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Barack Obama has backed away from his pledge to close the US prison at Guantánamo Bay by the end of the year, saying he hoped to shut it in 2010 but needed the co-operation of the US Congress.
The president, on a tour through Asia, observed a brief ceasefire in the White House's conflict with the Fox News TV channel last night, giving a wide-ranging interview with the network's Major Garrett. It was the first since aides pledged this autumn to treat Fox as a political adversary rather than a news outlet.
Obama said the Afghan government led by Hamid Karzai was not "the kind of partner we would like", warned that Israel's intention to expand a West Bank settlement near Jerusalem could prove "very dangerous" and said he was unlikely to read a new book by Sarah Palin, a possible opponent in the 2012 presidential election.
After a series of economic talks with Chinese and Korean leaders, Obama pledged to promote an economic policy of "balanced growth" that encouraged an increase in US exports without adding to the national debt.
"I think it is important though to recognise that if we keep on adding to the debt, even in the midst of this recovery, that at some point people could lose confidence in the US economy in a way that could actually lead to a double-dip recession."
He said he was disappointed at the continuing high unemployment in the US, but said the economic stimulus package passed this year had kept the economy from plunging further. "There may be some tax provisions that can encourage businesses to hire sooner rather than sitting on the sidelines."
On Guantánamo, the president declined to predict when in the next year he would finally close the prison. He campaigned on the issue and upon taking office ordered it shut within a year, but has faced stiff opposition from the Republican minority in particular.
"I knew this was going to be hard," he said. "People, I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantánamo was critical to keeping terrorists out."
Asked about the book Going Rogue by Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska and vice-presidential candidate, Obama said: "It looks like she's going to do very well without my readership."
He reiterated his exasperation with Israel over a plan to build 900 new houses on the West Bank at a time when he is trying to broker a Middle East peace agreement.
"Additional settlement building does not contribute to Israel's security," he said, while reiterating that Israel's security was a "vital national interest" to the US. "It makes it harder for them to make peace with their neighbours. I think it embitters the Palestinians in a way that could end up being very dangerous."
On healthcare, Obama panned a conservative Democratic congressman's proposal in a reform bill to tightly restrict insurance coverage for abortion, but said he believed fundamentally that federal dollars should not pay for abortions and hoped that Congress could strike a balance.


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My guild has cleared 10man hc SoO and are atm working on building a Mythical raidteam for 6.0 and onwords. We have already recruited quite a few players, and find ourself in a position where we would prefer to go 25hc so we wont have to sit half the guild until 6.0 comes in like 3 months ish. (just a guess that its 3 months, but seems reasonable since new season just started).
Therefore we are wondering if its possible to do lets say kill first 11 bosses in SoO on 25hc, and then drop down to 10 hc for the last 3 bosses, or if a 25hc save only can be dropped down to 25 normal or 10 normal save.
I have talked to a few guys, and done some google searches, and I find conflicting information. Also I cant seem to find anyone with first hand knowledge that has tried it, or any blueposts explaining this definitely. Lots of people out there however says they have "read somewhere", or "heard from someone", but yeah, kind of want a little more than a rumor...
Anyone out there that can give a definite "yes it will work" or "this wont work" answer? Surely there must be some other 10hc guild in the same situation that us that has tried this?

subset: commoncrawl


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It was fun posting my first gravatar! and from what I see on this page, I'm not the only one plugging my own blog regularly. It's good to know when you are not alone. Hope everyone is having fun tonight.
Blog On!!! I love wordpress by the way, it's so much better than B___ ger
The blog I need help with is wordsforwomen.wordpress.com.


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Saraswat appointed new scientific adviser to Defence MinisterAugust 27th, 2009 - 7:53 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat has been appointed as scientific adviser to Defence Minister AK Antony and will also serve as Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
Dr. Saraswat, who will replace the present incumbent M Natarajan on September 1, will also serve as Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development,.
He is presently Chief Controller Research and Development (Missiles and Strategic Systems) since November 2005 in DRDO.
In this capacity, he spearheaded the development of country's strategic and tactical missile systems, including the AGNI series of strategic missiles covering a range up to 3000 kms.
Dr Saraswat, who has a doctorate in Combustion Engineering, started his career in DRDO in 1972 at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad and was responsible for the development of country's first Liquid Propulsion Engine.
As Project Director 'PRITHVI', he steered the design, development, production and induction of first indigenous Surface-to-Surface missile system 'PRITHVI', into armed forces.
The successful testing of DHANUSH missile on board a moving ship with high terminal accuracy brought new dimension in the national defence capability. Dr. Saraswat also pioneered the concept of theatre defence system and integration of national Air Defence elements.
He was Director RCI before taking over as CCR and D(MSS). He has headed various committees of national importance.
Dr Saraswat is forerunner in the development of number of critical missile technologies that were under denial due to Missile Technology Control regime, thus making India self-reliant in Missile Technologies.
He has received several awards including Prof Jai Krishna Memorial Award of Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and National Systems Gold Medal by Systems Society of India.
International Academy of Engineering, Russia, elected Dr. Saraswat as Member of Academy and honoured him as an academician. (ANI)
- Saraswat takes charge as new DRDO chief - Sep 01, 2009
- Agni-I missile test-fired off Orissa coast - Nov 25, 2010
- Missile expert is defence research organisation's chief - Aug 27, 2009
- India twice successfully tests n-capable Prithvi-II missile (Second Lead) - Dec 22, 2010
- India successfully tests n-capable Agni II - Sep 30, 2011
- Now, DRDO chief defends Tatra trucks - Mar 31, 2012
- US Entity List removal not of much help: India - Nov 16, 2011
- Prithvi-II, Dhanush missiles test fired successfully - Mar 11, 2011
- India, Pakistan successfully test-fire n-capable missiles (Fourth Lead) - Mar 11, 2011
- No cap on Agni missile project: India - Apr 20, 2012
- India to test 5,000-km intercontinental ballistic missile by year-end - Jun 03, 2011
- PM briefed about Agni-V, India's future missile programme - Apr 21, 2012
- India's Agni-IV n-capable missile showcased - Jan 26, 2012
- India tests two nuke capable missiles (Second Lead) - Mar 27, 2010
- India working on laser weapons - Nov 25, 2011
Tags: chief controller, combustion engineering, defence capability, defence research, drdo, inae, india international, liquid propulsion, missile system, missile systems, missile technologies, missile technology control, national academy of engineering, strategic systems, successful testing, surface to surface missile, tactical missile, technology control regime, terminal accuracy, vijay kumar


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It was pretty clear early there would be no tacos
There were serious questions, however, about who would take this eventual 120-109 Lakers win. Perhaps inspired by the presence of Eddy Curry, mutual defense took a holiday in the first, second and third frames. In particular, the quarter before Big Games James' show witnessed a particularly porous showing from both teams, with the Lakers' 55% shooting clip representing the lesser effort. The 61-58 Knicks lead heading into the third was obviously not the sign of a trend positive. The third saw a shrinkage in New York baskets, but this was a moot point, considering the Lakers also forgot how to put a roundball in its proper home. Sluggish ball movement (only four total assists) and a slew of bricks created action equal parts herky-jerky, odd and, frankly, dull. But down by two and with a dozen final minutes of regulation, the Lakers finally got it into gear.
After some trey-balls were traded between both squads to help create a 104 tie, the Lakers went on a 14-4 run, with everyone adding their two cents (and points). Aside from Kobe's near trip-dub (the slacker was too satisfied with a 24/8/11 to grab that extra pair of boards), big contributions came from several Lakers, especially those six fellas (Kobe, Kwame Brown, Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom, Ronny Turiaf and Sasha, who raised the dander of both Renaldo Balkman and Wee Nate Robinson) who played in the closing frame. It would have really been a bummer for the Lakers to do their version of "Easy Rider" while riding a losing streak, so the triumphant box score will help settle some nerves, if not completely placate all those involved.
BK's breakdown is below.
The Good:
- Kwame Brown: Easily the best game he's played this season. He'll always look shaky on offense, but he made the Knicks pay for leaving him open in the first half, going off for 10 points on 4/6 from the floor. The rebounding was particularly encouraging, as 54 went up aggressively to grab a few of them, something he doesn't always do. In the fourth quarter, he came on for Ronny and made a big impact on the game, especially defensively, helping the Lakers tighten up down the stretch. A couple big blocks (he finished with four overall), a couple big boards, and very active play. The Lakers were a much better team defensively down the stretch when he was on the floor. A good game for a guy who desperately needed one.
- Lamar Odom: Another guy who needed a big game, Odom had a quiet 7/4 in the first half, but was big in the third, and down the stretch in the fourth. More and more he showed his ability to influence a game, whether by working the glass or getting inside. LO finished with 22/12/2, giving an idea of how much his level stepped up over the final two quarters. Plus, he did some good work on Zach Randolph, who is a pretty talented player offensively. Just like with Kwame, it's nice to see Odom have a positive effect after some spotty performances.
- Sasha Vujacic: He provided a massive boost off the bench, something he'll need to do if Walton is out for any length of time. Or, really, if Walton isn't out for a length of time. Given the issues in the frontcourt, the Lakers are going to be forced often to go small, moving Kobe to the three and opening up a bigger role for Sasha. Tonight, he helped stretch the floor (5-11 from downtown) on his way to 20 points. Plus, he made some nice defensive plays, too. We've been rough on Sasha in the past, but more and more he's putting together solid performances when given the opportunity. As I wrote earlier in the year, he's becoming a guy who shoots because he wants to, rather than one that does it because he feels he has to. The quick trigger is still there, but he's much more fluid. As Kobe says in his audio, Sasha has evolved from a 12:30 to a 7:30 player.
- Kobe Bryant: He was two dimes from a triple double, at 24/8/11. Hard to say he didn't influence the game in a big way. In the first half, he only scored six points on 2/6 from the floor. But the Lakers scored 58 points, showing how well he was helping distribute the ball in his 19:34 on the floor. In the second, he blew up for 20 points, but still moved the ball around (four dimes). He controlled the flow in a lot of different ways. An all around great game.
- Other good things: Ronny Turiaf- 14/9, with five blocks. He provided a boost on both ends. Derek Fisher- Didn't play much in the second half (matchups, as the Knicks had the All Quick Brigade out on the floor) but hit some big shots in the first, and finished with 17 points in only 24:53. Balance- L.A. had six guys in double figures. Someone can check on this for me, but the number being kicked around after the game is that they're 13-0 this season when they get that kind of distribution. There's a lesson in there somewhere, I think.
The Bad:
- Defense, defense, defense: Did I mention the defense? The Lakers were absolutely atrocious on that end until the fourth, allowing the Knicks to get out in transition, to operate inside, to get clean looks on the perimeter. Basically, it was video game/All Star D. The breakdowns were frequent and costly, and forced them to play a 48 minute game against a team that flat out sucks on the road. It was as if they were just waiting for the Knicks to stop doing things to exploit the holes, and they never did. The good news was that they got to share in the breakdowns as a group. That's teamwork! They tightened up when they needed to down the stretch, but it was only because they were so bad early that the late improvement was necessary.
- Luke Walton: No, not his play (though he did miss a couple open jumpers) but the hip pointer that forced him from the game in the first quarter. He hasn't played well of late, but given how thin the Lakers are getting, they can't afford to lose bodies, even slumping ones. PJ said after the game that they "doctored" him up, and that Luke will travel with the team tomorrow. No word yet if he'll play in Detroit Thursday night or Toronto on Friday, but if the Lakers were forced to keep him at home, it would have been a bad sign.
- Vlad Rad: He hit a couple big shots in the first half, but it's clear his role on the team has diminished. Defensively, he's all over the place (not in a good way). If Walton can't play later in the week and Vlad still plays 10 minutes or so? Wow, is that dude buried. Word is he's bringing his own shovel on the trip. Speaking of which, I was told after the game that Chris Mihm won't start the roadie with the squad, but they're hopeful he'll join the team at some point on the trip.
AUDIO: Some good stuff tonight, from PJ, Sasha, and Kobe.
- Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_1.29 postNYK.mp3
- Sasha Vujacic: Download sasha_vujacic_1.29 postNYK.mp3
- Kobe Bryant: Download kobe_bryant_1.29 postNYK.mp3


