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Can't Uninstall Microsoft Edge - mcrump
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4576988/can-t-uninstall-microsoft-edge
======
jaclaz
Interestingly enough, going to that URL with an unsupported browser (QTWeb) I
got:
Your browser is out-of-date
You need to update your browser to use the site.
Update to the latest version of _Internet Explorer_
------
WarOnPrivacy
Edge might be better received if it didn't Full-Screen itself over top of
everything, after install.
I find it easier to kill the process than deal with whatever it's trying to
blackmail me into doing.
------
9wzYQbTYsAIc
Can’t uninstall Safari on iOS either.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | HackerNews |
Comments for The Manna and the Stonehttp://themannaandthestone.org
A Theological and Practical Journal of Bible PresbyteriansMon, 03 Apr 2017 19:53:41 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4Comment on Pence and a Raging Hypocrite by The Bible Presbyterian Blog | Providencehttp://themannaandthestone.org/2017/04/03/pence-and-a-raging-hypocrite/#comment-12
Mon, 03 Apr 2017 19:53:41 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=517#comment-12[…] I just wanted to link this site to a new site, where I’ve picked up blogging with some Bible Presbyterian brethren. Here’s the newest piece on Vice President Pence. […]
]]>Comment on A Tale of Two Prophets by The Flowering of the Faiths – The Manna and the Stonehttp://themannaandthestone.org/2017/03/13/a-tale-of-two-prophets/#comment-11
Tue, 28 Mar 2017 14:09:04 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=496#comment-11[…] across Mesopotamia and into India. Christianity and Islam developed quite differently, even as they began quite differently. This article offers a bird’s-eye view of the growing dominion of these two […]
]]>Comment on Conversations – 11/4/16 by Conversations – 12/16/2016 – The Manna and the Stonehttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/04/conversations-11416/#comment-10
Fri, 16 Dec 2016 16:23:31 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=318#comment-10[…] is another Mortification of Spin podcast which follows up on a situation we mentioned in a previous Conversations concerning Anthony Esolen, a Catholic professor at a Catholic university. I mention this podcast […]
]]>Comment on Conversations – 11/18/16 by Tim Prussichttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/18/conversations-111816/#comment-9
Fri, 18 Nov 2016 22:26:41 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=346#comment-9Good pickings. I loved the “You know who you are” line to the Libertarians!
]]>Comment on The Days Ahead by Christian Mastilakhttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/09/the-days-ahead/#comment-8
Sat, 12 Nov 2016 00:37:57 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=327#comment-8A clarification and apology:
I DO NOT believe that every third party vote is narcissistic. For me, given my purpose for voting, it would be a pointless vote just to make me feel good about myself. I consistently used the first person in my post, but I wasn’t explicit about the limits of my claim.
If you have a different purpose for voting — for example, if you believe voting is an expression of political sentiment, or moral approval of a candidate or party — then you surely ought to vote your conscience. And I would not consider such a vote narcissistic but rather entirely appropriate.
I fully accept that people have different purposes for voting. Reasonable people will disagree.
My last post was not very clear about that. I’m sorry for writing in such as way as to sound like I’m accusing every third-party voter of narcissism. That’s not my belief nor my intention, and I ask your forgiveness.
Christian
]]>Comment on The Days Ahead by Christian Mastilakhttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/09/the-days-ahead/#comment-7
Fri, 11 Nov 2016 01:51:22 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=327#comment-7I don’t vote to make a political statement, for the same reason a tree falling in a deserted forest doesn’t make a sound. I vote to affect probabilities among feasible outcomes. If I’d voted for, say, the Constitution Party candidate, then he’d have gotten 7 votes instead of 6 at my polling place. (Or some similarly low number of no consequence.) Who would’ve heard my statement, so self-righteously made? Me, and only me. That’s narcissistic self-expression, which I usually reserve for my blog comments, not my voting.
I’m not actually defending Trump so much as I’m disclaiming responsibility for the lack of attractive political choices handed to me by the GOP and DNC. You put that responsibility on me; but I won’t wear it, and I explained why.
That said, I don’t agree in the slightest that Trump’s boorish (but probably empty – let’s face it, I’m not giving him all that much credit) boasting is anywhere near as bad as actually committing physical violence against someone, or defending someone who has. Unlike the snowflake generation, I can tell the difference between (1) unwholesome words that ought to be dismissed as inconsequential bloviating and (2) actual bad acts. So I voted for the boor to try to keep the despicable criminal out of office. Not that hard a decision at the end of the day, and I sleep on it like it’s memory foam.
As for corporate guilt, go ahead and assign it where you will. It won’t make me no nevermind. (You won’t be surprised.) I have enough of my own actual failings. I’m not going around collecting others’ unhappy providences to mingle with my real sins to carry to the cross.
]]>Comment on The Days Ahead by Jason Waeberhttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/09/the-days-ahead/#comment-6
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 13:38:25 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=327#comment-6I’ll keep my response minimal here, partially because I’m actually working on a longer article about morality and voting, so hopefully that will be useful when it comes out. Just a few things.
First, I actually laughed when I read that you’re going after Hillary for being a “protector of a sexual predator husband.” Do you realize who the man you’re defending is? He can barely get on stage without bragging about his sequal conquests, infidelities, and exploitation of women.
Your entire post assumes that the only acceptible vote is a vote for one of the major party candidates – that’s just simply untrue. Not voting is a political statement. Voting third party is a political statement. All of these say “the major party candidates are completely unacceptable,” which is precisely what must be said in this situation.
“Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” -Rom 1:32
This does not mean that we can only vote for perfect people, but when one looks at a man like Donald Trump, whose entire brand is built upon evil, arrogance, greed, sex, who stands up in front of us saying he has nothing of which to repent – he is a moral poison which should have absolutely made Christians recoil in revulsion. When we give merely a backhanded dismissal of his “faults” before proceeding to justify him on a thousand points of “political pragmatism,” we are guilty of giving our approval to evil.
I’m not willing to say that voting for Donald Trump is sinful. I know it would have been for me, as my conscience would condemn me. I am willing to say that much of the embrace of Donald Trump by the evangelical community in dismissing his toxicity as mere “character flaws” and pretending that vices are virtues is sinful. We should be crystal that we are not approvers of evil. We have not been.
Also, if you don’t believe that there’s such a thing as corporate guilt, I’ll just mention that the passage below was directed to NT Jews:
“Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” -Matt 23:34-36
If we consider the voices coming from the evangelical community approving of this evil man as coming from our brothers in Christ, there is a sense in which we all bear the guilt. May God be merciful to us.
]]>Comment on The Days Ahead by Christian Mastilakhttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/09/the-days-ahead/#comment-5
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 04:39:17 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=327#comment-5I don’t have time to learn how to make a post, find a picture, etc. So I’ll leave this as a comment.
I fully agree that we must face the future honestly. That would be true no matter who was elected. And one of the many practical blessings of the One True Faith is its help for adherents in facing unhappy truths openly. We can face the death of unsaved loved ones and still worship our omnipotent God; we can face a disappointing slate of candidates.
As for the idea that the church somehow owns Trump because believers voted for him, the kindest way I can put it is: “Come off it; that’s [hogwash].” I don’t need to repent in sackcloth and ashes for the choice I faced any more than Rahab had to own the fact that spies showed up at her door.
The fact that no better man than Donald Trump arose to champion our cause *in the political arena* is a result of the political processes of the two feasible political parties, not a result of the church. I suppose, generally, the nation’s lack of godliness is partly due to the church’s lack of evangelism. But the GOP & Dem machines are never ever going to be oriented toward promoting anything other than GOP & Dem electoral success. Those parties seek their own self-interest. Christians ought not be confused about that reality or expect those parties to represent us.
There are better men than Trump all throughout the church in the US. Were that not the case, then we ought to repent in sackcloth and ashes. But the fact that we can’t influence the political machines more to our liking isn’t something I need to own. Psalm 2 makes it clear that kings and rulers set themselves against the Lord and His Anointed. I can’t make that not happen.
So what are we to do? Passages like Deuteronomy 22:8 and Exodus 21:29 tell me that we’re responsible for foreseeable outcomes of even those events that aren’t our fault. When I made voting decisions in the general election, there were two foreseeable outcomes. Either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be elected president. Because I live in Ohio (and not, say, Kentucky, whose outcome was certain), my vote has some impact on the probability of those outcomes.
Hillary Clinton is a known liar, bribe-taker, criminal, protector of a sexual predator husband, attacker of victims of abuse, incompetent office-holder, power-hungry, narcissistic leech, who has overseen a corruption empire spanning government, the media, international donors, a phony charitable foundation and an entire political party, but who tries to put on a reputable, reasonable public face. (“I go, sir,” but he did not go.)
Donald Trump is a sexually immoral narcissist who publicly plays the uncouth buffoon. But for all his coarse jesting and idle talk, not one credible shred of evidence about corruption or criminality came from all the opposition research done by the Dem-Media-GOP elite-Kristol-DOJ complex. Yes, he’s personally a moral failure. So is the other candidate with a chance of being elected. Trump has yet to demonstrate corruption in public office. Clearly, he’s the less-bad choice for a public political office.
So, the foreseeable outcomes *given to me by political parties* are to increase the likelihood of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump getting elected. I don’t own that, and I won’t own that. The parties own that.
I could’ve voted for a different candidate – someone who is a credibly professing Christian and a decent person. But the foreseeable outcome would be to increase the likelihood of Hillary Clinton being elected. I don’t have to own the fact that a vote for someone else would’ve done that, and I won’t own it. The parties own that.
I can face the reality, and I can choose to act in the only way that might contain the ox that is accustomed to goring people in the past. I can face, with the full force of Christian faith, the sad reality that President Trump will likely be dissatisfying. But I don’t have to own it like I’ve done something wrong. The people running the political system and defining the choices they give the nation, including Christians, will face God’s judgment for their own use of their time and talents.
You may call this “political pragmatism.” Maybe it is. But I strongly disagree that I bear any moral responsibility for what was on the ballot. The parties own that.
As for Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton, Huma Abedin, Anthony Weiner, Barack Obama, and anyone else who needs it, I pray the Lord converts the lot of them.
]]>Comment on The Days Ahead by Tim Prussichttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/11/09/the-days-ahead/#comment-4
Thu, 10 Nov 2016 00:18:16 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=327#comment-4Good thoughts. We must orient ourselves to the coming storm. Thank you.
]]>Comment on Who is the Church Service for? by Jason Waeberhttp://themannaandthestone.org/2016/10/26/who-is-the-church-service-for/#comment-3
Wed, 26 Oct 2016 20:33:01 +0000http://themannaandthestone.org/?p=285#comment-3I absolutely agree – I actually think that’s very much in line with the image Paul gives of unbelievers coming in to see believers exhorting each other. We should be a community defined by joy, and that joy should be shown to our brothers and sisters, as well as the outsiders who see us. I do believe that this attractional ministry needs to be balanced by a fairly strident declaration of sin and judgment. Unfortunately, we tend to collapse the way we do ministry into only one of those attitudes, instead of keeping them in tension.
]]> | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
This invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of aromatic diazonium fluoride salts.
Diazotization of aromatic primary amines to prepare aromatic diazonium fluorides is of considerable importance in that such diazonium compounds are commercially valuable intermediates which can be converted to dyes (e.g. amino azobenzene) and aromatic fluorides which are useful as intermediates in preparing various pesticides, pharmaceuticals and other products.
Various processes have been used in the past to prepare aromatic-fluoro compounds. None of these prior art processes has proven entirely satisfactory. For example, Japanese patent publication No. 81330-74 describes a process for the preparation of aromatic fluoro compounds on a laboratory, as opposed to an industrial, scale. Diazotization of a substituted or unsubstituted amino compound and the thermal decomposition of the diazonium salt produced by diazotization are carried out in one step at the thermal decomposition temperature of the diazonium salt. A solution of a compound that gives nitrous acid first is dissolved in hydrofluoric acid and then allowed to act on an aromatic amino compound. No methods are suggested for removing the heat produced from this reaction. The examples set forth in the patent illustrate batchwise procedures.
German Pat. No. 600,706 relates to a batch-wise process for the production of fluoro aromatic compounds. The diazotization and decomposition are carried out in the presence of excess anhydrous, or practically anhydrous, hydrogen fluoride. An aromatic amine is dissolved in hydrogen fluoride, and a diazotization agent such as dry sodium nitrite slowly is added over the course of one hour. During this process the temperature is held to about 5.degree. C. This process also is discussed by Ferm et al. in J.A.C.S. 72:4809-4810 (1950). Experimenting on a small-scale, Ferm et al. confirmed the utility of the above-process for a number of fluoroaromatics in batch-wise procedures. None of these processes is amenable to the continuous industrial production of fluoro-aromatics in high yields.
Various processes for the continuous production of fluoro-aromatics also are known. For example, Hupfer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,954, describes a crossflow cascaded reactor for the continuous aqueous solution of sodium nitrite. Agitation is limited to effect sedimentation.
Hamilton, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,246,171, discloses a continuous diazotization process in which the rate of addition of the inorganic nitrite is controlled by a polarovoltric method. An aqueous solution of an amine in an acid and a solution of an inorganic nitrite are added continuously and regularly to a reactor. The addition of the solution of inorganic nitrite is automatically regulated to ensure that a preselected concentration of unreacted nitrous acid is maintained in the reactor throughout the entire reaction period. Hamilton et al. recognize that amines which give a fast diazotization reaction rapidly produce a very large amount of heat. Hamilton et al. also recognize that unwanted by-products will form if the temperature rises too high. The use of flaked or crushed ice is suggested to control this rise in temperature.
Aqueous systems typically result in lower yields, about 50% after decomposition. Moreover, the use of aqueous systems in conjunction with HF systems results in additional problems, such as increased corrosion of the reaction vessels.
Prior art diazotization processes have not proven completely satisfactory. They typically are not amenable to a continuous process or are complex, inefficient, expensive and/or prone to result in an unacceptably high level of unwanted by-products. Most of these deficiencies are caused by the problem of the tremendously exothermic nitrite/HF and diazotization reactions.
Accordingly, there is a substantial need in the art for a continuous diazotization process which would overcome the disadvantages of heretofore known processes. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | USPTO Backgrounds |
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"I wasn’t sure it was normal to watch it"
The impact of online pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of children
The online world has created incredible opportunities for young people to explore, experiment, socialise, create and educate themselves in ways which were previously undreamt of. But it has also exposed children to the risk of harm, including seeing extreme pornography and sexting.
Download
Just over half of 11-16 year olds surveyed had never seen any pornography online.
The majority of 11-12 year olds had not seen online pornography.
Nearly two thirds of 15-16 year olds had seen online pornography.
Of those who had seen pornography online
More boys view online pornography, through choice, than girls.
Children were most likely to have seen pornography online for the first time accidentally because it “just popped up”.
Substantial minorities of older children (13-14 and 15-16 year olds) wanted to try things out they had seen in pornography.
A greater proportion of boys wanted to emulate pornography than girls.
Sending and receiving pornographic material
Pornographic material had been received by around a quarter of young people.
A minority of young people had generated naked or semi-naked images of themselves; some of them had shared the images further.
Repeated viewing of online pornography may have a desensitising effect with young people feeling less negative over time and generally less anxious or disgusted by what they are seeing.
Young people’s perceptions of pornography
Many young people saw pornography as unrealistic however some rated it positively.
Young people wanted to be able to find out about sex and relationships and about pornography in ways that were safe, private and credible.
Young people highlighted the need for materials that are age and gender appropriate. Some also touched on lack of teacher awareness of the potential additional vulnerabilities faced by young people who do not identify as either male or female in a binary manner. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Kyle Meredith With... The Stray Cats
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Stitcher | Radio Public
The Stray Cats drummer Slim Jim Phantom speaks to Kyle Meredith about the band’s reunion album, 40. He shares how the album lines up with their 40th anniversary and the way they recorded it live. Phantom also explains how “everything traces back to Eddie Cochran. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Sex Pistols, Motörhead, none of them exist without Eddie Cochran.”
Kyle Meredith With… is an interview series in which WFPK’s Kyle Meredith speaks to a wide breadth of musicians. Each episode, Meredith digs deep into an artist’s work to find out how the music is made and where their journey is going, from legendary artists like Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, U2 and Bryan Ferry, to the newer class of The National, St. Vincent, Arctic Monkeys, Haim, and Father John Misty. Check back Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for new episodes. Rate the series now via Apple Podcasts. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
About 30 people, most all wearing masks to hide their faces, gathered in Santa Barbara on Sunday to protest what they deem inappropriate behavior by the Church of Scientology. The group joined thousands of protests taking place around the world
Scientology Church Decries Wave of Worldwide Persecution
Church Picketed
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Article Tools
Joining thousands of Scientology protesters around the world Sunday was a group of about 30 people in Santa Barbara, who stood outside the Church of Scientology at 524 State Street, picketing against the church’s alleged crimes, human rights abuses, and harassment of critics. The religion-which counts actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its adherents-has been under recent fire not just on city streets but also in online message boards, with most of the ammunition coming from a group called “Anonymous.”
Recently, the shadowy group has taken on the Church of Scientology with a series of technological assaults aiming to overwhelm the church’s email, telephone, and Web systems, which the church has characterized as “cyber-terrorism.” The group is also thought to be responsible for releasing private videos the church claims are copyrighted, including a revealing interview of Cruise.
Sunday, members and associates of Anonymous came out from behind their computers and instead hid their faces behind masks on State Street and around the world in protest. An announcement of the Santa Barbara protest encouraged participants to remain anonymous when in public because of “Scientology’s heavy-handed tactics when dealing with protesters and critics,” and many followed the recommendation.
“It’s difficult to tell whom you can talk to about this,” said one of the participants, who identified himself with the pseudonym “Five.” Participants cited a church doctrine they called “fair play,” in which the church allegedly tries to discredit-through whatever means necessary-people who speak out against the church. Except those who came together at the Santa Barbara protest, most in the gathering claimed to not know anything about one another-not even names. But they do know they have at least one thing in common, according to Five. “Everyone’s involved for the same core reason: Decency to fellow human beings,” he said.
“There needs to be people willing to say something” - UCSB freshman William Wynn
One protester more than willing to give his name was UCSB freshman William Wynn. Wynn believes the groups’ reasons for opposing the church can be taken more seriously when there’s a name behind the statement. “There needs to be people willing to say something,” he said. Before he heard about the protest, Wynn said, he knew little about Scientology. But after hearing some claims, he researched the religion and found what he perceived to be reports of the church mistreating both current and former members with threats or physical harm. Another protest with 12-15 people was held in Santa Barbara one week prior. A third is scheduled for March 15.
When contacted, Rev. Lee Holzinger of the Santa Barbara Church of Scientology released a statement from the church. “‘Anonymous’ is a group of cyber-terrorists who hide their identities behind masks and computer anonymity,” the statement read. The group is “perpetrating religious hate crimes against churches of Scientology and individual Scientologists for no reason other than religious bigotry.” The statement also attributed to Anonymous a recent hoax involving the mailing of white powder to several Southern California Scientology churches, although the group has not claimed responsibility for this stunt.
Because Anonymous seems to lack any hierarchy or leadership, it is difficult to tell who is sanctioning and carrying out the attacks. But the statement from Holzinger said that Anonymous’s altruistic purposes are no different than those heard from terrorist or hate groups. “We are not the first to be targeted,” read the statement, calling the actions of the group deplorable. “Quite obviously, this group is not just anti-Scientology, it is anti-freedom of religion, anti-American, and anti-free speech.”
Protesters stressed that they are for freedom of religion, but are against the policies of the Church of Scientology. They support a split-off group of the organization, called Free Zone, made up of people who have left the church but still practice its teachings. “What we’re opposed to is the organization rather than the belief system,” Five said.
Comments
I'd like to point out that the proper name of their heavy-handed tactic is called "Faire Game", not Fair Play. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Gam...Otherwise, this article is well-written and informative, thank you for posting it (:
I have been reading about this "church" on the net since the protests started and I would encourage everybody to do the same. Read three or four official scientologist websites and then read the same number of websites by ex-scientologists.Read the church's version of the life of L Ron Hubbard and then read the official accounts. Look up "operation snow white" and "operation freakout" and the various other crimes this "church' commits.Look at how they respond to critics with lawsuit after lawsuit, intended not to right a wrong but just to bankrupt anyone who speaks out against them.
It is very important to expose the harm Scientology can do despite that it also has a good side.A person should have the choice to take out of Scientology what is wanted & to discard what can be considered crap & especially what is paranoiac vindictiveness.Democratic choices & the right to protest against what is not liked about Scientology are freedoms that Scientologists should never be allowed to oppress.
In 1969 i was kept in Scientology as an 11yr old child on board Hubbards' ship Apollo ,my Father was thrown out of the Organization and put in Treason.Whilst this was happening Scientology opened the "Citizens Commission for Human Rights". Scientology-Where were mine and my Fathers Rights? They are also responsible for "Youth for Human Rights"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/youth_for_Human_Rights_InternationalWatch this Video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=It would seem there are rules for Scientology and a different set of rules for everyone else.See also www.scientologydisconnection.com/ my story is on there, as are more distressing stories of ex Scientologists.I for one am very grateful for Anonymous for showing the world what Scientology is really about.
I agree with Mr. William Wynn: ""There needs to be people willing to say something." More real people with real names and real faces and real lives need to be on both sides of this issue. Like you and Rev Lee Holzinger, and Tom Cruise. (Mock Cruise all you want, but the man has NOTHING to gain and EVERYTHING (in this life) to loose by vigorously promoting and defending his religion. I admire and respect him for that while being concerned his apparent fanaticism.
As a practicing Roman Catholic I strongly disagree with Holzinger's & Cruise's Church and religion but will defend their rights to believe it and practice within the law. (No human sacrifice, pedophilia, child abuse, etc.). "Shunning" (among adults) is allowed; but you can't say you have no such practice and then practice it.
I respect Lee Holzinger's critical thinking and debating skills. We had a "lively" one in Griffith Park a few years ago. It ended in polarization unfortunately, but at least , then he was willing to engage in discussion. the wall of silence descended after that.
The COS is apparently playing the role of "victim" for the moment. It would be wonderful if they would stop "playing victim" and engage in an open discussion.
I would be glad to engage in open discussion and debate with "rules of engagement" publicly agreed to in advance as is customary in political debates.
My advice to Mr. Miscavige and Cruise et. al. is "tell the truth":1. Yes we have a "disconnection policy" . Explain it.
2. Yes, we have occult (confidential) information that we only reveal to those invited.
3. Yes, we charge "fixed" donations.
Answering questions, regardless if the answer is agreed with or not, goes a long way!
Just tell the truth. Your confidential material does not need to be subject to open debate, just acknowledge that it exists. WHAT exactly the confidential material is is irrelevant. THAT there is confidential material should be part of the informed consent.
The last time that scientology was discussed here it was one of the longest comment threads I have ever seen on this site. with lots of comments from scientologists but today they all must be out fishing.Or taking a flying saucer trip.Or waiting for orders from headquarters.
Seriously guys, nobody hates you, but your org has been as you say"out ethics" for a long time.
Your leaders threaten people.They sue and harass people.They deceive and manipulate and call it "handling"They break up families and try to ruin lives.Believe what you want and practice as you will (If it harms none) but the Church of scientology in its present form must end.This will happen.without violencewithout anger without hate.If you want to practice your ways seek out the Freezone people on the web but do it on a computer that does not have COS software installed on it.
Or having fun with their honeys (or in my case waiting for them to come home) -- it is Valentine's Day after all!
Dave Sweetland wrote: "I would be glad to engage in open discussion and debate with 'rules of engagement' publicly agreed to in advance as is customary in political debates."
Wonderful Dave. I'd be happy to do just that. I've spent the last 30 years looking pretty deeply into both sides of the Scientology debate, and I'd be happy to have an open discussion with you about Scientology.
Q: Do you have occult (confidential) information that you only reveal to those invited?
A: No to the "occult" part (though your mileage may vary on that, depending on what you consider "occult"), and yes to the "confidential" part. The Church answers the question "Why does the Church have confidential scriptures?" here:http://www.scientology.org/religion/c...
If you consider "out of body experiences" to be "occult", then yes, Scientology could then be called "occult". Though personally, I'd consider OOBs to be "spiritual experiences" and not "occult experiences".
Q: Do you charge "fixed" donations?
A: Churches request fixed donations, yes. They are not a requirement to be a Scientologist and take part in many of the Church's services and activities. The Church explains it here in the FAQ section called "How are Churches supported financially?": http://faq.scientology.org/page15a.htm
There's also a "Free Scientology Center" and various ways of doing a good portion of Scientology auditing and courses at various discounts and/or free.
-----
Additionally, most of the common criticisms leveled against Scientology have been pretty well debunked by Scientologist(s) here:
To get a better idea of what Anonymous is really about, watch this youtube video: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=DNO6G4A...It's a Fox news video from about a year ago. These Anonymous guys are not all "kitties and sunshine" -- they are seriously twisted and trying to get sympathy for their anti-religious and illegal activities, and duping a lot of people into helping them, including, apparently the Santa Barbara Independent reporter Chris Meagher, who has written a slam piece here. Sending packets of mysterious white powder to 23 different locations of the Church of Scientology in California recently was an act of terrorism, not some fun prank. These guys need to grow a conscience and figure out which side of the struggle for freedom - religious liberty - they stand on.
I am replying in haste as I am headed to work, but I wanted to at least acknowledge your reply. I agree with whoever the enlightenment era philosopher who said something like, "If you would argue with me you must define your terms."
All that I meant by the word "occult" was "secret or hidden". I believe that over half of the steps on the "Bridge" are confidential (hence "occult" since it is religious information. This is neither intrinsically "good or bad" ; "right or wrong". It is simply a fact that I have had other Scientologists (one in Santa Barbara a few years ago) simply deny that there is any confidential data in Scientology and that is simply not true.
I will check out the web sites you reference. Thank you for "engaging".
When Scientologists drag out "all the good they do" in communities, they seldom mention that the quality of their drug rehab, literacy program and Scientology Volunteer Ministers is seriously questionable.The drug rehab front group, NarCONon, is a slushy blend of junk science and Scientology coursework. In 2004, Narconon's educational outreach program was reviewed at the state level and found to be lacking in accuracy and science. It was expelled from public schools in California, Hawaii, Boston and Buffalo.
The Volunteer Ministers swarm to disasters, posing for photos and handing out little uplifting booklets to people who lack even the most basic essentials. They also deliver "nerve assists," a sort of Scientological laying on of hands, collect testimonials, disrupt mental health services, and lie about affiliation with legitimate groups such as the Red Cross.
After the tsunami, they came into the area with nothing, not even supplies for themselves, relying on local food and shelter better used for flood victims.
The literacy program is nothing but indoctrination into the works of founder L. Ron Hubbard.These programs have the apparency of social betterment while doing nothing substantial. It is all smoke and mirrors.
As to Fair Game, they often repeat "we don't do that any more." Well, they don't do it any less, either. Here is an account of my last five years' experience with Scientology fair game tactics: http://www.vyuz.com/100306_cos1.php
However, you are correct. I should have advised that I am a "declared suppressive person"; an apostate; a former member of the Church of Scientology (1969 - 2000 OTIII; Class IV).
This demonstrates the benefit of open debate and discussion: truth is revealed. The light of truth vanquishes the darkness of lies. ________________
With that said- I did "check out" Lake's referenced sites.
Just as I did not tell any flat out lies in my previous post, there are no flat out lies told on any of those sites, but the rest of the story should be told especially as regards "disconnection". See www.religiousshunning.org for a little more info on this.
Hypermellow; I have looked into "Anonymous" and it is far from an organized group but rather a "Vox Populi" of the net whose only leader is general consensus. If you study their history you will see that the group has undergone a massive change in the last month, while it used to be a small group of kids that liked to prank call and harass people, including infamous radio racist Hal Turner and accused pedophile Chris Forcano, now the group is gaining numbers on a massive scale and they are not kids out for laughs by being mean to folks on the net. (cyber terrorism according to your fox link) Now they are mostly young adults interested in the free spread of information and that puts them at odds with the church of $cientology because the more information is out there the less likely anyone is to join that "church".As for your assertion that Anonymous was involed in the mailing of white powder to $cientology offices I have been reading their websites and they are completely against any such behavior not only because such action would hurt their credibility and be a immoral act but also because it is unnecessary, all people need to do to make the COS irrelevant is to spread factual information about it.I might also point out that in Operation Freakout one of it's tactics against perceived enemy Paulette Cooper was to go into her house, steal paper with her fingerprints on it, and to use this paper to mail fake bomb threats to their own offices so in light of the COS's past acts and their history of using any means necessary against any that oppose them I would cast a very doubtful glance on any claims they make.
The CoS is the only 'religion' I'm aware of that shrouds their teaching in secrecy. "You can't handle the truth!"
That stinks of "what do you have to hide?" I can pick up a Bible, Koran, or Gita, and make my own choice. But people who publish CoS documents get hunted down with copyright law? Sorry- religious teachings are meant to be in the public domain. The CoS has no credibility with me, and it's their own very public action that has done it- no work of religious persecution.
1. Joseph Smith (1806-1844), the founder and first "Prophet" of the Mormon Church, referred to black Africans as "the sons of Cain" (D.H.C. 501), and referred to black slaves in the American south who wanted freedom as "rebellious nikkers in the slave states" (Millennial Star 22:602). He had several black "servants" in Nauvoo, USA. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Dick Day (footballer)
Richard James "Dick" Day (17 February 1920 – 5 August 1997) was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Notes
External links
Category:1920 births
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia)
Category:North Melbourne Football Club players
Category:Yarraville Football Club players
Category:1997 deaths | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
594 N.W.2d 674 (1999)
8 Neb. App. 411
In re Interest of MICHAEL B., James B., and Jeremiah B., children under 18 years of age.
State of Nebraska, appellee and cross-appellee,
v.
Michael B., appellant, and Patricia B., appellee and cross-appellant.
No. A-98-516.
Court of Appeals of Nebraska.
May 18, 1999.
*676 Stephen A. Scherr, of Whelan & Scherr, Hastings, for appellant.
Brenda L. McCrady, Hastings, for appellee Patricia B.
S. Colin Palm, Deputy Adams County Attorney, for appellee State.
MUES, INBODY, and CARLSON, Judges.
MUES, Judge.
I. INTRODUCTION
Michael B. appeals the judgment of the county court for Adams County, sitting as a juvenile court, terminating his parental rights. On appeal, Michael alleges that the trial court erred in admitting irrelevant evidence and that the order terminating his parental rights was not supported by clear and convincing evidence. Patricia B. cross-appeals, alleging that the trial court's order terminating her parental rights was not supported by clear and convincing evidence. Because there is clear and convincing evidence supporting the trial court's decision to terminate the parental rights of Michael and Patricia, we affirm.
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Michael and Patricia met and began living together in 1988. They are the natural parents of Michael B., Jr., born May 29, 1990; James B., born June 23, 1991; and Jeremiah B., born May 7, 1993. Patricia also has a daughter from a former marriage, born August 18, 1979. Prior to the adjudication of the three boys, Michael was convicted of sexually assaulting Patricia's daughter when she was only 13 years old. Thus, during the majority of the proceedings, from May 12, 1995, to October 23, 1997, Michael was incarcerated for sexual assault of a child. Michael and Patricia were married approximately 10 months after he was incarcerated, and the day after the boys were placed in the State's custody.
The record in this case is lengthy and replete with evidence regarding the abuse and neglect of the minor children and the extensive use of drugs and alcohol by Michael and Patricia, as well as their completely immoral and lewd behaviors. To the extent necessary, the specific facts and circumstances involved in this case will be discussed below. However, we conclude that a detailed recitation of facts is uncalled for due to the nature of this case and the extensive opinion written by the county court, which is complete with both fact and law. Suffice it to say that there is clear and convincing evidence to support the findings of the county court.
III. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On March 8, 1996, the State filed a petition requesting that the children be adjudicated as juveniles within the meaning of Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-247(3)(a) (Reissue 1993), and temporary care and custody of the children was placed with the then Nebraska Department of Social Services (DSS). On July 24, an amended petition was filed which alleged (1) that the children were homeless or destitute or without proper support through no fault of their parents; (2) that they lacked proper parental care by reason of the fault or habits of their parents; or (3) that their parents neglected or refused to provide proper or necessary subsistence or other care necessary for the health, morals, or well being of the juveniles. Specifically, the petition alleged, inter alia, that Patricia had hit the children in the head and facial area with her knuckles; that an investigation revealed that the children had numerous abrasions and bruises on their heads and faces; that Michael, Jr., reported that his brothers got spanked with wooden *677 spoons; and that there had been minimal compliance with the voluntary services offered by DSS over the past 5 years.
Although Michael was given notice, he did not participate in the adjudication. Patricia admitted or pled no contest to the allegations contained in the petition, and the children were adjudicated on September 18, 1996. Subsequently, at least two case plans were adopted, and DSS worked extensively with Patricia in regard to the goals of those case plans.
On December 8, 1997, the State filed a petition seeking termination of Michael's and Patricia's parental rights pursuant to Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-292(2), (4), (6), and (7) (Cum.Supp.1996). It also alleged that such termination was in the best interests of the children. Following an extensive hearing, the court found that Michael and Patricia had substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected their children and had refused to give them the necessary parental care and protection. See § 43-292(2). It found that Michael and Patricia were unfit by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior, which conduct was seriously detrimental to the health, morals, or well-being of the children. See § 43-292(4). The court also found that the children were adjudicated as juveniles within the meaning of § 43-247 and that Patricia's reasonable efforts had failed to correct the conditions leading to the adjudication. See § 43-292(6). Finally, it found that the children had been in out-of-home placement for 18 or more consecutive months and that Patricia had failed to correct the conditions leading to the children's out-of-home placement in spite of reasonable efforts and services to the parents. See § 43-292(7).
The court found that Michael, Jr., had oppositional/defiant disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and had exhibited sexualized behavior. It found that James had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, major depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, and that he was on medications for seizure disorders, had been hospitalized on several occasions due to disruptive behavior problems, had exhibited significant sexualized behavior, and had numerous scars reflective of abuse with no perpetrator being proved. It found that Jeremiah was diagnosed with possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental speech disorder, that he showed signs of disruptive behavior and had exhibited sexualized behavior, and that he had numerous scars on his body caused from physical abuse with no evidence of a perpetrator. The court further found that all three children exhibited extensive learned use of vulgar and sexualized language, had special needs requiring strict and consistent limits, and required parents who could provide a stable, safe, and moral environment and a commitment of time to devote to the children's special needs.
In regard to Patricia, the court found that physical abuse has occurred by the discipline she exercised. It found that she did not demonstrate an ability to parent and handle her children's behaviors without external intervention and did not comply with the case plans adopted by the court. However, it found that Patricia's mental deficiency hindered her ability to follow and complete the court's case plan. It also found that her mental deficiency prevented her from profiting from services offered by DSS.
The court also found that Patricia had seriously perverted her children's well-being because of her extreme indulgence of sensual pleasures; had exhibited indecent, base, and unprincipled behavior in the presence of her children; had excited her children's lustful desires by personal example and allowing lustful movies and periodicals to be freely accessible by her children. It found that her history of personal abuse and mental deficiency is the proximate cause of her present attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyle.
*678 The court found that Patricia used alcohol and drugs while she had her children and after they were removed, that she associated with persons who are alcohol dependent and with persons who have been involved with abusive relationships with children, and that she also allowed her daughter to use alcohol and drugs.
It further found that Patricia failed to place herself in a position to resume the care and custody of her children and would not be able to do so within a reasonable time because of her mental deficiency; that she substantially and repeatedly failed to provide a safe, clean, and moral environment for her children because of her mental deficiency and does not have the capacity to provide proper care, structure, nurturing, and protection for her children; and that she was not able to provide a clean home for her children without external support.
In regard to Michael, the court found that no case plan provided any conditions for reunification with Michael; that he had completed parenting classes; that he has seriously perverted his children's moral well-being because of his extreme indulgence of sensual pleasures; that he exhibited indecent, base, and unprincipled behavior in the presence of his children; that he has excited his children's lustful desires by personal example and allowing lustful movies and periodicals to be freely accessible by his children; that he has committed continuous sexual abuse and rape on Patricia's daughter while his children were under his care, custody, and control; that he continues to exhibit a desire to further pervert Patricia's daughter by sexual abuse; that the rape and abuse of Patricia's daughter began when she was 9 years old and continued while she was present in his home; and that he was convicted of sexually assaulting Patricia's daughter.
The court found that it was in the children's best interests to have Michael's and Patricia's parental rights terminated.
IV. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Michael alleges that the trial court erred in (1) failing to sustain objections and motions to strike irrelevant evidence, (2) making findings of fact not supported by the evidence, (3) failing to dismiss the petition on account of failure to prove by clear and convincing evidence that his parental rights should be terminated, and (4) failing to dismiss the petition on account of failure to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he did not follow the requirements of a court-appointed case plan.
On cross-appeal, Patricia alleges that the trial court erred in (1) making findings of fact not supported by the evidence, (2) terminating her parental rights when such decision was not supported by clear and convincing evidence, and (3) ordering that the termination of her parental rights was based upon a finding that she was unable to discharge parental responsibilities because of mental deficiency and a finding that there was a reasonable ground to believe such condition would continue for a prolonged indeterminate period of time, yet the State had failed to allege such ground for termination and to appoint a guardian ad litem for her.
V. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Cases arising under the Nebraska Juvenile Code are reviewed de novo on the record, and the appellate court is required to reach a conclusion independent of the trial court's findings; however, where the evidence is in conflict, the appellate court will consider and may give weight to the fact that the trial court observed the witnesses and accepted one version of the facts over another. In re Interest of Tabatha R., 252 Neb. 687, 564 N.W.2d 598 (1997).
VI. DISCUSSION
Section 43-292(2), (4), (6), and (7) provides in pertinent part that the court may terminate parental rights when the court finds such action to be in the best interests of the juvenile and one or more of the *679 following conditions exist: The parent has substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected and refused to give the juvenile or a sibling necessary parental care, been unfit by reason of debauchery or habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, failed to correct the conditions leading to the determination that the child is one as described in § 43-247(3)(a), or failed to correct the conditions leading to the out-of-home placement in spite of reasonable efforts and services and the juvenile has been in out-of-home placement for 18 or more consecutive months.
Before parental rights may be terminated, the evidence must clearly and convincingly establish the existence of one or more of the statutory grounds permitting such and that such is in the juvenile's best interests. In re Interest of Tabatha R., supra. The grounds for terminating parental rights must be established by clear and convincing evidence, which is that amount of evidence which produces in the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction about the existence of the fact to be proved. In re Interest of Constance G., 254 Neb. 96, 575 N.W.2d 133 (1998).
1. MICHAEL'S APPEAL
(a) Evidence of Sexual Assault
Michael argues that the trial court improperly admitted evidence regarding an incident of sexual contact between himself and Patricia's daughter. He alleges that the incident was remote in time and place from the termination of his parental rights. The State, relying on In re Interest of W.C.O., 220 Neb. 417, 370 N.W.2d 151 (1985), argues that evidence of Michael's sexual assault of Patricia's daughter, for which he was convicted, is relevant in juvenile proceedings. We agree.
In In re Interest of W.C.O., supra, the court allowed evidence that the father had sexually assaulted one minor child to be used as a ground for adjudicating his own child under § 43-247(3)(a). See, also, In re Interest of Tabitha J., 5 Neb.App. 609, 561 N.W.2d 252 (1997) (sexual abuse considered in termination of parental rights); In re Interest of Goodon, 208 Neb. 256, 303 N.W.2d 278 (1981) (upholding termination of parents' rights where father had sexually molested some of his daughters). The county court properly considered evidence of Michael's sexual assault of Patricia's daughter.
(b) Sufficiency of Evidence: Neglect and Lewd Conduct
The county court terminated Michael's parental rights under § 43-292(2) and (4). Michael argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the termination and, more specifically, that the finding that he was unfit by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior is not supported by the record.
From our de novo review, we find that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that Michael has substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected his children and refused to give them his necessary parental care and protection. See § 43-292(2). Also, we find that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that Michael has, by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior, engaged in conduct which is seriously detrimental to the health, morals, or well-being of his children. See § 43-292(4).
The record shows that Michael had repeated sexual encounters of all types with Patricia's daughter almost every night during her preteen and early teen years. Michael was incarcerated for sexually assaulting Patricia's daughter and did not receive sexual offense counseling while he was incarcerated. Although he testified that this sexual behavior with Patricia's daughter will never happen again because he does not want to go back to prison, since his release from prison on October 23, 1997, Michael has written extremely *680 sexually explicit letters to Patricia's daughter, now 18, suggesting further sexual contact between them. Intentional sexual contact with a minor child has been used to uphold the termination of parental rights under § 43-292(2). See In re Interest of L.V., 240 Neb. 404, 482 N.W.2d 250 (1992).
In addition to his sexual conduct with Patricia's daughter, Michael kept his adult videos and magazines within easy reach of his children. One witness, who was present in the home only five or six times, observed James start to play an adult video himself. Patricia's daughter testified that she had observed the children watching these adult videos. Almost every witness testified that there was extensive use of sexualized language and sexualized behavior in these children when they were still preschoolers. James' preschool teacher testified that James came to school with a hickey on his neck and called it a hickey. The boys were also observed mimicking sexual encounters and often grabbed each other in the groin area.
Patricia's daughter testified that she and Michael drank alcoholic beverages and smoked marijuana together on a regular basis. She testified that he supplied her with marijuana. Michael admits that he provided alcohol to Patricia's daughter when she was 11 or 12 years old and that he drank alcohol and smoked marijuana on a regular basis throughout this time period.
The nurse who conducted the health screening of the boys shortly after they were removed from Patricia's care testified that when she questioned Jeremiah about a scar on his neck, he told her it was from being hit with a hammer by Michael. The nurse also testified that James and Jeremiah had a large number of scars on their bodies. Michael testified that he spanked the boys, hit James on the mouth on one occasion, and also spanked Michael, Jr., and James very hard on one occasion.
Michael testified that he has not seen the boys since February 1996. He expressed a desire to eventually be reunified with his children but testified that he "couldn't afford to have them" at the present time. He also testified that he did not feel his parents or sister could take the children because of the children's behavioral problems. Michael had not made any plans for visitation in the 6 months after he had been released from prison and prior to the termination hearing.
The requirements of § 43-292(2) and (4) having been met by clear and convincing evidence, Michael's assignment of error is without merit.
(c) Failure to Adopt Case Plan
Michael's final argument is that the court's failure to adopt a case plan incorporating reunification for Michael is a violation of public policy and legislative intent and, thus, that the trial court erred in failing to dismiss the petition against him. Michael misinterprets the law; the State is not required to institute a case plan which incorporates reunification unless termination of parental rights is sought under § 43-292(6). See, e.g., In re Interest of Joshua M. et al., 251 Neb. 614, 558 N.W.2d 548 (1997) (no requirement that juvenile court institute plan for rehabilitation of parent); In re Interest of S.B.E. et al., 240 Neb. 748, 484 N.W.2d 97 (1992). Since Michael's parental rights were not terminated under § 43-292(6), this assignment of error is without merit.
2. PATRICIA'S APPEAL
(a) Sufficiency of Evidence
The county court terminated Patricia's parental rights under § 43-292(2), (4), (6), and (7). Patricia argues that the trial court made findings of fact not supported by the evidence. Specifically, she alleges that there was no evidence that she was an unfit parent by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior, or that she substantially and repeatedly *681 failed to provide a safe and clean home for her children.
Although the juvenile court found that all four grounds existed, the showing of even one of these is sufficient to warrant termination of parental rights. See In re Interest of Tabitha J., 5 Neb.App. 609, 561 N.W.2d 252 (1997). We conduct our review accordingly. From our de novo review, we find that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that Patricia has substantially and continuously or repeatedly neglected her children and refused to give them her necessary parental care and protection. See § 43-292(2). Also, we find that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that Patricia has, by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior, engaged in conduct which is seriously detrimental to the health, morals, or well-being of her children. See § 43-292(4). Because we decide that the evidence is sufficient to terminate Patricia's parental rights under these two grounds, we do not discuss the other grounds for terminating Patricia's parental rights.
The evidence shows that Patricia allowed her children to have access to and did not stop them from looking at adult videos and magazines. James' foster mother saw Patricia give James a lengthy kiss on the mouth, during which Patricia moaned and twisted her head back and forth. James and Jeremiah were also observed to suck Patricia's fingers with an in and out motion without reprimand from Patricia.
Furthermore, when Patricia's daughter told Patricia about the abuse she was receiving at Michael's hands, Patricia failed to stop the abuse, and, in fact, even blamed her daughter for the sexual encounters between the two. Patricia even decided to marry Michael while he was incarcerated for sexually abusing her daughter. At the time of the termination hearing, Patricia was living with another man whose parental rights to his own young son had been terminated due in part to allegations of sexual abuse. The continued relationship of a parent with an abusive partner has been used to uphold a termination of parental rights under § 43-292(2). See In re Interest of C.D.C., 235 Neb. 496, 455 N.W.2d 801 (1990).
In September 1994, Patricia gave her daughter, then 15 years old, permission to take the car and the boys to Wal-Mart. Patricia was cited for allowing a person under the age of 16 to operate a motor vehicle and for child abuse as a result of this incident. In July 1995, Patricia was observed hitting James with a 2-foot-long board. She hit him three to four times on the back of his legs and bottom. In March 1996, Patricia was observed hitting the boys in the head with her knuckles. These are merely three examples showing a history of abuse at Patricia's hands.
In 1994, when Michael, Jr., and James were 2 and 3 years old, they were picked up by a citizen from an island in the middle of a highway. The citizen took them to the police station, and the police took them to their home. When they arrived at the home, nobody was even aware that the children were unaccounted for. A somewhat similar incident happened with one of the children in 1995.
The requirements of § 43-292(2) and (4) having been met by clear and convincing evidence, Patricia's assignment of error is without merit.
(b) Failure to Submit Case Plans Into Evidence
Patricia also argues that this court does not have a basis to review this case de novo on the State's failure to have the case plans admitted into evidence at the termination hearing. This court has previously determined that in the absence of the case plan from our record, the terms of the case plan can be established by the testimony of a witness familiar with the case plan and a parent's compliance with it. See In re Interest of Tabitha J., 5 Neb.App. 609, 561 N.W.2d 252 (1997). Such was attempted *682 in the instant case. However, because we decide this case on other grounds of termination of parental rights, we need not discuss this assignment of error in further detail.
