text:
All That Matters
A/N: Please review, if you'd be so kind. This story follows canon till OOTP, then diverges, but goes through DH epilogue. This is AU, but probably the closest I will ever get to canon.
warnings: This does contain implied references of caning of a teenager
disclaimer: I own nothing save the plot. Some text quoted from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, US edition, Scholastic
April 4th, 1996
Snape's office:
"Well, Mr. Potter? Would you care to explain your reasons for becoming so distracted that you failed to even start brewing your potion?" Professor Snape demanded, his voice ice-cold with displeasure.
I looked down at my sneakers, not able to meet his gaze. Or, I should say, not daring to, for fear he would see right through me. The truth was, I had no good excuse for not doing the potion, I had been distracted thinking of a certain redhead, and in my daydreaming I had lost track of time. I remained silent.
"Potter, do not ignore me."
Slowly, I raised my head. "I have no excuse, sir."
I saw his mouth tighten, his midnight eyes glitter with anger. I flinched. I had not seen that expression in his eyes since the day of the disastrous Occlumency lesson, when I had discovered his deepest regret by accident.
I had been exhausted that evening, plagued by dreams that left me drained in body and spirit, unable to sleep comfortably, so tired that I could barely put one foot in front of the other. I had arrived early for the lesson, startled him in the act of placing a certain memory into his Pensieve; he had turned to order me away, but I tripped over my loose shoelace and fell forward . . . right into the stone bowl.
My head went under and I saw it . . . Snape's worst memory . . . saw the truth, scalding and bitter, about my potions professor and my father, godfather, and best friends. I hadn't meant to, but it was done. All that mattered was that now I knew. Knew the ugly truth, and it created an odd sort of . . .understanding between us. For I, too, had been a victim of a bully and his gang, my fat cousin Dudley and his friends. I knew what it was like to be mocked and hated, to be hunted and beaten. I was sorry that my father and godfather had been such gits. I was also angry that he had spoken so to my mother . . . but I understood that too, after he had yanked me out of the water. For an instant, our eyes had met, and I had seen the regret that lived there. It had been a mistake. From then on, I saw him differently.
He was still the strict bloody perfectionist, but he was not only that. He could regret, could care, he was not, after all, a stone-hearted bastard. He was furious at first, and sent me away, but after two weeks, called me back and our lessons resumed. I had to learn to Occlude my mind, and he was the only one capable of teaching me with any degree of accuracy and speed. I apologized for my clumsiness and also my father. He told me it didn't matter. All that mattered was that I learned my lessons.
I tried. Mostly. Today had not been my best effort.
He stood glowering at me, nostrils flared, ready to roast me with his sharp tongue. I tensed, knowing I deserved the verbal thrashing I was about to receive.
"Mr. Potter. Are you aware of what will happen if I issue you a detention for your deplorable lack of concentration?"
I nodded. I had already gotten two detentions that week, and under the new policy Umbridge had put in place as High Inquisitor, three detentions in a week was cause for a special punishment. She had brought back the cane, and several students had already gotten it, including my best mate Ron, for being smart during Defense.
He breathed out sharply, exasperated. "It is vital that you do not antagonize that woman, boy. She has absolute power here in this school now that the Ministry has subverted Dumbledore's authority. There is little that can be done to checkmate her." Meaning he could do little to help me if I made her mad.
I winced. Snape's tone could have scoured stone. "I'm sorry, Professor."
He snorted. "Come back this evening and re-brew it."
"Are you going to . . .report me?"
He scowled, his familiar sneer in place. "You ought to know the answer to that. It is vital that you learn to brew this potion. I chose this for a reason, Potter. Panacea Perfectus may one day save your life. Or the life of one you care about. There is no time to waste in idle daydreams, boy!"
I rose. "What time?"
"Nine o'clock. Go, get out of my sight."
I left. That was not the usual time for detention, it was late, but I knew why. Less chance of getting caught.
I returned that evening, and under his sharp-eyed gaze, learned how to brew what was often referred to as "St. Mungos in a bottle", a very powerful healing draft which could cure almost any wound and poison, it was made with phoenix tears and a crushed bezoar stone, among other things. The recipe had been lost for centuries, but had been rediscovered by my teacher.
Little did we know that someday Snape's words would prove to be true.
A month and a half later:
I staggered from the hag's office, biting my lip hard. We had been found out by slippery sneaking Malfoy and his Inquisitorial Squad. Umbridge had been furious. She had rounded up me, Hermione, and Ron, promising a swift and vicious punishment. She had then driven Dumbledore from the castle. I cursed our stupidity at leaving that list of names on display in the Room of Requirement. Stupid, Harry! So stupid! As Snape would say, you were a classic dunderhead and now you're going to pay for it.
I had. Merlin, I had! I quickly blinked back tears and made my slow way down the corridor. This was only the beginning, for I had volunteered to take Ron and Hermione's punishment as well, telling Umbridge I was behind all of the rebellion against her Educational Decrees. It was true, in a way. I had organized the students and taught them and it was only fair that I pay the price now.
I paused, it hurt to walk, my bum and thighs were striped raw by the hag's willow cane. I removed my glasses, rubbing them on the tail of my shirt.
"Potter. Are you well?"
I jammed my glasses back on and looked up.
Snape was there, looming like some shadowy dark angel. His face was expressionless, but I caught a brief flash of . . . something like sympathy in his gaze.
I shrugged. Hell no, I wasn't well, but there was nothing to be done about it now. I'd had worse, I wasn't about to go bawling to him like a blubbering baby over a sore behind.
A long fingered hand cupped my chin, forcing me to look up. "How many did she give you?"
He shook his head, his lip curling. I thought he was sneering at me. Only later would I learn the sneer was for himself.
"I had to do something!" I protested. "We needed to learn to defend ourselves and the bloody hag wasn't teaching us anything at all. If he returns . . ."
"Quiet!" he snapped. "Do you wish to have a repeat session?"
"I will tomorrow night. And the night after that."
"Better me than my friends."
"You noble idiot!" he hissed. He released my chin. "Come."
"To my office. Can you walk?"
I gritted my teeth. Ten stripes hurt, but I would manage.
Snape walked beside me, occasionally gripping my shoulder. I wished we could go to the Hospital Wing, but Umbridge had forbidden Madam Pomfrey to heal any student that had been caned. By the time we reached the office I was pale with sweat and struggling to keep from sobbing. Forbidden tears glistened in my eyes.
He closed and locked the door with a spell and cast another for Privacy. Then he unlocked a drawer in his desk and removed a familiar misty greenish gold potion. "Lie down on the couch."
I balked. "No. You shouldn't waste it."
"Do not presume to tell me my duty, boy. Do not be a martyr." He pointed to the couch, a small green divan set comfortably along the wall. "Lie down there, Mr. Potter. Or shall I carry you there?"
When he put it that way . . .I pressed my face into the cool leather, I knew I was blushing as red as my Gryffindor jersey. I didn't understand why he was so insistent upon using Panacea Perfecta. It was expensive as hell to make and difficult to brew, one reason why the recipe had become misplaced and fallen out of use. The potion was able to be swallowed for internal problems or poured directly upon wounds, it was very versatile, as Snape had told us in class.
I gasped as he gently swabbed. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I whimpered.
An instant later the pain vanished. My breath wooshed out of me in relief. "It works great!"
"Of course it does," he said, finishing up. "Did you doubt it would?"
"Not really." I cautiously sat up. I was completely healed. An instant later I realized my mistake. "She'll know . . .if I'm not . . . if I don't have marks . . ."
Severus waved his wand. "The marks will be there."
"An Illusion Charm."
"Thanks, sir."
"For what? I would do the same for any student subject to that bitch's hand." He spat, his obsidian eyes glowing with fiery wrath. "You will return here tomorrow night and the night after."
"All right." I agreed. Despite his assumption, I didn't enjoy suffering and pain. Besides, I had the uneasy feeling that if I didn't come, he would fetch me, and risk getting sacked for overriding Umbridge's decrees. The school couldn't afford that. Somebody had to supervise brewing the Panacea and show us other healing brews. Strange as it seemed, I knew now that we needed the snarky Potions professor more than ever.
He was waiting outside the office door the next night. She always performed the sessions after all the students were in bed, so no one could accuse her of brutality or something. The second time was worse—twelve stripes, and I swear she laid them on harder just to try and make me cry. I didn't, wouldn't give her the satisfaction. But the potion worked its magic again, and once more I was grateful for his assistance.
The final night was the worst. She left me there on the floor of the office, whimpering and sniveling, to my shame. I lay against the cool stone, where she had shoved me down after snarling, "Let this be a lesson to you, Mr. Potter. I do not tolerate disobedience of any sort."
I waited till I heard the tap-tapping of her heels fading before I started to cry.
I hated myself for giving into tears like a coward, but they kept dribbling down my chin. I don't remember how long I lay there before I heard soft footsteps and felt strong hands pick me up. "Damn her!"
I buried my face in his robe, shaking.
We started to move, then all at once we stopped and he set me down.
"Professor Snape, where are you going with Mr. Potter?" came her poisoned-honey voice.
I stared at the floor, I didn't want her to see what a mess I was, the bloody hag from hell.
"Professor Umbridge. Potter has detention with me tonight, scrubbing cauldrons without magic and writing lines," he answered smoothly, without a trace of pity.
"Ah. I see. Well, carry on then, Snape. Oh, and make sure the chair isn't cushioned."
"I assure you, madam, I will make certain Potter is appropriately disciplined."
I caught her evil smile from the corner of my eye, then she turned and was gone.
"Come," Snape hissed.
I clutched his sleeve and managed to walk four steps.
As soon as she was out of sight, he picked me up and carried me down to the dungeons. It was past eleven.
He was silent as he applied the potion, but I could feel the rage coming off him in waves. It both frightened and made me feel safe at the same time. I did not know quite why he kept helping me, but somehow it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was there for me, in a way that no one else could be.
That night I cried into the cushion, soaking the leather. He laid a hand on my shoulder and whispered, "Hush, child." That was all, but it was enough.
So I came to trust my dark protector. He was always lurking in the shadows, watching over me. He said little, but always he was there. He was there through the dark time after Sirius' death, and though the danger from Voldemort grew every day, I was reassured by his presence. Even when he was tearing strips off me for some stupid decision, I felt comforted. I didn't like it, but at least there was someone around to give me hell when I needed it.
Then, in the middle of sixth year, everything changed. He shut me out, withdrew from me, and then he did the unthinkable.
He betrayed me. That night atop the Astronomy Tower . . . he killed Albus Dumbledore.
If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.
But I did . . .I did . . .frozen helpless . . .I saw him cast the Unforgivable . . .
I felt torn and shredded inside. How could you? How COULD you? I wailed silently.
