text:
Get cento.ca for your next venture. It's a brandable domain name!
Cento is:
- One word
- Memorable
- It's an English word!
Dictionary definitions for Cento
- a piece of writing, especially a poem, composed wholly of quotations from the works of other authors.
- anything composed of incongruous parts; conglomeration.
- Obsolete. a patchwork.
Word Origin
C17: from Latin, literally: patchwork garment
- Central Treaty Organization; an organization for military and economic cooperation formed in 1959 bythe UK, Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey as a successor to the Baghdad Pact: disbanded 1979

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chapter Thirteen: Romeo and Juliet
The rest of Harry's first week passed in a rush of timetables, homework and revision booklets. He spent first lesson on Wednesday in the library with Hermione, doing more research for his Potions project, and Snape even checked it for him when he got back to class. History of Magic was dull as ever, though the entire year had their first Miscellaneous Magic class straight after break. Professor Pebblebank, today in very wide-legged blue trousers and a t-shirt with a glittery star on the front, took them through details of what they'd be doing during the year. It seemed there had been some sort of problem at the ministry of magic, and somebody had tried to pass a law banning the classes. They could only start properly learning in a month, and so until then, the hour would be free-time for them to do homework and research things they'd like to learn about. Hermione simply quivered with excitement next to Harry. Everybody else seemed very interested too, even Draco, who sat forward intently when Professor Pebblebank got onto the part about Chinese Dragon magic.
"My father taught me some," he explained. "The summer before he was taken away."
After that, Harry had Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was straight into preparation for their first project, and Harry was pleased to completely transfigure his turtle into a rabbit by the end of the lesson. Professor McGonagall explained that human transfiguration would be taught to them throughout the project, and they had to break the gap between different species first.
In Care of Magical Creatures, they were getting more things ready for the imminent arrival of the dragons. Hagrid had them all slicing up great steaks made from what were probably once elephants, though it was rather hard to tell.
After school on Wednesday, Harry had his DMT lesson with Snape. They were practicing how to lie this evening, and how to detect a lie. Harry couldn't help but laugh inwardly as he realised he was playing Truth or Dare with Professor Snape. Each would ask the other a question, then decide whether the answer was a lie or not. Harry found out that Snape had indeed vandalised something once, which turned out be a phone-box in his seventh year on graduation night; that Snape was allergic to cat fur; that Snape had drunk Firewhiskey well under the legal age, and that Snape had once eaten half a scroll of parchment as a dare set by Lucius Malfoy. Snape also swore blind that he had never ever been tempted to jinx a first year, though Harry knew this was a lie.
On Thursday, first thing, Harry was out in the grounds again, this time learning how to control dragons with various spells, taught by Charlie Weasley. It was a very enjoyable lesson, even though Neville did catch him in the eye with a conjunctivitis curse and he couldn't see for the rest of the day. This wasn't helpful, as after Magical Creatures, he was straight off to Pure Arts. As he predicted, Alrister was lurking behind the door with his stick when they all walked in. Draco was promptly declared dead after a good whack around the head, and Hermione barely avoided getting poked herself, using a clever little move that set Alrister's curtains on fire. Once they'd beaten him out, Hermione apologised over and over again, and transfigured the curtains back to their original state. Alrister said it was quite alright; he'd never liked them anyway.
At the end of the day was double Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin. He told them they were starting their first project, about the common dangers found in England, and by the time the two hours was over, Harry had done his first five pages. Lupin gave him ten points to the school. Throughout the lesson, Madam Ivy was nowhere to be seen. Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Lupin had banned her from the class when he was teaching.
Friday came, and Harry was glad it was nearly the weekend. He'd enjoyed his first week back, but definitely needed a break, and some time to finish all of his start-of-term homework. First thing he had Potions. While most people went off to the library to do yet more research, Harry had finished his, and stayed behind in the classroom. Snape taught him the correct way to slice Exploding Caterpillar Bulbs without getting showered in the sticky sap, and when he saw how much work Harry had done on his project already, he was startled into giving Harry five points.
After Potions, Harry had Pure Arts, and once again avoided the stick. Almost a quarter of the class was sitting at a Dead desk by now, and Alrister managed to catch three more people by the time the bell went. They all hobbled out of the class, nursing various small bruises. Draco remarked that if Alrister turned on them again, they should just beat him to the floor with his own stick and lock him in a cupboard somewhere.
History of Magic and Transfiguration were dull as ever, and McGonagall was really testing their knowledge today. She made Harry turn a mouse into a gecko in front of the class, and when the gecko was revealed to still have little furry ears, she made him do it three more times until he got the hang of it.
Though Harry was hardly bothered by this, as last thing on Friday, he was due in Defence Against the Dark Arts with Madam Ivy. He took a seat at the front of the class today, wanting to prove he wasn't one of those slack students that hung around on the back row and talked all lesson. She handed back the pieces of project she had marked, and Harry's mood was enlightened when he saw that she had given him an O. She perched herself on the edge of Lupin's desk as usual, and addressed them all, hands clasped neatly in her lap.
"I'm sure you'll have all seen your marks by now," she said, smartly, putting an end to the chatter. "And I'm glad that some of you are pleased by your result, though I know there are a few people in here who could do much better. Obviously, I've only marked the first part of your project, and if you wish to redo it to a better standard, you may. Remember that the final grade you get for this work will go towards your NEWT, and a low grade could mean disaster if you want a job that deals with Defence Against the Dark Arts. And of course, we are entering dark times at the moment. The more well defended you are, the better.
"Today, we are to start looking at specific dark creatures. I want you to include four, minimum, in your project. Reference books are at the back in the separate boxes, and I will answer any questions you have. All clear?"
Harry kept his head down, and after retrieving a book, started working hard on the task set. By the end of the hour, he was exhausted and his brain felt numb with information about all the dark creatures he'd ever learnt anything about. He handed in his notes, and Madam Ivy looked rather taken aback at how much work he'd done. She turned it over, her eyes skimming through it, and said, with a little smile, "Well, this certainly seems to be a good standard, Potter... though you've spelt a few things wrong just down at the bottom. Clear those up and Professor Lupin will take you through some more guidelines next week."
Harry was strongly reminded of a young Professor McGonagall.
That night, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all sitting in the common room, finishing off bits of homework that needed to be done, ready for the weekend. Tomorrow morning, Harry had his learning to kill lesson with Professor Lupin, and he wasn't exactly looking forward to it. In the afternoon, Hagrid's dragons were expected to arrive, and Harry wanted to go and help get them settled in. He was becoming quite used to dragons now.
Gradually, the common room started to empty of people, until nine o' clock came, and only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were left. Hermione was bent over a huge sheet covered in runes, translating it all onto a clean piece of parchment, and Ron was teaching Sneezy the alphabet, without much luck. Ginny seemed to be quite agitated about something.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked her, after the third time she shifted in her chair, closed her book, then re-opened it.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine," she said, smiling slightly. "Just a bit nervy. I think I might go to the bathroom before I turn in for the night, I could do with a shower." She stood up, and leaving her books and bag scattered around the table, she headed up to her dormitory.
Harry had just picked up his quill to start writing again when she suddenly arrived, carrying a shower bag. "That was a very quickly packed shower bag," he said.
"Well, I've wanted a shower all day," she said, idly. "See you all soon." And she walked out through the portrait hole without a word.
Everything was quiet for a moment, then Hermione voiced what everybody was thinking.
"Why couldn't she just use the Gryffindor showers?" she said, frowning, and putting down her quill. "And why did she have the bag packed and ready? Do you think she's up to something?"
"Yes," said Ron, stoutly. He got up, and left his books where they were, heading over to Harry's trunk in the corner. Without asking for permission, he opened it up, and rooted through for a few minutes before getting out Harry's old invisibility cloak. "You don't mind if I borrow this, do you?" he said, throwing it on around his shoulders. His head floated towards the door.
"Not if you'll let me come with you," said Harry. Ignoring Hermione's protests about them going out so late at night, he hurried over to Ron, and his cousin threw the cloak over both of them. Harry didn't know why he wanted to follow Ginny - suspicion, perhaps, or maybe he just wanted to stretch his legs and it was a good excuse to get away from homework.
He and Ron headed towards the door, and stepped out. Hermione called after them that she wasn't going to vouch for them when they got in trouble, but they didn't listen, and slipped out into the corridor, closing the portrait behind them. It was immediately obvious where Ginny was going. They just saw her bright red hair slip away around the corner, and silently, they followed.
Both of them had grown since they last used the cloak, and it was hard to walk at the same time whilst keeping all ankles and limbs out of sight, though they managed it. Fairly soon, they had caught up with Ginny, and it was clear that she was not going anywhere near the bathrooms. They were careful to stay a good distance behind and silent. They didn't want her to know they were following, even if she was doing something as innocent as going to the library to get out a book, or heading to the owlery to post a letter.
They passed the staircase to the owlery though, and didn't seem to be going anywhere near the library. Harry was getting more and more suspicious with every step that Ginny took, and he couldn't think of where she was going at all. The astronomy tower seemed the most logical place, but Ginny would have to be incredibly thick to try and go there at night. Professor Sinistra was infamously protective of her chambers, and the only excuse for being around the astronomy tower at night was a lesson - but surely Ginny would have told them, if she had a lesson, instead of pretending to go to the bathroom. And why had she left her bag back in the common room?
Sure enough, as the winding stone staircase to the astronomy tower appeared, Ginny turned up it, and started to climb. Here, every single noise echoed upwards, and Harry and Ron had a hard time struggling up it sideways while staying hidden. Harry didn't know how he could tell, but he just knew Ron was getting angry. Perhaps it was just the sound of his cousin's breathing, or the way he kept pushing Harry, wanting him to hurry up.
Harry wondered whether Ginny was perhaps visiting the dragons that were still living in the astronomy hall, but she went past that door as well, climbing up and up towards the very highest tower in the school. Harry had a dangerous sensation of being watched by unseen eyes. He didn't know for sure exactly how Professor Sinistra guarded the astronomy tower from intruders, but he was pretty sure it would not be pleasant. A slap on the wrist and a few points from the school total was too much to hope for.
After many long minutes of climbing and getting shunted along by Ron, Harry heard a trap door open above them, and cold night air flooded the staircase. Ginny climbed out carefully, and to Harry's relief, she left it open. He and Ron managed to do a sort of twizzle to get through without making any noise or falling over each other. Ginny was alone in the tower, sitting on the low wall and gazing out across the lake, silent and still like a statue. Ron tugged on Harry's sleeve to pull him away from the trapdoor, and next second, Harry realised why, as he heard the footsteps coming up the stone staircase. He tensed, expecting Professor Sinistra to fly out and strangle them all to death. Ginny clearly thought the same thing, and moved to hide, though next second, a figure had stepped out through the trap door.
"Hiya," said Ginny, smiling. "I was worried I was too late... I told them all I had to take a shower." She held up the bag, and showed her visitor, smiling still. "What was your excuse?"
"I didn't need one," was the reply. "I just got up and left. Nobody noticed."
Ron had gone so still and stiff that Harry got worried he had actually died of horror, and gave him a poke in the side. Ron poked him back, hard.
Draco sat down on the wall next to Ginny, kicking the trap door shut with the heel of his dragon-hide boots. Ginny smiled shyly. "So..." she said. "What did you want to see me about?"
"Just a little something," Draco murmured, and he leant forward, touching her face.
Ron made an odd squeak of disgust and shock as their lips met, and Ginny instantly pulled back, looking around nervously. "What was that?" she said.
"Nothing," said Draco, pulling her into another kiss.
Ron was trembling with rage next to Harry. Harry could feel his cousin's hands balling into fists and shaking, as though he would dearly love to just burst out from under the cloak and knock Malfoy off the top of the tower. Harry had absolutely no idea what to do. With the trap door now shut, he and Ron couldn't make their escape, and there was nothing they could do but watch helplessly. Harry found he couldn't avert his eyes. It was like a road accident - he just had to have a look.
Draco and Ginny, distracted as they were, apparently had no sense of time anymore. Harry and Ron did though. The moments lengthened into minutes, and after quarter of an hour, Harry was getting very cold and stiff from standing still so long, and the entertainment was losing its novelty. The only warmth anywhere in the tower was Ron, who was still shaking with fury and breathing like a rhinoceros. Harry kept having to poke him to get him to shut up, though Ron just jabbed him back twice as hard. After twenty minutes, Harry was even more cold and covered in bruises. He quite wanted to knock Malfoy off the tower now, just to break up the kissing session so he could get to bed.
Draco let Ginny go again, and she immediately leant forward, though he held up a hand. "It's late," he murmured. "The Gryffindors will get suspicious of you being gone for so long. I'd suggest a quick shower before you get back to the common room, so there's nothing for them to be suspicious about."
She nodded, with a smile, her cheeks slightly pink. "Okay... same time same place tomorrow?"