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Very easy to make rice pudding. Perfect for leftover rice, cooks up quick and tastes gorgeous! Comes out creamy and perfect without baking.
Worst Food I Ever Tasted
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Dodson & Horrell Glow & Show consists of a combination of herbs that is high in oils, minerals and proteins that, together, create an excellent supplement to improve a horse's coat condition. By adding Glow & Show to your horse's feed you are creating a coat which shines and sparkles.
Not suitable for mares in foal.
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Lawn Care 101 Salisbury MD
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Annuals, Aquatics, Bulbs, Chemicals, Conifers / Evergreens, Crop Protection, Ferns, Garden Center Marketing, Garden Ornaments, Gardening Supplies, Groundcovers, Herbs, Horticulture Companies, Landscape Contractors, Landscaping Services, Mulch, Nurseries - Wholesale, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Pest Control Supplies, Plants, Roses, Seeds, Shrubs, Trees, Vegetables, Vines
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Lawn Care 101
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A lush, neatly trimmed lawn makes a home more inviting, and offers a pleasant setting for spending time outdoors when the weather is fair. While they do require regular maintenance to keep them healthy, the good news is that a healthy yard is significantly easier to maintain than an ailing one. Just 1 hour a week during the growing season is usually all the time you need to keep your lawn looking beautiful. Here's the dirt on lawn care.
This Blessed Plot
It may surprise you to learn that the most common lawn grasses are not native to the United States—nope, not even Kentucky Bluegrass. Most are European imports, which makes sense, as the idea of a lawn was inspired by the English landscape of rolling fields of green, chewed short by grazing sheep. But we Americans have made it our own tradition, and for many, there is nothing more lovely and familiar than a beautiful, green, summer lawn surrounding our homes.
Soil and Green
It's a good idea to test the composition of your soil periodically, and balance it with the appropriate additives to keep lawns looking lush and green. Lawns also need to be fertilized to keep them looking their best. Most fertilizers include a mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, also known as NPK. Types of fertilizer are differentiated by the percentages of each substance, which is indicated on the bag. Different grasses require different amounts of these nutrients, so be sure to match the type of grass to the appropriate balance of fertilizer.
Generally speaking, for warm season grasses, such as Bermuda and Centipede, spread 0.75 pounds of actual nitrogen, per 1000 ft.² every 6 weeks or so during the growing season. For cool season grasses, such as Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass, fertilize once in early spring and again in late summer.
Leaves of Grass
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to ensure a great looking lawn is to select the right grass. There are two major considerations to take into account: how you intend to use the lawn, and how much time you're prepared to care for it.
While grasses can be sold individually, a mixture of different and complimentary types is now the most popular choice for new lawns, and also over-seeding of established lawns. Some mixes produce a tough lawn suitable for high traffic areas, some are designed to thrive in shade, while still others are drought and heat resistant.
There are many different combinations, and one is sure to fit your landscape. Don't worry too much about picking the wrong grass, as your local garden center will likely only stock region-appropriate varieties.
While there are literally dozens of different kinds of available grasses, here are the most common grasses that are likely to show up in popular mixtures:
- Kentucky Bluegrass. By far the most popular, yielding fine-textured, rich-looking lawns. Thrives in full sun to part shade. Not recommended for extreme climates. Germinates in 14 to 28 days. Use 3 lbs. of seed per 1000 ft.² Plant in early fall or early spring.
- Perennial Ryegrasses. Often mixed in with other grasses to get new lawns off to a quick start. Grows well in full sun to partial shade. Not recommended for extreme climates. Germinates in 5 to 7 days. Use 5 lbs. of seed per 1000 ft.² Best planted in the early fall.
- Fine-Leaved Fescues. Grows well in full sun to light shade. Slower-growing and more water efficient than tall fescue. Germinates in 14 to 21 days. Use 9 lbs. of seed per 1000 ft.² Plant in early fall or spring.
- Tall Fescues. Grows well in full sun to very light shade. Germinates in 7 to 10 days. Use 9 lbs. of seed per 1000 ft.² Plant in early fall or spring.
- Bermuda grasses. Germinates in 5 to 7 days. Use 2 lbs. of seed per 1000 ft.² Plant in summer in full sun.
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Watering the lawn is where many people miscalculate. Water too much, and you invite disease. Water too little, and the grass develops only a shallow root system, appears patchy, or gets overrun by weeds. How much you need to water depends largely on your region, and can vary throughout the year. Generally speaking, water early in the morning, and soak the lawn with about an inch of water. To measure the amount of water, place a plastic cup in the yard, and activate your sprinkler. Time how long it takes to accumulate an inch of water in the cup. If you use an automatic sprinkler, set the timer appropriately.
Dandelion Whine
Weeds can drive us crazy with their persistence, and more than one homeowner has been so driven to distraction by their propagation that they give up trying to control them. But here again, the best defense against weeds is to take excellent care of your grass. If you have a dense and healthy lawn, it is harder for invasive weeds to gain a foothold, and they will be much less of a problem.
Weeds fall into two categories, and I hate both of them:
- Broadleaf weeds such as Dandelions and Chickweed are the simplest to control, since common lawn weed killers can eliminate them without harming your grass. Read packaging labels to ensure that you are targeting the right type of weed. Applied evenly over the entire lawn, they generally provide visible results in a short period of time.
- Grassy weeds such as Crabgrass and Annual Bluegrass are trickier, as you cannot kill them without also killing your entire lawn. One solution is to use a chemical crabgrass preventive. When applied once in the spring, and once at Labor Day, they can effectively prevent Crabgrass and Annual Bluegrass from germinating.
Space Invaders
What an indignation. You work and slave to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood, and some freeloading bugs want to turn it into an insect buffet. Don't take it lying down: fight back.
Treating your lawn with a Diazinon-based insect killer can control nearly all lawn pests. You don't have to read the fine print to find Diazinon, since they tend to put it in big letters on the label. Follow the manufacturer's directions carefully, as Diazinon is very toxic, and can be harmful to humans and pets, as well as to unwanted garden pests.
To Aerate is Human
Soil gets compacted over time, and consequently air cannot penetrate in to keep root systems healthy. Aerators punch tiny holes into the soil, permitting air and water to quickly get deep into the root system of your grass. You can rent an aerator at a home center. Or, if you want to make a spectacle of yourself, you can actually buy shoes with long spikes on the soles that aerate your lawn as you tromp furiously around your yard. (It helps to pretend to be mad about something to justify your behavior to onlookers.) While this option is inexpensive, don't be surprised if the neighbors haul out lawn chairs and watch you as you burnish your reputation as the local eccentric.
Who Soweth Good Seed Shall Surely Reap
Unfortunately, now that you've encouraged it to grow, you've got to keep it under control.
While some grasses grow faster than others, you should count on mowing about once a week. Keep your mower blade high and sharp. Mowing the grass too short increases water and fertilizer requirements, and dull blades can damage the grass. Never cut more than a third of the grass blade. At the height of summer, maintain your lawn at about 3 inches. In spring and early fall, adjust your mower to between 1-2 inches to protect against diseases associated with too much moisture.
The Edge
Edging your lawn does nothing to contribute to its health, but it does give it a manicured appearance. String-trimmers are a good choice for an average-sized lawn. String-trimmers are inexpensive, require little maintenance, and are fairly easy to operate.
Mow Better Blues
Lawn care getting you down? Hiring a lawn care service is a fine idea. Your leisure time isn't free; it's worth something. For as little as $50 a month, you can enjoy having that lawn, without resenting the time it takes away from your Saturday afternoon. Or you can get hold of that neighbor kid, make him read this article, and likely get off even cheaper than that. You'll never know until you wave 10 bucks under his nose.
Get a free subscription to Homeminders' home management system (no credit card required)


