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After a flurry of communications following the London Book Fair and my belated return from Israel (courtesy of the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud), some two months went by, without any indication of what I was supposed to be doing and now with all the proofreading and corrections done for the second Alex Sedaka book, I was in the uncomfortable position of not having anything to do. True, I was supposed to be studying for my physics degree with the Open University. But high blood pressure and dizzy spells – brought about by anxiety – were making that impossible.
No Way Out had gone on sale on the 10th of June and hopes were high because the publishers had got it into Tesco and Asda. However, whilst it was selling better than Mercy, the question was whether it was selling enough to meet the publishers 20,000 copy target within a reasonable time?
In the absence of any word on the subject, I decided to force the issue. So on the 20th of June, I wrote to Diane telling her that in the absence of any indication from the publishers as to what they wanted I was going to continue writing the third Alex Sedaka book. But being too cowardly to present this as an ultimatum, I explained my decision in conciliatory terms (or should that be weasel words) to the effect that "I don't want to be in a position where they decide they want it and I have to start from near the beginning."
In retrospect it may have been a mistake to force the issue. Had I not done so, the publishers might have waited longer before deciding. But the upshot of all this was that on the 27th of June Diane told me that the sales – although better than for Mercy – were not quite good enough and that consequently HarperCollins had decided not to go ahead with the third Alex Sedaka book. The good news was that they agreed,in principle, to my suggestion that I should do the Moses book rather than the Doomsday Labyrinth. Of course all this was subject to agreement between me and Kate (my editor) on the plot for the Moses book. And that had yet to be finalized.
There followed an exchange of eMails in which Kate and I struggled to find a suitable date to meet. The problem was that Kate was going on holiday for a fortnight starting on August the 20th. For my part, my sister was coming to visit for a week, taking up a chuck of the time before that. In the event, we met on Thursday the 5th of August and came up with the rudiments of a plot.
The basically requirement was that there had to be an important discovery at the beginning, the hero trying to work out the full implications (which had to be major), people trying to stop the hero, a chase, an albino monk (only joking – but there did have to be some serious threat to the hero) and of course a final resolution of some sorts with a happy end. Also one of the pursuers must be extremely vicious with a propensity not just for murder but for brutality.
This last point was something of a problem for me, because one of the things I had learned from my mother's cousin Clive Donner (a celebrated film director in the sixties and seventies) was that one should always put a bit of good in ones bad characters and a bit of bad in ones good characters. This Yin and Yang approach had served me in good stead when it came to keeping my characters realistic. But perhaps it was actually holding me back in the commercial stakes. So maybe Kate was right. But it was uncomfortable for me to have to adapt my style to this extent.
However, I rose to the challenge and drew up a synopsis based on our discussions. The one one remaining problem was the deadline. Kate wanted to publish the book in January 2011, somewhat earlier than we had previously been talking about and well before the third Alex Sedaka book was due to have been published. Given that we were already a week into August 2010, this left very little time for the writing of the book – especially as there was still some research to be done. (I had in fact been reading up on ancient Egypt and especially the 18th Dynasty, but my reading was far from complete.)
The one that was not yet decided was the publication date. When the third book in the contract was going to be an Alex Sedaka book, the delivery deadline was the end of August 2010 and publication had been scheduled for August 2011. But now things had changed. Here we were in the first week of August 2010 and I had yet to write a word of the new book, or even to have a full and detailed plot.
After Diane, my agent, dropped the bombshell on me that HarperCollins didn't want to give me a separate contract for the conspiracy thriller books, I wrote back immediately voicing my concerns. They had not ruled out a third book in the Alex Sedaka series, but whereas before it was a definite, now it was only a maybe – and I had already been working on the book in accordance with the previous understanding.
I pointed out to Diane that the time-frame was tight. The deadline for the third book was August whereas No Way Out was due to be published in June. It was not clear whether the deciding factor for the publisher would be the actual sales figures of the second book or simply whether or not they managed to place it in the supermarkets. This was one of the points that I asked Diane to clarify.
But in any case, they told me last time (regarding Mercy) that the supermarkets only decide in the last few weeks. So regardless of their yardstick for success of No Way Out, I wouldn't even know which book I was supposed to be writing until June and would then have to deliver it by August. I pointed out to Diane that I could write a first draft in three months – yes, I am that good – but it would be cutting it fine.
I was being a bit mischievous here, as Diane had already implied that the deadline could be extended. But there was a genuine underlying problem. Diane had made it clear that if the publishers decided to go with a conspiracy thriller, they would aim for publication in February or March 2011. Whereas if they wanted a third Alex Sedaka thriller, they would publish it in May 2011.
From my point of view, the other way round would have been better. I had already fully developed the plot of the the third Alex Sedaka book and written some 15,000 words. Also such a book required little or no additional research. In contrast, I had yet to agree on even the plot/synopsis of the conspiracy book, let alone written a word of it. Furthermore, the conspiracy thriller would require a fair amount of research. Indeed, if it was to be the "end of the world" Mayan prophecy book, it would require a lot of research, as I knew virtually nothing about the subject.
This was the other point I wanted to get across to Diane – and to the publishers. If the conspiracy thriller was to be the third book in the existing contract then there was no guarantee that it would go any further. I wanted such a book to succeed. But that meant that it had to be 100% the book I wanted to write – not the book I had agreed to write as a reluctant compromise. And, as I explained to Diane, I was far more enthusiastic about a book centering on the Moses theme than anything about Mayan prophecies. I put this in the most forthright terms:
Of the other two ideas, I infinitely prefer the MOSES TABLET to the DOOMSDAY LABYRINTH. I only reluctantly came up with the Doomsday Labyrinth idea and haven't even got enough material for it. I would have to do masses of research into Mayan prophecies to flesh it out into a full length book, whereas with MOSES I could hit the ground running. Furthermore, no matter how much research I do, DOOMSDAY LABYRINTH will come over as a rip off of several movies and just one more of an overworked fad, following the flock but totally lacking in originality. It is the sort of project that I would happily write as a visual/action screenplay (it would take me all of two weeks), but it is too "thin" in terms of content to be a book.
All this drama, I should add, was being played out against the backdrop of the volcanic cloud over Europe that was wreaking havoc with the airlines and had caused be to be stuck in Israel – at least for an extra day. In any event, I was back the following day, and two days after that (24/04/2010) I followed up with a request that Diane obtain a formal agreement by the publisher to postpone the deadline. I also took the opportunity to reiterate my firm conviction that if there was to be only one guaranteed conspiracy thriller, then it should be the Moses book.
If they DO want a conspiracy thriller as the third book, it should NOT be the Doomsday Virus. Whilst the storyline has great Hollywood potential, I have – upon reflection – zero confidence in it as a book. It will not sell. I have discussed modifications of MOSES with Kate and incorporated some of her ideas into the story (e.g. finding the original ten commandments). The other possibility is to take the third Alex Sedaka story, reset it entirely in England (except the opening scene) and have the SAS man on the run in the UK. The emphasis would then be on the SAS man and the government trying to track him down. At base it would be a chase-the-widget story, with the widget in question being the undeveloped film that the SAS man took off the photographer.
Whilst I continued working with my editor Kate on the final proofs and cover copy of No Way Out, I was still unsure of what I should be doing in the meantime regarding the third book, and indeed had not been given any formal extension of the deadline. I wrote again to Diane asking if I should be holding off until we got a firm decision from the publisher. She told me that I should wait and that the publishers would decide on a basis of the early sales of No Way Out. Specifically "they would really need to sell in 20,000 copies in order to consider Alex Sedaka worth continuing with.
The figure was clear enough, if not the time-scale. But then again, they could probably tell in the first couple of weeks if it stood a reasonable chance of making that target. Of course, there are such things as slow burners, at least for books sold through Waterstones and independent book shops. But when the books are sold through supermarkets, it is different. Supermarkets simply do not have time for slow burners. If a book does not fly off the supermarket shelves, it will simply be returned very quickly and so any prospect of it becoming a slow-burner are effectively destroyed.
This was not a very comforting thought. But at least it meant I would know my fate very quickly.
As I explained in the last installment of this, part of the drama surrounding the development of the Moses Legacy took place while I was on holiday in Israel in 2010. In parallel with these discussions, the line editing and proof-reading of No Way Out was proceeding smoothly, complete with debates about whether a number between 200 and 300 could be described as 'hundreds".
Just to recap, my publishers liked the Doomsday Labyrinth but detected a small problem that it was too "boysy" and needed less physics and more archaeology – as well as a strong female lead. At the same time, Diane (my agent) was still lobbying for the Moses book, pointing out that it already had a strong female lead as well as a generous helping of archaeology – they find the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments for God's sake!
At the same time, HarperCollins were officially committed to making the third book under the contract another Alex Sedaka book. Indeed they got me to send them the first two chapters so that they could include them as a sneak preview at the end of No Way Out.
I wrote a revised synopsis of Doomsday, fulfilling the "feminization" requirement <Wry Grin> and for her part, Kate (my editor) agreed to reconsider a shortened synopsis for the Moses book. The idea was that if I could reduce it to a one-page synopsis, then it would not be too complicated. (I know that sounds patronizing to the reader, but we live in the real-world – and writing is a business.)
Kate read it again, but was still not convinced. She made it clear that it was not the idea of a story about Moses in principle that she objected to. She just felt that the particular story that I had come up with didn't work. She suggested a few idea to get the creative juices going such as finding that the Ten Commandments are different to what it says in the Bible or some Big secret surrounding Moses – something more shocking than the theory that he may have been an Egyptian prince. She even suggested an alternative story in which the remnants of Noah's Ark are discovered. Nevertheless, she agreed to present both the Doomsday Labyrinth and the Moses book, to the editorial committee.
With hindsight, Kate was almost certainly right about the Moses book needing a stronger twist. The theory that Moses really was an Egyptian prince (and not just brought up as one) has been around since the time of Sigmund Freud. Finding his bones and DNA to prove it, might be interesting in a nerdy sort of way, but it wouldn't exactly be shocking. And it is certainly not the sort of thing that people might kill to suppress. However I wasn't sure quite sure how to come up with something that was sufficiently surprising and yet at the same time credible. I wrote back a couple of days later with an idea, but it was still undeveloped and not exactly earth-shaking:
I have been thinking of some ideas to make the MOSES TABLET bigger. It STARTS with the discovery of the ten commandments in proto-semitic script. This enables them to translate the script and thus gain access to other documents, leading them on a trail that leads them to the discovery of the BONES of MOSES in Petra, Jordan. Remember that in the Old Testament, Moses wasn't allowed to cross the River Jordan into Canaan? Finding the bones of Moses (with a provable proto-semitic inscription on the coffin or tomb) would be a HUGE archeological find. But certain interests would be opposed to it.I would also make other changes, such as clandestine digging in Sinai in a military area that could lead to some tense moments in the story.The story would then have:– An exciting BEGINNING (finding the tablets with the ten commandments)– An exciting MIDDLE (chases, clandestine digging, people trying to kill them)… and-An exciting END (finding the tomb of Moses and a final shootout).I am sure that this would work.The good thing about this story is that I could hit the ground running because of my existing knowledge of the Old Testament.
This was the best I could do for the time being. I thought that as I was on holiday in Israel and both my agent and editor were at the London Book Fair, it would be enough at least to keep their minds open to the Moses idea, while I struggled to come up with a story that would be powerful as well as clever. (Clever doesn't cut it – I should have learned at primary school that no one loves a smart-ass.
However, on the 21st of April, 2010, Diane (my agent) sent me an eMail that sent me reeling. It said:
On another note, we had a frank discussion about the conspiracy thrillers and she is reluctant to enter into a separate contract. This is because she would like to see how NO WAY OUT performs. If they can't get the supermarkets on board for NO WAY OUT, they would not be interested in commissioning a third Alex Sedaka title, and instead would like to cut losses and have one of the conspiracy thrillers as the third title in our existing contract. I can see the sense in this – if we've failed to get the supermarkets on board with Alex Sedaka twice, I can't see how we are going to get them on board with a third novel and agree that we should cut our losses.
This was very different to their earlier reassurances that they wanted the third Alex Sedaka book. The eMail went on to reassure me that:
If they did a third Alex Sedaka, they would want to do this in May next year. There would be a slot for a conspiracy thriller in February / March. Either gives you plenty of time to deliver so I can see that it is sensible to wait and see how we get on with NO WAY OUT in June before deciding on a way forward.
However there was no getting away from the fact that they were no longer committed to a third Alex Sedaka book, that they might want to make the conspiracy thriller the third book in the contract – depending on how well the second Alex Sedaka book did – and there was still no indication of which conspiracy thriller they wanted me to write. Furthermore I remained less than enthusiastic about the Doomsday Labyrinth as a full-length book – although it would work fine as a screenplay.
Finally there was the small matter of the August deadline for submission of the third manuscript. How was I going to meet it, if I had to wait until the publication of the second Alex Sedaka book in June before I even knew which manuscript I was going to write?
I am also doing a giveaway of The Moses Legacy for readers outside the UK. This includes much of Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Israel, Egypt and Jordan. It does not include the USA because the book will not yet be available there, except for a Kindle edition which I believe is coming soon.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Moses Legacy
by Adam Palmer
Giveaway ends May 14, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
After Kate's negative reaction to my original book proposals for the Moses Legacy and Phaistos Disk, in which she had suggested a few alternatives, I wrote to Diane, the same day, expressing my strong feelings on the subject:
Sorry for this long reply, but I have a lot to say.
Firstly, I am a bit disappointed that they didn't go for the MOSES TABLET, especially after I put so much work into it – including after I submitted the draft (it is 106 short chapters)…
Furthermore, even if Dan Brown's books centre around a simple premise, they expand into something more complicated – otherwise they wouldn't run 500+ pages. The MOSES TABLET could also be reduced to a sound bite summary – "Was Moses really an Egyptian prince?" – but like the Dan Brown books it expands into something more detailed in the telling.
Regarding the story suggestions, some of the ideas are more appealing than others:
1) The Turin Shroud is interesting, but it seems more like a scientific question and I can't think of a way to get a story out of it. But I'll do some internet research and see if any ideas leap out at me.
2) The illuminati has been done before, by Dan Brown (Angels and Demons).
3) Secret Societies – Did you send them the PHAISTOS DISK? Or only the MOSES TABLET and MARKED? The reason I ask is that the PHAISTOS DISK is about secret societies ruling the world.
4) Noah's Ark is a fascinating story. (There is also an old Summarian Legend, which some say is the origin of the story.) I could have a go at coming up with a story along those lines. But it would need a modern tie-in, like people trying to gain access to a sensitive area in Turkey. A former US astronaut was actually arrested in the Mount Arrarat region a few years ago and accused of espionage whilst searching for Noah's Ark. I'm not sure why Noah's Ark is commercial but Moses isn't – they're both Old Testament Biblical figures and both are surely recognizable.
5) I don't know much about the Mayan calender, but 2012 is the Olympic year and I see a possibility of a tie-in there. However, given that I believe in rational explanations, I would have to make it a case of human beings trying to cash in on the legend either for gain or political terrorism. (The latter is more topical and plausible.)
6) Stigmata. It's been done and I don't really know how to spin a story out of it – at least not with a logical explanation. (Well maybe a publicity stunt for a bogus medical breakthrough being pushed by a latterday snake-oil company. But there's plenty of that already, in the form if people offering Viagra over the internet.)
In conclusion then, the only ideas of those above that really inspire me at the moment are Secret Societies and 2012. I will trawl the internet for more info on these and their other suggestions and try to come up with a story. But I stand by my view that "Was Moses an Egyptian Prince?" is just as recognizable as "Was Noah's Ark Real."
However, not wanting to be stubborn, I decided to do a bit of online research and in the process I came across something that intrigued me. So less than a quarter of an hour after sending Diane the above message, I wrote to her excitedly about my discovery:
I've just been looking up some things on the internet. The next sunspot cycle is due to peak in 2012 – and is expected to be 30-50% stronger than the last peak. If this were to coincide with a reversal of earth's polarity (a real phenomenon every few tens of thousands of years) that could expose the earth to lethal radiation.
I don't know if this one slipped under Diane's radar, given my plaintiff appeals to her as a shoulder to cry on in my earlier – and somewhat longer missive – but she focussed on the long eMail when she wrote back two days later (26/02/10) with warm words that combined comfort with practicality.
At the time when I sent the eMail about the sunspot cycle, I didn't yet have any clear story in my mind (even I take more than fifteen minutes;-). However, during the course of a train journey, on the 26th of February, I got my head down and cobbled together a story centering around the Mayan calender and the belief that the world is coming to an end in 2012. I typed it up and sent it to Diane that same evening, together with a sigh of relief that I had suddenly become highly enthusiastic about an idea that I been rather cool about only the day before.
Copyright (c) 2011 David Kessler
Physicist Dennis Mason dies suddenly at the site of a huge industrial project in Guatamala The project involves drilling a hole through the earth's crust and mantle down to the core, so as to extract pure iron for industrial use as well as thermal energy which can be converted to electricity and distributed throughout north and south America.
But the project is being built on sacred Mayan land, very close to an ancient Mayan temple and is opposed by the local people, especially central American Indians. Indeed an old local, western educated, Indian leader (calling himself "Itzamna" after a Mayan god), who is leading the resistance, has warned them that there is curse on those who defile the sacred ground.
Dennis Mason was the chief physicist of the project, as well as a shareholder in it. Indeed the project was his baby. He was the one who first calculated the feasibility of the project, selecting the location based on the thickness and composition of the earth's crust and mantle at that point. It was his calculations, and reputation as an elder statesman of physics that prompted governments and big business to back the project.
But now there is a vacuum in the personnel hierarchy, and David Sedaka – Mason's star pupil – is called in to act as interim chief physicist, by project head Charles Sherry, until a permanent replacement can be found.
Meanwhile, the toxicology report from the post-mortem examination shows that Mason had traces of a rare snake poison in his body. A follow-up examination of his body reveals no snake bites, but a tiny pinprick wound in his neck, which could be from a poison dart from a blow-pipe. When eye-witness reports from frightened witnesses, confirm that Itzamna was seen running away from the scene – and even leaning over his body according to one witness – the self-styled "holy man" comes under intense suspicion and is arrested by local police.
In jail, Itzamna asks to see David Sedaka. At first David is reluctant to meet him, but he eventually agrees and Itzamna tries to explain why 2012 will be the year of destruction based on old Mayan legends, but adds that it is not inevitable. "The Gods do not destroy. It is man who is the destroyer." David is on the verge of walking away from Itzamna's "New Age bilge" as he calls it, when Itzamna admits that he went to meet Mason, but it was by pre-arrangement and at Mason's instigation. He says he went there, but found Mason dying. Mason told him "you were right" and then died. David is sceptical. He asks how Mason could have even contacted him to arrange the meeting, given that Itzamna eschews modern technology. Itzamna replied that Mason got a young local girl (K'in ich) to bring him the message.
David goes asking around in the local villages for K'in ich-il, but gets an angry response. He is rescued/arrested by the local police chief who tells him that the girl is missing and that there is a lot of local resentment blaming the Americans. He advises him to stay away from the villages. He also tells David, that Itzamna probably knew the girl was missing and was simply cashing in on that to give himself a false alibi.
However, shortly after that K'in's body is found. The local Indians want to bury her quickly, but David persuades a local doctor to perform an autopsy. The doctor says she has been tortured. David asks if it could be the work of some sort of sadistic killer but the doctor shakes his head and says: "I have seen this kind of torture before. This is not the random torture of a sadist. This is the carefully controlled torture of some one who is seeking information."
At Mason's quarters – where David is staying – he asks the maid if Mason was troubled by anything, as Itzamna implied. The maid says no, but that after his death, the house was ransacked. David asks if anything was missing after that. She says only his laptop computer. David logs on to Mason's webmail and with some considerable effort, cracks his password. He finds a file attached to a blank eMail. The file contains revised calculations showing that the drilling into earth's iron core will cause a reversal of earth's magnetic polarity preceded by a massive drop in earth's magnetic field for a few years that will admit solar radiation. Worse still, this will coincide with the peak of the next sunspot cycle in 2012, which is predicted to be 50% higher than the previous peak. This will at minimum destroy telecommunications, plunging the planet into chaos. At worst it will admit harmful solar radiation that will cause cancer and sickness and wholesale death and destruction.