"Hopefully," he said. "An hour earlier though. Say you've got a detention or something ludicrous like that." He smiled, weaving his fingers through her hair. "I told you there was nothing wrong with coming up to the astronomy tower at night... all those rumours about it being protected... I mean, she's a little paranoid, but really Professor Sinistr-AAARGH!!!"
The stone they were sitting on had seemingly come alive, and with a hissing noise, a great coil like an octopus's arm had shot out, wrapping itself around Malfoy and trying to crush him. Ginny screamed as more tentacles shot out of the wall for her too, but she leapt away out of reach, staring in horror at the stone snake trying to squeeze Draco to death. He choked, struggling wildly, before he managed to break its grip and fling himself aside. A light flicked on in a room across the tower, and Draco shouted, "RUN!" at Ginny, before wrenching the trap door open and leaping down it out of sight. She followed quickly, and Harry and Ron bolted into action under the cloak, waddling as fast as they could for the door, but before they had even got halfway there, Ginny slammed it shut behind her.
"There's no way out!" Harry choked, desperately. "What are we going to do?"
Ron tore off the invisibility cloak, and bent down, saying in a furious voice, "Stuff the astronomy tower, I'm going to MURDER Malfoy!!" He gave a few enraged tugs to the handle of the trap door, but it just wouldn't open. It was locked. "Oh COME ON!!" Ron bellowed at it.
Harry jabbed him in the chest and hissed, "Shhhh, you'll get us caught!"
But the words had barely left his mouth before Harry felt a lurch under his feet. He shot downwards, grabbed out for Ron, and both of them screamed as the stone floor of the tower gave way and they were sucked down into blackness. They hit the floor moments later with loud shouts of pain. It was pitch black wherever they were now. Wheezing, Harry groped for Ron and gasped, "Ron! Ron, where are you?"
Ron grabbed his arm in the dark. "I'm here," he breathed, and apparently, the wind had been knocked out of Ron too. "Where are we?"
"I don't know," said Harry, fighting for breath. He drew his wand, and said, "Lumos!"
A ball of light flicked on at the end of his wand, just enough to trace around the few metres around them. The room seemed to be bare, just stone walls and floor. Harry held his wand towards the ceiling, but it had reformed.
"We're trapped," Ron squeaked. "There's no way out! We're going to starve in here! They can't do this! This is a SCHOOL, not AZKABAN!!" He leapt at one of the walls and started beating it frantically with his fists, though Harry grabbed him and pulled him away before he could break his knuckles on the hard stone.
"There must be some way out!" he said. "We've just got to think and stay calm. There's a way out of everywhere in Hogwarts, and the founders wouldn't build somewhere that would endanger the lives of the students."
"OH yeah?!" said Ron, quite delirious now. "And the Chamber of Secrets is just happy dandy fairyland now, is it?!"
"That was different!" said Harry desperately. "And Slytherin's heir was fine in the chamber, wasn't he? We've just got to work out who built the astronomy tower."
"I think it was Slytherin," Ron choked. "He was really paranoid about his quarters and his rooms. He'll have done this. It's all his fault!" And he launched himself at the wall again, yelling and battering it with his fists.
Harry pulled him away again. "Ron, don't!" he hissed. "We've just got to be calm and find a way out. I'll try and blast away some of the wall." He aimed his wand, and whispered, "Reducto!"
A jet of light struck the stone and a few chunks cracked away, hitting the floor. Praying that the wall was fairly thin, and not two metres thick, Harry start chipping away at it bit by bit with the reducto curse. Finally, after what seemed like hours, they could see light through the hole. Ron got out his wand too, and both of them shattered a hole big enough to crawl through, then squeezed their way out of the chamber.
They were now in what seemed to be a small store-room. Boxes littered the floor, and candles were attached to all the walls, bathing everything in a soothing amber glow. Ron had momentarily forgotten about Malfoy, it seemed, and paced across the room to a door. He yanked it open, and there was only darkness ahead.
"Get a few of these candles," said Harry, unclipping some from their torch brackets. "We've got to try and find a corridor, or somewhere that we recognise. Then we can start working our way back to Gryffindor Tower."
Ron got a candle from the wall, and quietly, the two of them crept through into the next room. Candlelight washed across the stone walls in an eerie sort of wave, and at first, Harry thought it was just another empty room, except that the walls were glistening were something gooey like lemon jelly. There was something stuck to the far wall. As Harry held the candle a little higher, it washed over the figure glued to the wall by the sticky substance. Harry barely had time to register the flash of white-blonde hair before Ron gave a furious yell next to him and launched himself at Malfoy, attempting to wrench him out of the jelly on the walls and probably kill him. Harry ran after Ron and tried to pull him off Malfoy, Malfoy was shouting at Ron, Ron was throttling Malfoy, and only when Harry bellowed in both their ears did they stop with loud cries of pain.
"Thankyou!" Harry shouted. "Now, stop it! Malfoy, what are you doing stuck to the wall?"
"It sucked me in," said Draco, angrily, a black-eye now blooming on his face. "What are you doing here?"
"Hey," said Ron, suddenly, before Harry could answer. He gave a tug to his hands, which had sunk into the jelly to strangle Draco, but they didn't come out. Ron screamed. "Get me OFF!!"
Harry linked his arms around Ron's stomach, and pulled as hard as he could, trying to remove him from the sticky goo. Draco, who was stuck spread-eagled to the wall, couldn't really do much but laugh. Ron's face worked in a snarl, though with his hands out of action, couldn't punch Draco, and just got angrier and angrier. Harry wasn't getting anywhere with pulling him off, and so just gave up, collapsing on the floor and panting. Draco was still laughing. Ron spat in his face, and he stopped.
"Try a melting curse," said Ron, trying to twist his head and look at Harry on the floor, though it was hard, stuck against Draco as he was. "Or a dissolving curse, anything."
"DON'T use a dissolving curse, you'll dissolve all our skin!" Draco shouted.
"Correction," said Ron, angrily. "It'll dissolve all YOUR skin, and I'll only lose my hands, which I think is a pretty good price to pay to see you frazzled to a crisp! What do you think you're doing with MY sister?!"
"How the hell does your sister come into this?" said Malfoy, furiously.
"Stop it! Stop fighting!" said Harry. "We've got to get out of here before Professor Sinistra catches us all; we'll fight about Ginny later. Ron, put your knee on Malfoy's stomach, and pull back with your hands. It might get them free. Then we'll try and get Malfoy out."
Ron stared at him. "I'm sorry? You're actually giving me permission to knee Malfoy in the stomach?"
"Do I get a choice in this at all?" said Draco, raising both eyebrows.
"No," said Harry. "Ron, I'll stand behind you to catch you, alright? Just bring your left knee up, and place it GENTLY on Draco's stomach. Then you can get a bit more force to pull on. Okay?"
"Alright," said Ron. He smiled. "Gently. Huh." He carefully pulled up one knee, and pushed it against Draco's stomach, but before he'd even thought of pulling his hands out of the goo, there was a noise like custard getting sucked up a vacuum cleaner. The jelly spread itself around Draco's stomach in a great glistening mass, slurping itself around Ron's knee, locking it in place.
There was silence for a moment, before Ron said, sniffily, "Got any more bright ideas, Harry? Maybe I should press my face into the jelly, and see if it does any good?"
Draco heaved a very dramatic sigh. "Whatever did the art of sarcasm do to you, Weasley? Surely it doesn't deserve to be butchered like that."
"You shut up! This is all your fault!"
"Gosh, I'm so scared."
"Shut up!"
"Or what? You'll kick me and get that leg stuck to the wall as well?"
"Stop it!" said Harry. "Come on, we've got to work together. Maybe... maybe if you just lift up your other leg, Ron, then the weight will bring you out of the jelly."
"Or maybe," said Draco, dryly, "if we just stay here, wait for Professor Sinistra, and then calmly explain the situation we'll be allowed out. After all, I am a prefect, and I have a perfectly good excuse for being out at night. As much as I hate it, so does Weasley, and Ginny hasn't been caught so she's fine. Oh wait, what about you, Potter? Well, one out of four people getting expelled isn't too bad, I suppose."
At that moment, there were soft footsteps from behind them, and the swish of a cloak across the floor. Harry whipped around. Standing in the doorway was Professor Sinistra, in all her glory, arms folded, and triumph in her eyes.
"Well, well..." she whispered. "Seventh years I would have expected better of. And two prefects. The headmaster isn't going to like this at all, boys. Not one bit."
"Professor?" came Draco's voice from behind Ron. "Professor, I can certainly explain all this. At least, I can explain why I was in your tower, though Weasley and Potter are another story I'm afraid. You see, I was just on my prefect rounds, when - "
"Save it for the headmaster, Draco." Sinistra raised one hand, snapped her fingers, and the two boys were instantly released from the jelly. Another snap, and thin ropes spread from the silver bracelets around her wrists, winding around each boy's neck in a tight grip. "Come with me."
When they arrived in Dumbledore's office, all looking very guilty, three other people were already there. Ginny sat in front of the headmaster's desk, pink in the face and playing with her fingers, with McGonagall standing at her side. Professor Snape was lurking near the fire, and as Sinistra lead Draco in by the scruff of his neck, one of Snape's eyebrows arched.
"Malfoy...?" he whispered, dangerously.
"Professor!" said Draco, clearly spotting another chance to worm his way out of trouble. "Professor, you have to believe me, I can explain all this. I was on my prefect rounds, when - "
"Oh, cram it, Malfoy," Ron muttered, rolling his eyes.
Sinistra snapped her fingers, and the thin cords around their necks were released. Harry winced, reaching up to feel the red marks where the ropes had been, as Professor Sinistra turned to the headmaster.
"Dumbledore," she said, icily. "I found them trying to escape the tower. My defences caught them, though they were making so much noise, it wasn't hard to find them."
"Thankyou, Sarabi," said Dumbledore, pleasantly. He sat in a large purple winged armchair behind his desk. "Sit down please, boys. Minerva, Severus, Sarabi, feel free to draw up some of the other armchairs."
They did so. Draco instantly moved to sit next to Ginny, but Ron gave him a shove in the shoulder and took the place next to his sister defiantly. Draco opened his mouth to say something that was undoubtedly scathing, but Snape clipped him smartly around the ear and pushed him down into a chair. The Potions master then gave Harry a meaningful look, his hand curling around the back of the chair next to Draco. Harry sat down in it obediently. McGonagall stood behind Ginny and Ron, while Professor Sinistra took Snape's old position by the fireplace, watching the four students with a cat-like smile on her pale face.
"Now then," said Dumbledore, kindly. "Professor Sinistra says that she caught all four of you up in the astronomy tower. According to my clock, it is nearly ten o' clock at night, far too late for you all to be up and about. I was wondering if you could tell me why..."
Instantly, Ron shot in with, "Malfoy was kissing MY sister!"
Ginny went scarlet, and squealed, "Ron, he wasn't, don't say that!"
"We saw you!" said Ron angrily. "Me and Harry, we were there, we - "
"Why were you following us in the first place?!" Draco demanded, rounding on Ron. "Whoever gave you the right to sneak around school and stick your great fat nose into other people's business!?"
"Because we knew you were up to something!!" Ron bellowed, turning as red as Ginny. "And I've got the proof, because Harry was there too, and I'll have you know that I've got JUST as much right as you to sneak around school, because I'M a prefect too, OKAY?!"
"Then what about Potter? What sort of a prefect would blatantly endanger another student's place at Hogwarts by bringing them along on - "
"Don't bring me into this!" Harry said, having to shout to make himself heard.
"WHY SHOULDN'T I?!" Ron yelled, standing up and glaring hatefully at Malfoy. "YOU WERE THERE! YOU'RE THE PROOF, YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED! YOU SAY MALFOY KISSING MY - "
"WEASLEY, it's her CHOICE who she kisses, YOU CAN'T DECIDE EVERYTHING FOR HER!" bellowed Draco, getting to his feet as well.
Ginny burst into tears, as Ron and Draco continued to scream, now jabbing each other in the chest too. Harry was trying to stay out of it, but couldn't hold back as Draco started insinuating that Harry and Ron were both up to something suspicious. He jumped to his feet and started shouting as well, Snape was yelling at Harry and Draco to sit down, McGonagall was trying to stop Ron killing Draco, Ginny was crying even harder now, Sinistra was adding her own screams to the mixture, and for a few moments it was total chaos until -
"WOULD ANYBODY CARE FOR A FAIRY CAKE?!!" Dumbledore roared over all the noise.
Everybody instantly stopped shouting, and turned to stare at him. Ron even let go of Draco's throat. Dumbledore smiled pleasantly and held out a tray of iced buns.
"Well?" he said, brightly.
"With all due respect, Albus, this is not the time for fairy cakes," said McGonagall, crisply. She pushed down hard on Ron's shoulders, making him sit.
Snape did the same with Harry and Draco, after wisely making them swap sides, so Draco was as far from Ron as possible. Harry realised that Snape had put him directly in the line of fire, and wasn't comforted by this.
"Now... Sarabi, has any damage been done to anything in the astronomy tower?" said Dumbledore, kindly.
She shook her head. "Though it could easily have been, Headmaster. Very easily. These students were trespassing in the tower at night, and a great deal of very sophisticated equipment was put at risk. If they had been wanting to break something, they - "
"Though they didn't, Sarabi," said Dumbledore calmly. "The only problem we have here are two lovestruck teenagers, an overly protective brother, and a good friend. I won't take any points away this time, but I will ask you to stay in your common rooms after dark in future. The astronomy tower is out of bounds to students if they aren't in class, or with another good excuse. Please remember this. Severus, Minerva, if you wish to give detentions then that is up to you to decide."
"I think it would help reinforce the message," said McGonagall, wisely. "All three of you can come to my office on Monday, eight o' clock, and - "
"Potter will not be attending," said Snape, calmly. "He already has a remedial potions class, and trust me, he certainly needs it."
Harry thought this was a bit harsh, but said nothing, simply staring at a point on Dumbledore's desk as though it was fascinating.
"Then perhaps Harry should serve his detention with you, Severus," said Dumbledore, pleasantly. "Just before his remedial potions class. It would be a great deal more convenient to all, I think. Minerva, are you okay with this?"
McGonagall nodded crisply. Dumbledore smiled. "Excellent. Now then, it is late, and you should all be in bed, unless anybody has anything else to say. No? Then goodnight to you all, and please think more in future."
<< Back | Story Index | Next Chapter >>
Back to Top | Stories by Author | Stories by Title | Main Page
: Portions of this website courtesy of www.elated.com,© 2002