(c) Mental Deficiency
Finally, Patricia argues that the termination order was based upon the finding that she was unable to discharge her parental responsibilities because of her mental deficiency, which would continue for a prolonged indeterminate period of time. See § 43-292(5). Thus, she argues that her parental rights were not properly terminated because the State did not allege § 43-292(5), mental deficiency, as a ground for termination and a guardian ad litem was thus not appointed to protect her interests, as required when the State alleges mental deficiency as a ground for termination. See In re Interest of M.M., C.M., and D.M., 230 Neb. 388, 431 N.W.2d 611 (1988), citing § 43-292 (Reissue 1984) (appointment of guardian ad litem for parents whose parental rights were sought to be terminated under § 43-292(5) was mandatory; failure to do so found to be plain error requiring reversal). See, also, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 43-292.01 (Reissue 1998).
The county court did not terminate Patricia's parental rights based upon her mental deficiency. However, it is true that it referenced her mental deficiency in addressing each of the other grounds for termination and in finding the evidence sufficient under each of those grounds as charged. In doing so, the county court's opinion pointed out its concern over the State's not charging a mental deficiency ground, but then offering evidence of such deficiency at trial without a guardian ad litem being appointed. The thrust of Patricia's argument is that the termination was, in reality, based upon her mental deficiency and that as such, she was entitled to a guardian ad litem to protect her interests before her parental rights were terminated.
Essentially, Patricia's argument restates the position of the county court below which earnestly expressed a need for the Supreme Court to revisit the decision of In re Interest of J.N.V., 224 Neb. 108, 395 N.W.2d 758 (1986). The county court, relying heavily on the dissent in In re Interest of J.N.V., asserted that the State should not be allowed to circumvent the guardian ad litem requirement of § 42-292 and In re Interest of M.M., C.M., and D.M., supra, by pleading termination of parental rights under a ground other than § 43-292(5), but then supporting the ground pled with evidence of mental deficiency. The county court also suggests that a mental deficiency renders other grounds for termination inappropriate because a violation of each other ground requires that the parent have the requisite mental ability to do or fail to do certain things.
In In re Interest of J.N.V., supra, the Supreme Court upheld the termination of parental rights based upon child neglect, § 43-292(2). There was compelling evidence that the parent was mentally deficient to the point that she had become " `immobilized' " and basically nonfunctioning in that she did not respond to attempts to communicate with her, could not maintain personal hygiene, and threatened suicide. In re Interest of J.N.V., 224 Neb. at 109, 395 N.W.2d. at 760. The State's termination petition proceeded only under § 43-292(2). The Supreme Court recognized that the statute then in effect, § 43-292 (Reissue 1984), required the appointment of a guardian ad litem when termination was sought under § 43-292(5). However, it stated:
It is true that the State might have elected to assert as a ground for terminating her [parental] rights the mother's inability to discharge her parental responsibilities because of her long-term mental illness or deficiency, § 43-292(5), or that more careful advocacy on the part of the State would have suggested that it amend its pleading by adding *683 § 43-292(5) as a ground for the judgment sought....
....
... While it might have been kinder in these sad and unfortunate circumstances for the State to have proceeded under § 43-292(5), it was not required to do so.
In re Interest of J.N.V., 224 Neb. at 111-12, 395 N.W.2d at 760-61.
The dissent in In re Interest of J.N.V., 224 Neb. 108, 114, 395 N.W.2d 758, 762 (1986), argued that the majority ignored the statutory requirement for a guardian ad litem when a mental deficiency was involved and deprived a mentally ill parent of "the valuable right to have her interests protected by a guardian ad litem." The dissent in In re Interest of J.N.V. also recognized the inherent distinction in applying the several grounds for termination of parental rights provided in § 43-292 to mentally ill parents and those who are not mentally ill. It suggested, for example, that the former could not legally neglect a child because "[t]he notion of neglect contemplates the existence, among other things, of intelligence, judgment, and reason, rendering one capable of recognizing and adhering to a required standard of care." 224 Neb. at 113, 395 N.W.2d at 762. Finally, the dissent raised due process concerns resulting from lack of notice that mental capacity would be the subject of the termination hearing when, in fact, it was an integral part of the State's evidence in support of termination.
The county court in this case addressed several of these issues as part of its detailed opinion. While it was uncomfortable with the result, it deemed In re Interest of J.N.V. controlling. We believe In re Interest of J.N.V. clearly holds that the presence of a mental deficiency such as proved here does not preclude termination of parental rights under § 43-292(2). Indeed, a logical extension of In re Interest of J.N.V. is that such mental deficiency also does not preclude termination under § 43-292(4). These are the only two grounds that we have discussed in this appeal as to Patricia. While portions of the dissent in In re Interest of J.N.V. are somewhat persuasive, the decision in that case still stands, and the county court was correct to find the evidence sufficient to terminate Patricia's parental rights under § 43-292(2) and (4). The presence of a mental deficiency in a parent does not preclude the State from seeking, or the courts from granting, termination under § 43-292(2) and (4).
As to Patricia's remaining argument that we should find plain error because a guardian ad litem was denied her, we find this argument also to be without merit. The part of § 43-292 requiring a guardian ad litem under subsection (5) in effect at the time of the present termination is the same as that in effect when In re Interest of J.N.V. was decided. No guardian ad litem was appointed in In re Interest of J.N.V., and plain error was not found there. That is despite the dissent bringing the issue to the forefront in that case. Thus, we believe In re Interest of J.N.V. is controlling on this issue as well. We are aware that In re Interest of M.M., C.M., and D.M., supra, was decided after In re Interest of J.N.V., but In re Interest of M.M., C.M., and D.M. specifically sought termination under subsection (5). Based on In re Interest of J.N.V., and because subsection (5) was not alleged as a ground here, we cannot find plain error in the failure to appoint a guardian ad litem for Patricia.
The county court was concerned with what it perceived to be unfairness to Patricia because the State elected not to plead subsection (5) and, thus, no guardian ad litem appointment was required. For the sake of completeness, we note that a county court has discretionary authority to appoint a guardian ad litem in termination proceedings for a parent with a mental deficiency, regardless of whether or not § 43-292(5) is pled as a ground for termination. See In re Interest of D.A., 239 *684 Neb. 264, 475 N.W.2d 511 (1991) (even where there is no statutory obligation to appoint guardian ad litem, it is within inherent power of courts, and is both proper and desirable, that they appoint guardian ad litem for litigant when reasonably convinced litigant is not mentally competent to comprehend significance of legal proceedings, litigant is unable to intelligently and understanding participate in protection of her or his best interests, and such guardian is needed to protect those interests). Since the date of the termination below, this inherent power has been legislatively recognized in termination proceedings. See § 43-292.01 (court shall appoint guardian ad litem when termination is sought under subsection (5) and may appoint guardian ad litem for any party in termination case as deemed necessary or desirable). We also note that no application was made to appoint a guardian ad litem for Patricia.
3. BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN
We find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the best interests of these children require termination of Michael's and Patricia's parental rights. At the time of the termination hearing, these children had been in foster care for over 2 years. Despite intensive rehabilitation services, the care they received from Patricia had improved only marginally in these 2 years. It had not yet improved to the point where Patricia was allowed to have unsupervised visitation. In fact, when the level of direct supervision was decreased, a dramatic increase in behavioral problems was viewed in the children which Patricia was unable or unwilling to control. The children had not seen Michael since February 1996. Michael made no noticeable attempts to secure visitation after his release from prison, 6 months prior to the termination hearing.
When parents cannot rehabilitate themselves within a reasonable time, the best interests of a child require that a final disposition be made without delay. In re Interest of Constance G., 254 Neb. 96, 575 N.W.2d 133 (1998). These children have suffered abuse and neglect, if not at the hands of their parents, then certainly from their parents' failure to protect them. At the time of the termination hearing, James was hospitalized for, among other things, suicidal impulses. This is not the first time he has required hospitalization for mental health problems. A psychiatrist testified that all of the children have mental problems to some extent and have been victimized by neglect, physical abuse, and, possibly, sexual abuse. All of these children have special needs requiring extensive time from a parent who is willing and able to set strict guidelines and stringent boundaries. Because Patricia and Michael are unable to fulfill these special needs, it is in the children's best interests that their parental rights be terminated.
VII. CONCLUSION
We conclude from our de novo review of the record that the evidence clearly and convincingly establishes that the children have been substantially and continuously neglected and have not been given necessary parental care by both Patricia and Michael; that both parents are unfit by reason of debauchery, habitual use of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs, or repeated lewd and lascivious behavior which is seriously detrimental to the health, morals, and well-being of the children; and that it is in the children's best interests that the parental rights of Michael and Patricia be terminated.
Therefore, the judgment of the county court, sitting as a juvenile court, is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | FreeLaw |
Mount Heitō
Mount Heitō () is a flat-topped mountain high on the southeast end of the Langhovde Hills in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. It was mapped from surveys and air photos taken by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE), 1957–62, and the name Heitō-zan (flat-top mountain) was approved by JARE Headquarters in 1972. Heitō Glacier is a small glacier draining westward along the south side of the mountain.
References
Category:Mountains of Queen Maud Land
Category:Prince Harald Coast | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Management of ascites with hydrothorax.
Hydrothorax occurs in 5.3 percent of ascitic patients. Our experience with 22 cases forms the basis of this report. Of the 22 cases, 21 were spontaneous and 1 was due to transdiaphragmatic incision. Eighteen occurred on the right side. Usually fluid enters the chest through tiny defects in the diaphragm. These defects are often covered by pleuroperitoneum, but the high abdominal pressure raises a bleb on the superior surface of the diaphragm. Rupture produces hydrothorax. The ascites is often relieved with the onset of the hydrothorax. Blockage of the thoracic duct has produced chylous ascites. The thoracoabdominal communication is immediately confirmed by a scan of the chest and abdomen after intraperitoneal injection of technetium-99 colloid. Fluid is tapped from the chest immediately before intraperitoneal injection. The rate at which the technetium-99 enters the chest is related to the size of the defect in the diaphragm. A significant transfer should occur within 12 hours. Immediate transfer occurs with large defects. The ruptured blister on the diaphragm forms a one-way valve. Intrathoracic injection does not migrate into the peritoneal cavity. The valvular characteristics of the leak force ascitic fluid into the thorax because the differential pressure between the abdominal and pleural cavities is intensified by inspiration. If tension hydrothorax has occurred, urgent thoracocentesis and paracentesis may be required. A chest tube should not be introduced. The main principle of surgery is to supply a low resistance pathway for the return of fluid to the venous system and to eliminate the diaphragmatic defect by obliteration of the pleural space. A LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt is performed after emptying the abdomen of its fluid load. After completion of the shunt operation, the chest is emptied of fluid, and a sclerosing agent (tetracycline or nitrogen mustard) is injected into the pleural cavity. Closure of the defect is verified by technetium-99 labeled scans which also confirm shunt patency. With this regime, the defect closed or was rendered insignificant in 18 of 22 patients. One patient had a post-transdiaphragmatic surgical defect which was too extensive to be closed by the aforementioned procedures. One patient remained well but did not have closure of the defect, one patient with a ruptured hiatal hernia did not have closure, and one patient who had previous placement of a chest tube could not be closed. Therefore, 18 of 22 patients were successfully treated. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
M protein, a fibrillar molecule on the surface of the group A streptococcus, protects the organism from attack by human phagocytic cells and is therefore considered to be the major virulence factor for this bacterium. While anti-M protein antibodies protect against subsequent streptococcal infection, this protection is specific for organisms of one serotype of M protein. (Over 80 serotypes are currently recognized.) To approach the question of broad protection from infection by group A streptococci, an understanding of the relation of the molecular structure of M proteins to their function is important. In our previous work, we reported the first M protein gene sequence and determined one molecular mechanism for antigenic variation. We also developed the genetic techniques necessary to perform a detailed structure-function analysis of this virulence factor. This analysis, the first goal of this work, will provide a rational basis for possible vaccine development. In addition, we have identified a gene (mry) that encodes a protein required for expression of the M protein and possibly of other virulence factors of S. pyogenes. The predicted structure of Mry suggests that it is part of a signal-transducing system and it is possible that, like proteins of this type in other pathogenic bacteria, Mry may be a global regulator of streptococcal virulence determinants. We propose to utilize molecular genetics to analyze the mechanism of the environmentally responsive regulation by Mry. It may be possible to develop an anti-bacterial agent based on a better understanding of the mode of action of this protein. It seems likely that a functional mry gene is also present in other group A streptococcal strains and may be required for their virulence. In this case, an antagonist to Mry should have antibacterial activity against all S. pyogenes strains regardless of M type. Furthermore, because signal- transducing systems of different organisms have many features in common, an antagonist to Mry might have activity against a broad spectrum of different pathogenic bacteria. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | NIH ExPorter |
Early high dose chemotherapy intensification with autologous bone marrow transplantation in lymphoma associated with retention of fertility and normal pregnancies in females. Scotland and Newcastle Lymphoma Group, UK.
As more centres consider autologous bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for patients with high risk Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in first complete remission (CR1) the long term sequelae of such treatments have to be considered. One of the most important side effects of such intensive treatment is loss of fertility. Sperm banking before treatment commences is available for males but unfortunately cryopreservation of ova/ovarian tissue is not yet possible for females. We have transplanted 30 women, 23 were under 40 years and report ten females who have had successful pregnancies (including two twin pregnancies and one triplet pregnancy), leading to live births following autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for poor prognosis HD and NHL in first or second complete remission. None of these children have shown evidence of birth defects (median follow up of two years). Of the twenty one pregnancies reported to the European Bone Marrow Transplantation Registry (EBMTR) following ABMT for lymphoma, eight of the seventeen unassisted cases came from our centres. The Newcastle/SNLG autotransplant differs from the approach in many EBMTR centres in that it uses melphalan or melphalan/etoposide alone instead of the more common four drug containing regimens and yet sustained complete remission rates indicate that the non-ablative approach is equally effective as more aggressive regimens on the disease with the huge advantage of preserved fertility in females. This approach to conditioning for ABMT should be considered when treating women in the reproductive age group. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
The Guy from Harlem
The Guy from Harlem is a 1977 American Blaxploitation film directed by Rene Martinez, Jr.
The film is also known as The Good Guy from Harlem.
Plot
Al Connors (Loye Hawkins) is a private detective operating in Miami, Florida that is contacted by a CIA officer, David McLeod, in order to enlist Al's services to protect the wife of an African head of state in town for diplomatic business. McLeod suspects a security leak and feels the wife is under better protection out of CIA hands. Connors accepts the job and suggests posing as a newlywed couple at a local hotel.
Connors meets the wife, Mrs. Ashanti, at the hotel and informs her of the ruse to which she's initially reluctant to participate in until Connors assures her it's for appearances only and doesn't have any inappropriate intentions towards her. Ashanti complains of a sore back, prompting Connors to call for a masseuse to come to their room.
Later, Connors observes the masseuse at the window gesturing to a man on the sidewalk, raising his suspicions of her and prompting him to watch her perform her work even at the protest of Wanda and the masseuse. He turns out to be correct in his suspicions, as in a moment when he is out of the room the masseuse prepares a syringe. Connors enters the room in time, and the masseuse hastily hides the syringe back in her pocket. The masseuse leaves without incident and Connors orders some well-done New York strip steaks and J&B scotch from room service. While waiting for their room service to arrive, Connors explains to Mrs. Ashanti that he is from Harlem and that he learned how to be a detective in Harlem. He left, however, because there were too many detectives in Harlem. Mrs. Ashanti also mentions spending time in Harlem and thought it was a fantastic place.
Room service arrives and without provocation Connors knocks out the room service deliverer (who was a man dressed as a woman), claiming he can "smell a New York Strip steak a block away" and then reveals a gun hidden under the cover of one of the room service trays. Soon two more men enter the room; thugs working for a local crime kingpin "Big Daddy", who Connor quickly dispatches using his fighting and martial arts skills. Connors holds the gun to one the thug's head and makes him confess who sent him, and the thug reveals the name of the person who sent him is Big Daddy. Connors deems the hotel to be unsafe and leaves with Ashanti to a safer location.
The safer location turns out to be the apartment of Connor's current girlfriend, who is initially reluctant to leave but soon does so without objection. Ashanti continues to complain about her sore back and Connors offers to help her with his own massage knowledge eventually leading to he and Ashanti consummating their relationship on the bed of apartment's tenant. Presumably the next day, Connors safely delivers Ashanti back into the hands of the CIA and her husband, the head of state of an African nation.
On return to his office Connors expresses his intentions to have a "goof-off day" to his secretary but the intentions are soon dashed with the entrance of another potential client, this one being Harry De Bauld and small entourage of thugs. De Bauld is the leader of a local criminal organization and recently his daughter, Wanda, has been kidnapped by a rival gang, ran by a man known only as "Big Daddy." Connors questions De Bauld about the mysterious Big Daddy, to which De Bauld can only provide a few details: Big Daddy is known for never pulling any of his own stunts, and physically, he has large muscles, and wears large bands around his muscles. A money/hostage exchange is set to occur and De Bauld loudly wishes Connors to exploit that exchange in order to recover his daughter, to carry it out Connors is given a large sum of cash for his services as well as a large amount of cocaine, his end of the hostage exchange.
Connors meets with one of Big Daddy's men in a local gym to set up the details of the exchange, but Connors uses that as a ruse to follow the man to the hide-out where they are holding Wanda. After taking out several of the men guarding the location as well as the man running the compound Connors is able to recover Wanda and he takes her with him to a safe hiding place.
The hiding place, once again, turns out to be his girlfriend's home whom he has to eject, this time at her great annoyance. Wanda and Connors talk some, Wanda revealing she's not happy with her father whose criminal activities had recently grown more intense with the involvement of drug trafficking. Wanda and Connors consummate their relationship on the bed of the apartment's tenant.
The following day, Connors delivers Wanda back into the hands of her father in his office but refuses to return the drugs trying to convince De Bauld to drop that aspect of his organization in order to repair the relationship with his daughter. Connors also wishes to meet with Big Daddy in order to put a stop to his activities once and for all.
Connors and Big Daddy meet later to discuss their differences. Big Daddy tries to enlist Connors into his organization, but Connors refuses and the two fight. Connors is able to quickly defeat and kill Big Daddy and then leaves in the arms of Wanda, who had arrived with her brother to observe the fight and potentially aid Connors.
Cast
Loye Hawkins as Al Connors
Cathy Davis as Wanda De Bauld
Patricia Fulton as Mrs. Ashanti
Wanda Starr as Sue
Steve Gallon as Harry De Bauld
Laster Wilson as Larry De Bauld
Wayne Crawford as Big Daddy (as Scott Lawrence)
Vaughn Harris as David McLeod, CIA (as Vaughan Harris)
Richie Vallon as Jim
Michael Murrell as Paul Benson
Angela Schon as Jo Ann
Douglas Ferraro as Man #1
Fernando Yi as Man #2
Colleen Martinez as Masseuse
Hyatt Hodgdon as Mac
Mickeal Taylor as Special Man
Raff Prieto as Waitress
Lafon Hockaday as Health Spa Owner
Patrick Hackett as Health Spa Extra
Jesus Correa as Health Spa Extra
Douglas Brinson as Bellboy
Legacy
The Guy from Harlem was the subject of a 2012 RiffTrax. They described the film thus: "It trades most of the sleaze, grime, and, well, exploitation that you expect from the genre for dopiness, sexual situations that fail to lead to actual sex, a clumsy confused sweetness, and more botched lines per minute than anything we’ve ever seen." Kevin Murphy described it as one of his five favorite "riffs."
Connect Savannah's Jim Reed described the film as "the most enjoyable so-bad-it’s-good example of that genre I have ever come across. [...] it’s jaw-droppingly inept yet still holds your attention. It’s filled with clumsy fistfights, shoddy camerawork, D-grade funk music and polyester bell-bottomed leisure suits."
References
External links
Category:1977 films
Category:American films
Category:English-language films
Category:Films set in Miami
Category:American action drama films
Category:1970s action drama films
Category:Blaxploitation films | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Thursday, 25 August 2016
For me, the year is divided into two halves - before Baviaans, and after Baviaans. Before Baviaans is the dark winter of the soul, body and mind - if you're not doing long lonely rides in appalling weather, you're abusing yourself in the garage on the WattBike - an exercise that makes queueing at the post office seem like a pleasurable affair. Before Baviaans is filled with fear, subterfuge and regret. Fear that come race day you're going to be the weakest link. Subterfuge in that the odd white lie about your current form might induce complacency in your partners, and regret in almost everything else. Regret that you entered this race. Regret that you didn't try to keep some of that amazing form from summer. Regret in having that extra helping of dessert. Regret in missing those last fifteen minutes of cooldown on the WattBike.
Captain Craig, myself, and Last Minute Charles's finger
In comparison, after Baviaans is a new beginning. The weight and dread of the event has passed and you're left with mostly positive memories of yet another magical trip through the Baviaanskloof. The legs feel amazing, bike riding is fun again, and it feels like summer is just around the corner. Perhaps this is what keeps us coming back, over and over again.
Spot the Brick Layers
In hindsight, naming ourselves after the worst nuclear disaster ever was probably tempting fate a little, especially since this was my 13th adventure between Willowmore and Jeffreys Bay. Team Warm Fuzzy Kittens would have been more apt, but given our history of riding together, perhaps the name The Chernobyl Brick Layers is quite fitting.
Smiles before the storm
We finally lined up on the start line in Willowmore once again, and for the first time in ages Captain Craig and I were just a two man team, with no backup - our usual accomplices abandoning us like the captain and crew of the Oceanos. Thankfully, Last Minute Charles volunteered to undertake the vital role of dealing with our technical, nutritional, and logistical requirements. Our hopes were that the emotional fragility during the 2015 event would not be an issue, especially since Halfway would not be around to provide any much needed hugs.
Pre-race hydration and stategy session
My sole objective for this year's race was to avoid the nuclear catastrophe I'd had the previous year during the first 100kms. Even the consolatory KOM I got did little to erase the mental scars that I've been carrying around for a whole year. My secondary objective was to not be the weakest link in The Chernobyl Brick Layers. Again, the 8 hours of being the whipping boy in the team the previous year were still fresh in my mind.
Team number 9
After the traditional rendition of the national anthem before the start (and it really was a good rendition this year), 1200 slightly mental ultra endurance mountain bikers set off in search of the coast. The lead bunch quickly formed with the usual faces making an appearance. A noticeable change this year was the number of ladies in the front bunch, with all three mixed teams comfortably holding their own. The first 100kms were rather uneventful, except for the continuous hunting of a non-existent smooth line on the gravel road leading up to the Kloof. The choice was ultimately between loose road debris, corrugations, or dancing with the thorn trees on the side of the road. And being on hard tails, The Chernobyl Brick Layers found the going particularly bone jarring. Captain Craig and I had completely different approaches - he would ride on the front and pick his line, while I would do the same, but right at the back of the bunch, ala The Brick Layer BookEnds (probably a better team name).
Look mom - we're in the lead bunch!
We made Checkpoint 2 in one piece this year, my main objective successfully achieved. Perhaps it was the horrid headwind that kept the bunch honest, or perhaps my legs were hiding some sort of form. From now on though, the real racing started, and the answer to my secondary objective would shortly be known. The next 40 kilometres are key, and more often than not, I somehow manage to fall to pieces up the climbs of Baviaans Back, Fangs and MAC, usually resulting in me leaving a toxic splatter of nuclear waste behind the water tanks at Checkpoint 4. But this year was different. The legs felt good, the stomach was behaving, and Captain Craig was showing the slightest signs of weakness - a truly rare occurrence. And by slightest signs of weakness I mean that I was able to ride at one or two heartbeats below nuclear meltdown zone.
We rolled into Checkpoint 3, having made good progress with our steady pace, catching and passing several teams that either overdid the first 100kms, or underestimated the first of the climbs. While grabbing a coke (or two or three), we couldn't help overhear one of the motorbike marshals commenting about our bikes. Something like "These are the most unique bikes here. Totally old school. And hardcore. Hardtails - crazy. And check those forks. WTF. And look at the roadie cluster. Hahahahaha." We weren't quite sure what to make of all that. I'll give the "Hardtails - crazy" bit, but the rest? The Lauf fork is amazing, although it did come off second best over the corrugations. As for "the roadie cluster" - we both run 3x10 setups, mainly for the speed that the big blade gives us - Captain Craig has a 46 - and the security that the 22 blade offers should things go pear shaped. Nothing like watching 1x11 guys spinning their legs like a bunch of epileptic hooligans. Certainly not oldschool, since I'd just gone to 3x10 earlier this year ;)
Old school roadie gears;)
Back on the road we were still moving up through the field, having put in a good effort up The Fangs when disaster struck. What started off as a minor technical issue quickly escalated into a full on nuclear disaster. Captain Craig's back wheel lost pressure, so we stopped and bombed it. But that didn't work. There was still a leak. A leak we could hear but couldn't see. We tried to convince our porridge brains to take control of the situation, but they were having nothing of it. We eventually located the hole - a tiny side wall graze, enough to allow the air to slowly ooze out. We should have just bombed it again, and let the wonder of Stan's sealant do its thing. But we didn't. We were treating this minor anomaly as a full on major incident. Our irrational brains decided that the best course of action was to fit a tube. So we popped the tyre off, and readied Captain Craig's tube. A 26 inch tube. For 29er wheelers. Square peg, meet round hole. With all the finesse of a gorilla with a 10 pound hammer, we finally wrestled the tube and tyre back onto the rim and bombed it all once again. While all this mayhem was occurring, team after team came flying past us, rubbing salt into our already raw wounds!
Riding for the Rhinos
After what seemed like an age - 10 minutes in a bike race like this is an age - we were going again, the Mother of all Climbs ahead of us. My last decent climb of that hill was in 2013, ironically when we were reduced to a two man team after Captain Craig broke his frame. We assumed our usual formation, side by side, in silence, as we inched up the climb. On a personal note, I was hoping to end my streak of pukiness, and so when we got to the KOM flags near the top of the climb and I hadn't needed to purge my stomach contents, I took it as a sign that our luck was changing. However, I always forget about the last little run into Checkpoint 4 - a horrible little uphill drag that seems to take an age. To add to the torment, the annoyingly persistent headwind was back, and so too were the first signs of trouble brewing in my belly. If I could just make the checkpoint in one piece, I'd be good enough to make it to the finish.
Yup - those are bar ends! Old school!
We rolled into the checkpoint and chatted with a few of the teams that had past us during Puncturegate. Those sort of chats you have with your neighbour where you try to be friendly, but you're not actually friends (even if you are, this is a race and everyone's the enemy). While Captain Craig nursed his back wheel, I went about nursing my belly. And I don't mean my usual visual burp trick behind the water tanks - Coca Cola! With our lights attached (Captain Craig has a theory - we have backup lights at Checkpoint 3 and proper lights and Checkpoint 4 - perhaps we should be bold enough to have backup lights at Checkpoint 4 and proper lights at Checkpoint 5 - either way, we'd certainly be motivated enough to make Checkpoint 5 in the light!) we set off after the teams in front of us. Our hope was to find a nice little group and share the pace making, particularly given the relentless headwind. But our hopes were dashed. Not only did we not see a single other team for the next 30 kilometres, the wind seemed to have upped its annoyance factor too.
The view up MAC
(Captain Craig wasn't suffering that much!)
Checkpoint 5 was almost upon us when we finally spotted some targets - Maza & Sipho - our nemeses from this year's 36One. While Last Minute Charles took care of our bikes, and I stocked up on some more coke, Craig entered into negotiations with the RMB guys. If we rode together for the next leg, we'd stand a better chance of catching some of the teams ahead. In principle, everyone was on board with the plan and we set off for the Neverender. However, as soon as the road went up, the RMB guys started to ride away from us - our agreement in tatters. Again, our hopes of catching those ahead of us started to fade. But we did have one trump card up our sleeves. Like the safety instruction manual at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, few people actually read the race booklet that we get at registration. Most of the booklet is filled with rather meaningless info about time penalties, food at checkpoints and the correct way to mount your race number. However, hidden amongst all superfluous info, like a diamond in a haystack, is a very important tidbit. Something along the lines of "At the fork in the road, go left". On the surface, it's nothing earth shattering, but miss that one turn and you'll be lucky to ever see civilisation ever again. And, you can bet that some first timer team will accept the challenge of exploring the great unknown. So while The Chernobyl Brick Layers didn't actually catch and pass anyone, we'd moved up 4 or 5 places by the time we got into Checkpoint 6. We'd also ridden our way back across to the the RMB guys, Captain Craig dropping mini nuclear bombs all the way up the Neverender.
The MAC, in pretty decent condition.
With the lights of Jeffery's Bay almost visible on the horizon, we had one last leg to go. Our thoughts now were on how we were going to ditch the RMB guys - the fragile alliance now over. I set a steady pace on the front, trying to make life tough for Team RMB. One particular effort up the Mini Mac showed their team weakness while at the same time hurting Captain Craig. Now I'm not sure if I awoke the sleeping dragon, or if I triggered his desire for vengeance, but as soon as the we crested that final climb, Captain Craig reintroduced us all to his 46 tooth chainring. The RMB guys were bouncing around like hyperactive kids full of E numbers - their legs spinning at impossible revolutions. And still Captain Craig drove us on, The Chenobyl Brick Layers diving into the final single track first. And just as I was about to pop, we got our gap. Time to put on the big boy underpants and harden up. Through the twists and turns we held our advantage, eventually crossing the line in 9:39, and 17th place.
Now this is a bike race
Last Minute Charles met us with warm clothes, some snacks, and more importantly, some cold beer. Although we weren't entirely happy with the result, we were happy to have survived another adventure together. More importantly, we'd made it through lucky number 13 without a complete nuclear meltdown. I'm off to enjoy my After Baviaans - till next year.
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Say what you like about the French, but when it comes to bikes and cycling, they get it. And I'm not just talking about the skinny lycra-clad pro wannabe cyclists. Anyone on two wheels is treated with respect, from those skinny lycra-clad pro wannabes, to crazy long distance randonneurs, from daily commuters to weekend warriors.
Quiet country roads, and hills!
Solo adventures in the French countryside
It's unnerving at first to have an 18 wheeler truck drive behind you for kilometers on end, grinding away in second gear as the driver waits for an opportunity to overtake. And by overtake, I don't mean the South African definition of give a warning blast on the hooter and then proceed at full speed regardless, passing with millimeters to spare. The French definition of overtaking is the same for all road users - wait until the oncoming lane is clear, indicate, pull over into the oncoming lane, pass the cyclist/tractor/horse/camper van, indicate, return to lane. While we're begging for passing space legislation of just one metre, the French give 1.5 metres. Which is plenty when you see how narrow some of their roads are.
Emergency water stop
And it's not just about road safety. Cycling is part of their lifestyle, their culture. The easiest way to strike up a conversation with a French person is to do so with your bike nearby. For some reason, a bicycle is like a secret symbol or mystic handshake that opens the doors to an exclusive club. I've had whole conversations about cycling, the Tour de France, bicycles and bike riders with French people while not understanding a single word. These conversations usually involve lots of arm waving, some wild gesticulating at bicycle parts, a random French word here and there, and smiles all round.
TDF - fun for the whole family
Kids, firemen, foreigners
Glamour shot
Whoosh!
Where else would an entire village come to a standstill in a carnival atmosphere? Entire communities celebrating the passing of the Tour de France. Kids on jumping castles, families lining the streets, local craft beer flowing.
Dane 0 - Tourmalet 1
Spectacular
The French take a pride in knowing that foreigners have travelled halfway around the world just to come and cycle in their beautiful country, and they've embraced this. Whether you're climbing the legendary climbs of the Tour de France, or just cruising the country lanes, you're a guest in their country and they treat you like one.
A family affair
All you need is a bike
Thursday, 21 April 2016
This is a stupid, stupid event. Nothing about this bike ride makes sense. It's ridiculously long, through dusty semidesert conditions, and it starts just as the sun goes down. And yet 780 people thought that this sounded like a good way to spend a weekend.
Crazy crazy stupid
After vowing, not once, but twice, to never ever do this event again, both Captain Craig and I were back for more self-inflicted misery. We had a team title to defend, although admittedly, neither of us were talking up our chances too much. We both prefer the understated approach of seeing how it plays out on the day - it's so far and so long that anything can happen.
Spot Team Lunatic Express
This year, Team Lunatic Express had built up a bit of a cult following, mainly because of Captain Craig (aka Captain Chaos) and his light antics of 2015. And while some of the things that my partner gets up to do cause a certain amount of stress, I generally tolerate most of it as it always makes for an interesting blog post or anecdote afterwards. Together, we're the perfect combo of Yin and Yang - one cautious and pedantic and the other footloose and carefree.
Team Lunatic Express
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, we lined up on the startline of the 36One Challenge with hundreds of similarly crazy minded cyclists. Unlike other normal events, the air was thick with apprehension and nervousness - some riders not entirely sure they would ever see their loved ones again. And despite having done this twice before, I was one of those riders - 16 hours of bike riding lay ahead of me. That's 16 hours for something to go wrong, 16 hours to ruin the race strategy, and more importantly, 16 hours for Captain Craig to come up with a unique way of either injuring himself or having to survive on barely serviceable equipment. And as I stood there, resisting the urge to go to the toilet for the 5th time, it was reassuring to see that each and every rider had their doubts, their demons, their worries.
The unofficial member of Team Lunatic Express - Halfway Robertson
Right from the gun 5 teams formed a little lead group at the head of the race. After taking a turn on the front, I settled into the paceline while Captain Craig spent some of his pent up energy near the front. This gave me a chance to suss out the competition. We had the skinny RMB race snakes riding a crafty strategy early on. There were the guys on orange bikes pushing the pace a bit, but looking to the rest of us for cues. And finally, there were the guys in orange kit lurking at the back, keeping their heads down, silently observing the small group.
It's a tough weekend out for everyone
An hour in and this small group was shattered on the first real climb, leaving the skinny RMB race snakes and Team Lunatic Express at the front of affairs. This left us in a rather tricky position - drive on to maintain the gap over the chasers with the risk of overdoing it, or stick to the game plan of riding cautiously for the first 6 hours. Few things in life bring Captain Craig as much satisfaction as dishing out a lesson in bike riding, and usually I'm quite happy to indulge him, as long as he doesn't overdo it. But something wasn't quite right. We're rather similar riders, both fond of pushing heavy gears, grinding our way up climbs, and cruising along with our diesel engines, and yet, for the first time in ages we appeared to be completely out of sync. It was a theme that would last the entire ride - when Captain Craig was feeling good, I was suffering, contemplating self sabotage, and as quickly as I'd recover, he'd fade, entering his own private hell of torment.
Finding beauty in negative spaces
With the skinny RMB race snakes starting to hurt me up the climbs I had to ask Captain Craig to back off. As simple as this sounds, it's usually quite an involved process, mainly because Captain Craig has the hearing of an 80 year old. What would normally be a quiet word is instead a broadcast for all and sundry to hear - "Craig, please slow down - I'm feeling kak". I often get the volume wrong the first time, and have to repeat myself even louder, further embarrassing myself. It's right up there with announcing to the world at the top of your voice that you're a Liverpool supporter, or that you think the Bulls look great in pink. Not cool.
Halfway giving the Eye
Captain Craig got the message as we eventually waved goodbye to the skinny RMB race snakes and settled into what we do best - cruising along at our own pace. We don't talk much, mostly because Captain Craig can't hear anything, and all I can hear is wind noise, thanks to my rather generously proportioned ears. Occasionally the outside world would intrude upon our little puddles of light, a frog hopping like his life depended on it, a rabbit running from an unseen monster, the mangy dog having so much fun barking at cyclists in the middle of the night, but mostly it was just us and a slowly setting half moon. As tough and as stupid as this ride is - these are the moments that keep us coming back for more - the quiet solitude, the shared silence.
Spectators come in all shapes and sizes
While I hate to admit it, the best aspect of riding in a team are the stories we have to tell afterwards. My partners are usually the stars in the drama that unfolds, from lights that don't work, to spectacular crashes. I'm the observer, the spectator to their antics. Not at this race. In a testament to how good the food at the checkpoints was, ranging from ostrich sosaties to koeksisters, banana bread to date balls, I broke a spoke not far after the halfway mark. And while I've been called a big guy in the past, the message was finally sinking in - this was the fifth broken spoke in 3 weeks. The cycling gods were subtly telling me to cut back on the Nutella!
Halfway enjoying the delicacies on offer
Nursing a wobbly wheel we continued to make good progress, taking turns to dip in and out of bad patches. During a prolonged stretch of misery, just as I was contemplating a silent protest to the unpleasantness that Captain Craig was dishing out, I punctured. Weight issues aside, the irony was that we'd just caught the skinny RMB race snakes again, having last seen them 6 hours previously. We quickly bombed the wheel and set off on the chase, only for the tyre to once again go flat. Time to pop in a tube. As I ripped the tube off my seatpost, green slime spurted everywhere. My spare tube had been on my bike for so long that it had perished and was literally crumbling in my hands. No problem - Captain Craig's tube would do the trick, except he didn't have a tube on him. So there we were, in the middle of nowhere, with no tube and no sign of help, as we watched the lights of the skinny RMB race snakes disappear up the road.
Post race story telling
A couple minutes later a herd of bicycle lights appeared further down the road - salvation was on its way. Or so we thought. Fifteen riders must have ridden past us without so much as an utterance of "Are you ok?". And they say roadies are the unfriendly ones. Eventually, the leading lady, Hannele Steyn-Kotze stopped to offer some assistance, but didn't have a spare tube. Same with Henning van Wyk - another old school mountain biker with proper race etiquette. Thirteen minutes later, while watching our race slip away, we eventually got a tube. Rider 307 - you are a rare find in this modern age.
Rider 307 - we salute you!
With my tyre issues solved, and adrenalin coursing through my veins, we set off in pursuit of our podium spot. Our rough estimate had us in forth place with about 100 kilometres to go. Certainly enough time to get back onto the podium. The only catch being that we still had the imposing climb of Rooiberg to deal with. To compound matters, Captain Craig's good patch was fading quickly and the memories of the previous year's climb were flooding back fast. In a classic example of "going slow to go fast" we backed off the pace completely and rode at a slow, steady crawl up the hill. One by one, we reeled in the lights ahead of us. Broken bodies with vacant stares greeted us as we plodded along, and as we crested the climb we caught and passed the skinny RMB race snakes. The race was back on!
A frantic decent and a mad team time trial later we rolled into Checkpoint 3 just as the sun was rising. Captain Craig ordered me to get some tea, and when I told him to get his own damn tea, he told me it was for me. Apparently I ride quite well after a good cup of tea. We scoffed down some food, sipped on the tea, ditched our lights and hit the road as soon as we could, hoping to maintain our advantage over the skinny RMB race snakes. The final 80kms are brutal, but we figured that if we could hide out of sight we'd have a good chance hanging onto third spot.
We plodded along, slowly conquering one torturous hill after the another, knowing that if we got to the final 40kms of flat farm and district roads, there'd be almost no chance of any skinny race snakes catching us on our preferred race terrain. With white line fever that lasted for around two hours we slowly hoovered up any riders ahead of us in the last desperate bid to improve on our overall standing. The town of Oudtshoorn eventually emerged from the mid morning haze as we finally crossed the line in 16h53, utterly spent and in dire need of a refreshing beer. In the background, through the hurt, sweat and grime, the announcer was going on about the arrival of the first team. Through the disoriented murk we eventually figured out that he was talking about us - Team Lunatic Express. Despite our (my) mid race wobble, we'd come back strong enough to defend our title. Suddenly it seemed all worth it, and that beer tasted extra good!
The skinny RMB race snakes of Maza & Sipho in 2nd, and Team Lunatic Express in 1st
In previous years I've always been hesitant to commit to doing this crazy stupid event again, but I am already thinking about next year.
Plotting a route is no problem as we're spoilt for choice when it comes to amazing places to ride. Finding the perfect day entails watching the long term weather forecasts on countless websites and spotting a day with very little wind. The catch is that such days are often accompanied by temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s - Captain Craig's worst nightmare! Finally, the committee reserves the right to invite additional riders. Applications pour in from all over the globe, and the committee diligently sifts through all the motivations, considering the merits of each and every one. A short list is compiled, and the committee then votes. To date, no suitable candidates have made it past the vote. Until now. Halfway Robertson wrote a very moving essay expressing his desire to join the Big Day Out. Terms like "greatest accomplishment", "legendary status", "burning desire" and "give my life meaning" littered his prose. He even wrote a poem. In Haiku.
the road goes upwards
conversation stops, puff, pant
the silence of hills*
Application accepted.
The Big Day Out 2016
The original objective of the Big Day Out was to ride further than we'd ever gone before in one day. That meant something in excess of 365kms. In two years of trying we were unable to achieve this - the first year being scuttled by severe heat and a nasty headwind, and the second year ending with a broken derailleur. Third time lucky.
Bikes packed - ready for a Big Day Out
The day kicked off at 5am and we made good progress for about an hour before the wind started picking up. Every single weather source had promised that the wind would not blow, and yet here we were battling into a stiff gale 40kms into a 369km ride. At our current progress, we'd need a week to make the route! In addition, the first 180kms are supposed to be easy, just gently knocking off the kilometres before the temperatures get too hot. Instead we were slogging away at a snail's pace into a gale, our legs and minds both taking strain.
We finally made Wolseley feeling rather worse for wear, already the doubts about successfully completing the Big Day Out lurking at the backs of our minds. But if there is one thing all three participants of the Big Day Out are good at, it's persistence in the face of adversity. A short stop, a quick grumble, and we were off again - secretly hoping the cycling gods would smile on our endeavour and do something about the wind.
As we started the scenic climb up Bainskloof Pass, our prayers were answered. The wind was now a tailwind, and for the first time that day we got a hint of just how warm it was going to get, much to Captain Craig's dismay. There is something special about riding up Bainskloof - the twisty road, the imposing mountains, the lure of the crystal clear pools down below, and the isolation. Apart from the odd car, it was just the three of us in the middle of nowhere, riding bikes.
Before long, we rejoined civilisation as we descended the pass down into Wellington. A quick stock up on much needed fluids, and a chance to get our heads around the big climb of the day that lay ahead of us - Du Toit's Kloof Pass.
The main climb of the day would take us just short of an hour as we trudged uphill in the midday heat. The mercury climbed steadily, eventually settling at 40C, as we now longed for the cooling gale from earlier that morning. Halfway up the climb we passed the halfway point for the day, and while this would normally be a reason to celebrate, knowing that another 184.5kms lay ahead was enough to dampen even the most optimistic of us. We were also faced with another tough decision - once we went over the top of the pass there was no short cut home. We were committed to 175kms. We didn't think twice.
An interesting thing happens when you ride on unknown roads in the heat - you're always on the lookout for water as you never really know when you'll find that next oasis. As we descended the pass, with at least 30 kilometres to go to the next town, I caught sight of a tap. At that very moment, nothing else mattered apart from what that tap meant. Sustenance, survival, happiness.
Halfway Robertson, having passed the halfway point of our Big Day Out, got a serious case of burger fever and dragged the two senior members through the Molenaar River Valley on towards Rawsonville, and our scheduled lunch stop. In hindsight, Rawsonville was possibly not the best place to expect a meal worthy of the Big Day Out. After scouring the main road for gourmet establishments, we had to settle for the best out of a long list of dodgy choices - Nikki's Take Away. The only saving grace was the price of the soft drinks - R6.00 for 500ml! I felt like we were back in the Nineties (although some will say that the entire Rawsonville is stuck in the Nineties). After wolfing down a burger that we knew we would encounter again, we set off for Villiersdorp, 69kms away.
I think there is unanimous agreement when I say that the next section was the worst section of the day. It wasn't the toughest section of the day, nor was it the hottest, but I think it fell into that zone of self doubt. We'd done 220 kilometres, and despite only having 150 kilometres to go, we still couldn't see the end of the tunnel. As we slogged on, with the temperature hitting 37C at 5pm, our spirits started to waiver. And just as our shoulders were sagging and our heads slumping, the quaintest little farm stall appeared. With a tap! What followed was surreal, and must have appeared quite comical to any onlookers. Captain Craig and Halfway Robertson proceeded to worship that tap like it was some ancient life giving deity. And in return, the tap blessed them with a cooling, refreshing elixir. Suddenly, Villiersdorp seemed possible again, and we started to believe that we'd make the final 80 kilometres.
Just as things were looking up, Halfway punctured - a reminder that despite only having 100 kilometres to go, we still needed some luck to go our way. With the puncture fixed we made our way to Villiersdorp up Rooihoogte Pass, the taste of Nikki's burger returning to remind us of our earlier indiscretions. Just 85 kilometres to go.
The emotions of a Big Day Out
The sun was sitting low in the sky as we headed towards Franschhoek Pass, our last big climb of the day. By now, each man was in his own private hell, dealing with his own demons. From numb toes to cramp, from sore knees to aching hands, each of us plodded our way up the climb, one pedal stroke after another. After an eternity in purgatory we reached the top, and as we witnessed a spectacular sunset, started to believe that we'd make it.
We each drank at least 23 bottles of fluid
It's on rides like these that you learn a lot about your mates - their character, their vulnerabilities, their stubbornness, their determination. Verbal communication gives way to body language and subtle gestures. With one look you can communicate a thousand things. Perhaps Halfway's Haiku had been prophetic!
The final pass of the day - Helshoogte - lay ahead of us as the final rays of light faded. One last push and the end was within touching distance. With 17 kilometres to go we pulled in for our final snack stop of the day. As we wolfed down some much needed replenishments to the bemused stares of several onlookers, we got into a conversation with an inquisitive bystander. Given that it was well past 8pm and dark, his comment was that most cyclists do their training in the morning. You can imagine his reaction when we told him that we'd started our ride at 5am in the morning. Instant hero status. For a brief moment we felt like rock stars, or professional sportsmen, with our very own groupie. But we couldn't wallow in stardom for long, as the final stretch awaited us. A stretch that I ride home from work each day, with three annoyingly brutal little climbs.
As we counted down the climbs and the remaining kilometres, our bums point blank refusing anything to do with our saddles, our hands throbbing and our toes numb, we were joined by an escourt. My wife slotted in behind us, headlights blazing and hazards flashing, like a mini parade through the dark streets of Somerset West.
Homeward bound
The final few kilometres, through the same dark streets we'd started this adventure on 15 hours previously, seemed to take an age. The conflicting sentiments, the sense of achievement versus the level of exhaustion and discomfort, dampened what should have a celebratory procession. But that was ok. It's what the Big Day Out is all about. And we'd finally done it!
While any thoughts of doing a Big Day Out any time soon will be quickly silenced, I'm quite sure we'll all be back for another day of making memories with mates on bikes. Applications open in January 2017.
