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Technical Problem With This Chapter?
Author: Bella
Part: Chapter One
Rating: Teens
Setting: AU
Status: WIP
Reviews: 21
Words: 6,557
Updated: August 18, 2005, 6:14am
Chapter One
A/N: Millions and millions of thank-yous go to my beta, Daily
Prophet Reporting, for his patience with me and my perfectionist
nature. He has slaved over this story with me for over a year with
wonderful tolerance and I really, really appreciate him. You rock, KC!
Life and love are life and love, a bunch of violets is a bunch of violets, and to drag in the idea of a point is to ruin everything. Live and let live, love and let love, flower and fade, and follow the natural curve, which flows on, pointless.
-D. H. Lawrence
Lily Evans woke up on Saturday, July 8, as suddenly and completely as if a loud noise of some sort had gone off in her ear. As she squinted in the morning light that poured through the window beside her bed, she wondered for a few seconds why her stomach was fluttering madly. Then it hit her: today was her cousin Sarah's wedding. And, more importantly, today was the day she would see James.
It had been just a little over a week since they had bid each other goodbye on platform nine and three-quarters, and though she had said she would not moon over James, that was exactly what Lily had been doing. She found she couldn't go more than five minutes without thinking of him and it was driving her mad. In a fit of desperation she had resorted to telling her mother of her dilemma, and Mrs. Evans had smiled in an annoyingly superior sort of way and said, "You'll see him soon enough, dear." Lily found that she couldn't look at the brooms in the closet without her heart wrenching painfully, and she kept seeing people that looked like James. The most memorable occasion was when Mrs. Evans and Lily had been shopping for dresses to wear to the wedding and Lily had thought she saw his mop of messy black hair through the crowd. As she was straining to see if it really was him, she ran smack into a road sign. A group of smoking thirteen-year-olds standing nearby had laughed at her until she gave them her worst death glare and moved on.
Lily's sleepy eyes turned to her small bedside table. As he had promised, James had been sending her sappy love poems he had written for her as early as third year throughout the week; she picked up the top letter and grinned as she reread it.
Dearest Lily,
You hold in your hands the first poem I ever wrote for you. I thought I had burned it over some break or another, but obviously I didn't. You have to promise you will never, ever bring this up to Sirius; I don't want him to have any more ways to blackmail me than he does already. I apologize in advance for the completely horrible poem coming up. Not that any of them are particularly good.
Sirius and I are going mad in all this rain. Mum hates it when we fly in it, even though it's perfectly harmless, and she rants on about catching colds and such. Well, hopefully it will all clear up for the wedding. Sirius and I are also keeping an eye out for flats in London and Diagon Alley, but so far nothing's grabbed his fancy. He really can be absurdly picky sometimes.
Anyway, I miss you.
Ode to Lily Evans
Lily Evans, you are my light
Your face shines like a big beacon
Throughout the night.
I love it when you give big smiles
And your laugh is like a clear bell.
For you, I would run a thousand miles.
I asked you to Hogsmeade again last week
You looked at me like I was crazy-
And then called me an arrogant freak.
I'll ask you again soon,
And I know one day you'll agree
And then you'll be so happy, Lily Evans, you'll fly with me to the moon.
P.S.: I seem to remember I couldn't think of anything to suitably rhyme with "soon". Though why I'm attempting to explain my motives to you I have no idea.
Lily chuckled softly and closed her eyes, enjoying the warm, contented feeling floating through her. How was it possible that James could make her laugh, cry, and feel lighter than air all at once?
Lily kicked the fluffy duvet off her legs and sat up. She put the letter back on her night table carefully and read the clock; she calculated quickly that James would be arriving in a little over six hours. A huge burst of excitement gave her energy, and she jumped out of bed and bounded across the room to her closet. She grabbed her dressing gown, brushing past the dress she would wear that night, and threw it on, planning her day out already. She would go downstairs and have a good breakfast, read some of the book Remus had given her for her birthday until lunch, and then perhaps see if her father wanted to have a game of tennis. By then it would be time to get ready for the wedding, and after that – James.
Her day went very much as she planned, which added to Lily's good mood. The only slight hitch was how her father had looked exhausted and needed to sit down often during their game of tennis, which worried her. Regardless, she and her father returned, sweaty and hot but grinning, from their game just in time to bid Mrs. Evans goodbye. As Sarah was Mrs. Evans's sister Joy's daughter and since Joy had died when Lily was ten, Mrs. Evans felt it was her duty to be a mother to Sarah. Lily felt that Mrs. Evans was wasting her time, as Sarah cared more for her manicure than she did for her loving aunt, but it made her mother happy so Lily never voiced her opinions about her ingrate cousin.
"Don't forget, Bob, that we're family and we have seats at the front of the chapel," Mrs. Evans said as she kissed her husband quickly on the cheek. "And also, make sure you find Mother properly, will you? Right, love you both! I'll come join you as soon as I can! Say hello to James for me, Lily," she called with a wink before disappearing out the door.
Mr. Evans and Lily looked at each other for a split second before calling at the same time, "First shower!"
Lily wheedled her way into getting the first shower (he always let her go first) and grinned as she skipped upstairs into her bathroom. She showered, put on her new dark blue dress, and then dried her hair. She gave it a bit of a curl to make it more interesting and fastened on the pearls Grandmummy had given her. She then spent twenty minutes hunting for a suitable handbag that could hold her wand, and by the time she realized she was a witch and could transfigure something into the appropriate shape, she was feeling a bit testy. When she finally made her way downstairs, pushing her long hair back from her face and huffing at her stupidity, her father, looking very smart in his morning suit, smiled at her from behind his newspaper.
"Is everything all right, darling?" he asked worriedly, taking in her flushed face and frowning mouth.
"Oh yes," she said tetchily, not bothering to give an explanation. At that moment, a loud pop and a crash sounded from the next room. Lily and her father looked at each other with alarm before hurrying into the family room, Lily with her wand drawn. Upon entering they found the towering collection of records that had been next to the record player strewn all over the floor; the record player itself was mere inches from falling off the table. In the midst of all of this was a very red James; he was on the floor, covered by the records, rubbing the back of his head – which he had obviously hit on the fireplace behind him – and looking very embarrassed. Lily couldn't help but notice, as she laughed herself silly, that he looked quite handsome in his suit.
James sat up on his elbow and waved his wand, and everything righted itself again. The records were put back into their neat stacks and the player was solidly situated on its table once more.
"All right there, James?" Mr. Evans asked, a smile lurking around his face, doing his best to ignore his hysterical daughter. He reached out a hand to help James off the floor, and James accepted it gratefully.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," James said, glaring at Lily. "I'm very sorry, sir, I meant to appear at the door," he said to her father, trying to be smooth and charming. He reflexively ruffled his hair.
"It's no trouble at all, James." Mr. Evans grinned at them both before tapping his watch. "We need to leave in about five minutes," he warned before going back into the kitchen. Lily was seated on the arm of a nearby chair, clutching her stomach and gasping.
"Oh, James, I'm sorry, that was just – you should have seen your face-"
James grinned. "I suppose it was quite funny, wasn't it? Not quite the suave entrance I was hoping for."
