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Bargains, Grand Bargains, and Conceptual ConfusionComments
Since this is likely to come up again, it's worth clarifying an issue that is likely to come up as the
"fiscal cliff" "gentle fiscal incline" approaches. As stated in the most extreme form by Jessie Levine in comments, some people seem opposed to any deal using the leverage of the expiring Bush tax cuts to get something, even if we assume the final deal is favorable to liberals. This doesn't make sense, of course. But some of this logic seems to come from confusion stemming from the use of the term "grand bargain." This conflates things that should be kept distinct:
- A "grand bargain," — a long-term deficit reduction deal — is almost certainly a horrible idea for two reasons. First, while in theory a deficit deal could be struck at any level of expenditures and taxation, in practice such deals tend to be proposed by Pain Caucus types who just want to slash social spending in order to preserve or extend upper-class tax cuts. Simpson/Bowles was heavily tilted to conservative interests, even though it was made nominally progressive by proposals like an elimination of the mortgage interest deduction that have no chance of enactment. And more importantly, even in the extremely unlikely event that you could get a "Grand Bargain" on favorable terms the deals are entirely useless because they're completely unenforceable. The Clinton surpluses were just used to fund massive tax cuts (with Alan Greenspan solemnly informing the public that we were in danger of paying down the the debt too quickly.) Since the Republican Party is if anything less interested in deficit reduction now, you'd have to be a world-class rube to fall for that again.
- The fact that a "grand bargain" is a terrible idea doesn't mean that any legislative bargain is a bad idea. One advantage of my not being a Republican is that I can feel free to evaluate a legislative deal based on its contents, and it's silly to criticize a deal without knowing what the deal is. I'll grant that "getting a legislative deal in which you gain more than you lose" isn't a "battle cry of freedom," but that's also a pretty dumb standard to evaluate the outcomes of ordinary politics. What, if Obama was a real liberal he'd be sending federal troops to burn down the suburbs of the capital of every state that voted for Romney?
- There's no reason to assume in advance that any possible deal will be bad. You may not have noticed, but Republicans really like tax cuts. In 2010, they had the choice between severely damaging Obama's re-election chances and extending the Bush tax cuts, and they chose the tax cuts. Maybe this can be leveraged into something, maybe it can't, but there's no reason not to try. Unlike with, say, the PPACA negotiations, this is a negotiation liberals can walk away from just as easily; four years from the next election, letting the Bush tax cuts expire in their entirety is fine.


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|Submit your comments on this article
|Syria Dissidents Strike Unity Deal
Supressor of the Damascenes...
have elected holy man Ahmed al-Khatib to head the bloc, dissidents said.
Khatib, a moderate originally from Damascus
...Capital of the last overtly fascist regime in the world...
who quit Syria three months ago, will lead the National Coalition of Forces of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition, formed after the Syrian National Council agreed to the new group.
Prominent dissident Riad Seif, who had tabled an initiative to unite the opposition, and female opponent Suhair al-Atassi, were elected as two vice presidents of the coalition.
The SNC had come under intense Arab and Western pressure to accept the unity plan amid growing frustration among other dissident groups.
The inked agreement stipulates that the bloc will be open to all factions, and will form a provisional government after gaining international recognition.
It will also support the unification of the revolutionary military councils, and will work for the fall of the regime and to dismantle the security organs
Former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab who defected in August hailed the agreement as "an advanced step towards toppling the regime."
Participants in marathon talks in Qatar said the latest were centered on details of a planned new government-in-waiting, but that the Syrian National Council had now heeded Arab and Western calls to join a new, wider coalition.
Reservations in SNC ranks about what many members saw as a move to sideline it had prompted repeated delays in the Doha talks and mounting frustration among other dissident groups and the opposition's Arab and Western supporters.
But after negotiations that ran into the early hours of Sunday and resumed in the afternoon, opposition officials said a deal on forming a National Coalition of opposition forces had finally been done.
"We signed a 12-point agreement to establish a coalition," said leading dissident Riad Seif, who drew up the U.S.-backed reform proposals on which Sunday's agreement was based.
Another prominent opposition figure, Haitham al-Maleh, said a formal signing ceremony would held at 1700 GMT.
In a copy of the document obtained by Agence La Belle France Presse, the parties "agree to work for the fall of the regime and of all its symbols and pillars," and rule out any dialogue with the regime.
They agree to unify the fighting forces under a supreme military council and to set up a national judicial commission for rebel-held areas.
A provisional government would be formed after the coalition gains international recognition, and a transitional government formed after the regime has fallen.
The deal came after the SNC, which had formerly been seen as the main representative of the opposition, heeded Arab and Western pressure to agree to a new structure embracing groups that had been unwilling to join its ranks.
Former prime minister Riad Hijab, who fled to neighboring Jordan in August in the highest-ranking defection from Assad's government, hailed the agreement as "an advanced step towards toppling the regime."
|Posted by:Fred

subset: commoncrawl


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Mount Union Commencement to be Held May 11
May 06, 2013
ALLIANCE, Ohio — The University of Mount Union will hold its 167th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11 in the Peterson Field House of the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.
At 1:30 p.m., the University will begin the Commencement procession in which more than 470 students will participate. Members of the Class of 1963 will also participate in the ceremony as part of this year's 50th reunion festivities.
Featured speaker for this year's Commencement is Matt Darrah, a 1984 graduate of the University of Mount Union and executive vice president of North American Operations for Enterprise Holdings. During his address, Darrah will speak on the topic, "Setting Yourself Apart in a Competitive Work Environment."
Darrah began his journey with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 1984 as a management trainee in southern California. He worked his way up the corporate ladder, reaching positions of group rental manager of Enterprise Rent-A-Car's Connecticut operations in 1990, and then earning the position of vice president/general manager of the Rhode Island operations in 1992. He was promoted to vice president/general manager in 1996, overseeing Toronto operations where he worked hard to establish Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Canada in a fairly new market. Four years later, he and his family relocated to St. Louis after accepting the position of corporate vice president overseeing Canadian operations.
In 2002, Darrah became the corporate vice president of the northeast region. He obtained the role of senior vice president of North American Operations in 2004 and was again promoted to his current position of executive vice president in 2009.


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BOSTON (AP) - A woman is praising Boston transit workers for rescuing her 3-year-old daughter's stuffed animal from the train tracks.
According to Casey Carey-Brown's blog, "Life with Roozle" (http://bit.ly/McWgBo ), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority workers acted quickly to save her daughter's stuffed bunny from being run over Wednesday.
Carey-Brown writes that the stuffed animal "jumped" from her daughter's stroller as they exited the train at the Green Street stop in Jamaica Plain, and fell onto the tracks.
She says an MBTA worker called the oncoming train, halting it, so he could safely rescue the toy.
In her blog, the mother thanks the workers who aided in the rescue effort, saying "you really didn't have to do what you did today, but you have made a little 3-year-old incredibly happy."


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16 U.S. Code § 460r - Establishment
prev | next
§ 460r.
In order to provide for the public outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of the area in the vicinity of Mount Rogers, the highest mountain in the State of Virginia, and to the extent feasible the conservation of scenic, scientific, historic, and other values of the area, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in the Jefferson National Forest in the State of Virginia.
(Pub. L. 89–438, § 1, May 31, 1966, 80 Stat. 190.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Davies said, "It's all about development at this stage. This is the first taste of international rugby for these players and it's great for them to be able to train and play together in a competitive environment where we will be reviewing and analysing our matches and preparing for the next challenge.
"We have a good group of players, we are pleased with what we have seen so far and we are looking for good performances - if we can get the results too that will be a welcome bonus. More than anything we are looking to further develop the players so that they are well prepared to step up to the next level of age grade rugby and beyond."
There are some famous names within the squad such as Joel Ringer, son of Wales international Paul, Billy McBryde, son of Wales assistant coach and Sid Blackmore, son of former Cardiff and Wales prop Steve.
Welsh Schools U16 Squad
Forwards: Sam Brinkworth (Blues South / Whitchurch HS/ Rumney), Rhys Fawcett (Scarlets / Pembroke / Pembroke), Rhys Forse (Blues South / Barry HS), Dai Harris (Blues North / Tonypandy Comp / Ystrad Rhondda), Gerwyn Coleman (Blues North / Tonypandy / Ystrad Rhondda), Aldi Coverdale (Blues South/ Glantaf / Llanishen), Jack Davies (Dragons / Oakdale / Abertillery), Matthew Moore (Scarlets / Bryngwyn / Llanelli Wanderers), Kieron Asseratti (Blues North / Porth County / Treorchy), Richard Bassett (Scarlets / Strade / Llanelli Wanderers), Leon Brown (Dragons / St Josephs / St Josephs), Joel Ringer (Blues South / Stanwell / Cowbridge), Jacob Blackmore (Ospreys / Cefn Saeson / Tonmawr), Callum Haggett (Blues North / Tonyrefail / Ystrad Rhondda), Tom Hayward (Blues South / Radyr CS / Pentyrch), Bryce Morgan (Dragons / Caerleon High / Caerleon), Shaun Evans (Scarlets / Bryngwyn / Felinfoel), Dan Holder (Blues South / Cowbridge CS / Cowbridge), Lloyd Phillips (Dragons / Monmouth / Abergavenny), Sid Blackmore (Blues South / Cathedral HS / Llandaff), Shaun Edwards (Scarlets / Strade / Llanelli Wanderers), Morgan Sienawski (Blues North / Bryn Celynnog / Llantwit Fadre), Joe Gaughan (Blues South / Cowbridge CS / Cowbridge), Josh Macleod (Scarlets / Bro Gwaun / Crymych), Steff Taffetsauffer (Scarlets / Strade / Llanelli Wanderers), Stephen Leonard (Scarlets / Newcastle Emlyn / Newcastle Emlyn)
Backs: Matthew Aubery (Ospreys / Pontarddulais / Pontarddulais), Liam Free (Blues South / Whitchurch / Llandaff), Harry Randall (Scarlets/ Llandovery Coll / Kidwely), Rhodri Rees (Scarlets/ Strade / Pontarddulais), Luke Fish (Blues South / St Illtyds / Rumney), Callum Hall (Blues North / Mountain Ash / Pontypridd), Josh Malson (Dragons / St Albans / Pontypool Utd), James Hussey (Dragons / Caldicot / Abergavenny), Billy McBryde (Scarlets / Maes yr Yrfa / Tumble), Matthew Pearce (Scarlets/ Strade / Llanelli Wanderers), Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Llangynwyd / Bryncethin), Lloyd Lewis (Dragons / Gwynllyw / Croesyceiliog), John Williams (Exiles / Forest School / London Irish), Patric Lewis (Dragons / Lewis Boys/ Penallta), Shaun Pearce (Scarlets / Strade / Llanelli Wanderers), Jack Evans (Scarlets / Llandovery Coll / Llandovery), Curtis Povey (Blues North / Tonypandy / Ystrad Rhondda), Jared Rosser (Dragons / Abersychan / Pontypool Utd), Rhys Gealy (Ospreys / Gwyr / Pontarddulais), Kieran Jones (Scarlets / Dyffryn Taf / Carmarthen Quins)
Welsh Schools Under 16 Fixtures
Saturday 30 March: Welsh Schools Under 16 A v USA Wellington College 4pm
Monday 1 April: Welsh Schools Under 16 v Scotland Wellington College 11am
Tuesday 2 April: Welsh Schools Under 16 v France Wellington College 2.30pm
Friday 5 April: Welsh Schools Under 16 v Saracens Under 17 Allianz Park 6pm
Saturday 6 April: Welsh Schools Under 16 v England Iffley Road, Oxford 2.30pm


