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The annual lifecycle of the vineyard is dominated by pruning in winter, suckering in spring and of course harvest in the later summer. The Excelsior philosophy is that good wine is made in the vineyards and a lot of time and energy is devoted in particular to those three crucial landmark times. This time of year is dominated by 'shoot thinning' called suckering, a process that will take at least the whole month of October. Despite the sucky name it's a essential part of looking after the vine – and the future wine's – development.
Fertility increases the further up the shoot you go, peaking at the 6th bud but we took these off when we pruned the vine in the winter, typically leaving two compound buds per spur each of which develops into a primary bud sandwiched between two secondary buds. The compound buds that develop on the spurs are an evolutionary adaptation to weather and pestilence so that if the primary bud is damaged then one or both of the secondary buds will emerge to ensure the survival of the vine.
Vines are quite complex organisms and given the right conditions with ample water (and we have had a LOT of rain!) and fertile soil, it will probably produce many more shoots than desirable for the quality of wine produced at Excelsior. Our aim is not maximum production but to get a balance between growth and fruit. If we left very long spurs at pruning time we would get a huge amount of bunches and little growth. Even with good pruning it is still necessary to sucker to remove extra unwanted shoots ( 'suckers') from each of the vines.
At this point in the season it's easy removal of these shoots, you can literally push them off by hand but if we left it much longer the shoots would lignify and we would be unable to remove them so easily, adding time and cost to the process. Pruning and suckering work hand in hand. The pruning in the winter is made easier by the suckering in the previous spring because there simply aren't so many full grown canes to cut back, and suckering is made easier by winter pruning since the spurs have been cut to leave two compound buds (in theory) rather than letting everything get into a bushy tangle.
Every growing part of the vine is an energy sink – extra shoots or buds draw energy from the vine and from the fruit that we want to grow and mature. If you didn't remove these extra shoots you run the risk of a very dense canopy and the buds inside may go into a vegetative, infertile state. Suckering also creates space to allow for better air movement within the cluster microclimate which is a natural remedy for fungal diseases, such as the dreaded powdery mildew.
If you don't prune vines, and leave the grapes to ripen in full sunlight on the outside of the canopy, they will produce a very over ripe flavour like jam. Equally if grapes have too much shade they will produce unpleasant tannic flavours and red grapes wouldn't have the proper colour so it's important for the quality of wine to get the 'dappled sunlight' just right. Suckering efficiently means that dappled sunlight can penetrate the canopy, helping the all important flavour to develop during the ripening process.
Sources and further reading:
Jordan Winery: Suckering or shoot thinning
Heart & Hands Wine: Suckering the vines


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Stockton, CA
Lois Marie Wells Krause
Mar. 26, 1927 - Nov. 24, 2012
Lois Marie Wells Krause passed away on Saturday, November 24, 2012, in Stockton, CA. She was 85
years old.
Lois was born on March 26, 1927, in Texas to Katie and Howard Harvey Wells. Lois was the oldest of 6 girls and the
second oldest of 12 children. The Wells family moved from Texas to Arizona and then to Stockton, CA in 1942. Lois attended Stockton High School. She began working at the Stockton Box Factory in 1945 where she worked until she retired in 1988. She was a resident of Rio Las Palmas Retirement Community until August 2011 when she moved to Golden Living Center, Hy-Pana, Skilled Nursing Facility.
Lois was preceded in death by both her parents, her husband, Eugene Krause, who passed in 1996, and six siblings. She is survived by her brothers Howard Wells, Sr., of Stockton, and Jack and AD Wells of Fresno, her
sisters Geneva Wells Mell of
Fresno, and Betty Wells Yount of Rockdale, TX. She was also loved and will be missed by numerous nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews.
Memorial Services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012, at Community Bible Church, 609 East Galin Road, French Camp, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to AseraCare Hospice in Lois'
memory. Please sign the
online guestbook at Frisbiewarrencarrollmortuary.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What do I do with my MLIS degree? Broadly, I help people get the information they need. A couple years ago, you could find me at a public library reference desk helping someone get homework done, citizenship tests taken, jobs applied for, trips planned. A little while ago, I coached a non-profit through setting up social media accounts, developing policies, and launching into the world of online engagement. After that, I worked with a group of University of Washington labs to develop communications strategies and websites for their Institute and it's research community. Currently I support a nonprofit orgnization in developing information resources, implementing software systems, guiding social media integration & planning, supporting relationships with academic researchers, developing and delivering staff information & technical literacy education, service design for agency services, website IA/UX - (in other words...everything! Pretty common for librarians to be involved in a wide variety of stuff).
Information people understand information systems and the social context they fit into. My strength is in understanding how an information environment works, and guide it's development to fit the needs of the people using it. I bring problem-solving, user behavior, and organization development approaches to my work.


text:
putting ur erect penis between a persons bum cheeks and then wanking yourself off, eventually spunking on their back
ben did the hawkins on her last night
by tom aka pokemon king November 06, 2007
having a wank while in the process of pissing
omg i walked in on billy doing the hawkins while on the toilet last night!
by jesus-fucking-christ August 14, 2010
The process of easing the concerns of what used to be the hottest girl in high school while she is overweight and vulnerable by offering to have sexual intercourse with her. While engaging in sexual activity from the doggy style position, grab 3 to 4 BK Chicken Fries™ and insert them into her anus. Her cries may sound painful, but secretly that fat fuck loves the validation you're giving her. Finish on her forehead and then slip into the night never to be seen again and then post the pictures on Social Media.
I've been feeling a little self conscious lately and I guess Blake noticed because he totally pulled the Hawkins on me!
by FriendofBlake March 27, 2015


text:
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Gold sells off and heads for crucial support level
Yesterday's break above $1198 provided a bullish signal for gold given the creation of new highs. However, the retracement from that move has become significantly deeper than many expected and, as such, price has moved back to the crucial $1175 support level. A break below this will provide a new low and with it, would bring a bearish sentiment.
However, until that happens, consolidation seems to be the theme of the past month, with the range of $1177 to $12.00 containing the majority of the price action. For this reason, I am watching for a bounce higher from the lower end of the range, which would be negated by a move below $1175.
Silver sees bounce from lower boundary of triangle
The silver selloff from the upper levels of the current symmetrical triangle formation happened like clockwork, with the full move back down to $15.82 happening in a single day. However, with yesterday's bounce we are now watching to see if further losses are to come or if that period of weakness is over already.
Given that we are in the middle of a range, any position taking is going to be highly speculative and will generally have a worse risk-to-reward profile. Thus I would be bullish around $15.66-$15.80 levels, and bearish around $16.70 to $16.83 levels. Meanwhile, we haven't yet seen any intraday sign of a reversal and until that happens we are likely to see prices creep higher.
Brent continues to rise
The price of Brent crude continues to rise, with the black stuff having risen for a month and a half off the March low of $52.58. An uptrend is clearly in place, with higher highs and higher lows. Thus for the near-term, I would not be surprised to see this continue. However, the intraday price action shows an ascending wedge formation which is typically a bearish pattern during an uptrend. Concurrently, the MACD has been creating lower highs on both the signal line and the histogram, pointing to a bearish divergence with price. With that in mind, I am mindful that this recent bull run might be approaching the end and will be watching for a potential break lower.
In the short-term, low volatility points to indecision and I think we will retrace back to the 50-period (4-hour) simple moving average to then potentially move higher again.
WTI breakout out of consolidation phase
WTI light has managed to break out from the triangle formation that has held for around two weeks. It has crucially moved above the $58.81 resistance point to create a new 4 ½ month high. That provides a bullish outlook and with prices currently showing signs of either a short-term continuation pattern or the source of a retracement, I am watching out for any move back to $58.81 as a good buying opportunity should it hold up as support. However, this could simply be consolidation and thus should price break back above $59.90, it would likely bring another leg higher.
Otherwise, any move back to $58.81 could be seen as a good buying opportunity. That being said, with Brent looking like we could see some sort of larger correction at some point in the coming week or so, this bull run could have a limited amount of time to run.


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PhotographerJeff Dai
Location of photoSichuan, China
Date/Time of photo2013/06/14
EquipmentCanon 5D Mark II AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G IF-ED Loptron SkyTracker Lee Soft Filter NO.2
DescriptionThe autumn band of Milky way and the Zodiacal light appear over Minya Konka. the highest mountain in Sichuan province of China, reaching 7556 meters high and claimed as the" The King of Sichuan Mountains". The scene was recorded from the 4700 meter tsemi pass, covered by alpine azalea during few weeks in June.
Return to Photo Gallery Menu.


