of yourself to those you love.
Trina lives in Eureka, Nevada. Share with her at [email protected]. Really!
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Have you ever wondered about attachment parenting? Sarah from Yes and Yes asked me to write about my experience with attachment parenting for her True Stories interviews, and I was thrilled to answer her questions. I don’t get to write about attachment parenting, (extended) breastfeeding, or bed sharing much anymore
4 Breastfeeding Tips That Made All The Difference If you’re an expecting or new mom and interested in breastfeeding, keeping just these 4 tips in mind will give you a huge advantage over moms who are struggling through breastfeeding without much support. When I was pregnant with Landon, I was
I got a nasty, personally attacking comment on one of my latest posts and at first I was going to just delete it — because there is no room for nasty, personally attacking comments on Dagmar’s momsense. But then I got over feeling undeserving of such an unkind comment and
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the material from this blog without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used with one photo only, with full and clear credit given to Dagmar Bleasdale and Dagmar’s Home with appropriate direction to the original content.
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Reviews
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Perfect PurpleI received this set for my Valentines Birthday and couldn't be happier with the quality of craftsmanship and how sparkly it is. Even though it looks sophisticated it can be worn simply as well.
The gift giver is a long time fan of your store's jewelry and so am I now! | {
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} |
Corset training with steel boned corsets help a lot in addition with hormones to give us TGirls wonderful curves! Romantasy has been the best place to get corsets in my experience. You can support Sissy Kiss by letting them know you found Romantasy through Sissy Kiss.~ Christie Luv
Hi girly girls !! are there any girly boys (im 42) who have totaly ( and not afraid ) and done out their house in Hello Kitty accesories.I want to and my girlfriend has not a problem with it.Eg ive just ordered things like hand towls/bath towls,flannels,mug and ive already got bedding and ive just ordered 2 ladies t-shirts for me with a cute hello Kitty hugging a teddy bear which my gf knows about !! and doesnt mind !Flowerxx
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Posted June 23rd, 2011 ~ 12:49 am
im about to do my room hk style! nice! wish i could do the house i stay in but my roomy wont let me.:( but hey good going. wish i could come over!
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Posted June 23rd, 2011 ~ 7:34 am
im about to do my room hk style! nice! wish i could do the house i stay in but my roomy wont let me.:( but hey good going. wish i could come over!
Thing is ive got to stash it all away when the boys come around ha ha !!!
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Can you say the reason why you are deleting? Only the moderators will be able to see the reason you give. | {
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} |
I've got a formatting issue when the formatting affect code that has SELECT statements in parentheses. I've got the Text Length for In-line Parentheses setting set to 200. Still the following code
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Could there be something in my settings/formatting rules that could interfere with this? Or are those things that have a valid formatting rule going to be formatted regardless of the value set for Text Length for In-line Parentheses? | {
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The head coach of Canada’s junior national team will soon have to invite dozens of the country’s most talented young hockey players to selection camp.
Then he’ll have to whittle the group down to a final squad to play in this year’s IIHF world juniors championship, which starts in Vancouver and Victoria on Dec. 26.
“You want competition at positions and you want lots of players that you have to make decisions on,” Hunter said.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s going to be a real challenge.”
Choosing who will go to camp got tougher this week as Hunter coached a team made up of the Western Hockey League’s best in a pair of games against the Russian junior team as part of the Canadian Hockey League’s annual Canada Russia series.
Canada won the first match up 2-1 in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, then dropped the second bout 3-1 in Langley, B.C., the next night.
Some lesser-known names stepped up in both games, Hunter said.
“There are the guys that are the star players that are under the radar to start with, but then you take guys like Brett Leason as an example, who’s come on the radar because of his play in the early season,” Hunter said, referring to a 19-year-old right winger for the Prince Albert Raiders. | {
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lørdag den 9. juni 2012
Flowers on smoke and ashes
This mani is soon past it's BBF date, so here it is - otherwise I might not post it at all LOLThe base
color is China Glaze Smoke And Ashes, one single coat actually, and I wanted to
try a new brand of acrylic paint, so I went for a white and a dark fuchsia to
make a lighter color. After doing two nails I realized that the fuchsia would
not stand enough out when dry, so I painted a mixed pink and the white over it,
but not very carefully as you can see, but it didn’t show IRL. On the ring
finger some other kind of flower sneaked in, but I like it ;) When dry I top
coated with Seche Vite.
This is something that I really like - black background and flowers that make a beautiful contrast! :-) I think you should make one more manicure like this, but with all flowers like this one on your ring fingers nail, that one that "sneaked in"! :-) | {
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Stanley Ratifo
Mozambique Shock Zambia with a late goal | #AFCON2019 Qualifier Former winners Zambia were left stunned by a late goal as they lost 1-0 to Mozambique at home in their opening qualifier for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Mozambique left it until the 89th minute to earn their... | {
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Sometimes when you have a barbecue you are able to give the meat the perfect taste. Other times it is not what you would expect it to be because the modernized grill works on gas or electricity which does not give the food as much flavor as a regular fire used to. You need the right tools and accessories to turn yourself into the perfect meat smoking chef that will have all the guests asking how you did it. The key to a great barbecue is having a good time, this is however not possible if the food is bad. What you need is an electric barbeque smoker that will give the meat a genuine smoke taste like no restaurant can do it.
An electric barbecue smoker is something that you can easily find, but to find the right one is very difficult. Smoke Pistol has the perfect electric and non electric barbecue smoker equipment which will be one of the best buys you will make. The point is to take one if the cartridges which are available in nine different flavors and smoke your meat until its perfect.
The reason why there are so many different flavored cartridges for your electric barbeque smoker is because each different flavored cartridge is used to cook something different. The different woods contained in the different cartridges include things like the popular hickory flavor which is used to cook ribs. You will also find other flavors for poultry and fish such as apple and cherry. Some of the other flavors include oak, pecan and maple which will all enhance the flavor no matter what meat you cook with the smoke.
The Grill Kicker is a small unit that comes in three different colors and sits on any grill. It is a non electric barbecue smoker which makes it very easy to use and convenient for all occasions. It is basically mess free and will make smoke for half an hour. The main electric barbecue smoker is the Smoke Pistol. This one of a kind design has been used in competitions and cook offs, and many times people have given great feedback on the delicious flavors it creates. The Smoke Pistol electric barbecue smoker creates smoke for many hours of use and can be controlled via its control panel. With this control panel you are able to let out a certain amount of smoke to your choosing and can set it to do other things to such as its smoke BURST function.
The Smoke Pistol electric barbecue smoker and the Grill Kicker are compatible for any grill. Smoke Pistol does not only offer great products online but you will also find barbecue recipes, tips and even great customer testimonials which are proof of how good these products are becoming.
To get your barbecue off to a good start you need the ideal electric barbecue smoker that won’t be found anywhere else other than from Smoke Pistol. If you need to read more about it, watch demos and order online today then all you have to do is log on to www.smokepistol.com. | {
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Kareem Duncan practices on Wednesday in advance of Watervliet’s game against Corinth on Friday.
By Sam Blum - [email protected]
WATERVLIET, N.Y., >> Kareem Duncan came into his first season as a Watervliet running back ultra-prepared. He fitted his body during the summer with jogs, weight-lifting, and as he says, eating right.
For a player who sat out as a freshman last year to have nine touchdowns in five games, it shows just how far he’s come. The one thing he did struggle with, almost to his detriment, was holding onto the football.
It’s a problem that manifested itself in practice. It seeped into game-play. Duncan even fumbled a would-be game-winning touchdown in what turned out to be Watervliet’s only loss this season at Voorheesville.
“During practice, I started making the running backs actually carry balls through practices, and anybody could knock them out,” running backs coach Bryan Bruce said. “Just tried to alter his holding — high and tight, because they were carrying it low and the ball out a lot. Doing a lot of ball security drills. Just trying to make sure they’re always aware that the ball could come out at any moment.”
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Last season, Duncan’s family didn’t let him play football. There was no junior varsity team, and they didn’t want to send a ninth-grader onto a field with kids several years older than him. The Watervliet coaches would have taken him on the varsity roster, but it wasn’t ever an option for them.
But it became evident early on in training camp that he’d be a go-to player in his sophomore season for the Cannoneers.
Watervliet is 5-1 on the season, in first place of the South Divsion in Class C and an honorable mention in the state rankings. They get to host a winless Corinth team on Friday night with the hopes of closing out the regular season strong. The Cannoneers have a run-heavy offense, and it goes through Duncan.
“It means a lot, it means I’m a leader of the team,” Duncan said. “And the team depends on me. I have to show up every game. And our offensive line shows up for me every game too.”
Duncan is a strong and stocky runner, and head coach Brian Hoefer credits his “incredible” vision for his success as well. He knows, Hoefer said, to make the right cut off the offensive lineman block. And sometimes you can’t teach that.
Hoefer said he’d love to be able to throw the ball more, but his run-heavy offense is just a factor of the personnel that he has to work with. The Cannoneers run the ball well, and it’s shaped what has been a really successful offensive season for Watervliet.
“We saw him at camp and we saw the things he could do,” Hoefer said. “And that was only a glimpse. And we were really surprised at how well he picked up things and he really became the focal point of our team and our offensive leader.”
Watervliet only has 432 passing yards this season, compared to more than 1,200 on the ground. Maybe there have been some issues with holding onto the ball early this season. But those have been addressed, worked on, and as a result, Duncan is becoming one of the better running backs in Class C.
“(Last) year I was kind of nervous,” Duncan said. “I admit I was kind of nervous, kind of scared. I worked out all summer, before this season, just to prepare for this season and be ready.” | {
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} |
They responded immediately to my email and they were a pleasure to work with. My credit is far from perfect, but they were able to help me with my financing. I will be sending all my friends and family that need a car to DFW Executive Imports. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
8Pack, the world class renowned overclocker has created an incredible gaming bundle, this bundle is not only super fast, but also great value for money!
The choice of the gamer has always been i5 K unlocked edition as it has both the clock and core speeds to play all of the games to the max. This bundle smashes Skylake and motherboard vendors have finally been able to unlock BCLK overclocking for non-K Skylake chips. With the help of the world’s number one overclocker, this has enabled us to bring you a superb value dual-core gaming bundle with a rock solid 4.4GHz overclock!
This Bundle has been developed in house at Overclockers UK to provide end users with a safe, reliable and fast base for any powerful system. Ian ‘8Pack’ Parry has approved the use of every component in this bundle to ensure that it not only meets the expectations of our customers but it exceeds them in every way.
As an introductory offer there is FREE DPD Next Day delivery, so no shipping costs are involved, not only that, the bundle has also been discounted, with a starting price of £329.95. Included in the bundle is an ASUS Z170-E motherboard, i5 6400 processor, 8GB DDR4 HyperX Fury memory, and a Alpenfohn cooler. See more information on the bundle here.
KFA2 have been making world record breaking GPU for several generations now. There 780 Ti HOF was by far the fastest 780 Ti on the market dominating 3D mark score boards on the Bot and Future marks own site. Since this ground breaking product the 980 HOF and 980 HOF 8Pack version performed in the same vein with at one stage 980 HOF holding all world records on HWbot.
When I received my test ES 980 Ti HOF back at Computex I was very excited by the product. Great power delivery and efficiency enabling me to take 3D mark 11 WR and Heaven WR using Ln2 cooling. The product oozing quality I had no qualms in recommending it for enthusiasts of elite tier hardware.
When the production 980 Ti HOF came into stock I could not wait to try one and show the forums what its capable of. First of all we have the look of the product. The distinctive white PCB, robust 3 fan 2.5 slot cooling solution and substantial white back plate all not only perform great as I will show later but look truly awesome. End users considering this card should note only two card SLI is possible on stock cooler as its too wide to cram cards close together in TRI SLI or above. For three way SLI plus KFA2 have a card with retrofitted waterblocks which handle this config perfectly. This seems sensible on there behalf as often anything over two way is often overheating on any air cooling solutions. | {
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} |
Dr. Mesmer
As in “Mesmerize” is returning to our hostel. We are all pretty excited about his impending return. He spent some time with us last summer and he’s a genuinely nice guy. His name is Davey and he’s a physician from New York City – a plastic surgeon, in fact. But he’s not the type of doctor who does face lifts or gives bigger t*ts to vapid twits. He specializes in correcting children’s birth defects – a far more noble use of medical talent in my opinion.
We just received an email from Davey saying he’s going to pay a visit to our fair city next month before leaving to take up a post at a universirty in Hawaii. He’s a lucky guy with an excellent posting worthy of his talents and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
The reason for the initial reference to Mesmer who was purportedly an early exponent, if not the inventor of hypnosis (such is not the case, but that’s another story) is that Dr. Davey happens to be a proficient hypnotist. He learned how to hypnotize people from an eccentric uncle when he was young and made pocket money while at university putting on shows for fellow students. He put on a show for us the last time he was here and it was side splittingly hilarious!
He’s promised us a repeat performance when he returns (sometime in April) and those who will be in the hostel at that time are in for a real treat! The date of his performance will be posted on our “Events Calendar” on our website.
We can’t wait to see you Davey! We’ll be chilling a few beers to toast your return. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
What will Brexit mean for your family? We’re on hand to help
With less than two months to go, uncertainty still surrounds the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
It remains to be seen how Brexit, when it does go-ahead, will affect millions of people across the country in any number of ways.
Brexit is THE talking point of our times, in cities, towns and villages up and down the country.
So we’ll be investigating a variety of topics that our readers may be concerned about – everything from how your wine supply will or won’t be affected to food shortages, and travelling abroad.
JPIMedia is the trusted media brand in your community and we will be trying to cut through the political posturing, the jargon and the Brexit fatigue to bring you the facts about the issues that matter to you.
Will I need a new passport? Can I take my dog abroad? Will my medicine supply be affected? Will the price of fruit and veg go up?
Whatever you’re worried about, we’ll try to give you the FACTS, not the speculation, not the maybes, not the truth according to one political party or the other.
So here’s how it will work.
Our new Brexit Reporter Gemma Jimmison will be looking at the most-talked about issues online every day and, every week, pulling together the things that are setting our communities buzzing.
She’s asking for your help too; let her know what is worrying you and she’ll try to get the answers.Email all your questions and stories to [email protected] marked Brexit. | {
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} |
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The Birches
WELCOME HOME TO THE BIRCHES! The Birches offers completely remodeled apartment homes in studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom layouts on beautifully landscaped grounds. The Birches ideal location is just west of St. Joseph's medical center, with convenient access to shopping, schools, transportation and entertainment. With five different floor plans to choose from on our one and two bedroom apartment homes, the right choice of your new home is an easy one! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Initiative to improve patient safety, accuracy and accessibility of product information through new data synchronization standard
The Total Visibility Project is a new data synchronization standard that will improve the accuracy and accessibility of product information available to the healthcare supply chain.
Specifically, the project enables an initial one time publication of product data to the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), an automated, standards-based global environment for the electronic transfer of standardized product information between trading partners. To provide hospitals access to accurate product data information, Premier and other members of HSCA engage in data synchronization through GDSN. The GDSN helps enable secure, continuous data synchronization over time. All participating group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and their hospital and provider members will now have access to shared product information through the GDSN.
“For years, we’ve advocated for supply chain standards that further enhance patient safety and reduce costs in the healthcare industry sector,” said John Biggers, senior vice president of group purchasing at Premier, a HSCA member. “Sharing product data through GDSN ensures healthcare providers have immediate access to a common set of product data, enabling them to get the right product to the right patient at the right time.”
HSCA collaborated with GS1 and the Healthcare Industry Supply Chain Institute (HISCI) on the project. Premier has also partnered with 1WorldSync to facilitate the sharing of product data through GDSN.
GS1 has identified a number of attributes recommended for the U.S. healthcare supply chain. Premier operates the first GPO to announce its endorsement of GS1 supply chain standards, and was the first organization to expect its contracted suppliers to comply with this important initiative. Use of the standards allows supply chain stakeholders to definitively identify all items purchased by healthcare providers, and efficiently exchange and update this information.
To advance data synchronization and simplify the publication of product attributes, HSCA has identified the Minimum Product Attributes that all suppliers, manufacturers and GPOs providing data to the GDSN may use to fulfill HSCA member attribute requirements.
About Premier Inc.
Premier Inc. (NASDAQ: PINC) is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 3,750 U.S. hospitals and more than 130,000 other provider organizations. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, and advisory and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost. Premier, a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient, plays a critical role in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry, collaborating with members to co-develop long-term innovations that reinvent and improve the way care is delivered to patients nationwide. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier is passionate about transforming American healthcare. Please visit Premier’s news and investor sites on www.premierinc.com; as well as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Premier’s blog for more information about the company.
Contact
Transforming Healthcare Together ®
877.777.1552 - Weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT
Premier, Inc.Charlotte, NCPremier, Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC) is a healthcare performance improvement alliance of approximately 3,000 U.S. hospitals and 110,000 other providers. Our mission is simple: To improve the health of communities.
Premier, Inc.Washington, DCPremier, Inc. (Nasdaq: PINC) is a healthcare performance improvement alliance of approximately 3,000 U.S. hospitals and 110,000 other providers. Our mission is simple: To improve the health of communities. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Expert SEO Corp
Top Rated Staple Guns Revealed by Nailgun Center Along with Buying Guide
San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/30/2016 -- Nail Gun Center issues a comprehensive buyer's guide to the best staple gun models to purchase. The website contains professional staple gun reviews and a buying guide detailing on the top scoring types currently on the market.
Users can thus understand the different staple gun types and their features, as well as the jobs suitable to each type. They are enabled to pick a model based on their needs as customers or professionals. Nailgun Center has put together its best staple gun reviews highlighting the top 8 models and their features. The picks are in accordance with the job that needs to be done – for example, the website has published reviews for the best staple guns for upholstery work.
Interested readers can access all the relevant information concerning electric staple guns from reputable brands such as Hitachi, Surebonder, Porter-Cable, Roberts, Stanley and more. The details given, as well as the format of the reviews make it easy to extract the important information and make a comparison before purchasing. NailgunCenter.Com does not endorse any particular brand or model.
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About Nailguncenter.com
Nailguncenter.com is a web resource dedicated entirely to nail gun types, the best rated on the market, as well as to their maintenance and safety concerns. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Self Drafted Corset Take 2
Description
Sooooooo, this is the second corset using the pattern from my 1st self drafted corset.
I made the necessary alteration to the measurements and also altered the pattern to cup my ribs and hips a little more.
I also add hip pads to this corset for my sensitive hip bones, and put in the full length of boning over the hips.
Bias binding was sewn on differently so there was no stitching visible where the binding was sewn on.
Made a bit of a boo boo finishing the ends of the bias binding, they aren’t straight :-( oooh well better keep an eye on that next time.
So far the hip pads are comfortable, no discomfort or pain :-)
I also forgot to add a waist tape this time, should be fine considering I haven’t got any major waist reduction going on at the moment.
3 Replies
Thank you :-D Your corset would need a bit of work, but you could deffinately fix it if you had enough seam allowance and time to do a few toiles to get the fit petfect. I have one corset i’m pulling apart to re-do as it was one of my disasters.
Stampede: 9 New Countryside Patterns
BurdaStyle is a DIY fashion and sewing community. Our aim is to bring the craft of sewing to a new generation of fashion designers, hobbyists, DIY'ers, and inspire fashion enthusiasts. We offer downloadable PDF sewing patterns, project ideas, tutorials and a community passionate about fashion. Press coverage on BurdaStyle can be found here. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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} |
Saturday, April 18, 2009
And we're back... for another epic deconstruction blog, and this time we'll hit a true answer with an almost 100% certainty. Today's post deals with the question: who faked that plane wreck at the bottom of the ocean? I remember last year when we first heard Captain Gault say Ben did it, I remember when Tom told Michael how Widmore did it. Most of all, I remember my utter confusion over who to believe (which recently prompted another post about whether there truly was a good/evil side when it came to the Widmore-Linus divide). But this week saw what I now consider to be a categorical answer to the question: Widmore faked the plane wreckage. Let us begin with the scene in which Miles "reads" Felix, the dead guy Naomi shows him:
MILES: His name's Felix. He was... on his way to deliver something to, uh...
[Whispering continues]
MILES: A guy named... Widmore.
NAOMI: Deliver what?
MILES: A bunch of papers, photos, pictures... of... [whispering continues] empty graves. A purchase order... for an old airplane.
Is this conclusive enough? Of course, some people (including myself for a while) would argue that it is still not 100%. How like LOST. It's true - Felix could have been taking documents to Widmore that actually implicated Ben. We've all now kind of realised that Felix was probably killed by Tom, who would later show Michael the same documents in order to recruit him as "Ben's man on the boat". Michael never questioned the documents he saw, and our first piece of evidence in this post is that the documents were written out to Widmore Industries (see screencap). Thus, unless Tom forged the documents he presumably took when he killed Felix - the evidence speaks for itself that Felix was delivering Widmore receipts for his order, NOT results of any kind of private investigation. Might seem obvious, but it's good that we can clarify it all once and for all.
Our next main bit of evidence comes from Find 815. Now I know what you might be thinking - "I didn't play that sucky excuse for a LOST ARG, it was non-canon". And you are quite right. Find 815 was not canon. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse were involved in the concept, and from what I've gathered researching on the InterWeb they gave Hoodlum (the guys who made the ARG) the premise of the Season 4x02 episode opener - that a salvage ship called the Christiane I was going to find the wreckage of Flight 815. From there, Hoodlum devised the entire ARG story, including backstories for any characters they created including protagonist Sam Thomas. Now if you view Find 815 as completely true, Sam was contacted through mysterious emails, seemingly sent from someone at a company called the Maxwell Group. Following the trail of the emails, Sam was led to the Christiane I, a salvage vessel searching for the Black Rock. After being literally given a specific set of co-ordinates by the mysterious emailer, Sam ends up finding the not the Black Rock, however, but the wreck of Oceanic Flight 815. Along the way, he meets Oscar Talbot, the expedition supervisor who also works for the Maxwell Group. Furthermore, after snooping in Talbot's room, Sam discovers that the Maxwell Group is in fact a division of Widmore Industries!!!
This all seems to fit in with the "Widmore faked the wreck" argument. It makes sense that the Maxwell Group might have been tasked with getting some sap to find the wreck their parent company planted. Playing to Sam's emotion (he lost his partner on Flight 815) - they trick him into making the discovery and make it seem like it was a remarkable "twist of fate" that the wreck had been discovered. Of course, though, this is all useless as it is non-canon, right? Well, consider what Damon Lindelof said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. After explaining how the ARG had been non-canon, he did admit:
I'll sign off on this idea: The Christiane 1, which in the show was responsible for finding Oceanic 815, was in fact looking for the Black Rock. We established that in the show — but the people who owned the ship may have been up to a little bit more than just looking for the Black Rock.
As a matter of fact, I don't think they did really establish that on the show conclusively - all they said was that the Christiane I had been quote " in search of the remains of sunken trading ships". But Lindelof's remark does furthermore fit in with the picture we're painting of how Widmore faked the plane wreck, and how he exploited the discovery. My first observation here was, OK, it sounds like this Christiane I is owned by Widmore (as per the non-canon ARG interpretation where Widmore had financed the ship's salvage mission) - but why would Widmore be looking for the Black Rock when he should already know it's on the Island? This can be easily answered though. As Lindelof said, "the people who owned the ship were up to more than just looking for the Black Rock". They were there to pretend like they had suddenly stumbled across the wreck of Oceanic Flight 815 while on an innocent salvage operation - when in fact they were hired by Widmore. It's likely that the majority of the ship's crew weren't complicit in the scheme as, judging by the reaction of the ROV operator in 4x02, they were genuinely surprised to discover the plane wreck. But it seems clear as day to this little blogger that Widmore not only staged the wreck, and also orchastrated another elaborate lie by slyly pushing the Christiane I (whether you believe my evidence or the Find 815 information) into finding his handy work. Indeed, what are the chances otherwise that a boat looking for the BLACK ROCK (thereby already making it dodgy without the Lindelof comment that they were up to more than that) should stumble upon FLIGHT 815?!
And there we have it - my conclusive proof and deconstruction that Widmore obviously faked the plane wreck and controlled its discovery. The writers likely intended the Naomi and Miles scene to categorically clear up this debate, and I hope I've helped along the way by picking off any remaining fans who still have their doubts. I also think my take on the Christiane I strengthens the writer's message, and gives a little bit of backstory that we were probably supposed to work out about Widmore orchastrating the wreck's discovery. As a fan, I'm much happier that it is now cleared up that Widmore did it - the notion that Ben was the one behind the lie never felt right - despite the fact that Ben and lying are seldom that far apart in a sentence. Moreover, I like that it has now also somewhat legitimized and given depth to the Find 815 alternate reality game. In hindsight the narrative cooked up by Hoodlum now actually seems to work really well within the mythology of the main show (though I never thought I'd compliment Hoodlum after the epic fail that was the recent Dharma Recruiting Project).
Were you always / are now 100% satisfied that Widmore faked the plane wreck? How did Widmore know TO fake the plane wreck (well he had met Locke in the 50s, so could have worked it all out...)? What was the whole point of Captain Gault's rouse in Season 4 with the black box? As ever, let us know your comments :)
And we're back... for another epic deconstruction blog, and this time we'll hit a true answer with an almost 100% certainty. Today's post deals with the question: who faked that plane wreck at the bottom of the ocean? I remember last year when we first heard Captain Gault say Ben did it, I remember when Tom told Michael how Widmore did it. Most of all, I remember my utter confusion over who to believe (which recently prompted another post about whether there truly was a good/evil side when it came to the Widmore-Linus divide). But this week saw what I now consider to be a categorical answer to the question: Widmore faked the plane wreckage. Let us begin with the scene in which Miles "reads" Felix, the dead guy Naomi shows him:
MILES: His name's Felix. He was... on his way to deliver something to, uh...
[Whispering continues]
MILES: A guy named... Widmore.
NAOMI: Deliver what?
MILES: A bunch of papers, photos, pictures... of... [whispering continues] empty graves. A purchase order... for an old airplane.
Is this conclusive enough? Of course, some people (including myself for a while) would argue that it is still not 100%. How like LOST. It's true - Felix could have been taking documents to Widmore that actually implicated Ben. We've all now kind of realised that Felix was probably killed by Tom, who would later show Michael the same documents in order to recruit him as "Ben's man on the boat". Michael never questioned the documents he saw, and our first piece of evidence in this post is that the documents were written out to Widmore Industries (see screencap). Thus, unless Tom forged the documents he presumably took when he killed Felix - the evidence speaks for itself that Felix was delivering Widmore receipts for his order, NOT results of any kind of private investigation. Might seem obvious, but it's good that we can clarify it all once and for all.
Our next main bit of evidence comes from Find 815. Now I know what you might be thinking - "I didn't play that sucky excuse for a LOST ARG, it was non-canon". And you are quite right. Find 815 was not canon. Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse were involved in the concept, and from what I've gathered researching on the InterWeb they gave Hoodlum (the guys who made the ARG) the premise of the Season 4x02 episode opener - that a salvage ship called the Christiane I was going to find the wreckage of Flight 815. From there, Hoodlum devised the entire ARG story, including backstories for any characters they created including protagonist Sam Thomas. Now if you view Find 815 as completely true, Sam was contacted through mysterious emails, seemingly sent from someone at a company called the Maxwell Group. Following the trail of the emails, Sam was led to the Christiane I, a salvage vessel searching for the Black Rock. After being literally given a specific set of co-ordinates by the mysterious emailer, Sam ends up finding the not the Black Rock, however, but the wreck of Oceanic Flight 815. Along the way, he meets Oscar Talbot, the expedition supervisor who also works for the Maxwell Group. Furthermore, after snooping in Talbot's room, Sam discovers that the Maxwell Group is in fact a division of Widmore Industries!!!
This all seems to fit in with the "Widmore faked the wreck" argument. It makes sense that the Maxwell Group might have been tasked with getting some sap to find the wreck their parent company planted. Playing to Sam's emotion (he lost his partner on Flight 815) - they trick him into making the discovery and make it seem like it was a remarkable "twist of fate" that the wreck had been discovered. Of course, though, this is all useless as it is non-canon, right? Well, consider what Damon Lindelof said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. After explaining how the ARG had been non-canon, he did admit:
I'll sign off on this idea: The Christiane 1, which in the show was responsible for finding Oceanic 815, was in fact looking for the Black Rock. We established that in the show — but the people who owned the ship may have been up to a little bit more than just looking for the Black Rock.
As a matter of fact, I don't think they did really establish that on the show conclusively - all they said was that the Christiane I had been quote " in search of the remains of sunken trading ships". But Lindelof's remark does furthermore fit in with the picture we're painting of how Widmore faked the plane wreck, and how he exploited the discovery. My first observation here was, OK, it sounds like this Christiane I is owned by Widmore (as per the non-canon ARG interpretation where Widmore had financed the ship's salvage mission) - but why would Widmore be looking for the Black Rock when he should already know it's on the Island? This can be easily answered though. As Lindelof said, "the people who owned the ship were up to more than just looking for the Black Rock". They were there to pretend like they had suddenly stumbled across the wreck of Oceanic Flight 815 while on an innocent salvage operation - when in fact they were hired by Widmore. It's likely that the majority of the ship's crew weren't complicit in the scheme as, judging by the reaction of the ROV operator in 4x02, they were genuinely surprised to discover the plane wreck. But it seems clear as day to this little blogger that Widmore not only staged the wreck, and also orchastrated another elaborate lie by slyly pushing the Christiane I (whether you believe my evidence or the Find 815 information) into finding his handy work. Indeed, what are the chances otherwise that a boat looking for the BLACK ROCK (thereby already making it dodgy without the Lindelof comment that they were up to more than that) should stumble upon FLIGHT 815?!
And there we have it - my conclusive proof and deconstruction that Widmore obviously faked the plane wreck and controlled its discovery. The writers likely intended the Naomi and Miles scene to categorically clear up this debate, and I hope I've helped along the way by picking off any remaining fans who still have their doubts. I also think my take on the Christiane I strengthens the writer's message, and gives a little bit of backstory that we were probably supposed to work out about Widmore orchastrating the wreck's discovery. As a fan, I'm much happier that it is now cleared up that Widmore did it - the notion that Ben was the one behind the lie never felt right - despite the fact that Ben and lying are seldom that far apart in a sentence. Moreover, I like that it has now also somewhat legitimized and given depth to the Find 815 alternate reality game. In hindsight the narrative cooked up by Hoodlum now actually seems to work really well within the mythology of the main show (though I never thought I'd compliment Hoodlum after the epic fail that was the recent Dharma Recruiting Project).
Were you always / are now 100% satisfied that Widmore faked the plane wreck? How did Widmore know TO fake the plane wreck (well he had met Locke in the 50s, so could have worked it all out...)? What was the whole point of Captain Gault's rouse in Season 4 with the black box? As ever, let us know your comments :)
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Welcome to the Official Lostpedia Blog. This blog was created by the System Operators of Lostpedia, so we can communicate with the users of the site about big issues in the Lost world. It is also a place where people can find out our opinions on the show and its episodes, as well as have a place to rant and rave a little more freely about what's happening week to week.
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} |
'Damn it Daniel!' Always rushing headfirst into everything. At least this shouldn't
hurt you - much.
Both Nosey and Sneezy look unhappy with this turn of events, however, and I
instinctively reach out mentally to reassure them. They run towards me and I
gather them up for a brief session of mutual comfort. I'm going to miss them
when we leave!
For the moment, though, Daniel is my first priority. Who am I kidding? He's
always my first priority. He has been since he solved the riddle of the Stargate
and led us through it to Abydos. Even when I considered him the ultimate in
scientist-geeks, I couldn't help being amazed by the man. Or drawn to him
despite myself.
I shake myself loose from the memories and carefully put the monkeys down.
Daniel's still lost in the ship and I find myself curious as to whether we can both
connect to it at once. The thread linking my mind to the ship is still there, tugging
at the back of my thoughts.
Sending one last wave of reassurance at the monkeys, I settle back down into my
own chair, seize mental hold of that link and tug.
Connection is so much easier this time. I slide painlessly, smoothly, back into synch
with the ship. I feel it welcome me, its musical voice singing. I can feel the
currents of power pulse from engine to hull, the circuits spreading out around me
like a glittering maze. I 'see' myself as a sparkling entity entwined in the center
of that maze, flickering tendrils of myself reaching out along gleaming corridors,
tracing tendrils, and then I 'see' him.
Daniel. He's in there with me, close-by, a blazing ball of brilliant white light. He's
so bright that I nearly feel blinded for a moment, until I remember that I'm not
really using my eyes. Somehow, just by thinking it, I can tone down the vision of
him just enough to 'look' in his direction, and even that is enough to send small
tendrils of my own being in his direction.
I reach for him. I think his name. I sense him reacting, 'looking' towards me, and
white tendrils of light spark out in my direction, reaching towards the softer
yellow ones I'm sending out towards him.
They touch, twining around each other, then melding into one continuous stream of
light between us and it's like nothing I've ever experienced before. I can feel him,
all that he is, intellect and emotion and presence, so strong, so fierce. His joy and
relief at connecting with me washes down the link and bathes me.
Then I can 'hear' him, though it's less words than... just thought. Just knowing what
he's thinking.
Jack - I know you're here with me. We should leave this planet. Now, while we can.
Yes, he's right. We should go now. There's nothing holding us here and the ship
gives us the ultimate freedom. I can feel it waiting, wanting to go, spiraling around
us in gleaming fields of living circuitry. And yet...
The monkeys! We can't take them with us. As much as I'm going to miss them, it
wouldn't be fair to take them and their babies away from their home and consign
them to exile on an alien world. They've done so much for us that we owe them
more than such a miserable future.
Daniel must have sensed what I was thinking because he communicates agreement.
I accept his support and reach out towards the monkeys. They stare back at me,
not budging one inch. They want to stay with us, I know that, and sympathize.
I instinctively try to stretch out an arm towards them and to my surprise, I can
feel my body respond.
That's different. It seems that this time, I retain control of my body along with
the mental connections. This is even stranger than being lost in that mental world.
I can see one 'world' overlaying the other like a double-exposed photograph. It's
hard to focus on both at once. Truly bizarre.
Yet, it's hard to resist turning to look at Daniel - to see him both ways. Physically,
he's a bit of a mess. His uniform is torn, his face breaking out with the beginnings
of a beard, his hair matted. Mentally, he's still a blazing, whirling ball of white
light, so intense and bright. I love both aspects of him and my body and mind
respond as one. The lurch of my pulse, speeding up, reverberates with my emotions.
My throat tightens and my mind swirls. I love him so much! Memories surge, so much
closer to the surface now. Daniel's face as he cries out my name in ecstasy....