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i'm writing my master's thesis on lexicography & i'm in desperate need of your much appreciated expertise with trying to define the following order relation, no equation, but rather an overall impression would do regarding reflexivity / symmetry .. as against a strict alphabetical order.
it's about the way in some dictionaries words are ordered by roots instead of alphabetically (ie. word families)
thanks a lot in advance !!
a A a A
a A b A
a A c A
b A a A
b A b A
b A c A
z A z A
a A a B
a A b B
a A c B
z A z Z
a B a A
a B b A
a B c A
z Z x Z
z Z y Z
z Z z Z


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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu practiced for the first time in seven weeks Friday.
However, the seven-time Pro Bowl safety is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Polamalu, who was limited in Friday's practice, hasn't played since Week 5 due to a calf injury.
Wide receiver Antonio Brown is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest. Brown has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.
Fellow wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has been ruled out after suffering multiple rib fractures in last week's game against Baltimore.


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I'm developing an Android application that opens a TCP port in the mobile to handle requests.
I have created a button which when pressed runs a thread which creates a server socket like this:
serverSocket = new ServerSocket(port);
Socket socket = serverSocket.accept();
But as accep() waits for a connexion and it stops the whole user interface, you can't do anything with it.
The server works ok, but the interface doesn't work.
Does anybody know how to make the main process not wait for the thread?
Thanks in advance


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A Cyclical Poem, Photo50 is curated by Nick Hackworth, and brings together photographers who have long and significant careers:
Above: Chris Steele-Perkins. Funeral of my mother with my brother Thein and sister Seyn 2001
The photographer explains: "My book Echoes was made up of images all taken in one particular year, 2001. I called the book Echoes because the project was fragmentary, like the visual equivalent of a series of echoes.
"One of the big things that year, for me, was the death of my mother. I've spent a fair amount of my time working in the developing world and conflict zones. I've photographed a number of deaths and funerals and put those photos out there and I didn't feel I should have double standards… It's still raw. I still have a reaction from seeing this image."
London Art Fair runs until January 20. Londonartfair.co.ukPicture: Magnum Photos, part of Photo50 at London Art Fair


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To the Editor:
"I don't trust any of them. They say whatever you want to hear and all of them promise to fix all of our problems while cutting taxes. Huh? How is that even possible? So how do I know whom to vote for?"
For a serious Catholic, there are five key non-negotiable issues which should not be endorsed by any candidate for public office. These five issues are always morally wrong and must never be promoted by the law. These 5 non-negotiable issues are:
1. Abortion
2. Euthanasia
3. Fetal stem cell research
4. Human cloning
5. Homosexual marriage
To vote in favor or support any of these is harmful to the common good and gravely immoral.
It is prudent to apply these same standards to local candidates as to state and national levels.
You need to look at each candidate as an individual and not base your vote on:
· Political party
· Voting habits
· Family voting tradition
· Appearance of a candidate
· Personality
· Media savvy
· Race
Do not vote for candidates simply because they are "Catholic," as often they reject basic Catholic moral teaching.
Finally, do not reward with your vote candidates who are right on lesser issues but who are wrong on any of these five key moral issues - being wrong on just one of these non-negotiable issues is sufficient to exclude them from consideration.
Currently it is the Democrats who are on the wrong side of these key issues and especially Mr. Obama,
the most pro-abortion and pro-homosexual president America has ever elected.
A Catholic who supports him commits a grave mortal sin.
(Adapted from "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" - Catholic Answers)
Chris LaRose, Potsdam


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The Washington Post reported on a recent study out of the National Institute of Mental Health. The study found that different brain areas are activated when a person moves up or down in social status or sees people who are socially superior or inferior. The brain seemed to activate in a similar manner to winning money.
The scientists indicate that our position in social hierarchies affects motivation as well as physical and mental health. Past research has supported the relationship between social rank and health. For example, persons with a lower social status had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and to die early. Psychological effects to include loss of control over one's environment may be one trigger for the relationship to poor health.
The brain seems to have a hard wiring for hierarchical information and that this information is important to us. Our desire to compete, play to win, and to be motivated are directly linked to brain circuitry.
This most likely explains our civilization's interest in sports, gaming, and competition. Our own individual struggle to reach our specific potential in areas of school, work, or skill development also fit into this model. It may not be such a stretch to suggest that our drive to personal health, including brain health involves such brain circuitry and that computerized mental exercises that provide explicit feedback on our performance is one tangible example of competitive health behavior.
Click here to read the Washington Post article


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This week served up some treats on the European stage, as well as an abundance of drama and brilliance.
Manchester United were left fuming and cursing the officials after a controversial red card for Nani signalled a collapse against Real Madrid that saw them crash out of the Champions League last 16 stage.
Goals from former Old Trafford hero Cristiano Ronaldo and ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Luka Modric cancelled out the Nani-inspired own goal from Sergio Ramos.
Gareth Bale was the catalyst for another inspiring Spurs victory at White Hart Lane just a couple of days later as Andre Villas-Boas' side thrashed Inter Milan 3-0 in their Europa League last 16 tie.
A demolition of the same scoreline took place in Germany as Borussia Dortmund booked their place alongside Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Mario Götze was the star of the show as Jurgen Klöpp's side despatched Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk with little fuss and sent a warning out to the rest of the teams in the competitions with a terrific win.
With all that in mind, GiveMeFootball decided to put together a European team of the Week for your perusal.
Here it is…
GK –Diego Lopez, Real Madrid
Made a number of crucial saves to keep out Sir Alex Ferguson's men as they pushed on late in the game.
RB – Danny Simpson, Newcastle United
Alan Pardew's team did brilliantly to be the first away team to shut out Anzhi Makhachkala this season.
CB – Raphael Varane, Real Madrid
Was slightly suspect on the United goal but was terrific again in repelling the United attack.
CB – Ezequiel Garay, Benfica
The Chelsea and Manchester United target put in another faultless display as the Portuguese side held firm for a 1-0 win over Bordeaux.
LB – Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs' attacking game is much easier when the Cameroonian is covering for them and joining in with late surges – was brilliant.
CM – Luka Modric, Real Madrid
Simply put, he changed the game for Jose Mourinho's team and scored a magnificent equaliser.
CM – Ogyeni Onazi, Lazio
Got on the scoresheet and dominated throughout from the centre of midfield.
LM – Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur
The Welsh wing wizard isn't exactly a left midfielder anymore but he is for this team. Another goal, another assist, another peerless display.
RM - Mario Götze, Borussia Dortmund
.The diminutive German playmaker was a class apart throughout, scoring a cute goal
CF – Danny Welbeck, Manchester United
Worked tirelessly throughout and did not deserve to be on the losing side.
CF – Gonzalo Higuain, Real Madrid
Made the crucial cross to set up Cristiano Ronaldo's winner and was dangerous all night.
What do you think of GMF's European Team of the Week? Leave a comment below to let us know…
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Patrick Joseph Kennedy II is former US Representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district serving from 1995 until 2011. He was a chief sponsor of one of the major pieces of legislation of 2008, the Mental Health Parity Act, a bill requiring most group health plans to provide coverage for the treatment of mental illnesses that is comparable to what they provide for physical illnesses. He is a strong proponent of adding a comprehensive prescription-drug benefit to the U.S. Medicare and has consistently opposed attempts to privatize the Medicare program. A member of the Kennedy political family, he is the younger son of the longtime Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.
Patrick Kennedy - Rebecca Costa
May 1st, 2014


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At Activisions Q4 2010 earnings call, the company announced an impending toy cross-promotion to be unveiled at Toy Fair. Today the company revealed Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, a multi-platform revival of the adorable dragon with interactive toys to be sold in stores like Toys 'R' Us.
The game allows players to bring their toys into the game world, and the figures are said to remember stats like achievements and level-ups as they're taken in and out of the game. Each character comes with its own powers, and players can bring in two toys at once to play cooperative or versus modes.
The game and technology are the product of Toys for Bob, a California-based Activision studio behind various licensed games based on animated properties. The story was written by Alek Sokolow and Joel Cohen, two of the Academy Award nominated writers from Pixar's break-out hit Toy Story.
The game is set to come out this fall on "multiple gaming platforms, as well as on handheld gaming devices, mobile devices and on the web." Check out the toy gallery to see the figures for yourself.