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Find traditional Swiss recipes here, including authentic Swiss fondue, cheesy raclette, crisp rosti and lots more.
Nothing warms you right through better than a cheese fondue! The classic fondue with Gruyere and Emmental is always a hit at parties and surprisingly easy to make. Add a splash of kirsch for a traditional Swiss finish.
This is a classic Swiss tomato fondue, with Gruyere and Emmental cheeses.
This is a creamy breakfast cereal made up the night before. Leaving it overnight softens and swells the oats. No cooking required. You only need to add some extra yoghurt on top if desired.
This recipe is an adapted version of the classic Swiss potato rosti. Grated potatoes are pan-fried with egg, cheese, garlic and onions to form one big rosti. Serve for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner.
Mousses, "i dolci al cucchiaio" (desserts eaten with a spoon), are the perfect way to finish a dinner with guests. I learned this type of preparation from a chef friend of my family who worked in Switzerland serving the Australian Ambassador. This mousse is prepared the day before and can also be frozen for up to 15 days. If you freeze the mousse, it is best to use individual moulds so that you thaw only the portions that you need to use.
This bread machine recipe is based on the classic recipe for Butterzopf, or Butter Bread, from Switzerland. Though not plaited like the original, it still tastes gorgeous with butter and jam. This recipe needs real butter - not margarine or a blend.
A is a hearty beef goulash that originates from Bern, Switzerland. It's got plenty of meat, vegetables and potatoes. It tastes even better the next day (even if most of it has been eaten by then...!).
These buttery lemon biscuits are traditional Christmas treats in Switzerland, usually made for Weihnachten (Christmas eve) and topped with sprinkles - but no worries, they can be enjoyed year-round! Give them a go for a differently sweet elevenses or afternoon tea treat.
Pork and beef meatballs flavoured with delicate herbs, spices and redcurrant jelly. Nice served with a creamy white wine sauce with rice and a dollop of redcurrant jelly on the side. Equally nice served just as they are with salad and chips.
Rispor is a rice dish from Switzerland, made with either Uri or Sbrinz cheese. The name comes from the Italian words Riso and Porri - rice and leeks. It goes well stew or sausages. If you cannot find Uri or Sbrinz, use Gruyere or Emmental instead.


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Cars > mmfryar's Garage > Albums > Restore of 4 speed TATA > View Photo
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- Feb 5, 2011 at 4:28 pm
- these were put in at sometime by a previous owner, the originals are a silver leather like the one we had at Nationals...these have got to go! We are in the process of getting the right ones for it.
- Feb 5, 2011 at 2:31 pm
- I like those seats. I'm not too familiar with all the options on the 10th ann. some had leather seats didn't they? Didn't the one you brought to Nationals have leather seats? I really like these though
Cars > mmfryar's Garage > Albums > Restore of 4 speed TATA > View Photo


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HISD athletic director looks for positives from Yates-Lee
Yates' 135-point victory a hot topic
HISD's Wade admits issue could have been handled differently
Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A day after the Yates High School boys basketball team set a state record and made national headlines with a 170-35 win over Lee, Houston Independent School District Athletic Director Daryl Wade hoped both sides could learn a positive lesson from the contest.
The Lions' historic victory has spurred passionate debate about the balance between a game's integrity and good sportsmanship. Wade said he plans to visit both Lee and Yates today.
"Both teams have good coaches and very good kids," Wade said. "It's unfortunate that the incident turned into something negative, but we have to make sure the kids learned something from the experience."
Wade said neither team will face reprimands for the fight that broke out during the game since there were no ejections. The teams finished the second half with five players each, and the other players were asked to sit in the stands. Wade said that was a mutual agreement between the coaches and referees. District 21-4A's policy states if a player is ejected from a contest, the school principal and coach will reprimand the student. If that student is ejected a second time, there is a one-game suspension.
Yates' victory was a hot topic of conversation Wednesday at Strake Jesuit High School where the Crusaders accepted the "Honoring the Game" award from the Positive Coaching Alliance.
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PCA's lead trainer Harry Colon spoke with athletes, coaches and parents at Strake Jesuit about stressing sportsmanship through athletics.
"Strake Jesuit won this award because the players and coaches here honor the game," Colon said. "They stress the importance of sportsmanship, respecting each other, the game and their opponents in all sports."
Try to move forward
Colon, a former football player at Washington High School and a current coach at Reagan, said he would stress to the Lee players that there are more games to be played.
"All you can do is make this a teachable situation," he said. "Those kids need to learn from this and strive to get better.
Yates is a very good team, and they are going to score a lot of points and win a lot of games. As long as they are respectful to their opponents, they can win with a lot of grace."
Wade said HISD's mercy rule policies are determined on a game-by-game basis. Tuesday night. Both coaches chose to finish the contest.
"In retrospect, should we have done something differently? Probably," Wade said. "At the time, the kids and coaches wanted to finish the game so we let that happen."
Yates' 170 points Tuesday set the single-game state scoring record previously held by Hardin-Jefferson, which scored 166 points against Hardin in 1992.
Yates, which led 100-12 at halftime, is 14-0 this season and has won 39 consecutive games. The 100 points in the first half is also a state record and the second-most in a boys high school basketball game.
It was the eighth time this season Yates scored more than 100 points and the sixth time the Lions won by more than 60. It was the first time this season Yates' margin of victory topped 100.
"It's a positive thing to have kids playing well and breaking records, but in light of the fight and the fingers pointing at Yates right now, it's hard to really think about that," Wade said. "Again, the most important thing right now is to make sure our kids learned something and can go on to have positive seasons."
Can relate to Yates
The 1992 Hardin-Jefferson team was coached by current University Interscholastic League Executive Director Charles Breithaupt.
Breithaupt said when his team set the record, he didn't face many accusations of running up the score.
"It was a different time, and we were a different team," he said. "We didn't have any Division I players or anyone over 6-feet tall. We had to run to win games."
Breithaupt said as long as teams aren't making a mockery of the game or purposely embarrassing other teams, he sees no problem with high-scoring affairs.
"I know that as a coach, you do what is best for your team, and (Yates) coach (Greg) Wise is probably looking at the bigger picture," Breithaupt said. "The goal is probably another district championship, another state championship and even a No. 1 national ranking."
Breithaupt said there have not been any proposals to the UIL for a basketball mercy rule, but if there were, the league would definitely take that into consideration.
"There are very few years that things will come together this way for a team," he said. "Yates has 15 really good players, and they will be tough to beat."
Strake Jesuit Athletic Director Bill McDonald hopes more schools will partner with the Positive Coaching Alliance and continue to help groom student-athletes who play sports the right way.
"It's the bigger picture," McDonald said. "High school athletes are only in high school a short time. But you ask your coaches, your community to respect the game and the opponents and you just hope the message will stick."


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Barry Alan Mehler (born March 18 1947) is a professor of humanities at Ferris State University who founded the Institute for the Study of Academic Racism (ISAR). [1] He earned his B.A. from Yeshiva University in 1970, his M.A. from City College of New York in 1972, and his Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1988. His dissertation was titled "A history of the American Eugenics Society, 1921-1940." He has taught at Ferris State University since 1988.
Cattell controversyEdit
Mehler was a driving force behind a successful campaign to have an American Psychological Association lifetime achievement award for Raymond B. Cattell postponed in 1997 because of claims that some of his writings were 'racist'. [2] Mehler's most cited article came from that time and examined Cattell's concept of "beyondism." [3]
Mehler was also the driving force in the 1977 formation of the Committee to Free Russell Smith (later the International Committee to Free Russell Smith). See Russell Smith (prisoner activist). Smith had been one of the Marion Brothers, a group of prisoners locked down in the U.S. Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. Smith and the rest of the Marion Brothers successfully proved that all of them were locked down due to their political activities. Smith's own activities were in the arena of organizing prisoners to fight prisoner rape. After his release from lock-down, Smith was again raped and retaliated as a defense from further rape. Mehler and the committee (ICFRS) supported Smith during his legal proceedings and provided a home for Smith after his release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Using the resources of the ICFRS, Smith went on to form the grass-roots People Organized to Stop Rape of Imprisoned Persons (POSRIP), which was later incorporated as Stop Prisoner Rape, Inc. (SPR). (See the article on Stop Prisoner Rape.) Unfortunately, Smith and Mehler did not continue working together for reasons not currently disclosed.
Criticisms of Mehler and the ISAREdit
Hereditarians such as Glayde Whitney have criticized Mehler for employing 'inflammatory' and 'inquisitional' anti-racist rhetoric in an effort to spur activism and discredit controversial scientists through the manipulation of popular opinion. Targets of Mehler's have at various times included hereditarian psychologists such as Cattell and Richard Lynn, it is claimed that they were made the objects of Mehler's campaigns primarily for ideological rather than scientific reasons. [4] Mehler's detractors have raised questions over his objectivity because of prior affiliations with communist groups [5] Whitney has suggested that Mehler is simply not qualified to talk about eugenics or race because he is a historian by training not a psychologist or physical anthropologist. [4] Whitney has also pointed out that Mehler combats those he accuses of racism exclusively through popular rather than scientific channels, via left wing periodicals and popular TV programming, such as Geraldo. It has also been observed that Mehler has published very little in technical peer-reviewed journals relevant to the subject matters of his criticisms - these tactics have been somewhat polemically compared to those employed by Creationists such as Duane Gish. [4] Roger Pearson has accused Mehler of "activist Lysenkoism." [4]
Selected bibliographyEdit
- Mehler, Barry. Controlling Human Heredity: 1865 to the Present (book review). Isis, Vol. 88, No. 2 (Jun., 1997) , p. 369
- Mehler, Barry. The Rise of Statistical Thinking, 1820-1900. Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Autumn, 1988) , pp. 294-296
- ↑ Barry Mehler profile via Genes on Trial: Genetics, Behavior, and the Law, PBS.
- ↑ Hilts, Philip J. (August 15, 1997). Racism Accusations and Award Is Delayed. New York Times
- ↑ Mehler, Barry. Beyondism: Raymond B. Cattell and the new eugenics. Genetica. 1997;99(2-3):153-63.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Whitney, Glayde (Fall 1997). Raymond B. Cattell and The Fourth Inquisition. Mankind Quarterly, vol. 38, #1 & 2, Fall/Winter 1997, p.99-124.
- ↑ Tucker, William H. (2002) (Conclusion: Pioneer or Pamphleteer. In The Funding of Scientific Racism: Wickliffe Draper and the Pioneer Fund. University of Illinois Press: ISBN 0-252-02762-0
External linksEdit
- Barry Mehler resume via Ferris State University
- Institute for the Study of Academic Racism website


