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Categories > Cartoons > X-Men: Evolution > Extermination
New Surroundings New Allies0 Reviews
Takes place 2 years after Apocalypse, 1 year after the Phoenix. The mutant problem has grown and a obscure general named William Stryker thinks he has a solution. Has Scott/Jean, Wanda/Kurt, Kitty/...
Chapter 16: New Surroundings, New Allies
The cool Northern Canadian wilderness was a vast stretch of endless evergreens and empty fields. The animals that dwelled within this habitat were far from any human population and built to withstand the cold winds of the night. It was near a remote, freshwater lake over 250 miles away from the city where a lone black plane began to descend towards the area. The trees and animals took notice of this...However, there was one little inconsistency in the usual untouched wilderness of the northern Canadian expanse. One single human...Took notice of the incoming plane near the lake. It was a young teenage girl who looked to be around 16 years old. She wore a tight leather uniform that was torn in many places...As if it had been the only set of clothing worn for years. The girl had long, dark brown hair with a tanned skin tone and deep brown eyes. Her demeanor seemed tough, rugged...As if she had been living in this remote area for years with no human contact whatsoever. She sniffed the air...Inhaling the strong scent of burning jet fuel that now lingered in the air...Yet was too faint for any normal human to smell. But this girl was far from a normal human...She was made to be a living weapon...A soulless killer. She didn't have a name in a normal sense...Only a designation. She was X23...the clone of the original weapon X...Wolverine.
She had his healing factor...His heightened senses...And his adamantium claws in both her hands and feet. And like him...She was part animal inside. And it was that animal that helped her survive...While her human side, or what was left of it, had sought revenge on those responsible for her painful existence. She...Wasn't supposed to have any emotions whatsoever. Yet growing up being tortured every day of her life and raised like an animal...There still existed a deep feeling within her...A feeling that surfaced whenever she saw other children like her with their families, smiling happily and enjoying life. And through this, she developed something that she was not supposed to have...Feelings. And it was those feelings that caused her to fight her creators and get away. With help from the man she had once despised as being responsible for all her pain...She exacted her revenge on Hydra, the organization that created her and tried to make her into a soulless killer.
But now...Her purpose for existing seemed somewhat trivial...And meaningless. Sure she was free...But why? And what was a living weapon to do with her so called 'life?' Living in the wilderness...There was nobody to tell her what to do, what to think, or what to feel. New sensations...New feelings that were once strictly prohibited by Hydra were emerging more and more with each passing day. The long suppressed human within her...Was finally starting to grow. She felt things like anger...Sadness...Despair...Loneliness...and Frustration. But she was all alone...With nobody to help her make sense out of all these unfamiliar feelings. SHIELD and the rest of the world for that matter believed her to be dead...And she might as well have been...Only, here she was...Standing on a ridge watching the black plane descend towards the lake.
It had been years since she actually came into contact with another human, be they mutant or not. Now suddenly...Newcomers were arriving in this place where nobody else dwelled for miles. It was a most unexpected turn of events for young X23. She was dead in some ways...Alive in others. She had been living in the wild for well over a year now...And she was going to find out who these intruders on her solitude were and what they wanted. With the heavy sent of jet fuel still hanging strong...The former living weapon began to trace it over towards the lake, where she would find out more about who these intruders were.
"Descend over there Cyclops," said Magneto as the facility that he had described earlier finally came into view, "There's a hanger built into the hill. I'll open it for you...Just keep it steady."
Using his magnetic powers, Eric Magnus Lensherr, also known as Magneto, opened the large metal doors that led into the top part of the facility. It was a new dwelling that couldn't have come any sooner...For Pietro was still in need of medicine, the X-jet was in need of fuel, and the surviving members of the X-men and the Brotherhood were in need of a safe haven from the marauding military that had destroyed their homes and killed many of their friends.
The X-jet landed softly thanks to its vertical take off and landing thrusters and Scott used the forward movement of the wheels to slowly and safely move the jet into the concealed hanger.
"Wow...What is this place?" said Kitty as she looked at the darkened area as the jet entered the hanger.
"A former SHIELD post...Designed to keep 100 agents safely concealed for extended durations of time with no assistance from the outside world."
"A SHIELD post? But what's it doing in Canada?" commented Jean, finding it strange for an American based operation to be placed in a foreign country.
"That is one of the reasons why it was shut down..." answered Eric, "SHIELD used to work jointly with Canadian intelligence 10 years ago during the last administration, but after a few changes in leadership...Relations between both intelligence communities soured and SHIELD was forced to abandon this base before it could even pack up most of the contents as a part of an joint agreement. But thankfully...I managed to learn of this place and salvage it. I had the intention of using this place as a secondary base of operations...But I never used it."
"Well at least it's a step up from the cave," said Mystique as the engines began to die down.
"Indeed...This place has enough food and provisions to keep us all here indefinitely. It is also not on any maps and is concealed by the landscape. Add to that, we are in Canada...So I doubt that we'll have to deal with the American military up here anytime soon."
"Don't be too cocky..." warned Scott as he finally killed the engines, "These past few days have been full of surprises."
Once the engines finally went silent, a new light suddenly shined from the ceiling of the hanger. One by one...Rows of fluorescent lights lit up and illuminated their new surroundings. Upon exiting the plane, the new inhabitance of this mysterious dwelling took in the sight of their new shelter. From what they could see in the hanger alone, it was clear that Magneto had been right in saying that this place hadn't been used in some time. Old barrels of jet fuel and rusted chains littered the spacious area of the hanger, hinting that perhaps it was meant for more than one plane. Dust and soot had gathered on the ground around them as everybody began to explore the mysterious base.
"So this is where we're going to have to live?" said Wanda somewhat distantly, not at all liking the dark, dingy atmosphere of the old base.
"For now, fraulein..." said Kurt with a gentle smile as he came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, helping to alleviate at least some of her anxiety.
For the next few hours, the surviving X-men, Brotherhood, and Acolytes explored the vast underground complex that they were now going to live in. The whole complex was divided into three levels: the first being the hanger and holding areas for vehicles and aircraft, the second being the large lounge and living area for the soldiers, and the third being the place where the vast computer terminals and intelligence gathering equipment resided. Most of the computers in the third level had been wiped clean of any data on them and all of the components remained silent as if it hadn't been used in years. In addition to there being a large array of living quarters on the second level...They were also relieved to find that it had a fully equipped hospital with the best equipment available. This was a major godsend to Pietro, for it also had a sizeable storage of the strong pain killers like morphine that the wounded speed demon was desperately in need of. While most of the tired mutants quickly found their way to the dormitories to get some much needed sleep, Scott, Jean, and Magneto carefully helped move Pietro into the better equipped medical bays of the base. While some parts of it were still a little dusty, for the most part it was still sterile. Upon lying Pietro on to one of the main medical beds, he let out a deep groan as he face winced in pain from the sudden movement of his body.
"It's alright my son..." said Magneto softly, hating the feeling of hearing his son in pain, "You're going to be just fine."
Jean wasted no time in setting up an IV to the speedsters arm while Scott helped by hooking up a pack of morphine. Even though he had been told that he had survived the gunshot wounds...Magneto still held a great deal of concern for his son's well being and it showed in his expression.
"Is he going to be okay?"
"Don't worry...Now that we've got pain killers and disinfectant, we can keep him pain free and stop the infections. His body should do the rest and he'll be back to his old self in no time," assured Jean as she began to administer the morphine and go through some of the pain killers stored in the cabinets.
Eric breathed a powerful sigh of relief as he looked back down at his wounded son. He gently found himself stroking his head as he quickly dozed off from the pain killers and feel into a deep sleep. While Scott was replacing some of the bandages, he actually caught a glimpse of the master of magnetism's face as he hovered over Pietro protectively. And without his helmet on, Jean actually could sense some projections from this man that had once been able to avoid the detection of Cerebro with ease. And while he continued to look down at his son with a morose expression...He actually felt teas form in his eyes. Scott seemed to catch this and was once again forced to hide his undue surprise that a man like Magneto, whom had once been considered the worst of the worst by the X-men, actually weeping for a son that he didn't even seemed to have cared about a little over two years ago. It was nearly the same thing with him that he had experienced back with Mystique when they first encountered her at the mansion. She had become a completely different woman from the old, bitter enemy they once knew and in spending time with her in the past few days at the cave...They had come to see that she really had changed as a result of these past two years. If that was so with Mystique...Then could a similar change have taken place in Magneto as well?
'He sure seems worried Jean...I've never seen him like this. I never thought he even had an emotional side to him,' said Scott with his thoughts as he finished replacing the bandage on Pietro's leg.
'Well these past few days have been full of surprises,' answered Jean, who seemed equally shocked that someone as bitter and cold as Magneto could ever change, 'I never would have thought Mystique to have a soft side to her...But after spending time with her, I've seen it for myself.'
'You think that maybe the same thing has happened to Magneto? I mean...He did go through the same ordeal with Apocalypse as Mystique did.'
'It's possible...But all I know is that from what I can sense...The man is really confused and angry with himself. His whole mind is a jumbled mess and he's projecting some really depressing feelings.'
Like Mystique...Magneto had gone through something traumatic as a minion of Apocalypse. However, the effects of such an ordeal had been unknown to anybody...Until now. In dealing with Mystique, Scott and Jean had their old dogmatic views towards their former enemy shattered. Now...Was the same thing going on with Magneto? Was there any human left within this hallow shell of a man that had once sought to destroy humanity?
'I can finish up in here Scott...You should go get some rest. It's been a long day...' sent Jean as started to apply some disinfectant and apply the last of the new bandages.
'Are you sure Jean?' replied Scott, seeing the dark circles under his girlfriend's eyes.
'I'm positive...I'll be done soon. I promise I'll join you later...You know I'm not going to be able to sleep alone.'
'I know...Neither of us is...' sent Scott in return.
Although he hesitated slightly at first, he didn't go against Jean's wishes and began to make his way out of the medical bays, but not before they sent each other one last 'I love you' through their link.
"Magneto, I can take it from here. I promise you...He'll be alright," assured Jean, as she nearly finished replacing the final bandage.
Eric didn't even look up to meet the gaze of the young redhead as his sight remained fixed on his son. He was still lost in deep thought as he gently ran his hands along Pietro's face. It was clear that he didn't want to leave his son's side...There were so many things left to say to him after all this time. But lying there unconscious on the hospital bed...He could do nothing but wait. He had betrayed his son...He had thrown away his daughter...How was he ever going to be able to repent for such atrocities? He might as well have been one of the gunmen that did this to Pietro. Feeling tired on nearly every level imaginable, Magneto finally conceded to Jean's request as he looked back up and headed towards the door...But not before speaking his peace.
"Thank you Jean Grey...I owe you all a great deal for looking after my children," said the master of magnetism in a deep, yet grateful tone.
Jean didn't know how to respond to a man that had tried more than once to kill her and every last one of her friends. But looking at the man before her...He truly was not the same as he was before. Bearing that thought in mind, Jean merely responded as simply as she could.
"You're welcome..."
Eric Lensherr managed so smile ever so meekly as he slowly made his way out of the medical area and into the dimly lit lounge. Everyone had fallen quiet...Succumbing to the exhaustion that such a trying ordeal had put them through. But as Magneto made his way towards the sleeping area, he encountered Cyclops once more as he sat tiredly on the couch. It was unusual because Magneto had seldom seen him out of uniform, yet despite the grim past involving him and his actions towards his friends, he and the others had trusted him. They were a lot quicker to do so than he had anticipated and the reasons for that still avoided him. He truly didn't want to sleep...He knew that nightmares from Apocalypse and everything he had seen would haunt him. Now that he had seen first hand what had happened to his son...Now that he had questioned his true purpose after what Piotr had said...Everything was so unclear to him. These uncertainties held true in his hallow expression had he let out a deep, tired sigh.
"You should get some sleep Mr. Lensherr...It looks like you haven't rested in days," said Scott as he looked at the dark circles under his eyes.
It was a rare moment for Scott to see Magneto look so weak. But here he was...Standing before him looking like a mere shell of the man that had once tried to control him.
"I haven't rested period, Cyclops...Of all the things within my power...I still cannot attain the simple pleasure of a good nights sleep."
"Let me guess...Bad dreams?" asked Scott inquisitively, almost humored by the obviousness of Magneto's insomnia.
"How did you know?" said Magneto, looking greatly surprised at the young man's perception.
"Because I'm no stranger to them either..."
"I find that hard to believe..." said Eric with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
"Still Magneto I see..." said Scott as he shook his head, "I would have thought that you of all people would know better than to judge people before you even know them."
Magneto was about to respond...But he could find no way to respond to Scott's words. Now he felt guilty upon hearing this...Him being a minority among minorities, yet still being as judgmental as the people behind all of this carnage. Eric Lensherr just let out another sigh, knowing that he was still confused and the answers that he had been seeking for the past two years were still no closer to him than they were before.
"I'm sorry Cyclops...But I guess my lack of sleep is starting to show," admitted Magneto, "It's just so exhausting to feel how a mere week can seem like an entire lifetime."
"What?" replied Magneto, confused by the young man's words.
"Einstein's theory of relativity..." explained Scott, "Grab hold of a hot pan and a second can seem like an hour. But put your hands on a hot woman...And an hour can seem like second. It's all relative..."
Magneto just looked back at Scott with an unparalleled look of bewilderment. Then...He did something he never thought that he'd do at a time like this...He laughed.
"Cyclops...I spent five years studying at Oxford University...And that has to be the best physics explanation that I've ever heard."
"Thanks...And please, call me Scott."
"Very well...Scott," said Eric as he finally collapsed onto one of the soft chairs adjacent to the couch that Scott was sitting on.
The two former enemies then sat in silence as the eerie calm of the underground base hung strong in the air. This strange place was their home now for the time being...They were hiding. For all this turmoil and drama...It was still sobering and somewhat frustrating to know that they still had no clue as to why this happened or who was responsible. But now...Everybody was simply too exhausted at this point to seek such answers.
Scott couldn't help but look back at Magneto as he stared aimlessly into space. He suddenly got the feeling of déjà vu, for he had been in a similar position with Mystique a little less than a week ago. Scott never expected to connect with Mystique...Yet he had, and in the short time she had been with them, she had come to prove herself as Raven Darkholm and not the angry, bitter woman that they once knew. With this in mind, Scott Summers couldn't help but ask himself...Was this possible for Magneto as well?
"You know for what it's worth Scott...I'm thankful that you and your friends trusted me upon my arrival. I know that I've hurt you and the rest of your friends a great deal in the past...And I guess saying that I'm sorry doesn't cut it," said Magneto as he finally broke the silence.
"No...But it helps," said Scott with a light grin, almost not believing that such words were coming from the mouth of Magneto, "Besides, I think we all owe you for leading us to this place. It's definitely better than hiding in that dirty, dingy cave back in the hills."
"Indeed...I figure that I'm well overdue for a decent act of kindness on my part. That and...I owe you all a great deal for saving my kids."
"Think nothing of it, Mr. Lensherr...We're just doing what Professor Xavier taught us," said Scott in response.
"Xavier...Yes, he taught you all well," mused the master of magnetism, "I never would have thought that I'd live to see the day when his students...The same ones that I fought so hard against and used so recklessly...Would help me or the Brotherhood for that matter after so many complications."
"Well I never thought there would come a day when we would all be forced to come together like this after losing so much," replied Scott.
"And yet...You all seemed to stay so strong despite this...Stronger then even I could ever hope to be. It is times like this that I'm glad...That you chose Xavier's dream over mine."
It was yet another comment that Scott never thought he would hear come out of Magneto...Yet he had heard it with his own ears. He couldn't help but shake his head in amazement...But then again, these past few days had been full of surprises.
