text:
Unionized bus drivers in Seoul, Busan and many other metropolitan cities and provinces canceled a planned strike on Wednesday after reaching last-minute wage deals with their management.
Labor and management at about 200 bus companies nationwide held marathon negotiations until early Wednesday morning over wage hikes for drivers who will suffer a reduction in income after the implementation of the mandatory 52-hour workweek in the bus industry in July.
In Seoul, unionized bus drivers reached a deal with their management with less than two hours left until their planned walkout.
The two sides agreed to raise drivers' wages by 3.6 percent, extend retirement age by two years and extend tuition and welfare support by five years.
In the southern port city of Busan, a deal was struck after the walkout was due to begin, with a 3.9 percent increase in wages.
But in the southeastern city of Ulsan, negotiations continued past 5 a.m., bringing operations of the first buses to a halt.
Unionized drivers in Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju and several other provinces earlier called off their planned walkout after reaching agreements with their employers on pay increases and other working conditions.
Trade unions representing more than 41,000 bus drivers operating about half of the 40,000 buses across the country voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike last week, arguing the planned reduction of their workweek from the current 68 hours to 52 will slash their overtime pay by over 1 million won (US$850) every month.
As required by labor law, the unionized bus drivers have since held further negotiations with their employers under the arbitration of the labor relations commissions.
The Moon Jae-in government intervened and offered a package of indirect financial incentives. Bus drivers asked for financial support directly from taxpayer money to make up for their income losses, whereas the government preferred indirect support and bus fare increases.
The ruling Democratic Party had also vowed to expand the semi-public bus management system, in which bus companies are in charge of bus operations and municipal governments cover their losses.
In the face of an impending nationwide public transport chaos, the government and the ruling party had said they will mobilize all possible means, including increased operation of subways and taxis, hiring of chartered buses and adjustment of school and corporate business hours, to help minimize public inconvenience.(Yonhap)


text:
No not the actual heating but the fact that it was put on . The Biggles came in with the weeny one before me and felt cold so the heating went on. It is off now so only about three hours damage done. It will be on again tomorrow for a little bit as the B doesn't like the cold and will be on again over the weekend most likely. Oh well at least I wasnt the guilty one!
Weeny and he had fish and chips. they will be eating pizza tomorrow night with garlic bread as I have a late night - do the job till its done night at work.
I had a cheese sandwich and some banana cake for tea. Suits me can't beat bread and cheese.
Night all a warmed up bed is a calling.
PS Sold a few more bits on Ebay - another thirty quid! Not bad eh! So about sixty in total so far. May be squeeze about 100 in the end. With enviro clothes, gold sale and vouchers Weeny has a christmas! B doing all the grub which is lovely of him. I am rejecting all presents bar for weeny and shall refuse to open them if he does buy any. He has been warned. I am not buying a bean for anyone bar the weeny. Hmph! SO there.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Read about the history of Low Back Pain
Read about the history of Low Back Pain
Read my Blog re: health benefits of cold exposure and apnea training
As a Notre Dame graduate I am happy to see Jaylon Smith out on the field representing the University with class and talent. As an Orthopedic Surgeon who takes care of New Mexico State University- I find it remarkable that he is performing at such a high level. I had written an article in May 2016
that talked about Jaylon and his injury. 20 months after his terrible knee injury, Jaylon has silenced his critics and returned to the football field. He will only get better!!!! His positive attitude and work ethic should serve as an inspiration to all athletes with knee injuries.
Paul Saiz MD
New Mexico State University Spine Team Physician
Unknown too many people, one of our most famous Presidents suffered from chronic back pain. John F. Kennedy (JFK) was the second youngest President to serve the Oval office but was under chronic treatment for his low back issues which included four back surgeries…
Read the full article on my website: drpaulsaiz.com
"We are proud to announce our 5 year commitment to the 12th man Golf Tournament in Las Cruces. This tournament will help fund our local high school athletic programs. Las Cruces Orthopedic Associates (LCOA) has always been committed to our local athletes as well as our collegiate athletes."
Paul Saiz, MD President of LCOA


text:
You have got rent the vehicle, booked accommodations, bought all the accidentals, packed the stuff, and made final arrangements. Now it is the time to plan activities that will make a family road trip entertaining and boisterous for kids party! Are you wondering which activities will be full of fun and formed long-term pleasant memories? You do not need to worry at all, we have got your cover!
In the hour-long journey, kids play games, watch cartoons, view various places while travelling, and try everything. At last, the level of enthusiasm gets down and they start to get irritated. At that moment, you need to come up with surprise activities that will rejoice and excite them again. But first, you should have comfortable seating for kids. If you have a baby, and you rent a vehicle, make sure that the child's car seat is properly installed so that precious little one will remain safe and happy throughout the whole journey. Once everything is in order, you can do the following activities to maintain the electrifying environment:
- Interesting audiobooks is the finest method that you can come up with. When children are done with games, cartoons, and iPad, it is your time to play audiobooks in the car speakers system. Play curious stories and ask questions to kids. Have a conversation with them and make them laugh! This activity is best when you require to concentrate on driving and you do not want noise.
- Play imaginary hide and seek with your kids. Ask them to think where they would hide in the house, and they will hide in that imaginary place. The other one will guess the place. Once the place is rightly guessed, the game moves on to the other kid. This is the activity that utilizes a lot of time and children have fun all along while travelling.
- If you are still far from your destination and children have already exhausted, then it is the time to watch a movie together. Know that you have to spend quality hours with children, you pick the children movie that will keep them engaged. Do


text:
June 4th Educator Growth Day is almost full
Video Subscription
On-Site PD
Remote Coach
Idea Library Blog
Member Access
Give us a call
Strategies for Teaching Small-Group Guided Reading: Grades K-5
In this powerful workshop, teachers will learn how to plan and conduct differentiated small-group reading sessions that result in improved student achievement. During the workshop, Kristi McCullough shows teachers how to support students at their developmental levels, how to engage students in authentic text, and how to provide students with targeted lessons to increase their comprehension in both literature and informational texts.
a Viewing Option
Pick between "Verified" and "Flexible" viewing options.
Strategies that Work
Watch the on-demand videos at your own pace.
Every Student
Implement what you learned right away!
Topics covered:
Learn how to develop a schedule where small-group reading occurs in tandem with students working independently in literacy stations.
Obtain ways to utilize teacher-led small groups during the reading block.
Understand how to interpret reading levels of students and match them to an appropriate book level.
Gain strategies to support readers at all stages of reading: emergent, early, transitional, and fluent.
Learn how to tie whole-group mini-lessons to small-group instruction in order to support the five components of reading.
Learn types of before, during, and after-reading strategies and how they fit into small-group reading lessons.
When you complete the workshop, you'll be able to:
Use small groups to support and deepen mini-lesson skills first taught during whole-class direct instruction.
Introduce a new text to students in a way that provides support for them to be able to decode and understand the text.
Increase the amount of time students spend reading the whole text.
Cultivate student interaction with the text during reading.
Organize your space and supplies to make small-group instruction both efficient and effective.
Three reasons to enroll:
1. The stakes are high, and the heat is on.
Student achievement in reading is as important now as ever. Teachers need the tools and strategies to deliver research-based best-practice methods.
(Our strategies are classroom-tested and practical!)
2. Using time effectively is essential.
In order for small-group guided reading instruction to be effective, time with the teacher has to be carefully planned and purposeful.
(Learn to make the most of your small-group time!)
3. Differentiation is challenging but necessary.
Teachers are used to dealing with students who have diverse needs, but knowing how to meet those needs in the area of reading is a priority.
(Meet students at their instructional level!)
Top questions teachers ask about teaching K-5 reading with small-group instruction:
How does my whole-class instruction impact my plan for small-group support?
How do I know which students to group together?
What types of books/passages can I use for small groups?
What other ways can kids read in a small group other than "round robin"?
How can I use the assessments I already do to drive my whole-class instruction?
How can I use the guided reading block to support content-area learning?
Learn the answers to these questions and many more!
What teachers are saying about this workshop:
"Great workshop with lots of concrete examples that I can go back and use tomorrow. Good for beginning and veteran teachers."
Leah Taylor
, Teacher, Gosport Elementary School, Gosport, IN
"Not only have I learned to implement literacy stations in my classroom, but I'm leaving with the tools and confidence to teach my team so we can all get started on a great year!"
Krystal Taylor
, Teacher, Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
"Kristi is amazing! Her enthusiasm is contagious!"
Debbie Schmidt
, Teacher, Camden Primary School, Camden, OH
"It was informative as well as realistic! I will be able to apply many of the strategies in my classroom."
Linda Maden-Blava
, Teacher, Oakwood Grade School, Oakwood, IL
"Great ideas, great presenter, very engaging! Can't wait to implement in my classroom this year!"
Sammy Combs
, Teacher, St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic School, Floyds Knobs, IN
Frequently asked questions:
Once I register, when does my access start?
Once I register, when does my access start?
Immediately! Once you register and submit payment, you will be redirected to the workshop page which contains all the videos included in your workshop enrollment.
How long do I have access to the workshop?
How long do I have access to the workshop?
Once you enroll in the online workshop, you can access the content for 30 days. The self-paced format means you determine how fast or slow you move through the workshop.
Your workshop registration also comes with
lifetime access to exclusive digital resources
in the "Secret Site" that accompanies this workshop. Here you'll find classroom-ready worksheets and blackline masters, along with videos and articles to take your learning further. Teachers love the way the "Secret Site" helps them implement what they learn in the workshop.
Can I share my workshop with colleagues?
Can I share my workshop with colleagues?
Sorry, online workshop sharing is not allowed. Our Terms of Use specify that one registration fee allows access for just one person. However, we are happy to offer group discounts. Give us a call at (888) 376-0448 to get the details.
Can I get continuing education credits?
Can I get continuing education credits?
Most likely! With prior approval from your school district, participants may receive credit for up to 5 hours of professional development for each workshop. A Certificate of Completion is provided to participants when they complete all aspects of the workshop. For possible Illinois-approved credit, please
contact our office
Note: A Certificate of Completion is only provided when you complete the
Verified View
option for this workshop.
Can I earn graduate-level units for Teaching K-5 Reading with Small-Group Instruction?
Can I earn graduate-level units?
Graduate-level credit for Teaching K-5 Reading with Small-Group Instruction
Thanks to a partnership with the University of the Pacific, educators who enroll in a webAcademy workshop can
earn 1, 2, or 3 graduate-level units
. (To earn graduate-level units, participants must select the "Verified View" enrollment option. Graduate-level units cost is separate from registration fees. Units are $62 each.)
Graduate-level units offered through the University of the Pacific are non-degree units which are designed for professional certification renewals and salary step increases. (These are post-baccalaureate professional development semester units of non-degree graduate level and are not applicable to a degree at University of the Pacific.) To learn more,
contact us by email
or call (888) 376-0448.
What if I am unhappy with the workshop?
What if I am unhappy with the workshop?
We would never want you to be unhappy! That's why every online workshop comes with a 100% money back guarantee. We are convinced the simple and effective strategies will transform the way you teach so we stand behind this workshop with full confidence. If you aren't satisfied, contact me within the first ten days of your purchase, and I will give you a refund immediately. There are no additional forms to fill out, and there will be no delay. Just call (888) 376-0448 and ask for Brady or
email me directly
. We believe so strongly in this online workshop that we give you our personal promise of a speedy, hassle-free, no-questions-asked, total and complete refund.
Brady Smekens
Director of Professional Development
Smekens Education Solutions, Inc.
Immediate access:
Discounts available!
Teams of 3+: Save $15 per person.
Teams of 15+: Call us at (888) 376-0448 for custom pricing.
What's included with your registration?
30-day access to the workshop
5+ hours of dynamic workshop content
Lifetime access
to classroom-ready digital resources
Target Audience
K-5 Teachers
Literacy Coaches
Literacy Coordinators
Title I Teachers & Coordinators
ELL Teachers & Coordinators
High-Ability Teachers
Curriculum Directors
Elementary Principals & Assistant Principals
Have a question?
Simply fill out the form below.


