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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21878 | Unveiling the Pathos of Life: The Phenomenology of Michel Henry and the Theology of John the Evangelist
John Behr
From the early centuries, the Evangelist John has been referred to as “the theologian.” And rightly so, for Christian theology, as we have come to know it, is inconceivable without his Gospel and especially its Prologue. Its words have provided the vocabulary for theological reflection thereafter, and it seems certain that, until the middle to the end of the second century, the annual celebration of Christ’s Passion, Pascha, was only celebrated by those who recalled how John had worn the distinctive headdress of the high priest in Jerusalem: the only disciple to remain at the foot of the cross, John was, for them, the high priest of the paschal mystery. It is thus perhaps not surprising that it was especially in John, and his words about the revelation of Christ, the Word and Life, that Michel Henry found a vision of Christianity that resonated with the phenomenology that he had been investigating from his initial magnum opus, The Essence of Manifestation, through to his final Christian trilogy: first, I Am the Truth: Towards a Philosophy of Christianity, then several years later, during which time he read Tertullian and most importantly Irenaeus, Incarnation: A Philosophy of Flesh, and finally, appearing in print posthumously, Words of Christ
Phenomenology; Theology; Life; Phenomenology of Religion;
Full Text:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/jffp.2018.861
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Copyright (c) 2018 Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21880 | Hello Woocommerce, bye bye Prestashop
Lately I had a lot of problems with Prestashop that I was not able to solve. Maybe because I was not experience enough with it, or maybe because I did not understood how it works. The point is that I need to have something operational and with ability to solve the issues.
Yesterday I was looking for an alternative to rescue the data in an affordable format, and given the fact that some months ago I did a test with WooCommerce I though: I must not be the first one doing this.
So I installed a new WordPress instance, I installed WooCommerce and I used one of the plug-ins I found in the market place.
FG PrestaShop to WooCommerce
By Fréderic Gilles is the plug-in I used, very straight forward, with clear documentation, and nice log that tracks the situation of the data migration.
After that I cleaned some old data, review the categories and tags and that’s it. Now we only have to organize the menu and some widgets (I will do it during the weekend).
Total amount of work: 5 hours
My customer is now evaluating the alternative solution, let’s see what happens.
Prestashop admin user does not log in
My Prestashop’s admin user does not log in into the back-office, I have checked the password is right and I still cannot go in. The error message is:
“There is one error. the employee does not existor the password is wrong”
Reset Prestashop admin password
I have followed these steps recommended by different forums:
1. Look in config/settings.inc.php file in your Prestashop directory and find out the _COOKIE_KEY_ value.
2. I have copied the value of the parameter: <_COOKIE_KEY_>.
3. I have updated the entry with the following line:
UPDATE employee SET passwd = md5(“<_COOKIE_KEY_ value><yourNewPassword>”) WHERE email = “<youremailaddress>”;
This is not working to me, it still does not go in.
Enable error reporting
I have enabled error reporting on Prestashop. And the result is that there is a white screeen after I try to log in. So I have disable the error reporting.
How to move Prestashop to a new server
If you want to move Prestashop from one server to other, this guide is the more complete one.
In addition to me, I created a parking DNS to redirect the DNS from 1 hosting provider to other without change the domain contract.
I had an issue when uploading the SQL database because it was around 100MB and the time response were timed out. You just need to deselect “Allow the interruption of an import in case the script detects it is close to the PHP timeout limit”.
Once you access to the store admin, you have to review the configuration at least of:
• Review multi-store URLs
• Remove couldfront direction in case you have CDN.
• Review the menu (just in case).
• In general all modules: Social links, cms block….
Prestashop, multistore
I am trying to configure a multistore on Prestashop I create the new environment, I configure the virtual address and I can hide modules for this specific store. I can also create categories and products.
My issue: I cannot visualize the store, it only shows the top layer. There is not “body” 🙁
I go to module > positions, and all modules are there on each right position.
I enter on the “Run Live Edit” of the theme and it only shows the logo and an 404 error.
any idea about what I should review?
• Follow the user support help document.
• Categories: check at least a couple of them from the root shop.
• Import all modules (you can disable them later).
• Select the right theme (in my case this was important thing I was doing wrongly).
Bogus PrestaShop Instructions per Second
I do not you, but I have still not found a clear standard way to meaure the E2E time response of a web hosting provider for a prestashop store. I know my shared hosting has a slow First Time response, but where to go?
On WordPress someone created a plugin to measure the CPU speed, the network transfer and database queries per second. The way to compare with others is not accurate, but it’s better than nothing.
When you are using a shared server, the CPU, the number of neighbors and many other aspects are key to understand the time response, but I want to be able to compare apples with apples, and avoid every single provider to tell me why their hosting is faster than others.
Other aspect relevant for me, is that I want speed on Prestashop configuration, I don’t care about WordPress or joomla or other environments.
So, I’m looking for the Kms/h refference, something like “Bogus PrestaShop Instructions per Second” (BogoPips) that enable the community to compare apples with apples.
Is there already something in place?
Prestashop cache, disable it!
This is the summary, I had to disable the cache from Prestashop.
The cache mechanism from Prestashop is a different thing from the CDN. To avoid confusion, I have activated a CDN and this works fine delivering the static content of the store (images, js, css, etc).
The issue is the internal cache system from Prestashop.
I though that the use of this cache was something good, it should be beneficial, isn’t it? In my case, it is not the case.
This cache system uses a lot of resources (mainly CPU) to generate and update the cache. When you disable it, every single request is done through the PHP web server and the database, but the CPU and memory used is less in the majority of the scenarios than having the cache activated.
CPU_memory_comparative_prestashopOther important thing is to disable the modules that you really do not use. I read that in a blog and I thought “this is so basic suggestion!!” but 5 minutes later I had disabled 6 modules.
This is being a hard job to enable and disable modules, test the environment and track the time response, but at this stage I have not other option 🙁
Prestashop, changing configuration e-mail
I have changed the name of my shop in Preferences / Contact and shops, there is nothing to do, these values do not change. I enter again and the old values come back again.
I was reviewing the php file and I found that the configuration values that where not working was: PS_SHOP_EMAIL.
I accessed to the database and on the ps_configuration table, I saw that the values for this key was duplicated. I have removed the duplicated value and now it is working fine.
Prestashop, navigation on panels not working
I had an issue on the panels where the products are listed. For some of the categories the navigation was working, but for some others the navigation failed. You can click on:
• Sort by grid,
• Sort by list
• Next, to access to the following list of 10 or 20 products.
After performing so many checks I found that the cause that was governing the navigation was the module blocklayered, and that it was not working properly.
1. I changed some properties, and it did not work.
2. I execute the cron jobs, and it did not work.
I have reset it and now is working fine!!!! the panels are working and the navigation is running fine.
Other recommendation, if you are updating products and categories (something very usual) you should rebuild these indexes of the module blocklayered: |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21908 | Self validating bug more dangerous than internet dating
The best way to do that is to add an entry to the W3C's public installation of Bugzilla, which the WG uses to track issues and enhancement requests, specifying "XML Schema" as the 'product' name. If access to Bugzilla is not feasible, please send your comments to the W3C XML Schema Working Group's public comments mailing list, www-xml-schema-comments Aw3(archive).Please note that both the Bugzilla installation and the comments list are not only public-write but also public-read; don't say things you don't want seen in public.The XML Schema Working Group, part of the XML Activity, is responsible for the W3C's work on this topic -- for details see the Working Group's charter.
Code Synthesis XSD 3.0.0 - Open-source XML Schema to C compiler Boris Kolpackov 2007-08-01 Code Synthesis XSD is an open-source, cross-platform W3C XML Schema to C data binding compiler.
Provided with a schema, it generates C classes that represent the given vocabulary as well as parsing and serialization code.
|
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21946 | Raw Fish in a Ice Cream Cone?
Chef Ronnie is always pushing the norm and when he shared his latest idea, I paused and thought, “Did I hear him right?” His idea was to make an ice cream cone and put raw fish in it. It would be featured at the Turtle Bay Foundation Golf Tournament, an event that benefits the community and raised more than $130,000 in scholarships and grants last year alone.
As usual, Executive Chef Ronnie Nasuti wanted to get a reaction out of me. I laughed and he went on to explain that he was going to make a fresh, savory waffle cone using taro, giving it a purple hue and some malt flavors and then fill it with Poisson Cru.
Here is the Video on Hawaii News Now (KGMB/KHNL) Chef did a live demo of the featured the dish with Grace Lee.
Chef was planning to use fresh caught ONO (wahoo), a close relative of the king mackerel. Built like a torpedo, they are fast swimmers. Ono rarely school, but groups are often found around fish aggregation buoys. And they have very sharp teeth!
Poisson Cru is known as a popular Tahitian dish, in French Polynesian, this literally translates to “Raw Fish.” This dish is marinated in lemon or lime juice until the surface of the flesh becomes tightens up a bit. About 5 minutes later, it is mixed with coconut milk and diced vegetables. Chef plans on using local sweet onions, tomatoes, limu (seaweed) and ice lettuce from MetroGrow Hawaii, an urban, vertical farm located in Kakaʻako.
The ice plant (aka Glacier Lettuce or Ice Lettuce) cells are full of salt water and look like ice crystals on the plant. It will give it a crunchy, juicy, salty taste.
An unusual crop, the ice plant is a succulent ground cover whose stems and leaves accumulate salt in specialized cells on the surface. It is a neat addition to salads and good with seafood. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21953 | The Full Wiki
Bar (counter): Map
Wikipedia article:
Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article:
A bar is a counter at which drinks are mixed by a bartender, mainly in hotels, taverns, and pubs. This term is applied as a synecdoche to drinking establishments called bars. Bars may also be found in restaurants, private homes, offices, cruise ships, and aircraft.
Bars typically store a variety of liquors and other nonalcoholic drink ingredients, and are organized to facilitate the bartenders' efficiency. They may also have areas for the storage of snack foods.
The word bar in this context was already in use by 1592 at the latest, as the dramatist Robert Greene referred to one in his A Noteable Discovery of Coosnage. However, it has been suggested that the method of serving from a counter was invented by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the great Victorian engineer, as a means of more quickly serving the sudden rush of customers caused by passenger trains arriving at the refreshment rooms at Swindon railway stationmarker while the Great Western Railway trains changed locomotives. It has also been claimed that the first bar to serve alcohol was installed at the Great Western Hotelmarker on Paddington stationmarker, Londonmarker.
Counters for serving other types of food and drink are sometimes also called bars. Examples include salad bars, sushi bars, and sundae bars.
See also
1. Oxford English Dictionary
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21971 | Myongji University Microsystems Laboratory Directed by Prof. Sang Kug Chung
Schematic diagram.PNGAcoustic bubble-powered miniature rotor for wireless energy harvesting: (a) When a compressible bubble in the microtube is acoustically excited at the natural frequency of the bubble, the bubble periodically oscillates in the tube and simultaneously induces a synthetic jet providing the propulsion force; (b) Owing to the propulsion force, the miniature rotor, where bubbles are trapped in the microtube, continuously rotates under acoustic excitation. The rotating miniature rotor provides fine mechanical vibrations to the piezocantilever, which is initially set up beside the rotor tips. Consequentially, electrical energy is generated due to the piezoelectric effect and stored via an electric circuit. The proposed energy harvesting technology can extract mechanical power from acoustic energy using a miniature rotor driven by acoustically oscillating bubbles in an aqueous medium and convert mechanical power to electric power.
Schematic diagram of manipulation of microparticles with two different sizes by utilizing an optothermally and acoustically excited bubble on-demand. (a) Dispersed microparticles with different sizes. (b) Generation of a bubble through optothermal effects. (c) Transportation of the bubble toward the dispersed microparticles by using optothermocapillary effects. (d) Sorting and capturing of target particles with a specific size by means of acoustic radiation effects. (e) Transportation of captured particles through both optothermocapillary and acoustic radiation effects. (f) Releasing captured particles in the absence of acoustic agitation and subsequent return to the original position by way of optothermocapillary effects.
Bubble oscillation_logo.gif Bubble manipulation.gif
조회 수 : 322
2017.08.23 (18:40:59)
Schematic diagram of a proposed electromagnetically driven on-chip micromanipulator: When a bubble on the tip of the micromanipulator is acoustically excited at its natural frequency by a piezoactuator attached beneath the chip, it oscillates and simultaneously generates a radiation force, called a Bjerknes force, which results in pulling a neighboring object onto its surface, as shown in Fig. 1(b). The captured object can be transported to any location with the micromanipulator actuated by an external magnetic controller consisting of precisely controllable 2D traverse and twin permanent magnets (Fig. 1(c)). When the object carried with the micromanipulator reaches a target location, it can be released from the bubble simply by turning the piezoactuator off and transporting the micromanipulator to the original position, as shown in Fig. 1(d).
Single ball manipulation.gif 2 balls manipulation.gif
조회 수 : 411
2017.08.23 (17:24:11)
Conceptual schematic of the microfluidic-based magnetic-field-driven manipulation of the liquid metal: (a) coating with Fe particles, (b) HCl treatment and suction of the liquid metal, (c) HCl-treated liquid metal injection into the PDMS-based microfluidic channel filled with HCl or NaOH, and (d) on-demand magnetic manipulation of the HCl-treated liquid metal.
2.JPG liquid metal.gif
조회 수 : 920
2017.03.09 (17:44:39)
Schematic diagram of a smart self-cleaning lens cover based on an electrowetting (EW) principle for miniature cameras (a-c) and sequential sketches of droplet transportation on coplanar electrodes by EW actuation (d-e).
fab.jpg 02.gif
Check oral presentation for this work
조회 수 : 669
2016.05.02 (19:35:04)
Schematic diagram of a proposed magnetic droplet manipulation system actuated by magnetic actuation and acoustic excitation: (a) top view; (b) side view.
speed.JPG experiment.gif
Multifunctional liquid lens (MLL) for miniature cameras used in smart devices and biomedical imaging systems has been developed in Myongji University Microsystems Laboratory. MLL firstly offers variable-focus and variable-zoom in a single lens system using two different actuation schemes : electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) actuation for controlling the lens curvature and electromagnetic actuation for controlling the lens position.
조회 수 : 905
2016.02.05 (18:35:58)
Schematic diagram of a tunable liquid lens operated by electromagnetic actuation. According to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, when electric current flows in an electric coil, a magnetic field is generated in its surroundings. The magnetic field is used to actuate or pull a ring-shaped neodymium magnet placed on the top of an elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane in the liquid lens, resulting that the liquid inside an actuation chamber flows into the lens chamber through open walls. It brings the change of the surface profile and focal length of the liquid lens.
조회 수 : 926
2015.09.10 (15:59:10)
Schematics of 3D manipulation of a droplet in parallel plates consisting of the patterned arrays of EWOD electrodes: (a) 3D envisioned image; (b) 2D droplet motion images.
3D EWOD.gif
조회 수 : 899
2015.05.06 (22:28:50)
Schematic diagram of AC-EWOD driven waves on the water surface and flows: (a) At low frequencies (< 1 Hz), oscillating flows with standing waves are generated; (b) At high frequencies (> 50 Hz), steady flows with travelling waves are generated.
1 Hz.gif
<1 Hz>
50 Hz.gif
<50 Hz>
조회 수 : 815
2015.04.22 (19:33:44)
Conceptual description of the enhancement of electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) response speed based on overdrive method. To improve response time (time to reach base radius (rb1), an overdrive voltage (V2) exceeding the target voltage (V1) is initially applied for the first frame (t1), and the target voltage (V1) is then applied for subsequent frames. This results in a reduction of the response time (t2-t1).
조회 수 : 928
2015.04.22 (19:09:33)
An acoustically oscillating droplet induced motion-powered energy harvester: (a) When a water droplet is acoustically excited by a piezoactuator around its natural frequency, it oscillates; (b) When an acoustically oscillating droplet is placed on the tip end of a piezocantilever, the oscillating motion of the droplet induces the continuous bending of the piezocantilever as the reaction, resulting in electric power generation from the piezocantilever. The envisioned energy harvesting system can extract mechanical power from acoustic noise over a wide range of frequencies using liquid droplets with different sizes and natural frequencies and convert the mechanical power to electrical power for wireless electronic devices. This new type of actuation technique is a simple but useful tool not only for energy harvesting systems but also for potential acoustic wave sensors and actuators in the future.
조회 수 : 1117
2014.07.11 (13:09:24)
Schematic diagram of a tunable optical iris operated by electromagnetic actuation: When an electrical current is applied to an electric coil, a ferrofluid initially filled inside the sub-channel of the iris is electromagnetically actuated and pulled to the center of the main channel, resulting in changing the aperture of the iris.
조회 수 : 1144
2014.04.10 (08:52:41)
Schematic diagram of micro-object manipulation in blood vessels using a microrobot incorporated with an acoustically oscillating bubble: (a) Test setup; (b1–b3) Micro-object manipulation in human blood vessels using the designed microrobot.
조회 수 : 1102
2014.02.22 (23:55:39)
Contact angles of water droplets and thicknesses of thin layers with respect to weight percentages (wt%) of Cytop and Teflon. Note that the number near each data indicates the standard deviation.
Streamlines and velocity contours of steady streaming flow around a sessile bubble actuated by an acoustic wave: (a) PIV experimental result and (b) computational result.
조회 수 : 1297
2012.07.17 (16:08:03)
Micro-object manipulation by AC-EWOD-driven twin bubbles: (a) Initial state; (b) When twin bubbles actuated by AC-EWOD at a certain frequency (100 Hz) generate streaming, a micro-object is pushed by the streaming and transported to the next EWOD electrodes; (c) The object is carried by the sequential AC-EWOD operations with the twin bubbles to the right end of EWOD electrodes; (d) When the twin bubbles actuated by AC-EWOD at 1 Hz are transported to the original position without streaming, the object is released from the bubbles and remains where it is. Note that the bubble-induced streaming is generated only at a certain frequency.
조회 수 : 1746
2012.07.17 (15:45:25)
Schematic of an electrowetting-on-Dielectric (EWOD)-driven optical deflector : (a) Interface tilted in the left side; (b) Interface tilted in the right side by controlling the applied voltages on left and right walls.
Right guide_left.gif Right guide_right.gif Right guide.gif
Schematic of an envisioned microfluidic mixing system using an alternating current electrowetting-on-dielectric (AC-EWOD)- driven mobile oscillating bubble: (a) Initial state; (b) When a voltage is applied to the top ground electrode and the bottom electrodes where a bubble sits, the bubble oscillates and simultaneously generates a microstreaming flow. Neighboring microparticles are stirred and mixed by the flow; (c) When the oscillating bubble is transported to the right by sequentially activating the array of EWOD electrodes, the microstreaming flow from the bubble is stirring and mixing microparticles through the entire microfluidic chip; (d) the initially gathered microparticles in the left side are widely spread over the entire area in the microfluidic chip.
조회 수 : 1361
2012.01.09 (13:53:11)
Schematic of micro-object manipulation using an untethered microrobot: (a) Initial state; (b) When an acoustic wave generated by a piezo-actuator excites a bubble attached on the bottom of a microrobot, the acoustically excited bubble generates a radiation force. Because of the radiation force, an neighboring object is pulled and captured to the bubble; (c) The captured object can be carried with the microrobot propelled by electromagnetic actuation to a desired place. Note that the piezo-actuator is still turned on to hold the captured object during the carrying operation; (d) When the microrobot reaches the desired place, the carried object is released from the bubble by turning the piezo-actuator off. This work has been selected for inculsion in IOP Select.
Micro-robot-on-label.gif Micro-robot-red_down.gif Micro-robot-red_up.gif |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/21982 | XML Sitemap
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22010 | Tag Archives: Machine Learning
Talking with Machines – Artificial Intelligence
If you’ve even been caught on a phone tree with a computer that doesn’t understand what you are saying, you’ll appreciate that scientists are trying to figure out how to teach machines to understand, to communicate and even be empathetic.
William Wang, Director of the Natural Language Processing Group at UCSB, summarizes the stunning achievements of Artificial Intelligence for the past decade and talks about the intersection of AI and language. He’s trying to build an empathetic conversational agent that can understand and generate human sentences with rich emotions.
Wang also looks at the challenges facing AI in the future and the work ahead of these researchers as they strive to keep improving AI and making it better for everyone.
William Wang is the Director of UCSB’s Natural Language Processing Group, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at UCSB. He received his PhD from School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University. He has broad interests in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing. He is the recipient of a DARPA Young Faculty Award, an IBM Faculty Award, a Facebook Research Award, and an Adobe Research Award. He is an alumnus of Columbia University, and he also worked at Yahoo! Labs, Microsoft Research Redmond, and University of Southern California. His work and opinions appear at major tech media outlets such as Wired, VICE, Fast Company, The Next Web, and Mental Floss.
Watch Artificial Intelligence: What’s Next? |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22023 | 28 September 2012
You do not know the end of your story
You do not know the end of your story.
That won’t make sense until you’ve read Naomi’s piece.
No, he was not.
Related posts
The genius myth
The downsides of meritocracy
The sports psychology of academia
External links
Is this the end of the story?
Building a shadow CV
26 September 2012
Why not retract the rat cancer / GM corn paper?
“Contains fabricated data.”
“Experiment not supported by replication.”
“Incorrect statistical analyses.”
25 September 2012
Tuesday Crustie: Din-dins!
This little porcelain crab is trying to snag some food. It is using those fan-like setae on its mouth parts to filter feed.
From here. Hat tip to Miriam Goldstein.
24 September 2012
I often tell my students, “When you’re evaluating a claim, don’t ask whether the source is trustworthy; ask what the evidence is instead.”
Last Wednesday, a paper came out by Séralini and colleagues purporting to show a link between eating genetically modified corn and cancer formation in rats. This was quickly picked apart as unconvincing by multiple sources. The authors don’t show all the data. Phrases that should worry you whenever you see it in a research paper: “All data cannot be shown in one report.” In particular, they don’t show the data from the controls; look at their Figure 1 and 2. Look at the pictures of the rats with tumors in Figure 3. The implication is that, “Oooh, look these rats are incredibly sick,” which implies that the controls are totally fine. But unless they show us, we can’t know that. I say, “Case not proven.”
The paper blew it on presenting evidence. The authors then blew it on the trust, too.
What I want to know is how these authors can put this in their paper with a straight face:
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
No conflicts of interest? You mean other than a book (first noted in BoingBoing comments) and a movie (both titled Tous cobayes with different end punctuation; roughly translated, “All of Us are Guinea Pigs”) coming out exactly one week after the paper? (I recall reading in Retraction Watch somewhere that the authors requested the journal release the paper on a specific day, though I can’t find that post now.)
You have a movie about your research. And a book. Coming out exactly one week after your paper. This means it was in the pipeline while doing the research. This is a conflict of interest.
Furthermore, the movie seems to be advocating one big conspiracy theory. It’s hard to read anything else into their claim that there is a straight line from the development of the atomic bomb in World War II to the creation of genetically modified organisms. I suppose I can see how to someone outside of science, this might seem plausible, but as someone working in one of those fields (biology), the background knowledge and skills needed to work as a physicist and a geneticist are rather different. Sort of like asking the photocopy repair guy to fix your broken toilet.
Before I learned about these media projects, I thought they might have just done a poor experiment. The movie blows any chance the authors had of convincing me that this is an honest test of a scientific hypothesis.
I call upon the editors of Food and Chemical Toxicology to require Séralini and colleagues to change the conflict of interest statement before the final version of record is published, to record and reflect that this project is featured in a book, and was extensively recorded for a film documentary.
Additional: You can email the journal’s editor-in-chief here. Here’s the letter I sent:
The paper by Séralini and colleagues that is in press in your journal contains the following conflict of interest statement: "The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest."
In the few days since this paper has been published, we've learned that the lead author has a book, "Tous cobayes!" being published this Wednesday, which appears to be GM foods:
The lead author also appears in a movie, also being released this Wednesday, with an almost identical name, “Tous cobayes?” A preview of this film, with English subtitles, can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyubtjh3H5w
The online preview of the film makes it quite clear that the scientists were extensively interviewed for this documentary, and that film crews were actively filming the project and its results.
Both of these activities are conflicts of interest for at least one of the authors, if not more. Lead author Gilles-Eric Séralini stands to make money from the sale of his book, and his appearance in the movie may also mean that he stands to benefit from publicity for that movie.
I strongly suggest that the paper’s conflict of interest statement be revised before the final version of the paper is published to disclose the projects ties with these two projects.
More additional, 25 September: Some funding sources also appear to be missing from the paper (Google translated English version). Hat tip to GMOpundit on Twitter.
Additional, 28 September 2012: A new article in the Guardian provides Séralini’s responses to the criticisms. Note that it misses the biggest one:
Where are data from the freakin’ controls?
Séralini G-E, Clair E, Mesnage R, Gress S, Nicolas N, Malatesta M, Hennequin D, Spiroux de Vendômois J. 2012. Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and a Roundup-tolerant genetically modified maize. Food and Chemical Toxicology: in press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.08.005
External links
Under controlled: why the new GMO panic is more sensational than sense by Scicurious
Bad science about GMOs: It reminds me of the antivaccine movement by Orac
Stenographers, anyone? GMO rat study authors engineered embargo to prevent scrutiny by Ivan Oransky
From Darwinius to GMOs: journalists should not let themselves be played by Carl Zimmer
Authors of study linking GM corn with rat tumors manipulated media to prevent criticism of their work by Maggie Koerth-Baker
Frankenstein and Galileo
They often say there are only a few basic stories, and everything is just a variation on those. Hero’s journey. Small band of heroes against an evil empire. Revenge. Boy meets girl.
I was thinking about what makes a story “anti-science” (prompted by some online discussion with Karen James about The Lizard in this summer’s The Amazing Spider-Man - I may have more to say about this later). I was trying to think about the deep archetypes in stories about science, and I’ve identified two so far. Pehraps not surprisingly, they are the opposite numbers of each other, tragedy and triumph.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a modern myth about science. But it is a deeply pessimistic one. It is a story of overreaching, failure, and in the end, a morality tale with the message, “There are things humanity was not meant to know.”
It is a phenomenally popular story archetype. It’s Wells’s Doctor Moreau and Crighton’s Jurassic Park and I don’t even want to guess how many others. It’s easy to see why: it has a flawed lead character with a (scientist with great pride), and a failed experiment that immediately creates conflict.
Weirdly, I don’t think the anti-science theme in such stories always discourage people from science. Jurassic Park is a classic cautionary “It’s not nice to mess with nature” tale, yet it got a lot of people interested in paleontology anyway.
Galileo is arguably one of, if not the first, scientist in the modern sense. His famous “disagreement” with the Church is an optimistic take on science. It is a story of a lone genius taking on the establishment, and in the end, it tells us, “Truth will out.”
The story of Galileo is a real story, of course, but it has become larger than life. Berthold Brecht turned it into a play, but you can find variations of Galileo’s story in all kinds of art. The old movie Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet tells the story of Paul Ehrlich much like Galileo: lone genius fighting ignorance. Robert J. Sawyer turned Galileo into a dinosaur in his novel Far-Seer. Ellie in the book and movie Contact face Galilean types of challenges.
While the “lone genius” story has roots in reality, it can be almost as unrealistic as Shelley’s ghost story. Most successes in science are recognized as such pretty readily, and many people who like to pain themselves as put down by the establishment are just wrong.
Are there other science story archetypes that I’ve missed?
21 September 2012
Academic astrology
Related posts
Gazing into the crystal ball of h-index
External links
The Genius Index: One Scientist's Crusade to Rewrite Reputation Rules
19 September 2012
The sports psychology of academia
At about the one minute mark in this clip...
Rocky Balboa, Rocky Balboa (2006), written and directed by Sylvester Stallone
Every academic gets hit. And hit. And hit again. Bam. Whap. Smack.
Your grant proposals and papers are going to be rejected. A paper you slaved over won’t be cited as much as you want. Your students will think you’re boring sometimes.
Persistence and grit are key to being an academic. Playing sports or games is a good way to remind ourselves that success is never final and failure is never fatal.
Inspired by Kate Clancey (here, here) and Scicurious (here).
18 September 2012
Tuesday Crustie: Dig in
I’d thought I’d lost the music video version.
17 September 2012
How tenure is like YOLO
Too often, it’s used as an excuse to do something lazy or stupid...
Instead of a reason to do something bold and great.
(YOLO = You only live once.)
16 September 2012
Comments for first half of September 2012
Drugmonkey looks at limiting the number of citations in journals.
Labrigger has a set of guidelines for fixing electrical equipment.
14 September 2012
Finding self-published papers
It does no good to publish a paper if nobody knows about it. When I published an original research paper on my blog, one of the concerns that even supportive onlookers raised was, “Will people be able to find this paper?”
The answer is, “Yes.”
If someone is looking for distal leg motor neurons of slipper lobsters in Google Scholar, they should see something like this in their results:
My self-published paper is second from the top.
Google Scholar latched on to the PDF of the paper I created and uploaded on my university website. This also answers another question I was asked, “Why bother making a PDF at all, if you’re posting it on your blog?” Because the blog post isn’t showing up in this search engine, but the PDF is. And that only took about a week, tops. It might have been even less time.
Some will no doubt see this as a flaw in Google Scholar. I sympathize. I’m ambivalent about this paper showing up so readily in the search results. Good for me, obviously, but definitely reminds people that you always have to keep your wits about you with any resource. It may well be that Google Scholar will end up changing its algorithms to exclude papers like mine that explicitly advertise themselves as “not peer reviewed.”
Update, 9 December 2013: Found a “How to” for getting your self-published papers indexed in Google Scholar.
Related posts
Why I published a paper on my blog instead of a journal
DIY typesetting and science publishing
External links
I thought Google was trying not to be evil
How to game Google Scholar
Inclusion guidelines for webmasters
Itsy bitsy neurons
Encarsia formosa is a wasp that has been well researched as a biocontrol agent. But there’s something else about it you can’t miss, which is how easy it would be to miss:
It is one tiny little insect. For those of you who are practising biologists, maybe this will provide an even better sense of how small this wasp is:
The whole beast pretty much fits inside the eye of a fruit fly.
ResearchBlogging.orgExtremes never fail to be fascinating in biology, because they often challenge your notions of what is possible. What do you have to sacrifice to be able to make an animal that small? In a new paper, Hustert argues that this wasp hasn’t given up too much behaviour: it is still able to do the things that other wasps do, like fly, respond to stimuli, groom themselves, walk, and jump.
Has this wasp sacrificed neurons at the cellular level? Are the neurons just smaller, or are there fewer of them? The shape of the nervous system is different than larger insects: everything is clumped together into fewer masses of cells. And there are probably a smaller number of sensory hairs than in other species.
The neurons themselves are also tiny. The cell bodies about 2-3 µm, though they seem to have a fairly normal structure otherwise. Most axons have diameters 0.2 µm across or less. No, that is not a typo. One micrometer is one millionth of a metre, so these are one fifth of one millionth of a metre. The smallest axons are about one twentieth of a millionth of a metre (~0.05 µm).
These tiny neurons raise interesting physiological questions that are asked, but not answered, by this paper. Small neurons conduct action potentials more slowly, so how does the animal cope with having slow communication withing the nervous system?
For that matter, do these neurons conduct action potentials at all? An axon can only get so small before it cannot transmit action potentials: you just can’t fit enough voltage gated sodium channels (needed to start an action potential) on the cell.
Hustert quotes earlier theoretical work predicting that you could not make an axon smaller than 0.1 µm in diameter, because enough sodium channels would be opening spontaneously that you would get random action potentials, and noise is not good in a signalling system. Hustert suggests it’s possible this wasp might be using non-spiking neurons, but this seems unlikely, because in other invertebrates, non-spiking neurons tend to be fat. Alternately, maybe the wasp neurons’ physiology is different in some other way. Hustert says that maybe the neurons fire in bursts, which could increase the reliability of the signalling.
One of the things I like about this paper is not just that it documents the tiny, but asks the reverse question: what has this animal kept relatively large? After all, space is at a premium here, so if you’re going to have an axon with a diameter of over a whole micrometer, where most are 0.2 µm or less, that’s got to be a pretty special cell. Hustert does find a few of these relatively large cells, and suggests that they are responsible for detecting puffs of air, and could trigger escape.
A decent number of neurobiologists record the electrical activity from fruit flies. I have always referred to these people as “masochists.” But we may need a new breed of masoch— er, physiologists willing to try to get into these even smaller insects, because there are some great questions that will never be answered by looking at their anatomy: we’ll need to see the neurons in action.
Hustert R. 2012. Giant and dwarf axons in a miniature insect, Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera, Calcididae). Arthropod Structure and Development: in press. DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2012.08.002
Photo from here.
Related posts
Non-nuclear nano neurons
13 September 2012
Gazing into the crystal ball of h-index
According to a new article in Nature, this is my academic future for citations, Specifically, my h-index:
It is entertaining to “twiddle the knobs” and see what it does to the trendline. That I have published in many different journals seemed to cause my stock to continue rising, rather than tapering out.
I’m going to schedule a post with this graph for 2017. We’ll see how close it is.
External links
H-index predictor
Hat tip to Bradley Voytek on G+.
12 September 2012
There is no ceiling
At a meeting about tenure and promotion today, our Provost made a comment about changing expectations for tenure and promotion. He said, “If I were to try to get tenure today at the university where I originally got tenure, I don’t think I would get tenure.”
His point was that it expectations were getting higher and higher across the board. As far as I could tell, he either welcomed it, or at the very least did no seem to think this was a problem. I should have counted the number of times he said some variation of “moving forward.” He seemed to think it was logical to ask our new hires to do more than the last people hired, so that the university could “move forward.”
This worried me. Because I look around at what it took for myself and my colleagues to get tenure, and you want the new people to do even more?
Human beings can only work so hard and do so much. There is going to be a breaking point. There is going to be a point where there is no more blood to be squeezed from the stone. There is going to be a point where you drive everyone out of academia except single workaholics. And even a lot of them won’t get tenure.
Mistaking the bottle for the wine
Latest insight gained from listening to advanced undergraduate students about how they see scientific publishing.
I gave students an original journal article and Ed Yong’s write up about it: same story, but told different ways. Then, I asked them to write out what distinguished the writing style of the two pieces.
One of the things a few of the groups wrote down for the journal article was, “scientific method.” This puzzled me a bit, since they were both reporting the same information. When I asked them to elaborate, they said, “It has an introduction, methods, results, and discussion section.”
They took the format of the paper to be “scientific method.” Not generating hypotheses, designing controlled tests, or analyzing evidence. I’m not sure yet if this is just confusion over terminology or a deeper misunderstanding. It’s not good either way.
Related posts
Science writing as seen by students
11 September 2012
Tuesday Crustie: That’s a whole lot of crustacean
Hermit Crab Migration from Steve Simonsen on Vimeo.
What amazes me is not only the mass of hermit crabs, but that there are enough snail shells for all of them.
More about the science of the migration here.
Hat tip to Jerry Coyne.
10 September 2012
DIY typesetting and science publishing
Last week, I decided to post one of my original research papers on my blog. As expected, the post about why I blogged the paper has received far more hits than the paper itself. What I could not expect (but hoped for) was the excellent comments and discussion I received in response. Thank you, all.
I spent a few hours Friday afternoon and Saturday morning turning the paper that I self-published as a blog post into a PDF, deliberately trying to emulate what a final typeset article in a professional journal might look like.
Have a look. How close did I get?
I did all that in Microsoft Word 2010. Some writing and typographic purists who will groan at this, then tell me I should have used this or that and I would have gotten better results. Yes, I know. But the point is, this is consumer software that most people have, and the PDF is... not bad. (If there is enough interest in how I did this, let me know, and I'll write a detailed “how to” post.)
This is relevant to the matter of publishing a paper on my blog, because one of the arguments that goes around about academic publishing is whether publishers provide useful services to authors. (I contend that they do.) One of the ways that publishers provide “added value” is with professional typesetting. I still prefer reading typeset PDFs of journal articles to manuscripts.
I spent a few hours with Word and got something that is maybe 90% the quality of what professional typesetters working for academic publishers do. And that’s without much practice, although a lot of experience with Word. I could probably speed up the process considerably.
Meanwhile, I’ve been waiting for over two months for my most recent paper to move from “provisional PDF” to the final typeset form. That is not an isolated incident.
That does not make me a happy partner in scientific communication. It makes me want to say, “Pick up your game, publishers, or these first self-published papers on blogs won’t be the last.”
Additional: I received an email from Bryan Vickery at BioMed Central, indicating that there have been changes in their production process that have caused delays. They know about the problem, and are working on it. Sensibly, they focused on getting the HTML version out first, so there was something that could be read and cited. See more here.
Related posts
Good thing I’m not in a hurry
External links
The Typography of Authority — Do Fonts Affect How People Accept Information?
Analysis: When will your BMC paper be typeset?
The Glacial Pace of Scientific Publishing: Why It Hurts Everyone and What We Can Do To Fix It
The Glacial Pace of Change in Scientific Publishing
07 September 2012
Why I published a paper on my blog instead of a journal
All that time, it’s been gnawing at me.
I thought, “Let’s try something new.”
It doesn’t always have to be that way now.
Related posts
External links
Why or why not cite blog posts in scientific papers?
Circadian Rhythm of Aggression in Crayfish
Photographs by David Paul.
06 September 2012
Zen Faulkes
Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
Current address: Department of Biology, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, Texas, 78539, U.S.A. Email: [email protected]
Ibacus peronii (left) and Ibacus alticrenatus (right). Photographs by David Paul.
Abstract. To test whether palinurans share a common ground plan of distal leg motor neurons with other decapod crustaceans, I examined the distal leg motor neurons in the scyllarid species Ibacus peronii and Ibacus alticrenatus. By backfilling the distal leg nerves individually, a total of about sixteen cells fill are seen, distributed in three clusters in the ganglia: an anterior cluster of about twelve, a posterior cluster of three, and a single medial cell. Although one medial cell fills when distal leg nerves are filled separately, two cells that are similar to two medial inhibitory cells in non-palinurans are visible in more proximal fills. The neural map is similar to those described for other species, suggesting that the distal leg motor neuron grand plan is conserved across reptantian decapod taxa.
Key words: decapod crustaceans, evolution, neuroanatomy, pereopods, walking legs
04 September 2012
Tuesday Crustie: Baby pictures
If you look at someone’s baby pictures, you might have a hard time matching them to photos of that person as an adult. Recognize this person?
Or this one?
And you have it easy with humans. Humans don’t undergo metamorphosis or anything. Unlike this wee beastie:
ResearchBlogging.orgThis crustacean baby was described from the stomach of a dolphin way back in 1828. Just for perspective, Charles Darwin was still in university at the time, and his voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle was still a few years in the future. Because this species had these big horns and elaborately armoured exoskeleton, it was named Cerataspis monstrosa. You can probably recognize the second half of its name means “monster.”
At the time, it wasn’t clear that this was a larva, which obviously hindered a more definitive identification. But there was a bigger problem: it was just rare. So even as new genetic techniques were developed, Cerataspis monstrosa was not found in usable condition. Bracken-Grissom and colleagues, in a forthcoming paper, seem to have had just one Cerataspis monstrosa from to take DNA from. They used that DNA try figure out if it was a larval form of a better known crustacean.
The DNA work was tricky. They tried several times to use a sequence of DNA often used for barcoding, and failed repeatedly. Fortunately, other regions of the genome worked.
Thanks to Bracken-Grissom and colleagues, we now know that that turns into this:
This is Plesiopenaeus armatus, which is a very deep water living shrimp. Bracken-Grissom and colleagues give records of it living in waters of more than 1,000 m deep.
So what of Cerataspis monstrosa? Bracken-Grissom and colleagues recommend that the larva be given the adult name – Plesiopenaeus armatus. This is not a done deal, however. The larvae got their name first, and that would mean that it would normally take precedent. The authors note that they are applying for an exception to the rule on the grounds that the adult for the genus is much more often used, so renaming the genus from Plesiopenaeus to Cerataspis would cause unnecessary confusion.
Oh, and as for the human baby pictures above? They are, in order:
Harrison Ford, and...
Tobey Maguire.
Bracken-Grissom HD, Felder DL, Vollmer NL, Martin JW, Crandall KA. 2012. Phylogenetics links monster larva to deep-sea shrimp. Ecology and Evolution: in press. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.347
Larval photo from here; adult picture from here.
Harrison Ford pictures from here.
03 September 2012
Save Siccar Point
Here’s the email I sent:
How students see scientific publishing, part 2
Related posts
How students see scientific publishing
01 September 2012
Comments for second half of August, 2012
A post on Impact Factors at Reciprocal Science has a big ol’ comment thread, and I’m part of it!
How academics can create an online presence. Was surprised that someone’s first recommendation was... LinkedIn? Haven’t met anyone who’s gotten much out of that (and I say that as someone with a profile.)
The Tracing Knowledge blog talks about evidence of insect photosynthesis.
Life After Thesis wonders why more academics aren’t online in a significant way.
Hot button topics in science are tricky issues, as Unofficial Prognosis discusses.
Mike the Mad Biologist asks who we need to persuade to make changes to scientific publishing. (Hint: Follow the money.)
Neuropolarbear ponders whether to discuss the old science or the new science in his presentations.
Pondering Blather looks at the ever decreasing security afforded by tenure.
Neuroskeptic says that replicating experiments is not the critical thing to worry about in making a science credible.
Steve Caplan at No Comment tries to defend the idea that journal names are a good proxy for the quality of individual papers within, on average. I remain unconvinced.
Scott Berkun be hatin’ Prezi. I zoomin’. |
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Hacktivist Judo: Musician Exploits New Spanish Law To Overwhelm System With Legitimate Infringement Complaints
As Techdirt reported earlier this year, Spain's Sinde Law, designed to combat file sharing by blocking sites with allegedly infringing material, has an extremely complex history. It finally went into effect on 1 March, and was immediately met with a clever denial of service attack from a Spanish group with the self-explanatory name "Hackivistas". As TorrentFreak explains:
On Techdirt.
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22068 | Kidney and Ureteral Stones
Abdominal cavity
The space in the body that contains all the abdominal organs (including bladder, kidneys, urinary tract, genital structures)
Abdominal wall
The muscle and tissue that surrounds the abdominal cavity
Acute renal colic
Renal colic is a type of pain caused by kidney stones. Kidney stones (urolithiasis) are crystals that form from chemicals in the urine. Usually, a stone develops because too much of a single chemical is present in the urine.
A type of cancer that starts in and has features of glandular cells
Adjuvant therapy
A therapy that is given after surgery or radiotherapy (for example, chemotherapy)
Advanced cancer
A tumour that grows into deeper layers of tissue, adjacent organs, or surrounding muscles.
Adhesions of the foreskin to the glans that tend to resolve spontaneously.
Group of steroid hormones, represented mainly by testosterone
Artery embolisation
Temporary block of the vessels supplying blood to the penis.
The process of drawing a substance (eg, blood) from the body.
Bimanual examination
An examination of the abdomen or pelvis performed with both hands.
A surgically created opening for the urethra in the perineum.
Buried penis
The penis is not visible or is inside the skin.
Abnormal cell growth in the skin or organ tissue
A cancer that arises from lining cells (epithelia)
Carcinoma in situ (CIS)
A type of squamous cell cancer that affects only the cells in the skin and has not grown any deeper.
Chronic infection
An infection that lasts over a long period of time.
Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis
A condition existing before birth that is due to different causes.
Corpus cavernosa
Corpus cavernosum (plural, corpora cavernosa)
Corpus spongiosum
The mass of spongy tissue surrounding the male urethra within the penis.
An absence of one or both testes in the scrotum.
CT urography
CT stands for computed tomography. CT urography is an imaging technique that uses contrast agent to improve the visibility of the lymph nodes and abdominal organs during the CT scan.
Cancer of Unknown Primary; a cancer with metastasis and without known primary cancer.
Any normal or abnormal curving of a body part.
Distant metastases
Tumours that have spread from the original site to other organs or bone.
A pouch that develops in a tubular structure in the body, such as the urethra.
Doppler ultrasound
Dupuytren’s contracture
A condition that affects the hands and fingers (also called Dupuytren’s disease). It causes one or more fingers to bend into the palm of the hand. It can affect one or both hands and sometimes affects the thumb.
Subcutaneous bleeding, hematoma.
Ectopic testis
The testis descended outside the scrotum
Embryologic structure
A tissue or structure formed during development of an embryo
Endocrinological evaluation
Measures of the levels of certain hormones produced by your body.
Cord-like structure on the top and back of each testicle that carries sperm to the urethra for ejaculation.
Fabry’s disease
Abnormal deposits of a fatty substance called globotriaosylceramide in blood vessel walls throughout the body.
Fertility rate
The number of offspring born per mating pair, individual, or population.
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Follicle stimulating hormone secreted by pituitary gland. In men stimulates testes to sperm production.
A certain area on a chromosome as a matrix for a certain cell component.
General anaesthesia
The state when the patient is completely unconscious and unable to feel pain during medical procedures.
Genetic evaluation
Investigation of the influence of genes on diseases
Removal of just the head of the penis.
Measures how much space in the blood is occupied by red blood cells (percentage volume).
Haematogenous metasis
Cancer cells which have spread over the blood stream and formed a metastasis.
The diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood.
Too much iron in the blood can cause testicular failure or pituitary gland dysfunction, by accumulating in this tissue.
Histiocytosis is a general name for a group of disorders or “syndromes” that involve an abnormal increase in the number of specialized white blood cells that are called histiocytes.
Histologic examination
Examination of tissue cells under a microscope.
Histological evaluation
The examination of tissue under a microscope.
HPV infection
Infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted disease; some types of HPV can cause cancer.
An abnormality of the urethra (tube that the urine flows through out of the penis) that is present at birth. The urethra opens on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip.
Small part at the base of the brain that links nervous system with the endocrine system by the pituitary gland.
When a couple who has unprotected intercourse for a period of two years cannot conceive a baby.
Intramuscular injections
Injections into the muscle often in the buttock or your arm.
Injection into a vein, usually in the arm.
Injection of a solution into the body to cleanse and administer drugs at a specific site.
A restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen and glucose needed to keep tissue alive. Ischemia is generally caused by problems with blood vessels and causes damage to tissue.
A surgical procedure used to examine and operate the organs in the abdominal cavity
Laser therapy
Use of a laser to cut away cancer cells.
A cancer that arises from the blood-forming tissue.
Local invasion
Cancer that has grown into the tissue surrounding the location where it started.
Local resection
Surgery to remove a tumour that has not spread to other tissues or organs.
Localised disease
A tumour that is limited to the organ where it started and has not spread.
Localized cancer
Cancer that remains in the location where it started.
Locally advanced disease
A tumour that has grown out of the organ where it started into the surrounding tissue or lymph nodes.
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
Luteinizing hormone secreted by pituitary gland. In men stimulates testes to testosterone production.
Lymph node metastatis
Cancer cells which have spread over the lymphatic system and formed a metastasis in a lymph node.
A cancer that arises from white blood cells (lymphocytes).
What you can see with the naked eye.
A cancer that arises from pigmented cells (melanocytes).
Cancer cells that have spread from the original site of cancer to other tissues or organs.
The spread of cancer from one site in the body to another without direct connection between both sites.
A metastasis that is not visible to the naked eye or on special imaging studies usually made up from only few cancer cells.
What you can see through a microscope.
Regarding molecules (the smallest particles).
Molecular techniques
Methods to get information about the molecules, for example of the genes.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is an imaging technique that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to make images of the body.
Mucinous histology
Mucus-producing cells that can be found in histologic examination under the microscope or by using a specific colouring test.
A mucous tissue lining.
Mucus in the urine.
Multidisciplinary tumour board
A team of practitioners from different medical specialties who share their professional opinions to plan care for individual cancer patients.
Mumps infection
It is a contagious viral infection of the salivary gland with fever, headache and swelling of the salivary gland in the cheeks.
A substitute reservoir to hold urine after the bladder is removed.
A surgically created opening for the urethra in the penile shaft.
New abnormal growth of tissue.
The foreskin stuck in the retracted position behind the head of the penis. It is considered a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
The actual potential of fatherhood.
Pelvic lymph nodes
The sum of lymph nodes collecting the lymphatic drainage of the legs, pelvis and pelvic organs.
Surgical removal of part (partial) or all (total) of the penis.
The inability to retract the foreskin over the head of the penis.
Pituitary gland
Small endocrine gland in the brain, originating in the hypothalamus, secreting a variety of hormones.
Primary cancer
The first type of cancer to develop, the cancer of origin.
