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"Proud Mary": Glee's Very Special Sham Disability Pride Anthem
by David Kociemba — Emerson College
April 09, 2010 – 07:27
Curator's Note
"It was the scariest number we had done. You don't know what those chairs can do, and you don't know what those kids can do in the chairs. So a lot of it was just cross your fingers and pray." –Glee choreographer Zach Woodlee to The New York Post on the "Proud Mary" wheelchair dance number
As a professional choreographer, it's Woodlee's job to know what those chairs can do or get someone who does. He should have known about integrated dance, which crafts distinct movements and kinetics by using dancers with and without physical disabilities. Practiced over the past three decades by more than two dozen dance companies worldwide, this genre includes numbers choreographed by such movement innovators as Bill T. Jones, Joanna Haigood, Victoria Marks, Stephen Petronio and Margaret Jenkins, amongst others. An introduction to this history and clips of performances are easily accessible via general sites like Wikipedia, Google and YouTube, dance troupes' professional sites or blogs devoted to the subject, such as Wheelchair Dancer. Woodlee had plenty of time to do the research. Once Glee included a wheelchair-using character, a dance sequence like this one was inevitable. Alternatively, Woodlee could have brought in a guest choreographer experienced in integrated dance for the number, using the resources of the global media conglomerate producing and distributing the series. Nor did the production company hire anyone experienced in mobility, access or discrimination issues to tutor the cast, director or writers for this or any other episode. "Wheels" is a classic example of how uninformed creators disable themselves by cutting themselves off from the communities of artists versed in the experiences of disability and its cultures.
To see the opportunity missed by the series creators, watch the two clips—of the AXIS dance company's performance of "Light Shelter" and Glee's "Proud Mary" sequence—embedded screen left. In the "Light Shelter" performance, there are dancers with and without assistive technology, suggesting an interest in the beauty produced when both types of movement interact. "Proud Mary" erases any acknowledgment of heterogeneity in favor of a temporary fantasy of equality based on homogeneity. Woodlee's choreography features lots of wheeling in circles and up and down ramps. (They had to lower the ramps' incline because the actors lacked the upper body strength of experienced wheelchair-users to get up them.) The dominant pattern is push—move or gesture—push. If the actors weren't in wheelchairs, audiences would never accept running in circles while gesturing as good show dance choreography. In "Light Shelter", the choreography treats the assistive technology as a part of the body, which allows for greater complexity. The dancers use the handles for lifts. The wheels aid jumps. There are dips, tilts and spins. One dancer twirls another in the air slowly, chair and all. The choreography is not afraid to use the floor either. The only move that Woodlee draws from the vocabulary of integrated dance is the wheel stomp. Had Glee cast the role of Artie Abrams with an experienced wheelchair-user, rather than Kevin McHale, they might have had a performer physically capable of pulling off some of the dance moves on display at AXIS. Woodlee regards the chair as separate from the body, rather than an extension of it, and suggests that celebrating equality involves the erasure of difference rather than the integration of it. The fact that millions worldwide weren't given their first exposure to the beauty of an integrated dance sequence limits the series artistically and harms integrated dance companies. (When Glee covers a song, the original sells tens of thousands of copies.)
Perhaps you think that untrained teens providing a passable performance informed by a type of interpretive dance would break the audience's suspension of disbelief. But Glee plays with the fantasy of amateur excellence every week with its songs. Audiences temporarily repress their knowledge that these kids are not high school amateurs and that these "live" performances are recorded and mastered in the studio. We expect professional performances within the loose constraints of the show's conceit; indeed, the series has two gold records to its credit. So when they fail to take basic steps to provide a competent integrated dance performance, it suggests ulterior motives. This dance number functions exactly how Sue's sister with Down's Syndrome does in this episode: as a narrative prosthesis designed to showcase the goodness of the charity-giver, to prop them up in the face of withering criticism (from Will, from disability organizations and others). It benefits those with cultural power more than any other party. The musical number is a form of oppression masquerading as an affectionate tribute.
When Kevin McHale's Artie says in this episode, "This isn't something I can fake," it has a doubled meaning. The experience of disability for the character isn't something he can fake because disability is located in social barriers, not individual physical impairments. But McHale is faking the mobility impairment. Woodlee is faking dance choreography informed by disability culture, and badly. Clearly, the creators don't believe the lines they wrote, because they reinforce those social barriers for actors with mobility impairments and erase disability culture while pretending to celebrate it. "Wheels" reveals that its creators think that there's nothing very special for mainstream audiences to learn from the experience of those with disabilities in their Very Special Episode.
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- Tags
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- Glee |
- integrated dance |
- Very Special episodes
Thanks for this post - I had
by Liz Ellcessor — Indiana University
April 09, 2010 – 14:27
Thanks for this post - I had the same immediate reaction to the Proud Mary sequence.
I wonder, though, what you thought of the rest of the episode in which the able-bodied characters were put into wheelchairs? It seemed an even worse example of the erasure of different experiences in the name of equality - rather than learning from Artie how to use their chairs, the other characters learned how hard it is to (learn to) use a wheelchair and projected it back on Artie, reinforcing his difference.
I agree with you: such
by David Kociemba — Emerson College
April 09, 2010 – 15:25
I agree with you: such disability tourism is pretty disappointing. Sadly, it's an accurate reflection of the shortcuts to empathy endemic in our culture, like college students who "learn" about homelessness by sleeping in expensive sleeping bags on the college quad for a night. At least the college programs that Will based this learning experience on require students to experience disability for weeks, so that they get a sense of developing skills one learns. (For example, upper body strength for those using non-automated wheelchairs.)
The problem is that such short experiences give a partial view of a life with an impairment marked by a disabling society that is misunderstood as a fuller understanding. There are a number of studies that show that life satisfaction for people with impairments is based on the duration of living with the impairment and not the nature of the impairment itself. Basically, people mistake the mourning phase (in which one dwells on the mobility lost) for what the life is like, forgetting how adaptable we are. That phase of growing acceptance can take up to two years for people who develop severe mobility impairments due to accident, like Arnie.
This mistake has an enormous impact on our public health policy and decision-making. 86% of spinal cord injured high-level quadriplegics rated their quality of life as average or better than average, but only 17% of their ER doctors, nurses, and technicians thought they would have an average or better quality of life if they acquired quadriplegia (KA Gerhart et al., Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1994, vol. 23, 807-812). That biases treatment and rehabilitation program set-up, and it gets communicated to the general public as the expert's opinion when it comes to issues like euthanasia and abortion. (Those with impairments are often sidelined into the victim role in these cultural plays.)
Why do doctors have this bias? Ironically, because of their lack of experience. The medical context tinges everything. Interacting with people as patients means that interactions occur only when those with impairments need medical professionals and dominantly in contexts in which they have not had time to adapt to their new life. Doctors simply are not integrated into lives actually lived with impairments.
But mostly it is because doctors are one of the groups of people most invested in defining human worth on the basis of individuality, personal agency and independence, rather than the values one finds in disability culture—interdependence, the embracing of difference, meaningful choice and mutuality.
For me, "Proud Mary" clinches it. After this scene, they go back to marginalizing Artie in the dance portions of their performances. Their embrace of him is quickly forgotten. Genuine equality requires more than a leap of imagination and empathy. It requires real change and a long-term commitment that's just not on display thus far. I'd gladly trade a bus and those unseen ramps for genuine integration of Artie's character or a different representation of Deaf World. Those ramps don't change the culture or viewer's attitudes; the pleasures provided through narrative and song might.
I have no idea what lessons Ryan Murphy thinks he's learned when he says that "Wheels is a game changer" for the series. For the sake of the future of the TV musical, I hope that lesson wasn't spelt out in "Proud Mary".
Dancing On Wheels
by Jeanette Monaco — University of the West of England
April 21, 2010 – 14:05
Thanks so much for this thought-provoking post and the introduction to the AXIS Dance Company. I have seen this Glee Episode in the UK, although I haven't seen the later one where the other characters try getting by in wheelchairs. What this discussion prompts me to think about is some of the potential value of the recent BBC competition TV series called Dancing on Wheels, which pairs 'celebrities' with wheel chair users as dance partners. I have seen only a little of this series but the 'celebrity' is the able-bodied partner who, the show's commissioning editor Harry Landsdown asserts, already knows how to dance, and the novice partner is the wheelchair user. The intentions are to make visible the world of wheelchair dancing which is unknown in mainstream society and also to foreground the background and life of the wheelchair user. So, in this case, there is some opportunity to reflect on the lived experience of the mourning phase that you mention above. The winning couple gets the chance to compete in the Wheelchair Dance European Championship. The idea of recruiting good able-bodied dancers has been criticised, but perhaps, as Landsdown implies, this strategy initially gets viewers to watch the dance format show which takes wheel chair dance competition seriously. What I wonder about, with respect to some of what you introduce above around mobility impairment is how difficult some of this territory might be for individuals with mobility impairment due to conditions like Multiple Sclerosis which cause severe fatigue and weakness in arm strength. This aspect can get worse with progression of the condition. Perhaps other areas of representation can attempt to account for those stories. Thank you once again for prompting this discussion.
Dancing on Wheels
by David Kociemba — Emerson College
April 28, 2010 – 12:01
I actually did look at Dancing on Wheels for this piece before deciding on AXIS. The visibility granted to wheelchair dance is an important part of that program's worth, although I wish that they'd step out of adaptations of ballroom dance more frequently. (An episode in which the contestants are paired with professional dancers who use wheelchairs, for example, would prove very interesting.)
Having not seen the program in its entirety, or in sequence, one of the things that I'd watch for is the civilian superstar archetype and the "overcoming" narrative, which tends to be more about able-viewers' anxieties and desires than anything else. I'm not willing to decisively say that's what they're doing without more focused viewing on my part, however.
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On Oscar eve, Now Playing Podcast hosts name their Best Picture picks
Jason Latham, February 25, 2017
Let's face it: Deadpool was never going to get a Best Picture nomination.
Despite the Golden Globes nom and those articles building up its Oscar chances, there was no way an R-rated superhero flick about sex and guns and unicorns was going to end up in the same category as 2016's prestige films.
Now Playing Podcast host Arnie Carvalho put it best the morning the nominees were announced: #OscarsSoPredictable.
The Oscars are the Oscars. Movies like The Artist win Best Picture. Movies like Deadpool win MTV Movie Awards, which are still a thing all these years later.
So, in honor of the many films that won't be celebrated at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony, the Now Playing hosts made their picks for Best Picture of 2016.
And the awards go to:
The Nice Guys
The Lobster
The VVitch
Edge of Seventeen