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What is the A/T mode on a 1999 mitsubishi montero sport stand for?
kgb answers » Home & Garden » Automotive » What is the A/T mode on a 1999 mitsubishi montero sport stand for?
Wednesday, February 01 2012Source: http://kgb.com
Top 10 questions Automotive
- What car did Adam sandler drive in Happy Gilmore
- What does the e in ford E350 mean?
- How do you reset the trip odometer on a 2009 chevy malibu?
- 2004 Lexus LX470.. what dose the VGRS warning light on dash mean? *Papa Haskell*
- Which came first? The Corvette or Camaro?
- How long is a 06 honda civic in feet
- How much does a 2007 cadilac escalade ext weigh?
- What is the front and rear speaker size for a 2005 ford focus zx4 st?
- How many miles can a 2006 pontiac torrent drive after the gas light comes on?
- How many quarts of oil does a chevy big block 366 cubic inch engine hold


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ILLINOIS (WIFR) -- In Illinois, there are just two weeks left to register to vote. Dozens of high school kids crowded into the Pecatonica High School Cafetaria to register to vote. In the crowd was one unlikely voter, who'd never cast a ballot before: 65-year-old Carl Baney.
"I guess I just figured it wasn't that important. But now as I get older I realize that I should have been voting all along," said Carl Baney.
Unlike Carl, for most in this room, it's their first time being eligible to vote.
"This decides the next four years of the life that you'll live. So, I want to make the right choice," said first time voter Eric Morgensen.
Representatives from the League of Women voters set up a booth at the high school to make it easier for voters to express their constitutional right.
"The League of Women Voters has for 90 years been pioneer in getting people out to vote. It is extremely important that we make every vote count," says Susan Jeffries.
Local political parties say they've been reaching out to the community to register before it's too late.
"Well, we're mobilizing our people to register to vote when it comes to our core constituencies. Mostly, labor unions, and in precincts where there tends to be more democratic voters. We have in the past gone door to door," said Charlie Laskonis, the Democratic Party Chairman for Winnebago County.
"We have encouraged them individually to go out to various areas of the community, whether it's to restaurants, schools, or churches, or whatever, to go ahead and be available in the event that we have any people that haven't registered," said Winnebago Republican Chairman Jim Thompson.
The League of Women voters will have another booth set up this weekend at Logli on Charles Street.
Once you're registered you can actually cast your ballot starting on Thursday in the city of Rockford. Just head to the election office on 6th street from 9 to 5 on weekdays or 9 to noon on Saturday with a picture ID.
If you do miss the October 9th deadline, there is a grace period. From October 10th through November 3rd you can register to vote at the county clerk's office, but must also cast your ballot that same day.


text:
Here's your chance to see why BioShock Infinite won Best of Show at E3 this year. The latest episode of GameTrailers TV shows off the entire behind-closed-doors presentation of Irrational's upcoming game, with a few interruptions provided by Geoff Keighley. In the demo, you'll see the mysterious tears in action.
The episode is nearly twenty minutes long, so you might want to grab some popcorn before you hit play.


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Senior Fashion Retail Designer
- Recruiter
- Bespoke Careers
- Salary
- £40000-45000 per annum
- Posted
- 24 Jan 2014
- Closes
- 21 Feb 2014
- Ref
- 18074
- Sector
- Architecture
- Function
- Architect
- Job Type
- Permanent
A leading Soho based Retail Brand Consultancy require a highly conceptual senior fashion retail interior designer to join their established team. Focusing on large International projects as well as boutique UK projects; strong concept skills, excellent knowledge of Vectorworks and strong hand sketching are prerequisites, as is extensive experience within the fashion retail design sector. You will need to be a meticulous designer and able work on your own initiative and direct more junior team members. This is a great opportunity to gain experience working for a prestigious and highly regarded multidisciplinary design practice alongside a talented team of designers. Fashion retail experience is a must, as well as strong Vectorworks experience. Start ASAP. Applications without samples will not be considered.


text:
Submission + - World's largest submillimeter camera set to probe (gizmag.com)
cylonlover writes: Although it might sound like an oxymoron, the newly unveiled SCUBA-2 camera housed at the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is the world's largest submillimeter camera. Submillimeter refers not to the physical size of the new camera itself, but to the submillimeter waveband between the far-infrared and microwave wavebands that the telescope observes. Being far more sensitive and powerful than its predecessor, SCUBA-2 will be able to map areas of the sky faster than ever before and provide information about the early life of stars, planets and galaxies.


text:
Never miss a deal, always be up to date -
The most important events and product news
with the MUSIC STORE Newsletters!
The 6 sided Ganza Shaker from Pearl are made of aluminium and can produce 3 different sounds – by simply varying the direction of movement.
PEARL Ganza PGA-32 features: hexagonal aluminium shaker large version produces 3 different sounds – by varying the direction of movement
!!! 3 years Music Store warranty !!!
!!! 30 days Money-back guarantee !!!
Every month we are giving away a shopping voucher among all submitted reviewers worth 500 EURO!
Congratulations to the winner of December: Michael Rauser, Heilbronn (DE)
The winner from the previous month (November): Martin Reinert, Siegburg (DE)
You can rate this product if you like. By rating this product you will be automatically entered into our monthly shopping voucher giveaway!


text:
"[Call of Duty] isn't a perfect series, but some of my weekends are frequently lost to the multiplayer, and the single-player occasionally threatens to be exciting. So maybe it wasn't a shock when I found myself legitimately excited for the latest installment. Thankfully, that excitement wasn't misplaced. Between the multiplayer, the campaign, and the Zombies mode, everything about Call of Duty: Black Ops II is solid, culminating in a whole that is very much worth it…even if the experience feels a little iterative at times." Mike from Velocity Gamer
wow this trash gets a perfect score, but original games like zombiu get inexcusable low scores.
The trolling on COD articles is ridiculous, if you don't like COD, then STOP GOING ON COD ARTICLES, you people are worse than the game you talk crap about. (this is coming from a dude who's never bought a COD game in his life)
Sorry...but Blops2 is refined to near perfection for what it delivers. And it delivers three seperate games! Add the multitude of playlists that adds plenty of different modes.
It's pretty feature rich and works. Glitches are minimal. But that's why I think it's not perfect. Just very good.
COD does exactly what it's supposed to do , the multiplayer is so addictive it could possibly be illegal . I just wish it would satop making my machine freeze :(