text:
If you have an existing space that is unfinished in some way, you have the opportunity to have the space completely finished to your unique specifications. In other words, the space has the potential to be completely customizable. However, you want to use a Minnesota construction company to make the changes for you so that you have guidance while making choices, know exactly what is available for your space, and are given the peace of mind that the project is going to be completed right. Basement finishing is a great way to add space and value to your home.
A professional contractor is necessary because finishing an unfinished area in a home can present a number of technical challenges. The challenges are easily overcome by the experienced contractor. What you receive in the end is a space that is unique in character. Finishing a space also means that the inhabitants are going to enjoy it and the value of the home will increase.
Finishing A Basement
Basement finishing is a frequent request for a Minnesota construction company, as it means turning a functional space into one that is both functional and livable. Basements can be sealed and interior walls built so that the cold concrete block is not exposed, giving the basement a much warmer feel. In addition, the floor and ceiling can be finished and a floor covering installed. The cold, boring basement is suddenly transformed into a living space. Many individuals like to use their finished basements as gathering areas, family rooms, and even additional bedrooms or apartments.
Repurposing Spaces
Sometimes, having a contractor refinish a room is simply because the space needs to be repurposed. For instance, you can convert your garage. Perhaps you need to be able to park your car and have a functional workspace. Then again, you may wish to use your garage as a recreation room rather than a place to park your car.
If you have an extra bathroom that is hardly used, have a whirlpool installed and turn the room into something completely different. When you do this, you are ensuring the old room's function is closely aligned with the new room's function.
Even attics can be finished. Utilities can be tapped into and walls, flooring, and fixtures added to the room. This is another option when needing to create a bedroom or another type of space. Low-hanging ceilings do not interfere with roof ventilation, making the space feel like something other than an attic. However, there are additional tasks that must be completed when finishing an attic; the joists will need to be strengthened and sub-flooring laid down so the floor can handle steady foot traffic.
Contact A Minnesota Building Contractor
If you have an unfinished space or a space that needs to be brought to life, Building Renewal Inc. will use the best materials and tools to make sure your vision comes to life. To schedule your free inspection and estimate, call 763-263-9633 or fill out the form on this page and someone from our office will contact you.