text:
You are here
ACE Toolkit
Interagency Working Group on Unaccompanied and Separated Children (2013) Alternative Care in Emergencies Toolkit
A practical interagency resource designed to facilitate alternative care for children during and after an emergency. The Alternative Care in Emergencies (ACE) Toolkit is designed to facilitate interagency planning and implementation of alternative care an
Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies- Operational Guidance for Emergency Relief Staff and Programme Managers
The aim of this document is to provide concise, practical (but non technical) guidance on how to ensure appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergencies. A number of elements are also applicable in non-emergency settings. The Operational Guidance


text:
The West is finished
The West is finished. It is not a downfall, not a sunset either, not even a process. It is simply the end of it. Today we don't have something like the western states, anymore, based on western values and principles. Donald Trump seems to understand that, and decided to be tough in his own neighborhood with all kinds of liberals, who led to the collapse of the western system of values, he who also treats Europe like a parasite. Everybody knows that the West was done already in year 1968, when that generation rebelled against the model of post-war society of prosperity, a generation that was brought up in that prosperity. Since that moment it was only getting worse.
And we are wondering that Europe let in over a million of migrants, who simply just walked in, and still keep on coming?
And we are also wondering that in European cities exist ghettos of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They are the breeding grounds for all kinds of cultural and religious extremism. We were shocked when recently a center of Hamburg was burning for three days? These are visible signs of weakness of a sick human that the West became. Donald Trump not without a reason banned entrance to individuals from a number of countries, he knows what he is doing, which is to restrict inflow of the potential wannabe terrorists, who do not share the same values and beliefs with America. Who needs citizens like that?
Why do we need such fellow citizens here in Europe? If you are living in Europe and you created your own ghetto and you don't want to integrate, that can be still understood, but if you are displaying acts of aggression, that however can not be tolerated anymore.
But today we have in Europe politicians and publicists who condone such acts. They believe it to be normal, claiming that those people have a right to act so. In spite of the fact that this is totally in contradiction with the values a democratic society, but when the values are not there any more, but just an illusion, that is purse brainwashing of citizens.
Consumerism is not able to replace those values, which can be visible in those foreign-cultural communities that have settled in Europe, adapting to their life, to the social system by collecting welfare. On one hand the number of native residents is on the decrease, on the other the foreigners are increasingly coming. They grab the economic gains and keep their own values and culture, living their old life just in a different place. Theoretically there is nothing wrong with that, but on a second thought it leads to an eradication of typical European values, which means that Europe will no longer be a Europe if things go on like that for much longer. That has been picked up by Victor Orban Hungarian premier and Jaroslaw Kaczynski leader of PIS (Law and Justice Party) and in the states Donald Trump. They have become the subject of criticism and opposition for their views.
The West is experiencing moral, demographic, economic, and social crisis and more importantly a crisis with its values. It is a direct result of abandoning and degrading the importance of religion in private and public life. This vacuum could not be filled with anything, as long as one does not come with an idea for a new way of functioning in a society. Hopes placed in technological development have proven fruitless thus far, because the technology develops much slower in particular the growth of capital dividends is much slower than the public expectations of standard of their living. Marketing the new so called religion overtook the reality by so much that a lot of people believed in the fiction displayed on the screens of their smartphones. This fiction can really be captivating, but the brutal truth is different, pointing to the fact that only a few can allow themselves those luxuries. It always was like that, but it needs to be mentioned again, that in socialism the gaps were way smaller between those have and have nots, like in Sweden or other RWPG (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance) member countries. Today observing the European Council we can not negate the fact that we are going back to central planing. In Japan an agreement between the government and business is functioning since WW2. In USA there is also no real free market economy in spite of the official claims, in the sense in which some want to impose it in Poland. You could try to open up a chain of supermarkets in France or in Germany for example, and you would learn right away how impossible that task is. Good luck to you. By now great many people are tired of this Status Quo we are dealing with, because it can be seen that it is leading nowhere, and we are going to seize to exist as a civilization. Donald Trump skillfully captured this in his speech in Warsaw. Even the comments in the mainstream western press seemed to have agreed with it, but instead of focusing on the aspect, the press deals with trivialities like what connections Mr. Trumps' son has with Kremlin or the potential impeachment of President Trump?
It is very sad, that the last chance for the West to wake up is Mr. Trump, and over here in our country Mr. Jaroslaw Kaczynski. But this is the reality, it is people like that that are democratically governing today.
It does not make any sense to ask if the West can be still saved, because it is already too late, what is finished is finished. Now the task at hand for all of us is to rebuild its fundamentals, structures and functioning of western communities. We just need an idea to be able to put our resources together and put our differences aside, and go for it.
What we had thus far, is not working anymore. The concept of multiculturalism has failed and is leading the West to self-annihilation, it is like a cancer. There will be no more return to the traditional values with the leading role of the religion now and will not be in the future either. There will be a progressing secularization spreading to other countries. Even the masses that have been stupefied politically and corrupted by consumerism and fulled with so called "freedom" realize by now, that the politicians are mostly corrupted, dishonest, money and power hungry and quite often stupid. People can only swallow so much before they revolt. It becomes visible, that people are beginning to wake up in spite of the triumph of the neo-liberal agenda disguised by someone like Mr. Macron in France. For now it seems like we are caught in between rock and a hard place, and the pressure put on us is constantly rising, and it remains to be seem what comes next. The present situation looks more like the one when Constantinople fell. Soon something has to give, and return to what we consider as normality may not be possible any more, on the contrary a revolt will take place in order to shed the cancerous like cells, and total overhaul will follow.
The sooner this happens the better, even at a price of violent uprisings and the necessity of engagement of a foreign and enemy elements, it is worth to endure, we only need smart leaders. Because there is no general security at present in Europe anymore anyway, we have to remember that behind the corner Fascism is lurking. But that is not the point.
Written by Krakauer and Translated by Kanadier. Tekst polski [tutaj]. Russian version [link].


text:
Haluamme palvella teitä paremmin, joten uudella verkkosivustollamme on tietoa juuri teidän alueeltanne.
Käy tutustumassa sivuihimme ja lisää osoite kirjanmerkkeihin myöhempää käyttöä varten.
SRK opens new office in Zacatecas, Mexico
A strong resurgence in investment activity in Mexico's minerals industry in the wake of the GFC, and solid relationships with a number of key clients, have prompted SRK Consulting to open its fourth office in Latin America. The leading international mining consultancy inaugurated the office in Zacatecas, Mexico, last month.
Mexico's improved mining regulatory framework and attractive investment rules have underpinned stronger foreign and domestic minerals sector investment while reducing uncertainty around greenfield development and expansion projects. A recent forecast of the Mexican mining chamber put potential investment by mining companies in Mexico between 2010 and 2012 at more than $US13 billion.
"As a strong trading partner of the US and Canada, Mexico offers an attractive business environment for our services," said Terry Braun, SRK Consulting principal, who is leading the new office team.
"We also see Mexico as strategic in terms of building the global SRK consulting practice as we will enhance opportunities to collaborate between our established offices in North and South America."
SRK first flagged the opening of a Mexico office two years ago after its work with Fresnillo PLC, the country's largest primary silver producer and second largest gold producer, to list on the London Stock Exchange. This experience in gaining access to international investment capital helped pave the way to a more open‐door policy for foreign‐based consultants working in Mexico, according to Mr Braun.
"The success of the Fresnillo IPO raised awareness of domestic and other foreign‐based mining companies and the potential for raising capital outside of Mexico," he said. Zacatecas is strategically located near a number of existing and planned long‐term precious and base metal mining operations. SRK will offer strategic consulting services to mining companies, including technical and economic assessments of projects based on international standards.
Prior to establishing SRK Mexico, SRK maintained an active project backlog in Mexico and Latin America. This included a wide‐range of technical and economic assessment type studies. For example, a large base metal mining company retained SRK to perform a resource audit of its in‐country portfolio; a major steel producer recently engaged SRK to assist in development plans for a mine expansion plan; and SRK conducted a detailed geotechnical assessment of a proposed open‐pit expansion for a large copper producer.
Sr. Luis Arroyo, a mining engineer with more than 30 years' experience in Mexico's mining industry, is the director for SRK Mexico. The management team will be assisted by various technical professionals already working in Mexico.
"A key goal is to enhance the SRK brand by increasing our roster of bi‐lingual technical specialists who are familiar with our consulting culture, methodology and Mexican mining industry," Mr Braun said.
"We also see a broader opportunity to share our technical staff between SRK offices in North and South America. This will continue to enhance our goal to be the employer of choice in our market."
For more information contact:
Terry Braun, P.E.
Principal, Vice President
SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc.
Tel: +1 303 327 4563 (direct)
About SRK:
SRK Consulting operates from over 40 offices worldwide and its 1,000+ staff are committed to providing a full range of consulting services from exploration to mine closure. SRK is renowned for its breadth of skills and talented people who work harder and faster to find the most applicable and cost‐effective solution for each client. Visit: www.srk.com