subset: commoncrawl


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No way to defend this stinker
Burn the tape so it doesn't fall into the hands of anyone who likes basketball.
It would give them nightmares.
The London Lightning defeated the Montreal Jazz 138-125 in a National Basketball League of Canada game Sunday in front of 2,786 fans at Budweiser Gardens.
That's about all you need to know that's of real value about the game. Everything else is a cacophony of so much that went wrong.
Other than the teams playing as if they'd never heard the word defence, it's difficult to put the blame on the teams for what turned out to be a game not worth the price of admission.
The issue stems from the Jazz. With the loss Sunday, they are 2-23. The Lightning are 24-2.
It's difficult to get focused on a team that's only won two games. It's especially difficult to focus on a team when they show up with only seven players.
Jonas Pierre, one of their starters, looked like he'd been in a street fight. He had a bandage near his eye and a brace on his knee. By the end of the game, he was badly limping up and down the floor.
The result was a sloppy, streetball game that it appeared the Lightning lost interest in when they were up by 25.
Congratulations to the Jazz, though. Even though their owners, the NBL, do not allow them to play in a professional atmosphere, they never stopped working and with the Lightning letting them play at will, they did themselves proud.
That said, the league should be embarrassed they don't give the Jazz a few more resources. The Jazz only have nine players on their roster. If the league has no interest in running the team properly, fold it so the league doesn't look like amateur hour.
It owes it to the Jazz players who put out every night and to their coach Alejandro Hasbani, whose players obviously want to play for him.
"It is no good for us," he said. "With only seven players, it is hard for us. I happy with my team. When we play basketball, we play good basketball."
When asked why he only had nine players on the roster, he shrugged his shoulders.
"It is not easy for me, not easy for the players," he said. "But we lost (23) games and every game we play all the time (never quit.). But the game is 48 minutes and we don't have personnel to play 48 minutes."
He got a lot out of the few players he had with him, especially Eric Frederick. The Lightning left him open and he just kept hitting his shots. He set a league record for points in a game with 47 points. He also added 12 rebounds.
Courtland Bluford added 25 and Chris Hagan 23.
The 125 points are the most given up by the Lightning this year.
"It was just a lack of effort on the defensive part," said Lightning's Tim Ellis. "Sometime you play down of the potential of the other team . . . Hey, they shoes up just like us. We know that team is going to give us their best shot. They never hung their head. We made a few subs, they made a few runs."
Yes, it happened again. With a 24-point lead, coach Micheal Ray Richardson made wholesale changes and the Jazz went on a 16-2 run. Richardson had to put his starters back in.
"We didn't play no defence," Richardson said. "We was looking at the score knowing they wasn't going to beat us anyway and no one played any defence.
"It wasn't pretty They never quit. I thought they played hard."
Ellis and Jeremy Williams had strong games with both hitting for 23 points and six rebounds each. Ellis added five assists and four steals. Jermaine Blackburn and DeAthony Bowden had 17 each with Bowden adding 11 assists for a double-double and Blackburn six assists. Marvin Phillips had 16 points,
Elvin Mims 15 and Adrian Moss chipped in with 12.
The Lightning now head on the road for 20 days, playing in Summerside on Thursday, Moncton on Friday and heading to Windsor on Sunday.
Right after the game the Lightning released forward De'Andre Thomas and replaced him on the roster with Morgan Lewis who came off the injured reserve list.
"De'Andre just hasn't played defence," Richardson said.
On Sunday, neither did anyone else on either team.


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ON MARCH 19, 2002, the GOA reduced the number of exemptions (many capital goods remain exempt) from the CET tariff rates. These modifications do not apply to all products that were the subject of supplemental tariff rate increases made during 2001. Capital goods not produced in the Mercosur and imported from third countries will maintain the current zero tariff rates until at least January 1, 2008.
In addition, on January 14, 2005, the GOA issued Resolution 6/05 Sicpme, modifying the Resolution 497 of July 2004, extending preferential tariff rates to selected HS categories dedicated to the automoble sector and its associated sub-sectors.
The GOA lowered import duties on many consumer products by seven percent. The new duties range from 12 to 22 percent, with some exceptions with rates of 35 percent.
The Argentine Government reduced the "Statistical Fee" from 3% to .5% imposed on most imports from countries outside MERCOSUR.
The GOA specific duties on selected items, such as textiles and shoes.
Drawback for imported inputs
Argentina applies a drawback scheme under which exporters are refunded all or part of the taxes they pay on imported inputs (import duties, statistical tax, and VAT) used in the production of an exportable good and in the packaging or presentation of another exportable good.
The export drawback system, regulated by Decrees Nos. 1011/1991, 2275/1994 and 690/2002, together with their amendments or supplementary provisions, reimburses all or part of the internal taxes paid at the various stages of production and marketing of goods manufactured in Argentina, which are exported new and unused for consumption on a commercial basis. The amount refunded may not exceed the amount paid in taxes. The drawback is made in cash, and is calculated on the basis of domestic value added; so if a product has been manufactured from inputs directly imported by the exporter, the rate is applied on its f.o.b. value minus the c.i.f. value of the imported inputs.
Drawback rates are decided upon by the MEP. In September 2006 they varied between zero and 6 per cent. Exports not eligible for drawback include various products in the following categories: meat; fish, molluscs and crustaceans; milk; green vegetables; coffee, tea and mate; rice; products of the milling industry; vegetable and animal fats and oils; and meat, fish, crustacean, mollusc and cereal preparations; starches and milk. The drawback is paid by the DGA once the exporter presents documentation accrediting shipment of the merchandise. Export Promotion Directorate (2006a). The procedure takes between 30 and 60 days.
A 0.5 percent customs fee is assessed on the CIF (Cost of good, Insurance, and Freight) value of most imports.
The VAT rate is 21% (key services may have a rate of 10.5%). The VAT is assessed on the CIF value + duty + customs fee.
(Software is subject to VAT, but the duty only applies to the value of the medium.)
In addition, most alcoholic beverages and consumer electronic products are subject to luxury and excise taxes.
In addition, for controlling tax evasion, the GOA uses an anticipated 10% VAT and 3% anticipated profits tax collected by customs on imports; these tax payments are subsequently credited against other tax liabilities. Thus, in general, there is no net tax increase for the importer.


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If a person dies who offers sacrifices to the jinn, and he persisted in doing so, can the funeral prayer be prayed over him or du'aa' be made for him?
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to offer the funeral prayer over him, or to wash him, or to shroud him. He cannot be considered to be one of the Muslims and he should not be buried with them, because he is a mushrik. The same applies to one who prays to the jinn or to the awliya' ("saints") or to the occupants of graves, or offers sacrifices to them. We seek refuge with Allaah.


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Implementation of Enhanced Automated Compliance Checking
The following outlines NSF policy on the handling of late proposals following implementation of enhanced automated compliance checking in FastLane.
Beginning Monday, March 18, 2013, NSF will enhance FastLane to begin automated compliance checking for all GPG-required sections (http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13001) of full proposals. If a proposal is submitted late in FastLane on or after March 18, 2013, for reasons related to enhanced automated compliance checking, it may be returned without review.
The system will not allow a proposal to be submitted if it is missing any of the following information.Ā Except for the Data Management Plan and Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan, these sections have been required for over twenty years:
- Project Summary
- Budget Justification
- Project Description
- Current and Pending Support
- References Cited
- Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
- Biographical Sketch(es)
- Data Management Plan
- Budget
- Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
Conformance to the preparation instructions provided in the GPG is required and will be strictly enforced unless a prior written authorization to deviate from the standard proposal preparation requirements has been approved as described in GPG Chapter II.A. Submission of complete proposals promotes consistent and equitable treatment of proposers across the Foundation and enables reviewers to evaluate proposals in accordance with the two merit review criteria established by the National Science Board.
The Foundation has taken a myriad of steps to ensure that proposers have been informed of this change and have adequate time to prepare for it. Such mechanisms include:
- Adding a new "Proposals Not Accepted" category in the October 2012 GPG defined as FastLane will not permit submission of a proposal if required sections are missing. If proposers do not have information to include for certain sections, the GPG instructs them to insert "Not applicable".
- Updating FastLane screens, solicitation boilerplate language and program webpages with information on this enhancement. For example, as of February 12, 2013, the FastLane Proposal Preparation screen, which every PI must view in order to work on a proposal, includes a message on required sections of the proposal and automated compliance checking.
- Enhanced FastLane validation checks and error messages for both PIs and Sponsored Projects Offices (SPO). If any GPG-required sections are missing when a PI sends their full proposal to the SPO, an error message will inform them which section(s) are missing. PIs may take corrective action then or forward the proposal to the SPO. If the required sections are still missing when the SPO attempts to submit the proposal, an error message will appear, preventing submission. These validation checks (which can be performed at any time) and error messages provide ample opportunity for proposers to act in order to avoid late submissions.
- Extensive outreach via targeted emails to FastLane users who have begun proposals in the last three months and to Grants.gov users who have downloaded NSF application packages. Additional communication in the form of webinars, presentations at the NSF Grants conference and professional society meetings, suggested tag lines for NSF staff's signature blocks and development of a web page and FAQs also has been conducted.
Treatment of Proposals Submitted Late On or After March 18, 2013
Despite all of the communication that has been provided regarding this enhancement, NSF anticipates that some proposals will be submitted late. PIs and proposers may contend that they were unaware of the system enhancement and, as a result, will request that their proposal still be considered. Allowing consideration of late proposals, however, would not be the proper course of action. Given all of the communication mentioned above regarding the system enhancement of NSF's long-standing policy requiring submission of the proposal sections, if a proposer misses a deadline on or after March 18th, and requests approval for late submission for reasons related to implementation of enhanced automated compliance checking, the appropriate response would be to not authorize the late submission. If a proposal is submitted late on or after March 18th, for reasons related to implementation of enhanced automated compliance checking, the appropriate response would be to return it without review.


