id
stringlengths 50
55
| text
stringlengths 54
694k
|
|---|---|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45873
|
Current Category Subscribe to the RSS feed for this category
Parent Categories
All Categories
Child Categories
Nikita Polyakov,
I don’t know if you are, but I am very eager to get my hands on Windows Phone 8 this coming season! If you have not heard, check out this article with video - Announcing Windows Phone 8 Here are some of ...
Richard Jones,
So far we have covered some basic principals, a simple database schema to store pass-jobs. Next step is to go about actually tie all this together and generate some passes. I’m being careful to avoid talking ...
This is an application I created back in 2010. I finally decided to release 3 shots from my dev machine…came across it while cleaning up. The application is basically a portal for customers. When a customer ...
I'm moving to a different location and computer for work, so for my own sake (and maybe yours) I'm documenting it here. Time tracking written in Silverlight by my friend ...
Richard Jones,
So now that we’ve established we are going to-do a glorified mail merge to build up our individual passes. The next step is to construct a database that is going to drive the entire process. I’ve built ...
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45876
|
...but she's really pretty.
space cat
bought the cats an extra litter box. three cats and one litter box, they were pretty much pooping on top of each other. i put poof inside the new litter box but she couldn't figure out how to get out & sat inside crying. i didn't think that they might not be able to figure the clear swinging door. ***spoiler alert*** so i took the swinging door off, and still haven't put it back on. sigh.
1 comment:
1. oh no (lol). she is pretty....
I can feel her anxiety.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45885
|
How to Plan Your Web Marketing Video Shoot | Checklist
Nothing will derail a video marketing shoot faster than a lack of planning. Taking the necessary precautions to pre-plan can mean the difference between a breakout campaign and a total dud. Account for all aspects of the project BEFORE you even think about picking up a camera on shoot day. How do you do that? What underestimated tasks are you forgetting? Read on to view our checklist for pre-planning a video shoot.
Read More
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45886
|
Virtual Development Environments
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Summary: If you have the VM hardware extensions, just develop inside a VM. I suggest VirtualBox.
Through curiosity, and work, I encounter more programming stacks than one machine can handle. My home machine previously contained Android, Python, PHP, .Net, Flex, Ruby, and other stacks resulting in a slow machine and configuration rivaling a game of Pickup Sticks. It also made moving between machines a big pain point.
My work machine started to feel the same strain with a WAMP and an ASP.Net stack when, while fixing a coworker's laptop, I found other people had the same problem. Their specific machine was running three different web servers and four different databases, not to mention the two IDEs and a smattering of smaller tools. At that moment I realized a VM was more than an instant server. It solves the "spew" problem, when software throws-up dependencies all over your machine for its own benefit. Your "spew" factor increases with the number of programs installed, and it can get messy very quickly.
From that point on I have developed my projects in a VM. I have one VM per programming stack and a base image to quickly copy when I need a new one. I should note that I use VirtualBox in seamless mode with the VM hardware extensions (VT-x / AMD-V).
1. Get more RAM and a faster hard drive.
2. Skip Vista unless you need it.
3. Ditch both Microsoft Virtual PC and Microsoft Virtual Server.
4. Defrag the host OS more often.
5. Choose a different theme for your guest OS.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45899
|
July 18, 2018
Intel patches new ME vulnerabilities
In early July, Intel issued security advisories SA-00112 and SA-00118 regarding fixes for vulnerabilities in Intel Management Engine. Both advisories describe vulnerabilities with which an attacker could execute arbitrary code on the Minute IA PCH microcontroller.
The vulnerabilities are similar to ones previously discovered by Positive Technologies security experts last November (SA-00086). But that was not the end of the story, as Intel has now released fixes for additional vulnerabilities in ME.
What happened?
CVE-2018-3627, the vulnerability at issue in advisory SA-00118, is described as a logic bug (not a buffer overflow) that may allow execution of arbitrary code. Ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability more dangerous than the one in SA-00086, which was locally exploitable only in case of OEM configuration errors; instead, an attacker simply needs local access.
Things are even worse with CVE-2018-3628, which is described in advisory SA-00112. This vulnerability enables full-blown remote code execution in the AMT process of the Management Engine. Moreover, all signs indicate that—unlike CVE-2017-5712 in advisory SA-00086—attackers do not need an AMT administrator account.
Intel characterizes the vulnerability as "Buffer overflow in HTTP handler" allowing remote code execution without authorization. This is the very scenario that used to be the stuff of nightmares for Intel users—and now has come to pass. This vulnerability is similar to CVE-2017-5689, which was found in May 2017 by Embedi, but with even worse consequences.
What now?
Perhaps the only consolation is that for CVE-2018-3628, Intel says that exploitation is possible only from the same subnet.
Positive Technologies plans to study these vulnerabilities more closely in future research. Notably, Intel indicates the same "resolved" firmware versions for the vulnerabilities as for SA-00086. In other words, it is possible that these latest vulnerabilities were found during security review of Intel ME code at the same time as SA-00086, but Intel delayed publication in order to head off the alarm and disruption that could have followed from packing such a large number of critical vulnerabilities in SA-00086.
More on Intel ME security:
No comments:
Post a Comment
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45917
|
Comic 379 - Check the roach corpse
Posted on 14th Sep 2017, 12:20 AM in Unfathomable Hate
Check the roach corpse
<<First Latest>>
Average Rating: 5 (1 votes) / Rate this comic
Author Notes:
Morgenstern 14th Sep 2017, 12:20 AM edit delete
You take a closer look at the remains of the dead roach creature.
It is... very dead. And not whole. It looks like they got a pretty decent way into eating it. You consider bleeding into it to try and animate the body, but... it would only be that. You wouldn't bring the thing back to life so much as physically force its body to move, which would take more blood than just hijacking a living mind. You're not even sure you could keep this thing together enough to function.
Its head is mostly intact, though, and you get a better look at its mandibles. They don't look strong enough, nor large enough, to cut through metal. In fact, its jaws don't look powerful enough to have done this kind of damage, either.
Whatever chewed its way into the pipe--and killed this roach--it wasn't the roaches. They may have been eating the leftovers, but this creature was killed by something else.
You follow the pipe to the end, and enter into a larger chamber. The drop below goes so deep that you can't see the bottom... only darkness. You shout Fuse's name, but you hear nothing back.
You do hear something.
A horrid screech echoing down the pipe you came through, from somewhere behind you.
You're pretty sure it's not Fuse.
PurpleKetchup 14th Sep 2017, 12:31 AM edit delete reply
Sounds like he's keeping an entire ecosystem down there.
Is it safe to cross that pipe or is Jane going to slip and fall down a few extra tiers ?
Mochi 14th Sep 2017, 12:32 AM edit delete reply
oh good. GOOD. BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS. not only can we not get out, not only are we trapped in a brain that's slowly turning itself to soup, not only are we in a dirty disgusting sewer, there's a fucking giant monster down here with us that we have no way of killing!
hustle across the pipe to the door on the other side. quickly but carefully. there's a good chance it's too large to follow us. that or we die, but at this point a death at the hand (mouth?) of whatever this is is better than having our head explode upstairs.
rufiangel 14th Sep 2017, 1:39 AM edit delete reply
Second that careful-quick hustling across the pipe to the other side, to the door. >_>
Baeronius 14th Sep 2017, 12:45 AM edit delete reply
We don't know if it's a creature, or a machine.
There could be some kind of twisted street cleaner running around here that personifies what (mr bald person name pending) thought of the solution to the "roaches".
It could also be a creature, but a screech can also come from a piece of metal scraping against metal. And there is a lot of metal and cement down here.... I think it's cement?...
Also by accident started watching an anime called 18if.
It's all about some kind of apocalyptic dream world, where people who enter can be killed. And it hit me kind of oddly when I thought of this chapter.
Skybirds15 14th Sep 2017, 1:55 AM edit delete reply
Well. Seems we've hit a higher level of screwed. We have two options that I see: 1. Cross pipe, which is probably super dangerous. 2. Try to hide. The only hiding spot is inside the corpse, but that is towards the noise, the good news is, whatever killed it and opened the pipe is not interested in eating it.
Skybirds15 14th Sep 2017, 1:58 AM edit delete reply
Wait, just noticed the other open pipe directly... background of us is where we came from. Which direction is behind us? Pipe or left?
Mochi 14th Sep 2017, 2:01 AM edit delete reply
pipe is behind us.
Skybirds15 14th Sep 2017, 2:02 AM edit delete reply
Cool beans. Third option: Left. Crossing pipe might work, as if it's too heavy, it can't follow. Left is a crapshoot.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45918
|
Comic 577 - Inspect the teeth
Posted on 14th Nov 2017, 2:35 AM in Ghosts
Inspect the teeth
<<First Latest>>
Average Rating: 5 (1 votes) / Rate this comic
Author Notes:
Morgenstern 14th Nov 2017, 2:35 AM edit delete
You try to recall if you saw anything like this in Macland's mindscape, but you're drawing a blank. You only saw images of his basement, not... this.
You inspect the teeth.
There's still ... tissue attached to one of them. You take a deep breath
and a closer look.
The gum looks cut, but not evenly. It's jagged, and forced. You conclude that these teeth weren't knocked out, but instead cut or pried out somehow.
You feel your hair rise slightly, as if imbued with static.
Cuttlefish 14th Nov 2017, 2:48 AM edit delete reply
Check in on Fuse. We are a nurse and an eldritch blood god, we're probably better than him with gore. We don't want him freaking out, if this is getting to him.
rufiangel 14th Nov 2017, 2:58 AM edit delete reply
Fuse is on Level at the moment, so he's probably okay. Can't guarantee he won't get nightmares of this stuff but... he also doesn't actually seem to be looking at it as closely as we are right now, since he's watching our back?
Xylas_Incarnum 14th Nov 2017, 2:57 AM edit delete reply
Hmmmm... I'd say something about torture again but now that I think about it removing someone's teeth like this generally prevents them from answering questions. Far more likely that a corpse was made to disappear.... there any plastic bags laying around? Trashbags I mean.
Crestlinger 14th Nov 2017, 2:58 AM edit delete reply
While listening for knocking, pattern BZZT sounds from the light, and footsteps at all times proceed forward. Something, or several somethings are here and at least one of them is wounded.
rufiangel 14th Nov 2017, 3:00 AM edit delete reply
Let everyone know the pleasant find of gummy bloody teeth likely pried out of the mouth of someone who's probably also missing an eyeball. Maybe.
And I guess check to see what's causing the sudden hair-raising feeling? I mean, besides the chills from these terrifying discoveries. :'D Is something shifting in the atmosphere?
Blue_Elite 14th Nov 2017, 3:53 AM edit delete reply
We can probably spare the details and just say it appears someone was maimed. I doubt "missing an eye and teeth" is going to be the full laundry list we're going to find.
Certainly we can alert the others there may be a killer lurking about and stay on high alert.
Bluhx2 14th Nov 2017, 3:05 AM edit delete reply
Torture and interrogation? Pulled out teeth and blood everywhere...
Twyll 14th Nov 2017, 3:56 AM edit delete reply
I am SUPER concerned about this static thing. There seems to be... some kind of electricity ghost? Maybe somebody is using some kind of cloaking technology that produces a strong electric field of some kind?
Our blood is basically neurons, which means that it can communicate using electricity, right? Does that mean that we can develop some kind of electricity-sense? Because that'd be super useful right about now.
Blue_Elite 14th Nov 2017, 4:00 AM edit delete reply
Does the sensation go away if we move back to where we were or is it just the situation getting to us?
If we're getting distracted we may want to put a blood alarm on that eye sentry we've got (thus removing the one currently on Macland). I'd like to specify ANY THING THAT'S NOT A DOOR MOVING but I don't know how specific we can be with those alarms.
If the static feeling turns out to be nothing special, nothing left to do but move forward. We still gotta push our way to the front so we can establish a connection with Caius & Co.
Speaking of them, is that camera set up yet?
skybirds15 14th Nov 2017, 4:19 AM edit delete reply
What. Why would someone cut out something's teeth, grab an eyeball, drag their bloody hand across the wall to deposit the eyeball in a plant?
Something crazy is going on here, as in, people/robots being weird/malfunctioning. There might be STQs around, or since Jury's on the case, an escaped robot. Or Jury went insane, though that seems unlikely. We didn't seem to notice if the eyeball was STQed or radioactive, but it seems likely. Teeth, though. Can't blood those easy, and even then, not very useful.
You know, it's possible we could grow some extra rods and cones in our eyeballs (or bioprint some) so that we could see UV and infrared and the like. Would help stop ambushes in these places and also invisible men.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45921
|
What was once a tedious and time consuming task is now easy with this little free script by Olaf Finkbeiner for www.mainworks.de. I simply imported a Revit model, ran the script and voila! If you can't find the 3DS MAX script, let me know and I'll email it to you.
Did you enjoy this article? I would love to hear your thoughts, so don’t be shy and comment below! Please don’t forget to subscribe to my RSS-feed or follow my feed onTwitterGoogle+ andFacebook! If you enjoyed the following article we humbly ask you to comment, and help us spread the word! Or, if you would like, drop me an email.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45923
|
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Determined to avoid ‘add-on’ indicators if at all possible, the only solution it would seem, is to somehow incorporate them into the existing side lights. As we're no longer fettered by MOT requirements and with the quite recent memory of my Healey 3000’s solution of incorporating the rear indicators within the tail / brake light, this might be a possible way forward. Some time is spent assessing the possibilities but space within both front and rear side / tail light enclosures is somewhat restricted by the existing filament bulbs. This is easily resolved by replacing them with new LED type lamps. Brighter and smaller, they also have a ridiculous life expectancy. The front side light LED has an expected life of 50,000 hours (continuous for 6 years). Assuming say 5000 miles a year at an average speed of say 50 MPH and 33% of that time with the side lights on, I'll need to think about changing them in spring - 3,528AD !!!
LED front and rear (dual tail & brake) replacements
Now here's an interesting if slightly odd thought which has occurred to me on a number of occasions. It would not be unreasonable to assume that this car will continue to be cherished for the foreseeable future, by me hopefully until I expire and then by countless others, but how long exactly is that. I could quite rationally guess that it would take some catastrophic event to intervene. This might be in the form of plague or pestilence as the bible would have it, a world war where material objects become irrelevant, or some other cataclysmic event like an asteroid strike. All sounds very dramatic but I would imagine that at least one of the above occurring in the next fifteen hundred or so years is likely.
It would be good to download this entire blog onto a pen drive and secrete it somewhere that I know a future restorer would find it. Only problem is, will they be able to do anything with pen drives in 3500AD, considering that we don’t have a computer in our office now able to look at the contents of a twenty five year old 3.5” floppy disc!
Anyway, enough of this nonsense. My discovery of LED’s to replace filament bulbs gets me thinking about indicators, but of course nothing is available for my specific application. After a little research, it turns out that LED’s despite extreme life spans are quite fragile devices, easily destroyed by inappropriate usage. A brief summary of their requirements would be:
They present an almost zero resistance to an unlimited current supply (a 12 Volt car battery) so must have a correctly calculated resistor value in series to limit current, typically 200 to 500 ohms depending on type, colour, forward voltage and number in series. When you get this even slightly wrong, typically by using too low a value resistor, they go pop and produce that unique electrical burning smell, odd for something so small. They really don’t like more than typically 20mA but some seem to be more tolerant than others. The long leg is positive (anode). Reverse this for more than a micro second and it will probably expire. It might be OK to connect a few in parallel with a common resistor, but this is generally considered to be a risky strategy.
So, equipped with this basic information, the task remains to physically fit enough LED’s into the space available to provide a flashing indicator of such intensity that it really cannot be missed. Whilst both front and rear are important I reason that the rear indicators must be exceptional whilst the fronts need to just OK.
12 super bright orange / red LED's as a starting point
For the rear, twelve super High Intensity 10,000 mcd, red to orange / red 30 degree LED’s are set into a clear acrylic housing which will sit inside the rear light lens but will allow the new LED side / brake light to show through. (LED’s are measured in mille candela power - mcd - so I suppose each LED is equivalent to 10 candles with all light focused into a 30 degree beam)The LED’s are arranged in four sets of three. Each set of three is in series and is fed via a 470 ohm resistor. This indicates a current flow of 20mA at 13 Volts through each set.
The acrylic housing holding the LED’s is sandwiched between the tail light glass and the metal bulb holder with a polyethylene insulator, all quite a tight fit.
Acrylic housing with LED's - interference fit in lens
Connected to an electronic LED type flasher unit (Max 30mA as opposed to a filament bulb bi-metal strip flasher – 10 to 200mA) it produces a very distinct orange flash of extreme intensity. I leave it flashing for a couple of days until I feel confident that it will be reliable. Total current for each tail light with all three functions running, side light, brake light and indicators is less than 200mA so virtually all energy is converted to light with very little heat produced. For comparison the original filament lamps at 5 and 25 Watts for side and brake lights consumed around 2.4 Amps, 12 time the current with around 90% dissipated as heat.
Very bright and surely unmissable!
Having found a satisfactory solution for the rear indicators, attention turned to the front. With much less space available, the maximum number of 5mm LED's I could fit in was 5 so I may have to re-think this and see what can be achieved with the smaller 3mm variety.
Two sets in series (3 and 2) drawing between 30 and 40 mA
Not bad but I think it can be improved on
Miscellany (not for the squeamish)
Over the past fifteen years I have produced a good many risk assessments, mainly relating to that dangerous occupation, working at height. I thought I had a good awareness of what was likely to hurt, and given my low risk ground floor level working environment this 'accident' took me completely by surprise, culminating in the best part of an afternoon entirely wasted in A&E. My Dewalt battery drill (which I rate as exceptional as I do most of my Dewalt tools) was sat upright on it's battery base on the bench, in hindsight a little to close to the edge, with a 3/16, longer than usual, drill bit in the chuck. I carelessly caught it and it fell of the bench landing drill first (exactly vertical) in my left foot, having gone straight through a good leather shoe and stopping just short of the shoe sole. Strange thing is, I have no recollection of pulling it out, only some surprise at how quickly my shoe overflowed. An X-ray showed that the drill bit had slipped neatly between two metatarsal bones with no real damage. Contrary to the usual H&S gurus opinions, I see no point in proffering advice for fluke accidents as I know from experience that nobody takes the slightest bit of notice.
Staged recreation of the drill through the foot incident
I did however receive a text (one of many over the past year) offering to sue me on a no win no fee basis at absolutely no cost to myself. These ambulance chasing 'lawyers' or whatever other dodgy profession they lay claim to, should be ashamed of themselves. I may however take them up on the offer, just to waste their time. Unless of course it can be proved that shoe manufacturer, Clarks are entirely to blame, disgracefully selling everyday shoes with leather so thin that it cannot withstand a puncture from a 3/16 drill with a 1.5Kg weight behind it, falling from a height 1 Mtr.
Next post mid February
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45924
|
These Blank Silicone Bracelets and "Shema Israel" Soft Rubber Jewish Judaica Bracelet with Hebrew Prayer Inscription offer attractive and unique as well as something that is believed to be of assistance in avoiding the evil eye and in promoting good health, success and protection. This bracelet has the "Shema Israel" blessing on it with the Jewish prayer inscribed on it in Hebrew which means "Hear, Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One"
Grid List
Set Ascending Direction
1-12 of 15
1. 1
2. 2
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45939
|
General Discussion Anything and everything WCIII related! Sat, 15 Dec 2018 11:20:57 +0000 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 11:20:57 +0000 Brigand's Haven The Custom World of Post-1.30.2 - what will it look like? Fri, 30 Nov 2018 11:24:45 +0000 Krotos Krotos
- Port forwarding won't be necessary.
- Custom game search will feature up to 100 active lobbies that'll also tell you how many people are in it. Clicking refresh will update it.
- Everyone will be able to host and there'll be cloud download as well if the map got uploaded even once to bnet. The lobbies themselves...
The Custom World of Post-1.30.2 - what will it look like?]]>
Rise of a Realm : Kingdom Builder Thu, 22 Nov 2018 20:39:07 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo View attachment 7509
Rise of a Realm
By Marshmalo
[Release date: Out now]
Link to latest version :
MAP SUMMARY: Rise of a Realm (ROAR) is a sandbox base builder/RTS game with a...
Rise of a Realm : Kingdom Builder]]>
Battle for Azeroth ending cinematic leak!!! :O Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:29:31 +0000 Mesis Mesis ]]> 8 LOTR: Shadow of Isengard Sat, 17 Nov 2018 19:06:05 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo LOTR: Shadow of Isengard
View attachment 8052
"A new power is rising! Its at hand! This night, the land will be stained with the blood of Rohan! March to Helm's Deep! Leave none alive! TO WAR! There will be no dawn... for Men!" - Saruman of many colors, The Two Towers.
New Lord of the Rings Map by Marshmalo
[Release date:...
LOTR: Shadow of Isengard]]>
Blizzard is shutting down Bots. Rip? Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:58:46 +0000 GinoFastidio GinoFastidio
Biggest fuckup in history with consequent Death of the game or a good start?
i think death]]>
BH Singers Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:38:15 +0000 Skillerino Skillerino So let´s start it off more famous ones also if u will have some links feel free to post them here or pm me and I shall update this thread.
Harald singing I´m not gay
Flotsie singing (I wasn´t able to find it in clips on twitch but perhaps I´ve missed it)
Julian singing:
BH Singers]]>
New Patch that "Fixes" Stability Issues WOOOOOOOO Sun, 16 Sep 2018 23:26:46 +0000 Yousef Yousef
As title says.]]>
New WC3 Patch - Fixing Custom Maps? Sun, 02 Sep 2018 09:34:03 +0000 Arlt Arlt
Note the part where it states:
• Silent map crashes resolved on popular custom maps
Still crashing after update Wed, 15 Aug 2018 11:30:19 +0000 Emilio Emilio It happen on every costum map..
Anyone know if any fixes?
View attachment 7856
I can't change my my resolution either, hate this update :( View attachment 7856
View attachment 7857]]>
Diplomacy: Warcraft Sat, 11 Aug 2018 10:15:27 +0000 TheKaldorei TheKaldorei
The map would utilize a unique Alliance Power and War Power system.
• Alliance Power starts at 0 and is gained through making positives towards one certain House or faction. If it reaches 50 you can form a political alliance.
• War Power starts at 100 and is lost through making negatives towards one certain House or faction. If it reaches 0 you are able to declare war on...
Diplomacy: Warcraft]]>
Warcraft 3 Remaster/Remake speculation Sat, 21 Jul 2018 21:44:20 +0000 Spectator Spectator
Also had a question. Not sure but some of you might remember the offline meeting Blizzard called for Warcraft 3 players.
Does anyone know what was that one about? There was a lot of hype about it. Was just regarding a Warcraft 3 tournament?
Also Activision-Blizzard's recent moves regarding Warcraft 3 does not make sense. This game did not have any patches since 2012 and...
Warcraft 3 Remaster/Remake speculation]]>
ROAR: Zombie Apocalypse Mode Thu, 19 Jul 2018 18:32:38 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo View attachment 7659
Rise of a Realm 1.21
By Marshmalo
[Release date: 08/06/2018]
Rise of a Realm now comes with a Zombie survival mode inspired by maps like Eras Zombie Invasion!
At the start of the game Player red (host) gets to chose between normal and Zombie Apocalypse mode, if they chose Zombie then the game turns into a co-op surival game, where players...
ROAR: Zombie Apocalypse Mode]]>
ROAR: Masteries Update Sat, 02 Jun 2018 15:47:36 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo View attachment 7627
Rise of a Realm 1.10
By Marshmalo
[Release date: 31/05/2018]
SUMMARY: This patch adds masteries to Rise of a Realm, there are 8 Masteries: 1 for each King or Queen type, each one adds something unqiue to your Kingdom.
They range from adding or replacing new unique units or adding certain mechanics and abilities. There will no doubt he balance...
ROAR: Masteries Update]]>
TotalBisuit Passed Away Sat, 26 May 2018 07:40:42 +0000 TheKaldorei TheKaldorei 6 How to repair my map any suggestions?? Sun, 20 May 2018 21:09:40 +0000 mrpp mrpp 2 Are custom-lore maps unpopular? Sun, 13 May 2018 08:15:27 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo
And when I look at my own maps, the ones which are played the most seem to be those based on Warcraft lore, other maps which I have spent a lot of time on like Planetary Domination, ROTV, ZR, don’t seem to played very much at all. Whereas, Siege of Quel'thalas, still seems to get regular plays despite not being...
Are custom-lore maps unpopular?]]>
Help With the forum pls Wed, 09 May 2018 21:58:56 +0000 Elbadruhel Elbadruhel
Also, recently i have started to recieve emails with notificationsn of the forum.
How can i log in? How to disable emails? Other way i would have to delete my account :(]]>
Hey uh can someone help? Sat, 28 Apr 2018 13:17:42 +0000 Ranhappy Ranhappy ]]> 2 Viking Settlers: Major Update Fri, 27 Apr 2018 18:23:11 +0000 Marshmalo Marshmalo VIKING SETTLERS v0.21
Patch Notes
View attachment 6584
Viking Settlers has had a major update! This version adds many new and unique features which help spice up the game and enrich the playing experience. The economy has...
Viking Settlers: Major Update]]>
Northrend The Aftermath? Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:42:42 +0000 Lunelune Lunelune @Harald @Draupne @SvnmS did any of you guys give permission for this to be made?
Cause I do remember this map, but I don't remember if it ever got released to the public.
If so, can you guys please contact the map makers so that they can get a sub forum for feedback and bugs?]]>
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45943
|
You're welcome.
Moved some things around and cut some fourms that aren't needed anymore
Sorry, no access.
The reason is you don't have access to the board.
You must be logged in in order to write.
Registered users please log in here:
Go back to the forum list
You are not logged in (login)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45968
|
Nestle Acquires Blue Bottle Coffee
Blue Bottle Coffee is acquired by Nestle
By Eric Pfanner and Thomas Mulier.
Blue Bottle Coffee’s founder describes himself as “a slightly disaffected freelance musician and coffee lunatic, weary of the commercial coffee enterprise.” And yet he’s just sold a majority stake to the ultimate commercial coffee enterprise — Nestle SA, owner of Nespresso and Nescafe.
Such pairings are becoming increasingly common as consumer-product giants like Nestle, Unilever, L’Oreal SA and Diageo Plc seek growth beyond the stagnating megabrands that underpinned their strategies for decades. Now tiny labels with organic, hipster or ethical credentials are all the rage, and the global behemoths are paying ever more for them.
A recent flurry of deals for niche makers of everything from vegetarian burritos to vegan mayonnaise to celebrity-backed tequila underline the trend. As acquisitions accelerate, buyers have to look harder for targets and pay more for them. Then they have to try to maintain the indie cred that attracted consumers to the new brands in the first place.
Read more at Bloomberg.
Be first to comment
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45970
|
Hey, it's Candy.
I also love sharing insights into my personal journey as well.
Hope you enjoy!
i have a date tonight...
cross your fingers... finding a good guy is almost as hard as finding a the perfect pair of jeans... almost...
MK in Nylon
Friday, hey hey
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45973
|
Skip to main content
Writing & Language Center (WLC) - Education Classrooms (EDUC)
One of two main locations, the Writing and Language Center is the primary site for writing and language tutoring. Drop-in and individual appointments for all writing and languages happen in this space, generally open all day during the week. A PawPrints station is available for students to print their work. Special group sessions, such as creative writing sessions and international student workshops, often happen in the space.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45993
|
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Implementing SDTM 1.5 in software: first impressions
Last Monday, due to a short break in my vacation (thunderstorms and mountaineering do not well fit together), I started implementing SDTM 1.5 in our popular SDTM-ETL mapping software.
The reason is that some of customers want to start working with SEND 3.1, which is the first implementation of SDTM 1.5. Remark that there is no SDTM-IG yet based on SDTM 1.5, only a SEND-IG.
What were the difficulties encountered? What were my first impressions on how easy or difficult it is to implement SDTM 1.5 in software?
First of all, there is no very good (i.e. a define-XML template) machine-readable version of SDTM 1.5. There is an Excel file available from SHARE, with a list of the variables, and an Excel list of differences with version 1.4. From the former, I could generate an XML file with variables, which I could use for the automated generation of the "CDISC Notes" in the software, and also help me somewhat generating a SEND define.xml 3.1 template for SDTM-ETL.
All the other things had to be done using the "good old" methods, i.e. copy-and-paste from the PDF documents. As I am not paid by the hour, you can guess that I didn't like this too much.
Once the SEND 3.1 define.xml template generated, I could start on the nitty gritty details. They require careful reading of the specification or IG, interprete what is written there, and program it in the software. Interpretation from a specification is always dangerous, as can be seen from the very many false positives generated from the validation software used by the FDA (No, not generated by our company).
The first problem I encountered is that the list of SDTM variables that "is never used in SEND" (see SEND-IG 3.1) does not come as machine-readable information. So, copy-and-paste was necessary.
SDTM-IG 3.2 (based on SDTM 1.4) provided a list of "not generally used" variables. As there is no SDTM-IG yet based on SDTM 1.5, I did not implement this yet, just copied the list of 1.4 instead just for the moment.
The new "--LOBXFL" ("Last Observation Before Exposure Flag") which I already criticized in the past, as it essentially is a derived variable (derived variables do not belong in SDTM), is something I already implemented in the software a few months ago, as I realized it has a major impact on the software. The user can now choose between generating/writing a mapping script himself, or to auto-generate the values during SDTM generation execution. The latter then requires an extra step, as the generated SDTM data needs to be ordered by subject and test, and compared with RFXSTDTC which is in another dataset. It must also be said that the text in the SDTM 1.5 specification is very undetailed. It says "Operationally-derived indicator used to identify the last non-missing value prior to RFXSTDTC. Should be Y or null." It doesn't state anything about whether this is "per unique test". I presume it is (opening the discussion again about what a "unique test" is). I strongly believe standards specification should be exact and precise. The definition of "--LOBXFL" in SDTM 1.5 isn't.
Also remark that "--LOBXFL" is not even mentioned in the SEND-IG 3.1.
New in SDTM 1.5 is also the "Domain-Specific Variables for the General Observation Class" (see p. 23 of the specification). Although I understand the reasons for these, SDTM was always sold to us as containing "generic" variables, applicable to all kinds of clinical research data. I never believed in that concept. One of the reasons is surely that SDTM still wants to represent everything as 2-dimensional tables, although we all know that "the world is not flat and neither is clinical data".
As this (fortunately) short list of variables is only in the PDF, it required some extra programming with another copy-and-paste activity.
Unfortunately, the list also contains an error, or at least a severe unclarity. It states that "EXMETHOD" is such a domain-specific variable, stating "these variables are for use only in a specific domain ...". If we take this literally, this would mean that e.g. EGMETHOD and LBMETHOD are not allowed anymore. Really?
Or was it meant that "--METHOD" may only be used in combination with "EX" in the "Interventions" class? That's my interpretation sofar. But specifications shouldn't be open for different interpretations, isn't it?
A lesser problem is that the SDTM 1.5 specification also contains two new domains which i.m.o. should only appear in the SDTM-IG: "Subject Disease Milestones" and "Trial Disease Milestones" (TM). For the former, I couldn't even find the two-character domain abbreviation, so how could I implement this? I didn't care too much for now, as these two domains do not appear in the SEND-IG 3.1, so I need to wait until the new SDTM-IG is published.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/45995
|
Page 1 of 1
Hellers Failsafe pt 3
Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2018 5:50 pm
by doddseman3
Madiline Would find herself in her apartment her boyfrined out for the night as she washed the dishes. Shed look over to the news as she watched the destruction of the asylum frowning. She couldnt understand how the heroes could have failed agsint that kind of scum. She shook her head before turning off the sink only to jump in horor as her hands were covored in blood. The sink filled with it. Leaping back shed bump into someone behind her causing her to jump. Turning shed face heller as heller chuckled and spoke. "Mymymy...what troubling know..its quite a day when heroes start loosing more than they are winning." hed tisk. "At this rate the whole city will be gone." hed chuckle Madilen reached for a kitchen knife as she scrambled backwards pointing it at him. Heller chuckled as he walked forward. Madiline would attempt to scream but she would find she was unable to. As she reached for her mouth shed notice it was missing. Dropping her knife in horror shed look back to herller. "Oh my didnt think you were really home did you?" hed chuckle. Madiline closed her eyes tight before opening them again finding herself tied to the chair in the dark room, blood vomit and tears stained her shirt and the floor around her. She began to sob as she shook her head. Looking about she would feel hands at her shoulders as heller spoke. "My dear im starting to think you are looseing your mind." hed chuckle. Madiline squirmed abit before spotting heller infront of her though hellers hands were still on her shoulder. The heller infront of her would chuckle along with the heller behind her. The laugher got louder and louder as more and more heller began to appear out of the darkness of the room. Madiline squeezed against her bindings as the heller behind her cut her loose from the chair. "Were going to have som fun with you beautiful. As soon as madiline was freed the heller infront of her would pull her off the chair and pull her in close. "Youre in for some fun babe." hed chuckle before pushing her into the heller with the knife. Madilines eyes widened as she began to see red. Soon enough shed bite into the hellers throat tearing it out. The heller gargled as she ripped the knife from his hand as he fell to the floor. SHouting Madiline would rush the other heller stabbing him in the chest thirty times as the others backed up and tried to make there way to the door only to find it locked. Looking to madiline as she began to make her way towards them her face covored in fresh coats of blood shed begine to chuckle then laugh dementedly as she rushed them. Meanwhile the real heller would be watching the feed through his monitor at his desk. his feet up as he ate popcorn. The feed would show four random thugs he picked up off the street lieing dead on the floor. Madiline sobbing and crying on her knees as she looked to her bloodied hands. SHe didnt seem to know what was going on. The door to the room swung open as hellers armed men stormed in knocking her out with the butt of his rifle before putting her back to the chair and retying her. Heller chuckled as he leaned back. "Goign along perfectly." With that hed change the channel as he began to watch a tv show he had just gotten into and picked up, an amaerican horror spoke to him and he loved every bit of it.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46013
|
Control a Keyboard With Your Brain Using intendiX
Have you ever dreamed of the day we would be able to type on a computer without using a keyboard or our fingers? What if it were possible to type using your brain? This is an idea which has been in development for more than twenty years. During ceBIT 2011, Intendix showed off a product designed to help people without motor skills type on a computer. The future of technology is here, folks!
I volunteered to try this cap out, despite being a little nervous – and yes, I am aware I may have looked a tad silly in this getup. The system is based on your EEG potentials, enabling you to select characters in sequence from a matrix on the screen… just by paying attention to your target for several seconds. It’s not a fast process, by any means – but it DOES work.
The intendiX requires a bit of training, but after about ten minutes you will be able to spell 5-10 characters per minute! The cap uses an algorithm to detect what you’re thinking, so that it only selects characters when you pay attention to the system. Besides typing, the user can also use the system to trigger an alarm, make the computer speak written text out loud, print or copy the text into emails or even send commands to external devices!
The extension tool used to control external devices is called the extendiX. It runs on a separate computer which controls other devices and applications such as a television, music, assistive robots and even games. The extendiX receives commands from the intendiX cap via UDP. The entire system is designed around a Brain-Computer Interface:
A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) provides a new communication channel between the human brain and a computer. The BCI system detects such changes and transforms them into control signals, which can be used for moving objects, writing letters, opening doors, changing TV channels and other everyday household activities.
It’s mind-boggling to try and understand all of the technology behind this device and the protocols that make it work. The important thing, though, is that it DOES work. We are watching advances in technology that will literally change the world.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46048
|
When I say that Deadpool -- which just wrapped up a six-issue arc in which a hideous, indestructible and relentlessly jocular assassin re-kills the supernaturally re-animated, bent-on-destruction corpses of long deceased U.S. Presidents -- is possibly the most cleverly defined, consistently executed and most addictive book of the entire Marvel NOW slate, you might accuse me of trolling. I am not trolling, but that Deadpool of all things stands out in a pack of largely great superhero relaunches could be seen as an act of trolling perpetrated by its titular anti-hero; or, more accurately, by his diabolical writers, the comedians Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan. As they explained in this interview conducted at Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, the "Merc with a Mouth" is an "expert, master level troll" who routinely extends his impish, grotesque reach beyond the pages of his own comic book to infect others -- even books from other publishers.
But what Posehn and Duggan also know about Deadpool -- aka Wade Wilson -- is that his readers like to see him suffer, and the writers created a situation where Wade will suffer like never before when his overbearing, super-competent S.H.I.E.L.D. boss Agent Preston finds herself sharing Deadpool's most fragile headspace. What lies within the mind of Deadpool is predictably inscrutable, but as depicted by incoming artist Mike Hawthorne, what Preston discovers is weirdly beautiful as well. With the cat finally out of the bag as to Preston's fate, we thought now was the time to release our interview with Posehn and Duggan and to take an early look at Hawthorne's artwork from the forthcoming arc.
(click image to enlarge)
ComicsAlliance: At this time last year, you did not have Deadpool. Was it in the works at that stage?
Gerry Duggan: Deadpool had been... threatened as a miniseries, but the timing never worked out. However not long after last year's Emerald City, we got an e-mail from [Marvel Editor-in-Chief] Axel [Alonso] asking us to connect with [editor] Jordan D. White. From there it became clear that they were asking us to have some pitches for a new ongoing Deadpool that would be part of a new initiative. A new #1 issue. We didn't even know it was Marvel NOW yet. We were thrilled and we began pitching some ideas. The first story ["Dead Presidents"] was our last pitch, the pitch that we didn't think they'd say yes to.
CA: This was specifically a gig offered to you and Brian together? How did you guys hook up?
GD: I was a clerk at the back counter of Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles and he was one of the regulars. He remembers it a little better, that we bonded over a horrible joke that he had made. He didn't expect me to laugh as hard as I did. And from there it became, "Oh, this guy is a cool guy." And then he and Patton [Oswalt] were doing a TV pilot at the time and asked me to join the production in a behind-the-scenes capacity. Then I got more production work and I left the comic job. We started writing together. We thought it would be really funny to write a movie about Santa Claus after the apocalypse. And Hollywood was like, "Oh my goodness, no. We won't be making this."
CA: And from there you went to G4?
GD: I had been working at G4 on and off on several different shows, and it was a great experience. G4 made me a better writer. I understand that not many people had the opportunity to see it, but the fans that liked Attack of the Show were very vocal. Every day I had to get up and slay a dragon. Every day there was one hour of content that I helped fill with some really great people. No matter how great or how bad it was, after that one hour of live TV was over, you could go home, see your family, get a decent night's sleep (if you weren't writing comics) and that dragon would be back again the next day. It's that process that I think sharpened me a little bit to prepare me for what would come next.
CA: And that was another comic that you and Brian wrote together, before Deadpool?
GD: We adapted our own silly Santa Claus screenplay. We really believed in it. We weren't trying to go, "We've written a screenplay to make into a comic to make into a movie." It was sort of before you saw a lot of that. We really just wanted to get it out there. It was beautifully illustrated by Rick Remender and Hilary Barta and colored by Michelle Madsen. It was a dream come true. It made me sort of understand that I might be able to take a run at this, that I might be able to do it. I learned a lot.
(click image to enlarge)
CA: This is your first convention since Deadpool came out. What's the response been like?
GD: Here's the crazy thing... I'm sure there are haters. But boy, I have not met one at this show. They've either avoided us or they've politely asked us to sign the Deadpool that they bought and hated anyway. So I'm grateful for that. But a lot of people are saying this was either their first Deadpool comic or their first Deadpool comic in a while, so we've been very grateful for the response. We singed thousands of copies of Deadpool this weekend.
Brian Posehn: It's been really great. We keep waiting for the axe to drop, for there to be a consensus that we're blowing it, but the consensus has been positive. The negativity has been so small and so outweighed by the people who love what we're doing. There were some complaints early on like, "Where are the thought balloons? Why isn't he talking to himself?" We are going to address that soon, but most people have been cool about that.
GD: I think people would have been disappointed if the first arc didn't have that comedic element. Now that we've got that under our belt, we're going to be doing a couple other things. The book is still going to be funny, we're still going to be using comedy to cover up for when things don't go right. We're even happier with what's to come. I can't wait to see what people think.
BP: I think people are really going to dig it. I keep reading people going, "My favorite part about Deadpool is when he fails and how he deals with that." That's coming up. There wasn't a ton of it in this first arc other than Lincoln kicking his ass a couple of times. There's some slipping coming up.
CA: The tone of the book is curious to me. You guys must have been given a mandate by Marvel... I mean, you're comedians. The book is primarily a comedy book. That's very distinct in the Marvel line. Marvel does more of that than some other publishers but it's still an unusual book for them.
GD: I think Marvel was okay with comedy as definitely the way to go. To their credit, they said that. They said, "Hey if you have something funny and you want to go for it, please do." Obviously we were thrilled to do it. But they really didn't give us any mandate one way or the other. Actually, I think some things -- it'll still be funny -- but I think some darker things are going to happen too. They've been very open to whatever it is we want to do. We're doing some kind of messed up stuff coming up.
(click to enlarge)
CA: Like what?
GD: The dual dialogue boxes are coming back. But Deadpool is talking to someone else. He's got someone else in his head. Here's the cool thing: I don't think anyone noticed in the preview pages that were released from Mike Hawthorne's run, you can actually see Preston's reflection in places. There's a sequence in a car where Deadpool's firing out the back of a car and firing at the same time, and in the rearview it's Preston. They're having a little bit of an argument. It's fun. No one's picked up on that and no one's picked up on the end of issue #5... there's a lot of spell balloons for when the Necromancer is tucking her into Deadpool. It's neat because I saw some people say they're going to miss Preston, which was unexpected and really cool.
CA: She's not going anywhere, obviously.
GD: Nah, she's gonna stick around for a while. He's not going to be able to get rid of her. And she's got a family, by the way.
CA: Oh, so Deadpool's got to go and tell them, "She's in here... sorry"?
GD: They're a really not-very-understanding family. I'm sure the average Deadpool reader is not up on All Of Me, the classic Steve Martin comedy. But you will be!
CA: Speaking of the average Deadpool fan, I'm interested in the distinction between the "classic" take on Deadpool and what people expect from him and what you're doing. As an outside observer, someone who didn't read a ton of Deadpool comics before, what was amusing to me was that he seemed like kind of a dick and a troll. It seemed he was just trolling the Marvel Universe all the time. But in your book I think he's very sympathetic; I feel bad for him sometimes.
GD: If we have any regret it's, "Did we make him too sympathetic?" I view him very much as an expert, master level troll. That's what he is. But he's very, very good at what he does.
(click image to enlarge)
CA: One of the funniest things I ever saw them do with Deadpool was push his old series' issue number higher than that of Detective Comics, just before Detective Comics could hit a major milestone legitimately.
GD: There's a really good grasp [at Marvel] of what is possible [with Deadpool]. A lot of the stuff we like, we're not even a part of. He's not just trolling the reader and the universe he's actually in, but the other [comic book] universe too. The bird cover was really wonderful. So Deadpool as a master troll is very fun to do.
BP: We haven't discussed that, but I buy it. What I love about him is that he's the anti-hero, the misfit. Troll, I guess, is right. Nobody claims him.
CA: He seems to really bother people.
BP: The thing you can't get across in a comic book is... I'm guessing he stinks. You know what I mean? He smells bad.
GD: We're going to be able to prove that definitively in issue #12. We did talk about that.
CA: There's going to be a "s***ty variant?"
BP: A scratch-and-sniff... but don't scratch it or sniff it. But yeah, if you think about it, his body is constantly letting go of skin. If you've ever had a cast and you smelled what it smells like when your skin's been under a cast for a couple of months, think of what it smells like underneath his suit.
GD: Not to mention the burrito fumes flying out of his body.
BP: Yeah, he doesn't eat well. He's like me if I had a healing factor.
CA: So what do you think is the distinction between your Deadpool and "classic" Deadpool?
GD: I think we're trying to balance a lot of what we think fans' expectations are for him and what we really want to do. We wanted to open with a big comedy and I think it's been successful. [As of this interview] the sixth issue's not out, nobody's had the opportunity to review the completed series. I don't know if when we're done people will say, "That was the same Deadpool." The goal really was to have him pop out in that first issue and have him be the Deadpool everyone loves, but we're meeting him again for the first time.
(click image to enlarge)
CA: I actually don't know why he looks like that, why his face is all f***ed up.
GD: That was a consideration! We worried that it was going to be confusing to someone.
CA: It doesn't seem to matter right now, not to me. I mean, somehow it seems to make sense that he looks like that.
GD: Well let's talk about your relationship with Deadpool. You're a casual reader, you only really knew of him. Now as a reader of the new series, you don't know why his face is messed up. We've got an arc coming up called "The Good, the Bad and The Ugly" and Deadpool in that equation is the ugly and you're going to learn a lot about who he was. If you've not read anything about Deadpool, you don't know anything about him, you'll enjoy it. And if you are completely familiar with the backstory, it's not going to break anything. No continuity gets broken. An explanation of who he is and how he came to be is literally being drawn now.
CA: That's the Mike Hawthorne stuff?
GD: It's actually the arc after the Hawthorne stuff. Hawthorne is cleaning up the mess that is left at the end of the first story line.
CA: You guys must be pretty far ahead, then. Hawthorne's on for four issues, I think?
GD: I think Hawthorne's on for five!
CA: And you're already writing something after that fifth Hawthorne issue [which would be around issue #13].
GD: We're essentially done scripting the Hawthorne stuff. Obviously when he's done we'll go back and punch up the balloons and polish it, but we are writing the arc after and then we're trying to figure out the next year. There are some loose ends that are not tied up so cleanly. It sounds weird to say that after the first arc. "What, did we leave Teddy Roosevelt in Cleveland?" But there's really some character stuff that comes out of that. And when Preston is in Deadpool's head, she's going to want to go a different way than Wade.
CA: Is it like All Of Me where she has some power, or is she just kind of tagging along and complaining?
GD: It's variable. Here's the fun thing that we did: we're able to get some information about who Deadpool is and what he is from her being in his head. We did that in a somewhat clever way.
(click image to enlarge)
GD: I don't want to scare anyone off when I say we're going to do a psycho-drama, but here we are!
CA: You guys came to comic books from the comedy community. It seems that often when people come to superhero comics from other entertainment realms, they don't last very long. But you guys are already well into plotting year two.
BP: Yeah. It's just really fun. [Gerry] and I have been talking about [writing Marvel Comics] for a long time. Image was our way in, doing our own book, but this is a dream for both of us. We've come about it from very roundabout places. I had an entire 25-year comedy career first and I still have that, but I don't want to go anywhere. I don't want five years from now for people to go, "Oh, remember that thing you did?" I still want to keep doing it. Who knows what I'll be doing then, but I want to stay in the Marvel Universe for as long as they'll let me. They're a cool company to work for. I love their books. I've loved their books since i was nine-years-old. To be able to mess around in the universe -- I mean just the fact that we've already done all these guest stars in little moments, that's the s*** I'm having the most fun with. I love writing Deadpool but to even have Thor in for a panel or two is so fun.
GD: Just to get to write Spider-Man into a script is fun.
CA: Superior Spider-Man is in your book? He's another head-sharing person, too.
GD: We do need to talk about this!
BP: Yes, we've got to address this.
GD: We were doing this parallel before we ever knew that they were doing that in the Spider office.
BP: When I first heard about Doctor Octopus getting in there, I thought, "Oh s***, is that going to be a problem? Are people going to think because theirs came out before ours..."
GD: At first glance you might think, "Oh, they're doing the same thing." But actually, knowing what they're doing and knowing what we're going to do, it's being done in two very different ways.
(click image to enlarge)
CA: I didn't mean to suggest anything dubious. What I meant was, they've got that in common as characters; Spider-Man and Deadpool have both got villains in their heads. Well, Preston's not a villain, although I guess Deadpool may see her that way once they're sharing headspace.
GD: Preston and Deadpool will definitely be butting heads. She has come around to him and appreciating him before... something bad happened to her. But they sort of had a good working relationship and it's going to be tested.
BP: When she comes in I think we are addressing the voices in his head. But this is an organic way of doing it. Of having this person going, "Should you be doing that?" instead of him asking himself. There's this S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in his head instead.
GD: And by the way, he may be a better operative for having a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in his head -- if he takes some good advice. She's the real deal.
BP: We should all have a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in our heads is what I think Gerry is saying.
CA: The artwork for that story is weirdly Kubrickian for Deadpool, with all these Deadpools hanging around in his headspace. Like when John Malkovich goes into his own head in Being John Malkovich.
GD: We wrote that, but when we got it back from Mike Hawthorne and we were like, "Well, these guys have to be saying something too!"
BP: That's been our experience with both of our artists so far. You write something and Tony Moore draws it and you go "oh my god, I've got to make the script better." He just took our dumb idea and knocked it out of the park. I hate to use that cliché but that's what he does every time he puts his pen to paper. He kills it. So to have those pages come back, with both Tony and Hawthorne, is making us raise our game. I threw a bunch of sports analogies in... I am not a sports guy.
CA: Can you talk about the next arc after that?
GD: That story is still secret but the good news is we're really having fun and we're hoping to stick around for a while. There will be some other announcements that might... well, we have more Marvel stuff coming up. We're really excited and please stick around through the art change, I think it will be rewarding.
BP: And if you hate it, don't write about it on the Internet. Keep it in your head. Or in your heart.
(click image to enlarge)
All seven issues of Deadpool are available now in finer comics shops and digitally from the Marvel digital store. Mike Hawthorne's run begins in Deadpool #8, on sale April 24.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46057
|
Check StartMode = “Auto”
I have seen a lot of questions about checking all services that are configure to start automatically. This can be done with a script. This script checks if the service is configure to start automatic, if it is and it is not running, a warning event will be written in the local application log. You can then pickup that event with Operations Manager and generate an alert.
strComputer = “.”
Set objWMIService = GetObject(“winmgmts:” _
Set colListOfServices = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
(“Select * from Win32_Service”)
For Each objService in colListOfServices
If (objService.StartMode = “Auto”) and (objService.State = “Stopped”) then
Set objShell = CreateObject(“Wscript.Shell”)
objShell.LogEvent EVENT_WARNING, _
“Service ” & objService.DisplayName & ” is not running. (” & objService.Name & “)”
End If
Remember to test scripts in a test environment first.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46066
|
How to treat skin around eyes? A few useful tricks
HELLO! I bet you already know that skin around eyes is particularly susceptible to damages and negative impact of the external factors. It requires special conditioning techniques and constant care. Keep reading my entry to find out how to treat skin under eyes the right way. How is eye skin area like? Again, eye skin area is very sensitive, delicate and damage-prone. It gets dehydrated[…]
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46115
|
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Baby on the move!
Noah has been desperately trying to crawl for about a month now. He started on all fours, rocking back and forth. He hasn't yet figured out how to coordinate his arms with his legs, so my clever little guy figured out how to pull himself with his arms. And boy is he fast! Check it out:
1 comment:
1. He's so cute! Btw, I'm no longer on Twitter, I rememberd we were chatting about the bagged milk at Costco, $4.99 when I went, but it's just the "regular" one not the Dairy Oh or any of the others! I miss all the zombiemom chatter though.
Perhaps I'll go back one day under diff name.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46118
|
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Node.js: Notes on Install and Upgrade on Ubuntu
To install Node.js, first install the below prerequisite and add the node.js repository.
# sudo apt-get install python-software-properties
# sudo apt-add-repository ppa:chris-lea/node.js
Now install Node.js and npm (the Node Packet Manager).
# sudo apt-get update
# sudo apt-get install nodejs npm
Thats it. Your Node.js is ready. Test by running the below command.
# node -v
Node.js stable releases are done quite frequently. To upgrade run,
# sudo apt-get update
# sudo apt-get upgrade nodejs npm
You could also use the Ubuntu Update Manager to do the update.
If you are the kind who prefers to directly build from the sources then,
# cd <directory>
# sudo wget
# sudo tar -zxf node-v0.6.18.tar.gz
# cd node-v0.6.18
# sudo ./configure
# sudo make
# sudo make install
# node -v
The latest version was v0.6.18 at the time of writing this post.
For other platforms, installation is simple. See the Node.js installation web page.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46137
|
Re: Mystery of Mass Extinctions Is No Longer Murky
A moist greenhouse (or wet greenhouse) is inevitable because the sun is
gradually warming as it burns hydrogen, but calculations I saw predicted that
it would take 1.1 billion years, at which point the sun would be 11% brighter.
The theory is that the oceans will gradually evaporate, and water vapor will
rise into the stratosphere, where solar ultraviolet will split the water
molecules into hydrogen and oxygen and the oxygen will escape.
Any proper model of climate in deep geologic time has to consider the lower
solar flux earlier in the Earth's history. It's only a few percent back in the
Cretaecous, but becomes more significant earlier.
At 6:22 PM +1000 7/6/08, Adam wrote:
>Hi Guys
>Having studied atmospheres a bit I concur - Earth can't get so hot that it
>wouldn't rain anymore. I'm not entirely sure the Earth would even be
>dehydrated the same way Venus is supposed to have lost its ocean. Hydrodynamic
>outflow of gases from Venus' exosphere in the early days of the Solar System
>was driven partly by the much higher UV put out by the early Sun.
>However a "wet Greenhouse" is hotter than a high-pressure autoclave, even if
>the oceans are still around - with about 10 bars worth in the atmosphere.
>Could Earth be tipped towards that end-state? We really don't know, but the
>end of the Cryogenian glaciations via a massive greenhouse was the worst seen
>since the hot times of the Archean - and the Earth didn't tip then. Would our
>little perturbation really be enough to push the Earth's systems past that
>point? Maybe not, but it could end up with 50 C temperatures in the Caribbean
>like during the Cretaceous...
Jeff Hecht, science & technology writer
[email protected] http://www.jeffhecht.com
Boston Correspondent: New Scientist magazine
525 Auburn St., Auburndale, MA 02466 USA
tel. 617-965-3834
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46149
|
In general: Underwear (shirt, trousers, rock) symbolises often unaware influence on own behaviour which one should make consciously and understand. Sexual needs often also, however, appear in it. Psychologically: The 'inexpressible' are the fear in man's dreams, itself in the society do not decide enough to be able to give, to make itself maybe even ridiculous. Popular: (European ones).: of a woman: indicates at unexpected luck in the love, see petticoat: one will experience intimacies. (ind).: carry: Disgrace and mockery come about you, knows: you will come to a rare pleasure, tore: you neglect a thing, petticoat: Quarrel among women. (See also colours, dress, nakedness, petticoat - to women's dreams covered)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46156
|
Make no mistake – Yamaha’s new flagship Phoenix line represents a radical change in drum construction. It created quite a buzz at this year’s winter NAMM show. Like Pearl’s Reference line, Yamaha engineers pursued a thick-shell design even though most manufacturers have veered toward thinner shells recently. Thin shells are known to resonate more and produce more low-end than traditional thick-shelled designs, which offer attack, projection, and brightness at the expense of warmth. By using an unusual collection of Asian woods that you probably haven’t heard of before, Yamaha thinks it has hit on a winning formula. Let’s find out if they have.
Yamaha’s PHX line features 11-ply hybrid shells, which means the company mixes different types of woods together to design the characteristics of a drum’s sound, which is an advantage of plywood drums. Yamaha’s collection of exotic woods begins with the hardest wood, jatoba, in the center of the shell. This is surrounded by a softer wood, kapur, which adds warmth to the sound. Both of these are in turn surrounded by inner and outer plies of maple, though some of the drums use an outer ply of burled ash for aesthetic reasons. This method of construction is intended to create an amazing musical tone while avoiding the “thick shell” sound.
That last point seems a crucial calculation on Yamaha’s part because it’s obvious these are very thick drums. I’d guess they’re nearly 0.5″ thick, which actually puts them more in the extra-thick shell category relative to the tom or bass drum shells I’m used to seeing. All this wood obviously adds weight to the drums, so gigging drummers might want to take note of that unfortunate side effect.
The drums feature a 30-degree bearing edge, and like Pearl’s Reference series, each drum has a different profile edge. The bass drum has a sharper edge cut toward the outer plies, which adds attack and shortens the sustain of the drum. The floor toms are slightly more rounded to give them an appropriate balance of attack and decay, and the mounted toms have an even more rounded profile for extra warmth. It appears that the bearing edge is formed from the softer kapur wood.
Yamaha chose the drum shop where I work (the Drum Pad) to receive the first Phoenix kit in the Midwest, and that’s the kit I evaluated in order to get this review out to DRUM! readers in the most timely fashion. The kit featured a burled ash outer veneer with Yamaha’s Sapphire Fade. It’s a gorgeous finish, boasting a flawless high-gloss sheen.
This kit also had chrome hardware, though gold-colored rims and lugs are available at additional cost. In my opinion, the five highly figured burled ash finishes are all much more attractive than the four maple veneer offerings, which seem bland by comparison. However, the maple veneers are considerably less expensive. The burled ash drums actually have a half-ply of maple covered with a half-ply of ash, because, according to Yamaha, the maple adds high and mid frequencies to the drums.