Daniel responds, first with a burst of curiosity and concern and then with a wave
of emotion so intense that it pours into and through me, filling every crack in my
being, body and soul, completing me in a way I could never, ever have imagined
possible. For one instant, we're completely connected, one being, one heart, one
soul, floating in a sea of love and warmth and acceptance.
Then I hear my name floating between us and Daniel's gone. Not completely. We're
still connected by those filaments of light, but it's not the same and I feel the loss
acutely. He's back in his body fully and when I focus back on the physical world
I can see his body twitching as he regains control of it.
I let the mental connection to the ship lessen and join him more fully.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Daniel?" I ask, slightly worried. He looks just plain awful! I don't remember it
being quite so difficult a transition.
"I'm fine," he says, beginning to look more in control. He's, strangely, smiling
widely, like a little boy on his birthday. He sits up with a soft sigh, then gestures,
jerkily, towards the monkeys.
"We need to get Nosey and Sneezy out of here, so we can leave."
I can't help it, I return his smile. I love it when he looks so sweetly goofy.
I probably look just as silly.
"You're grinning," I tell him.
"And that's a problem?" he replies. That smile somehow manages to get wider. His
eyes twinkle at me from behind his glasses. Damned amazing that he's still got them.
I shake my head, amused, and let it go. He must have felt what I did. The afterglow
is still with me, warming me physically as well as emotionally.
Meanwhile, Daniel is turning towards the monkeys.
"Let's go guys," he says, standing up and swinging his arms.
They sit there, stubbornly refusing to move. I can feel them resisting, wanting to
stay with us.
"Jack?" Daniel calls out, urging me to take over.
"I'm trying," I tell him, already closing my eyes and reaching out to the monkeys.
This is getting easier now - guess I'm getting used to it. I touch their little minds
and 'see' them now, as smaller, but no less bright, versions of our own balls of
light. I tell them, again, that they must leave us now. They flood me back with
sadness, loss. They want to stay with us and it's hard to resist those emotions.
I share my own sense of loss in return.
Then I focus on visions of them at home in our shelter, their babies running around
them, their troop nearby. This is their place and they belong here, to this world,
and it wouldn't be fair to take them away. Again and again, I remind them of home,
of the shelter they can now use, of the food stores we've created, of their babies
and their need to rejoin their troop to raise those little ones.
Finally, they accept my sendings and reluctantly agree. I feel their love and
their loss, and I let them feel my own. They chirp loudly, then turn and leave the
chamber. Now, suddenly, I feel Daniel with me. He must have been there all along,
and I welcome him with a soft wave of acceptance before using the connection
with the ship to follow the monkeys as they move down the corridor and outside
the ship.
Once they are at a safe distance, I settle back into my chair and sense Daniel
doing the same.
Ready? I ask him.
Let's go home, Jack, he replies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ship is waiting and I give it a simple instruction.
Up!
Let's not try to run before we can walk. Let's see if this thing can even get off the
ground.
Power surges around us. The engines roar, circuits fire. The chimes ring. I feel us
pushing upward, gaining speed as we go. I can see the screen before us now, and
this time all those odd symbols make sense. Speed, direction, altitude, power levels,
internal and external atmosphere - all flicker over a scene of what is before the
ship. Tree trunks give way to leafy tops and then to open sky. Now, I can see for
miles though all of it is forest.
Beside me, Daniel sends his first command, echoing my own thoughts.
Turn.
The ship obeys, spinning around. That throws me off balance. I cling to my seat,
my mind wavering. Whoa! Too fast! Daniel's nausea combines with my own and for
a moment I'm afraid we're both going to lose our lunches.
Stop! I shout, not sure if I said it aloud or just in my mind. Doesn't matter.
It works. The ship slows to a stop, hovering above the trees.
Daniel's relief combines with mine. We both take a deep breath, then I try again.
I imagine the type of turn I want it to take, drawing on years of experience as a
pilot. The ship follows my images the very instant I form them, sweeping around a
full circle in relative slow motion, giving us a clear view of our surroundings. On
one side, we can see the mountain peaks rising in the distance, on the others, it is
all forest.
Good. I think of the ship turning to point away from the mountains and it does so.
Wonderful. Now it is time to try a few other maneuvers. I can feel Daniel's
acceptance, letting me take the lead on this. I've flown just about every aircraft
the US airforce has. Surely this won't be too different.
Yeah right!
It responds a million times faster than anything I've ever touched before. All I
have to do is think something and it does it. We bolt upwards, then downwards,
stop, shoot forward, shoot backwards, turn and angle right, sweep up and around
and down to the left. Then we hover again.
I'm breathing hard, my pulse racing and I can feel Daniel gasping beside me. This
is incredible! His excitement compounds my own. Just imagine what we could do
with this!
But I'm already exhausted. My head is pounding. My body feels like I've just run
a marathon. Daniel sends me a wave of concern and I answer back, both reassuring
him and warning him. Our minds connect in a sudden, mutual awareness that this
psychic piloting thing is extremely draining, both physically and mentally.
Take it in turns, we suggest. I lay back, letting my body and mind rest, while
Daniel practices. He's a bit less coordinated than I was, but he gets there. Finally,
we both feel confident we can control the ship. We rest together while the ship
hovers.
Where to? we question. Earth? Neither of us has the faintest idea where
we are in relationship to Earth or how long it would take to get there. We quickly
decide that it would be better to shoot for the nearest planet with a Stargate.
From there, we can world-trip until we can contact another SGC team.
Assuming we can find a planet with a Stargate before we both collapse of
complete exhaustion. Together we ask and the ship responds.
A giant field of stars bursts into being in the air surrounding us. Our own position
glitters at us, hovering at center between our two chairs. We ask if it knows which
worlds have Stargates, forming the picture of the object in our mind. The ship
replies with what we would swear was a huff of impatience, a mental 'of course',
and more stars begin to gleam. We add in the requirements of worlds that contain
the living conditions we need to survive, and some of the glowing points dim.
There are quite a few left, however, leaving us with multiple choices. The final
requirement is closeness. We need to keep the trip as short as possible. The ship
flashes the nearest one that meets our requirements and then sends a rapid flood
of information across the viewing screen. We capture just enough to know that the
target planet is similar to this one and it has a Stargate.
The ship calculates and displays the journey specifics. We understand only partial
fragments and decide to trust the ship to know what it's doing. We accept the
directions and pause for a brief moment - a kind of psychic drawing of a deep
breath - then we tell it to go.
The engines roar, circuits flash, gravity pins us to our chairs, and this planet
disappears out from under us. Atmosphere gives way to the cold blackness of space.
We're on our way.
==============
Part 66 ~ Daniel
==============
I can hardly believe that this is happening - the change in our circumstances has
been so vast, from just surviving our brush with the lizards to being able to leave
here in a matter of days. How things change!
In some ways, even the thought of leaving here fills me with a sadness that I
don't want to think about - despite the hardships we've endured, I think we've
both been happy here.
The link between us, in itself, is a strange experience too - with the ship as a
conduit, we're not so much exchanging words as thoughts and emotions, so there's
nowhere left to hide. The depth of our feelings for each other, the reality of
them, is out in the daylight now.
I feel more loved and secure with Jack than I can ever recall being before, and
all I can do is hope that will last through whatever adventures we have next.
It's time.
I can feel the readiness of the ship, mingling with Jack's eagerness to leave, and
I wait for him to make the first move. He's the pilot of the two of us, after all,
so I hope and trust he knows what he's doing, and send thoughts to him filled with
my confidence in his abilities.
As Jack's mind sends the first command, the ship leaps upwards, and I'm glad of
the foresight of the alien race - we're slammed back into the seats that cushion us,
our bodies experiencing the acceleration at the same time that our minds can feel the
power rushing to create it.
And I thought travelling through the Stargate was an exhilarating experience!
It has nothing of the immediacy of this journey - we can feel it as we travel, inside
and outside, mind and body.
After a few seconds, we are above the trees, out in the openness of this planet's
sky, taking our first look at the place that had been our unwilling home for all
this time.
Symbols dance around us, bursting into my mind with understanding. Suddenly
I see it all, I know the language that this alien race wrote, I comprehend their
thoughts for the first time. If I had studied it for a thousand years, I might
never have been able to scratch the surface of the knowledge that's laid out
before me now....
But it's not fair that Jack do all the work here.
With my mind, I nudge Jack, pushing him aside slightly to shoulder my part of the
journey, and it's then that it all goes a little bit haywire!
What seems like a safe instruction, fuelled by my desire to see more of the planet's
surface before we head away from it forever, turns into a gyrating nightmare.
I can feel my stomach lurch as the ship tries to turn my ill-conceived thoughts
into action, my sweeping statement becoming a little too sweeping for safety's
sake.
I'm not sure whether I am more embarassed or relieved when Jack steps back
in.
I draw in a shaky breath, deciding that I wasn't cut out to be a pilot after all -
there must be a safer role for me to play on this trip! We're still so deeply
linked, Jack and I, that I can feel his emotions when he has to take control of the
ship again, the depth of his concentration as he imagines a more controlled turn
than I was able to.
Part of me expected some kind of censure from Jack, in response to my rashness,
but it seems as though he has already forgotten, already forgiven - the thought that
it takes more than a single ill-judged act to blow everything apart between us warms
me more than I can describe.
We make a leisurely turn, sweeping impossibly quickly over the landscape of our
recent home - the majority of the surface is forest, as we had suspected, with the
mountains making a backdrop.
Briefly, as my eyes light on the peaks in the distance, I wonder about the fate of
our lizard friends.... Were they able to get away with helping us? I'd hate to
think that they were punished for their kindness. I wonder if, in a hundred years,
their descendants will be telling stories of the two strange creatures that their
ancestors helped escape becoming lunch?
My stomach lurches again, but less dramatically this time, as Jack tries out a
series of manoeuvres - no sooner have we finished one than we seem half-way
through the next!
The responsiveness of the alien ship is incredible. The time delay between
Jack's thoughts and the ship's actions seem so minute that I'm glad to leave the
flying up to him. I'm left breathless by the sheer speed that we are travelling at,
and I can feel that Jack is sharing that feeling too!
There's something else though....
Jack is gasping, his lungs dragging in the air, his pulse hammering like he's about
to drop.
Uh oh.
I have a bad feeling about this!
Jack responds to my concern, sharing his thoughts with me again - this is more
tiring than we had thought, and we need to be sure we don't try and push too hard.
Little things like keeping on breathing are just as important as getting to where we
want to go, after all!
Take it in turns...
I'm a little overwhelmed that Jack is willing, even under this kind of strain, to let
me try to fly this thing again, after my last attempt.
It's a little like learning to drive again, all my actions taking place under a watchful
eye, but as I go on, I feel more confident. I have learned to make minute gestures
now, not great sweeping ones, and that seems to be much safer.
Where to? Earth? Our thoughts are so linked that it's almost impossible for
a conversation to take place - no sign of where my mind ends or Jack's begins.
No.
We could be millions of lightyears away from Earth, and we have no idea which
direction to head. Jack is regretting that he didn't study the stars more closely in our
time on the planet, but I don't regret it at all - I much preferred the way we spent a
lot of our nights!
So, we're left with little choice but to locate a planet with a 'Gate and start our
journeying, until we can find some way of linking up with the SGC again.
Information flashes around us as we make our request, and in a very little time
we're on our way, heading out into the vast blackness of space, together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We'd chosen at random really, having specified just a 'Gate and a breathable
atmosphere, so we have no idea what to expect.
As we hurtle through space, I can feel the tiredness begin to creep over me - it's
insidious, inching its way around my body, slowly but surely draining me of energy.
My mind struggles, reaching out towards Jack, and I can feel his exhaustion too.
What must the minds of the alien race that built this ship have been like, if they
could go on long journeys?
It's all we can do to keep the ship directed for this hop across the shortest
distance we could find, and as we start to see the sun for whose system we are
heading, burning red in the darkness of space, we know that a longer flight
would have been impossible.
That fiery globe is growing larger and larger, bathing the viewscreen in its glow,
as we hasten towards it. A subtle change of course makes us head for one of its
planets - they had been just specks of colour against the blackness of space, but
now they start to gain definition.
The planet we are heading for is coming closer and closer, as I feel Jack's link
with my mind start to weaken.
I reach out for him, mentally straining to keep this closeness, but I'm too late.
He slips away from me, down into unconsciousness, his body limp in the chair
where he is lying.
OH SHIT!
I'm an anthropologist, not a pilot.
I tried my best, I really did, straining with every last drop of strength, mental and
physical, as we plummetted into the atmosphere of the planet.
Through my link with the ship, dwindling as it was with every moment, I could feel
the heat as we flew towards the surface, as I strained to pull us back, slow our
descent.
We're going too fast!
Just as oblivion took me, I could feel the ship respond, sluggish now, but all I could
see in the viewscreen was the desert. Sand and more sand, all approaching way too
fast, and that was all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Daniel?!"
I reach out mentally, feeling for Jack's presence in my mind, and feel strangely
bereft. I am alone inside my head again, and for some reason that feels wrong!
"DANIEL?"
Jack's voice, full of concern, hammers the inside of my head, and I wince.
'I know you're worried,' I think, 'but shut up!'
I feel myself being shaken, a hand gripping my arm, and after a moment's thought,
I am able to correlate everything.
I'm not dead!
The ship crashed but we're both still alive!
I can't seem to move anything.
My body needs to get used to not being wired into the ship, I suppose, but it feels
very strange to be a single unit again! I can feel my brain sending frantic messages
to my limbs, but there's no response.
I'm moving now, and I have nothing to do with it.
As I feel myself being dragged from the chair where my body had been slumped,
I'm jolted and bounced to the ground. Something isn't right here, and I can't quite
figure out what....
"No! Damn it Daniel! Not like this!"
'Jack?' I think, not liking the edge of desperation that's in his voice.
I try to speak, try to move, but I can't. Frustration is building up inside me, but
there's no outlet for it - I want to scream out, but I can't even manage to get my mouth
to open, even if I could make a sound.
"NO!"
After a moment of thought, a realisation hits me - I can feel all these things happening
to me, can hear Jack's desperate voice, but I can't tell if I'm still breathing!
My head seems to be at a strange angle, tipped back, mouth open. I can feel the
warmth of Jack's breath going into my lungs, feel his hands where they are pressing,
crossed on my chest....
He's giving me CPR.
==============
Part 67 ~ Jack
==============
This is exhilarating, nearly unbelievable!. Like any air force pilot, I'd had my dreams
of being an astronaut. But those dreams are nothing compared to the reality of
being a spaceship as it thrusts itself upward out of a planet's gravity, through the
envelope of its atmosphere, and out into space.
I don't understand either the mechanics or the theory of it, but somehow the ship
can move faster than light. I suppose Carter might have a clue, but she's not here,
and Daniel knows even less than I do about such things. And I know shit-all. But
that doesn't matter. The ship knows for us. It's merely a flip of a switch and a
change in the sound and feel of the engines, and suddenly we're being propelled
down a tunnel of light, space falling away faster and faster.
Much more exhausting though. I feel as though the ship is draining me like one
of its power cells. My mind is becoming sluggish, slow. I can barely hold the link
to Daniel; he is slipping away from me.
I'm so tired. So tired...
I just want to sleep. Sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wake to a scream. It is both my own and Daniel's and the ship's all at once.
I am instantly aware. The viewer screen flashes before my eyes and I see the
planetary surface rushing up to meet us. Fast, too damned fast.
My command to slow, to brake, to halt, is too late. We hit with a horrible grinding
explosion of sand, the impact reverberating through every bone in my body then
sending me flying upward. I collapse to the floor with a jarring thump, renewing
the agony of my older injuries and bruising the rest of my body.
I'm getting too old for this.
Lights blaze, music screeches, no longer sweet chimes but the blare of alarm.
There is a flare of fire, a booming, wrenching sound, and then it all goes dark.
The link to the ship is torn from me, tearing at my mind, leaving a hole where it
had been. I cry out with the pain of its loss, then desperately reach for Daniel.
He's there - thank God - but only barely. The connection is faint, too faint.
Somehow, I force myself to my feet, ignoring the blaze of pain in my body, and
propel myself to his couch. He's still on it, amazingly, laying boneless and
unconscious. I touch his cheek, calling his name, aloud and inside, but there is
no response.
"Daniel!" I try again. Then I notice that he is no longer breathing. I fumble for a
pulse and can't find it. Oh no, no, no, no, NO!
I want to scream, to cry, to die myself, but I can't. Not while there's the faintest
chance I can revive him. I know CPR, I can do this. I have to do this.
I clear his airway, then begin rhythmic pounding on his chest.
'Come on, Daniel, come back to me, damn you, come on!' runs through my mind,
a fervant litany, a prayer to whomever or whatever might listen. I breath for him
in a sick mockery of a kiss, wishing it was a kiss and that I could feel his breath
fill my mouth as mine fills his.
I keep it up, pounding on his chest, breathing for him, for what seems an eternity,
yet I know is only minutes, until he convulses. I grab for him, holding his shoulders,
as his entire body twitches. His chest heaves as he tries to breath and I scream his
name again.
His attempts to breath hurt and he coughs roughly. His arms and legs flail, then
come to rest. He coughs again, then breaths, deep ragged gulps of air. I gather
him up against me, trying to soothe him, pressing my mouth to his forehead and
kissing the soft skin through his tangled bangs.
His eyes finally flicker open and he looks up at me. His eyes will never be more
beautiful than they are at that moment. My relief, my love for him, cascades down
out of me, pouring out of every pore of my skin. He smiles at me and whispers my
name.
Tears flood out of my eyes.
Now it is his turn, trembling and ungainly, his mind still tentative in its control of
his body, to reach out and hold me. I bury my face against his chest and sob
helplessly. After all we'd been through to have lost him now would have killed me.
His arms close around me and a wave of love floods me. It washes over me like
a gentle tide, sun-warmed and soothing. I can't make out his thoughts anymore,
just the emotion, sweet and poignant as it mixes with my own.
He strokes the back of my head then slides a hand under my chin to lift my head.
He leans over and kisses away my tears. Quick, butterfly kisses, then long,
lingering ones, until our mouths meet.
I don't ever want to part from that kiss, but I do. Not just to breathe, but also to
return to a recognition of our surroundings. It is dark and cold and empty here,
enclosed in the hull of the dead ship. We need to leave, now that we are both
alive and as well as we can be.
Daniel brushes my lips once more, then silently acquieses. I help him up and we lean
on each other for support as we find our way out of the ship. The inner door is
open and we clamber down the hallway which is twisted at an angle. The outer door
is more of a problem. Daniel hammers on it until I stop him.
"Stay here," I tell him, turning to scramble back down the hall. I'd done a thorough
investigation of the ship during my first mental contact with it, and unless I missed
my guess, there should be...
A storeroom full of tools down and to the right. That door is open just enough for
me to squeeze through and retrieve what I need. The memory of what it was and
how it worked is faint and flickering, but solid enough to meet the needs of the
moment. I rejoin Daniel.
"Stand back," I warn him, brandishing the alien tool. He nods, sliding back to watch
from a short, safe distance. Grimacing, I activate the device. A beam of focused red
light fires outward from the business end of it, like a miniature laser. That's probably
what it is, but all that matters is that it works. It slices slowly, inch-by-inch through
the door material. I use my remaining knowledge of how the door is shaped to aim
for the joints. It works. With a final flare of light and a shove, the door falls
outward.
Daniel and I both shield our dark-adjusted eyes at the sudden blare of brilliant
sunlight. Sand flies inward, a thick layer of grit instantly covering everything.
I turn off the tool and drop it, gesturing to Daniel to follow me as I climb out of
the ship, sliding down the hull to land on a shifting surface of sand.
Daniel lands beside me and we gaze around us. Sand, sand and more sand. Well,
this is familiar. We could be back on Abydos. I look at Daniel and he shakes his
head, obviously having the same thought.
"No. I haven't the faintest idea where we are, except that we're on the opposite
side of the galaxy from Abydos. It's close to Earth, remember."
"Oh yeah," I say. I sigh, licking at dry lips. "I wonder how close to the Stargate
we are?"
"I don't know," Daniel replies. He points to the left, towards the crest of a sand
dune. "We might see more from there."
I nod. We begin the slow process of walking through the sand, our feet dragged
down by the currents of dust as the wind swirls the unsteady material beneath us.
Step-by-step, we move upward until we are standing on the top of the dune.
We turn to look in opposite directions and Daniel shouts, an exclamation of
triumph.
"There! Look!" I turn to follow his pointing arm and my eyes widen.
In the distance, perhaps a couple of miles away, is a familiar structure. A small
pyramid temple.
"Well, I'll be..." I mutter. Daniel grasps my arm in excitement.
"Come on!" he shouts, urging me onward. I'm more than willing to follow and off
we go. I sure hope this temple is less used by the Goa'uld than the one on Abydos!
==============
Part 68 ~ Daniel
==============
I'm so tired.
At the end of it all, I guess the effort of guiding the ship was too much, sucking
my life from me. It was like someone had turned on a tap inside me, the energy
flooding from me, until I was left dry and empty.
All I want to do is sleep, sink into the blackness, the infinite void that surrounds
me. It's harder to stay here than it would be to just drift away.
But I can't, can I?
As if I'm an observer, watching something from a great distance, I can see Jack's
frantic efforts to revive me. Through the tenuous link between us, I can still feel
the emotions warring within him - terror, despair, the last flickering of hope.
Somehow I know that, if I leave here, start that journey alone, we'll finish it
together.
I can't allow that.
As little as I cling to this life at the moment, the sharpest memories within me are
memories of Jack - that grin, the worried look he tries so hard to hide, the little
frown that appears on his forehead.
And more intimate memories, memories of Jack crying out my name as he comes, his
face twisted, moaning with arousal and completion.
How could I even think to leave him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I rise towards life like I'm coming up from the depths of a dark lake - I can see the
surface, the sunlight reflecting on the water, but it seems impossibly far. My lungs
are straining like I had been diving too deep, and I struggle, arms thrashing for the
surface, the air, life itself.
I can feel my body thrashing, and Jack's hands clutching my shoulders as my body
heaves and bucks. It's so like when I first touched the ship, that for a moment I
am even more disorientated, waiting for the mental touch of the alien vessel, but
nothing comes to me. It is gone.
My lungs heave, dragging in the air like I had been gone forever, and I hurt.
All over. Every millimetre of my skin tingles, every nerve seems to be firing.
I think I'm going to explode....
Then everything stabilises.
My lungs start to work, I can breathe again. I can feel Jack's arms wrap round
me, their warmth coming through to my skin, it seems to calm me. I feel Jack kiss
me, tenderly, his lips impossibly warm, brushing their way through my hair to my
forehead.
I manage to drag my eyes open, forcing them to focus in Jack's direction.
It's then I know that the connection between us is still there. Even as our eyes
meet, I'm swept with a deluge of emotion, and I know it isn't mine - relief, love,
fear, desire, hope, sadness, joy.
I smile, whisper Jack's name and he falls apart.
Jack's face crumples, a mirror suddenly of the emotions he had been sending.
Then he starts to cry, the tears coming like they're never going to stop, great
heaving sobs croaking out of him, his body shuddering with their passing.
I make my limbs obey me, I don't know how, wrapping myself in an ungainly
fashion round the man I love. I cradle his head on my chest, feeling him tremble
against me, trying to send the emotions I feel, to somehow comfort him.
Doesn't he realise that the only reason I came back was for him?
After all, it wasn't Sha're's face I saw, or anyone elses - the only thing that
tied me to life itself was my love for this man. And if I haven't expressed that
emotion, haven't demonstrated the depth of the feelings I have for him, then I'm
the one who should be sobbing here.
Schooling my hand to obey me, which it does, shaking all the while, I run my fingers
through the hair at the back of Jack's head, then slide that hand around to bring
Jack's face up to mine. If I can't share his burden, can't carry this terrible
sadness for him, then maybe I can lighten it a little....
I have to concentrate so hard in order to control my movements, to stop them
being uncoordinated, but I cope, kissing away Jack's tears as gently as I can.
My lips brush across his face, gathering up the moisture, then move downwards.
They are drawn inexorably to Jack's mouth, seeking out the life and heat that
dwells there.
It's incredible really.
Only minutes ago, this same mouth helped bring me back to life, with a determination
that I've always envied. But now, its only characteristics are passion and gentleness
- a strange mixture, I know, but one I've found there before.
Reluctantly, I let Jack go, feeling the moment that he wants to leave this embrace,
before he even knows it himself. I've come to know him so well. One last kiss, and
then it's time for us to move.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We make our way out of the ship, thanks to Jack's residual memories.
I don't seem to be able to remember as much as before - I wasn't linked to the
ship for as long, maybe that's the difference. There's a gaping hole, an odd
emptiness inside, and I know that all the knowledge that so enthralled me before
has gone.
Not a trace of it remains, and in some ways I'm glad. After all, if I remembered
a little of it, that would tantalise me for the rest of my life, teasing and tormenting
me with what I've lost. And that would be a mistake, as I've gained so much more
from this journey than I ever managed to lose along the way.
The link between Jack and myself seems to be there still - we can't share our
thoughts any more, but in some ways that's a relief. Emotions can be revealing
enough. And we know each other well now, well enough to think the same without
the need for a mental link between us, or so it seems....
When we leave the ship, and see the expanse of desert laid out before us, I can
tell what Jack is thinking before he even looks at me. Like mine, his mind has
travelled back to our first journey together, to Abydos.
"No," I reply to Jack's unspoken question. "I haven't the faintest idea where we
are, except that we're on the opposite side of the galaxy from Abydos. It's
close to Earth, remember."
"Oh yeah," Jack replies, looking out over the great sweep of dunes that lie before
us.
Damn, it's hot here.
The planet we just left was temperate, humid at times, and I'd almost forgotten
what desert heat was like. We won't survive long here - we need to find the
Stargate and leave here. I have no idea where we should go, but we can't stay
here.
"I wonder how close to the Stargate we are?" Jack asks, his mind again working
along the same lines as mine. I can feel his concern, it brushes lightly at the edge
of my mind.
"I don't know," I reply, as there is no way to tell from where we are.
If only I'd been conscious when we landed, then maybe we'd know which way to
head. Oh well. We're going to have to fall back on old-fashioned methods.
"We might see more from there," I add, gesturing to a nearby sand dune.
Scaling the sand dune is exercise I could have done without.
My tired limbs protest, my muscles aching with the exertion as we slither and
clamber our way to the top. By the end, I'm on my hands and knees to scale the
last few metres, rising somewhat unsteadily to my feet once I reach the summit.
I squint into the distance, shading my eyes with a hand that's still shaking with the
climb. I almost miss it at first, but my eyes seem to be working on auto-pilot, and
they drag themselves back to focus on the one structure I can see.
"There! Look!" I shout, not daring to tear my eyes away from it, in case it turns
out to be a mirage.
'It' is a small pyramid, looking completely at home here. It's smaller than the
structure on Abydos, maybe two-thirds of the size, but still unmistakeable.
"Well, I'll be..." I hear Jack mutter, as he recognises it too, then I grab his arm
and half-drag him after me, down the other side of the dune.
"Come on!" I shout, though Jack is already following me, and I let go of my grip
on his sleeve. I need my balance too much, as I slide and slither my way down the
sand, watching it shift beneath me as I move.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It takes us a long time to get to the pyramid.
We're both tired, maybe more tired than we would admit, and climbing sand dunes
is a tiring thing to do. Even after living on a desert planet, I never quite got the
knack of it, and I envied the way my Abydian compatriots sometimes seemed to
practically scamper across the sand.
Like the one on Abydos, it's fronted by a long ramp, the beginning of which is
guarded by two obelisks. Everything to scale, like a replica model, all in proportion
but smaller. The ramp is covered in a fine layer of sand, blown here and there into
small heaps, which seems to bode well for this not being a regular Goa'uld
stop-off point.
Inside, the similarities to the chamber I came to know so well are startling, so
much so that I stop at the entrance for a moment, as memories of Abydos come
flooding back.
In the end, it's the gentle pressure of Jack's hand on my back that brings me back
to the here and now - turning to him slightly, I smile and know that it's a sad smile
when I see the echo of it on his face.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Damn.
The 'Gate is here, and looks okay, and so does the DHD. The only problem is that
I don't recognise some of the symbols on it, so I have no idea which is the point
of origin for this planet.
And where are we going to go anyway?
We'd held onto the transmitter like grim death, though we had never talked about the
reason why, till we met the lizards - like everything else they could, they took that
and we never had a chance to look for it. Getting away seemed far more important
than a piece of technology that we'd never get to use.
But that was then and this is now....
So, we can't go home. Not unless we want to end up like Jack's 'bugs on a
windshield'. So we have to go somewhere else first, and it needs to be somewhere
safe, somewhere we won't run into the folks with the glowing eyes.
If I can only figure out how to get us there, I have just the place!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After two or three hours of scouring the walls of the chamber I admit defeat.
Like Abydos, there's nothing here, in the chamber where the 'Gate is, to indicate
the point of origin symbol, so there must be cartouches elsewhere.
And until I find them, we're stuck here - we may have exchanged a rough but
comfortable life for a slow death by thirst and starvation if I don't think of
something soon.
I run my hands through my hair again, sighing with frustration. It's then that
Jack touches my arm and I jump as though I've been scalded.
"What the...?" I blurt out, before my mind catches up, and I blush with
embarrassment at my revelation.
I'd forgotten Jack was even here with me, I'd been so intent on what I was doing.
"You're exhausted, Daniel," he says, ignoring the way my face has reddened.
"You need to rest."
"What I need," I snap, "is to find the damn symbol!"
The moment the words leave my mouth, laced with all the venom tiredness and
irritation can create, I regret them. Jack's right, of course, as much as I hate to
admit it. My brain feels like it's been wrapped up and put away for the winter, so
much so that I stumble over the words I need to say.
"Jack... I... you know..."
"Shhh," he whispers, as he takes my arm gently and leads me to one of the alcoves
that line the chamber.
I can feel my pulse start to race as waves of desire start to creep across the mental
distance between us. I should say something, protest that this isn't right, that we
need to find the solution, that we don't have time for this - none of the words are
available to me at the moment, my brain is unable to track them down.
I'd taken my jacket off earlier, and where Jack's hand is wrapped round my wrist,
I can feel the warmth of his skin inching its way up my arm. He pulls me down
gently into the alcove, till I'm kneeling on the floor, and he's kneeling too,
behind me, his hands on my shoulders now.
When his thumbs start to move, digging into the tense muscles of my shoulders,
I'm in ecstasy. I don't need too much encouragement to lose my t-shirt, filthy
and tattered as it is, to allow Jack's hands access to my back, his touch making
my skin scream when his hands move away.
I can feel the tiredness running out of me, the muscles relaxing, groans creeping
out of my mouth as Jack's hands bring me back to life again.
When he starts to trail the lightest of kisses down my spine I almost miss the
sensation at first. Almost. But I can feel the heat of his breath, not to mention
the searing touch of his lips, and I start to squirm under this attention, all
tiredness a distant memory.
Jack's hands are back on my shoulders as he kisses his way down my back, stopping
me from turning to him, and I groan again, this time with frustration.
This is killing me.
I can feel the heat building, the warmth developing in my groin, and I just want to
pounce on Jack and see what happens next. Something tells me that's exactly the
reaction he was looking for! What better way to distract me from my so-far
fruitless search?
Well, whatever his motivation at first, it's working!
When Jack's hands finally leave my shoulders, after what seems like an eternity,
I can't recall the last time I moved that fast. One moment I was kneeling, with
Jack behind me, the next we were horizontal, my hands stripping Jack of his t-shirt
as I cover every inch of skin I can reach with kisses.
I can feel him against me, and I know he's as aroused as I am - even if his aim was
to distract me, I'm not the only one who ended up being distracted.
It's only as I'm kissing Jack that I realise how many bruises he has, and that not
every groan that escapes his lips is a result of passion. In the half-light coming
through the archway into this chamber, I can see the marks of our journey together
written across Jack's skin, and I draw back slightly, not wanting to hurt him.
Even as I draw back, one of Jack's hands wraps round the back of my head and
pulls me back towards him. He smiles up at me, his eyes wide, pupils so dilated that
I can see myself reflected in the blackness there.
"It's okay," he whispers, his other hand coming up to stroke my cheek, then dropping
to caress its way down my side.
"I don't want to hurt you," I whisper back, even though there is an insistent voice
in the back of my mind screaming for release.
"Never," Jack replies, pulling me towards him, diving into my mouth like he intends
to set up home there.
All rational thought escapes me then, and after that things take their natural
course.
The last thing I hear, echoing out across the chamber, is my voice, sobbing Jack's
name as I reach completion. Then, after I had slumped bonelessly across Jack's
body as we lay tangled together in the alcove, I must have fallen asleep.
==============
Part 69 ~ Jack
==============
This pyramid brings back bad memories. A few good ones too.
We kicked Ra's ass from one of these. I think that was the beginning for Daniel
and me - looking into each other's eyes and coming to the same idea at the same
time. We worked in total synchrony then, the two of us melded into one sole purpose.
I'd never felt anything like that before. It disappeared quickly for Daniel and
I are so different. We separated, him staying with Sha're and me going home.
But the memory stayed with me.
Perhaps that's why I was so eager, though I tried to hide it, to find him again.
I fought it - the emotions and the need that continually drew me closer to this
young, brilliant, slightly flaky scholar. Now, all I can do is kick myself and wonder
what the hell took me so long. What was I afraid of?
OK - I was afraid of a lot of things. Things we're going to have to deal with when
we get home. Like military attitudes towards this kind of relationship. Then, again,
I'm pretty sure that I don't give a damn. I retired once and can do so again. If it
weren't for how incredibly important the SGC is...
Well, I figure they need us more than we need them. No one has more experience
with this stuff than Daniel and me, combined or separately. And after all we've
been through on their behalf -- well, quite frankly, this government owes us big
time. I have a bad feeling they're going to end up owing us a hell of a lot more in
the months and years to come.
At least it does look like we're going home. Perhaps through a circuitous route, but
we've got a Stargate and a DHD. Now the only question is where to go first.
Daniel's racing around, trying to find a clue that will tell him the home symbol for
this planet. Meanwhile, I get to sit here on my ass having a bad deju-vu attack from
Abydos. But he'll find it. Daniel did so there, and I have absolute and total
confidence in his ability to do so again.
I plop myself down next to the DHD and watch him work. I don't think I'll admit
this too him, even now, but he's incredibly sexy when he's focused so intensely
on his work. I love to watch him, watch those blue eyes widen and focus, the
stubborn jaw set, the way he nibbles at his lower lip as he concentrates. His hair
inevitably seems to fall in his eyes and he always brushes it aside with quick,
deft movements, probably not even knowing that he's doing it.
