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Re: Perl 6 release date
by talexb (Canon)
on Oct 10, 2002 at 18:38 UTC ( #204272=note: print w/ replies, xml ) Need Help??
in reply to Perl 6 release date
It sure sounds like there are a lot of young folks in this community -- your 30th birthday is that far away? Jeepers, I think I discovered Perl round about my 40th. If I'd started using Perl when I was 30, I would have been using it since version 1.
So anyway, before I forget what I was talking about, I'll vote for 2004-04-17, in roughly 18 months. Seems like a good bet. It's my birthday. Never mind which one. :)
--t. alex
but my friends call me T.
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There's more than one way to do things
Junk NOT words
by Anonymous Monk
on Oct 30, 2002 at 16:49 UTC ( #209141=perlquestion: print w/ replies, xml ) Need Help??
I am trying to think my way through the problem of knowing when an arbitrary sting of characters is just junk instead of any arbitrary combination of words with all pounctuation removed.
For instance -- I want a script to recognize:
hudjheuhfnnvgxvbchnfhfujryyfgbch is not a phrase
but: whererangesarealltherage is a nonsensical phrase
My one thought is to try to break it down into bits using verbs to help in the process. One could than state that a string of consenants longer than n characters cannot be a word. Having done that, one could do a dictionary search on the bits containing volwels to see if they appear in words -- or better still, create a dictionary of three or four character bits which could be parts of actual words.
The only three or four character bit I can quickly see in the first arbitary string that is part of a word is "hud"
Perhaps there are better suggestions for solving this problem.
Comment on Junk NOT words
Re: Junk NOT words
by Molt (Chaplain) on Oct 30, 2002 at 17:04 UTC
Not sure why you need this, but one possibility for an initial feel would be to look into building up a letter-by-letter Markov Chain from a large sample of text, and then use that to see how 'likely' the phrase is to be a word based on letter distribution. This will at least give you an idea of the Englishness of a phrase.
This would need playing with to see if it work reasonably, and to tune the scoring metric. This happily recognise Lewis Carroll-style nonsense as real words ('bewarethejabberwockmyson') though, which is bad if you do literally want to check it's real words, but good when you know your dictionary is potentially more limited than the words you're identifying.
One final warning.. beware of the three/four letter thing. It'll break on word boundaries unless you add all combinations letters possible where one word meets another. Better to treat these as penalties.
Further to Molt's suggestion of using Markov Chains, there is a module on CPAN which provides their functionality in the form of Algorithm::MarkovChain.
I wonder if you' d get better results by building a Markov chain based not on the frequency with which a letter follows another individual letter, but on the frequency with which a letter follows a given pair of letters.
I recently did something like this for a web application that goes the other direction: instead of trying to recognize letter combinations as "words," it generates "words" that "make sense" phonetically based on a given data set—in this case, lists of names. You can play with it here. Try a couple of different categories and you'll see that the resulting made-up names are quite phonetically distinctive; they really do seem French or Shakespearean (and within that, male or female) depending on what category you select.
I got the basic approach from this page by Chris Pound. I can't post the code because I wrote it for my employer, but basically I took each list of names, calculated the frequencies, and generated a Perl library containing a long series of assignments like this:
@{$pairs{'ri'}}{qw(a c e n s u)} = (3, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1);
That means that within this data set, "ri" is followed by "a" three times, "c" one time, etc.
Anyway, I'd be curious how this approach might work for word recognition, and how the results for "pair-letter" frequencies might differ from those obtained with "letter-letter" frequencies.
Re: Junk NOT words
by davis (Vicar) on Oct 30, 2002 at 17:27 UTC
Quick, ill-considered node before I dash off home:
Why not measure the letter distribution of the sample being tested. I.e, count the number of 'a's, 'b's and so on. You could then compare the calculated distribution with one appropriate for your language, tables of which could almost certainly be found by googling, and if the actual result is within acceptable bounds, then assume it's ok.
A little further explanation: if the input's random(ish), then the letter distribtion should be fairly close to random (ignoring keyboard patterns). Real, written english (at least) has a much higher proportion of 'e's, 't's, and 's's.
Is this going out live?
No, Homer, very few cartoons are broadcast live - it's a terrible strain on the animator's wrist
I have had some success using letter pair frequencies as a language identifier for OCR'd text -- letter pair distribution is a much better metric than just letter distribution. Pick out all of the two-letter pairs in your string, and compare the ten most frequent pairs against some pairs you got from analyzing a training text ( just remember to take out the whitespace from the training text first ). If it exceeds some similarity threshold, it is 'real' text, otherwise gibberish.
For example, my own values for most common letter pairs in English are these:
English => ['he','th','in','er','an','ou'],
I have found that a better than 50% match is a pretty reliable indicator
Be aware that the path you are going down quickly leads to AI-complete problems in natural language processing. This is another one of those programming tasks that seems very easy until you try to do it on real data.
Re: Junk NOT words
by fruiture (Curate) on Oct 30, 2002 at 17:51 UTC
sub resolve { my $strref = shift; my $strpos = shift; my $dictfh = shift; return [] if length($$strref) == $strpos; my $words; my $reset_fh = tell($dictfh); seek $dictfh,0,0; while(defined(local $_ = <$dictfh>)){ chomp; if( substr($$strref,$strpos,length) eq $_ ){ print "$_ at $strpos\n"; if( my $w = resolve($strref,$strpos+length,$dictfh) ){ $words = [$_,@$w]; last; } print "<- $strpos\n"; } } seek $dictfh,$reset_fh,0; return $words; } open my $dfh,'<','/usr/dict/words' or die $!; my $string = 'whererangesarealltherage'; my $words = resolve( \$string, 0, $dfh ); print $words ? "@$words" : 'no words' , "\n"; close $dfh;
I've included some output that shows how the program "backtracks".
Re: Junk NOT words
by BrowserUk (Pope) on Oct 30, 2002 at 19:24 UTC
This is a little crude, but given a less eclectic words file than the one I have, it might do better. In any case, it shouldn't be too hard to come up with a heuristic for making the decision, possibly based on the number or proportion of 1 and 2 character words or the average word length for example.
This code
C:\test>209141 hudjheuhfnnvgxvbchnfhfujryyfgbch may consist of the words hu dj he uhf n nv g xv bch n f h fu j ry y f g bch whererangesarealltherage may consist of the words where range sare all the rage thequickbrownfoxjumpsoverthelazydog may consist of the words the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog hsdkjfhuewfklJLKSDossfdlkjaslduasl may consist of the words hs dk j f hu ew f kl J L KS Doss f d l k jas l du as l PeterPiperPickedAPeckOfPickledPepper may consist of the words Peter Piper Pick edA Peck Of Pickled Pepper lazinessimpatiencehubris may consist of the words laziness impatience hubris C:\test>
Re: Junk NOT words
by gjb (Vicar) on Oct 30, 2002 at 19:41 UTC
I'm rather surprised to see this problem turn up, could you (perhaps in private tell me why it is of interest to you?
Reason is that I spent some time on it for a commercial project I'm unfortunately not at liberty to discuss. There's a very nice and elegant solution to it.
Regards, -gjb-
Re: Junk NOT words
by jarich (Curate) on Oct 31, 2002 at 01:49 UTC
Some while ago there was an excellent article in the tpj about simulating typos on both qwerty and dvorak keyboards.
Sean M. Burke's premise was that typos on dvorak keyboards tended to look more like wierd words rather than random mis-typings than their counterparts on qwerty keyboards. In discussion of this he wrote a plausibility function I think you may find very useful.
My suggestion is that you take a very large piece of text (grab something off gutenberg) remove all the spaces and look at the occuring 3-letter groupings (trigraphs). Then examine the text you're facing. With some experimentation you should be able to determine an approximate cut-off level whereby your text is probably a nonsensical phrase vs a non-phrase.
Studies of language for the purposes of cryptography have shown that of all possible trigraphs only some small percentage are actually common in typical language. You should have no problem distinguishing rubbish from language this way. :)
Hope it helps.
Re: Junk NOT words
by Dr. Mu (Hermit) on Oct 31, 2002 at 06:41 UTC
If you go for the digraph and trigraph methods, be sure that the text you analyze for letter-pair and -triple frequencies is similar to what you'll be looking at. You mentioned wanting to recognize an "arbitrary combination of words". This is much different than recognizing words combined to form an English sentence. If you analyze plain text from, say, a novel, you'll get a higher preponderance of "th", "he", and "the" than you would from a jumble of words picked at random from the dictionary.
Also, remember that digraph and trigraph analysis is probabilistic. This means that the larger the string of characters you're trying to analyze (i.e. the bigger your sample size), the better your chances of making the correct inference. Bear in mind that a string of 50 characters contains only 48 trigraphs. This doesn't scratch the surface of even the most frequent of the 17576 possible three-letter combinations, so simple frequency analysis may not be meaningful. Better would be to categorize all 17576 trigraphs into just a few groups by rank, according to the sample text you've pre-analyzed. Partitioning them into ten 10-percentile groupings would be one example. Then each trigraph in your subject string would simply be a member of one of the ten groups. The more evenly distributed they are among these ten groups, the better the chances that you have a string of words.
This is a very interesting problem (to me anyway), and I hope you'll keep the monks posted on your progress!
Re: Junk NOT words
by bart (Canon) on Oct 31, 2002 at 10:39 UTC
Focus on the vowels. There are always fewer vowels than consonants, especially in junk, and all (English) words need at least one. So pick the next vowel, and see if you can make at least one word of it if you take a few letters in front and after it as well. Or: is this snippet of a few letters a substring of an existing word?
For many letters, that will be the case. For example, in your phrase, I can recognize "a", "real", "he", "her", "age". So don't throw away too many candidates upfront: none of these words here are the words of which the phrase actually consists. It's not because you found a word that it is the word. Note that you can hardly find any words at all in the junk string. So this one is quickly dismissed.
Well, eventually, you'll have them all fit the whole string, so you have only words and no excess letters between them. (Er, what do you do with spelling errors?). So if you do find a likely substring around a vowel, concentrate on the next vowel that isn't part of this word. You should find two words that fit both sequences with no letters between them. If you don't, and not for any group around each vowel, the string must be junk.
Well, HTH.
'Rhythms' doesn't have a vowel. ;)
a e i o u and sometimes y.
I remember hearing once that the only work in the english dictonary that doesn't have a vowel is 'nth'.
Always? You bait us.
I recall the word "strength" which has a lone vowel and count 'em, 7 consonants!
I have a word file I made by stripping the entry tags (and massaging a bit) the dictionary on Gutenburg. I suppose I could scan that to see what a histogram of the actual proportion is, if I were so inclined.
all (English) words need at least one (vowel)
The vast majority, but not all. Two counterexamples that come to mind offhand are "cwm" (meaning cirque) and "nth" (first, second, ..., nth). Those are both uncommon enough that they might never occur in the data in question, but we don't really know enough about the problem to make that assumption.
Update: Sorry, I didn't notice at first that bizzach had already mentioned "nth" above. No plagiarism intended ;-)
$perlmonks{seattlejohn} = 'John Clyman';
There are also a whole host of places in english stripped of puctuation where non-vowel containing "words" would crop up. Eg. Mr Mrs Dr Jnr etc.
OK, OK, I concur! So there are a few sequences of consonants with no vowel that can be considered a word. However, there aren't many. The whole mechanism can remain the same, except that, if you're left with a string of consonants between words, that doesn't immediately means failure. Now you'll have to do an additional check to see if such a string exists of a sequence of these exceptions. I think that they are such a small minority that, for speed, it must be worth it extracting them all from a dictionary and storing them separately in a data file, before you even start.
Am I alone, in feeling that the whole search system as I proposed, is very similar to how a regex may try to match a pattern, in a "penny machine"? Pick a candidate, try every possibility with it in turn, backtrack...
Re: Junk NOT words
by Anonymous Monk on Oct 31, 2002 at 15:56 UTC
before you do a dictionary search you could (especially if your text is large enough) calculate the distribution frequency of the text (ie % of each letter) for large amounts of text the distribution freqency of a lanquage is stable, Tables exist for the distribution frequency of each letter in the English language.
Re: Junk NOT words
by John M. Dlugosz (Monsignor) on Oct 31, 2002 at 21:46 UTC
I think it would be easy enough to check a dictionary for a prefix string, adding another char if it isn't; then recurse on the rest of the string. Backtrack, trying a longer prefix, if it doesn't pan out down the road.
In fact, a Perl6 pattern could easily do this.
In Perl5 regex, I would think the "code" assertion would do, but the docs are inconsistant and I've never used it since the docs scared me off with "experimental". The issues are (1) can it "fail", and (2) how to get the most-recient pattern's contents.
Re: Junk NOT words
by Anonymous Monk on Nov 01, 2002 at 04:58 UTC
How about you index the dictionary file and then work you're way through the string character by character matching against the word. When the next letter results in no further branches in the index it takes that as a word, if the next word results in a dead end try the previous word again minus one character.
(excuse me for not actually checking against a dictionary for obsucure words)
r=dead end
"where" removed
a=dead end
"angels" removed
l = dead end
"area" removed
not making sense, backup
stop at "a"
"are" removed
t=dead end
"all" removed
ugh... hope you get the idea.
The problem with this algorithm, is that it has a VERY bad worse case performance, it's in O(2^n), where n is the length of the string. Meaning that as the strings get larger, this problem will become insolvable by deterministic methods. Some sort of heuristic is needed.
Re: Junk NOT words
by jotti (Beadle) on Nov 01, 2002 at 11:55 UTC
I once made a program that analysed text and put up a frequency table for letter triplets. Using this table I then created nonsense text. A sample text file of 1 kB was enough to produce a table that could create some nonsense text that unmisstakeabely was English. Or German, Swedish or what ever language I sampled.
If you have sampled some megas of plain English text, you would have a pretty accurate table of triplet frequencies. Then you could sample another mega of text and pick sentences from that text. For each sentence, you pick each triplet and sum its frequency. You have to divide the sum with the number of triplets in the sentence, which gives you an average. Compute the average of all averages, and the standard deviation of the averages. This will give a picture of what is expected in real English. The standard deviation tells how reliable this method is. This method would OTOH recognise my nonsense English as real English.
Re: Junk NOT words
by pizza_milkshake (Monk) on Nov 01, 2002 at 20:37 UTC
this seems to do the trick
#!/usr/bin/perl -l # file storing all legitimate words, one per line my $DICT = qq(/usr/share/dict/words); # terms to test for validity my @TEST = qw( pizzamilkshake perlmonks pearlmonks hellothere heytherebaby hey123 timexyz whereangelsare ); # build dict hash my %WORDS; open DICT, "< $DICT" or die $!; while (<DICT>){ chomp; # chop off whitespace if it's there $WORDS{uc $_}++; # force UC, add key to %WORDS } close DICT; my (@subs, $giveup, $p1, $p2, $sub); for my $test (@TEST){ $test = uc $test; # force word to UC at the beginning @subs = (); # reset sub-match array $giveup = $p1 = $p2 = 0; # not giving up, starting at the start while ( !$giveup && # else we've thrown in the towel $p1 < length($test) # else found match ){ $p1++; $sub = substr $test, $p2, $p1-$p2; # grab next substring #print STDERR "sub: $sub"; if ($WORDS{$sub}){ # if it matches a legal word... #print STDERR "MATCH ($sub) in $test"; push @subs, [ $p1, $p2 ]; # successful path, save it $p2 = $p1; # advance p2 to the end of the current match } elsif ($p1 >= length($test)){ # at the end of the string wit +h no match # if the entire string doesn't match a word or we have now +here to # backtrack... if ($p2 == 0 || @subs == 0){ #print STDERR "giving up on $test"; $giveup++; # nowhere to go } else { #print STDERR "backtracking..."; # reset p1 and p2 to last state and try to get a longe +r match ($p1, $p2) = @{$subs[$#subs]}; pop @subs; # delete last item... it's path is a dead e +nd } } } print ("$test: " . ($giveup ? "NO" : "YES")); }
perl -MLWP::Simple -e'getprint ""' |less
i've put an updated copy of this script at:
i've added some simple optimizations to noticeable speed up performance on longer examples. perl -e'$_=q#: 13_2: 12/"{>: 8_4) (_4: 6/2"-2; 3;-2"\2: 5/7\_/\7: 12m m::#;s#:#\n#g;s#(\D)(\d+)#$1x$2#ge;print'
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then the subroutine probably has almost no code in it at all, and the solution is to inline the tiny amount of code in the subroutine and remove the calling overhead entirely.
Sure, you could do that, but are you really going to allow all the callers of your objects to access their attributes directly rather than going through getters?
Little bits add up! Here a 25% penalty just to satisfy two pointless P::C rules:
#! perl -slw use strict; use Benchmark qw[ cmpthese ]; our $o = bless { X=>1 }, 'main'; sub getX1{ my $self = shift; return $self->{X}; } sub getX2{ return $_[0]->{X}; } sub getX3{ $_[0]->{X}; } cmpthese -1, { A=> q[ my $x = $o->getX1(); ], B=> q[ my $x = $o->getX2(); ], C=> q[ my $x = $o->getX3(); ], }; __END__ C:\test>junk19 Rate A B C A 1441709/s -- -11% -20% B 1611352/s 12% -- -10% C 1797147/s 25% 12% --
And that is just one level deep. Imagine (or test) the affect of calling a method that itself needs to call 2 or 3 getter() from one of its sub objects.
The penalties, for what are purely cosmetic affectations, add up.
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
In reply to Re^14: The Most Essential Perl Development Tools Today (negative) by BrowserUk
in thread The Most Essential Perl Development Tools Today by Tommy
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The problem with teaching Perl as a first language is that you never know how much easier it is in Perl than in most other languages. Make them pay their dues first: teach them C++. {grin}
In all seriousness, I'd still recommend Smalltalk as a first language, if you can find a good set of tutorials that match the implementation you've downloaded (or bought). Smalltalk's advantage is that the syntax fits on the back of a business card (literally!), permits object-oriented programming for everything (in fact, forces it!), provides incredible introspection, and gives very easy access to graphical widgets in the first few hours.
For implementations, I'd start with Squeak, which has the advantage of being open source and being maintained by the people that originally came up with Smalltalk some 30 years ago. VisualWorks also has a non-commercial personal-use version that seems decent and cross-platform.
-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49247 | Petzl - Le monde sous un autre angle... en Petzl RopeTrip 2014 Mon, 17 Feb 2014 14:40:52 +0000 Petzl 26808 at SEQUOIA: Line of seat harnesses for tree care Tue, 26 Nov 2013 09:04:31 +0000 Petzl 26917 at Mobile fall arresters for rope: ASAP, a complete line Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:55:10 +0000 Petzl 23030 at VERTEX helmets: a new and improved line Sun, 10 Nov 2013 14:00:28 +0000 Petzl 23031 at ZIGZAG: Mechanical Prusik for tree care Sat, 09 Nov 2013 11:21:01 +0000 Petzl 26860 at New Zealand Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:11:40 +0000 Petzl 26436 at AVAO harnesses: comfort in any situation Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:59:16 +0000 Petzl 22680 at 2012: Piedra Parada, Argentina <h2>Wild routes in Patagonia</h2> <p>In 2012, for the 10th anniversary of the Petzl RocTrip, we head to the Piedra Parada site in Argentina. In this wild and arid landscape, the singular 200-meter monolith and meandering La Buitrera Canyon have seduced our route-finders.<br /> As every year since 2002, the Petzl RocTrip is an opportunity to come together for a shared passion in a friendly atmosphere. </p> <p><a href="">read more</a></p> -42.660352 -70.101770 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:09:30 +0000 Petzl 26029 at 2006: Kalymnos, Greece <h2>A new area in a hidden cave</h2> <p>The route-setting team from the Millau Petzl RocTrip had spotted an exceptional not yet developed cave, a hidden sink-hole in a corner of the island of Kalymnos. One of the Dodecanese islands, this small island is becoming a major international climbing destination. Laurent Triay describes "a gaping hole in the hill, exposing columns and other gigantic formations..." Arriving by boat at the Sikati sector is the high point of the Petzl RocTrip in Kalymnos, offering glimpses of this incredible sport climbing environment.</p> <p><a href="">read more</a></p> 37.003839 26.943932 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:58:19 +0000 Petzl 26028 at 2006: Millau, France <h2>In the Dourbie Valley, never-ending limestone walls</h2> <p>A return to Boffi, the birthplace of the RocTrip... Many new routes are put up around the sector that had welcomed the very first edition. There are of course new ultimate routes, but the competitive aspect is less and less at the forefront. Everything is done to welcome both pros and amateurs in the same space, with over sixty new routes of all grades.</p> <p><a href="">read more</a></p> 44.112146 3.148484 Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:39:04 +0000 Petzl 26026 at |
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• Crazy Windows Phone Marketplace statistics
Crazy Windows Phone Marketplace statistics
Posted: , by Michael H.
Crazy Windows Phone Marketplace statistics
Justin Angel is a mad man. That's really the only thing we can figure out from this. Justin decided that he wanted to know more about what can be found in the Windows Phone Marketplace. So, rather than look through various sources like WP7applist that track the Marketplace, Justin wanted to do it all himself. That meant downloading the entire WP Marketplace catalog, all 24,505 apps available as of August 15th. That's a total of 108 GB of apps. The way he obtained them is through a questionable loophole in the WP API, but we'll take his word that he did it just for statistical purposes.
Crazy Windows Phone Marketplace statistics
Justin found quite a lot of interesting things, including that around 20% of the Marketplace are "cloned" apps, which are apps that are essentially the same, but function slightly differently. This could be duplicates that are different versions of an app like free, trial, or full versions of the same app. Or, it could be apps that are the same but cloned for various regions, or even books which are the same apps from a technical standpoint, just with different data.
Crazy Windows Phone Marketplace statistics
Justin also found that 90% of WP apps were developed in Silverlight rather than XNA, and that C# is the programming language behind 99% of apps. Also, just 3% of apps are obfuscated, which means the code has been scrambled to avoid reverse engineering.
And, as far as the size of developers, the little guys are making a big impact. Micro developers (fewer than 5 apps in the Marketplace) made up 43% of the entire Marketplace, and a whopping 61% of the top 2000 most popular apps. On the other end, huge developers (more than 51 apps) make up 23% of the total Marketplace, but only 6% of the top 2000.
Lots more stats if you're interested, and Justin is even taking questions if you want more info.
source: Justin Angel via WMPU
• Options
posted on 06 Sep 2011, 22:59
That's actually pretty cool. Now do it for the Android Marketplace, Amazon Appstore, Apple Appstore. OVI Store, and APP World.
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 01:12 1
2. snowgator (Posts: 3149; Member since: 19 Jan 2011)
I agree. Really fun stats in this write up. Love the fact that smaller developers have a home in Windows.
I have often wondered how many of the apps in the catalogs of Android and the iPhone are "clones", or are just not ever used. The numbers LOOK great for them, but how many are useful? If the Windows Marketplace gets to 100,000 apps, will they really be better than the 25,000 they have now?
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 10:36
5. vvelez5 (Posts: 623; Member since: 29 Jan 2011)
Totally agree, Sure the number of 100,000+ apps sounds great but does that really mean anything?
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 01:28 1
3. haVoc (unregistered)
the part about cloned app is true.
ive seen so many different apps from same person/company that perform the same function but slightly different. they should be options in one parent app!
for example, facebook apps. there are atleast 5 of them out there from same developer, and all that is different is the icons in the interface. even the screenshots are damn same! and the dude is charging 0.99cents per app!!
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 13:12
7. PeterIfromsweden (Posts: 1230; Member since: 03 Aug 2011)
Agree about the cloned apps on WP7.
The real number of apps on WP7 is much less than what MS is saying.,
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 22:55 1
9. Lucas777 (Posts: 2121; Member since: 06 Jan 2011)
haha there are about the same copies as apps on bada--not very much..
posted on 07 Sep 2011, 12:43
6. corps1089 (Posts: 492; Member since: 20 Jan 2010)
This explains the issues with Windows Marketplace...
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49316 | Rough Teen Anal Pics
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49342 | From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49343 | Marillion - Script For A Jester's Tear CD (album) cover
4.21 | 1319 ratings
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
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5 stars This is the main event in my life. The most important. This date (I've bought it on August,1,2003 - before this time I had NO IDEA about Marillion or other neo-prog bands ) is my second birthday! I consider this album to be the BEST EVER recorded on our planet!Maybe there are some else, but still "Script" is my favouritest! It opens with the best track ever recorded ,"Script for a jester's tear"; I've been crying when I've heard the last part ("the fool escaped from paradise")!; continiues with great "He knows You know" and gives us a break after the magnificient "The Web". I've been greatly impressed with Fish's lyrics , he is really great poet! The B-side: "Garden Party", a sharp one; "Chelsea Monday", a soft one; and the closing epic , anti-war "Forgotten Sons" with its famous "praying" mid-part and ballad final part ("You're just another coffin "). The GREATEST album ever written; it is too genious for this world. Highly recommended to everyone who enjoys good music. Beyond compares!!!
Prog-jester | 5/5 |
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49372 | DR. HOOK- D-list: Get a little sun to keep healthy
"I'm walking on sunshine, Wooah, And don't it feel good!" Remember Katrina and The Waves? Oh, you don't? So many one-hit wonders.
I don't know if it would be worse to never have a big song or to think you have it "made in the shade" and then never walk on sunshine again. (Hmmm, sounds like my struggle to become nationally known in medicine. I'll let you know in 30 years.)
I love sunshine, but I also wear sunscreen because our ozone layer looks like Britney Spears' clothes: too much exposure. So should Katrina re-write her song, "I'm walking on sunshine, Wooah, and don't it give me vitamin D? Hey! Alright now!"? (Where is Clive Davis? I want to sign a record deal. Pronto!)
Dr. Connie Christ, a fabulous nephrologist in Charlottesville, gave me the latest New England Journal of Medicine article on vitamin D deficiency because she sees it all the time in her practice, as do I. Vitamin D deficiency (or insufficiency) might be affecting up to 1 billion people in the world. (I wish Carl Sagan were still here to say billions and billions.) Why?
Sunlight is the most effective way to get vitamin D but also is the most effective way to get skin cancer. So we're avoiding the sun and using more sunscreen to block out UVB, but UVB radiation exposure to the skin causes 7-dehydrocholesterol to convert into previtamin D3, which a long way down the line converts to vitamin D. (See? T his is where bureaucracy originated. Nothing in the endocrine system is a simple, one-step task.)
Vitamin D is important for calcium and phosphorus absorption by the gut so that healthy bones can be made. Vitamin D is also important to keep PTH (parathyroid hormone) levels from becoming high, which can lead to thinner bones.
Yet half of women being treated for osteoporosis are thought to be vitamin D deficient, and nearly half of Americans are probably low on vitamin D or deficient during the winter months. Of course, in the Middle East where women wear burkas, they have more vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sunlight on the skin.
So what about foods with Vitamin D? Well, Alaskans should be in good shape because fresh wild fish, in particular wild salmon, have a lot of vitamin D.
Studies show adults who get less than 400IU of vitamin D have more problems, including osteoporosis, fractures, muscle and joint pains (and possibly even Type II diabetes, poor immune systems, mental illness, and cancer– though the associations aren't really that high). Vitamin D 800-1000IU in those who don't get UVB-radiated light seems to be beneficial, and 3.5 ounces of wild fresh salmon has about 1000IU of vitamin D.
Remember on The Waltons when Mary Ellen tried to give cod liver oil to two orphans with rickets? Well, cod liver oil and other fish have quite a bit of vitamin D. Most dairy is fortified with 100IU vitamin D like 8 ounces of milk or yogurt, and 3 ounces of cheese.
For patients who need vitamin D, there are prescription-strength doses of vitamin D2 or D3 which can help boost levels. Vitamin D toxicity is pretty rare, but in general a blood level of 25-OH vitamin D is too high.
It's so sad Mr. Ozone is disappearing like characters on the TV show Lost. Sitting out in the sun isn't the same anymore. I wonder if all of us are going to have to wear burkas to prevent skin cancer– but then our vitamin D levels might be in peril.
Perhaps it will come to a point there will be a beauty pageant for women in burkas. Would the winner be Delta Burka?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49416 | Foundation Fixer: Real Answers For The 7 Biggest Face FAQs
IntroSlideDesigned by Gabriela Alford.
Foundation may be the secret to flawless-looking skin, but perfecting that art requires skill. Regardless of how hard you try to create the perfect complexion, we know that doing so can still feel like shaking a Magic 8 Ball. Will my foundation look amazing today? Concentrate and ask again.
Good news, friends: It doesn't have to be that way. If you're a foundation fan (as we are), but you can't get your base quite right, fear not. Thanks to some of our favorite makeup artists, we’ve solved seven of the biggest foundation issues — so you'll never need to worry about making a face faux pas again. Get ready to get it right, and to make people wonder how you just happen to have gloriously radiant skin (it'll be our little secret.)
Slide_1Designed by Gabriela Alford.
Hey, foundation is liquid, so it will totally hide dry, flaky skin — right? So wrong. NYC-based makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci stresses the importance of good skin care and the proper foundation formula to avoid that patchwork-complexion look.
“By drinking tons of water and moisturizing, you're ensuring your dry skin is at its healthiest,” she says. Also, if you're not exfoliating already, get on it. “If the surface of your skin is cluttered with dead skin cells," she adds, "your foundation will never look smooth and even.”
The key is formula selection. “Pick a foundation that's rich in texture and packed with ingredients like collagen and elastin,” Ciucci says. “Use a wet sponge to stipple on for great coverage without overdoing it.”
Slide_2Designed by Gabriela Alford.
Nothing says, “I’m wearing war paint” like streaky foundation. A simple solution? “Use your fingers,” says NYC-based makeup artist Andrew Colvin. “It warms up the product, which I find makes for a more natural finish,” he says. And, don't feel that you have to use a lot, because, well, you don't. "I like to apply a tiny bit to the center of the forehead, nose, and chin, then blend out," he says. "Should you have a natural flush in the cheeks, leave it.”
Slide_3Designed by Gabriela Alford.
Spackle is for walls, not your face. So, before you slather on that ultra full-coverage foundation, know that fine lines and wrinkles are inevitable. To avoid this, says Ciucci, it's all about prep.
“Use a silicone-based primer to fill in imperfections,” she says. “It makes your skin smooth as silk and acts as a barrier between foundation and fine lines.” Ciucci also recommends using a foundation that has more of a satin or natural matte texture. “The creamier the foundation, the more likely it is to settle where you don't want it to,” she notes.
Finally, Ciucci suggests setting your foundation with a super-sheer powder. Make sure it doesn’t budge, but don’t build too much texture, either. “Use a large fluffy powder brush to apply,” she says. “Give yourself a spritz with a spray of toning water to take away any powdery finish.”
Slide_4Designed by Gabriela Alford.
Decades ago, foundation often looked like makeup. These days, though, it can look like actual skin — if you have a little know-how. First, choose a modern formula. Los Angeles-based makeup artist Desirae Cherman recommends using one with light-diffusing pigments that illuminate the skin (after moisturizing properly, of course).
Then, the key is to use only as much as you really need. “You don’t need to apply too much when you take your time and do it right,” Cherman explains. “Buff the makeup onto your skin with either an oval-shaped sponge or a brush with tight stiff bristles. Press and buff the foundation into your skin — almost like you're giving yourself a mini massage." Got blemishes? Cover them with a small concealer brush instead of applying foundation all over.
Slide_5Designed by Gabriela Alford.
Heads are turning, all right — because your face doesn't match your neck. Easy, now. It can happen to anyone. “The majority of women suffer this problem, as our necks rarely receive any sunlight,” says Cherman. So, don't forget your neck: “Bring the foundation down onto your neck from your face while blending."
She recommends using a downward buffing motion, working from the chin out toward the jawline and down onto the neck, while constantly moving in a circle to avoid streaks or patches. “Don’t apply too much; you don’t want to be fully covered,” Cherman says. “You are only trying to bring up the color on your neck.” Of course, that assumes you have the proper foundation shade. That brings us to our next issue.
Slide_6Designed by Gabriela Alford.
We’re all guilty of throwing shade — the wrong shade for your skin tone, that is. But, how do you choose the perfect hue? Colvin recommends the swatching method.
“Swatch multiple colors vertically against your jawline,” he says. “Seeing the colors in the bottle can be deceiving. When you do a small swatch, you can see the colors against each other, and it makes it much easier to eliminate the wrong color.”
Just as important: Test those shades in natural light. “The lighting inside of a store is very neutralizing; therefore, it's harder to see the hues your foundation pulls,” Colvin says. “Shop for foundation when the sun is out, and check how it looks outside before buying it. You'll annoy the counter people, but it really is the best way.”
Slide_7Designed by Gabriela Alford.
He slips your black coat over your shoulders after dinner. How romantic...but now, your collar is stained with blotches of foundation. How do you keep your "face" on your, well, face? It's all about providing a good base, says Cherman, and that goes back to skin care. “Cleanse, tone, and moisturize," she says. "[When] properly moisturized, skin won’t feel dry and clogged under the makeup, which causes it to go into overdrive and produce too much oil,” she says. “That results in makeup sliding off and becoming friends with everything it touches.”
Cherman recommends using a waterproof long-lasting foundation formula, too. “When you apply the makeup, buff it into the skin so that it is not sitting on top," she says. “Then, give the foundation time to set and really become a part of your skin.”
Setting your makeup with a translucent powder will help, too. And when you can, keep your hands to yourself. “Most importantly, try not to touch your face throughout the day," Cherman advises. "The oils from our fingers transfer.” Follow this advice, and your foundation won't either.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49450 | • Give A Gift
If you're old enough freely use the internet and you're reading this, chances are you're a car enthusiast who grew up playing with every form of car-related toy out there, especially Hot Wheels. Heck, I've currently got Magnum, P.I.'s bright red Ferrari 308 GTS QV proudly displayed on my dresser. Hot Wheels are just plain fun, and they lead to endless hours of creativity. Now you can make your own.
Mattel has added a whole new dimension to the Hot Wheels saga with the Hot Wheels Car Maker. You, or your children (or both, at the same time), can now make your own die-cast Hot Wheels cars in a matter of minutes. They are made from wax, not metal, but that's a small sacrifice. The set comes with three types of chassis, 10 wax sticks and an assortment of decals. You can also purchase additional molds with custom wax colors, such as "street muscle" and "hot rod" designs. If you're interested in purchasing the Car Maker for your kids, or for yourself, you can head to Uncrate for info on how to pick one up.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49569 | Search Results for: sony rolly
Sony Rolly is safe in the US “at this time”
Hearing that Sony had potentially discontinued their Rolly PMP in America had a surprising effect on us. We'd never actually considered going out and buying the dancing, flashing MP3 player, but thinking of it being culled brought back the sort of feelings we hadn't experienced since watching Bambi as children. Happily it's good news for all who feel the same, as Sony claim they have no intention of axing Rolly.
Sony Rolly SEP-50BT dancing PMP robot gets Bluetooth remote control
Relatively pointless, underspecified in key areas like storage, and in today's economic climate a needless luxury; all criticisms that could fairly be aimed at the Sony Rolly, and yet people keep buying them. Latest update to the dancing, spinning, flashing and flapping PMP is the ability to control it via Bluetooth: the Sony Rolly SEP-50BT has just 2GB of onboard storage and a 5hr battery life, but now you can use your cellphone or Bluetooth-enabled PC to trundle it about. Video demo of the Sony Rolly SEP-50BT after the cut
Sony Rolly gets slated: is AP ready for a dancing speaker?
Is the tech world set to split into "those who understand the Sony Rolly" and "those that don't"? No, probably not, but AP's Rachel Metz would certainly fall into the latter category. In her review of the bizarre twitching, wiggling, flashing PMP speaker - which officially went on sale in the US earlier this month - Rachel's few good experiences with the device are pretty much overwhelmed by Rolly's inability to fit into a standard music player niche. Highlights (or should that be lowlights?) include the lack of a headphone socket, the paltry 2GB of storage and the tricky controls.
Sony Rolly dancing speaker robot comes to US
Sony's Rolly dancing wireless speaker robot might be a relatively pointless frippery, but now it's a pointless frippery you can officially buy in the US. The company has announced that the easter-egg-sized "Sound Entertainment Player" is now available in retail stores across the country, having been available exclusively in Japan for some time now. Not only does Rolly have stereo speakers, it can be programmed with specific dances via the included choreography software. Check out the video of Rolly in action after the cut
Sony Rolly like a music playing Easter egg on wheels
The full name is the Rolly SEP-10BT Sound Entertainment Player and its quit an amazing little toy. You can play music from its 1GB of internal storage or you can play it from another source via Bluetooth. Did I mention that its sort of a robot with two wheels and various dance patterns? Oh well, it is and the best part is that you can program your own dance patterns on your PC.
Sony VAIO NS and CS notebooks with Blu-ray option
Sony have announced two new models in their VAIO laptop range, the NS-series and CS-series. The former has a 15.4-inch display, while the latter has a 14.1-inch; both use widescreen XBRITE-ECO, panels, and both can be specified with Blu-ray drives. Power in the NS is courtesy of Intel's 2GHz T5800 Core 2 Duo CPU, while graphics are integrated X4500; in the CS it's a P8400 2.26GHz processor.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49570 | Tongue-driven wheelchair uses high-tech power piercing
Nov 28, 2013
Tongue piercings may be associated with rebellion, but one researcher is aiming for revolution instead, creating a Tongue Drive System that allows paralyzed wheelchair users to more easily navigate than traditional hands-free control options. The handiwork of a team at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the system uses a magnetic tongue stud which is wirelessly tracked by a headpiece, with up to six instructions differentiated by tongue position.
Traditionally, those without the use of their arms and legs would likely use a "sip-and-puff" control system, which uses different patterns of blowing or sucking into a straw at mouth-level to steer a wheelchair or navigate a computer interface. However, clinical trials of the Tongue Drive System suggest it can be up to three times faster in use than the old method, while still maintaining the same levels of accuracy, even when users have considerable experience with a sip-and-puff system.
"It attests to how quickly and accurately you can move your tongue" study co-author and principal investigator Maysam Ghovanloo said of the findings. The technology holds up even against keypads and computer mice; when Ghovanloo's team tested able-bodied subjects, "the performance gap narrowed throughout the trial" he says.
Early iterations of the research used a glued-on magnet, though that presented reliability and safety issues since it would come unstuck after several hours of use. The pierced alternative isn't at a stage where it can be commercialized, the team says, but Ghovanloo has a medical devices startup, Bionic Sciences, which is working with Georgia Tech on polishing away the remaining rough edges.
Non-traditional input and control systems have risen in popularity in recent years, at least at the research stage, particularly as wearables open the floodgates to new types of data. Motorola, for instance, is experimenting with digital tattoos and smart pills that can track heart rate, movement, and other health factors, and transmit them to a nearby smartphone or computer.
The digital tattoo, for instance, embeds sensors like ECG, EEG, EMG, strain, temperature, and light onto a flexible substrate stuck to the skin, along with wireless power and antenna coils. Effectively a "mini lab" that can be worn over a period of days before wearing off, other applications include tracking sub-vocalized throat movements for a super-discrete hands-free kit, or even monitoring brain signals for controlling a computer.
The tongue might not have had the same sensory attention as other body parts when it comes to next-gen technology, but that doesn't mean it has been completely overlooked. Valve's Gabe Newell, for instance, revealed that the gaming company had been experimenting with the tongue as an input mechanism. "It turns out that your tongue is a pretty good way of connecting a mechanical system to your brain" he said last year, though conceded that usability issues meant the company didn't envisage actively integrating it into products any time soon.
VIA GigaOm; Image credit: Maysam Ghovanloo
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49601 |
Re: [RFC][PATCH v1 0/2] integrity: module integrity verification
Mimi Zohar <zohar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> As a distro knows what it is shipping, why would you need support for
> both stripped/unstripped versions. Unless "stripping" occurs post
> install. Perhaps something similar to 'prelink'?
Let me summarise the state of things.
In RHEL and Fedora the stripping occurs twice that I know of:
(1) During package generation the debugging info in each module file is
extracted into a separate file in a 'debuginfo' RPM and is then stripped
from the module binary.
(2) During initramfs generation, the module files are further stripped to get
rid of all unnecessary bulk.
I'm told that step (1) can be waived - but that means that the installed module
still has all its debug info in it, and thus uses up more filesystem space.
Red Hat already have a working module signature checker that we've been using
for a few years. However, it incorporates the signature *in* the module file,
using ELF's ability as a container format to carry it in an ELF note.
This has the downside that the kernel then has to determine that the ELF is
sufficiently valid that it's safe to parse it to find the signature note.
The checker is also robust enough that the module survives being stripped a
number of times by tools from a different packages (strip and eu-strip), but
the cost of this is that the kernel has to limit and canonicalise the data it
adds to the signature.
Basically, this checker hasn't required to need any alterations to userspace
tools outside of the kernel sources (eg. busybox, modprobe, insmod, mkinitrd,
strip, kernel rpm specfile, ...) to generate signed modules that can be
checked, and doesn't require any special filesystem features (such as xattrs),
hardware (such as a TPM) or auxiliary files to hold signatures.
However, Rusty doesn't like the RH checker because it is a largish chunk of
code that needs careful checking:
warthog>size module-verify.o module-verify-elf.o module-verify-sig.o
text data bss dec hex filename
170 0 0 170 aa kernel/module-verify.o
2351 0 0 2351 92f kernel/module-verify-elf.o
2390 32 20 2442 98a kernel/module-verify-sig.o
plus a bit in kernel/module.o on x86_64.
He would prefer to see something that just appends the signature with a magic
number and then the kernel just has to search for the magic number and digest
the entirety of the blob up to that point. You don't then need to check the
ELF as the validity of the ELF structure is then guaranteed by the signature.
The main downside of this approach is that the signature is only good as long
as the ELF module is not modified anywhere - and this mean no stripping. If
the unstripped, semi-unstripped and fully stripped modules are all necessary,
then they must all be included in the package, and any variant that is going to
be loaded (which may perhaps only be the fully-stripped variant) must be
signed. Another problem is recognising the signature marker correctly as it's
conceivably possible for the assembler to generate the same string (there are
ways round that, however).
As I understand it, Dmitry's approach is similar to Rusty's except the
signature is determined by userspace (eg. insmod) and passed to the kernel
separately as a special argument to insmod. This allows Dmitry to store the
signature separately, say in an xattr on the module file or in some special
The downsides of this approach are similar to Rusty's, and have the additional
problem that insmod & co. may need to implement multiple methods for finding
the signature (are there xattrs in the initramfs, for example?).
However, if there is a real requirement to store the signature detached from
the module (say in a cryptographic hardware cache), then Dmitry's approach may
be the only viable one, and userspace can look through the module file for an
inline signature, and, if found, detach it and give the signature and the
remnant blob to the kernel separately.
At some point I intend to look at integrating Dmitry's stuff with my signature
handling patches to see if we can make a unified system that can handle the
signature being done in software or in hardware, and with any combination of
digest and asymmetric key algorithm. On that basis, if we can't go with RH's
module signature checker, I'd prefer Dmitry's approach over Rusty's and do the
signature retrieval in userspace.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49607 | Danielle Lloyd
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Age 30 Female
Danielle Lloyd is an English glamour model. The former Miss England 2004 and Miss Great Britain 2006, she first rose to prominence when she was stripped of her Miss Great Britain 2006 title after posing for nude pictures featured in the December 2006 edition of Playboy magazine and her alleged affair with one of the pageant's judges, her then-boyfriend, footballer Teddy Sheringham. Her title was reinstated in 2010.… Read More
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The name Lloyd is a variation of the Welsh word llwyd or clwyd, which means "grey" or "brown". The double-l represents the voiceless alveolar lateral fricative of Welsh, and was sometimes also represented as fl, yielding the related name Floyd. People named Lloyd: * A.L. Lloyd (Albert Lancaster Lloyd) (1908-1982), English ethnomusicologist * Alex Lloyd (born 1974), Australian singer-songwriter. * Alex Lloyd (racing driver) (born 1984), IndyCar race driver * Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 1948), English composer of musical theatre * Anthony Lloyd (born 1984), English footballer * Benjamin Lloyd, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient * Bill Lloyd (soccer), American soccer coach * Bobby Lloyd, Welsh international rugby union player * Carli Lloyd (born 1982), American soccer player * Charles W Lloyd, Educationalist and The Master of Dulwich College from 1967 to 1975 * Christopher Lloyd (born 1938), American character actor * Clive Lloyd (born 1944), West Indian cricketer * Colin Lloyd, English darts player * Danielle Lloyd (born 1983), British glamour model * David Lloyd (disambiguation) * David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor (1863-1945), British politician & Prime Minister * Edward Lloyd (died 1713) coffeehouse owner (see also below for Lloyd's) * Major General Edward Lloyd (Colonial Governor), governor of Maryland Colony 1709-1714 * Edward Lloyd (delegate) (1744-1796), Maryland delegate to the Continental Congress * Edward Lloyd (Governor of Maryland) (1779–1834), governor of Maryland in the United States 1809-1811 * Edward Lhuyd (1660–1709), Welsh naturalist, botanist, linguist, geographer and antiquary * Frank Lloyd (1886-1960), English/American film director and producer * Frank Lloyd (born 1952), British horn player and teacher * Frank Lloyd III, Australian actor * Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), American architect * Gareth David-Lloyd (born 1981), Welsh actor * Genevieve Lloyd, Australian philosopher and feminist * Geoff Lloyd, (born 1973), British radio DJ * George Lloyd (composer) (1913-1998), British late-Romantic composer * George Ambrose Lloyd, 1st Baron Lloyd (1879-1941), British High Commissioner of Egypt * George Exton Lloyd (1861-1940), Anglican minister and theologian, Bishop of Saskatchewan * Gordon W. Lloyd (1832–1905), English/American architect * Harold Lloyd (1893–1971), American actor and filmmaker known for his silent film comedies * Jake Lloyd (born 1989), American actor * James Lloyd, (disambiguation) * Jim Lloyd (born 1954), Australian politician * John Lloyd, (disambiguation) * Julian Lloyd Webber (born 1951), composer, cellist & brother of Andrew Lloyd Webber * Larry Lloyd (born 1948), English footballer * Llewellyn Lloyd (1877-1958), Welsh international rugby union player * Lulu Hull Lloyd, namesake of Caltech's Lloyd House * Matthew Lloyd, Australian rules footballer and Coleman Medallist * Nicholas Lloyd (born 1942), British journalist * Percy Lloyd (1871-1959), Wales national rugby player * Richard Lloyd (guitarist) (born 1951), American founding member of punk band Television * Richard Lloyd (racing driver) (born 1945), British driver and multiple racing team founder * Richard Hey Lloyd, British organist and composer * Robert Lloyd (poet) (1733-1764), English poet and satirist * Robert Lloyd (singer) (born 1940), English bass, opera singer * Sabrina Lloyd (born 1970), American actor * Sam Lloyd, actor and nephew of Christopher Lloyd * Sampson Lloyd, co-creator of Lloyds Bank, the first bank in Birmingham, England * Samuel Loyd (1841-1911), American puzzle author and recreational mathematician * Selwyn Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd (1904-1978) British politician and general * Seth Lloyd (born 1960), Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT * Seton Lloyd (1902-1996), British archaeologist * Sian Lloyd, British TV presenter * Terry Lloyd (1952-2003), British television journalist killed in crossfire in Iraq * Vivian Loyd, tank designer, with Sir John Carden, spelt with one "L"
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49615 | Can you name the Arctic Monkeys' Songs?
created by zoso19
• Answers do not have to be guessed in order
• Source: Arctic Monkeys Website
• Note: This does not include singles or EP's. Studio albums only.
• This quiz has not been verified by Sporcle
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Suck It and See
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Arctic Monkeys' Songs Quiz
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• Created Jul 27, 2012 in Music
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49623 | You Are Here > SR/Olympics > Summer Games > 1908 London > Wrestling > Men's Heavyweight, Freestyle
Wrestling at the 1908 London Summer Games:
Men's Heavyweight, Freestyle
Wrestling at the 1908 Summer Games: Previous Summer Games ▪ Next Summer Games
Host City: London, Great Britain
Date Started: July 23, 1908
Date Finished: July 23, 1908
Format: Single-elimination tournament.
Gold: GBR Con O'Kelly, Sr.
Silver: NOR Jacob Gundersen
Bronze: GBR Ned Barrett
The Irish-born George "Con" O'Kelly had been British heavyweight champion in 1907, but had lost the 1908 title to Edward Barrett. At the Olympics, O'Kelly and Barrett met in the semi-finals and O'Kelly turned the tables with a quick fall. O'Kelly's son, Con, Jr., boxed for Great Britain in the heavyweight class at the 1924 Olympics and later turned professional.
Final Standings
Rank Athlete Age Team NOC Medal
1 Con O'Kelly, Sr. 21 Great Britain GBR Gold
2 Jacob Gundersen 32 Norway NOR Silver
3 Ned Barrett 30 Great Britain GBR Bronze
4 Edward Nixson Great Britain GBR
5T Lawrence Bruce Great Britain GBR
5T Frederick Humphreys 30 Great Britain GBR
5T Harold Foskett Great Britain GBR
5T Charles Brown Great Britain GBR
9T Lee Talbott 20 United States USA
9T Arthur Banbrook Great Britain GBR
9T William West Great Britain GBR |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49703 | Who wore the cutest cozy pants?
From Gwen Stefani to Jessica Alba, celebs are all about these new pajama-esque trousers. But who wears the trend best? Play to vote!
1 of 20 Your score: 0
Which celeb wore the chicer pair of cool and cozy pants?
Good luck!
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Space Imaging’s ambition to be the first company to offer high-resolution satellite images commercially (see “God’s Eyes for Sale”) suffered a setback in April when the company’s IKONOS-1 satellite failed to reach orbit. The Athena II rocket’s payload fairing-the nose cone that protects the satellite during launch-failed to separate as planned several minutes after liftoff. The fairing’s added mass kept the satellite from gaining enough speed to reach orbit, and the satellite burned up as it re-entered the atmosphere.
Space Imaging has a backup twin satellite, IKONOS-2, which the Thornton, Colo.-based company hopes to launch as early as July. “Although our business plan will be delayed,” CEO John Copple says, “we are confident that with the launch of IKONOS-2 we will achieve our goals.”
That delay, though,may enable competitors to catch up.Orbimage of Dulles, Va., and EarthWatch of Longmont, Colo., are planning separate launches of high-resolution imaging satellites later this year. All three outfits plan to offer satellite images with resolutions as sharp as one meter, more than twice as crisp as what is commercially available today.