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JSU Library | Digital CollectionsJDigital Collections
Brenda Roberson was a student at Jacksonville State College (now Jacksonville State University) in the 1960s. She was named the Sophomore Class Beauty in the 1964 Mimosa.; Anyone who has additional descriptive information for this image is urged to contact the Houston Cole Library Technical Services Dept. at firstname.lastname@example.com or 256.782.5761.
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Josh Henderson & Michael Vartan Celebrate Their Upcoming Series 'The Arrangement'
Josh Henderson and Michael Vartan pose with their leading ladies Lexa Doig and Christine Evangelista at a celebration of their new E! scripted series The Arrangement on Wednesday night (February 15) at the Sheats-Goldstein residence in Los Angeles.
The series follows Megan Morrison (Evangelista), a beautiful young actress who auditions for the female lead in a summer blockbuster playing opposite Kyle West (Henderson), one of the world's top movie stars. Things get complicated when Megan is offered a 10 million dollar marriage contract and is introduced to Kyle's secretive self-help organization, The Institute of the Higher Mind.
Other celebs who stepped out at the private party included Ireland Baldwin, Jake Paul, Breaking Bad's RJ Mitte, Glee's Dean Geyer and fiancee Jillian Murray, Teen Beach Movie's John DeLuca, and Disney stars Paris Berelc and Jack Griffo.
Guests at the event enjoyed food whipped up by Jon & Vinny's and a curated tasting by Helen's Wines.
Make sure to catch the premiere of The Arrangement on Sunday, March 5 at 10pm on E!
FYI: Ireland is wearing a Greg Lauren jacket, Fiorentini + Baker boots, a From St Xavier clutch, and jewelry by Borgioni and Le Vian.


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Posted By Kevin Dallas
General Manager
Today we announced the general availability of the Windows Embedded 8 family of products. You can read more about that announcement here.
I've been involved in a lot of launches at Microsoft over the years, but to me, this feels like something more. As the promise of a world of connected devices and the Internet of Things accelerates, enterprises have the unparalleled opportunity to capture, analyze and act on data throughout their organization with intelligent systems.
Windows Embedded 8 is set to be a catalyst for this acceleration, coupling the power of Windows 8 technologies on edge devices with the full software and services stack from Microsoft behind them. Now applications designed to work on a range of industry devices can deliver modern, rich experiences, while leveraging the power of technologies stretching all the way back to the cloud. Imagine the possibilities.
Caption: Video: Kevin Dallas talks with GigaOm's Adam Lesser about new possibilities for the enterprise with Windows Embedded 8.
We've already seen organizations around the world do amazing things by knitting Microsoft technologies together with smarter, connected devices at the network edge. And with the release of Windows Embedded 8, everything is coming together.
You have the cloud with its limitless storage and processing capabilities, along with SQL Server and its amazing analytics functions. And then there's the rich, multi-touch and gesture interface features of Windows 8, which really have the power to change everything when it comes to the user experiences that these devices can provide. This is the next generation of natural user interface, which is particularly relevant in scenarios like retail, where ease of use and compelling user experiences are key.
We've also been working with partners to help them realize the intelligent systems opportunity. Over the past 24 months we've created a single line of products that includes software for sensors, machines, devices, all the way through to the cloud, with everything OEMs need to bring devices into any enterprise environment.
For the first time, we're releasing an entire Windows Embedded platform that was built from the ground up with this vision in mind, with all the capabilities of Microsoft's latest technologies. With Windows Embedded 8, our product family evolves, from the operating systems we used to deliver, to the core set of cohesive software and services needed to build intelligent systems.
Additionally, Visual Studio 2012 support opens up the platform for a whole community of developers to build engaging web-based and line-of-business applications for different industries like retail, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and more. Enterprise-level management and control is built in.
Caption: Video: In an interview with GigaOm's Adam Lesser, Kevin Dallas explains how Windows Embedded 8 opens up new possibilities for device manufacturers.
It's hard to explain our excitement as we look forward to seeing what customers and manufacturers are going to do with it. Our customers now get to explore this tremendous opportunity to deliver new value in new ways. It's about building connected services that span productivity, entertainment, communications, logistics, analytics. It's about creating new experiences for users, and discovering new insight from new forms of operational data.
We are already working with a number of enterprise customers who understand these devices and the data they generate is a true asset, and are using it to drive new levels of operational intelligence, and deliver it in new ways. If you'd like to join the movement and discover what the next generation of Windows Embedded can do for your company, device, software or service, visit http://www.getwindowsembedded8.com/.


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I'm in pain. A lot of it. Muscles I didn't even know I had hurt right now.
Yes. I am totally being a baby and totally being dramatic.
I am not really one to make New Year's Resolutions. I know me. I know that if I make promises to myself and put pressure on myself, the chances of said promise happening are pretty much nill. Commitments to others, I have a fairly decent track record for following through. I might take it down to the wire but I almost always follow through. Promises to myself? Nope. Not gonna happen. This is one of the many things I know about myself.
Something else I know is that I have a weight problem. I've had one all my life. I was a huge baby (10lbs, 10oz at birth), I was a fat kid, a fat teenager, a fat adult – and if you didn't blink I was actually almost thin in my late 20's – and then I had a kid and got fat again.
I'm actually pretty ok with it. In the last 10 years or so I've come to realize that there are far bigger issues in life to deal with. Besides, I've got a cute face. You can get away with anything when you're cute. 😉 har har
Don't get me wrong, I have bad days. But this is me. I like me and as long as I am healthy, I can deal with some poundage. My husband knew me fat and he knew me not as fat and he knows me fat again. I'll never be thin, its not my body type. I once asked him if it bothered him that I am overweight. If you ever needed definitive proof that I married the most precious, thoughtful, loving man on Earth, here it is. When asked if the size of my body bothers him he replied: How could it bother me? How could I not love this body? This is the body that created our daughter.
He might be lying but he's an awful liar, so I choose to believe he was being sincere. Even if he is lying, how sweet is it that he could say it with a straight face?
Recently I've been presented with the motivation to make some changes. The fact of the matter is that right now, I am not healthy. I've been sitting around too much, drinking too much juice or regular soda, too many late night snacks, having too many extra bites. What's the saying in Weight Watchers? LTB calories? Licks, tastes and bites? And this has been going on for far too long – almost three years.
However, I am not making a resolution.
I am not making any promises to myself.
I have to backtrack a little here and go off into another story. Early last week I decided that we needed to do something about our financial situation. We are not in a sinking ship by any means but we could be doing a lot better. By Friday I was able to acquire a low interest loan to consolidate all of our debt (less our mortgage). This will lower the total amount of money going out the door every month and what's best is we will be debt free in less than four years. Goodbye credit cards, Hello cash life!
We had put off having another child because C and I both agree that its not responsible of us to have another child if the financial situation seemed even a little shaky. We wanted our children to be closer in age but such is life that things don't always work out as you'd hoped. Until last Friday, I thought it would be a few more years until we had another baby. But now, having another child is back on the table. We've freed up money, we are in the works of getting a better family car and things are really looking up. We're going to let the financial 'dust' settle and maybe try for a baby in the late summer/ early fall.
Which brings me back around to my original point. (yes, I actually have one.)
I don't make resolutions and I usually do not keep promises that I make to myself. Monday morning I sat at my desk and thought about future baby. I thought about how I would like my pregnancy to be. How I want to be healthy and more importantly I want future baby to be healthy. I thought about how I want Izzy to be healthy and have a healthy relationship with food and activity. I thought about how Christian will probably live to be 103 because everyone in his family lives forever. Will I be there? Will I get my act together and make it to my 90's? Will I die young and let him hook up with some old biddy in the nursing home in his remaining years? Over my fat, dead body! Who would make smart ass comments and give him dirty looks if I die?
As I sat at my desk thinking about our good fortune, the change in our plans, my health, my family's health, our longevity and our overall happiness I quietly made a promise to my husband, Izzy and future baby.
I promise I am going to work on this health thing.
I am not going to make a bombastic declaration to lose every last pound until I hit my scientifically determined 'ideal' weight. I'm not promising to cut out goodies or to stop being a loaf. I'm not promising anyone that I will ever run a marathon at any point in my life.
But I am making the promise to them that I will work on this. I will get healthier. I will be more active. I will treat myself to the good health that I work for them to have. I might falter but I will keep trying. I may never get any less fat but all my organs will be in tip top shape. I'm going to start small and work my way up the hill.
So today, I am in pain.
I've been pretty sedentary for a while so I thought I should start small for exercise. Most of my exercise this week has consisted of using Wii Fit. It's pretty pathetic when you are sore from Wii Fit. Believe me, even I am making fun of me. The original plan was to warm up for a week with the Wii and then dive head first into the 30 Day Shred. I'm beginning to rethink that plan. I've done the 30DS consistently before. It's a beast. I hate it. It's a great workout. But it's not for someone that was a few shallow breaths away from a coma.
So, seeing as how I am struggling to lift my coffee cup to my lips after a week of Wii Fit, I think I need some more time in the remedial class so that I don't hurt myself.
I will conquer 30DS soon enough. But first, I need to hit 1600 rotations at the hula hoop game on the Wii. 😉
If anyone tries to tell you that the Wii isn't a good starter workout for the terminal couch potato, well I have a spare nunchuck controller you can whack them in the knee with.
(Disclaimer: To the few readers I have, I probably won't make any progress posts or get all showy about my successes or failures. It's just not how I roll. But I don't want y'all to assume I'm not sticking to my promise just because I don't post about it.)