I could watch him forever...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wake with a jerk, nearly crashing my skull on the stalk of the DHD. How long
have I been dozing? Daniel's still running his fingers over the walls of this chamber.
I doubt he'd be able to tell me if I asked. He loses all track of time when he's
working.
Yawning, I stretch and push myself to my feet. That nap gave me a rush of energy.
I still feel like I've been run over by a large vehicle, but at least it now feels like
a small dump truck instead of a tank. Daniel, on the other hand, looks like hell.
He'd been working while I'd been sleeping and if I know my Daniel, he'll work
himself to death.
We need to find our way out of here but I'd prefer to do so alive. He needs rest,
we both do. The answer is here, but sometimes you have to stop looking in order
to find it. So we sleep first and try again later. We can last a couple of days
without water, though it won't be fun.
So I walk up behind Daniel and gently touch him on the arm.
"What the...?" he yelps, shocked out of his concentration. He turns red-lined blue
eyes at me as though surprised to see me.
"You're exhausted, Daniel," I tell him. "You need to rest."
"What I need," he snaps, always resistant to give up pursuit, "is to find the damn
symbol!" Then he blushes red beneath his tan, grasping my arm as he stumbles over
his apology. "Jack... I... you know..."
I know, Danny, I know. No offense taken.
"Shhh," I whisper soothingly, taking hold of his arm and leading him to a small alcove
nearby. There's just enough space to settle ourselves out of the direct line of
sunlight. His skin is soft in my hand and I press my back up against the wall, pulling
him down in front of me.
We're both kneeling now and I have full access to the
broad strength of his shoulders. He's tense, trembling slightly, and I sense the
stirrings of desire, tendrils of need wrapping themselves around us both.
I begin to massage the sore knotted muscles of his shoulders, sighing as his
pleasure feeds back along on our emotional link to me. Strangely, it's almost as
though someone is doing this to me. The easing of the stress in his shoulders is
mirrored in my own. I stroke him harder, caressing and kneading, letting his
body and mine tell me what is needed. His shirt becomes an encumbrance, my
fingers seeking, aching, to touch his skin directly.
I strip it away without a protest from him. He leans back against me, pressing
into my touch. His skin is hot satin under my fingertips, the pulse of life in his
body flowing up through my fingers to join with my own. Almost without
realizing that I'm doing it, I'm soon kissing as well as touching. My lips find
his spine, the bony ridges close beneath the skin, and I kiss down the length,
vertebrae by vertebrae.
He squirms, shifting, trying to turn towards me. I reach up and grasp his shoulders,
tenderly, but firmly, silently telling him not to move. I kiss up and down his back,
stopping here and there to lick and nibble at the skin. He tastes better than the
finest wine, the salt of his sweat like nectar on my tongue.
Heat, desire, need, all grow between us, fed back and forth on electric currents
between our bodies. Daniel can only wait so long and I know he's moving the
moment he forms the thought. Now I let him take control, falling into his arms,
dropping bonelessly down to the floor while his hands yank my T-shirt up and
away.
He kisses me, starting with my mouth, but moving onward. Ever the explorer,
Daniel, and he maps me as surely as he would one of his artifacts. I love it, every
touch of that passionate mouth, even when he strikes one of the bruises littering
my skin. I groan, mostly in ecstasy, but touched with the lance of discomfort and
he immediately reacts, pulling away, his eyes shocked.
No, oh no, Daniel. I can live with the bruises. If anything, your touch is healing.
I wrap a hand around the back of his head and restrain him from leaving me.
I need him, now as much as ever, and my body is making insistent demands for
release. He is staring anxiously at me and I smile in return, whispering to him
that it's ok.
I stroke his cheek gently, confirming my words with my touch.
"I don't want to hurt you," he whispers, even as he settled in closer to me, his body
knowing what it needs even if his mind hasn't caught up.
"Never," I tell him, knowing the truth of it even as I say it. I draw his head the
last couple of inches closer and dive into his mouth, taking possession of it. He
opens to me, giving himself up to me. Desire pounds through me washing away any
last remnant of rational thought and all that is left is our two bodies, clinging
together, almost fighting, struggling, then coming together in the final climax.
I clutch at him, wrapping my arms and legs around him, needing him as close as I
can get him, wishing I could bury myself inside his very skin. He sighs my name,
holding me, as he falls into sleep. I kiss the top of his head and follow him into
slumber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I moan, resisting the hand shaking my shoulder. I want to sleep...
"Jack!" Daniel calls out, insistent, his hand tightening on my shoulder. I mutter an
imprecation under my breath, but give in to his determination. Blearily, I open my
eyes and look up at him. He's bubbling with excitement, nearly trembling. Despite
myself, I am stirred into full awareness.
"What is it?" I demand grumpily, letting him pull me up.
"I found it!" he exclaims. Then he pauses and qualifies his statement. "Well, I know
where to find it!" I glare at him, an eyebrow arching upward. He merely grins
toothily at me. "It's like Abydos. It's gotta be. Which means that the cartouche
room has to be in the same approximate location from the Gateroom."
Now I'm catching on. I knew he'd figure it out! Slapping him on the arm,
affectionately, I motion towards the door.
"So what're we waiting for?" I question. "Lead on McDuff!"
He glares lightly at me, but leads the way. At least it's approaching dusk and
the sunlight is less intense on us as we slip and slide across the sand. Unlike
Abydos, the cluster of buildings we find are abandoned, empty. There's no
civilization here, no people, just a few crumbling walls.
Daniel knows his way, however, and we find our quarry with a minimum of trouble.
One wall has fallen away, allowing sunlight to stream inward, gleaming brightly
on the golden rows of alien symbols. I follow Daniel as he studies his way across
the remaining three walls, stopping half-way through the second one.
"There!" he shouts, reaching out to tug on my arm. He points to a raised row of
seven golden symbols. "That's the one we need to use."
I stare at it, then shrug. To be honest they all look pretty much the same to me,
though I do recognize a couple of the glyphs as familiar.
"Where'll it take us?" I ask.
"Land of Light," he replies, happily.
"Land of..." I echo, my mind slow to catch up, but when it does I grin and grab
him into a fierce hug. "Daniel, have I ever told you that you're absolutely
brilliant?"
I pull back from the hug just enough to frame his face with my hands. I look straight
into his eyes and tell him, slowly and clearly, "Daniel Jackson, you are absolutely
brilliant!"
His smile is breathtaking, stunning, in the brief instant before he kisses me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rest is easy. We hurry back to the Stargate, put our discarded jackets back
on, and Daniel dials the DHD. The Stargate whooshes into life, the silver, watery
surface gleaming before us. We stand before it for a moment in silent appreciation,
then we join hands and run forward.
Together, we dive into the wormhole.
==============
Part 70 ~ Daniel
==============
When I wake, it's from a fitful sleep - the sunlight is still streaming into the
chamber where the 'Gate is located, so it's difficult to tell how long we've slept.
Not long enough, that's all I can say.
Jack and I had fallen asleep tangled together, limbs entwined, but now we had
separated slightly. My arms are wrapped around Jack as he lies with his head
on my chest, snuggled into the hollow by my shoulder. He's snoring slightly, and
that sound reassures me that everything is okay.
The last day or so had been so eventful that I hadn't had the chance to just
reflect on what had happened - we'd spun from one event to the next without
a spare second to even catch our breath.
In a matter of hours, we had left the planet we had expected to be calling home
for the rest of our lives, had hurtled through space linked to an alien ship, then
slammed into this planet.
And now, if only I could figure out how, we could take the next step in our
journey home.
Home.
The further we travel, the more we experience, the more that seemingly simple
word scares me. And having shared Jack's emotions, his very thoughts, I know
that it scares him too.
Somehow, that very fact is an immense reassurance to me.
I expect to be scared, it's something I've learned to live with since I first signed
up to be involved with the Stargate project, but to know that Jack is scared too is
a real revelation. I'd never thought he was superhuman, that he didn't share the
same emotions as the rest of us, it's just that I never knew that fear was in his
repertoire!
Knowing Jack fears what might happen to us if we ever get home makes that
emotion more manageable for me, in a perverse kind of way.
But we have to get home first, before we have to worry about the kind of reception
we'll get, how we'll deal with the problems we're bound to face.
And that's my department.
Somehow, Jack's faith in me, both spoken and silent, places a great weight on my
shoulders - he has such trust in my ability to solve this puzzle.
I've always craved Jack's approval, right from when we first met, but has it ever
been as important to me as it is now? Or the discovery I need to make so vital?
Sighing, I settle back against the wall of the alcove, feeling Jack's warmth
against me, and I let my gaze rise to the ceiling.
This place is so like the 'Gate room on Abydos, even the ceiling looks the same,
and I ponder what to do next. I can't find any trace of a cartouche in this
chamber, and I hadn't really expected to - after all, this world, if it's inhabited
at all, might well be another one where writing has been banned. Where the
records of the 'Gate system are hidden....
Of course! How could I have been so stupid?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hate to do it, Jack looks so peaceful as he sleeps, but I have to tell him. Even if
it means waking him from what looks like a very peaceful sleep, a sleep he seems
determined to continue, despite all my efforts to wake him.
"Jack!"
I give him another shake, harder this time, and Jack starts to wake, muttering to
himself.
"What is it?" Jack growls at me, as I slide out from under him and help him to his
feet.
"I found it!" I say, then realise that isn't quite an accurate statement. "Well, I
know where to find it!"
Jack glares at me, an eyebrow lifted in enquiry - he's clearly waiting for further
explanation, and I realise that I have that stupid grin plastered across my face
again.
"It's like Abydos," I say, watching Jack's face intently. I want to see the moment
when the penny drops. "It's gotta be. Which means that the cartouche room has
to be in the same approximate location from the Gateroom."
The moment of realisation is astounding, it's like a light switches on behind Jack's
eyes - the look he gives me is full of pride and affection, as he reaches out and
slaps me lightly on the arm.
"So what're we waiting for?" he asks. "Lead on McDuff!"
I refrain from replying that I had been waiting for him to wake up, settling for
a glare before I lead the way out of the chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, the sun is finally beginning to set, and the temperature is starting to fall.
The setting sun casts a reddish glow across the dunes whose surface we are
slithering across, and it doesn't take long before we reach the building we are
looking for.
It's partly fallen down, one of the walls has crumbled away, and that lets daylight
flood in across the symbols that are laid out across the other surfaces. That in
itself is a relief, as I recall the darkness of the cartouche room on Abydos - we
had no way of kindling a torch to study the symbols, so the sunshine is a godsend.
I inch my way across the walls that are still standing, my eyes intent on the symbols
laid out there. I can feel Jack's presence still, just behind me, shadowing me as
I work my way along the row of cartouches, mentally ticking them off as I go.
It's then that I see it, and grab Jack's arm to make him pay attention.
"There!" I exclaim. "That's the one we need to use."
"Where'll it take us?" Jack asks, his eyes still fixed on the rows and rows of
symbols.
"Land of Light," I reply, waiting for the response to my statement.
It doesn't take long, much less time than the last.
"Land of..." Jack echoes, clearly still engrossed by the myriad symbols on the walls.
His voice grinds to a halt after the second word, and a massive grin appears.
For someone who's been through what we've been through over the past few days,
Jack moves very fast - before I can even grin back at him, he's wrapped his arms
round me, in a crushing bearhug.
"Daniel, have I ever told you that you're absolutely brilliant?" he whispers in my
ear, his breath tickling.
"Not really," I whisper back, "but you can tell me again."
Jack pulls back from my embrace, bringing his hands up to cup my face, his eyes
shining with love and pride again.
"Daniel Jackson, you are absolutely brilliant!" Jack says, enunciating each word
so clearly that I feel like his words will stay with me forever.
For once, I have no idea what to say, and all I can do is kiss him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We rush back to the 'Gate chamber, collect our jackets, left behind in the rush,
and I dial up the address.
The chevrons spin and lock, then the wormhole forms, shooting out into the chamber
as we watch. Once the silvery surface has formed, I reach my hand out tentatively
towards Jack, meeting his firm grasp. Joined that way, we step into the wormhole
together.
When we stumble out the other side, hands still joined, it's dark.
After the brightness of the desert planet, even as the light diffused into the
chamber where the 'Gate was standing, the darkness is a surprise. We scramble
down the bank from the 'Gate itself, our steps lit by the silvery glow of the event
horizon, before it flickers out and we are left in the twilight.
After a few minutes, when our eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I can make out
a path, twisting through the trees away from the clearing where the 'Gate is
standing. If I recall correctly, that path leads out of the forest, then curves
across some low hills before we come to the city.
If only we had some thermal imaging goggles like last time.
I hated wearing them - they were heavy and awkward, and without my glasses I
couldn't see very far, but after the third or fourth time of tripping over tree
roots, I wish we had some.
I'm following Jack, as we creep along the path in the darkness. Even as slowly
as we have been moving, both of us have measured our length more than once, as
the uneven ground or half-hidden obstacles trip us up. I can hear Jack curse under
his breath a couple of times, and I sympathise with his plight. Tripping along like
this is frustrating enough for me, and I've seen the bruises Jack already has....
When we reach the edge of the forest, I discover I'd forgotten the way that the
darkness just... stops! It's as though there is a tangible line between the darkness
and the light, and somehow, here, it seems right.
I squint into the light, wishing for a pair of shades right now, and follow Jack
as he strides up the nearest slope, still following the path, which is clearer now.
It isn't long before we're standing at the brow of a small hill, looking down
across a valley to the city. It's just as I remember it, spread out across the side
of the hill before us, the hill itself surmounted by a building that shows its Greek
origins so clearly.
Just a little further, and then we're sure of a warm welcome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we travel through the streets, heading for the building at the centre of the city,
I'm conscious for the first time of what we must look like.
Our uniforms are torn and dirty, we're unshaven and unwashed, hair tangled. It's
no surprise that we attract attention, and it doesn't take long before we're
stopped by two burly guards, who cross their spears in front of us.
I can see Jack bristle, feel the irritation rising in him, and I reach my hand out to
grasp his arm. I know that there's no way I could really stop him, that he could
pull out of my grip without any difficulty at all, but it's a psychological thing.
If it doesn't stop Jack from reacting aggressively, at least it makes me feel involved
in what's going down.
Even as Jack squares up to the guards, his chin lifting there is movement in the
crowd that has gathered around us. After a moment, they part, allowing a man to
reach where we are, a man I recognise.
"High Councillor Tuplo," I begin - the man's eyes widen and he spins round to inspect
me as I speak his name.
"How do you know my name?" he asks, his eyes raking up and down my body. I can
almost see his nostrils flare as he inspects me, and I look him in the eye.
Tuplo's eyes linger on Jack for a moment, then he turns back to me. I see him
recognise me, his eyes widen, and his jaw drops slightly in surprise.
"My lords!" he exclaims. "What has happened to you?"
It's clear he recognises us now, but this time there is no attempt to kneel before us
- the way we look, I'd have been surprised if he had.
"It's a long story," Jack begins, slapping a hand on Tuplo's shoulder in a familiar
fashion, turning him towards the hall we had been heading for. "And we'd love to
tell it to you over dinner..."
==============
Part 71 ~ Jack
==============
Tossed out of the Stargate, our hearts pounding, our lungs reaching for air, we
stumble down the steps. The rush of transit is nearly instantaneous and yet leaves
us feeling as though we've been twisted inside out. My stomach heaves, acid
boiling within. I haven't eaten in far too long, so there's nothing to come up.
But it tries anyway.
A few deep breaths and a moment to let the icy chill of the wormhole wear off,
and we both feel a bit better. Daniel's already staring at the path ahead of us,
anxious to go. I tap him on the shoulder, signaling that I'm ready. It's dark here,
so we have to take it slowly, and my injuries don't help. My arm and leg are
nearly healed thanks to the lizard's nasty-tasting blue paste, but the crash left me
with a whole new round of bruises. I doubt whether Daniel's in much better shape.
But we're close now to the relative comforts of civilization and that makes us
hurry, perhaps a bit faster than is comfortable for either of us. Unfortunately,
we're back in another forest and I'm beginning to get heartily sick of trees.
And tree roots! I stumble more than once, slowing us down, but by some providence,
I fail to twist or break an ankle.
Finally, at long last, we break through the bizarre curtain separating the dark
and light sides of this planet. It must be weird living in permanent daylight. But
these people seem to have done well despite their strange planet and the disease
that took so many of their people before we were able to find a cure.
Once we crest the first hill, we can see the city in a distance. It is definitely a
treat for sore eyes. It reminds me of pictures I've seen of Ancient Athens, lots
of white marble pillars decorating the buildings. Daniel mutters something about
Greek origins while I simply smile. Greek is good. If I remember correctly, they
liked to eat, to bathe, and for that matter, they had a positive attitude towards
relationships like the one I have formed with Daniel. Yup, Greek is definitely
good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I'd forgotten just how utterly disreputable we look. Our uniforms
are unrecognizable tatters at this point and we're both sporting matted hair,
stubble-turning-into-beards, lots of sand, and vivid, multi-colored bruises. As
we stagger towards the central temple, we're gathering more than our share
of odd looks. These people aren't really scared, just perturbed. They make no
pretense of hiding either the stares or the whispers.
So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised when we get confronted by a pair of
large, grumpy guards. However, at this point, I'm so damned tired, achy, hungry,
thirsty and just plain miserable that my temper gets the better of me. All I want
is water, food, a bath and a bed - in that order - all as soon as is humanly
possible, and preferably faster. Diplomacy, on the other hand, is not high on my
list of favorite occupations on a good day, and this is not a good day.
I step forward, about to give these two brainless musclemen a piece of my mind,
but am stopped by Daniel's sudden, strong grip on my arm. I close my mouth,
swallowing the words, knowing he's right. Of course, that doesn't stop me from
doing my utmost to stare them down.
A crowd is gathering around us, but I ignore them, still glaring at the guards, until
Daniel calls out a familiar name.
"High Councillor Tuplo," he says, warmly. I look around and, sure enough, there's
a familiar long face. For some reason, the guy always reminds me of a basset hound.
I always get this weird sensation of wanting to reach out and scratch behind his
ears. He looks perpetually worried. Like usual, however, I manage to restrain
myself, which is probably a good thing considering that he's gazing at us with
absolute disgust.
"How do you know my name?" he asks regally, his eyes running up and down over
Daniel's ragged form.
I don't like that - the intense rush of possessiveness startles me. We'd been alone
together, at least separated from other humans, for the entire length of our
relationship, so it is a new experience to find myself disturbed by another
human simply looking at Daniel. An internal voice shouts 'he's mine! I barely
manage to keep it silent, though I do take a step forward and claim Tuplo's
attention.
"We know it," I tell the Councillor "because we've been here before. Don't you
know who we are?" I meet his eyes straight on, waiting for the spark of
recognition. It doesn't come until he turns to look at Daniel again and then it hits.
His eyes widen and his mouth drops open in shock. I guess it's those glasses
still perched on Daniel's nose and his long hair. It doesn't matter how filthy
he is, Daniel is still Daniel.
"My lords! What has happened to you?" he exclaims, spreading his hands wide.
His identification of us eases the worries of the guards and they move away.
"It's a long story," I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder. I urge him around to
walk towards the familiar long chamber of the town hall. "And we'd love to tell
it to you over dinner..."
"Of course, my Lords," he responds. He glances back at us, then makes another
offer. "Perhaps you would like to bathe and change clothes first."
I grin.
"A man after my own heart. That sounds like pure heaven." Daniel's soft sigh
agrees with me. Tuplo essays his first smile since he saw us and hurries on ahead.
You have to give the man credit, despite that hangdog appearance, he is one hell
of an organizer.
We are gathered up by about half-a-dozen giggling women and hustled into a
bathing house. Steam rises from the water and I'm not sure if I want to drink
it or bathe in it first. Daniel expresses the need for something to drink far more
politely than I'm capable of at this point and we get handed goblets of a tangy
fruit juice even as the remnants of our clothing are stripped away.
Swallowing that juice as though it was the nectar of the Gods itself, I can't seem
to raise the energy to protest. Hell, as Daniel often reminds me on our missions,
'when in Rome..."
Daniel does manage a faint protest, but the ladies ignore him. They toss our rags
aside with gestures of disgust, then make clicking noises over our bruised skin.
The eldest, a matron of maybe twenty-five years, shouts orders, pushing us towards
the steaming water. Like I need to be told...
Oh heaven. I'd nearly forgotten just how incredibly good a hot bath feels. This
is almost too hot, but I can live with that. The heat soothes my aching muscles as
I sink downward, dunking myself then slowly, reluctantly surfacing. Daniel's
spread himself out, his eyes closed, his glasses consigned to one of the girls.
His hair floats out around his head almost like tangled seaweed.
I follow suit, floating in the lightly scented water. I'm so tired and this feels
so wonderful... I could almost sleep here. Wake me in the morning...
Small but surprisingly strong hands grasp me by the upper arms and pull me up
against the edge of the tiled sunken tub. I jerk free and turn, only to find two
of the young women gazing at me, kneeling on the edge, a pile of sponges and a
set of pottery vials beside them. A faint gasp makes me turn and I see Daniel
being given a shampoo by three of the girls, one hanging onto him while another
dumps the entire contents of an earthen bottle on his head.
I laugh aloud, earning a glare from him, then give in myself. If they want to wash
us, let them. I'm too tired to spend much effort doing it myself and we are awfully
grimy. Already, the water around me is turning dark. So I close my eyes, turn my
back to the ladies and let them take over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The women certainly know what they are doing. I've never felt cleaner in my life
and the ointments they put on my scrapes and bruises, while over-perfumed, is
incredibly soothing. Amazingly, they even manage to get all of the tangles out of
Daniel's hair without having to cut much of it off, even despite Daniel's yelps and
complaints. I'm not complaining though - I think I could get to like this kind of
treatment.
A lot.
Clean clothes, clean skin, clean hair. We're definitely making major progress here.
There's no mirror handy, but considering that Daniel looks like a young Greek
God in his white toga and pale yellow linen pants, I figure I probably look
passable enough for polite society. Daniel certainly seems to like the way I look,
given the appreciative lilt to his eyes as he studies me. The young matron is
satisfied also.
"Come," she says. "High Councillor Tuplo is waiting for you."
I gesture for Daniel to precede me and he does, giving me a sly grin. I restrain
the desire to slap him on the ass as he passes by since we'd better save that for
when we get a chance to be alone. If I weren't so hungry...
I'm starving and the smell of food nearly makes me faint as we approach the
town hall. My mouth salivates and it is all I can do to observe the niceties as
Tuplo greets us and invites us to join him in a feast in our honor. Daniel does
better, he chats away happily, returning Tuplo's greeting and asking after the
health of his daughter.
"She is well, Lord Daniel, and will soon be married," Tuplo replies, grinning
ear-to-ear as we sit down on the plush cushions.
"Congratulations!" I offer, waiting for a signal to begin eating.
"Thank you, Lord Jack," he answers, still smiling widely. Then, finally he gestures
for us to begin. I start with plain bread, knowing full well that if I'm not careful,
I'll give myself one hell of a tummy ache. I've got bigger plans for tonight than
lying in bed with an upset stomach. Much bigger...
I'm delighted to see that Daniel follows my lead, eating slowly, sticking to the
blander choices. As good as those spicy sauces smell, they're not worth the risk.
Still, I manage to make decent inroads in the food before me and Tuplo seems
willing to let us eat before we continue conversation.
The questions he wants to ask are buzzing at him, though, and his impatience
slowly leaks through his politeness. So I take a deep drink of the wine, sit up
straight, and meet his eyes.
"Thank you for a wonderful feast, High Councillor," I tell him, indicating that
I'm ready to answer. He smiles, wiping at his mouth.
"What had happened to you, Lords? I had been told by your healer that you both
had been killed."
As much as I'd been expecting that, hearing it shook me. I glanced at Daniel and
saw the same upset mirrored in his eyes. I slid my hand over to squeeze his thigh
in reassurance, then did my best to answer.
"There was a terribly storm on a planet we were visiting and we - Daniel and I -
were unable to return through the Stargate before it was destroyed. We were
tossed into the sea and only barely survived. And without a 'Gate, there was no
way to return or contact our people. We thought we were stuck on that planet
forever."
Tuplo's eyes widened and he leaned forward, disturbed by our story, yet
obviously enjoying the tale. Daniel took over for me, his hands slicing the air
as he spoke.
"We foraged for a while and even started building a home there, when we
discovered that an alien spaceship had crashed there a long time ago. The crew
had died, but the ship had repaired itself. We were able to make it work and
we flew to another planet which had a working Stargate."
That was quite an encapsulation of our experiences and left quite a bit out, but
all in all, it was pretty solid. Definitely good preparation for when we get back
to the SGC and Hammond de-briefs us.
"What is a 'spaceship'?" Tuplo asks, his face screwed up in an attempt to
understand.
"Uhh..." Daniel glances at me, but I shrug, preferring to let him tackle that one.
He glares at me, but does his best. Tuplo is amazed by the concept, but seems
willing to take Daniel's word for it.
"Anyway," I say, picking up the end of the tale. "We found the Stargate and
decided that coming here to see our good friends in the Land of Light would
be the best thing to do."
"I am honored that you chose to come to us in your time of need. We owe you
a great debt," Tuplo replies formally, but sincerely.
"We appreciate your assistance very much," Daniel replies warmly. "And we
were wondering if you had heard from our people recently."
Tuplo shakes his head, sadly, then abruptly his face lights up.
"They are not to visit us until the next cycle, however, they did leave us a signaling
device to use if we need to contact them. We have not tried to use it yet, but we
would be glad to do so. I am certain that your friends will be deeply happy to
see you alive. They grieved heavily for your loss."
"Thank you, that'd be awesome!" I tell him.
"Yes, thank you," Daniel echoes, his voice strangling out into a huge yawn. He
covers his mouth and blushes. "Sorry."
I chuckle, but Tuplo looks aghast.
"I am so sorry," he rushes to apologize. "You must be tired after your long
journey. Please accept our hospitality for the night. We will signal your people a
fter you have rested." He gets to his feet and we do the same, though a bit more
slowly. My assorted aches and pains are catching up with me, and the addition of
a full belly simply makes me more tired.
We thank him warmly, yet again, then let him lead us into a small antechamber.
It contains a large bed, a wooden chair, a small table with a pitcher of water
and two mugs, some linen cloths, and a chamber pot.
"This is not much, but you can sleep here without being disturbed." Tuplo says,
worried we may be upset at the simpleness of the room. But after weeks spent
sleeping in trees, on the ground, in caves and just about anywhere we could find,
this big, comfy bed with pillows and clean sheets looks like sheer heaven.
"It's just fine," Daniel tells him. I nod my agreement. Tuplo smiles, wishes us
good rest, and leaves us alone. We don't even need to discuss it - silently,
simultaneously, we drop our clothes over the back of the chair and scurry into
the bed. The mattress is soft, molding to our weight. The sheets smell faintly
of a flowery perfume, the cloth smooth on our skin.
I wrap my arms around Daniel, close my eyes, and fall instantly to sleep.
==============
Part 72 ~ Daniel
==============
Jack drops into such a familiar attitude with Tuplo, like he's known him for years,
and despite the unlikeliness of it, this seems to work. Strange really, considering
what we've turned up looking like, the fact that we'd only met Tuplo and the
people of the Land of Light a few months ago, and then not always at our best....
I try to push to the back of my mind the events surrounding our last visit here
and concentrate on what Tuplo's saying - he is offering us the hospitality of this
place, without a second thought, it seems.
"Perhaps you would like to bathe and change clothes first," he suggests, sounding
as though he is barely managing to keep from insisting we do so.
Not that I can blame him. It's been a while since either of us have been really
clean, despite our frequent contacts with water.
Just thinking of hot water makes me sigh with anticipation, and Jack grins at me
as he accepts Tuplo's offer. We watch as Tuplo scurries off, heading up to the
citadel to make preparations, I guess. Before I can ponder any more about what
might happen, Jack and I are ambushed by a group of young women, and swept
off into the nearby bath house.
I manage to resist the urge to just dive in, realising how thirsty I am. I wonder
how long it is since we had something to drink? A few words, and that particular
need is being met, even as we are being efficiently stripped by our attendants.
When I gather their intentions, I try to protest, but it does no good - there is no
arguing with them. Before I know it, I am naked, trying to cover myself and drink
at the same time. There is a growing heat on my face, and it's not just from the
water!
Both of us get a thorough inspection from these cool-headed women, who seem
horrified by how battered we are - Jack seems to be taking this a bit more in
his stride than I am, which is a testament to his years of communal showers in the
military, I suppose. Not that mixed showers are the norm, but he looks far less
embarassed than me, even winking at me when he sees me looking his way.
I resign myself to heading into the water, knowing my protests will be fruitless -
the warmth of the water is like a caress, stripping away the aches and pains of
our journey even as it makes us more fit for company.
Through the steam, I can see Jack duck himself under the water, and try not to
think back to seeing him do that on 'our' planet - there is a pang of loss settling
in my heart, whenever I think back on our time there.
I try to relax, not to worry about what will happen next, just go with the attentions
I am receiving from the women who hover over us - strong fingers are working
shampoo into my hair, massaging my scalp with a sure touch, and I only just manage
to stifle a groan of pleasure. I don't want to give them the wrong idea.
It's all over much faster than either of us wanted, but I suppose we can't really
keep Tuplo waiting too long.
The women's ministrations have been thorough - kind but firm. I wasn't too happy
when they had to cut some of the worst tangles out of my hair, but they did a good
job of it, so I didn't end up looking like I'd been shorn.
And wearing clean clothes, for the first time in what seems like forever - well,
I'd never thought that I'd appreciate that feeling so much.
From the look Jack gives me when he thinks I don't notice, he must be thinking
the same. He looks a little uncomfortable, fidgetting with the way the fabric
hangs, but the earth tones he is wearing set off his eyes, making them shine
darker.
If only I weren't so hungry! Even so, it's hard, when I look at Jack, and see
him like this, to keep my mind on food....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Entering the town hall, and going down the steps into the chamber, I can't help
but recall the last time we had been here. Then, the locals had thought we were
'gods', come to visit them as their legends told.
I always felt uncomfortable when we got that kind of reception, and I know
Jack hated it, so I was glad that the relationship we had developed with the people
from the Land of Light had changed from that.
Not that they didn't have reason to treat us with gratitude - we had cured their
'curse', the disease which had afflicted them, turning them into savages. But not
before we had all been infected ourselves. I had been one of the last to succumb,
during my time here on this planet, and the thought of how I had been was still
embarrassing to me.
And then there was that whole episode with Jack, which had ended up in him
attacking me. At the time I had thought he was responding to the way that Sam
had pursued him, when she herself became infected, trying to mark his territory
where she was concerned.
My experiences since have proved that I was way off the mark with that theory!
I now have a completely different way of interpreting that particular episode
between us....
To distract myself from these thoughts, which are threatening to send me into a
tail-spin, I inquire after Melosha, Tuplo's daughter. She had been one of the people
we had cured, and Tuplo loved her very much.
"She is well, Lord Daniel, and will soon be married," Tuplo replies, with the
biggest smile I have ever seen this restrained individual produce.
After we have exchanged congratulations, it's time to eat, and after all this time
of living on just fruit and meat, I hardly know where to start.
Just the selection of food, the choice, the very smell of it all, makes my stomach
churn slightly, as I try to decide whether this abundance delights or revolts me.
I decide to eat as plainly as I can, knowing from painful experience how my
stomach may react otherwise.
Even though Tuplo tries to contain himself, to be the perfect host, it's clear that
he is full of questions, and we are bound to be the subject of the day. When we
have finished eating, still overwhelmed by the amount of food in front of us, he
begins.
"What had happened to you, Lords? I had been told by your healer that you
both had been killed."
So, everyone we knew back on Earth thought we were dead. I'd always thought
they would just think us missing, not presume the worst, but in my heart I always
knew.
They needed to grieve for us, I realise that, and having no body to bury, they still
needed to lay our memories to rest. I hadn't given it much thought before, too
busy trying to survive, I guess, but now the idea that we had been mourned cuts
right through me.
Jack glances over at me, and I can see he is upset by the idea too. His hand on my
leg reassures me that we are in this together, as he attempts to answer Tuplo's
question.
"There was a terrible storm on a planet we were visiting," Jack says, "and we -
Daniel and I - were unable to return through the Stargate before it was destroyed.
We were tossed into the sea and only barely survived. And without a 'Gate, there
was no way to return or contact our people. We thought we were stuck on that
planet forever."
Well, those are the edited highlights, I suppose, and it's then that I realise that
is all we'll ever be able to tell anyone. What happened on the planet between us
will always be something we'll share, but no one else.
I can tell Jack is thinking what to say next, so I step in, knowing that we need to
decide what the official version of our time on the planet is going to be - we need
to get our story straight, so to speak.
"We foraged for a while," I begin, glancing at Jack in apology for interrupting
him, "and even started building a home there, when we discovered that an alien
spaceship had crashed there a long time ago. The crew had died, but the ship
had repaired itself. We were able to make it work and we flew to another
planet which had a working Stargate."
"What is a 'spaceship'?" Tuplo asks, latching on to a word he doesn't
understand.
"Uhh..." I begin, glancing at Jack in a mute appeal for help. He just shrugs at me,
leaving me floundering with explaining the concept of space travel to a man who
probably doesn't even know that his planet is round.
It's not easy, but after a few false starts, Tuplo seems to understand, and is
shaking his head in amazement at what I am telling him.
After that, we talk about going home.
"...we were wondering if you had heard from our people recently," I say, but
Tuplo simply shakes his head.
I see the way Jack's face falls slightly on hearing this news, and I know the
thoughts behind it. When Jack thought we were stuck on the planet together,
he had resigned himself to it, turning his attention to making a life there.
As soon as returning to Earth was an option, all thoughts of settling for anything
else became second best. Although Jack would wait, it wouldn't be patiently,
that would be too much to ask for!
"They are not to visit us until the next cycle," Tuplo explains, then seems to think
of something else. "...however, they did leave us a signaling device to use if we
need to contact them. We have not tried to use it yet, but we would be glad to
do so. I am certain that your friends will be deeply happy to see you alive. They
grieved heavily for your loss."
"Yes, thank you," I echo, the words lost in a yawn. I hadn't realised how tired
I was - the combination of the hot bath and food had finally taken its toll....
"I am so sorry," Tuplo says hastily. "You must be tired after your long journey.
Please accept our hospitality for the night. We will signal your people after
you have rested."
He leads us to a small chamber - the bed that almost fills it has a magnetic
attraction for both Jack and myself, and it's all we can do to get undressed
before we plunge into it. I am asleep almost before I close my eyes, feeling
Jack's arms wrap round me, his warmth against my back as he spoons up against
me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't know how long I was asleep for, and the perpetual daylight of this place means
I have no idea what time it is when I wake.