David takes this information to Charles Sherry who tries to brush him off, telling him that we know too little about the causes of geomagnetic reversal (which occurs every few thousand years) to say what causes it or when. He points out that the last one occurred in the time of homo erectus without destroying humanity or animal life. But David says that this time it will coincide with an intense sunspot peak. Sherry is still dismissive and then David realizes that Mason must have already told him. David accuses Sherry of killing Mason. Sherry calls in his hatchet man to take "take this guy out the back."
David runs and is now in danger from Sherry's henchmen. He is chased through a network of subterranean tunnels (part of the project). He realizes that he is going deeper into the tunnels and his only chance is to sabotage the project and force an evacuation. He gets to the control centre, where he is able to detonate the final blast that will break through to the earth's core. But he knows that if this is done before the bore hole has been lined with insulating material, the iron will melt the surrounding rock, cool off, solidify and seal the hole, making it impossible to re-open (because solid iron is harder to drill through than rock.
He is cornered by Sherry (the others are afraid to approach). They fight it out. Although David is younger, Sherry is crazed with anger and nearly wins. But David manages to set off the explosion, causing the iron to start pouring up through the bore hole and causing violent local earth tremors. As the fight continues, David is nearly pushed into the hole, but at the last minute, he turns the tables and send Sherry plummeting into the hole. At the same time the iron is rising up and cooling off. When Sherry hits the molten iron it cools even further, starts to solidify and the upward flow gradually slows down. But the building is now in danger of collapsing and they have to evacuate. They get out just in time. But as a symbolic sign, the local Mayan temple survives the cataclysm and the locals converge there.
It was pure Hollywood and the climax was more than a little influenced (albeit subconsciously) by Total Recall. (Maybe I was secretly thinking about a blockbuster movie already.) Note also how I even smuggled in David Sedaka, the physicist son of lawyer Alex Sedaka, to create a kind of connection between the novels.
At the same time, we were still working on the edits of the second Alex Sedaka book (then called Accused) as well as talking back and forth about the third, which at that stage HarperCollins still wanted.
This latter was also turning into a big problem, because Kate thought that the story was too complicated. Given that it had to fill 400-500 pages, I didn't see things that way, but the trouble is that it is very hard to write an intelligible synopsis of such a long story in only a couple of pages. (My working outlines usually run to 10-20 pages!) In this case, it was clear from Kate's reaction that I had not summarized the story very clearly.
However, back to the main story. The following day (i.e. 27/02/10) I revised the Mayan story – provisionally titled The Doomsday Labyrinth – and sent it to Diane, who in turn forwarded it to Kate. I also suggested publishing it under the name Maurice Palmer. This was a pun on Michael Caine, whose real name was Maurice Micklewhite and who played a character called "Harry Palmer" in three films based on Len Deighton cold war thrillers.
On the 4th of March, we got word back from Kate that she liked the Doomsday Labyrinth and was especially pleased with the title. However it had to be looked at by others at HarperCollins (including Caroline, who heads the Avon list). What the Avon team wanted was for me to introduce a strong female element, to play down the physics element and to play up the archaeology element. The pragmatic solution, which I put to Diane to pass on to Kate, was to introduce a female archaeologist to work alongside (and sometimes against) the physicist.
This led to a revised synopsis on April the 6th, after a trip to Israel. But at the same time, Diane and I were still pushing for the Moses book to be the second in the series – and that female archaeologist was going to surface again… albeit in a somewhat different form…
Want to win a free copy of The Moses Legacy ? Click on the link below to go to Goodreads, where I am offering eight free copies. You don't have to worry that others have got there first: these are not first come, first served. Instead, the winners will be chosen by Goodreads partly at random and partly from people who have reviewed other free books they received in the past. Therefore everyone is in with a chance!
And if you review it promptly on Goodreads, you'll increase your chances of winning other free books from them in the future.
Click now to try your luck.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Moses Legacy
by Adam Palmer
Giveaway ends May 14, 2011.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
In order to describe this writer's odyssey and adventure more clearly, I am going to back up a bit.
My editor at HarperCollins (Kate) first approached me with the idea of writing a "Dan Brown" style thriller, in the run-up to the publication of No Way Out the second book to feature San Francisco Lawyer Alex Sedaka. She actually made the suggestion, shortly after I told her that I had started work on the third book in the series. This was quite sensible: she obviously didn't want me putting in a huge amount of effort into a third Alex Sedaka book, if we agreed on a change to a different genre. And I myself had told her – on more than one occasion – that I loved conspiracy thrillers in general and the Dan Brown books in particular.
On the other hand, I didn't want to drop Alex Sedaka before No Way Out had even been published. To abandon him at that stage would effectively be to decide in advance that the book wasn't going to sell – and that's the last thing a writer wants. I wanted commitment from the publisher to the success of the second Alex Sedaka book, and abandoning the recurring character before publication would therefore have been a retrograde step.
Secondly, I liked the idea of expanding my writing career by writing two series of books, one about Alex Sedaka and another about a recurring character in the Robert Langdon/Indiana Jones mold. I knew I could do it and I hope you won't think me immodest if I say that I write fast – typically, dashing off a first draft in three months after doing some preliminary research. I could easily write two books a year without breaking sweat. In fact generally speaking the faster I write, the better I write: because then I'm "in the Zone."
In retrospect, I think that HarperCollins wanted me to write the "Dan Brown"/conspiracy thriller and forget about poor Alex Sedaka. There was even some discussion about whether I had submitted the synopsis for the third Alex Sedaka book at the time we negotiated the original contract. I had, of course. But at the time, it was with a different editor (Maxine) who had since left. So the confusion was understandable.
It was at that stage that I started working on plot ideas for the book. As I explained in the first part of this saga, my first idea was for a thriller with connections to ancient Crete and the undeciphered writings there. Initially this was going to be Linear A, but then I settled on the Phaistos Disk. I sent an eMail to Diane (my agent) on 29/01/2010, saying the following:
I am in the process of preparing a synopsis for a Dan Brown style book, to be called The Phaistos Disk (after a clay disk found at Knossos that is believed by some to be a forgery). The book will also involve a group of French mathematicians, prominent from the 1930s to the 1980s called the "Bourbaki" (after a French general of Greek descent. it involves the customary Dan Brown elements of a chase, a hero and heroine, ancient knowledge, a modern conspiracy and betrayal by some one close to the hero.
What I am having problems with are the locations. I can bring in certain locations in Crete, but to do an authentic job, I need to go there. Now if we could get a separate contract out of this, I would be ready to spend part of the money on a visit there to do my research 😉
Meanwhile, I'll try and have a synopsis ready by Monday.
As you can tell, being a writer, I never stop hustling. However, things were now starting to move fast. Three days later, on the 1st of February, I sent my Diane another eMail, outlining my ideas.
Here are two synopses for "Dan Brown" type stories. The Phaistos Disk is highly developed but details of parts of it have yet to be mapped out. The Moses Legacy is only about 25% developed in detail but I indicate where the story is going in a passage in italics at the end of the synopsis. In the Moses story I will be drawing on my existing knowledge and in both stories I will be doing extensive research. My chief research assistant will be my older sister who has an MA in Classics as well as being a veteran of several archeological digs.
I have made the main character an archeologist, which gives him scope to go to exotic locations and get involved in these kinds of adventures. The risk here is in making him too much like Indiana Jones. The other element is undeciphered scripts and texts. There are MANY of these in a wide variety of locations – Middle east, Greece, Far East, South America, offering plenty of scope for these stories.
A third possible element for these stories – that I have held back from using in the synopses – is the possibility of including flashbacks to the events in the ancient times. This device was used to good effect by James Michener. This would serve to make the stories slightly different from the Dan Brown books, but in my opinion more interesting. It depends how closely HC want these stories to follow the Dan Brown formula. If they want to follow the formula precisely, I can do so (and I have attached my 10 Commandments for a Dan Brown style book). I am open to whichever way HC want to do this, but my gut feeling is that if we follow Dan Brown down the line, people will say "Oh it's just a Dan Brown clone." If we include the parallel past/present narrative approach, we come up with something more interesting, whilst still drawing on the Dan Brown audience.
A third story that I have in mind, is not yet developed, but will centre around the claims made by Tony Robinson in a BBC documentary to the effect that Edward IV was illegitimate and that according to the rules of succession Anglo-Australian Mike Hastings is the true king of England. The premise of the story will be that archeological excavation provides documentary evidence of this.
As you can see, from this eMail, the title that we finally settled upon was my original choice that we came back to after considering various others. At this stage, The Phaistos Disk was still my preferred option for me to launch myself into this new genre, but the following day – after some additional research and that talk with my friend – I was writing to Diane again, expressing my change of heart as to which book to write first:
I have made further efforts to develop the Moses Legacy, which I think should be the first of the series.
Then two days after that, on February 4th, I wrote to Diane again, expanding – not to say expounding – on my newly-found enthusiasm for the project.
I just wanted to tell you that I have been doing more research for The Moses Legacy, and the more I read the more I am warming to this project. Although I want to complete the third book in the Alex Sedaka series, I really like the idea of this new project.
The Moses Legacy, or whatever we decide to call it, will be exciting, intellectually challenging, controversial (but within the bounds of acceptable discourse) and will get the chattering classes chattering – and the cash registers going k'ching!
I don't know if you can say any more to Kate/Caroline without us sounding desperate, or if we just have to sit tight and hope they go for it. But I really hope we get the green light for this. Maybe if they want to balance caution with long-term prospects, they could make it a two-book deal – as I have fairly detailed plans for the first two books.
As you can see, Diane and I were still pushing for a separate contract for these new books.
It took a while, for Kate to write back to Diane, but when she did, on the 24th of February, the news was mixed. On the one hand, HarperCollins (Avon) was committed to continuing with the Alex Sedaka series, and told me to go ahead with writing Book 3. But on the other hand, they weren't happy with the ideas for conspiracy thrillers. Whilst they were "intriguing" and "intricate", they weren't "instantly recognizable" or based on a simple premise. I was also, somewhat "cerebral" in my approach. To illustrate what she had in mind, she sent a list of possible themes:
- The Turin Shroud is fake / real
- The Illuminati
- Secret Societies ruling the World
- Noah's Ark was real
- 2012 is the end of the World / Mayan Calendar
- Stigmata?
I was not at all happy about the rejection of my ideas or about this selection. But I am a mid-list writer and not (yet) an author of blockbusters, and so this had to be handled tactfully. Rather than write back to Kate in state of such disturbed equanimity, I wrote to Diane, my agent, outlining the issues as I saw them.
And more to come – Part 3 when I can overcome my inertia…