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About Us
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Our Team
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What are Dental Implants
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Is there pain or discomfort involved?
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Princess Esra Birgin is a princess belonging to the Asaf Jah Dynasty Hyderabad
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For several years now, my wife and I have been to Dr. Irfan Motiwala...
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I have always taken pride in my smile and have always...
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Hi, Im SONIA from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia....
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Soft tissue grafts - Gingival graft and Connective tissue graft
Soft tissue grafts have been used to cover gingival recession defects but of late they have very fruitful application in dental implants. They are being used for building up bone defects in anterior region for esthetic reasons.
The Free Gingival Graft
The Free Gingival Graft is a procedure where a thin piece of gum tissue is removed from the roof of the patient's mouth and transplanted to another site in order to create thick tough tissue or "attached gingiva".
The Sub-Epithelial Connective Tissue Graft ("Sub-Epi Graft")
A connective tissue graft is harvested from palatal area and placed below the gum. The healing is much superior to free grafts.
See also related topics
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MOSS BLUFF, LA (KPLC) - The Spence home was filled with water following Friday's heavy rains.
"We just started picking up as much as we could," said Kelly Spence. "We could only get necessities it was coming in so fast."
Friends and family came together to restore what they could and remodel the rest the next day.
But even with the loss of so many items, there are still smiles in the Spence home.
And although there wasn't much complaining, the family said change is needed.
"There's just not enough drainage to withstand the rain," said Spence.
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury said they're aware of the problem and a drainage plan is in the works.
"There's been a lot of drainage improvements parishwide, but they're improving the situation and we're continuing to move forward with those projects," said Shannon Spell, president of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.
Spell said the drainage process was started before the torrential rain and improvements were seen. But Spell said it's still not enough.
"Instead of reducing the people that get flooded, the goal is to eliminate it," said Spell. "Now that's a lofty goal, but one house that floods is one too many."
But the Spence family is still in good spirits as they try to fix their home and rebuild.
Spell also said report the incident to the parish planning department if your house was damaged by the flood.
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is currently trying to secure funds and then start construction on more areas with drainage issues.
Copyright 2013 KPLC. All rights reserved.


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Stocks are High Risk, High Reward
Stocks are High Risk, High
Reward - Stocks when used properly and taken out on a long-term
basis usually return more than more investments in dividends, although
are really risky...
read entire tip
Any firm or government organization has at least one or more than one financial managers. These managers are responsible for the major portion of the running business, which includes investments and their rates, preparation of the financial statements, cash management, credit management etc. They not only have to make sure that things are being carried out according to plans, but also they also have to develop strategies that will prove to be more efficient and help the business to manage risk better and make greater returns for both the business as well as the shareholders. The duties of these managers vary with their titles. However, there are some duties that are more or less common or applicable to all the managers. These are:
* Each financial manager has the sole responsibility of the entire department. I am his duty to make sure that all the transactions, cash transactions are taken into consideration while preparing the profit and loss account and balance sheet.
* It is the duty of the financial manager to deal with the four A's, namely
*Anticipation of the funds or capitalization
*Acquisition of funds, that is Raising of the funds required
*Allocation of funds that is the Investing decisions
*Assessment of funds this is the evaluation of the financial activities
* The preparation of the cash flow statements, profit and loss account, balance sheet
* The duty of bridging the gap between the investors and the savers of funds.
* Arrange for short term as well as long term funds that is working capital requirements and capital budgeting requirements
* Financial feasibility of projects are to be calculated before hand in order to find out the difference between the investment and returns
* Cost minimization and profit maximization Achievement of organizational goals
* Dividend decisions
* Finance decisions
* Investment decisions
* Maximization of shareholders wealth
* Continue operation in a socially acceptable manner
* Corporate social responsibility
* Knowledge over accounting, auditing, taxation, company law etc.
Thus, it can be seen that the duties and responsibilities of a financial manager is so vast that almost the complete functioning of the organization involves some or the other decisions that are required to be taken by the financial manager. This is because finance is the backbone of any industry, and the management of finance plays a vital role in the future prospects of the business.
Leveraged Investment Company
Leveraged Investment Company - Leveraged Investment Company is a company whose charter allows it to borrow money for investing activities. A venture company or mutual fund entitled to borrow capital for its operations. It is an investment company that issues both income shares and capital shares. It is an investment...
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2012 Volvo S60 T5: Extra Safety Features
September 12, 2011
On the family road trip I did last week, I ended up driving back to my house pretty late at night for the return leg. It had already been a long day, and, yeah, I was tired. My family was asleep in the car. So it was up to me to ensure a safe return. I had an energy drink with me if I needed it but I also figured there wouldn't be any harm in clicking on the S60's extra safety features: lane departure, collision warning/braking and a drowsiness monitor.
Lane departure has a dedicated button on the dash, but the others have to be activated through the car's on-screen menu structure. Of the three, lane departure was the only one to activate on my drive -- one time I changed lanes without using the turn indicator and it didn't like that, and one time I drifted a bit too much in the lane, and I got a warning. Of course, had the collision warning or drowsiness monitor actually gone off, I would have probably been in worse shape.
Actually, I was half-expecting them to fire off. In prior experience, these systems can get more annoying than helpful as they freak out at the first sign of trouble and start beeping and flashing lights. But the S60 just drove normally. The collision warning system is configurable and can be set to Long, Normal and Short distance. I had it set to Normal. Lane Departure can also be adjusted for sensitivity.
Being configurable is key, I think, to making these systems more usable, as is the option to turn them off if you don't want them. All things considered, I was happy to have them along for the drive.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 5,473 miles


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Best Sports Apps for Android
Best Sports Apps
Keeping a track of your favorite sports can sometimes be tricky, with a whole bunch of apps available on the Android Playstore there are only a few which work best. All the apps are tested by me and trust me I have even tried the worst ones to write this article, without further due here are the best sports apps available to download on your android smartphone.
Football Live by Vubooo
I am following football these days and was searching playstore for an app to keep a track on matches. No doubt there are a lot of apps available to download but most of the ones that I tried are totally useless. This app by Vubooo stood out to be the best among all that I tried.
You can sign up using your facebook account and check into a virtual stadium of live matches going on. You get all the updates including fouls, cards and score. Shots taken are also notified and from where they were taken is also stated. You dont need to be running the app at all times to get the updates and can get status bar notification as well. So far this app is the only one that worked best for me.
The reason why I mention it here first is because this is the app that I am using these days to keep a track of football and football is pretty much the hype these days.
You can download it here.
There is a separate app available by them specifically for Champions League.
WatchESPN is also one of the best sports apps available on android. This app has a wider audience as it covers all types of sports so you can keep a track of your favorite one.Furthermore you have the ability to watch studio shows at your leisure. You can watch on demand videos and do live streaming if your carrier supports it.
In short this app is a must have for any sports entusiast on their android smartphone.
Download it here.
ESPN SportsCenter
The name says it all, it is great app giving you instant updates on scores and the biggest events of the day. There is a detailed analysis on on different leagues, hardcore sports fans would find this app very fun to use.
Download it here.
An excellent app deserving the title of best sports apps for android. The user interface of this app is the most appealing out of all other apps mentioned here. This app also covers majority of the sports watched around the world and gives you updates on scores etc.
The app has widget support which can be installed separately if the user wants it, that way you get a sports ticker on your homescreen.
This app is a must try, download it here.
There are many great apps for sports on the android market and some of them not mentioned here might work best for you. These apps are my personal favourite after trying a whole bunch of apps. If you would like to mention another app worthy of it please comment below.


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When I first touched Burmese soil, it was close to midnight on May 25, 1990. Thirty other reporters and I - all invited to cover the first elections in 30 years - were herded from the airport onto a bus by a gaggle of soldiers with stunning inefficiency. As we drove through the funereal streets, emptied by a 10 p.m. curfew, the huge red-and-white billboards proclaimed - in both Burmese and English - varying versions of ``The Enemy of the Army Is the Enemy of the People.''
We were deposited in the dilapidated but charming lobby of the Strand Hotel, and as we signed in, a hotel clerk bolted the front entrance, locking us in for the night.
By the second time I landed, on a sunny November afternoon four years later, the airport could have been in a different country. I had to fend for myself and watched as one luggage cart after another got snapped up by uniformed generals' aides, carrying the generals' golf clubs.
When I finally dragged my bags outside, I found a cluster of taxicab drivers - private entrepreneurs - fighting for the chance to take me to my hotel. On the way to town, I could no longer read the signs; the English translations had been painted over. Even these threats had been drained of import. ``They're just propaganda,'' one driver said. ``We don't take them seriously.''
Burma (also called Myanmar) is still run by a military junta. But for the tourist, it is a happy junta. Mainly, it is happy for hard currency, and it's doing everything it can to raise the number of dollar-toting tourists from 61,000 this year to a hoped-for 300,000 in 1996, dubbed ``Visit Myanmar Year.''
Many travelers probably associate Burma with political repression, narcotics from the Golden Triangle, and the 5 1/2-year house arrest of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. And in fact, when I tried to take a picture of the green gate in front of her house on University Avenue, a plainclothes officer put his hand in front of my lens.
But much is changing even on that score: In September, the military government began negotiating with Suu Kyi over terms of her release. Officials hint that her detention will end Jan. 20.
A measure of the political change are government plans to build a ski resort at Kakaborazi at the foot of the Himalayas. Until recently, the area would have been limited to skiers with armor, as the entire area has been engaged in civil war for the past 40 years. In the past two years, however, 11 of the 13 ethnic-minority rebel armies have agreed to cease-fires. What this means is that more areas are open to tourists - either completely or with some restrictions.
One of the government's goals is to develop the country without the rampant commercialism of, say, Thailand. And in this it seems to be succeeding. Crime is almost nonexistent. People dress in traditional sarongs, called longyi. And in places like Scott market in downtown Rangoon (also known as Yangon), one can still find inexpensive treasures - anything from puppets and lacquerware to tapestries and jewelry. (Burma is famous for sapphires, rubies, and jade.) In the northern part of the country, the best puppets can be found in Mandalay, and most lacquerware comes from Pagan.
The capital, Rangoon, is beautifully preserved, with trees lining the streets, many parks, and the Shwedagon Pagoda gracing the horizon. Shwedagon, which is supposed to hold eight hairs of Buddha, is reported to contain more gold than the Bank of England. Each year the gold increases, as Buddhists slather gold leaf onto the dome to gain merit. It is not a tourist attraction, but the centerpiece of Burmese religious life.
Burma is the most religious country in Asia; more than 90 percent of the country's 43 million people are Buddhists. This point was driven home to me one Sunday morning at 4 a.m. when a loudspeaker blared outside my window for a half-hour. I crept out to the street to see hundreds of monks in their saffron robes, shaved heads bowed, walking in a silent line. I learned later that the loudspeaker was reminding everyone to come make offerings to the monks.
The monks have always been a political barometer in Burma and were at the vanguard of the pro-democracy movement in 1988. My recent visit to Mandalay - home to 260 monasteries and some 100,000 monks - suggests that in the past four years, the military has gained effective control of the religious leaders.
One antigovernment monk I interviewed in June 1990 had since fled the monastery to escape arrest.
I finally tracked down another dissident monk, who, I later learned, had spent several months in jail. He was terrified to talk to me, insisting on speaking Burmese, though I knew him to speak fluent English. He would discuss only religious matters in front of other people, so he could not be accused of passing on political information. ``I think the monastery walls have ears,'' my translator later said, explaining that some monks were government informants.
I traveled from Mandalay to Pagan by local bus a mode of travel not recommended, even for the bargain price of $2.50. For 9 1/2 hours, 40 other adults and I bumped along a road in a school bus that had a capacity of 32 children. We stopped only for lunch. Finally, at dusk, we reached the 1,000-year-old imperial capital.
Pagan is the most magical place I have seen. It has 2,200 pagodas and stupas, many in beautiful condition.
To get from one temple to another, hire a horse cart for $3 a day, $5 if you're feeling generous. Most of the cart drivers speak English and are happy to recount the history of any particular pagoda. For a trip back in time, no place in Asia matches Pagan.
Or for that matter, Burma. It is a country that the world has left behind, and one worth seeing before the world catches up.