Lily stared at him for a moment, still smiling, taking in his suit. James, meanwhile, did some staring of his own. "Lily – you look…"
"Well, I was going to say incredible, but I suppose fabulous works too."
Lily stood up slowly from the arm of the chair, suddenly feeling a bit shy. He had never seen her in a Muggle dress before, had he? And her hair – she suddenly wished she hadn't curled it. It seemed silly now.
James chose to reach for a lock of hair at that moment; he twirled it around his finger. "You should curl it more often," he told her before leaning down to kiss her. All thoughts of her hair vanished instantly as she surrendered herself to his embrace.
"Mmmh, I missed you," he said quietly when they pulled apart, and Lily hugged him tightly in response. Her head fit perfectly under his chin.
They stood in silence for a few long minutes, just content to hold each other. Lily filled her nose with his unmistakable scent as he alternately stroked her hair and pressed kisses on top of her head. Lily finally roused herself from her slight stupor when she heard her father moving about in the kitchen. "We should go," she said into his chest.
"We should."
"I can't do anything if you don't let go of me."
"Ah, I see."
Still, they didn't move.
"Lily? Let's go, we're going to be late!"
Mr. Evans's voice was the very effective catalyst they needed to pull apart. Lily grabbed James's hand and tugged him through the family room and out into the foyer where Mr. Evans was waiting. He ushered the two out the door and into the waiting car.
The ride to the chapel was not very long. Mr. Evans and James entered into another discussion, this one about sports.
"She tried to explain Quidditch to me once, but I must confess I was quite lost," Mr. Evans was saying.
"Dad, that's because I didn't have any idea myself."
James grinned. "I'd be happy to explain it to you, Mr. Evans. I play Chaser – or, at least, I did – for Gryffindor."
"And he was captain," Lily put in proudly. "That's quite big, Dad."
"I say! Did you know, James, I was captain of my rugby team at university?"
James's brow furrowed and he shot a puzzled glance at Lily. "Ah, well, that's great, Mr. Evans."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Dad, he hasn't got a clue as to what rugby is."
Mr. Evans enthusiastically started to explain, in great detail, the rules and mechanisms of rugby. James hung onto his every word, asking numerous questions and making parallels to Quidditch. They parked in the practically full church car park and headed into the chapel, still deep in conversation. When they got into the church they were seated up front, Lily in between James and Mr. Evans. The two males continued their conversation as Lily looked around impatiently, trying to spot –
She waved to her grandmother and the beaming old woman squeezed into their row between Lily and her son-in-law. She was decked to the nines in a shockingly pink two-piece suit with impossibly huge diamonds winking in her ears. She was wearing a hat of the same loud pink shade perched jauntily on the side of her wavy gray hair, and a light pink feather protruded from the hat. Lily grinned hugely and took her time hugging Grandmummy.
Grandmummy would not be distracted. She elbowed Lily in the ribs. "And who is this, Lily darling? I didn't know you would be bringing a guest, love."
"Grandmummy, this is James Potter. James, this is my grandmother, Mary Stuart."
Grandmummy held James's hand in her old, withered one for a bit longer than Lily deemed necessary. "Such a pleasure to finally meet a – friend – of Lily's," she said, winking not-so-discreetly at Lily.
"Grandmummy," Lily said in rebuke, and then turned a slightly embarrassed smile towards James.
"Her eyes, Lily," James breathed in an undertone as he retrieved his hand. His own brown eyes were wide. "Her eyes – they're the exact same as yours – incredible-"
Before Lily could reply, Grandmummy proceeded to gently bombard him with questions. "In Lily's year, weren't you, James dear?"
"Yes, Mrs. Stuart."
"And you went to the same school, is that right? For all seven years?"
"Yes, I did."
"And your parents – what do they do, dear?"
James tensed. Lily discreetly took his hand and squeezed. She looked at Grandmummy and said, "His mother works for the government."
Grandmummy took the hint. She changed the subject with infinite tact. "And have you decided what university to attend yet, James?"
This time, both Lily and James tensed. Luckily they were saved from answering by a flushed Mrs. Evans as she slid into the pew on Mr. Evans's other side.
"James! How lovely to see you again, dear," Mrs. Evans said, shaking his hand again. "Was the trip up here fun? Yes? Excellent. You look beautiful, Lily dear," she added, leaning forward to kiss her daughter. She then kissed Grandmummy. "Mother, what are you wearing? I haven't seen that suit since-"
"1961," Grandmummy said immediately, beaming in reminiscence. "Little Lily's christening." She held out her foot, displaying a shockingly pink pump. "I would have worn it before, but I just yesterday found the matching shoes."
Lily giggled at her grandmother and glanced at James; he was grinning in amusement. She squeezed his hand again, and at that moment, the music Sarah had selected for her numerous bridesmaids to go down the isle to started. Everyone quieted and watched as they paraded down the isle on the arm of their respective groomsmen. Lily craned her neck to get a glimpse of her sister and Vernon. They were not hard to spot at the very end of the line. Lily had to bite back a slightly hysterical giggle at the picture the two made together. Petunia really was about one-fourth his size. And was that the beginnings of a moustache on Vernon's face?
Lily elbowed James and whispered, "That's them in the back, Petunia and Vernon."
James adopted a hacking cough to cover up his laugh. The cough got worse when Vernon stumbled and leaned on Petunia to regain his balance – and Petunia, buckling under his weight, had to throw her arm out and steady herself on a nearby pew. Lily had both hands pressed over her mouth to keep her mother from hearing her laughter, and James's coughing hysterically behind her did nothing to help the situation. James finally excused himself and left the pew.
As they all stood up to watch a beaming Sarah walk down the isle on her father's arm, Mrs. Evans turned worriedly to Lily.
"Is James all right, dear?" she whispered, dabbing at her eyes.
"Yes, Mum, he'll be fine," Lily said with a straight face. Mrs. Evans nodded and returned her gaze to the bride. Grandmummy, however, kept looking up at Lily. Her eyes were sparkling.
"He's a keeper, Lily," she declared.
Lily couldn't have agreed more.
James did return about five minutes later and spent the rest of the ceremony with a determinedly straight face. Lily felt like her laughter would burst forth at any given moment; she couldn't even glance at James out of the corner of her eye without feeling the hysteria rising. Only when Sarah finally exited the church with her beaming new husband on her arm did Lily allow herself to look at him. His face was carefully blank, but his eyes were sparkling madly. "Don't say a word," he told her out of the corner of his mouth as he followed her and her family out of the pew.
Lily reached back and tugged on the sleeve of his suit to signal she understood; he slid his hand into hers and squeezed in response. They remained clasped together until they had to separate and greet the wedding party.
Sarah's smile was so wide it threatened to split her face right in two. She hugged her cousin enthusiastically in her usual, very fake manner, and gave James a not-so-subtle once-over when they were introduced. Luckily, her new husband was occupied with another guest at the time.
Lily introduced James to the whole wedding party as they moved down the line, finally coming to Petunia.