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Is thick or thin a better format for vSphere Storage Motion?
An administrator can choose thick or thin provisioning on a destination volume for a data store, but which one offers better performance?
What formatting options are available when using Storage vMotion? How are they different?
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When planning to move a VM from one data store to another, the administrator needs to select a format for the destination volume. A default option allows administrators to migrate a virtual machine file system (VMFS) or network file system (NFS) volume using the same format as the source volume, but administrators can also select a specific format -- thin provisioned or thick provisioned -- with Storage vMotion.
A thin-provisioned disk volume creates the full logical space, but only populates it with a fraction of the actual storage capacity, adding extra storage to a VM when more is required. By reducing investment in upfront storage, thin provisioning may help administrators save money. However, the write performance of a thin-provisioned volume may be slower than other formats, because storage space is typically not prepared until it has been allocated and used.
By contrast, a destination VM volume can be thick provisioned, in which the entire space is allocated and prepared upfront. For example, if a 200 GB volume were thick provisioned, the entire 200 GB would be set aside immediately -- even if the entire space was not being used at that moment.
There is also a difference in the way that thick-provisioned space is initially zeroed or prepared. If the thick-provisioned volume is eager zeroed, all of the provisioned space is zeroed during the provisioning process., If the volume is large, this may take some time. However, because the space has already been prepared, the first subsequent write may be faster, which would make it ideal for a storage migration. Of all the format types available, eager-zeroed volumes typically offer the best performance, and are often used with Microsoft Clustered Server (MSCS) and fault-tolerant VM volumes.
If the thick-provisioned volume is lazy zeroed, all of the provisioned space is allocated, but blocks are only zeroed before actual data is written. This makes the initial creation process somewhat faster, but the actual write performance may be lower than it is for eager-zeroed volumes. Lazy-zeroed volumes are often unused because they offer no particular benefit for the enterprise.
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VMware management pack version 2.0 features and requirements
Version 2.0 of the vRealize Operations Service Discovery Management Pack has been updated with user-defined service discovery, but consider the ...continue reading
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Hefferon: Fight garners more attention than race (Nov. 14)
Jack Hefferon | Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Johnny Football. Ben Roethlisberger. Mike D'Antoni.
There were plenty of big stories across the wide world of sports this weekend, blowing up ESPN and the Twitterverse alike. So when I heard from multiple friends and saw highlights on Sunday's SportsCenter about, of all things, NASCAR ¬- well, I was more surprised than a hooked catfish.
But sure enough, the cult racing circuit garnered a relative plateful of coverage dedicated to the AdvoCare 500 in Phoenix, the penultimate race of NASCAR's 10-event "playoffs" – the Chase for the Cup.
The reason for the attention though was far from the race itself.
It was instead centered on a late-race scuffle between Clint Bowyer, who was competing for his first-ever championship, and Jeff Gordon, who intentionally crashed Bowyer to knock him out of contention. Upon returning to the pits, Bowyer's crew jumped Gordon, and soon a full-out brawl had broken out, with tires and haymakers flying everywhere. Bowyer was late to the party, but made a full sprint from his car to Gordon's hauler, where he charged Gordon and sparked more shoving still.
If you haven't seen it, the sheer inanity of it warrants a trip to YouTube. It was fun to watch, fun to talk about, and the rough-and-tumble, boys-will-be-boys epitome of the sport's appeal to fans nationwide.
Unfortunately for NASCAR though, it also represents its biggest obstacle to growth.
Because of all the hoopla over the punches thrown off the track, barely a word made it in edgewise about the heavyweight showdown that's been going down on it.
Jimmy Johnson, winner of five of the last six Sprint Cup Championships, has been heralded as one of the greatest drivers ever to grace the nation's banked curves. But he has also been accused of taking much of the intrigue and interest out of the sport – his campaigns too dominant, his personality too polished.
Throughout the Chase though, he's been neck-and-neck with a hotshot young driver who is far from a household name: Brad Keselowski. And Keselowski is exactly the type of star NASCAR needs.
After paying his dues and excelling over seven years in the Nationwide Series – the AAA minor league of stock car racing – Keselowski broke into the Sprint Cup under the tutelage of fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt, Jr. At 28-years-old, he is immensely talented but also undeniably reckless on the track, something that has made him enemies among other drivers but endeared him to the circuit's rabid fan base.
Keselowski also knows how to utilize the media. He often spouts off in expletive-filled post-race interviews – which is par for the course – but also leads all NASCAR-only drivers in Twitter followers, mostly thanks to his tweets during the Daytona 500 this year. (He keeps his phone in his pocket when he races and only writes during stoppages. But still pretty dang cool, nonetheless.)
He's a driver for this generation, and he's in the middle of a transcendent breakout season. After wrestling with Johnson for the past nine races, Keselowski now sits comfortably 20 points ahead going into the season's final contest at Homestead in Miami, and can win the Cup there with a finish of 15th or higher.
But because many fans, and most certainly the nation, care more about the spectacle than the sport, it might not matter.
After Sunday's dustup between Gordon and Bowyer, ESPN posted a poll on whether or not fighting was good for NASCAR. All 50 states said yes.
And in the sport's role of entertainment, it most certainly is an awesome thing to watch. People prefer talking about crashes to talking about chassis. Hard punches to high passes. Left hooks to left turns.
But because this fighting is the sport's main appeal nationally, the racing itself gets buried.
If Keselowski wins this weekend, it could be a huge win for racing and NASCAR, as well.
But unless he wrestles Danica Patrick in the infield after the race, it probably won't matter.
Contact Jack Hefferon at [email protected]
The views expressed in this Sports Authority are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer,


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November 6, 2010
Businesses Want Other Alternatives Over BlackBerry Phone
Research in Motion's popularity has slipped recently as pressure from smartphone rivals in the corporate market is starting to heat things up.
Bank of America and Citigroup, along with a group of other financial institutions, have started eyeing other alternatives to the BlackBerry for corporate email.According to Bloomberg, banks are testing software designed to make Apple's iPhone secure enough for company messages.
Research in Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry smartphones have been a trusted device for bankers, politicians and executives who need a secure email device.
However, the growing population of iPhones and other smartphone devices are pressuring RIM's dominance in the corporate sector.
Companies can save money on purchasing BlackBerry's by having other devices as an option to use.
"If the IT department's security concerns can be addressed it seems to be a win-win" for employers and employees, James Cordwell, a London-based analyst at Atlantic Equities, told Reuters.
Bernstein Research found that 83 percent of U.S. businesses allow employees to use non-BlackBerry alternatives to access corporate email.
PC maker Dell said it was moving 25,000 employees using BlackBerry devices over to its own smartphones as it tries to gain ground in the mobile market.
Dell said the move will save money, but RIM says that the cost of buying, deploying and supporting new devices will not help save costs.
"We find it highly unlikely that they will actually save any money with this move and far more likely they were looking for a little free publicity," Mark Guibert, RIM's senior vice-president of corporate marketing, said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
"Plus, consider the fact that BlackBerry smartphones are far more efficient with respect to data usage, which means that their monthly service charges will also likely increase," he said.
A RIM executive said the company was still adding corporate subscribers and it continues to lead a growing market.
"We believe the opportunities for both corporate-issued and employee-purchased smartphones are growing and that RIM provides the best overall platform for CIOs (chief information officers) to address both scenarios without compromising security or manageability," RIM's senior vice-president for enterprise and platform marketing, Jeff McDowell, said.
According to industry tracker IDC, RIM's global smartphone market slipped over 4 percentage points in the third quarter.
On the Net:


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Bryn Gwlad's Candlemas Celebration will be held on February 5, 2011. At that time, a new Arts and Sciences Champion will be chosen to serve at the pleasure of their new Halberd Excellencies, Master Pug and Mistress Myfanwy.
Entries submitted need not adhere to any specific theme. Artisans may choose either a Static Arts display, submit a Research Paper, or offer a Performance piece as their submission.
WITH REGARD TO PERFORMANCE A&S SUBMISSIONS: In order to encourage bardic performances for the Bardic competition, performances for the Arts and Sciences competition will be limited to either group performances or a Dance piece. Should a group performance be selected, the ?Champion? will be that individual who was the primary researcher/organizer/leader of the performance piece.
Documentation will be required on Static Arts displays and on Performance pieces.
Research papers must be submitted by Friday, January 28th, in order for those papers to be read and critiqued by judges in a timely manner. If this deadline is too much of a hardship, please contact me, Lord Da'oud, the Arts and Sciences Competition Steward, to discuss the matter. While I do not wish to refuse anyone's effort to compete, the judges must be given a reasonable time to review such items.
Please contact me at email@example.com at your earliest convenience, to indicate specifically what you will be presenting, how much table space you will require, and whether you will need proximity to an electrical outlet for your display. Obviously there are a limited number of outlets so we cannot guarantee such, but we will try to make every accommodation. The earlier you can indicate your submission, the better the chance in securing the attendance of judges skilled in your area of expertise.
The standard Kingdom Judging Forms will be used in reviewing your submissions. I recommend that artisans review these forms in preparing their documentation or research paper. The forms can be found at the Kingdom Ministry of Arts and Sciences Web page, http://moas.ansteorra.org/.
If you have any questions regarding this competition, please do not hesitate to contact me - and GOOD LUCK!


