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Vist the blog at it's new home HERE.
Sharon's portfolio site is still HERE.
Animal Art Prints can still be purchased HERE.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Pablove Shutterbugs Gallery Show: May 14th
I have come to the conclusion that charity is only charity when you give goods, services or money without personal gain, benefit or recognition of any kind. True charity is anonymous. It begins and ends within your self.
- Jim Pinto
I pretty much live by the above quote as best I can.
But as I get older and wiser (I hope), I've learned that life has many shades of gray. If there's a way my support can help bring about awareness to the brave people working hard to make a difference in the world, then occasionally I can justify caving a bit in my beliefs - this is the case with The Pablove Shutterbugs Program.
I learned about The Pablove Foundation because the founders are in my circle of friends. And when I found out about the Shutterbugs program, I of course, raised my hand to help (okay, maybe I even jumped up and down too). With the help of my Animal Print Shop team, we handled all the prints for the gallery show. We prepped all the files and donated the paper and printing of all the editions. It was truly an honor to help out and get up close and personal with the imagery these amazing kids created - I hope photography is making a difference in their lives as much as it has made a difference in mine.
More about The Pablove Foundation here. The Shutterbugs Gallery Show is coming up on May 14th in Los Angeles. A preview of the kids prints and more details about the show can be viewed here.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Another Lucy
I guess the past eight months have flown by because I just realized I never shared baby Lucy. I posted about her mom's (my best friend) baby shower invites and Lucy's nursery last year (back when I was a more commited blogger!).
I love this kid so much it hurts.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Lucy Blue Eyes
Meet Lucy. She has the most amazing eyes I've ever seen on a dog. I was super excited when I found out Victoria (her momma) and I would be in Palm Springs at the same time (we live in different cities), because I've been wanting to take her photo ever since I saw those blue eyes. I typically don't stalk people and beg to take their pup's photos, so a big thank-you to Victoria for indulging me!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Cover Peek
It's been a while since I've posted to my poor, neglected blog - so why not share a peek of what's been keeping me away. The book is still several months out with a release date of November 1, 2011 (I'm still losing sleep and lacking time to shower while working feverishly to meet my deadline for this 192 page beast!), but the cover is done and ready to share. Hopefully I'll be able to post more peeks in the next few months, (including some of the beautiful lettering and illustrations Julianna Swaney is contributing to the book). So stay tuned!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Shooting In The Rain : Behind The Scenes
The past two days were epic: It had to be documented.
There are times when shoots cannot be postponed, and this one happened to coincide with what meteorologists have been calling "the worst storm to hit Southern California in a decade." Now that I can feel my feet again, I gotta say, it was actually really fun (an adventure, if you will). We were all soaking wet, but everyone rallied – including the four-year-old talent. *if any of my crew, AB/AD, or talent are reading this, thank you for two great and unforgettable days.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Lions, Tigers, and e.soule!
When I first saw Elizabeth Soule's work on Etsy, I remember calling out to my husband "Come look at this stuff! This girl photographs toy animals!" I though it was so smart. Later that year, I saw Elizabeth at Unique LA and ran up to her like a blubbering fool to profess my love. She was very gracious and I guess I didn't freak her out too much, because we became fast friends. Elizabeth is not only talented, but she is pee-in-your-pants funny, and funny is the key to my heart.
After many shared plates of pan fried noodles and crackerjack shrimp, we thought it would be fun to photograph two of the same animals. So we both went in search of a lion and a tiger (toys for her, real live for me) and behold, here they are!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Digital Camera Magazine
I haven't a clue what it says, but thank-you to Digital Camera China for featuring The Animal Print Shop!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Flying Geese + Pablove + The Working Proof
I've got a very special new print over at The Working Proof - 100% of my portion from the sale of Flying Geese will benefit The Pablove Foundation, an organization close to my heart, with a mission to fund pediatric cancer research and improve the quality of life for children living with cancer through hospital play, music and arts programs.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The (new and improved) Animal Print Shop!
I'm excited to finally share the brand new online shop for my animal prints. After almost two years of selling the small prints on Etsy (don't worry, I still LOVE me some Etsy) and the large, limited editions through my website, I needed a shop of my very own where I could offer all the edition options under the same roof and have the loads of information people wanted to know built-in. I hope this site will be less confusing for people and help provide easily accessible answers to the questions regularly asked, like framing! In addition to the "framing tips" section (see everyone, I was listening), the site also has a slew of FAQ's, print information, an "on the wall" section, one-step checkout, email order confirmations, and automatic emails are sent out when orders ships. I know, I know, HOORAY!
Since I can't take credit for the site, it is mandatory that I add to this post a shout-out and a gigantic THANK YOU to Jenny Volvovski and the folks at Also, who did the design and programming. I could go on and on for days gushing about how much I love them, but I won't keep torturing Jenny with my love songs (at least, publicly). And the logo was hand-lettered by the lovely Leigh Wells.
(for the first few weeks the new shop is open, we're offering free shipping on all US orders of $50 and up + we made a new postcard that we throw in with all orders!)
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
This post has nothing to do with animals...
... but this might be the most phenomenal thing I have ever seen.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
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Investigators who used a genealogical website to find the ex-policeman they believe is a shadowy serial killer and rapist who terrified California decades ago call the technique groundbreaking.
But others say it raises troubling legal and privacy concerns for the millions of people who submit their DNA to such sites to discover their heritage.
There aren't strong privacy laws to keep police from trolling ancestry site databases, said Steve Mercer, the chief attorney for the forensic division of the Maryland Office of the Public Defender.
"People who submit DNA for ancestors testing are unwittingly becoming genetic informants on their innocent family," Mercer said, adding that they "have fewer privacy protections than convicted offenders whose DNA is contained in regulated databanks."
Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, was arrested earlier this week after investigators matched crime-scene DNA with genetic material stored by a distant relative on an online site. From there, they narrowed it down to the Sacramento-area grandfather using DNA obtained from material he'd discarded, Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said.
Authorities declined to name the online site. Two of the largest, Ancestry.com and 23andMe, said yesterday that they weren't involved in the case.
Paul Holes, the lead investigator on the case, told the Mercury News in San Jose, California, that the investigative team used GEDMatch, a Florida-based website that pools DNA profiles that people upload and share publicly.
Holes, a cold case expert and retired Contra Costa County District Attorney inspector, said GEDMatch was his team's biggest tool.
GEDMatch is a free site where users who have DNA profiles from commercial companies such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe can upload them to expand their search for relatives.
Major companies do not allow law enforcement to access their genetic data unless they get a court order.
Holes said officials did not need a court order to access GEDMatch's database of genetic blueprints.
DNA potentially may have played an earlier role in the case. It was just coming into use as a criminal investigative tool in 1986 when the predator variously known as the East Area Rapist and the Golden State Killer apparently ended his decade-long wave of attacks.
DeAngelo, a former police officer, probably would have known about the new method, experts said.
"He knew police techniques," said John Jay College of Criminal Justice professor Louis Schlesinger. "He was smart."
No one who knew DeAngelo over the decades connected him with the string of at least a dozen murders, 50 rapes and dozens of burglaries from 1976 to 1986 throughout the state.
After he was identified as the suspect, however, prosecutors rushed to charge him with eight killings.
In addition, police in the central California farming town of Visalia said Thursday that DeAngelo is a suspect in a 13th killing and about 100 burglaries in the area.
In 1975, of community college teacher Claude Snelling was shot while trying to stop a masked intruder from kidnapping his 16-year-old daughter from his home.
Investigators lacked DNA evidence so Snelling's death and the burglaries weren't included in the tally of Golden State Killer crimes but fingerprints and shoe tracks will be reviewed for matches to DeAngelo, Visalia Police Chief Jason Salazar said.
Investigators searched DeAngelo's home on Thursday, looking for class rings, earrings, dishes and other items that were taken from crime scenes as well as weapons.
Meanwhile, DeAngelo's neighbours, relatives and former acquaintances all say they had no inkling that he could be a serial killer. He worked nearly three decades in a Sacramento-area supermarket warehouse as a truck mechanic, retiring last year. As a neighbor, he was known for taking meticulous care of his lawn in suburban Citrus Heights.
DeAngelo worked as a police officer in the farming town of Exeter, not far from Visalia, from 1973 to 1976.
DeAngelo was a "black sheep" who didn't joke around with other officers, said Farrel Ward, 75, who served on the force with DeAngelo.
Ward said it's possible that DeAngelo helped with the search for Snelling's killer and the elusive burglar but he doesn't recall DeAngelo directly investigating the killing.
"I've been thinking, but there's no indication whatsoever that anything was wrong," Ward said. "How could you just go out and kill somebody and go back and go to work? I don't understand that."
Later, DeAngelo joined the Auburn Police Department outside of Sacramento but was fired in 1979 after he was caught shoplifting a hammer and dog repellent.
Investigators say they have linked DeAngelo to 11 killings that occurred after he was fired.
James Huddle said he always hoped police would catch the killer whose attacks prompted him to buy a pistol.
But he was stunned to find out the man arrested was DeAngelo, his former brother-in-law.
Huddle said it was "still just going crazy in my mind."

subset: commoncrawl


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Matt Kenseth Rocked With Sanctions for One Illegal Engine Part
Matt Kenseth, you never really won that race at Kansas. It would seem at first like a Jedi mind trick. Not really. The Force is with NASCAR as Kenseth and Joe Gibbs Racing got waylaid with severe penalties by having engine parts that were not to specifications.
Kenseth will get credit for winning the race for his career numbers, but all the perks that go with it in the current season are gone. No bonus points for the Chase for the Championship and he officially has just one win for 2013. Kenseth loses 50 driver points, his pole position, and his crew chief Jason Ratcliff for 6 races.
What the 20 team lost is quite significant. NASCAR went up the ladder and spiked owner Joe Gibbs and manufacturer Toyota as well. Gibbs got docked 50 owner points and had his owner's license pulled for 6 weeks. Toyota was stripped of 5 manufacturer points. For the uninitiated, there is not just a driver who wins a championship. The owners and manufacturers each have separate platforms beyond the driver in which to win a title.
How did Toyota become involved in this? They supplied the part within the engine that was deemed illegal. One single connecting rod within the engine supplied to Kenseth's car was 2.7 grams too light. The connecting rod is the piece that connects the piston to the crankshaft. Just think, if they had put that engine in Kyle Busch's car which was crazy loose and ended up decorating the front of Joey Logano's car on Sunday in Kansas we wouldn't have this discussion. Plus, Brad Keselowski doesn't have much of a sympathetic ear about how the sanctioning body is out to get him.