text:
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Author: Zara
Cheryl Cole and Tre Holloway split
Cheryl Cole has split from her dancer boyfriend Tre Holloway after 14 months.
Cara Delevingne is dating her 'Kids In Love' co-star
Cara is reportedly dating her co-star for new film 'Kids In Love', Aki Omoshaybi.
Miley Cyrus wears a bizarre fishnet dress with leather nipple covers
Miley Cyrus stepped out in a see-through fishnet dress in Las Vegas as the weekend, leaving little to the imagination.
TOWIE head off to Vegas and 'Lucy is already being a diva!'
The cast of The Only Way Is Essex arrived at the airport today to board their flight to Vegas.
Jamie Laing spotted kissing Louise Thompson lookalike
The Made In Chelsea star was spotted kissing a pretty brunette outside Mahiki last night.
Has Miley Cyrus got a new man?
Miley Cyrus has reportedly moved on from Liam Hemsworth and has been getting close to her record producer, Mike WiLL Made It.
Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora get tattoos together
Cara Delevingne and Rita Ora take their friendship one step further by getting tattoos together in New York.
YOU become the stylists of Warehouse's AW13 collection
This season one of our favourite high street stores, Warehouse, invited customers to be the stylists of their new AW collection.
Bieber to star in Batman Vs. Superman role?
Could Justin be swapping the microphone for the movie screen? He posted a mysterious picture on Instagram yesterday, holding a personalised script.
Oops! TOWIE's Jasmin forgets her trousers
Jasmin Walia stepped out in a basketball top today in Liverpool, and not much else. Call the fashion police!


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I HATE waiting. Despise it. Yet it is something we all do so often. We wait for buses, trains, for the kettle to boil, or for that phone call, to say a bed is available for you. I do think that is one of the hardest things to wait for though.
A little background first. Last November I was admitted to hospital with an infection, which we found out to be caused by blockages in my kidneys and bladder. 5 weeks, and several procedures later, I was released in time for Christmas, with the thoughts of going back in after 6 weeks to have a stent taken out of one of my kidneys and a couple of tests to check that the blockage had been cleared. Fair enough. I got a few weeks out of Hospital over Christmas, and could relax before going back in to finish the job.
A few weeks later, I got the phone call to say it'll be a couple of days, but we will call and confirm. They did call, but it was to cancel. Then we tried again. Another phone call, this time to say we'll call Friday about admission on a Monday. The call on Friday was to ask me to call and check on Monday morning, for an admission that day. Monday came and went, with no bed. And so, I waited, and waited, and… Waited some more. Eventually, I called them, just to remind them that I was here. Finally, this week, I got another phone call. Again, we'll confirm on Friday for admission on Monday. Again, there's a weekend in there too, where who knows what will happen. It all sounds a bit Groundhog Day. Just without the Groundhog, really.
It's not even that I'm impatient. I can be very patient when I need to be. What is getting to me is not being able to plan anything. Not being able to look for work. Missing an event or a night out with friends happens, ans I'm lucky to have such understanding friends. It's impossible to go to a potential employer though, and say "Hire me! But by the way, I'll be going into hospital at some point. I don't know when and I don't know for how long. But hire me anyway!" I'd just love to be able to get this all sorted, and get on with life, but until I finally get that phone call, I'll be here, waiting for a bed…
Have you got any good or bad experiences like this? Are you not a big fan of waiting either? Let me know in a comment!
Note: This is not a rant about the health service. I am very grateful to the excellent healthcare professionals who took care of me, and who work in the health service. It is not an easy job, and we should all be thankful to those who can do it. It's simply a way for me to vent.


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New Low Budget Haunted House Pic 'Dark House'
We caught wind of a new indie film in pre-production entitled DARK HOUSE, which was written by Darin Scott & Kerry Douglas Dye and directed by Scott. Traumatized by an terrifying event in her youth, CLAIRE THOMPSON tries to exorcise her demons by revisiting the old house where a terrible children's massacre took place. Now a haunted house attraction set up by impressario WALSTON REY, the former foster home run by the evil MISS DARRODE is set to open for the press and Walston recruits Claire and several of her fellow acting class students to perform as part of the show. Unfortunately, a series of horrible murders happen at the haunted house, generating from either the malevolent spirit of the departed Miss Darrode, or by Claire herself… Filming begins this month in Los Angeles.


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From El Dorado Hills, California, USA:
My husband had a HbA1c test done in the hospital during a bout of extreme infection and a fever of 101-102 degrees. In addition, he was receiving intravenous antibiotics for the infection. Could these conditions have influenced the result of the HbA1c test? If not, what are the conditions that may influence this test?
To my knowledge, the infection and treatments for the infection should not have influenced the test.
Anything that decreases the circulating time of red cells artificially lowers the hemoglobin A1c. There are also hemoglobin types which interfere with hemoglobin A1c test. Finally, even though infections in the short-term will increase your blood sugars, the HbA1c gives you a mean of the previous three months, so that there is not an overwhelming influence of the most recent blood sugar levels.
Original posting 8 Feb 2001
Posted to A1c, Glycohemoglobin, HgbA1c
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text:
Never heard of Invisible Illness Awareness Week? You're not alone. Jody Smith sheds a little light to make it more visible
Discuss the article on the Forums.
Time for the Big Talk. How's the CAA doing?
Discussion in 'General ME/CFS News' started by hvs, Oct 26, 2009.
Page 84 of 86
Page 84 of 86


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Chiba, Japan (PRWEB) September 06, 2016
X-ray scientific, analytical and industrial instrumentation manufacturer Rigaku Corporation will be presenting its diverse lines of X-ray analytical products at the 2016 Japan Analytical & Scientific Instruments Show (JASIS). Rigaku will show over 20 instruments, including 6 new products. JASIS is among the largest expositions in Asia for scientific and instruments and will take place September 7 – 9 at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba City, Japan.
X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray imaging, thermal analysis and Raman spectroscopy instruments from Rigaku will be presented at Booth #8A-101, in HALL 8. Rigaku will also be conducting several seminars and oral presentations during the event.
Among the XRD instruments presented will be the Rigaku MiniFlex benchtop X-ray diffractometer. Ideally suited for today's fast-paced XRD analyses, the fifth generation MiniFlex is a general purpose X-ray diffractometer that can perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of polycrystalline materials. It delivers speed and sensitivity through innovative technology enhancements such as the optional D/teX high speed detector coupled with a 600 W X-ray source.
The Rigaku Supermini200 is the only commercially available benchtop wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF spectrometer), and will also be displayed. It features newly designed and simplified software and an improved footprint and combines all of the advantages of traditional WDXRF elemental analysis systems in a smaller, more economical package.
X-Ray microscopy (XRM) and computed tomography (CT) systems from Rigaku include the Rigaku nano3DX X-ray microscope and the new Rigaku CT Lab GX series of industrial 3D X-ray micro-CT imagers.
The nano3DX is a true X-ray microscope, with the ability to measure relatively large samples at high resolution. It images the entire sample from multiple angles, enabling reconstruction of a 3D image at 0.27 µm resolution. The computer model allows the user to view sections at any point on any plane, providing valuable insights into the structure of the sample.
The CT Lab GX series of industrial 3D X-ray micro-CT imagers offers ultra-high-speed, high-resolution 3D CT suited for measurements of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, bones, ores, electronic devices, batteries, aluminum castings, and printed circuit boards.
Elemental Analysis by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) offers for non-destructive measurement of sodium (Na) through uranium (U). EDXRF analyzers from Applied Rigaku Technolgies, Inc. will also be presented. The new Rigaku NEX DE premium high-performance benchtop direct excitation EDXRF elemental analyzer was developed for heavy industrial applications and engineered to maximize flexibility and ease of use. It is equipped with a 60 kV, 12 W X-ray tube to deliver significant gains in elemental peak resolution and counting statistics, resulting in superior calibrations and precision for the most challenging measurements.
For non-destructive portable stress analysis for field and indoor use, the Rigaku SmartSite RS is especially designed for on-site analysis. It is capable of characterizing residual stress of metal parts ranging from large construction projects to individual products. The X-ray measuring head unit is controlled by a tablet PC via a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection, enabling remote operation of the device.
Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy is a method by which an incident beam of X-rays just grazes the sample, delivering low-background noise, high-sensitivity measurement of ultra-trace elements. The Rigaku NANOHUNTER II benchtop TXRF spectrometer enables high-sensitivity ultra-trace elemental analysis, in liquids or on solid surfaces, to the parts-per-billion (ppb) level.
The Rigaku Progeny handheld Raman analyzer from Rigaku Analytical Devices is designed for chemical identification applications, including analysis of pharmaceutical materials and products, identification of explosives, toxic chemicals, narcotics and precursors and will also be demonstrated in the Rigaku booth.
About Rigaku
Since its inception in Japan in 1951, Rigaku has been at the forefront of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. Rigaku and its subsidiaries form a global group focused on general-purpose analytical instrumentation and the life sciences. With hundreds of major innovations to their credit, Rigaku companies are world leaders in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Today, Rigaku employs over 1,400 people in the manufacturing and support of its analytical equipment, which is used in more than 70 countries around the world supporting research, development, and quality assurance activities. Throughout the world, Rigaku continuously promotes partnerships, dialog, and innovation within the global scientific and industrial communities.
For further information, contact:
Michael Nelson
Global Marketing Coordinator
Rigaku Corporation
Phone: (512) 225-1796