text:
Bentley Launches New Licensing Model and Interoperability Software Portal16 Mar, 2011 By: Cadalyst Staff
Portfolio Balancing and the iWare Apps site offer users new ways to manage their software investment — and to access some tools for free.
The arrival of mercurial March heralds change, even in the CAD world. This month, Bentley Systems — which provides solutions for sustaining infrastructure — held its first-ever Annual Corporate Update conference call. In addition to performance and acquisition updates, the company used the forum to unveil two major initiatives: a new software licensing program and a web portal that provides access to free interoperability software.
The first of these initiatives, which Bentley dubbed Portfolio Balancing, enables new software license customers and existing Bentley SELECT subscribers to "trade in" underused licenses. Bentley COO Malcolm Walter explained, "Over the years we have learned that our user organizations' software needs change as their businesses change, which is a given in AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction). The mix of applications now required could be very different from the mix in use, say, five years ago."
Product Marketing Manager David Huie told Cadalyst: "Portfolio Balancing enables subscribers to exchange underutilized Bentley software for other Bentley software of equal value. So, there is of course no license cost involved. And the Portfolio Balancing activity should not substantially impact their annual subscription fees, since the subscription fees for all of our products are directly proportional to the list price of the software, although at slightly varying rates, depending on the product.
"As to Bentley revenues, we believe that this new 'sustainable licensing' business model, driven by Portfolio Balancing, will provide Bentley with an even greater competitive advantage in the marketplace which will result in increased market share."
Free Tools Support Interoperability
Bentley executives also announced the launch of the iWare Apps site, which will host the company's no-cost software focused on interoperability, including Bentley View, the i-model plugin for Revit, and Structural Synchronizer. The portal also links to free training and reference documentation, as well as interoperability-facilitating apps developed by other organizations.
The new iWare Apps site hosts apps and plugins that facilitate interoperability.
This launch is the latest in a string of interoperability initiatives from the software giant, including the introduction of i-models (which are "containers" for infrastructure information exchange) and Integrated Structural Modeling (a methodology for sharing structural project information across multiple vendors' applications).
Huw Roberts, Bentley's global marketing director, Building, told Cadalyst that Bentley has still more interoperability efforts planned: "The i-models and the iWare Apps site are two aspects of Bentley's overall commitment to helping AECO users achieve interoperations through software interoperability. We have new iWare Apps in the pipeline, and will also continue our efforts in support of industry standards such as IFC, ISO 15926, and a long list of others. And of course we will continually promote open infrastructure information exchange across Bentley's portfolio of applications and with other software common to our users' project workflows."
Forthcoming iWare Apps include:
- i-model Plug-in for AutoCAD
- OpenPlant Specification Generator
- Bentley AutoPLANT Object Enabler
- gINT AGS to Excel Converter (for GeoStructural users).
Looking Out to Sea
A report on Bentley's 2010 performance and the acquisition of SACS www.bentley.com/SACS structural analysis software from Engineering Dynamics rounded out the day's announcements. SACS supports the engineering, operation, and maintenance of offshore structures, including oil platforms and wind farms. The software's modules enable users to generate an offshore structural system model, then subject it to various stresses.
Commenting on the acquisition, CEO Greg Bentley said, "With respect to Bentley's strategy to realize the potential of information modeling through integrated projects for high-performing intelligent infrastructure, offshore structures provide an important opportunity. With increasing demands for offshore resource exploration, requirements for even better safety are obviously paramount."
The Annual Update call also touched on the company's financial activities. Notable numbers include:
- 2010 GAAP revenues of $476 million, for a year-over-year growth rate of 6 percent.
- In February 2011, Bentley entered into a new $310 million bank credit facility, composed of a revolving line and a fixed-term loan that it used to buy back $200 million of company stock.
More detailed financial information is available in Bentley's newly released 2010 Annual Report.


text:
Happy Father's Day to the two best dads we could possibly ask for!! We were lucky enough to have both sets of our parents come visit us this year. We loved having them and are incredibly happy that they experienced our lives here, were able to see HK – and, a bit more of Asia. The Niedospials headed to Singapore after their trip in April, and the four of us Fullers headed to Beijing at the end of May. It was a wonderful, whirlwind of a weekend!
We touched down and met straightaway with our guide Tony. The man has been touring people around Beijing for the past 25 years and knows enough about Chinese emperors and dynasties to make your head spin. We were big fans of his stories
First stop, the Summer Palace!
And no, that pic up top was not THE palace. There wasn't one massive structure – instead it was a collection of dozens and dozens of smaller one story buildings. Tony had a lot to say as we paused in front of each…. I in turn had a lot of wandering away and photos to take. Our next stop were the small streets surrounding the Houhai bar area. Hands down, my favorite place in Beijing. Packed with activity! Beijing's version of Lan Kwai Fong (hence my affection).
Check out this model on the left:
As much as we enjoyed our first day, we were all pretty excited for what the next morning had in store for us… The Great Wall. Beijing can be pretty smoggy, but we got the rare day where the skies were bright blue and the landscape was just amazing…
Jake approves.
Was pretty great to have Tony as our designated family photo guy…. Took one last set of pics and we set off! Next up… the Avenue of Animals.
And of course, we couldn't leave Beijing without visiting the Forbidden City. I'll be honest in that I didn't expect it to be so vast…. and so crowded! This was just one 'small' portion. Go through those quarters on the far end and you'll wind up facing another square similar to this one. And another after that. And another after that. All this for the emperor and his wife! Although we can't forget about his concubines, dozens of children and massive staff. Despite its size, the place was so well maintained. As Tony told us about nearly everything we saw – 'this structure is older than your country.' Entertaining, that one!
Just for kicks. Lunchtime in the palace.
Awesome trip.
HUGE thanks to our parents!!!!


text:
As much as we tend to adore his voice and writing, Brian Michael Bendis seems to be struggling getting into the heads of the Guardians.
His debut tackling the space-faring superheroes showed promise, but there's something about the six issues collected here just doesn't quite seem to gel.
If Volume 2 – Angela had been written by an inexperienced writer, perhaps we'd put any surface issues found in Guardians down to it getting caught up in the wider Marvel U. But Bendis is no stranger to dealing with event fatigue and so Guardians Of The Galaxy, spinning out of Age Of Ultron and tying loosely into the events of Infinity, should do better dealing with the slew of characters and events dropping in and out of play.
Somewhere in the world there's a comic-book collector that's been praying to Uatu since the dawn of the Noughties for the return of Neil Gaiman's Angela. That wish has been granted, but we struggle to understand why. Gaiman was reportedly on board to co-write this story to help Bendis usher in Angela's transition from Image Comics, but instead he's credited as a 'consultant'.
Her inclusion feels throwaway; the dialogue cheesy and forgettable. Angela is Bendis' ticket to get the Guardians out of any trouble imaginable – her powerset seems unstoppable – and it's going to take more than a consultancy role from Gaiman to sell us on her introduction to the Marvel U. Similarly, Bendis' take on Thanos and SWORD's Abigail Brand just don't read right – it's baffling to see Bendis struggle to get their voices down when he's built his career around being such a versatile and prolific writer.
Some inconstancies in the art department don't help matters much either. Sarah Pichelli and Olivier Coipel continue to impress, the duo do a wonderful job of bringing the Guardians – and their off world antics – to life, though Francesco Francavilla's film-noir style is a little out of place. The guy can draw one hell of a beautiful splash; his pages should be catapulting the action forward, but the pacing simply isn't there.
Guardians Of The Galaxy is still struggling to escape the large shadow cast by the exit of Abnett and Lanning all those years ago. Traditionally, the book has found its greatest success as a grand-space opera, and we are struggling to settle into Bendis' quip heavy flow.
There's plenty to be entertained by here, individual moments and certain set-pieces dazzle, but on the whole it feels inconsistent. That's not to say it's not worth giving Guardians Of The Galaxy a try, there's nothing quite like it on the shelves, but it has a long way to go to before it becomes a 'must-read' out of Marvel's wide variety of titles on offer.


text:
My Cart: 0 item(s)
The best sparring partner you can buy for a young martial artist!! A great partner for sparring techniques or target training. Bobby Bully, Century's Child sized Body Opponent Bag, is a kid size lifelike mannequin.
Shipping Dimensions:
- Weight: 30 lbs.
- Length: 54"
- Width: 19"
- Height: 19"
- A great partner for youth training
- Base can be filled with water or sand
- Adjusts from 50" to 55" tall
- Realistic "skin" simulates a live opponent


text:
OpenDCL 6 Release Candidate 2 is now available. This release addresses all remaining outstanding serious issues, and is expected to be the final pre-release build.
Recent Comments
- Donald Broussard on 2013-2014 OpenDCL project contribution report
- Luis Contreras on OpenDCL in AutoCAD 2015
- Luis Contreras on OpenDCL in AutoCAD 2015
- Owen Wengerd on OpenDCL 7.0 Released
- kilbok Jeong on OpenDCL 7.0 Released
Most recent forum topics:


text:
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be the only time couples can celebrate in between birthdays and anniversaries. Easter can make for a great time as well.
When couples get into the Easter spirit with a sense of romance, things can heat up fast.
Celebrate This Easter With Victoria's Secret
For those who love lingerie, Easter can be an extra special time. Throw some candles in the Easter basket, maybe some bath stuff, and an exciting evening only gets better.
The only question is, how much is too much, and for most couples on a special night, too much is usually just fine.
Provocative Films Can be the Ticket for the Movie Lover's Easter Basket
Behind closed doors, anything goes between consenting adults, and Easter is no exception. One movie that is sure to rev up the night is The Secretary, a 2002 film starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader.
Based on a short story by Mary Gaitskill, this romantic dramedy is sure to bring good laughs and a general satisfaction to couples looking for a great movie and a good time.
But do not let one recommendation be the movie of choice alone. With so many films for such wide tastes, The Secretary might be the absolute worst choice for some couples just as 9 1/2 Weeks would not cut it for others.
When it comes to movies, couples should kick back, relax, and get into whatever helps them get in the mood.
For Those Who Need a Little More, Easter Will Not Fall Short
If lingerie and hot movies don't do the trick, couples need not over think the evening. For extroverts, who derive stimulation from being around others, going out to a dance club with friends can be the perfect prefect to an Easter night's conclusion.
For those who dig on adrenaline, hitting up a theme park, mountain bike trail, or skate park may do the trick as well.
Art lovers may feel an extra special night coming on when the day is spent at a museum, reading poetry, or taking a sketching class.
And for those who want to stay in, there are still more ideas. Specialty shoppes for adults have a wide variety of games that will prove to make Easter (and many other nights) very exciting.
There are no limits when it comes to making Easter special. And while lingerie in a candlelit bedroom complemented with fresh fruit and champagne will do it for some, a great movie with Easter candy will do it for others. And for those that need to get out to enjoy being in at the end of the night, the options truly are endless.