Lily took a deep breath and leaned forward to kiss her sister. Petunia bumped her bony jaw against Lily's in response and gave her a very tight smile. Lily nodded to Vernon, who did indeed seem to be attempting to grow a moustache, and then turned towards James.
"Petunia, I'd like you to meet James Potter. James, my sister, Petunia."
Petunia's thin nostrils flared as she offered a limp hand to James. An unmistakable sneer played around her mouth in the guise of a smile.
"It's nice to meet you," James said politely, shaking Petunia's hand as firmly as he could.
"Charmed," she said, before turning to Vernon. "This is my fiancé, Vernon Dursley."
James stuck out his hand to Vernon, who grunted and shook it determinedly. Lily returned her gaze to Petunia, who suddenly looked quite anxious about something as she watched James and Vernon. Her frightened blue eyes connected with Lily's for a second, and Lily instantly knew what the problem was: Vernon didn't know Lily was a witch.
Clever Petty, Lily thought nastily to herself as she and James rejoined the family and exited the church. Not telling Vernon until you're safely married that your sister's abnormal, are you? Frightened that he'll back out of it, hmm?
"Well, she wasn't really all that bad," James said as they followed Lily's parents and Grandmummy into the parking lot. "You know, if you like bony, sneering, horse-toothed women, that is."
Lily burst into giggles at his completely straight face and bland tone. When she had regained her breath, she said, "Yes, and he's not really all that bad, you know, if you like blimps with peach fuzz."
They both cracked up at that and continued as quietly as they could to come up with colorful metaphors describing Petunia and Vernon. They also rehashed the scene in the church when Vernon tripped. They were gasping and out of breath by the time they caught up with the adults, who were standing by Grandmummy's fire-red cabriolet; they had fallen behind because, at some points, they had been unable to walk because they were laughing so hard.
Grandmummy, Mr. Evans, and Mrs. Evans were watching the pair with great amusement.
"And what, pray tell, has got you both into hysterics?" Mrs. Evans asked, placing her hands on her hips.
James once again turned his laughter into a cough. Making a brave effort to control her laughter, Lily shook her head. "No – Mum – nothing…."
Mrs. Evans shook her head and helped her mother into her cabriolet. Grandmummy stared at Lily and James with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"Right, see you at the reception, Mother. I'm going to head back to my car, and I'll meet you there, Bob." Mrs. Evans strode towards her car as Grandmummy roared off into the evening.
Mr. Evans herded Lily and James into the car, and they joined the long queue of vehicles waiting to exit the car park. Once on the open road, they drove the short distance to Sarah's home, where the reception was to take place.
"Be prepared," Lily said to James in an undertone as Mr. Evans parked on the curb. "You'll be meeting an extraordinary amount of relatives, half of whom I've no memory of myself and most of whom are bound to be scary."
"I await them with open arms," James muttered back with a wicked half-grin. They climbed out of the car and headed towards the house. It was a good-sized brick home with white balloons clustered on every available spot.
The three followed a group of other guests round to the back of the home; a huge white tent with dozens of round tables set for dinner greeted them. Mrs. Evans spotted them and hurried over. She was carrying a flute of champagne.
"There you are. The champagne's over there-"she gestured to a bar nearby "-and we're all seated at the same table as Petty and Vernon, right next to Sarah's table." She pointed inside the tent to a table next to what was obviously Sarah's table, as it was on a raised dais. "Dinner will start once everyone arrives." She smiled at Lily and James before taking Mr. Evans's arm. "We'll see you in a bit, then."
"Bye, Mum."
Mrs. Evans steered Mr. Evans away towards a group of people Lily recognized as good family friends. Lily turned to look at James, who bowed.
"Darling, can I get you a glass of champagne?" he asked, adopting a posh accent.
"That would be loverrrly, dearest," Lily simpered. James thrust his nose into the air and walked towards the bar, causing Lily to burst into giggles.
"Reminds me of myself when I was your age."
Lily jumped, startled, as Grandmummy appeared at her elbow. Her gaze was focused on James as well, and a knowing smile played about her bright pink lips.
"Do I?" Lily asked playfully, raising her eyebrows.
"Oh, yes. We were idiots for each other, your grandfather and me."
Lily sobered quickly; she very much missed her grandfather, who had died three years ago, and knew that Grandmummy did as well. She tried to focus on James at the bar, but found she couldn't see him.
"So, you think I'm an idiot for James, is that what you mean?" Lily asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"Obviously. And he's quite definitely mad for you."
Lily looked sharply down at her grandmother. "You think?" she asked quickly, and then winced at her eager tone.
"Ah, darling, I don't think, I know," she said, tapping her nose. Her green eyes sparkled up into her granddaughter's. "You want to keep this one."
Lily didn't reply; she instead chose to watch as James, carrying two flutes of champagne, made his way towards them. "It's a madhouse round the bar – had to fight tooth and nail for these two." He handed Lily a glass, and then, in the same movement, presented the other to Grandmummy. "For the two prettiest ladies here."
Grandmummy laughed delightedly. "What a gentleman! Thank you kindly, James, but I think I'd better stay with a good old Bloody Mary." She winked at the two before grabbing a nearby young man and towing him off into the crowd, presumably in a search for the aforementioned drink.
"Your grandmother makes up for Petunia and Vernon twofold," James told her as he took a sip of champagne. "Where does she get all that energy?"
Lily grinned as she sampled her own drink. The bubbly liquid slid down her throat smoothly; she had always liked champagne. "She's never sat still a day in her life, and she's very strong. You wouldn't guess it as she's so small, but really, she is. Goes on runs each morning."
"Wish I had that sort of dedication."
"Hmm, don't we all," Lily said, arching her eyebrow at him. James's eyes flashed.
"Do you have any idea what that eyebrow thing does to me?" he asked her quietly. He casually sipped his champagne again, but his eyes were focused, heatedly, on hers.
Lily did it again, this time with a sly smile. "No. Why don't you tell me?"
James's eyes flashed again and he took a step towards her; Lily felt her heartbeat increase rapidly and her palms started to sweat. He smelled so good…. His eyes were boring down into her, a sly smile of his own playing about his lips. Lily moved forward slightly. They were so close she could feel his body heat. However, before she could close the remaining inch or so between them, a woman nearby burst into shrill laughter, and Lily remembered herself. She took a step backwards, glaring warningly at James.
"James, not at family gatherings!" she hissed. He grinned at her, though he was still slightly off balance.
"Sorry, but refresh my memory, darling - who was the one coming closer?"
Lily pursed her lips, trying to hide a smile, and looked away. She noticed that everyone seemed to be migrating towards their seats in the dining tent. She grabbed his hand and tugged. "Let's go, before we embarrass ourselves."
"Scared of a little public display of affection, Evans?" James murmured into her ear as they headed towards the tent. Lily shivered.
"I'm not scared of anything, Potter."
"Oho, that's a mighty cocky boast, isn't it, Evans?" He lowered his voice still more. "Why don't you prove it then, eh?"