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We did the test again with Fidelity 120. I did better on the melody test this time, scoring about 20 percent. That was closer to the mean score, which, Rubinstein told me, was 25 percent.
But John Redden had done far better. Redden gave me his score on the melody test: 100 percent. For a cochlear-implant user, that was an extraordinary score. Having a professionally trained brain for music probably helped. Richard Reed, a musician who had lost his hearing at 37 and gotten an implant at 46, had scored 86 percent. Only a handful of the subjects had gotten scores in that range.
Rubinstein says that people like Redden and Reed are proof of what’s possible. He told me, “I don’t want to lead people to unrealistic expectations of the ability to hear music with a cochlear implant, but in fact, the results are better than we expect.” There were, of course, the high scorers, but even many of the low scorers on the melody test had still done well on the pitch-perception test, as I had.
The scores suggested that the nascent capacity to perceive pitch was there, waiting to be exploited with better software and better training. For example, Rubinstein’s lab has been experimenting with an algorithm using a phenomenon called stochastic resonance to improve music perception.
So there was a good reason for the melody test to be hard, I realized. It was not an impossible test for implant users, but merely a very difficult test. It was a simple, easy to use, and reliable test that let researchers measure the performance of new algorithms objectively. (A paper giving data on a larger group of subjects and demonstrating test-retest reliability is currently in review, Rubinstein says.)
The test also lets subjects measure progress over time. If in 10 years scores have doubled, that will mean that implant users really are hearing the basic elements of music better.
The test would also make it easier for researchers to analyze the performance of “superlisteners” like John Redden so that, ultimately, they can develop new software to let other deaf people hear music better.
Michael Chorost covers implanted technologies for Technology Review. His book, Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human, came out in 2005.
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Credit: Courtesy of the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington
Tagged: Biomedicine, Communications, software, implant
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Diagnostics for All, a nonprofit startup in Cambridge, MA, has designed a cheap, disposable blood test for liver damage. The device uses a stack of paper the size of a postage stamp for a test of toxicity for drugs to treat HIV and tuberculosis.
Some antiretroviral therapies and many TB drugs are toxic to the liver. Patients on HIV and TB medication in rich countries are typically monitored every month for liver damage and taken off the treatment if liver damage becomes imminent. “In the U.S., [testing] is routine. It’s expected, it’s standard,” says Nira Pollock, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and infectious diseases expert at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
In the developing world, liver function testing is often either suboptimal or nonexistent, she says. “People don’t get monitored because the current tests are expensive, or hard to obtain, or [the results] take far too long.” Patients who are being treated for HIV or tuberculosis succumb to liver failure brought on by the medication.
Diagnostic for All wants to change that. “The testing needs to be decentralized, done by health workers going around [to remote parts of the country], if they’re lucky, on motorcycle,” says Patrick Beattie, product development scientist at DFA. Health-care workers at remote stations would take a photograph of the results using their cell phone and transmit the results to a central hospital for analysis.
The device consists of a few layers of patterned paper, laminated for protection. A droplet of blood from a pricked finger will be placed on a small opening in the lamination. A filter inside will stop the red blood cells, and release the remaining plasma into channels in the paper. Reagents which are sensitive to molecular indicators of liver damage will be picked up along the way, and collect with the plasma on the final layer of paper. A color test will indicate how much of the damage marker is present in the blood sample.
“We’re looking at pennies per device,” says Beattie. Since the raw material for the test is paper, this decreases the cost of production exponentially. Also, it makes use of the properties of paper to cause flow, removing the need for expensive equipment like pumps. The startup is a spin-off from the George Whitesides lab at Harvard University, and holds exclusive license to diagnostic technologies that the lab is tailoring for use in the developing world. The liver function test is the first application of the paper-patterned microfluidics assay that the Whitesides lab developed in 2008.
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Credits: Diagnostics for All
Tagged: Biomedicine, microfluidics, tuberculosis, liver cells, paper diagnostics
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49746 | Songs of secrets and city lights
TEDGlobal 2009 · 23:04 · Filmed Jul 2009
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This haunting, intimate performance by European singer-songwriter Sophie Hunger features songs from her breakout debut "Monday's Ghost" and the just-released album "1983."
Indie newcomer Sophie Hunger's haunting vocals — at once fragile and soulful — carried her wistful, blues-dappled acoustic folk from intimate cafe appearances to extraordinary word-of-mouth success and cross-Europe tours. Full bio
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49747 | x = independently organized TED event
Theme: Reconnect and Rediscover Wonder
Singapore, Singapore
March 19th, 2011
View photos from the event on Flickr
About this event
"Reconnect and Rediscover Wonder" TEDxSingapore's 9th idea event
Many shut the door on it for 51 weeks of the year.
But at TED, we're transported there. Perhaps by a scientist describing one of nature's breathtaking surprises. An inventor unveiling a new marvel. An artist revealing her impossibly rich imagination. Or the unexpected connections among all three. From wonder comes a desire to understand -- and a thrilling sense of possibility that some call inspiration.
Join us when TEDxSingapore brings amazing TED Talks and performances direct and near-live from the TED2011 Conference in USA.
Plus interactive community activities and as always, great opportunities to connect and converse with the incredible diversity of the TED Community in Singapore.
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Event Type (what is this?) TED2011 Simulcast (TEDxLive)
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Organizer 8a687a0d0f1c186eaa190feb122a97121e3f7cf6_165x165
Dave Lim
Singapore, Singapore
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The Curatorial Team of TEDxSingapore
~ for passion, for people, for purpose
Jackie They
Jean Lee
Eileen Feng
Mentor Curator |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49750 | Episode Report Card
Sara M: B+ | Grade It Now!
Bob Is Full Of Craft
Nobag return to camp. Corinne tells us once again about her and Bob's fake idol plan, which is actually just Bob's fake idol plan. Not Corinne's. Stop trying to steal his thunder, Corinne. Corinne and Bob sneak into the woods and go over the plan. They're going to say that Bob didn't tell anyone about his idol and was planning to use it tonight if he didn't win immunity. Since he did, he's going to give it to Corinne tonight. Corinne believes that if they think she has an idol and that it's legit, they won't vote her out. Instead, they'll take Matty out. She says it's a longshot, but it's all they have. Corinne credits her intelligence and Bob's craftiness for this plan. I credit Bob's intelligence and Bob's craftiness. "It would be so awesome if this worked," Corinne says. I hate her, but I love a good blindside. So I agree.
Back at camp, the Fang alliance is trying to remember how to spell Corinne's name. Ha ha ha! Ken thinks Corinne is going to try to convince Bob to give her his immunity necklace. They agree that if that happens, they'll just vote for Bob. Ken says they have nothing to worry about -- they're a tight five and they're going to stay that way. Matty tells us that they're getting down to the Final Six and Bob is a major threat, so things are scary.
Ken and Corinne meet at the dock. Ken says that Bob's win spoiled "our" plans. Does he means the Fang alliance's plans or something he's cooked up with Corinne? Either way, Corinne's got a trap to set. She says "that's okay" because she's got something that she thinks will keep her safe tonight. "I won't say anything, I promise," Ken says. Corinne strikes, telling him the Marcus idol story and ending with Bob giving it to her and Matty being blindsided out tonight. Ken agrees that that is probably Corinne and Bob's best option (not to mention Ken's). So, really, it's in Ken's best interests to keep this a secret from his alliance and let Matty be blindsided at Tribal, no? If the idol is real, then Corinne and Bob don't need a majority vote to take Matty out at all. I'm starting to see some cracks in Bob's genius idea. Ken says he'd like to talk to Bob about this, and Corinne goes off to get him, saying he has to tell him that she told Ken about the idol. Left alone, Ken says he might have to jump alliances.
Corinne and Bob return. Corinne butters Ken up, asking for his input since he's just as smart as they are. Ken says he agrees that they should take Matty out next. Corinne asks if Crystal ("because she's smarter than the rest of them") would vote for Matty with the three of them. Ken says he thinks so. Bob says they'll pull Crystal into a Final Four alliance and vote for Matty tonight. Yeah, a Final Four alliance with two people in it who the jury is sure to vote for over Ken or Crystal. Ken would be a moron to side with Bob and Corinne. Corinne tells us that this "ridiculously hair-brained scheme" might actually work. This proves to her that the mutants she's playing with are truly stupid. I think they're all stupid not to blindside Sugar right now. She's not an immunity threat, but she has an idol.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49765 | Netbooks and redtape economics
For the past six months I have been using a HP mini for word processing and accessing wireless Internet at school. I lost my 40 watt AC adapter yesterday, and finding a new one that was reasonably priced was harder than you would think - much harder. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49773 | Just one of fourteen historical Japanese tanks being added to World of Tanks next week.
In my line of work, I interview a lot of people. It becomes obvious when I am speaking to someone who doesn't really care about their product and is just reciting PR bullet points, or to someone who has a genuine love and enthusiasm for it.
Jasper Nicholas is in the latter category. It is rare to talk to someone in the upper management of a video game company who is so in love with the product he represents.
Nicholas is Wargaming's general manager for the Asia-Pacific region, a part of the world that Wargaming has only recently begun to make a serious attempt to crack open. His portfolio is diverse, covering Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and yes, Australia and New Zealand.
Wargaming's most famous product is the wildly popular World of Tanks, a free-to-play online tank battle game that delivers bite-sized morsels of heavy duty hardware and high explosive, with most battles running less than fifteen minutes. Recently out in some countries, but not yet in Australia, is its new sister product, World of Warplanes, and World of Warships is also on the horizon.
I talked to Jasper in the middle of a test session in an internet cafe, where I had a test run of the Japanese tanks about to be introduced in the game's new major patch, due in about a week. This is the current focus for the team, raising awareness of these little-known real world tanks that are about to start blowing each other up in online battles.
"About two years ago, Victor [Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming] came to Japan and he's been reading about the tank battles on the shores of Samar in the Philippines, which was one of the few deployments of the Japanese tanks. They also deployed in Guam and in other countries in the Pacific, but the most notable were in Samar," Nicholas explained.
"When he started digging deep into it, he discovered that there was actually a lot of development and ingenuity that went into building the Japanese tanks," he said. "When I visited a military museum here in Tokyo, I was blown away by the Type 10, just released in 2010, and it's one of the smartest tanks that I've ever seen in real life. On paper it's just so impressive that it's scary, the amount of capability that it has. The network hub, the infrared capabilities, the satellite positioning, touch-screen controls, auto-loader... The ammunition payload that it carries is just amazing."
Japan's line of tanks, which began in the decade before World War II as Japan was attempting to consolidate power in the East Asian region, are typically named after the year in which they are launched. In addition to 2010's Type 10, they also have the Type 90, the Type 74, the Type 61, and so forth.
The STB-1, which was a 1968 prototype of the Type 74, will be the newest tank included in the update, and will also be the most recent in the entire game, which generally focuses on tanks from World Wars I and II.
"They were developed within the mission framework that these tanks would be continuously used throughout a lengthy war," Nicholas went on. "Of course, because of how history played out, we all know that the war was abruptly stopped in 1945, but even after it ended they never really lost focus. Even in their modern tanks, the heritage is there in the diesel-powered engine platform, which Mitsubishi and Isuzu did a really good job of creating."
During World War II, Germany and Russia had to design petrol-powered tanks, as both countries were often too cold for diesel fuel, which would freeze at low temperatures. With Japan being a warmer country, and operating primarily in Asia and the Pacific region, they were free to enjoy the greater torque granted by diesel, which helped when lugging 40 tons of armour across a battlefield.
In all, fourteen Japanese tanks will be added to World of Tanks, including light and medium tanks and lightweight tank destroyers, across two tech trees that players will need to research. This is far from the end for new content in the game, though, and we may even see an Aussie machine in there one day.
"We've already studied an Australian tank, and we're considering a multinational tank release, not just a specific country," Nicholas said. "Australia only has one notable tank, but there are other countries with a few tanks, like Taiwan. Italian tanks didn't see a lot of action, and development was a bit scarce."
"We never stop developing for World of Tanks - we're one of the few developers who put an active focus on constant content development - and we're really excited about next year because you're going to see a lot more creative features and functionalities. We're really getting to the point where a balance betwen realism and fun can be realistically achieved, and I think that's one of the major selling points of World of Tanks: it's not just a game, but one that constantly evolves based on the feedback we get from players, as well as the dreams of our CEO and his team of developers."
Having recently dived into World of Tanks myself and finding it extremely challenging to get started, I asked Nicholas about how Wargaming has designed the experience for beginners. The game has a tutorial now, but there is still a steep learning curve.
"It was only recently that we released that forced tutorial for new people," he said, "and when you undergo that tutorial it lets you experience, with very specific directions, how to move the tank, rotate the turret, aim properly, and shoot properly."
"This system isn't like anything else that you've ever seen in an online game," he explained. "The way things are laid out is completely different from any other online game that you're used to. It's simple - WASD to move, mouse to control your turret - but for guys who are used to playing GTA and all those racing games, they get disconcerted because you're facing one direction and moving in another."
"When I started playing the game, it took me about thirty battles before I got to a level where I could say, okay, I'm no longer a newbie and I'm learning the dynamics of the game, but I can safely say it took me at least 500 battles before I could tell myself, okay, I know how this game plays."
"Once you get into it, it's a very deep game with a lot of content and a lot of things that you need to understand - which engines to use, which guns to use, because sometimes you won't need the most upgraded version in your tank, and you can upgrade your crew in different disciplines."
"The thing with this game, though, is that it's completely free to play and free to win, you just have to keep on battling," he concluded. "The more battles that you have, the more capability you get, in terms of consuming more content."
But how free is it really? Wargaming has become an extremely wealthy company because many players are willing to shell out real world money to purchase in-game content. Nicholas says that paying money is nearly always about saving time.
"If you're the kind of person who can't spend three hours to gain a certain number of experience points and you want to cut it in half, then you can pay for it. It doesn't really give you any other advantage."
But what about the high-powered premium ammunition that can only be bought with real money? "Premium ammo isn't really that great," he replied, which may shock some players. "I never spend my own gold on premium ammo - I only ever use it for things like high octane fuel or consumables like cola, that gives your tank crew an energy boost."
World of Tanks update 8.10, which will include the Japanese tanks, as well as a graphics upgrade, will be available on either 23 or 24 December (the date had not quite been nailed down at time of writing).
Disclosure: The writer travelled as a guest of Wargaming.
- James "DexX" Dominguez
twitter Screen Play is on Twitter: @jamesjdominguez |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49782 | Rave Mom
Havana Is Waiting
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
By New York City
David Turner (thumbs up), Jeremy Shamos (with skull),and Peter Ackerman (jester hat) inThe Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)(Photo: Carol Rosegg)
and Peter Ackerman (jester hat) in
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
(Photo: Carol Rosegg)
There is something about William Shakespeare that cries out for parody. The Bard's work is not only universally familiar to English speakers, it is also universally understood to be "great"--that is, intellectually and emotionally profound, sublimely transcendent of its time and place, massive in scope and effect, yada yada yada. The plays have exactly the sort of unimpeachable reputation that makes satirists froth at the mouth, and Shakespeare has indeed come in for his share of drubbing over the years: from Eugene Ionesco's Macbett to Richard Nathan's How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth (a King Lear spoof produced at New York's West 104th Street Garden this summer) to The Skinhead Hamlet (a mini-masterpiece of unclear authorship that is widely available on line).
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) was originally presented by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, a three-man team that has also offered truncated theatrical versions of the Bible and of American history. The show is notable for its sheer audacity: It takes on not one, not 10, but all 37 of Shakespeare's plays, cramming mostly successful lampoons of them into two hours of spastic entertainment. There is, of course, some cheating involved. For example, all of the comedies are combined into one giant plot involving a shipwreck, a powerful but mysterious Duke, and his "three sets of identical twins". Still, the desired effect is made; the show is a big, whooshing whirlwind of double takes, mangled plots, slapstick falls, and groaning puns. "Call me but love..." says Romeo in the first parody of the evening. "Hold on...Call you butt-love?" answers Juliet. This joke for 10-year-olds, repeated three times, somehow keeps getting funnier.
The Complete Works is pretty stupid, a fact for which it is completely unapologetic. None of the cast members has a particularly delightful stage presence, and only one--the boyish David Turner--establishes any sort of reliable comic persona. Also, many of the show's ideas are kind of lame: The history plays are presented in the context of a giant, "Who's-got-the-crown?" football game, while Othello is transformed into a rap song on the vaguely offensive pretext that its title character is a black person. The codpieces and fake bosoms are wildly oversized, the dick jokes are plentiful, and the intrepid Turner is called upon several times to mime vomiting on audience members.
But, man, is it hilarious. That's because the performers (the cast is rounded out by Peter Ackerman and Jeremy Shamos) know as well as we do that this is not brilliant theater, and they simply don't care. Their earnestness is palpable. The energy is fast and furious, with rollicking sword fights and spit takes, along with blink-and-you'll-miss-them characterizations. In a tremendously effective conceit which, I suspect, is owed to the original company, the vibe is quickly established that we're all in this together: The actors use their real names in introducing themselves to the audience, confessing their performance anxiety ("I don't want to do Hamlet," sulks Turner. "There's too many words!"). When it comes time for Ophelia to go crazy, they concoct an impossibly convoluted audience participation segment. By that point, you can't dislike the show; it's your show, too.
Somehow, between the butt-love jokes and the transformation of Titus Andronicus into a cooking show (sounds stupid, right? I was laughing at the time), The Complete Works displays an honest reverence for its subject. And some measure of real intelligence does lurk beneath the childishness. Whole chunks of Shakespeare's poetry are recited, not always in a mocking fashion; even in this preposterous context, the verse remains surpassingly beautiful, and the actors know it. Oh, and when it comes time in the Hamlet bit for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to enter, Ackerman deadpans: "Forget them. They've got their own play." This is a big, fun, stupid show with enough smarts--and more than enough good nature--to hold your attention.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49819 | Schubert: String Quintet D956; Quartettsatz D703 – review
Kirshbaum/Takács Quartet
5 out of 5 5
• The Guardian,
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The Takács Quartet
Formidably satisfying … the Takács Quartet. Photograph: Keith Saunders
Six years ago, the Takács's first disc for Hyperion was devoted to Schubert – his A minor and D minor Quartets. Their return to that composer now, with a performance of what is arguably the greatest of all his chamber works, has been well worth the wait, for though the CD catalogue already includes a number of treasurable versions of the C major Quintet from all epochs of recording history, there is always room for one that shows the typical Takács virtues of insight and intelligence, combined with an almost supernatural unity of musical purpose.
Buy it from
1. Buy the CD
2. Franz Schubert
3. Schubert: String Quintet/ Quartet (Quintet D956/ Quartet D703) (Takács Quartet; Ralph Kirshbaum) (Hyperion: CDA67864)
4. None
5. Hyperion
1. 2012
Their performance, with Ralph Kirshbaum fitting effortlessly into the ensemble as second cellist, is never conceived as a reassuring tour around one of western music's supreme achievements. There's always an undertow of unease, and where other quartets might luxuriate more in the expansive lyricism of the opening Allegro's second subject, or dwell more pointedly on the expressive beauties of the slow movement, the Takács will have none of it. They just don't do self-indulgence or tonal beauty for its own sake and so always maintain momentum in the first movement and take the second at the upper limit of the tempo that its Adagio marking might imply. Surprisingly, they do make a point of slowing right down for the trio section of the scherzo, creating a moment of profound introspection that seems as if it is the emotional pivot of the piece, after which all the finale can do is conjure its own compromise with what has come before. It's a formidably satisfying performance, and you get the Quartettsatz, all Schubert completed of a planned C minor quartet, as an equally searching and remarkable bonus.
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Between Caesar & Mohammed by S. M. Hutchens
Between Caesar & Mohammed
Love of Enemies & Patriotic Duties
The Lord said, “You have heard it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” This eminently practical precept, if not directly taught in Leviticus 19, may be inferred from it, and the “you have heard it was said” indicates that the inference was commonly made. What, indeed, will happen to people unable to develop sufficient moral leverage to hate their enemies? The interests of the peace which wars are fought to earn do not appear well-served by the teaching that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. (The Lord did not say that fighting or killing them was outside the boundaries of love; indeed, the Father whose sons and agents we are, takes every life away in perfect love and justice.) As a practical matter, though, in the life and mind of the secular polis, the generation of lively hatred for the enemy, the hotter the better, is a necessity. That is why one “hears it said.”
This is not, however, the way of Christians. C. S. Lewis, a decorated veteran of trench warfare in France, demonstrated that Way in Mere Christianity:
I have often thought to myself how it would have been if, when I served in the First World War, I and some young German had killed each other simultaneously and found ourselves together a moment after death. I cannot imagine that either of us would have felt any resentment or even any embarrassment. I think we might have laughed over it.
It took no little courage for Lewis to say this during yet another terrible war with Germany. Organs of national propaganda have not found propagations like this helpful, especially during wartime: the Hun, the Bosch, the rapers-of-Belgium, and, in our day, fanatical Islamicism in its slavering odium for everything that resists absorption—one must admit these depictions as practical and politically necessary as what the hearers of Jesus had heard about their enemies.
The Christian Way
Love of the enemy, however, demands he be treated justly and fairly, that we do nothing to him that we wouldn’t have done to ourselves. This is the Christian way in the world, as much as it may anger and disturb those responsible for making wars in our name and for our sake—even wars Christians consider just and in which they willingly participate. David Mills recently observed in a private correspondence,
The passions that politics feeds—wrath, envy, resentment, excitement, etc.—drive many Christians far more than theological conviction. One change I’ve noticed lately is that religious conservatives have been shifting in the political issues they pursue from a religious to a secular or worldly viewpoint. They may be very devout, but what raises their heartbeat is not religion but politics.
The epinephrine to which David refers is comprised of very un-Christian passions like “wrath, envy, and resentment,” and we share his observations about the frequent failure of distinctively Christian thinking around political issues—a failure that may be extremely well camouflaged in a political conservatism that is far friendlier to Christianity than modern political liberalism.
Christians & Islam
The issue arose recently among us in a discussion of Christian treatment of Islam, a religion that has been from its beginning, and under the explicit direction of its Prophet, a bloody enemy of Christianity. We would be both naive and foolish to ignore the facts of its history or the consonance of its more radical and warlike teachers with the example of Mohammed and the precepts of the Qu’ran.
What are we to say, however, if Muslims tell us that, on the contrary, Islam is a religion of peace, that Islamic law is based on the same moral code as the Ten Commandments, and that Mohammed’s teachings are like those of Jesus? Is this to be treated as cynical misrepresentation of obvious facts for purposes of deception? No doubt for some representatives of Islam it is, but the Christian owes the Muslim the benefit of consideration of these things in accordance with his Lord’s rule that he should treat others as he would himself be treated.
Christianity regards the scriptures of no other faith except Judaism as inspired by God, so does not believe there exists an orthodox Islam based on correct interpretation of the Qu’ran. While Christians believe the Bible means what God intends it to mean, thus in truth and error in its interpretation, they can only regard a disputed meaning in the Qu’ran as a contest between Muslims that cannot be gotten behind, no matter how odd a Muslim conclusion may appear to a Christian.
From our perspective, Islam is not a religion of peace any more than its Prophet was a peaceful man or the Qu’ran a peaceful book. When, however, Muslims interpret the Qu’ran and the life of Mohammed in that way, act peacefully themselves—as many do—seek commonality in sharia and Torah and in the teachings of Jesus and Mohammed, if they find in it what Lewis referred to as the Tao, and which we believe leads to Christ—in fact, is Christ himself—should we seek cause against them rather than wish them well in pursuit of what is good?
We are bound as Christians to take these thing into account in understanding the phenomenon of Islam, and not assume that those who interpret it as essentially irenic, or reflective of a universal, divinely implanted ethic, are slyly misrepresenting it, even when provision is made in the Qu’ran itself for sly misrepresentation. That interpretation of their faith may look unlikely and unreasonable to us, but it cannot be said to be wrong in the same sense that tendentious exegesis of the Jewish or Christian Bible is wrong.
It is, moreover, difficult for Christians and Jews, if they are honest with themselves, to seize the high moral ground over Islam on account of its bellicosity, or because many of its laws are excessively sanguinary or unjust by modern Western (democratic and egalitarian) standards—unless, that is, the crusading God of the Hebrew Bible who shall in time cause the trumpets of the Apocalypse to sound is different from the one they worship in their churches. Our God is not only the God of peace, but also of war. It pains this writer when Christians condemn Muslims for understanding this about the nature of God, while they, serving at the altar of modern liberalism and in supine ignorance of their own Scriptures, ignore it.
Above & Apart
Christians must avoid having their judgment controlled by political enthusiasms, being especially careful of this when the political ideology to which they are drawn appears just, reasonable, and friendly to their faith. This is not a prescription against patriotism, nor does it mean that all political persuasions are created equal—far from it—but that the Church of Jesus Christ stands above and apart from every earthly institution and association in such a way that its members are continually responsible to discern, and to separate, what belongs to God and to Caesar. The idea of division between church and state was not invented by Jefferson for the Danbury Baptists, but taught by Christ to Peter; the question for Christians is on its nature, not its existence.
This is painful for those who love their native lands, and are thankful for them, but who in all times and places are called upon to acknowledge the priority of their citizenship in heaven. They must subordinate what state interest teaches them about their enemies—and other things—to the harder precepts enjoined upon them by their Master.
— S. M. Hutchens, for the editors
S. M. Hutchens works as a reference librarian in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He holds a doctorate in theology. He is a senior editor of Touchstone.
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“Between Caesar & Mohammed” first appeared in the November/December 2010 issue of Touchstone. If you enjoyed this article, you'll find more of the same in every issue.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49932 | Sunday 16 March 2014
Star composer
, May 7, 2013
South Korean pianist and composer Lee Ru-ma, better known as "Yiruma" meaning "I shall achieve" in Korean, poses for a photograph in front of the Sydney Opera House. Yiruma, a household name in his homeland, prefers to think of himself as more of a composer than a pianist, getting inspiration from his surroundings and his memories, including those of old lovers. But fans of the 35-year-old don't much mind what he calls himself: he's notched up more than 124 million YouTube views for his performances, including more than 6 million alone for the much-covered "River Flows in You", his composition. - Reuters/David Gray
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49943 | Julia Sonmi Heglund is an illustrator from Madison, WI whose work will bring you back to your childhood. The work that Heglund does is abstract but very vivid, giving the feeling that they're in their own free-form world of imagination.
The work that Heglund does is easily classified as fantasy with a slight nod to pop culture. Colors and chic images that Julia Sonmi Heglund chooses for her pieces make for something that wouldn't look out of place on a t-shirt, but would look equally as appropriate framed in an exhibit. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49982 | Stargate Atlantis
Season 1 Episode 10
The Storm (1)
Aired Friday 10:00 PM Sep 17, 2004 on Syfy
out of 10
User Rating
421 votes
By Users
Episode Summary
The inhabitants of the city and the mainland are forced to evacuate when a huge hurricane bears down on them. But things get even worse when the city is then captured by the Genii, forcing Sheppard to try and stay one step ahead when they capture Weir and McKay.moreless
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• How were the Geniis able to read the Ancient writings. Fire the damn screenwriter, who wrote this episode. I pretty much agree with “hack103”
• See Summary
• Visually impressive...
• Great episode!
A storm threatens Atlantis and they fear there is no way to sheild the city from the power of the storm so the mainland and city are evacuated. However, McKay, Shepard, Weir stay behind to try to implicate a plan devised by the brilliant McKay. They go off and do some scientific stuff while the genii come threw the gate and take over the main room and capture Weir and McKay. The genii, led by Koyla, demand c-4, medicine, and weapons and John is the only one who can stop them. Overall great episode with an interesting cat/mouse thing between Shepard and Koyla.moreless
Joe Flanigan
Joe Flanigan
Major / Lt. Colonel John Sheppard
Torri Higginson
Torri Higginson
Dr. Elizabeth Weir
Rachel Luttrell
Rachel Luttrell
Teyla Emmagan
Rainbow Sun Francks
Rainbow Sun Francks
Lt. Aiden Ford
David Hewlett
David Hewlett
Dr. Rodney McKay
Erin Chambers
Erin Chambers
Guest Star
Michael Puttonen
Michael Puttonen
Guest Star
Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Guest Star
Robert Davi
Robert Davi
Commander Acastus Kolya
Recurring Role
Ryan Robbins
Ryan Robbins
Ladon Radim
Recurring Role
Paul McGillion
Paul McGillion
Dr. Carson Beckett
Recurring Role
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
• TRIVIA (11)
• According to the Ancient database, every 20 or 30 years the sea around Atlantis gets unseasonably warm. Previously the Ancients either strengthened the shield or submerged the city deep enough not to be affected by the massive storm that is created.
• Kolya: Say goodbye to Dr. Weir.
Sheppard: This city has a self-destruct button. You hurt her, I'll activate it. Nobody'll get Atlantis.
Kolya: Even if it exists, Major, you need at least two senior personnel to activate it.
He's not sure he believes it exists but somehow Kolya knows it requires two codes to activate the self destruct? How?
• Beckett: (to Ford) Neither one of us are real pilots.
It is revealed in "Hot Zone" that Lt. Ford does not possess the necessary gene to use Lantean technology thus it is completely moot whether he is a good pilot or a bad one as he couldn't have flown the Jumper. It may seem strange, seeing as Doctor McKay received the gene artificially in the episode "Hide and Seek and is apparently permanent, however it is revealed later that not every one who receives the gene innoculation actually have it activated.
• The Menarians were first mentioned in "Underground". Sgt. Bates' team had initiated a trade agreement with them off screen during the episode.
• When Sheppard and Ford are asking the Menarian leader for shelter during the storm, the table at which they sit holds two very distinctive candlestick holders. In "Underground", at the feast, the exact same candlestick holders are present, emphasizing the alliance between the Menarians and the Genii.
• Throughout this episode and the next, Beckett's Puddle Jumper bears a grey "J2" sign on the front of the flight console facing the window, obviously designating it as Jumper 2. However, outside of these two episodes, this sign and any others for different Jumpers are not present.
• Teyla and Dr. Beckett are wearing their shoulder patches while they are on the mainland helping the Athosians. This is only the second time since "Rising (2)" that we see team members wearing their patches outside of Atlantis; the first being in "Home".
• Goof: After Sheppard has picked up the Genii communicator from the dead soldier, he uses it to communicate with Kolya, however Kolya continues to use the radio Sheppard left in the C-4 container.
• When the Genii first come through the Atlantis gate disguised as Athosians you can clearly see that there is one other woman in the group apart from Sora. You never see this woman again for the rest of the episode or during "The Eye".
• Goof: When Commander Kolya is interrupted from training his troops, he tosses Sora's solid-colored staff to the other guy, and gives Sora the striped staff, but then in the next scene she has her staff back.
• Goof: Since Dr. Weir had heard the plan to use lightning to power the shields once before, it seems odd that she asked if the city could handle the shock the second time McKay explained the plan.
• QUOTES (48)
• Sheppard: I'm not finished yet!
Kolya: Neither am I. Say good-bye to Dr. Weir.
Sheppard: The city has a self-destruct button. If you hurt her, I'll activate it. Nobody'll get Atlantis.
Kolya: Even if it exists, Major, you need at least two senior personnel to activate it. And I'm about to take one of them out of the equation.
Sheppard: Kolya!
• Weir: The wraith are slowly waking. Soon, this entire galaxy will be embroiled in a war the likes of which our generations have never seen.
Kolya: A war that you expedited.
Weir: Disagreements like ours will no longer matter. The only thing of any consequence will be how prepared we are and what defense we are able to mount.
• Weir: What did they do to you?
McKay: I tried to keep my mouth shut, I tried, I just, I couldn't-
• Sora: Where's Teyla Emmagan?
Weir: You know Teyla?
Sora: Is she here, in the city?
Weir: No, she isn't. You must be Sora. I read the Genii mission report. I'm sorry about your father.
Sora: He'll be avenged.
Weir: Teyla didn't kill him.
Sora: No. She left him to die.
Weir: She had no choice-
Sora: Are you finished?
• Weir: We start investigating evacuation plans, both on the mainland and off-world somewhere.
Sheppard: You know McKay will come up with something. He's just setting himself up to be a hero.
Weir: Yeah, well maybe Rodney is, but Dr. Zelenka, he seemed genuinely concerned.
• Sheppard: Come on, guys, this city's been around for a long time.
Zelenka: Storm surge is inevitable.
McKay: Not to mention the fact that by moving over a landmass just before hitting us, the likelihood of tornadoes and electrical activity is greatly increased.
Sheppard: This is Atlantis. They've got to be able to handle that... Right?
McKay: No.
Weir: Why not?!
McKay: The people who built this city knew they had a forcefield capable of holding back anything Mother Nature or, for that matter, the Wraith, could throw at them. Without that protection, Atlantis is remarkably fragile.
• Sheppard: So my orders are to come up with a friendly planet that wouldn't mind putting us up for a night?
• McKay: I was once almost struck by lightning.
Zelenka: Lightning? (Inspired by a thought, he turns around to face Rodney just as Rodney jumps to his feet, obviously struck by the same thought.)
• McKay: This planet is basically the same size as Earth. Now, hurricanes on Earth never get as big as this bad boy because once they hit the shore, the brakes get put on. Without as much landmass to slow it down here, it's just, uh, gaining momentum.
Zelenka: Both of them are.
McKay: Yes.
Weir: Both of them?
• Sheppard: Let me tell you what you did wrong here, Kolya. A, you lost two of your men. B, you damaged the switch before I could separate the grounding rods, which I'm sure you're going to get an earful from McKay for. And C, you lost all of what little credibility you had with me.
• Kolya: You believe your people, who are not even of this galaxy, are closer to the Ancients than we are. Your arrogance is astounding.
• Kolya: Your offer is very generous, Major.
Sheppard: Yes, it is.
Kolya: However, Dr. McKay recently shared with me there's a plan in action to save the city.
Sheppard: He did?
• Kolya: This is Commander Kolya.
Sheppard: Kolya. That's a hard name to pronounce. Is that a first name?
• Kolya: What's the meaning of this?
Weir: I honestly have no idea.
McKay: It's a radio. The arrow points to the talk button.
• Kolya: You have a plan, don't you?
McKay: I've got lots of plans about lots of things.
Kolya: I'm interested in a plan you have to save the city.
McKay: I never said anything about saving anything.
Kolya: Not yet.
• Weir: How do we know that you won't kill us once we give you what you need?
Kolya: You don't.
• Kolya: Just so we're clear. I know you're lying.
• Weir: Which supplies did you have in mind?
Kolya: All of your stores of the C4 explosive, all of your medical supplies, the Wraith data device you stole from my people, and one of your ships.
McKay: Is that all?
Kolya: No.
• Ford: You heard him!
Beckett: Take a look outside, hotshot. We're not flying through this.
Ford: McKay and Weir were taken hostage, Doc. I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing.
Beckett: Neither one of us are real pilots. If it was a bad idea an hour ago, it's an idiotic one now.
• Sheppard: I'm here.
McKay: I told you to contact me when you go to the first one, Major.
Sheppard: I am at the first one, Rodney.
McKay: Oh, sorry. I've already done mine.
Sheppard: Oh, great. Good for you.
Weir: Me, too.
Sheppard: Good for everyone.
McKay: Where are you now?
Sheppard: I'm at the damn grounding station.
McKay: No no no, not you.
Weir: I'm in the transporter.
McKay: There you are.
Weir: There I am.
Sheppard: Glad everybody's having such a good time.
• Teyla: (waiting in the Jumper to leave for Atlantis) We are ready.
Beckett: I think it's best if we wait it out. We're safe as long as we're in here. We've got rations, and we have plenty of water.
Ford: Yeah, especially outside!
(Carson looks round to Teyla, who looks at the storm raging outside the front windscreen)
Teyla: (looking at the storm outside)Very well. I hope you're right, Doctor. We will not have a chance to change our minds if you are wrong.
Beckett: It'll be cozy.
• McKay: There are dozens, possibly hundreds of lightning rods placed strategically around the city.
Sheppard: Wait a second.
McKay: What?
Sheppard: Why?
McKay: Why what?
• Doran: (drunkenly, pointing at the goblet) I'm finally at the point where I don't mind the taste of it.
Smeadon: I was raised on this brew; burned away whatever taste sense I had.
• Weir: So the city would survive?
McKay: Mm, I'd give us a better than 90%...
Zelenka: ...70...
McKay: ...80% chance.
Weir: Okay, so we should still evacuate.
McKay: Yes, but not just because of Zelempka's pessimism.
Zelenka: Zelenka.
• Zelenka: It's an ingenious plan, really.
McKay: I'm inclined to agree.
• McKay: What is the one thing keeping us from having a shield?
Weir: Uh, that would...
McKay: Power. And what does a mega storm from hell have lots of?
Weir: Power.
McKay: In the form of...
Weir: You want to build a windmill?
McKay: ...electricity.
• Zelenka: You know, in Czech Republic, we don't have to deal with hurricanes.
McKay: We don't get that many in Canada either. Once, they were called "Hazel."
Zelenka: Hazel?
McKay: Hmm. Forty years ago.
Zelenka: That's interesting.
McKay: Not really.
Zelenka: No, not really.
• Sheppard: Well, I got a green light from Smeadon and the Manarians. I'm not sure how pleased they'll be if we get stuck there, though. That's not going to happen, right?
McKay: Of course it's not. We can always 'gate off to another planet.
Sheppard: Comforting. Thank you.
• Sheppard: (about staying with the people on another planet) One night; two tops. We'll bring our own blankets.
• Sheppard: One day you're gonna run across a problem and you're gonna need our help. (to Ford) Isn't that right, Lieutenant?
Ford: Yes sir. We've got lots of ships and weapons we can ... help with. (He nonchalantly but pointedly lays his rifle on the table)
Smeadon: You're telling me we can either be your friends or ...
Sheppard: I much prefer 'friends'.
• Sheppard: I know it's a lot to ask, but... I'm asking.
Smeadon: What do you offer in return?
Sheppard: I guess we'd owe you one.
Smeadon: One what?
Sheppard: A favor.
• Beckett: (trudging over the mainland) I don't really have the right boots for this. I just meant to come out here and inoculate some wee babies.
• Weir: You just said the Ancients experienced these storms every twenty to thirty years. Atlantis must have some sort of precautions put in place.
McKay: In the past, the Ancients have been protected by the shield or submerged deep enough in the water not to be affected.
Sheppard: Okay, strike those options. What else have we got?
• Weir: (into the radio) Major, this is Weir. We didn't copy that. You're breaking up.
Sheppard: (into the radio) I said there's ... (static) ... ermanence headed right ... (static) ... the weather forecasting.
Weir: (to the tech sitting at the control panel) Did he just say 'weather forecasting'?!
• Sheppard: That can't be a storm; it stretches across the whole horizon.
Teyla: I've never seen something like that from so high.
Sheppard: I've seen a lot of things from this altitude, but nothing like that.
• Kolya: What are you doing here?
McKay: From my understanding I'm being held hostage
Kolya: I mean here in Atlantis. Why did some of you stay behind?
McKay: Oh... Tie some loose ends.
Kolya: Like what?
McKay: You know, make sure everyone got out okay.
Kolya: Isn't that the work of someone less important?
McKay: You'd think so, wouldn't you!
• McKay: You're right! If only we had a magical tool that could slow down time. I foolishly left mine on Earth. Did you bring yours?
Zelenka: You know, you're not pleasant when you're like this, McKay.
McKay: I'm always like this.
Zelenka: My point exactly.
• Guard #1: Bacon.
Guard #2: The one thing you wish you had brought with you is bacon?
Guard #1: It's the food that makes other food worth eating.
Guard #2: You wish you brought bacon to another galaxy?!?
• Weir: How were you able to bypass the shield?
Koyla: With the time-tested combination of strong drink and a weak mind.
• Weir: The city can handle that?
McKay: Yes. Theoretically.
Sheppard: Like 'dinosaurs turned into birds' theoretically or theory of relativity theoretically?
McKay (looks confused): What? Um, somewhere between.
• Beckett: Crops can be replaced and homes rebuilt. People can't.
• Weir: Alright, what's the plan?
McKay: From my calculations we have just under twelve hours until the storm hits, so, uh, we plan to have a plan by then.
• Teyla: Yes, go. I will stay behind and give the hunters more time.
Ford: I'll stay with you.
Beckett: Okay, I get the point. We'll wait.
• Sheppard: McKay will come up with something.
McKay: I will try, but despite what you all may think, I am not Superman.
Sheppard: Was anyone seriously thinking that?
(everyone shakes their heads)
Ford: No, sir.
Zelenka: Never.
• Koyla: You killed two of my men.
Sheppard: I guess we're even!
Koyla: I don't like 'even'.
• Ford: How could something as big as Atlantis just sink?
Sheppard: I'm sure the passengers on the Titanic were asking themselves the same question.
McKay: Yes, well, let's not.
• McKay: Now that, for reasons too boring to get into, means that hurricanes are more likely to form.
Zelenka: Right, like El Niño. The ocean...
McKay:(interrupting) Like I said, too boring to go into.
• McKay: (explaining why Sheppard has to take the farthest grounding stations) I need to get done quickly so I can start working on the subroutines, and Elizabeth was complaining about her knee the other day so...
Sheppard: Wait, whoa, w-wait a second. Are these things even close to a transporter?
McKay: Uh, yes, Elizabeth's is.
Sheppard: And mine?
McKay: Uh, it's a brisk walk away.
Sheppard: And by 'brisk' you mean... far?
McKay: And, by 'walk' I mean 'run'.
• NOTES (10)
RMS Titanic (also SS Titanic) was the second of a trio of superliners intended to dominate the transatlantic travel business. Owned by the White Star Line and built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world at the time of its launching. During Titanic's maiden voyage, it struck an iceberg at 11:40 PM (ship's time) on Sunday evening April 14, 1912, and sank two hours and forty minutes later at 2:20 AM Monday morning.
• "Khan!":
The part where Sheppard shouts "Kolya!" into the communicator is just like in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan when Admiral Kirk shouts "Khan!" into a communicator.
• McKay: I will try, but despite what you all may think, I'm not Superman.
He referred, of course, to the iconic superhero published by DC Comics. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/49987 | Thursdays 8:00 PM on CBS
But e-excuse me, I have something to say. None of you may realize it, but I was very much looking forward to this weekend. It was gonna be like the old days -- the four of us hanging out, playing video games, before you guys all got girlfriends. Do you have any idea what its like to the be the only one without a girlfriend? Even if I get one someday, I'll still be the guy who got a girl after Sheldon Cooper!
Amy: I'm dating Sheldon Cooper
Penny: Yes, on purpose.
Amy: He's handsome, he's lanky, he's brilliant and his skin has the pale, waxy quality.
Penny: Well, sickly is the new sexy.
Sheldon: Is the whip sound app contextually appropriate here?
Leonard: Uh, it is, but I think you might have waited too long for it to be funny.
[whip cracks]
Leonard: [Everyone laughs] I was wrong; it was still funny.
Hmm, if it's yogurt that helps ladies poop, I think Raj beat you to it.
Leonard: We're always the good guys. In D&D, we're lawful good. In City of Heroes, we're the heroes. In Grand Theft Auto, we pay the prostitutes promptly and never hit them with a bat.
Sheldon: Those women are prostitutes? You said they were raising money for stem cell research.
Sorry, Stallion. You're weird friend, Giraffe, is here.
Howard: Now, I downloaded an app that might be helpful in this situation.
[whip cracks]
Sheldon: You're right. I'm smart as a whip. I should be able to figure this out.
Look, if you don't want to go to the party, just don't go. You're a grown man. Act like one. Tell Amy you want to spend the weekend having a sleepover and playing video games with your friends!
I'd make fun of Sheldon for having girl problems, if I wasn't shocked that Sheldon has girl problems.
Displaying quotes 64 - 72 of 261 in total |
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Tom Langan
Tom Langan Mostly Credited As: Tom Langan
Date Of Birth: October 19, 1947 (Age 66)
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50029 | How to Apply and FAQs
You will need to complete a UCL application form and provide two letters of reference. On-line applications are encouraged but we ask that you first fill in few details for our own record (to know why see important note below). Once you have filled in our pre-registration form, you will be redirected to the official UCL application form. The paperwork is largely straightforward (although note that we do not design the forms, which are the same for every research degree, and as a consequence some information requested are likely to sound very irrelevant!) , but please include in your 'personal statement' an explicit note of which of our research areas interest you most (e.g., "cosmology, brown dwarfs"; if you haven't decided what interests you most, or if you're interested in anything and everything, that's also useful information for us).
You can of course also send in paper copies if you prefer - the application and reference forms (pdf format) are available for download. Applications on paper should be sent to:
Group A Admissions,
Dept. Physics & Astronomy,
Gower Street.
London WC1E 6BT
United Kingdom
and not, as instructed in the form, to the UCL Registry – this will only delay processing of your application (see the "important note" below). We will forward the paperwork within UCL, on your behalf (far more promptly than they forward paperwork to us).
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to delays in the UCL central processing we would like to keep a record of everyone that applies online. This is why before you are redirected to the main UCL online application we ask you to fill in few details.
• The deadlines for PhD applications to reach the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy are 7th February for UK/EU candidates and 20th of January for overseas candidates (or EU candidates seeking College rather than departmental scholarships) (why?).
• Our normal minimum requirement for admission is a 2:i MPhys/MSci or equivalent (if your course can lead to that qualification; 2:i BSc otherwise), in an appropriate subject (normally, but not exclusively, physics or astrophysics).
If you don't meet these requirements, you may be interested in our MSc programme; the MSc meets entry requirements for our PhD programme. At the risk of confusing you...for obscure administrative reasons, all students entering our PhD programme are initially registered for an MPhil (not an MPhys, MSci, or MSc!), and formally transfer to PhD studies at the end of the first year. If you encounter reference to the "MPhil" anywhere, just ignore it - in practice, our Master's-level degree is the MSc.
• Note that if you are eligible for STFC funding (see eligibility criteria but basically all UK as well as EU students who are registered for a BSc/MSci (3 or 4 years degree) in UK should be eligible) you do not need to apply for funding separately - all you need to do is click 'Studentship' under the funding header of the application. If we offer you a place, this will automatically come with a studentship. If you are not eligible for STFC funding, look at sources of funding for non-UK residents
Why do we ask you to do this? Every year around Jan/Mar, the central UCL system is overwhelmed by applications to its many Departments, and our experience is that delays in forwarding papers of several weeks or more invariably arise as a consequence (e.g., an application received at the Registry on 2007 March 12 arrived in P&A in July!).
We will forward paper submissions to the College Registry. E-submissions automatically go to the registry, but send a note of your submission to phd AT star.ucl.ac.uk
Page last modified on 23 sep 13 14:12 by Serena Viti |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50055 | There's some mutual love going on between President Obama and George W. Bush on the subject of immigration — at least between their social media teams.
The White House showed its gratitude Thursday for Bush's embrace of rewriting immigration laws and why such an overhaul is important to the economy with a new video posted via Twitter.
The Obama White House noted it was thanking the Bush Center for its motion graphic on the same subject.
Bush's new media gurus responded on Twitter, proclaiming that it's good people are talking about the "connection" between immigration and economic growth. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50056 | What do you get when you fuse superheroes and villains from the DC Comics universe with the popular Scribblenauts video games?
The answer is Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure for Nintendo Wii U, Windows PC and Nintendo 3DS.
Developed by 5th Cell and published by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the new game isn't the strongest in the series but still proves to be a fun, attractive and challenging game that rewards you for flexing your imagination.
Scribblenauts Unmasked once again stars the young Maxwell and his twin sister, Lily, who can zip around the world with a globe. Your goal is to stop a villainous plot from unfolding, by visiting iconic locales from the DC universe — Metropolis, Atlantis, Gotham City, Oa and others — and typing words in Maxwell's magic notebook for the object to appear onscreen.
For example, Lily needs a doctor at the beginning of the game, so you'll type "doctor" and drag the cartoon physician onto your sis to fix her up. Easy enough, right? Problem is, Unmasked quickly introduces adjectives, which might confuse younger gamers. For example, you're soon asked to give Batman an adjective to help ward off Deadshot — perhaps with a word like "strong," "fast" or "flying" — but I've seen many kids type in nouns to fight instead ("batarang," "knife" or "rock"). A few seconds later, you need to bring bad guy Victor Zsasz to the roof of a building, and you'll also need to type in an adjective to get him there. Previous Scribblenauts games didn't introduce adjectives until much later on in the game.
But once you get the hang of it, the game really grows on you, especially as you're using your imagination to play the game however you like. No two people will likely play the same way because of the huge number of descriptive words and nouns you can type in to solve puzzles.
Maxwell can also explore the 2-D levels, talk with characters to get a mission and manipulate objects (in the PC version, by clicking the right button on the mouse). You'll also collect "starites" to power Lily's globe and watch enjoyable non-playable story sequences.
DC Comics fans in particular should love the superhero tie-in as the game houses more than 2,000 DC Comics characters and objects, all drawn in the charming Scribblenauts art style — including Superman, Lex Luthor, The Joker, Riddler, Aquaman, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman. You can access the in-game Batcomputer to read up on all the characters and objects in the game.
Unlike the Nintendo 3DS cartridge, the Wii U disc and PC download (via Steam) also let you create your own superhero (or modify an existing one, or villain), and then share your custom character creations online, if desired. In front of the same television screen, a second player can join the Wii U version of the game and use the Wii Remote to take control over characters.
Along with the dozen main stages in the solo campaign, Scribblenauts Unmasked also offers randomized elements for higher replayability, boss challenges (including a racing sequence) and inside jokes for Justice League fans.
While the game is a little more difficult than its predecessors and the puzzles aren't quite as imaginative, the DC Comics integration is a clever and gratifying one. Fans of the franchise and comic books will no doubt enjoy playing through this fun but flawed offering in the Scribblenauts universe.
Scribblenauts Unmasked
Platform: Nintendo Wii U, Windows PC, Nintendo 3DS
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: 5th Cell Media LLC
Publisher: Warner Bros. Entertainment
Web site:
Price: $39.99 to $59.99
Rating: "Everyone 10+"
Score: 3.0 stars (out of 4)
Contact Saltzman at |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50072 | Tag Archive: The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao RSS
Libraries Host Undergraduate Book Discussions of Stoker, Díaz
Dr. Elizabeth Richmond-Garza will guide a discussion of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" on April 6 and Dr. Jennifer Wilks will direct a discussion of "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz on April 21 in events hosted by the University of Texas Libraries for undergraduate students moderated by English Department faculty. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50112 | Bring your binoculars to Riverdale
Riverdale Park is known for its spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Palisades, but it's also a haven for birds, with at least 27 species confirmed breeding there. See how many you can spot today on the Birding and Riverwalk Hike, organized by the Urban Park Rangers. A geological wonder, the 50-acre park sits on the oldest rock formation in New York, the billion-year-old Fordham metamorphic rock, which is topped by Inwood marble. Also, look for the oak trees—at least five varieties thrive here—and the southernmost parts of the park are still the same type of forest that existed pre-colonial, including 110-feet tulip trees. With the weather turning in our favor, this is a glorious opportunity for exercise and bird watching—if you have binoculars, don't forget them.
