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Fans Will Not Be Happy About This Male R&B Singer Calling Out Beyoncé, SZA And Cardi B
"Stop using that f**king pain to make it OK to say some bullsh** on your record and get nominated for a Grammy..."
We all know how Drake feels about Rihanna, but for those who weren't quite sure, a new billboard has surfaced that should clear things up.
In an impressively romantic and cute gesture, Drake and the OVO team are showing the singer love, either for her receiving this year's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award this Sunday at the MTV VMAs, or maybe for no reason at all. This is Drake we are talking about, after all.
On a billboard spotted somewhere out there, over a black background in white cursive lettering, the PSA reads, "Congratulations to Rihanna, from Drake and everyone at OVO."
Cue the aww's.
While Rihanna has yet to respond publicly to the incredibly kind gesture, we hope she's somewhere out there smiling about it.
Talk about #RelationshipGoals.
Check out Drizzy's latest example of publicly showing affection to RiRi below.
"Congratulations to Rihanna from Drake and everyone at OVO" 😍Champagne Papi doin it right #goals pic.twitter.com/miWSThmruH— Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) August 26, 2016
(Photo: 247PAPS.TV / Splash News)
"Stop using that f**king pain to make it OK to say some bullsh** on your record and get nominated for a Grammy..."
Here are all the artists who posted tributes to the late R&B singer.


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Crazy video of hoon being hunted down and rammed by a 4WD 😮
Presumably after hearing one too many hoons treating the roads around his house like a drift track, the driver of this 4WD has gone on a rampage reminiscent of the 1970's movie classic, Dual. The amazing video was posted by the Dash Cam Owners Australia Facebook page and has people divided as to whether this is sweet vigilante justice or reckless endangerment of life. What are your thoughts? Did this driver go to far?
Scroll down to watch the video
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I get the feeling this guy might have had enough of people doing burnouts near his house. http://dashcamownersaus.com.au/ *DCOA Does not condone or recommend ramming vehicles you catch breaking the law.Posted by Dash Cam Owners Australia on Thursday, October 27, 2016
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subset: commoncrawl


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Phrases Decision Makers Love to Hear
I was working with a team that sell software last week and we talked about the subject of ROI. Their target market was a finance minded person, an accountant or head of finance type, and they said they were frustrated at many of their buyer's inability to look beyond the immediate return on investment. This reminded me that I'd written a blog a few years back about the kind of language that decision makers need to hear.
So here it is updated.
Take these phrases and workshop them with your team and wherever possible connect them to real case study examples.
You can also get the prospect involved by asking them which one they want to hear/know about the most.
Say, "I have identified at least six ways that you get a great return on this investment, would you like to know about decreasing costs, or saving time first?"
1. This will decrease your costs by X%.
2. You will grow and gain market share by at least X%
3. This reduces your churn rate, typically by between X% and X%.
4. You will enjoy a higher retention rate, our most successful customer now retains customers using this system for a further X months compared to the previous system they used.
5. It is an effective reducer of staff turnover.
6. This dramatically reduces your customer decision making time by 3 days, over a year, that means with your acquisition rate you could have 170 more clients by this time next year.
7. We have seen conversion rate increases from as low as 2% to 39% across our clients in the last 18 months.
8. Your Net Promoter Score is likely to bounce 9 percentage points by Easter.
9. The appetite for career progression will rocket.
10. This gives you a much faster response time of 3 hours and 27 minutes.
11. This gives you a very quick win and enhances customer loyalty as it is free to them.
12. The case studies I have provided you doesn't make this a zero risk, but compared to other things you are investing in, these make it one of the most minimized risks you've had to consider, for years.
13. You can calculate how this will cut down on your labour costs. My estimate was too low, what amount did you come up with?
14. You automatically put yourself in an attractive position to increase your average order values. One of our recent hits was with Lux Designs they are receiving a consistent increased spend of £117 per order.
15. By increasing your overall operational efficiency it increases your profit margin. What percentage are you aiming for?
16. By removing that aspect of admin you are able to increase the amount of hours you have available to invoice.
17. This significantly reduces the time it takes for your customers to get their goods, and you to get paid. At least 30 minutes. With your order volumes remaining static you have 11,000 people paying you 30 minutes faster next year!
18. This will revitalize your teams as they will be using the very latest version and not have to grapple with the clunky aspects anymore. How much will they reward you, for removing that?
19. They will appreciate your investment in this and as far as feelings about HR, they'll know it is a direct investment in them.
20. I've considered 3 core financial benefits to your organisation, and I've written them down and committed to them. What are the top three financial benefits your FD has got excited about?
Keep these to hand before meetings and presentation so you can be clear on the advantages to your customer, and how they far outweigh the investment.
Remember these are advantages, check the impact they have made on your decision maker by asking, "Can you see how that would benefit you?"
As Zig Ziglar says: "You can only sell something to someone when you are convinced that it is worth more to them, than the money you are asking for it."


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Showing Collections: 1 - 2 of 2
Jean Lloyd-Jones papers
Identifier: IWA0066
Abstract State legislator from Iowa City and president of the Iowa Peace Institute.
Dates: 1964-2003
Found in: Iowa Women's Archives
Marion Carson papers
Identifier: IWA0132
Abstract Graduate of Ministry at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, where she was the first Unitarian Universalist student.
Dates: 1962-2004
Found in: Iowa Women's Archives


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2014 Norma Berryhill Distinguished Lecture
""The Rise and Fall of HIV Disease: A View from UNC," will be presented by Myron Cohen, MD, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Health; Yeargan-Bate Eminent Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Epidemiology; and Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases and Director, Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases.
The event will be held Wednesday, October 22, at 5:30 p.m. at the Carolina Club. A reception with light refreshments will be held immediately following the lecture at 6:30 p.m.
About the Norma Berryhill Distinguished Lectureship
The Dean and Advisory Committee of the School of Medicine established the Norma Berryhill Lectureship in September 1984. The Lectureship has two essential components: (1) a Lecture to be given annually by a tenured or tenure-track member of the faculty of the Medical School and (2) a convocation of the Medical School to be held at the time of the Lecture and at which new faculty members will be recognized.
The aims of the Lectureship are twofold. First, the selection of the Norma Berryhill Lecturer is meant to honor a member of the faculty whose accomplishments have added distinction to the Medical School.
Second, the convocation is intended to further a sense of community within the Medical School. Because Mrs. Berryhill was a major champion in promoting community connections, the Lectureship was named in her honor.