Primary urethral cancer
A malignant tumour in the urethra.
A natural process when a child’s body changes into adult body that is able to have an intercourse and reproduce.
A type of chemotherapy (psoralens) combined with exposure to ultraviolet light, used to treat severe skin disorders.
A type of therapy using radiation to kill cancer cells.
When a cancer has come back (Recurrence).
A state when there is no sign of cancer detectable.
Removal of tumours from an organ.
Removal of the lymph nodes at the back of the abdomen (also called “Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection” ). This surgery is considered for men with a high risk of cancer spreading. It might also be performed to remove any cancer that remains after chemotherapy.
Inflammatory disease that affects different organs mainly lungs and lymph nodes. Collections of cells called granulomas can be found in affected tissue.
A cancer that arises from other tissues in the body such as bone, cartilage, connective and fat tissue, muscle, nerves or vessels.
Secondary cancer
A tumour that grows from the metastasized cells of primary cancer.
A type of testicular cancer that can grow in men of any age but is less aggressive than non-seminoma.
Sentinel node
The lymph node closest to the tumour that would hold metastatic cells, if present.
Sex glands
In male: testes, in female: ovaries.
Sex hormones
In male androgens – group of steroid hormones, represented mainly by testosterone.
Sickle cell disease
Skin graft
A piece of skin taken from one part of the body and placed on another part (usually a wound).
Sleep apnea
Sleep disorder characterized by shallow breathing or pauses in breathing.
Sleep apnoea
Sleep disorder characterized by shallow breathing or pauses in breathing.
Spongy urethra
Spongy tissue surrounding the urethra.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Cancer that specifically affects epithelial cells.
Superficial cancer
A tumour that grows on the tissue surface without growing into deeper layers or adjacent organs. This type of cancer represents an early stage.
Systemic disease
Disease that affects the entire body.
Testicular cancer
A growth called a tumour that starts in the testicle and can spread throughout the body.
A blood disorder characterized by less haemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal.
A disease caused by breathing in a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB usually infects the lungs. TB can also infect other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine and brain.
A growth of abnormal cells.
Tumour grade
The potential of a tumour to grow aggressively.
Tumour markers
High levels of certain proteins that suggest testicular cancer. Tumour markers are measured in a blood sample.
Tunica albuginea
The whitish membrane within the penis that surrounds the spongy chambers (corpora cavernosa). The tunica albuginea helps trap blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection of the penis.
TUR stands for Transurethral Resection. A tube-like instrument is used to remove tissue through the urethra (the canal through which the urine is passed).
Umbilical discharge
Substance produced by the navel.
Urachal residues
Traces of the tissue or cells that formed the urachus before birth
A tube-like embryologic structure that connects the forming urinary bladder and the navel before birth.
Removal of the urethra. Removal can be partial or complete.
Urinary cytology
The examination of a urine sample for exfoliated cancer cells.
Urinary diversion
A surgical procedure to construct an alternative means of storing and passing urine.
Urinary stoma
An artificial opening for passing urine.
Urinary swab test
Also known as “urine dip test” or just a “urine test”. A test strip is dipped into collected urine to colour-indicate the pH level and the presence of electrolytes and cells.
Urinary tract
The organ system that produces and transports urine through and out of the body. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. The urinary tract is similar in men and women, but the urethra is longer in men.
Urothelial carcinoma
Typically occurs within the urinary tract and affects urothelial cells, as opposed to other types of cells in the urinary tract. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22094 | Friday, March 9, 2018
Protection Stack in Azure Information Protection
Source -
We’re constantly striving to make the process of protecting information easier and simpler for both users and admins. To help with the initial step in protecting your information, we’re happy to announce that starting February 2018 all Azure Information Protection eligible tenants will have Azure Information Protection on by default. Any organization which has Office E3 and above or EMS E3 and above service plans can now get a head start in protecting information through Azure Information Protection.
The new version of Office 365 Message Encryption which was announced at Microsoft Ignite 2017, leveraged the encryption and protection capabilities of Azure Information Protection. We have continued to make significant improvements in the product since it’s initial launch and are excited to announce new capabilities in both Office 365 Message Encryption and Azure Information Protection.
Protection on by default
Starting February 2018, Microsoft will enable the protection capability in Azure Information Protection automatically for our new Office 365 E3 or above subscription. Tenant administrators can check the protection status in the Office 365 administrator portal.
Read more at source -
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22114 | The party had been going badly even before Trista stuck her hand down his pants.
Clark yelped. "This isn't, this isn't a good idea!"
"Why not?" she asked, shoving her breasts against him and nipping at his lower lip.
She was so pushy and her hands were everywhere and he just said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'm gay!"
But it didn't work.
"Doesn't bother me," she said. Not only was she not taking no for an answer, his blanket rejection of all things female wasn't getting him any leverage either.
"I'm in a relationship." He was just going to pile excuses together until something stuck.
Trista's tongue was in his ear. "A flexible one?"
"Flexible? No!" He could work with this. "Committed, closed, not flexible at all."
"I won't tell if you won't," she whispered.
Clark felt like a drowning man. He was just flailing around hoping to hit something, a life preserver, a piece of driftwood, a friendly dolphin. He'd even take a shark at this point. Anything to put him out of his misery.
"My boyfriend. He's very jealous. Possessive, almost insane, kind of crazy really. If he even suspects..."
She almost looked worried, but then she said, "He doesn't deserve you. You should leave. Starting now."
"No," Clark said again, "you don't understand."
"I'm sure it's not that bad," she said, doing unpleasant things to his ass with her fingernails. "Your boyfriend can't possibly--"
It hit him like a Porsche flying off a bridge. "Lex Luthor!" he said. "I'm dating--"
Trista recoiled, hands suddenly up in the air like he was arresting her. "Oh, hey, you know I didn't mean anything by it," she said, backing away slowly, leaving Clark with a wet ear, half a cup of warm beer, and an imaginary boyfriend. He'd have to remember that one.
"Come on, Clark, it'll be fun!"
It would not be fun. Clark was sure of it.
"We can spend the whole day there on Friday, polling people when they come out of the movie, then we can make up a bunch of tables comparing the data."
Clark tried his best not to flinch too obviously. "Can't we just do the problem sets in the book? It'd be faster."
"Sure it'd be faster," Spencer said, "but this'll really get the professor's attention. Plus, extra credit!"
There was nothing really wrong with Spencer. He was tall and friendly, and otherwise good company, but for some reason, he loved statistics. Clark was only taking it because it filled a requirement and fit his schedule. Spencer just didn't understand that. In the same way that some people just didn't understand not wanting to go to church.
"I can't," Clark said. And he couldn't. What if he needed to zip off and do some super stuff? It'd be impossible to explain why he kept disappearing for long periods of time. Well, it wasn't impossible. He'd tried the "stomach virus" excuse once, but he didn't like the squeamish looks his date kept giving him. A date! "I have a date!" he said.
"Of course you do," Spencer said. "Sorry, I should have realized. How about Saturday instead?"
Clark shook his head.
"Um. See, the thing is, Lex is really busy and I promised I'd spend the weekend with him. Before he leaves for Japan," Clark added, really selling it. He'd never known Lex to jet off to Japan on a whim, but it sounded like something he'd do.
"You've got a boyfriend." Spencer didn't seem surprised. He sighed. "Okay, we can do the problem sets. Want to go to my place?"
"Sure, pizza's on me," Clark said, giddy with success. Pretending to date Lex really had its advantages.
"And, Kent, I've got you on the thrill-a-minute 'reduced risk' playground donated to the city by LuthorCorp--"
"Sorry, conflict of interest," Clark told his editor.
Justin sneered at him. "What, your daddy work for LuthorCorp back in Tinyville?"
"No, I happen to be involved with someone close to the company."
"I don't care who you're dating as long as it isn't Luthor himself, you're writing...you're shaking your head? You're dating Lex Luthor?"
Clark shrugged with a "what are you gonna do?" look. It wasn't exactly lying if people came to that conclusion all on their own. So what if he nudged them along. It'd stand up in a court of law. Shrugging didn't count.
"Fine," Justin said. "Madeiros, that one's all yours. Kent, you're with Schuler on the Brighton Stadium implosion."
Madeiros shot Clark a glare. So did Schuler. Clark gave them a sunny grin and chalked another one up in the win column.
"Payback time, Smallville."
Clark looked up just in time to see Lois cruise into his dorm room, an evil smile on her face.
"Big news! A friend of a friend is getting married. Not that I like either of them. It's actually more of a mutual resentment thing -- anyway, it's complicated, but the upshot is that I've gotta be there and you're gonna be my date."
"Can't!" Clark said reflexively. "I, um..."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You what?"
He'd found a flaw in his excuse plan. It only worked with people who didn't actually know him. He hadn't realized how much he'd come to depend on his fake relationship with Lex to get him out of this kind of stuff, but now it was all he could think of. He tried to kickstart his brain into coming up with another workable reason for why he couldn't go to the wedding, but it was stalled out, offering nothing but a big red Lois is Scary! error.
"Nothing," he said.
"You owe me, Clark. You may be a total doorknob with women, but you're really hot and I'm hoping that'll make up for it." She looked at him in that way that never failed to make him squirm. She'd seen him at his worst, several times over, and had enough blackmail material to keep him occupied for a lifetime of weddings.
"Wear a suit." She jabbed a finger into his chest. "And no disappearing. Your job is to make me look good. Fail, and I will make your life a living hell."
She'd do it too.
Newly returned from the horrific experience of being forced to carry Lois' purse and hang on her every word, Clark found a message from Lex in his campus mailbox. He and Lex didn't really talk much anymore, not since he'd started college. That was partly why he'd been using Lex as an excuse. It wasn't like Clark was going to have to face him any time soon. Boy was he wrong.
He'd called the number on the card. When Lex's secretary asked if he had plans for the afternoon, he said no without really thinking about it. They'd sent a car for him and now he was sitting in Lex's office wondering what the hell he was doing there.
Lex looked the same as ever. Cool. Slinky. Annoyed.
Clark fidgeted in the visitor's chair. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Lex said, with that little smile that meant Clark had said something funny. "Are you free Saturday evening?"
Clark wasn't falling for that again. "Why?"
"I thought you might accompany me to the opening of the new sculpture garden at the Met."
"What, like as a favor between friends?"
"Friends," Lex said. "Is that what you think we are?"
Clark froze, filled with panic and that guilty relief he always felt when Lex got too close to his secrets. This was why he was supposed to stay away. Lex made Clark want things.
Lex didn't say anything else, just leaned back in his desk chair, waiting, Metropolis spread out behind him. He looked like a picture of himself, one of those stupid profiles always showing up in Forbes: Lex Luthor enjoys fast cars, spending money, and being inscrutable.
"Well, what then?" Clark said finally. "Like a date?"
"I don't, I'm not--"
Lex let him stumble through a couple of vague denials, then said, "That's not what I hear."
"Oh," said Clark, because of course Lex knew. "I was just, there was this girl. She was really pushy. I'm not gay!"
Lex's smile got a little bigger. "Yet you decided the easiest way out of an uncomfortable situation was to manufacture a fake boyfriend."
"You were the first person who came to mind." And that had sounded better in his head. He added, "Because you're, you know."
"Hmm," Lex said.
"Wait," Clark said, his old pal panic coming back for a visit. "This isn't a joke? You're serious about this?"
Lex continued to smile, and not in a nice way. "It's a big decision," he said. "I'll understand if it's too much for you."
Clark did some quick math. If he said no, Lex would just show up with some gold-digging harlot and Clark's cover would be blown, his editor pissed, and Spencer, well, Spencer'd probably be overjoyed and insist on studying the data spread on the last census, all of which would be bad. If Clark said yes, then all that stuff he'd said before about dating Lex wouldn't even have been a lie. Sort of. Besides, it was some dumb sculpture garden. Who was even going to notice Clark was there?
"I can do it," he found himself saying.
"Good," Lex said, getting up from his desk. "It's black tie. I've arranged to have my tailor here for a fitting."
"Right now?" Clark asked, as Lex ushered him to the boardroom next door.
"You know what they say," said Lex, which had to be a sign of the coming apocalypse because Lex never listened to what anyone said. "No time like the present."
Clark was suddenly nervous. "Are you sure--"
"I'll pick you up at seven," Lex said, guiding Clark through the door and closing it behind him before Clark could put together a complaint.
Lex's tailor didn't speak English, and Clark spent the next hour being moved around like a puppet and wondering how much trouble he was in. A lot, probably.
Clark still didn't know how to tie a bowtie, so when the buzzer rang at eight, he had it hanging around his collar.
"Be right down!" he yelled into the speaker. He grabbed his keys and took one last look in the mirror. He wasn't sure what he'd gotten himself into, but he could fake it for a few hours, whatever it was.
Downstairs, Lex was standing on the sidewalk. "I'm sorry, should I have just parked at the curb and honked the horn?"
"Or is this the way you treat all your dates?"
"Uh, they don't normally pick me up," Clark said. He gestured behind him at his dorm. "Did you want to...?"
Lex shook his head. "Never mind. Come here."
"What?" Clark said, alarmed. Were there different rules for gay dates? Did they start off with a kiss? He wasn't prepared for that. But Lex just pulled him closer and picked up the dangling ends of his bowtie. "Oh," said Clark.
"Usually this is how men look at the end of a date," Lex said.
Clark blushed, his mind leaping ahead and landing in all sorts of dangerous, slippery places. Lex caught his eye and he blushed even harder.
"Ready to go?" Lex asked, finished with Clark's bowtie.
"I guess?"
Lex's smile grew pinched. "This way, then," he said, gesturing to the curb where a long pewter grey limo waited, the chauffeur ready at the rear door. Clark got in first. Lex slid in across from him and poured himself a drink from the bar. He took a long sip, then leaned back, resting one arm along the top of the seat.
"Can I get you anything?" he asked.
The limo was moving now, the interior dim, lit up by the small lights over the windows and the occasional flash as they passed under a streetlamp.
"No," Clark said, watching the light travel across Lex's bare head, the bridge of his nose. It was possible Clark had made a mistake in thinking he could handle this. He scrambled for something to say. "So, um, how have you been?"
Lex raised an eyebrow and took another sip of his scotch. Clark winced and decided not to ask any more stupid questions.
The Met was swarming with fancy rich people.
Lex grabbed a champagne flute as soon as they were inside and knocked back half of it before surveying the crowd over the rim of his glass. Clark fiddled with his cuff links and hoped his hair wasn't doing anything weird. These were Lex's people. Even if this wasn't real, Clark didn't want to embarrass him by being a bad date.
"Relax, Clark, this is supposed to be fun," Lex said dryly, touching his elbow. Clark tensed, taken by surprise. Lex sighed. "At least stop making that face. People are going to think I've started doing business in black market virgins."
"Sorry!" He looked down at Lex's hand resting on his arm. Lex let go and finished his champagne.
At the wedding last weekend, Lois had demanded he put an arm around her waist, tugging him close and hissing, "Make it look good. These vacuous bimbos need to envy me." He wasn't going to do that with Lex, but maybe he could hold his hand. Lex had been touching him, on and off, ever since he picked Clark up. He probably wouldn't mind.
When Lex turned to snag another drink from the waiter, Clark took his free hand. Lex's head swiveled around. "Clark?"
"Hi," Clark said.
"Hi?" Lex was clearly about to say more, but someone behind them called his name. Clark glanced over his shoulder to see a lanky guy with messy blond hair coming their way. He looked about Lex's age and nearly as rich.
"Ah," the guy said. "So that's where you've been all this time, Lex. I was beginning to think you'd finally given up on us ever impressing you, but it seems you were just busy with other things." He gave Clark an appreciative glance.
"Clark," Lex said, "this is Vincent Pardoux--"
"Of the Barton Street Pardouxs," Vincent broke in, rolling his eyes. "Who cares? Tell me about Clark."
Lex went on as if he hadn't been interrupted. "Vincent designed the gardens."
"Really?" Clark said.
"Shh, I don't want that getting around." Vincent winked at him and Clark had a small panic attack. Was Vincent hitting on him? Should he wink back? Say something? What? Vincent leaned against a pillar and Clark laughed nervously and scoped out the nearest exit.
"If you'll excuse us, Clark and I were just going outside," Lex said, tightening his grip on Clark's hand.
"I could give you a private tour," Vincent offered, head cocked at an angle that made Lex smirk and say, "That won't be necessary."
Lex switched out his empty champagne glass for a full one and stepped through the archway to the courtyard, taking a grateful Clark along with him. They were only letting one group into the garden at a time, but the docent waved them right through. In Metropolis, any given line automatically started behind Lex, no matter where he happened to be standing at the time it was formed.
It was warm outside and a breeze rifled through the leafy green hedges that bound the garden. The flagstone path was lit by lanterns that hung from wrought iron posts, their gas flames hissing and flickering inside the glass. The whole thing made Clark feel like he was in Europe somewhere.
The exhibit was laid out like a maze, with taller hedges strategically placed to conceal the artwork from view. They turned a corner and the path widened, opening up to show the first of the granite sculptures, an abstract blob that looked a lot like a stomach sitting on a chair.
"What's that supposed to be?" Clark asked.
"The garden is meant to be viewed at night," Lex said in his ear. "The symphony patrons were getting bored at intermission."
Clark shivered. "Yeah, but what is it?"
Lex sighed and took a sip of his champagne. "I don't know," he said eventually.
"Maybe there's a sign." Clark broke away from Lex to look for an explanatory plaque or something, but couldn't find one. What he needed was a program. "Do you think--"
"It's art, Clark. It's not supposed to be anything."
The next turn brought them to three giant rolls of sushi resting on a square plate.
"What's that you were saying, Lex?"
Lex grunted. "Stone sushi is not art."
Clark laughed and patted the top of the nearest roll, the rock textured to feel like grains of rice, several spears of what was probably supposed to be cucumber poked up from the center. The roll next to it was lying on its side and had an entire tuna sticking out of it. With its head out the front and its tail out the back, the fish had a jaunty look, like it had a party to get to and was just passing through.
"This is making me hungry," Lex said, sounding miserable about it.
Clark took his hand again as they moved on down the path. "They have food inside, you know. Some of those waiters have things you can eat instead of drink."
"On toothpicks," Lex said. His fingers twitched against Clark's and Clark swung their hands a little, feeling proud of himself. He was getting kinda good at this gay stuff.
"I forgot about your toothpick thing."
"I prefer my food to be free of splinters."
"You threw a shrimp at the caterer's head," Clark said.
Lex sniffed and tried to take a drink of his champagne, frowning when he discovered his glass was empty.
The next sculpture was made out of stacked cubes and had something to do with math. Clark liked the sushi better, but Lex perked up, happy to explain the beauty of the golden ratio and its importance in Grecian architecture, among many, many other things.
"Everything we find pleasing about form, including the proportions of the human face, can be expressed by this ratio," Lex said, a wry little grin on his asymmetrical lips.
Clark gave him a shy smile. "Maybe not everything."
"Well," Lex said, like Clark had surprised him.
The last piece was a huge free-standing slab of granite with a square cut out of it, the Metropolis skyline framed perfectly in its rough window. It was like looking at the future through the past. Clark wondered if this would still be here in a hundred years, what he'd see if he stood here then. Maybe that was the point. It made him want to do something he'd still remember a hundred years from now.
"Oh no," Lex said, facing the other direction. "Board member."
Clark snapped out of it. "Can we run?"
The garden opened onto a bricked square where a chamber orchestra was set up and people mingled over drinks and weird foods balanced on tiny pieces of toast.
"No," said Lex. "Unfortunately."
The board member waddled over. "Mr. Luthor, I hope you've taken some time to reconsider the board's position concerning the--"
Clark tuned him out, watching the corner of Lex's eye twitch and gauging how long the conversation could go on before Lex got impatient and did something he'd regret.
"We've been over this," Lex said, starting to look belligerent. That couldn't be good for business. Clark let go of his hand and snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, giving one to Lex to keep his mouth occupied. The board member blinked at Clark as if he was just now seeing him.
"Thank you, Clark," Lex said. "I don't like repeating myself, Harrison. Don't make me."
Clark laughed, once, and put his arm around Lex's shoulders in what he hoped was a boyfriendly manner. Harrison started up his pompous bluster again and Clark could feel Lex sigh.
"Oh!" Clark said, checking his watch ostentatiously. "Look at the time! Lex, you know I don't like to eat carbs after nine."
"We'd better be going," Lex said smoothly.
They broke away and headed across the square.
"Carbs?" Lex said.
"Lois dated a guy that actually said that to her. Well, one date. Half a date. She ditched him at the bar."
"I honestly can't tell if you're getting better or worse at lying."
"About the same, probably."
The limo was waiting for them out front, the chauffeur holding the door open like he'd been standing there the entire time. Maybe he had. Clark gave him a sympathetic look.
They slid inside. Lex poured himself another drink.
"Would you like to get dinner?" Lex asked. "I can get us a table at La Bête Noire."
"I'm not really hungry," Clark lied. Pretending to be gay was exhausting. He wasn't sure he'd make it through dinner. Besides, La Bête Noire sounded like a bondage club.
Lex made a tsk sound into his scotch, then told the driver to take them to the university. Traffic was light and it wasn't long before they stopped in front of Clark's dorm. Lex put his drink down.
"Do you want to come up?" Clark asked, remembering his earlier mistake.
"I'll walk you in," Lex said.
It was Saturday night and the dorms were practically empty. Clark paused in front of his door, unsure of what happened next. He never was very good at this sort of stuff. Lex was no help at all, staring at Clark like he used to, like he was waiting for something.
"Well, good night," Clark said, and hoping it might put an end to this whole bewildering experience, leaned forward and kissed Lex. He'd meant for it to be quick and painless, but somehow it was neither. Lex's mouth opened beneath his and Clark stepped into the kiss and then they were grabbing at each other, kissing desperately.
One of Lex's hands came up to grip Clark's arm and Clark fumbled around behind him until he found the door and pushed it open.
They stumbled inside, still kissing. The door swung shut behind them and Clark pulled away from Lex, breaking the kiss with a wet noise. They stared at each other and Clark wondered if he was really going to do this, then Lex reached up and pulled on the end of Clark's bowtie until it came undone, hanging loose around his collar, and Clark stopped wondering and backed Lex against the door and kissed him again.
Clark hadn't ever thought about this, about what Lex felt like under his suits, the taste of his flushed skin, the wet heat of his mouth. He'd never thought about sliding his hand down Lex's chest, opening his pants and bringing out his hard, naked cock, wrapping a fist around it and squeezing. Clark had never thought about this, but he gave Lex a few unsteady pulls and Lex gasped and tried to thrust into his hand and Clark figured he was onto something.
"Show me," Clark said.
Lex put his hand over Clark's, made him go slower, stroke harder.
"Oh," Clark said, leaning his head against Lex's so he could look down between them and watch Lex's cock moving in and out of their hands. "Like this?"
Lex didn't offer any further advice, which Clark took to mean he wasn't doing too badly. Lex had his eyes squeezed shut and he was biting his lip, so Clark just kept doing what he was doing, holding the back of Lex's head in one hand so Lex didn't hit it against the door while Clark slowly jerked him off.
Clark was doing most of the work now and the sight of Lex's cock in his hand, its round head peeking in and out of his fist, was making him so hard he couldn't stop himself from rubbing against Lex, pushing his dick against Lex's leg like some stupid kid.
"Lex," Clark said, helplessly, embarrassed and turned on, each amplifying the other, and Lex took in a sharp breath, cupped a hand around the head of his cock and came.
"Oh God, Lex." Clark kissed him and Lex leaned back against the wall, reaching his hand up to pet Clark's face, run a thumb over Clark's lips, back and forth, until Clark opened his mouth. He wasn't sure what to expect, but Lex slid a finger in, wet with his own come, and Clark found he liked it. It was bitter and private and he licked Lex's hand clean, wanted to go to his knees and lick his cock, too, put it in his mouth and suck him back to full hardness. He would have, but didn't know how, so he dragged his tongue over Lex's palm instead, watching Lex the entire time, and some of what he was thinking must have shown because Lex pushed him back towards the bed, forced him to sit, then shoved his hand into Clark's pants and grabbed his cock.
Clark stopped breathing. Lex had a hand on his dick. Lex was touching him. Lex was unzipping his pants and kneeling between his thighs. Lex was talking:
"Do you like this, Clark? Is it what you thought it'd be?"
"Yes, Lex. Please," Clark said, but he would have said anything, and Lex eventually stopped talking and just pulled Clark's dick out, gave it a few healthy tugs and sucked the tip into his mouth and that was pretty much it. Clark was coming before he could do much more than shudder and give a single involuntary thrust forward. Lex swallowed and Clark fell back on the bed.
It drained him, like sweating out kryptonite, and he took a brief mental vacation, staring at the Rockets poster on the far wall and trying to assimilate the fact that he'd just had sex with a guy. It was fun, but weird, and he decided he needed Lex to leave so that he could freak out about it in private.
"Um, my roommate's gonna be back soon, so...I had a nice time."
A girl had said that to him once. It was pretty effective, even Clark had known he was being kicked out. It seemed to work on guys too. Lex's tongue came out to lick his lower lip. He stood and deliberately tucked himself back into his pants, right where Clark couldn't help but see. That almost made him change his mind. He wanted more time with Lex's dick, but it was too late. Lex was straightening his bowtie and stepping out into the hallway.
"Good-bye, Clark."
The door shut.
Clark looked around his room, at its greasy pizza boxes and piles of dirty socks. He hadn't seen the floor since he'd moved in last fall. He hadn't seen his roommate in nearly as long. Clark was pretty sure he slept in the library.
Confident he wouldn't be interrupted, he kicked his pants off and stared at the ceiling for a while, dressed in half a tux, newly blown, and maybe, possibly, a little gay.
Then he fell asleep.
The next morning, Clark had come to terms with his new gayness. He'd decided it wasn't anything a little repression couldn't cure.
This was somewhat complicated by the morning's paper.
Back in his wilder days, Lex had loved playing with the tabloids and was on the record as being straight, gay, bisexual, and none of the above. After a while the reporters learned not to ask. Which meant now, ten years later, when their picture showed up in the papers, Lex wasn't the news. Clark, Lex's mysterious young consort, was.
Clark discovered this the hard way, stepping out of his dorm to get breakfast the next morning. There was a mob of reporters on the lawn, all of them yelling extremely inappropriate questions at him. He called Lex on his cell phone while walking very fast to the cafeteria. The mob trotted after him.
"Yes," said Lex.
"Lex," Clark hissed. "The whole world thinks I'm gay."
"And I'm being followed by reporters."
"I hope you're not talking to me on a cell phone," Lex said.
Clark ignored the non-sequitur. "Did you know this was going to happen?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"I'm not gay!"
Lex was unsympathetic. "Maybe you should have thought of that before falsely aligning yourself with my reputation."
"You've ruined my life!"
"All right," Lex said pleasantly, as if they were agreeing on a time to meet for lunch. There was a click.
Lex had hung up on him! Clark tried calling back, but the secretary wouldn't put him through.
"Oh God," Clark said, his life flashing before his eyes.
The reporters followed him into the cafeteria, and he was forced to stuff a bagel in his pocket and an apple in his mouth and take the back way out. He ended up in the j-school lounge, which required student ID, stranding the reporters outside. They pressed their faces to the narrow pane of glass in the door and tracked his every move.
He pulled the day's papers and sat in a corner where the mob couldn't see him.
The Inquisitor had Clark and Lex on the front page, a shot they must have photoshopped because Clark was sure they hadn't been standing that close together. The Planet, at least, had the good sense to tuck them away in the society pages with the rest of the fake news, and Clark read the companion article grudgingly. The sushi piece, as it turned out, was called Rock 'n Rolls. This appealed to Clark's love of puns and he wanted to tell Lex about it, if only because he'd hate it, but Lex still wasn't taking his calls.
Clark really hadn't expected this to be such a big deal. So they got their picture in the paper. It wasn't the first time. Clark and Lex used to appear together in the Ledger almost weekly. Back home not much would have been made of it. Of course he and Lex hadn't been holding hands in any of those pictures.
He sighed and put the paper down. What a mess.
Two students walked into the lounge, bickering about their plans for spring break, and Clark took the opportunity to zip out the open door, slide past the mob, and run away.
He'd finally managed to lose the reporters, but his torture for the day was far from over.
"Oh, Smallville, this explains so much," Lois said when he ran into her at the Bean Counter. "Word of advice? Stay out of Chloe's way for a week or two. Girl is not happy."
Chloe stormed into the writing lab and slammed a copy of the Planet into his chest. "Seriously? You couldn't warn me you're going to be outed by the major media? I keep your secrets -- all of them -- and this is the thanks I get?"
His mother called. "Clark, is there something you want to tell me?"
"I'm not gay," he said, over and over, but none of them believed him.
His plan had totally backfired.
That was Sunday. Monday wasn't any better.
"I spent three weeks on this project!" Clark said, flapping it at his journalism professor, who didn't even look up from her laptop.
"Sorry," she said. "I can't accept it."
"Why not?"
She looked up then. "You chose LuthorCorp as your subject."
"How can I be certain you compiled this information yourself?"
Clark gaped at her. "Who else would have?"
"Clark, it's no secret you're dating Lex Luthor. His secretary could have put this together for you in an hour."
"She didn't! Lex wouldn't--" He took a deep breath. "We're not really dating. We're just friends," he said. The word stuck in his throat like a bone.
"Why LuthorCorp, then?"
He'd chosen it so he could keep an eye out for any of Lex's corporate misdeeds. Having Lex's secretary do the work for him would have defeated the purpose. But he couldn't tell his professor that, so he just rephrased his project summary. It was the best kind of lie: True, but not the truth.
"LuthorCorp has a big presence in Smallville and I spent a lot of time around plant number three when I was in high school. You can look at my list of sources. I did all the work myself."
She sat back in her chair and stared at him through her catseye glasses. She stuck her hand out.
"Thank you!" Clark said, handing her the paper.
"Not so fast," she said.
An hour later, he reeled out of her office and stumbled down the stairs to the quad. He got out his cell phone with numb fingers. Lex's secretary said he was unavailable, just as she had the last ten times he'd called.
"Oh my God," Clark said to Lex's voice mail. "Just because we're seen together once all of Metropolis is acting like you own me! Like you even care what grade I get in info gathering. I mean, my professor accused me of not doing my own work! I just spent an hour getting grilled on my research practices. If she knew you at all, she'd know you'd never let me get away with slacking off and taking credit for something I didn't do. Um, call me?"
He collapsed on a bench.
What had started as a way to get out of work was now causing him even more work. The irony wasn't lost on him. Stupid irony.
He was still stewing over that when a red-headed girl sat down next to him.
"You look like you could use some cheering up," she said. She was cute, with a round little nose and milky skin. Her hair was in two short braids and she was wearing some kind of stringy yellow top that showed off her freckled shoulders.
She tilted her head and pushed her chest forward. Lois, in a doomed effort to make him less of a doorknob, had once drilled him on signs of female interest. This move included several of the top five.
"I could buy you a beer and you could tell me about it." She let their knees bump together.
"Sorry," Clark said, giving a tired shrug. "I'm gay."
He thought he might as well say it. It had turned out to be true, after all. He was gay, and he was okay with that because at this point it was the least of his problems.
"Oh," she said, eyes wide. "Sorry. I didn't recognize you. You look different in...flannel. I've gotta go."
He watched her run off across the lawn and join a game of frisbee, linking arms with another girl there and whispering in her ear. They both turned to stare at him. Clark ground his teeth together and pretended to be engrossed in his cell phone. Lex's secretary said Lex was still unavailable. Clark didn't leave a message.
By the time he got to the paper on Wednesday, he fully expected to be assigned to the lunch menu -- Chloe's favorite punishment for him when he'd pissed her off back in high school -- but Justin just looked at him like he had the plague.
"I don't have anything for you, Kent."
"I could do background for the fuel cell piece," Clark offered.
Justin shook his head. "It's a LuthorCorp project. I can't afford to have your personal bias endanger the integrity of this paper."
"We broke up," Clark said, feeling kind of sick about it.
"Even worse," Justin said darkly.
"Right." Clark shuffled over to the ad desk, defeated. He could probably answer the phone without his personal bias violating anyone's right to free speech.
He glared across the room, where Justin sat at his computer looking like a fire hydrant with hair. Justin was an ex-football player, big and sturdy and smarter than he looked.
Clark idly considered having sex with him. It freaked him out, though, and he had to stop.
The thought crossed his mind that he was as bad at being gay as he was at being straight, which was just depressing. Because he could blame his lack of success with girls on the fact he'd been secretly gay all that time, but now that he was officially gay, he couldn't find anyone he wanted to sleep with.
All right, so he knew one guy he'd like to sleep with. It didn't mean he was in love with him or anything. Lex was just really good with his hands, and his mouth.
Clark dialed Lex's number absently. Lex, he was told, was unavailable. He left a message after the beep.
"If the campus paper had obituaries, that would be my new job. As it is, I'll probably get stuck unclogging the toilets and working the ad desk for the rest of the term. No paper's ever going to print anything I write. Thanks to my association with you, my journalistic integrity is suspect. I should just change my major now." He sighed. "I miss you."
Life, despite his most fervent wishes, did not go back to normal. After several more unsuccessful attempts to call up Lex and blame it all on him, Clark was forced to admit that, really, he'd kind of brought this upon himself. So now he was gay, lonely, and about to get fired from the paper, and it was his own stupid fault. And Lex still wasn't taking his phone calls.
The only constant in his life was Spencer, who was treating him exactly the same as he always had.
"Did you have trouble with the homework?" Spencer asked, perfectly normal, as if Clark's entire life hadn't just totally gone to hell and he had time to do his stats homework in between dodging the paparazzi and reassuring his mother that he wasn't running around Metropolis doing drugs and having unprotected sex. She'd been watching cable again.
"I've been a little busy," Clark said.
"Right," said Spencer. "Want to read my notes?"
Clark almost hugged him. It was such a relief not to have to defend himself or answer stupid questions. Spencer just wanted to talk about sampling distributions. He didn't care Clark was suddenly famous for holding Lex Luthor's hand in public.
His stats prof didn't care either, going by the look on his face when Clark said he hadn't done the reading, but Clark kept his head down and managed to make it through class without drawing too much attention to himself.
"So," Spencer said. He closed his notebook and tucked it into his bag. "If you wanted, I could help you go over the chapters you missed. We could do it over pizza?"
Clark was getting better at being gay, because for Spencer that totally qualified as a come on. Clark thought about saying yes; Spencer was nice and lanky and in no way had the attention of the international news media. He'd probably be a great boyfriend, but there wasn't any tension between them, no sense that they would ever challenge each other. Not like with Lex.
"Sorry," Clark said. "I've got stuff to do."
"Right. I mean -- you've probably got plans with Lex."
"Yeah," Clark said, wishing he did.
"Well, okay. See you next week." Spencer joined the crowd of students pouring out the doors of Bradley Hall and disappeared.
Clark let the press of bodies carry him down the stairs and out onto the sidewalk, depositing him right in front of one of the green newspaper boxes that housed Metropolis' free weekly. The cover asked: "Is gay the new straight?"
The words were printed over a picture of him and Lex. He looked happy. They both did.
Clark squeezed the side pocket of his backpack, checking to see if he had his cell phone, then changed his mind and started walking.
"One moment," Lex's secretary said, looking slightly puzzled to see Clark, like he belonged on the phone and was messing her up by being there in person. She pressed a few buttons on her computer and her face cleared. "Mr. Luthor is unavailable."
"I'll wait," Clark said.
Lex, because he was Lex and believed in psyching out the competition by any means necessary, did not have chairs in the space outside his office. Clark sat on the floor next to a potted palm and made himself comfortable.
Eventually, Lex would have to leave.
At three o'clock, an old guy in a three piece suit stepped out of the elevator and nearly tripped over his own feet. Clark was sitting against the wall with his econ notes spread around him. Clark smiled and went back to drawing supply/demand charts.
The old guy strode over to the secretary and whispered, "What's he doing over there?"
"His economics homework," she whispered, leaning forward. "I let him borrow my ruler."
"You can go right in," she said.
He cast a final look at Clark, tightened his grip on his briefcase, and marched into Lex's office.
The secretary rolled her eyes.
Clark gave her a shrug to show there were no hard feelings.
By six, Lex had seen several more visitors, and Clark had finished his homework and was eating a Pop-Tart he'd found in his backpack. Along with no chairs, Lex's reception area had no magazines, so Clark was reduced to reading his stats textbook for fun.
At half-past, a chime sounded and Connie shut down her computer and got her purse out of her desk. She pulled on her jacket, glanced at Clark, and went into Lex's office.
Clark could hear them talking through the walls -- Connie's precise speech, the low tones of Lex's dissatisfaction -- but wasn't interested in what they were saying.
Connie came back out.
"Let me guess," Clark said. "Lex is unavailable."
"That's the party line," she said, gathering her things. "I'm going home, which would normally mean you are too, but Mr. Luthor seems to think kicking you out would have no visible effect."
"He's letting me stay?"
"I'm letting you stay." She dimmed the lights and left.
When Lex finally came out of his office, it was dark outside, the city black and glossy through the windows. Clark was sitting at Connie's desk with her task light on. Lex looked resigned.
"I suppose you're here to tell me the latest way I've ruined your life."
Clark opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He'd been waiting for this moment for more than six hours and he was just now realizing he had no game plan. God. Lois was right. He was a hopeless doorknob. In the absence of anything to say, mouth still open, he made a squeaking noise.
Lex gave him a tired look, then walked past him to the elevator.
"Wait!" Clark said, chasing after him. "I want to go out with you again, for real this time."
"Won't that interfere with you being straight?"
"Yeah, I might have been wrong about that," Clark said, hoping he sounded youthfully shallow rather than just plain stupid.
The elevator arrived with a ding! and for a moment Clark was worried Lex was going to dive into the car head-first just to get away from him, but they stood there a while longer and the doors closed and Lex sighed.
"But how could that be?" Lex said, with exaggerated patience. "You were very clear about not being gay. You told me so yourself, on three separate occasions."
"I was confused, all right? I didn't know what to think."
Lex wasn't satisfied with this. "You didn't seem confused when I had your dick in my mouth."
It was probably meant to shock him, but Clark felt himself getting hard at the memory of Lex and his soft pink tongue. Clark hadn't been confused about that. It was the next morning the panic had set in. The fear that everyone looking at him knew what he was.
"What if you were pretending to be -- I don't know -- a pirate, and you actually turned into one. Wouldn't you be a little freaked out?"
"You do realize it doesn't work that way?"
"Of course I do. Look, I'm sorry, okay? I was surprised."
Lex, who liked to act as if nothing had ever surprised him, predictably failed to buy this.
"I didn't know I was gay," Clark tried again, desperate for him to understand.
"You didn't know," Lex said, as if he'd tasted something bad. "You told people we were dating, and you didn't know?"
"I'm -- you're missing my point!"
"No," said Lex, "I don't think I am. Go home, Clark."
"No! Not until you listen to me!"
"You're not saying anything I haven't already heard."
They glared at each other.
He was interrupted by the distant sound of breaking glass. That by itself wasn't immediate cause for alarm, but it was closely followed by Lois yelling that her shirt was dry-clean only. She sounded like she was about to kill someone. This was so unfair. He didn't even like Lois.
"Dammit. I have to go."
"Please do."
"I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
That was never going to work, but Clark had to try. "Please?" he added, running for the stairs. His last glimpse of Lex showed him pressing the elevator call button and Clark's insides did a strange twisty thing like maybe he was going to throw up.
"Oh yeah?" Lois said. "Come over here and say that."
Queasy and pissed, Clark left the building and followed the sound of Lois' voice to a bar on the corner of Tenth and Mill. She was out on the deck and had a crowd of frat boys cheering her on, shouting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Lois had some girl by the neck and was dangling her over the railing, her feet all of three inches off the sidewalk.
"Lois!" Clark awkwardly hopped up over the railing to stand next to her. "What are you doing?"
"Just defending your virtue, Smallville."
"Please don't. Chloe said she wasn't going to bail you out anymore."
"While bail money is very important," Lois said, tightening her hold on her squirming victim, "some things are even more important. Like not being a total bitch."
"Let her go, Lois." Clark got a closer look at the blonde Lois had in a headlock and recognized her as the girl who had groped his ass at a party a few months ago. Trista, the one who wouldn't take no for an answer but finally accepted "I'm dating Lex Luthor" as one.
"You know, I was kind of in the middle of something," Clark growled, hoping it would make Lois hurry up. Every second Clark stood there was one less second he had to explain himself to Lex. One more second for Lex to get further and further away.
"Sex?" said Lois. "Were you havin' the sex, Clark?"
"No," he said a little too forcefully.
Lois released Trista, no longer interested in her. "Go on, fuck off."
Trista wobbled away and Lois regarded him with a pitying look.
"Does he have a headache?" she asked. "Is it that time of the month?"
"Lex is mad at me," Clark mumbled.
"Of course he is. You probably said something stupid."
"Well, if Lex has spent more than a minute with you, he's used to that." She wrung the beer out of her shirt thoughtfully. "Distract him. Actually, that might be impossible, but do your sexy thing or...whatever it is about you that gets him hot. He's a guy. One thought of sex and, poof, no brain."
"He's not a guy, he's Lex," Clark said.
"Point taken. Hey, can I borrow twenty bucks?"
Clark left her there with a wad of cash and one of his shirts. He wasn't sure if she was going to wear it or auction it off, but he knew better than to ask.
He raced back to LuthorCorp, but Lex was already gone. He wasn't in his office. He wasn't in the elevator. He wasn't on the roof or in the lobby. Each place he didn't find Lex made the knot in his stomach twist up all the tighter, and Clark scanned the building, worried that even if he did find him, Lex wasn't going to forgive him this time.
Desperate, Clark expanded his search and found Lex in the parking garage. He'd disabled his car alarm but was just standing there with the door open, staring at the garage entrance.
Clark skidded to a stop, feeling like he couldn't get enough air. Lex was rumpled, his collar unbuttoned and his tie loose. He looked tired and a little lost, like a man at the end of a very long day.
"You waited," Clark said, dizzy with relief.
Lex shrugged. "I didn't have anywhere I needed to be."
That lie was probably the closest Lex would ever get to saying he was giving Clark another chance. Clark wasn't going to waste it. He stepped closer and said the first thing that came to mind. "Will you go out to dinner with me?"
"Now?" Lex asked.
"Well," Clark said, "I'm kinda hungry and I know you haven't had anything to eat since lunch. Then, uh, maybe we could..." He trailed off, too embarrassed to say it, because sex, but Lex smirked like he knew what Clark was thinking.
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Lex said.
Clark smoothed a wrinkle out of Lex's shirt, feeling suddenly shy. "That's good. Because I'd really like to try this again. Oh, except I -- Lois kind of took all my money."
Lex caught Clark's hand and drew him down for an affectionate kiss.
"What about dinner?" Clark asked.
"I'll take care of it," Lex said, kissing him again, and again, soft and sweet, and Clark shivered against him, steadying himself with a hand on Lex's hip. Lex grunted and kissed him harder, biting at his mouth until Clark broke loose and sucked a string of kisses down Lex's throat to that shadowy notch just visible beyond the open collar of his shirt. Clark stuck his tongue there and Lex pulled away, panting.
Clark grinned. He had a feeling he was going to be good at this. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22126 | Process of car insurance in the USA
Having a car in the US is not a luxury, but a necessity, especially in small towns, where public transportation is much worse developed than in big cities. You can use car rental services of enterprise colorado springs airport, or if you are going to buy a car in the United States, it is necessary to buy a car insurance policy as well. What insurance is it better to take, and what determines its cost? Read more below about the process of car insurance in the USA.
The difference in approaches
Due to the fact that there is no federal system regulating auto insurance in the USA, this issue is difficult for many people. Every state is developing its own car insurance requirements.
You can buy car insurance in person or via the Internet from an insurance company; from an insurance agent or broker (the broker must have a license). Insurance is valid for half a year or for a year. It can be paid monthly, or it can be paid in a full amount. You often get a discount when you pay the whole sum at once. With annual insurance, it is guaranteed that the price will not rise. Choosing the 6-month policy, the price can raise each time after its ending.
The composition parts of car insurance
An insurance policy is a set of different types of coverage and every state is having its own insurance policy. There are many of them in the field of auto insurance. Consider two of them:
1. Liability Coverage – compulsory liability. This is the most significant type of coverages, especially at states, where all responsibility falls on the culprit of the accident.
It should be borne in mind that in case when after an accident with big car damages, insurance of the person, responsible for this accident, does not cover all costs, the lacking amount will be claimed from the culprit at the court. On account of its coverage, all bank accounts of the family, shares, if any, the property owned, as well as the amount of one fourth of the money, earned by all members of the family in the next 10 years, are taken.
1. Personal Injury Protection – it is compulsory in some states, like Florida and New York, and optional, for example, in California.
What is needed for auto insurance?
You need to provide the following data and documents:
1. Driver’s license obtained in the USA (in the case of its absence – the license that is present). Do not forget to report your insurance broker about its receipt in case you didn’t have it at the moment of car insuring;
2. Vehicle Identification Number;
3. Make, year of release and model of the car;
4. The zip code of the place, where the car will be left for night. Every insurance company is having its own rating of safe parking areas.
5. There is one more item, which must be specified for insurance company- the approximate number of miles you plan to drive in a year. This data is provided in the form of a non-formal letter. Some insurance companies each year ask for documents that reflect the real state of things. If it suddenly turns out that you greatly underestimate the data, you may need to compensate for the last 3 years. In general, it is worth bearing in mind that any car insurance fraud is a crime and you will be punished for it. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22128 | Innovation in the Era of Experience: The Changing Role of Users in Healthcare Innovation
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22149 | As a light material factory of China, we offer the latest led raw materials to buyers and customers all over the world. Color quality is one of the key challenges facing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a general light source. Sources: Manufacturer datasheets for Cree XLamp 7090 XR, Lumileds Luxeon K2 Emitter, Luxeon Warm White Emitter, and Osram Opto OSTAR-Lighting. Visible spectrum, which is also known as visible light or simply light, is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that the human eye can perceive.
It lies between the Ultra-violet radiation and Infra red radiation of the electromagnetic radiation [EMR]. Orange color corresponds to the wavelength of 595 -620nm.Red color corresponds to the radiation of minimum frequency (4 x 10^14Hz) and maximum wavelength (760nm). The visible spectrum is a subset of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye. The range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation is known as electromagnetic spectrum.
Out of seven colors Red, green and blue are known as "primary" colors as their combination produced white color. Visible spectrum is also known as color spectrum as there are seven colors in the color spectrum, violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red (VIBGYOR). Of the radiation energy to which we are exposed on a daily base, we are only aware of a small part as light or warmth.
Insects and other arthropods, such as Limulus, the horseshoe crab, often have a compound eye consisting of ommatidia (Eckert, Fig. Very small animals, such as insects, can't use a lens type system due to optical diffraction. Our eye and the eye of the octopus both have a lens which produces an image on a retina which is comprised of an array of photoreceptive cells.
Stomatopods (Mantis shrimp, etc.) have up to 16 different types of receptor cells that are each sensitive to different regions of the UV and visible spectrum. All text and images, not attributed to others, including course examinations and sample questions, are Copyright, 2012, Thomas J. Solar radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation that reaches the Earth from the Sun. Figure 1 clearly shows that the majority of solar radiation occurs in the short-wave visible and ultraviolet portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation makes up a very small part of the total energy content of insolation, roughly 8%- 9%.
As solar radiation passes through the earth's atmosphere, some of it is absorbed and scattered (25%) by air molecules, small airborne particles, water vapour, aerosols and clouds. It is the scattered component that makes the sky look bright and provides the ambient diffuse daylighting used in buildings.
If you look closely at Figure 1 you will notice significant differences between the spectral content of the radiation reaching the outer atmosphere and that actually reaching us on the surface. The Earth's orbit around the Sun is not circular but elliptical, meaning that it is closest to the Sun in late Summer and farthest away in late Winter. This has an effect because the lower the Sun is in the sky, the more of the Earth's atmosphere the solar radiation has to pass through in order to reach the surface, thus the more scattering and absorption it is subjected to. Figure 4 - When the sun is lower in the sky in winter, solar radiation must travel further through the atmosphere than in summer. The solar radiation that passes directly through to the earth's surface is called Direct Solar Radiation. Anti-Reflection Coating (AR)This type of Optical coating when applied to the surface of a substrate reduces reflection and minimizes light loss thus improving contrast of the image due to the elimination of stray light.
