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An entire week has passed since Catherine's car accident. She could clearly see Vincent still had unresolved feelings for his ex-fiancée, Alex Salter. Because of his uncertainty, Catherine told him to figure his feelings out before he could see her again. Who will he choose?
People Do Crazy Things When They're in Love
Keiko Fujiwara
Vincent paced the floor of his living space inside the warehouse. Just a week ago, Catherine told him to sort his feelings out because she could tell he was still somewhat in love with Alex. Yet, just the day before, Alex could see his hesitation when she tried to kiss him. At that moment, Alex knew he had feelings for another—at least unresolved feelings. How could he have let this happen? Both women in his life believed he was in love, in some shape or form, for the opposite woman! It was completely frustrating!
Suddenly, JT walked in and said, "Dude, you've gotta stop pacing. You'll wear a hole in the floor."
"Why are women so perceptive?" Vincent asked as he switched directions and started pacing the other way.
"Vincent, calm down. I know Cat temporarily booted you off of her romantic island because of Alex but that happened a week ago. Why are you being so…antsy?"
"I was with Alex yesterday…We had lunch together at her place. It was nice but…"
"But it didn't feel right…it didn't feel like it used to feel when we were engaged before." Vincent confessed. "I guess she must have noticed my mind was elsewhere during our lunch."
"Was it?"
Vincent smirked at his roommate and stated, "I couldn't help but wonder how Catherine was doing."
"And, let me guess, she told you the same thing Cat did: Figure out your feelings before taking the train to Romance Ville." JT speculated as he walked over to the fridge to grab two beers. "Here." He threw one of the bottles to Vincent before sitting down on the couch.
"I'm so confused, man. When I'm with Alex, I think about Catherine. When I was with Catherine while she was at the hospital, I couldn't help but think about Alex!" Vincent threw up his hands.
"Are you sure you were thinking about Alex like you think about Catherine?" JT asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it this way: When you think of Alex, how do you feel when you think of her?"
"Well, to be honest, I am constantly worried she might find out what I am. If I know Alex, she isn't exactly the type of woman to believe in something that defies logic. She's too practical for her own good, but that's Alex, you know? Almost every night, this week, she has asked me to come and have dinner with her and spend time with her. I mean, I know she's just trying to make up for lost time but I don't know if she understands my predicament. You know I've told her I can't be seen. Yet, despite all of that, she tries to find some way to spend time with me. Hell, I haven't even told her where I live, but I think that's a good thing."
"How do you feel when you think about Cat?"
Suddenly Vincent smirked when he heard her name. "I worry over her safety when I'm not there for her. In the past, she's put so much trust into me to be there for her but since she basically exiled me, I've kept my distance. Last night, though, while Alex was at work for a night shift, I sauntered over to Catherine's apartment to make sure she was alright. She was but…"
"But what?"
"She was crying…I wanted so much to go in there and hold her but I couldn't bear with the fact that I'm the one causing her pain."
"Vincent, I think you already know your answer." JT said. "Yes, Alex is an old flame but, as much as I like her and all, the love you have with her is completely different than what you feel for Cat. Let me tell you what I've noticed over the past few days. When Alex calls and asks you to join her for a meal or for a fun date, you seem to answer hesitantly—like it's out of your way to see her since you'd be risking your life. Yet, in the past, when Cat ever called, you were at her side in a heartbeat—no matter the consequences. Let me ask you this, during your ten years of hiding, who was the woman you always kept tabs with on a year to year basis? Cat or Alex?"
"Exactly. Not once did you ever check up on Alex after you came home. I know you didn't want to drag her into your life in case she ever saw you but it never seemed like you cared about exposure when checking up on Cat. Oh, and another thing. A man doesn't just call just any woman by her full name. You call Alex, Alex instead of Alexandria. Yet, you call Cat by her full name, Catherine. If that's not a love confession, I don't know what is."
Vincent sat silently and thought over everything JT said to him. Did he love Alex? Yes. Did he care for her? Most definitely. He realized he could spend the rest of his life without Alex but, as much as he wished Catherine wasn't involved in his secret life, he couldn't avoid staying away from her. He needed her as much as he hoped she needed him.
"I'll be back." Vincent said.
"Where're you going?"
"I'm going to Alex's…I'm going to set things straight with her. I owe her that much."
"Alright, man. Be careful and good luck. Okay?"
"Thanks." Vincent replied before leaving the warehouse. JT knew Vincent had it bad for Cat. When he asked him how the thought about her, Vincent couldn't help but smirk and JT noticed Alex didn't have that giddy effect on the guy. There was no doubt in the biochemist's mind Vincent was in head over heels with a certain NYPD detective.
"Vincent! What a surprise! Come in!" Alex smiled. "I had plans tonight but I can cancel them."
"No. That's alright. I'm only going to be a moment anyways." Vincent replied.
"Oh. Alright." Alex stated with worry. "Is everything okay?"
"Sort of…Maybe you should sit down."
Alex nodded and led him to her family room before sitting down on a couch. "What's wrong, Vincent?"
"Alex, what we had ten years ago was great but…that's just it."
"What's just it? Vincent, you're not making any sense."
"Alex, our relationship ended ten years ago when you heard about my death. I'm a different man than I was a decade ago."
"I k-know you're being hunted by the government, Vincent but I don't care! I still love you!" Alex exclaimed.
"Alex," Vincent grabbed ahold of her hands, "Don't get me wrong because I still love you but I don't love you the way I did ten years ago. Now, my feelings for you have changed…and there's a part of my life I could never allow you to be involved in. It's too risky and dangerous."
"Vincent, I told you, I don't care that you're on the run! I just want us to be together!"
"That's just it!" Vincent said in frustration. "Alex, I'm on the run! I can't just waltz outside and be with you whenever you find it's convenient! That would be putting both our necks at risk!"
"Yet you go out of your way to save a woman from a should-have-been fatal car wreck, Vincent." She stated bitterly but suddenly noticed his eyes fell. "Oh my gosh…she's why you're here, isn't she?! I thought she was your handler!"
"I lied…My relationship with Catherine…it's complicated…We hadn't really figured out our relationship yet so I lied."
"Alex, I can't see myself without her. She's the moth to my flame."
"I WAS YOUR FLAME, VINCENT!" Alex shouted. "We were SUPPOSED to get married! Now you're telling me you've fallen for some lame excuse for a cop?!"
"Catherine is an excellent cop, Alex!" Vincent snapped, defending Catherine's dignity.
"If she were so great, why did she let herself get shot by one of her perps? If she had done her job correctly, that woman wouldn't have tried to kill her."
"Alex, you don't even know the entire story. The only reason Sabrina Meyer didn't go to jail was because they didn't have substantial evidence to lock her up! If anything, it's MY fault for Catherine's injuries!" Vincent confessed. "I should have stayed with her at her father's wedding but, out of my own selfishness, I left her before the party was over only to find her dying the next moment I saw her. I could have protected her!"
"Vincent, do you want to go back to her because you feel like you owe it to her? Is that it?!"
"No, Alex! Gosh, why are you always this difficult! Even when we were together ten years ago, we had constant arguments! I want to go back to Catherine because I love her far more than I ever loved you. Yes, at one time I thought you were the one but after…after Afghanistan and after meeting Catherine, the love I thought I felt for you can't even compare to the love I feel for her."
"Then why wait an entire week to say something? Huh? You could have told me from the beginning that you were in love with another woman! Why wait?!"
"Because, I was confused! Yes, I love Catherine but when you came back into my life, I was reverting back to my past and knew I still had feelings for you. I felt guilty for just leaving you like that, Alex."
"Then doesn't that mean you really never loved her?!"
"Not at all! I didn't realize the feelings I still had for you were different than the feelings I have for Catherine. Alex, she accepts me for who I am. If you knew who I really was, what I really am, you probably wouldn't think twice about getting the hell away from me."
"What are you talking about!? Are you some kind of spy?"
"Then what?"
"I can't tell you." Vincent stated.
"I don't understand!"
"You don't have to, Alex. Just know that I'm done with this relationship. I want to move on with my life like you should have done 10 years ago. Trust me; I am NOT the same man you were in love with, Alex. You have to move on."
"I don't want to, Vincent! What is so different about you?! Why does a woman you've known for six or so months know about something I don't!?"
Vincent could feel his blood boiling. He was tired of all of her questions and just wanted to go and see Catherine—to start a relationship with her. "Alex, Catherine and I met nine years ago! She only found out about my secrets because, like with you, I was careless."
"Yet you told her about your secrets and not me." She spat.
"Not intentionally! She stumbled into my secret life and I had no choice but to explain! Listen, Alex, I'm sorry but you and I will never happen. I don't mean to sound like an asshole right now and I wanted this conversation to go more smoothly but, as you can see, it isn't! You're my past, Alex. Catherine is my present and my future. Now, can I have your word you won't speak to anyone about my existence?"
She slowly nodded, unable to speak.
With that, Vincent stood up and left Alex before turning around to say, "Find someone worthy of you, Alex. Goodbye."
And then he was gone but Alex was not yet convinced. She needed to find out why Vincent was hiding things from her and she was determined to find out. She decided she would confront Catherine Chandler and demand answers.
Vincent walked to Catherine's as fast as possible, knowing he wanted to see her. He felt badly for ending it like that with Alex but there were times she was too damn unreasonable.
He jumped to her fire escape and peered through her window. He listened carefully and noted no one was home yet. He realized she was probably still at work. Vincent sat down on the steps and closed his eyes. He would wait for her just like he always has.
Fifteen or so minutes later, he overheard the apartment door opening and closing before the sound of her keys, gun and badge being tossed onto the kitchen counter. He quietly opened the window so she would know he was there and sat back down. He heard her slip off her shoes before sliding off her jacket. His heart sped slightly, bewildered how such subtle actions could easily turn him on.
He waited patiently for her and felt goose bumps crawl up his arms as he heard her bedroom door open and close. A few moments later, he saw her peek her head out of the window, giving him a look of desolation.
"Hey." He nervously said as he approached her.
"I'm guessing you figured out your decision?" Catherine asked dryly.
Vincent nodded. "Can I…er…Can I come in?"
She sighed and nodded, granting him permission to come aboard. "You don't need to let me down easy, Vincent. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can." Vincent stated as he hopped into her room.
"Then why are you here? You could have easily called to tell me you weren't interested."
"Catherine, that's not why I'm here." He stated as he walked closer to her.
"Is it another case?"
"Vincent, I don't have time to play 20 Questions. Just tell me what you wanted to say." Catherine said as she gave him a look of annoyance.
Vincent cupped her face with his hands and said, "Catherine, I'm here because I chose you. I'll tell you the same thing I told Alex nearly thirty minutes ago." He whispered as he stared into her eyes. "Alex is my past; you're my present and my future."
"B-but you two were engaged, Vincent. You have history together!"
"Catherine, listen to me. Just listen, alright?" She nodded and he continued. "Yes, Alex and I have history unlike you and me but you and I also have history together. Alex was engaged to a different man—one who doesn't turn into a beast when his adrenaline kicks in. I could never tell her about what I really am because, unlike you, I just don't trust her. She is a woman of reason and logic. Knowing what I am would be too much for her to handle. A few days before I enlisted, I told Alex what I wanted to do. She didn't want me to go because she liked how things were and thought I could better serve our country by staying as a doctor. I left anyways, without saying goodbye because I felt like I needed to do something other than just standing in a hospital, waiting for a patient to die again. I owed it to my brothers to fight for their deaths. Alex didn't see it like that. I realize, now, that there's no way she'd ever accept me for what I am because, as I said before, she didn't want anything to change.
"I talked with JT earlier. He helped me figure out what both of you are to me. When he asked me about Alex, I told him I was afraid of the truth getting out as well as afraid of how she would handle it. I was telling JT all of the problems or the fears I had about Alex. Don't get me wrong, she's a good person…she's just…controlling…anyways, when he asked about you…as cheesy as this sounds, I couldn't help but have a warm fuzzy feeling inside of my gut. Hell, I even smirked when JT said your name.
"I'll be honest, Catherine, I was having lunch with Alex yesterday and, during the entire meal, all I could think about was you. I never stopped thinking whether or not you were alright. I wanted to know every little bit of detail about you and even when the meal ended, my thoughts didn't stop. I continued thinking about you, Catherine. The reason I thought about Alex last week while I was with you wasn't because I still have feelings for her. I mean, I still care for her but the main reason I was thinking about her was because I was afraid she'd blow my cover.
"Catherine, I don't see a future with Alex. You're the only woman I see having a future with and, if you'd still have me, I'm willing to try and make this relationship work." Vincent stated as he took Catherine's hand and guided her to the foot of her bed. Vincent could tell she was still trying to process everything and watched her as she stood up and walked a few feet away from him. "W-what did Alex say when you told her that?"
"She didn't like it but I told her my decision and for her to move on as well as forget about me. Catherine, I mean it. I want you. No one else. Look," he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he placed his chin in the crook of her neck. "Catherine, I'm sorry for not telling you about her. I should have but didn't. But, know this; anything Alex and I had is gone. I don't want her as a part of my life."
Catherine turned around in his embrace and looked him straight in the eyes. "Vincent, you don't have to apologize. You had no reason to tell me about her. I've never told you about my past relationships so I don't expect you to tell me yours. And, when Alex did reappear, you didn't lie to me about her. You told me the truth and told me who she was. If anything, I should be the one apologizing for not giving you the benefit of the doubt."
"Catherine, I don't blame you for pushing me away. Believe me, I understand completely. Hell, even the other day, Alex told me the same thing you did. She noticed my mind wasn't with her when we ate lunch together so she told me to go home and figure out who we were before I returned. I guess she didn't expect to be dumped." He smirked as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I love you, Catherine. No one can change that."
Catherine looked away as her heart and her mind continued to battle against one another.
"Catherine, what's wrong?" Vincent asked, sensing her tension.
"Vincent…I…I haven't been this close to someone in a very long time—at least not emotionally. Like you said the other night, I'm a sucker for the bad boys. I just…I don't…I don't know how to have an emotional relationship with a man." She replied with guilt. "My mind is screaming to abort while I still can but my heart wants to run the other direction and love you as much as I know I do."
Vincent cupped her face and whispered, "It's been a while for me too."
"And what if…what if things don't work out between us?" Catherine asked. Last week she was all about taking the risk to be with him because he was worth it but since this Alex-crusade, she didn't know if she could take another heartache caused by the man she loves.
"We won't know unless we try." He mumbled, not realizing how close their lips were.
"A-a-and Muirfield?" She searched for any reason to throw at him because of her emotional unsteadiness. There was no denying how much she wanted to be with him but she was scared. She wasn't scared because of possible risks and consequences. No. She was scared to emotionally depend on another person. Throughout her life, she only ever truly trusted herself. Sure, she trusted her sister and her colleagues but when it came down to her personal life, she couldn't rely on anyone to place a Band-Aid over her heartaches. But when it came down to Vincent, she slowly began to trust him with her emotions. When Alex showed up, it felt as if she was back at square one.
"Screw them." Vincent murmured before gingerly capturing her lips with his. At first, Catherine froze from the sudden lip contact but after a few seconds of registering what was happening, she began to kiss him back. She slipped her fingers in his hair and twisted his soft, brown locks as he pulled her closer to him. Slowly, he departed from her lips, not wanting to take things too fast, and leaned his forehead against hers. Catherine gave him a look of confusion, wondering why he stopped but he answered her with a smile. "I want us to take things slow, Catherine. You and I both know we still have walls to knock down with each other and I don't want us to go into anything too fast. Understand?"
She nodded and whispered, "Thank you, Vincent." She leaned in for another small kiss only to be interrupted by a loud knock on her apartment door.
"It's Alex…" Vincent stated as he looked towards her room door.
"How did she find out where I live?!"
"She probably looked up your information using New York General's hospital database."
"What could she possibly want?"
"No idea. I'll go and answer."
"No, Vincent. I'll answer her, okay? She's emotionally unstable and the last thing she needs is to confront you again. Okay?" Catherine caressed his cheek.
"Okay." Vincent replied. "I'll be waiting in here, Catherine."
She nodded and slipped out of her room before heading towards the front door. Before opening it, she inhaled a large breath and exhaled slowly.
"Detective Chandler?! It's me, Alex Salter!" Alex cried through the other side of the door. "I need to speak with you! It's about Vince!"
Catherine counted to three seconds and heard a "Detec—" from her rival in love as she opened the door.
"Alex? What're you doing here this late of the hour?"
"W-we n-need to talk." The red-head replied as Catherine gestured her to sit down on the couch.
"What's wrong?"
"H-have you s-seen Vince recently?" Alex asked.
"No…" she lied. How could she tell Vincent's ex-fiancée she was just lip-locking with him a few moments ago in her bedroom?
"Oh…C-could you please be honest with me about something?"
"Alex…if you're here because you want to know more about Vincent's secret life, I can't tell you any more than what you already know. Even now, you know too much."
"Please, Detective! I don't understand why he faked his death! I mean, I know he said he got in trouble with the government but why won't he tell anyone about it? I mean, why can't he live a normal life using a new name?"
"It's not that easy, Alex. The people who are after him know his face. Even if he changes his identity, the governmental group can search for facial recognition and then where would we be? Vincent has to stay dead and remain dead until otherwise."
"What do you mean, until otherwise? If he can't change his identity or pursue a lawsuit, what else could deem him to live a normal life again?"
Catherine mentally cursed herself for letting such information slip. "I'm sorry, Alex. That's classified information. I know you want to know more about his years in Afghanistan but it's better and safer for you to remain oblivious. There are reasons Vincent won't just tell anyone about his military past. I'm sorry but you need to drop it."
"B-but Detective! Why did he t-tell you!? Y-you're a cop! C-can't you do something?!"
"Alex, he didn't tell me willingly. I was working on a case and stumbled upon him while investigating a potential perp. That's why he told me because he couldn't risk exposure. Now, Alex, I'm telling you need to drop it. If Vincent wants to remain in your life, you need to promise to keep his existence a secret. If he doesn't, well, you'll need to forget you ever laid eyes on him after his death. I'm sorry but it's my duty to keep Vincent safe." Catherine replied.
