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Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Partially Kissed Hero
Partially Kissed Hero 161 Reviews
During the train ride before third year Harry has a close encounter with a dementor that causes him to absorb the soul fragment within him, granting both knowledge and power. Features Harry with a ...
Chapter Sixteen
by Lionheart
The trio stared a moment in silence at the Fairy Queen shrine.
"That's still not her," Luna whispered. "Just a statue. However, things act... oddly around the fey. Sometimes more strange than even wizards know how to cope with."
"You are in no danger. You were brought here under my protection," the non-voice continued. "Invitation is the only way to survive coming to one of my shrines. No mischief was worked on you. Nor would your clothes have been destroyed, save for the fact that in the ritual you performed the mortal dyes used to color them became an acid eating away at the cloth."
"But why bring us here? I don't understand," Hermione declared.
The indefinable presence seemed to gather itself before the non-voice gave her answer. "As you know, my race is nearly destroyed, hunted virtually to extinction by wizards who sought to use us as components. I need heroes to save them, to go back and prevent our destruction. You three were chosen, and you needed my help as much as I needed yours."
The three were stunned to silence by that simple phrase. Undaunted, the undefinable mental voice of the queen continued on.
"When my subjects found you, you were all in quite a predicament, having unwisely combined a number of things that didn't belong to your little ritual."
"So the cloth and things got us into trouble?" Hermione asked, sitting down rather heavily as it took too much effort to stand.
"No," they heard a trill of musical laughter from the voice. "The cloth was well considered, aside from those dyes on what you were wearing. No, you rather unwisely carried in a number of powerful artifacts that had their own influences and powers. All those would have caused you quite a number of problems were they not overridden by an even greater one. Idon't believe you meant to, but you released the powdered wings of many thousands of my servants into your little brew."
Harry clutched at the chain on his neck, lifting out the Time Turner to find that, while the gold parts were fine, the glass had somehow disappeared and released the powder within. He groaned and sank his head into his hands."The Time Turners! Nothing not organically produced could survive the ritual!So the glass disintegrated, releasing all those fairy wings into the cauldron with us! THOUSANDS of fairy wings in a ritual designed for CHANGE! It's a wonder any of us survived!"
"Yes," the non-voice tinkled. "I don't blame you for their deaths. Ican sense they happened long before any of you were born, nor do their spirits cry out to me against you. But the introduction of so much fairy magic to your cauldron would surely have destroyed you."
"We were fools to have entered fully equipped and clothed. There is a reason why our ancestors performed so many of their most powerful rituals naked. It reduces the variables." Luna softly commented.
"How did the gold parts survive?" Hermione had retrieved and was looking at her own incomplete Time Turner necklace. All of its gold parts had survived, only the glass and powder was missing.
"Gold is an exception to most magical rules. That's part of what makes it so valuable," Luna instructed. "And why it gets used in so many artifacts of power. Although I see the gems did dissolve." She fingered an empty socket on the hilt of Harry's sword where one of the jewels used to be.
Harry'd fallen to his knees in shock, and was trembling. "Thousands of fairy wings. We were concerned about throwing sticks of dynamite on a campfire, when it turns out we'd just survived ground zero of a nuclear blast."
"Not entirely," the queen's non-voice impressed upon their minds. "You were all set to disintegrate like the clothes you were wearing. So I had you brought to one of our sanctuaries to stabilize. My daughters might have succeeded in their efforts to save you had you not woken up and begun to work further damage upon yourselves; taking a fairy lozenge and drinking polyjuice were both ill considered moves. As overloaded as you'd begun, even the lozenge was able to push you over that border again."
"We did not feel we had much choice at the time," Harry groaned, "being unaware of our protected status and considering ourselves in grave danger."
"So what happens now?" Hermione demanded. "Do we just disintegrate?"
"Yes, that would normally be the case," the fairy queen's mental voice impressed upon their minds. "Thrice now you have crossed the border, taking in more fairy power than mortal forms can stand without destruction. Once was perfectly bad enough, twice compounded the disaster, and three times made it irreversible and sealed your fate. However, I still need you. So I am willing to exert myself on your behalf, if you will in turn agree to be bound to my purpose."
"Can you be more specific?" Hermione questioned while her two companions were groaning over the scope of their disaster.
"What more do you want to know?" came the mental reply.
"Two things," the bookworm continued in a businesslike tone of voice."The first is, what do you expect us to do for you? And the second is how can you even save us? I thought you'd said the disaster was irreversible."
The teens rubbed their noses at the sudden sense of the aromatic scents giving off a distinct tinge of laughter, and smelling giggles was something far outside anything they'd previously experienced.
"The first is answered simply enough. Live a fruitful life. Resist evil. Give more than you take. Help others do likewise. The rest will take care of itself. I will have the odd mission for you to do every now and again to correct a few problems and preserve our race, but nothing too onerous. And I honestly expect you to gain more out of doing them than I shall by having them done."
"And the second?"
"It gets a bit complicated. To give you a very simplified account, apowerful ritual or other endowment of magic can be compared to putting on a suit of clothes, or a jewel. Although you've put on something you can't take off, and it is too strong for you, so it is killing you. Like if you'd chosen to put on a trinket made out of acid, or poisonous, your bodies simply cannot bear the strain of as much fairy magic as you've infused into yourselves, accidentally or not."
"I think I can picture that," the bookworm nodded.
"The solution," came the reply of the Fairy Queen, "Is to give you new bodies."
"I'm sorry. What?" Hermione blinked several times.
"The solution," the non-voice repeated to all of them, including the now stunned Luna and Harry, "Is to give you new bodies. And the only bodies that can bear as much fairy energy as you've given yourselves are fairy bodies."
The trio had a great deal of nothing to say about that.
They could scent more laughter. "Think of it this way: A person is composed first of a spirit. This is the part that does all of the thinking and feeling and remembering. All the things you think of when you think of yourself are in that part. You have seen ghosts. They are just as much people as when they were alive. If you'd known them, you could even say they were the same people, just without bodies. That brings us to the next part, the bodies. They do all of the touching, lifting, carrying, eating and bearing babies and so on. The mechanical functions of life are all in there. And the last is the clothes, so to speak, which in this case I am using as a mirror to reflect the changes wrought upon you, magical rituals and such. And, while far from a perfect example, it will do.
"When something gets transfigured, it is neither the body nor the spirit that changes. A man is still a man, even after a spell turns him to stone or into a horse, or what have you. He is just as easily changed back again, and is just the same person as before, because what he really was underneath all that never changed. You only added a mask on top of him for a short while, made him look or act differently. That is why I call this part clothes, because they can be so easily taken off and put back on again, most of the time, without the least bit of change to the essential parts underneath. So you cannot graduate students by transfiguring them all into Dumbledore, as none of what really makes that man who he is carries over. It's only a costume, like if you each decided to trade school robes it would not grant you each others skills or grades. So if you transfigure something into a fire crab shell and try to use that as if it were a fire crab shell, the magic will fail because it has none of the essential properties of a fire crab shell. That's only an outfit another object has on to look like one. That's also why no one can transfigure themselves a year younger every birthday and live forever."
"Alright, I think I understand that part," Hermione began nodding.
"To continue our example, you have donned an article of clothing you cannot take off, namely all of the fairy magic you've absorbed. There are bodies that can bear that amount of that type of magic, they just aren't human bodies, and I can change the body while retaining both clothes and spirit."
"So we're going to be a couple inches tall for the rest of our lives?"the girl timidly surmised.