I stared up at him, and saw the revulsion and hatred upon his face.
I felt sick. I had trusted him and he had betrayed us all. Ron had been right. Nothing good ever came out of Slytherin.
My mind whirled as I tried to grasp that this coldblooded murderer was the same man who had tended me and helped me during fifth year. How was it possible? There had to be an explanation. But I couldn't find any. Dumbledore was dead and Snape was responsible. And I hated him.
That was all that mattered.
The Shrieking Shack
June, 1998:
I stared down at the bleeding wizard, his black robes saturated with blood, gasping and gurgling for breath, and I felt, for the first time in a long time, a stirring of pity. I was no closer now than I had been a year ago to understanding why he had chosen to return to the dark path, but I could not deny that his discovery of the Panacea Perfectus had saved many lives, lives that we could ill afford to lose. Dobby, Fred Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, all still breathed because of that potion. I remembered what I had been taught that long ago night in his potions lab, though finding the ingredients during a time when most apothecaries were under surveillance by Death Eaters and I was hunted like an animal proved extremely difficult. But at last I managed to brew ten precious vials. Nine I had left with Pomfrey at Hogwarts for the final battle. One I carried.
I had come here expecting to find Voldemort, knowing full well that my only hope of ending the killing and suffering was to confront my old enemy. Instead I found the man who had once been my mentor, the man who had betrayed everything I ever believed one dark night, dying from a torn apart throat.
For one instant, I felt a rush of rage. "Bastard!" I hissed.
But then compassion stirred and eclipsed the anger, banishing it to a corner of my mind. Now was the chance I had been waiting for. Now I could finally have an answer to the question that had haunted me for so many sleepless nights.
"Why? Why did you do it, Severus Snape?"
He looked at me, and then his hand shot out, gripping mine hard. "Look . . .at . . . me . . ." Blood flecked his lips. I felt the soft tap of ebony wood against my temple.
I leaned over. "Why? Tell me?" I sobbed.
"See . . ." He rasped, and then I felt the last of his magic pull me into his mind.
I saw . . . a lonely child hovering at the edge of a park, watching two little girls with longing in his eyes . . .with a start I recognized them as my mother Lily and Aunt Petunia . . .I saw them meet Severus . . .saw how the lonely boy found a friend in my mother . . .she became the world to him . . . I saw and felt it all . . .how his affection turned to love, a deep abiding love . . . a love that outlasted even her death . . . Always I shall love you, Lily . . . even when she had married another, still he loved her . . .I saw his terrible grief when he found her among the ruins, cold and lifeless . . .he had vowed to protect me . . . Because of her . . . I saw how he had agreed to become a spy to atone for his other great mistake . . . how he hid his true self behind a mask of cold and unfeeling grimness . . . because to care at all was to risk a broken heart twice . . .then I saw the answer I had been seeking at last . . . he had killed Dumbledore upon the Headmaster's orders . . .Dumbledore had been dying, cursed by magic too powerful to heal, even with potions. . . When the time comes, you must do it, Severus . . . promise me . . . it will be a mercy killing . . . you're the only one I can trust . . . or else Draco will die . . . and you don't want that, now do you? . . .No, he would never want that . . . never wish that burden upon a student . . . The truth slammed into me like the Hogwarts Express . . .Dumbledore had gone to his death willingly . . . I had been wrong . . . so wrong . . . Severus was no coward . . .had never been that . . . he had chosen the road not taken . . . the road of shadows . . . and all that he had done had been to protect me and the other students . . . in the end he had sacrificed it all . . .
Abruptly I was back in my own head. My eyes focused again on the dying man before me . . . "Professor Snape . . . Severus . . ." I cried brokenly. "I'm sorry . . .!" Sorry for not realizing until now . . . sorry for wasting all that time hating you . . .Now when it was too late.
I placed a hand over his throat, trying to stem the flow of blood while I wept. Must I lose him too? Was it not enough that I had lost my parents, Sirius, Remus, and Dumbledore? "No . . . you can't die! I won't let you . . .!" I gasped, my breath coming in ragged pants.
It is vital that you learn to brew this potion. I chose this for a reason, Potter. Panacea Perfectus may one day save your life. Or the life of one you care about.
Those long ago words reverberated in my memory.
Only then did I recall the potion in my pocket.
I yanked it free and undid the stopper.
"I shall teach you to brew fame, bottle glory, and even put a stopper in death."
He had not lied. He had taught me all that and more. I quickly sprinkled several drops of the potion across the awful wounds, they began to close. Slowly.
But his breathing was erratic still and his color off, the waxen paleness of death.
"Why isn't it working?" I shouted, frantic. "Oh, God damn you, why?"
"Poison . . . Nagini . . ." the words emerged from his cracked lips in a faint whisper.
"Poison?" I babbled. "But that means . . ." I held the vial to his lips. "Swallow . . .please . . ." The precious potion slid down his throat, one endless drop at a time. "Good . . . come on . . . don't stop . . ."
All this time I was crying, and I didn't even care. All that mattered was saving him. This one I could snatch from death's cruel embrace. This was one victim Voldemort's sadistic power play would not take from me.
Finally the vial was empty. His head lolled to one side, and he whispered, "You have your mother's eyes . . ."
Then his eyes closed.
I howled. I had failed. Again and again. "Don't you dare die! Don't you dare!" I shook the black robed form hard, sobbing. "It was supposed to cure you!" I raged, nearly choking on my grief.
My vision blurred and I wiped away my tears with a corner of his robe. I stared down at him. Then I saw that his skin was flushed . . .and dead men don't have color in their cheeks. I bent my head down and heard, very faintly, breath coming in and out.
Severus was alive.
Suddenly his eyelids flickered and opened.
"Finish it."
"I will. But then I'm coming back for you." I promised.
"Go . . . Harry. Finish it." He slumped back against the rough wooden boards.
I settled him back against the wall. Now I could go and face the old snake. I had a score to settle and one way or another, this would end tonight.
I left my mentor sleeping, very weak, but still very much among the living.
"Goodbye, Severus. See you on the other side."
Of course, I did not die that day. Or rather, I died but death could not hold me, who was master of the Deathly Hollows. Everyone knows how I defeated Voldemort, and revealed the truth of Snape's allegiance, which had always been to the Light and the memory of the woman he loved with all of his soul, tattered and damaged though it might be. I fulfilled at last Voldemort's prophecy, and destroyed him.
Later, I returned to the shack and took Severus to St. Mungos. He lay in a coma for a week. The potion had restored much of his health, but he had been so near death that it took his body a long time to recover. Even after he woke, he was weak and it took a month for him to heal. During that time, I visited him every day, bringing him papers and magazines, books, and custard tarts, which I recalled he had told me he was fond of.
He recovered gradually.
I wasn't the only one who came, either. Several of his students, including Malfoy, came and so did Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna. All of them knew the truth about what he was. The Weasleys came, one by one, and offered him their gratitude and wished him a speedy recovery.
All save one.
Percy was still in denial, unwilling to see or accept the truth. He had lost his girlfriend, Lydia Perkins, in the Battle of Hogwarts, and was bitter and angry. There were many like him, who had lost loved ones and needed someone to blame for it. There were some who still didn't trust Severus.
As I was coming in with some new books gathered from the library, I heard Percy talking, his voice low and filled with hatred. "You may have fooled Harry and my brother Ron, but I know the truth! You're nothing but a sneaking lying bastard and I'm going to see you in Azkaban, murderer! You deserve to die, Snape! To roast in hell alongside your Dark Lord! Slytherin scum!"
He pointed his wand at the professor.
Severus had not used his wand since that day in the Shrieking Shack. I didn't even know if he could use it. But I had placed it in the drawer in the nightstand. He went to reach for it . . .
Percy went to hex him.
"Get off him!" I cried, then I tackled Percy to the ground. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Saving the world from a traitor and a murderer!" he spat. "Let go, Potter!"
"No! He was never one of them! Don't you get it?"
"You're a fool, Potter! Once a dark wizard, always a dark wizard. He's biding his time, waiting for the chance to strike you down." He went to hit me.
I snarled and slammed his head against the floor. "You're a stupid arse, Percy! He was a spy! Not a dark wizard! That's the truth!"
"Tell me another one, Potter! You're mad. If it weren't for you and your misplaced idiocy, we'd be rid of him. He should have died that day! Get off me and let me finish what you couldn't."
I lost it then. "I'll finish you first!" I growled, then I bashed his head against the floor again. Bash! Bash! Bash! I had saved Snape from death and I would be damned if I'd let anyone try and reverse that decision. Severus deserved better than to die at the hands of a half-witted bigot like Percy.
A red mist covered my vision and I heard, distantly, people shouting.
"Harry! Stop! You'll kill him!"
"Harry, mate, I know he's a bleeding arsehole, but he's my brother, don't kill him."
Hands were pulling at me, I fought them. Did no one understand? I had to protect Snape the way he protected me.
"Harry. Enough."
That voice, silky sharp with command, penetrated my rage-filled brain. I loosened my hold. A hand tugged my shoulder, callused and long-fingered. I allowed it to draw me away, found myself pushed down on Snape's bed.
"Harry, the war is over. Let it go."
"I can't . . .I can't . . .until they stop . . .trying to hurt you. Why won't they accept the truth?"
"Because it is easier to hate than to forgive. To admit one's mistakes. It doesn't matter what they think." His voice was hoarse, the result of his torn vocal cords, when he spoke it was as if he whispered.
"Yes, it does! Without acceptance, where's the victory?" I cried.
"You know the truth. That is victory enough for me."
I shook my head. "No. It's not enough. They need to understand . . .to see the truth . . . after everything you sacrificed . . ." I argued.
"I don't need their recognition. All that matters is that you know what I was and am. Let the others come to the truth in their own time. Or not." One arm suddenly draped itself across my shoulders, hugging me.
"It matters to me," I insisted. "People should Goddamn acknowledge what you did for me. For us all. You wouldn't let me tell them about what you showed me before, Severus . . ."
"Because I feel that knowing details will not change a person's mind if they are set upon hating me and blaming me for their loss of a loved one, Harry. However, if it will make you feel better . . .you may write an article or a small biography."
"Yes. I'll tell the whole story, Severus . . ." I sniffled. I took the handkerchief he handed me and blotted my eyes. It was time to set the record straight.
I went back to Grimmauld Place and set to work. I wrote long into the night, the words flowing from my pen in an endless stream. Supposedly with the death of Voldemort it was a new world, or the beginning of one. If that were so, then let it begin here, with the truth about the man who saved me.
I wrote several articles entitled "The Truth About the Man in Black", and sent them off to various magazines and The Daily Prophet over the next few days. They were not published right away, apparently even the press had reservations about Snape. I spent much of my days cleaning up and helping to rebuild Hogwarts, being with Ginny, and trying to make a new life out of the ashes of the old.