text:
|Register | Login
Technical Problem With This Chapter?
Author: St Margarets
Story: The Flat
Part: The Flat — Part I
Rating: Young Teens
Setting: Post-DH
Status: Completed
Reviews: 11
Words: 7,308
Updated: January 20, 2009, 4:51am
The Flat — Part I
A/N: This is my Secret Santa Story for kinderjedi who asked for a story describing how Percy fell in love with Audrey. Apparently, it took thousands of words for Percy to fall in love with Audrey!
He brushed the soot off of his shoulders and scowled at the deserted receptionist's desk.
Madam Chambers couldn't have stood him up again. This was the third time he had attempted to see her. Barely controlling his impatience, he rapped once on the paneled door of the inner office.
He rapped again — this time more insistently.
He thought he heard the creak of a chair and then footsteps. Someone was in there.
"Madam Chambers?"
He knocked again. "I'm not going away until this door is opened."
A tall, brown-haired witch opened the door. She had high cheekbones and a direct gaze. After staring at him for a heartbeat, her cool blue eyes narrowed. "Yes?"
Percy frowned. This must be the errant receptionist and — unfortunately for him — one with an attitude. "I'm Percy Weasley. I have a two o'clock appointment with Madam Chambers."
The witch raised her eyebrows. "An appointment at two o'clock? I think not."
He couldn't believe her rudeness. "Forgive me," he retorted with exaggerated politeness. "I must have my days mixed up. It is Friday the 29th, is it not, Miss…?"
She bristled at his tone, just like he knew she would. Disrespectful people hated to be treated with respect.
"Don't condescend to me, Mr. Weasley. You know damn well it's the 29th. I'm sure we can both read a calendar, but apparently Madam Chambers can't. She's double-booked us. I also have an appointment with her at two o'clock on the 29th."
"You don't work for Madam Chambers?" he asked stupidly. It was obvious she didn't now that he looked at her. Her elegant navy blue robes were unlike the fashionable attire the junior staff workers at the Ministry wore and her manner was far from deferential.
"I thought I had established that," she said, crossing her arms in front of herself and glaring at him.
"My mistake," he said through gritted teeth.
She didn't say anything and she didn't move, either, she just continued to stare at him with dislike.
He drew a deep breath and attempted to reign in his irritation. "I don't have time for this. I left an important budget meeting at the Ministry and —"
"Then you should return," the witch interrupted in falsely sweet tones. "Now."
"I'll just leave Madam Chambers a note," he said, trying to step around the witch to enter the office.
"Oh, no, you don't!"
To his surprise, he felt her palm on his chest. She wasn't going to let him enter and she was trying to physically intimidate him to boot. He didn't know whether to laugh or to stay irritated. She might be tall for a witch, but he was taller — there was no way she could win that sort of confrontation. "May I inquire as to why you don't wish for me to enter this office?"
"Yes, you may inquire." Her eyes flashed and she pushed him again. "But that doesn't mean I'll answer."
He felt a strange satisfaction at that push. He was getting under her skin — her pale cheeks were now flushed pink with emotion and one wispy lock of hair had escaped from the bun on her head. "I see." He looked pointedly at her hand over his heart.
Her eyes met his in a startled glance, and then she dropped her hand from his chest as if realizing what she had just done. Her haughty mask slid back into place. "No, you don't see," she said in clear, arctic tones. "I need this flat and I need it at the advertised rate."
"Wait," he interrupted, his mind switching back to the original purpose his appointment. "Which flat?" He frowned. "It's not the one in the Inglenook Building, is it?"
"You've just worked that out, have you?" Her tone was scornful, but she again crossed her arms in front of herself protectively. "We both want the same flat. Madam Chambers is obviously hoping for a bidding war."
He felt his face warm. He should have known better. After all of the years he had spent at the Ministry, he should have guessed that Madam Chambers was playing some sort of game with him. She had rescheduled this lease signing three times already.
"Well, what are you going to do?" the witch asked brusquely. "Are you going to start a bidding war?"
Her chin was sticking out defiantly, her lips were clamped in a firm line, but her expressive eyes gave her away. They were a warmer blue now, glittering with suspicious moisture. She was worried, even though she didn't want to let on.
He hardened his heart. He was NOT going to let her have that flat — no matter how appealing her eyes. He would have to start his search for a flat all over again and he didn't have the time. "No. I won't indulge in a bidding war."
Her facial expression didn't change, but her shoulders dropped by a fraction.
"It's illegal for Madam Chambers to accept more than the advertised rate," he continued loftily. "I will follow the law and I'll make sure all parties follow it as well."
Her eyebrows rose. "Oh? How noble of you." She smirked at him. "With gold off the table, how do you propose Madam Chambers decides which one of us gets the flat?"
"The fair way would be for Madam Chambers to honor her word. I looked at the flat at the beginning of the month. We had a verbal agreement. I should therefore get the flat."
"Don't sound so smug," the witch shot back. "I looked at the flat on the fifteenth and I have a written agreement."
She reached into the side pocket of her severely tailored robes and pulled out a small scroll. "Read it and weep."
Percy grabbed the parchment out of her hand and scanned it quickly. Her name was Audrey Anderson and Madam Chambers had agreed to lease the flat 'with provisions.' At those words, his heart leaped. "There's a loophole in this contract." Percy couldn't keep the triumph out of his voice. "Ms. Audrey Anderson."
"Loophole?" Audrey Anderson snapped, snatching the paper from him. "Where?"
Before he had a chance to answer, there was a whirl of green flames in the fireplace.
"Oh, my dears. I'm terribly sorry I'm late. I was showing a property in the Hebrides and you know how slow the Floo is once you're past Oban." The two ostrich feathers in Madam Chambers' hat fluttered merrily as she hurried toward them. She shook Audrey's hand and then Percy's. "I'm so glad we finally had the chance to meet at a mutually acceptable time."
"Wait," Percy said. "Mutually acceptable? I'm here to sign a lease — that should have nothing to do with anyone else."
Madam Chamber's black eyes opened wide. "Oh, my dear Mr. Weasley. I thought I told you how special Inglenook Building was when I showed you the flat."
Percy frowned. She had, but to him, it had just sounded like the harmless sales blather that estate agents liked to indulge in and he had tuned her out.
Before he had a chance to answer her, Audrey Anderson spoke up. "Madam Chambers, I don't understand why my written —" She looked sideways at Percy. "—contract mentions provisions. What are those provisions? You know I have enough money to pay and —"
"My dear, don't let that contract worry you," Madam Chambers said, patting Audrey on the arm. "This has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with community harmony."
Percy glanced at Audrey — she seemed just as at sea as he did.
"I don't understand," Audrey admitted.
"Sit down," Madam Chambers coaxed. "Both of you."
They arranged themselves in matching straight-backed chairs and watched Madam Chambers shrug off her bright purple cloak while the feathers in her hat flapped it to a high shelf.
"Now," Madam Chambers said brightly. "A pot of tea, I think."
They both protested at once.
"Oh, no —"
"I really don't have time — the Ministry —"
"But, my dears, how are we going to settle this with the flat?" Madam Chambers asked, flourishing her wand. The door flew open and a tea trolley rolled through.
Percy suppressed a groan. This was going to take an hour at the very least.
"Of all the applicants for the flat, you were my top two choices," Madam Chambers said chattily as brought out bright blue china cups. "Milk?" she inquired.
Audrey nodded.
Percy shook his head.
"Biscuits?" She held out a plate.
Audrey shook her head.
Percy took a handful. Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance to eat any since Madam Chambers began her questions and he didn't want to mumble with his mouth full. He pocketed the lot as Madam Chambers began to talk.
"And how are your parents, Mr. Weasley? I helped them find their first home. It was in Devon." Madam Chambers smiled. "A DIY special if I ever saw one — and so tiny — hardly more than a chicken coop. But they were young and in love and thought they could add on if needed." She cocked her head. "Where do they live now?"
"Er — still in Devon," Percy answered wryly, thinking of the "chicken coop" they had managed to expand to house nine people.
"Beautiful area," Madam Chambers nodded. "Within Apparating distance to London. You'll never go wrong investing there. Now your brother, Bill, and that cottage by the sea —"
"They're very happy with it," Percy interrupted before she managed to talk about every house sale his family had ever been involved with. "As you know, I work at the Ministry."
"Ah, yes." Madam Chambers settled a pair of spectacles on her nose and picked up Percy's application. "As an aide to the Minister?"
"How long have you worked at the Ministry?"
"Ten years. Since I left Hogwarts."
Madam Chambers nodded and jotted something on the parchment before her. Surely that was a good thing? Percy thought. Job stability.
"No ambition to go higher?"
"I — er —" At one point he had thought he wanted to be Minister for Magic — or head of an important department, but after seeing what those jobs really entailed, he didn't think he would like the endless public appearances or the endless petty spats or the paranoia of having to watch his back. "Aide to the Minister is fairly high up."
Audrey snorted.
That probably had sounded arrogant, but he was simply stating a fact. He squared his shoulders and ignored her.
"How long have you been at your current flat?"
"Er — nine years."
"And why are you leaving it?"
"Someone bought the building. They're turning it into office space."
"I see." Madam Chambers turned to Audrey without another word. Now Percy was worried. Maybe if he had a sob story? Then he realized how far-fetched that would sound. He made plenty of gold to afford a flat. But he didn't want just any flat; he wanted this one.
Unfortunately, Audrey Anderson did, too.
"Anderson," Madam Chambers mused. "The only Anderson I know of is the new top wizard at Gringotts."
Audrey's teacup faltered midway to her mouth but she recovered quickly. "Yes, I'm fairly new to London," she said crisply. "My move happened to coincide with my father's, but I have not been part of his household since I came of age."
"A young witch on her own!" Madam Chambers exclaimed, looking worriedly at Audrey.
Audrey appeared to be suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. "I'm hardly a naďve young witch, Madam Chambers, and child neglect is not something I would accuse my father of now, or seven years ago for that matter. I left home to pursue a career on the stage, something he did not approve of."
Percy was listening with interest. So Audrey was Owen Anderson's daughter. By all accounts — from what he had heard at the Ministry and from Bill — the new top wizard at Gringotts was an unfeeling tyrant, albeit an effective one. No wonder…
"The stage?" Madam Chambers inquired as she looked over Audrey's application. "It says here that you're a guild representative."
"I am. For the last few years, I've represented various guilds in all sorts of contract negotiations." She put her teacup down on Madam Chambers' desk and added proudly, "My latest success was convincing the Ministry to drop the archaic price controls on theatre tickets."
Percy would have begrudged her the smug tone in her voice, except that he knew what that success actually meant. He had not been part of the negotiations, but he had heard about this "ice princess" who held her own day after day in meeting after meeting until the Minister and the Head of Magical Games and Sports had finally relented. The theatre district rejoiced, but the collateral damage was that Quidditch tickets had also increased in price once the law was lifted — and it proved to be a vastly unpopular decision amongst the public.
"I don't understand, my dear," Madam Chambers persisted. "How you could go from pursing a career on the stage to contract negotiations? It seems to be quite a leap."
A flicker of… Percy couldn't name the emotion that flashed in her eyes because it was gone before he could register it. "Not really," Audrey answered coolly. "I'm not the daughter of a banker for nothing. There was no money in singing for me — or for most other performers, either. The numbers don't add up to a decent living." She raised her chin. "So I decided to do something about it."
"But all of that training… Surely you —" Madam Chambers stopped speaking at Audrey's quelling stare. Now Percy knew why Audrey Anderson had been dubbed an ice princess. The silence stretched until Madam Chambers blinked and changed the subject.
"There are six other flats in the Inglenook Building as you know," she said, now including Percy in her gaze. "I still can't decide which one of you should get the flat — so I will rely on my tenants as I have done in the past."
"The tenants?"
"Why, of course. The residents of Inglenook Building will be your neighbors and therefore they should have the final say." Madam Chambers stood up. "I've arranged for you to meet all the tenants and they will vote on which one of you gets the flat."
Percy's mouth dropped open and Audrey gasped.
"Unless, of course, you wouldn't mind sharing the flat," Madam Chambers suggested hopefully. "There are two bedrooms."
Within minutes, Percy strode out of the spacious Floo that served the residents of the Inglenook Building. It was the one of the first things he had noticed about the place — not having to bend or slouch to use the Floo. He heard Audrey whirling in the flames behind him, but he decided not to turn around and politely help her across the hearth. They were rivals and he had to remember that.
At his side, Audrey shook the ash off of her robes.
Percy thought Madam Chambers should have introduced them to each of the tenants at the very least. Now it seemed that he would have to work through awkward introductions as well as try to win over the neighbors. How he hated this.
"Now what?" Audrey muttered.
He squared his shoulders. "I don't know about you — but I'm going to start with flat number one."
"I'm going with you."
There was nothing he could do to stop her. "Suit yourself." He raised his hand to knock on the bright red door.
"Oh, no you don't," she whispered, trying to elbow him out of the way. "I'll knock."
The jab to his ribs hurt. "No, I will." He leaned so that she could feel his full weight against her side.
She stumbled. "Stop it," she hissed.
He was suddenly aware he was pressed up against a soft length of female flesh. "We'll take turns knocking," he answered and hastily moved away.
Was she blushing?
He nodded abruptly as if to close the matter. Then he knocked on the door.
They heard the yaps of several dogs and then the deep tones of a baying hound. Percy shuddered. A dog lover. Pets had their place, but he wasn't that fond of dogs.
A petite woman with flyaway gray hair opened the door and then stuck out her leg to keep a wild-eyed border collie from bolting out the door. "Come in!" she cried. "My angels won't hurt you. They're just excited Mummy has visitors."
Percy couldn't help but glance at Audrey after this ridiculous greeting. She raised her eyebrows and then swept her arm to indicate he was to go first. The challenge was officially on — no matter how ridiculous the contest.
"Please sit down," said the witch, indicating a lumpy high-backed settee that was furry with dog hair.
He remained standing, as did Audrey. "I don't want to take up any more of your time than necessary, Ms…?"
"Nein," the witch answered with a toothy smile. "My first name is Kay. It's no wonder I love dogs." She bent slightly to rub a huge Doberman behind the ears. Most of the other dogs had settled on the settee or on the rug. Audrey had a furry white dog covering her feet — she looked like she was wearing novelty bedroom slippers.
"Er —" He wanted to laugh, but didn't think that would make a good first impression.
"I suppose we should get on with the vetting," Kay Nein said thoughtfully. "I think I'll have Janus decide. He's a much better judge of character, than I am."
"Janus?" Audrey asked with a frown.
"He's behind the settee — his usual spot. He's rather shy."
Percy looked over the top of the settee and was startled to find two pairs of eyes looking back at him. "Oh!" He jumped back.
"I know," Kay Nein whispered, the color high in her cheeks. "A three-headed dog with only two heads… The breeder was going to dispose of him as a puppy, can you imagine?"
Percy could imagine, but he merely nodded.
Audrey, meanwhile, was skirting the settee while stepping over several dogs to get to one of Janus's heads. Not to be outdone, Percy quickly joined her and awkwardly began to pat the free head. His head didn't seem to mind the petting but it kept looking over at Audrey who was talking in a low, soothing voice to its twin. Percy found that he was rather mesmerized by her voice as well. It was throaty and cooing and sort of… sexy. No wonder Janus was putty in her hands.
Percy was stymied. How could he ever compete against that voice? He felt a wet, snuffling nose bump into the pocket of his robes. A curious dachshund had discovered the biscuits in his pocket.
The biscuits! Of course.
He reached into his pocket and offered it to his Janus head. The biscuit was gone in one gulp. Janus's eyes watched him hopefully. Percy gave it another biscuit. At this point the head that was being petted by Audrey realized it was missing out and turned toward Percy. Percy gave it a biscuit. The dog's tail began to thump on the floor, and the creature turned his whole body toward Percy so both heads were facing him and ignoring Audrey.
"I hear a thumping tail," cried Kay Nein. "Janus has made a new friend." She looked over the settee at Percy. He immediately put his hands on the dog's heads and smiled. Luckily, the heads were done licking their lips and the intense interest in their eyes appeared to be slavish adoration of Percy.
"I knew Janus would like you!" Kay exclaimed. "His constant companion was Shamrock, an Irish Setter with blue eyes — the same coloring as you, Mr. Weasley." She smiled sadly. "Dear Shamrock died of old age, not two months ago. You'll have to visit Janus often once you move in, Mr. Weasley."
"I see you stoop to bribes, Shamrock," Audrey said as they walked to the next flat.
"Pity you didn't think of it."
She snorted and knocked on the door. "Round one to you, then. But I'm going to win this war and I won't stoop to unethical behavior."
Percy hardly thought feeding a dumb beast was unethical, but he decided not to argue the point since they had a bigger problem in that no one was answering the door. Audrey frowned and knocked again. She put her ear against the door. He listened, too.
Odd, even though they had only walked a few steps from Kay Nein's flat, he couldn't hear the dogs.
Percy marveled again at how magical this building really was. It reminded of Hogwarts in a way — quirky and spacious, with some intriguing magical features. Perhaps that's why he wanted to live here so badly. He had loved Hogwarts.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a clearing throat. "I say, don't you two know what time it is?"
Startled, Percy looked up at a gargoyle suspended over the door.
"Well, what?" Percy asked.
"The time," the gargoyle reminded them.
"It's three o'clock," Audrey cut in. "And Madam Chambers assured us that everyone in the building would be home this afternoon."
"Miss Annette Butler is home," the gargoyle explained with patient disdain. "She is always in at this hour since her shift as Healer doesn't begin until seven in the evening."
"Is she awake?" Percy asked.
"Yes, it's her habit to awaken by three o'clock so she won't miss the opening scene of Days of Destiny."
"Days of Destiny!" Audrey smacked her forehead. "I should have known. They perform it in the mornings and capture it in the studio Pensieve. Gerard said they aired it later in the day, but I didn't know the actual time."
"Wait," the gargoyle turned its long sharp nose in Audrey's direction. "You know the actors on Days of Destiny?"
"Yes," Audrey answered. "I'm their representative for the Actor's Guild."
"Pardon me for one moment," the gargoyle popped his head back into the wall, like a cuckoo going back into a clock.
After a short wait, Percy heard high heels clicking and then the door swung open. "Come in!" said a smiling, curly-haired woman. "We have five minutes to chat." She held out her hand to Audrey.
"I'm sorry you're missing Days of Destiny," Audrey said.
"I won't miss much. The first set of adverts are on now and Will — that's my gargoyle — is listening in case my favorite plot line comes up."
Percy realized he was being ignored in favor of Days of Destiny. It wouldn't be the first time, he though glumly as he looked around the entryway that seemed to have been styled after an Italian villa. Every witch he knew — including his mother and sister — loved that show. He sighed and looked around at the mosaics on the walls, the terracotta tile on the floor and the three-tired fountain that bubbled merrily.
"Well, my enduring favorite plot line is Fiona and Roderick, of course," Annette said in answer to Audrey's question. "But my new favorite story line is about that singer — Roxanne. You know — the one who suffered such terrible stage fright and ruined a big production in Vienna that she vowed to never sing again? The actress who plays Roxanne has such a beautiful voice that I'm quite as determined as Roderick for her to sing."
For some reason, pink color had risen in Audrey's face. "Well, I don't —"
"Wait," Percy felt he had to at least try to endear himself to this Days of Destiny fan. "Why does Roderick care if this Roxanne ever sings?"
Annette Butler turned her dark eyes to Percy for the first time. "Because she's Roderick's long lost niece."
"I thought Roderick was a lone hero?" He looked from Annette to Audrey. "With no family ties. I remember my mother saying —"
"Season fifty-two," Annette interrupted eagerly. "Roderick discovered his long-lost half brother, Roland, who had been imprisoned in Lord Lyle's dungeon. Roxanne was just a child then. Her beautiful singing captivated her jailors, so she was never harmed, nor was her father."
"Oh." At a loss, Percy stared at one of the mosaics until he realized that it was of a half-naked warrior in a loincloth. He abruptly tuned back to the conversation.
"Roxanne will never sing — at least the actress who is playing her won't," Audrey said.
"Oh." Annette pouted. "Is it in her contract or something?"
"Well, no — I mean, I can't —"
"Wait!" Annette squealed and grabbed both of Audrey's arms. "You're the voice of Roxanne!"
To Percy's surprise, Audrey smiled. Obviously she was not immune to flattery. "It's an uncredited part," she explained. "I happened to be on the set one day and they needed someone…"
"I CANNOT believe that I actually have someone from the cast of Days of Destiny in my flat!" Annette squealed. "This is UNBELIEVABLE."
Even though he knew he had lost this vote, Percy had to laugh. Annette was simply too happy not to share in her enthusiasm. "My mother won't believe it, either," he said with a grin.
Annette's eyes widened at Percy's words. "I have to owl my mum! No, wait. Not until after this episode is over. It's Friday and I can't miss it. But I want to ask you more questions," she turned breathlessly to Audrey, clearly torn between fawning over Audrey and getting back to the program.
"Miss Butler," Will the gargoyle called, "Lord Lyle has just broken into Roxanne's bedroom and hexed her with a Silencing Spell."
"Oh, no!" Annette eyes were round. "I have to go!" She gave Audrey a quick hug. "After you move in, we can listen together! I can hardly wait!"
"Yes, well..." Audrey began, but Annette had already vanished.
"Are they always like this?" Percy asked as they left the flat.
"Days of Destiny fans. Are they always like this?"
"I've never met one," Audrey answered stiffly. "Until now. Like I said, I have an uncredited part — and like you just heard, my character has been Silenced by the writers — at my request."
Percy frowned. "But why? Are you that busy with the guilds?"
Audrey looked around. "I wonder where the staircase is? When Madam Chambers showed me the flat, we didn't go this way."
Her attitude about Days of Destiny was puzzling. "I still don't see why you would want your character silenced."
"It's none of your business."
He felt a quick stab of anger at her cold response. "I see."
She rounded on him. "You always say that, but you don't see. I told the writers that in order to be realistic, Roxanne should never sing again."
"But —"
She held up her hand. "I know about this subject. No one — especially a character like Roxanne — could ever recover from the shame of such a public humiliation."
"But one mistake?"
"It wasn't a 'mistake,'" Audrey retorted. "Letting that many people down isn't a mistake. Picture it — your face and name on the posters and in the papers — advertising for weeks in several languages. Thousands of Galleons invested for the production. Thousands of hours invested by the actors and the crew and the orchestra and the directors." Her voice cracked. "And you watch the audience filing in — you see your father — your grandmother. And you're so nervous you think your heart is going to pound through your chest. But you don't tell anyone — you're too proud. And you go on stage and then you freeze and then the booing begins —" She swallowed and looked at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "Well, that's what happened."
"To Roxanne?"
She sucked in a breath and then raised her chin. "Yes, to Roxanne!"
Percy was at a loss. Obviously the story she had told him was closer to Audrey's life than to fiction.
She needed to get over it.
He doubted she would appreciate that insight.
"I'm sure the writers will come up with some sort of happy ending for Roxanne," he offered after a long pause.
"What sort?" she asked scornfully. "It was really her evil twin who messed up? She'll find the meaning of life in Lord Lyle's dungeons? She can only sing under water? All of those people — including her father — will forgive her?"
He blinked at her vehemence. "Maybe she'll forgive herself for messing up," he said quietly. "That would be a start."
She turned away. There was something poignant about the line of her back as she bowed her head. He almost wanted to offer a cup of tea — or a hug — but was spared the embarrassment of a rebuff when she straightened her shoulders and said in a calm voice, "I think we should find the next flat."
The next flat was in a tower. An arched blue door opened to a narrow stone spiral staircase. Audrey began the climb first. Percy tried not to notice the very nice shape of her hips — or the way those nicely shaped hips moved — or the way the skirts of her robes lifted to give him a glimpse of lovely long legs. But it was difficult to ignore the view when she right there in front of him. He should start counting the number of stairs or something. She was his rival, for Merlin's sake — he had to stay focused.
Luckily, he was able to focus on something else when they reached the top landing. He could hear a baby crying through the heavy door of the flat.
Audrey frowned at the noise. "A baby?" she inquired as if such a thing was an alien species.
"If the Inglenook Building allows dogs, surely it would allow children."
She bristled. "I don't know anything about babies — and I'm not apologizing for that lack of knowledge. The only thing I learned about children in the theatre is that they tend to upstage the adults."
Percy laughed. "Sounds accurate."
"Don't tell me you know about babies." She raised her eyebrows and stood back so he could approach the door.
"I was the third of seven children so I remember when my sister and youngest brother were infants," he answered smugly, thinking he might be able to win this vote. "And now I'm an uncle a few times over."
He gave her a sidelong glance after he knocked on the door. She had her head cocked and was biting her lip.
"Do you think something is really wrong?" Audrey asked anxiously as the baby's wails increased.
"The baby thinks so."
"Well, obviously — but…"
The door was opened abruptly by a frizzy-haired witch with a white cloth on her shoulder and a swaddled infant in one arm. Percy's heart sank. He knew this witch. She was Linda Smythe, one of Penelope's roommates at Hogwarts.
Linda Smythe — one of Penelope's roommates who had hated him.
Linda hadn't noticed Percy yet — she was looking imploringly at Audrey. "Do you happen to know the Nappy-Changing Charm? Or would you mind holding Simone whilst I look it up in What Do You Do With Your New Witch or Wizard? I'm so sleep deprived I can't remember anything."
"I don't —" Audrey looked positively frightened as Linda thrust baby Simone into her arms.
"Er — I know that charm," Percy volunteered, taking out his wand.
Linda mustn't have been that sleep-deprived since she recognized him right off. "Percy Weasley? What the hell are you doing here?"
"The Nappy-Changing Charm," he said calmly as he waved his wand at the squirming infant. Linda might still dislike him but he couldn't let a baby cry like that.
A wave of blue, scented magic washed over the child and spilled out on to Audrey's sleeve. Oops. He had cast the spell too wide. Audrey didn't seem to notice because she was gingerly crooning to Simone. Hopefully she would just think that baby powder smell was from holding the baby.
Within seconds he was holding a not-so-nice smelling bundle and baby Simone was cooing back at Audrey.
"I'll take care of that," Linda said wearily as she Vanished the nappy bundle from his hands. "The loo is to the right of the sitting room if you want to wash your hands."
The sitting room was a mess, but the flat itself was an architectural marvel, blending old and new styles. The rounded tower walls were glass brick, the windows were arched and trimmed in some sort of silver metal and the ceiling was fashioned of stained glass in hundreds of shades of green. The entire effect was that of being deep in a virgin forest — albeit a messy forest with piles of washing strewn about.
After he washed his hands, he lingered in the doorway outside of the sitting room. It was cowardly, but he didn't relish being the target of Linda's barbs — especially with Audrey listening. He sighed as he heard Audrey's animated voice and then Linda's. They were getting along well. There was no chance he could win Linda's vote.
"I could tell you all kinds of stories about Percy," Linda said. "But they would be horribly biased on my part. Percy and I never got on — probably because he was one of the most annoying prefects in my year." She paused. "Er — Maybe I shouldn't say that about prefects. Were you one?"
"Me?" Audrey said with a short laugh. "No, I was never a prefect. I wanted to be loved by my friends, not respected."
"That's typical of a teenaged girl," Linda said in that strident way that always set Percy's teeth on edge. "Our culture conditions girls — women — to be people pleasers."
"I don't know if it's our culture," Audrey said slowly. "My father certainly pushed me to think for myself and not be a people pleaser. Of course, I went to an all-girls school so there was an emphasis on leadership roles for witches." She laughed. "I think it was a just a weakness in my character at the time. I wanted applause — I wanted people to be happy because of me."
"I'm glad you grew out of it," Linda said, taking the now-sleeping baby from Audrey. "Alan and I are going to raise Simone to be her own person."
"Even if Simone wants something different from what you want?" Audrey asked archly.
Percy was pleasantly surprised at this question. Audrey wasn't letting Linda get away with her glib pronouncements.
Percy was further surprised that Linda didn't take offense. "Touché." Linda laughed. "Simone doesn't even want to sleep when I want to sleep. Why would I expect her to blindly follow my philosophy when she's a teenager?" Then she stifled a yawn. "I really need to sleep when the baby sleeps."
Audrey immediately stood up and then caught Percy's eye. "Yes, we should be going."
"Er — yes," Percy agreed. It was startling to hear Audrey say "we" — it felt like they were together rather than rivals. "It was — er —"
"Just like old times," Linda supplied, as she too stood up. "Percy Weasley is still helping those in need in the most annoying way possible."
"Sorry," he said angrily, feeling the blood rise in his face.
"Don't be," Linda said, looking down at her daughter. "It's your nature to be annoying — at least that's how Penelope used to defend you."
"I see," he said, even though he didn't see how that was a defense. And it hurt to think that Penelope had said such a thing — even if it had been over a decade ago.
"Actually, Penelope always defended you by saying 'that's just the way Percy is.'" Linda smiled. "Then she would wax lyrical about what a fantastic kisser you were."
"Erm —" He must be positively scarlet by now.
Linda seemed to be enjoying his discomfiture. "Obviously we weren't impressed with that bit of logic — and teenage girls are a jealous lot."
He opened his mouth to say 'I see,' and then realized that he didn't see and that turn of phrase was getting to be a habit. He was further disconcerted by at the expression on Audrey's face. She was watching him with her head tilted, as if she had just discovered something interesting.
"We weren't very fair to you back then," Linda continued. "So I'm going to tell Lucy — Madam Chambers — that the responsible prefect, the Head Boy extraordinaire of Hogwarts should get the flat." Linda grinned at his astonished expression. Then she turned to Audrey. "I expect I'll see you around the building — no matter who officially gets the flat."
"Oh?" Audrey drew herself to her full height. "I don't see why that would be."
Linda laughed. "I married Alan because of Lucy Chambers. Pop in for tea one of these days and I'll tell you all about it."
They descended the tower stairs in silence. Percy tried to sort out what had just happened and gave up once they entered the main corridor. He would chalk up this vote to doing a good deed and let it go at that. It didn't do to dwell on ancient history — especially with witches involved.
"I don't like this," Audrey said.
Percy stopped walking. "What do you mean?"
"This —" She waved her hand at the next open door that lead to yet another tower staircase.
"I know," he said. "At least the flat we're — I mean, I'm — interested in is on the ground floor."
"I'm not talking about the stairs. I'm talking about Linda and what she —"
"I didn't think she would give me her vote, either," Percy said quickly, in case Audrey was going to accuse him of having an unfair advantage because he knew more people in England than she did. "Sometimes it's better if —"
"I'm not talking about votes, either!" She grabbed his arm and tried to turn him toward her. "Would you listen?"
Her grip on his arm, more than her words, kept him from replying in kind. She was genuinely upset. Back in Madam Chambers office she had pushed him because she felt threatened by him — but now she was hanging on to his arm as if they were in this together somehow.
Which, in a way, they were.
At his silence, Audrey loosened her hold on his arm somewhat and took a deep breath. "What do you think about what Linda said?"
"About what?"
"About Madam Chambers being responsible for Linda marrying her husband?"
"I hadn't thought about it," he said.
"Think about it now, then," she retorted, her eyes flashing.
He tried, but his mind was a complete blank — probably because he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to marry a shrew like Linda.
"You're not getting this, are you?" Audrey sounded annoyed.
"No, I'm not." He was just as annoyed. "And your nails are sharp."
She quickly pulled her hand away. "So it doesn't bother you that Madam Chambers has other motivations besides flat-letting?"
A chill went down his spine. Had he done it again? Misjudged someone because he was blinded by his own needs and wants?
"Do you think Madam Chambers is up to something with this building or us —" He swallowed. "— something— unethical or illegal or —?"
Her eyes widened. "I don't think —"
"I'm asking because I don't know that I'm a very good judge of character. I once had a boss who was under the Imperius Curse and I didn't realize it at the time."
"But how could you have —"
"It doesn't matter," he said impatiently, thinking she was going to berate him for being so stupid. "That was the past. But I don't want to make the same kinds of mistakes again — I don't want find myself on the wrong side of anything again because something seems right or comfortable or what I want."
"I keep forgetting about the war," she said quietly. "At the time, I was in Egypt with my father — tucked away at the Witch's Academy. And you were…" Her eyes searched his face. "You must have been at the Ministry — dealing with…"
"Death Eaters and collaborators and desperate people who didn't deserve what was happening to them," he said flatly, looking past her shoulder and seeing again that hideous statue that had defiled the Atrium at the Ministry. "I don't — I'm not very good at —" He ran his hand through his hair. What was he thinking — talking to Audrey about this? She was his rival, he reminded himself.
His rival who was listening with wide, sympathetic eyes.
"I mean to say that I don't think like —" He could feel his face getting hot. "I don't understand hidden motives and I miss things. You seem to be better at it."
"I do?"
"What do you think Madam Chambers is up to?" he asked, trying not to feel too anxious.
Audrey blushed. "Don't you see? Madam Chambers is trying to match-make."
A wave of relief swept over him. "Is that all?"
Her mouth dropped open. "Is that all? Don't you care you're being manipulated?"
"I'm not being manipulated," he said loftily. "Madam Chambers doesn't have any power over me — in fact, she gave away all of her influence when she said the tenants were going to decide who gets the flat."
"But why is she doing this?" Audrey asked in a troubled voice.
"I don't know." Percy shrugged. "Maybe it's a hobby? Or witches in that age group like to pair people off? My mother is always asking when I'm going to settle down." He patted her arm because she looked so worried. "She can't make you do anything you don't want to."
"I know that," she said in a small voice. "I just don't like the feeling someone is trying to play a game with my life."
"You're in charge of your life," he said in his best avuncular voice.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Did you read that off an inspirational poster?"
He was glad to see some of her fighting spirit back and decided to push her a little more. "It seemed like the right thing to say to a diva."
"I'm not a diva — I don't sing!"
"But you're still starring in your own drama."
Startled, she stared at him as if to gauge the intent behind his words. Then she smiled. "Aren't we all?"
"Pity — there's only one diva on stage at a time."
She laughed. "I'm going to upstage you at the next flat," she said, heading for the tower stairs.
"We'll see about that." He almost didn't care about the next flat at his point. Audrey had laughed — such a warm lovely sound.
Rivals, he reminded himself as she started up the stairs. We're rivals for the same flat.
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most of the time at the moment i will not be on tamatalk because of school
so well i post as soon as i will be on again MUCH again
sorry :(
Started by mimitchi2 , Jan 31 2005 12:52 PM
Started31 Jan 2005
Last Post02 Feb 2005
Posted 01 February 2005 - 08:06 AM ( #2 )
Hey that's cool mim2! I will be back at uni end of February so it will be pretty much the same for me too. And when I do get on I will prolly only get through the first three pages of new posts and go again!
A lot of us are at school/uni/work and in the same boat!
A lot of us are at school/uni/work and in the same boat!
Posted 02 February 2005 - 03:10 AM ( #4 )
Everyone who leaves tamatalk is missed!! But, i will be on every afternoon and on weekends...every moring and afternoon.


