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Apple's 'Spring Forward' Apple Watch launch event today, as it happened. Apple Watch live blog. Apple Watch release date, price, pictures, new features. PLUS: new features of the Apple Watch. (See all Smartwatch reviews.)
Apple Watch launch event live blog: as it happened
Apple Watch UK release date, price, details
Today Apple confirmed that you'll be able to pre-order or try the Apple Watch in an Apple Store from 10 April, and it will go on sale on 24 April. At first it will be available in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan, with more countries to follow.
The Apple Watch starts at $349 (Sport edition, 38mm; $399 for 42mm) in the US. The Apple Watch Collection starts from $549 and goes up to $1049 in 38mm, while 42mm once again adds $50 to the price. The Apple Watch Edition, crafted from 18k gold, will be available in limited supply, and will cost from $10,000!
UK prices are Sport £299/£339, Watch from £479 to £949, and Watch Edition from £8,000.
Don't forget, though, that you'll also need to own an iPhone in order to use the Apple Watch, so you're looking at an additional £319 (for the iPhone 5C) or more unless you already own an iPhone. The Apple Watch is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.
For more on the Apple Watch, see: Apple Watch UK release date, UK price and specs: Pre-order 10 April.
New MacBook release date price and specs
Apple also announced a new MacBook, which will go on sale in April. It has just two connectors, but they do multiple duty. Based on the new USB C standard, each port can be used to connect power supply, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA and USB devices.
Apple is emphasizing wireless connectivity enabled by 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4 rather than wired connections.
The MacBook is 13.1 millimeters at its thickest point, 24 percent thinner than the MacBook Air. There's a new keyboard that's a third thinner, a new touchpad and at the heart of the machine, the main circuit board has been cut in size by two thirds. A large part of that reduction came when Apple removed the fan that's used in other laptops to keep the processor cool.
The new MacBook doesn't have a fan, which means the computer runs silently. Apple has crammed in several batteries. It's using an innovative layering technology to squeeze cells into areas that were too thin in the past, giving the machine enough life for 9 hours of web browsing or 10 hours of iTunes movie playback, according to the company.
It weighs 900 grams and is available in gold, silver and grey.
The new MacBook has a 12-inch screen with 2,304 by 1,440 pixel resolution, that's a 16:10 aspect ratio. The base model comes with a 1.1GHz Intel Core M processor, 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage space and will cost $1,299. A model with a faster 1.2GHz processor and double the storage space will cost $1,599. Both will go on sale on April 10.
For more on the new MacBook, see: New 12-inch MacBook release date, price and specs.
What we expected from the Apple Watch launch
Here's what we thought would happen. Look at how wrong we were!
Apple's March 9 Apple Watch event has the tagline 'Spring Forward'. It is a marketing event for analysts and media, and will take place in San Francisco at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
We already know a lot about the Apple Watch, of course. It's been one of the most trailed products in Apple's history. Catch yourself up here: Apple Watch release date, price and specs.
We expect to find out the exact release dates for the Apple Watch, initially in the US and then to be rolled out to the UK. We should also find out the final pricing structure for the various different models on offer: because watches are such personal tech, and are as much about fashion as they are technology, Apple is striving to make the devices as customisable as possible. This means that the Apple Watch is a surprisingly complex product line for Apple over the past decade or so. Apple will untangle this and give us more clarity on the various products you can buy that make up your Apple Watch. For more detail, you can see: How to choose your Apple Watch: The complete buying guide.
Tim Cook has also suggested that we will find out about many apps that have been created for the Apple Watch. Cook recently boasted to employees in Germany that "a whole ton of announcements are coming shortly about all of the apps." Apple has a tradition of inviting third-party app makers on stage to demonstrate, so we can't wait to see what they've been cooking up with the WatchKit SDK. Read the full story, here: Tim Cook trails Apple Watch launch.
What to expect from Apple Watch launch: Apple Pay in the UK
Fingers crossed that we find out about a worldwide rollout of Apple Pay. For the uninitiated, Apple Pay is a mobile payment service designed to let you pay for things with your iPhone (or Apple Watch or iPad, in slightly different and more limited ways). Apple says it will "change the way you pay for things forever". But not yet in the UK, it won't.
Like Google Wallet and Samsung Pay, Apple Pay is available only in the US. But Apple Pay could be launching in the UK very soon indeed: it's been revealed that Apple is setting up a dedicated Apple Pay team in the UK, and we're hopeful that Apple will offer more details about the Apple Pay UK launch at its Apple Watch event on 9 March.
See also: Apple Pay UK release date. And read more about Apple Pay over at Macworld.
Apple Watch predicted sales
CCSInsight is touting 2015 as the make or break year for the smartwatch and it's no surprise mainly down to the fact the Apple Watch will go on sale this year.
For starters, the bean counting firm predicts that shipments will jump to 75 million which is a 158 percent increase on 2014. It says that the Apple will sell a total of 20 million Apple Watch units by the end of the year, meaning it will account for more than a quarter of the market this year.
That figure is 7 percent of consumers who own a compatible iPhone at the time of the product's launch. It also matches closely with how many original iPads Apple sold when it first came out.
The hype surrounding the Apple's first wearable will catapult it almost instantly to be the most successful smartwatch ever, according to CCS. The firm expects Apple to "employ its full marketing arsenal and the power of its brand to create another must-have status symbol."
What to expect from Apple Watch launch: iPad Pro / iPad Plus release
This is much less likely than an Apple Pay update, but we can hope. The iPad Pro or iPad Plus is Apple's rumoured big-screen iPad for business. A kind of hybrid Macbook Air/iPad. It's one of the most speculated-about and hyped-up fantasy Apple products of the past few years - right up there with the Apple Watch - but unlike Apple's new wearable we don't know for sure if it even exists. Still, as we shall see, the evidence is growing to suggest that an iPad Pro (or an iPad Plus, or something similar) will launch, and launch soon. And what better way for Apple to capture the imagination of the world than to announce a new iPad at the Apple Watch event. It could happen.
See also: iPad Pro release date price and specs. And read more about the iPad Pro / iPad Plus over at Macworld.
What to expect from Apple Watch launch: Beats Music as iTunes Music subscription service
This is the sort of small-seeming but actually critically important update that Apple likes to squeeze in to its announcements. When Apple purchased Beats it bought not only a headphone maker, but the Beats Music subscription service - a Spotify rival that is reasonably popular in the US. A global, iTunes-infused Beats Music subscription service could be huge. And Apple just might announce it at the Apple Watch event.
What to expect from Apple Watch launch: MacBook Air Retina upgrade
Sources at Apple - backed up by leaked photos of the new laptop - reveal the radical new design of 2015's 12in MacBook Air, which has just two ports and a massively slimmed-down chassis. And, a Retina display - catching it up with all other Apple laptops.
Reports are suggesting the new MacBook Air will feature integrated Touch ID for making payments online. And as Apple is expected to refresh its Macbook Air line before April to fit in with its normal schedule, it could do so at the Spring Forward event. (Although it might just sneak them out by shutting down the Apple Store as it does. Who knows?)
See also: MacBook Air Retina release date, price and specs. And read more about the 2015 MacBook Air over at Macworld.
What to expect from Apple Watch launch: Office 2015 for Mac
Microsoft has released a new version of Outlook (its email program) to Office 365 subscribers. It has also yesterday released previews of the version of Office for Mac, and in the second half of 2015 it will make the final release available.
It seems unlikely that Microsoft would be invited to share the stage at Apple's event, but you never know. For one thing, Apple loves to get third-party app makers to showcase its products, and if the iPad Pro is in the works Microsoft is the best possible partner with which to launch a 'professional' iPad. And the all-new Microsoft has reciprocated, marketing the Surface Pro 3 as a MacBook Air alternative, and holding its own public event to promote Office for iPad.
Still. This is a long shot.
See also: Office 2015 for Mac release date, price and specs. And read more about Office for Mac 2015 over at Macworld.


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After reading from an Article in Time Magazine
- Chernobyl
- Bhopal
- Kuwaiti Oil Fires
- Love Canal
- The Exxon Valdez
- Tokaimura Nuclear Plant
- The Aral Sea
- Seveso Dioxin Cloud
- Minamata Disease
- Three Mile Island
These disasters occurred on different continents but they all are related to each.
Wait a Minute…But How?
Think Again…
All of the above disasters were a gift of the man to our planet. When our planet gives us fruits,vegetables, water, energy and in return we do nothing.

subset: commoncrawl


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3 Idiots found on Big 92.7 FM
MUMBAI: Sunday turned out to be a memorable day for the audience of BIG 92.7 FM as they got to hear the 3 Idiots – Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi and R Madhavan, live & exclusive on their favorite radio station. The stars visited the BIG 92.7 FM studio to promote their latest blockbuster and connected with the Mumbai listeners of the station. They also did a multi-city connect with their fans across India. The event was further filled with excitement with BIG 92.7 FM's search for Sabse BIG Idiot, a search for people who have braved odds in life to emerge as Idiots.
The 3 stars arrived at the studio early in the morning at 0730hrs & interacted with their listeners for over 3hrs on-air. Post the on-air interaction, Aamir, Madhavan & Sharman interacted with their fans who had flocked the station to get a chance to meet their stars. It was a fun-filled atmosphere with the stars posing for pictures & signing autographs for their fans. Aamir also selected special T-shirts that had been specially doodled by fans on All Ijj Well theme of the movie. The stars later met the winners of the Sabse BIG Idiot contest on BIG 92.7 FM which was a search for 3 Idiots of the city who braved odds & loosers tag on their heads to become Idiots & winners in life.
The BIG 92.7 FM was filled with Aamir's zeal as he entertained one and all with his witty replies & anecdotes regarding the shooting of the film. The stars also had their share of pleasant surprise on finding the BIG 92.7 FM RJ's as well as their fans sporting the funky 3 Idiots' Tees.


