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From Grammy-winning duo Steve Martin and Edie Brickell comes Broadway's newest genre, Bluegrass Musical. Set in rural North Carolina during the '20s and '40s, Bright Star follows the duality of successful literary editor Alice Murphy (Carmen Cusack), first as a rebellious teenager in love and ultimately as a cold, closed-off 30-something on her journey through a difficult time. With an impressive résumé in London, Chicago, and Melbourne, Cusack makes an awe-inspiring debut on the Broadway stage.
The supporting cast delivers an equally stunning performance against a live onstage soundtrack, flawlessly incorporating a bluegrass twang into Broadway vocals. Opposite Cusack, Paul Alexander Nolan demonstrates incredible talent as a vocal chameleon in the role of Jimmy Ray, the romantic lead with a father (Michael Mulheren) who selfishly wants him to follow in his footsteps as Mayor.
The set features extraordinary design by Eugene Lee, (Amazing Grace, Wicked, Seussical), spotlighting a slightly deconstructed cabin, housing members of the band and serving as a hub for entrances, exits, quick changes, and various set pieces while 19-time Tony nominee Jane Greenwood commandeers the light, airy North Carolina summer garb.
Contact your Attaché for tickets.


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Discussion in 'Lasershow Converter Series (MAX, FLASH, 4D)' started by LaserRent, Jul 4, 2004.
Is Abstraction and Draw 3D a package or do I have to buy them seperatly?
I am not sure what you mean. Can you be more specific with your question? It might help to know how you found out about LAStudio, etc.
I was looking for LAStudio Trace IT and used the 'search this website' function on your site and then I got completly when I saw Pangolin Draw3D and went once I had seen Pangolin Abstraction . So I went, armed whit my VISA card, to your price list and didn't found the price for Draw3D and Abstraction nor did I find any linking to this pages on your site.... leaving me :bounce:
Hi Laserent,
LAStudio is something that we acquired around two years ago. Since that time, we have mostly used the code as a basis for new development. For example, LivePRO was developed using code formerly in LAS:Live and ShowRider. Note that this was not just a re-fabrication but a lot of new development as well. For example, although we used LAS:Live code as a sort of foundation, we put an additional 1.5 years of development into what finally became LivePRO.
In any event, getting back to your original question, Abstraction and Draw3D are part of the greater LAStudio package. In general, I will generate a license file for any of our existing users (who ask me nicely to do so) so that they may use LAStudio. So if you are an existing Pangolin LD2000 user, you may put away your credit card and send me an email with your serial number and system type (Intro, Basic or Pro) and I will send you an LAStudio license and some other information. If you are not an LD2000 user, keep your credit card out and order at least LD2000 Intro, and you may also enjoy the benefits of LAStudio.
But in any case, remember, you have to ask me nicely and I reserve the right to revoke this offer at any time :N
So, correct me if i'm wrong.....but the 3d Draw is possibility to use an intro/basic card as an 3d animation studio ? like the possibilities you have in LD pro ? That would be VERY :N nice.
greetings from The Netherlands,
ps. if any company/manufacturer in the world would have so much understanding for the problems and needs of their customers and solve them in so quickly .....it would be awsome to buy a product
Pangolin....you are simply the best :airtoss:
Yes, you are essentially correct. I have granted a free copy of LAStudio to Intro and Basic users (who ask). I am not sure you quite get exactly what you do with LD2000 Pro, but certainly more than Basic or Intro. In any event, LAStudio comes at frame and show creation from a different angle. Not better, not worst, just "different".
I do ask that people to whom I give a free copy, please give us good feedback so that we can improve all of our products.
Separate names with a comma.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our company participates also this year at the international exhibition Anuga 2017, in Cologne, Germany.
This year's 34th exhibition is considered worldwide as one of the most important in the food and beverage industry.
The exhibition features about 7,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and attracts thousands of business visitors.


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Head: I really like her hair. I love the short fringe, and purple streaks. I, personally, don't like the earrings; it makes her ear look like a sunflower.
Torso: Her jumper/sweater doesn't really suit her theme of edgy. I don't like how it's a really drab gray, and how the neckline is really high. The pattern on it isn't very clear, although I love her jewellery. The necklace looks really good with the rest of her outfit, and I like how the sleeves are pulled up to show off the bracelets.
Legs: Not a big fan of this. This could have been better if she didn't have the tights underneath. The frays and worn parts of the shorts are really cool, and I like the belt around her waist.
Feet: Do these boots remind you of anything? They sort of look like Cloe's boots, don't they? The buckles on these shoes really suits the rest of her outfit. Don't really like the color of them, or the style, but they're okay, I guess.
Rate: 6.5/10
Overall: This outfit's not too bad, but I think it could have been a lot better. I would definitely buy her hair, and maybe the shorts, too. Maybe they could focus on the color a little as well; it looks a bit dark, and colorless. Mya's outfit doesn't especially suit autumn, but it could still work.
Head: I love how her hair sort of frames her face. The curls are just really gorgeous, and add something extra to it.
Torso: The blouse is really cute and the bow around the neckline is what makes this into the perfect top. I really love the pattern, and the purse on her shoulder adds femininity to the complete outfit. The belt around her waist compliments her top perfectly.
Legs: I'm not a great fan of her skirt, but it still looks really good with the rest of the outfit. It doesn't have much of a texture, but it's really cute, how it flares out.
Feet: I'm not too sure on the boots. They put me off the outfit a little bit, but it's not too bad.
Rate: 9/10
Overall: Love this outfit. Really cute and a little feminine, but still a good look. Goes with this week's theme pretty much perfectly. They should re-think the shoes a little more, as they don't really go well with the outfit, and they look a little clumsy. Ankle boots would have suited it much better.
Head: Jay's cap is really cool. I really love how simple it is, and how it goes well with the rest of his outfit. They could have made it easier to see and recognize the 'I', though. (His cap says: BOI)
Torso: I like this jacket because of the great pattern on it. It's quite boy-ish and clean cut. It probably could have been a bit more open, to reveal more of the shirt he's wearing underneath.
Legs: His jeans are seriously awesome. I really, really like these jeans. They tuck into his boots perfectly, and outline his legs really well.
Feet: These combat boots look a little heavy, and clunky. Could make you bit clumsy! I really like his boots. I think they go well with the rest of his outfit.
Rate: 9.5/10
Overall: Great choices of clothing! Jay looks really awesome in this outfit. I could hardly find anything wrong with this outfit, although it could probably look a little more autumn-y. I would definitely buy this outfit, though.
Head: Such a cute beanie! This hair is so cute, and really suits Max. Not a very big fan of the color and pattern together, but with the right colors, you could pull this off! The pom-pom at the very tip compliments it perfectly.
Torso: I love how the jacket is kind of cinched at the waist. Denim is always a good choice, and the color of his shirt underneath pretty much just screams: Autumn. The pattern on his sleeves, is a bit of a maybe, and the logo on his shirt could have been a little more noticeable. His shirt could have been a bit longer, as well.
Legs: This reminds me a bit of the previously named, 'Shredded jeans - male'. I wouldn't expect ripped jeans from Max, but they go really well with his outfit. They're basically ripped in exactly the right places. I love how the sizes of the rips vary.
Feet: Max's shoes add a bit more color to his outfit. I quite like how the pattern on them is quite faint, but still noticeable. I don't really like the ugly, black streak that stretches down it's length, or the black patch on his heels, although I understand the shoes would look worse without them.
Rate: 9/10
Overall: I really like Max's outfit. It reminds me very much of autumn, although there could have been a bit more color? Something to think on for next time. Definitely would buy this outfit. Max looks quite cute in this outfit.
That's this week's outfit review done!! At first, they might not seem like much, but upon further studying, I found that there's quite a lot to like about this collection!! A constant problem that I found, was that there probably wasn't enough color, especially after the background was put in. The exception being Jenny's outfit, but maybe that's just me.
I really enjoyed doing this week's review, and I hope to do more, as this blog progresses.
Remember this, though.
These reviews are only based on my perspective of things, and you, readers, are welcome to have your own. If you disagree with what I have said, leave a comment below, send me a message in Woozworld or email me at: firstname.lastname@example.com. Who knows? Maybe I'll change my mind after hearing what you have to say.
If you agree with the points I've made, leave a comment, send a message via Woozworld, or email me at the email mentioned above. Your comments and thoughts are greatly valued.
~ Stargloss25
If you do decide to voice your opinion, please type in full English, with proper grammar and possibly proper punctuation. I am quite stubborn and can't exactly take a hint.
Your comment, message or email may get featured in my next post, so please make sure I understand what you are talking about. Also, please add your woozen name at the end of the email or comment, unless you would like to remain anonymous. If you would not like the possibility of your opinion being featured, just add a small note at the end saying that you don't want to be featured.
If you would like to remain anonymous, no personal information; such as your woozen name, or email, will be leaked. Information like this will be confidential.