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Rancho Bernardo Inn is replacing its upscale El Bizcocho restaurant as part of a $2.5 million renovation. A new restaurant called Avant is scheduled to open in early 2013.
A spokeswoman for the resort said El Bizcocho recently closed after 44 years of service. The new restaurant is being designed to pay homage to El Bizcocho's culinary history, ambiance and offerings geared to wine aficionados.
The new eatery's menu will emphasize cuisine featuring natural and locally harvested ingredients, with handcrafted cocktails, local craft beer and boutique wines from around the world. It will be overseen by Executive Chef Nicolas Bour, with food sourced from the inn's on-property garden and local purveyors.
The restaurant and bar will have 139 seats, with additional seating in two private dining rooms. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant will have new social spaces and golf course views, according to a statement.
The 287-room Rancho Bernardo Inn is operated by JC Resorts and located at 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive in Rancho Bernardo.


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Sea Lion Facts and Information
Facts about Sea Lions, California Sea Lion, Steller Sea Lion, Galapagos Sea Lion.
Sea Lion Information, Anatomy, Feeding, Reproduction, Evolution
Social Structure and Sea Lion Conservation
Introduction to Sea Lions
There are actually seven species of Sea Lions in the world, but people tend to lump them all into one category. They all belong to a group of animals known as pinnipeds.
Sea Lions are very interesting animals that can end up being extremely large. The males are much bigger than the females which helps them to gain the ability to mate with them because the females will look for the largest males out there to be with.
Sea Lions are found in bodies of water all over the world, but not in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. Many researchers find this to be a very interesting fact. Yet they can't pinpoint reasons why this is the case. The temperatures are compatible with where some Sea Lions live. There is also plenty of the food that they consume found there.
Some species of Sea Lions live in the sub arctic areas while others live in warmer climates including California. They have long torpedo shaped bodies that are well designed for movements both in the water and on land. All species of Sea Lions are considered to be mammals. This is because they give live birth to their young and the females also nurse the pups with milk they produce in their bodies.
Sea Lions really only have two predators that are other animals – Killer Whales and Sharks. The threat that they pose depend on the areas where the Sea Lions live. When they have to go further out into the waters to find food then they are more likely to encounter such predators. Man has proven to be the biggest threat to the Sea Lion survival though for a very long time.
We really only know the basics about Sea Lions including their anatomy and their mating habits. We do know that they are very social animals and that they have a variety of methods of communicating. Yet we really don't know much about what those different types of sounds are used for.
They often are found in extremely large colonies. For their protection they will stay very close together both on land and in the water. The big colonies though also have many sub groups found within them. It is common for Sea Lions to move from one sub group to another during various stages of their lives.
Top Facts about Sea Lions
- The Sea Lion is considered to be a pinniped which means that it features a winged foot.
- The Stellar Sea Lion is the largest of the 7 species.
For example the males are more likely to be loners. When the larger colonies form again those females with offspring are more likely to stay together. Once the pups are about a year old they tend to form small sub groups as well.
Sea Lions are considered to be highly intelligent animals. They have been used to teach tricks to for entertainment. They have also been trained to help the United States Navy with their in water needs. For the most part they are considered to be very timid but there have been some reports of aggressive attacks on humans. The males are extremely aggressive when it comes to earning the right to mate with females.
The future is unsure for many species of Sea Lions. Years of them being destroyed by humans has really taken a toll on them. Environmental concerns continue to cause problems for them in their natural habitats as well. The fact that humans are also taking control over the waters where they once lived in peace is a huge concern. Even with conservation efforts in place there is still a great deal of work to be done if these animals are going to survive.


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- In 2008, the lion's share of sales were accounted for by toothpaste, and toothpaste was the only segment of oral care to emerge relatively unscathed, maintaining the same growth rate (4%) as in the previous year.
- The market left a lot of room for consumers to trade back down to nonvalue-added products as economic conditions worsened.
- Russia added $1 billion in absolute growth 2007–2008.
- Asia and Western Europe accounted for a combined 52% of the total $33 billion world oral care sales.
- With value sales of $6 billion in 2008, the U.S. remains the biggest single oral care market.
- In 2010, consumers will continue to focus on the basics such as toothpaste, but as consumer confidence returns, interest in all-around dental care should pique in emerging regions.
Oral care is proving to be one of the most recession-impacted categories in the beauty industry, despite its position as a staple part of the daily grooming process. The entire beauty and personal care market saw growth slide by one percentage point from 6% in 2006–2007 down to 5% in 2007–2008, while, according to Euromonitor International, the economic slowdown saw value growth for oral care at the global level dip to 4% in 2007–2008 from 6% 2006–2007.
Basic Oral Care Still Accounts for Greatest Sales
Despite the constant innovations and hype in oral care surrounding mouth fresheners and tooth whiteners, these actually only accounted for 1% and 2% respectively of the total 2008 global oral care sales. The lion's share of sales are accounted for by toothpaste (51% of all world oral care sales in 2008) and toothbrushes (27%), according to Euromonitor. Indeed, it was the aforementioned mouth fresheners and tooth whiteners that suffered the most in the recession, with both experiencing value growth declines globally. Many consumers perceive these categories to be the most superfluous when it comes to necessary products for a good standard of oral hygiene, and many had no qualms about striking them off the weekly shopping list.
Toothpaste Keeps Up the Pace
Toothpaste was the only segment of oral care to emerge relatively unscathed, maintaining the same growth rate (4%) in 2007–2008 as the previous year. Times would have to be very hard indeed for most consumers to consider ditching toothpaste altogether, but it seems that even during hard times many are sticking to their preferred brand instead of switching to private label.
Discounting Hits
In the wider oral care market, the major global brands such as Colgate, Crest and Oral B also remained relatively untroubled by private label, which made modest increments in gaining brand share. The prevalence of discounting on branded products was one of the principal reasons behind this fact. Discounting and two-for-one deals have become commonplace in many regions. Although this practice is nothing new, price-conscious consumers have become less brand loyal and are increasingly opting for whichever brand happens to be offering the best price. The fact that a majority of oral care sales are made through grocery stores (62% of all oral care sales in 2008) does not help matters, as supermarket price wars mean that retailers have been keener than ever to compete with their rivals on price with products seen as essentials—and oral care falls into this area.
Did the Alcohol Mouthwash Scare Harm Product Sales?
In early 2009, mouthwash suffered a major PR setback after it hit the headlines that there was a possible link between the use of alcohol mouthwash and the risk of mouth cancer. Following the revelation, some brands reacted by removing their alcohol mouthwashes from sales. The Dentyl PH brand was immediately withdrawn from sale and hastily reformulated to make all its products alcohol-free. Although the strong dip in mouthwash value growth was caused primarily by the recession, the scare certainly did not help sales to remain solid.
Innovation; Higher Priced Brands Limit Damage to Growth
Some oral care manufacturers focused on new product developments to try to drive sales in the downturn. In April 2009, Colgate-Palmolive introduced the Colgate Wisp, a single-use mini-toothbrush designed to clean teeth on the go. The product capitalizes on the growing trend for time-starved consumers to clean their teeth during the working day in addition to their existing morning and evening dental routines. At approximately $2.40 for a pack of four Wisps, it remains to be seen how many consumers consider the convenience benefits to outweigh the price in comparison to carrying a toothpaste and toothbrush around with them.
Johnson & Johnson continued the on-the-go theme by launching 95 mL bottles of its Listerine Total Care and Stay White mouthwashes. The bottles comply with airlines' 100 mL restrictions on liquids, making them also suitable for air travel.
The natural oral care category remains a small but growing one, especially in the U.S. and key Western European markets such as Germany. Players such as Weleda and Tom's of Maine are driving sales. Often marketed as free from fluoride or other similar ingredients found in standard oral care brands, natural products often retail at least double the normal price.
Mature Regions Worst Hit
As with other areas of the personal care market, oral care sales took the biggest knock in the most developed regions. North America was the worst, where the rate of value growth slipped to just 1% in 2007–2008, down from 5% the previous year. Sales in Western Europe also dropped by one percentage to 3% in 2007–2008, and Australasia slid to 3%, down from 4% in 2006–2007. The primary reason for the drop in these markets: Consumer uptake of more expensive, value-added brands was already very high before the impact of the recession was felt. In Canada, for example, whitening toothpaste accounted for the lion's share of toothpaste sales in 2008, with 39%. Standard toothpaste took just 7% of the market, according to Euromonitor International statistics. This left a lot of room for consumers to trade back down to non value-added products as economic conditions worsened.
Emerging Regions Boost Global Sales
Damage in the developed markets was partially offset by booming sales in emerging regions. In stark contrast to regions such as North America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe all saw an improvement in 2007–2008 value growth rates compared to the previous year. Eastern Europe proved to be the brightest spot for oral care, with a respectable 8% value growth 2007–2008. Ukraine and Russia were the main drivers of this performance, with Ukraine seeing a 15% rise in sales in 2007–2008 and Russia adding a cool $1 billion in absolute growth for the same time period. This meant that Russia accounted for 50% of the absolute value growth in Eastern European oral care. The country is experiencing a rapid rise in disposable income, and, as a result, consumers are continuing to trade up in most areas of oral care. Demand for electric toothbrushes (which are gradually replacing battery and manual toothbrushes) is particularly strong in Russia, with value growth of 19% in 2007–2008. The average unit price of toothpaste products has increased more rapidly as the market is flooded with numerous added-benefit products. In contrast to mature Western markets, the share of cheap unbranded oral care is gradually falling, with a shift toward more advanced products.
Western Europe; Asia Lead Regional Sales
In contrast to many other categories in which North America and Western Europe typically lead sales, oral care sales are dominated by Asia and Western Europe. These regions account for a combined 52% of the $33 billion total world oral care sales. Sales in Asia have been buoyed by China and Japan. In the latter, there is a growing demand across most segments of oral care because of a growing trend popular among workers to clean their mouth after lunch—thus increasing the average number of times oral care products are used per day to three times instead of two (as is the case in most other countries).
In China, the oral care market is strongly characterized by the country's love affair with herbal medicines. Natural/herbal toothpaste is the leading type in China, accounting for 30% of total sales in 2008. Even leading brands such as Colgate have tailored their products to the trend, offering herbal toothpaste products, with exotic sounding ingredients such as lotus leaves and honeysuckle.
The U.S. Still the Single Biggest Oral Care Market
With value sales of $6 billion in 2008, the U.S., home of the perfect Hollywood smile, is still the biggest single oral care market by far. Sales in nearly all areas of oral care are strong in the U.S., as the routine of brushing and flossing is highly engrained in the psyche of the average American consumer. What's clear is that tooth whiteners saw a decline of -7% in 2007–2008, a huge drop after the 13% growth spike in 2007. The flurry of new product launches in 2007 failed to translate to long-term sustained interest in at-home whitening products. Many consumers have found the at-home tooth-whitening process tedious and complicated, with many either unwilling to follow through with the treatment or use it again. Mouth fresheners have also taken a big hit in the recession (-14% in 2007–2008) as many cash-strapped consumers deemed the product superfluous to their overall oral health.
Sunny Outlook for Oral Care
Despite the current setback, Euromonitor International expects the long-term prognosis for oral care to remain favorable. Unlike other areas of personal care such as color cosmetics and fragrances—which could (in theory at least) be cut out altogether in times of hardship—in all but the very poorest countries globally, oral care will remain an essential buy for most consumers. In 2010, consumers will likely continue to focus on the basics like toothpaste and toothbrushes, but as consumer confidence returns, interest in all-around dental care should pique in emerging regions—meaning products such as dental floss and mouthwash should thrive.
Carrie Lennard is a research analyst at Euromonitor International.