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After 20 years of "Great Chefs" telecasts spotlighting chefs from around the world, the Discovery Channel program is getting its own magazine.
The premier, 112-page issue of Great Chefs Secret Recipes went on sale last month. Chicago chefs Gale Gand, Richard Rivera and Jackie Shen are among the contributors. It should be noted that the publication's masthead does not list a food editor or test kitchen personnel; the chefs themselves are the final authorities on recipe content and accuracy.


text: I've been going back and forth on posting a gift guide this year; even posting one in early December feels like it would be too late to do so as I know I've made most of my purchases by now, though I still have a few more to get. But I have so much fun making these guides each year (and once again, there are no affiliate links here), so I'm going to go for it anyway. Read More


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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cupcakes
Lyndsay at Coco Cake Cupcakes made this marvelous cupcake tableau for a 1-year old's birthday party. The head is covered with fondant and the cupcakes are iced with two different colors swirled together in imitation of Eric Carle's watercolors. Best of all, because it's made of cupcakes, this assembly is easy to divide among party guests.
Link -via My Modern Met
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Nest of Boxes - Tommy discusses in tremendous detail three unbelievable versions of the Borrowed Watch to Nest of Boxes. You will shake your head in disbelief and be absolutely dumbfounded. Coins Across - A combination of the Coins Across p..
Elizabeth IV - The performer removes a clear envelope with a wager and a prediction. Any card is named and contents of the clear envelope are openly removed. The prediction matches the freely named card. Rubik's Card - Tommy shows a small b..
The Ring, the Watch, and the Wallet - Tommy relates how he was recently robbed. He takes off his ring, takes the money from his wallet, and takes the watch off his wrist. He then very cleanly puts the items in an envelope and openly tears t..
Tommy Wonder is a living legend in magic. The routines, philosophy, creative process, and thinking detailed on Visions of Wonder are why he is hailed by his peers as one of the top performers and thinkers in magic and why many consider him ..
The thumb tip is one of the most utilized and valuable gimmicks in magic but it also wins the title of perhaps its most badly used. However, the thumb tip, despite repeated exposures, can still create miracles when used properly and judicio..
Volume Three
This is the real work on storing, transporting and accessing the invisible threads you'll use for any type of effect. The majority of this information is being revealed here for the first time in any format, and represents..
Volume 2
Section 1 - Magic Using the I. T. R.
Finn Jon's Mystery Nut and Bolt ala I. T. R
The Chop Cup Application
Dave Nelson's Dollar Bill Flight
I. T. R. Floating Bill
The Perfect Practice Hookup
Open Face Hookup
Z Grip..
Volume One
Section One - Introducing Elastic Thread
Section Two - Accessing the Threads
Section Three - Magic With Invisible Elastic
Tahoe Tessie and the Magic Postcard
The Rising Business Card
Whirling Business Card
Dan Har..
The first and still best correspondence magic course! Harlan Tarbell's Tarbell System Incorporated. Recommended to nearly every beginner, a tremendously valuable investment (especially at our price!), and a wealth of knowledge for magicians..
24 Mad Skills and Stunts to Make You Stand Out in the Crowd World renowned magician, pickpocket, trickster and all-round scamp Gregory Wilson invites you to attend THE SCHOOL OF COOL! A Download jam packed with teachings on all those c..
The effect that is commonly referred to as Gypsy Thread was first introduced into the literature of magic in 1584 by Provost and ever since, magicians - and presumably their audiences - have been fascinated and enchanted by the simple yet p..
A dual disk of amazingly visual and impromptu magic. This second video of a two disc set is jammed with G's personal ideas and moves. You are basically looking at G's personal arsenal of tricks. Video 2 includes:
Impromptu Toss Transfor..
A dual disk of amazingly visual and impromptu magic. This first video of a two disc set is jammed with G's personal ideas and moves. You are basically looking at G's personal arsenal of tricks. Video 1 includes:
Deck Production
Fire P..
The finale to the Business of Street Magic trilogy is here! It begins by showing something never seen before, Will Stelfox's busking show from start to finish, uncut. There are five separate shows for five different audiences to get a solid..
You'll find a sponge ball routine in almost every close-up performer's repertoire and in this volume, you'll discover a virtual encyclopedia of sponge ball magic. Routines from thirteen of the best sponge ball workers of all time have been ..
"Since the dawn of mankind...Men have dreamt of defying the laws of gravity." The Self Levitation was a feature and one of the most talked about items on David Blaine's Magic Special. This download teaches you how to perform that unbelievab..
Ever since it appeared on the Rainbow Rubber Band trailer people have been asking for this color change. Now You can learn this visual piece of magic.In this download you will learn Hanson Chien's amazing rubber band color change. Joe Rindf..
It all started a few years ago in the hospitality suite at the 4F convention, Rubber Exchange was born! This is an amazing rubber band transposition were two bands in different positions change places. The switching of the bands is amazingl..
Rubber Band Through Hand, is an amazing multiphase routine where a rubber band visibly penetrates up and down through the center of your palm.
Joe Is releasing one of his favorite effects, it is a complete visual masterpiece in rubber ba..
When Garrett Thomas introduced THE RING THING at the famous FFFF invitation-only close-up magic convention, some of the top close-up magicians in the world were asking to see it over and over again. Luminaries such as David Blaine, Jeff McB..


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What is the purpose of...
"WE'LL SELL YOUR HOUSE, OR WE'LL BUY IT FOR CASH!" ad campaigns?
This is a pretty attractive idea when you're considering selling your home and sometimes it can work well for you. I mean, everyone would like a guarantee that their home will be sold when they list!
For example, you have put in an offer subject to the sale of your home, you need to sell it quickly and you're okay with getting less than market price.
This "Buy Your Home When Not Sold" idea is not illegal (neither are "Payday Loans") but it is a method that a REALTOR® can use to get in front of you to give you the opportunity to list with her/him. Generally, they admit that they buy very few - if any, but they feel it's needed to get new listings. They "hook" the clients interest, the client doesn't like the conditions of the "buy your home deal" and ends up listing without that special agreement.
Listing and selling your home is an involved process that your REALTOR® will walk you through in a way that best protects your interests. Be aware though, this idea will complicate the process further.
Here are some things to consider before signing up for this program.
- To arrive at a fair market value, you should hire a qualified appraiser who is familiar with your area. What the REALTOR® will offer to buy yours for could be significantly less than market value. Think of it like wholesale/retail.
- Unless you negotiate differently you will still have to pay the full commission when he/she buys your home.
- Sometimes he/she will require you to commit to use them as your agent when you buy your next home. (Another guaranteed commission)
- They might require you to purchase a more expensive home as part of the deal. Check what threshold they have set for this purpose.
Make sure that you get it all in writing and that you understand what's involved. We strongly recommend you run any agreement by your lawyer - just to make sure.
Your REALTOR® will protect you as best he can. Just be sure that you are clear about what you are signing.
Still not sure? Call Jim, it's just simpler.
Handy Links:
- Up to Date Listings: http://www.dqteamkamloops.com/
- Municipal information - http://www.kamloops.ca
- Regional & Municipal Information - http://venturekamloops.com
- Things to Do here: http://www.tourismkamloops.com


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At the Museu Picasso, Diumenges al Picasso (Sundays at the Picasso Museum) offers Sunday morning performances in the museum ranging from classical music to clowns.
Admission is free the first Sunday of the month, an excellent opportunity if you arrive early enough.
For a light Mediterranean meal, the terrace café and restaurant provides a good resting point and breaks up your visit into manageable portions.
Thinking of a trip to Barcelona? For up-to-the-minute hotel and restaurant recommendations, plus the best planning advice, check out our online Barcelona Travel Guide.


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Published: 2008/11/24
Eric Krasno, Jamie McLean Join Big Sam in New York
On Friday, Big Sams Funky Nation played a sold-out show at New Yorks Sullivan Hall. Throughout the night, Big Sam Williams former Dirty Dozen Brass Band bandmate Jamie McLean—-who actually played in an early incarnation of the Funky Nation—-sat in on guitar. At one point late in the evening, McLean also handed over axe-duties to another New York guitarist, Eric Krasno, who proceeded to help the group through a version of Soul Power.
Big Sams Funky Nation will perform at New Orleans Miracle on Fulton St. on November 28, while Burlington, VT The Red Squares the same evening. Meanwhile, Krasno will perform with Soulive at Syracuse, NYs The Westcott Theater on December 4.


