text:
Now, we have arrived at the Special choices. This is my favorite part of the High Elf army, because I love the elite infantry and Dragon princes. A change that is present for most of the entries is the cost of the command groups. Also, I think it is worth mentioning that I've never used chariots before, so every comment related to them is all based on theory.
Lion Chariot of Chrace
What Has Changed?
The chariot is 20 points cheaper now, and gains Stubborn. Another change worth mentioning is that the riders no longer get their re-rolls on their attacks.
A Stubborn chariot? It seems a little strange to me, since one of the main draws of chariots is the Impact Hits. Also, the chariot only has a 4+ Armour Save, and is Toughness 4. How long is this thing going to stick around in a protracted combat?
The White Lions and War Lions can still put out 4 Strength 5 and 2 Strength 6 attacks a round, but it just doesn't seem to be enough.
White Lions of Chrace
What Has Changed?
As mentioned for the Lion Chariot, the woodsmen no longer receive the re-rolls with their Great Weapons. Additionally, they are now 2 points cheaper, and have gained the Martial Prowess rule. A couple less obvious changes are that the minimum unit size is now 10 and the champion can only carry a Magic Weapon now (instead of magic items).
So, there are some goods and bad things about the changes. The loss of re-rolls is unfortunate, since they can really save you if you have a bad round of rolling. Taking the hit percentage from 89% to 67% can be a big deal.
Well, now that they are cheaper, and can fight in 3 ranks (even when not in horde formation) this helps to make up for the loss of the re-rolls. The White Lions are still more resilient from shooting than the Swordmasters and hit harder than both of the other elite infantry options.
In my opinion, the White Lions are the big winners out of the changes for this book. Unfortunately, for me, they are the models that I like least out of the High Elf elite infantry.
Interesting Thought
Can somebody explain to me what good the Forest Strider rule does for these guys? The only thing that I can pick up is that if they move through the Venom Thicket, they don't take the Dangerous Terrain test. Am I missing something or is that it?
Swordmasters of Hoeth
What Has Changed?
The changes are very similar to the White Lions. The one differences are that the Swordmasters can be taken in units of 5 and have gained a 6+ Ward against non-magic, non-template missiles.
I am sad about the Swordmasters. I really like the models and the background behind them, but they have gone down in power, when compared to the other options that High Elves have.
The Swordmasters are still extremely vulnerable to shooting. The White Lions have a 3+ Armour Save, and the Phoenix Guard have a 5+ Armour Save along with their 4+ Ward. The 6+ just doesn't seem to cut it.
It is nice that they are cheaper, but since they have more attacks than the other elite infantry, the loss of re-rolls hurts them more. Also, gaining Martial Prowess helps a little bit, but since only the 1st row gets more than 1 Attack is not as nice as it could be. It's not that they are bad ( Weapon Skill 6, 2 Attacks, Strength 5), they just don't seem to be as good as the other options available.
For me, it seems that the best way to use these guys would be to run them in small units, in a single rank, so that each Swordmaster can get both of their attacks. Otherwise, you might as well just take one of the other options.
Interesting Thought
So, how is it that guys that can swat missiles out of the air with their Great Swords don't get a Parry save too? I can't see how hitting an arrow/pebble/bolt would be easier than blocking a sword. I guess that part is supposed to be represented by WS 6. Also, how is it that their blades that are "light as a feather" still incur Great Weapon penalties?
Shadow Warriors
What Has Changed?
They're 2 points cheaper, +1 BS, and their champion can take a magic weapon.
It's nice that the Shadow Warriors had some changes. They seemed to be overpriced before, but they're not too bad now. They are 4 points more than an archer, but have +1 BS, Scout and Skirmish (oh yeah, Light Armour, too).
The Shadow Warriors can be a nice harassment unit to include. Their range is effectively 40″, since they can march and shoot and they can get out of trouble a bit easier than the archers. I have some of the old metal models of these guys that were collecting dust, but I might have to break them out some time, since they seem more useful now.
Phoenix Guard
What Has Changed?
They fight in 3 ranks now and have to be taken in units of 10 or more.
Well, now the Phoenix Guard can fight in 3 ranks, with their Strength 4 attacks. Also, out of the elite infantry, they are the only one to retain the re-rolls To Hit (since they are not using Great Weapons). These changes have added slightly to their combat power. If you throw the Armour Piercing banner on them, enemies will have -2 to their Armour Saves.
The Phoenix Guard still represent the most resilient of the elite infantry options. The 4+ Ward can be amazing, at times, since the High Elf armour is usually negated, but the Ward Save sticks around.
In my opinion, these guys are better than Swordmasters. They will survive longer, and hit almost as hard now. Also, if they have Mindrazor on them, those attacks turn into Strength 9. Also, don't forget that the cause Fear for the (rare) times that it matters.
Interesting Thought
Since the Phoenix Guard have seen the future, they take a magical vow of silence. However, in one of the High Elf novels, one of the Phoenix Guards communicates with a guy by hand signals. So, what's to keep these guys from passing this information along with their hand signals?.
Dragon Princes of Caledor
What Has Changed?
Dragon Princes can now move 9″ due to their Ithilmar Barding. They have also gained a 6+ Ward save and are 3 points cheaper. So, everything is a positive change here.
So, the Dragon Princes have only become better, so they should be definite includes, right? I still think that they are not as good as the infantry options. They are great on the charge, with 2 Strength 5 Attacks a piece. However, they suffer from the same issues as other cavalry: it's hard to break people on the charge, and they are only Strength 3 on the subsequent rounds of combat. Also, the subsequent ranks only get 1 Attack, so attacks from more than 1 rank are wasted.
The nice thing about these guys (as opposed to Silver Helms), is that they can take the Banner of the World Dragon, giving them a 2+ Armour and Ward Save against magical attacks. There is still a place for them in the army, if they are supported by other units. I'm sure that some people will try a large unit of them packed with characters, but that's not really for me.
Lothern Skycutter
What Has Changed?
A flying chariot!
The chariot itself and crew have the same stats as a Tiranoc Chariot, but this chariot is 25 points more. So, what do we get for 25 more points? An extra crew member (they carry bows instead of longbows), Fly, 4+ Armour Save, and the Roc pulling it is WS 5, Strength 4. Also, you have the option of swapping out a crew member to carry an Eagle Eye Bolt Thrower.
For me, this is my favorite chariot of the High Elves. While the White Lion chariot hits much harder in combat, this chariot (with the bolt thrower) gives you the option to remain out of combat and still do some damage. Then, if the need arises, it can provide combat support. Sure the bolt thrower only has a 24″ range and is Strength 5, but the chariot can still move 10″ and fire it. This allows it to more easily set up flank shots than a normal bolt thrower is able to do. Also, I find the Fly ability to be great, since you can charge over the top of units.
The model looks great, but I find it rather unfortunate that it costs twice as much (money) as the other chariots. For that reason alone, it will be a while before I think about fielding one of these.
Interesting Thought
There are so many things about these Skycutter Chariots. Since they accompany the High Elf navies on their expeditions, do they land on the boats for the rocs to rest. Also, how do they inflict impact hits without damaging their sails/fins that they have on them?
Tiranoc Chariot
What Has Changed?
A 15 point reduction and the riders now carry Longbows (instead of Bows). Also, you can take them in units up to 3.
It's great that the points cost for these has come down. You can almost buy 2 of them for the price of a single Lion Chariot. However, I think that the Lion Chariot can do more damage than 2 of these guys. They still retain their Toughness 4, 4 Wounds, and 5+ Armour Save, so they won't be sticking around very long in a sustained combat.
And that concludes the Special section for the High Elves. I really like how we have some pretty solid options. Each one of the chariots and elite infantry units is different enough from the others to validate a separate entry in the list and each unit has special situations where it can excel. Also, the Shadow Warriors provide another means of war machine hunting and ranged support. The Dragon Princes have only become better, and can still be a solid choice, especially in a themed, all cavalry force. Only one more section of the book left now…


