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Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus/Species: Ammodramus maritimus Subspecies: Ammodramus maritimus peninsulae Common Name: Scott's seaside sparrow
Federal Status: Not Listed FL Status: State Species of Special Concern FNAI Ranks: G4T3/S3 (Globally: Apparently Secure, Sub sp. Rare/ State: Rare) IUCN Status: Not ranked
The Scott's seaside sparrow is a larger member of the Genus Ammodramus that can reach a length of six inches (15 centimeters) with a wingspan of 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) (Kale 1996). Scott's seaside sparrow has a grayish-brown or grayish-olive upper body, a brown breast, a long bill, and short pointed tail (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001).
The diet of the Scott's seaside sparrow consists of crustaceans, insects, spiders, and seeds mainly from marsh floors. The bill is used in foraging for prey in the mud on the marsh floor.
Seaside sparrows nest in clumps of fallencordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) andblack needle rush(Juncus roemarianus).Nesting is unique because two different types of nests are built. Open nests are built deep in vegetation while more complicated domed nests are built in less dense vegetation. They will form a canopy over the nest by pulling down blades of grass. During one nesting, three to four eggs will be laid with incubation lasting for 12 to 13 days. Young seaside sparrows are able to fly at nine to ten days of age.
Seaside sparrows primarily inhabit tidal marshes in Florida. Scott's seaside sparrow can be found from Pasco County to Pepperfish Keys in Dixie County, Florida (M. Delany pers. comm. 2011).
The Scott's seaside sparrow faces many threats to its population, with habitat loss and fragmentation being the main threats. Salt marshes are vulnerable to the practice called "dredge and fill" which involves dredging salt marshes and filling them with sediment. This practice is done to provide increased areas for human development such as coastal housing. Dredge and fill also causes the decrease of available prey for the seaside sparrows. Salt marshes are also threatened by dam operations, chemicals and toxins, invasive plants, road and bridge construction, industrial/oil spills, and shoreline hardening. Seaside sparrows will desert their salt marsh habitat when woody vegetation becomes too dominant. Other threats include increased predation and nesting site competition with rice rats (Post 1981, Post et al. 1983).
The Scott's seaside sparrow is protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and as a State Species of Special Concern by Florida's Endangered and Threatened Species Rule .
Biological Status Review (BSR) Supplemental Information for the BSR
Encyclopedia of Life FWC Breeding Bird Atlas Florida Natural Areas Inventory The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Printable version of this page
Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2001. Field guide to the rare animals of Florida. http://www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Ammodramus_maritimus.pdf .
Kale, H.W., II. 1996. Seaside Sparrows. Pages 608-615 in J.A. Rodgers, Jr., H.W. Kale II, and H.T. Smith (Eds.). Rare and endangered biota of Florida, Vol. V: Birds. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Post, W. 1981. The influence of rice rats Oryzomys palustris on the habitat use of the seaside sparrow Ammospiza maritima. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 9:35-40.
Post, W., J. S. Greenlaw, T. L. Merriam, and L. A. Wood. 1983. Comparative ecology of Northern and Southern populations of the seaside sparrow. Pgs. 123-136 In, The Seaside Sparrow, Its Biology and Management. North Carolina Biological Survey and North Carolina State Museum.
Image Credit Photo courtesy of John Mangold
FWC Facts:Tarpon are also known as silver kings, tarpum, cuffum and sábalos.
Learn More at AskFWC


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There is, indeed, Guly; this is a socialness which we have not shared before for months, and never may again.
late 15c., "devoted to or relating to home life;" 1560s as "living with others," from Middle French social (14c.) and directly from Latin socialis "of companionship, of allies; united, living with others; of marriage, conjugal," from socius "companion, ally," probably originally "follower," from PIE *sokw-yo-, suffixed form of root *sekw- (1) "to follow," and thus related to sequi "to follow" (see sequel). Cf. Old English secg, Old Norse seggr "companion," which seem to have been formed on the same notion). Related: Socially.
Sense of "characterized by friendliness or geniality" is from 1660s. Meaning "living or liking to live with others; companionable, disposed to friendly intercourse" is from 1720s. Meaning "of or pertaining to society as a natural condition of human life" first attested 1695, in Locke. Sense of "pertaining to fashionable society" is from 1873.
Social climber is from 1893; social work is 1890; social worker 1904. Social drink(ing) first attested 1976. Social studies as an inclusive term for history, geography, economics, etc., is attested from 1916. Social security "system of state support for needy citizens" is attested from 1908. Social butterfly is from 1867, in figurative reference to "flitting."
Social contract (1849) ultimately is from Rousseau. Social Darwinism attested from 1887. Social engineering attested from 1899. Social science is from 1811. In late 19c. newspapers, social evil is "prostitution." Social justice is attested by 1718; social network by 1971; social networking by 1984.
"friendly gathering," 1870, from social (adj.). In late 17c. it meant "a companion, associate."
"friendly gathering," 1870, from social (adj.). In late 17c. it meant "a companion, associate."

subset: commoncrawl


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The Audi A6 has been around for a number of years and always seemed to play second fiddle to the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class. By no means is it an inferior vehicle- it comes with powerful and fuel-efficient engine options, cabins full of technology and luxurious styling, and Audi's famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system on select trim levels. For whatever reason, it just wasn't the go-to option for buyers seeking a sporty luxury midsized sedan.
K&N Replacement Air Filter for Audi A6 2.0L
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The E-2987 is designed to increase horsepower and acceleration and is an easy to install performance upgrade for your Audi A6. It's a direct replacement for the factory air box. The filter is round in shape and utilizes a durable urethane seal to ensure a tight, positive seal. E-2987 uses K&N's oiled cotton gauze air filter media to help minimize restriction, improve airflow, and provide excellent filtration efficiency.
Flow Chart for K&N Audi A6 2.0L Air Filter E-2987
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The E-2987 is also backed by K&N's famous Million Mile Limited Warranty and Consumer Protection Pledge, offering owners the assurance that this K&N air filter will not void your car's warranty and a wise investment. It just makes sense, you can save time and money and increase performance on your Audi A6 with the K&N E-2987 lifetime air filter.
By simply swapping your factory paper air filter for K&N E-2987, Audi A6 models listed below can receive a lifetime of performance and engine protection: 2016 AUDI A7 2.0L L4 2016 AUDI A7 1.8L L4 2016 AUDI A6 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 2016 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 2016 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel 2016 AUDI A6 1.8L L4 2015 AUDI A7 2.0L L4 2015 AUDI A7 1.8L L4 2015 AUDI A6 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 2015 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 2015 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel 2015 AUDI A6 1.8L L4 2014 AUDI A7 2.0L L4 2014 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 2014 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel 2013 AUDI A6 QUATTRO 2.0L L4 2013 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 2013 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel 2012 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 2012 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel 2011 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 - 4G2, 4G5 Models 2011 AUDI A6 2.0L L4 Diesel - 4G2, 4G5 Models
For all K&N Audi A6 2.0L air filters visit the Air Filters for Audi A6 page on KNFilters.com.


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Outage Notification: Central Authentication Service, Thursday, September 26, 2013
Who/What does this affect?
- arachnid.ndsu.nodak.edu
- All websites and web applications using CAS (Central Authentication Service) authentication will be unable to authenticate
When is this happening?
- Date: Thursday, September 26, 2013
- Time: 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. (CT)
Please contact the IT Help Desk at 231-8685, option 1, if you have any questions about this notification.


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After comparing this coin to the pictures on this site, http://coinauctionshelp.com/BarberHalfDollar_grading.html#.VMplPiyRyic, I believe the condition of this coin is Good. I will let you avid coin collectors decide for yourselves from the pictures.
We are not coin collectors. We are silver buyers. We have bought many bags of what they call "junk silver". Unlike many other silver buyers I have opened up these bags and tediously sorted these coins by date and mint mark. In the process I have found quite a few coins that should be in someone's collection rather than our pile of silver.
Our intention is to sell these collectable coins so we can convert them to an even bigger pile of silver. If you guys don't want them, when the time comes, they will probably be lost forever to the melting furnace.
Shipping / Handling Cost | Cost For Each Additional Item | Service |
$0.00 - Free Shipping | $0.00 | Economy Shipping (1 to 10 business days) |


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A photographic look at this week's National Football League games
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Nick Eason brings down Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (L) during the second half of their NFL football game in Minneapolis, October 21, 2012. Minnesota won 21-14.
Indianapolis Colts' Vick Ballard (33) is upended by Cleveland Browns' Craig Robertson (53) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Indianapolis. The Colts won 17-13.
(Michael Conroy/AP) -
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) scores a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills defenders George Wilson (37) and Aaron Williams (23) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. The Titans won 35-34.
(Bill Wippert/AP) -
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) tries to hold onto a pass as Carolina Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (41) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C. The Cowboys won 19-14.
(Bob Leverone/AP) -
Houston Texans running back Ben Tate, left, jumps over Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) and teammate Derek Newton (75) for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Texans won 43-13.
(Jose Yau/AP) -
New York Giants Martellus Bennett (L) makes a catch next to Washington Redskins Madieu Williams (R) in the first quarter during their NFL football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, October 21, 2012. The Giants won 27-23.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, right, looks to pass under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in St. Louis. The Packers won 30-20.
(Seth Perlman/AP) -
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (83) dives over the goal line as New Orleans Saints free safety Malcolm Jenkins (27) flips through the air after scoring on a 17-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Tampa, Fla. The Saints won 35-28.