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5/31/19 12:51pm
Owen J. Roberts senior student/athletes Adam Brown, Michelle Frank, Scott Honicker, Simone Karustis, Elaina Lee, Marcus Martin and Cassidy Skilton recently announced their college destinations during signing/commitment events at the high school.
All photos provided by Owen J. Roberts athletic department
Adam Brown – Crew/Rowing – Washington College
In picture: Adam Brown, Stephanie Brown.
Position: Rower/stroke seat for majority of time
Parents: Keith and Stephanie Brown
Athletic honors/accolades: OJR Crew team captain
Anticipated college major: Computer Science
Why did you choose this school? "I felt at home when visiting and they have a varsity men's crew team."
Reflections on high school career: "Rowing all four years of high school was a great experience. With as much time as the team spends together, it felt like a second family."
Goals/expectations for college career: "To get further invested in computer science and/or computer engineering."
Michelle Frank – Volleyball - Arcadia
In picture: Michelle Frank, Coach Ryan Brewer.
Position: Outside/Right side Hitter
Parents: Mark and Mary Frank
Club Affiliation: Royal Legends
Athletic honors/accolades: MVP and varsity captain for OJR volleyball for all 4 years … Middle Atlantic District All-Academic Award
Academic/community service: Served the community for 10-plus years as a Girl Scout; volunteer distributing goods to shut-ins through church group
Anticipated college major: Biology, concentration on Molecular and Cellular Biology
Other schools under consideration: Mount Aloysius College, Misericordia
Why did you choose this school? "A superb academic program, a good internship program, wonderful coaching staff and players that treat each other as family."
Reflections on high school career: "I was part of the OJR volleyball program since its first season in 2015. As the varsity captain for all four years, I have had the privilege of watching the team grow and develop exponentially. We have made great strides, and I look forward to seeing the team become even more competitive in the future."
Goals/expectations for college career: "I look forward to refining my skills as I continue playing volleyball in college."
Scott Honicker – Track and field – Rhode Island
In picture: Jim Honicker, Coach Tim Marcoe, Scott Honicker, Mara Honicker.
Events: Sprints, Hurdles
Parents: Jim and Mara Honicker
Athletic honors/accolades
2019 PA Indoor State champion – 60M hurdles; 2-time Indoor Nationals qualifier and participant (2018, 2019) … 2-time Indoor 'Meet of Champions' winner – 60M hurdles (2018, 2019) … OJR track team captain 2018, 2019 … OJR school record holder in the following events: 60M hurdles, 55M hurdles, 110M hurdles; 100M dash, 200M dash, 4x100M relay
Anticipated college major: Global business
Other schools under consideration: Wagner, Lehigh, West Chester, Monmouth
Why did you choose this school? "School size and atmosphere, Division I track program, great coaches, had the business program I was looking for, perfect distance from home."
Reflections on high school career: "Overall, it exceeded my expectations. While the transition between coaches made it difficult at times, I am happy with my achievements and appreciated being part of a great team."
Goals/expectations for college career: "Improve performance, gain a better understanding and experience of the sport, be the best I can be."
Simone Karustis – Soccer – Wilson College
In picture: Simone Karustis, Cindy Karustis.
Position: Center Defense
Parents: James and Lucinda Karustis
Club Affiliation: Westmont United Premier
Athletic honors/accolades: 4 varsity letters, 2-year starter, PAC champion 2017, 2018
Academic/community service: Honor roll all four years
Anticipated college major: Psychology
Other schools under consideration: St. Joseph's, Franklin & Marshall, Lafayette
Why did you choose this school? "I loved the campus and the school has a great Psychology program. I also like the soccer team and the short distance from home."
Reflections on high school career: "It was a great experience, winning together as a team made the experience so much better than any personal award. PAC championships were great."
Goals/expectations for college career: "I hope to play a great amount in college and make an impact coming onto this team."
Elaina Lee – Tennis – West Chester
In picture: Brenden Lee, Elaina Lee, Meredith Lee, Melinda Lee
Parents: Brenden and Melinda Lee
Athletic honors/accolades: 2018 – PAC doubles champion, PAC singles fifth place … 2017 – PAC doubles runner-up … 2016 – PAC doubles runner-up, PAC singles fifth place
Academic/community service: Best Buddies, Environmental Club, Leo's Club
Anticipated college major: Biology, Pre-Med
Other schools under consideration: Slippery Rock, Seton Hill, Monmouth
Why did you choose this school? "Great academic programs. Fell in love with the 'feel' of the school."
Reflections on high school career: I loved being part of a team and being around Coach (Jerry) Styer."
Goals/expectations for college career: Make the starting lineup for the tennis team my first year. Achieve a high GPA to allow for admission to Physician Assistant graduate program.
Marcus Martin – Football - Alvernia
Edesel Martin, Lanin Martin-Thaxton, Marcus Martin, Harold Thaxton, Coach Rich Kolka
Position: Running back
Parents: Lanin Martin-Thaxton, Jeanne Matthews
Athletic honors/accolades: 1st team All-PAC Liberty offense - running back; OJR Offensive Player of the Year
Academic/community service: Volunteer youth football camp coach
Anticipated college major: Sports management
Other schools under consideration: Lebanon Valley, Shippensburg, Ursinus
Why did you choose this school? "I really felt welcome when I visited and liked everything about the school."
Reflections on high school career: "I loved it, loved playing with my family."
Goals/expectations for college career: "To become a better person on and off the field. Also to become part of the Alvernia family."
Cassidy Skilton – Soccer - Shippensburg
Chrissy Skilton, Cassidy Skilton, Iran Frazier
Position: Goalkeeper
Parents: Christina Skilton, Iran Frazier
Athletic honors/accolades: 3-year varsity letter winner in soccer, track; PAC soccer champion 2017, 2018
Anticipated college major: Biology/Health Sciences
Other schools under consideration: Goucher College, Edinboro University
Why did you choose this school? "It's close to home and has a good biology program."
Reflections on high school career: "I learned many skills and techniques to better my athletic career and learned to play as a team. We were very successful."
Goals/expectations for college career: "One goal is to play my first year. I expect it to be fun and a great learning experience."
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by Adam Marks on 2/23/2011 | ; Tags: applications, tip a day, App Catalog, webOS 2.0 | 17 comments
This tip is only for devices running webOS 2.0 and higher
Although a developer may have pushed an updated version of their app into the App Catalog, you had to manually check the App Catalog in webOS 1.x to determine if there was an update to the app. This "pull" model was not always the most efficient, especially for users who did not know how to check to see if an update was even available. Luckily, this has been revamped in webOS 2.0 so the user gets notified when app updates are available: adashboard notification will now appear that, when tapped, will launch the new "Software Manager" app ().
Once in the Software Manager app:
- A button will appear on the bottom-right corner (as long as at least one app has an update available) indicating the number of apps that have an update.
- Tap on that button and you will be taken to a screen that lists all your apps with an update.
- At this point, you can tap the button to update all apps, tap the to the right of an app to install that one app, or tap anywhere else on the row to load up the Application's page within the App Catalog to review the app description and initiate the update there.
Note that you do not need to wait for webOS to notify you that an update is available. If you know an app has been updated, you can also always manually load up the Software Manager app and then follow the directions above.


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Personalised Dear Daddy I Am So Excited To Meet You Christmas Keyring
This adorable Personalised Dear Daddy I Am So Excited To Meet You Christmas Keyring is a wonderful way to celebrate the new Daddy to be at Christmas! Expertly made in the UK with a split ring connector and walnut effect wood, it will make a thoughtful stocking filler.
Engraved with your babies due date, it will make a great addition to any set of keys. Sure to have him reaching for the tissues, it will become a lifelong keepsake to show the bump when they finally arrive.
Show your affection this Christmas, it's been loving made especially for him.
Product Details:
Points To Note:
Double check your spelling and punctuation please, we cannot be held responsible for your mistakes. Thank you.
Personalised products are made especially for you and are therefore non-refundable, unless the item is faulty.
Please do not include accents and special symbols in your personalisation as some of our processes will not allow them. This includes accents above and below the alphabetical or numerical text.
If you wish to have any blank lines on your item, please enter a space using the space bar on the line(s) requiring blanks/no personalisation.


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Spidertech is therapeutic tape for athletes and other active individuals who are suffering from minor aches, pains, or injuries. It can be used on virtually any body part, including the elbow, knee, ankle, back, shoulder, or wrist. The tape supports your body as you heal from minor injuries so that you are able to continue your regular activities, including any formal exercise routines you partake in.
How It Works
Once the tape is applied, its clinically developed, advanced wave technology is able to activate certain nerve endings within your body. Following that, these nerve endings send signals to the central nervous system that tell it to block pain. The product also tugs on the skin's tissues in order to lift them, which increases circulation and therefore reduces pain. Besides allowing you to recover from minor injuries while staying active, Spidertech will help prevent further injury to an aggravated body part.
- Professional Athletes
- Frequent Gym-goers
- Physical Laborers
- Stressed Parents
Professional athletes, including those of Olympic-level calibre, use Spidertech to support their bodies as they heal from injuries due to repetitive strain and other causes.
Even if they're not professionals, people who go to the gym several times a week can develop the same kinds of injuries that professional athletes do. Fortunately, Spidertech will help them heal without needing to take a sabbatical from the gym.
Another group of people who often end up with sore muscles or minor injuries are physical laborers, such as bricklayers or those employed within the roofing industry. However, Spidertech can reduce any pain that these individuals experience.
Parenting may not sound like difficult physical work, but it can be. When one has to chase after multiple children or carry a baby around all day, this can be hard on one's muscles and joints, making one frequently stiff. If a parent applies Spidertech to any stiff areas, though, they will feel better as they go about their daily business.
How to Use (Step by Step)
- Prep Skin
- Tear Perforations
- Begin Application
- Rub Again
Before you start applying Spidertech, make sure your skin is clean and unbroken. It should also be free of irritation and any stubble due to shaving or trimming, although you can apply the tape to shaved skin without stubble.
Tear all the perforations found within your package of Spidertech. This will divide the tape into parts.
Find the part of your Spidertech tape that is labeled with the number one, and apply that directly on top of the body part that hurts. In order to activate the adhesive glue, rub the center. Continue this process with the other parts, in accordance with the numbers found on the backing ( number two should be applied after one, and so on ).
Gently rub the entire taped area to make sure it's secure, and move on with your daily life!
Positive Points
- Lasts Up To Five Days
- For All Ages And Genders
- Can Barely Feel It
You will not need to reapply Spidertech every day, as one application will last for up to five days.
Spidertech is suitable for kids, adults, and seniors who are male or female. The product is latex-free, so even those with latex allergies can use it.
While you're wearing Spidertech, its presence on your skin will not disturb you. Since its thickness and elasticity have been designed to mimic the characteristics of human skin, you'll barely notice that it's there.


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Bishop Hails Committee Approval of Package Creating New Wilderness and Recreation Areas
"We are on the cusp of a new paradigm of land management. This bill is among the steps I hope we continue taking toward changing the status quo of how we solve public land management challenges. In order for these new efforts to be successful, we must all approach these issues differently and abandon the tired arguments and positions of the past. We may not be able to fix all that is broken in Washington but we can certainly do our part by changing the way we address federal land policies. This public lands package addressed a complex array of interests and priorities in Northern Nevada. I am pleased with the final bill and commend Congressman Amodei and Congressman Horsford for overcoming political barriers and other outside pressure to do what is right for Nevadans. I look forward to joining with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of this bill when it comes to the floor for a vote," said Congressman Bishop.
The Northern Nevada Land Conservation and Economic Development Act is comprised of several different public lands bills. Specifically, it:
-creates 73,500 acres of new wilderness
-conveys 23,000 acres for economic development
-releases 990 acres within a wilderness study area
-provides a 3-to-1 ratio of wilderness-to-economic development, which far exceeds the 1-to-1 standard supported by the wilderness community
In addition to the Northern Nevada Land Conservation and Economic Development Act, the House Natural Resources Committee passed the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act, which created 33,000 acres of new wilderness.