Sat., March 12, 1 p.m., 2011
My Voice Nation Help |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50131 | From RDF Working Group Wiki
< TF-Graphs
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This is a new attempt to provide a semantics of datasets. It is made such that it covers a descent amount of use cases and more use cases can be covered by proper "semantic extensions". The formal semantics only describes what can be deduced from or assumed to be true of a dataset. It does not describe a mechanism by which an RDF dataset is affected. Implementations are free to ignore the semantics and manipulate the syntactic structure only (e.g., parsers, editors).
Entailment regime
In order to decide how to interpret a dataset, it must be determined how plain RDF graphs are interpreted. According to the existing standards, there are several ways of interpreting a set of triples, each being tied to what SPARQL calls an entailment regime. As of today, the standard entailment regimes are Simple Entailment, RDF Entailment, RDFS Entailment, D Entailment, OWL Entailment with Direct Semantics, OWL Entailment with RDF Based Semantics and RIF Entailment.
The entailment regime is determined by the application and should be either fixed by it and described in the documentation, or changeable through the application setup.
Informal description of the semantics
Given an entailment regime E, the dataset is interpreted in the following way:
• the default graph has the same meaning as an isolated RDF graph according to the regime E. So, a dataset with no <name,graph> pair can be identified with a plain RDF graph. This allows us to treat RDF graph as if they were datasets with minimal abuse of notations.
• the <n,g> pairs are interpreted as a relationship between the "name" n (or the resource it denotes) and a certain graph, not necessarily g. This relationship is considered to be true for a dataset, if the graph in relation with n E-entails g.
This means that the name n (or the resource it denotes) is associated with a graph that has at least the truth of the graph g, according to the chosen entailment regime.
Issue: can the entailment regime of the default graph be different from the one of the <name,graph> pairs?
Issue: do we want to allow an entailment regime that is "weaker" than Simple Entailment? Something like the "no-semantics" in one of our previous proposals.
Issue: can a dataset declare what semantics it assumes, instead of letting the application decide in all cases? This was proposed as a possible extension in a previous proposal.
Issue: should the relationship be between "name" and graph or between resource denoted by "name" and graph? The latter can be made a proper semantic extension of the former, not the opposite.
Issue: this semantics does not completely covers the "graph quote" use case where one wants to explicitly say that the graph is quoted, that is, the terms used, in addition to their meaning, are important.
Model-theoretic semantics
Let E be an entailment regime and V a vocabulary of IRIs and literals. An E-dataset-interpretation over vocabulary V is a pair I = <Id,IGEXT> such that:
• Id is an E-interpretation over vocabulary V;
• IGEXT is a function from a set of IRIs in V to the set of RDF graphs.
Issue: IGEXT could be a function from the set of resources defined by Id, instead of a set of IRIs.
Further, I is extended into a function assigning truth values to graphs, <name,graph> pairs and dataset as follows:
• for a graph G, I(G) is true iff Id(G) is true;
• for an IRI n and RDF graph g, I(<n,g>) is true iff IGEXT(n) is defined and E-entails g;
• for a dataset D=(DG,<n1,G1>,...,<nk,Gk>), I(D) is true iff I(DG) is true and for all i in 1..k, I(<ni,Gi>) is true.
Issue: if IGEXT maps resources to graphs rather than IRIs to graphs, then the second item must be replaced by "for an IRI n and RDF graph g, I(<n,g>) is true iff IGEXT(Id(n)) is defined and E-entails g;". |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50159 | I'm very new to programming and I'm now learning DART language.
I need to create a really simple game in DART. I'm trying to translate source code in Javascript into DART, but i'm unable to do it.
Is there anybody that can help me on this. It is for around 100 to 150 code lines.
Thanks a lot! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50200 | by DG Fulford | Comments
I bought pajama jeans! Not from the TV. From my local CVS drugstore. They have the infomercial merchandise that the infomercial tells you can only get on TV.
I don't know why I was browsing at the CVS. Usually, I run in, get my thing, and run out.This time I was dawdling and loitering and discovered the infomercial aisle.
And there they were. Into my basket they went.
We went home, Pajama Jeans and I, preparing for the long cold winter.
These Jean / PJ's are made out of Dormisoft which sounds suspiciously like Dormantsoft and dormancy is my plan for the upcoming season. The box told me my skin would love the luxurious brushed interior . It did!
Boot cut and European style, with high contrast stitching, brass rivets and no bulky zippers or buttons…who wouldn't love these lookers?
I rushed them to the tailor at my dry cleaners. The heavily hemmed boot cut leg is not such a flattering look, but I am built pretty close to the ground, and the boot legs drooped and puddled on the floor, as if they were Nate Berkus's draperies.
Why, these paja/pants were so slick, I almost couldn't wait until the next snowfall. Chuck the reliable driveway shoveler shows up at my door by 9 am. on snowbound days. Usually he sees me in my big, white robe––a polar bear who can't stand the snow. One day, while shopping, I found a three-for-ten-dollar pack of flannel pants. One morning I wore a multi-colored striped (clown) pair to open the door for Chuck.
"Sexy," he said.
In three–for–ten Kroger flannels?
This year I will show him. My elastic–backed paja /pants don't make my booty look good. They're kind of Sags.
I decided I would wear them on the plane to New York City. I was going to my niece's wedding, and thought, Why not be comfy on the plane? Then I remembered who would be there. My family. MY family. We all have sarcasticDNA!
I didn't want to hear them on my European style.
I don't want to hear about the pretty pink tie strings at the waist.
I don't want to hear about the high contrast stitching.
I don't want to hear about the darling brass rivets.
From them? No way.
Instead, I'll wear the workout pants that Maggie sent me last year. The ones that's claim to fame is they DO make your booty look good.
D.G. Fulford is the author of Designated Daughter: The Bonus Years with Mom, written with her mother Phyllis Greene. You can find her at
Photo credit: Marcia Smilack |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50205 | Green Brewfest Stein
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Revision as of 21:28, October 13, 2010 by Coobra (Talk | contribs)
Brewfest tent
Brewfest tent2
Inv misc beer 05
The Green Brewfest Stein can be filled at a Brewfest Festive Keg, becoming a [Filled Green Brewfest Stein], and then can be used to drink the brew. Filling, hence drinking, is free, and the brews are both alcoholic (inebriating) and provide mana restoration and a well fed buff. Although originally without an associated achievement, having obtained it will now provide the Feat of Strength Money achievement Green Brewfest Stein.
During Brewfest 2009 and 2010, the Green Brewfest Stein was and is a quest reward from:
Since the stein is unique, if you saved the 2009 stein, you will not be offered the quest in the 2010 Brewfest. This is true even if the stein is in your bank. Prior years gave [different] [steins], and these do not affect availability of the 2010 stein.
Equipping an empty Green Brewfest Stein, then using a Brewfest Festive Keg will convert the stein into a Filled Green Brewfest Stein, containing a one charge sample of the beer from the barrel. The filled stein can then be used, drinking from it, which converts the stein back to an empty Green Brewfest Stein. The imbiber get the effects of the particular beer that was sampled. The full or empty stein must be equipped to be used.
Each of the three Brewfest Festive Kegs contains a different sample brew, so, depending on what barrel the owner fills their stein at, their Brewfest Stein will have a different sample of brew. Each full stein with a different brew is a different item, as is the empty mug. There are two icons, one for the empty stein and one for the full steins.
Each Brewfest Festive Keg is near to one of the brew vendor tents. Each brewer vends three different strengths of brew, but the breweries specialize in a low, medium, or high strength range of brews. Stronger brews are higher level, restore more mana, have stronger buffs, and have a higher character level requirement to use. Each of three brews available from the Festive Kegs are the same as one of the three brews being vended by the brewer nearest that keg.
The Alliance and Horde brews are different brews but have equivalent effects. The Barleybrew dwarves' and Drohn's orcs' brews are the weak, low level range. The sample nearest them is the level one sample, the weakest at the Brewfest, and can be sampled by all attendees. Thunderbrew dwarves and T'chali's trolls have mid-range brews. The Gordok Ogres are shared by both factions, and have the strongest, highest level brews.
Note: The Festive Kegs are neutral and inanimate. You should be able to use the opposing faction's Festive Kegs, if you can get to them.
You can fill your mug with any of the three brews. The only way to empty your mug is to drink it (use it). Drinking from your stein and refilling at a different Brewfest Festive Keg switches between brews.
Ability creature poison 06
• Can't Hold Your Brew
• Your tummy feels rumbly... You shouldn't drink the brew for the big kids.
• Duration: 6 seconds
Anyone can fill their stein from any of the kegs. Since each beer has a minimum level associated with it, but the stein does not, you can drink a brew from your mug that has a higher level requirement than you are, but you will not get the buff. Instead you get a brief "Can't Hold Your Brew" debuff with a 'getting sick' graphic and a message warning you not to drink the big kids' drink.
Note that the Alliance/Horde brews may be available in neutral cities as well.
This is the flavor text for each brew. Note that the quotes for the 2009 Stein are the same as the quotes for the 2008 Stein.
• Barleybrew Clear ("Barleybrew brew, when you want the very best.")
• Thunder 45 ("You've called down the thunder!")
• Small Step Brew ("Drohn's Distillery, a wise choice.")
• Jungle River Water ("T'chali's Voodoo Brew has magic you don't want to understand.")
• Gordok Grog ("Gordok brew, it's wet.")
Dark Iron Dwarf invasion
You fill at the same Brewfest Festive Kegs that the Dark Iron Dwarves attack when they invade. If the Dark Iron Dwarves succeed in destroying a Brewfest Festive Keg, you will be unable to fill your mug from that keg until it respawns. The destroyed keg will get a destroyed graphic with a caved in front, then disappear as the Dark Iron Dwarves depart.
The Green Brewfest Stein is unique. Since the empty and filled forms are different, uniqueness might not apply, but the mug is soulbound and you only get the quest once in 2009, so you'll only have one anyway.
Use as a weapon
• This mug is a miscellaneous weapon, as was [last year's souvenir mug].
• It must be wielded to be filled and used, so presumably is miscellaneous so that any character can use it as a mug.
• As this item is classed as a weapon, attempting to use when it is not equipped it will equip it.
• Both the full and empty forms have the same low weapon stats.
• Since they are miscellaneous type weapons, many class skills will not work with them.
• On the other hand, they have no level requirement, and neither does the quest that awards the mug.
• Literally any character can obtain and wield these in the current year.
• If you have the mugs from either 2007 or 2008 and acquire the 2009 mug, you can dual wield them (assuming you can dual wield).
See Foodfight
According to Blizzard's The Armory, (see external links, below), any of the six Blue Brewfest Stein items can be disenchanted, yielding a [Small Glimmering Shard]. However tests say that it can not be disenchanted at all.
Patch changes
Wrath-Logo-Small/Cataclysm-Logo-Small Patch 4.0.1 (12-Oct-2010): Durability was added.
External links
Official alliance mini-iconOfficial horde mini-iconQuest prize, empty mugOfficial alliance mini-iconBarleybrew ClearOfficial alliance mini-iconThunder 45
Official alliance mini-iconOfficial horde mini-iconGordok GrogOfficial horde mini-iconDrohn's Small Step BrewOfficial horde mini-iconT'chali's Jungle River Water
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50206 | Guild:Disciples of Divx (Dark Iron US)
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Revision as of 21:20, September 4, 2009 by Discrete (Talk | contribs)
This article is a guild information page for Disciples of Divx of Dark Iron US.
Alliance 32 Disciples of Divx
Name Disciples of Divx
Server Dark Iron US
Leader Discrete
Levels 10-70warning.png"-70" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Type PvE
Accounts 300 + Disciples of Divx @ Dark Iron
Disciples of Divx is an Alliance guild on the Dark Iron server and a member of the Penny-Arcade Alliance (composed primarily of readers of the Penny-Arcade webcomic). The Penny-Arcade Alliance is a bitter rival of the Horde guilds associated with the PVPOnline webcomic. It was originally founded in August of 2006 by Orum level 70 priest of now Khaz Modan.
See also:
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50210 | 100,028pages on
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Redirected from Woodpaw
Darkmoon Faire (Sayge),
Morganth (Shadowhide),
Defias Brotherhood (Riverpaw),
Twilight's Hammer (Wildpaw),
Character classesBarbarian, Rogue, Scout, Healer (WRPG); Scout, Hunter, Warrior, Shamans (WoWRPG)
Racial leader(s)Varies, Gnawbone (Mosshide tribe), Ro'Bark (Mudsnout, presumed), Snagglespear (Palemane, presumed), Yowler (Redridge tribe), Hogger (Riverpaw), Gnarlhide (Savage Hill tribe), Lieutenant Fangore (Shadowhide)
Primary language(s)Low Common
Secondary language(s)Common, Darnassian, Orcish, Thalassian, Zandali (RPG); Gnoll (presumed)
Average height5 - 5 1/2 feet
AlignmentUsually chaotic evil[1]
Gnolls are one of the younger races of Lordaeron. Indigenous to both the Alterac Mountains and the Redridge Range far to the south, these hyena-like humanoids are extremely aggressive and are often found quarreling amongst themselves. Though relatively intelligent compared to most beasts, they are not very bright by human standards. They have been known to manipulate each other into fights over ridiculous things like "whose shadow is larger". It has often been stated that the gnolls would be quite a fearsome race, if they ever stopped tearing each other to pieces long enough to organize themselves into an army.[2]
Gnolls are known for their beastly cunning, their ferocious tempers, and their penchant for infighting. Though more intelligent than beasts, they tend to lack the finer reasoning of other sentient races. They enjoy fighting — almost too much. Gnolls make their home in Lordaeron in the Alterac Mountains and the Redridge Mountains, but they have spread throughout Azeroth, even to Kalimdor, where they compete with other aggressive humanoids for hunting grounds. Their tendency to challenge each other over petty matters (such as who is the tallest) prevents them from achieving any real unity and thus lessens their overall threat. This is fortunate, for their numbers are such that they could easily overrun other races of equivalent strengths. Occasionally, gnolls hire out as mercenaries, either as individuals or in small packs of two to five warriors.[1]
Gnolls are hyena-like humanoids standing about 5 feet tall. Gnolls of the same tribe tend to share a similar appearance, with either a reddish-brown, black, greenish-gray, or yellow mane. Eyes range in color from pale blue to bloodshot red and are typically small and close-set in the head. In wet conditions, they give off a distinctive musky odor. As carnivores, gnolls consider all creatures as food, including members of their own race. Hunger, not gold or magic, is what motivates them. They have no love for other races, preferring to eat rather than work with them. Any alliances made will last only as long as the gnolls are well fed or are cowed with displays of force. Gnolls, being lazy and feral, have little natural industry. They are capable of limited crafting, but no metal work. They do not mine or farm, relying instead on a nomadic existence and hunting.[3]
Gnolls like to attack when they have the advantage of numbers, using group tactics and their physical strength to overwhelm and knock down their opponents. They show little discipline in battle unless they have a strong leader; at such times, they can maintain ranks and fight as a unit. While they do not usually prepare traps, gnolls do use ambushes and try to attack from a flanking position. They always take special care to seek the most favorable conditions possible (such as darkness, cover, or some other form of advantageous condition or terrain) when laying ambushes.[1]
Gnolls are known for their habits as raiding marauders or hired soldiers. Though they have average intelligence, they are easily duped by promises of food or treasure.[4]
Hogger art
Locations Edit
Gnolls' main stomping grounds are the Eastern Kingdoms. Recently, they have also been seen in Kalimdor, though usually under the employ of one of the goblin cartels or pirate groups, although a few independent gnoll tribes have been seen in Feralas. A gnoll seer named Sayge travels with the Darkmoon Faire as well. He gives out fortunes and different buffs based on how you answer his questions.
Gnolls were first seen in Warcraft III. Thrall leaves his home after a dream tells him to meet with a stranger. He destroys a camp of gnolls, and levels up. The gnolls in question were most likely Mosshide gnolls, due to their location and coloration.
Culture Edit
Gnoll face
Gnoll society is organized entirely around might. The strongest and deadliest gnolls ascend in the tribal order to become the leaders, while the weaker gnolls soon become food for the rest. This lifestyle means the average gnoll tribe is always in a state of tension- the slightest sign of weakness in those leading can cause the tribe to turn upon itself in a frenzy of violence. It also prevents the gnolls from organizing for very long into anything more than a tribe. Gnoll society displays a limited specialization. Brutes are the largest and nastiest gnolls, made stronger by their privileged position in the food chain. Gnoll assassins are noted for their intelligence and use complex weapons such as bows and poisons. Gnoll poachers act as scouts and hunters for the gnoll tribes and use weapons taken from prey. Gnoll wardens have developed a magical connection with nature and use their powers to keep the other gnolls in line.[3]
Gnolls do well as hunters or warriors. Their inborn aggression and decidedly cruel nature drive them to pursue their quarry for the sheer pleasure of the capture and, usually, the kill. Gnoll spellcasters tend to be shaman with strong elemental and warlike tendencies. Occasionally a gnoll might join an adventuring party in pursuit of a common enemy. Sometimes a gnoll is ousted from gnoll society and must make his way in the world outside. Adventuring bands who value aggressive, persistent hunters and warriors may allow a gnoll to join them. Gnoll characters may take up with either Alliance or Horde, depending on which group has been their primary enemy. (More often than not, though, they join the Horde.) A few operate independently, hiring themselves out as mercenaries to the highest payer. Gnolls are strong-limbed and fierce, but they are poor planners with little forethought and deficient leadership qualities.[5] The Defias Brotherhood have been known to ally with Gnolls occasionally.
Gnolls are extremely violent creatures. They have been known to pick lethal fights with each other over such insane arguments such as who has the longer shadow. Many wonder how these pugnacious creatures ever stand each other long enough to breed. They only gather in large groups when the opportunity for battle or plunder arises. They make vicious, if unreliable mercenaries, as they will go anywhere they can be offered a good fight. It is believed by some that if the gnolls were ever to put aside their differences long enough to band together into a single group, they would make a formidable army.
Lazy and feral, gnolls prefer to pillage and steal what they want rather than working for it. The largest, strongest gnoll in a group is known as the Brute. He is the de facto leader of the tribe, and all others submit to him. Brutes are allowed to take the best loot from raids, leaving what they don't want for the others to fight over.
There is a possibility that gnolls eat other sapient races (see Little Timmy), although this could simply be slander on the part of other races and very few pieces of evidence have been presented to support this.
While most gnolls use melee or ranged weapons, some can use shamanistic or even warlock magic. Their favored weapons are maces (or other blunt weapons) and crossbows. They prefer blunt weapons because they break bones, as marrow is considered a delicacy, and because they are easy to make. When dealing with magic, gnolls prefer the nature and lightning schools. Smaller gnolls and runts are used as assassins and scouts because of their agility.
Gnolls are known to build small settlements with permanent structures (Gnoll Huts) and to mine gold. Gnolls have been seen using complex mining techniques such as railcarts and have been seen in extremely remote and dangerous locations mining gold. They have been sighted in the Jangolode Mine, allied with the Defias brotherhood.
A gnoll as seen in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
Many gnolls can be seen wearing a round crest with a paw print in the middle. This symbol is seen in many tribes and its exact meaning is unknown to other races. Gnolls are known to wear leather and metal armour and always wear clothes.
Gnolls speak Low Common, though some speak with a broken Common. Gnolls learn the languages of those they interact with. These are the languages spoken by the races most likely to interact with gnolls: Common, Darnassian, Orcish, Thalassian, and Zandali.[5] The language Gnoll is a language known by the skeletal mage, Chauch-eta,[6] however, it is apparently no longer spoken by gnolls or is another name for their dialect of Low Common. A few gnolls knew Common as a primary language [7], or least a broken Common. However, this appears to be uncommon in recent times.[5]
Tribes/Clans Edit
Blackpaw Bc iconEdit
• Found in: Ghostlands
• Levels: 12-14
• Types: Gnoll, Scavenger, Shaman
Mosshide Edit
• Found in: Wetlands
• Levels: 15-27
• Types: Alpha, Brute, Fenrunner, Mistweaver, Mongrel, Mystic, Trapper
• Rare/Named Mosshides: Gnawbone (level 24, rare)
Mudsnout Edit
Palemane Edit
• Found in: Mulgore
• Levels: 2-8
• Types: Poacher, Skinner, Tanner
• Rare/Named Palemane: Snagglespear (level 9, rare)
Redridge Edit
• Found in: Redridge Mountains
• Levels: 9-22
• Types: Alpha, Basher, Brute, Drudger, Mongrel, Mystic, Poacher, and Thrasher
• Rare/Named Redridge: Ardo Dirtpaw (levels 22-24, rare), Yowler (levels 21-25, quest), Ribchaser (levels 16-17, rare)
Riverpaw Edit
A gnoll in Westfall.
Rot Hide Edit
• Found in: Lordaeron
• Levels: 3-19
• Types: Bruiser, Brute, Gladerunner, Graverobber, Mongrel, Mystic, Plague Weaver, and Savage
• Rare/Named Rot Hides: Snarlmane (level 23, rare), Maggot Eye (level 10-11, quest)
Like many other creatures in northern Lordaeron, the gnolls were unable to escape the Lich King's plague. Now a number of them serve as undead minions to the Scourge.
Savage Hill Wrath-Logo-Small Edit
Shadowhide Edit
Wildpaw Edit
• Found in: Alterac Valley
• Levels: 47-59 (63-70 in the level 70 edition of Alterac Valley)
• Types: Alpha, Brute, Mystic, and Shaman
Gnoll concept art
Woodpaw Edit
• Found in: Feralas
• Levels: 38-44
• Types: Alpha, Brute, Mongrel, Mystic, Reaver, Trapper
• Rare/Named Woodpaws: Miblon Snarltooth (level 50, quest, friendly)
• Main Trapping Grounds: Woodpaw Hills
It is unknown whether or not the Rot Hide gnolls were a tribe unto themselves or if "Rot Hide" is a template added to gnolls who become undead. It is possible that the Rot Hides are in fact Mudsnout gnolls that have fallen to the Plague. The Mudsnouts seem to be the only tribe of gnolls native to Lordaeron, and the Plague would account for their low numbers (in addition to the fact that the Mudsnouts don't have a main village to call home, only a converted human farmstead).
Sayge the NPC from the Darkmoon Faire is either a Mudsnout, Palemane, or a Shadowhide, based on his coloring.
Titles of gnollsEdit
1. ^ a b c Monster Guide, pg. 82
2. ^ Warcraft III manual, pg. 139
3. ^ a b Manual of Monsters, pg. 50
4. ^ Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game, pg. 240
5. ^ a b c Monster Guide, pg. 83
6. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 147
7. ^ Manual of Monsters, pg. 151
External links Edit
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50216 | NPR News
The golden arches...
Multiple economists have studied the fast-food industry to answer the question. They've found very different answers.
Former NBA star Yao Ming is very famous in China, and he's using his fame on behalf of conservation issues. Now a member of China's parliament, Yao is calling for a ban on the sale of ivory in China.
Lawmakers in Crimea have scheduled a referendum on whether to unite with Russia. Meanwhile, Russian legislators are considering two bills to streamline the process for Crimea to become part of Russia.
There are more than 83,000 people classified as Missing in Action and Prison...
The agency charged with bringing home and identifying American war dead is slow, inefficient and stymied by outdated methods, according to a joint investigation by NPR and ProPublica. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50263 | Do you really need antivirus software? | ZDNet
Do you really need antivirus software?
Do you need antivirus software on your PC?
If you're not sure of the answer to that question, then the short answer is yes. The longer answer is that security software is only one piece of what should be a simple, straightforward, and systematic approach to your PC's health. I'll outline my recommendations in this post. If you're visiting the family over the holidays, you might want to take my list along with you.
But first, let me rant a bit. It's no secret that I dislike the security software industry. In one of my very first posts here, nearly four years ago, I called it a "protection racket" and said, "I can already see the beginnings of an 'arms war' among security software companies, with ads and whisper campaigns based on fear." Back in 2005, I wrote a post arguing, "The security software industry wants you to be afraid."
I have deeply mixed feelings about antivirus software, especially when it's part of a big security suite that tries to protect you from every imaginable form of online threat. The companies that sell you that software have an interest in keeping you afraid, and so they publish countless studies proving how dangerous the online world is.
They also have a vested interest in proving that you haven't wasted your subscription dollars on their product, so they need to occasionally (or continually) pop up messages and alerts and reminders to show you exactly which threats they've blocked. Even when those "threats" are trivial or nonexistent.
So how do you protect your PC online?
Page 2: My 7-point security regimen -->
<-- Previous page
6. Use a modern browser. If you're still using Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6, stop it. I think IE8 is a good alternative, especially when coupled with Protected Mode (a security feature in Windows Vista and Windows 7). If you prefer to avoid IE altogether, that's fine with me. As I argued earlier this year, "[T]here are several good reasons to prefer alternative browsers such as Firefox or Google Chrome to any version of Internet Explorer. For starters, both Mozilla and Google have generally been faster at releasing updates to security issues than Microsoft."
7. Install an antivirus program and keep it up to date. There are plenty of effective programs in this category that can run with a minimum of chatter and will block the overwhelming majority of threats. I recommend the free Microsoft Security Essentials, which is available for download or as an optional update on systems where Windows does not detect an antivirus program. If you prefer an alternative program, paid or otherwise, be my guest. Just don't let its subscription lapse.
And one final word: Don't be paranoid. Common sense and the good practices I outlined above will offer excellent protection for any consumer PC and leave you free to work and play in comfort.
Topics: Windows, Hardware, Malware, Operating Systems, Security, Software
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• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
Personally I consider antivirus software to be more of a safety net - IMHO using common sense is the best deterrent to getting any sort of virus. I'm good about keeping things up to date and I tend to leave the pirated stuff and porn alone and to me that is simply common sense as is having antivirus, ad blockers, and flash blockers installed.
• I agree, it is a safety net
AV isn't a security tool. If your AV catches anything, it means your security has FAILED, just like falling off a high wire means your training has FAILED. In both cases, it is nice to have something that might catch you.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@NonZealot Not necessarily. If you stumble across malware on a normally good website and AV catches you trying to download something bad, then which security measure has failed?
No security measure I know of other than AV prevents you from downloading malware.
"just like falling off a high wire means your training has FAILED."
Umm, no. Ask anybody who's done the high wire, they're human, stuff happens. There's a safety net underneath them for a reason.
• Not a security tool?
@NonZealot <br><br>I'm not sure what you are defining as security, but from what I know, security occurs prior to and subsequent to a possible breach, if necessary. Security guards don't just say: "Dang. Well, the crook got in already. Nothing to do now." But they try to find the culprit even after entry.<br><br>Then they work to prevent the same and more in the future.
• Way to show your ignorance.
@NonZealot... Many AV program will catch a known threat before it even enters your system, as many monitor active browser sessions. On my home machines, I very rarely get a notification, of course I do have predictable browsing habits, coupled with using Chrome or FF with extensions that block flash based ads, IE fails in this regard.
I am also smart enough to know that if a video prompts me to update my flash player, to go directly to adobe for the update, if it still tries to get me to update, I know the video is phony and is only there to try to get people to voluntarily hijack their computer.
For my security at home, I am using Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Firewall. Seems to do a fair enough job, and not at the expense of system resources.
Windows of course is set to update itself, which includes IE, MSE, and all of Microsofts Software. Chrome does a nice job of updating everything it needs including the flash player. Adobe does a good job of notifying me on the updates it needs.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
You can't be serious. You're trying to tell us that you have the ability - through nothing more than using "best practices" - to eliminate the threat of malicious code and other exploits?
You're nuts.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@NonZealot , up the ante, use OPENDNS and siteadvisor, so that you cannot even browse to most dodgy sites. Suprised that this is not even one of the 7 steps, seems very worthwhile to me.
• failed
@Zealot ((( "If your AV catches anything, it means your security has FAILED..." )))
It also means you aren't running OS X.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@athynz honestly, I don't even think of it as a safety-net. I am speaking from an enterprise POV. The worst bad-ware is the newest - the stuff that none of the security firms have figured out or even heard of (not just zero-day, but new ways to exploit old weaknesses). And it basically boils down to bad habits. Bringing USB flash drives from home. Believing you'll get a free Xbox by clicking a link. Believing that your enterprise computer is unprotected from viruses. Or trying to update your Flash just because a website says you're out-of-date.
People do this to themselves, and then get angry at me (us) when they have a virus. Security firms live off this fear, not off effectiveness (by and large).
My company is moving to managed desktops, just to be sure that patches are implemented, and they will be locking out USB flash drives soon. But honestly, there is no way to protect most people, short of disallowing the internet OR teaching everyone in the world how to use common sense in avoiding viruses. Neither of these options is very practical.
My daughter, bless her heart, has a talent for finding the newest exploits and installing them. Makes me very thankful for home servers.
• The worst is...
The one(s) that gets through. Presuming these will be the newest is base naivety.
• The Newest Are More Likely
What you're saying isn't really at odds with what WookieFan is saying. He is just pointing out that the same ones you'll be protected from by keeping up-to-date are the ones that anti-virus will catch. The newest ones won't get caught by anti-virus. It's not that old ones can't get through. It's just that the odds are better that new ones will.
Of course, if you're willing to download and install malware yourself, then it won't matter much how old it is.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@WookieFan I understand where you are coming from - fortunately I support a very small user base as a side for my own job and really it's more like residential use as we do not have an enterprise system (very small office) so usually by the time something comes down the pike for us most AV software companies have figured how to block it... and fortunately for me the users have common sense which makes my job much easier than most... :-)
• knowledge gap
Its a shame Ed earns money by spouting about things he is clearly clueless about. Where he does know stuff it seems to make sense but security is not his strong suit.<br><br>While claiming to distrust antivirus companies he then re-iterates some of the popular misconceptions they try hard to perpetuate. Perhaps his experiments with using a Mac platform might open his eyes to some truths.<br><br>While Windows dominates on the desktop it cannot make any headway in Server Markets because it is inherently unsafe and unstable as keeps being proven. While it is fine to have to reboot a desktop once a day or more this is not ok for servers. Linux and other unix-based platforms are used on servers precisely because they are inherently safer and more robust than Windows systems.<br><br>If you were a virus writer do you think you would want the fame and kudos of writing something that just infected a few desktops or would bringing down massive servers and crippling the entire internet be more enticing? Yet we almost never hear about large chunks of the internet being brought down by anything, not viruses, not other malware. We sometimes hear of a couple of machines suffering under large-scale concentrated and highly skilful attacks but these are usually dealt with quite fast. Faster than getting rid of malware on a few desktop machines.<br><br>So, if all Operating Systems are equally vulnerable, then why don't we hear of servers going down, why do we only hear of desktops getting crippled? Think about it.<br>Regards from<br>Tom <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy">
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@Tom6: <i>"So, if all Operating Systems are equally vulnerable, then why don't we hear of servers going down, why do we only hear of desktops getting crippled? Think about it."</i>
Because desktops are mostly maintained by kids and granny's and by non-tech savvy types, while servers are mostly maintained by IT professionals/admins who are at risk of losing there job if they fail securing their servers.
So logically, a desktop secured by a non-tech savvy type is more vulnerable than a server being maintained by Professional IT admins.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
Why do you have to be insulting? Ok, so here it is. Servers are not at as much at risk because:
1. They are usually behind a very restricted firewall, unless they are a webserver. Even then, every port besides 80 and 443 are locked down. Other ports that might use webservices are only allowed access to a certain range of IP addresses.
2. Installation of programs are planned, and the applications that are installed are well vetted.
3. Access to install programs on servers is very limited.
What are you talking about?
This shows Windows Servers at about 73.9% of server share in terms of dollars. Now the Linux guys will say, "That's because Linux is free". Noted. But you're saying that Windows hasn't gained any traction in the server market? Give me break.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
@Tom6<br>Servers generally have more capable administrators than the home computer. Even if that were not strictly the case, for the administrators security is the job and why they get paid. For the home user being an administrator is friction and cost.<br><br>Servers are also passive. They don't decide to download a poisoned cat video because a Facebook friend linked it.<br><br>They are also isolated and have minimized the threat posed by physical access.<br><br>I guess you are bristling that Windows gets some sort of pass for security issues because of its popularity. Or that Linux and OS X are given back-handed compliments. (Yeah, no one's breaking in, but that's because no one uses them.)<br><br>Stop it. Doesn't matter. Operating systems are a lower layer to the real functionality, as manifest by the applications we use. Security is a cost and is offset manifold by the benefits of the entire stack we use. Problem appears? Patch it please, because wiping the machine and using Linux, re-training our workers, re-sourcing our applications, performing ports, etc., while doable, is not how we want to utilize our resources.<br><br>All the modern operating systems are better than their predecessors five years back. They will be better still in the future, though not as rapidly, because "security" is an asymptote.<br><br>And the real weak spots are higher up in the stack, in the software, and vulnerability will still exist via the inescapable vector of a user connecting with a strange computer somewhere out there.
• Security
People that are serious about running secure, robust systems (such as people running large-scale servers) use linux or other unix-based systems. Well over 60% of the top 500 supercomputers run on linux.<br><br>People that want to make a fuss and don't mind suffering a bit when it goes wrong run Windows. Less than 1% of the worlds top 500 supercomputers run WIndows. Why?<br><br>Why is it only Windows desktops that get taken down so often by security issues? Surely malware writers would be more interested in taking down vast chunks of the internet rather than just a few old desktops?<br><br>Yes, with Windows you need to take Ed's advice but with linux most of this sort of stuff is built-in. For example updating the system and then separately going through each app and driver to update them separately is insane. Linux updates everything in one go and also does that more politely. <br><br>With linux you don't have to block people from making use of the machine in order to keep them safe. Users can often install programs themselves without having to call for some SuperUser Administrator to do it for them. Since programs are NOT run as Root/SuperUser/Administrator in linux the system remains safe. It is possible (easily) to totally lock-down a system so certain users can do almost nothing but unlike Windows there are many intermediate steps which can give certain users access to certain devices and systems but not others and this can be easily set-up on a per-user basis. <br><br>There is a story about a doctor performing something fairly crucial by remote where Windows suddenly decided it's updates were more important and then forced a reboot despite being told not to. Linux doesn't automatically assume it is more important than the tasks the user is doing. It lets you know that a reboot is required to bring the updates online and then sits back allowing you to choose when YOU want to reboot. So, if you are stuck in the middle of brain surgery (it wasn't brain surgery in the recent story) you wouldn't have to wait 15mins for the machine to sort itself out.<br>Regards from<br>Tom <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy">
• As been said tens of thousands of times: Market Share.
@Tom6: [i]Why is it only Windows desktops that get taken down so often by security issues?[/i]
You're welcome.
[i]Since programs are NOT run as Root/SuperUser/Administrator in linux the system remains safe.[/i]
They are if you're running them as Root/SuperUser/Administrator.
[i]There is a story about a doctor performing something fairly crucial by remote where Windows suddenly decided it's updates were more important and then forced a reboot despite being told not to.[/i]
The only existence of this story is right here in your post. I was unable to find a reference otherwise. Perhaps you can provide a reference?
Like it or not Linux and Windows are very similar in their security design.
• Closer Than They Used to Be
@ye<br>The market share myth has been disproved in a few different cases. For example, Apache grew to a much greater market share than Microsoft IIS. However, even after this happened, IIS still had many more worms running rampant across the Internet. Another example: Sendmail has taken a lot of abuse among Unix/Linux administrators for it's many security exploits. However, the last I looked, Sendmail, the security embarrassment of the Unix community, still had fewer exploits than Exchange, though it's been around longer.<br><br>Recently, in general, Windows has gotten a lot more secure than it used to be. It's much more like Unix and Linux than it was. However, there are still a couple of legacy issues that Windows has to deal with which damage its security model.<br><br>One issue is that it's still much more convenient to run Windows with administrative privileges always available than it is to run it as a regular user and switch to administrator only for certain tasks. Part of the issue here is not just with Microsoft, but with the expectations of third party software vendors when it comes to how their programs will run on Windows.<br><br>A second nagging issue with Windows is that it depends upon the file extension rather than a file property to tell whether a file is executable or not. Microsoft has put safeguards into Internet Explorer and Outlook and Exchange recently to warn users about this issue when they download an executable file (a file with a .exe, .com, or .scr extension). Basically, there is only so much that they can do about this issue because of the weight of all the legacy software out there. This is something so basic about the way the operating system works that it makes it difficult to change.<br><br>Of course Windows' improved security has led to the focus of malware authors switching a lot to phishing attacks, since they depend on breaching the user's safeguards rather than the system's safeguards. Focus has also switched somewhat to third party avenues to breach security like Java, Flash, and even PDF reader exploits.<br><br>Edit: Incidentally, I had meant to mention that phishing exploits really do scale with market share. So to some extent, as more malware becomes dependent on social engineering to be installed, the market share myth gains more credibility.
Edit: Fixed typo.
• RE: Do you really need antivirus software?
Pretty fair critizism of Windows OS. I wish Microsoft could use file properties instead of file extensions to determine whether the file is executable. I'm not sure what the impact would be for backwards compatability. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50266 | Jawbone Jambox rocks the tunes and the conference calls | Page 10 | ZDNet
Jawbone Jambox rocks the tunes and the conference calls
Summary: There are plenty of wireless speaker solutions out there, but the Jambox from Jawbone really sets the bar with a small size and big sound that blew me away. Is this little speaker worth the $199.99?
| Image 10 of 14
• The speaker is one of the highest quality accessories I have ever tested out with solid construction and cool materials. This is the black one, but it also comes in other colors.
• There are three buttons on top of the Jambox that let you control volume and status information. They are rubberized and easy to press and use.
• There is a power button, 3.5mm headset jack, and microUSB port on one end. All the business is done on this side of the Jambox.
• Thumbnail 1
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Topics: Smartphones, Apple, iPhone, Mobility, Networking, Wi-Fi
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• RE: Jawbone Jambox rocks the tunes and the conference calls
Man, that is a lot of packaging (trees) and a lot of cables.
• RE: Jawbone Jambox rocks the tunes and the conference calls
i really do not get the flood of comments regarding super sound from jawbone jambox.. i do not find it to sound all that impressive( are my ears broken???) i tested one at a local best buy store. it was connected to a demo feed they were playing on it so i pulled the feed plug and paired it to my phone thinking it was just a bad sounding recording. well unless there was something actually wrong with that particular jambox... i was lees motivated than ever to 200.00 for something that was way hyped up but sounded like poop!!!! i asked the bestbuy drone working that dept. and he was all smilely and said yeah man this thing pops!!!!! well it sounds like it flops!!! i tried my samsung galaxy and blackberry curve...all the same BAD SOUND!!! Please someone correct me and prove to me i should go and invest 200.00 in this little box of mystery |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50311 | Back to story
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50325 | Upwards and onwards
Immortality: The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilisation. By Stephen Cave. Crown; 320 pages; $25. Biteback Publishing; £20. Buy from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk
IMMORTALITY is an age-old obsession. Plenty of literature deals with the subject, from the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamish to the poems of Homer and the writings of the Old Testament. The quest to live for ever has motivated medieval alchemists, modern techno-Utopians and mystics through the centuries.
In his survey of the subject, Stephen Cave, a British philosopher, argues that man's various tales of immortality can be boiled down into four basic “narratives”. The first is the simplest, in theory at least: do what the medieval alchemists never managed and discover an elixir to simply avoid dying. The second concerns resurrection, or coming back to life after dying, a belief found in all three of the Abrahamic religions. The idea of an immaterial soul that can persist through death dates back, in a formal form, at least to Plato, and forms Mr Cave's third narrative. His fourth narrative deals with immortality through achievement, by becoming so famous that one's name lives on through the ages.
For the aspiring undying, Mr Cave unfortunately concludes that immortality is a mirage. But his demolition project is fascinating in its own right. The section on the soul is an able attack on the related doctrines of “vitalism”, the soul and mind-body dualism—the intuitive and still widely held body of ideas that hold that living creatures are animated by some sort of supernatural spark, and that an individual's personality or consciousness can survive death. The chapters on resurrection will interest Christians, as Mr Cave examines how the literal recreation, by God, of dead people's bodies remains the doctrine of most branches of Christianity. The idea of one's soul, as opposed to one's body, ending up in heaven or hell is a subsequent embellishment.
If anything, readers might want more of Mr Cave's crisp conversational prose. There could be more on living longer; Mr Cave barely has time to give even the briefest overview of the emerging science of life extension, which has allowed researchers to lengthen the lifespans of mice by a third or more in the lab.
There are a few quibbles. Mr Cave's repeated claim that the quest for immortality drives every human activity feels overdone. Others might dispute his definition of immortality itself. Mr Cave's chief argument against the desirability of living for ever (even assuming it is possible) is the familiar one of boredom. As the uncountable billions of years tick away, the argument runs, even the most vivacious will come to realise that they have done everything there is to do, hundreds of times. With yet more billions of years looming ahead they will be struck down with a debilitating ennui.
That argument only applies if these notional immortals are also invincible, and therefore impervious to accident. But that is an odd definition, and not one that crops up very often, especially in scientific research into ageing. The holy grail there is simply to arrest the ageing process. Indeed, Mr Cave quotes an actuary who has estimated that the average “medical immortal” would persist for around 6,000 years before dying in a plane accident or a car crash or the like. And besides, boredom seems to be a non-problem: after all, if an immortal does ever get truly bored of his vastly extended life, there would be nothing to prevent him from ending it. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50333 | 订阅 Chinese
查找任意词语，比如 poopsterbate
Its the day between wednesday and thursday. You take the best parts of wednesday and thursday.
"hey are you going to do that project"
"yeah I'm going to do that on thurwedsday"
"oh ok thats good because it's due on friday"
作者 Andrew Wright2112 2008年11月21日
1 2
Words related to thurwedsday:
day thursday wednesday week weekday |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50334 | From ZineWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Horrorshow was a spoof British fanzine co-edited pseudonymously by "Eddie Trenchcoat" (Steve Green) and "Mr Damage" (Alan Keeley).
Two issues were produced, dated February 1992 and May 1993, comprising a deliberately low-tech mix of photocopied covers and mimeographed text. Many of the articles ridiculed trends in the horror fanzines Green was reviewing at that time for the news-stand magazine The Dark Side; worryingly, some readers took them semi-seriously.
Following Keeley's death in May 2009, Green decided to make Horrorshow available online, via eFanzines.com.
External Links
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50335 | About me
Developer Information
Name target_locked
User since July 8, 2013
Number of add-ons developed 0 add-ons
Average rating of developer's add-ons Not yet rated
My Reviews
Video DownloadHelper
Pass to a download manager? Rated 4 out of 5 stars
How to catch the video link and pass to a download manager?
This review is for a previous version of the add-on (4.9.15). |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50347 | Opened 2 years ago
Closed 23 months ago
#16984 closed Cleanup/optimization (fixed)
Add link to the Release Notes on the download page
Reported by: diegobz Owned by: nobody
Component: * Version: 1.3
Severity: Normal Keywords:
Cc: Triage Stage: Accepted
Has patch: no Needs documentation: no
Needs tests: no Patch needs improvement: no
Easy pickings: no UI/UX: no
Currently the download page of Django doesn't have a link to the Release Notes of the current version.
It would be helpful to make that info more visible adding it to that page.
Attachments (0)
Change History (2)
comment:1 Changed 2 years ago by julien
• Component changed from Documentation to Web site
• Needs documentation unset
• Needs tests unset
• Patch needs improvement unset
• Triage Stage changed from Unreviewed to Accepted
• Type changed from Uncategorized to Cleanup/optimization
That's a good idea. It'll require someone with admin access to the site's pages to make this change.
comment:2 Changed 23 months ago by aaugustin
• Resolution set to fixed
• Status changed from new to closed
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as closed
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50351 | SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 Release Notes
Revision Information
• Revision slug: SpiderMonkey/1.8.5
• Revision title: SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 Release Notes
• Revision id: 72752
• Created:
• Creator: Wesgarland
• Is reviewed? Yes
• Reviewed:
• Reviewed by: Jay
• Is approved? Yes
• Is current revision? No
• Comment one or more formatting changes
Revision Source
Revision Content
{{ jsapi_minversion_header("1.8.5") }}
The Mozilla JavaScript team is pleased to announce the release of SpiderMonkey 1.8.5. You can download full source code here: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/js/js185-1.0.0.tar.gz (MD5 checksum: xxx).
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 is the JavaScript engine that shipped in Firefox 4.0. It is much faster than SpiderMonkey 1.8, implements ES-5 (ECMA 262, 5th Edition), and contains a many new language and API features, described in detail below.
Please let us know about your experiences with this release by posting in the mozilla.dev.tech.js-engine newsgroup. Or, file bugs at bugzilla.mozilla.org under Product: Core, Component: JavaScript engine.
—22 March 2011
Platform support
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 has two JIT compilers, code named TraceMonkey and JaegerMonkey. These engines compile interpreter byte code to your CPU's native machine language, for a significant speed increase. Both JITs support x86, x86_64 and ARM architectures. TraceMonkey also runs on Sparc and Power PC; however, these targets are no longer maintained by Mozilla. The interpreter remains architecture-agnostic.
Migrating to SpiderMonkey 1.8
The following features in earlier versions of SpiderMonkey have been dropped.
• Support for extended class methods (in particular, JSEqualityOp) has been removed.
• Multithreaded JS programs that race against the same objects are now explicitly not supported. Multithreaded programs are allowed, but each thread must operate on objects that are isolated from the other threads.
• The old build system (using Makefile.ref) is no longer supported. SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 includes a new configure-based build system, introduced shortly after active development on the engine moved from CVS to Mercurial.
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 is not binary-compatible with previous releases, nor is it source-code compatible. Many JSAPI types, functions, and callback signatures have changed, though most of them still have the same names and do the same things. Applications will need significant changes, but most of those changes will be detected by the C/C++ compiler, so they are easy to detect and updating the code is a fairly straightforward job. Here is a list of the most significant changes.
• Previous versions of SpiderMonkey supported two types of native functions: JSNative and JSFastNative. All support for the slow native function type has been removed, and the fast signature has been renamed to JSNative. Embeddings that defined JSNatives in previous versions must update all those functions to the new signature.
• Getters and setters of type JSPropertyOp took an id parameter of type jsval. The type of the parameter has been changed to jsid. Many getters and setters simply ignore the id anyway; if the value is needed, use JS_IdToValue.
• The type of setters has changed from JSPropertyOp to JSStrictPropertyOp (to accomodate ES5 strict mode). To migrate, simply add a JSBool strict parameter to each setter function. It is safe for the setter to ignore the value of the argument.
• The rooting APIs (JS_AddRoot, JS_RemoveRoot, etc.) have been replaced with a family of type-safe functions (JS_AddStringRoot, JS_RemoveStringRoot, etc.)
New JavaScript language features
JavaScript 1.8.5 adds support for ECMAScript Edition 5, including ES5 strict mode. For details, see New in JavaScript 1.8.5. Note that there are a very small number of incompatibilities between ES5 and and ES3, the version of ECMAScript supported by SpiderMonkey versions 1.5 through 1.8. These are discussed in Annex E of the ES5 specification.
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 also ships with js-ctypes, a foreign-function interface for privileged JavaScript. To enable js-ctypes in your embedding, you must configure with the --enable-ctypes option and choose one of the configuration options to enable NSPR (e.g. --with-system-nspr).
Garbage Collection
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 replaces introduces a conservative stack-scanning garbage collector. Unlike the exact garbage collector, the new garbage collector will scan the C stack and registers in your embedding, looking for bits that it can treat as potential GC roots. The approach eliminates the need for the JS_EnterLocalRootScope API, and in many cases the need to explicitly root GC things or use the "root as you go" approach popular with earlier SpiderMonkey releases. Since this is a conservative collector, it will often find "garbage" addresses which can trigger warnings from certain code analysis tools. If you are running valgrind on your embedding, be sure to build SpiderMonkey with the --enable-valgrind option to suppress superflous error messages triggered by the garbage collector. This also means that objects will be finalized in a non-deterministic order in SpiderMonkey 1.8.5. This is not a bug, and, any embedding which depends upon deterministic finalization is fatally flawed.
Typed Rooting API
The rooting API has been changed from an error-prone void ** interface to an interface which accepts pointers to specific types. JS_AddRoot has been replaced by JS_AddObjectRoot, JS_AddValueRoot and JS_AddStringRoot; similar changes were made for JS_AddNamedRoot and JS_RemoveRoot. Since jsdoubles are now stored in the jsval, instead of on the heap, we no longer need to define roots for them.
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 introduces the concept of compartments. A compartment is a global object, a context, and a set of related objects with no outside references (CrossCompartment wrappers excepted). The new garbage collector can perform per-container garbage collection, which can be a significant performance improvement for certain workloads. No compartment may execute JS code or call into JSAPI two OS threads at the same time.
Type Changes
The base data type, jsval, which represents all possible values in JavaScript, has changed from 32- to 64-bits wide, and the underlying representation has changed from a C integer type to a C struct. This change to a struct means that certain tricks, such as writing switch statements in C with jsval cases are no longer legal. Additionally, because not all fields are used by all jsvals, it is no longer safe to compare jsvals as though they were C values. Instead, jsvals should be converted to their C equivalents with the appropriate JSVAL_TO_* macro and then compared.
JSAPI no longer represents floating-point numbers (and integers more than 31 bits long) as pointers to jsdouble; instead, the jsdouble value is directly stored in the jsval. This affects macros like DOUBLE_TO_JSVAL and JSVAL_TO_DOUBLE, which now operate directly on jsdouble rather than jsdouble pointers.
Previous SpiderMonkey versions usually represented integer values smaller than 2^31 as jsvals encoding jsint; e.g. so that JSVAL_IS_INT was true. While this was never specified behaviour, it is no longer true; numeric values which are integers are frequently encoded as jsdouble inside the jsval. Embedders must be careful when converting numbers from jsvals into C. Note also that SpiderMonkey can now fit a full 32-bit integer (jsint) inside a jsval without promoting to a jsdouble.
JSExtendedClass has been removed from the API entirely.
Previous SpiderMonkey versions could freely interchange jsid and jsval. They are no longer compatible; using JS_ValueToId and JS_IdToValue to convert between the two is mandatory.