text:
Microneedling is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that's used to treat skin concerns via stimulating collagen production. Also known as collagen induction therapy, this treatment may help those looking to reduce the appearance of acne scars, stretch marks and helps to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.BOOK NOW - HAGBOURNE
The AlumierMD luxury facial is a unique experience that combines relaxation with high performing active ingredients to address your skin concerns. Get ready to relax and let go as you receive the ultimate in customisation and relaxation. Here at Bare Essentials, Oxfordshire we can help treat many skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, pigmentation and ageing skin. If you are unsure of what to book, come for a free skin consultation so we can discuss your skin concerns and pick the best treatment plan for you.
Microneedling is used to improve skin tone and texture, reduce the appearance of scars, and minimise lines and wrinkles. When paired with hyaluronic acid, a powerful moisture binding ingredient, microneedling provides the benefit of adding plumpness and hydration into the skin to prevent the visible signs of ageing. This treatment can be combined off with a 15 minute Dermalux treatment to help stimulate collagen production, reduce pigmentation and to help speed up the healing process.
35a Market Place
Email address:
Becky: 07870 849351
Ailsa: 07807 111186


text:
Please share your thoughts and/or questions in the comment section below. And please click the red YouTube Subscribe button on the left - so that these inspiring videos show up on your YouTube home page.
Let Us Be Who in Truth We Are
Video message based on the Inspirational Daily post of March 13:
You are the sons and daughters of the Most High. You are Love and Light physically expressing himself or herself on this planet. All you in truth ever wish to be, you already are. Being who in truth you are, a kind, loving, forgiving, and peaceful human being is, once you remember and begin supporting your true-self, an effortless accomplishment. Sooner or later you will find that there is nothing easier than being who in truth you are.
Today let us all practice returning to our true nature. Again nothing truly hard, regardless of how the ego will choose to perceive it, is being asked of us today. Simply return to being who in truth you are. Today when we notice ourselves valuing the ego's illusions more than our truth, let us not judge others or ourselves, but instead simply remember that our natural state is always just a choice away. A choice away, that is all. Today make the conscious choice to value forgiveness more than judgment, compassion more than condemnation, peace more than pain, is that truly that much to ask of us?
– James Blanchard CisnerosNote: Please forgive us for any grammatical/punctuation mistakes in the above text. This is from an unedited Facebook post that will be fully edited when we include it in a book of daily inspirational messages.
James' Peace of Mind Now Videos are Available for Viewing on YouTube.
Please click the red YouTube Subscribe button below – so that these inspiring videos show up on your YouTube home page.
You can also easily share and add these beautiful, inspiring videos on Forgiveness, The Present Moment, Trusting God, Letting Go of Judgment, Remembering Your Godself and so many other wonderful topics to your web site, Facebook page, blog, and other social networking sites.
Our YouTube channel: PeaceOfMindNow www.youtube.com/peaceofmindnow.


text:
Government shutdowns; the federal budget; huge worker protests in Madison, Wis.; Columbus, Ohio and Annapolis, Md.: behind them all lies the economy and the need for jobs.
With over 25 million out of work, jobs remain the most basic issue before the country. The loss of 11 million jobs during the recession is the main reason the Democrats lost last November's election. The unemployment rate along with the general health of the economy will surely determine which party will govern in the next election cycle.
Unfortunately, providing employment for the jobless appears to be off Washington's legislative and political agenda. The GOP control of the House guarantees that.
Or does it?
With the working class-led upsurge spreading from Wisconsin throughout the Midwest and the rest of the country, much will depend on how broad sections of the electorate perceive who is fighting for their interests.
At least, that's what activists who gathered in Washington, D.C., last weekend for the Campaign for America's Future Jobs Summit believe. Roger Hickey, the group's head, says even if the GOP blocks jobs legislation, Democrats should call for it anyway.
The Washington Post writes that Hickey "argues Democrats should call for more spending anyway. Even if Republicans block a stimulus-style bill, voters in 2012 would know Democrats tried to push an ambitious plan."
John Conyers, veteran of many legislative battles and ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, agrees. Conyers recently introduced HR 870, the "Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment & Training Act," a deficit-neutral bill aimed at providing employment to the jobless.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Conyers said, "The government has to intervene directly. That's the one thing I'm trying to get the president to move on. He's a little bit slow on this."
At the present moment, the White House seems to be taking a different tack, one with an eye toward independent voters and 2012. The Washington Post quotes the president as saying, "There will be some occasions where Democratic constituencies aren't happy with us because we're having to rationalize government … But it's necessary."
The White House, whatever its electoral strategy, is certainly not indisposed to solving the jobs crisis and must hear the sounds of marching feet in all the battleground states.
The labor movement is speaking clearly. At the jobs summit, AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka said, "It is our job to channel this Midwest uprising, this populist outcry into the large-scale creation of good jobs that can resuscitate America's middle class, America's people and our economy."
The GOP has awakened a working-class giant. By linking the struggles of the employed with the unemployed, collective bargaining with civil rights, this giant is standing front and center and declaring proudly, "We are one nation."
Politicians would do well to heed its voice.
Trudeau blames 'Russian propaganda' for Nazi ovation; Poland wants SS vet extradited
After months of denial, U.S. admits to running Ukraine biolabs
Trump orders MAGA House Republicans to shut down the government…again


text:
Thank you for your registration!
We have received your registration information. This page, along with your payment receipt email, act as your registration confirmation.
Details about how to access the course will be sent one week prior to the course start date.
Payment Options
Please use one of the links below to complete a secure online payment and receive an email receipt.
Advancing Equity-based Online Teaching, Obtain book on your own, $495/participant
Pay via Check
If you need to pay via check, please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com requesting an invoice.


text:
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
July 2018 Monthly Wrap Up
19 comments:
I think you had a great reading month! I think I've only had 1 5-star book this whole year!ReplyDelete
Yeah, Kings books should count as two they're so long. LOL Sounds like you had a pretty good month:)ReplyDelete
The good thing is that none of the books were rubbish, so that is always a bonus!ReplyDelete
It's always nice to look back and realize you actually read more than you realized. And so many 5 star books, that's awesome😁ReplyDelete
I think reading a few great books is better than reading a bunch of average ones. I hope you're having a good August and getting lots of reading done.ReplyDelete
Aj @ Read All The Things!
I've been looking longingly at that mermaid book so good to see a 4/5 review.ReplyDelete
Lynn :D
You read SEVEN books in ONE month?! WOW!! I ADMIRE you!! I'm lucky if I can read THREE. Lol.ReplyDelete
I already have "Sparrow Hill Road" on my GR shelves. I like ghost stories, and this collection looks VERY interesting! I've just added "The Girl in the Green Silk Gown", too. Since I ADORE mermaid stories, I've added "The Mermaid", as well.
I might add "Smothered". Not sure yet, as it hits too close to home...pun intended! :)
No comment on the horror novels, of course! Lol.
Thanks for sharing!! HUGS & "WOOF, WOOF"!!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)
Looks like a great reading month to me!ReplyDelete
Stephen King books always seem so lofty when they come to page count. Whenever you have a month with more than one five-star read, I count it as a huge success. Hope your August goes well!ReplyDelete
'Twas the Knife Before Christmas... I need this one! Just for that title!! :)ReplyDelete