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On the latest episode of Madam Secretary, Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) worked hard on a peace deal between Iran and Israel.
At the start of the episode Henry (Tim Daly) woke Elizabeth to show her that she made the cover of a magazine. Inside they did a large article about her peace efforts and that she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was upset that they had photoshopped her photo on the cover.
Henry had to go to the FBI to help track down the missing bomb that they thought could be in terrorist hands. Henry's task was to brief a man named Ian Conroy to try and get him inside the organisation. Henry later met with Ian but found that he wasn't too interested in listening to him.
Later Ian confronted Henry in a car park with a gun. He had Henry a little worried but was just trying to prove that he was the right man for the job.
At the office Elizabeth was briefed on the seating arrangements for the peace treaty signing. Daisy (Patina Miller) apologised to her about the magazine cover. Elizabeth discovered that people were now referring to her as Madam Sexy-tary which annoyed her.
The Israeli's arrived early for the signing but Iran was not happy with the wording. Things took a turn for the worse when a new bombing in Israel killed a Rabbi who was helping Elizabeth. She pushed both sides again to get the treaty agreed but failed.
The Rabbi was working on arranging a football match between children from Iran and Israel to compliment the peace treaty. With the Rabbi dead the match was called off due to security concerns.
Elizabeth decided to make it her mission to ensure the match went ahead. The only option would be to host the match in the US. This brought many headaches including getting each side to agree, flying the kids to the US, finding a venue and approving the budget.
It was a hard task but with lots of effort from her team and plenty of favours they managed to pull it off. The match went ahead and both sides enjoyed it very much. Behind the scenes, Jay (Sebastian Arcelus) brokered the peace deal and got things moving again.
Elsewhere in the episode, Jay's wife broke down during a meal out. She was very unhappy with their marriage as Jay's job kept him away from his family. She requested they take a break which seemed to take him completely by surprise and really upset him. Later he asked Matt (Geoffrey Arend) if he could crash at his for a while.
At the end of the episode, Elizabeth had a talk with her daughter Alison (Kathrine Herzer). She explained how she wanted people to talk about the things she had achieved, instead of her appearance.
The next episode is Labor of Love. Elizabeth works to reunite a pair of star-crossed lovers whose union is at the heart of a Colombian peace deal after years of civil war.
Tune in to Sky Living at 10pm Wednesday to see the episode. Preview the episode with our gallery below:


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What a perfect weekend we had celebrating our baby boy a couple weeks ago—I still can't believe he's one! It was pretty dang hot outside, but being at the beach in the late afternoon/evening was so dreamy. The "theme" was pizza and donuts because we are all about health, haha.
Here's a peek at some of the photos we snapped—there are about a billion more, but I didn't want to share any that showed little ones' faces because I'm private like that.
^^Her son gobbled up the frosting and ditched the rest, haha.
^^Part of the setup—the tent is by Lovin' Summer.
^^We brought our Land of Nod teepee to the beach for extra shade as well as a pretty spot for Jack to do his smash cake.
^^There's a teeny, tiny newborn under there!
^^Post-smash cake. He LOVED it!


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Yeah, Christianity - defending the indefensible for 2000 years!
realy, who's money was it the priests used to purchase the land?
please supply me with the verse where it say JUDAS WAS WALKING AND HE FELL AND HIS GUTS SPILL OUT.
so, who is now the one who twists the Bible.
I live in a roundhouse, so I never cower in a corner...;-)
Mousetrap, seriously... I'm new here as well, but I've been around the block.If you think you're the first to use AIG as a way to make atheists cower in the corner, you are badly mistaken.
And here we have the representative of Atheist mentality at its best.Poor soul, do you agree that you are a bad person that lives in a dark and safe cave, too scared of the light?
I probably shouldn't bother answering this, as others have already done it, but I can't let let such idiocy pass by without response.In short, you are basically a retrograde thinker, stuck in ancient thought. You might just as well worship Zeus or Odin or Mithra for all I care.
Hell, I even read the Answers in Genesis book when I was a kid. Wasn't impressed with it then, either. It failed to answer any of my questions.
Same here.Especially when Ham tries to force science to fit in with an Earth created before the Sun.That is simply put, silly.
No religious scripture is to be taken literally.They were written on hearsay by various people as stories many centuries ago. As I have mentioned a few times, all religions/deities are human creations. No exceptions.


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[meteor_slideshow slideshow="adssa" metadata="height: 126, width: 630″]
Order Details
Each student will complete an annotated bibliography that will contain a thesis statement and ten annotated secondary sources. This annotated bibliography will form the beginning of the research for the independent research project.
This assignment requires that you develop a thesis statement (an argument, a contention) about three texts, two of which must be literary or film texts. At least one of these literary or film texts must come from the unit. ?The data files from the unit are in the upload attachment?
Your must also develop a bibliography of 10 secondary sources that you will use to help develop your essay. Some of these sources can come from the Wheel. However, I also expect that you will search out your own peer-reviewed, scholarly sources.
Another good research option is the MLA International Bibliography database.
Each source that you list in your bibliography must include an annotation (2 or 3 sentences that explains why this source is useful to you in developing your argu
[meteor_slideshow slideshow="best" metadata="height: 126, width: 630″]
The Cultural identity of Chinese-Australian artists
[meteor_slideshow slideshow="adssa" metadata="height: 126, width: 630″]


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When you push the "start" button, or "flip the switch" you expect the system to flawlessly perform as intended. Nearly all buildings are a complex combination of different systems , that are increasingly interconnected to control the built environment within which we work. Room air monitor controls that can shut supply air dampers, actuate exhaust air, stop elevators, release fire suppression agents and other features is but one such system that ties the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, communication, security, fire suppression and other systems together to respond to a possible building fire. All of these systems are typically installed by separate subcontractors, yet all must work independently and together flawlessly for the proper operation of the building.
Commissioning (Cx) is the process of not only ensuring that all of the many building systems work properly themselves but also that they work properly together at peak performance when the building is completed. In the past, individual trades typically completed their work, connected to other systems as necessary then worked out operational kinks during the start-up phase. Modern Commissioning is the pro-active systematic process for achieving, and documenting that the various building system components and assemblies are installed and operate properly as the work progresses so that the building will perform as designed when completed. A properly developed and executed commissioning process begins during the pre-design phase and continues throughout for the construction of the project. Failure to execute an effective commissioning program often leads to poor system start-up results, re-work and delayed turn-over which negatively affect contractors and owners.
A similar effort that focuses on the ongoing operation and maintenance of building systems in an operational building is Retro-commissioning. This effort reviews the individual system operations as well as the interaction between systems to ensure proper functionality and restore proper performance, which in turn results in optimum efficiency. Retro-commissioning might also include the examination of possible system upgrades or other changes that would increase efficiency, reduce operating costs and improve the work environment.
The overall goal of both commissioning efforts is to ensure proper operation and optimize the energy efficiency and work environment quality , both of which directly impact the cost of ownership and productivity of personnel.


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Gateway to Ultraboredom and Chava Hell
"The Gateway to Dovedale" proudly proclaim the battered signs as you enter this deceptively pretty little town (pop 6000). And yes, the scenery and the town itself look very nice. But this is a little town with more *******,*******, cider-drinking scrotes and uber-***** than anywhere else, I swear to God. I can't wait to see the back of the local nobs who cruise round and round the single one-way system in their cruddy little Novas, en route to the local Scummerfield car park, superior smiles on their fat ****** faces as they pass for the hundredth time(what is the attraction?). Or, for a change, they might hang around outside the only late-night takeaway, and throw chicken bones on the pavement.
Once a year in this town is held the Shrovetide Football. Once a proud country tradition, this is now an excuse for half the thugs of the county to come down for two days of piss-up, brawling and general violence against which everything gets boarded up like a war-zone. This year, on my way home, I stepped over an old boy lying face down on the pavement, in a pool of blood..
By all means, come to visit. For crying out loud don't live here. The town's total lack of employment and location miles from anywhere ensures complete and utter grinding boredom is likely to ensue within about two days. Unless you fancy driving to Stoke…


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IF YOU long to relive your special day, then the Wedding Dress Charity Ball is the perfect excuse to dig out the big white dress and the sparkling tiara again.
Brides are invited to the ball to have fun and raise money for important causes at the same time in Newport's St David's Hospice Care and the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
The ball, which is being held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport in September, has been organised by Katharine Skellon in memory of her mother Krystyna.
Katharine and her husband Lyndon came up with the idea for the ball after several guests at their own wedding, and at her sister's wedding, said they would love to re-live their special day and wear their wedding dresses just one more time.
The 41-year-old former Argus reporter, from Abergavenny, had been planning the event with her mother Krystyna before her death in January at the age of 67.
In April 2016, she was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer that was sadly terminal.
Katharine said her mum was her "best friend" and that they were "inseparable".
She said: "Mum was supported by St David's Hospice Care from her diagnosis to her final days. The hospice at home service made it possible for my mum to be at home and that is my main inspiration for fundraising. They provided care, kindness and compassion to my mum and our family that I will never forget."
Katharine said: "My mum was my best friend and we were inseparable. She was an amazing mum, wife, sister and a proud and devoted grandmother-of-two. Her warm, generous spirit, smile and kind heart were infectious. Her kindness and generosity saw no bounds.
"Though a trained a pattern-cutter, she later became an auxiliary nurse at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, where she worked until her retirement seven years ago. Her former colleagues described her as a lovely, selfless and caring nurse."
Katharine added: "My mum made her own wedding dress in 1971 and we felt that a charity night giving brides the chance to unpack their dresses would be a good way to raise funds for a cause close to our hearts.
"We will always be grateful to the hospice at home nurses who spent five nights at our home with us caring for her. This vital service for patients with life-limiting illnesses enabled her to leave hospital and spend her last days at home, as was her wish. To us, they are angels and there is no doubt that we would not have coped without them."
On the night, there will be a red carpet, drink on arrival, a three-course dinner, live auction and raffle, a live band and a DJ.
The theme for the event is a big wedding celebration party
But it's not just an event for brides. Grooms, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride or groom, ushers, best men and wedding guests are all invited too.
Katharine said: "We hope to see brides who would love to wear their dress again and bring their families and friends from their big day.
"There has been a real wedding buzz this year, especially with the Royal Wedding. It would be lovely if the ball falls on the anniversary of a couple and make the night an extra special celebration."
Skye Lewis, from St David's Hospice Care, said: "This is a wonderful new idea for an event and it will give people a great opportunity to wear their treasured wedding outfits once again."
The Wedding Dress Charity Ball will take place on Saturday, September 22 at the Celtic Manor Resort.
Tickets cost £50 per person. For more information, visit www.wdball.com
To help with auction items, raffle prizes or sponsorship, email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Garden Tuesday....Sorta
A couple of weeks ago, my delightful friend Miranda, AKA The Blond Duck, asked for my address. Imagine my joy yesterday when Lou the Mailman arrived early, bearing an oversized white envelope. I eagerly cut it open, and found this:
Yes! Baby Brutus, in the garden, playing with a butterfly! Isn't it sweet?
Now, to be fair, Brutus hasn't actually seen butterflies, but he does chase moths across the porch. He might have eaten one or two moths that he caught, but I'm not going to testify to that. We're friends, after all, and I wouldn't want the Moth Mob after our friend Brutus.
And for any of you who wanted to see flowers, how about my daughter's bouquet from her friend's wedding? She left it in water on my kitchen table, and it lasted nearly 2 weeks. Pretty good, right?
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
12 comments:
- ~~louise~~ said...
Oh that Ducky, how very sweet of her. She sure did do an amazing job!
My daughter has two Labs and they love chasing moths, I sometimes think they think they are playing:)
Thank you so much for sharing, Marjie. A bouquet that lasts two weeks is pretty darn good these days...
- July 23, 2013 at 4:21 PM
- aspiritofsimplicity said...
Your Brutus makes me think of the old Heart song, Dog and Butterfly. You must have loved seeing those beautiful flowers every day for so long.
- July 23, 2013 at 4:59 PM
- Two French Bulldogs said...
Great painting! That is one cutie pie!
Benny & Lily
- July 23, 2013 at 5:27 PM
- Pam said...
Great job Duckie! The painting is darling.
What a lovely wedding bouquet!
- July 23, 2013 at 6:43 PM
- pam said...
When I saw the photo in the thumbnail of the linky, I knew it was you! I recognized Brutus!
- July 23, 2013 at 8:14 PM
- Blond Duck said...
Oh good! I'm glad you got it! I had taken it last week but my lady wasn't there, and I wanted to make sure it got to you safe and sound (we live in the country and shipping is unreliable.) Yea!!! :) I'm so glad you like it!
- July 23, 2013 at 9:56 PM
- gMarie said...
What an incredible gift! Will you frame it? And the flowers are lovely. g
- July 23, 2013 at 10:01 PM
Butterfly, ears, eyes, nose, toes --I'm charmed.
- July 23, 2013 at 11:34 PM
- Diane said...
What a nice gift and I just love those flowers. Hope you are well Diane
- July 24, 2013 at 3:20 AM
- SissySees said...
That Miranda is a gifted artist! I love it. And those flowers are stunning!
- July 24, 2013 at 10:30 AM
- Sue said...
What a wonderful gift.
- July 24, 2013 at 5:41 PM
- Sarah said...
The painting is great. Lucky you. And the bouquet is beautiful.
- July 24, 2013 at 6:21 PM