JSNative, JSFastNative
Previous versions of JSAPI supported two types of native functions -- JSNative and JSFastNative. The so-called "Slow Natives" are no longer supported; as such JSFastNative has been renamed to JSNative and relevant interfaces have been updated accordingly. Embedders converting functions from old-JSNative to new-JSNative (JSFastNative) should study the JSFastNative documentation thoroughly, and pay particular that they do not reference negative indices of argv in SpiderMonkey 1.8.5; the JS_CALLEE, JS_THIS, etc. macros must be used instead. See bug 581263.
Global Objects
Global objects have been specialized, and must be be created with either JS_NewGlobalObject or JS_NewCompartmentAndGlobalObject. JS_NewObject and JS_NewObjectWithGivenProto remain the correct interfaces for creating other objects. Global objects must also have the JSCLASS_GLOBAL_FLAGS flag set. Merely setting JSCLASS_IS_GLOBAL is insufficient.
New JSAPI C interfaces
New JSAPI C++ interfaces
While JSAPI remains a C API, the engine is now implemented in C++. Some C++ helpers have been introduced into the API, to help embedders writing C++ projects. Please note that SpiderMonkey reserves the JS:: namespace for itself.
JSAPI interfaces which are obsolete
JSAPI interfaces which have been removed
JSAPI interfaces which have changed
Operation Callback
JS_SetOperationCallback was introduced in JS 1.8.0, replacing the branch callback, in anticipation of the addition of the tracing JIT (TraceMonkey). The interface was finalized only after JS 1.8.0 shipped, with bug 477187. The primary change in this interface is that it no longer counts operations; embedders are expected find another mechanism (such as a watchdog thread) to trigger regular callbacks, via JS_TriggerOperationCallback.
bug 571789 object ops, extended classes
JS_FS extra field was unused, now gone
tinyid still around?
arg changes --
JS_ClearRegExpStatics(JSContext *cx);
JS_CompareStrings(JSString *str1, JSString *str2);
JS_ExecuteScript(JSContext *cx, JSObject *obj, JSScript *script, jsval *rval);
JS_IsConstructing(JSContext *cx);
JS_MarkGCThing(JSContext *cx, void *thing, const char *name, void *arg);
JS_NewRegExpObject(JSContext *cx, char *bytes, size_t length, uintN flags);
JS_NewUCRegExpObject(JSContext *cx, jschar *chars, size_t length, uintN flags);
JS_PropertyStub(JSContext *cx, JSObject *obj, jsval id, jsval *vp);
JS_ResolveStub(JSContext *cx, JSObject *obj, jsval id);
JS_SetRegExpInput(JSContext *cx, JSString *input, JSBool multiline);
need to check return types next
also, constructors, getters, setters, etc have probably changed
JavaScript shell changes
There are many new built-in functions in the JavaScript shell, mostly useful for testing SpiderMonkey. The scatter function has been removed, and a shell worker class (similar to HTML DOM Workers) has been added.
Future Direction
Do not expect a stable API
JS_THREADSAFE is going away
Revert to this revision |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50352 | SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 Release Notes
Revision Information
• Revision slug: SpiderMonkey/1.8.5
• Revision title: SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 Release Notes
• Revision id: 72789
• Created:
• Creator: MarkGiffin
• Is reviewed? Yes
• Reviewed:
• Reviewed by: Jay
• Is approved? Yes
• Is current revision? No
• Comment 2 words added, 1 words removed
Revision Source
Revision Content
{{ jsapi_minversion_header("1.8.5") }}
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 is the JavaScript engine that shipped in Firefox 4.0. It is much faster than SpiderMonkey 1.8, implements ES-5 (ECMA 262, 5th Edition), and contains many new language and API features, described in detail below.
—22 March 2011
Platform support
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 is supported on all the platforms where Firefox 4 runs.
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 includes a just-in-time compiler (JIT) (several, actually) that compiles JavaScript to machine code, for a significant speed increase. It is supported only on x86, x86_64 and ARM architectures. On other platforms, the JIT is simply disabled; JavaScript code runs in an interpreter, as in previous versions. It's the same language, just not as fast.
Migrating to SpiderMonkey 1.8
The following features in earlier versions of SpiderMonkey have been dropped.
• Multithreaded JS programs that race against the same objects are now explicitly not supported. Multithreaded programs are allowed, but each thread must operate on objects in a separate compartment, isolated from the other threads.
• The rooting APIs (JS_AddRoot, JS_RemoveRoot, etc.) have been replaced with a family of type-safe functions (JS_AddStringRoot, JS_RemoveStringRoot, etc.) that are easier to use correctly.
• JS_NewDouble, JS_NewDoubleValue, and JS_NewNumberValue are gone. Instead use DOUBLE_TO_JSVAL, INT_TO_JSVAL, and UINT_TO_JSVAL, which are faster and can't fail.
• JS_GetStringBytes and JS_GetStringChars are gone. There is no longer an infallible way to examine string characters. Applications must use JS_GetStringCharsAndLength or JS_EncodeString/JS_free and check for errors.
These and other changes are explained in detail below.
New JavaScript language features
Garbage Collection
Typed Rooting API
Type Changes
JSExtendedClass has been removed from the API entirely.
JSNative, JSFastNative
Global Objects
Global objects have been specialized, and must be be created with either JS_NewGlobalObject or JS_NewCompartmentAndGlobalObject. JS_NewObject and JS_NewObjectWithGivenProto remain the correct APIs for creating other objects. Global objects must also have the JSCLASS_GLOBAL_FLAGS flag set. Merely setting JSCLASS_IS_GLOBAL is insufficient.
New C APIs
New C++ helpers
Obsolete APIs
Deleted APIs
API changes
Operation callback
RegExp APIs
JS_ClearRegExpStatics, JS_NewRegExpObject, JS_NewRegUCExpObject, and JS_SetRegExpInput now receive a pointer to the global object. This change was made in bug 571355 to move the regexp statics out of the context, to simplify cross compartment wrappers.
Property accessors
JS_PropertyStub, JS_ResolveStub, and user-defined functions of type JSPropertyOp (e.g. getters and setters) changed from passing jsvals to passing jsid as part of bug 549143. This bug introduced "fat" (64-bit) unboxed valued into the engine.
Garbage collection
JS_MarkGCThing was changed in bug 549143 to mark jsvals rather than void pointers (GC root addresses), improving the typed rooting API which was introduced in bug 565157. A conservative stack-scanning collector was also added for SpiderMonkey 1.8.5, making the *LocalRootScope APIs obsolete; they are now NOPs. Bug 614138 introduces a C++ JS::Anchor<> template class to help tie lexical scope to the conservative GC for cases where the compiler might optimize away important stack/register roots (such as when we access the jschars in a JSString). A C analogue, JS_AnchorPtr, was introduced with bug 630209.
Bug 630209 also removed the need for JS_NewScriptObject, by modifying the script compilation interfaces to handle the creation and management of the object wrapper directly; similarly, the script execution interfaces now accept a JSObject pointer than a pointer to JSScript. Affected interfaces are:
Native functions
JSNatives now use the "fast native" calling convention; see bug 581263. The JS_FS macro has been adjusted, losing its third (unused) argument. JS_IsConstructing, used to differentiate between calls to native constructors with and without the new keyword, now takes a pointer to the native's vp, along with the native's context pointer, to figure out how the function was called.
JS_CompareStrings received a new function signature with bug 609440, allowing us to correctly propagate exceptions when the underlying functions to retrieve the characters in the string failed. Additionally, JS_NewString, JS_GetStringBytes, and JS_GetStringChars were removed, replaced by fallible interfaces like JS_GetStringCharsZAndLength and JS_EncodeStringToBuffer (not an exhaustive list).
SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 now stores integers up to 32-bits in the jsval. This means that the INT_FITS_IN_JSVAL macro is always returns true (be careful to only use this macro with jsints, not 64-bit integers). The jsval now also stores jsdoubles directly, rather than storing them on the heap. The JSVAL_TO_DOUBLE and DOUBLE_TO_JSVAL macros have been updated to work directly on jsdoubles rather than their pointers, and the JS_NewDoubleValue and JS_NewDouble interfaces have been removed.
JavaScript shell changes
Known Issues
Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and XCode 3.2
SpiderMonkey will not build with certain builds of Apple's GCC 4.2 C++ compiler. To check what version you are running, issue the command /usr/bin/g++-4.2 -v from a Terminal window. The following builds are known to not work:
• i686-apple-darwin9-g++-4.2.1 (GCC) 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5574)
To work around this issue, either upgrade your XCode or use an alternate version of GCC, such as the one that shipped with Leopard. To select an alternate C++ compiler, invoke configure thus:
CXX=/usr/bin/g++-4.0 /path/configure --my-configuration-options
The new configure-based build system does not correctly generate the js-config script on many platforms, nor when js-ctypes are enabled. If you are building your project with a GNU-make based build system, the following workaround can be integrated into your build system to generate the correct LDFLAGS, with a strong likelihood that it will work with future versions when js-config is fixed:
JS_CONFIG ?= /path/to/js-config
UNAME_SYSTEM = $(shell uname -s)
JSAPI_LDFLAGS = $(shell $(JS_CONFIG) --libs)
ifeq ($(UNAME_SYSTEM),Darwin)
JSAPI_LDFLAGS := $(filter -l%,$(JSAPI_LDFLAGS)) $(filter -L%,$(JSAPI_LDFLAGS))\
$(filter -%_namespace,$(JSAPI_LDFLAGS))\
$(filter -Wl%,$(JSAPI_LDFLAGS))
JSAPI_LDFLAGS := $(filter-out %libffi.a,$(JSAPI_LDFLAGS))
Future Direction
The SpiderMonkey 1.8.5 source release includes an experimental library versioning scheme. This versioning scheme will not be rolled back into the upstream Mozilla source tree(s), and may not be used in future source releases. Comments in bug 628723 with regard to its usefulness are appreciated. Bugs with the source release tar ball should be copied to [email protected].
SpiderMonkey embedders should also be aware that
• Mozilla has no plans to keep the JSAPI, nor the JSDBGAPI stable for embedders. We have chosen to concentrate on performance and correctness as primary concerns instead.
• The team is considering the removal of TinyIDs
• JS_THREADSAFE is going away, with future versions supporting only thread-safe builds
• A new debugging API is on the way to replace JSD.
Release Notes Errata
This is a list of changes which need to be made to the release notes ASAP. Feel free to fix any problems you spot -- this is a Wiki!
• jsxdrapi changes were missed
• JSStrictPropertyOp for setters (affects JSClass) - maybe general notes about ES5 strict mode changes in JSAPI
• Tricks like argv[-2] not guaranteed to work any more; is JS_CALLEE or similar instead
Revert to this revision |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50354 | Mozilla Demo Studio
• Submit a Demo
Photo editor
Client-side photo editor with Web Workers
Built using JavaScript, HTML5, Canvas, Web Workers,
More About This Demo From The Author
This tools offers some basic photo adjustments tools. Individual operations are implemented using Web Workers to improve performance and responsiveness.
Implemented features:
- open (from URL, from local file, from clipboard)
- save (via HTML5 download attribute)
- scale, crop
- normalize, histogram, adjust levels
- adjust color balance, invert colors
- desaturate
- fully editable history
1 comment so far
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1. jalboyeo said,
Get the Source Code
Download the Source 92.6 KB · ZIP File
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This demo is released under the BSD license.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50373 | PHP Programming/Alternative Hungarian Notation
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Jump to: navigation, search
How To Get Started with PHP Alternative Hungarian Notation
Hungarian Notation is a programming language variable naming convention. Since around 1999 when Charles Simonyi, who originated from Hungary, introduced the naming convention, some have tried to adapt it to various new programming languages. It helps one not only understand what the variable is for, but the intended data type inside it as well.
For PHP, the PHP Alternative Hungarian Notation (or PAHN) is an attempt at setting forth a naming convention for PHP based on Hungarian Notation, but in a more simplified format, and one that addresses difference in the PHP language from the one that Simonyi was using.
• By using a naming convention for variables that is different than functions, class methods, or class variable names, it helps make the code more readable so that you don't confuse a variable for a function call, for instance.
• It helps other programmers coming back to your project understand the intent of that variable.
• By sticking to a simple standard like PAHN that is easy to learn, it is one measure (of many) to make the code from several team members look identical. Otherwise, one team member may use one variable naming convention, while another team member may use another.
• There are not a lot of published standards for PHP-based variable naming conventions. By having one set down here, it is one opportunity to settle the issue, and to have a central document on the web to which many can refer.
• Class variables used for model objects, such as $Member, need to stand out more so than $nMember or $sMember, for instance. Using a naming convention helps improve readability for separating the two.
• Imagine we want to delineate that $sMemberID means an ID that may be alphanumeric, while $nMemberID is going to be an integer. If we do $MemberID, you don't pick up on that so easily. So, again, this naming convention improves readability.
• If we were to use $NamesArray, it's more typing than $asNames. Plus, we have no idea with $NamesArray whether it's an array of Names objects, an array of Names' strings, or what. So, again, we can improve readability of the code by using this naming convention.
The PAHN variable naming convention begins with a series of prefix characters, followed by a ProperCase variable name. Example:
global $gasNames;
$gasNames = $Members->getNames();
The $gasNames would mean global + array + string, or global array of strings.
The prefixes are:
_ = a private class variable
a+ = array (often combined with the data type used inside the array)
c+ = character
s+ = string
o+ = object
d+ = date object -- as in what's returned from a date() or gmdate()
v+ = variant -- used very infrequently to mean any kind of possible variable type
i+ = integer -- an integer
f+ = float -- a floating point number, e.g. an integer with a fractional part
n+ = numeric (unknown if it's float, integer, etc. Use infrequently)
x+ = to let other programmers know that this is a variable intended to be used by reference rather than value
rs+ = db recordset (set of rows)
rw+ = db row
h+ = handle, as in db handle, file handle, connection handle, curl handle, socket handle, etc.
hf = handle to function, as in setRetrievalStrategy(callable $hfStrategy)
g+ = global var (and used sparingly, and often combined with the datatype used for the variable)
b+ = boolean
Some examples:
$oMember -- a Member object
$hFile -- a handle to a file, for instance as passed from the fopen() statement
$cFirst -- first character retrieved from a string
$rsMembers -- records of Members, as returned from a database table
$rwMember -- a single Member record from the database
$bUseNow -- a boolean flag
$sxMemberName -- a byref string variable for a name of a member.
$nCounter -- a numeric counter
$dBegin -- a beginning date
$sFirstName -- a string to represent someone's first name
$_hDB -- a private class variable to store a database connection handle (often addressed by $this->_hDB)
For class variable names, PAHN does not use this prefix. Thus you might see something like:
$Members = new Members();
For constants, PAHN uses just an uppercase word like MEMBER, and this is often used with only inserting variables in PHP Alternative Syntax or CCAPS.
As for what comes after the prefix, it is preferred to stick with ProperCase, as in $sMemberName rather than $sMEMBERNAME, $sMember_Name, $s_Member_Name, or $smemberName. There are several reasons for this. In the case of $sMEMBERNAME, it would imply that the variable is to be treated like a constant (where uppercasing is often seen), when it is not. In $sMember_Name, it makes for more unnecessary typing, as does $s_Member_Name. And $smemberName runs the s+ prefix against the word "member" and makes for a confusing variable name. Now, saying this, there are some rare exceptions where adding an underscore does help with readability, and in those cases it can be used with PAHN. A good example of this rare exception is with an acronym like FIFO. So, $bFIFOIndicator might be more confusing than $bFIFO_Indicator and the latter would be more preferred.
There is also an exception to this prefix for variables used as loop iterators. Many programmers may be familiar with the short variables: $a, $b, $c, $d, $i, $x, $y, $z used in many textbooks. These are great for when you want to have an iterator variable that you address in a loop and use within arrays. For example:
$asMemberNames = array();
$asMemberNames[$i-1] = $Member->getMemberByID($i);
Therefore, this exception for loop iterators is allowed because it saves time with less typing, and does not reduce readability. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50375 | Designer drug
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Designer drug is an informal term for psychoactive drugs that were initially discovered through the research of, or experimentation upon, or with respect to, the structure and activity of existing drugs. The development of new psychoactive drugs is a subfield of drug design. In most instances of designer drug discovery, the exploration of small modifications to known active drugs—such as their structural analogues, stereoisomers, and derivatives—yields drugs that may differ greatly in effects from their “basis” drug (e.g. showing increased potency, or decreased side effects).[1] In some instances, designer drugs have similar subjective effects to other drugs, but have completely dissimilar chemical structures.
In some jurisdictions, drugs that are highly similar in structure to a prohibited drug are illegal to trade regardless of that drug's legal status. In other jurisdictions, their trade is a legal grey area, making them grey market goods. Some jurisdictions may have analogue laws which ban drugs similar in chemical structure to other prohibited drugs, while some designer drugs may be prohibited irrespective of the legal status of structurally similar drugs; in both cases, their trade may take place on the black market.
United States[edit]
Following the passage of the second International Opium Convention in 1925, which specifically banned morphine, the diacetyl ester of morphine, heroin, and a number of alternative esters of morphine quickly started to be manufactured and sold. The most notable of these were dibenzoylmorphine and acetylpropionylmorphine, which have virtually identical effects to heroin but were not covered by the Opium Convention. This then led the Health Committee of the League of Nations to pass several resolutions attempting to bring these new drugs under control, ultimately leading in 1930 to the first broad analogues provisions extending legal control to all esters of morphine, oxycodone, and hydromorphone.[2] Another early example of what could loosely be termed designer drug use, was during the Prohibition era in the 1930s, when diethyl ether was sold and used as an alternative to illegal alcoholic beverages in a number of countries.[3]
During the 1960s and 1970s, a number of new synthetic hallucinogens were introduced, with a notable example being the sale of highly potent tablets of DOM in San Francisco in 1967.[4] There was little scope to prosecute people over drug analogues at this time, with new compounds instead being added to the controlled drug schedules one by one as they became a problem, but one significant court case from this period was in 1973, when Tim Scully and Nicholas Sand were prosecuted for making the acetyl amide of LSD, known as ALD-52. At this time ALD-52 was not a controlled drug, but they were convicted on the grounds that in order to make ALD-52, they would have had to be in possession of LSD, which was illegal. The late 1970s also saw the introduction of various analogues of phencyclidine (PCP) to the illicit market.
1980s-early 1990s[edit]
The modern use of the term designer drug was coined in the 1980s to refer to various synthetic opioid drugs, based mostly on the fentanyl molecule (such as α-methylfentanyl).[5] The term gained widespread popularity when MDMA (ecstasy) experienced a popularity boom in the mid-1980s. When the term was coined in the 1980s, a wide range of narcotics were being sold as heroin on the black market. Many were based on fentanyl or meperidine. One, MPPP, was found in some cases to contain an impurity called MPTP, which caused brain damage that could result in a syndrome identical to full-blown Parkinson's disease, from only a single dose.[6] Other problems were highly potent fentanyl analogues, which were sold as China White, that caused many accidental overdoses.[7]
Because the government was powerless to prosecute people for these drugs until after they had been marketed successfully, laws were passed to give the DEA power to emergency schedule chemicals for a year, with an optional 6-month extension, while gathering evidence to justify permanent scheduling, as well as the analogue laws mentioned previously. Emergency-scheduling power was used for the first time for MDMA. In this case, the DEA scheduled MDMA as a Schedule I drug and retained this classification after review, even though their own judge ruled that MDMA should be classified Schedule III on the basis of its demonstrated uses in medicine.[8] The emergency scheduling power has subsequently been used for a variety of other drugs including 2C-B, AMT, and BZP. In 2004, a piperazine drug, TFMPP, became the first drug that had been emergency-scheduled to be denied permanent scheduling and revert to legal status.
The late 1980s and early 1990s also saw the re-emergence of methamphetamine in the United States as a widespread public health issue, leading to increasing controls on precursor chemicals in an attempt to cut down on domestic manufacture of the drug. This led to several alternative stimulant drugs emerging, the most notable ones being methcathinone and 4-methylaminorex, but, despite attracting enough attention from authorities to provoke legal scheduling of these compounds, their distribution was relatively limited in extent and methamphetamine continued to dominate the illicit synthetic stimulant market overall.[9]
Late 1990s-2004[edit]
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a huge explosion in designer drugs being sold over the internet.[10][11][12] The term and concept of "research chemicals" was coined by some marketers of designer drugs (in particular, of psychedelic drugs in the tryptamine and phenethylamine family). The idea was that, by selling the chemicals as for "scientific research" rather than human consumption, the intent clause of the U.S. analogue drug laws would be avoided. Nonetheless, the DEA raided multiple suppliers, first JLF Primary Materials, and then multiple vendors (such as RAC Research) several years later in Operation Web Tryp. This process was accelerated greatly when vendors began advertising via search engines like Google by linking their sites to searches on key words such as chemical names and terms like psychedelic or hallucinogen. Widespread discussion of consumptive use and the sources for the chemicals in public forums also drew the attention of the media and authorities.
In 2004, the US Drug Enforcement Administration raided and shut down several Internet-based research chemical vendors in an operation called Web Tryp. With help from the authorities in India and China, two chemical manufacturers were also closed. Many other internet-based vendors promptly stopped doing business, even though their products were still legal throughout much of the world.
Most substances that were sold as "research chemicals" in this period of time are hallucinogens and bear a chemical resemblance to drugs such as psilocybin and mescaline. As with other hallucinogens, these substances are often taken for the purposes of facilitating spiritual processes, mental reflection or recreation. Some research chemicals on the market were not psychoactive, but can be used as precursors in the synthesis of other potentially psychoactive substances, for example, 2C-H, which could be used to make 2C-B and 2C-I among others. Extensive surveys of structural variations have been conducted by pharmaceutical corporations, universities and independent researchers over the last century, from which some of the presently available research chemicals derive. One particularly notable researcher is Dr. Alexander Shulgin, who presented syntheses and pharmacological explorations of hundreds of substances in the books TiHKAL and PiHKAL (co-authored with Ann Shulgin), and has served as an expert witness for the defense in several court cases against manufacturers of psychoactive drugs.
The majority of chemical suppliers sold research chemicals in bulk form as powder, not as pills, as selling in pill form would invalidate the claims that they were being sold for non-consumptive research. Active dosages vary widely from substance to substance, ranging from micrograms to hundreds of milligrams, but while it is critical for the end user to weigh doses with a precision scale, instead of guessing ("eyeballing"), many users did not do this and this led to many emergency room visits and several deaths, which were a prominent factor leading to the emergency scheduling of several substances and eventually Operation Web Tryp. Some compounds such as 2C-B and 5-Meo-DiPT did eventually increase in popularity to the point that they were sold in pill form to reach a wider market, and acquired popular street names ("Nexus" and "Foxy," respectively). Once a chemical reaches this kind of popularity, it is usually just a matter of time before it is added to the list of scheduled (i.e., illegal) drugs.
The late 1990s and early 2000s also saw the first widespread use of novel anabolic steroids by athletes in competition. Steroids had been banned by the International Olympic Committee since 1976, but due to the large number of different anabolic agents available for human and veterinary use, the ability of laboratories to test for all available drugs had always lagged behind the ability of athletes to find new compounds to use. The introduction of increasingly formalised testing procedures, especially with the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency in 1999, made it much more difficult for athletes to get away with using these drugs without detection, which then led to the synthesis of novel and potent anabolic steroid drugs such as tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), which were not detectable by the standard tests.[13]
While through recent history most designer drugs had been either opioids, hallucinogens, or anabolic steroids, the range of possible compounds is limited only by the scientific and patent literature, and recent years have been characterised by a broadening of the range of compounds sold as designer drugs. These have included a wide variety of designer stimulants such as geranamine, mephedrone, MDPV and desoxypipradrol, several designer sedatives such as methylmethaqualone and premazepam, and designer analogues of sildenafil (Viagra), which have been reported as active compounds in "herbal" aphrodisiac products.[14][15] Designer cannabinoids are another recent development, with two compounds JWH-018 and (C8)-CP 47,497 initially found in December 2008 as active components of "herbal smoking blends" sold as legal alternatives to marijuana,[16] and subsequently a growing range of synthetic cannabinoid agonists have continued to appear, including by 2010 novel compounds such as RCS-4, RCS-8, and AB-001, which had never been reported in the literature, and appear to have been invented by designer drug manufacturers themselves. Another novel development is the use of research ligands for cosmetic rather than strictly recreational purposes, such as grey-market internet sales of the non-approved alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone tanning drugs known as melanotan peptides.[17]
“...what is new is the wide range of substances now being explored, the aggressive marketing of products that have been intentionally mislabelled, the growing use of the internet, and the speed at which the market reacts to control measures.”
EMCDDA director Wolfgang Goetz (November 2009).[18][19]
The safety of research chemicals is untested and little if any research has been done on the toxicology or pharmacology of most of these drugs. Few, if any, human or animal studies have been done. Many research compounds have produced unexpected side-effects and adverse incidents due to the lack of screening for off-target effects prior to marketing; both bromo-dragonfly and mephedrone seem to be capable of producing pronounced vasoconstriction under some circumstances, which has resulted in several deaths,[20] although the mechanism remains unclear. Substituted phenethylamines such as the 2C family and substituted amphetamines such as the DOx family have also caused a limited number of deaths.
Due to the recent development of many designer drugs, laws banning or regulating their use have not been developed yet, and in recent cases novel drugs have appeared directly in response to legislative action, to replace a similar compound that had recently been banned.[21] Many of the chemicals fall under the various drug analogue legislations in certain countries, but most countries have no general analogue act or equivalent legislation and so novel compounds may fall outside of the law after only minor structural modifications.
In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act was amended by the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement of 1986, which attempted to ban designer drugs pre-emptively by making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess chemicals that were substantially similar in chemistry and pharmacology to Schedule I or Schedule II drugs.
Other countries have dealt with the issue differently. In some, the new drugs are banned as they become a concern, as in Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. In Sweden, the police and customs from April 2011 may also seize drugs that are not on the list of drugs covered by the anti-drug laws if the police suspect that the purpose of the holding is related to drug abuse. Following a decision by a prosecutor, the police may destroy the seized drugs.[22]
Some countries, such as Australia, have gone the opposite direction and enacted sweeping bans based on chemical structure only, making chemicals illegal even before they are created — if a theoretical chemical fits a set of rules regarding substitutions and alterations of an already-banned drug, it too is banned. The controlled substance analogue law under both Australian Federal law and that of some individual states such as New South Wales is so broad that it would cover millions of compounds that have never been made, simply on the basis that they bear a vague resemblance to one of the drugs on the illegal list. However, it would still not cover drugs that have no structural similarity to any controlled drug, even if they produced similar effects.[23][24]
Common names[edit]
In the UK to avoid being controlled by the Medicines Act, designer drugs such as mephedrone have been described as "bath salts" or "plant food", despite the compounds having no history of being used for these purposes.[25][26][27]
In the USA, similar descriptions have been used to describe mephedrone as well as methylone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV).[28][29] Combined with labeling that they are "not for human consumption", these descriptions are an attempt to skirt the Federal Analog Act which forbids drugs that are “substantially similar” to already classified drugs from being sold for human use.[30]
Some research chemicals are structural analogues of tryptamines or phenethylamines but there are also many other completely unrelated chemicals that can be considered part of the group. Psychoactivity or other pharmaceutical properties of these compounds might not be predictable based strictly upon structural examination. Many of the substances have common effects whilst structurally different and vice versa due to SAR paradox. As a result of no real official naming for some of these compounds, as well as regional naming, this can all lead to potentially hazardous mix ups for users.[31] The following list is not exhaustive.
• ALD-52, N-acetyllysergic acid diethylamide, famously believed to have been the active ingredient in the "Orange Sunshine" acid of the 1960s
• ETH-LAD, which has been sold by some research chemical suppliers.
• AL-LAD, which has been sold by some research chemical suppliers.
• PRO-LAD, which has been sold by some research chemical suppliers.
• LSB
• LSZ
• 4-Acetoxy-DiPT, N,N-diisopropyl-4-acetoxytryptamine
• 4-Acetoxy-DMT, 4-acetoxy-dimethyltryptamine
• 4-HO-MET, 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine
• 4-HO-MiPT, 4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-isopropyltryptamine
• 5-MeO-AMT, 5-methoxy-alpha-methyltryptamine
• 5-MeO-DiPT, 5-methoxy-di-isopropyltryptamine (also known as "Foxy" or "Foxy Methoxy")
• 5-MeO-MiPT, 5-methoxy-methylisopropyltryptamine
• DiPT, N,N-diisopropyl-tryptamine
• DPT, N,N-dipropyltryptamine
• 5-MeO-DALT (N-allyl-N-[2-(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]prop-2-en-1-amine)
• 2C-C, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chlorophenethylamine
• 2C-D, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-phenethylamine
• 2C-E, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-phenethylamine
• 2C-G, 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine
• 2C-I, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine
• 2C-T-2, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine
• 2C-T-4, 2,5-dimethyoxy-4-(i)-propylthiophenethylamine
• 2C-T-7, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine
• 2C-T-21, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(2-fluoroethylthio)phenethylamine
• 2CB-FLY
• Bromodragonfly
• DOB, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine
• DOC, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine
• DOI, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine
• DOM, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine
• TMA-2, 2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine
• TMA-6, 2,4,6-Trimethoxyamphetamine
• NBOMe-2C-C, 25C-NBOMe, "Pandora"
• NBOMe-2C-I, 25I-NBOMe, "Solaris"
• NBOMe-2C-D, 25D-NBOMe, "Divination"
• 3-MeO-PCP
• 4-MeO-PCP [34]
• Dizocilpine (MK-801; (+)-5-methyl-10,11- dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine)
• Eticyclidine (PCE; CI-400; N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine)
• Methoxetamine (2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone)
• PCPr (N-propyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine)
• Rolicyclidine (PCPy; 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)pyrrolidine)
• Tenocyclidine (TCP; 1-(1-(2-Thienyl)cyclohexyl)piperidine)
• 3-MeO-PCE (2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexane)
• Ethylketamine (2-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone)
• Methoxyketamine (2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone)
• BZP, 1-benzylpiperazine
• mCPP, 1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine
• MeOPP, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine
• pFPP, 1-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazine
• TFMPP, 3-trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine, has the unique distinction of being the only drug in the USA to be emergency scheduled into Schedule I and then allowed to become legal because the DEA was unable to justify permanent scheduling
• 4-MTA, 4-Methylthioamphetamine
• 5-Me-MDA
• 5-APB, 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran
• 6-APB, 6-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran
• AET, α-ethyltryptamine
• Butylone, β-keto-N-methylbenzodioxolylpropylamine
• Ethylone, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylcathinone
• IAP
• MBDB
• MDAT (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[f][1,3]benzodioxol-7-amine)
• MDEA, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine
• Methylone, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone
• MMA, 3-Methoxy-4-methylamphetamine
• PMA, a highly dangerous amphetamine derivative responsible for many accidental deaths
• PMMA, similar to PMA
• PMEA, also similar to PMA
Nonclassical cannabinoids[edit]
Anabolic steroids[edit]
Erectile dysfunction[edit]
See also[edit]
1. ^ Buchanan JF, Brown CR (1988). "Designer drugs. A problem in clinical toxicology". Medical Toxicology and Adverse Drug Experience 3 (1): 1–17. PMID 3285124.
2. ^ "Esters of Morphine". UNODC Bulletin on Narcotics (2): 36–38. 1953.
3. ^ Brecher, Edward M. (1972). The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs. Consumer Reports Magazine.
4. ^ Snyder, SH; Faillace, L; Hollister, L (1967). "2,5-dimethoxy-4-methyl-amphetamine (STP): A new hallucinogenic drug". Science 158 (3801): 669–70. doi:10.1126/science.158.3801.669. PMID 4860952.
5. ^ Donald A. Cooper. Future Synthetic Drugs of Abuse. Drug Enforcement Administration, McLean, Virginia
6. ^ Fahn, Stanley (1996). "The Case of the Frozen Addicts: How the Solution of an Extraordinary Medical Mystery Spawned a Revolution in the Understanding and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease". The New England Journal of Medicine 335 (26): 2002. doi:10.1056/NEJM199612263352618.
7. ^ Henderson GL (1988). "Designer Drugs: Past History and Future Prospects". Journal of Forensic Sciences 33 (2): 569–575. PMID 3286815.
8. ^ The History of MDMA
9. ^ Philip Jenkins. Synthetic Panics: The Symbolic Politics of Designer Drugs. NYU Press 1999. ISBN 978-0-8147-4244-0
10. ^ Cole, MD; Lea, C; Oxley, N (2002). "4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B): A review of the public domain literature". Science & justice : journal of the Forensic Science Society 42 (4): 223–4. doi:10.1016/S1355-0306(02)71832-7. PMID 12632938.
11. ^ De Boer, D; Bosman, I (2004). "A new trend in drugs-of-abuse; the 2C-series of phenethylamine designer drugs". Pharmacy world & science : PWS 26 (2): 110–3. PMID 15085947.
12. ^ Uchiyama, N; Kikura-Hanajiri, R; Kawahara, N; Goda, Y (2008). "Analysis of designer drugs detected in the products purchased in fiscal year 2006". Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 128 (10): 1499–505. PMID 18827471.
13. ^ Malvey, TC; Armsey Td, 2nd (2005). "Tetrahydrogestrinone: The discovery of a designer steroid". Current sports medicine reports 4 (4): 227–30. PMID 16004834.
14. ^ Reepmeyer, JC; Woodruff, JT; d'Avignon, DA (2007). "Structure elucidation of a novel analogue of sildenafil detected as an adulterant in an herbal dietary supplement". Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 43 (5): 1615–21. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2006.11.037. PMID 17207601.
15. ^ Venhuis, Bastiaan J.; Blok-Tip, Leonore; De Kaste, Dries (2008). "Designer drugs in herbal aphrodisiacs". Forensic Science International 177 (2–3): e25–7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.11.007. PMID 18178354.
16. ^ Spice enthält chemischen Wirkstoff (German)
17. ^ Evans-Brown, M.; Dawson, R. T; Chandler, M.; McVeigh, J. (2009). "Use of melanotan I and II in the general population". BMJ 338: b566. doi:10.1136/bmj.b566. PMID 19224885.
18. ^ "EU struggles to curb hard drugs". BBC News. 5 November 2009.
19. ^ 2009 Annual report: the state of the drugs problem in Europe. EMCDDA, Lisbon, November 2009.
20. ^ Andreasen, Mette Findal; Telving, Rasmus; Birkler, Rune Isak Dupont; Schumacher, Bente; Johannsen, Mogens (2009). "A fatal poisoning involving Bromo-Dragonfly". Forensic Science International 183 (1–3): 91–6. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.11.001. PMID 19091499.
21. ^ Lindigkeit, R; Boehme, A; Eiserloh, I; Luebbecke, M; Wiggermann, M; Ernst, L; Beuerle, T (2009). "Spice: A never ending story?". Forensic Science International 191 (1–3): 58–63. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.06.008. PMID 19589652.
22. ^ Nu beslagtar svenska tullen lagliga droger, Sveriges Radio, 23 april 2011
24. ^ Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 s 314.1(2)
25. ^ "Consideration of the cathinones". Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. 31 March 2010. p. 25. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
26. ^ "Police warning over 'bubble' drug". BBC News. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
27. ^ Reed, Jim (13 January 2010). "Clubbers are 'turning to new legal high mephedrone'". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
28. ^ Victoria Cumbow (2011-02-06). "Synthetic form of cocaine and methamphetamine being packaged as bath salts". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
29. ^ "Reports: Miami 'zombie' attacker may have been using 'bath salts'". CNN. May 29, 2012.
30. ^ Abby Goodnough and Katie Zezima (2011-07-16). "An Alarming New Stimulant, Legal in Many States". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
31. ^ Shimizu E, Watanabe H, Kojima T, Hagiwara H, Fujisaki M, Miyatake R, Hashimoto K, Iyo M. Combined intoxication with methylone and 5-MeO-MIPT. Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 2007 Jan 30;31(1):288-91. PMID 16876302
32. ^ Davis, Glenn C.; Williams, Adrian C.; Markey, Sanford P.; Ebert, Michael H.; Caine, Eric D.; Reichert, Cheryl M.; Kopin, Irwin J. (December 1979). "Chronic Parkinsonism secondary to intravenous injection of meperidine analogues". Psychiatry Research 1 (3): 249–54. doi:10.1016/0165-1781(79)90006-4. PMID 298352.
33. ^ Wallis, Claudia (2001-06-24). "Surprising Clue to Parkinson's - TIME". Time. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
34. ^ King LA. New drugs coming our way - what are they and how do we detect them? EMCDDA Conference, Lisbon, 6–8 May 2009
35. ^ Venhuis BJ, Zomer G, Hamzink M, Meiring HD, Aubin Y, de Kaste D. The identification of a nitrosated prodrug of the PDE-5 inhibitor aildenafil in a dietary supplement: a Viagra with a pop. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2011 Mar 25;54(4):735-41. PMID 21145686
External links[edit] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50378 | Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
Blend of auxiliary and language.
auxlang (plural auxlangs)
1. An auxiliary language.
• 2000, Suzette Haden Elgin, The Language Imperative, page 195,
A distinction is usually made between auxiliary languages (auxlangs), designed with international communication as a deliberate goal, and “conlangs,” usually constructed for other purposes. (The Elvish languages showcased by Tolkien [] and the Klingon language [] are conlangs rather than auxlangs.)
• 2005, Santiago Posteguillo, et al., Language @t Work: Language Learning, Discourse And Translation Studies In Internet, page 48,
Volapük was the first auxlang to develop a community of speakers, after its launch in 1879 by Schleyer (Eco, 1993).
• 2006, Mikael Parkvall, Limits of Language: Almost Everything You Didn't Know You Didn't Know about Language and Languages, page 129,
Since at least the 17th century (and quite probably before that), various people have created artificially constructed languages (or conlangs), for the most part in order to offer humanity a neutral, easily mastered and logical means of interethnic communication (an auxlang)
• 2006, William Allison Shimer, The American Scholar, Volume 75, page 99,
The second was composed of those who wanted to talk about an international auxiliary language for the real world (the auxlangers). The auxlang group included a few devoted Esperantists and a larger group [] .
Coordinate terms[edit] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50379 | Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
1. Present participle of gob.
gobbing (plural gobbings)
1. (mining) The refuse thrown back into the excavation after removing the coal; gob stuff.
(Can we find and add a quotation of Brande & C. to this entry?)
2. The process of packing with waste rock; stowing.
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50380 | Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
latration (plural latrations)
1. (obsolete) A barking.
• 1835, Christian Examiner
But for this barrier, the theological Cerberus would find himself turning so few passengers from its gate, that he would soon, himself, weary of his wearisome latrations.
• 1925, Joseph Bucklin Bishop, Notes and anecdotes of many years (page 75)
What then must have been the effect upon the eminent philologist of the midnight latrations of Fernando Wood's yellow dog?
• 2001, Jamie O'Neill, At Swim, Two Boys
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50381 | Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
paradoxical (not comparable)
1. Having self-contradictory properties.
• 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, book II, ch 2
It is the ambiguity of language only which can make this proposition appear either doubtful or paradoxical. When properly explained and understood, it is almost self-evident.
• 1898, H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, Book 2, ch 4
It sounds paradoxical, but I am inclined to think that the weakness and insanity of the curate warned me, braced me, and kept me a sane man.
• 1933, H. P. Lovecraft & Hazel Heald, Out of the Aeons
It was tightly fitted with a cap of the same substance, and bore engraved figurings of an evidently decorative and possibly symbolic nature - conventional designs which seemed to follow a peculiarly alien, paradoxical, and doubtfully describable system of geometry.
Related terms[edit] |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50384 | From FedoraProject
Revision as of 07:15, 23 February 2010 by Fab (Talk | contribs)
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I'm a member of the Red Hat Emerging Technologies Engineering team in Boston. I also maintain the Perl bindings for DBus - Net::DBus and lead the Test-AutoBuild project. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50386 | From FedoraProject
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Fedora Extras Steering Committee
1 September 2005
• Colin Charles
• Greg DeKoenigsberg
• Jeremy Katz
• Jesse Keating
• Elliot Lee
• Dams Nade
• Adrian Reber
• Michael Schwendt
• Enrico Scholz
• Ville Skytta
• Thomas Vander Stichele
• Seth Vidal
• Dave Lawrence
• Warren Togami
• Package reviewer rewards. No progress, Elliot is busy finishing up Summer of Code stuff
• Build system seems to be healthy and working well at this point.
• Colin brings up that a lot of people aren't on/don't follow -extras-commits. We're going to change the recommendation to a suggestion that you be on -extras-commits (eg, to follow your packages) and change the reply-to to point to fedora-extras-list.
• Meandering discussion about the email contact thread from fedora-maintainers. There's not really much that can be done other than being aware or the problems. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50390 | Version 2 (modified by dterei, 3 years ago) (diff)
Safe Compilation
One of the use cases we see for SafeHaskell is creating applications from code written by multiple parties, where some are untrusted. We would like to be able to support a use case like this where the code is included in an automated fashion, for example submitting plugins for a website and allowing for them to be added without manual authorization. While SafeHaskell provides a lot of the guarantees we need, a malicious third party developer can still cause lots of problems at compile time. Some quick examples of these include:
• Using CPP to include sensitive files in their source code.
• Using custom link options to link in libraries with known exploits
• Using custom program options for passes (e.g a custom CPP) to execute an arbitrary script.
To combat these attacks we will add a new static flag to ghc, currently called --safe-compile that disables the use of many of GHC's flags. A use case such as the one above will still need to take further measures to be 'secure', such as running all compilations in a new virtual machine created from a safe snapshot. However safe compilation should reduce the attack surface and make GHC and Haskell easier to reason about.
GHC Flags
GHC flags currently come from three sources:
• Default flags set in the GHC source code.
• Flags set in module PRAGMA's.
• Flags set by the invoker of GHC.
• This may be the user invoking GHC directly,
• OR More likely it is a build tool such as Cabal or Make calling GHC.
For the implementation of --safe-compile it must be decided how to filter each of these three sources. (Note that in the third case, a build tool, the flags come from two sources, those set statically in the .cabal or make file and those set by the user invoking cabal or make on the command line. However GHC can't differentiate between them so we treat them the same). The first two cases are easy, default flags will need to be checked and changed accordingly. Currently we believe the defaults are safe though. PRAGMA flags should be filtered and unsafe flags disallowed. The third case has two possibilities though:
1) We treat arguments to GHC the same as PRAGMA flags and simply disallow unsafe flags.
2) We allow all flags still as arguments to GHC.
The first case is simpler, both in implementation and user interface. Its also the safest. It is fairly inflexible though and would mean there would be no way to allow CPP in combination with --safe-compile. The second case is more complex to implement and in user interface. While we trust the user invoking GHC, that user may not trust the .cabal file which in this option would be trusted by GHC. The burden of checking the .cabal file would then fall to the user. How much of a problem this is, is debatable. While it weakens the safety a .cabal file is at least a single central file that can be audited with relative ease. (NOte this may not be so true in the future if cabal allows multiple .cabal files... ect, its also not true for make which can be very complex). The advantage of the second approach is the flexability it gives a user in selectively enabling unsafe flags in '--safe-compile' mode. This flexibility is fairly important, take platforms like SunOS or FreeBSD. It is very common for users of GHC on these platforms to have to manually specify the location of certain tools and libraries given the non-GNU defaults.
There some other approaches. Just quickly as they come to mind:
• Have GHC support setting flags in an environment variable. '--safe-compile' would disable unsafe flags on the command line but not an environment variable. This could still be exploited with a custom Cabal Setup or using Make but for the very common case of a Cabal with a default Setup it would work.
• Same as above but support setting the flags in a .ghc-flags file in the user home directory. User could secure this file by making it read only to GHC and owned by a different user. This file could support compile flag groups for more flexibility. So the user would choose a group to use when calling ghc. This would be a useful feature independent of '--safe-compile'.
• Disable unsafe flags on the command line if they appear after '--safe-compile' but not before.
Unsafe GHC Flags
Dynamic Flags:
• -cpp and -XCPP
• -F
• -llib
• -framework
• -Ldir
• -framework-pathdir
• -main-is
• -package-name
• -Dsymbol
• -Usymbol
• -Idir
• -with-rts-opts
• -rts-opts=
• -dylib-install-name
• -o
• -hidir, -odir, -stubdir, -tmpdir, -outputdir
• -hcsuf, -hisuf, -ohi, -osuf
Static Flags:
• -trust, -distrust, -distrust-all-packages
NOTE: I made this list originally only looking at dynamic flags, needs to be updated to include static flags. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50391 | Skip to content
This repository
A lightweight, mobile-ready, data-driven, modular grid widget designed for use with the Dojo object store
Octocat-spinner-32 css ColumnResizer: Suppress focus outline on resizer node
Octocat-spinner-32 demos Clean up meta tags in tests
Octocat-spinner-32 extensions Fix #820: Override CompoundColumns#cell/column to find by original id
Octocat-spinner-32 test tree unit test: Uncomment afterEach now that the test is verified
Octocat-spinner-32 util has-css3: Revise transform3d test to always clean up properly
Octocat-spinner-32 Note tree child modification fix
Octocat-spinner-32 CellSelection.js Fix #858: Selection: Avoid range confusion involving orphaned nodes
Octocat-spinner-32 ColumnSet.js Fix #383: Make ColumnSet and CompoundColumns compatible with each other
Octocat-spinner-32 Grid.js Fix #383: Make ColumnSet and CompoundColumns compatible with each other
Octocat-spinner-32 GridFromHtml.js Fix #664: Allow blank labels (specified as empty string)
Octocat-spinner-32 GridWithColumnSetsFromHtml.js Fix newline format
Octocat-spinner-32 Keyboard.js Keyboard: Prevent errors attempting to refocus after structure change
Octocat-spinner-32 LICENSE Update LICENSE year.
Octocat-spinner-32 List.js Use direct DOM sibling accessors to get previous and next rows to avo…
Octocat-spinner-32 OnDemandGrid.js rename table to grid
Octocat-spinner-32 OnDemandList.js Fix #817: tree: insert preload nodes into the linked list correctly
Octocat-spinner-32 Add directions for running tests with local Selenium
Octocat-spinner-32 Selection.js Fix #858: Selection: Avoid range confusion involving orphaned nodes
Octocat-spinner-32 TouchScroll.js Fix #344: TouchScroll: Don't cancel touchmove if area can't scroll
Octocat-spinner-32 _StoreMixin.js Fix #383: Make ColumnSet and CompoundColumns compatible with each other
Octocat-spinner-32 editor.js Fix #751: pass cell's value to canEdit when using a shared editor
Octocat-spinner-32 package.js I definitely did not leave a console.log in the package.js.
Octocat-spinner-32 package.json Update version for dev towards next release
Octocat-spinner-32 selector.js Fix #674: selector: Remove unnecessary check
Octocat-spinner-32 tree.js tree: Remove call to _trackError around renderQuery in expand
This project provides widgets for lists of data, including simple sets of scrolling rows, grids of data, on-demand lazy-loaded data, and various plugins for additional functionality. This project also provides touch scrolling for mobile devices with native style momentum, bouncing, and scrollbars.
The dgrid project is available under the same dual BSD/AFLv2 license as the Dojo Toolkit.
Automatic Download with CPM
dgrid can be installed via CPM using the following command:
cpm install dgrid
The above command will automatically find the highest tagged version of dgrid and install it. Alternatively, the latest development version of dgrid can be installed by instructing CPM to install from the master branch:
cpm install dgrid master
Note that while dgrid lists the dojo package as a dependency, it does not install dijit, as it is not a hard requirement. Dijit can be additionally installed by running:
cpm install dijit
Manual Download
Alternatively, dgrid and its dependencies can be downloaded individually:
• xstyle
• put-selector
• The Dojo Toolkit SDK version 1.7 or higher
• Out of the DTK components, Dojo core is the only hard dependency for dgrid; however, some of the test pages also use components from Dijit, and Dojox (namely grid for a comparison test, and mobile for a mobile page).
It is recommended to arrange all dependencies as siblings, resulting in a directory structure like the following:
• dgrid
• dijit (optional, dependency of some dgrid tests)
• dojo
• dojox (optional, dependency of some dgrid tests)
• put-selector
• xstyle
• util (optional, e.g. if pursuing a custom build)
dgrid works best with the latest revision of Dojo 1.7 or higher. As of this writing, Dojo 1.9.2 is recommended.
Note that while dgrid supports Dojo 1.8 and 1.9 and may take advantage of features or fix issues specific to them where possible, it does not have any hard dependency on APIs new to 1.8 or 1.9, so as to maintain compatibility with 1.7.
Documentation for dgrid components is available in the dgrid GitHub project wiki. The wiki's content may still be obtained for offline reading by cloning the wiki repository, as indicated under the "Git Access" tab.
In addition to the documentation on the wiki, if upgrading from a previous dgrid release, please be sure to read the changelog, found in
dgrid uses Intern as its test runner. Tests can either be run using the browser, or using Sauce Labs. More information on writing your own tests with Intern can be found in the Intern wiki.
Setting up
Note: Commands listed in this section are all written assuming they are run in the parent directory containing dgrid, dojo, etc.
Install the latest geezer version of Intern, which supports IE 6, 7, and 8 in addition to modern browsers.
npm install intern-geezer
Running via the browser
1. Open a browser to http://hostname/path_to_dgrid/test/intern/runTests.html
2. View the console
Running via Sauce Labs
Make sure the proper Sauce Labs credentials are set in the environment:
export SAUCE_USERNAME=<your_sauce_username>
export SAUCE_ACCESS_KEY=<your_sauce_access_key>
Then kick off the runner with the following command:
node node_modules/intern-geezer/runner config=dgrid/test/intern/intern
Running via local Selenium server
Obtain the latest version of the Selenium server and the IE driver server from Selenium's Download page. (The IE driver server needs to be placed in a folder on your PATH.)
The Selenium server can be started by executing:
java -jar path\to\selenium-server-standalone-<version>.jar
Mac OS X
The easiest way to obtain the Selenium standalone server for Mac OS X is by using Homebrew. Once Homebrew is installed, run the following commands:
brew update # ensure you have the lastest formulae
brew install selenium-server-standalone
brew install chromedriver # for automating tests in Chrome
Recent versions of selenium-server-standalone install a selenium-server script which can be used to start up the server. For additional information (e.g. how to start the server at login), see the output of brew info selenium-server-standalone.