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Flashback: Review of Fantastic Four 285 (December 1985) September 15, 2008Posted by lotrking in Comic Book Reviews, Flashback.
Tags: Comic Book Reviews, Comic Books, Fantastic Four, John Byrne, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Secret Wars, Secret Wars II
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If this issue serves as any evidence, it is not hard to see why John Byrne's run on Fantastic Four is considered legendary. In this standalone issue, "Hero," the Human Torch gets a stark contrast to Peter Parker's "The Boy Who Collected Spider-Man" tale. The beginning of the story focuses on a boy named Tommy who idolizes the Human Torch. At school this boy is bullied, and his parents seem to have little time for him at home. The only thing that he seems to live is to follow the adventures of Johnny Storm. When a neighbor leaves out a tank of experimental fuel and asks Tommy to put it away, he cautions him not to spill any because it could turn him into "a real Human Torch."
A few weeks later, Johnny is approached by a doctor who says that a dying boy would love to meet him in his final moments. As Johnny meets him, we learn that this boy is Tommy, and is suffering from third degree burns because he wanted to be "just like his hero." As Johnny tries to cope with a death that he believed he caused, he is visited by the Beyonder (this is a Secret Wars II tie-in after all), who shows him that all Tommy ever lived for was the Torch, and that the rest of his life was only sad and pathetic. According to the Beyonder, he did not die because of Johnny, he lived because of Johnny.
I do not know if I really agree with this statement. Is it better that he had a shorter life full of suffering, or would it have been right for him to continue on with a chance to improve his life? I cannot truly say if I enjoyed this issue, but I must say, it does introduce some interesting philosophical questions. If you're looking for a single story, not concerning traditional superheroics, but something that'll leave you thinking for quite a while afterwards, this is certainly one to look into.
Next week: Silver Surfer 6 (Volume 1)


text: I am usually very careful about where I use my credit card but I don't know what happened that day. On 1st July 2009 I purchased a monthly subscription at Universalbot.com for $9.99 (for first month then $39.9 from second month) Since none of their softwares was working, I contacted them 3 times via their so called "Support Ticket" system to cancel my monthly subscriptions during the month of July, but no one answered. Then I contacted their payment processors SWREG (www.swreg.org) to cancel my subscription but their support system is even worse, which did not even allowed me to submit the form. To make the story short now on 1st August 2009 I am charged $39.9 again. I created this thread to warn all my BHW friends to be aware of both UniversalBot and SWREG and don't buy anything from them. PS: I contacted my CC provider (payoneer) but they say that they can only cancel my card and send a new one but they can not block this merchant from charging my card. How to stop these scammers from charging again on 1st of September? Any help will be highly appreciated.


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The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison portray star crossed lovers living in different worlds in one of the most romantic ghost stories ever filmed; Joseph L. Mankiweicz's The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Set in Cornwall at the turn of the Twentieth Century, a young widow rents the cottage of a dead sea captain , only to discover that his spirit is still very much alive. This produces a battle of wits and wills, that eventually turns to love thanks to a brilliant cast, marvelous direction, shimmering cinematography and a luscious score by Bernard Herrmann. It's the perfect picture to warm up a cold autumn night.
See more of Steve Hayes in Tired Old Queen at the Movies on YouTube!


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Apple Promises to unveil Next Gen software at WWDC, What to expect?
Andy Ruffell / 7 years ago
As is custom, it is time for Apple's annual WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) on Monday the 6th of June where Apple holds their annual conference to showcase new innovations in software and hardware for over a few thousand developers, enabling developers to get hands on.
So what can we expect from WWDC this year? Well Apple press info has mentioned the unveiling of their next Operating System named Lion hopefully a fully fledged detailed reveal on Lion as well as a release to go with the event.
As well as iOS 5 for their current iOS devices, what many people are hoping for is more freedom from iOS being able to give users more customization options, perhaps something similar to Android perhaps?
Something new Apple is to launch is a cloud service called iCloud. While the details aren't fully known it may be online computing via the cloud or data/music based cloud solution.
iPhone 5 will most likely not get a mention, most sources predict its release during the end of the year.
Apple's WWDC is set for Monday 6th June 2011 at 10am PST time or 6pm GMT time. Those with an Apple device should be able to stream the conference live on their Apple device. Coincidentally Apple's conference is set to start 30 minutes after Microsoft's presentation at E3.