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PTG Meeting 4-4-19 6:00-6:30pm.
John Hines
Monday, April 01, 2019
PTG Meeting 4-4-19 6:00-6:30pm. CTA meeting immediately following in the 7-12 cafeteria. At the PTG meeting we will highlight :
1. Nominations for PTG officers for 2019-2020 school year
2. Brief update on open house
3. Next fundraiser...
4.Have a brief introduction to our school board candidates. 6:30-7:00pm CTA MEETING
CTA Tickets purchased using the following link:


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Exclusive Preview | The Twilight Children # 2
Vertigo Comics has brought together a virtual dream team of creators on one of its newest titles, The Twilight Children. For the first time, writer Gilbert Hernandez (Love and Rockets) is teaming with artist Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier, Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter) and colorist Dave Stewart (Hellboy) for one of the most visually arresting comic books of the year!
The Twilight Children takes place in a small Latin America town that has become accustomed to the strange orbs of light that seem to appear at random. But something may different this time. Children have been blinded by the orb, and a mute, otherworldly girl has appeared on the beach. She may be the key to unraveling the mystery of The Twilight Children, and she has a very particular effect on men who make eye contact with her.
Vertigo Comics has provided CraveOnline with an exclusive preview of The Twilight Children # 2, as the town's murky secrets begin to bubble to the surface.
The Twilight Children # 2 will be released on Wednesday, November 11.


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As many have told me from time to time, I'm not impressed with much of anything. It's a blessing…and a curse.
What others are oohing and ahhing about, I turn away from and yawn. And, of course, what I find particularly fascinating, noteworthy, worth reading, worth taking a look at, worth getting juiced over – I get looks of "he's nuts", as they carefully back away from me.
Such is the way of humans.
But dogs…now that's different. Dogs can instantly impart an impression upon you, getting you to "look at that shyte" that is truly important, in short order.
Whether it's time for their dinner, and they give you a couple of barks, throwing their EMPTY feeding bowl at you, saying…"HEY…YOU! – LOOK AT THAT EMPTY BOWL OF SHTYE", or them standing at the back door, waiting for you to get off your ass to let them out for their "business" – if you don't quickly get in line with "the shit" they want you to pay attention to – they'll let you know rather quickly that they mean business and if you don't rapidly attend to their shit, there will be unpleasantries for YOU to deal with.
I've often wondered, if dogs ruled the world, might we be in a much better state.
Dogs would surely sound the alarm of such current f**ckery facing us…
It appears Hilary Clinton is preparing to run for president again in 2020 – via theantimedia.com
Hey…You! Look at That Shyte!
Trump, the great 'Business Guru Visionary', is actually crashing the global economy – via mintpressnews.com
Hey…You! Look at That Shyte!
Like poop waiting to exit the butt-hole, our dogs know when it's time to get rid of waste, rubbish and bullshittery – and they won't wait for the perfect moment to discard their shyte.
Humans, on the other hand, will continue to bend over, hold it in, and examine a life of insanity from their peculiar viewpoint, without question, no matter how good and hard they're being bullied, played, lied to or propagandized.
The Left will scream that Trump is at fault for any and all ills that life presents; the Right will scream that this nutjob is making America great again, whether by smoke and mirrors or mind-numbing tweets – doesn't matter – go America!
Neither side is entirely right or entirely wrong – just misguided – and therefore sometimes right, yet sadly, most times wrong – it's just life.
But dogs can quickly adjust one's worldview to heed to the shyte at hand that needs attention.
The question…would dogs do the following to their own?
New App "Report It, Don't Ignore It", encourages students to spy on each other – via activistpost.com
The answer..NO!
Dogs rule!
Tonight's musical offering:
Photo credit (front page): http://www.unsplash.com/@z00ms
Photo credit: http://www.unsplash.com/@jessedo81
Photo credit: http://www.unsplash.com/@andreasvendelbo


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Before 6.0 roxie didn't care if xml was sent with a content type that indicated a form post rather than xml. 6.0 now supports form posts and doesn't allow the content to be xml.
For backward compatibility roxie should check if the content is actually xml and change the content-type to text/xml accordingly.


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Undergraduate sociology major wins award at 2nd Annual World Congress on Undergraduate Research
In May, undergraduate double major (International Studies and Sociology) Jamie Wise traveled to Germany to attend the 2nd World Congress on Undergraduate Research. Jamie was awarded the best research project in the category of Politics, you can read more details about her work, award, and experience below.
Congratulations to Jamie and her faculty advisor Professor Hollie Nyseth Brehm.
My name is Jamie Wise, and I am an American student at the Ohio State University in Columbus. My research seeks to better understand the role of religion in the pursuit of justice and reconciliation after mass violence, focusing on the Gacaca courts after the 1994 Rwandan genocide as a case study. I was presented with one of the World CUR 2019 awards in my research theme, Politics.
Describe your research project.
My study relies on qualitative analysis and in-depth interviews conducted with participants in Gacaca and religious leaders in Rwanda. I had the opportunity to travel to Rwanda to do field work for this project, and I will never forget the generosity of my host family and Rwandan colleagues, who taught me so much. I am passionate about this work, because it is through learning the lessons of the past that we can ensure sustainable peace in the future.
Describe the feeling you had when you received the award.
I was so grateful to receive this award and to have the chance to raise awareness about the challenges communities face after mass violence. I wish that my interviewees could have been standing up there with me accepting the award – they deserve all the credit, working for justice the past 25 years and having the courage and openness to share their stories.
Experience in Germany and Oldenburg.
World CUR 2019 was my first time in Germany. I will always remember trying currywurst and schnitzel, dodging bikes in the streets of Oldenburg, and touring old town Bremen. I hope to visit again someday soon!
Presentation at the Congress
I loved presenting at the World CUR 2019 poster session! I met so many students and researchers from such different backgrounds – some from Rwanda, some who had traveled there, and others who had never even heard of the genocide. Everyone brought their own unique perspective, which made for fascinating discussions and feedback on my project.
What impact do you think World CUR 2019 will have on your future career?
World CUR was one of the highlights of my undergraduate career. I was able to network with other young scholars from around the world working on similar issues, like human rights and refugee issues. I am using the award grant to support my next research project on memorialization and the aftermath of genocide in Cambodia. I plan to continue conducting research and sharing it with the world!


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Vacation Rentals are an amazing different to a lodge room while you need additional space and a kitchen. The Boyette Condos provide one and two mattress room fashions throughout the coronary heart of Ocracoke Village. Take pleasure in a brief stroll to the Ocracoke Lighthouse, Silver Lake Harbor, eating places, retailers, and galleries. The Boyette pool is a well-liked attribute for friends of the Boyette condos.
News about Condominiums, together with commentary and archival articles printed in The New York Instances. The policy declarations on your condo or townhouse insurance coverage present very important particulars in regards to the coverages, limits and deductibles you have obtained bought. Assuming, in spite of everything that the dish will not be larger than 1 meter (39.37 inches), and the condo shouldn't be some sort of historic landmark. Larger dishes, and installations on landmarks, could be prohibited even on condo property you private.
The Horizon condos are situated inside strolling distance to Silver Lake Harbor and the Ocracoke Lighthouse. A stroll round Silver Lake Harbor brings you to distinctive retailers and galleries. The recorded declaration of condominium of every condominium operated by the affiliation and every modification to every declaration.
Near public transportation, purchasing and faculties!
In India, condominiums are known as "Condo Buildings" or "Flats". Every establishing consists of a number of flooring and flats with totally completely different configurations. The most common configurations are "1-BHK", "2-BHK" and "three-BHK" (BHK stands for mattress room-hall-kitchen).
Condos will sometimes have an affiliation that coordinates sure particulars relating to the condo, such as the administration of the condo, along with the acquisition of insurance protection on behalf of the unit owners. This insurance coverage coverage policy covers all frequent grounds that are shared by the house owners. Typically, the affiliation is also accountable for the outside of the establishing.
Condominium fashions are rented by the half-week.
CLEMSON, S.C. — The floor of a condominium clubhouse near Clemson Faculty collapsed all through a large private social gathering early Sunday, hurtling dozens of people into the basement, authorities mentioned. Sunshine Regulation Savvy: Appropriate with the outdated and new parts of the Florida Condominium Act and capable of assist make sure that your community is compliant. You can need particular protection that our base coverage does not have. We offer extra selections at an added price to customize your condo insurance protection.
Property manager Tal Slann advised The Associated Press that the condominium complicated was inbuilt 2004-2005. He talked about he couldn't touch upon whether or not there was a restrict on the number of those who had been supposed to use the clubhouse at one time.
All condos have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs, and bogs additionally embody a hairdryers and bath amenities. Because the title implies, you may take pleasure in spectacular panoramic views and colourful sunsets with Portsmouth Island off in the distance. Since safety varies by affiliation you will need to evaluation the small print within the affiliation's grasp settlement.