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CafeMom Veteran
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Well my name is Natalie and im from Baytown, Tx. I met my fiance' at the race track here in baytown. We both work for professional drag race teams, and travel all ove the US. I have two step kids Timothy and Kayleigh, and we just had a little girl in feb., Kadence. She is the best thing to happen to me. Im currently going to college for maketing and management. Im the marketing person for my race team, and also work on the car. I like to hang out with my friends and family, and i LOVE to drag race. Being a mom is so great, and wouldnt change anything in the world. My and Jeremy are planning on getting married Nov. of 09', so i have plenty of time to get things ready. That pretty much sums it up about me!!!
yeah, i dont get on here much anymore. sorry.
awwwww i hope the little one feels better soon its always hard when ur kids r sick i hope ur feeling ok too =)
hey girl i wanted to stop in and see how ur doin,not much goin on here as usual lol,im still waitin to here about my new place i hope i can move soon let me know how ur doin ill ttyl =)
hey i just wanted to stop in and see how ur doing ttyl =)
I'm here. Sorry that i havent been in a while. Just been busy with school and such.
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Chapter 10 : The Dangers Of Weasley-Potter (And Malfoy) Gatherings
|Rating: Mature
|Chapter Reviews: 2
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A/N: This has some interesting memories and a funny part. Well, it seems funny to me, at least. I hope you enjoy it. :)
The Dangers of Weasley-Potter (And Malfoy) Gatherings
I find it extremely hard to fall asleep that night, what with the fact that Emma is staying at Al's place, spending time with him, cozying up to his fit body...
Ok, brain. That is going too far. They're just friends. Right?
Old friends... who used to spend every waking hour with each other, that is.
So, what? Al and I did, as well. That doesn't mean we have some sort of a romantic chemistry. A pure guy-girl friendship can indeed exist.
Can it, though?
I get up and proceed to the kitchen to stuff myself with Ash's muffins. I swear, she's put some sort of spell on them so that you can't possibly stop with the eating.
"Jill?" I hear a familiar voice, only to find Willow staring at me in horror upon lifting my head from the muffin-filled bowl.
"Did I wake you up with my twisting all over the bed? Sorry 'bout that." I mumble with my mouth full of these delicious, addictive sweets.
As a (poor) substitute for a response, Willow points her wand at the muffins, transfiguring them into bird feathers. I nearly choke and then proceed to cough violently, since some of them are still stuck in my throat. This, however, doesn't seem to agitate my friend in the slightest.
"What was that fooor?" I whine.
"I could ask you the same question." She crosses her arms, a slightly disgusted expression on her face.
"I wanted to eat." I shrug, hoping Will will let it go.
Unfortunately, her Ravenclaw brain detects something fishy about my behaviour. "Stop lying, Kenward."
"Fine." I roll my eyes, giving up. "Remember Al's friend Emma, who was in love with him and since he couldn't respond to her feelings, ran away to another country?"
Willow nods. Yes, I can hardly keep anything to myself. Shut up!
"Well, she's back."
"I'm failing to see what's so bad in that." Will is still staring at me like I'm a mad person, which, come to think of it, wouldn't exactly be the first time.
"Oh my Merlin, how do you not realize, you're the Ravenclaw here?!"
"Because your logic is rubbish."
I frown. "No, it's not. Emma is going to push me out of Al's life, that's what I've been trying to emphasize here!"
"You can't be certain about that. Maybe Emma is a nice girl. There's surely a reason Albus likes her so much. Just the way he does with you." Willow attempts to reason with me.
"Are you trying to tell me that I'm a nice girl?" I grin.
"I give up." Will denies me the joy of hearing a compliment and returns to the bedroom, leaving me alone.
Instead of feeling staid after my friend's always logical inputs, the anxiety just comes back stronger and I'm left with no other choice.
"It must be something really urgent, for you to call me at five in the morning." The lady with the gray eyes yawns widely.
She's one of those lucky individuals who, even in these ungodly hours, look rested and youthful.
I sit primly opposite her, my palms resting neatly in my lap. "It is."
She pours us some orange juice and takes her time leaning back into her chair. "Tell me, Jill, what is it that bothers you?"
I take one deep breath before I blurt it all out. "I think I'm jealous of my friend's friend, because she's about to steal his attention from me."
The lady narrows her bright eyes at me. For a moment, a small smile plays on her lips as if she's expecting to hear something else. Something that will justify her being here at five in the morning, besides the surely mental sounding rubbish I've just babbled.
But, since it doesn't come, she nearly hisses at me. "Dear God, Tatum, are you joking?"
"No. Why?" I shrug, even though I'm quite aware of the reason.
"As your psychologist, I have to say, you are borderline insane."
"Mrs Bolt!" I protest. "You said you never state such things about your patients!"
"There's a first time for everything." She gets up and dresses back quickly in her light maroon coat. "Come back when you learn the real meaning of the word emergency."
"But I-"
"Otherwise, see you in your rightful term. By then, maybe you'll realize how ridiculous you sound, yourself." She opens the door for me.
I stand up and walk outside with a huff. "See you in a few days, then."
The lady nods, her lips finally turning into a fond smile in spite of everything I make her go through. I guess it's because of my dad, still, because even I can hardly tolerate myself.
In seconds, I'm back at the flat with no idea how to make myself sleep again. So I just... don't. I stay awake up until the paperboy brings the weekend edition of the Daily Prophet and some of Ash's trashy magazines.
Feeling adventurous, I go to the roof, hot cocoa in one hand and the trashy papers in another. I search for the abandoned wooden bench and move it to the edge of the roof with the help of my wand. When I sit down, I flop my feet just atop of the concrete barrier between the building and the clear sky. It feels a bit dangerous, but that's exactly why I enjoy it so much.
Although, my joy is cut short when I spot the front page of one of Ash's magazines: Albus and Emma, sitting in a bar of some sort and smiling at each other like there's no tomorrow. Merlin! I mean, Al and I went to plenty of places together and no one bothered to snap a picture. But as soon as these two reunite, everyone seems to take note.
The worst part, though, is the headline.
Spotted: Albus Potter with his new-old girlfriend
They mean friend, right? It's a typo, right?
"What are you doing, Kenward?" A familiar face appears right above mine.
Besides being startled by the unexpected blast from the past, I also feel a little embarrassed since I'm lying on the roof surrounded by trashy papers opened just at this morning's articles about Emma and Albus, staring at the sky like a crazy person.
...I can finally see sense in everyone's point about me being insane.
"Um... Enjoying the morning sun?" I try.
The guy shakes his head, but doesn't say anything else. Instead, he offers me a cigarette.
"I don't smoke, remember?" I remind him.
"I thought maybe you changed your mind." The guy shrugs and then lays down right next to me.
We stare at the sky together in silence, before he conjures two cushions for us to put under our heads and decides to break the tranquillity.
"Funny how you tried to avoid me for years only for us to end up in the same building and on the same roof at the same day, isn't it?" He says slowly, between intakes of smoke.
I sigh, realizing there's no more point in denying his presence. I turn so I'm resting on my side and gazing at his tan face and brilliant blue eyes.
"I'm sorry, Key."
And it's like I'm instantly transmitted to the past.
The thirty first of December, 2024/January the first, 2025
I was leaning on the bar table, barely keeping myself in a vertical position. The waiter had given up on entertaining me for the night and went back to mixing up drinks. One had a smell faintly reminding me of a love potion. Which was worrisome and would usually prompt me to question the guy's credibility. But not today. Today I was too drunk to worry about such trifles.
Before ending up in this state, though, I tried to stay sober, I really did, but my career and love life were bumming me out the whole month, with the annoyance culminating on this particular night. I mean, I was handling it well enough for the past nineteen years of my existence, but tonight... tonight I just broke down.
It happens.
I supposed it had much to do with my dreadful colleague Amanda getting engaged ten days prior and Dan being promoted into Chief's deputy. Not that I wanted those things. I wanted much more, actually, and that was the problem. I was nowhere near achieving my goals.
"Want a smoke?" Suddenly, a deep voice brought me back to the harsh reality and I detested that.
But my displeasure vanished as soon as I took his figure in.
"No. But I think I would enjoy you." I slurred.
I was pretty sure I'd jump on him then and there, until everything became too fuzzy.
The next thing I remembered, besides the stolid pounding in my head, was waking up in a strange room. It was full of posters of musical bands from the wizarding world, old, new, odd, gigantic. One was even covering up the whole ceiling. And even before I spotted a guitar in one corner and a piano in the other, I knew I stumbled into the world of a musician. The said person entered the room in pants only, showing off his fit body and levitating a cup of coffee for me.
"I see you've come back to the land of the conscious." He grinned at me playfully.
"Did I just over sleep the New Year's party?" I mumbled ignoring his remark, a vile feeling twisting my stomach into knots.
"I'm afraid you did." He offered me the hot cup, but I disregarded it.
"So it's January the first now?"
He nodded, finally realizing that I wouldn't drink his beverage, so he took a sip himself.
I, on the other hand, got up on my feet quickly and snatched my bag resting atop his desk.
"Where are you going?" He set aside the coffee and stood in front of me at the door, blocking my access.
"I need to do something." I muttered under my breath, anger raising up in my body.
"And I need to make sure you don't drop on your face again, so you'll have to take me with you, I'm afraid." He smirked.
"Fine." I greeted my teeth, unnerved.
So I let him follow me to a muggle cemetery. The road was narrow and muddy, but I always went there by feet. It felt therapeutic. The smoke guy didn't seem to think alike. He kept asking me what this was all about.
Until I dropped on my knees in front of a white stone, that is. It had the name Cornelia Kenward written on it in fine, golden letters. I kissed my palm and then pressed it against the coldness, against the date that will always mean something else to me than to the rest of the world. I could never be joyful about my New Year's resolutions, because all I could think of was my grandmother dying on that day. It always evoked overwhelming sadness in me and that's why I came alone every time. Because I needed to cry and I couldn't let mum and dad, or anyone else, see me like this. So I lied to them. I made them believe I was scared of graveyards to the point of not being able to visit my grandmother. But then, in the dawn, I'd always sneak out to do so. That's why I didn't drink on New Year's parties. I needed to stay sober in order to get here in those ungodly hours. And that's why last night was a disastrous mistake.
I got up, rubbing my face to dry out the tears.
"Happy?" I threw the remark into the guy's direction while passing him grimly.
He just stood there, letting me go.
And so I thought that would be the end of it.
But it wasn't.
The twenty first of January, 2025
I was trying to write my article about first love (Merlin!) but the giggling women running past my small office were making it impossible. I gave my best to ignore them, until I snapped and went outside, stopping the first one by grabbing her wrist gently.
"What is this all about?!"
"Come and see." She just smiled in response.
I sighed and, against any better judgement, followed them to the big glass wall in the north section. When I finally pushed through, I realized someone had removed the glass and put a safety rail, so the girls could lean on to hear and see better. What? Well...
"She's the witch with the desolate eyes,
so hollow, so deprived of smiles,
she's the witch living in a lonely world,
but she, she has mine unfurled..."
I gaped at the New Year's guy playing on a piano underneath, in the middle of the square, with people surrounding him and following his tunes by clapping.
I immediately moved from the wall and went back to my office, closing the door and hoping this whole ordeal wasn't for me.
But... I heard a knock moments later.
"Jill, someone's here to see you." Said a girl through a loud giggle.
"I'm not present."
The door opened anyway and the smoke guy was standing there, smiling at me. "Your body begs to differ."
"The body is merely an empty shell without the spirit inside." I spat back.
"Come on, Jill, go out with him." My female colleagues pleaded in the background.
"I don't even know his name!" I yelled at them.
"It's Keyon. Keyon Eggo. But you can call me Key."
He was gazing at me with such a pure hope that I finally felt guilty enough to accept to go out with him. You know, besides the obvious fact that I was intrigued by his outlandish name.
But the whole time we were on the date I told him I couldn't have a boyfriend since I was hung up on someone else. Keyon wouldn't have it, though. He kept saying he would help me get over 'that arse'. There was no use in turning him down. Key wanted the challenge, he thrived on it. So we started seeing each other, but not exactly dating since I let him kiss me once or twice during the whole five months we hung out together.
And then, one morning, it just hit me-how bad it was of me to be using his company without giving much in return. Not just in the physical sense. I was barely there whenever he talked or smiled at me, too. I was an arse, because being an arse let me feel superior, just like James had to feel in our friendship. And I liked that in a very much twisted, sick way. When I told Key that I couldn't do that to him anymore, he protested. He didn't believe me when I told him I didn't participate in our relationship. He wanted, he still yearned, to win me over.
So as soon as I could, I started looking into transferring to Witch Weekly in order to get away from Key, amongst other things. It was cruel, yet it was the best thing I could do for him.
May, 2025
The last memory I had of him was when I told him I was moving away because I got a job offer (I alternated my reality a bit to suite the needs I had.). He asked me just one favour-for us to spend a whole day and night together and, then, he would leave me alone.
I obliged. It didn't bother me.
Until he fell asleep next to me in his old, poster-pasted room. There was still a trace of sadness visible on his tormented face and it finally got to me. I sobbed quietly to myself, because I was a jerk and everything that happened to me in my miserable existence up until that point was deserving. I put my palm on his face and muttered so silently I couldn't even hear my own voice: "I'm sorry."
And that was the last time we saw each other.
Until, of course, now.
"No. I'm sorry I insisted so much when, clearly, you were in no condition to be in a relationship."
I squeeze his hand in gratefulness.
"Have you... you know, gotten over him?" He adds.
"Yeah, I finally have." I chuckle.
He takes a look at the magazines surrounding me. "But you've fallen for another bloke now, I see."
I rumple the papers and throw them away. "He's just a friend."
"Clearly." Key laughs.
I call him into our flat later on for a coffee and he agrees. That's when both of my friends, Willow and Ash, start acting a bit weird.
"So, where are you from? You seem rather exotic?" Willow smiles at him.
"Um, my father is British and my mum's family is from Africa."
"Such an interesting mix." Ash nods her head.
"And what do you do for a living?" Willow takes his palm carefully to examine it. "Your hands look like those of an artist."
Key laughs and nods slightly, clearly amused. "I'm a musician. I don't know if you've heard of the band Dragon Puffs?"
"Oh, Merlin! I thought you looked familiar!" Ash squeals, which is a rather rare occurrence in itself. "Desolate eyes and Dragon hunt are some of my favourite tunes, I swear!"
"Dragon hunt is yours?!" Willow gasps. "That is me in song form, I joke you not!"
"What are you doing here? I mean, you could probably live in a far better environment." Ash wonders.
"Yes, but I like living in small, relatively normal neighbourhoods." He shrugs.
"Since Tatum is living here, too, it can't really be normal, you should know that." Ash interjects with a smirk thrown my way.
"Har-har." I roll my eyes.
So it goes on, back and forth, until I go off to get ready for Rose's and Scorpius' goodbye party. I sit in my room with Will and Ash laughing in the background.
Ash then suddenly knocks on my door so loudly I jump up, startled.
"Hey. Willow sent me to inform you that we're kidnapping Keyon for the day."
I smile lightly, but can't keep the tingle of sorrow away from my eyes, which Ash notices. She sits down beside me, resting her palm on top of mine, the one that's squeezing the dress I picked out for today's party.
"What's wrong? I mean, besides the usual existential crap."
I laugh a little, shaking my head. "Nothing."
"I'm sorry. I didn't ask you if there is something wrong, because that much is evident. I wanted to know what or… who it's about." Ash persists, her firm expression back.
Dad's approach is appreciated, but right now I think Ash's is the only one that can break through my armour.
"It's Keyon." I mutter, my voice breaking a little.
"What can you possibly have against a stud like him?" Ash rolls her eyes at me.
I break into a short giggle, but then my features turn dim yet again. "He reminds me too much of that horrible, dark side of myself. Reminds me that, since I'm capable of causing so much pain, I'm not deserving of happiness."
Ash stays silent for a moment, which is an unusual sight: not hearing her spat vague insults in response. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, before replying in a straight tone.
"I'm going to tell you a story. But you have to promise you're not going to blab it out to anyone." By this point she opens her eyes again and stares at me intently.
I nod my head, lost for words. Ash is a highly private person and occasions of her sharing herself with me are rare. So I understand the gravity of what's to follow.