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Six drug suspects slain in Isabela, Bulacan, Cagayan
>> Sunday, July 16, 2017
Six more suspected drug personalities have been killed in Luzon since Wednesday.
Virgilio Villanueva, a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, San Manuel, Isabela, allegedly fired at anti-drug operatives during a sting in Barangay Marabulig 1, Cauayan City. He died at the scene.
In Bulacan, Nelson de Guzman, alias Duko, and an alias Doods also reportedly pulled out their guns and shot it out with policemen who posed as buyers of shabu in Barangay Caingin, San Rafael and Ilang-Ilang, Guiguinto, respectively, before dawn Thursday.
Ananias Bangate Jr., 37, alias Bulak, and his unidentified companion allegedly resisted arrest and engaged policemen in a shootout during a sting in Barangay San Alejandro, Quezon, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.
The fatalities yielded sachets of shabu, guns and marked money, police said.
In Cagayan, an unidentified man shot Jomar Ligsay Jr., 31, in Barangay Tabbac, Buguey. Ligsay's wife Rosemalyn said the killer, who was wearing a jacket, waited for the victim in front of her store.
Police said Ligsay surrendered under Oplan Tokhang last year.
In Gerona, Tarlac, three alleged drug pushers were arrested while another was killed in an armed encounter in four separate entrapment operations here last week.
Slain in a shootout with the police was Omar Ugadan of Barangay Tibag, Tarlac.
Ugadan reportedly surrendered to city police during implementation of Project Tokhang, but, continued peddling drugs.
Supt. Franklin Estoro said Jayson Lansang, 37, was entrapped in Barangay San Antonio.
Lansang, who yielded four sachets of shabu, was arrested with his co-hort Chiaro Crisanto Catu Guzman, 26, who was caught in possession of the marked money and another sachet of drugs".
In his report to Tarlac police provincial director Senior Supt. Ritchie Medardo Posadas, Estoro said Santy Samson, 30, of Barangay Panampunan, Tarlac City, was apprehended in a buy-bust operation also in Barangay San Antonio.
Recovered from Samson were three sachets of illegal drugs.
"Ugadan was shot dead several meters fronting the house of former mayor Dennis Go when he tried to run away and fired three times at my men with a Cal. 38 revolver," Estoro said.
Local residents said almost all known pushers of this town were already apprehended due to relentless anti-illegal drugs campaign of police.
Earlier, there known pushers from the municipality of Paniqui, including a public high school teacher, were also arrested by this town's police intelligence unit headed by Insp. Joel Gamboa. -- Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu, Nelson Bolos