Alex looked down with guilt. Catherine couldn't read her thoughts but knew the conversation was far from over. "Look, Alex, I know Vincent is special to you but…sometimes…it's easier to forget and move on rather than to hold onto a memory. Trust me, when I was 19, my mother was killed—shot right in front of me. The only way for me to eventually cope with what happened was to repress it and push it out of my mind. I had to or else I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. You need to take the next step in your life and not look back, Alex. Trust me, it's for the better."
She stood up as if she was about to walk away but she said, "I n-never t-thought I w-would ever use this but I'm desperate for answers." Her hands shook as she hesitantly pulled out a gun from her purse and pointed it at Catherine. "Tell me i-if you want to live."
"Alex," Catherine cautiously raised her hand towards the nozzle of the gun. "Don't do this."
"Tell me what I need to know! NOW!" she cried.
Catherine walked closer and said, "If you do this, Alex, you'll destroy your life. Shooting an officer of the law is a criminal offense. You don't want to do this. Put down your gun."
"NO!" she screamed. "YOU TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME!"
"Alex!" a raspy, deep male voice shouted from behind the women. "Listen to Catherine! Don't do this!"
"YOU SHUT UP!" Alex shouted as she pointed the gun towards Vincent for a split second before pointing it back towards Catherine. "I DEMAND ANSWERS!"
"Alex," Vincent walked closer. "You are not a killer. You save lives. You don't take them away. Your hands are meant for saving, not killing."
"Vince! You promised there would be no lies between us when we were together! Why has that changed?!"
"Because, Alex, I've changed! Got it!? I already told you once; I am not the same man you were going to marry." He stated as he tried to stay in control. The last thing he needed was to go all Hulk-like when Alex wasn't exactly the best of company at the moment.
"Alex, are you willing to throw your life away?" Catherine asked sympathetically. As weird as it sounds, she felt bad for Alex. Alex was just a confused woman and she couldn't blame her for pulling out a gun. People do crazy things when they're in love and Catherine knew that. Oh how she knew that. She didn't spend the last six months lying for Vincent and covering up evidence for nothing. This was just one of Alex's personal overdoses of craziness. "If you put down your gun, I won't press charges. I promise. But, if you fire it, you won't be so lucky."
Alex started to lower it as she realized how psycho she must be acting. "I'm s-sorry…I d-don't know w-what c-came over me…"
"It's okay, Alex. I understand." Catherine smiled tiredly. "I understand."
As Catherine took Alex's gun to hand it to Vincent, he suddenly reached for his back right shoulder with pain before falling to his knees.
"Vincent!" Catherine shrieked. She tossed the gun towards her sofa as she ran towards him, Alex doing the same.
"He's been tased with a taser dart." Alex exclaimed. "Who could have done this!?"
"I have one guess." Catherine mumbled. "Listen, Alex, whatever you do, stay down low and away from windows. Okay?"
She nodded as she removed the dart from Vincent's back. Catherine crawled to her front door in hopes to close it but a man in a mask appeared and kicked her in the stomach. "Stay where you are if you know what's good for you!"
Catherine cringed in pain. Her ribs weren't entirely healed yet and she felt as if they were broken all over again. Ignoring the masked man's command, she crawled over towards Vincent as she coughed up blood.
"I SAID STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" he yelled before kicking Catherine in the stomach again.
She yelped in pain and all Alex could do was freeze in her place. The next thing the nurse knew, a cloth covered her mouth and rendered her unconscious.
Vincent slowly opened his eyes and groaned in pain. The instant he didn't recognize his surroundings, he shot up and searched the room. Luckily for his new improvement or else he wouldn't be able to see anything within the pitched-black room. He noted there was a long iron caged door blocking him from freedom. Suddenly his memory flooded back to him and he remembered feeling a static shock prickling his back shoulder as Catherine was taking Alex's gun away from her.
He scanned the room and saw Alex hugging her knees with Catherine lying beside her. He concentrated on Catherine's heart beat—slow but steady. Without a word, he ran over to them, startling Alex in the process.
"What happened?" he asked.
"V-Vincent! H-how did you f-find us? It's pitch black in here!" Alex exclaimed with a worried tone.
"I…I guess I got lucky." He lied.
"Some m-man tased you while all three of us were in Detective Chandler's apartment. He then appeared shortly afterwards and kicked her stomach twice before knocking me out with chloroform. Vincent, w-what's going on? W-why are t-they a-after you!?"
"There's no time for that, Alex." Vincent replied. "We've got to get out of here."
"How?! I can't see a thing!"
Suddenly, Vincent heard Catherine moan in pain as she tried to sit up. He immediately helped her before silently kissing her forehead. "Are you okay?"
"Sore but I'll live." Catherine replied with a faint smile. "Where are we?"
"I don't know." Vincent stated. As Vincent said this, a light suddenly flipped on and illuminated half of the room.
"Well, well, well, look what the Cat dragged in." a man smirked.
"Johnson…" Vincent spat as he saw the familiar man standing before him. "Let them go! You have no business with them!"
"On the contrary, Vincent Keller, they know too much. I can't risk the exposure of Operation Muirfield. Do you know how many resources I used to build this project?! Surely not! At least, now, I'll get the pleasure in finally killing you as well as your two whores."
"They know nothing!" Vincent lied, hoping David Johnson would buy it.
"That's what you would like me to think, Vincent Keller. You see, I've been following you for quite some time and although the redhead doesn't know your true reason for hiding, I know Detective Chandler does. Remember? You were the one who slaughtered the men I hired to kill her mother."
"W-what is he talking about Vince?" Alex asked as she looked at her ex-fiancé. "You k-k-killed people?"
"Oh he's done far worse than that." David Johnson replied with a smirk.
"Vincent saved my life because of it!" Catherine shouted.
"HE'S A MONSTER!" Johnson screamed.
"NO HE ISN'T! YOU ARE!" Catherine defended Vincent as she managed to stand to her feet and walk closer to Johnson.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on here?!" Alex pleaded with confusion. "Who are these men? Why do they keep saying Vince is a monster? Why are they saying he killed people?! What the hell is going on?!"
"You want answers?! I'll be glad to give you answers." Johnson smirked. "But it is better for you to see for yourself."
"What do you mean by that?!" Alex questioned as David Johnson stepped away from the cage. In an instant, everyone heard a shot rang out but Johnson did not have a gun. The next thing he knew, he heard Catherine writhed in pain, clutching her right leg.
"Catherine!" Vincent shouted as he knelt towards her.
"Good luck finding a way to get her to a hospital, Vincent Keller." Johnson smirked before leaving the room.
As quickly as possible, he ripped his belt off of his waist and tied it tightly around her leg to stem the blood flow from her femoral artery. "ALEX! I NEED YOU!" he shouted. Without thinking, Alex quickly stumbled towards him as he gave her instructions. "I need you to take off your jacket and press it as hard as you can against her bullet wound."
Alex nodded and slipped off her jacket before pressing it against her wound. "Vince, there's no way we can get to a hospital in time! She's losing a lot of blood!"
Vincent knew there was only one way to escape. He mentally cursed, knowing that this was what Johnson's plan was all along. Johnson wanted someone who was close to Vincent to fear him in hopes that he or she would hand him over to the authorities.
"Alex, whatever you see, you must promise me you won't tell a soul. Can I have that promise?"
Alex nodded even though she was confused.
"Okay. I need you to keep pressing that jacket onto her wound. I'm going to find a way to get out of here."
As he trampled off, he stopped when he heard Catherine mutter his name. He knelt down and caressed her face. "I'm right here, Catherine."
"Don't…Don't…Don't die." She mumbled as she winced in pain. Vincent couldn't believe she was the one ordering him to stay alive when her life was hanging on a single thread. "I won't…Don't die on me either." He replied before placing a small kiss on her forehead. He squeezed her hand gently. Catherine tried to sit up but immediately fell back down from the pain.
"You need to save your strength." Vincent whispered. He suddenly heard another shot rang out but it hit a pillar instead—barely missing Catherine by a fraction. Vincent didn't waste another second. He immediately turned away from the women and released his anger.
"V-Vince-Vincent?!" Alex muttered in shock. One moment Vincent was human…another…he was…he was a monster.
She watched how Vincent jumped up to a balcony and grabbed the perpetrator who shot Catherine before slamming him down onto the ground.
"Please! Please! I was just f-following o-o-orders!" the gunman pleaded for his life. The Beast looked at him with disgust before mercilessly snapping his neck. Alex cried in horror. Was this the huge secret Vince and Det. Catherine Chandler were hiding from her?
She watched as the Beast jumped along the walls as he searched for a way out. Her concentration was cut short when Catherine whispered her name. "Alex…"
She looked at Catherine and said, "What is it?"
"You…" she swallowed hard. "You see t-that w-window u-up there?"
She nodded.
"G-Go a-and ch-check t-to see i-if you recog…recognize where…where we are." Catherine ordered.
"B-but your wound! I need to keep applying pressure against it!"
"I'll be fine…just do it."
Alex nodded before sprinting towards the window. She stood up on her tippy toes and saw a recognizable landmark. She ran back to Catherine and said, "I d-don't know where we are but…but I could see the Brooklyn Bridge from here…It's at least a mile or two away."
Catherine listened as she drowsily watched Vincent tear the warehouse apart. "Listen, Alex, stay here."
"What about you!? You're bleeding!"
"I know but I'm the only one who can calm him down, Alex. I need for him to see I'm alright even if I'm not. As of right now, he's not thinking clearly and he's letting his rage cloud his senses." Catherine stated. "Help me up."
Alex nodded and helped Catherine to her feet. Catherine winced from the pain but slowly started limping towards Vincent. He was growling as he banged on the bars, trying to loosen them.
"Vincent! Stop!" Catherine commanded as she continued to slowly approach him. As she made each step towards him, she hissed in pain.
Vincent looked towards her and watched her drag herself towards him.
"Vincent, it's okay. I'm okay. You need to calm down." She managed to stand on her good foot as she reached up to cup his face. "Vincent, come back to me."
Alex watched as Vincent slowly turned from whatever he was to his old self. She finally understood why he kept such a secret from her. She couldn't blame him. This life was something no one should ever know about.
"Come back to me." Catherine whispered one more time before Vincent finally regained his state of mind.
"Are you okay?" he asked. For a moment, she forgot about her pain and took a step backwards, causing her to fall.
Vincent carefully assessed her leg and due to her little venture over to him, the wound's blood flow was increasing. He pulled off his shirt and pressed it against her leg. "Alex! Do you see an exit?! A window or anything!?"
He was too concentrated on trying to keep Catherine alive in order to look around for a window. Alex rushed towards them and pointed behind him. "There's a window up there but I don't know how effective it will be."
"Just stay here and keep my shirt pressed against her leg." Vincent ordered. In an instant, he reverted back to his beastly appearance and rushed towards the window. He slammed his fist into the glass four or so times before it finally shattered. He cleared away the glass-shards before running back to the women.
He could tell Alex feared him so he willed himself to return back to normal. Vincent leaned down and carefully picked up Catherine and said, "I need you to climb through the window first. Can you do that?"
Alex nodded and replied, "I-I'll need a boost."
Vincent placed Catherine down gently on the ground before helping Alex out of the room.
"I'm going to carefully send Catherine through now." Vincent stated.
"Okay." Alex answered
Vincent slowly sent Catherine through the window, feet first. "Do you have her?"
"Yes!" Alex exclaimed as she diligently dragged Catherine through. Vincent backed up and then jumped to the ledge before summersaulting his way through the opening.
"Vince! Detective Chandler…She's not breathing!" Alex cried as she placed her ear to Catherine's lips.
Vincent quickly made his way over to them and said, "Alex, I need you to call an ambulance."
"I c-can't! My phone is in my purse which is probably still at Detective Chandler's apartment."
"Yes you can!" Vincent snapped as he gave Catherine chest compressions. "There's a gas station about a quarter of a mile north of here. Run over there and use their phone. You weren't the star track runner in college for nothing."
Alex nodded and started running as Vincent continued compressing Catherine's chest. "Come on, Catherine. Don't die on me!" He pressed his lips against hers and breathed into her lungs before placing his ear against her mouth.
He continued another round of chest compressions as he desperately needed to hear her lungs working again. "Come on!"
He blew two more puffs of air into her lungs before he suddenly heard her breathing again. It was slow breaths but at least she was breathing. He sighed with relief. He couldn't move Catherine because an ambulance would be on its way but he also couldn't risk being seen. A few moments later, Alex came back running and said, "The ambulance….it's on its way."
Vincent nodded. "When you talked to the 911 dispatcher did you say you were with another person besides me?"
She shook her head. "No, I left you out of it."
"Thank you. Alex, when the ambulance comes, I'll have to book it. I can't be seen so can I trust you to make sure she gets to the hospital okay?"
Alex nodded. "I-I'm sorry about earlier, Vince. I w-was foolish enough to not see the o-obvious love you and Catherine share…Again, I'm sorry."
"I accept your apology, Alex." Vincent said as he heard sirens. "They'll be here any second. Give Catherine my love for me."
Alex smiled and nodded as he hid within the shadows. Somehow, she felt a sense of Euphoria wash over her when he left. She realized that the way he sees Catherine is far different than any way he's ever looked at her. She wants him to be happy and new that Catherine Chandler could give him the happiness he deserves. "I promise I won't let you die, Catherine Chandler." Alex smiled. Somehow she knew Vincent heard her words and she would make sure to keep her promise. She owes him that much.
Catherine slowly opened her eyes to the sight of bright lights, machines and white walls. She saw Alex in her scrubs as she checked her medical chart.
"It's good to see you up, Catherine." Alex smiled.
"I sense a little bit of déjà vu." Catherine slightly laughed.
"You don't say." Alex chuckled.
"H-how long have I been here?"
"A week." Alex replied. "Catherine, you lost a lot of blood—far more blood than what you lost after being shot the night of your car wreck. You even went into hypovolemic during surgery. Before the ambulance came, you had stopped breathing due to your blood loss. Luckily a common friend of ours was able to work quickly and give you CPR."
Catherine smiled as she thought of Vincent. "When will I be free to leave?"
"Well, by the look of your progress, I'd say another day or two. Doctor Phelps wants to recheck your updated charts and assess the situation before making the final call. I've got to go check on other patients but if you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me." Alex smiled. "Oh, and Catherine, before I leave, I just want to apologize for my behavior last week. It was uncalled for and I was not myself. I hope you can forgive me. I can see that Vince loves you far more than he ever loved me and I'm glad he has found someone to make him happy—someone who knows his…his other self."
"You don't have to apologize, Alex."
"No. I do, Catherine. I pulled a gun to your head and nothing can justify the way I acted. All I can hope for is for you to accept my apology and know that I promise I won't say a word about Vince. I promise to forget about him and to not look back. I hope you and I can be friends though."
Catherine tried to sit up as she said, "Thank you, Alex for your apology. And I do hope we can be friends."
"Oh good." She replied as her eyes formed tears. "Again, I'm sorry, Catherine."
"Apology accepted. Just remember, Alex, people do crazy things when they're in love. I know I do." Catherine smirked slightly but winced in pain and heeded her body's request to remain lying down.
Alex nodded and started for the door before saying one last thing, "Catherine?"
"Take care of him for me."
"I promise. I will." Catherine smiled and Alex smiled back. Alex wasn't so bad after all. Catherine was glad she and Alex could come to terms concerning Vincent.
Suddenly, the curtain was pulled closed by none other than New York's finest vigilante, Vincent Keller.
"I swear," Catherine smirked, "I keep having déjà vu moments."
"It'll wear off in due time." Vincent chuckled as he sat down next to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly? I'm seriously sick of hospitals. It's been two weeks since my first hospital visit and then a week since my second hospital sentencing. I swear, the bullets love me." Catherine smirked.
"That's not that funny." Vincent frowned. "Twice, in less than a month, I almost lost you."
"Vincent, I'm right here." Catherine replied as she took his hand in hers. "You saved me both of those times, Vincent. I'm indebted to you."
"You don't owe me anything, Catherine. Just being able to spend my days with you is payment enough." He whispered as he brought her hand to his lips.
"Who else knows about this?" Catherine asked, referring to her hospital sentence.
"Well, for a few days, no one. Once Tess called your cell, Alex answered and explained that you were on your way for a hospital checkup when you were nabbed off of the streets. She lied and said that when she was off her shift, she remembered that you never came so she started looking for you and evidently ended up being nabbed as well. Sure it sounds like a lame ass story but they bought it. Your partner, Tess, and colleagues Evan and Joe as well as your sister, Heather, and your father and step-mother all came and visited throughout the week. I swear, I think Joe, your lieutenant, will be sending body guards with you from now on." Vincent smirked.
"Perfect…just what I need. I'll have to convince him I won't need one." Catherine stated. "He doesn't have to know this but I already have a body guard."
"Who ironically can't be seen with you when you're out and about." Vincent stated playfully.
"Do you think Joe will buy it if I told him that my body guard is invisible?" Catherine laughed.
"If you say that, I'm sure he'll want you to have a psych eval sooner than later. You still have to have one from your other accident."
"Great…Well at least it will gain me the excuse to have a shrink-driven drink when the 'circle of friends' meeting is over." Catherine rolled her eyes. "How long do you think you have before you have to turn invisible?"
"Well, I asked Alex to make a note and say that you wish to not see visitors today. So I say we have at least a few hours before the doctor comes in to check up on you." Vincent grinned.
"Good." She replied.
He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers as softly and as sweetly as possible. There was no way he was going to take this journey with Catherine Chandler faster than she wanted to take it. He knew that ten years ago, he would have never seen himself sneak into a hospital (TWICE) in order to see the woman he loves recuperate. He mentally laughed as he continued to kiss her. Maybe she was right. Maybe people DO do crazy things when they're in love—especially risking exposure.
He pulled away from her and chuckled.
"What?" Catherine laughed.
"JT is definitely going to give me an earful when I get home." Vincent smirked.
She placed her lips against his ear and whispered, "Then let's give him something to shout about."
Vincent widened his eyes at how suggestive she sounded but he knew better. He knew she knew she was in NO condition to do anything particularly romantic other than innocent kissing but he did thoroughly enjoy the future implications her statement carried.
"I would like nothing more." Vincent muttered before fusing his lips with hers. He knew right then and there that 'making-out in a hospital recovery room' was definitely going to be added to their list of craziness. That as well as many other unforeseeable situations.
Keiko Fujiwara:
Alright I hope you enjoyed my one-shot. I wrote most of this BEFORE Seeing Red so I wasn't exactly sure how Alex's character was going to be portrayed but I feel like I did a pretty damn good job. X)
Review please! :)