text: Czech Gripens Had An Eventful Month at the Baltics 09 October 2019 Photo: Filip Modrzejewski In the first month of airspace surveillance over the Baltics, the Czech Gripens have already completed five sharp take-offs, each time identifying non-communicating aircrafts, reports Mise.army.cz. "Every sharp take-off confirms our interest in the security of Estonia and the Baltic States. Our pilots are fulfilling NATO's fundamental principle of collective defense," said Minister of Defense of the Czech Republic Lubomír Metnar. The first Alfa Scramble, in which the Czech Gripens intercepted a Russian An-30 plane, took place after just a few days of Czech Air Force taking over Baltic Air Policing duties. The following weeks, the Gripen fighters intercepted planes that were either not receiving radio signals, or did not have valid flight plans, or failed to establish contact with air traffic controllers. "With our efforts, we confirm to our allies that we are fully trained and prepared to take part in the joint fulfillment of allied tasks," said Czech Chief of Staff Ales Opata. The Czech contingent of five Gripens and 70 soldiers are based at the Estonian Amari air force base and are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Pavel Pavlik, who has also flown around 1000 hours with the Gripen fighter. The current rotation of the Baltics Air Policing mission will continue for another three months until December 31st, 2019. This is the third Baltic mission for the Czech Gripens which have previously participated in the years 2009 and 2012. Read the full story here. Last updated: 14 November 2019 • 08:25


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Mass evacuations in western Canada due to forest fires
Janet Browning and Roger Jordan
10 July 2015
Massive forest fires have engulfed large parts of northern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Alaska. Across north-western Canada, more than 450 fires are burning, enveloping some 2.3 million hectares (8,800 square miles).
Saskatchewan is hardest hit, with 115 fires raging. Fifty-eight of these are over 100 hectares in size and some as large as 26,000 hectares. Only 10 fires have been contained. Saskatchewan has seen 582 wildfires this year, compared to a total of 210 last year. Large parts of the province's north are currently blanketed in smoke.
So far, 54 communities have been evacuated, forcing 13,000 people to flee their homes without many of their belongings or animals. Evacuees have been moved like refugees to shelters in Prince Rupert, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Cold Lake. Some 600 firefighters and 200 support workers have battled the fires for weeks using 40 helicopters and 19 planes.
Thousands were evacuated from the town of La Ronge last weekend, including residents of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band. Fire crews are currently battling to prevent the flames from engulfing the town, which normally has a population of 2,700.
Residents of Montreal Lake First Nation were given just two hours' notice of their evacuation, and 15 families' homes burned on Saturday. Residents say they were told they were safe even though the fire was just two kilometres away, only to be instructed soon after to quickly board buses, with many not knowing where they were going.
Residents have been left to rely on the generosity of local communities and Red Cross volunteers. Several Facebook groups have sprung up to help the evacuees and to coordinate volunteer efforts, including "Sask Evacuations—Helping One Another" and "Families Helping Families Donation Warehouse."
In Cold Lake, where the Red Cross has set up a centre for evacuees, reports indicate that the charity is struggling to cope with the arrival of over a thousand people. Local residents have opened their houses to evacuees and are trying to support them by cooking food and organizing camp sites. "We're in need of help!" said Nancy Scannie from the Cold Lake First Nation. "They're overcrowded, short of food and even shoes!"
The resources allocated by the provinces and federal government are utterly inadequate, as demonstrated by the fact that Saskatchewan had used up its entire annual fire budget before the La Ronge evacuation. The wildfire season runs until October.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, the national body that brokers requests for firefighting personnel, equipment and aircraft across Canada, is inundated with requests for additional resources. National supplies are running thin, and programs are over budget, although the fire season is just starting. The Centre is operating at its highest level of preparedness, yet it says, "national resource levels are insufficient to meet occurring and anticipated wild land fire activity." Personnel and equipment have been called in from the US and even Mexico.
The federal Conservative government has deployed 500 soldiers from Edmonton to northern Saskatchewan, following a request last weekend from the province's premier, Brad Wall. It was also announced Wednesday that federal supplies of beds and blankets have been shipped to evacuation centres in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
With 866 fires since April 1, British Columbia has seen twice as many wildfires as last year. On Sunday alone, 27 new fires were reported and over 220,000 hectares are in flames. The Vancouver Island community of Port Hardy and the Squamish Lillooet Regional District issued states of emergency, and local mines and power projects have been evacuated.
BC authorities say their resources are at breaking point, and are anticipating that 30 new fires will start every day due to extremely dry conditions. The provincial government has already spent $90 million fighting the fires, surpassing the $63 million budgeted for the year.
"The availability of resources is at a critical level, and any significant increase in fire load will be difficult for us to manage," said Curtis Isfeld of the BC Wildfire Service. He added that all available crews were currently deployed around the province.
Tragically, John Phare, 60, a father of three who lived in Robert's Creek, BC, died when struck by a falling tree while fighting a fire near Schelt. He had been a logger for 40 years and is now considered a local hero. The BC Coroner's Service, WorkSafeBC, the Wildfire Service and the RCMP are investigating his death.
The fires have produced serious air quality warnings in the Metro Vancouver region. Babies and anyone with allergies or breathing problems were advised to stay indoors on Sunday, as a thick blanket of haze covered the sky.
The health risks from smoke and flames are compounded by food, fuel and water shortages, with many elderly people reportedly panicked about the availability of their medications and worried about loved ones living and working in the bush. Many highways are closed due to smoke conditions and fire threats. Families are registering with the Red Cross, searching for missing family members and posting photos on line. The fact that Red Cross workers do not speak Dene or Cree is hampering the search.
A significant number of the communities hardest hit by the wildfires are inhabited by First Nations peoples, who confront face high levels of poverty and government neglect.
Criticism has grown of Saskatchewan's "let it burn" policy, under which the province allegedly only fights fires within a 20 kilometre radius of communities. Northern residents say this is unacceptable, because it leaves out valuable areas such as trap lines and associated cabins and structures, endangers their health and destroys their territory. Officials have denied such a policy exists, but admit that fires are being prioritized based on their proximity to communities.
Saskatchewan's new 2014 Wildfires Act, which came into force on April 1 this year, actually makes it easier to burn areas. For example, burning permits are no longer required to burn within 4.5 kilometres of the provincial forest during the wildfire season. Instead, only burn notifications are required, which the government described as being "simpler" and "more flexible." This "reform," which included new regulations devolving responsibilities from the provincial government onto local municipalities, was hailed by the government as "a modern regulatory framework that ensures public safety while fostering sustainable economic growth."
In neighbouring Alberta, 95 wildfires are currently raging. Last year, 1400 fires burned 230 square kilometers. In 2011, the Town of Slave Lake was destroyed by fire.
Alberta's Firesmart Program's wildfire-fighting budget was slashed this year by $6.5 million. The program clears brush around rural towns and hires air tanker groups to drop water on fires. Cuts to the Environment ministry's budget total $35 million.
Media reports on these fires barely mention climate change, as if the protracted dry weather that has marked most recent years was entirely natural. In truth, the lack of preparedness at all levels of government is all the more damning given the widespread warnings by scientists of the impact of dryer climates as a result of global warming and, in this year's case, a strong el Niño effect.
The wildfires are part of a global trend. The Union of Concerned Scientists reports that the average length of the wildfire season in the Western US grew from five months in the 1970s to over seven months today. They attribute the fires to an earlier snow melt in spring, due to hotter spring temperatures. The effects of global warming on temperature, precipitation levels and soil moisture are turning forests across the globe into kindling.
2013 was the hottest year ever recorded on the Australian Continent, with nine of the 10 warmest recorded years occurring since 2001. The Australian Climate Council issued a report linking global carbon emissions, worldwide temperature increases and the number and intensity of heatwaves, drought and fires. Heatwaves are being experienced across the southern hemisphere, from Africa to South America.
Meanwhile, Canada's Conservative government is not sending anyone to the Climate Summit of the Americas being held in Toronto next week, even though cabinet members will be in the building that day attending other big business events. The Conservatives are notorious for their close ties to the major oil corporations and indifference to the threat posed by climate change.
The author also recommends:
Saskatchewan Fire Department refuses to answer call; two children die
[5 March 2015]


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L.T., self confidence, career change
December 14th, 2016; Posted in
L.T., self confidence, career change
"Thanks to Joan, I am on a road of healing and growth after several years of post-college flailing. Her incredible empathy, insight, candidness, and easy manner helped me learn from my past to discover my goals for the future. She has supported me in many ways, from overcoming shame to developing action plans for change. I am moving forward, both personally and professionally, with confidence and hope. I am so very thankful for her!"
Eddins Counseling
L.T., self confidence, career change
Sign up to be notified of group and workshop dates.