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Rating: R (violence, language and sex)
Author: rogoblue
Summary: In the aftermath of Harding's failed attempt to take over the LA Dollhouse, Adelle and Dominic must determine what to do with him and their first overt move against Rossum. Twelfth in the Let's Pretend series (eleventh is The Harding Factor, tenth is Powder Keg, ninth is Cutting it Close, eighth is NSA, seventh is Return, sixth is Flight, fifth is Tactical Maneuvers, fourth is Strategic Planning, third is Parisian Complications, second is Pretending to Pretend. Link to the eleventh is below this summary. You can get to the others from there or via my live journal. Link to this one is below the dedication.
What am I to do with you, Laurence?
Words: 7,000
Spoilers: Season 1 a tiny bit and 2 a little bit through episode 12.
Disclaimers: The toys are Joss Whedon's. The idea is mine.
Dedication: To Susan and Missy, for helping me see the reality and humor in the trying situations involving lj and rings. I'm putting them behind me now.
Laurence Dominic offered a contented Adelle DeWitt a hand up from the couch in her office. His cell phone rang. "Ignore it," Adelle whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her body full length against his.
"Let me just see who it is," he murmured, reaching blindly for his discarded suit jacket, eyes trapped by hers. Playful smile gracing her face, Adelle unbuttoned his shirt. Dominic found the jacket and stepped slightly away from Adelle to search its pockets for his phone. Adelle tugged his shirt free of his slacks by the time Dominic determined his caller was Lisa Grayson. "Dominic," he said, biting his lip as Adelle stroked along his abdomen with her nails. The silk of her blouse tormented his skin as much as her touch.
"We just had the first inquiry as to Harding's whereabouts," Grayson said. "His personal assistant called Judith. As we agreed, Judith said Harding never arrived."
Adelle's hand meandered toward Laurence's belt buckle. His plan to halt her progress was derailed by her lips closing on one of his nipples. "When …?" he said. "When did the ... the call come in?"
"Eight minutes ago," Grayson replied.
Adelle worried at his nipple with lips and teeth as she unbuckled his belt. "Car," Dominic muttered. "Did Harding …?" Adelle's pleased purr sent a spark of lust flying through Dominic. "Christ," he said. "Did he hire a car? Rent? Come in a fucking cab? How'd he get here, Grayson?"
"Rented a limo," Grayson said. "Baxter got a kick out of driving it around the city and having it valet parked at Harding's hotel."
"Good," Dominic said, knowing they had to tie off as many loose ends as possible, catching Adelle's hands in his free one and stepping back out of range of her mouth. "Once we decide where he's been, we'll have to leave an appropriate trail."
"Baxter kept the keys." After the briefest of pauses, during which Adelle aimed an impossibly sexy come hither look at him, Grayson asked, "Did you really think I wouldn't have this handled? I know what happened with Alpha didn't reflect all that well upon me, but I'm not a newbie."
"I didn't mean to suggest you were, Lisa," he mumbled, not resisting when Adelle led him into the bedroom. "I'm tired and my head hurts like hell and … I feel like I'm getting pulled in about fifty directions at once. I'm sorry if I came across as patronizing or whatever. Just …" Adelle unbuttoned her blouse and shrugged out of it. "God," he murmured. "Keep me apprised."
"Will do. Get some rest, Dom."
"Yeah," he replied, hanging up as Adelle's skirt went the way of the blouse. Adelle reaching behind her back to unclasp her bra inspired Dominic to remove his shirt. He enjoyed the view as she bent over to pull down the bedclothes, shrugging as she caught him staring.
"I'm looking forward to achieving my goal, Laurence," she whispered, facing him wearing only a minimalist swatch of silk and heels. Smiling, she specified, "Seeing you lose control."
"What makes you think I do?" he said, rising to her challenge.
"You said you did with Casey."
"Well, yeah, but Casey's—." Adelle's arched eyebrow silenced Dominic.
"Go on."
"I'd rather not." His hand rose to his aching head.
Amusement evident, Adelle said, "Please do."
"I forget what I was going to say."
"No you don't."
Taking her in his arms, he lowered them both to the bed and kicked off his shoes. "Prove it," he whispered before he kissed her soundly. Adelle lured him into deepening the kiss with her tongue. Her soft moan of pleasure demanded another, slower, more sensual endeavor. She rubbed her upper body against his; her erect nipples tempting him mercilessly. Giving in, Dominic cupped her breasts in his hands and squeezed and stroked until Adelle murmured his name. Insinuating a hand between their bodies, Adelle caressed him through his slacks as she kissed him, her light touch making him crave more.
Her mouth demanded his attention, the aggression of her lips in stark contrast to the gentle, maddening stimulation of her hand. Whenever Dominic pressed his hips forward to try to convince Adelle to apply more pressure, she stopped. Being a reasonably fast learner, Dominic kept as still as he could and endured the seemingly endless sensual onslaught. Head pounding, he wondered when she'd stopped kissing him as he realized that both of her hands were now occupied below his waist to good effect. A few moments of maneuvering and all articles of clothing were discarded. Staring into his eyes, expression more serious than Laurence expected, Adelle maneuvered him into a partially reclined position with his back supported by several pillows. Encouraging him to relax with a whisper, a smile and her hands, she shifted to straddle him. She bent down to kiss him. When they parted, she aligned their bodies and, at long last, he entered her.
Adelle set a slow, steady rhythm. He hadn't realized how much she'd aroused him with her hands until she worked him with her body. The pressure built quickly and Dominic fought to avoid bringing matters to a much too rapid conclusion. For her part, Adelle was smiling at him knowingly, moving ceaselessly, purposefully, relentlessly. Dominic lost control of his breathing and struggled to regain it, sensing Adelle wasn't nearly as close as he was. He'd just about succeeded when Adelle shifted into a faster rhythm. "God … Adelle, I … Jesus Christ." Then she went still and kissed him like the end of the world was rapidly approaching. "You're making me crazy," he muttered as she recommenced her original rhythm.
"Come for me," she whispered. "You know you want to. I can feel how close you are, Laurence. Tell me what you need."
"I need to … to wait," he panted, focusing on the severe headache in an effort to regain control of the rest of his body. "Wait for you."
"No," she said, bringing her goddamn phone sex voice out of retirement. "I want to stare into your eyes while you lose control. I want to see it and feel it. I want to drive you to an orgasm against your will. That's how I intend to stake my claim."
"Claim?" emerged more a groan than a question.
"That you're mine," Adelle murmured, altering her rhythm yet again, speaking in the tone that was making Laurence increasingly frantic. "I need you to be satisfied and sated, but first I need you to be desperate and out of control. Please, Laurence, I need it." Her words flowed through him. Dominic had no defense other than stubborn determination and intense head pain. He wasn't sure it would be enough. Adelle punctuated another devastating kiss by mouthing, "Please, Laurence," against his lips.
Hands bruising her hips, Dominic took over. Movements harder, faster, concentration absolute, he tried to bring Adelle with him. She welcomed his aggression, moved with him in perfect harmony, driving him to beyond distraction with her mouth and body. Her name on his lips, Laurence shuddered in release. Adelle clung to him as the spasms continued, the pleasure as prolonged as he'd ever experienced, pushing the head pain to a dull background ache for a time. "Christ almighty, that was fantastic," he groaned as he relaxed back into the pillows. She leaned against his chest and smiled at him. When his eyes focused, he whispered, "Sorry, Adelle, I know that wasn't very good for you, but I couldn't hold off."
"I didn't want you to."
"Laurence, I made it perfectly clear that I wanted to see you lose control," she said, caressing his throat lightly. "You must never apologize when you give a woman exactly what she desires."
"Maybe I wanted to give you more," he said, holding her close, enjoying the feel of her body molded to his, staring into her striking, intelligent green eyes. "A lot more."
"I'm inclined to permit you another go," she murmured, kissing him softly on the lips. "Once we've both had some proper rest." Perhaps prompted by his frown and focus on the ceiling rather than her, Adelle said, "I needed to be sure you were here with me this night. You, Laurence. The man behind the persona you chose for Laurence Dominic hidden beneath the scowl and closed body language."
"I don't think I'd recognize that guy if I tripped over him, Adelle," he replied, not bothering to mask the anger he felt but didn't understand.
"I would."
"Really?" Her nod demanded skepticism. "You didn't even know there was such a guy 24 hours ago."
Settling in beside him, her head inches from his, she said, "Yes, I did."
"Say what?"
"You were different in Paris, Laurence. Less guarded. More emotional. The professional I've always admired was still present but he wasn't as prominent unless we were embroiled in a crisis situation."
"I'm not sure what to say to that, other than I disagree."
Adelle kissed him, taking her time, tempting him into a response. "I needed to strip away the armor and reach the man beneath. Take away the control and restraint to see what remained." She smiled. "I wasn't disappointed."
"What …?" Forcing the word out of a suddenly tight throat, Dominic tried again. "What did you see?"
"A tired, decent, quite passionate man who places his partner first." Smile broadening, she added, "A man suffering from a horrific headache having a partner who, he seemed to have forgotten, did indeed get hers first."
"Yeah, but I didn't want our first time to go this way."
"Why?" she asked. "I was in no mood to wait after everything that's transpired between us to this point and I'm pleased to have pleased you, albeit subsequently."
"It should've been more … mutual."
"I'll let you make it up to me, Laurence. Will that serve?"
He kissed Adelle on the forehead and shifted away slightly. "I should review the tape of Harding's interrogation."
"Tomorrow, Laurence," Adelle said, kissing him again, shifting off of him, but placing her head on his shoulder, an arm across his chest and a leg between his.
"We don't have a lot of time, Adelle. Harding's already been missed and his assistant called here looking for him."
"If they knew for certain he'd come here, they would've descended upon us already," Adelle asserted, sliding her thigh along his.
"Unless they're planning on showing up at dawn tomorrow for round two of let's smite the LA Dollhouse," he countered, running a possessive hand along her back to her ass.
"Will you get a call from Clarice if that were to happen?"
He chuckled. "After how I leaned on her today, I don't know."
"I suspect she would inform you, if only to give you an opportunity to improve your behavior towards her." Snuggling closer, Adelle yawned and smiled up at him when Laurence did the same.
"How about if I just fast forward through the tape?" he asked. "It'll probably only take me a couple of hours."
"How badly does your head hurt?" He looked away. Taking his chin in a light yet firm grip, she turned his head to face her. "Answer my question, Laurence."
"A lot." Smirking, he added, "Especially when my heart is beating as fast as it was a few minutes ago."
"I believe the term was 'fantastic.'"
"That just tells you how fantastic it was." Kissing her very gently, he murmured, "Despite the pain."
"If I can't inspire you to take better care of yourself, I'll suffer the wrath of Ms. Grayson and Clarice whose last name I don't know. Quite possibly Casey as well." Expression turning serious, Adelle said, "Truly, Laurence, you're clearly tired. Please rest." She bestowed another whisper of a kiss upon him to bolster the power of her soft words.
He yawned again. Voice betraying fatigue and pain, he began, "Adelle, I'm behind and I really should—."
Her forefinger placed across his lips had the desired effect. "Hold me," she whispered, smiling when he complied without delay. Keeping her voice low, slowly modulated, she said, "I'd almost forgotten how it feels to be held, to feel safe and secure next to a strong man, to be pleasantly sleepy from sexual satisfaction, to be replete and comfortable."
"You feel really good," he mumbled, fatigue admixing with post coital relaxation to drag his eyelids over his eyes.
"So do you. Sleep, Laurence," she murmured. A soft snore was the only reply.
* * *
Rubbing fatigued eyes, Laurence Dominic depressed the return key and loosed his intelligence program on all of the data he'd painstakingly collected over the last ten hours. Exerpts from Harding's interrogation, the bits with talking rather than screaming, wounded animal grunts or other random noises. Any scrap of information he could find about Harding or any of his staff. Any impression he could ever remember of having of Harding. He'd come a long way with this project since he'd opened his eyes and found himself alone in the bed he'd again shared with Adelle DeWitt. That's is a habit I could stand to see broken. I wonder what Adelle's like in the morning. Now all Dominic had to do was wait for his program to run and maybe find something to eat. Adelle said something about taking better care of myself. Skipping two meals probably doesn't cut it. But who am I kidding? It likely doesn't matter. Adelle's made herself scarce today, probably either embarrassed about or disappointed with last night. Which is a damn shame, because last night was … I probably shouldn't think too much about what last night was. Safer that way.
A sharp knock sounded on his door. Before he could reply, Judith stepped in. "Ms. DeWitt would like to see you if you have a few moments, Mr. Dominic."
Here it comes. "Sure," he said, checking one last time to make sure his computer was dutifully crunching the data he'd given it. "What's she been up to today, Judith?" Can't hurt to ask, right?
"She interviewed Harding alone—."
"Why didn't I get video of that?"
"I didn't want to disturb you again, so I held it at my desk."
Dominic closed his eyes, remembering the snarl Judith's latest interruption had given him the excuse to unleash. "Sorry, Judith. I've had a frustrating day."
"I have a thick skin, Mr. Dominic."
"That doesn't excuse—."
"Ms. DeWitt met for over an hour with Topher, dealt with several inquiries as to Harding's whereabouts and saw eighteen clients."
Searching his memory, he asked, "Is that a record?"
"For one day, yes."
Pausing before Adelle's client door which had apparently had a workout today, he took a breath. "What am I in for?" he asked.
"It's Ms. DeWitt and Topher, Mr. Dominic. That's all I know."
"Thanks, Judith."
Aiming a small smile at him, Judith knocked and opened the door. "Here's Mr. Dominic, Ms. DeWitt."
"Thank you, Judith." Adelle rose from her desk chair, looking gorgeous in a deep green dress. "Could I trouble you to bring us a light dinner before you go?"
"Of course."
"You wanted to see me," Dominic said, barely checking the impulse to append ma'am.
"I have been speaking with Topher about your Special Project, Mr. Dominic," she said, meeting his narrowed eyes with an implacable expression.
"Get down with your thieving, sabotaging, assassinating bad self," Topher said, grinning like they were beginning an interesting game.
Dominic decided to play the part as he'd been. "With all due respect, ma'am, I'm not sure Topher has much to bring to this particular table and it might be better for him not to know what we have in play."
"I always knew you had a soft spot for me," Topher said. "I get that it doesn't fit the image to let it show. I'm cool with our secret life."
Glaring at Topher, Dominic said, "I've spent all day preparing for the next phase of the Special Project. I'm nearly ready."
"I assure you; I have not been idle, Mr. Dominic," Adelle said, eyes almost daring Dominic to disagree. "Nor has Topher. We have been carefully considering the Harding issue and I believe we've arrived at a workable solution."
"All we need is one of his wedges and moi," Topher interjected.
Warily, Dominic admitted, "Part of my preparation involved identifying possible locations for Harding's wedges."
"Excellent," Topher said, shifting his stance to more easily play to both members of his audience. "I'll wipe him cleaner than clean. On that pristine canvas, I'll load the wedge along with the active architecture and mole imprint."
"Mole imprint?" Dominic asked.
"He goes back to his fancy office and does his thing," Topher said. "With a twist. Twice a day, or more if excrement is spraying around, he tells us what's the what."
Dominic almost asked, "You can do that?" before tabling that question in favor of others. "Where's he been all this time? What's he been doing? How are you going to fill in the gap between the wedge and now?"
"Vague office memories and … skiing at Taos?" Topher ventured. "Blackjack at Vegas? Primal scream therapy? Whatever floats your boat, L-man."
Dominic's eyes hadn't completed their shift to Adelle before she said, "We have not yet worked out the cover story which I do not see as a pressing problem, since we aren't as yet in possession of a Harding wedge."
"He's obviously been holed up in his hotel room having a succession of meetings with employees of Chatterley Consulting," Dominic muttered, aiming a smile that wasn't a smile at all at Topher. "Just like he often does when in town. Only, this time, they must've had added several new girls on his agenda, because he's indulged for far longer than he generally allows himself. Or he's compensating for something this time. Hell, maybe both."
"Chatterley Consulting?" Topher squeaked. "Is that like … um …?"
"Extremely high priced … companions, many of whom are underage."
"And you know this, how?" Topher breathed, awe and distaste at war in his tone.
"It's important to know things like this about people who might make trouble for you," Dominic said, shrugging, deliberately focusing on Topher. "Harding dragged me with him a few times when Ms. DeWitt was in an uncooperative mood with regard to whatever he'd proposed."
Topher's horrified eyes turned to Adelle. "Harding proposed … um … acts … activities to you? Harding?" Gaze tracking to Dominic, he added, "Why'd he take you along and not … me, for example? I can … consult. I can."
"Probably because you weren't the one bodily removing him from Adelle's office after kicking the shit out of his bodyguards." Fighting a smile, Dominic regarded Topher. "But that's just a guess."
"So," Topher said, sidling over to Dominic. "What was it—?"
"Much like any other consultation, I imagine," Adelle interjected.
"But why didn't he just ask for some time with one of our actives?" Topher asked. "They could've consulted on any topic, technique, position, fetish, you name it."
Faced with unanimous curiosity, Dominic said, "Harding preferred his women real and his boys as actives."
"How on earth do you have that information?" Adelle demanded.
"That's what he said when I asked him the same question and his answer fit with all the intel we have on him."
"But why—?" Topher began.
"Let us return to the matter at hand, gentlemen, now that the question of where Harding has been all this time has been resolved."
"We'll have to set it up on the Chatterley end," Dominic said. "I'll put Judith in touch with the right people."
"I'm sure Judith will be thrilled to arrange Harding's sexual exploits to her satisfaction," Adelle murmured.
Dominic recalled Judith's barely contained rage when he'd confronted Harding and his late bodyguards in Adelle's office. "Agreed," he murmured.
"Moving on to the next item on our agenda," Adelle said. "At my behest, Topher has devised a way to assist you in your endeavors." Adelle approached Dominic slowly, taking a position from which she could easily insert herself between the two men, eyes asking Dominic for patience.
With a long suffering sigh, Dominic turned to Topher. The neuroscientist launched himself forward. "Ivy and I put together the best thief-saboteur-assassin mix we could devise. When we meld it with your fine, stoic violent self, we add many many percentage points to your success rate."
A glance at Adelle revealed nothing. "What are you talking about, Topher?" Dominic asked. "You and Ivy have nothing to do with me."
