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The Jewish Midnight
From: Vladimir
Dear Rabbi,
I have heard various teachings about the Jewish midnight which are intriguing. Could you please elaborate? Thanks in advance.
Dear Vladimir,
I'd be happy to shed some light on the Jewish midnight.
First, unlike the well-known song in Fiddler on the Roof which goes, "Sunrise, Sunset…", the Jewish day starts at night and continues through the day – sunset, sunrise. And since sunset and sunrise are constantly changing, so is the length of the night. This affects the reckoning of midnight, since in Judaism, midnight is not artificially and arbitrarily fixed at 12 AM but rather is literally at the mid-point of the night, and hence it is called "chatzot" in Hebrew from "chetzi" which means half. Therefore, in the winter, when the nights are long, midnight is generally before 12 AM; in the summer, when the nights are short, it is generally after. In any case, it changes from day to day throughout the seasons of the year.
Also, since according to Jewish thought there are spiritual forces behind everything in the physical world there are specific qualities associated with the different parts of the night. There are generally three parts of the night, whose quality progresses from the physical to the spiritual. The first part of the night is affected by the noise of the activities of the day whose echo reverberates into the evening – referred to as the "mule braying". This is a turbulent time when the world transitions from material to physical. The next part is affected by the transcendence of the mundane into the spiritual, but at the initial lower level, negative spiritual forces are at "play" and have sway – referred to as "dogs howling". The last part of the night is characterized as a peaceful and tranquil time where the world is recharged and rejuvenated for a new day – referred to as a "suckling baby".
This understanding has several ramifications regarding our daily rhythms. If we focus on your specific interest, namely midnight, this is a time of the night which is poised between the physical and spiritual, where harmful forces and impurity reign. People who are awake at this time and interested in spiritually detrimental activities will unfortunately find many opportunities. People who are asleep at this time will also be affected, and it is at this time that the impurity of death associated with sleep settles in. Dreams that people have at this time of night are also generally unpleasant and disturbing.
It is for these reasons that according to Jewish teachings, a person should ideally sleep during the first part of the night, but be awake by (the Jewish) midnight in order to engage in Torah study, prayer, meditation and reflection. In this way one avoids the harmful effects of sleep at this time and mitigates the harmful effects of impure forces and the activities of the people under their sway, on the world. In fact, the Talmud describes that King David had a type of magical, mystical harp whose chords, when caressed by the nightly, northerly breeze, would sound a melody to awaken David before midnight. He would then spend the rest of the night learning Torah, praying and composing the Psalms until dawn.
The Talmud also discusses that at night generally, and particularly at midnight which is the apex of night, G-d Himself mourns the destruction of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. This corresponds to the depth and darkness of exile in which we yearn for the dawn of Redemption. It is considered a very praiseworthy and beneficial thing for one to be up at this time to express mourning over the Destruction as well, thereby empathizing, as it were, with G-d's sorrow over our exile. The special prayer service that was composed for this time, to be recited by individuals or the community, is called "Tikkun Chatzot" – the Rectification of Midnight – whereby through repentance, yearning for G-d and our return to Israel, we will merit the rebuilding of the Temple and the final Redemption.


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Correction appended: July 3, 2013, 10:58 p.m. E.T.
Every night, thousands of Internet users come home from work and hop onto Reddit, a discussion-based website. But lately some of the users who log on at 8 p.m. haven't been perusing the site just for fun. They're coming in hopes of fighting government surveillance.
These nightly meetings take place under the "Restore the Fourth" section of Reddit, where supporters are currently planning nationwide protests in over 100 locations on July 4. Restore the Fourth — a double entendre that invokes both the nation's founding and Fourth Amendment privacy rights — also created a website that will serve as a central hub for supporters in planning these rallies.
"Reddit didn't take well to all the information about the news leak as far as NSA goes," says Michael Reed, Restore the Fourth's director of communications. "So we started organizing there, and the next thing you know, we're organizing in over 100 cities and it's only getting bigger." Although the group first formed at the beginning of last month, its Reddit page has quickly gathered over 19,000 subscribers. In just the first three days of the site's launch, over half a million visitors accessed their page, Reed says.
(MORE: Snowden's Worst-Case Scenario: What if No Countries Take Him?)
"The idea is to take this energy that we've seen online and turn that into physical protests around July 4th," says Rainey Reitman, the activism director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
So far, supporters are planning rallies in cities such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Boston. Reed expects thousands will turn out, possibly as many as 20,000 0r more. Organizers say the largest protest will be held in Washington, D.C., where they invited high-profile supporters like Senator Rand Paul, the Republican from Kentucky, to speak. Although Senator Paul is unable to attend the rally, last week he reached out to Restore the Fourth with a recorded video message via YouTube to express his support. Reed says Restore the Fourth plans to play the video at the protest.
"The Fourth Amendment ought to be defended," Paul said. "I think really the right to privacy is one of the new fights of this century." The Kentucky Senator also said he would continue to lead the fight against the government's surveillance programs, which he called "a tragedy."
The D.C. rally will have several guest speakers, including NSA whistle-blower Thomas Drake, Bill of Rights Defense Committee's Shahid Buttar and president of the Libertarian Party Carla Howell. (On Facebook, more than 200 people have signed up to attend the D.C. event.)
According to their press release on June 18, Restore the Fourth hopes the demonstrations will achieve three things. First, the group calls on Congress to reform the Patriot Act and the FISA Amendments Act, so that blanket surveillance of Internet and phone records of U.S. residents is prohibited. Second, they demand the creation of a special committee to further investigate domestic spying. And finally, Restore the Fourth wants public officials who are responsible for the programs to be held accountable.
David Segal, the executive director of online activist organization Demand Progress, believes these grassroots rallies will grab the attention of lawmakers. "As Congress members are spending more and more time outside of D.C. over the summer, we can steer people to various town halls and other public events where lawmakers will be present," Segal says. He also plans to forward information about the local July 4 rallies to his site's 1.5 million members.
(MORE: Putin to Offer Snowden Asylum, but With a Catch)
However, Segal does caution that the movement has been very decentralized, and that some rallies "will be more robust than others." There are some other warning signs that the movement may not be as strategically decisive as organizers hope. Restore the Fourth supporters on Reddit set up a fundraising campaign to purchase a full-page ad in the New York Times, but failed to meet the $100,000 price tag. By the time their deadline was up, the group could only muster a total of $2,943.
Polls also show that public outrage over NSA monitoring is not all that overwhelming. According to a Washington Post–Pew Research Center poll, 45% of Americans say it's okay for the government to monitor everyone's e-mail if officials say doing so might avert future terrorist attacks. The poll also found that a 56% majority believes NSA tracking of phone records is "acceptable."
But even without flashy newspaper ads and sweeping support from the polls, Restore the Fourth isn't giving up hope. Restore the Fourth's Reddit subscribers have used their fury over the NSA to fuel much of the work. Users have teamed up to create viewer-friendly pamphlets, flyers and business cards to distribute in their local communities, while others are in the process of creating a promotional video.
Restore the Fourth spokesman Reed believes the movement will make an impact, especially because of its diverse appeal. The surveillance-opposition efforts have so far brought together an eclectic group of supporters, including two unlikely partners — an Ohio Tea Party association and Occupy Wall Street NYC. This bipartisanship is an advantage Reed thinks will make Capitol Hill lawmakers stop and listen.
"The main thing is getting out there and getting our voice heard," Reed says. "Because the more attention we have, the more awareness America will have about how deep this issue actually goes, and how many people care."
MORE: Snowden's Hong Kong Escape: Behind the Role That Beijing Played
An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the organization Shahid Buttar is affiliated with. It is the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, not Council.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lexcavator is a wonderfully chirpy word-based puzzle game by Adam Parrish that combines elements of Dig Dug with spelling games like Bookworm. Your goal is to bash away letter tiles by spelling out words, clearing the way so the protagonist can hop further down the level. It requires a lot of careful thinking to prevent capturing yourself in a corner, so enter only if your vocabulary and tactical skills are up for a challenge!
You control a cute little @ as the main character in Lexcavator, moving with the [arrow] or [AD] keys and jumping with [W] or [up]. Use the mouse to click on letter tiles and spell words. The minimum length is three letters, but naturally your goal will be to snake your word chain around as wildly as you can. When you make a valid word, those tiles disappear, clearing space for @ to move around. Green tiles drop power-ups when cleared, adding a nice bit of oomph to the game with abilities like blast, erode, and alchemize. Be careful, though, as power-ups can leave you stranded if you don't use them carefully (just like everything else in the game!).
There's a careful sort of strategy involved with this curious hybrid game. On the one hand, you want to spell impressive words so you feel like a smarty pants. On the other, digging down is just as important as the words themselves, so you have to keep in mind the blocks that will be cleared with each word and where @ can move after each match. It's an unusual balance you have to strike between wild word creation and platform gaming, but it's one that works wonders once it finally clicks.
Lexcavator features a short tutorial to introduce the game's basics, as well as three modes of play that include time trials, arcade, and the timer-free quest mode which offers a series of challenging tasks you must complete in order to progress. There's something for just about every type of gamer, and its premise is just unusual enough that even casual fans of puzzle or word games should give it a shot!
(Note: Lexcavator is available as a pay what you want game, which includes paying nothing. If you really enjoy it, no one will be sad if you help the developer out by chipping in a coin or two!)
Download the free full version
Mac OS X:
Download the free full version
Download the free full version


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It remains to be seen whether last week's White House Rose Garden event will be remembered as the day President Trump presented Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee, or as the first meeting of the Biden transition team. Because every friggin' nitwit in the photo above who isn't wearing a mask has helped reduce Trump's chance of winning in November.
And had President Trump consistently made this message clear, with both words and his own personal behavior, then we'd already be well into a thriving and prosperous "new normal." But no. The protocol for avoiding a major Covid-19 outbreak in the White House was laughably ineffective, and almost certainly because of a "trickle down" disdain for common sense measures originating from the man in the Oval Office.
Many of you readers, dear friends all, aren't going to be happy with us for saying that. So just imagine how unhappy we are for having to write it.
We certainly hope that the President (and the people in his immediate circle) will recover fully and quickly, that he will win re-election, and that everyone will have learned that virology and politics really don't mix.