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Indeed! the 2nd one is blindingly obvious!
Type: Posts; User: Mat; Keyword(s):
Indeed! the 2nd one is blindingly obvious!
Damn that good C27H46O and bad C27H46O
I think there will be a devastating CVD increase following the COVID fear and stress...
Very interesting video.
I have facebook but it won't let me view he content.
If you look at the pictures; the lower bit will be full of water when the reservoir is full and overflowing. - The ones in Derbyshire apparently always look like that after a period of warm and dry -...
Last I checked the reservoir was behind the dam...... That's the...
Don't tell everyone - you can get around a lot of news 'paywalls' with Outline
Some browsers will work - Chrome did for me:
try this
I got this through this morning - Absolute genius!
Especially about 'Paul the octopus'
In other news this hasn't done anything to dispel my thoughts that Ferguson is a fraud and should be subject to a public inquiry!
Thanks Gilli!
Love the Pseudonym - Sue Denim!! Right up my street!
Zoë gets a mention at 17 minutes!
Downloading this before it gets pulled for contravening WHO guidance!
Here is the youtube link:
When a medical record is filled in there is space for 24 ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes. Usually the most pertinent one is recorded first. Clinical coding is a vital and, often taken for granted part of the...
Denmark forcing people to take an as yet developed CV-19 vaccine....
Welcome to the Stasi!
They can sod right off if they try that on me!!
Thanks Gilli!
Thanks Ted! - Very informative!
As a Saffer - do you not just have 'Meaty Month' 12 times per year??
Apparently it is a world-first!
In other news - Paul Gascoigne as proposed to her..
Done! :)
Yikes!! - That is pretty scary!


text:
Domini Games presents the newest addition to the Labyrinths of the World series! MI6 has rewarded you with a vacation to thank you for saving the world. What starts as a relaxing getaway quickly takes a disastrous turn as your world is attacked by an ancient god and their stone statues!
Can you stop the destruction before it's too late? Find out in this rousing Hidden-Object Puzzle adventure!
In this Collector's Edition:
Now on Startselect!
Now available at Startselect: Labyrinths of the World: Secrets of Easter Island Collector's Edition. At Startselect you can purchase your digital games and gift cards anywhere and anytime. All of our products are fully authorized and supported by the publisher or developer.
Do you want to purchase this product? Just pick one of the payment methods, check out and you will receive your digital code almost immediately in your mailbox. If you run into any problems or if you have a question, our support team is standing by. We want to give you the easiest shopping experience, so you can use your product straight away!
Happy with your choice? Be sure to check out all the other products available at Startselect!


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Hi @hopeful33250,
Thank you for your support.She is doing ok other than constipation. I was researching on the internet and came across stg.they are still searching, not sure but there is a possibility that PD might be an autoimmune disease like her Rhuematoid Arthiritis. So if that is true we need to fix her immune system. I recommended her to see a an immunologist besides her neurologist and Romatologist. Thank you so much for the support for my mom.


text:
Via press release from the Liberty Counsel:
President Donald Trump announced this week that he nominated Mike Pompeo, former Kansas Congressman and Director of the CIA, to become the next Secretary of State. Pompeo is pro-life and a strong pro-family advocate. Pompeo has consistently supported natural marriage. He opposed the repeal of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy as well as supported the federal Defense of Marriage Act and decried it being struck down.
Pompeo said, "As a Kansan, I hold a deep reverence for the sanctity of life, the solidarity of family, and the solemnity of marriage. I will continue the fight to uphold these fundamental ideals each and every day. I also fully support the traditional institution of marriage. Strong families are the most important building block of our Republic, and we must preserve them for the sake of our community and our culture."
Liberty Counsel's Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "I am encouraged that President Trump has chosen former Congressman and Director of the CIA Mike Pompeo to be the next Secretary of State. Mr. Pompeo not only has broad experience for the job, he respects the sanctity of human life and natural marriage. We need leaders who understand and respect basic fundamental values of life and family," said Staver.


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Through a letter uploaded on 22 January 2019, the FSSAI has pointed out that it has received reports that nutraceutical/ health supplement products that have gelatine shells or contain ingredients of animal origin are depicting the green dot on their packaging, therefore, declaring the same as vegetarian. The FSSAI states that this is in contravention of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011which mandates the applicability of vegetarian and non-vegetarian logo on the labels of pre-packed foods products, and the same shall be considered as misbranding or labeling defect.
The FSSAI further states that all food products that fall under the category of Nutraceuticals/ Health Supplements shall have to comply with the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceutical, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations 2016 as well as the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations 2011 failing which will attract the penal provisions under the FSS Act, 2006.
The FSSAI has asked all Commissioners of Food Safety of all states and UTs and FSSAI Food Officers to initiate a strong enforcement drive to keep a check on the sale of such products in their areas of jurisdiction which are in contravention of the packaging regulations mentioned above. The FSSAI has also instructed the officials to initiate appropriate action against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per the provisions laid down in the FSS Act 2006, Rules and Regulations 2011 made thereunder.
For information
In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 under the category Labelling of Pre-packaged Foods (2.2.2) contains the mandated labeling for vegetarian and non-vegetarian pre-packaged foods.
Declaration regarding Veg or Non-veg
- Every package of "Non-Vegetarian" food shall bear a declaration to this effect made by a symbol and colour code as stipulated below to indicate that the product is Non-Vegetarian Food. The symbol shall consist of a brown color-filled circle having a diameter of not less than the minimum size specified in the regulations.
- Where any article of food contains egg only as Non-Vegetarian ingredient, the manufacturer, or packer or seller may give a declaration to this effect in addition to the said symbol.
Every package of Vegetarian Food shall bear a declaration to this effect by a symbol and color as stipulated below for this purpose to indicate that the product is Vegetarian Food. The symbol shall consist of a green color filled circle, having a diameter not less than the minimum size specified in the regulations


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'Spring is Mother Nature's way of saying, let's party!' Robin Williams.
This Spring, we are bringing the party to the Hunter Valley Gardens with THREE SPECTACULAR EVENTS TO INSPIRE, AMAZE & DELIGHT! Stretching over 70 days with something for everyone, this is one carnival not to be missed.
From the 1st of September enjoy Spring Time in the Gardens, a celebration of new foliage and flowers. The Gardens will look it's bloomin' best with an array of spring flowers on show, including our avenue of Ornamental Plums and Cherry Blossoms. We've added some pop, with beautiful spring displays and wheelbarrows crafted by our horticultural team, hanging floral baskets, an avenue of parasols and the Galaxy of Gnomes created by local schools in the region. Plus, there will be talks and walks with our talented Gardens team.
Once the school holidays arrive, not only will the Gardens be bursting with colour but we're also bringing the beats! Fresh from sell-out Sydney and Adelaide shows, 360 ALLSTARS is bringing its super-charged urban circus to our carnival. Boasting world champion break-dancers, cyr wheel world record holder, drummer and beatboxer, 360 ALLSTARS is a revolutionary performance that will thrill people of all ages. Plus, there will be a giant indoor ball cave featuring close to 20,000 colourful balls and the Gardens' four incredible rides*, including our Venetian carousel, 25m ferris wheel, super speedy swing chair and giant slide will be available for the thrillseekers throughout the school holidays.
Last but certainly not least, the Rose Spectacular will round out the Carnival of Colour. Visitors will be greeted by an incredible sensory explosion of colour and fragrance as they view 35,000 rose bushes across the property, with 6,000 inside the Rose Garden itself. Come along and see over 50 varieties of roses, with hundreds and thousands of blooms as part of our annual Rose Spectacular.
Carnival of Colour at Hunter valley Gardens is an amazing and fun-filled family day out held in the Hunter Valley; an easy two-hour drive from Sydney.
Dates: Saturday 1st of September – 10 November 2019
Spring Time in the Gardens: 1- 30 September 2019
School Holiday Carnival: 28 September – 13 October 2019
Rose Spectacular: 12 October – 10 November 2019
For more information visit www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/2216-2/
Ticket Information: Adult (16yrs +) - $34 Child (4 -15yrs) - $25 Family Passes from $89 (2A + 1C)
Opening hours: Monday - Sunday daily from 9am – 5pm
Ride costs: Tokens for individual rides are $6 each, Unlimited rides* wristbands are $15 pp. 360 ALLSTARS, roving performers and spring displays are included in entry.