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Ignore technology! That's right, time is still a rather irrelevant piece of feedback, and the same goes for mph, thanks to wind, hills, etc.
Start easy. Allow your body 5–10 minutes to adapt to an upright position before settling in at your goal effort.
Commit to the effort you'd decided on before the race. Use a recent field test like a 20-minute "max effort" time trial, and then use a percentage of that effort to help guide you. (For help, use my free training and racing zones calculator at Fastforwardsports.net).
Stay in your bubble! Stay present and focused on what you need to do, keep your thoughts highly relevant and don't give in to the temptation to ride the pace of anyone zooming by you. Every now and then, peek out of your bubble at that guy in the funny looking tri suit as he huffs and puffs to beat you up that climb—you'll probably see him again on the run!
Allow yourself no greater than a 10 percent effort increase on uphill sections and then aim to stay "on the gas" during the downhill until you reach 30-plus mph, when you can coast. Avoid hammering the uphills and then catching your breath on the downhill sections, as it will be faster and more efficient to keep a steady energy expenditure.
Over the last 5–10 minutes, back off a gear or two to allow your heart rate to settle down, and your legs to freshen up for the run. This is another reason not to be chasing a bike leg time or mph goal. You might achieve that minor goal but then most likely pay for it during the run.


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An ounce is costing them millions.
Soft-drink companies have spent huge sums retrofitting their assembly lines to accommodate Mayor Bloomberg's new soda crackdown, according to industry insiders.
The law, which kicks in March 12, forbids hundreds of city eateries from selling soda in containers larger than 16 ounces.
Few drink makers in New York put beverages in that size bottle — and none is a soda. They include Snapple, Pom and Sunny Delight.
But the 16.9-ounce bottle is a popular size for Coke, Pepsi and other carbonated beverages.
Because those bottles are banned in eateries, many companies are changing to the slightly smaller packaging. But the change is going to cost plenty.
Coke and Sprite will soon come only in 16-ounce bottles at Domino's Pizza so that soda can be delivered with take-out orders.
Other retailers are being told the same — that reduced-size sodas will replace popular options such as the one-liter and two-liter bottle.
"My delivery guy tells me they'll bring 16 ounces," said Lupe Balbuena of World Pie in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
"We have to make capital investments to make a different size in order that retailers have a product within the guidelines," an insider at a New Jersey bottling plant told The Post.
He added: "It's kind of a silly point to say 16 ounces. There are products that are below that [size] that have a lot more calories."
He mentioned beer and wine, but those and other alcoholic beverages aren't included in Bloomberg's new law.
Bottlers aren't the only ones crying in their drinks over the new law.
Environmentalists and packaging experts worry that plastic waste will increase as a result.
They reason that since two-liter bottles will no longer be available from many restaurants, customers will choose to buy more bottles in a smaller sizes.
"Having four 16-ounce bottles with four caps and four labels is going to create more waste versus one two-liter bottle with one cap and one label," said Elisabeth Cuneo, editor-in-chief of Food & Beverage Packaging magazine.


text: |The name 'Monitor' is special to Polk Audio. The original Polk Audio Monitor Series, produced in the mid-1970s, ushered in the modern loudspeaker era by setting the standard for performance and value. The original Monitor Series is the line that made Polk Audio famous with its simple, sturdy construction, clear, accurate sound, powerful bass and superior imaging all at a price that made great sound available to everyone. The newly reborn Monitor Series is classic Polk: a quality-built, affordable line of high performance loudspeakers for music and home theater. They are highly efficient, so they can be driven easily by unpretentious receivers, and they are voice matched for lifelike surround sound environments. The Monitor Series boasts a stylish look that complements today's flat screen technology, with wood grain finishes and modern Titanium faces, and beefy stabilizer feet on the tower models. Built for speed, sound and value, the Monitor Series is a great introduction to high performance sound. The Monitor 50 features: High efficiency design allows the Monitor Series to reveal the classic Polk Audio sound (open, spacious and clear) even when driven by modestly-powered amplifiers and receivers. 1-inch (25mm) Fabric/Polymer Composite Dynamic Balance Dome Tweeter with powerful Neodymium magnet structure delivers clear and detailed high frequency response for realistic reproduction of vocals and instruments. 5 1/4-inch Bi-Laminate Composite Dynamic Balance Drivers are lightweight and stiff with good damping for high efficiency, excellent bass and lower distortion. Multiple small-diameter driver design delivers wide dispersion, better mid-range, and more detailed bass response for an open, 'box-less,' three-dimensional sound. Non-resonant all-MDF enclosure construction with æ"-thick baffles and front'to-back and side-to-side internal bracing ensures cleaner, clearer, more lifelike sound quality. <


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Learn the art of kitesurfing – the ultimate power kite activity. Feel the buzz of speeding across the open water. Be free to ride where you want to – FAST.
Kite surfing lessons for IKO certificate
• Traditional South African BBQ and potjie
Extra Details
Price: ZAR 9,700
Tour Code: KSL
What's Included
• Airport transfer
• 16 nights' dormitory accommodation
• Kitesurfing lessons with certified I.K.O Instructor
• Equipment rental
Day 1 – Dinner
Day 2 – Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 – Breakfast
English Course:
• Placement – level test
• All materials
• End of course certificate
• Teachers are all highly qualified CELTA (Cambridge) teachers
• Small classes of max 12 per class
• Free Net Languages online
• English courses whilst studying with ih Cape Town
You are met at the airport and taken to the 4 star SaltyCrax Backpackers in Table View. The
hostel is within walking distance from Kite Beach, transport terminals, restaurants, bars and shops.
Early arrivals can spend the day either on a tour through the Cape Town city centre (optional
extra) or simply relaxing on beautiful white beaches with picturesque views of Table Mountain.
At 5pm everyone meets at SaltyCrax for orientation and a traditional South African BBQ around the fire. After the good meal, roll down to the local bars and pubs where you can
spend the rest of the night at your leisure.
After a farmhouse breakfast, a qualified kitesurfing instructor from Wind Sports will meet you. He will take you to the world famous Kite Beach that has an amazing backdrop of Table Mountain and a steady supply of wind and waves. Your first day of lessons will begin with:
Lesson 1: Introduction to Kiteboarding
Includes safety, equipment setup, understanding the wind and land based flying.
Lesson 2: Water Introduction
Includes large kite handling, self-launch and hopefully body dragging through the water.
Lesson 3: Water Skills
Includes advanced body dragging, water re-launch and basic board skills.
You are taken back to the hostel after an exciting day of kiting. Relax around the fire while a potjie; a traditional South African stew, is cooked. The rest of the night is yours to discover the local night life.
local night life.
After a full breakfast served in the dining room, you are taken back to the beach. Your final day of lessons include:
Lesson 4: Board Basics
Includes first water starts on a board and first ride.
Lesson 5: Supervised Riding and Tips
Includes riding with power, change of direction and holding an edge.
You will now be an IKO accredited kitesurfer and will receive a certificate and card allowing you to kite anywhere in the world!
The week is spent on your Standard English Course. Lessons are held from Monday to Friday from 09:00am to 12:40pm.
Activitiy / tour days may be taken over weekends in between the language course, before or after.


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I've always remembered something Sanford Meisner, my acting teacher, told us. When you create a character, it's like making a chair, except instead of making someting out of wood, you make it out of yourself. That's the actor's craft - using yourself to create a character.
But for me, the challenge is how you turn a character into behavior. Once the director says 'action', you just try to live between those two worlds.
I always considered myself as a character actor. I always try to be versatile to show different sides of human experience.
I'll keep on acting 'til they wipe the drool. I like the business. I like to do different parts and diverse characters. I haven't lost my enthusiasm yet!
Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Every day we present the best quotes! Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends
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NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- First Horizon National (NYSE: FHN) is trading at unusually high volume Thursday with 23.1 million shares changing hands. It is currently at 4.2 times its average daily volume and trading down 78 cents (-7.8%) at $9.18 as of 4 p.m. ET. First Horizon has a market cap of $2.52 billion and is part of the financial sector and banking industry. Shares are up 24.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. First Horizon National Corporation operates as a bank holding company for First Tennessee Bank National Association that provides various financial services. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.2, below the average banking industry P/E ratio of 21 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. TheStreet Ratings rates First Horizon as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and weak operating cash flow. You can view the full First Horizon Ratings Report. See all heavy volume stocks in our stocks moving on unusual volume list or get investment ideas from our investment research center.
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90% Wetherspoon jobs go to Britons
Most of the jobs created by pubs giant Wetherspoon in the past two years have gone to Britons, challenging the belief that workers from this country are losing out to immigrants.
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said he believed some of the statistics covering the employment of immigrants compared with British-born workers were "dodgy".
In the past two years, the company has opened around 100 new pubs, creating 3,300 jobs, with 90% going to British-born applicants.
Mr Martin stressed that Wetherspoon was open to applications from anyone, and employed a number of non-British born staff.
"I have read reports that most jobs being created have gone to immigrants, which seem to be accepted as the truth.
"But that is not my experience - in fact the difference is startling," he told the Press Association.
"I am definitely not saying that UK workers are great and foreign workers are bad. We have fantastic candidates from foreign workers, but they are equalled by UK-born employees.
"There are a lot of dodgy statistics flying around. There is no question that UK workers can compete with the best in the world."
More stories
More stories
- Plant closure threat to 1,700 jobs
- Disabled workers vote to strike
- Where to find apprenticeships and training schemes