(Phelan Ebenhack/AP) -
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets during the first quarter of their NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts October 21, 2012. The Patriots won 29-26 in overtime.
(JESSICA RINALDI/Reuters) -
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91) and San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) for a two yard gain the in the first quarter on Oct. 18, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. The 49ers won 13-6.
(Paul Kitagaki Jr./AP) -
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings (23) runs as Oakland Raiders linebacker Philip Wheeler (52) reaches for him during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP) -
Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Chris Crocker (33) celebrates with safety Reggie Nelson (20) and linebacker Vontaze Burfict after Crocker intercepted a pass by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, in Cincinnati. The Steelers won 24-17.
(Michael Keating/AP)
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A night at the rodeo


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Let's Just Stay on the Road Permanently
Another road game, another convincing win. Yawn. If only we could play with this passion and crispness at home.
That was one hell of a game. In the first half, the Spurs put on a clinic on offensive execution, getting everything they wanted and making most of their shots. It was a sight to see. In the second half, the shots stopped falling as easily and the Thunder made some adjustments on defense that gummed up the works of the offense, and the game got really close. Despite blowing the huge lead, I think there is more to be learned and gained from winning a close game on the road against the prohibitive best team in the West. I really loved the way the team kept fighting and playing hard, and always seemed to come up with the right big play in the right moment to stem the tide and hold off the Thunder.
And that brings us to perhaps the most important note of the game: the absence of Richard Jefferson. But let's not think in those terms, let's think of it like this: the continued emergence (and in many ways, re-emergence) of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Think of how many big plays both players made throughout the game on both offense and defense. Green, in particular, made tons of plays in the 4th quarter to help win the game. Obviously, the steal and dunk of the inbounds pass. But he also made several huge shots when the lead had gotten down to 2 points. And, to my eyes, he played some great defense on Westbrook and Harden.
Had Jefferson been playing, most likely one of those two players would not have been out there at a key moment. And would Jefferson had made any of those plays? Perhaps a few of the shots, but most likely none of the defensive plays. Would he have still won the game? Maybe. But I like our chances a lot better without him. Which is what the term 'addition by subtraction' means.
Both Leonard and Green will have to play important minutes in any sort of deep playoff run. It's prudent to get them ready for that. It's trial by fire, and both are proving quite comfortable in the heat.
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- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
Mar 20, 2013A good multiplayer beat 'em up action combat video game with a solid ground and a tutorial campaign for lone gamers. However, all of its colourful characters you may use to smash your faces up in a great number of multiplayer modes are lacking the most important thing - gamers themselves.
Feb 25, 2013The single-player game is entertaining enough and full of replayability but the structure and narrative suggest it was an afterthought when the idea of a multiplayer only title, or the challenge of learning the game in an online arena, was deigned unreasonable.
Feb 13, 2013Anarchy Reigns is one of the cheesiest games in recent years. It's limburger, gouda, mozzarella and various other assorted dairy products rolled up into one package of lactating violence and rap songs that will leave your head spinning and your thumbs broken. But if you happen to take a bite of that cheddar, you might just fall in love with it.
Feb 8, 2013If the prospect of playing an online fighting game that strikes a satisfying balance between old-school brawlers and modern action games appeals to you, I honestly can't imagine that Anarchy Reigns will disappoint.
Jan 30, 2013Anarchy Reigns is not on the same level of Vanquish and Bayonetta, those who venture into the game with this premise in mind will be disappointed. Rather it is a beat'em up designed for multiplayer, reusing some of the assets of Madworld and on small budget, which entertains at a lower price than usual.
Playstation Official Magazine AustraliaJan 28, 2013[T]here are people playing Anarchy Reigns – but there's not a lot of them, and they're all a million times better than you. The terrible shame of it – and the dilemma for us – is that it's pretty obvious Anarchy Reigns would be incredible if only it could only attract more players. Battling it out with the bots, we often saw glimpses of what could've been, and were always left wanting more. [January 2013, p66]
Jan 25, 2013This is a hardcore Japanese action game, through and through. Its rigid, uncompromising mission structure can be less than accommodating but nonetheless charming. It's difficult, rewarding, and satisfying in equal measure.
Jan 24, 2013There is fun to be had here - a lot of fun in fact, if you're prepared to dig and claw for it. For those people, anarchy will indeed reign, but everyone else will find themselves wishing for a little more law and order.
Jan 24, 2013If you don't take Anarchy Reigns seriously, it's worth a look, and it's got a nice discounted price tag to boot. It's a big, colorful, ridiculous brawler about a bunch of cybernetically-enhanced idiots who don't realize how ridiculous they are, and while the single-player campaign's about five times as frustrating as it needs to be, the multiplayer's decent once you get a handle on it.
Jan 23, 2013It's hard to know where to place Anarchy Reigns. Character action? Multiplayer fighting game? In all essence it's a bit of both and it's utterly brilliant in its sheer insanity. With a short campaign that manages to out-weird Konami and a chaotic, beginner-friendly yet deep multiplayer, Anarchy Reigns delivers on most of its promises.
Jan 22, 2013While the overall setting and characters are both delightfully stupid and unironically bizarre, there's little else in the game's narrative that's much to write home about. The story itself is rather bland and melodramatic, and the single player campaign is frought with repetitive missions and fights. The multiplayer doesn't fare better, with interchangeable characters and game modes that leave something to be desired.
Jan 21, 2013Weak graphics and underpopulated servers aside, Anarchy Reigns is a great game. The strong story and extensive multiplayer are the main draws.
Jan 20, 2013An inventive, compelling online brawler, the likes of which you won't have experienced before. It is technical and spectacular enough that it accommodates both skilled players and those who just want to mash some buttons and watch the sparks fly.
Jan 18, 2013This action-packed title is fully focused on online play, and will offer classic hack-and-slashing to those who are willing to try it. The downfall comes in the form of a bland campaign and some other technical issues that will have to be ignored in order to enjoy a game that, if we stick to its virtues, can be serious fun.
Jan 18, 2013Pure fun is what Anarchy Reigns aims for with its combat-system and chaotic game-modes. And if we solely look at a few of the multiplayer modes it somewhat achieves its aspirations. But even if you're expecting a shallow beat 'm up, Anarchy Reigns lacks polish, charisma and flow. Things we've come to expect from developer Platinum Games. It never seems to be able to keep its own chaotic content in check, which makes this an expendable experience.
Jan 17, 2013Surely not one of Platinum Games' best moments, but as a budget title this online brawler can offer some enjoyable mindless action.
Jan 16, 2013Anarchy Reigns may not have an incredibly in-depth story and also has some nagging flaws that detract from its otherwise entertaining gameplay, but it's enjoyable enough to warrant a playthrough.
Jan 16, 2013While the audience that Anarchy Reigns is trying to reach is surely a broad one, the number of gamers who will actually latch on to and continue to play the game is surely a small one. High skill and extreme patience are two qualities needed to succeed here.
Jan 15, 2013Developing a multiplayer-centric title is all well and good, but Anarchy Reigns could have been something more. Playing solo is a necessity for honing your skills and unlocking new options before you take the fight online, but those tight controls and enjoyable combat feel wasted during the hollow and repetitive single-player campaign.
Jan 14, 2013Anarchy Reigns can be lots of fun, but the muddled and clichéd story doesn't help the campaign, and neither does the general repetitive nature of the gameplay.
Jan 14, 2013Anarchy Reigns is disappointing. The story is almost non-existent, the single player is repetitive and boring, the fighting is shallow and the multiplayer is decent at best. The only plus point is the awesome hip hop soundtrack.
Jan 14, 2013Leave the inner critic at the door and dive into Anarchy Reigns without cynicism. Anyone hoping to do some soul-searching will be sour by the end, but if you've got a need for anarchy SEGA and Platinum have this dish piping hot. Anarchy Reigns is violent, vulgar, and a confusingly hilarious, all within a tight budget.
Jan 14, 2013Anarchy Reigns delivers an intense fighting experience, packed with a double single player campaign and plenty of multiplayer modes, all for a budget price.
Jan 11, 2013An inspired reinvention of multiplayer brawling, that carves out a whole new action genre for itself and those brave enough to learn its ins and outs.
Jan 11, 2013The mindless enemy encounters in the empty open world aren't why you want to play this, but it's almost necessary to make the most of the multiplayer's exciting madness and unpredictability.
Jan 11, 2013This is one of those games that, in a few years, might become a classic no one understood. If you want to make the most of it, jump into the multiplayer modes as soon as you can.
Jan 9, 2013It may not be Platinum Games' most technically sophisticated piece of work, but it's damn good all the same. For $30, it's a total steal, and a great way to kick off 2013.
Jan 9, 2013A Frenetic and varied online beat´em up, plenty of options and game modes... but a bit insubstantial for the solo players.
Jan 9, 2013It's surprising to see a game from a truly esteemed developer fall into such an indistinct art style, borrowing characters but none of the gripping visuals from Madworld – just as it's surprising that Platinum can botch a camera, deliver another stuttering framerate, and display so many rough edges. But most surprising is that for all these flaws, Anarchy Reigns is still a fulfilling online experience.
Official PlayStation Magazine BeneluxJan 8, 2013Anarchy Reigns is not a complex fighter like Bayonetta or the Devil May Cry-games. Dodging is pretty basic, the number of combos is limited and the ability to cancel an incoming attack and counter it with one of your own is absent. [January 2013, p.76]
Jan 8, 2013The campaign is rough at times but overall entertaining, though I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a high-caliber action experience.