text:
Independent web designer india joomla word press jobs
Knows the following- 2 wheeler Business market in India, Customer segmentation , Market research and future sales prediction
Want caricature / cartoon created for some puns that have an Indian flavor. For use in t-shirts. Sample pun: Which Bollywood hero always acts fishy? "Salmon" Khan
Need to make web site ...within sort time
beach houses for sale
We need to get training conducted on the following topics MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND HPC SERVER 2008 R2 This module introduces the field of high-performance computing, and the Microsoft product Windows HPC Server 2008 R2. LESSONS • The business case for HPC • Brief product history • Overview of HPC Server 2008 R2 – main components, job submissio...
Wanted Female Experienced Android and PHP Developers - Work at Home on Monthly Basis from south India(Tamilnadu/Telengana/Kerala/Andhra Pradesh/ Karnataka)
Wanted Female Experienced Android and PHP Developers - Work at Home on Monthly Basis from south India(Tamilnadu/Telengana/Kerala/Andhra Pradesh/ Karnataka)
I want bulk Adhar details of India citizens. someone who has data, can contact me
Looking for (3) call center agent monthy india work 8 hour from home must speak ( english,urdu,india)
How are you? We are building LMS now. So looking for talented translators. If you know LMS, that would be fine.
I need you to write some articles.
Need to visit retail garment store as a mystery shopper and conduct audit based on the preset questionnaire. The locations are Guwahati Patna Raipur Bhubaneshwar Vizag Bangalore Indore Ahmedabad Mumbai Nagpur Pune Guwahati Jorhat Silchar Patna Dhanbad Bhubaneshwar Cuttack Gangtok Gorakhpur Aurangabad Dibrugarh Nagaon Tezpur Tinsukia Gaya Raipur Bokaro Dhanbad Brahm...
...website. preferably dedicated to India travel tourism industry. Articles / blogs required for north india tourist locations. We are a Delhi based Travel Company who rents out Ac / Non-AC Tempo travels and buses for all over India. Most of our customers generally travels in tourist locations located in north India including Amarnath yatra, Chardham
Dear candidate , we have urgent requirement for wordpress expert .will pay monthly based ,,,no any advance ,,,will pay you EOM.
Co-Development of a B2B Portal Application supported by B2B Android Mobile app.
We need an independent CPA audit per Quarter for our company. We provide all financials and requested information.
open minded females form india
Looking For Latest/Updated & Genuine PAN India Database Of IT/Non-IT Professionals & Engineering Students As Per The Attached Format In The Excel Shared !! The Amount Mentioned Is A Place Holder Will Discuss On It As Per Data !!
Necesito un diseño gráfico.
We want to create a course with approximately 12 learning object (LO). As per our definition, a learning object is an independent case study through which a learner can learn. For example, A case study to apply for a Fresh Passport. So here an LO is expected which would help a learner to learn each step in an interactive and engaging way. The voice

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In cases specified by the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015, Public Notices containing information about the proposals recommended by the DAC will be published on the diocesan website. This rule applies where a petition relates to works that involve:
- (a) demolition of a listed building;
- (b) alteration to or the extension of—
- (i) any part of a grade I or II* listed building, or
- (ii) the exterior of a grade II listed building
to such extent as would be likely to affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest; or
- (c) demolition affecting the exterior of an unlisted building in a conservation area.
ISSUED: 01.05.18 St Mary the Virgin, Tewkesbury Abbey, Gr I, Installation of training bell in ringing room PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 01.05.18 St Peter and St Paul, Northleach, Gr I, New handrail to access path PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 01.05.18 St Mary the Virgin, Kingswood, Gr II, Complete overhaul of pipe organ PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 01.05.18 St Nicholas, Standish, Gr I, Repairs to external drainage PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 01.05.18 Holy Rood, Daglingworth, Gr I, New metal hurdle fence to match existing PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 01.05.18 St Mary and Corpus Christi, Down Hatherley, Gr II*, Re-ordering and installation of WC and kitchen facilities PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 04.05.18 St Mary, Cowley, Gr II*, New Lighting Scheme PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 08.05.18 St Michael, Brimpsfield, Gr I, New WC in vestry PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 09.05.18 St Andrew, Cold Aston, Gr I, New Lighting Scheme PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED 18.05.18 St Ecgwin, Honeybourne, Gr II*, Installtion of aumbry box and lockable gate in piscina cavity PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 18.05.18 St Mary the Virgin, Painswick, Gr I, Overhaul of church clock PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 18.05.18 Holy Cross, Uley with Owlpen and Nympsfield, Gr II, Overhaul of Organ PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 18.05.18 St Michael and All Angels, Guiting Power, Gr II*, Provision of external compost toilet and mower store PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 11.06.18 St Peter, Little Rissington, Gr II*, Installation of two memorial panels to windows, one in the north side of the nave and one in the porch PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 11.06.18 St Peter, Windrush, Gr I, Installation of Hungerford family gravestone in the baptistery and fixing ledger stones on North and South walls of the tower PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 11.06.18 St Barnabas, Gloucester, Gr II*, Handrails at West door PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 11.06.18 St Mary the Virgin, Berkeley, Gr I, Reordering of West end including removal of pews, construction of storage area and new curtain and rail to West door PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 12.06.18 St Mary the Virgin, English Bicknor, Gr I, Incorporation of hanging panel of stained glass into the window beneath PUBLIC NOTICE
ISSUED: 12.06.18 Holy Trinity, Watermoor, Gr II*, New lighting scheme PUBLIC NOTICE


text:
The Locarno Pact was not just a single agreement between two countries, as "pacts" generally tend to be. Involving Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, the Locarno Pact was a series of agreements between Germany and the countries that fought against her in World War I.
The primary agreement laid out border guarantees for France, Belgium, and Germany. The Treaty of Versailles (signed in 1919) had established the borders, but the Locarno Pact was supposed to be the teeth behind it, setting those borders as inviolable. Acting as 3rd-party "guarantors", Great Britain and Italy would sit back and watch. If any border was breached militarily, Great Britain and Italy (as well as the other non-invaded country) would come to the aid of the invaded country. Got it?
There were also some lesser agreements signed between the countries involving arbitration, whereby disputes (territorial or otherwise) would first be taken to mediation before the guns got loaded and fired. In return, the countries would move towards more normal relations with Germany, and she would be admitted to the League of Nations.
But not everyone was happy with the outcome. While Germany's border with France and Belgium had been guaranteed, Poland's was not. Poland considered it a slap in the face, essentially giving permission for Germany to attack Poland with no guarantee of assistance. Despite assurances from France that she would come to Poland's aid, the Polish government predicted (prophetically, as it turns out), that France wouldn't life a finger to aid them.
But at the time, the "Spirit of Locarno" was bigger than Poland's gripes and those issues were, for the moment, shoved to the side. The representatives, who hammered out the details in mid-October in Locarno, Switzerland (hence the Pact's name), formally signed the document in London on December 1, 1925.


text:
Stonehaven – Peterhead
65.57 miles
2603 calories burnt
3366 ft climbing
After waking up in a luxurious bed, Gav and I had a full cooked breakfast at the B&B and went to go and meet the parents. We set off around 10am as we didn't have that far to go.
Once we'd left Stonehaven, we shadowed the B979 for a while and followed cycle route 1. Unfortunately, after mile 6 we took a 5 mile detour because we trusted the Garmin route I had plotted and it took us again to an off route section that we couldn't cycle on! We ended up dipping down into Newtonhill on the beach and then cycling all the way back up – whoopsie!
We also managed to avoid the A90, but in doing this we took a longer, about 10 extra miles! After going through Cove Bay we cycled on to Aberdeen. My brother and his wife live in Aberdeen so Dad and I have been there a fair few times and we know our way around! We cycled along the esplanade in the sun and took a pit stop to admire the view.
The clan found a lunch stop at Belhelvie around the 40 mile mark, in a church garden so we stopped and gorged on chicken sandwiches! After lunch, we headed out and crossed the A90 to get closer to the sea.
When we hit Newburgh we stumbled over a river where Dad spotted seals! We stopped to take photos but my excited squealing seemed to scare them off (I don't know why!)!
It wasn't long before we were seeing signs for Peterhead where everyone was parking up for the night. On arrival, the clan had got me birthday balloons, cake and banners everywhere and we ate salmon, tatties and roasted veg c/o Pat the stand-in chef for an early birthday dinner!
Awesome evening watching the sun set on Peterhead's harbour, all though we did have a slight problem in fitting new bar tape to my left handlebar. It had started to unravel slightly so Gavin had bought me some new snazzy bar tape to fix it. We struggled to get the bar plug on but we eventually struggled with it and got it in!
As we were all in the motorhome for the night, it was rather a tough night. Mum and Dad took the bed above the cab, Pat and Harry took the bunks and Gavin and I had the pleasure of taking the dining room table (that turns into a bed). Long story short, we didn't realise that the bed extended width ways (as the pieces were hidden) so we tried to sleep on a bed that was no bigger than a big single! Needless to say, it was so uncomfortable that I went to sleep in the passenger seat, then Gav woke up and swapped with me (such a gentleman!).