Once more they could scent her laughter. "No! Not at all, my dear girl. There are plenty of fairy creatures of a size with humans, and considering the level of power you've absorbed it would have to be one of the larger forms anyway - the smaller fey would no more be able to handle it than you are now. So it would be unfair in the extreme to change you thus without saving you from the overload, as such a change is intended to do."
The trio all breathed heartfelt sighs of relief.
"Will we look like ourselves?" Harry asked.
"Somewhat," the mental voice of the indefinable presence impressed upon their minds. "It hardly matters in any case, as you've absorbed so much of our magic it would be a taxing effort to deprive you of the gift of being a metamorph, and I certainly wouldn't take away from you anything so useful. So should you drink those potions you've prepared, they would teach you how to assume your old forms, and from there it should be no effort at all to pass yourselves off as you once were. Or even each other, if you are of a mind to."
"That could be amusing," Luna offered, resuming some of her non scared-to-death personality.
The others could already see her thinking of naughty possibilities.
"What?" she responded. "I have every intention of being married to Harry. I know he doesn't love me as much as Hermione, I've known that all along. So naturally I must be willing to share."
Tiny, two-inch tall Hermione (they looked oddly like themselves, in spite of being only inches high and winged - not something polyjuice was supposed to do, but what was regular about all of this?) turned bright red and shouted, "LUNA! That's just not DONE! It's called adultery!"
Then she shrank in on herself a bit, glanced at Harry, turning away blushing an even brighter shade of red.
The indefinable non-voice began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Hermione looked up to ask.
Harry coughed into his fist. "Um, Hermione? This is the Fairy Realm. It's led in part by OBERON! One of the most famous philanderers of all time."
The bookworm rolled her eyes, mumbling the inescapable conclusion he had hinted to her, "Of COURSE there are no rules against polygamy!"
"And, as fairy creatures, we would naturally fall under their rules for that sort of thing." Luna concluded serenely. "The wizarding world, however, is... different, and they may be difficult."
"Enough of that, for now," Harry waved it all away. "We have more immediate things to be talking over."
"How did you find us?" Hermione questioned aloud to the voice.
"We've been on the lookout for some time for something to save us from the menace of those giant spiders." The Queen answered frankly. "Then we happened upon you empowering yourselves with the strength of fire. Fairies can take advantage of rituals meant to help humans. They are normally so small they draw off only a tiny fraction of the power to get the full effect themselves, so you normally wouldn't have noticed, and it seemed such aperfect remedy for our immediate dangers. Affected fairies would, like you, be immune to fire and could cast small flame spells (like to burn out spider webs that might have trapped them). Still, in sufficient numbers they could drain even the most powerful rituals if they didn't also tend to contaminate potions like you were simmering in with tiny portions of their own power. Normally this is so small it can be ignored. But in sufficient numbers it could have put you in almost as much danger as you were in already."
"So your fairies encountered us simmering and helped themselves to our labors?" Hermione asked, unable to believe her ears. "How many did so?"
"Many thousands, but that wouldn't have changed a bit what you'd already done to yourselves adding all of those fairy wings." There came a pause in the mental voice of the Queen. "How much do you know of the properties that you were assuming, if I may ask?"
"Very little, I'm afraid," Harry admitted, shaking his head.
A spicy scent blew in on the breeze, before the Queen began to lecture.
"Fire is the only Living Element: It eats, breathes, grows and reproduces. It can also die. None of that is true for any other element. While not actually alive, fire comes the closest of all non-living things. Actual life is composed of all four elements; earth and water comprise the body, air sustains it, but it is fire that animates it, often described as 'the spark of life.' All elements make for wonderful servants, but terrible masters. Letting them get out of hand is always destructive. Adding extra of an element to an already living thing is one of the most terrifying, dreadful, and yet beautiful things possible in magic, and usually only seen in nymphs. Your Goblet, however, makes this possible to other creatures. Do you know anything of that artifact?"
"Again, very little," he once more admitted.
"One of the properties of the Goblet of Fire is to bind fire-based creatures to the will of the one performing a certain ritual. At maximum power this is even sufficient to bind a phoenix. Since anyone can use the Goblet in this way, the most evil creature alive could bind a phoenix to his service. That is how your current Headmaster bound the bird he calls Fawkes to his bidding."
Hermione's eyes grew wide. "Is there a way to break that binding?"
"Of course!" A breeze blew the bushes, somehow causing a tinkling of bells. "All magical bindings can be broken, even the bonds of a dryad to her tree, though some are more difficult than others. In this case it is easier than the rest, as what that cup binds it can also release. I will show you how to use the goblet to set that phoenix free."
"Thank you," the trio spoke earnestly.
"Fawkes is one of three irreplaceable treasures currently bound to your Dark Headmaster. Others he could substitute in other ways. But three are without any peer or adequate replacement. They are: Fawkes, Sybil Trelawney, and Hogwarts itself. His worldly power and offices are effectively interchangeable and could be compensated for or replaced if lost. But those three provide him powers it is not possible for him to get any other way."
"Trelawney?" the trio spoke again, this time in disbelief.
"She is a true oracle, although her gift has been damaged almost irreparably by the machinations of your Headmaster. That does not prevent him from using spells to tap her gift to his benefit. While he has her under his control he is effectively unstoppable. There is no secret he cannot pry, no plan he cannot thwart, and nothing he cannot destroy. Without her, he would be forced to rely on his own wisdom, which has limits, though few."
Harry slumped prone, breathing heavily. "Frankly, I'd be satisfied if I could just get away from him. I do not seek his destruction."
"Then you must start," the Queen snapped, startling them all. "Harry, the Headmaster seeks to use you as though you were a potion ingredient. He has your whole life planned out, where, after endless suffering and misery, you die in a moment of great self-sacrifice, granting your mother's precious protection to himself and those he intends to use as cronies, most of your worst enemies among them. He has never asked your permission, nor will he. He intends to steal your mothers gift and spread it around among himself and the staff and students of Hogwarts, after allowing Voldemort to clear out all of the annoying mudbloods, of course. He will do anything to bring this to pass, including destroying your mind, if necessary. In fact, he has Snape already preparing plans to do just that to you, under guise of special lessons. You must destroy Dumbledore, or be destroyed by him. He will not permit any other option. And, as my champion, I prefer it be you who be victorious."
Harry was too shocked to form a return statement.
The Queen continued instructing, this time gently, "Dumbledore, from his youth, has always believed in the innate superiority of wizards over muggles. Since your birth, he has dreamed of creating a new breed of wizard armed with Lily's protection - so finally there will be PROOF that pure-blood matters most of all! Because those descended from the ones he sacrifices you for will have a layer of protection the filthy mudbloods do not. Ironic, isn't it, that it is the gift of a 'filthy mudblood' that he intends to steal to use as his justification that only purebloods are fit to rule?"
Now all three children were too shocked to speak.
"Enough. Time grows short," the non-voice impressed upon their minds."You perish and waste away in front of me. It is not enough to make you merely fairy-struck, as most of Luna's family have been, or fairy-kind, as our rare champions often are. No, you must become fully fey. I shall include a special, secret means of absolute defense against legilimency, so that outsiders do not learn the secrets of the fairy realm from your minds."
A shower of dew appeared in mid-air over the small bowl set before the dias on which stood the simple statue that represented the Fairy Queen."Climb into the waters and rest. You shall be remade, your spirits housed in new bodies. They will be patterned after your old ones, worry not."
"Can you send us out the day we started?" Harry asked as the trio moved to obey the command. "And, could you let us continue our triple-day pattern in spite of not having Time Turners anymore?"