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Little Trees Even Enjoy Trademark and IP Rights
Los Angeles, CA (Law Firm Newswire) June 30, 2011 - Companies put a lot of effort and money into their designs, sales and marketing tactics, so it is no wonder the Car-Freshner Corporation is aggravated by a company that is trying to use a similar tree design for its financial benefit. In a lawsuit against Stanislawski Marketing Ventures, who is doing business as Beck & Call promotional products, Car-Freshner alleges that the company "offers, markets, and distributes promotional air fresheners with a tree design that is indistinguishable from and confusingly similar to Car-Freshner's distinctive Tree Design Marks."
The case is currently underway in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, but it has repercussions that are relevant to businesses everywhere. The Car-Freshner Corp. has used the iconic tree symbol on its air freshener for more than 55 years. Numerous TV, movie, and pop culture references have used the tree fresheners and thereby created an even bigger impression on consumers. The lawsuit also lists Julius Sämann, the inventor of the air freshener who "spent five years extracting pine needle oils in the Canadian wilderness before he came up with the shape, name, and fragrance in New York in 1952."
Car-Freshner Corp. has six registrations for its tree designs in a wide array of goods and services classifications and it further licenses those designs to third parties such as MasterCard, Samsung, Carnival Cruise Lines, and Buffalo Wild Wings. Car-Freshner Corp attests that Beck & Call not only created customizable tree design air fresheners for companies such as DirecTV but that their use of the tree design violates the Lanham Act and other trademark laws. From infringement, unfair competition, trading off the goodwill and reputation of Car-Freshner, and dilution of its unique tree design, Beck & Call has been slammed with it all.
The lawsuit goes to the core of trademark and intellectual property rights a business works hard to maintain, enjoy, and profit from. As such, businesses who secure legal counsel early on during product development stages and further work with their counsel to help them navigate through additional complex business and intellectual property matters often come out ahead of their competition.
In California, Los Angeles intellectual property attorney and Los Angeles business attorney Anthony Spotora provides critical legal guidance to businesses and individuals. From launching a product, analyzing business plans, and registering trademarks and copyrights, the Law Offices of Spotora & Associates is a trusted resource in Southern California and throughout the nation. They represent a wide array of industries as they research, protect, enforce, and defend their clients' rights.
To learn more, talk to a Los Angeles Business Lawyer or Los Angeles business Attorney by visiting http://www.spotoralaw.com/.
Law Offices of Spotora & Associates, P.C.
1801 Century Park East, 24th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90067-2302
Call: (310) 556.9641
[mappress mapid="56"]
- Contract Basics for Business: Five Requirements of A Contract
Businesses enter into contracts each and every day. Contracts are formed when customers make purchases, when suppliers deliver materials, or when contractors place orders. Contracts are a critical element when it comes to operating a business, and when contracts are not honored, disputes arise. What Is Required to Form A Contract? A contract requires […]
- Public Figures' Privacy Rights In California
California is home to many celebrities and public figures, and the paparazzi is regularly and continually make attempts to take photos of these public individuals, or to score interviews with them. Public figures are individuals who have placed themselves in public view, such as actors and actresses, sports athletes, and politicians – many people involved […]
- How Strong Is Your Trademark? The Four Trademark Strength Categories In Brief
Not all trademarks are created equal. Some trademarks are 'stronger' in the legal sense than others, meaning that some marks are easier to register and enforce than other marks. Trademarks need to be unique, distinctive, and not easily confused with other existing trademarks when they are applied to a product or service in order to […]
See other news sources publishing this article. BETA | Tags: Los Angeles business attorney, Los Angeles business lawyer, Los Angeles entertainment attorney, Los Angeles entertainment lawyer


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Avon Panthers and ECHO Stars Squirts A's
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Tips From an Attorney on Avoiding Investment Scams
Here is a succinct list of tips on how to avoid investment or stock fraud. Tip #1 is to regularly pay attention to your investments. Even if your investments are managed by somebody else, you should check them frequently!
What are Common Mistakes Made by Investors?
Here is a video by Attorney Charles Thompson that details some of the more common (and dangerous) mistakes made by investors:
Have you Lost Money in an Investment?
Many people have lost money in their investments due to stockbroker negligence or other issues. Are you one of those people? Watch the video below to see how we can help you!
What Makes Charles Thompson Special? –
There are only a handful of lawyers in the state of Alabama that specialize in securities law the way that Charles Thompson does, and fewer still that have the years of experience recovering money for defrauded investors like we do. Please watch the video below to understand what sets us apart in the legal field.


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Internet Marketing & Promotion
The internet marketing offers greater capabilities to market the products and services at lower cost to global audience. We at RKS Technologies help our clients achieve online success through pioneering, righteous and strategically-effective Internet marketing services. Tailored to suit your business type and requirements, our solutions build a web-niche for your brand and keep you


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To Round Is a Fun, Bubble-Based Task Manager
Android/iPhone: Not everyone needs their to-dos in a list. To Round takes a totally different approach to organizing tasks by putting each task into a bubble.
Android/iPhone: Not everyone needs their to-dos in a list. To Round takes a totally different approach to organizing tasks by putting each task into a bubble.
Windows: In addition to a controversial UI, Windows 8 brought some new improvements like a cleaner, more usable task manager. If you don't want to upgrade, you can get the sweet new look with DBC Task Manager.
Windows 8 brought a brand new task manager with tons of new features, but it can be a little bit confusing if you were accustomed to the old way of doing things. Here are a few ways to customize the interface.
Android: One of the great things about Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean is that you can long-press the home button to switch apps or close apps running in the background. ICS Task Manager/Switcher, the handiwork of XDA developer hamzawi, brings the same functionality to all Android devices including those that will…
Taskk is a new to-do app that solves the common problem of trying to figure out what to do next. Give each task a time estimate and drag them into priority order, and Taskk will set up a plan of action based on how much time you have.
Android: If you constantly switch between running apps, Android's default "Recent Apps" screen probably isn't as nice as you'd like. Task Changer lets you customize how you switch between them as well as which apps show up on the list.
Last but not least in the tour of Windows 8's new features is a revamped Task Manager, which makes it easier to monitor running apps, resource usage, and startup apps and quit them when necessary.
Windows: After installing Moo0 WindowMenuPlus, right-click on any open window and you'll see new entries in the context menu that allow you to make the window transparent, keep the window on top of other apps, end the program, or kill the process.
Everyone knows how to open the task manager: press Control+Alt+Delete and click "Task Manager," right? For a faster way, press Control+Shift+Escape to launch the task manager directly, bypassing the menu and the mouse entirely.
Chrome/Firefox/Safari: Taskforce, the task management system that tucks itself neatly into Gmail or Google Apps mail, has grown up quite a bit since its beta. The webapp supports more browsers, has a more robust task management system, and does a better job of converting emails into tasks and keeping track of them.
Your Android can call people, remind you of appointments, and give directions to places you need to go. So why isn't there a to-do manager that takes advantage of those powers? Todo Q is just such a beast. It's smart about connecting your Android's utilities to your tasks.
If you need to get something done by constantly feel bombarded by distractions around your computer, there's no need to block programs from running—you can just shut down your taskbar so you can't reach them.
Gina and Adam P. told me, when I first started at Lifehacker, that their to-do lists were simple text files. "Crazy Amish reactionaries," I thought. Now I'm on Team Plain Text, and I won't go back. Here's why you might join, too.
Windows Phone 7: What motivates you to knock things off your task list? Sure, "Progress toward accomplishments" is a valid answer. But maybe "Advancing to the next level and upgrading my character" might work better. Noborizaka offers that role-playing-game-like experience.
Google polled users of its Tasks app on what else it should do, and last week we chimed in, too, asking you for the features in your Dream To-Do App. Here's a few suggestions from our task-focused readers.
Google asked users of its Tasks app what features it should add, and more than 17,000 responded. We found Tasks a bit anemic, but Google's post raises the question: How would you balance usability and features in Your Ultimate Task App?
Windows: If you need a little extra boost when you're working on your Windows machine, TopWinPrio offers on-the-fly adjustment of process priority based on which window is in focus.
Laytr is a reminder and emailing scheduling service that makes it simple to schedule an email for future delivery, set up reminders, and even forward emails to your future self to deal with them at a later date.
We sometimes get email too early to stick in our memory, but important enough that a reminder would be great. If you don't trust, or just want to augment, your to-do/calendar/reminder system, NudgeMail redelivers your messages whenever you most need them.
Android: If you're a fan of detailed system overviews for devices big and small, Android System Info is a task manager for Android phones packed with details about your phone's hardware and software.


