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A Magic of Dawn
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|S. L. Farrell
DAW Books, 2010
|The Nessantico Cycle: Book 3
1. A Magic of Twilight
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Kraljica Allesandra sits on the Sun Throne of a much-diminished Holdings empire, while her son Jan rules the rival Coalition of Firenzcia. The schism between them threatens to tear apart the realm when they need solidarity the most. Facing powerful threats, from the rising influence of the Numetodo sect to the fundamentalist preacher Nico Morel-as well as the army of Tehuantin from across the sea- Allesandra and Jan must each find a pathway to survival for themselves and their people.
Prelude: Nessantico
If a city can have a gender, Nessantico was female...
She had experienced the flowering of all her promise and her beauty during the long reign of Kraljica Marguerite. In that magnificent half-century, Nessantico's long childhood and even longer adolescence culminated in mingled elegance and power, unmatched anywhere in the known world. For fifty years, she brooked no peer. For fifty years, she believed that this glorious present would be eternal, that her ascent would -- no, must -- continue.
Her superiority was ordained. It was destined. It would last forever.
It would not.
Kraljica Marguerite, like all those who ruled within Nessantico's confines, was human and mortal; Marguerite's son Justi and then Justi's son Audric, both of whom inherited the Sun Throne, didn't possess Marguerite's gifts. Without Marguerite's strong guidance, without her guile and her wisdom, Nessantico's flowering was sadly short-lived. The blossom of Marguerite's promise withered and died in far less time than it had taken it to bloom.
Worse, rivals rose to challenge Nessantico. Firenzcia betrayed her: Firenzcia, the brother-city who had always envied her; Firenzcia, who had always been her companion, her strength, her shield and her sword. Firenzcia left her to form its own empire.
And from the unknown west strode a new, harsher challenge: an alien, unguessed empire as strong as Nessantico herself. Stronger, perhaps; for the Tehuantin -- as they were called -- not only ripped away Nessantico's hold on their shores, but sent an army over the sea to plunder and rape and destroy the cities of the Holdings and to shatter the walls of Nessantico herself.
The assault left Nessantico shaken and afraid. She was stained by the soot of magical fire and twice-trampled by the boots of foreign soldiers: first the Tehuantin, then the Firenzcians. The architectural beauty of her buildings morphed into toppled columns. broken domes and roofless husks. The A'Sele was clogged with bodies and refuse.
Nessantico... she was a woman exhausted by her struggles, worn by her cares, and clothed in the shredded tatters of her old supremacy. Her sense of security and inevitability was lost, perhaps -- she feared -- forever. The smell still lingered in her streets: a malodorous stench of rotting flesh, blood, and ash.
A lesser entity would have collapsed. A lesser entity might have looked at her sad reflection in the fouled waters of the River A'Sele and seen a skeletal death-mask staring back. A lesser entity would have given up and ceded her supremacy to Firenzcia or to the unglimpsed cities of the Tehuantin.
Not her.
Not Nessantico.
She gathered the tatters around herself. She drew herself up and cleansed herself as best she could. She cloaked herself in pride and memories and belief, and vowed that one day, one day, the rest of the world would again bow to her.
One day...
But not yet today.
Allesandra ca'Vörl
Gschnas -- the False World Ball -- swirled below Allesandra in the Great Hall of the Kraljica's Palais. The hall was still partially under construction, but that only lent depth to the ambience.
After all, the False World Ball was where reality was turned on its head. Costumes -- the stranger and more creative, the better -- were required of all attendees. The cracks in the walls had been filled with sculptures of demons or miniature pastoral landscapes, as if the foundations of reality itself had broken, the cracks providing glimpses of entire new worlds set at odd angles to their own. A flock of flightless birds had been brought in from Far Namarro: as tall as a man, with tufts of grandly-colored plumage rising from their rumps. They wandered among the revelers. Several téni from the A'Téni's Temple had been set to keeping a river of crystalline water flowing in a sweeping curve above the dancers' heads, with large goldfish swimming placidly in the magic-driven currents. The musicians sat on chairs perched within a huge gilded frame hung on the wall at one end of the room, their backdrop a beautifully-painted landscape, so it appeared that a painting of musicians had magically sprung to life.
Gschnas: a fantasy created for the entertainment of the ca'-and-cu' -- the wealthy and important people of the city and of the greater Holdings. They had come bearing the Kraljica's gilded invitations: they packed the floor below Allesandra bedecked in their glittering costumes: A'Téni ca'Paim, the highest ranking téni of the city; Commandant Telo cu'Ingres of the Garde Kralji; Commandant Eleric ca'Talin of the Garde Civile; Sergei ca'Rudka, once Regent and now Ambassador to Firenzcia; all of the members of the Council of Ca' except the Numetodo Varina ca'Pallo, who was home with her desperately ill husband...
"Kraljica, you look stunning." Talbot ci'Noel, her aide, came up alongside her as she peered over the balcony at the gathering. He was dressed as a monkey, an ironic costume for a man who was always exceedingly proper and elegant, and who ruled the palais staff with a fist of iron and a voice of fire. Behind the furred snout of the mask, his lips smiled. "Are you ready for your entrance?" Already, the dozen or so téni had begun their chanting. Talbot tested -- for what seemed the hundredth time -- the ropes attached to the harness concealed in Allesandra's gown: a flowing, billowing fantasy of chiffon and lace ribbons, so that when she moved, trails of shimmering color rippled in vain pursuit.
"I'm ready," she told Talbot. Two servants came forward, each with a glass ball enchanted with Numetodo spells -- Talbot was a Numetodo himself, and Varina, the A'Morce of the Numetodo, had herself placed the spells in the glass balls. Allesandra took one in each hand. Talbot gestured to another of the servants on the floor below, who in turn signaled the musicians. The gavotte they had been playing abruptly ended, followed by an ominous, low roll of the drums like thunder. The chanting of the téni increased, and the ceiling of the palais was suddenly obscured by dark, roiling clouds from which lightning hissed and arced. Allesandra spoke the spell-word Varina had given her, and the globes in Allesandra's hands blossomed with pure, white light -- so bright that Allesandra, wearing glasses with smoked lenses as protection, could barely see for the coruscating brilliance. Anyone looking up at these sudden twin suns was momentarily blinded. Allesandra felt the ropes pull and lift her: she was gliding up and over the balcony rail, then descending slowly toward the floor. The glass globes were cold in her hand with the Numetodo magic. and the globes now flared brilliant trails of sparks, as if two slow meteors were descending from the heavens to earth, a human figure trapped in their intense radiance. Allesandra heard the applause and cheers welling up to greet her. Her feet touched the marble floor (she was certain she could almost hear Talbot's sigh of relief), and the light within the globes blossomed -- an iridescent and almost painful blue, followed by pure, aching gold: the colors of the Holdings. At the same time, servants hurried from the sides of the hall to remove the ropes from the harness catches and take her glasses. The ropes were hastily pulled up as the globes maintained their brilliance, then finally went dark.
And there, as eyesight slowly returned to the onlookers, was the Kraljica, her crown on her head. The ovation was pleasingly deafening. "Thank you all," she said as they bowed and cheered. "Thank you. Now, please -- enjoy the ball!" She gestured, and the music began once more, and the couples on the dance floor bowed to each other and resumed the dance. The ca'-and-cu' pressed around her in their costumes, bowing and murmuring their appreciation, and she smiled to them as she passed among them.
She saw Sergei among them, and gestured for him to join her. He bowed -- awkwardly, his arthritic body no longer as supple and flexible as it had been when she'd first known him -- and he came over to her, leaning heavily on his cane. He smiled at her, the reflective silver paint on his face cracking slightly as he did so. Sergei's silver nose -- the false one he always wore to replace the one of flesh he'd lost in his youth -- seemed almost to be part of him tonight. A patchwork of small mirrors covered the bashta he wore. Crazed, broken reflections of herself and the dancers and crowd behind her moved madly around him. The lights of the hall flared and shimmered in the tiny mirrors, dancing from the nearest walls.
"That was quite an entrance," Sergei said. Allesandra slowed her pace to his as they moved through the crowds.
"Thank you for suggesting the method, though you had poor Talbot terrified that something would go wrong. I must say, however, that I'll need to retire for a bit soon to have my attendants get rid of the harness; it's rubbing my poor skin raw."
He smiled. "The Kraljiki's entrance should always be dramatic," he said, smiling. "A little discomfort is fair payment for a stunning appearance. You should know that."
"That's easy for you to say, Sergei, when you don't have to endure it."
"I've always loved the Gschnas," Sergei told her. "I'm glad you've brought back the tradition. Kraljica. Nessantico needs her traditions, especially after the last few years."
Especially after the last few years. The comment tightened her lips and narrowed her eyes. "You needn't bring that up now, Ambassador," she told him. The history was never far from anyone's mind in Nessantico: the horrible cost of recovery after the Westlanders nearly destroyed the city, the continued separation of the Holdings and the Coalition nations, and most recently, the political and military disaster in West Magyaria..
"Then I won't," he answered. "Though I do need to talk with you about the Firenzcian spy that Talbot believes he's discovered..." As Sergei talked, she looked away from the images of herself on his clothing to the crowd that pressed in around them. She saw a man staring at her. He was handsome, his skin somewhat darker than most of those in the hall, his head entirely shaved, though his beard full and midnight-black. His clothing was loose and wildly-colored, and feathers sprouted from the shoulders as if he were some exotic bird. His eyes -- behind a beaked demi-mask -- were strangely blue and light, his gaze piercing and keen. He saw her attention and he nodded slightly toward her.
Sergei was still talking. "...already has the traitorous servant in the Bastida, so he'll be no more trouble. But there are still the Morellis-" He stopped as she raised her hand.
"Who is that man?" she whispered to Sergei, glancing again at him. "He looks Magyarian."
Sergei followed her gaze. "Indeed, Kraljica. That is Erik ca'Vikej. He's just come to Nessantico yesterday. There's undoubtedly a note on your desk from him requesting an audience. I haven't had the chance to speak to him myself yet."
"Stor ca'Vikej's son?" The man had truly wonderful eyes. He continued to regard her, though he made no move to approach.
"The same."