"Hush now," the Queen instructed, as the trio lay back against the inward sides of her bowl. "You know where more of those devices can be obtained, and have the skills to seek them. If I were to set you in a temporal pattern you would likely never break it. I shall set you back to the day you began your ritual, and grant you until Winter Solstice to complete your first mission: to deprive Dumbledore of Sybil Trelawney. Bring her to this pond, dose her with a potion you shall find on the shores when you return. Please hurry, as the longer your enemy possesses her the more of your secrets he knows."
That was the last the children heard before sinking off into sleep.
When they woke up, resting under those bushes around the shrine, they were full size once more, although it was clear they were fairies, not human. The colors of their bodies were too vibrant to be real. Luna's hair was yellow, no longer blonde, but the vivid, shocking yellow of a daffodil, brighter and more colorful than any animal creature had ever borne before.
Hermione's hair was blue, and her complexion matched it for surprises by being a complimentary cream, paler than it had ever been before. She was notably devoid of freckles or other small imperfections, as were they all.
Harry was no longer a scrawny, underfed, puny and broken thing. He had the solid mass of muscle that his work for the Dursleys would have earned him had they not been starving him all that time. The damage from his massive, long term maltreatment and abuse all seemed to have been corrected.
He was also a redhead, of an unnaturally strawberry hue.
Aside from all having been converted over to primary colors, there were other changes as well. For one, they were all as beautiful as any fairy, and the temptation to sit and view themselves in the reflective surface of the pond was almost unreal, and so something they all resolved to fight. Though all would eventually give in and spend time before their mirrors that night.
It was hard not to. For mortal creatures there was always a sense that this or that could have been a little better. Even attractive people knew their own flaws, and often had issues because of them.
Not for the fey, and it was more than a little shocking to see everything done just right. If it were not for the fact that they knew ahead of time that most fairies were hopelessly conceited, it would have been easy to go that way themselves, and just spend the rest of their lives wholly absorbed in viewing their own reflections. They were breathtakingly beautiful, and it would have been easy to lose themselves in contemplating their new images.
All of them, sensing the danger, consciously avoided that temptation.
The shrine of the Fairy Queen was silent, the indefinable presence departed and the tiny statue once more still and frozen in a vaguely regal pose. The only smells were those of water and grasses, yet there was also a vague sense of wandering around the halls of a church after hours.
In spite of half expecting it, none of them bore wings, but luckily the naiads had brought a boat to the island's shore. Almost afraid to get caught up in admiring themselves forever if they contemplated their new changes too much, the trio of children rushed for the small boat, after grabbing a large leaf that had been lying next to them when they awoke. Seeing that it had a ritual written out on it, they rolled it up like ascroll and carried it along.
They had no pockets in the rather filmy, silky garments they were wearing, not having thought to transfigure any when making them.
Glancing over the scroll as the naiads bore their boat to shore, smoothly and as steadily as a rock, Hermione found it detailed a ritual using the Goblet of Fire to bind or release a magical, fire-based creature from service.
Releasing was easier than binding in all cases, and they could use that to set Fawkes free.
Reaching the outer shore, they found their discarded vials of polyjuice and drank some immediately, restoring themselves to their previous appearances and mortal outlooks. It was oddly disappointing in a strange, yet reassuring way when the urge to just look at themselves forever departed.
Then they looked around themselves for the first time and saw the massive crowd of creatures pressing in from all sides.
Author's Notes:
I had a question, "Where do I want to go with this?" And, like so many times I've asked myself the question, "Which of all of these wonderful options do I choose?" the answer is, "All of them." By making them run errands for the Fairy Queen I can drop them anywhere in history or the future that I like, leave them until it is no longer interesting, then drag them back off on some other venture. It also means I don't have to rush into any one theme.


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Prime Source Forum 2012: Quote/unquote - day 2
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Remind us, who's supposed to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament? Who's supposed to be the most balanced team in the Big East? And who's supposed to be the conference's best player?
After yesterday's 76-74 upset of top-seeded Pittsburgh, all those answers point in the direction of Connecticut and Kemba Walker.
The Huskies' guard, who somehow wasn't a unanimous choice for the All-Big East first team and was passed over for Player of the Year, schooled Gary McGhee in an epic mismatch on the game's final possession. He backed the Panthers' center off, crossed him over and then nailed a game-winning jumper at the buzzer to send Pitt packing from the quarterfinals for the third straight season.
Walker led the Huskies with 24 points and five assists but was just as active defensively, as they forced seven first-half turnovers. UConn's transition game really took off after the first 12 minutes, as it picked pockets and intercepted passing lanes to go the other way. The up-tempo attack that dominated wins over DePaul and Georgetown in the first two days at the Garden erased an 11-point first-half deficit.
It was the bigs, namely Alex Oriakhi, who provided interior support for Walker and the guards. The UConn center had 13 points, much of it coming on put-backs where he outmuscled the usually dominant Pitt front line. McGahee picked up his fourth foul with 11:44 left and UConn took advantage with back cuts and second-chance putbacks inside.
Ahston Gibbs seemed to match Walker blow for blow, finishing with 27 points and going 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. His 3 tied the game with less than a minute left but he wouldn't get another look.
Pitt coach Jamie Dixon still expects his Panthers to grab a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, and rightfully so. After all, UConn is playing like a top seed and could find itself as a two or three seed with a win in Friday night's semifinal against either St. John's or Syracuse.


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BEWARE! These best friends have a tendency to steal people's beautiful hearts, but it always come with magical things :)
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Lavang Lata
"Heritage Cuisine" – sounds good isn't it?
You may presume that this pompous term refers to pretentious traditional high-brow cuisine which adorns the tables of the classes!
In my vocabulary "heritage cuisine" is high-falutin gobbledygook for simple staple down-to-earth local street-food relished by the masses. Like Vada Pav (Mumbai's "Heritage Burger"), or Puneri Misal, or Kulcha Chole, Katchi Dabeli, Bhel, Kathi Kababs, Baida Roti, Malpua – the list is endless.
There is a delicious sweetmeat called "Lavang Lata" which I tasted for the first time and relished piping hot at Pehelwan's at the end of Lanka near BHU in
Later, in the eighties, I came across slightly different versions of Lavang Lata at various eateries, most notably Nathu at Bengali market in
Just imagine my surprise, when, during my walk last evening, I chanced upon a delectable Lavang Lata in an out-of-the-way unpretentious sweet shop called 'Babumosai Bengali Sweets' tucked away almost in obscurity, way off the beaten track, on Aundh Road on the way to Khadki in Pune.
Actually I was in search of Rasgullas. (Roshogollas, if you want it spelt that way). Having relocated from a 'happening' place like Churchgate in the heart of Mumbai to an obscure "back of the beyond" desolate place somewhere in the jungles on the banks of Mula river between Aundh and Sangvi, craving and wandering desperately in my search for 'heritage food', I hit the Aundh road past Spicer College towards Khadki, enjoying a refreshing walk between the expanse of the verdant Botanical Gardens and the foliage of Pune University, when in the first building I encountered on my left, I saw a nondescript signboard "Babumosai Bengali Sweets" (maybe the spelling ought to be 'Babumoshai') atop a deserted lackluster sweetshop.
There was no one in the shop and the lifeless atmosphere and uninspiring display almost put me off. But having come so far, I decided to give it a try and looked at the sweets on display in trays behind a glass counter - Rasgullas, Sandesh, Rajbhog, Gulab Jamuns, Malai Sandwiches - the ubiquitous 'Bengali Sweets'; and suddenly a man came out carrying a tray of piping hot Lavang Latas, the very sight of which made my mouth water so much that I ordered one immediately.
I walked outside the shop, stood in the cool evening air, took a small bite of the Lavang Lata, rolled the syrupy hot piece on my eager salivated tongue and closed my eyes in order to enhance my gustatory experience.