text:
How real is the Internet of Things?
David Sherburne, director of Smart Link (IoT) and Engineering Applications at Carestream, stresses the reality of IoT and the importance of being proactive. "For companies that can pull the internal pieces together and hyper-innovate around data, the opportunities will be endless," he said. "The ones that can't evolve will become a technology doormat in 5-10 years."
In other words, your competition is going to wipe their feet all over you.
At LiveWorx last week, Sherburne explained shifts in consumer preferences and the constant market disruption of today. The world is changing whether we like it or not, he said.
But what's causing this change?
Two major trends are combining to create the "perfect storm," one driven by technology, and the other by social acceptance of connectivity. This is largely due to today's consumers—Millenials, the generation of people born between the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Sherburne calls them "Really Open Customers."
Millenials' acceptance of connectivity, personal data sharing, and the green movement have all influenced the evolution of today's economic model.
Adapting to this generational transition is only part of the success equation. To meet the world's changing needs, companies need to innovate through technology.
The impact and future of technology should not be underestimated, said Sherburne.
The multitude of recent trends in technology must be combined as companies take advantage of the accompanying new business opportunities. Cloud computing, powerful connected devices, low-cost sensing, and data sharing must be linked for any company to operate competitively.
Sherburne's parting advice: "There are companies that can innovate and go up the value chain, and there are those that can't. If your company is one of those that gets stuck, the more innovate companies will take advantage of the data coming from your equipment and use it to offer superior services to your customers."
View LiveWorx keynotes and breakout sessions.
Photo courtesy of Carestream.