Jack's arms are still wrapped round me, but they have gone from being comforting to
seeming to trap me. I need to escape them, I realise suddenly, but I don't want to
wake Jack - so, it takes a while, and it's a delicate operation, before I can worm my
way out of them, replacing my presence with a pillow.
The small chamber we are in seems airless, and I gather my clothes together, dressing
as quickly and quietly as I can.
I need to get out of here, get some air, gather my thoughts. In a matter of hours
we will be going back to Earth, back to the SGC, and the thought of that is making
my heart hammer like it wants to get out of my chest.
As I walk through the hall, and out into the night, I barely notice the massive bull's
heads that adorn the walls. Any other time I would be fascinated by them, as I
had been when we had first visited this place, but now I barely notice their
existence.
The dampness of the air outside seems to clear my head a little, and I sink to the
ground, my back against a pillar.
From where I am seated, I can look out across the city, which lies there spread
before me - it's quiet, so the people of the city must be resting. I can see people
moving about here and there, but nothing like the bustle of earlier, when the
streets had thronged with movement.
I need to think, to reflect on all that's happened since that fateful day when
Jack and I were marooned on Ernest's planet. The time we spent there is so
precious to me, that I don't want to forget any of it - even the bad parts are
entwined with the time Jack and I spent together, making them special.
And now it's over.
We're going back. And I'm not sure how easy it's going to be to slot back into
the roles we used to play - gruff soldier and flaky scientist.
There has been such an ease to the physical relationship between us, and that's
the first thing that will have to change, in public anyway. It's too dangerous for
Jack's career for what is between us to be anywhere but behind closed doors.
Even the casual touches between us will have to be something we're careful with,
I realise with a sinking heart....
What we have is so new, I'm trying hard to believe that it is deep-rooted enough
to survive this. When I shared a link with Jack, I felt his emotions, so I know
the reality of his feelings for me, but I know how things can change.
Sadly it can take very little for love to turn to indifference, and the thought
that Jack could ever not return my love for him frightens me more than anything
that happened on the planet.
The city seems to be waking up now, there are more people moving about, and I
should get back to where Jack is. If he wakes and finds me gone, he'll only
worry, and I have a feeling that today is going to be a long and stressful day
without my contributing to it.
When I get back to the chamber, I'm reassured to see that Jack is still asleep.
For a moment, when I am undressing again, I think I catch him looking at me,
from the corner of my eye, but when I turn back to the bed, I find I am mistaken.
I take the pillow's place, settling back into Jack's embrace, despite the slight
feeling of claustrophobia that accompanies it. Closing my eyes, I try to sleep again,
despite the way my mind refuses to rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sleep eluded me, but there was nothing I could do about it.
After what seemed like an eternity, one of Tuplo's servants came to wake us,
and I felt Jack stir where he was still lying spooned against me. His breath is
warm on my neck as he kisses me, whispering into my ear.
"Morning."
"Is it?" I reply. "It's hard to tell here, there's always daylight."
"Pedant," Jack mutters, snuggling up against me. I can feel his cheek against my
shoulder-blade, the warmth of his breath tickling my skin.
"Don't go back to sleep, Jack," I say, laying my hand on his arm and shaking it.
He grunts softly into my shoulder, muttering under his breath again. "Tuplo wants
to feed us again, then it'll be time to go."
There is silence for a moment, then Jack reluctantly unwraps his arms from around
me, before scooting up the bed until his back is pressed against the wall. As he
sits there, rubbing his eyes with one hand, his hair sticking up all over the place,
I feel a surge of protectiveness towards him, ridiculous as that might sound.
"There's something we need to do first, Daniel," Jack says quietly, his eyes
intent on me.
"There is?" I stutter. I can feel the blood rush from my brain, seeming to go
straight to my groin, apart from the little that lingers in my face, as I blush under
the intensity of Jack's gaze.
"Uh huh," Jack says, not moving towards me. "We need to talk about where you
went last night..."
==============
Part 73 ~ Jack
==============
The first time I wake up, I immediately realize that Daniel's gone. He's tucked a
pillow into my arms and left the room. His clothes are gone. My first impulse is to
worry - to go chasing after him. Even though we're in a supposedly safe place, I
still feel nervous having him out of my sight. But before I can do anything, he
returns, moving quietly, obviously trying not to wake me up.
I watch him remove his clothes and return to bed from under half-closed eyelids.
For some reason he doesn't want me to know he's been gone. That's OK - we all
need a moment of privacy on occasion, especially when we can't sleep for
whatever reason. He's here, and he's safe, and he's back in my arms where he
belongs, and now I can return to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The second time I wake up, I quickly realize that something's still wrong. Daniel
stiffens, his entire body tense, when I snuggle close.
"Don't go back to sleep, Jack," he says, shaking my shoulder. Up until now, Daniel
had always been extremely amenable to morning snuggles. It was his favorite time
to kiss and cuddle, our bodies warm and our minds hazy from sleep. His fondness
for it had communicated itself to me, such that I found myself anticipating the
mornings, occasionally waking him up before dawn just so that I could taste him.
But today, he's different. Insistent on waking up and leaving our soft cocoon. The
first chance we get to snuggle and make love in a real bed, and he's not interested?
I may be slow, but I'm not that dumb.
"Tuplo wants to feed us again, then it'll be time to go," he says, still urging me to
wake up. All right, I get the hint. Time to deal with this, whatever it is. Reluctantly,
I let go of him and sit up, shifting to rest my back against the wall.
"There's something we need to do first, Daniel," I tell him, watching him intently.
He blushes lightly, a dull rose color staining his cheeks. His eyes can't quite meet mine.
"There is?" he stutters.
"Uh huh," I tell him, refusing to let his beauty detract me from the needs of the
moment. "We need to talk about where you went last night."
"You were awake!" he replies, finally lifting up blue eyes to meet mine. I nod,
gesturing for him to continue. "I - uh - just went for a walk. Guess my sleep cycles
are all screwed up the way we've been bouncing from planet to planet."
Good excuse, Daniel, but I ain't buying it. I simply stare at him. He ducks his head,
then looks back up at me out of the corner of his eyes, apparently unwilling to
continue.
"Daniel..." I prompt. "What's going on?"
"Nothing Jack," he replies, but he still won't meet my gaze. So I reach out and
place my fingers under his chin, pushing upward, gently but firmly. He sighs softly,
his eyes pleading with mine to let this go, but I shake my head, refusing to let him
off the hook.
"I'm just a little nervous about returning to Earth. They thought we were dead.
It's going to be a big shock."
His voice trails off and suddenly I know what is bothering him. It's the same
thing that had been haunting the back of my mind since we found the alien ship.
What will happen to us when we return home? What does this mean for our
new-found love?
I slide my hand upward to cup his cheek, rubbing my thumb across the corner of
his mouth. I lean forward so that I can feel his breath on my mouth as I speak.
I look deep into his eyes and speak slowly and carefully. It is important that he
understand the decision that I've already made.
"I love you, Daniel Jackson. That won't change. Not here, not on Earth, not
anywhere. Will we have to make some adjustments when we return home? Yes.
But we can deal with that. I've never been one to make public displays of
affection anyway." I smile, trying to win a return grin from him, but it falls flat.
He shakes his head.
"But what if they find out? It could ruin your career!"
I snort, trying desperately not to laugh. He doesn't react well to that, as I've
already learned the hard way.
"Daniel... Daniel..." I sputter, trying to find the right way to say this, finally settling
for utter bluntness. "To hell with my career." His eyes widen with shock, and I shake
my head at him. "I have already retired once," I explain. "They pulled me out of it
because of Apophis's attacks through the Stargate. If it wasn't for how important
all this is, I'd have told them to take a flying leap. I've already given the US
military the better part of my life. I've been wounded more times than I can count
and I've got a wall full of medals at home to prove it. I don't owe them anything
more - I'm doing this - the SGC - because I care about Earth and because it's the
most amazing thing that's ever happened to me. I'm doing it for you. So if they
have a problem with me and how I choose to live my life, they can go to hell and
I have no problem with the idea of telling them so. Besides, they need me - and you.
Between us, we know more about the Stargate and everything out here than anyone
else. So I figure that the least they can do in return is stay the fuck outta our
private lives."
Whew. That was a long speech for me. I hope he appreciates it, because it's not
likely to happen again. I detest this kind of shit, but Daniel's worth it. I pray he
can see that too.
He obviously does because suddenly I'm covered with a sobbing Daniel. He hugs
me for all he's worth, then starts kissing me from the top of my head down to my
lips and back up again. In-between, he's muttering something about loving me.
Sounds good to me. I wrap my arms around him, snag a handful of his hair, and
guide that roving mouth back to my own. I'd much rather do this than talk
anytime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giggles from the doorway bring me back to myself and I look up from the sweaty
tangle of our bodies to find Tuplo and a pair of women staring at us from the
open doorway.
Ahh shit!
When Tuplo realizes that he has my attention, he bows and apologies profusely.
"I am so sorry to disturb you my Lords, but is nearly time for the after-sleep meal.
Pella and Creore are here to guide you to the bathing house so that you may
prepare. But if you wish to sleep longer..."
"No, no," I hasten to reassure him, shaking Daniel's shoulder as I slide towards
the edge of the bed. "Thank you for waking us."
He smiles, obviously relieved. "You're most welcome. I will see you at the meal."
He turns and walks away, leaving us to the care of the two very-amused young ladies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We bathe and eat quickly. Now that the time of our return to Earth is so close,
we're both getting a bit anxious. While we've settled the question of continuing
our relationship, albeit more discretely, there's still a lot of emotion involved here.
I am excited to see our friends again, to return to familiar surroundings, but I'm
also slightly nervous. We have no idea what has happened during the time we've
been gone, which by my estimate, is about a full month. Is everyone there all
right? Has Teal'c stayed with the SGC in our absence? I'm feeling itchy,
unsettled, and that emotion seems to communicate itself to our host.
Tuplo gathers us up and leads a procession to the Stargate. Daniel and I walk
side-by-side, our shoulders nearly brushing. It is all I can do to keep from reaching
out and taking his hand, but we have to get used to restraining those impulses
in public.
In private however -- I settle for planning the bookshelves I'm going
to build in my living room to accommodate all his books and artifacts. It's a good
thing that I don't tend to accumulate stuff, because he obviously can't throw
anything away. We might have to have a little talk about the usefulness of Goodwill
and used bookstores for getting rid of things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we reach the Stargate, Tuplo hands Daniel the GDO, then kisses him on
both cheeks. When he turns to do the same to me, I reach out and give him a hearty
handshake.
"Thank you, Tuplo, for all of your assistance. We are very grateful."
"It is nothing compared to what you have done for us. We will always be happy to
provide whatever assistance you require," he says, his hangdog face breaking out
into a warm smile.
"Thank you," Daniel replies, smiling back. He dials the DHD and we all watch the
Gate burst into life. It never ceases to amaze and delight me watching that
shimmering curtain come into being. Daniel directs the GDO at it, presses the buttons,
then hands it back to Tuplo.
Tuplo bows, then moves back, the rest of his court falling back behind him. Daniel
looks at me and I nod, gesturing for him to go. He walks up to the Gate, then pauses
until I reach his side. We smile at each other, take in and release a deep breath,
then step forward into wormhole.
==============
Part 74 ~ Daniel
==============
Uh oh.
"You were awake!" I exclaim, while my mind races to try and think of a reason
good enough to convince Jack to drop this subject now.
I look at him and see him nod tersely, indicating that I should go on - I manage to
look him steadily in the eye, despite the way my heart is starting to pound.
"I - uh - just went for a walk," I begin, hoping to keep my voice this steady all
the way through. "Guess my sleep cycles are all screwed up the way we've been
bouncing from planet to planet."
No.
I can tell by the way that Jack is looking at me that he isn't convinced, though I
gave it my best shot. He continues to look at me, his eyes dark and unreadable,
and after a little while I can't stand it any more. I can't do this. I suddenly
find a contemplation of the bed clothes much more interesting.
"Nothing, Jack," I answer, unable to look up at him, as I know my eyes would give
this statement away for the lie it is.
I feel the strength in Jack's fingers as he gently makes me look at him, raising my
chin till I have no option but to look him in the eye. I sigh, frustrated that I won't
be allowed to squirm out of this, and Jack shakes his head in dismissal of my
hesitation.
Time for another try, so maybe if I make this one a little closer to the truth?
"I'm just a little nervous about returning to Earth," I admit. "They thought we were
dead. It's going to be a big shock."
Even though I try to sound convincing, I can hear the half-truth in my own voice,
which trails away uncertainly.
I try to keep looking at Jack, searching for understanding in his eyes, but I can't
do it, even though the way his hand is still on my face is a great comfort to me.
I can feel the gentle way that his hand crosses my cheek, his thumb rubbing
gently at the side of my lips.
Then he speaks, and everything changes forever.
"I love you, Daniel Jackson," he says, to my astonishment. "That won't change.
Not here, not on Earth, not anywhere. Will we have to make some adjustments
when we return home? Yes. But we can deal with that. I've never been one to
make public displays of affection anyway."
Jack grins at me while he's saying this, but I can't do it. I can't smile back.
He just doesn't get it, does he? For once, Jack just doesn't see the big picture
here, and I have to explain it to him, I have to. Even though I risk him realising
I'm right, that this could jeopardise our future together. The alternative is
unthinkable - I couldn't live with Jack resenting me for what he's lost because
of us being together, and that makes me plough on, somehow finding the words.
"But what if they find out?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, keep down the
element of hysteria that's threatening to hijack this attempt at being selfless for
a change. "It could ruin your career!"
"Daniel... Daniel..." Jack begins in a quiet voice, stifling what sounds suspiciously
like a snort of laughter. "To hell with my career."
No. He can't mean that. I can't ask him to do that, not for me.
"I have already retired once," he continues, "they pulled me out of it because
of Apophis's attacks through the Stargate. If it wasn't for how important all this
is, I'd have told them to take a flying leap. I've already given the US military the
better part of my life. I've been wounded more times than I can count and I've
got a wall full of medals at home to prove it. I don't owe them anything more -
I'm doing this - the SGC - because I care about Earth and because it's the most
amazing thing that's ever happened to me. I'm doing it for you. So if they have
a problem with me and how I choose to live my life, they can go to hell and I
have no problem with the idea of telling them so. Besides, they need me - and
you. Between us, we know more about the Stargate and everything out here t
han anyone else. So I figure that the least they can do in return is stay the
fuck outta our private lives."
This is a real red-letter day for Jack making long speeches about how he feels,
and I can hardly believe he's saying all these things. I hadn't doubted that Jack
loved me - the time we spent linked together when we were on the ship had blown
away any uncertainty surrounding that topic forever - but this still comes out of
left-field. I listen to what Jack is saying, and my mind races, as usual.
I can't begin to categorise the emotions that are churning around inside me -
it feels like a kaleidoscope, every feeling you can name is there.
The overwhelming one is that of exultation, a rejoicing over the commitment
Jack seems prepared to make for me, but I can't help feeling a little guilty too.
I know how much serving his country means to Jack, even though he makes light
of it at times - those medals mean much more than metal and cloth, they represent
lives lost at great cost, sacrifices made.
I'm never going to be deserving of Jack's love, this absolute devotion that he
seems to be fastening onto me, and to be honest it terrifies me a little. The idea
that he has been doing what he has been doing with the SGC for my benefit, let
alone the concept of him willingly giving it up for me, that's more than I could
ever ask.
And in the end it's that commitment that cuts through, heading straight for my heart
like a lance. I could have lived with the consequences if Jack had chosen the Air
Force over me, I would have had to, somehow - now I feel ashamed of forcing him
to even make that choice.
As soon as Jack has finished speaking, I see him look at me, enquiry in his eyes.
I can't stop myself, I have to show him something of how I'm feeling, even though
it might make him squirm with embarassment.
So, without a second thought, I throw myself at Jack, wrapping myself around
him as though I never want to let go, as if I want to take up residence inside his
skin.
I can feel myself sobbing, my body shuddering slightly with each breath I draw
in, but I concentrate on kissing him, peppering his face with kisses, not wanting
this moment to end. I'm incoherent, I know that, wanting to tell Jack how much
he means to me, how wrong I was to make him choose, and I have no idea how
much is getting through.
Once Jack has got over the initial surprise of my assault, I feel his arms wrap
around me, the fingers of one hand moving across the back of my head, gently
directing my mouth till it meets his, and we kiss, a deep searching embrace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It isn't long after that when Tuplo arrives, though the only warning of this was
the giggling of the women that accompanied him, seeing us tangled together in the
untidy remnants of the bed.
If they had any doubts about the relationship between Jack and myself, then I
think we dispelled them forever. I can feel myself blush as the women's eyes rake
over us, and I reach out to snag the sheet, drawing it up over us, in a belated
attempt at modesty.
This seems to make Tuplo more comfortable too - when he had entered the chamber,
he had seemed not to know what to do with his eyes, too embarassed to look at us,
they had inspected every inch of the walls and ceiling instead.
"I am so sorry to disturb you my Lords," he begins, still a little red in the face,
"but is nearly time for the after-sleep meal. Pella and Creore are here to guide
you to the bathing house so that you may prepare. But if you wish to sleep longer..."
It's tempting. Really tempting. But as much as I'd love the opportunity to show
Jack again how much he means to me, we can't stay here much longer - we have
to get back home.
"No, no," Jack replies to Tuplo's offer, though I can see the same reluctance in
his eyes. "Thank you for waking us."
I manage to stifle the snort of laughter that threatens to escape at Jack's
statement - he's decided to act as if Tuplo and the women have no idea what we
were doing, rather than consider that they got an eyeful. I can understand the
motivation behind that, I suppose, but I just can't manage to do it. My face is a
little less red now, but the embarassment is still there.
"You're most welcome," Tuplo replies, with a smile. "I will see you at the meal."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This trip to the bath house was nothing like as lengthy as the last, and neither
was the meal. There's a sense of urgency in both of us, we have to get back now.
In some ways this haste is ridiculous - we've been gone maybe a month now, so
what would another few hours matter?
But it's not about time. It's about not losing our nerve.
Now we can go back to the SGC, we should go as soon as we can. Just the
thought of how our friends have grieved for us is enough to make me want to
go now. I don't want them to have to carry that for another hour, so it's hard
to take things at Tuplo's pace, move slowly enough to be appreciative guests, to
treat his hospitality with respect.
I have no illusions about how it is going to be.
But, I guess, the most important thing is that we'll be going through it together.
Jack is the strongest person I know, and I can be pretty stubborn too, so
between the two of us, we stand a good chance of making this work.
We follow Tuplo to the 'Gate, walking side by side. I can't help sneaking the
occasional glance at Jack, when he isn't looking, just to assure myself that he's
real, that all this is happening, that I'm not going to wake up and find we are
back on Ernest's planet after all.
I can see Jack frown slightly, and I wonder what he's thinking about. I know
he's been as worried about our friends as I have, and he's been there before -
everyone he loves thinking he was dead, grieving for him - that must make this
moment even more poignant.
All I want to do is reach out to him, snag his hand, let him know he's not alone,
but I can't, can I?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, after what seems like forever, we reach the 'Gate. Surrounded by
guards carrying torches, a flickering light in the darkness of the forest, Tuplo
turns to me and embraces me, kissing me on both cheeks. He also hands me the
GDO, and my fingers tighten round it, feeling its familiar weight.
"Thank you, Tuplo, for all of your assistance," Jack says, having avoided being
kissed. "We are very grateful."
"It is nothing compared to what you have done for us," Tuplo responds, smiling.
"We will always be happy to provide whatever assistance you require."
"Thank you," I echo, at a loss for what to say, so I turn to the DHD, dragging
up the combination for home from somewhere in my memory.
This time the wormhole forms, I can't help but feel that it's finally happening.
We're finally going home. I send the signal to open the iris, then hand the GDO
back to Tuplo, who retreats to where the rest of his entourage were standing.
I take one last look at Jack, who nods encouragingly at me, his eyes warm and
dark with emotion. I wait for him at the event horizon, until I can feel the warmth
from his body, then step into the void.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coming out of the wormhole, stepping from the darkness and quiet of the forest
into the light and noise of the SGC....
Even as my boots hit the ramp, the familiar echoing sound makes me know we're
really back, even before I manage to pry my eyelids open to check.
As I gather myself, still recovering from the trip, I realise that there's no longer
anything like the noise there had been a few moments before - everyone is staring
at us, in silence, as we stand together just this side of the event horizon.
The sound the wormhole makes when it disengages echoes through the 'Gate room,
and I half-turn to Jack for reassurance. It's an automatic response I suppose,
and this wasn't quite the welcome I had envisaged.
"They're suprised to see us," I whisper to Jack as we head down the ramp.
"Ya think?" he replies, smiling back at me.
Even as we were speaking, the door to the 'Gate room had opened, allowing Sam
to come barrelling in. She stops at the bottom of the ramp, eyes wide, another
one lost for words.
Without a second thought, I reach her in a couple of strides, and envelop her in a
hug. She is still silent, and I know the emotions she must be going through, so it's
not till I hear a voice behind me that I relax my embrace.
"Put her down, Daniel," Jack says, and for a moment I think I detect a possessive
tone in his voice, which makes me smile.
I let go of Sam, reluctantly, and step back - she is all smiles, her eyes flicking
between me and Jack, as if she wants to memorise how we look, to keep checking
that we're really here.
Well, at least she restrained herself from hugging Jack - I'm not sure if either of
us would have been happy with that. He seems glad that she's remembered that
she's in the Air Force, even if she is a friend too.
"Thank you, Carter," Jack replies, with an answering salute, the effect of which
is somewhat spoilt by the grin that's taking over his face.
"We thought..." Sam starts to speak, her voice quiet and full of emotion.
"We know," I interrupt, knowing that she is close to the edge here.
I need to distract her - if she falls apart on us, she'll be embarassed about it
forever, and I don't want her to go through that. I glance at Jack before I carry
on speaking, and the warmth is still there in his eyes, which reassures me immensely.
"I'm glad you're okay, Sam," I continue. "Did everyone else make it back as
well?"
"We're all fine, Daniel," she answers, "but we missed you both. This place hasn't
been the same without you!"
Hmmm. Now there's a comment you could take a number of ways!
"It's good to be home, Sam," I agree, my eyes again turning to Jack.
This is going to be okay, isn't it?
There is a twinkle there in Jack's eyes, a smile that seems directed solely at me,
ignoring the existence of anyone else, and this sends a warmth through me that I
can't begin to describe.
We're really home, and I think we're going to be fine.
I'm suddenly conscious of Sam's eyes on me, full of unspoken enquiry, and I
hesitate slightly. How much do we tell her, and Teal'c? After all, they are friends
as well as colleagues - this is something Jack and I will have to talk about.
I'll just add that to the list of 'things we need to talk about', which seems to be
growing exponentially....
Time to go - I can see General Hammond in the control room, his face beaming,
and I know there are going to be a lot of questions coming our way. We follow
Sam out of the 'Gate room, as she leads us up to where the general is.
I guess we'd better get started....
==============
Part 75 ~ Jack
==============
Home. At last! We're finally home.
I can't believe how happy I am to see this old, gray concrete bunker again. Ugly
as it is, it is still a sight for sore eyes. As I stand beside Daniel on the ramp it is
all I can do to keep from jumping up and down. But everyone is staring at us in
wide-eyed shock and I think I'd better save the sudden movements for later, such
as after they really believe that we are truly us.
Daniel turns to me when the wormhole whooshes out of existence.
"They're surprised to see us," he whispers, obviously just as uncertain how to react
as they are. I try to reassure him with a smile, even as I comment wryly.
"Ya think?"
No sooner have I finished commenting to Daniel than the doors slide open and
Sam Carter comes running in. She pushes her way past the stunned guards to stand
at the foot of the ramp, staring up at us as though we are ghosts. I guess, in a way,
that's exactly what we are to her. In fact, however, we're very real and Daniel
proves that in his characteristically passionate manner.
Daniel races down the ramp, grabs her and lifts her up in a hug. She's still too
shocked to respond even though Daniel shows no sign of letting her go. So I
stride down the ramp in a much more dignified manner, barely managing to hold
back the grin that is threatening to break loose, and tell him to put her down. I'm
not really jealous but he has definitely hugged her long enough and besides, I
want to say hello too.
She's my friend as well as my subordinate officer, after all.
She looks from Daniel to me, her bright blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. I'm
feeling a bit watery myself, not that I'm going to let it show.
That's exactly the greeting I have hoped for. I don't think Daniel understands the
level of respect and comradeship that this gesture carries to a career military officer.
There is nothing else she could have done which would have pleased me more.
I offer her a salute in return, thanking her, though it is a bit spoiled by that smile
which won't stay hidden anymore. Oh why not? This is a time for celebration after
all!
"We thought..." Carter begins, her voice trailing off to leave the rest of it unsaid.
She doesn't need to say it anyway, we understand.
"We know," Daniel says, confirming my thoughts. He glances at me, as though seeking
my permission to continue and I smile at him, giving him my silent approval. He turns
back to Sam and continues speaking softly.
"I'm glad you're okay, Sam," he says. "Did everyone else make it back as well?"
"We're all fine, Daniel," she answers, "but we missed you both. This place hasn't
been the same without you!"
"It's good to be home," Daniel replies, his eyes again seeking mine.
I grin back at
him, sharing his joy at being here. For all of our concerns about the effect of this
on our new relationship, I am so happy to be here that my chest feels like it might
explode.
This is where we belong, Daniel and I. In so many ways, this project,
this place, is ours, far more than that alien planet could ever be. This is our home
and being here together will be so much sweeter than being together anywhere
else.
He smiles back at me and the blood pulses in my veins. I don't know how long we
stand there, staring into each other's eyes, but it is definitely long enough to pique
Sam's interest. She's gazing at us with the familiar light of curiosity in her eyes
and I suddenly realize that hiding our relationship may be harder than I'd thought.
OK - Daniel and I will have to talk later about how much we should tell certain
people, with Carter and Teal'c at the top of the list. Just as I'm making that note
to myself, Sam urges us to go up to the control room to see the one person who
absolutely shouldn't be told. I know I've made the best decision in that regard,
even though I do trust the General. I've come to both like and respect him, more so
than many of my previous superior officers, but there's no reason to put him into a
difficult situation. The rule, nowadays, is 'don't ask, don't tell' and that should do
just fine. Daniel and I are going to have enough explaining to do just telling the
bare bone facts of our adventures.
Hammond greets us warmly, but with a hint of uncertainty. I can instantly tell that
this debriefing is going to be a long one, followed by an intensive medical
examination. That sucks, but I recognize the need and am willing to comply. Sam
hurries off to find Teal'c before meeting us in the briefing room. This is a long
story to tell, but I'm almost looking forward to it.
I motion for Daniel to proceed me as we leave the Gate room for the hallway. As
we step through the doorway, I press my hand into his shoulder, guiding him
forward. He glances back at me, his eyes sparkling, full of love, and my heart
leaps.
We're home, we're together, and all is right in my world.
====================
Epilogue ~ Sam Carter
====================
I've never been so relieved to be proved wrong in my life - isn't that a strange thing
for a scientist to admit?
In the weeks that passed since we returned from Ernest's planet, I feel as though
I've been in limbo. We leapt through the wormhole just as disaster struck the
castle, forcing us to leave Daniel and Colonel O'Neill behind. We rescued
Dr. Littlefield, brought back the knowledge he had, what was stored in his head
anyway, about the alien artifacts that were in the castle, but we had paid a heavy
price.
We didn't even have the emotional release of a funeral.
We don't know for certain that they're dead - just lost. 'Missing in action' is the
military term, and as any POW or missing soldier's family would understand, not
knowing can be worse than knowing the worst is true. We tried to move on as we
knew they'd want us to do, to continue the fight against the Goa'uld and the
defense of Earth, but somehow it wasn't the same.
With Daniel and Colonel O'Neill gone, I watched things steadily change within
the SGC, and not for the better.
Teal'c, never the most communicative person, seemed to talk less and less - he was
grieving for the opportunities he might never have as well as the friends he'd lost.
He'd so desperately wanted the chance to reunite Daniel with Sha're, as he felt so
responsible for her being chosen to be host to Apophis' queen. Even more painful
was the knowledge he had pinned his hopes for freeing his people on his trust in
the colonel and now that O'Neill was lost, his faith was waning.
I tried to encourage him not to give up hope, that the SGC would carry on, despite
the loss we had suffered, but my own heart wasn't in it. I felt as though I had
been cheated, that I'd lost something important myself. I missed them both - Daniel,
whose easy friendship I had found such a source of support in my early uncertain
days here, and the colonel, whose trust and respect I had been working hard to
earn.
That sense of loss permeated the entire SGC, affecting everyone in their own way,
but coloring us all. More than once I found myself wishing we could have a memorial
service, and then I'd hate myself for wishing that.
Surely it was better to think of them as being still alive, just out of reach, than
treating them as dead?
But it would have done us good to be able to say goodbye and to recognize what
they had been to us. Daniel had been our conscience, our heart, in so many ways
his passion had driven and defined us. Jack had been our strength, our courage,
his indomitable will and fierce loyalty keeping us going against all the odds.
Without them...
Even General Hammond seems more sombre, and I know he feels responsible for
what happened, as any commanding officer would. He had been the one to
persuade the colonel to come out of retirement, and had let himself be persuaded
that Daniel should accompany us on our missions.
Maybe he was right?
Maybe Daniel should have stayed in the SGC, worked as a consultant, at least that
way he would still have been with us....
I had the unenviable task of clearing out Daniel's apartment - the general had asked
me and Teal'c to do it, though we would have volunteered if he hadn't.
I couldn't bring myself to throw any of Daniel's stuff away, though the boxes were
cluttering up my house, gathering dust. I couldn't bring myself to open them either -
just seeing the photos, the books, the artifacts, things I associated so much with my
friend, it's too painful at the moment.
SOP had been changed as a result of the disastrous mission to Ernest's planet - the
general had stated that he felt we were taking too many risks and not achieving
enough to justify them. Daniel would have hated it, as there was no longer time to
study, just an emphasis on reconn, with longer missions later once we knew the
planets were safe.
So, when the klaxon went, to signal incoming travellers, I headed for the 'Gate
room as usual. I'd been working on some analysis of probe data, but nothing that
wouldn't wait.
Arriving in the control room about the same time as the general, I was there when
it was announced that there was a signal coming from the Land of Light, but had
no idea how momentous this moment would be!
When the event horizon formed, all eyes turned to it as usual, the soldiers that line
the ramp aiming their weapons as they have a hundred times before. I expected to
see High Councillor Tuplo appear, stepping out through the shimmering blue surface,
but that wasn't what happened.....
When they appeared, for a moment there was complete silence. The only sounds
that could be heard were those made by the computers, the rattle as someone
dropped a pencil, the whoosh of the 'Gate disengaging. I couldn't hear any of
those sounds, as I was already racing out of the control room, the steps down to
the 'Gate room level echoing with the sound of my boots.
In the moment it had taken me to recover from the shock of seeing Daniel and the
colonel alive, I knew that I had to be there to welcome them, to make sure this
was really happening.
They were already halfway down the ramp when I charged into the room, Daniel
exchanging a quiet comment with him that made the colonel smile before they
turned to where I was standing, slightly breathless, at the bottom of the ramp.
What do you say to someone who you thought you'd never see again?
In the end, I didn't get the chance to say anything profound, as Daniel's face lit
up when he saw me and within a couple of strides he was there hugging me,
before I could speak.
"Put her down, Daniel," the colonel's voice came from behind him, and we
obediently disengaged, Daniel still all smiles.
"Colonel O'Neill," I snapped, throwing him as precise a salute as I could manage,
considering the goofy smile that was plastered across my face. "Glad to see
you're okay, sir."
"Thank you, Carter," the colonel replied, with an answering salute, before
starting to grin himself.
"We thought..." I begin, hesitantly.
"We know," Daniel replies, glancing at Jack for confirmation before he carries on
speaking. "I'm glad you're okay, Sam. Did everyone else make it back as well?"
"We're all fine, Daniel," I reply, "but we missed you both. This place hasn't been
the same without you!"
"It's good to be home, Sam," Daniel says, glancing at the colonel again. A look
passes between them something I can't identify - it's fleeting, and I file it away
for later consideration.
I want to know all about what's happened to them since we left them behind on
Ernest's planet, but I know I'll have to wait. But it should be a story well worth
hearing....
~fin~
Disclaimer : Stargate SG-1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is written for entertainment purposes only - no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations, and story-line are the property of the authors - not to be archived elsewhere without their permission. | {
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Tamera Mowry’s The Real Co-Hosts React To Shooting Death Of Her Niece
Tamera Mowry is mourning the loss of her niece, Alaina Housley, who was killed in the Borderline shooting.
The actress and TV show host of The Real announced Alaina died on Thursday afternoon, following a frantic search for the Pepperdine student. “Our hearts are broken. We just learned that our niece Alaina was one of the victims of last night’s shooting at Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks,” Tamera and husband Adam Housley said in a statement issued to E! News. “Alaina was an incredible young woman with so much life ahead of her and we are devastated that her life was cut short in this manner. We thank everyone for your prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”
Promptly after confirming their niece’s death, Tamera’s co-hosts sent messages of love and support to her and her family.
Loni Love wrote on Instagram: “Unfortunately Alaina was one of the victims in the mass shooting.. please keep The Housley’s in your prayers at this time. Positive thoughts and prayers to all the families right now waiting to hear about their loved ones from the #borderlinemassshooting”
Likewise, Jeannie Mai and Adrienne Houghton shared their condolences on their Instagram Stories, asking for well wishes and prayers from their followers.
And in a statement from The Real, the team at the show sent their love. “The Real is heartbroken for the victims of the senseless tragedy in Thousand Oaks, which included Alaina Housley, the niece of Tamera and Adam Housley,” the statement read. “We send prayers and strength to all the victims’ families and their community as well as our gratitude to the first responders. We send all our love and our deepest condolences to the Housleys, our family, during this difficult time.”
Alaina, a freshman at Pepperdine, is among the at least 12 victims killed at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., where a student line-dancing event was being held.
Tamera and Adam were made aware of their niece’s potential death early Thursday morning, after a friend of the teen tweeted about needing help locating Alaina. Los Angeles Times reporter Andrea Castillo wrote on Twitter that Adam then drove to the Los Robles Regional Medical Center searching for Alaina. “A guard didn’t let him through, saying it was on lockdown. He said Alaina, a Pepperdine freshman, was at the bar with several friends. Her Apple Watch and iPhone still showed her location on the dance floor,” Castillo tweeted. According to Castillo’s tweet, Housley explained his niece’s suitemates had jumped through a broken window to escape and are now in a hospital with glass injuries.