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Huge product rangeOver 140,000 books & equipment products
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Pay in £, € or U.S.$By card, cheque, transfer, draft
Exceptional customer serviceGet specialist help and advice
On any warm summer day, you can easily observe damselflies around a vegetated pond or the rocks along the banks of a stream. Like the more familiar dragonfly, damselflies are among the most remarkably distinctive insects in their appearance and biology, and they have become one of the most popular creatures sought by avocational naturalists. "Damselflies of Texas" is the first field guide dedicated specifically to the species found in Texas. It covers 77 of the 138 species of damselflies known in North America, making it a very useful guide for the entire United States.
Each species account includes:
- illustrations of as many forms (male, female, juvenile, mature, and colour morphs) as possible
- common and scientific names, with pronunciation
- distribution map
- key features
- identifying characteristics
- discussion of similar species
- status in Texas
- habitat, seasonality, and general comments
In addition to photographing damselflies in the wild, the author and illustrator have developed a new process for illustrating each species by scanning preserved specimens and digitally painting them. The resulting illustrations show detail that is not visible in photographs. The book also contains chapters on damselfly anatomy, life history, conservation, names, and photography, as well as a list of species that may eventually be discovered in Texas, state and global conservation rankings, seasonality of all species in chronological order, and additional resources and publications on the identification of damselflies.


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Camp Safety
Camp Safety is a premier brand of C.A.M.P. who has been manufacturing outdoor gear since 1869 in the municipality of Premana located in Italy. The entire existence of C.A.M.P. is tied to the vertical world. So it is with CAMP SAFETY, which today represents a complete line of equipment for workers and mountaineers that work at extreme heights. It is their goal to be a 360° partner for workers at height because this implies a level of trust that only a business like C.A.M.P. can ever hope to have.
Showing 1 to 9 of 9 (1 Pages)