"We're only as strong as our sanity...This whole ordeal has taken a lot from us. Our home is gone...Many good friends and teachers are now dead...So much to deal with in such a short period of time really can affect the way you see the world."
"I know what you mean..." responded Eric, being reminded of some of the memories that haunted him as a result of Apocalypse.
Such a response sparked Scott's curiosity...For it only further backed up the notion that this wasn't the same man that had tried to control him nearly three years ago on Asteroid M. His curiosity finally got the better of him, as Scott tried to find out more about Eric Lensherr in the same way he had done with Raven Darkholm.
"You know...It's been two years since any of us even so much as saw you Mr. Lensherr. Right after the whole Apocalypse thing...You just seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth. We never heard from you...We never detected any activity from you...Yet here you are after two years. What happened?"
"Why do you wish to know? Why do you care?" asked Magneto skeptically.
"Because I'm curious..." answered Scott truthfully, "Two years ago when I last saw you with my friends...I was looking at a completely different man. Two years ago...I would have wasted no time fighting you after everything you put me and my friends through. But now...You look different, you sound different...It's as if I'm in the presence of a completely different person. And I'm just curious to know why?"
Magneto tried to hide his look of remorse for letting himself be so easily read by a man of such youth. Add to this...He was a man that he had once deeply hurt with his plans. Yet Scott had easily seen his troubled face despite all his stoic nature. And if he could see it...Then how different had he truly become?
"A lot has happened in two years Scott..." said Magneto in a deep voice, void of emotion, "Many things happened while I was under Apocalypse's control during that dark time. I saw things...I felt things...I experienced things that haunt me to this day. My life...For all of its luster and history...Has been an endless cycle of vengeance, hate, and personal vendettas. But while I was under Apocalypse's control...I actually saw myself in the midst of that cycle...I finally got a clear picture of what I had become after all this time. And when I stopped to think about it...I truly hated it...I hated it more than I can ever describe with words."
"Sounds like Apocalypse really had an impact..." commented Scott as he listened intently to Magneto's story.
"He did...And now that I look back on it...I was the true monster...Not him. Comparing what he tried to do to the world and what I had done in my life...Apocalypse's sins couldn't hold a candle to my own. I rejected those who tried to help me...I hurt my children...And I hurt anybody that stood in my way...Even the innocent. Apocalypse may have been a madman...But I was the true monster."
Scott didn't know how to respond to such words as the pain in Eric's voice started to show through all of his stern nature. What had happened to him as a minion of Apocalypse must have been horrible for it to take a man who claimed to be dead of emotion and turn him into the hallow shell he saw before him.
"What exactly did you see...While you were under Apocalypse's control?"
Eric truly hated talking about it...But holding it in was doing him no good. But if he was to gain the trust of the surviving X-men and his children as well...Then maybe it was time for him to come clean for a change and stop keeping secrets from himself.
"Memories, mostly..." answered Magneto after a brief hesitation, "Memories of my life...What I had done...The people that I had hurt. Over and over again, Apocalypse not only made me watch what I had done...He made me feel every last painful emotion that my victims and loved ones felt as a result of my actions. Those victims included Wanda, Pietro, and my wife. That alone was bad enough and was more than necessary to drive me mad...But the worst punishment that I endured as a result of Apocalypse's control...Was being forced to see my failure as a parent to my kids...And a husband to my late wife. These memories...All of them...Were things that I had desperately tried to forget all these years. For all the struggle and pain that I went through towards my dream...I think my real goal...Was to forget."
"And that's why you wanted to rid yourself of emotion," said Scott as the answer finally dawned on him, "Not because it made you weak...But because it hurt."
The old holocaust survivor let out another sigh as he thought about the truth in Scott's words. For all his years of life, even that hidden purpose had been denied by his stubborn nature simply because he sought to justify instead of rectify. Many of these feelings he had from those fateful days under Apocalypse's control had been brought back with a vengeance after having all the emotional shielding that he had built up to that point shattered like the most fragile of glass.
"I guess...That was the real reason. It is now that I think about it," admitted Magneto, as more feelings from Apocalypse continued to surface, "I suppose...That I believed that I could justify my actions in some form or another and not tell myself that it was just a way of keeping my conscious clear. Eventually...I just wanted everything to go numb. I didn't want to feel anything."
Ever since he had found out about him, Magneto had been a true enigma to Scott and the others. His reasons, his actions, his overall hatred towards humanity...Were all mysteries with only partial answers to countless questions. Yet finally...After suffering through such a traumatic ordeal, answers were finally coming out now...And it began to make sense now. Scott never thought he would be having a conversation like this with Magneto. The man had tried to wipe out the human race once...His life was always consumed with greed and power. But there were now actual reasons for this. Scott Summers had always been one to stubbornly overlook the simple ploys of cause and effect when it came to certain people. Yet after everything that had happened, his level of thinking had changed so much. And now...He could understand.
"We all feel that way at some point in our lives I guess...But few people have the power like you do to actually carry it out," said Scott in a tired tone, "It's only natural to want the pain of bad memories to go away. I can honestly say that it's something I thought about a lot after watching my parents die. And maybe...If I was given the chance...To forget...Then I can't honestly blame you for feeling the way you do."
Magneto looked back at the young man sitting before him with intrigue as he spoke from personal experience. Never in a million years would he have thought to have something in common with Cyclops of all people. Yet this young man...Who had only lived a fraction of the time, yet experienced many similar things, seemed to understand when he once thought nobody ever would. But there were still so many questions...So many doubts. He thought about the dream he had once worked for...And he thought about the ideas that he once believed in. Through this...He just couldn't help but wonder.
"If you understand...Then I have just one question for you Cy...Scott," said Eric as he quickly corrected himself, "Why did you go with Xavier? Why did you take so strongly to his dream after you've had everything that meant something to you taken away? Why?"
"Why so curious all of the sudden?" asked Scott after hearing the old man's yearning tone.
"Because...I have to know. What is it that keeps somebody like you, Nightcrawler, Jean, or Xavier fighting for something that seems so impossible? What drives you to do such things like help enemies that would other wise hurt you? What do you have that I seem to lack in knowing my purpose when I have nothing more than doubts?"
It was a difficult question from a difficult man. Professor Charles Xavier spent the better part of his adult life trying to give Eric Lensherr the answers that he craved...Yet in the end, they still weren't enough. Scott felt the weight on his shoulders of trying to do something that his mentor couldn't...But after talking to him now here in the late hours of the night...He felt that he should at least try, for he owed both Xavier and Magneto as much.
"You know...Shortly before my dad died...He told me that when a plane goes into the air, either it keeps flying or it crashes. For most of us...We like to believe that dreams are just dreams and ideas are just ideas. Whether or not they're right or wrong isn't what matters...What does matter is that we believe in them. The Professor gave me the opportunity to follow an idea...That we, the mutants that everybody hates and fears, can make a positive difference in the world. We could fight for peace...Not war. We could fight for life...Not death. I nearly died that fateful day when my dad's plane went down...I was so close to death. If one atom...One fiber of my being had given way...Then I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I guess what I'm trying to say is...What keeps me believing in what the Professor says doesn't have a whole lot to do with how I see the human race...It's just more of how I see life. I know that you've probably seen a lot of death Mr. Lensherr...I know that it probably tainted a lot of things in your life. But for me...Surviving the worst of human cruelty...Seeing and feeling the worst that mankind has to offer...Doesn't make me think less of humanity...It gives me strength to fight it. I suppose that the reason I believe what the professor says...Is because I feel that maybe I can make a difference...A good one...For the future for both myself, my friends, everybody..."
It wasn't the right answer to what Magneto was asking...But at the same time, it wasn't the wrong answer either. Scott had his reasons for following Xavier's dream and Magneto had his reasons for doing what he did as well. But the difference between them was that Magneto felt that his reasons were not valid...They were mere lies that he told himself to justify what he had done. He...Lied to himself. He fought with himself. That much was clear now...But after hearing what Scott had to say, he felt that maybe if he could be that honest with himself...Then maybe he could fight his pain instead of trying to forget it. Just maybe...He could learn to think clearer.
"I wish I had that mindset Scott...I really do," said Eric after a long silence, "For all the years I've lived...I've been trying to do things that would help me forget...That would help me wash aside what humanity had done to me. Somewhere along the line...I think I let myself believe in my dream because I thought that it would lead me to some decent sanity on my part. I guess...I was wrong. If anything...I only made it worse."
"I think that's the difference between you and me Mr. Lensherr," responded Scott, "I stopped trying to forget a long time ago. I once thought like you in that I would have done anything to make my pain go away. But I've learned since then...I've learned that trying to make it go away doesn't do anything other then make it worse. That's because you CAN'T make it go away...It just hurts the more you try. So I don't try..."
"Then what is it that you do that I seem to be negating? I have lived for so long now...What is it that you do that I still can't seem to ascertain?"
"I cope..." answered Scott simply, "I don't forget...I remember. I don't fight it...I accept it. For some it takes longer than others...But eventually, we all learn. It's a part of being...Human I guess."
Magneto fell silent upon hearing that and simply sank into his chair, his mind processing everything that this conversation had brought to his awareness. Ever since Apocalypse...He had been doing a lot of thinking. Lately, that's all that he seemed to be doing...Thinking, questioning, and pondering. Now, his head actually began to hurt with so many conflicting thoughts going through his head. On one part of his mind...The old ideas that the source for all this confusion, carnage, and pain in his life was because of mankind. The other part of him...The new part, the one that had been growing ever since Apocalypse, kept questioning whether or not his pain was self inflicted...And just how much his own ignorance was the cause of all this.
He had fought humanity for a long time...Believing that they were unworthy of inheriting the Earth. He had seen so much of their hatred...Yet he still remained confused. Were not the victims that he and Charles helped all those years ago human? Was his late wife not human? Were his own parents not human? Yet he was a man that had betrayed his friend, hurt his children, and fought through many innocent people that stood in his way. Was he not just as unworthy? There was so much about humanity that he didn't know. There was so much about himself that he didn't know as well. But where was this taking him? What path is he going down? Will he choose to stay bitter towards humanity for the rest of his life? Or will he choose acceptance of both their flaws and his own?
He was truly in a struggle with himself as he leaned back on the chair and rested his eyes. Scott could see that he probably needed to be alone for now, so he got up and prepared to head towards one of the bedrooms. Jean then made her way down the hall to see Scott stretching and yawning in exhaustion after she had finished sedating Pietro for the night. Jean noticed Magneto's disposition as he sat still on the chair. Without his helmet, he was still projecting some rather unpleasant thoughts and feelings. But this time, she sensed a new feeling of uncertainty...And if she was not mistaken, clarity as well. She then turned towards her tired boyfriend, knowing that he had probably spoken with him.
"Is he going to be alright?" asked Jean, her voice barely a whisper.
"I don't know..." replied Scott, just as quietly, "The man is really confused. I never thought that he'd have problems that seemed so...Human, for lack of a better word."
Jean suppressed a laugh upon hearing that, knowing Magneto was never one to associate himself with anything 'human.'
"I guess that even an old guy like him can still learn new things...Especially after everything that's happened."
"I wouldn't doubt it...But right now, I guess he just needs some time to think."
And with that, the young couple left the master of magnetism to do just that...To think. Like he had been doing ever since he was freed from Apocalypse, he was stuck thinking about the same things he had for two years now. Only this time...He had learned something from being with his children and former enemies...But that only made him think harder. Either way, all this thinking was beginning to take a toll on the master of magnetism. His dream, his purpose, his own self worth...Were now in question. But at this point in time...It remained to be seen just what path he would choose in the end.
The fury of activity in the Pentagon had finally simmered after the stunning escape of the surviving mutants in New York. The utter disappointment of failure had hung strong for the soldiers on the field, but for General William Stryker...It seemed to be but a minor setback. He was still as confident as ever, much to the surprise of his subordinate officers. Now that the targets were in Canada, the search for them was reduced to merely going over endless streams of satellite photos in hopes of finding a trace of their presence. Much of the officers were now alternating between resting and regrouping the troupes on the field. Stryker and Magnum remained awake for the most part...Never resting for more than an hour at a time. Yet despite this, they never once showed any sign of fatigue. It was a true show of endurance to see this operation out to the bitter end and only added to the growing prestige from soldiers both military and Friends of Humanity alike.
"Sir..." said one of the female officers near the communication's desk to the General as he went over the censored press releases that he was feeding to the public, "We have an incoming message over a secure line from secondary task force that you mentioned in the protocols."
"Excellent, they're right on time," said Stryker as he looked at the hour on his watch.
The general then left his position from the papers that he would later feed to the press and picked up his communicator.
"This is Stryker...Go ahead."
"General Stryker sir...We've been watching the news lately. And I have to say sir...You've really outdone yourself with this operation."
"Please...If you wanted to flatter me, there are more efficient ways than calling me at this hour. Just tell me what you have to say soldier."
"Very well sir...My FOH team recently got the secondary list of potential mutants that could pose a threat just over an hour ago. We've been preparing to go follow through with our protocols as you requested them and we're finally ready to go. We just need your confirmation, sir."
"You have it soldier..." said Stryker with a optimistic look on his face as the next part of his plan started to come together, "Remember, take care of the mutants that I have red flagged first. When the final step comes into being, having them taken out will greatly assist in the last part of the operation."
"It shall be done sir," replied the voice over the line, "With all the resources that you have been giving my humble team of assassins, you need not worry. It may take some time, but we will find each one of these freaks and take them out before they can inconvenience the final step. All we need to worry about is the press getting word of this unlawful activity."
"Don't worry about that," assured the general, "I have the press in my back pocket. Just do your part and I shall do mine...Stryker out."
And with that, the line went silent and the general went back to going over the news that he would 'release' to the press. Meanwhile, back with the group of Friends of Humanity soldiers that the Stryker had just spoken to...Each one of them was preparing to head out and fulfill the tasks that their superior had given them. They were all armed to the teeth with some of the deadliest weapons that money could buy. And they all seemed confident in their abilities to fight and win against their enemies. The leader of the group was now barking orders to every last assassin present and the ones he was speaking to over the radio in remote locations. The list that Stryker had given them was a long one...But there were some names on the list that were marked ominously as priority over all the rest. And the first name to be marked on this list...The first name that they would go after...Read Alex Summers.
AN: Well, that's it for now! So what do you think? Alex is now a target and X23 has made an appearance. Stay tuned to see how they will impact the story! And don't forget Magneto's little musing from his conversation with Scott. I know that some of you will slam me for making the master of magnetism a little OOC, but I thought that he should be a part of this after that last scene of "Ascension" where he is shown to be helping with the X-men. If you recall...Xavier mentioned "Some enemies becoming friends." I just wanted to do that since I always thought Magneto had a complex character. There will be more with him soon enough, so stay tuned! Oh, and by the way...That quote about relativity that Scott made was a quote from the movie "Deep Blue Sea." I don't own it...They do so please don't sue! And please...I implore you all to review! Send me your feedback directly via email or post it on the fanfiction website! I love getting reviews and I any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Well, thanks for reading and I wish you all the best!