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Words You Need to Know
by the Ballot Simplification Committee
Affordable Housing Goals: As used in Proposition E, Affordable Housing Goals are annual goals for producing new housing units within the City for households within specific income levels. These goals are based on the California Housing Element and Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA) goals, which are based on an eight-year period. (See Proposition E)
Area Median Income (AMI): Specific to Proposition E, AMI is the median family income of a specific geographic area within the State of California. In 2019, the AMI for a four-person household in San Francisco County is $136,800. (See Proposition E)
Central SoMa: Central SoMa is a geographic area that generally runs from Second Street to the east to Sixth Street to the west, and from Townsend Street to the south to an irregular border that generally follows Folsom, Howard and Stevenson streets to the north. (See Proposition E)
Charter amendment: A Charter amendment is a change to the City's Charter. The Charter is the City's Constitution. The Charter can only be changed by a majority of the votes cast. (See Proposition C)
Citizens' General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee: The Citizens' General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee is a nine-member body that monitors the City's use of funds generated by issuing general obligation bonds. Members of this committee are appointed by the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Controller and the Civil Grand Jury. (See Proposition B)
City College: City College of San Francisco is a public, two-year accredited community college with campuses and other instructional sites in various locations throughout San Francisco. (See Proposition A)
Early voting: Early voting is voting in person at City Hall before Election Day or mailing a vote-by-mail ballot before Election Day.
Emergency Firefighting Water System: The Emergency Firefighting Water System (EFWS) is a water supply system dedicated to firefighting. The EFWS consists of about 135 miles of high-pressure pipeline and hydrants that draw water from the following facilities: The Twin Peaks Reservoir, storage tanks located in Ashbury Heights and on Jones Street, and two pump stations located along the City's waterfront. A pump station contains several diesel-powered pumps that convey water from reservoirs or the San Francisco Bay into the EFWS. The City is expanding the system to include new water storage facilities and infrastructure in neighborhoods located in the western and southern parts of San Francisco. (See Proposition B)
General obligation bond: A promise issued by a government body to pay back money borrowed, plus interest, by a certain date. The government body repays the money, plus interest, with property taxes. General obligation bond measures must be approved by the voters in San Francisco. (See Propositions A, B)
Initiative: A proposition placed on the ballot by voters. Any voter may place an initiative on the ballot by gathering the required number of signatures of registered voters on a petition. (See Proposition E)
Large Office Project: As used in Proposition E, Large Office Projects are development projects with at least 50,000 square feet in gross floor area of office development. (See Proposition E)
Lease agreement: As used in Proposition D, a lease agreement is a contract by which a commercial property owner gives another person or entity the right to occupy and use the property for a limited period, often in return for a periodic rent payment. (See Proposition D)
Leased space: As used in Proposition D, leased space is ground floor retail or other commercial space that is the subject of a lease agreement. (See Proposition D)
Low-income household: As used in Proposition E, a household qualifies as low-income if it earns between 51% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). (See Proposition E)
Moderate-income household: As used in Proposition E, a household qualifies as moderate-income if it earns between 81% and 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). (See Proposition E)
Nonprofit: As used in Proposition D, a nonprofit is an entity or organization that is organized for a public purpose, and not for profit, and is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (See Proposition D)
Office space: As used in Proposition E, office space is the area within a structure intended or primarily suitable for occupancy by persons or entities which perform for their own benefit or provide to others services at that location, but excluding: retail use; repair; any business characterized by the physical transfer of tangible goods to customers on the premises; wholesale shipping, receiving and storage; any facility, other than physicians' or other individuals' offices and related uses, customarily used for providing medical services; and any design showcase or any other space intended and primarily suitable for the display of goods. (See Proposition E)
Ordinance: A local law passed by the Board of Supervisors or by the voters. (See Proposition D)
Pass through: For an owner to recover an increase in property taxes by passing on a portion of the cost to tenants. (See Proposition B)
Property tax: A tax assessed by the City on real property, including buildings and land. (See Propositions A, B)
Proposition: Any measure submitted to the voters for approval or disapproval.
Provisional ballot: A ballot cast at a polling place that will not be counted until the Department of Elections verifies the voter's eligibility to cast that ballot.
Qualified write-in candidate: A person who has completed the required paperwork and signatures for inclusion as a write-in candidate. Although the name of this person will not appear on the ballot, voters can vote for this person by writing the name of the person in the space on the ballot provided for write-in votes and following specific ballot instructions. The Department of Elections counts write-in votes only for qualified write-in candidates.
Revenue: Income.
San Francisco Housing Authority: The San Francisco Housing Authority is a local government agency, separate from the City, providing housing assistance to very low-income people. (See Proposition C)
Seismic upgrade: Improving or renovating a structure to protect it from potential earthquake damage. (See Proposition B)
South of Market: South of Market, also known as SoMa, is a San Francisco neighborhood whose boundary generally follows the eastern waterfront from 16th Street to Harrison Street, Harrison Street to Fourth Street, north to Market Street, then west to the Central Freeway. (See Proposition E)
Square-footage allotment: As used in Proposition E, square-footage allotment is the maximum amount of office square-footage that the City may use when approving Large Office Projects. (See Proposition E)
Street-facing foot: As used in Proposition D, a street-facing foot is a linear foot of ground level commercial space that runs along a Public Right of Way. A Public Right of Way is defined as dedicated public sidewalks, alleys, boulevards, courts, lanes, roads, streets, spaces and ways within San Francisco, on which members of the public have the right to travel and which are under the permitting jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works. (See Proposition D)
Subtenant: A subtenant is a person or entity that has the right to occupy and use all or a portion of leased space under a lease agreement with a tenant or with any other person or entity that derives its interest in the space through a tenant. (See Proposition D)
Tenant: A tenant is a person or entity that has the right to occupy and use leased space under a lease agreement with the owner. (See Proposition D)
Very low-income household: As used in Proposition E, a household qualifies as very low-income if it earns up to 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI). (See Proposition E)
Vote-by-mail ballots: Ballots mailed to voters or given to voters in person at the Department of Elections. Vote-by-mail ballots can be mailed to the Department of Elections, turned in at the Department of Elections office in City Hall, or turned in at any California polling place on Election Day. Also known as absentee ballots.


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7 Fascinating Reasons to Buy a Kindle
Are you a bibliophile? Kindle is made for you only. It is an e-book reader that unite all the books.
Gone are those days when you needed to carry heavy-weighted books with you. Enhance your reading experience through extremely comfortable Kindle. Simply, buy it with the money saving deals at Currys and fall in love with your reading hobby.
Do you have any confusion regarding the conversion to the Kindle? I've lined up some fascinating reasons for you to buy Kindle. It is elegant, trendy, smart and useful that makes you more comfortable to read.
All in One
All your books are clustered at one place and that too in a handy form. Get your personalized, portable library and enjoy the perks of having all the books in a single device. No need to make special space for a book-rack.
Unlike other devices, you don't need to worry about the storage space. As Kindle is exclusively dedicated to reading the material, you have abundant storage space. Get your hands on it and enjoy reading your favorite genre.
More Digital Books
It is so obvious that all kind of books first come in a digital format. Through Kindle, you have a great opportunity to read latest books.
Who likes to wait? Wait no more for the book to publish and to deliver it to you. Get your hands on the latest book within no time. Add more and more digital books to it quickly and enjoy reading.
Eyes protective
Kindle has been produced with a motive to protect your vision. It takes special care for your eyes. Reading at night under low-light, or from any electronic device give strain to your eyes. If you wish to save your eyes from getting harmed, then Kindle would prove to be the best for you. As it is made especially for the purpose of reading, they have installed an advanced screen technology for longer reading sessions. Therefore, your will feel relaxed and comfortable enough while reading from it for a longer period of time.
Moreover, it is specially designed with E-ink displays that works much better in more sunlight. Take your device to the beach, enjoy your holidays and read effortlessly on a sunny day. Likewise, it is easy to use at night also. Adjust the brightness as per your preference or just turn on the night mode. Comprehensively, E-ink displays are eyes-friendly which is an essential aspect to be taken into consideration.
Take it anywhere, anytime. Kindle is compact and portable. Unlike carrying heavy books, it won't obstruct you in carrying lots of book on your vacations or any other place. It is light in weight, fits anywhere. So, carry your light-weight Kindle anywhere, and read it wherever you want to.
Yes, it is way cheaper than other sources to read. You don't need to spend loads of money on various e-books or physical books. Rather, simply invest on Kindle and read numerous books on it without paying extra for each book. Also, you have another option to save your money by simply exploring VoucherShops offering thousands of vouchers and discounts.
Unending Battery Life
In this techno-freak world, you might be sick of short battery life. You likely won't face the same issue with Kindle. It comes with a longer battery life to provide you with accessibility that avoids obstacles of low battery.
Appealing features
Being the most amazing source to read, Kindle has got more impressive traits. You have an option to highlight, make notes, find meanings and much more. As inbuilt dictionary is installed in the Kindle, you can search your word there and know its meaning. Also, the text which you highlight is saved in a particular folder for a purpose to refer it in future.
With a pre-determined budget, Kindle comes with plenty of choices. One of the best options for ordering in online is wonderful Currys. Simply browse it and explore the plethora of options such as Kindle Paperwhite eReader, Kindle Touch eReader. Moreover, it is brilliant, smart, cost-effective which gives you an incredible reading experience. Get your hands on this trendy device and relish your reading experience.


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–$70 million IT staffing and cloud solutions company taps industry veteran with extensive business technology leadership experience—
EL SEGUNDO, CA (Jan. 22, 2019) — Apolis, a $70 million IT staffing and cloud solutions company, today announced that it has named Ranjith Varma as its new President. Varma, comes to Apolis after serving as Vice President, Private Equity group at Mphasis, a global IT services company; and prior to that, as Director/Executive Client Partner at UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company. As President of Apolis, Varma will lead overall growth, client acquisition, services and solutions, global delivery and operations. He will guide the future phases of Apolis to a customer-obsessed, experience-driven, capability-enabled professional services global organization guided by the founding values and culture.
Varma holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Bharathiar University, India and Executive Certifications from MIT Sloan School of Management and University of Washington with specializations in Management and Leadership disciplines.
"Ranjith is the ideal fit for Apolis because his values and entrepreneurial spirit are in sync with ours," said Apolis CEO Amar Shokeen. "We believe the human-centered relationship between Apolis and our clients is the most valuable asset we have, and the key to life-long partnerships built on a deep understanding of our clients' needs. Ranjith lives and does business by this philosophy as well. His influence is a welcome addition to our team."
Apolis, founded 22 years ago by CEO Amar Shokeen and COO Rita Shokeen, is a human-centered ERP, professional IT staffing and managed cloud solutions company that seamlessly integrates experts into organizations to help solve business challenges with Oracle, SAP, AWS and a wide variety of other managed services solutions.
"Amar and Rita also believe in what I call 'client obsession' – a desire to place the client's needs and wants at the center of everything we do," said Varma. "Apolis provides a solid platform built over two decades from which we can grow and expand exponentially, always based on client success. I'm looking forward to lead Apolis in the next evolution of the company's history."
About Apolis
Based in the Los Angeles area, Apolis is a human-centered ERP, professional IT staffing and cloud solutions company that seamlessly integrates experts into organizations to help solve business challenges.
Apolis's growth to $70 million is the product of over 20 years of experience in analyzing clients' needs and evolving the approach to SAP, Oracle, and IT and consulting solutions. Its global workforce of thousands keeps the company responsive and able to support virtually any business, anywhere in the world. The company is investing in training and the development of leading-edge technologies to help its clients stay ahead of the technology curve.
Big brands including Fortune 500 and 100 giants 3M, Nestle USA, Qualcomm Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., Toyota Industries Global Commercial Finance, and Baxter Healthcare all entrust ERP, managed services and professional IT staffing needs to Apolis.
Apolis pairs an expansive array of IT capabilities with a spectrum of service levels, from full managed services to on-demand and offshore staff augmentation. The company also has an extensive training program for its IT professionals, including mobile app development training and job placement.
Apolis operates under the premise that behind every innovative solution are extraordinary people. As Apolis grows, so does its commitment to superior personalized service and the people who provide it.
For more information, please visit www.apolisrises.com
Media contact:
Stacey Doss, APR
[email protected]