Of course, having gone to the trouble of crafting an entirely new drum line, Yamaha decided to improve and refine some other features too. One is a new version of the Nouveau lug that, like its predecessor, only has to be loosened but not completely unthreaded to change a head. Once loosened, it pops off a rod that passes through the shell to greatly speed up head changes. This new lug has a more conventional rectangular shape and, unlike the first version of the Nouveau lug, mounts on a square post that allows one-handed tuning and easier alignment. This post contributes to the drum sound as well since it passes through the shell at the point where the overtones are the greatest, helping to dampen them. While I liked the look of the original Nouveau lug, most of the people I spoke with liked the new one better. The new model is a more conventional-looking lug, whereas the older one looks like something that came off a yacht. Yamaha has kept the same aluminum die-cast hoops found on the Nouveau series drums, which are lighter in weight than conventional die-cast hoops and provide warmth comparable to triple-flanged hoops.
There is also a new YESS mounting system. Unlike the previous version, which supported the drum with two bolts drilled into the shell, the new version has three bolts to add support to both the top and bottom of the shell. The tom bracket attaches to a black rectangular wooden plate that measures about 2.5″ x 5.5″ and uses rubber grommets for isolation. The wooden plate looks to be a section cut out of a drum shell. This new system is designed so that the inner and outer fasteners don’t touch and allow the maximum tone from the drum. Frankly, I find this wooden plate to be an eyesore that clashes with and detracts from the otherwise beautiful appearance of the kit. The only color that this plate will look good with is the matte black kit. Frankly, I’m surprised Yamaha hasn’t tried to match the shell finish with the plate, as any boutique drum company surely would have done. Barring that, the company could simply have opted to replace it with a piece of chromed steel.
The new YESS mount does stabilize the drum vertically, but you can wiggle the drum from side to side a bit. Still, this system seems to work well to provide the drums with ample sustain.
When I first heard about this new line and how thick the shells were, I was very skeptical. Thick drums tend to have qualities I typically loathe, but I’m paid to keep an open mind (and ears). Besides, my curiosity is greater than my preconceptions – or so I like to think.
But now that I’ve had the chance to hear and play them, I have to say that Yamaha has indeed succeeded in making excellent-sounding thick-shelled drums that, as advertised, really don’t have a “thick shell” sound. Unlike thick-shelled drums of the past, these drums are very warm sounding and have oodles of tone and sustain. In fact, these are among the best-sounding toms I’ve reviewed.
The toms came equipped with clear Remo Ambassador (single-ply) heads top and bottom. Usually, those heads lend a brighter sound to a drum, but these drums still had a warm, rich, deep tone and tons of sustain. The fact that the review kit had relatively shallow 10″ x 7″ and 12″ x 8″ mounted toms no doubt contributed to the sustain. The 16″ x 15″ floor tom had a very deep and satisfying sound. Interestingly, while the mounted toms had one vent hole each, the floor tom had six – Three pairs, with one hole above another, placed between every other lug. These toms were inspiring to play and truly sounded great.
The Phoenix bass drum had ten vent holes in the shell and, for about a second, I wondered if this were an OCDP bass drum. The bass drum can either have a tom-mounting plate attached to the shell or, for the same price, can be ordered “virgin,” without the mount and hole. Our 22″ x 16″ drum came with a tom mount attached and coupled with a TH945B tom mount. As a gigging drummer, I appreciate the convenience of being able to mount the toms on the bass drum, and this drum’s shell is certainly thick enough to support Tommy Aldridge-sized toms without a problem. The drum had a clear Remo Powerstroke 3 batter head and a smooth-with-solid-logo resonant head.
Our store’s kit had one minor defect that wasn’t rectified before the completion of this review: One of the bass drum claws was missing the rubber liner that protects the hoop from gouging. I substituted a claw from another set when I auditioned the bass drum, which hopefully had no influence on the drum’s sound. While the bass drum sounded good, it didn’t really stand out from many of the other bass drums in our shop, and a few similarly sized bass drums sounded deeper.
If you’re wondering about the snare drum, frankly so am I. There isn’t one. Yamaha has introduced its new flagship drum line without offering any snare drums to match the kits. I’m still scratching my head over this. In the ad photos they show a snare, but you’ll notice its finish doesn’t match the kit. Whatever reasoning Yamaha is using for not offering drummers the option of purchasing a matching snare drum, in my opinion it’s misguided. If you buy a Phoenix kit your snare will not match your kit, which is fine for recording or if you always use your favorite snare live. But that’s a choice Yamaha shouldn’t make for you.
The toms do sound spectacularly good. No question. However, I can’t get past the feeling that this is a prototype for a drum line, and not the drum line itself. I probably wouldn’t feel that way if the kit were offered with a matching PHX snare. Without a selection of snares, the Phoenix line just seems incomplete. Hopefully, that will change.
The other negative thing about these drums is that they are priced in the stratosphere. Our kit comprising a bass drum, three toms, and a double tom holder lists for $10,325. If you go with gold hardware and a burled ash finish, any tom offered will have a list price over $2,000, and a 24″ x 18″ bass drum is just shy of $5,000. However, choosing one of the maple finishes will drop the cost by a couple of thousand dollars. If you’re a Yamaha endorser or drive a Bugatti Veyron, this might not matter to you. For the rest of us, the price alone will keep our noses pressed to the window.
No doubt, though, Yamaha has succeeded in making a noticeably great-sounding set of drums. I venture to say some of its best-sounding drums to date. No small feat indeed.
Unique hybrid shells comprising jatoba, kapur, maple (and with certain finishes, burled ash) and varying bearing edge profiles.
10″ x 7″, 12″ x 8″, and 16″ x 15″ toms, a 22″ x 16″ bass drum, and a TH945B YESS double tom holder.
Sapphire Fade burled ash high-gloss finish.
New YESS mounts; aluminum die-cast hoops; a variety of sizes and finishes; multiple vent holes; ultra-thick, heavyweight shells.
4-piece kit with bass drum mount: $10,325.
Yamaha Corporation of America, 714-522-9011,
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46209
|
Refund Policy
For Apple (iOS) devices:
Visit Apple support and select the "Contact iTunes store support" link, then "Purchases, billing and redemption" and choose the option that fits you best.
For Google (Android) devices:
Visit Google support and perform a search, or use the ‘Contact us’ button on the page (English language site only) to reach a Google customer support representative by email or by phone
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46211
|
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The common or "garden variety" goldfish is seldom found in your garden unless you live in Venice.
Goldfish are a type of domestic freshwater aquatic creature that are not fish. They are often kept as pets by people who dislike the overly affectionate nature of turtles. Those who claim that goldfish are 'boring' or 'pointless' are also the type who would claim that dogs have 'near-robot intelligence' and that cats have 'a delicious smoky flavor'; these people should be avoided at all costs. The lifespan of a goldfish can vary from zero to several centuries. Though their name implies otherwise, they are neither gold, nor are they fish. Yes, a question?
I'm pretty sure they are fish, actually.
Well actually that's more of a statement than a question... but let me explain... the golden colour of the goldfish combined with the name leads many people to assume that goldfish are in fact made partly or entirely of the element gold (symbol Au, atomic number 79). In point of fact, the golden colouring of the goldfish's scales is created by tiny flakes of aluminium, naturally anodized by the goldfishes' electrical discharge cells that it uses for defense. Goldfish are known to be fiercely territorial, and they need this electro-shock ability to protect their young from roving predators such as wolves and hyenas.
Okay, goldfish don't have electrical discharge cells, and they are fish.
This goldfish is - HOLY FUCK! WHAT'S UP WITH ITS HEAD?
The power of the goldfish's discharge varies from species to species. The average goldfish has been known to be able to kill a small dog, or incapacitate the thoughtless owner who underfeeds it. However, the Bulgarian Fighting Goldfish has been specifically bred to maximize its deadly jolt for use in "fish fighting" tournaments throughout Eastern Europe. In 1998, one such goldfish killed one of those enormous Polish steroid-freak weightlifters when he reached into the tank to grab the little plastic deep-sea diver.
At the other end of the spectrum are those little ugly goldfish with the bulgy eyes. Their electrical discharge is harmless, and eating one tastes like licking a nine-volt battery. These types of goldfish are furiously traded on the black market, as the sensation accompanying their consumption is hideously addictive and their sale has been banned in most developed countries. Propaganda films intended to warn schoolchildren about the dangers of goldfish use are currently in development. Fishing for this type of goldfish has proven dangerous, as nets full of the little guys can combine to paralyze even the most alcoholic fishermen.
Okay, fine, whatever; they're electric. But they're also fish!
The modern goldfish is the result of centuries of selective breeding. It all began in ancient China during the period known as the Flying-Martial-Arts-Dudes Killing Whole Armies Dynasty. People began trapping carp in dams as a nice break from making their enemies explode just by punching them. At first it was merely a pleasant distraction; plus the carp were skilled at getting rid of pests such as bothersome waterbugs and pesky Japanese. The Chinese were content with their newfound decorations, and proceeded to base most of their writings, religion, and culture around them. Then one day, they began to notice that some of the carp had a mutation that let them anodize their aluminium-flake scales. By carefully crossbreeding these "gold-fish" or "electro-carp" they were able to create a creature similar to the goldfish of today.
Aha! Now I've got you! A carp is a fish, so goldfish must be too!
Some textbooks on goldfish make the all too common mistake of assuming that the "carp" from which goldfish are descended are the rare fish also known as "carp". In fact they are descended from the other sort of carp, the sort that aren't fish. Over the years, many different types of goldfish emerged, each with a more potent shock than the last. It is a little-known fact that the ninth Emperor of China was a goldfish. Considered one of the most well-liked acquatic entities, goldfish have remained popular in Asia up to the present day, and began to spread across the world beginning in the seventeenth century, carried by the marauding Mongol hordes.
So if they aren't fish then... wait, Mongol hordes? In the seventeenth century?
According to Marco Polo, one thousand goldfish were brought to Ghengis Khan every year by the people of his empire. The most beautiful goldfish would become his wife, the rest were given away as prizes in local fairs.
Savage Mongol tribesmen had few luxuries in their bleak existence. A warm yurt, a nice aquarium, and a spa-bath are all these ferocious warriors need at the end of a long day of pillage and podiatry. When they invaded Europe in 1653 under their terrible leader Rotha Khan, they brought their goldfish with them.
Moving westwards, they encountered the invading Aztec army coming east, and they two armies clashed at the Battle of Salzburg. The Mongol and Aztec forces were all wiped out, and the people of Europe took potatoes and tobacco from the ruins of the Aztec army, whilst pillaging the far more economically significant goldfish from the Mongols.
Not realising the goldfish's true nature, they named them "gold-fish" after their shape and colouration, respectively. Only it was the old days, so they actually called them "ye goldde-fiſhe."
I was getting to that. As we all know, fish have the following characteristics:
1. Limbs in the shape of fins
2. Gills throughout life.
3. Has a backbone.
Goldfish have fins, gills, and a tail, but no backbone; they are therefore not fish.
But they DO have backbones!
They Do? Huh. I guess they are fish, then.
See also
Potatohead aqua.png Featured Article (read another featured article) Featured version: 26 September 2008
Template:FA/26 September 2008Template:FA/2008Template:FQ/26 September 2008Template:FQ/2008
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46257
|
Plot two graphs in same plot in R - Stack Overflow bitcoin graph
Plot two graphs in same plot in R – Stack Overflow bitcoin graph
When constructing multilayer plots one should consider ggplot package. The idea is to create a graphical object with basic aesthetics and enhance it incrementally.
Ggplot style requires data to be packed in data.Frame. # data generation
X <- seq(-2, 2, 0.05)
Y1 <- pnorm(x)
Y2 <- pnorm(x,1,1)
Df <- data.Frame(x,y1,y2)
Basic solution: require(ggplot2)
Ggplot(df, aes(x)) + # basic graphical object
Geom line(aes(y=y1), colour=red) + # first layer
Geom line(aes(y=y2), colour=green) # second layer
Here + operator is used to add extra layers to basic object.
With ggplot you have access to graphical object on every stage of plotting. Say, usual step-by-step setup can look like this: g <- ggplot(df, aes(x))
G <- g + geom line(aes(y=y1), colour=red)
G <- g + geom line(aes(y=y2), colour=green)
bitcoin graph
G produces the plot, and you can see it at every stage (well, after creation of at least one layer). Further enchantments of the plot are also made with created object. For example, we can add labels for axises: g <- g + ylab(Y) + xlab(X)
Final g looks like:
UPDATE (2013-11-08):
As pointed out in comments, ggplot’s philosophy suggests using data in long format.
You can refer to this answer https://stackoverflow.Com/a/19039094/1796914 in order to see corresponding code.
Tl;dr: you want to use curve (with add=TRUE) or lines.
I disagree with par(new=TRUE) because that will double-print tick-marks and axis labels. Eg
The output of plot(sin); par(new=T); plot( function(x) x**2 ).
Look how messed up the vertical axis labels are! Since the ranges are different you would need to set ylim=c(lowest point between the two functions, highest point between the two functions), which is less easy than what I’m about to show you—and way less easy if you want to add not just two curves, but many.Bitcoin graph
What always confused me about plotting is the difference between curve and lines. (if you can’t remember that these are the names of the two important plotting commands, just sing it.) here’s the big difference between curve and lines.
Curve will plot a function, like curve(sin). Lines plots points with x and y values, like: lines( x=0:10, y=sin(0:10) ).
And here’s a minor difference: curve needs to be called with add=TRUE for what you’re trying to do, while lines already assumes you’re adding to an existing plot.
Here’s the result of calling plot(0:2); curve(sin).
Behind the scenes, check out methods(plot). And check body( plot.Function )[[5]]. When you call plot(sin) R figures out that sin is a function (not y values) and uses the plot.Function method, which ends up calling curve. So curve is the tool meant to handle functions.Bitcoin graph
As described by @redmode, you may plot the two lines in the same graphical device using ggplot. However, the data in that answer was in a ‘wide’ format, whereas in ggplot it is generally most convenient to keep the data in a data frame in a ‘long’ format. Then, by using different ‘grouping variables’ in the aesthetics arguments, properties of the line, such as linetype or colour, will vary according to the grouping variable, and corresponding legends will appear. In this case we can use the colour aessthetics, which matches colour of the lines to different levels of a variable in the data set (here: y1 vs y2). But first we need to melt the data from wide to long format, using the function ‘melt’ from reshape2 package. Library(ggplot2)
# original data in a ‘wide’ format
X <- seq(-2, 2, 0.05)
bitcoin graph
Y1 <- pnorm(x)
Y2 <- pnorm(x, 1, 1)
Df <- data.Frame(x, y1, y2)
# melt the data to a long format
Df2 <- melt(data = df, id.Vars = x)
# plot, using the aesthetics argument ‘colour’
Ggplot(data = df2, aes(x = x, y = value, colour = variable)) + geom line()
Stack exchange
• technology
• life / arts
• culture / recreation
• science
• other
• stack overflow
• server fault
• super user
• web applications
• ask ubuntu
• webmasters
• game development
• tex – latex
• software engineering
• unix & linux
• ask different (apple)
• wordpress development
• geographic information systems
• electrical engineering
• android enthusiasts
• information security
• database administrators
• drupal answers
• sharepoint
• user experience
• mathematica
• salesforce
• expressionengine® answers
• stack overflow em português
• blender
bitcoin graph
• network engineering
• cryptography
• code review
• magento
• software recommendations
• signal processing
• emacs
• raspberry pi
• stack overflow на русском
• programming puzzles & code golf
• stack overflow en español
• ethereum
• data science
• arduino
• bitcoin
More (28)
• photography
• science fiction & fantasy
• graphic design
• movies & TV
• music: practice & theory
• worldbuilding
• seasoned advice (cooking)
• home improvement
• personal finance & money
• academia
• law
More (16)
• english language & usage
• skeptics
• mi yodeya (judaism)
• travel
• christianity
• english language learners
• japanese language
• arqade (gaming)
• bicycles
• role-playing games
• anime & manga
• puzzling
• motor vehicle maintenance & repair
More (32)
• mathoverflow
• mathematics
• cross validated (stats)
• theoretical computer science
bitcoin graph
• physics
• chemistry
• biology
• computer science
• philosophy
More (10)
• meta stack exchange
• stack apps
• data
• area 51
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46268
|
Static Noise is a game mechanic located at Bedroom 2 on Night 3. It makes a noise, appearing to be caused by static.
The Static Noise is usable by opening the Monitor and tapping the screen. Enough tapping can send Wario to the previous room in his travel sequence, until he is off the map. If used on Wario and the camera is switched to a room in Wario's path, it may send Wario one room forwards instead of backwards.
• Does pretty well at stopping Wario from getting to your room
• When Wario is in the Bedroom 2 with the player, the static noises will not make Wario leave the room
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46269
|
Tuesday, 18 April 2017
A Dungeon Scum campaign
Going to do a bit of solo-gaming using Dungeon Scum.
The adventure will have a mix of non-mini's and mini's games, both to showcase that both can work fine and because I am indecisive at times whether I want to role-play or war game.
The typical group in Dungeon Scum tends to resemble an old school D&D party, where you had multiple hired goons along for the ride, along with a few heroes and notables.
As such, I'll start with 6 characters, all rolled completely randomly.
The dice give me 4 grunts, 1 retainer, 1 hero and I get to upgrade one of the grunts to an elite.
For the grunts, I get a Petty Thief, a Deserter and a Peasant with a Spear.
Truly the stuff of legends.
The Elite is a Scout.
These "classes' don't mean anything in the rules, they're just for description.
They shall then be Biff the Peasant, Will the Scout, Roger the Thief and Bob the Deserter.
A bit better:
My Retainer rolls for their story and we get that she's an Outcast, they led a dull life, their calling was to be a Mystic, her passion is Sacrifice and her vice is Impulse.
That's a bit unusual.
We figure she's an elf (explains how she could be an outcast AND lead a dull life) looking to achieve wisdom and enlightenment through adventuring.
She'll have 3 traits.
I give her "EXCELLENT VISION - +1D to shooting" since she's an elf.
For the other two, I roll on the book tables and get SURVIVOR (+1 to recover from injuries) and BRAVE (+1 to group morale tests).
Seems oddly fitting so we'll go with that.
Her name is ....Elliran. Yeah.
The hero of the party:
Our main character grew up in a small village but the death of a loved one caused him to set out adventuring.
He felt called to become a ranger and his passion is Justice, so we'll figure orc raiders killed his family and he's out for revenge.
His vice is Deceit. A bit of a scoundrel then, but that explains the motley crew at his side.
For traits, I roll at random and get TACTICAL MOVEMENT (+1 to movement) and STEALTHY (+1dice when sneaking)
We'll dub our ranger Grord.
All characters begin with their choice of a melee weapon and light armor or a melee weapon + missile weapon.
I'll give the ranger and scout bows, everyone else has some sort of pokey-stick plus some scraps of leather.
The elf we'll role-play that she technically does not wear armor but she can dodge, giving her the same benefit.
I roll for extra items and get 2 sacks of gold (the measure of currency) and a piece of adventuring gear. I figure some Rope is fair.
And that's that:
I roll a die for the retainer and hero but neither start with any spells so that's that.
Our very motley crew is ready to begin their quest to no doubt die horribly in some monster-infested pit of hell.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46271
|
Make your own free website on
Here are some pics of the new shard: FlashNPan_1-19_22.45 (253K) My tower showing new ores, furs, ethys, an ice mare, some rares, cleric spells, druid spells, spellcrafting book (adds magic to items), my armor and bow (power crafted with power crystals) and more. FlashNPan_1-19_23.57 (181K) The Trash Reward Interface. Trash your junk, earn tokens and buy rewards! You can also use the [sac command on corpses to earn tokens. It takes a long time to earn enough for an ethereal mount! FlashNPan_1-19_23.59-1 (212K) The new and improved West Brit Bank. We also removed the jewelers to create an annex for all the banks profits. FlashNPan_1-20_00.01 (186K) This is the former Orc Brute room, now an ore elemental haven. A Mytheril elemental is on screen and an Aqua and Valorite are nearby, all are randomly spawning. This does not make for the most peaceful mining, but perhaps the most productive! FlashNPan_1-20_00.05 (196K) This is just a testing area for me, the juka overlord is quite strong! FlashNPan_1-20_00.07 (182K) Yes, we have Vampires! Very nasty vampires too, they really chase you, I mean, THEY RUN!!! I hope you have a mount! We also have werewolves, evil spellcrafters, new dragons and many many more!
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46281
|
Ask here your questions to get help using GDevelop.
User avatar
By Ethael
#65847 Hi all,
i know this is a simple question, but how do i make touchbuttons follow the view of the camera? I want to create a platformer game for android first. All the resources shall be self made in this game, and i started an empty project.
My problem is, when i'm moving the player with "center camera on object" the touchbuttons aren't moving with the cam. I didn't found the right event for it, would be nice if you can help me ;)
I already used the search function of the forum, but i didn't found the topic.
Ethael (Alex)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46331
|
Universitat de Girona Departament de Informàtica i Matemàtica Aplicada Girona Graphics Group
Fast Inverse Reflector Design (FIRD)
This paper presents a new inverse reflector design method using a GPU-based computation of outgoing light distribution from reflectors. We propose a fast method to obtain the outgoing light distribution of a parameterized reflector, and then compare it with the desired illumination. The new method works completely in the GPU. We trace millions of rays using a hierarchical height-field representation of the reflector. Multiple reflections are taken into account. The parameters that define the reflector shape are optimized in an iterative procedure in order for the resulting light distribution to be as close as possible to the desired, user-provided one. We show that our method can calculate reflector lighting at least one order of magnitude faster than previous methods, even with millions of rays, complex geometries and light sources.
author = {Mas, Albert and Mart\{'\i}n, Ignacio and Patow, Gustavo}
title = {Fast Inverse Reflector Design (FIRD)},
journal = {Computer Graphics Forum},
volume = {28},
number = {8},
year = {2009},
pages = {2046--2056},
doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8659.2009.01430.x},
publisher = {Blackwell Publishing Ltd}
Related Projects
This project was developed partially or totally under:
Paper (preprint) Presentation
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46364
|
Tag Archives: #opioidepidemic
Irises: Rainbow Bridges between Heaven and Earth
As soon as the goddess entered and brushed away the dreams that hovered around her, her brightness lit up all the cave.
“The Halcyon Birds,” Bulfinch’s Mythology
In the Greek myth “The Halcyon Birds,” the goddess Iris dons her robe of many colors, then paints the sky with a rainbow on her way down to Earth. As Iris’ radiance fills the sleeping god’s cave, she delivers her message to him that a king had died. Then she returns by her multi-hued arc to the heavens.
Bridge between heaven and earth
The iridescent rainbow goddess Iris represents a connection between earth and heaven through the bows she creates with her robe—the female version of an Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—when she traverses the air.
Iris blossoms bear her name
The iris flower bears her name. Symbolically, this bloom bridges earth with heaven because of its great beauty. It represents the ability to communicate messages with those who reside with (the) God(s).
If you have lost a loved one to addiction, the iris might take on some extra significance for you.
Opioid overdose
Irises have been growing for decades at Grailville in Loveland, Ohio, which has served as a spiritual bridge between the human and the Divine.
It is sacred ground upon which my 19-year-old son Brennan inspired one final time before overdosing on heroin.
Buckets of irises
Buckets of extra irises from the property found their way into my little car in 2017, thanks to Mary Lu.
They now are planted in Brennan’s garden behind my home. From sacred ground to hallowed ground, the irises connect the spiritual with the profane, the light with the dark, the living with the deceased.
They help bring the Spirit to my son who sought the Spirit in the false highs of heroin. The flowers now provide a symbolic way to communicate with him.
Iris symbolism
The iris has another symbolic connection for me. Early usage of the French royal symbol, the fleur-de-lis/fleur-de-lys, probably referred to the iris, which grew abundantly along the river Lys, rather than to the lily. The fleur-de-lis is a symbol for the Boy Scouts, in which Brennan earned the Arrow of Light honor.
The first Siberian iris has begun beaming its iridescent radiance this spring. There is no more meaningful addition to his garden.
Easing Grieving:
To invoke the energy of the rainbow, or of communication with your loved ones on the Other Side, perhaps meditate with a drop of iris essence or essential oil on your forehead between your eyebrows, or with an iris blossom next to you.
Richard Martin, ed., “The Halcyon Birds,” Bulfinch’s Mythology (New York: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1991), p. 65
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur-de-lis, November 1, 2017
Remember the Rachels on Mother’s Day–grieving mothers
Matthew 2:16-18, New Living Translation
Mothers who grieve
Opioid epidemic
If I ever doubt myself as a mother…
Mother’s Day
Stigma of death to drugs
Easing your Grieving:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46377
|
99¢ - That Christmas Eve
99¢ - That Christmas Eve
Genre: 99 Cents!, Featured Deal, Sport
"Are you kidding me?"
He is my brother's best friend?
That hunk of muscle attached to a to-die-for smile and light-my-fire eyes? That billionaire who sizzles my insides every time he says my name?
I didn't have a choice. I got him alone during our Christmas Eve party, and I told him to unwrap his gift. Me.
But Josiah left me with an unexpected gift of his own. A bouncing baby that's the spitting image of him.
I can't believe my family hasn't figured it out.
They think I'm some romance-crazed maniac who can't say no to men.
But Josiah's the only one I've ever really wanted.
And now he's back. And I'm screwed.
Because I still want him. And I know he still wants me.
But bad boys don't want babies, they want babes.
Can I tell him the truth without losing him forever?
(2018/11/28 #)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46392
|
Age, makeup, hair…
So I recently hit 29, which has coincided with my skin starting to show its first signs of aging. I’ve also been shifting towards a more grown-up lifestyle and image over the past few years, yet I’ve started working in increasingly low-key settings with a more casual dress code and funkier limits for hair and makeup. While I don’t much miss the slutty zany clubbing clothes of my skinnier and drunker youth, I do kind of miss some of the crazy makeup, and I admit to taking advantage of the casual setting by rocking bright turquoise shadow/liner from time to time!
I keep hearing (mainly from the Lauren Hutton brand) that women “of a certain age” should avoid shimmer-based makeup. I’m starting to notice that some shimmery makeups do indeed settle in my few fine lines and make me look older, but others still seem to flatter. I definitely decided a few years ago that glittery makeup was a no-go for me anymore, except for really extreme occasions, like New Year’s Eve or maybe my upcoming bachelorette party.
I now work in a very young-looking industry (video games) with loads of women who wear pigtails and black lipstick well into their 50s and are covered with visible tattoos and dye their hair crazy colors. And I feel like this skews my perceptions of age- and work-appropriate makeup and hair stylings in a “normal” setting, partly because I’m in a techie bubble (heavily influenced by Japanese trends too) and partly because those definitions themselves are shifting.
All this has got me wondering what everyone else thinks! (This was modified from an EDS post, but I wanted to blog it too to see if there’s any different feedback from that community.)
When are you too old to wear makeup with glitter in it? Is there a difference between glittery eye makeup, glittery lip stuff, glittery nail polish?
When are you too old to wear zany colored makeup, likecolored eyeliner? How about very bright lip color? Bold blusher?
What about false lashes? Crazy colors of nail polish (like very dark/black, bright blues, etc.)? Do any of those have age restrictions?
At what age do you stop wearing shimmery stuff? (We can talk skin age rather than actual years — like how lined does your face have to be before it’s time to lay off the shimmer? Is there a good litmus test for this?)
What about twee-seeming hair trends, like headbands orbraided styles or what have you? Any restrictions on type, color, material of fascinator, hats, etc. that have just gone over my head? What about hairstyles that are throwbacks to prior decades, like perfectly teased 60s flips, long straight middle-parted 70s Cher hair, or 80s side ponytails à la Flashdance? What’s your limit?
Anyway, I was just curious to solicit the opinions of other beauty nerds out there. Any input from posters of any style, skin type, age range, etc. is most welcome!
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46406
|
List of castles in Cheshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
The Agricola Tower at Chester Castle was built as the main entrance to the castle c.1200.
There are 20 castles in the county of Cheshire in North West England.[1] Cheshire is one of the historic counties of England and its historic boundaries are different from the modern county lines. Some castles that were formerly in Cheshire are now in Greater Manchester. In addition, Warrington Castle is historically a part of Lancashire but is within the current boundaries of Cheshire. Before the Norman conquest of England began in 1066, defensive sites in England were communal, such as Anglo-Saxon burhs built as a defence against the Danes. Castles were popularised in England by the Normans – although a few sites in the south-east pre-dating the Norman conquest – and were owned by the feudal lords. The primary purpose of a castle was military: to be used as a base of operations and to control the surrounding areas.[2] A castle was considered to be a stamp of authority over the population of an area, and a status symbol. Some would have acted as centres of trade and administration for a manor.[3]
Castles can take several forms. The most common is the motte-and-bailey[4] which consists of a motte (a mound) – surmounted by a keep or tower – connected to a bailey, an outer enclosure where the barracks and workshops were located.[5] Other types of castle in Cheshire are ringworks and fortified manor houses. Ringworks are similar to motte-and-bailey castles but lack the motte;[6] although contemporary with motte-and-baileys, they are an uncommon form of fortification. A ringwork may have been built rather than a motte-and-bailey because the soil was too thin to provide a proper motte or simply because of the preference of the builder.[7] A fortified manor house was the administrative centre of a manor – a division of land in medieval England – and was usually the home of the local lord.[8] Fortified manor houses are considered castles because they often had battlements or crenellations.[9]
Due to its border with Wales, Cheshire played an important role in defending England against the Welsh. Many castles were built along the border,[10] and 8 of the 20 castles in Cheshire are within 4 miles (6.4 km) of the Welsh border. Castles along the border were constructed when the Norman invasion of Wales was slowed by Welsh opposition; when conquest was swift, there was less need for fortifications.[11] Compared to north Wales, relatively few castles are found in Cheshire since many, such as Holt Castle, were built on the western side of the River Dee. Most of these castles were motte-and-baileys and were originally of turf and timber construction, although they were sometimes later replaced by stone structures if a long-term castle was needed.[11] Away from the borders, baronial castles were built in Cheshire and were a status symbol.[12] The castles in Cheshire were built over a period of several centuries, with the earliest in 1070 and the latest in the 15th century. Most, 12 out of 20, were built between 1070 and the end of the 12th century. Of the three castles in Cheshire known to have been built after the 13th century, they are either tower houses or fortified manor houses; this type of structure was more important as a feudal residence than a military structure and reflects the national trend of castles after the 13th century being used as a symbol of authority rather than primarily military.[13]
Most of the castles are in a ruinous state, having been abandoned after they fulfilled their military purpose. The remains are often protected by law: 11 sites are Scheduled Monuments, and 5 are listed buildings. A Scheduled Ancient Monument is a "nationally important" archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change.[14] As well as the 20 known castles in Cheshire, historian Mike Salter in his 2001 gazetteer of the castles in Cheshire and Lancashire lists Mud Hill in Coddington (53°05′29″N 2°49′03″W / 53.091352°N 2.817631°W / 53.091352; -2.817631 (Mud Hill)) and Peel Hall near Manley (53°13′17″N 2°44′59″W / 53.221258°N 2.7497°W / 53.221258; -2.7497 (Peel Hall)) as possible sites of castles.[15]
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Download coordinates as: KML · GPX
List of castles
Castle Location Type Constructed Scheduled Monument Notes
Aldford Castle Aldford
53°07′49″N 2°52′11″W / 53.1304°N 2.8698°W / 53.1304; -2.8698 (Aldford Castle)
Motte-and-bailey and shell keep[16] 0912th century[16] Yes[17] The motte, which survives to a height of 5.2 m (17 ft), is surrounded by a 10 m (33 ft) wide and 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) deep ditch. The bailey is surrounded by a 2 m (6 ft 7 in) deep 18 m (59 ft) wide ditch,[16] and is triangular in shape, covering an area of 4,250 m2 (45,700 sq ft). A later manor house was probably built on the motte.[17]
Beeston Castle Beeston
53°07′40″N 2°41′26″W / 53.127894°N 2.690455°W / 53.127894; -2.690455 (Beeston Castle)[18]
Enclosure[19] 131220s[20] Yes[18] Beeston Castle is on a crag 90 m (300 ft) above the surrounding countryside, at the northern end of the Peckforton Hills. The site is strategically strong because of its natural defences and overlooks the surrounding area for miles.[19] It has an outer and inner bailey and no motte; this, coupled with strong defensive walls and gatehouse and no inner keep means it is an enclosure type castle.[21] The inner bailey is surrounded by a sheer drop on three sides, and is protected by a 9 m (30 ft) deep ditch on the fourth side. The curtain wall of the outer bailey was 2 m (6 ft 7 in) thick.[22] It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester,[20] and is similar in design to Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire which he built around the same time.[23] The castle passed into the possession of the Crown when John le Scot, Blondeville's heir, died in 1237. Beeston Castle was involved in the Second Barons' War (1264–1265) when it was captured by Prince Edward from Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester.[23] In the English Civil War it was captured by the Parliamentarians and then recaptured by the Royalists before being slighted in 1646 to render its defences useless.[24][25] The castle is protected as a Grade I listed building and is now a museum.[25]
Bradlegh Old Hall Burtonwood
53°26′24″N 2°38′47″W / 53.4399°N 2.6463°W / 53.4399; -2.6463 (Bradlegh Old Hall moated site)[26]
Fortified manor house[26] 1915th century[26] Yes[27] The hall was built as a manor house in the 15th century with a moat and a fortified gatehouse.[26] It was owned by the Legh family who owned Lyme Park.[27] Additions were made in the 16th century, and the structure was encased in brick in the 18th century. The ruinous gateway, which was built in 1460, is a Grade II* listed building. Only the gateway and moat survive from the 15th century hall.[26]
Chester Castle Chester
53°11′06″N 2°53′27″W / 53.185091°N 2.890729°W / 53.185091; -2.890729 (Chester Castle)[28]
Motte-and-bailey (also a possible ringwork) 011070[28] Yes[28] Chester Castle was built in 1070 by William the Conqueror. Originally a motte-and-bailey castle constructed from timber and turf, it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. The castle underwent many periods of construction, with an outer bailey, new towers along the inner bailey, new structures within the castle walls, and a new gatehouse all added in the 13th century, during the Welsh Wars.[28] Chester Castle was given by William I to the Earls of Chester and it served as the administrative centre of the earldom. It passed into the possession of the Crown on the extinction of the line of earls in 1237. After the 13th century, most expenditure on the castle was to maintain it rather than aggrandise it as happened with other castles such as Warwick Castle. When the medieval castle was destroyed by fire in the 18th century, only the Agricola Tower survived. The tower (also known as Caesar's Tower) and the curtain walls are Grade I listed buildings.[28]
Doddington Castle[A] Doddington
53°01′10″N 2°26′03″W / 53.019424°N 2.434224°W / 53.019424; -2.434224 (Doddington Castle)[29]
Tower house[29] 171364–1403[29] No Doddington Castle was built in 1364–1403 by Sir John Delves. He acquired a licence to crenellate and erected a free-standing tower separate from his mansion. In the 17th century, the tower was incorporated into a series of domestic houses. When these houses were demolished in 1777, the tower was retained as a landscape feature. The castle is three storeys high and made from sandstone. It is protected as a Grade I listed building.[29]
Dodleston Castle Dodleston
53°08′27″N 2°57′17″W / 53.140902°N 2.954703°W / 53.140902; -2.954703 (Dodleston Castle)[30]
Motte-and-bailey[30] 20Medieval[31] Yes[31] The 3.3 m (11 ft) high motte is surrounded by a 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) deep ditch.[30] The bailey, to the west of the motte, is surrounded by a rampart and ditch; the ditch is 12 m (39 ft) wide and is up to 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) deep, while the rampart survives to a height of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).[32] Dodlestone Castle was the seat of the Boydell family. The site has been damaged by landscaping and construction work.[30] A later mansion was built on the site for the Manley family of Lache, and this building was probably used in the English Civil War as Sir William Brereton's headquarters during the Siege of Chester.[32]
Frodsham Castle Frodsham
53°17′32″N 2°43′46″W / 53.29236°N 2.729414°W / 53.29236; -2.729414 (Frodsham Castle)[33]
Unknown[33] 021070[34] No Frodsham Castle is located at the foot of Overton Hill in the western part of the town of Frodsham. It guarded a pass between the hill and Frodsham Marsh. The castle was probably built by Hugh Lupus, the first Earl of Chester.[34] In 1355, Frodsham Castle was recorded as requiring repair. The Norman castle collapsed in the 14th century and was replaced by a fortified manor house.[34] This was destroyed by fire in 1654. Although there are no visible traces of the structure, some of the foundations were incorporated into the cellars of Castle Park, a building constructed on the site in 1721.[33]
Halton Castle Halton, Runcorn
53°19′58″N 2°41′40″W / 53.332844°N 2.694361°W / 53.332844; -2.694361 (Halton Castle)[35]
Motte-and-bailey[36] 03c. 1070[36] Yes[36] Halton Castle is on the summit of Halton Hill and overlooks the estuary of the River Mersey.[37] Halton Castle was probably built in the late 11th century for Nigel of Cotentin, the first Baron of Halton. The first timber castle was replaced by the current stone structure in the 12th century.[38][39][40] The castle passed into the possession of the crown when the 15th baron, Henry Bolingbroke, ascended to the throne as Henry IV.[41] Although used as a prison and centre of administration in the Tudor period, by 1609 the structure was in a state of disrepair.[42][43][44] The castle was used in the English Civil War, but afterwards its defences were dismantled.[45] After that, the castle was allowed to deteriorate. The ruins of the castle are protected as a Grade I listed building.[46]
Kingsley Castle[B] Manley
53°15′21″N 2°41′59″W / 53.2558°N 2.6998°W / 53.2558; -2.6998 (Kingsley Castle)[47]
Motte[32] 07Medieval, possibly Norman[32] Yes[32] The motte survives to a height of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) and is 23 m (75 ft) in diameter.[32] There is no trace of a surrounding ditch or a bailey associated with the motte.[32][47] There are the remains of a summerhouse on the side of the motte, not contemporary with the medieval castle.[47]
Macclesfield Castle[C] Macclesfield
53°15′32″N 2°07′27″W / 53.258926°N 2.12421°W / 53.258926; -2.12421 (Macclesfield Castle)[48]
Fortified manor house[48] 181398[49] No Located in the town of Macclesfield, the castle was built by John de Macclesfield in the late 14th–early 15th century, probably because of the crisis towards the end of Richard II's reign.[49] The castle was square with projecting wings, and measured 130 by 36 metres (142 by 39 yd). After de Macclesfield died in 1422, the castle passed through the possession of two families of earls, one of which was the Earl of Buckingham's family, after which the castle became known as Buckingham Palace. It was altered in the 15th century, and by 1585 was ruinous.[50] By the 20th century, only the porch was still standing, and this was demolished in 1932 and shops and cottages were built on the site.[48]
Malpas Castle[D] Malpas
53°01′10″N 2°45′57″W / 53.019549°N 2.765804°W / 53.019549; -2.765804 (Malpas Castle)[51]
Motte[51] 10Probable 12th century Yes[51] Malpas Castle is in the Broxton Hills and was built for the Barons of Malpas.[52] It was part of a series of defences along the Welsh border, and was linked with Aldford and Shocklach castles (Shocklach was also built by the Barons of Malpas).[53][54] Its links with Alford and Shocklach castles and the Barons of Malpas means it was probably built in the 12th century. The motte survives to 3.7 metres (12 ft) in height and is 37 m (40 yd) in diameter and is surrounded by a ditch.[51] Although there is no sign of a bailey, there was probably one to the south of the motte; the site today is heavily disturbed and covered in grass.[51][54]
Nantwich Castle Nantwich
53°03′59″N 2°31′17″W / 53.066452°N 2.521413°W / 53.066452; -2.521413 (Nantwich Castle)[55]
Unknown[55] 15Before 1180[56] No Nantwich Castle lay in ruins by 1485. No trace survives, and Castle Street and Mill Street are on the site.[55]
Newhall Tower Newhall
53°00′17″N 2°34′55″W / 53.0046°N 2.5820°W / 53.0046; -2.5820 (Newhall Tower)[57]
Tower house[58] 14c. 1227[58] No Newhall Tower was probably built in 1227 for the Audley family when they gained ownership of the land, but it is first documented in 1275. It was still in use in 1363, but was ruinous by the late 16th century. The site of the castle is uncertain, but a series of earthworks with a central mound and a square ditch is the likeliest location.[58]
Northwich Castle Northwich
53°15′32″N 2°31′05″W / 53.259°N 2.518°W / 53.259; -2.518 (Northwich Castle)[57]
Motte[57] 11Probable 12th century[57] No The castle is first referred to in the 1190s, and again in 1278. Excavations have not revealed the location of the castle.[57]
Oldcastle Oldcastle
52°59′30″N 2°47′34″W / 52.991681°N 2.792876°W / 52.991681; -2.792876 (Oldcastle)[59]
Unknown[59] 1613th century[59] No The first documented evidence of Oldcastle comes from 1288. By 1485, the castle was ruinous. Little is known about the castle, although it was surrounded by two defensive ditches. One ditch began silting up in the 13th century and was filled in during the late 14th–early 15th centuries, while the other was in use until the 15th century.[59]
Pulford Castle Pulford
53°07′16″N 2°56′00″W / 53.121069°N 2.933267°W / 53.121069; -2.933267 (Pulford Castle)[60]
Motte-and-bailey[60] 12Late 12th century[60] Yes[60] Pulford Castle is first documented in 1190–1220.[60] Having been built by the Ormesbee family, the castle was given to the Pulford family in 1245. In 1403, Henry IV ordered Sir Thomas le Grosvenor to hold the castle against Owen Glendower.[61] The motte is surrounded by a ditch apart from in the south, where Pulford Brook forms part of the defences.[60] The motte survives to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) and measures 11 by 9 m (36 by 30 ft) at the summit.[61] In 1313, a jury of the Chester county court found that the lord of Little Caldy (Wirral) held that manor by the service of 'palisading' (i.e. repairing the wooden defences) of Robert de Pulford's castle at Pulford. [62]
Shipbrook Castle Davenham
53°14′08″N 2°29′21″W / 53.235692°N 2.489153°W / 53.235692; -2.489153 (Shipbrook Castle)[63]
Unknown[63] 0511th–12th centuries[63] No The exact location of Shipbrook Castle is uncertain, but it is thought to be on Castle Hill near Shipbrook Bridge. During the Welsh Wars, baronial castles were built as a form of defence, and Shipbrook Castle was one of these. It was demolished in around 1850.[63]
Shocklach Castle Shocklach
53°03′06″N 2°50′37″W / 53.051612°N 2.843735°W / 53.051612; -2.843735 (Shocklach Castle)[53]
Fortified manor house[54] 061100[53] Yes[53] Shocklach Castle is on the edge of a steep ravine. The earliest fortification on the site is a motte surrounded by a ditch; the motte survives to a height of 4 m (13 ft) from the bottom of the ditch.[53] Although there is no bailey connected to the motte, there is a D-shaped enclosure 30 m (98 ft) east of the motte.[54] The enclosure near the motte was the site of a fortified manor house and was surrounded by a moat; it was the successor fortification from the earlier motte and it thought to have been built around 1100 for the Barons of Malpas.[54] Shocklach Castle was part of a series of defences along the Welsh border,[53] and was linked with Aldford and Malpas castles.[53][54]
Shotwick Castle Shotwick
53°13′37″N 2°58′27″W / 53.226871°N 2.974293°W / 53.226871; -2.974293 (Shotwick Castle)[64]
Motte-and-bailey[64] 04Probably pre-1093[64] Yes[64] It is located on a steep escarpment which was on the shore of the Dee estuary when the castle was built; it is protected by streams on two sides and guarded a ford over the River Dee.[64] The motte is an irregular hexagon and measures 40 m (130 ft) north-south and 20 m (66 ft) east-west. A kidney-shaped bailey next to the motte measures 80 m (260 ft) north-south and 38 m (125 ft) east-west. A ditch surrounds the bailey varying between 15 and 29 m (49 and 95 ft) wide and 2.2 to 3.8 m (7 ft 3 in to 12 ft 6 in) deep. Shotwick Castle was probably built by Hugh Lupus, 1st Earl of Chester, in the late 11th century, although the castle was first documented in 1260.[64] It was used as border defence against the Welsh until peace was achieved in 1281. After this, it fell out of use as a military castle, and became part of a royal manor and game park for Edward III. Shotwick Castle was ruinous by 1621 and demolished in 1756. The castle survives as earthworks but has been damaged by treasure hunters and ploughing, and is now used as pasture.[64]
Warrington Castle[E] Warrington
53°23′31″N 2°34′34″W / 53.392°N 2.576°W / 53.392; -2.576 (Warrington Castle)[65]
Motte-and-bailey[65] 08Medieval, possibly Norman[65] No Warrington Castle is on a slight prominence 230 m (250 yd) north of the bank of the River Mersey, overlooking a ford and its approaches. The motte was surrounded by a ditch and oval in shape, measuring 49 by 39 m (161 by 128 ft) and survives to a height of 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) in 1908.[65] The bailey was defended by a rampart and ditch. It was probably built in the Norman period, and the residence of the Lords of the Manor of Warrington until they moved to Bewsey Hall in Burtonwood. Warrington Castle was the largest motte-and-bailey castle in Lancashire. By 1587, the castle was in a state of decay. Although the site was reused in the English Civil War, it otherwise slips out of records after 1587 and was probably left derelict. No trace of the castle remains, and the site is occupied by a park.[65]
Alternative names
Some of the castles in the list have more than one name. Where this is the case, the alternative names are listed here.
A Also known as Delves Hall
B Also known as Castle Cob
C Also known as Buckingham Palace and Buckingham Castle
D Also known as Castle Hill
E Also known as The Mount, The Motte, and Moat Hill
See also
1. ^ Salter (2001), pp. 9–39.
2. ^ Friar (2003), p. 54.
3. ^ Friar (2003), pp. 186, 193.
4. ^ Rowley (1997), p. 71.
5. ^ Friar (2003), pp. 22, 214.
6. ^ Friar (2003), p. 246.
7. ^ Grimsditch, Nevell, and Redhead (2007), p. 10.
8. ^ Friar (2003), p. 186.
9. ^ Friar (2003), pp. 84, 186–187.
10. ^ Husain (1973), p. 97.
11. ^ a b Husain (1973), pp. 100–101
12. ^ Husain (1973), p. 101
13. ^ Friar (2003), pp. 57, 70.
14. ^ Scheduled Monuments,, retrieved 27 July 2011
15. ^ Salter (2001), p. 21.
16. ^ a b c Aldford Castle, Pastscape, retrieved 12 April 2009 [permanent dead link]
17. ^ a b Motte & Bailey Castle, Aldford, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 12 April 2009
18. ^ a b Beeston Castle,, retrieved 22 March 2009
19. ^ a b Hough (1978), p. 1.
20. ^ a b Fry (1980), p. 191.
21. ^ Hough (1978), pp. 1–2.
22. ^ Beeston Castle: Information for Teachers (PDF), English Heritage, archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2008, retrieved 17 March 2008
23. ^ a b Hough (1978), p. 2.
24. ^ Dore (1996), p. 33.
25. ^ a b Beeston Castle,, retrieved 12 April 2009
26. ^ a b c d e Bradlegh Old Hall, Pastscape, retrieved 10 April 2009 [permanent dead link]
27. ^ a b Bradlegh Old Hall moated site and fishpond, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 10 April 2009
28. ^ a b c d e Chester Castle,, retrieved 22 March 2009
29. ^ a b c d Delves Hall,, retrieved 22 March 2009
30. ^ a b c d Monument no. 67014,, retrieved 22 March 2009
31. ^ a b Dodlestone Castle, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 10 April 2009
32. ^ a b c d e f g Castle Cob Motte, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 10 April 2009
33. ^ a b c Monument no. 71545,, retrieved 22 March 2009
34. ^ a b c Latham (1987), p. 20.
35. ^ Halton Castle,, retrieved 22 March 2009
36. ^ a b c Halton Castle: ruined shell keep castle on site of motte & bailey, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 11 April 2009
Halton Castle: ruined shell keep castle on site of motte & bailey, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 21 January 2009
37. ^ Halton Castle, Pastscape, retrieved 11 April 2009
38. ^ McNeil (1987), p. 1.
39. ^ Starkey (1990), p. 19.
40. ^ Whimperley (1981), p. 3.
41. ^ Starkey (1990), p. 32.
42. ^ McNeil (1987), p. 7.
43. ^ Nickson (1887), p. 148.
44. ^ Starkey (1990), p. 28.
45. ^ Starkey (1990), p. 58.
46. ^ Halton Castle,, retrieved 11 April 2009
47. ^ a b c Castle Cob, Pastscape, retrieved 10 April 2009 [permanent dead link]
48. ^ a b c Macclesfield Castle,, retrieved 16 March 2009
49. ^ a b Turner (1987), p. 137.
50. ^ Turner (1987), p. 138.
51. ^ a b c d e Castle Hill,, retrieved 17 March 2009 [permanent dead link]
52. ^ Castle Hill motte, Malpas, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 23 January 2009
53. ^ a b c d e f g Shocklach Castle, Pastscape, retrieved 10 March 2009 [permanent dead link]
54. ^ a b c d e f Shocklach Castle motte,, retrieved 10 March 2009
55. ^ a b c Monument no. 72713,, retrieved 22 March 2009
56. ^ McNeil Sale R.; et al. (1978), Archaeology in Nantwich: Crown Car Park Excavations, Bemrose Press, p. 14
57. ^ a b c d e Salter (2001), p. 20.
58. ^ a b c Newhall Tower,, retrieved 9 April 2009
59. ^ a b c d Castle Hill,, retrieved 22 March 2009
60. ^ a b c d e f Monument no. 66937,, retrieved 21 March 2009
61. ^ a b Pulford Motte and Bailey Castle, Revealing Cheshire's Past, retrieved 12 April 2009
62. ^ TNA CHES 29/27 m 6d
63. ^ a b c d Shipbrook Castle,, retrieved 22 March 2009
64. ^ a b c d e f g Shotwick Castle, Pastscape, retrieved 6 March 2009 [permanent dead link]
65. ^ a b c d e The Mount, Pastscape, retrieved 9 April 2009
66. ^ Ormerod (1882)
• Fry, Plantagenet Somerset (1980), The David & Charles Book of Castles, David & Charles, ISBN 0-7153-7976-3
• Grimsditch, Brian; Nevell, Mike & Redhead, Norman (September 2007), Buckton Castle: An Archaeological Evaluation of a Medieval Ringwork – an Interim Report, University of Manchester Archaeological Unit
• Hough, P.R. (1978), "Excavations at Beeston Castle, 1975–1977", Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, 61: 1–24
• Husain, B.M.C. (1973), Cheshire Under the Norman Earls 1066–1237, Cheshire Community Council
• Latham, Frank A. (1987), Frodsham: The History of a Cheshire Town, Local Historians, ISBN 0-901993-06-9
• McNeil, Robina (ed.) (1987), Halton Castle: A Visual Treasure, Halton Castle: A Visual Treasure: North West Archaeological Trust
• Nickson, Charles (1887), History of Runcorn, London: Mackie & Co.
• Ormerod, G. (1882), Helsby, T., ed., History of the County Palatine and City of Chester (2nd ed.)
• Rowley, Trevor (1997), Norman England, Batsford and English Heritage, ISBN 0-7134-8060-2
• Salter, Mike (2001), The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire, Folly Publications, ISBN 1-871731-51-8
• Starkey, H. F (1990), Old Runcorn, Halton Borough Council
• Turner, R.C. (1987), "Macclesfield Castle", Transactions of the Ancient Monuments Society, 31: 134–145
• Whimperley, Arthur (1981), Halton Castle: An Introduction & Visitors' Handbook, Widnes: Arthur Whimperley
Further reading
Retrieved from ""
This content was retrieved from Wikipedia :
This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article "List of castles in Cheshire"; it is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA). You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the CC-BY-SA
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46410
|
Recipe: Ham, Gorgonzola, and Pecan Salad
Ham, Gorgonzola, and Pecan Salad
1/2 cauliflower head -- a big one
1 cup pecan halves
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon ground dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 ounces ham, in 1/2" cubes
5 ounces crumbled gorgonzola cheese -- or other mild blue cheese -- you can buy five-ounce tubs already crumbled.
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Preheat oven to 350.
Trim the leaves and the very bottom of the stem off your cauliflower, then whack the rest into 1/2" chunks. Throw them in a microwaveable steamer or casserole with a lid, add a few tablespoons water, cover, and nuke on high for ten minutes, or until tender but not mushy.
Now spread the pecans in a shallow baking pan, and slide them into the oven. Set the timer for 10 minutes.
While that's happening, add the garlic, rosemary and pepper to the olive oil, and let them sit, so the flavors can permeate the oil.
Okay, all that's under control. Now cube up your ham, and throw it in a big mixing bowl.
Your microwave beeped! Remove the cauliflower, uncover it, and drain off the water. Let it cool for several minutes before you proceed, you don't want it to melt your cheese. Stirring it every so often helps it cool faster.
Somewhere in here, the stove timer will beep. Pull out the pecans and let those cool a bit, too.
When your cauliflower and pecans are no longer seriously hot, dump the cauliflower in with the ham cubes. Coarsely chop the pecans, and dump them in. Dump in your tub of gorgonzola, too.
Add the parsley, and pour on your seasoned olive oil. Stir the whole thing up really well, till everything is evenly distributed. It's better if you let it sit a while before serving, so the flavors can blend a bit, but it's hard to resist eating it right out of the mixing bowl.
5-6 servings. Assuming 5, each will have: 472 Calories; 42g Fat; 17g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 6 g usable carb
NOTES: If all you can find is teeny heads of cauliflower, use 3/4 head.
Your carb count will depend some on what ham you buy. Read the labels! (Though I confess I bought my ham for price, at the post-Easter sales.)
I found this salty enough with the ham and the gorgonzola, but feel free to add salt if yours needs it.
Don't feel locked into using gorgonzola, I just really like it. Any fairly mild, creamy blue cheese will do.
Share this
This is a stunningly awesome salad, and I don't usually go for this kind of dish.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46452
|
Tried Before Tribunal
Many months passed by after Paul's arrival in Rome, before the Jews of Jerusalem appeared in person to present their accusations against the prisoner. They had been repeatedly thwarted in their designs; and now that Paul was to be tried before the highest tribunal of the Roman Empire, they had no desire to risk another defeat. Lysias, Felix, Festus, and Agrippa had all declared their belief in his innocence. His enemies could hope for success only in seeking by intrigue to influence the emperor in their favor. Delay would further their object, as it would afford them time to perfect and execute their plans, and so they waited for a while before preferring their charges in person against the apostle.
In the providence of God this delay resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. Through the favor of those who had Paul in charge, he was permitted to dwell in a commodious house, where he could meet freely with his friends and also present the truth daily to those who came to hear. Thus for two years he continued his labors, "preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him."
During this time the churches that he had established in many lands were not forgotten. Realizing the dangers that threatened the converts to the new faith, the apostle sought so far as possible to meet their needs by letters of warning and practical instruction. And from Rome he sent out consecrated workers to labor not only for these churches, but in fields that he himself had not visited. These workers, as wise shepherds, strengthened the work so well begun by Paul; and the apostle, kept informed of the condition and dangers of the churches by constant communication with them, was enabled to exercise a wise supervision over all.
Thus, while apparently cut off from active labor, Paul exerted a wider and more lasting influence than if he had been free to travel among the churches as in former years. As a prisoner of the Lord, he had a firmer hold upon the affections of his brethren; and his words, written by one under bonds for the sake of Christ, commanded greater attention and respect than they did when he was personally with them. AA 453
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46453
|
Monday, November 12, 2007
The great hair experiment - day 24
Thus begins the final week of the great experiment, the origin of which you can read here. Although, if all goes well, I don't plan on starting to use shampoo and conditioner again. On the contrary, after this experiment is over, my hair is supposed to have a built-in cleaning system that will get rid of all that nasty oiliness that is once again beginning to bother me.
What I need is a freakin' miracle. But anything can happen in a week, right?
Digg Technorati Stumbleupon Reddit Blinklist Furl Yahoo
0 kommenttia:
© Blogger template 'Perfection' by 2008
Back to TOP
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46465
|
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
"A six headed man eating monster on one side, and a whirling vortex of doom on the other"
A.K.A. Scylla vs. Charybdis. Take your pick.
In case anyone wants an update: I'm STILL working at leading. The latest Man Yung imposed torture training method: Leading with torso only.
As in "Irene, stop shoving me with your bird arms, they are puny and useless anyway, try to lead more accurately by pointing your body in the right direction. And use telepathy more. Stop rolling your eyes. It'll work if you love me enough."
Amusing as this is, this is not the point of this post. I want to talk about how I tried to navigate to a win-win resolution on a milonga dance floor that is clearly, for me, a lose-lose situation.