"I will see him," she told Sergei. "In the south alcove, a mark of the glass from now. Tell him."
Sergei might have frowned, but he bowed his head. "As you wish, Kraljica," he said. His cane tapped on the marble floor as he left her side, his costume sending motes of light fluttering. Allesandra turned away, nodding and conversing with others as she moved slowly around the hall. Talbot came to her side, having paid and dismissed the téni who had helped with her descent, and she told him to clear the south alcove. She continued on her procession around the room. A'Téni ca'Paim, the head of the Faith in Nessantico, dressed tonight as one of the Red Moitidi, was approaching. "Ah, A'Téni ca'Paim, so good of you to attend, and your téni have done a wonderful job this evening..."
A mark of the glass later, Allesandra had made a circuit of the hall and moved past the line of servants Talbot had set around the alcove to keep away the crowd. She took a seat there, listening to the music. A few moments later, Sergei approached, with ca'Vikej just behind him. "Kraljica, may I present Erik ca'Vikej..."
The man stepped forward and performed a deep, elaborate bow. She remembered that bow: a Magyarian form of courtesy. The ca'-and-cu' of West Magyaria had bowed the same way for her late husband Pauli, who had become Gyula of West Magyaria after their rancorous separation, only to be assassinated by his own people eight years later. Two years ago, Eric's vatarh, Stor, had tried to step into the vacuum left by Pauli's death.
Allesandra had made the decision to back him. That choice had turned out to be one poor, the full extent of which was still be determined. She'd made the choice to send only a small part of the Holdings army to support Stor ca'Vijek's own troops. That had doomed them, and the effort had ended in a military defeat for the Holdings at the hands of Allesandra's son, Hïrzg Jan.
"Especially after the last few years..." Sergei's comment still rankled.
"Kraljica Allesandra, it is my pleasure to meet you at last." The man's voice was as stunning as his eyes: low and mellifluous, yet he didn't seem to notice its power. He kept his head down. "I wanted to thank you for your support of my vatarh. He was always grateful to you for your championing of our cause, and he always spoke well of you."
Allesandra searched his voice for a hint of sarcasm or irony; there was none. He seemed entirely sincere. Sergei was looking carefully to one side, hiding whatever he was thinking. Close, she could see the gray flecks in ca'Vikej's beard and the lines around his eyes and mouth: he was not much younger than she was herself -- not surprisingly, since Stor ca'Vikej had been elderly when he'd tried to take the Gyula's throne. "I wish events had gone differently," she told him. "But it wasn't Cénzi's will."
The man made the sign of Cénzi at that statement -- he was of the Faith, then. "Perhaps less Cénzi than circumstances, Kraljica," he answered. "My vatarh was... impatient. I'd counseled him to wait for a time when the Kraljica and the Holdings could have supported us more openly. I told him then that the two battalions you sent were the most he could expect unless he waited, but..." He shrugged; the motion was as graceful as his manner. "I warned him that Hïrzg Jan would come down with the full fury of the Firenzcian army."
Yes, and Sergei told me the same thing, and I didn't believe him. She nodded, but she didn't say that. Handsome, modest, polite, but there was ambition in Erik ca'Vikej as well. Allesandra could see it. And there was anger toward the Coalition for his vatarh's death. "You are more patient than your vatarh, perhaps, Vajiki ca'Vikej, but yet you want the same thing. And you're going to tell me that there are still many Magyarians who support you in this."
He smiled at that: graceful, yes. "Evidently my head is entirely transparent to the Kraljica." He swept a hand over his bald skull. He managed to look almost comically bemused. "Next time, I should perhaps wear a hat."
She laughed softly at that; she saw Sergei glance at her oddly. "Supporting your vatarh as much as I did nearly brought me to war with my own son," she told him.
"Family relationships too often resemble those between countries," he answered, still smiling. "There are some borders that must not be crossed." He cocked his head slightly as the musicians started a new song out in the hall. He held his hand out toward Allesandra. "Would the Kraljica be willing to dance with me -- for the sake of what she meant to my vatarh?"
Allesandra could see the slight shake of Sergei's head. She knew what he was thinking as well: You don't want reports to get back to Brezno that you are entertaining Stor ca'Vikej's son... But there was something about him, something that drew her. "I thought you were a patient man."
"My vatarh also taught me that an opportunity missed is one forever lost." His eyes laughed, held in fine, dark lines.
Allesandra rose from her chair. She took his hand.
"Then, for the sake of your vatarh, we should dance," she said, and led him from the alcove.
Varina ca'Pallo
It was difficult to be stoic, even though she knew that was what Karl would have wanted of her.
Karl had been failing for the last month. Looking at him now, Varina sometimes found it hard to find in the drawn, haggard face the lines of the man she had loved, to whom she'd been married for nearly fourteen years now, who had taken her name and her heart.
Because he was so much older than her, she had feared that their time together must end this way, with him dying before her.
It seemed that would be the case.
"Are you in pain, love?" she asked, stroking his balding head, a few strands of gray-white hair clinging stubbornly to the crown. He shook his head without speaking -- talking seemed to exhaust him. His breath was too fast and too shallow, almost a panting, as if clinging to life required all the effort he could muster. "No? That's good. I have the healer's brew right here if that changes. She said that a few sips would take away any pain and let you sleep. Just let me know if you need it -- and don't you dare try to be brave and ignore it."
Varina smiled at him, stroking his sunken, stubbled cheek. She turned away because the tears threatened her again. She sniffed, taking in a long breath that shuddered with the ghost of the sobs that wracked her when she was away from him, when she allowed the grief and emotions to take her. She brushed at her eyes with the sleeve of her tashta and turned back to him, the smile fixed again on her face. "The Kraljica sent over a letter, saying how much she missed us at the Gschnas last night. She said that her entrance went better than she could have wished, and that the globes I enchanted for her worked perfectly. And oh, I forgot to tell you -- a letter also came today from your son Colin. He says that your great-daughter Katerina is getting married next month, and that he wishes... he wishes you..." She stopped. Karl would not be going to the wedding. "Anyway, I've written back to him, and told him that you're not... you're not well enough to travel to Paeti right now."
Karl stared at her. That was all he could do now. Stare. His skin was stretched tautly over the skull of his face, the eyes sunken into deep, black hollows; Varina wondered if he even saw her, if he noticed how old she'd become as well, how her studies of the Tehunatin magic had taken a terrible physical toll on her. Karl ate almost nothing -- it was all she could do to get warm broth down his throat. He had difficulty swallowing even that. The healer only shook her head on her daily visits. "I'm sorry, Councilor ca'Pallo," she said to Varina. "But the Ambassador is beyond any skill I have. He's lived a good life, he has, and it's been longer than most. You have to be ready to let him go."
But she wasn't ready. She wasn't certain she would ever be, could ever be. After all the years she'd wanted to be with him, after all those years when his love for Ana ca'Seranta had blinded him to her, she was to be with him only for so short a time? Less than two decades? When he was gone, there'd be nothing left of him. Karl and Varina had no children of their own; despite being twelve years younger than Karl, she'd been unable to conceive with him. There'd been a miscarriage in their first year, then nothing, and her own monthly bleeding had ended five years ago now. There were times, in the last several weeks, when she'd envied those who could pray to Cénzi for a boon, a gift, a miracle. As a Numetodo, as a non-believer, she had no such solace herself; her world was bereft of gods who could grant favors. She could only hold Karl's hand and gaze at him and hope.
You have to be ready to let him go...
She took his hand, pressed it in her fingers. It was like holding a skeleton's hand; there was no returning pressure, his flesh was cold, and his skin felt as dry as brown parchment. "I love you," she told him. "I always loved you; I will always love you."
He didn't answer, though she thought she saw his dry, cracked lips open slightly and then close again. Perhaps he thought he was responding. She reached for the cloth in the basin alongside his bed, dipped it in the water, and dabbed at his lips.
"I've been working with a device to use the black sand again. Look-" She showed him a long cut along her left arm, still scabbed with dried blood. "I wasn't as careful as I should have been. But I think I may have really stumbled upon something this time. I've made changes to the design and I'm having Pierre make the modifications for me from my drawings..."
She could imagine how he might answer. "There's a price to pay for knowledge," he'd told her, often enough. "But you can't stop knowledge: it wants to be born, and it will force its way into the world no matter what you do. You can't hold back knowledge, no matter what those of the Faith might say..."
Downstairs, she could hear the kitchen staff beginning to prepare dinner: a laugh, a clattering of pans, the faint chatter of conversation, but here in the sickroom the air was hot and still. She talked to Karl mostly because the quiet seemed so depressing. She talked mostly because she was afraid of silence.
"I spoke to Sergei this morning, too. He said that he'll stop by tomorrow night, before he goes off to Brezno," she said in a falsely cheery voice. "He insists that if you won't join him at the table for dinner, he's going to come up here and bring you down himself. 'What good is Numetodo magic if you can't get rid of a little minor illness?' he said. He also suggested that the sea air in Karnmor might do you some good. I might see if we could take a villa there next month. He said that the Gschnas was ever so nice, though he mentioned that Stor ca'Vikej's son has come to the city, and he didn't like the way that Kraljica Allesandra paid attention to him..."
She realized that the room was too still, that she hadn't heard Karl take a breath for some time. He was still staring at her, but his gaze had gone empty and dull. She felt her stomach muscles clench. She took in a breath that was half-sob. "Karl...?" She watched his chest, willing it to move, listening for the sound of air moving through his nostrils. Was his hand colder? She felt for his pulse, searching for the fluttering underneath her fingertips and imagining she felt it.
The room was silent except for the distant clamor of the servants and the chirping of birds in the trees outside and the faint sounds of the city beyond the walls of their villa. She felt pressure rising in her chest, a wave that broke free from her and turned into a wail that sounded as if it were ripped from someone else's throat.