Jan 8, 2013Anarchy Reigns is exactly the kind of game that 'gamers' say they want: original, high-octane action with bags of depth, plenty of modes and multiplayer. It's all game, all of the time.
Oct 21, 2012In single player the game suffers from a huge lack of varied content and could do with a more flexible fighting-system. It's understandable perhaps that the developers didn't want to burden their central multiplayer mode with the complex combos of something like Bayonetta, for example. But in doing so, Anarchy's single- and multiplayer modes keep on holding each other back. Still, regardless of its problems, matches regularly end up being a ton of fun.
Sep 10, 2012Anarchy Reigns is far from perfect, but despite being less visually striking than the developer's past titles, it nevertheless embodies much of that Platinum Games spirit, blending energy, humour, transforming robots and hammer-wielding cyborg bulls. There's real character here, and at the back end of this generation, there are too few games that can truly lay claim to such praise.
Aug 1, 2012Anarchy Reigns sits awkwardly, then: its balanced multiplayer mode means a fixed moveset and an unremarkable singleplayer campaign, while the high online player count means matches too often descend into scrappy pileups. Neither its on- or offline offerings are essential, but Platinum has shown that an online brawler can work. It's rough around the edges, sure, but it's a proof of concept to build on.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
Positive: 17 out of 23
Mixed: 6 out of 23
Negative: 0 out of 23
Jan 10, 2013
Jan 12, 2013
Jan 11, 2013


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WIZARDS-THUNDER PREVIEWBy: Jeremy HymanThe Wizards return to the floor tonight as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Verizon Center (7:00 pm | TV: CSN | Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM). This will be the first meeting of the season between these two teams. The schedule makers did the Wizards no favors when they lined up the two representatives from last season's NBA Finals for a back-to-back set. The Wizards lost to the Heat last night in Miami and tonight they take on the Thunder. The Thunder also played yesterday, as they took down the Toronto Raptors, 104-92, yesterday afternoon in Toronto. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 45 points and 14 assists in the win. The two of them are no secrets in the league as they are two of the brightest young stars in the game today. While it is difficult to shut them down, the Wizards will need to not let them get out in transition and score easy buckets. The key will be to force tough shots and not let the role players make key contributions. Just before the regular season started, the Thunder made headlines when they traded Olympian James Harden to Houston in exchange for Kevin Martin. The move shook up their roster, but now Martin is a top candidate for 6th man of the year, averaging 15.4 points per game off the bench. A career 38% 3-point shooter, he is up to 45% from behind the arc in 2012-13. The Wizards will want to get off to a good start and quickly forget about the last seven minutes of last night's game in which they were held scoreless. Kevin Seraphin led the Wizards with 14 points last night and could be asked to play a big role again tonight with this being the second game of a back-to-back and Nene on a minutes limit. The action kicks off at 7pm.
Right after given the task of defending LeBron James last night, Martell Webster gets the assignment of Kevin Durant tonight. While he won't be alone in defending Durant, he will likely start the game marking him and will need to try and make the game as uncomfortable as possible for one of the NBA's leading scorers. Webster gives up some size to Durant, but he is one of the more athletic defenders the Wizards possess and should be able to stay with Durant on the perimeter. Last night, the Wizards used Jan Vesely at times to take on James and tonight they could go to Ves off the bench to match-up with a similar framed player in Durant. Webster has scored in double figures in four of the past five games and is one of the more consistent players on the Wizards roster. In the below clip, Martell Webster speaks to the media after last night's game in Miami. In this clip, Webster finished with authority. |


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The Motley Fool Discussion Boards
Previous Page | |
Sports / 77's Foolish House of Pigskin |
Subject: Re: Big Ten expansion? | Date: 11/20/2012 11:56 AM | |
Author: patchdodd | Number: 92903 of 103924 | |
Pittsburgh might be a good fit. Syracuse never in the game. Rutgers is a perfect fit. Explained brilliantly here: http://oblongspheroid.blogspot.com/2010/05/big-ten-expansion... So Big Ten expansion is in and out of the news with rumor this and rumor that and every other week or so sportstalk radio gets fired up with the latest "news". Every time the topic comes up I feel that the most important issue gets overlooked; this isn't an expansion for this year or this decade or ever the next 20 years. This is forever. The Big Ten was formed in 1895 with 7 schools, 3 more were added over the next 17 years with Ohio State the last. When the University of Chicago dropped sports in 1946, Michigan State College replaced them. My point here is that the Big Ten is not only an exclusive membership, it is a permanent one. No school has ever left the conference for another, no school has ever been dropped by the conference. So the spot where I am leading this should be pretty obvious. The Big Ten has to be really careful who they invite to join, and they have to be just as careful with who they omit (I'm looking at you, Notre Dame). Any argument for the inclusion of a school must consider the quality and history of an institution beyond any immediacy or ego. There have been a lot of proposals that the Big Ten issue an ultimatum to Notre Dame: join now or never participate with our member schools in athletics again. This would be a stupid ultimatum because it only addresses current politics, not the history of the institutions involved. Any expansion of the Big Ten beyond 14 teams absolutely must include Notre Dame. I believe the Council of Presidents understands this, I believe that Notre Dame understands this. This goes beyond regionality, natural rivalries or history - all of which heavily support the inclusion of Notre Dame in the Big Ten. Notre Dame is so like the Big Ten schools in culture, quality of education and academic and athletic goals that the idea of excluding this institution "forever" is ludicrous. In addition to Notre Dame, schools that are the most natural additions are Pittsburgh (230 years old and top 25 in annual research dollars), Missouri (180 years old, major land grant university, overwhelming leader in research dollars in Missouri). Rutgers predates the United States and is a major chemistry and medical research university. At 50,000 students they would be one of the larger schools in the Big Ten. At 19,000 students Nebraska represents the smallest of the currently proposed invitees - other than Notre Dame, however they are a Carnegie Research institution and a member of the Association of American Universities, both prestigious and both make a strong argument for inclusion in the Big Ten. At $80M Notre Dame wouldn't be considered a top research school by Big Ten standards. Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State (in that order) each outspend Notre Dame by about ten times annually. Pittsburgh spends over $600M. Nebraska a relative lightweight ~ $110M. What Notre Dame provides is quality, character and branding. These are not insignificant, but Notre Dame needs to realize - and likely does - that they are not big dogs when it comes to the things that the Big Ten member institutions do best - things that are not demonstrated on athletic fields. |
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Ducks' Ryan speaks out again, but contritely
ANAHEIM – Angered by his name continuously swirling in trade rumors, Bobby Ryan unleashed his frustration with Ducks management earlier this summer and then tuned out.
For the first time since he said he'd be fine with being dealt, Ryan addressed those comments and asserted that his first desire is to be with the team that drafted him second overall in 2005 and watched become a goal-scoring sniper.
"I wanted to come back to (my home in) Newport Beach and come back to this team and this group of guys," Ryan said Wednesday after a voluntary workout at Anaheim Ice. "Always. That was the No. 1 thing."
Skating with teammates and other NHL players as they await the prospect of a lockout, Ryan was making his first appearance back in Southern California after a summer of tumult largely of his own doing.
The winger lashed out in June while Ducks officials were at the NHL Draft, telling a New Jersey-based newspaper that the team has "shown me nothing to prove that they want me here, unfortunately."
"Obviously, it's not the ideal situation," he told the Camden Courier-Post. "When you get drafted, you want to win championships with that team and every time they look to add a piece to the puzzle, I'm the piece going the other way.
"I gotta be honest with you. At this point, I don't care. Move me ... because it's just tough going to the rink every day knowing that if something goes wrong, you're going to be the guy moved."
Ryan said he now regrets doing the interview with a reporter that his father knew while he was participating in an all-day charity golf tournament, calling it "a mistake and a slip up on my part."
"I just told him at this point, I'm tired of fielding questions (about being traded)," he said. "I'm tired of asking. Just move me if that's what the best interest of your team is. And if you think it's in the best interest for me, great. I'm OK with that.
"But about 10 minutes after the interview, I was like, 'Gosh, I shouldn't have done that, seeing that I'm teeing off on the 37th hole of the day after 11 o'clock.' It was kind of stupid.
"At that point, you can't kick yourself for too long. I knew that if (Ducks general manager Bob Murray) really had a problem with it, he would reach out to me. That never happened."
Both Ryan and his agent, Mark Guy of Toronto-based Newport Sports Management, said that they've never asked the Ducks for a trade and the club confirms that.
But the comments did their damage as they sent the rumor mill into overdrive. Ryan said Guy told him to keep his cell phone on after speaking with a surprised Murray at the draft.
No trade was or has been made.
"You know, I was glad," Ryan said. "I was kind of expecting a phone call at some point. And then I knew with the (possible) lockout, things could change. I was really excited that it didn't because I didn't want to book a flight anywhere else.
"I was happy to come home."
Ryan also created a major stir when he suggested that he'd enjoy playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, the hometown team in which he grew up rooting for and has reportedly tried to put together a package for the four-time 30-goal scorer.
ESPN.com reported the Flyers tried to send winger James van Riemsdyk to Anaheim as the key piece for Ryan but that Murray wanted center Brayden Schenn instead. Philadelphia later traded van Riemsdyk to Toronto.
Murray has thus far resisted offers from the Flyers and several other teams for a potential star that's under contract for three more seasons at a reasonable salary-cap hit of $5.1 million. He's also been mum about Ryan's immediate future.
Outside of calling Ryan's comments "disappointing," Murray hasn't said anything other than he wanted to talk with the winger at some point and "clear the air a little bit." That meeting has not happened.