Thursday, 28 January 2016
For two years I have lived with the memories of pulling out of the 2014 Oak Valley 24hr after nine hours. For two years I have wondered if I made the right decision at the time. And for two years I have tried to avoid the thought of ever doing a 24hr again. Thankfully, I had a very good reason to skip the 2015 Oak Valley 24hr - the addition of a little endurance athlete to our family.
As entries open for Dirtopia's 24hr, so too do the queries as to my participation. This year, I remained strong and determined to sit out another year, giving my confidence some more time to heal, as well spending more time with my young family. All went well until a morning in mid November where some friends successfully managed to convince me otherwise. They had thought of everything - how I could get the miles in without being an absent parent, how my wife (my backup and secret weapon) would receive additional support during the event, and how the little endurance athlete would be looked after for the duration of the event. In a moment of weakness I caved to their well laid out plans and sent the email to The Coach - time to get fit for a 24hr event again!
Back doing what I love
Needless to say, The Coach was less than impressed. Eight weeks is barely enough time to get ready for The Argus, let alone a 24hr race. But, being the miracle worker that she is she devised a training program that the devil would have been proud of. And just to show that she isn't the devil, she even gave me the week off between Christmas and New Year. The rest of the time I spent touring the roads of the Boland for hours on end on my own, clocking up an inordinate amount of kilometres.
In the zone, tapping out the laps
The easiest part of a 24hr event is the training - lots of long slow rides with the brain disengaged, letting the body toughen to the distance and acclimatise to the heat. However, as the event gets closer and closer, the mind starts to kick in. All the self doubt, the fear, the memories of the pain and suffering come flooding back, and somehow you need to harness the deluge and channel it into something resembling a plan for race day. Things to do. Things not to do. What works. What doesn't work. For several weeks the plan rolls around in your head, consuming more and more of your thoughts the nearer the event gets. Very soon you're dreaming about the 24hr, until the night before, when you most need to sleep, you lie awake running scenarios over and over through your mind.
Given the week Meurant had endured, we thought he could do with a drink!
The secret to a good 24hr race is the quality of your backup. It's not about the quality of the equipment, or the awesomeness of their camp setup. It's about having a mutual understanding of the goals and what needs to happen to achieve them. I'm lucky in that my wife is probably the best 24hr backup person I know (and I'm not just saying that because I'm married to her). And this year my backup had backup in probably the second best backup person I know (I'm not married to her though). Together, my backup crew put on a formidable show, tending to my every need. From nutrition, to hydration, from timekeeping to motivation, they had everything covered. All I really have to do is pedal, they do all the brain work. They are sympathetic when they need to be, and cruel when the moment requires it.
My feed station (the gin belonged to the backup!)
Race day dawned to clear skies and the prospect of temperatures in the high 30s, with a chance of rain overnight. We rocked up at Oak Valley an hour before the start, and set up our meagre support station. The less creature comforts there are, the less temptation there is to stop riding to enjoy them. A quick race briefing from Meurant, who'd probably had the worst week imaginable with the Simonsberg fires destroying not only indigenous fynbos and farmland, but also some of the best mountain bike trails in the Western Cape, and we lined up for the Le Mans style start. I always chuckle at the commitment and dedication some racers put into their run - it's almost like they do special training for the start. I, on the other hand prefer a far more sedate shuffle - after all, you should only really run when there is something life threatening chasing you!
Round and round
The first couple of laps are always a challenge, not because of the effort required, but because you have to hold yourself back and not get caught up in the mayhem of the racing relay teams. Us solo riders are in this for the long haul, and any over exertion is going to hurt us later on. It's really difficult to ride slowly when your brain is telling you it wants to race. I have a strict "no info" rule for the first six hours - I don't want to know where I am, who is ahead of me, or how many laps they've done. For me, the first six hours are all about finding the rhythm of the course that is sustainable for the following 18 hours. I put down markers - how long it takes to clear the first single track, how long it takes to get to the top of the big climb, how long the descent takes, and after six hours I have a good idea of the times I should be hitting each and every lap from then on. It makes for a rather boring race report, but doing lap after lap after lap at the same consistent pace is something that I'm good at.
A mixture of sweat, dust and snot
After six hours the contenders had been separated from the pretenders. There were several of us jostling near the top of the leaderboard. Marius, fresh off his maiden 3rd place the previous year. Lance, his collection of podium places showed his 24hr pedigree. Philip, a 68 year old who just happened to have the surname Erasmus - legendary in endurance events. And Jochen, a complete unknown and finally someone to take over my original nickname of "Who is that guy?". While my brain turns to porridge on the bike when it comes to basic decision making, I am somehow able to perform amazing mathematical calculations. I can figure out gaps to competitors, the amount of laps it will take to pass a rider ahead of me, or the number of laps I'll do at my current pace. I also able to build up a mental image of where everyone is on the course at a given time, and where I am able to make up time on them.
Competitors sharing the bum cream
While I'm playing make believe with imaginary bike riders in my head, the backup crew are doing an amazing job of keeping my going. Often, I'm not sure if I've actually conveyed my wishes to them, or if it's just a conversation I've have had in my head, yet whatever it is I've wished for will miraculously appear at the end of each lap. On one occasion, three-quarters through a lap, as I was feeling the first twinges of cramp, I made a mental note to remind the backup crew that I needed Rehydrate on the following lap. I then reached down to my still full bottle and took a deep gulp of what I thought was water, only to discover the cramp banishing taste of ice cold Rehydrate. Not only did my backup address my current needs, they could foretell my future needs too! (That, or I'd simply forgot that I'd been given a bottle of Rehydrate).
Marius trying to find his happy place
Friendly faces and words of encouragement do wonders to lift the spirits, and it is always great to hear the comments, both out on the course and in the pit area. Captain Craig made an appearance to offer backup to the backup's backup, as well as support and assistance. And even though we weren't riding together, he still felt the need to hassle me about the length of time I took taking on supplies and snacks in the transition area!
The winner of the hardcore prize!
There are three parts to a 24hr race. The two daylight sections, and the night section. Apart from just being dark (obviously), it's completely different to racing in the day. It's about consolidation and recovery. It's about laying the platform for the final 6 hours of racing. As the night wears on, the course gets quieter, and the nature of the trail changes too. Things look different. Holes look deeper. Trees look closer together. Rocks look bigger. Yet this is the time when I most enjoy 24hr racing. It's just you, your bike, the small section of trail illuminated by your light, and your thoughts (along with the odd frog and field mouse). It was during these dark hours that I came to a realisation. There are two things that make me happy during a 24hr event, and they are both related to lube. The first is a freshly lubed chain which makes the bike feel like a new bike. It's quiet, and it shifts easier, and somehow that eases a burden we all carry - the fear of mechanical failure. The same applies to the second thing - applying bum cream. Whatever aches and pains you might have seem to melt away with a fresh application of bum cream. Your bum naturally feels better, but so too do your legs, and feet, and hands.
And so begins another lap
Solo 24hr racing is both an ego boosting activity, as well as an utterly humbling experience. It's pretty cool to knock up an insane amount of laps and receive the admiration of many of the fellow riders out on the course, but at the same time you quickly learn which riders you can chase, and which riders it is best to just yield the track to. If you're that kind of guy that has issues with ladies riding up and down hills faster than you, then this probably isn't the sport for you.
The grime was the only thing holding my legs together
By sunrise, it had come down to a two horse race. Marius had popped spectacularly and lay huddled in his tent, wishing he was anywhere but at Oak Valley. Lance had endured a bad patch or two, and while still in 3rd place, was several laps off the pace. That just left Jochen "Who is that guy?" Waldherr, who was still going strong, stubbornly knocking off lap after lap. (I did some serious Facebook stalking after the event and it turns out Jochen is no stranger to 24hr racing, having come 6th at the European 24hr Champs, as well as consistently placing near the top of the leaderboard at other 24hr events.) I had a two lap lead over him, but that's not a margin I felt comfortable with given the amount of racing left. My strategy was to mark Jochen lap for lap, until there was no way he could close the gap. In the process of marking him we started chatting. He was out in South Africa on holiday, visiting his girlfriend, and had ridden Attakwas the week before. You could see he was quite hardcore - he was riding a 26 inch hardtail MTB - probably the only rider of the 600 strong field on a little bike. It's seldom that you get to ride side by side with the competition in a race and have a leisurely chat about all sorts of stuff - again, the beauty of 24hr racing.
The backup station I never got to see
The clock slowly wound down, and as I got the the point where Jochen couldn't catch me, I stopped and chilled with my backup. We'd had a near perfect race, and despite there being times when I was scared of my backup (being told that I had better finish a bottle on the upcoming lap, or else!) I was extremely grateful for the outstanding job they did in managing me, even though it turned out that they lived a secret life when I was out on my laps - the wine flowed, they enjoyed juicy looking steaks with salad and even got in a few hours of sleep. Somehow, they managed to hide this all from me, removing any temptation there might be to stop "for just 5 minutes".
The little endurance athlete on the podium once again
As I completed my last lap, I was greeted by the little endurance athlete in our family. Although he didn't quite understand what all the excitement was about, I could tell he was rather taken by the spectacle. All the bikes and people and danger tape!
Lance, the little endurance athlete, myself, and Jochim "Who is that guy?"
A big thank you to Dirtopia for another top notch 24hr event, and congratulations to each and every rider who took part in making this the premier 24hr event in South Africa. To my fellow solo competitors, well done on another weekend of good, tough racing. It was brutal out there! To my backup, and my backup's backup - thank you for another superb effort. You are the envy of many. To The Coach - I didn't mean all those nasty things I said about you on those long and lonely rides. Thank you for getting me into tip top shape! Lastly, to my bike, thanks for working like a dream and not giving a moment's trouble, despite my bum no longer wanting to have anything to do with you. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
A case of intraduodenal diverticulum imitating choledochocele.
An intraduodenal diverticulum in 54 year old woman which caused alcalculous cholecystitis and pancreatitis is described. The diverticulum was missed at the first operation, performed for acute cholecystitis. Before the second it was interpreted as a pancreatic cyst. At the second intervention, the cyst wall was excised through a duodenotomy. Histological examination of the wall of the diverticulum is crucial for correct diagnosis. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Style Is an Algorithm – Racked - gajju3588
https://www.racked.com/platform/amp/2018/4/17/17219166/fashion-style-algorithm-amazon-echo-look
======
elvinyung
Repost, previous discussion:
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16858805](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16858805)
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | HackerNews |
Q:
Order of operations when expanding shell expressions with xargs
I am trying to replace some bytes in a binary file using this rather long expression
objdump --show-raw-insn -d libc-2.30.so | grep -w movdqa | awk '{print substr($1, 1, length($1)-1)}' | xargs -I {} sh -c "printf '\xf3' | dd of=$mybinary bs=1 seek=$((0x{})) count=1 conv=notrunc;"
In this expression, $((0x{})) is evaluated by the shell before xargs replaces {} with the hexadecimal value of the byte to be overwritten. $((0x{})) replaces a hex value with a decimal value, e.g. 0xF to 16.
-bash: 0x{}: syntax error: invalid arithmetic operator (error token is "{}")
How can I get xargs to run its substitution before bash tries to expand $((0x{}))?
A:
Putting the xargs portion of the expression in single quotes instead of double quotes solved the issue. The shell will not expand expressions in single quotes and must therefore wait to be invoked by xargs before expanding expressions. Printf also needed the quotes swapped to reflect this change.
objdump --show-raw-insn -d libc-2.30.so | grep -w movdqa | awk '{print substr($1, 1, length($1)-1)}' | xargs -I {} sh -c 'printf "\xf3" | dd of=libc-2.30.so bs=1 seek=$((0x{})) count=1 conv=notrunc;'
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | StackExchange |
347 B.R. 454 (2006)
In re Dante C. MONACO, Jr., Beth Ann Monaco, Debtors.
Honey Dew Associates, Inc., Plaintiff,
v.
Dante C. Monaco, Jr. and Beth Ann Monaco Defendants.
Bankruptcy No. 05-48977-JBR, Adversary No. 06-4019.
United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts.
August 16, 2006.
*455 Nina M. Parker, Parker & Associates, Winchester, MA, John A. Kiernan, Gilberg & Kiernan, Anne J. White, Boston, MA, Michael A. Wirtz, Jack Mikels & Associates, LLP, Quincy, MA, for Debtors.
Jack J. Mikels, Jack Mikels & Associates, LLP, Quincy, MA, for Plaintiff.
ORDER ON DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO DISMISS FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF FEDERAL RULES OF BANKRUPTCY PROCEDURE 7009 AND 7012
JOEL B. ROSENTHAL, Bankruptcy Judge.
This matter came before the Court on the Defendants' Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint Pursuant to Provisions of Federal Rules of Bankruptcy 7009 and 7012[# 19] and the Plaintiff's Opposition thereto [# 23]. For the reasons set forth herein, the Motion is DENIED.
*456 FACTS
Because this matter presents as a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim, the Court accepts, as it must, the factual allegations of the amended complaint as true for the purposes of this Order only. The Plaintiff, Honey Dew Associates, Inc., franchises coffee and donut shops. In or about September 2002 B & M Donuts, Inc. ("B & M") purchased an existing franchise located in Boston, Massachusetts. The franchise fee B & M is required to pay to the Plaintiff is determined by the sales generated at the Boston location.
The Defendant, Dante C. Monoco, is a co-owner and the treasurer of B & M. In connection with the closing the Debtors, along with Eric Brookes, B & M's president and Mr. Monaco's brother-in-law, and Anna Brookes, Eric Brookes' wife and Mr. Monaco's sister, executed a document titled "Liability Agreement" whereby the Debtors and the Brookes assumed joint and several liability
for all debts and obligations of the Franchisee to Honey Dew Associates, Inc., its successors and assigns, pursuant to a Franchise Agreement of even date herewith, and all other contracts by and between Honey Dew Associates, Inc. and the Franchisee, including without limitation, the prompt and full payments of all royalty fees. . . .
The liability of the undersigned shall operate as a continuing, unconditional and absolute obligation of the undersigned as to the due and punctual payment and performance obligations of [B & M] and not of their collectibility and enforceability only.
Among the obligations imposed on B & M pursuant to Section VIII of the Franchise Agreement is the obligation "to maintain full, complete and accurate books and accounts." The Plaintiff alleges that the Debtors also guaranteed B & M's franchise obligations.
The Plaintiff avers that at the closing of B & M's purchase and assumption of the Honey Dew franchise, it expressed concern that the purchase price and the financing costs could cause the venture to fail. It further alleges that Eric Brookes, in the presence of the Debtors, responded by overstating the amount of sales of the business and by mischaracterizing loans from family members as capital investments. The Debtors did not correct Brookes' statements.
In November 2002 the Plaintiff informally reviewed B & M's operations and concluded that B & M was not accurately preparing and maintaining its financial records, and was under-reporting its gross sales. Subsequently the Plaintiff attempted to conduct a full audit but claims it was frustrated in its attempt by B & M's lack of financial data. Moreover it further states that the Defendant Dante Monaco participated in a scheme to defraud the Plaintiff by setting up a side business, Fujami Corporation, ostensibly owned and controlled by Pompeo Peccia, an uncle of one of the Debtors. The Plaintiff further alleges that the side business was to operate out of B & M's location. Fujami never operated the side business but marketed the side business and in April 2004 the Plaintiff states that Dante Monaco arranged for Peccia to sign an agreement for the sale of the side business to a third party for $250,000. The money was applied to B & M's outstanding obligations. The sale purportedly was free and clear of any franchise obligations to the Plaintiff.
In June 2004 the Plaintiff sued the Debtors and others in state court for under-reporting B & M's gross sales. In May 2005 the state court granted summary judgment to the Plaintiff on the issue of liability. The Plaintiff alleges that during *457 the course of the state court proceedings, Dante Monaco gave false deposition testimony regarding B & M's capital structure, the purchase of the side business from the previous franchisee, and Fujami and Peccia.
On October 13, 2005 the Debtors filed their Chapter 7 petition. The Plaintiff asserts that the schedules and statements include false oaths and statements and point to the omission of Dante Monaco's ownership interest in B & M from the original schedule B[1] and the response to question 18 of the Statement of Financial Affairs ("SFA"), the scheduling of claims against the Brookes, and the scheduling of Peccia, the Brookes, B & M, and Mario Monaco as creditors as examples. The Plaintiff also alleges that the Debtors refinanced their home and purchased a new home within the two years prior to the bankruptcy but failed to disclose the information on the SFA.
In January 2006 the Plaintiff commenced the above adversary proceeding seeking to deny the Debtors their discharges pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)(A) and/or § 727(a)(4)(A) or, alternatively to except the debt owed to the Plaintiff from discharge pursuant to §§ 528(a)(6) and (c)(1) and § 523(a)(2)(A).[2] The Debtors filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7009 and 7012. The Court granted the motion over the Plaintiffs opposition but permitted the Plaintiff to Me an amended complaint. The amended complaint again seeks to deny the Debtors their discharges pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(2)(A), § 727(a)(3) and/or § 727(a)(4)(A) or, alternatively to except the debt from discharge pursuant to §§ 523(a)(6) and (c)(1) and § 523(a)(2)(A).
The Debtors seek dismissal of the amended complaint on the grounds that the amended complaint is substantially similar to the original complaint and incorporate by reference their motion to dismiss the original complaint. Specifically, they argue that the amended complaint does not survive scrutiny under either Rule 7009 or 7012.
DISCUSSION
Fed. Rule Civ. P. 9(b), made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7009, provides "In all averments of fraud or mistake, the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated with particularity. Malice, intent, knowledge and other conditions of mind of a person may be averred generally." The rule "requires specification of time, place and content of an alleged false representation but not the circumstances or evidence from which fraudulent intent could be inferred." McGinty v. Beranger Volkswagen, Inc., 633 F.2d 226, 228 (1st Cir.1980). The rule is designed to protect a defendant from unfair surprise and so-called strike suits,[3] as well as protect defendants "from groundless charges that may damage their reputations." United States v. Parke-Davis, 147 F.Supp.2d 39, 46 (D.Mass.2001). See also New England Data Services, Inc. v. Becher, 829 F.2d 286, 289 (1st Cir.1987). Simcox v. San Juan Shipyard, Inc., 754 *458 F.2d 430, 439 (1st Cir.1985). Although "[c]ourts generally evaluate averments of fraud in the bankruptcy context more liberally than in other civil actions charging fraud," the allegations still must be specific enough to ensure a defendant is protected from unfair surprise, strike suits and damage In re Monahan Ford Corp. of Flushing, 340 B.R. 1, 21-22 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y. 2006). "Rule 9(b) requires, in most instances, that claims of fraud be pled with particularity as to each defendant." Kingvision Pay-Per-View, Ltd. v. Vergas, 2001 WL 311199, *2 (D.N.H.).
Unlike Rule 9(b) which governs the specificity with which fraud actions must be pled, Rule 12(b)(6) requires that the facts as pled must state a cognizable cause of action for which relief can be granted. Rule (8)(a)(2), made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7008, requires only that these facts be pled by "a short and plain statements of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. . . ." When reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court must accept as true all material allegations of the complaint and construe the complaint in favor of the plaintiff. Warth v. Seldin, 422 U.S. 490, 501, 95 S.Ct. 2197, 2206, 45 L.Ed.2d 343 (1975). A court should not accept unsupported conclusions, however. Dartmouth Review v. Dartmouth College, 889 F.2d 13, 16 (1st Cir.1989), overruled on other grounds, Educadores Puertorriquenos en Accion v. Hernandez, 367 F.3d 61 (1st Cir.2004).
Counts I and II
Counts I (as to Dante Monaco) and Count II (as to Beth Monaco) seek to deny the Debtors their discharges pursuant to §§ 727(a)(2)(A) and/or (a)(3). With respect to § 727(a)(2)(A), the amended complaint alleges that each "transferred, removed, destroyed, mutilated, or concealed property of the debtor" or permitted the foregoing to occur one year prior to the petition date with the intent to hinder, delay, and/or defraud the Plaintiff. In their current Motion, as in the motion to dismiss the original complaint,[4] the Debtors invoke both Rule 9(b) and Rule 12(b)(6) as a basis for dismissal of these counts and claim that they are not responsible for and not in control of the actions of B & M. The Debtors' involvement in and control of B & M are factual matters that cannot be determined in the current procedural posture. Moreover, contrary to the Debtors' arguments, the amended complaint provides those specifics omitted from the original complaint, to satisfy the pleading requirements of Rule 9(b) and states causes of action under both §§ 727(a)(2)(A) and (a)(3). For example the amended complaint sets forth the allegations concerning Dante Monaco's alleged attempted to set up a side business to divert gross income from B & M, which the Debtors' Amended Schedule B acknowledge is an asset of the Debtors, and thus from the Plaintiff whose franchise fee is dependent upon B & M's sales. The allegations dealing with the side business identify the persons allegedly involved in that business, the approximate time when it was occurring and the sale of the side business to a third party for a purchase price that should have, at least in part, be paid to the Plaintiff.[5] The allegations are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of *459 both Rule 9(b) and Rule 12(b)(6) with respect to a cause of action under § 727(a)(2)(A).
Although the amended complaint does not plead facts, which if true, would show Beth Monaco's involvement in the side business scheme, the amended complaint alleges her acceptance of responsibility for B & M's record keeping pursuant to the Liability Agreement Although it may be difficult for the Plaintiff to prove Beth Monaco concealed B & M's assets, or permitted them to be fraudulently transferred or concealed, her responsibilities under the Liability Agreement, coupled with the alleged transfer of the side business to a family member, and the alleged use of the $250,000 generated from the sale of the side business to reduce her and her husband's obligations under the guaranty are sufficient to survive the Motion.
Moreover a cause of action under § 727(a)(3) does not sound in fraud but is based on the failure to maintain records, including records from which the Debtors' financial condition or business transactions might be ascertained. The records of B & M are just such records.
Count III
Count III seeks to deny the Debtors their discharges under § 727(a)(4)(A) based upon the inaccuracies in the Schedules and SFA. The Debtors respond that their Schedules and SFA contain an overabundance of information lest they later confront an argument that claims or causes of actions were waived. They attribute the major omission, namely the omission of their interest in B & M from the original schedule B, to the fact that they filed shortly before October 17, 2005, the effective date for most of the changes effected by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005. They point to their filing of an amended Schedule B shortly before the first meeting of creditors as evidence that they did not intentionally omit their ownership interest in B & M from the schedules. They attribute their failure to disclose that they had applied for a mortgage and refinanced the same during the two years prior to filing bankruptcy to a misunderstanding of what is a "financial statement." While the Debtors' assertions may ultimately prove correct,[6] based on the amended complaint, however, the allegations state a cause of action and are described with the kind of detail that easily satisfies Rule 9(b).
Counts IV and V
These counts request that the debt owed to the Plaintiff be excepted from the Debtors' discharge pursuant to § 523(a)(6) for the Debtors'"wilful and malicious injury" to the Plaintiff by means of their alleged diversion of assets from B & M and the under-reporting of B & M's sales to the Plaintiff. Just as the Counts I and II survive the Motion, so too do these counts.
Counts VI and VII
These counts request that the debt owed to the Plaintiff be excepted from the Debtors' discharge pursuant to § 523(a)(2)(A) because the Debtors remained silent when Brookes provided information that the Debtors knew to be false thereby inducing the Plaintiff to proceed with the transfer of the franchise to B & M. The allegations are sufficient to survive dismissal.
NOTES
[1] One day prior to the first meeting of creditors, the Debtors filed an amended schedule B indicating that the Debtors jointly owned a 50% interest in B & M.
[2] Although paragraph 1 of the original complaint states that the complaint also contains a count pursuant to § 727(a)(3). the original complaint does not contain such a count.
[3] Strike suits are "suits that have no legal merit but which a plaintiff hopes the defendant will settle by paying the plaintiff something less than what it would cost to defend the suit." Natasha, Inc. v. Evita Marine Charters, Inc., 763 F.2d 468, 471 (1st cir.1985).
[4] Because the current Motion does not identify which counts the Defendants believe are infirm under Rule 9(b), the Court will address the counts challenged by the Defendants in their original motion to dismiss.
[5] Neither party addresses the fact that the sale of the side business occurred outside of the one year period of § 727(a)(2)(A) nor whether there were any circumstances that would toll this period.
[6] The Debtors' responses are those set forth in the Motion; these responses are not evidence but rather are the arguments of counsel.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | FreeLaw |
Reasons for unprotected intercourse in adult women: a qualitative study.
Despite the focus on adolescents, most unintended pregnancies occur in adults. The objective of this study was to identify reasons why adult women have unprotected intercourse when they do not desire pregnancy. We held 4 focus groups to explore reasons for unprotected intercourse. Participants were adult women aged 18 to 39 who were unmarried, fertile, not currently pregnant, not desiring pregnancy, and who had recently had intercourse without using effective contraception. Sessions were audiotaped and transcripts were analyzed thematically. Women gave 146 reasons for unprotected intercourse. Four major categories emerged: method-related, user-related, partner-related, and cost/access-related reasons. The reasons for unprotected intercourse were numerous, but could be organized into a logical framework. The results suggest that multidimensional interventions may be needed to effectively reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Student protestors embrace on the campus of University of Missouri, November 9, 2015 (Michael B. Thomas/Getty)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is Jonah Goldberg’s weekly “news”letter, the G-File. Subscribe here to get the G-File delivered to your inbox on Fridays.
Dear Reader (including those of you who want the interior of these parentheses to be a safe space),
Like Bill Clinton said when he was asked to referee a women’s Jell-O wrestling competition, let’s all just jump right in.
You Stupid Schmucks, Look at You Now
One of my favorite scenes in Scarface is when Meryl Streep compliments Peter MacNicol’s seersucker suit. Oh, wait. That’s Sophie’s Choice. I get them confused sometimes. One of my favorite scenes from Scarface is when Tony Montana shoots the Colombian assassin in the head before he can blow up some guy’s car. There are just way too many expletives for this family-oriented “news”letter to transcribe more of the dialogue than absolutely necessary. But you can find it here. Besides, the line I have in mind is pretty short: “You stupid f**k, look at you now.”
I’ve been saying words to that effect all week, watching higher ed go into full meltdown. Because this “crisis” is 100 percent liberalism’s fault. Sure, sure, you can divvy up the slices of blame in different ways, but those guys tailgating in the parking lot drinking beers and eating bratwurst? Those are the conservatives and libertarians enjoying a day off, because they don’t have to wait in line for even a morsel of blame.
I almost feel sorry for those decent, sincere career liberals standing there in the quad as the little Maoists scream in their faces and strip off the suede elbow patches on their tweedy jackets like a lieutenant being busted down to a private. As the kids fit lifelong members of the ACLU with their duncecaps, the poor souls can hear the conservatives hooting and laughing off beyond the fence, throwing nerf footballs and telling jokes at the liberals’ expense.
The Scarface reference wasn’t particularly literal since no one actually had their brains blown out. No, this mess is more attributable to the fact that these administrators have such open minds their brains actually just fell out all on their own, making a wet slapping sound like an unwrapped burrito hurled at a windshield.
Outside of the actual headquarters of the Democratic party itself, no major institution in America today is more thoroughly run and controlled by the Left than academia.
For several years now, whenever I’ve visited a college campus, I’ve tried to make the following point. It basically goes like this:
You kids think it is somehow rebellious to be liberal. So let me see if I get this right. The administrators at this school are liberal. The professors are liberal. Your high-school teachers were probably liberal. Your textbooks are, for the most part, liberal. Hollywood is liberal. The music industry is liberal. The fashion industry is liberal. Publishing is liberal. The mainstream media are liberal. Silicon Valley is liberal. Believe it or not, most corporations and the overwhelming majority of charitable foundations are liberal. And yet, you think you’re sticking it to the man by agreeing with them?
Moreover, it’s been like this for generations. It was true when most of these administrators and faculty were born — they have grown up inside a universe where this fact was simply taken for granted. With the Left given total control of these oases of tolerance and citadels of progressivism, what do we get?
We get pampered and coddled students screaming that these institutions are hotbeds of racism, homophobia, sexism, and the rest of the 31 Flavors of Oppression.
I’m sorry, but over here by the hibachi in the parking lot, that’s just frick’n hilarious.
And it is fitting. It is just. It’s almost frick’n Biblical in its justness. You see, there is precious little bigotry and prejudice on college campuses. But the bulk of what does exist is aimed almost entirely at the guys and gals chilling at the tailgate party. Pro-life Christians, Israel-supporting Jews, libertarian professors, conservative scholars, climate-change skeptics, traditionalists of every stripe including classical liberals, and, of course, people who can take a joke: These make up the bulk of the victims of campus bigotry and prejudice. I can’t tell you how many professors I’ve met who have to keep their conservatism secret, at least until tenure, if not forever. I’ve never met or heard of a faculty member who had to keep her Marxism on the down-low.
Safe Spaces for Me, Spit for Thee
In words no Harvard man would ever utter, consider Yale.
When I was in college, an administrator or professor who came out in defense of the kids’ ability to wear whacky or offensive costumes would be considered cool. But the prudish mob sees it differently.
When I was in college, an administrator or professor who came out in defense of the kids’ ability to wear whacky or offensive costumes would be considered cool. But the prudish mob sees it differently. It’s not cool to let people do what they want. Everyone must be forced to care. If you can leave aside the threat to Western Civilization these little totalitarians pose, it’s a fascinating and glorious comeuppance these university staff are getting. For generations, liberals have cultivated the notion that college should be a safe space for political liberalism and, just as important, libertinism. And in response, like the ants set free from the ant farm, the kids cry out, “Freedom! Horrible freedom!” Instead, these frightened, failed libertines want to impose order from below. The administrators see themselves as Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society, and the ungrateful brats respond by demanding subsidized all-organic sticks to shove up their own asses.
Oh, and having a stick up your ass is not voluntary. No, no. We all must have sticks up our asses. We all must not laugh at the jokes about lesbians screwing in a lightbulb. We must not chuckle at the linebacker’s Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume. And those who do laugh must be punished, reeducated — or banished to the really fun tailgate party in the parking lot.
That’s the most infuriating part about all of this “safe space” inanity. One person’s safe space is another person’s oppressive cult. As I argued earlier this week in my column, these kids are exactly the little Robespierres cultural Marxists have been waiting for. Just as the “free speech movement” was never actually for free speech, the safe spacers aren’t really for spaces that are safe. They are for little moving zones of political absolutism, where their worldview and, yes, their privilege, are unquestioned and celebrated.
One needn’t go full anarchist and say there should be no norms, no codes of conduct. By all means, if students are going around shouting the n-word at black students (and that is a big if), deal with them. But to the extent colleges are supposed to be safe spaces, they are supposed to be safe places to disagree with one another! And yet, when the William F. Buckley Program at Yale held a panel discussion, the privileged Huns responded by spitting on them.
Homo Universitas Yalensis
By my rough count*, Yale offers 26 courses on African-American studies, 64 courses on “Ethnicity, Race and Migration,” and 41 courses under the heading of “Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.” I am probably low-balling the real numbers (they don’t include independent study) and the extent of the indoctrination, since you can be sure that many seemingly conventional courses are chock-a-block with left-wing treacle. How many courses are there on the Constitution? Well, from what I can tell: two (though one is actually taught by a conservative visiting professor, Steven Calabrisi). The History department offers three courses on the era of the Founding, all by a single professor.
As for safe spaces, there is already an Afro-American Cultural Center, a Native American Cultural Center, an Asian American Cultural Center, La Casa Latino Cultural Center, and the Office of LGBTQ Resources. Included among the 80 or so official student organizations:
– A Learning and Interactive Vietnamese Experience
-Asian American Students Alliance
-Asian American Studies Task Force
-Association of Native Americans at Yale, Undergraduate Organization
-India at Yale
-IvyQ (as in “Queer”)
-Japanese Undergraduate Students at Yale
-Latina Women at Yale
-Liberal Party
-Reproductive Rights Action League at Yale
-Sex and Sexuality Week Planning Board
-Undergraduate First Generation Low Income Partnership
-Women in Physics
-Women’s Leadership Initiative at Yale
-Yale Queer+Asian
-Yale Urban Collective
-The Black Solidarity Conference at Yale
-The Yale Women’s Center
-Yale Southeast Asian Movement
-Q (again, as in Queer) Magazine
-Alliance for Southeast Asian Students
-Arab Students Association
-Association of Salvadoreñas at Yale Undergraduate
-Black Student Alliance at Yale
-Brazil Club
-Canadian Students’ Association at Yale [Talk about safe spaces!]
-Chinese American Students’ Association
-Chinese Undergraduate Students at Yale
-Club Colombia
-Club of Argentine Students at Yale
-Club of Romanian Students at Yale
-Cuban-American Undergraduate Students’ Association
-Despierta Boricua, the Puerto Rican Student Organization at Yale
-DisOrient
-Eritrean and Ethiopian Student Association at Yale
-In the Q[as in Queer]loset
-Japanese American Students Union
-Kasama: The Filipino Club at Yale
-Korean American Students at Yale
-La Revolucion
-La Societe Francaise
-Lo Stivale
-Malaysian and Singaporean Association
-Organization for Racial and Ethnic Openness
-Russian Cultural Club
-Sisters of All Nations
-South Asian Society
-Southeastern European Society
-Student Association of Thais at Yale
-Students of Nigeria
-Swiss Students and Affiliates at Yale
-Taiwanese American Society
-The German Society of Undergraduates at Yale University
-The Polish Students’ Society of Yale College
-Vietnamese Student Association
-Yale African Students Association
-Yale Black Women’s Coalition
-Yale British Undergraduates
-Yale Caribbean Students’ Organization
-Yale College Black Men’s Students Union
-Yale College Student Czech and Slovak Society
-Yale Dominican Student Association
-Yale European Undergraduates
-Yale Friends of Turkey
-Yale Hawaii Institute
-Yale Kala
-Yale LGBTQ Cooperative
-Yale Mexican Student Organization
-Yale Scandinavian Society
-Yale Undergraduate Portuguese Association
-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ Activism Collective
-Margin: Student Perspectives from the Left
-Middle Eastern Resolution through Education, Action & Dialogue
-Party of the Left
-Students for Justice in Palestine
-Yale NAACP
And the response from the activists? A loaded-diaper tantrum about how Yale is a hotbed of bigotry against people of color and women. And what will placate the mob? Why, more institutions, courses, and faculty trained in the fine art of cultivating grievances.
The students’ first demand: that “undergraduates be required to fulfill an ethnic-studies distributional requirement and that the Ethnicity, Race and Migration Program be given departmental status immediately.” Another demand: a $2 million increase for every cultural center and a minimum of five full-time staffers. They want Calhoun College renamed and two colleges to be named after people of color. They want a monument on Cross Campus acknowledging that Yale was founded on “stolen indigenous land.” They want the lecturer and administrator who defended wearing fun costumes on Halloween booted from their positions and homes. Gone are the days when the activists wanted “honest conversations.” Honest conversations hurt the feelings of the little monarchs. Of course, they never wanted honest conversations. The mantra about “frank dialogue” and “honest conversations” was always a cynical ploy to bait dissenters into the open so they could be punished.
What Good Are Liberals?
If you ever read up on the campus crises of the 1960s, you’d know that liberals can never be counted on to stand up for their values when confronted by a mob to their left. Never. At Cornell, when armed black radicals took over the campus threatening to murder professors they disagreed with, the administrators and liberal professors collapsed like a soufflé in an earthquake. They all talk a good game about standing for tolerance, but they are utterly incapable of standing up to the intolerant cretins they themselves educated.
When Barack Obama ran for president, one of his great selling points was his appeal to patriotism. His 2004 Democratic Convention speech in which he inveighed against red states and blue states was part of a larger call to restore a new patriotic liberalism or, more charitably, to reject the idea that the Left is any less patriotic than conservatives. What has happened on his watch? We’ve seen a volcanic eruption of anti-Americanism, where students reject a 9/11 Memorial because it’s racist. The most liberal institutions in America — universities — are now derided as the locus of evil in the modern world, in large part because they don’t do enough to fight the racism and bigotry of the even more evil society around them. Feminists claim moral equivalence between the American college campus and the Islamic State.
No, really. For instance:
ISIS’ treatment of Yazidi women as sexual slaves may seem far removed from fraternity or athletic team members’ treatment of women as sexual objects for conquest, however the results are distressingly similar. As tempting as it is to deny the parallels, we must acknowledge that institutionalized rape exists throughout the world and in the face of legal prohibitions. Recognition will help identify and eliminate the behaviors within our own culture. ISIS’ sexual enslavement of the Yazidi population is abhorrent and must be addressed. Propagating the idea that “they” commit atrocities while implying that “we” are innocent of condoning sexual assault does not help us understand and effectively act to end sexual violence against women and girls everywhere.
There is only one intelligent and moral response to things like this: You are a blithering idiot and should skulk away from the keyboard and see if you can get your old job back as a taste-tester at a lead paint factory (or you could say something like this).
Just imagine for a moment you are a Yazidi sex slave, spending an eternity of days being beaten and mounted by some filthy jihadi old man with cigarette-stained teeth and the blood of Christian children still splattered on his shirt. Then, U.S. Army Rangers storm the room, sending the rapist to the Hell he was long overdue for. They wrap you in a blanket and take care of you. Feed you. Mend your wounds, and do their best to salve your emotional and spiritual scars. They send you to America as a refugee. Blessed to live in a free and prosperous nation, you decide to take advantage of all America has to offer. You go to a good college on a scholarship and while there some woman authority figure with open-toed shoes and a closed mind tells you that you have it no better here than you did in that tent back in the desert.
This talk isn’t just dumb. It’s not just dangerous. It is, quite simply, evil.
And where are the liberals? Where is Hillary Clinton? She’s off prattling about how the Republicans have declared a “war on women.” Republicans? According to the Hieronyious Bosch logic of Left, the frontline of the war on women is on American college campuses, palaces of liberalism where Republicans are little more than court eunuchs.
Where are the liberals who are willing to stand up to this cancerous madness consuming their own rank and file?
Liberals want higher taxes and socialized medicine. They want abortion on demand and unfettered immigration to feed their voter rolls. Fine, we can argue about all that. But where are the liberals besides Jonathan Chait who are willing to stand up to this cancerous madness consuming their own rank and file? It used to be that liberals could be counted on to mouth clichéd pieties about how they may disagree with what you say but they will defend to the death your right to say it. This was always a lie. But it was at least a lie they thought they believed. Now they don’t even believe it. Because hearing things you disagree with is now “assault.”
Or to be more fair, many still believe it, but they are too cowardly to stand up for the idea when confronted by a bunch of college students if it might mean their being called a racist. And even liberals like Chait were fine when these tactics were used to defeat conservatives in the Gramscian door-to-door fight to take over the citadels of our culture. To his credit, Chait recognizes the problem. But he’s stuck in the Niemöllerian cul-de-sac, because when these people came for the conservatives and traditionalists, he didn’t care. And now there are too few true liberals on the left to mount anything like a counter-offensive.
So I ask again, what good are liberals if they will only stand up for their principles if the mob cheers them on? When you have an answer, you can find me over at the tailgate party.
Various & Sundry
I didn’t plan on dedicating this whole “news”letter to one long rant, but them’s the breaks. I did want to comment on the Donald Trump screed yesterday in Iowa. I’ll save most of my remarks for later. But one point I’ll make here. Isn’t it fascinating how sincerely flummoxed Trump is about Ben Carson’s doing so well in the polls? It really seems to vex him. I can think of lots of reasons why it would. For one, Carson is soft-spoken and dignified; Donald Trump isn’t. Because Trump’s popularity is inextricably bound up with his bombastic shtick, it just doesn’t compute that someone utterly lacking in bombast would be doing just as well — and actually be much more popular. But I think there’s something else going on. Have you ever won an award, accomplished something or got admitted to some organization you’re really proud of, only to see someone you don’t like or respect get the same award or accomplish the same thing? It can eat at you. Trump kept talking about how he can’t understand Carson’s popularity.
“I don’t get it,” he said in exasperation. What’s fascinating is that this is exactly what many of us say about Trump. And I think the fact that Carson is benefiting from the same atmosphere that is propelling Trump in the polls bruises Trump’s ego. Of course Trump should be winning, he’s Trump! Carson, in Trump’s view, is a bizarre fluke. And the possibility that the forces fueling Carson’s rise also explain his own is deeply unnerving and insulting to him because it undermines his confidence that he deserves to be leading in the polls. So he has to call Iowans stupid. Carson should be paying Trump rent, because he’s living in the billionaire’s most prized real estate: Trump’s head.
My column today is on Bibi Netanyahu’s use of the term “primitive medievalism” for Islamic extremism. I think it’s quite brilliant and a great way for both conservatives and liberals to frame the existential threat the civilized world faces.
Zoë & Pippa Update: We’re still making progress, though the dingo is still behaving like a bullying big sister. Zoë gets very jealous of any attention Pippa gets and has real problems even tolerating Pippa having any fun without her. For instance, Zoë has zero interest in tennis balls, but Pippa thinks they are the Most Important Objects in the Universe. Still, when Pippa has too much fun with a tennis ball in the house — I don’t even mean when someone is throwing one for her, just when she’s quietly chewing on them or picking them up and dropping them — Zoë will take the tennis ball away. The cultural differences are still profound, too. The other day my wife, the Fair Jessica, came upon a deer in a field while she was with Pippa and Zoë was still in the woods clearing out the squirrels from that sector. The deer couldn’t have cared less about Pippa, and Pippa felt the same about the deer. When Zoë came upon this scene, she was disgusted, “What is wrong with you people!?! Can’t you see that monster?” She then chased the deer back to its safe haven, and upon returning barked and chuffed at them both for their appeasement.
The new GLoP podcast is out. We spent a long time on this campus stuff as well.
Halloween Update: This year’s Halloween was pretty stressful. We waited for over three hours to get our zombie makeup, but by the time it was our turn, there wasn’t much time left for the make-up artist without missing trick-or-treating. So the Fair Jessica didn’t get made up at all. And Lucy and I had to get a rush job. Still, partly in homage to David French, we were zombie soldiers. Right before the end my wife said to the make-up artist, “Put a bullet hole right in his forehead.” Not only was this a little disturbing to hear from my wife, but it also only occurred to us later that having a bullet hole in my forehead contradicted the whole pretense, since a bullet to the brain kills zombies.
*Oh you might have noticed the asterisk in the text above about my rough count. That’s because those stats about Yale were actually compiled by my AEI research assistant Jack Butler. I’ve had help from researchers in the past, but Jack is the first full-time RA I’ve ever had. I figured if I can tell you about my dog, I might as well include other creatures in my life as well. I’m just kidding, I treat Jack with all of the respect he deserves. When I tell him, “It puts the memo in the basket or it gets the hose again,” I’m usually kidding. Jack also helps compile the weird links for the V&S section, so if you ever have a suggestion, tweet it at him.
Every James Bond gadget
Different Bonds measured in martinis, romantic partners, and kills
Bond villains laughing
Bond villains dying
Behind the scenes of The Godfather
Sci-fi ships ranked by size
Sci-fi ships ranked by speed
The ten greatest movies never made
Nine incredibly hard to film movie scenes
The 50 greatest film-noir posters
Real-life Thor’s hammer
Pictures of people holding electronic devices with devices removed
Good news? Fish-eating spider back from the brink
How a spider eats a fish
How could this not work?
The most Canadian thing ever to happen?
A solution to the Fermi paradox?
What could a Jewish time traveler eat?
What are the demographics of heaven?
The laziest dog in the world?
Definitely an improvement
Cheese and heroin are equally addictive
What American immigrants looked like when they arrived on Ellis Island
SMOD is teasing us
I can’t believe it: Ireland has a butter museum
Every nuclear explosion in history
The planned (but never executed) Nazi invasion of America
What Neanderthals sounded like
Watch a jet engine tear a Tickle-Me-Elmo to shreds
Debby’s Friday links | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
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***Update 1 – 2017-04-22 – 16:25 CEST***
I just wanted to inform you guys and girls that Rizzy no Okuni told me (Robin Ek, TGG) via Twitter that she’s up for an interview with us =) (as seen in the picture down below). So I will sort out the whole interview by tomorrow. In other words, I hope to publish our interview with Rizzy as soon as possible. So, keep your eyes open for it!
————————————————–
I (Robin Ek, TGG) had this really strange dream about “Metroid” last night (I honestly have no idea started to dream about “Metroid” all of a sudden). Long story short, the dream was a mix of my childhood memories, my hopes for a new “Metroid” game staring Samus Aran and clips here and there from different “Metroid” games throughout the years. So when I woke up this morning I couldn’t help myself from looking through our old “Metroid” posts (posts such as “Metroid historia“, our interview with Metroid Database, the Metroid´s 30th Anniversary post and our “Another Metroid 2 Remake” review).
Well, while I was doing that (talk about a nice coincidence) I spotted one of THE sexiest Samus Aran cosplays that I have ever seen, and trust me when I say this. Because I have seen tons of Samus Aran cosplays over the years (not to mention all the awesome cosplayers that we have done interviews with over the years, cosplayers such as Holly Wolf, SwimsuitSuccubus and Omi Kero). Anyways, the Samus Aran cosplayer in question is called Rizzy no Okuni (real name, Rayara Eckhardt), and her super sexy bodypaint Zero Suit Samus cosplay speaks for itself really (the bodypaint job was done by Miss Fernanda Siepierski):
It’s also worth mentioning that Rizzy (she’s a Brazillian cosplayer btw) has closplayed as everything from 2B (Nier: Automata), D.VA (Overwatch) to the Baroness (G.I. Joe). So she’s most definitely not shy to try different cosplays and whatnot. In other words, I bet that we will see even more awesome cosplays from Rizzy in the near future =) I’m actually having thoughts about doing an interview with her. Well, I’ll be sure to tell you guys and girls all about it if I get a chance to talk to Rizzy 😉
As for here and now though, if you enjoyed the pictures of Rizzy’s Samus Aran cosplays, then you can find more pictures via her Facebook and Twitter page.
Source:
Rizzy on Facebook
Rizzy on Twitter
Fernanda Siepierski on Twitter
Robin “V-Act” Ek
Editor in chief
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround
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Tags: Brazil, Cosplay, Fernanda Siepierski, Gamers, Gaming, Metroid, Rayara Eckhardt, Rizzy no Okuni, Samus Aran | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
The current Tension Tour from Nine Inch Nails has marked still more changes for Trent Reznor. The evening before the group’s performance Friday night at Staples Center, NIN made its network television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! nearly 25 years after its mastermind issued the seminal industrial rock classic Pretty Hate Machine. Other interesting differences played out onstage: there were backup singers – and conversation! – where formerly there was so often only shrouding and isolation.
Particularly since the supposed send-off of his main moniker four years ago, Reznor has evolved from nihilistic futurism and volatile angst into a full embrace of the eerie, almost cinematic soundscapes that have always been at the foundation of his catalog – and which blossomed two years ago into the icily effective, Oscar-winning score for The Social Network.