V-coat AR : Type of AR coating which is normally narrow and reflectance curve is shaped like a letter V with the lowest reflectance occurring at the design wavelength. Dual Band AR : Type of AR coating where transmission is optimized at 2 wavelength of interest. Bandpass filters isolate specific regions of the spectrum, simultaneously providing high transmission of desired energy, and deep rejection of unwanted energy. Type of filters which blocks or rejects a specified wavelength range and transmits another.
This paper reviews the basics regarding light and color and summarizes the most important color issues related to white light LEDs. Instead, LEDs emit light in a very narrow range of wavelengths in the visible spectrum, resulting in nearly monochromatic light. When combined with a yellow phosphor (usually cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet or YAG:Ce), the light will appear white to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation in wavelengths from about 380 to 770 nanometers is visible to the human eye. Example of a Typical IncandescentSpectral Power Distribution Incandescent, fluorescent, and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps radiate across the visible spectrum, but with varying intensity in the different wavelengths. Phosphor-converted chips are produced in large volumes and in various packages (light engines, arrays, etc.) that are integrated into lighting fixtures. Merely wave lengths in a very small interval from 380 to 780nm are normally perceived by humans as visible light.
The wavelength range from about 390 to 750nm and frequency, 400–790Hz is the part of visible spectrum.
Ita€™s the distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by a given object.
The highest wavelength of radio wave used for radio communication, while the gamma radiations have minimum wavelength and maximum frequency.
They cause a number of photo-chemical processes, have a brief pigment-building effect (sun tan) and can indirectly cause DNA damage and melanomas. McNeill Alexander (Edward Arnold), shows a diagrammatic representation of a compound eye with the individual ommatidia. The octopus eye uses a lens imaging system but using a retina with receptor cells in front. Some cells in the leaf veins and petioles of plants are sensitive to the direction of light, not just its intensity. Herbert and may not be used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of Thomas J. As discussed in the colour temperature topic, the greater the temperature of an object, the shorter the wavelength of its radiant emissions.
There is some long-wave component of infrared, however large bands of this are absorbed by gasses and particles within the upper atmosphere. Some of the radiation is reflected straight back out into space (usually around 20% but much more with increased cloud cover) whilst the rest arrives somewhere on the Earth's surface. Sometimes less than 50% of the solar radiation arriving at the outer atmosphere actually reaches the Earth's surface. Without it, the sky would look just as black as it does at night, with the sun being a very-very large and bright star occasionally passing through it.
Blue light arrives from all directions after scattering, whilst red and yellow light arrives almost directly from the sun.
This is due to the absorption of some of the radiation when a gas molecule or particle retains some of this energy as heat. Also, the greater the angle the direct radiation makes with the ground, the greater the surface area its energy is spread over, reducing its intensity and its heating capacity as per the Cosine Law. Whilst a cloudy sky can actually increase the amount of diffuse solar radiation, a heavy rain cloud can reduce the direct component to almost zero. The radiation that has been scattered out of the direct beam is called Diffuse Solar Radiation. The general concept is usually based on the periodic layer system composed from two materials, one a high index and the other a low index material. Application can be found on optical lenses, eye glasses, cover window or display glasses, photographic lenses and other application that requires maximum light transmission.
MgF2 is the most popular low index material which performs better on high index glass substrates.
This is why LEDs are so efficient for colored light applications such as traffic lights and exit signs.
A more recently developed approach uses an LED emitting in the near-UV region of the spectrum to excite multi-chromatic phosphors to generate white light.The RGB approach produces white light by mixing the three primary colors red, green, and blue.
The spectral power distribution (SPD) for a given light source shows the relative radiant power emitted by the light source at each wavelength.
RGB systems are more often custom designed for use in architectural settings.Typical Luminous Efficacy and Color Characteristics of Current White LEDsHow do currently available white LEDs compare to traditional light sources in terms of color characteristics and luminous efficacy?
In other words, visible spectrum lies between the frequencies of the ultraviolet rays and infrared waves. Mixing of secondary colors produced tertiary Colors.When white light passes through a prism, it gets dispersed into the colors of the optical spectrum. This varies by around ±2% due to fluctuations in emissions from the Sun itself as well as by ±3.5% due to seasonal variations in distance and solar altitude. Once the radiation arrives at the surface, some of it is immediately reflected back into the sky. It just happens that most of the particles in the atmosphere that are responsible for scattering are around 0.5 microns in size. There are noticeable dips in the solar spectrum that coincide with the absorption characteristics of different gasses.
As there is generally an increase in cloud activity during the colder or wetter months, these factors combine to produce a significant seasonal variation in available solar radiation. The addition of the direct component of sunlight and the diffuse component of daylight falling together on a horizontal surface make up Global Horizontal Solar Radiation.
An example of Long-Wave Pass filter is a Cold Mirror used to cool a Projection System by letting Infra Red (in form of heat) to pass through the filter. Color quality of the resulting light can be enhanced by the addition of amber to “fill in” the yellow region of the spectrum. Incandescent sources have a continuous SPD, but relative power is low in the blue and green regions.
Standard incandescent A-lamps provide about 15 lumens per watt (lpw), with CCT of around 2700 K and CRI close to 100. With increasing wavelength the color impression changes to blue, green, yellow, orange and finally red.
This type of radiation is used for therapeutic purposes, amongst other things, since it has an anti-rachitic effect. In addition to the spectrum of solar radiation there is a spectrum of terrestrial radiation that fills out the far-infrared range spanning from 3 to 75mm. This amount depends on the nature of the actual surface - fresh snow can reflect up to 95% whilst desert sands reflect 35-45%, grasslands 15-25% and dense forest vegetation 5-10%. As radiation with longer wavelengths simply ignores these particles, higher frequency (shorter wavelength) radiation tends to be scattered more. Whilst some of this absorbed heat finds its way to the surface as long-wave radiation, the vast majority is simply re-radiated back out into space.
Both mean that the path of the Sun through the sky changes significantly throughout the year.
An example of a Short-Wave Pass filter is a Hot Mirror that transmits visible light and reflects the heat.
The potential of LED technology to produce high-quality white light with unprecedented energy efficiency is the impetus for the intense level of research and development currently being supported by the U.S.
The typically “warm” color appearance of incandescent lamps is due to the relatively high emissions in the orange and red regions of the spectrum. ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) produce about 50 lpw at 2700-3000 K and CRI at least 80. Radiation differs through frequency, for example, radio waves are of long wavelength, while visual radiation is in the short wave range.
These are basically the heat radiating from the surfaces of materials that have been warmed by the sun.
This is what makes the sky appear blue - as lower frequency red and yellow light pass almost directly through whilst blue light is bounced about all over the place. Typical efficacies of currently available LEDs from the leading chip manufacturers are shown below.
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Somerset Levels
The Somerset Levels, seen from Glastonbury Tor
Map showing the Somerset Levels and the surrounding area. The major hill ranges and rivers are shown. Height Source=Ordnance Survey OpenData
The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, South West England, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills.
The Somerset Levels have an area of about 160,000 acres (650 km2) and are bisected by the Polden Hills; the areas to the south are drained by the River Parrett, and the areas to the North by the rivers Axe and Brue. The Mendip Hills separate the Somerset Levels from the North Somerset Levels. The Somerset Levels consist of marine clay "levels" along the coast and inland peat-based "moors"; agriculturally, about 70 per cent is used as grassland and the rest is arable. Willow and teazel are grown commercially and peat is extracted.
A Palaeolithic flint tool found in West Sedgemoor is the earliest indication of human presence in the area. The Neolithic people exploited the reed swamps for their natural resources and started to construct wooden trackways, including the world's oldest known timber trackway, the Post Track, dating from the 3800s BC. The Levels were the location of the Glastonbury Lake Village as well as two Lake villages at Meare Lake. Several settlements and hill forts were built on the natural "islands" of slightly raised land, including Brent Knoll and Glastonbury. In the Roman period sea salt was extracted and a string of settlements were set up along the Polden Hills. The discovery at Shapwick of 9,238 silver Roman coins, known as the Shapwick Hoard, was the second largest ever found from the time of the Roman Empire. A number of Saxon charters document the incorporation of areas of moor in estates. In 1685, the Battle of Sedgemoor was fought in the Bussex area of Westonzoyland at the conclusion of the Monmouth Rebellion.
As a result of the wetland nature of the Levels, the area contains a rich biodiversity of national and international importance. It supports a vast variety of plant and bird species and is an important feeding ground for birds and includes 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, of which 12 are also Special Protection Areas. The area has been extensively studied for its biodiversity and heritage, and has a growing tourism industry.
People have been draining the area since before the Domesday Book. In the Middle Ages, the monasteries of Glastonbury, Athelney and Muchelney were responsible for much of the drainage. The artificial Huntspill River was constructed during the Second World War as a reservoir, although it also serves as a drainage channel. The Sowy River between the River Parrett and King's Sedgemoor Drain was completed in 1972; water levels are managed by the Levels internal drainage boards. During 2009 and 2010 proposals to build a series of electricity pylons by one of two routes between Hinkley Point and Avonmouth, to transmit electricity from the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, attracted local opposition. Discussions have taken place concerning the possibility of obtaining World Heritage Site status for the Somerset Levels as a "cultural landscape".[1] It was suggested that if this bid were successful it could improve flood control, but only if wetland fens were created again; the plans were abandoned in 2010.[2]
• Natural region 1
• Geography 2
• Settlements 2.1
• Climate 2.2
• Water management 3
• Drains 3.1
• Pumps 3.2
• Sea defences 3.3
• Flooding 3.4
• Human habitation 4
• Land use 5
• Willow 5.1
• Teazel growing 5.2
• Peat extraction 5.3
• Biodiversity and conservation 6
• Somerset Levels Project 7
• Shapwick Project 8
• Tourism 9
• See also 10
• References 11
• Further reading 12
• External links 13
Natural region
The Somerset Levels form a natural region that has been designated as a national character area – No. 142 – by Natural England, the public body responsible for England's natural environment. Neighbouring natural regions are: the Vale of Taunton and Quantock Fringes to the west, the Blackdowns to the southwest, the Mid Somerset Hills and Yeovil Scarplands to the southeast, the Mendip Hills to the east and the Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges to the northeast.[3][4][5]
The Levels are mainly flat areas of inland plains and a coastal sand and clay barrier, roughly west of the M5 motorway. There are some slightly raised parts, called "burtles",[6] as well as higher ridges and hills. The Levels are about 20 feet (6 m) above mean sea level (O.D.). The general elevation inland is 10 to 12 feet (3 to 4 m) O.D. with peak tides of 25 to 26 feet (8 to 8 m) O.D. recorded at Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea.[7] Large areas of peat were laid down in the Brue Valley during the Quaternary period after the ice sheets melted.[6] The area's topography consists of two basins mainly surrounded by hills, the runoff from which forms rivers that originally meandered across the plain but have now been controlled by embanking and clyses (the local name for a sluice).[8] The area is prone to winter floods of fresh water and occasional salt water inundations. The worst in recorded history was the Bristol Channel floods of 1607, which resulted in the drowning of an estimated 2,000 or more people, houses and villages swept away, an estimated 200 square miles (518 km2) of farmland inundated, and livestock killed.[9] Another severe flood occurred in 1872–1873, when over 107 square miles (277 km2) were underwater from October to March.[10]
Although underlain by much older Triassic age[6][11] formations that protrude to form what would once have been islands—such as Athelney, Brent Knoll, Burrow Mump and Glastonbury Tor—the lowland landscape was formed only during the last 10,000 years, following the end of the last ice age. Glastonbury Tor is composed of Upper Lias Sand. The Poldens and the Isle of Wedmore are composed of Blue Lias and Marl, while the Mendips are largely Carboniferous limestone.[12] Although sea level changes since the Pliocene led to changes in sea level and the laying down of vegetation,[13] the peak of the peat formation took place in swamp conditions around 6,000 years ago, although in some areas it continued into medieval times.[14][15]
It is a mainly agricultural region, typically with open fields of permanent grass surrounded by ditches with willow trees. Access to individual areas, especially for cattle, was provided by means of "droves", i.e. green lanes, leading off the public highways. Some of the old roads, in contrast to the old hollow ways found in other areas of England, are causeways raised above the level of the surrounding land, with a drainage ditch running along each side.[16]
Most of the settlements on the Levels are small villages. In the south, Aller, which has a population of 374,[17] includes the hamlet of Beer (sometimes Bere) and the deserted medieval village of Oath on the opposite bank of the River Parrett. The area known as the Isle of Athelney was once a very low isolated island linked by a causeway to East Lyng, each end of which was protected by a semi-circular stockade and ditch. The ditch on the island is now known to date from the Iron Age, and was used by Alfred the Great as a fort before the Battle of Ethandun in May 878; in gratitude for his victory Alfred founded a monastery, Athelney Abbey,[18] on the Isle in 888, which survived until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in 1539. Bawdrip is a small village which has a population of 498.[19] Brent Knoll is a large village at the foot of 449-foot (137 m) Brent Knoll Camp that dominates the surrounding landscape; the name means Beacon Hill in Old English.[20] Brent Knoll has been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age.[21] Before the Somerset Levels were drained, Brent Knoll was an island known as the Isle (or Mount) of Frogs.[22]
Glastonbury (population 8,784[23]) and Street (11,066[23]) lie on opposite sides of the River Brue, and provide a central point for trade and commerce. Larger centres are generally on slightly higher ground around the edges of the Levels. Bridgwater is a market town, the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. With a population of 33,698,[19] it straddles the major communication routes through South West England. Situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels, along both banks of the River Parrett and 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, it was at one time a major port and trading centre. The hamlet of Dunball forms part of the port on the river. Burrowbridge lies on the River Parrett further inland. The name probably comes from the Old English buruh (fortified hill) and brycg (bridge).[24] In the village is Burrow Mump, an ancient earthwork now owned by the National Trust. Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate.[25] It is a natural hill of Triassic sandstone capped by Keuper marl.[26] Excavations showed evidence of a medieval masonry building on the top of the hill.[27]
Along the coast, settlements such as Berrow are built on the line of sand dunes separating the low-lying marshes from the Bristol Channel. At the northern end Bleadon lies on the River Axe; and there was for many years a small harbour, sometimes known as Lympsham Wharf.[28] The arrival of the Bristol and Exeter Railway in 1841, which crossed the Axe on a bridge, obstructed river traffic beyond the wharf, making it the limit of navigation for coastal vessels.[28] An Act of 1915 authorised the drainage of the river and installation of a flood gate at Bleadon,[29] although attempts to control the water had occurred on Bleadon Level since medieval times, including an early windmill, in 1613, to pump water into the sea from behind a sea wall.[30] Burnham-on-Sea (population 18,401[31]) is at the mouth of the River Parrett where it enters Bridgwater Bay.[32] The position of the town on the edge of the Somerset Levels has resulted in a history dominated by land reclamation and sea defences since Roman times.[33] Burnham was seriously affected by the Bristol Channel floods of 1607, and various flood defences have been installed since then.[34] A concrete sea wall was built in 1911, and after the Second World War further additions to the defences were made, using the remains of a Mulberry harbour; the present curved concrete wall was completed in 1988.[35] Highbridge, which neighbours Burnham, is near the mouth of the River Brue and the villages of East and West Huntspill.[32]
Along with the rest of South West England the Somerset Levels have a temperate climate, which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.[36] The annual mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F). Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea. The summer months of July and August are the warmest, with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter, mean minimum temperatures of 1 or 2 °C (33.8 or 35.6 °F) are common.[36] The Azores high pressure area influences the south-west of England's summer weather, but convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.[36] In December 1998, there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton. Most rainfall in the south-west is caused by convection or Atlantic depressions, which are most active in autumn and winter, when they are the chief cause of rain. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by the Sun heating the land, leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in), and about 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the southwest.[36] It was devastated by the UK storms of January–February 2014.
Climate data for Yeovilton 20m amsl (1981-2010)
Average high °C (°F) 8.3
Average low °C (°F) 1.7
Average rainfall mm (inches) 67.6
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) 12.2 9.3 10.4 10.1 9 8.3 8.2 8.9 9.4 12.2 12.1 12.1 122.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours 55 75.6 113 166.1 193.5 195.5 202.3 192.7 143.9 104.9 70.6 50.9 1,564
Source: Met Office
Water management
A straight water filled channel surrounded by an avenue of trees and grassy banks.
The River Brue in an artificial channel draining farmland near Glastonbury
The Moors and Levels, formed from a submerged and reclaimed landscape, consist of a coastal clay belt only slightly above mean sea level, with an inland peat belt at a lower level behind it.[37]
Early attempts to control the water levels were possibly made by the Romans (although records only date from the 13th century), but were not widespread.[38]
There was a port at Bleadney on the River Axe in the 8th century which allowed goods to be brought to within 3 miles (5 km) of Wells. In 1200, a wharf was constructed at Rackley near Axbridge. The Parrett was navigable up as far as Langport in 1600, with 15 to 20 ton barges. The Domesday Book recorded that drainage of the higher grounds was under way, although the moors at Wedmoor were said to be useless.[39]
In the Middle Ages, the monasteries of Glastonbury, Athelney, and Muchelney were responsible for much of the drainage. In 1129, the Abbot of Glastonbury was recorded as inspecting enclosed land at Lympsham. Efforts to control flooding on the Parrett were recorded around the same date. In 1234, 722 acres (2.9 km2) were reclaimed near Westonzoyland and, from the accounts in the abbey's rent books, this had increased to 972 acres (393 ha) by 1240.[40]
Straight watercourse, surrounded by fields and crossed by metal and concrete structure.
Greylake sluice on King's Sedgemoor Drain
Flooding of adjacent moor land was partially addressed during the 13th century by the construction of a number of embankment walls to contain the Parrett. They included Southlake Wall, Burrow Wall, and Lake Wall.[41] The River Tone was also diverted by the Abbot of Athelney and other land owners into a new embanked channel, joining the Parrett upstream from its original confluence.[42]
The main drainage outlets flowing through the Moors and Levels are the rivers Axe, Brue, Huntspill, Parrett, Tone, and Yeo, together with the King's Sedgemoor Drain, an artificial channel into which the River Cary now runs. Previously, the Cary ran into the Tone while the Brue ran through Meare Pool (now drained) and the Panborough Gap, and then into the Axe. Another accomplishment in the Middle Ages was the construction of the tidal Pillrow Cut, joining the Brue and Axe.
In 1500, there was said to be 70,000 acres (283 km2) of floodable land of which only 20,000 acres (81 km2) had been reclaimed. In 1597, 50 acres (20 ha) of land were recovered near the Parrett estuary; a few years later, 140 acres (57 ha) near Pawlett were recovered by means of embankments; and three further reclamations, totalling 110 acres (45 ha), had been undertaken downstream of Bridgwater by 1660.[43]
In the early 17th century, during the time of King James I, abortive plans were made to drain and enclose much of Sedgemoor, which the local Lords supported but opposed by the Commoners who would have lost grazing rights.[44] In 1632, Charles I sold the Crown's interest in the scheme, and it was taken over by a consortium that included Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, a Dutch drainage engineer. However, the work was delayed by the English Civil War and later defeated in parliament after local opposition.[10] In 1638, it was reported that nearly 2,600 acres (11 km2) of Tealham and Tadham Moors were not reclaimed, with a total of 30,500 acres (123.43 km2) being undrained. Between 1785 and 1791, much of the lowest part of the peat moors was enclosed. In 1795, John Billingsley advocated enclosure and the digging of rhynes (a local name for drainage channels, pronounced "reens" in the east and rhyne to the west) between plots,[45] and wrote in his Agriculture of the County of Somerset that 4,400 acres (18 km2) had been enclosed in the last 20 years in Wedmore and Meare, 350 acres (1.4 km2) at Nyland, 900 acres (3.64 km2) at Blackford, 2,000 acres (8 km2) at Mark, 100 acres (0.4 km2) in Shapwick, and 1,700 acres (7 km2) at Westhay.[46]
At Westhay Moor in the early 19th century, it was shown how peat bogs could be successfully drained and top-dressed with silt deposited via flooding, creating a very rich soil.[47] The character of the soil was also changed by the spreading of clay and silt from the digging of King's Sedgemoor Drain.[48]
Brick building with large door and chimney.
Curry Moor pumping station
Little attempt was made during the 17th and 18th centuries to pump water, possibly because the coal-driven Newcomen steam engines would have been uneconomical. It is unclear why windmills were not employed, as they were on the Fens of East Anglia, but only two examples have been recorded on the Levels: one at Bleadon at the mouth of the River Axe, where a sea wall had been built, and the other at Common Moor north of Glastonbury, which was being drained following a private Act of Parliament in 1721.[10] The first steam pumping station was Westonzoyland Pumping Station in 1830, followed by more effective ones from 1860. Automatic electric pumps are used today.[49]
The man-made Huntspill River was constructed during World War II with sluices at both ends to provide a guaranteed daily supply of 4,500,000 imperial gallons (20,000,000 l; 5,400,000 US gal) of "process water".[50] It was intended that in the summer, when water supply was lower, it would serve as a reservoir with water pumped from the moors; and in winter serve as a drainage channel, via gravity drainage.[50][51] Geotechnical problems prevented it from being dug as deep as originally intended and so gravity-drainage of the moors was not possible: thus, water is pumped up into the river throughout the year.[50]
The Sowy River between the River Parrett and King's Sedgemoor Drain was completed in 1972.[52][53] The Levels and Moors are now artificially drained by a network of rhynes which are pumped up into "drains". Water levels are managed by the Levels internal drainage boards (IDBs); the Levels are not as intensively drained or farmed as the East Anglian fens, historically a similar area of low marsh. They are still liable to widespread fresh water flooding in winter. One of the approaches to reducing the risk of flooding within the catchment area of the Parrett is the planting of new woodlands.[54]
Controversy about the management of the drainage and flood protection has previously involved the activities of IDBs.[55][56] However, IDBs have been actively participating with the Parrett Catchment Partnership, a partnership of 30 organisations that aims to create a consensus on how water is to be managed, in particular, looking at new ways to achieve sustainable benefits for all local stakeholders.[57]
During 2009 and 2010, work was undertaken to upgrade sluice gates, watercourses, and culverts to enable seasonal flooding of Southlake Moor during the winter diverting water from the Sowy River onto the moor. It has the capacity to hold 1.2 million cubic metres as part of a scheme by the Parrett Internal Drainage Board to restore ten floodplains in Somerset. In spring, the water is drained away to enable the land to be used as pasture during the summer.[58] The scheme is also used to encourage water birds.[59]
Sea defences
The sea wall and defences at Burnham-on-Sea
The Levels were frequently flooded by the sea during high tides, a problem that was not resolved until the sea defences were enhanced in the early 20th century. In addition, the problems of high fresh water floods are aggravated by the unrestricted entry of the tide along the Parrett,[60] which is the only river in the Levels and Moors that does not have a clyse on it. Discussions on whether a clyse is needed for the Parrett and whether it should be sited at Bridgwater or nearer the mouth of the river date back to 1939, at the start of World War II, and have not been resolved.[60]
On 13 December 1981, a large storm hit the North Somerset coast.[61] Meteorological conditions caused a large rising surge in sea level in the Bristol Channel, and wind was measured at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph). Over topping of the sea defences along a 7 miles (11 km) stretch of the Somerset coast at 22 locations from Clevedon to Porlock began after 19:30. Although there was no loss of life, the resultant flooding covered 12,500 acres (5,100 ha) of land, affecting 1,072 houses and commercial properties, with £150,000 worth of livestock killed and £50,000 of feed and grain destroyed. Wessex Water Authority estimated the total cost of the damage caused at £6M. This resulted in a three-year programme of sea defence assessment, repair and improvement.[61] With 400 properties affected in Burnham-on-Sea, after emergency repairs, Wessex Water Authority began planning new sea defences. Construction work started in 1983 on a £7M scheme, creating what was then Britain’s biggest wave return wall.[61]
The Environment Agency's current "Parrett Catchment Flood Management Plan", published in December 2009, divides the Parrett catchment area into eight sub-areas, with the Somerset Levels and Moors falling into sub-area 6 and Bridgwater falling into sub-area 7.[62] As part of the published flood risk assessments for both these sub-areas, it is recognised that: at a future date a tidal clyse may be needed on the Parrett; this causes a funding dilemma; and, geomorphology studies of the Parrett and the Tone are needed to help address many of the uncertainties associated with a tidal exclusion project.[62]
Southlake Moor during a winter flood
The Levels are at risk from both tidal and land-based flood waters.[37]
During the great storm of 1703, waves came four feet (1.2 m) over the sea walls. The sea wall was again breached in 1799, filling the Axe valley with sea water. In 1872, another flood covered 7,000 acres (28 km2) and in 1919, 70,000 acres (283 km2) were inundated with sea water, poisoning the land for up to 7 years.[63]
Since 1990, the drainage boards have been charged with watching the rhynes and keeping them clear, under the overall responsibility of the Environment Agency. With rising sea levels, the work required to maintain the sea defences is likely to become more expensive, and it has been proposed that two inland seas be created.[64] Other studies have recommended maintaining the current defences for five years while undertaking further studies of available options.[65]
Although the Environment Agency have made plans for the regular winter flooding, still in recent years this has resulted in a number of villages — including Langport, Muchelney and Westonzoyland — being cut off. In November 2012, during the 2012 Great Britain and Ireland floods, after six days Somerset County Council-funded BARB rescue boats reached Muchelney on 29 November, rescuing nearly 100 people.[66]
Rescue boats were again required during the rain and storms from Cyclone Dirk in the turn of the year 2014,[67] and subsequently during the Winter flooding of 2013–14 on the Somerset Levels. On 24 January 2014, in light of the continued flooded extent of the Somerset Moors and forecast new rainfall as part of the Winter storms of 2013–14 in the United Kingdom, both Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council declared a major incident.[68][69] At this time, with 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of agricultural land having been under water for over a month,[69] the village of Thorney had been abandoned and Muchelney had been cut off by flood waters for almost a month.[68] Environment Minister Owen Paterson visited the area on 27 January 2014, and after meeting local MPs, the Environment Agency and various community representatives the night before in Taunton, promised at a media-only press conference at North Moor pumping station that if a local water management plan could be developed over the next six weeks, he would approve it. Such plan would likely include the dredging of the rivers Tone and Parrett, and possibly a later sluice near Bridgwater.[70] There have been public protests about the river Parrett not being dredged in recent years. In mid-February 2014 the Environment Agency began installing giant pumps imported from the Netherlands to alleviate the continuing flooding.[71]
Human habitation
Two wooden posts set in the ground and crossing at an angle support a wooden board which disappears into tall green reeds
A replica of the Sweet Track
A Palaeolithic flint tool found in Westbury is the earliest indication of human presence in the area, dating from approximately 500,000 years ago.[72] Later during the 7th millennium BC the sea level rose and flooded the valleys, forcing the Mesolithic people to occupy seasonal camps on the higher ground, indicated by scatters of flints.[73] Subsequent winter flooding probably led to prehistoric man's using the Levels only in the summer, hence the county of Somerset may derive its name from Sumorsaete, meaning land of the summer people. An alternative suggestion is that the name derives from Seo-mere-saetan meaning "settlers by the sea lakes".[74] The Neolithic people continued to exploit the reedswamps for their natural resources and started to construct wooden trackways such as the Sweet and Post Tracks. The Sweet Track, named after the peat digger who discovered it in 1970 and dating from the 3800s BC, is the world's oldest timber trackway, once thought to be the world's oldest engineered roadway.[75] The track was built between what was in the early 4th millennium BC an island at Westhay and a ridge of high ground at Shapwick, close to the River Brue. The remains of similar tracks have been uncovered nearby, connecting settlements on the peat bog including the Honeygore, Abbotts Way, Bells, Bakers, Westhay and Nidons trackways.[11]
The Levels contain the best-preserved prehistoric village in the UK,[76] Glastonbury Lake Village, as well as two others at Meare Lake Village.[77] Discovered in 1892 by Arthur Bulleid,[78] it was inhabited by about 200 people living in 14 roundhouses,[76] and was built on a morass on an artificial foundation of timber filled with brushwood, bracken, rubble and clay.[79] Investigation of the Meare Pool indicates that it was formed by the encroachment of raised peat bogs, particularly during the Subatlantic climatic period (1st millennium BC), and core sampling demonstrates that it is filled with at least 2 metres (6.6 ft) of detritus mud.[80][81]
The two villages within Meare Pool appear to originate from a collection of structures erected on the surface of the dried peat, such as tents, windbreaks and animal folds. Clay was later spread over the peat, providing raised stands for occupation, industry and movement, and in some areas thicker clay spreads accommodated hearths built of clay or stone.[82]
The area continued to be inhabited during the Bronze Age, when the population supported itself largely by hunting and fishing in the surrounding marshes, living on artificial islands connected by wooden causeways on wooden piles. There have been many finds of metalwork during peat cutting, which may have been devotional offerings. Brent Knoll has been settled by people since at least the Bronze Age. It is the site of an Iron Age hill fort known as Brent Knoll Camp, with multiple ramparts (multivallate) following the contours of the hill.[83] Several settlements and hill forts were built on the natural "islands" of slightly raised land, including Brent Knoll, Glastonbury, and the low range of the Polden Hills. According to legend Ider son of Nuth, who was one of King Arthur's knights, went to the Mount of Frogs on a quest to slay three giants who lived there.[84][85][86] The fort has been claimed as the site of the Battle of Mons Badonicus.[87]
The town of Glastonbury, Somerset, looking west from the top of Glastonbury Tor. The fields in the distance are part of the Levels.
Sea salt was extracted during the Roman period, and a string of settlements were set up along the Polden Hills. Some possible settlement sites are also known in the Draycott and Cheddar Moors and around Highbridge.[88] The discovery at Shapwick of 9,238 silver Roman coins,[89][90] the second largest hoard ever found from the Roman Empire included coins dated from as early as 31–30 BC up until 224 AD.[91] The hoard also contained two rare coins which had not been discovered in Britain before,[90] and the largest number of silver denarii ever found in Britain.[89][92]
A number of Anglo-Saxon charters document the incorporation of areas of moor in estates, suggested that the area continued to be exploited.[93] It is easy to see why the area acquired a number of legends, particularly of King Arthur and his followers, who some believe based his court in the hill fort at South Cadbury.[94] According to legend, Alfred the Great burnt cakes when hiding in the marshes of Athelney, after the Danish invasion in 875. After the battle of Edington the Danish king was baptised at Aller and a peace treaty signed at Wedmore.[95]
In 1685, the Monmouth Rebellion ended at the Battle of Sedgemoor, which was fought in the Bussex area of Westonzoyland.[96]
Land use
The Levels have few wooded areas, just occasional willow trees. The landscape is dominated by grassland, mostly used as pasture for dairy farming with approximately 70 per cent of the area being grassland and 30 per cent arable. From January until May, the River Parrett provides a source of European eels (Anguilla anguilla) and young elvers, which are caught by hand netting as this is the only legal means of catching them.[97] A series of eel passes have been built on the Parrett at the King's Sedgemoor Drain to help this endangered species; cameras have shown 10,000 eels migrating upstream in a single night.[98][99] The 2003 BBC Radio 4 play Glass Eels by Nell Leyshon was set on the Parrett.[100]
The Levels, as part of the West Country, traditionally produced cider, with individual farms having orchards and their own cider, known as scrumpy. However, over 60% of Somerset's orchards have been lost in the last fifty years;[101] and apple production occupies less than 0.4% of the land. Cider is still produced in Somerset by Thatchers Cider, Gaymer Cider Company and numerous small independent producers. Other local industries that once thrived on the Levels, such as thatching (using reeds) and basket making (using willow), have been in decline since the second half of the 20th century. Combined with the recent drop in farm incomes, this poses a potential threat to the "traditional" nature of the area as a whole. Subsidies are paid to farmers who manage their land in the traditional way.[102]
In 2009, National Grid began public consultations over plans to build a line of electricity pylons, by one of two routes between Hinkley Point and Avonmouth. The plans attracted local opposition.[103][104] The first consultation process ended in January 2010.[104] They had proposed that each pylon would be 151 feet (46 m) high: the consultation was only in respect of preferences between two alternate routes, not the size nor the use of large pylons. The proposed line, which is due to open by September 2017, will transmit electricity at 400 kilovolts from the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.[104][105] Électricité de France has begun public consultations in respect of the local infrastructure needed for the construction programme to build Hinkley Point C;[106] but, as of January 2011, has not submitted applications for consents for the proposed power stations. It has, however, submitted a planning application for preliminary site preparation works, which it states that it will undo should consents for the power stations be refused.[107]
In 2010 and 2011, two proposals to build a total of 14 wind turbines, with Ecotricity to build five[108] or four[109] adjacent to the M5 Motorway near Brent Knoll and Électricité de France to build nine at East Huntspill,[105] are opposed by local groups on the grounds of their effect on the local environment and potential damage to the bird population.[110]
Willow has been cut and used on the Levels since mankind moved into the area. Fragments of willow basket were found near the Glastonbury Lake Village, and it was used in the construction of several Iron Age causeways.[111] The willow was harvested using traditional methods of pollarding, where a tree would be cut back to the main stem. New shoots of willow, called "withies", would grow out of the trunk and these would be cut periodically for use.[112]
During the 1930s, over 9,000 acres (36 km2) of willow were being grown commercially on the Levels. Largely because of the replacement of baskets by plastic bags and cardboard boxes, the industry has severely declined since the 1950s. By the end of the 20th century only about 350 acres (1.4 km2) were grown commercially, near the villages of Burrowbridge, Westonzoyland, and North Curry.[113] The Somerset Levels is now the only area in the UK where basket willow is grown commercially. For weaving, the species Salix triandra (almond willow, black maul) is grown, while Salix viminalis (common osier) is ideal for handles, bases, and the structural members in furniture and hurdles. Historically willow was used to make salmon traps or "putchers". Products including baskets, eel traps (kypes), lobster pots, and furniture were widely made from willow throughout the area in the recent past.[114] Among the more unusual products still made are passenger baskets for hot air balloons,[115] the frames inside the Bearskins worn by the regiments of the Grenadier Guards,[116] and an increasing number of willow coffins.[117]
Another use of willow has been found by the Coate family, who make artist's charcoals in Stoke St Gregory. It has become in 30 years the leading artists' charcoal manufacturer in Europe, producing most of the natural charcoals sold under different art-material brands.[118]
The industry is celebrated in the form of the Willow Man (sometimes known as the Angel of the South), a willow sculpture, 40 feet (12.2 m) tall, produced by artist Serena de la Hey in September 2000 that can be seen from the railway and the M5 motorway to the north of Bridgwater.[119] At Stoke St Gregory there is also a Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre.[120]
Teazel growing
An unusual crop is the growing of teazels around the River Isle near Chard on the heavy clay soils around Fivehead.[121] These are used to provide a fine finish on worsteds and snooker table cloths.[122]
Peat extraction
The extraction of peat from the Moors is known to have taken place during Roman times, and has been carried out since the Levels were first drained.[123] The introduction of plastic packaging in the 1950s allowed the peat to be packed without rotting, which led to the industrialisation of peat extraction during the 1960s as a major market in horticultural peat was developed. The reduction in water levels that resulted put local ecosystems at risk; peat wastage in pasture fields was occurring at rates of 1–3 feet (0.3–0.8 m) over 100 years.[124] Peat extraction continues today, although much reduced.[6][125]
Peat gatherers, Westhay, September 1905
Peat stacks and cutting, Westhay, September 1905
Harvesting the peat, Westhay, September 1905
Biodiversity and conservation
Straight watercourse running between flat grassy fields.
South Drain on Shapwick Heath
As a result of their wetland nature, the Moors and Levels contain a rich biodiversity of national and international importance.[11] They support a vast variety of plant species, including common plants such as marsh marigold, meadowsweet, and ragged robin. The area is an important feeding ground for birds including Bewick’s swan, Eurasian curlew, common redshank, skylark, common snipe, common teal, wigeon, and whimbrel, as well as birds of prey including the marsh harrier and peregrine falcon.[126] A wide range of insect species is also present, including rare invertebrates, particularly beetles including the lesser silver water beetle, Bagous nodulosus, Hydrophilus piceus, Odontomyia angulata, Oulema erichsoni, and Valvata macrostoma. In addition, the area supports an important otter population.[127] Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) are being encouraged to recolonise areas of the Levels where they have been absent for 10 years, by the capture of mink (Mustela vison).[128]
In 2010, a project was started to reintroduce the common crane to the Levels, after an absence of 400 years. The birds' eggs were flown from Germany to the Slimbridge wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (a UK charity) at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire,[129] and reared to the age of five months before being released onto the Levels.[130] The "Great Crane Project" aims to introduce around 20 of the birds each year until 2015. The work, which included collaboration with Pensthorpe Nature Reserve and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, was supported by a grant of £700k from Viridor Credits.[131]
The Levels contain 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (12 of them also Special Protection Areas), the River Huntspill[132] and Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserves,[133] the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar Site covering about 86,000 acres (348 km2),[134] the Somerset Levels National Nature Reserve,[135] Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve,[136] Ham Wall National Nature Reserve[137] and numerous Scheduled monuments. The Brue Valley Living Landscape conservation project commenced in 2009 and aims to restore, recreate and reconnect habitat. It aims to ensure that wildlife is enhanced and capable of sustaining itself in the face of climate change[138] while guaranteeing farmers and other landowners can continue to use their land profitably. It is one of an increasing number of landscape scale conservation projects in the UK.[139][140] About 72,000 acres (291 km2) of the Levels are recognised as an Environmentally Sensitive Area,[141] and other areas are designated as Areas of High Archaeological Potential, but there is currently no single conservation designation covering the Levels and Moors.[142]
A survey in 2005 discovered that 11 of the known wooden Bronze Age causeways on the Levels had been destroyed or vanished and others were seriously damaged, caused by the reduction in water levels and subsequent exposure of the timber to oxygen and aerobic bacteria.[143] Part of the Sweet Track is being actively conserved. Following purchase of land by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and installation of a water pumping and distribution system along a 550-yard (500 m) section, several hundred metres of the track's length are now being actively conserved.[144] This method of preserving wetland archaeological remains (i.e. maintaining a high water table and saturating the site) is rare.[145] A 550-yard (500 m) section, which lies within the land owned by the Nature Conservancy Council, has been surrounded by a clay bank to prevent drainage into surrounding lower peat fields, and water levels are regularly monitored.[146] The viability of this method is demonstrated by comparing it with the nearby Abbot's Way, which has not had similar treatment, and which in 1996 was found to have become dewatered and desiccated.[147] Evaluation and maintenance of water levels in the Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve involves the Nature Conservancy Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Somerset Levels Project.[148]
Somerset Levels Project
In 1964, archaeologist John Coles from the University of Cambridge began a research project that resulted in the publication of an important series of papers on many aspects of the Levels. A range of archaeological projects, such as the exploration of various trackways from the 3rd and 1st millennia BC and the establishment of their economic and geographic significance, was funded by various donors including English Heritage.[149] Possibly the project's most significant excavation was of the Sweet Track in 1970,[150] during which a Jadeite axe was discovered.[151] Eight radiocarbon determinations of the date of the axe place it at around 3200 BC.[152]
The work of John Coles and the Somerset Levels Project was recognised in 1998 when they won the ICI Award for the best archaeological project offering a major contribution to knowledge,[153] and in 2006 with the award of the European Archaeological Heritage Prize.[154]
Shapwick Project
This project, based on the village of Shapwick, was begun by Mick Aston of Bristol University to investigate the evolution of a typical English village.[155] A preliminary study of the village's history was carried out using maps and documents, then surveys of the buildings were made together with botanical surveys. Field walking was carried out and key sites excavated. A report on the project, which ran from 1989 to 1999, was published in eight volumes.[156]
Being largely flat, the Levels are well suited to bicycles, and a number of cycle routes exist including the Withy Way Cycle Route (22 mi or 35 km), Avalon Marshes Cycle Route (28 mi or 45 km), Peat Moors Cycle Route (24 mi or 39 km) and the Isle Valley Cycle Route (28 mi or 45 km).[157] The River Parrett Trail (47 mi or 76 km) and Monarch's Way long-distance footpaths are also within the area.[158]
Visitors' centres aim to convey various aspects of the Levels. The Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre near Stoke St Gregory offers tours of the willow yards and basket workshops and explains the place of willow in the history of the Levels. The Somerset Willow Company also allows visitors into its workshops.[120] The Peat Moors Centre to the west of Glastonbury was dedicated to the archaeology, history and geology of the area. It also included reconstructions of some of the archaeological discoveries, including a number of Iron Age round houses and the world's oldest engineered highway, the Sweet Track. From time to time the centre offered courses in a number of ancient technologies in subjects including textiles, clothing and basket making, as well as staging various open days, displays and demonstrations. In February 2009 Somerset County Council, the owners of the Peat Moors Centre, announced their intention of closing the centre[159][160] and it finally shut on 31 October 2009.[161]
The Tribunal in Glastonbury, a medieval merchant's house,[162] contains possessions and works of art from the Glastonbury Lake Village, which were preserved in almost perfect condition in the peat after the village was abandoned.[163] It also houses the tourist information centre.[164] Also in Glastonbury, the Somerset Rural Life Museum is a museum of the social and agricultural history of Somerset, housed in buildings surrounding a 14th-century barn once belonging to Glastonbury Abbey. It was used as a tithe barn[165] for the storage of arable produce, particularly wheat and rye, from the abbey's home farm of approximately 524 acres (2.12 km2). Threshing and winnowing would also have been carried out in the barn. The barn which was built from local "shelly" limestone, with thick timbers supporting the stone tiling of the roof. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building, and is a Scheduled monument.[166] The barn and courtyard contain displays of farm machinery from the Victorian and early 20th century periods. Other exhibits show local crafts, including willow coppicing, mud horse fishing on the flats of Bridgwater Bay, peat digging on the Somerset Levels and the production of milk, cheese, and cider. In reconstructed rooms detailing domestic life in the nearby village of Butleigh, the story of one farm worker, John Hodges, is told from cradle to grave. Outside, there is a beehive and rare breeds of poultry and sheep in the cider apple orchard.[167]
The Langport & River Parrett Visitor Centre at Langport details local life, history, and wildlife.[168] The Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum, near the town on the River Parrett, is housed in one of the earliest steam-powered pumping stations on the Levels, dating from the 1830s; it was closed in the 1950s. Featuring several steam engines, some built locally, the museum holds a number of live steam days each year. The pump house has been Grade II* listed,[169] and is on English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register.[170]
As of 2009, the tourist authorities in the area were seeking to establish the term "Avalon Marshes" as the new name of the Somerset Moors.[171]
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Further reading
• Coles, Bryony; Coles, John (1986). Sweet Track to Glastonbury: Somerset Levels in Prehistory (New Aspects of Antiquity). Thames & Hudson Ltd.
• Coles, John; Minnitt, S.C. (1995). Industrious and Fairly Civilized: Glastonbury Lake Village. Somerset Levels Project.
• Hill-Cottingham, Pat; Briggs, Derek; Brunning, Richard; King, Andy; Rix, Graham (2006). The Somerset Wetlands: An Ever Changing Environment. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.
External links
• Somerset Wildlife Trust
• British Pathé clip shows drainage works at King's Sedgemoor & River Brue, 1942
|
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22173 | There is a Balm in Gilead
Bible Book: Jeremiah 8 : 22
Subject: Jesus, Power of; Healing; Great Physician, The; Peace
A Message By The Rev. Francis W. Dixon, Preached At Lansdowne Baptist Church, Bournemouth, England, On Sunday September 27, 1970.
"There is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul..."
I want to speak to you about the healing balm that Christ, the Great Physician, offers to and applies to all who come to Him and put their trust in Him. In Jeremiah 8:22 the prophet asks three questions - "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of My people recovered?"
In the light of New Testament revelation, and within the context of the gospel, we can answer these three questions like this: First, is there healing to be found for sin-sick souls? Yes, there is! There is a balm provided, and it is available to all.
Second, is there a physician who can cure and heal the sin-sick soul? Yes, there is! That physician is the Great Physician, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Third, why is it, then, that people are not cured from their soul sickness? The answer is: because they do not come to the Physician and avail themselves of the balm which He alone can supply and apply.
Here was an amazing and an astonishing thing! Here were a people who were spiritually and morally ill. They were desperately sick, and the remedy for their healing was provided, yet they remained sick and diseased. Alas, how many are like that today! When we are physically ill we send for the doctor and seek every possible remedy, but we are far less concerned about our souls than our bodies. Yet, our bodies will last only for a short time, whereas our souls are made for eternity.
It may be that some of us need healing, the spiritual cure that only our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can give. Let me tell you, then, about the balm which He gives to sin-sick souls. Think of the people to whom the prophet Jeremiah addressed these three questions, and notice:-
I.This Balm Was Needed
This balm was needed because the people were desperately sick. We only have to read these solemn chapters in Jeremiah's prophecy to discover that the people in question were out of touch with God; they were living without Him and in disobedience to Him. In other words, they were spiritually ill. And, of course, this is true of all of us. A great sickness covers the whole earth today, a sickness that is moral and spiritual. We only have to read our daily papers to be convinced of this, for all the terrible things which are happening in the world are the evidence of man's desperately sick condition. The prophet Isaiah gives a terrible picture of human nature without God, when he says, "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:5-6). Thus, we see that we need the Great Physician and the balm of His grace because, like the people of old, we are spiritually ill.
II.It Was Derived From a Tree
This balm was derived from a special tree which grew in Gilead. Gilead became well-known because of the presence of these trees and because of the healing ointment which came from them. What do we learn from this? Why, surely that healing for us comes from, and can only come from, a tree - not any tree, but a special tree, as Peter is careful to tell us, when, referring to our Savior and His death upon the cross, he says, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Here, then, Peter refers to the Great Physician in the words "His own self"; to the sacrifice of Calvary, in the words "bare our sins in His own body on the tree"; and to the healing that is available for all who put their trust in Christ, in the words "by whose stripes ye were healed." There is only one remedy for sin-sick souls - the cross of Jesus and the salvation which He has provided for us and offers to us.
III.It Was Fragrant and Precious
This balm was known for its fragrance, and it was very precious. After much care, those who set out to extract the resin from the trees could at the most get only forty, fifty or sixty drops a day, so it was precious in the sense that it was rare. This is not to suggest that the salvation and healing that Jesus offers us is in short supply. Indeed, there is enough for everybody, everywhere - sufficient for all who will come to Him and put their trust in Him. The Lord Jesus says, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37), and that includes all who will come. The invitation of the gospel is to "whosoever" (John 3:16). In saying that the balm was precious we are referring to the very costly method by which salvation and healing were procured, for in order to provide spiritual health for us the Savior had to die upon the cross; and it is to Peter again that we turn to read these words: "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Thus; we learn that at tremendous cost the Lord Jesus went to the cross and shed His blood to provide the balm we all need.
IV.It Possessed Marvelous Curative Properties
This balm possessed marvelous curative properties. In verse 17 of the chapter, the prophet is careful to tell us what the sickness was from which the people in Jeremiah's day were suffering - "For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 8:17). Here we learn that the people were sick because a deadly venom had entered their system; this would bring them into a state of fever, and unless some cure could be found it would prove fatal. It is, of course, the deadly poison that has infected and affected the whole human race. It is from sin and the effects of sin that we need to be delivered. We discover, therefore, that this balm when it was put on a wound did three things: it cleansed, it soothed and it healed. It cleansed in that it removed foreign matter from the wound - it extracted dirt! This is exactly what the Lord does for us when we put our trust in Him, as we learn from 1 John 1:7 - "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." The balm which Christ offers also soothes us. In other words, when it is placed upon the infected and inflamed wound it reduces and removes the inflammation. Through the death of Christ upon the cross we have peace, "peace through the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:20); there is no soothing for the soul of man anywhere to be compared with this. This balm heals in that it brings about a complete cure. Through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we, by faith in Him, are healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24). Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ comes to us in our sick, suffering and sad condition and offers to apply to us the curative balm of His healing grace, of His precious blood, and when this application is made in the power of the Holy Spirit we receive cleansing, soothing and healing.
V.It Was Near at Hand
This balm was available. It was near at hand. If you will study the geography of this situation you will see that the people to whom Jeremiah spoke were nearby to Gilead. It is not as though they had to send hundreds of miles to secure this balm. It was nearby. And so is the Lord Jesus and His salvation! You do not have to go to Gilead to be saved, to London or New York to be healed, to Jerusalem or even to church to receive the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. You can come to Jesus anywhere. He is near at hand. You can come to Him now and receive forgiveness, cleansing, healing and assurance, for, as the old hymn puts it, "The Great Physician now is here" - He is here, now!