In the hours since the tragedy, law enforcement officials have identified the shooter as 28-year-old Ian David Long, a Marine Corps veteran. He reportedly shot himself at the scene of the crime. | {
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Pages
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Menu plans come first, then an ingredient list and finally a shopping trip. That would happen in an orderly world, but not in my kitchen this week. We moved back ashore, have been here for almost two weeks, but haven't quite transitioned mentally. For example, in the boat galley I know the exact location and quantity of foodstuffs, tracking them all with an Excel spreadsheet. But here in the house, life has been considerably more random. Three shopping trips in three days was fun, great retail therapy, but I was still scrambling meal by meal, short of ideas and some basic supplies.
I needed a plan: First use up fresh items or leftovers in the fridge. Next take inventory of staples. Organize the cupboards, leaving a shelf or two for our special houseguest's items. Then deal with menu plans and a shopping list.
Note to self, "begin with small steps". I opened the refrigerator door, scanned the shelves and waited for inspiration to strike... and waited... and waited. Nothing drew my attention. What was I expecting? little waving arms like over-eager students calling "Pick me, pick me!"? No, not happening. I hoped for an "Aha!" moment, some irresistible combination utilizing a bit of this and a piece of that to create a satisfying one-dish meal. Finally I pulled the following out of the fridge and pantry...
Fettucini - extra left from a spicy pasta dish with peppers and sausage
Assorted cheeses, vegetables and toppings - left from a pizza-making party
Fresh eggs
Fresh basil
Salt, pepper, dried herbs and various hot sauces
A pasta frittata was my solution. You know, good old spaghetti pie, but without the red sauce. My oldest and clearest memory of this dish comes from an ancient Frugal Gourmet television show. The Frugal Gourmet Cooks Italian provided a simple recipe and I have used that easy, two-step process in the decades since.
Step One: saute some savory filling ingredients in a skillet, and then plop them into a large mixing bowl.
Step Two: Add a few eggs, selected seasonings and some cooled, cooked pasta to the bowl; toss to mix and return to the skillet to cook until the bottom is browned; then flip and brown the other side.
That's it, a pasta frittata. The real beauty of this dish is it's versatility. You can cook it on the stovetop or bake it in the oven. It welcomes a multitude of add-ins, yet is quite delicious with a bare minimum of eggs, cheese and pasta. Use this dish to feed a few, or stretch it with more pasta and eggs to feed a crowd. Pasta frittata is an old friend and could become a regular in my kitchen.
Heat the oil in a large 10 or 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat and saute any raw vegetables for 3-5 minutes, until they just begin to lose their crispness. Add the fresh garlic and cook another minute or two longer until fragrant. Add any remaining Step One ingredients, like cooked vegetables, carmelized onions, optional cooked meat. Mix and cook just to heat. Remove to a large bowl.
Step Two:
Add the Step Two ingredients to the bowl and toss to blend, coating each pasta strand with the egg mixture. Reheat the skillet and add everything in the bowl to the pan. Cook until the bottom is golden brown. Place a large plate over the skillet and carefully turn the skillet over so the frittata rests on the plate. Carefully slide the pie back into the skillet and brown the second side.
Top with more Parmesan, fresh basil and parsley. Serve wedges from the skillet or a platter, warm or at room temperature.
Note: This approach works with almost any savory filling, but it was a memorable failure with leftover clam linguine. The flavor was too strong and the reheated clams were quite tough.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Setting: Columbia City Ale House, noon, 30+ feet from a large window, bright day Image: Swordfish BruschettaiPhone 4: HDR onThe two images below are shown as shot, without any Photoshop adjustments.
I shudder to recall my first iPhone photo (link), that dark, grainy, mushy-focused image. This week we met friends at the same restaurant and swordfish bruschetta was still on the menu. There was my chance to reshoot the photo in improved conditions and to rethink the transfer process.
We arrived early and chose a table near the restaurant's front window. Poor lighting would not be an excuse for another drab image. I cautioned myself to shoot a few pictures before I put fork to plate or became totally engrossed in conversation. After all, we four had interesting stories to share.
Time after time, the HDR setting clicked off two quick shots of the same photo (as shown above) at two different exposures. They looked bright on the iPhone screen, much better than that first shot of last week. So far, so good.
The next step was to connect the phone to the computer. Easy enough to plug in the cord, but the iPhone didn't show up listedas a device on the Mac's Finder window. Why did I expect that it would? I'm accustomed to the camera and external drives showing up that way. It seemed that would be logical, but it didn't happen that way. Eventually I thought to open the application iPhoto. After that it was mindlessly easy to import the photos, but challenging to locate the file where they had been stored. Okay, one step at a time.
I found the photos and was able to move them to another location where other software could access them. The picture quality was greatly improved with this method compared to the previous iPhone-email transfer process. Better lighting and direct upload made a huge difference... I wonder which one had greater impact. TBD
This is a work in progress, until I find the magic shortcut that someone has posted online somewhere. For now, I'm encouraged to keep shooting with my iPhone. I'll try out a few apps and use it when a larger camera would get in the way.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I love this time of year! Vine maples begin turning from deep green to a vibrant orange and red. They're always the first to signal the new season. Dahlias and chrysanthemums add strong, warm color to the yard, and also signal footballtailgating season. (Go Dawgs!) Remember those huge pompom mum corsages? The transition from summer to autumn is visible in the landscape and at the market. Peppers and chiles call my name, vine-ripened tomatoes tempt me, and braids of garlic promise to add a sweet, hot punch to any dish.
Peppers, chiles, tomatoes, garlic - you know that leads to gazpacho, a wonderful cold, salad-like soup that bursts with flavor. On a warm, Indian summer sort of day gazpacho is the perfect way to enjoy ripe vegetables without heating up the kitchen... or having to work very hard. You chop a lot, stir a little, and presto! you have gazpacho.
We enjoy it as an easy appetizer, light but satisfying while waiting for the coals to heat up in the barbecue. Pair a shrimp-topped bowl of gazpacho and a platter of quesadillas and you have a filling lunch or light supper.
Combine garlic, bread crumbs, half of the V-8 juice and half of the green pepper, tomatoes, onion and cucumber in a food processor and puree.
In a pitcher or bowl, combine the puree with the remaining V-8 juice, diced veggies, oil, vinegar and seasonings. Blend with a spoon. Soup should be thick, chunky and slightly glossy from the oil.
If fresh or frozen shrimp are not available, top with fresh cilantro or parsley, cubed avocado or commercial salsa (Do not use canned shrimp!! They’re nasty.)
Note:
On the boat, when fresh vegetables aren't always available, I have used canned tomatoes, chopped garlic in a jar and jars of roasted red peppers to substitute for fresh. The substitutions work just fine, as long as there is some crunch from scallions, celery, cucumber or whatever fresh vegetables are available. Fresh or frozen corn has even made an occasional appearance. Frozen pepper strips are too soft to add much texture, but will work to flavor the puree.
Monday, October 3, 2011
I am very late to the party it seems. The whole world is light years ahead, using their smartphones for photography. Actually taking a photo isn't difficult... once I locate the shutter... if my hand doesn't shake... if there's adequate lighting... if my arm is long enough... No, the challenge is dealing with "What comes next?" What's the most efficient way to move the image from the iPhone to a computer?
Don't tell me to just plug it in! I did that, but the computer didn't show the device. Now what?
This morning I forgot the next step, if I ever knew it or read it in the manual. Thus the above image is the result of e-mailing the photo to myself as a JPG file, actual size, and opening it in Photoshop for a little cropping. The iPhone image was horribly dark on my phone screen, but opened much brighter on the computer monitor. What happened there? Is the graininess due to the low light in the restaurant? or the selection of "actual size" instead of a reduced format when attached to an e-mail? or something else?
Back to the manual for this simple process, before I pester RL for quick directions. Perhaps I should begin with a return trip to to CCAH for lunch. This would be for research purposes you understand, to reshoot the Swordfish Bruschetta in brighter light, maybe near a window. This time I could take the photo before I eat so much of it. | {
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Who are the dogs of war in Sabah?
COMMENT War, like football, is politics taken to extremes. The bloodshed in eastern Sabah was caused by two factors: Umno's outdated racial politics and Filipino politics in the form of decades of Manila's neglect of the Muslim south. | {
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HEAVY DUTY LUGGAGE TROLLEY
Banking upon the strength and knowledge of our adept professionals, we have become a pioneer manufacturer, trader, and supplier of a wide assortment of Heavy Duty Mesh. These are fabricated under the strict supervision of our competent manpower who make use of best grade basic material and other components to manufacture these trollies. Our range of Heavy Duty Mesh is best known for many impeccable features such as resistant to abrasion and corrosion, smooth edges, longer operational life, flawless finish, smart and trendy, etc. | {
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Is the mind, by design, predisposed against performing Bayesian inference? Previous research on base rate neglect suggests that the mind lacks the appropriate cognitive algorithms. However, any claim against the existence of an algorithm, Bayesian or otherwise, is impossible to evaluate unless one specifies the information format in which it is designed to operate. The authors show that Bayesian algorithms are computationally simpler in frequency formats than in the probability formats used in previous research. Frequency formats correspond to the sequential way information is acquired in natural sampling, from animal foraging to neural networks. By analyzing several thousand solutions to Bayesian problems, the authors found that when information was presented in frequency formats, statistically naive participants derived up to 50% of all inferences by Bayesian algorithms. Non-Bayesian algorithms included simple versions of Fisherian and Neyman-Pearsonian inference. | {
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Juicy Notes from the Wine Cellar at Restaurant Latour
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The event I have been waiting for all summer is around the corner. This Saturday is the annual James Beard event that takes place at the Wolffer Estate Vineyard on the South Fork of Long Island: Chefs and Champagne. This year, I’ll be in attendance with our Executive Chef Tim Fisher and our Banquet Chef Max Mraz. It will be a sun (er, heat) filled day filled with great food, great wines and lots of happy patrons.
We will be handing out the quintessential summer bite: Jersey Sweet Corn Huitlacoche and Dungenous Crab Salad. That, along side a glass of anything bubbly or white or rose, will be the perfect combination and your ticket to a successful day’s event.
Here Ye, here ye, this weekend at Restaurant Latour we will be pouring by the glass the most delectable, delightful, delicate, divine, enticing, exquisite, gratifying, heavenly, pleasant, pleasurable, lush, rare, savory, scrumptious, tasty, yummy wine. (OK, so I used a thesaurus for delectable, but you get the idea.)
You’ve heard about it, you’ve seen it in our windows, and now we bring it out for our guests to enjoy. We go back vintage to California — to Helen Turley’s prized estate wine on the Sonoma Coast: Marcassin, Chardonnay, 1999, from their Marcassin Vineyard.
Only 225 cases of the 1999 Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard were produced. This wine, from a vineyard planted on a steep rocky hillside with shallow top soil and meter by meter spacing, comes close to a magical synthesis of Michel Niellon’s Batard-Montrachet and Coche-Dury’s Corton-Charlemagne, blended with California’s extraordinary ripeness and richness from low-yielding Chardonnay fruit. It is an unctuous, full-bodied, gorgeously delineated offering with an extraordinary perfume of liquid minerals interspersed with citrus oils, honey and a steely smokiness. The compelling aromatics are matched by the extraordinary attack mid-palate and finish.
This is a wine of praise, and is benchmark Chardonnay. If imitation is the best form of flattery, well, Marcassin has a huge head.
Marcassin remains of the few benchmark producers of California Chardonnay wine. It’s well worth the effort to seek out a few bottles to see why these special wines have been coveted for so many years.
It would be hard to pass this up. Regardless of anyone’s opinion of Mr. Robert Parker, it’s undeniable that at times he does know what he’s talking about. And when he’s rated Rene Rostaing’s Côte-Rôtie, Cote Blonde, 1999, 100 points, well, you just don’t argue with that. You drink it! At Restaurant Latour! Cote Blond is Rostaing’s best wine, hands down. 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier.
The vineyards are planted in terroir that people in the region call arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral soil with deposits of silex and mica. This is the smallest of their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of this delicious, Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is an exotic, opulent wine with great character and charm.
With 14 years of aging, this opens up like a young bull just released into the arena. This is what stunning Cote-Rotie tastes like:
Susanne and I just had the most mind-blowing experience – when it comes to wine at least. I’m talking about the Riedel Glass Tasting experience. (And as a sidenote, for all of those who question the correct way to pronounce the famous glass makers, I have come to lay those qualms to rest: Ree-Del.)
Wine as an experience is not a new concept. No, No, No. Rather, it is this notion that the glass you drink wine from (read: varietal specific glass) can enhance your wine drinking endeavors.
Susanne and I were optimistic. We had heard much about these seminars and were anxiously awaiting for one to pop up by us so we would have the chance to see what all the fuss was about. Here at Restaurant Latour, we use Schott glasses (no, not shot glasses – Schott glasses). They are rational glasses but not entirely varietal specific; we do, however, use our White Tasting Glass, our Bordeaux Glass and of course, the Burgundy Glass for certain occassions. These glasses certainly do their job, and while they are also aesthetically pleasing, they do not hold up to what I believe Riedel does.
That big, super oaky, new world Chardonnay deserves a wide-brimmed, large bowl glass to allow those aromas and flavors to open up in between each sip you take. That old world Burgundy, filled with ripe cherry flavors, tannin, and finesse deserves to have its own glass, complete with its own tannin buster, which therefore allows that wine to hit exactly where it’s supposed to, which is smack-dab in the middle of your palate. It is only after you realized you’ve just “french-kissed” your glass of wine, do you realize it is the most beautiful sip of Pinot Noir that you’ve ever had.
For the collection that we offer our guests here at Crystal Springs, it only makes sense to offer such a fine-tuned counterpart Thank you Riedel, for kindly taking your time and consideration to mastermind such a fine piece of glass.
If you take anything away from this blog, it should be to find the nearest Riedel seminar, where your hair will stand on end. Just make sure to pick your mouth up from the floor. I forgot.
This weekend, we continue to take you back-vintage, this time to Rioja, Spain, 1976.
The back vintage wine program at Restaurant Latour has been a crushing success (crush, wine, crush wine, get it?) It’s been such a great experience to open up these masterpieces from our cellar, and to let our guests experience such an array of older, yet classical wines that they may otherwise not have the experience to taste. Not because they can’t, but because in 240 pages of red wine, for instance, the 1976, Lopez de Heredia, Vina Bosconia, Rioja, might not catch your eye. Now, it will.
Tempranillo (80%), Garnacho (15%), Mazuelo and Graciano (the remainder) all from our own vineyards. This wine gets barrel aged for 8 years (again, hello longevity!)
Given Rioja’s brilliant historical legacy of great estates, it is sad to think that in terms of producing truly classic and traditionally styled Rioja wines. Lopez de Heredia remains virtually the last bodega to have withstood the tides of modernization and changing fashions in taste that have transformed so many other traditionally important estates in Rioja…but as Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia comments, “we do not want to have to defend ourselves for the way we make our wines, for this style was what made the region of Rioja famous in the first place, and which has been the foundation for our family winery since it was founded in 1877 – why would we want to change anything?”
I just want to take this time to tell Maria that we don’t want them to change anything either. Rioja is Rioja, just as Bordeaux is Bordeaux . Rioja represents all that is great about the terroir that essentially is, Rioja! In a country transformed over the past decades, it is comforting to know that Bodega Lopez de Heredia will be forever steeped in tradition You can not say that about everywhere else in the world.
The story and history of such a cultured bodega should be enough to seal the deal on a glass of this special bottle, but if that’s not enough, I will provide you a tasting note. And a tasting note like this may just make you weak at the knees. Feel free to collapse at Restaurant Latour. Thank you CellarTracker, my ultimate guide into the taste palates from those around the world:
“Faded very pale red; light earth tones with ever so slight subtle red berries and clean rocky minerals; super elegant, good tart berry acidity with faint tannins but not lacking for it, silky, unpretentious yet clearly something special; complex, very nice balance–everything a great aged red should be. This grew on me and kept begging me to drink more. I could not deny her.”
If I were to tell you that you could get your daily dose of bacon in a glass wine, what would you say to that? Don’t answer that…
Well not yet at least. Let me plead my case to you, if I must.
Enter the La La Wines, the trifecta that is La Turque, La Landonne, and La Mouline. Cote-Rotie (pronounced Coat-Row-Tee) from the Rhone Valley in France. All-Star producer Domaine Guigal has given us something to smile about. This weekend, we open for a dear guests, Domaine Guigal, La Mouline, 1994.
As our friends from Wine Cellar Insider say,
“La Mouline is not a single vineyard wine. It is a trademark.”
That’s right, a trademark. This is benchmark Syrah. This is what other winemakers can only hope to produce one day. (Disclaimer: If they could only get their hands on Guigal’s grapes.)
The first vintage for this wine was 1966. It was not until 1971 that Guigal decided 100% new oak was better for the wine. On top of that, the 1994 (Rated 95 point by Mr. Robert Parker) spends 3.5 years in brand new French Oak. Hooray! Longevity in a bottle! And that, as a result, comes the purest form of Syrah. Seeping with silky textured notes of bacon fat, juicy black cherries, charcoal, truffle and earthiness.
La Mouline is a unique tasting experience that is unequaled by other wines. Made from 60-70 year old vines, on average, production is only 400 cases for the world. And to quote our insider friends once more,
“It’s one of the few phenomenally expensive wines that’s worth the money”,
and that is why we are pouring it By The Glass this weekend at Restaurant Latour. Come and get it.
The cost of a gallon of gas was 27 cents, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States, the first Six Flags theme park opened in Arlington, T.X., “Candid Camera” was a popular TV show and George Clooney was born. Oh yes, and Giacomo Borgogno was about to release one of the most premier bottles of Barolo.
Barolo, a commune within Piedmont, Italy, was unaware of its prowess. The 1961 is a classic beauty, filled with heavenly aromas of dried roses and macerated cherries.
Here’s your chance to taste a wine that is drinking effortlessly today as if no time has passed at all.
Borgogno, Riserva, 1961, Piedmont, Italy
Giacomo Borgogno is considered a dynasty in Barolo. This historic house prides itself on romance and tradition, the foundation of old world Italian wine. The estate was founded in 1761, although today the family cites 1848 as the date of official establishment, coinciding with a document dated 1848 that attests to Borgogno’s first wine sale. The vineyards, approximately 50 acres (very small) are still considered some of the best sites within Barolo.
Borgogno periodically re-releases back vintage Barolo, which they believe is truly the best way to understand how traditional Barolo is meant to be experienced – aged. We agree.
Available by the glass at Restaurant Latour this weekend: 100% Nebbiolo, just the way Borgogono would have served it — 52 years later.
This Friday, April 19th, we continue our back vintage adventures at Restaurant Latour and I couldn’t be more excited for what our guests are about to delight in. Three simple words: Sine Qua Non.
Sine Qua Non translates in Latin to mean an essential action, condition, or ingredient, that without which, something cannot be. That is exactly how we feel about Labels, 2007. This Syrah from the Central Coast region of California is produced by Manfred Krankl and his wife Elaine, and can be described as rich, full bodied, concentrated, mouth filling, decadent and opulent. Simply put, Labels, 2007 is nothing short of amazing!
So, why did we choose Sine Qua Non? To start, this cult wine continues to receive critical acclaim and high ratings (98+ Points by Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate). Whether we like it or not, the truth is it’s a wine of super-limited production and nearly impossible to obtain.
If you choose to reserve a glass at Restaurant Latour this weekend, you can look forward to is a harmonious and pungent perfume of black and blue fruit, earth, cappuccino, spice and caramel.
This Friday, April 12, marks the first day Restaurant Latour officially goes back in time.
Some may say we are living in the past and we are totally OK with that. With a wine collection like this, we think these exquisite vintages shouldn’t be kept hidden in the Wine Cellar, collecting dust. We want our customers to get in on this, we want to reignite the passion!
The wines that we have chosen for the next 12 weeks date back anywhere from 1979 to 2007, and are still drinking well.
Reserve a table and reserve your glass at Restaurant Latour to get a true taste of old-school Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italian, Spanish and California wine. You won’t be dissappointed, I can promise you that.
We will start by paying hommage to Bordeaux in honor of the late Gene Mulvihill. Gene’s passion — and his heart — was Bordeaux. For that, we just had to start with one of the best first growths, Haut Brion, 1988.
Château Haut Brion, 1988
It was an Indian summer in 1988 that saved the vintage — and it shows through right now: Tobacco, smoke, stone, earth spice aromas; elegant, smooth, soft and open. This first growth Chateau continues to impress since 1787 when President Thomas Jefferson announced that this vineyard was of prime quality.
This is what it’s all about! Wine as an experience. Wine as pure and ethereal joy. | {
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These More Important shoes by Kenneth Cole offers the ultimate in comfort. Made with leather materials, these Kenneth Cole shoes make a definitive statement. The casual features provide the shoe with a classic look. | {
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Excel Build 4- Engine bay and interior
Soon enough the front end welding was completed, quickly followed with good beads of sikaflex to seal the seams (especially where mud and water may get in and cause rust) and a coat of rust protection mat black paint.
We dropped the engine and gearbox back in as a complete unit with two new engine mounts and reconnected everything. During the installation, we discovered that the fuel inlet hose from the filter to the injection rail was perished so we replaced it. New coolant, power steering fluid and synthetic gearbox oil were added before the battery was connected. The engine fired up as soon as the fuel pressure came up and ran smoothly.
As the X3 engine has a MAP sensor fitted from factory, we were planning to remove the factor air box and filter and fit a pod style filter straight to the throttle body. After reading some forum posts on the subject, we decided we’d keep the factory filter set up. It appears that running a longer inlet plenum will help with torque which is what is needed in on a rally car, especially running standard internals in the engine.
With the front end taking shape, we tackled the fuel tank guard. As of 2013, we switched over to using HDPE sheet for under-body protection. The sheet is light weight, non toxic, easy to cut and work with and above all tough! Previously we have used Kevlar/carbon fibre to make under body protection. It is time consuming, messy and expensive. Also the blasting from gravel doesn’t take long to wear through the Kevlar and then we have to remove and repair sections. The HDPE on the other had will really take a pounding. One sheet of HDPE will easily protect the entire floor pan and sills of a rally car, plus the fuel tank and any other places we may need it with enough left over to cut 2 or more sets of mud flaps. In line with the build spec, the Excel received a fuel tank guard, slipped in between the tank and the factor retainer straps and will also receive HDPE protection for the sills, fuel and brake lines.
The sump guard however, will be constructed of aluminium as the HDPE is not rigid enough for the job.
With the weather hitting nearly 40° again, easy tasks are scheduled for the afternoon hours. The interior seams and bungs were all sealed with sikaflex before a coat of silver rust proofing paint was applied.
As I mentioned in the 180SX build, the interior colour is usually painted a neutral colour (light grey or silver) to allow for any changes to the exterior colour of the car. Black or white paint looks great when it’s new, however terrible after it has had mud and dirt in it. If the customer requests, we’ll paint the interior the same colour as the exterior of the car, using a spray method to get a uniform finish. Generally though, a couple of hours with a paint brush yields great results and makes for easy touch ups.
With any luck, the next post will detail the cage install. With the cage order placed before Christmas, the manufacturer had a couple of weeks delay in the new year to get production back up to speed and catch up on orders. | {
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Listen to this article
On the face of it, 2017 has the potential to be a tricky year for investors in emerging market corporate debt.
The pro-growth agenda promised by new US president Donald Trump — based on tax-cutting and infrastructure-spending — raises the prospect of higher US interest rates, threatening to raise yields and lower prices of fixed-income assets.
If the prospect of a “Trump slump” on its own was not enough, the falling yields in emerging market corporate debt in recent years — which have reduced the spread over US Treasuries of dollar-denominated bonds to around 270 basis points from a cyclical high of 520bp a year ago — leave plenty of room for a reversal.
“When people are nervous about rising interest rates we tend to prefer the safety of the sovereign [debt] than the corporate, which by definition will be less liquid and more prone to selling off,” says Stuart Culverhouse, head of research at Exotix Partners, an emerging market-focused investment bank.
“We have seen a rash of [corporate] issuance. Some of the issuers that are less robust can fall over at the first opportunity.”
Jan Dehn, head of research at Ashmore, the emerging markets-focused asset manager, adds: “Emerging market corporates don’t offer as attractive an opportunity as they did a year or two ago,” following returns of 9.7 per cent for dollar debt last year, as measured by the JPMorgan CEMBI Broad Diversified index.
Ashmore has cut its exposure to emerging market corporate debt significantly over the past year and a half. The weighting to dollar-denominated corporate debt in the manager’s blended debt strategy has fallen from more than 30 per cent to below 10 per cent.
There are, however, some reasons for optimism about the prospects for emerging market corporate paper.
Mr Dehn points out that when it comes to the fallout from rising US inflation and interest rates, the market is already pricing in two or three rate rises this year, so it would take faster tightening than this to have any impact.
More broadly, Mr Dehn is among those who believe the Trump administration will struggle to push through a so-called border adjustment tax, which is imposed on imports, but not exports. If so, that may blow a hole in Mr Trump’s tax-raising plans, leaving him with less ammunition to finance a fiscal stimulus, potentially resulting in weaker-than-expected inflation and monetary tightening.
This lower inflation scenario could further help emerging market debt by undermining support for a stronger dollar. This is because a weaker US currency decreases the liabilities of foreign companies that have borrowed in dollars and potentially makes local currency debt more attractive to foreign buyers.
Victoria Harling, a portfolio manager at Investec Asset Management, argues that if inflation were to rise, emerging market corporate debt would fare better than most other fixed-income assets because it typically has relatively short duration.
There are also expectations that the difference in economic growth between emerging and developed markets — about 2.6 percentage points in emerging markets’ favour last year — will widen a fraction this year, helping buoy interest in all emerging market assets.
Mr Dehn expects the greatest opportunities to be in local currency-denominated emerging market corporate debt, an often overlooked category despite comprising $8tn of the $10.7tn in the overall asset class.
Local currency debt yields 8.2 per cent. A modest contraction in yield — combined with a 5 per cent rise in emerging market currencies due to the reversal of the dollar’s Trump rally — could push total returns as high as 16 per cent this year, he says.
In contrast, Ms Harling describes local currency corporate debt as a “highly unattractive asset class”, given that while sovereigns can print money to service their debt, companies cannot. The yield gap between the two is insufficient to compensate for this, she argues.
Ms Harling also views high-yield dollar-denominated corporate debt — currently returning 6.3 per cent on average — as expensive compared with investment-grade paper at 4.2 per cent. This has led Investec to cut its exposure to the higher-risk segment.
“Single-B [rated credits] are pretty much priced to perfection. They are not pricing in any chance of a downturn,” she says, referencing the likes of Rusal, the Russian aluminium producer, which sold a five-year bond at a yield of 5.1 per cent in January.
“I have seen this train smash many times, so we simply pass on that and wait for it to reprice. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be this year,” Ms Harling adds. | {
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If you miss a dose of Prednisolone, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Prednisolone.
STORAGE
Store Prednisolone at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Prednisolone out of the reach of children and away from pets.
Do NOT use Prednisolone if:
you are allergic to any ingredient in Prednisolone
you have a systemic fungal infection, a certain type of malaria, inflammation of the optic nerve, or herpes infection of the eye
you are scheduled to have a live or attenuated live vaccination (eg, smallpox)
you are taking mifepristone.
Contact your doctor right away if any of these apply to you.
Some medical conditions may interact with Prednisolone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have a history of heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure), heart attack, high blood pressure, kidney problems, liver problems, diabetes, seizures, an underactive thyroid, adrenal gland problems, fluid retention (eg, swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet), or any mental or mood problems
if you have or have recently had a fungal, bacterial, viral, or other type of infection; herpes infection of the eye; chickenpox; measles; or shingles
if you have HIV infection or tuberculosis (TB) infection, or if you have had ever had a positive TB skin test
Anticholinesterases (eg, pyridostigmine), aspirin, diuretics (eg, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide), methotrexate, mifepristone, quinolone antibiotics (eg, ciprofloxacin), ritodrine, or live or attenuated live vaccines because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Prednisolone
Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), or killed or inactivated vaccines because their effectiveness may be decreased by Prednisolone.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Prednisolone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Important safety information:
Avoid alcohol while you are using Prednisolone.
Prednisolone may lower the ability of your body to fight infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds or infections. Tell your doctor if you notice signs of infection like fever, sore throat, rash, or chills.
If you have not had chickenpox, shingles, or measles, avoid contact with anyone who does.
If you are taking Prednisolone regularly over a long period of time, carry an ID card at all times that says you take Prednisolone.
Do not receive a live vaccine (eg, measles, mumps, smallpox) while you are taking Prednisolone. Talk with your doctor before you receive any vaccine.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Prednisolone before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Lab tests, including adrenal function tests, may be performed while you use Prednisolone. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Caution is advised when using Prednisolone in children; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
Corticosteroids may affect growth rate in children and teenagers in some cases. They may need regular growth checks while they take Prednisolone.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Prednisolone while you are pregnant. Prednisolone is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Prednisolone, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
If you are on long-term or high dosage therapy and you suddenly stop taking Prednisolone, you may have withdrawal symptoms, including fever, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, weight loss, weakness, general body discomfort, joint or muscle pain.
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.
Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome: | {
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One person's woodworking journey, with a focus on handtools, a nod to the past, and an appreciation for the creative spirit.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Relief Carving: A Novice's Observation
As I learned nearly three decades ago, one of the unexpected benefits of being an art student is that your friends will readily disrobe for you.
Let me rephrase that.
Willing models are always close at hand for the sake of art.
Case in point—my friend Kevin. With his athletic and sinewy physique, it was very easy to envision the skeletal and muscular structure beneath the surface, which made him easy to draw.
His figure (just like everything else in nature) can be broken down into simple shapes. Sketching basic forms first creates volume; adding details later provides interest.
Similarly in carving, if you break down the structure into general shapes—rather than focus too soon on the details—it will provide a solid foundation for your project.
Unfortunately, I'm a gal who "can't see the forest for the trees," so I must force myself to ignore details when I begin to carve.
In art school, we were taught that if you squint, the details are obliterated and you see only basic configurations. We used that technique in typography class in order to determine whether or not characters were well-spaced. It forced us to focus on negative and positive relationships rather than nuances between letters.
Maybe that's why Shaker furniture is so appealing. Their furniture is the "squint" version of the fancier pieces of the age. They still hold up to design scrutiny because they're perfectly balanced, the dimensions are pleasing, the overall shapes are simply correct.
If the squint version of furniture isn't working, it's unlikely that ornamentation is going to save it.
Similarly in carving, if the basic shapes don't seem right, the details probably aren't going to give you the results you want.
This is what I've noticed as I'm trying to get a grip on relief carving. I am not completely able to put this observation into action as I have not yet mastered control over the tools (and may never). But it's an enlightening learning experience.
It reminds me that all the arts share a common thread.
And sometimes those threads wind up on the art studio floor. Thanks, Kevin! | {
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GoPro: The Baja 1000 with Bryce Menzies
Shot 100% on the HERO3® camera from .
Baja 500 champion and GoPro athlete Bryce Menzies returns to the wash in 2012 to pursue his first Baja 1000 victory. Bryce and company set out to tackle what may be the last point-to-point format of this historic event. Join Bryce for an epic journey from Ensenada to La Paz, for 1,121 miles of white-knuckled off-road racing and experience Baja like never before. | {
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The Miracle of Imperfect Timing
My husband, whose sister is a mere 14 months his senior, assured me having kids close together would be not only good planning (get those hard years out of the way) but also a good investment in their friendship (he counts his sister and her husband among his best friends). My brother is six years younger than I am, and as much as I have always adored him, the years between us often seemed like eons. I figured there was probably a happy medium. Perhaps we’d try for a second baby after the first was potty trained. Or in preschool.
I am what you might call a “small plate person” – introverted, prone to daydreams, preferring a whole afternoon alone with a book to an adventure with friends – I don’t do well with multi-tasking. I knew myself well enough to know that having two kids in the span of two years would be asking a lot of myself, especially if I wanted to do it well and with any semblance of grace.
Which is why it was so strange to me that, when my first was 10 months old, I found myself saying to my husband, “Maybe I don’t want to wait much longer to get pregnant again.”
Now, if you think this occurred to me because first children are often a breeze compared to their loud and feisty younger siblings, let me set you straight. Our first, our wonderfully vibrant Jacob, is anything but easy. He (and therefore I) didn’t sleep more than 45 minutes at a time for the first two months of his life. And this was just the beginning. Often a solo parent due to my husband’s rigorous medical residency schedule, I spent the majority of my days intently interacting with my very extroverted, very loud, very intense son. I couldn’t even leave him on the play mat for the two minutes it would take to reheat my coffee without him screaming as though a piece of heavy furniture had fallen on him (this tendency did not help with my postpartum anxiety).
So why the change of heart? Partially, because at 10 months, Jacob was slightly less challenging and more solid and less prone to breaking. He had teeth and could eat Cheerios and was cruising and laughing and snuggling. We had fun together, even inside jokes. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The newborn months may have been terrible, but they suddenly felt light years away.
I had survived. I knew I could do it again.
I began to think about my upcoming 34th birthday and how I only had a year before my womb would be considered “geriatric” (can we please come up with a better word for this?).
Originally my plan had been to wait another year, after moving the following summer, wherever the Army would send us. But then I began to think about the potential for my husband to deploy (even though he assured me it wasn’t likely to happen so soon).
Also, it may have been momnesia.
My husband was ecstatic. When can we start?
So, when Jacob was 10 months old I quit taking the pill. You know how it goes: we weren’t trying, but we weren’t trying to NOT. After one particularly romantic evening, I thought I felt a twinge in my belly and I thought Oh my – did we just make a baby? A couple weeks later I took a pregnancy test and with mixed feelings read “negative.”
Mostly I was relieved. I started doing the math and realized if I had been pregnant, the due date would be a mere six weeks before the Army moved us God knows where. I thought to myself, Maybe we should wait a couple more months so we’re not moving with a newborn and a toddler.
Five days later I realized it was time to take another pregnancy test. This time it was positive.
When the first trimester nausea hit (so much worse this time around), and each morning I found myself sprawled out on the floor eating saltine crackers in front of Daniel Tiger with my son, who couldn’t even walk yet, I thought, How am I going to do this?
I comforted myself with the idea that this baby was meant to be. It might not be my timing, but it was the right time for him or her. The last time I checked, God doesn’t consult me about his plans.
I told myself if we had waited, we wouldn’t be having this baby. This baby is the one who is meant to be ours.