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Acceleware Reports Third Quarter Results for Fiscal 2012 For Immediate Release
CALGARY, Alberta – November 22, 2012 – Acceleware® Ltd. ("Acceleware" or the "Company") (TSX-V: AXE), a leading developer of high performance computing applications, today announced results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 (all figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted).
During the third quarter of 2012, Acceleware showed robust growth in consulting revenue, particularly from oil and gas customers. Despite the increased consulting revenue, overall revenue decreased 2% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 ("Q3, 2012"), compared to Q3, 2011 due to a decrease in product revenue. Revenue increased 2% from Q2, 2012 as a result of the consulting revenue increase and increased maintenance revenue. During Q3, 2012 the Company recognized revenue of $743,161 compared to the $761,937 recognized during Q3, 2011, and compared to $732,068 recognized in Q2, 2012.
Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 decreased 6% to $1,899,766 from $2,015,195 during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to decreased software product revenue and decreased maintenance revenue.
"Acceleware saw healthy growth in consulting revenue from oil and gas customers in the third quarter of 2012," said Geoff Clark, President and CEO of Acceleware Ltd. "In addition, we continue to develop and enhance our state-of-the-art seismic product suite to meet the oil and gas market's imaging needs. Acceleware's current seismic product roadmap focuses on Reverse Time Migration enhancements and derivative products such as elastic forward modeling and full waveform inversion."
During the three months ended September 30, 2012, Acceleware's total comprehensive loss was $145,134 compared to total comprehensive income of $32,801 for the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in comprehensive loss is due to lower revenue, increased cost of revenue and general and administrative expense. Comprehensive loss was $56,253 for Q2, 2012. The increase in comprehensive loss in Q3, 2012 compared to Q2, 2012 was due to higher cost of revenue and research and development expense. Loss before income tax increased 77% to $590,911 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to a loss before income tax of $333,872 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase is a result of reduced revenue and increased general and administrative expense, partially offset by reduced research and development expense and a gain on sale of assets. Total comprehensive loss was $590,911 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, compared to total comprehensive income of $583,324 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in comprehensive income is due to an income tax recovery recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
Additional information, including the condensed interim unaudited financial statements for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and management's discussion and analysis relating thereto, and the annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 and management's discussion and analysis relating thereto are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About Acceleware:
Acceleware develops and markets high performance computing (HPC) software solutions for the engineering and energy industries. These solutions allow customers to speed-up simulation and data processing algorithms, benefitting from HPC technologies such as multi-core CPUs and massively parallel many-core GPUs. Acceleware software, specialized HPC training and consulting services are deployed by companies worldwide such as Boston Scientific, Samsung, LG, General Mills, Nokia, RIM, Medtronic, Hitachi, FDA, Mitsubishi, Sony Ericsson, Fugro, MicroSeismic and Rock Solid Images to speed up product design, analyze data and make better business decisions.
Acceleware is a public company on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol AXE.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
# # #
For further information:
Geoff Clark
Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099
Acceleware Ltd.
435 10th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB, T2G 0W3 Canada
Tel: +1 (403) 249-9099


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- Home
- Departments
- Parks & Recreation
- About Us
- Advisory Boards
Advisory Boards
The Parks and Recreation Department has two (2) advisory boards that offers guidance to the department in order to enhance the lives of our residents.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is an eleven (11) member board, ten (10) appointed by the Mayor and Commission with each having two (2) appointees. The one (1) at large member is appointed by the majority vote of the Board members. The Board was established to represent City residents and elected officials with all park related items. This includes issues that encourage and facilitate opportunities for residents to participate in recreational and cultural activities. Also to encourage greater and more efficient use of public and private resources for recreational and cultural activities.
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meets on the 4th Monday of each month at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Teen Council Advisory Board
The Parks and Recreation Teen Council Advisory Board is a ten (10) member board, appointed by the Mayor and Commission with each having two (2) appointees.
The Board was established to represent residents at the middle and high school level with them providing input and feedback on City events and activities we offer our residents and peers of their own age. This feedback is not only from the board; however, it is from peers at the schools they attend. Along with this, they also share with us different events, shows, and entertainment they prefer to bring to the City for their age group.
The Teen Council Advisory Board meets the 1st Thursday of each month from September through May moving about at various city facilities, parks and restaurants.


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An Infidel (Arabic: كافر, <kāfer>) is merely somoneone unfaithful to what he or she claims to believe in. If they do good things, it's to get attention (in other words , a hypocrite with no moral principles). In spite of all that, this term is often used by hypocrites themselves because they like to point their fingers at people and call them hypocrites or infidels as well just because they don't share the same beliefs as THEM! Truth is everyone is an "infidel" in some sense or atleast acts like one.
What the hell is an infidel?[edit]
Unless you believe that there is no God but Allah and that Mohamed(PBUH)is his prophet then you are an infidel. An infidel is anyone who is not a Muslim, or about 80% of the world. Infidels are generally fat, loud, sunburnt, white, stupid, and conniving. Generally they are God worshipping, which is a very good reason to hate them. This is because the fact that the Christian God and Allah are not one or same guy with MPD. Anyway, any contact with an infidel, especially a Christian, should be avoided at all costs, as it might wash off on you. If this occurs, it is recommended that you
- Wash infected area throughly
- Burn a flag of the nationality of your infidel.
- Watch Who's the boss?
- Take a sand bath
- Suicide bomb something
- Move to a small cave
- Kill yourself out of shame.
The only thing worse than an infidel is a pig. To touch one is to be damned to an eternity of living in a very sandy place with no hot women, otherwise known as The Middle East. Infidels are a dastardly breed, and will stop at nothing to trick you out of your rightful place with 72 virgins in Paradise. You must never allow yourself to be hoodwinked, and you must constantly be on the alert. Check your InfidarTM. every five minutes, just to make sure no infidels sneak up on you from behind. They're rather good at that.
How to spot an infidel[edit]
Generally, living in the middle east, you will not encounter infidels. This is because Allah the merciful, the compassionate, the loving, has set apart the sandiest, hottest, most uncomfortable place on earth for his chosen people. Occasionally however, you may spot one purchasing oil for his nation, America. A way to know if the man you see is an infidel, is to look for...
- White skin
- Blond Hair
- Enjoyment of bacon.
- Even more easily pissed off than you
- Lack of turban
- Enjoyment of bacon.
- Lack of sand
- Lack of suicide bomb
- Western
- Crucifix necklace
- Enjoyment of bacon.
- Yell "Allāhu Akbar" and see who ducks
Why infidels are despised[edit]
The infidel is a despised being, and has been throughout all of history. There is nothing they can do to change this, save convert and come into the infinite mercy of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful, the car-bombing. Only in this way can they be saved from eternal prodding by bad things. The despising of infidels began in 1347. On that day, an infidel sat in a theater amongst many Muslims, watching Munich. This infidel had seen the movie before, and was taking the liberty of explaining very loudly to the theater the events that were about to unfold. Had he seen it coming, he might have been able to see the vengeful wrath of the many Muslims in the theater, but he did not. However, this one death was not enough to satisfy the Muslims, followers of merciful Muhammed, and so they decided to make it their eternal mission to kill every infidel on earth. However, owing to their technological backwardness, they have failed miserably throughout history.
Some famous infidels[edit]
- Justin Bieber
- Fred Phelps
- Ronald McDonald
- Hank Aaron
- Tom Cruise
- Karl Marx
- Oscar Wilde
- Abdullah Al-Sadr (He knows what he did.)
- Salmon Rushdie (May he die a thousand deaths)
- Biggles
- Nick Berg
- Luke Skywalker
- Rod Stewart
- White people
- Jimmy Dean
- Americans
- You (كافر)
- Barbra Streisand
- Everyone in this planet
Only famous fidel[edit]
Suspected fidels[edit]
- Fidel Nadal, a bearded hobo/cannibal/fidel
- Fidel Ruestro, it is unknown whether he is in fact an infidel because if you google him, everything that comes up is in Spanish.
- Fidel Itee
- Fidel Edwards- the West Indies quick ball-licker