Running the tests
Once the Selenium server is running, kick off the Intern test runner with the following command (run from the directory containing dgrid):
node node_modules/intern-geezer/runner config=dgrid/test/intern/intern.local
The configuration in intern.local.js overrides intern.js to not use Sauce Connect, and to attempt to run Firefox and Chrome by default (this can be customized as desired according to the browsers you have installed).
Reporting Issues
Bugs or enhancements can be filed by opening an issue in the issue tracker on GitHub.
When reporting a bug, please provide the following information:
• Affected browsers and Dojo versions
• A clear list of steps to reproduce the problem
• If the problem cannot be easily reproduced in an existing dgrid test page, include a Gist with code for a page containing a reduced test case
If you would like to suggest a fix for a particular issue, you are welcome to fork dgrid, create a branch, and submit a pull request. Please note that a Dojo CLA is required for any non-trivial modifications.
Getting Support
Questions about dgrid usage can be discussed on the dojo-interest mailing list or in the #dojo IRC channel on Web interfaces are available from the Dojo Toolkit Community page.
SitePen also offers commercial support for dgrid, as well as Dojo and a number of other JavaScript libraries.
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A list of SOHO comets hunters
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Message History |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50430 |
Re: PROPOSAL: [email protected]
On Sun, Oct 10, 2004 at 10:51:21PM +0200, Aurelien Jarno wrote:
> I think that creating a such list is a very good idea. Currently the
> only way to contact mozilla package's maintainers is to do an apt-cache
> search mozilla and grep for the email adresses. FYI there is currently
Or send a mail to <package>@packages.debian.org
Jesus Climent info:www.pumuki.org
Unix SysAdm|Linux User #66350|Debian Developer|2.4.27|Helsinki Finland
If you iz watching dis in da UK, you may remember me from da telly. If
you iz in Belgium.... you iz living in a shit hole.
--Ali G (Ali G indahouse)
Reply to: |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50435 |
Re: "One time" post-invoke hook
Hi Charles,
Thanks for your answer.
Le vendredi 06 novembre 2009 à 15:37 +0900, Charles Plessy a écrit :
> > Le mercredi 04 novembre 2009 à 19:08 +0100, Julien Valroff a écrit :
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > >
> > > rkhunter recommends some packages, eg. unhide, which are configured
> > > after rkhunter, and hence after rkhunter postinst script is run.
> Hello Julien,
> if you can cooperate with the maintainers of packages like unhide, maybe you
> can arrange a dpkg trigger? (man 5 deb-triggers)
You are right, I think that is the best method which could also be used
by other packages so that the rkhunter database is only updated when
packages are upgraded/installed.
I already had a look to the triggers, but I am not sure to understand
In the rkhunter & unhide example, rkhunter needs to declare a trigger.
But where and how?
unhide needs to declare its interest in this trigger in debian/triggers
(interest <trigger-name>)
Have a nice day as well
Reply to: |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50437 |
new X packages broken :(
Hi everyone,
I upgraded X (xfree86-common) in my Sparc 4 and now I cant use X anymore.
And cant downgrade to X with a mirror less updated.
When I type startx the prompt returns.
honolulu:/home/IA/baptista# startx
(using VT number 7)
waiting for X server to shut down .....
After a atempt to enters X.
There is no error messages. What I have to do?
Have a nice day, Paulo Henrique
Reply to: |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50439 |
Re: Restoring /etc/inittab
On Thu, May 13, 2004 at 09:09:29AM +0200, Pierg75 wrote:
> Adam Funk wrote:
> >On Wednesday 12 May 2004 17:40, Pierg75 wrote:
> >>Somewhere i read that an alias should never be an alias of itself,
> >>something like alias rm='rm -i'
> >alias ls='ls --color=auto'
> >alias rm='rm -vi'
> >alias cp='cp -vi'
> >alias mv='mv -vi'
> >alias cal='cal -3m' # week starts on Monday
> >
> >and I'm sure I got this idea from some reputable Unix books. This way
> >rm always asks *except* when you use -f.
> It works for sure, because somewhere i use it too.
> I was meaning about the comcept:
> because if you get use of this approach, when you go to work on a
> machine that doesn't have this alias, immagine what you coul do if you
> write rm /etc/apache/* because you are sure (or you don't pay
> attention) that would ask you to confirm.
> Since i read that article (it was on a magazine), i try to don't use
> this kind of aliases and to pay more attention on what i'm doing.
within bash, you could use an alternate kind of aliases in order to
circumvent any reentrance problem under a different OS:
alias rm='/bin/rm -vi'
alias cd="builtin cd ${CDHOME}"
Wilko Fokken Education is a man's going
Landschaftspolder 67 from cocksure ignorance
D-26831 Dollart to thoughtful uncertainty.
Reply to: |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50453 | [Python-Dev] memcmp performance
Stefan Behnel stefan_ml at behnel.de
Fri Oct 21 08:24:44 CEST 2011
Antoine Pitrou, 20.10.2011 23:08:
>> I have been doing some performance experiments with memcmp, and I was
>> surprised that memcmp wasn't faster than it was in Python. I did a whole,
>> long analysis and came up with some very simple results.
> Thanks for the analysis. Non-bugfix work now happens on Python 3, where
> the str type is Python 2's unicode type. Your recommendations would
> have to be revisited under that light.
Well, Py3 is quite a bit different now that PEP393 is in. It appears to use
memcmp() or strcmp() a lot less than before, but I think unicode_compare()
should actually receive an optimisation to use a fast memcmp() if both
string kinds are equal, at least when their character unit size is less
than 4 (i.e. especially for ASCII strings). Funny enough, tailmatch() has
such an optimisation.
More information about the Python-Dev mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50454 | [Python-ideas] Allow imports to a global name
Terry Reedy tjreedy at udel.edu
Wed Apr 11 07:08:50 CEST 2012
On 4/10/2012 8:59 PM, Nick Coghlan wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 10:36 AM, Guido van Rossum<guido at python.org> wrote:
>> +1
> Ditto. FWIW, I'm actually in favour of dropping everything after the
> "or" in that paragraph from the language spec, since we don't enforce
> *any* of it. Aside from formal parameter definitions (which explicitly
> declare local variables), name binding operations are just name
> binding operations regardless of the specific syntax.
> With global:
>>>> def f():
> ... global x
> ... for x in (): pass
> ... class x: pass
> ... def x(): pass
> ... import sys as x
> ...
>>>> f()
>>>> x
> <module 'sys' (built-in)>
I found this slightly surprising, but on checking with dis, each of the
'implicit' assignments is implemented as the equivalent of x =
internal_function_call(args). (For for-loops, the assignment is within
the loop.) Which is to say, each bytecode sequence ends with store_xxx
where xxx is 'fast' or 'global. So now I am not surprised.
Terry Jan Reedy
More information about the Python-ideas mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50456 | Combining python and perl
Peng Yu pengyu.ut at
Sun Aug 23 14:37:24 CEST 2009
According to, it
"Python and Perl come from a similar background (Unix scripting, which
both have long outgrown), and sport many similar features, but have a
different philosophy. Perl emphasizes support for common application-
oriented tasks, e.g. by having built-in regular expressions, file
scanning and report generating features. Python emphasizes support for
common programming methodologies such as data structure design and
object-oriented programming, and encourages programmers to write
readable (and thus maintainable) code by providing an elegant but not
overly cryptic notation. As a consequence, Python comes close to Perl
but rarely beats it in its original application domain; however Python
has an applicability well beyond Perl's niche."
My question is that how to combine both python and perl to take
advantages of both their strong aspects. Of course, I want to
primarily use python---that is why I send this message to this group.
I see a module 'perlmodule'. But I would like to know whether there
are other tips besides using 'perlmodule' to take perl's advantage in
More information about the Python-list mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50457 | Hacker Newsnew | comments | ask | jobs | submitlogin
ianb 1032 days ago | link | parent
I bet TermKit would actually work awesome over 300 baud. The two-tier approach -- a backend that executes commands and a frontend that displays stuff -- is going to be pretty efficient (if you are only running the backend remotely). Well... perhaps the chattiness of something like filename completion will be a bit of a problem, but it'll still probably work better that more directly interactive systems because it's working with a more abstracted protocol than a terminal does.
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50460 | End-Pleistocene Palaeolagoons
The palaeolagoons can have few tens or hundreds of meters, to few kilometer sice. These shallow elipticall aligned palaeolagoons are found everywhere in Brazil, as well as in Argentina, Bolivia, USA, South Africa, Australia... worldwide, and their cosmogenia could be related to an actual south palaeometeor shower.... an old meteoroid stream from a defunct prehistoric comet.... and it may still exist in the form of a meteor shower in the present.
Many astronomers believe that there is long-term fifteen or thirty million year cycle to impacts as the result of galactic tides affecting comets in the Oort cloud believed to surround the solar system like a halo. In 1982, two British astronomers, S. V. M (Victor) Clube and William Napier, published a book entitled The Cosmic Serpent. Clube and Napier suggested that the outer planets occasionally divert giant comets (more than 50 kilometers in diameter) into the inner solar system into short-period orbits. Debris from the resultant disintegration of these giant comets can adversely affect the Earth environment. Dusting can block sunlight, resulting in globally cooler conditions. Impact events in super-Tunguska class event may result in not only heavy localized destruction but also the occasional "impact winter" or dust veil with global climatological effects.
The astronomers believe the impact flux varies on an even shorter cycle. They suggest that a giant comet (over fifty kilometers in diameter) arrives in the inner solar system every hundred thousand years on average. As the giant comet disintegrates, its debris may threaten the Earth with a greatly enhanced impact flux for a few years or decades every millenium or two.
Impact events in the Super-Tunguska class may result in not only heavy localized destruction but also the occasional "impact winter" or dust veil with global climatological effects. Clube and Napier identify the progenitor of the Taurid complex as such a giant comet whose injection into a short-period (about 3.3 year) orbit occurred sometime in the last twenty thousand years. The effects of the disintegration of this object in an Earth-crossing orbit should appear in the geological and climatological record as well as in protohistorical and historical records.
The observed thousands of scars, craters, these shallow palaeolagoons should represent real marcs of these prehistorical cosmic events in Brazil and anywere. A cosmic massive global event may have last a few hours to some days long. Millions of meteoroids explosions and airblast fired forests and cause tsunami at seas and oceans, incinerating lands, prehistoric villages, melting glaciers, and poisoning the waters with their hot CN rich plasma jets. The excess of warm in the atmosphere and oceans released large bodies of water frozen during the end of Pleistocene, changing all the ecosystems, initiating a new environmental order, the Holocene.
Many of these small ponds are located outside the normal land drainage, and could be found on highest areas, on the hills. In images below (2009), a small 200 m elliptical south-north oriented palaeolagoon Capivara 0001 on São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí, Brazil.
During the first identification mission in June of 2009 the shallows lagoons were still supplying water to livestock and wildlife in this semiarid region. But eventually they will be dry on drougth season.
Silliceous clasts rocks, possible impactites were found in this structure. On picture below the coin is 25 mm wide.
In this region there are no volcanoes. The molten impact rock can be found in these palaeolagoons.
The excavation (2011) on German small ponds structures gave evidence of very high temperatures in the form of intense melting an glass formation: matrix-rich breccia - multicolored small rock fragments in a sandy, silty black matrix.
Some crateriform small structures from ten meters in diameters in young sediments in Southeast Germany have raised increased interest in the last decade, although they have been known since longtime. Its possible anthropogenic origin or simple sink holes origin were excluded, detailed rock-magnetic studies point to new ideas focusing on a formation of at least part of the craters are meteorite craters originating from the recently proposed large Holocene so-called Chiemgau impact event.
In 2004 during a scientific mission, Italian and Bazilian scientists investigated the Quarí palaeolagoon on the same region on São Raimundo Nonato and conducted a sediment lagoon profile. They identified five (5) units of sediments (U.S.).
From the location of pollen sample and dated sediment from pond profile, it is possible to infer the age of stratigraphic layers further down. Thus, it is likely that this structure has about 12,900 years of age. There is a higher frequency of the megafauna fossils in sediment immediately above the layer of clasts, possible washed away from the edges into the pond in sediments older than 12,115 years.
The pollen study identifies the landscape vegetation such as Arecaceae, species of humid savanna environment palm tree, that represents about 35% of arborial vegetation, and between 30% of grasses at 8,770 BP, but these vegetations are no longer visible on surroundings of these palaeolagoons at present environment of drougth Caatinga forest domain.
The five (5) units of sediments (U.S.) found in Quarí palaeolagoon are:
The US-1: The pollen research dated the sediments with ages ranging between 5,425 B.P. to 8,770 B.P., no megafauna found.
The US-2: The layer were the megafauna fossils are found (> 12,000 BP).
The US-3: This unit is a Silliceous clasts rocks layer (12,900 BP). Not vulcanic, possible impactites (?).
The US-4: (sand ?)
The US-5: Basic cristalline rock.
Could the age of the US-3 Silliceous clasts layer be 12,900 BP old ?
Why no megafauna rich sediments are found older than End-Pleistocene?
The impactites identified in other ponds in this region corroborate their cosmic origin.
The Quari palaelagoon in Sao Raimundo Nonato near south town, where (2004) a layer of silliceous clasts rocks (possible impactites) were found on the boton layer of the lake at about 12,900 BP old sediment over a cristalline base rock points to its End-Pleistocene genesis.
NEW - 2013
Detailed geochemical and morphological analyses of nearly 700 spherules from 18 sites in support of a major cosmic impact at the onset of the Younger Dryas episode (12.8 ka). The impact distributed ∼10 million tonnes of melted spherules over 50 million square kilometers on four continents. Origins of the spherules by volcanism, anthropogenesis, authigenesis, lightning, and meteoritic ablation are rejected on geochemical and morphological grounds. The spherules closely resemble known impact materials derived from surficial sediments melted at temperatures >2,200 °C. The spherules correlate with abundances of associated melt-glass, nanodiamonds, carbon spherules, aciniform carbon, charcoal, and iridium.
NEW - 2012
12,900 years ago megabeasts suddem died
Last Extinction (NOVA Documentary)
The climate had been warming dramatically, then suddenly the climate cooled to an interval of near glacial cold. Known as the Younger Dryas this period lasted for well over a thousand years.
End-Pleistocene and Younger Dryas impact hypothesis
The Younger Dryas (YD) impact hypothesis is a recent (2007) theory that suggests that a cometary or meteoritic body or bodies hit and/or exploded over North America 12,900 years ago, causing the YD climate episode, extinction of Pleistocene megafauna, demise of the Clovis archaeological culture, and a range of other effects.
The physical evidence interpreted as signatures of an impact event can be separated into two groups. The first group consists of evidence that has been largely rejected by the scientific community and is no longer in widespread discussion…. The second group consists of evidence that has been active in recent research and discussions:…. Over time, however, these signatures have also seen contrary evidence rather than support.
In summary, none of the original YD impact signatures have been subsequently corroborated by independent tests. Of the 12 original lines of evidence, seven have so far proven to be non-reproducible. The remaining signatures instead seem to represent either (1) non-catastrophic mechanisms, and/or (2) terrestrial rather than extraterrestrial or impact-related sources.
Younger Dryas “black mats” and the Rancholabrean termination in North America
Stratigraphic sequences on US can reflect climate change in the lacustrine or paludal sediments such as marls or diatomites indicate ponding or emergent water tables and some mollisols or aquolls indicate shallow water tables with capillary fringes approaching or reaching the surface.
Of the 97 geoarchaeological sites of this study that bridge the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (last deglaciation), approximately two thirds have a black organic-rich layer or ‘‘black mat’’ in the form of mollic paleosols, aquolls, diatomites, or algal mats with radiocarbon ages suggesting they are stratigraphic manifestations of the Younger Dryas cooling episode 10,900 B.P. to 9,800 B.P. (radiocarbon years).
This layer or mat covers the Clovis-age landscape or surface on which the last remnants of the terminal Pleistocene megafauna are recorded. Stratigraphically and chronologically the extinction appears to have been catastrophic, seemingly too sudden and extensive for either human predation or climate change to have been the primary cause.
This sudden Rancholabrean termination at 10,900 +/- 50 B.P. appears to have coincided with the sudden climatic switch from Allerød warming to Younger Dryas cooling.
Recent evidence for extraterrestrial impact, although not yet compelling, needs further testing because a remarkable major perturbation occurred at 10,900 B.P. that needs to be explained.
The palaeo-lake Suguta and its importance for understanding lake level fluctuations in the East African Rift System http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010AGUFMGC51C0765J
The most recent dry-wet-dry cycle in the presently arid Suguta Valley in the Northern Kenya Rift where a 300-m-deep lake has formed during the so-called African Humid Period (AHP, 14.8-5.5 ka BP).
The research focus on abrupt vs. gradual changes, we reconstructed a palaeo-lake level record for the time between 14 and 5 ka BP from up to 40 m thick lake-sediment sequences at three locations in the ~2,500 km2 palaeo-lake Suguta area.
The new chronology of water level fluctuations in the amplifier-lake Suguta indicates a general dry-wet-dry cycle synchronous with other lake chronologies during the AHP and multiple short-term fluctuations with abrupt lake level drops between 100 to 300 m within 100 to 200 years at 12.8-11.6 (during Younger Dryas time), 11.1-10.9; 10.4-10.2; 9.5-9.1; 9.0-8.8; 8.5-8.1 (during the 8.2 ka event) cal ka BP that seem to be linked with changes in the coupling between atmosphere and ocean systems
If these palaeolagoons have a probable cosmic origin
and everything should have exploded outside,
why megafauna bones are found inside these Brazilian ponds?
Perhaps a possible answer could be on post-cratering event:
by megafauna survivor drinking water CN-poisoning!
The Halley comet have been subject to scientific investigation since the 16th century. The 1910 approach was notable for several reasons: it was the first approach of which photographs exist, and the first for which spectctroscopic data were obtained. Furthermore, the comet made a relatively close approach of 0.15AU, making it a spectacular sight. On 18 May the Earth actually passed through the tail of the comet. One of the substances discovered in the tail, by spectroscopic analysis, was the toxic gas cyanogen which chemical compound with the formula CN led astronomer Camille Flammarion to claim that, when Earth passed through the tail, the gas "would impregnate the atmosphere and possibly snuff out all life on the planet." This pronouncement led to panicked buying of gas masks and quack "anti-comet pills" and "anti-comet umbrellas" by the public. In reality, as other astronomers were quick to point out, the gas is so diffuse that the world suffered no ill effects from the passage through the tail.
Comets nucleus, made of dirty ice of low density, would escavate only a very shalow crater. A number of physical and chemical consequences of the comet impact are wortly of investigation. It is interest to discover whether cometary molecular species, such as CO2, CO, and HCN, could survive the explosion. The synthesis of new molecular species in the cooling fireball may be of interest, as well as the production of high-temperature species such as CN, HCN, and nitrogen oxides by passage of the shock front through the Earth´s atmosphere must also be considered.
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is an extremely volatile composition, and it is a commun molecule found on comets. Pure it can in such a way be found in how much gaseous the liquid form, have to its low point of boiling (25,7 °C) and the great volatileness. Bubbled it in water, a solution called hydrocyanic acid is produced, is a chemical composition that contains the cyanide anion (CN−1).
The most common are potassium (KCN) and of sodium (NaCN) cyanides. They are extremely poisonous to some beings livings creature. Cyanide ions interfere with iron-containing respiratory enzymes, due to ability of the ion in combining with the iron of the hemoglobine, blocking the reception of the oxygen for the blood, killing the animal by suffocating.
Cyanides has a fort smell of bitter almonds, and meets in certain plants, as Manihot, and in seeds of certain fruits (apples, peaches).
After the atomic power airblast and ground explosion of billions of meteors, in this semiarid region of Brazil with shallow, stony, and often crystalline rocks outcrop soil, thousands of depressions were formed on the ground. These structures were water filled after the subsequents heavy rains, forming lagoons where none existed before but, filled of mortal cyanits acid poisoned water. Thus, the surviving megafauna from the explosions and fires may have died by drinking contaminated water on the shores of these ponds, and their bones were slowly carried to the bottom of the pond, sedimented and fossilized.
Cometary Poison Gas
Tunguska Meteor Fall of 1908: Effects on Stratospheric Ozone
The photochemicala ftereffects of the event have been simulated using a comprehensive model of atmospheric trace composition. Calculations indicate that up to 45 percent of the ozone in the Northern Hemisphere may have been depleted by Tunguska's nitric oxide cloud early in 1909 and large ozone reductions may have persisted until 1912. Measurements of atmospheric transparency by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for the years 1909 to 1911 show evidence of a steady ozone recovery from unusually low levels in early 1909, implyinga totalo zone deficito f 30 t 15 percent. The coincidence in time between the observed ozone recovery and the Tunguska meteor fall indicates that the event may provide a test of current ozone depletion theories.
Pleistocene Palaeontological deposit in São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí, Brazil.
The survived animals from the ground and airblast meteoroids explosions, and from the large forest fires, were killed by the cometary molecular species, such as CO2, CO, HCN, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocyanic acid that contains the cyanide anion (CN−1) dissolved in the water of the (fresh crater) palaeolagoons.
The suvivor magafauna were attracted by the mortal sweet smell of the hydrocyanic acid dissolved on ponds water. This is, perhaps, why so many (survived) begafauna (bones) are found concentraded in palaeolagoons after the atomic power airblast explosion that formed the craters. The megafauna bones were not washed away by rain. Though the scars and craters (palaeolagoons) are outside the main drainage of the land, and megafauna rich sedimentes could be found in ponds on hills.
At that time, many people could died globaly, by the effects of the explosions, poisoned or burned by wild fires from meteor airblasts. Unluckily the suvivor people at that time spent years without being able to use the palaeolagoons as an environmental resource, cause an unprecedented natural cosmic extinction catastrophe.
People and the environment in the entire region has suffered a greater or lesser degree the impacts of the meteor explosions and the poisoning of water resources. The devastation was severe, for the new environmental balance may have been needed decades or more. Many remaining megafauna could be hunted by prehistoric indians to the complete extinction.
ASTEROIDS, METEORS, COMETS - Climate and Mass Extinctions
Ancient Diamonds Proof of Recent Climate Catastrophe for Man and Animal
Discovery of a nanodiamond-rich layer in the Greenland ice sheet
Impactites: Glass, Black Mat and the end of Pleistocene
Stone Age comet destroys North America
Study Jointly Led by UCSB Researcher Finds (2012)
New Evidence Supporting Theory of Extraterrestrial Impact
Pleistocene ponds are natural shallow reservoirs of water that contains traces of an extinct fauna. It is very important to investigate a site like this, because the remains found there will provide subsidies for understanding the paleoenvironment of the region. An excavation carried out in January 2009 by archaeologists and paleontologists identified magafauna fossil on Lagoa Salgada
More about megafauna
Between the Areial and Montadas on Paraíba there is a shallow palaeolagoons field, about 9 structures. The Lagoa Salgada field is about 250km from Recife... (now under investigation).
The Lagoa Salgada (Salty Lagoon) is a 350 meters structure.
Would impactites or shocked quartz be found around Lagoa Salgada shallow palaeolagoons field (2011)?
The Lagoa Salgada region has a sandy soil, from the decomposition of outcrop gneiss rich in white feldspar, possibly sodium. Panoramic view from the south rim of the lagoon (2013).
Detail of rock on the south rim, weather eroded gneiss (?), intrusion with quartz. These structures are not glaciogenic or volcanogenic, or caustic lagoons.
As far as we are concerned the comet broke up in a major way in the 7th millennium BC and was responsible for a series of catastrophic events around the world at that time - craters, trenching, flooding etc. However, as the theory is a hypothesis devised by astronomers we should note that geologists are not onboard - and therefore guesswork is involved on what might have been the effects experienced on the surface of the Earth.
New publication on Cosmogenic Palaeolagoons
Paleolagoas Cósmicas e o Fim do Pleistoceno
Boletim Informativo da Sociedade Paraibana de Arqueologia - Nº 89 - 2013
Agrupación Astronómica de La Safor, Spain.
Boletin Huygens n. 94 - Enero/Febrero - 2012
New palaeolagoons areas
proposed by Ravindra Vasudeo Godbole for impactite site research
in India
More about Ravindra Vasudeo Godbole hypothesis.
The Godbole Meaning of Vedas
Review, contact:
Pierson Barretto
Best viewed 1280x960 pixels.
Since 2010 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50480 | Transformers - Tempus Exitium
Session 1 - Meet and Greet
The group was gathered on the Autobot Command Hub somewhere in known space. There, they got their new commander assigned to them; Salvator. They met up with him at the said time, and after some introductions, went to their Ark-13 to make their way to Severus-3. Nitro went there at top speed, and noticed a black device stuck to a crate. After some fumbling, he managed to figure out it was a bomb, and fail at diffusing it. Libris and Opertum had a better idea; dump it in space. Libris opened the door, and Opertum chucked it out the airlock. Non-sounding explosion followed, and everybody got some bonus paranoia; somebody knew where they were going, and didn’t want them there…
A while later, they ended up in orbit around Severus-3. Salvator ordered them to scout for a good location to hide their ship, preferrably a lake. And Libris, Nitro and Opertum Bounced to the surface into a wooded area, and starting checking the place out. After a few hours, Nitro noticed that they were being followed. He broke off from the rest and eventually located a landrover. After jumping over her, this ended up to be Roadkill, a female Autobot that was following an assassin named Driveby, who was tailing the Autobot scouting party, but she lost him the moment Nitro appeared.
Nitro informed the rest of the team about Roadkill, and slowly they moved on, ready for an attack. Further up the forested area, they located a tank, which, after Nitro got behind him, transformed and introduced himself as Impact. After a very short conversation of Impact trying to convince them to leave the planet, and Nitro spray-painting the Autobot symbol on his leg and almost getting shot, they left eachother alone. Appearently, Impact had orders not to engage the Autobot scouting party. They left and met up with Driveby, who basically tried the same story that Impact did, but was more subtle about it. He claimed the Decepticons were merely the beaten underdog, and the Autobots their tyrannical oppressors. Again, the two factions left eachother without breaking into a riot.
Continuing their search for a place to hide their Ark, they ended up in a local town, Bedrock, where they checked some maps, stole some equipment to make Digit look like a human, and were subsequently hunted down by the police for triggering an alarm. The police car followed Opertum around for a long time, and Roadkill noticed a news helicopter following them. Scanning it, she realized it was another cybertronian. Wondering if they landed right on top of the Decepticon base, they did their best to loose the cop. Eventually, an ambulance came by and managed to get the police officer to follow him. Later, the group noticed the ambulance was Salvator, who requested the landing spot for the Ark.
After the Ark was safely on the bottom of a large lake, they started gathering information about the world they were on, and possible locations of the Decepticon hideout. They managed to hack into the local governments systems to register Opertum as a CIA vehicle, and Libris started working on holomatter emitters so that they could blend in better with the local populace. They also discovered a signal leading to Canada that was copying information from the governments databases. Salvator eventually gave them the order to track down Impact; a tank would leave large tracks. Eventually, they managed to get to a waterfall, where low-level mech signals were coming from. After Libris and Nitro went in, they walked into a trap, which left Libris very damaged. Nitro climbed on top of the waterfall, only to find Impact taking aim on him. He dropped down, but got shot by Impact anyways, leaving him blind. While Libris was protecting Nitro with his own body, Roadkill rode past him and grabbed the damaged motorcycle and took him out of harms way. They decided to a tactical retreat, and drove off for repairs.
On their way out, they passed a couple of firefighters, and decided to return with fear of Impact killing the flesh creatures. Back on the scene, nothing happened, but the news helicopter they saw before was found again. It was a helicopter from CNN which later revealed not to exist in CNN’s databases. After knowing Impact wouldn’t harm the flesh creatures, the group went away again, this time finding an old barn to hide out for a while, in fear of leading the Decepticons to their ship. In the barn, Libris managed to fix Nitro’s eyes, but soon other trouble arrived. A green van with a huge purple flower, and a red-haired guy with a scanner said he knew they were in there. They found out the guys’ name was Fred Mulder, and that he was looking for them. Fred was a fervent hunter of alien lifeforms, and having encountered “the tank”, Fred knew he had proof. Seeing the Autobots in their robot mode made him all the happier.
Considering Fred had information they didn’t, they took him to the Ark with them, and introduced him to Salvator. He agreed the human could help them, as he wanted the “guys with the purple symbols” to get off his planet. Fred seemed to have been a witness to “the tank” killing campers in the woods. Opertum quicjkly discovered the CIA keeps an eye on Fred, but he is not high on their priority list. Fred’s website was also being monitered by the CIA, and also by someone in Canada. Fred also claimed he had an ally in russia, a girl who believed as he did, and also had pictures as proof…
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50481 | The QueryElevationComponent enables you to configure the top results for a given query regardless of the normal lucene scoring. This is sometimes called "sponsored search", "editorial boosting" or "best bets". This component matches the user query text to a configured Map of top results. Although this component will work with any QueryParser, it makes the most sense to use with DisMax style queries.
The query elevation component is configured in solrconfig.xml. A typical configuration may look like:
<searchComponent name="elevator" class="org.apache.solr.handler.component.QueryElevationComponent" >
<str name="queryFieldType">string</str>
<str name="config-file">elevate.xml</str>
<requestHandler name="/elevate" class="solr.SearchHandler">
<lst name="defaults">
<str name="echoParams">explicit</str>
<arr name="last-components">
Available arguments for the searchComponent are:
Configure which fieldType should be used to analyze the incoming text. For example, it may be appropriate to use a fieldType with a LowerCaseFilter.
Path to the file that defines query elevation. This file must exist in:
1. ${instanceDir}/conf/${config-file} , or
2. ${dataDir}/${config-file}
If the file exists in the /conf/ directory it will be loaded once at start-up. If it exists in the data directory, it will be reloaded for each IndexReader.
By default, this component respects the requested 'sort' parameter -- that is, if the request asks to sort by date, it will order the results by date. If forceElevation=true, results will first return the boosted docs, then order by date.
Elevated query results are configured in an external .xml file determined by the config-file argument. An elevate.xml file may look like this:
<query text="AAA">
<doc id="A" />
<doc id="B" />
<query text="ipod">
<doc id="A" />
<!-- you can optionally exclude documents from a query result -->
<doc id="B" exclude="true" />
For the above configuration, the query "AAA" would first return documents A and B, then whatever normally appears for the same query. For the query "ipod", it would first return A, and would make sure that B is not in the result set.
Note: The uniqueKey field must currently be of type string for the QueryElevationComponent to operate properly.
All standard solr features such as faceting, sorting, and MoreLikeThis work with this component installed.
For debugging it may be useful to see results with and without the elevated docs. To hide results use "enableElevation=false", like this:
Elevation can also be forced during runtime by adding forceElevation=true to the query URL:
Solr 3.x, Solr 4.0:
If you want to return only the results specified in the elevation file, add exclusive=true to the URL:
Solr 4.7
You can also directly pass in elevateIds and excludeIds as http parameters. In this scenario the xml config file is bypassed and the documents that are passed in are elevated/excluded. The elevateIds/excludeIds params point to a comma delimitted list of Solr unique doc ID's.
Query elevation respects the standard "filter query" (fq) parameter. That is, if the query contains a fq parameter, all results will be within that filter even if elevate.xml adds other documents to the result set.
Marking Elevated Items in the Results
With Solr4.0, (, you can choose to have items that were elevated by this Component "marked" in the output with a pseudo-field by adding in the name of the DocTransformer used as a field list input. The default name for the DocTransformer is "elevated" and it is automatically registered by the QueryElevationComponent. To mark items, simply pass in &fl=[elevated], as in:
with your request.
For instance, in the Solr Example:
<lst name="responseHeader">
<lst name="params">
<str name="q">ipod</str>
<str name="enableElevation">true</str>
<str name="fl">id,score,[elevated]</str>
<result name="response" numFound="2" start="0" maxScore="0.73647755">
<str name="id">MA147LL/A</str>
<float name="score">0.27617908</float>
<bool name="[elevated]">true</bool>
<str name="id">F8V7067-APL-KIT</str>
<float name="score">0.73647755</float>
<bool name="[elevated]">false</bool>
Where you can see the [elevated] pseudo-field is set differently for the two items.
If you wish to change the name of the DocTransformer, you can configure the editorialMarkerFieldName initialization argument to the QueryElevationComponent in the solrconfig.xml, as in:
<searchComponent name="elevate" class="org.apache.solr.handler.component.QueryElevationComponent" >
<str name="editorialMarkerFieldName">foo</str>
QueryElevationComponent (last edited 2014-02-19 16:54:35 by JoelBernstein) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50483 | IBM : Application Development - New courses IBM Training - Canada en-ca Copyright (c) IBM Corporation 2008. All rights reserved. See for copyright and trademark information. IBM IBM 110 52 API Management Concepts (WBT) - VW420CE <p>This basic course is designed for application developers, solution architects, and IT managers.</p> IBM Integration Bus V9.0 System Administration - WM645CE <p>This intermediate course is designed for product administrators and developers who administer IBM Integration Bus.</p> Introduction to IBM System z Assembly Language Programming - WRB41CE <p>This intermediate course is for potential assembly programmers and new z/OS systems programmers.</p> IBM High Availability Workshop - WRB43CE <p>Attendees for this advanced course are expected to be experienced Systems Programmers, Operations staff, or Availability Managers that have experience with handling availability problems.</p> IBM ProtecTIER TS7650G Implementation Workshop - SS920CE <p>This intermediate course is for IBM personnel and IBM Business Partners.</p> |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50493 | Put ur angels to work
The Lord God has the angels charge over u(psalm 91:11 ur welfare,protection)at same time,The angels of lord are available for ur use, u should desire them to do their works,and not just sit and stare at u. it is the angels that carry ur prayer request to God, if u don't pray they won't work, it is the angels that shows,directs,teaches, and inspire us. If u don't desire to learn,or read they won't do their work.(John 14:26)
Learn to put ur angels to work for they are ur personal assistant through Gods appointment. They are waiting to carry out new task for u everyday.
Put your Angels to work by Dr. David Oyedepo is a good book for spiritual uplifting.
Grace to succeed!
Created about 1 year ago |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50504 | Pledge to oppose all greenwash of old-growth forest logging wherever it is found
408 pledged
+158 over goal
This pledge closed about 1 month ago
TAKE ACTION to stop old-growth forest logging by California's carbon market:
Next week California is to decide whether REDD+ forest carbon offsets – which include funding for first time industrial logging of old-growth forests – is worthy of inclusion as a carbon credit under the state's carbon markets. Logging old-growth forests is an ecological disaster that threatens local livelihoods, biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, and the biosphere; and must not be funded by carbon markets. Members of the forest carbon industry supporting REDD+ must be compelled to stop their old forest logging greenwash - or face ridicule, protest, and an end to public support, until they do.
Discuss Alert:
Please send the alert to which you will be forwarded as well:
Tell Greenpeace to Stop Greenwashing Old-Growth Forest Logging
to comment |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50524 | Reviews for Harry Gets His
SomeGuyFawkes chapter 1 . 2/4
Exivus chapter 1 . 6/20/2013
Now this Harry Potter would be worth writing a book about!
readerboy7 chapter 1 . 4/10/2013
obviously not DH compliant. definitely OOC for harry.
RedTideZero chapter 1 . 7/26/2011
Well, that was pretty damn dark. Pansy may have been a bitch in cannon, but it's never fun to have your heart toyed with like that – I imagine even less so when you loose not just your love, but everything else as well. It would have been easier to swallow the situation if she was just using him for her own gains only to have it backfire on her, but she claimed to have actually loved the guy before she died. I guess making the story any less harsh would lessen the utter ruthlessness of the Harry you were trying to portray. An interesting idea and well written, though slightly disturbing to read.
Hachichiyyin chapter 1 . 9/16/2010
Disturbing. But it's really good. An great example of manipulation. From Harry Potter no less...
deleted2012 chapter 1 . 6/17/2010
That twist was awesome.
john777 chapter 1 . 2/21/2010
Good story
misfiredcanon chapter 1 . 1/16/2010
Well, if they still awarded rep points at DarkLordPotter, you'd probably be receiving some from the DLP gang.
jbfritz chapter 1 . 1/5/2010
David Fishwick chapter 1 . 12/4/2009
Dark intense idea and Harry was definitely cold here. Thanks for writing as I enjoyed reading this.
Space Odin chapter 1 . 11/7/2009
baller story
demonicnargles chapter 1 . 5/20/2009
Most amusing. And dark. I like it!
colin chapter 1 . 3/7/2009
That is pretty awesome I could see a story come from this.
anaknisatanas chapter 1 . 12/29/2008
I loved how cold Harry was. And the ending was great.
peregrine1989 chapter 1 . 12/6/2008
I looked at your page and my eye's widened with shock. I am totally amazed you actually completed a fic.
Admittedly you also finished that piece about Harry and Neville's Mum, but still, you finish a fic. I may actually get the guts to post one at Dark Lord Potter next. (Oh wait doing that on the 25th.)
Now onto the real review
Anyway, other then a minor issue with a word repeat, roughly end of the 8th line, repeated his, the story has little to no spelling or grammar errors that I could spot.
Its plot is also quite good with a nice twist at the end.
I also like the greed we hear from Harry in this. Most people assume that the Potters are made of money, and thus it is refreshing to see a fic where Harry has need of money, and will marry someone to get it.
I give it a 4.5/5. While I usually don't give a damn about spelling or Grammar as I myself am terrible at it, that repeated word really broke the story flow, and any spell check should have brought that mistake up.
And I don't like giving out 5/5s.
35 | Page 1 .. Last Next » |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50533 | Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing.
Alright guys, an epilogue type series...thing...setting after My Choice. Please forgive me for it being so late, but I've been kind of busy with Spring Break over...boo...and school starting once again. I was thinking of having this...a three-part or possibly longer type of...story, so please, review and tell me whether to continue with it or not. I rather liked how My Choice ended even though I left it as an open ending, so if this story doesn't go, I will still be happy with my first fic., My Choice.
Please review, I took time to make an epilogue for you guys, so taking 5-10 seconds won't hurt, right? K then...enjoy!
To Defy Fate
"Move faster."
Those two simple words pierced her heart as she leaped from her sheltered spot in the covering of the trees; drenched and soaked to the skin with sweat and the pouring rain. Clenching her fists tightly, she paused as she fingered her shurikens. 'Faster,' she thought slightly mockingly, 'it's always faster.'
Throwing a couple of well-aimed shurikens with a rainfall of daggers right after, she watched as he repelled them away using his chakra once again. As she ran around him towards his backside, hoping to catch him off guard, she watched as he stopped his whirlwind and stood calmly. Frustrated, she foolishly sprung from her position, directly behind him, ready to strike with a new readied blade.
Always one step ahead, he turned effortlessly and evaded her 'surprise' attack. Pivoting and blocking her arm in one quick motion, he looked at her with his seemingly bored expression.
"You are being too careless."
Biting back a retort that was sure to come, she focused as she retreated back within the safety of the forest.
After six years of training together, Tenten never would have thought that she would be defeated so easily by Neji. Sure, he had always been the stronger and faster one, but she never would have thought that she would be as beaten as she was.
Panting heavily, she winced at the straining of her leg and arm muscles. For five straight hours, they had been training heavily in the falling rain; Tenten continually running, dodging, throwing. He was not training hard, she knew that for sure. Neji had greatly surpassed the House of the Hyuuga Clan and was deemed as one of the most talented ninja's within the land.
'So why was he training with her?'
Standing on a branch of a tree, she sighed softly, resting slightly against the stalk of the tree. Battered and bruised, Tenten felt like she could barely stand. His routines were tough and had gradually gotten harder every year.
"Is that it?"
She heard his voice clearly as the shattering of glass, cold and cutting. Looking straight at her through her covering of leaves, she glared as she saw a faint smirk on his face.
'Why? Why do you push me so hard?'
This was obviously not fair, he was clearly a genius, determined to be great and strong. He was just too strong, too powerful. She would never defeat him. It was fate.
No. Not fate. Fate could be broken. Fate was something that she never believed in. For hers, but also mostly for his, sake.
She watched as his eyes were still focused on her, slightly darkening, "You cannot defeat me, Tenten, it is fate."
"Fate can be changed," she called back softly from her branch still panting slightly, daring to defy him.
With his eyes narrowing slightly, he walked towards her tree impassively. "What would you know," he stated quietly.
Sighing again, Tenten closed her eyes wearily, catching her breath.
She watched as Neji walked to the same tree that she was resting on and sat. Finally, a break.
"If you believe that, then why don't you change it?" Neji asked quietly.
Tenten stared down at Neji in slight confusion. "Change what?"
She watched as Neji seemed to close his eyes and lean back onto the tree. Appearing to be in a relaxed state, Tenten wavered slightly as she heard his murmured answer. "Fate."
"What about it?" she asked nonchalantly, her heart slightly beating faster. Neji rarely wanted to talk about his fate lately, so it seemed, and she could relatively understand why. His clan was pushing him more than ever lately to find a suitable wife, one that would at least care for him and bare him a child. Tenten's eyes narrowed slightly at the thought, Neji being married to a woman just for a heir and for possible good relations? Not if she had any power to change it.
But sadly, she didn't, and she would watch the one man she had grown to love spend his time and dedication to a woman that might not even love him. They say the forbidden fruit was always so much sweeter and Neji seemed to be hers.
To look, but cannot touch.
In reaching distance, but yet so far.
His answer came after a moment's pause, breaking Tenten out of her train of thought. "Your fate…my fate," was his quiet reply.
Tenten tilted her head in confusion. "Care to speculate to me on your last thoughts?"
Neji sighed softly and positioned himself in a more comfortable position. Well, as comfortable as you can get leaning against a tree.
Growing slightly agitated, Tenten snapped, "Can we get off the 'no's' and just get to the point?" The first time she had ever wanted him to get straight to the point, he didn't.
"No," was his simple reply laced with a hint of amusement.
"Ne-ji," she said as she pronounced his name by syllables slowly. 'How childish, really,' she thought as she rolled her eyes. But still…she loved him, even if he was a bit infuriating sometimes. It was her choice after all, she thought with a faint smile.
Moments of silence resounded between them as Neji rested and Tenten resided in her own thoughts. Her fate? His fate? What did that have anything to with her defeating him in battle? Was it some sort of a symbolic message that had something to do between her fate intertwining with his fate? Feeling rather confused and much too tired to care at that moment, Tenten followed suit with Neji and closed her eyes contently.
Feeling a sudden downshift on her branch, Tenten's grabbed a handful of shurikens as her eyes flew open to lock with Neji's intense pearl-like gaze. How did he get on her branch without noticing he moved?
"Up, Tenten, show me."
Gingerly sitting up, Tenten gave Neji a cautious glance. "We are still fighting?" Her question came out more of a tired statement than an inquiry.
"Of course," was his faint reply. She watched him as he suddenly pulled back and leapt off of her branch, jolting her more awake, and aware, in the process.
Tenten stared in disbelief and stubbornly shook her head, "I thought we were finished."
His reply came from out of nowhere as it caught her by surprise. "I did not say that we were finished. You just assumed it. Never assume."
A scream seemed to almost burst through Tenten's lungs as she growled in frustration. She was wet, tired, and her cuts were not healing as quickly as she would have liked. She was definitely not in the mood.
"Why are you pushing me so hard!" came her frustrated yell. All her pent up feelings and emotions were slowly drained out as she flung her kunais and various weapons towards Neji. With her breathing slightly shallow and her legs and arms still feeling like jelly, she jumped off of her branch to stand on stable ground.
Stumbling slightly as her feet landed on the marsh-like ground, she regained her footing after a moment. Anger seemingly threatened to burst through her chest as she narrowed her eyes. That was it.
"You always want to train, everyday, and if you think I'm not good enough to keep up with you, why don't you just say it!" Her scream seemed to resound throughout their training ground.
"Tenten, enough." His words came out stoic and cold, but she didn't care. She was just too fed up.
"Six years, Neji, six years, and I haven't been able to defeat you all this time. What makes you think that I could possibly defeat you now?" Her anguished question was followed by a choked sob.
It was one of those days for her. A day when she couldn't help but scream in frustration.
But it was never in front of him. Never.
She had never let him see her like this. And she never meant to.
"Show me, Tenten." She heard his somewhat soft spoken request. Show him?
Tenten glanced up at Neji. Show him…that she could somehow defy her thinking? That she could possibly defeat him, the Hyuuga prodigy?
Her brown eyes flickered with doubt. He wanted her…to defeat him? What good could come from that? Well, other than the fact that she could say that she had actually beaten the o-so-great Neji Hyuuga.
She felt adrenaline rush through her as she nodded slowly. If he wanted her to beat him, then she would definitely try. Besides, she thought optimistically, if he wanted her to beat him, there's a better chance that she could. Right?
Tenten began her assault, determined, but still confused at his silent meaning. Defeat him…what would the purpose be? It wasn't some petty little prize she would win, there was something that Neji was trying to teach…trying to prove?
Her eyes widened. He wanted her to defeat him…so she could defeat what he deemed fate.
It all made sense.
Tenten thought quickly back on her vow she had made. It was on that day when she asked him if he could marry her, if he could love her.
She stopped suddenly in her midway assault. She needed to remind him.
"Neji," she breathed, catching her breath, "I love you."
Tenten watched nervously as Neji slightly faltered in his stance. "I know."
Smiling a pensive smile, she tilted her head, seemingly waiting for a response she knew she wouldn't get. But she knew, she understood. He cared for her too.
And she was perfectly content with knowing that.
Readying herself once again, she prepared her onslaught of weapons. She knew Neji wouldn't hold back, in this now significant battle…he couldn't. His thoughts, his actions, basically everything he based his life on would ride in this battle. And on her.
Could she, Tenten, do this? Could she manage to fight him with everything she had, in an exhausted state like this? She could, and she would, she quickly resolved. She had all the necessary equipment; hope, will, and passion.
Tired and bruised, she breathed heavily, raising her fistful of kunais and shurikens. Doubt and reluctance shrouded her mind, but she pushed them aside. She was strong enough to do this, if not physically, then mentally.
But in the end, she knew that she had to prevail. She wasn't only fighting for herself now, but for him as well.
She launched at him, weapons positioned evenly between her fingers. The fight had begun, the battle to defy the odds of fate.
Her fate, and his fate.
Please be kind and take time to review. It would be greatly appreciated...:) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50534 | Hello readers! If there are even any of you left out there. Alas, an update! After years (yes, years) I bring you a new chapter to this ongoing saga. Let's hope this rekindles some of your fandom. I know writing this new installment sure has gotten me all worked up again about BHH. The series was such a great part of my growing up, as I'm sure it was for many of you too. So let's keep these stories alive!
And finally, I present to you chapter 28. Enjoy! And as always feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated.
CH 28 Not a dream
"I'm sure they didn't." Corrine gave her head a decisive shake of disagreement. It was hard to fathom that such an occurrence could even happen; they were talking about Josie and Marshall after all. They had no business kissing. It was understandably established that they were just friends, and "just" friends don't kiss each other.
"Me and Greg saw them with our own eyes, Corrine."
"Greg and I," she corrected. Her voice tainted ever so slightly with annoyance.
"Huh?" He had his legs pulled up to his chest now, and his head dangled above his knees. He looked sad and sullen.
"You said 'me and Greg', it's Greg and I," she explained rather indifferently. Her mind wasn't exactly focused on lecturing about grammatically correct English at the moment.
Lucas stretched out his legs before him, and with a dubious expression studied his sneakers. They were brown-the sort of rich, chocolate pudding shade of brown and looked identical to a pair of Converses, much like the ones Josie wore, but they weren't. "All the same," he simply said.
"I guess." She stared out at the sky.
Lucas scoffed, "Doesn't matter anyway; I'm over her."
Was she over him? She liked to entertain the thought that she was one hundred percent over Marshall Wheeler, but was that really the truth? Was Lucas telling the truth, even? Maybe it was a case of mistaken identity. Marshall would never kiss Josie, and Josie would never let him. Or would they?
After taking Lucas over to see her new apartment, Corrine found herself wanting to be alone; she wanted some time to herself to think. After parting ways, she unconsciously headed towards her University. It was the only place she could find solace.
There, she sat down on a bench overlooking the lake that all the main buildings lined. The sky had turned a dusky rose, and up in the sky Venus finally graced the world with her short lived presence.
Across the lake, in full view was the library. It's modernized large, glass windows was a nice contrast to the building's otherwise classical architecture. Half a semester in and she still had a hard time believing this was her school. How lucky she was to be studying abroad at such a prestigious university!
A couple walked by, hand in hand, and it prompted Corrine back to the problem that initiated all her contemplation.
She didn't know how she truly felt about Marshall and Josie kissing. Strangely it didn't bother her as much as she'd imagined it would; she wasn't hurt nor was she the slightest bit jealous. If anything, she felt a strange mixture of relief and uneasiness. Perhaps, Marshall kissing Josie meant he was finally over her? Or maybe it was Josie who was finally over Vaughn?
Her deep thoughts were interrupted by the quick electronic beat of Foster the People. A glance on her phone indicated an unknown number was calling.
'telemarketer,' she thought and let the ringtone loop.
That night Corrine came home to find Vaughn sprawled out on the sofa. The lights were all off except for the glow of the television set that lit up all four corners of the room. Quietly, she locked the door behind her.
There was no indication that anyone else was home. Josie's Converses usually thrown haphazardly by the dining table was nowhere in sight. Perhaps they all went out for dinner?
She tiptoed easily to the living room and peered over the couch. Vaughn was sound asleep. In his left hand he clutched the remote. Corrine found herself smiling and wondering if she should try to pry them out of his grip, but decided otherwise. How peaceful he looked, and how warm he must feel. Suddenly, as she made this observation a chill ran down her spine; her dress with its low cut back did zero justice against the AC vent right above her.
After switching the TV off and turning on one of the lamps, she found herself walking back to the couch and sitting on the coffee table opposite Vaughn. She sat there and watched. So close she was to him. How easily she could slide right next to him and feel his warmth against her body. How badly she wanted to not feel so alone. How she yearned for some perspective.
Vaughn stirred, and finally looked up to see Corrine watching him ever so tenderly. "Hey," he said.
Surprisingly he didn't wake up alarmed to see her dark figure hovering over him so closely. "Hi," she straightened her back.
"Was wondering when you were gonna get home," he propped himself up on his elbows. "Everyone went out to Dwight's; it's taco Tuesdays."
She tried to return his smile. "Why didn't you go?"
He'd gotten himself to sit up; even half groggy he still had the nicest eyes.
"Lucas said you guys went to check out your new apartment today. Afterwards, he said you took off like rocket. Didn't know where you went," He paused. "I tried calling, but it just went straight to voicemail. Is everything okay?"