"In your brain's current configuration, you're right," Topher said, frowning, no doubt disturbed by being forced to agree with Dominic. "But once we install the active architecture, the sky's the limit."
"Install …? No. I'm not ... No." He turned to Adelle. "If that's all, ma'am, I'll get back to what I was doing."
"Explain it to him, Topher," Adelle commanded.
"You'd be you, L-man," Topher said. "All we'd do is impart skills in addition to what you already have. Memories added on to your own. You'd lose nothing." Voice lowering quite a bit, he added, "In theory."
"In theory!" Two quick steps brought Dominic into Topher's face. "I'll tell you what you can do with your fucking theory."
Adelle's hand came to rest on Dominic's shoulder. He allowed her gentle pressure to draw him a few steps away from the neuroscientist. "Laurence," she murmured into his ear. "Please hear him out."
"I've heard more than enough, Adelle. There's no way I'm getting in that chair and letting him do anything to my brain. No way in hell."
"You will be putting yourself at risk on behalf of this House," Adelle said. "Repeatedly. Perhaps even continuously. What happens to you will impact us all, so it behooves us to see that you are as well equipped as we can make you."
"I'm well equipped already." I can't believe I just said that. Don't leave that statement there for Topher to comment, Dom, keep talking. "I can do this. You know my history, Adelle. You know I can."
"Then it will do no harm to hear Topher out, will it?" Adelle said.
This time his sigh was quick and harsh. "Fine," Dominic said.
Topher took the risk of a step closer to Dominic. "The active architecture doesn't disrupt normal brain function, Laurence. It's an overlay that shuttles the imprints to their destinations. With actives, we wipe to attain a clean slate, so the shuttle takes advantage of the simplest pathways, the most used neural networks to deliver the imprint to the brain. With you, we flip it." Nodding to himself, Topher smiled at Dominic and DeWitt.
"Flip it?" Dominic asked.
"Your overlay will blaze new trails, create new neural pathways. It'll use areas of your brain you aren't currently. We'll take advantage of the gross over capacity of the human brain and give you specialized thought processes, memories and skills without diminishing what's already there." Staring at the floor, Topher mumbled, "In theory."
Playing along for now, Dominic asked, "What do you mean by overlay?"
"It's a generated neural shuttling system that activates neurons along certain paths when you seek specific information." Topher took Dominic by the upper arm and steered him to the window. Dominic tensed slightly but allowed the contact and took the direction. "Say you want to break into that building with the gray stone and tinted windows," Topher continued, pointing to the skyscraper he'd selected. "When you start thinking about how to access it, the overlay would call up the thief imprint."
"I have plenty of thoughts about how to break into that building already."
"Your brain will access those simultaneously via the normal route. The route the actives don't have because we've wiped them. In an instant, your brain will sift through both categories of data and present all of the information in an integrated fashion."
Dominic took a breath. "In theory?"
"Yeah," Topher said.
"What if it doesn't work?" Dominic asked.
"L-man, this is me you're talking to," Topher said.
"Yeah, and it's my brain you're talking about messing with," Dominic muttered. "What if it doesn't work?"
"You'll have the mother of all headaches," Topher said. "You'd probably pass out." Spreading his hands, Topher said, "A seizure is a really remote possibility, I swear."
"No thanks, Topher."
"We'll test the integrity of the imprints and the performance of the architecture," Topher asserted, pointing dramatically at DeWitt. "She wouldn't let me send you into the big bad world without making sure."
"No thanks," Dominic said, realizing in some recess of his mind how often he was repeating himself in this conversation.
"Would you give us a moment, Topher?"
"This is beyond cutting edge," Topher said. "A major, yet infinitely subtle refinement to the tech. You'd be famous if any of this was publishable."
"Wouldn't I just be Patient B-5 or something?" Dominic said.
"I'd still let you swear," Topher said, grinning at the small smile he drew from Dominic.
"Excuse me?" Adelle said.
"There was this movie of the television show South Park and—," Topher began.
"It's irrelevant, ma'am," Dominic interrupted.
"Do allow us a private conversation, Topher," Adelle said. Waving in a wiggled finger way, Topher backed toward the elevator, almost colliding with Judith and her meal cart as she exited it. Adelle and Laurence stood together until the doors closed on the executive assistant and empty cart. Dominic instantly relaxed. Adelle did not.
"I'm not getting in that chair," Dominic announced.
Without a word, Adelle moved close to Laurence, wrapped her arms around his waist and lowered her head to his shoulder. "What's wrong?" he asked, holding her close.
"I'm afraid for you," she whispered. "I despise that you are undertaking all of the risk while I sit here and smile at clients as if nothing loathsome is occurring."
"It has to look like business as usual here," he said, hands running up and down her back in what he hoped was a soothing motion. "This won't work otherwise."
"I don't have to like it, Laurence."
Her vehemence surprised him. Dominic leaned back slightly and tilted her chin up so he could see her eyes. They were spitting fire. Carefully, speaking slowly, feeling his way, he said, "I'm going to do what I do. You're going to do what you do. It's a reasonable division of labor, Adelle. Nothing else makes sense."
"Taking advantage of what Topher can give you makes sense."
"A seizure during a break in would be problematic." Her slight smile buoyed him. "Passing out at a critical moment would preclude a carefully planned assassination." Kissing her very lightly, he said, "The main point is that I don't need Topher's help. I can do this on my own."
"He can give you far more experience than you have, Laurence."
"I have enough."
"Are you sure?" When he did nothing more than nod, Adelle said, "So you can guarantee you won't be caught or killed and leave me to face Rossum alone?"
"No, but neither can Topher."
Adelle stared into Dominic's eyes for what seemed to him to be a very long time. "What are you afraid of, Laurence?" she asked.
"I'm not afraid." He considered. "Well, maybe a little bit afraid of having a seizure at an inopportune time."
"No," she said, expression thoughtful and troubled. "We'd test the imprint before we let you go. That's not what you truly fear." She regarded him again, this time for only a matter of seconds before her eyes widened. "This is about control or, more precisely, the loss of it." Hands shifting to his shoulders, she said, "Do you really think I would let Topher do anything more or less than he described to us?"
"How could you prevent it, Adelle? How would anyone know if he decided to expand the experiment?
"I'll have Ivy look the imprint over."
"If it's as cutting edge and subtle as Topher claims, would she know if he added a wrinkle or two?" Dominic tightened his hold on Adelle when he felt her muscles tense. "I won't get in that chair, Adelle."
"Not even if I ask it of you?" she said, spearing his eyes with imploring green ones. "Because I'm afraid of losing you. Not even then." Smiling, no doubt recalling the success of this strategy on more than one occasion, Adelle said, "Please, Laurence, let Topher imprint you with enhanced skills."
"That's going to the well once too often, Adelle," he muttered.
"Is it?" she asked, pulling him in for a long, lush, ever intensifying kiss. Smiling when they parted, she toyed with his tie.
"I'm not getting in the chair just because I want you." Feeling something very akin to panic, Dominic said, "You're not going to manipulate me that way."
"I will if I must," she murmured, leaning into him. "You're one man, Laurence. Rossum will crush you the instant you give them cause and the slightest of openings."
"Adelle, I don't trust Topher or unproven tech, but it's more than that."
"Go on."
Adelle's attentiveness encouraged him toward disclosing more than he'd intended. "If I … let Topher change my brain structure, I'll have to tell Clarice." He took a deep breath. "That'll be the final nail in my coffin. The NSA would never trust me again."
She shook her head. "When this is over, Topher will reverse the process."
"That won't matter. They won't believe I can't be manipulated somehow or haven't been programmed to assassinate the President or blow up the Pentagon or something. It's how they think. It's ingrained by training and experience. There's no changing it."
"Surely there is some form of proof the NSA would accept."
"Topher could swear on a carton of Twinkies that he reversed the process. You could provide signed affidavits from five hundred neurologists that he appears to be telling the truth. It'll change nothing. Once I'm compromised like that, I'm done. I'm out, if I'm lucky. Otherwise …" Shaking his head to banish the thought of elimination by his own agency, he murmured, "This life isn't much. No one understands that better than me, but it's all I know."
Hugging him tightly, Adelle said, "I'm sorry, Laurence. If I'd known, I wouldn't have asked this of you." Concern etched on her face, she looked up at him. "It would almost be more humane to put you in the Attic than to take your life from you by making you bear the brunt of the NSA's mistrust in whatever form it takes."
"You didn't," he said, returning the hug, tense muscles beginning to relax in relief. "How could you have known?"
"I didn't think beyond my fear for you and for this House should you be caught." She sighed. "Or worse."
"Adelle, I—." He stopped in instinctive response to the sharp shake of her head. The kiss she bestowed on him held a desperation likely born of the fear of which she spoke. He tried to infuse some of his confidence into his response but was unsure of his success. "I should get back and see if my program has generated any results," he whispered when they parted.
"After dinner," Adelle said. Dominic wondered what, if anything, would lift the weight of sadness that had descended on Adelle when she'd accepted his decision not to be imprinted with Topher's cocktail of traits.
* * *
Laurence Dominic frowned at his computer screen. It wasn't that he was disappointed. He was overwhelmed. His program had generated the top thirty possibilities for where Harding might've stashed a wedge. That wasn't the problem. Obtaining a wedge of Harding's would be simple. It was the program's estimate as to how many computers he'd have to tap into to get enough information to bring the entirety of the illegal and illicit side of Rossum crashing down. Despite the appearance he'd maintained, Dominic was good with computers. Very good. But not good enough. Not for this. He was too out of practice with higher level programming. Damn, I don't want to have to ask Topher for help. Maybe Ivy?
Sighing, rubbing his eyes and the back of his neck, Dominic considered the conclusions spread out before him. I have to infiltrate 66 different facilities, 287 private homes and 107 related businesses? Fuck. There has to be an easier way. If not, fine. I'll do it. At least there's only one possible location for a Harding wedge that isn't on the bigger list. Small victory, but I'll take it.
Adelle's voice sounded in his head. "You're one man, Laurence. Rossum will crush you the instant you give them cause and the slightest of openings." That sentiment didn't help his headache any. Quite the contrary, in fact.
* * *
Adelle DeWitt, Topher and Ivy were clustered in close proximity to the chair. Adelle said, "He won't do it."
Topher and Ivy shared a fleeting, highly meaningful glance. "Maybe Topher didn't explain it the right way," Ivy ventured.
"Laurence has his reasons." Adelle sighed deeply and lowered herself in Topher's desk chair, looking older and more fragile than Dominic had ever seen her. "Valid reasons."
Spinning in a tight circle, Topher said, "A one shot, maybe a ten shot, I could see. He'd be fine. His ass is hard enough." Crouching next to Adelle, hand on the arm of the chair for balance, Topher said, "We're talking tens of tens. Over a hundred separate infiltrations. No one is that good. Not even Our Lord of the Perpetual Scowl."
"He has his reasons, Topher," Adelle murmured. "I won't gainsay him on this. I don't have the right."
"Since when do you need the right?" Topher asked. Adelle didn't even look at the neuroscientist. "What will happen to us when they catch up to him?"
"I don't know," Adelle said. "Do be calm, Topher, squealing will change little."
Ivy spotted Dominic standing in the doorway. Her eyes darted to Adelle and Topher and returned to him. Dominic smiled slightly and shrugged.
"We've made this as safe as we can," Topher insisted. "Ivy and I have been over this thing with three fine tooth combs each. I kid you not."
"Let's see what you've got then," Dominic said, stepping forward, eyeing the chair with obvious suspicion.
Adelle stood, intercepting him as he moved toward the chair. "Laurence?" she said. "You don't have to do this. Not for me or … or anyone."
"I think I may have to do it for myself," Dominic murmured. Stepping close to Adelle, he said, "When I thought about … everything, I realized that this probably can't make matters much worse. So … I guess … why not?"
Taking his left hand in hers, she said, "Are you sure?"
Dominic laughed but he found it difficult to get his answer stated. "No. But … there's too much riding on this … on me … for me to refuse help that might make the difference, regardless … of the consequences." Looking to Adelle, not caring what either of the others thought, he said, "Does that make sense?"
"Far too much," Adelle whispered.
Turning to Topher, Dominic asked, "Are you ready to do this?"
"I was born ready," Topher said. Belatedly putting an arm around Ivy and drawing her closer, he said, "We were."
"Good." Squeezing Adelle's hand, Dominic sat on the edge of the chair. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to recline until his head rested in the business end of the chair. Peripherally aware of Topher and Ivy scurrying about, Dominic's eyes tracked to his left to Adelle. "Is this stupid?" he mouthed at her. Smiling, she shook her head.
"We're locked and loaded, L-man," Topher said.
Eyes on Adelle's, Dominic said, "Do it."
* * *
Laurence's back immediately arched. The veins in his neck stood out and he broke out in a sweat. A soft cry of pain escaped his lips. "Topher?" Adelle said.
"We're imposing active architecture on his brain."
Wiping Laurence's forehead with a towel she'd found on Topher's desk, Adelle refused to wonder for what purpose or purposes the neuroscientist had used it. Dominic's hands grasped the chair's arms so tightly the veins in his forearms stood out. His head shifted from side to side. Tears leaked from closed eyes. Every muscle in his body appeared to be tense. "What's happening," Adelle said.
"It's the concussion," Ivy said. "That's why it's hurting him so much. His brain was recently traumatized."
"Why didn't you tell me this could happen?" Adelle demanded, watching helplessly as pain wracked one of the strongest men she'd ever known.
"We hoped it wouldn't," Topher said, fingers flying on his console.
"Stop," Adelle ordered. "This is folly."
"We can't," Ivy said, not looking away from what Adelle suspected was terror in her own eyes. "Once the process is begun, we have to install the active architecture, otherwise he … he could enter a coma-like state from which he might never emerge."
Laurence's body jerked as though Topher was administering massive electric shocks. His softly moaned, "Adelle," galvanized her into action. Adelle took his left hand in both of hers.
"I know it hurts, Laurence," Adelle whispered. "I only now realize that your concussion has made this procedure far more dangerous. Forgive me for not asking all the right questions. Please forgive me." Adelle breathed a sigh of relief as Laurence's contortions subsided and his body relaxed.
Topher did something at his console and Laurence screamed. His temples throbbed; his legs jittered. "Talk to him, Ms. DeWitt," Ivy commanded. "He responded to the sound of your voice. Talk."
"Listen to me, Laurence," Adelle began, voice tentative, betraying her rising fear. "Focus on the sound of my voice. Let the pain fade into the background. Let it slip away as though it was happening to another man." Voice gaining in strength and power, she smiled. "Imagine it happening to Topher." Adelle thought she saw a ghost of a smile on the face of the man in the chair.
"Hey!" Topher shouted while still frantically typing.
"Think about pain's converse, Laurence," Adelle said. "Consider all of the myriad possibilities of attaining such a state. Alone. With a loving partner. With a perfect stranger. Or two. Know that you won't always be in pain."
"Active architecture is in," Topher murmured. "We're going for the imprint now."
"Open your mind," Adelle advised. "Let the information in. Let it flow over you. Let it mesh with the man you are. It won't hurt. Information won't cause pain. Knowledge is good. Knowledge is power. Memories are the foundation of who we are. A few extra can't hurt. They won't change anything important. You'll still be the man you are." The man I want. The man I need to accomplish my goals.
"The imprint's taking just fine … so far," Topher said, switching screens almost faster than the eye could see to monitor progress. "C'mon, L-man, you can do this."
The tears leaking out from behind those blue eyes made Adelle angry. "I will speak to you once this is over, Topher, about the concussion and the pain attendant to this procedure."
"I wait with bated breath, Fraulein Commandant. Speak to him now."
Wishing they were alone and she could say what she truly wished to say, Adelle said, "You're almost there, Laurence. You're doing splendidly. This imprint will make everyone safer, including you, despite the painful beginning. I promise." Adelle glared up at Topher.
"On the money, honey," he muttered, not looking up from his console.
"Why is he doing that?" Adelle asked, eyes on Ivy. "I was given to understand an imprint was set before the process began."
"This one couldn't be," Ivy replied. "Topher has to feed it bit by bit, because we're blazing new neural trails." Eyes apologizing, Ivy said, "We're going to be here a while, Ms. DeWitt."
"Dear God," Adelle murmured, wondering whether she could get away with telling Laurence fictional tales of her secondary school days. "Can he withstand this, Ivy?"
"With our help." Ivy smiled and patted Adelle on the shoulder. "Mostly your help."
* * *
Dom's eyes are open, but they don't look like they're doing much seeing. Just blinking. Lots of blinking. Topher knew an impulse from deep within Dominic was surging to the fore and suspected the hard ass didn't like it one little bit. Voice hoarse, hesitant, Dominic asked, "Did I fall asleep?"
Exhausted and very concerned—not a good look for the boss lady by the way—Adelle DeWitt said, "Only for a little while."
Dominic clearly fought his next line. Topher got that Dominic wasn't into asking permission but would gleefully listen to the older man say, "May I go now?" anyway. A small groan of pain emerged before Dominic bit his lip hard enough to make Ivy gasp and DeWitt reach out. "Hurts," Dominic forced from between clenched teeth.
Of course, it hurts. You're fighting my imprint. Duh?
"Topher!" Adelle snarled.
Always with the yelling! "It'll take time for things to settle down in the old cranium," Topher said. Not to worry."
Not satisfied, Adelle turned to Ivy who said, "Touch works better now than words."
DeWitt bent down and kissed Laurence Dominic. DeWitt's lip locking Dom in my chair. Not just a friendly little peck either. A real kiss. Can you say, "Save that for the executive suite, will you?"
Dominic's eyes focused on DeWitt, confusion rapidly dissipating. "Adelle?" he said.
"Welcome back."
Blue eyes darting in a systematic way, Dominic collected what wits he had and seemed to get what being in the chair meant. Although he'd certainly never admit it, Topher was impressed by the speed in which the L-man did it. "Did … did it work?" Dominic asked.
"Let's find out," Topher said, grinning at his newest and subtlest creation.
Sitting up, Dominic raised his hand halfway to his head and collapsed onto the floor. His body went perfectly still.
Adelle glared at Topher even as she dropped to her knees beside Dominic.
"He'll come around; you'll see," Topher said, approaching Dominic slowly, no more than cautiously optimistic, something else he'd never admit, particularly to Adelle DeWitt in her current I-am-nanoseconds-from-perpetrating-viole