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4 Reasons You're Not Lean
I'll be honest. I'm not a fat loss "expert."
I also don't think most people need a fat loss expert. What they need is a straightforward, no-frills approach to fat loss.
Check out the physiques of the folks inside your local Walmart or grocery store, even your gym. How many are so elite that they need strategies to get from 6% to 4% body fat?
Compare that with the number that could benefit from simply dropping 20-30 pounds, or might be looking to get into single digit body fat for the first time in their life?
That's what I thought.
This piece is about in the trenches, real world fat loss strategies. And while there's nothing new about what I'm about to present, I'd implore you to focus on mastering these basic tools first, before worrying about the minutia.
To that end, here are the biggest reasons why you aren't getting results from your current fat loss program, along with practical strategies you can use to start seeing a difference today!
A Quick Primer
When it comes to fat loss programs, I'm a huge advocate of alternating upper body and lower body exercises in a superset fashion. For example, do a set of squats (lower body), rest for an allotted period of time, and then do a set of chin-ups (upper body).
You can use any approach you like, but this example will be used throughout this article.
Reason #1 — Crappy exercise selection and lack of intensity
In the real world, great exercises are great exercises.
Big exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, overhead presses, push-ups, pull-ups, rows, and single-leg work are great regardless of your goals.
So why is it when people want to lose fat, they spend more time wussing out on the big exercises?
Look, fat loss programs flat out suck. Try doing a heavy set of 8-12 squats, resting 60-90 seconds, and then following that up with a big compound press or pull.
Rest 60-90 more seconds, and then repeat that sequence 2-3 more times.
Feel like throwing up yet?
If you aren't really uncomfortable in your fat loss efforts, you're not working hard enough. And beyond just crappy exercise selection, most people trying to drop lard don't work hard, period.
They assume that since their reps are higher they don't need to use as much load. While you definitely won't be using as much weight as you would on say a 5-rep max, many take this to a wussifying extreme.
Regardless of whether your goal is strength, hypertrophy, fat loss, etc., you have to push the weights. In fat loss programs, if you're supposed to be doing sets of 10 reps and you could've done 15 or 20 reps, you need to get your ass in gear and pile on some poundage.
The Fix: The first two supersets of your workout should make you cringe.
I like to start every fat loss session off with two big supersets, something like this:
1A) Squat Variation
1B) Horizontal Pull
2A) Posterior Chain or Single-Leg Work
2B) Horizontal Press
Another workout could look like this:
1A) Deadlift Variation
1B) Vertical Pull
2A) Posterior Chain or Single-Leg Work
2B) Vertical Press
So big exercises, and pushing the weights are critical. This leads me right into my next point…
Reason #2 — Your rest periods are out of whack
When it comes to fat loss, we know that rest periods are important.
But again, there's a big difference between knowing they're important, and actually sticking to them.
I see two issues frequently – men take too much time between sets, while women take too little time.
Guys are notorious for taking their sweet time when training. They're supposed to rest 60 seconds, but then they have to get some water, load the bar, ogle the hot chick on the stretching mats, or a host of other things.
Next thing you know, it's been 2-3 minutes and they still haven't started the second exercise in their superset yet!
Is it any wonder they're still fat?
Women, on the other hand, are notorious for chasing the "burn," and they look like perpetual motion machines gone wrong.
Instead of taking 30, 60 or even 90 seconds in between their sets, they'll bounce from exercise to exercise, taking as little rest as possible.
I'm all for training density – doing more work in less time. It can be a powerful tool. But not if you use it exclusively, or while ignoring other valuable training methods.
Think about what happens if you never rest. What you're doing is trading exercise intensity for training density.
The Fix: Time your rest periods!
Put your headphones on, take a stopwatch to the gym, and become militant about your rest periods.
Guys, get serious about your routine and stop dicking around. It's time to dial it in and do the work! For fat loss, rest intervals are as important a training parameter as the weight on the bar, so respect it as such.
Ladies, rest is important. If you want to maximize your results, there comes a time and place to increase your intensity. Take the allotted amount of rest and push the weights.
Reason #3 — Your Diet is Garbage
The basics of diet aren't that complicated. We're not going to talk about macronutrient splits, nutrient timing, or any other complicated stuff.
We're going to look at the basics, and why most people fail miserably in their efforts to shed body weight and/or body fat.
I can't tell you how many times people have come to me muttering something along these lines:
"My diet is great but I just can't lose weight."
"I eat so clean – I think I must have a hormonal imbalance."
"My mom and dad are overweight. I just have bad genetics."
Sure, there are legitimate reasons why some people can't lose body weight and/or body fat. Unfortunately, most just like to make excuses and play the victim rather than put in the work necessary to achieve their goals.
My new strategy is to have any clients who want to use an excuse perform two exercises first. If they do both of the following and still aren't losing body fat, then we can explore deeper-seeded issues.
Take a 7-Day Diet History
If you're not willing to write down everything you eat and drink for at least 7 days, I'm not willing to accept your excuse that you can't lose weight. Period.
About a year ago, a female came into the gym to start training. She told me that she was eating pretty clean, and yet was still unable to lose weight.
I gave her the challenge – write down everything you eat and drink for the next 5 days (I was nicer and less annoyed back then).
The result?
She became immediately more conscious of what she was eating and as a result she lost six pounds over five days by simply understanding all the garbage she was inhaling!
A diet history is a powerful tool. Unfortunately, our grasp of serving sizes these days is totally skewed. So if they do the diet history and we still can't find any glaring issues, we add another wrinkle.
Take a 7-Day Diet History, Weighing and Measuring ALL Foods
Do you have any idea what three ounces of chicken really looks like?
What about two tablespoons of ranch dressing or peanut butter?
Or how much a serving of pasta is?
Most people don't, and it's absolutely impeding their fat and weight loss goals.
Another client was in the midst of a 200-pound weight loss when he came to us. (Yes, this guy went from 400+ to just a little over 200 pounds over a five year period!)
When he was with us, one of the biggest changes he made was consistently making better food choices. Instead of snacking on chips or pretzels, he moved to a healthier alternative: almonds.
The issue was that almonds are incredibly calorie dense, and he had no clue how many he was actually eating. Instead of eating one serving, he was eating three, four, even five servings as a snack!
Once he reined this in and focused on weighing and measuring his foods, he broke through a plateau and saw some great changes in his scale weight.
The Fix: Weigh and measure all your foods for a month
"A month? What? Mike you just said 7 days!"
Seven days is a great start, and it can shed some light on where you're going wrong. But if you're serious about your fat loss efforts, I want you to know exactly what you're putting in your body on a daily basis.
Is this a massive pain in the ass? Sure. But if being lean was easy, every bro would be sporting a six-pack and every gal would have the figure of a Victoria's Secret model.
The people that get the best results do the things that others aren't willing to do. So get to work!
Reason #4 — Your recovery sucks
Let's say your diet is on point, you're training your ass off with the right exercises, set/rep schemes, and rest periods, and you're still not losing fat.
What gives?
Tell me if any (or all) of the below describes you:
Regardless, this list could go on and on. People keep pushing and pushing and wonder why their body isn't responding.
I try to describe it like this: Your body is like soil. You need to take care of it so it has the potential to grow your garden (or your physique).
But if your soil never gets any fertilizer, you never water it, and it's baking in the scorching hot sun all day, do you really think it's going to have the foundation to grow anything of substance?
Your body is no different.
If you're doing all the hard things right, why not do the easy things that help you get over the weight and fat loss hump?
The Fix: Start prioritizing recovery
This can be daunting for some, but start with the basics.
You need to get 7-8 hours of sleep minimum. I know there's going to be one guy piping in on the LiveSpill about how he sleeps four hours per day and is 4% body fat, squats 1000, and benches 700, raw.
Good for you. The rest of us need more sleep to expedite recovery.
Getting lean isn't anywhere near as confusing as some would lead you to believe. Trust me, far too many people are making insane amounts of money by keeping you confused and having an "angle" on fat loss.
If you're serious about getting lean once and for all, apply the four simple techniques and fixes I outlined above. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results!
source: T-Nation
Physical Culturist
Latest posts by Physical Culturist (see all)
- Meat Is Counterculture - September 3, 2018
- The Phenomenology of Barbell Training - July 18, 2018
- How a 94-year-old retiree became a gym rat - May 21, 2018
- All cancer patients should be prescribed exercise, Australian guidelines say - May 16, 2018
- The key to sound sleep might be in your muscles, not your brain - January 13, 2018


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We used your IP address to guess your location. If we got it wrong, please change your campus here for local results.
Search all of UITS.iu.edu for services, departments, or workshops.
Learn the three primary methods of parallelization as well as synchronous and asynchronous parallel algorithms. @IUB
Offered by UITS Research Technologies, this workshop will expand the basic concept of threads, GPU programming, and message passing to present multiple strategies to solve problems. Both a lecture and hands-on lab will be included. Supercomputing for Everyone Series: Introductory Parallel Programming for Supercomputers is a prerequisite course.


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By Ingrid Melander and Johnny Cotton
AMIENS, France (Reuters) – On a school gate in the French city of Amiens, a hand-written note details the results of last weekend's parliamentary elections. The winner, by far, was abstention.
Barely a third of the 1,803 registered voters in the working class neighborhood of Saint-Maurice bothered to cast a ballot at the school, which doubles up as a polling station.
The dismal turnout in the first round of the elections could spell trouble for President Emmanuel Macron, who was born and grew up in the northern city. While his party is forecast to win the second round run-off this Sunday easily, he will need all the support he can get to avoid street protests that could hinder his plans for far-reaching social and economic reforms.
Local people who stayed at home last weekend spoke of their disillusionment with politics in a country where job creation has been slow and frustration with an election where the result already appears a done deal.
"We're in deep shit already and we'll never get out of it, at least not for a long while, so what's the point in going to vote?" Amelie Leroy, a 25-year-old maternity ward worker, told Reuters on a quiet street of yellow and red brick houses.
These are emotions felt across France, a country where voter turnout is traditionally high but slumped to just 48.7 percent in the first round, the lowest for a parliamentary election in the country's modern history.
Opinion polls project that the run-off – contested by the top two candidates from the first round in each constituency – will hand Macron's centrist Republic on the Move (LREM) party and its smaller ally as many as three quarters of the 577 seats in the lower house.
That on paper would give Macron a powerful mandate for his reform plans that include cutting tens of thousands of public sector jobs and making it easier to hire and fire workers. But his party and its ally won just about a third of the low first round vote.
An OpinionWay poll on Thursday pointed to an even lower turnout of 46 percent in the run-off.
This high abstention rate shows Macron, a 39-year-old former banker, is struggling to rally the whole nation behind him. That means he will have to tread carefully in a country where muscular trade unions do not shy from calling strikes and where street protests have forced many a past government to dilute reforms.
Leroy, who will stay at home again for the run-off, said she knew little about the candidates courting her vote, but did know about Macron's plans to relax labor laws. And they worry her.
If he goes through with them, Leroy said, she would probably take to the streets in protest, or strike.
A survey by Elabe pollsters showed not all of those who abstained last Sunday did so in protest – 47 percent welcomed the outcome. But even the government has said the low turnout was a failure it needed to address.
"That's what's at stake in this second round vote but also for our whole five-year term – reconciling the French with politics and bringing voters back to the ballot box," said Nicolas Dumont, the 40-year-old candidate for Macron's party in the Amiens constituency where Leroy lives.
Dumont got just 210 votes cast at the Saint-Maurice school, exactly the same as Francois Ruffin, a hard-left activist who he will face in the June 18 run-off.
Many local people are unconvinced by Macron, who became modern France's youngest president last month.
"We elected a 39-year-old, a former Rothschild banker. How do you want this guy to put himself in the shoes of the average worker? That will never happen," said 63-year-old retired factory worker Philippe Lamour, a far-right sympathizer.
Lamour, who usually votes, is boycotting what he calls a "moronic" parliamentary election this time because he feels a LREM victory is a foregone conclusion.
After months of political campaigning marked by scandals, even Macron supporters are wary.
Sitting in the sun on the steps of her home, 72-year-old Amiens resident Francoise Granger said she is backing both Macron and Dumont. However, she is also worried by allegations of impropriety concerning two ministers in his government. "There needs to be full transparency," she said.
The large parliamentary majority that is expected for LREM should not be interpreted as a blank check for Macron, said Yves-Marie Cann of Elabe.
"It will not exempt the government from having to seek a wide majority for its projects, or else it would run the risk of angering part of the population and foster protests that could benefit from substantial support among the population."
Macron has said labor reform is one of his top priorities and has planned to ask the new assembly, which starts work on June 27, to let him to speed up its adoption via executive decrees rather than parliamentary votes. But, in an attempt to win backing for the reform, he has also planned a series of meetings with labor unions to discuss his plans.
At this stage, the momentum behind Macron is such that active opposition to him is weak, Cann said. One in two of those voters who backed his main anti-establishment rivals for the presidency – hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and far-right contender Marine Le Pen – didn't vote in the parliamentary election's first round.
Generally, the lower a citizen's salary and educational levels, the higher the likelihood of abstention, an Ipsos Sopra Steria poll showed. Age also plays a role.
"We know that it's the workers who won't go and vote, we know it's young people who won't go and vote," said Ruffin, who came well behind LREM's Dumont in the Amiens constituency in the first round, with 24.32 percent versus 34.13 percent.
But in a city with a history of headline-grabbing industrial action, trade unionists said the apathy would not last.
"It's not done yet. I hope he (Macron) is expecting tough protests when he puts his reform on the table," said Frederic Chantrelle, a member of the CFDT union who has worked for 20 years at a local tumble-drier factory.
(Corrects projected turnout to 46 percent in paragraph 9.)
(Writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by David Stamp)