She heard the servants running up the stairs, heard them stop at the door. The sound of her grief echoed in her ears. She was still holding Karl's hand. Now she let it drop lifeless back to the sheet. She reached out and brushed his eyelids closed, her fingertips trembling.
"He's gone," she said: to the servants, to the world, to herself.
The words seemed impossible. Unbelievable. She wanted to take them back and smash them so they could never be spoken again.
But she had said them, and they could not be revoked.
Sergei ca'Rudka
The Bastida a'Drago stank of ancient molds and mildew, of piss and black fecal matter, of fear and pain and terror. Sergei loved that scent. The odors soothed him, caressed him, and he inhaled deeply through the nostrils of his cold, silver nose.
"Good morning, Ambassador ca'Rudka." Ari ce'Denis, Capitaine of the Bastida, greeted Sergei from the open doorway of his office as Sergei shuffled through the gates. He moved slowly, as he always did now, his knees aching with every step, wishing he hadn't decided to leave his cane in the carriage. Sergei held up a piece of paper in his right hand toward ce'Denis. Under his left arm was tucked a long roll of leather.
"Good?" Sergei asked. "Not so much, I'm afraid." He could hear his age in his voice, also: that unstoppable tremor and quaver.
"Ah, yes," the Capitaine said. "Ambassador ca'Pallo's death. I'm sorry; I know he was a good friend of yours."
Sergei grimaced. His head ached with the worries that assailed him: the deteriorating relationship between the Holdings and the Firenzcian Coalition over the last few years; the Kraljica's cold reception to his suggestion to repair that rift finally and completely; the rising presence of Nico Morel and his followers in the city; even the way that Erik ca'Vikej had dominated the Kraljica's attention during the Gschnas...
Poor Karl's death had merely been a final blow. That had been a reminder of his own mortality, that soon enough Sergei would have to face the soul-weighers and see what his own life had come to. He was afraid of that day. He was afraid he knew how heavy his soul would be with his sins.
"It's Ambassador ca'Pallo's death, yes," Sergei answered, holding up the paper again as he approached the Capitaine. "Certainly. But it's also this. Have you seen it?"
Ce'Denis peered myopically at the paper. "I noticed some of these posted around the Avi on my way in this morning, yes. But I'm afraid I'm a plain man of battle, Ambassador. I don't have the skills of letters, as you undoubtedly remember."
"Ah." Sergei scowled. He had forgotten -- ce'Denis' illiteracy had been one of the reasons that he was only the Capitaine of the Bastida and not an a'offizier in the Garde Kralji or Garde Civile; it was also the reason he wasn't a chevaritt and why his rank was only ce'. Sergei's hand fisted around the parchment, crumpling it with a sound like brief fire, and tossing it on the ground. Deliberately, he stepped on it. "It's a repulsive piece of trash, Capitaine. Vile. A proclamation from that damned Nico Morel, railing against the Numetodo and insulting the memory of Ambassador ca'Pallo. Gloating at my good friend's death..."
Sergei grimaced. Memories of Nico Morel came back unbidden even as he railed. The boy he'd known a decade and a half ago during the great battle for Nessantico had little resemblance to the charismatic, raving firebrand who had surfaced recently. Still, those had been awful times, and Nico had been lost during them -- who knew what the boy had experienced? Who knew how life might have twisted him?
Life twisted you, didn't it? Sergei's headache pounded at his temples. "Nico Morel believes he's the incarnation of Cénzi himself," he said, rubbing his brow with one hand. "I swear, Capitaine, I will have Morel here in the Bastida one day, and I will take great delight in his interrogation."
Ce'Denis pressed his thin lips together. He looked up at the skull of the dragon, mounted on the wall and glaring down at the courtyard in which they stood. "I'm sure you will, Ambassador ca'Rudka."
Sergei glanced at the man sharply. He wasn't sure he liked ce'Denis' tone. "I want you to take any of your gardai not on duty and send them out along the Avi," he told the Capitaine. He nudged the paper on the ground with his foot. "Have them tear down any of these proclamations that they find. That will be the request of Commandant cu'Ingres when I return to the palais, but if you could start before the order comes, I would appreciate it. The fewer people who see this filth, the better."
"Certainly, Ambassador," ce'Denis said, saluting. "Will you be with us long this morning?" He glanced at what Sergei carried under his left arm.
"Not long," Sergei answered. "My day is busy, I'm afraid. And ci'Bella?"
"He is two levels down of the tower, Ambassador, as you requested." Ce'Denis inclined his head to Sergei and went back into his office, calling for his aide. Sergei shuffled toward the main tower of the Bastida, saluting the gardai who opened the barred door for him. He moved slowly down the stairs that spiraled into the lower chambers, bracing himself with a hand on the stone walls and groaning at the strain on his knees, wishing again that he'd brought his cane. At the landing, he reached into the pocket of his overcloak to pull out a small ring of keys; they jingled dully in his hand.
Two levels down he stopped, allowing the pain in his head and his knees to subside. When it had, he thrust the key into a lock -- there were flakes of rust around the keyhole; he made a mental note to mention that to Capitaine ce'Denis when he left -- there was no excuse for that type of sloppiness here. As he turned the key in the lock, he heard chains rustling and scraping the floor inside. He could see the image in his head: the prisoner cowering away from the door, pressing his spine to the old, damp stone walls as if they might somehow magically open and swallow him.
Suffocation in the embrace of stone might have been a more pleasant fate than the one that awaited the man, he had to admit.
Sergei glanced around before he opened the cell door. A garda was approaching from the lower levels. He nodded to Sergei without saying anything. The capitaine and the gardai of the Bastida knew that Sergei usually required an 'assistant' when he visited the prison; those who had the same predilections as Sergei often helped. They understood, and so they said nothing and pretended to see nothing, simply doing whatever Sergei asked of them.
He pushed open the cell door.
"Good morning, Vajiki ci'Bella," he said pleasantly to the man as the garda slid into the cell behind him. The prisoner stared at the two of them: Aaros ci'Bella, one of the many minor aides in the Kraljica's Palais. The man still wore the uniform of the palais, now soiled and torn. Sergei set the ring of keys on the hook just inside the cell door, leaving it open. Ci'Bella stood against the rear wall, the chains that bound his hands and feet loose -- the chains, looped through thick staples on the back wall, had just enough slack to allow him to come within a single stride of the door but no more. If the man charged at Sergei, all Sergei had to do was step back and he could not be reached -- though the garda would undoubtedly stop the man if he dared make such a foolish move. The prisoner who would do that was rare. 'Old Silvernose,' as Sergei was known derogatorily, had his reputation among the enemies of Nessantico and those in the lowest strata of Holdings society. He could already sniff the apprehension rising in the man. "May I call you Aaros?"
The man didn't even nod. His gaze traveled from Sergei's nose to the thick roll of black leather under his arm to the silent garda. Sergei set the roll down near the cell door, untied the loop holding it closed, and laid it out flat it with a flick of his hand, grunting with the motion. Inside, snared in loops, were instruments of steel and wood, their satin patina showing much use.
Looking at the display, ci'Bella moaned. Sergei saw a wetness darken the front of his pants and spread down his leg, followed by the astringent scent of urine. Sergei shook his head, tsking softly. The garda chuckled. "Ambassador," ci'Bella wailed. "Please. I have a family. A wife and three children. I've done nothing to you. Nothing."
"No?" Sergei cocked his head. He removed the overcloak from his shoulders, brushed at the soft fabric, and placed it carefully on the peg with the keys. He grimaced again as he knelt down, his knees cracking audibly and his leg muscles protesting. Once, this would have taken no effort at all... His fingers -- knobbed and bent with age, the skin loose and wrinkled over the bones and ligaments -- stroked the displayed instruments. He could feel the silken coolness of the metal through his fingertips, and it caused him to inhale deeply, sensually. "Tell me, Aaros. What would you do if a man harmed your wife, if he raped her or disfigured her? Wouldn't you want to hurt that man in return? Wouldn't you feel justified in taking revenge on that man?"
Ci'Bella seemed confused. "Ambassador, you're not married, and I did nothing to your wife or to anyone's..."
Sergei raised a white, heavy eyebrow. "No?" he said again. He allowed himself a gap-toothed smile. "But you see, I am married, Aaros. I'm married to Nessantico. She is my wife, my mistress, my very reason for living. And you, Aaros, you have assaulted and betrayed her. Talbot told me what he'd discovered. You spoke to an agent of the Firenzcian Coalition. Certainly you remember him? Garos ci'Merin? I had the... pleasure of talking to him yesterday, here in the Bastida." Sergei smiled at ci'Bella; the garda snorted with amusement. "He told me how kind you were to him. How helpful."
"But I didn't know the man was a Firenzcian, Ambassador," ci'Bella protested. "I swear it by Cénzi. He seemed lost, and I only escorted him through the palais..."
"You showed him through the corridors for the palais staff, the corridors that only authorized staff are permitted to access."
"It was the quickest way..."
"And it was also a way that someone wishing to harm the Kraljica or to prowl about the palais would desire to know and use."
"But I didn't know..."
Sergei smiled. He rubbed at the carved nostrils of his false nose, where the glue holding it to his face itched. "I believe you, Aaros," he said gently, smiling. "But I don't know if that's the truth. Perhaps you're a skilled liar. Perhaps you've helped other people find their way through the palais corridors. Perhaps you're an agent of Firenzcia yourself. I don't know." He plucked a set of clawed pincers from their loop and stood with an effort, his knees cracking once more. The garda pushed himself off the wall, moving forward to Aaros.
"But I will know," Sergei told the man. "Very soon..."
Copyright © 2010 by S. L. Farrell
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Destination - Chennai
Tamil Nadu constitutes the south-eastern extremity of the Indian peninsula. Chennai, formerly known as MADRAS, is the capital city of the State, besides being an important district. The district city is one of the metropolises of India and serves as the gateway to the culture of South India. Tamil is one of the 7 classical languages and most widely spoken across the world.
The conference delegates will have opportunity to explore South Indian Culture through various programmes including dance, music, yoga, etc. The classical dance representative of Tamilnadu is known as Bharathanatyam. This divine dance form with its graceful movements and beautiful costumes is sure to capture the fascination of viewers. Carnatic music is the classical music of Tamilnadu.
Climate of Chennai is Tropical. Considering the pleasant climate that prevails in November, the conference is scheduled in mid-November 2019.