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When G-8 leaders sat down to weekend talks in Canada prior to G-20 meetings this week, Silvio Berlusconi wasn't designated the official group spokesperson. But when he was quoted in the press as saying the G-8 "fully believes" Israel will attack Iran, the Italian prime minister was echoing a sentiment most leaders are publicly furrowing eyebrows over and privately anticipating expectantly.
"Iran is not guaranteeing a peaceful production of nuclear power [so] the members of the G-8 are worried and believe absolutely that Israel will probably react preemptively," Berlusconi told reporters following talks with other Group of Eight leaders outside Toronto.
G-8 leaders met for two days of talks focused on Iranian and North Korean nuclear aims and growing concern over continued development despite renewed sanctions. Referring to a fourth round of UN sanctions handed down against Iran last week, Iranian President Ahmadinejad termed the measures a "used handkerchief" fit for the trash.
In the face of Ahmadinejad's open defiance and alarm over continued arms development, are European and other world leaders truly concerned over a potential Israel strike that might cripple Iran's nuclear capability?
"Iran's nuclear weapons program is something everybody else hopes someone else will take care of," says Mark Heller, Tel Aviv University's principal research associate at the Institute for National Security Studies. "And it's a tacit admission on Berlusconi's part that they — Europe, the U.S. and all the rest — are not really designed to stop an Iranian nuclear weapons program. I'm guessing that he and maybe many others in the G-8 and elsewhere — including in the Arab world — are hoping Israel will do that."
The sense of urgency is growing because of increasing levels of uranium enrichment Iran is achieving, bringing the rogue state closer to having a nuclear weapon.
A U.S. National Intelligence report assessed that Iran suspended weaponization in 2003 but continued with enrichment. "They were turning enriched uranium into a nuclear weapon — essentially transforming a huge, unwieldy mass into a usable nuclear weapon," Heller continues. "When that report was issued, everybody else including the Europeans — who are not normally given to hysteria — made light of the assessment and said they didn't understand the basis for it.
"It is slowly dawning that there's no chance of getting the 'crippling sanctions' Hillary Clinton once called for to threaten the stronghold of power in the Iranian regime. Conventional wisdom has become: either bomb Iran or there will be an Iranian bomb."
So when an argument for more time to resolve the issue is put on the table, comments like Berlusconi's indicate time is neither a luxury nor a neutral factor at this juncture.
"Attempting to put together sanctions packages prepared by Brazilians and Turkish prime ministers trying to appeal to the better sense of the Iranian regime … well let's just say I don't think Israel can do anything without close coordination with the U.S. and that's the universal assumption. And if it happens, Israel will be condemned publicly and congratulated behind closed doors," Heller concludes.
American Foreign Policy Council Vice President Ilan Berman echoes much of Heller's sentiment, calling a potential Israel hit on Iran a publicly divisive but strategically timely event.
"This is an interesting fork in the road with UN and U.S. sanctions. We're no longer speaking in the future tense about seeing if sanctions work," Berman comments. "The likelihood is that the economic pressure being applied is too little too late. Ultimately, though, Israel has to make a choice of whether or not they can tolerate a nuclear Iran in the region. Israelis have been deferring a decision for a long time but it's a decision that can no longer be kicked down the road."
No one has a timeline for a strike, but the proverbial regional ticking bomb is clicking away. As the status quo continues, a growing number of countries — Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia among them — are building their own responses to the Iranian threat. Allowing the situation to continue as is may create residual damage while a military attack could be the surest way of returning a power balance to neighbors, says Berman.
Berlusconi's statement is an indication of the G-20 leadership's understanding of just how much "Iran is out of the box," Berman explains. "It's not an issue of technology or a nuclear program; it's about what the ayatollahs are ready to do with it."
And so in hushed tones the U.S., Europe, and sections of the Arab world support a military strike against Iran, and the perception is that Israel will be the subcontracted hit man.
The message to Israel: Don't bore us with the details. Do what you have to do and we'll condemn you in public and applaud you privately.


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Elihu Yale
Our editors will review what you've submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
- Born:
- April 5, 1649, Boston, Massachusetts [U.S.]
Elihu Yale (born April 5, 1649, Boston, Massachusetts [U.S.]—died July 8, 1721, London, England) English merchant, official of the East India Company, and benefactor of Yale University. Although born in Massachusetts, Yale was taken to England by his family at the age of three, and he never returned to America. He was educated at a private school in London.
In 1671 Yale began working for the East India Company and arrived the following year in Madras. From a fairly low-ranking position he worked his way up by 1687 to become governor of Fort Saint George, the East India Company's installation at Madras. Five years later the company removed him from office, charging him with self-aggrandizement at company expense. He was kept in Madras until 1699 and forced to pay a fine, but Yale was still able to take a sizable fortune with him to England. In London he entered the diamond trade, but he devoted a good deal of his time and money to philanthropy.
Yale made his first gift (a donation of 32 books) to the institution in 1713, when it was known as the Collegiate School at Saybrook. Later, in 1718, Cotton Mather wrote to Yale, hinting broadly that the Saybrook school—which had recently moved to New Haven—could be renamed in Yale's honour in gratitude for another sizable gift. Yale responded with a gift of more books, a portrait of George I, and a variety of textiles from the East Indies. The gifts were sold in Boston for some £800, and the money was used to construct a building called Yale College in New Haven. By its charter of 1745, the entire institution was named Yale University. Yale was buried at Wrexham in North Wales. On April 5, 1999, the university recognized the 350th anniversary of his birthday.