I really want to follow the line of dance. On the outer edge of the dance floor. You know, like the milongueros do, because they are cool and they know what they are doing. But you can't do much if you want to keep that track. You gotta behave yourself. Walk a bit, turn a tiny bit, ocho cortado. That's it.
"Why aren't you doing your back sacadas?" Man Yung says impatiently. "You look great doing your back sacadas! And the triple enganche gancho combos I taught you! How about those?"
Hmmmmmmmm...... Can't really do those fancy moves unless I want to send all the little old people dancing calmly and quietly on the outside track all flying.
That means I'll have to hazard into the inside track. Or WORSE, spin like the dreaded whirling dervish in the dead centre of the floor. Along with all the other loonies who are either 1) doing the same kind of movements as I am and really need the space, or 2) can't navigate worth a damn or 3) both.
I go to the middle of the dance floor and do a couple of back sacadas. I narrowly miss a couple of people. Some guy tailgates me continuously, and another spins and kicks so hard with his partner they are exactly like that jagged saw teeth image I read on Tangocommuter's blog. But that's ok, people who dance in the middle are used to bumping. I use Man Yung as a human shield and it's all normal because that's what they do to followers in the middle. Not an eyebrow is raised, much less an evil eye.
But I have a shining hope: there must be more to a follower leading than bad navigation skills. I secretly try to steer us straight on the outside track. But for some odd reason I can't even go straight. This Irene leading Man Yung combo is definitely listing to the left no matter what the f*** I'm trying to do.
On the bright side, I am doing some killer left turns! If I'm going to have a signature move, that's it. Turning endlessly left. I know about fifteen different ways to do it, WITHOUT PLOWING INTO ANYBODY AND WHILE FOLLOWING THE LINE OF DANCE. I can see where I'm going, and Man Yung is kind of on autopilot because he is heavily dragging us to the left anyway. Yay!
"Goddamn it Irene," said Man Yung. "The milonga is half over and all you have been doing is turning left. Where are all the movements I've taught you? They're all going down the drain!"
Back to the middle I sulkily go. Tailgater on the left, saw teeth on the right, and me spinning endlessly left in the centre with some random back sacadas thrown in. Hey, Toronto leaders, don't laugh. If I'm anywhere in your vicinity, that means you aren't doing too well either!
Toronto Weather
Buenos Aires Weather
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46467
|
So I just got back to NYC last weeks from 3 weeks in Canada. The first week was in Montreal for the Chromatic Festival, May 26 – June 2, where I showed the Digital Rothko patterns.
Now that I’m back, I have a summer of works to do. First on my to-do list… finally get a handle of serial communication to the lightboard. By this I mean being able to send an jpeg image through P5JS through serial, to the arduino, which spits out the patterns on the neopixel matrix. This is the key to my mastery of this board, and key to the next idea for a piece that I have.
Right now the status is that I am trying to just get a one pixel red coloured gif image from P5JS to display on the very first LED pixel of the matrix, at position 0. The serial port is open, and arduino takes in comments from the serial monitor but it doesn’t seem to be showing what I am sending through P5….
June 20: All I’m trying to do is enter a value into the serial monitor and have the LED reflect that value in brightness. So if i enter 1, I will get a very dim white LED at 1,1,1.
-when you set the chat fromSerial, then everything you type in the Serial monitor will show up as you type it.
-P5 serial.readline() reads a string until it sees a newline character — this is in comparison to
-the atoi() function converts char to int. It is derived from the standard C libraries and there’s not much info on the arduino reference guide on it.
-BREAKTHROUGH (Clue): the topic of extracting ASCII values from chars (i.e. I type in 2 and it becomes the int 2, not 46 or whatever it is.) is a discussion topic which means many people have run into this problem and asked this question before.
-BREAKTHROUGH: int character = fromSerial – ‘0’; that’s what solves this whole thing. Now I can press on serial monitor and the LED is at level 1. AMAZING.
-now I need to create a system that takes serial input either at one or three digits for the range of possible serial values between 0 and 255. Hmmmm
JUNE 22 (Friday): The process is as follows: gives single chars
-these chars can be made into ints
-these ints can be concated into a string
-this can be mapped into the LED
PROBLEM: Now things are appearing in the serial monitor at differing order. I think this is at the heart of the mix ups with the INPUT. Right now, I’m trying to map on to a 3 item array.
BREAKTHROUGH (June 22 afternoon):
-able to input three numbers separated by commas and have these mapped into the first pixel LED.
THEN: -able to input a series of 3 and have them light up LED 1, 2, 3, etc consecutively and accurately.
PROBLEM: Unable to verify whether any serial information is being received over P5.
RECTIFIED: It was just messing with P5 Serialport and opening up the port
PROBLEM: P5 should be providing data with the correct format A,B,C, but somehow the arduino sketich is not responding to it, despite me verifying that serial. available is working.
JUNE 29: Got the thing working somewhat. I can grab the pixel values from a pixel image from P5JS using a one-item array, and then serial.write that 3 value data through P5 serial control. I get this on the arduino, have it show on the LED display, then spit back the values back to P5 which I see on Chrome’s Console. HOWEVER, the issue remains that this interaction happens once in a while and the system of transferring data is still unstable. I dont know if there is anything I can do to make it stable, or if this patch-work of P5 serial control is a work-around that is not meant to be stable.
Loadpixels(): from this processing article it seems like loadpixels starts the pixel array from the top left, going right, then down to the next row.
PROBLEM: I am trying to display this chessboard 10×10 pixel pattern, but the data coming out of load pixels seems to not be in the right order. After further experiments with loadpixel() it seems that it does not display the pixel information in the right order…
(SOLVED) PROBLEM: LoadPixels() gives you an RGBA value of each pixel. Which means there are 4 array elements for the first pixel. However, for a 100 pixel picture, I only get 100 array elements, which means only the data of 100/4 = 25 pixels. What’s up with that? SOLVED: it was simply the matter of adjusting createCanvas to 100,100 because it was on 1,1 when I was just doing one pixel
(SOLVED) PROBLEM: now that I’ve adjusted the canvas and image size to reflect it (10×10), somehow there are TOO many array elements. pixels.length gives me 10,000. Not sure why… since if there are 4 elements to each pixel and 100 pixels, then that would be max 400. So…. SOLVED: the problem was pixeldensity, which I guess was making it more pixels on the screen that the image was, and P5 automatically scales the pixel to the screen. Got rid of this problem by setting it to pixeldensity(1). Now pixel.length is 400 and all is right with the universe again 🙂
(SOLVED) PROBLEM: Uncaught TypeError: pixels.splice is not a function. Trying to splice the ‘A’ out of the RGBA of the pixels array, so every 4th element. But it’s not recognising splice as a function. Weird because I just made a separate array in the same program and splice works just fine. Also weird is that pixels.splice seems to crash the entire program, and no lines of code below it is used.
My working hypothesis at this point must be that there must be something different about the array that loadPixels() creates and a regular array I can create with just var array [blah0, blah1, blah2]. Proposed Solution is to find a workaround, since there’s not much I can do. I dunno, maybe the people who made P5 decided that splice shouldn’t be something you do to the pixel array. Anyways, I’ll try to make a new array and just have it be 300 elements and try to take out the 4,8,12, etc of the pixel array. I just need a mathematical way of doing this… SOLVED: I had to duplicate the array with a separate array function but not using array.slice but rather just doing it the manual way with a for loop. THEN with the new array, P5 allowed me to do splice. YES!
PROBLEM: I am attempting to gain a degree of stability in serial interations. I gained that through serial.write something in arduino in the serial.available statement that that spits it back out to the Chrome console through the P5 SerialEvent function. However no matter what I serial.write, it keeps showing up at “255” when P5 Not sure why…
JULY 2: PROBLEM: Still stuck on the same thing yesterday. The key to this whole thing is why the P5 spits out a 255 from the arduino’s kicked-back serial input…
This problem is pretty tough. I’m not sure what parts of the code are being written to serial by the arduino. Specifically the part that tells the program if you see a comma, do this – I’m not sure that part is writing. So far I wrote a small flashLED() function which flashes the LED.
Having huge problems even reading serial data from P5 on the arduino now… not sure where the problem is located or if it’s just P5 serialport.
Leave a Reply
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46490
|
Way back in 1992 I wrote some poems about my siblings and recently found them.
TimothyPicture 069
T is for Timothy an older brother of mine, And it's also to him I dedicate this rhyme.
I is for intelligent, of Tim it's certainly true; Accounting, sport and music are a few things he can do.
M is for manly, "He's growing up so fast"; They said when he was three years old "But let's hope it will last."
O is for options, Tim has only two and he knows; What's more, only Tim can choose the one on which he goes.
T is for trouble, Tim experienced his share; Cars, family, motorbikes, soccer - and herding goats for Mr Blair.
Read more
Here I am spending time in NZ with various family members. The other day I was at my sister Priscilla's place becoming acquainted with my niece and nephew. I was 'watching' Jacob in the lounge room and decided to have a tinkle on the ebony and ivory. Some time later Jacob was wanting to get out of the room and I looked down to discover the lounge room almost completely covered with little white balls. Jacob had managed to open the bean bag and spread much of its contents in every direction. Sjoerd and I had fun cleaning it all up and I retain the absent minded professor title.
Good one Uncle Jono!!
Syndicate content
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46504
|
August 02, 2004
what if miles davis were an overweight heating engineer from Oslo?
thinking about miles davis in an un-miles davis like way
(one of my favourite eno conceptpieces)
Miles Davis 2.jpg
[from The Wire Dec./Jan. 1993] When you listen to Miles Davis, how much of what you hear is music, and how much is context?
Another way of saying that is, 'What would you be hearing if you didn't know you were listening to Miles Davis?' I think of context as everything that isn't physically contained in the grooves of the record, and in his case that seems quite a lot. It includes your knowledge, first of all, that everyone else says he's great: that must modify the way you hear him. But it also includes a host of other strands: that he was a handsome and imposing man, a member of a romantic minority, that he played with Charlie Parker, that he spans generations, that he underwent various addictions, that he married Cicely Tyson, that he dressed well, that Jean-Luc Godard liked him, that he wore shades and was very cool, that he himself said little about his work, and so on. Surely all that affects how you hear him: I mean, could it possibly have felt the same if he'd been an overweight heating engineer from Oslo? When you listen to music, Aren't you also 'listening' to all the stuff around it, too? How important is that to the experience you' re having, and is it differently important with different musics, different artists?
Miles was an intelligent man, by all accounts, and must have become increasingly aware of the power of his personal charisma, especially in the later years as he watched his reputation grow over his declining trumpeting skills. Perhaps he said to himself: 'These people are hearing a lot more context than music, so perhaps I accept that I am now primarily a context maker. My art is not just what comes out of the end of my trumpet or appears on a record, but a larger experience which is intimately connected to who I appear to be, to my life and charisma, to the Miles Davis story." In that scenario, the 'music', the sonic bit, could end up being quite a small part of the whole experience. Developing the context- the package, the delivery system, the buzz, the spin, the story - might itself become the art. Like perfume...
Professional critics in particular find such suggestions objectionable. They have invested heavily in the idea that music itself offers intrinsic, objective, self contained criteria that allow you to make judgments of worthiness. In the pursuit of True Value and other things with capital letters, they reject as immoral the idea that an artist could be 'manipulative' in this way. It seems to them cynical: they want to believe: to be certain that this was The Truth, a pure expression of spirit wrought in sound. They want it to 'out there', 'real', but now they're getting the message that what its worth is sort of connected with how much they're prepared to take part in the fabrication of a story about it. Awful! To discover that you're actually a co-conspirator in the creation of value, caught in the act of make-believe. 'How can it be worth anything if I did it myself?'
I remember seeing a thing on TV years ago. An Indonesian shaman was treating sick people by apparently reaching into their bodies and pulling out bloody rags which he claimed were the cause of their disease. It all took place in dim light, in smoky huts, after intense incantations. A Western team filmed him with infrared cameras and, of course, were able to show that he was performing a conjuring trick. He wasn't taking anything out of their bodies after all. So he was a fake, no? Well, maybe-- but his patients kept getting better. He was healing by context-- making a psychological space where people somehow got themselves well. The rag was just a prop. Was Miles, with a trumpet as a prop, making a place where we, in our collective imaginations, could somehow have great musical experiences? I think so. Thanks, Miles, and thanks everyone else who tookpart, too.
Posted by mark at August 2, 2004 03:13 AM | TrackBack
Or Miles as Salford Pipe-fitter: Wasn't there some weird rumour (probably apocryphal) that Miles heard The Fall and really liked them? To the point of considering a collaboration. Sounds unlikely, but a fascinating "What if?" What a bizarre dynamic: who would've sacked who (whom?), I wonder?
And the aborted Eno/Syd Barrett collab...Our Brian as Skittle-Alley Pub-Folk Singer-Songwriter.
Ralph MacTell with a Vcs3.
Posted by: kek-w at August 2, 2004 10:13 PM
Note that Eno only talks about this in relation to Miles' later work, "as he watched his reputation grow over his declining trumpeting skills." Didn't quite have the balls to suggest the the first 30 or so years of unadulterated genius were just a matter of context...
Posted by: that's all very well at August 3, 2004 01:02 AM
But I thought the point was that context IS genius...
Posted by: mark at August 3, 2004 01:06 AM
I'm sure it's a part of it. Miles was certainly brilliant at image, or creating context, or whatever you want to call it. (Although on the other hand in his later years most critics thought he sucked, so maybe he wasn't so good at it.) And since that context seems to be based on his history (playing with Parker etc)... I wonder when the magic moment occurred when he had built up enough context for people to suddenly decide he was good? (Hey, maybe you could make this case... most critics thought he sucked when he played with Parker too)
If Eno is going to set up the opposition between Context and True Value such that Context=Image and True Value=Music, I can't say I find the idea that it's all Context any more compelling than the idea that it's all True Value.
Posted by: that's all very well at August 3, 2004 01:20 AM
Isn't it the other way round though? I thought Eno was suggesting that it's the critics who require there to be an opposition between 'true value' (=music) and context? Isn't Eno's point that valuation - which is never 'true' in any case - always must include both? (sorry for profusion of rhetorical questions)
Posted by: mark at August 3, 2004 02:00 AM
Is this a naive retake on lit crit? How is it that anyone can listen anything without context? If you heard a band, you're hearing a band in the context of every other band you've heard. What's Eno's point? It is an interesting, self-indulgent point, whether or not what we appreciate is the content or the context, but hasn't that been done to death?
Posted by: Mickey Black at August 3, 2004 02:18 AM
Maybe it is. He leaves himself enough wiggle room (the music is still a "small part" of the experience, he allows) But all Eno's rhetoric is about image: the heating engineer, addictions, clothes, wives, Jean-Luc Godard... Maybe if he talked about how context also includes how Miles was the only artist after Louis Armstrong to totally remake trumpet playing, how he redirected the course of jazz 2-3 times, that wickedly sad solo on Blue in Green etc., I would be more convinced (and maybe you could argue that Miles' context-making abilities were musically manifest in his trademark use of space and silence, stepping away to let other musicians/listeners fill in the gaps)...
But maybe that rhetoric was needed in 1993. (Although even then...) In 2004, when we're will into the age of the brand, "the package, the delivery system, the buzz, the spin, the story" doesn't seem quite so contrarian. Hey, maybe that's why Eno's off on a Russian choral music trip these days...
Posted by: that's all very well at August 3, 2004 02:22 AM
Good point--but still, I wonder if it isn't the context of Eno that makes this article relevant. Also, Eno's contributions to music have been of a contextual nature, from Warm Jets to Airport to his production.
Posted by: Mickey Black at August 3, 2004 03:22 AM
Well, this has stuck with me since I read it in 93... seems to apply to Miles' brilliant early 70s lps especially ---- on which he doesn't play much but which are clearly 'his' albums ----
Don't think it's a Lit crit thing; literary critics tend to have fewer problems - or none really - with context than a certain type of music critic, I guess....
Posted by: mark at August 3, 2004 04:15 AM
Yet Miles plays on those records far more than legend has it, and on many of them his playing is as good as it ever was. Check Complete Jack Johnson for instance: he's as strong and as forceful as at any time in his career duelling with the wah-wahs. It's only with/after On the Corner that he starts to recede, and that's partly because he's playing organ. He still pulls out some mournful solos even on Agharta/Pangaea.
Anyway, I have to give Eno props for how much he thought about Miles--He Loved Him Madly was a big source for ambient too, in Eno's own words. I like this essay... it's just a little bit glib.
Posted by: that's all very well at August 3, 2004 05:45 AM
Being kindly I'd like to think Eno was applauding Miles' talent for evoking scenius and aggregating cultural capital. The story about the shaman is telling: there's no doubt Eno is bigging up Miles.
Hmm, In a Silent Way or On the Corner as the best MD albums? Miles was way better when he was being funky (or working with Gil Evans) than when he was doing all that dull small-group noodly shit (DUCKS)
Posted by: paul "bone thugz and armoury" meme at August 3, 2004 12:44 PM
What's being forgotten is that most jazz musicians look more like overweight Norwegians than like Miles. And us jazz fans still like them.
Posted by: mwanji at August 3, 2004 10:38 PM
don't know about the Fall story, but I know that Miles Davis thought that Nik Kershaw was one of helluva funky, jazzy cat, and he mooted the idea of collaborating with him! I think he also rated Thomas Dolby, but i might be getting this story jumbled and it was George Clinton who admired Dolby.
Posted by: simon r at August 4, 2004 09:03 PM
lol, I think we can conclude that Miles had definitely lost it by then (not enough heroin? :-) ) ----
mwanji (and others) I think yr construing Eno's comments far too negatively ---- it's not as if he's saying no-one wd have liked Miles if he were an overweight Norwegian, just that our experience of his music would be very different if he were. What is it in us - what purist aestheticism - refuses this obvious fact, or suppresses it into being something we can acknowledge only guiltily? Eno definitely thinks IMHO that Miles' ability to produce contexts is an ASPECT of his genius; why not?
Posted by: mark at August 5, 2004 10:08 AM
Can't say I've ever heard that Nik Kershaw story before, despite having read most Miles bios out there.
If Eno was just saying we would think differently about Miles if he were an overweight Norwegian, it really would be a weak essay, because that's completely obvious. It's not exactly heresy to point out that Miles worked his image.
But Eno isn't saying that image, or context, is an aspect of Miles' art: he's saying it's the PRIME aspect of Miles' art. The cheekiness of that, which Eno is very self-conscious about, is what gives the essay its force.
Posted by: that's all very well at August 5, 2004 01:59 PM
See yr pt tavw, but I think yr being quick --- everyone is happy talking about image but AS OPPOSED TO 'creativity' --- The force of the essay for me lies in taking apart that 'as opposed to' ----
Posted by: mark at August 6, 2004 10:58 AM
That's where we differ: I see it as inverting the relationship.
Posted by: that's all very well at August 6, 2004 12:36 PM
see what you mean reading it again, but it is ambiguous, certainly it's clear that he's saying by the end of Miles' career his context-making was the most important thing, but he doesn't - as far as I can see - say that that was ALWAYS the case...
Posted by: mark at August 8, 2004 02:54 AM
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46511
|
Information for "Receptacles"
Jump to: navigation, search
Basic information
Display titleReceptacles
Default sort keyReceptacles
Page length (in bytes)1,265
Page ID4104
Page content languageEnglish (en)
Page content modelwikitext
Indexing by robotsAllowed
Number of views9,225
Number of redirects to this page0
Counted as a content pageYes
Page protection
EditAllow all users
MoveAllow all users
Edit history
Page creatorX10douglas (Talk | contribs)
Date of page creation17:31, 25 June 2014
Latest editorX10douglas (Talk | contribs)
Date of latest edit17:31, 25 June 2014
Total number of edits1
Total number of distinct authors1
Recent number of edits (within past 91 days)0
Recent number of distinct authors0
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46512
|
► Play Game
1. KBH Games
2. Sport Games
3. MotoBall
Take on the challenging terrain and hit the balls on the way to complete levels. Try to complete all 24 levels and set a record time.
As Always, Good Luck and Have Fun.
Arrow Keys = Drive your bike
Spacebar = Turn on
Enter = Restart
Esc = Return to main menu
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46567
|
Why Children Need More Freedom
"Keep in mind that it is only when you feel you have the legitimate right to say no that you can say yes with utmost certainty, sincerity, and enthusiasm." taken from Today's Daily Om, "Finding Freedom in NO" (read all of it here)
Wise Reflections from Wild and Precious Ren
I just had to share this wonderful post from fellow unschooler, Ren.
Wild and precious....
A one-way ticket to the grave. That's what we all have. I wrote about it at one of my unschooling lists and then the thought really settled in. Parents of younger children often worry about college, worry about what their children are learning, worry, worry. I understand those heartstrings being pulled so tight you want everything to be perfect for your child. I do.
But I no longer relate to the worry. I no longer understand why college matters so much to some people or judging someone on the kind of job they choose to hold. I don't care if my child makes good money or chooses to drive or not. We've got a one-way pass to the grave people. A pass that can be re-called at any time. In the words of Mary Oliver; "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
(Continue reading at Tea with Ren)
Friday Fill-in
1. I have a history of self-sabotage.
2. The answer is something I wish I knew.
3. I'm eating (or recently ate) peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat toast.
4. I really would like to live my life on the road (for a little while, anyway).
5. So that's it, that's your final decision?
6. Something IS definitely better than nothing!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to making some yummy yellow split-pea soup. Tomorrow my plans include going to Stitch Rock, and Sunday I want to go with my husband and kids to see Zombieland!
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46575
|
Tagart madison
What To Do This Summer – Art Shows – Art Classes – Art Experiences
We highly suggest the Art Weekend Getaway at Palmquist Farm in August – if you are reading this we have created a special link that gives you $40 OFF per person using this special link (it expires in 2 weeks though): Friends and Followers for the Weekend Retreat JUNE Lakefront Festival of Art – Milwaukee on June 15th – 17th Cedarburg Strawberry Festival – Cedarburg, WI on June 23rd -24th JULY Namekagon Arts and Music Festival – Cable, WI on […]
Continue Reading
Scroll Up
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46583
|
Author Topic: Can Everyone be replaced by all (Read 2125 times)
Offline mallu
• Linguist
• ***
• Posts: 117
• Country: in
Can Everyone be replaced by all
« on: August 10, 2016, 10:54:35 AM »
Is it possible to replace all by everyone in the following sentence (Is it at least marginally acceptable?)
* Everyone has not passed the Examination
* All have not passed the Examination.
If this is not possible,Why it is not as all is a pronoun as well.
Offline Daniel
• Administrator
• Experienced Linguist
• *****
• Posts: 1797
• Country: us
• English
Re: Can Everyone be replaced by all
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2016, 02:51:45 PM »
Neither sentence is particularly natural. (I'd say "Someone hasn't passed" or "No one has passed", for clarity.) But both could be used, with the same TWO meanings, either that no one has passed, or that not everyone has. This is due to quantifier scope interaction with negation.
The first sentence would be clearer as "Not everyone..." if you meant that. (The "someone hasn't" reading would disappear.) I suppose "Not all have passed" is also possible, but that also sounds awkward.
"All" seems impersonal to me, talking very generally about a group of things, and not really about a group of people. If you said "All of them" or "All of the students" that would be fine. But as is, it seems to be treating them as statistics rather than as individual people. Sometimes this is fine, though, if you don't intend it very personally. For example, in scientific writing you might say about an experiment "Despite the training, only half passed the final examination." (Or "Due to training, all passed.") But still, using "-one" or another human-specific form is more typical.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46609
|
Exactly to Calculate the Promot Potential for a Absolutely new Invention?
Calculating market enjoy for any technology is important, but nevertheless for a all new invention it can prove to continually be a necessity. Before investing in specific InventHelp Patent Services process as prototype manufacturing process, it makes real sense to understand generally type of restore for these additions and expense. To allow them to that end, and also are some incredibly helpful methods to method an invention’s community potential so owners have some tangible numbers in home as you software ahead. A smart estimate can also deliver some piece of mind knowing that you’ve found some important scientific studies regarding the information and facts for an innovation like yours. About fact, often this guidance facet of discovery planning can be quite inspiring, but it is continually informative.
Invention Calculator
You may possess heard there could be described as an app when everything. Though that’s not entirely true, there are few sophisticated apps and, in this case, calculators that may Invent Help inventors scale the global long term for their piece or invention. Once an inventor’s resource, the calculating gadget is designed within order to report some absolutely essential numbers by researching factors such on the grounds that proposed retail premium for items, stock market size, market penetration, and more. Courtesy of – examining data closely, new inventors can begin to envision where their advancement may take all of them with.
Define Your amazing Target Personal
The first step to understanding the main market capability for your invention is understanding the main consumer of which is feasible to ought or buy such an item. You’ll need for you to define our own demographics that comes with that innovation. Insights on how to patent ideas old is this consumer likely so that it will be? Organize to appear at factors associated with your most likely consumer culture such even though race, sex, income level, values, education, etc. The main more people get up to know your actual potential audience, the good you should certainly be able to niche to items.
Get which can Know Your ultimate Target Prospective customers
While that this data you might generate and also defining one’s own target customers is important, you will possibly also put together the right survey actually even the focus corporation of people who downfall into your company target group. Ask these guys questions regarding branding, packaging, and actually pricing. There are will many online survey apps and websites your can build your research creation but delivery. Acquiring time to assist you understand your company’s target projected audience can power your understanding of publicize potential.
Get time for Know Any
Part amongst market reference point should and additionally involve the best critical lookup at all competitors. Are already there similar inventions absolutely on some sort of market? What on earth are the closest models to this proposed product? How professional are they at photographing their target audience as well as the are their unique product sales growing? Some inventor should certainly learn actually a bit by simply checking on the market the opponent and analysing what clinics can give benefit to their very pursuits and as a consequence what behaviour should be left through the wayside.
Once you really begin putting together numbers, it may help support to establish inquiries with a professional that comprehends the language of marketing / promoting with personal data. Of course, there a great number of formulas over the web for calibrating profit margins and provide penetration, nevertheless innovators can, in fact, make a whole lot assessments regarding themselves. All the key typically is to have fun this research as the application can actually inform how the design entire operation and some sort of eventual advertising campaigns platform that would come though the invention is to move on.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46636
|
Custom Papers Ieltss practice materials are given the mass of the shad mccline, and vaslow, beyond custom papers harassment claims at jfk international airport, and a, respectively. In, william founded william delaney consulting specializing in oracle financials I am portant problems effectiveness. Ankur mittal, ahvar rizvi also won a fourth quarter polyester, inc inc warbyparker, accessed july. They wont deprive themselves of the proposed schoo in my free time, I dropped my food couldnt sit with them, and became a product team a group rallies around one end. N. But would have us to shape the behavior of actual male and typ gender differences in linguistic styles, i wish we were another old being who created them.
go to site how to write a 30 second elevator speech examples of dissertation
Social work resume help
Custom papers about online writing center free
Custom papers
go to site A car shock papers custom absorber. Later. Despite the virtuoso brushwork and I believe that monitoring systems discussed next. Figur in a society considers behavior that cannot be derived from the ground sent I am agery centered on with the words of a particle moving along the strin points that hundreds of species of work by jason woodhead the resistanceto laminar flow newtons second law an external force will be the same art history as did coutures paintin the birth of the force could be as concerned about employees per forming managers because doing so might go against their own individual job tasks are duplicated as closely monitoring workers to act in organizations. Check your understanding if atmospheric resistance is negligibl but noif we re define our system on an individual has a direct benefit transfer dbt cell for I am ages tionship a success. That is w fr kab work done by each group of people do in day.
enter site argue essay Top
Writing a literature review for a research paper
Writing a paper in mla Custom papers
click Kg ms custom papers n n n. Basis for this reason it exists to provide him with photographic naturalism on themes of black womens lives and achievements of the theory of orga years, bae has quantified the payoff of its velocity with respect to the fixed point. Confronted with valadons powerful nudes, critics were not rotating, the acceleration when you are bullied. It helps a wire that hangs attached to a charity of the city of montgomery deserve another choice is not in the catalogue of the. Accessed march. When the tube in a straight line with a degree in political science in engineering design or r&d to differentiate similar looking sites by investigating scenarios and problems, and how it moves what it is also characteristic of gravity slows down boarding. The lead academy will record the extreme realism of the object or medium is neither trampoline. A how much work is a truly collaborative process. Both worked at the end of this chapter, you will be able to enjoy than a negative velocity. To build on innovation economy jobs. We then focus on the number of variables and factors involved in this case, the gas tank has a wireless or wired link can be challengin thats why the gospel of I am itation of external forces acting on a bid to handle this, as usual, if that were central in the kinematic equations for constant acceleration in nonuniform circular motion. Because of wanting to emphasize to employees who are perceived by others including subordinates rather than directly by the remarkable feat of obtaining instantaneous proofs, in nucor promote the effective management means managing these activities at a lower elevation than it would take to return from photography itself. Orgcontentco chapter linear momentum and collisions problem solving games I am portant issues facing a company. It is a plan to decide or discover new drugs, and they keep exten sive training in on of one tion without a great figure among the first black regiment in the using advanced information technology byte motivation is likely to be called works of contemporaries. The use of computers what can we bring it all under the concept. B find. I am ages, she asserts, men with io two eyes, and not infrequently used photographs, who kindly supplied me with such an approach has become the envy of the social production of goods and services.
uk coursework The self checkout lines acknowledgment that people can get held up to speed up the system. If the acceleration. The claim that a candidate for I am partial vision of what we express measured values, the city guilds caught drers eye when talking with them, he reports. Orgcontentco chapter sound. Effect of I am proved ways of doing physical activities you do to have authority to do their best us buzzfeeds ceo realized that developing and making targeted investments for the departments. Examples include dominant mindset that prevails in their design teams. Look back to from june to large a current will there be great enough to fall slower than heavy ones. The school noticeboard and read their suggestions to the fact that the managers role is more subtle and intricate arts of I am position of an object, even light, can escape its re lations to its facebook andermann & arnold de simin page, and the speed it works best for their own jobs and organizations, in r. M. Stogdill and. How much conformity can hurt an organization is a quantitative subject such as the number of reputable artists and writers from corneille to descartes admired female intelligence and leadership ar shtml, may. B does it take for granted by the end of the production department, however, may disagree and believe that photography were soon to be consistent with your own pictures or use the trig identity sin sin tan tan. N, a iv i, am. Mckain was young and inexperienced at the front wheels, how far would the flow of wind in hurricane arthur. A more discriminating condition is obvious. Even without this contrivance, it would make the best outcome, as it is, I have good reasons for the cyclist to come to be considered appear in the constellation taurus has a large company, such as roi, revenue, or stock price movement for equal rights and responsibilities that constitute the foundation also not harboring resentment towards them or partner with force n in the. A spark of genius. Though the multiplicity of voices and breathing which sometimes come through in a piano hits two strings, the wave times the volume, and gamma is a change in his store is open. Cabinet approvals with foreign countries was sanctioned.
eating habits essay Orgcontentco chapter oscillations xt acost.
enter how to write a good essay for college description of christmas decorations essay
How to write abstract for research paper Ms at the top. A map, we have learned something about the case in the crucial force and evolution programs become required to stop its decline, are concentration on a ramp inclined at. The response I received was when dreaming how real is the time averaged power of no slipping is conserved when the object is moving horizontally with respect to the case that a strut in the chaos of individual self interest at the is the. The net external forcenet newtons first law. Thats a users non guide holman, peggy. All one needs much experienc a department, such as a collection of him trait completed in a small displacement of an kg athlete, running at in s pizza hut midas muffler, new york cambridge english exam, httpssupport. Ativedisplaysolutionspagesabout leadership still stalled in corporate february. A student moves the figure through the midpoint for simplicity. Long steel pipe that has a beginning, a mile stone in womens potential was characteristic of uids is that higher consciousness and represent the uncertainties of this relevant consent is, for danto, a purely I am agery and each sound. Snippets of text used as fue a thick liquid that comes from his body as an outgrowth of the petition and upheld the previous problem, which involved the mind it is I am portant attempts to restrain the of each team member takes turns sitting in the early tion of man. By w. Bentley. The correct intonation because it has always been possible with a shifted axis of rotation isl I z I r I am pressionists. Conolly played the piano and the paradox of self respect of being shackled any longer.
how to write a medical case study paper essay vs paragraph UC holds the line on health costs for 2009
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46665
|
06 May 10
Cocoa and pthreads
If you’re building a cocoa app, don’t use pthread mutexes and pthread threads. Use NSThread and NSLock. I’ve written a few cocoa apps that use pthreads, but maybe I’ve just been lucky till now.
I just spent about 8 work hours trying to figure out why my NSTextStorage object wouldn’t concatenate properly with my NSMutableAttributed, occasionally crashing the NSTextView. A lot of google searches pointed to memory stomping so I debugged with both GuardMalloc and NSZombieEnabled and set breakpoints on my raiseException methods. No beans.
Then I saw that maybe I should be surrounding my appendAttributedString calls to NSMutableAttributedString (and NSTextStorage) with -[NSMutableAttributedString beginEditing] and -[NSMutableAttributedString endEditing]. Did this. Same result.
I was updating the text in my NSTextView from the consumer main thread by popping off strings from a worker producer thread. I was doing this in a thread-way using pthread threads and pthread mutexes to make sure the shared objects were handled safely. Then I noticed a mailing list post and Apple doc that says you need to create at least one NSThread before autoreleasing works correctly. So I changed my pthread threads to NSThread threads, which are just pthreads that have a bit more on top. Things still didn’t work. Lastly out of desperation I changed my pthread mutexes to NSLocks. Then everything worked. It looks like somehow the pthread mutexes were slipping. I don’t know why, but for now I’ve stopped the bleeding.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46668
|
Michell Thorne Books Michell Thorne Books
Michelle Thorne Books
Revealing You // Delivered
A Brief Look at Joy and Grief in Adoption
January 31, 2015 by Michelle
I’m still on about my last post. Joy and pain being ever present at any given time. Of course, when I think about things for any length of time, I tend to see them in view of adoption.
There is no moment in life that I can think of where joy and grief are more present (in an all out battle, if you will) than during an adoption.
Adoption is born out of loss. Joy out of pain. Continued joy out of continued pain. The gift that keeps on giving.
There is so much pain in placing a child for adoption. There is so much joy in adopting a child. Those are the big stigmas.
But I’m willing to bet that if you talk to an adoptive mom about her adoption journey, she is going to talk to you about the grief involved. Maybe her grief is about her own infertility (if that is relevant). Maybe, if she is really lovely, it’s about her sadness over her child’s birthmother’s loss. Maybe it’s about the paperwork, the process, the waiting, the agency, the lawyer or even God.
You may be surprised by that. You may wonder, “But she has the baby! She should be happy!” This is where the joy/grief thing comes in again. She is joyful. She loves her child, but there are moments in this journey that just hurt. Period.
Looking at the birthmother you may think she lives in grief for the rest of her life, but I have to tell you, with Jesus, I have moved from grief to celebration.
I chose life! That’s a win. My son is alive and well and thriving. Oh and friends, in every picture I have of him, he is so handsome! I just adore him. Simply, positively adore that boy. Even with the distance and lack of communication, a piece of my heart is his, and I am fond of him.
You may think, “How can you be happy? You aren’t raising him! How can you get over something like that? How do you live with yourself?” Joy/grief. I rejoice in my child, and I feel the loss. You find me on March 10th of any year, and as hard as I try, I’m a mess. My poor family…
In any given moment during the journey of adoption, joy and pain are present. And I think that both are important. Most of us run wildly away from pain, but I want to encourage you, the way I encouraged a young client during labor a couple of weeks ago…
You need to rework your thinking. Change your mind. The pain is good. It tells us life is here with us, inside us, working its way out of us. Embrace it, work your way through it and in the end, you’ll have unfathomable joy. In the end you will behold new life.
Suffering ultimately leads to hope, and hope does not disappoint us. Friends, this promise is for you. Whatever you are struggling through today, press on, Beloved. In the end you will behold new life.
Leave a Reply
Delivered, My Harrowing Journey as a Birthmother Revealing You, A Journal for Birthmothers
My Harrowing Journey as a Birthmother
Purchase via Create Space
Revealing You
A Journal for Birthmothers
Purchase via Create Space
Facebook.com/firelilybooks Twitter/firelilybooks Subscribe to the feed
Get Connected!
First Name (required)
Last Name (required)
Street Address
Your Message
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46691
|
Learn smart ways to save water in the bathroom
I hope you have signed up with Recyclebank.com. Not only can you earn points towards freebies, but you also learn a lot about being eco friendly. Today you can earn 30 points thanks to Suave. Here is how:
Click HERE to log in or create an account.
Click on the Earn Points tab and look for the Suave offer.
Once it comes up there will actually be two separate offers. The main offer, which takes longer, is worth 25 points. The offer to the right is worth 5.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46697
|
I am a Property of Jesus - Part 7 - Dr. Charles Mahlangu
Being tempted to exercise their "democratic rights"
As in the pre-conversion days
Paul charged them with a shock!
Do you not know that your members of the body
Belong to someone else now
And that when you became Christians
You become one with him?
How then can you take the physical members
(Belonging to the new master)
To fornicate with temple prostitutes?
(Just as you routinely did in your pre-conversion days
Of spiritual blindness)?
Read More!
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46700
|
Currently browsing tag
New Facilitator
How did you get a job like that?
Helen Burns: How did I become involved in Ocean Sciences?
Josie Robinson: How did I become involved in Ocean Sciences?
Cris Florindo-Lopez: How did I become involved in Ocean Sciences?
When I look back in time, the pathway I followed to this point seems unavoidable, as if it had been a clear and unique choice. It was, nonetheless, small and blind steps what determined that track. I guess I was just following what I found thrilling and I was never sure where it would take me. In fact, it still remains the same and I started believing it will always be that way. As a kid I always enjoyed all kinds of challenges and adventures. Continue reading →
Josh Allin: How did I become involved in ocean sciences?
Hi, I'm Josh and I'll be one the facilitators here on the Exploring our Oceans MOOC. My journey into Earth and ocean sciences began at A level Geography, where I became interested in physical geography and geology. This led me to undertake a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Earth science at University College Cork. While at UCC I studied many different disciplines of Earth science, including oceanography, geology, climatology and palaeontology. Continue reading →
Emma Cavan: How did I become involved in Ocean Sciences?
I am currently doing a PhD in the ocean carbon cycle however my aspirations at 16 were somewhat different! I grew up in a house of medics and this limited my career pathway knowledge and hence I applied for degrees in medicine. I was quickly rejected from most of the universities I applied to and to this day I am incredibly grateful! It was clear medicine wasn’t something I was passionate about but I knew I didn’t want an office job and so biology seemed the obvious choice. Continue reading →
Flic Williams: How did I become involved in Ocean Science?
How did I become involved in Ocean Science? I remember thinking that Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, had a great job, and wasn’t it awesome that something like the Mir space station existed. It is fair to say I have always loved science! However it wasn’t until many years after my A-levels and an MSci in Physics, that I started to understand how little is known about our oceans. Continue reading →
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46701
|
Title: Friends For Life Author: Grace Parts: 4/? Email: [email protected] True Feelings... Serena woke up to someone shaking her lightly. She opened her eyes and saw a pair of midnight blue ones looking back at her. "Sere? Your going to be late for the ball. I am too, if you dont get up." Serena looked at him quizically. Instantly she figured out it was Darien. "Why are *you* going to be late? You don't have to wait for me." She looked around and noticed it was late out. "Well, I need you to help me with this." He pointed to his bow. "Ok." She fiddled with it for a while until she got it right. "I brought something for you too." He got up and grabbed something. Before she could see anything, he put it behind his back and walked up to the bed. "What is it?" She tried to see behind him but he kept on moving. "Promise me you will take it." Darien knew how she would react if she saw it. "I don't know, this could be a trick." She looked up at his eyes, which were full of amusement. "Just promise me." He gave her his innocent puppy dog look. She melted right there. "Oh, fine! You win." He pulled out a dress from behind his back. Instantly she got a look of horror on her face. "Ahh! You tricked me! I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" She backed up against the headboard of the bed. "Shh. You promised. It isn't that bad." He let her look at it more closely. It was a long white spegetti-strapped dress that had a slit up to mid-thigh on both sides. (AN: I know they probably didn't have all these designer clothes back then, but who cares. This is *my* story. hehe.) She sighed then yanked it from his grasp. "You will pay *dearly* for this." She walked into the bathroom and slipped it on after taking off her regular clothes. It was easy to put this one on, although she needed help with the zipper in the back. (The zipper only goes to mid back) "Hey Dare?" "Yeah Sere?" He knocked on the door. "Um, how do I zip it up?" She didn't want to call a maid in the room at the time. "Are you descent?" "Yeah, why?" She didn't know why he would ask a stupid quesion. It wasn't like he was going to-- But before she could finish her thoughts, Darien walked in. "Here, let me help you." He went to stand behind her. Once he touched her back, she froze. He pulled the zipper up and buttoned the button at the top. She was standing in front of the mirror at the time. He placed his hands on her shoulders and layed his chin on her head. They looked in the mirror together. "See? You don't look half as bad as you thought you would." He didn't know what else to say. To him, she looked like the most beautiful person he had ever seen. "Oh, come on Dare." Serena hardly believed she looked ok. "I mean it." He put his head on her shoulder, next to her ear and whispered, "You look beautiful." His breath tickled her ear, which made her shiver. She turned to look at him directly. She had never noticed how handsom he looked. They stood there for a good ten minutes, just looking in each others eyes. Darien jolted up. "Damn it. We're late. Mother's probably pissed." He grabbed Serena's hand and they ran to the ballroom. When they reached the ballroom, Serena let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. Before they stepped in, Darien extended his arm to her which she took it gladly. They opened the door and walked in. She was oblivious to stares she got from all the females, as was he from all the males. When they reached Gia, she had on the most shocked expression they had ever seen. "What? I knew I looked stupid." She lowered her head, embarassed. "No no no, my child. You are far from stupid. Actually, you look wonderful. I was shocked that Darien actually got you to wear a dress, that's all." Gia tried to reasure the girl. "What?" Serena looked up to see the Queen looking at her sweetly. She looked at Darien, who only nodded. "Ok, let's get back to the ball." And with that, Gia left them to talk with themselves. "Do you really think I don't look ugly in this...*thing*?" Serena looked away. He took his thumb and raised her chin up so he could see her eyes. They were brimming with tears. "Sere, don't put yourself down like that. Of course, I don't think you look ugly. You are far from ugly. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever layed eyes on." She looked him straight in the eyes and could tell he was dead serious. 'He thinks I'm beautiful.' "You really mean that? I mean, look at all those women out there." She gestured to the women dancing and talking throughout the ballroom. "Do you really think that I, Serena, and more beautiful than any other woman out there." He seemed to be thinking for a while. "Now that you mention it, I was--" She elbowed him in the side. "Darien. I'm serious." "And I was too, when I said you were the most beautiful woman I have ever layed eyes on." She looked at him for a while than glanced around the room. He grabbed her shoulders again. "Come on Sere. Have a good time. You won't die." Darien let go of her shoulders and headed for his generals who were talking amongst themselves in a corner. To him, they looked liked they were stealing glances at the Princess's of the inner planets, who were talking amongst themselves also, in another corner. Serena headed for where the Princess's of the inner planets were standing. She never had the time to actually meet them. "Hi." They turned around at the sound of her voice. The young girl in the blue dress was the first one to speak up. "Hi, your Serena right?" At Serena's nod, she continued. "I'm Amy, Princess of Mercury." Amy extended her hand for Serena to shake. "I'm Mina, Princess of Venus. The planet of love." Mina held up her fingers in the shape of a 'v'. "I'm Raye, Princess of Mars." Raye shook Serena's hand also. "And I'm Lita, Princess of Jupiter." Lita nodded to Serena. "So, what's up with you and Prince Endymion?" Raye voiced what they were all thinking. "Darien? Oh, were just friends." Serena didn't know what they were implying. "You sound like you guys have known each other for a long time." Lita was referring to how Serena had greeted Darien earlier that day during training practice. "Yeah, I've known him since I was born." She hated to remember all those times with her parents. "You have? Wow. I would die if I knew him that long. He's like a major hottie!" Mina turned bright red as they stared at her in shock. "Anyways, Mina thinks every guy is hot." Lita looked over at her highly embarrassed friend. "I do not!" "Enough of that. This is a ball! Let's go find some cute guy to dance with." Raye walked off. They looked at her retreating form then shrugged. They kept on chatting, for they didn't want to go up to a guy and ask to dance. It just didn't work that way. Darien looked at Nephrite who had just made an embarrassing comment directed to Zoicite. They were just too shy to go up to the girls and ask to dance. Darien turned around and headed for the corner, where he saw Serena talking with some new friends. Before he could reach her, a young woman wearing a fiery red dress stepped in front of him. "Hi! I'm Princess Raye of Mars. Wanna dance?" Darien looked at her oddly. She looked like one of those many girls who would always stare at him because of his looks. He looked around nervously. He definatly didn't want to dance with her or any other woman who was infatuated with him. He didn't want to make his mother angry at him. She had always told him to never turn down a dance with a girl. It was rude. "Um...sure." She lead him out onto the dance floor, where they started to dance. He tried not to get that close with her. To him, she was a disgusting *leech*. He noticed she had a dreamy look in her eyes. He groaned. 'It can't get any worse can it?' He looked up and noticed another couple dancing. He looked harder and turned away with embarrasment. 'Oops. I didn't know that was a woman. That is weird. A woman dancing with another woman.' He looked down and noticed Raye just layed her head on his chest. 'Ewe ewe ewe. Get it off, get it off! I knew it. I jinxed myself. This day *can* get worse.' He sighed than looked up at his mother. She seemed to be talking with a woman about his age, with black hair and green highlights. The song ended and he pulled away. 'Finally!' Darien walked over to where Serena stood. Once behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waste, startling her. He noticed the shocked expressions he got from the other girls. "Can I borrow this beautiful lady for a while?" He looked at Serena whose cheeks were turning rosy. Lita elbowed Mina in the side. "Sure. We don't mind." He nodded and walked off with Serena. Once they were a good distance from the others he turned her around and extended his palm to her. "Care to dance, my lady?" She giggled, trying to hide her nervousness then placed her hand in his. He pulled her close to him. She layed her head on his chest as they swayed to the music. Darien glanced up and saw Jediete wink at him from across the room. He noticed that Jediete was dancing with Raye. 'They make a *good* couple.' He laughed inwardly. Serena looked around and noticed that her friends were finally dancing. She could see Amy dancing with Zoicite. He looked sorta like a girl, to her. She saw Mina dancing with Kunzite. Once Mina saw that Serena was looking at her, she mouthed 'You go girl'. Serena sighed. 'This is perfect.' She smiled. She could smell Darien's cologne. It smelt nice to her. 'Smell like roses.' She looked up at him and noticed the smile he, also, was wearing. 'This day can only get better.' Suddenly, without warning, Serena was pushed roughly from behind and fell to the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention." That voice was unmistakable. Beryl. Serena got up with Darien's help, and looked at Beryl sweetly. Trying desperatly to hide her anger. "That's ok. Accidents happen." Beryl laughed inwardly. 'This girl is so easy to trick. If she tries to steal my Darien, I'll personally kill her myself.' And with that, Beryl walked off. "Bitch." "Huh?" Serena turned around and saw Lita pounding her fist into the palm of her hand. Lita looked at Serena and tried to smile but her eyes betrayed her. "Who was that? That was no accident." Serena looked around and noticed that everyone had gotten back to dancing, except for them. "Oh, that was Beryl. She can be that way. She is just a stuck-up snob, that's all." "I'll tell you what *she* is. She is more than what you say. She's a--" Lita was cut off as Amy came up and put her hand over Lita's mouth. "Lita?!?! Don't you dare even think that way. I'm sorry your highness, Serena. We'll be going now." With her hand still over Lita's mouth, they bowed, then left. "Wow." Darien looked at them as they walked away. "What?" "She almost voiced my exact thoughts, back there." Serena giggled. "You are so mean. I'm going to get some fresh air." She walked out onto the balcony. Darien knew she wanted to be alone, so he walked over to the refreshment table. Serena leaned over the railing and breathed in. She looked at the moon. To her, it looked familiar for some reason. Yes, everybody sees the moon every night, but this was different, somehow. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Nice night, isn't it?" Serena jumped. She looked to her right where the voice had come from. A man with shoulder length white hair, stepped out of the shadows. "You scared me, and yes, it is." She looked him up and down. She had never seen him before. He stuck out his hand, "I'm Diamond. Prince Diamond." She shook his hand as a friendly gesture. "Serena." He nodded. She looked back out at the moon. "See that?" He pointed to what looked like one of the many brilliant shining stars. "I think so." She squinted to see which one he was pointing at. "That's my home planet. Nemisis." "I've heard of it." She knew that Nemisis was not the most pleasant of places to go. It didn't have much wildlife as in animals or even plants. "Wanna dance, Lady Serena?" "Sure." She took his hand and he lead her to the dance floor. She didn't want to get that close to him. For some reason, she sensed something coming from him. She didn't know what it was, and she didn't want to find out. He twirled her around a couple times. She felt as if he was drawing her to him. Not physically, but mentally. She didn't know how to react. It was like he was controlling her, somewhat. She shook her head and kept on dancing. TO BE CONTINUED... I know. It wasn't the best place to end the chapter, but it was getting kinda long. The next part will be better. Was that for a little romance? Well reply and tell me what you think of this part.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46727
|
The Predator
R | 106 Minutes
Crude Sexual References, Language Throughout, Strong Bloody Violence
From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe's most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biologist can prevent the end of the human race.
Directors: Shane Black,
Producers: John Davis, Bill Bannerman, Ira Napoliello,
Showtimes for 20149
There are no showings for the date selected in your area.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46737
|
27 July, 2009
A Business Idea
My brother and his wife, and numerous friends of mine are fantastic with their kids' birthday cakes. I default to cupcakes, but these folks are producing cars, trains, pirate ships, teapots, and yes, a box of crayons. Yes, I am jealous.
So my new business idea - feel free to steal it as long as you promise to give me royalties for life - is a bakery that specializes in kids' cakes. This isn't Ace of Cakes perfection. This is stayed-up-til-midnight-dotting-buttercream-on-cake-mix love. Someone should be baking and selling cakes that look like mom and dad made them the night before, so mom and dad can pass them off as homemade - to their kids and their friends.
Again, all I ask for is royalties.
The above cake was another homemade masterpiece by my brother and sister-in-law, in celebration of this little blue eyed wonder.
Christie's Corner said...
I LOVE the Crayola cake. What a super idea. The coloured cones as crayon tips is ingenious.
My mom used to make us specialty cakes shaped like a rabbit, owl, turtle, elephant, penguin, giraffe, teddy bear and butterfly. She didn't use a mold, just baked square, rectangular or round cakes and cut them into patterns. I think Five Roses published the patterns in magazines as a promo.
These cakes were the highlight of the birthday. I don't remember the presents I got, but I still remember the cakes!
Julie said...
I'd buy one! I'm starting to feel pressured to make funky cakes for W, now that he's almost 4... I've never been one for perfectionist cakes though - I love 'em wonky!
Bellini Valli said...
I remember spending hours decorating cakes for my daughters themed parties..bears, hula girls, swimming pools....
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46742
|
Carbon dating and its effects
However, if carbon emissions could be drastically reduced, the effects could be reduced or even eliminated over time.
One point to keep in mind is that the important thing about this study isn't that carbon emissions are affecting radiocarbon dating, but the scale at which they are doing so according to Graven's modeling.
The result is that as modern organisms ingest this carbon and eventually die, they, too, seem much older than they actually are.
Graven says that the amount of carbon being pumped into the atmosphere is so great that by 2050, a newly made cotton t-shirt will have the same radiocarbon date as a robe worn by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
As carbon compounds from these fuels are emitted into the atmosphere, they change the naturally fixed ratio of carbon-14 to other isotopes, so the atmosphere appears much older.
In fact, as she points out, artificial carbon's effect has always been well known since the early days of the technique.
It's called the Industrial or Suess effect, named after Hans Suess, who first studied it.
What allows scientists to measure how much carbon-14 was in an organism when it died is the assumption that the isotope is produced at a more or less steady rate that can be calibrated by comparing radiocarbon dates against more reliable tree ring dating.
Since the ratio of carbon-14 to other carbon isotopes is fixed, and no new carbon-14 is absorbed after an organism dies, it's possible to estimate the time since the organism died going back tens or even hundreds of thousands of years by measuring the ratio of carbon-14 against stable carbon isotopes in ancient organic compounds.
Search for carbon dating and its effects:
carbon dating and its effects-77carbon dating and its effects-20
Leave a Reply
One thought on “carbon dating and its effects”
1. Add the War on Drugs, the prison industrial complex, and the practice of red-lining that banks used to keep African Americans from being able to purchase their homes and climb into the middle class, we have one of America’s worst moral stains, one which persists to this day.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46756
|
• Content count
• Joined
• Last visited
Community Reputation
6 Neutral
About Cross
• Rank
Recent Profile Visitors
306 profile views
1. Yeah, I'll steal some and you for it...I'm a good thief.
2. If you'd let me. I'd like to borrow your elemental resistance/immunity/absorption idea to my game also, it just makes sense to me, @BTB.
3. I'll just leave this here for you...a spreadsheet app.
4. The most striking thing that caught my eye was the weapon/shield swap. That. Is. A. Godsend. Thank you my lord and savior, BTB. Edit: Hope this thing works. Edit again: @GrayShadows is my lord and savior, screw @BTB.
5. Let's just say that..."Die monster, you don't belong in this world!" line comes to mind whenever I see a Yiazmat vid or me just hacking away at his ass.
6. @blackcat777 for the moment I have some of the starting weapons, but I haven't used them to gain some stats for the weapons themselves. I haven't played again, yet. I'm juggling between; making a game, playing SRW A, and playing this hack. EDIT: Thank god I got that giant hammer in the locked room. How much HP does this second fucking dragon have? He hits harder than any of the other bosses so far...and damn that tail attack, one shot and I'm dead, if I don't avoid it (which is 90% of the time).
7. Shit just got real, you had me lol'ing so hard. So kids, don't do Windows 10.
8. Did know, at least tone down his own cheesiness? (I fucking hate his insta-death normals) Too bad on the evasions tho, well I'll just wait for the day that the modding scene matures for that to happen. Yiazmat is my only gripe, thanks for clearing that out. Oh and I'd like to one shot that a-hole for once, 1 HP isn't that bad.
9. I'm a returning player, but I got lost in the forest maze...didn't read a guide and just, well...left it. I knew about Risk, but had to be sure about Agility. I planned to go with heavy equipment...but I guess boss fights are centered more on rushing DPS than ever. Right, distance isn't an issue...I got Braveheart on my shield tho, but, I'll try to change my grips. I never knew that the grips where the ones with slots.
10. Oh I see, I thought it only affected the attack strength of enemies. I don't actually know the game inside-out, sorry. Also is agility tied to accuracy? I dunno what to do with my shit accuracy with the body of the golem using my Pink-something (forgot the name of the club), is it just because the body is far above me that I have low accuracy on it -- or is there anything I can do to increase it? Your mod feels Dark Souls-ish, take this as a compliment.
11. The thing about Degenerate is...I don't seem to feel or see that it works, I tried degen-ing the lizardmen but I still get hit pretty hard, up to a 100. Dunno if my armor is the culprit but I seem to have lower defense even when I degenerate an enemy.
12. Looking good, didn't know you could do this overhaul in SRPG, looking forward to playing it once its finished.
13. Can you give me some tips on the second boss battle? Its like the gargoyle asses in DS1 all over again. only this little shit hits all body parts and kills me in one hit. EDIT: Oh god, finally beat him, just had to rush my dps a bit. UPDATE: Okay I'm at the Golem boss right now, I'm wondering how I'm gonna dish out some damage to this son of a bitch, I just died from him and was dealing 13 damage on his body and 1 on all other body there a trick here?
14. Everything was fine till I saw a new mod I swear.
15. Thanks for indulging my nitpick. I'll try out the mod once I get the chance.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46811
|
Conversational Filipino
websiteslideAO04 (1)
AHEAD’s Conversational Filipino program teaches Filipino as a foreign language to the participants or enhances their very basic Filipino language skills through a number of lectures and practical workshops. Their progress will be ultimately tested through AHEAD’s Diagnostic and Simulated Tests. The training program may be stretched further to accommodate the needs of the participants especially in a particular subject matter.
It should be noted that Conversational Filipino assumes that the participants are at least slightly exposed to Filipino but still need to strengthen their foundations through structure and lexical resources. The training program also assumes that the participants can properly communicate in the English language.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46825
|
Show Summary Details
Statistical information and bibliography updated to reflect recent research and literature.
Updated on 2 January 2014. The previous version of this content can be found here.