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A Meditation on Maoz Zur
The question of what we celebrate when we light the Hanukkah menorah raises the larger question of God's role in history. In the rabbinic view, Hanukkah commemorates a single, transient moment of historical redemption. The ultimate, eternal redemption has not yet arrived; it must take place outside of history. In the Zionist narrative, by contrast, Hanukkah marks the military victory that paved the way to Jewish national sovereignty in the Jewish land; it was the beginning of a redemption that takes place within history itself.
Ismar Schorsch is the son of Emil Schorsch, who was the last rabbi of Hanover. The family fled Germany in 1938, during the Hanukkah that was shattered by Kristallnacht. Ismar Schorsch served for 19 years as Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary. In this 1988 essay, "Meditation on Maoz Zur," he suggests that the conflict between these two conceptions of redemption—within history and beyond history—is neatly encapsulated by the famous Hanukkah hymn, whose much maligned and misunderstood final stanza calls for divine retribution against Israel's enemies. Schorsch argues that this last verse, often characterized as a bombastic polemic, is in fact a serious theological counterweight to the first five stanzas, with their ring of historical redemption.
We republish the essay by permission of Judaism, where it first appeared. — The Editors
Family history has graced me with a special affection for the holiday of Hanukkah. Fifty years ago, back in the fall of 1938, it literally marked a moment of redemption. As the last rabbi of Hanover, my father, along with thousands of other German Jews, was interned by the Nazis on the still unimaginable night of Kristallnacht. Several weeks later a visa to England, secured through the good offices of Joseph H. Hertz, the Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, managed to effect his release, and, like our ancestors in Egypt, we left Germany in haste, by plane, on the first day of Hanukkah. My father was fond of recounting that in that fateful year we lit the first candle in Germany and the second in England. I had just turned three a month before and our dramatic flight was to become my only tangible memory of Germany.
The conjunction of Hanukkah with our personal escape from Nazi tyranny prompted my father later on to enliven our celebration of the festival with a lusty rendition of the traditional hymn, Maoz Zur. While the practice among American Jews generally is to sing only the first stanza, and maybe the fifth, we sang all five, skipping only the sixth and final stanza. The poem's theme of redemption seemed to offer a poignant comment on our family's experience. Thus, in time, I developed an existential interest in the poem, spiced by the curious omission of its final stanza. When questioned, my father would simply declare that the stanza was a later and inferior addition.
The purpose of this meditation on Maoz Zur is to reclaim it for the liturgical enrichment of Hanukkah. The sudden popularity of Hanukkah, spurred by Zionist achievement and American need, has outgrown the traditional liturgical garb, predicated on a different valence for the festival. In this bind, we are ill-served by dispensing with a poetic ornament that actually accords with our historical and religious sensibilities. Nor should we be satisfied by an act of tokenism—the retention of a single stanza mistranslated to mask its real meaning.
In its present form, Maoz Zur consists of six stanzas. Since the days of Leopold Zunz, the first five have been ascribed to an unknown German poet named Mordecai, who lived sometime before the middle of the thirteenth century and whose name survives as an acrostic formed by the first letter of each stanza. Each stanza of four lines is laced with a complex and varied rhyming pattern, while each line contains two equal halves of six long syllables. Though the use of the quantitative metrical principle is a trademark of medieval Sefardic poets writing under Arabic influence, the well-known lilting melody by which the hymn is traditionally sung, echoing the strains of a fifteenth-century German folksong, seems to underscore the Ashkenazic provenance of the original text. Congruently, the poem is absent from the Sefardic rite.
One is tempted, therefore, to argue that Maoz Zur conveys the collective anguish of a community stunned by three Crusades in the span of a single century and threatened with a deteriorating political situation. But, for medieval Jews, Galut (exile) was a state of mind even during interludes of tranquility, and the pervasive angst of its religious poetry was often generic rather than specific. If Maoz Zur does, in fact, bear witness to the darkening horizon of thirteenth-century German Jewry, its testimony is delivered with disarming restraint.
The setting of the original poem of five stanzas is somewhat indeterminate. The speaker is clearly the national voice of Israel addressing God with customary immediacy. But when? My preference is to date the moment of dialogue not long after the reconquest of the Temple. Maoz Zur is a song of thanksgiving for the recurring and unfailing instances of divine compassion for Israel. The rescue from "Greek" tyranny triggers a recollection of earlier cases when God's intervention redirects the course of Jewish history. In stanzas two through four the poet recalls, in chronological order, the experience of national degradation in Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia, with the slide into oblivion reversed each time only through a dramatic exhibition of divine power. The redemption at the time of the Hasmoneans, described in the fifth stanza, is seen retrospectively to be yet another confirmation of God's guardianship of Israel which guarantees its survival. And soon thereafter, in stanza one, the voice of Israel celebrates the destruction of its arrogant foe and the resumption of its cultic link to eternity. The introductory stanza thus anticipates the mood of exultation that follows the climactic act of redemption emphasized by the poem.
But the imperfect tense employed by Mordecai in that opening stanza injects a touch of fertile ambiguity. The suffering of Israel was only momentarily interrupted by Hasmonean victory. The fate of Israel in the poet's own age continues to hang in the balance. The fluidity of time suggested by what might grammatically be construed as a continuous present (a form well known in the Bible) points to past as well as to future exultation. Collective memory posits the assurance of ultimate messianic salvation.
What may, indeed, tenuously connect Maoz Zur to the age of the Crusades is its conception of the Jewish experience in terms of persecution. A deepening sense of exile seems to be constricting what is worth remembering to episodes of national humiliation. While a full-fledged "lachrymose" theory of Jewish history would have to await the more worldly Sefardic historians of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the chronicles and poetry of the twelfth- and thirteenth-century Ashkenazic liturgists surely testify to the oppressive reality of mounting insecurity. A compression of the ancient history of Israel to four salient crises has all the earmarks of an inchoate worldview born in dark times. Yet, the mood of Maoz Zur is not funereal, or else its traditional melody would be grotesquely inappropriate. Each crisis is recalled to emphasize its well-timed resolution and to visualize the blessing of God's enduring protection. The suffering of Israel, whatever its cause, is always relieved by an act of salvation.
With the exposition of the five authentic verses of Maoz Zur, our analysis might easily be ended, adequate and unexceptional. But what has come to intrigue me, in fact, is the addition of the sixth stanza, an unabashed messianic plea for divine retribution upon Israel's Christian oppressors, often left untranslated by the modern prayerbooks that deign to print it. To probe the reasons for this poetic codicil is not only to clarify the meaning of the original poem by Mordecai, but also to confront the religious doubts evoked by the defiant autonomy of history.
Internal evidence like the acrostic is not the only basis for decoding the lateness of the sixth stanza. External evidence is provided by a German halakhist at the end of the seventeenth century who relates having found several different versions of a sixth stanza affixed to the original text of Maoz Zur. Obligingly, he cites all three, including one penned by none other than Moses Isserlis, the renowned Polish rabbinic authority of the sixteenth century. However, the version which eventually gained currency appeared anonymously, perhaps because the acrostic of its first three words spelled the bracing command, hazak—'be strong.' According to our source, all three versions strove for the same effect—to update and complete Maoz Zur by reference to the fourth and final overlord of Israel's endless subjugation.1
Classic rabbinic messianism, based on the apocalypse of Daniel, had plotted the plight of Israel on a grid of four empires—Babylon, Persia-Media, Greece, and Rome. Inevitably, medieval Jewish history had imposed modifications on the identity of the Imperial players, but the schematic framework held firm, and the Hebrew cognomen, Edom, came to encompass medieval Christendom as well as ancient Rome. From the number of additions to Maoz Zur that were in circulation by the seventeenth century, it is obvious that Jews who had endured the recurring expulsions from German principalities in the late Middle Ages and had witnessed the colossal breakup of the Papal empire itself suddenly invested the old prayer with fresh messianic fervor. The lack of any allusion to the fourth kingdom and its downfall was now felt to be intolerable.
The language of the anonymous stanza that was finally accepted bristles with particular hostility. Besides a blunt entreaty for revenge against "the wicked kingdom," it dares to allude to the internecine struggle fracturing the unity of the Christian world: "dehei admon be-zel zalmon—vanquish Christianity (admon, a variant of edom) in the very shadow of the cross" (zalmon, a variant of zelem and here standing either for the Papacy or the heartland of Christianity).2 Understandably, somewhat later, the stanza was softened by universalizing the line: "mehei fesha ve-gam resha—erase all sin and transgression." Left untouched, though, is the rousing messianic finale—"and send forth the seven shepherds," a passage from Micah (5:4) which the rabbis took to mean the reappearance of a phalanx of seven biblical figures led by David (Succah, 52b).
The various additions proffered thus confirm my reading of Mordecai's poem as a song of thanksgiving set back in the days of the Maccabees. The authors behind them also understood the opening stanza as primarily a celebration of Maccabean reconquest and rededication. Ultimate messianic redemption had to await the travails of yet a fourth kingdom—Rome. The vision of Maoz Zur did not clearly extend beyond the third—that of the "Greeks," rendering it slightly sterile for the impatient victims of the most formidable of all the kingdoms.
But the addition of the sixth stanza altered subtly the theological message of the entire poem. Mordecai had found consolation in the constancy of divine concern; the author of the codicil implied displeasure at the brevity of the result. Evidently, not all instances of divine pathos were of equal efficacy. The messianic temper questioned the long-term value of earlier redemptive acts. What prompted this criticism was not only experience but also exegesis. In the final analysis, to comprehend fully the issue on which the completed poem turns, we must turn to its literary source. For Maoz Zur is a commentary on an exquisite piece of midrashic thought.