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It's all pretty confusing, but then again, so were many of the classic film noirs.
Adam Robinson
really? this is why I love Nolan as a filmmaker. sure, he tries to fu$k with us but each question comes with an answer at the moment your thinking it. the best breakthrough director since Tarantino. hands down.
Dec 21 - 05:15 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Grant appointed NYSIPM directorPosted by cdc25 in Extension and outreach, News, NYSIPM program, Research
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Jennifer Grant as director of the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYS IPM) at Cornell University. Jennifer has previously served as an Ornamentals and Community IPM Educator, Community IPM Coordinator, Assistant Director, and until now as Co-Director of the program with Curtis Petzoldt. In this role, Jennifer and Curtis have excelled in managing the NY IPM program which affects every area of the state. While maintaining excellent research and extension capabilities in agriculture, the program has expanded to address new challenges in community IPM. I am confident that Jennifer will continue to grow this critically important program that connects campus and statewide research and extension to individuals and communities around New York State.
Jennifer joined NYS IPM in 1989 after receiving BS and MS degrees in entomology from the University of Vermont, and later earned her Ph.D. in entomology at Cornell University. While at Cornell, Jennifer has worked extensively in many areas of IPM including turf grass, schools, and IPM on recreational lands. In her current and previous roles she has developed expertise in all areas of agricultural IPM. Jennifer has nearly 170 extension, technical, research, educational and media publications to her credit and is widely recognized in the IPM field nationally and internationally. She received the Entomological Society of America's Eastern Branch Award for Excellence in Integrated Pest Management in 2011. Her golf course IPM research and demonstration work conducted at Bethpage State Park over the last 13 years has helped influence golf course managers to minimize the use of pesticides on many golf courses in New York and the US.