When the articles finally did break, there was a sudden deluge of reporters coming to my door. "Mr. Potter, can you tell us more about Professor Snape?"
"I've told you all I know."
"But . . . where is he now? We went to St. Mungos, and were told he was released a few days ago. Do you know where he went? We'd like an exclusive."
"No," I lied. "He's gone away to rest. The war took its toll on him." I told them. That was true. They went away, disappointed. I knew where he had gone, of course. He had said goodbye before he left, telling me that if I needed him, to write. I understood. He needed time to heal, time for the scars both within and without to fade. I owed him that much.
Years passed and most of the distrust and ill-will faded, until by the time my son Jamie was school age, the Man in Black, as Severus was now known, had become a legend, the elusive dark protector who rumor had it was still alive somewhere and would return when the time came to protect those in need.
Many things had changed in our world in the nearly two decades that had passed since then. Hogwarts had been rebuilt, Flitwick was now Headmaster there, and Kingsley Shacklebolt was Minister of Magic. Neville was the Herbology professor and his wife Luna taught History of Magic. I had married Ginny and had three beautiful children, all of them strong in magic. My eldest, Jamie, had gone off to Hogwarts last year and been Sorted into Gryffindor. He, like his little sister Lily, was pure Weasley.
But it was my middle child, named for both Dumbledore and Snape, that had an uncanny knack for potions, inheriting the skill of his grandmother and me plus a brilliance all his own. He was a quiet boy, not into Quidditch and sports like his brother, but he devoured books. Ginny joked that he came out of the womb clutching one. He had my hair and eyes, but a brain that rivaled Hermione's. He was so smart it scared me.
The day after his tenth birthday, he told me that he didn't want to go to Hogwarts. "Why not?" I asked. We were in my office, it was a Saturday, and for once I had not been called in on a case for Magical Law Enforcement.
"Because . . . I just don't think I'll fit in, Dad. You know I hate crowds and stuff. And I'll be bored in potions."
"Your brother and cousins will all be there." I said, trying to offer him some advantages.
He rolled his eyes. "Dad, I don't want to be Jamie's shadow. Or have kids be friendly to me because I'm Jamie's little brother. I don't like the House system either. It's too restrictive."
"All right. What do you want to do, then?" This was new territory for me. I had always assumed all my children would attend Hogwarts like I had. But there were alternatives now that there hadn't been twenty years ago.
"I want you to apprentice me to a Potions Master."
My eyebrows went up. That was the other alternative to attending Hogwarts. In the early years, while the school was being rebuilt, the Ministry realized that our children still needed to be educated, and so they brought back the old system of master and apprentice. A student signed Articles of Apprenticeship that were binding for seven years, agreeing to learn from the Master both his chosen magical field and a general course of study. He or she went to live with the Master and the Master in turn agreed to teach the student his or her specialty and provide for them as well. The apprentice's parents paid the Master an apprentice fee, enough to cover supplies and extra things the apprentice might need.
The system worked, and was cheaper than tuition at Hogwarts. "All right. I'll have to see who's available—"
"Dad, not just any Potions Master," he interrupted me, his small face serious. "I want to learn from the best there is. And he's not at Hogwarts. Not any more."
I knew instantly who he referred to. "You want to apprentice to Professor Snape?"
He nodded eagerly. "You know where he is, right?"
"Yes, I know. I haven't seen him since your baptism, but he's sent you a present every year for Christmas and your birthday. He was the one who sent you that expanding potions case this year with the unbreakable vials inside."
"Because he's my godfather. Dad, why didn't he ever come back and visit?"
I sighed. "It's complicated. Severus has always been a man who keeps to himself. He doesn't enjoy publicity and that's what he'd be getting if he ever showed his face around here. He doesn't like being famous. Then there's the fact that your Uncle Percy has never forgiven him for Lydia Perkins dying in the Battle of Hogwarts. A Death Eater killed her, and he blamed the professor for that, and he . . . tried to kill Professor Snape back when he was still recovering from being bitten by Nagini. He hasn't changed much since then, and Severus probably figures it's better if he stays away, rather than causing a family quarrel."
My son's eyes flashed. "Uncle Percy's a puffed up idiot! People always die in wars. That's why it's called a war. It's stupid to blame my godfather for somebody dying, unless he killed her himself."
I couldn't very well refute that, so I said quietly, "I've had several letters from him over the years, and he always asks about you. I've sent him pictures, and he has all your thank you notes."
"Do you think he'll take me as his apprentice?"
"Why don't you write him and find out?" I suggested.
"All right. Do you have a quill and some parchment I can borrow?"
"Right here," I said, and moved away from my desk so he could sit and write. I prayed that Professor Snape would agree, because though he didn't say so, I knew he desperately wanted to get to know his godfather and to learn from the best Potions Master this side of the Atlantic.
Two days later, my son burst into the kitchen, where I was cooking dinner, waving a letter about in his hand and grinning. "Dad! Dad, guess what? He wrote me back! And he says . . . he says he'll take me as his apprentice. He says we can go to his house on Saturday next." My son's green eyes were glowing with delight.
"That's wonderful!" I said, I was so relieved that Snape had agreed to mentor him. "Dinner will be done in a few minutes, why don't you sit down—"
"Can't, Dad. I'll eat later, I gotta go pack!"
"Pack? Albus Severus, you don't need to pack a week in advance!" I laughed.
"I do too. I'll need that long to figure out what books I'm going to take with me," he said, then he turned and raced out of the kitchen.
I shook my head and smiled. Had I ever been that eager to go off to school? I supposed I must have been, especially those first years, before Voldemort returned and made my life hell.
The following Saturday:
I shrank my son's trunk and tucked it in my pocket then we mounted our brooms and soared off into the sky, after hugging and kissing Ginny and Lily goodbye. Both of the Potter women had tears in their eyes. It made my son uncomfortable, and he kept telling them, "It's not forever, I'll be back for the holidays and maybe I'll bring the professor for a visit."
That would really be a miracle, I thought. But then, I believed in miracles, and my son could be very persuasive when he chose. As I climbed higher in the sky, I turned and watched my boy, making sure he was all right. Unlike Jamie, he didn't really enjoy flying, though he flew quite well.
"You all right, son?" I called.
"Fine, Dad." He gave me a quiet smile. Clearly nothing was going to dampen his enthusiasm. "Where are we going and how come we can't just Floo there?"
"Professor Snape isn't connected to the Floo Network. His house is an old Roman villa on the Isle of Wight."
"Really? That's way cool!"
I grinned back at him. "Isn't it? Come on, we have about two hours of flying ahead of us." I pointed my broomstick south and took off, careful to activate my Notice Me Not charms over the both of us.
When we finally touched down amid a stretch of green hills surrounded by farmland, as the island had some of the most fertile soil in all of Britain, I could tell my son was tired and sore, but he never complained. That wasn't his way. When Jamie was sick, or feeling out of sorts, the whole house knew it. Albus Severus, on the other hand, wouldn't complain of being sick until he was dropping dead. Like another wizard I could name. I walked over and performed a quick healing charm on him, reliving him of a stiff back and bottom.
"Thanks, Dad. How did you know?"
"Because I'm sore too," I admitted, wincing.
"Oh. Sorry I can't do magic like that yet."
I ruffled his hair. "It's all right. I just need to walk out the kinks and I'll be fine."
I put my hand on his shoulder, we were dressed in Muggle clothing, jeans and long sleeved shirts, since Snape's home was right in a Muggle area. Together we started up a long paved drive to a house upon a hill. The house was large and could have doubled as a set in some Roman historic documentary. There were white marble pillars flanking the double doors, which had horsehead brass knockers. Two large topiary bushes flanked the top of the drive, one was of a doe and the other a snake.
There were carefully tended flowerbeds to either side of the house, and the porch was tiled in a mosaic of blue and green with a wave and a swimming sea serpent. As I set foot upon the porch, I felt the tingle of wards, they made my skin crawl slightly. I reached up and banged the knocker down, once, twice.
As if on cue, the door swung open.
I entered, gently urging my son before me. We stepped into a large rectangular foyer with more marble and malachite pillars and the tiles here showed a witch brewing a potion, stirring a cauldron. Though she was dressed in the traditional black robes of a Mistress of Potions, she had red hair and green eyes and reminded me of my mother.
I took two steps into the hall, it was lit by several hanging globes of wizardlight, and called, "Professor Snape? Are you here?"
"Come down the hall and turn right at the first door," called the familiar silky voice.
We entered a cozy den, which had a fire crackling merrily in the grate, and was surrounded by plump green and silver couches and a lounge chair. The theme in this room was silver and green, it had a carpet that looked of Turkish design with several kinds of woodland animals and trees in it. The walls were a cool silver with a border of green ivy leaves. Upon the mantle was a clock and a statue of a silver doe, as well as a familiar looking stone bowl.
Severus was seated upon the center couch, he was wearing a pair of black trousers, boots, and a silver and green shirt, with his black over robes. I stared at him in astonishment. I had last seen him ten years ago, and had thought he looked extremely well for a man approaching his middle years. Looking at him now, I couldn't believe the difference. He did not look like a man of over fifty, but more like a man in his thirties. His hair was long and flowing, but not greasy, I could see blue-black highlights in it when the wizardlight fell on it. He was still trim and fit, and when he rose to greet us, he still towered over me. But the light in his black eyes was not forbidding, but welcoming.
"Welcome to the Ivy Manse, as the locals call this place. How are you, Harry?"
"I . . . I'm pretty good for a man approaching thirty-eight, Severus. But you . . . you look like you haven't aged a day since you woke up in St. Mungos after the battle. Have you been taking Youth Potion?"
"Hardly. I believe this is a side effect of the Panacea Perfectus. It appears to have slowed down my aging and restored some of my youth to me."
I noticed then that most of the lines that used to bracket his mouth and eyes had faded and it made him look even younger. Clearly his chosen exile to the Isle of Wight had been good for him. I opened my mouth to introduce my son.
But Severus came forward, his hand extended, and a quiet smile upon his lips, and said softly, "And you must be Albus Severus, my godson."
"Yes, sir. But I prefer to be called Sev." He clasped Snape's hand, his green eyes bright with awe. "All my family calls me that."
"Then so shall I. Do you know, that was your grandmother's name for me also?" the elder Severus told the younger.
"I know. Dad told me. I like Sev better than Al. Only Jamie calls me Al, when he wants to be an annoying prat. But then I ignore him."
"I see," said the Potions Master gravely, but I saw his lips twitch into a smirk.
"Um . . . what shall I call you, sir?"