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In this 3-part series we analyze areas we believe should be addressed for mixed reality to become mainstream, and not only to improve existing solutions, but reinvent and influence the future and mass adoption of immersive technologies including augmented reality.
The Mixed Reality Research Group is a recently created team I lead within Unity Labs. The team was brought together to study the impact and future of mixed/augmented reality technologies in the years to come and formulate a strategy to empower Unity developers to be at the forefront of how games and applications will be created, deployed and consumed in what is expected to be a new era of computing. The group conducts advanced research, hypothesizes about the long term future, and predicts scenarios. Our mission is to assist R&D in properly supporting our developers and get them ready for the long term future.
Why did we create this group? The reasons are many, but at its core, the purpose of the group is to get ready for nascent technologies that will become mainstream in the long term future. Additionally, another part of our mission is to explore new tech in order to inspire devs and studios by showing them what will be possible in the future; to go beyond "what is proven" by experimenting with new scenarios.
Why focus on Mixed Reality (MR)? Let us clarify AR, VR, MR and other terminology first. Milgram's 1994 paper "Augmented Reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum" regards experiences in the purely physical world and experiences in the purely synthetic world of virtual reality as two opposite ends of a spectrum named the Reality-Virtuality Continuum. Within this spectrum, anything that combines (at varying degrees) real and virtual elements on the same display is said to be a Mixed Reality (MR) experience. Mixed Reality is itself a continuum, and includes Augmented Reality (AR).
The original definition of virtuality continuum only took into account visual stimuli. In 2009, Jeon and Choi extended it to include the sense of touch. In this 2-axes continuum, mixed reality encompasses any experience that combines real and virtual visual or haptic elements. As an example, our research prototype of Carte Blanche (CB) is an Oculus Rift application in which the virtual creation desk is aligned with a physical one in order to facilitate longer authoring sessions due to the added comfort. Additionally, we make use of the Touch controllers API to simulate haptic feedback through vibration. These elements make CB a mixed reality experience, specifically falling in the visual virtuality - haptic mixed reality (vV-hMR) category.
Our Carte Blanche research prototype is a mixed reality experience that combines real and simulated haptic feedback. The virtual creation desk is aligned with a physical one, and we also simulate haptic feedback through the Touch controllers API.
Jeon and Choi's "composite visuo-haptic reality-virtuality continuum" covers just two of the traditionally recognized human senses. What about the others? Work on multisensory immersive experiences has been ongoing for quite some time; a taste simulator that includes haptic feedback was created as far back as 2003 at the University of Tsukuba, and a more recent example of a taste simulator came from the National University of Singapore. Work on systems for generating smells during virtual sessions has been advancing as well, just this year a Japanese startup showed off one of the latest odor emitting attachments for VR headsets. So, should we add more dimensions to the figure until all five classic human senses are included? Or should we go with other approaches that define a multidimensional space of criteria for senses? Another important question with respect to the definition of the reality-virtuality continuum is: Why are some senses, vision in particular, considered necessary while others are not?
Regardless of the number of dimensions we add to the definition, the reason our group uses the concept of mixed reality continuum is so that we don't box ourselves into a limited vision or particular type of experience (like augmented reality is). Virtual reality is one extreme of the virtuality continuum, where experiences happen in a controlled and purely synthetic environment. In that way, it is like TV, radio, or even a book: you experience it for a while and then return to reality. It's a way to escape reality and experience non-existing or remote worlds, and thus it provides rich entertainment/education and is essential for designing new scenarios. But we believe hybrid virtual+physical immersive technologies will dominate for day-to-day, continuous uses. Mixed reality will be used widely because it will be experienced as a consistent overlay in everyday life — Carte Blanche is one example. A second example is providing a persistent layer on top of reality that will ultimately allow AR to replace your smartphone, TV and other day-to-day devices. The current wave of immersive technologies started with consumer VR headsets. Devices that are able to switch to-and-from VR/AR then become the ultimate step in this evolution. MR will become the dominant technology for everyday life, and we are here to help ensure Unity empowers creators to transfer their imaginations into experiences.
We envision that within the next five years a big leap in display resolution will push mixed reality towards more constant usage making it possible for people to start working directly in MR devices for long periods of time. The readability of text will be a major driving factor for the adoption of this usage. Another factor for enabling constant usage will be the ability to easily switch between VR and AR.
MR is poised to become more social, and since sensor occlusion will still be an issue when multiple people are in a room, we can expect more mixed positional tracking with sensors; for example we could see static LiDAR on a chip for point cloud generation combined with inside-out tracking from MR devices.
Wireless systems and eye tracking will be the norm, as well as articulated hand tracking through untethered sensors, leading people to become unglued from their PCs. Instead, they will sit around a living room table playing virtual board games with friends. And with a proliferation of virtual screens, they could sit on a couch watching e-sports, or lie on a bed playing video games. That means we have to change our mindset regarding MR app design to fit these new norms.
Autonomous digital actors (holobots, avatars) will populate mixed reality layers. For example, voice assistants will probably have an emotive voice indistinguishable from a real human voice and have a virtual body to more directly interact with the user (maybe to sit next to them on a chair, walk ahead to show directions...etc.)
What will our group be doing in 2017-2018? We'll be posting on a regular basis to let you know, but as a bit of a teaser, here are some of the interesting areas of MR that we believe should be improved and that we briefly touched on our presentation at SIGGRAPH 2017:
I. Applications are invisible, invisible things are forgettable
As we alluded to above, MR devices could eventually probably replace smartphones. And with Apple's ARKit available in all iOS devices, and Google's ARCore in Android devices, the transition from smartphone to full fledged MR device has already begun. Along with devices, the mobile application market has reached a maturity which precipitates a saturation problem. Typically, people use applications only once after download , and over time they slowly forget about them.
"Gaming, the app category formerly known as "the darling of the mobile industry," saw time-spent decline by 4% year-over-year. [...]
After 10 Years, Mobile Reaches Moment of Truth. As the iPhone celebrates its first decade, the mobile industry has grown into a dog-eat-dog world. The decelerating rate of growth could signal market maturity, saturation or simply the end of the app gold rush" (On Their Tenth Anniversary, Mobile Apps Start Eating Their Own)
The "1 content / service = 1 mobile application" mode of business is no longer possible in a world that has reached saturation and reusing the principle of an AR application to replace a flat application will not be the solution. All brands / companies / startups will try to find other vectors to interact with consumers. We're looking into ways of making MR apps more engaging and less of a one-off occurrence. As our colleague Mauricio Vergara points out, "With the adoption of immersive computing at scale, real time 3D graphics will become the way we interact with the world."
II. Expanding mixed reality beyond current perceptions
Until now, MR applications were primarily designed as solitary and single-use experiments. Because of that, many of today's user scenarios are somewhat limited and seem to lean towards being novelties rather than engaging solutions.
"The most thrilling mixed reality experience involves real-time, 3D mapping of the environment, which enables virtual objects to interact with surfaces and objects in the real world. For example, a computer-generated creature that can stand on a table -- or hide behind it." (Why Google and Apple will rule mixed reality By Mike Elgan)
To create the uses of tomorrow we must change perspective and ask ourselves interesting questions: does reality disappear when we close our eyes? In the future, devices could potentially no longer be used to generate a sandboxed reality, but rather devices will be a tool that connects users to a persistent layer of reality. For example, museums could create interactive captions around masterpieces, sports stadiums could display real time virtual FX above players in motion on the field, restaurants could display interactive menus on tables…etc. The possibilities are endless, and in this future, users just need to be in the right place to take advantage of the augmented layer. Platforms like Google's Visual Positioning Service (VPS) which brings quick and accurate indoor location mapping and understanding, will help provide seamless augmented experiences anywhere. The MR Research Group will look into creating tools that will help users and devs align their thinking with this new perspective.
III. Future MR experiences should be more social
Many current MR experiences do not have a strong enough social component and end up being a lonely affair for both the user and observer; we want to help change that paradigm. There are some notable social VR apps that have sprung up this past year, but social augmented reality experiences are more difficult to create and are just in their infancy. Often, even if an observer is in the same room as the participant, it is difficult for this observer to imagine the user's experience because they typically can't see anything.
Over the past few months, we have observed many augmented reality users during events; our conclusion is that they get bored, no longer interact with the wearer, and ignore them as if they were no longer part of their reality (here are some example videos). In a similar way, it is important to keep in mind that the popularity of VR does not come from people who try the VR HMD themselves, but rather from the people who demo it on YouTube with a "Mixed Reality View". Seeing both the content and the user's reaction is what generates the interest for the observer.
Mark Billinghurst tells us augmented reality can bring empathic computing: "Systems that allow us to share what we are seeing, hearing and feeling with others". It is an amazing idea, like obtaining new superpowers, however, it comes at a cost. Increasing the social aspect naturally raises questions regarding privacy and freedom, which will be big issues for the future of immersive technologies regardless of the specifics of the implementation. Privacy and freedom must be considered by everyone involved: engineers, artists, designers, and policymakers alike. Since MR tech could be ubiquitous within a decade, discussions need to start now, and we will be contributing.
IV. Game Authoring Evolution
The future of gaming and game authoring has never been so bright. MR brings with it a whole new era filled with new types of games and new ways to play them. Being Unity, we are in a unique position to affect that future. Our group will help study how games can and will evolve in this new era of mixed reality. How will games be played? When will they be played? How persistent will they be in regard to location and participation? How will they be created? These are important questions, and mixed reality provides a sea of possibilities to answer them. Part of our work will hopefully help guide Unity into that future. That being said, Unity's core strength is its developers community and our group's work will help influence the creation of a concrete plan for our developers to be successful in this new world. We will be involved with other groups within Unity on the creation of new and improved MR focused development tools that will help drive our user's success.
In part 2 and 3 of this series we will explore the implications of the above issues and will dive into the design challenges we face with this new medium. Part 2 has been published and can be seen here. Part 3 can be found here.
Article contributors: Greg Madison, Lead UX/IxD Designer and futurist; Colin Alleyne, Senior Technical Writer; and Sylvio Drouin, VP - Unity Labs.
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Home Page Chess Life Online 2008 May Response to Irina's Open Letter
Response to Irina's Open Letter |
By Tom Braunlich | |
June 2, 2008 | |
2008 Frank K. Berry U.S. Women's Championship To Irina Krush, Anna Zatonskih, and all Championship Participants, This is a response to the Open Letter published in Chess Life Online a few days ago from Irina Krush which protested the outcome of the final playoff game of the 2008 FKB U.S. Women's Championship in which a wild time scramble occurred and Anna Zatonskih was declared the winner on time by a mere one second margin. I am writing this on behalf of the Championship Organizing Committee, whom I consulted about the issues raised. (The organizing committee consisted of Frank K. Berry, Jim Berry, and me. Bill Goichberg and John Donaldson also contributed to this reply.) Although I wasn't in the room myself, I have consulted with several witnesses who were there, and others, and I had a long discussion about it with Irina on the phone. I think it is clear that the committee, and most people who have seen the video, sympathize with Irina's grievance. A playoff that ends in a time scramble like this is never going to have a satisfying result. This experience calls out for the USCF to determine and create guidelines for an optimum system of playoffs for important titles — identifying the best available playoff option to use in certain circumstances (i.e., depending how much time is available for the playoffs, etc.). Guidelines for when to use playoffs as opposed to mathematical tiebreaks or declaring co-champions would also be nice. I am writing the article on the Championships for Chess Life, and plan to detail this issue there as well as to cover this controversy. The playoff system used in this tournament was similar to ones that have been used before for other important events. It should be noted that the intended playoff methods were communicated to the players long in advance and there were no objections. First, let's discuss the technical aspects of the protest itself before discussing its "fairness" beyond the technicalities. Irina's basic complaint was that the final game was not decided on the board but instead was a clock-punching race in which Anna can be seen on the video starting to make her move before Irina punches the clock on several occasions. Irina calls this both illegal and unfair. (See the addendum after this letter for some interesting discussion on the legalities of this. It is a separate controversy by itself that has been sparked by this event.) The bottom line for IA Frank Berry and Jim Berry, who were the directors present, is that no protest of the outcome was made at the time when something might have been done about it. Instead the protest came many days later. Frank stated, "I'd have to say that by not raising an objection at the time Irina essentially agreed to the result by quickly walking out and not protesting immediately. Once agreed to it is next to impossible to over-rule... even in the face of video evidence that might show questionable bending of the rules. I was there to rule in case of an objection raised by one of the players. I'd have to say at this point the result stands as posted that night. It was wild... but who expected otherwise?" Also, neither TD believed it was their responsibility to step in and stop the game during the time scramble. Here is what Frank noted about what discretion the director has in such situations: "A few areas of the USCF rule book ( # 5 ) are appropriate: 11D1 Illegal move in sudden death time pressure: A director should not call attention to illegal moves in sudden death time pressure. (Both players could be seen making questionable moves in the video) 21D Intervening in games. The director's intervention in a chess game shall generally be limited to the following: 21D2 Correcting illegal moves observed. Correcting any illegal moves observed, unless time pressure exists... 21F. Player requests for rulings. A player has the right to stop both clocks to ask the director to rule upon a point of law, procedure or conduct. (This was not done by either player). Since this was not a FIDE qualifier event we were going by USCF rules. ... " Frank also has said (along with Larry Kaufman and Bill Goichberg, among others) that this experience makes it clear that if an armageddon playoff game is used is should include a short increment or delay, such as 1 or 2 seconds, to lessen the awkward effects of a possible mutual time scramble. Of course, if you did that you would have to greatly alter the relative starting times of white and black to re-balance the draw-odds equation. Heretofore this has normally not been done for armageddon play, but perhaps it should be. Another appeal Irina made was to fairness or justice, regardless of the protest being late. She implies in her letter that Anna's play was unfair, that even though technically it was allowed to stand with no objection, and even though Anna may not intentionally have been trying to be unfair, nevertheless it caused a situation not worthy of a sporting result. This is sticky territory, and I hesitate to discuss it since both Irina and Anna are my friends and I'd like to keep it that way. Irina's protest is understandable, but two counter-arguments need to be mentioned in response. First, it is unclear if what Anna did on these moves is actually illegal (see addendum below, in which experienced TDs argue it is not). But even if it is, it also has to be said that it can be seen from the video that both players made technically questionable moves during this wild scramble. At one point Irina knocks over a rook and does not pick it up, which is illegal, and a few more moves occur after that. On this issue, none of the eyewitnesses I've talked to said that they witnessed anything they considered inherently unfair. "I did not witness anything that would have led me to think the result of the game should not stand at the time, had a complaint been lodged in a timely fashion," said one 2600-rated witness. "The biggest thing is neither side played fairly, as Krush knocked a rook off the board and didn't fix it as well as Zatonskih's moving before Krush hit the clock," said another player who was a witness. So — how can one say this — perhaps one might say that the "unfairness" existed on both sides? But, let's face it, this kind of thing is what commonly happens in a mutual time scramble with no increment in the cases that both players go "down to the wire" like this. Pieces start flying, hands move in a blur, etc. It is to be expected, which is why it is to be avoided. To illustrate this, imagine this thought experiment: Suppose everything happened just as it did except that Anna was the one who lost by one second. Later on when she sees the video she might then have protested that the result was unfair because Irina made an illegal move when she didn't replace a knocked-over piece. I think people would have been sympathetic with her as well in such a case. A better word than unfair perhaps is just plain "unsatisfactory." The "blame" for the unsatisfactory result, if it goes anywhere, should perhaps mainly go to the format for the playoff, which allowed this possibility to occur. Again, this can perhaps be fixed in the future but is difficult to try to adjust after-the-fact. I have three short "addenda" to add on related issues, which I will put following the end of this letter, including: (1) Sportsmanship (2) Correction — The Time Status (3) Making a Move — Is it illegal to start your move before the opponent punches the clock? With deepest respect and regards, Tom Braunlich On Behalf of the Championship Organizing Committee. Addenda: (1) Sportsmanship In her letter, Irina says she was pained to be accused of bad sportsmanship. I don't know anyone who was there who thought that way about her. I know that I don't. We all were well aware of how tense the situation was. Her reaction was entirely human and even rather restrained, considering the stressful circumstances. I hope no one believes otherwise. (2) Correction — The Time Status There has been a lot of confusion about what the time situation was at the start of the time scramble. The original report I quoted in the CLO article that evening, which was that Anna had 2 seconds vs. Irina "about 20" seconds, was completely wrong, as was my speculation about how Irina could lose such a big lead. Another new report I have from a witness is that the time was Anna 8 vs. Irina 12 just before the scramble began. Apparently (from the other reports) it proceeded then to 3 vs. 8, then 2 vs. 6, then 1 vs. 0. (3) Making a Move — Is it illegal to move before the opponent punches the clock? Apparently not. One thing that is clear to me from this controversy is how "unclear" the rules for making moves are. This has been a subject of much of the internet discussion following this event — was what Anna did on several moves actually illegal? From what I understand, the USCF rulebook doesn't address the question directly of moving before your opponent punches the clock. I think that the fact that this close final playoff game was videotaped has brought the issue to the forefront. When things like this happen in blitz tournaments it all occurs so quickly that it can hardly be appreciated. The difficulty arises due to some ambiguity in the rules themselves, which define a move as not being made (or "completed") until the clock is pressed. You can't make a move before the opponent completes his move (by pressing the clock). But does that mean you can't start your move until then, or just that you can't make (or complete) your move until then? Here is some evidence from two highly respected directors who say that you can begin your move before the opponent presses the clock: (1) FIDE Rules — This all was very recently addressed by the well-known International Arbiter Geurt Gijssen in his article on chesscafe.com this month: (See http://www.chesscafe.com/geurt/geurt.htm — question two.) As you can see, Mr. Gijssen interprets the rules (the FIDE rules, see USCF comments below) to mean that what Anna was doing was not illegal. You must allow the opponent to punch the clock before you complete your move, but you can begin your move (i.e. start moving the piece) before the opponent completes their move by pressing the clock. This is not what many people believed the rule to be, including me. Many think you cannot start your move until the opponent has hit the clock. But when you think about it, such a rule would be very hard to enforce and there are many occasions in time trouble when this is inevitably what is done, due to the extremely fluid and fast nature of such play. As Gijssen says, "Can you imagine how many quarrels we would have in Blitz and Rapid games?" Is it really even possible to determine if a player has touched a piece before the opponent punched the clock? We are talking about small fractions of a second here during a time scramble. It is all happening so quickly, it seems impractical to require the player to not start his/her move until the opponent's clock is punched. Is a player who "jumps the gun" by a tenth of a second really making illegal moves? You offer a queen trade, the opponent takes it; and immediately you follow with your automatic recapture before the opponent hits the clock, hitting your clock as quickly after them as you can. This is simply a very common thing. Gijssen's interpretation of the rule makes the punching of the clock the determining factor, something that is far more easily observable and verifiable. (2) USCF Rules — Mike Atkins, one of America's most experienced tournament directors, supported this same interpretation with regard to USCF rules in his posting on the CLO forum after he viewed the video: "I have directed hundreds of blitz tournaments over the past 15 years and helped write the new USCF Blitz rules that are a modification of the old WBCA rules. After watching the video several times, there was nothing illegal except for the piece being knocked over and not replaced. … I clearly saw Anna making moves while Irina was moving and you can see Irina doing the same thing. This is not illegal. Both players were moving extremely fast. Top blitz players have to do this to survive. If they wait politely until the opponent has moved and punched their clock before moving, they will lose every time. Anyone ever see Hikaru [Nakamura] or Jorge Sammour-Hasbun play blitz? I've seen MUCH MUCH worse at major tournaments, with players moving so fast I couldn't keep up with them - I wish EVERY blitz game had a video as it clears up all arguments. The rules concerning the clock are: 6.) Except for pressing the clock, neither player should touch the clock except: 6a.) To straighten it. 6b.) If a player knocks over the clock a penalty may be assessed. 6c.) If your opponent's clock does not tick you may press his side down and re-press your side; however, if this procedure is unsatisfactory, please call for a director. 6d.) Each player must always be allowed to press the clock after their move is made. 6e.) A player should not keep a hand on or hover over the clock. 6D and 6E were at question here. Despite moving very fast, I did not see either player violate 6D and both players were following Rule 4 - Both players were using the same hand to move and hit the clock. It's really difficult to hover over the clock with one hand and move with the same hand at the same time, I didn't see that happening either. …" Others in the forums have argued against this interpretation, and I will let them determine what is correct here. It seems to me that at least it needs some clarification. I'm not a tournament director, but if the above interpretation is correct, my humble suggestion for a clear way to explain the technicalities of a move would be something like this: You begin your move by touching a piece. You are now committed to moving that piece somewhere, if it can be done legally (the "touch-move rule"). You are committed to a move by releasing the piece on a new square. The move cannot then be changed, even if you have not yet pressed the clock. The move is completed when you press your clock (thus starting the opponent's clock). You cannot complete your move (i.e., press the clock) before the opponent has completed his, nor can you interfere with his move or his ability to press the clock. |