Yet, for as much as fans have actively followed his artistic journey, past instrumental opuses (chiefly 2008’s Ghosts I-IV) and atmospheric side projects (see new outfit How to Destroy Angels), any big-scale return of Nine Inch Nails brings certain expectations – a need to feed raw communal fury, for starters, regardless what other moods are applied. NIN’s Staples set, however, routinely reminded that Reznor long ago said goodbye to the days of flinging himself into drum sets two songs in. There would be no real semblance of the untamed power once so synonymous with this entity live.
With “Copy of A” from September’s Hesitation Marks as the opening track, hints of Kraftwerkian minimalism became apparent, accented with Reznor’s penchant for the ominous. While setting the tone for the show, that selection also played out much like the remainder: a fantastic swell of anticipation with no payoff. Following up with “1,000,000,” from The Slip, only further staved off any indication of a hardcore NIN performance – until “Terrible Lie” ignited waning fans with its massive guitar haymakers.
“March of the Pigs” and “Piggy,” oft-played staples from 1994’s harrowing cornerstone The Downward Spiral, then briefly summoned all the latex and loathing of the old Nails. The sensation of hearing this capacity crowd loudly join the snide punch line “doesn’t it make you feel better” restored some promise of leaving people with goose bumps.
But what unfolded next was a consecutive five-song clobbering of new material: “All Time Low,” “Disappointed,” the throwback single “Came Back Haunted,” “Find My Way” and “Various Methods of Escape.” In the spirit of adhering to unwritten laws of artistic integrity, that move was nothing if not confident, yet if the aim was to engage captive acolytes, the result was akin to striking out with bases loaded. Much as Reznor did at the turn of the millennium with his fascinating but cumbersome shows behind 1999’s The Fragile, for some 30-plus minutes here the concert took a tangent, one that unraveled into a musical manifestation of a David Fincher production.
With each passing selection, though, yawns seemed to become contagious. By the time “Sanctified” broke the monotony new tunes, restoring any sense of excitement proved an arduous task.
After sandwiching yet another new song (“In Two”) between anthems like “The Wretched” and “The Big Come Down” an hour into the set, the experience began to feel like a force feeding. Understandably passionate about his new music, Reznor unfortunately exhibited a visible sense of obligation when it came to getting through earlier pieces.
Yet the irony is that those go-to songs were the only ones that generated something more than mildly supportive applause. Things began to perk up when he delved into later radio successes like “Survivalism” and “The Hand That Feeds,” and a late-night rally was in full swing once Reznor further ratcheted up the energy with a floor-shaking rendition of “Wish,” though that also sparked a sense of frustration: where had this been all night?
By the time “Head Like a Hole” began, a tidal wave of pent-up exuberance finally flooded out. Indeed, the final 20 minutes of the main set was so good, it nearly made the previous hour and a half of head-scratching worth it. Walking off with the band’s iconic logo digitally emblazoned across the stage, all was right in NIN’s world. Goose bumps were raised.
But a moody encore heavy on Hesitation Marks officially sunk the ship. Slotted among another slice from The Fragile (the lesser-heard “Even Deeper”), the glitchy gem “In This Twilight” (fittingly dedicated to ailing concert photographer Andrew Youssef, aka Amateur Chemist) and Reznor’s signature closing howl, “Hurt,” were three more new songs that obliterated any enthusiasm momentarily enveloping the room.
It left the crowd motionless, all eyes fixed on the stage – though perhaps less out of awe than idle boredom.
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The present invention relates to test equipment and more particularly to a water run-on timer for use in association with appliances, such as refrigerators with water dispensers.
Several types of refrigerators in the marketplace have water and ice dispensers in their front doors. Commonly, these water dispensers are activated by placing a glass against a lever which activates a remote valve. Once the valve is opened, water is transported to a glass placed underneath a spigot in the door of the refrigerator. In order to stop the flow of water, the glass is pulled away from the lever which controls a solenoid on the valve to shut off the supply of water so that water does not continue to pour forth from the spigot. Since a water dispenser that operates improperly could cause spillage and inconvenience to a user, a manufacturing test device is needed to verify that the valve and shut-off system operate properly. The main criterion for proper operation is that the water flowing from the spigot stops shortly after the lever activates the valve to shut off water flowing to the spigot. Thus, a testing device is needed to verify proper operation of a water dispenser in a refrigerator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,667 relates to an electro-optic sensor to sense the flow of liquid. This patent discloses a liquid dispenser in which drops are scanned by an electro-optic sensor. However, the patent does not disclose using an infra-red spectrum sensor to accomplish this task.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,977 relates to a magnetic proximity sensor which indicates if a valve is energized or not to detect flow. However, the patent does not disclose the bipolar magnetic flux sensor alone or in combination with an optical sensor. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | USPTO Backgrounds |
959 A.2d 927 (2008)
COM.
v.
CARPER.
No. 339 MAL (2008).
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
October 17, 2008.
Disposition of petition for allowance of appeal. Denied.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | FreeLaw |
By Norm Dixon
[This article was first published on September 11, 2002, on the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Its observations remain relevant to this day.]
* * *
In the week before the first anniversary of the devastating September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, TV networks aired a seemingly never-ending string of ``special events'' featuring ``exclusive'' or ``never before seen'' footage of the collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) and its aftermath. People around the world again experienced the horror, anger and tragedy of that terrible day, when almost 3000 working people were murdered.
Culminating on the anniversary of the day itself, thousands of journalists and TV presenters from across the globe will converge at ``ground zero'' in New York for ``remembrance and reflection''. Solemn ceremonies will be telecast and patriotic speeches by top US politicians broadcast, restating Washington's determination to pursue its ``war on terrorism''.
But by the end of the 9/11 anniversary hoopla, after the thousands of hours of TV time and the column-kilometres published in the world's newspapers and magazines, you can be sure that the most glaring aspect of the post-9/11 period will have remained unmentionable by all but the most honest commentators: that Washington's ``war on terrorism'' is a cynical fraud.
The most repeated 9/11 media cliche is that on that day ``the world changed''. However, few commentators have bothered to explain how.
September 11 did mark a change in the US and world politics -- just how permanent remains to be seen. On that day, the US rulers realised that those awful acts of terrorism provided them with a golden opportunity to achieve the US capitalist ruling class' long-held objective of world domination -- the ``American century'' it predicted was at hand at the end of World War II.
Top officials in President George Bush junior's administration seized that opportunity, coldly calculating that the traumatised US people would now support significant military interventions by US ground troops abroad, in the guise of fighting ``terrorism'', even if there was a risk of large numbers of US casualties -- something they have refused to accept since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
Before September 11, Washington had long labelled governments and political movements it opposed as ``terrorists''. The US State Department each year publishes a list of countries that ``support terrorism''; for years it has included Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba. Until September 11, that was not enough to convince the US people to support sustained military operations against them.
Almost as soon as the smoke from the rubble of the WTC had cleared, the Bush administration moved to take the focus of the ``war on terrorism'' from the alleged perpetrators of the 9/11 atrocities -- Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network of religious reactionaries -- to US-defined ``terrorism'' and ``evil'' in general.
``From this day forward'', Bush told Congress on September 20, 2001, ``any nation that continues to harbour or support terrorism will be regarded as a hostile regime''. The ``first war of the 21st century'' will not end, he declared, ``until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated''.
The bombing of Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001. On November 21, Bush outlined what has become known as the ``Bush doctrine'': ``Afghanistan is just the beginning of the war against terror. There are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends, and there are other nations willing to sponsor them. We will not be secure as a nation until all these threats are defeated. Across the world, and across the years, we will fight these evil ones, and we will win.
``America has a message for the nations of the world: if you harbour terrorists, you're terrorists; if you train or arm a terrorist, you are a terrorist; if you feed or fund a terrorist, you're a terrorist, and you will be held accountable by the United States and our friends.''
On November 26, with Iraq now in his cross-hairs, Bush expanded the scope of the ``war on terrorism'' further when he stated, ``If they develop weapons of mass destruction that will be used to terrorise nations, they will be held accountable''.
The transformation was complete with Bush's January 29, 2002, State of the Union speech. The next stage of Washington's ``war on terrorism'' was officially delinked from the specific events of 9/11. Bush did not even mention bin Laden or al Qaeda. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had suddenly taken the elusive Bin Laden's place as public enemy number one.
The ``axis of evil'' that now topped Washington's hit-list -- Iraq, Iran and North Korea -- has no proven links with al Qaeda, bin Laden or the 9/11 attacks. Nor do three of the four organisations Bush cited by name -- Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah -- have a connection with al Qaeda; their ``crime'' was to oppose Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine.
Bush also bluntly stated that the US had the right to unilaterally launch military action against ``terrorists'' inside any country, and launch preemptive military strikes against states that Washington suspected of developing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons: ``Some governments will be timid in the face of terror. And make no mistake about it, if they do not act, America will.''
Bush reminded the world that US vengeance has no geographic limits. ``Our armed forces [in Afghanistan] have delivered a message now clear to every enemy of the United States: even 7000 miles away, across oceans and continents, on mountain tops and in caves, you will not escape the justice of this nation'', he warned.
In less than six months, Bush's ``war on terrorism'' had morphed seamlessly from action directed at the alleged perpetrators and backers of the 9/11 mass murders into a war against any Third World state or political movement that Washington considers too independent, too defiant or a hurdle to the goal of US global hegemony.
Bush's State of the Union speech was the formal announcement that Washington is unashamedly seeking world domination. As the February 1, 2002, New York Times editorial noted: ``The application of power and intimidation has returned to the forefront of American foreign policy. Not since America's humiliating withdrawal from Vietnam more than a quarter-century ago has US foreign policy relied so heavily on non-nuclear military force, or the threat of it, to defend American interests around the world.''
Since the end of World War II, the US ruling class' overarching strategic goal has been the maintenance of overwhelming military, economic and political dominance and the prevention of the emergence of other powers -- great or regional -- that could challenge that position. This goal was dubbed the ``American century'' at the end of World War II.
However, Washington's expectations of total world domination were frustrated for nearly 50 years by the industrial and military strength of the Soviet Union and the national liberation struggles, beginning with the victory of the Chinese revolution in 1949 and the Cuban revolution in 1959, followed by the wave of successful independence struggles in Africa and Asia throughout the 1960s that culminated in the historic defeat of US forces in Vietnam in 1975.
Washington's defeat in Vietnam was a political defeat as well as a military one. Over time, with the assistance of a growing anti-war movement, the US people had come to realise that the US rulers had cynically lied when they proclaimed the bloody war against the people of Vietnam as a fight for democracy -- at the cost of 50,000 young US soldiers' lives and the deaths of millions of Vietnamese -- when in fact it was an unjust, imperialist war of aggression.
The ``Vietnam syndrome'' was born, and for more than 25 years, it made it politically impossible for Washington to deploy large numbers of ground troops in ``hot'' wars overseas.
Militarily and politically hamstrung by the Vietnam syndrome, US imperialism suffered further setbacks in the late 1970s with the victories of the independence struggles in Angola and Mozambique, a revolution in Ethiopia in 1977, the 1978 Afghan revolution, and the revolutionary processes begun in Nicaragua and Grenada in 1979.
The overthrow of the pro-US Shah of Iran in 1979 was also a serious threat to US imperialism's hold on the strategic oil-rich Persian Gulf.
Under President Ronald Reagan, who came to power in 1980, the US ruling class launched a counter-attack against what it dishonestly dubbed ``Soviet expansionism''. Washington massively funded and armed counter-revolutionary bandits and terrorists, such as RENAMO in Mozambique, UNITA in Angola, the contras in Nicaragua and the mujaheddin in Afghanistan. Reagan also boosted US support to the apartheid regime in South Africa and dictatorial regimes like those in Pakistan, Indonesia and Chile.
However, Reagan's strategy was also specifically engineered to avoid putting US troops in harm's way. When Reagan ordered US troops to invade Grenada in 1983 (and when George Bush senior ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989), the operation relied on massive firepower before elite US troops entered and then left as quickly as possible.
However, Reagan massively boosted US war spending across the board, including on the ``star wars'' missile defence system. The goal of this fanciful project was to achieve the ability to launch a first-strike nuclear attack on the USSR without fear of retaliation. Attempts to match these massive military expenditures played a role in ``bleeding'' the Soviet Union, hastening its collapse.
With the demise of the USSR in 1991, the US rulers hoped that the ``American century'' was again on the horizon. George Bush senior hailed the US victory over Iraq in the 1990-91 Gulf War as also marking the ``end of the Vietnam syndrome'' and declared that Washington would now oversee a ``New World Order''.
However, he spoke too soon. Bush senior had been not prepared to test the Vietnam syndrome. The US military had relied on the use of its overwhelming air superiority and its massive technological edge to avoid significant ground operations. Fear of the Vietnam syndrome in part deterred Bush from sending US troops into Iraq to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
Throughout the 1990s, this was the pattern of US military operations. The Vietnam syndrome was shown to be alive and kicking with the public outcry in the US to the deaths of 18 soldiers during Washington's ``humanitarian'' intervention in Somalia.
The Bush senior and the Clinton administrations clothed their military actions in the guise of defending human rights, halting ``ethnic cleansing'' or providing humanitarian assistance. They were conducted under the cover of regional or UN ``peacekeeping'' operations and were generally conditional on winning multilateral endorsement.
The American people's hopes that the end of the Cold War would result in much reduced military spending and a ``peace dividend'' also frustrated US ruling class demands for the maintenance of military spending at Cold War levels.
With 9/11, the dominant wing in Bush junior's administration clearly believes the Vietnam syndrome has finally been put to rest.
The claim that the attacks on the WTC ``changed the world'' are part of a myth that is being carefully crafted: that the launch of the ``war on terrorism'' was simply a response to the terrible events of one day.
This myth-making is exemplified by a melodramatic September 5, 2002, article by Associated Press White House correspondent Ron Fournier: ``In a cramped nuclear shelter deep beneath the White House, President Bush stared across a spare wooden table and told his national security team, `Get the troops ready'. Twelve hours after the terrorist strikes, moments after his nationally televised address, Bush was preparing for a war that would transform and define his presidency -- `This is a time for self defence', he told his war council. `This is our time'.''
The truth is more straightforward. In the 12 months following 9/11, Bush junior's administration cynically seized upon and exploited the terror attacks to launch a drive to achieve the US ruling class dream of an ``American century'' or ``New World Order'' -- an unchallenged global US military, political and economic empire.
The power behind the throne of George Bush junior's regime is vice president Dick Cheney and a warmongering team made up of veterans of the Reagan and Bush senior administrations.
Throughout the 1990s, these ``hawks'' organised for their return to power, formulated their programs for unchallenged US hegemony and advocated the unbridled use of US military power through a network of tightly interlocked right-wing ruling-class think-tanks -- the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), the American Enterprise Institute, Americans for Victory over Terrorism and the Center for Security Policy. The Murdoch-owned Weekly Standard and the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal championed their views (and continue to do so).
The lessons of the Bush senior and Clinton administration, the new ``centurions'' constantly claimed, was that US power should not be constrained by attempts to balance US interests with those of its European or other allies. Alliances, international organisations or multilateral treaties must not get in the way of the unfettered exercise of US military or economic power.
Other key planks pushed by the hawks have been unconditional military and political support for Israel -- Washington's key ally in the Middle East -- and implacable opposition to any regimes in that region that could pose a threat to US domination of the strategic, oil-rich Persian Gulf. As a result, a trademark of the centurions has been extreme hostility towards the regimes in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya and even Lebanon, as well as cheering every move made by Tel Aviv to crush the national liberation movement in occupied Palestine.
In 1997, the PNAC was established to promote ``American global leadership''. Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld (now US defence secretary), Paul Wolfowitz (now deputy defence secretary) and Jeb Bush (Bush junior's brother) were signatories to the PNAC's founding ``statement of principle''. It stated bluntly: ``[Conservatives] seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and purposely promotes American principles abroad; and a national leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibilities.
``America has a role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of this century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership.''
The PNAC argued that the US must ``increase defense spending significantly'' and ``modernize our armed forces -- if we are to carry out our global responsibilities today'' ; ``strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values''; ``promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad''; and ``accept responsibility for America's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles''.
``Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not be fashionable today'', the PNAC conceded. ``But it is necessary if the United States is to build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security and our greatness in the next.''
In September 2000, the PNAC fleshed out its imperial vision with the release of a report, Rebuilding America's defenses: Strategy, Forces and Resources for a New Century. The project's participants included Wolfowitz, Lewis Libby (who became Cheney's chief of staff) and Weekly Standard editor William Kristol.
The report's introduction noted that the US ``is the world's only superpower, combining preeminent military power, global technological leadership and the world's largest economy... At present the US faces no global rival. America's grand strategy should aim to preserve and extend this advantageous position as far into the future as possible''. To preserve this ``desirable strategic situation'', the report stated, the US ``requires a globally preeminent military capability both today and in the future''.
The report's authors admitted that they had built upon the 1992 draft of the Pentagon's Defense Planning Guidance (DPG), which was prepared for Cheney, who was then US defence secretary in the Bush senior administration, Wolfowitz and Libby.
This document stated bluntly that the US must continue to ``discourage ... advanced industrial nations from challenging our leadership or ... even aspiring to a larger regional or global role ... [To achieve this, the US] must retain the preeminent responsibility for addressing ... those wrongs which threaten not only our interests, but those of our allies or friends, or which seriously unsettle international relations.''
This was an admission that the massive build-up of US military might in Europe, Asia and the Middle East after 1945 was not simply directed at containing ``Soviet expansionism'', crushing Third World revolutions and controlling natural resources such as Middle Eastern oil -- as vital to US interests as they were. It was also aimed at enmeshing its potential capitalist rivals -- Britain, France, Germany and Japan -- within US-dominated military alliances designed to prevent them developing independent armed forces.
The PNAC report endorsed the DPG's ``blueprint for maintaining US preeminence, precluding the rise of a great power rival, and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests... The basic tenets of the DPG, in our judgment, remain sound.''
The PNAC report recommended that the US turn around the 1990s ``decade of defence neglect'' and boost war spending to a minimum of 3.5-3.8% of GDP (up from around 3%) by adding US$15 billion to US$20 billion annually; increase the numbers of active-duty military personnel from 1.4 million to 1.6 million; and ... reposition US forces ... by shifting permanently based forces to southeast Europe [the Balkans] and Southeast Asia [preferably the Philippines and/or Australia], and by changing naval deployment patterns to reflect growing US strategic concerns in East Asia [meaning the `containment' of China and the `defence' of Taiwan]''.
The report also urged Washington to develop the capability to ``fight and win multiple, simultaneous major theater wars'' and at the same time ``perform the `constabulary' duties associated with shaping the security environment in critical regions''; maintain ``nuclear strategic superiority'' by developing smaller ``bunker-buster'' nuclear weapons and resuming nuclear testing; develop the ``star wars'' global ``missile defence system''; and ``control the new `international commons' of space and `cyberspace' and pave the way for the creation of a new military service -- US Space Forces -- with the mission of space control.''[!]
As all the above indicates, the Cheney-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz cabal had had a long-standing program for the expansion of US hegemony. What it lacked was the ``trigger'' to implement it or the existence of a serious enough ``threat'' that would convince the US people to abandon their desire for a ``peace dividend'' and their opposition to US war casualties abroad.
Which is why the 9/11 attacks were a godsend for the Bush gang. Washington immediately recognised the opportunity with which it was presented. As Bush junior's national security adviser Condoleezza Rice admitted: ``I really think this period is analogous to 1945 to 1947 in that the events ... started shifting the tectonic plates in international politics. And it's important to try to seize on that and position American interests and institutions before they harden again.''
Since 9/11, Bush's new centurions fast-tracked the implementation of their agenda in case the ``window of opportunity'' closed. They won a massive increases in military spending of US$48 billion, to US$379.3 billion, in 2002-2003. Adding non-Pentagon military spending, mostly by the energy department for the nuclear weapons program, total military spending was US$396.1 billion.
A further US$38 billion was spent on ``homeland defence'' -- mainly for the plethora of US police agencies. Washington has projected that the war budget will steadily increase to more that US$451 billion by 2007, a 30% increase.
Washington has signalled -- with its repudiation of the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, the war crimes provisions of the International Criminal Court and the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty -- that US military, economic and political power will not be subject to any form of international constraint.
It has been revealed that the US has plans to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states under guise of eliminating the threat of ``weapons of mass destruction''. There have also been reports that US special forces will soon be authorised to kill or capture ``terrorists'' anywhere in the world, whenever the opportunity arises, without having to obtain permission from the relevant government.
As a result of its war to overthrow the Taliban, Washington has secured a permanent military bases and stationed tens of thousands of troops for the first time in the increasingly strategic Central Asian region. From these bases, the US can more easily ``contain'' Russia and China, control the emerging oil and gas resources of the Caspian Sea region, strengthen its hold over the Persian Gulf and increase further its military stranglehold on most of the world's vital energy resources.
Using the cover of the ``war on terrorism'', Washington has increased or resumed military funding for notoriously repressive regimes -- including as Yemen, Georgia, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Colombia and the former Soviet Central Asian republics -- as well as sending thousands of troops and military advisers to help them crush anti-government movements.
Washington has given the green light for Russia to continue its brutal campaign against the Chechen freedom struggle and the Chinese government's repression of separatists in Xinjiang.
The September 11 attacks and the subsequent US ``war on terrorism'' presented the US ruling-class warmongers with their biggest opportunity yet to ``cure'' the Vietnam syndrome.
From Green Left Weekly, September 11, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
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March 31, 2010
It is one of the most notorious scenes ever filmed – yet Hitchcock and Janet Leigh didn't tell the truth about it. Will Hodgkinson on a real-life story of body doubles and murder
In the run-up to the release of Psycho in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock did everything he could to build up the suspense. "No one will be admitted to the theatre after the start of each performance," declared the poster, bearing a sulky-looking Hitchcock wagging a finger. The director bought up all copies of the original novel, which he had optioned for a paltry $9,000, so that hardly anyone would know how the story ended. He also filmed on a closed set and forced cast and crew to sign an agreement promising not to mention the ending to anyone. There were no advance screenings.
PsychoProduction year: 1960Countries: UK, USACert (UK): 15Runtime: 109 minsDirectors: Alfred HitchcockCast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera MilesMore on this filmWhen the reviews for Psycho, which is rereleased this week, rolled in, they focused on one shocking moment: the shower sequence, in which Janet Leigh is slashed to death. Comprising over 70 shots, each lasting two or three seconds, it has become one of the most infamous moments in horror movie history. Mixing fast cutting and Bernard Herrmann's screeching music, Hitchcock created a brilliant illusion of gore, violence and nudity – while actually showing very little.
The greatest illusion, however, was to give a very clear suggestion that it was Leigh being hacked to death, by Anthony Perkins as a cross-dressing maniac. Leigh, in her first interview after the film's release, shared the audience's horror: "I believed that knife went into me. It was that real, that horrifying. I could feel it!" In later interviews, Hitchcock and Leigh categorically stated that it was her body in the shower scene – but it wasn't. The body belonged to a model called Marli Renfro. When you can't see Leigh's face in the shots, you're looking at her body double. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Monday, June 6, 2016
So I went in. He had a picture on the wall of the Martin Handcart Company and another of Jesus. He had a Jelly Belly dispenser on his desk , which made me trust him, and we laughed about how there are cappuccino jelly beans in there, and how he has debated the moral dilemma of serving them to his ward members vs. touching all the jelly beans to pull them out. He was maybe my age, like the ghost of who I might have been if I had been able to do the church and the wife thing. We talked about our families and work and where we live and where we grew up. He talked about being a very logical type; he pulled out of his desk blueprints from the 40s of the meeting house we were in, and we laughed about antique Mormonads he had in there. We skirted around the church thing for long enough that I half feared he would get up and shake my hand and say, "well I just wanted to get to know you," before he ever actually got to know me. And then he asked my relationship with the church.
I took a halting breath and just set in. I told him I'd grown up with a wild, verdant faith, that I had had the full support of my leaders growing up. That I'd been a very orthodox Mormon, not drinking Coke or watching R-rated movies, and not because I felt compelled or tricked, but because I cared so deeply. I told him about the stages of my coming out, how I'd given up first on trying to change my orientation, then on keeping it a secret, then on dating girls. He told me he had a gay brother; I thanked him for saying "sexuality" and not "same-sex attraction" or the countless other Mormon euphemisms for me that are the verbal equivalent of avoiding eye contact. I told him how I'd striven in my years in Provo to know everyone in my ward, how much I loved the saints, how I'd once held seven callings at once because I'd heard people say that their mission was the most spiritual time of their lives and I didn't want that to be true for me. I told him how I'd often go after the lost sheep, never wanting the members to feel abandoned or forgotten. I told him how I'd stayed with the church through Prop 8, how I'd made it my goal to make sure other gay Mormons didn't lose their way, how I'd been an activist and helped change the BYU Honor Code to be more inclusive.
I cried. I told him that I wanted a family, perhaps because I grew up LDS, perhaps just because I'm human, but I wanted it. I told him about the miracles I'd seen, and how I had taken them as a sign that the church is true, but how I'd had that correlation challenged over the years. I told him how I'd read Alma 32 and realized I didn't have a "control" in my experiment on the word, and about the period when I'd decided to experiment with not going to church, and about how I'd been able to find peace and joy and spirituality in other ways in my life. I told him how I had mourned my relationship with the church, how hearing the songs and the stories reminded me of my culture, how the travails of the pioneers were my legacy and my heritage. I got it all out. I told him I wasn't bitter about the church, but I was hurt. I told him I never felt oppressed by the church when I was there, but I felt the oppression my people felt. I looked at the picture of the young men carrying the saints across the frozen river, and I told him I felt so sad for my fellow gay Mormons, that someone needed to "go and bring them in." I told him that I rejected the old folk wisdom that "you can leave the church but you can't leave the church alone," and that it was the church who couldn't leave us alone. I told him how devastated I'd been by the November 5th revelation that the church wouldn't baptize the children of gay couples, how the church just this morning had sent a note to be read over every pulpit in Mexico instructing members to take on the gay marriage fight in their country. I cried ugly, snotty tears as I told him the church was still causing so much damage, and that my people were lost, they were hurting, they were still killing themselves. He cried, too.
He told me compassionately that he believed belief is a choice, and I agreed. I told him how I'd watched hundreds of my friends leave the church, and how I'd understood that God would be merciful. I told him that I appreciated all the church had done for me and my family, that we'd been supported by our ward for a few months when my parents divorced, that I'd had amazing role models and leaders and friends growing up, and that it was important for me to sift through all the church had given me and keep was was precious to me. He used the word "microcosm," and I thought, "he understands me." I told him how an acting coach had taught me how to be honest and to love myself and accept the fact that I'd let people down. I told him if I could forgive others, I could forgive myself, and if I could choose to believe, I could choose not to, and if I could see the good the church was doing in my life, I could see the bad. I shook as I asked him what was the point of the Holy Ghost in my life if every time it contradicted church leaders, I was supposed to accept that I was in the wrong. I told him I'd never regretted following the stirring of my heart, but I did regret some of the dark places I'd gone when I followed the brethren even when my heart cried out in protest. I told him about Neal. I told him that the younger me had believed the apostles when they said this love is counterfeit and my happiness is a lie. I told him that if this love and happiness are not real, then I'd never felt the real things in the church, either.
He told me how his mom had cried about his brother. I told him I knew how much it must hurt a mom to think she's losing her son in the eternal realm. I told him I don't know how to fix that. He didn't either, and that made us the same.
He asked me if I believed in God or in Jesus Christ, and I rambled and searched and eventually told him that whatever I had believed were God and Jesus are still working in my life, whatever I thought was the Holy Ghost still guides me, and they may or may not be God, but I'm at a place where I don't need to label them as much as just let them work in my life.
I thanked him for reaching out to me. I told him that after all my years of working in the church, nobody from my ward had ever come looking for me. I said that I didn't think I was owed anything like that, but that it had been a disillusionment. Like when you realize the person you're dating is only a version of them that you'd made up in your head. I told him I'd been ghosted by the church, that it felt like a breakup where you just never hear from the other person again.
He didn't call me to repentance. He didn't invite me to church. He didn't try to fix me. He asked questions. He wanted to know about reparative therapy, and we laughed about what a terrible idea that had ever been. He told me he didn't have answers, but he had hope for them. He asked what advice I would give him. I didn't. He didn't say "excommunicate" or "hearing." He seems to be doing the Christian thing very well. He said that even if his ward were a totally welcoming and open place, he couldn't stop the next general conference from coming. He said he was sorry the church couldn't be the one I envisioned. I said I didn't expect it to be, that a church is either run by God or it isn't. He acknowledged that the church does a lot of good, but also causes a lot of harm. He cried with me. He hugged me. He offered help if I ever need it. He offered a heartfelt prayer free from subtext or preaching and full of thanksgiving and benediction. He gave me more Jelly Bellies. He offered me a ride home, but I was on my bike. He showed me the stained glass of the chapel.
After all these years I felt some closure. It felt like two exes sitting down over coffee, saying they're sorry and explaining to each other with the clarity that years bring why they'd broken up in the first place and how they'd always love each other, even when the relationship was no longer serving them.
He said I changed his life. I don't know in what ways, but I believe it. He changed my life as well. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
No Man’s Sky Review – 2016: A Space Odyssey
No Man’s Sky delivers on its singular vision- with a few hiccups along the way.
No Man’s Sky is a bold and ambitious game- it promises the player literally the universe, and all of its boundless infinity. It promises the player the joy of exploration and the wonder of discovery. It promises us a collective effort to chart an entire universe, something of the kind that has never been attempted in this medium before. Above all, for the millions of us who in our lifetimes will be stranded on earth, this game promises us a journey through deep space that pushes the limits of our imaginations, as we chart new waters, discover new planets, encounter exotic new species, and engage with a lost ancient alien civilization.
‘Infinity’ is a lot for a game to promise- but No Man’s Sky largely delivers on it. Playing No Man’s Sky is a revelation, and is quite unlike anything else on the market. In a lot of ways, it feels unreal to be playing a game of this scope and ambition, and also knowing that it was made by a team of less than two dozen people- given how the most mammoth AAA projects tend to feel overly linear and limited, it almost leads to a kind of dissonance. But all those thoughts are washed away, as you land on another planet that you just discovered, get to name it whatever you want, and then set out to interact with its lifeforms and biomes, before you collect your resources, and you’re on your way again across the recesses of deep space.
"‘Infinity’ is a lot for a game to promise- but No Man’s Sky largely delivers on it."
Let’s get this out of the way first- No Man’s Sky stumbles in a lot of important areas. On the PS4, the game has a very narrow FoV, which is enough to induce nausea in a lot of instances, especially when coupled with the game’s low (but mostly steady, outside of some instances) frame rate as well as pop in. Some very basic features are missing in the game, such as custom markers (you would think being able to mark a point of interest that you stumbled upon in a universe of 18 quintillion planets, one that you plan to return to later, would be something the game lets you do- you’d be wrong), limited inventory space, a lack of quick travel options, and so on and on and on. I am not going to claim No Man’s Sky is a flawless game, because it is not.
But none of the flaws matter even a little bit once you start to actually play the game. I can tell you that I personally ignored my (increasingly strong) nausea just so I could spend more time in the worlds of No Man’s Sky.
The core gameplay loop of No Man’s Sky is rather simple- you land on a planet, you exit your ship, you scan your surroundings to see any points of interest, you walk up to them. You collect any resources, you encounter local wildlife, you try to make sure the planet and its environment and climate don’t kill you, and you leave, ready to hop into another planet, or maybe to another star system entirely, as you continue making your way to the center of the universe. Along the way, you get to rename any planets or species you got to encounter and discover, as long as you were the first one to do it (and given the size of No Man’s Sky universe, you almost certainly will be each time, in spite of the amount of players playing the game), encounter relics of an ancient alien civilization that hold the keys to your progress, and maybe find trading outposts to trade resources. On some occasions, you probably also end up in combat, and try your best to kill and not be killed.
"No Man’s Sky stumbles in a lot of important areas."
The true strength of No Man’s Sky lies in just how flexible this core gameplay loop really is- you can choose to play as anything you want within this framework. You could be an explorer, charting new planets and cataloguing new species, or you could be a trader, trying to dump cheaper and plentiful resources for rarer ones, and then selling those at a hefty profit. You could be a colonizer, trying to claim as many planets as yours as is possible, or you could be an aggressive invader, fighting space pirates, attacking local life, and killing sentinel drones. You could just try to stay on track and focus on the story and campaign, and not worry too much about the wealth of side activities in the game. Or you could mix and match any and all of them. Owing to its sheer flexibility, No Man’s Sky theoretically should never get repetitive.
It is therefore a shame that the game sometimes funnels you to do specific things- for instance, for the first few hours of the game, you’d hardly know that this was meant to be an exploration title, as you’re kept on the surface of the planet you crash landed on, and sent on glorified fetch quests to collect the resources you need to fix your ship. For a while, there is this sinking sensation that the game may just be Minecraft or at best, Day-Z, in a space setting. Once you’re finally off the surface is when it opens up to you (and then again later, when you get our hands on a hyperdrive), but those first few hours frankly suck, and lead to a feeling of sinking disappointment with the game.
There are also times when the game specifically funnels you into combat situations- there are entire planets, for example, where the presence of the sentinel drones, that make sure that the local ecosystem is not disturbed, is heavy- so even mining resources lightly alerts them, leading to them to attacking you constantly. It doesn’t help that No Man’s Sky‘s combat is, at best, serviceable, and at its very worst, appalling, and devoid of any challenge, except for when you are swarmed by enemies, which happens often.
"The true strength of No Man’s Sky lies in just how flexible its core gameplay loop really is."
Owing to the game’s procedural generation, your very first planet could be a toxic planet with sparse resources, aggressive wildlife, and heavy sentinel presence- or maybe you could run into a batch of worlds later that are either all basically empty and complete pushovers, or so hostile that you are literally not equipped to deal with them at the time. This completely breaks any semblance of a meaningful progression curve in the game.
The good thing is, unfortunate instances where a player gets a poor and hostile first planet aside, the game offers you enough freedom that if you run into one, or a batch of, bad planets, you can just take off and go look for some other planets that are more suited to what you are looking for. No Man’s Sky is a game that is entirely malleable- you will get exactly what you want from it, and you will get it, with few exceptions, when you want it.
There is an argument to be made that something like that is anathema for a lot of players- a lot of players don’t want a game that is so devoid of an overarching structure, or sense, or purpose. Such players would argue that No Man’s Sky, devoid of any context, is ultimately meaningless, as is everything you do in it- so why bother? These players aren’t necessarily wrong, because their arguments do hold water- but they are also playing the wrong game. No Man’s Sky is a game that works exactly because of its lack of contextual structure. It is a game that takes this kind of meaningless meandering, and runs with it, turning it into its largest strength. If something like that is not appealing to you, then you will not like No Man’s Sky, and it is not for you- but for others, No Man’s Sky delivers exactly what they want: a massive universe for them to explore, and for them to explore on their own terms.
"No Man’s Sky succeeds exactly where it needs to the most- it succeeds in delivering upon its astronomical ambitions."
It also helps that it’s is a world that you want to explore more- each world in No Man’s Sky is gorgeous, its lifeforms exotic, all rendered with a beautiful artstyle that covers for any deficiencies that the graphics may otherwise have. Each world has its own sense of character, and the worlds are likely to stand out in your memory long after you have departed them- especially if you got to name them, too, which leads to you, the explorer, developing a special connection with them. Most of the times, in spite of the survival elements, and in spite of the combat situations, No Man’s Sky is a very relaxing game, as you land on a world, and walk around, taking its vistas and locales in, before you set off to see more of the sights that this infinite universe has to offer. Coupled with the game’s soundtrack, there is a sense of zen-like calm and beauty that can be attained by playing this game and letting yourself sink into its worlds entirely- and at that point, all of its litany of flaws fail to matter. No Man’s Sky succeeds exactly where it needs to the most- it succeeds in delivering upon its astronomical ambitions.
And in the end, that’s what it comes down to. No Man’s Sky staggering ambition, which it largely delivers upon, compensates for any other flaws that it might have. This is a game about the beauty, wonder, and joy of exploration, and it is a game that lets you play it at your own pace, how you want to, when you want to, and where you want to. Truly infinite, boundless in its possibilities, and presenting its players with a universe of possibilities, No Man’s Sky is a triumph, and is set to go down in history as one of the defining titles of our era- stumbles and all.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.
THE GOOD
Gorgeous artstyle, beautiful soundtrack, technical marvel; staggering ambition that is almost entirely realized; flexible gameplay loop that lends itself to any style of playing almost entirely at the player's will and discretion, so that the player can mix and match a variety of play styles; a never ending quantity and variety of things to explore and discover; so vast that it never quite gets old.
THE BAD
Low FoV, low framerate with occasional drops, pop ins, procedural generation completely throws any semblance of a progression curve out the window sometimes, an over emphasis on the combat, survival, and narrative elements can detract from the game's core strength of exploration and discovery, some UI quibbles, not for everyone.
Final Verdict
Truly infinite, boundless in its possibilities, and presenting its players with a universe of possibilities, No Man's Sky is a triumph in what it sets out to do.
A copy of this game was provided by developer/publisher for review purposes. Click here to know more about our Reviews Policy.
You mean its not a 10 or an 11!?, I can hear the sound of gnashing claws and teeth! from the NMS defense squad, batten down the hatches.
:-0
efnet
I assume this 8 rating is the safe # to not piss off the ps4 readers yea? I mean it’s like 40+ million of ps4 users so it’s only right to pander to the bigger fan base right?
This game is so damn boring, I can’t see how anyone could give this an 8 ….
Pramath
No, I gave it an 8 because I quite enjoyed the game, but I also recognized that it had flaws marring the experience. Hence, the balanced 8 rating.
You not enjoying the game is fine, the review itself admits not everyone will enjoy the game- which is true of any game. But just because you didn’t like the game doesn’t mean that I didn’t either, and that I then gave it an 8 anyway to ‘not piss off 40 million PS4 owners’ or to pander to them.
Orion Wolf
Everyone has their opinion, but reading a few articles even those that
are currently “In Progress & Unscored” it seems to me that most are trying to minimize the glaring issues of the game.
Like the writer of this review getting nauseous, but dismissing it as something trivial. From the gameplay I’ve seen (and I did see quite a bit of it), the game (imho) is at best a 6 out of 10 – to put it in a better perspective I would go with thejimquisition’s review, as it reflects my
own take about the game.
However and as stated previously, everyone has their own tastes, but there are a few too many issues with the game right now, one of the
major ones (besides the nausea – but that depends on the person playing it) being … well, a lie, that it’s a multiplayer game.
J.j. Barrington
What glaring issues?
You mention the nausea brought up by one person as if it’s typical; isn’t the fact that it’s NOT typical the reason it’s dismissed as trivial?
And you talk about the “lie” of it being multiplayer, but that isn’t a lie in the slightest. Can you run into other players? Yes. Is it likely? Not really, and you probably won’t even notice. It’s not a game where you join up with friends and explore/conquer the universe; it’s never been billed as such, either, which is why it’s strange that not being able to do that is suddenly a lie.
Orion Wolf
There are multiple articles on GB (and various other places) talking about the issues with the game on both PC and the ps4.
Did I say that the nausea is a universal issue with the game?
The problem is that the game caused the reviewer to get nauseous and yet he proceeded to play the game to the detriment of his own health, I know that’s on him, but something that makes you sick is anything, but trivial imho.
Moreover, I did add that it’s not an universal issue aka “depends on the person playing it”
“Can you run into other players? Yes.”
Well actually no you can’t… at least not for now and there are other issues at hand besides that, but perhaps you’re right
and I was a bit too harsh with the wording, but still, as it is, it’s a SP game only.
And yet you don’t mention them. Which says that you have no experience with them, personally, and don’t even put enough stock in them to name them, because you know better: they can easily be picked apart.
“The problem is that the game caused the reviewer to get nauseous and yet he proceeded to play the game to the detriment of his own health,”
Did he continue to get sick for the duration of his time playing the game? Or is it something that made him sick, but that he adjusted to? (This is one of the things that detractors for VR seem not to take into consideration: a lot of people who are adversely affected do, indeed, get used to the format, and no longer feel that way.)
“Well actually no you can’t”
Well, actually, yes, you can. All this stemmed from two players who couldn’t meet… yet, for whatever reason, everyone ignores that they DO actually meet up upon subsequent attempts.
“it’s a SP game only.”
Only it’s not, and to call it such actually WOULD be a lie.
Orion Wolf
“Don’t even put enough stock in them to name them”
I didn’t see the need considering most of them are on the first few pages.
Actually, one of the most recent articles was with a dev apologizing for the issues, and just to be clear, not putting a title of an article is not the same as the issues not existing.
Moreover, the reason I didn’t post my own issues/experience because it could be easily dismissed as me being just one of the haters of the game – unlike if it’s a dev talking (apologizing) for those issues.
About the review being sick and the cause of it, well no idea, but about the adjustment, do you have any articles/other documentation/video I could read (watch) up on? I’m interested if that is actually possible even for someone that suffers from a severe form of car and (sadly) VR sickness.
This game will need all the possible high score reviews after the hype train crashed.
J.j. Barrington
And what will that do? It won’t stop people from trolling it, will it?
kee1haul
So despite all the flaws, all the game breaking bugs, all the frame rate drops, the lack of mulitplayer, the lack of content, the rubbish PC port, the lack of content, the outright lies- It gets 8. Dear me.
goldenboy77
i bought this game its slow i go off the planet and the game keeps crashing back to desktop and does not save no way to save your game i have to allmost start over
after every crash there is nothing to do in this game it plays in a sandbox i cant even
get full screen i give it a 0 out of 10 all i can say is dont buy it wast of money | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Second, get the latest patch. "Boomer" has the latest Windows 2000 fixes in it.
Third, if you would like to run IVSmagic as a "Windows Service", you will need to change the user the service runs as to "Administrator".
To do this:
1) Go into "Control Panel", select the "Administrative Tools", then "Services".
2) Scroll down until you see "IVSmagic" and double-click it.
3) Select the "Log On" tab, and enter the workstation's Administrator info as shown below:
4) Click "OK".
If the IVSmagic service was running when you changed these entries, the service will have to be restarted for the changes to take effect. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Q:
How to use dynamic style class in React Native
I am getting the style class from Rest Web Service.
try {
var securityTokenInBean = {
securityToken: authToken
};
fetchPost(
"monitorprobe/getAllMonitoringProbe",
"POST",
securityTokenInBean,
json => {
this.setState({
isLoading: false,
sumUp: json.sumUp,
styleClass : json.styleClass
});
this.state.isLoading = false;
},
err => {
console.log("needToCallBack: api call failed." + err);
//error(this.props.navigation,'error in needToCallBack ws call');
}
);
} catch (error) {
console.log("needToCallBack: api call failed." + error);
}
I need to use the style class in my View component. The value of styleClass is either criticalProbe,issueProbe,warningProbe,expiredProbe or okProbe
I have defined the styles for the all the classed defined in my StyleSheet.
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
criticalProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'black',
},
issueProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'red',
},
warningProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'orange',
},
expiredProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'yellow',
},
okProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'green',
}
});
How do I use the styleClass in my View Component which comes from rest service as the style class is Dynamic?
I tried with
const criticalProbeStyleClass = styleClass.criticalProbeStyleClass;
console.log(criticalProbeStyleClass);//comes as okProbe
<View style={[styles.box, styles.criticalProbeStyleClass ]}>
<Text style={styles.title}>Critical</Text>
<Text style={styles.criticalProbeStyleClass}>{sumUp.totalCriticalProbe}</Text>
</View>
But it does not work.
To verify I have tried with by hard coding style class and looks fine
<View style={[styles.box, styles.okProbe]}>
<Text style={styles.title}>Critical</Text>
<Text style={styles.criticalProbeStyleClass}>{sumUp.totalCriticalProbe}</Text>
</View>
A:
If your request returning just a name for the style property;
Create a file including all your styling that you want (globalStyles.js for example) and export it. In the component you want to use import it. Then you can use the file shown like below.
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
criticalProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'black',
},
issueProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'red',
},
warningProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'orange',
},
expiredProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'yellow',
},
okProbe : {
backgroundColor: 'green',
}
});
export default styleClasses;
<View style={[styles.box, styleClasses[styleClass.criticalProbeStyleClass] ]}>
<Text style={styles.title}>Critical</Text>
<Text style={styles.criticalProbeStyleClass}>{sumUp.totalCriticalProbe}</Text>
</View>
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | StackExchange |
According to the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) published in June, tobacco use has gone down by six percentage points from 34.6 per cent of the country’s adult population in 2009-10 to 28.6 per cent in 2016-17. (Reuters)
The Centre is working on issuing a new set of enhanced pictorial and text warnings and planning to print the national toll-free anti-smoking helpline number on the packets of all tobacco products to amplify the message. The National Tobacco Cessation QuitLine-1800 227787 is a dedicated toll-free number that helps tobacco users to receive free support and guidance to subdue their addiction. In September 2015, the Union Health Ministry had made it mandatory for manufacturers to display health warnings on 85 per cent of the main display area on the packets of all tobacco products from April 1, 2016. The ministry is now conducting an exercise as part of which they show a new set of pictures and text warnings to people to understand the effectiveness of the warnings and know the reaction of the consumers. “The aim of the exercise is to find out if the new set of pictures and text warnings are impactful or not. Our teams are going to people and taking their suggestions,” said a senior official of the Health Ministry. “We are also planning to print the National Tobacco Cessation QuitLine number (1800-22-77-87) on packets. Also, the text warnings will mention the diseases caused due to consumption of tobacco,” he said.
According to the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2) published in June, tobacco use has gone down by six percentage points from 34.6 per cent of the country’s adult population in 2009-10 to 28.6 per cent in 2016-17. The GATS-2 report said the number of tobacco users in India has gone down by 81 lakh. Tobacco use among young people (aged between 15 and 24) reduced from 18.4 per cent in GATS-1 to 12.4 per cent in GATS-2. Also, there was an increase of one year in the mean age at initiation of tobacco use from 17.9 years in 2009-10 to 18.9 years in 2016-17, the report said.
The survey revealed that 19 per cent of men, 2 per cent of women, and 10.7 per cent of all adults smoke tobacco, while 29.6 per cent of men, 12.8 per cent of women and 21.4 per cent of all adults use smokeless tobacco. It also mentioned that 28.6 per cent of all adults (26.7 crore) use tobacco in some form or other. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Last updated on .From the section West Ham
Striker Diafra Sakho and West Ham face a Fifa inquiry over his withdrawal from Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations squad.