Having spent the majority of the summer at his off-season home in Idaho, Ryan said he figures that he'll have to meet with Murray at some point but it won't be him that broaches the session.
"I would assume that he would probably want," he said. "But it's not my job to reach out. ... At this point, nothing's happened. So I'm hoping we don't even need to."
Said Guy: "I am sure Bob Murray and Bobby will sit down to discuss where things stand but at this stage, Bobby is back in Anaheim training and is focused on getting ready for the season."
But Ryan said he doesn't feel that he needs Murray to publicly pull him off the trade market, as he did in November after firing Randy Carlyle as coach and hiring Bruce Boudreau. Ryan spoke with Boudreau on Wednesday.
"Absolutely not," Ryan said. "I know that I have Bruce's support and that means a lot to me. The general manager is obviously the person that pulls the strings behind the curtain. But having the support of your head coach ... I feel like I have a great relationship with Bruce.
"I think that if Bruce wants me here, I'm here to stay."
But while he has good feelings about working further with Boudreau, Ryan said he still isn't sure where he stands in his relationship with the Ducks overall.
"I have no idea," he said. "There's certainly no bad air between the coaching staff and I. The training staff's been great. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a Duck and I'm coming to camp and will be ready to compete.
"I can't speak for the front office. I have no idea. Hopefully it's something they can clear up with you. As far as I'm concerned, I'm here and I'm ready to go."
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O.C. home sales, prices up in July
The Orange County real estate market saw its busiest July since 2005, as home prices jumped 19.9 percent and sales increased 42.6 percent from year-ago levels, DataQuick Information Systems reported Wednesday.
Overall, the July numbers reflect an ongoing shift in the market, as rising prices led more homeowners to put their homes up for sale and eased severe supply shortages that fueled bidding wars this year.
As real mortgage rates rise, real estate agents and economists say they expect a better balance between supply and demand in the months ahead.
Competition among buyers has cooled, but not completely, said John Evans, broker and owner of The Evans Group in Coto de Caza. "The market seems to be transitioning into more stability, with continued upward momentum," Evans said.
The median home price – the midpoint of all sales – was $539,500, a six-year high for July. It shot up from $450,000 in July 2012, but dipped from $545,000 in June. In the long term, however, such a slight change isn't unusual.
Home sales were up at 4,402 deals in July, from 3,087 homes in July 2012, according to DataQuick's latest report.
Orange County had the smallest yearly percentage gain of a six-county Southern California region, where the overall median home price hit $385,000. That's a 25.8 percent increase over last July and an eight-year high for that month. Los Angeles had a 28.8 percent annual jump, to $425,000.
Southern California home sales rose 23.5 percent last month over July 2012.
"July home sales came in very strong, and we think a lot of the increase in activity can be chalked up to a rising inventory of homes for sale," said John Walsh, DataQuick president. "The jump in mortgage rates a couple of months back might have spurred more buying, too.
"The market continues its rebalancing act, with more and more people who've been 'underwater' now able to sell their homes at a profit, or at least break even."
Walsh predicted that home prices will continue to rise, but not as steeply as earlier this year.
In both Orange County and Southern California, higher-priced markets showed the strongest sales gains.
The number of Southern California homes that sold from $300,000 through $800,000 increased 51.7 percent year-over-year. At the same time, homes selling for $500,000 or more jumped 73.5 percent from last July, and sales in the $800,000-plus range soared 77.5 percent, DataQuick showed.
In Orange County, the difference was even more striking.
The sale of homes under $400,000 went down 6.2 percent. But homes that sold for $400,001-$500,000 were up 50.2 percent; $500,001-$600,000 homes were up 53.8 percent; $600,001-$700,000 homes were up 88.1 percent and homes that sold for more than $700,000 were up a whopping 123.7 percent.
DataQuick analyst Andrew LePage cited several reasons for the sharp differences.
"The low-end is typically the most constrained in terms of supply because so many people are underwater and therefore can't sell, and because foreclosure activity is down so much," he said. Foreclosure notices filed by lenders dropped by 53 percent in July year over year, while default notices fell by 62.9 percent, the report showed.
"Also, price appreciation means that some of the same homes that would have sold for less than $200,000 or $300,000 a year ago would now sell for more than that," LePage said.
DataQuick estimates that short sales made up 11.2 percent of home sales in Orange County in July, compared to 26 percent in July 2012.
Earlier this year, prices soared as a limited supply of homes for sale pushed buyers into bidding wars. The highest annual jump was in April, at 27.4 percent. July's increase was the lowest, percentagewise, since February's 22.3 percent.
Adam Brett, a real estate agent with Prudential California Realty in Fullerton, said he saw the market shift when the 30-year mortgage interest rate suddenly spiked to 4.46 percent in June, the largest weekly increase in more than 26 years, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac.
"That was the impetus that caused this market to completely switch," Brett said. "Demand receded and a lot of sellers decided to say, 'It looks like the market is basically peaking, I want to sell."
Brett said there's been a 50 percent increase in homes on the market in north Orange County over the past two months. "The number of sales will remain steady," he said. "However, the upward pressure is gone. Demand outpacing supply is over."
Inventory has gone up "tremendously,'' said Brian Doubleday, broker and co-owner of IML Real Estate in Ladera Ranch. He counted 161 homes on the market in Ladera Ranch this week, compared to a low point of less than two dozen earlier this year.
"Buyers have a little more time to look at property," Doubleday said. "If a property is perfect, a great location in great condition, those still go," likely within about three days. But he added, "If it's not (perfect) and falls into that group of the other properties, they have to be priced a little more aggressively or they're going to sit for a little longer. It's not uncommon to find properties on the market that sit for 60 to 90 days."
Absentee buyers, mostly investors as well as second-home buyers, represented 22.5 percent of July home sales in Orange County, up from 21.6 percent in July 2012. Cash buyer fell by .1percent, to 29.2 percent, according to the DataQuick report.
Homes that flipped – or resold within six months -- made up 4.5 percent of sales in July, up from 3.1 percent for the same month a year ago and 3.9 percent in June.
Pending deals typically take 30 to 45 days to close, so DataQuick's latest report reflects contracts signed in May and June.
The latest analysis from Steve Thomas of ReportsOnHousing.com shows that in the two-week period prior to Aug. 4, the active listing inventory in Orange County grew by 182 homes, a 3 percent bump, totaling 5,522 homes. That's up from 3,183 homes on the market in March, an increase of 73 percent.
Thomas said this summer marked the first time in just over two years in which the housing supply was higher than the prior year.
"We can expect this trend to continue," he said. "In a normal cycle, the inventory stops growing by the end of August. That will most likely occur this year as well, and the inventory will reach around 6,000 homes."
The expected market time for all homes in Orange County is now at two months, he said, levels not seen since March 2012, he said. The expected market time had dropped to 1.11 months in March. A normal market is about six months.
Staff writer Jonathan Lansner contributed to this report.
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text:
Bait and Switch Ch. 21 (Final)
Science-Fiction, Alien, Anal, Bi-sexual, Blowjob, Consensual Sex, Group Sex, Incest, Mind Control, Oral Sex, Pregnant, Threesome, Violence
Author's infos
Gender: male Age: N/A Location: N/A
Posted Sat 7th of January 2012
Our hero finally faces the Demon fleet.
The sound of a text message woke me up, and I groggily reached over to check it. Shanna and Gina had kept me up most of the night, and then when Nancy had come in... Okay, I couldn't help but smile at the memories from last night, but I WAS exhausted. I had quite literally stumbled back through my door, and fallen asleep before my head hit my pillow. I couldn't even remember the drive home. I was thankful that Lela hadn't come to get me last night, or I'd be even more tired than I was now.
"Get your rest today. Tonight we will take care of the demons." the text read, and it was from my sister. I wondered why she didn't use the nanites.
I sat up in bed, and only then realized that something wasn't right. I was still fully dressed, including my shoes, but my posters were gone, and someone had rearranged my room. A groan sounded next to me, and in shock I see Robin laying there next to me.
Did I get with Robin last night? I wondered, but can't see how I had. I was still fully dressed... Then I recognize my surroundings. I'm in Dennis's room! I must have been so tired last night that I turned right when I should have turned left...
As quietly as I was able, I tried to sneak out, but to no avail.
"Hey, dude," Dennis murmured just as my hand touched the doorknob, "next time sleep in your own bed. You were quite the buzzkill."
Embarrassed I made it back to my own room, and planned on going back to sleep, but after thirty minutes of just lying there, fretting about what I was going to do with the demons tonight, I finally got up, and showered.
I had intended on skipping classes today, but since I was already awake, I figured I might as well go in. Besides, it might help to distract me.
"Nick!" Someone hailed me, their breath misting in the early morning chill. "Hey, have you been studying?" The woman smiles at me, but I don't recognize her.
"Studying?" I ask in confusion. "It's only the second day of the semester. We can't have any tests already!"
She laughs at me, but I still have no idea who this is. Her hair is a mousy brown color, reaching down to her shoulders, and matching brown eyes. She stood a little shorter than me, and her skin seemed a little loose on her.
"No, for math club, silly!" she informed me, and suddenly I thought I knew who this was.
"Barbara?" I asked just to be sure.
"Sorry," she told me, her smile getting bigger, "I forget how different I look after losing so much weight. I know most people put on weight over the holidays, but for some reason I just kept shedding the pounds!"
I could see the old Barbara in her now. She could almost be cute, if she fit in her skin better. Then I remembered what I'd done for Mrs. Polkins, and turned up Barbara's skin elasticity, hoping that would help her.