subset: commoncrawl


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So where are hospital security measures falling short?
In 2010, state health authorities reported that the University Medical Center in Las Vegas had lost control of the keys used to access locked bins holding patients' information sheets. Only three employees were supposed to have access to these keys; however, an audit revealed that more than 53 employees had key copies, with no record of how they acquired them.
Cases like this one are discovered by auditors frequently, but there's a way to prevent this from happening to your organization.
If you are a healthcare provider, note these three things you can do to tighten your hospital's key security:
1. Train employees who have access to patient information on privacy and security procedures.
One of the biggest security threats hospitals face are mistakes made by staff members. A recent survey by HealthcareInfoSecurity revealed that healthcare organizations are more likely to face fines related to misdirected faxes and mailings, snooping, identify theft and stolen files rather than the occasional hacker. Let your employees know how to prevent and report breaches in security.
2. Find a system that works.
There are several policies you can implement to tighten security. But if they're not simple and convenient, people won't use them and they won't work. It's important to find a key control system that doesn't require a lot from its users, but gives out a lot of information in return. Consider an automatic key management system if you're looking for something user friendly, secure and manageable.
3. Keep a verifiable audit trail.
Auditors will regularly come your way to inspect how you keep your patients and their information safe. Keeping a stellar trail of employee key access can help make the audit go more smoothly for you and your healthcare organization.
With the implementation of the Omnibus Rule, think about how safe your patient files are and consider increasing your security prevention measures.