Football's governing body says it has opened disciplinary proceedings for "a potential violation of regulations".
Sakho, 25, withdrew with a back injury, but later scored for the Hammers in their 1-0 FA Cup win at Bristol City.
Fifa rules say a player cannot appear for a club if he was meant to be on international duty, but West Ham "vigorously" deny any wrongdoing.
A Fifa spokesman said: "We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the player Diafra Sakho and the club West Ham United for a potential violation of the Fifa regulations on the status and transfer of players."
Liverpool 2-0 West Ham: Sam Allardyce blames defensive injuries
He declined to give a likely time frame for the case, or potential penalties, should it find that the rules were breached.
A West Ham statement said: "Diafra Sakho and West Ham United vigorously deny that they have acted in breach of Fifa regulations. They regard the proceedings as clearly unfounded and are requesting their dismissal."
Sakho was not in West Ham's squad for Saturday's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool, with manager Sam Allardyce saying he had been advised not to play him until the dispute was resolved.
On Thursday, Allardyce said he was confident the striker - who has scored eight times in 12 Premier League games since signing from FC Metz in August - would not face a ban.
Senegal boss Alain Giresse, who was told Sakho had withdrawn from the Africa Cup of Nations as he could not fly because of a back injury, claimed West Ham had "set a dangerous precedent" by playing him.
Bristol City are not commenting on reports they could seek compensation of £250,000 external-link if Fifa rules that Sakho should not have played in the fourth-round FA Cup tie.
West Ham visit West Brom in the fifth round on 15 February. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
More child sex abuse images and videos are being found online than ever before, according to a charity.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which searches for and removes such content from the web, has warned the sickening material it is discovering could be the "tip of the iceberg".
According to its annual report, there were 78,589 confirmed child sexual abuse URLs found in 2017, an increase of more than a third (37%) from the year before.
Category A content, which includes rape and sexual torture, has also increased from 28% of all content to 33%.
Susie Hargreaves, chief executive of the IWF, said offenders are "getting smarter" and "finding new ways to abuse legitimate internet services".
What the IWF calls "disguised website abuse" has seen an unprecedented increase.
There was a staggering 86% rise in the use of disguised websites, from 1,572 websites in 2016 to 2,909 in 2017.
These are websites where the abuse imagery is only revealed to someone who has followed a set of specific steps. To other users they will show legal content.
The IWF said the increased prevalence of disguised websites indicates increased intelligence among offenders, who may be resorting to new lengths to avoid being caught.
"The child victims of sexual abuse online are revictimised again and again, every time their picture is shared," Ms Hargreaves said.
"The experience they go through at such a young age is unimaginably horrific, and they frequently take this pain into adulthood with them.
"That's why at the IWF we fight every day to make sure these images and videos are removed from the internet, so that victims are no longer forced to live with the torment of others seeing the images of their abuse online.
"While I'm so proud of our Hotline for the sheer number of child sexual abuse URLs they're removing online, these figures show what a vast amount of content is out there.
"Sadly, this could just be the tip of the iceberg."
Europe is the worst offender for hosting child sexual abuse imagery, with the continent hosting 65% of content the IWF discovered.
It said the Netherlands continues to be the worst country for hosting such material, followed by the US, Canada, France and Russia. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Ritscher-Schinzel (3C) syndrome: documentation of the phenotype.
Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome or 3C (craniocerebello-cardiac) syndrome is characterized by cardiac defects, cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, and cranial defects. Nineteen cases were reported previously; however, the full spectrum of this disorder has not been determined. We have evaluated two unrelated males with this condition. Both had defects of the endocardial cushion and vermis hypoplasia with hypotonia. In addition, both had hypospadias, a previously undescribed finding of this disorders. Review of the previously reported cases and those described herein demonstrate: 1) Although varying degrees of vermis hypoplasia are accompanied by hypotonia, delayed gross motor function improves with advancing age leaving speech delay as the major neurodevelopmental handicap. 2) Two different types of cardiac anomalies occur: defects of the endocardial cushion ranging from anomalies of the mitral or tricuspid valves to complete AV canal, and/or conotruncal defects. 3) Postnatal growth deficiency was seen in most patients in whom longitudinal information was available. In our review of patients with vermis hypoplasia we ascertained a patient diagnosed as having "Joubert syndrome" who had most findings of the Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome and several other patients with "Dandy-Walker syndrome" who likely have had Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome, suggesting that Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome is more common than has been appreciated. Careful search for the subtle facial changes characteristic of this disorder as well as coloboma, cleft palate/bifid uvula, short neck, syndactyly, and hypoplasia of the nails is warranted when evaluating children with Dandy-Walker malformation with or without clinical signs of Joubert syndrome. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
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Thursday, 12 November 2015
ℚ♫ The Beast of Barcroft [1] - Bill Schweigart
Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Bill Schweigart to talk about The Beast of Barcroft (17 November 2015, Hydra, 202pages) a Horror novel.
THE BEAST OF BARCROFT is a terrifying rollercoaster ride that dips boldly into the fantastic. Readers will immerse themselves in this page-turner, eager to discover the secret of THE BEAST OF BARCROFT.
A very warm welcome to Bill Schweigart; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.
What was the inspiration for The Beast of Barcroft?
"I live in Arlington, Virginia and I love its shadowy network of nature trails. I’ve always wanted to set a story there. Then a few years ago I was in a coffee shop, reading an article about the history of the area and there was a blub – just a couple of sentences – called “The Beast of Barcroft.” Since I live in Barcroft, it caught my eye. Something actually menaced Arlington in 1974. Pets were butchered, wild screeching filled the night air, and the local media ran articles about a “savage mystery beast.” With that, lightning struck. I had my story."
How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?
"I began writing “The Beast of Barcroft” nearly a year to the day after my father passed, so it can’t help but be personal. One of my main characters, Ben, is dealing with the loss of his father too, though not very well. When the story begins, he’s angry and alone, having pushed away his fiancée because he’s not dealing with his grief. Fortunately, I had my family – and writing this book – to help me through, but Ben has no such luck. When his beast sets its sights on Barcroft, and people end up dead, it gives him purpose. He realizes he needs to get his act together if he wants to survive."
The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for The Beast of Barcroft - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.
"David Stevenson designed the cover and it floored me. Random House was kind enough to ask if I had any preferences. I suggested something more impressionistic than literal - no models on the cover holding flashlights in the woods while a creature looms behind them. David took my incoherent ramblings and knocked it out of the park on the first try. I get a dopey grin on my face every time I look at it."
Why should we read The Beast of Barcroft and what sets it apart from the rest?
"This may be a horror story, but it’s horror with a heart. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t skimp on the scares, but I care way more about the characters than any creature.
My main characters Ben McKelvie and Lindsay Clark are not action heroes and they’re far from perfect. They’re real people with real struggles and you root for them.
My favorite thing about the book is their dynamic. Pairing them up romantically would’ve been the conventional choice, but they’re partners. I love those sorts of relationships: Holmes and Watson, Call and McCrae, Blomkvist and Salander. Completely different people, but for whatever reason, resolutely loyal to one another. Those sorts of partnerships are tremendously comforting to me."
Can you tell us something quirky about The Beast of Barcroft, its story and characters?
"I’m a monstrous comic book fan, so when in doubt, I name my characters after comic book creators. I swiped the name McKelvie from one of my favorite comic artists and a few other bit players throughout the book are coined with comic creator names. These writers and artists are my heroes, churning out amazing stories month in and month out that have fired my imagination since I was seven years old."
Who would you recommend The Beast of Barcroft to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?
"Everyone! Horror fans certainly, but anyone who enjoys a swift, character-driven story. And it’s funny! Despite the subject matter, this is not a gloomy story – there’s a lot of humor. The story is very much grounded in reality, until a fantastic element is introduced. A couple of characters respond with humor. I love writing the dialogue for these characters."
If you could / wished to turn The Beast of Barcroft into a movie, who would be your dream team?
"I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a list of dream actors to play my characters, but I won’t spoil the reader’s imagined versions of Ben or Lindsay. I’m much more interested in hearing the reader’s suggestions!
For the setting, Arlington of course! Every spot I wrote about is a real place so the work is complete for a location scout.
As for music, I didn’t have a playlist when I wrote it, but in my wildest dreams, I’ve always pictured Wilco’s “Born Alone” played over the end credits. It’s both affirming and sinister at the same time, which is how I picture the story."
What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?
"It’s funny, I didn’t realize I was a horror writer until my agent welcomed me on Twitter as “horror writer Bill Schweigart.” My first book was a nautical thriller featuring the Coast Guard. And when I have the chance to read, it’s usually crime fiction. I have a crime book in me. A romance too. Right now though, my focus in the continuing adventures of Ben and Lindsay."
What is your writing process?
"I have a day job, so every morning I wake up early and write for thirty minutes. I have a ridiculously low word count, but if you stick to that schedule, within a year you have a first draft. Slow and steady wins the race. "
What is in store next?
"“The Beast of Barcroft” is the first in a series. Its sequel, “Northwoods,” will be available on February 16, 2016. (In “Northwoods,” ex–Delta Force Davis Holland, now an agent for the Customs and Border Protection, is investigating an illegal border crossing and stumbles across a blood-drenched scene of mass murder, barely escaping with his life. Something deadly has entered Holland’s territory, crossing the border from nightmare into reality. When news of the atrocity reaches Ben McKelvie and Lindsay Clark, they head north to investigate. Still haunted by the events of “The Beast of Barcroft,” normal life is impossible for these two, but there is nothing normal about the horror that awaits in the Northwoods.) And I’m currently hard at work on the third installment in the series!"
And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?
"Everyone who knows me knows that the real Beast of Barcroft is my dog Bear. My family rescued him as a puppy, but we were quite surprised to discover, as he kept growing and growing, that he was half-Newfoundland. He’s 100 pounds of unbridled energy. Taking him for walks through Barcroft is like trying to leash Godzilla in Tokyo. But his heart is pure. If you see us coming, don’t be alarmed: he only wants to lick you."
Wow! Hello Bear! That's definitely his name - he's like a massive teddy :-) Gorgeous!I must say, I did spot on your Twitter feed this gentle giant and how patient he is ;-) | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Los científicos han realizado una mejora importante en el Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) al instalar un reloj atómico de altísima precisión en el Sitio de Operaciones del Conjunto (AOS), donde se encuentra el correlacionador de ALMA. El instrumento de medición original de tiempo que usa gas de rubidio ha sido reemplazado por un máser de hidrógeno más preciso.
Esta mejora beneficiará a todos los usuarios de ALMA y en el futuro permitirá que ALMA pueda sincronizarse con una red mundial de instalaciones de radioastronomía para formar un telescopio del tamaño de la Tierra, con la potencia de aumento requerida para ver detalles en los bordes del agujero negro supermasivo en el centro de la Vía Láctea[1].
Antes de que ALMA pueda ofrecer sus capacidades inigualables para esto y otras observaciones científicas similares, primero debe transformarse en un tipo de instrumento distinto conocido como “phased array” o conjunto en fase. Esta nueva versión de ALMA (el “Conjunto ALMA en Fase”) permitirá que 50 de sus 66 antenas funcionen como un radiotelescopio único con una capacidad para captar la luz de un plato de 85 metros de diámetro. Este proyecto de antenas enfasadas es un proyecto de actualización de ALMA dirigido por Shep Doeleman del Observatorio Haystack del MIT (EE.UU.), con una importante participación de institutos de Europa y Asia Oriental.
Un gran avance en este camino se logró recientemente cuando el equipo científico realizó lo que podría considerarse como un “trasplante de corazón” en el telescopio, al instalar un reloj atómico a medida alimentado por un máser[2] de hidrógeno. Este nuevo reloj usa un proceso similar al de un láser para amplificar un solo tono único, con ciclos contados para producir señales muy precisas.
Existen muchas futuras aplicaciones para el phased array de ALMA, incluyendo su uso como un elemento de redes globales de telescopios como el Global mm-VLBI Array y el Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), del cual ALMA será la instalación más sensible. El EHT será capaz de obtener imágenes del entorno cercano del horizonte de sucesos[3] alrededor del agujero negro supermasivo en el centro de la Vía Láctea.
La gran potencia de aumento de estos conjuntos globales deriva de conectar radiotelescopios distantes uno del otro alrededor del mundo, uniéndolos en un telescopio virtual del tamaño de la Tierra. Esta técnica, llamada interferometría, es el mismo proceso que ALMA usa para combinar las señales de todas sus antenas en una operación normal. Esto también permite que telescopios ópticos/infrarrojos como el Very Large Telescope (VLT) de ESO logren una resolución muy alta al combinar muchos telescopios logrando que funcionen como un telescopio gigante, el Interferómetro del Very Large Telescope (VLTI).
La diferencia entre los actuales interferómetros de radio y el futuro interferómetro global es el fino alcance geográfico del nuevo proyecto, su extensión a las longitudes de onda más cortas observables, y la adición de un área de recolección sin precedentes que permite el Conjunto ALMA en Fase.
“Por medio de la unión de los más avanzados radio telescopios de longitudes de onda milimétricas y submilimétricas en todo el planeta, el Event Horizon Telescope crea un nuevo instrumento fundamental con el mayor poder magnificador jamás logrado”, afirmó Doeleman. “Anclado por ALMA, el EHT abrirá una nueva ventana sobre la investigación de agujeros negros, y centrará la atención en uno de los únicos lugares en el Universo donde las teorías de Einstein podrían derrumbarse: en el horizonte de sucesos”.
ALMA llegará justo a tiempo para observar un acontecimiento cósmico muy esperado: la colisión de una nube gigante de polvo y gas conocida como G2 y el agujero negro supermasivo de nuestra galaxia. Se cree que la colisión podría despertar a este gigante dormido y llevarlo a liberar cantidades extremas de energía y, quizá, producir un chorro de partículas subatómicas, lo cual sería un comportamiento sumamente inusual para una galaxia en espiral madura como la Vía Láctea. Se calcula que la colisión comenzará en 2014 y se prolongará por más de un año.
La capacidad de los agujeros para curvar la luz también constituye una oportunidad única para observar la llamada sombra de los agujeros negros. Cuando se acerca al horizonte de sucesos de un agujero negro, la luz no viaja en línea recta, sino que adopta una extraña trayectoria hiperbólica, e incluso puede llegar a describir una órbita estable. Parte de esa luz, que comienza su recorrido alejándose de los observadores en la Tierra, puede doblarse hasta completar una curva en 180 grados, lo que permitiría a los científicos estudiar el costado más alejado del agujero negro y ver su sombra en el espacio. Como el tamaño y la forma de esta sombra dependen de la masa y de la rotación del agujero negro, estas observaciones podrían proporcionarnos mucha información sobre la distorsión del tiempo y el espacio en este ambiente extremo.
Actualmente la meta es probar la primera señal combinada del observatorio puesto en fase con otro telescopio en 2014, para luego realizar una puesta en marcha completa y dar inicio a las observaciones oficiales en 2015.
Cuando esté sincronizado, ALMA también servirá como un instrumento aislado extraordinariamente sensible capaz de detectar pulsares cerca del agujero negro de nuestra galaxia. También se harán investigaciones independientes sobre las moléculas presentes en el espacio para determinar si las leyes fundamentales de la naturaleza han cambiado con el transcurso del tiempo cósmico.
Notas:
[1] El agujero negro en el centro de la Vía Láctea es un gigante de cuatro millones de masas solares ubicado aproximadamente a 26.000 años-luz de la Tierra en la dirección de la constelación Sagitario. Desde los telescopios ópticos se ve que está cubierto por densas nubes de polvo y gas, razón por la que observatorios como ALMA, el cual opera en longitudes de onda milimétricas y submilimétricas más amplias, son esenciales para estudiar sus propiedades.
[2] Máser deriva del acrónimo inglés MASER (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, o Amplificación de Microondas por Emisión Estimulada de Radiación). De la misma forma que la luz es usada en un láser, haciendo uso de amplificación óptica, un láser de microondas, en cambio, funciona en la parte de microonda del espectro.
[3] El horizonte de sucesos es la superficie alrededor de un agujero negro, donde los sucesos al interior no pueden afectar al observador externo. Se puede considerar como el “punto de no retorno” para un astronauta que esté cayendo.
Fuentes: ALMA, ESO | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
It's Not Just Apple vs Android - andycroll
http://andycroll.com/2013/03/15/its-not-just-apple-vs-android/
======
belorn
While its indeed not an zero-sum game where we have a clear good guy and a
clear bad guy, there are some clear good outcomes. Lets call them mini-
victories.
The patent fight is one of them. Rounded corners, button less interface, menu
areas outside the screen. All those are of practical purpose and should never
have been allowed to be design patented. Same goes for basic iconic figures
for applications, a table view interface, slide to unlock and any "natural"
gestures. Then there are FRAND patents, where a clear model for deciding
prices would help in making the market more predictable for new ventures.
If we look at DRM, lockdown and DMCA, we also have a mini-victory that we need
to fight over. Here we have a moral argument that the device owner should be
in control and not Apple, Google or Samsung. Consumers need to get a win here.
I could mention that some actors in all this are behaving worse than others,
and if one had to pick one evil over the others then I know where I would
lean. But that is just a secondary issue in all this. Primarily, consumers and
new actors on the phone market need to win. Those are the true "good guys" in
the fight.
------
TheAnimus
What he and the Gruber peice he references (did he seriously say Gruber isn't
an Apple Cheerleader?!) fail to mention is trend.
_The trend is your friend_ , one of the first things anyone who's suffered a
trader learns. It's not a case of how high or low something is, but where it
is going to be relative to it's current place.
Press and Markets get this (the former to a lesser extent true) but the fear
is that Apple have had their Halcyon days. Originally Apple didn't need to
worry about such issues as apps, they had the first phone device with a web
browser that people really spoke about liking. Heck they didn't even have GPS
dispite most feature phones in the UK having it with maps.
A lot of analyists are asking, rightly so, why is Apple able to keep making
such money, now the market is cramped. Want a better camera, buy the 920, want
a better screen? Buy the HTC, want a larger phone, buy the S4, want a smaller
phone buy the. Hell I don't even know, but you get where I'm going with this.
The brand of the iPhone people fear to be falling. In the old days of Windows
3.1 domination, the software took months to years to write. Most of them now
adays have little if anything more than weeks of platform specific code. The
_alternate_ marketplace is huge, due to the size of the global market place.
Hell a friend was just telling me how he thinks he'll make a profit porting to
the new blackberry, despite it having very low uptake here in London.
These notions lend people to conclude that what is currently happening with
Apple might not be sustainable. Gruber has been consistently wrong the last
few months (in fact he is always as he predicts little but Apple growth) with
regards to the decrease in share price and failure to develop new market
share.
tldr; It might not be Apple vs Google. But neither are expanding their
userbase rapidily, without encrouging on the other.
~~~
josh2600
It is the ecosystem that Apple sells, not the hardware. People buy Apple
because they know the handset will be supported for a specific period of time,
that every developer wants to sell on iOS and works hard to be there, and that
they can walk into an Apple store and get support any day they want.
For the hacker, most of these things are irrelevant, but for Joe-Schmo who
wants to put minimal effort forward when managing their digital life, the
iPhone is the pinnacle of abstraction.
Apple makes money because they sell the promise of a long, comfortable
relationship and they fulfill it time and again. Even with Samsung, will I be
able to update my s4 beyond Jellybean? The answer is a firm "maybe", but I
know 100% that my iPhone will get updates for years.
That's why Apple makes money, because they sell peace of mind.
~~~
MrScruff
True, and that peace of mind can be appealing to hackers as well. We only have
so many hours in the day after all.
------
gonvaled
Sure there is no good-guy and bad-guy here. But there is a better guy, and a
worse guy, and that largely depends on what you value most.
For me, the tactics of Apple using legal methods to try to squash competition
are a huge red flag, because I happen to think that the consumer is going to
pay for that.
You can think that Apple defending its rights is going to benefit the consumer
long-term by allowing Apple to provide innovation. But my viewpoint is that
Apple can not compete anymore, and is resorting to legal tactics to fight
competition. And that (if they had won) they would have a lock-in in a growing
and very important market segment (high end smartphones).
Luckily the "good guys" have largely won.
It is just a matter of point of view.
~~~
simonh
> For me, the tactics of Apple using legal methods to try to squash
> competition are a huge red flag, because I happen to think that the consumer
> is going to pay for that.
Because nobody ever heard of a mobile phone company suing the competition to
limit their ability to compete before right? I mean before Apple V Samsung it
was unheard of.
[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2003456/Nokia...](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2003456/Nokia-
finally-claims-multi-million-dollar-victory-Apple-breaching-46-patents.html)
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8460899.stm>
[http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/04/microsoft-m...](http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/oct/04/microsoft-
motorola-android-patent-lawsuit)
I do agree with you that competition benefits the consumer. A vibrant Android
ecosystem is in the interests of iPhone users like me. But the Apple lawsuit
was never going to stop anyone else making modern smartphones. That's not what
it was about, which is why despite a (currently) $0.5Bn settlement in their
favour Apple hansn't gone on to sue anyone else. Apple were very clear about
the reasons why they sued Samsung and their objectives, and their behaviour
has been consistent with that.
~~~
gonvaled
Sure, but those are not design-related patents, or natural-gesture patents, or
for that matter designs based on principles being part of human society for
centuries ("slide to unlock" anyone?)
"Nokia finally claims multi-million dollar victory over Apple for breaching up
to 46 patents"
"Camera maker Kodak has said it will sue Apple and Research In Motion (RIM),
the makers of the iPhone and Blackberry, over technology used in their
handsets."
I do not condone those actions. I just think that Apple is here the "worse-
guy", opening a very smelly can of worms just because of animosity towards
Android ([http://9to5mac.com/2013/01/17/google-ceo-larry-page-on-
steve...](http://9to5mac.com/2013/01/17/google-ceo-larry-page-on-steve-jobs-
thermonuclear-war-how-well-is-that-working-for-them))
And yes, Microsoft is an even worse bad-guy (but largely irrelevant in the
smartphone sector), that is why I have not (directly) spent a penny on their
products in over 15 years.
------
wuest
> Nokia (with Microsoft) make beautiful hardware and Windows Phone is lush,
> but for some reason is not getting the market love its quality deserves.
Two points here:
First, it pains me to see MS lumped with Nokia. I'll be clinging to my N9 for
a very long time yet (and probably only move on when Ubuntu or Firefox phones
are compelling). I miss Maemo/MeeGo.
Second, the reason which MS doesn't get the love which its quality deserves
(let's accept that it deserves a lot of love for the sake of this argument) is
that Microsoft owns Skype. Telcos aren't huge fans of Skype, as a rule--it
doesn't quite jive with their values. For Windows Phone, which integrates
Skype by default, to really take off in the marketplace, we need to see the
founding of a telco which doesn't do anything BUT data as their subscription
model. With no voice fees to compete with Skype's inclusion on the phone,
there will be no reason for telcos to marginalize the platform.
~~~
CaptainZapp
First, it pains me to see MS lumped with Nokia. I'll be clinging to my N9 for a very long time yet (and probably only move on when Ubuntu or Firefox phones are compelling). I miss Maemo/MeeGo.
Same here: I'm still clinging to my 2 year old N900, which I still consider a
great phone. When I bought it I knew that the patform is in a dead end, but I
got it anyway and never regretted it.
In fact I still have a brand new N9 in a box in reserve. That's in case that
the current phone moves into a state beyond repair.
What is most interesting is that my pretty ancient clunker feels much more
snappy then more modern smart phones after 6 month, apart from a couple
scratches on the screen it looks and feels still rather fresh.
~~~
wuest
I love my N900! It's on my shelf as a backup phone. Ours aren't all that
uncommon in terms of Maemo users' stories, as I understand it.
------
Tyrannosaurs
Feels a little bit as if it should be filed under "yes but obvious".
When you can find large groups of people who will tell you how much they love
their Android phone and other large groups of people who tell you how much
they love their iPhone, it should be obvious that this isn't a one size fits
all situation.
The one thing he doesn't say (possibly because it's also obvious) is that
whatever side you're on, you should probably celebrate the situation as the
many and varied levels of competitions that exist are driving innovation and
we're all benefiting from that.
~~~
widdershins
Obvious to some of us, perhaps, but fanboy wars continue to rage in tech news
comments, so there are still many who aren't getting the message.
~~~
pjmlp
I used to be a bit like that around 15 years ago, then I learned to appreciate
technology for what it is, regardless who does it.
------
hbharadwaj
I don't think that's necessarily the conversation telcos are having regarding
Skype, Facetime, etc. Skype probably is hated because of bandwidth issues but
that is not the reason for the hate.
Look, Telco love for Android is around the fact that Android handsets are
virtually under their control. They can do with it as they please - bloatware,
ads, etc., Android also filled the lower end market with cheaper phones
retaining the same functionality while Apple only caters to certain segments.
Telcos don't love iOS. iOS is popular with customers and iOS sells. Hence,
Telcos are left with no choice but to support Apple and show their love for
Apple.
Microsoft on the other hand is treated like a step child essentially because
they want to go with the Apple way in not letting Telcos control their
handsets while not having the customer love as of now. The only single reason
why MS is still in the game is because Nokia stepped in to save their butts
with beautiful hardware. Yes, it's a chicken and egg issue for MS as of now
but I think if they hang in there, they will eventually start getting
respectable number of apps and succeed as a platform. Not to mention, Nokia
releasing cheap phones as well.
------
gulbrandr
_Please_! Saying "Apple vs Android" is nonsense, you are comparing two things
that are completly different! It's either "iOS vs Android" or "Apple vs
Google".
~~~
Samuel_Michon
While that's usually true, in this case it should be "Apple vs every company
involved with Android (plus Nokia)". That's not as catchy, though.
~~~
gulbrandr
I understand that. It's just that I hear so many people making the confusion
and it irritates me.
------
pm_ingram
While I can see the argument here (and yes, it's valid), how is it any
different from them promoting either Android or Apple, where with just a few
taps you can download Skype?
Same scenario really - just slightly less convenient.
~~~
fpgeek
What happens if a telco doesn't want Skype in the version of the Apple App
Store or Google Play Store their customers see? It's simple and
straightforward. They make a phone call and it's done. Maybe some grumbling if
the other store doesn't have the same restriction.
Now what happens if they want to call Microsoft about Skype in the Windows
Phone store? I don't know, but I do know that the conversation wouldn't be
straightforward or simple.
------
antidaily
Am I the only one who would love to own an iPhone and an Android and use both?
I wish that was easier to pull off.
------
fixedd
Is he calling "Nexus" a Samsung brand?
~~~
Samuel_Michon
In the same way that Droid is a Motorola brand. Officially, Droid is a Verizon
brand, and Nexus is a Google brand, but other companies make the phones. In
the case of Nexus, half of the models were made by Samsung.
------
cooldeal
From Gruber's article:
>By profit share, on the other hand, according to Canaccord Genuity analyst T.
Michael Walkley, last year Apple took 69 percent of the handset industry’s
profits; Samsung took 34. For just the last quarter, the numbers were 72
percent for Apple, 29 for Samsung. You will note that both the annual and
quarterly numbers total more than 100 percent; that is because all other
handset makers, combined, are losing money
>That’s a statement of fact, in a Reuters news (not opinion) story, about a
company with 70 percent (and judging by last quarter, growing) of the
industry’s profits
I would love to see such a narrative written about Microsoft's server
platform.
How much profit does Windows Server take in the server OS market? How much IIS
take in the web server market? What about ASP.NET vs. Java, Ruby or whatever?
Or Visual Studio vs. Eclipse and the rest in the IDE market? They're beating
free(as in beer) tools and making a huge profits. Their revenue from the
Server & Tools division is about 20 billion a year.
If iOS is beating Android, why can't Windows Server be considered beating
Linux by the same metric?
~~~
DenisM
69+34==103%
~~~
zzzq
>You will note that both the annual and quarterly numbers total more than 100
percent; that is because all other handset makers, combined, are losing money.
<http://daringfireball.net/2013/03/ceding_the_crown>
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | HackerNews |
Respiratory Infections and Antibiotic Usage in Common Variable Immunodeficiency.
Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) suffer frequent respiratory tract infections despite immunoglobulin replacement and are prescribed significant quantities of antibiotics. The clinical and microbiological nature of these exacerbations, the symptomatic triggers to take antibiotics, and the response to treatment have not been previously investigated. To describe the nature, frequency, treatment, and clinical course of respiratory tract exacerbations in patients with CVID and to describe pathogens isolated during respiratory tract exacerbations. We performed a prospective diary card exercise in 69 patients with CVID recruited from a primary immunodeficiency clinic in the United Kingdom, generating 6210 days of symptom data. We collected microbiology (sputum microscopy and culture, atypical bacterial PCR, and mycobacterial culture) and virology (nasopharyngeal swab multiplex PCR) samples from symptomatic patients with CVID. There were 170 symptomatic exacerbations and 76 exacerbations treated by antibiotics. The strongest symptomatic predictors for commencing antibiotics were cough, shortness of breath, and purulent sputum. There was a median delay of 5 days from the onset of symptoms to commencing antibiotics. Episodes characterized by purulent sputum responded more quickly to antibiotics, whereas sore throat and upper respiratory tract symptoms responded less quickly. A pathogenic virus was isolated in 56% of respiratory exacerbations and a potentially pathogenic bacteria in 33%. Patients with CVID delay and avoid treatment of symptomatic respiratory exacerbations, which could result in structural lung damage. However, viruses are commonly represented and illnesses dominated by upper respiratory tract symptoms respond poorly to antibiotics, suggesting that antibiotic usage could be better targeted. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
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COUPLES who insist on jogging everywhere together are 98% more likely to be “smug pricks” compared to their single jogging counterparts who are just 33% as likely to be the same, a new study has revealed this week.
The study found that men and women who were in a 10 year relationship or more were three times more likely to be smug about the whole jogging together thing.
“We found that mature running couples found great enjoyment out of sneering at passing pedestrians and joggers,” stated Dr. Henrick David of the world institute of human behaviour studies.
Mr. David also stated that many partnerships believed their outward display of solidarity gave them a heightened sense of grandeur amongst those weaker and less fortunate than they.
Study participants Jack and Geraldine White told WWN they in fact detested most people outside of their immediate circle of friends, and found that running together mentally puts the rest of the world in their place.
“Myself and the Ger just love running past fat, miserable people with no self worth or basic training routine.” explained the father of two university graduates. “People just look at us and are completely envious of our chiselled physique and harmonic comradery. You can tell by their jealous stares that they only wish they were as athletic and successful in life and marriage as us two are.”
“And to be honest: nothing tingles my bollocks more than that feeling of superiority.” he added. “Call us smug if you will. I’d call it ‘winning’.”
Smug pricks account for 12% of the Irish population. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Gorgeous (Taylor Swift song)
"Gorgeous" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). It was released on October 20, 2017, as the second promotional single from the album. It was later released in the UK on January 12, 2018, as the fifth single from the album. It peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.
Release and background
After Swift held a secret listening party on October 13, 2017 where she played her sixth studio album Reputation for 100 fans from all around the world, she announced the release of a song titled "Gorgeous" through her Instagram account on October 19. It included a small preview of the track, featuring "a baby voice saying 'gorgeous' over an electro-pop soundbed", as described by Billboard. It was then released the following day as a promotional single. On the same day, a lyric video for the song was premiered. It was also revealed that the baby's voice featured on the song is from James Reynolds, daughter of actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. As of April 2019 the lyric video has over 100 million views on YouTube.
Composition
Swift co-wrote "Gorgeous" with its producers Max Martin and Shellback. It has been described as a "radio-friendly pop" song. Lyrically, the song depicts "the pursuit of a maddening love interest", whom Swift describes as "gorgeous". Hugh McIntyre of Forbes characterized the production of the song as "simultaneously a basic 808 drum and an attempt at something that pushes electro-pop into a more interesting territory than Top 40 is used to". Maeve McDermott of USA Today likened the chorus of the song to the sound of Katy Perry. According to Elle, the man mentioned in the song is the British actor Joe Alwyn. The song is composed in the key of C major with a tempo of 92 beats per minute, with Swift's vocals spanning from C3 to F5.
Critical reception
Maeve McDermott of USA Today called it "further proof of their queen's pop domination" for Taylor Swift fans, and "a promising omen that the old Taylor may not be dead just yet" for "listeners who have so far been skeptical of Swift's new direction." Glamour stated that it was evidence that Swift was "single-handedly saving pop music in 2017," calling it "fizzy" and "delightful," owing to its "slightly left of centre style." In a positive review for Variety, Chris William called the song a "more conventional Taylor Swift song" that, "provides some of the conventional pleasures that only a pop song about falling deeply in crush can." Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone thought the song is "the yang to the vindictive, angry yin of ‘Look What You Made Me Do,’ as Swift sings 'wistfully' about a man over gentle, radio-friendly pop." Clayton Purdom from The A.V. Club called it "her first good single in forever,” stating that the song "clears the low bar set by its two predecessors ['Look What You Made Me Do' and '...Ready for It?']" and stands easily alongside the best work on 1989. Entertainment Weeklys Eric Renner Brown gave it a B+, citing that "she's back on top" with "Gorgeous." Richard S. He of Billboard said the song's verses are "Swift at her pettiest", realizing she was playing a character and has "never been wittier." Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic called it "on the surface the most 1989-like of the three Reputation songs so far" and stating that "the song is very catchy and refreshingly straightforward." In a mixed review, Frank Guan of Vulture stated that the song "isn't terrible," but it is "yet another song from Reputation that doesn't live up to its title."
Commercial performance
In the United States, the song debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the Streaming Songs chart with 16.9 million U.S. streams, and at number one on the Digital Songs chart with first-week downloads of 68,000 copies. It also became her 14th song to top the Digital Songs chart and her 13th to open at the summit, tying her with Rihanna for the most number one entries on the chart with 14 each.
In Australia, the song entered the ARIA Singles Chart at number 9.
After impacting UK radio as a single, the song also peaked at number 15 in the country.
Live performances
Swift performed "Gorgeous" as part of her set list for the B96 Chicago and Pepsi Jingle Bash 2017 on December 7, 2017 in Chicago. Swift also sang the song during the Jingle Bell Ball 2017 in London and at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Swansea. The song is also a regular part of her set-list for the Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour.
Track listings
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from liner notes of Reputation.
Taylor Swift – lead vocals, backing vocals, songwriter
Max Martin – producer, songwriter, keyboards, programming
Shellback – producer, songwriter, keyboards, programming
Michael Ilbert –engineer
Sam Holland – engineer
James Reynolds – baby voice intro
Serban Ghenea – mixing
John Hanes – mix engineer
Randy Merrill – mastering
Charts
Certifications
Release history
Notes
See also
List of number-one digital songs of 2017 (U.S.)
List of Canadian Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2017
List of top 10 singles in 2017 (Australia)
References
External links
Category:2017 songs
Category:Songs about beauty
Category:Songs written by Max Martin
Category:Songs written by Shellback (record producer)
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Max Martin
Category:Song recordings produced by Shellback (record producer)
Category:Taylor Swift songs
Category:2018 singles | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and systems for dispensing artificial eyelash adhesive for attaching an artificial eyelash to a natural lash line, and to methods of applying artificial eyelashes.
2. The Relevant Technology
Artificial or false eyelashes may be used as a beauty makeup accessory for special occasions, or for patients suffering hair loss effects caused by physical disorders such as alopecia or chemotherapy. False eyelashes are often applied to the natural lash line to accentuate the beauty of the eyes, and are in widespread use as a beauty tool.
Conventional false eyelash structures are typically formed as a single assembly shaped roughly to the natural shape of eyelashes. The eyelash material generally sweeps upwards in a gentle curve from a solid lash line segment. Often this solid lash line segment which serves as an anchor point for the false lashes themselves has a sharp, hard end that is irritating to the sensitive tissues of the inner eyelid. Further, in order to wear the false eyelashes the anchoring solid lash line segment must be attached to the eyelid using an adhesive that may also cause irritation or allergic reaction.
Eyelash adhesives conventionally employed are in liquid form (e.g., dispensed from a tube) and can have unpleasant odors, are difficult to use, and easily irritate (e.g., sting) the eyes. Liquid adhesives are difficult to apply to only the edge of the solid lash line or to the precise edge of an eyelid. Such difficulties often result in adhesive within the individual lashes, or possibly in the eye of the wearer.
Other common difficulties include the partial detachment of the solid lash line segment from the eyelid. Such detachment is not only aesthetically unpleasing, but can result in the sharp end of the solid lash line segment jabbing and stabbing the sensitive skin of the inner eyelid area. The field would benefit from a convenient and efficient device or system for dispensing eyelash adhesive that will not irritate the eyes, and a method of applying such an adhesive to an eyelid and false eyelash that could be secure, physically comfortable, and chemically non-irritating. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | USPTO Backgrounds |
Effect of Body Mass Index Category on Body Surface Area Calculation in Children Undergoing Cardiac Procedures.
Many of the common equations used for body surface area determination were either introduced before the widespread prevalence of childhood obesity, contained very few children in their sample, or have not been assessed in overweight/obese children. Therefore, we compared 6 body surface area formulae to determine their performance across body mass index categories using cross-sectional anthropometric data of children who underwent elective cardiac procedures. We selected 6 formulae from the literature that included data from pediatric subjects in their derivation. We then substituted measured height and weight into each equation to compute body surface area data for the study subjects. The average values of the 6 formulae were calculated for each patient and used as reference for comparison. Comparisons between each formula and the reference standard were made with the 1-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient (measure of precision), the Lin concordance correlation coefficient (measure of bias and precision), and the Bland-Altman limit-of-agreement. All comparisons were made across age, sex, and body mass index categories. Among the 1000 (mostly Caucasian: 76.1%) subjects, 16.7% were overweight, while 14.1% were obese and 51.2% were girls. All calculated body surface area data showed a strong positive correlation with each other and the derived reference body surface area values (0.99-1.00; P < .001). Calculated body surface area values for all the formulae were significantly higher in overweight and obese children across every age group. Obesity status is a critical factor in the determination of body surface area values in children undergoing elective cardiac procedures. We caution that indexed hemodynamic and other therapeutic interventions may be inappropriate if limitations of body surface area formulae and the effect of obesity are not taken into consideration when caring for overweight and obese children. Body surface area studies utilizing accurate contemporary techniques that include sufficient number of overweight and obese children of various races are urgently needed. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Horrie Dick
Horace Moir Dick (16 June 1877 – 20 January 1930) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He also played for Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association and was captain in 1905-06 and became their first-ever coach in 1906.
Notes
External links
Category:1877 births
Category:1930 deaths
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia)
CAtegory:Williamstown Football Club players
Category:Essendon Football Club players
Category:Footscray Football Club (VFA) players | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Comparison of selected blood components by race, sex, and age.
The effects of race, age, and sex on selected blood components for 429 black and white adults over 34 year in southwest Mississippi were studied. Fasting blood was collected early in the morning. Whole blood was used for the determination of hematocrit and hemoglobin. The sera were used for the analysis of iron, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, vitamin C, alkaline phosphatase, and protein and its fractions such as albumin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins. The data of whites versus blacks, males versus females, and those under versus over 60 years were compared. A significant racial difference was observed for all selected blood components except alpha-1-globulin, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase. Albumin, alpha-2-globulin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, triglycerides, and vitamin C were significantly higher in whites than in blacks and total protein, beta-1- and gamma-globulins and glucose were significantly higher in blacks than in whites. Males had higher levels of alpha-1- and gamma-globulins, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and females had higher levels of cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase. Those 60 years and over had higher gamma-globulin and alkaline phosphatase, while adults under 60 years had higher hematocrit. Although results of this study showed significant differences between the races for certain blood parameters and suggest that these differences should be considered in determining guidelines for nutritional evaluation and criteria of diagnosing diseases, further studies are needed to determine the contributions of environment, economic status, and nutritional status to these differences. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Fatal neonatal respiratory failure in an infant with congenital hypothyroidism due to haploinsufficiency of the NKX2-1 gene: alteration of pulmonary surfactant homeostasis.
Defects of the NKX2-1 gene, encoding thyroid transcription factor-1, cause brain-thyroid-lung syndrome (MIM 610978), characterised by benign hereditary chorea, congenital hypothyroidism and respiratory disease. The case of a term infant with mild primary congenital hypothyroidism and neonatal persistent respiratory failure with fatal outcome at 10 months of age despite continuous ventilatory support is described. Congenital defects of genes known to disturb surfactant protein and lipid homeostasis (SFTPB, SFTPC, ABCA3) were excluded. Hypothyroidism prompted sequencing of NKX2-1, which revealed a heterozygous 29 bp deletion (c.278_306del29) disrupting the affected allele. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrated an abnormally low amount of surfactant protein C (SP-C) in relation to SP-B, and low levels of surfactant phospholipids, indicating disturbance of SP and lipid homeostasis as a consequence of NKX2-1 haploinsufficiency. NKX2-1 haploinsufficiency may lead to lethal respiratory failure of the newborn due to disruption of pulmonary surfactant homeostasis. NKX2-1 gene analysis should be considered when investigating irreversible respiratory insufficiency of the newborn. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Business relation ships in japan
Conflict Negotiations
(final paper)
Moscow State University
(International College)
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS IN JAPAN
Business relationships in Japan are characterized by a well-
structured hierarchy and a strong emphasis on nurturing personal contacts.
Generally, they are built up over long periods of time or are based on
common roots, such as birthplace, school or college. Also, an unusually
strong emphasis is placed on social activities to strengthen ties. It is
not surprising, therefore, that those looking in from the outside may see
the Japanese business world as comparatively hard to break into. In fact,
there are many different kinds of business relationships, but most share
two features - they have been built up slowly and carefully, and much time
is spent in keeping them up to date.
Business relationships in Japan are part of an ever-broadening circle
that starts within the company (uchi - inside, or"us"), and moves towards
the outside (soto) to include related companies, industry or business
organizations, and the like.
Most Japanese companies have a series of very close relationships
with a number of other companies that provide them with support and a
multitude of services. It has been traditional practice for a company to
hold shares in these "related" companies, a practice which has given rise
to a high proportion of corporate cross-share holdings in Japan. This has
been a show of faith on the part of one company towards another, and also
has been useful in providing companies with a core of stable and friendly
shareholders.
When dealing with a Japanese company, it is important to be aware of
the existence and nature of some of these close relationships, in
particular those with banks and trading companies. Understanding these can
help to define the nature of the company and the way it does business, as
well as its positioning in the Japanese business world. It should also be
understood that there is a constant flow of information between Japanese
enterprises and their banks and trading companies. Unless the need for
confidentiality is made very clear, these may soon be aware of any
negotiations in which the company is involved.
Larger corporate groupings are becoming more familiar to non-Japanese
business circles. These groupings are known as keiretsu, and some have
their roots in the large pre-World War II conglomerates. Accusations of
keiretsu favouritism overriding more attractive outside offers sometimes
are levelled at Japanese companies. When asked about this practice by a
foreign businessman, the president of a large Japanese electronics company
replied: "It's like going to the tailor your father went to. He may be more
expensive than the competition and perhaps even not the best, but he has
served your family well for many years and you feel duty bound to remain a
faithful customer." There is a tendency in Japanese business to be guided
by the familiar and human considerations, and thus it is important for
anyone wishing to do business in Japan to go a major part of the way in
establishing a communications network and a real presence.
Business Negotiations & Meeting Etiquette
Face to face contact is essential in conducting business. It is more
effective to initiate contact through a personal visit (set up by an
introduction through an intermediary) than through correspondence. Initial
contacts are usually formal meetings between top executives; more detailed
negotiations may be carried out later by those who will be directly
involved. During the first meeting, you get acquainted and communicate your
broad interests; you size each other up and make decisions on whether
ongoing discussions are worthwhile. At this point you should not spell out
details or expect to do any negotiating.
Exchange business cards (meishi) at the beginning of the meeting. The
traditional greeting is the bow. Many Japanese businessmen who deal with
foreign companies also use the handshake. If you bow, then you should bow
as low and as long as the other person, to signify your humility. First
names are not usually used in a business context. In Japan, the family name
is given last, as in English. You should address Yoshi Takeda as "Mr.
Takeda" or "Takeda-san." Expect to go through an interpreter unless you
learn otherwise. If meeting high-ranking government officials, an
interpreter is always used even if they can speak English fluently because
customarily, they refrain from speaking foreign languages in public. Other
businessmen may speak some English but may not be adequate for undertaking
business negotiations.
Exchanging meishi
Conservative dress is common for both men and women in public. Most
Japanese professionals wear Western-style dress (European more than
American), although during the hot summer months, men often do not wear
suit jackets.
Concern about how others perceive you pervades business and social
communication in Japan. Since saving and losing face are so important, you
should avoid confrontation or embarrassing situations. A distributor that
cannot follow up on a promise made to a customer loses face and may suffer
damages to its reputation. Remember, if you are supplying distributors in
Japan, to deliver on time (especially if they are samples) or else face a
long chain of lost faces and apologies. An error or delayed shipment, even
if it is not your fault, may damage your company's reputation with the
Japanese company you are dealing with as well as all the companies and
customers that Japanese company does business with. Following through on
promises and agreements, both oral and written, is of utmost importance and
when you cannot do this you will have to swallow your pride and apologize
profusely until you are forgiven. This is all part of common business
practice and you may see business people (including top executives) on
their knees apologizing. When in Japan be ready to include this as a part
(hopefully not regular part) of your own business practice.
Nonverbal communications - gestures, nuances, inferences - are very
important in signaling intentions. "No" is seldom said directly, and
rejection is always stated indirectly. Remember that the Japanese hai means
"Yes, I understand you" rather than "Yes, I agree with you." The Japanese
will sit in silence for some time - it is a way to reflect on what has been
said. Early business and social contacts are characterized by politeness
and formality.
The Japanese like to launch new products or take other important
initiatives on "lucky days." The luckiest day, called the «taian», occurs
about every six days. Your Japanese counterpart will probably want to delay
a major announcement until the next «taian». Japanese calendars usually
indicate these days.
The presentation of a new product is traditionally followed by a
reception with the product on display; an omiyage, or gift, is given to
each attendee. This adds to the overall cost of the event.
Japan epitomizes the rule "Make a friend, then make a sale." When
selling to or negotiating with the Japanese, do not rush things. the
Japanese prefer a ritual of getting to know you, deciding whether they want
to do business with you at all, instead of putting proposals on the table,
and seeing whether agreement is possible within a broad framework.
The Japanese prefer to close with a broad agreement and mutual
understanding, preceded by thorough discussion of each side's expectations
and goals. If they decide they want to do business, they will negotiate the
details with you later.
A Japanese negotiator cannot give a prompt answer during an initial
discussion. No commitment can be made until the group or groups he or she
represents reach a consensus. Do not expect an immediate answer.
Negotiations may take an extended period.