VI.It Was Easily Applied
The balm of Gilead was easily applied. A child could apply it. Imagine someone with a very sore place on her arm. The doctor prescribes the balm of Gilead, and says, "Go and get some immediately and apply it to the wound!" Well, as we have said, a child could do that; and truly it is very easy to come to Jesus and to receive His love and grace, His forgiveness and healing. It is very easy indeed. All you need to do is to look up into His face and surrender your will to Him, and say from your heart, "O Lamb of God, O Great Physician, I come!"
VII.It Had to be Applied
But, although the balm was easy to apply it did actually have to be applied. To receive the benefits offered, this balm had to be applied to the wound. It was no good leaving the balm in the jar. All this tells us that Jesus must be personally trusted.
Perhaps the best illustration of this in the New Testament is that of the woman who came to Jesus in her sick, sad and sorrowful condition, and touched Jesus. She had been ill for twelve years and had sought help from one doctor after another, but all to no avail. She came to Jesus, pressing through the crowd, and saying to herself, "If I can only touch Him, I shall be healed". She did touch Him, and at that moment she was made perfectly whole. Jesus was there with all His healing power, but she had to come and touch Him, place her faith in Him and make contact with Him in order to be healed. It is the same with us.
When I was on holiday recently, after our evening meal in the hotel where we were staying, we left the dining room, and I noticed just outside the door a large tray on which were displayed some beautiful chocolates. I wondered why they were there, so I went to the waiter and said, "What does one have to do to get one of those lovely chocolates?" He looked at me with a smile and said, "Go and take one, sir. Help yourself!" So I did! And I received the enjoyment and benefit of it. You see, the provision was made, but I had to avail myself of it. It was not enough to look at those chocolates or to see other people eating them. I had to take one for myself.
Have you placed your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Great Physician and have you received His healing balm for your salvation - your pardon, your cleansing, and your assurance?
(Reproduced from Lansdowne Magazine, June to September 1971) |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22189 | Garbage Disposal
Bloody Garbage Disposal
Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish!
“Bitch!” The words stumbled across his teeth like clumsy elephants, sliding over his lips and struggling through sour bourbon breath.
She assumed the usual position: fetal, head covered, waiting for the blows. They came as sharp kicks to her ribs. She felt relieved that Frank was wearing his sneakers instead his pointed cowboy boots. She focused on peaceful thoughts as he kicked: sunny meadows, beaches, sunsets. It was a technique she had learned as a child when her parents were drunk and angry. Focus on a pleasant memory and dissolve into it. She often imagined that these escape mechanisms were visible to onlookers as gleaming glass globes in orbit around her head – beautiful scenes of tranquility playing inside each one for the world to behold.
“And get that garbage disposal fixed by the time I get home!” he said, delivering one last kick to her buttocks.
She closed her eyes and listened. She heard the apartment door slam. Then blam, blam, blam, blam, blam came the sound of his feet on the stairs outside. Then the jingle of the keys, the roar of the engine and the chirp of the tires as he gunned the big buick away down the street. She stayed still for a few minutes and then began to sob. Emotions boiled up from all directions, mingling together like a mad concoction from some chemist of misery – rage, humiliation, desperation, anger, with river of deep and profound sadness flowing through everything. A pool of tears collected around her cheek and formed a salty puddle on the cold linoleum floor. She stayed there for about an hour and then slowly pulled herself up, gingerly pressing on her ribs, assessing the extent of the damage. She shuffled to the kitchen counter, grabbed a handful of paper towels and dabbed her tear-stained face. She looked out the kitchen window and saw an enormous black raven perched on a wire. It stretched, extended large black wings and arched its beak skyward.
I’d give my soul for that kind of freedom she thought and felt a wave of jealousy wash over her. The black beast folded its wings back against its body, cocked its head to one side, and looked straight at her. Did it wink one eye? One gleaming red eye? She stepped back, startled, and the bird took flight in a flurry of black feathers. A moment later, the door buzzer screeched.
“Who are you?” she said, staring at the man in the doorway. He had black hair, a pointed goatee and swarthy skin, and his coveralls were pitch black. Dark eyes gleamed from within deep sockets, framed by thick black eyebrows. He grinned, showing perfect white teeth and when he spoke, his voice seemed to resonate from everywhere, deep and warm with an accent that was vaguely latin, but with a hint of german or nordic sprinkled throughout.
“I’m Sam, from Johnson Plumbing.” He smiled and lifted his toolkit, revealing the company logo.
“But, um, I didn’t call yet, I don’t think…” she said, managing a nervous smile.
“Is this not apartment 237 at 3477 North 33rd?” The man pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket and unfolded it.
She nodded. “Yes this is…”
“And are you, uh, Ta-ra Mag-nu-son?”
“Yes, but I…” she leaned in and looked at the paper.
“Well, according to my notes, you called yesterday for a garbage disposal repair. If this is a bad time I could…” Sam said and took a step back.
“Okay, well, I just don’t recall.” she shifted her gaze to the sink. “Wait, since you’re here, I actually do need my disposal fixed.”
“Perfect!” Sam smiled and walked past Tara to the sink. She smelled a hint of smoke as he passed. Not cigarette smoke, but some other smoke. Something more acrid, more complex. Sulfur?
“How much will this be?” Tara asked.
“How about you let me have a look and assess the damage. Then I’ll give you an estimate. Sound good?” Sam smiled. Did he just wink?
Uh, okay, I guess.” Tara glanced back out the window, looking for the giant raven but he was gone. When she looked back, Sam was on his hands and knees beneath the sink. She noticed something funny about his shoes. They had the wrong shape. Were the toes too wide? Or perhaps the heels were too narrow. There was also something strange about the way his coveralls fit his buttocks. It was as if there wasn’t a gap where there should have been. Instead, she noticed a small ridge
protruding from between his buttocks, as if he had a deformed tailbone, or maybe…
“Okay, ma’am, the bad news is I think your old unit’s done for.” Sam stood up, adjusted his coveralls and wiped his brow. “The good news is, I have a special on my top replacement unit, the Dispose-All 5000. It’s 50% off this week. The boss wants to clear the inventory and this baby’s got all the bells and whistles. Mountains of horsepower too so it can destroy everything you can feed it. And I mean EVERYTHING!”
“How much?” Tara stared at Sam’s shoes. They really were oddly shaped. The toes were too wide and they went up in the back in a strange manner.
“As much as you can feed it!” Sam smiled.
“No, I mean, how much does it cost, you know, with labor.” Tara massaged her bruised rib.
“Oh, yeah, lemme see. About an hour’s work plus parts, let’s just say $50 bucks.”
Tara’s face lit up. “50 dollars? Wow, is this replacement some cheap piece of…”
“Oh, no way, ma’am. The Dispose-All 5000 is one serious hunk of hardware. I mean, there’s nothing it can’t handle. Nothing at all on this earth.” Sam grinned and stroked his goatee.
“Is there some kind of warranty?” Tara crossed her arms.
“Well, you can add one for just five dollars. And that’s a life time warranty. Forever.”
“Forever, huh?” Tara grinned. “Ok, how long will it take?”
“Forever’s a mighty long time, ma’am.” Sam said, gazing out the window.
“No, I mean how long for the repairs?” Tara said.
“I’d say I’ll be out of here in hour. Now if you’ll just sign your name here, then we’ll be all set.” Sam pulled a black clipboard with a form attached from his toolkit. “It’s just for the, uh, warranty and the labor. Nothing special. Standard stuff but I do need a signature before I can start.”
“Ok.” Tara started to scrawl her signature on the black line near the bottom of the form. She paused. At the bottom of the page she noticed some extremely small print. It looked like something in another language, but it was too tiny to really understand.
“What’s this, Spanish?” Tara pointed to the almost microscopic text.
“Oh, no, that’s the warranty. The unit’s made in Germany so the warranty’s in german. You know, precision manufacturing and that kind of thing. Nothin’s made in the good ole’ USA anymore, right?”
“Yeah, really, everything’s Chinese.” She finished her signature and handed the clipboard back to Sam who smiled and placed it back in his toolkit.
“Allright, I’ve got laundry to do so if you need me, just holler.” Tara said and walked down the hallway to the laundry room. She could hear Sam’s tools clanking as he began the repairs. Was he humming a tune? What was that song? Something from an old movie?
Tara had just finished loading the washer with clothes when she heard a knock on the doorway behind her. She turned to find Sam, toolkit in hand.
“All done, ma’am.” Said Sam.
“Really?” Tara wrinkled her brow. “But it’s only been…” she looked at her watch. What the hell? An hour had passed yet it seemed like just five minutes. She grabbed her cell phone to verify. There it was, an hour later.
“I just need to show you a few operating tips before I go, If you don’t mind.” said Sam as he turned and headed back toward the kitchen.
“Ok.” said Tara, following behind. Those shoes really look weird, she mused.
“There’s just few things you need to know about this unit.” said Sam. “The first rule is ALWAYS run the water whenever you use the D-5000. You must run the tap to operate the blades.” Sam reached out and turned on the faucet. The water swirled and gurgled down the drain.
“Now the second thing is the MOST important rule. NEVER get near the D-5000 when it’s running. That’s why the switch is across the room.” Sam pointed to a red switch across the kitchen on the opposite wall, next to where Tara stood.
“Turn it on and wait until the blades finish grinding. You’ll be able to tell by the sound. Then turn it off. DO NOT go near the unit while it’s in operation. Got it?” Sam raised his eyebrows and smiled.
“Yes, I think so.” said Tara.
“Good. It’s very important that you follow these rules because this unit is extremely powerful. Safety must be observed at all times.” Sam picked up his toolkit and walked towards the door.
“And if anything doesn’t work, call me right away. You have a lifetime warranty that covers any problems.” Sam paused at the doorway. He smiled and handed Tara his card.
“Ok.” Tara said and put the card in her pocket. “Thanks. Oh wait, I almost forgot, here’s the check.” Tara handed Sam a check made out to seventy-five dollars.
“Well, that’s mighty thoughtful of you ma’am. Thank you very much!” said Sam as he walked through the doorway.
Tara watched Sam walk away down the hall. She could hear him humming that strange tune again. What was that song? A song from the sixties? The Stones perhaps? When he was gone, she locked the door and returned to the sink. OK, let’s try this thing out she thought and pulled a large plate of left-over chicken breasts from the fridge. She carried the plate to the sink and set it on the counter. She picked the largest hunk of chicken and dropped it into the disposal drain hole and turned on the water. Then she walked across the room to the switch. She stared back at the sink and flipped the power on. Immediately, the lights dimmed and the metallic whine of large spinning metal blades filled the room. A loud grinding sound rattled the cupboards. It shifted pitch for a half-second as the blades engaged the chicken and then returned to a smooth metallic whirring hum. Tara flipped the switch off and walked over to the sink. The chicken breast was gone. Not a trace remained in the sink.
Tara grinned and stuffed the rest of the meat into the drain. She left the plates in the sink and walked back to the red switch. Flick, grind, and grind and grind, louder and louder and then whirr. Tara flipped the switch off and walked back to the sink. Everything was gone. Even the plates had been sucked into the disposal and destroyed.
“Wow!” Tara said out loud. A flood of exhilaration filled her soul as she rushed to her boyfriend’s room and gathered a mountain of football trophies in both arms. She was giddy with revenge, sweet and diabolical, payback for all the beatings and abuse she had endured. She hurried back to the kitchen and dumped the gilded statues into the sink, piling them high, well beyond the capacity of the small stainless steel basin. Grinning, she flipped the switch. Instantly, a flurry of black metal mechanical arms encircled the mass of trophies, lifting and spinning them in the air like a robotic juggler, feeding all to a central array of circular blades which spun just above the drain. The arms manipulated and twisted the items, systematically sending each piece into the whirling slicers and then down the black drain hole which expanded and contracted, like a giant camera aperture, to accommodate the chunks as they fell. The Dispose-All 5000 consumed all of Frank’s trophies in about 5 seconds.
Tara clapped her hands in delight and hurried out of the kitchen. She returned dragging Frank’s Laz-E-Boy recliner across the linoleum kitchen floor. She squatted down and heaved the chair up onto the counter top, balancing it across the sink. With a gleam in her eye, she danced across the room to the switch. Flick, whirrrrr, grind and voila! Frank’s prized recliner was gone. No more “get me beer!” with legs up and a bag of chips on his lap. No more sleeping through the last innings of the Yankees game, snoring like a buzzsaw in the living room.
Tara stared down into the drain. It looked so normal, so unassuming. Slowly, the black cloud of an idea began to boil around her head. A way out. An escape from the abuse. She grabbed her keys and left the apartment. Her brain crackled with excitement. This was it. She had a way to put everything behind her. To start over. To erase a life of abuse that had started with her drunken father and a string of bad-decision boyfriends and ended with Frank. She practically danced down the stairs and out the door.
She waltzed through the oppressive heat and humidity of the New York City heatwave. She hurried across the street, weaving around the crowds along 33rd and ducked into Sal’s corner market at the end of the block. She grabbed a bag of ice and a six-pack of Frank’s favorite beer.
Back at the apartment, Tara dumped the ice into the sink and arranged the beer cans in a neat circle. Then, she sat down at the table and waited.
The sun had disappeared about an hour earlier when she finally heard Frank’s footsteps on the stairs outside. Then came the jingling of the keys and the clumsy attempts to unlock the door. Finally, Frank stumbled into the kitchen.
“Haaaey!” He slurred. She could smell his breath. It reeked of bourbon and Budweiser. “Man ammm I huungarrree!” he said, brushing past Tara. He opened the pantry, grabbed a bag of chips and ripped it open, spilling handfuls onto the floor as he stuffed the crunchy morsels into his mouth. “Aaay, wha’s in the siiink?” Frank lurched across the kitchen. Tara watched closely. She had to time this just right.
“Haaaaey! My flavorite!” Frank leaned over the sink and Tara jumped from her chair and flicked the red switch on the other side of the room.
Nothing happened. No whirling blades, no metal arms. Just silence. Frank plunged his hand deep into the icy basin and dug out a cold beer. He popped the tab and opened it, click, hisss.
“Ooooh yeah! Ice cold baby!” Frank said. “Bitch, I thought I tole you tah fix that disposal!” He clenched his fists and lurched toward Tara.
“I did! I did!” she said, recoiling.
Frank raised his arm to stike and Tara covered her head. From beneath her arms she heard the door buzzer.
Frank stopped, mid swing. “Git the damn door!” he slurred.
Tara un-crouched and scurried across the room. She opened the door. It was Sam, the plumber.
“Sam, what, what are you doing…” Tara fumbled with her words, trying to compose herself.
“Ms. Tara, I hope I’m not bothering you, but after I left, I remembered that I forgot to install an important part of the system.” said Sam, glancing past Tara at Frank, who lurched drunkenly toward the door.
“You the asshole that didn’t fix my disposal?” Frank’s words sprayed from his numb lips as he pointed at Sam.
Sam stepped into the apartment, toolbox in hand. “Why yes sir, I was here earlier and…”
“Shithead! You didn’t fix SHIT! What kine of moron plummer can’t fix a disposaaall.” Frank tilted the beer can back and drained the remaining portion. He crushed the can and tossed it to the floor.
“Oh, I am so sorry, sir. I neglected to install a very important part. I assure you, I can have everything honky dory in 5 minutes.” said Sam, smiling.
“You are a shit plummer. You are as worthless as my shit bitch over there!” Frank pointed at Tara who was standing by the red dispose-all 5000 on/off switch.
Sam smiled and raised his hand above his head. He glanced at Tara and then snapped his fingers. “There, I fixed it. I just installed the kill switch.” said Sam.
Frank lurched across the kitchen, coming nose to nose with Sam. “What the hell are you talking about? You ain’t fixed shit, jack-ass!” Frank poked his index finger into Sam’s chest. “I wann a full refund of all my money, dickhead!”
Sam glanced at Tara. “Sir, why don’t you just go get another beer and let me show you how well your system works?”
Frank chuckled and staggered to the sink. “Okay, Mr. finger-snap plummer, I WILL get another one, but that doesn’t make you less of an ASSHOLE!” Frank thrust his hand deep into the chilled water of the sink.
Sam motioned to Tara who nodded and threw the switch. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the dispose-all roared into action. Metal cables tipped with black barbs shot up from beneath the icy water. One tore through Frank’s neck, one through his shoulder and another pierced his hand. Black blades emerged: whirling, synchronous metal meat grinders.
Frank screamed, pulling against the barbs as the cables tightened, drawing him closer to the spinning blades.
Sam smiled and walked over to Tara, her face was a mask of horror. She reached for the switch but Sam grabbed her wrist and shook his head.
Frank pulled back, straining against the cables, driving the barbs deeper into his flesh. Blood from the wounds dripped down, forming crimson puddles on the kitchen floor. He wimpered, one last pathetic plea, “help me!” before the cables pulled him into the blades.
Tara closed her eyes and clung to Sam. Blood and bone swirled into the air above the sink. It hung there for a moment, evolving like a cloud of gore. Then, with a loud swoosh, the blades devoured the fountain of red that was Frank, sucking it down the drain, leaving no trace of Frank behind. Even the blood on the floor was drawn up and into the disposal.
Sam flipped the switch to “off”. Tara released her embrace, trembling.
“Oh my god, oh my god!” her voice quavered.
Sam grinned. “No, not quite. Think a little lower, my dear Tara.”
Tara stepped back, horrified. “You mean?”
“Don’t worry.” Sam smiled. “I’m not here for you.” he said and pulled a handful of papers from his toolbox. “This is the contract you signed earlier.”
Tara gasped and put her hands to her mouth, “Oh no, oh god no!” she said, backing away.
“I told you, I’m not here for you. This is a release for Frank’s soul.” Sam smiled as he scanned the contract. “You’ve suffered enough in this world. I see no need to send you downstairs to my domain for more pain. Besides, your ex-boyfriend was wrong. I’m not an asshole, I’m just Satan. You know, the Devil. My job is to weed out the bad souls and get them off the market, so to speak. Plus, I can’t very well afford to behave like an asshole these days, what with all the social media scrutiny and everyone so damned connected. It would just destroy my brand. Of course, haters gonna hate, but I guess that’s a good thing given my line of work.”
Tara recoiled as Sam’s entire countenance transformed in that moment. His clothes dissolved, revealing black skin and matted ebony feathers. A long black tail curled from between his buttocks, twisting back and forth as he spoke. His shoes retracted, exposing black cloven hooves and his eyes glowed red like two embers in a dark fireplace. His grin revealed a forked tongue that darted between pointed white teeth – in stark contrast to his pitch black lips and mouth.
“Its not like in those stories you’ve read, either.” said Satan. “I only collect the souls that deserve eternal damnation. You know, the ones that are so bad they don’t get recycled. No second chances for them. Of course, I do provide a little guidance along the path. Some healthy temptations for those less disciplined individuals – a little hand-holding, if you will.” Satan said, smiling. “Take you, for instance. When push came to shove, you wanted to save captain douchebag. Even though he’d been stomping you senseless for the last two years. Your soul is without compromise. And then there’s ole’ Franky there.” He said, pointing to the sink. “I just whispered in his ear for one night while he slept and he was convinced that the broken garbage disposal was the most important item on his bucket list. I’ve always found that the simple minds are the most malleable. You know something? I don’t think an eternity of suffering is nearly enough for all those nice things he said about me. What do you think Tara?” said Sam.
Tara was petrified. She stared at Satan, unable to muster anything more than a half-shrug.
“Unfortunately, as you well know, all good things must inevitably end. So I wish you the best of luck, my dear. I am off to attend to more pressing engagements.” Sam raised his hand and snapped his fingers again. In a flurry of black feathers and sulfur, he was gone.
Tara stared at the spot where Satan had been. She began sobbing and slid down into a crouch on the kitchen floor. Slowly, the sobbing gave way to laughter. Uncontrollable, hysterical laughter. She felt a warm glow spread through her soul, as if her heart had become a miniature sun, spreading rays through her body, filling the room with a golden wash of warmth and hope. Tears of joy slid down her cheeks. She jumped to her feet, giggling, and ran into the bedroom. The imaginary glass globes returned, in orbit around her sunny head – filled with scenes of white beaches, green forests, sun drenched picnics and happy children. The thought orbs spun and glinted as she stuffed a suitcase with her favorite clothes and darted out the door.
She danced down the bustling sidewalk, humming the Devil’s tune she had heard earlier, oblivious to the crowds and the stifling New York heat. She skipped all the way to the transit depot and boarded the first bus she came upon, never once considering its destination. “Pleased to meet you!” she sang to the bus driver who smiled and closed the doors. As she twirled down the aisle, she whispered to herself: “I hope you guess my name!”
The Riverboy
The river.
The Riverboy’s river.
I heard a voice.
My best friend’s voice.
“Bridget?” he said.
“Kevin! What are you doing in there?”
“Bridget, it’s cold.”
He reached out his hand. I hesitated.
I was Bridget Allan once.
I’m still waiting.
He’s waiting…
Little Miss Mad
Little Miss Mad
Road Work
Night Highway
If you would just stop and ask for directions…
The headlights of the blue BMW drilled into the night, illuminating the black tarmac that flowed like a river of madness through the Pennsylvania mountains. A double yellow line split the road lengthwise from Tafton to Mountaintop – 26 miles of harrowing hairpin turns and wild camel humps – a roller coaster ride through old-growth Pennsylvania forests.
Ken kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel – his eyes forward, scanning the shoulder of PA route 390, vigilant for suicidal deer hiding in the darkness between the trees who were more than eager to bound into the path of his speeding vehicle.
He toggled the high beams but they were no match for the darkness that sent it’s fingers through the trees, squeezing the road into a narrow blue tunnel through the woods.
Tanya stared out the passenger window. She shook her head and tossed her bobbed black hair – releasing dim shimmers of blue in response to the cold dashboard illumination.
“You always do this.” she sniped.
Ken adjusted his jaw from side to side.
“The traffic was stopped.
For twenty minutes.
I had to get off – I can’t just sit there like that.”
Tanya frowned. “We’re lost. You have no idea where we are, in a place that we have never been.” She pulled her cell phone from her purse and sighed. “AND we have no signal. Of course – we have no signal. We’re in the middle of NoSignalVania.”
Ken winced at every word. Tanya’s shrill, nasal voice had evolved into a first class irritant as of late. It was like a million sewing needles stabbing and gouging his eardrums with each sentence. He found himself drifting away during her monologues, staring off into space, dreaming of the days before marriage and wondering how he could have been duped into matrimony all those years ago. How could he not have noticed that sputtering, insidious, acrid tongue? A tongue that found him time and time again musing on just how to tear it out, to cease it’s wagging forever so that he might find peace. Instead, he soldiered on in silence, obedient to the stereotype of the henpecked husband.
“Why are they always doing construction in Pennsylvania. Everywhere you turn, a lane is closed or an exit is under repair. I hate this state.” Tanya shook her head.
“We are not lost. We’re just…temporarily confused.”
Tanya shook her head and scowled. She glanced back at the road. “Jesus!” She braced her hands on the dashboard and dug her feet hard against the floor of the car.
Ken snapped his gaze back to the road in time to see a deer flash past the headlights. He jammed both feet onto the brake pedal as the car began to skid sideways. Suddenly, another animal, this one thicker with dark gray and black streaks, sprang into the path of the sliding car. It moved like a cat stalking prey, low to the ground and surprisingly agile for its bulk.
There was a moment that seemed an eternity. It was filled with clenched teeth, white knuckles, squealing tires and the smell of burning rubber and hot brake shoes. It swam slowly into focus and then WHAM! The sickening thud of metal hitting flesh and the tinkle of shattered glass broke the spell.
The collision spun the car 90 degrees off the road and into a shallow swale on the right shoulder. Thick ferns and mountain laurel cushioned the car to a shuddering stop.
“Oh my god. Are you OK?” Ken reached over and touched Tanya.
“I think I bit my lip.” She dabbed her mouth and examined the bright red that coated her fingertips. “Yeah, I’m OK, I think.”
“What the hell did we hit?” Ken unbuckled his seatbelt.
“A deer. I think I saw a deer.”
“No, we missed the deer. Something came out of the woods after it. Something bigger like a bear.”
Ken opened his door and circled around to the front of the car. The grill was mangled and steam seeped from under the crumpled hood. The right quarter panel was crushed and the right front tire was rotated at an impossible angle. Thick black goo was smeared across the damaged areas.
“Shit, shit, shit.” Ken kicked at the ferns. “There goes my insurance.” He turned and looked back down the road. A dark mass lie motionless on the blacktop, partially blocking the right lane.
“I think you hit a bear.” Tanya was standing next to him, dabbing her lip with a tissue. “Way to go Mario”.
“Just call Triple A.” Ken began walking toward the shadowy shape.
Tanya fumbled for her cell phone. “Uh, can’t. No signal. Unbelievable.”
Ken slowed his steps as he neared the carcass. A musty odor, somewhere between cat urine and vinegar, wafted through the night air. Ken recognized more detail in the moonlight. The entire creature was about five feet long and had four legs, the front ones longer than the hind and all four capped with five to six inch glossy black claws that looked as if hewn from obsidian. It appeared to have a small amount of black fur on it’s back which was streaked with dark gray patches that mimicked forest shadows. Overall, Ken thought it vaguely resembled some kind of deformed black bear mixed with a mountain lion. The fur gave way to black velvety skin that concealed sinewy muscles throughout the body of the animal. The shoulders were bulky and the head was elongated and wide, with an odd sloping forehead and two large eyes, shut tight into ten inch slits. A twisted pair of foot long black horns jutted from just behind the creatures large pointed ears. The most astonishing feature, however, was the nightmarish mouth of the beast. It gaped slightly open, and was circled in a row of black teeth on the outside, and rows of similar fangs on the inside. It was as if a shark’s mouth had been turned slightly inside out around the edges and painted gloss black. A black forked tongue lolled from the open mouth, dripping with gooey dark saliva.
“What the hell IS that thing?” Tanya had joined Ken.
“I have no idea. Maybe a bear that was burned or something. But it has horns, I think.
“Bears don’t have horns, moron.” Tanya looked at her phone again. “How the HELL are we going to get a tow truck.
“We’ll have to walk and get help” Ken looked around at nothing but shadowy forest as far as the eye could see.
“I’ll bet that’s some kind of endangered animal. I’ll bet this dumb-ass state is going to fine us on top of everything.” Tanya started walking back toward the disabled BMW. “And there’s no WE in this whole walking to find help thing.”
Ken shook his head. “Seriously? What the hell are are YOU going to do while I’m walking?”
Over his shoulder, a pair of headlights flickered their way through the winding darkness of the stoic trees, distant tires clinging to the blacktop, hissed through the curves like a mechanized serpent as the vehicle neared.
“Looks like someone just caught a lucky break.” Tanya stood, hands on hips, a smirk writhing across her red lips.
Ken ran toward the approaching vehicle, arms waving. Blinded by the headlights, he could make out the dark shape of a late model pick-up truck, slowing to a stop before the motionless body of the strange creature.
“Hey, hey!” Ken waved his arms. “We hit something and we need help.”
The driver opened the door and stepped out. He walked past Ken in a flurry of flannel, scraggly beard and greasy hair, eyes fixed on the creature in the road, the scents of sweat, tobacco and body odor swirled about him in the night air.
“Hey, thanks for stopping, we…” Ken put his hand on the stranger’s shoulder.
The truck driver spun and pushed Ken away. “Nacht Teufel!” He hissed through broken teeth and began to back away toward his truck.
“What?” Ken stumbled forward. “Hey, what the hell? Where are you going?”
“Ein Junge Nacht Teufeufel!’, shouted the bearded stranger as he climbed back into his truck and gunned it in reverse.
“No, no, no!” Ken sprinted after the truck as it sped away into the darkness. He waved his arms and shouted until the tail lights disappeared into the night. He hung his head and slowly turned back toward his wife.
“What the hell was that?” Tanya raised her arms, palms toward the sky. “Did he not speak English? Why didn’t you stop him?”
“I don’t get it. How could he just leave us here?” Ken shook his head.
“I’m going to take a nap in the car. Good luck on your walk.” Tanya turned and headed back to the car.
“Seriously? You’re gonna sleep while I walk alone on this ridiculous road? In the middle of the night?” Ken spread his ams wide in disbelief.
“Good luck.” Tanya climbed into the back seat of the disabled BMW and slammed the door.
Ken stood motionless, mouth open. And then he heard it. Low at first, but growing slowly louder. A low growl rattled from the carcass on the road behind him. He turned around and his legs buckled.
The creature’s claws made a rasping sound as they scraped the blacktop. The eyes were wide open, luminous and green, and as big as pie plates with no visible pupils – just two organic headlights glowing in the thick night. Slowly, it struggled upright, tilted its chin into the night air and began to howl. It was low and mournful at first but built quickly to an ear shattering crescendo that echoed through the black forest.
Ken clamped his hands over his ears and gathered his legs beneath him. Gingerly, to avoid drawing attention to himself, he began to step backwards toward the safety of his car. After a few steps he turned and broke into a run – his shoes clacking on the hard surface of the road.
The creature howled again and Ken quickened his pace. Behind him, he could hear claws scuffling on the blacktop as it tried to regain it’s senses. He reached the car, grabbed the door handle and yanked. It was locked. He pounded on the window. Inside, Tanya shook her head and extended her middle finger.
“Unlock it!” he yelled. Tanya extended both middle fingers and lounged back down on the back seat.
“C’mon!” Ken bellowed and beat his fists bloody on the window until he was out of breath. He paused and looked past the car into the dark forest. Everything had gone silent. All the katydids and crickets and tree frogs were suddenly mute. The night seemed somehow darker as the soft rustle of the grass and the wind in the leaves coaxed a pair of giant luminous green eyes from between the trees. Ken’s blood ran cold and he felt light headed. Slowly, a second creature, identical to but about twice the size of the injured one behind him, emerged from the shadows directly across the road from his disabled beamer. It moved with careful determination, barely making a sound in the forest night, confirming it’s status as an evolved nocturnal predator.
Ken dropped to his knees and hid behind the car. His heart pounded in his temples and his hand rested on his thighs where he felt something solid. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled his cell phone and 2 receipts free before finding his car keys. Warily, he stood back up and peered over the car. The creature was gone. He turned and looked behind him.
The larger creature was now tending to the injured smaller one, nuzzling and grooming it’s wounds with a giant black forked tongue. Short chirps and whimpers drifted through the dark air as mother creature cared for her child.
Ken fumbled with his keys and dropped them, tinkling into the thick ferns. “Shit!” He bent down and began to rummage his fingers through the thick foliage. Suddenly, he felt warm air on his neck and that acrid smell from before. Before he could turn, giant, powerful jaws clamped around his torso, and bore down with unbelievable force. His head felt as if it would burst from the mounting pressure. He felt his ribs snap and the blinding burn of his flesh tearing beneath the black razor teeth of the beast. He was lifted above the car, sideways, his head slightly lower than his legs, which he could no longer feel as the pressure continued to increase to impossible levels. He felt gushes of warm blood running up his back and coursing along his neck and chin. His head swam – the pain was blinding and mounted to a crescendo of cracking bones and rending flesh followed by swirling blackness as he lost consciousness.
And then Ken was hovering above the entire scene. He could see his limp body in the creature’s massive jaws, like a rag doll, flopping as the creature began to thrash from side to side. After a few flicks, his body split in two, blood and entrails spilling onto the tarmac. But Ken felt at peace. There was no pain. In fact, no feeling at all. He looked down upon the creatures as they milled around the disabled vehicle. Far away, he could hear his wife’s shrill screams as the mother creature pried the car doors open with giant black claws.
A white light opened up above him, drenching the night in a glorious glow of salvation. It washed his floating spirit in joy and redemption and mitigated all earthly sounds and images, beckoning his weary soul to eternal bliss.
A feeling of unprecedented warmth and contentment flooded through Ken’s being. He grinned and dove headfirst into the light, delighted by the realization that he was finally free of his wife’s acrid tongue forever.
Night Eyes
Here kitty, kitty…
Jerry SkullDug
Thanks for digging the dark
Tales from the Boschard – Chapter 1 – The Mound
Tales from the Boschard Logo
I grew up in an area of northeastern Pennsylvania that was struggling from rural to suburban in the early 1970s. New housing developments elbowed their sterile green lawns into seventeenth century farmland, upstarts shaking their fists at the old Pennsy Dutch hex signs and traditions. In many ways, it was a culture clash, but it also provided an interesting fusion. Much like turn of the century railroads, telegraph and automobiles invaded the old west – with Model-Ts chasing horses past swing-door saloons, modern times were hot on the heels of the stubborn Pennsylvania Dutch agrarian ideologies.
These same ideologies had deep roots in Germanic storytelling. Grimm’s fairytales, the original German ones, lived up to their author’s namesake for they often veered into dark waters. Consider Ashenputtel (Cinderella) in which white doves peck the evil sisters’ eyes out at the conclusion. And who can forget the adorable ending of Schneewittchen (Snow White) that finds the evil queen locked in a pair of red-hot iron shoes and dancing herself to death. Fusing the dark, traditional tales with modern interpretations and mutations, I heard plenty of creepy stories, deviously attached to the real places and characters around me. Compound that with my childhood home being legitimately haunted (just ask the rest of my family). Perhaps that’s part of the reason I gravitate toward dark corners of the psyche with my content. Or perhaps I’m just a bit twisted.
Tales From The Boschard was born of that fusion – the name Boschard is a mash up of old and new. The ‘bos’ from the Old German for a wooded area (Bosc) and the new English word, orchard, providing the ‘chard’ part. I’ve tried to re-create that linguistic fusion in some of my characters as best I could as well – particularly for the old-timers who routinely lapsed from English to German to Pennsylvania Dutch, often in a single sentence. Here’s a commonly used example of Pennsylvania Dutch that my father asked me to decipher when I was a kid:
Saville der dago
tousand buses inarow
nocho demis trux
summit cows and summit dux
Here’s the translation:
Say Willie there they go
a thousand buses in a row.
No Joe, them is trucks,
some with cows and some with ducks.
Many of these tales are haunted folklore passed down from family members and acquaintances and others are based on actual events. I think that all of them will give you a glimpse into that place where my darkest dreams routinely came true – haunted, weird, northeastern Pennsylvania.
Hex signs
What The Hex?
Chapter 1 – The Mound
He had us corralled like sheep – trapped between the garage and a chain-link fence too high to scale. His snow white hair, breeze-blown up in the back, completed the portrait of a mad white rooster. He squinted at us through black, beady eyes, barely visible between the leathery creases of his withered face. His skeleton right hand clutched a hefty cane – that bone-white instrument of retribution. We had all seen him hurl that rod with frightening accuracy at cats, dogs and wicked children. He clutched the polished weapon with hands covered in worn, yellow gardening gloves. It was strange, but we had never seen him without those gloves, even in summer. His long sleeve shirt hung on his gaunt frame like rags on a scarecrow. Even his work trousers seemed two sizes too large for his wiry legs.
“Naah I got yous!” his gravelly voice rumbled.
Pappy Zanders had finally caught us. Nearly a month of torment at the hands of three eleven-year-olds had come to an end, right here and now in the old devil’s yard on a sunny day in July. Not that we didn’t deserve a show-down with our nemesis – we had surely earned his attention through apple thievery, tomato tossing and numerous other pranks that would likely have resulted in lawsuits in today’s world. Perhaps it was the challenge that lured us to this moment – Pappy was old, but he was angry and very agile for man of his years. The thrill of the chase and the ultimate satisfaction of eluding a mysterious old man was just too good to pass up.
I glanced over at my accomplices, Steve and Ritchie – their eyes were as big as pie plates. Steve’s lip trembled beneath his enormous nose. Had I not been so scared, I would have chuckled at the sight of an eleven-year old boy with the face of Jimmy Durante, twitching and pale with terror. In that distracted moment, however, Ritchie , the smallest but arguably the most daring of the three of us, decided to make a break for freedom. He darted to the right of the old man, his spindly legs slipping on the dewy grass. I watched with astonishment as Pappy wheeled around and brought his cane down across the shins of the floundering young boy who dropped to the grass, clutching his legs.
“Get in the garage, naw yous hooligans!” Pappy shook his cane and hissed through crooked yellow teeth. We pulled the groaning Ritchie to his feet and shuffled through the open door and into our purgatory – the garage of Pappy Zanders.
My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark interior. The smell of auto tires and turpentine with a just a hint of Pine Sol bullied the air. The tools were meticulously arranged – hung on pegboards in perfect symmetry. The boxes were neatly stacked and aligned with precision. The floor, painted and buffed, seemed clean enough to eat from. There were glass jars of nuts, bolts, nails and other hardware tidbits, carefully arranged along the top of a massive wooden workbench with a giant iron vise anchoring the left hand corner. To most, the immaculate workspace would have seemed shocking. But to those familiar with the ways of Pennsylvania Dutch craftsmen, this garage was more the norm. Old Pappy Zanders was no exception. His garage was a model of cleanliness and order – the pride of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
“Sit daun!” he snapped and waved his cane toward a bench against the wall.
We complied and Pappy slowly approached, tapping the cane upon the shiny concrete floor.
I saw a grin begin to twist it’s way across Pappy’s gnarled face and I stared up at him, my mind racing with images of a sadistic old man beating the consciousness out of my head and then burying me in the back yard – only to have my own father dig me up and rescue me so that he could beat me again for my indiscretions. I heard a raspy chuckle wheeze it’s way through Pappy’s leathery throat.
“So yous like my apples, huh?” Pappy reached up and pulled a dark, dusty bottle from a high shelf. “Me too.” he sniffed and pulled the cork from the top with hollow “plunk.” “Bet yah never had apples like these!” He handed the bottle to Ritchie.
“Go ahead, have a swig – puts hair on your chest.”
Ritchie took a sip and grimaced but managed to swallow a solid gulp. He coughed and sputtered.
“Ha!” Pappy laughed and took the bottle back. “Here, you try it!”, he said and handed the dusty bottle to me.
I looked down the barrel at the silvery liquid and gave it a sniff. It smelled good, like apple cider. I put the bottle to my lips and took a mighty swig. Instant fire raced down my throat and spread warm fingers through my stomach. I felt my dinner begin to stir and try to come back up but I managed to cough and choke back the urge to vomit.
Pappy chuckled again and yanked the bottle away. “Naw that’s good apple jack!” he hissed. It was Steve’s turn. Pappy pressed the bottle into his hands and bade him drink. Steve took a big, deep swallow. He paused and looked up. His eyes began to tear, his face turned pale and his stomach began to heave. He dropped to his knees and spewed a seemingly endless waterfall of chicken pot pie all over Pappy’s clean garage floor.
“Naw you’re cleanin’ that up, yah hooftie!” He snarled and tossed a shop towel to the wretching boy. And then Pappy began to laugh. He swung his can back and forth and laughed loud enough to echo through the rafters of the garage.
I glanced at Ritchie who shrugged.
“I remember ven I vas your age. I used ta do the same dumb stuff as yous do.” the old man mused. “I would hop on da trains and ride ’em all da way to Wilkes-Barre and my mom would give me such a beatin’ ven I got back! Onced, I even stole da cow from Shitzy Emery’s barn.”
He pulled a stool over and sat down. He pointed a crooked finger at me. “I know you, your Cheralt’s son from up the hill on first awenue. I know your pop.”
I nodded.
‘Well naw. Tell yous what. Sit here for bit and listen to an old man’s story and maybe I’ll keep dis incident chust between us. ‘stehen sie?
We all nodded.
“Vell then. I’ve got a real good one for yous today. You know that mound up the hill in the cemetery?” He pointed his cane out the window toward the graveyard beyond the woods. “Ever vonder vat’s inside that thing?”
We nodded again, recalling the thirty foot hump of grass in the middle of the graveyard affectionately known as “the mound.” It looked like a big sodden pimple in the middle of Fairview cemetery. We had tugged on the chains that kept the massive gray slate doors of the crypt closed. We’d even shouted down the vent in the top – calling to the dead that we presumed were listening and waiting patiently for someone to set them free so they could haunt the tombstones and neighboring woods. We all imagined hideous things run amuck inside the mound after sundown.
“Ahh, I see yous all know the mound real well. Did cha know I was the caretaker when I vas younger?”
We looked at each other. Steve was still a bit pale, but he shook his head. I nodded and spoke up. “I think my dad may have mentioned it to me.”
“Vell, what dit he tell ya?”
“Not much, just that you worked up there when you were younger.”
“Ha – I worked up there every summer until I vas twenty-two. I used to clean that mound every other Saturday. One Saturday, July 7th, I got locked in that place ower night.”
Once again, old Pappy Zanders had us – but this time, we were happy prisoners of the old man’s story. We leaned forward, eager to hear the secrets we had only been able to imagine. Even Steve managed a grin through his vomit flecked lips.
“It was summer, so I was up there later than usual. I always kept the mound for last – I don’t know why. Naw yous boys know that place is cursed, doan cha?”
We looked at each other.
“Well it is. The West Catty Witch cursed that whole cemetary in the early twenties. And the Delaware indians before dat. Ever notice how cold it is up dere? Always a good ten degrees lower than the rest of da woods around. But that’s another story.” He shifted in his seat, settling in for the long haul.
“So it was gettin’ dark and I was chust finishin’ everything up for the evening. I unlocked the padlock on them big chains and pulled doze heavy slate doors vide open. Naw remember, there was no real lock on them doors, chust the chainz and padlock and I always brought dem inzide with me.”
Steve cocked his head. “How could you get locked in then? And what’s it look like in there? Are there coffins and stuff? Can you see dead bodies?”
Pappy’s eyes became slits and his nostrils flared. He thumped his cane into Steve’s chest.
“You gonna yap all through MY STORY?” he snarled.
Steve clutched his chest and recoiled, shaking his head. “No” he sulked. “I was just curious…”
Pappy interrupted, “That’s Okay. Everybody wants tah know what it’s like in there, but I’ll get ta that in a minute, chust keep your shirt on, Gibby.” He pointed his cane at Steve who returned a nervous grin.
Pappy took another swig from the bottle and exhaled. “So, I remember takin’ them chains in with me that night too. I put ’em on da bench chust inside the doors. But when day showed up to get me aut that night, they was on the outside, wrapped up und padlocked shut chust like I vould ah done.”
Ritchie had recovered from his shin whippin’. He leaned forward. “So what happened in there?” he queried.
Pappy’s face seemed to change before our eyes. The ruddiness of his skin gave way to a more ashen tone and his eyes softened. His voice changed as well. It no longer carried the ferocity it had moments ago. Even his shoulders seemed to slump forward as he rested his cane on the garage floor.
“Yah sure yah vanna know?” whispered Pappy.
We glanced at each other and nodded “yes” in unison.
“Vell alright then. I’ll tell yous the story. Like I said before, I saved cleanin’ up the mound for last. It was around sewen-thirty or so und the sky was getting that pink glow chust before the sunset. I unlocked da doors and took them chains in an set ’em on a bench in the back. Now it’s alvays dark in the mound ’cause there ain’t no lights, but with da doors open and the sunlight comin’ in, you can see pretty good in there.”
Steve raised his hand. “What’s it like in there, Mr. Zanders?”
“It’s like nothing you ever seen. There’s one big room in there with wooden drawers all round da sides. The ceiling is made of big wooden arched trusses, all hand carved with the strangest stuff I ever seen. Old pagan symbols from ancient times, indian words, stuff in languages I never recognized. Looks like a bunch of weird totem poles them indians used to make. In the middle was this brass bowl on a vooden stand and a five pointed star was painted on the floor – musta been five feet across – in dark red, like blood it looked.
“Now them wooden drawers along the edges, that’s where the bodies are. And the fronts of them is all carved up wit strange symbols and other words I couldn’t make no sense aut of. I didn’t like to get too close to them anyways ’cause I know them bodies were right there.
Pappy took another swig of apple jack and swallowed. “Anyhow, I went over to the right side where I kept the broom and I headed to the back of the mound – I used to sveep it aut from the back to the front an chust sveep all the dust aut them doors. But when I got to the back and before I could turn around, them doors slammed shut and I heard the chains bein’ wound around the handles. Everything vent pitch black chust like that” Pappy snapped his fingers. “The only light was chust that little sliver that leaks through the vent way at the top of da mound. I thought “somebody is playin’ a joke on me. And not a wery funny one”.
Ritchie spoke up. “What did you do?”
I ran in the darkness to them doors and threw my veight against those big slates. I pushed and pushed but I could hear them chains clinkin’ on the other side, so I knew I was locked in for good. But I kept on pushin’ until I chust about passed aut. I slid down against the cold doors and sat on the damp floor. And that’s ven I heard it.”
“What?” I gulped. “What did you hear?”
Pappy’s eyes narrowed and he took another swig. “I heard this soft swishin’ kind of sound. All muffled, like sandpaper rubbin’ together inside a shoebox. I thought maybe it was rats scratchin around in the dark but then I realized what it was. It was breathin’ – real slow and raspy, comin’ from inside of them coffin drawers.”
Steve shook his head. “You’re fulla crap.”
“Naw, you’ll change your tune whan I’m done, I’ll guarantee that! ‘Cause then I heard them drawers slidin’ open. I couldn’t see nothing in the dark, but I could hear everything and it vas comin’ from all around me – all da drawers was creakin’ and slidin’ open. I grabbed my broom, the only thing I had to defent myself with. And then I heard this other sound – like a long hissing visper. And I smelt da most awful smell I ever smelt. It was like earth and rot and mildew and sawdust all rapped up in one – and it was gettin’ clozer und clozer.”
“Holy cow”, I muttered and looked at Ritchie. He was leaning closer to Pappy, his eyes wide. Steve had a smirk on his face. “I’m not buyin’ it,” he whispered.
“So I stood up and and kept my back against the doors and started screamin’ and swingin’ that broom. I could hear what I imagined were five or six pairs of rotted feet, shuffling across the floor – all headin’ straight for me. So I started svingin’ as hard as I could.” Pappy demonstrated with his cane, swinging it wildly through the air of the garage.
Ritchie was smiling. “Did you hit any of ’em?”
“Well”, Pappy stopped swinging his cane. “I ain’t sure ‘cuz of the darkness in there, but I hit somethin’ and I swear I knocked somethin’ loose, cuz I heard it fly off and clatter across the floor. Maybe it was an arm or a hand. I kept svingin’ an hittin’ and svingin and hittin until my shoulders nearly popped off. But they kept on comin’ at me – gettin clozer und clozer. That’s wen the got damn broom snapped in two.”
Pappy dropped his cane. So I started svingin’ my fists.” Pappy threw wild hooks and upper-cuts in the garage air. “It felt like I was punchin’ flimsy, rotten fabric with brittle twigs packed inzide that would crack with each strike. The smell was almost too much and I started gettin’ goofy. I could hear ’em breathin’, raspin’ and shufflin’ and then, one of ’em grabbed me by the arm. The hand vas nothing but bone and dried grizzle but the grip was like iron. I tried to get loose, but a couple more grabbed my arms and legs and held me still. Then, dey started to moan. Low at first, but then they got louder and louder and I could feel my hearbeat gettin’ slower and slower. My chest felt like it was in a vice and I couldn’t hardly breath. I remember this burnin’ pain climbin’ up my arms and wrappin around my ribs. I felt like they vas drainin’ the life outa me and I finally must’ah passed aut.”
“But how’d you get out?” I asked.
“My parents called the cops when I didn’t come home at the regular time. They searched the cemetary and finally got a pair of bolt cutters to get the chains off the doors of the mound. They said I was layin’ on the floor, unconscious against the doors ven they finally got in.” Pappy took another swig of apple jack.
Steve stood up. “That story’s a load of crap. There’s nothin’ but old, dead bodies in that mound and you were never locked in.” Steve smirked and walked out of the garage.
Ritchie and I looked at each other. “Did that really happen? Did you get locked in there that night?”, I asked Pappy.
Pappy frowned. “What I didn’t tell your goofy friend is that when the cops found me, my hair was the color you see right now – snow white! But when I went in it was chet black. It had changed in the time I was trapped in there.” He paused. “How old do yous think I am?” grinned Pappy.
“I dunno, Seventy or Eighty?” Ritchie shrugged.
“I’m thirty-eight” , whispered Pappy, the smile withering from his face.