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Technology-savvy students are turning their backs on traditional textbooks and downloading digital copies instead, a new poll has suggested.
Digital textbooks are now owned by four in five (80%) of the student population, it revealed.
The average worth of these study aids is now around £152, with around a third of those questioned saying their collection has an estimated value of £200 or more.


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One of the first things Norm Chow noticed when he joined Utah's staff as an offensive coordinator in 2011 was the depth at Utah's quarterback position, or lack of it.
"Quarterbacks. You've got to have quarterbacks," he would often say. "You can't expect to make it through a season in the Pac-12 with just one quarterback."
How prophetic his words turned out to be. Much of Utah's struggles in recent seasons have been pegged to the injuries at the quarterback position. Not since 2008 when Brian Johnson led the Utes to an undefeated season have the Utes had a quarterback start and finish a season.
The Utes felt they had a good successor in Jordan Wynn, but there was an obvious drop in talent behind him, whether it was due to youth, inexperience or simply physical limitations.
But just like the offensive line, what was once a weakness now appears to be a strength for the Utes.
Sophomore Travis Wilson is expected to continue his role as starter. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Wilson can better handle the physicality of the Pac-12 than Wynn could. But if the unthinkable happens and Wilson goes out with an injury, the Utes are no longer looking at the sideline wondering which quarterback turned defensive back could still remember how to throw.
This year, the Utes feel they have more depth at the quarterback position than any other time during coach Kyle Whittingham's reign.
Sophomore Adam Schulz is one of the most improved players on the team, freshman Brandon Cox is an athletic player who possesses good leadership abilities, and newcomers Micah Thomas and Conner Manning have had good moments in camp.
"We feel like we have a very good group," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "The one negative is they are all just sophomores and freshmen."
Of course, the positive in that is the same: If the quarterbacks can live up to their billing, the Utes could be set at the position for several seasons to come.
Wilson has done nothing to ruffle his status. If he remains healthy, it's unlikely any of the other quarterbacks will get much time since Johnson prefers to leave the offense in the hands of one guy — rather than mix in others with special packages as the Utes have done in the past.
"We're heading in a direction of getting guys who can give you both," Johnson said of the ability to pass and be fleet of foot. "It's a position of rhythm, too, and you want to get going in one with the rest of the offense."
But what if Wilson loses his edge in the coming weeks or continues Utah's unfortunate trend of quarterback injuries? Who replaces him?
His would-be successors all have their positives and negatives and are in a heated competition, Whittingham said.
Schultz, 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, has been on a consistent rise since last year. He impressed coaches with his arm strength in the spring and was one of the leaders during offseason workouts.
His hard work has paid off in smarter decisions in fall camp.
"I'm not forcing the ball like I was last year," he said. "Last year, I'd go with my first read and try to force it in there. This year, I'm going to the first, second and checking it down or even going outside with it."
Pushing him for snaps is Cox, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound freshman who enrolled in time to participate in spring ball. In addition to a good arm and quick feet, Cox has a lot of intangibles that can't be taught, such as natural leadership on the field, Utah co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson said.
His one drawback is a foot injury that ended his spring session early and continues to hamper him now, Erickson said.
"We'll see how that comes along," Erickson said. "Other than that he is getting better and better."
As for Thomas and Manning, Manning's accuracy has earned him the most praise. He also has a maturity on the field the coaches like.
However, both are still freshmen and, rightfully, look lost at times, in the words of Erickson.
For now, their inexperience doesn't concern the Utes. For now, the depth ahead of them gives the Utes a cushion. For now.
Camp Corner
Who was hot • Junior corner Wykie Freeman had a good day, as did all the young corners.
Who was sidelined • Corners Davion Orphey and Keith McGill left practice early with injuries.
What is next • The Utes have their first two-a-day on Saturday. Coach Kyle Whittingham said two-a-days show which players have the necessary toughness.
Utah quarterback depth chart
Travis Wilson • 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, So. — Returner went 3-4 as a starter in 2012.
Adam Schulz • 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, So. — Former walk-on is an accurate, strong passer.
Brandon Cox • 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Fr. — Has the advantage of having been with the team for spring ball.
Conner Manning • 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Fr. — Threw for 9,449 career passing yards for El Toro H.S. in California.
Micah Thomas • 6-foot, 178 pounds, Fr. — Texas product is good with his arm and his feet.