text:
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|1 - 3 nights
Access the home directly into the spacious living area fitted with 3 armchairs and 2 coffee tables on the left hand side. There is a fireplace right next to the bookshelves and the surfaces are nicely decorated with pieces of ornamental objects. On the other side of the room are a large corner sofa, a pouf table and another glass table facing the large flat screen TV, bookshelves and cabinets.
This beautiful and bright kitchen adjoins the living area and is fully equipped with fridge, freezer, gas hob, ovens, microwave, toaster, kettle, dishwasher and coffee machine. With wooden floor ,wooden worktops and natural light coming through the glass ceiling, this space boasts warmth and style. The dining table sits 8 people just by the glass doors which open widely towards the garden. The washing machine and separate tumble dryer are also located here.
With wooden floors and beige walls, this bedroom is stylish and comfy, offering a king sized bed with bedside cabinets, shelves and a large mirrored wardrobe. You can see the neighbourhood's trees from this bed, through the 2 windows.
Wake up in a double bed with a view over the garden. This room also features a small bedside table with a lamp, a chest of drawers on top of which a flat screen TV is placed.
The bathroom is fitted with a toilet, a single wash basin and a combined bath tub and shower.
This stunning garden is carefully decorated with plants, flowers and trees. In the middle of the garden, on the decking, is a small table and 4 chairs.
House Rules:
No smoking, pets and parties!
The lead guest must be at least 25 years old.
Veeve reserves the right to refuse a booking if it thinks the property will be used for a party
Home truths:
No smoking, pets and parties! The access is at street level and up 2 small steps.
Veeve specialises in London home rentals. From a cool Shoreditch penthouse, to a Notting Hill studio or family home in Chelsea, Veeve has over 1000 hand-picked properties to choose from. While homeowners are away, they take care of everything so you don't have to lift a finger. Along with personal recommendations for the local area, a bespoke service and - if the mood takes you - extra home comforts (airport pick-up, fridge fill and babysitting to name a few), Veeve has mastered a way to help guests live like Londoners.
Characterful homes. Dedicated service. Memorable stays.
The Owner purchased this apartment in 2011
Sleeping 4 people, this modern home has a lovely garden and is located in North London, close to Hampstead Heath, reaching the city centre in 20 minutes
No smoking, pets and parties! The access is at street level and up 2 small steps.
Comfortable, lovely house. Perfect location for our visit. Well equipped and nicely located near the tube.
Spacious and well equipped. Perfect for our stay.
*Plus compulsory or optional charges based on actual occupancy or consumption. The payment has to be made in the currency offered by the property manager, before use of conversion tool. Payments in other currencies have to be negotiated beforehand with the property manager. The currency conversion tool is provided for your convenience only and is non-binding.


text:
Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldn't want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?
One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Let's put Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA - Free Report) stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:
PE Ratio
A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stock's current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.
On this front, Discovery Communications has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 14.1, as you can see in the chart below:
This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 stands at about 20.1. If we focus on the long-term PE trend, Discovery Communications' current PE level puts it below its midpoint over the past five years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months.
Further, the stock's PE also compares favorably with the broader industry's trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 26.9. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.
We should also point out that Discovery Communications has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this year's earnings) of just 9.8, so it is fair to say that a slightly more value-oriented path may be ahead for Discovery Communications stock in the near term too.
P/CF Ratio
An often overlooked ratio that can still be a great indicator of value is the price/cash flow metric. This ratio doesn't take amortization and depreciation into account, so can give a more accurate picture of the financial health in a business. This is a preferred metric to some valuation investors because cash flows are (a) generally less prone to manipulation by the company's management, and (b) are less affected by variation in accounting policies between different companies.
The ratio is generally applied to find out whether a company's stock is overpriced or underpriced with reference to its cash flows generation potential compared with its competitors. However, it is not commonly used for cross-industry comparison, as the average price to cash flow ratio varies from industry to industry.
In this case, Discovery Communications' P/CF ratio of 3.94 is much lower than the broader industry average of 30.9, which indicates that the stock is significantly undervalued in this respect.
Broad Value Outlook
Discovery Communications currently has a Value Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes Discovery Communications a solid choice for value investors.
What About the Stock Overall?
Though Discovery Communications might be a good choice for value investors, there are plenty of other factors to consider before investing in this name. In particular, it is worth noting that the company has a Growth Score of D and a Momentum Score of F. This gives DISCA a Zacks VGM score — or its overarching fundamental grade — of C. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)
Meanwhile, the company's recent earnings estimates have been disappointing. The current quarter has seen three estimates go higher in the past sixty days compared to two lower, while the full year estimate has seen two up and three down in the same time period.
This has had a significant impact on the consensus estimate though as the current quarter consensus estimate has dropped 5.2% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has inched lower by 1.3%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:
Despite the bearish analyst sentiments, the stock holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Thus, we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term
Bottom Line
Discovery Communications is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, with a sluggish industry rank (among Bottom 38% of more than 250 industries) and a Zacks Rank #3, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past two years, the broader industry has clearly underperformed the broader market, as you can see below:
So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiment to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.
Zacks' 10-Minute Stock-Picking Secret
Since 1988, the Zacks system has more than doubled the S&P 500 with an average gain of +25% per year. With compounding, rebalancing, and exclusive of fees, it can turn thousands into millions of dollars.
But here's something even more remarkable: You can master this proven system without going to a single class or seminar. And then you can apply it to your portfolio in as little as 10 minutes a month.


text:
101. Mary4 Outten (Sarah3 Purnell, John2, Thomas1) birth date unknown.
She married Daniel Sturgis about 1730. Daniel was born about 1708. Daniel was the son of John Sturgis(Jr.) and Priscilla Hill. Daniel died 1749 in Worcester Co., MD. Daniel had his own household in 1733. He received land from his father in 1739. He left part of tract "Robinsons Inheritance" to his sons, John Outten Sturgis and Shadrack Sturgis, in 1749. (Ruth T. Dryden, Worcester Land Records) John's will was written as he was dying from "being shott with a ball" on November 11, 1749, probate December 5, 1749. The Maryland Gazette reported "Sturges, Daniel, was shot dead by a person unknown some weeks ago at Matapony Hundred, Worcester County." (Floyd L. Otter, Origins of the Sturgis Family in Virginia and Maryland, Ash Tree Echo, April, 1979, Vol. XIV #2, p. 75-80)
His will gave son John Outten 250A "Inheritance"; wife, Negro man Essix; son Shadrack, dwelling plantation and water mill; son Daniel, Negro Sepie; daughter Elizabeth, Negro Sothey after wife's death; wife, chest, bed & furniture; executor was brother Joshua Sturgis; witness: Joachim White, William Beachboard and Daniel Selby. Widow Priscilla elected to take her thirds. (Worcester Co. MD Wills JW2, f.59, Neil & Leslie Keddie, Family Tree Bookshop) She was called Mary Sturgis in her father's 1733 will.
Mary Outten and Daniel Sturgis had the following child:
+ 311 i. John Outten5 Sturgis (Sr.) was born 1731.
Return to Table of Contents or Index
|>>> Advertise Here <<<