text:
Jimmy, We Hardly Knew Ye:
R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Jimmy Carters flamboyant departure from the Southern Baptist Convention drew the headlines away from the presidential electionif just for a moment. George Bush and Al Gore took a temporary back seat to Americas most hyperactive ex-president as Carter railed against the SBC and announced that he is no longer identifying with Americas largest evangelical denomination.
"I have finally decided that, after 65 years, I can no longer be associated with the Southern Baptist Convention," Carter explained. His announcement came in the form of a letter to be mailed to over 75,000 fellow Baptists on the mailing list of "Texas Baptists Committed," an activist group opposed to the conservative leadership of the SBC. Mr. Carter further explained that he feels "excluded by the adoption of policies and an increasingly rigid SBC creed."
Given the attention drawn by the announcement, one might be forgiven for assuming that the former president has been deeply involved in the SBC in recent years. The fact is, however, that Mr. Carter has been estranged from the SBC for two decades.
The smiling Georgia governor was elected President of the United States in 1976 with the overwhelming support of American evangelicals. Mr. Carter singlehandedly made "born again" a part of the nations popular language, and he became the nations most famous Sunday School teacher.
Nevertheless, evangelicals in general, and Southern Baptists in particular, abandoned Mr. Carter in his re-election bid just four years later. Once in office, President Carter proved to be a liberal on social issues such as abortion, appointing Sarah Weddington, the lead attorney from the infamous Roe v Wade case, as assistant to the president.
Evangelicals were baffled by the Carter presidency, and Southern Baptists were embarrassed. How could a man who claimed to be a "born again Christian" and who set a model for active churchmanship associate himself with the social revolutionaries advocating the redefinition of the family, abortion on demand, liberal sex education, and the Equal Rights Amendment?
The breaking point came with the 1979 White House Conference on Families, a landmark in the developing culture war. For evangelicals and other social conservatives, the conference, dominated by a liberal agenda, became a flash point of outrage.
Now, Mr. Carter is taking his aim at the Southern Baptist Convention. Over the past twenty years, the convention has experienced a transformation under conservative leadership. Grassroots Southern Baptists expressed their outrage at the increasing liberalism within the denomination by purging its moderate leadership and putting conservatives solidly in charge.
Eventually, Mr. Carters liberal allies in the SBC joined him out of office. The former president blamed the SBCs conservative leadership, in part, for his election defeat. Over the past two decades, the SBC has taken clear stands in opposition to abortion, in support of the nuclear family, and against the homosexual agenda. For Mr. Carter, this is too much.
In a sense, Mr. Carters recent statements concerning the SBC should be seen as a pay-back for the 1980 election. Though the media gave his attack front-page priority, the announcement was not even news. President Carters estrangement from the SBC is over two decades old, and his departure from the SBC was announced seven years ago, when Mr. Carter appeared before the 1993 meeting of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowshipa liberal group of churches disaffected from the SBC. "In the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship my wife and I found a home," Carter announced. "I pray that as Rosalynn and I cast our lot with this fellowship for the rest of our lives, we can be part of a transcendent movement." Mr. Carters most recent statement will surprise only those who have not been paying attention.
The former president claims that his decision to break with the SBC came after the conventions adoption of a newly-revised statement of faith, the "Baptist Faith and Message," this past June. Messengers to the convention enthusiastically adopted the revisions, which put the cherished principles of the conservative resurgence right in the confession of faith.
For Mr. Carter, this was the last straw. In his letter, he stated that some of the provisions "violate the basic premises of my Christian faith." He drew particular attention to the fact that the statement limits the office of pastor to men "as qualified by Scripture." In limiting the office of pastor to men, the convention was doing nothing more than identifying with the vast majority of Christians around the world. Carter, whose pastor is a man, rejects this limitation.
In fact, he blames the biblical restriction on the human authors of Scripture, who were "fallible human beings who shared the knowledge and beliefs of their times." In this statement, Mr. Carter draws attention to the theological chasm that separates him from the SBC. The issue that brought the conservative movement to leadership in the SBC was biblical inerrancy. Arguments like those offered by Mr. Carter were precisely those rejected by the convention.
Mr. Carters curious blend of liberal theology and liberal positions on moral issues sets him far apart from the SBC--and this is no recent development. The former president has supported the cause of gay rights, and co-chaired a Human Rights Campaign effort in Georgia. The Southern Baptist Convention refuses to compromise the Bibles clear teaching that homosexuality is sinful. The SBC champions biblical inerrancy, affirming that Scripture is truth "without any mixture of error." Mr. Carter has recently admitted to doubting the validity of some biblical miracles. "But I now believe that, even if some of the more dramatic miracles recounted in the Gospels could be untrue, my faith in [Christ] would still be equally precious and unshaken."
Unshaken? Southern Baptists have spoken clearly. Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. Severed from that confidence, it is a short step to discounting the Bibles teaching in favor of a relativistic consensus based in modern thinking. We can simply dispense with awkward teachings as the unfortunate legacy of "fallible human beings."
When citing theologians, Mr. Carter likes to mention Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillichhardly evangelicals. Indeed, Tillich, one of the most notorious figures in 20th century theology, did not even believe in a personal God.
Mr. Carter has also moved toward some form of inclusivism in salvation. In a 1996 interview with The New York Times, he said "I cannot imagine an innocent person being deprived of Gods eternal blessing because they dont have a chance to accept Christ." Mr. Carter has been critical of Southern Baptist witnessing efforts to Jews and Mormons and is seemingly open to salvation through other religions. Once again, he is in direct conflict with the convictions of Southern Baptists.
The timing of the Carter announcement was no accident. Mr. Carter has acknowledged his hope that his letter will have maximum impact on behalf of those seeking to lead churches out of the SBC, and into the CBF. He has taken aim at the plans of the Georgia Baptist Convention to adopt the 2000 "Baptist Faith and Message" as their own confession of faith.
Looming behind this effort is the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The leadership of the Texas convention is opposed to the SBC and is seeking to sever its historic relationship with the national convention in its meeting later this month. The BGCT will attempt to break the Cooperative Program and defund the SBCs six seminaries, executive committee, and ethics agency.
Carters letter is being mailed by the Texas Baptists Committed group, along with a tape by Charles Wade, the BGCT executive director. The effort puts Mr. Carter, out of office now for almost twenty years, back in campaign mode.
In the end, Mr. Carters theatrical denunciation of the SBC makes a powerful symbolic statement. He places himself squarely with those who champion the very positions the SBC has rejected, and dares to call these "the traditional beliefs that, for generations, have sustained our ancestors and us in a spirit of unity and cooperation."
In the years of his forced retirement from the presidency, Mr. and Mrs. Carter have done much good. They have built houses for the poor, helped to eradicate disease in Africa, and worked for peace. It is no small tragedy that he should end his life in opposition to the Southern Baptist Convention. Those who would champion the former president as a model of moderate hostility to the SBC do himand themselvesno service.
Mohler is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
Search This


text:
Life is so Life is cha
Therapy is scary. You are sharing your story with someone--and it's someone you don't immediately have a relationship with.
It can be hard to let people into your world, especially if you've been dealing with issues in private.
My mission? To help you know you are NOT alone. You have a wingman to help you deal with anything life has thrown your way.
Fine Print: SHOP AROUND for the "right" therapist for you. Find an individual you feel comfortable with. You'll know the right fit--it's just like when you find that perfect pair of shoes at the store and you're thinking "where have you been my whole life?!"
I offer free phone calls prior to booking sessions so my wonderful people have a chance to meet me and see if I'd be the right type of shoe for them. (I definitely don't want to be the source of an ingrown toenail).
Please reach out if you're interested to know more!
Hello there! I would love to be a part of your journey towards healing. I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology at Syracuse University in upstate New York. I came back to the Midwest for graduate school and completed my masters degree in counseling psychology at the university of Missouri—Kansas City. During my undergraduate clinical internship, I treated substance abuse and addictive behaviors at Crouse Hospital. During graduate school, my area of clinical focus was eating disorder treatment at the Midwest Center for Eating Disorders. After graduate school, I worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, eating disorder IOP/PHP, psychiatric residential treatment, and a domestic violence shelter. I am very trauma-focused, and happy to utilize EMDR if that is your preference. I have been a therapist for nearly a decade now, and have an eclectic approach when assisting you. I am well versed in narrative therapy, experiential therapy, psychodynamic theory, and (wait for it), fiddling! That's right, I love to incorporate music and movement into therapy sessions because I feel it's extremely important when uniting the mind and body. I completed a year long fellowship at the Transgender Institute of Kansas City. I am a certified gender therapist and able to assist you with the process that occurs prior to onset of hormone replacement therapy. I am the child of immigrant parents and have a huge passion for the BIPOC population and the traumas we have collectively endured. Having a positive relationship with our bodies begins with self-acceptance—the hardest thing to do! As your therapist, I want to assist you in this process, no matter what the process looks like for you. In today's world, we are constantly told that we aren't enough: race, weight, age, sexual orientation, and gender are threats to our mental well being. Additionally, I cannot ignore my passion for littles and the importance of therapy during childhood. Healthy attachment, expression of feelings, and understanding of emotions start during youth, and blossom with age. If you and/or your child are struggling with ANY of these issues, I'm the therapist for you!
50 minutes
utilizes play therapy, sand tray, movement, and musical techniques to allow your child full expression of themselves
Monday: 10:00am-7:00pm
Tuesday: 10:00am-7:00pm
Wednesday: 10:00am-8:00pm
Thursday: 12:00-2:00pm
Friday: OUT OF OFFICE
Saturday: OUT OF OFFICE
Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm
"My child was in Lakemary center when we first met Sindhu.. she was so wonderful with him.. And helped him so much... We could have not asked for a better therapist for. If you want a therapist that is kind and loving and that is there for your child 100%, she is the one. We are so blessed for everything that she has done for our son.. and will never forget her and everything she's done.. thank you, Sindhu Fedosyuk."
"Sindhu is amazing - personable, funny, insightful, caring, reliable, bright, and so many more wonderful things. She brings lots of knowledge and experience and is truly a shining light in our community!"
"Sindhu is an excellent clinician. From the time you walk in her office, you will feel welcomed, safe and heard. She has a passion for helping littles heal, and it's clear how dedicated she is and how much she loves her work."
Cancellation Policy:
All sessions must be cancelled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time/day
Clients are entitled to one free "illness cancellation"; beyond that, the session will still be charged
All sessions must be rescheduled within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time/day
8575 West 110th Street, Suite 320
Overland Park, Kansas 66210


text:
The International Federation of Sport Climbing and the Alpine Association of Slovenia jointly declare that the IFSC World Cup scheduled to be held in Ljubljana (SLO) from September 25 to 26 have been cancelled.
The competition was supposed to be the first ever contested in the Slovenian capital city. Indeed, for 24 consecutive years from 1996 to 2019, the city of Kranj – located 30 kilometres north of Ljubljana – welcomed a stage of the Lead World Cup and became a landmark of the Sport Climbing international circuit.
The cancellation is a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic that is still affecting many countries all around the world.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris said:
"After so many years, it is hard to believe that in 2020 we won't have a World Cup in Slovenia. It is an additional reason to increase our efforts towards the recovery from COVID-19. Let's all do our part and we'll return to Slovenia in 2021."
Jože Rovan, President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, said:
"We had to make a difficult decision and cancel this year's World Cup. However, we believe that next season we will be able to enjoy sport climbing spectacles together again, so we are ready to organize the competition to the same extent in 2021."


text:
French designer uses algorithm to create furniture
Computing & Tech
The chair, dubbed "A.I." by its creators, appears to be the first commercial chair to be created using a generative design algorithm
Register for full access
Our library content is no longer freely available. Please register to gain access to more than 12,000 innovations, updated daily. Our content is global in scope and covers solutions to the world's biggest challenges across 18 sectors.
Spotted: French designer Philippe Starck has partnered with an algorithm to create a chair. The collaboration is a world-first, according to Autodesk, the software company that owns the algorithm. The chair is called A.I. in honour of the human-machine partnership.
The chair was created using a technique called generative design. That means Starck provided specific parameters — weight, strength, and stipulations for manufacturing (he also wanted it to be beautiful). The algorithm came up with designs based on those qualifications.
Autodesk previously partnered with the likes of NASA and General Motors to create other generative projects, but none of those have gone to market. The chair will be available for purchase this summer through the Italian furniture company Kartell.
25th April 2019
Email: @StarckOfficial
Website: www.starck.com
Contact: www.starck.com/contact


text:
To Place an order,choose one of fllowings,please see samples above
■Full custom
Fully up to you,Bring a picture of wedding dress,bouquet style omage,etc.
■Semi custom
Specify color,style,and flowers. Leave rest to a designer. Oder at least sevendays before wedding.
Spesify color and style. Leave rest to a designer. Oder at least four days before wedding.