text:
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Mayor Nutter and dozens of other mayors have come out in support of the proposed Comcast merger with Time Warner.
The approximately 50 mayors have signed a letter to the FCC in support of the Comcast buyout of Time Warner. The letter said the merger will bring benefits to every affected city.
In a separate statement, Nutter praised Comcast as a great corporate citizen, and said the merger would lead to improved services in existing Comcast markets.
His position of support for the deal is in stark contrast to that of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. De Blasio has asked the New York State Public Service Commission to scrutinize the merger. He said it should not be approved if it is not in the interests of consumers.
Nutter is currently in Atlanta for the summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee and was not available for comment.
Comcast wants to buy Time Warner for $45 billion, and the resulting firm would be the largest cable company in the nation.
Check Out These Other Stories:
[display-posts category="news" wrapper="ul" posts_per_page="5″]


text:
Marvin Ivan "Buck" Barrow (March 14, 1903 – July 29, 1933) was a member of the Barrow Gang. He was the older brother of the gang's leader, Clyde Barrow. He and his wife Blanche were wounded in a gun battle with police four months after they joined up with Bonnie and Clyde. Marvin died of his wounds.
Ivan Barrow was born in Jones Prairie, Marion County, Texas, the third child of Henry and Cumie Barrow. An aunt, watching the little boy "running around acting like a horse," gave him the nickname Buck. He stopped going to school around age 8 or 9, enjoying fishing and hunting far better.
In the early 1920s the older Barrow children left the family farm one by one, to marry and start careers in the city of Dallas. At 18 or 19 Marvin too went to Dallas, ostensibly to work for his brother repairing cars, but he quickly became part of the West Dallas petty-criminal underworld. His sister Marie, barely school age when she and her parents moved to the West Dallas campground, remembered watching him put spurs on roosters for cockfighting, and his pit bull, which tore off the back of her dress. He married twice and divorced twice during this time, and had three children by those marriages. Just before Christmas 1926 Marvin, 23, and Clyde, 17, were arrested with a truck full of stolen turkeys they intended to sell for the holidays. Marvin took the rap for himself and his brother and went to jail for a week, but the turkey adventure was an ironic joke, as by now Marvin was making ends meet by stealing automobiles in cities all over Texas and selling them for a comfortable $100 or so to fences out of state.
On November 11, 1929, Barrow met Blanche Caldwell in an unincorporated part of Dallas County called West Dallas. They fell in love almost immediately.
On November 29, 1929, several days after meeting Blanche, Marvin Barrow was shot and captured following a burglary in Denton, Texas. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to four years in the Texas State Prison System. On March 8, 1930, however, Barrow escaped from the Ferguson Prison Farm near Midway, Texas. He simply walked out of the prison, stole a guard's car, and drove to his parents' place in West Dallas where Blanche was living.
In interviews with author/historian John Neal Phillips, Blanche was frank about the fact that she not only knew of Marvin's escape, but that she hid with him and actually staged robberies with him. The notion that Blanche did not know until later that Marvin was an escaped convict was fabricated by the Barrow family and Blanche herself as a means of convincing Missouri State authorities to reduce her prison sentence following her capture in July 1933.
On July 3, 1931, Blanche and Marvin were married in Oklahoma. Blanche was not interested in pursuing a criminal career. She and other members of the Barrow family convinced Buck to turn himself in to Texas prison authorities and complete his sentence. Two days after Christmas 1931 his mother and his wife drove him to the gate of Huntsville penitentiary, where he told surprised prison officials that he had escaped almost two years before and needed to resume his sentence. They welcomed him in.
During his two years at Huntsville Marvin sent repentant letters home, written for him by fellow prisoners. Before he had served two years of his six-year sentence he was abruptly pardoned, partly as part of Texas governor Ma Ferguson's plan to decrease prison crowding and partly due to the lobbying efforts of his wife and his mother.
Upon his release, March 22, 1933, Marvin Barrow, in the company of Blanche, joined his younger brother Clyde, Bonnie Parker, and W. D. Jones in Joplin, Missouri where he participated in several armed robberies.
On April 13, 1933, Marvin, Clyde, and W. D. Jones participated in a shootout with law enforcement officers at Joplin, Missouri. Two officers, Newton County Constable Wes Harryman and Joplin City Motor Detective Harry McGinnis, were killed.
On June 23, 1933, Marvin and W. D. Jones killed Alma, Arkansas City Marshal Henry D. Humphrey during a gunfight on the road between Alma and Fayetteville. Clyde Barrow was not involved in the Humphrey killing.
On July 19, 1933, Marvin was mortally wounded in the head during a shootout at the Red Crown Tourist Court at Platte City, Missouri. The bullet opened up a large hole in Marvin's forehead that exposed his brain and caused severe loss of blood. Blanche was also wounded in the same gunfight. She and her husband escaped, however, along with Bonnie, Clyde, and W. D. Jones. Despite his ghastly head wound, and loss of blood, Marvin was sometimes fully conscious, and talked and ate.
On July 24, Marvin, near death, was wounded in the back during yet another shootout, this time near an abandoned amusement park between Redfield and Dexter, Iowa. Bonnie, Clyde, and W. D. Jones, all wounded in the same gunfight, escaped. Marvin and Blanche, though, were captured.
Blanche survived her wounds, although losing sight in one eye. Extradited to Missouri, she was tried for the attempted murder of Sheriff Holt Coffey at Platte City. She was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Buck was taken to King's Daughters Hospital in Perry, Iowa. His doctors commented in their report on how clean Marvin's head wound was, given the circumstances. Bonnie and Clyde had poured hydrogen peroxide into the head wound, cleaning it. On arrival Marvin was generally lucid and told doctors that aspirin helped the pain in his head and the only real pain he felt was from his other gunshot wounds, particularly the one in his back. That bullet, doctors discovered, had entered his back, ricocheted off a rib and lodged in his chest wall close to the pleural cavity. Because he was in such a weakened state—his limbs had grown paralyzed from another bullet wound and his temperature would not lower from 105—his doctors expected he would develop pneumonia from the surgery on his chest. They predicted either that or infection of his brain from the head wound would kill him in a few days.
Lawmen visited him in the hospital to get his final statements. Though doctors kept him numb with opiates, they also injected him with stimulants at least twice, that he might answer questions. "Due to the lack of medical attention," an interrogator noted, "the wound in Barrow's head gave off such an offensive odor that it was with utmost difficulty that one could remain within several feet of him." He agreed with Deputy Red Salyers that he had shot and killed Marshal Humphrey in Arkansas. He was able to chat with the doctor, who asked him, "Where are you wanted by the law?" "Wherever I've been," replied Marvin.
When word of Marvin's dire situation reached Texas, Dallas County Sheriff R.A."Smoot" Schmid wrote a letter of introduction to the local authorities for Marvin and Clyde's mother Cumie, and a deputy sheriff provided money to help her cover the costs of the 36-hour drive to Iowa by Model-A. She and her youngest son LC arrived for Marvin's last conscious days. As his pneumonia strengthened he became delirious and finally slipped into a coma, from which he did not wake. He died at 2 P.M. on Saturday, July 29, 1933.
Henry and Cumie Barrow put off buying a gravestone for Marvin . They were sure Clyde would follow him into death any day, and whether for practical or loving reasons or a mix of both, decided to wait for Clyde. Clyde liked the idea and suggested the epitaph to go over himself and his brother: "Gone But Not Forgotten."
On Marvin and Clyde's shared gravestone, Marvin's year of birth is incorrect. His mother gave the stone cutters their sister Nell's birth year for him. However, she had recorded the birth dates of all her children in the family Bible; there, Marvin's birth date is 1903.


text:
The Man, in this case literally Mr. Lube, is trying to keep women down, suing Ms. Lube for trademark infringement. "It is very representative of the machismo and the male chauvinism that exists in the trade," says Ms. Lube.
The trouble started when Jessica Gilbank, Ms. Lube's founder, went on the Dragon's Den TV show to try and raise money for her fledgling all-woman car repair shop. One of the judges was the co-owner of Mr. Lube who, instead of rewarding Gilbank with seed money, warned her that trouble was pending over copyright infringement. Three months later, Ms. Lube was slapped with a lawsuit for $240,000.
Rather than simply changing the name, Gilbank is fighting the suit in court. "On principle alone, I am not comfortable rolling over on this," she told The Globe and Mail. She sees the suit not as a simple copyright lawsuit, but rather an attack on female ownership of a business in a male dominated world.
Mr. Lube suggests the play on the name of its massive chain is intended to draw customers away from its business. According to Gilbank, the suit is a typical male reaction to problem solving: seeking conflict to resolve disputes. [via The Globe and Mail]


text:
Every Saturday, we highlight some of our favorite submissions from Potluck. Here are this week's picks:
Mexican Black Bean Wraps // Avocado, black beans, and vegetables make the filling for these easy lunch wraps. Get the recipe from Hello Little Home →
Crockpot Red Thai Curry // A veggie-packed Thai curry and even better, you can make it in your slow cooker! Get the recipe from Edible Experiments →
Chickpea & Vegetable Tagine // Spiced chickpeas, zucchini, and tomatoes are served over quinoa in this Moroccan-inspired dish. Get the recipe from So, How's It Taste? →
Salad Roll Salad // Summer rolls are one of my favorite summertime lunches, but I hate making them myself because I'm not so talented when it comes to wrapping them up. Solution? Throw the ingredients into a salad bowl! Get the recipe from Eat Within Your Means →
Spicy Tofu Scramble with Avocado Toast // Toast is all the rage these days and topping it with both tofu scramble and mashed avocado makes it into a satisfying meal. Get the recipe from Veganosity →
Cantonese Soy Sauce Pan-Fried Noodles // I love takeout-at-home recipes and these noodles are calling my name! Get the recipe from The Woks of Life →
Want to share your recipes with the Oh My Veggies community? Join Potluck and submit your recipes!