And sure enough, in May, seven weeks before we had to move, our sweet Henry was born. We knew right away he was my husband’s son. He looked just like him, and, unlike Jacob–intense and emotional like his mama–Henry eased into life with a gentle spirit and a love of sleep.
There was a peacefulness about him that drew us in, a quiet calm that almost had us fighting over who got to put him to bed. During a stressful move, quiet time with Henry became a welcome respite. When we learned my husband would have to deploy only a few weeks after starting his new job, Henry’s presence became not only an anchor to the present moment but the embodiment of hope in our family’s future.
In the face of our fears, his slobbery kisses were like christening, his coos a benediction.
Sometimes, I catch myself wondering how different life would be now had we waited to get pregnant with our second, especially during this time of transition and separation. Certainly, Jacob and I would have more quality time and fun adventures to the beach and the park. I’d get more sleep. I’d only have one nap to plan my days around, one bath time and bedtime, only one size of diapers to buy (and change). Life would be simpler. Easier.
But then, I wouldn’t have Henry.
At seven months, he still looks just like his daddy, except his daddy has teeth (and, now that he is deployed, a “silly mustache,” as Jacob would say).
When he smiles at me, I see my husband: his kind blue eyes, his impish grin, his calm and steadfast love. What a gift.
And I have to think, as I rock him to sleep, maybe the timing was pretty perfect after all.
Erin Curlett is a new(ish) mama, writer, and editor of the Good Mother Project. A recovering perfectionist, she is passionately committed to speaking the truth about life and motherhood in all its messy, beautiful glory in the hope her stories will help other women feel a little less alone. Her writing has appeared on Mamalode, Scary Mommy, the Good Mother Project, and her personal blog, Truthfully Told. | {
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Before submitting your artwork visit the art specifications page to review definitions and artwork guidelines. This will ensure that your final sign projects feature high quality graphics that embody your brand.
Are you creating vehicle graphics, lettering or traffic signs, but you are not sure about the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) regulations? In this article we review all of the rules associated with D.O.T. vehicle lettering and signage to be sure that you get it right the first time.
Is this your first sign? Or maybe you just want to clearn something up? We have provided a fact sheet featuring the benefits of signage as well as some primary tips for choosing and designing a sign to represent your business.
What makes a great sign? What is the difference between good sign artwork and bad sign artwork? These questions will be answered with visual examples to help you gain a better understanding of sign design. Start with great artwork and we can help you create a professional business sign.
Window graphics and lettering are great at drawing additional attention. Rather than hanging a sign and hoping for the best - brand the whole building! Colorful graphics and bold lettering are a low-cost, low-risk way to attract new customers to your location.
Does your company use vehicles to do business? If you have not branded those vehicles with graphics and lettering you could be letting potential customers pass by unnoticed. Review the many benefits of vehicle wraps, graphics and lettering.
In the transportation and logistics industry your vehicles are one of your biggest assets. Outfitting each machine with your brand could attract new customers; review the many options for truck wraps, graphics and lettering in this article. | {
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“I Regret Fighting My Former Record Label, YSG” – Vector
Popular rapper and famous free stylist, Vector revealed how the death of his father last year changed many things about him. In 2014, the rapper had a feud with his former record company, YSG Entertainment, which ended in court and for a year he was not able to do music.
In an encounter with Sunday Scoop, Vector admitted that he mismanaged information during his feud with the record company and he paid for it. He said,
“To be honest with you, the only reason I was taken to court was because I was popular or becoming popular. I must have mismanaged information on my part as well. I hate the fact that it slowed down my music and I lost money too. But I have learnt to try to be more patient and understanding with people. You cannot fight with people forever regardless of what could have happened. I have reached out to my former label and we have spoken.”
Speaking on his regrets, he said,
“Everything happens for a reason and I am grateful for my present position. Everyone regrets things; I regret things too but I just don’t dwell on them for too long. I will be stupid to tell you that I didn’t regret something that escalated to the extent that I could not make music for a year or so. Of course, I had regrets but I never let it drag me down. I took all the money I had and invested it in a studio.”
Temydee Music Magazine solely focuses on the best of Contemporary African-American Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeat Music, and also strives to continually disseminate up-to-date news on all forms of Entertainment. | {
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If so, there is a good chance you will find yourself stuck in a not-so festive traffic jam. Here’s a mind-hack to help you keep the gas-break-honk blues at bay: imagine the sea of cars is a huddle of penguins.
According to a study published in the New Journal of Physics, emperor penguins use stop-and-go movements similar to dense highway traffic to protect themselves from the harsh Antarctic winter.
Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute filmed penguin huddles from above, and studied the time-lapse footage looking for patterns. Every minute or so a single penguin waddled about 2 cm causing all the surrounding penguins to waddle 2 cm in response. These small movements sent waves of corresponding waddles through the entire huddle. This pattern is similar to that of cars making their way through dense traffic. | {
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Helping Hands
Once again, Spa Munari is excited to help support the PURSE OF HOPE initiative. There are thousands of women in and around the city of Montreal that could use a helping hand and the aim of PURSE OF HOPE is to bring a little light into their lives, especially around the holiday season.
Spa Munari is pleased to lend a hand to a new community campaign and we encourage you to join us in supporting Purse Of Hope.
Together, let’s care for women in our community that are dealing with difficult situations by spreading joy and hope. All purses collected will go to | {
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Greeks vote for more economic pain
By John Defterios, CNN
Updated 1537 GMT (2337 HKT) November 12, 2012
Photos: Greeks protest austerity 15 photos
Protests in Greece – Municipal workers clashes with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of a German deputy labour minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, in Thessaloniki on November 15, 2012.
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Protests in Greece – Riot police guard the Parliament building during a demonstration against austerity measures as Greek deputies consider a budget vote on November 11, 2012.
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Protests in Greece – A portrait of German Chancellor Angela Merkel is roped and hung outside the Greek Parliament during a protest against austerity measures in Athens on November 11, 2012.
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Protests in Greece escalate – Protesters demonstrate outside the Greek parliament against the new austerity measures in Athens on November 11, 2012.
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Greece votes on austerity – Greek Prime minister Antonis Samaras (R) votes yes for approval of the 2013 budget at the Greek parliament in Athens on November 12, 2012 .
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Strike turns violent in Greece – A protester kicks away a tear gas canister during a demonstration in Athens on November 7, 2012.
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Strike turns violent in Greece – A man runs away from clashes between protesters and riot police outside the parliament in Athens on November 7, 2012.
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Strike turns violent in Greece – Petrol bombs exploded during a demonstration in Athens on November 7, 2012.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – A dog sleeps in a deserted commercial street in central Athens on November 7, 2012 during a 48-hour general strike.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Demonstrators stand in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens on November 7, 2012 during a 48-hour general strike.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Wheelchair users protest against a new government austerity bill in Thessaloniki on 7 November, 2012.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Thousands of Greeks protested against further austerity measures in Athens on Tuesday, November 6, ahead of a crucial Parliamentary vote on emergency cuts and tax increases.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Police estimate that about 35,000 people turned out for a peaceful protest in Athens.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Demonstrators shout slogans against new austerity measures required for the bailout package.
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Strike brings Greece to a standstill – Riot police stand guard as demonstrators march in front of the Greek parliament in central Athens during the protests on November 6, 2012.
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Story highlights
The Greek government has overcome two hurdles to qualify for the troika's austerity program
But in the spirit of a Greek tragedy, much political blood has been spilt along the way
The budget for 2013 makes for painful reading, including a contraction of 4.5% next year
But one thing is abundantly clear for Greece: The cash lifeline needs to be delivered
Over the course of five days, the Greek government -- led by the understated conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras -- overcame two high hurdles in a dash to qualify for the austerity program set out by the so-called troika, made up of the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission.
The first hurdle was the parliamentary vote last week, when the austerity measures were passed by just 153 votes out of 300. The second important vote took place in the wee hours of Sunday night in Athens, this time with a comfortable margin of victory as 167 of 300 lawmakers voted for, in essence, more austerity.
But in the spirit of a Greek tragedy, much political blood has been spilt along the way. Those who voted against the measures were tossed out of the coalition parties, while members of the Democratic Left abstained due to the labor reforms that were built into the overall plan.
This has been a very messy process, with the troika leaning on the relatively new government to deliver what Greece had promised before the current administration came to power following the elections last June. In large part, the restructuring is now there and Greece is telling the troika: "Show me the money."
The implicit agreement on the table: Greece delivers another $17 billion in cuts over two years from labor reforms and tops that off with a new 2013 budget. The troika then puts up the final instalment of $40 billion to avoid defaulting on bonds which start coming due November 16.
JUST WATCHED
Greek protesters allege police brutality
MUST WATCH
Greek protesters allege police brutality03:32
PLAY VIDEO
But all of a sudden, there seems to be disagreement in the ranks and backlash from some eurozone member countries not happy with the measures. As one Greek CEO messaged me last night after our coverage of the vote: "We kept our side of the bargain; we need to see delivery from the other side too."
JUST WATCHED
More protests expected in Greece
MUST WATCH
More protests expected in Greece03:41
PLAY VIDEO
The budget for 2013 makes for painful reading. A projected contraction of 4.5% next year and a record sixth year of recession, with the economy shrinking more than 30% in that time frame. Public debt to GDP is due to increase to 189%, having risen more than 50% since this whole crisis started. Unemployment last week hit a record 25.4% with youth unemployment leaping to 58%.
JUST WATCHED
Jobs crisis takes toll on Greece
MUST WATCH
Jobs crisis takes toll on Greece02:43
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Another Greek executive I spoke with last night after the vote said the population has entered a new phase of acceptance. State workers have taken salary and pension cuts ranging from 15% to 40%, taxes on electric bills have soared, the retirement age has been bumped up to 67 years from 65 years.
Finally, the real shrinking of the state sector is taking place. The state payroll will fall by 125,000 between 2012 and 2016 through attrition and real layoffs. Some of the special pay packages for certain ministries, such as the Ministry of Finance, have been eliminated and salaries have been capped. Some 40 senior employees at the Bank of Greece, the central bank, walked off the job for good in protest of the 5,000 euro salary cap.
He was suggesting that Greeks will soon see the flickering light at the end of the tunnel, with the full backing of German Chancellor Angela Merkel after her recent, high profile public show of support in Athens. Political statements may be offered by the members of the eurozone this week, something the Greek technocratic Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras promised.
One thing is abundantly clear at this stage. For the state workers who have taken salary hits and for the one million private sector workers who have lost their jobs due to economic depression: The cash lifeline needs to be delivered. | {
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Top news
The Royal College of Midwives and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are deeply concerned to read of the failure of maternity services at Morecambe Bay and fully support all of the Kirkup Report’s recommendations.
Latest news
For healthy babies born at full term, current evidence supports deferred umbilical cord clamping rather than immediate clamping, says a new up-dated Scientific Impact Paper published today by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
A proactive labour induction practice once women are full term can improve perinatal outcomes suggests a new Danish study, published today (18 February) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
Women trying to conceive and those in the first three months of pregnancy are advised not to drink alcohol, states updated patient information published today by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Today is the UN International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) welcomes and supports the mobilisation of healthcare professionals to end the medicalisation of FGM in countries where it occurs.
The safest time to fly during pregnancy is before 37 weeks and before 32 weeks if you are carrying twins, advises new patient information published today by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
Women at risk of developing inherited gynaecological cancers should be identified as early as possible to ensure that they get the most appropriate treatment states a new opinion paper published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) today. | {
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OK DDeath, put this into perspective - this was before the Worst President in History was elected. I have said many times that Iraq was a mistake, and I would have left Saddam in power. Bush was a good man, but a lousy President. Obama is not a good man and he is the worst President. Obama is a disgrace to America much like Jimmy Carter.
"The whole reason welfare and foodstamps exist, is so those that are receiving won't be rioting in the street,and breaking into our houses and killing us to get what they want." UCanIt
Dazed, I gotta disagree............. Neither Carter or Obama has done anything remotely comparable with the Iraq disaster; 3 trillion dollars wasted, 5000 young Americans killed, tens of thousands of wounded warriors, many missing arms or legs, the destabilization of the mid east, empowering Iran, and the rise of Isis! GW is othe worst president of our tme, if not the worst in our history
Easy there DD At least bush wasted it on 2 WARS......Odumma has wasted more (twice I think) than that and doesn't even have that to blame it on.He just "liberaled" it away.Bush wasted it ON something........the O dude just WASTED his
GEEZER wrote:Easy there DD At least bush wasted it on 2 WARS......Odumma has wasted more (twice I think) than that and doesn't even have that to blame it on.He just "liberaled" it away.Bush wasted it ON something........the O dude just WASTED his
Maybe DC needs to adopt "stop and frisk".......You tell me...got gone on his "watch" There was "big money" spent to get him elected....to a job that doesn't pay all that much..for a reason....check his pockets. We could ask, but it is OK for a muslim to lie to you to further his "cause"...... I.T. is pretty expensive....maybe he had to buy Hilary a new "server". He is from Chicago...check his mob ties..."laundering money"...
Only five defining forces have ever offered to die for you:1. Jesus Christ2. The British Soldier.3. The Canadian Soldier.4. The US Soldier, and5. The Australian Soldier
DDeath, you want the truth then how about the Iran nuclear deal that guarantees Iran gets nuclear bombs or lets talk about the Uranium One deal where they gave away 20% of our uranium. Obama and Clinton are traitors.
"The whole reason welfare and foodstamps exist, is so those that are receiving won't be rioting in the street,and breaking into our houses and killing us to get what they want." UCanIt | {
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Polka-Dot Beamsplitters
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Offering a distinct advantage over standard dielectric beamsplitters, Polka-Dot Beamsplitters have a constant reflection/transmission ratio over a large spectral range. The UV grade fused silica substrate has a vacuum deposited enhanced aluminum coating in fixed square sized apertures. Incident light is reflected by the coated area and is transmitted through the surrounding uncoated substrate. Since Polka-Dot Beamsplitters are not angle sensitive, they are ideal for splitting energy from a radiant light source.
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User Tools
Friends
I don't think anyone truly knows what will happen with the Greg Hardy saga so it's probably just best to wait and see. I personally would like to see him play. We are not out of the realm of winning our division and he would instantly improve the D-line.
My girlfriend and I are planning to attend, or at least that is the plan. I've only been to one before and that was at the 49ers playoff game last season. Had a great time, great food, and great people. I just hope we can get the W this time around!
The Huddle has reached its tolerance capacity for snarky responses and personal insults. There are several people in this joint that provide no real value as a huddler, haven't produced a decent thread in years, but quick to belittle others.
Personal attacks will result in a banning, and I don't care who you are. If you find yourself just replying with a two word snarky response or an attack.... you should think twice.
Time to get this place back on track. Plenty to discuss in a civil manner.
I'm very glad this post was made - this is why I often times choose to read and not reply. I assume this includes the game day chat room also? Without naming anyone, there has been some major immaturity in the chat the last 2 weeks. Is the chat usually moderated?
A guy a few rows behind me got tossed in the 2nd quarter. He walked over to a niner fan with a sign and ripped it into pieces. The niner guy whined like a baby to security and the panther guy was escorted out. Later on the niner guy came back with tape and taped it back together rofl.
I played 2 games online last night against people who picked Seattle. Panther d destroyed Seattles Offense and I kicked the sea chickens ass both times (Was hoping someone would pick the niners)... Oh well | {
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Enclosed. See the "Revision History" section for a list of things that
changed.
Two changes not discussed previously here: character predicates derived
from SRFI-14 that are not in R5RS are gone, and `char-lower-case?' and
`char-upper-case?' are redefined to better match Unicode instead of
SRFI-14.
Unless there are complaints/suggestions in the next day or so, I'll
send it on to the SRFI editor. (I know that many of you are away from
e-mail or otherwise occupied, but I don't think there's anything
controversial here.)
Matthew
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Consumers Will Continue to Buy Apple's Fashionable Gadgets
I haven't talked about Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
in a while. When last we left Apple, hand wringing over iPod sales this
or iPhones sales that, led to a tremendous selloff. I was commenting
how everyone is missing the forest for the trees - the real story of
these products is the halo effect of bringing customers to the bread
and butter of the company: the Mac. But then again I was shouting into
a stiff wind and the herd ran me over. They had no use for that logic.
But I still like this company as the de facto consumer entertainment
convergence play; although I needed to sell some to layer into
the demolished commodity space.
Why still like Apple
when the consumer is dying is one of my themes? Well, not every
consumer - especially the "snobbish" Apple consumer. The upper 10-15%
will still be fine... and for the other percentage of society? Well the last
things people will give up are video games (see Gamestop's latest results), fashionable gadgets, and $200 jeans for teenagers.
It would take a full out depression for teenagers to stop buying those
jeans - I still contend American parents would rather give their kids
money for expensive clothes than buy something for themselves - so they
will cut that last.
As customers retrench, spending on restaurants goes
down but things that help us cocoon or still have brand 'cache' will
hold up the best. And Apple is increasingly turning into an international story.... So it's not all blight out there - even from this corner of the blogosphere. Macs seem to be booming...
The report shows growth in Mac unit sales up 60 percent from 2007 and growth in dollar terms up 66 percent. That’s considerably higher than Pacific Crest’s estimate of 10 percent, according to the same report.
AppleInsider’s chart of the NPD data is pasted below the fold. It shows Apple’s share of the U.S. PC market growing from 9 percent in Feb. 2007 to 14 percent in Feb. 2008. In dollar terms, NPD has Apple capturing a full 25 percent of the U.S. computer market last month.
Meanwhile,
Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster analyzed NPD’s February report on the iPod
line and projected sales between 9.7 and 10.5 million units for the
March quarter. The midpoint of those two figures would equal a 4
percent drop from 2007, considerably lower than the 2 percent gain on 10.8 million units that is the Street’s consensus.
Frankly,
a 14% market share (if accurate) would blow away all my assumptions - I
was hoping for something like that by end of 2009. (in dollar term, 25%
is even more impressive) But again, people seem fixated on these
periphery products - like the Walkman for Sony which created a buzz and
cache (in the 80s folks, I know Sony is not cool now), iPod
revolutionized Apple but to focus on iPod now as a growth driver is
misguided.
It will be a nice steady cash cow and keep driving people to
another cash cow, the iTunes website. Meanwhile, the growth in the Macs
is extraordinary if these numbers hold. And again, this is without the
enterprise market which is the last castle for Apple
to storm. Some of the recent updates to the iPhone are designed to help
Trojan Horse into the enterprise.... if that conversion from PCs to
Apples ever takes hold, it's going to be a massive upside.
But
I've been saying that for a long time, I said it in good times (for the
stock), I say it in bad times (for the stock) - the story remains the
same, but in the near term the herd has it's own ideas and drives the
stock where it wants to go (namely into purgatory of late). I still
think Apple is one of the few
true growth stories in tech, and at current valuation, is extremely
compelling. But until a lot of technical resistance overhead in the low
to mid $140s is taken care of, the stock will remain range bound.
But... I think this will be a very good performer in 2nd half 2008, all
things being relative (i.e. stock market not imploding another 20%).
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6 Free Web Apps to Help Organize Your Life
I was recently asked to research and write about six free web apps that could make life easier for a freelancer, and I compiled a list of apps that are free not just for a trial period, although these apps may charge fees for additional features.
Indie book authors can certainly be considered freelancers, so I am sharing this list here of free web apps that you could use to help organize your writing life. (Note that so far I personally only routinely use PayPal and Google Docs of the web apps on this list.)
PayPal.com — getting paid:
You can add the PayPal option to your author website. Then use the PayPal web app to track payments to you as well as sending money to others. (Although PayPal takes a processing cut on transactions, the setup is free.) When you order at www.paypal.com/here you can get the card reader for free for iPhone, iPad and most Android phones, which can be used at book signings.
Brightbook (mybrightbook.com) — accounting software:
This web app has free features that include the ability to create invoicing in any currency. And perhaps more importantly, this app can help you keep track of accounting and banking. Having free tools to do this can be a valuable timesaver.
MailChimp.com — build your email marketing list:
This web app has a free version that allows up to 2,000 subscribers, and you can send 12,000 emails to these subscribers for free. Great for keeping your book fans updated on your activities.
Pixlr.com — photo editing:
This is a web app for Windows and Mac as well as an app for iOS and Android. Whether you’re creating photos for your writing projects or for promoting yourself via social media, you’ll want a program that can help your photos shine.
Google Docs (drive.google.com) — simultaneous content creation:
You can create and edit documents online while collaborating with other users in real time either as a web app or as a mobile app for Android and iOS. Google Docs can be a great timesaver and eliminate the frustration of sending docs back and forth so many times that you risk confusing which version is the newest. (This could be very helpful for co-authors of a writing project.)
WeTransfer.com — large file transfer:
Send big (up to 2GB in the free version) or small files from A to B via this web app or via Android or iOS. This free app could be very valuable for delivering your book manuscript to someone.
Buyers in Australia get more remedies per person than any other country. The variety of medications marketed by companies is no doubt a contributing matter to prescription medicament abuse epidemic. At present more than half of men aged over 50 reported some degree of erectile difficulties. Have a question about Cialis and levitra 10 mg? Let’s find answers to most popular questions about side effects of Cialis. While ED is more common among older men, that doesn’t make it ‘normal’. Most likely either man knows about levitra 10mg. Other question we are going to is levitra 20mg. Orgasm troubles can usually indicate problems elsewhere. If you would like advice about Cialis, one of pharmacists will make approachable medicines that are suitable for you to take. You will then be able to buy the medicine. | {
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Edgar Allan Poe’s bucolic Bronx cottage
In 1846, Edgar Allan Poe, his wife (and cousin) Virginia, and his mother-in-law moved from Manhattan to a little wooden house built in 1812 in The Bronx’s rural Fordham neighborhood. The isolated, modest home, which rented for just $100 a year, must have suited Poe well; he wrote “Annabel Lee” and “The Bells” there.
But his time in the house would be short. Virginia succumbed to tuberculosis in 1847. Poe died in 1849 in Baltimore. The home passed through several hands until 1905, when the New York State Legislature designated funds to preserve it as a historical landmark.
A 1920 photo from Valentine’s City of New York guidebook:
In 1910 the house was moved to Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse, restored with original furnishings (including Poe’s bed and rocking chair), then designated a landmark in 1962.
Next spring, Poe Cottage will close for yearlong renovations, so if you want to see it, better make plans soon. More information is here. | {
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
5
comments:
Beautiful!!! Is this the first snow you guys have seen in SC in awhile or does it happen from time to time? Some friends of mine in Atlanta went ice skating on their street, and destroyed a boogie board using it as a sled. | {
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Warning: array_map(): Argument #2 should be an array in /home/leveragetech/public_html/hellotechpros.com/wp-content/plugins/patron-button-and-widgets-by-codebard/index.php on line 1649Why GitHub Pages is More Valuable Than StackOverflow or Google to Your Dev Team — Jim Kohl on Productivity | Hello Tech Pros
Why GitHub Pages is More Valuable Than StackOverflow or Google to Your Dev Team — Jim Kohl on Productivity
Jim has 33 years of experience delivering solutions across a wide range of industry domains (Banking, Insurance, Aircraft, Point of Sale, CAD/CAM). He is an avid promoter of technologies to help developers become better software engineers and collaborators. Recently Jim transitioned into DevOps as a great way to help do this.
What You Will Learn In This Episode
The biggest impediment to scaling dev teams.
The solutions you can’t find on Google and StackOverflow.
The missing element to your current document repository that makes it difficult to keep up to date. | {
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Fig. 8. Hybridization pattern of P. purureum DNA digested
with isoschizomers to detect methylation of eKn I
families. Total DNA from P purpureum (PI300086) was
digested with either Eco RII or Bst NI,
electrophoresed in 2% agarose, Southern blotted,
probed at 650 C with nick translated P. qlaucum IB23
140 bp Kpn I monomers, and washed at 650 C in 0.07X
SSPE and 0.1% SDS. All lanes contained 2 ug of DNA.
Bands of hybridization which migrate at 560 bp and
980 bp are labeled. Lane 1 is Eco RII digested DNA.
Lane 2 is DNA digested along with the DNA in lane 1,
extracted, precipitated, and redigested with Eco
RII. Lane 3 is Bst NI digested DNA. Lane 4 is DNA
digested along with the DNA in lane 3, extracted,
precipitated, and redigested with Bst NI.
1 2
S8980 bp
560 bp
34
53
I repeat families to the extent that Bst NI did. The
restriction endonuclease isoschizomers used here test for
methylation at the trinucleotide CNG, N being any nucleotide.
This experiment indicates that the KDn I families of tandemly
arrayed repetitive sequences within the P. purpureum nuclear
genomes are heavily methylated.
The percentage of the purpureum genotype PI300086
(Fig. 9, panel A) and P. glaucum Tift 23 (Fig. 9, panel B)
genomes comprised of the Kpn I repeat families was determined
along with copy numbers per cell. Various amounts of either P.
purpureum 140 bp and 160 bp Kpn I monomers or P. glaucum 140
bp KEn I monomers were used to create a standard curve. The
nuclear DNA of either species was then compared to the
standard curve created for each of the species. A dot blot
apparatus was used to facilitate the binding of samples to the
membrane for probing. The dot blot for the P. purpureum
samples was probed with 140 bp and 160 bp Kpn I monomers from
P. purpureum. The dot blot for the P. glaucum samples was
probed with 140 bp Kpn I monomers from pearl millet. For
napiergrass and pearl millet, 100 nanograms of nuclear DNA
(lane 1) was compared to various amounts of monomers; the
various amounts were 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 nanograms in
lanes 2-7 respectively. For P. purpureum genotype PI300086,
16.4 +/- 1.5 percent of the nuclear genomes are composed of
Kpn I repetitive element hybridizing sequences. The P. glaucum
genotype Tift 23 has 19.9 +/- 0.8 percent of the nuclear
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genome composed of KDn I repetitive element hybridizing
sequences. Reassociation kinetics have indicated that about
20% of the pearl millet genome is comprised of the highly
repetitive class of sequences (Patankar et al. 1985); the 140
bp &pn I tandemly arrayed repetitive sequences are thus the
major highly repetitive DNA sequences in P. glaucum. The KDn
I families of P. purpureum are likely the major repetitive
sequence families within the nuclear genomes as well. Based
upon a mole of nucleotide pairs averaging 618 grams, one
picomole of DNA equals 9.74 X 108 bp. P. purpureum nuclear DNA
is approximately 5.78 picograms (Taylor and Vasil 1987). Thus
there are 6.2 X 106 copies of &Kn I repeats per cell. P.
glaucum, which contains approximately 4.9 picograms per cell
(Patankar et al. 1985), has 6.8 X 106 copies of Kpn I repeats
per cell.
To compare the average sequences (Grellet et al. 1986) of
the 140 bp and 160 bp Kpn I families of P. purpureum
(PI300086), P. glaucum Tift 23, P. squamulatum (PS26), and P.
hohenackeri (PS156), either four or five individual KDn I
monomers isolated from individual bands from a 3%
polyacrylamide gel were sequenced. The 140 bp Kpn I average
sequences from P. squamulatum and P. glaucum are compared to
the P. purpureum average sequence in Fig. 10. This is sequence
data from one individual plant of each species. Where there is
an n in the P. purpureum or P. squamulatum average sequences
the bases of two of the four sequences at that position were
Fig. 10.
Comparison of the average sequence (Grellet et al.
1986) of P. urureum (PI300086) to the average
sequences of P. suamulatum (PS26) and P. glaucum
Tift 23. Average sequences of P. purpureum and P.
squamulatum are composed of sequences of four
individual Kpn I family monomers. The P. alaucum
average sequence is composed of five individual
sequences. The three sequences are aligned for
comparison purposes. The P. squamulatum and P.
glaucum sequences are compared to the P. urpureum
average sequence. Differences between the sequences
are designated by an asterisk above the position of
the base difference in the sequence being compared
to the P. purpureum average sequence. In the P.
purpureum and P. suamulatum average sequences the
appearance of an n is due to their being two bases
equally represented at that position; if one of
these two bases is the same as the base at the
identical position in a sequence being compared then
it is not considered a difference between the two
sequences.
Fig. 11. Comparison of the average sequence (Grellet et
al. 1986) of P. ourureum (PI300086) to the
average sequences of E. scuamulatum (PS26) and E.
hohenackeri (PS156). All average sequences are
composed of four individual KEn I family monomers.
Also shown in this figure are sequences from two
individual Epn I family monomers from P. setaceua
(PS247) and EP. villosum (PS249); differences
between these two sequences are represented as an
n with the two bases below the n being from the
two sequences. The sequences are aligned so that
the insertion and the deletion present in the P.
hohenackeri average sequence can be compared to
the other average sequences. Differences between
the average sequences are designated by an
asterisk above the position of the base difference
in the average sequence being compared to the P.
purpureum average sequence. In the average
sequences the appearance of an n is due to their
being two bases equally represented at that
position; if one of these two bases is the same as
the base at the identical position in a sequence
being compared then it is not considered a
difference between the two sequences. All four
individual sequences were different at position 48
in the e purpureum average sequence. Bases from
position 130 to 148 are underlined in all six
sequences. This 18 bp underlined region represents
the major difference between the 140 bp and 160 bp
En I family sequences.
Subrepeats within the P. purpureum average 160
bp Kpn I sequence were aligned according to
conserved regions present in these subrepeats. These
conserved regions present in the subrepeats are
underlined below each subrepeat. Below the EP
purpureum subrepeats is a maize satellite DNA
monomer segment (Peacock et al. 1981). The regions
of similarity between the P., urpureun
subrepeats and the maize satellite DNA monomer
segment are underlined below the maize sequence. The
maize sequence is aligned such that the positioning
of the conserved regions between the species can be
compared to the conserved regions from the
subrepeats.
Aligned Subrepeats Within the Pennisetum purpureum Average
160 bp Kon I Sequence; Similarity to a Maize Repeat is
Also Shown | {
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So it was not just my imagination. Tek really did seem to be always at bat when the bases were loaded. I cannot begin to decipher that page of stats, but I wonder how many times he was up with the bases loaded or at least with RISP and two outs. It seemed to happen again and again (and sadly, rarely did he get the hit or walk in those situations).
Very CoolEvery time you post a link to BB Ref. I find myself hanging around there playing for a while. Tweaking your report, trying things of my own. I am something of a stat freak, after all. I still have LL scorebooks piled up in here from 15 - 18 yrs ago.I guess I'm going to break down and subscribe, altho the last thing I need is something else to distract me from business.Also cool that I saw 3 ML game this year, and got to see 2 of the Silver Slugger winners hit home runs - Flo & BeltranLater
If I am reading this page of stats correctly, it looks like Tek batted .162 with two out and RISP. Pretty miserable, which was my sense. What I can't figure out from these statistics is whether he was in that position more than other players generally are. It would make sense, given where he is in the batting order.
I just am not very statistics literate and get overwhelmed by all those numbers on one page. | {
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Martin's Real Job REVEALED
Play:
Song Name: Martin's Real Job REVEALED - Beale With It
Artist: Amelia & Abner
Album: Beale With It - An Eastenders Podcast
Year: 2018
This week on 'Beale With It' we are joined by special guests and newbies to the show, Amy and Amy, there is yet more Pedo-Hunting drama with Mick falling further down the rabbit hole, The Slaters see Kat return and threaten to break Ollie's knee-caps after a fling with Elsie behind Gene's back, we find out how Martin has the money to pay for a central London town house, Ian and Masood fool about some more.
We take a break from most our regular features but will still be making special stop-offs at EastEnders Sentence-Enders and of course Albert Square-Off which this week sees Bernie go head-to-head with Boring Bex. | {
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Like this:
Etienne Lantier, son of Gervaise Coupeau of L’Assommoir fame, is the ‘star’ (if you will) of Germinal, my all-time favourite French novel, in which the initially shy and politically naive young man becomes an inspirational leader of a community (and stays politically naive).
Etienne leads a workers’ uprising at a northern coal mine, in search of improved working conditions. In the ensuing months-long strike, the miners and their families suffer appallingly and are driven to the very edge of survival. Ok so they don’t debate canibalism, but one family does sell (for a pittance) everything in their house, apart from the portrait of the benevolent Emperor, hung above the (cold, empty) fireplace, kindly provided free of charge by the company. In a particularly grimly captivating scene, as anger rises among the community and ferocious riots break out, the local shop-keeper (who insists on alternative forms of payment from the miners’ wives for what limited food stocks he has) has his manhood ripped from his body. It is then paraded around as if t’were a trophy.
A small number of miners (including Etienne – oh, Etienne) eventually cede and return to work, only to be trapped underground following a tunnel collapse brought about by sabotage (carried out by a Russian anarchist, a close friend of Etienne’s) intended to cripple the mining company’s position. Etienne’s own hereditary blood-lust finally takes grip, and sees him attack and kill a love-rival (a sub-plot), shortly before they are rescued. Etienne subsequently leaves, with his former colleagues returning to work for longer hours and lower pay than before the strike.
Despite this bleak resolution to the strike itself, the novel concludes as follows:
“Beneath blazing skies, in that youthful morning , it was with a growing murmur that the countryside swelled. Men were growing, a black and vengeful army, germinating slowly in the land’s furrows in readiness for the next century’s harvest, and whose ripening would soon burst open the earth itself”
I can in no way do justice to this novel; its portrayal of an impoverished mining community is hugely sympathetic without being romanticised; its consideration of the political and class struggle illuminates the immediate setting of the novel, but also speaks volumes about late 19th-century France; its depictions of conditions inside the mines reflect Zola’s (as always) devoted research to his novel, and are incredibly atmospheric to the point of claustrophobic.
I bought this book for 10FF (about a quid) from a second-hand bookstore in the very small town in Normandy where I lived and worked as a teacher for a while. I suspect the fact that I almost immediately adored this book was strongly related to the fact that I was fairly well isolated from friends and family at the time, I have a generally quite bleak outlook on life, and I’m also a raging lefty. | {
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Make sustainable dietary changes. Sign up for the free 21 Day Vegan Kickstart. Participants receive daily messages for a step-by-step diet makeover, including recipes and nutrition webcasts.Go >
Mad Cow Disease
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, has surfaced in more than 20 countries including the United States.1 Health authorities consider it to be the most likely cause of a variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a fatal brain disease that has affected 217 people worldwide since the disease was first reported in 1996.1
After four discovered occurrences of BSE in U.S. cattle, Americans are now more aware that BSE presents a locally derived health threat. There is growing concern about BSE and vCJD and the need for corrective action to protect the health of humans and animals in the United States:
The conditions that led to the emergence of BSE in Britain have also been present in the United States.
The agent that causes BSE has already spread to at least four cows and some other species of animals in the United States. The extent to which BSE and other encephalopathies have entered the human food supply is unknown.