Severus looked nonplussed for a moment. Clearly this hadn't occurred to him. At last he said, "When I am teaching you, you may refer to me as professor Snape or sir. But when your lessons are over, I am just your godfather and then you may call me Uncle Severus. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes, sir. I mean . . . Uncle Severus," Sev corrected himself swiftly.
"Have a seat," he gestured to the two other couches. "I have the articles all ready, waiting for our signatures." He pointed to a long sheet of parchment sitting on the table carved of silver ash wood. There was a pot of ink and a quill beside it. "Would you care for some refreshments? I have lemonade and tea or coffee and some sandwiches." He pointed his wand and a tray appeared upon the table filled with a variety of finger sandwiches, shortbread biscuits, custard tarts, pots of tea and coffee and a pitcher of icy cold lemonade. There were small china plates and silverware also upon the tray, along with cream and sugar.
I took a sandwich and some shortbread and a cup of coffee. I really needed the caffeine after such a long flight.
Sev took two kinds of sandwiches, a tart, and some lemonade.
Severus had some coffee and a sandwich also.
We ate hungrily, the food was tasty and filling, as good as anything Molly had ever served.
Sev ate neatly, but with the typical appetite of a growing boy, going back for seconds. When we had all eaten out fill, the professor turned to my son and said, "From your letter, I know that you and I share a passionate interest in potions, is that not so, Sev?"
"Yes, sir. I love potions more than anything."
"Do you?" Snape's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "What is the difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?"
Sev hesitated not an instant before answering, "There is none. They're names for the same plant. It's also called aconite."
"Correct. Where would you obtain a bezoar?"
"Bezoars are from the stomach of a goat. They can cure most poisons and are an active ingredient in the potion Panacea Perfectus."
"Good. Now for the last one. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Sev blinked and remained quiet for a moment. I thought for an instant that he didn't know the answer. But then he said, "A Draught of Living Death. But you also need valerian and a sopophorous bean."
"Excellent! This one is a potion maker for certain," praised Snape.
Sev grinned proudly. "Does that mean I'll make a good apprentice?"
"If you practice and remember all your lessons, yes, you will do your family and me proud." The professor stated. "I asked your father those very same questions his first day in my class."
"You did?" He looked over at me. "How many did you get right, Dad?"
"Oh. Well, Dad's never been as good at potions as me," my son said candidly, smirking.
"Hey! Don't get all smart with me, brat!" I mock-scolded, playfully smacking him on the back of the head.
"What? It's the truth!" Sev protested, snickering.
"Your father grew more apt in brewing once he started paying attention in class," Snape told my son. "Eventually, he became extremely competent."
"But not a Master."
"No, but I have no doubt that had he wished so, he could have become one."
I was shocked. Snape had never said anything like that to me while I was a student.
"Really, Mr. Potter."
"Oh. Sorry, Dad."
I ruffled his hair affectionately. "You see what you have to put up with?"
Snape snorted. "His cheekiness is nothing compared to yours, Harry." He looked at Sev. "You do understand that I don't tolerate disrespect? Being insolent with me shall earn you a few hours of detention scrubbing cauldrons, by hand without magic, or cleaning my lab, or harvesting any number of potions ingredients, writing lines, and essays."
Sev's eyes widened at the list. Then he said, "I'll behave, sir."
"A wise decision. I shall endeavor to teach you all I know about potions and brewing and by the end of your apprenticeship you will be able to sit for your Mastery exams and hopefully pass them with flying colors."
"What, you're not going to give him your famous speech?" I teased.
"You needed it, to interest you in my subject. He doesn't," Snape replied.
I had to agree to that.
"When can we start, Uncle Severus?"
"As soon as we have signed your Articles of Apprenticeship, child." The Potions Master said, laughing slightly. "Shall we, Harry?"
I picked up the quill and signed my name with a flourish. Then Snape signed his and finally Sev did as well. There! It was done. Now my son was an official apprentice.
The Potions Master tapped the parchment and it copied itself. He gave a copy to me and tucked the original into a pocket.
Sev jumped to his feet. "Now can we brew a potion, Professor?"
"In a moment, Mr. Potter. First let me show you to your room and you can unpack your things. And do you not want to bid your father goodbye?"
I held out my arms and he ran into them, hugging me tight. "Bye, Dad. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Sevvy. Be good and listen to Professor Snape."
"I will. I'll see you at Christmas. Tell Mum I'll write every week and Lily too."
I kissed the top of his forehead. I felt a lump in my throat as big as a mountain as I suddenly realized that the tiny dark-haired baby I had held in my arms was now old enough to leave home. I stared down at his dark head and found myself blinking back tears.
When I lifted my head, my eyes met knowing dark ones.
"I will take good care of him, Harry. As if he were my own."
"I know."
Sev squirmed free of my embrace. "I'll be fine, Dad. I really like it here."
I rose to my feet. I didn't want to linger over this parting. So I removed his trunk from my pocket and enlarged it. "Goodbye, Sev." I reached into my other pocket and found a leather pouch. This I gave to Severus. "His apprentice fee."
"No, Harry. You do not need to pay for his upkeep."
"It's tradition."
"He is family." Snape pushed the pouch away. "Safe journey, Harry."
I knew then that my son would be all right. He had what he needed, both a teacher and a godfather. I waved once before I left the two Severus' alone, chattering about ways to dice and chop roots and distill liquids, walking quickly back out the front door and grabbing my broom. I would miss him something awful, but I knew he would be happy with my old Potions professor. I thought that Snape would be happy as well, for he had found a kindred spirit in Albus Severus Potter. In the end, that was all that mattered.
A/N: There are two one-shot companion pieces to this story that have recently been posted. One is called The Substitute, the other is called Birthday Treat. If you liked this story you may want to read those.


text:
Alps Pointing Device (Touchpad) Driver Version 5.3.509.3a for Microsoft Windows XP
This update is to be installed on the VAIO notebooks listed below to resolve the issue of the cursor not responding with user logon/logoff.
Download Instructions
1.Download the file5.3.509.3a.EXEand save it to a download directory. (Please note this directory for reference.)
2.Go the download directory, and double-click5.3.509.3a.EXE. WinZip Self-Extractor program starts.
3.Click Unzip. The file will be extracted toC:\5.3.509.3a.
4.Click Close to exit WinZip Self-Extractor program.
Installation Instructions
Exit all running applications.
1. Open Device Manager (Click [Start]- right-Click [My Computer] ->click [Properties]->[Hardware] Tab ->[Device Manager]).
2. Expand "Mice and other pointing devices".
3. Right-click Alps Pointing-device, and then click [Update driver...] from the shortcut menu.
4. The Hardware Update Wizard starts. Select [Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)]. Click Next.
3. Select [Search for the best driver in these locations]. Click [Include this location in the search], and type or browse to the folderC:\5.3.509.3a.
5. Click Next. Please wait while the Wizard installs the software.
6. Click Finish.
7. Restart the computer.
Informazioni file
Nome del file
- TPD_Alps_535093a.exe
Struttura del file
- 32 bit
Dimensioni file
- 712 Kb
Data del rilascio
- 81-61-2003

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Reviews for Roman Roommate
| DorkExpress chapter 22 . 1/7/2012
Wow... that was intence...
Hey, I have a question... is Jay responsible for his mom losing the studio? Since he's into small businesses and all...
| surrendertomusic chapter 22 . 1/7/2012
Oh man :( Poor Evie! Jay will probably be the one wrong, because Peyton hates being wrong.
Can't wait for more :)
| Fate Rose chapter 12 . 1/7/2012
That's a lot of planning. I would probably deck him if he woke me up at 8am. Even if he's hot.
XD A motorcycle? Nice. Funny, too, because Serenity drives one. They're fun for characters to have, aren't they?
Oh, I forgot to say: OHMYGAWD, YAY, THE LUNCH DATE IS FINALLY HERE. OHMY, HE'S SO HOT AND YOU'VE TOLD US SO LITTLE ABOUT HIM AND I AM SO EXCITED THAT I NEEDED TO SAY ALL THIS IN CAPITAL LETTERS AND I HOPE THIS ISN'T HURTING YOUR EYES, BECAUSE IT'S HURTING MINE BUT I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY. Ahem… YAY THE LUNCH DATE!
Please, pardon my squee moment.
50s style diner? Failing business or something? Did he bring her out while he's working? 'Cause that's not cool, man! Buuut, it he didn't, the whole 50s style diner is definitely cute.
'Sounds like a fun time.' XD Nice. Her family is crazy complicated.
'It's like I'm five. She's so funny.' Ohmy, he's amusing, too.
Accent mystery solved. Piercing mystery solved. Tattoo mystery solved (somewhat). Dad mystery completely unsolved. Not cool.
Roman counterparts. Interesting. Her lack of belief. Amusing.
Huh. Ignore my Dad Unsolved thing. She's rather blonde on the inside, huh? Sheesh, I wouldn't want that family line.
Really blonde on the inside. "You work for him?" "I think we've established that now."
This is true. Romans favored wars. Greeks favored partying. Makes sense that the Gods would resemble the people.
Aww. He asked her out. And she said yes. Cute. Jay/Evie moment! Yay!
So, this is the last chapter in the chunk that I opened up. I'm now going to go to my bedroom, acquire internet, submit all these reviews, and open a crapload more chapters. I like reading stories so long after you've updated. I don't have to wait for chapters! :D
For the record, I totally adore Jay.
| Fate Rose chapter 11 . 1/7/2012
Oh, now Logan is a jerk? Harsh, there, Sam. XD
Foreshadowing much? "I excused myself to the bathroom and left my parents and grandparents alone together in the room. Something I learned later was the biggest mistake of my life." Her parents and her grandparents are all nuts. I've never really noticed how much they fight.
That guy hug thing. XD So true and so awkward.
Awww. Brother sister bickering. Adorable.
And then it was suddenly less adorable as he gave her dating advice and a mysterious answer about her roommate.
| Fate Rose chapter 10 . 1/7/2012
I just looked at the size of my scrolly bar thingy in the side and just went o.o. Because this is a very long chapter. :0
Harry and Henry do tend to be very confusing. I never remember which is which.
Vegas and Henderson? Nice comparison. I did not need to consult a map. c:
Valentine's Day aka Single Awareness Day, acronym SAD. As you pointed out last year.
Oh, he's a jerk, is he? XD
Sheesh, it's like war zone between Peyton and Eros.
…it was like she said she was building a bomb when she asked about the difference between the two mythologies. I understand that they're different, but for your purposes, are they? Because you have Eros who also goes by Cupid and this is totally throwing me off.
Bwhahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Nice definition of Pluto there. XD
Oh, there's the real definition. Knew he was a scary guy. Like, extra scary. And Jay's his kid, huh? (Feel free to ignore this question. Until it is disproven, I am assuming this is the truth.)