I pressed the Lavang Lata upwards with my tongue against the palate, the roof of my mouth, and slowly it disintegrated releasing its heavenly flavour of nutmeg and cardamom. That's the way you should enjoy Bengali sweetmeats – never bite, swallow and devour in a hurry. Don't use your teeth; slowly, very slowly, just roll on your tongue and lightly press on the roof of your mouth till the delicacy melts releasing its luxurious flavour and divine fragrance into your gustatory and olfactory systems. And remember, keep your eyes closed, shut yourself to the outside world, focus on your tongue, internalize the experience and transcend to a state of delightful ecstasy, till you feel you are in seventh heaven. That's the art of eating.
The Lavang Lata is perfect. Not sickly sweet, but tantalizingly tasty, with the subtle essence of its ingredients and seasoning coming through. The rabri and khoya, the raisins and dry fruits, the crispy sweet crust, the spices and most importantly, the exotic fortifying and stimulating taste of clove. It's sheer bliss. The invigorating taste lingers on my tongue for a long long time, as if for eternity.
Just writing this is making my mouth water. And I am rushing to "Babumosai" once more – this time to sample the Rasgullas, maybe the Sandesh – and I'll tell you all about it right here.
And I'll keep writing about all my experiences with "Heritage Cuisine" and the art of eating.
Dear fellow Foodie - do let me know if you enjoyed reading this.
great writing vikram, you really relish your food and writing and do it very well too..
perhaps there are other loves, but who am i to argue with your preferences :)))
btw kadi is kdhi i presume, buttermilk and besan based curry (i know thats not the right term but cdnt think of another)..not pithla or zunka you refer to
hi rajini,
i think he means pithla [kadi] and bhakri - and of course zunka-bhakar!
how about some malpua and kheer? just click the link below and happy "eating"
do tell me if you liked the recipe.
hi vikram,
i emailed your blog to my husband who loves unique 'heritage cuisine'. this is what he replied to me in response. i have been booked to cook a couple of unique dishes thanks to your mouth-watering blog!
husband's email to me:-
"at first i thought it is a nice name for a girl.
i have once eaten at a "heritage cuisine" in mysore. on the devraj urs road ("downtown" mysore), the same guy who runs vasu agarbathi empire has a restaurant selling rotti (i think rice & ragi), nuchchinunde, melogara, raagi dose ( i am not sure if he had raagi mudde also, but i have seen road side stalls in rural south karnataka advertising "illi raagi mudde oota doreyuttade"). restaurants (they call then "khanavali") in belgaum and maharashtra serve bhakri (jowar rotti ) and onion zunka (like gojju but with besan flour)
can you try making onion zunka sometime? it should go well with chapatti or rotti. you should also try making kadi, popular in maharashtra ."
hi rajini,
there is no love greater than the love of food.
you agree?
foodie reporting!!
i definitely enjoy your gastronomic experiences. that reminds me....i need to check your profile! your blogs seem to have a wide range of topics from fable to table!!! are you a professional food taster? your detailed description of the insides of the mouth reminds me of all those coffee and wine tasters! they always seem to roll and savor flavoured "liquids" only to declare that one is "drier" than the other! never understood that concept!!
"never bite, swallow and devour in a hurry. don't use your teeth"
now i know!!! no wonder i have been missing all the delicate flavors! i just cannot stop my teeth from sinking in and gobbling, especially the bengali sweets. never heard of lavang lata, but i must google it to see what it looks like.
sure, bring us more after your next visit!!
Fibreclay Pots by shanthini
Paradise on my Roof top by Premlatha Maruthavanan


text:
One man is dead after officials say he fell off of a truck bed.
By Jennifer Emert - bio | email ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Bullets whizzed through a busy hospital parking lot in Americus.
Investigators were trying to stop a woman wanted on drug charges when she opened fire on investigators in a full parking lot. No one except the woman was injured. Investigators believe she shot herself in the head after she fired multiple shots from an SUV.
The scene could have been so much worse. Several cars in the parking lot were hit by gunfire, but only the suspect who shot herself was wounded. Now police are trying to figure out the woman's identity.
Three different crime scenes fill the Phoebe Sumter hospital parking lot. A bullet hole just above the tire, evidence of what happened just after 1:00 PM. James Coleman across the street at Wayne's World was pumping gas when he heard the shots.
"My first thought was a car tire blowing, and then all the sirens started going on and somebody told me there was a shooting across the road," said James Coleman, a Wayne's World employee.
Investigators scoured the parking lot for bullets. They aren't sure how many rounds were fired as deputies stopped the woman for her involvement in a drug deal in the Winn Dixie parking lot.
"He had to take cover and was in the process of starting to return fire when she started attempting to leave," said Sumter County Sheriff Pete Smith.
The woman drove closer to the hospital's Emergency Room doors before firing again, but soon found herself boxed in by Sheriff Pete Smith who was nearby on Hudson Street when the shots rang out.
"I boxed her in and exited the vehicle and made her get out on the ground, I don't remember exactly what I said to here but she needed to get out on the ground and she did," said Smith.
The woman got out of the car bleeding from the head, but complying with demands.
"I got the emergency room staff and the ambulance folks to come out and assist her after we got her in custody and everything without further incident," said Smith.
The GBI will look at the crime scene from both the ground and the sky.
"A situation like this where you have and emergency room obviously things are changing all the time so what that does it allows us to kind of freeze time so to speak so he can show how everything was," said Special Agent in Charge Trebor Randle, GBI-Americus.
Another man is in custody, facing drug charges after being arrested in the Winn Dixie parking lot next door. Investigators are still working on both of their identities because they both have several aliases.
Sheriff Pete Smith said so far no ones come forward to say they were in the parking lot when the shooting happened. He's certain someone was and is asking anyone who may have seen the incident to contact the Sheriff's Department or the GBI to help with the investigation.
Investigators have not yet determined what charges will be filed against the two. They don't think the suspects are from Sumter County.
©2010 WALB News. All rights reserved. Feedback
P.O. Box 3130
Albany, GA 31706
(229) 446-1010
FCC Public File
(229) 446-4005
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
Shan Design Studio
Shan is a Beijing-based, multi-disciplinary design studio that places great emphasis on culture and concept. Founding designers Yao Ye and Lee Xibin exhibited in Milan last year and were recent recipients of the JP TDC 2011 award from Tokyo Type Directors Club. I caught up with Yao Ye and Lee Xibin to find out more.
Where are you both from and what did you study?
Yao Ye (YY): I was born in Dalian and Lee Xibin is from Changsha, Hunan. We both studied Industrial Design at CAFA, although we actually had very little understanding of design before we got there! The 4 years we studied at CAFA were really influential as we learnt all about the industry. We also learnt a lot about traditional Chinese culture and how to integrate aspects of it into our work. Deriving inspiration from culture is extremely important.
Tell us more about your studio.
Lee Xibin (LX): Shan is multi-disciplinary because we strongly believe that every design discipline is interconnected. We use graphics as a medium to communicate our industrial designs, for example, and even developed our own typeface to reflect the character of our studio.
YY: We also focus on concept and believe that a balance between conceptual and market-orientated designs can be achieved. Our course at CAFA heavily promoted the process [of designing] from start to finish, which opened up our eyes.
Tell us about some of your most recent projects.
LX: One of our most recent projects is Sit for Reading where we integrated a selection of our favourite books into the base of a chair we designed. We are also working on a light inspired by the moon.
Other notable projects include Lazy Furniture and Hanzi Life, inspired by different parts of Chinese characters. We eventually made these shapes into scarves and pillows. There's also our origami bag and a project that studies how people of varying walks of life use their shoes.