text:
Carl can't wait
May 18, 2017
EVENT: Tree House 2017 Stray Cat Strut
EVENT DATE: May 20, 2017
Join Us for Our Stray Cat Strut 5K Walk/Run
This family-fun event supports our work to save sick, injured, and stray cats. Register today, then set up your fundraising page and ask your family and friends to donate in support of your efforts. All proceeds benefit Tree House.
Plus: New Facility Post-Party after the Walk/Run
Post event activities: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. A special opportunity for participants (must be registered for the Strut) to enjoy a post-event party at our new facility.
To Register: click 'Join the Event' gold button at top
Event details:
- Check in: 9:00 a.m.
- Walk/run starts: 10:00 a.m. (ends at 1:30 p.m.)
- Post walk/run: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. step inside our new facility (participants only)
- Online registration: $40/Adult-Teen (13 and up)/$20 children (6-12), ends: May 19 @ 2:00 p.m.
- Day-of registration: $50 Adult-Teen (13 and up)/$30 children (6-12)
- Children under 6 (and strollers) are welcome
- Participants may bring dogs (on leash) and cats (must be in strollers)
Can't Join Us for the Event? Be a Virtual Walker
You can still participate even if you can't make it to the event. Either donate or select 'Join the event' and simply set up a fundraising page.
The Team: $80 TOTAL RAISED SO FARJOIN THE TEAM
Want to help Fundraise or Volunteer for this amazing Fundraiser? Join the Team


text:
This Day in Georgia Civil War History
April 14, 1864
Soldier Urged Wife to Learn to Shoot
A Georgia soldier in Virginia wrote home to his wife, urging her to learn to shoot a gun - both to protect their chickens and to use on any Yankees that might come through Georgia. He also wrote of some bad food, and their preparations for the upcoming spring campaign.
"…I am sorry the hawks catch your chickens so badly. I wish I could be there to kill them. But I reckon I would not do much hawk killing unless I done better than when I was at home. You must get some ammunition and kill them yourself. You can soon learn to shoot, and it might be of great advantage to you, if the Yanks should ever get that low down in Ga. I want women children old men and all to kill them every possible opportunity rather than let them pass through our noble old State. … We have some of the ham you sent me on hand yet, it has been a great help to us sure. We drawed old bacon the last time which is pretty rank sure and takes a stout stomach to conceal it. We drawed some old crackers the other day. Drew and I eat some once, and let the balance rip. We get plenty meal now, but it is a little coarse and not sifted… . The weather is fine and pleasant today and was also yesterday, which is quite a treat to us in one sense of the word at least, but of course will hasten the time of fighting, should it last long. Surplus baggage is being sent to the rear and a standing orders for the commisarys to keep seven days rations on hand, all of which indicates a preparation for the coming conflict. …" Source: Jeffrey C. Lowe and Sam Hodges (eds.), Letters to Amanda: The Civil War Letters of Marion Hill Fitzpatrick, Army of Northern Virginia (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1998), p. 136.


text:
Latest News
Cadets Walk 100 Miles to Celebrate Anniversary
Published: 24 Aug 2016
Air Cadets from 308 (Colchester) Squadron recently celebrated the organisation's and their squadron's 75th birthday by completing the Nijmegen Marches, in Holland, with a little help from the RAF Charitable Trust.
The event, known internationally as the Walk of the World, is the equivalent of completely four marathons in four days with 50,000 people, from 78 nations, undertaking the 100 mile journey.
One of the biggest walking events in the world, the Marches first began in 1916 to encourage fitness, evolving to become a celebration of the liberation of the lowland countries in two world conflicts, each day starting on Nijmegen Bridge and visiting the town of Arnhem on day one.
Nine cadets from 308 Squadron and one from 295 (Witham & Rivenhall) Squadron began training for the event in January, undertaking a comprehensive schedule that was designed to build up the morale, strength and physical endurance and give the cadets the greatest chance of success.
The RAF Charitable Trust provided a grant of £1200 to the squadron which not only purchased walking shirts, day packs and important hydration equipment, but helped subsidise the cost of the trip for the cadets, some of whom were at risk of not participating due to the costs involved.
Trust Director, Amanda Butcher, said "The Trustees were very impressed with the effort from the squadron to ensure that the trip was open to everyone and were pleased to be able to help."
The squadron, who successfully took teams to the Nijmegen Marches in 2011 and 2012, also teamed up with the British Dutch Walking Fellowship for logistical support at the event, including accommodation and medical assistance.
With a gruelling schedule that involved a 3.15am wake up call, the cadets walked 40km a day, with the exception of two who were over 18 and walked the longer course of 50km a day. They were welcomed along the route by the sights and sounds of music, dancing and celebrations.
"Local residents would camp on their front lawns from 4am offering tea, coffees, fruit and sweets while offering encouragement to the walkers," said Flt Lt Jean Robinson, Officer Commanding 308 (Colchester) Squadron.
"The challenge for any day with the team was to try and get as much distance covered in the cooler part of the day as you possibly could," adds Jean. "The sight of the bridge at the end of the day was a welcome relief.
"It was a tough challenge which pushed the cadets but one from which they learnt about both other cultures and themselves.
"Everyone you speak to says it's worth it and the cadet's question at the end was - can we come back next year?"


text:
This Non Surgical Breast Lift is the latest in Medically Scientific beautiful non-surgical body enhancements. As women age their breasts naturally begin to sag, the shape of the breasts become "collapsed" or "droopy", skin color becomes more greyish, or women can lose the nipple sensation from breast feeding, breast implants, and other factors. These are all normal and should be treated with a non surgical, effective procedure that will last for months and even years. By having this Non-Surgical Breast Lift performed you can regain the look and feel that you have been longing for. Some of the benefits are:
- Breasts are lifted back to normal levels and no longer droopy looking
- You regain the natural color of the nipple and full breast
- Generally regain the look and feel you previously had
This is a simple procedure. By utilizing the latest technology in Platelet Rich Plasma, blood is withdrawn from your arm, then put into a high-speed centrifuge. This FDA approved centrifuge spins your blood at such high speeds that it separates the Platelet Rich Plasma from the red blood cells. We then withdraw the Plasma by syringe and inject your own plasma back into very specific areas of the breast, which in turn gives you all the benefits stated above. This quick and almost painless procedure is all done in a very short period of time and completed in the comfort of our office.


text:
Happy Saturday
Welcome to this month's blog hop
The Creating Blog Hops Café
This month's theme is... Wedding or Anniversary. We have made some wonderful projects to share with you and to give some inspiration for those upcoming summer weddings.
Our Hostess for this hop is...
Robin Lane with... http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
Our wonderful Sponsor for this month's hop is...
Alicia with... http://
goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.c om
Alicia is giving one lucky person a wonderful
wedding themed page kit from Mambi.
So, sit back and grab yourself a Latte' as we dare to amaze you with our projects.
My friend's son is getting married next weekend and I was honored to make a banner and some gift bags for her:
I cut out 6" triangles from burlap. I created letter stencils using my cameo:
I cut the stencils out of vinyl and stuck the pieces to the burlap.
I painted the letters on with black paint. When the paint was dry, I removed the vinyl.
I used mod podge to stick the burlap pieces to brown kraft paper to give it a nice backing. I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes and twine to string the banner together.
She wanted some gift bags for the men who stood up with her son.
She found this saying on Pinterest. I made this on my cameo with fonts from my computer. I sent it to my printer and trimmed the paper to fit the bag.
The rehearsal dinner is at a baseball themed bar as they are huge baseball fans. They wanted simple bags for the guests to take home the leftover popcorn bar, Big League Chew, Cracker Jacks and sunflower seeds. As a baseball mom, I frantically took notes!!!
I made a simple circle monogram and cut it out of crimson vinyl for the bags.
I also made food labels for her for the shower and rehearsal dinner but forgot to photograph them. I was happy to make these for her - she was my middle son's 5th grade teacher!!!
Your next stop will be with...
If you get lost along the way here is the entire line-up for todays hop for you to get back on track and not miss a single project.
1. Robin L. with... http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
2. Eva Scraps with... http://evasscrapsncards.blogspot.com/
3. Amy E. with... http://www.scrapthissavethat.com/
4. Sharon with... http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com/
5. Miranda with... http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/
6. Alicia with... http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
7. Cathy with... http://cathyplus5.blogspot.com/
8. Lori with... http://scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
9. Nanné with... http://nannes-creations.blogspot.com/
10. Connie with... http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/
11. Jessica with... http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com/
Thank you for hoping along with us today and I hope that we have inspired you to get your craft on.