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December is here and that means speckled trout season in Brunswick County.
Each year anglers begin their annual pursuit of the beautiful and aggressive specks as they roam inshore and in the surf in large schools, hitting a variety of baits and lures and running the tides at both predictable and totally unpredictable times.
Unfortunately, the biggest news in trout fishing this year is the new North Carolina size and creel limits. Recreational anglers can now keep only four speckled trout with a 14-inch size limit.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Mother Nature did her part and gave us one of the nicest weather weekends we have had all year.
It was beautiful. Offshore fishermen were finally given a multiple-day weather window to get offshore and take advantage of the area's great late fall fishing. The Gulf Stream yielded good catches of wahoo with mixed in Mahi-mahi and blackfin tuna. The bite was not red-hot but respectable with most catches bringing in multiple wahoo, averaging in the 40- to 50- pound class.
BCC baseball camp
BCC baseball camp will be Dec. 3 at West Brunswick High School. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. and the cost is $65 for ages seventh grade to 12th grade. More information is at www.gobccsports.com.
Toys for Tots Dec. 10 at BCC
On Dec. 10 the men's and women's basketball teams will host Toys for Tots games. The games are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Donate one unwrapped toy for free admission.
Cedric Simmons update
Cedric Simmons did not start and scored four points in Asefa Estudiantes Madrid's 72-66 loss Nov. 27. He played 19 minutes and had seven rebounds.
AEM is 3-6 and tied for 12th in the 18-team Spanish professional basketball league.
The Shallotte Shock U12 girls soccer team took its undefeated record to Charleston, S.C., to play in the St. James Cup last weekend. For the Shock, this was its first out-of-state tournament. The Shock played two games Saturday, winning 2-0 and 2-0.
In the first game Ashley Oakes and Mia Adcock each scored. In the second game both goals were scored by Kira Frawley.
On Sunday the Shock played a semifinal and won 2-1. Both goals were scored by Hayley Giordano.
In the championship game, the Shock won 2-0, with scores coming from Adcock and Frawley.
North Myrtle Beach outscored West Brunswick 16-4 in the final 3 minutes en route to a 75-61 victory Nov. 29 in a non-conference boys' basketball game at West.
The Trojans (1-2) made just 11 turnovers—North Myrtle Beach made 15—but West shot 36.4 percent for the game and was 8-for-30 in the second half. West's top scorers were Taylor Buffkin (17 points, seven rebounds) and Geoffrey Gore (11 points, six rebounds).
Stingray tryouts are Nov. 27
Tryouts for the Lady Stingrays 14U softball team will take place at 2 p.m. Nov. 27 at Northwest District Park in Leland. Girls with birth dates on or after Jan. 1, 1997, are eligible to participate. Independent tryouts available by request if unable to make this date. For more information, contact Tony at (910) 386-8234 or Matt Chappell at (910) 612-1635.
Dixie youth meeting Nov. 28
The Brierwood Men's Golf Association game of the day for Nov. 14 was one best ball net for the first six holes, two best balls net for the next six holes and three best balls net for the final six holes.
The winning team at -19 was Bob Nobes, Mike Prokop, Dave Harper and Les Craft. In second at -11 was the team of Al Bloom, George Edwards, Odie Johnson and Chuck Hornfeck. In third at -7 was the team of Dan Perry, Paul Salerno, Bernie Gruzlewski and Ron Arvidson.
Special to the Beacon
The annual Conference and Trade Show of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents last week was a bases-loaded home run. In every aspect, by every measurement possible, the event was the best ever.
Each fall, golf course superintendents from the two Carolinas and surrounding states gather in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for three days of meetings, seminars, continuing education classes, a golf tournament and a trade show.
Copyright © 2018
The Brunswick Beacon is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Brunswick County, North Carolina and surrounding areas.