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Midland County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1
Hilliard Energy, Ltd was hired in March of 2012 to begin routing and identifying landowners for this 60 mile, 48 inch water transmission line through Winkler, Ector and Midland Counties Texas.
Hilliard Energy, Ltd was hired in March of 2012 to begin routing and identifying landowners for this 60 mile, 48 inch water transmission line through Winkler, Ector and Midland Counties Texas.
Billed as, "the largest capital project ever undertaken by the City of Midland," the MCFWSD1 Water Line begins on the T-Bar Ranch Well Field in western Winkler County, Texas, and ends at its initial termination point about four miles northwest of Midland International Airport. The purpose of this project was in response to Midland's desperate need for additional water after several years of severe drought. Hilliard Energy was particularly honored to have been chosen as part of the team that would deliver this badly needed resource.
Even though the project was in response to a local civic need, and even though we were working with eminent domain authority, there were still overwhelming issues that had to be overcome to acquire the needed ROW:
1. The most daunting hurdle we faced was the calendar. One of the requirements placed on our team by the City of Midland was to complete the pipeline and deliver water by May 31, 2013. Essentially, we were being asked to build and deliver a project that would normally take 24-36 months in about 16 months.
2. Central and eastern Winkler County is extremely sandy, and both Winkler and Ector Counties have a tremendous amount of oil and gas production. One of our first challenges was to design a route allowing the pipeline to be constructed in such a way that it would not end up being exposed as the sand shifted and yet exist in harmony with oil & gas production.
Despite the routing and timing challenges that we faced, Hilliard acquired all of the needed ROW for this project in 102 days without having to condemn a single piece of property. Additionally, Hilliard played a key role in the packaging for presentation of information that was presented to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the approval of an application for the sale of bonds to finance the project. Subsequently, this bond package won the Southwest Regional Award for "Deal of the Year" by The Bond Buyer, a national daily publication committed to serving the municipal bond industry.
Hilliard Energy was enlisted to provide the following services for the project:
Strategic Planning, Route and Site Selection, Feasibility and Cost Estimation, Surface Land Acquisition, Right-of-Way & Fee Purchase, Project Management, Data Management, Mapping – all GIS types, Abstracting, Zoning and Permitting, Survey Permission and Notification, Underground Line Location, Digital Mapping, Due Diligence, Title Curative, Lease Negotiations, Landowner Relationship Development, Finance Support, Construction Management, and Local Community Relations Meetings, State Regulatory Application Assistance, Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) Assistance