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From the moment your eyes open to the last minute of the day, your life is filled with nonstop action. If you aren't careful you can become so overwhelmed in meeting the demands of life that you forget to spend time with your Creator and Sustainer. Our daily devotionals written specifically for women in all walks and stages of life, will change the outlook of your day and give you the inspiration you need! Spending any amount of quiet time in the Word of God will refresh and encourage. Find a Bible devotion here and see how God can work through you to make today a joyful day!
Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze´
"...Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Heribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did." Psalm 95:7b,8
The Bible is filled with examples, both good and bad, of people who made choices. The question is: Did we learn from them?
Little did the Israelites know that when they wandered in the wilderness for forty years that they would be held up as an example for thousands of years. Throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament, those forty years are held up as an example of what not to do. And even though we live in the age of grace, this outward manifestation of disobedience before the cross represents what we battle on the inside.
Every prophet of both Testaments, including the Psalmist, reminds us of the terrible years in the desert. We hear about it more than anyone else who hardened their heart against God because this group belonged to God. It's expected that someone like Pharaoh would have a hard heart, but when it's God's very own peculiar people, the consequences are devastating. As David said in Psalm 95:7b and 8 "...Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Heribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did."Not only did God's people harden their heart, but they did it after they had seen all of the wonderful miracles that He displayed in front of them, such as the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna.
Let's not be guilty of the same thing. May we always recognize what God is doing, even on a small scale. May our hearts stay soft and repentant so that our descendants do not have to suffer because of our choices in the wilderness.
Heavenly Father, Help me to see Your work that I have been blind to. Keep my heart soft so that I will not be an example of bad choices to my children. And redeem the mistakes I have already made for use and glory. In Jesus Precious Name, Amen
Whose mistakes do you relate to in the Bible?
What were the consequences?
What did Jesus tell people when He healed and forgave them?
For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org


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In this western, the hero fights the bad guys by impersonating the son of a rancher. The outlaws have been making the good landowners pay fake taxes. Not only does the good guy succeed in catching the bad guys, he also catches himself the postmistress. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
All Code of the Lawless cast + crew photos
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Spooky Story Four: A Skeptic's Experience
The following story was told to me by a good friend. He will remain anonymous, but I assure you that this is his personal, first-hand experience. Before he told me this incredible account of his very scary run-in with the supernatural, he explained that he was a big-time skeptic. Anything paranormal, he immediately discounted. In fact, he and his wife were both atheists.
Although he does not practice any sort of religion, he now doubts that death is truly the end.
Here is "Tom's" story:
In 1986, my wife and I were expecting our first baby. We had lived in an apartment, and thought having a real house would be a better place to raise a family. We didn't have a lot of money for a down payment, so we decided to rent a home first - with a portion of our rent going towards the purchase of the house. We found a great little town just outside of Kansas City. It had the feel of a small town, but had all the stores and businesses all conveniently there.
Our new home was a charming Victorian, built in 1900. It had three bedrooms, one bath, and a detached garage. It even had a yard which we thought we would fence-in later. We were excited, and we thought this started-home was perfect for us.
Early on, some very strange things happened. Lights would flicker off and on, and rooms would suddenly get very cold. I thought that all of this was from living in an old drafty house. Maybe when the heater kicked on, it would make the lights blink - or maybe a lack of insulation made a room cold when the winter wind blew.
Neither of us believed in any of that ghost shit. In fact, we didn't believe in any sort of afterlife at all. Ghosts, spirits, hauntings - it was all bullshit. But living in this house, we started to wonder.
I'm a big time checker. I check, double-check, triple-check stuff before we go to bed or leave the house. One night, my wife and I were going to go out to dinner and a movie. My wife went to our garage to wait in the car while I went through my ritual. I checked the gas stove, the lights, the back door, etc. I did leave one light in the living room on - just so we wouldn't come home to a completely dark house. All was perfect, and so we left to go on our "date."
Three hours later, as we pulled up to the house, we knew something was wrong. The porch light was on. When we got inside, we freaked out when we could see that every single light in our house was now on. Not just the light fixtures, but ALL the lights - including the lamps, and closet light bulb. My wife grabbed the phone, thinking we had been robbed while we were out. But after doing a quick sweep, we saw no sign of a robbery.
We also noticed that a few appliances were on as well. The empty dishwasher was going and the TV in the living room was on.
There was no explanation for this, and we didn't really try to find one.
In the next few months, all kinds of weird stuff happened: footsteps in the hall at night, we would hear doors shut on their own, and our keys would constantly go missing. All of these did have a reasonable explanation, however.
When my wife was six months pregnant, we had an experience that forced us to leave the house immediately and permanently.
One night, we were both completely asleep. Suddenly, we heard a woman screaming downstairs. It was an angry scream, and then she was sobbing. I turned on the light, and my wife and I looked at each other in horror. We heard a man yelling; it sounded like he was yelling at the woman, telling her to stop crying. The lady screeched back at him, and the man's booming voice yelled right back.
Our immediate thought was that people had broken into our house and were now arguing in our living room. My wife hid in the closet while I grabbed the baseball bat from under the bed to chase out the intruders. As I ran down the small hallway and down the steps, I was screaming bloody murder like Mel Gibson in Braveheart. I was hoping my fury would scare the burglers away. The man and woman were still screaming at each other, and when I reached the bottom of the steps, I heard a forceful "Shhhhhhhhhh!"
When I turned the corner, the living room was still. I fumbled for the light switch and hit it. The living room was just as I had left it - no intruders. With my aluminum bat, I did a search throughout the first floor for any sign of the angry, arguing couple - and found nothing. All the doors were locked, the windows were shut. TV and radio both off.
What the hell?
If I had been home alone, I would've easily explained that I must've been dreaming and jolted myself awake. That happens to everyone. The dream feels real, and for the first few seconds upon waking up, you're still sort of dreaming. But I know I was wide awake. And my wife had heard exactly what I had heard: a man and woman screaming at each other in what sounded like our living room.
The idea that we had heard disembodied voices in our house terrified us.
We had had enough. All of the strange experiences in the house put together was just too much. My wife was pregnant, and this was not the kind of house to bring a baby home to.
So we left.
We lost our $300 deposit and six months worth of rent, but we felt it was worth it.
But our story doesn't end there. Fast forward nearly 20 years later to 2004.
My wife and I were at a party held by my co-worker. In the course of the evening, there was a couple sitting at the breakfast table talking about having lived in a haunted house ten years ago. Of course we had to listen. They spoke of the usual stuff - creepy sounds, cold spots, doors slamming. But the wife said that she saw a man's ghost in the living room, and from what I could tell, she was still terrified from that experience.
Someone asked where this house was, and it was the very same house my wife and I had lived in 18 years ago! We sat down and began talking about our own experiences in that same house, and the other couple had heard a man and woman screaming at each other too.
Being able to compare "notes" and really corroborate our experiences was so validating to us. Now I know for a fact we weren't crazy, and that what we heard and saw was REAL.
Even to this day, I'm a skeptic - but at the same time, I'm not so easily dismissive. From my own personal experiences, no one can tell me that we had just imagined it, or give us any other sort of ordinary explanation. To me, there is no doubt that for nearly six months, my wife and I lived in a real haunted home.
Labels: ghost, haunted house, spooky stories


text:
On the Job - waitress celebrates 90th birthday at restaurant where she's worked for 70 years
Victor/Victoria - woman finds long-lost dad, but he's now a she
Heat of the Moment - climate-change scientists admit dumping data
On this day in history: November 30, 1954 - At 1 pm, an 8.5 pound stone meteorite falls from the sky and strikes Elizabeth Hulitt Hodge from Sylacauga, Alabama. The housewife was seriously bruised but survived.
Born on this day in history: November 30, 1835 - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Florida, Missouri, writer Mark Twain established his reputation as a humorist with The Innocents Abroad (1869). His later works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), drawn from boyhood experiences, are considered world classics.
Scripture of the Day: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:30
Video of the Day: Funny Kitty Thanksgiving 2009 - submitted by Cindy
Laura took these photographs of our Thanksgiving meal with her iPhone. We roasted a turkey breast, herbed red potatoes, and hot Italian sausage dressing on the Weber grill. Click to enlarge.
Technology News
Pub fined 13K for Wi-Fi copyright infringement
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Five tips for Web shopping


text: Ansgar Burchardt, le Fri 20 Apr 2012 14:17:44 +0200, a écrit : > I am not quite sure, but didn't kfreebsd stop relying on debian-ports > when they moved to the main archive? Possibly, I don't remember. > > If the Debian maintainers were more responsive to bug reports wrt > > GNU/Hurd the debian-ports archive would almost empty by now... > > The problems are not only due to the porters. Currently there are 39 > > bugs with patches, 5 forwarded and 6 pending upload, all with severity > > important in the BTS. > > If maintainers do not react, couldn't you just go for NMUs instead of > uploading changes to debian-ports? I personally never felt sure enough to do an NMU for an arch that is not released yet. But if NMUs are fine for that, then good. > As you plan to stop using debian-ports, can you estimate when this can > be done? That would require estimation of when e.g. pulseaudio will integrate our patches. > A first idea would be to note when you dropped debian-ports > from the buildds and then making sure all binaries uploaded before that > are rebuilt, That is what I intended to do. > but this misses at least arch:all packages. These are only the packages whose sources were uploaded from hurd-i386, right? I believe there aren't many, just the hurdish ones. Samuel


text:
I have an Acer Aspire 7551 series laptop. I got the laptop from a person that works at my school. She said she got the tech person to look at it. the tech guy said it needs a new cpu. I got the laptop and bought a cpu for it and the problem is still there.
The problem with the laptop is that when I press the power button to turn it on, the screen is completely black. It does not have a HDD in it. I do not hear any beeps or sound, and the fan will run for a second or so then shut off.
I have tried removing the battery and unplugging the charger and holding the power button for 60 seconds. I did this 3 times. I have also let the laptop charge all night and it was fully charged, yet still nothing. I also connected an external display to the laptop (the screen was black on both the screens). I have to get this laptop fixd because my current laptop will be going to my mom. Please help me. Thank you.