YY: This project – "Xiu" Shoes Design - transpired from the idea that there are many stories buried in shoes. We collected various pairs of shoes, interviewed their owners and really analysed how they had been used before designing a pair of our own in response. Our design features two layers and different parts of the sole are revealed according to how the shoes are worn.
LX: One of our most conceptual projects entailed placing a chair on a lake. The aim was to explore our relationship with nature; for example, during the summer, few people are able to access the chair unless they make an effort to swim or hire a boat. During wintertime, however, the lake freezes over and many more people can use it. This is Chinese zen - following nature's will.
What are you working on right now?
LX: We are collaborating with Triple Major again (we designed their visual identity) on some new works. Most other designers that work with Triple Major design just clothes; we are going to do things a little different and design fabric patterns also. We are really excited for our cross-disciplinary collaboration - and for the results!
We are also looking at expanding the chair on the lake project and, perhaps, turning it into a series. We want to enhance the aesthetics of the chair, for example, by making it gold or silver to increase desirability and see how reactions differ.
What does the future hold for Shan?
YY: We just want to continue what we're doing and to explore our interests.
Thanks to Lynn Zhang for co-ordinating and translating.


text:
Miele Coffee System Experiences??
- e
- ExercisetoEat May 3, 2007 02:44 PM
Has anyone had a good or bad experiences with the Miele built-in coffee/espresso system? I am planning on installing one (the two cup, not the one that can handle a whole pot) in a new kitchen but haven't used one firsthand.
re: fauchon
FWIW, when people ask about the Miele (or other built-in) coffee "systems" over at the appliance forum (http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/appl/ ), the usual response is to check out the reviews at coffeegeek.com -- and over there, reviews are generally bad...
We were show one when appliance shopping and the sales women made us a latte that was horrid. I have been told the internals of this machine is a Saeco super auto with the Miele front. Saeco makes some inexpensive super autos. If you are thinking of getting into espresso other than lattes I think your money would be spent better elsewhere. The price tag on these built-ins is pretty steep. They look cool though
Miele makes some wonderful appliances, but I can't see getting the coffee system except as a conversation piece. I have seen it demoed in stores and at shows. While it sure looks great, there was nothing special about the coffee itself. It seemed a huge waste of money (as opposed to their dishwashers, which are arguably worth their lofty prices).
A fiend has a built-in and while it looks great, the water needed to be added in an incovenient way and to tell the truth, the coffee was not hot enough. Why don't you look at one of the new beautiful expresso makers out there such as Lilly? For the money, they can really be a centerpiece for your kitchen and the quality appears to be great based on personal experience.
I've tested the Miele built-in coffee systems (and mentioned one model for "How the Other Half Cooks" http://www.chow.com/stories/10540). They're gorgeous, a status symbol, and can make decent coffee/espresso. But I still strongly suggest visiting a Miele showroom for your own hands-on experience to judge for yourself. http://www.miele.com/usa/design-cente...
While you're at it, bring a load of laundry. They encourage it to test their washing machines too.
re: rosey9504
Wow, Rosey, and you didn't rip it out the first time it leaked? I will NEVER have hardwood floors in my kitchen again! My dishwasher leaked, and now I have cupped boards in my oak.
EtoEat, since you asked the question last May, I'm curious what you decided on. I gave the machine serious consideration when I remodeled my kitchen, but decided that since it doesn't also take care of emptying the grounds bin and flushing them down a drain, just having it plumbed didn't cut down all that much on daily maintenance. Plus, the darn thing takes up 2 1/2 feet of running wall space! So if you read this, I'm curious what you went with?
My friend had a built in unit in her kitchen. She always called it "high maintenance" . I had coffee quite a few times and it was always good, but I am afraid it was so good because of really good coffee beans she used. Yes, I saw it drip dirty water before coffee actually came out, so she always had a cup underneath. Last year she moved to a different house and decided not to get Miele unit again. I don't honestly think it is worth $2700.
Well the Miele plumbed in machine is installed in the wall but due to home-building nightmares of epic proportions we're not moved in yet...only a few more weeks...I must say that it looks fantastic installed but the jury is still out on whether it makes a good cup. I have a few friends in Seattle who own Miele machines and love them, using them daily and also for parties. So, I'm optimistic, but will report back in a month.
re: ExercisetoEat
Bless your heart! I think everyone should experience building their own home from scratch once in their life, but anyone who does it twice is certifialbe! Here's hoping there are no more delays and you truly are in in "a few more weeks." As for the Miele, I think you're going to love it. Good luck!
re: ExercisetoEat
EtoEat - I'm also considering a Miele. I actually don't like my coffee to be too hot, so I may be a good candidate. I do look forward to your feedback.
re: luckyb
Saturday night was the first night in our new house and after moving boxes until midnight, coffee was a first priority on Sunday morning! I fired up the Miele machine for the first time and made a decent cappucino considering the only beans I could locate were not an espresso roast, and I was not quite awake while following the instructions! A little later in the morning I adjusted the grinder to a coarser grind and made two cups of coffee that were fantastic. Since then we've made about ten cups of coffee (moving boxes requires a lot of caffine!) and are really impressed with the crema and flavor coming from the Miele. The coffee does not have any bitterness and in my opinion is the perfect temperature for drinking. I don't like my coffee scalding hot. I like to be able to drink it right away and enjoy the flavor. The plumbed in lines are a dream, and I know that this is going to be one of my favorite things about the new house. Once I have a little more time I'll play around with the cappucino/espresso functions and work to perfect those. Yes, it is a very expensive machine, but it makes great coffee, is very convienient, and looks cool. (Plus the nearest coffee shop is 25 minutes away.)
re: ExercisetoEat
Hey Exerciseto eat. Now that it's been six months, how do you like that machine? I'm thinking of installing one or the Bosch. Thoughts?
re: Mom44
Hi Mom44 - Sorry for the late reply. 6 months in, I still think it's the one thing I couldn't live without in my kitchen (I'd even give up the dishwasher before giving up the Miele)! It is so adjustable and functional that I can end up with terrific coffee for whatever mood I'm in and whatever beans I'm using. Lately we've been doing double espressos each morning with an occasional cappucino on the weekend. It's also great for hot chocolate and to make a single cup of tea, which I think I'll be doing a lot more as we head into winter. So far I would give it a 10 out of 10 on performance and quality of drinks.
We had one installed in our kitchen remodel about 4 years ago. I have to say that overall, we are happy we have it. I question if there have not better models released since our purchase so I would definitely do your due diligence.
I had a "heated" discussion at a party last night with someone who says she refused to spend $$ on mere principle but goes to Starbucks (or the like) every morning. Let's see....2 lattes x 365 days x 4 years x $3 each = I'd say I'm ahead of the game from the inital cost. That said, there are other full service espresso machines out there with a smaller price tag that produce comparable quality coffee (if not better). We just valued our counter top space more and were thrilled to have the built in.
We do like the quality of the espresso it produces but it does require a certain amount of effort to maintain. Descaling the appliance regularly keeps the steamer pumping more powerfully and the coffee with lots of crema (this is about a 1 hour process). Whenever I am not getting the right caliber of either I know it's time to descale. We use filtered water so I'm not sure where the scale comes from but I assume this would be a constant with any machine we would use. I am noticing, 4 years into it's use, the need to descale is becoming more and more frequent. When I first got it, I would tell people "It does everything but milk the cow." I don't think I'm saying that anymore.
They did not have a plumbed version released yet when we bought ours. I wish we had that model but refilling the tank is not all that difficult.