That midrash is to be found on Psalm 31, the biblical quarry from which Mordecai had hewn the opening phrase of his poem—"O mighty Rock of my salvation." The Psalm itself is the entreaty of a tried and beleaguered man who has always experienced his trust in God to be mercifully rewarded. The second verse aptly captures the mood throughout: "I seek refuge in You, O Lord; may I never be disappointed; as You are righteous, rescue me." The midrash seizes on the problematic word "never" (leolam) to ponder the efficacy of God's protection. The word, as well as the whole Psalm, seems to imply that, once bestowed, God's salvation will never lapse. The person so blessed will never again know shame and discomfiture. Indeed, Isaiah confirmed that very proposition when he declaimed: "Israel has won through the Lord triumph everlasting. You shall not be shamed or disgraced in all the ages to come!" (45:17)
After this prologue, the midrash weaves a dialogue between Israel and God in order to confront the harsh divergence between history and theology. The people ask God for immediate redemption, because their state of subjugation is forever accompanied by degradation and disgrace. "Redeem us and we shall be rid of degradation. Why? Because Your redemption is everlasting." And they buttress their case with the verse from Isaiah. But God rejects the underlying assumption. "I have already redeemed you in the past and I will be your redeemer again in days to come." He, too, cites scriptural evidence of past intervention and continued engagement.
Nevertheless, Israel remains unmollified. "To be sure, You have already redeemed us through Moses, through Joshua, and through some judges and kings. But we have once again been subjugated and endure degradation as if we had never been redeemed."
To which God responds that, in fact, those were cases of redemption effected by mere mortals, beings of flesh and blood. "Your leaders were men, alive one day and buried the next. It is for this reason that your redemption was only redemption for an hour. But in days to come I, who live and endure forever, shall redeem you Myself. I shall redeem you with an eternal redemption, as it is said: 'Israel has won through the Lord triumph everlasting.' Consequently, 'You shall not be shamed or disgraced in all ages to come!'"3
In short, the sordidness of history need not confute the purity of theology. The courage to distinguish between relief effected by men, no matter how exalted and inspired, and redemption through unmediated divine interjection affords a fragile reconciliation between what we see and what we believe. God's fleeting presence is insufficient to bring history to its rightful end, though it has left traces of enduring and sustaining brilliance.
I am convinced that the final stanza of Maoz Zur rests on this profound and sober midrash. Centuries after Mordecai, another Ashkenazic Jew, stirred by the tremors and aftershocks of the Reformation, appended his messianic codicil. Prior achievements of national redemption, from the Babylonian exile to Syrian oppression, were of limited duration because mediated by men. The passing references, in earlier stanzas, to Zerubbabel, Mordecai, and the Hasmoneans suggest as much. In contrast, the fourth kingdom could be overcome only by God Himself. Hence the form of direct address—"Bare Your holy arm," which, given its original redemptive use by Isaiah (52:10), is redolent with messianic urgency. Short of such direct intervention, every respite attained by human hands, even with divine aid, is flawed and perishable.4
Taken together, the two strata of Maoz Zur blend into a liturgical reflection on Jewish history—the precariousness of minority existence, the reality of divine concern, the consolation of collective memory, and the rarity of true messianism. Paradoxically, the final stanza, with all of its messianic fervor, accentuates the modern emphasis on the human role in the Hanukkah story. The hunger for irreversible redemption is not to be satisfied by human counterfeit. Messianism, properly understood, leads to political restraint. To my mind, no lesson is more vital to a generation like ours which is so prone to misread the signs of recent Jewish history.
So, the survivors have all their ease to celebrate God's compassion........
Although the Wisdom of Kabbalah is called the "secrets of the Torah", or "inner Wisdom", it actually provides people with a practical method of self adjustment that is very relevant today.
The sages are saying about the Creator, "I created the evil inclination, and I created the Torah as a spice, as the Light in it reforms".
With the help of the Torah, its Reforming Light, people can change their "evil inclination, their "Pharaoh", the inherently selfish human nature, escaping "Egypt" towards a fully bestowing and loving nature, "The Land of Israel", when the person becomes capable of using its full being, all of his desires for the sake of the Creator.
On the path of this correction process the person reaches a stage where he can already rise above the inherently selfish desires, but is not yet capable of actively bestowing. This is already a miracle, a person capable of rising above himself, achieving a truly spiritual level, "the state of Hafetz Hesed, only desiring mercy", becoming an "intermediate righteous".
The word "Hanukkah" in Hebrew is a combination of two words implying "resting, parking" and intermediate, neutral state on the path to full self correction.
From this point on the person can continue the second half of the path towards the fully bestowing state, to the full adhesion to the Creating force. That state is symbolized by the festival of Purim.
Today in the time of the global crisis, when all human made institutions start collapsing due to the inherent, selfish, greedy human nature, the previously "hidden Wisdom" of Kabbalah is becoming more and more open in order to give the Nation of Israel, and through them as a connecting channel between the Creating force and humanity, to the whole world the "Segula", the "miracle cure", necessary for solutions and to secure humanity's survival.
Well, according to the wisdom of kabbalah, the latter is true. So what is the true meaning of Hanukkah? It, in general, speaks of connection, a profound connection, where each one feels as though they belong to one nation. Specifically though, the holiday according to the wisdom of kabbalah, like other Jewish holidays, is specifically about the corrections that the people of Israel have to perform (on themselves) in order to be a "Light unto the nations."
Today, I think as we can see, there is a need for connection in Israel, there is a need for unity. When we look at the foundation of the nation of Israel, back to that group that came out of ancient Babylon (who then became called "Israel"), we see that they only became called Israel when they agreed to live by a mutual guarantee, the arvut, to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." And of course this was not simply designed to be unity between them--and then they sealed themselves off from the rest of the world. No, instead they agreed that their unity, their example, should be a "Light unto the nations."
So, with this holiday there should be a time of inner reflection. Of course the traditional meaning of Hannukah, according to Jewish tradition, doesn't speak about internal corrections that need to be made in order to reach connection, and also that this should be done to be an example for others. But this does not matter because today we see that the nation is divided, that there is no common goal, no clear definition of what life should be lived for, and very importantly, that external pressures continue to mount and become more severe against the people of Israel.
As a result, at the very least it can be argued that unity is sorely needed in Israel today and that the rest of the world likewise needs this example. And as for the kabbalistic definition, that internal corrections are needed for unity to come to exist, and for this to serve as an example for others, this also does not seem tough to fathom today.
It is because if a foundation for unity does not exist, due to stubborn human nature/egoism, then how can it be achieved if not through some sort of inner correction? And not simply one or two seeking such correction, but the nation which needs to unite?
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Let's really put the pressure on! Let the USDA and your senators and representative know there's a steep political price for this decision, which if left unchanged, will have devastating consequences for organic agriculture.
On January 27, the US Department of Agriculture reached a decision on genetically engineered Roundup Ready® alfalfa, having reached the end of the review period for the environmental impact statement (EIS). Out of the three possible options—regulation, partial deregulation, and complete deregulation—the USDA chose the worst possible option: full non-regulated status.
This was unexpected news, as the USDA had been hinting that it would partially deregulate. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack previously suggested that the agency would "pursue compromise."
There is evidence that the USDA was subjected to intense lobbying by Monsanto at the last minute, and possible collusion with Monsanto by the White House. According to Food Safety News, "Sources familiar with the negotiations at the USDA…believe the White House asked Vilsack to drop proposed regulations so the Administration would appear more friendly to business."
Deregulation is dangerous. Without regulation, GM alfalfa will encroach on non-GM alfalfa, irretrievably contaminating it. There have already been over 200 episodes of transgenic contamination, costing farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in lost sales. If genetically engineered crops spread, the word "organic" will be virtually meaningless, affecting crops, the cattle who eat the alfalfa, and consumers who eat both.
Moreover, Roundup Ready® alfalfa will substantially increase herbicide use. The USDA's own data shows that just 7% of alfalfa acres are currently treated with herbicides. USDA's projections in the EIS show that substantial adoption of Roundup Ready®increases in herbicide use of up to 23 million pounds per year. alfalfa would trigger
Where do we go from here? We have to take our stand right here, with GMO alfalfa, because it cannot be contained. It will contaminate other crops. We believe a multi-pronged approach has the best chance of overturning this disastrous decision:
- The Center for Food Safety has announced it will file a lawsuit against the USDA over the decision, and ANH-USA will try to become a co-plaintiff in that suit.
- We need to blanket Congress with protests, asking senators and representatives and oversight committees to review the deregulation decision. We want to mount a massive grassroots campaign to show Congress that there is a steep political price to be paid for supporting genetically engineered organisms, especially alfalfa which cannot be contained. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) have issued a statement condemning the USDA decision, so we are not alone in our desire to see this reversed.
- And we need to put pressure on the USDA and the Obama administration. They need to understand how angry American citizens are, and why we feel so betrayed. It is time for crony capitalism to end.
In 1781, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "If people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."
Our Action Alert will take you to a letter you can send to the decision-makers: your president, your senators, your representative, and the USDA. Please take what we've written and add your own thoughts. Pour out your thoughts and make your voice heard. Show them we will not allow the government to poison us and our children with frankenfoods. Please contact them today!