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Large boards usually have a 'Read Me First' section. It's time I created one.
Thank you in advance for reading,
Doug Reeves
(your host)
Thank you in advance for reading,
Doug Reeves
(your host)
READ ME FIRST before registering a forums account
Welcome future, current and past fans of Van's Aircraft aircraft!
You might currently be a 'lurker' on the site and are thinking about creating a forums account so you can join in the conversation. That sounds like a great plan! Before you do though, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the text below – it can oftentimes reduce the chance of any difficulty and frustration down the road.
Because the site has a following, we're sometimes the target of scammers. Because of that I've had to kinda watch the new registrations a little closer.
- Your registration might be denied if your submitted info doesn't pass the 'smell test'.
o The email address you enter will be searched online – those returning hits on spam lists will be denied.
o Entering 'none of your business', or anything but your first and last name in the First Name / Last Name field is not going to get you in.
READ THE POSTING RULES before you register.
o If you're joining just so you can promote your non-advertiser business or service, those posts are deleted, and your account most likely locked down. Read the posting rules please (#1)
o If you're joining just so you can create a for sale listing, you will need to REALLY go the extra mile to convince folks you are not a scammer. Lots of detail. Phone number. Email address. You're under the microscope and a scam risk by default.
o If you are just joining the site so you can bitch and moan about a vendor that made your salad wrong or looked at you with an eyebrow raised, save us the effort and don't bother. Those same vendors that you're hoping to "shame into fixing your problem" are the same vendors who are helping me feed my family. Any truly horrible treatment by a vendor should result in you contacting the Better Business Bureau. There are channels already in place for this type of thing. If you were wondering if I show favoritism towards the vendors who choose to advertise here, you're dang right I do! They help me make my house payment and keep the lights on.
o DON'T POINT TO ANOTHER COMPTETING SITE (ebay, barnstormers, trade a plane, etc). Those get deleted.
o Don't 'bump' your classified threads. Bad form and it clogs up the new posts and today's posts results.
o Classified fraud alerts
Be very suspect of 'Private Message' only or 'Email only' listings. Scammer red flag. Avoid "I'm interested PM me" type listings OR REPLIES. Phone numbers or email addresses that can be Googled is the way to go. If a private message or email sent to you has a 'click on this link for more info' type URL, suspect a scammer!
Pro Tip: List your phone number and email in the ad in a way that is very hard for automated spam robots to harvest. Example below:
• John Doe at nine 7 two – 33 four – 7 six 8 one
john.doe 'at' comcasK 'dot' com*
*replace the 'K' with a 't'
Look for an autosignature in all posts with info that can be searched in a search engine (N-number, builder # at Van's, an online blog with a history of construction photos/travel stories, etc.
The more 'Googleable' info you give the better. Internet savvy people will want to prove to themselves that you aren't a scammer before contacting you (the smart ones will).
There are some real dirtbags online, so don't kid yourself. They exist. This site is big enough to attract the scum who want to rip you off. Your default condition when using the classifieds should be one of suspicion!
If this document hasn't scared you off <grin>, please register and become friends with some really amazing people. If you're not comfortable with any of this, simply remain a 'lurker'. We're still glad you're here!
Kindest and best,
Doug Reeves
(host / janitor)
Last edited by a moderator:


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This paper investigates the timely question of whether Indiana public employees are overpaid at the expense of Indiana taxpayers. After his election in 2004, Governor Mitch Daniels rescinded the rights of highway police, hospital attendants, mechanics, and other state workers to collectively bargain for wage and hour increases, working conditions, and other benefits, eliminating the unionization rights and contracts of approximately 25,000 state employees. Governor Daniels is also promoting vouchers for private schools and reducing public school funding, which may result in teacher pay cuts and layoffs.
This paper's data analysis indicates that, contrary to allegations, Indiana public employees are not overpaid. (When we refer to public employees, we are referring to state and local employees, not federal workers.) Comparisons controlling for education, experience, hours of work, organizational size, gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship, and disability reveal that public employees in both state and local governments earn less than comparable private-sector employees. On an annual basis, full-time state and local employees are under-compensated by 7.5% in Indiana, in comparison with otherwise similar private-sector workers. When comparisons are made for differences in annual hours worked, full-time state and local employees are under-compensated by a smaller 5.9% in Indiana in comparison to otherwise similar private-sector workers.
When comparing public- and private-sector pay, it is essential to recognize that the occupational and educational mix of the two sectors are very different, with the public sector employing occupations that require much higher levels of education. Consequently, on average, Indiana public-sector workers are more highly educated than private-sector workers; 49% of full-time Indiana public-sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree compared to 24% in the private sector. Indiana state and local governments pay college-educated employees 6% less in annual compensation, on average, than private employers. The compensation differential is greater for professional employees, lawyers, and doctors. On the other hand, the public sector appears to set a floor on compensation, so that the 1% of public-sector workers without high school diplomas earn more than comparably educated workers in the private sector.


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Show All Answers
1) Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for businesses that are limited due to zoning regulations. Please contact the Planning Department at 562-383-4100 to determine if your business will require a Conditional Use Permit.
2) Orange County Health Care Agency for businesses preparing or serving food or drinks. You can contact the OC Health Care Agency at 714-433-6000 or visit their website at http://ochealthinfo.com.
3) Alcoholic Beverage Control License (ABC) for any business that sells alcoholic beverages. You can contact the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control at 714-558-4101 or visit their website at http://www.abc.ca.gov.
4) South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for the demolition of structures larger than one hundred square feet requires that you file a Notice of Demolition and an asbestos survey with AQMD. Rules are adopted to reduce emissions from various sources, including specific types of equipment, industrial processes, paints and solvents, even consumer products. Permits are issued to many businesses and industries to ensure compliance with air quality rules. Please contact AQMD at 909-396-2000 or visit their website at http://www.aqmd.gov.
5) Preliminary Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) must be submitted for review and approval prior to the issuance of a building permit if your project requires a discretionary review. To understand the type of WQMP to prepare for your project, please contact Melissa You with the Engineering Division at 562-383-4151.
CalGOLD is a very helpful State website to find out what kinds of permits your business requires and who to contact. Their website is http://www.calgold.ca.gov.