Miele's service is amazing. I have literally called in the morning and had the guy here that afternoon. In the 4 years we've had it, he's been here maybe 4-5 times.
As I said, all in all, we are happy we have it. If I had another kitchen to do now, I would definitely have an installed machine but I check out all the options out there before choosing on the Miele again. If nothing else manufactured since has matched or beat it, I would choose it again.
re: MSK
My sister-in-law had one installed in her kitchen, and she really likes it. However, when I tried the coffee (she made a latte first and regular coffee the next day), I thought that the coffee was just OK. For espresso-based drinks, I think that my little Nespresso is far superior, and for coffee, I'm really happy with my Keurig, though nothing, in my opinion, beats my old percolator for hot, rich regular brew. I'll spend money on a lot of gadgets, but I don't think that this Miele would be one of them...
We've been using the machine daily for six months now, and it's still one of my favorite things in the house. After experimenting with beans, grind levels, and types of drinks, we've figured out how to make just what we like, and it's terrific. I'm surprised to hear that descaling on an older machine takes an hour. We've gone through two descaling processes so far (the machine automatically reminds you once you've had a certain number of cups) and it was pretty painless, taking maybe 20 minutes total (and you don't have to be standing there the whole time).
Having a plumbed in machine makes it very very easy and I would definitely spring for this system if (heaven forbid) I ever built again.
re: ExercisetoEat
I just sold my house and left the machine there; I miss it already. I had it for 7 years and loved it. Yes, the visual aspect was big for me, that's why I have a duralit toaster instead of a cheap one; with great beans and maximum setting, the expresso shots are perfect. Demos are not done properly in the showrooms, imo; I once had a demo shot done in a cold metal demitasse, of course it will be barely warm.
Europeans do not drink scalding hot coffee, which takes some getting used to with some machines.
re: superbossmom
I have had a Miele in my home for the past 5 years. Its been nothing but great and we use it everyday. Its the system you have to manuallly fill the water tank whicjh is no big deal.It also is easy to clean and maintain. We have hardwoods throughout the kitchen also as the original kitchen has for 100 years. No issues except for the scratches from the animals. HIghly recommend Miele coffee system.!
re: r8dohead
so far I love mine, I probably have the same system. I have attempted anything but coffee, which has been trial and error trying to make a plain ole cup of joe for my husband. I bought a breakfast blend bean that was mild and he does seem to like that better. I am anxious to make some awesome drinks but dread cleaning the lines so I'm waiting till I get my kitchen back together. I like how the machine automatically flushes before and after use if you program it that way. I have too many new appliances to read up on to get full use just yet. I will update when I have the opportunity to fully experience it. I too have hardwood floors and I certainly expect only the best performance from this machine.
I have had miele coffeed system for 9 years, they make a great cup of coffee, and yes it is in
the bean, just like any good cup of joe. First you can set up the machine on the type of grind, the strength of the coffee(how much water to add).
The system rinses itself when it shuts off and when you turn it on so you do not get
dirty water before the coffee comes out. My unit finally bit the dust, after delivering over 16000 cups of coffee. The new system is built much better, new electronics as well as
internals, Even has a mild storage system for the latte's etc. Easy to clean, yes the system is expensive but not out of line when you are looking for other espresso, cappuccino machines. The new inline feed is the way to go so it takes the work out of filling the water tank.
re: uwf72
Hmmmm............UWf72..........can you please explain "bit the dust"????
I am at a point where I am deciding whether to "fix it or replace it"
I have one of the earlier Miele Coffee Systems - CVA610 ( 8-9 years old, not plumbed). I have, even years ago on this forum, professed my love for it. It was one of the prides of my kitchen and we use it everyday. I do my best to maintain it to every specification.
Miele service in my area has always been good but I now realize that they have been to my home often over the years to attend to this machine. Leaks, new steamer jet, new brew unit, etc. It also seems like as it ages (and even though we use filtered water), I need to descale it more frequently to get the amount of pressure we desire. No other appliance in my home has required this much attention!
But, the poor thing has just no "umph" anymore. I can make my morning latte but the pressure is lighter than it used to be. Consequently, the milk must be steamed for longer making the latte watery. By the time I am out the door with my cup, the foam has collapsed. I checked for anything blocking the steamer tube and have descaled twice this week alone.
I called Miele service and they sounded like they have no idea what could be wrong. "If there is no blockage and it has been descaled....there really is no reason why it shouldn't be working properly." He was baffled.
I had had the steamer jet replaced 1 1/2 years ago so I assume they would have replaced old "O" rings then??? That was also not a warranty repair. $$$!!! What else could be wrong?
Now I am debating as to whether I should just start anew rather than sink any more money into this machine.....Miele is asking $175 for a trip charge?!?!?!
Anyone else have similar long term issues with their Miele Coffees? Are the newer ones more reliable? Would another brand fit in the same custom cabinet opening?
It would be nice to get a plumbed unit but for the price of this thing....shouldn't it last more than 9 years??
We have had the CVA4066 (current US model as of 7-10) plumbed-in version up and running in our kitchen for 7 months now. We experienced several months difficulties with intermittent sensor faults caused by an improperly secured plug jack in the wiring harness. I bought the machine on ebay and found out that there is NO warranty service from Miele on machines purchased there, even if through an authorized dealer. I do not recommend buying a Miele on ebay or craigslist unless you know what you are doing.
I found the problem and fixed it myself.
BUT, other than that, the machine is spectacular. I laughed when I read about the gardenweb->coffeegeek pans of the machine. Here's the thing: find a superautomatic anywhere that the manual pull fanatics at coffeegeek like. It won't happen.
And it is true. You are not going to find a superauto that can equal a carefully prepared shot using good, manual, equipment.
But that is not what we needed. We wanted something that would allow us to walk up the wall, stick our cups under the spout, and get a couple of shots of espresso or a cup of coffee and walk away happy. The Miele does that. And, it is the best engineered and most easily maintained of all the in-wall designs that I looked at. All of the user serviceable parts pull out of the front of the machine. You do not have to pull the whole frame out on rails to fill the beans, etc. And I recommend, without reservation, the self-plumbed model. It is great to never have to worry about the machine not having water. Oh, and it has never even thought about leaking a drop of water.
I have to laugh at ExercisetoEat's housing updates as we just moved in after being told it would be "a few more weeks" back in July to finish our house. It took 14 months total from the ground up, but now that I am home, I am thrilled. We too installed the Miele CVA4066, and so far I really like it, but I want so badly to love it. I was searching around for a forum to see if I could find someone who had done all of the trial & error to find that perfect cup of coffee. I know it's all relative, but there are so many possibilities for customizing this machine that I am finding it a bit daunting. My husband proclaimed that his cup was not strong enough. I thought my cup was delicious, but it could have been a little hotter for me. So, does someone have that perfect cup? Does anyone pre-brew (i.e. steep)? If I want a larger cup of coffee, do I program the amount of water as well as the amount of coffee? I use Major Dickinson Peet's Coffee Beans. If there is another brand that someone loves (that I can buy at my local grocery store in northern CA), please let me know.
I will grow to love this machine, but there is a steep learning curved involved. Thanks!
re: KRoche
I use Peet's Espresso Forte from the local Peet's shops in NoCA. I have found it deeper and richer than Major Dick's.
Also, now that you have had it for a while, it would help to go to a showroom and have them show you the features and how it works best. I'll bet that you were too overwhelmed when you originally made your purchase to absorb the info. It's pretty easy once you get it.
re: MSK
Hey, thanks for the reply! Yes, I was completely overwhelmed initially, but we have figured it all out. I am still searching for a "go-to" bean, so I will certainly try the Peet's roast that you recommend. Major Dick's worked great for our coffeepot, but it's not the right bean for the Miele.
btw, anyone still reading this thread and considering the Miele - do it!