Lily shivered again, her face lighting up like a lantern. If he didn't stop, her knees were going to give out. She shot one glare at him over her shoulder and made a beeline for her table. Mr. Evans, Mrs. Evans, Petunia, and Vernon were already seated. The only seats left were two between Petunia and Mr. Evans; continuing in the girl-boy trend, James sat next to Petunia and Lily next to her father.
Vernon, who Lily had always considered a step up from a mute, turned out to be quite an accomplished talker, much to her dismay. All it took was James's polite inquiry as to what Vernon did for work and he was off, droning for thirty minutes straight about his job as a contractor at some company or other. No one was allowed a word in edgewise. Petunia spent the time as close to Vernon as she could, shooting unmistakable daggers at James on her left. She shrieked during one point in the meal when James's elbow accidentally jostled hers.
"Petty! Is everything all right?" Mrs. Evans inquired, looking at her with concern, interrupting Vernon's monologue. Petunia forced herself even closer to Vernon so that she was practically in his lap.
"You stay away from me!" she hissed to James, who stared back at her in complete astonishment.
"It was an accident, Petunia," James said in as controlled a voice as he could. Lily felt her hatred for her sister threatening to bubble over.
"Could you at least pretend to be nice, Petunia?" Lily said, her eyes glittering dangerously as she dropped her fork onto her plate. "I know it's very hard for you, but I would really appreciate it." The sisters engaged in a staring match that Lily easily won; Petunia looked away after a few moments with a sneer. Lily sat back in her seat, feeling only a bit of satisfaction, and glanced at her parents. Her father's face was carefully blank as he resumed his dinner, while Mrs. Evans was frowning at Petunia.
The table experienced a few minutes of awkward silence that even Vernon seemed unwilling to fill. Mrs. Evans, who had been caught in a sort of reverie, shook her head and seemed to gather herself. She forced a smile at everyone and then turned to Lily and James. "James, dear, I'm dying to know how you and Lily got together. She won't tell me a thing! Been completely mute about it the whole week, despite my best efforts. But I have to tell you, I'd always got the impression that the two of you didn't exactly get along."
Lily turned her glaring to her mother. "Mum! We don't need to-"
"Lily, it's fine. They need to know sometime, don't they?" James said from her right, looking very smug. Lily kicked him under the table.
"I don't think so, James," she said quietly to him in a tight voice.
James ignored her and focused on her beaming mother. "Well, it all started seven years ago when I met the lovely Lily on the Hogwarts Express. D'you remember, Lils? I came into your compartment – you were with Dorcas and Mary Katherine, and I was looking for Gwen – and you told me it was a girls' compartment, no boys allowed. And then – it feels like it was just yesterday – I came into the compartment, saying something like, 'You're not the boss of me!' and then you stood up – you were taller than me-"
Unwillingly Lily felt herself begin to smile as she remembered. Her mother was thoroughly entranced with the tale; she was leaning forward with a sunny smile on her face.
"-and you looked down your nose at me and said, 'I know every spell in the Standard Book of Spells, Grade One. I bet I can duel with you and win!' And then I said, 'Bet not!' and you pulled out your wand and yelled, 'Engorgeo!' except you missed, and hit my hat, and it got so huge that it filled the compartment. We didn't know how to stop it – you were screaming, remember?"
Lily was grinning now, her eyes fastened on James, as she remembered. "And my shrieks brought someone – I don't even remember who – who took out his wand and stopped it, and then shrunk it back to its original size. You were so angry, I'll remember your face until I die-"
Petunia's second screech of the evening jerked Lily back into the present. Vernon's huge beefy face was slowly turning purple and he was choking on something, motioning frantically to his throat. Petunia shot out of her chair and ran around to the back of his and attempted to perform the Heimlich Maneuver, but her arms wouldn't fit all the way around Vernon's massive bulk. The rest of the table leapt out of their seats, Mr. and Mrs. Evans rushing around to help. James and Lily watched in horrified fascination as one of the members of the band dropped his violin and ran over to Vernon. He was extraordinarily large; Lily knew he had to have some giant blood in him somewhere. He got his arms around Vernon's waist and thrust his fist into Vernon's abdomen. The piece of food flew out of Vernon's mouth after one thrust and landed on a table nearby. The entire dining tent applauded the giant man as he returned to his instrument.
Once she made sure that Vernon was all right, Petunia whirled on her sister and James. "You!" she yelled, pointing at Lily. "This is all your fault! You and your freaky boyfriend's! Why don't you take your abnormalities and go somewhere else?"
"Petunia!" Mrs. Evans cried in a shocked voice.
"No, Mum! I can't take her anymore! I never want to see her again!"
Mr. Evans grabbed his hysterical daughter and pulled her, shrieking, out of the tent. Vernon, looking as though he was in shock, sent fearful glances at Lily and James as he hurried out after them.
The wedding guests slowly settled back down, talking wonderingly about Petunia's outburst. James's arm was wrapped firmly around Lily's shoulders; Lily was staggered at what her sister had said. Mrs. Evans came over to them, shaking her head. She hugged Lily tightly. "Darling, darling, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's got into her. She didn't mean it at all, you know-"
"Yes, she did," Lily said quietly and intently, staring at her mother with blazing green eyes. "Mum, why can't you open your eyes and see? Petunia hates me. She hates me. She's hated me ever since I got my Hogwarts letter in the mail. And she hasn't told Vernon about my 'abnormality' yet, so now she's upset because he knows and she's scared he won't marry her or something." Lily was looking at her mother bitterly. "She doesn't want me in her wedding. She never did. She wouldn't give a flying fig if I died tomorrow."
Mrs. Evans was still shaking her head, looking dangerously close to tears. "No, Lily, no-"
"It's true. It's all true, and you know it." Lily lifted her chin. "I'll be home later, Mum," she said, and then grabbed James and pulled him out of the tent. She looked back as they were walking away; Grandmummy had her arm around her stunned daughter's shoulders and was gently walking her outside.
Lily turned her attention back to where she was going. James had his arm around her still and was leading her away from the tent, back around to the front of the house where the cars were. They stopped on the front lawn, and Lily met his eyes. "Poor Mum. I hate to have to do that to her, but she's been living in a fairytale world. A world where I'm four, and Petunia's eight, and we're inseparable."
James remained silent. Lily sniffled. She knew she was perilously close to tears. "Let's go somewhere, Jamie. I don't care where, let's just go."
James thought for a moment. "D'you think you can Apparate?"
Lily swallowed and nodded. James told her to visualize where they were going – he described a house and the street it was on in detail. Lily concentrated and then disappeared with a pop.
She reappeared across the street from the home James had told her about, and she watched as he appeared on the correct side. She hurried across the empty road, her heels clacking on the uneven pavement, as she studied her surroundings. The house was seemingly in the middle of nowhere and it looked like an old farmhouse. A large tree was just to the left of it, where James had said it would be, and as Lily squinted in the dusky light, she noticed that a forest of sorts seemed to be behind it.
James took her hand and together they climbed the stairs. James unlocked the door using a spell that Lily had never heard before and stepped inside. "Mum?" he called into the house.
"In the kitchen, Jamie," she called. James led Lily along a dark passageway and into a brightly lit room – the kitchen.