text:
This fly combines the great body of a Kwan with an effective short marabou collar. When stripped the collar contracts and undulates as the fly rises then, when the strip stops, the fly dives towards the bottom flashing the orange egg sac and flaring the collar. While sitting on the bottom the marabou continues to move and sway. This fly comes with a single post weed guard.
We stock three sizes of the I.P. Bone. The size 6 and 2 are lightly weighted for the typical bonefish flat. We also have added a size 2-heavy for deep flats and permit.


text:
Carpet is a reliable choice for many, whether it's for a residential home or a commercial property. There is just something comfortable and cozy about stepping on carpet, compared to a hardwood or vinyl floor.
However, while it may look and feel good, maintaining your carpet is not always the easiest. We all know how carpets trap dirt and stains easily. To combat this, regular maintenance and cleaning are needed to prolong your carpet's durability and lifespan. In fact, a professional cleaning by carpet cleaners in Tampa every 12-18 months is highly recommended.
Many people think that professional cleaning will probably be costly, and doing it yourself may sound tempting. Before you purchase your cleaning supplies to get started though, keep reading first to understand the risks and downsides of DIY carpet cleaning.
Risks of DIY Carpet Cleaning
If you have decided to rent out your own DIY carpet cleaning machine, that is hardly the end of it. Without professional help, you also have to purchase cleaning solutions. Factor in the costs of the rental as well as the time and effort needed to bring the machine where you need it, and the idea of DIY cleaning does not sound so good now.
More importantly, such machines are likely to be only good at surface carpet cleaning. The dirt that is visible on the surface may be removed using such machines, but beneath it, your carpet can still be dirty.
Even after your DIY cleaning and washing, you still have to dry the carpet. Depending on the area of your carpet, this can be a long process without the right equipment. With low water pressure and weak vacuums, there is only so much you can do. Your best hope is that you do not end up with a carpet that is soggy and musty.
There is also no guarantee that such rental cleaners are going to be effective for your particular carpet. The risk of damage is always there, and certain carpet cleaners can be too harsh, causing wear and tear instead.
Why Professional Carpet Cleaning is Better
When you hire professional help, you can expect high-quality results. With an experienced crew doing the hard work for you, you can rest easy knowing that your carpet is getting the right treatment it deserves.
Instead of risking it with DIY cleaning, professional carpet cleaning services will help to extend the life of your carpet. This is done so by removing all of the dirt, dust, and debris that have accumulated over time among the fibers. Once a thorough cleaning is done, the chances of such pollutants adhering to your carpet become lower.
A thorough cleaning is also only possible due to cleaning methods utilized by the professionals, such as hot water extraction.
Save Time and Costs
Contrary to common belief, engaging cleaning services are actually going to save you both time and money. With the latest innovations and technology, professional cleaning experts like us can do the job much quicker and more efficiently.
Expert Knowledge
As seasoned carpet cleaning experts, we are armed with deep knowledge of the different types of carpets. We know how to clean your specific carpet in the best way possible, without causing damage to your precious flooring. Reduce the chances of damage by removing the guesswork from the equation.
While regular vacuuming will always help, a deep and thorough cleaning is still required for carpets if you want your investment to last. By relying on a professional crew, you ensure that your carpet is getting the best treatment.


text: In this study, multiple environmental-tracers were used to estimate the amount of recharge and evaluate its spatial and temporal variability, to investigate the different mechanisms influencing recharge and to quantify groundwater travel times in a fractured sandstone aquifer located in southern California. The study area is 11.5 square km and located on an upland ridge in the Simi Hills about 400 m above the surrounding valley. Because of its morphological and hydrological features, it provides ideal conditions for recharge studies and comparison between different methods. Moreover, this site and its data set is uniquely given the abundance of multi-temporal chemical analysis of groundwater from an incredibly dense network of monitoring wells, multilevel systems, seep piezometers and core samples. The motivation for this study was prompted by the need to understand the rate of groundwater flow and mechanisms affecting transport of contaminants resulting from site operations between 1949 and 2006. Moreover, considering the severe drought that is currently affecting California in the last four years, the estimation of groundwater recharge has increased scientific relevance in this area. Through the application of the Chloride Mass Balance Method for the saturated zone, a site-wide annual recharge of 19 mm (4.2% of the average annual precipitation) was estimated. Given that surface runoff is continuously monitored and represents only 6.1% of the mean precipitation, the resultant average annual evapotranspiration is 408 mm (89.6% of precipitation). These values are corroborated with other site data and consistent with other study sites in semi-arid regions reported in the scientific literature, showing a robust technique for improved water balances and groundwater flow system inputs, especially in regions where water is scarce. This recharge estimate, when used in a 3-D groundwater flow model, imposes limits of the total volumetric groundwater flow rate available to transport contaminants in the plumes in the study area.< p>


text:
NRTK fusions were found to occur more frequently in pediatric tumors than adult tumors, according to research from a team of researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The data, published in the Journal of Precision Oncology, also demonstrated a broader panel of NTRK fusion partners and a wider range of tumors than previously reported.
"With the recent (US) Food and Drug Administration approval of larotrectinib and entrectinib for the treatment of adult and pediatric NTRK-positive, unresectable solid tumors, identification of these fusions directly affects patient care," the investigators wrote.
The team studied 1347 consecutive pediatric tumors from 1217 patients who underwent tumor genomic profiling using custom-designed DNA and RNA next-generation sequencing panels. The age of NTRK-positivepatients ranged from 0.1 to 17 years.
Continue Reading
NTRK fusions were found in 2.22% of all tumors and in 3.08% of solid tumors. Of the 27 NTRK fusions identified, 5 were novel at the time of discovery.
NTRK2 fusions were found exclusively in central nervous system tumors, NTRK1 fusions were highly enriched in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), and NTRK3 fusions were identified in all tumor categories. The ETV6-NTRK3 fusion was found in 10 patients with various different types of tumors. Several novel NTRK fusions were observed in rare tumors types including ganglioglioma and PTCs.
According to the researchers, identification of the NTRK fusions allowed for more precise diagnosis, and in almost all cases, detection of an NTRK fusion confirmed morphological diagnosis. In 5 cases, the final tumor diagnosis was largely based on discovery of the fusion.
In 1 patient, diagnosis was changed based on the discovery of a specific NTRK fusion. One patient with infantile fibrosarcoma was treated with larotrectinib and achieved complete pathologic remission.
Cumulatively, findings from the analysis, conducted in the "largest cohort of unselected pediatric tumors to date," indicate "the clinical utility of screening [for] NTRK fusions [in] all pediatric tumors," Zhao et al concluded.
Disclosures: Some of the study authors disclosed financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry and/or the medical device industry. For a full list of disclosures, please refer to the original study.
Zhao X, Kotch C, Fox E, et al. NTRK fusions identified in pediatric tumors: the frequency, fusion partners, and clinical outcome. JCO Precis Oncol. Published online January 14, 2021. doi:10.1200/PO.20.00250


text:
The Parliament of Montenegro pays a special attention to publicity and openness of its work. Free access to information is an important segment of the principle of transparency. The Constitution of Montenegro, under its Article 51 stipulates that everyone shall have the right of free access to information, in possession of both the state administration authorities and the organisations exercising public functions. The right of access to information may be restricted if it is in the interest of the protection of life, public health, ethics and privacy, the conduct of criminal proceedings, the security and defence of Montenegro, external, monetary and economic policy. This right shall be exercised by submitting a request that shall be responded in accordance with the Law on Free Access to Information.
Law on Free Access to Information was adopted at the Eighth Sitting of the First Ordinary Session, on 26 July 2012, and it was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro No 44/12, 9 August 2012).
The Parliament of Montenegro receives a significant number of requests for free access to information, timely corresponds to it, and there is no submitted complaint so far to independent oversight organ competent for protection of personal data and access to information - Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information.
The access to information on financial management such as copies of payrolls of MPs and employees, copies of acts containing information on amount spent from the Budget of the Parliament for paying costs of transportation, accommodation, data on travel allowance for MPS' travels in Montenegro and abroad, information on public procurement, etc. are mostly required by requests. Majority of requests for access to information were submitted by NGOs.
Data on requests for free access to information are published in annual reports on the work of the Parliament, and all submitted requests as well as responses to those are available to the web page of this body.
Law on Free Access to Information
Guide for Free Access to Information possessed by the Parliament of Montenegro