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Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbor Totoro)
© 1988 Nibariki - G
Commemorate The 25th Anniversary Of Hayao Miyazaki's
Landmark Film With MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL
And An Updated Edition Of The Official Film Picture Book
Featuring A Special New Cover Design
VIZ Media marks the 25th Anniversary of famed director Hayao Miyazaki's whimsical animated family fantasy, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, with the release on October 1st of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL and a brand new edition of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book.
Published under VIZ Media's Studio Ghibli Library imprint, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL carries an MSRP of $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN, and the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO Picture Book features an MSRP of $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN.
In Hayao Miyazaki's charming animated classic, eleven-year-old Satsuki and her sassy little sister Mei have moved to the country to be closer to their ailing mother. While their father is working, the girls explore their sprawling old house and the forest and fields that surround it. Soon, Satsuki and Mei discover Totoro, a magical forest spirit who takes them on fantastic adventures through the trees and the clouds – and teaches them a lesson about trusting one another.
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL MSRP: $17.99 U.S. / $21.00 CAN • Available October 1st
The superbly animated classic by legendary Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki is now retold in a novel written by Tsugiko Kubo. This prestigious hardcover edition also features original watercolor illustrations by Miyazaki himself, accompanying a story written by veteran children's book author Tsugiko Kubo. Sure to delight both existing fans and new readers!
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO PICTURE BOOK New Edition • Rated "A" for All Ages • MSRP: $19.99 U.S. / $22.99 CAN • Available October 1st
This companion, full-color book to MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO features artwork taken directly from the movie. The updated edition also features new cover design and allows parents and children to relive Totoro's magical adventures with scene-by-scene illustrations and character dialogue.
"MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is Hayao Miyazki's timeless fairy tale for all ages and one of the most internationally acclaimed films to ever come out of Japan," says Masumi Washington, Sr. Editorial Director. "MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: THE NOVEL and the new edition of the MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO PICTURE BOOK capture the poignancy and emotion of the story of Satsuki, Mei and their loveable fuzzy forest friends and will be wonderful additions to any Miyazaki fan's personal library."
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO was released in 1988 by Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, which also produced SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE and PONYO. TOTORO is an internationally popular property that has spawned a colorful array of adorable plush characters, toys, collectables and other memorabilia. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the DVD/Blu-ray Edition of MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO earlier this year.
Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's most celebrated anime directors. His newest film, The Wind Rises (2013), recounts the early days of aviation and the formative years of Japan's famed World War II Zero fighter plane designer, Jiro Horikoshi. In 2005 Hayao Miyazaki was awarded the Venice International Film Festival's Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement. Miyazaki's other notable films include Spirited Away, which won the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film, as well as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, and Ponyo, all of which have received great international acclaim. Miyazaki's other achievements include creating the highly regarded manga series Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Starting Point: 1979-1996, a collection of essays, interviews, and memoirs that chronicle his early career and the development of his theories of animation. Both are published in English by VIZ Media.
More information on VIZ Media's Studio Ghibli titles is available at www.VIZ.com.