text:
Quotes from Rear Window (1954)
Showing all 68 items
- Stella: When two people love each other, they come together - WHAM - like two taxis on Broadway.
- Lisa: How's your leg?
- Jeff: Hurts a little.
- Lisa: Your stomach?
- Jeff: Empty as a football.
- Lisa: And your love life?
- Jeff: Not too active.
- Lisa: Anything else bothering you?
- Jeff: Uh-huh, who are you?
- Jeff: She wants me to marry her.
- Stella: That's normal.
- Jeff: I don't want to.
- Stella: That's abnormal.
- Lisa: Today's a very special day.
- Jeff: It's just another run-of-the-mill Wednesday. The calendar's full of 'em.
- Jeff: When am I going to see you again?
- [angry]
- Lisa: Not for a long time...
- [softening]
- Lisa: at least not until tomorrow night.
- Jeff: Why would a man leave his apartment three times on a rainy night with a suitcase and come back three times?
- Lisa: He likes the way his wife welcomes him home.
- Lisa: I wish I were creative.
- Jeff: You are. You're great at creating difficult situations.
- [into the phone]
- Jeff: He killed a dog last night because the dog was scratching around in the garden. You know why? Because he had something buried in that garden that the dog scented.
- [voice]
- Lt. Doyle: Like an old hambone?
- Jeff: I don't know what pet names Thorwald had for his wife.
- Lisa: The last thing Mrs. Thorwald would leave behind would be her wedding ring. Stella, do you ever leave yours at home?
- Stella: The only way somebody would get that would be to chop off my - finger. Let's go down to the garden and find out what's buried there.
- Lisa: Why not? I always wanted to meet Mrs. Thorwald.
- Jeff: Those two yellow zinnias at the end, they're shorter now. Now since when do flowers grow shorter over the course of two weeks? Something's buried there.
- Lisa: Mrs. Thorwald!
- Stella: You haven't spent much time around cemeteries, have you? Mr. Thorwald could hardly bury his wife's body in plot of ground about one foot square. Unless he put her in standing on end, in which case he wouldn't need the knives and saw.
- Lt. Doyle: How do you do?
- Lisa: We think Thorwald's guilty.
- Lisa: A woman never goes anywhere but the hospital without packing makeup, clothes, and jewelry.
- Lisa: What's a logical explanation for a woman taking a trip with no luggage?
- Jeff: That she didn't know she was going on a trip and where she was going she wouldn't need any luggage.
- Lisa: Exactly.
- Stella: Intelligence. Nothing has caused the human race so much trouble as intelligence.
- Lisa: You can't ignore the wife dissapearing, and the trunk, and the jewelery.
- Lt. Doyle: I checked the railroad station. Yesterday at 6:20 am, he bought a ticket. Ten minutes later, he put his wife on a train. Destination: Meritsville. I asure you, the witnesses are that deep.
- Lisa: That might have been a woman, but it couldn't have been Mrs. Thorwald. That jewelery...
- Lt. Doyle: Look, Miss Fremont, that feminine intuition stuff sells magazines, but in real life it's still a fairy tale. I don't know how many times I chased down leads based on women's intuition.
- Lisa: Jeff, you know if someone came in here, they wouldn't believe what they'd see. You and me with long faces plunged into despair because we find out a man didn't kill his wife. We're two of the most frightening ghouls I've ever known.
- Lisa: What's he doing? Cleaning house?
- Jeff: He's washing and scrubbing down the bathroom walls.
- Stella: Must've splattered a lot.
- [both Jeff and Lisa look at Stella with disgust]
- Stella: Come on, that's what were all thinkin'. He killed her in there, now he has to clean up those stains before he leaves.
- Lisa: Stella... your choice of words!
- Stella: Nobody ever invented a polite word for a killin' yet.
- Lisa: Tell me exactly what you saw and what you think it means.
- Lisa: According to you, people should be born, live, and die in the same place.
- Stella: We've become a race of Peeping Toms. What people ought to do is get outside their own house and look in for a change. Yes sir. How's that for a bit of homespun philosophy?
- Jeff: Reader's Digest, April 1939.
- Stella: Well, I only quote from the best.
- Lisa: A murderer would never parade his crime in front of an open window.
- Stella: You'd think the rain would've cooled things down. All it did was make the heat wet.
- [Lisa wants to be part of Jeff's globe-trotting life of adventure]
- Jeff: You don't sleep much, you bathe even less and you'd have to eat things that you wouldn't want to look at while they were alive.
- Lisa: I'm not much on rear window ethics.
- Lt. Doyle: Lars Thorwald... is no more a murderer than I am.
- [stunned]
- Jeff: You mean that you can explain everything strange that has been going on over there, and is still going on?
- Lt. Doyle: No, and neither can you. That's a secret private world you're looking into out there. People do a lot of things in private they couldn't possibly explain in public.
- Lisa: Like killing their wives?
- Lt. Doyle: Get that idea out of your head. It will only lead you in the wrong direction.
- Stella: Every man's ready to get married when the right girl comes along.
- Stella: I can hear you now: "Get out of my life, you wonderful woman. You're too good for me."
- Lt. Doyle: You didn't see the killing or the body. How do you know there was a murder?
- Jeff: Because everything this fellow's done has been suspicious: trips at night in the rain, knifes, saws, trunks with rope, and now this wife that isn't there anymore.
- Lt. Doyle: I admit it does have a mysterious sound. But it could be any number of things for the wife disappearing. Murder is the least part.
- Jeff: Now, Doyle, don't tell me that he's just an unemployed magician amusing the neighborhood with his sleight of hand. Don't tell me that.
- [first lines]
- Jeff: Gunnison, how did you ever get to be such a big editor with such a small memory?
- Jeff's Editor: By thrift, industry, and hard work... and, uh, catching the publisher with his secretary. Did I get the wrong day?
- Jeff: No... no, wrong week. *Next* Wednesday I emerge from this plaster cocoon.
- Voice on radio: Men, are you over 40? When you wake up in the morning, do you feel tired and rundown? Do you have that listless feeling...
- [the camera pans around the courtyard; cut to later in the day]
- [answering phone]
- Jeff: Jefferies.
- Jeff's Editor: Congratulations, Jeff!
- Jeff: For what?
- Jeff's Editor: For getting rid of that cast!
- Jeff: Who said I was getting rid of it?
- Jeff's Editor: This is Wednesday; seven weeks from the day you broke your leg. Yes or no?
- Jeff: I get myself half killed for you and you reward me by stealing my assignments.
- Jeff's Editor: I didn't ask you to stand in the middle of that automobile racetrack.
- Jeff: You asked for a, something dramatically different. You got it.
- Jeff's Editor: So did you.
- Jeff's Editor: It's about time you got married, before you turn into a lonesome and bitter old man.
- Jeff: Yeah, can't you just see me, rushing home to a hot apartment to listen to the automatic laundry and the electric dishwasher and the garbage disposal and the nagging wife...
- Jeff's Editor: Jeff, wives don't nag anymore. They discuss.
- Jeff: Oh, is that so, is that so? Well, maybe in the high-rent district they discuss. In my neighborhood they still nag.
- Stella: The New York State sentence for a Peeping Tom is six months in the workhouse.
- Jeff: Oh, hello, Stella.
- Stella: And they got no windows in the workhouse.
- Stella: You heard of that market crash in '29? I predicted that.
- Jeff: Oh, just how did you do that, Stella?
- Stella: Oh, simple. I was nursing a director of General Motors. Kidney ailment, they said. Nerves, I said. And I asked myself, "What's General Motors got to be nervous about?" Overproduction, I says; collapse. When General Motors has to go to the bathroom ten times a day, the whole country's ready to let go.
- Jeff: She's too perfect, she's too talented, she's too beautiful, she's too sophisticated, she's too everything but what I want.
- Stella: Is, um, what you want something you can discuss?
- Stella: When I married Miles, we were both a couple of maladjusted misfits. We are still maladjusted misfits, and we have loved every minute of it.
- Jeff: Would you fix me a sandwich, please?
- Stella: Yes, I will. And I'll spread a little common sense on the bread.
- [describing a dress]
- Lisa: A steal at $1,100.
- Jeff: Eleven hundred? They ought to list that dress on the stock exchange.
- Jeff: She's like a queen bee with her pick of the drones.
- Lisa: I'd say she's doing a woman's hardest job: juggling wolves.
- Jeff: She sure is the "eat, drink and be merry" girl.
- Stella: Yeah, she'll wind up fat, alcoholic and miserable.
- Stella: Maybe one day she'll find her happiness.
- Jeff: Yeah, some man'll lose his.
- Jeff: I just can't figure it. He went out several times last night in the rain carrying his sample case.
- Stella: Well, he's a salesman, isn't he?
- Jeff: Well, what would he be selling at three o'clock in the morning?
- Stella: Flashlights. Luminous dials for watches. House numbers that light up.
- Stella: He's gonna run out on her, the coward.
- Jeff: Sometimes it's worse to stay than it is to run.
- Lt. Doyle: Jeff, you've got a lot to learn about homicide. Why, morons have committed murders so shrewdly that it's taken a hundred trained police minds to catch them.
- Jeff: Are you interested in solving this case or in making me look foolish?
- Lt. Doyle: Well, if possible, both.
- Jeff: Well then, do a good job of it. Go over there and search Thorwald's apartment. The whole place must be knee-deep in evidence.
- Lt. Doyle: I can't do that.
- Jeff: No, I mean not right now. Just wait for a while until he goes out later for drink or a paper or something. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.
- Lt. Doyle: I can't do that even if he isn't there.
- Jeff: Why not? Does he have a courtesy card from the local police department?
- Lt. Doyle: Now don't get me angry. This is America. Not even a detective can just walk into an apartment and search it. Why, personally, if I was caught in there, they'd have my badge within 10 minutes.
- Jeff: Then make sure you don't get caught, that's all. If you find something, you have a murder. They'd probably not care very much about a few broken house rules. If you don't find anything, the fellow's clear.
- Jeff: What do you need as evidence? Bloody footprints leading up to his door?
- Lt. Doyle: One thing I don't need is heckling. You called me and asked for help. Now you're behaving like a taxpayer.
- Jeff: You know by tomorrow morning, there may not be any evidence left in that apartment, you know that?
- Lt. Doyle: A detective's worst nightmare.
- Lisa: Where does a man get inspiration to write a song like that?
- Jeff: He gets it from the landlady once a month.
- Lt. Doyle: What do you say we all sit down and have a nice friendly drink too, hmm? Forget all about this. We can tell lies about the good old days during the war.
- Lisa: So that's it? You're through with the case?
- Lt. Doyle: There is no case to be solved. There never was.
- Lt. Doyle: Oh, Jeff, if you need any more help, consult the yellow pages in your telephone directory.
- Lisa: Oh, I love funny exit lines.
- Lisa: Why would Thorwald want to kill a little dog? Because it knew too much?
- [to Lisa]
- Stella: You haven't spent much time around cemeteries, have you?
- Lisa: Well, if there's one thing I know, it's how to wear the proper clothes.
- [last lines]
- Newlywed woman: ...but if you'd told me you quit your job, we wouldn't have gotten married.
- Newlywed man: Oh, honey, come on.
- [referring to what was buried in Thorwald's flower bed]
- Detective: It's over in his apartment. In a hat box. Wanna look?
- Stella: Oh, no thanks! I don't want any part of her.
- [shivering as cold alcohol is poured on his back before a rubdown]
- Jeff: Say, don't you ever heat that stuff up?
- Stella: Aw, it gives your system something to fight against.
- Jeff: What about the knife and saw I saw him wrapping up in newspaper?
- Lt. Doyle: Do you own a saw?
- Jeff: Well... yeah. At home in my garage, I keep...
- Lt. Doyle: How many people did you cut up with it?
- [regarding Jeff's telephoto lens]
- Stella: Mind if I use that portable keyhole?
- [Jeff watching Lt. Doyle staring at Miss Torso dancing in her room]
- Jeff: How's your wife?
- Lisa: Did Lt. Doyle think I stole this purse?
- Jeff: No, Lisa, I don't think he did.
- Stella: How much do we need to bail Lisa from jail?
- Jeff: Well, this is first offense burglary, that's about $250. I have $127.
- Stella: Lisa's handbag. Uh... 50 cents. I got $20 or so in my purse.
- Jeff: And what about the rest?
- Stella: When those cops at the station see Lisa, they'll even contribute.
- Jeff: I've seen bickering and family quarrels and mysterious trips at night, and knives and saws and ropes, and now since last evening, not a sign of the wife. How do you explain that?
- Lisa: Maybe she died.
- Jeff: Where's the doctor? Where's the undertaker?
- [Jeff dials the number for Thorwald's phone. Thorwald is seen from a distance walking over to the phone and standing by it]
- [voice]
- Lars Thorwald: I... I don't know what you mean.
- Jeff: Come on, quit stalling or I'll hang up and call the police. Would you like that?
- [voice]
- Lars Thorwald: I only have 100 dollars or so.
- Jeff: That's a start. I'm at the Albert now. I'll be looking for you.
- [Jeff hangs up]
- [quietly to himself]
- Jeff: Come on, Thorwald, answer it. Come on, you're curious. You wonder if it's your girlfriend calling. The one you killed for. Go on, pick it up!
- [Thorwald is seen picking up the phone]
- [voice]
- Lars Thorwald: Hello?
- Jeff: Did you get my note? Well, did you get it Thorwald?
- [voice]
- Lars Thorwald: Who are you?
- Jeff: I'll give you a chance to find out. Meet me in the bar at the Albert Hotel. Do it right away.
- [voice]
- Lars Thorwald: Why should I?
- Jeff: A little business meeting... to settle the estate of your late wife.
- [Thorwald forces Jeff's apartment door open and stands before him, closing the door behind him]
- Lars Thorwald: Say something! Tell me what you want!
- [Jeff continues to remain silent]
- Lars Thorwald: Can you get me that ring back?
- Jeff: No.
- Lars Thorwald: Tell her to bring it back!
- Jeff: I can't. The police have it by now.
- Lars Thorwald: What do you want from me?
- [Jeff does not reply]
- Lars Thorwald: Your friend, the girl, could have turned me in. Why didn't she?
- [no reply]
- Lars Thorwald: What do you want? A lot of money? I don't have any money.
- [no reply]
- Lars Thorwald: Say something.
- [no reply]
- Jeff: Who said they left then?
- Lt. Doyle: Jeff, I hate to bring this up but this whole thing started because you said she was murdered. Now, did you or anyone else see Mrs. Thorwald being murdered?
- Lt. Doyle: Who left where?
- Jeff: The Thorwalds at six o'clock in the morning yesterday.
- Lt. Doyle: The building superintendant and two tennants in the building lobby. Flat out statements with no hesitation. The Thorwalds were on their way to the railroad station.
- Jeff: Now Tom, how could anyone possible guess that? Did they have signs on their luggage saying 'Grand Central or Bust'?
- Lt. Doyle: The superintenant met Thorwald when he came back. When he asked where he'd been, Mr. Thorwald told him that he took his wife to Grand Central Railroad Station and put her on a train for the country. See?
- Jeff: I see. This superintenant must be a pretty bright guy. Have you checked his bank statements recently? See if he was paid off?
- [bewildered]
- Lt. Doyle: Huh?
- Jeff: Well, what good is his information? It's a second-hand version of an unsupported story by the murderer himself: Thorwald. Now, did anyone actually see the woman that Thorwald was with get on the train?
- Jeff: All right, Doyle. I take it that you didn't find the trunk. And all of this is just some speech you made up one night at a policeman's ball!
- [glares at Lisa]
- Lt. Doyle: Let's let the female psychologist answer that.
- Lisa: It's looks to me like she is never coming back.
- Lt. Doyle: Now, that is known as a private family quarrel.
- Jeff: All right, but if she was never coming back, why didn't he tell his landlord that? I'll tell you why: Thorwald never told his landlord that his wife was never coming back. It's because he was hiding something in the apartment... or he still is.
- [stares at Lisa's overnight bag nearby]
- Lt. Doyle: Do you tell your landlord everything?
- [embarassed]
- Jeff: Uh... I told you to be careful, Tom.
- Lt. Doyle: I found the trunk, a half an hour after I left here this morning. It was at Grand Central Station.
- Lisa: I suppose it's necessary for a man to tie up a trunk with heavy rope?
- Lt. Doyle: If the lock is broken, yes.
- Jeff: And what did you find inside the trunk? Surely no tomato paste to me?
- Lt. Doyle: Mrs. Thorwald's clothes. Clean, well-packed, not stylish, but presentable.
- Lisa: Didn't you take them to the police crime lab to have them examined?
- Lt. Doyle: I re-packed them and sent them on their merry and legal way.
- Jeff: Why would a woman who is going away for a short trip does she take everything that she owns?
- Lisa: Oh I love funny exiting lines.
- [the woman's dog has just been killed from a broken neck; screaming in distraught at the other neighbors]
- Woman on Fire Escape: WHICH ONE OF YOU DID IT? WHICH ONE OF YOU KILLED MY DOG? You don't know the meaning of the word 'neighbors'! Neighbors like each other, speak to each other, care if somebody lives or dies! BUT NONE OF YOU DO!
- Jeff: I made a simple statement, a true statement, but I can back it up if you'll just shut up for a minute.
- Lisa: If your opinion is as rude as your manner, I don't think I care to hear it.
- Jeff: Oh, come on now, simmer down.
- Lisa: I can't fit in here, you can't fit in there. According to you, people should be born, live, and die on the same spot.
- Jeff: Shut up!
- Lt. Doyle: Oh, so anything you need, Jeff?
- Jeff: You might send me a good detective.