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Chapter 12
Of the Lamps of the Mansions—The Ambassador Plea
Mrs. Hurstwood was not aware of any of her husband's moral defections, though she might readily have suspected his tendencies, which she well understood. She was a woman upon whose action under provocation you could never count. Hurstwood, for one, had not the slightest idea of what she would do under certain circumstances. He had never seen her thoroughly aroused. In fact, she was not a woman who would fly into a passion. She had too little faith in mankind not to know that they were erring. She was too calculating to jeopardize any advantage she might gain in the way of information by fruitless clamour. Her wrath would never wreak itself in one fell blow. She would wait and brood, studying the details and adding to them until her power might be commensurate with her desire for revenge. At the same time, she would not delay to inflict any injury, big or little, which would wound the object of her revenge and still leave him uncertain as to the source of the evil. She was a cold, self-centred woman, with many a thought of her own which never found expression, not even by so much as the glint of an eye.
Hurstwood felt some of this in her nature, though he did not actually perceive it. He dwelt with her in peace and some satisfaction. He did not fear her in the least—there was no cause for it. She still took a faint pride in him, which was augmented by her desire to have her social integrity maintained. She was secretly somewhat pleased by the fact that much of her husband's property was in her name, a precaution which Hurstwood had taken when his home interests were somewhat more alluring than at present. His wife had not the slightest reason to feel that anything would ever go amiss with their household, and yet the shadows which run before gave her a thought of the good of it now and then. She was in a position to become refractory with considerable advantage, and Hurstwood conducted himself circumspectly because he felt that he could not be sure of anything once she became dissatisfied.
It so happened that on the night when Hurstwood, Carrie, and Drouet were in the box at McVickar's, George, Jr., was in the sixth row of the parquet with the daughter of H. B. Carmichael, the third partner of a wholesale dry-goods house of that city. Hurstwood did not see his son, for he sat, as was his wont, as far back as possible, leaving himself just partially visible, when he bent forward, to those within the first six rows in question. It was his wont to sit this way in every theatre—to make his personality as inconspicuous as possible where it would be no advantage to him to have it otherwise.
He never moved but what, if there was any danger of his conduct being misconstrued or ill-reported, he looked carefully about him and counted the cost of every inch of conspicuity.
The next morning at breakfast his son said:
"I saw you, Governor, last night."
"Were you at McVickar's?" said Hurstwood, with the best grace in the world.
"Yes," said young George.
"Who with?"
"Miss Carmichael."
Mrs. Hurstwood directed an inquiring glance at her husband, but could not judge from his appearance whether it was any more than a casual look into the theatre which was referred to.
"How was the play?" she inquired.
"Very good," returned Hurstwood, "only it's the same old thing, 'Rip Van Winkle.'"
"Whom did you go with?" queried his wife, with assumed indifference.
"Charlie Drouet and his wife. They are friends of Moy's, visiting here."
Owing to the peculiar nature of his position, such a disclosure as this would ordinarily create no difficulty. His wife took it for granted that his situation called for certain social movements in which she might not be included. But of late he had pleaded office duty on several occasions when his wife asked for his company to any evening entertainment. He had done so in regard to the very evening in question only the morning before.
"I thought you were going to be busy," she remarked, very carefully.
"So I was," he exclaimed. "I couldn't help the interruption, but I made up for it afterward by working until two."
This settled the discussion for the time being, but there was a residue of opinion which was not satisfactory. There was no time at which the claims of his wife could have been more unsatisfactorily pushed. For years he had been steadily modifying his matrimonial devotion, and found her company dull. Now that a new light shone upon the horizon, this older luminary paled in the west. He was satisfied to turn his face away entirely, and any call to look back was irksome.
She, on the contrary, was not at all inclined to accept anything less than a complete fulfilment of the letter of their relationship, though the spirit might be wanting.
"We are coming down town this afternoon," she remarked, a few days later. "I want you to come over to Kinsley's and meet Mr. Phillips and his wife. They're stopping at the Tremont, and we're going to show them around a little."
After the occurrence of Wednesday, he could not refuse, though the Phillips were about as uninteresting as vanity and ignorance could make them. He agreed, but it was with short grace. He was angry when he left the house.
"I'll put a stop to this," he thought. "I'm not going to be bothered fooling around with visitors when I have work to do."
Not long after this Mrs. Hurstwood came with a similar proposition, only it was to a matinee this time.
"My dear," he returned, "I haven't time. I'm too busy."
"You find time to go with other people, though," she replied, with considerable irritation.
"Nothing of the kind," he answered. "I can't avoid business relations, and that's all there is to it."
"Well, never mind," she exclaimed. Her lips tightened. The feeling of mutual antagonism was increased.
On the other hand, his interest in Drouet's little shop-girl grew in an almost evenly balanced proportion. That young lady, under the stress of her situation and the tutelage of her new friend, changed effectively. She had the aptitude of the struggler who seeks emancipation. The glow of a more showy life was not lost upon her. She did not grow in knowledge so much as she awakened in the matter of desire. Mrs. Hale's extended harangues upon the subjects of wealth and position taught her to distinguish between degrees of wealth. Mrs. Hale loved to drive in the afternoon in the sun when it was fine, and to satisfy her soul with a sight of those mansions and lawns which she could not afford. On the North Side had been erected a number of elegant mansions along what is now known as the North Shore Drive. The present lake wall of stone and granitoid was not then in place, but the road had been well laid out, the intermediate spaces of lawn were lovely to look upon, and the houses were thoroughly new and imposing. When the winter season had passed and the first fine days of the early spring appeared, Mrs. Hale secured a buggy for an afternoon and invited Carrie. They rode first through Lincoln Park and on far out towards Evanston, turning back at four and arriving at the north end of the Shore Drive at about five o'clock. At this time of year the days are still comparatively short, and the shadows of the evening were beginning to settle down upon the great city. Lamps were beginning to burn with that mellow radiance which seems almost watery and translucent to the eye. There was a softness in the air which speaks with an infinite delicacy of feeling to the flesh as well as to the soul. Carrie felt that it was a lovely day. She was ripened by it in spirit for many suggestions. As they drove along the smooth pavement an occasional carriage passed. She saw one stop and the footman dismount, opening the door for a gentleman who seemed to be leisurely returning from some afternoon pleasure. Across the broad lawns, now first freshening into green, she saw lamps faintly glowing upon rich interiors. Now it was but a chair, now a table, now an ornate corner, which met her eye, but it appealed to her as almost nothing else could. Such childish fancies as she had had of fairy palaces and kingly quarters now came back. She imagined that across these richly carved entrance-ways, where the globed and crystalled lamps shone upon panelled doors set with stained and designed panes of glass, was neither care nor unsatisfied desire. She was perfectly certain that here was happiness. If she could but stroll up yon broad walk, cross that rich entrance-way, which to her was of the beauty of a jewel, and sweep in grace and luxury to possession and command—oh! how quickly would sadness flee; how, in an instant, would the heartache end. She gazed and gazed, wondering, delighting, longing, and all the while the siren voice of the unrestful was whispering in her ear.
"If we could have such a home as that," said Mrs. Hale sadly, "how delightful it would be."
"And yet they do say," said Carrie, "that no one is ever happy."
She had heard so much of the canting philosophy of the grapeless fox.
"I notice," said Mrs. Hale, "that they all try mighty hard, though, to take their misery in a mansion."
When she came to her own rooms, Carrie saw their comparative insignificance. She was not so dull but that she could perceive they were but three small rooms in a moderately well-furnished boarding-house. She was not contrasting it now with what she had had, but what she had so recently seen. The glow of the palatial doors was still in her eye, the roll of cushioned carriages still in her ears. What, after all, was Drouet? What was she? At her window, she thought it over, rocking to and fro, and gazing out across the lamp-lit park toward the lamp-lit houses on Warren and Ashland avenues. She was too wrought up to care to go down to eat, too pensive to do aught but rock and sing. Some old tunes crept to her lips, and, as she sang them, her heart sank. She longed and longed and longed. It was now for the old cottage room in Columbia City, now the mansion upon the Shore Drive, now the fine dress of some lady, now the elegance of some scene. She was sad beyond measure, and yet uncertain, wishing, fancying. Finally, it seemed as if all her state was one of loneliness and forsakenness, and she could scarce refrain from trembling at the lip. She hummed and hummed as the moments went by, sitting in the shadow by the window, and was therein as happy, though she did not perceive it, as she ever would be.
While Carrie was still in this frame of mind, the house-servant brought up the intelligence that Mr. Hurstwood was in the parlour asking to see Mr. and Mrs. Drouet.
"I guess he doesn't know that Charlie is out of town," thought Carrie.
She had seen comparatively little of the manager during the winter, but had been kept constantly in mind of him by one thing and another, principally by the strong impression he had made. She was quite disturbed for the moment as to her appearance, but soon satisfied herself by the aid of the mirror, and went below.
Hurstwood was in his best form, as usual. He hadn't heard that Drouet was out of town. He was but slightly affected by the intelligence, and devoted himself to the more general topics which would interest Carrie. It was surprising—the ease with which he conducted a conversation. He was like every man who has had the advantage of practice and knows he has sympathy. He knew that Carrie listened to him pleasurably, and, without the least effort, he fell into a train of observation which absorbed her fancy. He drew up his chair and modulated his voice to such a degree that what he said seemed wholly confidential. He confined himself almost exclusively to his observation of men and pleasures. He had been here and there, he had seen this and that. Somehow he made Carrie wish to see similar things, and all the while kept her aware of himself. She could not shut out the consciousness of his individuality and presence for a moment. He would raise his eyes slowly in smiling emphasis of something, and she was fixed by their magnetism. He would draw out, with the easiest grace, her approval. Once he touched her hand for emphasis and she only smiled. He seemed to radiate an atmosphere which suffused her being. He was never dull for a minute, and seemed to make her clever. At least, she brightened under his influence until all her best side was exhibited. She felt that she was more clever with him than with others. At least, he seemed to find so much in her to applaud. There was not the slightest touch of patronage. Drouet was full of it.
There had been something so personal, so subtle, in each meeting between them, both when Drouet was present and when he was absent, that Carrie could not speak of it without feeling a sense of difficulty. She was no talker. She could never arrange her thoughts in fluent order. It was always a matter of feeling with her, strong and deep. Each time there had been no sentence of importance which she could relate, and as for the glances and sensations, what woman would reveal them? Such things had never been between her and Drouet. As a matter of fact, they could never be. She had been dominated by distress and the enthusiastic forces of relief which Drouet represented at an opportune moment when she yielded to him. Now she was persuaded by secret current feelings which Drouet had never understood. Hurstwood's glance was as effective as the spoken words of a lover, and more. They called for no immediate decision, and could not be answered.
People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects great results. As a matter of fact, words are, as a rule, the shallowest portion of all the argument. They but dimly represent the great surging feelings and desires which lie behind. When the distraction of the tongue is removed, the heart listens.
In this conversation she heard, instead of his words, the voices of the things which he represented. How suave was the counsel of his appearance! How feelingly did his superior state speak for itself! The growing desire he felt for her lay upon her spirit as a gentle hand. She did not need to tremble at all, because it was invisible; she did not need to worry over what other people would say—what she herself would say—because it had no tangibility. She was being pleaded with, persuaded, led into denying old rights and assuming new ones, and yet there were no words to prove it. Such conversation as was indulged in held the same relationship to the actual mental enactments of the twain that the low music of the orchestra does to the dramatic incident which it is used to cover.
"Have you ever seen the houses along the Lake Shore on the North Side?" asked Hurstwood.
"Why, I was just over there this afternoon—Mrs. Hale and I. Aren't they beautiful?"
"They're very fine," he answered.
"Oh, me," said Carrie, pensively. "I wish I could live in such a place."
"You're not happy," said Hurstwood, slowly, after a slight pause.
He had raised his eyes solemnly and was looking into her own. He assumed that he had struck a deep chord. Now was a slight chance to say a word in his own behalf. He leaned over quietly and continued his steady gaze. He felt the critical character of the period. She endeavoured to stir, but it was useless. The whole strength of a man's nature was working. He had good cause to urge him on. He looked and looked, and the longer the situation lasted the more difficult it became. The little shop-girl was getting into deep water. She was letting her few supports float away from her.
"Oh," she said at last, "you mustn't look at me like that."
"I can't help it," he answered.
She relaxed a little and let the situation endure, giving him strength.
"You are not satisfied with life, are you?"
"No," she answered, weakly.
He saw he was the master of the situation—he felt it. He reached over and touched her hand.
"You mustn't," she exclaimed, jumping up.
"I didn't intend to," he answered, easily.
She did not run away, as she might have done. She did not terminate the interview, but he drifted off into a pleasant field of thought with the readiest grace. Not long after he rose to go, and she felt that he was in power. "You mustn't feel bad," he said, kindly; "things will straighten out in the course of time."
She made no answer, because she could think of nothing to say.
"We are good friends, aren't we?" he said, extending his hand.
"Yes," she answered.
"Not a word, then, until I see you again."
He retained a hold on her hand.
"I can't promise," she said, doubtfully.
"You must be more generous than that," he said, in such a simple way that she was touched.
"Let's not talk about it any more," she returned.
"All right," he said, brightening.
He went down the steps and into his cab. Carrie closed the door and ascended into her room. She undid her broad lace collar before the mirror and unfastened her pretty alligator belt which she had recently bought.
"I'm getting terrible," she said, honestly affected by a feeling of trouble and shame. "I don't seem to do anything right."
She unloosed her hair after a time, and let it hang in loose brown waves. Her mind was going over the events of the evening.
"I don't know," she murmured at last, "what I can do."
"Well," said Hurstwood as he rode away, "she likes me all right; that I know."
The aroused manager whistled merrily for a good four miles to his office an old melody that he had not recalled for fifteen years.