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We are proud to be long term supporters of the fantastic work that the Starlight Children's Foundation does for sick children.
So, what is it that Starlight does and why is it so important? Happiness is a part of total health care, and the Starlight Children's Foundation supports kids, teenagers and their families all over Australia. Every minute of every day a child is admitted to hospital in Australia. Starlight brightens the lives of sick kids and their families, turning fear, pain and stress into fun, joy and laughter. Last year Starlight supported 145,000 seriously ill children, teens and their families – regardless of illness, injury or age.
Recently, Mr Peter Webb, Repco Authorised Service National Manager attended a special day at a Starlight Express Room to see first-hand the amazing work being done. Mr Webb explains why the Starlight Children's Foundation is the chosen charity of RAS. "Like many of our workshop owners, I'm a parent and a grandparent, so it was a pretty simple decision to make. What better way to help than to bring a little hope and joy into a sick child's life?"
Friday May 1st is Starlight Day. To support this initiative Repco Authorised Service will be making a donation on behalf of each of the 360 independent mechanical businesses Nationwide.


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Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
I saw an opportunity to try to make some extra money on the side by doing something that I love. Shopify made it possible since I have no programming experience to be able to open a typical online retail store. Some of our products are made overseas and some are manufactured in the USA. Most all of our vendors have showrooms in LA or we find them at markets that we travel to multiple times a year.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
Our first sale actually came before we had even "launched" our site. We had it visible doing some final testing and a sale came through from someone that we didn't know. Finding targeted keywords that people search for was key for us starting out. Our online store is still generating the most traffic for us. We started it first and it has provided us the opportunity to open our brick and mortar.
Tell us about the back-end of your business. What tools and apps do you use to run your store? How do you handle shipping and fulfillment?
Google Adwords helps us manage our adwords campaigns all through our Shopify app, Mailchimp is who we use for our email campaigns. It's super easy to use since it integrates with Shopify and we dont have to export all of our customers' email addresses to an external site. We handle all shipping and fulfillment in-house.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
Don't be afraid to try new things. You don't ever know what's going to work and what won't. And if you don't ever try, you'll regret not knowing what could have come.


text: Join them every Wednesday for a free drop-in painting session! They will be painting species of fish that swim in their local creeks as a part of their ongoing public art project "Art on Streets for Cleaner Creeks." The fish will be installed on storm drains around the city and county to draw attention to the impact our actions have on their creeks. Come paint a fish and later you may see it on the streets! All skill levels are welcome; artists are here to help and teach to everyone's ability. Contribute to a local environmental cause and enjoy a relaxing evening of creative expression and community connection.


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Recover the missing Norton extensions for your browser on Mac
If you recently updated to, or reinstalled the latest version of Norton product and cannot find the Norton extension in your browser, you need to manually install the Norton extension in your browser.
Before you install the Norton extensions in your web browser, make sure that you have the latest version of Norton product, and also the latest version of your browser installed.
Enable Norton extensions in your browser
Open your Norton device security product.
If you see the My Norton window, next to Device Security, click Open.
In the Norton product main window, click Settings or Advanced, and click Safe Search.
- Next to your browser name, click the arrow icon to launch the Norton extension page in your browser.
For Safari 12.0 or later on macOS 10.14.4 or later, you are redirected to Norton Safe Web or Norton Safe Web Plus page in App Store. Download the Norton app extension from App Store, and click Open.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Norton extensions.
Need more help?
Help us improve this solution.
Thank you for helping to improve this experience.
What would you like to do now?
Browse for solutions, search the Norton Community, or Contact Us.
Operating System: Mac
Last modified: 06/19/2024


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Infos about the region Södermanland
The province borders in the south to Östergötland, in the west to Närke, in the northwest to Västmanland, in the northeast to Uppland and in the east and southeast to the Baltic Sea. The capital Stockholm is situated partly in Södermanland. The second part is located in Uppland. Traditionally, the line between the two provinces is drawn in the water between the old town and the district of Södermalm in central Stockholm. Södermanland, popularly known as Sörmland, refers to the land south of the lake Mälaren. Like Uppland in the north, the province has numerous ancient remains (nearly 100,000) and a large population that approximately amounts to 1.1 million people. The province is dominated by lowland and wooded hills, and of the many lakes. So it is a typical flat landscape; Södermanland is nowhere more than 200 meters above sea level. The characteristic landscape type is formed by a combination of faults that mainly go in the direction from the east to the west, and large river valleys. Through these faults the land sunk from the south to the north, so that the crack along the fault on the north side was lowered, while the south remained. Södermanland is also the center of the Swedish nobility with a variety of mansions. Just as Södermanland, Uppland has a fantastic archipelago, both the part called the Stockholm Archipelago (east of Södermanland's Södertörn peninsula) and the one outside the coast of Södermanland. Södermanland welcomes you to discover a province full of opportunities!


text: Firstly, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas! I've been a little slow to share these gifs but nevermind! I created these for a couple of lovely bloggers a little while ago for them to use as part of Christmas-themed posts. The disappearing gingerbread man was commissioned by the brilliant Christina who runs Kimi and Me, and the cute snowglobe was created for the lovely Shannon who blogs over at Beauty Is Soul Deep. Why don't you pop over and say hi!