subset: commoncrawl


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Discipline: Philosophy
Theories which explain the meaning of a word or sentence in terms of its effect on the hearer, or in terms of the cause of its utterance by the speaker.
Such theories are also sometimes called 'stimulus/response theories', and they have some kinship with behaviorism.
An objection is that most such views ignore the roles of intention and insight in genuine, as against merely apparent, communication.
H P Grice, 'Meaning', Philosophical Review (1957); reprinted in P F Strawson, ed., Philosophical logic (1967)


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- Community »
- What's Happening »
- News »
- Archives - media releases »
- Regional council pitches in on Whitianga restoration
|2017-06-29 14:15:00
Waikato Regional Council is praising a group of Coromandel residents who are working to restore 65 hectares of fire-ravaged hillsides beside Whitianga Harbour.
The Comers Road Fire Restoration Project's planting work got underway last week. It is being assisted by the council through $10,000 worth of plants, bamboo stakes and three bags of plant fertiliser.
"The group is to be commended for taking on the daunting task of re-planting," said the council's Whitianga-based senior catchment management officer Elaine Iddon.
"We'll work with them as the project progresses."
The area was damaged by a large bush fire this summer. The project group is mainly made up of local landowners who were on hand last week to help unload the first of two deliveries of plants, stakes and fertiliser from the council.
The affected land has steep hillsides meaning a high risk of soil erosion and more loss of vegetation cover.
Besides addressing those risks, planting will aim to support biodiversity by providing more canopy species such as totara, as well as the quick growing "pioneer" species that will provide fruit for bids (who help in seed dispersal) in a few years' time.
On top of the donations from the council, Waihi Nursery has also donated plants.
The project group says it will be seeking volunteers for ongoing planting over the next few months. The first volunteer planting day is Saturday 8 July (between 10am and 2pm). Contact Helen Lee for details on 021 173 6490.
- Our picture shows group members and council staff on site last week. Elaine Iddon at left.


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Bica Iona MD is located at 750 Washington St, Boston, MA. This location is in the Downtown neighborhood. This business specializes in Doctors & Clinics.


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20 Comments
I can honestly say when you play like that in a rugby test match whoever loses you are still proud don't get me wrong iam scottish and I am in awe of Wales and france in this game magnificent rugby and heart I wish us Scots could pull of wins like this against the very best sides
Rugby seemed to be much faster back then. Also, the players are smaller than todays, but they look a lot tougher and quicker
The French are/were at their best when they remember that they're Celtic. x.
Jenkins scores 28 points and doesn't get man of the match ??
Just about sums up what that guy had to endure during his time in a Welsh jersey ..
Again butler. Stop praising the opposition! I forgot how bad you were
I am new blogger for Photography. This will definitely help me to write better content on my blog. I will see the trials.
A thriller and, among other things, a reminder that Neil Jenkins was not just a kicking machine.
jonathan Davies, " France need that garlic flair"
Neil Jenkins. The best Welsh no 10 since Phil Bennett and Barry John. A wonderful player and often underestimated.
I remember playing rugby back then if you smashed someone with your head you were a hero, when you fought the ref let you go at it, international players smoked and drank. France were good to watch, Ireland (my country) only won the odd time which made wins all the more sweeter, Wales were awful and Scotland were good new Zealand didn't cheat as much…good times only thing hasn't changed everyone wanted to beat england
One can see how the game was starting to change with less contested rucks in this match. Forwards are fanning out on defense instead of fighting for the ball against the team that got tackled and brought to ground, setting up a ruck. A few years earlier and the forwards would have been charging in from both teams to fight for possession on just about every break down. Not anymore. The game now looks more like rugby league, and that's not good. There's just not that space created unless there are mistakes made that can be taken advantage of.
As a commentator, Jonathan Davies was an excellent player!
Hi Peter, If you have not seeen this game, you are in for a treat. – enjoy
This looks so old school. OK, it was 15 years ago but it seems like something from the mid 90's graphics-wise.
I love how they bring on a bucket of sand for Jenkins to use as a tee – so archaic!
Look how much Rugby has changed… wow.
That was an epic match. Both sides put on a classy performance – It's almost a shame that someone had to win and someone had to lose. This was true sport.
That's the way to sing the anthems! No need for the Operatic fancy rubbish that gets stage managed by some idiots from the IRB, the BBC, Sky or whoever it is that sorts the arrangement of the anthems. Overpaid rubbish replacing simple, honest singing. Rant over. I remember watching this brilliant game in Oz Bar, Oxford (a good while before it closed), with a load of other Welshmen and women.
Now, that was good to watch
Scott Quinell… the best N°8 to have if you had the 2nd best scrum… always broke the gain line.
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"People and governments in some 'Belt and Road' countries are pushing back against threats to their physical, financial, and environmental well-being," Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch said. "Chinese authorities should respond by committing to meaningful community consultation, project transparency, respect for peaceful protest, and addressing community concerns."
European States such as Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Italy have signed up to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, whilst these new countries join the project, China seems to be losing touch with other, older partnerships in Asia and Africa. In fact, Pakistan, Malaysia and Sierra Leona have recently decided to suspend their commitments to the BRI project for fear of becoming irreversibly indebted to China.
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on April 25-27, 2019, started with controversy as several countries withdrew their participation from the high level conference, expressing concern on indebtedness of countries to China, and China's lack of transparency and openness. Not only did some Heads of State refuse to attend, they also considered postponing some of their projects.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched in 2013, and since then China has invested $90 billion in projects – Bank debts provided to date, include upwards of $300 billion in loans. The total expected cost of the project will be in excess of one trillion dollars in infrastructure, linking China to the rest of Asia, Africa, and Europe via land and maritime networks. The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, two of China's policy banks and the biggest financiers of the BRI, have not publicly shared any mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, or respect for human rights in financing BRI projects.
The IMF managing director, Christine Lagarde, said "History has taught us that, if not managed carefully, infrastructure investments can lead to a problematic increase in debt". Lagarde said that BRI should be revised to "Belt and Road 2.0" to include increased transparency, an open procurement process with competitive bidding and better risk assessment in project selection.
Djibouti, Pakistan, and the Maldives, have received excessively inflated project costs and as a result are at high risk of debt distress – leaving the countries struggling to fund essential public services in order to repay their debts.
Pakistan's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, participated in the BRI Forum in Beijing despite criticism that his BRI project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, is not really progressing. Imran Khan's had already opposed CPEC before coming to power, his protests having caused the cancellation of Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to Pakistan to inaugurate CPEC in 2014, delaying it by a year.
However, as Pakistan is grappling with an acute economic crisis, some say that the CPEC may stimulate economic activity in the country. Additionally, the Pakistani government has to maintain its economic ties with China, as it constantly needs foreign loans to function. But as with the conflicting messages coming from Europe, Abdul Razak Dawood, Pakistan's minister for commerce, industry and investment, suggested in September, 2018, that all CPEC projects could be suspended until a review is completed.
Pakistan originally demonstrated its commitment to BRI and to the Chinese government through the development of Gwadar Port – the start of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Gwadar Port is in Pakistan's western Baluchistan province, a region rich in mineral reserves. The project cost US$62 billion. In 2015, the Chinese government offered a loan of $130 million to build the East Bay Expressway, linking Gwadar Port to a major national highway. The Chinese state-owned company China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) began construction on the Expressway in October 2018. However not everyone in Baluchistan province is interested in this project. In fact, as tension and protests in the region grew, the Pakistani government adopted increasingly oppressive measures for dealing with the Baluch people opposing the development, in an effort to protect the development of this project. Local fishermen in Gwadar have raised concerns that their access to the sea will be blocked thus depriving them of their ancestral source of livelihood. They have held news conferences, strikes, and marches to protest the absence of consultations, the potential impacts on their livelihoods and the lack of transparency. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan promised "inclusive development" but construction has proceeded without any of the Baluch people, nor have the fishermen's demands been addressed.
Pakistan's minister of commerce, industry and investment, Dawood also criticized the previous government headed by Nawaz Sharif, who is now incarcerated on corruption charges, for granting China "too favourable" terms for many projects. "Chinese companies received tax breaks, many breaks and have an undue advantage in Pakistan; this is one of the things we're looking at because it's not fair that Pakistani companies should be disadvantaged," Dawood said.
Similarly, in Myanmar, the $3.6 billion Myitsone Dam project in Kachin State is underway. The Myanmar government suspended the construction of the dam in 2011, after nationwide protests as the mega-dam would cause large-scale displacement, loss of livelihoods, wide-scale environmental damage, and destruction of cultural heritage sites significant to the ethnic Kachin people. In February, a Chinese government statement contending that most Kachin people support the revival of the dam project gathered together thousands of people to march in opposition to the claim.
The same Chinese state-owned company, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is engaged in the construction of Colombo Port City, a financial district in the capital of Sri Lanka. Once again, accusations of a lack of transparency and environmental harm have brought protestors and residence to the streets. There is a fear that if this is not stopped the land reclamation required for the project will lead to coastal erosion and reduce fish populations, threatening the lagoon ecosystem and fishermen's livelihoods. As with many other BRI projects, the agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the CCCC has not been made public.
Strong protests by environmental groups and local communities against BRI project proposals and activities have also been seen in Laos, Thailand and Indonesia.
Human Rights Watch points out that BRI projects do not publicly share environmental and social impact assessments, and that local communities are not informed, prompting widespread protests. BRI projects have also been accused of facilitating corruption, non-transparent loan agreements, and non-competitive contracts that require the use of Chinese companies.
At the Forum, President Xi of China, had to inform his guests that he would improve the transparency and debt analysis for countries receiving financial support. It is therefore paramount that international governments, the United Nations, and financial institutions provide an international monitoring team for BRI working with the Chinese government, to ensure meaningful consultation can take place with Governments and civil society affected by proposed BRI projects, as Xi has promised.
As Lagarde said: "To be fully successful, the Belt and Road should only go where it is needed. I would add today that it should only go where it is sustainable, in all aspects."
Image Credit: EP Today