text:
Crime of Passion Turns Into Obsession In Short Film "Hand Job"
Length- 11:18
Company: Red Maple Media
* This film contains scenes of frank sexual content that should not be viewed by children. Viewer discretion is advised.
A young wife (Astrid Ovelles) is interviewed by a man (Christian Thom) about the murders of her husband and his two lovers. As the conversation continues, a number of questions can't help but be raised: why does she show no remorse over the killings? Why is the interviewer obsessed with this young woman?
And why . . . why these hands?
We've all seen about a million crime films over the course of our moviegoing lives. There have been so many different adultery-murder films, with every single possible twist turned on this particular plot, that it is almost impossible to find something that we haven't seen before.
Writer/director Ziyad Saadi (we reviewed his "Hello, My Name is Death" not long ago) took a different path on the adultery-murder crime film with his latest short film, and he went all out with it. I can't say too much without spoiling the short, because literally it's a one note punch line, but I can say that there's characters obsessed with the hands of a killer, thus the camera focuses on hands the entire time. Visually, that's it. As entertaining as some of the dialogue is -- and the actors do a pretty good job -- it can't save the static images onscreen.
Film is a visual medium. If my eyes aren't doing anything, inevitably the movie fails.
The conclusion was also a bit of a headscratcher. It might have been satisfying for the characters, but it didn't do anything for me, and it seriously cheapened the movie for me.
Writing: 1.5 / 5. How is this interview taking place? At first I thought the interviewer was a police investigator, but obviously not. Is he from the media? I also find it extremely hard to believe one woman could strangle two other women simultaneously without being physically overpowered. All this thrown aside, the story didn't go anywhere, no questions were answered.
Directing: 1 / 5. The entire film is literally just looking at Ovelles' hands, and then we conclude with a split screen. There's no directorial composition whatsoever.
Editing: 1 / 5. The movie feels SO long, especially what with there being no visual movement.
Sound/Music: 1.5 / 5. The dialogue is fuzzy but easy to hear. The music at the finale comes in very loud and it's extremely distracting and, to my ears, inappropriate in terms of tone.
Acting: 3 / 5. Not bad at all. Ovelles and Thom did the best they could with the material they were given and gave pretty fearless performances. I give a tip of the hat to both of them for a job well done.
Final Grade: 1.6 / 5.
I will post a link to "Hand Job" when it sees its official release online!
Fantasy Short "Orphyr" Casts a Spell On The Small Screen
Genre: Fantasy
Length- 16:22
Company: La Fabrique
Village drunk Orphyr (Stephen Ropa) stumbles out of the tavern one night and discovers a lost child (Elodie Meresse). Though he doesn't have much, he gives what he does have to her so she can get home -- and discovers that this "child" is actually the Green Lady (Elisa Briche) in disguise, a forest fairy fascinated by the simple, trusting Orphyr. She rewards him beyond his wildest dreams, but Fredine (Corinne Masiero), the dishonest tavernkeeper, is determined to take advantage of him.
"Orphyr" is a fun, family fantasy short film coming to us from La Fabrique, a film production company in France. It's a fairy tale in the traditional sense -- it uses repetition, in this case, the number three, which has a fine history. Think A Christmas Carol -- the three ghosts, for instance. It's called the Rule of Three.
The production values are all top notch. This film looks and sounds like it could be a theatrical release. The actors do a fine job, even though it's all in French and I can't speak the language, the subtitles let me know what was going on. Everyone sounded credible though and intonation goes a long way toward authentic performances.
But . . . those subtitles. The translation was bad, at times accidentally amusing with their misuse of words. You can overlook it, but it is distracting.
The screenplay didn't sell me on the story. Orphyr wanders from location to location, we never address his drinking or his obvious alcoholism -- it's perfectly OK, in the world of the story, that he is a middle aged man who is incapable of engaging with the world due to his drinking habits. In addition, a character close to him makes a decision three quarters of the way through that would seem pretty major that is never brought up again.
"Orphyr", the film, is meant to be light children's fare, and alcoholism and its effect on society is not, so I can see why they wouldn't touch it, but it seems like a strange thing to have in the film to begin with. Is his drinking supposed to coincide with his childish traits?
I'm not sold on that, either.
Writing: 2.5 / 5. The script wanders a bit and could've been a bit tighter, especially regarding the aforementioned alcoholism and the character move.
Directing: 4 / 5. Nice, light and airy camera work from writer/director Jonathan Degrelle.
Editing: 3 / 5. The pacing is a little slow and the film feels long, but it's cut together well.
Sound/Music: 4 / 5. I much enjoyed the score by Sebastien Renault. The sound design is also top notch and recorded loud and clear.
Acting: 4 / 5. Very well acted from front to back.
Final Grade: 3.5 / 5.
Don't forget to check out "Orphyr" and visit the official website.
Labels: fantasy, La Fabrique, Orphyr, short film
Experimental Short Film "Lucid" Paints a Uniquely Female Struggle In New York's 48 Hour Film Project
Genre: Experimental / Drama
Length- 8:16
Company: Butterfingers
Caryl (Marissa Carpio) is just one pretty woman at a club, but musician Hugh Lawson (Brian Walters) chooses to approach her. And he's so charming and handsome!
Lucky her, right?
At first glance, this chance encounter looks like nothing more than a few compliments and a drink, but it soon becomes more than that. So much more, in fact, that Caryl's consciousness flickers like a flame caught in a sudden wind.
Submerged in her own psyche, she finds herself face to face with her own past -- and the only way she's ever going to wake up is if she can figure out how to reunite all these disparate pieces of herself which meeting Hugh shattered.
"Lucid" is an experimental film created for the New York 2015 48 Hour Film Project. These competitions always boggle my mind because, frankly, creating anything artistic on your own in that short of a timespan is an impressive feat. Attempting to make a good film that quickly is almost impossible.
Chase Kuertz (who also played the role of Teacher's Assistant) directed and edited "Lucid" from Carpio's script. They weave a surreal story about a troubled woman whose sense of identity is compromised by the overpowering figures of masculinity in her life -- whether they be her neglectful father (played by Cameron Sun), the aforementioned snobby Teacher's Assistant, the abuse of potential suitors, or the expectations of beauty standards.
The film's production was clearly limited by time and by budget -- some of the acting feels off, particularly with some of the opening's flirting. I didn't entirely understand the meaning behind the math segment, and the Teacher's Assistant -- what was he trying to get across? It was all a bit too cryptic for me. Going for "the feel" of a scene over content is all well and good, but I couldn't make a connection there, and as a result it felt random and out of place.
We flash again and again from bit to bit, and without enough connective tissue to thread it all together, the effectiveness begins to dim a little.
It all still works, but . . . I felt like it could have hit harder. I think with another polish on the script and some more time to work on how they were going to present some of this material visually, the film would have been stronger.
The film is a nonstop attack on Caryl, finally personified as a faceless stalker in the dark recesses of an apartment. We flash from location to location and dream to dream, memory to memory -- or perhaps they aren't memories at all, perhaps it's all a dream journey within Caryl's mind.
But if that's true, then to which reality will she ultimately wake up? And which one is the real nightmare?
It's uncertainties like these, and the ugly ambiguities that they present, that make "Lucid" a thinking person's film. It's a fascinating dream-within-a-dream, and while the production was clearly rushed and yes, some elements of the production show their budget, the filmmakers' ambition and their desire to communicate something real more than makes up for any such shortcomings.
Writing: 3.5 / 5. Carpio's script had surprising depth considering it was for a 48 Hour Film competition.
Directing: 3 / 5. Kuertz and Director of Photography Jon Reino put together a mature visual performance that framed the action. I wasn't distracted from the events onscreen in a positive or negative way.
Editing: 3 / 5. Kuertz edited the film together with Carpio and it flows pretty well. The opening feels a bit long, though.
Sound/Music: 4 / 5. Gabe de Verona recorded the audio, and Kuertz was responsible for the design. The dialogue sounds great and the film has moody sound effects that help press the surreal elements nicely. "Matter of Time" was actually written and performed by Walters -- I liked it!
Acting: 3.5 / 5. Carpio is the most competent thespian on hand here and comes off authentically in character. Walters is good for the most part, but there's a few lines that sounded flat. Kuertz isn't particularly believable. The rest of the cast is for the most part acceptable.
Final Grade: 3.4 / 5
Don't forget to check out the trailer for "Lucid" below and follow the creators on Facebook!
Love, Milk, Drugs, Hate: Affecting Religious Drama "Profano Nomen" Taps Big Questions
Genre: Drama / Religious
Length- 18:10
Company: Nomen Films & Harrington Talents
Recovering drug addict Jake (Martino Caputo) and his brother, Ezio (Joe Perrino), struggle to keep their plumbing business alive in the middle of a dilapidated section of New York City.
That's a tough act for anyone, but add to that the fact that Ezio's still sore that their father left the business to Jake, and not him, and you've got a recipe for disaster. The two brothers might be quarreling now, but as time goes on and resentment grows, it's only a matter of time until the collision course really begins.
Is it too late to turn it all around? Is there still room in their lives for faith in something better?
"Profano Nomen" is a short film written and directed by Caputo, which is a challenging task by any measure, but then to add on the sheer number of actors and shots that we see here? There are shots of the plumbing business at work, close-ups, moving shots, ensemble bits and fast and witty back and forths. It's all a bit mindboggling, but Caputo handles it with such aplomb that I must admit, I'm a bit in awe of what he's accomplished here.
This film could have been a complete mess, but it's due to some serious hard work from true professionals -- or at least professionally minded people -- that "Profano Nomen" is not only a joy to watch, but also affecting to watch.
And to sweeten what is already clearly a well produced and executed short film, all Caputo's actors can actually act: there's not a single bad performance on display here. Sure, a couple lines in his voiceover come off slightly flat, but those are easy enough to ignore. Caputo himself is easy to like in his role, and Perrino is perfect as the asshole that you despise but can't help but relate to at the same time.
"Profano Nomen" is a drama, first and foremost, but it's made clear early on that there will be some religious overtones.
Overtones. I said overtones. By and large, the film is played straight -- there are no fantastical elements played with here for 95% of the film. This is why, when some of the more "out there" moments occur late in the picture, I wasn't completely sold on what happens.
First of all, the reveal with the husband and wife (to say any more would be a spoiler) had very little setup. The opening shots of the film were meant to be a little bit of foreshadowing, but it was so subtle that there was no way I could have made the connection. As a result, it just came out of nowhere.
Finally, the concluding scene was jarring, considering the "happy happy" vibe we just experienced with the penultimate sequence. It left this viewer wondering what we're supposed to conclude from the film, from a thematic standpoint?
I will say I was still thinking about the movie several hours later, so the ambiguity could potentially be considered as much a good thing as a bad thing.
"Profano Nomen" is a damn fine short film, especially considering the sheer scope of what he's attempting onscreen. Even if some of the religious elements feel somewhat heavy handed toward the end of the film, Caputo has captured something special with his camera.
"Profano Nomen" is officially an HONORABLE MENTION for FOREST CITY SHORT FILM REVIEW'S MUST SEE SHORT FILMS of 2015! Check it out right here!
Writing: 3.5 / 5. I liked how Caputo draws a parallel between substance abuse to how the working life affects one's family life -- being addicted to the job, for instance. The religious angle comes on a little strong and a little too suddenly toward the end particularly considering how realistic the rest of the film seems.
Directing: 4 / 5. Caputo puts on such a good show here. Every shot is composed and must have been storyboarded. He's got a great mix of shots so the eye never gets tired of following these characters around. Also, loved how, in the bar, we have that last shot of Ezio looking disgusted at his own behavior after making an ass of himself. It's a redeeming moment and adds so much to the character.
Editing: 4 / 5. Luke Nelson cuts this thing together really well, but honestly we probably could cut a minute or two out of the beginning of the film -- there's quite a bit of excess "shop" bits at the start.
Sound/Music: 5 / 5. Beautifully recorded. Sound design is by Jake Bjork. The soundtrack is nice, and almost sounds like Mogwai.
Acting: 4 / 5. Really well acted across the board -- this could compete with the big boys. Besides Caputo and Perrino, we have others to give shout-outs to: James Andrew O'Connor, Rosie Berrido, Ivan Goris, Chris Mullahey, Joe Devito, Tom DiNardo, and Lou Martini, Jr.
Final Grade: 4.1 / 5.
Don't forget to check out "Profano Nomen" on YouTube and follow its progress on Twitter!
"Satan's Coming For You" An Indie Mockumentary Horror That Doesn't Quite Mix
Genre: Mockumentary / Horror
Length- 19:37
Company: N/A
WARNING: This film contains material which may be offensive and is definitely graphic, both in terms of violent material and adult language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Bubba (Matt Marshall) enlists the help of his demented friend Alister (Dakota Bailey) to check off the three items on his To Do List From Hell -- these fun activities include, but are not limited to, digging up his unfaithful wife from her grave and performing rituals to the Devil.
And I can't even find friends who will show up to the movies on time. But I digress . . .
"Satan's Coming For You" is the latest short film coming from writer/director Dakota Bailey and his team of Denver independents. It's filmed in a mockumentary style, which brings its own unique set of challenges and benefits, particularly when dealing with the sort of intense and violent material with which Bailey and company are working. To wit: who is the fictional filmmaker shooting the events unfolding before the camera? What is his or her relation to Bubba and Allister?
More importantly, why is said filmmaker releasing all of this?
Bailey's film draws obvious inspiration from filmmakers like Oliver Stone and Rob Zombie, inserting non sequitur shots that utilize negatives and bizarre color corrections or zooms to throw the audience off balance. These are the shining moments of the film -- he's got an eye for the oddball and the disturbing, no doubt about it.
That being said, essentially the film is a series of three grotesque vignettes, in which we follow Bubba and Allister as they perform more and more unlikely and bizarre acts that are more unbelievable than they are shocking.
Through it all, in another nod to Stone and Zombie, our protagonists wax poetic about philosophy and religion and the nature of man. These bits feel forced and over the top -- even more so, because they are separated from the rest of the film by title cards which must have been inserted into the film by the fictional filmmakers. Why are the fictional filmmakers on their side?
There's a good story inside of "Satan's Coming For You", but it's never addressed: who are the fictional filmmakers who are making this documentary? Why are they making it? What's their story?
I'd be interested to see that film.
Writing: 1 / 5. Bailey is credited as the writer, but the film feels more ad libbed than taken from a permanent script.
Directing: 2 / 5. Bailey's direction has promise, and there are definite moments of tension, but a lot of the visual choices don't make sense given the mockumentary approach and taboo subject matter.
Editing: 2 / 5. Feels like it was cut together with Windows Movie Maker. There are a lot of misspellings in the credits which also gives the film an amateur feel.
Sound/Music: 2 / 5. The sound cuts in and out, which is partially due to the aesthetic of the film, but it distracts more than it builds tension. Death metal music appears periodically as well.
Acting: 2 / 5. Matt Marshall deserves special mention for doing what he can with the many monologues he is given. Otherwise, the acting may not be at a professional level, but it's not bad.
Final Grade: 1.8 / 5
Don't forget to check out "Satan's Coming For You" on YouTube and follow the creators on Facebook!
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Thanks for reading! I'm a screenwriter and script consultant. Most recently, I've worked with LMC Productions and Mad Antz Films in Australia. I helped mold Goodybag Productions' award winning screenplay "The Teacher" and Michael Maguire's feature length script "The Wolfpack", which is still in development.
Check out my blog and let's get in touch!