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By continent quests I mean quests like Battle Pet Tamers: Kalimdor, Battle Pet Tamers: Eastern Kingdoms etc NOT the individual dailies you pick up from each tamer separately. I am getting the Kalimdor quest every day from Varzok in Orgrimmar, I've completed it maybe 6-7 times now. It shows up not as a daily with the blue exclamation mark but as a regular quest (in the quest journal it also doesn't show as daily). But my alliance isn't getting any quests from the trainer in Stormwind even though she's completed stuff like Eastern Kingdoms meta and Northrend meta.
Are all the continent meta quests supposed to be daily? If so, is anyone having an issue picking some or all of them up from trainers?

subset: commoncrawl


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Tablets are the hottest gift item for the Holiday season 2013. There are only a couple days left until the 24th. Time is running out. Check out our best tablets for the Holidays 2013 below. The I4U News Holiday Gift Guide 2013 points out the best Holiday tablet deals and choices
I4U News Holiday Gift Guide 2013 brings you the best tablets to buy as Holiday gifts in 2013. Our tablet choices are covering a wide range to fit any budget and type of person you want to gift with a tablet. The Apple iPads are on top of everybody's mind when it comes to tablets, but their high price is not easy to stomach. There are though several well worthy alternative. Especially the Amazon Fire Tablets are a great low cost alternative to the Apple iPad line of tablets. Speaking of Amazon. As it is already quite close to the 24th, you might consider using a tablet deal offered by Amazon to still get the gift in time. The Apple Store is already not shipping all tablets in time for Christmas.
Best Tablets for Holiday Gifts 2013:
(sorted by price)
- $120 XO 7-inch Kids Tablet
- $139 Kindle Fire 7" HD Display
- $149 LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra Kids' Learning Tablet
- $149.99 ASUS Memo Pad HD 7-Inch 16 GB Tablet
- $154.99 Blackberry Playbook 7-Inch Tablet (32GB)
- $159.99 Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (7-Inch, Gold-Brown)
- $229 Kindle Fire HDX 7" Tablet (16 GB)
- $229.99 ZTO Tablet PC
- $299 Apple iPad mini
- $354.99 Samsung Galaxy Tablet 3 (10 Inch white)
- $399 Apple iPad mini with Retina Display
- $499 Apple iPad Air
Holiday Gift Guide 2013:
The I4U News Holiday Gift Guide 2013 brings you the best Holiday gifts for 2013. We recommend hot gifts from various product categories with focus on Holiday gifts for geeks. Since geeks also gift their loved ones we offer gift tips and guides for everyone including holiday toy gifts. The I4U News Holiday Gift Guide 2013 features, tablets, TVs, laptops, toys and gadgets. Explore all 2013 Holiday Gift Tips.


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I went to see the play Mr Foote's Other Leg in the West End the other evening, and very funny it was too. Samuel Foote was an 18th-century actor and theatre manager. He is credited with having coined the word panjandrum in 1754 or 1755, as the OED explains, "as part of a farrago of nonsense […] to test the memory of his fellow actor Charles Macklin, who had asserted that he could repeat anything after hearing it once". That "farrago of nonsense" was the following paragraph (taken from Collins Dictionary of Quotations):
So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage-leaf, to make an apple-pie; and at the same time a great she-bear, coming up the street, pops its head into the shop. 'What! No soap?' So he died, and she very imprudently married the barber; and there were present the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyalies, and the grand Panjandrum himself, with the little round button at top, and they all fell to playing the game of catch as catch can, till the gunpowder ran out at the heels of their boots.
Despite this paragraph purportedly having been written in the 1750s, the first written record of the 'Panjandrum' sentence is from a Maria Edgeworth work of 1825. Panjandrum is defined in the OED as "(A mock title for) a mysterious (freq. imaginary) personage of great power or authority; a pompous or pretentious official; a self-important person in authority".
The Oxford English Dictionary entries for a few French words reference Samuel Foote. These include petite bourgeoise, which has its own entry in the Dictionary, defined as "A woman of the lower-middle classes of society". Foote used the phrases pauvre petite bourgeoise and jolie petite bourgeoise. The first citation for beacoup, many, a word which the OED describes as 'rare before the First World War' is from Foote's 1760 comedy The Minor; the first written mention of jeune fille is also attributed to Foote; and the first citation for parleyvoo, a humorous term for the French language, especially as spoken by the English, is from Foote's The Knights. These days the French personal pronoun moi is often used humorously, and Foote was using the word in this sense in the mid-18th century: the first citation for moi is also from The Minor:
Sir George: What d'you mean? For me to marry Margery?
Richard Wealthy: I do.
Sir George: What, moi—me?
Other first citations attributed to Foote are: cocky-leeky (the soup), the exclamation gosh, the noun lie-abed, and the adjective rumbustious.


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BMC Racing have jetted off to Spain's Costa Blanca for a preseason training camp in the town of Denia. Denia is in the sunshine province of Alicante and withing striking distance of Coll de Rates, one of the highest mountains in the region and the perfect place for Tour de France winner Cadel Evans and his teammates to get some climbing in.
With bright sunshine on offer the team have been out for several hours a day ahead of their early season targets. And as you can see from our picture gallery, morale in the camp appears to be high.