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Combine compelling, down-to-the-wire football games with snowy, bone-chilling weather that keeps everybody inside and you have the recipe for ratings winners.
That's what happened over the past week as the BCS bowl games and the NFL playoffs combined for some great drama on our living room screens as well as boffo numbers on the ratings ledger.
It's hard to remember a better week of football, ever, starting with Johnny Manziel leading Texas A&M's comeback against Duke in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve.
- Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Follow that up with a riveting Rose Bowl, a surprise win by UCF in the Fiesta Bowl and then college football giants such as Alabama and Ohio State falling on back-to-back nights and the BCS certainly delivered some great matchups in its final go-around.
Those games set the stage for a terrific NFL "Wild Card Weekend" with the second best comeback in NFL history being followed by a game ending on a last-play field goal.
And then you had another game ending on a field goal the next day on pro football's most famous venue.
Even the GoDaddy Bowl, featuring former Lehigh coach Pete Lembo leading Ball State against Arkansas State, provided suspense as it stretched past midnight on Sunday and into Monday morning. It came down to a last-second field goal attempt that was blocked, leaving Ball State in search of its first-ever bowl win.
The seven-night sequence had one more thriller in it as Auburn and Florida State finished off the college football season with a classic.
One can imagine Tuesday night being a letdown since it was the first night without a major football game in over a week.
Is it any wonder why ESPN, Fox, NBC and the other outlets command such a big dollar for ads?
It will be interesting to see if the momentum is maintained right through the Feb. 2 Super Bowl.
NBC benefited from the first time in NFL history that two playoff games were decided by two points or less on the same day.
NBC's "Wild Card Saturday" was the most-watched Wild Card Saturday ever, averaging 30.8 million viewers. Saints-Eagles became the most-watched Wild Card Saturday game ever, averaging 34.4 million viewers.
Sunday's 49ers-Packers game on Fox drew 47.1 million ranking as the most-watched telecast since Super Bowl XLVII (108.4 million, Feb. 3, 2013) and the most-watched Wild Card game on record topping the 2011 AFC Wild Card on CBS, Steelers-Broncos, 42.4 million).
The two Wild Card games on Sunday (Chargers at Bengals on CBS, followed by 49ers-Packers) averaged 38.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched Wild Card Sunday in at least 20 years.
Ratings for Monday night's national championship game weren't as good as the game. The game recorded a 15.3 rating on ESPN, tied for ninth-highest in title game history, and just barely ahead of last year's Alabama blowout of Notre Dame.
When counting the additional channels the network utilized in its Megacast coverage, ESPN's rating bumps up to 15.7, still barely better than last year's 15.1.
The Megacast provided some interesting angles and options to the traditional Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit broadcast. Most interesting was the comments of the coaches, including Matt Millen, in the "Film Room," and getting their reactions without the hyperbole associated with each big play.
It was still, frankly, a little strange to be watching other guys watching a game.