text:
I like big books.
Currently reading
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski
Recently added
Red Seas Under Red Skies
4:00 pm 22 September 2012
I was torn over this rating. I think there was a pretty serious plot and pacing blunder in here that many other reviewers have noted, BUT Lynch did some absolutely amazing things with character development and building the readers empathy with Jean and Locke even beyond what he managed by the end of The Lies of Locke Lamora. In the end, empathy won out for me and I was willing to overlook Lynch's sudden and inexplicable pirate fetish because of the relationship building that took place throughout. This story tried to be as reliant on sudden and dramatic plot twists as its predecessor to keep its hooks in you, but unlike its predecessor a lot of the plot points felt contrived to throw you for a loop and keep you guessing rather than being logical extensions of the unfolding drama. Maxilan Stragos's "brilliant" idea to suddenly send Locke and Jean, who he doesn't even know, out to sea in a mad scheme to seize complete control of Tal Verrar being chief among them. The whole plot point is neatly attributed to blind ambition and lust for power loosely veiled by some dramatic plan to spur the advancement of human civilization that seems shallow and poorly thought out by author and culprit alike. One can't escape the whimsical notion that Lynch went out and watched
Pirates of the Carribean
one day and suddenly decided he wanted to make his story about pirates too. I honestly don't know what else explains it. The con being built at the Sinspire was intricate and awesome enough, with rich enough characters and complicated enough scheming to keep me interested in its full play-out. Throwing in the shenanigans of a bunch of bondsmagi sweetened the deal and would have made a great novel by itself. Ultimately, I walk away feeling that this was actually two stories, that only really pay any reference to one another as afterthoughts to keep you from forgetting you're reading one book. BOTH stories are really, genuinely engaging though, and would have made great stand-alone novels in their own right. In both, we are exposed to rich new characters, witty banter and the seriously twisted and screwed up situations that seem impossible for all but Locke and Jean to work their way out of.
Jean shines in this book as much as Locke ever did in the first installment. We're treated to a more complete backstory and see Jean in a more sober and responsible role than before. Sure, one still gets the feeling that Lynch is relying on him as the deus-ex-badass to get the pair out of sticky situations too frequently, but there's a whole level of depth added to Jean's characters that endeared him to me as much as Antillar Maximus from the
Codex Alera
series by Jim Butcher. Among the other things you become engrossingly concerned about as you read through
Red Seas
is the friendship between the pair, exposed to new strains and tested in new ways, the brotherhood the two share seems as plausible as it is ideal in Lynch's care.
Zamira Drakasha and Ezri Delmastro were nice additions as was the natuical lore of Lynch's world. I liked the ease with which Lynch inserted strong female characters in new roles without excessive justification and commentary. His heroines are capable and as strong-willed as his two male protagonists and so their positions as master spies, captains and soldiers seem perfectly natural rather than forced...a rarity in the genre to be sure. Lynch also does a fantastic job at expanding the horizons of the ongoing story, placing this new one in a larger context of "future-things-that-need-a-gods-damned-reckoning." I suppose it was too much to expect the bondsmagi not to take notice of what Locke and Jean did to their brethren in Camorr and the developing "war" between the two is something that builds a hell of a lot of epic anticipation. Lynch also spends time fleshing out motive for the Gentlemen Bastards as a thieving crew by expanding upon their religious beliefs and the precepts of the Crooked Warden. The beliefs give purpose to Locke and Jean's actions beyond just thieving for thieving's sake, or worse, thieving just to live the idyllic life and elevates their profession considerably when contrasted with the opulent decadence of Salon Corbeau.
I'd say reaction to this book seems to be split between people who've drunk Lynch's Kool-Aid and love Locke and Jean like their very own brothers and those who read with a little more detachment. If you're thoroughly in love, you'll observe, but not see the crummy plot twist in the middle of this novel and pay it as much attention as you would a speed bump five seconds after passing. If you're a little more critical....chances are you're going to be hugely distracted and your mind will stick on it like a splinter in your thumb. I, my dear friends, have drunk the Kool-Aid.
That said, I honestly can't wait for more. It should be a crime for Lynch to keep us waiting till next September. Especially with that ending...
Powered by BookLikes © 2015