text:
Honeywell Chill Anti Fog Safety Glasses: Clear
Item Code: XV205AN
Dispatch: 2-3 business days
It is often hard to find a pair of safety glasses that both protects the wearers eyes and will fit within your budget. With Chill safety eyewear you get the best of both worlds. A durable lightweight spec at an affordable price point, will shift your view on value friendly safety solutions.
- Weighs less than 25 grams for lightweight comfort
- Flexible temples provide enough tension to keep your glasses in place
- A moulded nosepiece comfortably fits most users
- Wrap-around 9-base curve lens offers a close fit with excellent side protection
- Anti-scratch hard-coat extends the life of the lens for longer wear
- Anti-fog coating helps keep lenses clear in humid or extreme environments
- All lenses provide 99.9% UV protection
- Protects from hazards such as abrasion or impact
ASNZS 1337.1 - Australia New Zealand Standards. Medium Impact Lic 02742
Recommended Industries/Use:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Food Services
- Forestry
- Government
- Law Enforcement
- Manufacturing
- Medical
- Mining
- Municipal Services
- Oil and Gas
- Pharmaceutical
- Transportation


text:
Just a reminder that the old forum was deleted mid 2013 and a new forum was installed. Because of this members had to re-register for the forum (Name and membership number is required). The club is making a lot of changes hopefully developing its venues at the moment but we could do with some constructive feedback or just good old fashioned debate.
Some of the less computer savvy members have asked me to show them how to navigate around the forum, blog and website and if there is enough interest and a suitable venue can be found I will probably do this in early 2014.
Have a good New Year


text: Classifying the gains and losses of the alternate universe in Lilith's Brood was more difficult than I might have assumed, even with the help of a group to bounce ideas off of. Yesterday, we spent some time talking about the plants/flowers, which induce the suspended animation our characters have become some accustomed to. We spoke about this suspended animation, and whether it was a loss or a gain, a positive or a negative, for the characters who are suspended in time. The superficial aspects are clearly positive. Waking up years later, looking completely the same. Being healthier and stronger seems like an obvious gain. Waking up loosing decades of one's life, however, makes the suspended animation much harder to classify. I imagine that people would hold onto their years and their memories possessively, I know I would be horrified to know that a chunk of my life had been lost without my realization. I don't think I could ever fully trust my memory or my awareness again. I would always feel slightly tampered with. I associate age with wisdom, with learning from the past. For me, the most difficult aspect to understand about suspended animation is waking up older, but certainly not wiser. The complete removal of maturity and growth is scary. In an article in The Feminist Wire, "Photography Feature: On Beauty and Age", Sheri Wright comments on inherent beauty in photographs and art forms, it also touches on the importance of age. This reminded me of the confusing reality Lilith and other saved human's experience when Awakening, and discovering that significant time has passed although their physical bodies do not show this. Their beauty remains the same, despite the age. In her article, Wright insists, "Age does not mean the end of beauty". Although she surely means to comment on the beauty that can be found in aging, it is also relevant to acknowledge how confusing this beauty is when nothing changes at all, as is the reality for Lilith and other humans while in suspended animation.


text:
A secure portal allowing our customers and vendors 24/7 access to their operational and financial information.
Early Friday morning on 24 May, the container ship MSC Matilde was found to be listing in dock at the Port of Liverpool, UK. As a precaution, to ensure the safety of the captain and crew, they were disembarked from the vessel. There were no reports of injuries, loss of cargo or damage to ship and operations are back to normal. The cause of the incident is still being analysed by the relevant authorities.
MSC will continue to provide full support and expertise to assist with any enquiries.
Any statements and/or information provided in this section or in any press release published into it, is solely for general information purposes. Specifically statements and/or information provided are not meant as and cannot be construed to contain any legally binding offer by or on behalf of MSC that is open for acceptance.
MSC's position on reporting CO2 emissions
MSC Statement
MSC Statement
New hubs for the SOT programme
MSC's "Suspension of Transit" programme is a flexible cargo service that will help to fulfil the resumption of demand from Asia and ensure service continuity.
New cooperation agreement with SM Line, beginning on 1 April 2020
Come and meet our coffee experts at stand 5-6 from 12-14 February 2020
Please enter your email address below and we will send you an email containing a link which will allow you to edit your preferences.


text: SandervG 1,273 Posted June 1, 2016 · Why does my print have tiny zebra stripes? I understand it is in theory, that is why I forwarded it so they could test it and form a professional opinion. I personally don't have the technical knowledge to do this in this regard. If you feel comfortable you can share your methods with others users who understand the risk. That is one of the advantages of sharing the knowledge on such a platform Of course, only if you feel comfortable yourself! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
This year was my 27th annual raft trip on the Deschutes River in central Oregon, and was a great trip as always. This was the first year that I took oil paint materials with me - in previous years I've done small watercolors or dry media sketching. Since oil has become my preferred medium, I decided to take it along this year. These are all 6 x 8 inch field studies, done in around two hours each. They are not meant to be finished paintings but are rather field studies for use in developing larger studio pieces this winter.
The first three paintings here were done during Richard McKinley's July workshop with LaConner Art Workshops in Mount Vernon, WA. The remainder of the paintings are of the Deschutes River and the surrounding canyon area.