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How to turn a college dorm into home
Info Guru, Catalogs.com
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A college student has some tips on how to turn a college dorm into homeYou're away from home for your first year of college. You find yourself in a new location, amongst other eager students, and hauling your bedroom décor and supplies into a small new living space.
Turn that closet-like dorm room into your home away from home with a few simple decorating ideas.
Bed linens
The main focus of every dorm room is that bare, sterile dorm mattress and bed frame. You'll find that it becomes seating for friends, a couch while watching movies, a work area, and a cuddly bed after a long college day. For a piece of furniture that serves multiple purposes it needs functional linens.
Other than typical linens, a duvet and duvet cover provide a comfy top layer for seating – protecting your sheets from rowdy friends. A duvet is also thick enough to keep you warm in the winter, given that your college is up north or has spotty heating. Get a colorful or patterned duvet cover in order brighten up your bed and room.
Bed risers also help to make your low to the ground bed, feel more like a couch in the daytime.
Dorm rooms are known for their awful fluorescent lighting, which flickers and casts a harsh white light upon the walls.
Don't underestimate natural light that streams through the windows. Instead of using the black-out blinds that come equipped in dorm rooms, hide those in the closet and hang some curtains. Light, gauzy curtains let in lots of light while still provide coverage from any peeping toms.
A powerful floor lamp can work wonders to brighten up a dorm room with soft light. Smaller desk lamps for each work area are necessary for late-night cramming sessions while a roommate tries to sleep.
DIY lighting ideas add that final touch of charm to a dorm room. Creative colored string lights can be hung around the ceilings, wound around bed frames, and even used to outline hanging mirrors. These lights can even be wrung around metal frames to create a faux chandelier.
There's a reason why almost every college dorm room is outfitted with posters and pictures on the walls. Posters are cheap, colorful, and make great conversation starters. Hang up a poster of your favorite band, quote, or television show to add instant personalization to your side of the room. If there's ever a time to indulge in typical dorm room décor it's freshman year, so hang up those posters of The Office, Bob Marley, Keep Calm and Carry On, and Coexist.
Consider buying a large floor rug to distract others from the dull linoleum tiles. Cheap rugs add color and an additional seating area. If you're careful not to ruin it, a Flokati rug is incredible to have in a dorm room – it's soft, beautiful, and sure to be the envy of your friends.
Add something alive to your dorm room. While most colleges have rules against pets, a plant is a low-maintenance addition to your dorm. Or you could buy a small goldfish or beta fish to keep in a small bowl. Having a fish or plant to greet after a long day is uplifting.
I bet your bedroom at home is filled with personal memorabilia and pictures of friends and family. Bring some of those memories with to college.
Picture frames with your best friends can be placed on your desk or on your shelving. Pick some of your favorite pictures, print them out at a drug store, and create a collage of pictures on your wall with some scotch tape. Blow up one favorite image to life-size proportions and hang it on your closet door. There's no limit when it comes to ways to display pictures.
Have a few favorite books? Bring them with to display in your bookcase. Your whole collection may take up too much room but a shelf can house a few favorites. Trust me you'll love re-reading a familiar book when you're feeling homesick.
It doesn't take much effort or cash to turn a college dorm room into a home. Be sure to add unique touches that represent your interests. Bright colors in linens, pillows, and a rug create visual appeal. Lighting adds warmth in place of sterile florescent lights. Don't forget to decorate the walls with posters and pictures. Every little area that can house a personal trinket will create a homey effect.
Don't underestimate the effect of having a personal haven; a space of your own in college.