“Holy crap, that’s just six years older than my dad!” I said.
“Them things in that mound drained the life outa me that night. And anyone who spends any time with me gets drained too. Every woman I ever courted died after a month. All my dogs and cats, dey don’t last two veeks with me after I pet ’em. Here, look at my arms where they grabbed me.” Pappy rolled up his sleeves. I gazed in horror at the black marks that criss-crossed Pappy’s arms. Deep indentations furrowed his skin where the boney fingers had grabbed. The black color spread from those furrows like vines winding their up way past his shoulders where they disappeared beneath his sleeves. He lifted his shirt to expose his chest. The black vines swirled around his ribcage and encircled the center of his chest – surrounding his heart like a thicket of doom.
“What da ya think ah’ them apples, huh?” Pappy chuckled and pulled his shirt back down.
Ritchie and I backed up towards the door. “Ah, Mr. Zanders,” I stammered. “Um, I think I gotta get home now. Thanks for the story.” We ran out of the garage and up the hill to my house, not stopping once to catch our breath or look back. From that day forward, we never went near Pappy Zanders again. We would wave to him and say hello if we saw him, but we never played any pranks on him. He passed away 2 years later – my parents told me it was a heart attack.
Now it’s possible that ole’ Pappy Zanders had some kind of weird disease or heart condition and very possible that he was NOT thirty-eight years old and that he made the whole thing up. Perhaps it was the dim light or stagnant air of the garage that made our imaginations run wild, or maybe there were some tailings left in that apple jack that made us hallucinate the whole thing. Years after that, we ran around that cemetery and played in the nearby woods, but none of us ever ventured anywhere near that mound again – just in case. To this day I still remain uneasy for having shared a bottle with old Pappy Zanders and I can’t help but wonder if someday the black lines will appear on my skin and begin to drain the life from me just as they had done to that old man.
Beware the mound
Beware the mound
Copyright SkullDug Films 2013
Jerry SkullDug
Short Story – The Floor Boy
FloorBoy2Phoebe Mason always had trouble sleeping. She was only a little girl, and, as was natural for little girls, she was prone to the nightmares that shook her from sleep in a 3 A.M. panic, leaving her defenseless in darkness, half-drowned in an ocean of sheets and sweat and tears. Even from infancy, she could scarcely get a wink without jolting upright and dropping open her mouth to scream for mommy.
To her father’s chagrin, she often demanded that her mother sleep with her so that she didn’t have to be alone. Every night for years, Phoebe’s mother spent the night with her, lulling her to sleep with sweet dreams in mind or soothing her when the nightmares shook her awake. But when Phoebe turned five, her father decided enough was enough.
“You’d think the kid would be able to make it through one night by now,” he had grumbled, walking past Phoebe’s bedroom, only to find her snuggled up with her mom.
Mrs. Mason was a patient woman, but her husband was right; it was time Phoebe learned to sleep on her own. As soon as Phoebe fell asleep that night, her mother slipped away, and the little girl was alone in the dark for the first time.
The Masons had moved into the house on Danby Drive only a few months before their daughter Phoebe was born. The house had not been lived in for years, and the last family before them had left suddenly. Mr. Mason had heard that they moved away because their young son went missing, but he thought it was unnecessary to mention it to his wife. Mrs. Mason, though patient and compassionate, had too many nervous tendencies, and to hear that a child went missing in this area would only worry her. Besides, it had been over a decade ago, and there were no such records since.
The first night Phoebe slept alone was the first night of anything unusual happening. She woke not from a nightmare but from the sound of something scratching from below. She did not jolt upright or gasp in terror. She didn’t even cry. She simply opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, listening close to the scraping beneath her bed.
A muffled voice broke through the silence, and it wasn’t Phoebe’s.
“Hello?” it said. It sounded to Phoebe like a little boy.
“Hello?” Phoebe whispered back.
“Who are you?” it asked, after a pause.
“Who are you?” Phoebe retorted.
“Marcus,” said the voice cheerily.
“I’m Phoebe. Are you real?”
“I think so. I feel real. Are you real?”
“Yes! Of course I am! Where are you?”
“I’m in the floor,” said Marcus.
When Phoebe took too long to reply, he changed the topic: “Do you want to be best friends?”
“Okay,” said Phoebe, and thus began a most peculiar friendship between a little girl and the invisible boy that lives under her bed.
The next night, Phoebe insisted that she sleep alone, and this continued for several days. Mr. Mason was happier than he had ever been, particularly in the last five years, and Mrs. Mason, though she missed her bonding night times with her daughter, was relieved that the little girl was finally starting to develop a sense of independence. There were no concerns until both of the Mason parents woke in the middle of the night to the sound of their daughter’s violent laughter.
Mrs. Mason rushed into the bedroom to find Phoebe giggling to herself, hands covering her rosy cheeks in an attempt to stifle the noise.
“What’s so funny?” asked Mrs. Mason, trying and failing to feign happiness through her exhaustion.
“My friend is telling jokes,” Phoebe replied, still giggling a little.
Mrs. Mason glanced around for a phone or a walkie-talkie, finding nothing of the sort. “Your friend? What friend?”
“Marcus. He lives under my bed.”
A sudden look of understanding passed over Mrs. Mason’s face, and this time her smile was genuine. “Marcus?” she asked, and she bent over to peer under the bed. “Ah, very nice! Hello, Marcus!” her comment was directed at the dust bunnies, for she saw nothing unusual under the little girl’s bed.
“He’s not there, mommy,” Phoebe whined. “He’s all the way under the floor.”
“Ah, I see. So then what does he look like?”
Phoebe shrugged. Then she crossed her arms and pouted. “Mommy, go away. Marcus won’t talk with you around.”
“Of course not. But doesn’t Marcus know it’s bedtime?”
“…I guess.”
“Tell Marcus he should sleep, too. His mommy and daddy probably want him to go to bed as much as your mommy and daddy do.”
“But mom-my! Marcus doesn’t have a mommy and a daddy. He said they left him here a long time ago, so he doesn’t have to do what they want.”
“Well, then I’ll be his new mommy, and I want him to go to sleep. You sleep well now, all right, Phoebe, baby?”
Phoebe uncrossed her arms, placed them at her sides, and sighed deeply. “Okay, mommy.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Mrs. Mason left, shutting the door behind her, leaving Phoebe in the dark with her “imaginary friend.” A few moments of total silence passed, in which there was no scratching, no wind-blowing, no laughing, no jokes. In those moments, Phoebe was afraid that her mother had broken some spell by finding out about her friend, and now he must be gone forever. Or worse, Phoebe had ruined her own imagination by revealing it. She would have cried if Marcus hadn’t spoken up.
“Your mommy sounds nice,” he said. “She’s gonna be my mommy.”
He began scratching again, a quiet, persistent pattern of fingernails running against rough wood.
“She’s a nice mommy,” Phoebe concurred. “But I like talking to you better.”
“Someday you should help me up so she can be my mommy.” He scratched harder, the grainy sound of friction growing stronger.
Phoebe thought about this. “But I like it this way.”
“I don’t. I want her to be my mommy. Can you help me up?” Marcus was scratching madly now, hard and sharp against the wood, and the noise thundered through Phoebe’s ears until she could scarcely breathe.
Mrs. Mason couldn’t fall asleep that night. Instead, she lay completely and totally awake, scanning the ceiling, biting her fingernails. Something about that conversation had struck her oddly, and it was nagging at her.
At around 2:30 A.M., she could no longer contain herself, so she woke her husband by shaking his shoulder rather aggressively.
“What? What is it? What do you want?” asked Mr. Mason dazedly, still half-asleep.
“This house. Who lived here before us?”
“It was empty.”
“Come on, Jim. It’s an old house. Someone must’ve lived here.”
“Uh… I don’t know, twenty years ago some people lived here.”
“Why did they leave?”
“I didn’t want to tell you.”
“What is it? What happened here?”
“Their kid went missing. He was Phoebe’s age.”
Mrs. Mason had a sudden pounding of her heart, a sudden nagging feeling in her chest. Her head throbbed with every quickening step toward her daughter’s room. When she got there, she threw the door open and turned on the light only to find that the bed had been pushed against the wall crookedly, blankets strewn everywhere, and Phoebe was sitting on the floor clawing ravenously at the floorboards. There were tears in her eyes, and her fingernails bled, leaving crimson streaks on the wooden floors, but there was unbridled glee in her voice while she giggled to herself madly.
“What’s wrong, Phoebe? What’s going on?” Mrs. Mason repeated shrilly, trying to pull her daughter away from a slightly darkened spot on the floor. “You stop that! Stop this right now!”
But Phoebe was persistent, and the wood chipped away under her nails, creating little holes and crevasses in the floor. Only darkness lay beneath them, but it was an open darkness, like the space underneath a porch, filled with a vast and empty sort of black.
Mrs. Mason dragged Phoebe away but crawled closer to the spot. Gingerly, she dug her fingernails into the wood and pulled, scraping away at it. One of the boards was just faintly the wrong shape; its edges peeled in some places, leaving narrow gaps in others. It was wrong for the house, like it had never meant to be there. That was the one Phoebe had dug at, and eventually Mrs. Mason pulled the board loose. She instinctively brought her arm up to cover her face when she saw what lay below.
There lay the missing child.
There lay the body of a boy abandoned, ignored, forgotten.
A little corpse, a little mummified boy with empty, hollowed eyes, all blackened by time and rot, lying in the space below. He was covered in spider webs and dust and dead flies and everything that had ever made Mrs. Mason want to vomit. And he almost seemed alive, for his hands were facing upward, his fingernails were rubbed raw, and the petrified skin was embedded with wooden splinters that looked far too fresh.
Little Miss Mad
Little Miss Mad
-SkullDug Jerry
Silence. The figure did not move.
The figure remained motionless and mute.
Copyright SkullDugFilms – 2013
Other SkullDug approved stories and poems: |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22198 | Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Assignment: Group Grammar Worksheet
Grammar worksheets have always been a point of contention in my teaching. When I hand them out, even students who do well on them seem unable to explain the rules they're using, which then means they have trouble applying them in their own writing.
I began to think that grammar worksheets were a waste of time.
I decided to try something new last year,and since then I have used it several times. It has worked really well, and I think it could be adapted in several ways to encompass a variety of grammar lessons.
I start by breaking grammar rules into a couple of different sections. On one day we might go over sentence fragments, run-ons, and comma splices. On another day we might go over subject-verb agreement, coordinating conjunctions, and semicolons. I try to group them in ways that similar terms will be used together (for instance, if I talk about subordinate conjunctions at the same time I talk about sentence fragments, it's easier to explain why adding "because" to the beginning of an otherwise independent clause makes it a fragment). The most important thing, though, is that there is a clear set of different grammatical elements we're mastering at any given time.
I go over these in a group discussion, and a few students participate and ask questions, but most of them are fairly quiet. I then provide a handout with all of the rules in one place. I ask the students if they have any questions and explain that once I give them the worksheet, I won't answer any more questions about the rules.
Then I give them a worksheet with five sections on it. Each section deals with a different rule. I make my own worksheets, but this could also work for a pre-made assignment from the textbook. I explain that they'll be graded individually on the score that they get (up to 20 points). However, there's a twist. For every section the entire class gets right, they'll receive 2 bonus points, and if the class gets every question right, I'll give 10 more bonus points. They could get a 40/20 on this single assignment. In my class, that's enough to make up for a missed reading response or two missed in-class assignments. It's a pretty good deal.
They are allowed to use their handouts and their books. They can work as one big group, several small groups, or individually. I turn on the overhead projector and let them use it to talk through the worksheet as a class. If they disagree, they are free to keep whatever answer they think is right, but they'll only get the bonus points if everyone gets that section correct.
So far, I've never been able to give the full 20 bonus points, but I have given several classes bonus points for individual sections that everyone got right. Most important, I can see them grappling with the rules as they explain them to one another and argue for why they think their answer is right. Even when the students get the answer wrong, the reasoning and discussion they have while getting there is valuable. As an added bonus, hearing them explain their reasoning lets me know what areas I need to spend more time talking about in the future.
My students have also gotten really enthusiastic about this assignment. They are often working down to the very last second of class and can't wait for me to give them their graded worksheets back.
A word of caution: this assignment takes longer than I thought it would. For my worksheets (about 25 fill-in-the-blank/circle the error questions), it takes a class at least 45 minutes.
What strategies do you have for making grammar activities more effective? Have you had success with worksheets? How do you get students to discuss and apply the rules long-term?
Photo: KatieKrueger
1. Thanks for posting this strategy! I will try it out next year. I like the way it gets students to work together for the benefit of all. I have been focusing most of my grammar instruction on the four sentence types: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex. I have devised some games and we also spend 5-15 minutes at the start of almost every class identifying a few sentences from whatever we happen to be reading at the time. I like focusing on what makes a sentence work, instead of error correction.
2. I am totally stealing this idea! |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22201 | Saturday, February 18, 2012
Care To Hear From Yours Truly?
In case ya haven't noticed, I'm upgrading all over the place.
Come check out my new blogsite,, with an easier-to-use interface and the actual ability to keep up with ALL EIGHT of the blogs I'm responsible for at just a glance and the click of yer mouse!
Almost done, almost the meantime, here's four playlists for you to check out. Just vocal stuff I did. You might find it interesting, maybe not...but it's today's Sooth(e) Your Freaking Beast post!
General VA Stuff ("That Bastard's Vocal Garbage")
Shitty Chat Vocal Stuffs
Chat Fightan Vocal Stuffs: The Announcer Begins
Chat Fightan Vocal Stuffs 2: The Announcer Is Helping
New Shiznits Playlist ('cuz I usually load 'em up here first before I move 'em around)
A Capella Playlist
Project: Boyfriend (not quite up and running yet)
Promotional Sound Bytes Playlist
Character Pack Playlist
As always, don't forget to check out Anubis Unit by typing it in the search bar over at Youtube!
Tomorrow is another practice and more uploads. Busy busy busy all around...
To my new followers, hiya! To my old followers, just follow and bookmark at The Pen Is My Sword in order to keep up with meh!
'Cuz it's time to get Sanic about it!
Much love, peace, and plenty o' bacon grease,
~That Bastard
1. AAAAAAAAAAAAhyeah! Yo own doman! I'm so jelly-filled donut and tired right now. We'll keep at it tomorrow and comment more vocal greatnesses. damn, talented you are.
Dunno 'bout talented, it just feels like things are finally comin' together. Now to just keep the good motion a-goin', y'knowwhatImean?
Gotta keep puttin' in work while I'm lookin' for work. SOMETHIN' has to happen if so~!
2. Replies
1. Thanks m'man!
Though my Netflix This blog will never be as respectable as yours, I'm still gonna keep up on it. Hey, plenty of movies out there, y'know?
I'll keep doing my best though, even despite the lack of professionalism.
Catch ya 'round on yer blog sometime, m'man!
3. Nice, glad to see someone else writing their own code too, hope to hear back from you soon and then I will definitely follow and be tuning in! :D
1. Well, I wouldn't call it writing my own code...I swiped a template and in fiddling around with it am slowly getting my head for hard coding back.
Very slowly though. I still couldn't just BAM, write the whole thing from scratch, and I'm remembering why .xml made me rage so hard back in the day.
Huhuhuh, so you've got your own blog, eh? I'll check it, leave you a message or two. :D I'm well known for fuckhuge, controversial, politically incorrect replies.
Be seein' ya! I'll, as always, attempt to be as entertaining as I possibly can~! |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22232 |
No-Hassle Methods Of russian cupid - An Update - SVOD-Europe
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22234 | Here are the polling locations where you can vote. It is obviously better to vote at your assigned place that is written on your blue card, but it is not a requirement . Take note of the address on your card, since the title of the locations described may not be accurate. For example, some cards say “Red Shell Sushi” or “Ralphs Sushi” which doesn’t relate to the physical address site, the address would likely be for Gelsons or Ralphs Grocery store, which would be the actual voting site. If you lost your blue card, no worries, because you can still vote. Thank you!
You can also click here to Download the Voting Locations sheets (PDF)
You can also click here to download the Members of Team Todd List (PDF)
Quick Menu: [The TEAM] [Endorsement] [Evidence & Facts] [Docs & Downloads] [Mission] [Donate] [Contacts] [Voting Locations] |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22236 | 1. F
Estimate individual variance from pool variance
Let's say I have a group of 100 tiny beads, and I want to know the variance in their weight. However, my scale can't weigh one bead at a time, so I weight them in non-overlapping pools of 10 beads each. Then I can calculate the variance among pools, but what I really want to know is the... |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22246 | Friday, October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween -- Flash Fiction
image from
Why couldn’t Elizabeth buy the candy? He’d gone into the office early and met with vender reps all morning. He missed those long leisurely, pre-recession luncheons paid for by the reps. All afternoon he’d dealt with a ridiculous personnel problem. How could full-grown people act like hormone-driven teens at work? And now he had to stop and get candy. She’d left a voice mail that he should be home before five with candy.
He didn’t mind that she didn’t work. He made enough money for them to live comfortably now. And he appreciated that she had worked the whole time the children were growing up.
Thank goodness they were all grown up and had been very little trouble in doing it. There’d been no going down to the local police station to retrieve them. Not even meetings with various and sundry school officials about major infractions. What problems there had been Elizabeth had handled.
Shopping for candy should have been a quick in and out deal. He never imagined how many women waited until the last minute to buy Halloween treats. Why did they bring their over-tired kids? Probably fresh from daycare. Shopping in that crowd would probably be the biggest nightmare of the night. Those were, no doubt, the little darlings who would be ringing his bell from five until nine.
Oh, yes, the doorbell and strangers coming to the door after dark. With his dog, that should make for a quiet, peaceful evening. Mungo would be hoarse by morning.
And, no, he would not dress up in some ridiculous costume to hand out candy.
Elizabeth wasn’t there when he got home. She complained about never going out. He didn’t like going out. He was “out” all day. He liked to come home, have a quiet dinner, watch a little TV, and go to bed. He took her out. To eat. Sometimes to a movie. She said they hadn’t been to a movie since the last Star Trek movie. That didn’t sound right, but he didn’t keep track of things like that. Besides, she could go out whenever she wanted. He wasn’t one of those overbearing, macho men who had to have their thumb on “the little woman” every minute.
Had she said where she was going? Probably. Maybe she said something about Christmas and going downtown. That didn’t sound like Elizabeth. He wished he hadn’t deleted the voice mail.
She’d left him stew in the fridge.
Four-forty-five p.m. He considered himself a competent adult. He turned on the news and put a bowl of stew into the microwave. Mungo bounced around his feet. She apparently had not fed the dog. The microwave dinged as he set Mungo’s dinner on the floor. Before he could get to the microwave, the doorbell sounded. Mungo barked like mad and raced to the door.
He hadn’t put the candy in the jack-o-lantern bucket yet. Kids didn’t care about that stuff. He tore the candy bag open and dropped hands-full into a skull bucket, a sparkly princessy bucket, and a grocery bag.
He turned on the porch light and returned to the dinging microwave. Mungo returned to his food. Damn. The stew had splattered all over the microwave. Elizabeth hated it when he forgot to use the cover.
The doorbell again. And he still hadn’t put the candy in the pumpkin bucket. Mungo was off like a rocket – a loud rocket.
By eight o’clock he’d run out of candy. He scrounged through his sock drawer and found two rolls of quarters. But the trick-or-treaters were getting bigger. How many quarters should he give a kid bigger than him, who wasn’t wearing a costume as far as he could tell, and was carrying a king-size pillow case half full of loot? Even Mungo was intimidated.
Nine o’clock and his stew was still in the microwave. Where was Elizabeth?
He turned off the porch light, cleaned up the microwave, and made himself a cheese sandwich. He opened a beer and dumped half a bag of chili cheese corn chips on his plate. He found a movie on the TV. A war movie. He liked Tom Hanks. After this evening, explosions and machine gun fire would be calming.
One-thirty a.m. The doorbell and Mungo woke him. He didn’t understand where he was. There was no more candy and no more quarters. The time glowed red on the cable box. Some kind of zombie thing stumbled across the TV screen. The doorbell rang again. Mungo was going crazy. He shut the dog in Elizabeth’s sewing room. Where was that woman?
He switched the porch light on and looked through the peep hole in the front door – the 180-degree jumbo bronze security viewer he’d spent less than $20 on and more than two hours installing.
And there, on the brightly lit front porch stood two of the biggest cops he’d ever seen, one on either side of Elizabeth in a Santa suit.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Imagination -- short essay
earth-mind from
The mind is a wonderful thing. It invents everything – even things that can’t be. Or, at least things that the very same mind can’t make be.
I had a dream, a very strange dream.
Something happened to the earth. A cataclysm that shook and frightened my sleeping self. And my first clue that something big had happened was in the sky. The clouds swirled oddly. Into a sort of disc, white clouds with blue sky all around.
And a man rode a horse off the edge of the earth. And lived to tell the tale. (This was a dream, after all.) Then somehow I could see the earth from a distance and it was a series of discs with space between, stacked several high. Maybe five or six. I don’t know. I didn’t count them. I was asleep.
None of the discs was the interior of the earth, just the mantel. Quite pretty, actually – all shades of blue and brown and green.
Dreams are fine, sufficient within themselves. But this dream stayed with me as I was waking. And my waking mind immediately set out to discover how this dream could be real.
How could this possibly work? Gravity? How thick would each disc have to be to have enough gravity to stay that close together? To hold the atmosphere? Then there are questions about rotation, atmospheric circulation, distribution of solar heat to generate weather and those clouds that so conveniently formed a disc, too. Not to mention having enough soil to grow grass and trees and horses for men to ride off the edge.
Where are the physicists and cosmologists when you need them?
There’s the rub. Scientists use their imaginations to figure out how the universe works, not ways to make it work the way we imagine.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Dammit Jason -- flash fiction
image from
“Dammit Jason.”
“Honest Mom. I didn’t mean to kill her. She’d a killed me if I hadn’t done it.”
“Eighteen years old and you can’t handle your granny’s pig?”
“But she was gonna bite me. More’n bite me. She’d a killed me.”
“Dammit Jason. She’s a pig. Granny’s the one you’re gonna have to run from when she finds out you killed her pig.”
“That’s why I called you. I knew you’d know what to do.”
“You just be sure that blanket’s coverin’ up the floorboard. I swear the only danger my car’s ever been in has been you. You and your friends. Just two beers, my sweet Aunt Sassy. Smelled to high heaven for three weeks and now there’ll be blood all over.”
“But she ain’t bleedin’.”
“She ‘isn’t’ bleedin’.”
“I know, Mom. That’s what I just said.”
“Dammit, Jason. You said ‘ain’t.’”
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry.”
“You pick up her front part. I’ll get her back legs.”
“She’s still warm.”
“And why wouldn’t she be? I came right over didn’t I?”
“Mom! I think she moved.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Pick her up. She can’t bite you now. You just wait ‘til your father hears what you’ve done.”
“Do we have to tell him?”
“No, Jason. We don’t have to tell him anything. You have to tell him. Now get in the car.”
“Can I turn on the radio?”
“No, Jason. You can just sit there in the quiet and think about what you’ve done until we get out past the Simpson place.”
“We gonna dump her in the river?”
“No. We are not going to dump her in the river. I’d have nightmares for weeks thinking of that poor, dead, bloated pig driftin’ on down to the Gulf. Your Granny loved that pig.”
“Did you hear something?”
“No, Jason. I didn’t hear anything except your snufflin’.”
“I ain’t snufflin’. Isn’t. I’m not snufflin’.”
“We’ll dump her in that old irrigation ditch just this side of the levee.”
Mom, she’s movin’.”
“Jason, wishing and imagining isn’t going to make her alive again.”
Stop, Mom! We gotta get out. She’ll kill us both.”
“Dammit, Jason.”
Monday, October 20, 2014
Writing Emotion
Comedy/Tragedy from
The question is how best to represent emotion in literature. I have been charged with insufficiently communicating my characters’ emotions. My writing teacher and, even more so, my fellow writing students read bits and pieces of my work and invariably ask “but how does he feel?”
Here is a bit from Murder on Ceres. Rafe and Joe have just returned from witnessing a crash that killed all on board.
Joe stopped pacing. “Man, you lose power and you got nothin’. No floating, no sailing, no gliding. Without atmosphere, there’s no nothin’.”
Rafe closed his eyes, but that was no good. He could still see those flashes of light. He stood and went to the door. “We couldn’t see anything. But they’re gone. I have no doubt. They’re all gone.”
At the end of the scene each reacts to the horrifying incident in his own way.
Joe calls his ex-wife.
“Brenda? Hi, baby. You sleepin’? Yeah, yeah I know it’s late. I just thought, you know, maybe I could come by…” He bowed his head. “Yeah, of course. You’re right. No. No. I understand. Is Joey okay?” He stood and stretched, arching his back. “That’s good. Yeah, that’s good. No. I haven’t forgotten. I’ll pick him up Wednesday morning.” Joe let his hands drop to his sides.
A quick ten-count later, Joe keyed his mobile again. “Hi, Linnie. Yeah, I’m good. How are you?” Joe leaned back in his chair. “So, you free after work? Yeah. I’d like that. Meet you at your place in about an hour.”
Rafe deals with it differently.
“There is always light in the darkness. Manny Turrentine.” Rafe quoted to no one in particular A little longer and he’d be finished here. He’d go home and the whole place would be lit up like full sun, canaries singing, and his wife pregnant. He would wrap himself in her and this day would be far away.
Minutes passed as Rafe made his account of what he’d witnessed. More minutes than words should take. More minutes than the crash took that killed all on board.
To me, both men are displaying emotion. Not by ranting and raving and chewing the scenery, but by rigid self-control. They distance themselves from the death, each seeking reassurance by reconnecting with their own real, familiar lives.
I would like to write emotion. My characters are not shallow people, at least not in my head. They do have emotions. I admire what I consider 'restrained emotion.' That's what I want to write. Perhaps not quite so restrained as Cormack McCarthy.
My daughter, who knows me and my work, says I should take care not to be too subtle. She says I should read Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." That I'm more like him than I care to admit. And maybe that's not such a bad thing. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22261 | Sunday, July 11, 2010
Because Sunday night isn't complete sans Shatner
From the "reality check" department
Karoli's response to the Eric Altermans and Jane Hamshers. Worth reading.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
We're the ones we've been waiting for, and all that
Via Blue Wave News, Van Jones' speech at the Campus Progress National Conference, which rang true to this cautiously optimistic liberal. More from Mr. Jones, via HuffPo:
We are trying to build a pro-democracy movement in a country that, at least for eight years, was run by [inaudible] authoritarians. And it is not going to be easy. But I tell you, the most important thing I can say is... We feed the fearmongers. We feed the politics of division, by giving it so much attention and letting it fill up the space in our mind. We have to feed the hope. This country is an extraordinary -- I get choked up -- this is an incredible, beautiful country...
That little idiot box off in the corner trying to depress you and make you feel like this is a horrible country and everybody believes evil things about the president... it is just not true. Cut it off, just cut it off and walk down the street and talk to real people in this country. They are sophisticated. They are wise. They don't know exactly what to do but they are open to being engaged. That's the country we live in. and my hope about your generation is that you will take a lot of this chatter a lot less serious.
Next time a teabagger blithers about spending and deficits, won't some nice journalist ask if he supported Bush--and, if so, whether he did anything to speak up against Bush's spending?
But what about the angry stupid white vote?
Some Jan Brewer-type yahoos have come up with a brilliant idea: Deny citizenship to native-born children of illegal immigrants! Screw that 14th Amendment! Who needs it?
Jonathan Blanks has an even better idea.
As you may recall, beginning in 1860, millions of Americans renounced their citizenship and took up arms against their former country. Their deeds, through direct confrontation or diseases brought on by wartime conditions, ended up in the deaths of over 300,000 loyal Americans--100 times the number killed on September 11, 2001. By the logic outlined above, that treason should be recognized and all the descendants of those who took up arms, aided their traitorous comrades, or participated in the government of the insurrectionists should have their citizenship revoked as they are progeny of traitors. They owe their heretofore recognized citizenship to the birthright. That is, of course, unacceptable.
These descendants often still fly the flag of treason and commemorate their forebears' disloyalty in numerous ways. Thus, the combined legislation should include the confiscation and destruction of all property bearing the treasonous flag, including but not exclusive to real estate, monuments, clothing, transportation, and music--so we can once and for all rid the nation of "Freebird."
Blondie break!
Always loved this song and band. Remember "American Bandstand"?
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Terry Savage, Clueless Moron
Chicago money columnist Terry Savage has written the most unintentionally hilarious column of the year thus far.
First a question: What is up with these people named Savage? They think that just because they have a unique surname, they have to turn it into a lame-o brand or slogan. There is Dan Savage, of the Savage Love column. There's Michael Savage and his Savage Nation (which sounds better than Weiner Nation). And Terry Savage, for some reason, ends every single column of hers with "That's the Savage Truth." As if adding her surname makes it truer.
The Savage Truth, alas, is that she is one screwy individual. Okay. You could chalk it up to the heat, which makes people a bit crabby. But the incident I'm about to describe took place in what was presumably an air-conditioned car. So what's her excuse for getting mad at little girls?
See, Ms. Savage was riding along with her brother and his fiancee in a tony Chicago neighborhood. They came upon three girls who, with their nanny, were at a lemonade stand. Ms. Savage's happy fantasies of mini-capitalism were destroyed when the girls announced they were giving the lemonade away. Not selling it. No sir. Giving it away. These aren't little capitalists. They're--gasp!--philanthropists!
Earth to Terry. Ever heard of getting your parents' permission to do stuff?
Now, as I mentioned, this was a wealthy neighborhood. These little girls have a nanny. Which means their parents have plenty of money to spend on cups and candy and lemonade. Oh, and Terry? DUH.
Oh, but the fun continues.
Meanwhile, one of the little girls turned to her nanny and said, "Why is the mean lady yelling like this?" And the nanny explains that maybe the mean lady is visiting from one of those homes where people go when they can't take care of themselves very well.
At this point, the brother really should've told Terry to STFU. Instead, he took a strawberry lemonade from the kids and no doubt left Terry seething. See, for Terry Savage, this is a sign of a big, big problem: People want something for nothing. And, like a yoga master on uppers, she's twisted and contorted herself, trying to connect free lemonade to a larger point about there being no such thing as a free lunch.
Terry, Terry, Terry. Let me suggest something that you, in your "Capitalism, HO!" frenzy, didn't consider. The little girls may have been taught to be grateful for the things they have. They may actually have friends whose parents have lost their jobs and whose nice, well-kept homes were foreclosed. Their friends and neighbors may be really hot because they don't have money for air conditioning. So they decided to do something nice by giving their neighbors free lemonade to cool off.
It's called charity, Terry. I thought capitalists were big on charity. Since you're a money expert, you know that charity can be beneficial to rich people since they can write it off on their taxes. Or maybe rich people just want to share the wealth. No offense, Terry, but one of those girls could become the next Brooke Astor or Melinda Gates. I imagine years from now, their names will be emblazoned on plaques in libraries and parks and hospitals, and they'll chuckle over you, the mean, clueless lady who bawled them out for being nice.
Friday, July 02, 2010
This I firmly believe
Forget Bobby Jindal. Lindsey Graham is truly the GOP's answer to Kenneth the Page.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
No. Just NO.
Now, Fox Chicago suggests that Chicago get rid of its public libraries. As a librarian's daughter, I have a two-word response to this: Up yours.
(Via Badtux.)
Crybaby conservative alert!
Wingnuts are mad at Joe Biden for using the word "blitzkrieg." "Waaaaaaah! He's bein' mean an' comparin' us to Nazis!"
On that note, a music break.
Note: I interviewed Tommy Ramone once. Kewl dude. He now plays bluegrass and looks like a hippie. 'Tis true!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Prog blog time!
It's early 1970s German R&B/prog outfit Frumpy, fronted by the incredible Inga Rumpf. Ms. Rumpf has had a nice, long career as a band frontwoman and a solo artist but remains unknown, alas, in the US. Seriously, it's weird being one of six people in the US who've heard of her. Her more recent output is R&B rather than prog. And I love R&B, so...
Friday, June 18, 2010
Some perspective, please
Yes, President Obama isn't perfect. Yes, he should just close Gitmo already. Yes, it would be great if he'd act on his campaign promise of more transparency in government. But c'mon, people, he's not another George W. Bush. A quick comparison of their administrations will show this. Criticize the guy, sure, but let's not pretend it's still 2005, hear?
For those who can't stomach Final Placement and Brokencyde...'s William Shatner's interpretation of the Harry Chapin classic "Taxi." How did this clip go unnoticed for so long? |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22266 | Category Archives: Humor
Why English is so Hard to Learn
When Jill and I married two years ago, twin thirteen-year-old boys and a sixteen-year-old girl came with the package. All three are remarkably intelligent. Selena is now in her junior year at college with a high GPA in a Marine Biology major. Arthur and Robert are high school juniors, each with a high GPA in math-heavy, advance-placement-with college-credit classes. Recently, Arthur handed me the following essay (or is it a poem?), which is typical for how his mind works.
We’ll start with a book, its binding is blue, I can read it to you, but when were done reading, the blue book is read. Within this blue book, there are many words, 3 fours (4/fore/for), 3 twos (2/to/too), and 2 ones (1/won).
To site the book or have the book in sight. To see some blue seas, or see something to seize. You can say “I’ll go,” “I’m going,” but not “I goed.” You can see a hoarse horse and a coarse course, or even a boar that’s a bore, but a board will never be bored. “Is not” is “isn’t,” “was not” is “wasn’t,” but “will not” is “won’t,” not “willn’t.”
You can read and have readlead and have lead, or can breed and have bread, as well as have led or have bred. Another thing to add, a match cannot box, but a tin can. You can tune a piano, and you can tuna fish. You saw the saw, made a hole whole. 12 inches is a ruler, a ruler was Queen Elizabeth, while fish have fins, and the Finns fought the Russians, and to go fast is to be rushin’ around.
You can catch a drift, you can catch a cold, but neither are things you can hold. You can have a radish face or a turnip nose, while a cobbler mends soles, and a preacher mends souls, but a cobbler is neither a peach nor a stone. You can wait over here or get your weight over there.
To go past something is to have passed it, and you can sit up or sit down. To shut down is to stop working, to shut up is to stop talking, and you can open up, but not open down. It’s possible to weave a basket or to weave around.
The Wright brothers were right, and they could write with their right, and a fisher could fish for a fish at a fissure. An onomatopoeia is boing, but going is not goyng, but one could be going to make a sound like a Boeing. If you’re Finnish you’re a Finn, but if you’re English you’re not an Engl.
Your car is not their car, but you’re able to be over there. You can be alert or aghast, can applaud or be alone, but there are no such things as lertsghastspplauds, or lones, even though you can plod through the forest and get a loan from the bank. Tigers don’t tyg, vipers don’t vipe, adders don’t add, and a fork in the road is not a discarded utensil.
If the flower was lifted, then the rose rose. And on one dark, stormy night, the dark knight stormed the castle. If the “k” in knife is silent, why isn’t know pronounced “now”? When you die you don’t turn into an angle, and you cannot measure the angel of a triangle. You can leave the leaves on a tree, or shoot the shoots of bamboo.
You can eat a meat, but not eat a meet. You can be stonewalled, but not brickwalled. You can check out and check in, cross out but not cross in. After you shake you shook, after you take you took, but after you bake you did not book, and while you can cook and look, you cannot cake or lake. And what about the snake?
It’s entirely possible to have sensecents, and scents, as well as make sensecents, and scents. It is also possible to have sent, but not make sent. You can have time and have thyme, you can rime and rhyme. There are puffins, but not puffouts, penguins, but not penguouts, and football is played with your hands.
If “sleep” is to “slept” and “creep” is to “crept,” wouldn’t “peep” be to “pept”? A freshman may be a kid, not a man, and as one strawberry said to the other, “If you weren’t so fresh, we wouldn’t be in this jam!” |
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Ranjit and Vikram were good friends. But things took a nasty turn when the taps went dry.
Ranjit and Vikram’s friendship had remained strong for ten years. They lived in adjacent huts and went to the same school. One evening Ranjit was up on a tree getting his torn kite, when he spotted the water tanker. He climbed down and ran to his hut as fast as he could. He wanted to be the first in the queue for water. Their neighbourhood received drinking water in the tanker only once in a few days.
It was Ranjit’s duty to fill water when the water tanker arrived in the street. He had grabbed his pots and was about to call Vikram, when he spotted a puppy outside his door.
He petted the puppy and ran outside the ration shop where the water tanker usually stood.
The puppy followed him. Ranjit got so busy playing with the scampering puppy that he forgot all about Vikram. By the time he thought of calling Vikram, the water tanker had arrived and a huge queue had snaked behind him. Now, he couldn’t leave his spot in the queue.
A little diversion
By the time Vikram arrived, the queue was extremely long. Ranjit filled his pots, the puppy trotting after him.
“Why didn’t you call me when the water tanker arrived?” asked Vikram.
“I saw the puppy and forgot.”
The tanker honked and made a hasty exit. Vikram scowled and asked Ranjit “Have I ever gone to fill water without you? How could you?”
“I didn’t mean to…” said Ranjit.
Things became worse when Vikram got home with the empty pots. His grandmother screamed, “Lazy boy! Where were you when the water tanker came? You cause me so much trouble. Now I have to go looking for water.”
From the window of his hut, Ranjit could see Vikram sobbing. When Vikram’s grandmother came out of the hut with the empty pot, Ranjit went to offer his water pot to Vikram.
“Psst…” he whispered. “You can take a pot of water from me.”
“I don’t want anything from you,” cried Vikram.
Ranjit went back home with a heavy heart. His parents had not returned from work. They were labourers at a nearby construction site. He was repairing his kite, when he heard music from the nearby street.
He rushed outside and called Vikram. “Go away!” screamed Vikram. “You are not my friend any more.”
Ranjit ran towards the source of music. A wedding procession was passing through the next street. Musicians in gaudy yellow turbans played instruments while a group of brightly dressed men and women danced merrily.
Ranjit watched in awe as colourful fireworks raced towards the sky. He remembered his pending holiday homework and got back home. Outside his hut he sniffed the air and looked around. The firecrackers were still lighting up the sky. He noticed a spark on Vikram’s thatched roof.
“Fire!” he shouted and entered Vikram’s house, and found him fast asleep. He woke Vikram and dragged him out of the hut.
“There is no water in the house. How do I douse the fire?” mumbled Vikram, rubbing his eyes when he saw the roof on fire. He grabbed fistfuls of mud and started throwing it on the roof.
Ranjit went to his hut and brought out his pot of water and two mugs. Both of them took turns in filling the mugs and throwing it over the roof. The roof sizzled and hissed asking for more water. Ranjit brought another pot of water from his hut. People from the neighbourhood came running. Slowly, the fire died out though the smell of the burnt roof still lingered in the air.
Vikram’s grandmother returned home came back just then with a pot of water. She planted a kiss on his forehead. “Oh, my brave boy! You saved our hut!”
Then she saw the empty pots near Ranjit. “What will you tell your parents about the empty pots? The water tanker will come only after three days.”
Ranjit heard someone call him. It was his mother. “Are you all right?,” she asked. Ranjit told her everything that had happened. “You did the right thing,” she said, patting his head.
A group of women walked towards them. Some of them were holding water bottles, some a small vessel and they filled up the empty pot.
“We can’t give you a pot of water, but we can definitely spare a few glasses,” she said.
Ranjit’s act of bravery spread through the neighbourhood and more people came by with water. His pot was soon filled to the brim.
“I am sorry. Will you be my friend again?” asked Vikram.
“I will always be your friend,” said Ranjit.
Source: Read Full Article |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22277 | Interview Translation
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0 A.D. Open Source Release
0 A.D.
Published: 10 July 2009
English 简体中文 Español Português Português Русский Français Deutsch Türkçe Polski Español de Chile Česky עברית Galego
Swamp Defense screenshot
What is 0 A.D.?
What are you doing?
0 A.D. is a very complex and ambitious project. A lot of work has been put into it, but a lot remains to be done. We're not releasing a playable game – you'll have to wait until much later if that's what you're interested in. There are plenty of major missing features and bugs and rough edges. We're releasing this as a work-in-progress, pre-alpha project, aimed at developers who might be interested in this kind of thing, in the hope of sharing resources with a community that would otherwise be excluded from our development process.
This is an experimental step and we don't quite know what's going to work best, so we're going to move carefully and try to adapt based on experience. This document describes our current plans; feedback will be appreciated! Contact us on our forums, or #0ad on QuakeNet IRC.
Discovery screenshot
Why should I care?
We think there's a good chance we can produce a pretty decent game with some unique features. Maybe you want to help that game come into existence.
Maybe you want to learn from the experience of working on a complex software project, or particularly on a game. There's a wide range of areas involved: graphics and audio, AI and UI, file handling and gameplay scripting and networking and so on. The basic framework is all in place, and some of it is already very solid, but there's a lot of scope for diving into the details and working on various components.
Maybe you want to make the game work better on your favourite platform. Maybe you want to show us how stupid we are and how you can write code that's much better. (We're far from perfect!)
Maybe you want to use parts of our code or art in your own project. Maybe you want to use our game for teaching a practical game development class. And maybe you have other reasons.
Gaugamela screenshot
Why are you doing this?
We've been working on this game in some form or another since 2001. We've come a long way since then, but making this kind of game is really quite hard. The original team members were largely students, and have now moved on in life and can't devote much time to the project. Attracting new developers is difficult and time-consuming – few people have the time and skill to learn how to work within our existing code and to make significant contributions. So we want to lower the barriers to entry, making it easy for people to check out our project and see if it interests them, in the hope that some will decide it does.
Also, we have some ideas and tools and code that we think are quite nice and would like to share. We ought to clean them up and document them properly so they're more useful to other people, but making the code available is the first step. And, particularly on Linux, open source simplifies a number of issues with distribution and debugging, so it makes things easier for us and for users.
Up until now, access to the project has been limited to 'official' members of our group, though the intent has always been to produce a non-commercial game and membership has always been quite open. The concept of open source simply wasn't considered interesting a couple of years ago, but times have changed and it now seems the natural way to develop our project.
Magna Graecia screenshot
How is the development going to be organised?
In opening this project, we need to respect the community by providing as much information and communication and support as possible, so you can benefit from participating in the project (hopefully contributing back and benefiting us, of course!), balanced with our desire to get the game completed to a high standard and with some constraints from our past organisation.
In the past, all developers have been part of the official 'team': anyone can apply to join, we'll have a short interview over IRC to get to know them, and if it seems they have the time and energy and skill to contribute usefully then they're made a member. We're going to keep the core group of developers and the private communication methods – we don't want to risk destroying the team we've already got. We're going to keep aiming towards a particular design vision, and we don't want to diverge much from that – we'd rather not add (and have to maintain) features that aren't part of that goal. We're releasing the art and gameplay data for two of the game's six civilisations, but holding back the work-in-progress civs until they are more complete and usable.
Apart from those restrictions, we're opening access to the source control server (Subversion), and the documentation and issue-tracking system (Trac), and moving our technical discussions to an open forum. Anyone can download, build and run the latest version of the game. Our initial process for contributions will be very basic: If you make some changes, you should create a patch and submit it to us, and we should then review it and maybe suggest some changes or commit it to SVN.
Licensing of contributions is an open question. On one hand, accepting GPL code would guarantee to contributors that we're not going to unfairly use their work. On the other hand we'd like to keep our options open by only accepting BSD-licensed code, perhaps to produce a special version linked with proprietary cheat-detection software to discourage multiplayer map hacks that would be trivial to add to an open-source game, or to link with proprietary digital distribution systems to get more widespread distribution. The ideal solution is not clear, so we'd be interested in discussion of this issue.
Savanna Biome screenshot
What is the code like?
There's roughly 150K lines of C++ for the game engine, and another 25K for editing tools. Gameplay scripting uses JavaScript. We build on top of low-level libraries (OpenGL, OpenAL, ENet, ...), not an existing game engine (like OGRE).
The code isn't all extremely clean or extremely modular or extremely well-written. It's been written by a wide variety of programmers, and it's far from a "completed" codebase. We want to continue cleaning things up as part of the normal development process. We're not averse to rewriting entire subsystems if that's the most effective way to make them satisfy our requirements. But in many areas it's quite solid.
What reusable code is there?
Most of our code is specific to the game and not very useful outside it, but some parts could perhaps be interesting for developers working on other projects. Some examples:
• Low-level library providing cross-platform support for resource management (archive file loading, GL textures and shaders, ...), debugging tools (error reporting, memory tracking, stack dumps), timers, asynchronous IO, allocators, ...
• Converter from COLLADA models with skeletal animation into a simple game-friendly format.
• Binary XML caching system, for faster resource loading.
• Automated build tools using Amazon EC2.
• Boring maths code for matrices, vectors, quaternions, etc.
How does this compare to other games?
We are aware of several other open-source RTS games. Glest has reached 'stable' status and is set in a medieval/fantasy world, with less complex gameplay and graphics but with AI opponents (which are not yet implemented in 0 A.D.). ORTS is a framework emphasizing AI research more than a playable game. Spring is another RTS engine that appears designed for gameplay similar to Total Annihilation. 0 A.D. is striving to differentiate itself by providing new gameplay ideas, detailed graphics and an an accurate historical setting.
How can I get started?
Subpages (25): View All |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22322 | DarkRadiant - Compilation Guide
From The DarkMod Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
DarkRadiant's codebase is open source, the main part of the source code is hosted on github. To compile the sources you can either use
• Windows: Visual Studio 2017 Community Edition (higher editions also possible: Professional, Ultimate, ...)
• Linux: gcc/g++ (Automake)
• Mac OS X: Automake (after installing XCode and using MacPorts)
All compilers can be acquired for free and should be able to produce 32 Bit and 64 Bit builds. In any case, since DarkRadiant is using part of the C++11 feature set, a compiler supporting the C++11 standard is required.
Compilation Guides
There are separate articles for Windows and Linux, select one to learn more:
Note: The articles are always referring to the latest revision of the source code, not to a specific release. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22342 | Thursday, November 11, 2010
Writing Web Pages for a Client That You Can’t Test
Every time I get a C# exception on my ASP.NET web site running in Windows Azure, I have my web site code send me an email; this email includes the call stack, path information, and user agent string. I can use these email to find the problems with the code that caused the error. For a long time I have been ignoring the email (about 50 a day) and letting them stack up – being too busy with other projects. Lately, I have resolved to clean up all the code, so that I get less email and reduce the bugs in the web site. I thought this would lead to a better user experience for people visiting the site.
My typical process is to read the call stack, look at the path information and try to reproduce the issue to gain insight into how I have to fix it. Basically, a debugging process that I have in my toolkit no matter what the environment I am programming.
To get started I make sure that I am running the same browser that the user was using, be that Firefox, Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. I am limited in the number of browsers I can test, since I don’t have a full test lab, however just before deploying new code changes I test all the browsers I have to make sure the CSS renders the same and the JavaScript works across the board, and it all calls my server side code correctly.
As I worked through my stack of emails I started to notice an emerging trend – it was not my users that were having problems with my web pages it was the robots. Robots, Bots, or web crawlers are mainly search engine programs that traverse your web site and glean information to build results for searches on their sites.
The interesting thing about bots is that they don’t ever work as well as the browsers. Or it would appear, because I built my web site for browsers not bots – which means that the web site works best for users. The difference in thinking is that the bots aren’t working wrong; they are just not first class citizens on the web site because I coded the site for browsers. Think of it as a car that is built for adults, tested for adults that a child tries to drive. It sort of works, however it is hard to reach the car peddles and see over the dashboard at the same time if you are a kid. The same goes for the bots, they are trying to consume something that was tested for browsers.
The simple approach would be to ignore the errors from the bots, since they are not my target audience. In fact, I can restrict the bots from the web site altogether with a robots.txt file. However, my intent is to make a better user experience for my users – so does fixing the errors for the bots create a better user experience for people that are really human? The answer is yes – if the web crawlers can find the content on my site (without getting errors first) they can drive traffic to the site. This traffic driven from the search engines is real traffic from humans.
Now that I know I want to fix the errors from the bots, let’s take a look at my debugging technique. Key to process is simulating the environment by using the appropriate web browser; the client that made the request that caused the error. However, I have no access to the web crawlers (the client for the bots) and cannot simulate a request from that client. In fact I am not even sure how they handle the response (the outputted HTML), because a lot of how the web crawlers work is kept a secret; the interactions with the site are intellectual proprietary technology. All I have to go on is the HTTP standard, which dictates how the requests are made and some speculation about how the search engines works which falls within the black arts of Search Engine Optimization.