text:
Friday, March 03, 2006
Free My Mind
I was at the tender age of nine at the time. It had been almost a year since the last time my father touched me in any way. Mostly that was due to the fact that I hadn't allowed myself to be alone with HIM. Most of the time I feared him like my brothers and sisters did, but every now and then the other side of him would appear. At those times, he was so nice it was almost sicken.
I was out walking by myself early one summer morning, when I stayed gone a little longer than I had planned. By the time I got back to the house everyone was gone to town to do shopping, and since I wasn't there when it was time to go, I was left behind. At first I didn't mind being alone because I was able to listen to the type of music that my father forbid us to listen to in HIS house when he was around. I should have known better and at least paid attention in case someone returned, but it was my first time playing the music louder than we were aloud to, so I didn't hear my father's truck when he returned.
I was immediately met with a hand to the back of my head, which knocked me down to the floor because it had caught me off guard.
"What in the hell are you doing playing the stereo so loud? I told you kids I don't want you playing with the stereo when I'm not here."
"I'm sorry", I said trying to get up off the floor.
"Well, I warned you once, now you're going to get a spanking."
Of course tears immediately began falling as I begged not to get spanked, but he pulled me hard by my arm into his bedroom where he always took us when we got a spanking. He sat down on the corner of his bed and then told me to pull down my pants. I began begging and pleading for him to not give me the spanking as tears soaked my face. He finally just grabbed me, pulled down my pants and then he threw me across his lap. After a few seconds when I realize I couldn't get away from his grasp, I just closed my eyes tightly and waited for the pain to begin. Suddenly he sat me up and gave me a big hug.
"I'm sorry I don't want to spank you. It hurts me more than it hurts you. I think your problem is you're not getting enough of my attention. Is that the problem?"
"I don't know." I said somewhat confused, but glad for once I wasn't getting a spanking.
"Well, since you're my special girl, I'm going to show you what else we can do, and I promise you will like this. Lay back on the bed and spread your legs apart."
I did what I was told in spite of the fact that it made me feel ill. He tried to put his finger inside me but I pulled away when it hurt.
"I don't like doing that."
"Okay we will only do what you like?"
"What do you like?"
"I don't know."
"You know your sister and I do this same thing."
"You do?"
"Yes, we do sometimes. So remember its okay to do this, but just don't tell anyone, they might get mad because you get to do it and they don't…okay?"
"Okay." I thought to myself I didn't know he was doing these things to my sister, because she never said anything. But I believed him.
"It's just like your momma and me, we do these things all the time, so it's okay. Do you ever hear your Momma talking about what we do? No you don't, because you don't talk about these things…okay?"
"Let me know if you like this. I bet it will feel good." He then began licking me for a long time as I laid there not moving.
"Do you like that?" When I didn't answer he reached up with one hand and squeezed one of my nipples real hard, then he stuck his finger inside of me with force. When I tried to pull away he grabbed me and began licking on me again.
"You like that don't you?" when again I didn't answer he began to reach up towards my chest and I felt his fingers starting to enter me. I didn't want to feel the pain again so I answered.
"Yes, daddy it feels good."
"Good. We will only do what you like."
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Well, I might have killed the Usurper, but obviously conquering a whole city takes more than that.
Symbolically, I leave the crown where it has fallen, at least until I can be proclaimed Overlord. Mainly because I don't want to be accused of tempting fate.
I stroll outside the Throne Room and casually garotte an orcish guard, presumably because he was a Belieber.
In accordance with the pre-arranged signal, I yank the cord that brings the Usurper's flag down.
Now is the moment of truth. Who has pledged their allegiance to me?
I am pleased to confirm that I have both the support of the 'common folk' and also the following of the shieldmaidens of Dama.
The book confirms that Force-Lady Gwyneth marshalls her troops to back my revolution. Without listing verbatim the contents of the book, the battle seems finely balanced until the common people also confirm their support of the revolution, battering the priests of Nemesis and the army of the Usurper with rocks and similiar projectiles.
I confirm that the 100 Samurai didn't journey through the Valley of the Lich Kings, because what sort of idiot would voluntarily travel through that area? [Oh, that's right – I totally did].
The samurai seemingly constitute the last frontier of support for my revolution. Together with the samurai, the common people and the followers of Dama, my campaign seems destined for success.
Almost as an aside, it is mentioned that "Golspiel's mercenaries" appear on the scene, although I have the sneaking suspicion that they have only thrown their lot in with me when the battle was already won. Golspiel, your name is still on the list!
The priests of Time are taking their time [heh] in helping and, indeed, remain inside their temple throughout the battle.
I appear to the general acclamation of the crowd and am, hilariously announced as the new Overlord, "Avenger". So apparently, instead of being called, you know, Tom or Joshua, I am literally going by the name 'Avenger'.
The 'rose crown' is placed on my head, which sounds suspiciously like something out of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
The sequel hook is intriguing – apparently I am going to have to make the decisions on actually governing this city. So now I know where House of Cards got its inspiration!
Final stats : Endurance : 3, Punch Modifier : +2, Kick Modifier: +3, Throw Modifier : 0, Fate Modifier : +1, Inner Force : 0


text:
Sorry for the long absence, but this last week we were all in Hawaii for my big sister's wedding!! It was my first trip to the islands, and it was a whirlwind of activity leading up to the Big Day.
Anna and her now-husband Jar were married at the Cathedral of St. Andrew's in Honolulu. The Cathedral is a national historic landmark built in the 1860s, and the stained glass is stunning.
There were plenty of pre-wedding shenanigans as we organized many of the details the night before the morning ceremony.
It was so nice to meet everyone I've heard so much about and spend time with my family, and it was hilarious to have people who've known Anna for years mix us up!
Now I've gained two brothers and can't wait to add to our family with a new niece in October!
Rounding out our trip was some beach time and a powerful visit to Pearl Harbor, where we were able to pay our respects to the soldiers entombed in the USS Arizona. All in all, this trip was a once in a lifetime experience and I'm already chomping at the bit to go back for Round Two!


text:
This is a fabulous cottage. Really well served by being in the middle of the village with access to a village shop as well as a pub. Further afield but still within easy travelling distance are numerous lovely places to visit. We spent a weekend there whilst visiting my son who is at Lancaster university. We loved the open plan living/dining area. So often houses sleep a higher number than can be comfortably accommodated. Not here. A large dining table for us all to sit round and plenty of room for us all to relax in the lounge.
Thoroughly recommended.
TripAdvisor uses cookies to improve your site experience. Learn more or change your settings. By continuing, you consent to our cookies.


text: We've continued our Thursday night tradition of movies in the park. Last night was Night at the Museum 3. We loaded the red wagon and headed out. Declan danced to the pre movie muaic, chased a remote controlled car, rolled down the hill, played on the teeter totter, and pet a bunny. Declan also helped Daddy get popcorn. Declan also got a glow necklace! He managed to stay awake during the whole movie by sitting up and munching on popcorn! He fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.