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Dennis Usshykin
Director of Events | BBA 2021
Dennis is a second year BBA student who is now serving as a Director of Events.
He has previously worked in a movie theatre and grocery store and at the moment is working in retail as a Sales Associate.
He is interested in the field of Digital Marketing but is curious about various other fields and in general has a very open mind.
In his downtime, Dennis enjoys watching and playing sports, working out and socializing with friends and family.


text:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Collaboration is critical in the workplace, choreographer Twyla Tharp writes in a new book that contends while most workers do not team up with artistic greats as she does, the secrets to success are universal.
Tharp, who has worked with such luminaries as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Jerome Robbins, writes in "The Collaborative Habit" that her experience revolves around dance but applies to the broader world of work.
"You don't have to know anything about dance to get the point. Work is work," she writes.
Tharp won a 2003 Tony Award for Broadway's "Movin' Out," set to the music and lyrics of Billy Joel. She choreographed "Push Comes to Shove" for Baryshnikov at the American Ballet Theater and created dances for director Milos Forman's movie versions of "Hair," "Ragtime" and "Amadeus."
In her book, subtitled "Life Lessons for Working Together," Tharp tells stories about collaborating with friends and institutions, laced with tidbits of advice on such topics as communication and commitment.
"There are two things that ultimately are important. One is respect, and one is the bottom line," she said in an interview with Reuters. "Everybody needs to understand what the job is and see it the same way or it won't work."
One of her more entertaining tales involved musician Elvis Costello, with whom she collaborated on a piece entitled "Nightspot." Busy with other work and responsibilities, Costello missed deadline after deadline until she and he devised a long-distance, "virtual" way to work together, she said.
Working with tap dancing great Gregory Hines and the classically trained Baryshnikov on the 1985 movie "White Nights" presented a different collaborative challenge, as the two men made "a very odd couple," she said.
"They had no business together, but they really loved each other and they had great respect for one another," she said. "Bottom line, they really knew what the job of dancing was. Two different languages, same message."
She admitted that one collaboration was less than stellar — working with singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in 2006 on a dance musical "The Times They are A-Changin,'" which was poorly received.
She conceded there may have been other less-than-fruitful collaborations but would not elaborate. While she said her book was entirely true, "it's just not every piece of the truth."
"The Collaborative Habit," published by Simon & Schuster, is what Tharp called an appendix to her earlier book, "The Creative Habit," published in 2003.
"'The Creative Habit' is basically about how you work alone, how you survive as a solitary artist," she said. "'The Collaborative Habit' is obviously about surviving with other people."
These days, Tharp is working on "Come Fly With Me," her fourth work set to the music of Frank Sinatra. It is slated to open on Broadway early next year.
Editing by Michelle Nichols and Peter Cooney


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News headlines for October 5, 2011
Surge in electric car sales bucks falling trend
Car sales in the Netherlands have fallen for the first time in two years as anxiety about the state of the economy grows.
Gangster goes to court to block Heineken kidnap movie
One of the Netherlands' most notorious gangsters is going to court to try to block a film about the kidnapping of Freddy Heineken.
Financial watchdogs step in at Groningen's struggling museum
Groningen's troubled museum of modern art is to be subjected to tighter financial control after losing more than €1 billion in the last year.
page revision: 0, last edited: 06 Oct 2011 16:28


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118048782018-08-28T06:01:40.612-07:00Time Hath Found Us"Of the present ability of America, with some miscellaneous reflexions."
-- Title: Section IV of "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine --Tomhttp://email@example.com is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1128714118021212312005-10-07T12:32:00.000-07:002005-10-07T18:23:07.563-07:00Idiot judge finds Mt. Soledad Cross unconstitutionalIn a direct slap in the face of an overwhelming majority of voters, Superior Court Judge Patricia Yim Cowett has found Proposition "A", the save the Mt. Soledad War Memorial Cross measure, unconstitutional. Prop "A" was the initiative on San Diego's July 2005 special election to save the Mt. Soledad War Memorial Cross by transferring it to the U.S. Interior Department as a national veterans Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/10/idiot-judge-finds-mt-soledad-cross.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1128707302328590432005-10-07T10:42:00.000-07:002005-10-07T12:55:49.033-07:00Judge throws out ACLU/NARAL lawsuit against "Choose Life" license platesIn a victory for free speech, a Federal Judge threw out an ACLU/NARAL lawsuit seeking to ban Ohio license plates with the "Choose Life" phrase. As usual the "pro-choice" hypocrites sought to stifle real choice and impose their own twisted views on the rest of usLifeNews.com carried an article:Columbus, OH (LifeNews.com) -- A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by abortion advocates seeking to Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/10/judge-throws-out-aclunaral-lawsuit.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1128101127778066622005-09-30T10:13:00.000-07:002005-09-30T11:29:12.336-07:00Mt. Soledad Cross battle is not about the Constitution but an attack on ChristianityPhilip Paulson, the man who has been fighting to remove the war memorial cross from San Diego's Mt. Soledad, and his lawyer James McElroy haven't exactly been keeping their hatred for Christianity a secret.From the Thomas More Law Center:RANCHO SANTA FE, CA -- For sixteen years atheist Philip Paulson claiming he wants to maintain neutrality between government and religion, has been waging an Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/09/mt-soledad-cross-battle-is-not-about.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1128023238501041842005-09-29T12:43:00.000-07:002005-09-29T13:06:43.463-07:00ACLU fights abstinence education programsPaul M. Weyrich has written an excellent piece defending abstinence education and debunking the silly and misleading arguments against it by organizations such as the ACLU.Accuracy in Media carries Weyrich's column:Abstinence education has a good friend in the Bush Administration. After all, abstinence is the only proven and effective safeguard against unplanned pregnancies and sexually Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/09/aclu-fights-abstinence-education.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1128016839261099762005-09-29T10:58:00.000-07:002005-09-29T11:00:39.270-07:00California Prop. 73 - Parental Notification InitiativeThe fur is already flying in the fight over the various initiatives on California's November ballot. An important initiative is Proposition 73, the "WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR'S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT."PROPOSITION 73WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR'S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/09/california-prop-73-parental.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1126197581182930702005-09-08T09:31:00.000-07:002005-09-08T09:45:09.576-07:00A Letter to ACLU MembersCross posted from Stop the ACLU: One of the most common comments and hate mails I get besides the "you are a nazi that hates freedom" ones, is the infamous "You just inspired me to give $100 to the ACLU", or the "I just re-upped my ACLU membership" ones. This post was inspired by you people. Dear Mr. or Ms.ACLU member, please work with the ACLU to reform some of their policies. Please get themTomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/09/letter-to-aclu-members.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1124391738809979152005-08-18T11:43:00.000-07:002005-08-18T12:55:57.490-07:00The Gaza withdrawal. You can't tell the sides apart without a scorecardLets play a little game. I'll post some recent statements about Sharon's shameful withdrawal from Gaza and you try to guess what person or group said it.A. Sharon was "very courageous" to carry out the withdrawal.B. "We agree that the disengagement will make Israel stronger. ... this will bring our two countries closer together."C. Israel must take further steps, including loosening travel Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/gaza-withdrawal-you-cant-tell-sides.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1124336119551298882005-08-18T00:07:00.000-07:002005-08-17T21:07:21.506-07:00ACLU Algebra: Prayer equals TerrorismThe more the ACLU opens its mouth the clearer it becomes just how out of the mainstream they really are. The latest anti-faith screed comes from Joe Cook, the director of a Louisiana ACLU chapter. Speaking on camera on WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge, about the New Orleans Tangipahoa Parish school district's 30 year tradition of opening school board meetings with a prayer, "Cookie" as we like to call him, Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/aclu-algebra-prayer-equals-terrorism.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1124168013048706562005-08-16T00:41:00.000-07:002005-08-15T21:53:33.066-07:00Has America Become an Ideological State?Paul M. Weyrich has written a piece for Accuracy in Media entitled: "The Danger of the Ideological State." If there is one clear lesson from the 20th century, it is that all ideologies are dangerous. As Russell Kirk wrote, conservatism is not an ideology, it is the negation of ideology. Conservatism values what has grown up over time, over many generations, in the form of traditions, customs andTomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/has-america-become-ideological-state.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1124129643878059072005-08-15T11:09:00.000-07:002005-08-15T17:34:26.656-07:00Brits steal carloads of Austrian roadsignsFrom The Register:An Austrian village called F**king will not change its name despite sniggering Brits making off with its roadsigns.Mayor Siegfried Hauppl has asked visitors to lay off the signs which began to attract outside attention after British and US soldiers passing through in 1945 illuminated the locals as to the English meaning of F**king, Ananova reports.[...]Read the whole thing, the Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/brits-steal-carloads-of-austrian.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1124085822678171422005-08-15T00:34:00.000-07:002005-08-15T10:45:42.750-07:00Gush Katif disengagement - vanity of vanitiesSolomon wrote:"I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove."Solomon spoke:"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/gush-katif-disengagement-vanity-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123976724995259172005-08-13T16:31:00.000-07:002005-08-14T12:37:10.636-07:00Tisha' be'Av - Jewish day of mourning.August 14th of this year is the Jewish Tisha' be'Av (the 9th day of the month of Av). Tisha' be'Av is a day set aside to commemorate woes that have afflicted Israel throughout history. Yoram Ettinger at Israpundit has posted a list of the remarkable calamities which are attributed to this day:1. The Ninth Day of the Jewish month of Av (August 14, 2005) commemorates a series of major Jewish Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/tisha-beav-jewish-day-of-mourning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123805987008124202005-08-11T16:45:00.000-07:002005-08-11T17:19:47.016-07:00Gasp! Barbara Boxer will use abortion litmus test on RobertsCalifornia Senator Barbara Boxer loves to speak at pro-abortion rallies. The only concept that can make it through the head of the country's dumbest senator is "Abortion:Good, Pro-Life:Bad." Her latest departure from reality manifested itself at a pro-abortion rally at Golden Gate University in San Francisco.An article on LifeNews.com states:Pro-abrotion Sen. Barbara Boxer of California says she Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/gasp-barbara-boxer-will-use-abortion.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123796920422392882005-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:002005-08-11T14:48:40.430-07:00Project Max - Show Planned Parenthood the difference between right and wrongIn response to the overwhelming response to the outrageous Planned Parenthood Golden Gate's "A Superhero for Choice" cartoon, Dawn Eden at The Dawn Patrol has created an action plan to expose the actions of Planned Parenthood and its despicable video to a broad audience. Dawn is calling for good people to contact their local newspapers, radio and TV stations and tell them of the video and how Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/project-max-show-planned-parenthood.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123702463308250282005-08-11T00:04:00.000-07:002005-08-10T21:02:56.320-07:00The Devil Made the ACLU Do ItThe ever anti-religion-in-the-public-square stance of the ACLU is exposed for the deceptive sham that it is. On Tuesday, August 9th, ACLU lawyers filed an appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn a US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision which denied a Wiccan priestess' suit to offer prayers before a Chesterfield, Virginia Board of Supervisors meetings.From The Washington Times:... In their Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/devil-made-aclu-do-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123720450212513292005-08-10T17:16:00.000-07:002005-08-10T20:13:59.550-07:009th Circuit upholds the will of the people of Arizona ... for nowIn a rare exercise of restraint, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco refused to overturn a portion of Arizona's proposition 200. The proposition, passed in November 2004, bars illegal immigrants from receiving certain public benefits, makes it a crime for public employees to fail to report undocumented immigrants who seek the benefits outlined in the legislation and requires people Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/9th-circuit-upholds-will-of-people-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123700268305055512005-08-10T11:48:00.000-07:002005-08-10T12:00:30.463-07:00NCAA Mascot ManiaJeremy Robb at ChronWatch has written a scenario which takes the recent NCAA ban on post-season use of Indian mascot names to its logical conclusion.NEW YORK, New York --- Ireland became furious over a recent announcement by the NCAA to ban Native American mascots in tournaments due to their abusive and hostile nature...[...]Meanwhile, other groups also felt slighted by the ban. Greeks began Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/ncaa-mascot-mania.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123624562563179802005-08-09T14:54:00.000-07:002005-08-09T20:05:10.476-07:00Babies are not the only ones earmarked for destruction by Planned Parenthood"Planned Parenthood animated short glorifies violence against Christians" is the title of an August 8, 2005 press release by American Life League. Discussed is an animated film which appeared on the Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (San Francisco) web site. "With its latest marketing gimmick, an animated feature called 'Superhero for Choice,' Planned Parenthood is glamorizing violence against Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/babies-are-not-only-ones-earmarked-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123174786290667592005-08-04T09:41:00.000-07:002005-08-04T10:01:34.103-07:00Predictably, ACLU Sues Over NYC Subway SearchesThe New York Civil Liberties Union will file a lawsuit against New York City to keep police from searching bag of people entering the subway system. The suit claims that the two-week old policy violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and prohibitions against unlawful searches and seizures. Apparently, in the opinion of the ACLU, equal protection means that no one should be Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/predictably-aclu-sues-over-nyc-subway.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123096404010225572005-08-03T12:03:00.000-07:002005-08-03T12:42:04.596-07:00Kim Jong-il: Tall Tales of a Fearless LeaderWhat a man! North Korea's Fearless Leader Kim Jong-il never forgets a phone number, a cadre's career or a line of computer code. He even shot 11 holes-in-one in the very first round of golf he ever played! Shown here with his rarely seen wife, the stately Natasha Fatale, Kim may be short of stature but he is tall of tales!Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/kim-jong-il-tall-tales-of-fearless.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1123044735751173022005-08-03T00:37:00.000-07:002005-08-03T12:33:21.890-07:00WaPo - Is this a freakin' joke or what?Drudge had it. The headline: "Documents Tell of Brutal Improvisation by GIs." I thought to myself: "No, it can't be." It is! Another weepy, whiney American-soldiers-are-just-like-NAZI's-only-worse torture news piece.Iraqi Maj. Gen. Abed Hamed Mowhoush was being stubborn with his American captors, and a series of intense beatings and creative interrogation tactics were not enough to break his willTomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/wapo-is-this-freakin-joke-or-what.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1122998469550898502005-08-02T08:42:00.000-07:002005-08-02T13:36:42.926-07:00Support Michael Yon in Iraq TodayGerard Van der Leun at American Digest has issued a request for bloggers to put the word out about Michael Yon, an independent American combat reporter working in Iraq. Van der Leun has called him "Iraq's Ernie Pyle."Battle of Mosul: Part I"Michael Yon is an independent, informed observer chronicling the monumentally important events in the efforts to stabilize Iraq. His dispatches have the Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/support-michael-yon-in-iraq-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1122928541146175192005-08-01T13:11:00.000-07:002005-08-01T21:04:16.446-07:00Body Language: Beat into SubmissionA lesson in reading body language: note the downcast eyes, the back bent from utter discouragement and the upturned palms of the hands pleading for mercy which will not come.From Hyscience:First of all, a visual reminder of the Islamic agenda - courtesy of the AP and CBS (blogstorm needed), although their intention was to promote the Islamization of America, not to make us Islamo-aware (info and Tomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/08/body-language-beat-into-submission.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1122580923660779852005-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:002005-07-28T19:48:09.313-07:00Is American Bioethics Lost in the Woods?From the April, 2005 issue of PLoS Medicine - a peer reviewed, open access medical journal from the Public Library of Science.Is American Bioethics Lost in the Woods?Michael CookThe debate between a libertarian bioethicist and a communitarian bioethicist [1] illustrates why American bioethics is becoming increasingly marginalised and irrelevant to the democratic society that it intends to Tomhttp://email@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/07/is-american-bioethics-lost-in-woods.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11804878.post-1122507053133193332005-07-28T00:15:00.000-07:002005-07-27T22:23:16.530-07:00ACLU Sues to Use Koran in Court Room OathOn July 26th the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the state of North Carolina to try to have the Koran used for the swearing in of witnesses in state courts. The irony of this is self evident. NewsMax has the story:"We hope that the court will issue a ruling that the phrase 'holy scripture' includes the Quran, Old Testament and Bhagavad-Gita in addition to the Christian Bible," said Jennifer RudingerTomhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/07/aclu-sues-to-use-koran-in-court-room.html