"You called?" She sounded perplexed. She hadn't had a missed call from Vaughn all day.
"Yeah. Here, look, I can even prove it you," he pulled out his cellphone and quickly pulled up his call log. He pointed to her name. "See, right there. 7:12."
"That looks like a new phone," she observed.
"It is. Dropped my old one sometime today and didn't realize it until after class was over with. Had to cancel my old number and get a new one, and all that crap."
It then registered to her. "Oh my gosh! You were the one calling from that 647 number. I'd thought it was someone from that stupid raffle I entered. I would've picked up had I known it was you!"
Vaughn chuckled. "It's okay, at least I know it wasn't because you were held against your will or anything like that."
"No, I was just…thinking."
"Is everything okay? You still haven't answered my question."
Corrine sighed. Everything wasn't okay. A few hours ago she didn't care that her best friend kissed Marshall; she was practically okay with it. But now, as she'd sat there in the dark watching Vaughn sleep all the bitterness and real emotion came crashing in. She was heartbroken, she was furious, and above all else she felt terribly alone.
There must have been something in her disposition that indicated something was wrong because a moment later she was in Vaughn's arms, tears running down her smooth cheeks. The musky fragrance of his cologne filled her nostrils and gave her sense of comfort and security. She could stay like this forever, and for a while they did. Vaughn kept her close, and she, never wanting to let go, rested her head on his shoulders.
After a moment, she looked up at her savior. Why did it have to be Vaughn? Why did he have to be so good to her? His fingertips came up brushed the last of her tears away. He smiled tenderly. Suddenly the memory of their kiss came flooding back. It wasn't a dream, and this very moment wasn't a dream either.
Ta-da! And that's the end of ch 28. How was it? Was it as good as your imagined? could it have been better? let me know! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50537 | Look at the lovers
Aren't they a picture
Dancing so fine under the moonlight
Almost as in a trance
Under the spell of the Dance
Carried away by love
Chapter Five: Forever in my Life
I wasn't sure what had happened to me. It was like a light had been turned on and suddenly I was seeing things differently for the first time. Except that, the light was turned on in a pool of muddy water, which I was currently swimming in. Where before I had simply been content in darkness, I now knew that there was something…not quite right. It was a light that filtered through the mud in a way that I did not know or understand where it was coming from, or how I was going to get to it.
Since going to the Digital World, I had been given the title of the Child of Light. I had been attacked by many creatures, all of them from another world, because they sensed I had some sort of power. But they didn't know the truth; they didn't know I was weak. Without something to ward off the impending darkness, the shadow that touched everything my light could not, I was nothing. And so that was why Takeru had been placed in my life. He was my hope; the very thing that kept me going. He could bring be back from unreachable places even when I knew I had wandered much too far. When I couldn't see, when despair gripped at me and held me in iron chains, he always came through, always broke them. And he always broke them with an ease that astonished me every time he did it.
So to see that hope faded from his eyes…I knew I had done something horrible. I knew that I had been the cause, though I so desperately tried to explain it other ways. School, lack of being around his family, his closest friends…but I knew deep down that it had only truly faded that day I had crushed him. I had rejected him before, but never so fully. Before, there had never been anyone else; no one to give him competition for my heart. Now there was. And now he was suffering because of it.
It didn't hit me, though, until that conversation I had with my boyfriend. Takeru had been avoiding me, or even sometimes just outright ignoring me. That had been far more painful than I ever could have imagined. Seeing his simple smile and the nod of his head as he walked by me; it was harder to endure than I ever could have imagined. But even then I didn't understand. Not until I realised that the plans I'd had for my summer were going to change.
We were at dinner, just over at his apartment. His roommates were out for the evening, and so we had seized the opportunity. He had cooked for me while I watched him; I don't know why, but it always fascinated me, watching people cook. Maybe it was because there was such a sufficient lack of ability within my own household that the experience was still new to me.
When he sat down across from me, I immediately knew that something was up. Nothing on his face indicated anything bad, just that something was chewing at him.
"Do you still have your heart set on me coming to your place again this summer?"
Uh oh. I knew where this was going. I knew that he wanted me to spend some time with his family, but I wasn't sure I could. It was just so difficult spending time with them. I didn't belong in that world. It was one that people like me weren't supposed to touch, and yet I had somehow found myself sucked right into it.
He popped a thoughtful bite into his mouth. After swallowing, he looked at me again. "Well, I've been talking to my father, and he thinks that this would be a good summer for me to start in the business, since I'm graduating."
"Right away? I thought you were going to take a little bit of time off first." That had been the original plan, hence why he would have been able to come to my home for the summer.
"He thinks that it would be too late. The summer is the best time for business, and therefore the best time for me to make my debut."
He smiled at me in that way he'd recently started doing; that look a parent gave their child when they didn't understand something, and though they would explain it, they didn't expect them to. "My 'coming out', of sorts, in society. It's big among our circles, especially with those who are like my father."
I knew what he was really saying: 'It's something that you won't understand'. I could hear the underlying tone of his voice, that which said 'you're from outside, this is too much for you to handle, so just smile and do as I say.' Of course, it was in the gentlest way possible. But I couldn't help but feel like he was looking down on me from time to time.
As much as I didn't like it, though, he was right. I didn't understand why everything had to be done so formally. I didn't understand why there was such a standard to live up to, and that one would be shunned if they didn't. Everyone was exactly the same, and they were fine with that. Because, in Shinji's world, to be different meant that things would go badly. I had grown up with a group of people who couldn't be more different from each other. To go to a place where everyone was the same…to become one of them…it suddenly wasn't sitting so well with me.
"Oh. Can I think about it?"
He nodded, and our conversation moved on.
As I got back to my room that night, something wasn't settling right within me. Usually I wasn't one to brood, and Shinji hadn't given me much reason to. Not like Takeru, of course. But when I thought about it, I realised that my pining over whatever Takeru would have inflicted on me was never quite as…confusing as this. Well, not that it wasn't as confusing, it just wasn't as…unpleasant. Why that was, I had no idea.
Shinji was going home for the weekend to deal with some family business. I knew at that point that, regardless of my answer, he would be spending the summer at home. So now I had to decide whether I wanted to go with him. I also knew that my decision to go or to not go would decide the fate of our relationship. That, when I really thought about it, was very frightening. I also knew that if I went, I would be going a whole four months without seeing my family, without seeing my friends…without seeing Takeru. I would be leaving behind my opportunity to visit my friends in the Digital World again. Maybe I would be leaving that part of me, which had been so instrumental in shaping who I had become, behind forever. I shivered at the thought.
So I concluded then that I needed to see Takeru. Always he had been my constant, and though I knew things had been difficult between us lately, which was at no fault of his own, I knew he would be there for me. But calling him up and inviting him out had been much harder than I had anticipated. I had made myself seem a complete idiot in the process, but I knew he wouldn't judge me for it.
Takeru was just what I needed. I knew he knew something was up with me, but he waited. I wanted him to ask, but he was too polite for that. So I had to prompt him. He would assume that I had plans with my boyfriend for the summer, but I wanted him to know that things were changing. We were growing up; we were changing. Shinji was even talking about marriage, something that scared me now more than it ever had. With Takeru things had been seamless and simple, with Shinji they were difficult. I always told myself that it was just because Takeru and I did not have the same kind of relationship that Shinji and I had.
When I had told him, he had cracked his jokes. Takeru knew when to be serious and when the mood needed lightening, a talent which I would never understand. It was difficult to feel awkward around him, which was probably why he had so many friends. On top of that he was quite attractive, something which I had never before denied. But all of these things were helping me now, and I couldn't have been more grateful to him for it.
There was a moment of tension, though, tension which I did not fully dislike. It was strange, because I knew I had felt it before. It was the same feeling from that time when he had kissed me. I didn't know why, but there was something about the sun that managed to sneak through the leaves of the tree we were under causing his golden hair to seem radiant in spots, and the way the shadows mixed the colours in his deep, blue eyes…
It was only when he turned his head slightly that I realised where my mind had been going. I also knew that he had realised it to, hence why he had turned away. I found that I was almost even disappointed. My heart was racing in a way that it had not for quite some time now, and maybe never even had with Shinji. I didn't want to think too much about that. When I called his name I had been intending to tell him that I was suddenly unsure of my feelings. That I had lied to him back when I told him I loved Shinji, but that brief moment had flustered me and my nerve was suddenly gone.
He then reached out and grabbed my hand, a simple gesture that had my breath hitched in my throat and my heart racing once more. I knew he meant it; I knew he would be there for me. I could also see that maybe, though I had trampled on him so many times, he still had some sort of feelings for me. That very thought had me thinking that night…maybe it wasn't worth it to throw that all away. Maybe, just maybe, he had been right about it the whole time.
I was standing outside of the door to Takeru's room, tears streaking down my face. I had run over here as fast as I could, gaining a few strange looks from people as I barrelled passed them. My knocking was frantic and probably louder and more frequent than was normal; it wasn't like it was a big room. He was either there or he wasn't. If he wasn't, I didn't know what I was going to do.
The door opened, revealing a wet-haired Takeru. I suddenly realised the reason for his not answering the door right away; he probably hadn't been fully clothed when I'd come banging on it. At first his lips were going to form a smile, but when he took in my state his lips set into a frown and a concern etched itself across his features.
"What happened, Kar?"
I tried to speak, but instead my hysteria became worse. I shook my head, unable to say anything. I put my hand over my mouth and nose, as if that would help stay my tears.
The next thing I was aware of was a gentle touch at my back, followed by the softest pressure. He was bringing me into his room where my theatrics wouldn't be on display for the general public to see. He sat me down on his bed and took his place beside me, gently rubbing my back in a soothing matter. No words were said; he just let me cry. I was in too much of a state to notice the change in his room; it was a mess. I would figure this out later, though, and I would feel guilty about it as I realised the reason for the disaster. Nothing was in the place I had put it.
When my tears began to subside, I knew he would be wanting some sort of explanation. I guessed what he had deducted from this, and I knew he was wrong.
"What's the matter?" He finally asked. He couldn't hide the worry from his tone.
I tried to speak, but I needed just a few more minutes.
"Did…did he break up with you?"
A few more tears fell, and I sucked in a deep breath. "N-no. I…I broke up with him."
I didn't have to look at Takeru to know that he would be shocked.
I took in a few more breaths, trying to calm myself. It was working, for the most part, but I knew my face was red and I wasn't exactly the prettiest thing on earth at this point. "I just…" I didn't know what to say to him. Closing my eyes, I let out a deep sigh. "You were right, Takeru. You were right this whole time." I was whispering now.
He was confused. "Right about what?" His voice matched my own.
"Shinji he…he wasn't…isn't…what I need. Not what I want."
A silence fell, and I knew that Takeru was thinking this over. I didn't know what was going through his mind, and I couldn't guess because I was staring intently at my hands, which were now in my lap, and not at his face. I was not oblivious to the fact that his arm had remained around me, though his hold was loose. I was almost afraid to look up to him, for I was not sure I would like what I would find on his face. The other thing was that I wasn't sure what I actually wanted to see on his face. But I knew that something might scare me if I looked.
"What do you want, then?" His voice was tentative, barely audible now.
I shook my head slowly. "I don't know."
He squeezed me gently with the arm that was around me. It happened so naturally that I didn't have time to fight it, and something told me that I didn't even want to. I leaned against him, a wave of exhaustion suddenly watching over me. He was warm and comfortable, and most of all he was safe. I realised that that was something I never really felt around Shinji. His world was for those who showed themselves off; for people who wore many different masks. It was a world where emotion was a weakness, and people would take advantage of you at any sight of it. But Takeru wasn't like that. He was part of my world too, the world that I knew now more than ever that I belonged in.
I don't know how long I spent with him that day; time seemed to blur together. Neither of us said very much, but more was communicated between us than anything in the passed couple of months. I realised that I had been starving for his presence; that I had deprived myself of him. I decided that I wouldn't be doing that any longer. When I left I knew that there was something different between us. At least, something on my end had changed. He wasn't just my best friend any longer. What he was to me now, I didn't know, but I found myself becoming less and less afraid to find out.
Somehow, though I don't know exactly when, it dawned on me. I don't know where along the lines I had confused it with mere friendship, but I had. And in doing so I had almost ruined everything that was going to happen between us. All my life, people had been telling me I was going to end up with Takeru. I think I resisted it because I didn't want to be the same. I wanted to be something different. Sora, Mimi and Miyako were all dating boys within our Digidestind group of friends, and I didn't want to find myself confined to that space. And so I had closed myself off, refusing to even consider the man who knew me better and loved me more than anyone else in this world. I had once considered him to be jaded, blinded by the fact that I was the only female he had ever really gotten close to. But how I realised it was I who had the inability to see; I was the one who had the jaded vision. I had refused to see it, had willingly blinded myself and outright rejected the notion of us being like that whenever I could. As I look back on it now, however, I know that I could have saved myself a lot of heartache and pain.
But Takeru…Takeru was ever present. He was…Takeru. That had been my excuse for not loving him before, but it was the very reason I did now. He didn't fade; he didn't make me suffer for what I had done to him. He had every right, I knew, to make me run as I had to him. He had the right and reasons to grow tired of me, to believe that I was not worth the chase. But he hadn't stopped running after me. And then, when I had run too far ahead of him, he had simply waited.
I suppose we became an official couple, though I didn't always like using the term 'boyfriend' to describe him. The word seemed so earthly…so terminal. He was so much more to me than that. And I knew that I was more to him than just a simple girlfriend to be tossed aside when things got bad, but we would have to make do with the titles that society would give us. But, as I was learning more and more, as long as I simply got to stay with him, things would be okay.
It wasn't anything formal, but if I had to pinpoint it I would put it to the train ride home. Usually we had family to come here to the university to pick us up, but no one was able to coordinate it. Before I had been dreading it; I had even wondered if I was going to make Takeru ride the train alone. But now that we were able to do it together, it wasn't so bad.
While we were waiting in line to finalise everything, I felt him take my hand in his. He laced his fingers through mine, something he had done before, but this time it sent a tingle through my body that the action hadn't caused me to feel prior to this. I felt the blush spread across my cheeks, and he smiled at me.
"Sorry you don't get your prince", he said, though I knew he wasn't sorry at all.
I pursed my lips, considering something for a moment. "I never considered him my prince, you know. Simply an honest worker."
This seemed to surprise him, but I could tell that he was delighted.
"Oh, really? Does that mean that the spot is open? Because if it is, I think I know someone just right for the job…"
I rolled my eyes at him, a reaction that was not at all unfamiliar to either of us, but I couldn't help but smile. "Really? Because I believe that it is, in fact, open. Will he take this poor village girl, sweep her off her feet and ride off into the sunset?"
His smile grew and he shuffled closer to my side; the public around us wouldn't allow for anything further. "Village girl? I don't see a village girl around here. Just a princess."
I'm pretty sure that a few people around us gagged; I probably would have myself, if I was an onlooker to such a scene. I tried to brush his rather corny words off as just that; but the blush on my face had deepened and I couldn't hide the light in my eyes at the words.
It was inevitable, the 'I told you so's and the 'it's about time's that we received when we got home. No one had been officially told anything; the two of us thought that it might be more fun to spring it on them. Between the emotional low of breaking up with Shinji, the stress of exams and working things would with Takeru, I hadn't had the time to actually tell anybody anything. As far as they knew, I was still with Shinji. So when I stepped off the train holding Takeru's hand…well, we certainly got the reaction we were going for.
That summer with Takeru was one of the best of my life. The summer before, as I look back on it, had been awkward and forced. With Shinji around we couldn't do things as normal. I couldn't exactly leave him to spend time with my old friends, as I was the reason he had come in the first place. He had taken to the 'lower society' life quite well, living in Tai's old room for the duration of the stay. But things were definitely better with Takeru. Above everything they were easier. The transition from friends to lovers had been quite smooth, so smooth that I now wondered why I had been so afraid of it in the first place. There were times that I felt so horrible for what I'd done to him, how I'd made him wait. Every time I expressed this to him he would simply smile, telling me that it didn't matter. We were together now, and anything that he had gone through before this had been worth it.
Going back to school the next fall was as easy as it had been in first year. Having him close was all I needed. As I'd done the two years before I arranged his room for him, informing him that after his little re-decorating stint he had lost all privileges of even having a say in where things went. He had gotten an apartment with a few of the guys on the basketball team, where I was just a block away with a few girls from my program. I knew that things would be better this year.
I think what amazed me the most was how things didn't really change between us. They changed, of course, but not as much as I thought they would have. We simply got closer. The times when he would kiss me caused my brain to malfunction and my knees to collapse in a way that Shinji had never done to me. Takeru stayed the same; my rock and my hope. My best friend. And he would forever be my best friend, as far as I was concerned about it. It was just that sometimes 'best friend' and 'boyfriend' were the same thing. Maybe, as people grow older, they are the same thing. Because it's very difficult to have both.
Finally we had allowed ourselves to join the dance that was going on around us; the dance that so many, Takeru included, had insisted that I join. And I wasn't going to resist it any longer. I was finally going to allow myself to fall under the spell as the dance went on around me. I was going to allow myself to get carried away by the love that has been there for me this whole time.
There was one night that Takeru called me up particularly late. I had just finished writing a particularly hard midterm exam, and I was looking forward to a nice long and stress-free sleep. But I couldn't resist seeing him; he always made me feel better. Losing sleep was nothing when I got to see him, and because of the time of year spending a lot of quality time together had been difficult. The difference in our programs had not really allowed for us to be able to study together, though we tried when the time was available. He had called me to our place on campus where we had met all those times; the tradition that had been started so long ago. We were in the midst of our third year now, both of us graduating after the following year was complete.
The tears clouded my vision as I watched him. Our relationship had bloomed, turning into something I had never even imagined possible. Every time I thought about it, I realised what a fool I had been to ever refuse him. The things I was feeling now…I could have had it so much earlier, saving myself and him much turmoil, if I had only not been so thick enough to realise it all.
So how I could ever deserve such a person, I would never really know. I'd put him through so much, and yet he still waited. I can barely remember the first time he told me he loved me; it seems like so long ago. But I was younger and naïve then, as well as oblivious to my own feelings. I thought I didn't care. But I had loved him then. Miyako had been right; I had loved him the whole time. I'd never thought myself as being a tenacious person, but I guess I'm more like my brother than I thought. He should have left; he should have run off to find someone more deserving. But he didn't. Just like he promised, Takeru waited.
And now he was kneeling before me, my left hand gently grasped between both of his. I knew what was coming. Earlier I hadn't, though I had noticed his nerves. Who would blame him? I had rejected him so many times before. And something told me that even if I did the same now still he wouldn't leave. He really would wait until there was some definitive reason for why I wasn't going to be following him. But there was nothing holding me back; not anymore.
All I could do was stand there, blubbering like a fool as he began to speak. I wanted to look away from him, but his clear blue eyes had me entranced. There was no escaping this moment.
"Yagami Hikari," he started, and my only response was to choke out another sob.
He smiled, and continued, "I've waited a long time, you know, but I'll have to say that it's been worth it. We've been through quite a bit, and I never want to have to go through anything else without you. I love you, more now than I ever have, and I would like to have the opportunity to come to love you even more."
My free hand was covering my mouth in a vain effort to contain myself. My body was rigid with anticipation, even shaking a little. I already knew what I was going to say.
Suddenly his confident demeanour faltered slightly, but I never saw anything but love in his eyes. He let go with one of his hands and reached into his pocket. The tiny, navy blue felt box that emerged with his hand almost sent me over the edge, but I managed to hold myself together. I could see that he was also shaking as he flipped the lid open, revealing a shining diamond ring. It wasn't huge, but it was something that was still quite substantial given that he was on the salary of a student. It was comprised of three diamonds, the one in the centre being the largest. I noticed some engraving on the band, and upon closer inspection I would later see the words 'Forever in my life' etched into the metal of the band in a script more elegant than I could imagine. Leave it to Takeru to make things really special.
My gaze flitted from the ring back to his face, where I met his expectant blue eyes. It would seem that he had been waiting for me yet again. He sat in silence for a few more moments, the sound of my erratic breathing the only thing permeating the silent night air. And then he smiled my favourite smile; the one that I now knew was meant only for me.
"Will you marry me, Hikari?"
I was sobbing still, but my head bobbed in an eager nod. Finally he'd gotten to it. To reaffirm my answer I threw myself down to his level, unable to get myself close enough to him. It was awkward and probably looked silly, but I didn't care and I didn't think he did either. Eventually my lips found his and I put every amount of passion I could muster into that kiss. As always he was gentle, but it was difficult to ignore the feeling in the atmosphere that had enveloped us.
Pulling away only slightly, he looked at me again. The look on his eyes and the smile on his face was nothing but pure bliss. I knew that my own expression was the same. His gaze then left mine and I looked down to see him fumbling with the navy blue box. With one hand, for the other was against the side of my neck, he managed to pull the ring from its spot. I pulled back farther still, but only to allow him room to take my left hand again. The hand that had been at my neck trailed down the length of my arm until it supported my own hand, and he silently took the other and placed the ring on my fourth finger. A perfect fit; of course it would be. This was Takeru we were talking about.
At this point we decided that it was time to get up off the ground, and he carefully helped me up from our spot. The clouds that hung overhead had threatened rain before, and I thought I felt a few drops on my arm. I didn't take too much notice to it though, and neither did he. All I was aware of was the face of my best friend; the face of the man I loved. It had taken me a long time to realise that we would still always be best friends, our bond was just now that much deeper. Our relationship would not change; just grow into something more beautiful. I don't know what it was that had me so frightened, or why I spent so many years in denial. All I knew was that I was the luckiest girl on earth to have such a man; a man that would wait forever for me. He leaned in to give me another kiss, this one much more skilled than the last. I knew now that I was glad I hadn't made him wait as long as forever, because being together with him now was much more completing than if I had spent all that time running. I realise now that maybe I even enjoyed the chase, but I wasn't going to make him pursue any longer. He had me now, and he would have me for eternity.
Calmer of the Storm: Well, there you have it, folks! I really enjoyed writing this story. It might even be my favourite so far. I'm really good at putting in plot holes and inconsistencies, so let me know. I tried really hard not to and I eliminated a couple before hand...hopefully I got them all.
It's funny I'm almost a little sad...lol. But at least I have another story to keep me going! I'll post the prologue up pretty soon. I know I'm not one to depend on reviews or anything, but that one won't be continued if there isn't a base for it. Then again, that could be another lie. Lol.
Anyways...until next week when I post that story...ciao!! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50538 | I'm sooooo sorry guys for not updating sooner, please forgive me. School started and I've had a shitload of reading and work (pardon my french). I finnally found some time and sat down and finnished this last chapter. I'm sorry it's ending, I'm really gonna miss Anna :(
Newayz, thank you all for reading my story and I hope you have enjoyed it.
Quote: "The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for" --- Allan K. Chalmers
We drove in comfortable silence down the long stretch of rode, Felix's hand securely in mine while his other held tightly to the steering wheel. We were going to meet my family, no our family, to stay with them for the next few years at least. We hadn't seen them in a few months due to our travels and I couldn't wait to get there. The Cullen's had recently moved and purchased a large thousand acre property in Abbotsford British Columbia and built three homes there.
Renesmee and Jacob had their own place, since living under the same roof as your parents can be awkward especially with a mind reading father. They, too, had only recently rejoined the Cullens after a few years living apart. From what I gathered it was a difficult time for Bella and Edward who never had to deal a prolonged absence of their only child but Renesmee and Jacob insisted. Renesmee had lived a very sheltered life for many years due to her rapid growth. While they both knew that it had been necessary once she reached her full growth she grew a bit restless. They wanted some time to be independent, to experience the world. To survive and live on their own. However, no matter how much they grew and enjoyed the experience they couldn't stay away for long and had now rejoined their family.
As for the other home, I knew that particular dwelling was for Felix and I while the rest were staying in the main manor. While I wanted to be close to them both Felix and I wanted some independence and Esme was more than willing to oblige. I had yet to see the finished product but I was sure it was going to be amazing like all of Esme's work. From my talks with Alice I successfully concluded that Esme was in renovation heaven with these three projects and I couldn't help but smile.
It had been twenty years since that fateful day that Felix and I left the Volturi and not a day had gone by that I didn't thank some form of deity for him. We had spent our time in various ways but went back and forth from staying with the Cullen's, one year with the Denali's, and travelling around the world, though far away from Italy. Felix embraced his new freedom cautiously at first but it didn't take long before a new spark ignited behind his eyes.
At one point we spent a few years alone but not travelling, settling in a town in northern Canada. While it was nice it also got annoying. It had been the first time I had to repeat high school and it was just as bad as the first time, if not worse. Everyday it took a lot of effort not to back hand many of the students and teachers through the walls since I was sure that it was frowned upon. I was fairly sure that human teenagers, well humans as a whole, weren't always that annoying. I sighed internally knowing I would have to repeat that whole fiasco again for the next few years.
It also challenged my self control greatly and I was forced to feed more than usual to resist the warm and delicious student body but I managed. Unfortunately Felix couldn't join me in that particular purgatory, he could never pass for a teenager being he was physically twenty eight. We had to pretend we were brother and sister in public during that time, orphaned several years ago leaving Felix to raise his 'baby sister'. I hated not being able to show any real affection for him in public but I always made sure to rectify that at home. He did, however, get a kick out of the idea of me being in school again and often refered to me as his 'naughty school girl' so we made it work. At least I wouldn't be alone next time I underwent that horror.
It took a few years for us to adjust to this new life, Felix especially, but the Cullen's helped us immensely in the beginning and still do from time to time. I could never express how much it meant to me that he committed to the 'vegetarian' lifestyle despite his dislike of it. Something he wasn't afraid of voicing every once in a while. He had a few slip ups in the beginning but each I could tell he was genuinely remorseful though I suspected it was more out of fear of disappointing me than the loss of life. I easily forgave him knowing the truth behind the words 'love is blind' and that change for someone who is so accustomed to a certain way of living is hard. He tried and that was more than enough for me.
Financially we were well off. Part of it was due to the Cullen's and Alice's uncanny ability to predict stock market trends. However, the majority of our money came from Felix's hobby or rather job. At first he was all over the place on what he wanted to do, never before having to interact like this in the human world and having his needs provided to him by the Volturi. He joked around in the beginning about selling his 'services' to the government, claiming he would be the ultimate assassin. Though I knew he was kidding there was a small ray of seriousness and hope in his eyes. I quickly squashed that particular ambition though I had to admit it saddened me slightly when I saw him pout, even if it was playfully. Even though the idea was ridiculous I felt a little bad for doing it.
Therefore he had surprised me one day after Emmett had dragged Felix, Edward and Jasper to Vegas, while I was subjected to Alice's version of a 'girls' night, that he wanted to play poker professionally. He was remarkably good and many of our travels now were now due to the various tournaments he entered throughout the world, many with million dollar minimums. I had never pictured him for just sitting around with cards in his hands but as he put it, 'I like watching them squirm while I clean them out of their money', and it made him happy. I was just surprised he found something he enjoyed doing that didn't require smashing someone's face in.
Granted he did have an advantage with his enhanced senses, apparently just the sound of their hearts was enough to tell him if they were bluffing. It also didn't hurt that many were too scared to not let him win. No one could deny he did have quite the presence in a room. I almost laughed as I remembered the many terrified faces as he entered the room and then seeing it turn instantly to appreciation when I appeared seconds later with him. This didn't last long, however, once Felix gave them a glare that could melt metal. Though I had to admit he was undeniably attractive when jealous.
"What are you thinking so intensely about that is putting that goofy grin on your face?" I turned my head in Felix's direction, who was eyeing me curiously but had a smile playing on his lips. I hadn't realized I had spaced out and now that I took in my surroundings I realized we were getting close to the Cullens.
"That's for me to know and you to find out." I said playfully.
"Well this should be fun. Hmmm I wonder what it could be." He mused, his voice smug. He turned his head in my direction, giving me a deliciously sinful grin and leaning a little closer to me. Even though I've said it a million times I'll say it again. He is just too irresistible for his own good.
"Just keep your eyes on the road." I said sternly though without heart. My body betrayed me by leaning closer to him in return.
"Yes ma'me." He chuckled and resumed driving, his thumb creating a circular design on my hand.
The forest encroached on both sides of the car and the road we were on was almost deserted, the occasional car passing us by. The sky was a light grey with the cloud cover, one of the reasons the Cullen's chose this particular town to live in, though I could see the sun was going to be setting soon. After a few minutes we saw a small turn off onto a paved pathway. Felix took the turn sharply, not bothering to slow down, and chuckled when the tires screeched on the pavement. I shook my head but said nothing.
The path was perfectly straight and small black posts with lights were stationed on both sides of the pavement every few meters. I knew this was for aesthetic reasons only since no one on this particular property had any problems seeing in the dark. However, when I thought back to the blurry night that was the Cullens graduation party twenty years ago I had a feeling Alice did this for her future guests. About half way down the path we literally came to a fork in the road. Two other paths leading to the other two homes, one going north west and the other north east, connected to the main road. I wasn't sure which one led to our place yet, Esme wanted it to be a surprise, so we continued straight. I could already feel each of them up ahead and I found myself getting excited.
Due to Felix's excessive speeding we made it to the main house in under a minute and I literally gasped at the home in front of me. The exterior of the house, by the looks of it the interior as well, the epitome of modern. The outside was a light grey with a slightly blusih tinge to it, the windows all outlined nicely with white. The inside, by the looks of it was mostly white and light creme colours. As is customary for Esme's design, part of the house was completely sheathed with glass, the window panes making it look sharp and distinguished. There were four levels to it and I could see the outline of a large patio near the back. While it was no classical Victorian beauty it took on a life of its own, creating an aura of warmth around it.
Before I could even open my door Alice was in the doorway, practically hopping on the spot, with a look of excitement on her face. My smile grew when I saw Alice, it had been a few months since we've seen any of the Cullens and I missed them, so did Felix for that matter but he would never admit it. I ran quickly to Alice's side and hugged her tightly, spinning her around once. I was never one for PDA (Public Displays of Affection) but I always made an exception for Alice.
"What took you two so long?" She asked, her voice faking annoyance. We broke apart but she kept a hand on my arm.
"What do you mean, I told you the other day we would be here around seven and," I glanced at my watch, "and it's just after. Surely you would've seen that." She rolled her eyes.
"Ya but I was hoping maybe you would decide to come earlier, you know since you missed me so much. Not to mention you need to get moved in."
"Sorry to disappoint Alice but we're here now and yes I did miss you, no need to try and be subtle about asking." I chuckled and she smiled brightly before switching her gaze to Felix, who had walked up to stand beside me. She quickly let go of my arm and wrapped her arms around his waist, her hands not quite touching on the other side. It was always entertaining to see the contrast between their two forms, not just in their size but their demeanors.
"Hello Alice." Felix said stiffly. He lightly patted her on the head awkwardly and I had to choke back a laugh. She stepped away after a second looking at him and frowning slightly.
"One of these days Felix you are going to hug me back." She said confidently, a smile playing around her lips as she tried to maintain her frown at his less than warm greeting.
"I don't hug." He said seriously, looking ready to bolt for it if she tried to hug him again. It wasn't that he didn't like Alice, he just wasn't really into that kind of physical contact. You mention a good wrestling match and then you'd get a better response out of him.
"As a matter of fact I know you do. You hug Anna all the time." She smiled, thinking she had him beat. He smirked a little at her antics before wrapping his arms around me and placing his chin on my shoulder. I leaned into his body, enjoying the contact.
"Fine, I don't hug anyone but her." He backtracked earning a death glare from Alice. She huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. I sensed the majority of others in a nearby room and judging by the occasional snicker they were finding this conversation as amusing as me.
"How about we go inside and see the others." I suggested quickly. That seemed to snap Alice out of it and she smiled before pivoting and running into the house.
"Psycho pixi" Felix mumbled into my ear but his tone was light and teasing. We followed her and soon entered what I assumed was the main living area. The walls were a cream and the couches white. Alice was now sitting on Jaspers lap in one of the lazy boy chairs while Edward and Bella took up the love seat. As soon as we entered the room Esme stood up from her spot next to Carlisle and headed straight for us, smiling warmly as usual.
She patted Felix on the arm affectionately before pulling me into a quick hug. "It's so good to see you two." Esme and Carlisle had quickly welcomed Felix into their lives, like alice, and the others soon followed. Jacob and Edward were the most reluctant but they've made great strides these last few years and have never expressed negativity towards him. I think they were merely wary considdering his past.
I squeezed Esme back and talked into her caramel coloured hair. "It's good to see you as well Esme." Felix nodded in agreement and gave a small smile. I turned and spoke to Bella and Edward. "How have you two been?"
"Very good thank you. I'm glad you two have decided to stay with us for a while." Edward responded kindly. Bella smiled and nodded her head in agreement.
"It's great to be back with you guys but I have to say you really out did yourself this time Esme with the house." I glanced around the room, taking more of it in.
"Thank you dear, I'm glad you like it."
""Where are Jacob and Renesmee?" I asked, curious as to why I couldn't feel them in or anywhere near the house.
"Oh they went out to get some food but they should be back any minute." She said as she made her way back to the couch. I nodded. I sometimes forgot that there are people in this family that still need to eat.
"How have you two been? How was your trip to Hong Kong?" Carlisle asked quietly, his arm wrapping around Esme's waist.
"We've been good. The trip was fun. We got some sight seeing in and I was finally able to put my Cantonese to good use. Felix cleaned a few more men out of their life savings." I chuckled as Felix grinned widely. "How's the new hospital? You a legend yet?" I joked.
He chuckled, "No not yet but the hospital is just fine. I think I'm going to enjoy it there, they have an excellent pediatrics ward that I'm anxious to work in." His eyes twinkled and I was once again struck by Carlisle's pure compassion and love for life. Emmett and Rosalie chose that moment to enter the room from upstairs.
"Yo Felix, Buffy! About time you got here, Alice hasn't been able to sit still all day, though I guess that's nothing new." Emmett chuckled while Alice stuck out her tongue.
"Emmett we've had this conversation before. My name is Anna. AAANNNNNNAAA." I said slowly, dragging out my name like I was talking to a toddler. If he mentioned me in passing to someone else he always used my actual name but to my face I was always addressed as Buffy. You would think after twenty years it would get old, especially since that particular title didn't exactly suit me anymore but he had yet to stop.
"BBBUUUFFFYYY" he said, copying me. The others couldn't hold back their laughter, including Rosalie, and soon I joined in.
"When are you going to give that name up? I haven't been a vampire hunter for, ummm lets see, about twenty years." I said lightly.
"Never, you'll always be that vampire slayer in my eyes." He chuckled and I shook my head. "But enough with your name, now that you two are here I think the forest needs a thinning don't you?" He looked directly at Felix when he said this. Both their smiles grew and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Every time we stayed with the Cullens those two spent half their time fighting, though it was all in good fun. While Emmett loved hanging out with Edward and Jasper, his preferred wrestling/fighting partner was now Felix. Not only were they similar in size but Emmett commented on his inability to cheat allowing for a more exciting and fair match. Though I couldn't entirely agree with that observation since Felix could fight pretty dirty when he wanted. Still, this was a common occurrence whenever we stayed with the Cullens and their 'little' matches had become a favorite for Jasper and Edward, even Jacob on occasion, to bet on.
"I agree." Felix said enthusiastically and began to move forward.
"Thousand on Felix." Jasper said quickly, glancing towards Edward expectantly. Edward grinned and nodded before reaching into his pocket to pull out his wallet. Esme shook her head slowly looking at him, not approving of their gambling.
I grabbed the back of Felix's shirt and pulled him back. "Tomorrow, tonight we need to get settled in." I said. He looked like he was about to pout pulled his face together quickly. Felix did not pout, well not in front of an audience anyway.
"We have all day tomorrow to do that." He challenged, Emmett nodding his head in agreement. Rosalie sighed and rolled her eyes before making eye contact with me and exchanging a quick and silent message. The two of us were fairly close now, partly due to our husbands uncanny abilities to act like overgrown children and because I actually gotten to know her, finding her straightforwardness kind of refreshing. Most of the time…
Though he had a point I was actually hoping to spend the night in our new home together…alone. "Well if you really want to but I was under the impression you wanted to find out what I was thinking earlier." I said simply. There was only one thing Felix enjoyed more than fighting and unfortunately for Emmett it was something only I could provide. Felix caught the underlying meaning to my words and quickly changed his tune.
"Well now that I think about it maybe we should really get settled in tonight. Tough luck Emmett, maybe tomorrow night." He said quickly, not bothering to look in his direction. I could tell by the look in his eyes he was very tempted to just pick me up and rush over to the house right this second. I heard Edward let out a small groan, rubbing his temples as he clearly tried to block whatever Felix was thinking from his mind. He had complained to me on more than one occassion not to suggest such things in his presense since apparantly Felix had a very vivid memory and imagination. Opps, sorry Edward I thought quickly, though part of me was both embarrased and amused.
"Freaking whipped." Emmett mumbled, looking genuinely disappointed.
"What was that Emmett?" Rosalie asked, raising an eye brow.
"Nothing." He said quickly and I pressed my lips to hold back a laugh. Rosalie gave me a smirk and I quickly returned it.
I was about to ask Esme which road led to our place when I heard the very faint sound of tires turning onto the Cullens driveway. It wasn't long before I felt the unique auras of Jacob and Renesmee. They pulled into the garage that was off to the side before making their way inside, hand in hand.
Neither had changed since the last time I saw them, with the exception that Jacob's hair was slightly longer, but that didn't surprise me. He wore a simple pair of dark jeans and a red t-shirt though it was all designer due to Alice. I remembered the fight he had with Alice when she refused to allow her niece to be with anyone who wore old, grease smeared faded clothing. He caved eventually like the rest of us but to his credit he lasted a few years. His usual grin was in place as the two of them came towards us.
What always managed to surprise me, however, was Renesmee. For some reason I half expected that adorable and inquisitive little girl to walk through the door even though it's been over ten years since she reached full maturity. She was truly beautiful, a perfect mix of the two worlds she belonged to. Her auburn hair used to cascade down her back almost to her knees but a few years ago she had cut it, much to Alice's dismay, and it now hung a few inches past her shoulders in waves. Unlike her mother she was actually fairly tall, only a few cm off me, though this was a good thing since Jacob was a freaking giant. She also wasn't as slender as Bella but also wasn't as curvy as Rosalie. Her chocolate brown eyes had deepened over time and she wore her father's crooked smile.
She was dressed a little nicer, a dark blue blouse with a pair of white pants. She wasn't as into fashion as Alice but she didn't shy away from it like Bella. The one accessory she never took off was a charm bracelet that matched Bella's but contained a lot more charms; it had miniature, hand carved wolves that corresponded with each member of Jacob's pack as well as something to represent each one of her family members.
"Sorry we're late, Jake practically bought out the entire grocery store." She teased while leaning forward to give me a hug. Jacob had moved past us and flopped down onto the other free chair beside Alice and Jasper. He turned on the TV and began watching a football game and Emmett quickly joined him, sitting on the couch beside Carlisle. I saw Felix's eyes slowly make their way to the screen.
Jacob shrugged, "Hey I can't help it if I eat a lot, its a shape shifter thing. Out of my control."
"Sure, sure. I think it's funny that I'm the one who always ends up putting the food away yet I almost never eat a single bite." She said annoyed.
"Almost never." He agreed, his tone light. He tilted his head back and gave her a smile. She shook her head but her gaze was still loving as she stared at him. She could never stay mad at him long. She turned back to Felix and I.
"So when did you two arrive? I'm surprised you're not at your place."
"We only got here about ten minutes ago. Actually," I tilted my head towards Esme. "I have no idea which road leads to our place."
"Oh I am so sorry. Yours is the one heading north west, I meant to tell you earlier this week but I was just so caught up in finishing up last minute details with all the homes." She replied.
"No need to apologize Esme. I can't wait to see it actually, I'm sure it's amazing as usual." She smiled warmly at me and though she was not one to gloat I could also see the pride in her eyes. Carlisle leaned in and kissed her temple, whispering something into her ear I couldn't hear.
"So have you gotten a glimpse at our uniforms?" Renesmee asked suddenly, a frown on her face. Emmett and Jacob both snorted and the others smirked. Renesmee gave them a hard stare, clearly not amused.
The Cullen clan was splitting up this time in terms of schooling. While Bella, Edward, Jasper, Alice, Emmett and Rosalie were all attending the local public school me and Renesmee had to suffer and attend a private school a bit further away. We thought it best since eight new students in one semester, from one family and who look inhumanly beautiful might be a little too much to pull off. This is one of the reasons Felix and I were not always with them, there were just so many of us and it's hard coming up with a believable story to explain.
I groaned, "No. Are they that bad?"
Alice chimed in, "Oh ya. I went to the school and tried to convince them to let me design some new ones, I even offered to pay for them myself, but they wouldn't budge. Some people just have no sense when it comes to fashion." She sighed and shook her head sadly.
"I think I'll just skip the whole high school drama and go straight for college then." I said hopefully.
"Oh no you aren't. You are not abandoning me." Renesmee said sternly, her hands falling to her hips.
I grimaced, "Fine, I'll endure the uniform for you. Happy?" She nodded her head but you could see the relief there of not having to attend the hell hole alone this coming Monday.
Felix wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer, placing a small kiss on my shoulder. "You want to go see the house now?" he asked, not exactly being subtle in his intensions.
"Ya Anna, I'm sure Felix is just dying to check things out." Emmett said loudly, wiggling his eye brows. Alice giggled and I could see the others exchange loaded glances. I didn't bother responding, choosing to grab Felix's hand and head towards the door.
"Good night!" I said quickly as we passed through the threshold.
We were walking down the steps when we once again heard Emmett's voice. "Try not to destroy the thing before the paint has even had a chance to dry." His laugh vibrated through the house. I growled a little.
"Shut up Emmett!" Felix and I said simultaneously, only encouraging his laughter. We jumped into the car and quickly took off down the road. Felix managed to make the turn down leading to our place without leaving tread marks and I found myself getting excited for a number of reasons. The ride took an extra minute, as our place was apparently a bit further into the property. Soon the place came into view and I smiled. Thank you Esme.
It was modern and much of it covered with glass like the main house but it was smaller, consisting of two and a half stories. It was white on the outside but was offset with dark wood accents. From what I saw through the window, the walls were a plain white but Esme did that because she knew I would want to see it before I picked out the colours. I loved it.
Once Felix parked the car I grabbed my small bag from the back and exited into the night air. Most of our stuff, which was not much to begin with, had been shipped here last week. All I had on me were a few personal items and some clothes. I already knew Alice had stocked and organized our closet so I didn't have much on me.
"Home sweet home." Felix said, his voice teasing while he took my hand.
We walked up to the door and took the two keys with ribbons around them hanging from the handle. I walked inside and gazed around as I walked from room to room, taking everything in. The place was simple, not too big and not too small. Every room in the house had a piece of artwork, much of it from Renesmee who happened to have a passion and talent for art. I headed towards the stairs but Felix beat me to it, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder, earning a playful scream from me. I had a feeling he was dying to do this since he turned off the car but held back to allow me to look around a little.
I didn't ask how he knew which room to go to since I soon myself lying on a bed while Felix kissed me passionately. I made quick work of his shirt, never breaking the kiss, and he did the same to mine. Before I could continue, however, he pulled away slightly. I looked at him questioningly since he had never done that before, usually getting completely lost in his desire.
He stared into my eyes. "Anna." His voice was low and husky. He didn't continue after he said my name and just stared at me.
"What is it?" I said after a moment. I was curious to what was so important for him to stop.
"Are you happy?" He asked. He stroked my face gently, his other hand running up and down my leg. I moved my hands from his chest and wound them around his neck. I was confused to why he would ask that or why he felt the need to.
"Yes. Why are you asking? I haven't given the impression I'm unhappy have I?" I asked, concerned.
"No it's not that." He said quickly.
"Then what?"
"It's just, I know this isn't the life you wanted. I've been there since you were changed and I saw what it did to you and how unhappy you were. I've seen you struggle all these years with what you are. While you seem happy now I was just wondering if part of you still wishes you were human, that you had a different life. Do you have any regrets? You can tell me, I won't get upset." He said seriously while continuing to stroke my face. His eyes held such love but also concern. These types of conversations were not Felix's forte so for him to bring this up meant it was important to him.
"Felix, does a part of me wish I was still human? Yes, I cannot deny that." He opened his mouth to speak but I placed my hand over his, I wasn't done. "But that wish has greatly diminished and I rarely think about it. I have come to terms with who and what I am. There is no going back and no I do not have any regrets. I may have lost my humanity but I gained you and you have made me happy in this life. I couldn't imagine you not in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way." I titled my head and kissed his palm.
He smiled and captured my lips once again. When he moved on to my neck I took the opportunity to ask him something in return
"What about you? I know leaving the Volturi was exactly your idea and that Volterra was your home for so long. Are you happy? Do you have any regrets?" I asked.
He lifted his head and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. "Nope, I have no regrets. Like I said before, I had no problems leaving the Volturi and I must say I enjoy the freedom immensely. You are the best thing to happen to me, anywhere you are is my home." He touched the necklace he gave me, his own dangling just above me, and stared at it before looking me in the eyes. "So yes I am happy." I searched his eyes for any deception and found none. I nodded my head, relieved. "So, should we agree to leave the past to the past?" He said quickly before ducking his head and placing a kiss on my stomach sending a tingling sensation throughout my body.
"Agreed. What matters is today and our future." I said breathlessly, quickly realizing how corny that sounded despite it being grounded in truth.
I felt his lips turn upward as he smirked, kissing his way back to my face, "Even if that future contains ugly uniforms."
"Ugh don't remind me."
"Sorry. I guess I need to find a way to make you forget about them now." His mouth was only a few millimeters away from mine, his breath caressing my lips.
"That sounds like a good idea." I whispered before latching myself onto him. Somehow forever didn't sound like such a horrible thing when you have something amazing to live for.
Sooo, what did you guys think. I hope you like the ending to this story. I would love for you guys to review and tell me what you thought of both this chapter and my overall story. I hope I didn't dissapoint and thanks for hanging in there with me. **
The links to the Cullens home as well as Felix/Anna's place will be on my profile for those who are curious.
linkkinparkk has created a blog for my story because she is amazing so if your interested check it out on her profile and don't forget to check out her own fanfics! Thanks a million times over
I have also begun my new story Online Offline. I'm afraid theres no Anna in it and it really is a completely different story from this one but I hope people like it haha. So if you have time check it out! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50539 | Disclaimer: None of it is mine. I just like to play with them.
Rating: Sexually un-stimulating.
A/N: It's a bit ridiculous, but whatever. Also, next chapter will be the last :(
Chapter Thirteen: The Very Public Display of Attention
Like most dinners, the Great Hall was immersed in conversations from gossip to homework between friends. The distractions were numerous, but the friends of both Draco and Harry focused on the budding relationship than whoever Lavender dated that week. The familiar scrutiny made it easier for Harry to ignore Hermione's insufferable looks. Annoyance quickly flooded Harry who simply wanted to devour his food in peace.
"The food isn't going anywhere, Harry. Slow down," Hermione ordered, her brow furrowed.
"I'm hungry," he replied through a mouthful of food.
Some of his mashed potatoes landed in Hermione's hair. While she picked the offending morsel out of her recently tamed mane, Harry continued to wolf down his meal. He even held his fork with a fist. Nearly twenty four hours had past since he ate, having spent most of the day in Draco's room. Glancing across the Hall, Harry found Draco bent over his plate, clearly as ravenous as he was.
"I didn't realize that Draco was such a talker, Harry. Clearly it's left you starved."
"Hermione, I don't like your tone," Ron interjected, looking mildly ill. "Drop the implication or I'll puke up this Shepherd's pie right now."
"Don't. It's good," Harry commented, his mouth still full of food.
"Did you two accomplish anything?"
"So you've settled everything?"
There was a tinge of happiness and hope in her voice that Harry felt endearing. He, however, could not resist a cheeky reply.
"We've settled that Draco is a top."
"Hermione, Harry, stop. I will vomit," Ron piped up. "No offense mate, but I can't bear the thought of you and…that ferret. It's unnatural and not because you're two guys or anything. I'm fine with that. Really. Have you forgotten that you're sworn enemies? Literally! Remember second year? You swore it. You can't revoke those kinds of things."
"I was twelve, Ron, and still a virgin."
"You still can't…you're not a virgin?"
Harry didn't have to look at Ron to see the bewilderment plastered across his face. Instead, he shook his head and took another forkful of broccoli.
"We agreed that whoever lost theirs first would tell the other all about it."
"Well, it just happened about an hour ago. You guys haven't given me much chance to talk," Harry said quietly.
Ron blanched and Hermione grinned madly as a blush tinged her cheeks. For the first time that evening, she sat quietly and ate her meal, leaving her two friends to themselves.
"Wait…" Ron paused and glanced across the Great Hall, his eyes resting on the finally on Draco, who still inhaled his meal. "You lost your virginity to Malfoy?"
A slight flush colored his cheeks. He took another bite to occupy himself as Ron tried to handle the information. It looked as if the process hurt his brain for his face contorted with the effort.
"And let me get this straight, you bottomed for Malfoy?"
"Ronald, I suggest you lower your voice so the whole castle doesn't hear you," Hermione hissed. "It is hardly anyone else's business."
"Like hell it is," Ron spat back, his temper starting to flare. He turned back to Harry and continued. "The only way to make sex with Malfoy at all redeeming is if you were to fuck him."
"I quite liked it," Harry murmured.
"That's even worse!" Ron exclaimed.
Hermione glanced around them, wondering who exactly was listening to the conversation as it unfolded. It would no doubt turn into one of Ron's regular blow-ups in which Dumbledore would have to intervene to quell the disturbance. Even though everyone enjoyed the entertainment, it was tiresome. Harry suffered enough without additional publicity.
"Zip it!" she ordered tersely, giving a pointed glance in the direction of the front of the Hall.
"I will not 'zip it,' Hermione! This is ridiculous! I just started to accept Harry and the ferret and now Harry hurls this at me? He may as well be shagging a Hufflepuff!"
That caught the attention of a few Hufflepuffs who were the table closest to Gryffindor's. The Hufflepuffs students rarely bothered with fights. Only so much slander could be taken. Every so often, their honor had to be defended. Consequently, they shot Ron glares before starting on him.
"And what's wrong with shagging a Hufflepuff?" piped up Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"Great," Harry muttered.
"You'd have better luck getting off with the Whomping Willow," Seamus chimed in.