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THIS is a poor story, for it has no plot, and all stories written in America are supposed to have a plot. Nothing else matters. This story has a girl and a man and a chief event. Of these the chief event happened only in the ordinary course of things, and if the girl had not had one straight, white streak in her internal construction, probably it would not have affected her in the proper way, and there would have been no excuse for writing this at all. It may still be a question whether the girl was worthy of the event and so worth our valuable consideration. But whether she was worth it at the time or not—and it seems improbable— she doubtless became so in the end. Under the drilling of love and life many of this sort do when you never would have suspected it. The chief event itself was an artistic performance, and every artistic performance, however mean may be its little type, deserves worth in its appreciators; but as has been said, if she had no worth, without doubt she acquired it, and, also without doubt, in the acquiring process the chief event helped her. So far this seems a bit abstruse.
Her name was Helen McNab. Her father was a Montreal broker. In 1869 he had walked in from a creek seventeen miles up the Ottawa River to take a position as an office boy—this story was written in 1907, which makes a profound difference— I remember imperfectly a description given me by Winslow Whitman, late of Boston and India.
"Never been in the McNab's drawing room !" he said, with a face full of pity. "Your life is yet to be lived. They got stuffed birds in it, and a stuffed bear, an' a stuffed Injun, an' a full-sized Eskimo kayak. Then they got all sorts of chairs—chairs that belonged to Louis Quatorze, an' Louis Quinze, an' Louis Seize, an' I guess most of the other Louis. Some of their legs turn in, an' some of 'em turn out, an' the tops of 'em are all different; some like squash-pies, with a rim round 'em, an' some like meat-pies, with a lump on 'em; but you can't sit on any of 'em. In one corner it 's Patagonia, in another it's the Petit Trianon, an' in another it's Hudson's Bay. Oh, your life is yet to be lived."
Miss McNab was the only daughter and she was pretty; but if you stripped her of the aura that surrounds every pretty girl, she was not attractive. In the ordinary course of things she went away to a boarding school to develop her individuality, and when she came back she had it fully developed. She wore a suit covered with large black and white checks and a very flat sailor hat, and she walked in all respects like an ostrich. Later she had a bored expression, and there was something about her that led you to suspect she had never done enough to deserve it. She had a nasal voice, which she used for producing an unfounded libel on an English accent and an unsorted collection of English sporting phrases. She had one slash scar on her left cheek from having collided with a tree one night on the Mountain on skees, and of this she was reservedly proud—she had followed fifteen others down the slope, and had come out blind-stunned at the bottom. She was always well groomed and manicured, her nails were cut to a "rounded point, she was usually marceled (this is a way of doing a woman's hair that makes it take on a beautiful regularity of contour that you see in the ripples of the sand of the sea-shore, or the clouds of a mackerel sky), and she was gifted with the taste (which is the proper term for money when applied in this connection) to dress effectively, which she did. Any time she had left over from the operations involved in these peculiarities she used in maintaining her position, and this position was a complicated thing.
In North America there is a small but delicately perfumed army of young ladies who have made it their business to start an aristocracy. For certain obscure reasons including the lack of aristocrats to fill in with, they have failed; but, instead, they have what is called a plutocracy, which is the same thing from the inside, though from the outside it is quite different. Montreal, like many other cities to the East and West and South, has an ornate nascent plutocracy, and Miss McNab's position at the time of this tale was on the extreme outer edge. The position of these plutocracies is uncertain, as they are maintained entirely by keeping just such young ladies from looking behind the Veil (where, by the way, there is nothing whatever—though that is a secret), and so the plutocracy is usually busy, and the young ladies are busy as well.
Miss McNab was so busy that she had never had time to see a man. She believed she had danced with them. She unquestionably had decorated boxes at His Majesty's with them when they could afford it, and stalls when they could not. She had received violets from them, and large American Beauty roses. (The former she had worn, and they had wilted; the latter a maid had put in water, and they had wilted—at eighteen dollars a dozen.) She had dined at the Hunt Club with them, and at the Forest and Stream, for there is something about that brusque, sporting manner over the warmth of transparent chiffon that is attractive to the uninitiated. But she had no idea in the world what a man was really like inside. She had her own imperious method of dealing with them, and that was to be all-sufficient for all time. It was her perfect, patent, impervious system, filled with raw oil and finished with three coats of best spar varnish. It was applied to all men alike that moved within her orbit, with variations to fit their prestige. Beyond her orbit there was a vague and unimportant region filled with college professors, navvies, photographers, and mechanical engineers, such as drive the Lusitania, and such like. Any one of these she would refer to as a man, but with a different tone, and that was the end of him. This was her whole philosophy; quite inconceivable, but approximately so. And yet, still more inconceivable, under all this there was doubtless the stuff to make a woman that could sing songs to her own children, and the Magnificat to herself, and repeat the Apostles' Creed. This is a wonderful world.
Now, the man had recently come to Montreal from England. His father had been a great consulting engineer in Victoria Street, and, like all good consulting engineers, had died at his appointed time. He had been great even above riches, which is very great indeed, so he had been able to leave his son only a little under 6,000 pounds, a strong engineering tendency, and two or three of the recognized varieties of common sense. Among these was not the one relating to the value of worldly possessions, and in five calendar months Mr. George Porteous Vaughan Morgan—for that was the son's name—had expended 5,384 pounds, 12 shillings, 9 pence; and of such beautiful quality was one sort of common sense he did have—the one that teaches how to deal gracefully with men and women— that with this comparatively small sum of money he made a notable disturbance in the great City of London, and his existence was admitted from the Circus to the foot of the throne. In fact, so great was this disturbance that its echoes have not altogether died away to this day. Afterward, having learned his lesson cheerfully and silently, and without a touch of melo-drama, he came out to Canada with 600 pounds, and, following his engineering trend, joined himself to a company in Montreal whose business was to sell English automobiles to the Canadian public under the blessed advantages of the Canadian Preferential Tariff. Then of a sudden it seemed that all his reserve common sense came into action at once, and immediately he began to prosper; for he was one of those rare specimens, an utterly adaptable Englishman. He even arose before eight o'clock in the morning.
Early in his Canadian career he collided with Miss Helen McNab at the St. Andrew's Ball. It so happened that no fewer than two of Miss McNab's bondmen had failed. One had been found by a two-years' widow of twenty-six, and the other had found a very charming young lady who belonged to one of the oldest French-Canadian families and who had just returned from eighteen months in Paris; so there was no prospect of either of them coming back at all. So, partly by accident, which is our crude way of describing the methods of Providence, and partly through his own cheerful initiative, Mr. Vaughan Morgan received three dances. This, for Miss McNab of Montreal, was quite unheard of, and an excellent start.
Being an adaptable Englishman, Mr. Vaughan Morgan did not conceive that a two-step was made out of a mighty, automatic walk, or that a waltz consisted in turning in one direction over a limited area of floor at thirty-six revolutions per minute. On the contrary, he studied his surroundings, took thought, carefully put Miss McNab on her mettle by asking if she was very tired, and finished smiling and warm, with the lady in a more disheveled condition than she had ever been in public in her life. In the midst of her disapproval, she noticed a new, uncatalogued, pleasant, tingling sensation that apparently came out of an uncertain pink haze. But in the face of a life-time of habit, this effect was ephemeral, and in the intervals between the dances she reverted to her normal condition, and languidly told Mr. Vaughan Morgan reserved tales of the doings of the frightfully smart set to which she belonged.
Now, Mr. Vaughan Morgan, having laid out with great intelligence 5,384 pounds 12 shillings 9 pence in finding out what he could about London, was amazed at so much innocence so wickedly put, and, at the end of the third of those dances and interviews, went out into another room and served himself with bad claret lemonade a number of times, chuckling insanely all the while. Still, having come from a land where there are a million and a half surplus women, he was taken with the novelty of the imperious treatment— with apparently so little to warrant it—so two days later, being Sunday, he called. He found Miss McNab in her especial element, surrounded by a salon, and haughty beyond his most amazed conception; for he also came from the only democratic country in the world, and had seen no other.
Miss McNab's mother held a lorgnette under a transformation, and said that the St. Andrew's Ball was becoming frightfully mixed—which is true of all balls—and Miss McNab's brother, though apparently in his own house, conversed with a friend on the opposite end of the same divan, and regarded Mr. Vaughan Morgan as a stranger. This was all he got out of that visit, and when he arose, Mr. McNab, junior, and the friend smiled, and he departed in some wonder, but with unabated interest. But Miss McNab imagined she saw a smile in the back of his eyes, and said a good-by that lacked poise—her first since she was six years old.
Working under the illogical rules that govern these things, Mr. Vaughan Morgan's interest continued to grow, and within three months, in spite of occasional contact, he had formed a most wonderful idea of Miss McNab. Now, the description of this young lady already submitted was dispassionate and, as far as it went, unquestionably correct from a mechanical point of view, which makes Mr. Vaughan Morgan's later idea all the more wonderful: put into English words, what he came to see was this :
Her height was the perfect height. (In this case it happened to be 5 feet 6 3-4 inches, less 2 1-4 inches for sole leather and brass nails.) She was erect and beautifully balanced, and full-figured. She had glorious, indescribable golden-brown hair, with a shimmer that traveled like the shimmer of raw silk; walnut-brown eyes that shone and sparkled and had a way of looking up suddenly under lids that flickered for a second and shut down, leaving the effect of distant, silent summer lightning. (So far these were his precise words.) Her skin was clear and fair, but with an uncertain flush beneath that carried warmth from her finger tips to the forehead, and at the least provocation blazed in her cheeks till you had to draw a slow breath to stand still. This was the over-whelming impression—tides and surges of growing color; those eyes; and then such hands! They were not particularly small, but altogether wonderful; well-balanced, soft, deft, and strong, the essence of all capability, adaptable, responding to every foreshadowed need, and accomplishing with all adequacy and finish, and with a touch that was perfectly sure, so that anything they had done could never conceivably come undone at all. When she played they flowed—and she neglected Chaminade for Chopin—and when she stopped they glided on their own irresponsible way, and were a source of danger to all mankind. But wonderful above everything else was her mouth: sensitive and mobile until it was heartbreaking to watch it. Every little thought that slipped through her mind, every little trend of a half-formed idea in fun or in earnest, in devilment or in pure play, was heralded there, and the corners slid up and down or quivered for one small second under the flutter of those eyelids until the alluring color came, stormed up, and you could only stand and groan. And then her voice was clear as crystal (bis) and she had a way of turning her words that was frightfully attractive. . .
Mr. Vaughan Morgan's conception went, in part; and, besides, into this creation he breathed the breath of life, making her into the flattering likeness of a real woman with all the attributes—prospective, useful motherhood, and the rest— probably not one of which she then actively possessed.
And Miss McNab remained imperious and unscathed to the point of irritation.
Now for the sacrifice. In every artistic performance there must be a sacrifice. If you paint a picture that attains to the line at the R. A., it is the canvas, the pigments, and a little boiled linseed oil. If you write a success of the season, it is several blocks of rag paper, half a pint of ink, and a suffering iridosmine pen-point. If you play the Second Rhapsody, it is an expensive grade of felt wearing on steel wires. In this case it was an English car called the Brunel, sold in Canada by the company to which Mr. Vaughan Morgan had joined himself. Her makers called her "The Engineer's Car," to distinguish her from the mass of cars that seemed to be dedicated to the public—or the devil. A glimpse into her gear-box, or at the mighty teeth of her driving pinion (which is as important a part of a car as a hairpin is of a woman), or at the mightier hub and gun-carriage spokes of her hind wheels, told you why, and why she was peculiarly fitted to be the sacrifice. And, besides, under her bonnet was an engine-room like the engine-room of an ice-breaker, with a centrifugal pump that might have come from Tangyes, with any spare space filled with a giant magneto; and all notably protected from the wet and gritty world outside. Her builders had laboriously come to the conclusion that an automobile was a dignified private carriage, and had gone forever from red bodies to the darkest of nile-green; so, aside from a certain massiveness, she was altogether deceptive, and no man would believe that she could rage furiously, for they called her but twenty horse-power. But of horses there are many sorts, and doubtless the horses in England are bigger than the horses in America.