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Passenger Ellis Leeper used his mobile phone to film the Piccadilly Line tube evacuation after bombs brought the system to a halt.
Mr Leeper spent more than two hours stuck in the carriage with other passengers and had to "jump between trains" to get out.
If you have video from the scene of the blasts in London you can submit it to the BBC by emailing email@example.com or by text to +44 (0) 7921 648159


text: I was perusing a message board on the Internet where they were discussing property. One of the posters mentioned: "Senate Document #43 states "All property is owned by the state.."". Realizing that this a Communist Doctrine, I couldn't believe that this had been accepted by the Congress as a Senate Document. I searched the Internet and found the document here: http://www.adventuresinlegalland.com/senate_resolution.pdf Within this document, it is declared: "The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State". I revisited the message board and posted: "This is a communist doctrine. Do you accept this as valid in the United States?" One poster wrote back: "Don't even go there Indago. Of course I do not agree with the communist doctrine. On the other hand, because it is written into Congressional record, it is a FACT, and a FACT that we as American men and women should not be proud of (giving respect to the tens of thousands that have died in the fight to keep this nation the property of the men and women of this nation)." I sent an Email to the Senators from my State, noting: "I was not aware of this Senate Document Number 43, ordered to be printed by Senate Resolution Number 63 of the Seventy-third Congress, First Session; and, I find it appalling and hypocritical that after all the time, rhetoric, and energy expended by so many in government denouncing Communist Doctrine, here it is, accepted into the Congress as a Senate Document. I want to see this Senate Document Number 43 expunged from the records of government, and would like you working toward that end." It would behoove all to write to their Senators and require that this Senate Document #43 be expunged from all records of government.


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I've decided to review Algebra Balance Scales found at http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_201_g_3_t_2.html?open=instructions&from=category_g_3_t_2.html
The purpose of this game is to solve simple linear equations by placing virtual manipulatives on a balance beam. When the beam is balanced, the player then solves for x. Students soon realize that any operation done to one side must be done to the other to keep the beam balanced.
I think this applet would be excellent for students who need more practice with solving linear equations. The site also has another version of the Algebra Balance Scales game that has problems with negatives. I find many children and adults who need extra help when working with negative numbers. My district doesn't have math manipulatives, so this Applet would be an inexpensive way to give those students, who learn best by working with concrete examples, the opportunity to do so.


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New Review: The thrill of the chase
Cazz Blase // 16 December 2012
The Mediaeval Baebe's new album, The Huntress is themed around "female energy". A mix of the classical and traditional folk song, Michelle Drury welcomes it as a return to form for the "choir and band"
The Mediaeval Baebes are an all female vocal choral group who sing largely mediaeval lyrics, whether they are religious Latin or traditional folk songs, and also play instruments from the era like the psaltery, cittern and hurdy-gurdy. Though the group is British the Mediaeval Baebes sing songs from other areas of the world, such as the Middle East and Russia.
The Mediaeval Baebes aren't a straightforward early music choral group. For example, one of their earlier albums Undrentide was produced by John Cale and they have often incorporated elements of Middle Eastern music in their work; furthermore, there are electric guitars on the new record. After initially appearing to be a gimmick appealing to a youth market and then gaining popularity with Goth and Wicca audiences, it is unsurprising they aren't the most traditional act in the classical music section. As Katherine Blake, the last original baebe and musical director, says: "It's a choir and a band".
In 'Wynter Wakeneth' dating from the Black Death the writer mourns many, feels no joy and isn't sure how long they will survive either
The Huntress, The Mediaeval Baebes' seventh album, is a return to form after Illumination, where after over a decade the Baebes' sound finally threatened to bland out. The Huntress is recognisably the sound of The Mediaeval Baebes, and the album as a whole is themed around "female energy" according to Katherine Blake. It also has several mini-themes which support the whole. Blake has taken on more work making The Huntress, arranging songs for female voices and co-engineering, she also mixed and produced the album this time with skilful results.
In reference to the album's title there are two songs dedicated to the hunter-goddess Diana. 'Dianae' is a celebration of the pagan Goddess of the moon. The track is performed without any instrumentation with a constantly repeated refrain providing the backing to the main vocals. 'Queen and Huntress' uses verses by Shakespeare's contemporary Ben Jonson about the brightness of the moon and can be read as relating to the beauty of the Goddess or the Queen. Despite the words, the harps and faintly sorrowful vocals make the track sound more like a warning than a celebration.
Click here to read the rest of the review and to comment
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Originally posted by lambros56
reply to post by TupacShakur
I agree and as funny as this video is. He`s packing a load of information into it.
Alex is crazy but he`s also a genius for waking and continuing to wake people up, no matter how he gets it across.


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BÉRUBÉ, Lizzie (Elizabeth) (Née Latkoczky) - January 3, 1925 – July 13, 2017
Passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her daughter on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Lakeview Manor in Beaverton in her 92nd year.
Elizabeth (Betty) was of Hungarian descent and was born in Saskatchewan on the family farm at NE.20- 24-5-W.2nd near Otthon.
She left the prairies for an employment opportunity in Val d'Or, Quebec. It was here that she met "Charlie", her beloved husband of 58 years.
She will be greatly missed by her loving daughters, Diane (Danny) Di Santo, Linda (Jerry) Allan, Pearl Little. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren, Corey, Melissa, Toby and Daniel.
She is predeceased by her husband, Charles Henri Bérubé (June 2009), her brother, Emrick Louis Latkoczky (April 2016), her mother, Martha Latkoczky (née Kovacs) (November 1991), and her father, Louis Latkoczky (1938).
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Frances McCordic, nurses, caregivers and administrative staff at Lakeview Manor for their care and compassion. Also a special thank you to Dr. Mateya Trinkaus and staff at the Markham Stouffville Hospital and Dr. Zahra Kassam and staff at the Stronach Regional Cancer Center at Southlake in Newmarket.
Family and friends will be received at the Mangan Funeral Home, Beaverton on Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held at 1:00 pm at St. Joseph's Parish, 573 Simcoe Street, Beaverton with Father Oswin Fernandes officiating. A private family interment will follow in Bobcaygeon.


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Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC International Space Station Status Report #03-49 4 p.m. CDT, Friday, Oct. 3, 2003 Expedition 7 Crew The week for Commander Yuri Malenchenko and NASA International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu was filled with work on various science experiments and routine maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory. Lu spent much of his time inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory setting up and performing science investigations. He installed a protein crystal growth experiment in the Microgravity Science Glovebox that will be operated by European Space Agency Astronaut Pedro Duque of Spain, who will arrive at the Station Oct. 20 with the oncoming Expedition 8 crew. Duque, who is flying to the Station on a Soyuz spacecraft under a commercial contract between ESA and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency, will return to Earth Oct. 28 with Malenchenko and Lu. A soldering experiment that is providing insight into how solder connections in space can be improved and an automated Earth observation camera system were also set up by Lu in the lab. This week, Lu worked with the Fluid Dynamics Investigation, which scientists believe will help alleviate problems with mixing samples for tissue growth experiments. Those samples are housed in a bioreactor, which allows three-dimensional tissue cells, like those in the human body, to grow. As part of an educational project to help inspire the next generation of explorers, Lu used well-known objects to videotape center-of-mass demonstrations. Using a screwdriver, a compact disc player, a cassette tape and a ruler, he showed how these objects behave differently without gravity. The video will be distributed to science centers across the country for use in lesson plans and future exhibits. Malenchenko conducted science experiments in the Russian segment of the Space Station. They included biomedical studies of the human body in microgravity as well as observations of thunderstorm activity, the world's ocean biology and studies of how space-based predictions of man-made disasters could be made. The maintenance activities onboard the Station included Malenchenko inspecting fire sensors in the Zarya control module and checking systems in the Pirs Docking Compartment. Both Lu and Malenchenko did monthly maintenance on the treadmill and resistive exercise equipment. Lu also configured the U.S. laptop computers so the Expedition 8 crew can begin using them when it arrives. The oncoming resident crew, Commander and NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Foale and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, along with Duque, are set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:37 a.m. CDT Oct. 18. Information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/ Details on Station science operations can be found on an Internet site administered by the Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., at: http://scipoc.msfc.nasa.gov/ The next ISS status report will be issued Oct. 10 or sooner if events warrant. -end- ---- Via the sarex mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA. To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe sarex" to email@example.com
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I honestly don't know what to type right now, so I'll link to the words of some others folks.
Megan rounded up a lot of the articles, beware, they're pretty bad.
Holly on Feministe.
Little Light is a true poet.
Lisa has a look at how trans*women of color are treated in the media.
Belledame also has some thoughts on the news coverage.
Cara has even more.
This isn't specifically about Sanesha, but Julia Serano's TDoR post is so very touching. And on her Feministing article, she links to this article about Gwen Araujo, but I just want others to read it too.
"No one deserves to be killed for deception.
But in Gwen's case, there was no deception. Gwen was just being herself. In a world in which we are all told we have to be more feminine or more masculine -- Gwen was wise enough to know herself and brave enough to be herself. That is beautiful. She should be our role model.
Instead, transgender people are seen as deceivers. The word "deception" comes up often in our lives." --Dylan Vade
ETA: And another kid was killed; eighth grade, a classmate shot him for being gay and feminine.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A moment of silence...
I honestly don't know what to type right now, so I'll link to the words of some others folks.