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Now I know I've said video game movies are terrible. On this very site I've also explained why I think they'll be terrible for a long time to come. So at this point, you must think I'm being controversial or am bored or I've just run out of ideas.
I'll have you know, however, that only two of those things are true. Bam, take that, haters.
All that being said, I have admitted many times that I will continue to watch video game movies, despite the inevitable disappointment. And, as a byproduct, I fantasise about them actually being good. With that in mind, I've selected four games which I think would make more some pretty amazing movies (if done properly).
I've included which actors I think would be good in the role, too. Have a look, and tell me which actors you would choose – and which games you'd add to the list.
Let's start out with the obvious choice. Not just because I'm a fanboy, this is a property which could easily be franchised into a three part trilogy. For a dose of real authenticity, the producers could make sure they never release the third film.
Jokes aide, it just works so damn well. This isn't a trilogy like The Hobbit was a trilogy; we won't have shots of Gordon Freeman washing dishes for 45 minutes just to fill out some of time.
The Half-Life world is so vast, with such a long-running, progressive storyline that there's more than enough content available.
Just imagine the first film dealing with the Black Mesa incident – it would have that creepy worldwide disaster feel of Resident Evil and the claustrophobic, isolated scares of Alien.
Cut to the second film, where the world is essentially a post-apocalyptic police state, at war with a ragtag group of rebel fighters trying to overthrow an alien presence.
I'll be damned if that isn't cool as hell.
Starring: I've always liked Ed Norton for the role of Freeman – although we might have to actually let him speak. Jada Pinkett could probably do Alyx, with Morgan Freeman being the obvious choice for her father, Eli. He's probably too old for the role now, but I would have loved to have seen a younger Alec Baldwin for a sarcastic Barney Calhoun.
The Stanley Parable
This one would need to have more of a story fleshed out, but the premise is epic. An office worker wakes up and finds the building deserted, with no memory of the day's events.
He quickly realises a narrator is commenting on everything he is doing, and that he has become part of some kind of literal and psychological maze he doesn't understand. I love it.
I think this would work best as a kind of horror-comedy – there's something distinctly distressing and ominous about the whole thing, juxtaposed with the cheerful narration and bland, non-threatening environment.
It would take a skilled screenwriter and director to make this come together, but if it could be executed properly I think it would become one of those cult classics people are still talking about years later.
The only proper way to deliver this would be to give away absolutely nothing in the trailer, and have everyone coming in with no idea what it is they're about to watch.
Starring: I've been wrestling with this for a while, and can't really make up my mind. The protagonist role could literally make or break this film, and I don't want to suggest someone that isn't perfect. So I'm asking you, NAG readers, who would you cast for this?
I'm really surprised we haven't seen this one yet, to be honest. Playing The New Order gave me a really good idea of the kind of awesome story that can be woven into this universe, and I'd love to see that translated into film.
The whole Nazis-won-the-War yarn is one we've seen spun many times (although admittedly, a lot more in books than movies), but Wolfenstein feels different. There's something about the way the Nazi technology looks and feels – that combination of advanced engineering with old-school mechanics would translate awesomely into film. Imagine today's technology rendering cyborg dogs and giant, anachronistic contraptions that are far beyond anything we have today yet at the same time are belching steam and leaking oil and creaking like a rusty hinge.
This is the kind of movie I'd love to see someone like Tarantino handle. Someone like QT could get the dialogue right where it needs to be, combined with the epic plot, ridiculous characters and over-the-top violence that I think characterises the franchise. Done right, it'd be a fantastic two-hour romp.
Starring: I think either Ben Kingsley or John Malkovich could do a great General Deathshead. As for Blaskowicz, I think I'd like a hulking, Sin City-esque Mickey Rourke or possibly a beefed up Bruce Willis. Just please don't cast The Rock.
This one would be great even as an indie – I can imagine this being done on a pretty tight budget, although one would have to get creative with the special effects work.
I see this playing out as one of those Skinner box character films like the Saw franchise or The Cube, where people are placed in a particular scenario and the viewer gets to see how it all unfolds.
The puzzles would have to be adapted slightly to work better on-screen – a lot of the things taken from the game are far more interesting to play than they would be to watch – but everybody adores an Indiana Jones-esque traproom that has to be navigated out of.
The screenwriter here would be critical – what really made Portal was obviously GlaDOS's narrative, and if that isn't executed perfectly the movie would likely fall a bit flat. Ripping all of that straight from the game -would be a little uninspired, but the writer would have to nail that perfect balance of terrifying shit-your-pants nightmare fuel and hilarious sarcasm.
Because really, underneath all that cake-is-a-lie sardonic banter, GlaDOS was utterly terrifying. The film can't lose that.
Starring: Another tough one. I think for the movie the character needs a little more depth than the standard female action star. Perhaps someone like Emily Blunt? I'm not sure. Help me out here, NAG readers.


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High Court Hears Oral ArgumentsIn 'Access' Case
Washington--The U.S. Supreme Court should ban meetings of student-initiated religious clubs in public schools because some pupils would equate "sponsorship of the meetings and sponsorship of religion," the Justices were told last week.
But lawyers arguing for the right of such clubs to meet said high-school students are sufficiently mature to understand the difference between government support of and neutrality toward religion.
Lawyers made these claims during oral arguments Oct. 15 in Bender v. Williamsport Area School District (Case No. 84-773). The case has been closely watched by school officials because it could effectively decide the constitutionality of the federal Equal Access Act, which guarantees the right of student-initiated religious and political groups to meet in schools if the schools receive federal funds and have created a "limited open forum."
In Bender, the Justices will decide whether meetings of student religious clubs during periods set aside for extracurricular activities violate the First Amendment's establishment clause.
The Court last year decided three cases that affirmed the idea of a ''wall of separation" between religion and public education. This term, it has also scheduled arguments for Witters v. Washington Department of Services for the Blind (No. 84-1070)--a case in which a blind student was denied state student aid because he was studying for the ministry.
Appeals Court's Rationale
A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled last year that the meetings at issue in Bender breached the wall of separation between church and state because, the majority said, they had a primary effect of advancing religion and fostered excessive entanglement between government and religion.
The majority opinion drew upon a three-part test for deciding church-state cases first articulated by the Supreme Court in 1971. The test asks whether a state-sponsored program has the intent of advancing religion, has the primary effect of advancing religion, or causes excessive entanglement between religion and government. The High Court has held in subsequent cases that a program need fail only one of the three parts of the test to be found unconstitutional.
The Third Circuit panel's majority said the need to keep religion and public education separate overrides high-school students' free-speech rights.
Origin of Case
The conflict in Bender began in 1981 when Williamsport, Pa., public-school officials prohibited Pet-ros--a student Bible-study and prayer group--from meeting on school grounds out of concern that their gatherings were unconstitutional.
The students sued in federal district court, and their claim that their free-speech rights had been violated was upheld in 1983. The school board decided to drop the issue, but one board member, John C. Youngman Jr., chose to continue the appeal. His position was upheld by the circuit court in the summer of 1984, a day before the Congress passed the Equal Access Act.
During oral arguments last week, Associate Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and John Paul Stevens questioned procedural problems involved with the case since Mr. Youngman is arguing on his own behalf, not that of the school board.
Administration Joins Appeal
The Reagan Administration joined in Petros's appeal to the Supreme Court, maintaining that if the appeals-court verdict is affirmed the constitutionality of the Equal Access Act would be in jeopardy.
The Solicitor General-designate, Charles Fried, sharply criticized the notion that "high-school students are unable to discern the difference between neutrality" toward and "endorsement" of religion. The Congress, in passing the Equal Access Act, found that high-school students were indeed mature enough to make such a distinction, Mr. Fried noted.
And the Congressional interpretation is "entitled to the highest de-gree of deference," he claimed.
The circuit-court majority cited what it said was precollegiate students' intellectual immaturity as grounds for distinguishing between religious-club meetings in high schools, which it proscribed, and similar meetings on public-college campuses, which are permitted.
Mr. Youngman, who presented his own case before the High Court, said that not only students' impressionability but also the "very nature" of a public school, where faculty members supervise student meetings, should provide sufficient grounds to bar meetings of religious clubs.
The presence of a faculty adviser, as required under Pennsylvania law, "objectively is sponsoring or advancing religion," Mr. Youngman argued.
But James M. Smart Jr., who represented the Petros members, countered that the mere presence of a faculty adviser does not threaten constitutional standards.
"The crucial constitutional distinction," said Mr. Smart, "is between state action and individual action."
"All the state has done is require these people to go to school," said Mr. Smart, adding that it is students "who are doing all the religious activity."
He contended that students' religious speech is protected under the First Amendment. "All we're asking," he added, "is that you don't exclude religious students from that right" of free speech exercised by other pupils.
Vol. 05, Issue 08
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Thanks so much to all of my readers for having patience with me while I've been away. A lot has been between me and posting - let's just leave it at family illness (including my own), work, getting geared up for some major work on our yard and home and well, Season four of '24.' …and season four only has four episodes left and there should be a little bit of free time after that.
A good blogging friend of mine has moved to her new site - send congratulations over to Laura at The Wide Awake Cafe. …and who, may you ask developed such a beautiful website for Laura? None other than Sadie of Apothegm Designs, our most favoritist designers! Seriously…take a tour at The Wide Awake Cafe and be sure to add Laura to your blogroll!
Over at Hubby's place, you'll see a new face! I'm not quite sure if Muslihoon knows for sure what he got himself into, but at least hubby let's everyone know the extent of his evil ways!
Beth over at MVRWC shared her thoughts on Debbie (thinks she) does Blogging and I, as always, had a good laugh…and then the next thought that came to mind - about bloggers who think they can get away with bullshit such as Debbie - was only something a person traveling through the world of CTU could appreciate. Heh.
And while I want to spend sometime venting about Baby Charlotte and the mistrial for the woman who hacked off her baby's arms (oh, poor girl was insane!), I feel the need to ponder on those two items for a bit. What's happening with Baby Charlotte is no less than a tragedy…hell, what's happening in that court case is right there as well. But if you read my blog regularly, you'd already know how I feel about both of those issues.
Anyway, I hope to be back to regular posting very soon (or even now?). Again, thanks for sticking with me! Now…Bauer calls…and when Bauer calls, you better not only answer the phone, but you better do what he says.
Thanks for the mention Merri! I am thrilled with Sadie's design. She is really talented and smart! Our family is now big Bauer fans. Thanks to you and Lorie Byrd. You should both be in promotions for the show. It really is amazing this season. Now we have to go back and see all the previous "24" seasons.