Here begins the introduction of the chief event. One April day, when the ice out of Lake St. Louis was moving down in rafts over the Lachine Rapids, and a Donaldson liner and the Bellona, with fruit were waiting at Quebec for the breaking of the bridge at Cap Rouge, Mr. Vaughan Morgan took out the twenty Brunel to demonstrate to a man who was preparing a summer home beyond Como.
And here it is necessary to digress for a geographical explanation.
Montreal City is on the island of Montreal, and Montreal island is in the mouth of the Ottawa, where that woodland river empties itself into the great St. Lawrence; for the Ottawa has a delta like the Nile and the Amazon. If you wish to get off the island of Montreal, you can go in two ways: by something that floats on the water or by a bridge. At this particular time in April there is nothing afloat except ice and driftwood, so you must go by a bridge, and of the bridges there are two kinds, railway and highway. The railway bridges are owned chiefly by corporations and so lead everywhere it is desirable to go; and the highway bridges are owned chiefly by the Government, and so would lead nowhere except by what is called the express will of the people, and the people of North America, unlike the people of England, never express their will, but are governed directly, in as far as it may be necessary, by an over-ruling Providence, who does not build bridges.
It is twenty-three miles by road from the City of Montreal to Ste. Anne de Bellevue, which is at the extreme end of the island of Montreal. Beyond is the flood of the Ottawa, with Isle Perrot, over two miles wide, breasting the current in midstream, and with Vaudreuil three miles away on the opposite shore. And Como, where Mr. Vaughan Morgan wished to be, is six miles beyond Vaudreuil.
The main lines of those two great corporations, the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Grand Trunk Railway, run out to Ste. Anne, and, by high bridges resting on ponderous, ice-cutting piers, cross over to Isle Perrot. Across that elm-clad island, side by side, they strike a broad, straight, stately roadway, until, by other bridges with ponderous piers, they cross over from Isle Perrot to Vaudreuil, and go on their way into the West.
On the other hand, the highway, which is the property of the Government, comes out speciously by Lachine and through lakeside villages to Ste. Anne; and then, instead of proclaiming its inadequacy by turning down into the river and ceasing, swings nobly round the end of the island and returns to Montreal—as is proper—through the woods.
That is to say if you have attained to Ste. Anne by road, and wish to reach Vaudreuil-which-is-beyond-the-Ottawa, three miles away, you may go by little bridges over little rivers and so round by the City of Ottawa, two hundred and fifty miles, or you may go back twenty-three miles to Montreal, cross the River St. Lawrence by the Victoria bridge, travel many leagues upstream, cross the River St. Lawrence again at Valleyfield, P.Q., and travel eastward again many leagues to Vaudreuil, which is the shorter. Or, to put it in all its nakedness, from Montreal, the greatest city in Canada, you cannot directly by road reach the mainland of Western Quebec and Ontario, the most populous section of Canada, at all. This of course is an outrage, and if the island of Montreal were inhabited by the English as such, would be expressed as an outrage day and night without ceasing until the Governments involved, helpless against importunity, like all Governments, and for the sake of blessed peace, which is the ultimate aim and object of all Governments, would signal their weariness, and immediately there would arise the sound of hammering on metal and the voice of the pneumatic riveter on girders at St. Anne.
All these great and seemingly irrelevant matters bear directly on Mr. Vaughan Morgan, for they show why, to reach Como, which is beyond Vaudreuil, he had to load the twenty Brunel on a flat-car, from which she was precariously navigated down three-inch planks at Como Station.
And here, to justify Mr. Vaughan Morgan's intelligence, it may be said that he had no conception what an Ottawa Valley road might be in the spring, but having alighted in four inches of snow water, he went forward in faith and demonstrated. He demonstrated through wasted, sooty snow-banks that melted without ceasing under a summer-blue sky. He demonstrated on a water swept tundra where runnels poured over an ice-edge into a lake that in summer was a hay meadow. He demonstrated over a half-frozen plowed field, preferring it to a four-horse-power stream which the owner assured him at other seasons was the drive, and he finished by taking his victim for what he called a spin on the main road. The spin consisted in leaping from mud-holes to muddy snow-banks, and swooping from snow-banks into mud-holes, and resembled nothing so much as navigating the Bay of Fundy in a high sea in an open boat.
"It is a bit sloppy-you-know—isn't it!" he said, with one eye overlaid with mud, and he went on talking reassuringly between gulps as the patient springs jolted their livers. In the end he careered away joyfully toward the station by himself, with one bent mud-guard and an order for one $3,500 car in his inmost pocket.
For that night the twenty Brunel was to have stayed in a shed, and he was to have gone into town on the 6.13. But the demonstration had been long, and the 6.13 was on time, and passed down, unflagged, toward Vaudreuil when he was still a quarter of a mile across the plain.
"Marooned!" Mr. Vaughan Morgan commented, and plowed ahead to interview the agent. The agent was already being interviewed. There were two young ladies and one young gentleman, and they appeared to have reached the station platform only the moment before. In any case, they paid no attention to the arrival of anything so trivial as a motor. One young lady was addressing the agent personally.
''You stupid fool, didn't you know we were coming, whether you could see us or not? Did you think we wished to stay out here all night alone?" with a side-swept glance at the young gentleman. It was the voice of Miss Helen McNab, in heat. The agent was French-Canadian, brief in temper, and not fully trained in deference. His reply was full of words. On the first count he tried to make plain that he was not a mind-reader. On the second, he pointed out that he had no method of judging.
"I don't know, me!" he said, waving his arms in the air. "Vot eef you don' came en time for y'r train —I s'pose so." And he departed into the station, leaving Miss McNab white with wrath. (The McNabs had a house at Como, and the gods-that-desire-excitement had arranged that Miss McNab should choose this day in April to visit it for the purpose of suggesting improvements. She had brought with her a suite, Miss Yvonne Dacoste, because she was one step nearer the Veil, and very haughty, and Mr. Gerald Brian Glover, who had a thin and fair mustache, and was what she called a "nice boy.") Then, the mud storm having subsided, she saw the twenty Brunel and Mr. Vaughan Morgan, For one inexplicable second she was abashed: after which she had an inspiration. She consulted with the other two. "Watch me work this Englishman !" was the substance of it, though it was more beautifully put.
"How do you do!" she opened, and advanced towards the edge of the platform. Mr. Vaughan Morgan shuddered, and bowed through his crust.
"Beastly walking, isn't it?" he said.
"Frightful," said Ms. McNab, and properly introduced Miss Dacoste and Mr. Glover. "We've lost our last train, and I must be in town at a quarter to eight. Won't you go and ask that man if there's no other train—anywhere?—He's been horribly rude." There was somewhat implied, but to that phase Mr. Vaughan Morgan seemed deaf and blind.
"Must?" he said, with the painful literalness of a man, and took on a serious expression. She did not explain that it was bridge at Lady Sanderson's—her first—and, after all, that was very important. Her impervious system drove her ahead, full into the bosom of the unguessed future.
"Yes, must!" This tone was her final. Mr. Vaughan Morgan said, "Oh!" with a face full of consideration and a mind full of thoughts, and in a moment dropped over the unopened door into the mud and was in the station-house. In half a minute he returned, visibly anxious. There was a Grand Trunk train from Vaudreuil at 7.10.
"Bonaventure at five minutes to eight."
"That is much too late," she said regally, smoothing the wrinkles out of long, tan gloves, while Mr. Glover pulled his mustache.
"—Or we might get a special at Vaudreuil. I can take you down in the car—if you don't mind the roads and the mud." Miss McNab held rigidly to her part. She did not mind anything. Mr. Vaughan Morgan absently eyed Mr. Glover's expanse of vicuna and satin and Miss Dacoste's hard-crowned, over-feathered hat ( we shall remember the spring of 1907), and his smile almost broke out. But his face remained the face of one who realizes that something must be done immediately.
"I'm quite sure we shall manage it in some way, if we go at once," he said, cheerily, leaning toward the sacrifice. Would Miss McNab like to ride in front?
She would.
He advanced on the crank, preoccupied, as a man thinking out things far ahead, while Miss Dacoste and Mr. Glover daintily climbed into the tonneau, with the manner of people who have certain misgivings, and seated themselves on luxurious cushions spattered with half-dry mud. Mr. Vaughan Morgan heaved, and a deep-seated tremor ran through the twenty Brunel. He moved to one side, and half the nile-green roof over the forward mysteries rose up and balanced itself in the air. For a dozen seconds Miss McNab watched his hand wandering amid complications—scarlet cylinders, glaring brass piping and a whizzing aluminum fan, which she gazed at incuriously, not being a mechanic, after which the bonnet closed with a clang. The lady did notice that it was unlike the tinny snap of certain bonnets she had seen, but this was her only impression of unusual strength. This impression immediately gave place to another more interesting. She painted a beautiful picture of Mr. Vaughan Morgan hiring a special at Vaudreuil, and taking her in instate; and she would see that he did it.
This last impression was not accurate. Mr. Vaughan Morgan had also a plan: which did not coincide in the least. How he thought it might forward his interests, or why he thought of it at all, I am sure I could never guess. Probably it was one of those first-flush impulses that have created that Outer-Empire title, Mad Englishman. Miss McNab's "must" had made it possible. He knew part of Miss McNab, and he knew how to foster that "must" until it became a fetish. If she ever gave in, his excuse would be gone. But, then, with a little urging, she would never give in till the trumpet blew and the earth dissolved away from beneath her feet.
In the meantime he slid into the driver's seat, pressed his foot on a pedal, and moved two levers that clicked. A hum rose up from somewhere, and Miss McNab felt herself being pushed back deep into the cushions. Then the hum ceased, and there was no sound but the hiss of snow water driven out in two clean sheets under the bows. The twenty Brunel, in a hundred-foot lake, was silently under way.
"Top speed," said Mr. Vaughan Morgan irrelevantly, with the appreciation of an enthusiast.
"It does not seem very fast," Miss McNab commented, with a voice like an echo from a glacier.
"I should have said, 'Direct drive,' "
Miss McNab said, "Ah!" not knowing in the least what he meant.
"'Don't believe you have to be home by a quarter to eight at all," he continued, in great absence of mind, still dealing thoughtfully with levers. "What is it for?"
"That is my own particular business; but it is really important."
"Really!" said Mr. Vaughan Morgan, and this time a little child could see that he was impressed. He was a beautiful actor, and that expression of great anxiety came back. Miss McNab was satisfied. The first result took place at once. They had climbed from the lake into pure mud that played in two smooth fountains alongside, and they had arrived at the turn to the main road. On every car there is a little innocent-looking pedal that is called the accelerator. It has an unseen connection with the throttle, and is more potent than all the pedals of a cathedral organ put together. Turning into the main road, Mr. Vaughan Morgan rested his foot on this pedal ever so lightly, and smiled a grim smile in the back of his eyes. (This sort of smile does not show outside.) The twenty Brunel accelerated, and Mr. Gerald Brian Glover, in the tonneau, sat in Miss Yvonne Dacoste's lap. Miss McNab grasped Mr. Vaughan Morgan's left arm with a grip like the grip of a drowning man, and then let go as if it were red-hot iron. Mr. Vaughan Morgan, unnoting, ostentatiously fought with the steeringwheel, and, when the trouble had subsided, busied himself in apologizing lavishly to the tonneau. Mr. Glover was forcing the crown of his hat into shape, and Miss Dacoste looked ruffled.
"So sorry," he said; "but we skidded a little. This mud is awfully treacherous, you know." Mr. Glover had been laying himself out not to say the unclean things that were in his mind, so his reply was at random and barely polite. Miss Dacoste vented a few crisp sentences of high-strung words and ferociously repinned her hat, and Miss McNab sat as rigid as Cleopatra's Needle. With her crew in this order, because, in his apology, Mr. Vaughan Morgan had disregarded the road ahead, the twenty Brunel rose up on the edge of an unwarned hollow with sides like a pit, pitched forward, heaving the suffering tonneau skyward, coasted on heated brakes over water-washed gravel into troubled water, rode for a second, dorylike, in foam, trod down a half-floating pole bridge, where her axles came up and smote her frame with blows like the blows of a sledge, and plowed out and upward on naked rock, with Mr. Vaughan Morgan transformed in the flash of an eye, laughing the joyful laugh of the English, that, in the midst of a great event, counts not the cost of anything, though life itself may depart in the next breath. It was all part of the Vaudreuil road, though in bad condition.