"You're home early – Lily! What a wonderful surprise, dear!" Mrs. Potter, who had been sitting at a table in the center of the large kitchen, said as she jumped up from her solitary supper. A wireless was playing softly in the background.
Mrs. Potter embraced Lily and then stepped back, getting a good look at her face. Lily was troubled at how thin she was, and struck with how very old she looked, but she didn't say anything.
Mrs. Potter narrowed her eyes shrewdly. "All right, James Potter, what did you do to upset such a lovely girl?"
"Me?" James spluttered indignantly. "Hang on a moment-"
"No, Mrs. Potter, James has been wonderful," Lily said sincerely, taking James's hand and squeezing. She started to explain more, but then stopped, feeling awkward. She looked down.
Mrs. Potter paused for a moment before gently steering Lily to a chair. Lily sank down into it gratefully; her shoes were becoming quite painful.
"Would you like a cup of tea, dear?"
Lily shook her head, studying her folded hands in her blue satin lap. "No, thank you."
Oh, no. Lily felt a painful prick around her eyes; her throat constricted, and suddenly she couldn't see her lap anymore. A single tear dropped down onto her hand. Another followed soon after.
James pulled up a chair and took her hands in his own. Lily pulled one free and attempted to wipe away the rivers gently coursing down her cheeks, but it was useless. A small sob escaped her, and in the next moment James's arms were about her. Mrs. Potter discreetly left the kitchen, closing the door behind her.
"Darling, darling," he murmured as he held her tightly. She cried silently into the front of his lovely morning suit – cried for Petunia, cried for her mother, cried for her lost childhood. When all her tears were spent, she pulled away; James handed her a serviette and she mopped up her face.
"I'm sorry," she murmured finally into the safety of the serviette. She pulled it away from her face a minute later and looked at James. His expression was unreadable.
"Why are you sorry?"
Lily shrugged, looking down. "Well, I ruined our evening, didn't I? Certainly ruined Sarah's wedding," she said with a hearty sniff.
"You did no such thing. Sarah'll get over it, and I had a lovely time tonight just being with you. And as far as your family – well, it's about time your mother wised up. And Petunia-"
Lily looked up when he paused and felt herself giggle as she caught his expression of extreme distaste.
"Well, Petunia'll get over it as well. The important thing is – are you all right?"
Lily nodded and took a deep breath. "I'm fine. I am, really," she said when James looked at her skeptically. She leaned forward impulsively and kissed him. "Thank you."
"Being here."
James chuckled and hugged her again. "Anything for you."
Lily pulled back slowly and looked at him. Her heart was beating wildly – this was it, this was the perfect time to tell him-
"I love you, Lily."
He beat her to it.
"Oh, James, I love you, too," Lily exclaimed, throwing herself forward into his arms. "I love you so much."
"I've loved you since that first day – on the train," he gasped in between kisses. "Even when, through the years, I claimed I hated you – I've always loved you."
And then he was kissing her, and she was crying again, but this time for completely different reasons. He loved her.
He loved her.
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God and Time
We gain a helpful perspective on prayer by remembering that God's relation to time is different than our own. It can be easy to grow impatient when God takes years to answer prayer. If we are not careful, we can ...Read More
By the Same Word
As Bible-believing Christians we all know, at least intellectually, that the only reason anything exists is God's work of preservation. However, we are all prone to go about our business unaware that God upholds all things. It is only by ...Read More
By Means of These
The false teachers' denial of the possibility of God's intervention in the world during Peter's day is not so different from those today whose naturalistic assumptions deny God's existence. Many in academia simply wave away any evidence of God's intervention ...Read More
His Coming
Are you distressed by what appears to be an increasing amount of aberrational teaching in the church? While in one sense it is good to be disturbed by false doctrine, we must never think that its presence surprises God or ...Read More
Remember the Word
The second coming of Christ is another fundamental doctrine of which we will be reminded over the next few days. However, as we will see in 3:11–12, even this doctrine is given to us so that we might be motivated ...Read More
Entangled Again
That we struggle with particular sins does not mean we do not have true faith. In his comments on today's passage, John Calvin reminds us that true believers sin but live lives demonstrating they are not under its dominion. If ...Read More
Slaves of Corruption
While we know that all true converts will never fall finally away, we still must do all we can to help those professing faith not to fall away, for that is one way God keeps His people faithful (Ezek. 3:16–21; ...Read More
Waterless Springs
In John 4:14, Jesus promises us that the water He gives to us will so satisfy us that we will never be thirsty again. Jesus has appointed many in the body of Christ to be preachers and teachers through whom ...Read More
Gain from Wrongdoing
Even a broken clock is correct twice a day, or so the saying goes. False teaching is particularly dangerous because rarely will false teachers speak no truth at all. That truth is spoken on occasion, however, does not make one ...Read More
Full of Adultery
Most of us would readily leave a church in which a leader is promoting a view of sexuality not in line with Scripture. However, though today's passage is primarily a warning about false teachers, we should all likewise beware lest ...Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Utilities for creating instances of the items defined in System.IO.HVFS.
Copyright (c) 2004 John Goerzen, email@example.com
|HVFSStat objects
|HVFS objects & types
|Create a new MemoryVFS object from an existing tree. An empty filesystem may be created by using [] for the parameter.
|Create a new MemoryVFS object using an IORef to an existing tree.
|The basic node of a MemoryVFS. The String corresponds to the filename, and the entry to the contents.
Similar to System.Path.NameManip but the first element won't be /.
nice_slice "/" -> [] nice_slice "/foo/bar" -> ["foo", "bar"]
|Gets a full path, after investigating the cwd.
|Gets the full path via getFullPath, then splits it via nice_slice.
|Produced by Haddock version 2.6.0


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We understand your desire for a venue that performs to its maximum capacity and delivers an exceptional experience to your patrons that fills your performance space with the magic of art and entertainment.
Cultural performance spaces require an exceptionally high level of coordination, service and passion. Our experience illustrates our knowledge of the intricacies and substantial detail that make up these specialized environments such as acoustics, lighting, sight lines and unique architectural elements.
VDC and BIM are an integral part of how we do business.
Led by our Integrated Construction Team, a 50-person strong group of tech pros, we apply smart technology to expedite your schedule, enhance your design, improve your quality and reduce your cost. They also create outstanding facility management tools.
Ask us how to leverage these capabilities for your needs, at the conceptual stage or with your existing facilities.
Our Development team delivers—financing, site options, permitting, entitlements—everything you need to get a project on its way. Most importantly, we are thought leaders who partner with you to help align your facilities with your business needs.
Tap into our more than 3 decades of real estate development services to help meet your goals.
As part of your overall business strategy, forecasting and planning any construction project is crucial. You want to know how feasible your project really is—before the shovel hits the ground. We help you through this process with services including:
Engaging a skilled builder early with your leadership team, project teams and trade partners is key to your project's success.
Leverage our 60 years of experience to help make the right decisions early in your project lifecycle, and benefit from our ability to focus on priorities well beyond budget and schedule.
Our outstanding safety record did not happen by chance; it is a derivation of our hard work and commitment to building a safety culture.