"When I was about five years old I started fancying a typical, normal Muggle boy from across the street. My magical nature was something no one in my family suspected of, because I hid it away, deep inside of myself. I knew, on some level, that it was out of ordinary, the things I could do. And, unlike many children who would probably enjoy such abilities, I detested my strangeness. So, liking the most uninteresting boy in my neighbourhood was a way of escaping the truth: that I was different. Just a few blocks away lived Felix Chadwick, a boy two years older than me and also quite unusual. For this reason, he felt drawn to me and sought out my attention and friendship. In turn, I broke his heart. Repeatedly. I stuck to the bland boy up until I got my Hogwarts letter and I could't run away anymore. However, by this point Felix had moved to another part of London with his family. We were separated for two years and then suddenly reunited at the platform nine and three quarters. I was so lonely and scared that, when I recognized him, I felt relief. In a moment of sheer bliss, my mind blocked out all the terrible things I did to him when we were little. But Felix didn't forget. He wasn't outright rude, like me, but it was clear he didn't enjoy my company. I took the hint and wandered about the train until I met my only Hogwarts peer, another Muggleborn witch named Poppy. But even though Poppy was the best friend I could wish for back then, I always felt something was missing. Or rather, someone. The years passed by and Felix kept avoiding me and I kept hurting. Until I… Until I admitted to myself that it wasn't only friendship that I yearned to have with him. That didn't change anything on his end, though. Felix finished school and went on to travel around the world, much like Willow. And I lost him for good, the only truly decent guy in my life."
I gaze at Ash's tormented expression and squeeze her hand back.
She grins, not adverting her eyes from the floor, until adding: "Now, I'm not saying that you'll realize you love Keyon along the way. But maybe he's a friend that's been missing from your life. Maybe… if you push him away, you'll regret it. And regret is far more painful than being reminded of the bad things you did, trust me."
She pats my hand lightly before getting up.
She halts a bit at the door, however, her back facing me. "Besides, you never know how associating with a rock star can benefit you."
At this point she turns quickly, winks at me and leaves me alone in a whoosh.
My lips curl into a smile on their own. Sometimes, Ash is a better Slytherin than I am and that amuses me because I attribute it to me rubbing off of her. And that makes me very happy.
When I walk out some minutes later, the living room is already deserted. Ash and Will indeed stole Key for the day and led him to who knows where. I honestly don't even wanna know.
Suddenly, there's a loud pop in front of the door and a string of laughter. My face immediately falls as I go to the wooden entrance to my flat.
"Miss Kenward, your room service is here." A female voice sings.
"Flat service." The male one corrects.
"It can't be that big of a flat for it to be a mistake to call it a room, now can it?"
"Emma..." The male voice warns with a trace of reprehension.
"What, I can't help it that I'm rich."
I finally open the door only to find the two of them twirl to me in surprise.
"Have you heard...?" Albus starts.
"All of it." I affirm by nodding.
"Good, we won't be obligated to paraphrase. Let us apparate to the Weasley manor then!" Emma cheers.
"The Weasley manor?" I try not to show how offended I am but instead concentrate on the other issue. "I thought the party was held at Rose and Scorpius' home."
"Yeah.. I forgot to mention that, didn't I?" Al scratches his forehead, embarrassed.
"I can't go there looking like this!" I point out my overly exposed body. "I thought this was only for the youngsters of the Weasley-Potter-Malfoy bunch!"
This is also when I notice how tame both Emma and Albus look, her in a pair of black pants and a white shirt and him in green skinny jeans and a white T-shirt.
"Don't worry, the older ones also know how to appreciate a good view." Emma winks at me.
Oh, Merlin, this is not good.
"I'm sorry, Ty, but we have to go, now, or we'll be late." Al says with an apologetic look on his face. "But, really, don't fret about it, you look fine."
"You mean fiiine." Emma repeats his last word with a sleazy accent.
"Emma!" Al frowns at his other friend before taking my palm and smiling at me in reassurance.
I sigh as I lock my door and let him apparate us away.
We land in a small shielded park with willows blocking our view. It's cold and dark and I curse myself for choosing such a small dress for this time of the year. Emma has every right to mock my stupidity. She and Al step out of the small area where we apparated and lead the way to a more green and lively surrounding. After we leave the park behind, a small street appears, lights from the street lamps giving the neighbourhood a more welcoming look. The houses are squeezed right next to each other, forming a tight succession dominated by faint yellow and red colors. One house particularly stands out, though. In every way possible: it has one floor more than the rest, the paint is fresh and bright and a sign with the words Weasley Manor is placed above the beautifully carved door.
"I suppose you can guess which one is of my uncle and aunt." Albus smirks at me.
I grin back at him, but the moment is interrupted when Emma pushes both of us to the entrance. She presses the button on the right and a loud sound echoes throughout the house. Then, a rumble of voices near us and Hugo, Fred and Dominique pull us in as soon as the door is opened.
"Good Godric, who is she?" Fred wiggles his eyebrows at me.
"Um, I interviewed you at the wedding a little over a week ago?" I try to help.
Fred squints, looking me over and over again. "Hm, red dress, up to the knees, right?"
I turn to Albus, slightly disturbed. "Is this how he remembers people? By what they wear?"
"Only girls, love. Only girls. And it's by how little they wear." Fred winks at me.
I blush, because, heck, Fred Weasley is actually one handsome fellow.
"Fred, don't make me call Trisha on you." Dominique warns. "Girlfriends don't usually find such a behaviour amusing, let me tell you."
"Urgh, Dom, why do you always wreck my fun?!" With that Fred is off, leaving us with the other two Weasleys.
They prove to be more collected than Fred as they lead us pacifically to the big living room full of people. Almost everyone there turns to look at us, though, especially me in my mini dress. Fuck! Seriously, what was I thinking?! Even grandpa Weasley is frowning at me from the corner, lifting his head from some kind of a retro mobile phone. Great, scoring family points like a boss, ain't I? Not that they are my family. No, I didn't mean it like that! Double fuck!
Rose is the first one to approach us, a huge grin on her plump lips. She pulls me into a tight hug and, upon releasing me, gives a questioning look to Emma.
"Back from the dead." The girl smiles.
"Welcome." Rose embraces her as well, but with evidently less enthusiasm.
If she noticed this, Emma keeps it to herself, which I have to admire.
Rose, on the other hand, leads me immediately to her parents and my legs start to turn into jelly, right on cue. Did someone perform that silly spell on me or am I just star struck? It could be both, though, considering where I'm at. Not that I didn't meet them at the wedding, of course, but it was rather brief and, well, I was busy with other... things.
"Mum, dad, this is Tatum Jillian Kenward, who prefers to be called Jill (She winks in my direction, proud of herself for not forgetting to mention my hate toward the name Tatum.), I don't know if you've met her at the wedding, but she's the one who pushed me to think about my feelings toward Scorpius." Rose tattles on.
"So you're the one who actually forced me to associate with the Malfoys." Mr Weasley frowns at me.
My face goes pale in an instant.
"Dad!" Rose giggles at her father. "She'll think you're being serious."
"Oh, she knows I'm only joking. Right, Jill?" Mr Ronald bumps my shoulder.
"Heh, right." I force a grin.
Mrs Weasley, however, rolls her eyes at her husband. "Ron, you're scaring the poor girl!"
"It was a mere waggery!" He protests.
"Err." Rose takes my hand and pulls me away. "Maybe we should come back in a couple of minutes. It usually takes some times until they're back to adoring each other."
"Or not. We could not come back." I murmur.
I notice Al, Emma and Lucy chatting in the corner on my way to wherever Rose is leading me next. I wave to him faintly and he motions back, a small smile tugged onto his lips, which instantly makes me feel better.
I remember talking to their grandmother next, about her life and many memories, and how Rose was one temperamental baby. So I tease her that her children will be even worse, because that's how the universe pays back. Rose pretends to get angry but it's clear she's enjoying my antics. Even though I still don't understand why she's taken such a liking to me.
Then, we're chatting with Bill, who's sharing the most insane stories from his trips around the world.
"Have you ever come across a girl named Willow Lynch, possibly?" I ask, just to see how the odds are of him remembering her, because Will claims they crossed paths somewhere in Poland.
"Of course, she's your mate, right?"
"I can't believe you recall her!" I exclaim, excited.
"Well, she tried to explain to me how we're connected through James being your old friend and her being your mate for almost an hour. Trust me, I can't forget it." He chuckles and so do I.
"No, seriously now, she's a great expert in her field, she has a bright future ahead of her."
I smile at that, because there was a time when Willow was on a brink of giving up of ever becoming a curse breaker.
September of 2024
I was just back from an awful day at Daisy's when, upon opening the door to my tiny flat, noticed that it was empty. Even though the apartment was quite small, it had one advantage over my other settlements: a rather charming balcony. Since the door was left unlocked it was clear that my room mate was somewhere in here and I knew exactly where to search for her. I set my bag down in the middle of the room, at the floor, even though the table was inches away from me (That's just the sort of unexplained things I liked to do.) and wandered to the said balcony. Sure enough, my brunette friend was sitting there and eating a whole cake by herself. I knocked on the glass door lightly, to what she twirled apprehensively, but sighed with relief when she took in my exhausted figure. She pointed her wand to the door, I could see her muttering Alohomora, and it opened with a loud screech.
"Hello, roomy." I smiled as I sat next to her, conjuring a fork to join her in the eating.
Willow scoffed at the action, clearly having a plan to finish the cake alone.
We ate in silence for about five minutes, before Will sighed heavily like she always did before confessing something embarrassing or hard for her. I casted a curious glance her way.
"I don't know if I can do it, Jill." She mumbled.
I knew exactly what she was referring to. Willow was still on her training to become a certified curse breaker. It took a toll on her, sometimes she was so tired after it, she'd sleep through the whole day. Soon, she was supposed to go to Japan to finish her preparation there, since their school for studying curses was the most estimated one in the world. And, going into her career, at the start, Willow knew she wanted the best education. Plus, she was from a rather wealthy family, she could afford it. She only lived in this crappy flat, because I refused she paid more than exactly half the rent, so this was the best I could afford. And Will didn't want to leave me, not when she would be off into the world in a matter of days anyway.
I took her hand, to what she adverted her gaze form the cake to my eyes. "If you can't, who can?"
She chuckled to herself a little and got back to eating. She let me hold her hand a bit longer, though. She knew, deep down, that her doubts were only that-doubts. And she would not give up this far into the game. But it was nice having someone reassure you, anyway. It always was.
"Jill!" Rose startles me, which causes me to end the recalling of one of my last days with Willow, before she left for Japan. "Come on, I have to show you something!"
The girl pulls me away from Bill, to whom I wave apologetically. He nods in return, a knowing grin on his mature face. Bill is a good looking lad, too. The scars only make him appear more wicked in a very cool way. This family has too many good genes, I swear. But then you have Rose, who is clearly beautiful, but so hard to keep up with. In seconds we're out on a large terrace, which gives a full view of the backyard that's only accessible through the house. It's gigantic, though, with a swimming pool right in the middle, the water glimmering with lights I'm not sure are achievable without the use of magic. Around it, lined up in straight sequences, are threes that I'm witnessing for the first time in my life. They have almost purple leafs that glow celestially in the dark, adding to the steep play of lights.
"Wow." An impressed breath leaves my mouth.
Rose giggles delightfully. "Mum loves to experiment with magic back here. There's a protection shield around so it's not in the field of view of their Muggle neighbours. So basically, she can do whatever she wants with their yard."
"And your dad?"
"He's usually too lazy to participate, so he just chills by the pool, while mum comes up with new charms."
I grin. "I can see that happening, all too clearly."
"Those are my parents for you." She nods.
I walk to the rail, leaning on it with the lower half of my arms, gazing at the shimmering water. "It's beautiful. But how come they're living in a Muggle neighbourhood?"
"Because mum expressed a wish to. While Hugo and I were little and all up to our graduation, we lived next to our uncle Harry and aunt Ginny. But then mum said it was time she came back to her roots for awhile and when she sets her mind to something, dad always loses the argument."
I smile, completely understanding it because of what I've read about the pair. "So they may move back at some point?"
Rose nods. "I think she already misses my aunt and uncle not being around constantly. I know dad does."
She then Accios two stools for us, offering one for me to sit on. I do, but make sure to still be able to watch the lights bounce of the pool and trees.
"Jill, I have to talk to you." She flicks her wand silently but from many personal uses, I know it's the Muffliato charm.
"All right." I turn to her.
Rose sighs deeply before continuing, which frightens me a little, to be honest. "About Albus."
Dear Salazar, no.
"And Emma, too, while I'm at it." She adds, annoyance dripping from her voice.
"What about them?" I mutter, wishing I could escape from this conversation.
"Look, I like you. Now, you don't have to necessary understand why, but I do. A lot, actually." She rattles on, as if she can read my mind. "I can try to explain it, though."
I shrug.
Rose giggles. "See, even that gesture of yours is likable. You're so very... you. Awkward, weird around the edges, not able to understand the human sort quite well, but at the core... There's this ambitious person, full of adoration for writing and a clear need to be loved and accepted. You're vulnerable. And I can relate to that, quite a lot actually. We're more similar than you think. Maybe if I had a little less of family members and fame attached to my name, I'd be almost exactly like you. You're like a twisted, edgier version of the person that I am, as well, deep down. Why do you think I was so aggressive at school? It was my way of dealing with the world that I couldn't fully grasp. I still can't, but I've learnt to let loose a little. And I see there's a more joyous girl inside of you, too, you're just so used to horrible things happening to you to let her out, completely. And I understand that, trust me, I do."
I gape at the young Weasley, well Malfoy, woman in admiration. "Can you replace my shrink 'cause this would be so much cheaper for me?"
She laughs, patting me on the back with a little too much force. "See, there it is, that spunk, humour, spark. And that's why I like that you're hanging out with Al. He's... he's a good chap, but he's been obsessed with one single girl for far too long. And Emma..."
"What do you have against Emma?" I wonder.
"Nothing much, in general." Rose highlights the general part. "She could be a good friend, but it's obvious that's not what she wants. It has been, from the start. I'm afraid that's the only reason she befriended him-to dig her way up to his heart. I mean, she left as soon as he rejected her. Which means that, since she couldn't get what she wanted, she had no use of him anymore. Now she's back and I can bet you she hopes he's over Alice, so she can try her luck again. And, seeing you, how you want to be there for him, genuinely, with no ulterior motive, has made me open my eyes to how much better of a company for him you are."
"Why do I get the feeling that you want to set me up with him, then?" I frown.
Rose chuckles at my failed serious expression. "Well, that's exactly the reason, don't you see? You have no ulterior motive. You just care about him, in the most sincere, innocent way."
I look away to the marvellous performance of lights dancing over the grand yard. I feel free, suddenly, like a big weight has been lifted from my chest, like I can breath again. And Rose hasn't even stopped pairing me up with her cousin. It doesn't matter anymore, though, because I understand her now. And I adore her for seeing me for, well, me, not who I'm at the surface. Al or no Al, I'm starting to love his family, however crazy they may be. Or... just because of that. We're unlikely kindred spirits, and in an inexplicable way, I feel I belong here.
Rose rejoins Scorpius at some point later on, but she doesn't miss the opportunity to wink my way at all times. I smile and shake my head in amusement, whenever she does so. I, too, want to go back to Albus, but it's as if the never ending members of the Weasley-Potter-Malfoy family are determined to keep me away from him.
Right now, for example, I'm trying to escape Louis, who's taken it upon himself to court me, as he proclaims. After trying to escape him in the living room, I end up against a wall in the deserted kitchen with his hands on each side of it, right next to my head.
"Why do you protest so much, Jill? I mean, you're single, I'm hot. We'd make beautiful Kenward-Weasley babies."
"That right there is the reason, the fact that you just said that." I crease my nose in disgust.
"Oh, come on. I'm a good snogger, at least?" He winks at me, a questioning look on his handsome face, no malice in his voice. It's obvious that this chase around the house is merely a way for him to get me to like him.
But I can't. Not in that way, anyway.
Why is that, though? The guy's like sculptured, for Merlin's sake! And the last time someone kissed me... Was when his cousin saw his lost love at the wedding of his other cousin. Maybe that's why.
I crouch down and, just when I'm about to escape him, I hear a weird splitting sound. I stop dead in my tracks.
"Nice underwear." I hear Louis remark, amusement dripping from his voice.
I twirl around to find my dress stuck to a nail sticking out of the wall where I just stood.
No, no, no!
"Hey, guys have you seen-"
And of course, my luck just keeps getting suckier by the second.
I veer to the voice I already know the owner of, but I can't hide, nor can I repair the damage quickly enough in order to get rid of the guilty expression on my stunned face.
Mind you, the scene is the following: my dress, previously hanging off a nail, has fallen to the ground, so it appears as though I've taken it off willingly; I, on the other hand, am standing dangerously close to Louis Weasley, in my care-bear underwear (Yeah, I have a thing for care-bears. Shut up!), while he's resting his arm on my waist (Wait, when did that happen?!).
I open my mouth in horror but no words come out.
"Oh." Is all Albus says, before slowly backing off out of the kitchen.
Well, fuck my life.
I take back the notion that I love this family, because they will clearly be the death of me.
A/N: Giggles. I'm sorry, I had way too much fun writing this chapter, especially the ending part. :D Thoughts?
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The Potter Problem: The Dangers Of Weasley-Potter (And Malfoy) Gatherings
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Tick, Tock
by inkscribble