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Providence Bruins
- News
- Oct 5, 2018
Oct 5, 2018
Hartford, CT – The Providence Bruins fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday night 4-2 in their first game of the 2018-19 season. For the first time since 2013, the team opened up their 76-game schedule away from the Dunkin Donuts Center. The P-Bruins got goals from Austin Fyten and Mark McNeill while Zane McIntyre made his second consecutive opening night start.
The opening 20 minutes were tough for Providence, as they allowed a trio of goals and were forced to make an early change in net. Hartford started the scoring at 5:11 with an even strength goal from Tim Gettinger. Gettinger won a battle for the puck in the corner and got it out to his defenseman Chris Bigras. Bigras quickly got it back to Gettinger at the point who sent a shot through traffic and gave Hartford a 1-0 lead. While on the power play just 55 second later, Cole Schneider doubled the lead to 2-0. Peter Holland got him the puck behind the net and he banked in a shot from a tough angle to make it a two-goal game.
Looking to change the momentum on their first power play, Providence was unable to stop the Wolf Pack shorthanded attack. Steven Fogarty won a face-off in his defensive zone to Bigras, who skated the puck himself into the P-Bruins zone. Weaving his way around the ice to create space, he snapped a shot by McIntyre inside the left circle to give his team three-goal advantage. McIntyre was pulled after stopping 7-10 shots in 12:39 in favor of Dan Vladar and Providence trailed 3-0 into the first intermission. The P-Bruins had a much better second, outshooting Hartford 8-3 and controlling play most of the period. The team had three power plays that helped them control the zone time, but Wolf Pack goalie Marek Mazanec stopped any and all chances to keep things 3-0 into the third period.
While shorthanded midway through the third, Providence finally broke through thanks to Fyten's hustle. At 9:19, the puck got away from a Hartford defender and Fyten beat him to the puck between the circles. After corralling the puck, he quickly snapped one over Mazanec's glove to make it 3-1. At 15:22, the P-Bruins made it a one-goal game while on the power play. After getting the puck down low, McNeill tried to send a pass across the crease. It hit a Hartford defender and went in for his first goal as a Bruin and the deficit was cut to 3-2. However, Holland sealed a Pack win with an empty netter and Providence fell 4-2 in their opener.
Vladar stopped all eight shots he saw after entering in the first period while Mazanec stopped 24 of 26 in a winning effort. Providence was 1-6 on the power play and 2-3 on the penalty kill. The P-Bruins are back in action tomorrow night at the Dunk when they take on the Laval Rocket in their home opener at 7:05pm.
- - - - -
The Providence Bruins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Boston Bruins, playing their home games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, RI. Spanning more than 25 years, the Boston/Providence affiliation is one of the longest and most successful player development partnerships in professional hockey history.
For all the latest Providence Bruins news and updates visit ProvidenceBruins.com or follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/providencebruins or Twitter at twitter.com/AHLBruins.
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Tales Runner Level Up Giveaway
0 Keys Are Left
Tales Runner Level Up Giveaway
MMO Game: Tales Runner | Area: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Official Website: Tales Runner
More Giveaways
Tales Runner Level Up Giveaway
Tales Runner is teaming up with GameItems.com to bring you a special Level Up Giveaway! Beginning August 9th, GameItems.com will be giving away 1000 packages jam packed with items that will give you 15% bonus XP and 75% bonus in-game money earned for 24 hours!
How to Redeem your Coupon Key:
1. Create or Login or Register in Tales Runner
2. Go to the key redemption page: Here
3. Click on the Redeem Here button.
4. Input your exclusive key when prompted and click the Submit button.
5. Log into Tales Runner and go to My Room -> Giftbox to get your gifts.
Giveaway Schedule:
1. Giveaway will begin on August 10th, 2010
2. The giveaway will end on September 10th , 2010
Tales Runner Welcome Package will include:
1. Angel Halo (1 day)
2. Mr.Disguise (1 day)
3. Pink Explorer Bag (1 day)
4. Master Ninja Scarf PLUS (1 day)
Step: Share with your Friends:
About this game:
Tales Runner is a story-driven MMO racing game that invites players into a world of fantasy and competition! Players are launched into the Land of Fairy Tales where they must race to save beloved mythical creatures from vanishing forever. Tales Runner invites users and friends to immerse themselves in this magical world, with a partner-based leveling system, a socially interactive farming game, a town square for hanging out, and an in-game marriage system! Featuring a wide range of competitive mini-activities and an alchemy profession to craft powerful items, Tales Runner is more than a racing game. Its a brilliant world of high-speed adventure!Free to Play


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The Mumbai attacks, organized from outside India, and a list of many more, are symptomatic of Muslim "disaffection." Identifying that disaffection is easy according to some. Norman Berdichevsky, writing in New English Review, takes a different approach.
A few academics and editorial writers claiming to be scholars and quite a few liberal pundits/observers, have argued that some blame for the recent atrocious acts of terror in Mumbai should be put on India's Hindus by stressing that the terrorist group of "disaffected Muslims" carrying out the outrage of random murder of civilians was "probably funded from outside India." They believe as Fareed Zakaria stated in Newsweek, that Indian Hindus "had it coming" because "One of the untold stories of India is that the Muslim population has not shared in the boom the country has enjoyed over the last 10 years. There is still a lot of institutional discrimination, and many remain persecuted."
He continues,
This view is not just wrong and short-sighted, it is symptomatic of why India has become a major target for terrorism that enjoys widespread support not only in Pakistan but in the wider Muslim world. Hatred of India stems from a psychological need to link India and Israel as guilty in the "injustice" Muslims believe they have suffered and to deflect blame and muddy the waters by shifting responsibility for the Partition of India in 1947 to the Hindus and conjuring up the vision that the Jews and Zionism did precisely this in Palestine in 1948. Nothing is further from the truth.
Berdichevsky explores the similarities and dissimilarities between India and Israel and the partitions that created the modern states. But he does not brook the argument that the creation of modern Israel was foisted on a Muslim population.
The truth of the 1948 partition in Palestine is that the Muslims rejected it totally and any possibility of living in peace alongside a tiny Jewish state. Instead they aided in the invasion of the country by the regular armies of six Arab states plunging their homeland into war and ending as defeated refugees. Had they accepted it, the great majority of Palestinian Arabs would today be enjoying the rights of their own independent homeland without the bloodshed of the last sixty years and a minority of them would be citizens of a much more secure, serene and tolerant Israel, untroubled by the threat of constant renewed warfare and terrorism.
Read the full article A Tale of Two Partitions: India 1947 and Palestine 1948 here.


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To celebrate the holidays, Google is offering up a pretty sweet deal for their newly announced Chromecast hardware. Currently you can pick up two Chromecasts from the Google Store for just $55. That makes it $15 off of the regular price which is $35 each or $70 together. Of course this is only available at the Google Store and not elsewhere that Chromecast is sold (like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target), unfortunately. You can mix and match as well, so grab a Chromecast Audio and a regular Chromecast and get them both for $55 combined. Not a bad deal at all, this holiday season. Also, Google is the only one stocking the Chromecast in colors, which are red and yellow in addition to the black. While stores are selling them in just the black color. While it will sit behind your TV, and not be seen, it's still a good looking Chromecast in Red and Yellow.
With Chromecast, you can easily cast movies, TV shows and even music onto your TV all from your phone. Simply connect your phone to your WiFi network and hit the cast button from within the app, whether that be YouTube, Google Play Movies or another Chromecast supported app. It's dead simple, for anyone. Chromecast Audio is pretty much the same thing, except it plugs into your speakers, and can turn your older speakers that may not even have Bluetooth, into smart speakers with WiFi connectivity. With Chromecast Audio, you can stream Spotify, Pandora and many other services over WiFi, and because it's over WiFi you'll get better quality audio than you would over Bluetooth. Making the money for the Chromecast Audio worth the extra cash.
Google hasn't stated how long this sale is going to last on the Google Store, but it'll likely run through the end of this month and through the holidays. Chromecast and Chromecast Audio make some great gifts for anyone that loves watching movies, TV Shows, or streaming music. And it's pretty cheap too. Pair it with a big screen 4K TV, and everyone will be happy, although Chromecast doesn't do 4K, just yet. That will likely come sooner rather than later.