Japanese executives emphasize good faith over legal, contractual
safeguards. They are not in the habit of negotiating detailed contracts
that cover all contingencies. However, Japanese managers who are accustomed
to Western business dealings are familiar with more structured contracts.
In case of disputes, the Japanese prefer resolving issues out of court on
basis of the quality of the business relationship.
A Japanese partner or customer will usually prefer to develop a
business relationship in stages, with a limited initial agreement that, if
successful, is gradually extended into a broader, more binding agreement.
So once you make a commitment, expect it to be for a long time. If you
break it, your reputation will be affected and everyone will know. It may
be difficult to find another Japanese partner after this happens.
Sources
1. Internet (Alta Vista, Lycos)
2. Boye D Mente «Business guide to Japan. Opening doors... and closing
deals!»,1998 | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Blogs
Events
Store
Protected Innocence Legislative Framework Briefing
June 16, 2011 12:00 ET
( 414 views)
Join Shared Hope International, Family Research Council, and the American Center for Law and Justice for a panel briefing on the Protected Innocence Initiative, a state-level approach to combatting domestic minor sex trafficking. Experts estimate that at least 100,000 U.S. children are used prostitution every year in the United States. Learn about the major issues facing America as we move beyond the federal solutions to focus on the critical importance of local and state law enforcement, prosecutors, judiciary, and social services in responding appropriately to the commercial sexual exploitation of children across the nation. This unique briefing will bring together a diverse mix of
Join Shared Hope International, Family Research Council, and the American Center for Law and Justice for a panel briefing on the Protected Innocence Initiative, a state-level approach to combatting domestic minor sex trafficking. Experts estimate that at least 100,000 U.S. children are used prostitution every year in the United States. Learn about the major issues facing America as we move beyond the federal solutions to focus on the critical importance of local and state law enforcement, prosecutors, judiciary, and social services in responding appropriately to the commercial sexual exploitation of children across the nation. This unique briefing will bring together a diverse mix of leadership from primarily conservative policy groups and federal legislative offices to reveal the staggering epidemic of domestic minor sex trafficking and the danger it imposes on the values of society and safety of individuals, families and communities. The briefing will expose how this issue affects other issues in conservative policy portfolios and highlight solutions for incorporating domestic minor sex trafficking in state level advocacy work on other related issues.
With special remarks from:
Attorney General Rob McKenna
Rob McKenna is Washington's 17th Attorney General. As the state's chief legal officer, he directs more than 500 attorneys and 700 professional staff providing legal services to state agencies, the Governor and Legislature. McKenna recently became president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), an organization in which he has served in numerous leadership roles since 2005. In June, 2011 McKenna announced his campaign for governor, focusing on job creation, the nation's best public schools and a reformed state government that lives within its means. One of his top priorities is to make communities safer by leading the fight against drug abuse, gang violence, sexual predators and domestic violence. Attorney General McKenna's illustrated this commitment by standing with Linda Smith and Shared Hope International to release the Washington Report Card under the Protected Innocence Initiative. McKenna has provided great leadership in combatting domestic minor sex trafficking in Washington.
Linda Smith served a decade as a Washington state legislator prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. Linda was compelled to found Shared Hope International in 1998 after witnessing hopeless faces in the brothels of Mumbai, India. To build momentum in the international anti-trafficking movement, Linda founded the War Against Trafficking Alliance in 2001. She spearheaded the U.S. Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in 2006 to focus on combating the sexual slavery of children in America. In 2007, Linda and team conducted field research on the business model behind sex trafficking in Jamaica, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States, resulting in the production of the DEMAND. report and documentary. From 2006-2008 Linda and Shared Hope International worked under a grant from the U.S Department of Justice to examine the governmental and nongovernmental efforts and gaps in addressing child sex trafficking in the United States. This information was compiled in The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America's Prostituted Children. Ms. Smith is the author of From Congress to the Brothel and Renting Lacy: A Story of America's Prostituted Children.
Panelists:
Ambassador Mark Lagon (U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 2007-09), Chair, International Relations and Security and Visiting Professor, Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, Georgetown University
Join Shared Hope International, Family Research Council, and the American Center for Law and Justice for a panel briefing on the Protected Innocence Initiative, a state-level approach to combatting domestic minor sex trafficking. Experts estimate that at least 100,000 U.S. children are used prostitution every year in the United States. Learn about the major issues facing America as we move beyond the federal solutions to focus on the critical importance of local and state law enforcement, prosecutors, judiciary, and social services in responding appropriately to the commercial sexual exploitation of children across the nation. This unique briefing will bring together a diverse mix of leadership from primarily conservative policy groups and federal legislative offices to reveal the staggering epidemic of domestic minor sex trafficking and the danger it imposes on the values of society and safety of individuals, families and communities. The briefing will expose how this issue affects other issues in conservative policy portfolios and highlight solutions for incorporating domestic minor sex trafficking in state level advocacy work on other related issues.
With special remarks from:
Attorney General Rob McKenna
Rob McKenna is Washington's 17th Attorney General. As the state's chief legal officer, he directs more than 500 attorneys and 700 professional staff providing legal services to state agencies, the Governor and Legislature. McKenna recently became president of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), an organization in which he has served in numerous leadership roles since 2005. In June, 2011 McKenna announced his campaign for governor, focusing on job creation, the nation's best public schools and a reformed state government that lives within its means. One of his top priorities is to make communities safer by leading the fight against drug abuse, gang violence, sexual predators and domestic violence. Attorney General McKenna's illustrated this commitment by standing with Linda Smith and Shared Hope International to release the Washington Report Card under the Protected Innocence Initiative. McKenna has provided great leadership in combatting domestic minor sex trafficking in Washington.
Linda Smith served a decade as a Washington state legislator prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. Linda was compelled to found Shared Hope International in 1998 after witnessing hopeless faces in the brothels of Mumbai, India. To build momentum in the international anti-trafficking movement, Linda founded the War Against Trafficking Alliance in 2001. She spearheaded the U.S. Mid-Term Review on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in 2006 to focus on combating the sexual slavery of children in America. In 2007, Linda and team conducted field research on the business model behind sex trafficking in Jamaica, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States, resulting in the production of the DEMAND. report and documentary. From 2006-2008 Linda and Shared Hope International worked under a grant from the U.S Department of Justice to examine the governmental and nongovernmental efforts and gaps in addressing child sex trafficking in the United States. This information was compiled in The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: America's Prostituted Children. Ms. Smith is the author of From Congress to the Brothel and Renting Lacy: A Story of America's Prostituted Children.
Panelists:
Ambassador Mark Lagon (U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 2007-09), Chair, International Relations and Security and Visiting Professor, Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, Georgetown University
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Additional Resources -
Upcoming Lectures
Radical Islam and Christian Persecution: What's Happening in the Middle East and Africa
August 04, 2015 • Topic: Religion and Society
The persecution and even genocide of Christians at the hands of radical Islamist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram have seen dramatic growth in recent years. Most days, we need only check ... (more)(More Details)
Values Voter Summit
September 24, 2015 • Topic:
Values Voter Summit was created in 2006 to provide a forum to help inform and mobilize citizens across America to preserve the bedrock values of traditional marriage, religious liberty, ... (more)(More Details)
FRC University Library
The Court and the Classroom: How the Supreme Court's Redefinition of Marriage Affects Religious Schools | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a public cabinet meeting at Central Park in New Delhi (Press Trust of India photo)
The battle between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Centre over who calls the shots in Delhi has resulted in two major court cases. Both will be heard on Friday; both are based on a notification issued by the union government that greatly downsized Mr Kejriwal's powers.The notification was described "suspect" by the Delhi High Court earlier this week. Mr Kejriwal, seeking a firmer resolution, on Thursday challenged the notification in the High Court because it declares that he has no role in the appointment of bureaucrats.The Centre, meanwhile, has asked the Supreme Court to overturn the "suspect" tag. In apparent preparation for the hearing, Home Minister Rajnath Singh met with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday morning.The Lieutenant Governor acts as the representative of the Centre in Delhi and is vested with considerable powers because the capital is a union territory, not a state. Mr Kejriwal, who smashed records with an outsized win in February's election, says the Lieutenant Governor's role is being further expanded by the Centre which wants to govern Delhi by proxy.An especially sore point of dispute between Mr Jung and the Chief Minister is the appointment of top bureaucrats. Mr Jung claims he alone can decide on their postings, a stand endorsed by the Centre's notification that was issued last week. Mr Kejriwal says he cannot be saddled with officers who have not been selected in consultation with him. On Thursday, he asked the High Court to overturn the appointment of a woman IAS officer as the top bureaucrat in his government - his objection to her candidature was ignored by the Lieutenant Governor.The Centre has also declared that its employees and officers cannot be investigated for venality by Delhi's Anti-Corruption Bureau, which reports to the Chief Minister. The High Court has said that's incorrect. Mr Kejriwal has said the Centre is "desperate to shield its corrupt officers." | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Not that a lot of that hit came from the HBO opener. Vinyl, the drama series about the record industry of the early and decadent 1970s, drew 764,000 viewers for the premium cabler for its 9-10:54 pM ET premiere. That’s no Game Of Thrones obviously, but OK bordering on soft for an HBO debut. The opener is just a little up from what the Season 2 debut of The Leftovers pulled in on October 4 last year in a big drop from its series debut.
With Chandler Rigg’s Carl Grimes character literally taking a near-fatal shot to the head on TWD, the Greg Nicotero-directed “No Way Out” Season 6 return pulled in 13.74 million viewers with a 6.8 rating among the 18-49 demo. That’s down 12% and 15%, respectively, from the total audience of 15.6 million and 8.0 rating that the Season 5 midseason debut drew on February 8 last year (not a holiday weekend). That new-year return had a special Sunday debut of Better Call Saul as its lead-out. With TWD wind in its sails, that Breaking Bad spinoff smashed cable records with the best demo debut result ever — until TWD spinoff of a sorts Fear The Walking Dead came along in April and rewrote those cable records.
In a TWD season that has seen dips for the still-massive ratings that the series based on Robert Kirkman’s comics pulls in, Sunday’sepisode was pretty steady compared to its winter finale of November 29 last year, which had 13.9 million viewers and a demo rating of 7.02. Overall, Sunday’s show was the least-watched TWD midseason return since 12.26 million tuned in for the Season 3 return on February 10, 2013.
As is their policy, AMC is waiting until Live+3 numbers are out for both TWD and the February 15 Season 2 debut of Better Call Saul before they talk ratings. On two busy nights, that delayed viewing could tell quite the story.
Elsewhere in cable, Kobe Bryant’s last ever All-Star Game appearance scored 6.18 million viewers with a 2.7 rating. That’s a drop of 18% in total viewership from what the 2015 game drew on TNT. Maybe the NBA won’t be wanting to take on TWD next year.
18 Comments
Joe • on Feb 17, 2016 8:06 am
Really? 700k viewers is OK for the premiere of a high-profile, expensive HBO show? They pretty much cancelled The Leftovers for those kind of numbers (I know, I know, Lindelof suddenly decided it’s time to end it, etc.) I think it also marks the lowest rated premiere for a drama they had in recent years.
Andrew David • on Feb 17, 2016 9:24 am
Yeah, I think the writer is underselling just how disappointing those ratings are. You have to all the way back to In Treatment to find a lower drama premiere, and that show premiered on a Monday. If we only count Sunday dramas, I think that might be the lowest premiere number they’ve ever had.
Did anyone watch Vinyl? Incredibly expensive and incredibly unwatchable. Didn’t care about a single character on that show, seems like it was just a blank check by HBO to turn over an expensive show to high end talent, with no story or pace, and when they get in a jam, let’s play some more early 70s music (but not the really catchy stuff, and let’s not use the music in any cool ways). It was work just to get through that labored mess. I’ve had college exams that were more fun. I couldn’t believe Scorsese directed it or Winter wrote it.
And boo on the HBO sycophant critics that praised this overstuffed turkey. If this same lead balloon, B side of a first episode aired on A+E or FX, they would have really sharpened their knives. Take off your Scorsese/Winter colored glasses, it stinks!
AMC idiots premier show on the biggest date night of them all. Really these network execs have their heads up their butts. Its Valentines, as much as guys love their zombies, they are not having sex with them, at least most of them are not, so if these ‘brains’ at AMC thought they’er viewer was going to convince his girlfriend, wife or date to stay home, then these AMC execs truly have no life or the walkers ate their brains….
Anonymous • on Feb 17, 2016 9:44 am
I think that a lot of people DVR’d it because it was Valentine’s Day and a lot of people probably went out to either the movies or dinner date Etc. Because Walking Dead is the greatest show on tv.
Anonymous • on Feb 17, 2016 1:10 pm
How do they take in consideration the watchers that DVR. and when they watch it over and over again??
I DVR everything, so that means everything I watch isn’t being counted.
The fact that this was Valentine’s Day probably had more to do with the number of people who watched live.
PJP • on Feb 17, 2016 10:36 am
What kills ratings is having these stupid breaks “mid season”.
Also add in the people, like myself, that will NEVER watch anything like this when it is filled with ads. Better to wait the next day, pay a small fee and watch ad-free.
Sometime, I wonder whether most TV execs are not amongst the walking dead.
lo • on Feb 18, 2016 1:13 am
yeah what are execs doing having commercial breaks. it like they are trying to make money or something.
Kaire • on Feb 17, 2016 11:24 am
Never mind the fact that it aired on Valentine’s Day right!! I would think that the rating would go down a little on a holiday as people have more important things to do and probably recorded it. Walking Dead is my Favorite show and I did not watch it on the 14th I watched it on the 15th my Birthday!!
Bunn66 • on Feb 17, 2016 1:14 pm
It was Valentine’s Day! Hello??? AMC – it was a holiday celebrated by a lot of folks who probably went out to dinner and a movie but more than likely set the DVR to watch TWD the next day…..
Pam • on Feb 17, 2016 9:44 pm
Wow! I guess I’m in the minority? lol My husband & I both were in front of the tv to watch live! We had our “date” night on Friday, and made BBQ ribs on Sunday & sat down to watch TWD. Valentine’s Day isn’t as important to me as The Walking Dead…lol. I am still a bit surprised at the ratings. Still high though. Hopefully we’ll get the Live + 3 & it will jump to 18-20? Honestly, other than a few, very minor issues, (except daylight turning to nighttime seemingly in minutes?!) it was a great episode. Can’t wait for the rest!
And I agree with whoever said this “winter break” thing is a pain. Start it in November, & run it 16 weeks. (Except over Xmas break…2 weeks) Period. Much better.
KevinY • on Feb 18, 2016 1:44 am
Vinyl was slow out of the gate but by the end of the episode I was hooked. It’s like Quantico meets Empire meets Good Girls Revolt. Hopefully episode two will have a main title sequence. Any musical themed show has to have one!
Perhaps part of the low ratings is because flipping GCI got rid of AMC. There are a lot of TWD fans in Alaska and GCI is our prime cable service. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say tens of thousands of viewers had to wait, to fins another way to watch TWD. I am so disappointed in GCI. Amazon and Hulu now have extra money.
Seriously??? Absolute rubbish
Evidently these Hollywood doofs are never going to account for the viewers who use VOD and DVR. The “ratings” thing is pure nonsense
NYC Juan • on Feb 23, 2016 1:33 pm
I was dissapointed with Vinyl. I binged on Empire on FX, & it’s far superior in every way. I enjoyed Leftovers and the S2 finale leaves your head spinning. Like Abrams Lost, little has been revealed about the important events.
Saul fell flat. It’s as if it ignored the rule that season premiere’s need to hit a home run. It didn’t compare to BB’s. TWD is too predictable & the makeup effects are losing their bite. The zombie with the open entrails had a very fake looking chest. It looked like cardboard. When a show starts missing on the finer details, it’s decline is imminent. I expect FTWD to take a bigger tumble as well. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Country Boy (Alan Jackson song)
"Country Boy" is a song composed and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It is the third single from his album Good Time, having been released in September 2008. In January 2009, "Country Boy" became his twenty-fifth Number One hit on the Billboard country singles charts, as well as the third straight Number One from the album.
Content
The song is a moderate up-tempo backed mainly by electric guitar. In it, the male narrator addresses a female, inviting her to climb up into his four-wheel drive truck and telling her that he can take her wherever she wants, because he is a "country boy". It is considered one of the earliest popular examples of bro-country music.
Critical reception
Brady Vercher of Engine 145 gave the song a "thumbs down" rating. His review called the song "four minutes of triviality that declines to say anything more significant than 'I'm a country boy, I've got a 4 wheel drive…'Country Boy' is the kind of rubbish that would be expected from a new artist trying to prove their questionable country credentials rather than a respected veteran of the genre." His review also compared the song's theme to "Country Man", a Top Ten hit for Luke Bryan in mid-2008: "where ['Country Man'] embraces it’s own absurdity, 'Country Boy' tries to cover it’s own suggestive innuendo." Jeffrey B. Remz of Country Standard Time described the song more favorably, saying that despite the song's often-used theme of Southern life, "Jackson can lay claim to being the real deal and not a poseur."
Music video
In late September 2008, Alan Jackson announced on his official YouTube channel that he was holding a music video contest for "Country Boy". The viewers, or YouTubers, were asked to create a simple video no longer than five minutes driving around with a girlfriend. The contest ended on October 6, 2008, and was won by Clay Ashley, Dan Hair, and Mark Trotter of Sioux City, Iowa. Before the official video, television network CMT aired a live music video which featured Jackson performing the song with Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and George Strait on the CMT Country Giants special.
Chart performance
"Country Boy" peaked at Number One on the Billboard country charts in January 2009, becoming Jackson's twenty-fifth Number One on that chart and matching George Strait's record for the most Number One hits by a country artist since January 1990, when the charts were first tabulated via Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (counting only singles that were Number Ones during that timespan).
Year-end charts
References
External links
Category:2008 singles
Category:Alan Jackson songs
Category:Brad Paisley songs
Category:Dierks Bentley songs
Category:George Strait songs
Category:Songs written by Alan Jackson
Category:Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Keith Stegall
Category:Arista Nashville singles
Category:2008 songs | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
The Giants' first-round selection of cornerback Eli Apple was a head-scratcher to many.
In the final days leading up to the draft, all signs pointed to linebacker Leonard Floyd being the Giants' preference as they continue to rebuild their defense.
However, after the Tennessee Titans moved up for Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin with the No. 8 overall pick and the Chicago Bears jumped up to No. 9 to snatch Floyd from the Giants' grasps, Apple became the selection.
Count ESPN NFL insider John Clayton among those surprised by the events of picks 8-10. He wasn't complimentary of the way the Giants played their hand.
"For the Giants, clearly it was intelligence failure," Clayton said during my radio show on 97.5 FM The Fanatic Sunday. "It wasn't intelligence as far as the selection, but the intelligence in the office, because I was hearing, like everyone else, that John Mara wanted to take Jack Conklin. He was going to try [to] push Jerry Reese to do that.
"However, Jerry and the staff were looking to take Leonard Floyd. ... Guess what, two teams jumped the Giants and now they had to reach a little bit to take Eli Apple. That kind of diminishes it a little bit."
Clayton's assessment -- shared by many -- is that the Giants settled for Apple, who may now be forced to play in the slot in order to get on the field regularly his rookie season. It's a position Apple rarely played at Ohio State.
Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @MattLombardo975 and Facebook. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post1540633726217764325..comments2017-12-20T22:23:50.070-08:00Comments on WHIMAGES: ALMOST DONE...kinda! BUILT IN UPDATERobynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06010519669854460974noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-358540093384003182010-06-12T06:22:54.975-07:002010-06-12T06:22:54.975-07:00Those stores are huge
PPC Advertising IndiaThose stores are huge<br /><a href="http://www.admaya.in" rel="nofollow"> PPC Advertising India </a>sanjeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043304632873778108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-65486481685833459102010-06-08T04:54:43.793-07:002010-06-08T04:54:43.793-07:00Hi Robyn!! I'm so glad to hear about your prog...Hi Robyn!! I'm so glad to hear about your progress. You have to walk where your heart leads you... ;) Your light is lovely, can't wait to see the rest! a warm hug from me xxxZairahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13601906819225015454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-89113134687428535792010-06-07T18:40:49.557-07:002010-06-07T18:40:49.557-07:00Bee U tee ful! :) Can't wait to see that artw...Bee U tee ful! :) Can't wait to see that artwork!<br />Antique Malls def count as walking! My feet end up killing me before I get out of those places and I know I prob walk more than 2 miles! lol<br />Have a great day girlfriend!<br />MissyMy Cottage Charmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02139190022476409282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-63747168020687511902010-06-07T16:36:05.940-07:002010-06-07T16:36:05.940-07:00a片子安心亞寫真top1069拓網交友做愛自拍免費情色影片383成人台灣情網影片線上免費av18禁2...<a href="http://nice.nice777.info" rel="nofollow">a片子</a><a href="http://orz.nice777.info" rel="nofollow">安心亞寫真</a><a href="http://play.nice777.info" rel="nofollow">top1069拓網交友</a><a href="http://playboy.nice777.info" rel="nofollow">做愛自拍</a><a href="http://post.nice777.info" rel="nofollow">免費情色影片</a><a href="http://0401a.mm5366.info" rel="nofollow">383成人</a><a href="http://0401.mm5366.info" rel="nofollow">台灣情網影片</a><a href="http://0204.mm5366.info" rel="nofollow">線上免費av18禁</a><a href="http://jp69.info" rel="nofollow">250av女優免費影片</a><a href="javascript:void(0);" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="http://sex2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺來出品辣妹寫真鋼管秀bt</a><a href="http://sex5202.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺來出品辣妹寫真鋼管秀</a><a href="http://sexy2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺來風情寫真秀-辣妹過招</a><a href="http://shop2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺來風情寫真秀</a><a href="http://show2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺來蓬萊仙山寫真集 vcd</a><a href="http://showlive2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">旺旺仙貝的狂想境地</a><a href="http://sogo2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">早洩韭南籽</a><a href="http://talk2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">早期歐美a片</a><a href="http://tw2.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">早期范冰冰照片</a><a href="http://tw182.tube66.info" rel="nofollow">早春小老婆</a><a href="http://eztop.info" rel="nofollow">美女 視訊</a><a href="javascript:void(0);" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="http://room.919talk.info" rel="nofollow">youtube 影片g世代論壇</a><a href="http://sex.919talk.info" rel="nofollow">080視訊聊天室</a><a href="http://sex520.919talk.info" rel="nofollow">aaaaa片俱樂部影片</a><a href="http://5320jp.info" rel="nofollow">微風成人情色 網</a><a href="javascript:void(0);" rel="nofollow"></a><a href="http://loveadult.info" rel="nofollow">18禁地少女遊戲</a><a href="http://sex.livememe.info" rel="nofollow">女生自衛影片</a><a href="http://www.livememe.info" rel="nofollow">免費聊天</a><a href="http://orz.livememe.info" rel="nofollow">女同志聊天室</a><a href="http://panda.livememe.info" rel="nofollow">成人聊天室</a><a href="http://live-66.info" rel="nofollow">性愛日記</a><a href="http://sex.live-616.info" rel="nofollow">網交聊天室</a><a href="http://www.live-616.info" rel="nofollow">性愛姿勢</a><a href="http://orz.live-616.info" rel="nofollow">免費av影片觀看</a><a href="http://panda.live-616.info" rel="nofollow">拓峰交友</a><a href="http://sex.dx-5366.info" rel="nofollow">美女聊天室</a><a href="http://dx-5320.info" rel="nofollow">hbo論壇</a><a href="http://room.dx-5320.info" rel="nofollow">一夜情視訊聊天室</a><a href="http://post.dx-5320.info" rel="nofollow">五分鐘護半身視訊美女</a><a href="http://playgirl.dx-5320.info" rel="nofollow">激情網愛聊天室</a>彥安彥安https://www.blogger.com/profile/04982958723106928650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-35522612730107655452010-06-07T15:41:13.705-07:002010-06-07T15:41:13.705-07:00Hi Robyn:) I have had to catch up on your last th...Hi Robyn:) I have had to catch up on your last three posts, sorry life has been super busy:( I am glad you got to have a lovely visit with sweet Levi, that post made me cry! I also loved your gorgeous photos from your last post, gorgeous!! Now onto this post...Eeeek, I LOVE your light!!! it looks gorgeous, you must be so thrilled with it! As for your walking plan, I think walking shops and antique malls is brilliant:) Please, please do a tutorial when you get your no. 5 cut out, that would be awesome! I can't wait to see it. Oh did I say how much I love your light...oh ok I did!! Hope you are doing well my sweet friend. Hugs ~ Tina xxTinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16312125482245936560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-40884715286443322552010-06-07T09:39:16.460-07:002010-06-07T09:39:16.460-07:00Love the light! Walking is walking girl :)
XOXOLove the light! Walking is walking girl :)<br />XOXOKristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582699662612999806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-53050660806556383862010-06-07T09:29:40.040-07:002010-06-07T09:29:40.040-07:00SURE IT COUNTS!!!! Those stores are huge and I'...SURE IT COUNTS!!!! Those stores are huge and I'm sure you are walking and walking in there=0)<br /><br />That light is gorgeous! I can't wait to see it all done, WAHHHHHHHHHHHHH, LOL!<br /><br />Have a great day,<br />xoxo,<br />CarolCielo Azul Jewelryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00233264793926091481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-83798932083974109972010-06-07T09:18:43.688-07:002010-06-07T09:18:43.688-07:00Hi Robyn
that light is lovely!! and yes, waking to...Hi Robyn<br />that light is lovely!! and yes, waking to Home Depot or any other shopping haunt DOES count!!<br />I'm impatient for the reveal ..!!<br />xxx Flaviana<br />P.S. I e-mailed you a pic :-)Flavianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09589639941355635786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7607522406362773955.post-82297894900996613082010-06-06T17:51:04.530-07:002010-06-06T17:51:04.530-07:00I have that light and love it! I can't wait t...I have that light and love it! I can't wait to see the reveal. For a 5, have you checked Etsy? Sometimes you can find a really cool vintage number there. Our family number is 3 and I have found some there pretty cheap!gina3https://www.blogger.com/profile/12843182432726747861noreply@blogger.com | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to absorbent articles, particularly absorbent structures which are useful in personal care products such as disposable sanitary napkins, diapers, incontinence garments, and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to absorbent systems that must manage complex viscous body fluids such as menses.
2. Description of Prior Art
Absorbent articles such as feminine pads or sanitary napkins, diapers and incontinence garments are intended to intake and retain body fluids. Desired performance objectives of these articles include low leakage from the product and a dry feel to the wearer. Currently available products suffer from higher than desired leakage levels, producing stains on clothing, and are not perceived by users to fully deliver on other consumer attributes such as dryness, fit, comfort and continence. Leakage can occur due to a variety of shortcomings in the product, not the least of which is an insufficient rate of fluid uptake by the absorbent system, particularly on the second or third liquid surges. This is particularly problematic with feminine care products intended for overnight use where high loadings are often incurred requiring significant fluid retention capacity in order to hold the majority of the fluid.
Most commercially available sanitary pads have relatively high leakage rates, failing as much as 30% of the time. Such failures are believed to be due to the highly viscous nature of menses and the great variability in delivery volume which results in overloading of the pad in the target area and subsequent leaking. Insufficient distribution of menses is believed to be one of the key causes of the target area overloading.
In the field of urine management in personal care products like diapers, distribution is often provided by materials that have small pores with a narrow pore size distribution. These materials must move the high volume, low viscosity urine insults out of the target area in a time sufficient for the target area to be able to accept the next insult. The movement of urine may be to relatively remote parts of the diaper, overcoming substantial hydrostatic pressure. In contrast thereto, feminine hygiene products experience lower total insult volumes, but the fluid is of greater viscosity, making it more difficult to move the fluid. Distribution materials must be quite different for feminine hygiene products than for products concerned primarily with urine management.
Absorbent articles have typically employed various types of absorbent pads composed of cellulosic fibers. Particular absorbent garments may configure to control the distribution of absorbed liquids. For example, an absorbent article can have a liquid permeable transport layer which is located between a top sheet layer and an absorbent body. In other configurations, a conventional absorbent member can have fluid storage and acquisition zones composed of cellulosic fluff mixed with absorbent gelling particles and may include a dual-layer absorbent core arrangement comprising a bottom fluff pad containing hydrogel particles, and a top fluff pad with little or no hydrogel particles.
Non-woven materials such as carded webs and spunbond webs have been used as the body side liners in absorbent products. Specifically, very open, porous liner structures have been employed to allow liquid to pass through them rapidly and help keep the body skin separated from the wetted absorbent pad beneath the liner. Some structures have incorporated zoned surfactant treatments in preselected areas of the liners to increase the wettability of the preselected regions and thereby control the amount of liquid wet-back onto a wearer""s skin. In addition, other layers of material, such as those constructed with thick, lofty fabric structures, have been interposed between the liner and absorbent pad for the purpose of reducing wet-back.
With conventional fluff-based absorbent structures, such as those discussed above, the cellulosic fibers, when wetted, can lose resiliency and collapse. As a result, the liquid uptake rate of the wetted structures may become too low to adequately accommodate subsequent, successive liquid surges. Where absorbent gelling particles are incorporated between the fibers to hold them apart, the gelling particles swell and do not release the absorbed fluid. Swelling of the particles can then diminish the void volume of the absorbent structure and reduce the ability of the structure to rapidly uptake fluids.
The addition of more absorbent material, such as secondary fluff pledgets, or absorbent gelling particles, has been employed to increase holding capacity. The desired rate of liquid intake within such arrangements, however, may not be sufficiently sustained during successive liquid surges.
Despite the development of absorbent structures as discussed hereinabove, there remains a need for improved absorbent structures which can adequately reduce the incidence of leakage from absorbent products, such as feminine hygiene products. There is a need for an absorbent structure which can provide improved handling of liquid surges and more effectively uptake and retain repeated loadings of liquid during use.
Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a feminine hygiene product having superior distribution and transfer performance to allow movement of menses from a target area and provide comfort, dry feeling, and lower leakage than traditional such products.
It is another object of this invention to provide an overnight use feminine hygiene product having the capacity to hold the majority of fluids resulting from the high loadings which have been observed in such overnight products.
The overnight feminine hygiene products typically are thick maxipads with a 600 gsm basis weight fluff pad and fluff insert, which fluff material is present in the product for aesthetic and pad shaping reasons. It is one object of this invention to provide an absorbent system which enables utilization of the potential fluid storage capacity in the fluff.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a feminine hygiene product such as an Ultrathin, Maxi, Overnite, Curved, Securehold and the like which provides good distribution and fluid transfer thus promoting absorbency and dryness.
These and other objects of this invention are achieved by a personal care absorbent article comprising a fluid intake/distribution layer, a fluid transfer delay layer disposed beneath the fluid intake/distribution layer, which fluid transfer delay layer enables fluid transfer from the fluid intake/distribution layer resulting in a fluid saturation of less than or equal to about 0.86 g/g/in in the fluid intake/distribution layer, and a pad layer disposed beneath the fluid transfer delay layer having a fluid saturation level essentially equivalent to or greater than 0.06 g/g/inch. The fluid intake/distribution layer is comprised of stabilized, highly wettable fibers arranged to provide capillary pore sizes and a degree of wettability ideally suited to wick visco-elastic fluids, which layer, when exposed to visco-elastic fluids and simulants, demonstrates improved fluid distribution performance in terms of the distance wicked, the wicking rate, as well as the amount of fluid moved. The fluid intake/distribution layer comprises a class of distribution materials composed of stabilized, highly wettable fibers arranged to provide capillary pore sizes and a degree of wettability ideally suited to wick visco-elastic fluids. Stabilization may be accomplished by the use of liquid binders, binder fibers, thermally, or in any other method known to those skilled in the art. When exposed to a visco-elastic fluid or fluid simulant, these materials demonstrate improved fluid distribution performance for distance wicked, wicking rate and amount of fluid moved. The pore characteristics are stable, whether dry or wet, with minimal, preferably less than about 25%, more particularly 20%, and still more particularly 15%, swelling or collapse when wetted with the visco-elastic fluid simulant. All of these properties are critical to the overall performance of distribution materials placed in the target area of personal care products such as feminine hygiene products.
Current fluid transfer delay layers employed in personal care absorbent articles allow transfer of fluid from the fluid intake/distribution layer to the pad layer resulting in fluid saturation levels of essentially 0.86/g/g/in in the intake distribution layer and/or fluid saturation levels of 0.067 g/g/in the pad layer. Personal care articles which demonstrate relatively high levels of saturation in the intake/distribution layer and relatively low levels of saturation in the pad layer as measured using the flat system testing procedure often have relatively high intake times and high rewet values such as those measured with the intake/rewet test. The fluid transfer delay layer employed in the personal care absorbent article of this invention enables fluid transfer from the intake/distribution layer to the pad layer while still allowing fluid distribution by the fluid intake/distribution layer along the machine direction of the article. This results in a fluid saturation level of less than or equal to about 0.86 g/g/in in the fluid intake/distribution material and/or a fluid saturation level essentially equal to or greater than 0.06 g/g/in in the pad layer. Fluid transfer delay is generally accomplished by the fluid transfer delay layer having a lower density than the fluid intake/distribution layer. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | USPTO Backgrounds |
Introduction
============
Patients play a crucial role in managing their health, and that role is even more central in the context of chronic conditions that require ongoing coping skills and self-management efforts \[[@ref1],[@ref2]\]. Broadly, the term "patient engagement" refers to patients taking part in or actively participating in their care \[[@ref3]\], including how patients work with health care providers and systems to manage and improve their health. Hibbard \[[@ref4]\] conceptualized patient engagement as degrees of active involvement in their care, termed patient activation. Patient engagement can operate at multiple levels and exists on a continuum \[[@ref5]\]. We focus primarily on the level of direct patient care where engagement can range from patients receiving information about a diagnosis to patients participating in treatment plan decisions \[[@ref5]\]. Although it has been characterized in a variety of ways, a common thread is that patient engagement is a multi-faceted concept incorporating actions on multiple levels to promote patient-centered care and self-management.
Patient-facing eHealth technologies are often described as a means to improve patient engagement \[[@ref6],[@ref7]\]. Online patient portals have received particular attention since their features often support healthcare system transactions (eg, prescription refills, scheduling), healthcare team communication, access to patient medical records, and the delivery of health education resources \[[@ref7],[@ref8]\]. Previous studies of patients living with diabetes, for example, suggest that individuals who use online patient portals are more likely to achieve desirable outcomes, including improved glycemic control \[[@ref9]-[@ref12]\].
Few studies have attempted to specify how engagement may be realized through patient portals or the pathways through which portals may help patients engage in their care and self-management. One study of direct-release of test results via patient portals found that this access to information improved engagement by helping patients to monitor results over time and prepare before communicating with their provider \[[@ref13]\]. However, a greater understanding of pathways through which a range of portal features support engagement is needed.
A framework for patient engagement by Barello and colleagues may help us understand the different ways in which a patient portal may support patient engagement \[[@ref14]\]. This framework incorporates patients' actions, thoughts, and feelings and considers patient engagement within three dimensions: emotional, cognitive, and behavioral \[[@ref14]\]. In this model, the emotional dimension of engagement encompasses the patients' emotional state and feelings about their care. The cognitive dimension captures patients' understanding of their disease and treatment. The behavioral dimension of engagement captures patients' actions to address their health.
In this paper, we examine whether and how an online patient portal supports patient engagement for individuals living with diabetes. We take a qualitative approach to this by reviewing patient portal experiences among veterans living with diabetes and describe several ways in which an electronic patient portal facilitates patient engagement.
Methods
=======
Data were collected in a more extensive study examining the role of patient portals in diabetes management, described previously \[[@ref15]\]. Briefly, from November 2017 to January 2018, 1200 patients living with diabetes were invited to participate in a mailed survey about their diabetes self-management and use of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) online patient portal, My Health***e***Vet \[[@ref16]\]. The My Health***e***Vet portal offers several features to help patients manage their care. Patients can request medication refills, schedule appointments, receive appointment reminders, communicate electronically with providers through secure messaging, and use the Blue Button feature to access portions of their medical records including labs and clinical notes \[[@ref17]\].
All 1200 patients had a diabetes diagnosis in their record since at least 2011, had experienced uncontrolled diabetes in 2012 (mean HbA~1c~ \>8.0% and less than 25% of the year with an HbA~1c~ \<8.0%) and were actively engaged patient portal users who used secure messaging at least four times between January 2016 and June 2017. Since 2012, half had achieved glycemic control, defined as having mean HbA~1c~ \<8% in 2016 and HbA~1c~ \<8% for at least 75% of 2016, and half had not. We stratified each group based on urban/rural residence, according to the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas \[[@ref18]\], and the presence of comorbid mental health diagnoses. Individuals were considered to have a comorbid mental health diagnosis if they had two outpatient diagnoses or one inpatient diagnosis within each diagnostic group. The diagnostic groups selected using International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 9th and 10th Revision (ICD-9 and ICD-10) codes were anxiety, bipolar, depression, personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. We received 449 completed surveys, of which 350 patients responded that they would be interested in participating in an interview about how they managed their diabetes. This study was approved by the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital Institutional Review Board.
Purposeful sampling was used to identify and select patient portal users for telephone interviews. In total, 160 respondents provided positive responses to an open-ended survey question, "Can you tell us about an 'A-Ha!' moment when you realized you could use the My Health***e***Vet portal to better manage your diabetes?" We selected interviewees to represent a variety of responses to this and other survey items about My Health***e***Vet use. Interviewees were selected to represent those who used a variety of My Health***e***Vet portal features, those with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes, urban and rural patients, and those with and without comorbid mental health diagnoses. Women and minority veterans were oversampled to broaden the representation of patient demographics.
Forty telephone interviews were completed between February and May of 2018. Each interview was conducted by two researchers and averaged 70 minutes long. The interview covered how the patient managed their diabetes, including their feelings about the efficacy of their self-management, how they gathered and used information, how portal features and other technologies supported their diabetes management, and their suggestions for improving the portal. Interviewers were intentionally blinded to the patient's glucose control at the time of the interview.
Participants
------------
The demographic and health characteristics of our patient sample, obtained from the survey data and health records, are reported in [Table 1](#table1){ref-type="table"}. The mean age of participants was 65.9 years. The majority were white (85%) and male (80%); 60% had a mental health diagnosis. Participants' mean HbA~1c~ tested closest to the interview (recent HbA~1c~) was 8.2% (SD 1.4%), over our threshold for diabetes control (\<8.0).
Approach
--------
All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and double-coded for multiple themes, using a coding scheme developed by the team. Several coders collaborated to establish the list of codes using both deductive and inductive thematic coding \[[@ref23]\]. Deductive coding was used initially to create a list of preliminary codes from the topic areas of our interview guide. These codes included the benefits and challenges of each specific portal feature. Inductive codes were developed as coders reviewed the narrative, and new themes emerged from the interview transcripts. Coders met regularly to discuss the codes and themes, and to ensure consensus on meaning was achieved. Coding discrepancies were resolved with discussion among three authors (MTS, SLS, TPH). Coders were blinded to the interviewee's glucose control status.
We selected eight codes related to portal use and patient engagement for in-depth analysis and reporting here. The following inductively developed codes were used to identify pathways for engagement: (1) patient-team relationship (portal use impact on the patient-healthcare team relationship); (2) empowerment (patients feeling empowered through portal use); (3) care collaboration (patients using the portal to coordinate care with their healthcare teams); (4) impact on care plan (how portal use changes patients' care plans between visits); (5) clarification (patient-initiated communication through the portal for explanations of information). The following deductively developed codes were used to identify challenges to patient engagement: (1) secure messaging challenges, (2) medication refill challenges, (3) BlueButton challenges. The interview text excerpts identified by these codes were analyzed, and themes around how the patient portal facilitates engagement were elicited and used to organize our results.
######
Sample characteristics (N=40).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Characteristic Value
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ---------
Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ) Score^a^, mean (SD) 8.0 (0.79)
Mean diabetes self-efficacy score (DSES)^b^, mean (SD) 7.4 (1.6)
Recent HbA~1c~^c^, mean (SD) 8.2 (1.4)
Nosos risk score^d^, mean (SD) 2.4 (2.7)
Age (years), mean (SD) 65.9 (6.5)
Male, n (%) 32 (80)
**Race/Ethnicity**, n (%)
\ White 33 (85)
\ Black 5 (13)
\ Latino, n (%) 2 (5)
Rural, n (%) 21 (53)
**Health information**, n (%)
\ Has a mental health diagnosis 24 (60)
\ Recent HbA~1c~ in control (\<8.0%) 22 (55)
**Health literacy**^e^, n (%)
\ Inadequate 2 (5)
\ Marginal 4 (10)
\ Adequate 34 (85)
**Income (\$US)**, n (%)
\ \<\$25,000 9 (23)
\ \$25,000-\$49,000 10 (25)
\ \$50,000-\$149,000 15 (38)
\ \>\$150,000 3 (8)
\ Income not reported 3 (8)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
^a^Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ): a global measure of diabetes self-management comprised of 16 items to assess activities related to glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Scaled scores range from 0-10 and higher values indicate more effective self-management \[[@ref19]\].
^b^Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale (DSES): measures how confident patients are in their ability to do certain activities related to managing their diabetes. Scores range from 1-10 and higher values indicate higher self-efficacy \[[@ref20]\].
^c^HbA~1c~: glycated hemoglobin.
^d^Nosos risk score: VA's modified version of Medicare's Hierarchical Condition Category. A measure of expected health care costs based on demographic, pharmacy, psychiatric and health care utilization data; mean for a population equals 1.0 and scores \>1.0 indicate the patient is expected to have health care costs that much higher than the average VA patient \[[@ref21]\].
^e^Health literacy: determined by the patient's response to the question, "How often do you have someone help you read hospital materials? \[[@ref22]\]" Health literacy was considered inadequate when patients responded "Often" or "Always"; "Sometimes" was considered marginal health literacy; "Never" was considered adequate health literacy.
Results
=======
Across all 40 patient interviews, 30 touched on concepts related to patient engagement through portal use. Overall, patients reported feeling engaged by their use of the portal. We describe this below, followed by illustrations of the four pathways of interaction with the portal that support patients' feelings of engagement. Finally, we share patient insight on how portal functionality may hinder engagement. To further contextualize our data, we describe select patient characteristics after each illustrative quote.
Feeling Engaged by Use of the Portal
------------------------------------
Patients explained that the portal helped to support their engagement with their care and improve their health by having a provider available to give consistent feedback. One patient reported that interacting with providers through the portal improved their attitude and health:
> The best thing I ever did was when I enrolled in (My HealtheVet). It helped me be in better control of my attitude, my depression, my diabetes. When I deviate a little bit left or right, there's always somebody on the other end going, 'uh oh, you need to go down that straight and narrow path again.' It's a great program. (60-year-old Latino male, white, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.3, in control)
Patients reported feeling that interacting with providers through the portal helped build patient-provider relationships and that these relationships were vital to receiving better care:
> The more interest you show, the more interest they show in you. I think the secure messaging helps you establish that kind of relationship. Like, 'Oh here's a guy that's trying to take care of himself, let's help him. (82-year-old white male, rural, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.5, in control)
How the Portal Supported Patient Feelings of Engagement
-------------------------------------------------------
Our analysis identified four key pathways by which the portal supported patients' engagement in their care and some difficulties with the portal that may hinder engagement. The portal provides support for patients to (1) work to better understand their health, (2) prepare for medical appointments, (3) coordinate care and share health information between VA and non-VA health care teams, and (4) reach out to providers to request help between visits. These pathways are illustrated below.
### Working to Better Understand Their Health
Reading clinical notes and test results helps patients understand their health information in their own time, gauge the seriousness of health issues they have, keep things in perspective, and make decisions about appropriate next steps. For example, patients reported that reviewing clinical notes using the Blue Button portal feature after an appointment helped them to understand what their provider was telling them. "It doesn't always sink in right away what they are telling you. So I've used the Blue Button notes." (69-year-old white male, rural, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.5, in control)
Making test results available through the patient portal provides an opportunity for patients to be proactive based on test results:
> I think that was the "A-ha" moment when I said, 'now I can see my results of 50 different tests'. And all at once and go over them and pick out the ones that are too high or too low. Then if I see something way off, I can make an appointment. (72-year-old black male, urban, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 6.9, in control)
Sharing health information through patient portals can also cause some distress when patients do not understand the information. One participant described a situation like this, but said they use the secure messaging feature to obtain more information and reassurance from their provider:
> I've had issues where I \[view a test result\] and it sounds really bad but the note says it's no big deal so I would send a secure message to my doctor and ask them why they're not concerned about this level being high, and she would explain it more to me. So that's helped. (51-year-old black female, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 9.2, not in control)
Patients reported finding the portal helpful because they could ask questions before they forget. The portal helps reduce the chance of a patient forgetting a health concern or inquiry by enabling them to send providers questions via secure messaging right when patients think of them:
> Sometimes you can't get an appointment for a week or so and by then you've forgotten what question you have! So it's so much easier just writing it down in that secure message and sending it off before you forget what you want to ask. (61-year-old white female, urban, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.0, in control)
Patients also used the information available through the portal together with information available from other sources to better understand their conditions:
> There've been times when I look at my blood work and I see something I don't understand; medical jargon. I've been able to Google it and find out what it means. That's empowering. (51-year-old black female, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 9.2, not in control)
### Preparing for Medical Appointments
Patients described reviewing notes to prepare for their visit to be proactive about their care. One patient reported using the patient portal to prepare for their appointment so that they would be able to ask thoughtful and helpful questions:
> I'm always checking on my lab results. I ask the doctor if something's high or low because I know the results before I go in and see her. That's what I like about \[My HealtheVet\], I know the lab results, I know what questions to ask. (72-year-old black male, urban, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 6.9, in control)
Another patient described using the portal to review information and vocabulary to engage more meaningfully during appointments in the conversations with their provider:
> It's easier to sit there and look at \[My HealtheVet\] and have an idea of what's going on before you talk to the people who know more about it than you do... So that I have an understanding of what terms that they're using. So that they aren't snowballing me or going over my head. (69-year-old white male, rural, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.5, in control)
### Coordinating Care and Sharing Health Information Between VA and Non-VA Health Providers
Having access to the patient portal puts control over health information into the hands of patients. When patients want to share information between providers, patients can send information themselves. Patients reported sharing lab results between VA and non-VA providers to avoid duplicate labs and unnecessary testing. This access saves time and health care resources.