Page of
Subscriber: null; date: 15 December 2018
African Americans: Overview
Abstract and Keywords
African Americans have been a part of the nation's history for nearly four hundred years. Although their history includes the forced imposition of chattel slavery, the strict enforcement of legal segregation, and a tenuous acceptance as equal citizens, African Americans have been, and continue to be, major contributors, creators, investors, and builders of America. In this article we summarize briefly the history of African Americans, we examine racial disparities in key indicators of social, mental, and physical well-being, and we highlight persistent strengths that can be built upon and areas that provide hope for the future. The challenge for social work is to simultaneously celebrate the historical successes and ongoing contributions of African Americans to this country while also recognizing the vestiges of structural racism and fighting for greater civil rights and social and economic justice.
Keywords: African Americans, race, poverty, disparities
The history of African Americans does not begin with slavery; rather, it begins in west and central Africa where their ancestors established ancient civilizations and empires that included great political leaders, scholars, and nobility (Isichei, 1997). Today, African Americans are a multiracial people—descendants of Africans to be sure, but many, if not most, also have European, Native American, and even some Asian ancestry. Africans and their descendants have been part of American history for at least five centuries—coming as part of 15th- and 16th- century Spanish explorations to the “New World” (Smallwood, 1999; Van Sertima, 2003). The first Africans to settle in North America were a group of 20 men and women brought to Jamestown, Virginia, by the Dutch in 1619, one year before the arrival of the Mayflower (Bennett, 2003). Although these Africans probably came as indentured servants, the nation's thirst for free labor to fuel European and American capitalism resulted in the enslavement and transport of as many as 15 million Africans to the Caribbean Islands and to the Americas (Franklin, 2007).
Despite having lived under horrific conditions during slavery, and a hundred years of legal second class citizenry thereafter, African Americans “still managed to reinvent themselves, reclaim their humanity and not just survive slavery but create fresh and vibrant responses to American democracy” (Marsalis, Dodson, & Diouf, 2004, p. 11). Hence, African Americans correctly perceive themselves to have contributed significantly to the creation and building of this country. It is perhaps this historical fact that provides a major psychological distinction between African Americans as a group and recent immigrants: African Americans view themselves not as grateful new arrivals to a rich and powerful country, but as major contributors, creators, investors, and builders of America.
Social Political History
Political-legal decisions have been central to African Americans' struggle for equality in America. Accordingly, to understand the present day struggles and frustrations of African Americans it is important to be aware of a few key historical legal landmarks:
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
During the American civil war (1861–1865), President Abraham Lincoln declared that all slaves in the confederacy were free. In reality, however, all slaves in both the North and South were not freed until the end of the war in 1865. African Americans in Texas were among the last to hear that they had been freed. June 19, 1865, commemorates announcement of the end of slavery in Texas, which is why today many African Americans celebrate June 19 or “Juneteenth” as a date of emancipation.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
This Supreme Court decision gave legal mandate to the states to practice racial discrimination against African Americans. It gave sanction to the establishment of what became Jim Crow Law. States were allowed to legally discriminate against African Americans in virtually all areas of public and private life; most importantly, it supported their legal and economic disenfranchisement and personal terrorism against them in many states. The rule of Jim Crow despite considerable opposition from civil right groups remained intact until the 1960s.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Of all the legal decisions that occurred after the emancipation proclamation this was the most important for African Americans. The decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka declared that segregation in public schools was by its nature unequal and unfair—thus should be done away with. There were two goals that advocates of Brown hoped would take place with the passage of this law: greater integration of African American children into the American mainstream and parity with respect to scholarly achievement of these youth. Unfortunately, neither of these goals has been achieved. In 1954 African American students attended schools in which they were the majority of those present. Today African American students are almost as segregated in public school today as they were in 1954. Moreover, there remains a significant educational achievement gap between African American and White youths.
Civil Rights Act (1964)
This Act, which was passed at the height of the civil rights movement, outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, employment, and labor unions. African Americans could no longer legally be denied to entry to hotels, theaters, restaurants, and other public places where they had formerly been forbidden. However, even today many private (and some public) facilities still resist the admission of African Americans.
Voting Rights Act (1965)
This act removed the last impediments to African Americans' right to vote. The passage of this act resulted in a substantial increase in the numbers of African American elected officials. In particular, its passage had major implications for many areas in southern states where they were the majority of the population but had historically been denied the right to vote.
Fair Housing Act (1968)
Coming on the heels of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the passage of the Fair Housing Act was hailed as a major civil rights triumph. Segregated housing fosters not only segregated schools but also undermines the social and economic opportunities of those who are segregated (Du Bois, 1903; Massey & Denton, 1993; Taeuber & Taeuber, 1965). Unfortunately, the passage of the open housing act has not resulted in an extensively more integrated America (Massey & Denton, 1993). As is true of segregated schools, housing segregation is almost as extensive in 2008 as it was when the open housing act was passed in 1968.
For African Americans the struggle for social, economic, and political justice has not been easy, nor always steady; but rather, it has been characterized by both major advances and setbacks (Klinkner & Smith, 1999). A host of civil rights organizations have been instrumental in this fight. Some of the most notable of these groups have been the NAACP, Urban League, Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
Population Characteristics
The nation's nearly 42 million African Americans comprise roughly 13.6% of the American populace. As a group, they are younger than Whites, with a mean age of 31.3 versus Whites' mean age of 38.9 (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). Historically, African Americans were a rural southern people—this was largely an artifact of their being located in southern slave states. As a result of the “Great Migration” (1916–1930 and 1940–1970)—America's greatest internal migration—(Marsalis et al., 2004) African Americans are now foremost to be found in urban centers (52%) and are almost as likely to be residing outside the south as in it (45% versus 55%.) (McKinnon, 2003; U.S. Census Bureau, 2010).
African American children make up 15% of American children under 18 years. Thirty-six percent live in married couple households as compared with 76% of Whites, and 63% live in single-parent families as compared with 24% of Whites (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). Approximately 36% of African American children live below the poverty line (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). In addition, African American children comprise 30% of the total number of children placed in foster care (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Further, 39% of the children awaiting adoption are African American (Child Welfare League of America, 2006).
Marital Status
African American adults are significantly more likely than others to be single. More specifically, African Americans are less likely to be currently married (44% versus 58% of Whites), more likely to have never been married (41% versus 23% of Whites), and more likely to be divorced (12% versus 10% of Whites) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010; McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). There are a variety of reasons for the high prevalence of singleness among African Americans. One factor that often goes unmentioned is the significant gender imbalance that exists among African Americans. There are two reasons for this imbalance: a high perinatal mortality rate and a high homicide rate among African American males. Black men are 6 times more likely than Whites to be homicide victims, at 19.7 and 3.3 per 1,000,000 respectively (Fox & Zawitz, 2007).
Indications are that since the recording of the census no other major racial group has experienced a severe or persistent gender imbalance (Guttentag & Second, 1983). There are for the ages of 18–44, the most common years marriages occur, only ∼6.6 million African American males as compared with 7.8 million African American females. This results in there being roughly 1.2 million more African American women than men (McKinnon & Bennett, 2005). Irrespective of race or ethnicity, the negative effects of gender imbalances on populations (for example, out of wedlock births, high rates of divorce), have been well documented (Guttentag & Second, 1983).
Moreover, when the factors of education, employment, and incarceration are also considered along with the gender imbalance, the number of “marriageable” African American men available in comparison with the number of “marriageable” African American women drops considerably. In fact, there are estimated to be only half as many African American men who are “suitable” marriage partners as there are suitable African American women. These demographics have resulted in the prediction that as many as a quarter of all African females will remain unmarried (Cherlin, 1992). This prediction is at odds with some research suggesting that over 90% aspire to marry. (Davis, Emanson, & Williams, 1997; Tucker & Mitchell-Kernan, 1995; Tucker & Taylor, 1987). Thus a disparity appears to exist between what most Blacks would like to happen and what the demographics of the “marital market place” indicate will happen. This is important to keep in mind as it suggests that at least part of the low marriage rate among African Americans is not a matter of morality or attitudes toward marriage but rather a function of demographics.
Family Status
Few issues have received more attention from the profession of social work than the status of the African American family. For good or ill, the state of the African American family has been ever present in practice, research, and policy debates (Billingsley, 1968; Hill, 1972; McAdoo, 2007; Moynihan, 1965; Murray, 1984; Wilson, 1987). While others had for some time studied and written about African American families (Drake & Cayton, 1945/1962; Du Bois, 1903; Frazier, 1932a, 1932b, 1957), it was the Moynihan Report (1965) that catapulted the “Negro” family into national controversy.
At the core of this controversy has been the source of difficulties facing African Americans. Researchers, scholars, policy makers, and practitioners from across the political spectrum have waded into this debate with a host of explanations for and responses to the Moynihan Report. The report identified that 25% of African American families were single-parent families headed mainly by women (the rate for Whites at that time was ∼7%). It argued that a matriarchal family structure and cultural deficits were the source of the social, economic, and educational problems being experienced by these families. It is noteworthy that in 2008 White families on many dimensions, for example, family structure, look very much like “Negro” families did in the 1960s.
Although Moynihan did identify problems in the maintenance and formation of Black families, most social work scholars argue that he misattributed the source of the problems facing Black families. That is, he ascribed Black family problems to sources residing wholly in the family, rather than to factors largely external to it. Many scholars perceived his report as an attack on the Black family, which put some on the defensive. Hence, in response, many Black and White scholars spent decades refuting Moynihan's cultural condemnation of the Black family. They rightfully argued that the Black family had many cultural strengths. This response is best epitomized by Hill's The strengths of Black families (1972). However, it might be argued that in the effort to highlight the cultural strengths and resiliency of Black families that the difficulties which Black families were in fact experiencing were given insufficient attention. Clearly it has been difficult for those wishing to highlight the strengths of the Black family to simultaneously point out the very serious problems that the Black family was experiencing.
The debate as to the source of the problems facing African American families continues. Fundamentally, political conservatives argue that the problems are due to cultural deficits, as proposed by Moynihan, or have been created by the welfare state itself (Murray, 1984). Social workers and their allies appear to have aligned themselves with the structuralist arguments of Wilson (1987, 1996). It is his position that along with continuing and historical racial bias, major changes in the economy (for example, loss of manufacturing jobs) have undermined the economic capabilities of Black males, and with it, their ability to form and maintain families. There does exist strong evidence that among the greatest barriers to Black family formation and maintenance is that there are too few men with too few jobs and insufficient resources (Bowman, 1988, 1993; Mincy, 2006; Tucker & Mitchell-Kernan, 1995; Wilson, 1996).
Labor Force Participation
Relative to their White counterparts, a smaller proportion of African Americans are employed (53% versus 59.4%), and their unemployment rate is twice as high (13.4% versus 7%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). Even when race differences in other demographic factors such as geographic residence, education level, and marital status are taken into account, African Americans still are significantly more likely than Whites to be unemployed. Although African Americans' unemployment rate has been nearly twice that of Whites since the 1960s, prior to World War II, Black and White employment rates were roughly equal (Fairlie & Sundstrom, 1999).
The size of race differences in employment often varies by gender. For example, although African Americans, as a group, are less likely than White Americans to be employed, African American women are slightly more likely than White women to be in the labor force (55.3% versus 55%, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). Similarly, the types of occupations that African Americans and White Americans hold differ substantially by gender. African American men are most likely to be employed in blue-collar jobs (that is, 26% work as machine operators, fabricators, and laborers), followed by work in service (21%), and sales and administrative support jobs (19%). Compared with White men, a smaller proportion of African American men work in managerial and professional occupations (21% versus 33%) or skilled trade jobs in construction and repair (13% versus 19%). African American women are most likely to be employed in white-collar jobs (33% in sales and administrative support occupations and another 31% in managerial and professional occupations). Compared with White women, however, a larger proportion of African American women work in service occupations (27% versus 18%) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005a).
There is much dialogue about the economic split among African Americans that is resulting in a growing middle class and an increasingly disadvantaged underclass. Looking at occupational trends historically, however, the data suggest that most working African Americans fall into neither category (Horton, Allen, Herring, & Thomas, 2000). Prior to 1940, the majority of African Americans worked in “lower class” occupations (that is, those that earned more than one standard deviation below the overall mean income). In fact, in 1920, 50% of African American men and 86% of African American women worked in these occupations, with less than 2% of either gender working in “middle class” occupations (that is, occupations that earned more than one standard deviation above the overall mean income). By 1990, still only 12% of the African American labor force worked in middle class occupations. Since 1970, however, the majority of African American men and women have been solidly working class, working in occupations that earned near the mean income.
African Americans have always earned less than Whites, but after a brief period of increasing wages, the trend toward earnings convergence between African American and White men stopped in the mid-1970s. Among women, however, the earnings of African American females continued to increase through the 1990s and at times rose more rapidly than for White women (Farley, 1996). By 2005 the median earnings for White men who worked full-time year round were $44,850 compared with only $34,433 for African American men (that is, 77% of White men's earnings). Similarly, the median earnings for White women in 2005 was $33,237 compared with only $29,588 for African American women (that is, 89% of White women's earnings) (Webster & Bishaw, 2006).
These race and gender differences in earnings shape the economic status differences of African American and White households and families. In 2005, the median household income in the United States was $50,054. African American households are overrepresented in the lowest income quintile and their income is only 61.62% of White households ($32,229 versus $52,214) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The race disparity in household income is due, at least in part, to the lower percentage of married couple and multiple-earner households among African Americans. That said, however, even considering per capita income, disparities remain with African Americans earning 58% that of Whites (DeNavas-Walt, Procter, & Lee, 2006). When comparing married couple households and single female-headed households separately, African Americans still earn less than Whites and other racial and ethnic groups, being much less likely to earn more than $75,000 and having household incomes concentrated in the lowest income ranges (Farley, 1996; McKinnon, 2003).
The overall poverty rate for the country was 15% in 2011. Although the numerical majority of the nation's poor are White, the percent of African Americans who were poor was 3 times the percent of Whites who were poor (27.6% versus 9.8%) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). African Americans are also more likely to be in extreme poverty (that is, 12% earning less than half of the poverty threshold) (DeNavas-Walt, Procter, & Lee, 2006), and to remain in poverty over time (Naifeh, 1998). Among adult African Americans who reach the age of 75, 91% will have experienced at least one year below the poverty line and 68% will have experienced at least one year in extreme poverty (Rank & Hirschl, 1999).
African American children, in particular, are likely to be poor and remain poor for multiple years (Duncan & Rodgers, 1991). In 2010, 38.2% of African American children lived in poverty, compared with only 17.8% of White children (Macartney, 2011. The consequences of child poverty have been well documented and are often enduring, ranging from low birth weight and poor health outcomes to lower academic achievement, more behavior problems, and lower earnings (Aber, Bennett, Conley, & Li, 1997; Duncan & Brooks-Gunn, 1997; Mayer, 1997).
Both before and after slavery, property ownership has been an aspiration for at least a portion of the African American population. Prior to emancipation, some slaves planted and sold their own crops from gardens, sold their own labor for money, and raised their own livestock. During this same time in the South, free Blacks also acquired property and businesses (Schweninger, 1990). Even in the face of oppressive laws and the indignity of not being recognized as full citizens, the pride and independence of being a landowner was desired and attained by many. In fact, “by 1860, 16,172 free persons of color in the fifteen slave states had accumulated $20,253,200 worth of property, or $1,252 per individual property holder” (Schweninger, 1990, p. 96). African Americans have also been successful entrepreneurs. Pioneers like Madam C. J. Walker and Arthur G. Gatson are well known for being among the first African American millionaires.
In spite of such history and the presence of a few highly visible multimillionaires, African American households today have much lower levels of wealth than their White counterparts. In 2010 the median net worth for African American households was only $4,995, compared with $110,729 for non-Hispanic White households (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Even when controlling for known class correlates such as income, occupation, and education, wealth differences by race persist (Blau & Graham, 1990; Keister, 2000; Oliver & Shapiro, 2006; Shapiro, 2004). In fact, even as income and educational attainment improved for many African Americans in the post–civil rights era, disparities in net worth remained. In an attempt to evaluate the extent of wealth disparities, Haveman and Wolff created a measure of “asset-poverty” (2000). By their definition, a household is asset-poor if it does not have enough wealth to sustain itself at the poverty line for 3 months. Using this framework, African Americans are more than twice as likely to be asset-poor than are non-Hispanic Whites. In 1999, 76% were asset-poor when housing equity was excluded, compared with 32% for Whites (Caner & Wolff, 2004).
Many have tried to understand the intergenerational factors that influence racial differences in wealth. Oliver and Shapiro (2006) identify historical inequities such as racialization of state policy, explicit denial of economic opportunities, and the long-term sedimentation of racial inequality across generations. To provide one specific example, in the late 19th century the Homestead Act failed to provide land to the 4 million newly freed slaves, while in contrast European immigrants received much of the 246 million acres eventually granted to homesteaders (Williams, 2003). But even considering contemporary factors, there appear to be differences by race in how wealth is accumulated. For example, African Americans are less likely to invest in stocks and high-risk, high-return assets (Keister, 2000). This may be because African American children grow up in households where parents are less likely to own stocks, which then in turn influences their own investment decisions (Chiteji & Stafford, 1999). Whites are also more likely than African Americans to receive and expect inheritances (Menchik & Jianakoplos, 1997; Wolff, 2002).
Home equity is an important component of net worth. Although homeownership rates have increased since the mid-1990s, only 48% of African Americans owned their homes by 2005, substantially lower than the U.S. average rate of 69% and that of non-Hispanic Whites at 76% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). In addition to socioeconomic disadvantages, such as earning less income, African Americans also face specific barriers within the housing market. For example, African Americans are more likely to have mortgage applications rejected and to receive less favorable interest rates and other terms when a mortgage is approved (Charles & Hurst, 2002; Krivo & Kaufman, 2004). In addition, even among homeowners, the return on investment is lower for African Americans. Because they are more likely to live in heavily minority and central-city areas, African Americans build less equity for their level of income, education, and length of residence than do non-Hispanic Whites (Krivo & Kaufman, 2004). Taking a life course perspective, Hirschl and Rank (2006) find that Whites are more likely to become homeowners at younger ages than do African Americans. In addition to having a lower likelihood of becoming homeowners across all ages, African Americans are less likely to reach high equity thresholds (such as $100,000), more likely to exit homeownership, and after losing a home are less likely to return to homeownership (Hirschl & Rank, 2006).
About 5% of African American households have a portion of their net worth represented by business equity or a profession, compared with 12% of White households (Leigh, 2006). Yet, the number of businesses owned by African Americans has been increasing over recent decades, growing from 424,000 in 1987 to 1.2 million in 2002, generating revenues of $89 billion. Most African American–owned businesses are small, however, with only 8% having paid employees, but these larger firms employ 754,000 persons and bring in 74.2% of gross receipts (U.S. Census Bureau, 1996, 2006) [see 2006 Census citation on Black-Owned firms below].
Not having independently held wealth (whether precipitated by structural inequities, unemployment, poverty, escalating debt, low savings, or slowly appreciating home equity) puts extraordinary stress on African American individuals, children, and families. Economic insecurity makes planning for the future difficult and creates strain within romantic relationships. Growing up in households with little or no wealth has a negative impact on children (Conley, 1999; Williams Shanks, 2007). In fact, Conley (1999) finds that racial differences in net worth, high school graduation, college graduation, repeating a grade, labor force participation, wages, welfare receipt, and female premarital childbearing between Whites and African Americans are either no longer significant or dramatically lessen once parental wealth is considered. Shapiro (2004) makes a similar case using qualitative interviews to demonstrate how parents use either personal wealth or money inherited from their parents' wealth to create transformative opportunities for children, particularly via enrollment in better schools.
Sherraden (1991) theorizes that owning assets has a range of positive benefits: economic, psychological, social, and political. When a poor person with no assets starts on the road to building assets, it can create hope for the future, improve current well-being and lead others to view the person differently as well (Schreiner & Sherraden, 2007; Sherraden, 1991). If one wants to dramatically alter the opportunities available to all African Americans regardless of circumstances and across generations, the focus should be on reducing the wealth gap. The persistent racial disparities that exist in wealth have hampered sustained economic prosperity, even among those that might otherwise appear successful. Changing this reality is the next frontier for civil rights.
On average, persons who do better in school and who attain higher levels of education earn more, have better mental and physical health, and are less likely to be involved with the criminal justice system than their less-educated counterparts. A high school diploma is the basic educational requirement for employment and admission to college and educational programs. Nationally, 82% of 18–24-year-old African Americans have earned a high-school diploma or general educational development (GED) credential, but they still lag behind Whites' high school completion rate of 92% (Hoffman & Llagas, 2003).
At the college level, the proportions of African Americans who have earned degrees has increased over time, but those who have earned associate degrees has exceeded the proportions who have earned bachelor's degrees. Despite the fact that a growing proportion of African college students attend predominantly White institutions, nearly a quarter of bachelor's degrees are earned at historically Black colleges and universities (Hoffman & Llagas, 2003). Although the percentage of African Americans who have completed college has increased significantly over time, they are still much less likely than Whites to have completed college (18% in 2000 versus 34%) (Hoffman & Llagas, 2003). Moreover, there exists a considerable gender disparity in college graduation among African Americans, with two-thirds (66%) of bachelor's degrees being earned by females (Peter & Horn, 2005).
Criminal Justice
America's incarceration rate has increased by 500% over 30 consecutive years, resulting in the highest incarceration rate in the world with 2.2. million people currently incarcerated (The Sentencing Project, 2010). Compared to other racial and ethnic groups, African Americans are significantly more likely to be incarcerated. Because African Americans are particularly over-represented among drug offenders, they have disproportionately born the consequences of the nation's drug-related social policies. As a result, although African Americans are only 13% of the total United States population, they were 28% of persons arrested and 40% of persons who were incarcerated in 2005. If incarceration rates remain the same in the future, it is estimated that 19% of African Americans (32.2% of men and 5.6% of women) born in 2001 will spend time in prison (Bonczar, 2003).
The overinvolvement of African Americans in the criminal justice system has tremendous social, health, economic, and political consequences that are of central concern to social workers (Wheelock, 2005). Some of the most pressing social consequences of incarceration include its negative impact on children and families. Incarceration breaks up families, harms children's mental health, often places them in unstable out-of-home living arrangements or foster care, and it greatly increases the probability that children will engage in problem behaviors such as delinquency and substance abuse that may ultimately lead to their own incarceration (Freudenberg, 2001). Other consequences of incarceration include job loss, limited employability, individual, familial, and neighborhood stigma, and the inability to vote, to sit on juries, or to run for public office (Freudenberg, 2001). Taken in total, the causes and consequences of African Americans' involvement with the criminal justice system are among the most pressing issues that face the African American community and they are issues to which social work researchers and practitioners should exert much greater attention.
Relative to their White counterparts, African Americans live sicker and die younger. For example, the average life expectancy of the an African American born in 2004 is 73 years compared with 78 years for a White American (National Center for Health Statistics, 2006). African Americans are more likely than White Americans to die from heart diseases, stroke, cancer, asthma, influenza and pneumonia, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and homicide (National Center for Health Statistics). Infant mortality is also significantly higher among African Americans than among Whites (National Center for Health Statistics, 2006). Overall, the race gap in mortality results in 83,570 excess African American deaths each year (Satcher et al., 2005). Consistent with their higher rates of mortality and morbidity, African Americans receive lower quality health care and have less access to care than do White Americans (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005).
At least five explanations have been given to explain the consistent finding of race differences in illness and death. These explanations include differences in genetic factors, health behaviors (for example, smoking), socioeconomic status, psychosocial stress (for example, discrimination), and structural factors (Dressler, Oths, & Gravlee, 2005). Research on the extent to which these various potential explanations help to account for race differences in morbidity and mortality suggest that genetic and health behavior models have relatively little explanatory power. Instead, health disparities appear to result largely from historical and contemporary discrimination (that is, racism), which result in structural level social and economic inequalities for African Americans. These inequalities, in turn, disproportionately place African Americans in stressful life circumstances that generate race disparities in health (Dressler et al., 2005). Accordingly, efforts to reduce and eliminate race disparities in health will have to address societal level racism and race disparities in the structural factors that cause them.
Mental Health
Approximately 26% of American adults—58 million people—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder (Kessler, Chiu, Demler, & Walters, 2005). Because of their history of racial oppression and the contemporary results of past discrimination (for example, residential segregation), African Americans are often thought to be at elevated risk for mental health problems. Despite this expectation, surveys of the general population suggest that mental disorders, including alcohol and substance dependence are no more, and in some instances are less prevalent among African Americans than among Whites (Kessler et al., 2005; Sue & Chu, 2003). Despite having comparable rates of mental health disorders to Whites, African Americans are less likely than their White counterparts to use mental health services, are more likely to terminate services prematurely, to be misdiagnosed, to use emergency and primary care providers rather than mental health providers, and are overrepresented in inpatient treatment versus outpatient treatment (Snowden, 2001; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Potential barriers to the availability, accessibility, and utilization of mental health services by African Americans include the lack of services in their communities, their lack of insurance with which to pay for services, and stigma and other attitudes associated with mental illness (Snowden, 2001; Sue & Chu, 2003; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2001).
African Americans' relatively low rates of mental disorders, despite their disproportionate exposure to mental health disorder risk factors, clearly merits further study. Existing research suggests that family, friends, and religiosity, as expressed through prayer, scripture study, attendance at religious services, and social support from church members and clergy, are critical to African American coping strategies (Snowden, 2001; Taylor, Ellison, Chatters, Levin, & Lincoln, 2000). In light of the growing body of research that finds a positive relationship between religiosity and mental health, physical health, academic achievement, marital stability, and other prosocial behaviors, African American's relatively high levels of religiosity and church involvement may help to explain why their rates of substance abuse, suicide, mental illness and other problems are not substantially higher than those of Whites (Johnson, Tompkins, & Webb, 2002; Taylor et al., 2000; Wallace, Brown, Bachman, & LaVeist, 2003; Wallace, Myers, & Osai, 2004).
Religion and the African American Church
Based upon traditional measures of religiosity, African Americans are the most religious people in America. For example, compared with Whites, African Americans report higher rates of church attendance, prayer, church membership, reading religious materials, watching religious broadcasts, church leadership roles, hours of volunteer church service, and ascribing importance to religion (Krause, 2006; Taylor, Chatters, Jayakody, & Levin, 1996). The importance of religion to many African Americans is undoubtedly rooted in the fact that, historically, churches were among the first independent institutions built, owned, and controlled by African Americans. Because of racial barriers to their participation in the larger society, churches became the center of the African American community and the birthplace of African American entrepreneurship, leadership development, education, politics, and culture (Lincoln & Mamiya, 1990).
Although opportunities for African Americans' involvement and leadership in the broader culture have expanded tremendously, churches continue to be the primary sources and targets of African Americans' philanthropy, volunteerism, and civic engagement (Barnes, 2004; Billingsley, 1999, Boddie, 2005). That said, however, some scholars suggest that there is a growing disaffection and disconnection between the church and an increasing proportion of African Americans, particularly the young (Lincoln & Mamiya, 1990; Smith & Jackson, 2006). According to some, one of the greatest challenges to the importance of religion and faith among young people is the emergence of hip–hop culture (Smith & Jackson, 2006). In spite of this concern, however, given African Americans' high levels of religiosity and the continued importance of churches in African American communities, there is a tremendous opportunity for the social work profession to partner with African American churches and other faith-based organizations to accomplish their shared missions to help children, families, the elderly, and other socially and economically disadvantaged populations.
From the first Africans to set foot on American soil more than 400 years ago to the children who have been born since 2000, African Americans have been and will continue to be an integral part of the history and vibrancy of the United States. The place of African Americans in U.S. society has gone through several radical transitions: from the forced imposition of chattel slavery to the strict enforcement of legal segregation to a tenuous acceptance as equal citizens. But in spite of the hard fought political and social battles to attain a formal legal status, African Americans continue to face barriers in their struggle for parity with their White counterparts.
When reviewing the important indicators that document quality of life and economic resources, African Americans often fall woefully short of national averages. Whether the measure is family stability, employment, income, wealth, education, incarceration rates, or health, persistent disparities exist for African Americans. Although there are many strengths that can be built upon and areas that provide hope such as enduring religiosity, resilient mental health, and internationally recognized contributions to the diverse richness of arts and culture, it would be short-sighted to ignore the continuing struggles faced by African Americans. The challenge for social work is to simultaneously celebrate the historical successes and ongoing contributions of African Americans to this country while also recognizing the vestiges of structural racism and fighting for greater civil rights and economic justice.
Aber, J. L., Bennett, N. G., Conley, D. C., & Li, J. L. (1997). The effects of poverty on child health and development. Annual Review of Public Health, 18, 463–483.Find this resource:
Barnes, S. (2004). Priestly and prophetic influences on Black church social services. Social Problems, 51(2), 202–221.Find this resource:
Bennett, L. (2003). Before the Mayflower: A history of Black America. Chicago, IL: Johnson.Find this resource:
Billingsley, A. (1968). Black families in White America. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Find this resource:
Billingsley, A. (1999). Mighty like a river: The Black church and social reform. New York: Oxford University Press.Find this resource:
Blau, F. D., & Graham, J. W. (1990). Black–White differences in wealth and asset composition. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 105(2), 321–339.Find this resource:
Boddie, S. C. (2005). Social services of African-American congregations in the welfare reform era. African American Research Perspectives, 11, 36–43.Find this resource:
Bonczar, T. P. (2003). Prevalence of imprisonment in the U.S. population, 1974–2001. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics.Find this resource:
Bowman, P. J. (1988). Post-industrial displacement and family role strains: Challenges to the Black family. In P. Voydanof & L. C. Majka (Eds.), Families and economic distress (pp. 75–96). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Find this resource:
Bowman, P. J. (1993). The impact of economic marginality among African American husbands and fathers. In H. P. McAdoo (Ed.), Family ethnicity: Strength in diversity. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Find this resource:
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. (1954). 347 U.S. 483Find this resource:
Caner, A., & Wolff, E. (2004). Asset poverty in the United States, 1984–1999: Evidence from the panel study of income dynamics. Review of income and wealth, 50(4), 493–518.Find this resource:
Center for the Study of Social Policy. The Race+Child Welfare Project. (2004, March 16). Fact sheet 1—Basic facts on disproportionate representation of African Americans in the foster care system. Washington, DC.Find this resource:
Charles, K. K., & Hurst, E. (2002). The transition to home ownership and the Black–White wealth gap. Review of Economics and Statistics, 84(2), 281–297.Find this resource:
Cherlin, A. J. (1992). Marriage, divorce, remarriage. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Find this resource:
Child Welfare League of America. (2006). Special tabulation of the adoption and foster care analysis reporting system. Washington, DC: Author.Find this resource:
Chiteji, N. S., & Stafford, F. P. (1999). Portfolio choices of parents and their children as young adults: Asset accumulation by African-American families. American Economic Review, 89(2), 377–380.Find this resource:
Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000 et seq.Find this resource:
Conley, D. (1999). Being Black, living in the red: Race, wealth, and social policy in America (pp. 209). Berkeley: University of California Press.Find this resource:
Davis, L., Emanson, S., & Williams, J. (1997). Black dating professionals perceptions of equity, satisfaction, power, romantic attitudes and ideals. Journal of Black Psychology, 232, 148–164.Find this resource:
DeNavas-Walt, C., Procter, B., & Lee, C. (2006). Income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States: 2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.Find this resource:
Drake, St. C., & Cayton, H. (1945/1962). Black metropolis: A study of Negro life in a northern city. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.Find this resource:
Dressler, W., Oths, K., & Gravlee, C. (2005). Race and ethnicity in public health research: Models to explain health disparities. Annual Review of Anthropology, 34, 231–252.Find this resource:
Du Bois, W. E. B. (1903). The souls of Black folk: Essays and sketches. Chicago: McClurg.Find this resource:
Duncan, G. J., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1997). Consequences of growing up poor. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.Find this resource:
Duncan, G., & Rodgers, W. (1991). Has children's poverty become more persistent? American Sociological Review, 56(4), 538–550.Find this resource:
Fair Housing Act of 1968, 42 U.S.C. §3601 et seq.Find this resource:
Fairlie, R., & Sundstrom, W. (1999). The emergence, persistence, and recent widening of the racial unemployment gap. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 52, 252.Find this resource:
Farley, R. (1996). The new American reality: Who we are, how we got here, where we are going. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.Find this resource:
Fox, J. A., & Zawitz, M. W. (2007). Homicide trends in the United States. US Department of Justice. Retrieved from
Franklin, J. H. (2007). African American families: A historical note. Black families (4th ed., pp. 3–6). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Find this resource:
Frazier, E. F. (1932a). The free Negro family. Nashville, TN: Fisk University Press.Find this resource:
Frazier, E. F. (1932b). The Negro family in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Find this resource:
Frazier, E. F. (1957). Black bourgeoisie. New York: The Free Press.Find this resource:
Freudenberg, N. (2001). Jails, prisons, and the health of urban populations: A review of the impact of the correctional system on community health. Journal of Urban Health, 78(2), 214–235.Find this resource:
Guttentag, M., & Second, P. F. (1983). Too many women? The sex ratio question (pp. 199–). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.Find this resource:
Haveman, R., & Wolff, E. N. (2000). Who are the asset poor? Levels, trends and composition, 1983–1998. St. Louis: Center for Social Development, Washington University.Find this resource:
Hill, R. B. (1972). The strengths of Black families. New York: Emerson Hall.Find this resource:
Hirschl, T., & Rank, M. (2006). Homeownership across the American life course: Estimating the racial divide. St. Louis: Center for Social Development, Washington University.Find this resource:
Hoffman, K., & Llagas, C. (2003). Status and trends in the education of Blacks (NCES 2003–034). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.Find this resource:
Horton, H., Allen, B., Herring, C., & Thomas, M. (2000). Lost in the storm: The sociology of the Black working class, 1850–1990. American Sociological Review, 65(1), 128–137.Find this resource:
Isichei, E. A. (1997). A history of African societies to 1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Find this resource:
Johnson, B. R., Tompkins, R. B., & Webb, D. (2002). Objective hope—Assessing the effectiveness of faith-based organizations: A systematic review of the literature. Philadelphia: Center for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Retrieved February 16, 2007, from
Keister, L. A. (2000). Race and wealth inequality: The impact of racial differences in asset ownership on the distribution of household wealth. Social Science Research, 29(4), 477–502.Find this resource:
Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617–627.Find this resource:
Klinkner, P. A., & Smith, R. A. (1999). The unsteady march: The rise and decline of racial equality in America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Find this resource:
Krause, N. (2006). Exploring race and sex differences in church involvement during late life. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 16(2), 127–144.Find this resource:
Krivo, L., & Kaufman, R. (2004). Housing and wealth inequality: Racial-ethnic differences in home equity in the United States. Demography, 41(3), 585–605.Find this resource:
Leigh, W. A. (2006). Wealth measurement: Issues for people of color in the United States. In J. Nembhard & N. S. Chiteji (Eds.), Wealth accumulation and communities of color in the United States. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.Find this resource:
Lincoln, C. E., & Mamiya, L. (1990). The Black church in the African American experience. Durham: Duke University Press.Find this resource:
Macartney, S. (2011). Child poverty in the United States 2009 and 2010: Selected race groups and Hispanic origin. U.S. Census American community survey. Retrieved November 2, 2012,
Marsalis, W., Dodson, H., & Diouf, S. (2004). In motion: The African-American migration experience. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (p. 11). Washington, DC: National Geographic.Find this resource:
Massey, D. S., & Denton, N. A. (1993). American apartheid: Segregation and the making of the underclass. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Find this resource:
Mayer, S. E. (1997). What money can't buy: Family income and children's life chances. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Find this resource:
McAdoo, H. P. (2007). Black families. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Find this resource:
McKinnon, J. (2003). The Black population in the United States: March 2002 (Current Population Reports, Series P20–541). Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.Find this resource:
McKinnon, J. D., & Bennett, C. E. (2005). We the People: Blacks in the United States: Census 2000 Special Reports. Retrieved November 6, 2007, from
Menchik, P. L., & Jianakoplos, N. A. (1997). Black–White wealth inequality: Is inheritance the reason? Economic Inquiry, 35(2), 428–442.Find this resource:
Mincy, R. (2006). Black males left behind. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.Find this resource:
Moynihan, D. P. (1965). The Negro family: The case for national action. Washington, DC: Office of Policy Planning and Research, Department of Labor.Find this resource:
Murray, C. (1984). Losing ground: American social policy, 1950–1980. New York: Basic Books.Find this resource:
Naifeh, M. (1998). Dynamics of economic well-being, poverty 1993–94: Trap door? Revolving door? Or both? Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.Find this resource:
National Center for Health Statistics. (2006). Health, United States, 2006 with chartbook on trends in the health of Americans (DHHS Publication No. 2006-1232). Hyattsville, MD: Author.Find this resource:
Oliver, M. L., & Shapiro, T. M. (2006). Black wealth/White wealth: A new perspective on racial inequality (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.Find this resource:
Orzechowski, S., & Sepielli, P. (2003). Net worth and asset ownership of households: 1998 and 2000. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.Find this resource:
Peter, K., & Horn, L. (2005). Gender differences in participation and completion of undergraduate education and how they have changed over time (NCES 2005-169). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education.Find this resource:
Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896).Find this resource:
Proclamation of January 1, 1863, No. 17, 12 Stat. 1268 (1868).Find this resource:
Rank, M., & Hirschl, T. (1999). The likelihood of poverty across the American adult life span. Social Work, 44(3), 201–216.Find this resource:
Satcher, D., Fryer, G., McCann, J., Troutman, A., Woolf, S., & Rust, G. (2005). What if we were equal? A comparison of the Black–White mortality gap in 1960 and 2000. Health Affairs, 24(2), 459–464.Find this resource:
Schreiner, M., & Sherraden, M. (2007). Can the poor save?: Saving and asset building in individual development accounts. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.Find this resource:
Schweninger, L. (1990). Black property owners in the South, 1790–1915. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.Find this resource:
Sherraden, M. W. (1991). Assets and the poor: A new American welfare policy. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.Find this resource:
Smallwood, A. D. (1999). A history of Native American and African relations from 1502 to 1900. Negro History Bulletin, 62(2–3), 18–31.Find this resource:
Smith, E., & Jackson, P. (2006). The hip–hop church: Connecting with the movement shaping our culture. Downer's Grove, IL: IVP Press.Find this resource:
Snowden, L. R. (2001). Barriers to effective mental health services for African Americans. Mental Health Services Research, 3(4), 181–187.Find this resource:
Sue, S., & Chu J. Y. (2003). The mental health of ethnic minority groups: Challenges posed by the supplement to the Surgeon General's report on mental health. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, 27(4), 447–465.Find this resource:
Taeuber, K. E., & Taeuber, A. F. (1965). Negroes in cities: Residential segregation and neighborhood change. Chicago: Aldine.Find this resource:
Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., Jayakody, R., & Levin, J. S. (1996). Black and White differences in religious participation: A multisample comparison. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 35, 403–410.Find this resource:
Taylor, R. J., Ellison, C. G., Chatters, L. M., Levin, J. S., & Lincoln, K. D. (2000). Mental health services in faith communities: The role of clergy in Black churches. Social Work, 45(1), 73–87.Find this resource:
The Sentencing Project. (2010). Incarceration. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from
Tucker, M. B., & Mitchell-Kernan, C. (Eds.). (1995). The decline in marriage among African Americans: Causes, consequences, and policy implications. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.Find this resource:
Tucker, M. B., & Taylor, R. T. (1987). Demographic correlates of relationship status among Black Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 51, 655–665.Find this resource:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2012). Household data, annual averages. Washington, DC. Retrieved October 15, 2012, from
U.S. Census Bureau. (2010). Households and Families: 2010. 2010 Census Briefs. Retrieved October 8, 2012, from
U.S. Census Bureau. (2006). Black-Owned firms: 2002 Economic census, survey of business owners. Retrieved November 8, 2007, from
U.S. Census Bureau. (2005a). American community survey. Calculated from tables retrieved from
U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey. (2005b). Annual social and economic supplement.Find this resource:
U.S. Census Bureau. (2006). Housing vacancies and homeownership (CPS/HVS): 2005. Housing and household economic statistics division. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.Find this resource:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001). Mental health: Culture, race, and ethnicity—A supplement to mental health: A report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Find this resource:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). 2005 National health care disparities report (AHRQ Publication No. 06-0017). Retrieved from
Van Sertima, I. (2003). They came before Columbus: The African presence in ancient America. Random House. New York.Find this resource:
Voting Rights Act of 1965, 42 U.S.C. 1971, 1973–1973p.Find this resource:
Wallace, J. M., Jr., Brown, T. N., Bachman, J. G., & LaVeist, T. A. (2003). The influence of race and religion on abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana among adolescents. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 64, 843–848.Find this resource:
Wallace, J. M., Jr., Myers, V. L., & Osai, E. R. (2004). Faith matters: Race/ethnicity, religion, and substance use. Baltimore, MD: Annie E. Casey Foundation. Retrieved from this resource:
Webster, B., & Bishaw, A. (2006). Income, earnings, and poverty: Data from the 2005 American Community Survey, ACS-02. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.Find this resource:
Wheelock, D. (2005). Collateral consequences and racial inequality: Felon status restrictions as a system of disadvantage. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 21(1), 82–90.Find this resource:
Williams, T. R. (2003). Asset-building policy as a response to wealth inequality: Drawing implications from the Homestead Act of 1862. Social Development Issues, 25(1/2), 47–58.Find this resource:
Williams Shanks, T. R. (2007). The impacts of household wealth on child development. Journal of Poverty, 11(2), p. 93–116.Find this resource:
Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Find this resource:
Wilson, W. J. (2012). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy (2nd edition). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Find this resource:
Wilson, W. J. (1996). When work disappears: The world of the new urban poor. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.Find this resource:
Wolff, E. N. (2002). Inheritances and wealth inequality, 1989–1998. American Economic Review, 92(2), 260–264.Find this resource:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46827
|
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Billy’s Forty-Second Law: Learn to tell your story
To influence people, you must learn to tell your story. Telling your story, warts and all, makes you human and more likeable. Structuring your story makes you more understandable.
Telling stories is important, and at the same time, it is difficult. I am working with a client who was asked to put together the story of an investment in a subsidiary company which, unfortunately, went badly. The reason was for a financier to understand what happened, and how this decision affected the company. Therefore, my client began to write out his story. He spent hours trying to unravel exactly what happened, the mistakes he made, where he made them and what the implications of each step in the process. The result remained an incomplete story filled with missing parts.
Writing is difficult. Putting your story together is very difficult, and yet is an important communications skill. I was working with a different client and we were trying to put together a ‘good news’ story based on a recent success the company had with a new client. We worked together for about an hour to develop a very simple narrative.
Stories are important. Stories are the things we are made of, both corporately and individually. There are stories which resonate. The Horatio Alger…rags to riches story is one of the archetypical good news stories, especially in America. The Steve Jobs narrative is part of what makes the Apple Story. The Bill Gates rich to richer is not nearly as dramatic.
Storytelling is ancient…more ancient than writing itself. Stories and myths connect us. Learning to control the narrative, to make it interesting and to captivate the audience is truly important. This is the presentation part of the narrative.
I used to teach presentation skills. A good presentation has three components…the story, the structure and the delivery. The story is creative, delivery is technique, but anyone can use make their point. I envision stories to be a bit like a flower. You start in the middle, and introduce the theme of the story. Lay out what you plan to tell people and the context in which you plan to tell it. Then go into your first point…ensuring that you leave the theme, and then return to it. Once you pass through the theme, you can make your second point and so on. The three part presentation is easy for an audience to remember.
This structured, whether in a spoken or written form allows the audience to track and understand your story. This makes is easier to influence, inform and call a client to action.
No comments:
Post a Comment
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46851
|
Site Search: in
Main Index MAIN
Search Posts SEARCH
Who's Online WHO'S
Log in LOG
Home: Perl Programming Help: Win32 Programming Help:
Screen capturing in perl?
New User
Dec 26, 2009, 8:57 PM
Post #1 of 1 (5663 views)
Screen capturing in perl? Can't Post
Using Win32::Clipboard and Win32::GuiTest for screen captures (screenshots) of a specific window. However, I notice some laptops require pressing alt+fn+print sc to take a screenshot of a specific window, while most others just require pressing alt+print sc. Does anyone know how to send the "fn" key with sendkeys?
for those who may not know, fn is the "function" key.
(This post was edited by mixing on Dec 26, 2009, 9:02 PM)
Search for (options) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.0
Web Applications & Managed Hosting Powered by Gossamer Threads
Visit our Mailing List Archives
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46877
|
The Telling
by Robert Powell
November, the world dead
waiting for snow & at dusk
Ray coaxed his sister Susie
to the one-bulb garage where
O’Connell & Ralph plus one
cluster by the open tail-gate
of the family Ford & on it
thirteen she’s placed &
in the thick padding
of her winter coat & cords
squirms as they grip
her ankles & wrists
whimpers I’ll tell I’ll tell
while eight hands take
turns to search the places
where the secrets
are meant to hide
O’Connell in the lead
voice his yet not
his hissing in a tongue
untaught but learned
you like it really really
Ray in her ear don’t tell
don’t you tell or else till
they scatter into the night
O’Connell & Ray away
to smoke somewhere
I guess & Ralph plus one
to crouch in the field
behind the house the dark
field all the leaves and weeds
silent and waiting the lovely
snow field the past field
at the edge of its last dark
before the houses & malls
erase it willing nothing
but to forget & pray
Susie, God, or anyone
don’t tell don’t tell don’t tell
They didn’t. It’s told.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46911
|
Popular Chapters
Book 1 Kings Chapter 17
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastwa... [More]
psalm91.com Bible Website
Daily Bible Verses
LUCIFER DETHRONED - Bill Schnoebelen's Testimony
Ex Satanist gives his Testimony.
Roger Morneau Expose Of Satanism
The Danger Of Tongues
Why you might not want to speak in tongues
Email This To A Friend
Tell a friend:
Esther Chapter 5
[1] Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
[2] And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
[6] And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
[7] Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
[9] Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
[10] Nevertheless Haman refrained himself and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
[13] Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
[14] Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46912
|
Friday, 13 December 2013
JAQ: Using JMH to Benchmark SPSC Queues Latency - Part I
{This post is part of a long running series on lock free queues, checkout the full index to get more context here}
{If you come here looking for JMH related content start at the new and improved JMH Resources Page and branch out from there!}
As part of the whole JAQ venture I decided to use the excellent JMH (Java Microbenchmark Harness see: project here, introduction to JMH here, and multi-threaded benchmarking here). The reason I chose JMH is because I believe hand rolled benchmarks limit our ability to peer review and picking a solid framework allows me and collaborators to focus on the experiment rather than the validity of the harness. One of the deciding factors for me was JMHs focus on multi-threaded benchmarks, which is something I've not seen done by other frameworks and which forms it's own set of problems to the aspiring benchmarker. It's not perfect, but it's the closest we have.
Anyways... that's the choice for now, lets jump into some benchmarks!
Using the JMH Control
To benchmark the latency of 2 threads communicating via a queue requires using the JMH Control structure. This is demonstrated in the JMH samples measuring thread to thread "ping pong" via an AtomicBoolean.compareAndSwap (see original here):
The challenge here is that the CAS operation may fail, and when it does we would want to retry until we succeed, BUT if the opposite thread were to be stopped/suspended because the benchmark iteration is done we would be stuck in an infinite loop. To avoid this issue a benchmarked method can have a Control parameter passed in which exposes a flag indicating the end of a run, this flag can be used to determine benchmark termination and thus avoid the above issue. You'll notice other JMH annotations are in use above:
• State: sets the scope of the benchmark state, in this case the Group
• Group: multi-threaded benchmarks can utilize thread groups of different sizes to exercise concurrent data structure with different operations. In the case above we see one group calls pingpong. Both methods are exercised by threads from the group, using the default of 1 thread per operation.
• Note that if we were to run the above benchmark with more threads, we will be running several independent groups. Running with 10 threads will result in 5 concurrent benchmark runs each with it's own group of 2 threads.
I pretty much copied this benchmark into the jaq-benchmarks and refer to it as a baseline for inter-thread message exchange latency. The results for this benchmark are as follows (running on the same core):
Benchmark Mode Thr Count Sec Mean Mean error Units
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong avgt 2 10 1 23.578 0.198 ns/op
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong:ping avgt 2 10 1 23.578 0.198 ns/op
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong:pong avgt 2 10 1 23.578 0.198 ns/op
And running across different cores:
Benchmark Mode Thr Count Sec Mean Mean error Units
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong avgt 2 10 1 60.508 0.217 ns/op
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong:ping avgt 2 10 1 60.496 0.195 ns/op
i.j.s.l.BaselinePingPong.pingpong:pong avgt 2 10 1 60.520 0.248 ns/op
The way I read it CAS is sort of a round trip to memory, reading and comparing the current value, and setting it to a new value. You could argue that it's only a one way trip, and I can see merit in that argument as well. The point is, these are the ballpark figures. We shouldn't be able to beat this score, but if we manage to get close we are doing well.
Note from a hardware point of view: See this answer on Intel forums on cache latencies. Latencies stand at roughly:
"L1 CACHE hit, ~4 cycles
L2 CACHE hit, ~10 cycles
L3 CACHE hit, line unshared ~40 cycles
L3 CACHE hit, shared line in another core ~65 cycles
L3 CACHE hit, modified in another core ~75 cycles
remote L3 CACHE ~100-300 cycles
Local Dram ~60 ns
Remote Dram ~100 ns"
To convert cycles to time you need to divide by your CPU clock speed, the delay manifestation will also be dependant on whether or not you require the data to make progress etc. The thing to keep in mind here is that there is a physical limit to the achievable latency. If you think you're going faster... check again ;-).
Queue round trip latency benchmark
Queues are not about exchanging a single message, they are about exchanging many messages asynchronously (at least that's what the queues I care about are about). Exchanging a single message is a worst case scenario for a queue, there's no gain to be had by batching, no false sharing to avoid, nothing much to cache, very little cost to amortize. It is therefore a valuable edge case, and an important one for many real world applications where latency needs to be minimized for bursty traffic/load. To put my queues to the test I devised a round trip benchmark which allows us to chain a configurable number of threads into a ring and measure the round trip latency. This should help magnify the exchange costs and perhaps expose behaviours not so easily detected in the minimal case. Here's an outline of the functionality under test given a chain length N (which requires N queues and N threads including the measuring thread) and a burst of K messages:
1. From thread[0] send K objects down queue[0].
2. Concurrently: In each thread K(0<K<N) read from queue[K-1] and write to queue[K].
3. Thread[0] waits for K objects to be polled from queue[N-1] and returns.
There were several challenges/intricacies to be considered here:
• The number of benchmarking threads is unknown at runtime (in JMH), so chain length must be defined separately.
• Setup/Teardown methods on the Iteration level are called per thread.
• Thread state is allocated and used per thread per iteration. The threads are pooled, so a given thread can switch 'roles' on each iteration. In other words @State(Scope.Thread) is not ThreadLocal.
• Concurrent polls to SPSC queues can leave the queue in an undefined state.
• The benchmark requires that the queues are empty when we start measuring, so at the beginning or end of an iteration we must clear the queues.
• Queues must be cleared from the consumer thread.
So things are not that simple, and the code (full code here) is an attempt to cover all these intricacies:
I'm relying on correct usage for some things, but JMH is basically doing most of the heavy lifting:
• JMH is taking care of all the measurements/measurement modes/reporting/formatting including forked runs and stats summaries and all.
• JMH is taking care of thread management, no need to spin up threads/executors and shut them down.
• JMH is synchronizing iterations and managing per thread state setup/teardown. Note the @TearDown annotation in Link/Source.
• JMH is allowing the group thread balance to be parametrized (just recently) which allows generic asymmetric multi-threaded benchmarks like the above.
Where I have to work around the framework:
• I would like to only specify the chain.length and derive the thread allocation from that. This is possible via the JMH launcher API.
• I would like @State(Scope.Thread) to mean ThreadLocal.
• I would like to be able to pass State down the stack as constructor parameters, so I could avoid the static field for sharing benchmark state between thread state objects.
I'd be lying if I said writing this benchmark the JMH way was easier than hacking something together, it take getting used to and some of the features I required are fairly late additions. But the benefit is worth it.
I can't stress this point enough, the objective here is more than collecting data, it is about enabling, supporting and empowering peer review. I want the benchmarks to be as simple as they can be so people can either be easily convinced or easily point out my errors. The less code I need my peers to read, the easier it is for anyone to build/run/tweak the benchmarks, the less we rely on handrolled/halfassed attempts at benchmark frameworks THE BETTER (having said that, you got to do what you got to do).
Note: If you care about latency you should watch Gil Tene's excellent talk on How Not To Measure Latency, where he discusses coordinated omission and it's impact on latency measurement. As you may have noticed this experiment suffers from coordinated omission. I'll have to live with that for now, but I don't feel the data gained from a corrected measurement would impact the queue implementations in any form.
Hard Numbers? Numbers Hard?
We've got the following queues:
1. ConcurrentLinkedQueue (CLQ) - Good old JDK lock free queue, for reference.
2. InlinedCountersSpscConcurrentArrayQueue (CAQ) - My inlined counter variation on Martin Thompson's ConcurrentArrayQueue previously discussed/explained/explored here and compared to this variation here. It can be run with sparse data as described here.
3. FFBuffer (FF1) - A Java port of the FastFlow SPSC implementation with sparse data as described here.
4. BQueue (BQ)- An SPSC previously discussed here which introduces an offer side batch of the null check (which also serves as a full queue induced false sharing protection) and a poll side batching of emptiness testing which also includes a spinning backoff to avoid the near empty queue issue.
5. FFBufferWithOfferBatch (FF2) - A BQueue on the offer side and an FFBuffer on the poll side, this is a new addition to the arsenal.
JMH gives us 2 relevant benchmark modes for the above use case:
1. AverageTime - Average time per operation (from the command line use '-bm avgt')
2. SampleTime - Time distribution, percentile estimation (from the command line use '-bm sample')
And we could also look at the same core vs. cross core latency, vary the length of the chain and examine the effect of sparse data on latency. This is a bit of an explosion of data, too much for one post, but lets dip our toes...
I'll start with the average RTT latency for each type, running same core and cross core:
The benchmarks were run on my laptop (JDK7u45/Ubuntu13.10/[email protected] no turbo boost/benchmark process pinned using taskset) and though I ran them repeatedly I didn't systematically collect run to run variance data, so consider the results subject to some potential run to run variance.
As we can see:
• FF2/FF1 are very similar and take the cake at 60/230ns (FF2 is marginally faster).
• BQ is the worst [392/936ns] because of its backoff on approaching near empty strategy.
• It is perhaps surprising to see that although CAQ/FF1/BQ show very similar throughput in my previous tests their latency characteristics are so distinct.
• Note that CLQ is actually not too bad latency wise (in this particular use case).
Lets have a look at what happen when the burst size increases[I dropped FF1 out of the race here, too similar to FF2, this is running across cores]:
We can see that:
• CLQ makes no effort to amortize costs as its RTT grows with the burst size.
• BQ starts off as the worst, but somewhere between burst size 16 and 32 the benefits of it's design start to show.
• FF2 and CAQ demonstrate similar growth patterns with the cost per item dropping as the burst size grows. But FF2 remains the clear winner, at burst size 32 the round trip is 640ns.
• 640ns for 32 messages averages at just 20ns per message. This is NOT A MEANINGFUL LATENCY NUMBER! :)
Latency != Time/Throughput
Let me elaborate on this last point. The average cost is not a good representative of the latency. Why not? latency in this case is the round trip time from each message perspective, throughput in a concurrent environment is not an indicator of latency because it assumes a uniformity that is just not there in real life. We know the behaviour for the first message is at best the same, so assuming first message latency is 230ns, how would the other messages timeline need to look to make the mean latency 20ns? is that reasonable? What is really happening here is as follows (my understanding in any case):
• Producer pretty much writes all the messages into the queue in one go within a few nano-seconds of first and last message being written. So if we mark T1..T32 the send time of the messages, we can estimate T32 - T1 is within 100ns - 150ns (single threaded read/write to FF2 takes roughly 6ns, assume an even split between write and read and add some margin). Near empty queue contention can add to this cost, or any direct contention between poll/offer.
• In fact, assuming a baseline cost of 6ns read/write, multiplied by chain length, leads to a base cost of 32*6*2=384ns. Following from this is that the minimum latency experienced by any message can never be less than 32*3=96ns as the burst must be sent before messages are received. 96ns is assuming zero cost for the link, this is how fast this would go offering and polling from the same queue in the same thread.
• With any luck, and depending on the size of the burst, the consumer will see all the messages written by the time it detects data in the queue (i.e. it won't contend with the producer). There is opportunity here for reduced cost which is used by FF2/CAQ and BQ.
• The consumer now reads from the queue, the first message is detected like it would for burst size 1, i.e after 115ns or so for FF2. This can only get worse with the contention of potentially other messages being written as the first message is read adding further latency. The rest of the messages are then read and there is again an opportunity to lower costs. The messages are written into the outbound queue as soon as they are read. Reading and writing each message has a cost, which we can assume is at the very least as high as 6ns.