"Yeah! Sorry," I said, happy for her, "You look great!" Then remembering how Mrs. Polkins had changed mentally, I think to ask, "How have you been feeling?"
"Good," she said, her smile never leaving her thin face. "I've had a lot more energy, and have been surprised by all the attention the guys've been giving me." She laughed again, and I can't help smiling with her.
"Well, good luck," I told her. "I'd better get to class." I thought of Donald and Adam, and hoped that everything I'd done for them has turned out as well as it did for Barbara.
I was almost to my class, when another female voice stopped me in my tracks. This one I knew from hours of lectures last semester. Professor Frankens was standing in the doorway to her classroom, as I turned to look at her. She was dressed pretty modestly for her, with a suit jacket on, and a skirt that actually went all the way down to her ankles.
"I need to have a talk with you, Mr. Xavier," she told me, as she opened the door wider to let me through. As I entered her classroom, wondering why she was being so formal, I saw that it was empty and guessed that she didn't have a class this hour. My first thought was that she was after a tryst, but I really didn't feel up to it quite yet that morning, and knew I needed to save my strength for that evening.
The professor stepped back in front of me, and led me down to her office. I was trying to come up with a way to gently turn her down, without having to talk too much, knowing that my voice still had an effect on her.
I still hadn't come up with a way, when she sat down behind her desk and looked me squarely in the eyes. Her brown orbs bore into me for a bit, and I realized that she probably hadn't brought me in here for sex, after all.
"First of all, Mr. Xavier, I want to thank you for being discreet about what happened between us before Winter break," she told me, her voice stiff and formal.
I gave her a quick nod, still wary of speaking.
"Please understand that what I did was wrong," she continued. "In my years of teaching I have never crossed that line with a student. I still don't fully understand why I did so with you. I hope you don't harbor any ill will towards me for what I did, or for saying that it can't happen again."
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I had truly enjoyed my encounter with the sexy professor, and even with the guilt of knowing that I'd manipulated her into it, I'd looked forward to further escapades with her. I saw that she was looking at me, waiting for an answer. I still didn't want to speak though, and influence her unduly. When I gave her another nod, she grimaced, but continued.
"I've put in my resignation here, and have already been accepted in another college across state." Her tone was sad now, and I felt sorry for her.
"No," I said, before I could think better of it, and saw her shudder slightly at the sound of my voice, but I went on. "You don't have to do that. I promise not to tell anyone, and we don't have to...to you know..." for some reason I had a hard time saying sex in front of this older woman, despite what we'd done together. I figured it had something to do with the formal attitude she was portraying, and didn't want to be the first one to say it.
"But I do, Mr. Xavier," she insisted. "Even as you speak, I feel myself being drawn to you. I can't risk losing my career over the desires of my body." Her face grew stern, and she looked at me harder. "Make no mistake; I'm not saying that I'm in love with you or anything of that sort, only that I can separate lust from love."
Only then did I realize that she blamed herself for what we'd done. It wasn't her fault, and I truly felt bad for my part in it, but could see that she was determined to go, no matter what I said. If I were willing to use my switches on her, I could change her mind, I knew, but I still wasn't willing to cross that line again.
"I understand," I told her. "You will be missed," and not just by me. I knew how most of the male students liked to ogle the beautiful professor, and not a just few of the females, too.
"I have already ensured that you will pass my class, this semester. I have no doubt you would have done it on your own. Professor Hallowburton will be taking over Math Club practices from now on. I will be here till the end of term, but would ask that you don't say anything to anyone until after I'm gone." She sounded depressed, and I wished there was something I could do for her, but short of making a 'happy' switch, I didn't know what else to do.
Professor Hallowburton was an alright kind of guy, but he was no Frankens. She would be sorely missed in Math Club practices as well.
"I won't tell anyone," I told her again, mentally thinking other than Shanna, who I'd already told, but I felt sure she wouldn't say anything to anyone about it.
In the end, saddened, but knowing that she was doing what she felt was best for her, I made the 'happy' switch, and put some effort behind turning it on. It might be that I would need that strength later, but Professor Frankens deserved it, after how I'd used my switches on her before. I wished her the best of luck, and left her office.
There was a commotion outside the classroom as I walked out, and I had to grab someone to find out what was going on.
"It's all over the news!" the other student yelled at me, before running on, somewhat fearfully, I thought.
I had no idea what he was talking about, so pulled out my android phone, and started looking at news sites, online. It didn't take me long to find out. Government satellites had picked up asteroids moving at a high rate of speed towards the Earth. If the objects continued on their current trajectory, they were likely to hit the planet. Estimates ranged on how much damage the supposed asteroids would cause, and which cities would be hit the hardest.
A spokesperson for the Whitehouse stated that the asteroids were moving faster than any other asteroids they've ever encountered, which was why they'd only came into visible range late last night, and would start impacting the Earth sometime tomorrow morning.
I read a few more stories on it, and even went to a religious link that started talking about the end of days, and the second coming. Everybody was scared, and the best advice I read stated that the smartest thing to do would be to stay home, unless you knew of a fallout shelter you could use.
The government stated that they were trying to figure out some way to disperse the asteroids, and that they were working with other world leaders to find a solution to the problem. I wished them luck, but didn't have much faith in it.
I knew better. Those weren't asteroids flying free in space on a collision course. They were the demon's fleet, coming to eradicate the human race. Staying home or even fleeing to the mountains as other sites had recommended, would be useless. Fallout shelters might work, but I doubted it. No, the best hope was that I needed to come up with some sort of strategy to stop them.
I didn't have much faith in that plan, either.
School for the rest of the day was cancelled, so that we could go home and try to be with our families.
The streets were packed, and I was thankful that I'd walked this morning, hoping the chill winter air would help me wake up. I passed a couple shops on my way home, and saw that the looters had already begun to deface property, and break in windows. If it was this bad already, I didn't even want to think about how bad it would be tonight.
Perhaps my last night on Earth. I shook, to rid myself of the defeating thought.
Shanna called me as I walked into my apartment. "Have you seen the news?" she asked excitedly, and I could hear the fear in her voice.
"Yeah, I just found out. Did you go to class today?" I asked back.
"No, I just woke up. I saw they closed the campus. It's not asteroids, is it?" Her tone told me she already knew the answer. "It's your demons, instead," she answered her own question.
"Yeah, I think it is," my reply was short, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.
"When are you coming to get me?" For a second I was perplexed, and then I remembered her demand to be there when I went up against the aliens.
"Shanna, you're safer here on Earth than you will be up there," I tried to tell her softly.
"No, Nick," she shot back at me hotly, "If you're going to be in any kind of danger, then I demand to be there, too. You promised."
I hadn't really promised, but I was still too tired to argue. I decided that when Lela came to get me, I would just happen to forget that she was to pick up Shanna too, in all of the excitement. Either she would understand, or she wouldn't, but she would be safer on Earth, than up in that ship.
I pulled up pictures of the supposed asteroids online, and saw that they were flying in formation. I knew the government couldn't have missed that fact, and realized that the asteroids were a cover up. I wondered what their real plan would be, and if it might interfere with whatever I was going to do.
It was impossible to tell just how many ships there were in the grainy photos, but I could easily see that it was a lot more than the seven ships Lela and I had at our disposal. This wouldn't be a fight, and it would take everything I had at my disposal, to make sure it didn't turn into a massacre.
"One more time," I heard coming from Dennis's room as I walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and wondered what was going on.
"But I'm exhausted," I heard Dennis say back.
"We may be dead tomorrow, dammit. Get it back up, and let's go again." I laughed inside, thankful that some people were coping with the crisis by other means than looting, and vandalizing.
'Go to your room,' the message flashed before my eyes. I set down my glass half drank, and walked into my room, for what I hoped wasn't the last time.
There was a short flash of light as I passed through the doorway, and I found myself on Lela's ship, in the featureless, blue-lit room. Summer was already there, and she was hopping from one foot to the other in impatience.
"Oh, good, you're here!" she spouted as soon as she saw me. She gripped me in a fierce hug, before pulling back, and searching my eyes.
"Good to see you too, sis," I tried to greet her cheerfully, but didn't have it in me right then. "Are we going after the demons already? I thought we were doing that tonight..."
Apparently she either didn't like my words, or what she saw on my face. I soon found out it was the latter.
"You look like shit," she told me. "Why didn't you try to get more sleep last night?" I almost laughed as I saw how tired she looked.
For a moment, I wondered if she knew what I'd been doing with Shanna, Gina, and Nancy, and knew that it was possible, as Lela was always watching me. I noticed how upset she seemed, and could feel her hands shaking on my arms.
"I'm sorry, stuff came up," as I said that, her quick glance at my crotch told me she knew exactly what I'd been doing. "Relax, will you? We still have some time before we face them." I tried to get her to calm down, but my soothing tone seemed to have the opposite effect.
"It's not that... Something...um..." Summer bit her lower lip, as she tried to formulate what she wanted to say. "Lela's been incapacitated," she finally blurts out, and I feel like my whole world has just been rocked.
"Lela? How?" I demand to know, gripping my sister's arms now. I felt a knot form in my stomach, as I worried about the gentle alien, but my logical mind took over. If Lela was down, it wasn't a complete loss, as there were still six other ships. Ships that couldn't fight and I had no experience in. Maybe if another alien piloted... "Where's Harana?"
The fear increased in Summer's blue eyes. "She is taking care of Lela," she whispered.