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In Outlook 2010, you have a way to check whether the search is synchronous or asynchronous or not. Just created a small code snippet (below) for the reference – you can notice that I just call the application.IsSearchSynchronous() and pass the look in folder which want to try. The path name of the folders that…
Month: November 2011
Recently I was talking to one of my customer. He was suggesting why MS should consider SQL instead of ESE(Extensible Storage Engine) db. It just remembered the famous old blog post at Exchange team blog – just referenced him the same


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33, Qihelou Street, Dongcheng District Beijing 100006 China
Facilities Guests can reach the various storeys easily and comfortably by lift. Services and facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, a bar, a transfer service, room service, a laundry service and a business centre. Wireless internet access in public areas (for a fee) allows travellers to stay connected. Rooms The hotel features rooms with air conditioning and a bathroom. There is also a safe and, for a fee, a minibar. A fridge and a tea/coffee station ensure a comfortable stay. Internet access, a telephone, a TV and WiFi (no extra charge) add to the comfort of the holiday. The accommodation units include a bathroom with a shower. A hairdryer and bathrobes are provided for everyday use. Sports/Entertainment The accommodation offers attractions including sport and entertainment opportunities. The establishment features a pool. Leisure options at the hotel include a gym and a spa, or for a fee, massage treatments. Meals Guests can choose from a range of snacks and meals including breakfast, lunch or dinner. Payment Major credit cards are accepted as payment at the accommodation.


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Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Jesus Christ, God's own Son, left His place in glory to come to a sin filled world because of God's great love for man.
John 3:16 NKJV
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Jesus came to this world, led a sinless life, was rejected by men, beaten, crucified and died for man. Prior to the crucifixion, man did not have direct access to the manifest presence of God. Man was separated from the glory of the Lord by a thick veil.
Matthew 27:50-51 NKJV
" And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split"
At the moment of Jesus' death, the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies was torn into. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we now have direct access to the very presence of God. The blood of Jesus Christ is our access to God. It's up to each individual to use the access or to reject the access.
One day the true believers will be in glory experiencing a special intimacy with and worshiping our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. But for now, God has provided a way that we can still enjoy a portion of the intimacy and fellowship that we were created to have with Him.
God sent His Holy Spirit to teach us, strengthen us, comfort us, guide us, direct us, to pray through us and to help us draw closer to Him. God sent His Holy Spirit to help us worship Him. When we allow the Holy Spirit, He will worship God through us. We can experience the glory of the Lord (the manifest presence of God) right here on earth, if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and worship through us.
Wherever desperate people are, there God will be in the mist of them. If you are desperate for a greater intimacy with God, reach out to God and begin to worship Him. God will draw close to you, if you draw close to Him.
James 4:8 NKJV
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…"
Dear Father,
Thank-you for Your Son, who left His place in glory to come to a sin filled world because of Your great love for me. He is my direct access to You. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may I experience a special intimacy with You. May the Holy Spirit teach me, strengthen me, comfort me, guide me, direct me, pray through me and help me draw closer to You.
In Jesus' precious name, Amen.


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Solar and Lunar Eclipses
There are many celestial events that happen daily. Most of these pass by without the slightest notice by the population at large, but only a few are talked about, prepared for, and celebrated. Many people across the world, however, recognize the phenomenon known as an eclipse. People will travel from country to country in order to view this celestial event. There are two categories of eclipse: solar and lunar.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. The Sun then becomes either partially or full covered to those viewing the eclipse on the Earth. There are several types of solar eclipses. The first is a total eclipse which occurs when the sun is completely obscured by the moon and the bright sun is replaced by the silhouette of the moon and only the corona is visible to the Earth. This type of eclipse is only visible on a very small section of the Earth.
The next type of solar eclipse is called an annular eclipse. This occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the moon appears to be much smaller than the Sun. Therefore, the sun appears as a very bright ring around the silhouette of the moon called an annulus. A hybrid eclipse occurs when the phenomenon phases between a total and an annular eclipse. The final type of solar eclipse is a partial eclipse. In this eclipse, the Moon only partially obscures the sun. This occurs because the umbra, or the darkest part of the shadow, never passes across the surface of the earth.
The other category of eclipse is called a lunar eclipse. This phenomenon occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon causing the moon to dim proportionately the amount of light from the Sun that is blocked by the Earth. As with the solar eclipse, there are several different types of lunar eclipse.
The first kind of lunar eclipse is called a penumbral eclipse. This occurs when the moon enters completely into the Earth's penumbral shadow. This type of eclipse is subtle and difficult to observe. The next type is called a partial lunar eclipse. This can be observed when the moon passes through the Earth's umbral shadow. This is easily observable even to the naked eye. The third basic lunar eclipse is called a total lunar eclipse. This occurs when the entire moon passes through the Earth's numeral shadow. This is a striking event due to the moon's vibrant red color during the total phase.
The eclipse has been heralded throughout history by many different cultures as signs of good fortune or impending doom. Whether or not these phenomena actually mark the passing of significant events, eclipses will continue to captivate the Earth's population at large for as long as humanity continues to exist on this planet.


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We're right in the middle of summer, which means it's a good time to lock yourself inside an air-conditioned home and catch up on some TV, movies, sporting events, or whatever else will keep you glued. If you want to make it truly special, you could opt for one of this year's new HDTVs, which are just starting to hit stores.
JVC is the latest to announce two new lines, which includes a total of four sets. Those models include the 42-inch SL42B-C and 47-inch SL47B-C BlackSapphire Razor-Edge E-LED HDTVs, as well as the 50-inch M Series SP50M-C and 55-inch M Series SP55M-C BlackSapphire E-LED HDTVs. The company says that all four should ship sometime this summer.
The big difference between the two lines is that the smaller sizes have passive 3D technology and a slightly nicer aesthetic (slim bezel, arc stand). The two larger models are a bit more generic and don't have any of the 3D effects. That said, they are bigger -- and we can't argue with that. Also, the 55-incher is priced at a mere $999 and looks pretty nice.
The 42-inch SL42B-C BlackSapphire Razor-Edge E-LED HDTV has passive 3D features, smart TV, and a super-slim bezel.
All four sets also have built-in WiFi and JVC's Internet Connected Experience (I.C.E.) platform, for instant access to Netflix, VUDU, Pandora and Sling Player. That last one is pretty interesting, since it allows users to watch TV from a remote location -- as long as you have a Slingbox in that location. It sounds pretty perfect for a summer home.
The 42- SL42B-C and 47-inch SL47B-C have XinemaSound 3D audio, 120Hz CrystalMotion frame rates, adaptive edge LED backlighting, and CrystalColor Enhancement. It should also be noted that both models come with a QWERTY keypad remote control, as well as four pairs of battery-free 3D glasses. Other features include three HDMI inputs with CEC (and one with Audio Return Channel). a USB port, an Audio Only mode, and onboard Dolby Digitial decoding.
It's interesting that the larger 50-inch SP50M-C and 55-inch SP55M-C models drop the 3D features. However, each one does pack in a 1080p image, the XinemaSound 3D audio, the WiFi and apps, and the QWERTY keypad. Both models also offer the same inputs, including three HDMI inputs with CEC (one with Audio Return Channel) and one USB port, as well as an antenna input, component and composite video inputs, and a music port.
Other features include boast edge LED backlighting with a 120Hz CrystalMotion frame rate, local dimming and the CrystalColor Enhancement. It also adds in Loudness Contour processing for balanced audio and Clear Dialog technology.
Our Editor in Chief Chris Boylan saw these new sets up close and personal in New York this week and thought they offered "an impressive feature set and performance for the money."
Parent company AmTRAN Video Corporation says that the SL42B-C and SL47B-C will ship this summer for $799 and $899, respectively. The SP50M-C and SP55M-C should ship around the same time priced at $899 and $999, respectively.
View the original article here


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If you've been asking "what do painters charge" for painting and decorating services, the best answer is, it depends. There are a few things to consider when painting like the size of your room and the scope of the project. Our PRICING page gives a few customizable options that will fit most situations that our customers face. However, scheduling an estimate is the best way to get accurate pricing for your unique project.
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We'll discuss paint options and then you'll be able to select from our Premium, Standard and Basic options which package suits you best. Your estimator or color consultant will help you schedule the your project start date and coordinate with our talented painters on commencing your project.
Our aim is to maintain consistent contact to provide excellent service. We promise to deliver the best painting experience you've ever had or your Paint is 100% FREE!