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Club Executive
Richard Vossen
Lianne Olson
Heidi Grant
Greg Brown
Leone McHugh
Lianne Olson
Angelika Posselt
Jon Boss
Local Rotary Club News and Events
The Rotary Auction Raised over $35,000 This Year!
"Another great Rotary Auction with awesome community support! We raised $35,000!!!! Thank you to all the people/companies that donated items, thank you to the volunteers, and a BIG thank you to all the bidders!"
Rotary Auction – 2016
Well it's that time of year again. The Burns Lake Rotary Club Radio Auction is starting to ramp up. Mark your calendar Nov 16 & 17th. More info and auction item photos coming soon to our Burns Lake Rotary Auction FB page.
Rotary Exchange – 2016
Best wishes to Ava Nealis. Ava is our out going exchange student. She is heading out on her journey tomorrow and making her way to her first host family in Denmark. Wish Ava a safe and exciting year abroad and watch for her letters and comments about her experiences right here on the Rotary Club…
Auction 2016
48th Annual Rotary Auction Wednesday November 16th & Thursday November 17th 7 PM until Midnight To Bid Call: 250-692-7765 Listen to "MooseFM" Radio 760 AM Burns Lake 106.5 FM Houston online at cfbv.moosefm.com Or join us at the Heritage Centre (Chamber of Commerce) Click here for more information Download the Guides: Regular Items Guide (2016) and Feature…
Hall Of Fame
Youth Citizen of the Year
Taylor Bysouth is the Bill Petersen Youth Citizen of the year for 2014.
Outgoing Rotary Exchange
Ava Nealis from Burns Lake is on an exchange to Denmark this year.
Incoming Rotary Exchange
Matthieu Suscillon is from Meylan, France. He will be attending Grade 11 at LDSS this year.
The Tweedsmuir Trek is an annual event where the Burns Lake Rotary club takes International Exchange Students from around the world on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Tweedsmuir Park.


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- Sameeha
- 6 years ago
- Wedding: March 2013
Hi there
i'm Sameeha From Bahrain ,
and i'm having really hard time to find my dream dress 🙁 we don't have in Bahrain
any designers stors such as Allure or maggie sottero or alfred angelo
so am planing to get my dress by online !
any tursted websit? that i will get the original dress??
i want allure 8965 " how much the price ??" '
i love all lace style dress such as ( maggie sottero Bernadette) or Allure C207
and my size is ( 8uk) (bust=34.5 ,waist=27 , hips=36)
please girls help me " also my wedding day after 40 days only 🙁
what do you think in (newyorkdress.com ) is it safe ? are they selling the original ones???
and here onter one


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Gov. Pat Quinn today signed into law a measure that will ban Illinois motorists from sending text messages while driving in an effort to cut down on distracted driving.
"It's really bad that we have to legislate logic," said Secretary of State Jesse White, who pushed the measure. "Common sense would tell you that when your eyes are off the road, who's driving?"
Read more on Clout Street.


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During his testimony, Clapper stated that al-Qaeda's ability to perpetrate large-scale terrorism attacks -- such as the September 11, 2001, attacks -- is weaker than it was in past years thanks to US operations stateside and abroad against Islamic extremists.
The president of the Serb Republic (RS) deduced that this was "leading toward a creation of a Sharia state".
"I have nothing against Bosniaks and Islam, I respect freedom of religion, but it is the desire of the Islamic Community in Bosnia-Herzegovina to direct political processes in the country that is completely unacceptable," he said.
The president added that this community was attacking the RS and him personally, "to which I have a duty to react, as president and politician".
February 2011 apparently was "Hate Speech Month in Europe," as a trio of "hate speech" trials in Europe made some big news. On February 15, Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff (ESW) was found guilty of hate speech against religion in Austria because of statements she made in a series of seminars about the dangers of Sharia law.
Although she could have been given a three year sentence in prison, she was (only) fined 480 Euros (or the equivalent of $646.73). Also in February, the Dutch court ruled that the hate crimes trial of the flamboyant Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam Dutch politician the Dutch elites have been trying to run out of politics for about three years now, would continue, even though the prosecution doesn't really want to prosecute him and the previous judges were ousted for showing an obvious bias against Mr. Wilders. And Danish author Lars Hedegaard was found not guilty by a technicality for his comments regarding violence among the Muslim immigrant communities in Denmark. Lucky for Mr. Hedegaard, the Danish Court held that he had not meant for these comments to be published!


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This balanced cocktail seamlessly melds floral, fruity Asian pear and the warm spice of cardamom with the bold combo of vodka and Douglas fir eau de vie. At once light, crisp and strong, it sips like a ray of sharp winter sun.
1/4 Asian pear, cubed
3 whole green cardamom pods, pods discarded and seeds lightly crushed
1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 oz. vodka
3/4 oz. pear liqueur
1/4 oz. Clear Creek Distillery Douglas Fir eau de vie
Tools: shaker tin, strainer, fine strainer
Glass: coupe
Garnish: pear wheel, rosemary sprig
Combine the pear cubes and cardamom seeds in the bottom of a shaker. Add the lemon juice and muddle well. Add ice, vodka, pear liqueur and Douglas fir eau de vie. Shake to fully combine. Double strain into a chilled coupe and garnish.
Elana Lepowski, StirandStrain.com


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I'll Have the Red Pill
Well I still don't have gas and my high-speed internet won't be installed until tomorrow, but my hair looks great, thanks for asking. The dogs are doing well -- carsick-prone Katie staged a bloodless coup for the front seat while we were on the road. She's only 40 lbs. but she managed to terrorize the other two much bigger dogs into ceding that prime piece of auto real estate. She was all hopped up on Dramamine and never quite went to sleep, just sat there drooling with heavy eyelids while her head bobbed up and down, kind of like you'd imagine Peggy Noonan looks like when she's writing. And probably when she's not, come to think of it.
Boy, you're out of the loop for a couple of days and it seems like years. I see Dick Cheney and Karl Rove are still evil, and nobody has yet burned them at the stake, tragedies both. The Power Tools are taking umbrage at Liberal Hate Speech. Well chew on that, you chickenhawk bastards.
I'm going to try to spend some time on health care over the coming weeks -- I always say stuff like that and then things start happening and my best intentions get hijacked. But I thought I'd start off by pointing to Hale Stewart's excellent article on the healthcare crisis, and what the spiraling costs mean to middle class Amercians:
In a recent CBS news survey, 28% of the respondents stated health care was the most important domestic issue, making it the number one main concern of Americans. Clearly, this is on the public's mind. However, no one is addressing their concerns.As I've said before, I believe the best chance for booting the kleptocrats from office will happen when people start wising up to the fact the bill they are being handed is just too high, both personally and financially. Yet the entrenched lobbying muscle of the health care industry makes it incredibly difficult to maneuver around -- one of the reasons the Clinton health care plan went down in flames is because in trying to accommodate all these special interests, it became unwieldy and extremely difficult to explain to anyone.
To explain why Americans are so concerned about health issues, it's important to see the effect of health costs on the average American. To do this, I will use two hypothetical families and trace their financial condition for the last 5 years.
Family 1 is a single person who made $36,000/year in 2000. He takes two prescriptions daily and his family has a history of heart disease, although these have not manifested in this particular person.
Family 2 have a husband, wife and 2 children. Their combined income was
$50,000/year in 2000. Everyone is in good health.
For the last 5 years, their wages have barely grown. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average earnings increase from 2000-2004 was 3.86%, 3.22%, 3.12%, 1.71% and 2.39% respectively. However wages have to be compared to inflation to determine the real rate of wage growth. For the same years, annual inflation was 3.4%, 2.8%, 1.6%, 2.3% and 2.7% respectively. When inflation is subtracted from wages, overall wage growth becomes .46%, .42%, 1.52%, -.59% and-.31% respectively for 2000-2004.
Therefore, family 1 who started in 2000 with $36,000 now makes $36,538.37 and family 2 makes $50,747.73.
According to the Kaiser Foundation, the average annual cost of medical insurance for a single person in 2004 is $3627/year and $9813 for a family. Therefore, for our single person, his average annual premium is 9.92% of his annual income. For the family, the premium is 19.33% of annual income.
Think about those figures for a moment. Before any other expense is taken into account, medical insurance is already a hefty expense for both families. However, their respective problems don't end there. According to a USA Today article (Medical costs prove a burden even for some with insurance): "Some employers are embracing high-deductible policies -- requiring workers to pay $1,000 or more a year in expenses before insurance kicks in. Such policies are also common for the self-employed, who buy their own insurance, because premiums are generally lower."
In other words, their respective annual or monthly insurance payments don't represent either family's total out-of-pocket medical expenses. Suppose both families have a higher deductible policy to lower their costs. If that deductible is $1000, then health costs increase to 12% for the single person and 21% for the family.
Compounding these problems are the higher than average wage growth increase in insurance premiums. According to the Kaiser Foundation, the average annual inflation adjusted increases for insurance premiums for 2000-2004 were 5.9%, 8.5%, 9.1%, 6.1% and 5.5% respectively. Compare this increase with the after-inflation increase in wages for each of those years of .46%, .42%, 1.52%, -.59% and-.31% respectively.
Up until now, I have focused on premiums. Another important component of health care is prescription drugs. As with premiums, escalating costs are deleteriously affecting the average American. According to a Health System Change study titled Tracking Health Care Costs: Declining Growth Trend Pauses In 2004, spending on prescription drugs increased 14.2%, 13.5%, 13.1%, 8.9% and 7.2%. Finally, According to a Health System Change study titled An Update on American's Access to Prescription Drugs: "In an effort to control rising prescription drug spending, health plans started using formularies more aggressively and increasing patients' out-of pocket payment requirements."
Putting all the above facts together, we get this picture: Assuming a health plan has a prescription drug component, people are increasing spending on prescriptions at a rate that is growing faster than their annual inflation-adjusted wage increases. This is on top of the increases in their premiums and total out-of-pocket expenses caused by higher-deductibles.
So where does all of this information lead? To bankruptcy. According to a recent study by Harvard University:
"To investigate medical contributors to bankruptcy, we surveyed 1,771 personal bankruptcy filers in five federal courts and subsequently completed in-depth interviews with 931 of them. About half cited medical causes, which indicates that 1.9-2.2 million Americans (filers plus dependents) experienced medical bankruptcy. Among those whose illnesses led to bankruptcy, out-of-pocket costs averaged $11,854 since the start of illness; 75.7 percent had insurance at the onset of illness. Medical debtors were 42 percent more likely than other debtors to experience lapses in coverage. Even middle-class insured families often fall prey to financial catastrophe when sick."
Having insurance is no help in preventing bankruptcy. So the heavy increases in premiums, prescription drugs and overall medical spending lead to half of the people declaring bankruptcy to do so for medical reasons.
It still amazes me that for all the burden health care costs place on working class people, they are not even tax deductible in any meaningful way. And one of the ways BushCo. hoped to pay for the war in Iraq was by eliminating the business tax deduction for employee-sponsored health insurance, as well as eliminating the deduction for state and local taxes, which it estimates would raise nearly $926 billion over five years, according to the WaPo. If Newsweek should've known its story on the Koran would provoke riots in the Middle East, any idiot should be able to predict armed insurrection at that kind of insultingly regressive taxation.
Don't forget, George. Thanks to your beloved NRA, those fuckers are armed.