text:
"Nice shot!" I say as Jenny's gun smoke thins in the wet air.
The falling skies make a steady rushing that seems to pool in my ears. The rustle of a hundred raven wings ascends into the night. A few wounded or dying animals croon among the carnage.
Jenny lowers her weapon. No distant shouting. No tank shots. No screams. Jenny's eyes turn down, her face falls, and she sets her gun by her sister's ear to curl pale arms stained dark around the staring face in her lap.
Amid the dead dogs and monkeys, Sylvia's splayed legs make an awkward scar. Her hand lays wrist up on the back of a still animal.
Jenny rocks and murmurs as I crawl toward them, but even when I stop an arm's length away I can't hear what she's saying, if it's words at all.
Sylvia's chest isn't moving. The light was full on her, and I saw how much life it burnt away. More than she had. More than anyone else I've seen. She came with us into the light, her and Maya, but unlike Jenny and I, I don't think Sylvia has ever had the Heros, or felt the baptism of its power. She somehow channeled the living power of the city of Bangkok, fed it into the being that was Agafya, fed it through us.
Jenny weeps. Her body shakes and her hands curl in her sister's tangled hair.
I search, but see only ways to break the still body, and nothing deeper or real.
"Look, Jenny, look for her memory. Speak to her, if she can hear, maybe you can remind her."
Jenny turns from her sister's face, her eyes searching. Red fire under-lights the shredded clouds beyond the shrine walls, and it makes the tears on her cheeks and the starburst scar in her forehead shine gold.
"A-a book, my face. Oh Sylvia I'm here."
Sylvia's hands twitch, but its Maya's eyes that open.
"Give her back!" Jenny croaks with a throat too raw.
But the half-lidded eyes are vacant, staring into the sky, and though a slow breath moves in the body, no other light joins it.
"I fade," the spirit whispers a faint chime, almost inaudible even in the quiet. "She's paper, burning in my heat. I will go. She will remain." Maya's face melts like rainbow paint, blurring into Sylvia's flesh and spreading in rivulets down her spine. Her lips part with words I understand but do not know: "Oh mother, you said forever, but why did it have to be so long?"
The spirit goes, and a colored fire spreads through Sylvia's body.
Jenny's eyes dart, following the torrents of anima. Her words are an almost unconscious whispered litany: "Waving wheat, papa's hands, my-my face, a window? A- a carriage, a wooden box with her inside it, a prison cell, a book, a knife, field of paints no flowers, a campfire, a cage, a a pressed leaf, a a a too many things, a lock of hair…."
She looks up at me and tears stream from her white eyes. "Fighting and guns and enemies. Her life is a war. There's too much. I can't see it all."
It almost sounds like an apology. I take her hand, but the body between us moves.
Breath fills Sylvia. Her staring eyes blink, then focus on Jenny.
She lifts cracked hands to cup the freckled face, smearing the dirt and grime there. Sylvia's mouth opens, but before she can speak, Jenny bends to layer kisses over her. Shining tears splash on Sylvia's face, and are joined there by her own. The two of them linger, foreheads pressed together. Something glimmers between them which ripples in the dark, despite the mars.
I sit back and air enters my lungs. How long since I took a breath?
Outside the shrine's gate I hear the cries of working men and the rumble of engines. Voices issue orders in loud whispers and running feet move in groups.
I don't want to say it, but I have to: "We should move. Did you hear those soldier's voices in that? I don't really know what they think happened but I also don't want to find out."
Jenny nods and Sylvia's hands uncurl from embracing her.
Sylvia speaks, thin with exhaustion. "Maya?"
It's Jenny who answers: "She dissolved into you. I think she gave herself to protect you."
Sylva pauses, sitting, and her face turns away from both of us. In the curl of her shoulders and the stillness of her hands I read a terrible and sudden guilt. A shout from outside stirs her to speak again: "Others? Pensri? Papkao? Tunsir? Kai?"
Jenny answers: "We don't know. They might have made it out the back door."
"I thought I heard their voices, but they're not here now," I add.
Sylvia slowly gathers her feet under her. She stares for a moment at my offered hand warily, as if wondering what I intend to do with it.
"I'm offering to help you up," I say.
She stands on her own and Jenny slides under her arm, wrapping hands around her waist.
I pluck the little colt from the mud and offer it to Jenny handle first. She takes it with a grateful nod. Sylvia turns to look beyond the shrine's walls. Her jacket has been torn open down the back from collar to seat and the body underneath bears a matching scar. Jenny gently tugs the cloth closed and wraps her arm across it, but Sylvia doesn't seem to notice.
I am naked. Very naked. Jenny's underwear survived, which is not fair, but I guess she never went full kalagni. Bully for her. I tear a flag from the temple wall to wear like a towel.
"This way." Sylvia's voice is a thin breeze. "If anyone lived, I know where they will go."
The green door to Garland's club opens on a room almost pitch black, and smelling of blood.
Sylvia doesn't hesitate to enter, dragging Jenny with her. I try to edge in ahead of them, searching the dark for movement. Sylvia's hand on my elbow stops me.
'Nai,' she says. 'It's us.'
'Close the door,' a voice answers from the dark.
Jenny does, and then a match flares, illuminating a bandaged hand and half of Tellerhorn's bespectacled face.
His eyes dart among us. He nods his welcome.
"Hello," the singsong greeting still manages to sound cheery, even when it's clearly spoken over pain.
With the match he lights a little lamp, and as the yellow light blooms, I see the benches of the fighting club are spread with bodies. One is surely the huge bulk of Drydus. The rest are smaller, but one among them seems to catch fire as the candlelight gleams from burnished bronze.
"Hello." My cheek muscles are almost too tired to smile. "You made it."
"Not yet," Tellerhorn answers. "But it looks more likely each minute. Who's with you?"
Jenny lowers her sister onto an empty bench and Tellerhorn kneels in front of them, studying their faces.
The circles under Sylvia's eyes are cold extensions of the room's shadow. "Where's Nai?" she whispers.
The doctor frowns and glances at me. "Your kickboxer friend? He was… he came to the temple. We wouldn't have made it out without him, I'll be honest."
Drydus stirs.
"Wren?" The giant mutters, and his hand searches the air near him.
"I'm here," she answers, stepping past Tellerhorn to move to the German's shoulder.
As his paw engulfs her hand, a tension leaves him. His slow breath rattles.
"Lost anozer eye," he whispers. "Splinters. Schrapnell. Shtupid. But ve got a few out. Nai kam mit Die Opferbereitschaft. Nai came and fought for us. We remember him. Turi, Pensri, Vinh and Mahnin remember him. Zey are here because he came. You vill take care of zem?"
"No," Sylvia answers, and the silence after stretches out like a sea.
A truck rumbles past outside, and we all shift as a distant booming announces the fall of something heavy, or a small explosion. Tellerhorn blows out the light, and in the dark we listen as a group of male voices walks past the door but doesn't pause. A pigeon coos in the eves.
"I'm leaving, Drydus." Sylvia's voice is the faintest of whispers, but with no other sound it's still clear. "As I meant to do before. The diamond's gone. It's over now. You'll have to take care of each-other. This was my fault. They must remember my mistakes-"
"Shhh," Drydus stops her. "Jenny?"
Jenny stirs next to me, and her surprised question sounds a little too loud: "You knew my name?"
"Yah, I am big not dumb. You vill care of her yes? She vill get into trouble. She alvays gets into trouble."
Jenny's eyes shine as they glance at me. "We'll take care of her."
"Wait," I say, "where's Nai? Why isn't he here?"
"He's dead," Sylvia says, quietly in the dark.
"He was magnificent," Tellerhorn adds. "Did you know him well?"
"No," I admit, with my heart sinking as if into tar. "No I didn't."
"Ve remember him," Drydus declares.
"We remember him," Sylvia repeats in a whisper that resounds in the yawning and endless dark.
Somewhere in the thatched eves of the room, a pigeon coos. Jenny's shoulder bumps against mine and then sticks there, leaning against me even though her eyes are on Sylvia. The drip of water from the eaves may as well be tears.
"Ve remember too many," the German's words rise, lifted by a wave of grief.
"Come with me to England." Tellerhorn offers. "We broke one of these things because we didn't know what we were doing-"
"You vere lucky," Drydus rumbles. "Lucky your men found madness. Could have found vorse."
"I wish you had come sooner to steal our diamond. Then maybe more of the men would have lived. But I would make all the same choices again, if I knew only what I knew then." Tellerhorn's glasses glint in the dark and his shadow leans forward. "We're the most powerful country in the world, and now we know of these things, it is beyond my authority to stop the search for them. Come with me. We will do more harm in our ignorance, if you do not show us knowledge."
A crow scratches among the thatch while a distant engine coughs, the pigeon coos again, and a patter of late raindrops fall from the open ceiling over the fighting ring. The doctor relights the lamp. Sometime in the dark, he found a roll of cloth which turns out to be a couple of heavy officer's raincoats like the one Brass left. He gives them to Jenny and I. She accepts better of the two with a shiver and a grateful nod, and then tries to bury her shoulder in mine.
"We've also got very good doctors," Tellerhorn adds, as the yellow light makes his shadow dance. "Not magic mind you, but top notch. And I've got a truck coming, and a plane waiting on the runway. You'll be very well fed, and the Thai royal guard will not shoot, stab or blow you up."
"Yah," the German pinches his nose. "I vill come. Is vat Maya say for me. The others, no. They hav each their own way."
"That sounds nice," I say.
Tellerhorn turns to me with a worried half-frown. "Yes, Mark, actually… I wanted to ask. It's alright if you say no, but I was wondering, you speak Thai, right? And you can see into the past somewhat?" He doesn't wait for me to answer, letting the questions simply demonstrate that he knew these things about me. "I thought I might suggest to you that you follow Agafya's path, to go back the way he came and find out where he came from. I think it might be very important."
"No, Doctor. I'm going home."
"Yes, well, that's… that's completely understandable."
Sylvia stands and glances over her shoulder at Jenny and I. The candlelight plays with the shadow of her torn coat on her tan skin and the pale scar down her back.
"Come," she says, and starts toward the back of the room, where the light doesn't reach.
"But he has an airplane." Jenny points at Tellerhorn.
"Yes, come." Sylvia pauses at the door to the training room, barely a shadow in the dark.
"Can we rest until morning?" I ask. "You can barely walk."
"No." She turns to speak over her shoulder. "If Maya is gone, than her power fades from the world, and the ways she made will soon follow her."
Jenny and I share a glance. I shrug and we help each-other up.
"Where are you going?" Tellerhorn hisses.
"Home," says Sylvia from the dark.
One Reply to "50. Road"
Aw, Nai <\3 I guess I shouldn't be surprised Tellerhorn and co still plan to meddle with the diamonds. At least he's trying a little to mitigate the damage.
I wonder what Maya's cryptic words mean. And what it means for the world that she is not in it.


text:
There are a lot of people that are becoming interested in getting the right type of auto insurance coverage for them but aren't sure how to do so. When it comes to auto insurance you want to educate yourself as much as you can about the subject to get the results you want, tips like the ones in this article can help you do that.
When shopping for a new car, be sure to check with your insurance company for any unexpected rate changes. You may be surprised at how cheap or expensive some cars may be due to unforeseen criteria. Certain safety features may bring the cost of one car down, while certain other cars with safety risks may bring the cost up.
Buying car insurance online can help you find a great deal. Insurance companies often provide a discount for online applications, since they are easier to deal with. Much of the processing can be automated, so your application doesn't cost the company as much. You may be able to save up to 10%.
There are many options which can protect you far beyond the minimum that is legally required. In the end, the extra expense of some insurance policies may be worth it. For example, if you get uninsured motorist insurance, you are protected even if the other party involved is illegally driving without insurance. Continue reading