In 2008 alone, more than 350 Americans died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and the possibility that BSE played a role in some of those deaths cannot be ruled out. vCJD can only be confirmed upon biopsy of brain tissue or at autopsy.1
Brain Disease in Cows
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a fatal central nervous system disease first identified in the United Kingdom in 1986.
Affected cows show increased apprehension, poor coordination, difficulty walking, and weight loss. The infections that cause BSE apparently existed for several years before the disease was recognized in England.2-4
BSE is not limited to Britain. It has been found in native cattle in over a dozen countries. The first case in the United States was reported in December 2003.
Related Brain Disease in Humans
vCJD, like other transmissible encephalopathies, robs an affected individual of mental faculties and muscle coordination, eventually leading to coma and death. This category of illnesses is caused by prions, proteins that are normal in their molecular makeup but abnormal in their shape, like springs that have been bent out of configuration. It is believed that vCJD results from contact with prions in tissues of cattle with BSE, or “mad cow disease,” which, in turn, distort normal proteins in human brain and nerve cells. Only minuscule amounts of prion-tainted tissues are required in order to transmit the disease.5 Prions concentrate in the brain and spinal cord, but also have been found in blood and muscle tissue. Prions are very difficult to destroy, even by the chemical or heat disinfectant methods used in hospitals. Heating to 134 degrees Celsius (273 degrees Fahrenheit) does not reduce their infectivity.6
Similar Diseases in Other Species
Transmissible encephalopathies have long been documented in animals in the United States, indicating the need to protect human populations. Scrapie, the encephalopathy analogous to BSE occurring in sheep and which may have been the origin of BSE, was first reported in the United States in 1947, and infected sheep flocks have been identified in virtually all parts of the United States where sheep are raised.7,8
Similar diseases have been found in other species, including chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, and transmissible mink encephalopathy.6 While scrapie is not known to cause human disease, passage of the prions that cause scrapie through other animals may potentially alter their infectivity and disease presentation.
Indirect evidence from mink on fur farms who were routinely fed cattle-derived remains suggests that BSE may have been present as early as 1985 in at least some U.S. cattle. In at least five separate outbreaks, mink fed in this way have developed a disease called transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) which is remarkably like BSE.3,9 After a 1985 TME outbreak in Stetsonville, Wis., experimenters injected brain tissue from diseased mink into Holstein cattle, finding that the cattle developed spongiform encephalopathy. They then fed remains of these cattle to healthy mink, who soon developed TME.10 Reviewing evidence that the mink disease came from cattle-based feeds, University of Wisconsin researchers concluded, “If this is true, there must exist an unrecognized bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-like infection in American cattle.”10 In other words, U.S. cattle have been sporadically infected with BSE, which has shown its pathological effects when passed on to other species.
The Failure of U.S. Government Policies
The fact is that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have not been seriously looking for BSE cases. Data from the National Veterinary Sciences Laboratories BSE Surveillance program from 1990 to 2000 show that, of approximately 900 million cattle slaughtered, only 11,954 brains (approximately 1 in 75,000) were examined for BSE. Starting in 2006, the USDA released a new surveillance program in which it annually tests approximately 40,000 cattle for BSE. In 2011 alone, the U.S. slaughtered 35.55 million cattle.11 However, the symptoms of BSE do not commonly manifest in cattle until about 5 years of age, which is after the usual age of slaughter. For example, most U.S. dairy cows are slaughtered before 4 years of age, when even a prion-infected cow is likely to appear healthy. Despite all this, the first official U.S. case was identified in a cow raised in Washington State in 2003, and there have been three more cases since then.
The USDA has been slow to take steps against the potential spread of encephalopathies from one animal to another, or from animals to humans. The measures instituted so far by the U.S. government are grossly inadequate, as evidenced by the following examples:
U.S. feed producers are blatantly violating restrictions on feed production. Despite a 1997 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on the feeding of most mammalian remains to ruminants, which unfortunately includes significant exceptions impairing the protective intent of the law, a January 2001 FDA report showed that, of 180 renderers, 16 percent lacked warning labels on feeds designed to differentiate those intended for ruminants from those for nonruminants, and 28 percent had no system to prevent the actual mixing of these feeds.
The Government Accountability Office issued a follow up report in 2005, noting many program weaknesses in compliance inspections, including FDA’s guidance for inspectors to visually examine facilities and equipment and review invoices and other documents instead of routinely sampling cattle feed to test for potentially prohibited material.
Although the World Health Organization called for the riskiest parts of bovine tissues (i.e., brain, eyes, spinal cord, intestines) not to be used in the human food supply or in animal feed to protect from BSE, the United States still allows the feeding of these potentially risky tissues to people, pigs, pets, poultry, and fish.
There are few restrictions on the use of animal byproducts, including blood and blood products, gelatin, milk, and milk products, in feeds through which prions may be transmitted.
There are no limits on the use of nonruminant, such as pig or horse, remains in feeds, due to an exemption in the 1997 ban. Because prions are so difficult to destroy, if the remains of a BSE-infected cow are fed to a pig or horse and then the pig or horse remains are fed to cows, the cows may subsequently be infected. Similarly, ruminant remains can be fed to poultry and, in turn, poultry feces are routinely used in cattle feed.
There are no limits on the “recycling” of beef or other meat products in the form of garbage from restaurants or other institutions for use in animal feeds.
Monitoring for human illness is even more haphazard. Individuals showing signs of dementia due to such a condition may be misdiagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or stroke, and most dying with neurological illnesses are never autopsied, so their brains are never examined.
There is simply no way of knowing whether vCJD has begun in the United States or not. Death certificates from 1979 to 2006 show that 6,971 people were identified with CJD in the United States. While the presumption is that they had the “classical” form of the disease, rather than the new variant form which is believed to come from animal tissues, this remains uncertain. While most victims were older (a sign of classical CJD), a small number were surprisingly young.12 The reported cases are probably underestimates due to the problems of misdiagnosis and underreporting.
On a more optimistic note, restrictions on blood products are becoming more stringent, which is appropriate given that they may also be vectors of disease.13 Nonetheless, it is clear that diseases closely related to vCJD exist in the United States, both in animals and humans, that these diseases should be considered highly infectious, that monitoring programs are too spotty to track the extent of these diseases, and that current preventive steps are far too lax.
Recommendations
The following are PCRM’s recommendations to the government for protecting the public against vCJD:
Ban the use of animal-derived livestock feeds for any species, given the likelihood that animal byproducts will, in turn, be recycled to ruminants (that is, cows, sheep, and goats).
Prohibit animal byproducts in all medications, supplements, or cosmetics.
Label all foods containing animal byproducts (such as gelatin or “natural flavorings”), indicating both the presence of animal byproducts and the species of origin.
Provide warning labels on all foods that carry a risk of vCJD, using standards similar to those for tobacco and alcohol products.
Institute comprehensive monitoring programs to check for diseased animals and humans in the United States. Monitoring programs for BSE and other encephalopathies in animals should include but not be limited to testing all suspect animals rather than a fraction of them. For humans, monitoring programs should be implemented that require all states to report CJD cases and dementia of unknown cause (especially in young individuals) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention so that any cases where vCJD is suspected can be confirmed or dismissed by autopsy.
It should be recognized that the consumption of livestock products is clearly linked to a much higher risk of serious and sometimes fatal diseases, apart from the risk of transmissible encephalopathies. These diseases include coronary artery disease, colon and possibly other forms of cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and infection with salmonella, campylobacter, and E.coli O157:H7, among others. Making meat “safe” is not a realistic or attainable goal. Ironically, while the feeding of animal remains to other animals is now acknowledged as a dangerous practice that is restricted in some countries, the feeding of animal remains to humans is encouraged by government programs and massive industry efforts. | {
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Contact us today on 0370 218 4541 our pleasant expert personnel can advice you on the equipment you need for your next job. A package offer may be extra cost effective. Leasing also permits you the choice of getting a new design every year or two. It incorporates a few of the advantages of both renting as well as acquiring. | {
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Research, development and innovation are intrinsically linked to economic growth. In the UK we have a shocking history of underinvestment in science and research funding however this has been mitigated by the investment the EU has made into UK sciences, research institutions and innovative start ups. With the new EU funding programme Horizon 2020 coming into effect from next year there are high hopes for a new burst of innovation and the economic activity that brings with it.
The more innovation we have in the UK, the more people make things, the more our manufacturing sector increases and the more jobs …
The European Commission is set to invest large amounts into research and development to create well paid jobs and generate sustainable economic growth and boost Europe’s competitiveness across a range of key sectors which also aim to improve our quality of life.
Over the next 7 years a partnership between the European Commission, member states and industry will invest €22 billion in innovative medicines, aeronautics, bio-based industries, fuel cells and hydrogen and electronics. With the aim of generating high quality jobs across the EU covering these sectors through public-private partnerships called Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs).
On Monday a group of business leaders from across the country gathered to launch a manifesto for Europe the main thrust of which said that Europe was good for UK businesses. It was a great experience to be with a group of people who were all describing unique personal reasons related to their own companies as to why Britain should remain in the EU.
It is often thought that it is just large businesses trading across borders that do well out of EU membership. But at the launch event I met with many small business leaders who have the EU somewhere …
At a time when we are seeing some of the biggest government cuts in a generation it may seem to belittle the suffering people are facing to complain about the effect of the spending review on the science budget. As the government is trying to reduce our debt to income ratio, they have cut the deficit but we also need to create long-term sustainable economic growth. For this to happen investment in science and innovation is key. Our spending on research and development is vital to drive forward economic growth and reverse the current stagnation we see in our economy.
UKIP frequently describe the EU as a large, expensive, bureaucratic nightmare, stating that we pay into the EU more than we get out. Yet at a time when the EU seeks to change that, by tackling tax evasion and avoidance, potentially saving member states in total 7 times the EU’s annual budget, UKIP vote en masse against it.
This week the EU Parliament voted to halve the €1 tn lost due to tax evasion and avoidance by 2020 by closing tax loopholes and tax havens. This is to be achieved by tightening some of the agreements between tax havens such as …
When Lord Lawson argued in The Times for a UK exit from the EU (reported in the Guardian; no pay wall! ), he said his arguments had nothing to do with being “anti-European”, but it appears they were nothing but. Filled with emotion and political zeal there was little relevance or fact based on economic evidence. Which is extremely disappointing from an ex-chancellor.
He stated that UK exports to the EU have risen by 40% while exports to the EU from countries outside of it have risen by 75%. If we were to leave the EU we would have to start paying …
Recent economic announcements have been a true rollercoaster ride, with unemployment figures falling to one of the lowest levels, but then national output also falling. This disconnect between unemployment and GDP is still confusing economist, but the real worry is that youth unemployment is doing as expected, if not exceeding expectations. Youth unemployment in the UK now stands at just under 1 million, with over 1 in 5 young people now out of work. This has recently risen to the highest level since 2011.
Across the EU this picture does not improve with youth unemployment standing at 23.7% which equates … | {
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Amelie star Audrey Tautou’s choice of Yiqing Yin for the Cannes film festival generated more interest in one night than the Chinese-born French designer has enjoyed in her whole career.
The fluttery, micro-pleated “Absinthe” dress in mint organza and silk chiffon worn by Tautou was praised as a “work of art” by fashion website Red Carpet Fashion Awards.
For a designer only a few years out of college, the attention has been almost overwhelming.
“We’ve never had as much press coverage after any show,” Yin said at her atelier in Paris as she prepared for her latest couture show held on Wednesday.
“It’s made us known to the public at large and brought interest from new buyers in both couture and ready-to-wear,” she said.
With her experimental style, Yin was not a natural choice for such a high-profile event.
If Tautou’s decision to showcase the designer in her role as mistress of ceremonies at Cannes was unexpected, it was no less the welcome for it.
A number of important industry figures have requested invitations for the show and the label is attracting media interest in China too.
Born in Beijng in 1985, Yin left China at the age of four and she has said that clothes gave her “points of reference” as she moved from country to country.
She grew up in a family of antique dealers “surrounded by beautiful, old things”, and later studied at Paris’s National School of Decorative Arts.
Her first collection “Exile” was shown at the 2010 fashion festival at Hyeres in the south of France and also put on display at the French Ministry of Culture.
Often characterised as “dreamlike”, her latest collection contains “a lot of Calais lace cut up, made up again, almost pulled to pieces”.
Yin says she chose marine animals as the theme because they prompted a sense of disgust in her which she “found interesting” to transform into “something beautiful and pure”.
With the label starting to sell couture dresses to Chinese and American customers, she acknowledges that they are not for everyone.
“To wear my creations you need to be thin and not to have any fear of being exposed,” she said.
Since January 2012, her fashion house has taken part in the couture shows in Paris as a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
Only members of the organisation are allowed to use the name “haute couture” to describe their work and each house must adhere to strict requirements governing practices such as the number of garments produced and the amount of work carried out by hand.
The impact of the Tautou dress means Yin will soon be requiring more staff to cope with the label’s new found fame.
“It’s two-and-a-half years since we started and we’ve sold dozens of couture dresses,” she said.
“(Now) we are at a decisive moment: we have demand but we will have to be able to respond.” | {
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San Diego Life
Hi, We are San Diego Life
San Diego Events Essential Guide To 2015 Beyond Wonderland
WonderlandThe same production company, Insomniac, who produces and owns every Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) festivals, also has a California based series of event’s with the title “Wonderland”. Created from “Alice in Wonderland”, the most fantastic ‘bigger than life’ music and art mini-fest happen throughout the year here in California with many of Alice’s world and experiences built in to each dance party event. Most event’s take 2 day’s but a few are 3 days.
Beyond Wonderland This March In So-Cal
There is “Beyond Wonderland”, which usually takes place in the bay area, but fortunately for fest addicts like myself In South California, I can actually attend this year for the first time and it is in Southern California, this March. It is being relocated to so-cal and will be the biggest “Beyond Wonderland” in its history. The location is in San Bernadino, which has a massive pavilion. Many stages are designed from scratch for each different fest. There are too many mind bending art installations and so much to discover all over the grounds. This year is very special because I can actually attend, being that is not in bay area and one of my fav of time DJ artist’s happens to be on line up: Carl Cox.
What Is It About Carl CoxCarl Cox, who to me has saved me from so much negative life with only his House Music. My first Ultra fest in Miami I saw him and my first Coachella was all about his House music. Carl Cox is House music King who usually doesn’t come to the states too often. I think there is soul healing powers whenever he plays his magical beatz. I’m a House head and it isn’t for everyone. but if you are into music, are into musically, his beatz can make you dance with one note.
Escape From Wonderland: The Fun And The HorrorAnother Wonderland that is a personal fav and I try to go every year if I can is The Escape from Wonderland. It’s a gathering of fun and horror put together for hollow’s eve. There are many sick crazy fun characters who are a part of the fest as living human art running around the grounds all fest long. It’s a true must go at least one time in your life event if you like a scary style dance party.
Nocturnal
Nocturnal isn’t directly connected to the Wonderland series, it actually is it’s own fantasy world festival, straight out of a dream. The most amazing art is made for all 3 days and sometimes you can see the same art at other festivals. It takes place during fall, usually in September and Escape from wonderland is the follow up for Halloween. Camping is offered to most Insomniac events to allow safe dance party life at night.
White Wonderland
The Last Wonderland of the fest year is White Wonderland, which I have never attended before, but just from the pure fact of it requiring everyone who goes must wear white and only white, I don’t even own white…anything. I do not think I will be going anytime soon.
Once there, the stages become some kind of magical dance party with everyone on spirit level wearing all white. It’s at the end of the year usually around Christmas or like this past Dec. it was on New Year’s Eve.
Insomniac has grown globally and continues to grow beyond its ability to top itself each year. It’s also blazed the path of expectations for other music festivals to try to attempt the same level of experience and fail to produce such an incredible world and with the line ups that are inner connected within Insomniac events, the music is never a letdown.
With a packed schedule throughout the year, I find it’s impossible to attend all, but really love and can’t wait for next fest. Beyond Wonderland is calling me and is only now a handful of weeks away.
Bartender: Drink Please!
My drink of Choice during fest life is simply the Energy drink mixed with vodka and of coarse my fav beer Heineken. It all switches up with which sponsor is hosting the festival. With multiple days and long dance parties, energy drinks are a must.
San Diego Events Talks Bass In Your Face: Las Vegas Nightlife
Just getting back from my quick adventure in Vegas. I was there for the massive Summer Las Vegas Furniture Market Show. I feel absolutely thrilled and lucky to be able to take a peak into and test drive a few new great pieces of 2015 Furniture design. I got a close look into the latest interior technology. I saw everything from mattress pillows, bedding design, sofa beds, great modern bedroom furniture, and outdoor friendly designs. Even lighting was a big player at the massive furniture show. It was an amazing experience and I am not sure how anyone can possibly see it all in just a short visit.
While I spend my days touring the furniture show in Vegas, by night I was lucky enough to attend newer clubs on the strip. Las Vegas has really upped their game in the club world. One of my fav DJ’s R3hab, (re-hab) made a club stop at LIFE. Life is one of the new EDM glam clubs, hosted inside SLS hotel. Sam Nazarian, the owner of the hotel, spent around $500 million for the makeover and focused on a more personable feel. It was well over one million spent. I was shocked how the SLS hotel changed their look from an old Sahara Hotel to a major makeover. I even saw a 3-D video screen hanging above the center bar on the main casino floor, which had every person mesmerized.
The amazing effects of the decorations hypnotized us all while we drank our cocktails. I myself geared up for the eve with red-bull and a Vodka Lime Martini.
Vodka lime Martini
Vodka Lime Martini
1 part Belvedere
2 parts red bull
1 lime wedge squeezed
(Some like to splash cranberry but I prefer a touch of citrus)
Belvedere was on site in SLS and inside Club LIFE at most tables. The sound system was intense. A perfectly placed system to give every inch in the club a true surround sound effect no matter where you were, the music took you over body and soul. The light system was on full force with laser/spotlight/and video screens along with typical club effects, but not done over the top. Blasts of cold fog kept the dance floor cool and fresh, and then confetti happened! The confetti rain experience happened more than once on the dance floor. The DJ’s decks were spacious, clean, and visually obtainable by any fan that wanted a better look while mixing went down. Dancers reminded me of Miami, they were dressed for fantasy and beyond. It was open later than I could hang, so I def will go again. I did miss the looping roller coaster that used to live just in front of the old Sahara hotel and now that it’s gone, I feel lucky enough to have had the chance to ride it.
R3hab’s performance is never a letdown and never a “press play” gig. No doubt he gave sweat beatz as they fell over the crowd. I’ve been lucky enough to see him perform at festival style gigs, but this was my 1st r3hab club gig. I saw him flood the main stage at an event called Nocturnal Wonderland, which took place in San Bernadino, Ca over a two-day period last September 2014. Bigger than life stage designs and amazing artists, bands and DJ's come from all over the globe to make Nocturnal Wonderland happen. The event is produced by famous Insomniac, which is known for its massive event electric daisy carnival, a.k.a. E.D.C. R3hab is also scheduled to be a part of Coachella this year, which his performance is perfect and will be a “not to miss” time slot gig. I’m hoping to be able to catch him again before 2015 runs out.
I’m looking forward to the next time I go back to Vegas. Currently most of the Vegas day clubs are now on a hiring spree for table service runners and dancers for the summer season, which kicks off soon. Most of the major hotels take the club to the pool area and create massive fun. A special thanks to R3hab, W&W and Bloody Beatroots for great gigs and a massive special thank you to The Futon Shop for amazing experience at the Market Furniture show.
If You Enjoyed This Article On Music, You might find My Take On The Grammy Nominations For 2015 interesting.
San Diego Life Reviews Grammy 2015 Nominations Bands
Rewards Season Is Here: Best Of The Performers
Award season is here again, and LA is buzzing with hope for
so many in the music industry. Sunday Feb 8th at LA LIVE in downtown
Los Angeles becomes the new L.A. The Hot Spot is Elbows deep with red carpet
construction. Top of the performer’s list is Katy Perry, who was just added to
performance list. I have a feeling it may have to do with the fact that she has
so many followers and gave NFL half time super bowl the most watched half time
show ever! I’m actually hoping to see “LEFT” shark at the Grammys with Katy.
ACDC, Beyonce, And EDM Blending With Mainstream Artists
ACDC
made the list of performer’s and actually is headlining Coachella Music Fest
this year. It’s so great to see classic gut-rock still going. Another artist
that we can’t ignore for his talent is Jack White, who has multiple nom’s with
his last release Lazaretto. By the way, it is released on vinyl and as a CD of
coarse dig release, but the Vinyl release broke all the rules with how it was
made from the recording to the bizarre ability to go into loop at the end. One
of the biggest surprises at last year’s Coachella fest was Motorhead, which
blew every performance to dust with the grinding roller coaster vocals and the
razor sharp guitar. The thunder from space drumming has made the Nom list with
Heart Broken. Coldplay has made the nom list with their release, Sky Full of
Stars. Personally speaking, I’m way more into the remix than original track.
Avicii remixed it for Coldplay and then Hardwell took it beyond and totally
crushed it. I Really hope Coldplay gives a shout out to HARWELL if they win.
Seems to me that too many great artists go without awards and it seems
electronic music is finally seeping into everyday life by demand. I hope to see
more E.D.M. categories in mainstream music awards.
Beyonce will try to reclaim her crown with nominations and I
hoping to see her elaborate dance performance with someone interesting.
Epic CollaborationA great
new collaboration is Kanya and Paul McCartney. Not sure how it will turn out, but they
are both being deep into the biz, so I’m sure it’s not just for kicks.
What Is Buzzing?
Everyone seems buzzing about Smith. His old school
R&B male vocal’s done with a smooth
current beat that makes you crave to
hear it over and over again. Anyone in radio knows it’s now played every
minute. “Stay With Me” should take more than a few Grammy’s home.
My Personal Favorites
As for my current favorite style of music, E.D.M. Dance
category, I am sad to see it as the weakest and the least acknowledged with too
few sub-categories. Only 2 (Best Dance Recording and Best Dance album ) nominations
and I’m sure it’s why who ever wins, will love to share and mention EDM who do
not get proper attention as musical artist’s. On a positive not, I am rather
happy to see Disclosure collaboration with J Blige “F for You” actually
make the cut. I feel lucky enough to be able to have seen them live last year
at Coachella. They did come to San Diego for a gig but was a “win tic” only. No
tickets or passes were available to buy.
What To Look ForBasement Jaxx, who has definitely
earned the nomination, has amazing talent. I can’t wait to see Duke Dumont, who
is also amazing live. Another Fav who made the cut was Mat Zo, who is never
stuck in any box or loop. From Chill wave, Chill house, hard house to pure
techno, the unbelievable talent goes unnoticed. It is probably because he so young.
Deadmau5 even lands a nom and I hope he responds with a performance. There is never
a dull second with him on the deck. Who didn’t make the nom list and whom I
think should have been acknowledged? Calvin Harris! Most take him as a pop
artist, but no matter what we think, the man knows how to get the globe on
their feet and dance. He has a great peace factor within his music. I am also
surprised Porter Robinson didn’t make the cut, being that his last release was amazing.
Keeping It Old School
One of my fav hip hop R&B star’s hosting again this year
is LL COOL J, who has so many hits himself and give’s so much to so many.
Between acting, music life, and his personal life, the rapper has mad skills throughout
the decades.
The Top Of The ChartsThe nominee list is
beyond strong at heart and there is so much talent for the big night. Fancy, by
Iggy Azalea with Def Jam records made more than a few categories and Nicki
Minaj’s Anaconda didn’t get as many as I thought would. Queen of Rap is
debatable, when we all saw Missy Elliott crush the super half time show. Also, waiting
to win is Wiz Khalifa with multiple nom’s and amazing drop.We still can’t get enough of Taylor Swift, with her hit
after hit; she could be the shining star of the night. But I am hoping the
Grammys spread the golden love around. Tony Bennett even took a leap of faith
with Lady GaGa on his new release and new tour, and both will share their love
for Chill beatz and love of music this Sunday. Ed Sheeran gets another shot at
winning again this year with his “Thinking Out Loud” which was made to win.
Who Is Sponsoring?
With so many sponsors’ this year the whole event should be
bigger than ever. I’m hoping for fewer commercials this year and maybe a view
of some V.I.P. gigs. The best is when so much talent comes together and join
forces to make new beatz happen.
One of the Grammy sponsor’s is Ciroc Vodka, which started in
Europe and was a low level seller before 2007 at selling 40,000 cases per year.
Ciroc made a face change upgrade to promo the product and with the help of Sean
Diddy Combs, pushed a whole new direction. Diddy took it to over 2 million
cases per yr and is still growing. Distilled 5 times without any aging process,
a smooth taste and more than a few flavors, Ciroc has now become a top choice
for many inside the V.I.P. world globally. The new flav Amaretto opens new doors
for mixology to experience “NEW” again. The perfect flav for awesome beatz!
Drinks At The Bar In San Diego: The Beer Capitol
Beer In San Diego
Ahh, San
Diego, the Unites States most southwesterly city (excluding those in Hawaii, of
course). A number of things jump into people’s minds when the topic of San
Diego pops up. The city is well known for its beaches, bikinis, and burritos. While
I like all three of those things, my favorite offering San Diego provides
starts with another “b”… it is beer!
With close
to a hundred breweries in the county, San Diego has rightfully earned its title
as “Beer Capitol of the Unites States.” Some of the larger breweries, like
Stone Brewing Company, are world renown, providing a stable, consistently
delicious core line of brews available year round. Other, smaller breweries
stick to small batches, using only in season ingredients in strange and inexplicably
delicious combinations to create a unique beer you may never drink again.
Reinheitsgebot In San Diego
There are
four basic ingredients in beer: hops, barley, yeast, and of course water. While
some breweries like to experiment, adding variables like wheat, chocolate,
vanilla, or chili peppers, most breweries today keep it simple, adhering to the
ancient (but since slightly modified) German law of Reinheitsgebot.The latter is also known as the German Beer
Purity law, that states that anything labeled beer most only use those four
basic ingredients. It’s a good law, and one that most massive breweries these
days simply don’t follow, adding impure ingredients, known as “adjuncts” like
rice or corn, to save money and increase production, but at the cost of flavor
(Think Miller, or Coors..Yuck!)
The way in
which these four basic ingredients are used can have a tremendous impact on the
type and flavor of the beer. Use a large amount of hops and you end up with golden
India pale ale. Use too much barley and you end up with a dark stout, or
porter. The combinations are endless, and inevitably amazing. Fortunately for
those of us in San Diego, nearly every possible style of beer is produced
locally, and is available at any number of local bars, or even in some
instances, straight from the brewery itself!
Beer In San Diego
If you could
not already tell, I am a passionate beer connoisseur, and will bring it upon
myself to taste and write about a number of local beers, breweries, and bars
each week. Next week, I start off at the crown jewel in San Diego’s growing
beer scene…Stone Brewing. | {
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Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually (but not always) hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown (in some games, the pot is split between the high and low hands), limits on bets and how many rounds of betting are allowed. In most modern poker games, the first round of betting begins with some form of forced bet. The action then proceeds to the left. Each player in turn must either match the maximum previous bet or fold, losing the amount bet so far and all further interest in the hand. A player who matches a bet may also raise, increasing the bet. The betting round ends when all players have either matched the last bet or folded. If all but one player fold on any round, the remaining player collects the pot and may choose to show or conceal their hand. If more than one player remains in contention after the final betting round, the hands are shown and the winning hand takes the pot.
With the exception of initial forced bets, money is only placed into the pot voluntarily by a player who, at least in theory, rationally believes the bet has positive expected value. Thus, while the outcome of any particular hand is determined mostly by chance, the long-run expectations of the players are determined by their actions chosen based on probability and psychology.
Beginning in 1970 a series of developments led to poker becoming far more popular than it was previously:
* Modern tournament play became popular in American casinos after the World Series of Poker began, in 1970. Notable champions from these early WSOP tournaments include Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim, Bobby Baldwin, Doyle Brunson, and Puggy Pearson. * Later in the 1970s, the first serious strategy books appeared, notably Super/System by Doyle Brunson (ISBN 1-58042-081-8) and Caro's Book of Poker Tells by Mike Caro (ISBN 0-89746-100-2), followed later by The Theory of Poker by David Sklansky (ISBN 1-880685-00-0). * In the 1990s, poker and casino gambling spread across the United States, most notably to Atlantic City, New Jersey. * In 1998, Planet Poker dealt the first real money online poker game. * In 1999, Late Night Poker debuted on British television, introducing poker for the first time to many Europeans. | {
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Glenn Beck: Electing a Mormon president would be ‘just as historic’ as electing first black president
MR says: Click on the forwarding link to watch a video of Beck's show.
Today on his radio show, Glenn Beck and crew read through Spike Lee’s recent interview in Vulture and was inspired by the part where Lee compared people not liking a black president to those not wanting to vote for a Mormon. Beck made a comparison of his own, arguing that electing America’s first Mormon president would be “just as historic” as when we elected our first black president in 2008.
Here’s the interesting thing; he doesn’t think either is particularly historic. | {
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I have a good friend recently moved from here in Canada to Munich, Germany for a job he was offered in his field of education. Since he is permanently living there, he sold his 2010 Ford F-150 XLT and 2012 Focus Titanium (black, loaded w/sport pack, beautiful car) that he loved and just bought a new black Focus Titanium in Germany. He got it spec'd with the 182HP 1.6L Ecoboost and 6spd manual (A setup I'd kill to have on my car, ditch the dual clutch in a heartbeat). He got his car loaded with everything including the same wheels available on the sport package. He told me about all the features that came on his car that were unavailable on his american spec car, like HID projector headlights, BLIS and adaptive cruise control. His car also has a sony stereo, but no MyFordTouch. Just a slew of buttons with a small screen up top like the base cars here. His American spec car had the DCT and he claims that his euro car drives so much nicer than his american one. The Ecoboost is a perfect fit for the car apparently.
I was recently overseas in Europe in April, I saw a few top-end Foci running around. Those black/black Titanium cars with the non-amber accented dark finish HID headlights with LED running lights are downright crisp, clean and sexy.
Not that I really care about any of those features other than the HID headlights and powertrain choices, but why does Ford de-content the Focus for the American market? I know in Europe small cars are the best selling type of car so it makes sense to have features like those available, but if manufacturers and politicians want Americans to downsize their vehicles, doesn't it make sense to at least offer those features? Especially the powertrain choices..We should have 1.6L Ecoboost engines available with 6 speed manuals if we want. Maybe it would lift some of the flack regarding the PowerShit 6 speed auto. I always thought the Focus was going to be available with an Ecoboost at some point in time, but it doesn't appear to be in the plans just yet.
What do you guys think? Should we be seeing some more Euro-spec features and engines here in America?
I just ran the vehicle build on www.ford.de and came up with what sounds like your friend build. I don't know if he got the sedan or the hatch, I did the sedan since it's cheaper. Here's what I came up with:
Even with all the junk I threw in, we're still under $27,000, so we come up with a premium of $6287 (or so) for that engine, that sixth gear and those other options.
Is that a lot? I don't know. Personally, even $27,000 for a Focus is a bit too much for me, which is why I don't own a Titanium. I would think that in the econobox market segment any sticker pushing $30,000 or beyond would be pretty off-putting. The US manufacturers have traditionally been leery of offering premium-priced products in this segment since they tend not to sell, even when bestowed with premium nameplates (remember the Cimmaron?). To present it as a mini-SHO? That would be a niche product, just like the maxi-SHO and, besides, they already have a niche Focus in the ST.
Generally-speaking, in Europe an econobox-sized car is not necessarily viewed as an econobox. It can be a premium product in a compact package. I don't think we're quite there yet in this country.
Seems to me that Hyundai/ Kia North America is offering pretty much the same high spec features as they do in Europe. I think that takes away the excuse of "The average Euro car cost about $10,000. to $15,000 MORE than the same car in the USA"
Example using my country as a comparo to USA Hyundai pricing . I will use USD dollars not including taxes
Very complicated issue. One factor is that options add complexity to the manufacturing process, which increases the cost of every vehicle that comes off the line. Market research has to figure out if enough customers will select an option to offset the increased overhead cost for all vehicles (since the market will not tolerate increasing the cost of the base model to offer options that people choosing the base model are purposely not selecting in order to save money).
The compact market has changed significantly in the past 15 years (leather, auto climate control, and auto headlights were unheard of on the Escort and its competitors), but the US market is apparently still lagging slightly behind Europe in its willingness to select and pay for luxury options in a compact in significant numbers.
Or its good marketing. Sell some of those features on the ST first (HID
projectors, 6 speed manual, etc) Then when they do a refresh
On the body mid life of the car they offer those or some of the features.
It would help to get people who bought or lease early in the MK3 life to come back.
And if they dont maybe all the the euro and North America ST
opinions will be offered in a Lincoln version. So if
you want all that luxury you have to buy Lincolns small car.
With the commuting I do, I would love to see the 2.0L Duratorq Diesel Focus here. With the cost of fuel in Europe, people want the most options with the best fuel economy. Here in North America, we have less expensive fuel and larger distances to travel between points.
The 2.0L used now is a great engine (hooked up to an unfortunate transmission) but nothing revolutionary.
I don't feel that the MTX75 is "unfortunate". Yes, it could use another cog for economy, but it is a durable, proven transmission that has improved greatly in refinement since the MK1. It's not "revolutionary" either, but it works very well.
I just ran the vehicle build on www.ford.de and came up with what sounds like your friend build. I don't know if he got the sedan or the hatch, I did the sedan since it's cheaper. Here's what I came up with:
So, the price would be 26,565 Euro + 19% VAT= 31,612 Euro = $41,096. If we take the VAT out of the equation for US purposes, that's still $33,287.
Focus Titanium in Denmark spec'd as your German spec is just under $47,000.00 plus VAT = $58,400.00
You say we are not talking about Estonia or Hyundai, but you compare USA Focus with Germany Focus price differences. I use Denmark as another comparison which is way higher then Germany, which makes market to market price comparison irrelevant.
It is not because Europeans want to pay higher prices then Americans for a Focus, it is because that is what it costs for any cars in the same segment in that market.
I used Hyundai as an example because it is company that is offering options in the Focus segment in North America that the competition is not, such as heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, LED running lights. Which is similar to Hyundai Europe options. So why is Hyundai not way more expensive in North America?
I don't understand why the Focus would be so expensive in North America if Ford offered HID,s and some of the other items mentioned in the OP.
I'd be happy if ford would offer the 6 sp manual here instead of the old 5 sp. I am sure ford's rationale is that not too many guys want manuals but i bet if the 6sp were offered they'd sell many more manuals than they currently do now w/ the 5 sp. And since the 6 sp is offered in the ST (and the upcoming fiesta ST), it would be easy to make the switch for ford.