This leaves me in this limbo land of fixing the suspected bug without being able to reproduce. I have to deploying the fix live to see if it solves the web crawler’s problem all without breaking the human experience via the browsers. Sounds like it isn’t worth the effort right? No true, 97% of my human traffic comes from the search engines. So maybe I should be writing my web site for the bots.
1 comment:
1. ELMAH is your friend. :) |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22351 | JSON Is The New Data Transfer Object (DTO)
The JSON processing API comes with Java EE 7 and is already integrated with JAX-RS. JsonObject and JsonArray are serialized and deserialized by the JAX-RS runtime without any additional effort.
JsonObject is a Map<String, JsonValue> and so a generic and dynamic DTO.
Because the entities know their state and also have access to private data, the JSON-mapping happens directly within the domain objects:
public class Workshop {
private String name;
private int duration;
public Workshop(String name, int duration) {
this.name = name;
this.duration = duration;
public Workshop(JsonObject input) {
this.name = input.getString("name");
this.duration = input.
public JsonObject toJson() {
return Json.createObjectBuilder().
add("name", this.name).
add("duration", this.duration).
Now the JAX-RS resource class only has to invoke the entities method to map from and to the JsonObject representation:
public class WorkshopsResource {
RegistrationStore store;
public JsonArray all() {
JsonArrayBuilder list = Json.createArrayBuilder();
List<Workshop> all = this.store.all();
return list.build();
public void save(JsonObject input) {
this.store.save(new Workshop(input));
See you at Java EE Microservices. Is Munich's airport too far? Learn from home: javaeemicro.services.
airhacks.fm the podcast:
Stay in touch: airhacks.news.
Hi Adam,
This is a nice, neat solution for using JSON in Java EE 7 and I am very much a fan of your "no libraries" ethos however in this case wouldn't it be worth it to use one of the many popular, stable JSON binding frameworks? For example jackson or Gson?
Of course, JSON-B will solve this problem in Java EE 8 but until then isn't a JSON binding library the one dependency that is probably worth breaking the rule for?
Posted by Daniel Banks on February 06, 2017 at 09:30 AM CET #
That is good. How about serializing/deserializing date types?
Posted by Nazir Bunu on February 06, 2017 at 04:30 PM CET #
Hi Adam,
I like the "DTOless" approach, but I never found how I could reconcile this pattern with tools like Swagger.
Any ideas?
Posted by Mathieu Lachance on February 07, 2017 at 03:18 PM CET #
Hey Adam,
This example seems to be very trivial.
How can I conveniently map more complex object, like typical business objects, (containing other objects) with the use of your no-library approach? I'm craving for seeing your reply.
Posted by Mariusz on May 24, 2018 at 12:49 PM CEST #
Hey Mariusz,
your question regarding mapping objects without libraries was discussed 53rd airhackts.tv:
Posted by Adam Bien on September 03, 2018 at 07:28 AM CEST #
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22404 | Posts Tagged ‘net6flix’
postheadericon netfli8x
Top Five Reasons That Make Netflix Popular
With over 36 million subscribers in the United States alone and nearly 50 million worldwide users in 40 different countries, Netflix can be regarded as an extremely popular service by any standard.
But what makes Netflix so irresistible and addictive in the first place? We think the following five things:
1. Great offerings for children
Netflix has a huge number of shows targeted at children in its online library. Because of that, parents often take advantage of it by making their children watch Netflix, instead of regular TV, when they are busy doing something else. Since Netflix enables parents to strictly control the viewing experience of their children, they need not worry about the children being exposed to some objectionable advertisement or content.
2. Convenience of use
Netflix is super easy to use. There is no need to leave the house even for a second in order to enjoy the service. All one has to do is click and click some more. The streaming rates are very fast, and the service offers a lot of features that make things a breeze. Besides, Netflix can be enjoyed anywhere and everywhere, and in almost any device – a laptop, a mobile, a gaming console, and many more.
3. Exclusive content on display
Many TV shows are only available to watch through Netflix. That is one of the top reasons why Netflix is so popular. House of Cards and Breaking Bad are just two examples of popular Netflix-only TV shows. There are many others like that.
4. High affordability
Netflix is one of the cheapest services of its kind. A user can subscribe to the service once and watch whatever he or she wants to watch limitlessly. In addition to that, users are not forced to pay any kind of late fees or penalty.
5. Sports streaming
One of the largest groups of Netflix users relies on the service for streaming sports only. Netflix makes watching sports fun, easy and convenient, and that further enhances its appeal to its users, especially the young ones aged between 18 and 24.
Despite not being a traditional cable network, Netflix is insanely popular. Once you take a look at the above reasons, it is not hard to understand why. The reasons given above are the top ones that make Netflix popular. Note that, in addition to the above reasons, there are a number of other reasons that drive Netflix to popularity. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22429 | Rendering Tutorials Archive
21 “must see” Mental Ray tutorials
Although I am not a mental ray user, I realize that it is a very powerful rendering engine and it is being used by a lot of readers. Therefore, I have compiled a list of 21 mental ray tutorials that I think worth a look. Some of them are new, some of them are old, but still there is a lot too learn from them.
1) How to use mental ray ambient occlusion as a separate pass.
Continue reading
15 Essential Vray Tutorials
Here is a list of 15 vray tutorials that I think everybody should read. It covers everything from materials and shaders to illumination and rendering settings.
(And yes, I have included 3 of mine tutorials in the list :) )
1) Critical vray settings
Without any doubt, this should be the first one on the list. It’s an in-depth analysis of all the critical vray settings that affect your scene one way or the other. It covers topics like irradiance map settings, image sampler, lightcache settings and more.
2) How to create incredibly realistic grass
Although you will need a really powerful workstation in order to use the technique shown in this tutorial (especially if you have large areas of grass in your scene), the results are truly amazing.
3) How to create a lampshade material
A tutorial that explains how to use the vray2sided material in order to obtain materials like lampshades, curtains, etc.
4) How to setup a sky scrapper rendering
This is a very interesting tutorial that shows you a very unconventional way to setup a rendering of a skyscraper at night.
5) Night exterior illumination
A tutorial that explains, in a systematic way, how to setup the illumination for a night time rendering of a small villa.
6) Daytime exterior lighting
A tutorial that reveals a method to light an exterior scene in vray, using image based lighting.
7) How to render an architectural scene with hdri
A classic way to light an architectural rendering using hdri
8) Night interior rendering tutorial
An interior rendering tutorial that explains how to setup a night illumination rig with vray
9) How to render realistic snow with vray displacement
10) How to setup and render convincing materials like chrome, silver, stone and glass
11) How to use hdr images (hdri) in vray
A tutorial that takes you through all the necessary steps to use hdr images in your scenes
12) How to render a liquid in a glass
Rendering a liquid in a glass can prove to be problematic. If you model it like in real life, the polygons located at the interior of the glass will be microscopically close to the geometry of the liquid, which can result in coplanar faces and therefore, artifacts when rendering.
Checkout this tutorial to see how you can avoid all that trouble.
13) Gamma 2.2 or Linear Workflow (LWF)
A very well documented tutorial that talks about every aspect of working with gamma set at 2.2
When this concept was introduced for the first time, it generated a lot of buzz. Most people couldn’t get it to work right and their resulting renderings had either the colors or textures washed out. This type of workflow is a bit different than the traditional way, so if you miss a step you get unexpected results.
Fortunately, this tutorial explains each and every step very clearly and it also sheds some light on the theory behind the concept of linear workflow.
14) Vray studio lighting tutorial
A comprehensive tutorial that explains how to create a studio lighting in rig in vray.
This is especially helpful for art directors or furniture designers.
15) How to create various reflective shaders and caustics
If you know more vray tutorials that you think I should add to the list, feel free to post a comment with links to them.
How incorrect geometry can affect the lighting of a 3d scene
A little introduction
After having written the latest tutorial on linear workflow, I have received an email from Jackie (a frequent reader of this blog), who claimed that he had followed the instructions shown in that tutorial, but still ended up with washed out renderings.
After having seen the rendering that he had attached to that email, I suspected that he had missed one or more steps.
So I asked him to send over the scene, and promised to do a case study which initially I thought it would be something like “be sure not forget to…. when using lwf”.
It turned out I was wrong; Jackie had followed every step of the tutorial, but still ended up with a rendering that was lacking contrast a bit.
What was the problem then?
Take a look at the following 2 renderings: (click to view a higher res version)
Would you believe that those are rendered with the same lighting and rendering settings?
Actually they are. The only thing that is not the same is the geometry.
I realize it may sound strange, but the way you model your scene may have a very big impact on the lighting.
Take a look at the following renderings:
As you can see, the way the geometry is modeled, environment lighting is getting into the scene through all the wrong places. There is no wall behind the camera, the ceiling is only modeled where it is visible in the camera viewport, etc, etc.
Also, because of this, the lighting cast by the “light emitters” bounces out of the scene in an unnatural way, and all this will only result in a rendering that lacks contrast.
Bellow are a few images that illustrate a few changes made to that scene.
As you can see, the walls are modeled even where they are not visible in the view. The only thing that I left out (on purpose) is the area above the staircase (where there is actually a vray light that simulates a diffuse lighting source that is not directly visible)
Although this may not seem like a regular “3d lighting tutorial”, looking at the differences between the 2 scenarios, made me believe that this can be even more valuable than a “step by step approach to interior lighting with vray”.
Most of the times details like this are overlooked in regular tutorials. I am absolutely positive that I wouldn’t have thought to write about something like this if Jackie hadn’t mailed me the scene.
The conclusion that we can all draw from this is that no matter what rendering engine you use, be it Maxwell, vray, brazil, fryrender, mental ray, it can not calculate correctly the lighting of your scene if the geometry is somewhat incomplete or incorrect (doesn’t matter if the rendering engine is physically accurate or if it uses a biased solution).
Note: In order to make this tutorial more clear and simple, I have modified a little the scene that Jackie had initially sent me. His scene was a little bit more complete, but still the effect was visible so I had to make it even more visible, just for the purpose of this tutorial. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22439 | XML Sitemap
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22447 | At the forefront of new technology
CMP 3D printing offers customers the experience of producing innovative, economical components in minutes, at the fraction of the price. As an early adopter of the technology, both in marketing and application, CMP developed an entire department dedicated to 3D printing, titled 3D Plastics back in 2013.
3D plastics, which has now come back under the CMP group of companies, has R&D departments both in Melbourne, Australia and in Makati, Philippines, and is a fully functional 3D printing lab, providing rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing.
Contact us below with your requirements.
Drop us a line |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22454 | Renshi Tim Jimmieson
Renshi Tim Jimmieson Began Training in the Bob Jones Corporation in the early 1980's and through his work commments had the oportunity to live all over Australia and train with some very reputable teachers including at the Hart familys first dojo in Deniliquin in NSW. He had success with several kickboxing fights whilst living in Perth and is now firmly settled on the Peninsula. His specialties include teaching all of our childrens classes including Combat Karate, Boxing and Kickboxing (he is very patient). He is also Sensei Lindsay Harts' most senior assistant instructor.
Combat Academy Logo
Combat Academy
Why do we do it?
Click here to read more. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22464 | Curiosity is Child's Play
posted Nov 7, 2010, 8:53 PM by Maryanne Arthur [ updated Mar 21, 2011, 8:07 AM ]
"It's never too late in life to foster curiosity, even in the midst of the most mundane tasks," says George Mason University psychologist Todd Kashdan. In fact, Kashdan thinks people can spark their curiosity by learning from the way a small child can be transfixed by a sponge or play happily with a stick for an hour. A child's sense of wonder and delight over the ordinary is instructive.
Take time to observe a small child as she makes an entire 'meal' with salt dough, or envisions an imaginary castle world for battles. Even better -- spray a handful of shaving cream on a desk and let your child explore the texture, smell, mobility and more. Give yourself a foamy glob and sense the possibilities. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22472 | Featured Guest: Alexi Wasser
Photo from FADER
Hello Pussycats,
Today's featured Guest is none other than my favorite blogger of about all time, Alexi Wasser, aka Imboycrazy.com. I've featured here before click HERE, so I just thought I'd compile my favorite excerpts from her famous segment, The Blind Leading the Blind.
1. always have a sexy bathing suit and a FAMILY APPROPRIATE bathing suit on hand.
3. eye fucking isn’t cheating… is it?
4. in a perfect world, the guy you’re sleeping with is the same as the guy youlike.
6. Drink coffee or don’t drink coffee, but don’t drink decaf coffee. fuck you!
8. stop fronting so hard! it’s embarrassing. WAY more embarrassing than NOT fronting!
10. texting with someone every day is not the same as talking to them everyday. talking to them everyday means telephone calls. Don’t let the future & technology ruin the intricacies and romantic aspects of our culture and take away intimacy.
11. please don’t pick out the crust of your eye and then roll it off the tips of your fingers while you’re in public and talking to someone. it’s fucking disgusting. or at least don’t do it around ME. i always have this horrible fear that YOUR eye crust is gonna end up in MY mouth!
12. If you’re not ready for marriage- just use the “I’m not getting married until everyone’s allowed to get married.” marriage equality excuse. It makes you seem like a good person, even though you’re not. (oh whoops- i just read the newspaper.)
13. If it doesn’t look good on the MODEL, it sure as hell won’t look good on you.
14. Girls: next time you pull up next to another girl picking at her face in the car next to you: honk, yell, knock on the glass, and do whatever it takes to get her attention and snap her out of her self sabotaging skin picking trance! We are women! We MUST stick together.
15. If you see a girl with toilet paper stuck to her shoe or blood seeping through the back of her pants, you MUST tell her in a sly, subtle way that doesn’t get the attention of anyone but the lame loser it’s happening to.
16. Girls: working out together and then binge eating at a self-congratulatory/celebratory brunch afterwards negates the ENTIRE workout! This is why I don’t believe in exercise OR friends!
17. Dudes, if any part of you wants to woo me, date me, kiss me, sexxx me, or love me (or ANY girl for that matter)… can you please NOT talk about your ex girlfriend(s)? I want to pretend, for at least a moment in time, that romance still exists and that we are in a bubble where only you, me, and possibility exist. Is that ok?
18. REAL friends don’t let you ask for a ‘to go’ box!
19. Always be in the bathtub. Metaphorically speaking. #stateofmind #wayoflife
20. patchouli is never ok!
Those are my favorites but I most certainly recommend you check out her blog and tune into her radio segment on wednesdays.
She is so cute and she makes videos and yes. Do it.
Have a great saturday
and please keep it sassy
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22478 | XML Sitemap
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22483 | Thursday, August 30, 2012
The Sun Is A Vampire
This thought occurred to me earlier this week whilst I was pedaling along on my bike, feeling my skin shrink beneath the sun's yellow gaze. It was afternoon, above 105 but less than 110, sunny, and while I was still sort of getting used to riding after taking the summer off. And the sun was stealing my energy from me. It shot out at me, forced its presence on me, dried out my skin and made me sweat, then sucked up that sweat as soon as it formed. I kept pedaling because that's how the world works; but I grew more and more tired, feeling as if I was pedaling against the sun itself.
It's in that act of stealing from me that I happened upon it: "the sun is a vampire." As any will know who have studied a bit of literature, vampirism (which is quite frequently a part of Gothic novels/stories, as in of course Edgar Allan Poe) doesn't have to include supernatural figures that go under the name of vampires. It can simply be that act of taking something, like a person's energy or life force, from someone else. It's sort of like a person simultaneously weighing someone down and using him.
That's what the sun did to me. And my comparison I find makes sense on another level: in the seduction. I've often found an almost sensuous quality to the sun (please don't think I'm too weird for saying that: it's just a literary/poetical thing), just as there is that aspect to vampires/vampirism. And, of course, the sun is synonymous with heat, so there you go. The sun is a vampire.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The 10th Kingdom
It isn't that I need everything to be brilliant, stellar, and perfect. It's just that I like a little more depth when one story interacts with others stories. So while there appears to be a dedicated fan base for the 2000 miniseries The 10th Kingdom, I can't quite put myself in their midst.
Most people seem to agree that the five part series starts a bit slow; I in fact didn't even feel like watching the first episode through to the end. But it does get better as you keep moving along, finishing off with a satisfying happy ending.
What continues to confuse me is the intro sequence: it has very little to do with the actual plot of the series. It applies constant moving back and forth between New York/our world and the fairy tale dimension and some sort of mirroring between the two places. In fact, there is very little moving through worlds (especially after the beginning), and we never got the implication I was expecting that New York was somehow part of these fairy tale kingdoms. But you could call this a minor detail.
What most bothers me is the surface-level of most of the plot and theme elements. Perhaps I've just been watching too many Nick Willing productions, but the interaction with fairy tales here just didn't seem enough. Snow White is the story most alluded to, but most of the allusions to it and other stories are blatant, not appearing as carefully thought out. Virginia randomly is cursed so that her hair keeps growing and growing--okay, we can all recognize Rapunzel in that, but where's the art in that recognition? The themes of "be careful what you wish for" and "be careful who you trust" are definitely brought in throughout the series, but fairy tales offer more than that--they're not actually simplistic: they're very symbolic. A little more symbolism would have lifted this series higher in my mind.
As it was, I came to enjoy watching as a light diversion, but my interest ends there.
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Return of Hilly Potter
The return of Hilly Potter is welcome indeed.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Flyleaf's "New Horizons"
I often can't quite describe what it is I like about Flyleaf: it's their tone that I like, and I can't further define it.
So while their new single has some people commenting about their new, slightly more pop sound, I can't say I would have made as much of an issue out of it without hearing this commentary. "New Horizons," whatever slight musical differences to previous works it may have, is still consistent with the Flyleaf repertoire. The song won me over about as soon as I pressed "play."
It may be that some of the lyrics speak exactly to what I was lightly complaining/worrying about yesterday. "New Horizons" speaks to worry, stress, desperation, and the need to look forward to something greater and to still choose to continue along the path you know is right. It's about temporality and eternity; accepting and deciding.
One question: does this mean there is a third album coming out soon? I remember when Memento Mori came out when I was just a college freshman . . .
Thursday, August 23, 2012
On Returning to Classes
Today was the first day back at school for what I expect to be my last year.
It's strange, really. On one side, it felt nice to be back in the same familiar place, surrounded by so many bright and intelligent people. But it's also daunting: walking here and there, my mind calls up images of due dates and deadlines. In a phrase, stress starts walking in my steps across the school.
Stress about the immediate: turning in those forms, updating such and such online, ordering my last batch of books, starting in on reading and other assignments. Stress about the longer term: organizing the work for my honors thesis, setting up other honors credits, planning out what classes I need to take next semester. Even longer term: if I graduate in May, that's really only a few months away--what do I do then? Am I sure I don't want to go to graduate school? What direction do I want to go in job-wise?
At least I had my nice bike ride back home to distract my body from my mind.
(Last note: I have no idea if senior year busyness will mean I won't be able to keep up the rate of posting I have had this summer. It may be harder to find the time to post, but I also find that classes help me think of topics to write about. So we'll see; I promise at least not to disappear entirely.)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Spring, Er, Late Summer Cleaning
It may be that Spring is the time for cleaning, but apparently I never got that memo.
It's just that this right now is the time of year that makes most logical sense for me to do a deep clean, due to various factors. The floors have been scrubbed, swept, vacuumed, and all closets sifted through. It was mainly my room and desk area that I focused on today, not so much in cleaning but organizing. Over time, one comes to realize one does not need certain things one has stashed away--and one must force oneself to throw them out.
I also came to realize (or re-realize, as the case may be) that I keep many boxes, piles of scrap paper I wouldn't be able to get through in a year even if I doodled all day (and I rarely doodle), and books galore. You see, I've also been doing a bit of redecorating, in which I have been spreading my books all around the apartment. There are books filling the entire bottom section of the sideboard in the living room, books filling the two bottom shelves of a painted metal shelf in the hall, books standing in two corners of the living room, books under my desk, and six and a half stacks of books beside my desk.
Why so many books? Why? Am I just insane? But while another person might like to collect dangly bracelets or china figurines, I find that books look irresistible hanging around my dwelling. And you know something else? I think I have finally achieved my post-reading-only-classics-and-historical-fiction-days goal of having a varied book collection. True, there aren't too many modern mysteries or thrillers, but I still have Tolkien, the Brontes, Kaleb Nation, Stephenie Meyer, Sir Walter Scott, J.K. Rowling, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Laura Wiess, Gayle Forman, Wilkie Collins, Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, Liz Curtis Higgs, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and dozens more.
Now excuse me while I go on Amazon and add a couple of titles to my Wish List.
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Adventures of Connor & Abby: Part 8
Among Connor's eccentricities is his perfect willingness and comfort to ride a skateboard around in the ARC in Season 2. You all remember, of course, when he skateboarded over to check on the anomaly detector?
It may be alright for one person to bring a skateboard into the building, but what if it didn't end there? What if Abby also decided to bring in a scooter?
Or what if Jenny Lewis biked into the building? No, it would never work if everyone acted like Connor. The poor ARC couldn't handle it.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Blondfire's "Waves" Flows Across My Heart
I've been so proud of my indie band of choice, Blondfire, lately. Their two new singles, "Where the Kids Are" and "Walking With Giants," have been getting a good amount of attention. And yesterday came the big announcement that the brother/sister duo have signed with Warner Brothers Records for their next album, which will be titled Young Hearts--you can read more at Rolling Stone. Also at that link, you can listen to the latest single (which, unfortunately, isn't available to buy yet), "Waves."
"Waves" fits in perfectly with the other two new songs. It's very sleek, but still melodic; light and flowy, yet still hinting at depths--which for me means that I can listen casually or also apply further meaning. Erica's vocals are lovely as ever. The song reminds me a bit of "Into the Sea" (one of my favorites of theirs) and "My Someday," the title song of their full length album. But why must I wait until 2013 to get the full Young Hearts album? (I'm not complaining bitterly--I'll wait, but I'll also be quick to hit that pre-order button.)
What was surprising was to hear that Bruce and Erica had signed with a label: I know they had some bad experience with a label in their early days, hence the indieness of Blondfire. Going into a major label can mess with the sound of some bands, but I'm trusting their judgement here: since they had a bad experience before, I think they would make sure the process wasn't going to repeat before signing on again somewhere. And "Waves" is going to be part of the new Warner Brothers album, and it doesn't sound "tampered."
The thing I'm hoping will come out of all this is a tour that brings Blondfire to Arizona. In the meantime, go look them up on iTunes: besides My Someday and the two new singles, you can also get their iTunes Live Session EP, their Holiday EP, and their Don't Whisper Lies EP (which is under their previous name, Astaire).
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
In Appreciation Of: Invisible Man
This is the first in what I intend to be a series of posts, spread out over time, that cover books I have read in college that have been very noteworthy but that I had either never heard of or never seen under the label of noteworthy/literary/classic/etc.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (not to be confused with the H.G. Wells novella The Invisible Man) was published in 1952. (In fact, I mentioned this novel in my Fourth of July post.) It has been about a year and a half since I read it in a Major American Novels class, which was in fact a class filled with depressing novels that really began to weigh heavy on me. At times I think I almost impressed the character of the Invisible Man (he remains nameless in the novel) onto myself, allowing any little struggles of my own to become combined into the scope of his.
That's the thing about this novel: it describes a specific situation, but is relevant also on a much wider scope--and that's what tends to make things classics. On one side, it's a racial novel, addressing the dehumanization of a group of people. But everyone goes through similar struggles to the narrator's, even if not nearly on the same level or for the same reasons. Everyone, at some point, struggles with who they are and knowing how to express that and knowing how to set up their lives. It's a novel about prejudice, but it's also a novel about self-discovery and discovery of the world around you, including the fact that the world doesn't tend to tailor itself to your needs and wants.
Yet I had never even heard of Invisible Man. Admittedly, it is still a fairly new book, but at sixty years old, it's time it gets some wider recognition: it earned its place on my American Novels syllabus.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Antique Air Admiration
It was fifteen to six, the time the antique store closed. But we had to go in, anyway, even if only for those last few minutes. And when I walked past those front doors and faced the long treasure aisles, I breathed in and felt I was home.
There's something wonderful about the air of an antique store: it's filled with old dust, vanilla-smelling old books, and the thickness of old memories and lives lived and mementos left behind.
I could easily have spent a few hours in this particular store--I could also live there, but I don't think the owners would like that much. Every single shelf, every single corner, and every single wall has potential. You never know where you will find the piece that calls to you. So you walk through each booth, glance at each spot, trying to make certain that your eye alights on every item. Your eye roves around, rolls across the layers like a laser searching for its soul. Price only matters second: first you have to find something you love, then you see if it's in your budget. Because even if it's only a dollar, you have to love it.
I didn't see anything that met these two necessities during my fifteen minute walk-through (I was only able to get through half the store, even going quickly). But it's okay: I breathed in and I listened to the stories. The stories of the woman who wore that feathered hat out to the movies, the man who built and sold that wooden chair, the child who played with that doll.
Their fingerprints live on if we remember to love the things that they loved, not neglecting the "old things" in favor only of new ones.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Get Connor & Chief Lester
TV shows all have their sets of character dynamics; there are the smart characters, the good-looking characters, the talkative characters, the action characters, the comedic relief characters. With a good show, it simplifies things too much to fit everyone into these near categorizations, but they are still there.
I've been watching a little Get Smart lately, and naturally my post-Primeval-ness has managed to find a parallel. Compare Max to Connor, specifically concerning the Max/Chief relationship and the Connor/Lester one. The Chief is always complaining of headaches when Max is around, always rolling his eyes at his way of doing things. And Lester, of course, can't stand Connor--he only occasionally takes pity on him, keeps him around because he's smart, and maybe improves a bit after thinking Connor was probably dead for a year.
That's the thing about both of these characters: they seem so inept, but somehow manage to get the job done. Max appears awkward, blundering, forgetful, but he always disarms KAOS's plans. Connor is childish and initially cowardly, but he invents machine after machine and becomes the person who best understands the anomalies. They're both invaluable, but not what their bosses consider "elite operatives" (though Lester does profess Connor is such in 5.2).
And, of course, they both get the girl (Abby and 99).
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
A Trawl at the Mall
Yesterday I had some time to abuse in Scottsdale, which meant that I decided to go into every store in the mall until I found the object of my longtime desire: a vest. Vests are difficult to find: they have to be the right style (not a cold weather vest, not too business attire a vest, and not a "sexy" vest like you might find sometimes at Guess), they have to fit right (if it's too loose, it won't look right, and I'm small, so this proves difficult), and of course they have to be in your price range.
I went into Guess, Macy's, Dillard's, Gap, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Forever 21, H&M, Charlotte Russe, and a few others whose names I have forgotten and all I found were one or two sleeveless jean jackets. I was about to give up when I saw one more, a store I'd never been in. It didn't look interesting, but it still looked like a possibility, so I dragged myself in. Quickly, I found one vest style: but it wasn't quite right and had big metal buttons I didn't like. There was one more, a basic black one: but it was a size medium and there were no others in sight. But, aha, then I saw it: a dark blue, 100% linen, fairly basic vest in size small (incidentally, if they'd had an extra small, that probably would have been better, but this one works). Then I got the mall high.
It's always nice to buy something you like, but to specifically go into two dozen stores looking for one item and finally finding the only one in the whole mall is extremely rewarding.
And it teaches you something about stores and style. Even with spending only a short time in each store, there were some I wanted to run right out of (Charlotte Russe, I'm talking about you) and others where you wish you were buying more (I've been eyeing all the colorful pants at Gap . . . and let's not even talk about Anthropologie, which I visited just for the experience of it). Some look your style; some don't--though they may still have pieces you can use. Take the store, Love Culture, where I got my vest. I can't even remember what most of their clothes looked like, but I found something I wanted there (they also had, by the way, some perfectly priced short nylon & spandex shorts for wearing under skirts).
It's all about letting the stores tailor to you, not tailoring yourself to the stores. Let the search be part of the fun.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Helen Rivers?
Okay, so I don't really mean to suggest that Helen Burns (Jane's friend at Lowood in Jane Eyre) is actually the daughter of St. John Rivers (Jane's ascetic cousin). But it has just occurred to me how similar the two are. And that is a strange occurrence, given that Helen seems more likable (perhaps much more) than St. John.
But just think about the two for a moment. I described St. John as ascetic: the same goes for Helen. Where child Jane is interested in fantasy and trying to find a way out of her lonely, dependent life, Helen absorbs herself in learning, trying to better herself and make plans for the future. And Jane learns a lot from Helen: meeting Helen was probably the best thing that happened to her as a child (unless you want to count getting an education first).
St. John is devoted to the church and to becoming a missionary. I think Jane can somewhat admire his perseverance and devotion, but their opinions come to a parting of ways when he asks her to marry him and join him in his missionary work. She tells him she would be willing to go with him, but does not feel (as he does) that it is her duty/the only right path to marry him and go. So what Jane learns from St. John is, essentially, to rely on her own inner voice and to make her own decisions. Which, coming back to Helen, sounds a lot like what Helen shows Jane.
Jane meets Helen: Jane decides to advertise to be a governess and is thereby able to leave Lowood. Jane meets St. John: Jane decides to go back to Thornfield and thereby learns of the death of Mrs. Rochester and is finally able to marry Rochester. Both are acts of freewill.
Very interesting.
Friday, August 3, 2012
On Chapter Length
I was having a conversation recently in which I tried to defend "old" novels--the conversation was fairly brief, but still it put me in mind of one trait that makes older books more difficult for the modern reader. I'm not talking about vocabulary, sentence structure, or the overall long length of Victorian novels. I'm thinking of chapter length.
After breezing through a small handful of modern novels this summer, I have just started rereading Charlotte Bronte's The Professor (I plan to reread Jane Eyre and Villette next, too: I'm preparing to do my honors thesis on these three novels this coming year). Most of the chapters I have read so far haven't been too long, but it made me remember that it isn't always so. If you pick up a Victorian novel, you can easily have chapters of thirty dense pages (as in, pages with much smaller print than in How It Ends). It's difficult to commit to a long portion of reading in one sitting, and also is it difficult to stop right in the middle of a chapter. (Or try reading Moll Flanders, which doesn't even have chapters, but is instead just one long narrative.)
True, some "older" books may have breaks in chapters, even if the chapters themselves are long. If you count The Lord of the Rings as old, there are certainly breaks (the extra space in between paragraphs that separates scenes), though there are also some very long chapters (hello, "The Council of Elrond"). Breaks like this make it a bit easier: they provide at least some sort of potential stopping point.
All of this is contrary to most of the books published today, where a chapter may be ten or twenty small pages, something you can read in half hour. It's easier to say, let me read just one more chapter, when you know that chapter won't take you an hour or two to read.
The "problem," if you want to call it that, may not be in the thickness of certain books. It's in the thickness of individual readings: it's often easier to have a long-term attention span (taking a month or two or three to read a book) than a short-term one (taking three hours to read one chapter).
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Adventures of Connor & Abby: Part 7
I wasn't the only one curious about the new fossil piece--Jenny set up an investigation of it right away. After all, the team aren't always hunting down anomalies; a little studying during their downtime will only help them more later on.
I would ask Connor the name of this fossil, but I'm afraid he would launch into an hour long explanation instead of just one or two words.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The Hobbits Come Marching Three By Three
I think you must have heard the ridiculous news by now.
It wasn't enough for The Hobbit to be split into two movies; no, there was enough footage that there are now going to be three movies. From one book, one children's book (after all, The Lord of the Rings isn't a children's book, and Tolkien saw it as an epic in six parts--but it only got three movies--albeit before the studio knew how successful those movies would be).
But, you know, I probably find that it makes more sense to make three movies out of The Hobbit than two out of Breaking Dawn (in case anyone has forgotten, I do like those books--I'm not just carelessly bashing them). And everything gets made into two movies these days, so much so that I wonder if it's becoming greater than studios wanting to make more money: it's shifting the way writers and directors are able to work with a book to movie transition and what audiences are coming to expect from such a transition. If The Fellowship of the Ring had had two movies, we wouldn't have lightly forgiven the absence of Tom Bombadil, as we can with just one movie.
And we do know that Peter Jackson is including things in this, sigh, trilogy that aren't just from the one book--he's also pulling things out of the Appendices. I have no idea how much, but even a small amount could have a big effect.
What does worry me, though, is that The Hobbit is like a miniature epic to The Lord of the Rings; if, however, it gets much more screen time (and budget) than TLOTR, that'll mess with its simpler nature (it certainly still has things to study and things beneath the surface, but still).
Kaleb Nation (YouTuber and author of the Bran Hambric series) put together a nicely-stated reaction to the situation for his 60SR show, which you can view here. |
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22509 | The Application Essay
Excerpt The following is an excerpt from the book The Ivey Guide to Law School Admissions by Anna Ivey Published by Harcourt; April 2005;$14.00US; 0-15-602979-0 Copyright © 2006 Anna Ivey
Whether you’re submitting a personal statement, a statement of purpose, or a diversity essay, make sure to follow these rules:
Rule #1: Edit and Proofread, Then Proofread Again Your grammar, spelling, and punctuation must be flawless. When in doubt, pullout those old standbys The Chicago Manual of Style and Strunk & White. If grammar, spelling, and punctuation aren’t your strong points, enlist a friend to help (and give you a tutorial, while you’re at it). There’s no excuse for a college graduate to mess this up. And beware the spell-check trap — it won’t catch “right” when you should have written “write,” and it won’t catch your “commitment to pubic service.” (You laugh, but I saw that typo as a law review editor.) Always have a second pair of eyes proofread your essays before you send them off.
Rule #2: Nothing Cutesy Anything cutesy or gimmicky will make admissions officers groan. Stay away from the following:
Essays in the form of poetry Essays in the form of a legal brief (“For all the reasons cited above, the admissions committee should admit Petitioner to Slamdunk Law School.”) Essays in the form of an obituary (“Tracy Johnson died the most respected jurist of her time.”) Essays in the form of an interview Crayons, construction paper, perfume, or illustrated essays, no matter how sophisticated Rule #3: No Legalisms You’re not a lawyer yet, so your use of legal concepts or terminology will most likely demonstrate that you have no idea what you’re talking about, not to mention the fact that legal writing is considered god-awful by the rest of the world, including admissions officers. Many applican ts, for example, refer to a company or a person violating someone’s right to free speech, when, in fact, the First Amendment applies only to government restrictions on speech. And by all means, steer clear of anything in Latin.
Rule #4: Show, Don’t Tell Back up any general statements with examples and anecdotes. If you write, “The student presidency taught me that leadership means more than delegating,” tell us how you learned that lesson. What were the conflicts and problems you faced? If you write, “I have excellent time-management skills,” back up that statement by pointing out that you graduated in the top 10 percent of an engineering program that 40 percent of engineering freshmen drop.
Rule #5: Respect Page Limits and Other Minutiae If a school gives you a page or word limit, abide by it. And follow the spirit of the rule as well as the letter — don’t get too sneaky with fonts, margins, and line spacing. Admissions officers won’t cut you any slack if your essay comes in under the page limit but makes them go cross-eyed because the font or line spacing is so small. If a school doesn’t specify a length, a good rule of thumb is two to three pages, double-spaced, in eleven-point Times New Roman, with one-inch margins all around. When in doubt, shorter is better than longer. As an admissions officer buddy of mine likes to say: “The vast, vast, vast majority of just-out-of-college applicants (almost all applicants, really) are not interesting enough to fill six pages. Show me that you understand my time is valuable, and show me that you understand how to pick out what’s really important.”
Make sure to put your name and Social Security number in a header and page numbers in a footer, just in case your file goes splat and has to be reassembled. Also, identify in the header what essay question you’re answering, if you’re given more than one option or are submitting more than one essay (“Personal Statement,” “Optional Essay #3,” etc.). By the way, you don’t need to give your essay a title like “Morris 405” or “Jorge.” I added those titles in the appendix essays so that I could refer to them easily in this chapter.
Don’t submit pages that are crumpled, stained, or smell like pot smoke — most admissions officers really aren’t looking for that contact high. Really, your essay shouldn’t smell like any kind of smoke.
And finally, if you’re getting too close to your material and think you’re losing perspective, turn to the sample essays in the appendix to keep your big-picture objective in mind. Can you see how much more engaging and revealing the good ones are?
Copyright © 2006 Anna Ivey
About the author:
Author: Anna Ivey
Anna Ivey, JD, served as dean of admissions at the University of Chicago Law School. She now runs Anna Ivey Admissions Counseling, a counseling firm for college, business school, and law school applicants. She divides her time between Boston and Orlando. Please visit her website at |
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The 3D printing debate trundles on
Posted: 1 February 2012
And the debate about 3D printing just trundles on....this is why FutureWorld tagged 3D printing as a technology to watch way back in 2004.
Why 3-D Printing Isn't Like Virtual Reality - Technology Review
1 February 2012
Before you dismiss it as a fad, consider the evolution of 2-D printing.
No more paper or ink, but everything else goes
Dateline: 17 June 2012 |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22551 | The slave trade resulted in the trans-shipment of millions of Africans as slaves from the continent to the Caribbean and Southern American states. These slaves were forced to work for their masters for nothing.
They were exploited and treated like sub-human beings. They yearned for freedom. Apart from the Panafest celebrations, there is also another festival which is organized in Ghana to celebrate the emancipation of slaves. This unlike Panafest is an annual affair. It was first held in Ghana in 1998. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22559 | Saturday, May 20, 2006
Scripting with Lua in C#
• What to get?
• Installing
• Basic Use of Lua
• A notch, a crank, knarc, ahctona!
• But wait! There's more amazing where that came from!
Lua allows us to easily add scripting to our game. It's a well known, widely used standard (it was used in Balders Gate). Once added it can process both compiled and uncompiled Lua scripts giving a good combination of flexibility and strength. The greatest advantage to Lua is how simply we can insert it into our C# programs. Well, hopefully now your convinced so let's get cracking.
What to get?
LuaInterface 1.3
Unzip LuaInterface 1.3 (or later version that you may have been able to download). Put it somewhere safe such as in the Visual Studio directory or some place your unlikely to accidentally delete.
Now boot up visual studio. Create a new C# Console Project.
Now go to the Solution Explorer window.
Play with my options!
(If you can't see it use this
Press me! Press me! and it should pop up!) Take your mouse over to the References icon and right click.
Choose add reference. This should all be pretty standard fare for starting a new project. We're just recovering the basics here in case you're reading this tutorial as a seperate chunk.
Press my buttons
Carefully survey your options and then choose "Browse". Then browse to where you unzipped LUA and go into the bin folder ... and select LuaInterface.dll. My copy of this .dll file is at the following location C:\LuaInterface\bin\LuaInterface.dll.
Once you have chosen this .dll file it will pop up in the the "Selected Components" part of the window. Confirm the selection and we're ready to go. I'm sure there's a method of playing with Visual Studio where you can avoid the "Browse" button all together and have the reference preloaded in, ready to select but after a few minutes fiddling I couldn't find it :(
Your game and your game players are going to need access to the Lua dll files. So you need to have them in project directory. My version of the console application executable that we're working on is currently located here: junk\Visual Studio Projects\ConsoleApplication3\bin\Debug
Open up that directory. Also open up the directory of were you installed Lua. Go into the bin\ directory and copy across (to project directory):
Your working directory should end up looking a little like this:
The lua net dll
That concludes setting up Lua to work with this project. Not too painful.
Basic Use of Lua
Let's write some code. We want to make a C# program that's interfaces with Lua and we want to do it soon, very soon indeed.
using System;
using LuaInterface;
namespace ConsoleApplication
class Class1
static void Main(string[] args)
The above is our class skeleton. The only thing worth noting at the moment is that we're using the LuaInterface reference. We'll concentrate on the main method an make a small program that uses Lua.
static void Main(string[] args)
Lua lua = new Lua();
Here we create a Lua interpreter. We can create as many as we wish and they will all be independant. But for now we'll only have one.
Next we create some global variables. Remember we're programming in a scripting language so we're creating Lua global variables not C# global variables. In actual use this "programming" would be done ahead of time and then loaded in from a file. Curently we're doing it directly in the code just to get a feel of what's happening.
lua["num"] = 2;
lua["str"] = "a string";
This creates two Lua global variables. One is called num the other is called str. Note that the variables both hold different types. This is a feature of Lua it is not a strongly typed language in fact it's dynamically typed. Variables can be anything (though Lua only has a few data types). But I don't want to get pulled in to a distracting explanation of how Lua works as a programming language quite just yet. First I'd quite like to get it hooked up to C#.
Now we made these Lua varaibles let's get C# to read them. Now as you really should know by now C# is a strongly typed language. So we need to cast the variables.
Note that we must cast to a double here. An int won't cut it as Lua is storing double information. Now we've read this information out from the Lua interpreter, next let's read it out to the screen to see if everything is agreeable.
Console.WriteLine("str:" + str +"\tnum:" + num);
Agreeable indeed!
Okay so far not very exciting but we're still only getting a feel of what's going on. So let's crank it up a notch next and do something cool.
A notch, a crank, knarc, ahctona!
Okay grip the arms of your chair tightly and get ready to script!
First let's create two functions we might like our brand new scripts to make use of.
public void DanSays(string s)
Console.WriteLine("Dan>" + s);
public void ThorSays(string s)
Console.WriteLine("Thor>" + s);
Feel free to insert your own name instead of Dan or Thor. So now we have two cool functions bursting with game playing potential.
Let's hook them into Lua - so out main method will look like below:
class Program
static void Main(string[] args)
Program program = new Program();
Lua lua = new Lua();
//Register our C# functions
lua.RegisterFunction("DanSays" , program, program.GetType().GetMethod("DanSays" ));
lua.RegisterFunction("ThorSays", program, program.GetType().GetMethod("ThorSays"));
This lets the Lua scripting language make calls to our two C# functions. Incredibly easy isn't it? So in the Lua language we just make calls to DanSays("with a nice string here") or ThorSays("with an equally nice string here") and they will call the C# equivalents!
The RegisterFunction function
The RegisterFunction's first argument is what you'd like to name the function in Lua. Here we chose the same name because it's so simple. But in future function registration we might want to make the Lua name more simple or descriptive than our C# name.
The second argument is the object where the method is stored. Note the word object. That's why we have to instantiate our Program program. So if we have a class called person "Class Person" and it has a method talk then it allows us to do something like.
Person pete = new Person();
Person jeff = new Person();"Hello");"Hello");
We can the register these talk functions seperately.
The third parameter uses reflection - something I currently know nothing about. All I know is that's it's magic like pixey dust and elevators. It magically gets all the knowledge about the method - it's arguments and so forth. Then Lua can call it effectively. You have to pass in a string of the methods name and that's it. Great!
The DoString function
Add this to the end of our main method.
lua.DoString("DanSays('Hello'); ThorSays('Hi! Dan')");
DoString executes a line of Lua code in string form. Wonderbar!
Dan and Thor have a bit of a chin-wag
But wait! There's more amazing where that came from!
So we've got a pretty groovy scripting language all by doing relatively little.
But now let's arrange it into a bit more of a game like usefullness. Go to your working directory for this project. The place where you copied all those dll files (mine is: My Documents\Visual Studio Projects\ConsoleApplication3\bin\Debug).
Okay create a new directory all call it "scripts"
A script directory.
Now in the scripts directory I've created a simple text file called "Thursdays"
It has the following not-so-witty-banter.
DanSays("Hey, Thor!");
ThorSays("Hi Dan! You know Thursdays . . . ");
DanSays("*sigh* yeah, Thor, I know Thursdays.");
ThorSays("Named after me you know!");
DanSays("Yeah, I know.");
Okay. So in scripts\Thursdays.txt with have some future-award-winning dialogue. It's written in Lua but only using custom functions designed by us because we're cool and groovy designers.
Back to El Code
Make your main method match mine pictured below:
static void Main(string[] args)
Class1 c1 = new Class1();
Lua lua = new Lua();
//Register our C# functions
lua.RegisterFunction("DanSays", c1, c1.GetType().GetMethod("DanSays"));
lua.RegisterFunction("ThorSays", c1, c1.GetType().GetMethod("ThorSays"));
This fine piece of programming hereafter known as "ScriptRunner3000" will run any script we call Thursdays - without recompling - yes you heard me correctly - without recompiling!
Of course if we want to get really fancy we could write some code to enumerate all the files in scripts and then produce a menu allowing you to choose which you'd like to use. But this is much more of a proof of concept deal. Anyway the output:
The extended edition
Now the script can be tinkered with to our hearts extent and the exutable will show those changes without having to be run. Of course it's a lot more powerful than it is here. We can uses Lua's code constructs like loops and structures and all those niceities - wasn't putting a scripting engine in really simple? :o
Now you should brush up your Lua!
Lua is simple and powerful I just wanted to show persistancy of globals then maybe we'll end this tutorial here. But later come back to really really groovy things like coroutines.
static void Main(string[] args)
Class1 c1 = new Class1();
Lua lua = new Lua();
string b = (string) lua["name"];
Console.WriteLine("Name:" + b);
If in Thursdays.txt we now include the line name = "rabbits" then the above code will outpt rabbits. See the scope isn't lost in the file which is super groovy and allows us to easily insert scripts into the game loop - yay!
Source Code
Download the source code.
References used
• LuaInterface: User’s Guide by Fabio Mascarenhas
• LUA 5.0 Reference Manual (avaliable from
Anonymous said...
Why using LUA when you can use C# just like any scripting language?
With Microsoft.CSharp.CSharpCodeProvider you are able to compile and execute code at runtime.
It's most probably even faster than LUA!
Dan said...
C# is probably faster but Lua has a lot of nice features C# is missing. Like being able to return more than one return parameter from a function. It's also easy to write Lua code using Lua code and then run it.
Some of these things you can do in C# but they have a lot more messy syntax. (It gets even worse in C# version 3.0 - they add more power but the syntax is really - yuck :D)
Anonymous said...
Hi, I'm really interested in using Lua. But for some reason, my project can't seem to find the LuaInterface namespace.
By the way, my project has a class library in which I added Lua as reference.
Anonymous said...
... Using out parameters on your methods gets you basically the same thing.
Dan said...
Yes you are right "out" provides the same (kind of) functionality just in less natural way. It can far more verbose and less efficent if you're only passing back arguments as error flags or metainformation.
I don't want the comment area to turn into a message board :D Maybe I should find a message board.
Anonymous said...
Why use Lua over C#? Because users can more easily write scripts in Lua than they can in C#. This makes Lua an excellent choice for any app that needs to extend its functionality to the user using a scripting language.
Kamond (Brazil) said...
Thank You for the tutorial. Fantastic tutorial! This being very useful for my monographic work of the college… I am happy for the tutorial! Thanks a lot Daniel! Certainly I will go to collaborate with the topic!
johnxuster said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22564 | Thursday, February 8, 2018
intitle:index of / & filetype:sql
Find juicy files on an index
intitle:index of / & filetype:sql
Result :
- Listing of SQL files or dumps.
- Filetype can be modified.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
inurl:.DS_Store intitle:index.of
Find list of files with a .DS_Store file
inurl:.DS_Store intitle:index.of
intext:.DS_Store & intitle:index -github
About .DS_Store
Friday, January 15, 2016
intitle: Index of /awstats/data
Awstats Log file's directory can reveal file/directory :
intitle: Index of /awstats/data
What is Awstats ?
AWStats is an open source Web analytics reporting tool, suitable for analyzing data from Internet services such as web, streaming media, mail, and FTP servers. AWStats parses and analyzes server log files, producing HTML reports. Data is visually presented within reports by tables and bar graphs. Static reports can be created through a command line interface, and on-demand reporting is supported through a Web browser CGI program. AWStats supports most major web server log file formats including Apache (NCSA combined/XLF/ELF log format or Common Log Format (CLF)), WebStar, IIS (W3C log format), and many other common web server log formats. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22599 | The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was granted last week to Kyan, son of Marcus and Brittni. Through Holy Baptism, Kyan became a child of God, as his sins were washed way in connection with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. May God graciously preserve the saving faith granted unto Kyan thorough this sacred act of God's grace and cause his faith to increase through the continued blessings of His Word and Sacraments.
Please join us in praying for Kyan, his parents, his godparents Martez and Tiffany and his entire family. God bless little one. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22607 | In Music We Trust >> Frontpage
August 18, 2019
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Mollys Yes
Wonderworld (Republic/Universal Music)
By: Alex Steininger
On their major label debut, Mollys Yes delivers pop-rock with an additional dance vibe thrown in for good measures. Their sound is rooted in a heavy 80's sensation, but the band also takes advantages of the modern wonders of digital programming and studio wizardry to create a sound that bridges the 80's and 90's.