> With the VA I usually get labs done every 2 months, give or take. Privately it's probably about the same, every 2-3 months. It goes back and forth. That's the nice thing about this. Go from private to the VA. VA to private. You can take that information and if the doctors need it or want it, you can transfer it to them. (71-year-old white male, rural, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 8.2, not in control)
Patients also reported using the portal to coordinate care between VA and non-VA providers because the providers do not coordinate themselves. When patients have to take on the care coordination role, having information in writing from each doctor supports accurate sharing of information between providers:
> I have a VA doctor and I have one through Medicare, I've got to be very careful that I have both of them in agreement. So what I end up doing is if one of them recommends a different type of medication ... I can email both of them ... they don't seem to want to talk, for whatever reason they don't talk on the phone. So I will literally copy and send emails back and forth with the pros and cons ... I have something in writing that I can actually communicate back, rather than me trying to remember. (68-year-old white male, urban no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.8, in control)
### Reaching Out to Providers to Request Help or Changes to Care Plan Between Visits
Close collaboration with providers may facilitate improved health and reduce the amount of in-person medical visits, which may be especially burdensome for rural patients. Patients reported using the portal to reach out to providers for information about how to address symptoms and manage their blood sugar levels. Patients described they found secure messaging supportive as a tool to reach out to their providers to understand why their blood sugar is too low or too high and facilitates their ability to receive guidance about what to do differently. Patients use secure messaging to help them as they work to manage their health and understand why they may have certain symptoms,
> I sent a question to my care team \[through secure messaging\] asking about what I'm doing wrong because I'm ending up with morning \[blood sugar\] numbers that are too low...I like that because they're usually pretty prompt at getting back to me. (59-year-old white male, rural, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 6.5, in control)
Variations of this comment were heard from many patients:
> If I thought my \[A~1c~\] was out of whack or ... that I think it's high, then I might say something. Especially when I don't understand why it's high. (72-year-old black male, urban, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~, 6.9, in control)
Between visit communication between patients and providers through secure messaging affords an opportunity to more quickly address issues, including potentially changing medication management plans, to try to gain control over blood sugar:
> I could send the readings via secure message and, then they'd say, 'Okay, well you can drop this dose or you need to add this dose. (60-year-old white female, rural, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 9.9, not in control).
Patients reported that they used portal interactions to advocate for themselves and be proactive about getting what they need, including asking about how to manage blood sugar better:
> If I notice that my blood sugar stays high and I can't seem to regulate it, I use My HealtheVet to do the secure messaging and I'll send my care provider \[a message\]. I usually let it go for a couple of days so that I can see an average. And, then I'll contact them and maybe they'll contact me right back and say, 'Listen, I need you to increase it by two units. And let's see if we got you on track now.' (61-year-old black male, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.7, in control)
Some patients also reported these interactions reduced the number of in-person visits required.
> If I punched in high numbers into telehealth, \[my doctor\] would message me, find out what I was doing and tell me what I needed to adjust. I have to say that a lot of \[my motivation to use My HealtheVet\] had to do with being able to have more interaction directly with my doctor straight from my house. I almost don't even have to go to the VA anymore. (54-year-old white male, rural, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~, 7.2, in control)
Patients also found secure messaging to be an efficient way to ask about how to address medication side effects they were experiencing:
> You know, I can ask her, 'This new medication is making me a little light-headed or whatever. What should I do.' And I get an answer the next day. (56-year-old white male, rural, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 9.7, not in control)
Portal Functionality Hinders Engagement
---------------------------------------
Patients identified some issues with portal features that may have dampened their engagement. First, multiple patients reported being unable to use secure messaging with all of their providers. Patients do not always understand that this is a portal design issue; some misinterpret this as a purposeful act on the part of their providers and may see it as a form of rejection:
> On secure messaging I have 6 groups of different people including my primary doctor and my pharmacist. I used to have my hepatologist and somehow they took that off of there. I do a lot of work through my hepatologist and I can't secure message him because he's not on my board anymore, which makes me very mad. (67 year old male, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 6.1, in control)
Second, patients reported that they could not send secure messages to individual providers, but instead had to message the team and that their uncertainty about who might read the message made them uncomfortable.
> They call it secure messaging but it doesn't go to the specific person, it just goes to the department and then it gets trickled down from there. So you don't really know who's going to be reading all that. I have to write to the purple team, not my primary doctor. (57-year-old American Indian/Alaska Native female, urban, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.4, in control)
Finally, patients described challenges with the BlueButton feature that may hinder engagement, either by preventing access to information or generating frustration so that patients stop trying to engage. One patient said the information in BlueButton is not helpful and feels impersonal, "There is a lot of it that feels cookie-cutter, nothing new" (54-year-old white male, rural, no mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 7.1, in control). Several patients reported the interface is difficult to navigate, and they expressed frustration with not knowing how to download their notes. Such challenges prevent them from obtaining information that may facilitate engagement. One reported, "finding medical record notes, that's been hard for me. I couldn't find that so I just said the heck with it." (72-year-old white male, urban, mental health diagnosis, recent HbA~1c~ 8.1, not in control)
Discussion
==========
Through 40 interviews with patients with diabetes who used a patient portal, we engaged in a wide-ranging discussion regarding patient engagement and pathways by which portals may facilitate engagement. Access to detailed health information in the portal facilitates engagement by allowing patients to learn about their condition, remember information from provider visits that they otherwise may forget, and prepare for medical appointments. Tools to facilitate communication through the portal allow patients to partner with their providers to manage their health. Many patients found secure messaging and Blue Button features supportive of engagement; difficulties that patients reported with these features may, by extension, be barriers to patient engagement.
Patient narratives in this study align with Barello and colleagues' framework \[[@ref14]\] of three engagement dimensions (emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) and highlight an interconnectedness between cognitive and behavioral engagement. In terms of emotional engagement, patients felt that interacting with providers via the portal improved the patient-provider relationship. Portal use cognitively engaged patients to understand their health by using portal tools such as secure messaging to ask questions and Blue Button to review clinical notes. Patient narratives revealed how cognitive engagement is translated into behavior. Access to information through the patient portal led patients to engage in behaviors to support their health and self-management. Actions facilitated by the portal's information and communication platform included preparing for visits, coordinating care among providers, and making lifestyle or medication changes between visits.
There are concerns in the literature that eHealth initiatives may worsen disparities \[[@ref24]\] or weaken patient-provider relationships \[[@ref12]\]. Disparities could worsen if vulnerable groups have less access to technology that promotes engagement or if vulnerable populations are less likely to use patient portals \[[@ref25]\]. Our data suggest varied backgrounds and degrees of glucose control among patients using the portal to enhance their engagement. Portal benefits for engagement seem to be experienced by all types of patients, including individuals in urban and rural settings, with and without mental health conditions, those with diabetes in control, and those with diabetes not in control. Furthermore, several patients who were not in control described activities related to engagement. A portal may offer further opportunities to work with these patients to improve diabetes control. However, engaging patients via portal use does not necessarily indicate they will have better outcomes. In this analysis, we do not measure whether engagement facilitated by the portal influenced diabetes outcomes or patient satisfaction scores or whether this varied based on additional patient characteristics. The interviews were overwhelmingly positive about the benefits of the portal and suggested patient satisfaction is improved among those who use it. Future research should explore whether portal engagement predicts health outcomes and patient satisfaction and whether the findings are consistent among patients with other chronic conditions.
Patient-provider relationships are essential for individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes. There is some concern that portals may hurt the patient-provider relationship if portal interactions replace face-to-face interactions \[[@ref12],[@ref26]\]. However, in our study, patients described the portal interactions between patient and provider as a key factor that facilitated their engagement. Some patients reported feeling that their interactions with providers through the portal help strengthen their relationship with providers. A point of caution: we must recognize the unintended consequence that a portal's design may have on patient perceptions of their provider's willingness to communicate with them. In our analysis, most patients found the portal helpful, but the design of the secure messaging feature led some patients to feel their providers may not want to communicate with them. Employing human-centered design may be one strategy to help mitigate portal design issues by engaging patients and providers early in the design process. One patient also complained about the impersonal, "cookie-cutter" nature of some clinical notes, which could make patients feel like their providers didn't know them as individuals, or that the notes did not capture the essence of what was discussed during the clinical encounter. Future qualitative work should continue to explore patient and provider perspectives on how portals affect their relationships and could examine provider attitudes and approaches to the portal as a possible moderator of patient engagement.
This study has several limitations. The study population was limited to United Stated military veterans with diabetes who used the My Health***e***Vet patient portal. We found overwhelmingly positive comments regarding the portal, perhaps because all interviewees were portal users. Our study was not designed to determine the prevalence of patient engagement, but our findings do reveal potential ways in which a portal may facilitate engagement.
In this study, patient narratives helped identify pathways by which a portal may facilitate patient engagement. Patients found the portal helped strengthen their relationship with providers and helped the patient feel engaged. Patients reported finding the portal useful for receiving help in managing symptoms, coordinating their care, and learning about their health. Patient portal users included a variety of individuals who described the engagement benefits of the portal. The group included individuals living in urban and rural settings, those with and without mental health conditions, and those with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes. Thus, the portal may help a wide range of portal users engage with their care.
This study was supported by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Service through a grant to SLS (IIR 15-307). SR and SC were supported by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations Advanced Fellowship in Health Services Research. VV is supported through a United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Health Services Research and Development Career Development Award (CDA5IK2HX002137-02). HLW is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Predoctoral training grant at Boston University School of Public Health (T32DA041898-03).
Conflicts of Interest: None declared.
DMSQ
: Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire
DSES
: Diabetes Self-efficacy Scale
ICD
: International Classification of Diseases
VA
: Veterans Affairs
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Central |
[Patent foramen ovale closure in patients with apoplexia].
Epidemiological studies have shown a larger prevalence of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) than in patients without CIS. In 2017, three randomised clinical trials showed a beneficial effect of PFO closure in patients with CIS. Among patients with CIS and PFO, those who underwent PFO closure, had a lower risk of stroke recurrence than those treated with antithrombotic therapy alone. In this review, we analyse the existing evidence and set up suggestions for future recommendations for PFO closure in patients with CIS. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
They are an “Army of God” waiting for Armageddon at their compound in a remote corner of New Mexico.
They wear uniforms, have ranks, and take their orders from a self-appointed “general” named Deborah “Lila” Green who claims to be an “Oracle of God.”
Deborah "Lila" Green in an undated photograph. Cibola County, N.M., Sheriff's Department
And for the hundred or so members of the Aggressive Christian Missions Training Corps (ACMTC), former followers say, Green’s word is law.
“Lila claims to be God’s prophet and people in the group don’t question her,” former member Maura Schmierer told NBC News. “To not believe Lila Green is equal to sin.”
The secretive Christian sect found itself thrust into the national spotlight earlier this week when Green and three of her followers were arrested and charged with rape and abusing children, as well as failing to register the births of children on their compound in Fence Lake, New Mexico, a speck on the map some 100 miles west of Albuquerque.
Four others were arrested with their nine children when, according to police, they tried to flee their headquarters.
The ACMTC has been branded an active hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its virulent anti-Semitism and gay bashing, which is discussed on its web site.
Arrest warrants obtained by NBC New allege that Green presided over a compound where the births were not reported to authorities and children, who held the rank of private, were trained to hide when the police came around.
Related: Military-Style Christian Sect Leader Charged in Child Sex Abuse Case
Green also was loath to allow in doctors, not even when a flu virus "passed through the camp in 2013," according to the warrants.
One child — a girl allegedly smuggled in from Uganda — was treated especially badly, the warrants revealed. She became Green’s personal slave and was reportedly “treated like a dog” and whipped bloody for the most minor of infractions with the equivalent of a cat-o-nine tails, the warrants state.
That girl, who is named in the papers but is not being identified by NBC News, told investigators that she was sexually abused by Green and by her son-in-law Peter Green, also known under the name Mike Brandon, who raped her four times a week from the time she was seven, the warrants allege.
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“Lila claims to be God’s prophet and people in the group don’t question her. To not believe Lila Green is equal to sin.”
Green is charged with child abuse, four counts of sexual penetration of a minor and negligent abuse resulting in death, according to a criminal complaint. Peter Green is charged with 100 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child, the complaint adds.
Another follower, Stacey Miller, allegedly fled the compound after investigators began looking into the death of one of her children during the flu epidemic. She was arrested on a child abuse charge in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. She told police the child died after he "began to leak puss from his forehead."
Miller admitted to investigators she did not report his death to the authorities.
Yet another key member of the sect, Joshua Green, is charged with failing to properly register a birth, according to the warrnats.
All were being held in the local lockup and it was not immediately clear if they had gotten lawyers. But on their website, the sect denied the charges.
Related: Four Sect Members Arrested in New Mexico With Vans Full of Children
“We don’t know who all the accusers are, but the accusations are just re-runs of old lies that have been investigated and shown to be malicious attacks against a legitimate ministry,” they said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press.
Schmierer joined the sect some 30-years-ago when it was called the “Free Love Ministries” and based in Sacramento, California. She first described her ordeal in a National Geographic special report.
In an interview with NBC News, Schmierer said she didn’t see any sexual abuse while she was part of the group for five years.
“But I witnessed a lot of child abuse,” she said. “We were taught we had to be hard on the children to raise them up to be Christian soldiers. When my son was 6 months old, we were in one of the services they hold all the time and he made a cute noise that distracted everybody. I was instructed to take him into another room and beat him. I couldn't do it.”
Schmeirer said Green's husband, "General Jim" Green, was the official co-leader of a sect that believed the world was hurtling towards a final battle between good an evil that only they would survive. But his wife called the shots, she said.
James Green waits in the parking lot of the Cibola County Magistrate Court in Grants, N.M., on Thursday. Adron Gardner / Gallup Independent via AP file
“They kept everybody in line by keeping us hungry and tired,” she said. “We would get awakened in the middle of the night for prayer sessions. They would limit our access to our families on the outside. They would even require us to change our names, which is why Lila’s son-in-law goes by Peter Green and not his real name.”
A former sect member named Johanna, who asked that her last name not be revealed, said she was a troubled teenager when she joined in 1984 and finally fled in 2003.
“General Jim has a bit of heart compared to her,” she said, referring to Green. “At first it was her and him running everything. But by the time I left, it was just her. I was pregnant with the child of another cult member and I knew I would be punished if I stayed. I had to leave my two other kids behind to get away.”
Asked why she didn't leave earlier, Johanna answered, "I believed Lila when she said I would go to hell."
Julianna Gudino was identified in the court papers as one of the people interviewed by investigators. She said she was in the sect for 20 years. The authorities first got wind of what was allegedly happening on the compound when the girl from Uganda was brought to a local hospital in either 2007 or 2008 with a broken leg, according to Gudino.
“She had rickets and her legs were really fragile,” said Gudino, who lived on the compound when the girl was there.
The child was removed from Green’s custody by the state Children Youth & Families Department and placed into foster care, she added.
What happened to the girl afterward was not immediately clear.
“Due to New Mexico state law, we are unable to release any information regarding any prior investigations that the agency is involved in,” CYFD spokesman Henry Varela said. “We do currently have an active investigation into this matter and will continue to work closely with law enforcement within our legal means.”
Rick Alan Ross, an expert on cults, said he is very familiar with this group and said it runs on the backs of the free labor done by the children. He said the grownups are sent out to sell baked goods, picture frames and other trinkets they manufacture and the money goes back to Green.
“In my opinion, they fit the profile of a classic destructive cult,” he said. “It’s run by Deborah Green. She is the charismatic personality. Her husband is subordinate. Whatever comes out of Deborah’s mouth is the word of God. Everybody’s wrong except Deborah.” | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
The EU is a step closer to implementing a controversial copyright law reform that could affect what people share on websites like YouTube after politicians agreed on changes to the proposals.
The reform, which pits tech giants like Google against publishers and content creators, will be put to MEPs next week before they make their final decision at a later date.
Proposed changes to the law are designed to re-balance the relationship between internet platforms and those who create content - anything from music and memes to news and film.
It seeks to give fairer pay to creators and forces tech firms to remove copyrighted content.
Following the announcement, Andrus Ansip, the European Commission's vice president for the digital single market, said: "Glad to see EU countries once again finding a common voice on copyright reform.
"Europeans deserve copyright rules fit for digital age: it is good for creators, platforms and for regular internet users."
However, under the proposed rules, Google-owned YouTube would have to filter out copyrighted material and work with content makers to take down content uploaded by users.
The video sharing platform has reportedly warned it could have to remove millions of videos to comply with the law.
Two parts of the law - Article 11 and Article 13 - have been the most divisive. Some creators say Article 13 protects their work while critics fear it will ruin the internet.
Image: The changes are designed to re-balance the relationship between platforms and creators
German MEP Julia Reda, who opposes the reforms, said: "Dirty deal between France and Germany prevails, for now: Council ready to continue negotiations on the worst version of Article 13 yet, next stop negotiations with parliament. Call your MEPs now!"
France and Germany resolved their disagreement over whether smaller platforms would have to take down copyrighted material. They agreed the platforms with less than 5 million annual users would not be forced to filter their content.
YouTube has previously voiced concerns about Article 13, warning that viewers across the EU could lose access to videos.
Some MEPs opposing the reforms say they stifle internet freedom.
Google said they were "not carefully balanced" and that they would "harm the creative economy in Europe".
Among those concerned is The Premier League and Impala, an association that represents independent music companies. They have joined other critics in calling for the reforms to be scrapped.
In an open letter, they said: "European creatives and rights-holders call on negotiators not to proceed with copyright directive on the basis of current proposals.
"Despite our constant commitment in the last two years to finding a viable solution, and having proposed many positive alternatives, the text, as currently drafted and on the table, no longer meets these objectives, not only in respect of any one article, but as a whole.
"As rights-holders we are not able to support it or the impact it will have on the European creative sector."
The proposed changes would also mean Google News would need to obtain licences with news outlets to show snippets attached to article links.
Politicians will have to agree on how large the snippets would be and if headlines or pictures would be covered under the laws.
In June last year, campaigners warned the reforms would lead to the banning of memes on the internet. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
IA-64
IA-64 (also called Intel Itanium architecture) is the instruction set architecture (ISA) of the Itanium family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors. The basic ISA specification originated at Hewlett-Packard (HP), and was evolved and then implemented in a new processor microarchitecture by Intel with HP's continued partnership and expertise on the underlying EPIC design concepts. In order to establish what was their first new ISA in 20 years and bring an entirely new product line to market, Intel made a massive investment in product definition, design, software development tools, OS, software industry partnerships, and marketing. To support this effort Intel created the largest design team in their history and a new marketing and industry enabling team completely separate from x86. The first Itanium processor, codenamed Merced, was released in 2001.
The Itanium architecture is based on explicit instruction-level parallelism, in which the compiler decides which instructions to execute in parallel. This contrasts with superscalar architectures, which depend on the processor to manage instruction dependencies at runtime. In all Itanium models, up to and including Tukwila, cores execute up to six instructions per clock cycle.
In 2008, Itanium was the fourth-most deployed microprocessor architecture for enterprise-class systems, behind x86-64, Power ISA, and SPARC.
History
Development: 1989–2000
In 1989, HP began to become concerned that reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architectures were approaching a processing limit at one instruction per cycle. Both Intel and HP researchers had been exploring computer architecture options for future designs and separately began investigating a new concept known as very long instruction word (VLIW) which came out of research by Yale University in the early 1980s. VLIW is a computer architecture concept (like RISC and CISC) where a single instruction word contains multiple instructions encoded in one very long instruction word to facilitate the processor executing multiple instructions in each clock cycle. Typical VLIW implementations rely heavily on sophisticated compilers to determine at compile time which instructions can be executed at the same time and the proper scheduling of these instructions for execution and also to help predict the direction of branch operations. The value of this approach is to do more useful work in fewer clock cycles and to simplify processor instruction scheduling and branch prediction hardware requirements, with a penalty in increased processor complexity, cost, and energy consumption in exchange for faster execution.
Production
During this time, HP had begun to believe that it was no longer cost-effective for individual enterprise systems companies such as itself to develop proprietary microprocessors. Intel had also been researching several architectural options for going beyond the x86 ISA to address high end enterprise server and high performance computing (HPC) requirements. Thus Intel and HP partnered in 1994 to develop the IA-64 ISA, using a variation of VLIW design concepts which Intel named explicitly parallel instruction computing (EPIC). Intel's goal was to leverage the expertise HP had developed in their early VLIW work along with their own to develop a volume product line targeted at high-end enterprise class servers and high performance computing (HPC) systems that could be sold to all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) while HP wished to be able to purchase off-the-shelf processors built using Intel's volume manufacturing and leading edge process technology that were higher performance and more cost effective than their current PA-RISC processors. Because the resulting products would be Intel's (HP would be one of many customers) and in order to achieve volumes necessary for a successful product line, the Itanium products would be required to meet the needs of the broader customer base and that software applications, OS, and development tools be available for these customers. This required that Itanium products be designed, documented, and manufactured, and have quality and support consistent with the rest of Intel's products. Therefore, Intel took the lead on microarchitecture design, productization (packaging, test, and all other steps), industry software and operating system enabling (Linux and Windows NT), and marketing. As part of Intel's definition and marketing process they engaged a wide variety of enterprise OEM's, software, and OS vendors, as well as end customers in order to understand their requirements and ensure they were reflected in the product family so as to meet the needs of a broad range of customers and end-users. HP made a substantial contribution to the ISA definition, the Merced/Itanium microarchitecture, and Itanium 2, but productization responsibility was Intel's. The original goal for delivering the first Itanium family product (codenamed Merced) was 1998.
Marketing
Intel's product marketing and industry engagement efforts were substantial and achieved design wins with the majority of enterprise server OEM's including those based on RISC processors at the time, industry analysts predicted that IA-64 would dominate in servers, workstations, and high-end desktops, and eventually supplant RISC and complex instruction set computing (CISC) architectures for all general-purpose applications. Compaq and Silicon Graphics decided to abandon further development of the Alpha and MIPS architectures respectively in favor of migrating to IA-64.
By 1997, it was apparent that the IA-64 architecture and the compiler were much more difficult to implement than originally thought, and the delivery of Itanium began slipping. Since Itanium was the first ever EPIC processor, the development effort encountered more unanticipated problems than the team was accustomed to. In addition, the EPIC concept depends on compiler capabilities that had never been implemented before, so more research was needed.
Several groups developed operating systems for the architecture, including Microsoft Windows and Unix and Unix-like systems such as Linux, HP-UX, FreeBSD, Solaris, Tru64 UNIX, and Monterey/64 (the last three were canceled before reaching the market). In 1999, Intel led the formation of an open source industry consortium to port Linux to IA-64 they named "Trillium" (and later renamed "Trillian" due to a trademark issue) which was led by Intel and included Caldera Systems, CERN, Cygnus Solutions, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Red Hat, SGI, SuSE, TurboLinux and VA Linux Systems. As a result, a working IA-64 Linux was delivered ahead of schedule and was the first OS to run on the new Itanium processors.
Intel announced the official name of the processor, Itanium, on October 4, 1999. Within hours, the name Itanic had been coined on a Usenet newsgroup as a pun on the name Titanic, the "unsinkable" ocean liner that sank on its maiden voyage in 1912.
Itanium (Merced): 2001
By the time Itanium was released in June 2001, its performance was not superior to competing RISC and CISC processors.
Recognizing that the lack of software could be a serious problem for the future, Intel made thousands of these early systems available to independent software vendors (ISVs) to stimulate development. HP and Intel brought the next-generation Itanium 2 processor to market a year later.
Itanium 2: 2002–2010
The Itanium 2 processor was released in 2002. It relieved many of the performance problems of the original Itanium processor, which were mostly caused by an inefficient memory subsystem.
In 2003, AMD released the Opteron, which implemented its own 64-bit architecture (x86-64). Opteron gained rapid acceptance in the enterprise server space because it provided an easy upgrade from x86. Intel responded by implementing x86-64 (as Em64t) in its Xeon microprocessors in 2004.
In November 2005, the major Itanium server manufacturers joined with Intel and a number of software vendors to form the Itanium Solutions Alliance to promote the architecture and accelerate software porting.
In 2006, Intel delivered Montecito (marketed as the Itanium 2 9000 series), a dual-core processor that roughly doubled performance and decreased energy consumption by about 20 percent.
Itanium 9300 (Tukwila): 2010
The Itanium 9300 series processor, codenamed Tukwila, was released on 8 February 2010 with greater performance and memory capacity. Tukwila had originally been slated for release in 2007.
The device uses a 65 nm process, includes two to four cores, up to 24 MB on-die caches, Hyper-Threading technology and integrated memory controllers. It implements double-device data correction (DDDC), which helps to fix memory errors. Tukwila also implements Intel QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) to replace the Itanium bus-based architecture. It has a peak interprocessor bandwidth of 96 GB/s and a peak memory bandwidth of 34 GB/s. With QuickPath, the processor has integrated memory controllers and interfaces the memory directly, using QPI interfaces to directly connect to other processors and I/O hubs. QuickPath is also used on Intel processors using the Nehalem microarchitecture, making it probable that Tukwila and Nehalem will be able to use the same chipsets. Tukwila incorporates four memory controllers, each of which supports multiple DDR3 DIMMs via a separate memory controller,
much like the Nehalem-based Xeon processor code-named Beckton.
Itanium 9500 (Poulson): 2012
The Itanium 9500 series processor, codenamed Poulson, is the follow-on processor to Tukwila features eight cores, has a 12-wide issue architecture, multithreading enhancements, and new instructions to take advantage of parallelism, especially in virtualization. The Poulson L3 cache size is 32 MB. L2 cache size is 6 MB, 512 I KB, 256 D KB per core. Die size is 544 mm², less than its predecessor Tukwila (698.75 mm²).
At ISSCC 2011, Intel presented a paper called, "A 32nm 3.1 Billion Transistor 12-Wide-Issue Itanium Processor for Mission Critical Servers." Given Intel's history of disclosing details about Itanium microprocessors at ISSCC, this paper most likely refers to Poulson. Analyst David Kanter speculates that Poulson will use a new microarchitecture, with a more advanced form of multi-threading that uses as many as two threads, to improve performance for single threaded and multi-threaded workloads. Some new information was released at Hotchips conference. New information presents improvements in multithreading, resiliency improvements (Instruction Replay RAS) and few new instructions (thread priority, integer instruction, cache prefetching, data access hints).
Itanium 9700 (Kittson): 2017
The Kittson is the same as the 9500 Poulson, but slightly higher clocked.
End of life: 2021
In January 2019, Intel announced that Kittson would be discontinued, with a last order date of January 2020.
There is no planned successor.
Architecture
Intel has extensively documented the Itanium instruction set and the technical press has provided overviews. The architecture has been renamed several times during its history. HP originally called it PA-WideWord. Intel later called it IA-64, then Itanium Processor Architecture (IPA), before settling on Intel Itanium Architecture, but it is still widely referred to as IA-64.
It is a 64-bit register-rich explicitly parallel architecture. The base data word is 64 bits, byte-addressable. The logical address space is 264 bytes. The architecture implements predication, speculation, and branch prediction. It uses variable-sized register windowing for parameter passing. The same mechanism is also used to permit parallel execution of loops. Speculation, prediction, predication, and renaming are under control of the compiler: each instruction word includes extra bits for this. This approach is the distinguishing characteristic of the architecture.
The architecture implements a large number of registers:
128 general integer registers, which are 64-bit plus one trap bit ("NaT", which stands for "not a thing") used for speculative execution. 32 of these are static, the other 96 are stacked using variably-sized register windows, or rotating for pipelined loops. gr0 always reads 0.
128 floating point registers. The floating point registers are 82 bits long to preserve precision for intermediate results. Instead of a dedicated "NaT" trap bit like the integer registers, floating point registers have a trap value called "NaTVal" ("Not a Thing Value"), similar to (but distinct from) NaN. These also have 32 static registers and 96 windowed or rotating registers. fr0 always reads +0.0, and fr1 always reads +1.0.
64 one-bit predicate registers. These also have 32 static registers and 96 windowed or rotating registers. pr0 always reads 1 (true).
8 branch registers, for the addresses of indirect jumps. br0 is set to the return address when a function is called with br.call.
128 special purpose (or "application") registers, which are mostly of interest to the kernel and not ordinary applications. For example, one register called bsp points to the second stack, which is where the hardware will automatically spill registers when the register window wraps around.
Each 128-bit instruction word is called a bundle, and contains three slots each holding a 41-bit instruction, plus a 5-bit template indicating which type of instruction is in each slot. Those types are M-unit (memory instructions), I-unit (integer ALU, non-ALU integer, or long immediate extended instructions), F-unit (floating-point instructions), or B-unit (branch or long branch extended instructions). The template also encodes stops which indicate that a data dependency exists between data before and after the stop. All instructions between a pair of stops constitute an instruction group, regardless of their bundling, and must be free of many types of data dependencies; this knowledge allows the processor to execute instructions in parallel without having to perform its own complicated data analysis, since that analysis was already done when the instructions were written.
Within each slot, all but a few instructions are predicated, specifying a predicate register, the value of which (true or false) will determine whether the instruction is executed. Predicated instructions which should always execute are predicated on pr0, which always reads as true.
The IA-64 assembly language and instruction format was deliberately designed to be written mainly by compilers, not by humans. Instructions must be grouped into bundles of three, ensuring that the three instructions match an allowed template. Instructions must issue stops between certain types of data dependencies, and stops can also only be used in limited places according to the allowed templates.
Instruction execution
The fetch mechanism can read up to two bundles per clock from the L1 cache into the pipeline. When the compiler can take maximum advantage of this, the processor can execute six instructions per clock cycle. The processor has thirty functional execution units in eleven groups. Each unit can execute a particular subset of the instruction set, and each unit executes at a rate of one instruction per cycle unless execution stalls waiting for data. While not all units in a group execute identical subsets of the instruction set, common instructions can be executed in multiple units.
The execution unit groups include:
Six general-purpose ALUs, two integer units, one shift unit
Four data cache units
Six multimedia units, two parallel shift units, one parallel multiply, one population count
Two 82-bit floating-point multiply–accumulate units, two SIMD floating-point multiply–accumulate units (two 32-bit operations each)
Three branch units
Ideally, the compiler can often group instructions into sets of six that can execute at the same time. Since the floating-point units implement a multiply–accumulate operation, a single floating point instruction can perform the work of two instructions when the application requires a multiply followed by an add: this is very common in scientific processing. When it occurs, the processor can execute four FLOPs per cycle. For example, the 800 MHz Itanium had a theoretical rating of 3.2 GFLOPS and the fastest Itanium 2, at 1.67 GHz, was rated at 6.67 GFLOPS.
In practice, the processor may often be underutilized, with not all slots filled with useful instructions due to e.g. data dependencies or limitations in the available bundle templates. The densest possible code requires 42.6 bits per instruction, compared to 32 bits per instruction on traditional RISC processors of the time, and no-ops due to wasted slots further decrease the density of code. Additional instructions for speculative loads and hints for branches and cache are difficult to generate optimally, even with modern compilers.
Memory architecture
From 2002 to 2006, Itanium 2 processors shared a common cache hierarchy. They had 16 KB of Level 1 instruction cache and 16 KB of Level 1 data cache. The L2 cache was unified (both instruction and data) and is 256 KB. The Level 3 cache was also unified and varied in size from 1.5 MB to 24 MB. The 256 KB L2 cache contains sufficient logic to handle semaphore operations without disturbing the main arithmetic logic unit (ALU).
Main memory is accessed through a bus to an off-chip chipset. The Itanium 2 bus was initially called the McKinley bus, but is now usually referred to as the Itanium bus. The speed of the bus has increased steadily with new processor releases. The bus transfers 2×128 bits per clock cycle, so the 200 MHz McKinley bus transferred 6.4 GB/s, and the 533 MHz Montecito bus transfers 17.056 GB/s
Architectural changes
Itanium processors released prior to 2006 had hardware support for the IA-32 architecture to permit support for legacy server applications, but performance for IA-32 code was much worse than for native code and also worse than the performance of contemporaneous x86 processors. In 2005, Intel developed the IA-32 Execution Layer (IA-32 EL), a software emulator that provides better performance. With Montecito, Intel therefore eliminated hardware support for IA-32 code.
In 2006, with the release of Montecito, Intel made a number of enhancements to the basic processor architecture including:
Hardware multithreading: Each processor core maintains context for two threads of execution. When one thread stalls during memory access, the other thread can execute. Intel calls this "coarse multithreading" to distinguish it from the "hyper-threading technology" Intel integrated into some x86 and x86-64 microprocessors.
Hardware support for virtualization: Intel added Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-i), which provides hardware assists for core virtualization functions. Virtualization allows a software "hypervisor" to run multiple operating system instances on the processor concurrently.
Cache enhancements: Montecito added a split L2 cache, which included a dedicated 1 MB L2 cache for instructions. The original 256 KB L2 cache was converted to a dedicated data cache. Montecito also included up to 12 MB of on-die L3 cache.
See Chipsets...Other markets.
See also
List of Intel Itanium microprocessors
References
External links
Intel Itanium Home Page
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Integrity Servers Home Page
Intel Itanium Specifications
Some undocumented Itanium 2 microarchitectural information
IA-64 tutorial, including code examples
Itanium Docs at HP
Category:Computer-related introductions in 2001
Category:Instruction set architectures
Category:Intel microprocessors
Category:Very long instruction word computing | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Q:
Mapped Network drive couldn't access using WMI
I have two machines, Say Machine1 and Machine2. I have mapped one shared folder in Machine2 in Machine1 as Z.
I started one application say App1 which list all drives of machine and the application is in Machine1. I started this App1 from Machine1 and I got all my drives
Including the mapped drive 'Z'. But when I Started the App1 which is in Machine1 from Machine2 using WMI [Windows Management Instrumentation. Code used for WMI communication is given below.]. App1 lists all drives except the mapped network drive 'Z'.
Is there any possible way to list out all drives of Machine1 even if I start App1 from Machine2 using WMI.
// Code to start application on remote machine.
ManagementPath path = new ManagementPath( string.Format( @"\\{0}\root\cimv2:Win32_Process", machine ) );
try
{
// Connect options include user name and password of the remote machine to connect.
ConnectionOptions options = new ConnectionOptions();
options.Username = UserName;
options.Password = Password;
ManagementPath path = new ManagementPath( string.Format( @"\\{0}\root\cimv2:Win32_Directory", machine ) );
ManagementScope scope = new ManagementScope( path, options );
if( scope != null )
{
ObjectGetOptions getOptions = new ObjectGetOptions();
ManagementClass cimInstance = new ManagementClass( scope, path, getOptions );
// Fill the necessary parameters for Create method of Win32 Process.
ManagementBaseObject inParams = cimInstance.GetMethodParameters( "Create" );
// Commandline is the full path of the application including the exe name.
inParams["CommandLine"] = commandLine;
// Execute the method and obtain the return values.
cimInstance.InvokeMethod( "Create", inParams, null );
}
}
Me trying using .Net 2.0 Windows.
A:
Mapped drives are a per-user setting. When you run the app from the other machine, it probably uses a different user account.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | StackExchange |
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
June 19, 2008
No. 07-10714
Conference Calendar Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
AUSTIN SHOPE
Plaintiff-Appellant
v.
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE; PRICE DANIEL UNIT;
COGDELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL; WARDEN EILEEN KENNEDY;
STEPHEN J. MCILROY; I. CANALES; DR. WYATT HOWELL, Deceased; DR.
N.F.N. BAILEY; DR. N.F.N. WHITEHORN; DONNA VALLIE
Defendants-Appellees
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 5:06-CV-286
Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Austin Shope, Texas prisoner # 1339346, appeals the district court’s
dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous. The district court’s
dismissal of Shope’s complaint is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. Norton v.
Dimazana, 122 F.3d 286, 291 (5th Cir. 1997).
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
No. 07-10714
Shope argues that the defendants have been deliberately indifferent to his
serious medical needs regarding his knee, in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
This claim was properly dismissed. Even if we assume that Shope’s alleged knee
pain gives rise to a serious medical need, Shope has not alleged the requisite
official dereliction as he has neither asserted that he has been deliberately
denied treatment with the intent to cause harm, nor alleged that he has in fact
suffered any harm as a result. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 839-41, 847
(1994); Reeves v. Collins, 27 F.3d 174, 176-77 (5th Cir. 1994). The record
demonstrates that Shope has repeatedly been monitored, evaluated, and treated
for his alleged knee problem. Shope’s argument that he has received inadequate
medical care is essentially a disagreement with the level or choice of care that
he has received. Such disagreements do not rise to the level of an Eighth
Amendment violation. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir.
1991).
Shope also asserts that the district court erred in dismissing his complaint
before allowing him an opportunity to amend or serve his complaint and conduct
discovery. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the district court “shall dismiss
the case at any time” if it determines that the in forma pauperis ( IFP) complaint
is frivolous or fails to state a claim. The facts underlying Shope’s complaint do
not rise to the level of a viable constitutional claim. See Jones v. Greninger, 188
F.3d 322, 327 (5th Cir. 1999). Additionally, Shope was permitted to develop the
factual basis of his claims during his hearing held in accordance with Spears v.
McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985). See Adams v. Hansen, 906 F.2d 192, 194
(5th Cir. 1990). Further, on appeal, Shope does not allege what facts he would
include in an amended complaint. Therefore, Shope has not shown that the
district court abused its discretion in dismissing his complaint. See Ashe v.
Corley, 992 F.2d 540, 542 (5th Cir. 1993).
Additionally, in his civil rights complaint, Shope alleged that the prison
officials failed to maintain an effective and proper grievance system and failed
2
No. 07-10714
to properly investigate and address his grievances. The district court dismissed
these claims as frivolous. On appeal, Shope fails to challenge the district court’s
decision as to these claims. Although this court liberally construes pro se briefs,
see Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972), this court requires arguments to
be briefed in order to be preserved. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th
Cir. 1993). Because Shope has failed to identify an error in the district court’s
dismissal of these claims, Shope has waived these issues on appeal, see Hughes
v. Johnson, 191 F.3d 607, 613 (5th Cir. 1999), and this court need not address
them. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748
(5th Cir. 1987).
Shope’s appeal is without arguable merit and thus frivolous. See Howard
v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). Therefore, it is dismissed as
frivolous. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. The district court’s dismissal of Shope’s
complaint as frivolous and this court’s dismissal of Shope’s appeal count as two
strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d
383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). Shope is cautioned that if he accumulates three
strikes, he will no longer be allowed to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal
filed while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under
imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).
APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.
3
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | FreeLaw |
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As the child of immigrants who has always felt torn between two places, I am consumed by what it means to be an immigrant and how fiction works so well to capture what it means to leave a homeland and become a stranger in a strange land. I’m interested in stories about what we leave behind, what we discover, what we grow to love, what we regret. In an interview with Dwyer Murphy for Guernica, Edwidge Danticat explains this urge to write the immigrant story:
Often when you’re an immigrant writing in English, people think it’s primarily a commercial choice. But for many of us, it’s a choice that rises out of the circumstances of our lives. These are the tools I have at my disposal, based on my experiences. It’s a constant debate, not just in my community but in other communities as well. Where do you belong? You’re kind of one of us, but you now write in a different language. You’re told you don’t belong to American literature or you’re told you don’t belong to Haitian literature. Maybe there’s a place on the hyphen, as Julia Alvarez so brilliantly wrote in one of her essays. That middle generation, the people whose parents brought them to other countries as small children, or even people who were born to immigrant parents, maybe they can have their own literature too.
What do we call these stories, this literature of our own? During a “By the Book” interview in The New York Times, Jhumpa Lahiri says:
I don’t know what to make of the term ‘immigrant fiction.’ Writers have always tended to write about the worlds they come from.… If certain books are to be termed immigrant fiction, what do we call the rest? …. From the beginnings of literature, poets and writers have based their narratives on crossing borders, on wandering, on exile, on encounters beyond the familiar.
She makes strong points, particularly at the end of her full answer where she notes that so much of literature involves the tension between alienation and assimilation. I’m not sure if immigrant fiction exists but I can also not think of a better way to describe these stories that intrigue me so much.
In Patricia Engel’s absorbing debut novel, It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris, she writes a unique child-of-immigrants story and, in turn, creates a literature of her own. The novel is intimate in scope, erotic and, by the end, entirely unexpected.
Lita del Cielo is the daughter of Colombian parents who came to America and found the fabled land of opportunity. Her parents started with nothing and now her father is “known as the King of Latin Foods,” because his arepa business flourished.
The story of immigration is so often the story of myth—oft-repeated stories about what the old country was like, what it took to leave, and what it takes to stay in the new country. As we get to know Lita, she explains, “I can tell you all about the Great American Crossover because my parents never shut up about the early days.” We quickly learn that Lita’s life is not necessarily her own—the family is tight knit and dysfunctional in the way of all families. Lita’s sense of obligation keeps her bound to her parents and brothers even when, perhaps, she would prefer to be bound only to herself. The tension between who Lita is and who she wants to be and who she should be and how unclear the distinctions between these possibilities are, drives the novel forward.
Before she joins the family business, Lita has a year to study in Paris, a year in which she can figure out who she is when she is not so intensely wrapped up in what her family needs from her. Lita moves into the House of Stars, a once grand manor fading into elegant decrepitude like its mistress, Séraphine. The house is populated by young women, mostly daughters of privilege, expats indulging in all that Paris has to offer. Engel meticulously chronicles the decadence of youth abroad. Though the set up is, at times, a bit much, a bit too enamored with the idea of gay Paree, Engel she has an eye for detail. She knows how to drown the reader in a sense of enchantment.
Lita is an interesting character and Engel does a fine job of expressing Lita’s anxieties and her initial awkwardness as she tries to fit in with a group of women who have overwhelming personalities. The secondary characters are as distinct as Lita, which makes the story even more satisfying. Every person we meet matters and the story could not be told without them.
There is also immense tenderness in It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris, especially when Lita meets Cato, her romantic interest. She writes exquisite moments such as, “There was no morning, only this perpetual hour, this room warm with our breath and sweat, these sheets pushed off of the bed, this silence of two bare bodies.” The eroticism builds slowly and heavily. There is texture—the warmth of breath, the dew of sweaty skin, a lover’s taste lingering on the lips. The language pulls you just within reach.
As Lita and Cato get to know each other, she unburdens herself. “I told him of my family, my race through school, running on guilt for the debt of my parents’ hardships, my life a project in honoring their sacrifices, how I never felt that my life belonged only to me but to them and I sometimes resented it, which made me ashamed.” This lamentation perfectly captures the unique position of the child of immigrants, when you are not physically but emotionally displaced.
As her time in Paris comes to an end, Lita must decide which home she will choose—the one she has created in Europe with Cato or the home that is her family. Before she has made her decision, Lita observes, “But to go anywhere, to begin again, one must leave something behind.” The power of this excellent novel is in how Engel holds us in her thrall as she complicates where Lita is going and what she will leave behind. The heart this story breaks, might be your own. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
CAUGHT: Man charged with murder, incest charges after bodies of woman, son found
A Wilkes County man has been arrested and charged with murder and incest after investigators found a woman and her young son murdered in their home.
According to the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office, 33-year-old Kelly Marie Pruitt and her 8-year-old son, Kevin Hurley, were reported missing on Thursday. Deputies learned that neither had been seen since last Friday, March 8.
During the investigation, deputies, along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, went to Pruitt's home along the 2600 of Statesville Road in North Wilkesboro.
It was during that early Friday morning search that investigators found the bodies of Pruitt and her son.
Early indications show that Pruitt's cause of death was the result of multiple stab wounds.
According to investigators, evidence suggests the 8-year-old was suffocated. An exact cause of death will be determined by autopsy.
Pruitt's live-in boyfriend, 33-year-old Jason Ryan Pardue, has been charged with two counts of Murder, two counts of 1st Degree Sex Offense with a Minor under 13, and one count of Incest.
Sheriff's Office officials told WBTV the sex crimes were committed against a daughter of Pruitt and Pardue.
According to Sheriff's officials, Pardue was found in the parking lot of a convenience store in North Wilkesboro bwtween 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.
Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
List of number-one R&B/hip-hop songs of 2010 (U.S.)
The Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the best-performing singles in that category in the United States. The first number one song of the year was claimed by Trey Songz with his song "I Invented Sex", featuring Drake. "I Invented Sex" also spent the last week of 2009 atop the chart, and therefore spent two consecutive weeks atop the chart in total. Melanie Fiona's song "It Kills Me" topped the chart for nine consecutive weeks, and ranked as the number three song on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. It was replaced by Robin Thicke's "Sex Therapy", which peaked at number one for two consecutive weeks. "Sex Therapy" ranked as the number ten song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. Drake topped the chart for a second time as a featured artist on Timbaland's song "Say Something". On April 3, Monica's "Everything to Me" ascended to number, and remained atop the chart for a further six consecutive weeks. On May 22, Alicia Keys song "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" topped the chart for twelve consecutive weeks. It ranked as the number one song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. Usher's song "There Goes My Baby" peaked at number one for four weeks, and ranked as the number two song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. Chris Brown's song "Deuces", featuring Tyga & Kevin McCall, topped the chart for nine consecutive weeks, and ranked as the number nine song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year end list. Trey Songz also topped the chart with "Can't Be Friends", a position it held for the final seven weeks of 2010.
List
See also
2010 in music
List of number-one rhythm and blues hits (United States)
References
2010
United States RandB Singles
Number-one RandB singles | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
New fighter jet camouflage schemes - tony_le_montana
http://markosun.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/new-fighter-jet-camouflage-schemes/
======
cabirum
Does camouflage really helps in modern air combat? Aircrafts engage each other
mostly on beyond visual range distances, and dogfighting in kinda rare now.
Also, HUDs should assist in tracking of targets and highlight them, so camo
will make no difference. The only use for camo I can think of is to hide the
aircraft while it's stationed on the airstrip - in a relatively vulnerable
position.
~~~
bdunbar
_dogfighting in kinda rare now._
This is true, now. In large part because the USAF dominates the air so
thoroughly that opposing air is toast the day the war starts.
This may not always be so.
~~~
marvin
I don't have any information about the second Iraq war, but a relative of mine
works with radar systems. From what he told me, Iraq's air defense during the
first Gulf war was ridiculously poor - the Iraqi air defence forces just
turned on their air defense radars and waited to get a bomb dropped on top of
them.
Apparently, there was a NATO exercise in Norway a couple of years ago where
the US expected the same tactics to be used and hence to easily achieve air
superiority. However, the opposing force moved their radar and missile systems
around, used the terrain for cover, performed feinting maneuvers by giving the
impression that the air defense systems were located in different locations
and also obverved using mobile observers on the ground. Apparently, the US
lost the air battle spectacularly.
Imagine a military conflict with an enemy that doesn't follow conventional
doctrine like this. It's very hard to extrapolate from history how things are
going to play out. A large-scale war with today's technology is going to look
a lot different than the assymetric warfare the US currently seems to be
optimizing for.