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Experiencing Colorado Wine: The Dry Red Wines (Littleton, CO: Apex Publications, 2013) by C.S. Vin (a pseudonym) was sent to us for review recently. We have a special interest in Colorado wines because we have been going to Breckenridge for Spring Break skiing for a few years now. But, to our chagrin, we've only tasted one Colorado wine while there (though we did get to taste a few more at the Great American Wine Festival).
The book is a guide to dry red wines made only from vitis vinifera grapes - no wines made from hybrids or other fruits were included). Its purpose is to introduce the Colorado winemaking industry to a larger audience, suggest wine and food pairings, and promote the idea that what we taste has less to do with taste buds and sense of smell and more to do with our emotions.
The book is filled with interviews (with winegrowers, winemakers, chefs, and more), the author's experience at each winery, and his personal favorite from each winery. Pains are taken to reiterate that wine is personal, with each person bringing different experience to the tasting table. Location is important as well: tasting wine while a bear strolls up to the deck you are standing on will certainly taste differently then other times!
We were especially excited to read the sections that have to do with Creekside Cellars, as we have connected with winemaker Michelle Cleveland and are planning on visiting the winery this Spring, on our way to Breckenridge. This book has certainly whetted our appetite for that upcoming experience!
This title is Volume I of "The Premier Guide to Quality and Styles." Volume II, covering white, rosé, and sweet wines is scheduled for release in 2014.
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The Gap Inc. (GPS - Free Report) , as part of its expansion project in the $1.4 trillion global apparel market, has taken a maiden step to bring its brand to Africa. The company is expected to unveil the latest trend in Egypt and Morocco in July and October, respectively.
The company has plans to open a Gap store in Egypt while The Gap and Banana Republic stores in Morocco. Only last year, The Gap had taken an initiative to sell its products in Egypt, Morocco and South Africa via its international online shipping provider.
Through contracts with its existing franchise -- The Fawaz Al Hokair Group -- Gap expects to introduce its first store in Egypt in the Mall of Arabia, located in the capital city of Cairo. The company also plans to open two more Gap stores in Cairo's City Stars Mall and Sun City Mall in October.
In Morocco, the company expects to open its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Casablanca. Morocco has a flourishing retail market and a growing urban population, an advantage that the company would like to cash in on in its efforts to spur growth. The Gap through a new franchise agreement with Aksal Group will first make its products available to Moroccan customers in the city's new Morocco Mall.
The leading global specialty retailer has lately consolidated its foreign business under one division from London. The rationalized division, which is headed by Stephen Sunnucks, is responsible for all company-operated and franchised stores across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia Pacific and South America.
The Gap currently has expanded its franchise store base to more than 180 and stretched out its footprint from 2 to 29 countries which includes Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia, Chile, Serbia and now Africa. The company expects to increase its franchised store base to 400 by 2014.
Based in San Francisco, California, The Gap Inc. is a premier international specialty retailer offering a diverse range of clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies. Its flagship brands include Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta.
However, The Gap operates in a highly fragmented market and competes with well-established rivals like American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO - Free Report) and The TJX Companies Inc. (TJX - Free Report) .
The Gap's shares maintain a Zacks #4 Rank, which translates into a short-term Sell rating. Our long-term recommendation on the stock remains Neutral.
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text: Hy to all ONE SIMPLE QUESTION: I want to create and to control the links to my money sites. What have more value to SEO and more link juice? 1)To construct my own BLOG FARM on my payed hosts and to post remotely on them ? ( I own about 2-3 different clas C IPs and i can set on each about 3-4 WP blogs with articles) 2)or to create my blogs or my posts on WP and WP mu sites( not my sites) ..( using for example LinkFarm Evolution)? Maybe with the second method I wil have more IPs but the quality will be lower. I tend to use the first method, because my blogs will resist..but is more costly IN OTHER WORS MY QUESTION IS :It is worth today to maintain about ..6-9 blogs on 3 IPs for a small blog farm or is worth to spamm the other WP MU sites? Your opinion please


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To celebrate the two-year anniversary of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Naughty Dog is making all available DLC maps for Uncharted 3 free.
Players looking to capitalise are advised to simply head to the in-game store and download the Flashback Map Pack 1 and 2, and the Drake's Deception Map Pack, writes Naughty Dog's Eric Monacelli on PlayStation Blog.
In addition, Naughty Dog has prepared one final map, Dry Docks. This map is also free and is available in all competitive playlists and custom games.
The team has also combed through player feedback and has released one last multiplayer patch. Patch 1.18 brings a host of gameplay adjustments and "highly-sought changes." A full list of tweaks can be seen here.
This will be the final major patch to Uncharted 3 "unless there's a dire need for a future one," writes Monacelli.
Luke is Games Editor at IGN AU. You can find him on IGN here or on Twitter @MrLukeReilly, or chat with him and the rest of the Australian team by joining the IGN Australia Facebook community.


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A valve with a bellows to seal off the stem enclosure is an ideal choice whenever leakage to the atmosphere is intolerable due to toxicity, chemical corrosion, radioactivity, other health or ecological reasons. In addition, seal welding the body-bonnet seal makes the valve hermetically sealed. The bellows is welded to the stem and to the bottom of the bonnet.
Supplier: Saitai Valve, China
Manufacturer: Shop in Shanghai Qingpu Industrial Park
Bellows Seal Products acc. to DIN
Bellows Seal Products acc. to ANSI


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Symbolic Understanding in Infants and Young Children: Challenges and Benefits, Part 1 - 2007
Nothing is more important in early human development than learning to use the symbols through which we communicate with one another. In this lecture, Dr. DeLoache reviews her research on the challenges that infants and very young children face as they become symbol-minded– as they figure out the nature and use of a variety of everyday symbolic objects.
Judy DeLoache, William R. Kenan Jr. Chair of Psychology, University of Washington
Steve Buck, professor, chair, department of psychology, University of Washington


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DP83816-EX is a single-chip 10/100 Mb/s Ethernet Controller for the PCI bus. It is targeted at single board computers for embedded applications requiring a high speed PCI bus.. The DP83816-EX fully implements the V2.2 33 MHz PCI bus interface for host communications with power management support. Packet descriptors and data are transferred via bus-mastering, reducing the burden on the host CPU. The DP83816-EX can support full duplex 10/100 Mb/s transmission and reception, with minimum interframe gap.
The DP83816-EX device is an integration of an enhanced version of the National Semiconductor PCI MAC/BIU (Media Access Controller/Bus Interface Unit) and a 3.3V CMOS physical layer interface.


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This job is currently Archived,
Policy Assistant, Government Affairs & Policy EMEA (1 year contract) Belgium,
Johnson & Johnson (company)
Posted on : 12 June 2017
Project Description
Company Description
- We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people.
- Employees of our company work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.
Department Description
- Our company is broadly based in healthcare and is organized into three business segments comprised of franchises and therapeutic categories.
- They include Medical Devices and consumer Med Tech products, Consumer Health products and Pharmaceuticals.
- The Government Affairs & Policy (GA&P) organization serves all three businesses and the Enterprise overall through shaping healthcare systems and promoting innovation around the world.
- The Policy Assistant will be based in Belgium, and will report to the Lead, External Affairs & Alliance Development, GA&P EMEA.
Job description
- Monitor and report on EU and national developments on Healthcare and Public Health policies as well as on relevant institutional activities and industry trends
- Research and become familiar with new stakeholders and potential alliances for our company and develop strategic recommendations on engagement programs with them
- Manage GA&P EMEA s stakeholder and alliance database (CRM system)
- Provide team and senior business partners with background research on key topics and for use in speaking engagements
- Support outreach activities, organization of advocacy strategies and projects with relevant external stakeholders, demonstrating strong project management skills
- Coordinate with Medical Device, Pharmaceuticals and Consumer colleagues on a continuous daily basis
- Support projects specific to Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals, and/or Consumer Healthcare to ensure the implementation of impactful advocacy and policy programs.
- Work closely with GA&P colleagues in the EMEA markets to ensure they receive appropriate policy support.
- Provide assistance to respond to internal enquiries on policy issues and on public consultations.
- Support internal communication platforms and initiatives (newsletters, intranet sites, etc.)
- Coordinate, in alignment with the Alliance Development & External Affairs Lead and the full GA&P team our company s positioning on public health and healthcare policy issues to boost the Enterprise public reputation and trust.
- Support the effective execution of external company-sponsored events and speaking platforms where GA&P or other executives are involved.
Education & experience
- Master s degree in political science, international relations, economics, business, or equivalent
- 1-2 years experience in international public affairs work (corporate, consultancy, NGO, trade association, EU institutions)
- Strong understanding of EU legislative process and the EU institutions
- Excellent understanding of healthcare policy, public health, reputation management and coalition/alliance development
- Solid ethical behavior and mindset
- Strong project management skills
- Strong analytical skills, service-oriented and self-starter
- Ability to think horizontally, connecting the dots , seeing cross-sector opportunities and synergies
- Understanding of strategy with a strong detail orientation in execution
- Intellectual curiosity with interest in details, structured, good time management and stress resistant
- Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills,
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as extremely strong document design capabilities (PowerPoint excellence is a must, and other design software is a plus)
- Understanding of and affinity with social media and its use in public affairs
- High proficiency in English is a must, additional European languages an asset
- Please note that this regards a temporary contract of 1 year
- As an employee we consider you as our most valuable asset. We take your career seriously.
- As part of a global team in an innovative environment your development is key and our day-to-day responsibility.
- Through e-university, on the job training, various projects and programs, we ensure your personal growth.
- Our benefits make sure we care for you and your family now and in the future.
Brussels Capital Region Belgium
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The First Museum Of Its Kind In The Nation!
Through innovative and dynamic state-of-the-art exhibitions, as well as compelling programming, the American Writers Museum educates, enriches, provokes, and inspires visitors of all ages.
Buy Tickets!
Find out more information about ticket pricing, group rates, museum hours, directions, accessibility and more.More info
Upcoming Events & Series
View our upcoming programs currently being offered. New programs are added regularly, so come back often to check for updates.view all
Learn more about our interactive exhibits, various galleries, and temporary installations.view exhibits
Enjoy the benefits of Membership! Unlimited free admission to the museum, exclusive invitations to members-only events, exhibits, author readings and lectures, discounts, guest passes and more.more info


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Become a Chamber Member Today.
- Grow Your BusinessWe exist to support our members business needs, and to help make Tuscarawas County a better place to live...a better place to work...a better place to raise a familyLearn More >
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- Local Business NewsMembers of the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce are often in the news.
Please click here for the latest updates on area business and industry.»
- Business After Hours The monthly Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours is an opportunity for you to network with other community business people. Please click here for more information.»