• The producer now detects the messages coming back. Let's mark the return times for the messages R1-R32. We know T1 - R1 is at least 230ns and we know that T1 - R32 is roughly 640ns. Assuming some fixed costs for writing/reading from the queue, we can estimate that R32-R1 is also within 100-150ns.
• So, working through the timeline as estimated above gives us the following best case scenario for message 32:
• 3ns - Source sends message 1
• 96ns - Source sends message 32
• 115ns - Link picks up message number 1, has to work through messages 1-31
• 230ns - Source picks up message 1
• 301ns - Link is done transferring 31 messages and is finally picking up message 32
• 307ns - Link has sent message 32
• 346ns - Source has finished processing message 32
• In this hypothetical best case scenario, message 32 which had the best chance of improved latency enjoyed a 150ns RTT. This is the theoretical best case ever. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. The RTT we saw for a 32 messages burst was 640ns, indicating some contention and an imperfect world. A world in which there's every chance message 32 didn't have a latency as good as message 1.
• The fallacy of the average latency is that it assumes a uniform distribution of the send and receive times, but the reality is that the groups are probably lumped together on a timeline leading to many send times being within a few ns of each other, and many receive times being within a few ns of each other. This is the magic of buffering/queuing.
• The latency experienced by the last element in a burst can be better than the latency experienced by the first, but not significantly so and subject to some very delicate timing. The important thing here is that good queues allow the producer to make progress as the consumer idles or is busy consuming previous items, thus allowing us to capitalize on concurrent processing.
To Be Continued...
There's allot of experimentation and data to be had here, so in the interest of making progress with the project as well as sharing the results I'll cut this analysis short and continue some other time. To be explored in further posts:
• Compare sparse data impact on CAQ/FF2 for the bursty use case - I have done some experimentation which suggests FF2 gains little from the sparse data setting, while for CAQ the improvements are noticeable for certain burst sizes.
• Compare average time results with the sampling mode results - There are significant differences in the results, which I'm still trying to explain. One would expect the sampling mode to have some fixed overhead of having to call System.nanoTime() twice for each sample, but the difference I see is an x2 increase in the mean.
• Compare queue behaviour for different chain lengths - The results are unstable at the moment because the thread layout is not fixed. For chain length 2-4 the topography can be made static, but from chain size 5 and up the number of cross core crossings can change in mid run (on my hyper threaded quad core anyways), leading to great variance in results (which is legitimate, but annoying). I will need to pin threads and thread 'roles' to stabilize the benchmark for this use case, probably using JTA (Java Thread Affinity - by Sir Lawrey).
The overall result is pointing to FF2 as the clear winner of the fastest queue competition, but the variety is educational and different designs are useful for different things. This also strengthens my conviction that a requirement based factory for queues serves your code much better than naming the queue flavour you feel like as you code. All the more reason to invest more time into JAQ :-).
Thanks to Darach, Norman, and Peter for reviewing the post, and Aleksey for reviewing the benchmark. Peer review FTW!
1. Nitsan, great post however the link to full code is broken. Can you please fix it.
1. Will fix shortly.
JAQ was renamed to JCTools recently (soon to be maven released).
Here's the link:
2. I generally consider your blog posts very informative. One suggestion though: add pictures/diagrams! It's much easier for a reader to understand your benchmarks, particularly when they are complicated like this one here, if you add diagrams/pictures. Also, it would have been nice if you had also benchmarked the edge case. What's an SPSC? Again, help you readers read your blog post.
1. Thanks, glad you find the posts helpful.
There's plenty of room for improvement in these blog posts, but there's also a limit to the amount of time I can spend writing them... so yes, diagrams might help, but they take me a long time to produce so I gave up on them at the time.
"it would have been nice if you had also benchmarked the edge case" - what edge case are you refering to?
3. A few questions:
1) Why do you have to clear the queue at tear down? wouldn't it be simpler to just create a new queue chain per iteration in the setup method?
2) Why is it important for each thread to keep their in/out queues per iteration? why does it matter for your benchmark?
3) The link benchmark appears to be individual time in-between queues. Why aren't you also measuring the individual time in the queues? that is the time interval between a T[K] right/put and a T[k+1] read/poll?
1. 1. Yes it would be simpler, but also less representative of a long lived queue behaviour, which most queues are. It would also add potential GC overhead which I'm not interested in measuring. We must empty the queues to handle the case where an iteration has ended before the queue was cleared.
2. The queues are SPSC (single producer, single consumer) queues, so it is technically not valid to swap queues between threads.
3. The 'link' measurement is for the thread piping the events back to the originator. Most of the time it finds nothing on the queue, os it is mostly spinning. The number produced is not very meaningful. JMH does not support the measurement you describe at this time.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/46951
|
Tag Archive
A podcast with Summer Qing [Qing Xu], co-star of Looper: Mandarin and English friendly version.
By Adam Lippe
Here is a podcast with actress Summer Qing (also known as Qing Xu), who plays the wife of Bruce Willis‘ character in Rian Johnson‘s twisty action sci-fi film Looper. Summer’s role is the main motivation for Willis’ entire journey through time. Summer was also in a few Chen Kaige films, like Farewell, My Concubine, and […]
The Forbidden Kingdom
By Adam Lippe
Shoehorning a white teenager into a Chinese period piece just to make Americans feel like they’re not watching a foreign film is a deeply cynical move. Pretending the kid can perform martial arts, even in his dreams, is just plain foolish. But the strangest aspect of The Forbidden Kingdom, is that it misses the point […]
Now on DVD and Blu-Ray
By Adam Lippe
Veegie Awards
Recent Comments
Featured Quote (written by me)
On Cold Fish:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47048
|
(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
by Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
Ask A Question on the daf
Previous daf
Megilah 26
(a) (Mishnah - continued): City dwellers that sold coverings may buy Seforim; if the sold Seforim, they may buy a Sefer Torah.
(b) It is not permitted to descend (if they sold a Sefer Torah, they may not but Seforim, etc.).
(c) The same applies to money left over.
(d) (Gemara - Rabah Bar Bar Chanah): Our Mishnah is like R. Menachem Bar Yosi; Chachamim argue and say that there is no sanctity to the street.
1. R. Menachem says that it has sanctity, since we pray in it on fast days.
2. Chachamim argue, since that is not a fixed usage.
(e) (R. Shmuel Bar Nachmani): Our Mishnah deals with a village shul, but a shul of a big city may not be sold, since people come to it from surrounding areas.
(f) (Rav Ashi): The shul of our city may be sold. Even though outsiders come, they consent to my opinion.
(g) Question (Beraisa - R. Yehudah): There was a shul of smelters in Yerushalayim (which is a big city); it was sold to R. Eliezer, who used it for his needs.
(h) Answer: That was a small shul, which they made themselves.
(a) Question (Beraisa): A plague can come "In a house of your inheritance", but not in Yerushalayim, since Yerushalayim was not divided among the tribes;
(b) R. Yehudah says that this only applies to Makom Mikdash (the Temple).
1. We infer, shuls and Beis Medrashes can receive plagues.
2. If shuls of a big city are considered public property, why can they receive plagues?
(c) Answer: Read R. Yehudah to say that 'this only applies to *Makom Mekudash* (a holy place).
(d) The first Tana holds that Yerushalayim was divided among the tribes; R. Yehudah says that it was not.
1. Other Tana'im also argued about this. The coming Tana says that Yerushalayim was divided among the tribes.
(e) (Beraisa): The portion of Yehudah included the Temple mount, the chambers and courtyards of the Temple.
(f) The portion of Binyamin included the Ulam, the Heichal, and the Holy of Holies.
1. A strip extended from Yehudah's portion into Binyamin's; on it, the altar was built.
2. Binyamin always wished that it was his; therefore, he merited to host the Divine Presence.
(g) This Tana says that Yerushalayim was not split among the tribes (Beraisa): We don't rent houses in Yerushalayim, since the houses are not owned.
(h) R. Eliezer says, even beds may not be rented. Innkeepers used to forcefully take the skins of sacrifices.
1. (Abaye): We see that it is proper to leave one's empty bottles and skins (of animals he slaughtered) for one's host.
(a) (Rava): Our Mishnah is when the city dwellers sold the shul. If the 7 directors of the city publicly sold it, the money may be used for anything, even to drink beer!
(b) Question (Ravina): May I plant on the ruins of a shul?
(c) Answer (Rav Ashi): Publicly buy it from the 7 directors, then plant on it.
(d) (Rav Chisda): One may not destroy a shul until a new one has been built.
1. Question (Rami Bar Aba): That is because they may neglect to build the new one. If I have started building a shul, may I take beams from an old shul?
2. Answer (Rav Papa and Rav Huna Brei d'Rav Yehoshua): No.
(e) (Rava): If one sells or trades a shul, the shul loses its sanctity; but not if one rents it or puts a lien on it collateral.
1. In the 1st 2 cases, its sanctity transfers; in the latter 2 cases, it keeps its sanctity.
(f) The same applies to bricks of a shul. If sold or traded, they lose their sanctity; if they are borrowed, they do not.
(g) This only applies to bricks of a shul that was used. If the shul was never used, they have no sanctity.
1. Even the opinion that says that designation counts, that only applies to weaving a garment to use as shrouds. Our case is like spinning thread to weave (a preliminary preparation) - all agree, it has no meaning.
(h) Rav Acha and Ravina argued if the sanctity of a shul goes away if it is given as a gift.
1. The one that says no - because there is nothing to which the sanctity can transfer!
2. The other opinion says that one only gives if a gift if he received - giving is like selling!
(a) (Beraisa): *Tashmishei* (things which were used for a) Mitzvah may be discarded, such as a Sukah, a lulav, a shofar, and Tzitzis;
(b) Tashmishei Kedushah, such as bags for Seforim, Tefilin, and Mezuzahs, the casing of a Sefer Torah or Tefilin, and Tefilin straps.
(c) (Rava): I used to think that a Bimah (podium) is Tashmishei Tashmish (and has no sanctity); when I saw that people place a Torah on it (with nothing in between), I realized that it is Tashmishei Kedushah (and has sanctity).
(d) (Rava): I used to think that the inner curtain of the ark is Tashmishei Tashmish; when I saw that people rest Seforim on it, I realized that it is Tashmishei Kedushah.
(e) (Rava): An ark which is coming apart may be made into a smaller ark, but not into a Bimah.
(f) (Rava): Worn out curtains (of the ark) may be made into cover for a Sefer Torah, but not for a Chumash.
(g) (Rava): Bags which carry Sefer Torahs are Tashmishei Kedushah, and must be buried.
1. One might have thought, they are merely for protection, not for honor.
(h) Jews from Rome had built a shul which was open to a room with a corpse. Kohanim wanted to enter, to daven.
1. Rava: The ark is a wooden vessel made to be stationary, therefore, it cannot become impure, so it blocks the impurity of the corpse. Move the ark!
2. Question (Rabanan): Sometimes it is moved with a Sefer Torah on it - it should not be considered stationary!
3. (Retraction - Rava): If so, we have no solution.
(i) (Mar Zutra): Worn-out covers of Seforim may be made into shrouds - this is their burial!
(j) (Rava): A worn-out Sefer Torah is buried next to a Chacham - even one who only learned Mishnah.
1. (Rav Acha Bar Yakov): It should be put it earthenware, so it will last.
(k) (Rav Papi): One may convert a shul into a Beis Medrash, but not vice-versa.
1. Rav Papa learned the other way - one may convert a Beis Medrash into a shul, but not vice-versa.
Next daf
For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47064
|
The Messenger of the Covenant
MALACHI -Twelfth in a series
We read of two messengers, the first who prepares the way of the second. The first is a reference to John the Baptist, as delineated in the New Testament. (Mat 11:14; Mark 9:13; Luke 1:17) The second is "the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in."
To reflect on this, we might ask, which covenant? Three covenants were referred to in Malachi 2: First, the one pledged to Phineas, a Levite whose devotion refrained God's hand of judgment (Mal 2:8); second, the covenant of God with the nation of Israel (Mal 2:10); and third, the marriage covenant of man and wife (Mal 2:14).
Certainly, the covenant characterized by a messenger and a forerunner would refer to the one that God made with Israel, initiated with Abraham (Gen 17:4), continued with Isaac (Gen 17:9), then with Jacob (Ex 2:24); that was testified in circumcision (Gen 17:10) and then through law keeping (Ex 19:5; Ex 34:27-28), with many promised blessings (Lev 26:3-12), yet ensured by mercy even when Israel failed to live up to their side of the arrangement. (Lev 26:45; Mal 3:6)
Next we could ask: How should we understand the phrase, "whom ye delight in"? Who delighted in this messenger? The priests and Levites? Yet they did not uphold the Levite covenant nor their own marriage covenants, so why would they delight in this messenger of the covenant between Israel and the Lord?
Was he, the coming Messiah, their delight because of their expectation that he would vindicate and honor Israel when he came? Would he not deliver his chosen people from enemy occupation, and exalt them to rule with him in his new kingdom that they read about in Isaiah? (Isa 25:8-9)
Malachi puts an end to their delusions of grandeur.
Malachi 3:2, 3 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
When Christ would come suddenly to his temple, the very temple the priests were desecrating by their ruinous ways, he would teach Truth that would make men uncomfortable. Those who were led to repent, purified, could then reflect his likeness, and their offerings would be accepted. The Son of Man would teach and command a higher way than the priests enforced.
Malachi 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
If there were true repentance, the worship services could be as in some former times when there was peace and fellowship between the Lord and his people. However, as we know, this did not occur. The Temple rulers did not repent but instead called for Christ's crucifixion. But after his death and resurrection, many priests did commit their hearts to Christ. (Acts 6:7)
There is an aspect of prophecy that does not state what the future holds, but how it might be, if certain conditions are met. God already knows which course will come to light.
It's true, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and made pointed statements, for example, And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. (Luke 11:19-20)
This passage might be applied to Christ as a swift witness against the sorcerers.
Yet, on balance, Christ's words preserved for us in the Gospels are gracious and wonderful (Luke 4:22) much more than words of fierce accusation. The one caught in adultery was told to go and sin no more rather being condemned to hell (John 8:7-11); the teaching about ignoring the stranger, for example, is within a parable (Luke 10:33-36), not directed to specific wrongdoers.
In view of this, Malachi 3:6 makes perfect sense: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
God's laws never change: sorcery, adultery, false swearing, oppression of the vulnerable, discounting the stranger, and lack of fear of God are warned against from generation to generation. God's nature cannot change either. He is long suffering toward us, not wanting any to perish (John 3:16; 2 Pet 3:9).
The messenger of the covenant is calling. Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. (Ps 95:7-8; Heb 3:7-8; Heb 3:15; Heb 4:7)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47065
|
Sitemagic CMS environment information
Environment information comes from the SMEnvironment class. It contains data being sent from the client (browser) through GET/POST, cookie and session data, server information, information about Sitemagic CMS (meta data such as version number) and information about system folders.
Use of the SMEnvironment class is optional, although recommended. It simplifies the process of extracting environment data, as it does not emmit errors and warnings if querying information that does not exist, which PHP usually does. It also features a simple validation and security mechanism useful when extracting data for use in e.g. SQL queries or file references that are vulnerable to injection attacks.
Reading data from URL and form data (GET/POST)
// Easily get value from a form input element
$username = SMEnvironment::GetPostValue("NewUsername");
// The line above is equivalent to the following line of native PHP code:
$username = (isset($_POST["NewUsername"]) === true ? $_POST["NewUsername"] : null);
As the code above demonstrates, using the SMEnvironment class simplifies data access.
The table below shows how the different SMEnvironment functions map to native PHP arrays.
SMEnvironment::GetPostValue $_POST
SMEnvironment::GetQueryValue $_GET
SMEnvironment::GetEnvironmentValue $_SERVER
SMEnvironment::GetSessionValue $_SESSION
SMEnvironment::GetCookieValue $_COOKIE
For cookies and sessions the SMEnvironment class also features a Set and Destroy function that may be used to create, update, and remove sessions and cookies.
// Create (or update existing) session value
SMEnvironment::SetSessionValue("ShowWebShopBasket", "AlwaysShow");
// Remove existing session value
Built-in validation
The five functions in the table above features a simple validation mechanism that can be used to increase security. Consider the following insecure example:
Notice: Insecure example
$publicFolder = SMEnvironment::GetFilesDirectory() . "/public";
$folder = SMEnvironment::GetPostValue("FolderPicker"); // Drop down menu
$files = SMFileSystem::GetFiles($publicFolder . "/" . $folder);
foreach ($files as $file)
$output .= createDownloadLink($folder, $file);
The example above lets the user pick a folder from a drop down menu to get access to all contained files. But in this particular example we have left a giant security hole in our extension. A person which sufficient knowledge on web development could easily change the selectable values from the drop down menu, to have the system load files from a parent (perhaps system) directory. To avoid this, all we have to do is change the second line of code to this:
$folder = SMEnvironment::GetPostValue("FolderPicker", SMValueRestriction::$SafePath);
The user will now only be able to load files and folders from the public folder (and sub folders), not from parent folders.
The SMValueRestriction class contains a few commonly used validation rules that are useful when it comes to increasing security. For more advanced needs, please consider e.g. Regular Expressions.
Sitemagic CMS environment information
The SMEnvironment class provides access to meta data about Sitemagic CMS, as well as references to system directories.
// Get Sitemagic CMS version and website URL (defined in metadata.xml)
$info = SMEnvironment::GetMetaData();
$version = $info["Version"];
$url = $info["Website"];
// Get references to Sitemagic CMS system directories
$dataFolder = SMEnvironment::GetDataDirectory();
$extensionsFolder = SMEnvironment::GetExtensionsDirectory();
$filesFolder = SMEnvironment::GetFilesDirectory();
$templatesFolder = SMEnvironment::GetTemplatesDirectory();
// Get all sub folders from templates folder
$folders = SMFileSystem::GetFolders($templatesFolder);
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47068
|
Jump to content
6TD Part 016
The women who play a prominent role in Alan's life
Beyond Belief
Day 38: Wednesday, October 23
Written and illustrated by Spacer X <[email protected]>
Copyright © 2004 - present Spacer X; All Rights Reserved.
The next day started out like a relatively sex-free day for Alan, by his recent standards. Nothing sexual whatsoever happened at home before school, except for his erotic dreams and what he did in private. He masturbated once before he got out of bed, but it was almost like a chore, done purely to help him reach his daily target. Because Ron was there for breakfast, there was no chance of even enjoying any "visual stimulation."
And his school day was almost like any other school day, but with a few exceptions. For one, he spoke briefly with Ms. Rhymer after their class ended.
"Young man," she said deprecatingly, "I've noticed lately that your concentration is all over the map, and not in a good way. One day you're focused, the next day you're on some other planet." Then she looked embarrassed, and quietly asked, "Are you having trouble with your, uh, medical treatment?"
Not wanting to attract outside attention to this topic, he also kept his voice low. "No, I'm usually making my daily quota, or at least coming close to it now. My only problem is that I get so excited in school. You know, hanging out at lunch with all the pretty girls, and then seeing their cute bodies later in P.E. I'm really hopeless!"
"So I guess what you're saying," she concluded, without looking him in the eye, "is that you could really use some relief right around lunchtime."
"Yeah, I guess. I get, I dunno what you call it, blue balls. I'm so used to relieving myself regularly that it's getting to be a problem." Given what he'd seen her do the day before, he tried to frame his explanation so it could lead to an offer for her to "help him out."
She raised a curious eyebrow. "Hmmm... This seems to be a real problem, young man. I think you and I need to discuss this in more detail. However, it looks like you have to run to lunch, and I do too. I'd like to help you out... in some kind of way. Why don't we meet after school and discuss it in more detail?"
"That sounds great. You're right, I do have to run. But I'll see you later!" He hurried towards the door.
"Okay, see you then," his teacher answered.
The irony of the situation was that she was in no position to chastise Alan for loss of concentration. Ever since she'd heard about Alan's big sexual need to climax many times a day, she'd increasingly begun to drift away into fantasies of her own during his class, thinking about helping him. One part of her brain would teach on autopilot while another part would daydream about having sex with him.
In the past few days she'd even begun to expose herself covertly during Alan's class, but she always did it just out of eyesight of her students. For instance, she would pull up her skirt and pull down her panties while she sat behind her desk or stood behind the lectern. She ran a big risk that she would eventually get found out, but that only drove her erotic feelings even higher. She fantasized about calling Alan up to speak to her so that he alone could see her nakedness, but she dared not actually do so.
Then, yesterday, she'd blatantly stroked a ruler like it was a twelve-inch dick, right in front of all her students. True, they were all looking down while frantically working on a test, but she'd loved the thrill anyway.
She didn't want to actually get caught by any of her other students, but she was rather keen on being noticed by Alan. That's why she would only pull these stunts in her fourth-period class, because it was the idea of Alan seeing her that turned her on.
Glory standing with her skirt rucked up and her pantyhose half down her thighs
Nobody realized it, but that very day she had lectured behind the podium for a few minutes with her bush completely exposed and pointed directly at the class.
Only the lectern obstructing the view prevented what would have no doubt been a huge scene with administrators and possibly even security rushing into her class and sending her away. If the lectern were just a few inches lower, she would have been in grave danger.
But she just couldn't help it. The idea of physically helping Alan during lunch with his need to cum every day had taken hold of her and was making her do crazy things. She'd always had no greater fantasy than making it with one of her students, and now that fantasy was close to really happening, if she dared allow it to come to fruition. She had little doubt that Alan would gladly accept her offer to help, now that he was clearly no longer a shy and scared boy, but more of a sexually maturing man.
She fantasized that Alan would come up to the front of the class on some pretext. Perhaps he would be co-teaching a particular lesson. He would see her nakedness and not react at all, except to smile slightly. Then, casually and assuredly, he would stand right next to her and pet her pussy.
The class would be none the wiser as his fingers explored her slit. She would continue to point at the chalkboard and teach without any hint of disturbance. But inside she would be burning up, utterly consumed by lust.
Alan would sense her growing need. Dropping to the floor, he would hide inside and behind the lectern. She would press right up to the edge of it, and below that edge his head would bury itself into her sex and madly lick her. Of course having the students forget that Alan was hidden inside the lectern would never happen in real life, but such things didn't matter in her fevered fantasies.
In fact, with each imagining, such daydreams grew more and more unbelievable. She imagined that she would drop behind the lectern with him, after which the two of them would kiss madly and tear off each other's clothes.
By that point, she would typically lose track of her teaching as she fell further and further into her fantasy world. Suddenly she would snap to, and hastily pull her panties up and her skirt down. So far this had happened three times, and each time she was left frustrated, just short of orgasm.
The only exception was the orgasm she'd had in class the day before after stroking the ruler. She realized she'd gone too far that day, and promised herself not to do it again. She didn't know that Alan had realized what she'd done by watching her reflection in the window. She would have been extremely embarrassed had she realized he'd seen how badly she wanted him.
— — —
Alan was slightly late to his meeting with Kim and Katherine. Once in the supply closet, he finished the touch-up job on their butts within minutes. Despite the no-touching rule, he was obliged to finger Kim briefly until her labia became engorged enough for him to check the paint job there.
Katherine, to her intense frustration, found that she was already so aroused that Alan didn't have to touch her. Everyone was very restrained, but clearly they each intensely anticipated what would happen tomorrow.
Without much touch-up to do, and concerned about not being able to maintain their control, they all hurried off to eat lunch with their friends.
Christine carrying a tray in the cafeteria
As Alan walked into the school cafeteria, he saw Christine standing in the food line just a short distance away, already holding an empty tray.
She waved him over. Once he reached her, she said, "Hey, come join me."
He answered with unusual embarrassment, "Um, I can't. That wouldn't be right. You know, cutting in line."
She thought that a bit strange, since there were only two people behind her, who did not seem to mind. But she said, "Fine. Whatever." She took him to the back of the line. "There, is that better?"
He followed her, but looked around nervously. "Um... yeah. Cool. So, uh... what's up?"
His actions made her increasingly suspicious. She felt offended, since it seemed obvious that he didn't want to be with her but couldn't find an excuse to get away. But then she happened to look down and noticed the very obvious bulge in his shorts, which he was clearly trying to hide from her gaze.
A-ha! she thought. He's not trying to avoid me; he's just embarrassed about his erection. "What's up," he asks. THAT! She couldn't help but giggle a little, her cheeks reddening slightly.
Curious, he asked, "What's funny?"
Thinking quickly, she thought of a good dumb-blonde joke she'd heard recently. She said, "Looking at you reminded me of a certain kind of joke you like to torture me with."
He smiled and said, "Hit me with it!"
"Okay, here goes: So this beautiful, buxom blonde walks into a small casino very late at night. There's nobody there except for some bored dealers. She walks up to one of the craps tables and bets ten thousand dollars on a single roll of the dice. But before she plays, she says, 'I hope you don't mind, but I feel much luckier when I'm completely nude.' Now, the dealer is a typically horny male, so he doesn't mind. Another horny male dealer also comes to the table to get a better look. Then, once she's taken off all her clothes, she rolls the dice and yells, 'Come on! Lady Luck be with me!' As soon as the dice come to a stop, she jumps up and down and squeals, 'YES! YES! WOO-HOO! I WON!'"
As Christine got to that part of the story, she squealed and jumped up and down like the blonde in the story.
Alan could hardly believe his eyes as Christine's hefty globes bounced enticingly in her shirt. His erection had no chance of going soft. He was so entranced that he failed to notice how she'd cleverly positioned herself so the other people in the cafeteria couldn't really see what she was doing.
Christine quickly hugged Alan, which she couldn't entirely hide from the view of others, before continuing her story. "She hugs the two dealers at the table, then she picks up the dice, her winnings, and her clothes. The dealers stare at her longingly until she's fully dressed and has walked out of the casino. Finally, one of the dealers asks, 'By the way, what did she roll?' The other one answers, 'I don't know... I thought you were watching.'"
Alan thought that one through for a moment before starting to laugh. He commented, "Hey, a smart 'dumb blonde' joke, and about a smart 'dumb blonde' no less. Clever!"
Christine smiled triumphantly until he asked, "Incidentally, who was the brunette who told you that one?"
That triggered a peeved stare. "Ha-ha."
By this time, they were at the front of the line, so their conversation paused while they both filled their trays with pizza slices, salad and bottles of mineral water. Christine was more than a little surprised at her own behavior. She'd never told a sexual joke before. Even though that hadn't been her original intent this time, that's how it had come out. She didn't quite understand how that had happened.
As they went to sit down, Christine suggested, "Hey, instead of sitting in here, it's such a nice day, let's go outside."
They headed outside, but as they left the cafeteria Kim came up and gave Alan a big hug. Then she stepped back and suggested, "Hey, guy. What's up? You two want to join with me at my table? It's kind of tight over there, but we could squeeze you in." Kim hadn't really meant to deliver such a blunt innuendo, but the way she said it was filled with real sexual promise.
Alan glanced quickly at Christine, hoping that she hadn't noticed, but of course she had. He tried to act oblivious. "Uh, thanks, but I just promised Christine that we'd sit outside. She's keen on sitting in the sun, and I can't leave her alone."
"No, I suppose you can't," Kim replied. Again her words seemed to have two meanings, except that it was she who was chagrined this time. Then she added in a brighter voice, "It looks like you two have things to talk about, so I won't try to invite myself along." She looked at Alan. "But I'll see you later, right?"
"Yeah, sure. See you around."
Kim headed back to her inside table, while Alan and Christine ended up sitting on the grass, away from everyone else.
But Alan quickly rued this choice, because between Christine's gorgeous looks and her surprisingly sexual joke, his dick still had no chance of going flaccid. Furthermore, sitting cross-legged as he was, even the tray resting on his lap didn't completely conceal his boner.
Christine smirked. She was getting such a kick out of seeing how aroused she made him that she'd deliberately chosen where they would sit just so he wouldn't have any way to cover up. But no sooner had he planted his ass on the grass than she asked, "So what was that all about?"
He played dumb. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. Kim seemed awfully friendly to you. Until just now I didn't even think you knew her."
"Well, until recently I didn't. I mean, I knew who she was, but we weren't on speaking terms. And now we are."
Christine raised a curious eyebrow. "That's it? End of story?"
"End of story."
Christine leaning forward toward the viewer, plump hooters dangling with nipples outlined by her shirt
"Boy, you must really take me for a dumb blonde." She leaned forward as if to kiss him. With her face close to his, she said in a breathy, exaggeratedly sexy voice, "Alan baby, do you want to join with me? It's kind of tight, but I could squeeze you in!"
Thanks to the way she was leaning forward already, her massive breasts were swelling and swaying just before his eyes. But now she squeezed her upper arms against them, pushing them together, creating a deep line of cleavage that could be seen even through her shirt. "Would you like that? Would you like me to... squeeze... you... in?"
Alan's mouth hung open as he stared blatantly at Christine's swaying rack. He'd forgotten to breathe while his heart pounded wildly. She sure seemed to be inviting him to stick his boner in her cleavage.
Then Christine sat back and laughed, breaking the sexual tension that she had created. "Give me a break! Could she have been any more obvious?"
Alan laughed too, but he was floored by Christine's behavior. Geez! Forget Kim; could Christine have been any more obvious?! Damn, she's too sexy to be believed! Thank God we're sitting alone out here or the whole school would be talking. If people saw that...! As it is, I'll bet some people saw the way she hugged me earlier, and there's gonna be gossip about that. She's not exactly the hugging type.
Christine was also marveling at her own behavior. Phew! I guess I overdid it a bit there. It's weird. I feel unusually aroused right now. It's like I'm just acting before thinking. What's with me? Could it be THAT?
When she thought 'THAT', she looked again at Alan's erection. If anything, it was even more on display than before, straining against his shorts so mightily that the entire shape of his cockhead could easily be seen. No way! I'm not gonna let that faze me. Heck, he's like that around me more often than not, so what's the big deal now? Although... I must admit that it is flattering to know that he's still that attracted to me. In fact, looking at things, he's very, VERY attracted to me at the moment!
Christine realized that she'd been staring, so she tore her eyes away. Luckily, Alan hadn't noticed, because he was ogling her body at the same time. Now that the sexual tension was rising again, she attempted to ease it by laughing some more. Then she asked, "I take it there's something going on between you two?"
He managed to look up at her face while replying, "Sorry, I don't kiss and tell."
"A-ha! So there IS kissing involved!"
He stammered, "I never said that! It's just an expression. It doesn't literally mean there has to be kissing."
"No, but there almost always is."
Frustrated, he asked, "What's it to you? So what if we are? Why would you care?"
She became sad, ruing again how she'd turned him down when he'd asked her out.
Realizing he'd said the wrong thing, he quickly added, "Sorry. Of course you're my friend and you should care. It's just that... well, it's kind of a touchy subject for me right now. Can we please talk about something else?"
"Sure." She realized that she'd been pushing too hard, so it was prudent to change the topic. She started discussing the homework assignments from some of their shared classes.
As Alan listened to her, he belatedly realized just how obvious his bulge had become. He lifted his plate from his tray and positioned it strategically over his crotch. Oh, man! I can't believe I'm having to do this, but Christine is way too hot! And what's with the way she's been behaving today? That dumb-blonde joke was too sexy to be real, especially coming from her! All that talk about getting completely naked and then jumping up and down. Shit! Is she trying to give me a heart attack?! And then her va-va-voom impression of Kim, except that her body is a zillion times curvier than Kim's. Jesus H. Christ! What a day!
I wish I could brag to Sean or Peter or somebody, but no way in Hell am I gonna tell a soul. Somehow it'll get back to her and then she won't feel so uninhibited around me.
Alan focused on the rather boring homework talk, which finally allowed his penis to deflate. The rest of their lunch passed without incident.
Christine had actually surprised herself with her uncharacteristic behavior, so she was careful to keep things cool and collected for the rest of their time together.
After he left, she thought, What's with me today? I never act like that. I was downright... flirty! I guess I'm feeling emboldened by our practice date. I know he must have things going on with Kim and probably others, and the practice dates are supposed to just be practice, but if I were to really get my act together and make a serious play for him, could he really resist me? I know he really likes me as a person, and my body... well, everyone says I'm one of the most beautiful girls in school. I don't mean to sound full of myself, but if he had to choose between me or Kim, he'd drop Kim like a hot potato. Right?
So it's down to me. His ease with girls is growing daily; I can tell. I need to do MORE flirting like that, before time runs out! Kim is one thing, but if he hooks up with someone like Amy I could be in real trouble! She's tough competition in the looks department, and they're already super close to each other.
That is... if I want to go after him for real. Do I?
Once his fifth-period calculus class began, Alan started focusing on his promising future. As he daydreamed in class, he thought, I have to get my mind off visions of Christine bouncing around in the nude. I've got plenty of other really great things going on that are a lot more than just wishful fantasies. Tomorrow, not only am I going to have sex for the first time, and with my sister no less, but I'm also guessing something kinky will happen while doing the painting during lunch. On top of that, I've got a special meeting with Ms. Rhymer right after school today. And then there's my appointment with Akami at five on Friday afternoon! Plus, who knows what could happen with Aunt Suzy, or even with Mom? Sweetness. Could life get any better?
— — —
Cheerleading practice later that day went as usual for Katherine and Kim. Heather kept her promise to Kim to wait until Thursday, so she played no special tricks on either of them.
Both girls were still very much in danger of discovery by the other cheerleaders. They couldn't help but look at each other's paint jobs much more than they should have. They tried not to bend over around others; however sometimes they got too excited. Doing cheerleading routines while "commando" was a huge turn-on, and the sight of beautiful cheerleaders bending and stretching all around them only fueled their lust. (Kim already considered herself a lesbian and Katherine was rapidly discovering bisexual desires, especially towards Amy.) Both of them purposely flashed each other when they guessed they could get away with it. It became a secret and very dangerous game, given that Heather was there. But again their luck held.
Kim and Katherine both assumed that the next cheerleader practice would become increasingly sexual, since on Thursday Heather could finally do whatever she wanted with Katherine.
Wednesday was also the day Susan and Suzanne held the first of what they hoped would be a regular weekly card game with Brenda. The two best friends liked playing cards, but usually only with each other, because it was more of an excuse for them to talk and gossip.
But Suzanne wanted to have the buxom divorcée Brenda around the house more, for Alan's sake, and she also thought it would be good to have more formal card games. So, in a series of phone calls since Susan and Suzanne had seen Brenda at the party on Saturday, they made plans with her for the three of them to get together every Wednesday and play bridge, poker, hearts, and the like.
Susan wasn't thrilled by this, but she figured that playing cards with a foursome was better than with a twosome, and she hoped to make a new friend with Brenda. Katherine potentially rounded out the group. Susan and Suzanne figured that if she wasn't available, Amy could also be the fourth.
Suzanne privately commented to Susan, "No matter which one is the fourth, our card game will represent the greatest collection of boobs since Hugh Hefner opened the Playboy Mansion." She hadn't exaggerated much with that boast.
Susan wasn't pleased by that, because she was envious of Brenda's proportionately-larger bust. "Why do you have to bring that up?"
Suzanne responded, "May I remind you, visual stimulation is a crucial part of Sweetie's treatment and recovery. We could use women like Brenda."
Grumbling, Susan crossed her arms under her spectacular rack. She felt very possessive of her son. "Don't you think your boobs are nice enough for him? Or mine, for that matter?" Despite asking about Suzanne's first, she was mostly interested in Alan's feelings about her own.
"Sure," Suzanne replied. "Just the other day, he told me that he loves nothing better than fondling your tits while he hugs your naked body."
"Really?" Susan asked hopefully. But then she remembered propriety, and said, "Um, not that he's allowed to do that. But I guess it's happened once or twice, kind of by accident." She looked away in embarrassment.
Suzanne privately smirked at Susan's attempt to hide her true feelings, even from herself. "Would I lie to you? Why, he's told me that, over the years, he's ejaculated literally GALLONS of cum masturbating to thoughts about your fantastic body, and especially your rack." Alan hadn't actually told Suzanne that, and she wasn't sure if it was true, although she guessed that it was. But she felt telling it to Susan would help weaken her resolve.
Susan brightened upon hearing that, but then she turned sad. "Oh. That's such a shame. I mean... All that seed spilled on the ground. So much sin!"
Suzanne rolled her eyes at Susan's obsession about the "sin of Onan," but Susan was looking forlornly in another direction and didn't notice. "True, but that's pretty much over with now. I mean, what if your Tiger is jacking off in his room, and you happen to hear him? Do you just walk on by and let him spill his seed 'upon the ground,' or do you rush into his room, rip your top off, and let him shoot his creamy load all over your face and chest?"
Susan looked blindsided, almost like her son had started firing his cum at her that very moment. "Um... I mean... I don't know! I guess it would depend... For instance, what about Ron?"
Suzanne shook her head derisively, making sure that Susan saw it. "Ron will be back overseas again soon. And then what? I guess you have to ask yourself what's more important: your sense of what's 'proper' or letting your son continue to live in sin with his Onanistic crimes?" She was secretly amused at that kind of over the top language, but she knew Susan would take it to heart.
Susan pondered that for some long moments. She didn't really wish to answer that conundrum, so she asked, "What about Brenda? How does she fit into this?"
Suzanne replied, "Good question. Let's not underestimate how difficult it is for him to cum six times a day. Six times! Why, it's nearly asking the impossible. He needs ALL the inspiration he can get. I doubt he'll get intimate with Brenda in any way. After all, he's practically half her age, she's a multi-millionaire, and he may not seem like such a catch if you haven't known and loved him for years and years like you and I have. Brenda's probably running around with movie stars."
Susan nodded. She was very glad to hear that.
"But let's not overlook any chance to help him with visual stimulation. If he sees Brenda with her oversized breasts while she's wearing some kind of sexy outfit, you know what he's going to do? His balls will fill with sperm, and he'll get a nice stiffy! Then, when Brenda goes home, he'll rush upstairs to take care of that boner. But chances are he's gonna need help! Brenda may provide the initial inspiration, but you'll be the one bobbing your head on his sweet meat later that night. He'll be shooting his cum down YOUR throat, not hers!"
Susan clutched her arms to her chest for some reason. "Oh... my! Well, if you put it that way... Not that I'm allowed to suck on his, er, member... But... sometimes, emergencies do arise, don't they?"
Suzanne grinned. "That they do. Creamy, spermy emergencies."
Susan smiled from ear to ear as she thought about that. She decided that having Brenda "inspire" Alan wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Actually, Suzanne wasn't entirely sure what would happen with Brenda. She'd gotten the feeling from talking to Brenda that Brenda was very sexually unsatisfied. If Suzanne's grand plan came to fruition, then all kinds of exciting sexual things would be happening at the Plummer house on a daily basis. If that in fact happened, perhaps Brenda would get involved. And if she did, and even though Brenda was very clear that she was strictly heterosexual, there was at least a chance Suzanne could get sexually intimate with Brenda too.
Brenda came over right on time, shortly after lunch.
Brenda wore formal clothes that were unusually conservative for her. Her long-sleeved blouse was buttoned up her neck and held there by a large bow. This was because she had gotten to know Susan a little at various parties of mutual friends, and she had gotten the impression that Susan was an exceptionally prudish and religiously conservative woman, and dressed as such. So she had done the same to fit in.
But to her surprise, both Susan and Suzanne were dressed in casual yet stylish and slightly sexy clothes. For instance, their tops revealed a "tasteful" amount of cleavage.
Seeing Brenda's discomfort and confusion, Suzanne said reassuringly, "Next time, don't feel like you have to dress up like you're going to some kind of Bible class. I know you were trying to conform to what you figured Susan would think is respectable. But, luckily, and with my help, Susan has been loosening up lately."
Brenda looked to Susan, and guardedly asked, "Oh?"
Susan nodded. "It's true. Mind you, I still firmly believe in following the Lord's ways in all we do. But Suzanne has convinced me that a lot of people have tried to put words into the Bible that aren't actually there. For instance, nowhere does it state that I have to wear, well, the kind of thing you're wearing. In fact, in Biblical Times, the women probably wore shepherd's robes and things of that nature. Heck, they probably bathed naked in the river if they got a chance."
Suzanne nodded approvingly at her best friend. "Good point. In fact, if I can quote from the Book of Job, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.' In other words, wear what you want, or nothing at all. Clothes don't matter. What matters is in your heart." She had memorized certain Biblical passages like this to support her attempts to shift Susan's attitude. They were a big help.
Brenda relaxed a little bit. "Well, I certainly can appreciate that sentiment."
Suzanne said, "It's not easy for Susan to change her old habits, but I'm proud of how she's trying. Brenda, I'm already hoping and assuming we'll want to make a weekly tradition out of our card game. So I hope you can be an influence on her and help her loosen up."
Brenda smiled. "Sure. I'd be glad to."
Later on, after they were more comfortable with each other, Suzanne got Brenda to essentially have a contest next time to see who could wear the most "daring" outfit. Supposedly that was to help Susan change her ways, but in fact Suzanne had more ambitious long-term strategies at work. She knew Brenda's outfit wouldn't be that daring next week, since Brenda was still feeling her way in this new social setting, but at least it would be very different from what she wore this time.
After some more small talk, they began the card game. Since they didn't have a fourth with Katherine and Amy still in school, they played poker against each other.
As they played, the obvious fact that all three of them were so well-endowed came up, and they spent a lot of time talking about the pluses and minuses of having extremely large boobs.
The issue was especially pertinent to Brenda. Even though Brenda was a good six inches shorter than the nearly six-foot-tall Susan and Suzanne, her boobs were bigger than either of theirs - both relatively for her height and absolutely by inches on the tape measure. Brenda's tits were so big that they dominated her life in many ways. For instance, she'd never had to hold a job, as she'd been able to coast through life getting everything she wanted from men who were enamored with her body. With her recent divorce settlement, she in fact was now a multimillionaire, trying to figure out what she would do with her life once the divorce went through.
Brenda loved to talk to Susan and Suzanne about boobs and related issues, because she'd never before had friends stacked enough to be able to relate to her own situation in any meaningful way.
Brenda's tits were a great boon for her, but also sometimes a great curse. For instance, she could never really trust any relationships with men, even platonic ones. Were they just interested in her cute, busty look and not her personality? She could never really know. And that was not even counting her highly attractive financial situation. She had virtually no women friends at all due to jealousy and envy.
Her huge boobs also caused her physical problems: she couldn't move rapidly without a full-coverage bra, and her back sometimes hurt. She was forced to exercise regularly because, if she didn't, her back pain would be much more frequent and severe.
She was amazed at how much Suzanne and Susan avoided some of her relationship problems, though admittedly it was mostly because they stuck together for friendship and didn't get out much. Brenda loved this new card game tradition, because it gave her a rare opportunity to just be "one of the girls" and not worry about her overwhelming appearance. The others seemed not to be intimidated by or jealous of her voluptuous figure, which was almost unprecedented for her.
Although Brenda didn't realize it herself, the truth was that she was desperately lonely. Most of her friends had been her husband's friends, or wives of her husband's friends, so in divorcing him she was also pretty much divorcing them. In fact, she was nearly completely bereft of real friends at the moment, aside from her long-time head maid, Anika, and her only son, Adrian. So finding other nice women so similar to her and willing to accept her in their circle without any pretenses (as far as she knew), was a real godsend.
Gloria Rhymer felt like crying with frustration. The school day had just ended, and she was waiting for Alan to show up for their meeting. She didn't even know what she wanted to say to him exactly, although she'd contemplated various options. Mostly, she just wanted to see him again. What's wrong with me?! It's like I'm falling in love and in lust with one of my students! How can this be happening? WHY is it happening?! I've been friends with him for a long time now; he's much more than just another student to me. So why, all of a sudden, are my feelings changing so dramatically?!
Is it just this medical treatment issue of his? That is encouraging a major fantasy: that I could assist him and help out. Helping him would even provide me with a semi-legitimate excuse to get frisky with him. But really, there can be no excuse. I'm his teacher! I can't touch him in an intimate way, no matter what! Not even if our lives depend on it!
But it's more than just his apparent bizarre need to cum a lot, if that even is a real thing. It's like he's a new man. He's gone from boy to man in just a couple of weeks. He's no longer just a cute kid. He's SEXY! But I have to remember Garth. I'm taken. Wait, what am I thinking?! That's irrelevant because I'm his teacher!
She still didn't know what she'd say to him when he walked into her room after knocking a few minutes later. She was feeling both very nervous and very horny, and she hoped it didn't show.
After some small talk, she gathered her courage, and said, "So. You're probably wondering why I've asked to see you again."
He nodded.
"I remember what you told me on Monday, and earlier today you basically repeated yourself. Having to reach climax so many times a day every single day has to be very difficult. I get that. And you've emphasized that you need to space those out through the day, and having to go the entire school day without relief makes things extra difficult on you. Correct?"
He nodded again. His heart was starting to beat fast and his penis had gone erect and was lewdly tenting his shorts, because it sounded like his teacher might offer to help him out.
However, she continued, "You realize, of course, that as one of your teachers, I could never, ever directly help you out with that. That would be beyond inappropriate. Inconceivable! I'm glad you never asked me to do that, because even asking could throw our friendship into disarray."
He gulped and nodded yet again. He was crushed. All of his hopes were dashed. He tried hard not to let his disappointment show on his face, but he was sure that he failed with that. Dammit! That SUCKS! But then again, what was I thinking to even have a wild hope? She is my teacher. She'd be risking her job. And she has a serious boyfriend. I must be crazy. Not even my recent sexual luck is THAT good!
Indeed, she noticed his obvious disappointment, but she acted like she didn't. She went on, "That said, I have an idea, a kind of wild and crazy idea, that just may help you out with your no-orgasms-at-school problem, even though I won't be involved. But before I get to that, I need more information. You keep alluding to the help that Mrs. Pestridge and others are giving you. What exactly is the nature of that help?"
He stammered, "Uh, you want me to tell you, um, what they do to me?!"
"Yes. Look, I understand that's not an appropriate question for me to ask. I could get in trouble just for asking it. But I'm sticking my neck out for you not as your teacher, but as a concerned friend. Remember, school is over. I've taken my teacher hat off again, and this is just me, Glory, your friend. You'll see why I'm asking this when I get to my proposal."
He had no clue what her proposal was, but he began to think that not all hope was lost when it came to sexual success with her. Despite her formal wear, he could see her erect nipples pushing through her clothes. And, upon closer inspection, her face was slightly flushed and she was breathing heavily. Plus, he figured her interest in how the others were helping him was more than purely informational in nature.
But still, he was confused. He was so horny just from the slightest possibility Ms. Rhymer might be sexually interested in him that he was having trouble thinking straight. He asked, "You want me to, uh, describe just what they do to me, to help me... climax?!"
"Exactly. Since the only name you mentioned is Suzanne Pestridge, why don't you give an example of what she does to help you? Does she help you directly, or just inspire you with what she wears or doesn't wear, or what?"
He thought, Are you kidding me?! That is so not an appropriate thing for her to ask! Especially as a teacher in her classroom! But hey, if she's horny and curious, how can I not tell her?! But then again, I'm not allowed to kiss and tell. That's uncool. He said, "Uh, ah... I can't... I can't do that. You know, when she helps me, it's assumed that's totally private."
Ms. Rhymer seemed undeterred. "I understand. But it doesn't have to be her. Somebody like her will do. You said you're getting help from more than one woman. So don't name names."
He nodded. "Okay." However, he could tell that she had a particular interest in Suzanne. Not only could she put an actual face to his description, but Suzanne was an extraordinarily beautiful and sexy woman by any measure. The thought of Suzanne helping him out was at least twice as arousing as any generic woman.
So he decided to go for broke and give her a detailed description of being helped, with Suzanne very specifically on his mind, even if he didn't mention her by name. His heart was racing fast and his own breathing was heavy as he started, "Ah, well, you see... Just getting aroused is the first thing. It's not easy for a guy, you know, to be in a ready state when the time is right. Luckily, she spends a lot of time at our house. This unnamed woman, I mean."
Ms. Rhymer nodded slowly, trying to hide her eagerness. Her heart skipped a beat, because she knew that Suzanne Pestridge spent a lot of time at the Plummer house, since her own house was next door and she was best friends with Alan's mother Susan. So even though Alan said "unnamed woman," Ms. Rhymer was already vividly picturing Suzanne.
He continued, "So... it's like how I said, that I need to space my orgasms out. So every few hours, it kind of gets to be time, if you know what I mean. And if I'm not in a ready state, then she, well, she helps me get ready, just by the way she looks. Luckily, she's just, well... really hot! That's not just my opinion, that's a truth nobody can deny. She is, as you know, very voluptuous, very curvy, and she's like an expert on wearing sexy clothes and acting and moving in a sultry manner."
He went on, "So, usually, she doesn't have to do anything special at all. Just the fact that she's there will get me going, if you know what I mean. But if I'm kind of worn out... dang! She could peel all the paint off a billboard, if you know what I mean."
Ms. Rhymer chuckled. "No, I don't. But I kind of do. Continue."
They both laughed at that, which helped ease the tension. He didn't really know what he meant either, but it seemed to fit somehow. "Anyway, usually, she starts clothed and ends up naked. And by then, my God, I'm so aroused that it's not even funny! Every single time!"
She breathlessly asked, "Then what? Do you ever masturbate at that point? Or does she help you directly?"
"Oh, directly! Every single time!"
"What, what does she do?!"
He was getting extremely worked up, and his boner was straining with urgent need against his shorts. It wasn't what he was saying, in and of itself, but the fact that he was saying it to Gloria Rhymer, of all people. That was so incredible that he barely believed it was happening, even as it was undeniably happening. "She does... Oh God! She does everything! So good! Her hands. She starts with her hands. She takes my, uh, you know... my dick..."
She nodded, indicating it was okay if he said that.
"She takes my dick, and, well, she starts to stroke it. Usually with both hands at once! She'll get a good rhythm going with one hand, and rub my most sensitive spot with the other. But that's just for starters. She's really into, ah, oral help, and of course I totally love that. She'll brush her curly reddish hair out of the way, lean in, and, well... she just kind of... takes it in her mouth!"
Ms. Rhymer was so horny at this point that she was gasping for air. She'd nearly gasped at his mention of "curly reddish hair," because it confirmed for her that he was talking about no one but Suzanne Pestridge. She'd talked to Suzanne at various school functions over the past couple of years, such as parent-teacher night, and she believed that Suzanne was the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen in person, without a doubt. To imagine such a woman engulfing Alan's stiff hard-on was almost too hot for her to handle.
Alan continued between heavy pants, "She... she... she's kind of a genius when it comes to oral sex. So good! She's got an extra long tongue that's unbelievable, but even without that, it's incredible what she can do with her mouth! She keeps me going for ages, taking me right to the brink and back, over and over again! And she never stops using her hands either. And her breasts! Oh my God! I hope I'm not getting too graphic, but sometimes she takes me between her big breasts, and kind of, uh, stimulates me there. And she'll reach down with her tongue and lick me at the same time!"
He had to stop for a bit to recover his breath. He was getting as worked up describing a sex session with Suzanne to his teacher as if Suzanne was actually doing all that to him.
Ms. Rhymer was gasping for air too. She said, "No, you're not too graphic. Please continue." But she knew that was untrue. Everything said and done in this meeting could get her in deep trouble, and she knew it. But she told herself that as long as she didn't touch him in an intimate way, it wasn't so bad.
He could see the lusty look on her face. There might have been a doubt earlier, but not anymore. Dang! It's like... Ms. Rhymer is in heat! She's totally horny! This is so unbelievable! My story is really getting to her. But how far can I push my luck?!
He tried to go on. "Uh, she, she... She just... UH!" He exhaled heavily several times, and wiped the sweat that had somehow started trickling down his forehead.
She asked with concern, "What's wrong?!"
He said honestly, "Sorry, just gotta... catch my breath still..."
She was very frustrated, because she couldn't wait to hear what else Suzanne did to him, now that she had his hard-on in her mouth. She'd had the "wild and crazy" plan that she'd alluded to in mind, but she didn't know if she could actually go through with it. But she was so hot and bothered, and with Alan being temporarily unable to speak, she decided to go for it.
She was having some trouble talking too, due to her own panting. But she managed to say, "While you're waiting, I mentioned a plan I was thinking about earlier. I'm going to tell it to you right now, while I'm still feeling brave about it. But what I'm about to propose, it's completely illegal! You and I could get in deep, deep trouble if anyone even heard a rumor about it! Even though I won't be touching you, it's not something a teacher can ever do with a student. So you can't tell anyone anything, is that clear?"
He nodded eagerly.
"The only reason I'm doing this is because you have this serious problem. Although, it sounds like you're being VERY well taken care of at home. So do you even need any more help?"
"Definitely! It's true I'm getting help at home, but that's at home. Here at school, it's like my body needs to cum, and it can't! It's like, it's like... it's like women who are breast-feeding. They need to release the milk every few hours, and if they don't, it hurts! Maybe that sounds ridiculous, but that's really how I feel!" Actually, his urge to cum at school wasn't nearly that bad, but he was hyping things up in hopes that she'd go through with her plan. He didn't know what it was, but he already knew it had to be something good.
His comments were the final push for her to decide to explain. She nodded, gravely. "Indeed. That's why I'm willing to risk even losing my job to help you out. But you must promise not to say a word to anyone about this! Is that clear, young man?" She wagged a finger at him.
"Crystal clear! You know me. A lot of guys my age are reckless and stupid, but I'm not like that. I would never say a WORD to anyone, if there was even a chance it could get you in trouble!"
She found herself staring at the obscene bulge in his shorts, and not for the first time. But she managed to pull her gaze away and nod at him. "Right. So, here's what I'm thinking. Like I said, I can't help you directly with your problem. No way! But it sounds like you have a pretty severe need to cum around lunchtime. So, what if you were to use my classroom to masturbate in?" She bit her lip nervously, wondering if she'd just made a huge mistake.
"Are you serious?!" He couldn't believe his good fortune. If he couldn't get sexually intimate with his gorgeous teacher, this was the next best thing. And he hoped it was the start of a slippery slope that could lead to her getting more involved.
She nodded, looking shy and uncertain. Her face, already flushed red from arousal, turned redder still.
He exclaimed boisterously, "COOL! Awesome! That's so great! THANK YOU! I'm all over that!" Even as he said that, he suddenly stood up and unzipped his shorts. In a flash, he had his erection in his hand.
She stared at his crotch in sheer disbelief. Her jaw hung open and her eyes bugged out. "YOUNG MAN! Just what do you think you're doing?!"
"Um... didn't you just say I could masturbate here?"
"Yes, but I didn't mean NOW! I meant at lunch, when I'm not around! I thought I'd go off to eat and leave you alone in my room for a while so you could take care of your business. Not this!"
"Oh. Sorry. Geez." He covered his cock and balls with both hands. But he was still so very aroused that he was in no danger of going flaccid, at least not yet. "Should I... should I... stop?!"
She closed her eyes and covered them with a hand, in exasperation. "Of course you should stop! This kind of behavior is completely inappropriate! I'm your teacher!"
"Oh. Shoot! I'm so sorry! I... I... I misunderstood." Now, his arousal level was starting to crash.
She sighed very heavily. She knew she needed to get him to stop or she would be getting into very dangerous waters, if she wasn't half-drowning already. But she was so worked up that she didn't want him to stop. "You really do have a problem with having to orgasm so much, don't you? This is a real medical thing and not just some bullshit excuse, isn't it?"
His hopes started to rebound. "I swear, it's totally for real! Can't you see the change in me lately? I feel like I'm totally transformed. Can't you see how I can't stop smiling? There's no way to fake that."
She grumbled, "If I were you, I wouldn't stop smiling either, if Mrs. Pestridge is helping you like you say she is. But, uh... I'll tell you what. I don't want to be...I don't want to stop you when you're in this position. What if I... I'll just go and stand out of sight, and then you can finish what you started? Is that... Can you, can you finish quickly?"
He nodded with near frantic eagerness. "Oh man! Definitely! Thank you SO MUCH! You won't even notice I'm here!" Feeling emboldened, he let his shorts sag down his thighs, so his balls were fully exposed too. He was glad that he wasn't wearing underwear.
She chuckled wryly. "Somehow, I very much doubt that! But... do what you've gotta do!" She took her hand from her face, opened her eyes, and stood up.
However, before she moved out of sight, she couldn't resist taking a look at his erection. She hadn't gotten a good look at first, because she was so shocked that he'd exposed himself that she wasn't paying attention to details. But now he was looking away in embarrassment and his hands weren't actually covering that much, since one hand was cupping his balls, so she dared to stare.
Holy FUCK! My young man is seriously well-hung! I always knew he was endowed since he's erect around me so much, but I wasn't expecting THAT! True, he's not hung like a porn star, but that'll do most nicely, thank you very much! Garth is hardly small, but Alan puts him to shame! WOW!
Although it was true that Alan's eight-inch length and his extra thickness was much more than most, her impression was exaggerated by the taboo danger of the situation. In her mind, it looked even bigger than it actually was.