Our Zero Injury policy, which is reinforced daily, states: "All employees are obligated to conduct their work in a safe manner, to stop work immediately to correct any unsafe condition, and to take corrective action so that work may proceed in a safe manner." There is nothing more important to us than protecting our workers, our customers, partners, and the general public.
At Mortenson, we believe energy usage should no longer be viewed as a "set cost of doing business." Decisions you make in the Design Phase determine the energy outcomes for your facility.
Whether you are building a new LEED facility, making improvements or renovations, or interested in optimizing your existing structures, we are committed to helping you analyze and implement energy savings—and long-term cost savings.
Prefabrication (prefab) reduces the overall time of delivery for your project, while increasing the quality and scope of possibilities.
We apply a variety of off-site manufacturing techniques for a variety of building types, and we're ready to advise how prefab can work for your needs.
With over 1,000 trades personnel on our payroll, and an extensive portfolio of equipment, Mortenson has substantial self-performance capabilities throughout the U.S., particularly in site development and concrete work.
Where deemed appropriate by the owner, and in locations where we can demonstrate a cost advantage, we are prepared to self-perform these critical path activities to effectively implement fast-tracking strategy, drive the overall schedule and reduce the overall time (and resultant cost) of the project.
We are experts at developing and implementing successful programs that achieve unprecedented levels of participation through business and employment opportunities, while imparting lasting benefits to the community.
Some of the most critical components of your construction project are related to things that most people never actually see.
Learn how we protect your interests by providing dedicated MEP professionals for every stage of your project, from the design phase though warranty.
For decades, we have been recognized as an innovator.
We don't adopt technology because it's trendy. Our integrated teams assess and implement tools that make our work, the work of our partners, and ultimately, your results, better.
We recognize how the structures and facilities we build affect your core business.
Our Full Service Facility Solutions (FS2) operations and maintenance services to ensure your facility is kept in top condition. Acting as the owner's advocate, our goal is to save you money and let you rest assured your facility investment is in good hands, so you can focus on your organization's goals.
We have been on a lean journey for over 15 years.
Our approach to lean empowers every team member to reach their customers' project objectives in the most efficient manner, whether through the alignment of trade partners or by streamlining project operations and communication. The result is no wasted effort or time, and higher-value structures and facilities.
We are committed to the well-being of the communities in which we build and the team members engaged on our projects. We are also sensitive to the needs of existing staff during major renovations or new projects.
Ask us about our creative, educational and fun employee programs to engage everyone in the project outcome.
We are proud to be a part of your local community centers, historic renovations of landmark institutions, and new construction of contemporary designs which nurture and showcase the finest in the arts across the country.


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Submit your story
- - Concept : An anecdote always starts with 'Today' and ends with 'MLIP'. Feel free to express yourself :)
- - If you want to remain anonymous, don't enter a nickname. If your story isn't published, don't be offended! Keep trying :) Please make sure your post is free of spelling mistakes.
- - The typing rules of Pinglish - kh: used for words like (khoresht) | gh: used for words like (ghormeh sabzi).
- - If your post does not end with the MLIP tag it will not be published.


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Missed the session? View it here
Come join our first live Lunchtime Studios where Matias Corea (Co-Founder and Chief of Design) and Clément Faydi (Lead Designer) will show you how to use Behance to showcase your projects and work in progress, discover new work from the community, and build your network. They will also share tips on how to build the most effective portfolio, from editing your work to publishing your personal website.
What: Tips On Using Behance & Building An Effective Portfolio
Where: Streamed live from the SoHo NY Behance office- view the live session online here (enter as guest to join). Session will be recorded and recording posted here afterwards.
When: Wednesday June 4th, 12PM-1PM PT
Who: Matias Corea & Clément Faydi
Matias Corea is the co-founder and Chief of Design at Behance, the largest platform for creatives to showcase and discover creative work. As the company's founding designer, Matias has led the brand identity and design of all Behance products. His work has earned a Type Director's Award and 3 Webby awards, as well as several Webby nominations and honoree awards, as well as distinction as a finalist at the SXSW Interactive Awards, for three years running. www.behance.net/matiascorea – www.matiascorea.com – @matiascorea
Clément Faydi is a Lead Designer at Behance in New York City where he focuses on creating interactive products that help creatives showcase their portfolios and discover new work. Prior to joining Behance, he worked at Firstborn NYC and graduated from a Master's Degree in Interaction Design in France. He is a visual design maniac obsessed with clean, type-based minimalist design. www.behance.net/cfaydi – www.clementfaydi.com – @cfaydi
Upcoming Events in the Series (more info to come!): June 11 – Getting started with Responsive Web Design, July 15 – Customizing Type in Illustrator


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adjective; satisfied, contented, happy, pleased.
Due to a family emergency we will not be able to process your orders from our site for the foreseeable future. We sincerely apologise for this inconvenience.
New item
Fill your home with the floral, nostalgic notes of Tea Rose & Peony which combine to create a beautiful, feminine scent. Simply put the rattan sticks into the oil bottle and wait for the fragrance to emerge. Diffusion time: Three to four months. 195ml
Sorry, this item is currently out of stock.
Vineyard Candles are created using luxury natural wax blended with
the finest fragrances from ar...
Fill your home with the gorgeous fragrances of Jasmine and Ylang Ylang. Our Fragrance Diffuser con...
All website content & copy: Bodlon 2012. Copying any part of the site or its content is strictly prohibited.