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Travel security
Your security and safety when you fly with us are paramount.
On this page
Enhanced security measures for passengers flying to the UK and USA
The UK Government has introduced a range of additional security measures at the boarding gate for flights into the UK.
Customers travelling on flights from Dubai to the UK who are randomly selected to undergo additional screening may be required to remove footwear and from hand luggage all electrical equipment including portable electronic devices such as laptops, iPads, smart phones, and cameras larger than a standard mobile phone and power up the device to demonstrate functionality.
Passengers are advised to ensure that their electronic devices are charged before travel. Devices that do not power on may not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
Further information is available at UK DFTOpens in a new tab or window
The Transport Security Administration in the United States of America has implemented enhanced security measures at select overseas airports with direct flights to the USA.
Passengers travelling on Qantas services to the USA should arrive at the airport at the recommended time – at least 120 mins before flight for Economy and Premium Economy, 90 minutes for Business and First. Please confirm what time you need to be at the departure gate with check in staff.
Further information is available at TSAOpens in a new tab or window
Security measures
Global events continue to remind us that aviation security remains a top priority for us. Qantas Group Security and Facilitation is committed to maintaining the highest aviation security standards for both our customers and employees.
Due to increased security screening, check-in procedures and potential traffic delays, we recommend you allow extra time to get to the airport. For further information view our check-in times
During check-in and boarding you may have noticed some of Qantas' additional security measures include:
- Random explosive trace detection of passengers and their carry-on baggage.
- Laptop computers and aerosols are subject to enhanced inspection at screening points.
- Increased vigilance at passenger screening points and increased guarding of our aircraft and terminals.
- On flights to the USA, some passengers will be randomly selected for additional screening at the departure gate.
X-ray equipment used at Australia airports does not damage:
- Computer cpus or memory;
- computer storage media such as magnetic disks (hard drives, floppy disks etc)and other devices (CDs);
- cameras (including digital cameras with electronic storage media) or
- photographic film below asa 1000 (developed or undeveloped).
The Qantas Group has a strict policy of denying boarding to, or off-loading any passenger that makes inappropriate comments or behaves inappropriately inflight or on the ground. Qantas will not accept any inappropriate comments as 'jokes'. We will also seek to recover all costs incurred as a result of inflight incidents, including diversions, from those involved.
Visit Conditions of Carriage for more information.
Access within the terminals
- Domestic - No access restrictions apply to non-passengers. If intending to meet or farewell passengers you're permitted in the sterile area of Australian domestic terminals subject to security screening.
- International – Non-passengers are not permitted to enter the customs controlled areas of Australian international terminals.
Security advice
- Always pack your own baggage.
- Do not carry on your person or in your checked baggage any item for another person.
- Always carry your valuables, medication and keys in your carry-on baggage.
- All knives, sharp objects or cutting and stabbing implements need to be packed in checked baggage and not placed in carry-on baggage or on your person.
- Security measures can include random frisk search after consent is obtained. Passengers can request privacy and must be searched by a screener of the same gender.
Body scanners
The Australian Federal Government has introduced full-body scanners at Australia's eight international gateway airports - Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Passengers departing Australia may be required to pass through a body scanner as part of standard screening processes. Unlike walk through metal detectors, the scanners are capable of detecting non-metal items under clothing.
Passengers refusing to pass through the scanner will be banned from entering the sterile area or boarding an aircraft for 24 hours. Exemptions apply for people suffering from a serious medical condition, infants and small children and persons in wheelchairs.
The body scanners will be 'millimetre wave' as opposed to x-ray. One body scan is comparable to passive exposure to a mobile phone used several metres away.
The scanner cannot detect internal medical devices such as pacemakers and metal implants, and due to very low power levels there are no safety concerns in relation to devices such as pacemakers or for women who are pregnant.
The process takes approximately seven to ten seconds - two to three seconds for the scan and five to seven seconds for the image to be generated and viewed by security personnel.
To protect people's privacy the image that is generated appears as a 'stick figure' so all persons have the same outline with no defining features. Images will not be copied or stored.
Find out more about body scanners at TravelSecureOpens in a new tab or window
Travel tips
When overseas
If you're in trouble contact the Australian Consulate. Consular staff are able to issue emergency passports, provide lists of local doctors and lawyers and assist during natural disaster, civil unrest or other emergencies.
Protect your personal information and make copies of your passport, credit card and prescription details. Carry a copy with you and leave a copy at home or work where someone can access them if necessary. Ensure your emergency contacts are filled out in the back of your passport.
Be aware that some medications sold over the counter in Australia may be illegal in other countries. Check this detail by contacting the consulate of your planned destination to determine which medications are legal in that country. If you are carrying prescription medicine, ensure you have a copy of the doctors issued prescription with you. If carrying syringes please ensure you have a copy of a letter signed by your doctor outlining the need for the syringes. Information on the carriage of prohibited items by persons suffering from bona fide medical conditions can be found at TravelSECUREOpens in a new tab or window
Personal security measures
- Avoid wearing items of clothing that will draw attention.
- Only carry what you can afford to lose and carry small denominations of local cash so you can hand that over if mugged.
- Take care using ATMs, particularly at night. Preferably go into a bank to increase your personal safety.
- Be wary of strangers or new acquaintances 'offering help'.
- Avoid hailing taxis off the street. In many countries it is safe to do so (for example Japan, Singapore) however in some countries, illegal, unregistered taxis are used to rob or over-charge passengers.
- If you become the victim of a robbery, don't put up a fight. Comply with the demands of the offender.
- Report unusual and dangerous incidents to local authorities.
- Always advise a friend or relative of your schedule and whereabouts.
- Never carry items that do not belong to you. You alone are responsible for the contents of your baggage.
- Be aware of the risks of HIV or other transmittable diseases - avoid ear piercing, acupuncture, tattooing or dental work.
Access to premium security lanes
- Domestic - Platinum or Gold Frequent Flyers, or anyone travelling in Business, may use dedicated premium security lanes during peak times at Sydney T3, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane domestic terminals.
- International - Selected airports offer premium security lanes for Platinum Frequent Flyers and those travelling in Business or First. Eligible customers will be provided with an Express Path card at check-in.
Useful links
SmartravellerOpens in a new tab or window - The Australian Government's travel advisory and consular assistance service for Australian residents.
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeOpens in a new tab or window - Information on the economic and political climate in other countries.
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeOpens in a new tab or window - Current travel advice for international travel for New Zealand residents.
TravelSECUREOpens in a new tab or window - Information to assist in clearing security checks quickly and easily at Australian airports.
Important information
Disclaimer: * All laptops must be removed from their carry bags and the laptop and carry bag are to be x-rayed separately.
Disclaimer: + Manufacturer's advice.


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Long Prom Dresses
Set Fire on the Dance Floor in Stunning Long Prom Dress
Are you looking for some stunning and elegant long prom dresses that will make you look like a diva on the big night? If yes, then come to us at SposaDresses. From long formal ball gowns to floor-sweeping vintage prom dresses, you will find every style in our collection. We are a house of designers with an exclusive range of prom and long formal dresses that will make you look like a vision on the dance floor on prom night. Dance like a dream or prance around like a social butterfly and be everyone's envy this year. In our stunningly designed long black prom dresses, endowed with trending cuts and embellishments, you will steal every glance as soon as you enter the venue. Pick from our amazing variety of prom dresses and give a solid expression to your unique fashion statement. We have a dazzling collection of attire in multiple sizes and hues that will complement all kinds of body types, complexions, and sense of styles. Give yourself a glamorous makeover with Sposa Dresses and gear up to bag the title of Prom Queen this year.
Elegant, Designer Long Prom Dresses Online
We can assure you that our magnificent designer dresses won't even burn a huge hole in your purse. So, win the prom queen crown and the heart of your date with the bespoke glamour of our stunning, sultry, long prom dresses. Shop from us today and leave everyone stunned with your impeccable sense of fashion.