You actually address the whole Cupid/Eros name thing. I really want to know what all's going on. So many secrets! D:
| Fate Rose chapter 9 . 1/7/2012
'That's Hades. I know that for sure because I've met him briefly.' XD Brilliant. I adore it.
"The relationshipwhore." That is a variation of me. I am a crushslut. This amused me, except that those two are total opposites. XD
Is he related to Pluto? The thought crossed my mind earlier. But I didn't want to entertain it. Doesn't seem like a fun family relationship for Jay.
Oh, damn. He is related to Pluto, isn't he? Oh, I think you have the swear sensor thingamajig on, so allow me to rephrase that first statement. Oh, dang.
Oh, yay! Cupid family coming up!
But he is totally Pluto's son. Which totally sucks. Or sounds like it would suck.
| Fate Rose chapter 8 . 1/7/2012
Yay! Carmen is normal again! Whoo!
Oh, for the record, I am currently watching one of the saddest movies ever as I try to read this, so it's not really mushing well together. I'm like. "Awww, this story is so cute. Ohmygawd this movie is so sad. *sobs*" It's not a good combination. (The movie is Tuck Everlasting, great story and movie, for the record. I won't remember otherwise. Brilliant, but quite tragic.)
But anyways, the mirror. XD "you're going to pay for the mirror you broke." Nice.
…I would not want to be her in that situation. I'm such an awkward person, like, ohgawd, it would be awful.
You posted this during NaNo month. I found that interesting. Thought I'd share.
Yay! Lunch on Monday! How cute!
| Fate Rose chapter 7 . 1/7/2012
She's being a jerk? XD Isn't that the same thing in Sam language?
I really want to know more about Jay's father, but at the same time, I feel like his dad is just bad news.
He's a cutie. I do like him and want to see more of him. Also, her cat is funny. Very amusing.
| Fate Rose chapter 6 . 1/7/2012
XD Out of toilet paper? Nice.
Day two and seen plenty? She's seen a lot more of him than Carmen would like. ;p
On the inside, Evie is jealous of Jay flirting with the neighbor. That's what I'm going with anyway. XD
Jeeze, Elijah is flaming. Wow.
"I don't do heels." Okay, not that flaming.
Ouch. Broken mirror is 7yrs bad luck. That's the blink of an eye for Evie though. XD
| Fate Rose chapter 5 . 1/7/2012
*snort* She really likes him. Gawking, isn't she? Bad, Evie! Staring isn't nice! p
Again, . He's Carmen's son. Lulz. So many lulz. (And yeah, he's pretty hot.)
Better than a love triangle though. Like, glad it was Jay and not some different guy and whatnot. But ohmygoodness, this is freaking hilarious.
Jay/Blake. Nice.
James. Well…yeah… Jay is better.
Even though she's super nice, I'm surprised she hasn't just decked him, since she is a naturally irritable person. Er…you know what I mean. She's like Nate.
"You're my boss's son?" She's so full of wit. XD
I snorted at his, "Have wonderful dreams of me," comment, too!
I would hardly call Jay a 'pretty boy'. Hot? Yes. Pretty? No.
I liked the call with Vee and Logan. They're so cute!
She had to adjust to getting a cat? That's funny.
| Fate Rose chapter 4 . 1/7/2012
Alright, so here's the deal: I opened several chapters of this on my laptop and then got offline. I will type all my reviews in Works. Be prepared for a buttload of them. Happy reading!
D: Carmen's story is so very sad!
I love how she's having a conversation with her cat. Lulz. XD I used to do that, too! He doesn't like guests? Cats usually don't. Nice.
o.o If I flicked /my/cat on the nose, he would bite me.
She's turning into a crazy cat lady. p
... "It was Jay." I mean, I totally saw that coming but ohmygoodness, it was hilarious.
Next chapter!
| Princess97 chapter 22 . 1/7/2012
No! Jay is a good-boy. Peyton just misread the future
| DayDreamer99 chapter 22 . 1/7/2012
Ahahaha dont mess with the Mama bear! Especially by hurting the cubs XP this chapter wuz just so cute! I rly hope that Jay doesnt hurt Evie or Im going 2 be rly mad too. :( But all things aside thanx so much 4 updating and putting extra cuteness in this chapter. :)
| sarah.evangelina chapter 21 . 1/5/2012
Ii'll be graduatin this year too! :D! AND NOOOOOOOOOOO Jay is perfect /3
| DorkExpress chapter 21 . 1/2/2012
Thanks for the new chapter! Oh, and I totaly loved it, serious! But it's so sad that Jay is leaving! Seriously, I love him! But, idk, but I was just thinking that maybe, just MAYBE, Elija can have feelungs for her? Maybe? Possibly? Okay, I planted the seed, muhahahahaaa!


text:
Sixel: Jobless rate isn't whole picture
Updated 11:37 am, Friday, September 9, 2011
Most of us focus on a few headline numbers when we're trying to gauge the health of the economy.
The unemployment rate, the number of unemployment claims and payroll job creation (or loss) tell us how we're doing and provide clues about the future.
Government surveys, however, offer more than just the basics, and today we're going to look at a couple of other pieces of information that don't get much attention. One measures confidence in the labor market, while the other tells us how hard it is to find work.
Chances are you've never heard of the quit rate, but buried deep in the Bureau of Labor Statistics website is the number of workers who quit their jobs during any given month. The data doesn't explain why someone quit - it could have been to take a new job or due to a change in family responsibilities or because a boss became intolerable - but economists look at the rate as a sign of economic strength or weakness.
A glance at a decade's worth of monthly data pretty closely tracks the ebbs and flows of the overall economy. In the first five months of 2007 - when the economy was still vibrant - employees in the South, which includes Texas, were changing jobs. Every month at least 2.5 percent of all employees turned in their two-week notice.
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But by July 2008, it became increasingly obvious that people were staying put. That month, the quit rate was down to 1.9 percent, and by December of that year, it was 1.5 percent.
It tracks consumer confidence quite closely, BLS Commissioner Keith Hall said.
The quit rate drops during recessions because people aren't leaving one job to go to another, said Hall, who heads the BLS. But once a recovery begins, people change jobs, and that indicates improving confidence.
Even though the recession is officially over, the quit rate hasn't bounced back to pre-recession levels.
In July, according to the most recent data available, only 1.6 percent of those who were employed in the South quit their jobs. But it's still better than January's rate of 1.4 percent.
Patrick Jankowski, vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership, looks at the quit rate as part of his economic analysis. But he said it would be more useful if was specific to Texas.
BLS divides the nation into four regions and Texas is part of the Southern region, which includes Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware.
"How can you tell me the economy of Delaware and the economy of Texas belong in the same region?" Jankowski asked.
Hall said the current sample size is too small to provide statewide data, but he said there is a lot of interest from data users for individual states and industries.
Another telling piece of data is the percentage of job seekers who have been pounding the pavement for at least six months. It's a measure of long-term unemployment, and at the moment, it's pretty grim.
In August, 42.9 percent of those who were unemployed in the United States had been out of work for 27 weeks or longer, according to BLS. Compare that with a decade ago, when only 12.2 percent of the unemployed had been out of work that long.
The number is really high - it's more than double the previous record set during the 1983 recession, Hall said. The nation is also at record levels for unemployment lasting one year and two years.
One of the reasons it's so high is that the recovery between the recessions in 2001 and 2007/2008 wasn't strong enough or long enough for the long-term unemployment rate to go down substantially, he said. The longer an individual is unemployed, the longer it takes to find a new job.
Barton Smith, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Houston, keeps an eye on long-term unemployment. But it's not one of those must-watch statistics he monitors each month.
Over time, though, the rate of long-term unemployment is a good indicator of a recession's severity. The higher the number, he said, the more difficult it is to find a new job after losing one.
Another drawback is that the data isn't available locally.
In Houston, the closest measure is the number of people who have been on the unemployment rolls for 15 weeks and longer, but Smith said economists don't consider that long-term unemployment. Nor does it include everyone who is jobless; it tallies only the number who are eligible to receive benefits.
In July, that represented 36.8 percent of Houston-area workers.
So what does Hall watch? He said he pays particular attention to payroll jobs, which he called the best indicator of what's going on in the economy. The last five to six recessions almost always started when the number of jobs began to decline. The end of a recession is harder to spot because the economy typically grows before employers start to add jobs.
His other favorite data point is the monthly employment-to-population ratio, a measure of the number of people who are working in the population.
It was almost 63 percent at the start at the recession, he said, but at the moment it's 58.2 percent, the same as it was back in the recession of 1983.
It's been bumping along in that range since 2009, he said. So what is he looking for?
"Seeing it rise," he said. "That's the key."


text:
Kinetic V wrote:I'll toss out a question. Can anyone recommend an relatively stable Draft 2.0 N wireless router that can be relied upon to at least stay operational without requiring a reboot once every 12 hours on a good day? And yes I updated the firmware, don't go there.
Anyone recommending Belkin products should not bother to post.
Have you tried Linksys?
not suggesting it. just wanna see what your feedback is cause I'm having the same problem.
I do like netgear. Buffalo is one of my favorites at the moment.
I haven't finished testing the Linksys N series yet. Just got one for a client.
I used to hate D-Link but they have a new series out now that so far seems real stable, inexpensive and easy to use finally. I even bought one of their wireless cards for my laptop. It's still going even after I dropped my laptop on it. (yeah I know.)


text:
Greece has opened a photo exhibition about the way migrants
Noon in Thessaloniki in September – test. The sun was warm in earnest. It's time to wander through the cool halls of museums, of which there are in abundance. So I wandered into a Museum of photography. And was shocked.
photo: Elena Vasilyuhina
The exhibition, which runs here, called "Another life. Human flows.Unknown Odyssey. It is about the feelings experienced by the Europeans in the last two years in connection with the influx of migrants. Greek Bank, which went fragile boats crammed with people, was the starting point of this great migration. The first part of the exhibition dedicated to the beginning of the path to Europe. 26 Greek photographer passed this way with migrants. Their photographs formed the basis of the exhibition.
Here dozens of boat migrants in a hurry to long-awaited shores. First acquaintance. On tired faces happiness. It fell, and how many people never made it to the Greek shores…
In Thessaloniki opened an exhibition about the journey of the migrants (10 photos)
The second part of the exhibition about death. The Director of the Museum of photography of Hercules Papajanov advises those guests who have the weak nerves, skip this section:
– Do not be offended, " he says. – I have many years of doing exhibitions, but none of them was so hard emotionally as this one.
Hearses at the pier cemetery on the beautiful island of Lesvos, dozens, if not hundreds of hastily-erected gravestones…
And this part about the children. Very adult eyes of a teenager. His mother sent him to buy vegetables at the market. And when he returned – the house was not, was not and his mother and his little sisters.