"What happened to Lela?' I demanded to know again, wondering why Summer was acting like this, and then it occurred to me. "The kids?"
She nods, and I can see tears running down her cheeks now. Fear grips my heart. Not the kids, too, oh, please not the kids, too! I have to get to Lela, I know, but I don't know how to open the hatch that leads to her.
"Lela, Harana!" I yell, hoping to get one of their attentions. "I can't open the door. Lemme back there."
"Nick," Summer's hand on my shoulder makes me feel claustrophobic, and I shake it off, "You can open it with the nanites. Just send the command to the ship mentally." I look at my sister stupidly. Could it really be that easy? I knew that she could have done it for me, but that had never been my sister's way. She was always willing to help me, but never one to do things for me. How ironic that her ability ended up being the same way.
Without hesitation, I mentally commanded the ship to open the door, and sure enough, it opened to my right. I dashed through it, headless of the blackness that surrounded me. I knew I had a few steps before the path turned, and my eyes adjusted to the infrared light, before I slammed into the wall. I ran the entire way to where I knew Lela to be, and held up outside her door, slightly out of breath, and full of dread.
Suddenly I was apprehensive, not certain what I'd find inside. Summer hadn't told me what had happened with Lela's and my kids. She'd only told me that the alien was incapacitated, and then she'd started crying.
No, I thought, they had to be okay. Something about the alien hatching process must have been hard for the mother. Try as hard as I might, though, I couldn't convince myself of that. How could eggs hatching be hard on the mother?
I don't know how long I stood outside that doorway, but finally I concluded that I had to walk through it. I had to face what was inside. Commanding the ship to open this door, I stepped through.
Lela wasn't on the incubator, as she had been every other time I'd been in here, and for just a moment, I wondered at that oddity, till my brain realized that the children wouldn't be in there, when they hatched. I sensed her switches in an adjoining room, and opened that hatchway before going in.
It took me a moment to comprehend the scene before me. Lela was lying on the floor, her arms around some small, unmoving objects, and Harana had her arm around the older alien, trying to comfort her, and talking in their dual-toned language.
I took a step forward, my eyes and even my senses drawn to the six or seven objects that Lela was cradling. I could hear what I took to be crying from Lela, and only then did it really hit me that our kids hadn't survived.
I didn't know what to think, or even what to feel. Yes, they were my kids, but they weren't entirely human, and it wasn't like I had helped incubate the eggs. The entire time Lela had been on that incubator, it had almost felt like she was taking care of someone else's eggs.
But now that I saw the tiny things, it struck home. These tiny things were the product of Lela's and my mating. I had helped create these tiny creatures, and there was some small part of me in each one. My eyes could see that they were gone, but my heart refused to believe it.
I dropped to my knees next to Lela, and only then did the other two notice me, but I ignored them. There was something...
I looked at the tiny creatures, marveling at how they looked. They had the pinkish skin of Lela's race, but it was tinged just a bit by the baby pink of a human baby. Their eyes were smaller than Lela's in comparison to the head, which was also smaller in comparison to their body. I noticed that some had four fingers and some had three. There were six in all, and they all had light tufts of hair on their peaceful heads. If I ignored the fact that they weren't breathing, I could almost imagine that they were all sleeping peacefully.
All of this I noted with the outside of my concentration, however. There was something... It almost felt like I could sense them, like I could with my switches, but I had never made switches in these little creatures.
"I tried to save them," Lela's voice penetrated the fog that surrounded my mind, distracting me. "Our DNA just didn't mix," I could barely understand her, as she tried to speak English through her tears. "They all broke their shells, but didn't live long past that." Lela choked up again, and Harana tried unsuccessfully to console her.
Why can I sense them, if their dead and I haven't given them a switch? The question played through my head a few times, before something occurred to me.
Without a word, I jumped up and ran back to the blue room. I didn't say a word as I burst in, only stopping long enough to grab Summer's wrist, and drag her after me. She yelped when she passed into the darkness, but I knew her eyes would adjust soon enough, thanks to her nanites.
"Nick, what are you...?" she tried to ask me, but I just kept running.
As soon as we were in the room with Lela, Harana, and my kids, I finally stopped, and felt for them again. It was fainter now, but I could still make them out. I had to hurry, or it might be too late.
"Take off your shirt," I commanded my sister, as I started to do the same. Would it be enough, or would it take more contact? I didn't know, but I had to try.
"I hardly think now is the time—" Summer started to protest, but I cut her off.
"Just do it! Hurry, before it's too late." Summer looked from me to Lela and back again, before quickly removing her shirt. I didn't think I had time to explain, my sense of them was fading too fast.
Lela and Harana started saying something in their language, but I ignored them as I hugged my sister close to me, and felt my strength with the switches magnify greatly at the contact. A small part of me noticed she wasn't wearing a bra, and I was grateful for the extra skin that would be made. I commanded the ship to bathe us and the babies in the healing yellow light, not knowing if it would be necessary, but wanting every advantage I could have. I felt Summer pulling down her pants, hindered slightly as we hugged, and then she worked on mine. They hit the floor a second later, and she wrapped one leg around mine, and placed the other between my legs. I closed both of mine, and knew it was now or never.
This was about the most physical contact I was going to be able to have with her, short of actually having sex. Intercourse was the furthest thing from my mind right then, as I started to form the group switch, and attaching it to all six babies.
I tried to push it, but nothing happened. I pushed harder, then harder still on their 'life' switch. I didn't know if it would work, but I knew I could sense them, and how could I do that, unless they were still alive, but too weak to register to Lela's advanced technology. I noticed that the switch I'd made wasn't completely off, and that gave me hope.
I groaned as I threw everything I had behind the switch, and some distant part of me heard Summer moan as well, but I ignored it as I felt the switch move a little. It was just a tiny bit at first, but as I continued to shove against the switch, it picked up speed.
Just before I blacked out from the effort of moving the switch, I heard a small, almost imperceptible yawn.
* * *
I awoke with a start, as fear coursed through me, followed immediately by a massive pain in my skull, and I collapsed backwards onto a soft surface.
"He's awake," a voice said, sounding almost distant, but I recognized it as Shanna's.
What's she doing here? I wondered, and then realized that I must have been dropped back off at home, after I...
I sat up again, as I remembered why I'd been unconscious in the first place. "My kids," I croaked, wondering at the sound of my own voice.
"They're fine," Summer told me, as my eyes tried to adjust to the light. Something didn't seem right. Everything had a yellow tinge to it, which threw my vision off.
So Summer was here too. By the sound of her voice, she was doing better than I had been. "You saved them, Nick. I'm so proud of you. You did it!"
I felt a hand grip a hold of mine, and gave it a squeeze, but I still couldn't focus my eyes. I knew the hand to be my sister's, because I could sense my switches better, and could even feel the one that I'd made for the six little babies.
"My eyes," I said, glad my voice was improving a little as I spoke. "I can't seem to focus."
I felt someone take my other hand, and knew from the switches I sensed that it must have been Shanna. "Lela said you caused some damage to yourself, saving your kids. The nanites and this yellow light are working on healing you, but it is going to take a bit." That's nice, I think, the yellow light will get me better in no time. Wait... Yellow light... In my room? I slightly remembered Lela using it that night in the basement, and relaxed. "Nick, you really had us worried. We understand what you did, but it almost killed you." I could hear the fear in her voice, and pulled the blurry blob that I thought was her to me for a hug. Summer hugged me too, and I was grateful to sense my switches increase. At least I hadn't burned that out.
"How long till the demons arrive?" I ask, afraid of how long I'd been out.
"They're just entering the solar system now," Summer said, and I bolted to my feet. Shanna had to hold me steady, as a wave of dizziness washed over me.
"Then we need to get to the ship immediately," I said, wondering why I wasn't there already. I guessed there would be no excuse for leaving Shanna behind now, but it couldn't be helped. I needed to stop the demons from ravaging the Earth.
"Sit down," Summer commanded in her older sister voice, and I found myself obeying before I could think better of it. "We're on the ship, and heading out to meet them. You need to rest, and recover, before we face them."
We're already on the ship? Then that means that they picked up Shanna on their own. Part of me wanted to curse them for putting my girlfriend in danger, but another part recognized that they couldn't know what was in my mind, only what I had said. And I'd said she could be here.
"Nick," this time it was Shanna speaking, "I am so proud of you for what you did, but are you going to be up to stopping the demons now?"
I didn't know how to answer the fear in her voice. I couldn't see, and when I'd stood up, I'd been too dizzy to even think about moving. Had I given my children life, only to see it taken away, because I was going to be too weak to stop the demons?
"I have to try," I told her finally, uncertain of what else I could say or do.
"I'll be right here with you," my sister said. "We're in this together." I felt her lips on my cheek for just a moment.
"I'll be here too, though I can't help the way your sister can," Shanna said next, and she too kissed me. Her kiss was on the lips though, and while there wasn't any tongue, its tender touch told me what words couldn't about how she felt for me. "Remember," she told both Summer and I, "use your strongest weapon first, not last." I knew what she meant, and cared for her all the more for it.
'Close your eyes, it's time.' The words floated across my vision, the only thing I could see clearly. I truly hoped that I would be able to see what the nanites showed me, better than my own eyes were working.
I lay down as I closed my eyes, and felt hands on my body removing the last bits of clothing I had on. Summer climbed on top of my body, pressing her naked chest to mine. 'You take care of the demons,' her words told me, 'I'll take care of the contact.'
I felt a mouth engulf my limp penis, bringing it slowly to life, at the same time stars blossomed in my vision. We were stopped, and I could just make out where the demon's ships were approaching us, surrounded by the tell-tale red rings.