And that was the beginning of the greatest dinner argument at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. The two tables traded insults with one another, becoming more and more colorful. It didn't take long before Ravenclaw joined in after several jibes were directed at them. Slytherin sat back and watched with dark fascination as the students from the other Houses quarreled with one another. The older students mainly participated, given that the first years had little clue about what it was really like to shag a Hufflepuff.
The noise ascended as more students jumped in. Rolling his eyes, Harry slumped his shoulders, making himself as small as possible. He wanted no association with any of this.
Hermione dreaded Dumbledore's intervention, but when she looked to the long table where the teachers sat, it appeared empty. Frowning, she glanced about the Hall, wondering where they could have gone. In the far corner of the Hall, behind the teachers' table, Hermione caught the tail end of a cloak disappearing through a door that she remembered seeing Mad-Eye Moody use in fourth year. The professors had abandoned the students and rightfully so. It was time they dealt with their problems amongst themselves.
"Stop arguing. This is ridiculous," commanded Hermione, grabbing Ron by his upper arm and dragging him from the table.
"I'm not finished yet!"
"Look what you've started."
They stood watching the Houses verbally attack one another and it was only a miracle that physical violence had not started. With the sudden inclusion of Slytherin, however, it appeared that such a threat was imminent.
"We've got to stop this. The professors left us."
"I'm not stopping a good argument like this."
"Harry, you need to help us!"
During this time, Harry had chosen to stay completely silent as he finished his meal. There was no need for him to take any part in the conversations around him since he couldn't really talk without being hypocritical. If being a bottom for Malfoy was almost worse than shagging a Hufflepuff, than Harry could not argue with that. He had achieved the worst apparently, according to Ron.
"I'm not doing anything of the sort."
"But Harry, look at everyone! This is getting out of hand. Even Ravenclaws are fighting with Hufflepuffs! This is threatening inter-House unity! Think of the ghastly repercussions of this!"
To say that Hermione was hysterical would have likely been an understatement. There were too many conflicting emotions marring her face for Ron to count and he had indeed stopped at six because there were several he could not name.
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Oy!" Ron shouted.
The clamor seemed to increase with Ron's shouts, which escalated further when a Slytherin shoved a Ravenclaw. His attempt at getting everyone's attention was utterly futile.
"Harry, you can get everyone's attention," persuaded Hermione. "They'll listen to you."
Before Harry could do anything about it, Ron and Hermione were pulling him out of his seat and pushing him to the dais where Dumbledore frequently stood. He past the length of the Gryffindor table and on his way saw Luna being attacked by Hannah Abbott, Neville hiding underneath the table with his wand out, and Colin Creevey snapping photos of the event. Harry shook his head in disbelief and walked on his own, knowing that someone had to do something.
Standing on the dais, Harry witnessed the entirety of the chaos. No one was sitting, save for the first years and Neville who hid underneath the tables. Several students had attempted to flee and discovered that the doors to the Hall were sealed. No doubt Dumbledore's doing. Hermione attempted to prevent Ron from going at Justin Finch-Fletchley and would have got an eyeful of the Hufflepuff's fist had Ron not punched him in the gut.
No one seemed to notice where Harry stood except for Draco who was half of the way to the Gryffindor table, searching for Harry. Upon seeing his boyfriend looking helpless at the crowd, Draco changed directions, pushing past several students, who in turn tried to fight him. Finally, Draco made it to the dais and sighed with relief.
"Weasley's an idiot," Draco announced, standing with his shoulder brushing against Harry's as he surveyed the Hall.
"He was only upset that I bottomed for Draco Malfoy, which is apparently almost as bad as shagging a Hufflepuff."
"I don't think anything is almost worse than shagging a Hufflepuff," joked Draco.
"You would know," Harry replied teasingly, though he was somewhat curious to know the answer.
"Terribly boring lot, really," Draco responded vaguely, casting a side glance at his boyfriend.
Harry turned to look at him with raised eyebrows and his disappointment poorly masked.
"I'm only kidding, Harry. I would never fuck a Hufflepuff."
Silence past between them despite the uproar of the Hall where students ceaselessly fought and squabbled about various things. More students surrounded the doors, terrified that they could not escape. The scene was all too ridiculous to imagine, but Ron had somehow managed to strike a very sensitive cord that most of the students of Hogwarts could relate to in some fashion.
"So what are we going to do about this?" Harry wondered.
"How about we promote that inter-House unity nonsense McGonagall was going on about a while ago?"
"And how do we do that?"
Draco grabbed Harry's hand – pulled him in so their bodies collided. Harry's green eyes were wild with anticipation and anxiety. Harry's eyes fluttered shut when Draco's soft, plump lips caressed his mouth open. The muscles of Harry's body relaxed against Draco, who wrapped his arm around Harry's waist to keep him standing. Cupping the side of Harry's face, Draco took the kiss deeper, exploring Harry's mouth with his tongue.
The effect was almost immediate. Pockets of silence spread throughout the room as students took notice of the display at the head of the tables. Draco sensed the fear that shot through Harry and gripped him tight. They were doing this. Harry couldn't run this time. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50542 | DISCLAIMER: I don't own Avatar the Last Airbender. The work is purely fictional.
She knew from the beginning that he was that girl's home. Maybe not from the very beginning, but the vibrations she felt when they saw each other after so long at the Full Moon Bay ferry station, she knew then. Those quick fluttering beats of his heart as she kissed him and those shallow breaths she took as she neared him. Jealousy, of course, seared through the blind earthbender. Over the past few weeks that they had been together she had developed a crush, puppy love. Some days, when Appa was on the ground and they were walking, she could feel him walk until the end of time. She was aware of every little move he made. Two days before the stupid encounter with Suki, Sokka's heart had raced… around her.
She had been sitting off to the side away from the group, crying. She had let them take Appa away. Those sand benders had the upper hand. If she had just practiced sand bending instead of being bored outside the library's entrance. If she were a stronger, bigger girl maybe then he would still be here. Every night since then she had felt Aang toss and whimper in his sleep. She was the cause for Twinkle Toe's pain because she had lacked the ability to save the tower and save Appa at the same time. Toph picked up a rock and threw it hard out in front of her.
On top of feeling weak, she was constantly observing Sokka with a twisted pit in her stomach whenever he came near. He knees felt ready to give out whenever he called her name. And when they touched she could beam for hours. He was a constant, terrible distraction. She chucked another rock; it hit some tree in the distance. The tears kept streaming down her flushed cheeks. "Stupid, stupid, stupid…" she muttered shakily. She was stupid for losing Appa, stupid for hurting Aang and most of all, stupid for liking Sokka. A sudden voice made her gasp.
"Hey Toph, the food is—" He looked at her small form, huddled with her knees against her chest. "What's wrong?" he said quietly. He knew it wasn't good. Toph was the strongest person he had met and she was in tears. Toph shook her head not trusting her voice. She cleared her throat.
"I'll be there soon Snoozles, start with out me." She was doing fine until the last few words. Sokka kneeled down beside her, worried.
"Toph, you can talk to me. Please talk to me." He gently spoke to her with a hand on her back. "Tell me what's going on." At first she was unresponsive, tears falling silently and unwillingly. Then with a broken sob she flung herself into his arms and cried into his shoulder.
"It's all my fault Sokka! I lost Appa! I hurt Aang! If I was a better earthbender maybe he would still be here! I should have been practicing sand bending instead of goofing off and resting. I should have known better, I should have been stronger."
"Stop it, Toph." He hugged her tightly. "It isn't your fault," he whispered to her. "I promise you, it's not your fault. You'll drive yourself crazy like this. You're the toughest girl I know. I know it's hard, but we'll find Appa. I promise." Toph let Sokka's clothes absorb the last of her tears. He smelled like a campfire, making her smile a little.
"Did you burn your clothes starting the fire?" He gasped as if appalled.
"What! I— no! I didn't! Momo made me trip and it wasn't my fault." He was still hugging her while waving his arms erratically. They sat silently after that for a few moments. "You feeling better?" He released her and helped her up. She punched his arm in embarrassment. "Ow! What did I do?" He rubbed his sore arm.
"Don't tell anyone I cried! I don't think I've ever done that before… Let it all out for someone to see. So, thank you." Her face heated up and a blush raced quickly across her face.
"Of course, Toph. I care for you, a lot." Her blush deepened and his heart sped up at his own words. "W-well like a sister!" He said, explaining himself. "Come on, let's go eat." He started walking towards camp. Toph smiled to herself. He was lying about the sister part. She sped up and flicked him as she passed.
"You know what the best thing about seeing with my feet is?" she asked with a smile. "I can feel when someone is lying." Sokka let out a tiny splutter and sat down by the fire. His heart beating in that uneven pace, that her own heart knew so well.
With her here it's like it never happened. He was so happy to see her. Sokka loved that girl, and why not? She was pretty, she could see, and she obviously adored him. Toph could recall the exact moments leading up to her realization.
They were at Serpent's pass walking those stupid travelers across. Sokka and Suki would not stop flirting and being cute with each other. That was when the Fire Nation ship fired at them. With a few simple movements, Toph saved Sokka from harm. Instead of saying 'thanks' or a nice pat on the back, he rushes off to help Suki. Then he was all over her throughout the entire night. She wanted to approach Sokka about the incident earlier, so she went off to find him. Toph felt them before she was within their seeing distance. Sokka was upset and Suki tried to kiss him. Toph was overcome with sadness and jealousy. Though a second later she realized he had refused. He did like her! Suki was old news. Filled with renewed hope Toph went back to her rock tent.
The next morning they were crossing the path. Only one minor problem, there wasn't a rocky path through out the entire crossing. Katara split the water and they could finally pass. Within minutes, the serpent showed up and disrupted her bending. With only milliseconds standing between Toph saving everyone or not being strong enough to keep them from drowning, she twisted her wrists and brought up the column of land. From there Katara made an ice bridge. No way was Toph going anywhere she couldn't feel. Flying was bad enough.
But he spoke. He wanted her to cross the path. With a deep breath Toph moved forward. For Sokka, she would and could do this. She could hear his voice on the other side, guiding her. However moments later the bridged broke sending Toph into the water. She screamed, terrified. Dying was the last thing she wanted. Again she was weak, unable to help herself. Bursting in and out of the water, she heard Sokka yell that he was coming for her. Toph still screamed, but she knew he wouldn't let her drown. Not Snoozles. A hand caught her under the arms as she was sinking and brought her choking body to a warm chest. She couldn't contain herself, "Oh Sokka! You saved me!" After weeks of pent up feelings she kissed the soft cheek, pouring all of her emotion into it. All of a sudden Suki's voice rang in her ear.
"Actually it's me." It didn't matter what she said, Toph wasn't listening. She had kissed Suki.
"Oh… Well... hehe…You can go ahead and let me drown now…" she mumbled embarrassed. Now Suki knew she was the other girl. If they kept traveling together it would be really awkward for the three of them.
Hours had passed since the incident with Suki. Toph had left Sokka alone. After all, Suki seemed to really like him. Walking around, She over heard the two. Suki was leaving and had just apologized for the previous night. Toph couldn't help the pride of winning swelling in her chest. Then as soon as it had arrived, it deflated. They were kissing. Sokka pushed Suki against the wall and kept kissing her with a passion she knew would never be hers. Toph slowly walked back to camp.
"What's up with you? A baby was just born! Be happy!" smiled Aang enthusiastically. Toph shrugged at him.
"I'm just tired." She walked away from him and set up her rock tent.
With that, Toph centered herself. She had to bury these feelings. Sokka was in love with a girl she couldn't compete with. With a deep breath she let only one tear slide down her cheeks. No more tears. Not for Sokka. Though they had what seemed to her to be moments throughout their journey, Toph always kept Suki in mind. It didn't matter how close she and him were getting, it wasn't right.
After the invasion, she decided to move away from the group. She would miss Katara, Aang and even Zuko. She had said good bye to them in the Jasmine Dragon. Sokka and Suki were on a date that evening. It was better that way. Toph didn't think she could leave him. After saying good bye to everyone, Toph went for a small walk through Ba Sing Se alone, remembering the times spent fighting the war, until a familiar pair of feet came marching along in front of her.
"You were just going to leave?" He was angry. She didn't mean to make him so mad. "Without saying anything to me?" He was hurt too. This is exactly what Toph had been trying to avoid. "Why are you leaving?"
"Why does it matter? I've done my job here, might as well get a move on." She said bluntly and without emotion. Toph felt Sokka flinch at her words.
"I don't want you to go…" He shifted uneasily.
"What are you saying Snoozles? You're all shifty." She said with a forced annoyed tone.
"If you go, I can't…" He took a breath. "I can't protect you." Toph gave a curt laugh. He wanted to protect her? From what? Dying? Getting hurt? Sokka hurt her every second he spent with Suki.
"From what Snoozles? Fire benders?" she teased.
"From everything." He said quietly. "Back on that Fire Nation air ship, before Suki saved us… you remember?" she nodded. "Well… you were just dangling there and our grips were failing us. I kept thinking about how sad this world would be without you. I promised myself that if we survived, I'd protect you with all of my being. If you go, I can't be sure what will happen to you. You don't have to go. Stay with Suki and I!" He suggested.
"You want me to stay with Suki." She asked flatly. Sokka gave her a confused look. Then with a rush of emotion it seemed to click for him. "I'm wasting my time here. I don't need any protection. Especially yours. We aren't even friends. Good bye Sokka. I hope you have your happily ever after with your Suki." Toph nearly spat her name. She turned and left Sokka standing there. As if on cue, the sky began to release a heavy down pour. The rain effectively covered Toph's tears as she abandoned the man she loved. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50544 | Die another day
It was almost dark. but then, it always was in the Underworld. Never quite night, never quite day, but an eternal twilight. Tigress stood before a massive ebony gate. She could almost pick out the bones that had been placed in the gate to reinforce it against any spirit-or mortal, as the case may be- brave, or foolhardy enough to try and storm it. She had no idea how long she had been standing there. Had it been minutes? Years? Millennium? She honestly had no idea. Her memories of the living world seemed so far away now, all but one. She scowled into the ashes that coated the ground. She couldn't remember her family, or friends, but she could remember the one moment she would prefer to forget.
The moment of her death.
She had died on the bridge known as the Thread of Hope. She and her allies (who's names she could no longer recall) had battled a snow leopard there, to save a place she could only vaguely remember as home. The snow leopard( who's name she remembered as Tai Lung) had fought her in single combat at first, though her friends (at least that's what she thought they were.) had joined in. She remembered thinking that he had been defeated.
But he hadn't gone down yet.
He had caused the remains of the bridge to swing, bringing him back onto the lip of the cliff, right in front of them. She remembered that sharp feeling of despair when she had realized that they weren't going to win, no matter what they did. He had paralyzed them, though for his own sick reasons, he hadn't touched her. Not until she alone stood there, amid her now utterly helpless companions. But even then, she knew she was just as helpless as they were. Perhaps even more so.
She remembered what happened next in vivid detail. He had raped her, and then proceeded to break her spine, when he was done. In a skewed way, she understood his motivation behind it. he had been imprisoned for 20 years, and being the most attractive female in the vicinity, coupled with his personality and tendencies, things had taken their natural course.
She still hated him for it, though.
Tigress looked at the intimidating gateway once again, fully deciding that she was not ready to go on to wherever the passageway would take her. Not yet at least.
The tiger-spirit turned around, coming face-to-face with one of the most horrifying things she had ever looked upon.
It appeared to be some type of phantom, like her, and yet, not like her. She (for it was obviously a she) wore gaping knife wounds on her chest face, with black bloodstains soaking her tunic. It appeared to be a snow leopard, which set Tigress off quite a bit.
" will not cross over, will you? you seek to return to the world of the living? " the phantasm whispered, almost conspiratorially. Unsure of how to respond, Tigress simply nodded.. This seemed to excite the specter.
"Yes! will do nicely, Now I"- But Tigress cut the being off.
"Just what exactly are you? I don't make deals with creatures I don't know the nature of." Tigress interrupted. The wraith nodded, seeming to understand.
"yes, i understand that much...I am a Geist." the phantom replied.
"A what?" Tigress asked, thoroughly confused.
" A spirit that embodies the aspects of their death, Hence my appearance." The Geist said, completely deadpanned.
"Ah...I thought you were just a particularly hideous wraith," Tigress replied in a sarcastic tone. For some reason, the Geist seemed to enrage her, and not just because of the fact she was a leopard.
"Do you want to live again or not?" The Geist screeched at her, furious at the tiger-spirits inability to cooperate with it.
"Ah ah ah...temper, temper," Tigress snickered. "O.K, I've had my fun, now let's hear about this deal." She continued. The Geist glared at her once more, then sighed.
"I can restore you to life, but there is a catch." The Geist told her.
"And that catch is...?" Tigress asked, almost completely hooked.
"I come with you. We'd be bound to each others very soul, merged together as one for the rest of your existence." the Geist told her solemnly.
Suddenly unsure, Tigress considered her options. She could say no, and walk through the gateway, something she wasn't entirely ready to do. Or she could say yes, and return to the living world, remember her past, and gain vengeance for her brutal death.
To her, it didn't seem like much of a choice.
"I'll do it. I'll make the bargain." Tigress said confidently.
"Then the deal is struck!" The Geist said, with such exuberance, Tigress could feel it radiating from the spirit like heat from a bonfire.
Suddenly, the world began to get brighter, and brighter, and brighter still. It became so bright that Tigress could feel herself burning. And then it became bone-numbingly cold. And the searing light faded away, to pitch black night. Then it warmed up , some. Not too much, but it was warmer than it had been. Tigress rapidly blinked her eyes- wait, i haven't had to blink since I... Tigress suddenly found herself gasping for breath. She could feel the soft swaddling cloth they had wrapped her in, over her usual clothes, for when they had buried her. And she could feel the smooth wood of her coffin. She felt out the lid of her casket, striking it hard several times, causing it to break. She hit it over and over, feeling satisfied when she felt the dirt begin to pour in.
DIG! her Geist screamed at her from within her head. I'm not losing you yet!
So tigress dug like a desperate mole, or other burrowing creature.
When she broke through the top soil, the glare of the morning sun blinded her, making her cry out in pain. She wriggled out of the whole, collapsing at the feet of a young Desert Cat, barely 23 years old. He wore a simple shirt and vest, with a Colt Peacemaker strapped to his right hip.
When she had recovered enough to look up, she gazed at him for a moment, first out of fear, then simple wonder. It seemed like it had been centuries instead of day since she had looked upon another reasoning being.
" Hello there," The Chinese desert cat said with a jovial smile. "Welcome to your first day as a sin-eater. Shall we go get some drinks to celebrate?"
Ok, that's my first chapter For Second Chances. yep, Tigress died violently, as the votes went. Yes, she was raped. It will be mentioned throughout the story, but i will not write anything...descriptive on the subject. Deal with it. and who was this young man who just met tigress? well, you'll have to wait to find out next chapter! Review!
King of random. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50545 | A/N: OK, you guys have all spoiled me with my "Soup and Chocolate"! Thank you so much! And, now, another piece of random crack, based on a line in tonight's episode. Probably takes place in season 4 or early season 5.
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own anything. And, as usual, MST3K applies.
Who's On First?
Dean flipped through the channels of motel room's TV, feeling bored. Sam had gone out to get something to eat, but he wasn't back yet.
He, Sam, and Cas were pretty much holed up, nursing various wounds. Another day, another step in preventing the apocalypse. He just needed down time.
Cas looked over from the table. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to find something to watch. Just for noise." He found TCM. "Ah. The Naughty Nineties."
"The what?"
Dean shrugged. "It's an ancient movie. But, these guys are pretty funny. Wanna watch?"
The angel looked confused, but he pulled his chair closer to where he could see. "What's the movie about?"
"It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters in this movie is it has 'Who's on First?' You'll love it!"
Cas looked over at Dean. "Who is on first?" he asked slowly. "What do you mean 'first'?"
"First base."
"As… in… baseball?"
Dean grinned. "Yeah. As in baseball." He suspected the angel was proud that he guessed right about the first base.
He turned back to the TV in time to see Abbott and Costello start the famous routine: "Who's on First, What's on Second, I Don't Know's on third." "I'm not asking you who's on second" "Who's on First!" "I don't know." "Third base!"
Dean laughed at it, glancing over to see how Cas was liking it. The angel looked even more confused. "You don't find this very funny?"
"So, who is on first?" Cas asked.
"Yes," Dean grinned.
"What is the player's name on first base?"
"No. What is the guy's name on second base."
Cas frowned. "Do you think this is funny?"
"Yeah, a little bit."
"So, who is the guy on second base?"
Dean choked back a laugh. "No. Who is the guy on first base."
"I don't know."
"He's on third. We're not talking about him."
Cas looked back at the TV, but Dean thought he could see the barest hint of a smile on the angel's face. He's having a good time! Dean thought gleefully.
"OK, so what's the player's name on first base? This is what the little man asking the questions is trying to find out."
"No. What's the guy's name on second base."
"I don't understand. I'm not wanting to find out who the player on second base is."
"No. Who is on first."
"I don't know."
"Third base!" Dean laughed. If Cas wasn't having fun, then he was. He figured that Sam would probably give him a bitch face at that.
"So, this routine is just based on misunderstanding about these players' names?"
"Why? And don't say left field."
Dean looked back at the TV, a feeling of disappointment came over him. He was insane to think that Cas would find this funny. "It's… funny."
"So, the person's name of 'Who' is on first, 'What' is on second. And 'I Don't Know' is on third."
"Don't explain the joke," Dean muttered, settling back on his bed. He glanced over at Cas and sat up when he saw an actual smile on the angel's face. "You're joking with me."
The smile disappeared, and Cas turned his big, innocent eyes on Dean. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You did find 'Who's on First' funny!"
Cas looked back to the TV, but Dean could still see the smile in his eyes.
He chuckled. "Cas, we're going to get that stick up your butt out soon."
A/N: I don't know how to end this. So, I'm ending it here. I love 'Who's on First?' If you don't know it, why don't you? Find it now! It's awesome!
Cas knowing it, and Dean's gentle and weary "Don't do that" made me laugh. But, I hope you kind of liked this. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50546 | Title: Comparisons
I own nothing
Up to 8x15
Summary: After returning the Belgravian brat to her father, Ziva contemplates her own father.
Ziva David sat in the driver's seat of her red Mini Cooper in the dark NCIS carpark. She rested her head on the headrest and let out a deep sigh. She ran her hands over her face and through her mop of dark hair, not caring how out of place it became. Her eyes briefly closed. She swore in a language that was neither her native Hebrew nor the confusing version of English native to her adoptive homeland.
She had become the type of agent she had never wanted to be. The emotional one. The one who blurted out personal things not to manipulate the witness or suspect into revealing hidden truths but to comfort a bratty twenty-four-year-old, who in the end organized her own kidnapping, yet with whom Ziva had felt some sort of camaraderie.
She and the Belgravian brat Adriana shared only two things. Both of them had not been born in the US but had spent the previous six years in America, albeit under completely different circumstances and for completely different reasons. They both, too, had similar fathers. Both Adriana's and Ziva's fathers' first love was their country and not their family.
Still Ziva tried to make sense of what she had said to Adriana. She had spoken openly about her bastard of a father Eli, and how his priorities were skewed. His first duty was to Israel. The country that had welcomed his Holocaust survivor parents, the country he and his two brothers had been born in, a country he had served long before he was a teenager dressed in his olive shield with an Uzi slung over his back. Israel was a country Eli had vowed to protect once it became the land his children danced across.
But Israel's protector-in-chief was not as pure as the white-gold sands of Haifa's beaches. Eli's soul was splattered with the scarlet blood of the lives he had taken. Slowly, perhaps even unbeknownst to him, the darkness in his soul had become obvious on the outside. In a tragic twist of faith, and maybe even ironically, his desire to protect his family and the country that had given him so much had cost him his family. He had been unable to stop Rivka from driving off to Haifa with her two sleeping daughters in the back of the beat-up car. He had been unable to save Ari from the dark voice in his head and the sorrow in the world around him that had made him cross the line between good and bad. Most tragically, Eli had been unable to save his youngest daughter from a terrorist bomb, on a bus destined for a peace rally.
Adriana was much more fortunate with her father. He had forgiven her, despite her planning her own kidnapping for reasons that included both money and politics. Adriana had gotten an awkward hug, with her father acknowledging the fact that he was glad she was still alive and safe. Apologies had been offered by both father and daughter.
An idea crossed Ziva's tired mind, an idea that surprised her; she almost dismissed the idea as soon as it was fully formed but instead decided to go with it. She would call Eli. The pair had never been close, not since the day Ziva realised that the world was not in black-and-white and that Eli's line of work meant he was in the grey zone of morality and ethics. Their relationship had been a series of peaks and valleys since Ziva was about eight. The peaks had always been mere hills but the valleys very deep.
Finally, after too many years and Eli's first leave of absence from Israel in twelve years, they had reached common ground, though their new relationship was more a homage to the one they had had when Ziva was a child than anything new. Ziva had already filled the vacant Daddy figure role with Gibbs; Eli had become a recurring character.
Currently their relationship included infrequent emails. Ziva sent photos of what was happening in her life; the previous Christmas she had sent a photo of her covered in snow and standing beside a sign showing her skiing destination. Ray had been absent from the photo and had not been mentioned at all in the email. Ziva still had a niggling feeling of doubt about trusting Eli, so her emails never named friends whom Eli could do background checks on and possibly hurt. Eli's reply came almost three weeks later; it had said nothing about his personal life, because the man did not have one. He had seemed pleased that she was happy and had sent an attachment of an old photo of Ziva and Tali one Hanukah.
In the next two emails sent since then, Ziva had received four more photos, all of them from when she was a child. It became apparent to her that he was living in the past. She often wondered if Eli ever sat alone in his empty penthouse apartment staring at old photographs from long ago, wondering if life could have been different if he had been more present in his children's lives.
Ziva picked up her cell phone and in doing so noticed the time; she had been sitting in her car for twenty minutes thinking about things, and had not moved. She looked up at the rear view mirror and saw one of the men from Linguistics, who had seemed very smitten by her at a Christmas party some years ago, look into the back of her car with lecherous expression. Years ago she had seen his crude sexual advances as entertaining, but now they scared her; flashbacks of Saleem's grimy-faced men and dirty hands echoed in her brain, distracting her from the task at hand. In that aspect of her life, too, she was different. She had changed a lot in her six years in America. She showed the lecherous guy from Linguistics her middle finger and he disappeared into the dark night. She reminded herself of the original task and hovered her finger above 'E' on her cell phone contact list.
She had three numbers for her father. Work, home and cell phone. All three were listed one after the other on her contact list. She knew that there was no point in dialling the number for Eli's home, as despite the ridiculously early morning hour that it was in Israel as she sat, she knew he would not be home. Eli seldom visited his empty shell of a home. The tiny penthouse was hardly home; just an empty shell with his crap in it. Ziva considered calling his cell phone, but she knew her father probably had no idea where the tiny thing had gone. Eli rather disliked cell phones and had a habit of throwing them at walls when he was annoyed by either the technology or by the person on the other end.
She hovered over the last number, her father's work number. Even though she had not been inside the Mossad building for nearly two years, she could picture Eli as she sat in her car; she could see him firing off dangerous orders to eager and willing Mossad officers, who had some idea of the danger of their orders, but who chose to ignore them.
Ziva pressed the green call button on her cell phone. It was only as she waited for the dial tone that she wondered what she would speak to him about. She waited for the dial tone and for Eli's voice. The dial tone continued for a few more seconds,and then there was beep.
"You have reached-" Eli's answering machine said in a cold robotic voice.
Ziva hung did not need to hear the robotic fake voice of his answering machine message; Eli had not changed it in years. She closed her flip phone. Disappointment, an emotion hardly unfamiliar to her in matters to do with her father, stung her. She bit her lip, surprised as tears pricked her eyelids; she held them back. She swore again in another foreign language. Then she put her keys into the ignition and drove off at a speed just over the speed limit.
She did not go to her small home west of the Navy Yard; she instead went to a small two- storey house a twenty-minute drive from NCIS. She stood outside Gibbs' wooden front door. She was again nervous about what was beyond the door. She twisted the handle and opened the door, which was unlocked, with ease; just like always.
She walked down the creaky wooden stairs, finding herself feeling strangely conscious of every single step as the creaking echoed in the basement. She reached the bottom of the stairs. Gibbs turned around, a jar of amber bourbon in his hand and a small soft smile on his face. He grabbed a glass jar from the counter to his side and poured her some. She took a sip. He grabbed a sander. A smile crossed her olive features and she briefly wondered why she had tried to call Eli in the first place.
Gibbs nodded, and they silently sanded his latest project. Nothing needed to be said because it was all known. Ziva was safe and loved.
A/N: Thank you Anonymous033 for being an awesome beta. Reviews are welcomed and like always will be replied to but maybe a bit late, I'm kind of busy. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50547 | "Christine, I love you." The Phantom choked as he sang, tears streaming down his scarred cheek. Christine's heart broke. Why was he sending her away with Raoul? She had chosen him! Did he misunderstand that kiss? It was not a kiss to save Raoul's life, it was an opportunity to finally feel his misshapen lips against hers. To finally explore what she had been craving to explore for months. For years.
The music of the night.
"Please," Christine started, kneeling in front of the broken man. Something felt different, she felt light headed suddenly. "Oh. What's wr-" She blinked her eyes, shaking her head. "I-" Christine looked up, slightly startled at first to find that the Phantom sat before her unmasked and unscathed by a bullet. "You're alright." She wrapped her arms around the Phantom in a childlike embrace. She had been so sure that he would die.
"Christine?" He questioned hesitantly, his hand resting on her back awkwardly. He did not know how to embrace another person, to him it was foreign. To him -… the world was suddenly spinning and his head ached with a sudden overwhelming pressure. "Christine." He purred, his hands no longer timid around her figure.
The ache of a bullet lodged in his gut had vanished. The feeling of age creeping up on him was disappeared. He felt young again. Young and tormented.
Christine pulled away from the embrace, cupping his injured cheek in her palm. "If only this Christine had accepted you for who you were in the light." She leaned towards his, ready to kiss away his fears when they both turned to the sound of footsteps on the cold stone.
"Raoul." The Phantom gritted, his voice harsh and cold.
Christine's eyes softened, the ache that she bore for him in her life, her other life, seemed to remain. She was the sole reason that her once handsome, young, vibrant husband had turned into a drunken monster. She had been a cold, dead, replacement for a wife.
"Raoul." His name fell from her lips like a desperate prayer. "I must set it right with him. We have this chance, no matter how terrifying it is."
"No." He snapped, grabbing her wrist and not letting her leave. "We leave together. Now." He snatched his mask from where it lay, discarded on the ground.
"But-" Christine stared back at the walkway towards the grotto as her Phantom led her deeper into his lair. His touch was once again heavy and possessive, what she remembered vividly of their time beneath the opera house. Not as hesitant and as nervous as in the darkness of the graveyard. Or even as frightened and longing as his touch at Fantasma.
"Not buts Christine. We did not gain this chance to waste away what little time we may have here."
"What if we are here forever?"
"Perhaps this is hell for me." He added remorsefully, "I asked whatever god would listen to give me a chance to be with you as we should have been and-" He stopped speaking as he crashed a candelabra through one of the covered mirrors. With his hand around her hand he led her through the dark tunnel.
"I prayed the same prayer. But, I do not understand. As a child I prayed for the very same thing, when my father died. The only thing I gained from that prayer was you. You are not my father are you?"
The Phantom shot her a cold look, "Though I am older than you, perhaps even old enough to be your father. Rest assured, ma petite fleur, I am not your father." As if to prove his point he stepped towards and captured her soft lips in a desperate kiss. For this body it had been mere moments since he had had her pressed against him – but for the mind that dwelt inside the body it had been ten years.
"If I am to go with you," Christine panted as he finally pulled away from her. "I must know what to call you. The Phantom is bizarre and Mr. Y does not suit you."
He stroked his hand across her cheek, brushing her unruly curls behind her ears. He missed those curls. She had tamed them in her later years. "I should tell you the name that I was graced with at my birth? But my name was only ever a word to string along with cruel words and harsh curses. Why would I want it to taint your lips?"
"Because I would make it sound like the most beautiful word ever mouthed. I shall sing it as a lullaby for you." For the past ten years she had wondered what it had been. The time she had spent with him she remembered vividly searching for something in his lair that would bear his name, turning up empty handed every time. "Tell me." Christine pressed her mouth against his again, savoring the ancient memory that she was reliving. The new story of their lives. One where they would not leave each other.
Christine smiled, "Erik, Erik, Erik, Erik, Erik-"
"Track down this murderer he must be found."
"Come we must go, quickly." Erik hissed, taking her hand and running with her up the path that would lead to their escape.
"Raoul will think that you captured me. He will not leave us be! You should have let me tell him. I know him better now, I know what strange thoughts about you and I flittered through his mind."
"Tell me." Erik commanded as he tried to catch his breath. He was younger and perhaps fitter than before, but his body still felt old.
"For another time. For now we must rescue ourselves." Christine pressed a kiss to his hand. "I cannot lose you again."
"Once upon another time, I did not leave you." Erik whispered, cherishing this tender moment with her. He could not, still, comprehend that Christine – the love of his life – wished to run away with him. Vanish into the music of the night. Now he saw how wrong he had been that night. She had given herself to him, twice. The night that the Opera Populaire burned she chose him and he forced her to leave with Raoul. And on her wedding night, she came to him and gave to him what was rightfully her future husband's and instead of honoring that by act they were man and wife, he forced her once again to have no choice but to leave with Raoul. He had been such an ignorant fool. It had been clear and yet he only saw what he wished to see.
Then he had seen himself as man edging closer and closer to forty, hideous as sin with a heart as darkened and blackened by the hatred of the world, desiring the love and soul of a young seventeen year old girl who's soul was as pure as an angel's and who's intentions could only be innocent care for her tormented angel of music.
This time there would be no mistake. He would take what she so lovingly offered to him. He would not hide himself before her, hide his face and hide his heart. They were hers. They had always been hers.
A/N: So what do you all think of the potential of this story? I'm sure you can all guess angst!Erik and angst!Christine and pissed!Raoul. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50548 | I don't own Merlin. (Sadly.)
This story is a birthday present to my amazing friend Cathcer1984 and is dedicated to her. I hope you like what I have done with your idea. A very happy birthday to you :) x
A few warnings: This is malexmale. Ygraine is still alive. Age difference, Arthur is older than Merlin by seven years.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made.
Sixteen year old Arthur was sat at one of the desks in the library in his mother and father's home where he lived with them both and his little sister Morgana who was nine years old. Morgana had been off school for three days now and was driving Arthur barmy, demanding that he played dolls with her. "Morgana I am sixteen years old, I am also a boy. I don't play dolls. I have to study for my final school exams. Leave. Me. Alone." Arthur saw Morgana freeze at his words and did an inward sigh when he saw her bottom lip go. Here we go. He thought.
"MUM." Morgana turned and ran from the library shouting, "Arthur's being mean to me," as she went.
Arthur groaned and followed her, slamming the library doors shut for some peace once again.
Later that day Arthur walked into the kitchen for something to eat and saw his mum sat at the round table drinking a cup of tea with his father sat beside her reading a newspaper. "Must you make your sister cry Arthur?"
"Oh come on mum, they were crocodile tears that she always uses to get what she wants. All I said to her was to leave me alone. She wanted me to play dolls with her again, I have last minute revising to do before I take my final exams, that's why I was in the library."
"Five minutes of your attention wouldn't hurt Arthur."
"Father once I take my last exam I have four weeks to wait for my results, she can have all the attention she wants then. Where is she anyway?"
"She is out in the garden. I took her out with me earlier on to cheer her up a little and I bumped into an old friend I haven't seen in years, her and her husband have moved back over here and they have a son the same age as Morgana, they both seemed to get on fine whilst I caught up, so I brought him back here for Morgana to have a bit of company and I will drop him off at home later." Ygraine explained.
"I have done all the studying I think I can, I'll go and say sorry."
"Good lad." Ygraine said, smiling at her son.
Arthur walked out into the garden and saw Morgana who seemed to be looking for something. He walked up to her and Morgana looked up at him, forgetting what she was looking for when Arthur smiled at her. "Morgana, I'm sorry for making you cry."
"You didn't. I faked the tears so mum would take me out and treat me."
"You sneaky little-"
"Morgana, you are supposed to call out after a while if you can't find me."
Arthur turned at the voice and saw a small boy, with short hair, as dark as Morgana's and bright blue eyes with larger ears then a boy his age should have and a big grin on his face. He stopped in front of Arthur and held his hand out. "Hello mister. My name is Merlin and I am Morgana's new friend."
"Mister? He's not a mister, he's Arthur. He's my brother, he is sixteen. He is studying for his final exams so he is cranky at the moment."
"Morgana." Arthur scolded before looking at Merlin. "I am not cranky. Nice to meet you Merlin. And call me Arthur. Not mister." Arthur said, taking Merlin's small hand in his and chuckled slightly when Merlin shook his hand enthusiastically.
Arthur entered the house again and saw Ygraine smiling at him. "Have you met Merlin?"
"I have. He seems very excited doesn't he."
"He's lovely."
"I'm going to do a bit more studying before dinner. I can go to bed then."
"Bed? Why that early?"
"I have two more exams left. And they are in the morning, if I go to bed early, I can get up earlier and get some studying done. That way it's fresh in my head for when I sit the exam."
That afternoon, Arthur walked into his house and saw his mother at the door. "I've been waiting for you."
"What for?"
"What do you mean 'what for?' Your exams this morning. How did you get on?"
"I liked to think that I did well, I answered each question thoroughly and gave long answers. And when I finished with some time left I went through it all again."
"I know that you will pass Arthur."
"Thanks mum."
Arthur had noticed that ever since that day, Merlin had been coming round their house every day to play with Morgana. Two days after becoming Merlin's friend, Morgana introduced him to Gwen, who always seemed to blush whenever Arthur smiled at her in greeting.
Merlin never seemed to mind that he was the only boy, he played with them anyway and always, Arthur had noticed, always had a smile on his face.
Merlin may have been eager to meet Arthur that day, but since then, he had left Arthur alone and didn't bother him at all. Arthur decided that he liked Merlin for that. Out of all of Morgana's friends who she brought to the house, Merlin was the only one who left Arthur alone. Not for long though.
It was two days later when Arthur was on his way home when he heard some kids on the park messing about, chucking a bag from one to the other whilst someone in the middle of them tried to get it back, it was only when the group slightly parted, did he see that it was Merlin in the middle being bullied by the group of boys that looked a little older than him.
"Oi." Arthur walked up to them all, who stopped what they were doing when Arthur called out. "If that bag doesn't belong to any of you then why do you have it."
"We were just playing."
"Bullying looks more like it. That bag belongs to none of you. It belongs to Merlin, so give it him back and scram."
"Or what?" one boy dared to ask.
"Or I will come back with my mates and let you find out the hard way what we'll do to you."
The six boys dropped Merlin's bag and ran away. Arthur walked over to Merlin and picked his bag up as Merlin seemed frozen to the spot. "Merlin are you alright?"
"You saved me from getting beat up."
"Well I wouldn't exactly say-"
"You're my hero."
"Oh no." Arthur groaned when he saw Merlin beam up at him.
Arthur was now seventeen and after passing all of his exams, getting higher marks then he expected, Arthur was at college. Whenever he was at home though, Merlin was always there. Ever since that day he would follow around after Arthur. It got to the point where Arthur would peep into a room and if Merlin was nowhere to be seen, Arthur would then plan to stay in that room for a few hours. But as soon as Arthur would get comfy, as if like magic, Merlin would pop up out of nowhere.
One day the following year when Arthur was eighteen, Morgana came home crying, informing Uther, Ygraine and Arthur that Merlin was being sent off to boarding school where he was to stay until he was sixteen and if he wanted, continue to stay until he was eighteen. It was a school for boys aged eleven to sixteen and boys from sixteen to eighteen it was a college.
Arthur looked sad because Morgana was unhappy and crying because she had lost her closest friend and didn't know when or if she'd see him again. But inside, Arthur was cheering at the fact that Merlin would no longer be living in his shadow.
As the years went on, Arthur had worked and worked and did nothing but study through college and university to get where he was today. At the age of twenty five, Arthur had his own big office with people working for him. Yes he was with his father's business. But Arthur got the job and got to where he was today on his own and that's what Arthur was proud of. He had done it all by himself.
Arthur was sat at his desk one Friday afternoon when Morgana burst into his office with one of the biggest smiles on her face that he hadn't seen in a long while. "What has you so happy baby sis?"
"I am not a baby. I'm eighteen. Anyway, I wanted to ask you to come over to my flat tomorrow dinner."
"Of course I will, I spend a lot of time there anyway."
"Thank you Arthur. I have already asked Gwen and she will be there."
"Why? What's happening tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow will be the first time I have seen Merlin since I was eleven, he has finished school and college and he is coming home, he will be sharing my flat with me, whilst he looks for a job and saves enough to buy his own place." Morgana said and left Arthur sat alone in his office once again.
He was happy for his sister Morgana as Merlin was her best friend and she had the chance to see him again, sure they had talked through letters over the years but it wasn't the same. Arthur had only hoped that when he went round Morgana's flat tomorrow to see Merlin again, he wasn't the same kid as he was back then.
Merlin had arrived at Morgana's flat, he was so happy to get to see her again, but he couldn't help but smile when Morgana had told him that Arthur would be there as well. His fascination with Arthur when he was younger turned into something else, Merlin and Morgana wrote back and forth sending pictures and in some of the pictures Morgana sent, they had Arthur in them and Merlin felt himself falling hard for the blond. Merlin looked down at himself and saw his trainers and tattered jeans and smiled at the logo on his t-shirt. Wanting Arthur for himself and quickly, Merlin wanted to put his plan in motion the first day back.
Merlin knew that Arthur was gay through Morgana and being gay himself and wanting Arthur, Merlin had brought a load of plain black t-shirts and decided to print his own words on them, flirting with Arthur that way instead of talking. Merlin knew that he was useless at flirting with people as he always stumbled over what he actually wanted to say, and he always frightened them off. It wasn't going to be like that with Arthur though. Merlin knocked on the door and waited.
Morgana and Gwen were sat on the settee and Arthur in the chair talking when the sound of a knock on the door made Morgana jump up squealing, "he's here."
Arthur sat and listened as Morgana opened the door, he heard her greet him and Merlin greet her in return, there was a few seconds of silence before Morgana started laughing out loud. Arthur heard the door shut and the footsteps get closer and closer, he saw Gwen look up and laugh at something before she too, jumped up and hugged Merlin.
Arthur took a deep breath and stood up. Slowly turning around, Arthur saw that Merlin had a smile on his face as he was hugging Gwen, but looking straight into Arthur's eyes who swallowed. He had seen the pictures that Morgana showed him of Merlin and found himself becoming attracted to him. He was hoping that that wouldn't be the case once he saw him in person. No such luck.
Gwen backed away from Merlin who walked up to Arthur with his hand out. Arthur shook his hand and looked down at the logo on Merlin's t-shirt, 'Tell your cock to stop staring at my eyes.' and couldn't help but laugh a little. Once he read what it said his only thought was. If only he knew it was.
Merlin noticed Arthur staring at his top. "Do you like it? I do them myself."
"You do them yourself?"
"Yes. Can I have my hand back?"
Arthur quickly pulled his hand from Merlin's grip. "Sorry."
The next morning Merlin groaned as he woke up, he looked at the time and saw it was only half past eleven and groaned again. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up, noticing a small note on the desk in his room. "Merlin, gone with Gwen to do some shopping, feel free to help yourself to anything, the flat is as much yours now as it is mine. See you soon. Morgana. x."
Merlin chuckled and stood up and stretched, freezing with his arms in mid air when he heard a noise come from the living room. He crept over to his door and opened it slightly and smiled when he saw the noise had come from Arthur who had fell asleep on the settee last night and was starting to wake up. Merlin closed his door again. An idea coming to mind, Merlin took his cock from his boxers shorts that was half hard and started to stroke it slowly whilst thinking of the blond man in the other room.
It went hard within seconds and Merlin smirked and tucked himself away. He looked into the full length mirror and smiled when he saw that his tight boxers shorts did nothing to hide his hard on. Merlin smiled at the saying on his boxer shorts and ruffled his hair up so it looked more like 'I've just been fucked into the mattress' look rather then the 'I have just woken up look.'
Feeling confident, Merlin stepped out of his room and acted as though he didn't notice Arthur, who had his jaw resting on his chest at the sight of Merlin, as he walked into the kitchen and switched the kettle on.
Merlin knew that Arthur must have followed him when he spoke. "Morning Merlin."
Merlin turned around and smiled. "Morning Arthur." Merlin couldn't look Arthur in the eyes when he said this as Arthur eyes were glued to Merlin's erection. "Arthur?"
"It ain't gonna suck itself." was all Arthur said as he read aloud the saying on Merlin's boxer shorts. "No it isn't."
Arthur shook his head and looked back up at Merlin. "Are you going to take the hint then Arthur?"
"You're not serious?"
"Why not?"
"You are my sisters best friend. I'm twenty five, you're eighteen."
"I am your sisters best friend who knows what he wants when he sees it and I may be eighteen but that still makes me old enough to make my own decisions. You know Morgana wouldn't mind. Can you honestly say that you are not attracted to me."
"Merlin I-" what ever the rest of that sentence was going to be, Merlin wouldn't find out as Arthur's phone chose that time to ring. Arthur fumbled round to find his phone, finally locating it in his jeans pocket. "Hello?"
"Arthur where are you? We have a football match in an hour."
Arthur looked at the clock on the wall. "Shit I didn't know it was that time. Where are we playing again?"
"Seriously Arthur mate, did you get pissed last night or something? We are playing at home today. Would you like me to tell you how to get there or have you forgot that as well?"
"Very funny Gwaine. I know where the forum football club is." Arthur snapped back and put his phone away. He looked up at Merlin who was smiling at him in a way that just made Arthur want to drop to his knees and do as the saying on Merlin's boxers shorts said. Instead he just sighed. "See you around Merlin."
Merlin smiled when he noticed that when Arthur said bye to Merlin, he looked him in the eyes, but when he turned away, he noticed Arthur's eyes drop to his hard cock. "See you later Arthur." Merlin called out as the door opened and shut.
Merlin had heard all about Arthur's football team from Morgana, out of all the matches they had played, you could count on one hand how many matches they had lost. Merlin had decided to get dressed and instead of spending the day unpacking, he would go to where Arthur was playing and cheer him on, and hopefully get his attention one way or another.
Merlin got to Arthur's game just as they were about to kick off. Arthur's team won of course. Merlin jumping up and down, cheering more for Arthur than the rest of the team, caught the eye of a particular player.
Gwaine caught sight of a certain skinny dark haired male jumping and cheering and excused himself from his team mates and made his way over. Arthur seeing that it was Merlin who caught Gwaine's eye, growled and followed Gwaine.
Gwaine stopped in front of Merlin who smiled at him. Gwaine smiled back and looked at his t-shirt and read aloud. "If you don't like what I'm wearing, feel free to undress me."
Merlin's smile got bigger when he saw Arthur behind the person who had just read his t-shirt out loud. "That's right."
The man held his hand out. "I'm Gwaine."
"Merlin." he said taking Gwaine's hand and held it in his, not bothering to shake it. "Merlin, I don't like what you are wearing."
"Then do as the t-shirt says."
Before Gwaine could respond, Arthur dragged Gwaine away, not noticing Merlin following them both. "What are you doing?" Arthur asked.
"Flirting. He's hot."
"You can not and will not ever have Merlin."
"Why not? Is he yours?"
"No I'm not. I am single." Gwaine and Arthur turned their heads to see Merlin standing there. "Merlin go home."
"Wanna get a drink Merlin?" Gwaine said, smiling at him.
"No he doesn't." Arthur answered for him.
"Says who?" asked Gwaine.
"Says me." Arthur said, getting in Gwaine's personal space. Gwaine looked at Merlin and gave him an apologetic smile. "Maybe some other time mate." was all Gwaine said before leaving Arthur and Merlin alone. "Why did you do that Arthur? I would have had a drink with him. Is it because you want me for yourself?"
"No I don't." Arthur lied.
"Right." Merlin said, nodding his head slowly. "So let me see if I understand this: You don't want me, but no-one else can have me either."
"No Merlin. I don't want you and anyone can have you."
"Then why stop me with Gwaine?"
"I have known Gwaine for ten years. You have known him for ten seconds. I know what he is like. He isn't one of them that settle down. He goes from bloke to bloke."
"As long as I get sex out of it." Merlin shrugged.
"No Merlin. Just no." Arthur said and turned and left Merlin standing there.
Merlin watched Arthur's retreating back. "Oh my Arthur. ' I don't want you and anyone can have you.' You are fooling no-one but yourself." Merlin murmured to himself. "We shall soon see." he said a smile appearing on his face.
Merlin was sat in his flat he shared with Morgana, slouched back on the settee, flicking through the channels when Morgana came in and sat down beside him. "Merlin can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you like Arthur?"
Merlin sighed. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only if you are really looking at it Merlin. When you told me that you was coming back here to stay my first thought was to try and get you and Arthur together."
"You don't mind that I like him and flirt with him then."
"You flirt with him?"
"Yes. I tend to stumble over my words when trying to flirt with someone I like so I have put what I would like to say to Arthur on my t-shirts and boxer shorts."
"That's all for Arthur?" when Merlin nodded, Morgana continued. "Have you done anything with Arthur up to now in order to get him?"
Merlin told Morgana everything from the morning after he arrived. What Arthur had seen on his boxer shorts, what his reaction was and what he told Merlin, what had happened at the football match. When he had finished, Morgana sat forward and brought Merlin forwards with her. "Merlin I can help you with this."
"I know Arthur just as much as he knows himself."
"What's your plan?"
"I need to see all of your t-shirts and boxer shorts with these sayings on so I can plan for you to bump into him 'accidentally' wearing a t-shirt with the perfect saying on for that time."
"Okay." Merlin disappeared into his room, coming out five minutes later covering his side of the settee with his t-shirts and boxer shorts. Merlin riffled through his stuff and picked up a pair of boxer shorts. "Arthur has already seen me in these ones."
Morgana took the boxer shorts from Merlin and read the saying. "It ain't gonna suck itself." Morgana laughed and looked up at Merlin. "What happened when he saw them?"
"I told him to take the hint."
Morgana's jaw dropped. "You didn't! What did he say?"
"He stuttered. That's when I asked him about us and you know the rest."
"Arthur is coming over tomorrow morning. He often does on his days off. It will be a shame that you will be out somewhere."
"I am not going out anywhere tomorrow."
"I know that Merlin, you could be just heading out to spend the day going to interviews for jobs or something."