Children playing ball. "These children were to us from the nearest point of stay of migrants," explains Hercules. Later we invited them to the opening of the exhibition. They came and took this photo. Someone learned it myself, someone my cousin, who is now with his parents in Germany. Then begin to discuss the bright sneakers and jackets from charity funds in which they captured on photo. Kids will be kids, despite all the disasters and trials.
And this section of the exhibition, I would say – different worlds. Great strain is felt even in the postures of vacationers at the beach. Despite the tolerance they are terribly uncomfortable to run suddenly strangers from foreign parts.
The main message of the exhibition is to understand the troubles of these strangers, not retreating from them, to let them into your world.
Oh, look to the future, a hundred years to see at least one eye, what will turn this great migration to the other…


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Background: Born Oct. 23, 1945, in Brockton. After graduating from Brockton High School, he earned a degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, where he became involved in theater, and a law degree at New York University. He is married with three adult children, and he enjoys opera (he is president of Washington National Opera), theater, and cigars. He has retained his ties to Brockton, which honored him with a "Ken Feinberg Appreciation Day'' in 1995 and to which he has bequeathed his extensive music and opera collection.
Early career: He was a clerk for a New York State Court of Appeals judge and an assistant attorney for the New York Department of Justice before joining the staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy as an assistant in 1975, eventually becoming Kennedy's chief of staff. After leaving the office in 1980, Feinberg has remained a confidant to the Kennedy family, serving as chairman of the board of directors of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and representing the family's interests in the FBI's recent release of its files on the late senator.
Accomplishments: As a mediator, Feinberg has been at the center of many of the nation's biggest damages suits, helping to break a stalemate on the Agent Orange case to reach a $180 million settlement for affected Vietnam veterans and reaching a $2.5 billion settlement for women suing over the Dalkon Shield, a defective birth control device. He was also one of three arbitrators who determined the fair market value of the Zapruder film, which captured the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was selected by John Ashcroft, then attorney general, to head the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, evaluating claims and determining appropriate compensation for victims in lieu of lawsuits. Working pro bono for 33 months, he determined the distribution of nearly $7 billion to about 5,000 victims and families of victims. He more recently led compensation efforts for victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting. For President Obama, he served as "pay czar,'' overseeing the compensation for executives from companies that received the largest chunks of federal bailout money.


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|The Life and Times of Jim
|Hi, there. I'm Jim. Welcome to my phlog!
This site was written for Las Vegas, then LouisVille. Now, it seems to be about anywhere. In these phlogs, you'll see a lot of my personal notes and pictures. I like to post my observations here to remember life and celebrate it. I'm not religious. I don't pray for good fortune. I'm ecstatically grateful for the gift of life and I think our time should be remembered and not taken for granted. I'm not a writer. I think pictures tell stories so much better than words. I love just about everything in this life, and, I guess that would have to include you. So, if you've seen me, don't be surprised if your picture is in here somewhere. Of all the critters, people are absolutely the most interesting.
02/21/2011 15:58:54jim Anna Maria Island
02/21/2011 12:58:44jim Brandenton-Mattisons Marina
02/20/2011 18:21:50jim StPetersburg-CrabShack
02/20/2011 17:40:56jim BuschGardens-JoanJett
02/20/2011 17:04:10jim Busch Gardens-DoWops
02/20/2011 16:47:38jim Busch Gardens-Coasters
02/19/2011 18:18:11jim Joan Jet and the Blackhearts - 2/20/2011
Busch Gardens
02/19/2011 15:00:27jim Replaced the F150s actuators
AFTER 3 HOURS of CONTORTING my hands, I finally replaced both of my bad power lock actuators.
These are the doohinkees that cause your doors to unlock by the remote.
Ya gotta tear the doors apart to get to them.
So much fun!
02/15/2011 03:15:59jim The Female Point System
02/12/2011 19:32:17jim Watched Sanctum
Very good movie, with a some what grim path. Cave divers lose their exit in the largest (unexplored) cave in the world.
02/12/2011 06:42:51jim Fiesta Day: (Ybor City) 02/13/2010
Fiesta Day has grown and changed since it originated in the 40's. This year it is planned for Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with plenty of action taking place from Seventh Avenue to Centennial Park. Entertainment and food, a parade, art shows, and cooking contest make Fiesta Day one of areas most widely attended events attended by both residents and tourists.
02/11/2011 18:34:18jim Aphorisms
02/11/2011 11:25:19jim Dawns Going away Party
Dawn has moved on to Fifth Third Bank. I organized a get together at Courtside, and I say organized loosely!
I sent off an email saying Friday was Pennys last day. Greg, John, Joe, Dawn, Penny, and myself showed up.
02/08/2011 19:21:19jim Everbody Wung Thai Tonight!
We had Tom Yum Goon, Yum seafood salad, Curry w/ coconut milk, pork, veggies and crab rangoons.
Tossed in the Thai Tea for good measure, and it was all delicious.
5545 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL.
02/08/2011 17:59:39jim Clearwater-WungThai
02/05/2011 12:35:16jim StPetersburg-Gandy Shore
02/04/2011 17:17:41jim Orthopedic Surgery - Rotator Cuff
02/04/2011 07:18:11jim StPetersburg Surgery
02/04/2011 06:48:04jim Bayfront Medical
Am tying my shoes. Na. Just in PreOp with Becky Babe. She's getting her rotator cuff fixed today.
02/03/2011 21:09:33jim Jerry Seinfield
02/01/2011 07:13:30jim The F150 was Burgled
They got my Canon camera, the new lense and a new camera bag. Its a fluke, me leaving it in the truck (out-of-sight).
Guess they liked my cheap GPS unit. They didn't take the power cord. My truck sits high, and this is an upscale area, so its amazing they picked on my truck.
On the Plus Side
I didn't like the Canon. The camera with its long lense was bulky and stuck out. It was next to impossible to get a candid shot of people.
Someone would always be snearing at the camera in pictures of crowd, and forget about taking shots on a beach.
Serials: Canon EOS Rebel T1i. EOS 500D. $840.
01/28/2011 07:10:57jim Loggins/Cross - 02/1/2011
Tuesday, 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. $45-$85. (727) 791-7400.
Dismiss this declaration as hyperbole if you must, but Tuesday night's Kenny Loggins/Christopher Cross concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall could be the musical highlight of 2011 in Tampa Bay. Snicker if you want, but "yacht rock" isn't a farce; it's a soothing, mental balm that wraps around you like a warm blanket. Look for a night of non-stop hits from their '70s and '80s catalogs. Cross will open with a slew of heart-mending ballads including Think of Laura, Sailing and Best That You Can Do followed by the prickly Ride Like the Wind. Loggins will crank things up further with Footloose, Danger Zone and This Is It. And just when you think your soul can fly no higher, Kenny will come crashing down, leaving you sobbing and vulnerable with the wrenching Return to Pooh Corner. Steve Spears
01/26/2011 20:49:48jim Court Side Grill Party
01/25/2011 19:17:10jim Clearwater BuffaloWings
01/25/2011 17:34:07jim Buffalo Wings - Another Going Away Party
John, Anthony, Keith, Becky and I ate at Wings. I think maybe their sweet tea was expired.
The weather in Tampa Bay was crazy yesterday. High winds, torrential rains, flooding.
Driving down the road, it was hard to see 10 feet ahead.
01/21/2011 20:56:56jim Keiths going away party (Joes Crab Shack)
Put together a going away party for Keith Z. 14 people showed up to Joes Crab Shack. Nice turn out!!!
01/20/2011 18:41:58jim Tampa JimbosBBQ
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text: This morning I had a great opportunity to shoot a red shouldered hawk perched on my neighbor's mailbox. There was a little fog lingering, but none of the photos are as sharp as I had hoped. I inched closer and closer with each shot. These two are the closest I was able to get before he flew off. I must say, I get real nervous when I have an opportunity like this. I don't think much about settings, just getting something before the moment is gone. I used my Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro lens. I know it is soft at 300, so I set the focal length to 214 mm. I did use a tripod with a remote. I'm sure it's just inexperienced me, but would I have gotten better results with a different setting? I'm going to Merritt Island next week to try to get some more bird shots and could use a little advice. My lens choices are the Sigma, Canon 100 f/2.8 Macro USM, and a nifty-50. Settings for this shot: f/8.0, 1/160, ISO 100 Settings for this shot: f/5.0, 1/320, ISO 100


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Disney Names James Goldston ABC News President
Goldston To Re Responsible for All Editorial, Business Aspects of ABC News's News Division
Walt Disney Co. promoted ABC News executive James Goldston as the news organization's president, replacing Ben Sherwood, who last month was named the next head of Disney's television-entertainment networks.
The change is part of an ongoing succession process, in which Mr. Sherwood is set to replace Anne Sweeney as co-chairman of the Disney/ABC Television Group next January.
In his new position, Mr. Goldston—currently an ABC...


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Risks lie in wait for us at every corner
15th October 2012 · 0 Comments
By Fr. Jerome LeDoux
Contributing Columnist
Upon hearing of the manner in which Gerald Alexander Youman died, I joined the other members of Our Mother of Mercy Church in a collective gasp. He was put into the hospital for seizures, we were told, but, while being examined, the doctors found to their shock that his life was being terminated by the West Nile virus.
This information puzzled my mind as I neared the vicinity of the Bayou Teche city of New Iberia, Louisiana. An area that seldom lacks for rain, it is prime territory for breeding mosquitoes, the pesky parasites that carry the West Nile virus from old hosts to new hosts through the process of sucking the warm blood of mammals.
However, it is a very curious anomaly of weather conditions that Texas, not known for swamps and waterways, has the highest incidence of West Nile Virus in the nation. Alas, the "Culex pipens" household variety of mosquito that spreads the virus likes a hot, dry summer with a little rain here and there, plus stagnant water.
All that's needed for an ideal breeding place is a discarded car tire or two, empty cans and bottles, a little water or a stagnant ditch without hungry minnows.
This partially explains why a relatively dry area like Dallas has the most WNV cases of all cities and why Texas has the most cases in the lower 48 states. Because of their physical isolation, Hawaii and Alaska do not have any cases of the virus.
With Texas in the lead, 70 percent of the cases in this country have occurred in eight states: Texas, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, California, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Illinois. It should be noted that most of these are not water-rich states.
In any case, with each funeral of a WNV victim, folks are left wondering and preoccupied about their chances of being infected, whether they live in water-rich areas like the Louisiana bayou country or in more arid places like parts of Texas.
What are the odds of serious illness when someone is bitten by an infected mosquito? Only about one in 150 of those bitten will come down with the severe form of the disease. But further unnerving, WNV is related to mosquito-borne viruses that cause St. Louis encephalitis, dengue fever, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis.