Contact us Bodlon Shop & Coffee Shop, 12 Park Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 7BQ Email: email@example.com | Telephone: 02920 650 564 | 07825 444 233


text:
The Data Browser series, published by Autonomedia under a Creative Commons license, has so far emerged as two text compilations. The first volume, Economising Culture: On The (Digital) Culture Industry, came out in late 2004 and Engineering Culture: On the Author as (Digital) Producer has just hit a distribution system near you. Edited by Geoff Cox, Joasia Krysa and (only vol. 1) Anya Lewin, the series intends to situate recent changes in art and activism in historical contexts as well as relate them to contemporary trends and agendas. Reflections from agents in the field like the Yes Men, Cummings & Lewandowska, Armin Medosch and Matthew Fuller have been marshaled to constitute the first 'browser,' conceived as a tool of engaged wandering rather than bored consumption. Data Browser 02 addresses Walter Benjamin's trope of author as producer to see if and how its premise of cultural activism through teaching and participation holds up in an age of networked systems, and the upcoming 03 will address the de-materialisation of the curator within her landscape of shifting new media curatorial roles and styles. - Marina Vishmidt
Daily Dose from the Dirty Librarian
If you're fretting because you've missed any or all of the Banff New Media Institute Summits, having taken place deep in the Canadian Rockies, fret no more: audio recordings of the best Banff discussions since 1995 are being broadcast during Archive Hour on pirate radio station Radio90. You can tune in online at 4pm GMT Monday through Thursday to hear presentations from speakers such as Sara Diamond, former Director of BNMI (now at the Ontario College of Art and Design), artist Thecla Shiphorst, Jean Gagon from the Daniel Langlois Foundation and Carl Goodman, Curator of Digital Media at the American Museum of the Moving Image. Archive Hour's mysterious facilitator, the Dirty Librarian, will select transmissions that probe topics such as the conservation of ephemeral artworks, contemporary curatorial concepts in new media, and, broadly, "technology, art and science." Listen by linking from the Radio 90 web site, and if you're lucky, someone else will be listening, too, who might join you for lively discussion in the accompanying chat room--where perhaps the Dirty Librarian will also make an appearance. - Helen Varley Jamieson
Rhizome Promotion: Summer Hosting
This summer, consider buying a virtual sort of timeshare: a web hosting plan from BroadSpire. Rhizome.org has been in business with BroadSpire, a mid-size commercial web hosting provider based in California, for three years now. Not only does BroadSpire host the Rhizome.org site, but Rhizome also earns essential revenue whenever supportive readers like you purchase a BroadSpire hosting plan and mention Rhizome. No matter how much space and services you require, there's bound to be an affordable, reliable plan for you, whether to launch a new project, relocate your homepage or consolidate your web design portfolio. Broadspire offers a Starter plan at $65 per year for 350MB disk storage, 1GB data transfer a month, POP email, free setup and daily content back-ups, and larger plans for those interested in housing E-commerce empires. Anyone seeking refuge this summer in our favorite locale--the Internet--should check out BroadSpire. - Rhizome.org
Public Poster Production
"Imprimatur," a multi-user software for poster-making, is the latest online tool for collaboration from artist Andy Deck. The software brings the design process to life, allowing multiple designers to democratically tweak the layout and statements of a single canvas. Anyone with a smidgeon of graphics experience will find the interface easy to use, and the product is a PDF that can be disseminated widely via email and print. In his background to the work, Deck refers to the proliferation of homemade posters in the aftermath of 9/11 and at the invasion of Iraq. He envisages "a wave of colorful, independent, and low-budget posters in public places" and sees "Imprimatur" as a means to channel energy into thoughtful public dialogue. Like many of his previous works, "Imprimatur" is written in Java, but this time the source code is not quite open; as a challenge to funders to support software art, Deck will only release the source code once he has received his next commission (New Radio and Performing Arts funded this one). I hope he's made a poster about that. - Helen Varley Jamieson
Total Eclipse of the Arts
A primary goal of SCANZ, short for Solar Circuit International New Media Workshop Residency Aotearoa New Zealand, is to connect the "solar circuit"--the northern and southern extremities of both hemispheres--as a translocal new media arts community. SCANZ encourages its residents--artists and curators--to engage with geography by producing projects in response to the environment--human, natural or technological--unique to Taranaki, where the host university, The Western Institute of Technology, is located. Dialogues like these offer relevant counterpoints to recent conversations around New Zealand's relative geographic isolation. The 2006 residency is to be held July 3rd - July 16th, and initial letters of interest are due to SCANZ by July 18th, 2005, after which a select few will be invited to elaborate their project proposals during the fall. So, get interested and complete the circuit! - Kevin McGarry
Speaking in Tongue
Linguistic researchers have speculated that the number of global languages in use could be cut in half within fifty years. The rapidity at which languages are disappearing has already surpassed endangered animals' extinction rates. What are the implications of this loss? Such questions frame "OnlyOneNativeSpeaker," an evolving component of the Netherlands-based art website "Social Fiction." Through "OnlyOneNativeSpeaker," "Social Fiction" explores language in the same way it has explored social space through psychogeography, by combining institutional knowledge with lived experience. Utilizing a wiki, Yahoo! group, and del.icio.us list, the project proposes to harvest "thousands of new artificial languages" in order to "add parallelism, diversity and heterogeneity" to the standardization of mass communication. There are a few examples already archived, including Sasxsek and Sinnish, and you can submit your own linguistic creation, whether a programming language or the ad-hoc one you use to win a game of Scrabble. This won't reverse the diminishing landscape of spoken languages, but it could enhance our experience of navigating through it. - Ryan Griffis
Exponential Sound Experiences
Given the abundance of artists who consort with one another amidst the driving sound of a techno beat, electronic music culture's growing influence on the visual arts is no surprise. But increasingly, the reciprocal influence of the visual arts can be 'seen' in the ways in which electronic music is created. "Techno²," organized by the Netherlands Media Art Institute, is the electronic music branch of the "5 days off" music festival, running July 13th to 17th in Amsterdam. Eight sound installations and twelve live performances evince their spatial and visual aspects as equally important to their compositions as their audible elements. The live performances vary widely, from Dutch noise artist Gert Jan Prins, who unleashes big noises from four small radio receivers and transmitters set at slightly different frequencies, to the Swiss group Codespace, who use algorithms to transform the architectures of dark, empty spaces into oceans of crystalline shapes. The installations, such as Farmers Manual's helmet worn by visitors to transmit meditative ultrasound waves, factor the active attention and participation of audience members into catalyzing the artistic fusion of audio and visual. - Ophra Wolf
The Tune of the Band
If you rate your summer by how many festival wrist bands you accumulate, you might want to hotfoot it to Manchester, UK, for FUTURESONIC 2005 (July 22nd to 24th) and obtain another! Although in addition to wrist-wear, FUTURESONIC, the International festival of electronic music and media arts, in partnership with Manchester's premiere international concert venue the Bridgewater Hall, boasts a huge and impressive line up of events. There are performances by Robert Lippock, Susanna and the Magical Orchestra and A Guy Called Gerald, amongst many more. There is also Low Grade, an "interlinked exhibition, workshop, music event and symposium on technological obsolescence" curated by Jackie Passmore and Michael Connor, which includes projects by the likes of Alexei Shulgin, Olia Lialina, Sadie Plant and Cory Arcangel. And your wristband will also gain you entry to a network of events (EVNT showcase) happening right across Manchester. However, if you rate your summer by how muddy you get, I'm sorry to report that you have missed Glastonbury! - Charlotte Frost
save the robots!
back in dublin. arrived yesterday and had an intense day adjusting to the time change as well as gathering materials for the midi scrapyard challenge. the artbots exhibition is so cool! so many great projects and the artists are even more interesting.
never thought i'd write this here, but i'm loving dublin right now. it is different when you return to a place for a short visit… and there are so many familiar faces, friends very dear to us that we haven't seen in a long time. tomorrow we start the exhibition and workshop bright and early at 10:30am for a gaggle of kids (normal hours are from 12 - 6.) it's going to be a long day…
by the way, dublin has been invaded by robots! if you're in town you've already heard about the call to save the robots!