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Fresh Herb Mayonnaise
The delightful blend of herbs gives this mayonnaise a unique flavor. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.
Yield: Makes 1/2 cup
More From Southern Living
Recipe Time
Prep Time:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- Stir together all ingredients. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.
My Notes
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Fresh Herb Mayonnaise Recipe at a Glance
- COURSE: Sauces/Condiments
- CONVENIENCE: Entertaining, Make-Ahead, Quick/Easy, 5 Ingredients or Less
- CUISINE: American
- MAIN INGREDIENT: Eggs
- OCCASION: Summer
- PUBLICATION: Southern Living
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Fred Borchelt '76
Borchelt was a member of the Varsity Eight men's heavyweight crew from1974-1976. A member of three United States Olympic Teams, he won a silver medal in the eight-oared crew at the 1984 Summer Games at Los Angeles. His crew also set a world record that same year. He also placed 11th at the 1976 Olympic Games at Montreal and was a member of the 1980 Olympic Team. While at Rutgers, Borchelt placed 6th at the 1976 Eastern Sprints and 5th at the 1976 IRA Regatta. He also was a recipient of the ECAC Merit Medal for excellence in academics and athletics in 1976. Borchelt rowed on crews that won medals at the World Rowing Championships in 1979 (bronze), 1981 (silver) and 1982 (bronze). He was named Outstanding Male Rower by the U. S. Olympic Committee in 1981 and 1982.
Art Brinkmann '56
Brinkmann became the first ever Rutgers men's soccer All-American in 1954. A three-time All-East selection, Brinkmann scored 49 goals in his Scarlet Knight career. He also holds the Rutgers single game scoring record with six goals in one game. In addition to being team captain his junior and senior years, Brinkmann was named the Alfred Sasser Award winner and appeared in Who's Who in American Colleges & Universities in 1954 and 1955. Brinkmann was an alternate member of the 1952 United States Olympic soccer team that competed in the Summer Games at Helsinki, Finland. He was also a member of the Eintracht Football Club that won the 1956 national championship. In 1995, he was chosen by the College Soccer Association of New Jersey for its Hall of Fame.
Dave Masur '85
Masur was a two-time All-American as well as a three-time team captain from 1982-84. During those three years, Masur keyed the Scarlet Knights to a 35-14-6 combined record. The 17-1-2 mark in 1983 garnered Rutgers its first NCAA Tournament berth in 22 years. Masur won the Bob McNulty MVP Award in 1982 & 1983 and was a participant in the 1984 Senior Bowl. He graduated as Rutgers' 8th all-time assist leader and 13th all-time in points. His success as a Scarlet Knight player was rewarded with his jersey retirement in 1989. Masur followed his Rutgers career with 10 years in the professional ranks. He is currently the head soccer coach at St. John's, where his team has won four BIG EAST Championships.
Pete Schuder '68
Schuder was a two-time team captain in men's track who was, in 1968, the first Rutgers runner to place at the NCAAs when he finished 7th in the 400 meters. H e was a member of the first relay team (4x400) to qualify for the NCAA championships in 1967. Also that year, Schuder was the Metropolitan champion in the 600, and both the indoor and outdoor 440. He went on to defend each of those titles in 1968 when Rutgers won the team title. The winner of the 1968 Coursen Award, given to the top male graduating senior, Schuder placed second in the IC4A meet in both the 400 meters and 4x400 relay in 1967 and 1968 and was fourth in the 400 in 1968. In both of those seasons, Rutgers finished third as a team at the IC4A meet. A gold medal winner at the 1971 Hapoel Games in Israel in the 400 meters, he was a three-time AAU All-American in the 600-yard run in 1971 and as a member of the silver-medal winning national 4x440 relay team in 1969 and 1970.
Julie Smithers '81
Smithers was a three-time All-American in women's track. She twice placed in the top three at the AIAW Nationals, finishing second in the 60-yard hurdles in 1978 and third in the dame event in 1979. In 1980, she placed sixth in the 60-yard hurdles in the Indoor Nationals. A four-year letterwinner and two-time Eastern Champion, Smithers was a seven-time national qualifier (both AIAW and NCAA) and a member of the 1982 Olympic Sports Festival East team.
John Valestra '64
Valestra was a three-time All-American in men's lacrosse. In 1996, he became the 8th Rutgers player or coach to gain entry into the prestigious USILA Hall of Fame. He currently ranks fifth on the single-season points list with 70 in 1964, which was done in just an 11-game season. That same year, he dished off 39 assists, an average of 3.5 per game, which is tied for fifth-best one season mark in Rutgers history. Valestra is also seventh in all-time assists with 86. He recorded eight assists in a game vs. Colgate in 1964 and seven in a game vs. Harvard in 1962. He was also responsible for the game-winning goal in a thrilling 11-10 victory over Johns Hopkins on May 2, 1964. Following his senior year, Valestra was selected to play in the prestigious North-South game and went on to play in a club lacrosse in California for 18 years.
Raymond Van Cleef '52
Van Cleef was a two-time All-American in baseball, garnering first-team accolades from the American Association of College Baseball Coaches in 1950 and 1951. In the process, he became the first Eastern player to repeat as an All-American. A veteran of two NCAA Tournaments, he was the starting centerfielder on the 1950 Rutgers team, which advanced to the College World Series. He batted .458 (11-24) in the series en route to MVP honors, while leading the Knights to a co-runner-up finish. Van Cleef batted .404 that season, he junior year, and followed it up with a .378 mark in 1951. He currently ranks second in career batting average at Rutgers. He set the Rutgers single season record for triples with seven in 1950 and stands second in career with 13. Van Cleef is also third in career slugging percentage with a .606 mark. The Knights were 50-21-2 his three varsity years. He also won three letters in basketball and one in soccer.
Ellen Wallace-Turnbull '80
Wallace-Turnbull was a four-year All-American in women's swimming. She received the accolades in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke and the 200 and 500 meter freestyle. She was a member of the United States Pan American Team and reached the finals of the 1975 Pan American Games in the 200 freestyle and backstroke, the same year she reached the finals of the World Championships in the 200 backstroke. She barely missed a spot on the 1976 United States Olympic Team finishing fourth at the Olympic Trials (top three advance). An Eastern Champion and AIAW finalist in several events, Wallace-Turnbull received the Headley -Singer Award, given to the top female graduating senior, in 1980. The holder of Eastern and Rutgers records, she was a member of the club team that broke the world record in the 800 meter freestyle relay.


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Search Result
Search Tags: lt. gov. bill bolling
Lt. Gov.: Va. governor race is 'disgusting'
Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling Thursday described the race for governor in Virginia as "disgusting."
Thursday - 08/08/2013, 01:11pm EDT
Tags: virginia governor race, Bill Bolling, Ken Cuccinelli, Terry McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, Republican Ken Cuccinelli, Democrat Terry McAuliffeListen
Dems hint at reprisals after Senate GOP power play
Senate Democrats are still smarting after Republicans took control of the Senate even though each party holds 20 seats.
Thursday - 01/12/2012, 05:59am EST
, September 20, 2014
Washington, DC
Now: 65 °FTonight: Mainly clear
Hi: 80 °F | Lo: 58 °F


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By IndiaTimes | April 8, 2013, 5:28 pm IST More From India
Narendra Modi at FICCI
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Monday the status of women in India has become worse than in the 18th century despite progress made by society in other areas."In our culture, mothers have the highest place. But a lot of bad things have crept into our society. In the 18th century female foeticide had started," he said, addressing the annual general meeting of FICCI Ladies Organisation.


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Often favorite moments and special memories occur on vacations taken with those we love. This Valentine's Day, take your loved
one back to those special destinations by converting your vacation photos into a custom photo book you can read together again
and again.
Start by gathering your favorite photos from past vacations into new folder so that they will be easy to locate and add to
your book in Picaboo. Within Picaboo, create a new book and select the Travel theme.
Add the photos you have gathered and use text boxes to write special messages to your sweetheart describing why each vacation
was so special to you.
If you have plans to take your loved one on another vacation, surprise them with the news by adding a note to the end of your
travel book.


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Sander Tekelenburg wrote: > At 18:37 +0100 UTC, on 2007-07-01, Ben 'Cerbera' Millard wrote: >> >><http://dev.w3.org/cvsweb/~checkout~/html5/html4-differences/Overview.html?rev=1.25&content-type=text/html;%20charset=iso-8859-1> > > That's an outdated version. That was intentional. Version 1.25 2007/06/25 is the version the survey [1] asks about publishing. It's now at version 1.27 2007/07/03 [2], as you point out. The survey only covers changes which are agreed on by Anne van Kesteren and Dan Connolly. I don't know if such agreement exists for that version. Can either of them clarify this? The survey closes later today. [1] <http://www.w3.org/2002/09/wbs/40318/trdiff/results> [2] <http://dev.w3.org/cvsweb/~checkout~/html5/html4-differences/Overview.html> Ben 'Cerbera' Millard --------------------------------- Collections of Interesting Tables <http://sitesurgeon.co.uk/!dev/tables/>Received on Tuesday, 3 July 2007 18:33:32 GMT
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.2.0+W3C-0.50 : Wednesday, 9 May 2012 00:16:02 GMT


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Who: Families with young children.
What: Pack a dairy picnic lunch (or dinner!) and join PJ Library at a local park story and playtime! They'll provide the popsicles — just choose the park that works best for you. Feel free to go to all locations
Where & When: Popsicles in the Park: 11:45 am:
• Thursday, July 11: Verona Park, Verona
• Wednesday, July 17: Bee Meadow Park, Parsippany
• Tuesday, July 30: Brookside Park, Scotch Plains
Story Time Under the Stars: 6:15 pm
• Tuesday, July 23: Taylor Park, Millburn
• Tuesday, July 30: Brookdale Park, Montclair
• Wednesday, August 7: Freedom Park, Randolph
Cost: Free.