text: Retromer is a vital element of the endosomal protein sorting machinery, and comprises two sub-complexes that operate together to sort membrane proteins (cargo) and tubulate membranes. Tubules are formed by the sorting nexin dimer, a key component of which is SNX1. Cargo selection is mediated by the VPS35-VPS29-VPS26 trimer, which additionally recruits the WASH complex via VPS35 binding to the WASH complex subunit FAM21. Loss of WASH complex function leads to dysregulation of endosome tubulation, although it is not clear how this occurs. Here we show that FAM21 also binds to the SNX1-interacting DNAJ protein RME-8. Loss of RME-8 causes altered kinetics of SNX1 membrane association and a pronounced increase in highly branched endosomal tubules. Extending the observations of Popoff et al. (2009), we show that these contain membrane proteins dependent on WASH complex activity for localization to the plasma membrane. We therefore propose that the RME-8/WASH complex interaction provides a potential means to coordinate the activity of the WASH complex with the membrane-tubulating function of the sorting nexins at sites where retromer-mediated endosomal protein sorting occurs.


text:
The challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers this fortnight is Valentines Day/Love
I hope you will go over to Sweet Pea Stampers and see the other lovely cards by the design team and join in the challenge.
You don't have to use a Sweet Pea Stamp but if you do you have two chances of winning a prize.
The winner of the random pick will receive $6 to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps
and the winner picked by the design team from the entries using a Sweet Pea Stamp will win $9 to spend at Sweet Pea Stamps.
About Me
- Granmargaret
- Sydney, NSW, Australia
Welcome to my blog
I started this blog in April 2012 so I could join Challenges. I am now on some design teams. I hope you like my cards. I started stamping in 1995 but my cards are still mostly cute.
Thank you to those who have joined as followers and to those who comment.
Unfortunately because of spammers I have had to put moderation on the comments. I will approve them as soon as possible, this also means I don't miss any.
I don't always get a chance to reply to all comments but I read them all when I approve them and I really appreciate you taking the time to give your comment.
The lovely banner was made especially for me by Amanda at Faery Ink Art & Design when I won her first blog challenge. You can buy the black and white version of Granmargaret Fairy at
Friday, 31 January 2014
Sweet Pea Stampers challenge for 31 January - Valentines Day/Love
1 comment:
Thank you for taking the time to comment. I read them all and really appreciate your thoughtfulness.
I have had to put comment moderation onto my blog as I had some spam messages. I will approve messages as soon as possible.
Anonymous messages are not allowed on this blog.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Wood Works
Lower Foxdale
- Tel: 01624 801348
- Mob: 07624 411007
Higher Quality with Lower Prices
- Locally Harvested Timber
- Standard & Bespoke
- Transform Fallen Trees
- Picnic Tables
- Benches
- Patio Sets
Lower Foxdale
Higher Quality with Lower Prices
The Isle Of Mans premier supplier of quality garden furniture.We have been producing hand-crafted, selective furniture from our base on the foothills of Slieau Whallian for over 30 years. Initially we were making small quantities on request as a lifestyle supplement. However disappointment in other outlets, has seen our customer base increase dramatically over the last few years. This has caused production to escalate, turning us into arguably the largest hand-crafted garden furniture manufacturer, of quality, on the island.
We source some of our timber locally from several private woodlands on the island, and have accumulated a selection of European larch, ash, English oak, elm, and sequoia, which is held in stock. We have a throughput of other species which can be obtained on request. Please enquire regarding our current prices.
We also use a select group of local traders who can consistently supply us with the quality of timber that we need to make your superior finished article. This is the hand- selected, stress-graded, pressure treated timber that we use for it's strength and durability which we regard as necessary for long-term use in the Manx outdoors.
Our Customers
Because we are producing attractive and durable outdoor garden furniture, our range of styles can be seen throughout the island. They have been put to good use outside more than 15 of the islands' public houses. They also grace many of the islands' clubs and associations, with the National Sports Centre, Douglas Corporation, schools and commissioners being amongst our valued customers. So if you have sat on a comfortable seat to eat a kipper, drink a pint, or have an ice cream, the chances are that you were relaxing on one of our fine products.
Categories: Garden Furniture & Ornaments;Timber Merchants


text:
The day for travelling to the Masai Mara was finally upon us. This was one of the places I'd insisted had to be part of the trip due to it being an iconic part of Africa. We were told to be ready for 07:30 yet the other group was told 07:00 so ended up rushing anyway just in case. The breakfast was a buffet pretty much the same as we'd come to expect.
At some point during the previous day I'd lost my cap; I looked everywhere in the room and even searched my suitcase and backpack thoroughly in hope of finding it. Fortunately someone had handed it into reception, meaning I'd left it in the lobby when we arrived the previous day. Considering it had been with me to a large number of countries I didn't really want to lose it.
Outside the hotel were a number of colobus monkeys; we'd seen one previously on the way to the Ark, but that one had been impossible to photograph. These were quite numerous and were sitting around, some of them eating, and others just watching from the roof of the building.
Along the drive was the usual stop at a Curios shop to use their facilities and allow people to buy souvenirs. This stop took 50 minutes instead of the planned 5-10 minutes due to our driver being stuck in a queue to get petrol. This was apparently down to a fuel shortage in that town, the last before reaching the Masai Mara. We didn't know that at the time and it felt like we'd been left there – other tour groups had turned up and left in the time we were waiting.
Not long after leaving the town we also ran out of tarmaced road, having to travel the rest of the way on bumpy dirt tracks. This part of the journey lasted around an hour, but we eventually made it to the gate into the National Park. At the gate there were locals once again trying to sell their wares, and this time they just wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Shame we didn't know the Swahili for it.
Not long after entering the park we saw an injured lioness resting underneath a tree. Despite her injury she seemed to be in a better state than the one we saw in Samburu. Not that long afterwards we saw a hyena crossing the path – we hadn't expected to see one of these during the day as they hunt mostly at night.
After this the drive went on a while winding all over the place, but eventually we arrived at the Ashnil Mara camp. Once again these were tents, though this one was slightly less substantial in terms of building material. In addition to the mosquito net over the door, the beds had individual mosquito nets too. On the far side of the tent it had a balcony overlooking a river.
Almost immediately we then had to have lunch, by the time were done this gave us just over an hour until the drinks before the afternoon game drive at 16:00.So once again it was a rush to get camera equipment ready for a game drive. After a couple of unlucky drives in Samburu we were hopeful of seeing species we had not yet seen.
This drive was quite eventful; as we approached a steep path that led down to the river my friend joked that because the driver was on the phone he was probably on the phone to the RAC for when he gets stuck in a river in about 5 minutes time.
Surprisingly we did go down to the river, and sure enough we did get stuck as the vehicle slid sideways further into the water. After several attempts to move we realised we were totally stuck in the river. I was imagining us being stuck there for hours and missing the rest of our game drive.
The driver then got out and started to put loose rocks under the wheels to try and give them something solid to get traction on. By this time at least 3 other vehicles had joined us and their drivers had gotten out to help too.
Eventually they realised the rock approach was not going to work, so the driver of the Land Cruiser got his passengers out (bear in mind we'd seen lions about) and got a tow rope out. This would have helped if the Land Cruiser hadn't got stuck; but with the other drivers pushing they got that one freed and managed to fasten the tow rope to ours.
It took a couple of attempts due to the steep bank, but eventually they managed to jolt us back a few metres. Our driver then had another go at crossing the river and was finally able to cross. We made a further two crossings after this, but for only one of them did we get stuck again (followed by the driver exclaiming "oh no!). This time though he was able to get it out by himself. In the meantime we stayed in the vehicle and watched the hippos in the water just a few metres away. The smell coming from the water was incredibly bad.
Not long later we came across a male lion before realising there were a further two behind us that were eating a hippo that had apparently been killed by one of the males the night before. There were quite a few other vehicles watching too as the lions took turns to rip the soft insides out of this hippo.
From there we moved on to where a lioness had just caught a fairly young buffalo she must have managed to separate from the herd. We watched for quite some time as she laid on her back holding the buffaloes head down trying to suffocate it. Eventually she turned it over and put her whole man over its mouth to stop it from breathing. Once killed she let out a low noise to let her cubs know that dinner was ready.
We then headed back as the sun set after one of the most eventful and longest game drives yet. It didn't leave much time before dinner, but that didn't bother me – I was quite pleased with what we had seen. When we got back housekeeping had lowered the mosquito nets ready to keep the insects out. The evening meal was served very quickly with each course being replaced with the next with literally no pause in between.
This had been one of the most eventful and brilliant days of the trip so far.