"Sugar," the first single, is a crunchy pop-rock number with sugary hooks certain to fill your cravings and make you crave more. "Promises," on the other hand, demonstrates the band's programming side as they slide some layered dance grooves into their pop-rock stew. They'll have you dancing, shaking, and sweating to the collision of dance beats and pop hooks. "Tell Me the Truth" is an updated new wave track; it takes typical modern rock and pushes it into a blender with some 80's radio staple sounds. Of course, "Hypnotic," another shining moment for the band, once again proves their ability to write a solid hook around a dance vibe you won't miss.
Though the band often plays into cliched modern rock, their attention to distinction helps them stray away from the over-abundance of "heard it before" modern rock that so many of their contemporaries are falling prey too. The addition of the dance grooves helps lift them out, while their re-invention of 80's pop helps them too. Still, the lingering modern rock absorption is still there. All and all, a good record with some strong hooks you'll enjoy sinking your teeth into. I'll give the album a B-.
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22631 | Circle who God Loves Most
Rosita Boland, a Journalist from the Irish Times, found her old religion workbook from primary school. This lesson conveniently teaches children the hierarchy of God’s love.
Can your Church Ushers Handle Deer Visitations?
2 Samuel 22:34
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights run through the sanctuary with abandon.
An Angry Villager locks up Christian Bellringers
angry_scrooge According to a story at Christian Today
An elderly man fed up with the sound of church bells took drastic action on Sunday when he locked a team of bellringers inside the church where they were practicing.
The unidentified man climbed the steps to the belfry of Saint John the Evangelist, in Sharow, near Ripon, Yorkshire, and vented his anger on the six musicians, swearing at them and threatening to damage their cars.
He then proceeded to trap the group inside the belfry by wedging a piece of wood in the tower door.
They were freed around half an hour later by church member Sandra Price, who heard them banging as she locked up.
The bellringers had come up to Sharow from the south of England for the three-hour practice session.
A complaint has been made against the man but police said they are not investigating the incident.
Not investigating the incident? This blatant disregard of persecution against Christians is appalling. If we let this slide the villagers will start locking up other annoying Christians in their churches.
Then again I think Jesus uses the following bell curve himself:
• 30 minutes of bellringing = worship
• 1 hour of bellringing = novelty wears thin
• 2 hours of bellringing = disrupts spiritual warfare
• 3 hours of bellringing = annoys both Holy Spirit and neighbors |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22639 | request connection ... false :s
12 years 11 months ago #20259 by mischa
To be precise:
Both of the above (by me) mentioned errors are gone after a template change.
So this behaviour IS caused by a bad coded template I was using at that particular moment...
Just fyi...
Projectmember of the BirthDays Module Project
Moderators: beatnantkrileon
Time to create page: 0.355 seconds
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22657 | Embedding photos and video
Every post needs at least one photo. Many sites also demand video on all or most posts. You might have to compile a gallery or slideshow using lots of photos.
Wales Online: 30 pictures that will make you want to drop what you're doing and head straight to Pembrokeshire
Slideshows are often used to increase page views as each photo counts
Sites use these to bump up clicks and traffic stats, as every viewed photo is recorded as the user viewing an additional page. Don’t be surprised if you are asked to create a gallery of 30 or so photos.
You can upload your own but you will first have to resize them so you do not post large files that would be slow to load. You might also have to create your own image macro (pictures with added text) or animated gif.
You can also use your own, or other people’s, content already uploaded online. Rather than link to external content it is often better to embed it in your story (post) – individual Tweets; Facebook status updates (public ones); videos from YouTube, Vimeo or Vine; photos from Flickr or Instagram, audio from Audioboom and Soundcloud and so on.
Copy and paste
Most social media sites offer the embed code as option, so all you need to do is copy and paste it. You usually need to paste the embed code into the html element of your content management system (CMS). This may be called “text”, “source” or “html”.
Many social media sites use three little horizontal dots (or circles) to indicate where to click to get the embed code (Twitter, Instagram, for example) but others use an arrow, the word “share” or, on mobile, a square with an arrow breaking out of the top.
Whichever, you may then have some options, such as to include captions, but all you need to do is copy the given code and paste it into the html tab of your CMS. When you click back on the “visual” tab you will often see a plain box or some disjointed text. But this will still publish correctly.
Windows users use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste
Mac users use cmd(apple)+C to copy and cmd(apple)+V to paste
Instagram example
Three dots (circles) marked. Click on that and you get the embed code
Instagram share option, bottom right – three dots (circles) marked by red arrow
Choose to display the caption or not, then copy the given code
embed window
Instagram embed function: choose caption or not then copy code
Pasted in the main “visual” box (or tab), you will simply get the code showing as text:
<blockquote class=”instagram-media” data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version=”6″ style=” background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% – 2px); width:calc(100% – 2px);”><div style=”padding:8px;”> <div style=” background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;”> <div style=” background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;”></div></div> <p style=” margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;”> <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BAFnXQdJU9G/” style=” color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;” target=”_blank”>Given a fine bottle of Rioja, we had to eat Spanish. Patatas bravas, spinach & chickpeas in cumin, green beans in tomato, garlic mushrooms, spicy prawns, aioli, garlicky tomato, chorizo, manchego, bread and olives.</a></p> <p style=” color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;”>A photo posted by Chris Wheal (@whealie) on <time style=” font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;” datetime=”2016-01-03T18:56:25+00:00″>Jan 3, 2016 at 10:56am PST</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”></script>
But pasted into the html (source or text) box you will display the embedded image:
Note: With WordPress.com blogs, you just need to paste the Instagram photo’s URL into the main content, not the html, and it will display. Many others, such as Audioboom, also provide specific code for WordPress.com blogs.
Specific code for WordPress.com blogs on Audioboom
A word on copyright
Just because a photo is online does not mean it is free from copyright and can be used willy-nilly. You need to establish that copyright has expired or that the necessary licence (license in US spelling) permits your usage.
One popular online licence is Creative Commons, but there are variations of this. You might be permitted to use it commercially or not, to edit it or not, and so on. Using photo sites such as Flickr, or Google images, you can set your search only to find images with licences permitting usage and modification.
Google image search
Set the licence in Google images to only show images you can use freely
But sometimes the image you want will have restrictions. On an image sharing site, if the photo’s copyright owner has not disabled embedding, you can still embed the photo, but you cannot download and edit (crop) it.
But often, if you contact the copyright owner and ask for permission to publish, explaining what it is for, they will agree. The photo below is a cropped version of a photo with all rights reserved. The copyright owner, Tony Worrall, gave me permission to use it, cropped, when I asked.
Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom effigy in Coventry, Flickr: Tony Worrall Foto (with kind permission)
Make sure you correctly credit images and set the image you use to link back to the original source. There will be specific credit rules for images bought from commercial photo libraries too.
Wikipedia is a useful source for images that can be used. Clicking an image used in Wikipedia allows you to go to the source and read the licence and details of the photos. You can often download a larger format of the photo and then edit it yourself, re-posting with the appropriate picture credit.
Whealie is the trademarked nickname of award-winning freelance journalist Chris Wheal. Follow @whealie on Twitter twitter.com/whealie Wheal's Business website is whealassociates.com He sometimes blogs at chriswheal.com He's on Facebook: www.facebook.com/chris.wheal And LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chriswheal Flickr: flickr.com/photos/whealie Instagram: instagram.com/whealie/ YouTube: youtube.com/user/sonofwhealie Vimeo: vimeo.com/whealie
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22661 | Lasso Soft Inc. > Home
[RegExp] is a data type which represents a compiled regular expression that can be used again and again. The type makes it possible to perform interactive search/replace operations on strings where each replacement string is determined programmatically and to split strings using a regular expression.
Note - The [String_ReplaceRegExp] and [String_FindRegExp] tags also provide regular extension functionality may be preferable for simple search/replace or extract operations.
The regular expression data type stores a find pattern, a replacement pattern, an input string, and an output string. By default regular expressions are case sensitive, but a regular expression object can also be set to ignore case.
The parameters of the [RegExp] tag accepts parameters corresponding to the stored patterns and strings for the data type. The -Find parameter is required and specifies the initial regular expression which will be compiled and stored as the find pattern. An optional -Replace parameters specifies a replace pattern. An optional -Input parameter specifies an input string. And, an optional -IgnoreCase parameter sets the regular expression to ignore case when performing matches.
The member tags of the regular expression type allow the [RegExp->FindPattern], [RegExp->ReplacePattern], [RegExp->Input], [RegExp->Output], and [RegExp->IgnoreCase] values to be inspected or modified. The [RegExp->GroupCount] tag returns the number of groups found in the find pattern.
The [RegExp->ReplaceAll] and [RegExp->ReplaceFirst] tags perform a search/replace operation on the input string using the find and replace patterns. The [RegExp->Split] tags performs a split operation on the input string using the find and replace patterns. Either the string and patterns stored in the regular expression can be used or new values can be specified when calling the tags.
The [RegExp->Matches] and [RegExp->MatchesStart] tags return true if the find pattern matches the input string exactly or matches the start of the input string.
The remainder of the member tags are used for interactive search/replace operations. [RegExp->Find] starts an interactive search/replace by finding the first instance of the find pattern in the input string. Subsequent calls to [RegExp->Find] advance the find pattern through the input string. The tag returns true if the find pattern could be advanced or false otherwise. Each time [RegExp->Find] is called any part of the input string that is skipped over is automaticaly appended to the output.
After calling [RegExp->Find] the [RegExp->MatchString] tag returns the current match and the [RegExp->MatchPosition] tag returns the location of the current match. The [RegExp->AppendReplacement] tag can be used to insert a replacement string into the output. At the end of the interactive search/replace operation [RegExp->AppendTail] appends the remainder of the input string onto the output string.
The [RegExp->Reset] tag resets the state of the [RegExp->Find] tag and moves the current output string into the input string. This allows an interactive search/replace operation to be performed, reset, and then performed again on the result of the prior operation.
The current output string can be returned with [RegExp->Output] or is returned when the regular expression data type is cast to string. If the regular expression is cast to string and no output has been generated then [RegExp->ReplaceAll] is called to generate an output string.
• Syntax
• Parameters
[Var: 'myRegExp' = (RegExp: -Find='(\\w)(\\w+)')]
[$myRegexp->(Input: 'the lazy dog')]
[While: $myRegExp->Find]
[Var: 'myReplacement' = (String_Uppercase: $MyRegExp->(MatchString: 1))]
[$myRegExp->(AppendReplacement: $myReplacement)]
[$myRegExp->(AppendReplacement: $MyRegExp->(MatchString: 2))]
Required Parameters
-Find Specifies the find pattern to use for subsequent search/replace operations.
Optional Parameters
-Replace Specifies a replacement pattern to use for subsequent search/replace operations. Defaults to empty.
-Input Specifies the input to use for the next the search/replace operation. Defaults to empty.
-IgnoreCase If specified subsequent search/replace operations will be performed without regard to case. Defaults to performing case sensitive search/replace operations.
Tag Link [RegExp] Category String
Type Substitution Data Source Any
Support Preferred Version 8.5
Output Type RegExp Security None
Implementation Sets Lasso 8.5
LassoSoft Inc. > Home
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22668 | Life without Anorexia
My motto is
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Treat your body with respect
When you start thinking about your body like a friend and treat it with respect then you will have a much healthier body and mind.
Your body is not yours to abuse. You dont have a body so that you can hate it and want to change everything about it. Your body is your temple and you should treat it with respect. Not try to cut it, starve it, fill it with toxins and chemicals and ruin yourself from the inside out. When you think of your body in kinder ways and begin to treat it like it were your friend where you think kind thoughts, you compliment your body, you see the positives and disregard (or not even notice at all) those smaller differences. You feed your body right, give it water and sleep. Give it kindness and positive thoughts and positive energy. Because that is what you would do to a friend or your child - so why not treat yourself in the same way?
Why are you different? Why do you think its ok to bring yourself down? Let your mind bully you and control you. Why do you think its ok for you to try to harm yourself, to slowly kill yourself? There are rules and laws against other people hurting or killing others... but why do you think its ok because you are doing it to yourself? It is just as bad, if not worse because others can't see it. They might not be able to see those hidden scars or your true feelings hidden behind a smile. But that doesnt mean that you arent struggling.
It is not ok for you to hurt yourself, to starve yourself and slowly kill yourself. You wouldnt do that to a friend, so why do that to yourself?
Change your thoughts, change your behaviour. Learn to love your body like a friend, or like it was your child. Because you are going to live with your body for the rest of the life, so why spend all that time hating it when instead you could learn to love your body, change your thoughts to better ones and finally live a life where self hate and low self esteem arent dragging you down?
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22677 | The Week In Shows: 5/12-5/18
It's that time, y'all. The shows are coming strong and fast, and there's a whole lot of good stuff around town starting this week and going...for quite a while. This means that your humble blogstress will be soaking in some great shows, and I couldn't be happier. And you never know, I just might see you out and about during the week. As always, anything that's starred has a high forecast of yours truly being there.
MONDAY, 5/12/14
-Lorelle Meets The Obsolete + Ttotals + Dangerosa (Tropicalia)**
TUESDAY, 5/13/14
-Mastodon + Gojira + Kvelertak (9:30 Club - SOLD OUT)
-French Horn Rebellion + Hey Champ (Jammin Java)
-Clear Plastic Masks + Fly Golden Eagle (DC9)
-Tokyo Police Club + Geographer + Said The Whale (Black Cat - SOLD OUT)
WEDNESDAY, 5/14/13
-Eagulls + Twin Peaks (Rock & Roll Hotel)**
-Little Hurricane + Lincoln Durham (DC9)
-Swans + Jenny Hval (Black Cat)
-Ghost B.C. + King Dude + The Flying Eyes (Fillmore)
-Amen Dunes + Amos Piper (6th & I)
-Morcheeba + Connor Youngblood (Lincoln Theatre)
THURSDAY, 5/15/14
-Br'er + Sarmust + Hello Dharma (DC9)
-Chet Faker (U Street Music Hall - SOLD OUT)
FRIDAY, 5/16/14
-Titus Andronicus + Baked (Black Cat)
-Panda Bear + Regal Degal + Geologist (DJ) (9:30 Club)
SATURDAY, 5/17/14
-The Feed + Castles + Real Clothes (Comet Ping Pong)
-Chain & The Gang + Cigarette (DC9)
SUNDAY, 5/18/14
-Highasakite + Faces On Film (Black Cat)
[posted 5.10.14]
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22682 | Leopol City Plan
Metadata Other Info
Map ID: 060
Original Title: Plan de Leopol
Localization: Lviv
Year: 1807
Scale: c. 1:1 364
Map Size: 65х48 cm
Publisher: Author Adalbert Karasek
Source: Courtesy of the Austrian War Archive, Gih 372-1
Copyright: Austrian War Archive (Kriegsarchiv). Vienna
Hand drawn plan of Leopol from 1807 executed by A. Karasek. The map shows the remains of Hetkant's fortifications at Brody district
Objects in Legend
Objects by Type
Featured Objects
Other Maps
Map Description
This hand-drawn map of Lviv provides a schematic demonstration of the city and its environs.
The map's author was Adalbert Karasek. The plan provides 1807 as its date.
A peculiarity of the map is the fact that it demonstrates fragments of F. Getkant's mid-seventeenth century fortifications in the territory of the Brody suburb [12], p. 223
Map characterization:
• The map is hand-drawn and in color.
• District and city limits are not delineated.
• The map provides chief paths and roads and elements of hydrography (the river Poltva with its tributaries, and several ponds).
• Names of all objects on the map are provided in French. Information about the author is written in German.
Inconsistencies and inaccuracies on the map:
• Several objects mentioned in the legend, are not marked with numbers on the map.
• Some inconsistencies are evident in the names or location of several sacred buildings.
• The Church of St. Adalbert (14) is provided in the list of object, but is not marked on the map.
• Erroneously marked are the Armenian Church (11), the Order of Barefoot Carmelites (31), the Church of St. Nicholas (52), and the Church of St. Barbara (53).
• Inscriptions next to sacred buildings do not reflect the change in their function after the closure of most monasteries in the 1780s.
Entry by: Serhiy Tereshchenko
Translated by: Pavlo Hrytsak
City Description
The map of Lviv provides a schematic outline of the urban environment characteristic of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Attention is given more to the artistic execution of the map, than its relevance to actual historical reality.
The map is one of the few to show fragments of defensive constructions by F. Getkant.
From a description of the city by Chodynicki, we can learn, that illumination of the city streets began in 1801. The next decade saw the start of paving the streets and roads, and their further maintenance [9], p. 443-444.
The city's population as of 1808 comprised 44,655 people, including 41,493 city residents, and 3,162 arrivals. A decrease in city population is evident in the early 1800s, due to epidemics [19], p. 35, 113; [9] p. 461.
As of 1808, the city had about 2,515 buildings. The census of 1810 enumerates 2,454 buildings in the city [9] p. 461;[19], p. 30.
Entry by: Serhiy Tereshchenko
Translated by: Pavlo Hrytsak
• The upper right section provides the name of the map: "Plan of the City of Leopol" (Plan de Leopol).
• The left side provides a list of objects on the map (Explication).
• The lower part of the map provides information about the author: "Drawn by Adalbert Karasek, 1807" (Gezeichnet Adalbert Karasek A 807).
• The lower right section of the map provides the scale: "Scale 700 French Toises" (Echelle de 700 toises de France). Toise – was a measure of length, used in France prior to 1812, and corresponding to 1,949 meters.
Map's toponymics:
• Sacred buildings: (47).
• Hills: (3).
• Fortifications and military buildings: (2).
• Schools: (1).
• Hospitals: (3).
gardens; gardens;
buildings; buildings;
ponds; ponds;
roads and paths; roads and paths;
fortifications on suburbs. fortifications on suburbs.
Завантаження ...
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Urban Maps Digital
Urban Maps Digital
Center for Urban History of East Central Europe
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22701 | XML Sitemap
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22726 | M&T Performance Chiropractic
Chiropractic, Rehabilitation, and Natural Healthcare Sparta, Wisconsin
3 T’s Subluxation
i don't need a chiropractor
“I don’t need a Chiropractor” is unfortunately something we hear many times. It’s almost like they are saying they don’t have a spine or nervous system, which is untrue. The central nervous system is the first to develop in utero….
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22730 | Deadly Class S01E10 "Sink With California" - New Promotional Photos Released
The "Deadly Class" series is set to air its season finale, episode 10 "Kids of the Black Hole" on March 20 on Syfy at 10/9c. Preview the episode via promotional photos below:
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22740 | XML Sitemap
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http://www.nailsworld.pl/lakiery-do-paznokci-jakie-kolory-beda-modne-tej-wiosny/20%Monthly2017-04-10 16:04 |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22747 |
SmoothGallery - AJAX Script
Using mootools v1.0, this javascript gallery and slideshow system allows you to have simple and smooth (cross-fading...) image galleries, slideshows, showcases and other cool stuff on your website... Some of you might have heard of JonDesign`s SmoothSlideshow. SmoothGallery is its evolution. So, what is so cool about it ? Unlike other systems out there, JonDesign`s SmoothGallery is designed from the ground up to be standard compliant: You can feed it from any document, using custom css selectors. And even better, this solutions is very lightweight: The javascript file is only 16kb. Why consider it instead of a Flash-based solution ? Let`s imagine you want to add a showcase of your last products, or even a showcase of one product on your homepage. Would you want to restrict it only to the users who have Flash enabled ? Another important point is the fact that using this script, you will have fully standard compliant web pages (which is important for accessibility, for example). Using a flash based solution, search engines won`t see your content nor links. Not really the expected result, right ? Oh, and do you really want to rely on a big company`s proprietary licensed app for your website ? Wow cool ! How much does it costs ? Nothing, it`s free as in beer and even better, this library is open-source, GPL licensed to be precise. On what browsers does it run ? Since it`s based on the mootools library, it`s somehow platform agnostic. I have fully tested it on: Firefox Opera Internet Explorer 6 and 7 Safari
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22753 | The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, John Martin, 1832.
Sodom—together with its companion Gomorrah and two other towns—was a city destroyed by God for its sins: a complete disregard for the tradition of hospitality and an aggressive form of homosexuality. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim were destroyed by "brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven" (Genesis 19:24-25). Since then, the names of Sodom and Gomorrah have become synonymous with unrepentant sin, and their fall with a proverbial manifestation of God's just wrath.
Before its destruction, the region around Sodom is described as well watered by the Jordan River, "like the garden of the Lord." (Gen. 13:10) Its king's name is given as Bera. Sodom and Gomorrah were members of a coalition of small city-states known in ancient times as Pentapolis. The patriarch Abraham reportedly came to the military aid of Pentapolis after his nephew Lot, a resident of Sodom, had been taken captive in war (Gen. 14). Lot and his two daughters would be the only people who survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The exact location of the cities is uncertain, but archaeological discoveries at Bab edh-Dhra near the Dead Sea indicate that human habitation there may indeed have been disrupted or brought to an end suddenly as a result of earthquakes combined with gaseous emissions and a fire. Another candidate is the site at Numeira. Some theorists believe Sodom and Gomorrah may now be under water, or that they never truly existed.
The story of Sodom has given rise to words in several languages, including the English word "sodomy," meaning homosexual acts or heterosexual oral and anal sex, and the word "sodomite," meaning one who practices such acts.
The Biblical text
Lot and his daughters flee the destruction of Sodom, while his wife looks back.
Sodom was one of a group of five towns, the Pentapolis (Wisdom 10:6): Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboim, and Bela—also called Zoar (Genesis 19:22). Only the last of these was spared from God's punishment, according to the biblical account. The Pentapolis region is also collectively referred to as "the Cities of the Plain" (Genesis 13:12) since they were all sited on the plain of the Jordan River in an area that constituted the southern limit of the lands of the Canaanites (Genesis 10:19). Lot, the nephew of Abraham chose to live in Sodom after separating from Abraham, because of the proximity of good grazing for his flocks (Genesis 13:5-11).
The king of Sodom in Abraham's time was named Bera. In the account in Genesis, he leads the other kings of the Pentapolis in resistance against the Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, a figure unknown outside of the Bible, who had established a growing empire in the region. The resistance collapses, Kedorlaomer's forces sack the Pentapolis, and Lot is among those taken as hostages. Abraham and 318 warriors from his clan then engage in battle to rescue Lot, defeating Kedorlaomer and receiving the homage of Bera, as well as of Melchizedek of Salem. Nevertheless, it is earlier stated that the men of Sodom have already earned God's disapproval because of their sinful ways.
In Genesis 18, God takes the form of three angels and informs Abraham that he plans to destroy the city of Sodom because of its gross immorality. Abraham pleads with God not to destroy the city, and God agrees that he will refrain if there were 50 righteous people found in it. Abraham bargains the Lord down 45, then 30, then 20, or even ten righteous people. Ultimately, of the men of the city, only Lot would be spared.
Two of the angels arrive in Sodom on their mission to destroy the town for its wickedness. However, they first warn Lot and give him and his family a chance to escape. Lot offers the angels—here called "men"—hospitality. However, the Sodomites demand that the visitors be brought out to them to rape them (19:5). Horrified at this outrage, Lot offers the men his virgin daughters instead (19:8), but the would-be attackers only threaten to break down the door in order to have their way with Lot's guests.[1]
The angels immediately strike the townsmen blind and warn Lot of the impending doom that God has pronounced on Sodom. Lot attempts to warn his sons-in-law—who were betrothed but not yet married to his daughters—of the catastrophe, but they did not take his warning seriously.
At dawn, the angels lead Lot and his family out of the city, taking each of them by the hand after Lot hesitates. "Flee for your lives!" one of them commands. "Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!"
Hendrik Goltzius' 1616 painting Lot and his daughters
Lot fears he has insufficient time to reach the mountains and asks instead to find shelter in the small town of Zoar. The angels agree not to destroy this town, on the grounds that it was only a small village and therefore not very wicked. With Lot safe in Zoar and the sun now fully risen, God destroys both Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as the surrounding plain and all of its vegetation. Lot's wife, however, makes the tragic mistake of looking back toward Sodom while the destruction proceeds, and is consequently turned into a pillar of salt.
Now afraid to remain in Zoar, Lot retires with his two daughters to a cave in adjacent mountains. There they live together for an indeterminate period. Believing they were the only females in the area to have survived the devastation, the two women decide on a desperate plan. They ply their father with wine for two nights in a row. On they first night, the older daughter seduces him into having sexual intercourse, and on the second night the younger daughter does likewise. Each of the women became pregnant by him. The son of the elder daughter was named Moab, patriarch of the nation known as the Moabites. The second son was named Ben-Ammi. He became the patriarch of the nation of the Ammonites.
Rabbinical tradition
A rabbinical tradition, described in the Mishnah, postulates that the sin of Sodom was related to property: Sodomites believed that "what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" (Abot), which is interpreted as a lack of compassion. Another rabbinic tradition is that Sodom and Gomorrah treated visitors in a sadistic fashion and that thereby it sinned against the tradition of hospitality.
A story goes that in Sodom, everyone who gave bread and water to the poor was condemned to death by fire. Another states that Pentapolis existed only 52 years, and during the last 22 of them God brought earthquakes and other misfortunes upon it that it might repent. The inhabitants of the cities of the plain worshiped the sun and the moon (Yalḳ., Gen. 83).
Christian views
Traditional theologians accept that the sins of Sodom were homosexuality and rape. However, the following New Testament passage has given rise to debate:
Biblical scholars debate the proper English interpretation of this passage. Most feel that "strange flesh" is indeed a reference to homosexuality, while some feel that the "strange flesh" involved refers to bestiality, and others as a reference to the men of Sodom attempting copulation with angels.
Liberal theologians tend to emphasize the ancient rabbinical texts which portray the sin of Sodom as primarily an economic one. Others take the view that the biblical account of homosexual sin at Sodom is undeniable, but understand it primarily as a legend, arguing that it represents an anachronistic moral attitude, since science has shown that homosexuality is not merely an ethical choice but also a genetic predisposition.
Islamic view
In Islamic tradition, the story of the prophet Lot (called "Lut") is often used as a reference to show that homosexuality is haraam—against God's law. Indeed, Lut was commanded by God to go to the land of Sodom and Gomorra to preach against homosexuality. His message was ignored, and Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. In the Qur'anic account, Lut's wife refuses to leave the city and is left behind to be destroyed, rather than turning into a pillar of salt as she is in the biblical account.
Qur'an, 7:80-84
Another difference between the story of Lut in the Qur'an and the story of Lot in the Bible is that the Qur'anic account does not include Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughters, since, as a prophet in Islamic tradition, Lot would never engage either in drunkenness or incest.
Geological formation overlooking the Dead Sea, known as "Lot's wife."
The historical existence of Sodom and Gomorrah is still in dispute by archaeologists, with some believing they never existed, some believing they are now under the Dead Sea, and others claiming that they have been found (under other names) in the region to the southeast of the Dead Sea. The Bible indicates they were indeed located near the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:1-3, Deuteronomy 34:3).
An ancient Akkadian poem describes cities that were destroyed in a rain of fire, written from the view of a person who escaped the destruction, however the names of the cities are not given.[2]
The Greek historian Strabo (first century C.E.) states that locals living near Moasada (probably referring to Masada) reported that "there were once 13 inhabited cities in that region of which Sodom was the metropolis."[3] There is a small "mountain," mainly composed of salt, next to the Dead Sea, called in Arabic Jabal (Mount) Usdum, which is similar to the Arabic for Sodom, Sadūm.
Some modern biblical scholars suggest the destruction of the cities may have been factual, with the account of Lot and the sin of the Sodomites added later as an explanation for a natural disaster. Geologists have confirmed that no volcanic activity occurred in the region within the last 4000 years, but it is possible that the towns were destroyed by an earthquake, especially if the towns lie along a major fault, the Jordan Rift Valley, the northernmost extension of the Great Rift Valley of the Red Sea and East Africa.[4]
One candidate for Sodom is a site known as Bab edh-Dhra. Bab edh-Dhra was an Early Bronze Age city located near the Dead Sea, and bitumen and petroleum deposits have been found in the area, which contain sulfur and natural gas. The theory is that an earthquake opened a nearby pocket of natural gas. This gas drifted up and reacted with fires burning in the city. As a result, the city was devastated. Another site suggest is that of nearby Numeira.
Modern Sodom
Aerial view of the Dead Sea Works evaporation ponds at modern Sodom, used to collect potash and other minerals.
In accordance with the general Israeli practice of naming places for the cities or villages which existed in biblical times, the site of the present Dead Sea Works, extensively extracting the Dead Sea minerals, is called "Sdom" (סדום). It is not claimed, however, that this is the biblical city. Unlike its biblical namesake, the modern Sodom is not associated with sins but with hard working crews sweating in the summer heat of the Dead Sea shores to harvest potash and other minerals from the region.
1. A similar event is recorded in the Judges 19:20-22, this time involving the town of Gibeah, where a Levite is offered hospitality by one man but runs into trouble from the other local inhabitants: 'As they were enjoying themselves, and behold, the men of the city, men of wickedness, surrounded the house, (and were) beating at the door. And they spoke to the man, the elderly master of the house, saying, "Bring out the man that came into your house, so that we may be intimate with him."' In this case the man's concubine is offered as a replacement. She is brutally raped and later dies, sparking a bloody war between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel.
2. A. H. Sayce. Records of the Past XI 119.
3. Strabo XVI 2:44.
4. J. Penrose Harland, Sep. 1943, Sodom and Gomorrah: The Destruction of the Cities of the Plain. Biblical Archaeologist 6 (3).
See also
• Gagnon, Robert A.J. 2002. The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics. Abingdon Press, 2002, 71-91. ISBN 978-0687022793
• Goldberg, Jonathan. Reclaiming Sodom. New York: Routledge, 1994. ISBN 9780415907552
• Letellier, Robert Ignatius. 1995. Day in Mamre Night in Sodom: Abraham and Lot in Genesis 18 and 19. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 978-9004102507
• Noort, Edward, and Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar. Sodom's Sin: Genesis 18-19 and Its Interpretation. Themes in biblical narrative, v. 7. Leiden: Brill, 2004. ISBN 9789004140486
• Pellegrino, Charles R. 1995. Return to Sodom and Gomorrah. Harper Paperbacks. ISBN 978-0380726332
External links
All links retrieved October 9, 2015.
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22757 | Chaos Theory
Nuclear Power Plant
Course Description
Course Objective
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor As is typical in all conventional thermal power stations the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22770 | How to run an ultra marathon
Click HERE to listen!
Journey To 100: Week 2
This week started off with me taking the plunge. The short shorts plunge. We're talking really REALLY short shorts. Like, 1.5 inch inseam short. They're the Craft Men's Run Race shorts and they are the most insanely comfortable shorts I've ever had on my body. But it took a bit of nerve to step out in public to show off these devastatingly pale legs.
The most interesting thing I've noticed is that the "for real runners" are now much more likely to greet me on the trail. Have I discovered the mark of a "for real runner?" Short shorts? Is that how you know somebody means bid'nass? Is my sporting these border-line inappropriate and indecent short shorts the key to earning trail cred? It sure seems that way.
This week ended on a less humorous note. During my post-50 miler break I dealt with some major sciatica caused by two herniated discs which I've been battling since college. While they're almost always in check and not much of a nuisance, this week they were anything but. My runs went relatively well until my 17 mile long run on Sunday. At mile 10 all hell broke loose.
Herniated or bulging discs are a strange thing. They cause very little pain in your actual back. But because of the pressure they put on your sciatic nerve they can render one or both of your legs completely useless in a snap. This was the case on my week 2 long run. After ten incredible miles I hobbled the six grueling miles back to my Jeep trying to stifle the tears welling up since I'm a grown ass man and all.
I'm under the care of an excellent medical team and under the supervision of one of the world's best ultra running coaches. They've put together an excellent plan to return me back to health. Although today was rough, my back issues have been steadily improving over the past couple of weeks. Hopefully this terrible no good very bad back pain day will be my last.
Journey To 100: Week 1
It starts today. I've completed my first 50 miler and have made the absolutely insane decision to train for my first 100 mile ultra marathon. The Leadville 100 in Leadville, Colorado. One of the world's oldest and toughest 100 mile ultra marathons...primarily because of the extreme altitude and lack of oxygen. What makes me think this 240lb husky ginger can finish it? I've no clue. But apparently I'm crazy enough to give it a try.
Luckily, I'll be in good hands as we've brought Ian Sharman on board as my trainer to help prepare and guide me toward the finish line. There's literally nobody on earth who is better equipped to train me for this challenge. Not only has Ian won the Leadville 100 he also holds the US record for the fastest trail 100 miler..among numerous other wins.
After taking a fairly inactive month off from running after completing my first 50 miler...the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 miler in San Fransisco, it was a slow start getting myself back in the groove of things. But by my long run at the end of the week I remember why I love this crazy sport so f$%&ing much!
My first week's long run was a 15 mile jaunt. I chose my favorite mountain training loop in the Santa Monica Mountains. A grueling 15 mile loop in Malibu Creek State Park. It was raining. A rare occurrence for southern California. It was muddy. I had to wade through flood waters. At times the fog was so dense I couldn't see more than ten feet ahead. And I LOVED IT! This is why I do this. Adventure. I'd rather eat a box of nails than run on a treadmill in a florescent lit packed gym. But sliding through 15 miles of muddy trail with my head literally in the clouds? Yes. Please god. Yes.
6 Reasons I'm Scared Shitless of Running My First 50 Mile Ultra
In a few days I'm running my first 50 mile ultra marathon. The North Face Endurance Challenge in San Francisco. I've lost over 100lbs and trained religiously for the past six months but I'm still scared are the reasons why...
1. I'm a husky ginger...
Ok sure, I've lost over 100 lbs and spent the last six months training religiously. But if we're being honest, and I hope that we are, I'm still packing a few extra lbs. There's no getting around the fact that my attempt at running the North Face Endurance Challenge will be akin to asking the race's winner to run the race wearing a 75lb fat suit made of beef jerkey and Crisco. This husky ginger simply was not born to run.
2. The longest training run I've completed is 34 miles...
The Internet tells me this isn't a concern. Most 50 mile ultra training plans stop in the low 30's and rely on race day adrenaline and the power of prayer to get you to the finish of your first 50 mile ultra marathon.
While the Internet tells me this isn't a concern, my burning ginger loins and mile 34 tears tell a different story. My last 34 mile training run was terrible. I was slow. I was chaffed. I was thrown to the ground twice by life altering muscle cramps. And the thought of finding myself at mile 34 in the same condition and pushing my body another 16 miles is absolutely terrifying.
3. Pooping
I'm going to be honest with y'all...I'm a persnickety pooper. I refuse to poop on a toilet other than my own in all but the most dire of circumstances. Should I find myself in a excremental emergency at your home and have no other choice but to use your toilet don't be alarmed when I ask for a bath towel. ALWAYS shower after I poop. No exceptions.
I've pooped in the woods. Whatever. I hated it. But I did it. I survived. And it only required seventeen wet wipes.
But what is a persnickety pooper to do when he's in a time crunch in the midst of a 50 mile race and doesn't have time to pop off the side of the trail to settle in for a relaxing seventeen-wet-wipe poop session?
Imodium A-D. It's worked so far and I pray it doesn't fail me during this ultra. Fourteen hours poo free on the trail will certainly be worth the four hours that evening I'll spend on the toilet.
4. I might not make the cutoff time...
14 hours. That's how long I have to move this body down 50 miles of trail. Aid station stops to refill water and food stores count in this time as well as any, oh god save me...poop breaks.
I need to keep an average pace of 16:55 mi/min for the entire race. Sounds easy enough, right? average time on my last terrible 34 mile training run was 16:35. Terrifying.
5. I'm too competitive...
I'm competitive. I never lose. Mostly because I don't play games I know I might not win. So why would I throw myself into a game of running 50 miles in the North Face Endurance Challenge knowing full well I won't win?
Because I'm so slow that I'm not racing against the other runners...I'm racing against the cutoff time.
The key to making it to the end of an ultra is pacing yourself. Taking it very easy in the beginning so you have energy left at the end. I'm terrified the hundreds of runners passing me by will cause me to run faster than I should. Simply running :30 seconds/mile faster than I should could have me out of commission by mile 35.
5. Running in the dark...
This ultra marathon will start in the dark and it will end in the dark. Alone...on a trail...miles from the dark...running 50 miles. Ugh...Terrifying.
Yes, I have a little headlamp strapped to my head that gives me a decent view of the trail. But please tell me how to use that headlamp to protect myself from the critters, bats, and murderers who are sure you be lurking on these dark forest trails. I've done one practice run in the dark and it was horrible. I dealt with dive-bombing bats, stubbed toes, and I got lost...twice. My expectations are low...very very low.
6. I might not finish...
I might not finish. It's a very real possibility. I'll certainly be disappointed but I think I've prepared myself well enough to prevent me from complete devastation. I've planned for every conceivable thing that could go awry. But sometimes the inconceivable happens. There are a million things that could go wrong. Sometimes your body fails you even though you've done everything you can to prepare it.
They say the key to ultra running isn't in your legs but in your mind. Your legs can take you much further than you'd ever think possible. But your mind can stop you dead in your tracks. If my my mind wavers I'll hope that my usual tricks work...thoughts of how hard I've worked, how far I've come, and how proud my mom would be if she could be here to see her husky little ginger lumberjack stumble across that finish line.
My legs are ready. My mind is ready. My Imodium A-D is ready. Let's do this thing...
To learn more about the film Once Is Enough click here |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22790 | Songs From My Mother's Sky
Fort Wayne Museum of Art
Fort Wayne, IN
January 2007
This piece emerged as a part of an ongoing series of gestures in memory of my mother, Florence McCoy. Following her passing in 2003, I began constructing physical spaces that sought to simultaneously reflect something of her spirit, and to function as a prayer. Within each of the ’prayers’, the presence of birds has been central. "Song’s" consists of a small post and beam structure filled with immaculately crafted birdhouses that stand in for living birds. Each birdhouse was hand made from recovered Maple and Oak: each fitted together with the care given to fine furniture. Sounds of birds recorded from the landscape in which my children were conceived and born, were mixed with the sounds of Mockingbirds from my mother’s home... this ’mix’ emerges from within the birdhouses.
For my mother, and for myself, birds are evocative of a kind of freedom that is chosen and actively pursued. Birds are music. Flight.
Materials include: cream colored translucent fabric, structure (5’ X 8’ X 7’ high) composed of poplar and basswood beams, sixty pounds of roasted coffee beans on the floor. Not pictured are the sounds of the Pacific Ocean woven into the murmur of morning traffic in Los Angeles, Ca., a train pulling into the station, and a distant helicopter serving as a backdrop to the night songs of a mockingbird among a chorus. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22818 | Quil Carter
Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality
Silent Ground Part 1 physical copy out.
Hey guys!
Silent Ground Part 1 is now available in paperback! I'm really in love with how it turned out, and as always, mad credit goes to my friend Christina for doing the cover jacket! She always makes these back covers look amazing. I'm lucky as hell to have her. I'm not sure if Silent Ground Part 1's physical book is linked to Amazon yet, if, not it will be tomorrow at the latest most likely. It is currently on createspace though.
Like announced yesterday, part 2 is right around the corner too, only 8 more days. That will conclude Silent Ground and the next book you'll see from me will either be Fallocaust Short Stories or Fallocaust book 4 'A God Among Insects'. A God Among Insects is going great. We're at 230,000 words currently. As usual, I have no idea how big this book is going to be, but considering I still feel like I just started it, we're definitely looking at The Suicide King size (which ended up being over 560,000 words). Maybe we'll reach 600k? Or maybe Rosa will get her wish and we'll finally be in three volume territory lol. I'm really loving writing AGAI, a lot of scenes that I have been seeing perfectly in my head are now down on paper and I couldn't be happier with them, and one character particularly that I've been dying to write, is turning out just as fucked up and hilariously crazy as I was hoping he would. I know you guys will love this book, and as always, I am writing as fast as I can lol.
But until book 4 comes out, you have Silent Ground to keep you occupied! |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22841 | Tuesday, January 31, 2017
THE REVELL MQ-9 REAPER Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has been out for some time, but it remains a good kit of a type of aircraft that is changing the face of military aviation.
SMN report: The DJI Phantom 3 is a drone you can buy right now, and fly it right away. But military drones, also called UAVs, are different animals altogether.
Best known of the breed is probably the General Atomics Predator series, which the 1:48 scale Revell MQ-9 Reaper represents. The Predator-B is known as the MQ-9 Reaper in military service, though why it earned the name-change, we don't know.
The Revell kit is a reboxed version of a Skunk Models Workshop original, though none the worse for that. Detailing is light but accurate, the missiles (below) being reasonably convincing after some careful painting. Note that you will need to add some nose weight if the Reaper is to stand on its landing gear correctly. Adding about 28 gr (1 oz) should be enough to avoid it being a tail-sitter.
The MQ-9 Reaper is replete (below) with assorted antennas and other communications devices, which seem to be all present and correct.
The tail-mounted engine bulge (below) is accurately moulded, as is the three-blade propeller. Note that the spinner should be finished in a bare-metal shade.
In real life, the MQ-9 (below) has been in service since 2007, and has hit the headlines many times, especially for actions across the Middle East.
Apart from US armed forces, the Reaper is used by countries such as France (below), Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK. So there's some choice where markings are concerned.
Under the nose bulge (below) lies a satellite antenna and the complex electronics needed for operation.
If video games are your thing, UAVs feature in the PlayStation 4 combat-sim Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, an action-packed way of passing time (!).
The video (below) has footage of drones, giving a view of the future of air warfare.
Pictures courtesy Revell, US armed forces, Armee de l'Air. |
global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22844 | Is Breastfeeding/Skin Hunger Incest?
Discussion in 'Ethics, Morality, & Justice' started by ancientregime, Feb 2, 2009.
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1. ancientregime Banned Banned
The main problem I have with Levine is that she supports a legal angle that is faith based prosecution. It doesn't require any evidence that fits a scientific criteria. A person may only say they were raped and that is all that is neccessary to find guilt. This is the prosecutorial logic used to send Jews to gas chambers and witches to the gallows. I am for a draconian movement of complete removal of it from our system of law. A technocratic system of law does not create victims, but a faith based one said to error on the side of protection is hypocritical in that it is guaranteed to manufacture victims. It is not the responsibility of the law to create faith based ideals for protection, it contradicts the integrity on which the law functions--emprical reason.
I think the fact that chemicals are present are of primary importance. It establishes an objective basis. The amount chemicals present for any given activity can be used to quantify the degree of an act. Acuracy is very important in making a sound judgement.
The power imbalance is important, I wouldn't rule it out. I think it's only relevant when a threat is made to the person with less power in the situation and that threat must show that the person with less power will have their rights trampled if they do not engage in some kind of act. If a threat is not made, this power relationship is irrelevant.
Definitely who benefits matters because this forms a basis for exploitation. If the act is one sided exploitation can be proven.
Harm is fundamentally the most important. If an act causes no harm it doesn't fit in the category as criminal. The philosophy of the law is based upon the common good of individuals and the whole. If an act doesn't harm someone and it's considered a crime then this is moral preference legislation. which is against the common good of all who would prefer to act freely and not be dictated on matters that affect others in a nuetral way.
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3. ancientregime Banned Banned
Oxytocin with wide spread accross the animal kingdom. It has a long evolutionary history. It is present in bonding, arousal and orgasm. Sex is absolutely neccessary for our survial and oxytocin tends to surround itself around this act, and rears it's head a few other collateral places. Due to these fundamental facts, I think this is why it considered sexual in nature.
I'm thinking that people equate sexual with only intense orgasm or erection or vaginal flow. So far from what I understand there is an orchestration of chemicals involved, but oxytocin seems to be the major sexual player. For instance, oxytocin may not create an erection directly, but it is neccessary for producing a chemical that does create an erection.
Last edited: Feb 13, 2009
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5. visceral_instinct Monkey see, monkey denigrate Valued Senior Member
It *still* does not logically follow that oxytocin means an encounter is in any way sexual.
I'm very fond of my female friends, and I'm sure I produce oxytocin when with them, but I'd rather they didn't rub their clit on me.
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7. swarm Registered Senior Member
I'm left wondering how any one other than a pedophile would carry on so about such a non issue.
8. scott3x Banned Banned
She does? Did you read Harmful to Minors or are you getting this view from something else she wrote? I didn't get that impression but if you found that this was indeed the case, do you have any writing of hers that backs this up?
I agree to some extent, but I have a few caveats. If someone says that someone else raped them and they don't share any particular environment (as in they live in the same house), then I don't see that their should be much of a problem with slapping a restraining order on the accused in terms of them going to their home; after all, while it may be that the rape didn't happen, it also may be that it did and I think we can all agree that the possible harmship of a restraining order from the acuser's home is nothing compared to the possibility that the acused did indeed do the raping and would like a second go at it.
Ofcourse, this becomes much more complicated if the people in question live together.
If by technocratic you mean 'must provide evidence', I disagree- there are times when hard evidence simply can't be provided. This doesn't mean that a crime hasn't occurred, however. This is why I support measures like restraining orders where restraining orders won't be so harmful to the accused but can be a real help or even a life saver for the accuser.
Not if the focus is on prevention of contact with the accuser instead of simply jailing the accused.
I'm very skeptical of this. As many here have pointed out, some chemicals released during sexual activities are also released during non sexual activities.
I wouldn't either. However, I think that our society thinks far too much on whether there's a power imbalance and far too little on whether or not anyone suffered from the fact. And I go further then simply thinking about sexual activities, which is sometimes the only time people think of when it comes to such things. I would never want to subject myself to being in the U.S. military for instance, simply because I've heard of what goes on there. And no, I'm not only talking about the many accounts of women being raped or otherwise abused and then frequently left to fend for themselves if they have the courage to report it, I'm talking about the way -all- recruits are trained.
I agree and disagree. You'd have to give specific examples before I could rule on any particular possibility
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I don't see anything wrong if one side benefits while the other side is simply ok with it- think about a job- the employer may benefit much more then the employee. But as long as the employee still thinks he or she is getting a good enough deal, well, that's life.
I believe I agree to this. I believe that society was wrong to jail Mary Kay Letourneau, who taught grade 6, just because she had sex with a willing grade 6 student of hers, Vili Fualaau. Calling willing sex rape or statutory rape is, in my view, intended to deceive. Calling it unlawful sex is the truth of the matter. Now that the 7 years of jail is over, she's gotten married to him. As the subtitle to an article from MSNBC states:
Mary Kay and Vili deserve wedded bliss, says Letourneau's friend
9. swarm Registered Senior Member
Breast feeding at 8
10. scott3x Banned Banned
I don't think that accusation is fair. I myself am not too into this issue of chemicals being released; however, the issue of whether or not breastfeeding is 'ok', especially at older ages, is relevant to parents doing or considering it. And frankly this topic has gotten much further then only talking about breastfeeding. Perhaps I'll make a new thread that deals with certain other issues in this thread.
11. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to the 1st part of Tiassa's post 133 in this thread.
My guess is that he does so in order to help ensure that behaviours that he finds acceptable shouldn't be deemed immoral.
No idea why he chose breastfeeding. It seems that he thinks that this oxytocin thing is important. Admitedly I'm not so keen on the idea that it's all that important; however, I believe me and ancientregime do agree that the whole field of sexuality seems to me to be a minefield wherein you really have to watch where you walk; I certainly respect his interest to clarify what should and shouldn't be allowed.
Not necessarily as someone here made clear when they posted the story of a picture of a mother breastfeeding and the ordeal they went through afterwards. In the ending, as long as what happens where you live doesn't get into the hands of a cop, you're safe. If it does, all bets are off.
Personally, I just don't see you and your brother streaking across the house as all that sexual myself. But if your pictures were to be found on the internet, child porn charges could loom. It's these ridiculous pieces of law that I hope will change in the future.
Last edited: Feb 15, 2009
12. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to the 2nd part of Tiassa's post 133 in this thread.
I agree. To borrow a phrase from The Da Vinci Code, "so dark the con of man."
I have a strong feeling religions wouldn't be so keen on agreeing with you that they do such a thing, laugh
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. I believe you are referring to 'original sin', a concept I don't think I've ever agreed with.
Don't really remember those... but I think the white/bleached out part of the jones are still important ;-).