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Text Size Large SizeMedium SizeSmall Size Color Scheme Black SchemeWhite SchemeGrey SchemePaper Scheme
Why was Jasper so depressed with his first family? What is it that made him leave?
I didn't see any stories like this, so i thought I'd have a go a writing one =] 'Jasper belonged to another...family, a very different kind of family. He became depressed, and he wandered on his own...'
1. February, March...
Rating 4.5/5 Word Count 947 Review this Chapter
I sighed and closed the book as I heard Will return home. I was surprised when I heard two people enter. Tina's red eyes widen and she jumped up from where she was sitting.
She ran in the direction of the door. I followed after her, at a slower pace. I wasn't that interested in who was with Will, I was still mad at him for going feeding without me.
Will was standing in front of the door, with a girl about 19 at his side. She was looking up at all of us through a long brown fringe. She had shoulder length, dead straight, brown hair. She had a heart shaped face with big full lips.
Her red eyes jumped from person to person, never stopping on anyone. I could still smell the remains of human blood pumping around her veins. Will had changed her.
"Say hello to April, our new family member." Will announced proudly.
Tina and I exchanged glances. To us this meant another mouth to feed, so more kills in one place. We would have to move around a lot more often now.
I could feel the fear emanating from her, and did my best to calm her. She was beautiful, but not in the intimidating way Tina was.
Tina used her good looks to her advantage, manipulating every man she found. It was useful at times, but mostly it was a little annoying. She was stunningly beautiful though, with long black hair, wide eyes with long lashes and little lips that were nearly always pouting,
"Why'd you change her, Will?" she purred in that irresistible voice of hers, with a Marilyn Monroe quality, that she always spoke in.
"Just a little bored," Will sighed, picking at his fingers. He had always been very spontaneous and irresponsible.
"Bored?" I asked, a little angry.
Will narrowed his eyes at me. We fought a lot lately, over silly things. I sensed Will was getting bored, itching for excitement.
I looked down from Will and met a pair of curious eyes. When my eyes met with April, I experienced something new. I couldn't separate her feelings from mine, I couldn't control my power, and I couldn't breathe.
Her eyes widened and she quickly looked down. I looked away as well trying to sort my thoughts.
"Come on, I'll show you around," Will told April, taking her hand.
She seemed grateful to leave and followed Will out of the room. Tina left the room too, smiling at me as she went. I stood there a while longer, wondering what had happened. I realised I still wasn't breathing.
I took a few deep breaths and followed after Will and April. They had already finished the 'tour', and they were sitting in the largest room Will claimed as his. April looked a little uncomfortable sitting on the worn, wooden chair, surrounded by dust and all manner of insects.
I made myself look April in the eye. She looked back confused. I got the same feeling, but not nearly as strong as the first time.
"Has she got any…'gifts'?" I asked Will, momentarily forgetting April could hear me, but not taking my eyes off her.
"We don't think so," Will answered in a bored voice.
Will was tall and muscular. He had dark skin, a little paler than it should be and short brown hair. His face usually looked bored, but his eyes were always searching for something, excitement, or maybe trouble.
April tried to brush some of the dust of her chair. We moved around a lot, and didn't always stay in houses. In fact it was just by chance that we found an abandoned house her, and decided to stay in it for awhile.
The house was very old, on the verge of collapsing. Every inch of it was covered in dust and cobwebs. It was slightly comical, the vampires living in the abandoned, frightening and old house.
"I think I'm going to bring April out hunting." Will said suddenly, jumping up. April stood up uncertainly, looking from me to Will.
Will patted my shoulder as he passed and April gave me a small, polite smile.
I wandered around the house for awhile, nothing keeping my attention for long. The house was in such an unusual place, surrounded by forest and not connected to any major roads.
Eventually I went to find Tina. She was in her room. She was lying on the floor and staring at her feet. We didn't really know whether her ability to wrap men around her little finger was just her, or an ability she gained becoming a vampire.
"So what do you think of her?" she asked, looking up at me.
I shrugged and looked out the window.
"Come sit with me, Jasper." she said, patting the floor beside her.
I smiled and sat beside her. She sat up and crossed her legs.
"You ok?" she asked, an unusual serious tone to her voice.
"Yeah. Why?" I asked. She was feeling worry for some reason.
"Just checking," she sighed, lying back on the floor.
I could never really figure Tina out. She was feeling happy now, and she often asked random questions deadly serious. I think under all the looks and the voice, she was very cunning, noticing everything around her. She was always first to feel suspicious, or to notice when we were in trouble.
Will was the opposite, always trusting people and never thinking things through. I sighed as I started to feel a little thirsty.
"We should go feeding," I told Tina.
"Ok," she smiled wickedly. Tina loved luring men almost as much as she loved drinking their blood. She always became a different person when we were feeding, more devilish and cunning.
By the time I was standing, Tina was at the door. I smiled at her eagerness and followed her out.
- Author
- DaisyStPatience
- Rating
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- Reviews
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- 14 Apr 07
- Updated
- 01 Jun 07
- Status
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PathSegmentCollection::ICollection<PathSegment>::IsReadOnly Property
.NET Framework (current version)
This API supports the .NET Framework infrastructure and is not intended to be used directly from your code.
For a description of this member, see ICollection<T>::IsReadOnly.
Namespace: System.Windows.Media
Assembly: PresentationCore (in PresentationCore.dll)
private: virtual property bool IsReadOnly { bool get () sealed = ICollection<PathSegment^>::IsReadOnly::get; }
Property ValueType: System::Boolean
true if the PathSegmentCollection is read-only; otherwise, false.
This member is an explicit interface member implementation. It can be used only when the PathSegmentCollection instance is cast to an ICollection<T> interface.