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appa Training, based in Ladywell and just south of Lewisham, is primarily a British Sign Language training company. We offer high quality BSL courses in London, and deliver beyond by arrangement. As well as BSL we offer a range of other professional and vocational courses.
If you want to learn sign language or train as a sign language interpreter we have award winning teachers delivering courses honed to excellence over 3 decades.
Furthermore we offer courses on Deafblind communication, teaching, assessing, verifying as well as professional development courses.


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The Warwick New York Hotel has completed renovations of 10,000 square feet of space to further blend its history with today's modernity.
"Our newly renovated function space is the latest element in our efforts to meet the world-class expectations of our discerning guests," said Emmanuel Traore, general manager. "We already have the most central location in Midtown, and can now offer guests modern and flexible function space that provides the perfect complement to our locale."
The newly renovated space features nine modular meeting rooms, all on the second floor, that can be used for corporate meetings, social events, press parties, product launches, tradeshows, exhibits and other events within the hotel.
Warwick Hotels and Resorts launched in 1980 with the purchase of the Warwick New York.
There are now over 50 hotels, resorts and spas worldwide located in city centers and resort destinations in the United States, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Bali, the South Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
Accommodations at the Warwick New York include 426 guest rooms, 59 suites, and eight Signature Suites, with balconies overlooking Central Park.


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ESET Fixes NOD32 Update That Flagged All Internet Sites as Infected
Security Update : ESET managed to ruin the Monday morning of many system administrators today after the company rolled out a virus signature database update to Windows computers that wrongly flagged all Internet websites as infected.
The update's version is 13102 (20160229) and affected only Windows machines, for both home and business users. ESET was quickly made a… (read more)