"There's one more river," he sang softly, wiping the water from his eyes, and leaning forward to his work, "An' that's the river of Jordan." This quotation had a deep and hidden significance, but he went on at once, "I say, didn't she take that beautifully?"
"She really did," said Miss McNab. It sounded more normal than anything he had ever heard her say, and he managed to look once without being seen. She was holding the edge of the seat and the rim of her hat, and the color was blazing in her cheeks. From the tonneau arose a heated silence. They had seen water drifting back there in great clouds, and they forebore to look.
Then the twenty Brunel settled down to perform marvels, for the best of modern motor-cars is a miracle on wheels. No other piece of complicated machinery—saving only perhaps the human mind—has to live through such outrageous shocks.
Mr. Vaughan Morgan was a good driver—they also are born—and that day he drove with all his judgment, or as much judgment as he could use and get the Brunel's best speed under these terrible conditions. There was only one thing that might happen: the Brunel might burst— collapse—disintegrate — and settle back softly into a scrap heap—or an impalpable powder—but if she did, in his opinion it was worth the cost. If she did not, he would end one day with satisfaction.
Sometimes her starboard tires traveled on an uneven ridge of sandy snow, and her port tires plowed in the worn sleigh-track and removed the water therefrom into the next field; and sometimes it occurred to her to change sides, and then, immediately afterward, to change back, and she alternated with great rapidity so that she rolled like a torpedo-boat in a beam sea and terribly disarranged the passengers in her tonneau. Again, on a side hill, where the down-hill side of the road had melted first, her lower wheels ran in mud and her upper on ice, and she circled the hill with a list so heavy that you could hear the tonneau gasp, clinging desperately to the windward rail. Sometimes, on the level, she struck the remnants of the winter's pitches, with every ridge still frozen and as even as waves of the sea, and she rocked and bucked like an unhandled broncho until the floor of the tonneau, under its carpet, rose up and dropped back at every pitch with a clack like a slapstick, and the passengers and their cushions were lifted five clear inches above the seat, and came down all braced for the next jump. There is nothing in the world more disconcerting to real dignity than just this sort of thing without any time allowed for rearranging yourself between jumps. It recalls a baby with a pain being danced on an inconsiderate knee. The effect is cumulative, and Miss Dacoste's New York hat, which was not fitted for motoring, pulled apart her brilliantine-clotted hair and hung itself over her left ear. Mr. Glover bounced like a muddy ping-pong ball, and Miss McNab, still holding the edge of the seat and the rim of her hat, braced both feet against the sloping footboard and labored with her expression.
Mr. Vaughan Morgan appeared to see none of these things, but stared at the ominous pathway ahead. At times it was glare ice, at other times it was gruel-thick mud, and in one hollow it was a duck-pond, with ducks and everything complete. There is a theory that neither the Cochin duck nor the domestic Mallard can fly. They flew that day— all but one. Whether he could fly, if he really cared to, will now never be known.
The twenty Brunel dazzled her occupants and became a dream. Between endless snake-fences, dancing astern through tears, she climbed slopes that opened up on the left the flood-brown Ottawa in the afternoon sun, ever widening down into the Lake of Two Mountains; and on the farther side of these slopes she descended recklessly, dizzily chattering her lamps, and joyously pounding her tool-box up and down in its locker, until it sounded as if her vitals would certainly fly out on the road. She advanced on small farmhouses close by the roadside, and froze large French-Canadian families into uncouth groups of statuary, until the horse collected himself and tried to back up the front of the barn, and then all was activity in her settling wake. In pure faith she rounded abruptly into unseen stretches of road, and once was cursed wonderfully by an agent for sewing machines with a matched team of bays, which were stopped only by having to fight a five-barred gate. Sometimes she traveled straight and sometimes she sidled like a shying horse under the saddle, but always in a rain of flying water or mud or wornout snow. At all times she rocked and slued frightfully, and in certain brief moments she proceeded on two wheels. She dodged up-country chickens and she raced up-country dogs, one of which miscalculated and flew for a space like the Cochin ducks—but with the aid of the mud-guard. Twice her driver mistrusted the whole appearance of things ahead, and led her aside over squashy spring turf, through which she sucked her way until at last she rolled, mud-bathed, into Vaudreuil, where she was the wonder of the inhabitants, and up to the station. Her passengers had passed from fear and disgust into amazement, and finally into apathy. The populace could see that it was something desperate, and exhibited no levity, though Mr. Glover's features were lost to the eye. Miss Dacoste was transfigured and Miss McNab sat with tight lips. Mr. Vaughan Morgan had the situation by the throat.
"Sit still for one moment," he begged, and fled in the direction of the station-agent, to whom he talked aggressively for a few seconds. No one knows what he said. He came back running, but was stopped and drawn aside by a bystander from Isle Cadieux.
"De lady's seeck?" he inquired, indicating Miss Dacoste, who had partly swathed herself in a gritty rug.
"Yes," whispered Mr. Vaughan Morgan, confidently; "very," and mounted the step.
"Just as I thought," he said politely—"no special possible." And before he was fully settled in his seat, the twenty Brunel had gathered way. He swung her round the corner of the station, humored her softly over eighty-pound rails, and turned her down the main line, inbound, of the Grand Trunk Railway! A yell arose from far behind. He paid no attention. Three times he slowed to climb over switchpoints, then opened up, and the twenty Brunel fled down the line, thuttering over sleepers toward the great bridges and the mighty Ottawa itself. Steering lightly with one hand, he found his watch and looked.
"Now we sha'n't be long," he said, addressing Miss McNab's ironbound countenance. All his anxiety had passed, and he was visibly appreciating the last of the red-gold sunshine and the soft, spring evening air. What Miss McNab might have replied is not known, for Mr. Glover burst through his mud-caked silence.
"What are you going to do? Where are you going?"
"Home," said Mr. Vaughan Morgan, looking at Miss McNab.
Miss McNab flushed. Into the heart of Miss Dacoste came a great fear, which she strove to conceal in a lady-like manner.
" Surely-the-man-is-not-going-to-take-us-across-the-railway-bridges!" she exploded.
"Miss McNab must be home at a quarter to eight," said Mr. Vaughan Morgan, softly. A good driver does not turn his head. Miss McNab sat as undrawn as the London "Times," and ahead there rose up a subdued and suggestive roar. It was the terrible sound of a six-hundred-mile river in flood. Miss Dacoste, in the trembling tonneau, covered her face with her hands, and Mr. Vaughan Morgan drove—like an engineer.
On the edge of the thunder stood a gang of incapacitated section men and a red shanty containing a gasolene engine and a three-bucket pump that filched a little of the Ottawa's water for the passing locomotives. Long afterward Miss McNab admitted that she would have been willing to live in that shanty for a very long time had she been allowed to stay ashore. But she gave no sign, and in the next breath the twenty Brunel was running in midair over open ties.
Ahead the way stretched clear enough, but that was a little thing. To the left, a few yards up-stream, hung the great mainline bridge of the Canadian Pacific Railway, breaking the oncoming flood, with every sharpened pier carrying a bow wave like a battle-ship, and singing its own song in overwhelming roar. Between came down the waters, golden-brown and overlaid with foam, to break again in thunder on the piers that held up the twenty Brunel. Between the ties they could see the torrent pouring through far beneath, bearing an occasional log from some lost brough on the Gatineau. On each side was the raw edge—bare tie-ends; no guard-rail; nothing. Miss McNab thought of the car's steering gear, which might be mutable, like all things human. She stared down at the water, which was unwise. For one little instant she went dizzy and sick. The Ottawa stood still. The Grand Trunk bridge and the twenty Brunel, moving corner-wise, started up-stream, furiously chasing the tails of the stone piers of the Canadian Pacific bridge, that swirled on ahead like the sterns of battleships abreast, until she closed her eyes. (Mr. Vaughan Morgan, unseeing, saw this also.) When she opened them again, it was to keep them up, as one who would successfully waltz on skates. Ahead ranged the bare, wind-swept elms on Isle Perrot. To the right were more bare elms and swamp ashes, doubtless attached to summer islands, but now bending like twigs in the midst of the brown flood. Later she remembered to the left, three hundred yards above, one small island, with a bare, white house, sheltered by nine pines and flanked by water-whipped scrub, and remembered praying she were there; until of a sudden she found herself on Isle Perrot with the twenty Brunel heading down that four-tracked avenue through the woods, and Mr. Vaughan Morgan talking freely about the beauties of the country in spring, while the Canadian Pacific enbankment rose ever higher on the left.
Mr. Gerald Brain Glover, feeling the exigencies of the situation, sat up to say that the trip across the bridge was "magnificent," with which everybody undertook to agree, until the Ottawa's other branch hove in sight through the trees, with bridges still higher and boiling white rapids below, and a great silence settled down once more. On this passage, high in the air, over the precise centre of the rapids, they met an astonished way freight, and her thunder blended with the roar from below, and the wind of her passing brought tears to their eyes till they bowed down their heads for relief. So with bowed heads they whirled into the still more astonished station at Ste. Anne, and without so much as glancing aside, Mr. Vaughan Morgan jerked the twenty Brunel out into the carriage drive, and so into the king's highway along which she lurched at high speed once more, spattering mud anew.
The details of that flight eastward down the island of Montreal, in the golden light after sunset, through lakeside villages and past disregarded and incensed toll-gates, are all most ordinary details. There was no such navigation as on the Vaudreuil-Como road. The only marvelous thing was Miss McNab's conversation; and for her it was marvelous beyond all marvels. It was jerky and telegraphic and without great poise, and sometimes it was bitten in two because of an excess of enthusiasm on the part of the twenty Brunel over some bump. But through the agency of Mr. Vaughan Morgan and the twenty Brunel, in some way I do not understand, the golden light that overcast the melting snow, and the great spring floods, from road runnels to boiling rivers, had reached in to her soul, and she talked; and Mr. Vaughan Morgan was electrified. She paid no attention to the people in the tonneau. In any case they could not hear. It was all very ordinary, because it had all been said so many times before—though anything that was ordinary was most extraordinary coming from Miss McNab—so none of it is worth repeating. It was all about ideals, and what a man lives for, and what a woman is hunting for all the time. And the girl's color was so gorgeous, and it was all so wonderful that at Lachine Mr. Vaughan Morgan took the lower road for no other reason than to buck that suffering car through those disgraceful streets of lower St. Henri, and to dodge among the Amherst trams and the traffic of Notre Dame. The twenty Brunel lifted them as lightly as a gust of summer wind up into Sherbrooke Street with time to spare and she left Miss Dacoste and Mr. Glover at their doors, through which they disappeared, running. Their clothes were ruined and, for the time being, they were not friends with anybody; but the trip had been awfully good for their appetites.
Now here is where the blessed illogical part of the whole business comes in. As was said at first, this is a poor story, for it has no plot. The gentleman simply took the lady for a ride in a motor-car. But in front of her own house Miss McNab said, "You dear, dear boy!" for Mr. Vaughan Morgan had also been talking. "And, however you accomplish it, don't ever let father find out we crossed those bridges. Go down to every newspaper now and stop it however you like, but stop it; and then change and come back and talk to me. I'm not going to Lady Sanderson's tonight."
Forty minutes later, Mr. Vaughan Morgan, pale with hunger, handed the twenty Brunel in at the garage.
"I say, Beckley," he said, "you might wash her down a bit, will you?" In thirty-five minutes more, freshly clothed and newly fed, he was climbing upper Peel Street on foot.


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Research Project
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
1) New equipment for detecting aspiration pneumoniaA experimental study was performed to develop a new diagnostic equipment with light emitted diode (LED). The new system used 9 LEDs with 880nm of wavelength, 900mA of light source and photo diode (PD), including Indocyanine green as dye solution. The Indocyanine solution diluted 20 times than usual was also useful to reduce the electric intensity at the PD. Further improvement of combination of LED and PD would enable to develop a new diagnostic aid for aspiration.2) Influence of hardness of food on dysphagiaTo clarify relationship between texture of the food and swallowing function, the influence of hardness of the test material on the severity of dysphagia was examined. Four test materials with different level of hardness were used for the study, which was made by mixture of agar and iopamidol. The subjects were 24 patients diagnosed as aspiration or penetration using videofluorography. As a result, the softest diet had significantly the highest risk of aspiration, while the hardest material had definitely safer than others. These results revealed that the hardness of diet affected the severity of dysphagia. To divide diets based on easiness of swallow would help patients with dysphagia to eat more safely and satisfactory.
Published: 1996-03-31
Modified: 2016-04-21
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