text:
There is an entry I need to write for the sake of those who have also struggled with the same thing and for my own recovery, but today I must postpone that entry for another, more pressing entry.
My mother will be arriving at my house in a couple hours and I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I am eager to see her and eager for her to see me. She has not seen me in over a year, and has definitely not seen me since I started living my life as Emma the transfeminine extraordinaire. Sure, she has seen pictures, sure she knows viscerally that I am living this life, but today is going to be the first time she actually experiences her child in her new life. I am eager for her to see how happy I am, despite the continued heartache I feel about my failed marriage and how much I miss having my best friend in my life.
On the other hand, I am terrified that this is going to be an awful experience. I am terrified that her continued struggles to accept me as her daughter instead of as her son will be brought to the forefront of our relationship and it will drive a permanent wedge between us. I do not know how she will react to seeing me in makeup and with my hair up. I don't know how she will react to going out in public with me presenting as I always do. I do not know how often she will call me Robert and he/him, rather than Emma and she/her. I am slightly hopeful because when we spoke on the phone a few days ago she did correct herself after calling me Robert by saying, "Sorry… I mean Emma."
That is the only thing that is keeping me afloat in this moment as I anticipate her arrival. It is the only thing that is keeping me from entirely dreading the next 5 days. My relationship with my mother was the only one that lasted the test of time, but as I've grown older and as I've come more into alignment with my true self, I have started to see the many flaws of our relationship.
Don't get me wrong, my mother did the best she probably could given the circumstances. She always made sure I was taken care of in basic ways that every child needs and deserves, but our relationship was a toxic one in many ways. I'm not sure that's really her fault. I suspect that she just learned that from her own parents, but as I've gone through therapy and as I've unpacked the mental baggage that's been swirling around in my mind my whole life, I have started to see how dysfunctional our relationship always was. She is coming here and likely believes that she can assume our relationship right where we left it off the last time she was here, but so much has changed.
I am not the child she left behind a year ago. I am not the child she raised from a little boy. I am not Robert, her son, at least not really. Sure, Robert is still in here, copiloting this experience we are calling our life, but I am Emma, and I will not allow the situation to fall into old habits. She is in for a rude awakening if she thinks she can push us around the way she used to. She is in for a rude awakening if she thinks she can steamroll us into doing what she thinks is best, even when it isn't good for us at all. This time, we will be meeting on our terms, not hers, and it is because of that that I am concerned.
Anger in the guesthouse has taught us that we must no longer tolerate being taken advantage of or being mistreated. Our mother is by far the greatest challenge of our resolve yet. The hardest part of this visit is the fact that my best friend, the person I thought would always be there by my side isn't here to support me. My wife is gone and with her, she has taken a solid foundation to stand on. If I had her at my side, it would be easier to stand up to my mother, it would be easier to force her to understand that things have to be different, but I do not have that luxury. I must face this trial alone.
I am reminded of the father-figure plights that are present in Star Wars (only because I've very recently watched them, the new one included) and I'm beginning to see why Luke's greatest challenge was Vader and why… I suppose I shouldn't ruin it for those who haven't seen the new one… let's just say there is another father-son dynamic in the new movie that is framed as it being the greatest challenge to the son to face his father.
I am at that point where Luke has chosen to fly off and confront Vader prematurely and against the advice of his teachers. I could have postponed this visit. I could have chosen to see her at a later time when I was perhaps more prepared for the trial ahead, but I know it has to be done now. Like Obi-won telling Luke that he cannot interfere this time and that Luke must go this one alone, so must I go on without the protecting buffer I was so accustomed to: my wife and her love. I do not have her love and acceptance and support the way I did last time I confronted my mother. I do not have her to help me and guide me as I struggle for acceptance.
I am at that point where Luke has chosen to fly off and confront Vader prematurely and against the advice of his teachers. I could have postponed this visit. I could have chosen to see her at a later time when I was perhaps more prepared for the trial ahead, but I know it has to be done now. Like Obi-won telling Luke that he cannot interfere this time and that Luke must go this one alone, so must I go on without the protecting buffer I was so accustomed to: my wife and her love. I do not have her love and acceptance and support the way I did last time I confronted my mother. I do not have her to help me and guide me as I struggle for acceptance.
Obviously this is the opposite as Star Wars in that it is a daughter who must stand up to her mother, but the framing feels applicable. This is my greatest challenge. This is the largest hurdle to my gender transition and honestly to my work in therapy. This is a struggle that has gone on since my birth and my mother holds most of the cards in the deck. My only chance of surviving the next 5 days is to stand my ground, to set my boundaries and to enforce them. Too often I permit her leniency, too often I don't stand up for myself the way I should, but I MUST do that now. I MUST pass this test.
I know that she is coming with a (not so secret) desire that I will change my mind; that I will stop this gender craziness and go back to being her son. She probably even envisions me and my wife getting back together as a result and thinks that my transition was the true cause of our divorce. While it definitely contributed to the collapse of my marriage, it was only a part of it and not the only thing to blame.
I am unsure how to best approach this situation. I have somewhat conflicting desires about this visit. I want my mother to accept me and I want her to respect me, and those two things do not always go hand-in-hand. If I am forced to choose between them, I'm not certain which I'd rather have. Her respect, or her acceptance?
If she respects me and my requests that she call me Emma, that she use female pronouns, and that she cease to use my birth name, then our interactions will be easier, but she may not truly accept who I am. Even if she is kind she could always harbor a lingering regret that I wasn't just "normal" anymore and I would always know that my mother doesn't truly accept me for who I've become.
If she accepts me and understands that there is no going back from this life I've begun, that doesn't necessarily mean that she will respect my wishes. She may accept that I am Emma to the world, but may not respect my requests that she also see and treat me as Emma. This is honestly the most likely result of this visit. She will likely see that I have taken on this new life and that I am never going back, but she will never respect who I've become. I will always be some failure of a son who turned out so broken he thought he was a girl. She will think that she did something wrong to make me the way I am instead of accepting that this is actually who I always was.
I fear that she will be too unwilling to look back on our relationship to see all the times she stifled my feminine attributes in order to move forward with our relationship. If she is unwilling to make peace with the past, let go of it, and begin to embrace the future with open arms, then our relationship might be doomed.
I do not want to lose my mother, but I refuse to compromise who I've become to placate her insecurities and fears about my life. It is my life and I will live it the way I want to, without her respect or her acceptance if I must. I will not give up who I've become. I will not stop this work I've begun. This path I'm on is far too important for that.
She will be here in about 90 minutes, so I must bring this entry to a close. I hope I have good things to report the next time I write. I need something good in my life to happen. I've dealt with so much sorrow over the past few months that I'm not sure I can handle much more. Wish me luck my darling readers.


text:
Today's schedule is B-A-D-C
B - Earth & Space Science 11 - This is it...the last day in the library to finish your project has arrived. Please ensure that you submit your work by this Friday either digitally (e-mail or H: Drive) or physically (in room 611). I look forward to reviewing your projects. Good luck.
A & D - Criminology 12 - Extra day, extra day...don't waste it. We'll have a really short quiz tomorrow on gangs and social order crimes and then we begin our presentations. I'll have a list that you can sign up for today in the library. Good luck.
C - Geography 12 - Today I'll have you work through a case study in class. Consider it an open book test; meaning you can use the data provided along with your text and the weekly note/work packages for help. This case study will be for marks and you will have 45 minutes to write it in class.


text:
The hubby and I are sitting at the dining room table, eating dinner. In between us, there's a small pile of mail. Hubby begins to push things around as he's looking at the mail.
Hubby: (looking at cover of an entertainment magazine) Hey, that's Patrick Swayze! Wait, isn't he dead?
Me: (looks) No, that's not Patrick Swayze. And yeah, he's dead.
Hubby: No, this IS Patrick Swayze, right here!
Me: No, it's NOT. That's a promo for a new movie and plus He's DEAD.
Hubby: Alright then, who is it?
Me: It's Jeff Bridges.
Hubby: That's not Jeff Bridges (picks up at looks at cover closely, where they printed the names of who is on the cover). Ahh, it's Kurt Russell.
Me: (shrugs) Close enough.
Hubby: Wait…I thought Kurt Russell was dead?


text: Designed for beginners by Larry Miller & Mike Miller, you learn to play at first by numbers using push-pull button patterns. Learn to play a few tunes with the numbered sheets the easy way and then later move on to playing by ear on your own. One does not need to know how to read music in order to follow this simplified approach. Book and CD setSongs include: Mary Had a Little LambJ'ai passe devant ta porte (I Passed by Your Door)The Wedding March (Lah mache de marriea [phonetic spelling])ColindaThe Mardi Gras SongBayou Pon PonPorte dans arriere (The Back Door)Jingle BellsSilent NightBOOK SPECSFormat: Softcover (spiral-bound)Page Count: 41Orig. Publication Date: 1988Dimensions: 8.5" X 11"