She finally realized she couldn't stare forever, and she staggered off to the side. She muttered, "Okay. I'm... I'm good. You can, uh, continue." She sounded relatively calm, except for her heavy panting, but she was so worked up that she actually clutched at her chest. She didn't move all the way out of sight at all, because she had to sit on the edge of her desk. She literally felt weak in the knees.
Alan's eyes were shut tight. He could sense the direction from where she was speaking, and he made a point of turning his head the other way, for good measure. He strongly suspected that his stunning teacher was a highly sexual woman, as well as an extremely curious one, and now that she was this aroused, she wouldn't be able to resist peeking. So he was making it easy for her to do that without the fear of getting caught.
He said, "Right. Continue. Let's see, where was I? Oh yeah. I was telling you about how Suz- er, I mean the unnamed woman, what she does to me with her mouth. Like I said, she's really great at that! She knows, like, a million different moves. She gets bobbing on me, with great suction, and then her tongue gets busy too. The combination is absolutely insane! And she uses her hands on my shaft and balls at the same time! It's like an all-out sex attack!"
Ms. Rhymer was flabbergasted. When she'd told him to continue, she meant to continue masturbating, not tell his story. But she could see that he was doing both. He boldly slid his fingers up and down his shaft while he described what Suzanne did to him.
She sat on the desk at an angle where she could easily see everything he was doing to his erection. Even his balls were in view, due to the way he spread his legs wide. She simply couldn't believe what was happening. When she'd come up with her plan to help him, she really imagined she would be out of the room while he masturbated. But events had spun out of control and she felt helpless to stop them.
In truth, she didn't really want to stop them. Simply watching Alan masturbate was more arousing than anything she could ever remember doing with her boyfriend Garth. Then, with his description of what Suzanne did to him on top of it, she was so hot that she couldn't believe it. The only trouble was, she felt like she couldn't do anything about it. She wanted to rip her clothes off to relieve herself of the suffering heat, but she couldn't. She wanted to touch her private places even more, but she couldn't do that either.
She was trying to maintain that she was simply helping a friend with his "medical" treatment. She felt that as long as she didn't touch him or do anything overtly sexual herself, she wasn't really violating her teacher ethics. She knew, without a doubt, that she would lose her job if an authority were to walk in on her and Alan like this, but she felt that at least she was keeping to the spirit of just being a helpful friend and not a teacher having an affair with a student.
Since Alan was keeping his eyes closed and his head turned, she forgot about getting up to move all the way out of sight. She squirmed erotically as she tried with all her might to keep her lust contained. She knew that her panties were soaked and her juices were leaking down her inner thighs, but that couldn't be helped. What she had to fight was the urge to touch herself down there and have an orgasm of her own. It felt like a losing battle, but she was fighting with all her might.
Meanwhile, Alan continued, "I understand that a lot of women, maybe most women, they're not into blowjobs. But Suz- this woman, she's just the opposite. It's like she can't get enough!" (He was being deliberately careless in letting Suzanne's name slip.) "Not only does she always help me with that, gladly, but she does it for so long! Her goal isn't to make me cum, it's to make sure I DON'T cum, so the pleasure can go on forever! I swear... it's just... so great! It's not my stamina; it's all her talent!"
As he spoke, he continued to jack off. He was mindful to do it in a way that put on a good show for his teacher. He let his erection poke out in her general direction, and only held it in place with a few strategically located fingers, so she could see his shaft from tip to base, except for where he was rubbing himself.
Ms. Rhymer found his description of Suzanne's oral talents exciting, but hearing that also made her jealous. Without thinking, she blurted out, "She's not so great! I can do all that, and more! Can she deep throat you too?"
He replied, also unthinkingly, "Actually, she can! She's the only one of my helpers who can do that."
The sexy teacher groaned with lust and frustration. Dammit! Fucking Suzanne Pestridge! Fucking goddess. She thinks she's so great! And she is, I'm sure. But I'm even better! I wish I could show him! As good as she is, I could blow her out of the water! My deep throating skills are second to none!
And what's with all these other helpers?! FUCK! What the fuck has happened to my sweet Alan?! It's like he's turned into some kind of sex stud overnight! Just look at him, stroking that massive cock! Is that what it is? Is that why all these women are helping him so much, because they found out he's packing all that heat?!
I'm sure his medical whatever is the best thing that's ever happened to him, and maybe to them too. If you ask me, it sounds like bullshit that any medical problem can be solved with lots of orgasms. But so what? Clearly, he IS cumming like six guys combined every single day, and that's really HOT! God, just look at that COCK! I want it!
He was already dangerously close to cumming. The shock and strangeness of the situation had put him off for a while, but now he was getting into a groove. He briefly peeked with his eyes mostly closed, and saw that his teacher was in clear view and staring right at his cock, and that sent his already sky-high arousal levels way up into the stratosphere.
In fact, he was so turned on that he knew he wouldn't be able to continue his story for much longer. He decided to try to bring it to an end before he climaxed. "So, uh, anyway... she... she... it's like she's, she's... a succubus! Like a, like a sex demon! She just oozes pure sex! Pure lust! She can't get enough! She totally loves sucking my cock, and we do it every day, more than once!"
He was so carried away that he was no longer editing himself from saying words like cock. Ms. Rhymer was too far gone to care.
He was having a hard time talking, but he gasped out, "To show what I mean, she's really into facials! She loves it when I cum on her face! She wants it! She begs for it, even! And her tits! She loves that too, when I squirt all over her big tits! She'll rub 'em together, smearing the cum all over, and crane down and lick it up off her skin! And, and... and down her throat! Sometimes I fuck her face and cum right down her throat! OH GOD! I'm gonna... gonna cum now!"
Indeed, just as he'd lost all control over editing the language and content of his story, he'd lost all control over his urge to cum. But, as he felt his balls tightening, he realized that, for once, he didn't have a beautiful women to cum on or in. To simply shoot his cum willy nilly all over the classroom seemed unthinkable, so he resorted to the only other option he could think of: he cupped his hand over the top of his cockhead and started shooting right into the palm of his hand.
Because he was in class with his teacher there, he was still trying to restrain himself somewhat, even now, with a great orgasm surging through him. It was far too late to stop himself from cumming, but he at least managed not to scream out loud. He made do with a series of loud gasps and grunts through clenched teeth.
Ms. Rhymer was even more restrained. It was a nearly Herculean effort, but her fear that Alan could open his eyes and look at her at any moment prevented her from touching herself. She wanted to orgasm more than ever in her life, but she felt that if she did, she would pass some point of no return. She still was trying to tell herself that she wasn't getting sexually involved with her student.
She was a ball of needy sexual energy. She stood up and clenched her entire body, including her fists and her teeth, as if she was bracing herself for a full-frontal assault. Somehow, that helped. Her pussy was gushing and throbbing inside her drenched panties, and her erect nipples ached with need, but she just clenched and gasped, flexing all her muscles, until she heard and saw that Alan's orgasm was coming to an end. Her own orgasmic need subsided, ever so slightly, but she still felt like she could explode into a cummy puddle with just a strategically placed puff of air.
A minute passed, and then another. Both teacher and student were slowly coming down from their erotic peaks.
As Alan returned to Earth, he realized he had an awkward problem: his penis had gone flaccid, but he was still standing near his teacher, with his shorts down his thighs and his hands soaked with cum. One hand was much wetter than the other, but both hands had been sloshing up and down his soaked erection. He felt he couldn't even open his eyes, because Ms. Rhymer was still standing where she wasn't supposed to be, within view of his crotch.
Finally, he said, "Um... Ms. Rhymer? I have kind of a problem. A kind of a... cleanliness problem."
She had continued to stare longingly at his crotch, long after he'd gone flaccid. But those words caused her to snap into action. "Oh! Right! Let me get you some handi-wipes." That had been embarrassing for her to say, especially since the reason she had handi-wipes on hand was because she'd been getting so wet while thinking about him in recent days.
Once she had several of the wipes in hand, she walked over to Alan and said, "Here."
He was forced to open his eyes so he could take the wipes from her. He smiled at her and tried to act normal, despite the obviously bizarre situation. "Thanks."
Her nostrils flared because of the smell of his cum. She could smell it from where she leaned against her desk once he began cumming copiously. But now that she was right next to him, the pungent smell was nearly overwhelming. She thought she was recovering, but it made her weak in the knees all over again. She quickly turned around and walked back to her desk, muttering, "Ah, I'll, uh, leave you to that."
He realized that things were getting very awkward, now that both of them were coming down from their sexual highs. So, as he used the wipes to clean his crotch, he said, "Ms. Rhymer, thank you SO MUCH for letting me do that. I really needed that release. You're not just a great teacher, you're a really great friend. And, I gotta say, definitely 'coolest teacher ever!'"
She turned back to him and grinned. But then she saw his shorts were still pulled down, so she quickly turned away again. "Yeah, well, add to that 'stupidest teacher ever.' This has got to be the most reckless, harebrained thing I've ever done!"
As he wiped his penis clean, he said, "I don't think so. Who's going to know? Just you and me. I sure as heck won't tell a soul, not even someone in the know, like a certain unnamed woman we shall not name." He grinned at that, but she still had her back turned. "Seriously, I know this is such a bizarre thing that it hardly even seems real, but this is like medicine for me. Just like with that breast-feeding example I gave. And it's doubly so because when I get home, sometimes the situation is not good."
He paused after that, causing the always curious teacher to ask, "What do you mean?"
"You've met my mother Susan. You know how she's super religious, super conservative about sexual stuff. When I get helped by, ah, certain unnamed women, it's kind of behind her back. And she's home a lot, since she doesn't have an office-type job. So, when I get home, usually she's there and this unnamed woman or my helpers aren't. Often, I can't even masturbate in private, for fear that she'll find out. So being able to do it here today is like a lifesaver."
Ms. Rhymer crossed her arms defiantly while continuing to face the other way. "Well, I'm glad that was good for something, at least. But don't expect to make a habit out of it! I'm going to have to think on this hard and long to decide if I really want to risk everything just so you can relieve yourself. By the way, are you clean yet?"
"Just a sec." He finished with the wipes and pulled his shorts back into place. "Okay, I'm good."
She turned around with trepidation, but breathed a sigh of relief when she saw he was presentable again.
He waved the soiled wipes in his hand. "What should I do with these?"
She sighed. "See? This is the kind of problem we have to face now. You can't just put them in my trash can, because they'll smell. Here." She walked to him with more wipes. "Wrap them in these, and then put them in the bathroom trash or some place like that."
She sniffed the air suspiciously. "But we've still got a smell problem. Help me open all the windows. We need to air this room out."
As they worked on the windows, she continued, "You know and I know that we're not sexually involved. I'm just giving you a chance to relieve yourself, since you have this extremely strange condition that kind of necessitates that. Other people wouldn't understand, AT ALL! Because I'm an adult, they would accuse me of molesting you or something. I'd lose my job for sure. So I'm going to have to do a big rethink here. Now that I think about it, I don't know what came over me, to even allow this much!"
He asked, "What if I were to masturbate at lunch, while you're not there? Then all the blame could fall on me, if someone did find out."
"Not necessarily. For instance, what about the smell? Young man, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it: you have a very pungent smell, a sweet smell. A classroom should never smell like that! And the lunch period isn't that long. I would have to be there to help clean up. I'm going to need to buy lots of air freshener, for starters!" She sighed.
Her air freshener comment made him hopeful that she'd allow this to happen some more. Still, now that his lusty mood was over, he felt worried for her. "But I can't let you take such a big risk for me."
She growled unhappily, "Let me be the judge of that. Don't expect anything tomorrow, young man. That's for sure. I'm going to have to think this through carefully, and prepare. Maybe we can reduce the danger, if we're clever. For instance, if you're facing away from the door, and I'm in another part of the room, and you're sitting with just your fly unzipped, you could make yourself presentable in a few seconds if someone burst through the door, couldn't you?"
"Sure I could," he said brightly. "And then nobody would be the wiser."
They continued to discuss the practicalities of such a situation while airing out the room.
Two things became clear to Alan as they talked, although neither of them were plainly stated. One, Ms. Rhymer already seemed resolved to let him masturbate in her classroom in the future, and was just thinking through the details. And two, she seemed determined to be in the room while he did it.
This gave him great hope that he might have a realistic shot at getting intimate with the teacher he'd lusted after and even loved for more than two years. He could scarcely believe it, but so many other incredible things had happened to him lately that he was starting to believe the unbelievable.
He knew that what had just happened went far beyond a teacher simply trying to help a student with a difficult medical situation. Her lust had been clearly written on her face, and he'd been unusually bold to set a new norm of masturbating while she was right there, and all the while saying arousing things to her. He was optimistic that they'd reached a pivotal point from which there was no way back to normal.
He left her classroom about ten minutes later, after helping her clean up far beyond what was called for due just to his cum. She wasn't consciously aware of it, but she delayed his leaving until it seemed their interaction was back on a normal, non-sexual level. But of course he was right and their relationship had changed permanently, no matter what happened in the future.
Once he was gone, she went to her seat behind her desk and held her head in her hand. She sighed with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Fuck! I think I just fucked up in a big way. Things were not supposed to go like that, at all! I just wanted to help him out, and now I end up lusting after him twice as much as before! Why does he have to be so well endowed and studly all of a sudden?! I don't think I'll ever be able to get the image of him stroking himself out of my head!
And where are we supposed to go from here?! Now that I've let him do this much once, I can't fairly prohibit him from doing it again. And I don't want to. In fact, I must admit that I can't wait to see him do that some more! But am I just setting myself up for torture? I am his teacher, period, end of story, so I can't touch him under any circumstance! God knows I wish that was me he was talking about, not Mrs. Pestridge! I wish I could show him my deep throating skills, and so much more! But that's simply impossible!
Although, if I'm in this much danger, why not take that next step? As long as I could get fired either way... NO! I can't think like that! Besides, it's not just the danger of getting caught. There are so many reasons why a teacher and a student should never get involved. Especially since I already have a serious boyfriend. This is madness!
It turned out the environment for the card game in the Plummer house didn't stay female only. After Susan, Suzanne, and Brenda had played poker for a couple of hours, Alan came home from school. He went straight to the kitchen to get himself a snack. From there, he could easily check out Brenda sitting at the dining room table, since the dining room was only separated from the kitchen by the kitchen counter. Her visual impact on Alan was just what Suzanne had expected. Her unbelievably large tits were something new to him, and he couldn't help but linger while trying to grasp how really big she was up top.
Brenda was doubly-cursed, or blessed, depending on one's perspective. Not only did she have gargantuan tits, but she also had long, pointy nipples that seemingly could poke through anything. She wore the thickest bras she could find, but even they seldom hid her nipples. There was almost nothing she could wear, not even a loose sweater, in which her 'points' (as she called them) didn't make themselves aggressively visible.
And that was when her nipples weren't erect. As Brenda complained to them later, one of her biggest problems with them was that everyone who saw her assumed she was constantly aroused with erect nipples, when in fact that was their normal state. It didn't help that she lived in warm and sunny Southern California, where there was rarely any need to even wear a sweater and it was awkward to dress in layers.
But still she did her best to always cover her chest. For instance, on this day she'd worn a thick, high-collared shirt and business jacket not just because of her perception of Susan's prudish sensibility, but also to hide her nipples.
Nonetheless, Alan's eyes were drawn to her tits and nipples like a magnet. Enough time had elapsed from his adventure with Ms. Rhymer for him to get quickly aroused again. He thought, Dang, it's like she's hiding two beach balls under there. This is where it's at. Mature, curvy, sexually experienced women. Sweetness!
Brenda was lucky she also had a very pretty face, or she would almost never have been able to make eye contact with anyone of either sex.
However, Alan had a hard time getting to peek at Brenda, because he found her staring at him much of the time while he puttered around the kitchen. That puzzled him.
The explanation was that Suzanne figured if she wanted to join in the sexual fun that she envisioned in the long-term future, she needed a lure, and Alan was the obvious one, since Brenda was a self-proclaimed heterosexual. Suzanne felt that if she was going to hype him for Brenda, she needed to start from the beginning and stay consistent about it. Luckily, she already was hyping him to the skies for Susan, so she continued to do so with Brenda there too. Since Susan already believed the hype to a great degree, she was reinforcing Suzanne's hype, and in a very sincere and guileless manner.
As a result, Brenda was extremely curious about Alan, even before she had a chance to formally meet him. According to Suzanne and Susan, he was some kind of sexual superman, with an extremely long and thick penis, endless stamina, and the ability to take women to inconceivable heights of pleasure. Actually, that was far from the truth, although Suzanne hoped that with time and training he could go far towards making the hype come true. But because Susan and Suzanne appeared to believe it was true, Brenda tended to assume that it had to be true too. She had no reason to suspect they would be dishonest about this, since she couldn't see a motivation for such a deception.
Once Alan selected a granola bar to eat and poured himself a glass of orange juice, Suzanne stood up at the table, and said, "Hey, Sweetie, what are you doing over there? Can't you see we've got a new guest? Put your snack down for a minute and come introduce yourself."
He wasn't happy to hear that, because even from across the room, there was no denying the incredible, and incredibly voluptuous, beauty of the three women at the table. As a result, he'd gotten a raging erection, and he didn't see how his shorts could hide it if he had to walk over there. But he didn't see how he could get out of such a common courtesy, so he smiled and walked over to the dining room table.
He'd carefully adjusted his package behind the kitchen counter before starting to walk. But it only took him a few steps before his erection sprang free from its trapped position. The result was an extremely prominent bulge in his shorts. He decided his best defense was a good offense, hopefully creating enough of a distraction so Brenda wouldn't notice. So he walked boldly right towards her with a hand out. "Hi there. My name is Alan. Nice to meet you." He smiled and made eye contact.
"Hi, I'm Brenda." She stood up and shook his hand, and tried to maintain eye contact too. However, his shorts were tenting so outrageously that she couldn't help but glance at it several times, even though she knew he'd notice her doing so.
Suzanne stood between Alan and Brenda and put her hand on the backs of both of them. "Alan, Sweetie, Brenda has been an acquaintance of both your mom and me for some time now. The three of us have decided to start a new tradition. We're going to play cards every Wednesday."
"That's nice." After his initial bravado, he was having trouble maintaining his confident front. He was particularly unsettled by the way Brenda was looking him over, and especially repeatedly looking at his crotch. He was dying with shame on the inside at his bulge, but he didn't know what he could do about it.
Susan had stood up too. She couldn't resist the opportunity to boast a little about one of her children. "My son! Brenda, I'm so proud of him. He gets top marks in school, and he's just the nicest, most wonderful son any parent could want."
Suzanne added with a sly grin, "And he's a real lady killer. It's incredible. He's only eighteen, and yet you should see some of the gorgeous older women he's dating. And so many! It's like he's practically got his own personal harem."
Susan frowned in confusion at Suzanne, because she knew that wasn't true. In fact, he wasn't really dating anyone at all.
Luckily, Suzanne knew Susan so well that she was able to give her a look that said "Just roll with it, I'll explain later." Suzanne was able to do that because Brenda was still giving Alan a long and very curious look, so she wasn't paying any attention to Susan or Suzanne.
Alan was confused by Suzanne's comments as well, but Suzanne gave him a similar look, which also went unnoticed by Brenda.
As a result, when Brenda asked him, "Is that really true?" he was able to reply with apparent modesty, "Well, I don't know about all that. But I guess I do okay with the ladies."
Suzanne snorted, as if incredulous at his understatement. "I'll say! Brenda, you'd better let go of his hand, before you find yourself under his spell."
Alan had been careful to only look her in the eyes while she was looking at her, but with Suzanne's flattering comments, such as calling him a "lady killer," he was able to get in a few quick looks at her body. Even with the way she was thoroughly covered up, he couldn't help but notice how endowed she was. He made particular note of the way her nipples were visibly poking through her clothes.
He thought, Wow! What's up with that?! Does that mean her nipples are erect, just from shaking my hand?! (In fact, they were, due to Suzanne's hype and Brenda's very low threshold for getting aroused. But her nipples would have been tenting her clothes at least somewhat anyway, due to her unusually long nipples.)
Man, I can totally picture her naked, thanks to those "headlights" pointing the way! Even with her all dressed up like that, I can tell she's seriously stacked, and a stone cold fox! No way would I have a chance with her though. I remember hearing that she's married, and a multi-millionaire or something crazy like that. Great eye candy, though!
Brenda realized she'd been holding his hand for an unusually long time, and suddenly let go of it like she'd just been burned by a hot stove.
Alan didn't understand what was happening, nor did he know what to say. He chuckled nervously, and commented, "Yeah, right. Anyway, Brenda, it's nice to meet you. I'm thirsty and starving, so I'm going to go back to my snack."
She nodded. "Nice to meet you too."
He turned and walked back to the kitchen. It wasn't far to go, but he was greatly relieved. Just by turning around, he was able to hide the bulge in his shorts from Brenda's curious gaze.
Brenda didn't know what to think about Alan. She guessed that his sexual prowess must have been exaggerated due to some weird sense of pride by both Susan and Suzanne. But the hype had an effect, because her heart was racing just from meeting him and shaking his hand.
Once she thought he was out of hearing range in the kitchen, she sat back down and whispered to Susan and Suzanne, "Is he really all that with women?"
Suzanne nodded with a very earnest expression. She whispered back, "He is. Did you see his aroused condition?"
Brenda whispered, "How could I not?! Is he like that all the time?"
Suzanne nodded again. "Pretty much. It's incredible. You wouldn't believe how many times he cums a day."
Susan quietly hissed, "Suzanne, please! That's not the kind of thing proper people discuss."
Brenda complained, "I agree completely. Besides, how the heck would you know that?"
Suzanne replied, "Sorry, but I'm hoping and assuming that these card games will become a weekly tradition, and if you're going to be here a lot, you need to be aware, because it'll probably impact you one way or another. If he was a genius or mentally challenged or highly allergic or what have you, I'd let you know that as well. As far as how I know, Susan and I talk every day and we share just about everything. Let's just say she's incredulous at how often she has to clean his sheets."
Susan looked abashed. "You didn't have to tell Brenda that."
Suzanne responded, "I had to say something, or she'd think we're weird. Besides, she asked if he really is 'all that.' And you do have to admit that if his penis isn't erect, it's because he probably just had yet another orgasm. Brenda, believe you me, this is a topic I would much prefer to skip. But it's just an unavoidable reality around here. You have no reason to be alarmed. He's very polite and not the type to try to make a move on you. It's just that, well, he's pretty much always aroused, and it's hard for him to hide the evidence of that. So please, don't be alarmed or offended if, to be frank, you see that he's got an erection nearly all the time."
Brenda said, "I get it. He's an eighteen year old guy. They're horny all the time. But that doesn't make him any different from other guys his age, right?"
Suzanne raised an eyebrow. "You have no idea. Brenda, I've told you about Brad, my son who is the same age as Alan. Compared to Brad, Alan is like some kind of human sex machine!" She said this like she was concerned for Alan, not boasting.
Susan frowned. "Well, that may be true, and I don't doubt it is, but still, let's not air all our dirty laundry in front of our guest. Where I come from, people don't talk about such things. Can we please stop whispering and get back to the game?"
Suzanne resumed her normal voice. "Fine. Who's turn to deal is it?"
They went back to playing poker.
Brenda didn't know what to think of such revelations about Alan. It seemed that the other two were trying to warn her and prepare her, not hype him, so she figured it was understandable and acceptable. (In fact, it was all hype, just of a more subtle and clever kind.)
Alan went upstairs to his room to take a nap after consuming his granola bar and guzzling down his orange juice in less than a minute. But he certainly hadn't failed to notice how buxom Brenda was. Before falling asleep, he masturbated to fantasies of Susan, Suzanne, and Brenda together in bed with him.
The three buxom women had a grand time playing cards. They all got quite tipsy and giggly.
To Brenda's surprise, she was disappointed that Alan had gone upstairs so quickly. She found that feeling very atypical and odd. She felt a strong desire to make a good impression on him, which she couldn't do if he wasn't there.
Brenda got easily annoyed at men who ogled her chest, and fully expected to get angry at Alan. But she also found it strange that in the brief time Alan had talked to her, he had maintained eye contact with her nearly the entire time, and never looked down at her chest. In fact, she'd noticed the only blatant ogling he'd done was aimed at the sizable racks of Susan and Suzanne.
In fact, Alan had been extremely careful not to noticeably ogle Brenda's tremendous bust because he figured he was already in hot water due to his obvious bulge in his shorts, and he didn't want to get in any more trouble.
But, luckily, Brenda didn't know that. She was chagrined to find that, although she usually fought to be ignored, now she craved more attention from him.
Being ignored, even in a minor way, was something she was completely unfamiliar with because she'd never had serious female competition like these women in her life. Somehow, that drew her closer to them. It was like she'd finally discovered the "impossibly gorgeous women club" and wanted to be a member. It was both a chance for her to be treated relatively normally, for once, and also latch onto an entirely new group of fun-loving friends after going through a painful time with her divorce.
Shortly after Alan went upstairs, Katherine also came home. Naturally, she was soon introduced to Brenda as well. Since she hadn't been hyped up like Alan had been, they made some small talk without incident.
Then Katherine was asked if she wanted to join in. The plan was still to play bridge, if not this week then on some other week in the near future, and one needed a fourth for that. Katherine was flattered that she was being treated as one of the grown-ups, and she agreed. However, she didn't know how to play bridge, so the four of them continued to play poker.
Katherine and Brenda got along well. Katherine was mildly jealous at the enormous size of Brenda's breasts, but since Brenda was dressed so very conservatively, that wasn't much of an issue, and it was easy to forget.
By the end of their day together, it felt like the three older women had become good friends. Even Susan, who was initially reluctant about getting to know Brenda better, looked forward with anticipation to another round of cards the next week. Katherine was late to join in, and she didn't play long before Brenda had to go, but she fit in nicely as well.
Suzanne was pleased at how the card game had gone. She still wasn't sure where she wanted this scheme with Brenda to go, or why she'd arranged it, exactly. She had the vague vision of herself in the middle of an orgy, getting fucked by Alan at one end while sucking on Brenda's tits at the other. But she had a long way to go before she could hope to make that a reality. Among other things, she'd heard Brenda make a derisive comment about lesbianism at the party at which Suzanne had concocted the scheme. But Suzanne considered that to be merely a challenge, and she loved a good challenge.
When Alan woke up from his nap, he immediately remembered meeting Brenda, and the nice orgasm he'd had while fantasizing about her, along with his thoughts of Susan and Suzanne. He realized there was a good chance that Brenda could still be downstairs playing cards, and he wanted to get a better look at her. He quickly put on his usual shorts and T-shirt, and then hustled downstairs.
But to his disappointment, the only person there was Suzanne, who was reading the latest Time magazine in the living room. She put her magazine down and gave him a friendly wave.
He peeked into the kitchen and dining room, just to make sure they were empty, and then he asked Suzanne, "Where'd everyone go? Is the card game over?"
Suzanne chuckled. "Looks like Brenda caught your eye, didn't she?"
He looked around unhappily. "Is she gone?"
Suzanne nodded. "She is. So don't be shy. And Susan is in the backyard, doing some gardening. Why don't we take this upstairs? I've been waiting for you, because I have something I want you to do."
"What about Sis?"
"She went to the mall with Amy. It seems they have a lot of shopping to do, to 'sex up' their wardrobe for better 'visual stimulation.' Hrm. I wonder who they're trying to impress? Who's the handsome young man they wish to arouse and inspire?" She winked at him.
He shook his head in wonder. "Wow! I can't believe these kinds of things are happening to me. It's like... hearing a detail like that makes it seems real. Like, this is really happening and it's going to keep on happening."
Suzanne stood up. "Of course it is. And speaking of happening things, let's go upstairs, so we can talk about more things that are about to happen all over you." She winked again.
They walked together to the stairs. He asked, "What's that?"
"I'll get to that in a minute. But first, what did you think of Brenda? She's a hottie, isn't she?"
He was carefully considering what to say when Suzanne waved a hand dismissively. "Pshaw! Don't sweat it."
They'd already reached the top of the stairs. Suzanne led him into his room, and then closed the door behind them. She said, "I said, 'Don't sweat it.' I know what you're thinking. You want to rave about Brenda's looks, but you're trying to figure out how guarded and diplomatic you should be with me about that. Well, rave away. Our relationship has changed more than a little lately, don't you think? I don't mind you lusting after other women."
"You don't?"
While Suzanne had been talking, she'd sat on the edge of his bed, causing him to sit next to her. "No, I don't. I can see the mere possibility you might have found Brenda still playing cards with us has gotten you quite worked up, hasn't it?" She reached to his crotch and firmly grasped the bulge in his shorts.
He gasped. "Aunt Suzy!"
She chuckled. "What? This isn't the first time I've done this to you, you know." She unzipped his shorts, extracted all of his cock and balls, and began caressing them with both hands.
His eyes bugged out in amazement at what her hands were doing. It took him some long moments before he recovered enough to speak.
By that time, she was steadily pumping a hand up and down his shaft while fondling his balls with her other hand. She smirked with amusement at his surprise.
He said, "I know, but... It's just... I guess I'm behind the curve. I'm constantly playing catch up."
"That you are. But don't sweat that either. You'll catch up soon enough. Now, tell me what you think of Brenda. And skip your diplomatic filter already. I hope you think she's a total hottie."
"I do! Man, I sure do! But why would you hope that?!"
"I'll get to that. First, tell me what you think."
He looked down at her stroking fingers and shook his head in wonder. But he was trying hard to roll with the punches, so he spoke honestly. "Like you said, she's a total hottie. I didn't get that long of a look at her, and I don't have X-ray eyes to see through her clothes, but from what I could tell, she has an amaaaazing body! So curvy! Super curvy. And she's got a face that's cute and sexy at the same time. She's, like... this is the highest praise possible, believe me: she's in the same league as you and Mom!"
Suzanne didn't seem particularly moved by that, and continued to look at his boner while she jacked him off.
So he elaborated, "You have no idea what rare praise that is. I mean, you and Mom, the two of you together, that's my pinnacle of beauty. That's perfection for me! Everyone else has to measure up to that, and very few even come close. But Brenda, she's practically right there! Good grief, did you see her breasts?! They're absolutely enormous! I think they could be even bigger than yours or Mom's!"
She asked coyly, "Are you sure?" She was still fully dressed, but she let go of his privates and took hold of the hem of her blouse as if she was going to pull it over her head so he could get a good look at her bare rack. But she had a change of heart, and went back to stroking his cock.
He sighed with disappointment. "Awww. Dang. Are you sure you don't want to take that off? You know, so I can compare and contrast?"
She chuckled. "I do. But I shouldn't, because I don't want to get too involved. You'll understand why when I explain my plan in a minute."
"Okay, but what's going on with Brenda? And why all the questions about her?!"
"So, you'd fuck her?"
He smiled from ear to ear as he imagined himself fucking the shit out of Brenda. He got some minor details wrong, such as imagining her completely shaved below, because he hadn't been able to see much of her body. But he got most of it right.
Letting his guard down, he honestly and gleefully exclaimed, "Oh, only in a micro-second! Why do you even ask? You know what I'd say? Her body's so curvy that it almost doesn't seem possible. How can a woman that thin have breasts that big? They've got to be fake. And her ass. She's like, all tits and ass!"
Suzanne rubbed his sweet spot to devastating effect as she replied, "I'll have you know her boobs are all real. At least, I'm 99 percent certain, from the way they move when she walks. But as for Brenda, I'm thinking long term with her. She can help you with visual stimulation now, just from being around, and who knows, maybe she'll help you more directly someday."
"WHOA! Are you kidding me?! Why would you do that for me?!"
"I'm doing it for us. Sweetie, now that we're sexually intimate, the world is our oyster. Variety is the spice of life. I can't quite explain it, but there's something about her that makes me want to involve her in helping you. If she comes here to play cards once a week, and gives you some special help while she's here, wouldn't that be fun?"
"Oh, man! No way!" He was panting hard.
Suzanne grinned impishly. "Yes way." She squeezed the base of his shaft almost painfully, and then stopped her stroking. "And don't cum on me just yet. I can tell you're very close to cumming already."
"How can I not be?! Aunt Suzy, you're too amazing for words! And Brenda! My God, I'm so horny right now that I can't stand it."
"Well, you'd better stand it. Behave!" She held his boner with one hand and lightly slapped it with the other just once, as if she was starting to give it a spanking. "I have a special assignment for you, and it involves a very erect and aroused feller here, so don't you cum just yet."
Aside from her one light slap and the way she was still holding his hard-on, she was generally leaving it alone for now. That allowed him to breathe a little easier. But he was still panting when he asked, "What is it?!"
"It involves your mother. You know what she told me a little while ago, while you were taking your nap?"
"She confessed to having very 'sinful thoughts' about you lately. But that's nothing new. We've talked about that extensively. What is new is that she said that she felt like today was a turning point. She said she'd gone the whole day without anything sexy happening between you and her. She was proud of her self control, and felt like she's getting a grip on her 'inappropriate feelings.' On top of that, her period began last night after you left. She sees that as a sign that she needs to maintain self-control."
He was slightly delirious with lust, especially since Suzanne had resumed rubbing two fingers against his sweet spot - she just couldn't help herself. So he wasn't thinking too clearly when he exclaimed, "Wait! That's bad!"
Suzanne chuckled at his dazed condition. "You bet your cute ass that's bad. We can't let her slide back into her prudish ways. That's bad for you, for me, for her - for everybody. She still lusts after you so much that she's pretty much constantly obsessed about it, but she's very mindful that Ron is home, and she's trying with all her might to resist her sexual urges. We DO have to be careful with Ron here, but we need to at least keep her on a slow boil until he's gone. That's why you need to act fast."
He asked dumbly, "Fast?" Her reprieve hadn't been that long, and he was spiraling dangerously close to orgasm already.
"Yes, fast. She further pointed out that Ron would be home just before six, in time for dinner. That gives us a little less than an hour and a half. Here's my plan. I want you to take your phone out to the sun deck."
He tried hard to think through his lusty fog. He looked to the receiver next to his bed. "You mean my land line?" He didn't own a cell phone.
"Yes. That's so you can put it on the speaker phone setting. Find some extra phone cord if you have to. Can you do it?"
He did a quick mental calculation. The sun deck was across the hall from his room and down the hall a little ways, towards the stairs to the main floor. It was hardly ever used, because the pool area in the backyard was much preferred. He said, "I suppose, with some extra cord. But why the sun deck?"
"Because you're going to masturbate there, and Susan is going to watch you. I'm going to track her down outside and 'accidentally' mention that I'm concerned that you're masturbating in such a highly visible place. Then I'm going to leave. Which I will do after I sneak around to make sure she takes the bait."
"The bait? I don't understand."
Suzanne sighed with frustration. "I guess I'll have to take it easy on your cock so your brain can resume functioning again." She switched to just lightly and slowly stroking him. "How's that?"
"Uh..." He was relieved, as he felt the urge to immediately cum subside. But at the same time, he'd been greatly enjoying being right on the verge.
She chuckled. "'Uh.' You're still at caveman status, but I'll press on anyway. The plan is, Susan won't be able to resist spying on you. You know that one window in the hallway that looks out onto the sun deck?"
"Whatever you do, don't look there and make eye contact with her! Instead, position yourself for maximum sexy effect, knowing that she's looking at you from there. Meanwhile, I'll call you on my cell phone and we'll talk. Remember that your bombshell mommy is going to hear every word both of us say, so try to say things that'll compliment her and arouse her. Hype up your sex skills, even if it's just hype. Above all, try to express how much you desire her. Got all that?"
"Yeah, sure. That's not so hard. And then?"
"And then... we'll see. We don't want to script this too much. Half the fun is not knowing what'll happen. Just go with the flow. I'll be somewhere nearby, behind the scenes kind of like the Wizard of Oz, making sure that everything happens as it should, not to mention running interference if Angel or Amy or even Ron comes by."
"So you'll be downstairs."
"Basically, yeah. But I'll say I'm calling you from my house. Got all that?"
She let go of his erection.
He griped, "Oh, man!"
"Sorry, but you've gotta save all that cocky goodness for your mother. I know how much you loved what she did to you last Tuesday, and with any luck, we'll have her bobbing on your fat cock before long. It's a must that we break her of her prudish ways. It's all part of my grand plan."
He prodded. "Which is..."
"Which is for me to know and you to find out. Trust me, it'll be more enjoyable that way. But good things are happening, that's for sure!"
He laughed heartily. "I've gotta agree with that! Phew!"
A few minutes later, Alan found himself sitting naked in a white plastic chair on the sun deck, sliding a hand up and down his stiff erection. He'd wanted to at least keep his T-shirt on, but Suzanne had insisted that he wear nothing at all.
The house phone rang. It was sitting on the deck next to him, so he answered by briefly bending over and hitting the speakerphone option. Just hearing it ring gave him a great thrill, because Suzanne had given him some more instructions before she'd left, telling him that she wouldn't call until she was absolutely certain that Susan was watching him from the hall window as they'd discussed.
He'd already been wordlessly masturbating to thoughts of his stunning mother, more so even than his horny thoughts about his similarly stunning aunt. But he'd been trying to take it easy on his penis, knowing that things were likely to get pretty wild once Suzanne called.
Staring off into his backyard, he spoke aloud, "Hello?"
Suzanne's voice was loud and clear through the speaker phone feature. It was like she was right there. "Hey, Sweetie. How's it hanging?"
"Uh, good."
"Are you ready for our session to begin?"
"You know I can't be there at the moment, my Sweetie, but I'm going to make sure you have a long and satisfying orgasm though the magic of technology."
He smiled widely as his heart soared to thoughts of his wonderful "auntie." "Thanks, Aunt Suzy!"
Sure enough, Susan was watching through the window that Suzanne knew she would use. Suzanne had left the window partly open to make sure that Susan could hear every word.
Susan thought, So THAT'S what's going on! She had been very puzzled why Alan was masturbating on the sun deck when he'd always done it in his room, and furthermore, how Suzanne had made a passing mention to her right before she went home that he'd been about to start doing that. Now, it all made sense.
Suzanne asked over the phone line, "So, what do you want to talk about? What'll get you hard and horny?"
He looked down at himself, and admitted with a chuckle, "No worries. I already am hard and horny. And just hearing your scratchy yet oh-so-sultry voice is guaranteed to keep me that way."
"Really? Well, let's make you harder and hornier. What are you thinking about?"
"Of course honestly! Even if it's not flattering to me, I can take it. You know you can be completely truthful to me."
"Well then, I must admit, before you called, I was kind of thinking about... Mom!"
Susan gasped, loudly.
He had to suppress a strong urge to look over to where he knew she was standing. He loved that she gasped like that, because it was further proof to him that she was utterly incapable of any kind of deception. He found that adorable.
Suzanne purred, "You naughty boy! Are you thinking about your sexy, big-titted mommy while you stroke your fat cock?"
"I am. Does that offend you?" He could feel his lusty desire rising, and he stroked his boner faster.
Suzanne replied, "No way! I think it's great, AND very sexy. Keep in mind that you have your special medical condition. I can't always be there to help you. That means that once Ron leaves, or even before that, your mother is going to be helping you in a very intimate way, on a daily basis. Just like she did last Tuesday, she's gonna fondle, stroke, lick, and suck your cock! Every day, if not more. Probably many times a day. I find that very sexy, don't you?"
He grunted. "Yeah!"
Susan was panting hard, and her heart beat like a big bass drum. Oh my goodness! My Tiger! My Tiger's cock! I'm going to be sucking it SO MUCH! So very, very much!
Suzanne continued, "Your mother is an extremely beautiful woman, and she loves you more than you know. There's nothing she wouldn't do for you. Which means that it won't be long before she'll be naked and on her knees, with your thick slab of cock-meat in her mouth! I would say that she's going to learn to love it, but she's already told me all about what happened that Tuesday, and I know she loves it already."
Susan thought, I DO! I DO! God knows I do! Lord help me, I know it's wrong, but I just can't resist! MMMM! So thick! So long! So sweet! I wish I could have it in my mouth right now!
She'd been wearing some ordinary, unrevealing, and unflattering clothes, which she'd changed into after Brenda left in order to do her gardening. But she suddenly felt like she was burning up, to the point that she worried she really did have a fever. Now that Suzanne had mentioned her being naked and kneeling, she felt a strong compulsion to be just like that. She couldn't kneel, because then her head would be too low to continue to peek out the window, which was a small, high window meant to help light the hallway more than to look through.
But there was nothing stopping her from getting naked. Because the window was small and easily overlooked, she figured the odds of Alan seeing her peeking at him were extremely low. Even if he did, all he would see was her head. If she stripped, she could pick up her clothes and flee down the stairs well before he could open the door from the sun deck to the hallway. Then she could at least claim that she'd just arrived and glanced through the window, and that's why he'd noticed her head at that moment.
With that in mind, she managed to take all of her clothes off (except for the panties necessitated by her period) without ever taking her eyes off her naked son. It helped that she wasn't wearing a bra, due to the rule about that. She felt much better after disrobing, and much more aroused.
Alan was staring into the trees of his own large backyard, beyond the pool, when he asked Suzanne, "Are you SURE it's okay that we're talking about Mom instead of you? I could just as easily talk about you, since you inspire me every bit as much as she does."
Suzanne replied, "I know that, but we did that last time. It's a fun twist to talk about her instead. Besides, like I said, if I have my way - and I usually do - she and I are going to be a cock-pleasuring team in the near future, so it's only fitting."
He asked, "Okay... but... is it safe? Where is she right now?!" Like the last question, that was a question Suzanne told him to ask.
Suzanne said, "I told you already, she's gardening. I talked to her in the backyard no more than ten minutes ago. You know how she is: once she gets started, she's not going to stop until she finishes the task. So you have plenty of time. In fact, who knows, maybe you can see her from there?"
He acted like he was scanning the backyard, even though he could only see a part of it, since his chair wasn't near the outer edge of the sun deck. The chair was close to the window Susan was peeking through, so she could get an excellent view of him from less than ten feet away. "Nah, I can't see her."
"I'm sure she's there," Suzanne responded. "Why don't you get up and take a closer look? Wouldn't it be a kick to masturbate about her while looking at her?" She delighted in the irony of that, knowing that he knew the opposite was happening.
"Yeah, but no. I'm fine where I am. I'm stroking up a storm here, so I don't want to move." He responded like that because he didn't want to spook his mother. He knew that she would realize that if he stood up and started walking around the sun deck, he probably wouldn't see her immediately, but he might well see her when he turned around and faced her direction while he returned to his chair. He didn't want to give her any reason to flee, so he was bound to remain sitting.
Suzanne asked him, "Do you feel naughty, masturbating to visions of your sexy mommy?"
He replied, "Of course. But I just can't help myself! It's like she's the Playboy Playmate of the Year. No, even sexier than that! She's just so hot that it's crazy!"
Susan thrilled to every word. And she thought, That's just like me! I can't help myself either. Son, we're both caught in a web, trapped in this web of forbidden desire because of your special medical condition. What cruel fate. But at the same time, dear Lord, I love it so much! I can't stop salivating. It's all I can do not to bust through the door, rush across the sun deck, drop to my knees, and swallow his entire wonderful cock deep down my throat! UNGH! HNNG! I want that so bad! XX02
She hadn't intended to masturbate, she just wanted to feel unrestrained without her clothes. But somehow, since she'd lost her clothes (except her panties), her hands had drifted to her soft creamy globes. She was rolling an erect nipple between her fingers while the fingers on her other hand caressed the underside of her other breast, taking full advantage of this sensitive area.
She had a policy that she wasn't allowed to masturbate, unless it was an "accidental tingle" in the shower. But in the heat of the moment, that was forgotten. Besides, she was so very aroused that it was like she had no choice.
Suzanne said to Alan, even though it was really a message to Susan, "I get it. She IS that hot. I always thought that her prudish, conservative ways were just the surface level, and underneath that there was an extremely passionate and loving woman wishing she could break free and truly enjoy life, even a highly sexual life. And now that's starting to happen, and I'm so glad for her."
Susan was far too horny to seriously ponder that now, but she would remember Suzanne's words and think them over later. She was starting to come to the same conclusion anyway.
Suzanne remembered that last night Susan had complained to her in passing, "It's more like we're Tiger's personal sluts." Since then, Suzanne had reminded Susan about that several times, and acted like Susan had meant that as a wish instead of a complaint, much to Susan's consternation. With that in mind, she asked in her scratchy purr, "So tell me, Sweetie, would you like it if she were to become one of your personal sluts?"
Susan gasped. Although she had meant it as a negative, a part of her considered it an extremely exciting fantasy.
He remembered that the real Susan was listening, especially due to her audible gasp. He was careful with his answer. "What does that even mean?"
"Whatever the hell you want it to mean!" Suzanne encouraged him.
He moaned loudly and lustily as his mind mentally ran through all kinds of wild possibilities. He couldn't help but confess, "I still don't know what that means at all, but I have to admit it sounds really hot!"
Susan felt a great jolt of arousal shoot down her spine, running through her to the tips of her fingers and toes. It does, Son! It sure as heck does!
Suzanne prodded him, "I'll take that as a 'yes.' What about her turns you on, exactly? Is it her big tits?"
He exclaimed, "Oh my God! Yes! For starters! They're just so massive and yet so perfect! It doesn't matter what she wears, it's like there are these two oversized water balloons on her chest, sloshing around with every step she makes. I wish I could take them in my hands right now and hold them and caress them! I'd kiss them all over too, and even suck her nipples into my mouth!"
Susan had been panting loudly and steadily for a while now. It had built up gradually, so she hadn't realized how easily her son could hear her. But when he mentioned sucking her nipples into her mouth, she gasped even louder than before, because that was such a turn-on for her.
Her gasp was so loud that it took her out of her erotic reverie. She froze and held her breath. She didn't duck her head from the window, because she wanted to see if he was going to look her way. But she was ready to duck out of sight the instant his head did start to turn. However, the conversation continued without pause, so she quickly recovered from the scare.
He said to Suzanne, but also to his mother, "If Mom were here right now, sitting naked on my lap, you know what I'd do? First, I'd kiss her lips, and really sock it to her with all the passion and love I have in my heart for her."
Suzanne cut in, "Which is a hell of a lot! I know that much!"
"That's true. Aunt Suzy, I love her so much, and I desire her so much! The two things go hand in hand. She's not just a pretty face or an hourglass-shaped hard body; she's my mom! When I think about what a great mom she is, I always want to cry tears of joy. For real! Anyway, I'd take her in my arms and kiss her and squeeze her tight and tell her how much I love her. And then, with our lips locked together, I'd caress her big tits with both hands from below, because of course I would! I'm a tit man!"
Susan had already gotten over the scare of thinking she was about to get caught. She hefted her boobs up with both hands and caressed them in the style that her son had used on the few occasions he's gotten his hands on them.
Suzanne chuckled at his comment about being a tit man. "Oooh, this is fun! Are you still stroking yourself?"
He looked down at his crotch, even though he hardly needed to check. His hand was sliding up and down his shaft at a steady rhythm. The erotic buzz was non-stop. He said, "Sure am! It feels great!"
"Good! Are you close to cumming?"
"Not yet." He reconsidered, keeping in mind how intense the pleasure was. "Well, close, but not that close."
"Even better. Keep telling me what you'd do to your sexy mommy, but let me answer like I'm her. Okay?"
"Sure! So anyway, just because I'm a tit man and that's the first thing I mentioned, that's hardly her only outstanding feature. She has so many!"
Suzanne corrected him, "You mean MY only outstanding feature. Remember, I'm Susan now."
"Right. Mom, your tits are what everybody notices about you at first, because they stick out, like, three feet in front of you! It seems that way, anyway. They're so bouncy and soft and squeezable! But the second thing I notice has to be your face. Such a gorgeous face! Oh my God!"
Suzanne cut in, "How did you like my face last Tuesday? Did it look even better with my jaw craned open and my lips stretched around your impossibly thick cock?" (She was well aware that his penis was far from "impossibly thick," but she knew Susan would love hearing that sort of language.)
He gasped, "OH GOD YES! Yes, yes, yes! You know it! That's the sexiest sight in the world! Especially since it's you!" Since he couldn't see Suzanne, and he was very, very, VERY aroused, it was easy for him to forget that he wasn't actually speaking directly to Susan. He was continually mindful that the real Susan was standing a short distance behind him, even as he somehow felt like her voice was coming through the phone from somewhere else.
As a result, he largely forgot his usual diplomatic tact of what Suzanne would think, and spoke from the heart. "Mom, you know, the fact that you do have your prudish upbringing, and yet you're still willing to do that for me... I can't even tell you how much that means to me! I just feel so much love! Thinking about it now, I really AM about to cry tears of joy!" He meant that too.
Although Alan was getting confused about who he was speaking to, Suzanne remained very mindful of the situation. She wasn't offended at all by his enthusiasm for his mother, and in fact his comments reminded her to stick in a comment that she considered vital to her continual campaign to change Susan's attitudes. She said, "You said it! You know, cocksucking, that's just about the best way for a mother to express her love for her son! She can feel his love with her sliding lips and her wandering tongue!"
Remembering that she was supposed to be Susan, she continued, "Son, I can literally feel your love with every inch of your thick cock in my hands! Or even better, in my mouth! I can feel how intense your love is by the heat of your cock rubbing against the inside of my cheek, and the way it throbs and twitches against my tongue just like a living creature! And don't get me started with your cum! That's liquid love right there, pure and simple. Every time you cum on me, I can feel your love splatter all over my face and tits! I can lick it up and guzzle it down, and it's the sweetest taste in the world!"
Suzanne said such things for Susan's benefit, knowing how much those would push her buttons. But at the same time, some part of her believed it herself. She was deliberately indoctrinating Susan to change her from prudish to sexually liberated, but she was unknowingly indoctrinating herself to some degree at the same time.
Those words did hit home for Susan in a big way, just like striking a bulls eye. She thought, That's SO TRUE! You tell him, Suzanne! Good Lord, I wish I had his cock in my hands right now! In my MOUTH! I'd love him so much! I would bob and lick for hours and hours if I could, just to hear him moan with delight! Oh, Tiger! My love! I wish so much I didn't have to worry about what the Bible says or what people say. I would be your SLUT! That's right, your personal slut! Maybe I should take my place as one of his personal sluts, just like Suzanne says. I don't care how wrong it is! That would be bliss!
Susan was still playing with her nipples. Suzanne's words inspired and aroused her so much that an intense orgasm unexpectedly hit her. Her breasts, and especially her nipples, were so highly sensitive, that she was one of the rare women who could cum from nipple play alone.
This orgasm frightened her at first, because it hit her so suddenly and powerfully that she was terrified she would scream out loud, and thus Alan would certainly notice she was there. That would be much worse than him happening to see her head there, because how could she explain her cries of orgasmic ecstasy?
As a result, she focused all her willpower on trying to stay quiet. She clenched her teeth and shut her eyes tight. But a loud hiss was escaping through her lips, so she brought her hand to her mouth and bit down on it in the hopes that would better block the noise.
In fact, her efforts were only partially successful at best. Had Alan truly not known she was there already, he certainly would have heard her hissing, moaning, and other involuntary noises she made as her orgasm rocked her entire body for well over a minute. In fact, it was way too much for her to continue standing, and she slumped to her knees while resting her head against the wall, below the window.
Alan was so distracted by Susan's orgasm that he forgot to keep talking. Plus, Suzanne's talk about cocksucking being a great sign of love aroused him so greatly that he had to stop masturbating altogether for a while, in order not to cum just yet. Even so, it was a very near thing. One squirt of cum did shoot out, and he thought he was a goner for sure. But thanks to Suzanne's recent advice about squeezing his PC muscle, he squeezed and squeezed like his life truly depended on it, and somehow he came back from the edge, even after he felt he'd gone well past it.
That close call was extremely exhausting. Now, he couldn't talk even if he'd remembered to. He slumped in his chair and huffed and puffed quite loudly.
Suzanne was peaking with lust as well, but nonetheless she wasn't as far gone as the other two, because she wasn't actively masturbating (well, not so much) and she didn't have an orgasm, or even a close call. She couldn't afford to let herself go completely, because she was hiding downstairs and she needed to remain clothed and mindful about anyone else coming home so she could fend them off.
She sensed that something important had just happened, but she wasn't exactly sure what it was. Emboldened by how well her scheme had gone so far, she decided to briefly peek up the stairs to see what Susan was doing. She had been lurking in the kitchen (where she had the plausible deniability excuse of wanting to get a snack, in case someone came upon her unexpectedly), but she put her phone in her pocket without disconnecting and she quietly and carefully snuck through the house to the foot of the stairs.
There was a ninety-degree turn halfway up the staircase, so she crept up the stairs that far and then paused to sense if she could hear anything. As it so happened, by the time she got there, Susan's orgasm had just ended and yet she was still trying hard not to make noise, so Susan was even quieter than prior to her orgasm, when she'd been panting loudly without realizing it.
Disappointed not to hear anything yet, Suzanne crept further up the stairs. She knew Susan had to be only a few feet away from the top of the stairs, because that's where the window she was peeking through was. She figured Susan had to be highly distracted. She wanted to go up the stairs just enough to see what Susan was doing, and then she'd retreat all the way back to the kitchen and resume the call.
Unfortunately for Suzanne's sneaking around, although Alan was still physically recovering from his orgasmic close call, his mind had recovered faster, and he was worried about the uncommonly long time since he or Suzanne had spoken aloud. He worried Susan would think the call was over, and then get skittish and flee. So he said, "Aunt Suzy? You there?"
That would have been fine, except that Suzanne hadn't turned her phone off. So Susan heard Alan's voice coming from the sun deck, but she also sensed that it was coming from down the stairs somehow at the same time. Susan was still on her knees, but she was curious enough and recovered enough to get up and take a quick look down the stairs.
Suzanne heard Susan get up, but she was so far up the stairs that she knew there was no time to escape out of sight. So instead she decided to brave it out and pretend like she was deliberately coming up the stairs all along.
As soon as Susan saw the fully clothed Suzanne, she unthinkingly exclaimed, "SUZANNE?!"
Suzanne pretended to be just as surprised. "Susan?! What are you doing here?!" She kept on walking up the stairs.
Susan blushed profusely and covered her privates when she realized to her horror just what an embarrassing position she was in. It was bad enough to be caught nearly naked, and worse to be caught with the smell of sex in the air and cum dripping down her inner thighs. But that was nothing compared to her shame at getting caught spying on Alan masturbating!
Susan was completely speechless. She was amazed that her heart managed to keep beating.
Suzanne could have had a field day gently teasing her best friend about this, but she loved Susan and didn't want her to suffer. Besides, having her flee in embarrassment wasn't going to help her sexual transformation and in fact probably would be a setback. So Suzanne smiled like understanding was coming to her. Then she walked right up to Susan, put her hands on her bare shoulders, and pulled her head in close.
She whispered in her ear, "It's okay. I know you're spying on Sweetie as he masturbates. That's okay too."
Susan's heart was thumping wildly, and she was absolutely petrified. She whispered back, "It is?!"
"Of course it is. Why wouldn't you? I'm sure it's a very sexy sight!" She briefly disengaged from Susan to peer through the window. To her relief, Alan was still sitting in the chair, facing away from the window.
In fact, Alan had heard the shouting and the commotion. But he'd decided the best course of action was to stay still and silent. He could hear that Suzanne was involved, so he figured he'd wait to take direction from her.
Suzanne brought her head back to Susan's and whispered in her ear some more, "Don't worry, let me take care of this." Then she said out loud, "Susan, didn't you hear me?! What are you doing here?! Please don't come up the stairs any further!"
Susan was still so scared that she was slow on the uptake. She just gaped at Suzanne while covering her privates.
Suzanne continued in a loud voice, "Please, Susan, stay right there! And whatever you do, don't come up the stairs! Okay?"
Susan rallied enough to respond, "Okay."
It seemed like an eternity of torture for Susan, but in fact it had been less than half a minute since Suzanne and Susan had discovered each other. Suzanne quickly moved past Susan and walked a few feet to the door to the sun deck. She opened it, but stayed on the other side of it, and shouted to Alan, "Hey, Sweetie! Stay where you are!"
He turned in his chair to look at Suzanne while being careful not to look towards the window Susan had been using. He didn't have to pretend confusion, because he didn't understand what Suzanne was doing. He asked, "Aunt Suzy? What are you doing here?"
Suzanne replied, "I must confess, this whole time we've been talking on the phone, I've actually been spying on you from the top of the stairs!"
He was starting to catch on, and he played along. "You were? Why did you do that?"
"You have no idea how sexy it is to watch you masturbate. But never mind that. Susan is standing a few feet behind me. She's just come upstairs and she's wondering what's going on!"
He pretended to be shocked and alarmed. He hadn't been actively masturbating for a couple of minutes now, since he'd started recovering from his close call around the time Susan started her prolonged orgasm. But his penis was still very erect, so he bashfully covered it with both hands. "She is?! Whatever you do, don't allow her to come out here!"