Dont buy it - Initially we loved this machine, but after having the center brew unit fail after a few months, they told us to set on coarse grind & clean frequently , they sent a new one that we cleaned religously (weekly). Now this one has failed and Miele is saying this time it is becuase we use french roast and espresso beans "which are oily" and they recommend not to use those beans or if you do to clean daily. NOWHERE IN THE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS DOES IT STATE THAT BUT WE ARE SOMEHOW SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT. They refuse to replace the brew unit since it is out of warranty and it is our fault we didn't have devine knowledge regarding what beans to use. Their customer service people are arrogant. They told us we should have called and asked their "care & use department" about any issues that are not in their opearting intrusctions when we bought the machine and they would have told us Miele recommends not using "oily beans". IF THEY RECOMMEND THAT - PUT IT IN THE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS!!


text:
To make reservations by phone, call 1-800-228-9290 in the USA and Canada (or any of our worldwide reservation telephone numbers).
1750 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77027
Houston Marriott West Loop by The Galleria
Airport Phone: 1 281 230 3100
Hotel direction: 26.5 miles SW
Follow signs out of Airport to Beltway 8 South/45 South. Take the highway Beltway 8 West to Interstate I-45 South. Take highway ramp to Interstate 610 West. Continue on Interstate 610 West to Interstate 610 South. Proceed on Interstate 610 South for approximately 5 miles. Exit Post Oak Blvd. Proceed on access road passing through Post Oak Blvd remaining on the feeder road of Interstate 610. Hotel entrance is on the right hand side of the access road of Interstate 610 South.
This hotel does not provide shuttle service.
Airport Phone: 1 713 640 3000
Hotel direction: 18 miles NW
Follow signs out of Airport for Interstate 45 North. Take Interstate I-45 North to exit 46B on the left to merge onto TX-288 S toward Lake Jackson/Freeport/US-59 S/Victoria. Take the exit onto US-59 S toward Victoria. Take the Interstate 610 N exit. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for I-610 N and merge onto I-610 N. Take exit 9 toward San Felipe Rd/Post Oak Blvd. Merge onto West Loop S. Sharp left to stay on West Loop S. Destination will be on the right.
This hotel does not provide shuttle service.


text:
Available Colors/Styles
Detail Pics
It's the Circle of Life.
Uncle Wendell isn't doing too well. He spends most of his time pleading for the end to come. His hack is getting worse and his bronchial discharge is becoming alarmingly viscous. It's time to nudge him into the abyss. Slide the Imperial Motion Sherman Shirt over his withered frame, drive him to the zoo, and light his final Red. Nothing entertains like lion-assisted euthanasia.
Share your thoughts
What do you think of the
Imperial Motion Sherman Shirt - Long-Sleeve - Men's
? Share a...
Solid but not great
John G
Member since
Overall I really like this one, but its not my favorite. The fit and comfort are good
Member since
I have had this shirt for a while now and I continue to get compliments. It was slightly long at first but with a couple of washes it fit great. It was a steal for the price.
Probably good for skinny dudes w/short arms.
#1 Headband
Member since
Fabric and construction are good. The fit is not ideal. Short arms w/long torso. I ordered the large. I'm 5'10", 200 bills, athletic build. Shirt fits like a tall-t with narrow shoulders. Not their best work.


text:
Live Free, explore yourself and the world around you.
18+ only please.
Feel Free to submit your pix here! or to the email address, just message me to get it.
AMATEUR SELFSHOTS -, Amateur, Selfshot, Selfpic, Naked, Boobs, Tits, Nipples, Ass, Mirror Monday, Titty Tuesday, Hump day, ThongThursday, Sexy Saturday, NSFW, XXX, Porn, tatas, cameraphone, amateur tits, amateur ass, ex girlfriend, girlfriend, girl next door, wife, girls gone wild, ggw
(via selfshots4us)


text:
On Saturday, October 13, 2012, we launched the public phase of Women for the World, the most ambitious campaign in Smith's history. We celebrated with toasts, speeches, drums, and song. But for me the most moving moment of the evening—the symbol of what this campaign is about—was the speech by Faith Khumalo '15. Born to a 17-year-old mother in Zimbabwe, orphaned at 12, and raised by relatives, she did so well in school she was offered the opportunity to spend a preparatory school year in the United Kingdom; she then came to Smith. Although she was frightened to go so far from home alone, she told us, "My dreams were bigger than my fears." As a sophomore at Smith, she is beginning to realize those dreams. In thanking the alumnae for their support of financial aid, she said, "What you are doing is changing lives."
|Faith Khumalo '15, "My dreams were bigger than my fears."
Again and again that weekend, we saw evidence of how Smith changes lives. On Friday, we watched Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's Oscar-winning documentary, Saving Face, about helping victims of acid burning in Pakistan. Sharmeen, a graduate of the class of 2002, made her first film at Smith as a senior under the auspices of the Kahn Institute. After we watched the film, two courageous alumnae journalists, who graduated forty-five years apart—Trudy Rubin '65 and Shehrbano Taseer '10—took the stage to talk about their work in the Middle East, work pursued often at great personal risk. Vivid in all of our minds was the news that week of Malala Yousefzai, the 15-year-old girl shot by the Taliban because she advocated for girls' education. Sharmeen, Trudy, and Shehrbano are all in different ways involved in the struggle to help girls like Malala realize their dreams.
|Smith College President Carol T. Christ.
Today we have the opportunity and, I believe, the responsibility to extend the reach and power of Sophia Smith's dream. She gave her fortune to achieve it, and we have the chance to give of our fortune to continue her vision. We choose to do this work not for ourselves, nor even solely for Smith's greater good. We choose to do it for women around the world so that they, like you, can experience the transformative impact of a Smith education. We choose to do it because the world needs women to be the leaders they are meant to be. We accept our responsibility with courage and conviction to continue Sophia's legacy—educating women for the world, making Smith a perennial blessing to it. Aar from home alone, she told us, "My dreams were bigger than my fears." As a sophomore at Smith, she is beginning to realize those dreams. In thanking the alumnae for their support of financial aid, she said, "What you are doing is changing lives."


text:
Weights & Dimensions
|Product Type: Standard
|Number of Shades: 1
|cUL Listed: Yes
|Assembly Required: Yes
|Tools Needed: Slotted and Phillips head screwdrivers
|Product Warranty: 1 year
|Shade Shape: Drum/Cylinder
|UL Listed: Yes
|Additional Parts Required: No
|Style: Contemporary
|Shade Material: Fabric
|Energy Star Compliant: No
|Fixture Finish: Sherbet and brushed nickel
|Shade Material Details: Shantung
|Damp, Dry or Wet Location Listed: Dry
|Shade Color: Off-White
|Fixture Material: Metal; Glass
|CPSIA or CPSC Compliant: Yes
|Hardware Material: Stainless Steel
|General Conformity Certificate: Yes
|Number of Lights: 1
|Bulb Type: Incandescent
|Light Direction: Ambient
|Wattage per Bulb: 150 Watts (W)
|Bulbs Included: No
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|Switch Type: On/Off Switch
|Cord Color: Silver
|Commercial Use: Yes
|Eco-Friendly: No
|Product Care: Wipe with a soft dry cloth
|Country of Manufacture: China
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OUR SKU # TED1236This item is also sometimes listed under the following manufacturer numbers: TT1308


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Our images highlight recent events hosted by Senate Democrats. All photographs appearing in this gallery are government-produced works. You can also follow Democratic Senators on Flickr.