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Return to Frequently Asked Questions
Read the information in the FAQ below. If your question is not found in the FAQ, or you need help regarding Front Sight's CCW course, contact firstname.lastname@example.com
NOTE for Clark County Residents: People have reported that 'someone' at Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has told them that Front Sight's training is not accepted. In fact, LVMPD's website indicates all training for Nevada CCWs must be completed with a certified Nevada instructor inside the state of Nevada, and also provides a list of Clark County certified instructors. Nevada residents can take their training anywhere in the state with a certified instructor, but they must turn in their applications to the designated agency in the county they reside in.
California Residents: Please go to the bottom of this page to see which CA counties accept Front Sight's training when applying for a CA CCW.
NOTE: Because of the law changes starting 01 January 2019, California students will need additional training in the CA Penal Code, which Front Sight does not provide. You can receive this training by going to Safe Insight and completing their online course (approximately $40). You will then be issued a certificate. Please print this certificate and bring it with you to present to your CCW instructors during the CCW course. This will only apply to students living in counties that accept Front Sight's training. We will only issue training letters for those students who present their certificates, and who live in counties that responded YES to accepting Front Sight's training.
What are the requirements to apply for a CCW?
The requirements to obtain a CCW are simple. You have met most of the training requirements already during the last two or four days of your Defensive Handgun course and you complete the training requirements for Nevada and Utah with the one day CCW course. In addition to what you have done during your courses:
Why is it that only completion of a two or four day Defensive Handgun course along with the immediately following scheduled one day CCW course qualify me to apply for Utah and Nevada?
Nevada, Utah, and other states that require training mandate a minimum amount of training to obtain a CCW. Part of that training is in safe weapons handling, and part is required lectures. States that require training want their applicants to receive Moral & Ethical Decisions On the Use of Deadly Force, Problems 2 & 3, Criminal & Civil Liablities, weapon selection, care & cleaning, proper storage, along with state and federal statutes as well as weapons handling training.
Completion of our two and four day Defensive Handgun courses and the immediately following scheduled one day CCW course is the only combination that meets the training requirements for Nevada, Utah and some other states.
Arizona, Florida, and Virginia, among some states, just require weapons handling training along with the Moral & Ethical and Problems 2 & 3 lectures. A copy of your course certificate is the only thing you need to show 'proof-of-training' to these states.
Note: We do not offer the one day CCW course during the night courses, as they do not include the required classroom lectures.
Which is the best CCW to apply for?
Laws change constantly. While you are here for the CCW course, you have the opportunity to apply for Nevada and Utah permits, as well as qualifying to apply for others, such as FL, VA & AZ, etc.. You may choose to take the completed paperwork for NV & UT home, do some additional research, and decide which ones to apply for then. You have ONE YEAR from the date of the course to turn in your paperwork for NV and UT. Nevada and Utah permits are good for five years.
What states recognize my state's CCW?
If you go to www.handgunlaw.us, you can click on the state you reside in on the US map shown on the homepage, which will open up a PDF file in a new tab or window of your browser. This file will contain information on your state's laws, as well as show you what states recognize your state's CCW permit.
How do I get a CCW in a state where it is difficult to obtain one?
It can boil down to something simple as how involved you are with your community and local charity events to who you know and what your status is within the community. The simplest solution is to locate someone in your community who already possesses a CCW and talk to them to find out how they got it.
What states will I be able to legally carry a concealed handgun in?
The legislation pertaining to CCW's is constantly changing. Consult www.handgunlaw.us for up-to-the-minute details of which states you will be legally allowed to carry a concealed handgun in.
What other states' permits does Nevada recognize?
Remember, you are responsible for knowing the laws of the state you hold the permit in, as well as the laws of the state you are using that permit in.
Click Here to be taken to the Nevada Department of Public Safety's CCW recognition page.
|(Check prior to arrival to ensure your permit is still valid in Nevada! This list is usually reviewed and possibly modified on or before 01 July every year.)
|What is the Plan of the Day?
Will I leave Front Sight with everything I need to get my CCW's?
No. There is still work to be done on your own after leaving Front Sight.
How do I know what goes in each envelope?
You will be provided a checklist. You will need copies of your course certificate from your Defensive Handgun course for states like Florida and Arizona that just require proof of training. Replacement copies can be requested from Class Administration ((702) 837-7433) (email@example.com).
Useful documents and links can be found on the CCW Permit course page at www.myfrontsight.com.
What if I didn't bring money orders?
You will be provided with mailing envelopes for the Nevada and Utah applications, so you can purchase money orders at your convenience. Utah and the Nye County Sheriff's Office also accepts credit cards. If you are mailing your Nevada application to the Nye County Sheriff's Office, you need to enclose a Money Order or Cashier's Check.
Front Sight does not sell money orders, but they are available in Pahrump if you are planning on applying for a Nevada permit in person at the Nye County Sheriff's Office.
How much are the application fees?
For a Nevada CCW:
*Note: "exact change" means it must be the correct amount. $101 is NOT 'exact change', and the NCSO cannot 'keep the extra for their coffee fund', etc.
For a Utah CCW:
What if I live in Nevada, but not in Nye County?
We will sign page 3 of your Nevada CCW application stating you have had the required training, but you will still have to complete the process with the sheriff or law enforcement agency in your county of residence. Should your agency have any questions on whether or not we are authorized to teach Nevada CCW classes, have them contact the Nye County Sheriff's Office at the Pahrump substation, NOT Tonopah.
How long will it take to get my permits?
Securing a CCW permit is a lengthy, bureaucratic process. Nevada can take up to four months. Utah tries to get their permits out within 60 days or less of processing your payment.
Does Utah require a copy of my State's CCW in order to apply or renew?
As of 04/01/2011, Utah now requires you to submit a copy of your permit from the state you reside in ONLY IF your state recognizes Utah's permit. As of 01/01/2012, when you renew your Utah permit, you will also have to submit a copy of your permit from your state if your state recognizes Utah's permit.
Does Nevada require a copy of my State's CCW?
No. At this time Nevada is not concerned with any other permits you may or may not have.
How do I receive my permits?
The permit is mailed directly to you from Utah. If you are a Nevada resident, or you went to the NCSO to be fingerprinted and photographed, your Nevada permit will be mailed to you.
How do I receive my Nevada permit if I mail in my application?
You will be notified by letter or email that your permit is ready. Then you must pick up the permit in person at the Nye County Sheriff's Office in Pahrump, Nevada. They will hold it for up to five years for pick-up.
How do I renew my permits?
How many handguns may I qualify with for my CCW?
You will qualify with one gun. Utah and Nevada are not weapon specific. You can qualify for the Nevada and Utah permits with any handgun, even a rental. You are required to use the same gun you used for your Defensive Handgun course as you must demonstrate safe weapons handling and competency for all three states during the Nevada qualification test.
What if I want to qualify with a different weapon than what I used for the Defensive Handgun course?
Both states require you to demonstrate safe weapons handling and competency. We therefore require that you use the SAME weapon that you used for your Defensive Handgun course, as you have had plenty of practice using it during your time on the ranges.
Do I need a concealment garment for the CCW Course?
No. Do not bring a fanny pack, shoulder holster, ankle holster, purse holster, etc. Although these are common forms of concealed carry, they are not suitable for safe range use.
How much ammunition do I need?
You will need 30 rounds for your weapon.
Do I need a holster and magazine pouches?
Yes. You should show up geared up the same as you were for each day on the range during your course.
How difficult are the written and shooting tests to get my Nevada CCW?
They are very simple. Very few people have difficulty passing the tests.
Do I need to qualify with the ammunition I intend to carry?
No. You may qualify with any factory-made, full-metal jacket or jacketed hollow point ammunition.
Will training at Front Sight help me get a permit in Illinois or California?
Where can I go for more information?
On the World Wide Web, the following URLs will be helpful when seeking additional, current information about various state laws:
UTAH: Utah BCI
NEVADA: Nevada Revised Statutes (CCW) and Las Vegas Metro PD CCW
ARIZONA: AZ Dept. of Public Safety - CCW page (Click Obtaining a Permit button, then click arrow next to Applicant Instructions and follow directions to request an application.)
FLORIDA: Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs
VIRGINIA: VA State Police - Firearms
You can also visit State Attorney General's Office websites, or contact them by phone when seeking information about that State's laws regarding concealed carry.
For questions or help regarding Front Sight's CCW course, contact firstname.lastname@example.com
|Below is a list of California Counties accepting Front Sight's Defensive Handgun course plus the CCW course for approved training* as of 05/02/2019:
|El Dorado
|Los Angeles
*Completion of Front Sight's 2 or 4 day Defensive Handgun Course AND 1 day CCW Course, as well as additional training in the CA Penal Code, which Front Sight does not provide. You can receive this training by going to Safe Insight and completing their online course (approximately $40). You will then be issued a certificate. Please print this certificate and bring it with you to present to your CCW instructors during the CCW course. This will only apply to students living in counties that accept Front Sight's training. If you complete the training after your CCW course, please email your Safe Insight training certificate to firstname.lastname@example.com and a CA training letter will be emailed to you.
Note that some Sheriff's Offices may want you to qualify on their range with one of their instructors. After training, you should have no problem. If they are asking you to do something you are unfamiliar with, do not be afraid to ask questions. Try to work *with* them, as they are trying to help you get your permit.
Be aware that your County Sheriff's Office may tell you that your California permit is not valid outside the state of California. There are currently 23 other states that recognize the California permit.
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The Favor Factory™
Staff member
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
- Jul 30, 2005
- 14,661
Yeah, safe to say the BoP for this race was not great. RSRs are in a different class to everyone else speed-wise regardless of how the race finishes.
That makes sense now. We were trying to figure out how he was going so slow coming out of the cornerWasn't Vettes fault. Car ran out of fuel and slowed coming out of the corner. Vette clipped him because he was suddenly crawling.
I just showed your comment to Heidi & now you are in trouble (again).More like "Sacramento" Blondie.


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So I've finally got all of Brady's school books and I'm working out our lesson plans for the year. I ordered 3 science books, 2 sort of general science and one called "Everybody Has a Body" that is sort of anatomy for preschoolers and I've decided to tackle one aspect of each book every month. Here's the schedule I've roughed out:
General Science Anatomy
Sept: Chemistry Hands/Feet
Oct: Trees Arms/Legs
Nov: Weather Eyes
Dec: Space Ears
Jan: Dinosaurs Nose
Feb: Robots/Machines Mouth
March: Water Cycle Organs
April: Plants Head to Toe
May: Insects Bones
June: Ocean Nutrition
Each week we will do 1 experiment/activity for each of that month's themes so our weekly schedule looks like this:
Playgroup (10-12)
Hooked on Phonics
Unifix math activity of the week
Practice letter and number of the week in HOP workbook
State/province coloring page/reading/video
Reading of The Little Man in the Map
50 state puzzle
Starfall letter game/YouTube letter/number videos
Grocery shopping
Letter writing in our Alphabet workbook
Time math
Science experiment
YouTube Letter/Number videos
Library/Errand Running
Alphabet workbook
Unifix activity
Colors/shapes review in HOP workbook
Art Project
YouTube Letter/Number videos
Alphabet workbook
Money math
State coloring page/reading/video
YouTube Letter/number videos
Playgroup (10-12)
Letter sounds in HOP workbook
Anatomy activity
HOP online videos/games
HOP Video/games
HOP coloring workbook
Art project
Unifix activity
We also do calendar and weather everyday and, yes, we do about 1/2-3/4 of a school day on Saturday. Brady would like to do 7 full days a week but I make him take Sundays off because I don't want him to be totally burnt out by 1st grade.
How are your lesson plans shaping up?