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The Genesis of CART
In October 1995, the Sumter, S. C. Rotary Club, led by Roger Ackerman and Dr. Jack Bevan, initiated the effort to prove that Rotarians voluntarily emptying their pockets of change for a good cause could produce significant levels of funds to support Alzheimer's disease research. The CART Fund (Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust) was the name given to the project, which proved to be highly successful during an 8-month testing period.
In May 1996. The CART Fund was introduced at the Rotary District 7770 Conference and was enthusiastically received. The District leaders agreed to adopt CART as a project, if a committee made up of Sumter Rotarians could obtain the support of the individual clubs in the District. During the 1996-97 Rotary year, CART programs were presented in 62 of the 68 clubs in D-7770. The response was overwhelmingly in support of this grassroots project and the district officially adopted CART as a district-wide program in 1997.
The Concept of CART Grows!
The CART Fund was developed with the idea of accomplishing its goals without conducting fund raising projects and without interfering with other projects of Rotary clubs. In order to do this, CART leaders developed the concept of asking Rotarians to voluntarily empty their pockets of change or whatever amount they wanted to donate when they attend their weekly meetings. (It is estimated that on any given day in America, $8.25 billion in loose change passes among our citizens.) This provides a very simple, painless and effective way to raise much-needed funds for Alzheimer's research.
However, as time has passed, numerous clubs have contributed a portion or even all of some of the proceeds of club fundraisers to CART. Many Rotarians contribute dollars as well as pocket change. Quite a number of clubs have members make challenge gifts on a monthly or quarterly basis. These can amount to $100.00 to $500.00 challenges. A Macon, Georgia Rotarian on two occasions made $5000.00 challenges covering a 4-month period and the Macon Rotarians met the challenge each time!
Many individuals who are not members of Rotary have made significant contributions to CART. In fact, the single largest contribution to CART was made by a non-Rotarian from western North Carolina who contributed $25,000.00 in honor of her two sisters who had lost their battle with Alzheimer's disease. She said she chose CART because she liked the idea that 100% of her donation was going to research, and because she knew that Rotary was an outstanding organization. Memorials and honorariums have also been a source of funds for CART. Numerous individuals have named CART as the charity of choice for memorials honoring loved ones.
In early January 1999, the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) very generously agreed to provide their expertise in assisting with the grant process. Their valued assistance has continued primarily by recruiting some of the nation's top scientists in the field of Alzheimer's disease research to serve as a peer advisory group to review all grant applications.
Using funds raised to that point, in 1999 CART awarded its first grant to Emory University and Dr. Allan Levey, the leader of Emory's Alzheimer's disease research team. In the 18 months that followed this initial grant, the other ten Districts in the Carolinas and Georgia committed to support CART. CART is currently actively promoted in each of these same Rotary Districts, District 6900, District 6910, District 6920, District 7670, District 7680, District 7690, District 7710, District 7720, District 7730, District 7750, and District 7770. As of 2009 these 11 Districts of the Carolinas and Georgia have provided most of the funds for CART; however individual Rotary clubs in Texas, Illinois, Mississippi, and New York make regular contributions.
The first Board of Directors meeting was held in November 2000. By-laws were adopted, and PDG Bill Clark of D-7750 was elected President of the Board.
How CART Works
The President of CART may call special meetings of the Board, but most of the decisions are made at the annual meeting held each year in Columbia, SC on the Wednesday prior to Mother's Day. All other decisions are usually made using conference calls among the Executive Committee members. Each district that joins the CART program has two representatives on the board and two votes. The District CART Chair has one vote and the District Governor-nominee has one vote. All funds are deposited into one CART bank account.
In selecting the best possible recipients for each of our grants, the CART Fund has been fortunate to have the guidance of a 3-person advisory team of renowned Alzheimer's research scientists who have contributed their valuable time.
Following founder Roger Ackerman, who chaired the first Grants Committee, Dr. Jack Bass served as Chairman of the CART Grants Committee for seven years, and since 2008, Dr. Jim Puryear has carried on this great tradition with distinction.
Currently serving as chairman of the Grants Advisory Team is Dr. John Trojanowski, department head of Neurology and Alzheimer's research at the University of Pennsylvania. Serving with Dr. Trojanowski are Dr. Allan Levey of Emory University and Dr. Karl Herrup of Rutgers University.
Dr. Sam Gandy served as Chairman of the CART Grants Advisory Team during the time that the first 6 grants were selected for funding by CART. Among the professional researchers serving at various times with Dr. Gandy were Drs. Virginia Lee, Edward Koo, David Holtzman, and George Martin. CART is deeply grateful to these dedicated scientists and volunteers for their guidance and encouragement.
Quotes from some of CART's grant recipients:
Upon receiving CART's fourth grant at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. John Trojanowski commented: "Funding from sources like Rotarians allow us to jump-start scientific research on the many targets that we think are molecular pathways to curing Alzheimer's. It is remarkable that just a few citizens can band together to recognize a need and with deliberation and foresight, deliver major awards on the level of a large foundation or government agency."
Dr. Gary Landreth of Case Western Reserve University received a grant in 2001 to support work on a then-novel class of drugs. Dr. Landreth stated, "The CART funds were absolutely critical to our success, as they allowed us to pursue experiments investigating the mechanism of drug action for which we had no other means of support." He further advised that this research has led to three phases of testing involving expenditures in excess of $200 million dollars. (another example of how CART "seed funds" may lead to major research grants from the National Institute of Health and other groups).
Drs. Allan Levey and Jim Lau of Emory University: Dr. Lau, commenting on the discovery of the SORL 1 gene and its connection to CART. "The connection is simple. Our work (funded by CART) led to the first association of the SORL 1 protein (also called LR 11) with AD. That sparked interest and led directly to the study of SOTL 1 and other related genes by a very large consortium of genetics researchers."
Dr. Gary Small of UCLA: "our group remains deeply appreciative for the funding we received from your program several years ago. The CART Grants Program clearly helped us to move the field forward through its funding of our project, which led to improved understanding of our amyloid plaque and tau tangle PET technology in mild cognitive impairment."
Dr. Sanjay Simplicar of Cleveland Clinic: "We have shown that a part of amyloid precursor protein, called AICD, causes tau to aggregate and we all know that tau aggregation is bad. Thus my findings that AICD could be the real culprit in AD have gained more credibility. Thus, the CART funding is supporting novel and cutting edge research."
Dr. David Sweatt of the University of Alabama at Birmingham: "CART funding will be critical for my laboratory to be able to aggressively pursue a new drug development opportunity that we have, that hopefully will lead to a new type of treatment for Alzheimer's disease."
Dr. Todd Golde, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville: "Through funding provided by the CART award we will evaluate how several different types of compounds that modulate production of the amyloid beta protein work to modulate amyloid beta protein deposition in the brain of an Alzheimer's disease mouse model." In a follow up two years after the CART grant was made, Dr. Golde commented: "… CART funding was vital in our getting an NIH grant renewed that has been awarded to both Eddie Koo and myself and is for $2.5 million dollars over 5 years.
Dr. Harry Levine, the University of Kentucky: "Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of the CART Fund annual meeting and to give those who worked so hard soliciting the funds that I will be using for research a taste of what we are trying to do. I was very much impressed with the dedication of the group and how much you have been able to accomplish, both in raising funds and awareness. I think that bringing in the grantees like this is a great way to build a personal bond between the organization and the researchers. It helps researchers remember the people who are working with us in this struggle to defeat an insidious disease. Sometimes research gets pretty lonely and it's a reconnection like this that reminds me exactly why I work on Alzheimer's disease… I will be in touch and hope that I will have exciting results to report soon.