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Issues LGBTQ Students Experience in School
Growing up is hard for just about every kid. But it can be particularly hard if you are LGBTQ+. School can be especially tricky to navigate, as these youths face unique challenges.
Here are some of the most common issues LGBTQ+ students experience in school:
LGBTQ+ youths are far more likely to be the targets of bullying, whether that bullying happens in school hallways or on social media. On any given day LGBTQ+ students may face name calling, threats, or even acts of physical violence. And perhaps the worst part is, these may come from other students as well as teachers and staff.
Technically speaking, harassing someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal. That hardly keeps people from doing it. Harassment at school often causes a toxic and hostile environment, hardly one in which learning is easy.
There's discipline, and then there's discrimination. Often LGBTQ+ youth are disciplined for things their peers are not. For instance, two same-sex students showing affection in the hallway may be disciplined when heterosexual couples are not treated the same way.
It is common for LGBTQ+ students to feel lonely and isolated in school, depending on where they go to school. While there may be other LGBTQ+ students and staff in schools in bigger cities, those students who live in rural areas may feel absolutely alone.
Education is a very big part of the adolescent experience, and days spent in school are some of the most formative of our lives. If you or someone you know is an LGBTQ+ student and facing these types of issues and you'd like to speak to someone, please reach out to me. I work with members of the LGBTQ+ community to help them navigate the unique challenges they face in the word today.


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Metadata is structured data about data.
In the computing industry, there are ongoing standardization efforts towards metadata with the goal of promoting industry interoperability and efficiency. Content creators should track these developments and include appropriate metadata in their SVG content which conforms to these various metadata standards as they emerge.
The W3C has a Semantic Web Activity which has been established to serve a leadership role, in both the design of enabling specifications and the open, collaborative development of technologies that support the automation, integration and reuse of data across various applications. The Semantic Web Activity builds upon the earlier W3C Metadata Activity, including the definition of Resource Description Framework (RDF). The RDF Primer is the first in a set of six documents that define the Resource Description Framework [RDF-PRIMER].
Another activity relevant to most applications of metadata is the Dublin Core [DCORE], which is a set of generally applicable core metadata properties (e.g., Title, Creator/Author, Subject, Description, etc.).
Individual industries or individual content creators are free to define their own metadata schema but are encouraged to follow existing metadata standards and use standard metadata schema wherever possible to promote interchange and interoperability. If a particular standard metadata schema does not meet your needs, then it is usually better to define an additional metadata schema in an existing framework such as RDF and to use custom metadata schema in combination with standard metadata schema, rather than totally ignore the standard schema.
Metadata which is included with SVG content should be specified within 'metadata' elements. The contents of the 'metadata' should be elements from other XML namespaces, with these elements from these namespaces expressed in a manner conforming with the Namespaces in XML Recommendation [XML-NS].
Authors should provide a 'metadata' child element to the outermost svg element within a stand-alone SVG document. The 'metadata' child element to an 'svg' element serves the purposes of identifying document-level metadata.
The DTD definitions of many of SVG's elements (particularly, container and text elements) place no restriction on the placement or number of the 'metadata' sub-elements. This flexibility is only present so that there will be a consistent content model for container elements, because some container elements in SVG allow for mixed content, and because the mixed content rules for XML ([XML10], section 3.2.2) do not permit the desired restrictions. Representations of future versions of the SVG language might use more expressive representations than DTDs which allow for more restrictive mixed content rules. It is strongly recommended that at most one 'metadata' element appear as a child of any particular element, and that this element appear before any other child elements (except possibly 'desc' or 'title' elements) or character data content. If metadata-processing user agents need to choose among multiple 'metadata' elements for processing it should choose the first one.
Here is an example of how metadata can be included in an SVG document. The example uses the Dublin Core version 1.1 schema. (Other XML-compatible metadata languages, including ones not based on RDF, can be used also.)
<?xml version="1.0" standalone="yes"?> <svg width="4in" height="3in" version="1.1" xmlns = 'http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'> <desc xmlns:myfoo="http://example.org/myfoo"> <myfoo:title>This is a financial report</myfoo:title> <myfoo:descr>The global description uses markup from the <myfoo:emph>myfoo</myfoo:emph> namespace.</myfoo:descr> <myfoo:scene><myfoo:what>widget $growth</myfoo:what> <myfoo:contains>$three $graph-bar</myfoo:contains> <myfoo:when>1998 $through 2000</myfoo:when> </myfoo:scene> </desc> <metadata> <rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf = "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rdfs = "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:dc = "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" > <rdf:Description about="http://example.org/myfoo" dc:title="MyFoo Financial Report" dc:description="$three $bar $thousands $dollars $from 1998 $through 2000" dc:publisher="Example Organization" dc:date="2000-04-11" dc:format="image/svg+xml" dc:language="en" > <dc:creator> <rdf:Bag> <rdf:li>Irving Bird</rdf:li> <rdf:li>Mary Lambert</rdf:li> </rdf:Bag> </dc:creator> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF> </metadata> </svg>
interface SVGMetadataElement : SVGElement { };


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Around AD 158 the order came from the Emperor to withdraw from Scotland.
The Wall and its forts were abandoned, buildings were destroyed and the soldiers marched off south. The Romans left Britain for good in AD 411 and the Wall became part of the surrounding countryside, its past forgotten until the 18th century.
On departure, the rampart was not demolished, nor was the ditch filled in, but fort buildings were burnt or dismantled. The Romans took valuable and portable items away with them, but heavy or worthless objects were discarded, in some cases down the well of the fort – to the great benefit of future archaeologists. A huge number of items were recovered in the early 20th century from the well (below) at Bar Hill, for example: coins, pottery, iron objects, bucket hoops, parts of stone columns and numerous shoes.
The Romans returned to Scotland on limited occasions, most notably during the reign of Septimius Severus (AD 193-211). After his son, Caracalla, made peace with the Caledones, the Romans appear to have abandoned further attempts to conquer Scotland. Around AD 411 the official Roman occupation of Britain ended, although archaeological evidence shows that contact and trade continued for several centuries.
Throughout the post-Roman and medieval periods the Antonine Wall and its immediate vicinity saw continued occupation and the construction of new settlements and structures, including churches, villages, and several castles, including mottes. The wall became known as 'Grymisdyke' and its Roman heritage was forgotten. As central Scotland began to industrialise, sections of the wall were buried beneath, or removed for, canals, railways, motorways, factories and housing.
But over time, interest was growing in the history and remains of Roman Britain. In fact, Roman objects discovered during the construction of the Forth-Clyde canal in the 1760s-90s generated interest just as the work destroyed the evidence. In the 18th-century, antiquaries (and rivals) Alexander Gordon and the Rev. John Horsley helped to identify many previously unknown sites, and mapmaker William Roy surveyed the Wall in 1755.
In the 20th century, archaeological works by Glasgow Archaeological Society recorded many of the remains, while the publication of Sir George Macdonald's account of the Wall's history and archaeology drew together all known sites into one comprehensive volume. The first section of the Antonine Wall was scheduled in 1926, and by 2008 the site was nominated and inscribed as a World Heritage Site.


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Affordable Home Ownership
Look to Scotiabank for Mortgage solutions that make it easier to own the home you want.
Reduce your monthly payment.
Repaying your Mortgage over an extended period of time lets you customise your monthly payments to fit your budget. Amortise for up to 30 years and lower your monthly payments. Of course, if you want to repay your loan sooner to cut your interest costs, simply choose a shorter amortisation period.
Take advantage of penalty-free repayment.
Reduce your interest costs by prepaying up to 15% of the original amount of your Mortgage every year without a penalty.
Renew or refinance the easy way.
From time to time, you may want to change the terms of your Mortgage so it keeps up with your changing needs. We can make it simple to upgrade to a larger home or pay down your Mortgage faster.
Opt for convenient automatic withdrawals.
Your Mortgage payments can be automatically deducted from your Scotiabank account, quickly and easily, so you don't need to worry about making your payments on time.
Protect your loved ones.
With optional Credit Life Protection, you can be sure that your Mortgage will be paid off in the event of your death. That way your family won't have to make the Mortgage payments or liquidate assets to pay off the debt. Your premium is simply added to your Mortgage payment, resulting in one easy single monthly instalment. Joint or single coverage is available.
For more information on all of Scotiabank's affordable Mortgage solutions, contact your nearest Scotiabank branch today.