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Just When It Seemed The Hard Part Was Done, We Learned That The Real Work Of Building A Race Car Comes After The Wrenches Are Back In The Toolbox.
After more than a year of doing it, here's what I know about building my first race car: it took longer than I expected, cost more than I planned, and wasn't as easy as it looked. But it was fun, I learned a lot, and I'm glad I did it.
Progress was rapid when I first decided to build a car to enter in the NASA Camaro-Mustang Challenge, an entry-level road racing class that offers all the fun of wheel-to-wheel racing at a reasonable cost. Buying an '84 Mustang GT for $500 at a local salvage auction was easy, gutting the interior and stripping all nonessential components took a day, and bolting on the major components of the braking and suspension systems was straightforward once I carved out the time to actually put a wrench to the Baer Racing and Maximum Motorsports parts. Most of those details were covered in Part 1 last month, and even though the car was "driveable" after a few weeks of work, it was far from done. Yeah, I know, no project car is ever really done, but over the past year and a half I've learned that just because the parts are installed doesn't mean the job is done either.
I learned this by going to a track event and having practically everything but the wheels fall off the car. OK, so it wasn't quite that bad, but it was pretty ugly when I took the Mustang out to its first open track event, a NASA HPDE at Buttonwillow Raceway about two hours north of Los Angeles. Just getting there was a wild thrash that began the day before the event when I realized that the stock wheel studs on the rear axles weren't long enough to bolt the rear wheels safely onto the car. I chased down a set of 3-inch Moroso studs at a local speed shop and stayed up until 2:00 a.m. the night before tearing apart the rearend, pressing the studs into the axles, and reassembling everything before leaving for the track. I didn't have a gear-oil pump, so I stopped at a parts store on the way to the track and filled the diff in the pits. The hassles continued when I learned that my car wouldn't pass tech for lack of a battery holddown and a broken seat mount. Fortunately, there's a well-stocked race-fabrication shop at Buttonwillow, so I spent all day Saturday fixing too many little details that I'd overlooked when I had all the time in the world. After sleeping on the bed of my open trailer that night, I thought I was ready to go the next morning until I realized I still hadn't gotten a tech sticker. So I missed the first session then had to skip the second to rebuild the carburetor because I brilliantly poured a couple of gallons of water into the gas tank the night before-don't even ask how.
After lunch, I was ready for the car's maiden track voyage, the shakedown run that would launch my new career as a road racer. I pulled out of the paddock for the warmup lap and shifted into Second gear. It was the first time my new race car had been above 20 mph or driven farther than out the shop door and onto a trailer. Over the noise and rattles, I could hear the rock-hard tires that I had found on a set of leftover Mustang wheels in our shop howling at the slightest hint of lateral acceleration through the esses off the main straightaway. It sounded very wrong. I made it through the first set of turns at relatively low speeds, following the line of cars negotiating the opening lap at part-throttle. Then came the first big turn with speed, an off-camber uphill left-hander called Magic Mountain (for those familiar with Buttonwillow, we were running the track in a counter-clockwise configuration). Heading into the turn, I tapped the brakes, which locked up, and the car snapped into a spin right in the middle of the track. Chagrined, I cruised back around to the pits, hopped out, and reached under the car to turn the brake proportioning valve to full soft, but another lap around the track only proved that something was seriously wrong with the rear-brake bias, not to mention that the smoke filling the passenger compartment and trailing behind the car wasn't looking good.
Back in the paddock, I began sorting out what I had learned in a mere two half-hearted laps. Most of it was stupid stuff. The smoke trail came from forgetting to replace the dipstick tube after swapping on a different set of headers and exhaust (see Quick Test, May '04), so oil was spraying out of the block right onto the exhaust. Easy fix. The squealing tires were a combination of the ancient rubber I shouldn't have been running in the first place, and my bone-headed move of turning the rebound adjustment knobs on the Koni adjustable shocks the wrong way to full hard when I had intended to start at full soft. This is in spite of the fact that the adjustment knob even has an arrow on it to indicate the right direction. Another easy fix. The brake-bias problem was trickier, but after calling the Baer techline I learned that the factory proportioning valve had to be disabled before the inline adjustable unit could work properly. Despite all that, the shakedown run was a rousing success. You can't sort out the problems until you identify them, and I'd found plenty my first time out.
The Buttonwillow event was the last of the '03 season for NASA on the West Coast, so I had all winter to iron out all the remaining details and finish the buildup. Since I figured I had all that time, I took it, and when the season-opener at California Speedway rolled around a few months later, I had made little progress. I did at least have brand-new tires-a set of P255/50R16 Toyo Proxes RA-1 DOT-legal competition tires that are the spec tire in CMC-but I wasn't ready on track day and had to have them mounted and balanced at the track. Despite a persistent overheating problem, hitting nearly a buck forty on the main straight of the American Le Mans Series infield course, which incorporates two turns of the banked NASCAR oval, was the most fun I've ever had in a car I owned. Man, that wall is pretty scary when it's coming at you that fast. After Fontana, I still needed plenty of stuff to finish the car: a race-spec rollcage (see sidebar), a proper racing seat, full safety gear, and among other things, a new engine to replace the tired old 5.0L.
Since the humiliation of my first on-track experience, I've been back at it five or six more times, each time learning to drive the car better, sorting out major and minor technical issues, and generally gaining confidence in man and machine. Most of the mechanical work is finally done, although there are still a few unresolved issues, not the least of which is locating a good set of strong, lightweight racing wheels that fit CMC's 16×8-inch maximum-rim-size rule. There's also the little matter of building that new engine. I'll get to that next month, but for now, take a look at Part II of the nuts and bolts of building an amateur road racer from scratch.
Fire Protection
The CMC rules recommend (but do not require) a hard-mounted fire system, but in the event of a fire, your car could burn down in the time it takes to get unstrapped and grab a fire extinguisher. This 5-pound halon system from Safecraft is affordable at around $300 and provides about 30 seconds of fire suppression. Unlike other products that fight fires by smothering the flames, Halon gas works by removing oxygen from the area of the fire to stop combustion. It's very effective and doesn't leave a mess like some other agents, but the downside is it's relatively expensive to recharge.
The Rollcage Dilemma
Too many hot rodders put safety items at the bottom of their list of must-have parts. It's a big mistake, and I'll admit to being guilty of it in the past, but then I considered getting T-boned by another car at full speed or hitting a wall at 100-plus. Think it can't happen? During the year that I was building my car, I know of at least five people killed at competitive events at California tracks, including one accident I witnessed. Even more people were involved in serious accidents and walked away. Safety isn't just theory.
The most critical safety component is the rollcage, because it's the foundation of the car's strength and driver protection. I had a tough time with the Mustang's rollcage primarily because I had conflicting ideas about what I wanted to do with the car at the start of the project. I harbored notions of building a street-legal track car with working lights and windows, which meant not gutting the doors or hacking up the dash. I decided on a bolt-in rollcage kit from Autopower designed to be installed without removing the stock interior. The Autopower six-point Mustang rollcage meets CMC class rules for tubing size and material and has all the required attachment points. It can be installed with a drill and handtools or welded in place. Autopower's rollcages provide an excellent margin of safety, but because they are designed primarily for street-driven cars, they can't offer all of the benefits of a custom-built competition 'cage. For example, the main hoop mounts to a relatively weak section of the floorpan in order to provide maximum clearance for factory interior panels, and the down bars off the main hoop attach to the rear wheelwells rather than to the shock towers, also to allow for minimum interior modifications. I had the main hoop and rear down bars welded into the car, leaving the rest until I had time to gut the wiring and heater from under the dash.
But then I had a change of heart. When my first child was born in the middle of this project, I realized it wasn't just my life on the line when I was racing, and I wanted a more serious structure. I reluctantly cut out the welded part of the rollbar and started over. After seeking recommendations, I hauled the Mustang to Mike Maier at Maier Racing to have a rollcage fabricated. The Maier family has been racing Mustangs for nearly 40 years, and Mike's dad, Bill, raced in the Trans-Am series in the '70s and '80s. Mike is a national SCCA Solo II autocross champion driving a highly modified '79 Mustang that pulls over 1.8 g's on the skidpad, and he heads up the fabrication department that's adjacent to the company's fiberglass parts business.
I picked Maier because I liked the way even his simplest 'cages maximize strength and safety, and the six-pointer he built me incorporates a European Touring Car-style doorbar on the driver side, a traditional X-type bar on the passenger side, rocker-panel reinforcements, a knee bar behind the dash, and shoulder-belt bars with a diagonal brace on the main hoop. In addition to those safety aspects, the rollcage maximizes chassis strength within the CMC and NASA rules, with the main hoop mounted as far rearward as possible on top of the main bulkhead that separates the rear seat area (the stiffest part of the floorpan) and a tight press-fit between the main hoop and the B-pillars and the front halo bar and the roof at the top of the windshield. Judicious use of minimum-size rollcage tubing (NASA requires 1.75-inch tubing with a minimum 0.095-inch wall thickness for cars weighing under 3,000 pounds empty), results in a good strength-to-weight ratio, and the 'cage can easily be augmented with additional bracing later if I step into a higher class that allows more chassis stiffening.


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If you missed Prime Minister's National Day Rally 2009 speech, here are two videos on YouTube you can catch up with. Leave your thoughts in the comment.
National Day Rally 2009: Racial & Religious Harmony
PM Lee said social cohesion was critical to our long term success, particularly racial and religious harmony. Singapore has made much progress in over the past 40 years in building a stronger Singapore identity and visitors are often astonished by what we take for granted.
He noted the global trend of rising religiosity and that Singapore has also been carried along by this global tide. He acknowledged that religion was a positive force in societies, but warned against the risks of aggressive proselytisation, intolerance and exclusiveness by any religious group.
He set out four basic principles for keeping Singapore peaceful and harmonious. He said all groups must exercise tolerance and restraint, religion must stay separate from politics, the government must remain secular and Singapore must preserve the common space that all Singaporeans share.
He urged Singaporeans never to forget what being a Singaporean means that is not just tolerating other groups, but opening their hearts to all.
National Day Rally 2009: Shaping Singapore Together
PM Lee showed the transformation Singapore underwent in the last five decades with a montage of pictures from the past and present — from housing and community centres, to opportunities available and the Singapore Armed Forces.
He said Singapore continues to renew itself by delivering a first-class education system, a convenient public transport for all, and creating green spaces and a vibrant city centre to make it the best place to live, work and play.
Taking the audience on a fly through video of the Marina Bay, he also gave Singaporeans a glimpse of what the centerpiece of the new city will look like in a few years.PM said the way we celebrated the National Day showed what sort of nation Singapore is – our commitment to excellence, the ability to organize, mobilize and deliver results and the spirit of the people.
All this was epitomized in the Pledge moment, when all were united in one voice, saying what it truly means to be Singaporean.


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Wolf Vol. 01
Los Angeles, California: Antoine Wolfe, a hard-boiled paranormal detective with a death wish, has to cope with sudden responsibility for an orphaned teenage girl who might be the key to the impending apocalypse. The road to hell & back begins.
- Product code: 2386
- Genre: Mystery, Crime
- Publisher: Image
- Release date: 2017-01-01
- Quantity in stock: 2


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The new edition of the European Catch-Up Index has been published for a third consecutive year with the report "It's a Process: Findings of the European Catch-Up Index". The 2013 edition of the European Catch-Up Index offers again its alternative perspective of looking at Europe and presents information for further exploration and deliberation. And as there are three editions of the index, there is already enough comparable data to identify trends.
The Catch Up Index measures the performance of 35 countries – the EU member states, the candidate and potential candidate countries across four categories - Economy, Quality of Life, Democracy and Governance. There are scores for each categor and an Overall Score, composed of the scores for the four categories. As its name suggests, the Catch-Up Index is primarily about the catching-up of the newer EU member states and candidate countries with the older, more developed EU members.
Download link:"It's a Process: Findings of the European Catch-Up Index" by Marin Lessenski, May 2014
You can find and use the data on the interactive website www.TheCatchUpIndex.eu


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Well, at least they're being honest about it now. Montana Republicans aren't that fond of voting to decide who winners and losers of political contests are. Patty Lovaas, who got crushed by Bob Kelleher in the Republican Senate primary, is considering joining Mike Lange is his futile bid to run as an Independent, because democracy is broken:
"When the flaws in the democratic system allow this type of misrepresentation to occur, it must be challenged," she said. "What I'm going to do is see if there is enough constituent interest to say, 'What happened here was wrong.' "
Voting: a flaw in the democratic system. That ought to make a catchy campaign slogan. Here's a thought for Lovaas and Lange—in addition to concerns about state law, what sense does it make to run against the Baucus Machine and the Kelleher Juggernaut if they couldn't beat just one of them?