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Human pancreas, artwork
F008/7622 Royalty Free
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Credit: PIXOLOGICSTUDIO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: 3d, anatomical, anatomy, artwork, biological, biology, biomedical illustration, blood vessel, blood vessels, blue background, bowel, computer generated, cross section, cut out, digestion, digestive, digestive system, digitally generated, duodenum, endocrine system, head of pancreas, health, healthcare, human anatomy, human bowel, human digestive system, human organ, human pancreas, illustration, intestinal, nobody, organ, pancreas, pancreatic, pancreatic duct, pancreatic ducts, plain background, small intestine, tail of pancreas, three dimensional, vein
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One major legacy of Wall Street's four-year rally will be that it came while the economy and Main Street lagged.
For that reason, two market experts at this week's SkyBridge Alternatives conference in Las Vegas said, the bull run has to be viewed with somewhat jaded eyes.
"We're in a gap between financial markets and the real economy, between Wall Street and Main Street," Nouriel Roubini of Roubini Global Economics said at the hedge fund conference, also known as SALT. "Financial markets look happy about what's going on. Look at the real economy and what's going on there."


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|A slightly blurry photo of Stiefvater in full storyteller mode
The first part of her signing at Red Balloon Bookshop was like a one woman show. Stiefvater began with stories, not surprising for someone who writes for a living. But her stories didn't come from behind a table or droned out because it's the nth time repeated. She was animated. Using the entire space, Stiefvater played the roles of herself, her agent, her sister, a flight attendant, and others as they appeared throughout the stories. I was chuckling along with the other audience members as 'killer goats' and other completely logical yet ridiculous things surfaced.
After she told her stories and answered audience questions, there was a raffle for a Stiefvater original colored pencil drawing that was featured in the book trailer for The Raven Boys. As someone who only recognized Stiefvater's name and a couple of book titles, it was neat to find out that she was also an accomplished artist (as well as bagpipe player). It was even better to find out that her drawing was the prize of the raffle and not the typical 'this is a copy of what I'm currently promoting.' And can you guess who won?
|My pretty raffle swag
Stiefvater kept her humor throughout the signing as well. She chatted and took pictures with her fans. She was unperturbed by the few of us who hadn't read her books yet, chatting with us as much as her diehard fans. Seeing her in person and interacting with her has made me excited to read The Raven Boys and Lament.
|Photograph: Robert Severi
If you have the opportunity to attend a Maggie Stiefvater signing, do it. Even if you haven't read her books, she's highly entertaining. This was a great way to spend an evening.
Find Maggie Stiefvater online:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Have you been to a signing? What was your experience? Tell me in the comments below!


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Following the breach of a worldwide freezing order made against Mr Ablyazov (for which he was found to be in contempt), the claimant bank sought to bring a claim against his son-in-law on the basis that he had allegedly assisted the breach. The cause of action relied upon was the tort of conspiracy to injure by unlawful means. The son-in-law sought to argue that "unlawful means" did not include the breach of a court order, but that argument was rejected by Teare J. Although no prior case has decided that issue, the judge said that his conclusion was supported by the Court of Appeal decision in Surzur v Koros [1999], in which the unlawful means had been the creation of false documents. He also rejected an argument that Digicel v Cable & Wireless [2010] had held that unlawful means which are not actionable or criminal should fail. That case had not considered whether the breach of a court order could amount to unlawful means. It made no difference that, as Teare J found, the court does not have power to order damages for contempt.
A further issue was whether the court had jurisdiction over the son-in-law, who is domiciled in Switzerland. The bank sought to rely on Articles 6 and 5 of the Lugano Convention (the "special jurisdiction" rules):
- Article 6. This provides that where the defendant is one of a number of defendants, a court will have jurisdiction if one of the other defendants is domiciled here (provided that the claims are so closely connected that it is expedient to hear them together, which, it was accepted, was the case here). The issue therefore became whether My Ablyazov was domiciled here at the date the proceedings against the son-in-law were commenced. Mr Ablyazov had been domiciled in England until 2012. He then fled the country, fearing (correctly) that he was about to be imprisoned for contempt. After being on the run for some time, he was eventually found, and placed in custody in France, where he is currently awaiting extradition to Russia (not England). The judge held that, "in these unusual circumstances", Mr Ablyazov had abandoned England and no longer had any ties or connection with it. Whilst Mr Ablyazov, arguably, should not be allowed to benefit from his own wrongdoing, that did not affect the son-in-law. Accordingly, there was no arguable case for jurisdiction under Article 6.
- Article 5. This provides that a person may be sued, in matters relating to tort, in the courts for the place where "the harmful event occurred". That phrase covers both the place of the event giving rise to the damage and also the place where the damage occurred.
The damage occurred (ie the bank suffered "harmful effects") in the place where the assets were wrongly dealt with in breach of the freezing order. On the facts of this case, that was not England.
As for the place of the event giving rise to the damage, that was the place where the conspiracy was implemented (not where it was hatched). Again, on the facts, some of the dates on which the various assets were allegedly wrongly dealt with pre-dated the time Mr Ablyazov left the country, and so the bank could establish jurisdiction in relation to those alleged breaches.


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Travel Destination: Syndney, Australia
There's something about Sydney that makes your heart skip a beat...
It was my third time to visit Sydney, but still the excitement was like going there for the first time. Unfortunately, we only stayed there for a day.
Arrived in Sydney via ( delayed) Thai Airways flight that went through BKK, we only had an hour or two to freshen up before we headed for our dinner cruise along the Sydney Harbour. Inside the "boat" there was a "kinda-Las-Vegas" type of show, where towering aussie showgirls danced the night away. It was a good show,
Food was great, I mean from the sumptuous appetizers down to their irresisitible desserts, one can just forget about their southbeach, scarsdale or Tea-lite diet. haha.
While the boat was cruising, and the show was on-going, there were a couple of other things you can actually enjoy ( if the showgirls were already boring you). You can climb up the deck and emote mala-titanic and enjoy the cool, cool wind or you can take photos with the opera house or the Sydney bridge as your background. ( cool, huh) And we did! (Photos to follow, promise)
It was like two hours or three on the boat before we got back to the hotel. Most of my officemates still went out for a drink or two, while I had to walk around and check the nearest souvenir shops for a while and see whats up for grabs. (END OF DAY 1)
(THE NEXT DAY, outside of Sydney)
Right across our hotel ( The Menzies) is the Wynyard train station where we caught the 7:14 am train for my much-awaited-dream-come-true-Hillsong-church-experience. ( Wahoo! ...again, waaaahhhhoooooo!!!!!!) The train was there on the dot. It took us exactly 45 mins by train to get to the Seven Hills station where we took off. From there, we took a cab that took us to Hillsong church.
Setting foot on that church was like "priceless". I never thought I'd be able to praise and worship with the famous Hillsong choir and worship leaders. A taste of heaven, I should say. And it is an understatement.
The songs were just awesome. Bobbie ( wife of their senior pastor, Bryan Houston) was the one who preached that sunday. She was clear as crystal, sharp as a sword, annointed like an angel, and pretty as a doll.
It was a cool, relaxed but enriching Sunday service. I could only wish to be back there anytime soon. The experience was simply AWESOME. PRICELESS. INCOMPARABLE.
Here's the kicker. ( hahaha) Heading back to the hotel was the problem. There were no cabs in the offing, oh no. (How can we have missed that huh) So we asked, asked, asked. Finally, we got to a bus station and got on the first bus that would take us to paramatta, where hopefully we could catch the train on time as we were catching our flight to Cairns that afternoon.
Good heavens, we got to the hotel almost on time - squeezed a McDo meal in between.
Sydney would always be a fave for me. Specially now that I have discovered Hillsong church. (Only, this time, I missed going to "The Rocks." haaayyyyy)
Thank you, Lord. You are great!!!! ( love you)
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