text:
ROME — President Sergio Mattarella has enlisted the speaker of the Senate to break Italy's political deadlock and explore — within just two days — the chances of a deal between the center right and the anti-establishment 5Stars.
But, after a first round of informal talks with the two rival blocs on Wednesday, Maria Elisabetta Casellati was left with little room to maneuver, as the parties stuck to their positions.
Mattarella gave Casellati an "exploratory mandate" on Wednesday to hold informal consultations to see if there is the basis for an agreement. She must report back to him by Friday, which leaves her just one more day to try to solve the impasse.
A close ally of 81-year-old Forza Italia founder Silvio Berlusconi, Casellati became Senate president thanks to a deal between the 5Stars, who emerged from March 4's inconclusive election as the biggest single party, and a center-right alliance now dominated by the right-wing League, led by Matteo Salvini, rather than the traditionally stronger Forza Italia.
Meanwhile, Italy is being run by a caretaker government under outgoing premier Paolo Gentiloni from the center-left Democratic Party (PD), leaving Rome unable to play a prominent role in international affairs, such as the Syrian crisis, and in the European Union.
Luigi Di Maio's 5Stars won more than 32 percent of the vote last month, while the coalition between the League and Forza Italia got a combined 37 percent. Neither has enough seats in parliament to govern alone.
The main obstacle to an alliance between the 5Stars and the League is the role of former Prime Minister Berlusconi's party: The 5Stars reject any deal with Berlusconi, whom they consider the symbol of the political establishment they were founded to fight against. Di Maio has asked the former premier to "step aside" to clear the path for a potential government partnership with the League.
"The only forces capable of signing a government contract [in these consultations] are the M5S and the League," Di Maio said, reiterating his opposition to joining a governing coalition that would include Forza Italia.
Di Maio also delivered an ultimatum to Salvini, asking him to make a decision by the end of the week on whether to abandon Forza Italia to join forces with the 5Stars.
So far, however, the League has resisted calls to ditch its long-time alliance with Berlusconi. Salvini is clearly aware that doing so would leave him as the junior partner in a coalition with the 5Stars, greatly reducing his chances of becoming prime minister.
The League's whip and party veteran Giancarlo Giorgetti, speaking on behalf of Salvini, who wasn't able to attend Wednesday's talks, said that if the 5Stars drop their objections, the League would be "ready to work on the creation of a government as soon as next week," putting the ball back in Di Maio's court.
Berlusconi himself reiterated the unity of the center right after meeting Casellati, stressing that he had no objections to an alliance with the 5Stars.
Casellati will hold a second round of talks on Thursday, but her chances of success are looking increasingly difficult.
"If Casellati fails, the president has the option to confer a second mandate to another institutional figure, possibly the lower house speaker (Roberto Fico of the 5Stars) to try to explore an alternative alliance between the 5Stars and the Democratic Party," said political commentator Marcello Sorgi.
Di Maio has proposed a German grand coalition-style "government contract" with either the League or the PD, which was the big loser in the March election. So far, the center-left party has pledged to remain in opposition, with its leadership rattled by the scale of its defeat at the election.
If a second exploratory mandate also fails, President Mattarella has no other option left than to force all the main parties into a "government of the president," which would have a short-time mandate to prepare for a likely new election next year.


text:
Good communication is always in fashion.
The term "love languages" comes from the book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, published in 1992 by Dr. Gary Chapman.
In it, Chapman explains the ways we communicate love to our partners in five different ways: physical touch, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, acts of services and quality time. Understanding the importance of how to speak to your partner's love language can help strengthen your relationship and keep the spark alive.
We explore these languages with style perfect for bridesmaids, groomsmen, wedding guests or even date night.
Physical Touch
Intimacy, holding hands, kissing and hugs demonstrate your bond to your partner, when they consent to it.
Words of Affirmation
Encouraging texts, long-distanced phone calls, and a whispered, "I love you," in a crowded room are reassuring and welcome. Put into words how you feel so they can really hear you.
Receiving Gifts
Small gestures can go a long way. Bring them flowers for no reason or surprise them with those earrings they've been eyeing. As they say, it's truly the thought that counts.
Acts of Service
Show your partner you're thinking of them by bringing a cup of coffee without them asking, or offering your coat when you know they're cold. Do the dishes or fold their laundry when they have a bad day and need you to lift them up.
Quality Time
Date night is a must for every couple. If quality time is your partner's love language, then disconnect from your phones, get dressed up and go for a night on the town together.
Photography by Rob & Wynter
On location at The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Mountain Brook
Hair & Makeup by Melissa Moore Bogardus & Sydney Anderson


text:
As an INTJ, one of my superpowers is "order out of chaos". This kind of structure comes very naturally to me, but I've learned that many of my clients appreciate when I can help them add order and processes to their businesses as well.
One of the ways I do this is by making myself little tools, checklists, and cheat sheets.
I remember doing this in high school; when it was time to prep for an exam I would distill as much information as I could onto about 6 post-it notes, pop them in my day planner, and use that to study from. It was too overwhelming to have to sift through textbooks and notebooks, so the little cheat sheets helped jog my memory enough to study more easily. I still use the post-it trick now, especially when I have to remember different frameworks for coaching calls.
Today I wanted to share one of my other little tricks — my brand identity cheat sheet.
Copywriting has always brought me back to my exam-studying days of having way too much information and needing to focus in on what's really important. Hopefully you've done target market interviews, you've worked with copywriters, and you've got a pretty clear idea of who your ideal client is. The problem is, when you do this, you likely have notebooks and digital files all over the place with pieces of information. When you go to actually write something, you're staring down a mountain of information and it's a pretty daunting task. I hate that feeling.
What is a brand identity cheat sheet?
I'm totally utilitarian, so maybe it could use a snazzier name, but it is what it is!
The brand identity cheat sheet is like a mood board for your business. Instead of colour swatches and font styles for a visual branding cheat sheet, this is about the language in your business.
I use it in all sorts of situations:
· When I need to write marketing copy like a website, sales page, or offering description
· When I'm asking someone else to help me write copy
· When I can't think of what content to write in any given week
· When I'm doing target market interviews
· When I feel a little off balance about what I'm offering or what I'm doing
What goes on it?
This is totally up to you! What would you find helpful? What information do you already have?
Here's what's on mine right now:
· A one-liner describing what I do, who I do it for, and what they get out of it
· Topics I coach on
· Ideal Client Profile divided into what their problems are and what their desires are
· Brand Pillars
· Brand Voice — this is a descriptive phrase my copywriter came up with
· Keywords — a list from my copywriter
· Brand Archetypes — these are pretty cool anchors I use when I think about what makes me unique (also something my copywriter did for me)
How do you make one?
I just opened up Microsoft Word and started copy/pasting things from all the various documents I have. The colours for me are just to separate the big wall of text and make it easier on the eye. It's probably easiest to start with the headings and just go from there. It was important to me that it stayed on one page, so it does mean being pretty ruthless with what goes on it.
If you have worked with a copywriter or branding expert before then this will be much easier. If not, let me know and I'll send you some referrals. Lots of the stuff that's on mine is directly from my copywriter.
Importantly, don't overthink it or obsess about it being perfect. There is nothing fancy about mine and yet it is still super helpful. Even as I'm reviewing it and noticing some things that are out of date, that is helpful because I'm thinking of all the new things I can write about instead!
Updating It
This is not a stagnant document; you must keep it updated on a regular basis or it won't be useful anymore. Currently I'm working through The Copy Confidence Society with Marisa Corcoran and she's recommending a few things I think I'll add to the next version of this cheat sheet. I'm also currently doing new target market research interviews, so that will be important to update on this sheet when I'm done this round of those.
That's it for today! Moral of the story: when in doubt, make a cheat sheet. Let me know how yours turns out!
For more tips, tricks, and musings like this directly to your inbox, subscribe to my weekly Permission Slips here.


text:
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — An Ohio man detained for nearly half a year in North Korea has landed back home.
A plane carrying Jeffrey Fowle landed Wednesday morning at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, where he had an emotional reunion with his family.
Moments after Fowle stepped off a plane at the base just after 6:30 a.m., he was met and hugged by his three children, wife and other relatives.
Base Col. John Devillier said Fowle had a teary reunion with his family. He said Fowle was happy and seemed thrilled to be back in the US.
"We had a great reunion for an American citizen coming home," he said.
Devillier said Fowle's family hadn't told the children why they were being brought to the base and that it was a surprise for them to see their father walk off the plane.
"The reaction from his children was priceless," Devillier said. "They hadn't seen their dad in some time. The expectation would be that they would get teary-eyed and they did, and I did too. It's great to welcome him home."
The State Department announced Tuesday that the 56-year-old Miamisburg resident had been released. The news came about six months after he was taken into custody after leaving a Bible at a nightclub. Christian evangelism is considered a crime in North Korea.
He had been awaiting trial — the only one of three Americans held by Pyongyang who had not been convicted of charges.
The two others were each sentenced to years in North Korean prisons after court trials that lasted no more than 90 minutes. The three Americans entered North Korea separately.
Fowle was flown out of North Korea on a US military jet that was spotted at Pyongyang's international airport Tuesday by two Associated Press journalists. There was no immediate explanation for the release of Fowle, who was whisked to the US territory of Guam before heading back to his wife and children in Ohio.
State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said Tuesday that Fowle was seen by doctors and appeared to be in good medical health. She declined to give more details about his release except to thank the government of Sweden, which has an embassy in Pyongyang, for its "tireless efforts."
Harf would not say whether any American officials had intervened directly with the North Koreans.
Relations between Washington and Pyongyang, never warm, are at a particularly low point, and the US has sought unsuccessfully for months to send a high-level representative to North Korea to negotiate acquittals for all three men.
In Berlin, Secretary of State John Kerry said "there was no quid pro quo" for the release of Fowle.
"We are very concerned about the remaining American citizens who are in North Korea, and we have great hopes that North Korea will see the benefit of releasing them also as soon as possible," Kerry told reporters.
"We're in constant touch with their families, we're working on their release, we've talked to the Chinese and others, and we have a high focus on it," he said.
The United States has no diplomatic relations with North Korea and strongly warns American citizens against traveling to the country.
A report released by the Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday said Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, took "a special measure" by releasing Fowle, and took "into consideration the repeated requests of US President Barack Obama."
Fowle arrived there April 29 and was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at the nightclub.
The city where Fowle worked as a streets department employee terminated his employment last month.
"We're delighted to hear the news and look forward to him returning to the community and his family," David Hicks, Moraine's city manager, said Tuesday.
The Dayton Daily News reported last month that the city said Fowle's termination included $70,000 in severance pay and the ability to be reinstated.


text:
ERCOT's Independent Market Monitor said the market "performed competitively" in 2015, with low natural gas prices helping reduce energy costs and congestion revenue to record lows.
Keep reading at RTO Insider.
Is a policy analyst consultant for TCAP, a coalition of political subdivisions in Texas that purchase electricity in the deregulated market for their own governmental use. Because energy costs are typically a significant budget item to our members, TCAP is consistently looking for ways to save our members money, through cost-saving contracts, energy efficiency or demand response programs.