For a split second, I felt stark, maddening terror, as I saw how large their force was. Even the other six ships arrayed with three on each side of me, couldn't give me comfort against a force that size. There were more ships than even the grainy photos I'd seen had hinted at.
I could feel that I was fully hard in Shanna's mouth now. There was no denying the skill she had with her tongue. Even distracted as I was with the demon fleet, she had been able to get me hard. A few seconds later, I felt summer slide her body back, as I slowly entered her and the sense of my switches increased ten-fold.
I realized that I was thinking of the ship as me, more than something I was in control of, and sent a message to Lela. 'Can you give me complete control over movement of the ship, so that I can move us with my mind?'
There was a pause, before the word, 'Done,' appeared before me.
I felt my sister start to slowly rock back and forth on me, while still keeping as much contact with me as possible. The actual coitus wasn't required for her to magnify my ability, but the pleasant sensations that coursed through my body helped to distract me from my fear. It also kept me hard, giving me more surface contact with her.
Fear... What had I done, that had removed my fear of Bradley, my old boss? I had silenced him, I recalled. If only I could do something like that with the demon ships. Since I couldn't hear them, making them quiet wouldn't work. I had to strip away what made them scary to me. Well, that was their numbers. Was there some way I could reduce their numbers without killing them? With my kids, my sister, and my girlfriend on board this ship, did I even have the luxury to have a conscience concerning their deaths?
I could hear Summer moaning into my ear, as her pussy milked my cock, and her large breasts slid up and down my chest, her nipples hard. I could hear myself moaning too. I lost a little bit of contact with Summer, but a second later, I felt her hand on the back of my head, pulling me up, and into her tit. I automatically started suckling, as she came.
They were easily within range of my switches now, and the first thing I did, was make a switch for their weapons systems. A sharp pain lanced through my head as I made it for the group, and I felt my head land back on the soft floor, releasing the nipple I'd been sucking on.
"Nick!" Shanna yelled, concerned for me, but I had to ignore her for the moment, as I felt some of the demon ships start up their weapons in preparation to destroy the seven impudent ships before them.
"He's fine," Summer said, moaning slightly, as she continued to ride my pole. "He's still recovering, but this yellow light is helping." Despite her words, I could sense the fear in her.
Indeed the light was helping, as the pain had already gone by the time my sister finished speaking. I was fully seated inside me, and a part of me wondered that I was all the way within her vagina. Was it was the nanites or the healing light that was allowing me to fit inside her snug wallet?
The other part of me quickly flipped the group switch, turning off all of their weapons, and keeping them off.
The enemy ships seemed to mill around for a moment, as they tried to get their weapons back up, but they were no match for the power of my switches, especially when those switches were buttressed by my sister and the yellow light. Nothing could move a switch I'd made with Summer.
I peeked one eye open, and could just make out my sister's face, bobbing above mine. I could see her clearly, and knew that the nanites and light were doing their job. Summer saw me peaking at her, and mashed her lips to mine. Her tongue entered my mouth, as she pressed our two bodies together.
My switches' power increased a little more, and I started lifting my hips to meet her rocking. She felt fantastic, and despite the incongruity of the situation, I was filling exhilarated.
The demons had finally decided that they weren't going to be able to shoot us out of their way, and seven ships came forward to sacrifice themselves, by ramming into us. I was thankful the remainder of the fleet held back.
I immediately took evasive maneuvers, rolling to the right, and realizing that I was rolling around with my sister as well. The demon ship that had chosen us changed course to match, and here was where my gaming skills came in handy. Viewing the ship as an extension of my will, I could move and change directions at the speed of thought. Oddly, every move I made was copied by a move with my body, and Summer held on for dear life, as we rolled all over the place. When I dove, my pelvis would pull back, and when I climbed, my hips drove forward, piercing her wet crevice with my cock.
The demon ship barely missed my port side, and it dawned on me that even though my video gaming skills came in handy here, there was no reset switch, and one mistake meant all of our lives. I looked around to see how the other ships were faring. One of ours was smoking, and not moving. Another had two on its tale, and it didn't look good. I realized that the pink-skinned aliens were poorly suited for even this type of battle.
Thinking fast, I rolled Summer around, as I barrel-rolled the ship, and dove between the other vessels. I sensed more than saw that my pursuing ship collide with one of the others. I looked back, and saw that the remaining ship had broken off its pursuit and was now after me.
I felt awful for the deaths I'd caused, but I knew it was either them or us.
Even with the distraction of avoiding the enemy ships, the feel of Summer's vagina sliding around my cock felt wonderful. It also helped to distract me from any crippling fear I might have felt.
"Some of the demons are headed for Earth!" I heard Shanna yell, and even as I looked, I knew it was true. No longer content to wait and see how the chase went, some of the demon ships had broken free of the main formation, and were headed to Earth.
I charged for the errant ships, but two other demon vessels blocked my path, and I barely pulled up in time to avoid a collision; my cock driving deep into my sister, and making her cry out.
I now had three ships on my tail, as I turned and started heading for the smoking friendly vessel. I had to get these demons off of my tail, so I could stop the ships heading for Earth. As I approached the smoking vessel, I mentally sent the command to teleport all living aliens to this one, and then pulled hard to starboard at the last second.
As I did this, I felt myself go even deeper into Summer's pussy, and I moaned as my cock entered her womb; my cock's head getting strangled by the tightness of her deepest and most sensitive parts.
Two demon ships failed to turn sharp enough and crashed, leaving one still on my tail.
Dammit, I thought, if only I could get rid of their aggressiveness!
"I'm cumming, Nick!" Summer screamed, distracting me for just a second. "Oh, gawd, I'm gonna cum!" Her words combined with her cunt milking my cock were enough to send me over the edge. As I filled her womb full of my seed, I felt the switch for their aggressiveness form, and flip at the same time, draining the last of my energy away, and blackness swallowed me whole.
When I came to, I had to blink my eyes a few times to see, and my head was throbbing again. A pleasant sensation was surrounding my cock, but I couldn't see past my sister's concerned face.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed upon seeing my open eyes. Her face seemed oddly flushed, and she even seemed to moan a little as she said it.
"Wh-what happened?" I asked groggily, already feeling the healing yellow light force my headache to recede.
"The demons have stopped chasing us," Summer told me, her eyes closed momentarily as she sucked in her bottom lip.
Only then did I realize why my cock felt so pleasant. I knew that two-tongued technique; Harana or Lela must be giving me a blowjob, and keeping me hard. They must have done that when I passed out, so that when I awoke. I could reconnect with my sister, and keep my switches powerful. That didn't explain why Summer seemed to be enjoying herself, though.
My sister must have seen the confused look on my face, and correctly interpreted it. "Harana is scooping your cum out of me," she informed me. "You came a lot, and she is trying to get it out, but it feels good, too. She is about to...uhh, get me off."
Just as Summer started to convulse on top of me, Harana let my cock free, and slipped it back into Summer's vagina.
I moaned as we reconnected, and felt the power of my switches magnify again. I knew I couldn't use them again so quickly, and was glad that I'd been able to buy us a little time..
"No," Summer moaned as she came down from her orgasm. "In my ass. I don't want to get pregnant from this." I nodded, and pulled my hips down, and let Harana aim me for her rectum. I was easily slick enough, and slipped right past my sister's sphincter, causing us both to moan again.
"The other ships!" I exclaimed, suddenly remembering them.
Shanna was the one to answer this time, "We were able to see everything you did. This room changed, and it was incredible! I'm so sorry, Nick. Those ships are long gone, though. Lela says they're likely to Earth by now."
Despite how good my sister's colon felt around my cock, I felt it wilt a little at this news. I had failed. Those other ships would have been outside of my range when I created the 'anti-aggression' switch. I only hoped that my fellow humans could handle the few ships that'd made it through. Knowing that their weapons wouldn't work, soothed my fears, some.
Right now, though, I needed to concentrate on the rest of the fleet that was still here. I closed my eyes and pulled Summer's face down to mine, kissing her deeply, as I lifted my hips, and felt myself re-hardening.
I could see the demon ships still floating out there in space, waiting, and likely wondering what was happening to them. They might not be aggressive at the moment, but they still posed a threat. I needed to stop that threat for good, or all would be lost.
My headache was nearly gone now, and I knew it was partly in thanks to the healing light, and also thanks to how wonderful Summer felt on top of me. I could feel her sphincter sliding up and down my rod, my entire length piercing her colon.
I allowed my hands to drop down to her rear, and grabbed a globe in each hand, as I examined the ships before me.
I needed a way to stop their aggressiveness permanently. Derek's image flashed before my mind, and I recalled what I'd done to him, changing him into a female. Somehow I didn't think changing their sex would help, but perhaps another biological change would do the trick. I knew I would need the added strength of another orgasm though, to accomplish it, and threw all of my concentration into making love to my sister's tight ass.
I lifted my head, and brought one of her teats to my lips, sucking gently, as I increased the pace of my hips.
"Damn," Summer moaned above me, "I'm going to cum again, Nick." She started to convulse on top of me, her ass squeezing my length, and feeling fantastic, but still not enough to make me cum.
I opened my eyes, and saw Harana and Shanna watching us, and knew that I would need to enlist their help.
"Shanna, Harana, I know what I need to do, but I need your help," I told them. "Shanna, get naked and come here," Harana was already naked.
Shanna did as I asked, a curious look on her face, and walked over to Summer and I. "I don't know how I can help, Nick. I'm not like your sister."