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Just like the above German rotor, cryptographic tools come and go. You might think the end is now here for for TrueCrypt. And you may be right, though I still think you can safely use version 7.1a. If you do intend on looking for a reasonable alternative to TrueCrypt's features, finding the right tool may be a challenge. I've decided to install and quickly test a few of the freely available encryption tools to see if they're worth your effort. Read on for more details.
There are no more results.


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Free TrialSubscribeSign In
August 9, 2016
Children use a portable collapsible firefighting water tank as a swimming pool. Boys & Girls Club members have been enjoying Water Wednesday weekly as part of the club's summer schedule. Two weeks ago, they set up and played on a water slide on the hillside at Sweet Home Junior High. The Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District joined them on Aug. 3 in the club parking lot at the Jim Riggs Community Center, providing water and games.
Members of the Sweet Home Boys & Girls Club on Aug. 3 battle each other with hoses provided by the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District during their weekly Water Wednesday. In this game, the youngsters attempt to push a ball on a zip line over the opposing team.
P.O. Box 39Sweet Home, OR 97386Ph: (541) firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2020 ScottMiriam, Inc.
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a-ka'-ya (Achaia):
The smallest country in the Peloponnesus lying along the southern shore of the Corinthian Gulf, north of Arcadia and east of Elis. The original inhabitants were Ionians, but these were crowded out later by the Acheans, who came from the East. According to Herodotus, the former founded twelve cities, many of which retain their original names to this day. These cities were on the coast and formed a confederation of smaller communities, which in the last century of the independent history of Greece attained to great importance (Achaean League). In Roman times the term Achaia was used to include the whole of Greece, exclusive of Thessaly. Today Achaia forms with Elis one district, and contains a population of nearly a quarter of a million. The old Achean League was renewed in 280 BC, but became more important in 251, when Aratus of Sicyon was chosen commander-in-chief. This great man increased the power of the League and gave it an excellent constitution, which our own great practical politicians, Hamilton and Madison, consulted, adopting many of its prominent devices, when they set about framing the Constitution of the United States. In 146 BC Corinth was destroyed and the League broken up (see 1 Macc 15:23); and the whole of Greece, under the name of Achaia, was transformed into a Roman province, which was divided into two separate provinces, Macedonia and Achaia, in 27 BC.
In Acts 18:12 we are told that the Jews in Corinth made insurrection against Paul when Gallio was deputy of Achaia, and in 18:27 that Apollos was making preparations to set out for Achaia In Romans 16:5, "Achaia" should read "ASIA" as in the Revised Version (British and American). In Acts 20:2 "Greece" means Achaia, but the oft- mentioned "Macedonia and Achaia" generally means the whole of Greece (Acts 19:21; Romans 15:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:8). Paul commends the churches of Achaia for their liberality (2 Corinthians 9:13).
See Gerhard, Ueber den Volksstamm der A. (Berlin, 1854); Klatt, Forschungen zur Geschichte des achaischen Bundes (Berlin, 1877); M. Dubois, Les ligues etolienne et acheenne (Paris, 1855); Capes, History of the Achean League (London, 1888); Mahaffy, Problems, 177-86; Busolt, Greek Staatsalter, 2nd edition (1892), 347; Toeppfer, in Pauly's Realencyclopaedie.
For Aratus see Hermann, Staatsalter, 1885; Krakauer, Abhandlung ueber Aratus (Breslau, 1874); Neumeyer, Aratus aus Sikyon (Leipzig, 1886); Holm, History of Greece.
J. E. Harry
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
Bibliography Information


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Hosted by Viklit, this is a great weekly chance to talk about the small things worth celebrating in life!
My celebrations for this week are:
- Getting lots of work done in the new house! Well, I'll be honest…husband is getting lots of work done. He's been off for a few days, so while I've been at work, he's been making things pretty! Also, the dog has helped a couple of times…he now has blue paint all over his backside.
- Did myself a rare favour this morning and decided to speed up my morning routine so that I could sleep an extra half-hour. It was quite nice, =)
What are you celebrating this week?