text: Use our cleansing oil to remove our eyeliner after use. Please do not use the cleansing oil to clean the lashes. Use a cotton bud for maximum effectiveness. 🐰❤ 100% Cruelty-free & Vegan Ingredients: a. VITIS VINIFERA SEED OIL b. LAURETH-4 c. ISODODECANE d. METHYLPARABEN | Shop Tannorah Beauty Inverness


text:
Cheers to Summer – Flagstone Poetry Cinsault Rosé
The appeal for rosé continues to climb as high as the African sun and when summer hits, the first thing we do is check how much of the glorious stuff is in the fridge. Blushing little bottles of joy, beading with excitement and begging to be consumed.
Flagstone Poetry Cinsault Rosé
Rosé is that easy member of the party that agrees to everything – beach, park, braai, lunch, sundowners… yes, yes, yes! We dare say you'll find a chorus of yeses for sunrise too. So versatile is this wonderful wine that the traditional cup-o-tea might be short of a second look.
Much more than a light, refreshing summer wine with zip, rosé is about a lifestyle. It's about long days and enviable living, trendy and accessible it's the champagne of millennials spawning hashtags of #roseallday and #yeswayrose, but it's not only drunk by a millennials its appeal is across the board.
Rosé All Day
Globally rosé is on a meteoric trajectory, demand driving the increase production and everyone wanting to jump on the hurtling pink wine train. As with many things en vogue, rosé's bloom may not persist and once the infatuation subsides what will remain are the rosés of distinction, wines that stand out and make a memorable impression, wines that have craftsmanship behind them. T
These are wines that are more than a refreshing drink, we're talking about rosés that have the calibre to pair with interesting food and make an occasion more than the sum of its parts.
Flagstone Poetry Cinsault Rosé is crafted to achieve that status – memorable, joyful and authentic. Like poetry it celebrates the joy and highlights the natural sadness of our human condition, it eulogises the cycle of nature and blushes a romantic cherry-blossom pink. We think of it as a food friendly thought provoker.
What to expect from Flagstone Poetry Cinsault Rosé
Beneath the top is a bouquet of crushed summer berries, black and red cherries, supported by subtle spicy tones to introduce expressive juicy berry flavours that follow through on the palate with a soft, delicious fruity finish. This all pairs wonderfully well with vibrant salads, Thai dishes and there's not a sushi dish in town that's not begging for a light, bright rosé. RSP: R55
Cheers to summer!
Flagstone Winery
Paardevlei, W.R. Quinan Boulevard, Somerset West| 021 850 5891 | Open 10h00 – 16h00
flagstonewines.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Hungry for more? Subscribe to our Newsletter


text:
Topic Tags
My friend (bandmate) and I have been debating the fact of doubling vocals in the recording of our songs. As the singer, I like the sound of the doubled vocal because it fattens the sound up a bit and allows for the vocals to cut through and not seem small compared to the other loud instruments. I also think my voice sounds better when doubled rather than with just one track.
Is this a silly idea? My friend seems to think the tracks will phase and sound "stupid" but I plan on having one at normal level and the other at half level or so, just to beef up the vocals a bit subtlely, but not overpowering it so it sounds like "two of me" singing together, if that makes any sense.
I think there is a plugin that helps to align doubled tracks. It
Gertok is correct and it is available for ProTools. But back in
Gertok is correct and it is available for ProTools.
But back in the old days.... We would frequently double the lead vocalist. Even if it wasn't intentional, a la' numerous isolated vocal overdubs later combined during the mix. Frequently makes folks that can't stay on pitch sound better.
To prevent that phasing effect, you only need to delay one of the two vocals by about 25 ms.
Some folks rely on a digital audio processor to create double vocals. Generally, these sound horrible with a robotic synthetic quality. I think that technique generally sucks even if randomization is built into the program. It basically pitches up and pitches down while speeding up and delaying tempo. Whereas a real double vocal shows off the vocalists skill i.e. it takes some talent.
I've used the double vocal technique to make otherwise crappy sounding local bands, sound better.
Only one of me
Ms. Remy Ann David
Remy, you are a gift. I am not a big poster but I read, read, r
Why thank you Glide. In fact you are my favorite....dental flos
I agree with you Glide. Thanks Remy for all your help. By the
I agree with you Glide.
Thanks Remy for all your help.
By the way--you hit the nail on the head with singers using doubled vocals to make them sound more in pitch (it's kind of what I do because I'm not a very good singer). I hope that's not viewed as "cheating" or cutting corners too much from a professional standpoint, I'm just still a 19 year old newbie. lol.
Happy Holidays everyone!
I need some help with this as well. My problem is that Vocalign
I hope that's not viewed as "cheating" Not at all. Read up on A
RemyRAD wrote: Why thank you Glide. In fact you are my favorite
RemyRAD wrote: But back in the old days.... We would frequently
RemyRAD wrote: But back in the old days.... We would frequently double the lead vocalist. Even if it wasn't intentional,
Ha...I love it.
I was just doing a session where I was doing trumpet quartet overdubs and the quartet had like 20 takes on the same 16 bars. I accidentally hit the unmute in the DAW while tracking and the guys in tracking room came alive! It seems 70 some trumpets punching into their cans while they were trying to play is not desirable....
Oh well, they deserved it - one of them whistled into my Royer SF12 and I heard the ribbon make all sorts of funky sounds..... :x :evil:
Don't know why you would use a plug-in for doubled vocals.... se
Don't know why you would use a plug-in for doubled vocals.... se
yeah. I usually just set a track on loop-record and do two takes
i don't consider Vocalign a cheaters tool. It's not creating a f
i don't consider Vocalign a cheaters tool. It's not creating a fake doubler effect like some plugins. Vocalign just helps with lining up the phrasing so that they are better in time with each other. You still have to sing the doubled vocals. Helps me save a TON of time. i just wish i would have checked to see that it was compatible with my new OS.
It's only compatible with ProTools, which is compatible with Win
It's only compatible with ProTools, which is compatible with Windows XP home and pro but not Media Center Edition. In fact, I wouldn't necessarily consider using it when going for those doubled vocal sounds. You need a little of that natural randomness to keep it sounding from being too unison.
Ms. Remy Ann David
bent wrote: Personally I prefer to double vox without plugins,
bent wrote:
Personally I prefer to double vox without plugins, as Remy stated.
Once you get good takes to work with, how do you approach mixing/blending the two (panning, EQ, delay, etc.). Obviously the song will dictate, but I'd like to hear some basic examples that perhaps you've done in the past.
I'll see what I can find when I get home this evening. I might
bent wrote: I'll see what I can find when I get home this evenin
Dave and I gotta have a Pow-wow. We'll see if I can post what I
If you "sing" 2 takes, you will NEVER get them so close phasing
ADD a second mic might help.. Yeah doubling the vocals is KEy t
ADD a second mic might help..
Yeah doubling the vocals is KEy to a big sounding vocal. Your singer must be able to match him or herself 99% of the time. All this does is train your singer to be more consistant with their performance. They will love you later when they learn how to sing their song properly =)
Now one thing that I have been doing is tossing in a second mic on the stand ( TAPE IT UP ) SM58 or an AKG. Run this to a second Input so you can mix them 2 seporatly. Put a weeeee bit of Chorus on the second mic. Not a lot just a small bit. This will give you a doubled effect if your singer just cant pull it off. This will also save your singers voice if they are strugling to do the doubles.
I mainy use this for pre production. Saves the voice and we can move a lot faster to hear the sway of the song with vocals on it.
Hopefully by the time you move to your final takes they can pull off the doubleing, If not at least you have two tracks recorded differently at the same time =)
Its a cheet but it does sound 80% of a double.....
Hey Mr Ben, any luck yet? Get distracted?
basilbowman wrote: Hey Mr Ben, any luck yet? Get distracted? H
Sorry, I didn't know anyone else was waiting to hear that (aside
bent wrote: Sorry, I didn't know anyone else was waiting to hear
Soon we'll be living in a rented house waiting for Hale-Bopp to
I like Strawberry kool aid please.
hey I am new to this place, thought I would contribute some idea
hey I am new to this place, thought I would contribute some ideas.
If it was a rush job, sometimes I would duplicate the track. Delay it maybe by 15 to 25 mSec depending on what works. Also I use a plugin like Autotune on one track or possibly both pitch correcting with different strengths. It is a quick and dirty trick but it gives two vocal tracks that behave differently due to the fact one is more corrected than the other. Of course you may want to go through and just pitch correct the parts that require it and not do all of it.
I do prefer two separate takes especially when the singer is skilled and fairly consistent.
Also a Chorus on the second track I have done as well.
Kid Rock was on Howard Stern and defended his use of double voca
Kid Rock was on Howard Stern and defended his use of double vocals after the idea of "cheating" was brought up. He said that he was in fact harmonizing and that the vocals were completely different.
Perhaps it is cheating if you are covering something up.
But, since Blues is what people should be singing....I would say to add the second vocal because blues is never the same way twice.
Don't try and emulte the first track, but just repeat a few key words like they do in rap songs.
If you want to be great, then listen to TuPac Shakur and what he does with double vocals.
If they are an octave apart then go for it, or have one vocal track be spoken word like The Doors did.
i hate to say this but i get pretty good results when i am too l
i hate to say this but i get pretty good results when i am too lazy to sing a double vox using waves doubler. i keep the grequency mod (on the 2nd voice) pretty close to zero and duck the gain a bit behind the real one.
i know purists will kill me- but it works okay. if you are an expressive singer and , like me, never seem to sing my double track close to my original without a million takes (in which i lose my patience often)
it helps me to keep the flow of creativity going...
just my 2 cents
Filmmusic said: But, since Blues is what people should be singin
Just filmmusic doing his thing. Whatever that thing may be...
Noob here... Question. When you double the vocals, do you keep
Why would anyone consider doubling a vocal take cheating? It tak
I've read in some places where they would have upto 4 tracks. Ap
when i record my own songs, i tend to improv the vocals each and
when i record my own songs, i tend to improv the vocals each and every take, (i've been to too many counting crows concerts i suppose) but i've found straight copying the vocal take from one track to the next, then chopping it up into several sections, (segments of 10 or so), then time stretching each segment by a ms or 3, and run it through some various (but gentle) processing of sorts, and tuck it (volume wise) under the original by a few db