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DISCLAIMER: The characters are Joss', of
course. And the chapter titles are
courtesy of Robert Burns.
PREVIOUSLY ON BUFFY: This starts immediately after the season 5 episode, Family, so Spike has realized his true feelings for Buffy (albeit only recently), Tara knows she's not a demon, and Joyce has just recently fallen ill. Oh, and I hate to say it, but Buffy is still with Riley.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm not fond of splitting my attention between two lengthy WIP's, but the tone of my other major story is making me want to indulge in something light and romantic, hence the advent of Charms of the Clarion. This is for angstchic, who approached me with the initial ideas and set me off on this particular road of adventure, and for all her wonderful help in getting it off the ground and keeping it there. Oh, and in case you didn't know this already, this is Buffy and Spike all the way, baby…
The fumes hit her even before she could see the building, and Buffy grimaced, stopping in her tracks as she sniffed at the air. Blood, most definitely, and something that smelled like kerosene, and…was that chocolate? She breathed in again, somehow not repulsed by the combination, only to confirm that, yes, someone had most definitely tossed Hershey into the mix. No way could she miss out on that particular aroma, not after marathon midnight binges with Willow.
The door opened before she reached it, and the Slayer watched as Willy came rushing forward, grabbing her arm and yanking her away from the bar's entrance. "Not in the front, not in the front," he hurried, pulling her around the side of the building.
With no effort, Buffy wrenched herself free, sending the little man sprawling to the ground. "You're the one who called me, remember?" she said, hazel eyes bright with annoyance.
"And it took you long enough to get here," he complained, scrambling to his feet. When she shook her head and turned from him, ready to walk away, he darted around to her front, putting up his hands to stop her although not daring to actually let them touch the young woman. "OK, OK, I'm sorry, but you gotta take care of this. I got no one else to call."
She folded her arms across her chest. "Take care of what?"
"He's out back. C'mon."
The smells were stronger at the rear of the club, and Buffy saw the overturned garbage cans sprawled around the littered alley. "I don't feel like playing Columbo, Willy," she said, stopping short as he opened the back door and disappeared inside. "So why don't we make this nice and easy, and you tell me what the hell I'm doing here."
"No problem." His voice was muffled from inside the bar, and she heard the unmistakeable tones of fighting, a second voice undercutting the high squeals of the owner's arguments. It only took a moment for her to recognize the baritone, and when a very familiar, "Bloody hell!," pierced the air, Buffy sighed. Great. This was about Spike.
Her irritation changed to amusement, however, as soon as the vampire came thundering from the bar, Willy's hands firmly planted on his back, propelling him to face the Slayer in indignation. Her gaze swept over his rumpled form, taking in the reddened knuckles, the bruising over his left eye, the distinctly wet shirt clinging to his torso, outlining his muscles as if the cotton was a second skin. What elicited the giggles from her throat, though, was the absence of his trademark platinum hair. In its place was a sticky brown tangle, with chocolate rivers streaking his face where he'd tried wiping away what was running down into his eyes.
"What's wrong, Spike?" she laughed. "Did you lose a fight with the Easter Bunny?"
"Don't. Start," he growled, sweeping past her in a flurry of black leather.
Buffy turned back to Willy. "As entertaining as this is---and I've got to say, this definitely rates high on the Slayer meter o' fun---what has any of it to do with me?"
"You're the only way he's going to make it home in one piece after what he pulled tonight. He's got half the demon population hot on his tail right now, including one very pissed off Truva, and if he sticks around here any longer, the whole block's going to go up in flames." The owner of the bar was hopping around on his feet like he was standing on something hot, his anxiety blowing up his normally nervous energy into an explosion that was making her dizzy.
"And that would be a bad thing because…?" she asked.
Spike sighed. "Told you she'd be a bitch about it," he snapped at Willy. "I'd rather take my chances running into that Truva wanker. Least then when she's havin' to put out all the little fires he decides to set once he's dusted my ass, you can have a right jolly good time laughin' in her face sayin' told you so." He swiped angrily at his eye as another drop of chocolate dripped into his lashes.
"Oh, great, throw my job back in my face." Buffy started walking away, shaking her head. "This better get me some major attitude adjustment next time I need info, Willy."
"Sure, whatever you say, Slayer. Just trying to do my part to contribute to the health and wealth of Sunnydale's finest, you know."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered. She was all the way to the end of the alley before she realized she was walking alone, and stopped, half-turning to glare back at the vampire. "For someone who's currently more closely resembling a Fudgsicle than a formerly deadly creature of the night, you're not moving very fast."
His boots echoed against the brick walls as he stomped down to meet her. "Don't suppose you'd take the back way to my crypt," he growled, attempting to glance at her out of the corner of his eyes, only to blink rapidly as yet another slip of chocolate made its way down the side of his face.
Her smile was wide, her laughter loud, and Buffy made sure her hair went sailing as she whipped herself around to stroll down the sidewalk. "Oh, no," she gloated. "I think this is definitely Main Street material."
He deliberately kept pace a few feet behind her, azure eyes locked on the swing of her hips as she marched along through the cemetery, his mouth watering every time the breeze caught a whiff of her perfume and blew it back to him. The parade downtown had almost been worth it for this spectacular view, though Spike thought that stopping to chat with Xander and Anya, or to look at every single shop window, was worth just a little bit more than watching her walk. Wonder what the bint would do if I tossed her in the shower with me? he thought, and felt his cock harden as a result. Naked Buffy, lots of soap…He grinned. Definitely had potential.
"So you going to tell me what actually happened back there?" she asked, the first words she'd directed to him since leaving Willy's. "Because anything that makes you look that ridiculous has got to be a good story."
"Thought it was obvious," he said, wiping the smile from his face before she could catch it. "I got in a fight."
There was no disguising the twinkle in her eye as she glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Fights don't usually involve chocolate," she said. "Unless they're of the romantic variety." Her grin widened. "You got a new girlfriend we should know about?"
"Since when do you give two figs about my personal life, Slayer?"
She shrugged. "I don't. It's just been a very slow night and I could use a little entertainment."
"I'm not in the mood to be your party pick-me-up," he growled, although inwardly groaned at the prospect. Pick me up, throw me against the wall, shag me senseless…Fuck. Gotta stop these kind of thoughts before she susses me out and stakes me for good.
"Whatever," she replied and turned back away, returning them to the silence they'd shared earlier.
Their footsteps seemed too loud in the deserted graveyard, and Spike frowned as the sight of his crypt loomed in the distance, bringing Buffy to a halt before him. "Home sweet crypt," she said, hazel eyes returning to his face. "Last chance to give me the scoop."
Using the hands he had stuffed deep inside his pockets, the vampire tightened his coat around his body, hiding his erection from her probing gaze. "Nothin' to dish," he said. "Went out to get some smokes and blood, and found that Truva pillock torching my favorite butcher's. He ran, I chased him to Willy's, and we got into a fight. End of story."
"That doesn't explain the chocolate sauce, or why Willy seems to think you're in danger."
Spike snorted. "Willy's a melodramatic little monkey who thinks just because a couple of demons threaten to barbecue me, my sorry undead life is on the ropes." Actually, he was lying here and seriously hoped that the Slayer wouldn't notice or call him on it. Truth was, that one Truva had turned into a gang of assorted lowlifes at the bar, and with Spike as the current thorn in their side, life around Sunnydale was going to be a little dicey until they got bored with him and decided to try and kill someone else. But there was no reason for Buffy to know that. He certainly didn't need her laughing at him more than she already was.
"And somehow that still doesn't tell me why you're just minus a big red cherry on top from being a sundae." She was enjoying this just a little too much, the sight of the chocolate-stained vampire the highlight of her boring night. Consciously lessening the breadth of her grin, Buffy waited expectantly for his forthcoming clarification.
"And you're not goin' to know," Spike retorted, pushing past her to head for the door to his crypt. He'd only sauntered a few yards, however, when the unmistakeable scents reached his nose, stopping his feet as his head tilted, blue gaze flickering to his right. "Think you're about to have some more sittin' to do, Slayer," he commented.
"Oh, I think I've done all the sitting I can handle in one night, thank you very much."
"Tell that to the group of humans hangin' out up there by my crypt then," the vampire drawled, lips curling into a smile. "Unless you just plan on leavin' them. I'm sure there's a few local vamps who wouldn't complain about havin' dinner delivered to their gravestep for a change."
"Crap," Buffy muttered, and reaching behind her, pulled the stake from the waistband of her trousers. "I'd like to find out when hanging out in cemeteries became Sunnydale's number one attraction." She glanced around, eyes jumping from one dark shadow to the next, the night swallowing up the surrounding area in an ebony gulp.
She was oblivious to him as she walked past, weapon poised, fingers curled around the stake in such a way that Spike's mouth watered, and he had to fight to keep his hands in his pockets and off her curves. Each muscle was a tense celebration of menace, her every movement an exercise in grace, and the anticipation of watching her fight made his blood seethe. Tiny flecks of gold flickered through his eyes as the demon within caught the lust that was surging through his body, but he kept it leashed, all too aware of the fact that vamping out without provocation would most likely earn him a good thrashing, if not a thorough staking…although the thought of a thrashing sounded like it could turn out to be fun…
"Am I alone on this, or do I not sense any demons around?" Buffy asked, glancing back at Spike. "Other than you, of course."
His eyebrow lifted. "You're askin' for my advice?" he queried. "Gee, Slayer, I'm touched."
"Hardly. We'll just consider that a rhetorical question." Slowly, her body relaxed, her hand lowering. "But I better go tell those people they should get out of here. It's probably just a bunch of kids looking for some post-Halloween creepiness, anyway."
"Actually, we were looking for William the Bloody."
Buffy whirled, the stake back at attention, and watched as a group of three dark-suited men emerged from the darkness, one holding a crossbow while the other two held large crucifixes before them. Even if she hadn't heard the accent in the leader's voice, she would've known that they weren't locals. Only the dead were that stiff in this cemetery.
"So, Spike…this a family reunion or something?" She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "'Cause the only British people in Sunnydale that I know are you and…" Her head swivelled back to stare at the trio. "Oh, no. Please, tell me this is some late Halloween prank, and that you're not really part of the Council."
One of the men holding the crosses stepped forward, hand extended in greeting. "Miss Summers, I presume," he said. "How fortunate we've found you here. It saves us a further trip before we convene with the others." Buffy held her ground, ignoring his offering, and after a moment of awkwardness, the man blushed, retracting his welcome with a clumsy shuffle. "Yes, well, I certainly understand your hesitancy. After all, you are the Slayer. That's your job…to be cautious, and to, of course, slay."
Spike's lips lifted in smile at the man's ramblings. Nice to know I'm not the only one Buffy gets to, he thought, and watched as she slowly crossed her arms over her chest.
"So what's the Council doing lurking around Spike's crypt?" she asked. "And for that matter, what's the Council doing in Sunnydale anyway? I haven't seen you guys since, you know, you tried to kidnap me last spring."
"Oh, that wasn't us," he rushed to explain. "That would've been one of our special operative teams. We're part of the board back in…England…the good guys, not the…bad…ones…" His voice trailed off as he realized he was only making his situation worse, and he cleared his throat. "We're here, actually, to fetch Spike and yourself to meet with Mr. Travers---."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "And this just gets better and better," she drawled. "The head honcho decided to show up himself, huh? Is he tired of not having a Slayer to boss around anymore? Not that I really care." She brightened. "Oh! Unless he's here to apologize. That might be kinda fun to see."
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to disclose the particulars," the man said. "We're merely here in a retrieval capacity."
"And Spike and I are the sticks?" Buffy said. "Sorry, but I've never been big on the doing tricks for other people gig, especially if those other people are the Council, so why don't you run on back to your boss, Mr. Watcher Guy---."
"It's Colin. Colin Sadler."
"---run on back to your boss, Mr. Colin-Colin Sadler, and tell him this Slayer doesn't roll over for him anymore." She seemed to notice the vampire behind her for the first time since the trio had arrived. "Oh, but Spike you can have. I don't care about him."
"Thanks so bloody much, Slayer," Spike growled.
Colin glanced over Buffy's shoulder and frowned at the vamp's dishevelled appearance before returning to address the young blonde. "Our instructions are for both of you," he said. "Now, the vampire we're prepared to take by force, if need be, but in the event you were to refuse to cooperate, I was authorized to offer you an incentive. Regarding your mother and her illness."
Buffy stiffened. "That doesn't sound like an incentive. That sounds like a threat."
"No, no, no!" Colin stuttered. "That's not what I'm saying. Mr. Travers is prepared to offer you expert medical attention for your mother, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is definitely an inducement for meeting with him. So, not a threat." He smiled nervously, doing his best to appear calm but inwardly cowering.
Spike watched as the young woman's eyes narrowed, the mention of her mother tensing her jaw as her brain worked over the Watcher's words. They had her attention now, and though he had no idea what the pillocks might want with him, if Buffy was going along for the ride, he planned on being right next to her.
"All right," she finally said, mouth grim. "I'll go. But first sign of trouble, I'm out of there, got it?"
Colin looked relieved, exhaling loudly as the weapon relaxed in his arms. "Well, we should really set on then," he said and nodded behind him. "Our vehicle is back there, so if you would---."
"Hey!" Each turned to look at Spike, standing in chocolaty splendor in the moonlight. "You think I'm goin' anywhere without gettin' a shower first, you've got to be off your box." He waited for an objection, and getting none, began sauntering toward his crypt.
The Watcher's eyes darted between the marching vampire and Buffy, his brow furrowed in worry. "Is it safe to leave him unattended like that?" he questioned.
She shrugged. "You want him so badly, you go watch him, 'cause Spike in a shower is one show I do not need to see." The Englishman hesitated, his fear in spite of his ready weapon shining through in his face, and the Slayer sighed. "Hello? Haven't got all night here. And besides, it's pretty much your job description, isn't it? Watcher, watching things…?"
"Right," Colin murmured, and took a bold step forward, only to stumble back when the vamp pretended to lunge at him.
"Spike!" Buffy admonished. "Don't make me get into this!"
He couldn't help his grin. "Just havin' a bit of a laugh," he joked before pushing open the door to his crypt. "Not my fault he didn't think it was funny…"
Standing in the silence of the cemetery, the young blonde felt her insides begin to clench in anxiety, the thought of facing the Council again worrying her more than she was prepared to show. I so don't have time for this right now, she thought, but the promise of help for her mother was just too good to ignore, especially since the Sunnydale doctors seemed so ineffectual in determining what exactly was wrong. Experts were of the good, and if that meant a showdown with Quentin Travers, well then, so be it…
To be continued in Chapter 2: The Rights of Woman…