While everyone is at risk of being infected with WNV, those most at risk are people 50 or older with underlying health issues. Look out for WNV symptoms that mimic flu-like illness with 102 or more degrees of fever, strong headaches, severe muscle aches or joint pains, eye pain, mental changes, fatigue, nausea and respiratory issues.
Up to this point in 2012, the CDC has reported a total of 3,545 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 147 deaths. Of these, 1,816 (51%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 1,729 (49%) were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease. This is the highest WNV incidence since 2003.
The virus was discovered in the West Nile District of Uganda in 1937, and later found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Now it is found across the continental United States, Canada, Central America and the Caribbean. Likely carried by an infected stowaway mosquito in a plane or ship, the virus we have in the States is an Israeli strain.
Any discussion like this remains a bit abstract until it touches someone close to us. What are the Youman family members to think about the risks of their environment since their beloved Gerald fell victim to the WNV? As if it were not bad enough that we already have many threats to our health, here comes this new deadly risk to our very life.
Where mosquitoes abound for much of the year, how can the Youmans and all their neighbors not be gun-shy and a tad uneasy from dusk to dawn? As WNV victim Gerald's homegoing celebration was in progress, all our prayers, praise and thanksgiving for his life were somewhat muffled by the reality of what had happened to him.
At times like these, one has the uneasy feeling that even Mother Nature is part of a conspiracy against our health and well-being. Yet, if we must linger outside after dark, we should double down in courage while taking care with long sleeves and even DEET.
We reach out with prayers and support for Gerald Youman's family. "You can run but you can't hide" means that we must adjust to the environment where we live.
This article was originally published in the October 15, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper
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FLATBUSH --A 64-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in Brooklyn on Sunday morning.
Police say that Anne Cohen was found at an apartment in Flatbush, where she was stabbed approximately 40 times.
According to police, her son, 31-year-old Richard Cohen, is now in custody and charged with second-degree murder.
Richard allegedly called 911 to say that he stabbed his mother. The two were reportedly fighting about money.
Police say that he has a history of emotional issues.
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2017 Ford Expedition
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|3.5L 6 Cylinder Twin Turbo
|6 Spd Automatic
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|Shadow Black
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Vehicle OverviewFor a smoother ride, opt for this 2017 Ford Expedition Platinum with a backup sensor, rear air conditioning, remote starter, backup camera, blind spot sensors, parking assistance, Bluetooth, a navigation system, braking assist, and dual climate control. It comes with a 3.5 liter 6 Cylinder engine. Drive off with the best deal! Priced at $59,000, this one beats the other guys' offer of $69,240. This SUV 4X4 scored a crash test safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars. It has a timeless black exterior and a platinum interior. Come by today to see this one in person! See more pictures of this vehicle at www.MagicCityFord.com. Call us today at 1-800-525-1890 to schedule a test drive or just stop in to see us at either our Roanoke, VA or Lexington, VA locations! We have proudly served all of Southwest Virginia for over 75 years, and look forward to serving you! Contact Information: Magic City Ford Lincoln, 809 Williamson Rd., Roanoke, VA, 24016, Phone: (540) 345-0911, E-mail: email@example.com.
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Magic City Ford Lincoln Roanoke809 Williamson Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Call Us About This Vehicle: 540-358-8487
- Shadow Black with Platinum Interior
- Air Conditioned Seats
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control System
- Cruise Control
- Front AC Seats
- Front Heated Seats
- Heated Mirrors
- Heated Seats
- Luxury Seats
- Moonroof
- Rear A/C
- Rear Heated Seats
- Rear Radio Control
- Remote Trunk Lid
- Steering Wheel Radio Controls
- Tilt Steering Wheel
- Tinted Windows
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Power Adjustable Pedals
- Power Driver's Seat
- Power Lift Gate
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Passenger Seat
- Power Windows
- Anti-Lock Brakes
- Child Proof Door Locks
- Dynamic Stability Control
- Fog Lights
- Four Wheel Drive
- Intermittent Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Parking Sensors
- Rear Defogger
- Roll Stability Control
- Security System
- Side Air Bags
- Side Curtain Airbags
- Traction Control System
- 3rd Row Seating
- Carpeted Floor Mats
- Center Arm Rest
- Clock
- Overhead Console
- Tachometer
- Vanity Mirrors
- Rear Wipers
- Roof Rack
- Running Boards
- Sunroof
- Tow Hooks
- Bluetooth
- CD Player
- Navigation System
- Premium Sound
- Premium Sound System
- Reverse Camera
- Blind Spot Sensor, Rear View Camera, Rear View Monitor In Dash, Navigation System With Voice Recognition, Navigation System Touch Screen Display, Parking Sensors Front, Parking Sensors Rear, Impact Sensor Post-Collision Safety System, Memorized Settings Includes Adjustable Pedals, Audio - SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Memorized Settings Includes Driver Seat, Memorized Settings Includes Exterior Mirrors, Memorized Settings Number Of Drivers: 2, Multi-Function Display, Electronic Messaging Assistance With Read Function, Electronic Messaging Assistance With Voice Recognition, Hill Descent Control, SYNC - Satellite Communications, Seat Position Memory, Cooled Seats, Leather Upholstery, Navigation System, Back Up Camera, Power Running Boards, Power Lumbar Seat(s), Radial Tires, Gauge Cluster, Trip Odometer, Rear Window Wiper, Driver Air Bag, Auto Headlamp On/Off-Delay, Passenger Temp. Control, Passengers Front Airbag, Console, Carpeting, Vanity Mirror, Dual Sport Mirrors, Turn Signal Mirrors, Front Bucket Seats, Reclining Seats, Center Arm Rest, Compass, Outside Temperature Gauge, Courtesy Lights, Map Lights, Inside Hood Release, 12V Power Outlet, Maintenance Free Battery, Airbags - Front - Dual, Airbags - Front - Side, Airbags - Passenger - Occupant Sensing Deactivation, Lower Body Step Rails Power-Retractable, Third Row Seat Folding: Power, Adjustable Pedals Power, Audio - Radio: Touch Screen Display, Audio Auxiliary Input: Jack, Audio Auxiliary Input: USB, Audio In-Dash CD: Single Disc, Audio MP3 Player: CD MP3 Playback, Audio Streaming: Bluetooth, Audio Voice Recognition, Child Safety Locks, Child Seat Anchors LATCH System, Doors Rear Door Type: Power Liftgate, Driver Seat Cooled, Multi-function Remote Proximity Entry System, Passenger Seat Power Adjustments: 10, Passenger Seat Power Adjustments: Recline, Programmable Safety Key MyKey, Running Boards Step, Seats Premium Leather Upholstery, Skid Plate(s) Front, Third Row Seat Folding: Fold Flat Into Floor, Towing And Hauling Trailer Hitch: Class IV, Towing And Hauling Trailer Wiring: 4-Pin, Towing And Hauling Trailer Wiring: 7-Pin, Universal Garage Door Opener, Windows Front Wipers: Rain Sensing, 2-stage Unlocking, Ambient Lighting, Audio - Radio Data System, Audio - Radio: HD Radio, Audio - Rear, Audio System 12 Speakers, Driver Seat Heated, Driver Seat Power Adjustments: 10, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Exterior Entry Lights Puddle Lamps, Exterior Mirrors Driver Side Auto-Dimming, Exterior Mirrors Heated, Exterior Mirrors Integrated Turn Signals, Exterior Mirrors Power, Exterior Mirrors Power Folding, Front Brakes Ventilated Disc, Front Seatbelts: 3-Point, Fuel Economy Display MPG, Headlights Auto Delay Off, Headlights Auto On/Off, Headlights Wiper Activated, Inside Rearview Mirror Auto-Dimming, Multi-function Remote Trunk Release, One-Touch Windows: 1, Passenger Seat Cooled, Passenger Seat Heated, Rear Brakes Ventilated Disc, Rear Seats Heated, Remote Engine Start, Seatbelts Emergency Locking Retractors: Front, Seatbelts Emergency Locking Retractors: Front And Rear, Seatbelts Seatbelt Force Limiters: Front, Seatbelts Seatbelt Pretensioners: Front, Seatbelts Seatbelt Warning Sensor: Driver And Passenger, Seatbelts Second Row 3-Point, Seatbelts Third Row 3-Point, Suspension Stabilizer Bar(s): Front, Suspension Stabilizer Bar(s): Rear, Third Row Seat Headrests: Height Adjustable, Third Row Seat Type: 40-60 Split Bench, Third Row Seat Type: Split-Folding, Towing And Hauling Tow Hooks: Front, Adjustable Rear Headrests Foldable, Assist Handle Front, Assist Handle Rear, Audio - Antenna: Diversity, Audio - Antenna: Element, Auto-Lock, Body Side Moldings Body-Color, Body Side Reinforcements Side Impact Door Beams, Braking Assist, Braking assist hill start assist, Capless Fuel Filler System, Cargo Area 12V Power Outlet, Cargo Area Light, Cargo Tray, Power Equipment
Features & Specifications*
- Engine: 3.5L EcoBoost V6
- Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic w/SelectShift
- 3.31 axle ratio
- GVWR: 7,520 lbs Payload Package
- Transmission w/Driver Selectable Mode and HD Oil Cooler
- Electronic Transfer Case
- Part And Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive
- 72-Amp/Hr 650CCA Maintenance-Free Battery w/Run Down Protection
- 250 Amp Alternator
- Class IV Towing w/Harness, Hitch, Brake Controller and Trailer Sway Control
- 1620# maximum payload
- Gas-pressurized shock absorbers
- Front And Rear Anti-Roll Bars
- Electric Power-Assist Speed-Sensing Steering
- 28 Gal. Fuel Tank
- Single Stainless Steel Exhaust w/Chrome Tailpipe Finisher
- Auto Locking Hubs
- Double wishbone front suspension w/coil springs
- Multi-link rear suspension w/coil springs
- 4-Wheel Disc Brakes w/4-Wheel ABS, Front And Rear Vented Discs, Brake Assist, Hill Descent Control and Hill Hold Control
- Vehicle Name : Ford Expedition
- Body Style : Sport Utility
- Drivetrain : Four Wheel Drive
- Curb Weight - Front (lbs) : 2926
- Curb Weight - Rear (lbs) : 2863
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap (lbs) : 7520
- Gross Combined Wt Rating (lbs) : 12500
- Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs) : 6600
- Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs) : 660
- Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs) : 6600
- Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs) : 660
- Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs) : 6600
- Engine Order Code : 99T
- Engine Type : Twin Turbo Regular Unleaded V-6
- Displacement : 3.5 L/213
- Fuel System : Gasoline Direct Injection
- SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM : 365 @ 5000
- SAE Net Torque @ RPM : 420 @ 2500