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AfriGeneas Writers Forum
Re: Need help with narrative
In Response To: Need help with narrative ()
I finally wrote up the history for one of the branches of my family, and I think I did a fairly good job of incorporating the social history--in an attempt to make it more interesting.
Please check it out at:
Try to view it with "Internet Explorer" instead of Netscape.
Let me know what you thin kand if this helps! Good luck!:)
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text:
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Happy Anniversary
8 comments:
Fun anniversary card!! Love how you colored this image!!!ReplyDelete
A fantastic anniversary card! Thanks for the tip - I didn't know you could erase Versamark residue either! Sweet! Gold embossing is so perfect for an anniversary, isn't it?ReplyDelete
Seriously?! You can erase Versamark?! Thanks for sharing--may need to do that. This card is perfect, Cat--love it!ReplyDelete
What a cute basket! And what an awesome discovery via a "mistake"!ReplyDelete
I love that you chose gold embossing on your elements and your water coloring is so pretty! Such a lovely anniversary card!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the tip about embossing ink...it worked out so well here!
ooohh I really like the gold embossing paired with water coloring, very pretty!ReplyDelete
This is so pretty! I love the gold embossing! Thanks for the tip about the Versamark! I didn't know you could do that - good for fixing mistakes! Thanks for linking up to our Inky Paws Challenge at Newton's Nook Designs!ReplyDelete
Just saw this over on Newton's Nook, Cat! Love the gold embossing with watercolor. The glitter and sequins are such great accents. And thanks for the tip - always inspired by ways to fix mistakes!ReplyDelete