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"It's very simple. If it jiggles, it's fat."
—Arnold Schwarzenegger
Adam Stewart McCall was born indecisive. He was also born handsome.
As a young boy Adam was perhaps cute rather than handsome, but from the moment of his birth he was a good-looking human. As a result, from the youngest age Adam was always treated as something special; he was preternaturally the golden child.
The circumstances of Adam's conception and birth were somewhat unconventional. His father, Bernard McCall—a brilliant young scientist in the field of artificial intelligence—was undertaking his post-graduate research degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology near Boston when Adam was conceived. Bernard himself had been born and raised in Scotland, and had moved to America at eighteen years of age to attend MITon a scholarship. As both of Bernard's parents were now deceased, and he was an only child, Bernard had no ties to his birth country and America was his adopted home.
Adam's mother, Zoe Parker—a loud, brash, but also charismatic, soon-to-be actress—had cornered Bernard at MIT, seduced him, fallen pregnant, then a year later left their infant son to be raised solely in Bernard's care. Zoe was from a well-to-do Boston family whom she despised. Zoe's life goals were to be famous, to have as many extreme life experiences as she could orchestrate, and to make her family suffer; within her lifetime she succeeded admirably on all three counts. Why Zoe had given her son permanently into Bernard's care was never entirely clear to Bernard—nor, in truth, was it entirely clear to Zoe either—but Zoe was sure that she couldn't raise Adam herself . . . she had far too many other important things to do with her life.
Throughout the years following Adam's birth, Bernard found it easier to tell those who were curious that Adam's mother had died in childbirth, rather than re-hashing over and over the painful truth that Zoe Parker had abandoned them. As a consequence, Adam grew up believing that his mother was actually dead. Bernard—who was never very good at initiating difficult conversations, especially ones that involved actual emotion—was yet to find the opportunity to tell Adam the truth . . .
It was in late 1998, when Adam was just six months old, that Bernard had accepted a too-good-to-refuse job offer from Ken Abercrombie and Abercrombie Industries—the world's leading private artificial intelligence research company—and he and Adam had moved from Cambridge to Poughkeepsie in upstate New Eden. The generous salary package that came with Bernard's new position included the services of a full-time, live-in housekeeper and nanny named Joelle Drinkwater, and Joelle ably took over the role of mother for Adam for the next four years.
Joelle, who was in her late fifties when she took the position with Bernard and Adam, had already raised four children of her own. The youngest, Harriet was now 21, and she'd recently started cohabitating with her boyfriend in nearby Newburgh, leaving Joelle with an empty nest. Joelle's now-deceased husband—and father of at least two of her children—Bernie Drinkwater, had spent much of the '80s in prison after being found guilty of aggravated assault and manslaughter. Soon after being paroled in 1992, Bernie had been shot dead by a security guard whilst attempting to burgle a jewellery store, leaving Joelle to permanently fend for herself and her brood on her own. Joelle was strong, capable, loyal, and generous; when it came to family, nothing was ever too much trouble for Joelle Drinkwater.
Adam's relationship with Joelle quickly became a loving one. While Bernard clearly adored his son, his greater devotion to his work meant that the two did not spend a lot of one-on-one time together in these early years. Each day—come rain, hail, or shine—Joelle would wheel Adam in his pram (later they would walk together) to the nearby Poughkeepsie Mall where they would spend hours sitting in Joelle's favourite coffee shop, The Big Cup. Joelle would drink bottomless cups of black coffee and smoke roll-your-own cigarettes; Adam would munch his way through a procession of apples, carrots, celery sticks, grapes, or anything else that Joelle proclaimed to be good for his health.
Joelle's main joy in life—apart from rearing children—was gossiping with her many friends and acquaintances who would come to The Big Cup each day to see her. She loved showing off Adam, the golden child, and everyone would swoon exuberantly over him. In 1983 Joelle had become a minor celebrity in Poughkeepsie after being a big winner on The Price Is Right. Joelle continued to leverage her minor TV fame until her death in 2003 from atypical pneumonia . . . contracted after inhaling infected bird droppings blown into her lungs by The Big Cup's unhygienic and outdated air-conditioning system . . .
Adam's anxiety and indecision as a young child manifested mostly in his ardent disinterest in sleep. Even Joelle, who had decades of experience under her belt of easing little humans off into the Land of Nod, failed to be able to do so consistently with Adam. Every night Bernard would come to check on Adam before retiring for the night—usually well after midnight—and Adam would invariably be lying on his back staring at the glow-in-the-dark stars, moons, and comets that Joelle had affixed to the ceiling above his crib. Adam's insomnia was generally a quiet affair; he rarely cried or complained. Joelle used to say, however, that she could hear him thinking from across the room.
By the time he turned three, Adam's nervousness had resulted in him developing the habit of double checking things—light switches, toilet seats, buttons, trouser zippers, door locks—just to be sure that everything was in order. If Joelle was vacuuming, Adam would follow behind her making sure she didn't vacuum up anything important or knock over anything fragile; if Bernard was drinking hot tea, Adam would push his cup away from the edge of the desk and put a coaster under it; if Joelle was smoking a cigarette under the big London Plane tree in the back yard, when she finished Adam would take the garden hose and douse the smouldering butt to make sure it didn't start a fire; if Bernard was going on a road trip, Adam would check that the car tyres were properly inflated and in good condition, and that all the car lights were in proper working order. Adam just didn't like to take risks when it came to safety, his own or other people's.
By the time he was five, Adam had clearly taken over the role of adult in the small McCall family. Both Bernard and Adam recall vividly the moment when this transition had occurred. The year was 2002. Bernard's big product launch with Abercrombie Industries—Augmented Intelligence Plus © (AI+)—had taken place the previous year. The launch had been accompanied by a significant flurry of activity and angst on Bernard's part; Adam had never seen Bernard so nervous as the day he put on his best suit and tie, and took off to New Eden to face the press with Ken Abercrombie. That had been in March of 2001.
Just a few months later, of course, the whole world had stopped to watch in horror as the World Trade Centre towers had come crashing to the ground, and the threat of terror had come a step closer to home for all Americans; both Bernard and Adam's background anxiety levels had climbed a notch higher that day.
Being only four years old at the time, Adam wasn't yet old enough to be Bernard's confidante with respect to his work, or his general dis-ease with life, and no one in Poughkeepsie or at Abercrombie Industries seemed to have stepped into that role either—Bernard didn't have any friends that Adam knew of—so Bernard kept all of his worries tightly bottled up inside himself.
It was in the evening of the first anniversary of the terror attacks in New Eden, with media coverage of the event at extreme levels, that Bernard had received a troubling phone call. As he hung up the phone Adam noticed that Bernard looked pale, like he'd seen a ghost:
"What's the matter dad?" Adam asked, concerned.
"Just a little bit of bad news, son. Nothing for you to worry about. Why don't you go and watch some more telly, there's a good lad. I'll be in the office catching up on some work."
"Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?"
"No son, I'm fine. Thank you."
A few hours later, Adam stood in the doorway of Bernard's office and gazed at his father hunched over his desk, hard at work. Papers were strewn in piles all around him, and Bernard would distractedly scratch his head from time to time, muttering softly under his breath.
As was his habit by this time, Adam put himself to bed at around 9.30pm. Joelle was firmly shut up in her room for the night watching her regular program of police dramas and murder mysteries. Before turning out his light, Adam stopped by the office to check on his father once more. Bernard hadn't moved from his position hunched over the desk. The only change that Adam could discern during the intervening hours was the exponential growth of the piles of papers that were now scattered not only all over the desk, but were also spread out across most of the floor of the small, crowded room. Adam was surprised to see a cigarette burning in an ashtray situated adjacent to Bernard's right hand; he had never seen Bernard smoke before, that was Joelle's domain.
The phone call Bernard had received earlier in the evening had come from Ken Abercrombie himself. While sales of AI+ were going gangbusters, and the boosted brain activity that resulted from the DNA-modified virus that was injected into recipients was working precisely as planned, the first problem linked directly to AI+ had just been confirmed. A female university student in California had committed suicide after a latent psychotic tendency had been triggered following her injection; the suicide note she wrote left no doubt about the link between AI+ and her death.
Bernard was mortified. He was now going over his research with a fine-tooth comb, looking for the possible link between the virally introduced DNA sequence that boosted neural activity, and the native DNA sequence that could have caused the schizophrenic crisis leading to this tragic event. Bernard just couldn't believe that he had overlooked something like this in his research; it wasn't part of his makeup to leave loose ends or make mistakes.
It was in the early hours of the morning that Adam was awoken by a loud crash coming from the direction of the living room. Initially Adam opened one eye, then instantly sat bolt upright in bed as the flickering glow he spied out in the hallway alerted him to the fact that there was a serious problem. He coughed violently as the smoke and fumes reached his lungs, then jumped off the bed and dropped to his hands and knees.
It was hot, very hot, but there was currently no fire in his room; that much was already clear to Adam. The ominous pulsating orange glow out in the hallway, however, made him nervous. His thoughts immediately went to Bernard and Joelle: Are they in danger? How am I going to make sure they're safe? What should I do?
Without hesitating long enough to feel afraid, Adam grabbed a blanket from off his bed in case he needed it for smothering flames, and crawled into the hallway. From here he could make out that the rooms to his right—Bernard's office, the living room, and the kitchen—were alight, while those to his left—Joelle's bedroom, the bathroom, and at the end of the hall, Bernard's bedroom—were not. He briefly felt terror and dread start to rise and grip him by the throat, but he quickly pushed them down, took a deep breath, and started crawling along the corridor to his right.
The heat coming from Bernard's office was unbearable; the whole room was ablaze. Nothing could be alive in there. Adam prayed with all his might that Bernard wasn't inside. Hugging the right-hand side of the hallway, he crawled quickly past and into the living room. Here the room was partially on fire. The curtains and sideboard on the left side of the large room were blazing fiercely, and flames were starting to creep their way across the ceiling. To his great relief, Adam saw Bernard's feet hanging over the end of the sofa to his right. He hurried forward and found Bernard sound asleep.
Adam shook Bernard's shoulders roughly, and yelled into his face: "WAKE UP! DAD, WAKE UP! PLEASE, WAKE UP!"
Bernard stirred, and started to come around groggily; his conscious state obviously impaired by the poisonous gases circulating through the burning home. Adam shook Bernard another time, and, summoning all his strength, pulled him off the sofa and onto the floor beside him. For a moment father and son stared directly into each other's eyes at close range, the horror of the situation finally registering in Bernard's, then Adam took charge and yelled into Bernard's right ear:
With that, Adam turned and scurried on his hand and knees back down the burning corridor. Bernard cried out, begging Adam to stop, but his voice was drowned out by the roar of the fire, and the crash of something falling heavily to the floor in the adjacent office.
Adam had more trouble rousing Joelle, who was a heavy sleeper at the best of times, but she eventually came around and they climbed to safety through the bedroom window which Adam smashed using Joelle's pink Himalayan rock salt lamp—her pride and joy, and the only remaining unsold item from her The Price Is Right bounty.