- Trans Order Code : 446
- Trans Type : 6
- Trans Description Cont. : Automatic w/OD
- First Gear Ratio (:1) : 4.17
- Second Gear Ratio (:1) : 2.34
- Third Gear Ratio (:1) : 1.54
- Fourth Gear Ratio (:1) : 1.14
- Fifth Gear Ratio (:1) : 0.87
- Sixth Gear Ratio (:1) : 0.69
- Reverse Ratio (:1) : 3.40
- Trans PTO Access : No
- Transfer Case Power Take Off : No
- Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary) : 650
- Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (2nd) : 650
- Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps) : 250
- Engine Oil Cooler : None
- Suspension Type - Front : Double Wishbone
- Suspension Type - Rear : Multi-Link
- Axle Type - Front : Independent
- Axle Type - Rear : Independent
- Axle Ratio (:1) - Front : 3.31
- Axle Ratio (:1) - Rear : 3.31
- Steering Type : Rack-Pinion
- Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft) : 40.8
- Brake ABS System : 4-Wheel
- Brake ABS System (Second Line) : 4-Wheel
- Disc - Front (Yes or ) : Yes
- Disc - Rear (Yes or ) : Yes
- Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 13.5
- Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in) : 13.2
- Wheels: 22" Polished Aluminum -inc: Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD)
- Tires: P285/45R22 AS BSW
- Steel spare wheel
- Full-Size Spare Tire Stored Underbody w/Crankdown
- Clearcoat paint
- Express Open Sliding And Tilting Glass 1st Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
- Body-Colored Rear Step Bumper w/Colored Rub Strip/Fascia Accent
- Body-Colored Front Bumper w/Colored Rub Strip/Fascia Accent and 2 Tow Hooks
- Black Side Windows Trim And Black Front Windshield Trim
- Chrome door handles
- Colored Bodyside Cladding and Colored Fender Flares
- Chrome Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Driver Auto Dimming, Convex Spotter, Power Folding and Turn Signal Indicator
- Flip-Up Rear Window w/Fixed Interval Wiper, Heated Wiper Park and Defroster
- Deep tinted glass
- Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
- Galvanized Steel/Aluminum Panels
- Power Running Boards
- Aluminum Grille
- Power Liftgate Rear Cargo Access
- Tailgate/Rear Door Lock Included w/Power Door Locks
- Roof rack
- Front fog lamps
- Perimeter/Approach Lights
- Fully Automatic Projector Beam Halogen Headlamps w/Delay-Off
- Front Tire Size : P285/45SR22
- Rear Tire Size : P285/45SR22
- Spare Tire Size : Full-size
- Front Wheel Size (in) : 22 x 8.5
- Rear Wheel Size (in) : 22 X 8.5
- Spare Wheel Size (in) : Full-size
- Front Wheel Material : Aluminum
- Rear Wheel Material : Aluminum
- Spare Wheel Material : Steel
- Wheelbase (in) : 119
- Length, Overall (in) : 206.5
- Width, Max w/o mirrors (in) : 78.8
- Height, Overall (in) : 77.2
- Track Width, Front (in) : 67
- Track Width, Rear (in) : 67.2
- Min Ground Clearance (in) : 8.7
- Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in) : 82.5
- Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in) : 44.4
- Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in) : 13.1
- Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in) : 49.2
- Cargo Box (Area) Height (in) : 34.6
- Liftover Height (in) : 34.8
- Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³) : 108.3
- Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³) : 55
- Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³) : 18.6
- Radio: Premium Sony Sound System w/Single-Disc/MP3 -inc: HD radio, input jack, 12 speakers, 2 4.2" screens in instrument cluster and 8" touch-screen in center stack
- Radio w/Seek-Scan, Clock, Speed Compensated Volume Control, Multi-Source Rear Controls and Radio Data System
- Window grid antenna
- Regular Amplifier
- Automatic Equalizer
- Digital Signal Processor
- SiriusXM Satellite Radio -inc: Not available in Alaska or Hawaii
- SYNC 3 Communications & Entertainment System -inc: enhanced voice recognition, 8" center LCD capacitive touch-screen w/swiping and pinch-to-zoom capabilities (when ordered w/navigation system), AppLink, 911 Assist and (2) smart charging USB ports, SYNC AppLink lets you control some of your favorite compatible mobile apps w/your voice, It is compatible w/select smartphone platforms, Commands may vary by phone and AppLink software
- Siriusxm Traffic Real-Time Traffic Display
- 40-20-40 Folding Split-Bench Front Facing Heated Manual Reclining Fold Forward Seatback Leather Rear Seat
- Power tilt/telescoping steering column
- Gauges -inc: Speedometer, Odometer, Voltmeter, Oil Pressure, Engine Coolant Temp, Tachometer, Trip Odometer and Trip Computer
- Power Rear Windows and Power Vented 3rd Row Windows
- Fixed 60-40 Split-Bench Leather 3rd Row Seat Front, Power Fold Into Floor and 2 Fixed Head Restraints
- Leather/chrome steering wheel
- Front cupholder
- Rear cupholder
- Front Cigar Lighter(s)
- Compass
- Keypad
- Remote Keyless Entry w/Integrated Key Transmitter, Illuminated Entry and Panic Button
- Remote Releases -Inc: Keyfob Rear Window
- Proximity Key For Doors And Push Button Start
- Garage Door Transmitter
- Cruise control w/steering wheel controls
- Rear HVAC w/Separate Controls
- HVAC -inc: Underseat Ducts, Auxiliary Rear Heater And Headliner/Pillar Ducts
- Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
- Illuminated glove box
- Full cloth headliner
- Vinyl Door Trim Insert
- Interior Trim -inc: Simulated Wood/Metal-Look Instrument Panel Insert, Simulated Wood/Metal-Look Door Panel Insert, Simulated Wood/Metal-Look Console Insert and Chrome Interior Accents
- Leather gear shift knob
- Heated & Cooled Perforated Leather Fr Bucket Seats -inc: 8-passenger seating, luxury leather (micro perforated), 10-way power driver and passenger seats w/power recline, 2-way power lumbar, driver seat memory, platinum lettering stitched on front seats, double french stitching and tuxedo stripe
- Day-Night Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
- Driver And Passenger Visor Vanity Mirrors w/Driver And Passenger Illumination, Driver And Passenger Auxiliary Mirror
- Full Floor Console w/Covered Storage, Mini Overhead Console, 3 12V DC Power Outlets and 1 AC Power Outlet
- Front And Rear Map Lights
- Fade-to-off interior lighting
- Full Carpet Floor Covering -inc: Carpet Front And Rear Floor Mats
- Carpet Floor Trim
- Trunk/Hatch Auto-Latch
- Cargo Space Lights
- Memory Settings -inc: Door Mirrors and Pedals
- FOB Controls -inc: Remote Engine Start
- Integrated Navigation System w/Voice Activation
- Dashboard Storage, Driver / Passenger And Rear Door Bins
- Power 1st Row Windows w/Driver 1-Touch Up/Down
- Delayed Accessory Power
- Power Door Locks w/Autolock Feature
- Power Adjustable Pedals
- Systems Monitor
- Outside temp gauge
- Analog Display
- Trip computer
- Manual Adjustable Front Head Restraints And Fixed Rear Head Restraints
- Front center armrest
- Seats w/Leatherette Back Material
- 2 Seatback Storage Pockets
- Perimeter alarm
- Securilock Anti-Theft Ignition (PATS) Engine Immobilizer
- 3 12V DC Power Outlets And 1 AC Power Outlet
- Passenger Capacity : 8
- Front Head Room (in) : 39.6
- Front Leg Room (in) : 41.1
- Front Shoulder Room (in) : 63.2
- Front Hip Room (in) : 60.2
- Second Head Room (in) : 39.8
- Second Leg Room (in) : 39.1
- Second Shoulder Room (in) : 63.7
- Second Hip Room (in) : 59.9
- Third Head Room (in) : 38.3
- Third Leg Room (in) : 37.7
- Third Shoulder Room (in) : 51.9
- Third Hip Room (in) : 50.2
- Advancetrac w/Roll Stability Control Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control (RSC)
- ABS And Driveline Traction Control
- Side Impact Beams
- Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
- Front And Rear Parking Sensors
- BLIS Blind Spot Sensor
- Low tire pressure warning
- Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
- Safety Canopy System Curtain 1st, 2nd And 3rd Row Airbags
- Airbag Occupancy Sensor
- Mykey System -inc: Top Speed Limiter, Audio Volume Limiter, Early Low Fuel Warning, Programmable Sound Chimes And Beltminder w/Audio Mute
- Rear child safety locks
- Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Rear Center 3 Point, Height Adjusters and Pretensioners
- Back-up camera
- Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG) : 17
- EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG) : 15
- EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG) : 20
- Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year : 10.4
- Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal) : 28
- Fuel Tank Location : Midship
- Aux Fuel Tank Location : Midship


text:
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High-Deductible Health Plans: Health Access or High Risk?
Health care costs are skyrocketing and premiums along with them forcing some employers -- especially small businesses -- to drop coverage altogether. But others are moving to "high-deductible health plans." Five times as many businesses offer high deductible health plans as in 2005, according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
But how do these plans play out for employers -- and workers themselves?
Kelley Weiss of the Center for Health Reporting found unpleasant surprises for both owners and employees. Six years ago, Casey Coonerty-Protti took over her family's business -- Bookshop Santa Cruz -- a 46 year institution in the heart of downtown. Between the lagging economy and pressure from online books, maintaining a bookstore is not easy. Protti has struggled to continue to offer health insurance. When she started, her company offered a $2,000 deductible, but she's had to steadily increase the amount of the deductible to $5,000.
From Weiss' report:
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"So we're putting in high-deductible plans and we're saving absolutely nothing from it," Protti says. "We're actually increasing our costs to provide a lesser service."
Another small business owner has a different perspective on high-deductible health plans. Anne Lesemann is the co-owner of Home Buddies, a pet care service in the Sacramento area.
She says her company will spend less than $4,000 this year to cover insurance for herself, the other owner and one employee. For her business, she says, that's not too bad. But when she thinks of it like a patient, she admits the $5,000 deductible doesn't look so good.
"The high deductible plans were marketed as something that would make me a savvy consumer about health care. But that hasn't occurred," Lesemann says.
Even though she knows better, Lesemann has been delaying going to the doctor because she doesn't trust what's covered and what's not. Lesemann learned this over the years by having a variety of high-deductible health plans. One time she says she got a bill for a $1,000 after having a colonoscopy screening that she thought was a free preventative service.
Confusion over coverage and delaying care is pretty standard with high-deductible health plans, says Dylan Roby of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. From a cost perspective, when people don't go to the doctor he says no one has to pay for it. For cash-strapped companies in California saving money is an attractive option.
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