I'm not sure what you're referring to as 'the one' (white part of pants?) and what you're referring to as 'the other' (darker patches, possibly in the front?).
Why do you think that?
Last edited: Feb 15, 2009
13. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to the 3rd part of Tiassa's post 133 in this thread.
How do you find him to be unyielding?
To me, unyielding is when someone sticks to an argument; in the above case, I'm thinking that perhaps ancientregime simply missed the original post or he forgot about it and it took the reminder for him to get back to it?
Trying to agree on what constitutes sexual things is, in my view, extremely difficult. I think this is something he brought up and I think that it has merit. I think that ancientregime would -agree- with you in one sense- if we define too many things as 'sexual' and then we criminalize too much as well, we're in for trouble- and it's clear that we're there now.
There's one thing I can agree with you on- I doubt the releasing of oxytocin will ever constitute a crime
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From what someone else has said in this thread, oxytocin is a precursor chemical needed for sexual arousal. That, I believe, is certainly interesting. The real issue as far as I'm concerned is why it gets released at x or y time. One doesn't have to be breastfeeding to be aroused.
Sounds good
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14. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to the 4th part of Tiassa's post 133 in this thread.
Not sure where you're going with this one...
Nope, it just means we're closely related to certain primates ;-).
Whoa there. If bonobos are closely related to us, the above argument doesn't really fly. Honestly, I think the only reason there's such a fuss concerning sexuality is because of what is closely related to it- love and chidlren. For this reason, people want to somehow hermetically seal off sexuality from other things. In my view, it's rather absurd to even try; sexuality is ubiquotous and generally rebels against such treatment. I believe that instead of trying to compartamentalize our sexuality, we should simply acknowledge its existence in all its various forms and simply try to ensure that it doesn't stray towards the dark side.
Are pictures of naked children on a beach or running around overtly sexual? Perhaps not even for the Freudian
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. And yet, they're virtually always labelled as 'child porn'.
I don't think anyone was arguing for -that-, laugh
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The possibilities sound interesting; I personally think that he's afraid that the laws are encroaching on areas where they have no right to be, something I can certainly agree with. I think the bottom line here, ofcourse, is that revealing why he brought it up might well get him throttled by his lawyer, if he had one at any rate. Put simply, when it comes to issues like these, it's generally best to speak of them one step removed, as he's trying to do.
Sounds good.
Interesting questions; perhaps he simply found the term 'oxytocin' and began to think that it was a catch all for sexuality. In any case, perhaps ancientregime will clarify on one or both of the questions you pose. I myself am interested in sexuality issues in general for many reasons, most of which I've outlined in this thread and others.
Perhaps. I personally would like to encourage people to talk about sexuality in a civil manner. While I'm sure that some may have been deeply offended by some of the things he's said, the fact that when he has probably caused the most offense he was actually speaking of what the people he's -against- believe is, I think, the most important point to remember.
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. Embarassing mother-son moments; I have a story myself; I think I'll keep it to myself though
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I have 2 sisters, as well as a mother which you certainly had, but having baths with the sister that was 2 years younger than me until around 6 (I definitely remember when the shared baths ended; just as I was getting -very- interested in my sister's differences from me), didn't mean that lingerie catalogues and even stronger stuff held no interest to me; if anything, it made it even more appealing. The 'stronger then' lingerie stuff wasn't immediately appealing- I had been indoctrinated to believe that pornography was bad and that indoctrination lasted until around 16 or 17.
Sure. I also think that part of it may well be the 'innocence' of it. A person going to the washroom frequently isn't doing it for sexual reasons and in a culture that at times demonizes sexuality, that can be a real turn on. The depressing irony is that the very fact that children are frequently non-sexual is something I suspect to be a turn on for pedophiles; I strongly suspect that many of them were in fact sexually repressed and thus overt sexuality may at times repel them. Take certain priests, for instance. More aggrivating still is that the argument that a pedophile would be attracted to even non sexual images of children is then used to ban even those images. In essence; some sexually repressed individuals become pedophiles. Then our society represses images that only some of those sexually repressed people could find arousing. Why? Who is even -harmed- by all this sillyness? I believe the argument is that pedos will then go on to actually harm children, but I've seen no evidence of this. I've even heard the reverse, that it can be used to relieve pedophiles from actually committing a crime, which is one of the reasons that a judge ruled in part for the creator of some literature that was labelled as child porn, in Canada's Supreme Court R. vs. Sharpe decision.
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In ancient times, incest was at times quite common. Today, while most people acknowledge that incest (especially if it occurs in more then one generation) can be genetically dangerous, books have been written that disagree with the general view that it has to be a bad thing, such as On the Incest Taboo - The Offspring of Aeolus (I just found the link right now, the wonders of google
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). I found the following excerpt from the above link to be interesting:
Though much-disputed by geneticists, some scholars maintain that the incest taboo may have been originally designed to prevent the degeneration of the genetic stock of the clan or tribe through intra-family breeding (closed endogamy). But, even if true, this no longer applies. In today's world incest rarely results in pregnancy and the transmission of genetic material. Sex today is about recreation as much as procreation.
Good contraceptives should, therefore, encourage incestuous, couples. In many other species inbreeding or straightforward incest are the norm. Finally, in most countries, incest prohibitions apply also to non-genetically-related people.
It seems, therefore, that the incest taboo was and is aimed at one thing in particular: to preserve the family unit and its proper functioning.
Incest is more than a mere manifestation of a given personality disorder or a paraphilia (incest is considered by many to be a subtype of pedophilia). It harks back to the very nature of the family. It is closely entangled with its functions and with its contribution to the development of the individual within it.
The family is an efficient venue for the transmission of accumulated property as well as information - both horizontally (among family members) and vertically (down the generations). The process of socialization largely relies on these familial mechanisms, making the family the most important agent of socialization by far.
The family is a mechanism for the allocation of genetic and material wealth. Worldly goods are passed on from one generation to the next through succession, inheritance and residence. Genetic material is handed down through the sexual act. It is the mandate of the family to increase both by accumulating property and by marrying outside the family (exogamy).
15. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to ancientregime's post 29 in this thread.
Perhaps not, but I have certainly seen evidence that judges are receptive to public perception, as are lawmakers, and I think wikipedia is frequently a strong representative of its more learned elements. I definitely believe that discussion of the issues involved will lead to more informed legal decisions that deal with said issues.
16. scott3x Banned Banned
This post is in response to the 5th and final part of Tiassa's post 133 in this thread.
Hypotheticals abound; however, the only thing that I think is confirmed is that he read the wiki article on erotic lactation and thought extremists might decide that breastfeeding is a sexual act; that question has been brought up elsewhere:
Oxytocin and breastfeeding - does this hormone make breastfeeding a sexual act?
The article brings up another one in turn:
Breastfeeding a Crime?
-That- article references an article from the Dallas Observer; it doesn't specify the article, but based on the name of the mother, I was able to find 4 links from said newspaper, 3 of which actually had something concerning the case:
1-Hour Arrest - When does a snapshot of a mother breast-feeding her child become kiddie porn? Ask the Richardson police.
Breast Is Best (150 letters, all but one of which criticized the actions of local authorities)
Touching a Nerve - State walks away from breast-feeding case
I believe that ancientregime is concerned that governments are encroaching too much on our liberties, a concern I certainly share.
17. ancientregime Banned Banned
It is a chemical at the core of all sexual behavior in humans and many animals. There is plenty of empirical evidence that does back this up. So, yes it does logically follow. On the other hand, your statement is simple negation, but you have no empirical support for it. You argument is merely negative subjectivity. What evidence do you have that shows oxytocin is not a core sexual chemical. Once you provide that your argument of negation can be taken seriously.
18. ancientregime Banned Banned
Does making comments here qualify as "carrying on"? I think so. By your own logic you call yourself a pedophile. Ooops, you pointed the finger at yourself.:m:
19. Jozen-Bo The Wheel Spinning King!!! Registered Senior Member
I am finding it difficult to take this thread seriously...anyone else?
20. ancientregime Banned Banned
These cases of sex abuse she is targeting require only an accusation for a person to called guilty. It's not a scientific finding of guilt, it's faith based. There is much to be said about this, possible in a thread of it's own.
It is not the resopnsibility of the law to error on any side. It is the a forum to find guilt or prove innocence based upon scientific criteria. One step away from this and it breaks the law by knowingly allowing victimization produced directly by it's actions. The law is not responsible for protecting victims who cannot provide evidence that proves their aggressor guilty, because it violates the very basis of empirical reasoning and consistence justice--it breaks the law it is supposed to uphold.
You are violating the constitutional rights of citizens without accusations backed up objectively. This is faith based justice, not science based justice.
Still faith based reasoning which cannot be taken seriously. Limiting a person's whereabouts, where that cannot be proven to be the actual victimizer, in no way brings about an order satisfying real protection.
If a person's safety is most important, then limiting themselves from situations where it is possible to be victimized. Don't go walking into the ghetto with fancy jewelry and expect a restraining order to protect you. Carry a handgun. Carry pepper spray. Stay in groups.
I get really irritated that people want to battle symptoms, when there are many solutions to prevention.
Oxytocin is present during bonding, sexual foreplay and orgasm, and running your butt off through the fertile crescent. Intercourse is the activity neccessary for us to produce offspring. From a Darwinian perspective oxytocin is around the core behavior that insures our survival-sex. It does exist in peripherial behavior that helps survival that isn't neccessary reproductive, running through the fields. But, it's logical that it's primary purpose is related to the act it most surrounds--the act most relevant to our survival--sex.
Reading through The Five
I group these together because they're relevant, and derive from separate considerations of diverse components of a larger point. Some of the separations you draw split the point, so occasionally I'll be rejoining two disconnected parts of the issue.
Looking to that last sentence in the quote—respecting his interest to clarify what should and shouldn't be allowed—there is something amiss about his methodology compared to your assumption of his motives. That is, I have no moral objection to your kindly and optimistic assessment of his approach, but in the practical context it doesn't reconcile with what I'm seeing.
Perceptions, perceptions .... Insert theory about the dangers of presumption here.
I get the point that he thinks certain aspects are important, but the question of why comes back to a recurring theme in political arguments. To take liberals and conservatives as a comparison: Each side says certain things about the other. Each side says certain things about themselves. And each side makes certain stands and undertakes certain endeavors. All three of these processes disagree with one another. The argument about what the other does is generally inaccurate for being incredibly simplistic. The argument about the self is generally inaccurate for being a sales pitch. And what they actually do gets muddled up in all those other interpretations, and rarely stands or falls completely on its own merit. In the long run, it is easier to cling to the myths about the other, as it gives the one some sense of justification. If the Democrats really are the horrible liberals, if the journalists really are in some sinister liberal conspiracy, if the conservative depiction is accurate, then it warrants according to some specific construct a form of justification for their own behavior. Joe Scarborough used to regularly provide examples of this; he would denounce the liberal media, then talk about himself as a "center-right" journalist. Well, guess what, Joe? You're either a journalist or not. And if "center-right" is that important to you, you're not a journalist. In other words, he uses the spectre of an insupportable assertion of conspiratorial bias to justify his own propaganda ambitions.
What this comes down to is the idea that we let other people—whom we do not trust in the first place—to set definitions. Acknowledging those definitions is one thing; it is essential to explaining why they are wrong. But clinging to them? Allowing them validity? This is a rhetorical trick subtle enough to defy itself. I recently gave one of our atheist neighbors some shit about letting others set the definitions. And that, too, is a good example. Most atheists I know reject Abramic gods, and apply that rejection to other assertions of deity even if the characteristics are different. In other words, they allow the object of their distrust—e.g., Christians—to define God for everyone else.
Looking to Ancientregime, and credibly considering your presumption of his motives, there is the appearance of something similar going on. Rather than making "them" demonstrate the validity of the oxytocin=sex proposition, he is accepting the definition and demanding people disprove it. Yet, and we'll come back to this in a minute, he's also viciously rejecting the counterpoints.
I'm of the opinion that presuming a specifically-framed, specifically-lit, specifically-composed photograph of a naked child on a glass table to be pornographic—while I disagree with that presumption—has greater merit than presuming a photograph of a breastfeeding child is pornographic.
If those pictures fount their way to the internet, there's not a jury of peers in the land that would convict my parents for having taken them. The person who would be convicted would likely be whoever stole and posted the pictures.
(End response #1.)
Indeed. But it's only a matter of terminology. It would be funny listening to these religious people make the point and then deny what they said if there wasn't so much at stake.
And, yes, I'm referring to original sin. Whether or not we agree with it, the principle affects our lives.
The one and the other ... "To the one" is an older way of saying "On the one hand". I prefer it for rhythm. Thus, We can go into detail if needed, but on the one hand ... while on the other ....
I will say that the pornographic connotation of tight jeans has to do with the contrasts. The light sections are meant to set off the dark. The dark creates a bikini or cutoff look around the hips, buttocks, and groin of the woman; the light sections draw the eye and lead to the dark. Regardless of the original intent, the look has certain attractive value in a specific subcategory of a paraphiliac pornographic classification.
Without certain knowledge, various behaviors simply provide pleasure, comfort, or security.
Were I to ask you when you first masturbated, your honest answer would most likely be incorrect, setting that event later than it really was by a number of years. That error would occur not because you are lying, but because the earlier events were never contextualized sexually.
And on that point I claim certain insight. It's awkward enough to hear in Psych 101, or whatever, about young children masturbating, but the reality generally isn't as subtle as a basic classroom overview of Freudian principles generally suggests.
In this case, wet nursing has existed in cultures in a form that may or may not be construed as sexual to the nurse, but has no such context to the child, extending well beyond infancy. And, yes, such behavior might (does) have an effect on later psychological development and reconciliation, but that was never the reason for curtailing the practice.
But in its moment, this behavior was not overtly sexual.
(End response #2.)
But it wasn't just James R. After the point was on the table, it came up repeatedly—
James R, #8
Bells, #13
Laladopi, #19
Visceral Instinct, #36 (affirmation of #8)
James R, #39 (reminder)
—and it's not like Ancientregime completely failed to respond (see #43); but it is the case that the response manages to completely avoid the point that one common component does not make two things, events, or actions similar. James makes that latter point in #44. Bells addresses the implications in #45. Swarm makes a relevant point in #72, the "unfounded premise of similarity", which Ancientregime almost exactly fails to address by reiterating the thesis instead of answering the question about the thesis. Vslayer makes the point again in #76. Indeed, Scott, you asked after the point in #78. Ancientregime did hedge toward the point in #81, but that slight movement is later canceled. Bells in #82. Ancientregime seemingly making some progress in #83 (again, that progress is offset later); and #84 is a curious post that suggests some deeper issue on his part, possibly including some aspect of my own wandering speculation later in the thread. And in #85, Ancientregime suggests Bells is a child molester, leading to a digression about sexual grooming and, again, deflecting the issue as one purported by nutcases. (Not that those pushing the issue aren't psychologically unbalanced at least, but the deflection is compelling, as well, in the context of allowing other people to set the definition.) Vslayer addresses in #87 the hedging toward the point. Ancientregime pushes a strange confusion of states of arousal in #101. James R reiterates his point in #109. About this time our own discussion begins, (#111, 117). Bells replied to one of your posts with #121, and states the case admirably:
To Ancientregime's credit, Bells fails to consider the possibility that this is one of the most colossal communication failures ever witnessed, but even as such we're back to wondering how and why that failure occurred.
By this time, Ancientregime is becoming openly hostile: he deflects the principle onto wackos, makes a "public note" of Bells' "argument technique", suggests she isn't clever, and touts his own cleverness. And then he finally dismisses James' longstanding argument as "unclever". And tells Lucifer's Angel that she needs to learn how to read and calls Bells lazy. Which brings us up to my speculative psychological inquiry.
All of that has to do with the erroneous operating presupposition that one common component makes two things, events, or actions similar.
That's why I find him unyielding.
In bulletin board culture, the basic processes of Ancientregime's behavior are widely familiar. But this is something of an unusual case for its extremity. That extremity raises the psychological questions. Why is this so blindingly important? Presuming the best of intentions, we might wonder at the the determined, even ferocious insistence on a clearly failing communicative approach. If it's that important according to the benevolent presuppositions, he should have shifted gears long ago, back in the forties or eighties when he came off-rhythm in such a manner as to suggest progress. But, in the end, that progress is nullified; he considers the direction he needs to go with this inquiry (according to benevolent presuppositions) unclever. That is, he's too smart to actually go in the direction he needs to go.
I see that aspect, too. But it doesn't strike me the same way his insistence on insupportable propositions of similarity. For lack of a better phrase, he's just not as into that point as he is the wacko, nutcase definition.
Holding with your proposition of noble intent, I find it a fascinating question as to why he prefers to grant the strange outlook such credibility.
I'm actually not as confident on that count. Not that it particularly worries me, but between defense lawyers demanding exacting interpretations of law and principle and the ongoing societal shift toward a restricted but "fulfilling" definition of freedom, it does seem possible that we could, at some point, become so ridiculous. It's a long way off, and requires catastrophic precursors, but it's not entirely impossible.
Perhaps more important than why a chemical is released at any given time is what it does. Imagine feeling an urge to orgasm but not being able to get close to your lover. Eventually, one will either masturbate for release or the situation will turn desperate—e.g. rape.
Given the body's other uses of oxytocin, I'd say its function is more about bonding and intimacy than the sex itself. It well could be the difference between being scared out of one's mind and actually enjoying being so close to another person.
(End response #3, carry over one sentence.)
As to that last, actually it does. We might differ about the context of the word similar. Regarding the larger point, it's just an attempt to illustrate that it takes a lot more than one or two common components to establish this kind of functional similarity.
I will defer to later consideration of that issue because it's just huge. I will, however, acknowledge and agree with the last sentence.
The cases we hear about most are usually dependent on the question of pornography. I mean, maybe the picture itself is nothing of worry to you or I, but how is it presented? Is it in a shoebox or photo album in your mother's attic? What if it's been posted to
Therein lies the problem. Once the image is presented in an exploitative or sexual context, the question of pornography becomes inherent.
I mean, look at the nut jobs. Both the immigrant photography student I mentioned and the breastfeeding mother in this case were busted by photo lab employees. We cannot pretend that these are the only such pictures to come through processing labs. Not every lab technician sees such images as pornographic. Yet we never see headline, "Lab technician develops child nude, rightly decides it's not pornography". Or anything close to that. It's simply not news. Maybe a screaming front-page headline, "Three quarters of women not sexually assaulted!" People complain that there's not enough good news in the media, but even putting aside concerns about sensationalism, is it really news? Here's a headline you'll never see: "Things working well, approximately how it should be".
If we stop to celebrate the fact that X meets expectations, well, how many people will be raped, murdered, robbed, or otherwise while we pat ourselves on the back? A baseball lands three seats away from me, and I kind of regret I wasn't in position to intercept it. A bullet strikes three seats away from me? I'm glad a ten year-old kid caught the home run. I wouldn't be so happy to see him get shot. The bullet is far more relevant than my favorite baseball team occasionally actually doing its job.
It's the stake that I find fascinating. Something compels his method. It may simply be, as I noted, a colossal failure to communicate. Or it may be that he's somehow wrapped up in the issue and seeking either justification or an exit. Given my druthers, I'd prefer to help. But neither am I a professional in this regard.
I'm usually a bit cynical about the latter, but it's beside the point for now.
And perhaps our neighbor will clarify, so all this tragic misunderstanding can be cleared up.
Something about definitions of civility, but that also is beside the point. The proposition is strange, in and of itself, but incredulity turned to offense largely because of his insistence, and also the diversion of the burden of proof. This oxytocin=sex formula underlying the conflict is a very extraordinary assertion, and yet he determinedly assigns the burden of extraordinary proof elsewhere.
We might consider the following needs:
(1) Demonstration of the significance of this whacked sector of society making such claims. How many are there, really?
(2) Consideration of the context of oxytocin.
(3) Proof that the assigned context is valid, or at least arguable. As the conflict over similar components suggests, there isn't much for a prima facie argument in favor of the oxytocin=sex/breastfeeding-as-abuse proposition.
In other words, that some basket case somewhere makes an assertion doesn't mean the assertion is valid or credible. The presumption of credibility underlying the conflict is simply not credible.
Yeah, they're difficult moments. There are a few paragraphs that go with that quote, but it gets massive if I throw them all together. The larger point of the digression that begins with recounting that episode is the point about guilt, its misplacement, and the expectation of differentiation. And it seems we have little to disagree about.
The purpose of marriage, for instance, seems to be the acquisition of in-laws. Or, stated more academically, the development of one's familial social network.
At least, that's how it used to be. By the twentieth century, all that was turned on its head.
Certainly, the nine-headed children argument has some value in the historical consideration, but it's also subordinate to broader social concerns. The more you cloister a family, the less significant it becomes in its social context.
But the broader consideration of the source of one's criteria for differentiation has to do with the possibility that this discussion is originally motivated by an internal conflict.
(End response #4.)
But why? That is, yes, we're all subject to being suspicious of certain among our neighbors, but this looks like a fixation. I mean, I'm convinced that the homophobes, for instance, are simply expressing sexuality through their own deep repression. (Really, even prudes like to express their sexuality.)
The overwhelming response against the prosecution suggests something about the marginal dimensions of this oxytocin=sex/breastfeeding-as-abuse crowd.
Think of phrenology. It's thoroughly discredited, as are those who really believe dark-skinned humans are evolutionarily inferior and sub-human. Now, there are more of those folks out there than I'm comfortable with—and, likely, more than those who believe oxytocin=sex—but they're not particularly influential. The racism I worry about is far more subtle. It's the racism that saw law enforcement focus its crack campaign against black communities when the vast majority of users were white. It's the racism that compels respectable people to lash out against suggestions of background or latent racism; it's as if they think history has no connection to the present. These people prefer to justify and excuse themselves instead of address the problem. And there's a hell of a lot more of them than there are Sandpoint Neo-Nazis and the like. Or homophobes. I wouldn't worry so much about the assertion that gay sex is equal to raping a dog or a child if it didn't keep coming up, and wasn't treated with the deference due respectability. But people are marching forward on an oppressive campaign against their fellow human beings, with fairly consistent results, based on idiotic superstitions.
The question has arisen; that is beyond doubt. But the credibility Ancientregime gives this anti-breastfeeding faction is grotesque in its disproportion. Sure, it's best to address stupidity before it gets out of hand, but in doing so we must be careful to not overstate the credibility of the stupid. Unfortunately, this overstatement is at the heart of Ancientregime's role in the discussion.
We see this sort of exaggeration taking place all the time. Watch the pundits on the 24/7 news channels. I mean, there was a debate about the fact that Barack Obama took his jacket off in the Oval Office, for heaven's sake. Compared to the economy, the wars, and even the president's trouble filling his cabinet, why did pundits spend days arguing over his goddamn jacket? Sure, there are partisans grasping after any opportunity to criticize a particular politician, but why give them any credibility?
To the other, I don't recall that anyone spent weeks on the issue, so that credibility seems to have evaporated pretty quickly. Still, though, it was pretty stupid.
I will make the point here that there is a strange coincidence between certain concerns about the reach of government and locales in which government becomes intrusive in certain contexts. For instance, Texas. I mean, the joke is to simply say, "Yeah, this is Texas, so what do you expect?"
But in conservative climes, where people worry about the government telling them that they can't be racist in the schools, or in hiring, they also seem to think that who you sleep with is the government's business. Indeed, up in Pennsylvania, it was this very assertion that caused a former U.S. Senator's name to become a profane word. Well, roundabout.
First-world societies are constantly struggling to overcome such conflicts. I would be much more worried about this sad tale as an example of government intrusion if prosecutors hadn't been able to recognize how badly they'd gotten it wrong, or if nobody at all stood up against the ludicrous injustice.
In the meantime, there are those who would say children should be allowed to manufacture, possess, and distribute child pornography simply because they're children. Oh, the intrusive government! Of course, solving this twenty-first century problem will require even more exacting, more detailed laws. Which equals more government.
In any case, it's a matter of proportion. The oxytocin argument is fairly obscure, and ought have no credibility whatsoever among reasonably-educated people. Still, if we pitch enough of a fit about it, the proposition gains credibility. Give any insanity a week on FOX News, and somehow it becomes credible.
(End response #5.)
In the meantime, in more realistic quarters, the Washington state legislature is considering a bill to officially protect public breastfeeding. The bill has moved through committee, and faces no serious opposition.
Associated Press. "Washington bill to OK mothers' breast-feeding". The Olympian. February 6, 2009.
Barnett, Erica C. "WA Breastfeeding Bill Moves Forward". Shakesville. February 13, 2009.
22. ancientregime Banned Banned
What a monstrous reply. It's full of misconceptions and distortions, but would take too much time to break apart.
I'm going to make my concluding remarks and then be done with things.
Many people in this thread have continually denied that oxytocin is a sexual chemical based upon an argument that just because it's present doesn't make it sexual. The chemical is always present in sexual acitivity in human and animals. It is so neccessary to the sexual act, if it weren't there, the human race would not produce offspring. In order to get two people to conceive they first have to hunger for each others touch. Oxytocin is also neccessary the process that creates penile erections (I'm not sure about clitorial blood flow), although does not directly create them by itself.
Due to the fact oxytocin is neccessary for sexual acts to occur, creates sexual arousal, and is present in the act of breasfeeding, breastfeeding fits in the category of sexual behavior. The fact that breastfeeding is primarily not done for sexual stimulation does not dimish this fact. From a Darwinian perspective, sexual stimulation during breasfeeding increases the likihood offspring is nurished.
The same kinds of sexual chemicals are release during hugs and playfullness between parent and child.
It's not incest in my eyes. Incest would require an act that creates offspring. Becaue the nature of why incest is wrong is based upon human deformity in offsrping, not on sexual chemicals being present in human activity.
Last edited: Feb 19, 2009
23. Orleander OH JOY!!!! Valued Senior Member
so if a father made his little girl perform oral sex on him, its not incest since a child cannot be produced this way? :shrug:
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global_05_local_6_shard_00002272_processed.jsonl/22848 | Towers On Mars
Rex/Leak Project posted this video the other day:
But it's an interview with some whacko and God only knows about the quality of their discussion about this topic, I didn't even watch it, I immediately went to find a better informational source:
The search led me to this picture:
Here's the article that picture supposedly came from, but I don't see it in there:
Interesting to note all the other pictures that look like water though.
Looks wet.
Then there's this:
The concept that we could "live" on Mars in these structures really exemplifies the height of 21st century humanity's stupidity. It's right up there with the idea that you can change your gender by mutilating your genitals.
Nevertheless, space travel will happen, I'm sure... it just won't be about building infrastructure to inhabit these other planets. It will be about mining and other resource gathering.
7:56 pretty interesting, I love this stuff.
10:18 good points.
17:40 very interesting.
2:20 it's obvious that a supervolcano took out life on Mars.
2:48 the volcanoes take the same shape as the "towers"... a row of three perfectly spaced apart.
A hundred million years from now, there will be "humans" on another planet studying earth's remnants in just this same way...
(07-12-2019, 05:52 PM)Mister Obvious Wrote:
@7:05 those look like russian icbm
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I've been contemplating the revelation that Clif never actually read Thinking and Destiny (at least not the whole thing, I'm sure he read some) but listened to it on audiobook instead.
TBH the concept of listening to it on audiobook sounds... even more daunting.
It's a psychoride of a book though, holy shit... I'm glad I have it.
Not sure whether I ever posted these on this thread, three of Clif High's most important videos ever:
(11-22-2018, 07:22 PM)MO Wrote:
TL;DR they can tell by your face (therefore, facial recognition software taking over the planet) who/where you descend from and by that alone they can tell whether or not you're an enemy.
(11-22-2018, 07:24 PM)MO Wrote:
12:21 absolutely amazing.
OMIGAAAAAAAAAAAAD. Classic Clif goodies. I've never thought about getting on his channel and watching his old vids!
This is by far the greatest stuff that you could ever watch on YouTube, the most worthy of anyone's time.
5:15 he starts to explain how the "universe started" and it's a process he refers to as the "Little Bloop" -- a pulse.
I definitely recommend watching this one on full screen. This is so great. I sorta wanna bingewatch Clif's videos now.
8:28 God I love Clif High more than anything in this eternal moment.
12:08 - 12:48 it absolutely makes total sense.
15:51 "Space does not exist absent of the molecule it's housed in."
18:35, so true. It's so needlessly overly complicated, I've discussed this before:
20:46 he says the pulse is not electric.
32:25 "We won't get into that." ROFL, he's so funny... Heart
36:36 - 37:00 *squeals*... Heart
43:00 if Clif is right about this (and I believe he is) then this whole "Artificial Intelligence" thing sounds like an inside job to me.
44:04 bwahahahaha oh my God YES. YES. Like I SAID:
Clif says the 'self' (consciousness) is stored in the adrenals.
48:50 he explains birth/death/rebirth.
53:30 he briefly addresses time travel.
He's gonna use the whiteboard again...
4:12 so true, gah. Clif is SO RIGHT about EVERYTHING. I love him sooo much.
7:00 he says that we're all toroidal fields, gah, he's so amazing.
10:30 he's basically summarizing "Thinking and Destiny" by Harold Percival:
The Thinker, The Knower, and the Doer (Doer-In-The-Body) = 3 aspects which make up the human/the larger being that we're part of.
20:04 - 20:34 beautifully said, Clif... thank you.
29:00 - 29:42 absolutely fascinating and rings so true. All of it.
36:34 he discusses the planets/galaxies which spiral orbit the dark sun, and the cycles of destruction (25,420 cycle, 12,960 cycle, etc.) which result due to the proximity between our galaxy and the dark sun.
44:06 God I love Clif's outlook... he's so right, it's so true.
46:09 - 46:26 LOL that's for fuckin' sure!!!
47:00 he references the ice age and says it's on a 100,000 year cycle. He explains the function of the ice age.
51:40 - 51:58 it's such common sense truth.
56:25 he discusses the "Radiant Mental Atmosphere" AKA the ether.
Words could never express how grateful I am for Clif High and him being here and sharing with us.
This is way too long to watch tonight but I will watch and review at a later time.
I think Heidi seems catty, but she's okay in her Clif vids. At least she knows Clif's greatness and at least she's nice to look at or whatever. She lets him talk and doesn't interrupt. These interviews with Clif are the only videos I'd ever watch by her because I personally think vedic astrology needs to be updated to modern terms... it still talks about trading livestock for your daughter to get married and all kinds of weird outdated shit like that.
4:10 he says he's "seen the Space Program" and explains that night vision goggles can reveal activity in the skies.
9:29 he says he thinks these ships are manned.
15:00 he starts talking about the vagus nerve and the importance of taking conscious control of breathing and calming the mood, therefore changing the hormones. He says that all emotions are related to hormones, and conscious altering of these moods is a key practice.
18:00 he says that reptilian creatures have a very simple vagus nerve system and don't feel emotion the way we understand it. He says what is called the "reptilian brain" in the human is misnamed and has nothing to do with reptilian consciousness whatsoever.
21:00 he says chickens/avians are incapable of love; he says only beings with a fully advanced vagus system can have thoughts and cognition, he says a lot of the critters are basically like robots.
25:00 he says cuddlefish and other aquatic creatures have advanced vagus nerve systems.
27:18 Clif says he's a psychonaut... God I love you Clif. I looove you. I'm IN LOVE with Clif. Me and my advanced vagus nerve system be feelin' some type of way about Clif High.
34:00 he's explaining beings he's met on psychedelic trips... beings that show their emotions through color/aura flashing on their "skin". He then mentions the mantis/mantid beings.
40:00 Clif basically says he's a super high functioning schizophrenic (he calls it schizotypal "schizotypical" but I don't) and that his brother was a full blown schizophrenic who was debilitated by the condition. 40:25 Clif says that those who are schizophrenic and unable to function are that way because of adrenochrome, which he describes as the "oxidized form of adrenaline". He says the mind does not recover from adrenochrome. 41:50 he seems to suggest that vitamin B assists in helping some symptoms related to schizophrenia.
58:50 LMFAO, God religion is so fucking damaging.
1:00:00 addressing why channeling can be bad or damaging (and this point was being addressed prior to 58:00).
1:02:40 Clif says that Bashar (Darryl Anka) produced channeled drawings which were bogus. Clif says these entities are telling certain stories to raise hormonal levels (emotions) in channelers and suck that energy out of them.
1:12:45 he addresses that dogs, cats, etc. have the advanced vagus nerve and they can reason, etc. exemplified in them teaching their young... and I think they have the same kind of emotions we have.
1:15:00 he says that the strange energy from space is impacting us through the "hormonal antenna" of the vagus nerve (which branches throughout the entire body) and that this strange energy is causing all the cult-like belief in subjects being spread around by people like Corey Goode etc.
1:21:00 Clif says that Genghis Khan was said to have killed all those people because he was trying to "get rid of the aliens" who were hiding in human bodies.
1:22:00 exactly re: traveling through the interstellar media... that's why I say that interstellar travel is not even possible.
1:24:20 he mentions Andrew Basiago: http://www.sectual.com/thread-5427.html
1:49:22 I believe that!
God I'm so into Clif High. He's so groovy and far out.
2:02:00 dude oh my God listen to this... fabulous history lesson from Clif. The look on Heidi's face, holy shit LMFAO.
Chickens are not fucking robots. OMG they have families and relatives and heartbreak and joy. WTF do you work for KFC ?
4:00 God Clif is so interesting. Sooo interesting. I want the entirety of Clif's knowledge.
9:35 he starts to explain the movement of the sun through space. He says the Russians research about where the sun is actually headed, as opposed to others who are only concerned with the orbit of planets.
16:40 I'm glad these hosts are surprisingly not that annoying.
36:00 this is a totally excellent interview.
I want a wildly brilliant, interesting man like Clif High in my life.
39:00 he says pole reversals and magnetic flips aren't what has caused huge calamity in the past and that the only thing that actually happens is the expanding earth. He says that there was a war long ago between advanced parties which caused a glass desert area in the Sahara as big as the US.
40:50 he starts explaining the ancient war in relation to his 'logo' picture which is the crow with the earth in its mouth and the eye as the moon, saying that Maori believed that the moon was dominating the earth and the raven was the trickster.
42:00 so apparently we came from an aquatic being. So that makes me think that all the action IS in the seas AND WITHIN the earth... inner-earthlings, inter-terrestrials. The REAL "aliens".
45:50 so true.
47:45 he addresses what is referred to as "sun disease".
49:45 sounds a lot like the neurological disruption I've theorized about and attributed to occurrences such as Foreign Accent Syndrome...
"The Electric Universe: Foreign Accent Syndrome and The Tower of Babel"
55:00 - 57:28 he discusses DNA and epigenetics.
58:40 - 59:18 God yes. Heavens yes. Preach it Clif, I love you so much.
1:18:15 he starts discussing the battle throughout time, and reincarnation... one of my personal favorite topics he discusses. It reminds me of what I call the 'cutout'... the flat, blank, vaguely human shape which is at the center of people. All the other layers wrap around that vague shape, sort of like Clif said re: the soul being a mold which encapsulates (and gives features to) the developing human form in the womb.
1:31:00 begins some interesting discussion regarding Antarctica.
1:32:53 so Clif does seem to think that the humans were created by aquatic creatures.
1:38:56 Clif tells a very interesting story that ties into his priorly posted videos above re: the War Across Time.
1:43:00 wow... absolutely fricken amazing.
1:49:49 interesting fact about the Irish language and being "free from reptiles".
For me, 1:43:00 was the most profound part of that interview, because it really validated some of my personal understandings. I could never adequately express how grateful I am for Clif and the information that has been delivered through his expression... truly invaluable, truly nourishing.
17:45 he says that "The Little Bloop" theory pulse (which he in an earlier video/post said is not electrical) is energy.
19:10 he references the "hiss" AKA the "background noise" of the universe... it's so fascinating because I've NEVER heard ANYONE talk about this before.
38:38 re: the pulse being consciousness, and existence is only consciousness.
39:09 very fascinating re: the aura and the way he paints this picture of the movement through space and how every tiny movement is essentially a new universe.
51:45 he discusses the effects of the atom bomb.
54:24 wow that is an EPIC theory re: CERN.
1:10:00 he explains again why time travel into the past isn't possible. He says that neither backward or forward actually exist and there's only now.
1:13:58 holy shit, AGAIN. Clif never ceases to amaze me. He's basically talking about piggybacking consciousness, like I've discussed here:
1:16:25 sounds like sorcery to me.
1:24:20 he mentions the 'hiss' again, "They're hearing space and time being created."
1:34:28 that guy in the upper right hand corner, no idea what his name is... I can hear his thoughts right then. LOL.
1:34:45 interesting point re: humans being an extension of the earth.
1:35:58 he addresses self-healing via consciousness. It's so true.
So the guy's name is "Randy Maugans" and apparently according to his Facebook he doesn't like Clif High anymore because Clif High doesn't like Corey "Blue Chicken" Goode even though Randy doesn't like the guy either. Randy sounds a lil moody.
1:46:00 she talks about the dark agent infiltration at events like raves, Burning Man, etc.
1:51:20 excellent points.
1:56:00 ROFLMAOOOOOOO I fucking loooooooooooove Clif's interaction with this guy. For about the past 30 minutes there's been some really funny psychic activity coming from this Randy guy... and a lot of psychic and visible queues of clashing between the two of them. I just love the way Clif softly interjects on him right then, I mean I'm just putty in Clif's hands, that's all there is to it.
1:56:35 I feel like this Randy guy has some... ego issues or something. I feel like he just needs some good lovin'.
2:00:45 wow I've never heard about this before re: the reverse engineered spaceships.
2:07:00 interesting statements about injuries manifesting in the energy body before manifesting physically.
2:30 it's an interesting question re: the cold weather and whether or not it effects our consciousness in a negative or limiting kinda way.
What I seem to notice about Clif is that he's very patient with people. He seems very understanding. He's not an uppity genius, he's a humble one... I like those.
9:00 what the shit is this guy talking about?? Why is he asking about the manipulation of time?? Didn't Clif explain this in the 2017 interviews with them?? You can only "step outside of time" if you go in between the "bloops"... and you can't be anywhere that the universe doesn't support the complexity of your configuration, sooo thus the ever present now. Remember?? LOL =\ Now I feel like both these hosts must be on drugs or drunk or something.
I mean... I've seen quite a lot of Clif High by now and I've pretty much heard him talk about all the principles of existence explained from his own viewpoint and experience (which I agree with and which make total sense). I feel like I've "learned" Clif pretty well and I 100% get what he's talking about, I'm totally familiar with his terminologies. Aside from the quirky amazing factoids and oddities he brings up now and then, he's not predictable per se, but he's steady as a rock.
30:15 he starts to talk about orgone.
31:45 he says something really interesting about Bruce Lee and his ability to move through time.
36:45 he addresses the problem with 5G frequency.
42:53 dude I feel like this chick wants to fuck Clif High so bad right here... and it's so weird because just before the camera cut and showed her, I was thinking about how attractive, fun, and charming Clif is. Hmmm! That chick is honestly kinda hot.
44:45 she's got a fuckin' excellent point there, and I've touched on this 'fabricated, imitation' synchronicity before:
1:08:45 LOL. She starts talking about Fringe (TV series) and says Clif (and Courtney Brown) remind her of the "Observers" in the series. It's because those characters were literally BASED ON THEM.
Here's the list of supplements Clif takes:
3:30 Clif talks about genes which activate cancer, stating there may be 50-60 genes in the "selection set" of which 12-15 have to be activated at once in order to develop cancer, and those activated genes may be different among different people.
OT, but Clif can really cut to the bone on some real shit.
6:45 I'd love to see Clif playing around in the kitchen with his ray gun!
10:00 he discusses that the levels of daily vitamins needed is different for everyone.
I really love Clif... it's sad he's had the health struggles. This is why it's so important to preserve his knowledge base.
11:52 he basically says that cancer and autoimmune conditions wouldn't happen if we had optimal levels of vitamins and minerals (the proper levels of which, again, is on an individual basis).
14:45 he says that energy drinks are atrocious. Of course. They should be avoided... all of this crap is contributing to adrenal fatigue.
16:30 he states the importance of alternating brands of supplements so that there's no buildup over time of any pollutants that might be in particular brands, geographical areas, or batches.
33:27 Clif says that in the coming ice age we would benefit from the advanced tech that is buried [in Antarctica].
36:06 Clif says that he uses red light therapy:
39:00 he says that in 40 years or so temperatures in the north east during the winter might reach lows of -65 degrees.
42:35 Clif has a sauna?! I want one!!!
42:50 Clif says that estrogen mimickers are responsible for autoimmune diseases.
47:00 he says that mushroom supplements produced from mycelium (instead of the 'fruiting bodies' of the mushrooms) are not very effective. He says that in Russia you get chaga mushroom as/alongside cancer treatment, and suggests powdered chaga mushroom in general.
52:43 he says he thinks repetitious exercise is boring as fuck and I totally agree. I think it's ridiculous.
58:30 Clif says his red glasses screen out blue light and that the blue light could activate genes that we don't want activated.
59:50 he starts to say interesting stuff about C60 maybe clustering in areas of the body where it's needed because it's positively charged and could be drawn to large areas of free radicals.
1:03:10 he starts discussing the ill effects of blue light again, a topic I've discussed at length:
1:05:00 he has been talking on and off in this video about how coffee enemas aren't a cancer cure and that cancer is not a "disease".
1:06:25 he says we're in for a lot of economic frothing. He says there's a shift going on over 2019-2020 and that we need to employ sci-fi tech if we're going to deal with it effectively.
1:08:15 he starts talking about the shaman and mystics.
Clif High is 100% my soulmate.
"Deep woo"... ROFL.
The AI thing is just ridiculous because the computers can only "know" what they've been programmed with.
It doesn't matter where it goes from there... it has all its origins in human knowledge.
And on top of that, it wouldn't have self-awareness in the sense that biological life does.
I feel like Clif is such a hardcore divination master...
But it's so far beyond what's historically been known as divination.
I don't even know how to explain it, I'm just completely in awe of his greatness.
Wow the intro to this video was AMAZINGGG... UNTIL they started their freaked out echoing little whatever the fuck that was OMG. I was literally squirming in my seat and laughing and facepalming and saying "NOOOO!!! STOPPP!!!" ROFL, holy shit. That was epically cringe. Okay I'm over it... I'm over it. They're obviously foreigners. I can forgive it. I guess. I better not think about it too hard.
10:10 Clif High is so wonderful. I genuinely feel like I've heard this before though. Surely not. I'd remember. I definitely don't recognize the host so... I probably haven't heard it. Necessarily.
15:35 LOL, Clif has gotta be an Aquarius.
20:32 very interesting statements about human psychic expression as it pertains to linguistics.
37:17 he discusses the magnetic disturbances coming from Antarctica.
41:12 it's the same thing I've always said, Antarctica is the only place on earth that all the governments agree NOT to fight over and take over. At least publicly. Totally suspicious. It indicates that there's something about Antarctica that all governments know is bigger than them. Something they don't understand. Or... there is already a ruling power established there, which isn't one we've ever been made privy to.
49:10 excellent point re: Admiral Byrd... daaamn.
1:00:00 Clif discusses historical sailing navigation which referenced Egyptian markers with hieroglyphs close to the Louisiana delta. WTF!!!?
1:04:15 the Smithsonian apparently removed the markers in the 1950s... again, DESTROYING historical evidence seems to be the only reason the Smithsonian even exists, except of course for publicly presenting their cherry picked bits of history so they can control the narrative.
Part 2:
Part 3:
Uh oh... comments section is saying Clif gets interrupted by this host a lot in this part 2. The host was fine in part 1... I guess we'll just have to see.
Interview starts at 8:14.
10:22 Clif says that earth's sun is mostly iron, with gold, silver, and some other heavy metals in it.
12:33 great mental picture explaining the expansion of the earth.
16:09 that makes so much sense, I always thought the subduction zone concept was such bullshit.
17:35 he says the tectonic plate model is bogus.
25:20 I think this interviewer guy is falling in love with Clif High.
26:58 he talks about how a religion in India states that earth, the moon, and Mars used to be populated by 600 billion of us, and that we had green or blue skin back then.
29:02 Clif starts to discuss how humans came about. They discuss how the hominid is a template as it pertains to our particular kind of consciousness expression, and that there are likely many alien beings with the same template. Clif talks about the "Nemo" or the bipedal aquatic creatures.
34:30 he says that every year, the British royals celebrate their connection to the Nemo by sitting on a stone in Wales.
47:24 Clif says that he lives about 2 years out in time... and I totally understand what he's saying, I feel the same way. I feel ahead of my time.
56:00 they address the fact that the Smithsonian destroys history.
1:06:40 - 1:07:10 "A future by way of a return to the past." I've thought about that concept so much lately, so to hear him say it really means a lot to me.
1:16:40 Clif is so pleasant. So understanding and nice with people. He's just so great.
1:32:30 very interesting story about climbers in Antarctica and their findings.
1:37:50 it seems like Clif is suspicious about this story already for some reason.
I wonder what it's like to be as brilliant as Clif High.
Interview starts at 8:40.
12:49 Clif says that there's a whole bunch of energy technology in Antarctica. He talks about the type of housing that was found and that there was "painted on the walls" electricity.
17:00 he starts talking about how there are microwave pulse beams coming from Antarctica. My question is, how long has this been going on? Because to me? This sounds like an emergency beacon. What if it's on a timer? What if it's broadcasting that things are thawing and it's "time" to come back? What if it's a machine that thaws on a timer, now broadcasting to SOMETHING SOMEWHERE that it's time to come back? That's the thought that occurred to me while looking at this video and I seriously feel like it makes sense.
23:03 excellent point re: who the hell are TPTB going down there and talking to?
32:10 they took a fuckton of hot blue eyed blonde Ukrainian chicks down to Antarctica for a breeding program.
40:00 they make the very valid suggestion that it's an automated system, perhaps a defense system.
I truly feel this is the most likely scenario. I think it has to be ancient tech... I don't think there are beings actively down there. I think it's all machines.
42:50 he talks more about the microwave pulse coming from Antarctica. Absolutely fascinating.
The discoveries in Antarctica are probably the reason they're publicly rolling out Space Force.
Advancement will be exponential during the next 40 years and it won't look like it does in the movies with the dystopian megacities and all kinds of other BS... it will be different.
The nature of the discoveries themselves will be in principle so groundbreaking and earthshattering that we as a human mass consciousness will understand our relationship with the fabric of reality in a totally different way.
51:00 fascinating about the night vision in red showing demonic looking creatures who weren't there upon looking without the goggles. Supposedly that's why they changed the night vision color to green. The green display comes from electrons rather than photons.
54:20 very interesting statements re: these demonic manifestations who are usually unseen by us. Clif alludes to the possibility of these 'apparitions' being a defense system, at least that's how I took it.
59:30 they start discussing that the Antarctica tech is probably from antediluvian earthlings... at least I think that's what they're getting at.
1:01:37 ROFL @ the host guy.
I totally wanna go to the inner earth, it sounds awesome.
1:17:45 Clif says that there's a hexagonal pattern happening at the south pole of our planet just like on the gas planets, he says it's just the geometry of the universe
1:22:47 host makes an excellent point about the inner earthlings using the 'automated system' to guard themselves from the surface dwellers.
Clif High is just so much more interesting than everyone else in the world.
13:03 Clif clears up some misconceptions about artificial intelligence. 16:56 makes a lot of sense.
22:07 interesting discussion about the technological direction of humanity... Clif says that free energy was achieved with vacuum tubes.
23:28 "This is a loose sketch of history as Clif sees it." He says the nuclear place around Roswell was attracting the ships and that they were deliberately shot down.
32:00 he tells a story about having seen a "UFO" in the 70s that he suspects was man-made... probably a product of reverse engineered advanced tech.
40:00 this guy is very smart.
40:40 Clif says he had a missing time experience.
48:02 he says that schizophrenics emit pheromones in their sweat which make people nervous... he says that it's due to the adrenochrome.
53:08 God I'm so in love with you Clif.
1:09:34 very interesting discussion on karma.
1:20:50 he explains that our solar system is an enclosed system and space travel is basically ridiculous and can't happen (my wording), at least interstellarly.
1:28:00 Clif says the Chinese are building a runway in Antarctica and it looks like it's meant for a lot of traffic. Basically, it's all coming out soon.
1:33:00 Clif said that FitBit and other such devices which are monitored by GPS have given away hotspots in Antarctica (and everywhere else on the planet) where there's a lot of people activity taking place. Those devices were probably invented to do just that.
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