Fire brigade, ambulance, police, and news film crews descended on the blazing home. Adam was proclaimed the hero of the day. As a handsome young female ambulance officer fussed over Adam, placing an oxygen mask on his face, and taking his vitals, Adam noticed an unfamiliar—but decidedly pleasant— sense of peace and calm was present inside him. In the moment of rescuing Bernard and Joelle he had felt no fear whatsoever. Now, with frenzied activity and mayhem unfolding all around him, the sense of peace and calm that had arisen in the intensity of the experience was still with him. This peace—which Adam came to call the quietness, and which he much later in life came to realize was what some people called God—would revisit Adam often throughout his life. Whenever the quietness came Adam was grateful for it, but it wasn't something he could call up consciously. When present, the quietness completely soothed away the fear that Adam frequently felt the rest of the time—but which he general suppressed, or denied was there—and which was an integral part of the usual background of his everyday experience . . .
While the structure of the Poughkeepsie home remained intact after the fire had been extinguished, the interior of the house was gutted, and nothing of value remained. The only personal possessions that Bernard and Adam now owned were the clothes they were wearing, and the few items that Bernard had in an overnight bag in his car.
Joelle was secretly happy to have lost all of her possession in the fire. She liked to clean her life out every so often, and perhaps, on some unconscious level, she was preparing for her immanent death.
Bernard didn't hesitate for even a second about what to do next. He strapped Adam into the passenger seat of his Volkswagen Passat and drove through the early hours of the morning to New Eden. He was done with Poughkeepsie. He was done with Ken Abercrombie and Abercrombie Industries. He wanted to be where no one could find him, and he wanted everyone to leave him alone.
Bernard and Adam moved into the below-street-level ground floor apartment of a tenement building on Eldridge Street in the Lower East Side. Bernard had rented the apartment a few months before following a hunch that the day would soon come when they would have to make a quick exit from Poughkeepsie; Bernard just hadn't imagined that the need would arise in such dramatic circumstances.
The LES apartment was small and dark after the large sunny house they had occupied in Poughkeepsie, and with no furniture it felt sad, but Adam was glad to be there; he like the feel and the excitement of the big city. On the first morning after their arrival he met his future best friend, William Chu, and from that moment on Adam felt he was home.
William had already turned six when Bernard and Adam moved into the building, so he was a full year older than Adam. Despite this the boys were exactly the same height and build when they met. William, who lived with his mother, Mrs Lola Chu, on the second floor, was so excited to finally have another boy to play with. He informed Adam that they were going to be friends, and that he was never allowed to leave. This was the start of a lifelong friendship, and for many years the boys were inseparable.
William and Adam would play on the steps in front of the apartment building whenever Mrs Chu allowed, and soon they were having sleepovers in each other's apartments. Family lines quickly became blurred, and it was expected that wherever William was, Adam would be there too. Adam was pleased to see Bernard opening up a little to Mrs Chu, and relaxing enough to be able to consider her a friend and confidante.
I was already living on the third floor of the Eldridge Street apartment building when Bernard and Adam arrived, and we all became very close. I told Adam that I was a hermaphrodite, and he was excited because he'd never even heard the word hermaphrodite before, let alone met one. Sometimes it would be Angelo, the neurosurgeon, that Adam would meet on the front steps of the apartment building. Other times it was Angel, the cabaret singer. Adam loved both Angelo and Angel, but secretly he loved Angel more; when he was with Angel he would pretend that I was his mother. This made him feel very happy, and very safe. Bernard was happy to see his son enjoying their new life in New Eden, and was grateful to Mrs Chu and I for our assistance in caring for Adam . . .
William and Adam were like two peas—an Asian pea and a Caucasian pea—in a pod. William was the more adventurous of the peas, always pushing the boundaries of his parental control. Adam was the willing accomplice pea, occasionally feeling the need to warn William of his safety concerns, but more and more as time went on throwing caution to the wind and diving in head-first after his older, braver friend anyway, never wanting to be left behind. They loved to ride their bikes around the neighbourhood together; they loved to climb things—trees, fences, buildings, bridges; they loved to explore new places and new neighbourhoods; they loved to collect discarded treasures, found on the street or in vacant lots, which they stored in the apartment building's basement furnace room. Later the boys built a clubhouse out of their treasure trove of wood, steel, wire and tin on the small square of concrete that passed for the apartment building's rear courtyard.
As the years went by, and the boys ground away at their parents' limitations on their freedom, they were given the go-ahead to range further afield. Riding their bikes to the East River, William and Adam loved to explore this eclectic neighbourhood with its riverside parks and outdoor recreational zones, as well as the hidden spaces that existed under FDR Drive and the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Here the boys became endlessly fascinated by the shanty towns of New Eden City's homeless population; they would spend hours spying on the disenfranchised men and women. Initially they weren't brave enough to interact with them directly, but from the very beginning they were unable to take their eyes off the simple, alternative, off-the-grid lifestyles these hobos lived.
As the boys grew into their teens they developed a complex game which they called Robin Hood. As the name would suggest, the game involved stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. William loved to try his hand at shop-lifting whenever he could; he was very good at it, and rarely got caught. Adam was less inclined to participate in the stealing-from-the-rich half of Robin Hood as his fear of authority kept him from doing so freely, but he was more than willing to distribute the spoils of William's shoplifting to the homeless by the East River. Anonymous drop-offs would be made in the various shanty towns, and the boys would then sit patiently to wait and see the expressions on the faces of the homeless as their gifts were discovered. What they mostly saw initially was distrust, and sometimes even the most delicious cakes and sweets would be discarded out of deep-seated paranoia. As the years went by, however, and the generous gifts kept arriving without any reprisals, the faces more consistently expressed happiness, joy, and occasionally even gratitude . . .
As puberty hit, Adam's testosterone levels rose precipitously, and he started to be interested in, and physically attracted to, girls. Advertising images that were imprinted in Adam's twelve-year-old mind from magazines and television told him that he was more likely to be attractive to girls if he had a big, strong body. Images of muscular men had fascinated Adam from a very young age, and he now realized why—that's what he wanted to look like; Adam started working out.
During the boys' treasure hunting tours of the LES, Adam started to keep his eyes peeled for discarded gym equipment—barbells, dumbbells, benches, free-weights—which he stored in the clubhouse. By the time his thirteenth birthday came around he had collected enough gym equipment for his initial workouts to commence at home. Adam would spend hours pouring over discarded Men's Fitness, Flex, and other bodybuilding magazines to garner tips about how he should use his equipment. Within a year, however, Adam realized that he needed more professional instruction, and he started hanging out at the local neighbourhood gym, observing in person how other men worked out. The owner of Mike's Gym noticed Adam hanging around and offered him a job cleaning and stacking weights. Adam wouldn't be paid for this work, but in return he would be allowed to work out at the gym whenever he wanted to; Adam jumped at the opportunity.
Adam quickly became addicted to his workouts. He felt enlivened and on a high whenever he was bench-pressing, bicep-curling, seated-rowing, dipping, squatting, or dead-lifting. He loved to be surrounded by other men who were as deeply engrossed in their workouts as he was. Most of all, however, Adam loved to notice—in the many large mirrors that lined the walls of the gym—the changes in his physical body as it quickly grew and filled out. He liked what he was seeing . . . a lot.
Adam picked up many important tips about bodybuilding from Mike and the other gym members, but the main tip they all stressed to him, over and over again, was about his diet. Working out, he learned, was important, but to achieved any significant gains in muscle mass the most important thing was to put into his body the right fuel, in the right amounts, at the right time; Adam became obsessed with his diet also William was unimpressed by his best friend's new obsession. It caused the boys friendship to falter, but William found interests of his own to fill the time that Adam was at the gym, and the boys continued to be there for each other through this potentially rocky period.
Adam and William's love of cycling and climbing transitioned in their later teens to more extreme versions of these pursuits. Mountain biking in the Appalachians became a favourite weekend pursuit for the boys, and they even started camping overnight in the wilderness . . . much to Mrs Chu's chagrin.
William really loved pushing boundaries, and experiencing new things at every opportunity; he was easily bored. Adam liked the adrenaline rush he experienced from many of the exhilarating activities that William thrived on, but he found William's obsession with the new to be exhausting. Eventually he told William to go off by himself to try his new adventures, and to come back and tell him all about them. Adam would then choose to join William on the adventure, or leave it to William alone. This new routine worked well, and the boys maintained their friendship into early adulthood, despite diverging differences in interests. The main factor responsible for the distance that started to develop between William and Adam in their later teens, however, was Adam's ever-increasing interest in girls . . .
Adam was not fond of school. He wasn't a good student, and he preferred to be outdoors, or doing something physical with his body. Adam didn't feel the need for the company of his fellow students either; he had his small group of family and friends, and that was enough for him.
Adam struggled through elementary school, and his below average grades reflected his disinterest. It was soon after the move to high school—when puberty struck—however, that Adam found a new reason for being at school: girls. Suddenly there was something that interested him wherever he looked. He was particularly fascinated by the more mature girls, who had more well-developed breasts, and many of whom wore makeup. Some of these girls stirred a desire in him, and he started to find his manhood being aroused at every turn.
Adam's first girlfriend was Stacey Frumar. Both Adam and Stacey were fourteen years old at the time; they were in the same form class at Seward Park High School. Stacey was slightly taller than Adam, and she was mature for her age. Adam loved her voice, which was soft and a little husky, as well as her waist-length golden hair and pale blue eyes. The two would hold hands in the playground during class breaks, and write notes to each other during class. After a few weeks Adam plucked up the courage to kiss Stacey—his first kiss. He was, however, entirely underwhelmed by the experience. Somehow, Adam had been expecting to see stars, or fireworks, or feel something amazing. Instead, he found that Stacey tasted funny—like sour milk—and her lips were dry and scratchy. It wasn't something he wanted to repeat, so the brief relationship was abruptly ended.
Just days later, Stacey's older sister, Gabi—who was almost sixteen—took hold of Adam's arm as he walked home down Essex Street after school, and pushed him roughly into Seward Park. Without a word Gabi ushered Adam onto a secluded bench, carefully placed her books on the seat beside her, rearranged her hair, then leaned forward with her eyes closed and her lips puckered. Adam wasn't quite sure what was happening, but he was excited by the sight of Gabi's breasts, which were large and round, and nicely displayed beneath a tight, pale pink turtleneck.
Without thinking, Adam reached forward with both hands and squeezed Gabi's breasts firmly. She screamed, startled, and slapped Adam sharply on the cheek. Gabi was only off balance for a moment, however, and the next minute she pounced, kissing Adam deeply and passionately, running her hands over his chest and shoulders, and dragging her long fingernails through his hair.