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Azimut posted total net inflows €236m in August
Total assets under management stood at €19.5bn and including assets under administration reached €21.7bn.
Azimut Holding posted total net inflows of €236m in August, €150m of which came from Luxembourg funds AZ Fund 1 and AZ Fund Multi Asset, bringing the total amount YTD to €1.9bn.
Pietro Giuliani, Azimut's chairman and CEO, commented: "We closed August with yet another extraordinary result (€236m), reaching eleven consecutive months with inflows above €100m.
"This positive trend is sustained by the strong enthusiasm, high level of experience as well as expertise of our professionals, both on the asset management and distribution side."


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Jen The Classic Beauty II
I just love stockings and heels and I d wear them all the time if I could! Most of the mail I get asks for more picture sets in stockings and hold ups-well here they are! I hope you like this set, I do so feel free to send any comments as I always reply to the nice ones! Kisses Jen xxxxxxxx
Only Members Can See The Whole Upload
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The Fremd hockey team has won just about everything in the last three years-except last year's Scholastic Cup.
"I reminded the guys about that this week," Fremd coach Mike Tompkins said. "I want to make sure they're ready this time."
Scholastic Cup play begins this week for the North, Northwest and Central divisions of the Chicago Metro High School Hockey League. No team will be more ready to get started than the Vikings.
The two-time defending state champions were upset last year by Glenbrook South in the second round, ending a string of 57 straight games without a loss.
Although Fremd went on to record a second straight state championship, the blemish was there for everybody to see.
This time, Tompkins says, the Vikings will be ready. They are hot (17-0), healthy and hungry.
"The loss last year turned out to be a good motivator for us going into the state playoffs," said Tompkins, whose team opens play Sunday against Hersey in the Northwest round-robin playoffs.
"But I think we'll be ready to play our best this year."
Lake Park takes on Rockford in the other Northwest first-round game Sunday. Pairings for the Metro North, Metro Central and Metro West will be announced this weekend. Two winners from each of the four Metro divisions will advance to the Scholastic Cup quarterfinals, to be played Feb. 27-28.
The semifinal round will be played March 3, with the finals scheduled for March 6 at Wilmette Ice Arena.
Founders Cup play around the league also begins this week, with the second-division teams battling for a spot in the Founders title game March 6.
- Fenwick can wrap up its first Catholic League regular-season title since 1967-68 Saturday when it plays winless Brother Rice at 11:45 a.m. at Franklin Park Ice Arena.
The Friars (9-2-6) lead second-place Mt. Carmel (10-4-3) by one point with one game to play. Mt. Carmel takes on St. Rita at 6:10 p.m. Saturday at Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena.
Credit some fair-minded Catholic League coaches with an assist if Fenwick does win the crown. The Friars last week had an early-season forfeit overturned after coaches voted the punishment too severe.
Fenwick coach Jerry Korab had been slapped with the forfeit for taking the bench in a game he was supposed to have sat out because of an earlier disqualification. Fenwick won 7-3, but Korab claimed he had not been informed of the rules until after he had taken the bench.
"They decided not to punish the kids," one Catholic League coach said of the reversal.
- Looking for a hot team as the Catholic League gets ready to begin Kennedy Cup play this week? How about St. Laurence?
The Vikings are 4-1-1 in their last six games, with a victory over Mt. Carmel and a tie against Fenwick included.
Coach Tom Kurzawski's team, led by sophomore Chuck Mindel and seniors Brian Travis, Mike Bauer and goalie Sean Carter, recently got a boost with the return of standout winger Keith Mackey from a two-month absence for personal reasons.
- The Metro North all-star game will be played at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Northbrook Sports Complex. Among the players competing will be Loyola Maroon defenseman Rock Dudek, only the second freshman ever named to the Metro North all-star squad. Michigan State's Scott Dean, who prepped at Lake Forest, was the other.


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This Is What You Are Missing!
We Have A Plan For You!
Our two membership plans are slightly different and our staff will help you determine which is best for your based on your fitness goals.
Base Membership
- Access To Your One Club of Choice
- Spa Amenities (Amenities Vary From Location to Location)
- Monthly Evaluations
- 1 Day VIP Passes for Guest
Premier Membership
- Access To Your One Club of Choice
- Group Fitness Classes
- Spa Amenities (Amenities Vary From Location to Location)
- Monthly Evaluations
- Kids Club (Not Available At All Locations)
- 1 Day VIP Passes for Guest
Every Shapes® member can take advantage of complimentary monthly fitness evaluations that include measurements, body fat percentage, body mass index, measure of flexibility, cardiovascular fitness test and goal setting. Results are documented on a program card and celebrated on a monthly basis.
Members who don't use the facilities are contacted by phone, email or letter in an attempt to bring them back in the doors. Member Appreciation Days are held in each club twice a month to thank the members for their business and new member referrals. Contests are held throughout the year for workout challenges and referral promotions reward members for sending their friends and family to Shapes®. We pride ourselves in making sure that we not only greet every member by her name but with a big friendly smile. We have a wide open door policy for every comment, concerns, compliment or funny joke. The management team strives on making every member feel comfortable and heard.
Members satisfaction is guaranteed and is our #1 priority at Shapes® Fitness.


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Gala Park, Galashiels
HAGS were invited by the Scottish Borders Council to tender for part of the various proposed play park upgrades they have planned throughout the county, the first being Gala Park in Galashiels.
26/07/2018 17:07:00Case Study Details
Arnot Hill Playground, Gedling
Arnot Hill Playground was a popular site but needed an upgrade. The park has undergone a £129,000 refurbishment partly funded by WREN and designed by HAGS.
25/07/2018 15:33:00Case Study Details
Bellshill Academy, North Lanarkshire
HAGS were invited by North Lanarkshire Council to tender for the provision of a large Multi-Use Games Area at Bellshill Academy. The contract was the largest development of this type that North Lanarkshire had carried out and was awarded to HAGS via a competitive process.
05/04/2018 15:08:00Case Study Details
Get more inspiration from other installations all around the worldView All Case Studies
School Playground Solutions
Discover our exciting and innovative school playground equipment, such as the Primary Arena and Modular Multi-play Units. We provide a full service from design through to installation. We start by creating fresh exciting designs based on consultations with school councils, teachers and PT groups as well as our own personal experiences.
Inspiring all generations
Play is crucial to the development of children during Early Years and Key stages 1 and 2. In particular, physical and social interaction in the playground can dramatically improve behaviour inside the classroom. Providing opportunities for outdoor play and learning is also hugely beneficial for children that find the classroom inhibiting.
For HAGS, a school playground should offer a variety of experiences that allow children to expel energy, socialise and explore their outdoor environment. Our philosophy is to inspire all generations by creating exciting school playgrounds that combine fun with learning, support the curriculum and serve as an extension to the indoor classroom.
Our Schools Product Range
HAGS encompasses a wide portfolio of products, including trim trails, multi-play units and the Imagination Playground play system. We regularly come up with exciting innovations, such as Primary Arena, a multi-sports system specifically designed for Key Stages 1 and 2 with the National Curriculum in mind.
Working with you
HAGS provides a full service from design through to installation. We start by creating fresh exciting designs based on consultations with school councils, teachers and PT groups as well as our own personal experiences and the latest industry research.
As children are the ultimate experts in play, we visit classrooms to find out what type of playground they want. Talking with school representatives also helps us to assess the site, establish the budget and create a playground that offers plenty of play value, and is accessible to every child whatever their age, ability or disability.
Take a look at our latest school brochure which includes case studies and product information.View brochure
Margaret Wix Primary School, St Albans
Head Teacher at Margaret Wix Primary School, Mr Johnston, was looking for something colourful, durable and offering increased challenges for his Key Stage 2 children. The children wanted to bring music and sound into the area and the school had a preference for steel equipment, rather than timber.Read More
Lindon Bennett School, London
HAGS designed a bespoke UniPlay unit with inclusive access and activities. The unit was multi-level featuring a double-width slide, net climber, ships wheel, table and benches, and interactive games. It also featured ramp access to allow inclusive play for many of the features.Read More
The team's communication and liaison was excellent. Where compromise was necessary because of prevailing conditions, the outcome was always in the best interests of the children. All parties brought their own skill set and worked as a dream team!


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Quick Reference
(b. Utrera, Spain, 26 March 1871; d. Madrid, 12 April 1938) and
(b. Utrera, 21 Jan. 1873; d. Madrid, 14 June 1944)
Brothers who wrote prolifically in collaboration. Helen and ...
Subjects: Theatre.
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One year ago this month, we published Everything That Remains, a memoir about our journey from suit-n-tie corporate guys to becoming The Minimalists. Thanks to y'all, the book became a bestseller and is now available in half-a-dozen languages (and growing).
We are grateful for everyone who supported the project this past year: everyone we met on tour; everyone who purchased the book or grabbed a library copy; and everyone who helped spread our minimalist message by sharing it with others. You'll be happy to hear that the majority of the book's proceeds have been used to: 1) invest in other people, 2) propagate our simple-living credo, and 3) contribute to a handful of nonprofits and causes we believe in.
Thank you for being part of a growing movement. Together we can make significant improvements to the world around us by consuming less and contributing more.
If you found value in Everything That Remains, we'd be grateful for a review on Amazon or Goodreads. And of course once you've finished reading the book, minimize it! Pass it on to someone who might find value in its words.
Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.