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|Monster Scooter Parts offers many replacement power wheelchair parts that are compatible with the Hoveround® MPV5® power chair including batteries, chargers, tires, inner tubes, and more! Get all of these parts and more at discounted prices from Monster Scooter Parts.
The Hoveround® MPV5® requires two 12 volt U1 batteries. As such, we recommend a 4.0 - 5.0 amp XLR offboard battery charger for this model. This model also requires 9x3.50-4 tires which we offer as pneumatic or foam-filled.
Note: Hoveround® is a registered trademark of the Hoveround® Corporation. The parts listed for the below Hoveround® model are aftermarket parts and not Hoveround® OEM products. Each part has been verified by Monster Scooter Parts staff to be compatible with the listed Hoveround® model.
Customer Service
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M.B. - Dallas, TX


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[Spider-Man] represents the everyman, but he represents the underdog and those marginalized who come up against great prejudice which I, as a middle-class straight, white man, don't really understand so much. And when Stan Lee first wrote and created this character, the outcast was the computer nerd, was the science nerd, was the guy that couldn't get the girl. Those guys now run the world. So how much of an outcast is that version of Peter Parker anymore? That's my question.
Part of Andrew Garfield's response to people being all butthurt when he mentioned a possibility where Spider-Man might not be straight.
Read More: On Andrew Garfield, Stan Lee, And A Bisexual Spider-Man


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Discover the thrill of freefalling and take the
ultimate plunge! Skydiving is the most thrilling
and breathtaking ride offered in the world today.
If the regular theme park rides are too boring for
your daring soul, we'll get your adrenaline pumping!
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Call 1-866-826-4791 Today!!!
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To follow up on my tirade a week ago about hurricane season outlooks ...
The Weather Channel has adopted a "position" as stated below and condensed in the graphic which is airing today ... and moving forward, the policy will be that regardless of whose forecast it is, this set of caveats should routinely be communicated in tandem with broadcasting the outlooks.
Seasonal hurricane outlooks are inherently very uncertain and it is impossible to accurately predict critical details such as track, intensity, size and impact of any tropical cyclone months or weeks in advance. Therefore, regardless of any seasonal outlook, adequate preparation is imperative before and during each hurricane season.
Be prepared, make sure your family is ready to weather the storm.
Coast Guard Florida
Wednesdays @ 8/9c


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Sympathetic ganglion nerve block
Sympathetically mediated pain occurs when the sympathetic component of the autonomic nervous system is dysfunctional. One can think of it as being on "overdrive." Symptoms typically include limb swelling, change in skin color and texture, and severe hypersensitivity to touch. Such syndromes occur from blunt trauma to an arm or leg, or after organ damage such as a heart attack. Research data clearly shows the effectiveness in decreasing pain with early intervention of sympathetic ganglion nerve blocks. The sympathetic block appears to interrupt and reset the dysfunctional autonomic nervous system, while the resulting analgesia also permits more aggressive rehabilitation.Using a low concentration of local anesthetic, lumbar (lower extremity) sympathetic blockade can be performed centrally by blocking the lumbar sympathetic nerve plexus directly via the epidural space. Cervical (upper extremity) sympathetic blocks are performed by anesthetizing the stellate ganglion, which is located at the base of the front of the neck. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a low concentration of anesthetic is injected through a specifically designed block needle.Side effects include temporary eyelid droop and redness of the eye, which actually helps confirm successful blockade of the ganglion. In addition, hoarseness, increased temperature on the face and arm of the injected side, as well as decreased sweating in the same areas are also observed. If administered early in the event of sympathetically mediated pain, even a single block can permanently relieve pain. However, sympathetic blocks must usually be repeated daily or every other day until the pain is controlled over the course of a few weeks.


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Moonrise Kingdom Review
Moonrise Kingdom is Wes Anderson's newest cinematic release that follows a series of events in 1965 on an isolated island called Penzance. Inhabiting this island, among Anderson's quirk and whimsy, are two precocious teenagers who determine, through a series of correspondences, that they are soul mates. There are of course obstacles! Sam (Jared Gilman) is a misunderstood orphan in his third year at scouting camp, led by the hilarious Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton). Suzy (Kara Hayward) is a troubled teen raised by two lawyers (Bill Murray, Frances McDormand), who are too engrossed in their own transgressions to give her the attention that a teenager needs. Suzy and Sam's common bond of teenage angst drives them to run away in one of the most elaborate schemes in movie history! Leading the search for Suzy and Sam is Captain Sharp. Besides the fact that he is a police officer devoted to his work, he is a rather pathetic man. From Suzy and Sam's departure, the magic unfolds.
Wes Anderson's marvelous command of cinematic art is best exhibited by how well all the elements cooperate. Every Anderson film is a compelling blueprint that integrates tone, language, style, and direction. The visual offerings of each frame are meaningful. Every single costume piece, from high-rise pants to knitted clothing pieces, serves a purpose. Such meticulous detailing can create a multitude of implications, making the content to take in at once; however, there is enough story development to engage the viewer. Make no mistake - despite Moonrise Kingdom's subtleties, this is one of Anderson's boldest offerings.
Each actor in Moonrise Kingdom gives a convincing performance. While Suzy and Sam are passionate characters, the adults display opposite attitudes. The emotional differences between the age groups highlight an apathy about adulthood. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, one can lose a sense of awe, spontaneity, vigor for new emotions, and determination to change his/her life. The emotional honesty of Moonrise Kingdom is not only artful - it is realistic. We can relate to the feelings, and therefore, the characters. To capture the spectrum of sentiments universal among humans, that is a true art.
The only thing I love more than fresh sushi is a good movie. The only thing I love more than a good movie is a Wes Anderson movie. If you haven't seen a Wes Anderson movie before, I suggest you see one . His cinematic voice is sonorous and technically flawless. Anderson's movies are a peek into his world of quaint, quirky, and calculated genius. From Rushmore to The Darjeeling Limited, Anderson's art is art for art's sake. No product placement, no filler, no casting celebrities just because they are beautiful. Just. Raw. Organic. Material. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how films should be made. See this movie.
Written by Ron
The Briefly Brief Review of The Hunger Games ( … for those that have and haven't read the book)
Written by: Ronald James
(Warning: This review does not include a synopsis of the story itself! If you don't know what it's about by now, Wiki it.)
The Hunger Games is a movie that has been riddled with hype and controversy. It grossed over 150 million dollars in its opening week and its momentum does not seem to be slowing up. The novel, sharing the same title and authored by novelist and TV writer Suzanne Collins, is doing tremendously well. It's clear that from the success of this movie, the other two books in the trilogy are in the pipeline. The fact of the matter is, the hype machine (well placed ads, and an amazing online presence) can manufacture success for even the most mediocre of movies. So … is The Hunger Games good? I will attempt to dissect that that question as briefly as I can.
When a movie has source material, people that have indulged in the literary counterpart often ask a very adversarial question: "Have you read the book?" When you reply hesitantly with a "No," judgement and the "… then you could never possibly understand" expression befalls them. You are not a pariah if you haven't read the source material! I have a wholehearted belief that a movie translation of a book should not be a literal translation of every passage. The Hunger Games is written in a first-person perspective, and therefore by nature lacks a lot of the omniscience found in stories written in third person. Due to this fact, this perspective is often replaced with a sort of "this person is probably pissed off right now" sort of reflection of the unknown. There is no one way to tell how some things are going outside of the actual Hunger Games outside of this sort of guessing by Katniss Everdeen. This first-person perspective also grants the reader a chance to know the motive behind the mental conflicts that often exist for a person in general. I happen to think that this is impossible to replicate in film form. When people say "The movie is not as good as book," maybe they are right in some ways. A director's vision for the source material will never match your imagination. Ever. In short, get the fuck over it!
There are things that have been changed in the movie vs. the book…some of which I will list below:
The Gamemakers who orchestrate The Hunger Games in the book have a single leader named the "Gamemaker" in the movie (he didn't exist in the book).
There is a de-facto leader of the Capitol, President Snow (he doesn't exist in the book).
The liberties taken are means to personify an element of the book that was not given much page time in order to focus on the story itself. I'll accept it. There are several other things that are significantly different and I am willing to accept most of them. Some of them, however, will make you cringe if you have read the book. Ah Well.
So … what about the movie as a movie (and not just a book)? The tone of the entire movie is dark, which I believe it should be when 12-18 year-olds are fighting to the death in an arena. Every death is done in the sort of optical illusion exercised in the shower scene in the movie Scarface. You think you saw someone get their head cut open by a chainsaw, but if you slow it down and truly pay attention, it was just good camera work. The Hunger Games pushes the limit of what a PG-13 movie can do. Other directors take notice!!! The movie was well casted, and no one quite feels out of place. The movie is color porn and accurately depicts each setting quite accurately, and the costumes are very fitting of the movie's settings.
This movie isn't without its problems. Backstory is poorly explained and random flashbacks only provide clarity for people who have read the source material. Living in the poorest District in the world of Panem doesn't mean that you are the curviest woman in the entire movie. Jennifer Lawrence 's portrayal of a conflicted, amazingly strong woman comes across rather flat at times. There is a depth to the character that I think that the script didn't allow her to express. Maybe not her fault. The movie at times feels like a documentary with the shaky cam technique that is exercised can be nauseating. The ending of the movie is horrific. The third act is very good with the last 2 minutes of the movie utterly confusing you.
With all of these things said, it was one of the best movies of this sort that I have seen in a while. It has all the heart, soul, and grit to be just as successful as the Harry Potter franchise. A story that involves oppression and mistreatment delivered in a way that is understandable and watchable is a hard task, and this delivers. The characters are likable, the action is unrelenting when it occurs, and you believe that Katniss Everdeen can conquer the world. The source material is strong and I think that this is a good representation of it. I can't wait to see what will happen with the next two movies. I highly recommend this movie.
DIRECTOR: Gary Ross
SCREENWRITER: Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, Billy Ray
CAST: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci,
A Briefly Brief Review of Salmon Fishing In the Yemen
For those not familiar with the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, or its surrounding parts, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen does not sound like an odd title for a movie. However, this area of the middle east is incredibly dry, hot, and has a very limited supply of drinkable (potable) water. Plants barely thrive in this environment, let alone seafood. There is an element of whimsy and wonderment in the title alone. Salmon Fishing In the Yemen.
Based on the 2006 best-selling book of the same title, it follows the story of a sheikh who wants to bring his favorite pastime to his native country. Sheikh Muhammed hires Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (played by Emily Blunt) to try to achieve this dream.This far fetched ambition is expediated by two elements: The sheikh's infinite bankroll and the British Prime minister's disire to divert the public's attention from the violence in the middle east. To help see this dream to fruition and map the plan out scientifically, she reaches out to renowned fisheries expert Dr. Alfred Jones played by Ewan McGregor. Blunt and McGregor's characters are experiencing some major changes in their lives: Jones is having marital and Chetwode-Talbot has started a relationship with a man that has gone overseas. This is combined with the fact that they are of course….developing feelings for one another.
This movie has a lot of heart, wit and most importantly McGregor and Blunt chemistry. By the first 10 minutes or so, you realize that this script has enough moxie (yes moxie), to have you watching intently.The supporting cast is strong with appearances from UK actors Kristin Scott Thomas and Tom Beard. Sheikh Muhammed, played by Amr Waked, is subtly charismatic and shows shades of a young Ben Kingsley. With all of that said, however, this movie is not without its flaws. The subplot in the second act to ruin salmon fishing in the Yemen is forced and unnecessary. Also, they could have splurged on some more money for reasonable green screening effects. There are portions of the movie, that seem to be done post shooting, where it's incredibly obvious that it was added on later on. There are scenes that don't seem to further the story and the movie could stand to lose 15 minutes.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is worth checking out, even with the shoddy subplot and the bad green screen effects at some parts. It has all the sappiness that you would expect from trying to make a small miracle in the middle east occur with a beautiful mid 20 something and a charming "a little too handsome to be in the medical field" 40 something. It's out now.
DIRECTOR: Lasse Hallström
SCREENWRITER: Simon Beaufoy (screenplay), Paul Torday (novel)
CAST: Amr Waked, Emily Blunt, Catherine Steadman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ewan McGregor, Tom Beard
A Special Halloween Edition of The Movie Schmovie Podcast: Top Horror Films
Episode 017 is a little off the beaten path for the Movie Schmovie podcast. Steve, Ronald and a very special guest discuss their collective, and individual, tops in the Horror genre. Will your favorites be mentioned? Listen to find out. Oh, and Happy Halloween!
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The Movie Schmovie Movie Podcast Review Of Paranormal Activity III.
Episode 016 is a review of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman's PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3 (Lauren Bittner and Christopher Nicholas Smith). DVD Quick Pick review of POLTERGEIST and REC 2.).
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The Movie Schmovie Movie Podcast Review Of 50/50.
Episode 014 is a review of Jonathan Levine's 50/50 (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick). Mighty Minute review of X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. DVD Quick Pick reviews of THE WACKNESS and A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT. You can enjoy this Podcast in any of the following ways:
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3. If you have another Podcast App, the XML file is here. Right click it to download it!
The Movie Schmovie Movie Podcast Review Of MONEYBALL
Episode 013 is a review of Bennett Miller's MONEYBALL (Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman). Mighty Minute review of WARRIOR. DVD Quick Pick reviews of CYRUS and MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III. You can enjoy this Podcast in any of the following ways:
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The Movie Schmovie Movie Podcast Review Of Drive
Episode 012 is a review of Nicolas Winding Refn's DRIVE (Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan). Mighty Minute review of HESHER. DVD Quick Pick reviews of HALF NELSON and MURDER BY NUMBERS. You can enjoy this Podcast in any of the following ways:
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Bonus: The mentioned song in the podcast on the Drive soundtrack is A Real Hero by College feat Electric Youth. Check it out below:


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French Girls Go Wild At H&M Opening
New H&M store opening in Toulouse, France. Girls mean business when they shop…get out of the way! [Ed Note: After a bit of research, I've determined that this was the debut of a new Sonia Rykiel collection, so that explains everything. Wait, no it doesn't. WTF, ladies? Calm down.] Watch Video ›


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GreatSchools Rating
Teacher quality
Principal leadership
Parent involvement
Wedgewood has been a model of inconsistency on a decline. The school received a "D" rating for its performance last year. However, made promises that they would do better...which has yet to happen. They send my children home with an "X" on the conduct sheet due to eating with their mouth open, or letting the teacher know about people picking on them stating disruption of classroom. I had 1 teacher tell me my child was cursing in class(which I have never heard my child say anything remotely of that context, nor do I use that verbage around my children) my child immediately denied(saying no ma'am, I did not...Daddy I didn't do that) to which the teacher responded that she didn't hear my child say anything, but some kids were telling her so. The same kids that I witnessed flicking off my child & mouthing "f-you" while trying to get on the bus. I reported that incident, but was told that "they're just kids." There was no suspension or administrative action toward that child, but my child receives "X" marks everyday for things like attempting to report when others are bullying him. He has been labled the bully. They gave him an "X" for playing too ruff when playing football!!! Not fair.
Wedgewood Elementary is a great school. My child loves going to school everyday. He is learning more than ever before. His teacher noticed that he had trouble pronouncing certain letter sounds and had a test session, with a speech specialist. Now he is going through speech sessions with the specialist, several times a week. WOW, what an improvement he has made in just over a month of this therapy. I'm so glad the teacher noticed this issue and contacted us about it, then went the extra step and set up the sessions with our son.
Wedgewood Elementary is a wonderful school. The children are always learning and being active in something the school has going on. The school also encourages parents to be actively involved with his/her children's learning. The neighborhood is great too. Any parent or any other person who says differently must have been one of those non-active parents. If you have a problem with the school, then take your child somewhere else then do an assessment of yourself. It may not be the school, principal, or the teachers....HINT HINT
The children have no social time. They are told to keep quiet during hall and lunch time. My son came home several times and had fallen or gotten hurt at school and they do not send a report or even acknowlage that the kids are hurt. The conduct sheet is a daily annoyance as they pick every tiny thing the child may or may not do during the day and send home a report about it. I have not had a great experience at this school yet.
I find this to be a great school, academic wise and parent involvement wise. The PTO was excellent last year but a lot of the parents have moved on now. I find that my son(a 4th grader) is more into school since he started attending Wedgewood 2 years ago. There is a lack of extracirricular activities though. Overall, I think the school is doing a good job with the kids... Extended day is also very helpful and affordable
Wedgwood strives for excellence in each of its students
This year at Wedgewood made me decide to move away from the area just so she won't have to sttend next year. Her teacher kept in contact with me about my daughter's situations via my daughter and occasional 'X's' on a conduct sheet. I have found in my daughter's years at Wedgewood that this is what a few of the teachers consider keeping the parents 'aware' of what's going on. They make the children carrier pigeons. Also, the pricipai leaves much to be desired.
Wedgewood Elementary offers students an education that demonstrates quality combined with care!The academic program addresses the needs of ALL the children. The teachers and staff take an active interest in assuring that every student meets his/her potential. The parents and the PTO program is excellent! My child is always excited about attending school. He comes home every day excited about sharing what he has learned not only in his regular classes but in his music, art, libray and physical education class. He enjoys working on the computers that are available at Wedgewood. Being a retired teacher myself, I rate Wedgewood far above the rest. The teachers, pricipal, staff and parents work together to insure that ever child at Wedgewood is special!
Wedgewood Elementary is a great school that promotes and encourges parent involvement with a strong PTO. In addition to the state curriculum, the school offers French and Music. However, other extracurricular activites are lacking being that the focus is on academics at this school. I teach exceptional students hear and have taught in three states. I have never seen teachers work as hard as they work at this school along side parents on a daily basis.
Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.
The Community Rating is the school's average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.
2330 Aspenwood Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
Phone: (225) 753-7301
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