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Kock, Paul Charles de
Kock, Paul Charles de
Born May 21, 1793, in Passy, near Paris; died Aug. 29, 1871, in Romainville, Seine Department. French writer. Author of more than 400 works published beginning in 1812 (novels, melodramas, comedies, vaudevilles, poetry).
Kock was particularly popular as a novelist in the 1820's through the 1890's. The bourgeois reader liked his intricate comic plots, frivolous heroes, who were from the bourgeoisie and the lower middle class, and sentimental happy endings. Kock's novels were translated into many European languages. His name was traditionally used to describe frivolous literature.
WORKSOeuvres complètes illustrées, vols. 1–299. Paris [1902–05].
Poln. sobr. soch., vols. 1–12. St. Petersburg, 1900–01.
REFERENCESBelinskii, V. G. Poln. sobr. soch., vol. 2. Moscow, 1953. Pages 488–92.
Istoriia frantsuzskoi literatury, vol. 2. Moscow, 1956.


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Tathra Wharf to Waves
Saturday 18th January, 2020 - Sunday 19th January, 2020
Each year over 400 people jump into the crystal blue waters from the historic Tathra Wharf and swim to the beach to celebrate Wharf to Waves.
The swim claims centre stage of a weekend of fun and fitness in Tathra, which includes a 2km Beach Fun Run and a Bega to the Beach 30km Mountain Bike Ride.
The weekend culminates with volunteers, competitors, sponsors and friends sitting back on the deck while taking in the stunning vista of Tathra Beach.
There will be lots of rides and games to keep the children amused too!


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I have all my important documents on my external hard drive. I was always able to access
it. Yesterday I unplugged my external hard disk from my PC even though Windows alerted " The device is currently in use.'
When I connected my External Hard Disk to my PC in this morning, Windows alert me to 'Format it for ready use.' with an alert box and I can not see my Hard Disk on the Device List.
Im worried all my data may be lost :(.
The external drive is an "Seagate - Expansion Portable Drive...250GB'.
any help/solution?
Geez, first you don't keep backups and then you ignore an important message.
Look for the drive in Windows Disk Management.
Try running testdisk on it. Read the tutorials first. Get it at the link below.
In Command Prompt (aka DOS Window):
attrib *.*
attrib /? will explain the codes:
R = Read-only
A = Archive
S = System
H = Hidden
Then, make appropriate changes with + and - .
e.g. attrib junk.doc -H
removes the Hidden attribute on file junk.doc
Please Try this Safe Mode.insert External Hard Disk.
Please see Your file is there or not Please Inform Me Now
I am now testing with TestDisk.
Thank you for your help.
Let us know how you make out. Remember in the future to maintain at least two copies of any files you want to keep. I prefer to burn them to optical disk. Disks are cheap, reliable and can be duplicated very easily.
Those photos you have on the computer are not replaceable. Treat them as such. Burn a copy then duplicate it and keep off site.


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There was an old joke in which a man said that when he died he hoped to be buried in Chicago, so that he could continue to vote.
Emmis Communications, an owner of radio stations around the United States, not to mention in Slovakia and Bulgaria, is based in Indianapolis, which may be on its way to becoming the Chicago of capitalism.
Put briefly, Emmis and its controlling shareholder have hatched an ingenious plan to make the company's preferred shares all but worthless and strip them of their rights.
To do that requires getting two-thirds of the preferred shares to agree, which would normally be impossible.
But not if Emmis can persuade a state judge in Indiana to bless its strategy to allow dead shares to be voted.Continue reading the main story
If it succeeds, that strategy could have serious ramifications for investors in other companies. "It is not a good thing," said Charles Elson, a law professor and director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. "Ultimately, the court has to protect the minority investors or the minority shares will be worthless and no one will invest."
Here's the situation. Back in 1999, when radio properties were hot, Emmis sold convertible preferred stock at $50 a share. The shares were to pay 6.5 percent a year in dividends. The dividends were cumulative, meaning that if they were not paid the company would still owe them and would have to pay them before any money could be paid to common shareholders. If dividends were not paid for a year and a half, the preferred shares would be entitled to elect two directors.
Like all preferred shares, those shares offered investors greater security and higher income than an investment in common stock, but less chance of a big upside if the company did well.
If the company went private, it would have to redeem the shares at $50 plus accrued dividends. Emmis has not paid dividends on the preferred since 2008, and a little over $11 in unpaid dividends has accumulated. The market price of the shares collapsed after dividend payments were halted.
The provision in the preferred stock contract that allows the terms to be changed with the consent of the owners of two-thirds of the shares is fairly standard. It assumes that investors in a company in trouble might want to cut a deal that gave them something rather than the nothing that they might receive if the company went bankrupt.
Emmis is not doing very well, but it has sold some radio stations and is bringing down debt. A big part of its reported profits in the most recently reported quarter — $56.8 million — stemmed from its effective repurchase of most of the preferred shares at a large discount to face value. It stated in its quarterly report that those shares had been "extinguished."
But as far as Emmis is concerned, extinguished is not the same as gone. It figures that they can still be voted as the company's board wishes. And the board wishes to extinguish nearly all the rights of the preferred stock. It wants to cancel the unpaid dividends and never pay another dividend again. The only right remaining would be to convert each $50 preferred share into 2.44 common shares. At current prices, the conversion value is about $2.
How does Emmis think it can vote the dead shares? It says it did not really buy them, even though they are no longer alive under tax and accounting rules. Instead, the company says, it entered into a "total return swap." The previous owners of the shares got a price — often about $15 or $16 — and no longer have any economic interest in the shares. But Emmis says those owners still have the voting rights and, as part of the swap, have agreed to vote them as Emmis orders.
Last week Emmis, which is incorporated in Indiana, asked a state court in Indianapolis to issue a declaratory judgment that its actions were proper. It names as defendants in the suit several institutional investors who own preferred shares and are resisting the company's move.
The company is represented by James A. Strain, a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister. Company officials have told investors he wrote the Indiana law and was confident that the Emmis strategy was legal. Taft's Web site states Mr. Strain, who declined to be interviewed, was "one of the architects of the Indiana Business Corporation Law."
There does not appear to be any direct precedent in Indiana, or anywhere else, for this particular strategy.
In Delaware, where most major corporations are incorporated, courts have held that a company need only comply with the contract with preferred investors, loopholes included. That is what Emmis claims it is doing.
"We've got a contract," Patrick M. Walsh, the company's chief financial officer, told me. "The rights are spelled out in that contract. We feel like we are acting in the corporation's and the shareholders' best interests."
But there are also cases in Delaware that could point the other way. "For many years, Delaware decisions have expressed consistent concerns about transactions that create a misalignment between the voting interest and the economic interest of shares," the state's Supreme Court said in a 2010 decision that quoted articles by Henry Hu, a law professor at the University of Texas.
I asked Professor Hu, who was also the first director of the division of risk, strategy and financial innovation at the Securities and Exchange Commission, to look at the Emmis plan.
"I would think that a Delaware court would strain hard to say that not only is there a misalignment, but this is a negative economic interest," he said, and added that the shares would be voted in the interests of the common shareholders, who were seeking to profit by taking away the rights of the preferred shares.
The battle is even more complicated than the above would indicate. Unable to get two-thirds of the shares that had been issued, Emmis decided to issue some more to a newly created employee benefit plan. The right to vote them will go to Jeffrey H. Smulyan, the Emmis founder and chief executive. Add those votes to the ones it already has, and the company would have the two-thirds majority even if every actual investor in the stock voted against the plan.
A shareholder meeting on Monday will approve creation of the employee benefit trust and issuance of the preferred shares. Since Mr. Smulyan controls a majority of the votes, through super voting shares, the outcome is not in doubt.
After that vote, the company plans to hold another shareholder meeting as soon as possible, perhaps within weeks. At that meeting, the preferred shares are to be stripped of their rights, and the directors elected by the preferred shares are to be kicked off the board.
Financing the purchases and "total return swaps" was not easy for Emmis. Its bank lenders demanded and got $1.1 million in fees to allow the purchases, but did not provide the cash. That came from a $35 million loan from a fund run by Sam Zell, the real estate investor whose previous venture into the media world, taking over the Tribune Company, ended in bankruptcy. Emmis is paying an interest rate of 22.95 percent.
Emmis management is not happy with the criticism it has been receiving. Mr. Smulyan told me he did not want to see the minority preferred shareholders left out in the cold, and that such an outcome would not happen if the institutional investors blocking the deal would stop being so "greedy and unrealistic" and agreed to sell out on terms the company deemed to be fair.
Mr. Smulyan tried to take Emmis private in 2006 and again in 2010, with the last effort blocked by a failure to get support from enough preferred shareholders. He told me he had no intention of making a third try. Instead, he said, he had acted only after some preferred investors asked for a way to sell their stock.
He argues that his strategy is not very different from a tactic companies sometimes use, of soliciting consents from bondholders or preferred shareholders at the same time as they tender for the securities. That tactic can be very coercive, but at least the votes are cast by people who have a stake in the company when they cast them.
I learned of this case from James Grant, the editor of Grant's Interest Rate Observer, who wrote in the current issue of that publication that a victory for Emmis "would shake the presumption that contract law applies even when, from the point of view of the insiders, it would be more convenient if it didn't."
There are 126,221 preferred shares of Emmis now held by investors who have neither sold out to Emmis nor joined the blocking group. Most of those shares appear to be owned by individual investors, some of whom probably paid $50 a share for them in 1999.
If there is no settlement, and if the Indiana court rules as Emmis expects, those shares will be worth about $2, thanks to a voting arrangement that the old Chicago Democratic machine would have found all too familiar.Continue reading the main story


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Whether you are a young family looking for a place for your kids to grow, a young professional or even an empty nester looking to downsize. Hawks Landing is the place for you.
Okanagan Sunrise is proud to be part of Hawks Landing offering quality built side by side townhomes at an affordable price.