Originally posted on personaldebris by kaki (mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com)
what exactly IS new media?
help me/us all out here if anyone knows more.
been confused for over a decade until today. but as far as i can tell, "new media" means the equipment is available in metallic but not chrome. it's easy to be mislead when everybody says it like we all know, but probably nobody really does and they're just pretending. don't sweat it.
for instance, a toaster is available in metallic, but it is chrome, so it is clearly NOT "new media". digital cameras and hand-held camcorders usually come in brushed metal or titanium, so obviously, they do qualify. even cell phones that are equipped with cameras are generally silver, but never chrome. the term is misleading. you'd be right in thinking video and photos really ARE old technology, based on inventions that have been around for 100+ years . the "digital" stuff is actually far, far lower resolution and far, far higher priced than the analog predecessors. but this equipment was, for years, always heavy and painted black. not interesting. only recently did everything become exciting when it got a shiny new casing.
the real tricky part to making the extra conceptual leap that the phrase "new media" essentially indicates potential retail mark-up value. every era in art has its name. after impressionism, abstract impressionism, modernism, and post-modernism, we are now in silverism, which will be followed by shiny silverism. the term "new media" will be considered obsolete and un-hip, in favor of "new new media", meaning "shinier than ever".
Originally posted on Rhizome.org Raw by Plasma Studii


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Committed to the Highest Level of
Quality & Customer Satisfaction
TWC is committed to operating with transparency while maintaining the highest level of quality and customer satisfaction with a goal to ensure people everywhere have access to superior natural health products. Our goal is to continuously invest in research and development, capital expansion and especially our people. This contributes to the ultimate level of customer satisfaction and the highest level of merit for all of our products.


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January 30 - February 24, 2008
Reception: February 14, Second Thursday Art Night 6 - 8pm
Gallery Talk: Juror, Patrick Lichty, 7pm
The Target Gallery's first exhibition of 2008, Kinetic Image, features technology-based artwork that goes beyond the static digital print...
This exhibition highlights the latest developments in New Media and the more traditional approach to kinetic sculpture. Our juror is Chicago artist Patrick Lichty who is also a digital intermedia designer, writer, professor and independent curator. Lichty's choices feature work by artists from across the country and an artist from the Ukraine. The chosen work examines art in motion, from time-based video to kinetic sculpture to work that gives the illusion of motion.
There were close to 200 entries for Lichty to choose from, and as he began this curatorial challenge he started by asking the question, 'what is a kinetic image, given that kinetic art has been around for a very long time?' He also asks the question, 'what is the nature of motion-based arts, and how is the idea of motion so inspirational to the human animal that it inspires us to create kinetic works?' He challenged himself with the quest to answer these very broad questions by choosing work that includes video and new digital forms but also including work that acknowledged a variety of content that expressed and portrayed an illusion of motion.
Originally posted on Rhizome.org Announcements by Rhizome


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Civic center trustees' terms extended to spring 2014
Commissioners opt to defer appointments until renovations are finished
Four members of the Cumberland County Civic Center Board of Trustees will have their terms extended for at least four months, the county's Board of Commissioners announced Friday.
In a statement, commissioners said they are delaying any decisions relating to appointments to the Board of Trustees until after renovations on the civic center are complete. The facility is undergoing a $33 million face-lift and work is expected to be finished in late January or early February, the commissioners said.
The terms of four members of the board of trustees, including that of Chairman Neal Pratt, were due to expire on Dec. 31. Commissioners said they decided to put off making the appointments "to recognize the long and dedicated service that has made the completed project possible."
The trustees are in the midst of a legal dispute with the ownership of the Portland Pirates hockey team. The team is suing the trustees over a tentative lease agreement that would have kept the Pirates playing at the civic center for five years.
Because of the dispute, the Pirates are playing their entire season at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Earlier this month the president of the Portland Regional Chamber urged the groups members to apply for the seats on the civic center Board of Trustees that would become open after Dec. 31. Bill Becker said that the Pirates' departure was hurting a number of Portland businesses.


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Judd Apatow has a strong foothold in the world of comedy. His name has been attached to numerous highly successful comedy films and his unique brand of improvisational humor style has turned several of his chosen actors into huge stars like Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Jonah Hill. Everything for everyone started with this film about the very clear and unapologetically bluntly titled "The 40-Year-Old-Virgin." I remember my first time seeing this movie when my parents and I were sitting at an indoor water park lodge and we decided to order this movie on demand since all of us had been curious to see it. Needless to say, it wasn't exactly what we thought it was and while it was highly awkward to watch this in the same room with my parents, we could tell this was a comedy we wouldn't forget about anytime soon.
Like I said, the title sums up the premise pretty clearly: during a poker game with his friends (Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd), Andy (Steve Carrell) accidentally reveals that he's still a virgin at age 40. His friends then attempt to help their friend lose his virginity with disastrous results. Things change when Andy meets a middle aged mother, Trish (Catherine Keener) and though cautious at first, Andy feels she may very well be "the one" to help break his virgin streak. If there's one thing Apatow knows how to write, it's grossly inappropriate sexual comedy with a perverse flair that continues to disturb and intrigue audiences to this very day. You almost forget that the point of this movie is to deal with someone's obvious sexual issues because you're too busy getting lost in up roaring laughter over the ridiculously raunchy dialog that follows.
In a sense, one could call this a romantic comedy, but I always liked to think of it as a more groundbreaking raunchy comedy given how dirty things get (both verbally and physically). This is a movie about a messed-up group of people who don't know how to function at a sexually mature level without things dissolving into a gross out party that just cracks me up every time I watch it. Sometimes I laugh so hard at this film, I have to go back and watch it again because I missed a one liner or hilarious remark that I didn't catch the first time around. While this story doesn't exactly scream boldness or complexity, it's the cast and their interactions that really sell the material and take it in directions you never thought possible.
Many of the comedians in this film have gone on to become bigger names in media, but here they were just starting out, and looking back on it now it's amazing to see the kind of collaborative talent that was all housed under one picture. Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann, Elizabeth Banks, Mindy Kaling, Kat Dennings and more. In regards to the actual relationship/romance between our titular virgin and his hot grandma date, it's actually done very well. Keener and Carrell have this old-yet-young-at-heart kind of weird relationship that feels just awkward and absurd enough to be felt and perceived as something real. They're a dysfunctional couple unable to function by normal standards and the build up towards the perceived inevitable outcome is a hilarious journey that delivers the feels as well.
Oddly enough, my biggest problem with the film is the A list of comedy stars this film has for its supporting cast. Basically, they're too good! I often forget this is "Carrell's film". He is our star and it's his story we're supposed to be following, but more often than not, it's his entourage of Rudd, Rogen and others that steal the show. I remember their lines more than Carrell's because they're too funny to forget for even a minute, and if you do actually forget, another gut busting scene involving these comedic titans will quickly remind you how easily overshadowed Carrell is by his cohorts. This is by no means a discredit to them or Carrell's performance; it just feels a little like they're inadvertently stealing the spotlight because of their raw talent that just can't be ignored and it ends up making us forget about the plot in the first place.
Overall, "The 40-Year-Old-Virgin" is unforgivably dirty, raunchy, sexualized and too funny to be ignored or forgotten. Its star power and comedy genius are awe inspiring and it's easy to see why so many of these actors got catapulted into such high caliber careers by the comedic credence of this film alone. If the only flaw is that the supporting cast outshines the star, then that's a pretty good flaw to have. This is a brilliantly cast film with an admittedly oversimplified plot, but it works, and above all else, it's one gut-bustlingly, jaw-achingly funny movie that should not be missed.