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Buenos Aires, Argentina. Part II
Back in spring, we published our first virtual tour of the capital of Argentina. Now, we introduce the second virtual tour, which includes panoramas of the town of La Plata in Province of Buenos Aires.
The idea of creating panoramas of the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, occurred to us when we were discussing plans concerning our Antarctic expedition. But my luggage with the equipment had been lost during my connection in Barcelona, so instead of taking pictures of the city I was just walking around and going sightseeing.
To my deep relief all my cases had been found, and our Antarctic expedition was successful. But the shootings of Buenos Aires had to be postponed for two weeks and to be done on my way to Moscow.
So, on a sunny December evening my airplane landed in the Jorge Newbery International Airport. After the cold lands of Antarctica, Buenos Aires greeted me with 30C° heat. I could feel the difference even in an air-conditioned airport terminal. Having said "goodbye" to the members of our expedition, I stepped over the porch of the airport into the heat of the evening city.
Before going to Buenos Aires my friends and local guides, I kept in touch with, warned me that criminal activity in the city is rather high. I had an impression, according to their words, that practically every citizen of Buenos Aires at least once was mugged, robbed or took part in a robbery himself.
In our travels, we often visit some insecure places and local guides usually tend to exaggerate the danger. That was why I did not take the stories about robberies in broad daylight so serious. But 5 minutes later, being in a traffic jam on my way to the hotel, I heard a horn of a taxi going by. A bit later I realised that it was addressed to me in particular. Having raised my head I saw a driver pointing to my cellphone and making rather energetic gestures which I understood as "Lock your door, fool!" To be honest, I was really impressed.
The morning of the very first shooting day our drone was attacked by a young drug-addicted girl near Retiro railway station. The drone was peacefully lying on a sidewalk and I was busy with the camera settings. The girl passing by suddenly turned around and for some reason decided to trample a bit on our laid out equipment, all the while mumbling something incoherently. Many thanks to my guide Anna, who quickly recognized the symptoms and corrected her trajectory towards her original direction.
By the way, Retiro railway station was almost the only place in the city that I managed to take photos of without any technical problems. To be honest, I imagined that my work in Buenos Aires would be, in some way, an easy vacation after our Antarctic expedition. But as a result I could not relax here at all. Nearly in all central districts there were certain problems with the signal: every time the drone gained the height of more than 30-40 meters the video signal was getting lost. At higher altitude my camera started to "get mad" continuously releasing the shutter. We came across such behaviour of the equipment only once in our photography career, at the time when we making a panorama near TV Tower of Barcelona. Anna's husband, a professional engineer, guessed that most probably the problem arose because of badly regulated use of radio frequency. Everyone does whatever he wants: people use a lot of low-quality modems, WIFI routers, radiotelephones, and many other devices that interfere signals, resulting in malfunction of mobile communication and FM-radio all over the city.
That evening my mind was full of sad thoughts about our Buenos Aires tour consisting of panoramas made at the height of a three story building. I was about to send a report to our office that "for technical reasons" I could not fulfill the task. But, on the other hand, I was not ready to leave Buenos Aires with its summer weather, local steaks, red wine and return to wintry Moscow. So, while having supper with the guides, we decided to try to fly higher in some uncrowded place and break through the interference area.
The next day I launched the drone in one of the local parks. As usual, after gaining the height of 50 meters, the video coming from my camera started to flicker, the shutter was releasing with no control; at the height of 150 meters I lost the image from my camera completely. The only thing, to my relief, that was working properly was my radio-variometer which used its own independent channel unoccupied by local "masters". Thus I was lifting the drone relying practically on my hearing. Finally, a sigh of relief: at the altitude of 350 meters the image appeared again, the camera stopped to release the shutter uncontrollably. That was the height I could work at. So, the limits of the interference area were identified and I was full of confidence that we would create the Buenos Aires tour!
One of the main features most Argentines are proud of is football. Indeed, the Argentina national football team is one of the most award-winning team in the world. Having decided that it would be quite natural to take photos of the River Plate Stadium and to add it to our tour, we went to visit it. While flying above the stadium I noticed some motion of the field. As soon as I got closer to the field I realised that it was a training of the team hosting the stadium. At that moment we did not know that three days later this team would win the finals of The Cup of South America within the walls of this stadium.
We had to give up the idea of shooting the game itself because of the police standing all around the stadium and controlling the crowds of aggressive fans. During our work me and Anna were trying to include in our tour as many important sights of the city and its suburbs as we could. We even managed to take photos of the President's mansion.
Anna managed to find out beforehand that the use of drones is not regulated in Argentina in any way. There is only one strict rule prohibiting the flight of drones near airports. That was why we were not afraid to be seen by the police. More than once policemen came up asking what we were doing, made some inquiries on the radio and wished us a nice day. During our conversation with the security near Madero Port we heard a rather funny dialogue on the radio:
- Base, base! There are some people taking photos with the help of Android (no misprint here).
- What are they taking photos of?
- Area of the district, Frigate Sarmiento.
- Ok, they can use their Android, let them go on!
This "Android case" is not typical for Buenos Aires at all. Most of the local people we spoke to had a good understanding of what the drones are and what they can be used for. Local police use them quite often for preparation of raids and monitoring of protests. It was not that locals were aggressive towards us, but it's true they were a bit suspicious before Anna could explain what we were doing and why we were taking photos of the city.
Anna is a very experienced guide, a great specialist in architecture and local sights, an expert in the history of Argentina. But she had never happened to make extreme excursions to the "bad" districts of the city before we met. As for me, I was given the task by our chief to include at least one slum district in our tour. So I chose one of the most popular (according to mentioning in blogs) slums - Villa 31 (in Buenos Aires a slum is called Villa, or Villa miseria). When I told Anna about my choice she spoke of several rather pessimistic scenarios of what could happen to us and our equipment. The main argument for not going there was the fact that criminal inhabitants of the district had quite a good understanding of what drones can be used for. If they notice us they will shoot, said Anna, no matter who we are - policemen or photographers. Nevertheless, I could not bring excuses instead of photos. In spite of the resistance of the guide, we set off to Villa 31.
Villa 31 is a city within a city situated between railways of Retiro station and the port. According to the official statistics, there are more than 40 000 people living in illegally built houses, and more than 100 000 according to unofficial figures. The streets are not mapped. Electricity and communications are taken illegally from the city. Police is not a frequent guest here. Villa 31 is the home for the poorest of the citizens, generally for immigrants.
In 90s a broad highway was built, dividing Villa 31 into two parts. As far as Anna did not have any experience of visiting slums, we decided not to get into the midst of the district and try to launch our drone near railway on the border of the area. Moreover, on the over side of the railway there were several luxurious districts, so that we could create a stronger contrast in a panoramic picture.
While Anna was on watch, I lifted the drone into the air and took a picture of an overall view of the area. It seemed that only railroad workers noticed our presence, so I went down and walked over the quarter using the highway as a shield. I suppose that because of the noise of the road no one could hear our drone, and, considering that it's quite difficult to notice the drone in the air, all ended well. Nevertheless, we had received a good dose of adrenalin before the drone landed. We felt a deep relief only when we were couple of quarters away from the slums.
I was going home with a good impression of the city and the citizens. I really enjoyed walking through the streets of Buenos Aires, in spite of certain desolation. I was really impressed by Recoleta Cemetery and the suburb - the Tigre delta. Having returned to the cold winter in Moscow, I was looking through the shots and felt nostalgic for the warmth of the capital of Argentina. I hope you will feel a bit warmer after sinking into the atmosphere of a little summer in December 2014...
Photo and text by Stas Sedov
21 August 2015
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Placemat set of 4 Hot Tropics 46cm x 33cm
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Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Date Published: February 5, 2017
Publisher: Carrick Publishing
An environmental activist is murdered on a street in Manhattan after a protest. NYPD homicide Detectives Chen and Castilblanco get the case. While pursuing the clues to find those responsible, they discover the activist's boyfriend is in danger because he has key information that will expose an international conspiracy involving Europe, Russia, and the U.S. As the tangled web unravels, an old nemesis of the detectives makes his appearance.
Other Books in the Detectives Chen & Castilblanco Mystery Series
NYPD detectives Chen and Castilblanco continue their adventures in this sixth novel in the series. Castilblanco's relative Teresa and Nasir are an item, but Nasir kills Teresa's taunting and jealous ex-boyfriend in a fight. When they look to Nasir's friends for help, those friends kidnap the two fugitives who become involved in a terrorist plot.
While the two detectives try to find Teresa and prove her innocence, a case in a different precinct involving a different Castilblanco relative surfaces. The cop's uncle, other detectives, and the Coast Guard help sort things out, including the connection to an old mafia family.
Published: 2010
The murders of a Wall Street broker and a Navy SEAL in Manhattan only miles and minutes apart seem unrelated, but two homicide detectives discover a connection. As the strange cases merge and they chase down the killers, even with federal stonewalling, they uncover a terrorist plan to destroy two American icons and generate a financial crisis bigger than the Wall Street implosion of 2008. Hiding in the background are webs of international intrigue taken from today's post-9/11 world.
Published: March 2012
Steve Moore gives a new meaning to "narco-terrorism" in this new thriller that has your favorite NYPD homicide detectives Rolando Castilblanco and Dao-Ming Chen thwarting another terrorist plot, as they did in The Midas Bomb. Castilblanco uses his old Navy SEAL skills to good effect and Chen takes on a new sexy and independent role against the combined forces of al Qaeda, a Mexican cartel, and neo-Nazi militia members.
Published: May 2013
With Teeter-Totter between Lust and Murder, Steve Moore continues the "Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series." The sleuths of The Midas Bomb and Angels Need Not Apply will embroil you in action and suspense yet again.
As a mystery novel, it is a dark probing into the nexus the crime underworld sometimes enjoys with the rich and powerful. Chen is arrested for the murder of a senator in circumstances that seem to leave no doubt of her guilt, but Castilblanco helps prove her innocence.
With this new crime novel, Steve continues the saga of your two favorite detectives as they and their companions fight the corrupting influence of the illegal weapons trade.
Published: March 2014
Aristocrats and Assassins continues the "Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series."
NYPD detectives Chen and Castilblanco leave their comfort zones once again. Chen goes to China where she helps the DEA track down a money laundering scheme. Castilblanco is in Europe on vacation with his wife. They meet up to thwart a terrorist who's kidnapping members of the European royal family. What relation does he have to the money laundering scheme? Why does he have a vendetta for Castilblanco? What's his real agenda? Join Chen and Castilblanco on a tour of Europe you won't find in Frommer's.
Published: November 2014
Chen and Castilblanco are back in the Big Apple. They begin to investigate the murder of a SOHO art dealer, delve into the shadowy world of art thieves, and discover that stolen artworks can be used as collateral to finance some dark entrepreneurship. The Collector is book five in the Detectives Chen and Castilblanco series.
Excerpt from Steven M. Moore's Gaia and the Goliaths, #7 in the "Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series", Carrick Publishing, 2017:
Chapter One
Dr. Guillermo Sanchez ran with EMTs as they guided the gurney through the halls on the way to one of Bellevue's ORs. His job was to stabilize the shooting victim for the surgeon, but stabilize wasn't the right word in this case. The young woman flat-lined twice before the surgeon arrived.
"Wash up, Guillermo," said Dr. Wilson. "I'm going to need your steady hands."
Guillermo Pedro Sanchez was ending his first year as ER intern. He had already informed Wilson where the gunshot wounds were. The most serious ones were around her left breast. Had they done damage to the heart? The flat-lining indicated that they had.
He was in the seventh hour of his first shift. Unruly black hair and a need for a shave combined with a blood-stained smock made him look like an old-fashioned Italian butcher from an old ethnic neighborhood of New York City, but he had grown up in a rich family in Marblehead, Massachusetts. A brother and sister had attended Harvard all the way through to MBAs and now worked in the corporate world. He was the youngest and had attended Tufts; he'd always wanted to work in an ER. Now he was an intern in one of the busiest.
They were soon embroiled in the operation. The abdominal cavity was filled with blood—a massive leak somewhere threatened this woman's life.
"Let's do a transfusion," said Wilson, "and patch tears if we can."
"Is it her heart?" said Sanchez.
"I can't see a damn thing. Suction!"
They worked feverishly. Desperate minutes became intense hours.
Gaia Papadakis's last memories were about a dark street near NYU. She had been a bit tipsy. After the protest march, they went to a bar to celebrate. No one was arrested during the protest, but all the same they made the news on all local TV channels.
People were now interested in global warming despite naysayers in big corporations and the nation's capital. Many were also asking questions about oil spills, fracking, and pollution from power plants. Her group Clean World tried to guide and coordinate the dialog.
Many conservatives supported companies Clean World was protesting against, while progressives were more on the side of protesters when not beholden to corporate donors. Many energy companies were owned by one huge energy conglomerate, Wilson-Myers Energy Corporation. Emotions ran high during the protest, but she gave the cops more credit than some co-marchers—the former kept the march peaceful and seemed impartial about whom they hauled away when tempers flared and violence ensued.
She had recognized some opposition leaders and activists trying to appeal to spectators; they played on people's fears, focusing on loss of livelihood if the conglomerate's companies went under. She knew their argument was specious—she had written white papers that proved the conglomerate could, in a period of ten years or so, improve their environmental record without losing revenue. Other white papers showed what would happen to the Earth if conglomerates like Wilson-Myers didn't change their polluting ways.
Most in the crowd, though, ignored the opposition and were friendly to protesters. She knew Wilson-Myers hated that and the progress environmentalists were making. The conglomerate was spending money right and left to stop them and writing most of it off to advertising. That same money, probably even less, could be used to change its bad environmental record. It was a question of priorities. Companies spent tons of money trying to "educate the population"—translation: attack science and deny global warming. And they had sycophants in Washington to push that agenda.
At the bar, they had toasted their better-than-average success with the protest. She left around 2 a.m. Her small apartment wasn't far away, so she walked. She was city and street smart, but her shooter was more efficient than your average gang member or mugger. An SUV sped by and a shooter sprayed her body with an automatic weapon, leaving her sprawled on the sidewalk and her mind fading into darkness as she still wondered why.
"We're in trouble," said Wilson, glancing at monitors. "We need to give her an artificial heart, but there's no time!"
"No repair's possible?" said Sanchez.
"Let's try to pull her through," said Wilson. "We're heading for a train wreck here! Full replacement, ladies and gentlemen!"
More hours of painstaking, mind numbing surgery. Another cardiac surgeon joined Wilson, and another intern arrived to help Sanchez clamp, suck out fluids, sew stitches, and keep an eye on instruments, although OR nurses also helped in that too. The team grew; it was a team effort. Wilson was the quarterback marching his offense down the field with time running out.
After nine hours of surgery, they had the victim on an artificial heart. That would only be the start of her odyssey. She would now go on a list of patients who needed a heart transplant. That was another race against time.
"Good work," Wilson told Sanchez as they were cleaning up. "You have a fast and sure suture technique. Maybe you should change to surgery. By the way, I'm sorry I ignored your questions in there. I'm afraid I become less professorial when I'm saving someone's life."
"No need to apologize," said Sanchez. "They were stupid questions. Her heart was beyond repair. What chance does she have now?"
Wilson glanced at him, raising a bushy eyebrow. "Don't become emotionally involved, Guillermo. You need to maintain a professional detachment. There's only a ten percent chance she'll make it. She's likely to throw a clot, for example, considering circumstances. And we might not find a donor in time."
"It seems so unfair. What is she, mid-twenties?"
"If she's more than thirty, I'd be surprised. She pissed someone off enough she might as well have been a grunt in the Middle East invading a terrorist camp without a gun or body armor. Yeah, it's unfair. You can be a recluse most of your life but still have a truck mow you down crossing a street in Manhattan. What about a surgery internship, if I can change the subject?"
"I can help more in the ER." Sanchez smiled. "I'll have lots of practice in Manhattan."
"Are you just afraid of overspecialization? You'd be an ER surgeon soon enough. You can help sicker people as a cardiac surgeon on ER call."
"I'll think about it. But you can't determine my skills just from one session. I didn't do very much."
"Often enough you provided a skilled third pair of hands when I needed them." Wilson looked around and lowered his voice. "That other intern was all thumbs. Between you and me, he's not going to last long in this intense environment." He raised his hands and flexed his fingers, watching water drip off. "I'll take these any day over a robot's."
Sanchez thought that was a bit egotistical but said nothing.
"You're too young to be a doctor," Gaia Papadakis said, her voice a raspy whisper. Sanchez had just removed the tube from her throat.
"You're awake. You've been through a lot." He took her pulse again the old-fashioned way. "A bit weak." His thick eyebrows arched. "How do you feel?"
"I feel like I was run over by a subway train."
"Something comparable on the street and right here in the ER. You're lucky to be alive. You were in good shape, though, and that helped."
"I work out when I can. Gym and jogging. Do you work out?"
"When I can. Don't talk too much." He showed her the call button. "If you have a problem, use that. Someone will come running. Don't be timid with the morphine pump either. Control your pain." He waved toward the door. "I have some other patients to see. It was a busy night in the ER apparently."
"What happened?"
"Other than your being shot, I don't know. About that: when you're up to it, NYPD will want to interview you. Don't worry about it, though. They have to go through me first."
Nice smile, she thought. God, he's young and handsome. Where's he been all my life? He had beautiful curly locks like her Zorba. She wanted Alessandro by her side holding her hand now that the doctor had reminded her of him.
"Did you participate in my surgery?" He nodded. "Say, can you hand me my purse? I'd like to check my smart phone." He handed her the purse, watched her rummage around, but turned to the PA system's speaker over the door when his name was called.
"I have to go." She nodded, flashing a tired smile.
She watched him leave, deciding it might be worth being shot in order to meet him. Sorry, Alessandro, you're thousands of miles away.
Hours later in midafternoon, she woke from a deep sleep feeling panic. She knew something was wrong. She took her last gasp as she fought her descent into sweet oblivion.
About the Author
Steve Moore is an ex-scientist who has lived abroad and seen a lot of the world. His fiction reflects his interest in the human condition and how good people everywhere react and fight evil. He is now a full-time author who lives with his wife in New Jersey, but he has resided in Colombia and Massachusetts and other states in the U.S. He's a native Californian. He loves to hear from readers and authors.
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