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If you are an avid learner about the history of France, the book of John Julius Norwich is a great start.
First of all, thank you NetGalley for giving us the chance to review this book. It represents the thorough work of a passionate author. 400 pages of the history of France, divided into 2 parts.
The ages of France in the book
The book covers almost 2000 years of the French history and you will find these stories in 400 pages. Easy to follow if you are interested and used to the history books, the first pages cover the dark & medieval ages. From Clovis I, from the House of Valois to Napoleon III, the book covers the stages of French history.
The second part of it talks about the French Revolution, the 2 World Wars and Civil Wars. You will also find some interesting facts about the liberation of France from Nazi occupation in 1944.
Although there are lots of information, the book is engaging. If you would like to know more detailed facts from French history, you will learn a lot from this lecture.
The French history for the curious ones
John Julius Norwich does great documentation on the history of France. So the book is brilliantly written, the information is nicely structured and the research is so well detailed. The author admits that he would have liked to write more about the culture and the daily life of old France.
It's easy to figure out that the author adores France. From the way, he speaks about the great Age of Charlemagne or the Carolingian kings, the Crusades, the court of Louis XIV, or the Revolution. Although you won't find much about people's history, as the author was mentioning, you will learn about the country's growth and development. Here are true facts about religion and empire, royalty and peasants, religion and empire and so on.
If you enjoy the historical books, give a chance to "A History of France". You will enjoy it!


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It occurred to me that even though the slab is only the floor of the above ground basement, there might be some time when that room is used for a pool table, a party, craft workroom, etc... and I might enjoy having some sort of design or floor decoration. I suppose it was just too much of a big blank canvas just waiting on some embellishment.
I bought a mason's chalk line and got out there and marked diagonal lines across the whole slab. The inexpensive chalk line tool is a spool of string with a wind up handle on the side. It has a case with a slide cover opening where you pour in the powdered blue chalk that comes with it. Shown is also a roll of blue painter's masking tape and a metal straight-edge ruler.
Popping a chalk line is a two person job. One person holds the end of the string while the other person pulls the wound up string in the chalk filled case across the distance to the point where you want your chalk line to end. The two of you hold tight to each end of the string right on the surface of the slab and one of you reaches out and lifts the tight string a few inches in the air and lets go of it so that when it pops against the slab, chalk dust flies off the string and leaves the long line across the concrete. We first used a large draftsman's 30-60-90 degree triangle to make a pencil line off one edge of the slab to show us the angle we wanted our first chalk line to go. We decided to let the length of the triangle determine the width of the lines we marked off. Holding the small edge of the triangle on the first blue line, we then made a felt-tip marker dot at the tip of the end of the triangle. We did this in several places along our chalk line so that we could then hold our pulled-tight chalk string so that it lined up with the dots and popped it again to form the next line.
What happened next, I didn't expect. My plan was to get up early the next day and start the concrete acid stain decorations. Unfortunately, at mid-day I was in a store in town and a downpour started... I knew this would wash off our blue chalk lines in no time so I rushed out the door and drove as fast as possible back home, hoping to beat the movement of the clouds. I got to the slab a few minutes before the rain reached us and had just enough time to quickly grab a pencil and start marking the lines with graphite pencil. Contrary to what concrete subcontractors have told me in the past, pencil lines do not wash off a bare concrete surface. If they weather away... I know from experience, it can take years.
I was having to work so fast to beat the rain that I kept a sharp kitchen knife in one hand to continuously shave off pencil wood to keep a point to draw with. Drawing a pencil line on concrete wears the tip down rapidly. I got soaked, but got enough of the lines traced to be able to connect-the-dots and recreate my lines the next day.
Friday, August 10th - there was an overcast sky and what looked like storms out in the Gulf. This was a week when there were heat warnings all across the south, so the overcast sky helped keep the temp down and the stiff wind helped dry off the slab. But it was still plenty HOT !
I know that in an ideal world, I am suppose to let new concrete age and cure for a certain length of time before any concrete acid stain color is applied. I also knew that I did not have that time and that this is a basement floor after all... no big deal. Once the DAC-ART blocks get stacked around the perimeter of the slab, they will also react with the concrete acid stain and accept the permanent color. I wanted the residue from this design to be washed off the edges before any blocks were anywhere close by. This slab is about 10 days old I think, but it had been exposed to some good heavy rain during that time. I swept the water and pine needle debris off the concrete and the wind helped dry off the slab.
I used a small foam paint roller to apply an aqua blue color wavy stripe over my pencil lines. I tried to be cautious and not have any drips or spills, but I did have a few boo-boos. Concrete acid stain is a weak hydrochloric acid mix so be sure to wear plastic goggles when messing with it, and wear old clothes. I was working in intense heat, so my sweat kept dripping off my nose, chin and elbows while I worked leaning over. I thought it might be interesting to see if the chemical make-up of sweat combined with the actual stain product would result in any new color tones.
An accidental spill, no big deal here. In the overall scheme of things it didn't make any difference.
I painted the year in a place that will later not show at all, but I figure it will help or amuse the archeologists when they dig up the ruins a few thousand years from now.
After the wavy lines were painted on using the Aged Copper color, I went back with Palmetto Green concrete acid stain in a small plastic squirt bottle and made scroll-ie lines freehand between the lines. I just made the designs up as I went along.
I did a small test in a spot that would be covered with a DAC-ART block later on.
I added my own name amongst the scrolls and the house name.
When I was finally at the last spot I wrote "Last 1" instead of the usual flourish.
The finished basement floor. I didn't bother to rinse it since I imagine that there will be numerous pop-up afternoon showers before any blocks get stacked around it. If I seal it with a clear acrylic sealer, I wont do that until the house is roofed and the concrete has had plenty of time to cure. I don't want any residual trapped moisture to cause bubbles in the seal finish.
Sept 5, 2007
The final footing (garage) finally got re-dug and inspected before another rain came and filled it with water again. Dan went to rent a sump pump and they guy told him that he'd sell him the thing for just about twice what the rental was, so he bought it for under $50. We will probably need it again since the above ground basement will be totally walled around and will collect rain until it is roofed. We pumped all the collected rain water out, messing about in the mud, digging little traps in the low spots for the pump to sit on a couple bricks.
The footing had to have the steel lifted out and all the mud that had run into it during rain removed. Dan had to get an engineer out here to do a soil compaction test (to suit the inspector). The big steel rebar was put back in place and it was re-inspected. The surveyors came back since the footing had gotten larger and a bit out of shape due to the rain and re-digging. We have to make sure of both height above the mean high tide line and the distance from our property line. Anyway - it finally got poured and that is good, so it can't fill with water again... little tip here, since no one can predict the rain, don't create a situation where you end up with your dug out spots filling with water that has no way to escape. On the coast, pop-up showers can happen at any time and often do every single summer afternoon for days in a row.
We have had a bit of a slowdown while we shopped for a crane, found one and waited while some minor repairs were made. Then came the matter of delivery and getting insurance on it. Seems it is a larger crane than Dan's usual insurance carrier wants to insure. I have made lots of phone calls, my usual insurance company, Ben Castleberry in Foley has and so has the agent at Ebert Agency in Foley. We are waiting to hear back from several people at the moment.
We looked all over the Internet and at the same time, Mike Rode got crane rental prices from several agencies. Buying one was the only thing that made sense. And, buying one that was close enough to go inspect and close enough that the delivery was reasonable was a big factor. We will want to sell this one at the end of this job, so all you potential DAC-ART clients out there reading this... remember to get in touch when you start crane or boom truck shopping. If you have a tall house, one can easily spend up to $75,000 on crane rental, so buying and selling at the end of the job is a huge, huge savings.
I sure do want to learn how to operate that crane. At least a little bit. We all talked about what to do if a hurricane really was headed this way... I told them that the little subdivision house across the street and down about a half mile came thru the last two big ones with only a couple missing shingles, so I would drive that crane over there on high ground and then put it to immediate use after the storm. I wouldn't haul it out of here. Everyone has debris and trees that need moving after a storm so it would be in the right place at the right time if we did get a storm during construction.
Yesterday, Mike our block stacker was here with some of his men. They were measuring and marking the blocks with a big fat magic marker on top where it will not be seen. Dan was here too and today Dan called and said that the crane will be delivered on Friday about mid-day. The seller, Willard Suggs or Coastal Truck and Equipment is coming back down here mid-week to have eye surgery, then he will be back in Alexander City to have it shipped out. I plan to be here with my camera.


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Why this community-minded cop feels like a 'fraud'
WILSONTON Senior Constable Alex Singleton has been rewarded for making his community a better place - but you won't catch him saying that.
The 11-year veteran of the Queensland Police Service said he felt undeserving of the first Toowoomba City Lions' Emergency Services Recognition award for Excellence in Humanitarian Service.
Snr Const Singleton won the award for his work with the Safety Home Project to assist the elderly, a local art group to encourage indigenous youths and the Radio Africa Project for non-English speakers.
He won ahead of several high-quality candidates at a ceremony yesterday at the Toowoomba Civic Precinct Lawn, where he was presented with his trophy by Mayor Paul Antonio.
But the ex-British police officer was humble in his reaction to the award, saying he felt like a fraud.
"As a police officer, I must admit I feel a bit of a fraud because there are 300 other police officers out there, all serving their community," he said.
"To be singled out ahead of them means I might be taking the limelight that they should be getting themselves.
"I am very shocked, because when you think about it, all of us do this because we want to do it and it's because we like serving the public. I feel pretty special."
Lions treasurer Garry Bates said the club planned to make the award a regular event, with the goal of recognising the emergency services personnel who went the extra mile for their communities.
"It's taken four months to get off the ground, and the whole idea was to spread, which is why we've got finalists from across the region," he said.
- David Lethbridge from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Highfields.
- Michael Patch from QFES Rural Fire Service
- Alan Payne from QFES Rural Fire Service
- James (Jim) Ross from SES Cecil Plains
- Geoff Stower from Queensland Ambulance Service


text:
Top 10 Facts About The Crown Season 2 – Got Right or Wrong (HD Video)
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