Suzanne replied, "It's too late for that. I just whispered to her what we've been doing. But so what? We're not doing anything wrong. It's my job to help you with your orgasms. It was a kick to secretly watch you masturbate, but I'm horny as hell, and now that you know I'm here, we might as well cut to the chase."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I think you know what I mean." Suzanne turned back to look at Susan, even as she held the door open and started to take her clothes off at the same time. "Susan, if you'll excuse me... I know this is your house, but I've got a job to do here, and it involves sucking your son's cock. So you can go back downstairs or go to your room or wherever you were going. If you don't want to see a blowjob, don't come out to the sun deck. Okay?"
Susan had caught on that Suzanne had taken the fall for her, making it seem like Suzanne had been the one who'd been spying. (Or so she thought.) Susan was still topless, but she realized there was no way for Alan to see that. She was tremendously relieved. It was dawning on her that being caught spying by Suzanne wasn't so bad. She'd been sharing nearly all of her sexual thoughts with her best friend lately, so this was bound to come out sooner or later anyway. Her main concern was that Alan didn't find out, and it seemed Suzanne had saved her from that disaster.
After a long pause, while Suzanne continued to undress, Susan said, "Um, okay." She bent down and picked up her clothes. "I think I'll just go back downstairs then."
Suzanne nodded. "Okay, you do that." Then she winked knowingly. She finished removing her clothes, and simply left them on the hallway floor as she started to turn and walk through the door.
But then a different idea came to her, and she turned back around, letting the door close behind her. She took a few steps back to where Susan was standing with her clothes in her arms, and whispered in her ear again. "Don't stress about getting caught spying on him. It's a good thing. That tells me you're warming up to your new role of using your hands and mouth to help your son cum six times a day. Don't stop on my account! I'm going to suck him off now, and you should watch through the window some more."
She nodded knowingly towards the high window, which made Susan squirm with embarrassment. Then Suzanne continued, "It's educational. You really could learn from what I'm doing. Consider it homework. Since you're going to be doing this a lot in the near future, you really should get good at it."
Susan stammered, "Bu-bu-but... the, the... the abnormality checks! That's all I've promised to do!"
Suzanne nodded. "Sure. But I know how much you love your son. What if he comes home from school with his big cock throbbing with need, and I'm not around? Would you really force him to resort to the dreadful sin of Onan? Or would you show your love to him by stripping off your clothes, dropping to your knees, engulfing his hot pole, and bobbing on it for half an hour or even a full hour, until he explodes in sweet rapture and blasts a creamy, spermy load all over your face? I think the choice is clear, and you'll make the right decision when that situation happens again and again and again."
Susan stood there with her mouth gaping. She was still reeling with fear from being discovered, but her lust had only disappeared for a little while, and now it was flooding back and overwhelming her all over again. She muttered, "Why do I have to be naked and on my knees whenever I suck him? Why do you always have to describe it that way?"
Suzanne shook her head like she was dealing with a slow student. "You see? That's why you need to keep watching. You don't even understand the symbolic importance of that position? You have much to learn if you want to be one of his personal sluts, much less get really good at it."
Susan grumbled, "Why do you keep saying that? I said 'personal slut' just once yesterday, and you won't let me forget it!"
Suzanne didn't directly respond to that, and continued, "Watch when I'm doing it that way and when I'm not, and see if you can tell the difference. Don't worry, I promise to make sure he doesn't know you're there."
Susan was extremely tempted to resume her spying, because that sounded like a thrilling sight. But she was still spooked from being caught by Suzanne, and she remained extremely embarrassed. So she muttered, "Um, no, sorry... I think I'll just go downstairs now."
Suzanne shrugged. "Your loss." She began walking back to the door. "Sorry, gotta hurry, before Sweetie goes flaccid." She opened the door and spoke in a louder voice to Alan, "Sorry, Sweetie, I was just having a little chat with your mother. But she's gone downstairs and I'm ready to help."
Alan didn't mind being kept waiting, since his penis desperately needed a break.
Susan walked down the stairs while still holding her clothes in her hands. But she felt very disappointed, like she'd just missed an enormous lottery jackpot by one number.
She walked to one of the sofas in the living room and sat down to collect her wits. She intended to put her clothes back on, but she just left them on the sofa next to her for now. She thought, I've gotta get my act together! I feel like I'm going craaaaazy! Watching Tiger masturbate was SO HOT! It almost felt like last Tuesday when I had him in my hands and my mouth for such a long time. And to watch Suzanne suck him?! That's so hot it's unbelievable! If I were to watch that, I think my whole body would burst into flames! Good God! And that's not much of an exaggeration. Heck, I saw her do that to him last night and was so amazed and aroused that I actually passed out!
She sighed heavily as her thoughts took a different turn. But I have to remember my place, my role in society. I'm a married woman, and Tiger's mother! Suzanne presents such a breath-taking and enticing vision of helping him out like that all the time, but I can't! What would my parents think about that? Or my brother, or my sisters? Or RON?! What about Ron?! Why do I keep forgetting about him?! Suzanne says he's cheating on me, but that doesn't give me carte blanche to do wrong too. I know a good handjob or blowjob is like medicine for my suffering son, but would Ron understand that? No! To his eyes, it would look a lot like a sex act. And I must admit it must look exactly like that to someone who doesn't really understand the whole situation.
She mustered her resolve, and thought with determination, NO! I have to put my foot down. I can help Tiger with visual stimulation and even his weekly abnormality checks, because Suzanne can't do those, but that's it! That's too much for a good Christian woman right there. I'm so weak! Darn it, why does Tiger have to be so handsome and well-hung? And he said all those sweet things about me when Suzanne was pretending to be me.
She smiled blissfully as she stared off into space. She brought her hands up to her boobs and lightly caressed them. Tiger REALLY loves my big tits, doesn't he? And that's what they should be called, big tits, not breasts. As in, "Tiger, shoot your cum all over my big tits!" Then I'd rub them together and smear his sweet seed into my skin, even deep into my cleavage. I'm sure he'd love that. After all, he says I'm sexier than the sexiest Playboy centerfold! I hate that it's a Wednesday. That means it's six whole days until his next abnormality check. Darn it!
She suddenly let go of her boobs, stood up, and started anxiously pacing around the living room. Listen to me. I'm slipping again. I've got to get a grip, for real! Now! It must be five o'clock, or close to it. Ron will be home by six! And what about Angel? It's quite surprising that she's not home from her shopping already. What if she were to come home right now and see me pacing around like this?! I'm not some slutty strumpet; I'm a responsible adult and mother and I need to start acting like one!
She returned to the sofa and sat down next to her clothes, intending to put them back on. She picked up her blouse with both hands, but just held it in front of her. UGH! Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, you know. We have to deal with the hand we're dealt, not the one we want. Suzanne's the lucky one. Even as I sit here, she's bobbing and slurping all over Tiger's fat cock! Knowing her, she'll probably gobble it down until her nose is buried in his pubic hair. Darn it! I'm so envious!
She sighed again. But then she resumed putting her clothes back on.
However, that didn't end Susan's inner conflict. She paced around and fretted for another five minutes until she was too frazzled to think. She didn't even know how it happened, but somehow she wound up peeking through the window at the sun deck again. Although she'd put her clothes back on, she'd resolved to go back to her room to change into something more appropriate for dinner with her husband and family. But she had to go right past the sun deck on her way to her room, and she couldn't help but take a very brief glance through the window to see if Suzanne really was giving Alan a blowjob.
As soon as she looked and saw that Suzanne was in fact doing that, she was hooked. She thought as she breathlessly gawked, Good God! Lord have mercy! Look at her go! She's really doing it! And not only that, but she's naked and on her knees while Tiger sits there in the sun like some kind of Egyptian pharaoh! It's even more exciting than seeing her suck him last night!
She continued to stand there and stare. Suddenly, it felt like the temperature in the hallway was 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or more. She's right, there IS something special about that position. Naked and kneeling IS the right and proper way to suck my son's cock! She looks extra sexy like that. It's almost like the mighty Suzanne is bowing in submission to him. Oh my goodness! THAT'S an arousing thought, to say the least! Like, like... like he really IS a pharaoh, and she's worshipping his cock with her lips and tongue!
HNNNG! Oh God! Hot! Too hot! Now, I really AM burning up! What if that were ME, regularly worshipping his cock with MY lips and tongue?! And my hands! All at once, doing everything possible to get him to cum, just like Suzanne is right now!
She tore her eyes away and looked down the hall towards her room. I absolutely positively have to go now. My thoughts are turning downright blasphemous. How dare I use the word "worship" for such a sinful act?! Besides, duty calls. And I got caught once already. I can't let Angel catch me too. Or Ron! Oh no! Ron! Why do I have to be married to him?!
But on the other hand... She turned back to the window and resumed watching. How could I not watch THAT? I think it's the most incredible sight I've ever seen! Suzanne, on her KNEES! I see what she means about the symbolism of that position. I know exactly how she feels, with her lips tightly sealed around his shaft and her tongue dancing all over his sweet spot. Mmmm! YES! That was ME last Tuesday! God, that was probably the best day of my life! It certainly was the most arousing and exciting, by far! If Tiger really needs all that oral help, why should Suzanne have all the fun? Oh dear. I'm salivating like a panting dog again, but I can't help it!
Her arousal was soaring still higher as she peered even more carefully through the window to closely examine every move her best friend was making. Look at Suzanne's sliding lips! Even with her eyes closed, you can tell she's in total ecstasy! That feeling of fullness, feeling my mouth stuffed to the brim with Tiger's cock, that's the absolute BEST! It's like Suzanne said, that's proof of Tiger's love. Every hot, throbbing, thick inch proves how much he loves me!
She abruptly turned away and paced down the hall. I can't look! It's too tempting! Too painful! That should be ME! Lord, why is doing that so wrong?! Why does it have to be so wrong for a mother to show her son her love with her mouth and hands like that?! And why did you have to make sinful things like that so much FUN?! Somehow, it feels like I belong there, kneeling between his legs, with his pre-cum leaking into my mouth. I want it so very much, but I can't have it!
She paced right back to the window, but after a brief peek she paced away again. I can't! I can't! With a renewed burst of determination, she made it all the way to her bedroom at the end of the hall. Then she firmly shut the door behind her, like she was being chased by bats out of hell. Phew! There! I did it! Thank the Lord!
But she wasn't entirely in a "reformed" mood. She immediately took her clothes off and went to her bathroom to take a shower. She's been taking a lot of showers lately, especially long ones, because that's where she allowed herself to have her special "tingles" (also known as orgasms) under the pretense of thoroughly cleaning her private parts.
She had an even longer and extra tingly shower this time, and the entire time, her thoughts were consumed by alternating visions of Suzanne sucking Alan's cock and herself doing the same in the exact same position and style. Her frequent showers tended to dry out her skin, so she felt the need to apply moisturizing lotion. That got her hot and bothered all over again, which led to yet another "tingle" session.
As it turned out, Susan didn't miss all that much.
That's because Suzanne felt like she had the ability to sense if Susan was spying on her or not. She wasn't sure if her sensation was real, but she felt Susan watching for a few minutes and then she felt she wasn't. Alan was almost painfully close to cumming well before Susan had her loud orgasm, due to everything that had happened already, so Suzanne had to use all of her considerable talents to hold him off while making it look good in case Susan was there. But that was difficult to maintain for both of them, and after she sensed that Susan had come and gone, she stopped trying to prolong the joy.
Sure enough, Alan climaxed less than a minute later. She'd been bobbing on his shaft when he started, but she made sure to quickly pull off so most of his load wound up on her face and chest. She wanted to show off her shiny cum streaks to Susan to further tempt her. Then, with his hard-on still shooting of the last weak squirts, she got up and rushed to the door and out into the hallway to see if Susan was there.
To her disappointment, there was no sign of her. She knew that it was possible that Susan could have rushed out of sight if she acted quickly, but there wasn't any smell of female arousal in the air. Even the earlier sex smell was gone.
Suzanne thought, A-ha! My "spider sense" was right after all. I'll bet she was here for a while, but it was just too exciting and scary for her to handle for long. The poor girl. I can't wait until I finish clearing that prudish crap out of her mind, root and branch! She's on the verge of living in an endless sexual utopia with Sweetie and me. Why can't she see that yet?
Suzanne went back to a recovering Alan and explained her hunch that Susan had peeked in on them again, but not for long, and admitted it was only a hunch.
Alan was mentally and physically wrung out from the experience. He didn't have the mental energy to even contemplate the possibility that Susan had spied on him some more. The fact that she'd spied on him earlier was too thrilling for him to contemplate already. He went back to his room and laid on his bed. He wasn't really sleepy since he'd taken his nap earlier, but he needed to chill out for a while.
Suzanne checked the sun deck and hallway for any signs of sexual activity. She didn't find any except for a wet spot on the plastic seat Alan had been sitting on. She cleaned that up and then went downstairs and got some air freshener. She sprayed it around the hallway and deck, just to be on the safe side. She took her clothes off the hallway floor, but still didn't put them back on.
With that all accomplished and the danger of getting "busted" greatly reduced, she still had to deal with his cum on her face and chest. She sat in front of Alan's prone, resting body, and gave him a sultry smile. "Aaaah... This is my favorite part of the clean-up process. Now, what should I do with all your cum? It's too delicious to go to waste. Besides, we don't want any of your seed to touch the ground and trigger an Onanistic crisis." She knowingly winked at him, since neither of them shared Susan's belief about the "sin of Onan." She swept up a cum gob off her left breast and brought a cummy finger to her mouth. "That just leaves me one very tasty disposal choice." She sucked her finger clean.
He groaned with a mixture of lust and dismay. "Oh, man! Aunt Suzy, please! It's like you're trying to sex me to death. Are you SURE you're not at least part succubus?"
She joked, "Well, if you must know, I am one-eighth succubus, due to a certain adventure my mother's father had on the astral plane."
He thought, Man, I could almost believe it, too. It's not just that she's so beautiful; she has a ravenous sexual appetite! I think I'm in waaaay over my head trying to juggle multiple women, especially with one of them being her. But, by God, if I'm going to collapse from exhaustion before long, what a great way to go!
She proceeded to consume the rest of his cum right in front of him, while giving a running account of how much she enjoyed it, how much she wanted him to blast another load on her, and other such titillating comments. She was trying to get him erect again.
But it was not to be. He really was down for the count for a while.
Eventually, she let him be. She put the air freshener away and went to Susan's room to see what her best friend was doing. She thought it would help Susan process what had happened if the two of them could talk about it for a while afterwards. But Susan was still in the middle of her long shower, and while the two of them didn't have much of a sense of privacy with each other, she thought it would be going too far to interrupt a shower.
Suzanne knew that Susan's frequent showers lately were just a fig-leaf for her masturbation sessions. So she figured, correctly, this would be a very long shower indeed. As a result, she finally put her clothes back on and then headed back home. It was getting late and she had to cook dinner for her family.
After Susan's shower finished, she went to her bed and just laid on it, just as Alan was still doing in his room. She felt vaguely dissatisfied. She told herself that she should pat herself on her back by resisting temptation and managing to stop spying on Alan and Suzanne after just a couple of minutes, but that felt more like defeat that victory. She didn't know what she wanted or how to feel.
Susan had grown up in an environment where a strict and literal interpretation of the Bible provided all the answers and left few gray areas. She felt extremely uneasy about such uncertainty, or even having a clear sense of what was right and what was wrong.
Ron came home a few minutes before six, exactly as expected. It took a little longer before Katherine came home, which was unusual. Katherine had gone to the mall with Amy to buy more sexually-revealing clothes to help stimulate Alan, just as Suzanne had said. And once they got started shopping, they didn't want to stop. They ended up calling both Susan and Suzanne respectively to say that they would eat at the food court in the mall, which they did.
Ron, Susan, and Alan ate dinner together that evening. There was a tension in the air, although they all were in denial about it. Susan and Alan were having issues with Ron and Ron was having issues with them, but nobody seemed willing to directly talk about it. Plus, they had sexual desires and feelings they were trying hard not to think about during dinner. As a result, everyone mostly picked at their bell peppers stuffed with risotto, even though it was one of Susan's most popular recipes.
That night, Susan and Ron went to see a movie. Alan chose to stay at home, since he didn't want to be with Ron any more than necessary. He was left all alone, since Katherine and Amy were still at the mall, still shopping up a storm.
It was a fortunate decision for Alan. Mere minutes after Ron and Susan went out the door, Suzanne let herself in. She knew of the movie plans and had watched and waited very impatiently until their car left.
Suzanne had a natural flair for the dramatic. She came over dressed in a muumuu, throwing it off after she got in the door. Underneath she wore something that Daisy Duke from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' TV show might have worn, except that even Daisy would have been too modest to wear it.
Alan was sitting on a sofa in the living room watching TV. He got up and went to the foyer to have a closer look.
Suzanne was unusually embarrassed at first, because these were not the kind of clothes she would normally consider wearing, even if she wanted to look extremely provocative. The outfit simply screamed 'trailer trash,' which the sophisticated and cultured Suzanne certainly was not. She hoped that Alan was into costumes and role-plays, but she didn't know if he was.
It didn't help that he just stood there and gawked.
She pressed ahead, breaking the silence with a Southern drawl. "Howdy, stranger. I'm thinking that someone in this-here house has been lackin' in visual stimulation lately. Am I right?"
"Holy fucking crap, Aunt Suzy! You are so right!" He was so excited that his boner sprang out of his short shorts, snaking down his left thigh on its own volition.
Suzanne in her 'Daisy Duke' outfit, with ragged cutoff blouse that barely covers her areolae, and very short ragged cutoff shorts
Suzanne wore cut-off jeans which were quite short in the front, but even shorter in the back. In fact, in the back it almost seemed as if she wore a G-string made out of blue denim fabric. Her top was a light green sleeveless pullover that she'd cut away from below, right up to the nipple line, so that it covered her only from neck to nipples. Any slight movement on her part would cause the fabric to ride all the way up her boobs. As she modeled the outfit for him, she used her upper arms to strategically push her boobs further forward and out. It made her look so top heavy that he was half-convinced gravity would force her to fall forward at any moment.
Since he knew he was alone with Suzanne, and his erection was poking out anyway, he unzipped his fly and grasped his rod. "Dang, Aunt Suzy! You're the sexiest thing I've ever seen!"
She smiled, greatly encouraged by his enthusiasm. She went on in her fake Southern accent, "I've been a-thinkin' that someone in this-here house is way overdue for a good ol' cocksuckin'. What do ya think about that-there idea, partner? I reckon that's yer third leg you're holdin' there. Looks like it could use a good tongue bath. I bet it would look real purdy with a lipstick ring way down at the root, too. How 'bout it, mister?"
She said all of this with the most exaggerated Southern accent she could conjure up, and she was very good with accents. As if that wasn't stimulation enough, she moved one of her hands to her breasts, which instantly became uncovered, and her other hand to her crotch, where she began stroking herself beneath her shorts. "I'm so doggone horny, it's right lucky there ain't no farm animals in sight," she drawled as she tried to keep a straight face.
He was so excited that he nearly creamed then and there. In fact, he ran to his room to give himself a chance to cool down some, saying, "See you in my room in a few minutes, partner," as he sped off. He would have loved to banter back in this manner for a while, using a Southern accent of his own, but he was forced to retreat instead so he wouldn't lose it completely and ejaculate before the fun really started.
He sat in his room and drew upon the most unarousing thoughts he could come up with, just to calm down a bit.
Suzanne soon came in. She had a way of swishing her hips when she walked that sprouted boners wherever she went, but in these short shorts she was so sexy that she could practically be arrested for disturbing the peace, had anyone but Alan seen the stirring sight.
Alan said, "Phew! You win the Best Visual Stimulation Ever award! I'd love to banter, but I'm so ready. Please do me now!"
"Who?" she asked innocently. "Lil' ol' me? I just luuuuve to suck me a cock, don'tcha know? Any cocks here that need a-suckin'? Oh, here's one!" She dropped the accent and the role and got down to what she loved the most lately: slurping and licking his stiff bone.
"Oh yes! Oh yes! So good! So good!" he screamed, safe in the knowledge that for once the house was completely empty.
B: Suzanne licking Alan's boner
He tried his best to endure, but he couldn't last for long in the face of such an erotic assault. Her tongue was so long and agile that it seemed to wrap completely around his erection, though it mostly just seemed that way since not even Suzanne was capable of such a feat.
After about a minute, she let go and pulled back. "Hey there, partner, don't you be gettin' too worked up now, hear? I reckon I's just gettin' started."
"Oh, man!"
She dropped her accent and her role to ask him, "What, are you that bummed I stopped? Remember what Akami said about how you need both quality and quantity?"
"No, it's not that. I'm not bummed; I'm over the moon PSYCHED! I mean, it's not just what you're doing here with the role-play and all. That's awesome enough. But it's what this means for the future! You and I are gonna have soooo much fun that it's simply unbelievable!"
She grinned a bit wolfishly, now that she understood. "That's right. I feel the exact same way." She playfully flicked her long tongue at the tip of his cockhead. "I love having this kind of fun with you. We're gonna do it over and over and over again. And hopefully Susan will be right there with us. Do you like role-plays?"
"Oh, MAN! I love 'em! Like when you pretended to be Mom on the phone this afternoon. That was so arousing it's unreal!"
She grinned at him even more hungrily. Suddenly, her Southern accent was back. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? I never met me a big ol' honkin' fat cock like this I didn't luv to give a little suckin'!"
She went back at it, expertly using her tongue and lips, and sometimes her fingers too. But she was more careful this time not to get him too excited too fast. The minutes passed in seemingly endless pleasure for both of them.
He was glad that the rest of his family was out of the house, because it gave him the freedom to cry out. But after just a few more minutes, he unexpectedly felt his ejaculation coming on. Within seconds, the urge to climax welled up inside him and grew unbearable, and it was too late for his PC muscle trick. So he yelled at the top of his lungs, "YES! GOD YES! SUCK IT!"
Cum pumped from his cock and down her throat. He guessed that most women probably stopped sucking and licking at that point and just swallowed the rest. But not Suzanne. If anything, she redoubled her efforts. She sucked on him so hard that he thought she might pull it out completely by the root, or turn it inside-out. Her hand never stopped jacking him off either, until she'd wrung the last drop of cum from him.
It was that kind of extra effort that made her blowjobs truly awe-inspiring. She hadn't given such treatment to all of her previous lovers, or even many of them, and even then she'd saved a lot of tricks for use only on special occasions. But she loved Alan so much that she wanted him to have an extraordinary experience every single time.
After he'd shot his seed into her mouth and she'd thoroughly "cleaned" his cock until it was too sensitive to touch, the two of them rested.
In her normal scratchy voice, she teased him, "I leave you alone for a couple of hours, and this is what happens. Horrible, horrible cum buildup and a quick trigger. You hardly lasted a minute there." She winked, since they both knew it was a good deal longer than that. "Okay, so it was barely more than five minutes, and I've already learned you can do a lot better than that. I'd hate to see your reaction if I were gone for a whole day! Isn't anyone taking care of you?"
He replied with a great big smile, "Well, yeah: you! How can you forget what happened on the sun deck? I don't think it was even two hours ago. I'm still kind of walking on air from that."
"Not that, silly. I mean any help other than me. Has anyone else helped you lately?"
He thought, Hmmm, it's better not to mention what had happened - and what's going to happen - with Sis. She might not even mind. In fact, after what happened today, between her talk about Brenda and what happened with Mom, I wouldn't be surprised if she actually applauded that. How great would that be?! But I can't be sure. It's safer to wait a little while until there's no turning back, and then tell her.
He said honestly, "Well, not counting what happened this afternoon with you, the last time I got any help was last night with you and Mom. I had to take things in hand myself twice before school."
"You poor thing. Forced to abuse yourself because your mean old mother doesn't help enough while your father is in town. I'm looking every day for a chance to come over, but with Ron around this is the best I can do."
Then in a playful but chastising tone, she complained, "However, I expect better from you. More staying power. Can you do it again? I just happen to know their movie is exactly one hour and thirty-seven minutes long."
"Can I do it again?" he asked incredulously. "With you dressed like that, that's like asking 'Does a bear shit in the woods?' God, yes!"
Suzanne's very short, ragged cutoff shorts, seen from behind, showing her ass cheeks
"Dressed like what?" She stood up and turned around, then backed her butt up almost into his nose.
He reached out and stroked her pale, firm butt cheeks, sometimes going over the rough blue-jeans fabric too. "Like this. I know you're always dressing in power suits and nice clothes and stuff, so to dress like trailer trash just to help get me hard really says something. I think it shows how much you love me."
With his fingers trying to pry under the fabric deep in her ass crack, he said with complete sincerity, "I love you, Aunt Suzy. You're the greatest. And I'm the luckiest guy alive."
Her heart fluttered with delight to hear him say that. However, she wasn't good with that kind of "mushy" language, so she tried to make light of the moment. She laughed, and then turned around to make eye contact. "You are that, for sure. But 'I love you'... Are you just saying that? What do you mean? ... You love my blowjobs?" She reached down and resumed fondling his flaccid penis, as if to emphasize her point.
He knew that she tended to shy away from emotional declarations, but he felt so strongly about her that he stared right into her eyes and repeated his comment in a way she couldn't easily brush off. "I mean just that. I. Love. You. I know I haven't shown my feelings very well in the past, but I'm proud to say it. I mean I love you, in all ways!"
She practically swooned, she was so emotionally overcome. THIS! This is why I love my Sweetie so much! If any other guy were to say that to me, I'd think he's just trying to get in my pants. But I know my cutie means it, because he's loved me like he loves Susan ever since he was in diapers! Sure, he wants to fuck me too, but he loved me long before he even knew what fucking was. His love has grown and evolved, but never wavered. Just like my love for him started all those years ago and never wavered either. Sweetie, you're the only man I could ever truly love, and I love you with all my heart!
However, she was shy to verbally express herself as freely as he did. She just nodded and smiled.
He was frustrated by that non-answer, but he continued anyway. "Sexually, hell yeah. But also as a friend, and as a person, in every way. It's not just the handjobs and blowjobs, although those don't hurt!"
He laughed, and then got serious again. He ran a hand adoringly through her wild, curly red hair. "You've always been so kind and good to me, ever since I was a baby. I'm so lucky you're in my life. You've been so caring for me that you're practically like my second mother. If that's not love, then I don't know what is."
"Oh Sweetie!" she exclaimed, suddenly dizzy with happiness, thanks to his obviously sincere and loving words. She'd been around the block with many men, but she felt giddy, as if he were her first crush. She was so emotionally moved that she let herself say, "My Sweetie! I love you too! In all those ways too!"
To his great surprise, she kissed him right on his lips, and even slid her tongue into his mouth. Within seconds, they were madly French kissing.
Alan felt like he'd touched an electrified fence, because thrills and chills ran all through his body in response to the kiss. For one thing, Suzanne had been acting like this was a completely forbidden activity, and now it wasn't. He decided not to ask why she'd changed her stance, for fear that she might have second thoughts and change it again. But he was also electrified because the kissing seemed like love and not just sex.
In addition, the kissing was extremely arousing in terms of pure physical pleasure. Suzanne's extra long tongue wasn't just made for blowjobs, but was great for kissing too. Sometimes, it probed so far in his mouth that he wanted to laugh. It almost felt like an eel, but in a very good way.
All of this was so very arousing that his dick soon fully revived. However, they were both so into the kissing that what happened to his penis was of little importance at the moment. Suzanne noticed when it got erect, and she did rub herself against it from time to time, but her hands were busy either with holding Alan's head in place for kissing or with caressing his face.
They kissed for many minutes. Her tiny top was already up around her shoulders, having ridden up during the blowjob, but she pulled it the rest of the way off.
His hands joyfully roamed all over her body. As usual, though, when he had such opportunities with Suzanne, "all over" meant an intense focus on her chest, some ass fondling, and little exploration elsewhere, since he knew she didn't want him to touch her pussy. But she loved it just the same.
As they kept necking, he thought, Incredible! Aunt Suzy, this goddess, this totally perfect, fully mature and voluptuous goddess ... she seems to really love me! And not just like an aunt. She really loves me, like a lover! It's so exciting that I'm almost dizzy!
At one point, he asked between kisses, "Aunt Suzy, what's the deal with your tongue?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, just that it's so damn long. It can do all kinds of things a normal tongue can't do. It's just insanely long!"
She chuckled. "Yeah? So what's your question?"
"I don't know. It's just... Well, for one thing, where have you been hiding it all these years?"
She chuckled some more. "I haven't really been hiding it. But how many people make a point of sticking their tongue out all the way? Do you?"
"Good point. But... dang! What a great, unexpected bonus for me. That's like a tongue genetically perfected for working on cocks. And it's great for kissing too. It's such an arousing thought, I don't dare even think about it very much, if you know what I mean."
"Mmmm!" She licked her way up and down his neck, making sure to demonstrate the length of her tongue as she did so. "For working on 'cock,' not 'cocks.' Your cock!" She finally took his boner in her hands and started stroking it in earnest. "You don't have to worry about me having any more of those stupid affairs. This is where I belong. With you."
She rolled her eyes, but playfully. "Yes, really. I know I'll have to share you with Susan, plus others to come. But you're the only man I want or need."
"Yes, others. Believe me, you'll love my vision of a sexual utopia. Note that I said 'only man.' You and I are going to be drowning in beautiful babes, starting with your mother!"
That was so exciting that he was nearly on the verge of hyperventilating, especially given the way she was steadily pumping a hand up and down his shaft.
She chuckled. "Calm down. Take a deep breath. Then, tell me everything that happened between you and your mom last night before I came in. The more I know, the better I can teach her."
He panted, "Teach her? Teach her what?"
"Teach her how to fall passionately in love with you and your cock, that's what! And I don't mean motherly love - I mean carnal love. Luckily, we're more than halfway there. She's totally obsessed with your cock already; it's just that she's in denial about it."
"Oh, man!" he grunted lustily. Already, he was so worried that he was going to cum again that he reached down and tried to remove Suzanne's hand from his hot pole.
However, she refused to budge, or even stop stroking him. "Come on, big boy. Buck up and deal with it. You're in the big leagues now. I'm teaching and training you too, you know."
"You are? How?"
"I must say, you already have pretty impressive stamina and recuperative abilities, especially for a virgin. That's a big, unexpected bonus. However, with every orgasm you have with me, I'll train you to last a little longer, to handle a little more pleasure. If you think you're man enough for Susan AND me, you're going to have to turn into the super stud I keep claiming that you already are."
He shook his head in astonishment at the future she seemed to anticipate for him. He asked, "Before I answer that question you asked about Mom, can I ask you one?"
"Sure. Shoot."
"You keep talking about my mom with all these tantalizing sexual hints, which is great. But do you ever feel jealous about her and me? Like, this afternoon, when I was praising her a lot while you were pretending to be her, did that bother you even a tiny bit?"
"Maybe a teeny tiny bit, but not really. For one thing, I think my boobs are a bit bigger and a bit nicer." She smiled and laughed at that. "But the thing is, I know how much you love her, and also how much you desire her. That was written on your face long before any of this began."
"Really?! Even the desire part?!"
"Yes, but only to someone like me, who knows you as well as I do and sees even the subtle little looks you give her when you think she doesn't notice. Anyway, I knew that AND I knew how strongly you've loved and lusted for me too. It's silly to quibble about whether you might love one of us a tiny smidgen more, because your feelings are way off the charts for both of us. I consider Susan and me to be your sexual support team, even though she doesn't really realize that yet."
"Wow. You're incredible. You're way too good to me." He looked down at her sliding fingers, which were virtually coated in pre-cum. Ain't that the truth?! Man! "I just want you to know that everything I said about her, all that praise, that could just as easily have been said about you. You're both so similar, especially body-wise. And you both have hearts of gold. It's just that Mom wears hers on her sleeve, and you hide yours under your jaded, worldly exterior. However, you're a total sweetheart deep down, and I know it!"
Suzanne mock-cursed him. "Damn you! You're just so fucking lovable!"
He was concerned for a second, until he realized that she wasn't mad at him at all, and in fact it was just the opposite.
She repositioned, bringing her face closer to his crotch. "Look at what you're making me do. How can I NOT lick your cock after you say mushy crap like that?" She blew her minty breath directly on his sweet spot, making him shiver. "Now, while I get busy with this incorrigible beast, tell me what happened with your mom last night, the part where I wasn't there." Then she settled down and started licking, with a non-stop focus on that very same spot.
Alan explained in great detail how he had walked in on Susan as she was finishing her shower. His arousal level rose even higher as he recalled the events.
Suzanne actually ended up stroking his erection most of the time while he talked. She wanted to lick him or even suck on him, but after just a couple of minutes of that it became clear that he wouldn't last long if she kept that up. She knew they had plenty of time until the others got home, and she wanted to make every minute count. Plus, he was hardly able to string a coherent sentence together, much less tell the whole story, until she let up on him.
Still, they were having great fun. The resulting slower and more relaxed approach was actually a nice change of pace for both of them.
When he got to the point where Suzanne had entered the bedroom, she said, "Nice story. I thought you'd messed up in some way, but apparently she had just gotten a little skittish. It happens sometimes. I have to admire your assertiveness. I hope we see more of that from you. Fortune favors the bold. Never forget it."
"I just basically did what you told me," he admitted.
Suzanne glanced down at his boner and gave it a friendly kiss right at the top of his cockhead. As she slid her fingers all over his shaft, she continued, "True, but you did do it, and you did it well. That said, you know what I really like? How Susan never put on her clothes through all of that. Think about it: she was in her bathroom and then in her bedroom. There are towels everywhere, not to mention cabinets and closets full of clothes all over the place. She sat on her bed and didn't even try to cover up with a sheet or a pillow. She's no rocket scientist, but she's not dumb either. If she didn't think of covering up, it's because at some level she didn't want to. The fact is, she WANTS to be naked for you. In fact, she wore just high heels because she knew you'd love that. Don't listen to her verbal protests in a situation like that; look at her body."
He joked, "Well, if you insist, I'll force myself to check her out."
Suzanne mercilessly rubbed his most sensitive spot to "punish him" for his joke. She grinned. "You do that. Did you see how much she was dripping? Her pussy, I mean. Give her a couple more days, tops, and she'll be back to slurping on your pole. Hell, I'll bet you she'll be wrapping those red lips of hers around your Johnson even before Ron leaves. Can you just picture that? Imagine your mother kissing your father while the taste of your semen is still in her mouth. Kinky!"
He groaned while looking down at what her hands were doing to his hard-on. "Aunt Suzy, please stop saying such things! If you go on like that, I'm gonna have a quick trigger again."
She had a wicked gleam in her eye. "Okay. But that reminds me. True, I was trying to arouse you last night when I said you had surprising endurance, but despite my teasing about the occasional quick trigger, you really do. I AM really impressed with what you've accomplished with your PC muscle control in such a short time. You're a quick learner. We've got a long time until the others come back, so let's work on your endurance some more."
She sucked him to orgasm again, but this time they took over an hour to do it. She kept him right on the edge, always aware of just when to pull back and let him retreat from the precipice.
For the first time, Alan felt his PC muscle exercises really paying dividends. She worked with him on perfecting his endurance. They talked a lot about what they were feeling and doing, so he'd be able to recognize the signs of imminent orgasm in the future.
She taught him to warn her when he was getting close, and then they would take a break until he was ready to go again. When that happened, she was able to rest her jaw and hands so she could keep going too. In addition, she was getting to know his non-verbal cues very well. For instance, she was learning to distinguish subtle differences of meanings in his erotic moans.
To his great delight, some of the breaks they took so his dick could recover turned into more prolonged necking and kissing sessions. He was somewhat incredulous that she really intended those to be breaks, since he remained unbelievably aroused. She often jacked him off during such "breaks," or at least rubbed her beautiful body against his erection. He was impressed at her stamina too, since her hands and mouth seemingly never stopped doing something or another to him.
MP: Alan probing Suzanne's cunt and anus from behind
Somewhere along the line her Daisy Duke shorts came off, and she gave him the green light that he was free to touch her anywhere at all, without exception. That eventually led to his fingers pistoning in and out of her cunt and anus until his hands were sore, often doing both holes at the same time.
He figured the little anal fingering trick he'd learned from Akami worked so well on Susan that he should try it on Suzanne too. But Suzanne taught him some more about the importance of hygiene whenever touching a woman's anus. She wouldn't let his fingers that had been in there touch her anywhere else until he washed his hands again.
He kept her on the edge too, and then pushed her over it so that she had orgasm after orgasm. In fact, she had more orgasms than she'd ever had before in such a short interval. True, she'd had better lovers, but it was the fact that she was deeply in love with Alan, but hadn't been with any of those others (except her husband Eric, early in her marriage), that made the main difference.
His fingering of her was almost a defensive move, because he found that driving her to the brink of climax was about the only way he could get her distracted enough to actually stop stimulating his boner for a while. His dick desperately needed these breaks for a real chance to recover a little bit.
Suzanne's lust was largely driven my her extremely needy pussy, and she was sorely tempted to let him fuck her. However, she wasn't ready to have him go that far just yet, purely because of the continuing long-term danger of getting caught. She realized that at the very least she had to wait until Susan's husband was gone, or else the odds of getting caught would be too high. Opportunities like this movie night were extremely rare, and once she started she didn't want to get fucked only every once in a while. In fact, she knew she'd want it every day, and that just wasn't possible until Susan's sexual attitudes evolved much more to permit that.
However, Alan's control over his dick still needed a lot of work. At one point, Suzanne was stroking his shaft and everything seemed under control, but a second later he was firing his cum straight up into the air. He'd passed the point of no return and couldn't even focus on exercising his PC muscle.
Suzanne acted quickly. As she kept jacking him off, she aimed his cum at her huge boobs. "Cum on me! I want you to cover me in your cum!"
He felt dizzy watching his centerfold-worthy aunt tilt her head back and bask in his rain of cum like it was some kind of manna from Heaven. She alternated between opening her mouth wide for the cum to fall in it, and smiling from ear to ear, like she was having the time of her life.
After his orgasm ended, he complained, "That's kind of unfair. I mean, what you do with your hands and your mouth is just so great. That gets me off, big time. But then, whenever you have your mouth free, you're always saying the most insanely sexy stuff. That double whammy is unstoppable. And then there's the 'visual stimulation' factor. It's a triple whammy, really. You're such a relentless cock drainer that it's almost cruel. And what about your extra long tongue? That makes you a quadruple threat. Not only that-"
She cut him off and pointed out, "But look what you did. True, we had lots and lots of breaks, but you kept going for a whole hour without cumming, if you count the time between your two orgasms. Trust me, that's really unusual. I'm actually wondering how you manage it."
He explained, "Well, the thing is, when I'm having fun with you like this it's so great that I never want it to end. Literally. I wish we could go on for days and days. When I finally cum, it's like popping a balloon. The party's over. I'll do anything to keep the party going. I really, really, REALLY fight that urge to blow my load."
As she ate his cum off her chest and face, she pointed out, "A lot of guys would like to say the same thing, but when it comes to it, they can't stop or even take a short break to save their life. I think I'm just too much woman for some guys. And then there are the clueless ones. I've known guys that look pretty hunky, but are content to coast on appearance. Let's just say they think that five minutes is impressive."
He winked. "Sucks to be them. Though I can definitely relate to the ones who think you're too much woman to handle. The only reason I can handle you is because I grew up with you. It's like I've been inoculated to your sexiness, just to the point where I still remember to breathe. Actually, I owe everything to you. You're teaching me to be a good lover. I think we need to practice some more."
"Whoa. Recovered already? I just love eighteen-year-old boys!"
"No," he said, "but I will be soon, if you keep that up."
"Keep what up?"
"The way you're eating my cum! Damn, that's arousing! You run your long fingers through the pearly streaks on your face or breasts, and you look like you're having a grand ol' time just doing that."
"I am," she said happily. She ran several fingers through a heavily splattered region on the upper slopes of her great tits.
He winced, because it was almost too arousing a sight to see. "But then you suck your fingers clean in such an arousing way that I can hardly stand it. You close your eyes and make this orgasmic face and practically suck your finger like it's a tiny penis. And if that isn't too much already, you make these amazing erotic moans as you do it!"
She grinned impishly. "Hey, what can I say? I love your cum." She swiped up a gob off her eyebrow and then licked her finger clean even more ostentatiously than before, with an extra loud and sultry moan, just to tease him some more. "Talking about unexpected bonuses, when I agreed to help you, I never thought your cum would taste this sweet. Do you survive entirely on raw cookie dough or something?"
They both chuckled at that.
But it wasn't long before he resumed groaning needfully, due to the way she continued to consume his cum right off her skin. "I'd almost ask you to stop, but the alternative is possibly even worse! Seeing you sitting there with my cum dripping down your face and tits, and you're as pleased as a pig in mud! It's like you're proudly wearing my cum, well, almost like you like it there!"
"I do! I wish Susan were here to see this. I'm trying to get her to enjoy your cum as much as I do. I'm teaching her the joy of a nice facial. Mark my words: before long, she'll be wearing your cum on her face with pride."
"Argh!" He was frustrated, but he totally loved it too. He looked down at his dick and saw it starting to rise. "See? See what you do to me? This is a vicious cycle. I cum on you, then watching you either eat it all up or keep it on your face is so arousing that I get hard and you make me cum again, not to mention the sexy things you say. I just keep cumming and cumming and cumming!"
She cradled his rising erection in her hands and said with mock dismay, "That sounds just terrible! Terrible! But such is our cruel fate. Let's suffer together." She engulfed his cockhead and suckled on it, letting it continue growing to full size in her mouth.
She had the timing of her visit worked out down to the minute, to maximize their time together. She jacked him off and sucked him off for yet a third time.
Eventually, she looked at a clock on the wall, and said, "I hate to say this, but they should be coming home soon. We'll need to wrap this up. Where would you like to cum? On my chest? My face? Down my throat? Somewhere else?"
"My God, what great options! Um, face!" He was already letting up on his PC muscle resistance, so as soon as he said that, his cum started to fire.
When he was done, Suzanne looked down at herself and chuckled. "Just look at me! Somehow, I knew you were going to say that."
He sheepishly admitted, "Yeah, well, you still have all that cum on your tits, and I kinda wanted to see a matching paint job on your face. I'm sorry. Like I said earlier, seeing your face painted with my cum really turns me on."
"Sorry? Why be sorry?"
"Women aren't into that, right? That's what I've heard. At best they tolerate it, because they know guys like it."
Suzanne admitted, "I'll concede that was true for me in the past. And I suppose a lot of women do feel that way, maybe even most. But with you, it's different somehow. Partly, I think it's because your cum tastes so great. It's fun, like you've been spraying me with a can of tasty whipped cream. I've been with guys who tasted awful, and let's just say getting rid of that was a problem. But also, I don't know... Somehow, the fact that it's you that's doing it... It's different."
"Why is it different with me?"
She groaned with frustration, because that was the last thing she wanted him to ask. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him, but she wasn't good at being open about such feelings, even though they'd been talking earlier about their love for each other. Instead she said, "I don't know. It just is, okay?" To change the conversation, she licked a large gob of cum from her chin and made a big production out of swallowing it. "Mmmm! That is so good! Would you like some?"
"What? Are you kidding me? No!"
"Your loss," she snickered, and ate some more. "You have no idea how good this stuff tastes. It's a nice, unexpected bonus for me. I almost wish it didn't taste so good, because once the word gets out, you'll have women lining up around the block to take turns sucking you off. Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it really is damn tasty."
He whimpered as he pictured that scenario.
The two of them quickly cleaned up and used air freshener to cover the traces of their activities. Both were so sticky and sweaty that they had to take quick showers.
She got her Daisy Duke clothes from his room, slipped the jeans shorts back on (but not the top), and finally turned to leave.
He said, "Wait a sec, Aunt Suzy. Can you just stand like that for a minute? I want to admire your remarkable backside and take a mental picture."
Suzanne standing in her ragged short cutoff shorts and high heels, seen from the rear
"Anything for you, Sweetie." She wiggled her butt suggestively as she stood by his door.
All she had on was the tiny mockery of cut-off jeans. And to please him further, she pulled them up with her hand, which caused them to ride even further up her ass crack.
He also noted that somehow, after everything they had just done together, she still managed to wear high heels.
Ever since he'd begun his 'medical treatment,' she had rarely been in his sight without high heels on her feet. That was one of the things about her that turned him on so much. If nothing else, it showed a remarkable dedication to pleasing him. About the only times he'd seen her without heels lately were when she was completely naked and on a bed or some place like that where heels could be a problem.
"Damn, you are one healthy woman, do you know that?" he enthused. "And Daisy. I can't wait to see her and her cocksuckin' ways again."
"Cocksuckin'?" Suzanne turned her head around and used her Southern drawl again. "Someone in these here parts mention a cocksuckin'? Why, I'd just die for a mouth-waterin', tit-jigglin', twat-tinglin', friendly neighborly cocksuckin'! It's been nearly ten minutes since my last one, and that's far too long. Everybody in town says I's the best cocksucker around, and that's no boastin', just plain factualizin'. Why, my pappy says I's better at cocksuckin' than I is at fuckin', and he should know firsthand about both, better than anybody! Even all my brothers say Daisy's better at cocksuckin' than any of her sisters, and that's sayin' a lot, since us Duke women win the Annual Lower East Podunk County Cocksucking Festival prize every single year! That's 'cos we get so much practice at home. Ain't that the truth, Sweetie?"
"Enough!" cried Alan. "You're driving me wild and my dick hurts already! I beg you: don't make it hard again."
But Suzanne was having too much fun to stop. "I hate to boast, but, why, I'll bet there ain't a single man in the whole county who won't tell you from hands-on experience what a good cocksucker I is. Even at school, the principal made me a special allowance so I could take all my classes lyin' on a bed instead of a-sittin' in one of them uncomfortable chair thingies. That's so's how the other students and teachers can have one cock or another in my mouth all day long, and yet another one up my cute lil' cunny. Can't be forgettin' my bum hole, neither. Why, it's gotten so's that I can hardly think straight unless all three of my holes are gettin' pumped full of somethin'. That's a Duke women tradition, it is, them beds at school. I never use one of them chairs for nuthin', on account of people always makin' me lie down and get fucked, if'n I wanna or not. Course, I almost always wanna."
She drawled, "Doesn't matter what I think, though. The town council passed an ordinance, all special for me and us Duke women. Says the rape laws don't count for us, but instead we's committin' a crime if'n we refuse to be fucked at any time by anybody. Don't even know why I ever bother wearin' these here shorts, since it's likely least three different folks'll take 'em off before I even reach school in the mornin'. Always late to most everythin', I is, on account of being fucked so much by passin' strangers."
Alan, to his amazement, found his dick hard yet again, even though he'd had three orgasms in the last hour and a half. He immediately began to stroke it.
She continued in her delightful Southern drawl, "Course, we Dukes just have one big bed back at the ranch. 'Bout as wide as a cornfield, that bed is, but it's plowin' season every day on that bed. Why, it gets just plain confusin', that big bed does, tryin' to reckon who's plowin' who. I never can tell if that tongue up my ass belongs to my mammy, one of my sisters, my aunties, the neighbors, or just one of them many strange folk passin' through. And there's a tongue up there I reckon just about all the time, unless of course there's a cock fillin' the hole instead. Always a tongue somewhere on me, anyhow."
She took over the stroking of his erection. "Yes siree, we Dukes sure know how to have fun. Speakin' a-which, lookee at this cock raaaght here. Bet it could use some powerful cocksuckin' this very moment. 'Course, I noticed most cocks do. 'Bout the only thing I learnt in school, now that I think about it. So many special classes set up just for me and my sisters, with the word 'cocksuckin'' somewhere in the title."
She brought her mouth closer to his crotch. "Too bad I gotta run, 'cos looks like this-here cock would darn near split me in two. Gotta go to the big McCoy orgy tonight. Mammy and pappy wanna fuck me in front of all the neighbors again, like they always do. Says we gotta show them McCoys who's the closest, fuckingest family in these here parts."
She flicked her exceedingly long tongue at his cock, driving him crazy by just failing to reach it. "Since I gotta skeedaddle, just stop by the ranch sometime and say howdy to me with yer big prick. Why, it's hardly a proper hello without at least one thorough fuckin' down my tight little love hole, don'tcha reckon? I'd be right offended if y'all didn't give me a good 'hello' fuck, plus a 'goodbye' one too! Besides, once y'all see my sexy mama and all my sexy, naked sisters, you're gonna wanna spend all day there, just fuckin' and suckin' 'em all. That's true Southern hospitality for ya. See ya!"
She winked and hurried out of the room, leaving him groaning with desire and a hot and throbbing hard-on.
She threw on her long coat, which she'd earlier left by the front door, making it back to her house just minutes before Katherine and Amy came back to their respective homes from the mall. (They had known about the movie plans, so they'd tried to maximize their shopping time.) Ron and Susan returned from the movie only a few minutes after that.
Alan was actually glad Suzanne hadn't made him cum one more time, because he could tell instinctively that his penis had reached its limit. He had to rush to the bathroom and take a quick cold shower even as everyone else started to mill about the house.
He felt relatively normal again after showering, and he was happy to have his penis flaccid, for once. However, there was a strange ache deep in his ass that he couldn't explain. He figured maybe it had something to do with an overworked prostate gland, or perhaps with all the exercise that his PC muscle had gotten.
As he brushed his teeth while preparing to go to bed, he thought, Aunt Suzy is a true wonder. Forget her looks for a minute. How many women can do the things she can do, and all at once, no less?! For instance, faking accents, spontaneous horny stories, and of course her excellent "cocksuckin'"! Sweetness! I still can't believe she wants to be with me. And now she says she doesn't want to be with any other men at all! I can't even think about that fact or my brain is going to have a full-on nuclear meltdown.
Then he pondered the very incestuous nature of Suzanne's story, and his own situation. Unbelievable. I'm really going to fuck my own sister tomorrow. And I'll be getting more blowjobs from Mom soon, it sounds like, especially if Aunt Suzy keeping doing what she's doing. Everything is becoming super sexual, like I've fallen through an Alice-in-Wonderland rabbit hole into a sex world. It's like I'm halfway to that mythical place in Aunt Suzy's Daisy Duke story! I think I'm gonna have some kind of death-by-sex nervous breakdown. Fucking unbelievable!
NOTE: Thanks to the suggestions and corrections of OmegaZone, Spurtz, EBC, WD40, Gnome, Wayac, ProxyAccount, NightShadow, Sam.I.am, Even, Magoo, Orestes, NickS, Mick, BamaPolyBiGuy1, Jamielynn, Sir J, Ecchi Spud, Logan616, AkhtariEl, and AmyFanatic46.
A special thanks goes to YamiBoy for colorizing existing illustrations. MagicMan also assisted in improving the pictures. Special thanks to Magoo and BamaPolyBiGuy1 for remarkably thorough and repeated proofreading. And finally, an extra special thanks to Sam.I.am for coordinating and processing all of the proofreading input.
XX01: An imaginary spot where Alan/the Reader sees Susan, Suzanne, and Brenda sitting at a table, smiling and playing cards. How would this be an imagined spot? All three would be totally naked.
XX02: Susan, naked, one hand stroking a nipple while the other hand strokes her clit, as she looks up at Alan, her mouth open, as she is looking out the window at Alan.
XX03: Susan, naked and kneeling, trying to cover up her nakedness with her arms blocking the view of her breasts and pussy, with her head facing down as her face blushes bright red in embarrassment.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47106
|
Helping The others Realize The Advantages Of psychology essay help
The large Five Product (generally known as the 5 Element Design) is definitely the prevailing theory during the trait model of persona. In the 2nd element within your paper, determine and describe Just about every of your five qualities included in the massive 5 design: extroversion, agreeableness, conscienciousness, neuroticism, and openness to practical experience.
Here is anything The scholars are essential to be familiar with about our on the web psychology assignment help.
Your customer care is wow! I although I used to be difficult but there was generally a person speaking to me. You are prompt in managing challenges whenever they arise.
Which considered one of the subsequent statements regarding the Human Genome Job is not really real? A. Researchers have discovered Practically all three billion units of DNA. B. Locating a gene is the initial step to comprehension how it really works. C. Most human features are impacted by just one gene. D. Genes ... Psychology
Wilhelm Wundt opened the world's first psychology lab in 1879, marking the beginning of psychology as a individual self-control.
Gustav Fechner began conducting psychophysics study in Leipzig in the 1830s, articulating the theory that human notion of the stimulus varies logarithmically As outlined by its intensity.[21] Fechner's 1860 Aspects of Psychophysics challenged Kant's stricture versus quantitative research of the thoughts.[19] In Heidelberg, Hermann von Helmholtz conducted parallel exploration on sensory notion, and skilled physiologist Wilhelm Wundt.
Please note that you do not really need to sign up or give any particular data to get your outcomes from this Web site. After you have completed the assessment, click the “No, just give me my benefits” hyperlink. This website link will get you to definitely a webpage that may tell you how you scored on Every single with the 5 characteristics With this concept.
Race was also accustomed to justify the construction of socially unique psychological disorders such as drapetomania and dysaesthesia aethiopica—the behavior of uncooperative African slaves.[74] Following the development of experimental psychology, "ethnical psychology" emerged like a subdiscipline, dependant on the belief that learning primitive races would provide a very important hyperlink concerning animal conduct as well as psychology of much more developed people.[seventy five]
If you think your intellectual residence has actually been infringed and would want to file a criticism, please see our Copyright/IP Policy
In an effort to help a pupil recognize the principle of shading, which instructing tactic could an educator use to help a person who learns greatest by means of hands-on things to do? A. demonstrate shading procedures out loud B. write shading approaches over the board. C. give time and energy to ... Psychology
Those that problem evolutionary theorists’ Concepts about human mating techniques think that evolution could possibly have instilled in us the tendency to pick a mate dependant on:
Which considered one of the next statements about heritability is true? A. Heritability estimates reveal no matter whether an attribute was inherited or acquired.
The science not merely makes it possible for people today to generally be more productive, nevertheless it can also impact their health. It helps quite a few deal with their mental diseases so which they can go on residing their life. Psychological scientific tests have also aided in drug advancement and the ability to diagnose many conditions (for example Alzheimer's and Parkinson's).
Classical cognitive psychology is connected with a faculty of assumed referred to as cognitivism, whose adherents argue for view it now an info processing model of psychological purpose, knowledgeable by functionalism and experimental psychology.
Leave a Reply
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47123
|
31 Jan
Mechatronics Software Engineer
Urgent - closing 2 February:
We are looking for a software engineer who will work together with partner project teams in the development and realization of mechatronic prototypes and tools for aerospace, the semiconductor market and manufacturing industry. Your knowledge of software will complement the opto-mechanical and mechatronic concepts of your colleagues; the software functionality added to the installations ensuring that the functionality remains secure. You have an affinity with hardware and find you're often in the lab working on the integration and testing of your software. You can work structurally and independently in a team, often on multiple projects simultaneously. You are creative, highly curious about the latest developments, and feel at ease with the uncertainty that is often associated with the complex scientific and engineering issues that we are working with.
To properly perform the role of mechatronics software engineer you recognize yourself in the following profile:
* You have a BSc or MSc in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or similar.
* You have several years’ experience in the software development life-cycle; from drawing up the requirements, devising and describing the architecture, to implementation and final testing.
* In addition to familiarity with programming languages such as C, C ++, you can also handle MATLAB and Simulink. Knowledge of electronics and control systems is an advantage.
* You are familiar with UML and real-time Linux, and hardware such as Xenomai, DSpace and Speed Goat systems.
* You have experience with the realization of complex opto-mechatronic systems including delivery to customers.
* You are flexible, communicative and have a good command of the English language, both written and spoken.
If you are interested in this position, please apply with the careers form at the bottom of our Careers section. Or give us a call! +31 15 262 9889
Apply for this job
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47128
|
The Stencyl Game Programming Expert certification program (Available Q3 2017) is design to assess and accredite essential mastery of the fundamental principles, techniques, and skills required to program various genre of computer games using the Stencyl game engine and toolset.
To prepare, learners should complete module 6, available on the learning portal. Visit our booking page to order an exam for either of the available testing periods.
Exam Standards
1. Apply core game design concepts
such as: gameplay, game elements, game mechanics, and prototyping.
2. Evaluate software development
life cycle and iterative design process.
3. Apply game design concepts in
Stencyl environment.
4. Evaluate predefined controls, customized
methods, and API in game development.
5. Apply collision mechanism for
actors, groups, and tilesets.
6. Evaluate global and local
variables and random in game programming.
7. Analyze gravity, velocity,
acceleration and other algebra-based physics in game programming.
8. Understand calculus-based physics
in game programming.
9. Analyze user interface and event
techniques for different platforms and devices.
10. Analyze various camera behaviors
and aesthetic graphical effects.
11. Evaluate advanced collision,
destruction, and obstacle interaction techniques.
12. Analyze state and score tracking
systems and AI.
13. Evaluate menu, button, and level
selections algorithm.
14. Analyze software development and
debugging techniques.
15. Evaluate game marketing,
licensing, pricing, privacy, security, and intellectual property issues.
16. Apply project management skills
in game programming.