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Jean M. Bowden
SOUTH BERWICK — Jean M. Bowden, 84, formerly of Old Fields Road in South Berwick and long time resident and native of South Eliot died at Varney Crossing in North Berwick on November 28, 2012.
Born in South Eliot on October 11, 1928, she was a daughter of William E. and Evelyn M. (Dixon) Gerry. She attended local schools graduating from Eliot High School in 1946.
In 1953 Jean married her husband Ansel Bowden and together they made a home and raised their children just a short distance from her childhood home.
They made Woodbine Avenue in Eliot their home for nearly 45 years.
Active in her community, Jean served the Eliot Volunteer Fire Department as a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for many years, she enjoyed membership in the John F. Hill Grange and was a lifelong member of the South Eliot Advent
Christian Church, serving in many capacities over the years, teaching VBS, singing in the choir and serving as a deaconess.
Jean is survived by: her loving family, brother Bill Gerry; sister Glenda Tibbetts; sons Steve and Frank; daughters Brenda, Donna, Leona, Jackie; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Friends may visit with Jean's family on Tuesday evening from 6-8 in the JS Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery Maine 03904. A funeral will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 am in the funeral home with Pastor Charlie
Downes officiating. Family flowers only, donations may be made in her memory to her church the South Eliot Advent Christian Church, 256 Pleasant Street, South Eliot, Maine 03903.
Care for the Bowden family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey Funeral Home.
Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book.
Jean M. Bowden