I told her what I wanted, and she sat on my face, my sister moving slightly as my girlfriend got situated. Summer did her best to keep as much physical contact with me as possible. I had Haran kneel between Summer's and my legs, and felt her two tongues go to work on my balls. I needed to be as turned on as possible, so that I could form the switch as I came.
I sucked hard on Shanna's labia, and noted that she was already wet. Despite the fear that she must have been feeling, watching Summer and I roll around must have been turning her on.
I felt Summer lift up, while keeping as much contact with my body, and knew that she must have been sucking on Shanna's tits as I began to nibble on her clitoris. I reached my hands up, and pinched both of Summer's nipples between my fingers, making her moan into Shanna's chest.
Shanna ground her crotch against my lips and tongue, while I enjoyed the feeling of Harana's tongues on my balls and Summer's ass gliding up and down my hard shaft.
Having three women pleasing me was enough to increase my libido, and I felt my orgasm building. I squeezed my eyes closed to form the switch I needed in my mind.
Summer dropped her chest down to mine, and our chins connected as we both licked Shanna's creaming crotch. I tasted a flood of my girlfriend's cum a second before Summer's colon squeezed my throbbing rod, and I unloaded myself into my sister's colon.
It took every ounce of mental strength I had left to make and then move the switch. I had just enough time to sense the demons becoming herbivores, before I passed out.
* * *
It took nearly two months for me to recover from that last switch. Two months in the ship under the healing yellow light, while the changed demons and friendly pink aliens came to an understanding and a truce.
That final switch didn't change all of the demons in the universe, only the ones that were within range at the time. However, according to the new truce, the Earth had a defensive friendly force. Some of the demons went with a few of the female pink aliens, to defend their home planet. The rest went to Earth to fight those that'd made it past me during the battle. It took almost ten years to flush all of the carnivorous demons from the Earth. Ten years of chaos, violence, and the beginning of a new age for humanity.
When I awoke from my coma, after the two months, I had a number of surprises awaiting me. Summer was pregnant with my child. She had debated on whether or not to keep it, and in the end decided that she couldn't get rid of it. She even helped Shanna and Julia find a large enough house for the four of us to live in.
Julia and Shanna had worked out their differences, apparently, and Shanna had come to Lela's ship to visit me every day in my convalescence. She told me all about reconciling her trust issues concerning Julia, and couldn't wait for me to come back down to the Earth to be with them.
Gina and I are still great friends, and is actually living next door to us now. I try to encourage her to find someone else, but she keeps telling me she will only leave me when she finds someone better. Fifteen years, and three kids later, she still hasn't found anyone else.
Robin had apparently become pregnant as well, despite all of Dennis's precautions. They ended up getting married before the child was born, and even had three more children, though none of them looked anything like the first. It didn't take long for their oldest to start displaying interests in the geekier things in life. I kept my mouth shut about my thoughts about his real father, but somehow I don't think it escaped Dennis's notice.
All of my children with Lela were doing well, and going strong. They were growing faster than normal humans, yet slower than the pink aliens. They also seemed to grasp concepts and thoughts faster than either race. All of Lela's and my children were speaking both languages fluently by the time I came to.
My mother had been worried sick about me, until Summer'd brought her up to visit me. With the demons still roaming the Earth at that time, she was filled with fear at first, but Harana and Lela put her at ease. She took the news of Summer's pregnancy a little hard at the beginning, but in the end agreed that she couldn't get rid of the child. When I finally saw her again, she almost looked like a different woman, my switches having taken their affect on her, increasing her skin elasticity and slowing her aging. She looked twenty years younger, and Summer informed me that they were constantly mistaken for sisters.
When the unchanged demons first arrived on Earth to start devouring the human race and Earth's resources, one of their first victims was my father's girlfriend. The sight had completely unnerved my father, and he came crawling back to my mom. To her credit, she told him where to go, and in no uncertain terms how to get there.
Old Mrs. Polkins was found in the dean's office one day; or rather, under it, by the dean's wife. Somehow the wife didn't take it too well, but last I heard, Mrs. Polkins had found herself another job as a high school nurse, and none of the students were complaining. I never did see professor Frankens again.
All of those surprises were minor compared to finding out that I had burned my ability out. I was too weak when I used that last switch, and no matter what Lela did, the ability was gone. I couldn't even sense any of the switches I'd made, or my half-human children.
Despite my lack of a special ability, Lela and Harana insisted that I be the main liaison between the three races. Even at my young age, the world leaders agreed, though some felt slighted because they were left with no choice in the matter. Lela, Harana, and even the demons made sure of that.
Some of the other modified human's came to the rescue of their race, during that ten years, but some used their abilities for their own gain. Once the carnivorous demons were dealt with, Lela, Harana, my sister, Shanna, Shannon, and even Gina, helped me to capture the rogue humans, and deactivate their special genes.
Five years after the last rogue human was found and dealt with, we realized that all of my children had my ability. They are all working on healing mine, though I have come to terms with its loss.
Author's note:
I hope you have enjoyed my final series, Bait and Switch. Keep an eye out for garbonzo607's spin-off of this series, coming out later.
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133 comments
2016-12-24 06:42:24
Top class story. I am a huge fan of your stories. I found talented authors very rarely. You are one of them.
Anonymous reader
2016-11-05 05:32:42
Man I only wish that I could follow in this man's foot steps he not only fought for our freedom but he also used what little free time he had to entertain us a bunch of fucking assholes back in the states were it was safe while he fought till his last breath and it would have been an honor to have fought along side him but as u know that is not possible this world has seen yet another very amazing person leave this world at an age to young I just hope that the assholes that sit there and talk shit on our soldiers get beat to death and then brought back only to have it happen again the next day for all eternity
Anonymous reader
2016-09-06 10:12:37
WOW.... just fuckin, WOW.
If thats true about Dark_Brother's death then the world has lost a truly talented individual.
And as for how he died... I cant possibly express in mere words the gratitude I feel toward him, as well as all of the other men and women who fight for our freedom in the armed forces... but Thank You.
Know that you are ALL appreciated.
2016-08-14 08:03:33
It hurts knowing dark brother Is gone...
Another bright light passed on.
Anonymous reader
2016-08-02 22:06:28
This was amazing!!!!! Thank you for this.
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Sous Vide Cooking 101Sous vide is a culinary technique in which vacuum-sealed food is immersed in a water bath and cooked at a very precise, consistent temperature...learn more. |
Gourmet Blender ComparisonComparing blender products from Bosch, Breville, Cuisinart and KitchenAid. Each has its benefits and strengths...learn more. |
Pressure Cookers: Fagor vs. FisslerPressure cookers are a great way to save time, money and calories. Fagor and Fissler are both excellent companies with great reputations ...learn more. |


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may know Aaron Kleiber from his hilarious local commercials for the
Pittsburgh Power Arena Football, Pennsylvania Lottery & Highmark...
he also was
Local Comedian"
by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2012. A Pittsburgh Improv favorite - he has been a requested feature performer for Jim Krenn, Jim Breuer (SNL), Bob Saget, Ralphie May, Pablo Francisco & Steve-O (Jackass) - also seen opening for the likes of Sinbad, Billy Gardell Tom Green and Bert Kreischer. Aaron has also been seen in national commercials and featured on the big screen for major studios like 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate - co-starring in Help Me, Help You opposite Sabrina Byran (Cheetah Girls, Dancing with the Stars). He was also featured in the original series, The Mercury Men, seen at San Deigo Comic Con and on the SYFY Channel. Aaron recently finished shooting a guest starring role for the Nickelodeon show, Supah Ninjas.
More at: AaronKleiber.com
Featuring: DANNY PALUMBO TIM ROSS VINNY FASLINE |
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
AARON KLEIBER at the PIttsburgh Improv: December 20, 2012
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On Jan. 25, the West Brunswick High School Interact Club gave a presentation about their visit to New York City on Nov. 3, 2012, for Rotary UN Day to members of the South Brunswick Island Rotary Club.
Jennifer Vanasse, SBI president-elect, was determined to make the trip happen, even though they arrived in NYC on the heels of Hurricane Sandy.
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Critical Issues in Tourism: A Geographical Perspective, 2nd EditionISBN: 978-0-631-22413-6
392 pages
February 2002, Wiley-Blackwell
Table of Contents
List of Boxes.
List of Figures.
Preface to the Second Edition.
Part I: An Approach to Tourism:.
1. Introduction.
2. The International Dimension.
Part II: Access to Tourism Consumption:.
3. Social Access to Tourism and Leisure.
4. Tourist Motivation and Behaviour.
Part III: The Production of Tourism Services:.
5. The Tourism and Leisure Industries.
6. Tourism and Entrepreneurship.
7. Tourism, Employment and Labour Markets.
Part IV: Tourism Environments:.
8. Tourism and Leisure Environments.
9. Mass Tourism.
10. Urban Tourism.
11. Rural Tourism.
12. Tourism and the Environment: the Challenge of Sustainable Tourism.
Recommended Reading.
Author Information
The Wiley Advantage
- Explains how tourism is reshaping human and physical environments.
- Centred around the concepts of the production and consumption of tourism.
- Updated to keep up with recent changes in tourism geography.
- New sections include a chapter on the complexities of sustainable tourism.
"The many examples are wide ranging and hence it should provide a key text for students from a wide range of disciplines who wish to understand the many social challenges arising from contemporary tourism and leisure activity. [...] The text offers a vital contribution of the problems and issues facing modern tourism." International Journal of Environmental Studies