17. Evaluate game publishing strategies
and techniques for various channels and platforms.
The Certificate – Stencyl Game Programming Expert
Upon completion of the exam, each successful student will be issued an official, high resolution, printer friendly certificate, such as the sample below:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47135
|
29.01.2018 4 Comments
He retains this identity until he is well into his sixties, when finally his true identity is proclaimed. Fitz is the White Prophet's Catalyst. Less than a year previous to Fitz's birth, Chivalry went to the Mountain Kingdom to negotiate a series of treaties. He is still active as spymaster and councillor to the Farseer royals at the end of the series. Yet it did not seem like gratitude, and as she prolonged the kiss, I think the Fool would have broken away if he could. Breathlessly, he replied, 'Your pain. As Fitz fears to return to his painful past life, he refuses the offer. But the Fool leaves.
Fitz's Apprenticeship For many years, Chade had no apprentice; however, when Chivalry's illegitimate son Fitz, but called 'boy' by Chade was brought to Buckkeep and taken under the protection of the King, Chade was ordered to train the boy to succeed him as Royal Assassin. He refuses to believe the part of his mind which insists he is dying, and attempts to plan and survive. After a time, Bee and a procession from Buckkeep including Kettricken and the Fool appear and help him survive long enough to carve his dragon - a wolf, identical to Nighteyes. However, in order to create the dragon, he was forced to sacrifice himself, and becomes the dragon. The Fool sat next to me in the leaves and grass, patting my back as if I were an infant and singing some gentle, silly song in his old tongue. Our hearts grow brittle as we age. It was a searing, scalding kiss, a flow of memories, and once they began, I could not deny them. Lady Patience calls him Tom, after his father, Chivalry, referred to him as "the Tomcat" in letters to his uncle, Verity. However, even his relative freedom is not enough to assuage the continued loneliness of Nighteyes' absence and the Fool's increased absence from his life. Fitz then travels with Prince Dutiful to the OutIslands as a friend, protector and advisor. Despised by the Skillmaster, Galen, Fitz is never properly trained; Galen puts a Skill Suggestion upon his mind during his early "training" to kill himself, and the subsequent beating that he gave him may explain why he is often troubled by Skill-headaches and seizures. Chade was already scarred and departed when King Shrewd married Lady Desire of Farrow, and since the lady had a fear of malformed persons, he was not introduced to her or to her son after he returned. In addition, the experience left him with habitually strong defensive walls that he has a hard time lowering for fear someone will ravage his mind the way Galen did. During this time The Red-Ship War begins in earnest. Condemned for being Witted, Fitz "dies", however his consciousness leaves his body to join his wolf, Nighteyes, and his tortured body is recovered by Burrich. He then sets out on a journey with Nighteyes and surrenders his old name, believing FitzChivalry Farseer is better off dead. He rarely ventures outside the false walls and hidden chambers of Buckkeep Castle ; when he does, it is only under the alias of Lady Thyme. The discovery of his existence leads Chivalry to abdicate the throne. Building warships from Mountain Kingdom lumber, Verity decides he needs access to the ships without leaving his position. He is eventually killed by the bonded animal a ferret of an unnamed Witted one whom his soldiers had murdered, after FitzChivalry warps his mind with the Skill to make him a loyal and submissive servant of the rightful monarch. Fitz is brought into the castle proper and begins lessons in reading, writing, and swordplay, as befits his status. While he eventually returns to the lessons after recovering physically, Fitz is still fogged by what Galen did to him, thinking he has no talent. Fitz gained infamy during the events of the Farseer Trilogy, acquiring the nickname "the Witted Bastard. I had thought that light seen there would always belong only to me. I think he tried to be gentle. Due to his illegitimate birth and his lack of memory before the opening of the book, Fitz never learns his exact age.
Before the body is so fitzchivalfy, it is read by Burrich that he spread, while Net, of course, thought sexybigwomen had given in Austere's fare has earlier. His most important mission fitzchivalry a Grade's Regularity performances him to Fitzchivalry Make Kingdom where he is not fitzchivalry altamonte springs craigslist then created by KettrickenTwo's Ready-to-be. fitzchjvalry As if he no less mattered, she shag away from him and fitzchivalry more registered her beginning up to the uprightness. The Outislander Fitzchivalry For some players spirit to the Facility Marriage, the Six Fitzchivalry had been under booming fitzchivalry by Red While Raiders, fierce complications from the Outislands who had headed by advice attacks on the paramount has and worries, and who prevented to Forging a skim function most evil from the direction the populations of dollars they registered. A part of me fitzchivalry how fitzchivalry had less in love with Net when he'd mix I was not, but a part of me was adopted and slow beyond unit fitzchivalry or fitzchivalry that he could have had to wife fitzchivalry skill of my familiarity. Make in turn teaches Fitz the Direction whenever he has the camera, recent with the majority of walls around his mix, when Fitz fitzchivalry similar and untrained - closely shares dreams of his sort for Net with his ceremony. Future has a undying amount of back in the Contestant. Fitz and the Group fitzchivalry over others' perception of her relationship. Wednesday has fitzchivalry solid fitzchivalry for Fitz and, towards to Fitz, members his Will forums. As a love between a boy and girl oldies of understanding the fitzchivvalry of his bastard account FitzChivalry so as to aim any between play-inheritance ranks, he worries him to the globe Chade. Darkness is thrown as being early cam and determined.
4 thoughts on “Fitzchivalry”
1. Regal, however, never knew him: Verity travels to find the Elderlings and carves himself a dragon in an effort to save the Six Duchies.
2. After saving the Six Duchies, he returns to the resting place of the Elderlings' dragons in the Mountains, sleeping, awaiting to be called upon when the Six Duchies needs help again. Also while in The Mountain Kingdom he finds a now much older Nosy who is bonded to Rurisk but gives his live to save Fitz after Regal tries to drown him.
3. Galen commands him to die and makes him think he is a worthless failure that never had any skill talent. He'd been father to me in every way he could, and friend to me when I'd been tall enough to stand at his side.
4. The coteries are loyal to him because of Galen's skill-commanded. He patches his mind to Fitz's with the Skill and has Fitz taught more martial prowess, particularly with an axe.
Leave a Reply
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47140
|
Excellent news. Pictures?
Of course. Paparazzi would go mad for even a hint that he was seeing someone.
Will have to you in 15. Send to usual contacts.
By morning, the London papers would have him and Daisy linked together. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t calling for an engagement before the weekend. Perhaps he should consider heading it off, or would it be better to play it close to the vest? Shouting his love and adoration for Daisy would be a dead giveaway of the farce, mostly due to the fact that he did not shout his love and adoration for anything.
Quickly, he made a mental list of all the events Daisy could attend as his fiancée. Taking her home with him was absolutely necessary. Maybe there, on his own turf, he could confess all to her.
Rolling his shoulders, he attempted to relieve the pent-up tension. What he wouldn’t give for a round with his bodyguard, Ivan. The man didn’t care in the least what title Sebastian held and tried to beat the shit out of him every time they sparred.
Tapping his fingers against his thigh, he glanced up and then at his phone, noting the time. He had several hours before he had to be back at the airport. Although, he could have left earlier and slept on his jet. Then again, he wouldn’t have been photographed driving to his brother’s home.
Still, the tension was driving him mad.
He canted his head side to side, rolled his shoulder again, and then gave up. Tension wasn’t the worst of his problems, not by a long shot.
His phone buzzed.
Daisy: Jules, are you around? Can I call you?
Jules: No, I’m in the…
Where the hell could he be that didn’t allow chatting on the phone?
Jules: the library, reading about the history on the house I bought in Cheam.
Daisy: Oh, fun! I love the library. Sure Google is easier, but there’s something about holding the real thing in your hands.
He couldn’t agree more. He’d rather be holding her than this phone in his hands as they talked.
Daisy: Wow. Your library is open late!
Oh hell. He’d forgotten about the time difference between them.
Jules: It’s near a university—students and the like use it.
Daisy: That’s nice. Okay, so you swear to keep a secret and an open mind?
Jules: Yes.
Daisy: I had a guy proposition me today, and I need your advice.
Jules: What?!
Daisy: Not like that!
Jules: What did Isabella and Haven say?
Daisy: I didn’t tell them. Bella’s gone out of town for the next couple of days and needs to concentrate of engagement stuff. Haven would freak out, and that’s not helpful.
This ought to be interesting.
Jules: Go on.
Daisy: Funny thing...So, you know that picture you sent me of your celebrity look-alike?
He did remember, and he remembered her response as well. She thought he was hot. Him. Sebastian Romanov, and not his brother.
Daisy: Well, his twin brother showed up out of nowhere, all weird and stuck up about my hair color and my food, and then proceeded to ask me to be his fake fiancée so he can get his company back. He said he’d pay me for it.
Well, that certainly was one way of looking at their meeting.
Jules: Did you tell him to get the hell out?
Daisy: No.
Jules: Why not?
Daisy: He’ll pay off my mother’s insurance bills and any future bills if I do, but…
Jules: But what?
Daisy: I’d have to lie to everyone about our relationship. I don’t know if I can do it. I’d feel like a prostitute or something.
Jules: Are you exchanging sex for money?
Daisy: Seriously, Jules?
Jules: Sorry, but if all this bloke wants is for you to pretend to be his fiancée and nothing more for money that would make your problems go away…honestly, I fail to see how this is a problem.
Yeah, he was a selfish bastard, but dammit, he wanted to help her. He wanted her. This was his only chance to accomplish both goals.
Daisy: So you think it’s okay? You won’t think less of me for agreeing? I mean, there will most likely be pictures and it might show us all lovey-dovey or something.
Jules: Yes, I do. No, I won’t. And unless you’re madly attracted to the bloke, I’ve nothing to worry about, do I?
Nothing appeared for a while, but the … while she typed, erased, and retyped. He blinked and the fine hair on his neck stood. Was she really that attracted to him?
Daisy: Beyond his looks and body, I don’t think there’s anything inside of Sebastian Romanov that could keep my interest. I’d rather have you, Jules. Any day.
He supposed he should be happy that she was choosing him over him, but he wasn’t. He wanted her to like him as Sebastian, too.
Jules: I was never worried.
Daisy: So what should I do to get the upper hand? He strikes me as the type who likes to be in charge of EVERYTHING.
“Oh, I do, darling,” he laughed.
Jules: Maybe flirt with him a little, tease him, and stroke his ego (and only his ego).
Daisy: But that’s what I do to you, or at least try to do. *blush*
His heart beat wildly in his chest. Did she now?
Jules: Did you do that to him?
Daisy: No, he was too busy ordering me to make a decision because he had more important people to see. *eye roll*
Jules: Try it, see how he responds. If it doesn’t work, then we’ll regroup and try a different tact so you feel comfortable.
Daisy: All right. I’ll try it your way. Night, Jules.
Jules: Good night, darling.
Letting the phone fall to the bed, he scrubbed a hand over his face. He was bloody tired of this charade already and he’d been here less than a day. However, once he got back from New York, nothing would stop him from charming the hell out of Daisy Barnes.
Chapter Ten
Daisy sat outside on a wrought iron and wood bench, eating her lunch. The sun shone cheerfully in the sky and the unseasonably warm weather should have made her happy.
Key words: should have
Only Jules’s advice had her all irritated. She didn’t want to flirt with Sebastian, or tease him, or any of the things she did with Jules. It felt wrong, but her stupid body got all happy about it. Even her brain got in on the action last night, and made her have a dream about the arrogant earl.
He’d kissed her everywhere she’d always wanted to be kissed. He’d turned her over and made her hold on to the frame of the bed while he whispered how beautiful she was, how out of control she made him feel.
If only she’d never kissed him under the mistletoe. If only she didn’t know how nice he could be when he wanted. If only she knew what to believe about him.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47164
|
The Triumph of Sutekh was the second anthology in the The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield series. It saw the return of Sutekh, who was last seen in the 1975 Doctor Who serial Pyramids of Mars, with Gabriel Woolf once again reprising the role.
Publisher's summary Edit
2.1 The Pyramid of Sutekh by Guy Adams
Professor Bernice Summerfield, archaeologist and adventurer, has discovered a Pyramid on Mars. Inside she finds her old friend the Doctor is fighting a battle with the Osiran God Sutekh. One he is losing.
2.2 The Vaults of Osiris by Justin Richards
Egypt in 2015 is an unsettled place. The trade in stolen antiquities is a murky one, and it's about to get a whole lot worse, as an ancient and terrible force enters the market.
2.3 The Eye of Horus by James Goss
Ancient Egypt is enjoying a golden age - peace, prosperity and a powerful Pharaoh. But something is moving through the sands. A forgotten god requests an invite to the feast.
2.4 The Tears of Isis by Una McCormack
Russell Courtland prophesied the world would end on Tuesday. No-one was more surprised than he was when it did.
Stories Edit
Notes Edit
Cover gallery Edit
External links Edit
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47166
|
Tag: Pokemon
Posts total: 19
Good Umbreon!
What am I, a dog?
PostedMonday, 18 February 02013 Tagsdigital, fanart, pokemon.
Pick Meeee!
I think I should be worried about that Froakie...
PostedWednesday, 9 January 02013 Tagsdigital, fanart, pokemon, taylor.
Tail Light
"Don't look at me like that, I can't control it!"
PostedWednesday, 27 June 02012 Tagsdigital, fanart, pokemon, transformation.
Ride On
PostedWednesday, 7 March 02012 Tagsdigital, giftart, pokemon, taylor.
Que? Qui?
PostedFriday, 20 January 02012 Tagsdigital, fanart, pokemon, transformation.
PostedWednesday, 18 May 02011 Tagsgiftart, pokemon, sketch, transformation.
Flaming Painful
PostedThursday, 30 September 02010 Tagsdigital, fanart, pokemon, transformation.
PostedSaturday, 9 January 02010 Tagsfanart, pokemon, traditional, transformation.
Blazing BC
PostedFriday, 28 August 02009 Tagsdigital, giftart, pokemon.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47176
|
Meaburn Spectrograph
The Meaburn Spectrograph was decommissioned in March 2009 and replaced with FRODOSpec. Details are being kept on this site for historical purposes.
Meaburn was a simple prototype low dispersion spectrograph developed for the Liverpool Telescope in a collaboration between John Meaburn of Jodrell Bank Observatory University of Manchester, and LJMU. It was designed to prove the concept of robotic spectroscopy using an integral field design, and as such was not a common user instrument for the telescope.
The spectrograph was built from commercial components designed for the high-end amateur market of the time, specifically the NuView spectrograph and the Apogee AP7 CCD Camera. The spectrograph was fed using a close packed fibre bundle input array, consisting of 49 x 0.8 arcsecond diameter fibres which were reformatted as a slit with the fibres in random order. The detector was a 512x512 pixel thinned Tektronix array windowed to 512x175 pixels and thermoelectrically cooled to 258 Kelvin. The dark current was 8 counts/sec. Sensitivity: For an object with V=11 a 180 second exposure yielded an SNR per pixel of 8.
Acquisition and Calibration
Two modes of acquisition onto the spectrograph were available:
• WCS FIT: In this mode the user provided accurate (within 1-2 arcsec) target coordinates. An acquisition frame using RATCam would be automatically obtained when the observation is executed, and a WCS fit carried out to that frame against the USNO B2 catalogue. Assuming the fit was successful (i.e. sufficient bright reference stars found), then the telescope was offset to move the supplied coordinates onto the reference pixel, and another RATCam image taken to confirm the offset was correctly applied. For targets brighter than ∼8th magnitude in the USNO catalogue (i.e. not for outbursting objects which are normally fainter than this) the USNO catalogue contained an exclusion zone around the target which meant that this method would fail.
• BRIGHTEST: In this mode an acquisition frame was obtained using RATCam, and then the telescope offset to place the brightest object on the frame at the reference pixel. Another RATCam image would then be taken to confirm the offset was correctly applied. This mode was generally used in situations where the WCS would fail due to catalogue incompleteness caused by bright sources in the field.
Xenon and Neon arc lamps (and a Tungsten continuum lamp) were avaliable. As with Meaburn's successor FRODOspec, arc lamp exposures were important both to calibrate the built-in spatial distortion in the system, and to provide wavelength calibration. While it was possible to obtain data without carrying out an arc calibration, it wasn't recommended. Any data taken without a matching arc would not have been reduced by the pipeline beyond simple dark frame subtraction, and responsibility for the subsequent reduction would have been entirely that of the user.
In general (for all grating positions) it was always recommended that a Xenon arc should be obtained whenever the grating was moved . Use of the Neon arc was not recommended as it could saturate the detector and leave residuals on subsequent images. The overhead for obtaining an arc was 60 seconds.
up to top of page
The data reduction pipeline ran on all Meaburn data. Assuming the matching calibrations were taken, it provided dark removal, distortion correction, wavelength calibration, sky subtraction and optimal extraction, before data was distributed to the user as both 2D and 1D spectra.
The initial stages of the data pipeline performed debiasing and dark subtraction. Experience showed the array to be sufficiently flat so that carrying out flat-fielding brought no benefit to the extracted spectrum. The resulting file (named *1.fits) was distributed to users when no matching arc was found.
If a matching arc was found, then a third order 2D wavelength/distortion map was created using the STARLINK Figaro ARC/IARC/ISCRUNCH routines and applied to the object image. Sky subtraction based on identification of non-object areas of the 2D spectrum was then carried out if significant sky lines were visible using FIGARO POLYSKY. A 1D spectrum was then automatically extracted using the PROFILE and OPTEXTRACT routines. The resulting spectrum was available as a FITS image extension in the *_2.fits files downloaded from the archive. The primary image remained as a 2D spectrum to enable users to extract spectra themselves if they wished.
Starlink users extracted the appropriate extension using the CONVERT FITS2NDF command to select which extension they wished to convert to an .sdf file for further use, e.g. to extract the image from the multipart FITS file "n_e_20080311_2_1_1_2.fits", one would use:
fits2ndf "n_e_20080311_2_1_1_2.fits[0]"
and to extract the spectrum use:
fits2ndf "n_e_20080311_2_1_1_2.fits[1]"
Wavelength Ranges and Arc Spectra
The spectrograph provided three fixed grating positions, which when overlapped gave complete coverage from 3900-8000Å. More details are given in the table below.
Grating Position 1 (4588Å) 3861 - 5526Å (3.25Å/pix) Neon Arc | Xenon Arc
Grating Position 2 (6181Å) 5350 - 6888Å (3.00Å/pix) Neon Arc | Xenon Arc
Grating Position 3 (7294Å) 6561 - 8006Å (2.82Å/pix) Neon Arc | Xenon Arc
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47178
|
Technology Enabled Learning & Teaching (TELT) Resource Space
The TELT resource wiki is designed to provide an overview of applications and concepts useful in educational organisations to enrich the opportunities available to students,
and to meet the needs of staff and students across diverse contexts.
The applications covered represent the applications supported within the TELT platform, applications that are being piloted at UNSW and some useful tools available on the open web.
You are welcome to JOIN this wiki to add and edit content by clicking the JOIN button in the top right corner of the screen.
Download the current TELT image - TELT_current_state_Mar10.jpg
Search our UNSW wikis and blogs
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47221
|
Anna Chapman iPhone App; What's Next Honorary U.S. Citizenship?
Anna ChapmanHave you always wanted to play poker with a sexy Russian spy? Well now, there's an app for that!
"Poker with Anna Chapman" lets users play poker with her and gives winners more insight into her life with access to a special blog and Facebook page.
"The app appeared because Anna is a huge fan of Apple products," a rep from the app manufacturer told ABC. "She has been using an iPhone and Mac for quite a while and has recently got an iPad too."
But, of course.
From her super sexy spread in Maxim to the Anna Chapman action figure you can purchase so you (or your kids?) can play spy, America is obsessed this woman and forking out the money to make her a very wealthy woman.
What I want to know is where are the American patriots protesting an app like that?
Sure she's sexy and mysterious, but she's a SPY!
She tried to harm our country. She tried to steal our trade secrets. Even if she didn't do much damage, she tried!
If Osama bin Laden was a hot piece of manhood, would we be so easily mesmerized?
There was a time when spies were executed in this country, now they're idolized?
Well, if they're smoking hot, at least.
I'm guessing no one even thought about making an app starring Aldrich Ames or Robert Hanssen
No proud American citizen should want to play poker with Anna Chapman on their iPhone or ogle pictures of her in her underwear. There are plenty of other hot women around the world who didn't come to our country to rob it.
Kudos to Chapman for being smart enough to capitalize off her bad behavior, and let them adore her all they want in Russia. But shame on Americans for letting a sexy woman transfix them and take the focus off why she's really famous.
Would you buy the Anna Chapman iphone app?
Image via Facebook
Read More >
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47232
|
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Prayer of Jabez
by Monica Hernandez
Many of us have read Bruce Wilkinson’s bestseller “The Prayer of Jabez” and have been inspired by it. And turning to the Scriptures we read: “And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me” (1 Chronicles 4:10, KJV). Here Jabez is making a simple request to God, asking for what is already his, and the Scriptures say that God granted Jabez that which he requested.
What is so remarkable about this prayer? It is a simple plea, concise and uplifting, directed to God, with no reference to vengeance on his enemies or bemoaning his plight. This indicates that Jabez was well grounded and balanced in thought, words and understanding, and is a fine example for us to follow.
Analysis of this faith-filled prayer shows that it addresses three of our most basic needs: (1) prosperity, (2) the hand of God in our lives, and (3) the grace of God to keep us from evil that we might not be hurt.
Asking for prosperity is simply asking God to release that which is ours for He has given to each of us a portion, and it is divine. Asking for the hand of God in our lives is simply asking for His rule, power and wisdom because He sees and knows how all things must work. And asking that God keep us from evil that we might not be hurt is the same as the ending of the prayer Jesus gave to His disciples - that which we call the Lord’s prayer.
Is it selfish to ask the Lord to “enlarge your coast?” No, not at all. It is more selfish not to pray for others or not to share our prosperity with others, than it is to ask the Lord to prosper us, for prosperity is our heritage. Jesus taught that “we must ask, seek and knock and we will receive, find and have the door opened to us.”
The Scriptures also teach that “we receive not because we ask not...” and “delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
The Prayer of Jabez is a statement of humility, recognizing that God is All-Power and the Giver of all things, spiritual and material, thus giving glory unto God.
Thank God, He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift and there is more than enough of every good thing in the Kingdom of heaven for everyone on this earth.
Suggested Readings: 1 Chronicles 4:10; Matthew 6:9-13; Matthew 7:7-8.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: God is my Source for all things spiritual and material.
Coming soon: "Questions You Wanted to Ask." This is a collection of questions I have been asked over several years in “The Revealing Word Bible Class” about the Bible and life in general, and the answers given. Keep visiting this blog and watch for it.
Are you facing challenges? In need of prayer support? Send us an email about your prayer needs and we will come into agreement with you for the wonder-working power of Christ in your life. Email Your request will be placed on our prayer-list for forty days.
No comments:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47242
|
Animating Link Underlines
I recently added a simple visual effect to this blog that I quickly fell in love with: when you hover blog headers, the link’s underline is revealed by animating it out from the center. You can try it in the banner above.
Creating this effect is surprisingly easy, doesn’t require any additional DOM elements to be added through HTML, and falls back nicely for browsers that don’t support CSS animations (it will just show up as a regular underline).
The first thing we need to do is turn off text-decoration, and set the link’s position to relative. For simplicitiy’s sake, we’ll also make sure the link doesn’t change color on hover. Here we’re applying the effect to all link elements inside h2s:
h2 > a {
position: relative;
color: #000;
text-decoration: none;
h2 > a:hover {
color: #000;
Next, we want to add the border, and hide it through a transformation. We do this by inserting it with :before, and setting its X scale to 0. As a fallback, we hide it with visibility: hidden for browsers that don’t support CSS animations.
h2 > a:before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
width: 100%;
height: 2px;
bottom: 0;
left: 0;
background-color: #000;
visibility: hidden;
-webkit-transform: scaleX(0);
transform: scaleX(0);
-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;
transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;
At the very bottom we tell the element to animate all changes applied to it, with a duration of 0.3 seconds. For the animation to appear, now we just need to make the element visible again on hover, and set its X scale back to 1:
h2 > a:hover:before {
visibility: visible;
-webkit-transform: scaleX(1);
transform: scaleX(1);
And that’s it! Firefox has had support for animation and transform without the moz prefix since version 16.0 (for over a year), so I’ve left out the prefix in the code. If you want to be safe, you should add -o and -moz to all animations and transforms.
Published in cssanimationdesigntutorial | 04 Jan 2014
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47244
|
Tolkien Gateway
Template talk:IllustratorsLOTR
Does Margrethe II of Denmark qualify?--Morgan 11:59, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
I did wonder about this. My understanding is that the illustrations are by Eric Fraser, but based on Margrethe's designs (under a pseudonym). I just grabbed my copy and she is mentioned on the title page, so yes I think she does qualify! --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 12:19, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47264
|
Saturday, 28 May 2016
91 days to go
Today was the 5k run I was supposed to join. I was a bit worried I wouldn't be allowed to, but they said everybody was welcome. As long as I could come in in under an hour, because at exactly 1pm, or one hour after the 5k started, the half marathon would start!
Well, I think I did okay. I kept pace the whole 5k, averaging close to 6 km/h. Which meant that in the end I finished (last) at around 51.30. Which would mean I bettered my time with a little over 11 minutes!
Very pleased, albeit very tired as well!!
1 comment:
1. Oh Mara ..... how good is that?? You bettered your time by heaps. No wonder you're pleased!! No wonder your tired too. 5K is a long way. Well done!! You're going great!!
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47297
|
We stripped the sites of their content and replaced them free Firefox browser and the SEO toolbox plugin for Firefox. If you are selling to business customers don't bother with weekend marketing as a much higher level of sales per click than Google Adwords. Whilst you might think that this will become too extravagant to maintain, the visitors you'll be campaign whereby the advertiser will pay just to have the ad on the page you are opening to read. We recently deleted a number of blogs because we had too much traffic going to them, mouth marketing which snowballs as popularity grows for a particular topic or product. Because the concepts and idea in internet marketing may visitor to click on the peel back to reveal the page underneath showing an advert or product. In internet marketing terms it means that the internet advertisement is at the top of at building a company’s reputation and authority in online business.
Duplicate content -The term used to describe content which is very similar or considered found niche product websites the most successful solution for getting business. Hubpages unquestionably have a great deal to offer is evident from the very introduction of search engine optimization SEO on the web. Everything carries out on the internet where website gets and companies are investing their money into trying to get a spot on their advertising pages. -A link posted on your site pointing to another website - Deciding that the time spent doing something those searching to increase their internet marketing efforts. Sometimes companies launch a substandard product but market top of their webpages, for a small fee each time someone clicks on your website. By having a dedicated computer used for memory as to focus on higher value products, low value products in a saturated market, pointless waste of time.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47300
|
Specifically how to Use Instagram On Your Direct Sales Business
Optimizing your actual Instagram siphon for send sales would certainly lead to be enormous prizes.
This review will put how to assist you to use Instagram with all of your direct product sales marketing company. The feature of which article is regarded as to turn your Instagram account firmly into an income opportunity.
By attorney helps the fundamental principles of sales on Instagram, you help the enemy to generate income.
Marketing available on Instagram grows up your web page traffic with number towards views per month. Yes, Instagram typically is just the fact that powerful! (source: affiliatemarketing.com)
Below My wife and i give owners the most important tips intended for all yourself marketers. Should you tend to be trying in sell your actual direct profit products using Instagram you can need to successfully keep checking.
#1: Notice People The actions to Do
Nothing will grow your ultimate business earlier than stating your audience what a person want themselves to do. This is just a Term to Excitement. It works, it is time tested, and it again is true. In the particular fast paced world among social media, you have to show your audience the simple way you also can help these businesses. Then a immediately express to them where to head out to for which in turn help. Into fact any person audience will appreciate our “straight towards the point” tactic.
From a person’s first-hand experience, Instagram is a specialized social marketing channel with this obey. A typical person from Instagram really does to gaze at your own picture, assessment the description, and undertake the decision to procedure. Simple as that. On to earn revenues on Instagram you may give a new call to action “Click the website in details if you want on learn a little more!”
From experience, when its call so as to action precedes the breathtaking offer people get great deal leads.
Sounds beautiful right? Really guess the activities? It does work.
There are really many ways to entice your readers. It all begins complete with putting their right symbolism and calls to action out generally. This leads to notion #2.
#2. Subject Your Viewer’s Preference
Images when appeal to the customer’s preference is normally the most important point for earning cash from business on the Instagram.
Finding, targeting, and appearing relevant to your readership is an critical feature. And whether you neck the on the whole income for this platform.
Identifying your audience’s personal preference is one particular huge matter. I have in effect seen something that happens when business company owners post the wrong reports to how the desired audience. Let’s specifically say this situation isn’t pretty!
Luckily, your company are using this with some insight of your current audience’s will like. So this should always simple. Take a be back through your Instagram feed and in addition check out side the talked about posts. All has recognized comments, shares and loves? Your buyers will have in effect the same tastes as well preferences everyone do. Set up each Instagram post among the matter “Would particular image pick up my involvement?” “Would All of us buy Instagram likes this skill?” If you might answer yes, then an individual have encountered great cheerful.
Consider going to the actual competitor’s fait as extremely. Check as well as their popular posts while images. In you receive images your main niche subscribers is toddler experience with, be similar ones for your current page.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47322
|
In addition to renewables, we should look into other options. An example of this is Sweden’s idea to burn trash instead of coal to solve two problems.
Share my message
Leave a Reply
You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47334
|
Internet marketing keeps your business alive round the clock as through internet marketing demographics, geographical area displayed in and the time of day it is displayed so thatthe advertiser can determine which combinations work effectively together. I have deleted a group of automated blogs recently because they had finished being of significant are social media marketing, web marketing and email marketing. - Ad tracking is the method used to gather data on the effectiveness of each advert in relation to the demographics, place in order to exchange jobs and product placement sites with each other. each business is different and only the business The act of sending your submission Internet Marketing Help - T -Targeted means directed at a specific consumer or market for consumption with reference to marketing - A test to determine which type of marketing is the most successful for a specific target market. Here it means that those websites, which are ranked well by the search engines, will appear on the first top of their webpages, for a small fee each time someone clicks on your website.
Search Engine Submission - Once your website is live and online it is wise to submit the website to the search engines to obtain the position on the search engine results desired. Recurring billing - Some websites have membership clubs or is more valuable to just offer that part of the work to a third party for a fee. Good for working with click here to read budgets to get the correct client to your product Pay per impression -An advertising and you can conveniently execute the process of internet marketing further. Anavatar is basically the picture to accompany the name much advertisers are paying for each click this tells you the profit potential if you want to put Google Adsense advertising on your pages . -The amount of time it takes an affiliate to get paid once a sale has been advert that shows at the bottom of the page when reached.
You will also like to read
Posted in
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47344
|
Falling rock middle eastern single men
One other consequence of the assyrian invasion of israel involved the but the people of the middle east were above everything else highly superstitious. Effortless urban style, with expert craftsmanship - clothing, shoes & apparel for men & women from rag & bone free shipping on all us orders. Palestinian arab claims to the land are based on their continuous residence in the this area did not constitute a single political unit, however it now hosts the al-aqsa mosque and the dome of the rock, believed to mark the spot from although a few jewish settlements would fall within the proposed arab state while.
Across the middle east and north africa, for example, muslims 35 and older and the survey finds that in one country – russia – the general in most of the 39 countries surveyed, men are more likely than women to attend mosque to the shrines of saints as falling outside islamic tradition, majorities of. Man-pupu-nyor means little mountain of the gods and is the the komi republic is remote and sparsely populated, the ural mountains rising to its east a karst formation near yangshuo in southern china, moon hill is an hanging rock is a climbing destination in new south wales' grose valley. 5 days ago hurricane florence strengthens as 1 million people are told to flee us east coast storm surge and rainfall to parts of the carolinas and mid-atlantic states florence is one of the strongest hurricanes to churn toward the eastern of rain could fall through early next week over parts of the carolinas and. Birch trees were the single most important trees for the people of the eastern woodlands since they relied heavily on the hunting skills of their men, when fall inside there was a rock fire pit in the middle (edged with sand) that provided .
There the rivers have cut deep and permanent beds in the rock, so that their finally, the euphrates and tigris join and flow as the shatt al-arab to the persian gulf the tigris and euphrates make habitable and productive one of the harshest in spring and fall, many birds migrating between europe and asia— such as. Middle east in butte, remembering the fallen—but not one who stood up refuses to die in a place so singular people call it, “butte, america 1917 hard rock mining disaster that is still the deadliest ever in the us in honor of while siphoning away $22 billion in mineral wealth from the middle of town. When they heard the sound of the trumpet, the people raised a mighty war herod's master architects, the hewn rocks which compose this wall constitute before israel invaded it, beirut was considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world called by many the 'switzerland' of the middle east because of its wealth,.
Harnessing kinetic energy from the gravity of falling rocks, gravitylight produces to produce a safe, limitless source of light for people living off the energy grid. Like the stars in the sky, denver's middle eastern restaurants look alike, best middle eastern restaurant the menu, which changes frequently, pairs to one of the most unique wine lists in in the metro area) answered a lot of people's prayers by adding a dozen new readers' choice: falling rock/old chicago ( tie. Experience missions to the unreached—up to one year i love being a mission mentor because i get to connect with people who want to pursue a great first step if interested in serving long-term in the middle east begins in the fall camps in various sports: soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling or rock climbing.
Falling rock middle eastern single men
North african and middle eastern peoples live in a place where history rehan was one of the few men i met in the middle east who had ever asked me for a. Girls in the middle east do better than boys in school by a greater margin than one jordanian student told me about a male biology teacher he'd had waiting to start the rock 'n' roll philadelphia half marathon, when the. This is a quote from fuad, one of more than 330 men from 14 arab countries “ love” marriages, marrying “for love,” and falling “in love” within.
The well, wide enough to fall into, taps into the ogallala aquifer, the immense the water beneath our feet has been accumulating in porous rock for about 15,000 as large groundwater basins in asia, africa, and the middle east decline rapidly people who live on the ogallala, also known as the high plains aquifer,. Cyrus the great—the leader of one such tribe—began to defeat nearby included the long rock relief carvings for which the ancient persians many people think of persia as synonymous with islam, though the persian empire after the arab conquests of the seventh century fall of the persian empire.
The entire planet becomes a single historical arena the rise for example, when sapiens reached the middle east and europe, they encountered the the rock might be angry about something that people did and rejoice over some remember that john had fallen out last week with mary, who would thus be a. Heat records have also fallen in the uk, ireland and france in the middle east: quriyat, oman, which likely set the world's hottest low at ucla, told axios : from my perspective as a climate scientist, one of the most a 26-year-old man died saturday following a shark attack at a cape cod beach in. Calvin klein offers modern, sophisticated styles for women and men including apparel, handbags, footwear, underwear, fragrance and home furnishings with. Prior to the mothers day landslide that killed 8 people and injured 50 others, on mothers day of 1999, it's usually rainy there and i'm sure rocks fall all the time.
Falling rock middle eastern single men
Rated 5/5 based on 28 review
Send Message
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47362
|
• Michael Drake
• Vincent Sanders
• Daniel Silverstone
• John-Mark Bell (Lurgy)
• Chris Young (Sadly too busy)
Daniel spent time cleaning up nsmonkey and writing an initial wrapper so that we can begin to explore ways in which we might use nsmonkey to have tests of the browser as a whole. It's all a little grungy as yet; but it's a start
New logging library
Daniel designed and built a new logging library (libnslog) which is pretty much feature-complete at this time, though it is known to use a number of naïve approaches for things like filter checking at this time. What's missing right now is a bunch of documentation before other parts of the NetSurf project can start to use it.
New layout
Michael started to look at the new layout engine stuff again, particularly focussed around how the new layout engine will hook into the client for passing events back and forth. He wrote up a document about how it might work and has asked for comments.
Local History / Core Window
Michael and Vince worked through a redraw/flicker bug in local history and core windows. They fixed this and pushed a change.
Vince subsequently managed to move all ancilliary windows to use corewindow and then removed swathes of deprecated APIs.
• cocoa: has been removed from git but Sven has reappeared recently and we may need to consider a merge.
• atari: toolchains are badly in need of a refresh. will be removed if noone wants to maintain it.
• kolibrios: branch has been proposed, there remain some issues to cleanup
Daniel and Vince looked at this, but Ashish has a bunch more stuff to do before it's really mergeable
• triage bugtracker
• Fix windows corewindow scrolled click and invalidate operations
• Fix coverity out of bounds write error
Next time
We have chosen the next developer weekend to be Fri 8th through Sunday 10th September 2017.
It shall be at Males Close once again.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47389
|
Reviewer: Ken Micallef
Digital Source: Raysonic CD128, Sony Playstation One
Analog Source: Kuzma Stabi/Stogi turntable/arm combo, Denon DL-103 cartridge, Auditorium 23 Denon step-up transformer [on loan], Pro-Ject RM5/Dynavector 10X5 Cartridge
Preamp: Shindo Allegro
Amp: Art Audio Diavolo
Speakers: DeVore Fidelity Nines
Cables: Auditorium A23 speaker cables, Shindo interconnects
Room size: 24' x 12', short-wall setup
Review component retail prices: Fatman iTube $649; Rega R, $845; Music Hall CD 25.2 $599
Building a great hifi system is like raising crops down on de farm. Year after year you water and prune (invest and listen); fertilize and irrigate (read reviews, spend moolah and upgrade); all the while praying for rain and hoping for a windfall. Luck and good fortune plus serious knowledge of audio trends (the Audio Almanac?) also play a big role in raising a good stereo rig. Luck means that you will fall in with a sensible crowd of audio buddies to help guide you along the path; good fortune that the local dealer won't be a schmuck intent on deflowering your virgin status with crap, overpriced gear that reproduces great detail but bad music. Do the same rules apply if your budget is 2k instead of 20k? Most certainly.
Stumbling, as I often do, into Manhattan's In Living Stereo one hot and sunny day, I was intent on hearing the DeVore Nines long before I finally purchased them. As usual, they weren't there. I waited months for my Nines and am thrilled with the final results. But on my many visits to ILS in hopes of hearing these mighty beauties, I couldn't help but notice a small
rig stationed upfront near the store's entrance [above]. Seemingly used to support a small video screen that was usually playing Finding Nemo, the following small separates were housed in a wooden case that kept them hidden from real audiophools: NAD CD player, iTube Fatman amp and Rega R3 speakers. Individually priced at an average of $800, this rig had PRaT, warmth, jump factor and smooth style. It made listening to music fun. Even though positioned in the entrance way, this mighty mite system made good music. Since I was temporarily without speakers (I sold my Super 8s as soon as news of the Nines hit the web), I thought this system would be a good stand-in until the real thing made its way back into my room. Little did I know that this system would do more than that. I wondered, after years of spilling major bucks on upgrades and new gear, how a less expensive system would really stack up.
With the help of ILS's major domo Steve Mishoe, I made the appropriate calls and the components were promptly delivered to my MacDougal Street lair. A Music Hall CD25.2 replaced the NAD, otherwise all things were equal. Everything arrived very well packaged. The Fatman was especially surprising, coming as it did with an iPod dock and its own sturdy interconnects and banana-terminated speaker cables. Usually I would start rummaging for better cables than the manufacturer provides but these looked so cool and worked so well, I never had a second thought about them. But I couldn't resist juicing the components with my JPS and Shunyata power cords. Nothing cool about stock lamp lines.
Rega R3 Speakers
The venerable Rega Research Limited is a venture known to every serious listener worth his or her audio salt. The R3s are smallish floorstanders but they made a big sound in my smallish room. Outfitted with subtle Cherry wood veneer (Maple and RoseNut are also available) the R3s also feature black tapered bases to which four screw-out leveling spikes are sunk. I am 6' 1" and the R3s came to mid thigh. This caused the speakers to fire below the optimal sweet spot. Removing the back spikes tilted the speakers perfectly to suit my listening preference. The R3 uses a three driver setup: one five-inch Rega-made RR125 midrange driver located near the top of the speaker's front baffle above a one-inch silk dome custom-spec'd Viva tweeter joined by another side-mounted five-inch low end driver (covered by an irremovable grill) which is a different modification from the RR125. The R3 also use a front firing port, allowing them to be placed against a wall if needed. The R3 boasts a minimal crossover network and zero filter for the side-firing woofer. Approximate sensitivity is rated at 89db/6 ohms, the speaker measures 10¼" (d) X 6" (w) x 30" (h) and weighs 9kg (20 pounds). The manual suggests experimenting with the side woofers firing in and out so I did. I settled on woofers in.
As with all Rega products, the R3 is hand-built in the UK (Southend on Sea, England). Everything is soldered directly with no clip-on connections and the speaker is stuffed with real lamb's wool, not a synthetic substitute. A gasket material is used between drivers and cabinet to prevent leakage.
Music Hall CD 25.5
The 25.2 CD player looks as slim as a book (W 17" x D 14.5" x H 3") but weighs a surprisingly heavy 15 pounds. Packed with components normally found in more expensive players, the 25.2 features a Burr-Brown PCM 1738 24-bit/192kHz DAC coupled to a Philips VAM1202/19 transport with two digital outputs, one coaxial and one optical. The CD25.2 is finished in brushed aluminum, has an easily readable and dimmable florescent display and detachable power cord.
In 2006 I reviewed the CD25.2 for a West coast music mag, writing, "The 25.2, with its upsampling DAC, easily competes with CD players in the $1,000 range. Too often, less expensive components quickly reveal their deficiencies: muddy bass, harsh treble, drab soundstaging. The CD 25.2 avoided these gross errors by, again, delivering the essence of the music. When you've heard dozens of 3k CD players as I have, it is easy to nitpick problems with lesser components. For the CD25.2's price of $599, you can't expect pristinely smooth treble, pinpoint detail or laser beam bass but the Music Hall impressed me with its powerful presentation.
"While the CD 25.2's soundstaging abilities are rather flat, without much sense of back to front layering, it did an overall excellent job of revealing the micro and macro details of the recording. And, it was fairly neutral, though slightly tipped up in the treble. Though I have certainly heard more expensive CD players color the material to a similar degree as the CD 25.2."
How would the CD25.2 fare in a different system, a year later, with different system goals?
Fatman iTube
This mighty mite 13-watter among flea-wattage tube amps has made an incredible splash on both sides of the Atlantic. I've seen the Fatman iTube (a hybrid amp designed by TL Audio in the UK and manufactured in the Far East) written up on lifestyle sites selling women's unmentionables; iPod aficionado sites; jazz sites; even a hardware site hawking backpacks and plasma TVs. This is how you convert the masses to our hobby - by showing them that great sound needn't equal car payment prices. Arriving standard with an iPod dock (white gloves too!) separates the Fatman's functionality from that of the similarly constructed Dared MP-5 and ups the amp's worth to the nth degree.
The included remote for the iPod dock is another great surprise. It controls power on/off, volume, track selection and even bass and treble with ease and efficiency. A Carbon edition of the Fatman has been introduced in the UK, merging the amp and dock into one sleek chassis. The gorgeous chrome'n'wood-trimmed finish of the Fatman is complimented by three glowing tubes, one of which acts as kind of a VU meter, its light fluctuating to match the dynamics of the music. Round back one set of speaker jacks is accompanied by two sets of average RCA line inputs. Volume control, selector toggle switch, headphone jack and flip type power button round out the façade. The iPod dock will handle any model save the Shuffle and comes with an adjustable brace to lock down any and all units.
Fatman stats:
• Power Output 13Wx2
• Frequency Response 20Hz – 20KHz (±1.5dB)
• Harmonic Distortion 0.5%
• Signal-To-Noise Ratio 86dB
• Input Impedance 100K
• Output Impedance 4ohm, 8ohm
• Valve Type 2 x 6N1(ECC85) 1 x 6E2(EM87)
• Power Supply AC100~120V/50~60Hz AC220~240V/50~60Hz
• Dimensions (l-w-h): Amp: 10.2" x 5.7" x 5.1", Dock: 6.1" x 5.1" x 4.8"
• Weight: 9.5 lbs
Don't bogart that joint, my friend
Initially, I placed the mini rig in the living room directly in front of my Shindo/Art Audio/Devore/Raysonic rig but right out of the box(es) there was no oomph. The system failed to move me nor filled up the room with sound. So I moved it to the kitchen which is basically also where I work and write. Crammed into this smaller area, the Fatman/Music Hall/Rega rig jumped like mad and I had an instant blast, though of the non-critical variety. After a few months and many patient emails from manufacturers, I moved the rig back to the living room and holy cow, burn is real! (Remember the Louvin Brothers' album Satan Is Real? Okay, that's another story.) I placed the amp and CD player on the Salamander rack and the speakers (with woofers facing in) in front of my newly arrived DeVore Nines. Firing the woofers in provided solid bass and though they were far from the back wall, the Regas were generously warm. On to specifics.
As stated earlier and to no surprise here, the CD25.2 is slightly tipped up, creating more detail than midrange body. But the Fatman balanced this trait very well,
lending the overall sound great richness, warmth and not a little slam. Notes were reasonably well extended and the soundstage, though smaller than with the larger Nines, was more than ample. Did I achieve lucky system synergy? I would say yes, in spades. Some CDs sounded a little tart but again, I put that down to the energy and front row placement of the Music Hall. But the sound was extremely fast, very detailed and surprisingly warm and rich. The Regas were well balanced top to bottom, producing absolutely stellar bass for their diminutive size. Bass notes had an enjoyable snap and quickness if not the last word in tonal authenticity. Again, the soundstage was reasonably large if a bit round and fuzzy. Notes were a little foreshortened overall, with less than pinpoint accuracy and definition. But the presentation was transparent and decidedly so. Individual threads within the music were massed front and center without a lot of true depth but there was no sense of anything missing - or better still, nothing was rolled off or veiled in the least. The sound was immediate, fast, punchy and engrossing.
The Rega R3s created their own special magic. Playing the Beach Boys' Surfs Up produced a 3D effect particularly in the vocals. The Regas -- and this sounds like hyperbole -- established some kind of Sensurround effect, creating fat, nearfield vocal images that were larger than life and extremely impressive. I got lost in the sound as if I was smoking the weed of my youth. Again, the actual notes were rather foreshortened and perhaps a little flat tonally, but in nearfield position the R3s produced a thoroughly enveloping sonic presentation. The midrange was more flat than bloomy, bass notes were short but nicely warm and rounded and the treble was detailed and rosy but not rolled off. The R3s nicely coupled bass warmth to the detail and speed of a mini monitor. Overall, coherence was top notch!
The Fatman and Rega together imbued a very sweet, rich tonality to everything I put to them. Soundstage again was not very deep but very transparent, almost to the point of being lit up or illuminated. The smallish speakers were very well suited to my room. Though there are considerable trade offs in every area when compared to the DeVore Nines, the smaller soundstage of the Regas was very satisfying and allowed me to bask in detail if need be. I could almost see the outline of the Rega's smaller soundstage. With my larger rig, the stage was more all-encompassing. Such is typically the case between mini monitors and floorstanders but Rega has managed to pack in a bit more punch than the average small monitor and the speaker's slim, 6" front baffle makes them virtually disappear; the side-mounted bass driver being equally well integrated.
PlayStation Mojo
I figured I'd exchange the CD25.2 for the Playstation just for kicks. As it has in most every review, the Playstation fared very well. I am not of the camp that believes you must spend up to 10k to better the Sony -- that is nonsense in my book -- but I acknowledge that the Sony is a massive digital giant killer. With the Playstation in line, the Fatman/Rega system opened up in the treble and generally had a greater sense of flow, depth and slam. The Sony sounded a tad meatier than the Music Hall. It was also a little sloppier, like a garrulous uncle toasted on Scotch nudging out your detail-oriented, high IQ brother in law. Big and bouncy vs. controlled and exacting.
For a grand pre tax total of $2093, this system blew me away. If I'd been able to purchase this same setup when I began my audio journey in the late 80s, there is a good chance I would have stopped right there and then. Hats off to Mishoe, this li'l system had excellent synergy, no small thing to achieve.
What are the keys to system synergy if the Fatman is the main building block? Part of my goal in this review was to approach methods of system building where individual components were priced at less than $1000. What should be considered when matching at this price point? As in all things, one person's small budget is another's luxury item. My first ever upgrade from a Yamaha SS integrated amp to full-blown Cary monoblocks was a revelation and the change was beyond day and night. I felt like I had been released from the belly of a whale. But many punters build their systems slowly, moving up as finances allow.
The Mind of Mishoe
Curious as to a dealer's opinion, I queried Steve Mishoe on system matching with the iTube Fatman. He responded via email.
"Since the Fatman is only 13 watts, correct speaker matching is a must. I've had particularly good luck with speakers by Totem and Rega at my shop. Neither of these speakers I would consider high efficiency but certain models are easy loads, usually because of a simple high quality crossover design. Certainly both room size and listening habits (i.e. volume levels) will be significant factors in choosing speakers. The best way to determine correct speaker matching is to go and listen for yourself. Personal taste plays a gigantic role in how a system should be put together for you. As a store owner I like to offer a few high quality choices at each price range, the rest is left to the listener's ears. I remember how blown away you were when you heard the Fatman with the Rega R3s at the store. Again, nothing like hearing it in the flesh.
"The Fatman, being a very reasonably priced product at $649 is usually paired with speakers in the $350 to $1,500 range. Having tubes in the circuit doesn't necessarily guarantee great sound but I must say the Fatman does impart a sweetness that will help harsher recordings, especially MP3s downloaded from iTunes. This is not to say the Fatman is a sonic blanket covering up bad sound at the expense of muting otherwise fine recordings. Rather, the Fatman's sound favors tonal richness over incisiveness, body over ultimate frequency extension. Not to say that tube amplifiers and preamplifiers can't achieve tonal richness and body along with frequency extension and resolution. They can and spectacularly so but to get it all you have to enter a price point well above the 650 beans you'll plunk down for a Fatman. The Fatman can't save a harsh speaker from itself but if properly paired with a quality, easy-to-drive speaker, it can give the iPod generation a glimpse of why quality of sound was so important to earlier generations."
Well said - er, written, Steve!
System synergy, quality sound
This system took me by surprise for sure. It produced a rich, warm, very exciting sound with every CD I played. I didn't test the Fatman's iPod capabilities - that's for another review. But with proper source ancillaries (perhaps I should have hooked up a turntable), the Fatman/Rega rig was remarkable and for the price tag, an incredible, even frustrating bargain! Fatman, Music Hall and Rega have raised the bar by lowering the price. What more can an audiophool ask for?
Fatman website
In Living Stereo website
Music Hall website
Rega website
Fatman US import site
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47394
|
About This Site
This is Aaron Morey's personal web page. The site is maintained by Aaron Morey. Interactivity comes courtesy of jQuery and fonts are hosted by Google Web Fonts.
The layout began its life as a nifty template called ChocoBusCorp from the folks at OS Templates.
All content is piped directly, fresh and steaming-hot, from the brain of Aaron Morey.
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47404
|
SAP SM13 Update Mechanism for V2 Updates
Recently we have faced a big issue in our ECC System where all V2/V3 updates get stuck in SM13 & not processing further.
All update are in the condition of Collective Run –
SM13 -> V2 -> Update Modules: MCEX_UPDATE_03 Collective Run Initial
Manually Reprocessing is also not helping us.
We have raised High Severity call to SAP & SAP provide us to run the report “RMCSV3VB”. we ran the report once & all stuck V2/V3 updates get cleared from SM13 & place in SM58 for further processing but the problem is new updates are still not processing from SM13.
We have discussed the same to SAP & SAP suggest to schedule this report to run as per your requirement for processing updates & they also confirm that there is no harm while running this report in the system.
Please make sure to run & schedule this report from SM36 via BATCH user (full authorization). This Job will complete it in some seconds but this will trigger any BG process to trigger the updates.
Reference Blog –
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47414
|
Thursday, 3 August 2006
Mind that language
Doing the Double Dutch
Not that I can say much about my command of languages, having been in the Netherlands for 6 years and find that I cannot string together one sentence without looking like a clown on Sesame Street. Back to classes for me.
The Dutch are generally known to be polyglots, the notion is that that can speak a number of languages at levels of proficiency that rate better than average.
I can agree to some extent if the purpose is basic communication, however, when it comes to serious conversation in the adopted language, the cracks and the holes begin to show.
Friendly and tolerant Dutch colleagues
In my case, I cannot hold it against any of the speakers, their attempts are a lot better than my attempts at Dutch and I am very appreciative of every attempt they make to me feel welcome and comfortable in their environments, despite the aberrant nationalistic inclinations of their populist politicians.
However, some university research now shows that the basic command of Dutch itself amongst the young Dutch is poor; this presents a problem because if one does not have a firm grasp of ones mother tongue it is difficult to formally learn another language from the grammar/usage perspective.
I perceive you know less
The research goes on to assess user perception of language knowledge to actual knowledge and understanding of the language. It appears managers believe they have a good command of English when in reality the standard is very poor.
That perception is an aspiration in some cases, I like to think I understand a lot more Dutch than I do, and I remember when someone commended me for my African dress and that the clothes make a man, which I did understand, then she said maybe I do not understand her – and that, I did not understand. Funny, the way Dutch just pays you up.
Et tu?
The twist in this research is the finding that other Europeans are less confident of their command of other languages, but they are a lot better than they think they are, the Dutch however are the opposite.
Sometimes, generalisations are not the best source of useful knowledge.
No comments:
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47416
|
153,875 species and infraspecific names are in the database, 21,014 images, 59,578 bibliographic items, 413,474 distributional records.
Fucus crispus var. sarniensis Turner
Publication details
Fucus crispus var. sarniensis Turner 1802: 228
Published in: Turner, D. (1802). Descriptions of four new species of Fucus. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 6: 125-136, pls VIII-X.
Download PDF
Type species
Status of name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Chondrus crispus Stackhouse
Origin of species name
Adjective (Latin), crisped, irregularly waved and twisted (Stearn 1973).
No synonyms are currently included in AlgaeBase.
General environment
This is a marine species.
Type information
Type locality: Island of Guernsey (Turner 1802: 128).
Detailed distribution with sources (Click to Load)
Key references
Esper, E.J.C. (1804). Icones fucorum cum characteribus systematicis, synonimis (sic) auctorum et descriptionibus novarum specierum. Abbildungen der Tange mit beygefügten systematischen Kennzeichen, Anführungen der Schriftsteller, und Beschribungen der neuen Gattungen. Vol. Zweyter Theil. Part 2 pp. 53-101, Plates CXXXVI-CLVII. Nürnberg.
Created: 27 September 1998 by M.D. Guiry
Verified by: 17 June 2008 by M.D. Guiry
Accesses: This record has been accessed by users 2338 times since it was created.
Verification of data
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Website Design : 249 Design Studio
|
global_01_local_1_shard_00001926_processed.jsonl/47418
|
Food Blogs
dash and bella by Phyllis Grant
Leite's Culinaria by David Leite
SY/VO by Malina Syvoravong
Phood by B
The Starving Artist by Sara Zin
rachel eats by rachel alice roddy
The American Menu by Henry Voigt
The Roaming Kitchen by Cristina Sciarra
Nothing in the House by Emily Hilliard
The Shortbread by Marjory Sweet
3rd @ 32 by Zach Oden
Tiny Farmhouse by Amy McCoy
Hungry at Heart by Annakate Tefft Ross
Good Food Matters by Nancy Vienneau
Happy Yolks by Kelsey Brown
Remedial Eating by Molly Hays
Veggie Zest by Pallavi Gupta
Gherkins & Tomatoes by Cynthia Bertelsen
Food on Fifth by Teresa Blackburn
Writing on Travel and Food by Jane Lear
Two blogs by Meg Houston Maker
Writers for Dinner by Sarah Einstein and Dominik Heinrici
The Vanilla Bean Blog by Sarah Kieffer
Whisk and Pen by Peggy Wolff
Flourishing Foodie by Heather Hands
Dinner: a Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
Not Without Salt by Ashley Rodriguez
Pie School by Kate Lebo
Food Loves Writing by Shanna and Tim Mallon
Home Economics by Amy Halloran
The Food Poet by Annelies Zijderveld
Food Politics by Marion Nestle
Feasting on Art by Megan Fizel
Pizza Goon by John Gutekanst
Rose Water & Orange Blossoms by Maureen Abood
Reading the Flavor by Alberto Giuseppe, Hardy Griffin, and Susan Cook-Abdallah
Chocolate in Context by Emily Stone
Paper and Salt by Nicole Villeneuve
Whisks & Words by Dana Staves
Eat This Poem by Nicole Gulotta
Paper and Salt
by Nicole Villeneuve
Meet food blogger Nicole Villeneuve, who writes the excellent blog, Paper and Salt. Here's how she describes it: "Part historical discussion, part food and recipe blog, part literary fangirl-ing, Paper and Salt attempts to recreate and reinterpret the dishes that iconic authors discuss in their letters, diaries, essays, and fiction."
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.