Steering and Outreach HTF on Immigration
Hispanic Task Force Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Hurricane Sandy Vote
Senators. Schumer, Gillibrand, Lautenberg and Menendez react to Hurricane Sandy Vote.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform framework
Senators Durbin, Schumer, Menendez, McCain & Rubio on Comprehensive Immigration Reform framework
Senator John Kerry Confirmation Hearing
Introductions of Sentor Kerry by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Warren and Senator MCCain


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I went to see The Hunger Games this weekend, and call me crazy, but I think it's safe to say I wasn't the only one—the movie raked in an astounding $155 million, including $20 million just on its first night in theaters. Hunger Games hasn't been without its detractors, but overall it's not only been a commercial smash hit (third-best domestic debut in the history of movies!), it's been a critical success too, with an 86 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A" via CinemaScore.
Personally, I loved it. I mean, I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I clapped at the end. My husband, however, thought it was "pretty good."
Now, my husband is a man of sometimes-dubious taste (for instance, he's a big fan of a TV show called The Joy of Fishing), but based on some of his questions during the film, I wonder if those who didn't read the book had a different—and sometimes confused—take on the movie.
Here are some of the sotto voce conversations we had during Hunger Games (oddly enough our theater was nearly empty at 6:15 on Friday, so we could whisper a bit without disturbing anyone):
(Warning: if you haven't seen the movie, spoilers ahead!)
When we first see the Capitol citizens en masse
My husband: "So are they all ... punk rockers, or something?"
In the book, the people in the Capitol are very refined, very rich, and very vain. They love adornments, from crazy ornate eyelash extensions to neon-hued fashion. Is it obvious in the movie that the Capitol is the polar opposite from the working-class Districts that serve it? Yes, and also it seems obvious that one of the main visual differences (aside from architecture and food) between the groups is the luxury of being able to focus on style, but maybe all those freaky hairstyles and whatnot comes across as pointlessly weird to a non-fan?
During the Games, when we see Gale watching the Peeta/Katniss footage with a pained expression
My husband: "Who the hell cares what that guy thinks?"
Okay, it's true that Gale doesn't exactly have a hugely starring role in the movie. The love triangle aspect of the book is pretty much missing altogether in the film, which I was perfectly happy with—it was never my favorite part anyway. It would have been impossible to include every single character nuance and storyline in a two-hour film, so if someone was going to get short-changed, I'm not sorry it was Gale. (Give me Cinna and Haymitch over Gale any day.) However, I can see how it might seem a bit odd for filmgoers totally unfamiliar with the original story—like, why do we keep checking in to see how this somewhat random brown-haired guy is reacting to the Games?
During the cave scene with Peeta and Katniss
My husband: "Okay, I don't get it. Does she really love him? Or what?"
I just read a review somewhere that dissed Jennifer Lawrence's ability to show affection for Peeta in the film, and I wonder if anyone new to the book didn't fully understand that Katniss was tasked with playing up the star-crossed lovers angle for the sponsors. Later she becomes confused by her feelings for Peeta, but in the midst of the Games she's focused on surviving, not mooning over bread boy. In the movie, it's clear enough that Peeta truly loves Katniss, but I don't know if everyone got the fact that she was faking a romance, not falling headfirst into one.
Like I said, I absolutely loved the movie—even the things that were altered (Haymitch watching the Capitol children! Seneca Crane and the poisoned berries! Snow's conversations in the rose garden, which created a tidy prelude for Catching Fire! The tracker jacker-induced flashback!). But then again, I really, really loved the book—maybe it was harder to fall for the movie without knowing the backstory.
Check out this coverage about The Hunger Games' record weekend:
Image via IMDB
My friends who didn't read it had some questions...but now they're both reading the book so... But they both thought it was a good movie. I prepared them explaining as much about the districts and the basic premises as best I could without giving anything away before hand.
I thought it was seriously lacking in depth. I really felt like the only reason I knew what was going on - at all - was because I had read the books. They do nothing to make us really care about any character other than Katniss - and Peeta...a little. All in all, I think they glossed over a little bit too much to make it a true representation of the world and spent far too little time on character development.
That being said...what would I have cut out to add in more substance? Nothing. They didn't focus on the wrong things, they simply didn't do enough.
Yeah, my husband was a bit confused by some things since he hadn't read the books. He's also a game designer and some things about the Games themselves made him mad. Now he's going to read the books to see if it was Collins' fault or the movie's. :)
I read the books, loved them, and I was very pleasantly surprised with how good the movie was. But, I read the books, so I was able to fill in any blanks. My husband asked so many questiones throughout the movie I almost moved away from him! haha He said it was good, but he felt like something was missing, so I spent the whole car ride home explaining things to him.
My husband hadn't read the books and so he had a couple questions as well, but he enjoyed it and followed the story for the most part. The biggest thing that stumped him was the dogs, but after I explained that the Capital often mutated animals and used them against people he got it.
I read the books and love them and I just can't get past all the things that were left out of the movie that made the books so incredibly good! My husaband didn't read the books and he thought the movie was just "okay." It's impossible to get everything in from the books so maybe I should just stop seeing the movies that come out after the books because most of the time it's disappointing to me.
I was really upset with the way the ending was changed in the movie. I do agree, though, that the movie would probably not be as fun for people that haven't read the book.


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Linea Giuseppe Lucca Violin
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Beautiful, hand selected spruce top. Tight to medium even grain. One piece maple back tightly flamed. Ribs and scroll similar. Finished in a golden ground with an amber oil varnish. Well fashioned, fine Italian ebony fittings.
Brand: Linea Giuseppe Lucca
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While hardly a spiritual upgrade of the slasher film, this high-concept teen body-count thriller drops hints of The Sixth Sense into the smart-aleck sensibility of Scream. Helmed by X-Files veteran James Wong, who cowrote the screenplay with longtime creative partner Glen Morgan, Final Destination is an often entertaining thriller marked by an unsettling sense of unease and scenes of eerie imagery. It suffers, however, from a schizophrenic tone and a frankly ludicrous premise. A high school Cassandra, Alex Browning (Devon Sawa of Idle Hands), wakes from a preflight nightmare and panics when he's convinced the plane is doomed. His ruckus bumps seven passengers from the Paris-bound plane, which immediately explodes into a fireball on takeoff, but fate hasn't finished with these lucky few and, one by one, death claims them. Wong brings such a funereal tone to these early scenes of survivor's guilt and inevitable doom that the already far-fetched film threatens to veer into unplanned absurdity. Thankfully, the tale loosens up with a playful morgue humor: one of the victims winds up the splattered punch line to a grim joke and elaborate Rube Goldbergesque chains of cause and effect become inspired spectacles of destruction. Final Destination is a pretty silly thriller when it takes itself seriously, and the filmmakers play fast and loose with their own rules of fate, but once they stick their tongues firmly in cheek, the film takes off with a screwy interpretation of the domino effect of doom. --Sean Axmaker
Clear Rivers:
Being alive after we were supposed to die caused an outward ripple. A RIFT IN DEATHS DESIGN!
So, If you hadn't gotten off the plane, we wouldn't be alive to begin with.
Clear Rivers:
YES! That's why death is working backwards. It's tying up all the loose ends, and sealing the rift once and for all.
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Spineless Mom Defies the Odds
This mom is truly amazing.
Last night on "Born Different: Unbelievable Medical Conditions" on the E! Network, an incredible mom was featured.
Rose Siggins has no lower spine or legs due to a condition called Sacral Agenesis. Yet, she was able to give birth to two kids.
Check out this amazing video:
Rose is such an inspiration to us all.
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