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SPLIT Vinyl Record
SPLIT Vinyl Record
Was $8.49
Now just $6.98
For a limited time only
Product Details
As a follow-up to the "Two For the Road" 2006 West Coast tour featuring The Earaches and Jukebox Zeros, Steel Cage is releasing a limited edition split 7 inch. The Earaches' side features one song ("So Deep" from their 2005 CD "Get The Revolution Out of Your Head") recorded live on legendary radio station KEXP-FM (Seattle, WA); Jukebox Zero's side features two songs ("Yeah You" from their 2006 CD "Four on the Floor" and "Static, Static" from their 2005 EP "Welcome to Rutsville") recorded live on the equally legendary WFMU-FM (Jersey City, NJ). 7 inch vinyl.
Protection
Each record is protected within its record sleeve by a white vellum anti-dust sleeve.
Packaging
All items are shipped brand-new and unopened in original packaging. Every record is shipped in original factory-applied shrink wrap and has never been touched by human hands. | {
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James O’Barr And Jason Shawn Alexander To Create A New Comic
Dean Butters reports for Bleeding Cool that creator of The Crow, James O’Barr, and Empty Zone‘s Jason Shawn Alexander may soon be working on a comic project together. It may not be announced this week, but you can start looking for it soon.
Both Barr and Alexander’s comic work has been few and far between in recent years. If this comes togetehr, it may be a cause for ceelbration for many… | {
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I found employment through Progressive Recruitment in Australia, They made me become employed by them instead of the company I was working for and Progressive still can’t even pay me all the money I am owed.
They are incompetent and or Scammers, stay away from them | {
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advanced auto parts battery
advanced auto parts batteryMartin Nettleton adds: “We invested in the campaign to target those larger installation and distribution companies increasingly dissatisfied with the big fabricators who are starting to compete with them by setting up their own networks of trade counters and distribution outlets.
Part of the reason for the surge in enquiries is that Euroglaze’s website currently ranks on page 1 of Google searches for REHAU frames. This is attributed to the fact that the company’s web partner has updated the website’s architecture, switched the security protocols and kept pace with Google’s changing algorithms on SEO.
This beautiful bespoke bottle was designed by M&E Design. It perfectly demonstrates how glass can be used as a vessel for ambition, style, and sophistication. The bottle was created with none of the usual visual cues of a standard whiskey bottle. Instead, it was crafted to celebrate the liquid inside and the process behind its creation. The design takes its cues from laboratory glassware found in the micro-distillery and the paneling of a whiskey cask. It has been shaped to refract and bounce light. The side panel embossing produces a Kaleidoscope of patterns within the body of the bottle, bringing Method and Madness together.
Owing to the property’s location in heart of the Yorkshire Dales, it was also vital that the new windows and patio doors offered superior thermal efficiency and acoustic performance as well as ease of operation and an attractive appearance.
The programme will seek to provide applicable and commercially relevant insight – and British Glass wants to hear from potential presenters who have successfully implemented energy and carbon reduction projects in large-scale manufacturing (in any relevant sector) by securing funds from:Friends and colleagues gathered to applaud worthy winners across seven categories – and recognise the creativity and dedication which underpin the whole sector’s contribution to the economy, to society and to customers, staff and stakeholders. | {
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The Latest Auction
I’m pleased we have quite a few enquires to enter into auction, but also some great support.
I wasn’t sure if there was a need for this again, but seemingly there is.
We differ in the fact our properties get a lot of publicity, Direct Auctions is different, we only handle a few properties at a time and so all get to shine!
If you need to sell for whatever reason, please contact us and see how we can help you! | {
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Only victory will do for McIlroy
McIlory is hoping to break a run of three straight second-place finishes on the European Tour and he is back on familiar territory in the Emirate.
The Northern Irishman has featured in this event more than any other, including twice as an amateur. He recorded his first victory as a professional there in 2009 and has finished in the top 10 every year since.
He said: “I am disappointed if I don’t win, to be honest. You’re not here to try to finish in the top five.
“I’d definitely like to break the runners-up duck the right way than the wrong way. We’ll see. But I’m comfortable on this golf course, and I have good memories here, and I seem to play the course very well.”
McIlroy was runner-up in the World Tour Championship in November, the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December, and the Abu Dhabi Championship two weeks ago in his first start of the year.
“I’ve done this the last few years where I’ve played Abu Dhabi, taken another week off to practise and then come here and play in Dubai,” he added.
“Looking forward to the week. The course is in fantastic shape, the greens are as good as I’ve ever seen them, and I feel like my game is in good shape.
“I’m very happy with where my game is tee to green and I put some good work in over the last week on my short game, which I felt needed a little bit of sharpening up from Abu Dhabi. I’ve got four days to try and get back on the victory trail and feels like a long time since my last win.”??
To finish the tour’s desert swing a winner again, he will have to beat the likes of world No 2 Henrik Stenson, No 5 Sergio Garcia, No 12 Martin Kaymer, and two-time defending champion Stephen Gallacher, who is a remarkable 55-under par in his last three tournaments on the Majlis course.
The event also marks the first European Tour start of the year for Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell while Ernie Els, a three-time Classic winner, and holder of the course record of 11-under par 61, is also in the field. | {
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The main objective of the present guideline is to ensure the protection of groundwater intended for human consumption. Consequently, it is mainly focused on the protection of groundwater sources (e.g. pumping well, tapped springs). However, although the protection of sensitive areas for drinking water supply must be given high priority, good practices have to be implemented at a larger scale too, in order to sustain the resources as well as the aquatic ecosystems: awareness must be built in order to avoid any contamination of the water cycle (quality aspect) and to preserve water resources (quantity aspect), in particular within the aquifer areas
Publications you might be interested
• An average of 78% of water points are functional across the 11 countries analyzed.
• The high failure rates early after installation are troubling: almost 15% after one year and 25% of water points are non-functional by their fourth year after installation. This indicates widespread problems with poor quality water point installation, due to a range of problems that may include professionalism and skills around contracts, construction and supervision; borehole siting; lack of quality control of hardware; or lack of post-construction monitoring and problem resolution.
• Handpumps are often singled out as technology that fails, but analysis of other water point types show similar functionality levels, and that tens of thousands of handpumps are providing a service
This poster was peer-reviewed and presented at the 7th RWSN Forum in Abidjan, Cote'Ivoire 2016.
The 2016 Rural Water Supply Network Forum in Abidjan was the first global gathering to consider the practical challenge of how everyone worldwide can get access to safe, affordable water by 2030. It was also the first RWSN Forum to take place in a francophone country, in the 25 years since the creation of the network.
The Forum gathered 467 rural water sector practitioners from over 300 organisations from 64 countries in Africa, Asia, Americas, and Europe, in a bilingual (English/French) four day event. It was opened by the Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Daniel Kaplan Duncan. We were joined by HE State Minster James Dengchol Tot, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity of Ethiopia, as well as a delegation from AMCOW.
This Forum proceedings compiles all peer-reviewed materials. Separate downloads and links to the films can be found at: https://rwsn7.net/content/
The book discusses basic concepts on key topics to managing a small piped water system ideally for up to 1,000 households. It presents tools that can be adapted by Community-Based Water Organizations (CBOs) for use in their operations, such as forms, checklists and procedural guidelines. Illustrative examples have also been compiled from the experiences of the district local governments, support organizations and CBOs operating in East and West Java, who participated in the Multi-Village Pooling (MVP) Project. This toolkit seeks to compile a set of ready resources for organizations supporting Indonesian CBOs and CBOs themselves, which was not previously available despite many years of rural water investment projects. The book introduces fundamental concepts in an easy to-understand way, so that a number of discussions have been simplified. This will give users a basic understanding enough to seek further resources or references or advice from experts, which is encouraged.
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-RWSN publication and endorsement by RWSN or any of its member organisations should not be inferred.
Step-by-step risk management guidance for drinking-water supplies in small communities
The WSP approach is designed to help a community manage health risks that could threaten its water supply. By following the WSP approach, community members identify and prioritize health risks and, where necessary, take steps, over time,to improve the safety of the water supply using available resources. WSPs are applicable for a range of scales and levels, and in different contexts. A WSP can be developed for all existing schemes, from point sources to piped systems, as well as for new supplies. In new schemes, it should be straightforward for the supporting agency to incorporate the WSP approach into initial community mobilization and project implementation.
DISCLAIMER: This is a non-RWSN publication and endorsement by RWSN or any of its member organisations should not be inferred.
The purpose of this manual is to present the reader with information on how to build and operate a good spring catchment. However, several thousand technical briefs would be required to cover every possible permutation of the many factors that serve to classify a spring. In practice, no spring is like any other, and therefore guidance in the form of basic principles can only be presented here. The information contained in this manual should be considered and then adapted to suite the specifics of each setting where a spring is located.
Related Collaborations
Borehole drilling is relatively underdeveloped in Sierra Leone compared to other countries in West Africa despite its potential. An eight-month project “Tapping Treasure: Cost-effective boreholes in Sierra Leone” supports: (i) government and NGOs to develop their capacity to manage borehole drilling and (ii) drillers to manage risks. The project will contribute to increasing the demand for boreholes, reducing the cost of drilling and improving construction quality. | {
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Contents
On East Bay Street in downtown Jacksonville on the waterfront, half a mile east of Jacksonville Landing, roughly a mile west of EverBank Field where the Jacksonville Jaguars play. Not sure if we want to try for a Tron achievement or stop and take a look around.
I got back late from work, but it was a close geohash, so when has that ever stopped me? Got back into the car at 6:30 and headed off for downtown Jacksonville. Fun fact: After sixteen months of living here, I still never bothered to go to downtown Jacksonville. Just wasn't all that interested. New excuse!
We arrived fifteen minutes later with a plan and we were both really surprised at the lack of traffic - lots of cars parked in the street, but traffic was minimal at best. The plan at that point was to swing around the geohash, then go for a speed racer in the proper lane. There was a bit of a concern when we didn't see a speed limit sign, but decided what the hell, let's floor it. Hash reached!
At that point, we pulled off to the side closer to the waterfront, parked the car, and placed the Queen of Hearts on a tree near the waterfront. It wasn't really close to the geohash, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather put it somewhere so people can see it rather than go for accuracy.
We stayed and had dinner at Jacksonville Landing, and the view is great at dusk. We took more than our fair share of pictures, most of which didn't quite turn out too well at night, before heading back home. | {
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Pages
Thursday, August 18, 2011
'Fess Up Friday
What are you confessing today? There are some people who should confess all day long to cleanse themselves. For me, I will just confess all this stuff here. I confess that I spend a WHOLE lot of time on my knees confessing to the Lord Himself. These are what I choose to share with you. Hook up with Mamarazzi if you want to confess too!
I confess that Old Navy's commercial annoys the mess out of me. They rival Target for annoyability. If I didn't have a gift card, I wouldn't be shopping there.
I confess that I have let my bloggy friends down because I have not been on the internet much this week! Sorry, Gals!! Love you!
I confess that I need a pedicure. I noticed that when I doing yoga. My toes look horrendous. Oh well, that takes money and that is something I don't have! Donations are welcome!
I confess that I have begun to see myself as skinny. I realized this the other day when I saw my reflection in a window and didn't recognize myself. I am smaller than I think of myself as. Thank You, Lord, for letting me see myself as I really am and not just with my flaws.
I confess that I love being the 1st person on clean sheets. The cool, crisp feel of that fabric on my skin is something that is so close to Heaven. I don't do the sheets as much as I should but when I do , I get to bed 1st!
I confess that I felt so good that the kids were so excited to start school. I am their teacher and all so I am pleased that they like it so much. I have some smart students and they have a great teacher!
I confess that I am glad to have experienced Jehovah-Rophe, the God who heals. I have been healed both physically and spiritually. If you haven't been healed by the Lord, you have missed out! Ask me!
I confess that there is no sexier sight than to catch a glimpse of my hubby's hand with his wedding band on. Woo! It happened in church and I had to fan myself!
I confess that I love the show The Expedition. I also love the show You Don't Dixie. And the show, Take The Money and Run. We have a plan of where we hide the money and how we won't whine and how we love the south! | {
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Gifts & Collectibles
Find the perfect addition to your collection or perhaps you'll find a gift for a treasured friend or family member from premium brands such as Mastercraft, Authentic Models, Century Concepts, and many more...
Apparel, Desktop Models, Home Decor & More
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Paul Moulder
Paul Moulder has been fishing for as long as he can remember, and has targeted carp for over 20 years. He has fished some of the UK's premier carp waters and has caught UK carp to over 46lbs.
Due to work and family commitments, Paul mainly fishes mid-week overnight sessions on specific venues that hold, not only large, but fantastic looking fish. These venues vary in size, ranging from small intimate ponds to lakes in excess of 100 acres! | {
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The Normandy Veterans, accompanied by other pastmembers from The Navy and Air force, on their annualvisit to Hayling Island Royal British Legion, marched toThe Cenotaph to lay wreaths. The march was marshalled by Captain (Retd) TonyCoward of The Royal Highland Fusilers. A Drum Head service was conducted by The Rev PaulGinever, The Padre for Hayling Island Royal BritishLegion. | {
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James Nesbitt: Growing up, I knew what Bloody Sunday meant
It wasn't just that without closure you can't move on from the loss: families also had a terrible sense of injustice
Making the film Bloody Sunday was important for me, not only as an actor but for my understanding of myself as an Ulsterman. It helped me realise that this episode was the watershed, and that the ensuing 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland were in large part due to what happened that day in 1972. For it was on that night that young men all over the country joined up with the IRA in a sense of rage and injustice at what had happened.
Northern Ireland is a very small place, yet you were able to exist 30 miles away from real hotspots of conflict in relative peace and happiness. I came from a Protestant background but co-existed very easily with Catholics. Growing up, I was aware of atrocities committed on both sides and probably felt more keenly those that I thought had been visited on victims from a Protestant background. That was just the very nature of things in Northern Ireland.
I was recording Cold Feet in Manchester when the writer and director of Bloody Sunday, Paul Greengrass, and the producer, Mark Redhead, came to see me. I knew Greengrass a little socially. A lot of people of my Ulster Protestant background would have been very suspicious of the notion of a film about Bloody Sunday. Our fear would have been that it would be terribly anti-Britain and anti-soldiers, a piece of nationalist propaganda.
But I read the script and it was tightly written and balanced. I thought it interesting that Paul had chosen to put my character, the Protestant MP Ivan Cooper, at the centre of the piece. It was controversial but ultimately the right choice to place at the heart of the story a man who came from a Protestant background like my own but who as the MP for Derry had a constituent vote that was almost exclusively Catholic and who was at the forefront of the predominantly nationalist civil rights protest. I felt then that Paul Greengrass wasn't coming at the story from a particular side.
Before filming began in 2002, I went to Derry and spent the afternoon with Ivan. I asked him to tell me about the day and his memories and he spoke for hours. Then I persuaded him to do the march, which he hadn't done since Bloody Sunday because of a terrible sense of culpability.
I didn't tell Greengrass I was going over. I was worried about the fact that I, a Protestant from just up the road, was arriving in Derry to tell this nationalist story. I was worried about what the families would think, about what Derry would think, and about what my own community would think.
That night I booked into the Strand hotel in Derry. As I sat in the bar with a pint of Guinness I got a tap on the shoulder. I looked round and this guy said "Who am I?" I looked at him and said "You're Bubbles Donaghy, you were the first man shot on Bloody Sunday; you were 15 and shot in the thigh." It was something imbued in me because of all the research into Bloody Sunday that Greengrass had made me do. Donaghy reached across and said "OK, you'll do for us."
Meeting the families of the victims taught me how much of a limbo these people were in. It wasn't just that without closure you can't move on from the sense of loss – they also had a terrible sense of injustice. Widgery's original Bloody Sunday report is universally accepted as a rewriting of truth in the most terrible way. It was unquestionably a whitewash and the victims were smeared. What the families wanted was to be told that the relatives they lost were innocent and that it was murder.
I hope Saville will provide another brick in an increasingly strong wall of peace. It will hopefully close one chapter for the Bloody Sunday families and make it incumbent on the authorities to fully investigate all the unsolved killings from the Troubles. And drama has its own small part to play for there are many more stories to be told from both sides.
I think the character of Northern Ireland is now strong enough to absorb the conflicting rhetoric that will come out of all this. | {
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Today's exercise took place in two districts of Rumphi and Mzimba, both located in the Northern Region of Malawi.
Among the beneficiaries were the elderly and vulnerable young mothers from families affected by malnutrition as well as HIV/AIDS. The support is aimed at promoting food security at household level so as to reduce malnutrition levels.
The programme which targeted 14 districts selected from all the regions of Malawi supported farming families with farmers packs containing the following:
With the above items, with good rains, a farmer is expected to realize between 10 and 15 bags of maize, each weighing 50kg; and up to 3 bags of legume relish, each weighing 50kg, enough to last a family of6/7 members for the whole year.
All in all, 3000 farmers packs have been distributed this year/season reaching out to 3000 farmers.
The distribution of food and non food items took place as a result of the request by current "Miss Malawi" to support the elderly in Thyolo district. The recipients were all smiles for the kind donation as most of them had their maize fields destroyed by stalk borers in the last rain-fed growing season.
Gift of the Givers donates 40 blankets and 40 sets of bed sheets to a newly established Zambezi Evangelical Hospital in Blantyre. The 40-bed hospital is expected to be officially opened by the State President HE Prof. Peter Mutharika on 3 September 2017. The hospital management approached our organisation to support the facility with the bedding in readiness of the official opening. Once opened,
Gift of the Givers signed a Grant Agreement with the Embassy of Japan amounting to R1.08 Million for implementation of the Project for “Improvement of Agriculture Production through Construction of Irrigation Facilities” in two areas in Blantyre and Chiradzulu Districts, respectively.
Malawi has faced, both last year and this year, a very unique situation of flooding in many parts of the country. And, in some areas, inadequate rainfall has been the order of the day resulting in drought conditions.
A good number of indigenous fellow Malawians are engaged in the charcoal trade by felling trees rampantly, in which case 1 ton of coal is realized from 7 tons of trees that are
The exercise has been undertaken in partnership with Malawi Relief Fund-UK who provided financial assistance to procure and distribute 500 farmers' packs. In addition, our local donor, i.e. Rab Processors Ltd, has also provided funds for purchase and distribution of 1000 farmers' packs.
Gift of the Givers has launched the 2016 Farmers Pack distribution program in the rural areas of Blantyre. Maize Seed / Beans Seed and 2 types of Fertilizer which will, God Willing, yield enough food for a family of 5/6 members for the whole year here in Malawi. Meanwhile 6.5 million are affected by the prevalent hunger crisis all over the country.
The exercise was carried out in the Northern Region City of Mzuzu during which 500 families were supported with blankets with its precincts in the areas of Luwinga and Katoto. This was a time when the people in the Northern Region especially, Mzimba / Mzuzu, Nkhatabay and Karonga were affected by the floods disaster which displaced over 8,000 people.
As part of the Inspector General's extension of social services amongst theMalawi Police Service, his spouse has also been regularly engaged inassisting the needy families within the Police Service where Gift of the Givers has made contributions.
The following items have been donated:
Blankets: to benefit the widows and children as well as families of the retired police officers across the
Gift of the Givers had the priviledge of donating 5 597 pairs of new shoes, 2 400 jars of Sibusiso Ready Food, as well as 1 Toyota Motor Vehicle Ambulance to the Department of Nutrition, HIV/AIDS in the Office of the President and Cabinet. All to the value of R1.5 million.
The handover ceremony took place in the presence of Right Honourable Mrs Joyce Banda, Vice President of Malawi, Dr Mary Shawa,
Read more
The distribution of food parcels to families is an important programme for GOTG. The Gift of the Givers Foundation distributes food parcels in various areas of Malawi targeting child headed families, the elderly and other vulnerable groups of people. Food parcels may be regarded as a “handout”, but for the beneficiaries, it is a vital intervention that alleviates
The Winter Warmth campaign is an annual project which started in Malawi in December 2005, where we distribute blankets to the underprivileged. The programme aims at providing blankets to people affected by the cold, such as street children and those who don’t have proper housing or heating. In many cases the situation of these people is compounded by malnutrition, malaria, HIV/Aids, TB and other
Due to inadequate facilities such as ambulances in the hospitals, people, especially pregnant women and the elderly, find it difficult to walk long distances to access clinics and hospitals for treatment. Gift of the Givers has deployed Bicycle Ambulances in various rural areas to alleviate this problem.
Sustainable human development is an intervention that not only generates economic growth but distributes its benefits equitably. Gift of the Givers has assisted men and women to venture into businesses. We have also initiated centres in order to equip the rural communities with opportunities. Through this programme, many families have received business start-up capital, sewing machines, knitting
Gift of the Givers has been involved in the provision of Mobile clinics mainly in the rural areas to complement government’s efforts by way of providing equal share in terms of health facilities. This project is based on the motto: “If people cannot get to health services then health services must get to the people”. In respect of this understanding, the foundation joined Satya Sai Trust, an NGO
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Handover of a bicycle ambulances at Makoloma in Mulanje district and Thunga in Thyolo dstrict, Malawi. The recipient community is very grateful for the ambulance which has been kindly donated to us by Malawi Relief Fund-UK. The ambulance is expected to serve over 2500 people according to the government official from the District Health Office.
The blanket distribution in Chiradzulu went well, having reached 200 elderly and 100 physically challenged people adults and children.
The Minister of Trade, Hon. Henry Mussa who is also the MP for the area, was full of praise for the timely donation of blankets from our organisation including other initiatives Gift of the Givers is carrying out in the country. He further indicated that
In response to the ongoing hunger crisis and drought relief Gift of the Givers undertook an aid relief distribution in Dedza district where 55 families were supported. The families are being accommodated at Phanga camp. After having supported these 55 families we were destined for Fikira and Yonamu camps to support the remaining 70 families. Unfortunately our truck which carried the aid got
Distribution of food parcels, plates and cups to the 80 families who were affected by hailstorm last December in Chikwawa has been successfully carried out. The support has been well received, reaching out to them at the right time as most of the families had literary nothing to eat. Most parts of Chikwawa district have been hit by drought while other areas have suffered floods. Both
The Gift of the Givers Malawi office was started in December 2005 with a staff complement of five people. The scope and reach of the Malawi operation has grown steadily and today, 10 staff members run a number of projects throughout the country (see project list below).
Their major projects include:
Development of an area known as Domasi situated in Malawi's old capital, Zomba.
Gift of the Givers distributes Sibusiso Ready Food to patients in Malawi and track their progress over a 2 - 3 month period. Below are some before and after shots of our recipients on Sibusiso Ready Food.
Food parcels and sanitary materials were distributed to a district hospital in Mulanje and five primary schools in Phalombe districts.
Mulanje District Hospital is struggling to provide food to patients who are admitted to the hospital due to inadequate funding. Gift of the Givers has donated 1,500kg of Maize Meal as well as 2,500 packets of Soy chunks relish.
Cataract is the most common cause of avoidable blindness in Malawi. The most disheartening thing is that people who are blind due to cataract conditions need not be such at all as there is a service that can be provided to make sure that they regain their sight.
Blindness, per se, has a tremendous and negative social impact on affected individuals as well as on their families and the community at
Gift of the Givers set up three containerised mobile clinics in Malawi in the period February 2005 to July 2008. The mobile clinics have been deployed in Soche (Blantyre), Chande (Namwera) and Domasi (Zomba).
The clinics are run in conjunction with the Blantyre District Health Office, Mangochi District Health Office, Zomba District Health Office and the Ministry of Health. The clinics were
Farmers packs containing essential agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and basic tools are distributed to subsistence farmers in rural areas to help them achieve enough food for their families. Many subsistence farmers only grow one crop a year. Therefore, we encourage winter cropping by providing seeds so that these farmers and their families do not rely on handouts especially during
Due to the ongoing prevalence of undernourishment / malnourishment amongst orphans and the elderly as well as expectant mothers, Gift of the Givers distributes fortified Likuni Phala (a Corn/ Soya Blend porridge) and Sibusiso Ready Food Supplement (a high energy protein supplement) to a number of clinics, orphanages, institutions as well as individuals to help them boost their immune system with
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Gift of the Givers distributes insecticide-treated mosquito nets to new mothers and their babies, who are more vulnerable to malaria. This is done in conjunction with the government’s health centres, clinics and hospitals.
Education is a focal point for development in any country. Sustainable economic growth requires people who can capably activate knowledge / ideas into activities that bring about developments. Gift of the Givers Foundation realises the need to invest in the future of bright, young people who lack the necessary financial resources. This is one way of ensuring uninterruptible skilled human resources | {
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24 Mockery: Season 8 Takes a Familiar Twist
24 Mockery is back after a two-week layoff. I realize not that many people read these but I don’t care. This previous episode of 24 was so ridiculous that I just had to share the discussion I had with DV.
Before we delve into this week’s edition, I thought I’d share a glossary of terms. To clear up any confusion when reading this, consult the glossary of nicknames. Some of these appear in this week’s edition, while others have shown up in previous versions.
Fake Leonardo DiCaprio: Kevin, the ex-boyfriend of Dana Walsh who now lies in the bottom of the river. He has this nickname because he looks like a poor man’s Leonardo DiCaprioSlumdog Millionare Guy: President Hassan…Nicknamed because he was in Slumdog MillionaireFreddy: Agent Ortiz: short for Freddie Prinze Jr.Milton: Kevin’s parole officer. Named Milton because he’s played by the guy who played Milton in Office SpaceSack-off: Dana Walsh. Named Sack-off because she’s played by Katee Sackoff…and because she sucks ballsForrest Whittaker Guy: Hastings, the head of CTU because he is black and fat like Forest Whitaker.
John S (1:54:31 PM): I think we need to talk about 24DV (1:55:31 PM): I’m sorry I just vomited a little bit in my mouth.
(short pause)DV (1:55:38 PM): I’m ok now.John S (1:55:46 PM):24 has officially run out of ideasJohn S (1:56:17 PM): how many times can they A) have a girl sleep with a terrorist and then find out after they had sex and B) attack CTUDV (1:56:28 PM): yeah seriouslyDV (1:55:57 PM): What was the promo saying?DV (1:56:17 PM): “The twist that will change everything!”John S (1:56:39 PM): well I suppose it changed everything but I wouldn’t say it was a twistJohn S (1:56:48 PM):because they do it every seasonDV (1:56:48 PM): it didn’t change anythingDV (1:56:59 PM): what season is this?John S (1:57:04 PM): 8 I thinkDV (1:57:17 PM): this is the 10th time CTU has been compromised.DV (1:57:23 PM): and the show has only 8 seasonsJohn S (1:57:50 PM): see they didn’t do it last season, so they figured it was time to do it againDV (2:00:03 PM): seriously?DV (2:00:05 PM): I’m sure they didDV (2:00:08 PM): what happened last season?John S (2:00:14 PM): well last season there was no CTUDV (2:00:23 PM): ahhhDV (2:00:26 PM): that’s rightDV (2:00:30 PM): they had a mole in the FBI insteadJohn S (2:00:44 PM): yupJohn S (2:00:48 PM): there’s always friggin moleDV (2:01:16 PM): It’s always obvious who it is too.John S (2:01:22 PM): that’s trueJohn S (2:01:25 PM): except in season 1DV (2:01:32 PM): yeah Nina was the only good moleJohn S (2:01:32 PM): Nina was unexpectedDV (2:02:09 PM): I hate to skip to the end of last night’s episode… but did you see the promo for next week?John S (2:02:21 PM): yesDV (2:02:38 PM): “There’s only one weapon left! and it’s JACK BAUER!”DV (2:02:51 PM): like seriously?DV (2:02:58 PM): Grandpa coming to save the day.John S (2:03:18 PM): NYC is in the hands of an 85 year old man with a stab woundDV (2:03:49 PM): well he used a med kit.DV (2:03:53 PM): so he’s fineJohn S (2:03:57 PM):right… I forgotDV (2:04:23 PM): but his new side kick Ortiz has a distracting side story.DV (2:04:29 PM): BTWDV (2:04:35 PM): Ortiz..DV (2:04:45 PM): Spanish guy with an Irish NY accentDV (2:04:54 PM): awesome.DV (2:05:12 PM):and that side story is retardedDV (2:05:17 PM):they let that dude in the buildingDV (2:05:18 PM): are you kidding me?John S (2:05:34 PM): at 2 am in the middle of the crisis!John S (2:05:52 PM): how convenient that he called like 5 minutes after he killed fake Leonardo DiCaprioJohn S (2:05:27 PM): I think after this week’s episode, Dana Walsh is officially the worst character in the history of the showDV (2:05:35 PM):Yes.DV (2:06:14 PM): I will disregard the stupidity for one thing…DV (2:06:16 PM):and one thing only…DV (2:06:34 PM): if after this EMP thing… the parole officer dude gets up and says…DV (2:06:39 PM):“Have you seen my stapler?”DV (2:06:46 PM): that’s it.DV (2:06:48 PM): nothing else.DV (2:07:05 PM): In fact…DV (2:07:35 PM): please title this peace… “Have you seen my stapler?” and have a picture of that dude.John S (2:23:05 PM): haha. That’s who that was!John S (2:23:10 PM): I couldn’t put my finger on itDV (2:34:21 PM): ah yes Milton. I forgot his name.DV (2:37:17 PM): also, side note… 24 has made all cops look like assholesDV (2:37:31 PM): Bad move…John S (2:37:33 PM): rightJohn S (2:37:36 PM): the NYPD looked ineptDV (2:37:40 PM): that was probably the last demographic they didn’t loseDV (2:37:45 PM): they are gone now.DV (2:37:51 PM): Cops notice that stuffJohn S (2:39:58 PM): yeah. I loved how all the idiot cops enter the hallway and go in the same directionJohn S (2:40:04 PM): and of course he was right behind themDV (2:40:25 PM): yeah complete stupidity. Also…DV (2:40:36 PM): they were all wearing the heavy kevlarDV (2:40:41 PM): they should have been able to fire shots backJohn S (2:41:18 PM): that’s trueDV (2:41:22 PM): also, for situations like that they would have had riot ammoDV (2:41:25 PM): rubber bulletsJohn S (2:41:38 PM): right because they wanted to take the guy aliveDV (2:41:41 PM): yupJohn S (2:46:01 PM): I just realized that Dana Walsh lucked out with this EMP thingDV (2:46:35 PM): yupJohn S (2:46:47 PM): I was hoping she was going to get killed off or arrestedDV (2:47:13 PM): the lie about sleeping with him will probably get back to OrtizDV (2:47:50 PM): I’m actually bored of Ortiz now. Just cause of this story. It makes him annoyingJohn S (2:48:10 PM): yeah. He was kinda bad-ass before thisDV (2:48:47 PM): oh yeah speaking of the EMPDV (2:48:58 PM): why the hell would they tell her to drive to CTUDV (2:49:10 PM): that was the dumbest thing I have ever heardJohn S (2:50:03 PM): what I’m confused about…is the other scenes, Fake Leo was outside somewhere when he went to visit CTUJohn S (2:50:18 PM): Slumdog Millionare’s daughter just drove right up to the entranceDV (2:50:21 PM): hahaDV (2:50:24 PM): yes it’s true!John S (2:51:06 PM): I would think if she parked in the same place Fake Leo parked that it wouldn’t have wiped out CTUDV (2:52:44 PM): You could not be more rightDV (2:53:16 PM): I like the guy who thought he could drive the car out of thereDV (2:53:27 PM): I mean there’s a time with 10 seconds on it going..DV (2:53:29 PM): seriously..?John S (2:53:33 PM): hahah that was funnyJohn S (2:57:23 PM): I wonder if he died from being so closeDV (2:57:41 PM): yeah he’s probably dead cause it f’d up the carJohn S (2:57:58 PM): probablyDV (2:58:11 PM): oh yeah also..DV (2:58:15 PM): they have friggin EMP’SDV (2:58:22 PM): they do not need nuclear rods!John S (2:58:39 PM): haha well nuclear rods would do more damageDV (2:58:56 PM): yeah but to go though all this trouble if your just trying to do damage..DV (2:58:59 PM): the EMPs will make a pointJohn S (3:00:36 PM): good pointJohn S (3:00:41 PM): they could have planted that in the middle of Times SquareDV (3:00:56 PM): yupDV (3:01:13 PM): this is why the terrorists never winDV (3:06:19 PM): the show is so bad… I’m really interested in seeing the next episodeDV (3:06:39 PM): I have to stop.DV (3:06:54 PM): it’s like being a Cubs fan or something.John S (3:07:07 PM): yeah. It’s a train wreckJohn S (3:07:12 PM): It’s terrible but you can’t look awayJohn S (3:07:39 PM): Let me sum up every season of 24 since like season 2 in a few short sentences…DV (3:07:53 PM): please do.John S (3:09:15 PM): There’s a nuclear terrorist threat. A mole inside a government agency causes the threat to become real. Jack kills mole but not before he extracts the name of who he is working for…At exactly the 12 hour mark of the show, he kills the boss, only to find out he was part of a bigger operation. Somewhere along the line CTU gets attacked. Lots of agents die. In the end, Jack saves the day but loses his love interest. REPEAT.DV (3:13:17 PM): Wow…DV (3:13:20 PM): that was pretty good.
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Is Kate Upton a 10? The answer to this question may be obvious at first. But before you rush to an answer, you need to reference the Living with Balls Hotness Scale–the definitive guide to rating the attractiveness of women… | {
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Harris Will 'Definitely' be Ready for Week 1
After taking part in 7-on-7 drills for the first time Monday, Chris Harris Jr. says he should be ready for the start of the regular season.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- As impressive as Von Miller's recovery from his ACL injury has been, Chris Harris Jr. continues to raise the bar in returning from his own ACL tear.
"I mean there’s really no comparison," Harris said Monday, laughing. "I came back before six months, so there’s no comparison."
Harris had surgery a month after Miller, who avoided the PUP list at the start of training camp and worked into some 7-on-7 drills during the first week before joining team drills a few days ago. Harris cleared the PUP list at the start of last week and saw his first 7-on-7 action today.
"It just feels good to finally go full speed against another guy," said Harris, who says he isn't worrying about the knee at all mentally. "It’s just a progression into it. They’re slowly working me back and today was the next progression."
He added that "it'll be awhile before I feel completely myself, but I feel great." Harris has been targeting Week 1 of the regular season for his return since his surgery, and he appears to be well on track for that goal.
Even though he says he won't play in the preseason, Harris was listed as a starter on the team's first official depth chart, opposite his college teammate at Kansas, Aqib Talib. As he continues his rehab and feels more and more like himself, Harris expects an immediate impact from his first game onward. | {
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