"And why will this be happening? I have already had those and I'm waiting for replies."
Morgana rummaged through Merlin's clothes and held up a pair of boxer shorts. "You will wear these and only these to bed tonight, I shall wake you when Arthur is on his way over, you stay in bed and keep an ear open because when Arthur comes in to wake you, you will be asleep."
Merlin took his boxer shorts off Morgana and read the saying and looked at her. "This is what is going to happen and what you will say. I know exactly what Arthur will do so listen carefully."
The next morning Morgana roughly shook Merlin awake. "Merlin, get up, Arthur is on his way over. You know the plan, think of my brother and get yourself hard." she said and left his room, shutting the door behind her.
When the door closed, Merlin wrapped his hand around his cock and slowly began to stroke himself whilst thinking of a certain blue eyed blond. Once he was hard, Merlin continued to stroke himself until precum was leaking from his tip.
When Morgana left Merlin's room she walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. The kettle had just boiled when Arthur walked in calling out, "hello?"
"In the kitchen ." Morgana called back.
"Morning baby sis."
"Don't call me that. I hate it when you do."
"I know you hate it, why do you think I continue to do it?"
"Because you are annoying. Anyway, now that you are here, can you go and wake Merlin. He has interviews to be going to today and he is still in bed asleep."
"Me? Why can't you?"
"I have woke him enough times and saw a lot more than I wanted to see. It's just uncomfortable and weird seeing that much of him with him being my best friend. You aren't even friends with him properly so it shouldn't bother you."
"But Morgana-"
Arthur sighed. "Fine. Which room?"
"Second one down from mine."
Arthur sighed and walked to Merlin's room, he quietly opened the door to see Merlin asleep in bed, wearing only his boxer shorts, no covers on him whatsoever, with his back to Arthur. Arthur walked over to Merlin and placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder and gently shook him. "Merlin?"
Merlin moaned and turned onto his back. As soon as he did this, Arthur's eyes flew to Merlin's cock that was rock hard. Arthur gasped slightly when he saw that the tip of Merlin's cock was poking through the slit in his boxer shorts and Arthur's eyes were glued to the tip of Merlin's cock that was glistening and leaking with precum. Arthur moved his eyes from Merlin's cock to the saying on Merlin's boxer shorts. "One eyed Monster inside." Arthur whispered.
"And he is staring straight at you." Arthur looked up at Merlin to find him looking at him with a grin on his face. Merlin propped himself up on his elbows and looked at himself to see that his cock was still hard, he looked back up at Arthur. "It looks as though he likes what he sees." Arthur stuttered and rushed from the room.
Morgana saw Arthur rush from Merlin's room and from their flat. Seconds later, Merlin came walking out pulling a plain t-shirt over his head. "Did what I said yesterday happen?"
"It did."
"Arthur definitely wants you Merlin. Next step is to see how much by him catching you in the act, or so to speak."
"You want to what?"
"Use your house for a party. Please Arthur?"
"Why do you want a party anyway Morgana?"
"To celebrate Merlin coming back. Introduce him to new people so he can make friends. You are going to be here anyway and you know that I won't let it get out of hand. Please?"
Arthur sighed. "Fine. But you owe me one Morgana." Morgana gave Arthur a quick hug. "Thank you. Hey, invite all of your football mates too."
"No Morgana. They are all my age."
"That hasn't stopped Gwaine."
"What's Gwaine got to do with anything?"
"Merlin told me he met him at your football match and hit it off and Merlin asked if we could invite him and Gwaine said yes." Morgana frowned. "Arthur what's wrong with your face?"
"Gwaine isn't right for Merlin."
"Then do something about it and ask Merlin out before Gwaine does."
"I don't like Merlin like that."
"Yeah right Arthur. You are kidding no-one but yourself." Morgana said and left Arthur alone in his house to brood.
It was the following weekend when the party was held in Arthur's house. Arthur rang Gwaine and told him not to come. What a waste of time that was.
Arthur picked up his phone and rang Gwaine. "Arthur mate what's up?"
"I have been told that you will be at the party this weekend."
"I will."
"You are not to come Gwaine."
"I am. Morgana told me that Merlin wants me there. I liked what I saw of Merlin that day at the match so I said yes."
"I don't want you any where near him. I mean it Gwaine."
"Are you with Merlin Arthur?"
"No I am not."
"Do you want him for yourself?"
"No." Arthur lied.
"Then if Merlin shows interest in me I will go for it with him." Gwaine then put the phone down.
"Gwaine? Gwaine?" when all Arthur heard was a dead line he yelled out, "BOLLOCKS." kicking his wall and throwing his phone on the settee.
End flashback.
Arthur at this present time was leaning against the wall, bottle of beer that was half full in his hand. He had to hand it to Morgana. As promised, she did keep the party under control, it was a pretty good party up to now, the only fault was what was going off at the opposite end of the room. Morgana spotted Arthur staring at something across the room, she turned her head and smiled when she saw Merlin leaning against a wall, hands in pockets and Gwaine leaning close to him, a bottle of beer in one hand and his other hand was against the wall above Merlin's head. Morgana couldn't help but smile at the picture they was giving to anyone who could see, especially Arthur. What must he be thinking. If only Arthur knew what was actually going on over there. She thought and carried on making her way around the party.
"So Merlin. You happy to see Morgana again?"
"Oh yeah. She was my first proper friend I made. I hated it when I first went to that school, you name it and I did it to try and kicked out. But as time went on I calmed down and joined in. I studied hard, I went quiet, I joined the activities when they had them."
"Are you glad you went now?"
"Oh yeah. To say how I first started out, I think I surprised the teachers when they asked me at sixteen if I wanted to stay on for the extra two years and I said yes."
"What are you going to do now Merlin?"
"I have been offered a job and I've took it. I applied for it, thinking it would be a long shot. But after seeing how well I did in school and college and my report of how I work when I am given something, he offered me the job as soon as the interview finished. I owe it to Morgana really. I would never have thought of it."
"You know Merlin, I can just see Arthur in the mirror that is not far from your head and he hasn't looked away from here all the while we have been here."
"He hasn't?"
"Nope. It's time to make you blush Merlin."
"Nothing will make me blush Gwaine."
"Something to do with Arthur might. What if I was to tell you that after our football matches when he thinks everyone was gone he is wanking in the showers moaning and calling out your name. He must get caught up in what he is imagining as I have heard him shout out a few times. 'Oh yes Merlin, swallow my cock, that's it, suck my cock hard.'"
Gwaine grinned when Merlin blushed. "You haven't told anyone he says that have you?"
"Oh course not Merlin." Merlin jumped and looked around Gwaine and Gwaine looked over his shoulder at Arthur when they heard him snap at someone. They watched as Arthur slammed his empty beer bottle down and stormed through the party and made his way outside.
Morgana walked over to Gwaine and Merlin. "What did you say to Merlin to make him blush like that?"
"Something about Arthur."
"He hasn't took his eyes from you both all night. You both go and get ready, I'll go and calm my brother down."
Morgana walked outside and up to a pacing Arthur. "Are you alright?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well. You snapping at Leon for no reason gave it away. You do know that the bad mood you are in is no-one else's fault but your own don't you."
"I am in a bad mood because I have got a banging head and I can't get any peace and quiet because of the party going on inside."
"Bullshit Arthur. You are in a bad mood because Merlin has spent all night trapped between a wall and Gwaine and hasn't said more than 'hello' to you when he came in." Morgana sighed. "Who are you trying to fool Arthur? Yourself? Because you are not fooling anyone else. Why are you fighting against being with Merlin?"
"What if I did go out with him, what if we was happy, what if all was well, what if one day somewhere down the road we have a massive fight and can no longer stand the sight of each other. That puts you in the middle Morgana, torn as to what to do. Do you stick with you brother or your best friend? I will get over him."
"Arthur don't get over him, get on top of him. Don't let the thought of me being torn if you two have a row, that's just stupid. Go in there and get him."
Arthur nodded and went back in the house followed closely by Morgana who took her phone out of her pocket and quickly sent a text to Merlin. "Change of plan. This is what to do instead..." the original plan was for Arthur to catch Merlin and Gwaine in a compromising position, but Arthur finally giving in, made Morgana change the plan.
When Arthur saw that Merlin wasn't anywhere in sight. Neither was Gwaine. Arthur went straight upstairs and started opening the doors, looking in each room.
Arthur reached his room and saw nothing. He turned to leave when he saw it empty, but stopped when the toilet in his adjourning bathroom flushed. Arthur stood staring at the door with Morgana behind him.
Merlin opened the bathroom door and walked back into the bedroom, pausing when he saw Arthur and Morgana stood there. "Sorry. Someone was in the other bathroom and I remember Morgana telling me that when you had this house done up, you had your bedroom done with an adjourning bathroom. So I used this one."
"It's okay Merlin. Where's Gwaine?"
"He went home after you went out back."
"I thought you would have gone with him."
Morgana cleared her throat. "I'll just leave you both to it." Morgana walked from the room and grinned when she saw Gwaine, creeping from a door three doors down from Arthur's room. "You're fine. Just get going. And thank you Gwaine."
"No Arthur. We spent the night talking about what I thought of school and about my new job."
"He made you blush."
"Because he told me what he heard you do in the showers after football when you think everyone else has gone." it was Arthur's turn to blush. "What is this new job that you have got then Merlin?" Arthur asked, wanting to get off the subject of him wanking in the showers calling out Merlin's name.
"I am to work for the Pendragon company. Mr Pendragon said that I am qualified for most jobs in his company but I am to work under his successor. Help him with his needs, do what ever he wants to be done."
"I am Uther's successor. You will be working under me."
Merlin slowly walked up to Arthur. "Being underneath you. Now that I like the sound of." Merlin placed a gentle kiss on Arthur's cheek. "Good night Arthur. Or should I say 'boss'?" Merlin smiled at Arthur and left him alone in his room.
The next morning Merlin was being woken up by Morgana who was roughly shaking him. "Get your arse out of bed. I want you to go over to Arthur's."
"I have left my grandmother's ring over there. I must have took it off when I washed my hands in the upstairs bathroom."
"Why do you want me to get it?"
"To give you some time with Arthur. Just get dressed and get going."
"Yes boss." Merlin mumbled and got out of bed as Morgana left his room.
When Merlin left the flat, Morgana walked into her room and picked up her grandmothers' ring from her desk and placed it onto her finger. "Why tell Merlin you left it at Arthur's?" Gwen said over the phone.
"Arthur's goes running every morning I would say that just as Merlin is letting himself in with the key I gave him, Arthur will be stepping out of the shower." Morgana explained. "It won't be long now Gwen. Merlin starts working for Arthur a week on Monday. If I have anything to do with it, they will be together before then."
Merlin let himself in with Morgana's key and searched around downstairs for Arthur, calling out his name. When he had no luck, Merlin slowly made his way upstairs and and checked the bathroom on the landing, when he saw no ring anywhere, he went to check the only other bathroom. The one adjourned to Arthur's bedroom. Merlin knocked on the door and called out Arthur's name again. When he heard nothing but silence, Merlin slowly opened the door and saw that the room was empty. Just as Merlin made his way over to the bathroom, the door opened and a dripping wet Arthur wearing nothing but a towel walked out. "Merlin? What are you doing here?"
"Mer-mer-Morgana said she left her grandmothers ring here in the bathroom when she removed it to wash her hands. I checked the other bathroom and it isn't in there. I didn't mean to barge in, Morgana said that you wouldn't be in and gave me her key to let myself in."
Arthur walked over to his chest of drawers and took out some boxer briefs and t-shirt from the next drawer down. "It's alright Merlin. Tell Morgana to have another look in her flat. It's not in this bathroom here." as Arthur made his way back to his bathroom he looked at Merlin. "You're alright to see yourself out aren't you?"
"Yeah sure."
Arthur nodded and read Merlin's t-shirt. "If you're happy and you know it, show us your cock." Arthur smirked at the saying and undone his towel, showing a shocked, yet happy, smiling Merlin his cock that was half hard before covering himself back up, walking back into his bathroom, saying 'bye' to Merlin as he went.
Merlin walked back into the flat he shared with Morgana with a smile on his face. He came to a stop when he reached the living room and saw Morgana and Gwen sat on the settee. "What's put a smile on your face?"
"Arthur showed me that he is happy."
Gwen frowned whilst Morgana squealed in delight. "I don't get it."
"Read his t-shirt Gwen." Gwen read the t-shirt and gasped. "Did he show you?"
"Yep. You didn't leave your ring at Arthur's last night."
"I know I didn't. I'm glad my plan worked out."
It was the following weekend when Arthur had his football match and this time, Morgana and Gwen went along as well. At first all three were standing together, but now it was just Morgana and Gwen as Merlin had taken to walking up and down the side lines, following Arthur as he made his way up and down the field. Merlin was getting some dirty looks from his choice in t-shirt today, but he didn't care. He knew that Arthur would like it. He hoped he did anyway.
"Well Morgana. What are you going to do? You said that you was going to get them both together before Merlin starts working for Arthur and he starts tomorrow."
"I know that Gwen. I have this one last idea and it will work. Merlin won't be sleeping at the flat tonight."
"He won't?"
"No. I have already took the clothes that Merlin will be wearing for work tomorrow round to Arthur's house. A little scene with Gwaine and Arthur will be taking Merlin home with him."
It was full time, Arthur's team had won 4-2 and Merlin who was jumping and cheering more for Arthur as he had scored two of the goals, once again caught Gwaine's attention before catching Arthur's. Gwaine stood in front of Merlin and laughed at his t-shirt. Today's t-shirt was an arrow pointing to Merlin's face with the words, "Your cock goes in here." Merlin turned around which made Gwaine laugh even more when on the back of Merlin's t-shirt was an arrow pointing to Merlin's arse with the saying, "Or in here, whichever you prefer."
"Do I get to choose then Merlin?" Gwaine asked as Merlin turned back round.
"No you don't." Gwaine took a step back as Arthur walked over to Merlin and wrapped his arm around Merlin's waist. Gwaine looked at Merlin who looked as surprised as him. "I am the only one who gets to choose."
"Is that right Merlin?" Gwaine asked. When Merlin slowly nodded, Gwaine smiled. "Then I shall be your friend and try for nothing more."
When Gwaine walked away, Arthur buried his face into the back of Merlin's neck. "Let me guess, you only did that because you know what he is like. You don't want me and anyone can have me." Merlin said, repeating the words Arthur said to him when he first went to watch him.
"No Merlin. I want you and no-one else can have you."
Merlin smirked. "Surely it's up to me who I choose to be with."
"You just told Gwaine that it was me."
"I say a lot of things." Arthur spun Merlin around so he was facing him. "Do you Merlin Emrys want to be with me and only me, Arthur Pendragon. Will you go out with me?"
"Yes Arthur. I will." Arthur and Merlin leaned towards each other, but before they could join lips, they heard someone shout out and turned their heads.
"About time." Morgana said and grinned at Gwen, giving her high five. "You have been wanting me and Merlin to get together for ages and you stop us before we go further? I will never get you Morgana."
"You don't have to get her Arthur. You have me now." Arthur turned back and looked at Merlin. "Mm, that I do." he said and then finally, finally, kissed Merlin full on the lips. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin's waist and drew him even closer whilst Merlin buried his fingers into Arthur's hair. Arthur licked Merlin's bottom lip, seeking entrance and thrust his tongue into Merlin's mouth when he was granted access to the warm cavern of Merlin's mouth.
Merlin pulled back when he needed air, "your place?" Merlin asked, panting as he was resting his forehead against Arthur's. "Of course." Arthur took Merlin's hand in his and was about to lead them away when Merlin held him back. "Merlin?"
"Or would you prefer to wait until all of your football mates have gone and make your wanking in the shower whilst calling out my name a reality?"
"I never did that." Arthur denied.
"The sudden shock on your face and what Gwaine overheard when you thought you was alone says otherwise."
"I'm gonna kill him."
"No Arthur. If it wasn't for his help, you wouldn't be wanting to take me home right now."
"How did he help?"
"He flirted with me when he knew full well you was watching, he looked at me as though he wanted to ravish me on the spot at the party when all we talked about is my new job. He knew you was watching. If he didn't do that then you wouldn't have made a move so soon."
"I would have done." when Merlin raised an eyebrow, Arthur continued. "Okay, maybe not as soon, but I would have done eventually. Anyway, enough talking I want to get you back to mine and bend you over the nearest thing and fuck you raw."
"As much as I would love that Arthur, the first thing you are to do when you get home is shower, you have been running around for ninety minutes."
"Yes love."
"Baby?" Arthur asked, frowning when Merlin frowned, he tried again. "Sweetheart?" Arthur laughed when Merlin blushed slightly. "We have a winner. Come on. Sweetheart." Arthur said, laughing again when Merlin blushed at the endearment.
Back at Arthur's house whilst Arthur was in the shower, Merlin stripped down to his boxer shorts. and sat down on Arthur office chair, pushing his feet on the floor and using the wheels underneath to move backwards and forwards.
Arthur came out after five minutes, one towel wrapped round his hips whilst a smaller one was in his hand that was towelling his hair dry. Merlin stood up as Arthur moved closer and when he was close enough, Merlin reached out and grabbed the rim of the towel. Arthur stopped towelling his hair and looked at Merlin, smiling when he saw him in just his boxer shorts. Arthur looked down and read aloud the saying on Merlin's boxer shorts. "Please retreat to nearest exit. Cock first."
"Where is the exit Merlin?"
Merlin turned round and Arthur had to laugh as the the letters in capital 'EX' were on his left cheek and the letters in capital 'IT' were on his right cheek. Merlin turned back round and placed his hands on Arthur's towel, he opened the towel, not taking his eyes from Arthur and stepped closer to Arthur, feeling Arthur's cock touch his clothed one. Merlin chucked the towel to one side as Arthur pushed Merlin's boxer shorts down. Merlin wiggled his legs until his boxers dropped to his ankles and stepped out of them.
Arthur wrapped his hand around Merlin's cock, who threw his head back, moaning. "Ah Arthur."
With his free hand, Arthur placed it on Merlin's chin and leveled Merlin's head with his. "Merlin." he said huskily, with a whispered, "finally," Arthur kissed Merlin furiously, letting go of Merlin's cock. Arthur wrapped both arms around Merlin, who in turn, wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck and spun them both around and pushed Arthur back into the chair and straddled him. He swivelled the chair round so his back was now against the desk.
Merlin placed his feet flat against the legs of the chair and lifted himself up a little. "Get the lube out of your desk drawer, lather your fingers up in it and shove them in me and loosen me up so you can shove that amazing cock of yours in me."
"Oh I will do all of that and more. But first. How did you know where I kept the lube?"
"I had a nosey round whilst you were in the shower." Merlin answered with a sly grin.
"Did you now?" Arthur asked as he leaned forward and opened his drawer. He took the lube out and squeezed some on to Merlin's fingers, instructing him to smother his cock in it whilst he stretched Merlin.
Merlin, with his feet flat on the legs of the office chair, rose a little as Arthur spread his legs in order to reach Merlin's entrance. Arthur circled Merlin's hole with his finger before pushing it in, causing Merlin to squeeze Arthur's cock in surprise and moan out loud.
Arthur added a second finger, slowly followed by a third. Arthur removed his fingers after a few minutes as he realised the more he thrust his fingers into Merlin, the faster Merlin's hand got around his cock and Arthur, wanting to cum inside Merlin, pulled them out.
"I want to cum inside you Merlin." he had explained after seeing the look on Merlin's face.
Merlin nodded and let go of Arthur's cock and placed his hands on Arthur's shoulders and rose a little higher so Arthur could line his cock up with Merlin's entrance. As soon as Merlin felt the head of Arthur's cock enter him, he slammed down, making them both yell out. "Ah fuck Merlin."
"Oh yes Arthur." Merlin gripped Arthur's shoulders whilst Arthur gripped Merlin's hips as Merlin started to bounce up and down. Merlin moved his hands from Arthur's shoulders and laced his fingers together at the back of Arthur's head and brought his head forward so his lips connected with Arthur's. Merlin started to bounce harder as Arthur's grip on his hips tightened and he started to thrust his hips up whenever Merlin slammed down.
Merlin got faster as he felt himself close, Arthur moved his right hand from Merlin's hip to his cock where he started to pump it. "Oh fuck Arthur. I'm cumming."
"Me too Merlin." with one more thrust up into Merlin, they both came simultaneously
Merlin dropped his head onto Arthur's shoulder and shivered in delight as he felt Arthur run his hands up and down his back.
When Merlin got his breath back he lifted his head to see that they were near Arthur's bedroom door. Arthur spotting the confusion on Merlin's face asked what was wrong. "When we first started out, my back was inches from your desk. We are now near your bedroom door."
Arthur looked around and saw that he was right. "This chair has wheels, I guess we was that wrapped up with each other, we didn't notice the chair moving along with us."
"Arthur? This is for real isn't it? We are a couple now aren't we?"
Arthur cupped Merlin's face. "Of course we are Merlin. As I explained to Morgana. The age difference doesn't bother me, that was just me using it as an excuse to not be with you as you are my sisters best friend, but seeing as she wants us to be together as much as I do. I no longer deny myself what I want."
"Which is?"
"You Merlin."
"Is now a good time to tell you that I love you then?"
"Yes Merlin. Because I love you as well."
It was three weeks later, after Merlin had moved all of his things from the flat into Arthur's house. His and Arthur's house, which is what Arthur had insisted it now was. It was now time to tell Uther and Ygraine that he was in a loving relationship with Merlin as well as Merlin working for him.
Arthur wasn't so worried about telling his mum that he was with Merlin as he was about telling his father. They had both known that Arthur was gay, but Arthur would feel that Uther would hate the fact that it was Merlin, not only because he worked for him, which he would then explain it could cause difficulties if ever they broke up, but also with the age difference.
Arthur was currently sitting on his mum and dad's settee waiting for Merlin to show up. Ygraine knew that her son was going to introduce them to Merlin as his boyfriend, she knew her son a lot better than Arthur thought she did. Uther didn't seem to see the need to actually meet this new boyfriend of his son's. He was surprised when Arthur had said that he wanted him and Ygraine to meet him. They never met any of Arthur's other boyfriends, not that there had been many, or lasted that long either.
Arthur was actually nervous whilst waiting for Merlin to arrive as he had assured Arthur that he had a plan to let his parents know. Arthur had frowned and thought no more of it. But whilst he was waiting at his parents house, he remembered how Merlin got his attention and let him know that Merlin liked him. The sayings on his t-shirts. Oh no.
The doorbell rang and before Arthur had a chance to get the door and check Merlin over to make sure he wasn't wearing one of his t-shirts. Morgana jumped up. "I'll get it."
The drumming of Arthur's fingers on his leg got worse when he heard Morgana laugh and compliment his t-shirt.
"Morgana, is it Arthur's boyfriend?"
"It is mum." she called back.
"Then bring him in."
Arthur stood up and walked over to the door that Morgana had walked back through and blocked Merlin from everyone's view. "Oh it's Merlin that's your boyfriend son. I was hoping that I was right." Arthur looked over his shoulder at Ygraine and smiled at her before facing Merlin. "Are you serious with the saying Merlin? I know you wore your tops with them sayings to get me, you now have me so there is no need anymore."
"There is every need Arthur. I wore them tops with them sayings on in order to get you, and now I have you I wear these tops with these sayings on to let everyone know who I am with."
"Yes, but not when my parents meet you as my boyfriend Merlin."
"Arthur what are you doing standing there blocking Merlin from view. Stand aside." Ygraine said. Arthur sighed and stepped aside, revealing Merlin along with the saying on his t-shirt. Unfortunately for Uther who had been taking a sip of his tea at the time started choking, spluttering tea everywhere as he read Merlin's t-shirt.
"Arthur's sex toy." Ygraine said and started giggling along with Morgana. When Uther's spluttering was under control, he stood up. "You two a couple, he is seven years younger than you."
"I'm eighteen. Old enough to make my own choices. And I want to be with Arthur."
"At eighteen you don't know what you want."
Ygraine stood up. "As I remember Uther I was sixteen and you was twenty when we started going out. Didn't I know what I wanted?"
"That's different."
Instead of answering, Uther opened and closed his mouth a few times before leaving the room. Ygraine looked at Merlin. "He'll come round love."
It was later that night when Arthur and Merlin had just come down from their orgasmic high, panting in each others arms, when Arthur started to talk about the event that had occurred earlier on. "I can't believe you actually wore that t-shirt today."
"I knew what your father's reaction would be like and I couldn't resist it."
"What are you like Merlin." Merlin chuckled and burrowed further into Arthur's arms, with a kiss on Arthur's chest, Merlin rested his head down on Arthur's chest and closed his eyes as he waited for sleep to take him.
The next morning at work, Merlin was sat in a board meeting, taking down important notes for Arthur, who was currently in his office in an even more important meeting. The two men Arthur was in a meeting with were very important, the Pendragon's needed their business and it was down to Arthur to get them to seal the deal.
Merlin walked out of the room when the meeting had finished, and was going to steer clear of Arthur's office if the meeting was still going on, but when he saw the lift door close on the two men Arthur was in meeting with, he practically ran to Arthur's office.
Merlin reached Arthur's closed off office and knocked on the door. "Come in."
Merlin walked in and closed the door behind him and walked over to a worn out looking Arthur who was sat back in his chair. "Well? How did it go?"
"Did you get down all the notes?"
"Yes yes. How did it go? Did they sign?"
Arthur's face broke into a smile. "They signed."
Merlin moved round to the other side of Arthur's desk and pulled him from his chair and hugged him. "I knew you could get them to sign. We must celebrate. Now."
"Now? How?"
"Sex on your desk." Merlin undone his trousers and dropped them along with his boxer shorts and started to undo Arthur's who stood there and let him. "No need to prepare me, I am still alright from this mornings shower. Fuck me hard Arthur whilst I am bent over your desk."
Merlin turned around and bent over Arthur's desk and had to bite his lip to stop him from calling out when he felt Arthur slam into him, hitting Merlin's pleasure spot on first go. Merlin gripped the edges of the desk, his knuckles turning white as Arthur gripped his hips and started to pound hard into Merlin. "Oh fuck Merlin."
Merlin started to thrust back. "Faster Arthur, please Arthur. More."
Arthur pulled out of Merlin and spun him round, Merlin was now laying flat on his back, arms above his head and legs bent up so they were wrapped around Arthur as he entered Merlin again, pounding into him even more, wrapping one hand around Merlin and stroking him vigorously. Soon Merlin was coming, along with Arthur, screaming into each others mouths as they both rode out their orgasm.
Arthur slumped back in his chair and took Merlin with him. "Why did I fight so much against being with you?"
"Because you actually tried to put someone else's feelings first. But, it only made me more determined, the more you fought against it the more I fought to get you."
"And get me you did." Merlin leaned down and started to kiss Arthur. Only breaking apart when they needed air. Merlin stood from Arthur's lap and started to dress again along with Arthur. When fully clothed Merlin sat down on Arthur's lap again. "I do love you Arthur."
"I love you too Merlin." he said, placing another kiss on Merlin's lips. Arthur may have gotten to where he was today on his own without his father's help, proud that he had done so, even a few weeks ago when he was sat in the very chair he was in now, he thought his life couldn't get better. Now sitting here with Merlin in his lap, he knew just how wrong he was. How things are now, life couldn't get any better. He had a home he shared with the man he loved, he had a fantastic job where he could see the man he loved, and spend his work time with him as well as his home time. But most importantly, he had his Merlin. And he was not going to let him go.
The end.
What do you think?
Happy birthday once again. Cathcer1984. Hope you enjoyed your story :) x
Review? :) |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50549 | Lucrezia sit quietly in the armchair closest to the door. She is pretending to read her Jane Austen novel for class, but out of the corner of her eye, she watches the clock carefully. Five fifty. Her mother is concentrated on knitting a scarf; the one for Cesare as a Christmas gift. Lucrezia picked out the yarn; the dark, deep blood red color represented Cesare perfectly; most especially when he was with his father at the company, bossing about employees, barking directions. Five fifty-five. Yet, it was soft, warm and cozy. It reminded her of when Cesare would sneak up behind her, snake his arms around her waist and kiss her cheek. Five fifty-seven.
Lucrezia sighs and closes her book impatiently. Her mother looks up from the scarf and smiles sweetly. "What's the matter, dear?" she asks. Lucrezia's heart sped up for a brief moment. She ignores it. "Tired of reading," she lies. Her mother nods, understandingly. "Why don't you take a break from homework, hm? Go ahead and set the table. Your father and the boys should be home soon."
She nods and heads to the kitchen. Inside, Gioffre, her little brother and the youngest Borgia, is drooling over the freshly baked chocolate cake that sits on the counter. Lucrezia shoos him away, sending him to wash his face and hands before dinner. She begins to set out the dishes and silverware when she hears the door creak open. Excitedly, she runs to the mirror in the hallway next to the kitchen. Deeming her hair decent, she prances out to the living room.
There, her father, business tycoon Rodrigo Borgia, is being kissed by her mother. Juan, who just started interning at the company, wrestles Gioffre to the ground. Cesare casually hangs his coat and hat and glides over to his mother. "Hello," he greets with a kiss on the cheek. "How was your day?" he asks.
But Cesare does not listen to his mother's reply. He watches little Lucrezia's gaze peak out from her eyelashes. She beams at him, illuminating her rosy cheeks and complexion. He walks over to her slowly and pulls her in for a hug. "And how is my sweet sister?" he whispers into her ear. Lucrezia giggles and replies with a "just fine".
"Just fine?" Cesare pulls away dramatically. "Why is my dear girl only just fine?" "She's had a lot of homework today." Their mother replies behind them. She feels warm and content as she watches her eldest tickle her daughter playfully. Lucrezia has him wrapped around her little finger, she thinks.
"Ah," says Cesare. "Well, you're so smart sis. Any college would die to have you." Lucrezia wrinkles her brow. "I'm not so sure anymore. Math is more difficult this year than I had anticipated." "If you need a tutor, all you need to do is ask." Her father assures her. Juan snorts from behind them. "Or we'll pay the teacher off. Isn't that how you got through Physics, brother?"
Cesare shoots Juan and glare, but Rodrigo just laughs. "Come, come! It's time for supper!"
At the dinner table, Cesare's hand brush against Lucrezia's exactly three times. She's counted. She desperately wishes to grab his and place a kiss on it, but she knows better than that. She knows better than to do that in public.
So, instead, Lucrezia concentrates at the head of the table, on her father. He is boasting of the crucial deal that was closed today, earning his company enormous profit. Every so often, she glances over at Cesare's face. He sips his wine, carrying a bemused expression. As if he knows his little sister is watching.
Tonight is no different from other nights.
Lucrezia showers, brushes her teeth and hair, and then says goodnight to her parents and brothers. She slips under her covers and opens the Jane Austen novel and waits. She waits until she can no longer hear the hum on the television from the living room or Rodrigo's laughter. She waits until she can no longer hear Juan's music pulsing through the hallway. She waits until she can no longer hear her mother's footsteps as she carries Gioffre into his room.
It is ten-thirty when the house is fully quiet. Slowly, Lucrezia lets her feet touch the wood flooring. She sets her book onto her nightstand and turns off her lamp light. She blindly reaches for the doorknob and stumbles to Cesare's door.
Cesare hears the doorknob to his room turn. He slowly looks up from his book, though he already knows who is there. Lucrezia waits patiently in his doorway, waiting him to invite her in. His stomach twists and turns with the different emotions that course through him. Guilt. Disgust. But, love. There was always love.
He groans internally and gives into his vices. Lucrezia grins giddily and quietly shuts the door behind her. She skips towards his bed and nuzzles herself into his side.
This can't keep going; he thinks as her wraps his arm around her. We have to stop.
She places a trail of kisses on his cheek, his neck, behind his ear and on the corner of his lips. Cesare imagines stopping her. He imagines telling her to go back to her room where she belongs at this hour. He imagines packing all of his things and being out of the house by morning; out in the city, keeping her safe from his clutches.
But Cesare doesn't do that.
Instead, he cranes his neck and plants a soft kiss on her lips. Lucrezia melts into his arms, sighing softly beneath him. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50550 | The Farthest Point
It wasn't a feast, but Yori had outdone herself again, and the sheer volume of food that made up their dinner was an impressive thing in its own right. Even though Tron didn't let his family say grace anymore, mostly for Ram's benefit – though he really didn't mind – ( but also because Rinzler always refuse to partake in the tradition), it was all very picturesque; everything a Thanksgiving should be, Ram thought. So when Yori had brought out the Turkey and batted away Tron's helpful hands to cut into it herself, they'd started eating as soon at it was served.
The table was a fair sized rectangle seating all six of them comfortably, with Tron surrounded by the people he loved most in this world. Yori sat at the head – a place he thought she deserved – just around the corner and directly to his right. Across from him, Yori's two darling daughters were squirming, full of giggles and smiles as they joked with Ram who sat at Tron's left; a spot reserved for only the dearest of friends. And at the end of the table, barricaded behind a wall of fresh bread, a bowl of gravy, and a plate of potatoes, was Rinzler, sitting hunched across from Tron's fiancé.
The family, having long since grown used to the detective's silence, found it easy to talk over and around him, and tonight's mood was jovial. Besides, so long as he wasn't directly addressed, Rinzler had very little desire to start his own conversations – which was a blessing in itself since he rarely had anything charming to say.
Between generous sips of cider – mixed with something else, Ram suspected – Rinzler cut his potatoes into tiny, perfect little cubes before bowing his head to eat them. And for no reason Ram could fathom, it was a bit unsettling. But at least the boss was still on his best behaviour; or rather, at least he hadn't tried to start a fight with Tron yet, so Ram could give thanks for that little miracle.
Turning back to their host, Ram laughed along as Tron told the children an entertaining but highly censored story about his work with Anon on the police force. Occasionally Ram was forced to add his own small corrections, but only when he felt Tron was being too modest.
The night wore on like this, with all the adults (sans Rinzler) taking turns exchanging tales punctuated by innocent questions from either or both of the little girls.
"Tell them the one where you and Kevin found that pond," Ram said, helping himself to another bun, "the one with the ducks."
Tron gave him a sideways look, putting on airs to sound serious, "The girls wouldn't want to hear that one. We fell in; boring story."
"You fell, Daddy?" the youngest asked, astonishment clear in her voice.
"Into a pond?" the second girl asked, slightly more suspicious, but only just slightly.
"Swallowed half the pond," Ram added helpfully, a twinkle in his eye. He found it charming the way Tron shot the girls his wide smile, and though he was surprised to hear them call Tron their father so soon, it wasn't all that surprising. If anyone would make a good father, Tron was the man for that job.
And then his friend was shooting him a wry but amused look, saying, "And if I remember correctly, Ram, you had quite a lot of pond water yourself."
Yori laughed, "But not half as much as Kevin, I'm sure."
Nearly everyone joined in with the laughter, because true or not, it was easy to imagine Flynn sitting himself down and drinking an entire pond, getting up, smiling, and then asking for more.
"Alright, alright," Tron said, reining in the mirth with a serious tone but an easy smile. "This is how it happened. Now, this was on my way to your Mother's, and Kevin and Ram were both with me. We'd just been to the Dillinger's, and Sark was there. You see, we'd heard him complaining that someone had put sheep on his property."
"There was an entire flock!" Ram said with a grand wave.
"There were three," Tron corrected.
"The most three men could carry, I assume?" Yori asked with a knowing quirk to her lips.
Tron gave her a look but didn't correct her as he continued on.
Ram knew the finer details to this story – he'd been there after all, start to finish – so he let Tron's words pass over him as he settled further down into his chair, enjoying the warm feeling of a good meal and good company. All things remaining the same, this had been the smoothest dinner they'd all shared to date.
The scent of smoke drifted past his face, and he thought to himself, Ah, and that would be Rinzler. Cracking open an eye he hadn't noticed had fallen closed, he glanced over to his colleague.
The detective was smoking, but he wasn't looking at Ram, Tron, or the girls. Instead, Rinzler had caught Yori's eye from across the table, and he smiled at her, the shiny pale skin of his scars stretching taunt over his bones, and the fondness reaching his eyes.
Ram was careful not to sit up or move too suddenly because he could count on the fingers of one hand the times he'd seen Rinzler smile, and he'd begun to think the man incapable of anything past a mean-spirited smirk. This was the first time Ram had seen him with such an honest expression, and it struck him as perhaps another thing to be thankful for.
And from the other end of the dining room, beside Tron and her children, Yori smiled back prettily. But it was a polite thing, well-meant, yet unable to mask her pity.
Rinzler didn't let his expression fall, but the smile slid out of his eyes and he adjusted his hat, a motion which could have been seen as polite too – tipping it in thanks to the cook (ignoring the fact that he also refused to remove it while inside the house). Pulling the brim lower over his face, Rinzler refilled his glass, and returned to his meal.
Oh, thought Ram, that's a shame.
That was why when the next November rolled around, Ram wasn't all that surprised Rinzler declined Tron's invitation to another dinner. The two of them spent that day at their desks instead.
Eventually Ram yawned, stood up, and gathered his things. "Well," he said, "I've had about enough of this. Think I'll close the books for tonight."
Rinzler made a noncommittal noise in his throat but didn't look up. Ram nodded at him all the same. "Goodnight to you too."
On his way out the door, hand hovering over the knob, Ram looked over his shoulder and offered casually, "Hey Rinz, you've been working like a dog. D'you wanna take a break? You could maybe come over to my place?" He added enticingly, "We're having latkas."
For a long, awkward minute Rinzler said nothing. But just as Ram was beginning to think he might've offended the detective, Rinzler shut the folder he'd been staring at, grabbed the coat hanging on the back of his chair, and went to join him at the door.
"I'm driving," Rinzler said, sweeping past him and out of the building.
Ram took an extra moment after that to check over the door's new locks, and when he was sure Rinzler was far enough down the street, he let himself grin at the man's back.
Yeah, he could be thankful for the little things.
This is the end of anything I've written for this particular AU. It was a good idea, but terribly complicated and I don't think I have the motivation to invest in fleshing out the world of a small town with its own political scandals and murders. This was a story set to have a large mystery, a big reveal, and one jerk of a detective learning how to get over himself.
For the curious, here are the roles your favourite characters would have played:
Yori: Tron's wife, an early divorcee with two young daughters. The object of some unwanted, jealous affection.
Tron: Upstanding citizen and captain of police, his judgment usually goes unquestioned - except when it comes to his faithfulness towards his brother.
Anon: A more open-minded fellow police officer working with Tron. He doesn't approve of his captain's fraternization with his unpopular sibling.
Ram: Tron's best friend, and Rinzler's protegee and employee. Ram was hired to balance the books when Rinzler got in over his head, and tries to keep his boss honest.
Rinzler: Tron's bitter, vindictive younger brother, who after a 12 year disappearance, shows up back in the town he professes to hate. His work ethic and morals are questionable.
Sark and the Dillingers: A wealthier family that never approved of Flynn's so-called irresponsibility, but find running the town in his stead more difficult than imagined.
Kevin: The town's old mayor and beloved benefactor who was prone to fits of adventure. His disappearance while expected, was still a tragedy.
Sam and Quorra: Two young newcomers who's relationship to Flynn causes a quiet scandal. They show up with surprising news, looking for the man everyone assumes to have died 20 years ago.
Clu: Left for the Orient when he was younger and came back a much wealthier man. One of Flynn's childhood friends who believes this town could be so much more than what it is.
Jarvis: The only man who perhaps understands how all the pieces fit together, and what the murders have to do with each other. It's a surprise when Clu loans out his services to Rinzler.
Gibson: One of the 'water-rats,' a derogatory term for a certain ethnicity that's been part of the town's latest population influx.
Leave a Crit and some deity won't punch a small cute mammal. Or you know, you could just do it to make me happy~. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50551 | Tara had entered the room whilst Willow was undergoing the lecture of her life from Giles. Standing shamefully in front of the boarded up window with her rucksack throw over her shoulder, Willow kept her eyes towards her shoe laces, only occasionally meeting Giles' gaze. No one had even noticed Tara had entered the room, Xander and Anya were focused on the pairs confrontation.
"Willow you put the responsibility upon yourself. We waited for you to return with some answers about the spell. Who knows what could have come through in all this time, we were worried sick! And to top it all off you've not returned with answers and have instead made matters worse with your...Your dabbling!" His reaction came far harsher than he intended.
"But Giles, I was careful, it wasn't dabbling. And besides, I do hav-"
"People's lives are at stake! Can you not remember the carnage she brought last time. Willow your vampire alternate has the ability to persuade vampires to do her bidding unquestionably. What on Earth convinced you that this would be-"
"Guys?" Tara, finally noticed by the gang, turned all heads as she spoke, "What's going on here?"
"Willow did a spell," Anya said blatantly," Her vampire self is now roaming around Sunnydale, most likely looking for blood or some people she can chain up." Xander and Tara gave her odd looks, "She likes chains. Humans were in a lot of them in her reality."
"But Willow, what I don't get is why you would bring vamp you here," Xander asked and Willow went silent. It was all Giles' fault, he put the idea into her head. It's a shame we couldn't introduce her to your vampire doppelgänger Willow, she recalled Giles' saying to the pair when they had at first told the Watcher about their encounter with Tara's vampire. But no, Giles' couldn't be to blame, it was all her doing she knew it. She just didn't like to see her Tare-bear unhappy, no matter what reality or demon she might be. Unsure of how the group would handle her reason, she switched the subject.
"We don't have time for discussion Xander, we need to do the spell."
"Well your enthusiasm in all and good Willow but we can't do the spell without-"
"Bohenican gems I know," the witch interrupted what she assumed would be another lengthy lecture from Giles, " you mixed them in with daronian, I noticed before I left but look..." she had swung her rucksack around from her back, undid the zip and pulled out a hand-full of the red-gems, each around the size of a marble and with a small glistening centre, "I had picked them up from our door room whilst I was out."
"Right. Yes. Well we best get started. Hopefully when we open the gates between realities everyone that should will return to where they came from, included the Willow vampire,"
"errr..." the witch started awkwardly," she won't get pulled back. I kinda didn't take her from her reality."
"Willow," the watcher's voice grew sterner, "What did you do to bring her here."
"It was a kinda...temporal replication spell."
"Willow, that d-dangerous!" Tara said as her eyes grew wider at her lover's confession.
"Well I tried pulling her from her reality first but all I got was dust and..." Seeing Tara's eyes anger the red-haired witch thought it best to stop.
"What is temporal replication?" asked Xander and Anya replied, "Pulling something from time, but it can only be from your own memory."
"What that have the 'stepping on a butterfly effect?"
"No its replicating. This vampire Willow is a copy of that vampire Willow. In my years as a vengeance demon I came across some monks in Italy. They were rounding up the oldest demons they could find. By using the spell on their memory they planned to replicate Jesus, but it failed and there were many exploding heads." Anya smiled blissfully at the memory of her demon years.
"And the memory I used was when she was in the cage in the library...And...as the libraries rubble now... I had tried a locator spell," she tried to make the situation lighter after seeing Giles' disapproving shake of his head, "She was heading to the bronze like last time."
"Right well you four get started with the spell, I'll run ahead and warn Buffy." Giles told the gang and he quickly ran out of the shop.
At Tara's orders Xander and Anya headed into the training room, where Giles had recently been using to store new goods before moving them to the basement. Specifically she had sent them in search of a herb they had used earlier but were now running short on. As they had made their way out the room Tara circled her way around the table, only stopping once she'd come across the spell book. Willow followed tentatively behind her, gliding her finger across the table top before coming to a stop a few feet away from her. Tara was silent, Willow now knew that she had done something wrong.
"How's she been. Y'know, since this morning?" she asked cautiously.
"Why'd you do it Will. That magic is dangerous. Bringing a vampire here of all things is hardly worth risking you life," she looked up from the book and her eyes became teary as she imagined what it would be like to lose Willow. The conversation with her vampire self still rang clear in her mind and despite obvious differences they both shared common ground; they needed Willow in their lives. She had already guessed Willow's intentions with the spell but knowing she would risk her life, knowingly or unknowingly, for the demon downstairs hurt like a hundred needles in her heart. She asked again, "Why Willow?"
"I-I guess... I don't know Tara... I-i just," she realised this was the beginning of a babble and she was stuttering somewhat out of character when she noticed the tear run down her lovers cheek. Before another word was said she stepped forward and brought Tara into a hug. Her lover's tears soaked into the fabric of her shoulder and she rubbed soft circles into her back as her cries became loader.
"I just don't want to lose you Willow," Tara said into her shoulder, "I don't want to lose you and be like her."
"I know baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't think. I love you, I'll never leave you," Willow felt her own tears beginning to form and the pair stayed there in each others arms for minutes to come. Eventually their tears had subsided and was replaced with a comforting silence until Xander and Anya walked in, their arms cradling several bags of different but visually similar herbs. Seeing the pair confused at the sight Xander explained, "Giles' new suppliers' not big with the labelling." The pair broke their embrace and Tara frantically rubbed at her face, trying to rid herself of the tear stains. Willow did too but less worryingly as the others came over and dumped the many bags on the table.
"You two can make with the witchyness but I can't tell what's what here." he told the pair.
"It's right here," Willow commented as she instantly plucked a bag from the pile.
"That's good!" Anya gleamed, "Now we can get rid of the whiny shop destroying downstairs!" Xander looked at her disapprovingly then she added, "I'm sorry Tara. Please don't destroy my shop if later Willow gets killed by her alternate self, she's probably pissed at being pulled from her universe again. Or Giles' might have a go at her, he's pretty angry with her now too," More disapproving glances, "...What?"
"L-lets j-just get this over with," said Tara as she batted aside the bags to reach the book that Xander had buried. Willow brought over the bowl and a box of matches.
"Perhaps I should check on our hostage, make sure she's all set for the car ride home," suggested Xander and with a nod from Willow her headed downstairs. Anya watched from behind the counter, her arm slightly enveloping the cash register.
Willow lit the herbs and Tara placed the gems in the bowl with them. "Portas hic non est qui revertatur..." they began but were cut short as Xander had run through the basement door, panting as he spoke, "She's gone!"
"W-what?" Tara stuttered.
"Vampire. Pipes. Broke them. Water." he said between breaths.
"Oh my God!" Anya yelled, "She's flooded the basement, Tara!" she scolded her before heading for the backroom so she could turn off the water mains.
"She's escaped. She's not down there." he told the witches.
"Okay Xander, you get Anya and start looking for her. I'll call Giles and tell him to keep a look out." Xander headed out and as Willow began to head for the phone Tara grabbed her elbow.
"Willow we can still do the spell. If we can send her back we won't need to look for her," she explained.
"Oh yeah of course. We'll start again I should still call Giles though," she told her and went to the phone in the training room.
Tara was left alone but the sound of Willow's voice was silently heard from the training room. She blew out the flames from the bowl, knowing they'd have to start from scratch as soon as Willow returned. Once she could put her hand in the bowl without feeling a slight burn she pulled out the crystals which had not already began blackening and put them to one side. She started to clear up the table of the many bags Xander and Anya had brought over but immediately dropped them as a low growl raised her head.
"W-" her scream was cut off but her vampire self forcing her palm over her mouth. With fangs draw she neared closer to her human self's neck. Piercing the skin she began to drink. Tara's screams amounted to little more than whimpers which were absorbed by the vampire's palm. He legs buckled and she felt as if she should have fallen but the demon in front of her kept her upright.
"Tara!" said Willow as she re-entered the room. At the sight of her lover in the hands of the vampire anger filled completely. Her eyes went black and she drew whatever magic she could into herself. The vampire noticed the magic spark in her hands and she dropped her prey. Willow looked down to her loving, seeing her chest rise and fall slightly and the pool of blood widen by her neck. It was the same blood which dripped from the vampires open mouth. Without a moment's more hesitation, "Emittam Ignem!" she sent a ball of fire hurtling towards the vampire, who smiled.
"Reditio," she said and the fire came flying back at her at twice the speed and size. Before she knew it she was thrown back into the training room from its force. Sure she had hit something but not sure what, once she was able to open her eyes again she noticed the burning hole cut out of the door. Her vision blurred, despite the need to help her lover she was now weak and felt a trickle of red crawl down her face. Her eyes drifted close.
The vampire turned to the table. With a quick sweep of her arm she cleared the table of all the ingredients they would use to send her back. She wasn't ready, not yet, not now. She noticed the book lying next to her human self on the floor. She knelt and her hand hovered against the ancient text. "Ignem" she said and the book burst into flame. Standing, she turn to the door, leaving both humans bloody and unconscious she set out into the night in search of her lover. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/50552 | Reviews for Lilith's Visit
The Wandering Blue Andalite chapter 1 . 5/2/2009
Very well done I say. Your take on Lilith's personality was an entertaining read. She is very well prose in her speech, yet at the same time you can tell she is a bit off her rocker. She is reasonable and enticing. I like how you focused not actually on Lilith but Eve. Poor poor Eve. You know, there are myths out there stating there to be two Eves.
It went something along the lines of Adam was lonely and asked God to make him a helpmeet. This is how Lilith came into existence. Things happen that I won't get into, but we both know she escaped. Than Adam complained to God again and so He created a second Woman for Adam. Adam watched as God took bones, flesh, tendons, hair, etc. and built a Woman. Even though she stood in all her beauty, Adam was repulsed. This was the first Eve. The story ends with, "No one knows what became of her", and God tried again but this time put Adam to sleep and took a rib from his chest.
This whole tangent really does have a point, I promise. Is the Eve in your story the first or the second one? "No one knows what became of her." She could still escape. Oh the plot bunnies.
May Elizabeth chapter 1 . 4/13/2009
This poem was lovely and well-written.
hassliebe chapter 1 . 4/22/2008
hello, I just wanted to say I really liked you're story, that soft way in which Lilith speaks, and the almost caring way in which she tries to convince Eve of being free. And Eve's attitude, was a nice way of showing how many women are today, submissive even when they crave for more. It was fluent and easy to read, I really liked it.
Malissa Michelle White chapter 1 . 4/21/2008
This piece is very nicely wrought, and very creatively provoking. It envokes the sense of Milton's serpent poisoning Eve through the ear. Though, trying to inspire equality, rather than subservience. You also do a great job of distancing yourself from demonization: Lilith being commonly associated with a succubus, or demon of the night, and the cause of Adam's 'nocturnal emissions' so to speak. You effectively worked against that strain by having Lilith come to Eve. Also, Lilith is represented here as a keeper of sacred knowledge and could be seen as lacking innocense, whereas Eve-her little sister-is the weaker for her innocense, and lack of knowledge. But, being of Adam's rib, what else can be expected of her?
Great work...sorry to get all English Major-y on you, but i love what you envoke here! |
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