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Winter White Tulips, 30 Stems
Like a shimmering snow-covered landscape, our winter white tulips bring captivating beauty right to their door. Gathered fresh from select floral farms, they're a wonderful way to express yourself for holiday gatherings, winter birthdays or just because you love to see them smile!
Add to their gift:


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Did you read today's front page stories & breaking news?
From the Wires
Pica8 Executives Selected to Participate in Upcoming Ethernet Technology Summit
By: Business Wire
Jan. 28, 2013 08:06 AM
Pica8 Inc., the leader in open networking for software defined networks (SDN), announced that its chief architect, David Liu, and its vice president of product marketing, Steve Garrison, have been selected to participate at The Ethernet Technology Summit to be held April 2-4 in Santa Clara, CA.
During The Ethernet Technology Summit, Liu will deliver a case study on how to develop an integrated SDN stack by deploying an OpenFlow open-source controller, an OpenFlow open-source virtual switch and a physical switch that supports OpenFlow.
"We've observed that many required tools are readily available in open source, but designers still must understand what they do, how they work, and how to best combine them for real applications," said Liu. "Attendees will see what is needed to make OpenFlow or SDN applications work optimally and gain insight into the practical problems involved in early-stage designs"
In addition to Liu's presentation, Steve Garrison, an advisory board member to The Ethernet Technology Summit, will chair a VC forum about the SDN market. The forum is expected to discuss the short- and long-term SDN investment prospects. As SDN continues to capture considerable mindshare with many startups and high-priced acquisitions, the panel will discuss what VCs are looking for in funding SDN companies, the key factors in achieving success, and how long the VCs expect this trend to last.
For more information about The Ethernet Technology Summit, visit www.ethernetsummit.com.
About Pica8, Inc.
Since 2009, Pica8 has been fulfilling the promise of true software defined networking (SDN) by providing the world's first open, hardware-independent switching system. Pica8 open switches transform the data center by decoupling hardware from software. This new approach provides greater flexibility and adaptability, all while driving down implementation- and management-related costs of cloud and virtualized applications. Pica8 is a global company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.pica8.com.
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Friday, April 2, 2010
Bits And Bobs #42
22 comments:
those trousers look great on youReplyDelete
perfekt.nein wirklich so soll ein junge angezogen sein.unglaublich schön! und deine neue brille ist wunderschönReplyDelete
Beautiful blazer. I wish it was easy to find trousers that fit like yours but for women.ReplyDelete
I can't comment on Topman, but Topshop can be very hit-and-miss I find. Some weeks the items are beautiful, but others they really miss the mark (for me).ReplyDelete
Beautiful jacket! Lovely tweed/autumnal feel. It's making me want to wear my (cheap, similar, and a girls) jacket even more.
wow i wouldnßt have guessed that you were wearing topman. nice fit indeedReplyDelete
You look great.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 2, 2010 at 11:58 PM
do you take the pictures yourself?ReplyDelete
yes, with a tripod and remoteReplyDelete
Hello! I am charmed with your blog. I love your style.ReplyDelete
Do I do a question to you, how old are you?because you has a baby's face...
I´m sorry
i don+t speak english!
kisses for Argentina
smooth but elegant look's ... i always love you Mr. Grob.... and the it Blazer!!!! OMG!ReplyDelete
Beny Ricardo Sadewo
i just wanted to say that i adore your site. i think the photography and the layout is stunning and i am drawn to read on.
i would adore if you checked it out my site...im taking those russsh photos and linking you!
Beautiful photos, like usual :)ReplyDelete
I would've liked to see more of the bagReplyDelete
you look even slimmer than usual in this blazer:D I love it, just like everything about this blog.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 3, 2010 at 3:18 PM
Are they still selling this blazer on their website ? Nice picturesReplyDelete
Chic, cool and iconic.
Love it
Take care
Lucas Magno
nope, it's already sold outReplyDelete
good article, good pictures http://sottch.wordpress.com/ReplyDelete
nice glassesReplyDelete
Such a sharp and smart look. I love your bag it's gorgeous!ReplyDelete
grossartig herr grob.ReplyDelete
are those shoes the jimmy 1ReplyDelete