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UFC light-heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson will not be able to fight Saturday night in his scheduled bout against Gegard Mousasi, leaving the UFC without its planned main event for its return to Sweden.
The highly-ranked Swedish fighter suffered a cut in training over the weekend, and on Tuesday the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation (SMMAF) said it will not be able to medically clear him for the bout, which was set to headline UFC on FUEL TV 9 in Stockholm.
The news was first reported by FUEL TV's Ariel Helwani.
Here is an excerpt from the statement released by the SMMAF:
"The SMMAF Medical Committee has today reviewed the circumstances regarding Gustafsson and his injury. The SMMAF Medical Committee recognizes that a competitor cannot be medically cleared earlier than the day before the match. However, bearing in mind that a correct medical examination that met the regulatory demands has been performed, nothing in the SMMAF regulations hinders the SMMAF Medical Committee from making a decision to stop Gustafsson from competing. As it is clear that Alexander Gustafsson will not be fit to compete as planned and cannot be medically cleared on Friday the 5th of April, the SMMAF Medical Committee has today decided that Alexander Gustafsson will not be allowed to participate in the planned match on April 6th."
Gustafsson reportedly still wanted to fight but it is not up to him.
No replacement has yet been made, but according to Helwani, Mousasi's manager said the 27-year-old, who was set to make his long-awaited UFC debut, was willing to fight someone else on short notice.
Prior to Tuesday's news, veteran and top contender Wanderlei Silva tweeted on posted an April Fool's Day joke on Monday that the UFC asked him to replace Gustafsson. While he added that he'd "like it to be true," there was no indication he was seriously being considered.
With the event being in Sweden and most of the fighters on the UFC's roster based in North America, it could prove difficult to find a suitable replacement to step in with just three days before weigh-ins.
The co-main event is a lightweight bout between Ryan Couture and Ross Pearson. Neither of whom have high enough profile to normally headline an event, even if the former is the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.
The event will air on Sportsnet Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, with preliminary fights on sportsnet.ca starting at 10:50 a.m. ET.
The UFC made its debut in the Scandinavian country last April, where Gustafsson defeated Thiago Silva by decision in the main event. Silva had replaced an injured Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.