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Title: The Giving Season (part 1 of 4)
Author: Jordanna Morgan
Archive Rights: Please request the author's consent.
Rating/Warnings: Extremely mild PG, due to parenthood topics.
Characters: Ensemble, including a return appearance by my OC, Helen Conover.
Setting: Direct sequel to my story "A Haunting in Westchester".
Summary: In a houseful of mutants, some Christmas wishes don't come true easily.
Disclaimer: Marvel and Fox own the characters that sell. Except for Puck, all original characters are mine.
Credit: Puck originated in the story "Curiosity and the X-Cat", by Mara Greengrass. Thanks for letting me play with him, Mara!
Notes: After posting my Halloween fic "A Haunting in Westchester", I was asked about writing a holiday story. With several other stories on my plate, I wasn't planning to do one this year—but the mutants had other ideas. I submit this as a gift to my regular reader-reviewers. Happy New Year to all!
The December day was cold and clear, with still winds and a cloudless sky. The snow stood several inches deep in the woods, a crystalline carpet glittering in the sunlight between leafless oaks and maples and deep green pines and firs. Although the rich soil and its summer wealth of vegetation lay buried, the air was still sharp with the scent of living things: deer and chipmunks that had left their tracks in the snow, bright birds that flitted among the evergreens.
Logan drew a deep breath, then let it out slowly as a swirl of warm vapor, taking in the freshness of the winter morning. It was here that he felt most at ease. This realm of violent extremes, with its unpredictable weather, its primal struggle between predator and prey, made more sense to him than the violent extremes of human nature. To him, the wild was the only place where the world seemed calm. Still. Peaceful.
"Hey, Jubilee—catch!"
A snowball whizzed past mere inches from Logan's head, smacking Jubilation Lee in the side of the face as she turned toward Bobby Drake. She squealed as gobs of wet, icy slush dribbled down into the collar of her jacket.
"Okay, that's it, Popsicle. This means war!"
Logan sighed and continued to trudge down the trail, as all manner of wildlife fled invisibly into the woods before the raucous approach of half a dozen teenagers.
Their very presence in his woods rankled him. It was not by choice that he'd brought them out here to his territory; rather, it was an enforced "favor" to Professor Xavier, one of the endless little chores by which he earned his keep. The mission was to find a Christmas tree, cut it down, and bring it back to the school. Not entirely unprepared for this request, Logan even had a tree in mind: a tall, handsome one, unoccupied by any birds or animals, easily accessible from the trail. It should have been a simple task… save for one thing. Rather than send any responsible adults along to help him, Xavier decided to let the kids volunteer.
Which was a perfectly nice idea—except that less than five minutes' hike into the woods, the situation had deteriorated into a running snowball fight.
At last the tree loomed into view, a stately fifteen-foot white pine, standing at the edge of a clearing beside the trail. Logan stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder at the general melée in his wake. "We're here."
There were some muffled "oofs" as the last few stray snowballs found their mark, and the students began to gather around him. Still dusting snow from their clothes, they surveyed the tree, with the absurdly critical air of connoisseurs appraising a priceless work of art.
"It kinda bulges on this side," Kitty Pryde offered earnestly, waving a hand at the right side of the tree.
"So we can trim it," replied Marie D'Ancanto, otherwise known as Rogue. "It's just the right height, and the branches are nice and full. Watcha think, guys?"
Bobby shrugged, a gesture which was repeated by the other two boys, Peter Rasputin and Tommy Krieger.
"It's got, like, kind of a bare spot up there near the top," Jubilee put in.
"We can fix that," Rogue replied confidently, and turned to Logan. "It's perfect."
Logan glanced at Tommy. "Get ready to break this thing's fall," he said, then got down on his hands and knees and crawled halfway underneath the pine's low-hanging boughs. He ignored the teasing wolf whistle which came from behind him, most likely from Jubilee; sometimes she was even bolder than Rogue when it came to messing with him.
After clearing away the snow from the base of the tree, he extended a single adamantium claw, and with a few powerful sweeps, all but severed the trunk. It gave way with a sharp crack and began to fall toward the clearing—only to stop dead at a forty-five degree angle, then gently sink the rest of the way to the ground, caught by Tommy's telekinesis. He couldn't lift it on his own, but he could ease its descent, and help to spare it from damage.
As Logan pushed himself to his feet, Rogue folded her arms and gave him a private smile. "That wasn't so bad, now, was it?"
Busy scraping threads of sticky pine sap from his claw, Logan merely rolled his eyes at her, then gave the rest of the students his best obey-or-die look. "Okay. Let's get moving."
The kids couldn't have moved faster if superhuman speed were a part of their mutant powers.
Half an hour later, Professor Charles Xavier watched from the window of his study as the tree brigade came home, coated with snow and laboriously hauling their prize.
"From here, it's rather hard to tell if those are my students or walking snowmen." Charles turned his smile upon a woman who sat across from him at the table beside the window. "I think I'm going to be making this up to Logan for quite some time."
Helen Conover returned his smile rather pensively.
The retired stage actress had been joining Charles for Sunday brunch every week since Halloween, when she had turned her nearby mansion into a highly successful haunted house—with some magic provided by the Xavier School's young mutant charges. Although she was a widow, and had seen her share of pain, her losses had not stolen her tremendous capacity for life and love. She accepted mutants wholeheartedly, and the school's residents welcomed her in turn. Charles in particular was drawn to her; she gave new light to his eternal search for hope.
Now that light seemed clouded, and he frowned, raising a finger to tap his chin thoughtfully. "You've been quiet this morning. Is there something you'd like to talk about?"
Pursing her lips, Helen shrugged slightly and gazed down into her teacup. "Roger called me last night. He and Allison… want to visit for Christmas."
The announcement surprised Charles. Allison was Helen's daughter, Roger her son-in-law; they were the parents of her grandson, Kenneth, who had committed suicide two years before in an institution for mutant children. There had been a rift between her and the couple ever since. Charles knew this, and accepted that the loss was one reason for Helen's compassion toward his students: an attempt to atone for having never successfully intervened in Kenny's short and tragic life.
She bore no guilt in his mind, and eventually, he hoped to expel it from hers. Perhaps forgiving her daughter could be a step toward forgiving herself.
"Why would Roger call you, and not Allison herself?" Charles asked.
Helen smiled wryly. "I got the impression the whole trip was his idea. He seemed excited. He said something about celebrating, because he's been made a full partner in his law firm, but… there was something else. I don't know." Her expression sobered, and she shook her head. "Roger was always a good man. He didn't want… things to happen… the way they did."
"So did you agree to their visit?"
"I don't know yet." Helen's gaze reverted to her Darjeeling. "I told him I'd have to think about it. The way Allison and I left off…"
Charles answered quietly, "I think you should say yes. I'd like to meet them."
Helen glanced up sharply. "Oh, but Charles, I couldn't bring them here. Not to a school for—"
"For the gifted?" Charles smiled. "That's all they need to be told. Besides… I happen to know that you still love your daughter."
Gradually Helen's troubled expression smoothed into a smile. "So you've been reading my mind again?"
"Not as a mutant," Charles replied, with a sparkle in his eyes. "Only as a man."
To his satisfaction, he was rewarded by Helen's soft laughter.
Downstairs, Jean Grey was presiding over a scene of pandemonium.
Logan and his six "helpers" had gotten the tree indoors, and were now attempting to install it in front of the staircase. This was proving mainly to involve Logan, Peter, and Bobby grappling with the towering conifer by sheer brute force, while Tommy and Jean struggled to steady it with their telekinetic powers. Meanwhile, Rogue, Jubilee, and Kitty stood by as self-appointed directors—none of whom could come to a concensus as to which was the tree's best side.
"Turn it a little more counter-clockwise—no, no, to your right."
"But then that bare patch is going to show! You need to turn it all the way around."
"We could cover up the bald spot, but it's got that saggy part around the bottom."
"I bet you've heard that said about you a lot, Jubes."
Mentally letting go of her grip on the tree, Jean raised a hand to rub the bridge of her nose. She ignored the grunts of surprise from the boys as they suddenly took the share of weight she had been supporting. A headache was beginning to roll around in her skull, its epicenter directly proportionate to the direction the girls wanted the tree to be moved.
Her eyes opened when she heard the voice of her fiancé. Scott Summers was coming up the hallway, and he called out in an encouraging tone, "Hey, that looks pretty good, guys."
"It needs work," Kitty allowed critically, putting her hands on her hips as she surveyed the tree, which was swaying ominously in the grasp of its handlers. Peter had shifted into his armored state to avoid pokes and scratches from the pine needles, but his companions were not as fortunate; Logan's muttered swearing was quietly echoed now and then, in somewhat milder terms, by Bobby.
"You could get in here and give us a hand, One-Eye," Logan grumbled.
Glancing down at his pristinely fresh shirt and slacks, Scott balked. "I think you guys are handling it."
"Whoa, okay! Ya almost got it. Just a little more to the left," Rogue suddenly interrupted, causing Jean to smile inwardly. When it came to defusing Scott and Logan, the girl was a regular bomb technician.
With a final grunt of effort, Logan gave the tree a shove that was backed up by Peter and Bobby, then let go of the trunk and stepped back. It remained upright, and while Jean noted a few places that would need trimming or filling in, it looked to her as if it really was shown to its best advantage. Still standing off to the side, the girls broke into applause.
Logan clearly wasn't waiting around for any appreciation of his labors. With one last cynical glance at the tree, he turned and headed for the front door.
"Hey, wait!" Rogue called after him, and when he paused to glance back at her, she shrugged hopefully. "Aren't you gonna stay and help us decorate the tree?"
For an instant, Jean thought she saw a flicker of… something… in Logan's eyes.
"No," he said gruffly, and continued on his way.
"Logan," Jean began, taking a step forward to follow him. But Scott put a hand on her arm, and she heard his voice in her mind: Let him go.
The thought was tinged with a familiar disdain, and it made Jean's heart hurt. With a sharp sigh she pulled her arm away from Scott's hand, giving him a look of reproach. His lips thinned, but his eyes were invisible behind ruby quartz lenses, and he said nothing before he turned back to the students.
"Okay, guys. If you're up for it, we can go ahead and get the boxes down from the attic before lunch. After that we'll get everyone together to start trimming the tree."
The six teenagers followed Scott up the stairs. Rogue brought up the rear of the group, and pausing on the bottom step, she turned. As she briefly gripped the banister with gloved fingers, she glanced meaningfully back at Jean. She was all too aware of the ripple of tension which her schoolmates had overlooked—and Jean read a determined statement in the girl's expression.
You work on Mister Summers. I'll handle Logan.
Without waiting for any acknowledgment, Rogue turned to climb the stairs after the others, and Jean shook her head with a sigh. "All I want for Christmas is peace on earth… or at least a reasonable facsimile in my own household."
The rematch with the tree came after lunch, proving once again that nothing was ever done quite normally at Xavier's School.
No ladder was employed to decorate the towering tree. Some of its upper regions could be reached from the gallery landing, but for the most part, the mutants accomplished the job with a combination of telekinesis, flight, and Kurt Wagner's teleporting acrobatics. Nearly the entire household took part in the effort, under the watchful eye of Professor Xavier, who had spent decades collecting the treasure trove of antique and heirloom ornaments which were carefully hung upon the branches.
There were incidents, of course; there always were. While helping Scott wire the lights, Bobby shattered a few bulbs he had accidentally frozen. Jubilee dropped and broke a glass ball, although fortunately not an old or valuable one. Kitty and Theresa tried to untangle a mess of garland, but only succeeded in making it even more snarled.
Yet the end result was more than worth any snags along the way, when everyone stood back to watch as Kurt bamfed for an instant to the treetop, placing a beautiful hundred-year-old angel figure at its peak. With this traditional final touch completed, a spontaneous round of applause broke out.
The only person absent from the warmth and closeness of the scene was Logan.
After the other students and teachers had dispersed, Rogue lay sprawled halfway beneath the tree, staring blankly up into the twinkling lights as she pondered what to do about her friend. For all he resisted taking part in the holiday festivities, she was convinced there was something in him that wanted to, very much. Perhaps her emotional clue lay in the shades of him which she had absorbed when he saved her life, and which gave her a perception of him that she didn't always understand, but had learned to trust.
Just as the beginnings of an idea were taking shape in her mind, Kitty's face suddenly loomed over her. "Are you dead?"
"Yes," Rogue retorted, completely deadpan.
"Oh. Okay. In that case, I call dibs on your jewelry and your Shania Twain CDs. Seen Peter?"
"Went out with Mister Summers and some of the other guys to put lights up outside."
"Thanks." Kitty jogged off toward the door. It opened just as she reached it, and Peter stepped in, catching her around the waist in one brawny arm.
"Hey, guess what I found," he said mischievously.
Smiling, Kitty's boyfriend took his other hand from behind his back and held up a sprig of mistletoe, dark green with a cluster of white berries. He pulled Kitty over to the stairs and stretched upward to hang the sliver of greenery on the garland wrapped around the banister, then grinned down at her. With an impish look, she proffered her pursed lips, and he kissed her, quickly but firmly.
Rogue turned away and curled into a fetal position, an ugly feeling stirring within her.
More than any other time of year, she felt her lack of physical contact at Christmas. As she watched those close to her abound with kisses and hugs and the holding of hands, she could only stand apart, her deadly skin wrapped in layers of clothes. Everyone tried to make things better for her, especially Bobby, but it just wasn't the same. The touch of skin to skin meant something, a connection to a life outside of one's self—a connection of which she was forever incapable.
Her dark thoughts were interrupted when Bobby passed through, looking slightly dazed. He didn't appear to notice her until she sat up and said softly, "Hey."
"Oh. Hey." Bobby hesitated for a moment, then stepped over and dropped himself on the floor beside her. For a moment Rogue felt an intense longing to snuggle against him, to lay her cheek against his and feel his warmth; but as always, she resisted it, and for a moment they sat in mutual silence.
"I thought you were out with Mister Summers," she said at last.
"Um." Bobby gave a weak shrug. "My dad called."
This came as a surprise to Rogue. Since their disastrous discovery that he was a mutant, Bobby had heard just once from his family—and that only to make sure he was physically safe. A police siege and the near-torching of their house by his former best friend had managed to thoroughly terrify the Drakes of their own son… but maybe now they were ready to work things out?
For a moment, Rogue felt a swell of hope for Bobby—followed just as quickly by dismay for herself. "So are you going home for Christmas?"
A lonely shadow flickered across Bobby's face. "No," he said quietly.
Feeling mixed sadness and relief, Rogue leaned over to lay her head against his shoulder. Her gloved hand reached out to stroke his. "I'm sorry, Bobby. But I'm glad you'll be with me."
Managing a wan smile, Bobby put his arm around her. "Dad sounded pretty cool about things. I mean, it's almost like he's kinda proud something in his genes made me 'special', you know? But Mom and Ronnie…" He sobered, his eyes filling with quiet pain. "They're scared of me, Rogue."
"I know how that goes."
They lapsed into sympathetic silence again, and Rogue guiltily felt a little better to know that Bobby could understand—at least in part—her feelings of isolation. Both were alone, but they were alone together.
Gradually her thoughts returned to another lone soul—one whose solitude was self-imposed. She could almost feel angry at Logan for refusing closeness, when others longed for it so deeply… but all she really felt was sadness for him. He was the one most hurt by his distance. In all his months at the school, he should have learned it didn't have to be that way.
Maybe, Rogue thought, I just haven't tried hard enough to prove it to him.
Her fledgling idea stirred once more, and she looked up at Bobby. "Listen, since you're going to be here for Christmas after all, maybe you can help me with something."
Pulling away slightly, Bobby glanced down into her face with quizzical skepticism. "Yeah…?"
"I need you to freeze over the basketball court."
Bobby's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding?"
"I think we should have a skating party on Christmas. I'm sure the Professor wouldn't mind. It'd be a lot of fun. We could even play some hockey… maybe."
"Okay, I see where this is going." Bobby straightened, giving Rogue a dubious look. "Logan's in one of his run-for-the-border moods, and you want to give him a reason to hang out with us on Christmas. Am I right or am I right?"
Gathering every ounce of her Southern charm, Rogue met his gaze with her most winsome look, and simply said, "Please."
A moment passed without sound or movement from either of them.
Then, with a deep sigh, Bobby flung his arms out to his sides and slumped over backwards on the floor.