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Payback, the latest doc from Jennifer Baichwal, opens Friday, March 16
The above photo was taken from the film Payback, which opens in Canadian theatres on Friday, March 16.
Did you know there's a man in Albania who hasn't left his home in almost 10 years? He's been forced into confinement as a result of an episode with a neighbour – a land dispute, to be exact. Llesh shot his neighbour Petrit, and according to the Kanun code, which is still followed in Albania, Petrit has the right to take Llesh's life.
The Kanun code states that if a person is injured, killed or shown a horrifying lack of respect in public, that person (or a member of their family) has the right or obligation to seek revenge by killing the offender. The only exception to this is that the victim is not allowed to enter the home of the offender to carry out the killing.
"[Llesh] shot me," says Petrit. "That's why he owes me."
This scene opens the film Payback, Jennifer Baichwal's latest feature documentary. Based on Margaret Atwood's book of the same name, the film looks at debt in its many incarnations – economic, cultural, criminal, spiritual and environmental. One thing it's not about is money. In talking about the film, Baichwal says:
The first thing I learned, which was a great relief, is that the book wasn't about money… What it was about was the idea of debt – a fantastic, complex riff on all the ways we are governed by owing and being owed in human society and beyond. 'I owe you one.' 'You owe me one.' And so on.
In that vein, Payback explores the situation of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an organization of farm workers in Florida who advocate for farm workers' rights and fight modern slavery practices in the tomato growing industry. It looks at the case of Conrad Black, former media mogul, who was convicted of diverting company funds for personal benefit. It also examines the circumstances that surrounded the BP oil spill and takes a critical look at the effectiveness of our justice and prison systems.
In order to facilitate the conversation, Payback features the prominent voices of modern-day thinkers like Raj Patel (activist/academic), Louise Arbour (President/CEO, International Crisis Group) and Karen Armstrong (scholar/journalist), among others. It's a big film that tackles big subjects, and it's timely coming on the heels of the Occupy movements that have swept the country over the past months. The themes of social justice and equality are strong throughout, and once again, Jennifer Baichwal has created a film that's also simply beautiful to look at.
Payback in theatres this Friday
Starting this Friday, the film will be playing in theatres in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Keep an eye on Cinema Clock, where all the information will be posted later this week.
In the meanwhile, you can watch the trailer here:


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The long-standing collaboration between the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site and Dr Christina Henri's Roses from the Heart project has been recognised with the Creative Partnerships SME Award, presented recently at Government House in Hobart.
Christina Henri conceived the Roses from the Heart project after visiting the World Heritage-listed Cascades Female Factory, the best-preserved convict women's prison site in Australia.
The project has invited people to make a cloth bonnet in memory of the life of a convict woman. Over 23,000 bonnets have been sent from around the world, linking the local community to the global community, and supporting convict women's heritage.
Manager of the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site Ms Greta McDonald said 'It was very exciting to be an invitee to Government House and we were up against some very strong competition, so it was almost overwhelming when they announced that we won in the category of small to medium enterprise."
Dr Henri expressed her thanks to Cascades Female Factory Historic Site staff and volunteers, 'who have become such allies over the years to see this partnership flourish and be the success it is.'
Both Ms McDonald and Dr Henri thanked Robyn Bradshaw, who prepared the submission whilst acting as Interim Manager of the Cascades Female Factory earlier this year.
Creative Partnerships Australia was established this year under Creative Australia, the Australian Government's national cultural policy, to encourage and facilitate private sector support for the arts. Creative Partnerships will work with the arts, business and philanthropic sectors, as well as government, to support sustainable creative industries in Australia.
The 2013 Awards recognise and celebrate the very best relationships between the private sector – both business and philanthropic – and the arts throughout Australia.
The award categories include partnerships, donations and volunteering, all of which support the creation of cultural activities for the enjoyment of all Australians.
Tasmanian Awards winners will go on to represent Tasmania at the 2013 national Awards Dinner at Parliament House in Canberra on 18 November.
The Cascades Female Factory Historic Site is one of 11 places that comprise the Australian World Heritage Convict Sites property. It is managed by the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA).


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The lights are on
Eidos Montreal's Thief arrives at the end of this month, and if you haven't been following along with its development, this new trailer is for you. The Thief 101 video below introduces players to Garrett's world, his foes, and his mission.
Thief will offer players a chance to choose their play styles and approaches to the various heists and minor side quests around the city. The title uses a unique control scheme designed to facilitate smoother movement across and between rooftops.
Thief arrives on February 25 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. For more, check out our most recent preview and our cover story from April 2013.


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Normally children go through only 4 years of elementary school together and than they can visit gymnasium, "Realschule" or "Hauptschule" – depending on their grades. There exist no really adequate English translations for the last two types of secondary schools: They last from the 5th to the 9th (Hauptschule) or the 10th year (Realschule) of secondary school, but unlike the enrolment in a gymnasium, these two school types give no university-entrance diploma. Gymnasium, Realschule and Hauptschule give a threefold differentiation of best, middle and weakest pupils, where the Hauptschule – unintentionally, yet actually – mainly gathers pupils with social weak backgrounds. This three tier school system in Bavaria is often criticised to be to selective and giving less chances to immigrated and socially weak pupils, and that the selection takes place in a far too early age (at the age of ten years). "The PISA studies show that. Yes, the problem lies elsewhere. The problem is, that the children live in a social setting as well, PISA has shown this. Children, who live in a different social framing, have more chances to go to gymnasium as other children" (I 12: 110-113).
Selection has to be preceded by targeting: the targeted population of the particular school-form has to be defined and socially constructed. While gymnasium has the image of being the education-site for upper- and middle-class children, the "Hauptschule", on the opposite site of the quality continuum, gathers socially problematic children of poorer families, often from a background of migration. Beside these three tiers, there exists a fourth tier in the Bavarian school hierarchy: the special schools. Our case study showed how the special schools change their targeted population and how the changes in definition of "handicapped" to "special need children" takes place.
A slightly new argument in the discussion about special schools is the social perspective. Mostly dividing children into "normal" and "handicapped" pupils has the pretence to depend on objective criteria, depending on objective, thus medical aspects. In recent argumentation, but only slightly, the possibility of the influence of social factors on the selection of the school-type has emerged. "What PISA showed again and again, that can be shown in these schools as well, that Education is tightly interlinked with social provenance and family background. I always say that our special schools are special schools for the poor, for the poorest and the most disadvantaged" (I3: 123-127). But this insight is quite rare and is often denied in the interviews – possibly it really can be said openly only since the discussions about PISA. The possibility of discerning social disadvantages and "medical" handicaps is a quite new and not everywhere accepted idea, but it is spreading in the public debate. "It is surely so, that when you think of the structure of the parents in the `Hauptschule´, then you will see, and this is often being criticised as well, that in the Bavarian Education system many at the Hauptschule are from the illiterate and underprivileged social classes, and this is the same in many special schools as well. Of course it depends on the kind of the needed support; if the child is deaf, this can happen in each family, but for example in the case of the special need section `learning disorders´, the family background plays an outstanding role" (I7: 57-64).
The discussion shows following aspects and foci of selection and targeting: Normal vs. handicapped or special need children: The elementary schools select during the school registration, if the child is developed "normally" or if it needs further testing to visit a special school in case. The reform of the Education Law in 2003 eliminated the notion of "handicaps" in the school context and wants to emphasise not the handicaps, but the need for support, which is common for each child: "At that time Bavaria was the first federal state which abstained from using the term `handicap´ in the Education Law, with a clear perception of the mission of the school lying in development. Schools should not assert handicaps and work deficit-oriented, but should focus more than ever on development and improvement, and this could be reached in the amendment of the Education Law without doubt" (I2: 135-13).
Defining "special need" children: In Bavaria there exist special schools for "learning", "seeing", "language", "emotional and social development", "mental development" and for "physically disabled". So called special need centres were developed in the reform combining the foci "learning", "language" and "emotional and social development". The multitude of the special need schools attracts the necessity of defining (and permanently re-defining) the targeted population through testing methods. Boarders between the particular school foci are narrow in many cases, the discussion about selection and targeting is therefore permanent.
"Integrable" vs. "Non-Integrable" children: The analysed reform of the Education Law was forced by parents who wanted to achieve integration of their children in normal elementary and secondary schools and to avoid selection and specification processes (normal vs. handicapped children). Parents wanted to eliminate selection processes and wanted no more testing for their children: "Nobody will ever test my daughter again!" (I6: 54) – this was one of their aims. Unfortunately the parents could not reach this goal. Their attempts to avoid categories lead to – partly – the opposite, though the Bavarian Government created a new category: Children capable for integration in normal schools ("integrable" children), depending on their capability of "active participation" in the lesson and the capability of the school to integrate them, and children who have to visit special schools ("non-integrable" children).
NASSEHI A., VON DER HAGEN-DEMSZKY A. & MAYR K. (2009), The Amendment of the Bavarian Education Law in 2003: A Long Way towards Inclusion, Report, 37.


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1. Quicksand:
The force needed to pull out a person immersed in quicksand is about the same needed to lift a car.... The trick for escaping is to slowly wiggle the feet and legs, allowing water to flow in. People float in quicksand so it is also impossible to sink all the way in, but quicksand usually forms at river estuaries, so a captive could drown at high tide.Quicksand, like lava, is a big kid fear, for some reason.
2. Bears:
Attacks can generally be divided into two groups: predatory and defensive. Each calls for a different strategy.Oh, so you have to understand the bear's feelings?
Black and grizzly bears are capable of both types of attack. Those involving grizzlies tend to be defensive, when the animal feels threatened, according to Stephen Herrero, a bear expert at the University of Calgary and the author of "Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance." Playing dead then lets the bear know you're not a threat and can cause it to back off.
Black bears usually flee from humans, but when they do attack the motive tends to be predatory, and playing dead doesn't work. Neither does running away, since bears are much faster than humans.