This time kissing felt amazing. What a relief, thought Adam. Gabi even tasted good. Adam's body felt alive, electrified, aroused. For a brief moment his future flashed, fully formed, before him: eyes, lips, hair, brassieres, breasts, panties, thighs, lingerie, buttocks, and vaginas formed a collage of sensual delights in Adam's inner vision. It was terrifically exciting . . . and completely overwhelming. Fear started to arise, and Adam gasped and pulled back from Gabi's grip. As he examined the flickering pornographic imagery on the inner screen of his vision more closely, he realized that the fear he was experiencing actually felt quite pleasurable. It was more like excitement than fear. Fear and excitement, Adam realised at that moment, are the same thing. Who would have thought? . . .
The next weekend Gabi invited Adam to a house party that one of her girlfriends was hosting. The girl's parents were out of town for the weekend, and there, in the privacy of the parental bedroom, Adam saw the female form fully naked in the flesh for the first time; he was mesmerized.
Gabi was experienced, and Adam didn't need a lot of coaching. By now he had a significant collection of porno magazines which he felt educated him about the female anatomy quite well, and he'd heard the guys at the gym describing their sexual conquests in great detail. It felt like his whole life had lead up to this moment, and that the point and meaning of his life—he realized with mounting excitement—was to make love to beautiful women. He loved every little thing about his first sexual encounter, including the intense terror/excitement he felt throughout; he was hooked.
Gabi was uninterested in dating Adam, and she didn't want to be seen at school or on the street with a fourteen-year-old. She only wanted to have sex with him. The secret affair continued until Gabi moved away to college two years later. There were no tears or sad goodbyes when Gabi left, just a particularly energized final romp in the gymnasium storeroom after school was done on the final day of the school year.
By the time Adam turned sixteen himself, he'd had dozens of girlfriends—he was popular amongst the girls of Seward Park High—but holding hands and kissing occasionally was as far as these other schoolyard liaisons progressed. Adam's handsome but sweet face, his clean-cut look, and his mischievous brown eyes all worked in his favour. His rapidly developing muscular physique, however, was the thing that proved to be his greatest asset in the dating game. Not all the girls were turned on by his body, but the majority were. Adam also discovered that he could dress to show off his physique to maximal effect; tight blue jeans and a tight white t-shirt became his uniform.
Apart from Gabi Frumar, Adam had only one other regular sexual partner while he was in high school: Amanda Stitt. Adam enjoyed Amanda's company even before they became involved sexually. She was loud, garrulous, and endlessly entertaining; there was never a dull moment when Amanda was around. In fact, it was Amanda's scathing comments about Adam's diminutive intellect that had first attracted his attention:
"Hey McCall. Why are your muscles getting so big? You trying to compensate for the vacuum between your ears?"
"No Amanda, it just feels so good. Would you like to feel my pecs and biceps? Here, let me flex them for you."
"Ewww. yuck!! I couldn't think of anything more disgusting. But hey, if you come over here I can show you my right hook. I'm itching for a good punch-up; it's been way too long, and I reckon you could go a few rounds with me. Wadda ya say, McCall?"
And so it went. Amanda putting Adam down. Adam puffing himself up. Both Amanda and Adam were well and truly inebriated when they finally managed to sidestep each other's bravado and copulate like rabbits. As with Gabi, Amanda wasn't keen to show any public affection towards Adam, which suited him fine. The intensity and frequency of their carnal couplings, however, rapidly accelerated, and by the time high school was over there wasn't much left that they hadn't experimented with sexually.
Amanda moved to Indiana to attend college; Adam's grades weren't good enough for him to be accepted into even the most lowly tertiary educational facilities, so he stayed on in New Eden, and the two year affair with Amanda Stitt ended just as abruptly as the two years with Gabi Frumar had . . .
Adam had always loved to be naked, even as a little boy. To him it not only felt natural, it felt good. As an early teen Adam briefly became self-conscious about his body, and for a period he didn't feel comfortable being naked in front of others, including his closest friends and family. During this period there weren't many opportunities for Adam to be naked at home—Bernard, Mrs Chu, William, or I were always around, or likely to pop in at any time—but in the privacy of his bedroom Adam was naked most of the time.
As Adam's teenage years progressed, however, he would more and more frequently be discovered naked by one of us, and the embarrassment he had temporarily experienced ceased altogether. Eventually everyone at Eldridge Street came to accept that Adam was simply a nudist. He stopped worrying about what other people thought, and gave up on wearing clothes most of the time. As his body grew and filled out with his regular gym workouts, Adam became more and more enthusiastic about being naked again. When he found a full-length mirror discarded on the street he was very excited because for the first time he could examine his naked body in detail: Which muscle groups looked right, and which ones needed more work? How well defined were his muscles, and how much subcutaneous body fat was optimal for enhancing his physique? Adam was obsessed, and he was driven to achieve physical perfection.
The year he turned twenty, Mike convinced Adam that he should compete in his first bodybuilding competition. By this time Adam had attended a number of bodybuilding shows, and he was secretly addicted to the atmosphere he felt when he was there; he loved seeing both men and women showing off their physical achievements, and strutting and posing to see who was the strongest and the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Adam knew he was going to do well, but his workouts became even more energised as the date of the competition approached. He pumped, he dieted, he did more cardio, he obsessed, he shaved his body, and he painted it with the strange orange pigment that was expected when lining up with one's competitors in this most bizarre display of physical human achievement at its most extreme. No one was surprised when Adam took out the title for novice bodybuilder in the New Eden NBA competition that year.
Adam couldn't see at the time that it was his ever-present fear and anxiety—that he continued to choose not to acknowledge—that was actually the motivating force behind his desire to be big and strong. Fear, the natural response of the body to the threat of injury or death, and the mechanism by which the instinctual drive of the body to survive achieved its goal, was actually the motivating force behind Adam's workouts, and his ever-expanding physique . . .
It was on finishing high school, and being at a loose end vocationally, that I convinced Adam he should try his hand as a dancer. At first the idea didn't sit well with him—it seemed too effeminate—but as soon as Adam arrived at the dance studio for his first lesson he realized that it was a GREAT idea. These dance babes are hot, hot, hot. Thank you, Angel O.
Adam also discovered that he was a natural dancer. He was so effortlessly present in his physical body—not lost in his mind as most humans tended to be—that it felt like he might have been a dancer in a former life. Adam quickly learned all the dance styles that were on offer at Chelsea Pier Dance Studio, but he really found his groove when he was introduced to hip-hop. His principal dance instructor, Alice Hensman, wanted Adam to focus on ballet—she desperately wanted his strength for the difficult lifts—and Adam was happy to indulge her, but it was when he danced hip-hop that he really came alive.
Having connected with his innate capacity to dance, Adam discovered that the streets of lower Manhattan were full of opportunities to dance the street style that he now so loved. Adam found his African-American brothers and sisters gathered in parks and vacant lots, boom-box on hand, showing off their moves. He learned a lot from these gatherings, and his own talent earned him respect.
It was at his dance classes at Chelsea Pier that Adam spied the first true love of his life. Odette Novak was a superb dancer; her forte was ballet, but she was also mesmerizing to watch dancing contemporary and lyric styles.
Odette was tall for a dancer, extraordinarily slender, and extremely fragile—more like a flamingo than a swan. She wore her long, dark hair pulled back into a tight bun which accentuated her angular eastern European facial features. Her dark eyes were always heavily shrouded in mascara, and she was rarely seen in public without a slash of blood-red lipstick on her lips; Adam was smitten.
Odette had just turned 21 when Adam first introduced himself to her. She smiled faintly, and excused herself without shaking the hand he offered her. The following week Adam was better prepared, and he offered Odette a bottle of water and towel as she came off the floor after a strenuous dance session. This time she smiled, accepted the gifts, but quickly averted her eyes. Odette was talented and beautiful, but she was also extremely shy; because of her incredible poise and confidence on the dance floor, most people didn't recognize how awkward Odette was out in the real world.
Adam continued to chip away at Odette's cool façade, and a month later she agreed to join him for coffee after dance class. It was here that Adam had a chance to find out more about Odette and her difficult past. Her parents had emigrated from the Czech Republic when Odette and her brother were very young. While her father had managed to find work in America as a labourer, the low pay meant that the family had struggled to make ends meet. Then, at only 39 years of age, her mother had died from breast cancer. Luckily for Odette her dancing ability had already been spotted by the right people, and she had received a full scholarship to study at the prestigious Brooklyn Dance Academy. That was three years ago, and Odette had just graduated. She was now preparing for an audition with the New Eden Ballet—a position she wanted more than life itself.
Adam fell head-over-heels in love with Odette and gave all of his free time and energy to her. She was so gentle and exquisitely beautiful, yet also so tender and fragile; all he wanted to do was look after and protect her. On some level, he also wanted to make love to her, but for the first time in years it wasn't the only thing that Adam thought about upon meeting a pretty girl.
Adam took Odette out for a special romantic dinner the night she received the confirmation of her position with the New Eden Ballet; she was ecstatically happy. Then, just one week later, she received the diagnosis: grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive brain tumour known in humans.
The tumour was too advanced, and located too deep in the brain, for surgery to even be possible. Radiotherapy shrunk the cancer initially, but the effect was short lived. When Odette lost the hair from one side of her head she was devastated, and refused to continue treatment. With her health failing rapidly, Odette declined the chemotherapy that was offered as the last treatment option, and she died just four months after receiving the diagnosis.
Adam was devastated. He couldn't believe that he had found and fallen in love with the most perfect women in the world, then she'd been brutally ripped away from him, all in the course of less than a year. The place in his heart where he secretly longed for his absent mother felt like the wound had been opened up and stabbed over and over again with a blunt knife. His heart was thoroughly broken . . .
And so, Adam's story arrives at the intersection of all the other stories: July 2020. Adam has been dancing with me at The Garden Cabaret since he discovered his dancing ability a few years ago, and he loves the energy and life of the club. William is also performing in the current show for a few months—not in a dancing role, but as comic relief—while he's back in New Eden between adventures.
It's a year and a half since Odette's death, and Adam has been struggling to stay positive. He's still working out fanatically, and his body is looking amazing, but it's mostly a way to avoid feeling the emotional pain that he felt after Odette had died. Adam is yet to start dating—or to have sex—since Odette's passing, but he now feels he is ready for something new and exciting to come along that will take his mind off his lost love.
My new show at TGC--A Garden of Eden Extravaganza—is proving to be my biggest hit so far. Adam has a lead role, of course, and he is super excited because he gets to be virtually naked on stage for the whole show. He reflects that it's pretty much the most exciting thing he can imagine doing. The audience gives a rousing standing ovation at the conclusion of the show, and the curtain comes down.
Adam, William, Alex, and I say good night to the other cast members, and leave the club together on our way to Bernard's Bookstore . . .