~~~
pclark
This has been played out in a huge war game in 2002 involving Lt General Paul
Van Riper and your assumptions are correct:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Challenge_2002>
~~~
marvin
This is a very fascinating read. The exercise I mentioned probably took place
after the 2002 exercise you have linked to.
Without being too deeply informed on this subject, it seems to me like the US
military refuses to acknowledge the weaknesses of its doctrine in a large-
scale conflict against a sufficiently skilled and advanced adversary.
------
sc00ter
But that's just a bunch of photos. Where's the article, and what's the science
behind these?
~~~
hedgehog
Read these with a grain of salt but this guy provides some insight into the
design process for these patterns:
<http://www.hyperstealth.com/CADPAT-MARPAT.htm>
<http://www.hyperstealth.com/digital-design/index.htm>
------
astrosi
This is a pretty old idea however not applied to aircraft, it was used on
ships in WW1 and WW2 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage>
~~~
nosse
Zebras used it even before that. Practically all camouflage ideas can be found
from nature.
~~~
ayu
Except they used it to deter bloodsucking insects.
[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/120209-zebra-
st...](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/120209-zebra-stripes-
horseflies-bugs-akesson-science/)
~~~
nosse
How do you explain okapi and quagga? <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi>
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quagga>
~~~
dfc
Explain what?
~~~
nosse
If stripes are for insects not biting, then how come some species have
developed only partial stripes? Would not make sense to get all the flies to
concentrate on your non striped body-parts... Against lions this makes perfect
sense as having striped backside makes the overall shape harder to grasp.
~~~
dfc
Its not that I agree with the parent but did you read the linked article?
_"The results may help explain why zebras' skinniest stripes are on their
faces and legs. "That's also the place where you have the thinnest skin," said
Åkesson, of Sweden's Lunds University."_
But as I stated up thread even if this research was definitive it does not
preclude the camouflage benefits...
------
daniel-cussen
Looks a lot like razzle-dazzle, circa 1914.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_camouflage>
------
rbanffy
Can't believe the title isn't "the rise of the 8-bit fighter"...
------
bigiain
I wonder whether camouflage has changed in purpose (on fighter jets) and is no
longer about "fooling" the human visual system, but about fooling computer
vision.
I'd guess those "New Aesthetic" style pixelated camo paintjobs would do a
pretty good job of fooling OpenCV based classifiers…
~~~
thwest
The purpose of the camo didn't have to change, the purpose of computer vision
has been to mimic the human visual system already. Both systems of perception
take pains to match the sensed scene against expected structure of objects in
the natural world (high contrast gradients at object boundaries, object flow).
Anything that can be made to have random structure will provide false cues to
edge and flow based perception. There is some evidence of the similarity of
the perception systems in projects like SSIM that correlate structure of
images under sparsifying transforms such as wavelets to human quality
measures.
------
16s
See, security through obscurity has a purpose.
~~~
Nrsolis
"Security through obscurity" has _ALWAYS_ had a purpose in the spectrum of
techniques used to defeat the enemy. The term is just misapplied in the
context of cryptographic systems to denote a system where the algorithm isn't
published. e.g. if the security of your cryptosystem depends on anything more
than just the security of the key, you're toast.
In NETSEC, we see tons of trojans/worms that try mightily to camouflage their
existence with innocent-looking control protocols hidden in normal looking
HTTP (or HTTPS) traffic and other things.
------
nosse
I'd guess that fighter camouflage also makes fighters more harder to track
visually from satellites. This might not interest Americans, but for some air
forces it could be a factor?
~~~
its_so_on
I'm curious why you say having fighters be harder to track visually from
satellites wouldn't interest Americans - youu say it like America has a
monopoly up there...
~~~
nosse
I thought U.S. has practical monopoly up there. At least in military
surveillance satellites.
------
nextstep
It's just a bunch of photos with captions. Why are those patterns picked for
camp? Does anyone know how this camouflage works?
------
philjackson
I'm assuming camo. is more important for these planes when they're on the
ground than in the air?
~~~
electromagnetic
Near ground too, I would say. Take off and landing is a relatively slow
process where they're highly vulnerable, especially the air-to-air fighters.
------
hmottestad
Looks like the sort of pixelated image a satellite might provide?
~~~
pbhjpbhj
So hiding the planes - or at least their model - when on the ground from high-
pass recon or satellite views, sounds most likely the primary reason for this
sort of design.
------
maeon3
An better camouflage scheme would be to identify the general direction of the
aggressor, and take a photograph of the terrain (or sky) in the opposite
direction, then tint or color of the airplane with that background, so it
blends in.
If the computer could establish the exact location and direction and velocity
of the looker, it could make itself partially invisible by projecting to the
viewer the same colors that would have been projected had the plane not even
been there. With enough knowledge of the viewer, a scrolling image of the
background could be projected.
~~~
tzaman
At the speed these aircrafts are moving, I doubt there would be significant
improvement over these camo solutions. Not to mention the price difference.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | HackerNews |
I don’t know how many times I’ve been working with someone and while giving them the server’s full host name, I stumble over the phrase “.eastern.ewu.edu”. So, I’ve coined the term: “dot triple e”. Isn’t that so much easier to say than “.eastern.ewu.edu”? I think so as has most others that I shared my idea with.
But, why stop there? Is pronouncing “.ewu.edu” any better? (Try saying that 10 times fast.) Most of the time I hear it pronounced it gets mumbled through because its so hard to say. There are just too many oo’s and e sounds. We all know what the other person is trying to say, but we sound dumb doing it. Well, no longer… along with introducing “dot triple E”, I give you “dot double E”.
Paul Klinger has taken it one step further. Let’s short-hand the typing as well as the pronunciation:
.eastern.ewu.edu = .E³ (or .3E is acceptable for the ASCII code impaired*)
.ewu.edu = .E² (.2E is acceptable for the ASCII code impaired*)
Thanks to the good thinking of Brian McCracken, the standard has also been amended to include: pronouncing the “dot” in either case is also optional. For example, “access double e”. I personally like the “dot”, but if you want to really streamline… here you go.
Perhaps you won’t choose to use these new terms, but now you’ll understand those that do.
* the squared symbol (²) can be generated by holding down the ALT key while typing “0178” (without the double quotes), then releasing the ALT key. The cubed symbol (³) using “0179”.
Over the past week or so I’ve been working to federate EWU with InCommon®. Most schools use Shibboleth®, but we already have Active Directory Federation Service (ADFS) in use here, so I’ve undertaken the challenge to use ADFS.
InCommon has a test service provider that I should be able to sign into if everything is configured properly. However when I connect I get a response that the “X509SerialNumber must have TextContent.” After digging through the saml responses to several other service providers, I found that many of the self-signed certs used by some of the SPs have a serial number of zero (0). When ADFS signs/encrypts the saml response, it does not return the serialNumber of the cert used, but instead returns an empty serialNumber xml element. (<serialNumber />). Shibboleth does not like that at all.
Now it is time to dig through the xml signing/encryption specs to determine who is right and who is wrong. Then go through the process of notifying the losing “vendor”. My gut says that I’ll probably be standing up a Shibboleth server by the time everything is said and done.
The optimizer expands a condition that uses the ANY or SOME comparison operator followed by a parenthesized list of values into an equivalent condition that uses equality comparison operators and OR logical operators.
In the following example, the optimizer expands the first condition into the second:
salary > ANY (:first_sal, :second_sal)
is transformed into
salary > :first_sal OR salary > :second_sal
The optimizer transforms a condition that uses the ANY or SOME operator followed by a subquery into a condition containing the EXISTS operator and a correlated subquery.
In the following example, the optimizer transforms the first condition into the second:
The optimizer expands a condition that uses the ALL comparison operator followed by a parenthesized list of values into an equivalent condition that uses equality comparison operators and AND logical operators.
In the following example, the optimizer expands the first condition into the second:
salary > ALL (:first_sal, :second_sal)
is transformed into
salary > :first_sal AND salary > :second_sal
The optimizer transforms a condition that uses the ALL comparison operator followed by a subquery into an equivalent condition that uses the ANY comparison operator and a complementary comparison operator. In the following example, the optimizer transforms the first condition into the second:
x > ALL (SELECT salary FROM employees WHERE department_id = 50)
is transformed into
NOT (x <= ANY (SELECT salary FROM employees WHERE department_id = 50) )
The optimizer then further transforms the second query into the following query using the rule for transforming conditions with the ANY comparison operator, followed by a correlated subquery:
CASifying the AssetWORKS AiM application for use with SSO was extremely straight forward. AiM uses getRemoteUser() and thus it follows the standard setup using the JA-SIG CAS Client for Java.
The only gotcha we found is that AiM doesn’t do any initial authorization checking so the main page comes up for all users, not just those in the AiM database. We had to assign some reports to specific groups so that they didn’t show to the un-authorized users, but that was it. Everything else that they could see wasn’t an issue. At some point we’ll probably add a custom filter than will provision users as their is a desire to put surveys for the campus community online.
Instructions
Open the web.xml file for editing:
Find the Filter with filter-name equal to “Form Based Authentication Filter” | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Work Ability Index predicts application for disability pension after work-related medical rehabilitation for chronic back pain.
To determine whether the Work Ability Index (WAI), a short 7-item self-report questionnaire addressing issues of perceived disability, impairment, and expectations for resuming work, predicts application for disability pension, recommendations for further treatment, and other adverse work-related criteria in patients with chronic back pain after rehabilitation. Cohort study with 3-month follow-up. Seven inpatient rehabilitation centers. Patients (N=294; 168 women; mean age, 49.9y) with chronic back pain. The WAI was completed at the beginning of rehabilitation. All patients were treated according to the German rehabilitation guidelines for chronic back pain and work-related medical rehabilitation. Application for disability pension, as assessed by a postal questionnaire 3 months after discharge. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the association between the WAI at baseline and subsequent application for disability pension revealed an area under the curve of .80 (95% confidence interval [CI], .62-.97). Youden index was highest when the WAI cutoff value was ≤20 points (sensitivity, 72.7%; specificity, 82.2%; total correct classification, 81.7%). After adjusting for age and sex, persons with a baseline WAI score of ≤20 points had 15.6 times (95% CI, 3.6-68.2) higher odds of subsequent application for disability pension, 4.9 times (95% CI, 1.5-16.8) higher odds of unemployment, and 6 times (95% CI, 2.4-15.2) higher odds of long-term sick leave at follow-up. The WAI could help rehabilitation professionals identify patients with back pain with a high risk of a subsequent application for disability pension. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Geek Palaver » Geek Palaver » parentinghttp://www.geekpalaver.com
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” --Harper LeeWed, 25 Mar 2015 00:29:49 +0000en-UShourly1Geek Palaverhttp://0.gravatar.com/avatar/849abe0c05eadf5d6b16a246651599ff.png?s=48http://www.geekpalaver.com
http://www.geekpalaver.com
http://i2.wp.com/www.geekpalaver.com/wp-content/uploads/GeekPalaver-Favico-55132077v1_site_icon.png?fit=32%2C32 » Geek Palaver » parenting3232What Else Should We Be Doing To Save Public Education?http://www.geekpalaver.com/2012/08/25/what-else-should-we-be-doing-to-save-public-education/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2012/08/25/what-else-should-we-be-doing-to-save-public-education/#commentsSat, 25 Aug 2012 15:00:42 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=2752Wardynski is a part of a well organized, well funded movement that is seeking to destroy public education in America. And only parents stand in his way.
There’s an excellent conversation happening on yesterday’s post Caveat Emptor Computers in the Classroom. If you care to know what your children’s teachers really think about the digital conversion, give it a look. In addition to those details, there was one question in particular that stood out to me.
What else should we be doing?
This really is the central question in the face of overwhelming financial support and an army of advisors. What can we do when our superintendent thinks he’s the only person of intelligence in the city? What can we do when our elected board, who were hired to represent us, ignore their constituencies and tell the superintendent that he should feel free to ignore us as well?
How can just one parent who is scared about the quality of education our children are receiving possibly hope to make a difference?
How can you make a difference?
What else should we be doing?
Here are a few suggestions.
Talk with your children every day about what they are doing in their classrooms and how they feel about it. I realize that this is like saying you should open your eyes before you try crossing the parkway during rush hour, but it is the first step. Your kids are your best source of information concerning the quality of education they are receiving. Of course, their first response will typically be, “It was fine,” as they put their earbuds into their ears, but you need to draw more information out of them. Ask them about what they studied in English. Ask them about what they’re reading. Ask them about their math, science, social studies, and language studies. Ask them about their art and music classes. Ask them about PE. Ask them how many other kids are in their class. Ask them how they feel about their teacher. No one else (especially not the superintendent) can evaluate your child’s education better than you. But it will take time and effort for you to do so. Take that time. Every single day.
Talk to other parents in your child’s classroom. Get to know them. Form a FaceBook group for the class so that y’all can talk with each other quickly and easily. Ask them what their children are saying about school and the classroom. Often times, despite our best efforts, our kids just simply don’t want to talk to us about what happened during school that day. If you’re friends with other parents in the classroom, you can glean information from them on the days when your kids clam up.
Talk to your teachers (and anyone else working in the classroom). How often do you have a conversation with your kid’s teacher? At the teacher conference at the beginning of the year? When there’s a problem? Make a point of talking to your teachers at least once a week. This doesn’t have to be an extensive conversation/meeting. It could be as easy as a quick email to them to say thanks. But get in touch with them. Make sure that they know you’re interested, engaged, and that they can call on you at any moment. Yes, our teachers are overworked and buried under a ton of red tape these days; however, unlike the superintendent, I have never heard a single teacher say she (or he) doesn’t have time to talk to a parent. They want your help.
Support your teachers (and anyone else working in the classroom). They’re human, and they’re overworked, underpaid, stressed, frustrated by a lack of support from their supervisors, and often have to deal with irrational people with irrational fears. They need to know that you appreciate the miracle they are working to produce for your kids. You would be amazed at the difference a simple thank you note makes, which is truly a sad commentary on our world, but yes, simply saying thanks to your teacher (and reminding your child to do so as well) makes everything go much more smoothly.
Get to know and support your principals (and everyone else working in the building). Again, our schools are under an extraordinary amount of stress these days. Everyone is attacking them. Having a person simply say thank you makes a difference.
Those are the basics. Every single parent with a kid in a school should be doing these things already. But you’re probably thinking, “Thanks Russ, for reminding us that water is wet.”
And you’d be right to do so.
So, what else should we be doing?
Join your PTA. Just because the Huntsville Council of PTAs thinks he’s the superintendent of the year doesn’t mean that everyone who is a member of the PTA agrees. Volunteer. And then be vocal about your opinions. If you think a decision by the superintendent is a good one, say so, and say why. If you think a decision by the superintendent is a bad one, say so, and say why.
Talk to your friends and associates about your opinions. Again, as my dad used to say, opinions are like butt-holes: everyone has one and most of them stink. Make sure your opinions don’t stink by backing them up with a justification and research. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe in.
Talk to your board member. Yes, they will listen to you, at least at first. Depending on the issue you raise with them, they may even do what ask them to do. When you see for yourself that there are a lot of issues that they ignore you on, then you can move on to step four.
Vote them out of office. This Tuesday, August 28th, the District One seat (currently held by Laurie McCaulley) and the District Five seat (currently held by Alta Morrison) are both on the ballot in those districts. Ms. McCaulley is running for re-election. Ms. Morrison is not. Because of a complete lack of responsiveness from Ms. McCaulley on issues I’ve raised with her in the past, I cannot support her for reelection. As I have written before, I support Ms. Pat King for District One, and Mr. Carlos Matthews for District Five. I believe both will be far more responsive to the public than anyone on our current board has proven themselves to be.
Talk to Dr. Wardynski. Again, see for yourself the traits I’ve described countlesstimes on this blog. Once you see for yourself, make it a point to hold him accountable. Ask questions and insist that he engage in a discussion with you. He works for you.
Attend the Board Meetings. The board typically meets the first and third Thursday of each month in the Merts building, 200 White Street, at 5:30pm. When attendance is low, the board members assume that means that everyone loves them not that we’re just so disgusted that we can’t stomach to listen to their sycophantic support of a non-educator’s bad ideas.
Call every elected official you know and tell them what you think. I doubt that most of the officials in our city have any idea how completely Dr. Wardynski disregards his employers: Parents. Tell them.
Study. There is not a single idea that Dr. Wardynski has enacted in his 14 months that hasn’t been tried somewhere else and shown to be a failure. These “reforms” he’s enacting are not new. They have been tried in other districts, and they’ve failed. I regularly hear that “we’ve got to do something” and I agree. We do. But do we really have to do things that have already failed elsewhere? Please get a copy of Dr. Diane Ravitch’s book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System. Dr. Ravitch is a school historian. She, at one point, supported many of the efforts that Dr. Wardynski is putting into play here in Huntsville, but as she studied them, she changed her mind. Read her book, read her blog, and find out why.
Finally, what else should we be doing?
We should be standing up for our children and for what we believe in. Dr. Wardynski is putting forth and enacting a political agenda that has been developed for him by the Broad Foundation. He is not acting in the best interests of our kids. He’s acting in his own best interests. And his best interests are not what is best for your children.
He is using his power, budget and influence to silence critics. He is using every political tool he has to enact his agenda of privatizing public schools, of ending public education in America.
He is a part of a well-organized, well-funded movement that is seeking to destroy public education in America.
And the only thing that is standing in his way are parents who are willing to stand up, ask questions, and insist on answers for their children.
So long as we have the conviction of our beliefs supporting us, it doesn’t matter how wealthy the opposition is. It doesn’t matter how well-organized they are. It doesn’t matter how rude they are. If we stand by our convictions, if we stand for what is right, if we stand for our teachers, and most importantly, if we stand for our kids, we will make a difference. We will turn this ship around.
I was asked an important question yesterday by a good friend: “Do you ever worry that your activism will result in retribution against your kids?”
The short answer to that question is, simply, yes.
As a dad, I worry about that every single time I post anything. I worry about it every time I ask a question. I worry.
So, why do I do it? If I’m doing it for my kids as I claim, why take the risk?
The answer is just as simple as the question: my kids, especially my boy, are being put at risk by the decisions of the leadership of this school district. The risk is already there. I didn’t bring it. I didn’t create it. It wasn’t the result of my actions.
My kids, their education, their future, their lives, were at risk before I asked a single question. They were at risk before I wrote a single word.
That’s the system that we have now.
But still I worry.
I worry about collateral damage every time I post anything, and believe it or not, I think about every word I post in that light.
I worry that my actions might hurt another human being.
I even worry that my actions might hurt those whom I believe are seeking to hurt my kids.
While I realize that what I’m about to say is often considered heresy in this town, I am a pacifist. I don’t believe in war. I don’t believe that we can help perfect our world by fighting each other.
I think that change, true change, comes as a result of communication, connection, understanding and love.
But love is not the same thing as subservience. Love is not obsequiousness as the Huntsville City School board seems to believe.
Love means standing up when necessary.
Love is risk.
Love is speaking for those who don’t have a voice.
Our kids don’t have a voice in this system.
Our teachers don’t have a voice in this system.
Our instructional aides don’t have a voice in this system.
Even parents, tax-paying parents, don’t have a voice in this system.
Only those who fully and vocally agree with the superintendent’s actions and decisions have a voice.
I’m not conceited enough (I am conceited, though, just not enough) to believe that I can be a voice for all of those people.
But I can be a voice for my voiceless son who struggles to ask for juice when he’s thirsty.
I can be a voice for my daughter when she wonders why she’s having to spend so much time taking tests when she could be reading another book or writing another poem.
For those two, I can and should be a ripple in the water.
Despite the risk from those who might further threaten children (or teachers for that matter) when a dad dares to ask a question that the leadership of the district doesn’t like, we get to be a ripple in the water.
Making waves for the sole purpose of making waves is useless. In fact, it’s dangerous. As such, I try hard to avoid waves for their own purpose. (I’m sure there are many who disagree with me on this. This isn’t an exact science; that’s why I invite those who disagree with me to speak up. It helps me keep a sense of perspective.)
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2012/06/17/a-ripple-in-the-water/feed/6Wardynski Alone Educates Kidshttp://www.geekpalaver.com/2012/06/10/wardynski-alone-educates-kids/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2012/06/10/wardynski-alone-educates-kids/#commentsMon, 11 Jun 2012 05:12:57 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=2460"The city isn't paying me to work with adults. The city is paying me to educate kids." If I mattered, I'd ask how he plans to do this alone.
So the city woke today to not one, but two pieces in the Times telling us just how wonderful the superintendent is.
At least one of them made a clear attempt to support some of the statements with facts and evidence. While I recognize that Mr. McCarter was writing a column and not an article, it would still have been nice to see at least a few of his claims supported by some evidence.
(By what standard, for example, has Dr. Wardynski’s first “season” wrapped up with a 9 and 2 record, Mr. McCarter? Was there a scoreboard hiding in your office that people didn’t know about? Also, where’s the evidence of Dr. Wardynski’s “impressive curriculum vitae of education and military experience?” He has, to date, 23 months of educational experience. By what standard is that “impressive?” Granted, he’s done an impressive job of giving his friends raises before they even start working and plum jobs they’re not qualified for, but I don’t see how that’s an impressive CV. Just wondering.)
Of course, Mr. McCarter has many powerful people in the city who agree with him.
First up was Mayor Battle who told the Times, “I think he has been the catalyst that has moved our entire system forward,” and that Wardynski “knows the progress of every student in the district, at every school, on every test.”
It would be nice if the Mayor could be bothered to ask the opinion of a teacher or two about the progress of students. After all, Dr. Wardynski isn’t in the classroom on a daily basis. He doesn’t see the progress that a test doesn’t evaluate. Only a teacher sees that.
But teachers aren’t important. After all, according to Dr. Wardynski, when he arrived only “26 percent of the district’s leaders were strong.”
That’s right, only a quarter of our principals and teachers in place at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year were “strong” by whatever method of evaluation the superintendent chose to use.
When you consider that, it’s astonishing, absolutely astonishing, that any of our students managed to actually graduate before Dr. Wardynski arrived. And U.S. News and World Report must have been mistaken when it ranked Huntsville High and Grissom High number 7 and 10 in the state. After all, despite Dr. Cooper’s taking credit for those rankings, claiming that it shows “that our commitment to student achievement is working,” these rankings were based on test scores from two years before the “strong leadership” of Dr. Wardynski arrived.
That’s okay, though. A strong leader like the superintendent should take credit for other’s work.
Next to tell us just how lucky we are that Dr. Wardynski sacrificed so much to come save us was David Blair, Vice-President of the Board of Education. He claimed that “he is happy with the decisions Wardynski has made.” I suppose he has decided to “just trust” Dr. Wardynski’s decisions despite any questions he might have about them.
I’m astonished that Dr. Robinson didn’t make herself available to sing his praises, but I suppose she does enough of that at the board meetings.
The article ends with the Alabama Education Association, Rex Cheatham, also praising him.
So clearly, everyone has been heard from. No other opinion could possibly matter, could it?
Principal’s opinions don’t matter. As Mr. McCarter says, Wardynski “doesn’t sit on bad principals. But – here’s the cause for optimism for this system – he stands on good principles.”
Punny, huh? No evidence for those principles Wardynski is standing on. Just take Mr. McCarter’s word for it. Or Wardynski’s word when he claims that three quarters of our principals were weak leaders.
So, I bet that 74% of the city of Huntsville had no idea that their children were suffering under “weak leaders.” It’s so good of Dr. Wardynski to tell us these things without offering any evidence supporting his claims.
Teachers opinions don’t matter. After all Dr. Wardynski knows exactly how your child performed on four standardized tests. So clearly teachers don’t matter.
They are the “problem adults” who made our district so racially divided. Their opinions and desires don’t matter. Dr. Wardynski, and Dr. Wardynski alone is capable of judging what’s best for our students.
Parents opinions don’t matter. Not one parent was interviewed for the articles today.
Parents don’t matter when they ask why their children’s classroom has a never-ending turnover of therapists, instructional assistants and even teachers.
But then all three of those groups, principals, teachers and parents are all “adults.” And Dr. Wardynski believes that, according to a quote in Mr. McCarter’s column, “The city isn’t paying me to work with adults. The city is paying me to educate kids.”
Stephen King wrote once that God punishes us for what we can’t imagine. There is truth there. Yet the opposite is also, always a possibility. This is why life is so interesting.
God also amazes us with what we can’t imagine.
At 5:43pm eight years ago today, this happened to me when into my life came the girl.
Birthdays are hard on me. Not mine. I couldn’t care less about those. But the kids’ birthdays always kick me in the heart. There, as Croce sang, never seems to be enough time.
Life is a constant sprint. Running to the kitchen making sure that the strange smell coming out of the toaster isn’t dangerous. Racing to school. Speeding past the cop to get to ballet. Screaming down the hallway as I hear water splashing on the floor next to the tub. Our lives together are together. I think I’m getting at least that much right, but our lives are fast. And that breaks my heart.
I’m terrified, especially on birthdays, that I’m losing her a little more every day.
She’s flying past me as I try to grab hold of a moment. A moment where I can make the world better with just a raspberry on a belly. Just one moment where I can stop and hold my baby girl in my arms. Just a few more moments where she’s playing dress-up rather than actually getting dressed up.
[to go out and away]
But again, my imagination fails and God steps in to amaze. For every moment I spend wishing for her to remain my baby, I’m amazed by the beautiful, loving, funny girl that she has become. I’m stunned by her intelligence, shocked by her wisdom, surprised by her beauty.
I’m amazed, constantly amazed, that I get to spend my life watching her grow, helping her grow, pushing her to grow even though I don’t want her to, into such a caring young woman who is starting to seek out her own path in this world.
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/12/22/to-be-enough-time/feed/1Of Gumbo and Sunsetshttp://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/10/08/of-gumbo-and-sunsets/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/10/08/of-gumbo-and-sunsets/#commentsSun, 09 Oct 2011 03:57:54 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=1811Frankly, there's just more important things to do, like spending time with my family as they grow. Because they're the important ones. And my time with them feels like it's fading as the sun into the sea.
So fall break has come and nearly gone, and another beach trip with it. I’m a lucky guy. I got to see this, and share it with my family.
There was swimming, and running, and jumping, and singing, and playing, and digging, and hugging, and laughing, (and a few exhaustion tears), and gumbo. Always gumbo, holding it all together.
Gumbo is an amazing dish. Separately, you have little that’s worth eating alone. I mean sure, shrimp is always great (and sausage), but the rest is just rice, flower, okra, onion, and oil. In other words, absolutely nothing to write home about (or blog about for that matter).
But when you mix them together, and add time and hard work (you’ve got to constantly stir the roux, or it will burn), leave them all to sit together overnight, and what comes out is pure magic.
Vacations are the same way. Play hard. Stir the pot by getting your girl to talk to you while hunting for crabs. And try not to get lost forever in her eyes.
Pay attention when the boy is singing “Hakuna Matata,” so you can sing the “No Worries” lyric at just the right moment.
Pay attention and give everything time to sit together overnight. What comes out is pure magic.
As I said, I’m a lucky guy.
__________
Some have noticed that I haven’t written as much lately. That I haven’t written nearly as much about the School Board as I was writing in the past.
Although I’m sure that I will be writing about our schools for a long time to come, there’s a simple explanation for that: As important as trying to keep the board honest and the superintendent focused on keeping our kids first is, honestly it’s about 99th on my top 100 list. (It’s slightly ahead of making sure the toilets are flushing correctly. A necessary, but completely unenjoyable task.)
In other words, there’s more to life than working to make our public officials do their jobs. Plus, when there’s always that one crazy guy who goes to the meetings and writes about the inane crap the board and super say and do, no one else thinks that they need to do the same.
And frankly, there’s just more important things to do, like spending time with my family as they grow. Because they’re the important ones.
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/10/08/of-gumbo-and-sunsets/feed/6A Good Night at Challenger Elementaryhttp://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/17/a-good-night-at-challenger-elementary/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/17/a-good-night-at-challenger-elementary/#commentsSat, 17 Sep 2011 15:57:13 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=1754This is why I fight for our schools: Because they fight for us, all of us regardless of ability, every day and every night. And so I say thank you to our school, the administration, staff, teachers, aides, parents and kids.
I know that there are many who are waiting to hear more about some of the decisions made this past Thursday night. (The hiring of yet another person from Aurora, CO as Deputy Superintendent is just one. It’s a good time to have friends in high places.) There were a ton of them; I’m working through them right now.
But I’ve been busy these past couple of days with far more enjoyable stuff. For example, I heard yesterday that the boy has a beautiful little kindergarten girl who “like-likes” him! Being a typical boy, he remains unswayed by her charms.
What I wanted to write about this morning as the boy is curled up next to me (the “girls” are on a Girl Scout trip and we had a late boy’s night watching movies!), is the amazing dedication that I saw last night at the Challenger Elementary PTA’s Family Fun Night.
Picture this: it’s finally Friday, and you’re exhausted. It’s been a ridiculously long week of trying to put out fires, responding to staffing vacancies for jobs that no one seems to want, making sure that kids are safe and not, say, trying to flush themselves down a toilet for the fun of it, and on top of it all, trying to teach those students math, science, reading and writing so that a federal bureaucrat doesn’t cut your funding from zero to a fee that you have to pay.
What exactly would you want to do on a Friday night at six o’clock? Go home? Relax? Read or just forget about work for a while?
For me it would certainly be all of the above.
But last night, through the hard work of the Challenger Elementary PTA, many of our teachers, instructional assistants, and staff including Mrs. Carol Costello, Challenger’s principal, decided to put aside their own exhaustion and join the kids, families and friends on the field at Challenger for a family fun night of pizza, playing, and a movie under the stars.
There was pizza. There were Icees. There was music (Black Eyed Peas, “I’ve Got a Feeling“). There was sliding, swinging, running, jumping, and talking birds from Rio.
It was indeed a good night.
A good night for our entire community, coming together to talk and play. Kids, Parents, Teachers, Aides, Staff and Principal.
This is why I fight for our schools: Because they fight for us, all of us regardless of ability, every day and every night. And so I say thank you to our school, the administration, staff, teachers, aides, parents and kids.
Because of your commitment to educating every child, my son has a girl who is sweet on him. My son has a place where he is safe and welcomed. My son has a place where he and his dad can have a great night.
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/11/through-a-mirror-darkly/feed/0The PTA: For All of Our Kidshttp://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/05/the-pta-for-all-of-our-kids/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/05/the-pta-for-all-of-our-kids/#commentsMon, 05 Sep 2011 16:31:05 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=1701Our PTAs go out of their way to be inclusive and supportive of those students who have special needs. For this, I say thank you, and the boy offers high fives.
It’s strange what having a relaxing weekend away will do to you. Suddenly you start seeing things in a different light. I love my job. Truly love it. But it’s a far and away distant second when it comes to my family. Everyday, my boy, my girl, and Laurel remind me of just how lucky I am. And getting to spend a weekend at the lake with them just reinforces it for me.
I’m honored to be a part of a group called the Rocket City Bloggers. These are a collection of some really amazing writers who give away their ideas, suggestions, hints and art to anyone who wants to take a look. (Which is, by the way, just another thing that I love about the Rocket City: its diversity and art.)
Every month someone in the group hosts a Rocket City Blogging Carnival that displays the work of the collective group all in one easy location for browsing. It’s a great way to meet new writers and to hear new ideas. This month’s carnival follows the theme of “Huntsville Favorites.”
So I’ve been in positive frame of mind. What of it?
Just kidding. I’m just thankful to have a weekend away from work to unpack some of the ideas that have been floating around like the first yellow and red leaves on the lake.
So this weekend, the PTA has been on my mind, and I realized that I had been negligent in writing about things that make a difference in education by not having mentioned the PTAs by name yet. This is a shame since Huntsville PTAs (in particular the ones at Farley, Challenger and Mt. Gap Elementary) are some of my Huntsville Favorites.
Sometimes PTAs get a bad rap. Occasionally PTAs seem like you’ve stepped back in time and are in grade school all over again. Many of the same battles that you faced in school get rehashed later in life. Jeannie C. Riley had a wonderful tongue-in-cheek hit with it in the late sixties about the Harper Valley PTA which made excellent hay pointing out hypocrisy for humor.
On a more serious note, PTAs are often accused of being an exclusive playground designed to garner special consideration for their own children keeping others locked out.
This is not true of the PTAs here in the Huntsville PTAs. As a member of two PTAs (Challenger Elementary and Mt. Gap Elementary), I can readily say that I’ve never know a group of parents who are more wiling to give up their time, energy, and money trying to make sure of just a few things:
That our schools are as well supplied, maintained, and safe as possible for all kids;
That our teachers are supported and appreciated so that they may actually focus on teaching rather than fundraising, maintenance and security;
That the administration of our schools are constantly aware that the parents in this town are involved, inquisitive, informed, and that we are watching.
This is the role that a PTA plays. When it works, as it does here in Huntsville, it works because people are putting aside their differences and working together toward a common goal.
Our PTAs aren’t Conservative verses Liberal. They aren’t Rich verses Poor. They aren’t the “in crowd” verses “the outcasts.” Despite occasionally ribbing over in state rivalries, (football season did begin on Saturday after all), our PTAs aren’t even divided by cries of War Eagle and Roll Tide.
Our PTAs are places where everyone, everyone can participate.
Everyone can work together for our common goals of putting students first. That’s the beauty of the PTA; it is a democracy at its finest. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, rich or poor, handicapped or able to run freely. It doesn’t matter if you were a cheerleader, the football captain, or the nerd sitting in the library (like me), if you care about putting students first, you’ll be welcomed.
The PTA gives everyone, even those who do not speak often like my son, a voice in the development and direction of our schools.
By holding the car line still just a little longer in the morning, by bringing gluten-free cupcakes to parties, by hosting awareness raising celebrations, by giving a child an extra hand with the hula-hoop until he gets the idea, our PTAs go out of their way to be inclusive and supportive of those students who have special needs. For this, I say thank you, and the boy offers his high five.
All that having a voice requires is participation at whatever level you’re capable. My experience has been that even those who work full-time can find a way to help out after schools have closed. In short, there is something here for everyone. That is, if (and yes, it’s a big if) we’re willing to set aside our differences, our isolationism, our selfishness to work together for a common goal.
Our PTAs are wonderfully diverse, accepting, and welcoming. Yes, occasionally they have flaws and weaknesses, but they’re made up of humans. It comes with the territory.
But if you believe in making your child’s school a better place, if you believe in putting students first, join your PTA, and share your voice.
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/09/05/the-pta-for-all-of-our-kids/feed/2Transparency and Accountabilityhttp://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/08/27/transparency-and-accountability/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/08/27/transparency-and-accountability/#commentsSun, 28 Aug 2011 00:12:10 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=1666Irritation is a beautiful thing. One of the few times we're really paying attention is when we're irritated, and we can't learn without paying attention.
I think it’s a good thing that there are bloggers out there watching very closely and holding people accountable. Everyone in the news should be able to hold up to that kind of scrutiny. I’m for as much transparency in the news gathering process as possible.
–Anderson Cooper
I teach humanities classes: English, philosophy and religion in a state school. Yes, we teach religion classes at a state school. Hard to believe, but true.
And it makes for some interesting discussions when we talk about the problem of evil, or discrimination in the name of Jesus. Passions run hot sometimes when discussing things about which people are, in Tillich’s terms, ultimately concerned.
And so, at the beginning of the semester, I lay out some basic ground rules. They start with a simple one that most of us learned as small children.
Treat each other the way you want to be treated.
It’s easily understandable, and it’s manageable. Plus it keeps the arguments that erupt in a classroom, on occasion, in check.
But I also give them a single exception to the golden rule. I tell my students that I will absolutely treat them with respect, but when it comes to me and how they treat my ideas, the golden rule doesn’t apply.
I tell them, if you think my ideas are full of poop, I expect you to tell me so.
Full of . . .
(Yeah it’s college. Funny thing about language: “Poop” is actually more shocking to my students than the s-word ever could be. And in that regard, even though I’ve used it with both of my kids since their first one, it’s actually the vulgar of the two terms for my students.)
My students are free and encouraged to tell me that I’m full of poop. All I ask is that they tell me why they believe me so. And they are free to use any descriptive adjective or adverb that they wish. (In fact, for the English classes, the more descriptive, the better.)
This is the only way that I learn. And it’s the only way I know how to teach.
Occasionally, they take me up on the offer. And when they do, education happens.
Irritation is a beautiful thing. One of the few times we’re really paying attention is when we’re irritated, and we can’t learn without paying attention.
And so, I irritate my students and I encourage them to irritate me.
And I’m willing to accept the consequences when I do. Including being told that I’m full of poop, evil, liberal, conservative (yes, it has happened, but I’m not entirely sure that the person saying it knew what it meant), socialist, communist, fascist (again, I’m fairly certain there was a basic misunderstanding of the term, but maybe not) evil, mean, racist (against both those of my own race and those who are of another), whiny, and a loser who needs his butt kicked. (Although in fairness, I’ve never been told that in class, only in the Huntsville Times, who, to their credit, deleted the comment.)
As I tell my students regularly, I get paid to irritate you, and I really love my job!
And occasionally their response of why I’m full of poop turns out to be correct. (Like anytime I try to do math in my head! As I tell them, that’s why I teach English.)
And so for sixteen weeks my students and I have a relationship based on irritation, conflict, and, when we’re lucky, open and honest discussion. You know, kinda like every great marriage between friends.
Well, not exactly.
So what’s my point here? (Rambling is, after all, part of my charm.)
It’s simple. I need you, my readers, to tell me when I’m full of poop.
I never set out to become a public figure. Honestly, this all started with Dr. Moore and the board (the same one we have now, by the way) complaining about confrontational parents. I was astonished at the sense of entitlement that I saw from people who had fired 400 teachers/aides/staff to cover their own mismanagement.
But in expressing my astonishment, I have become something of a public figure. I’ll ask you to believe that this introvert doesn’t really enjoy it. Take a look at my hands before or after I speak at a board meeting if you need evidence.
For the record: I just want the board and superintendent to put students first. I don’t want to be a board member. I don’t want to be the superintendent. I want to be a dad. I want to be a husband. I want to be a teacher. And that is all.
But, as this week’s news article shows, because of my public stands, I’m something of a public figure. And so I need your help.
I don’t care at all that “SAWB” thinks I was asking for the school system to raise my child. I had a great laugh at “teraplane” for working so hard to come up with a witty play on my last name by calling me a “loser.” It must have taken hours for him/her to come up with that one. (As I’ve been hearing it since elementary school, perhaps “teraplane” should consult a first grader before posting next time.) That “BAMA1964RB” believes I “shall reap what [I] have sown! Ever heard of that old axiom??????,” does not matter (or make any sense) to me.
But that doesn’t mean that I’m not often full of poop.
That’s where you, constant reader, come into the circle.
Please understand, I’m not trying to simply hit you up for praise. I’m being as genuine here as I know how.
I am a blind man from Indostan thinking myself insightful when I cannot see. Without help, my understanding will always be incomplete.
That’s why I need your help. In fact, that’s why we need each other. I cannot understand the motivations and inner workings of the Huntsville City Schools without your help. On my own, I’m every bit the “loser” that the brave, anonymous posters on al.com said I was. I don’t understand anything.
So, when I’m full of poop, tell me. When I am blind to the truth in front of me, open my eyes by sharing with me what you see. If I begin thinking I am wise, remind me, rudely, just how stupid I am.
As Socrates said, the beginning of wisdom is understanding that you know nothing at all.
I will do everything I can to make my approach, motivation, goals and plans as transparent as possible so that you can help me see what I cannot. I will not develop plans in secrecy.
Without honest feedback, and without accountability, I’m lost. To Anderson Cooper’s quote above, I would add this: this blogger will attempt to always be transparent, and I should also be held accountable for what I say and do.
This isn’t about me. And it isn’t even about my boy or daughter. It’s about ensuring that all of our children are a priority to our schools system.
For this to have any hope of bringing about change, we’ve got to work together.
So, if I start running off following my own private plans, remind me that I’m as full of poop as everyone else.
By making our students and classrooms a priority, together, we will make this the greatest school system, the greatest city, in our nation.
]]>http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/08/27/transparency-and-accountability/feed/4How Do You Justify Aides for Administration?http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/08/18/how-do-you-justify-aides-for-administration/
http://www.geekpalaver.com/2011/08/18/how-do-you-justify-aides-for-administration/#commentsFri, 19 Aug 2011 01:26:07 +0000http://www.geekpalaver.com/?p=1606How can you justify spending 63 times more money on yourself as you have my son?
Editor’s Note: These were the comments that I made to the Huntsville City School’s Board of Education at the board meeting tonight. Dr. Wardynski’s response to my comments was, “I did not state that we were hiring people at a nationally competitive rate, but rather that the salaries were competitive on the state level.” I have decided to accept his word on this point. Yet the question remains, why are we competitive on a state level in administrative positions but paying our teachers the state minimum? I have altered the statement below to reflect this change.
It’s interesting that that was the only thing he chose to respond to.
Dr. Wardynski, I’m here to remind you to put students first.
There are soon going to be at least four salaried positions whose primary jobs are to assist you in doing your job. Right now, my son has access to two-fifths of one aide to assist him. These positions include your Administrative Assistant, The Director of Transition, and you’re planning to hire a Director of Community Engagement and Partnership Development at a rate of $58,000 to $95,000. Finally, you’re planning to hire a Deputy Superintendent at a rate of $84,000 to $134,000 a year.
The superintendent continues to hire people at, as he said about the new CSFO, nationally competitive rates state competitive rates. These new contracts include incentive based raises. In short, the superintendent has at least $252,000 in aides while my son has $4,000 in aides.
I would like to know how you can justify this?
How can you justify these positions when students are still waiting for teachers to be hired?
How can you justify these positions when students are still waiting for instructional assistants to help them in their transitions?
How can you justify offering raises to administrators when teachers’ step raises have been frozen for an indeterminate amount of time?
How can you justify offering nationally competitivestate competitive salaries to your administration when new teacher salaries are set at the state minimum?
How can you justify adding these central office positions to the system’s budget when we don’t have money for teachers to buy basic supplies like ink or paper?
How can you justify spending 63 times more money on yourself as you have my son?
How can you justify putting your needs in front of the needs of the students? | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
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| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Central |
Venomous views of Woody Allen-Mia Farrow dispute
Thousands of venomous statements have flooded the Internet since the 22-year-old Woody Allen abuse story came back to life.
First, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, a friend of Mia Farrow, used his blog and a column to run a letter by Dylan Farrow alleging anew that Allen, her adoptive father with Mia, abused her when she was 7. This was followed by a counter volley of nasty accusations against Mia Farrow.
The prevailing sentiment on opposing sides goes like this: Allen is a creepy, child-molesting monster who should be locked up; Farrow is a lying, psychopath who brainwashed her kids.
When emotion replaces reason, we are in trouble.
This case hit a sore spot with anyone who's been the victim of child abuse. It also raised the ire of anyone who's been falsely accused.
Those who experienced childhood abuse had an understandable, primal reaction when they read Dylan's allegations. Too often, victims' statements of abuse are ignored, and this Allen-Farrow case has reopened a painful wound for many.
When Allen dated and then married Soon-Yi Previn -- Farrow's adopted daughter -- people were outraged. When that was followed by Farrow's charges that he sexually molested their 7-year-old adopted daughter, Dylan, that was it for me. Although an admirer of Allen's movies, I boycotted them for 10 years.
But the more I read about it recently, the more I realized it isn't that cut-and-dried. Allen's denial of the sex-abuse allegations in a response on Sunday in the Times is compelling. Meanwhile, Allen and Farrow's adopted son, Moses, has come out with allegations of his own, saying his dad is innocent and his mother emotionally and physically abused him and his siblings.
Many are furious that anyone would cast doubt on Dylan's memories of abuse. But isn't Moses' painful recollection of abuse at Farrow's hands equally valid?
So what really happened here? I don't know, but I do know that child custody cases can get ugly, with children often used as pawns.
The truth is that it's hard enough to know what's going on in our families, let alone others. But the mob mentality on the Internet has replaced the Old West lynching party. And that's the one ugly fact that has become all too clear.
Mike Vogel is an amNY Opinion columnist. He grew up in Brooklyn and is a lifetime New Yorker. He is a songwriter/club performer, and enjoys sports, swimming, Scrabble and other things that begin with the letter "s." | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
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Chrome Trunk / Deck Trim Features:
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Supporting medical education research quality: the Association of American Medical Colleges' Medical Education Research Certificate program.
The quality of the medical education research (MER) reported in the literature has been frequently criticized. Numerous reasons have been provided for these shortcomings, including the level of research training and experience of many medical school faculty. The faculty development required to improve MER can take various forms. This article describes the Medical Education Research Certificate (MERC) program, a national faculty development program that focuses exclusively on MER. Sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and led by a committee of established medical education researchers from across the United States, the MERC program is built on a set of 11 interactive workshops offered at various times and places across the United States. MERC participants can customize the program by selecting six workshops from this set to fulfill requirements for certification. This article describes the history, operations, current organization, and evaluation of the program. Key elements of the program's success include alignment of program content and focus with needs identified by prospective users, flexibility in program organization and logistics to fit participant schedules, an emphasis on practical application of MER principles in the context of the participants' activities and interests, consistency in program content and format to ensure standards of quality, and a sustainable financial model. The relationship between the national MERC program and local faculty development initiatives is also described. The success of the MERC program suggests that it may be a possible model for nationally disseminated faculty development programs in other domains. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
HELLO BISEXUALS AND FRIENDS. Have you been keeping up with assertions about us on the internet? Well, luckily we have. First of all, you may have already come across the news that Vivien Leigh, actress who played Scarlett O’Hara in the classic Gone With The Wind, was apparently bisexual. Oh wait, did I say bisexual? Because obvs what I meant was “a hot mess off-screen — a slutty bisexual who battled mental illness for most of her adult life,” and “didn’t give a damn who she slept with.” Sorry, I get those confused all the time. According to a new biography, when Leigh wasn’t lounging around in velvet gowns with tiny waists, she was having sex with both men and women, including actress Isabel Jeans and “at least two” other women who remain nameless. Presumably the biography expands on the mental illness element, but the article doesn’t, leaving us to wonder whether bisexuality itself is supposed to be the “illness” in question. Also, it would appear that Leigh’s husband’s former wife was a lesbian, which is weird and I don’t even really know how to fit that in. In conclusion, we get that it’s been a slow news week – we’ve been hurting too on that front – but I would argue that titling this article “Vivien ‘Lay,’ Scarlet Woman” was kind of unnecessary.
This internet development was merely annoying until we also stumbled across NYMag’s most recent Sex Diary – this one titled “The Bisexual Production Assistant Sleeping With Everyone Except Her Boyfriend, Who’s A Virgin.” The Sex Diaries chronicle a week in the life of an anonymous New Yorker, and as we’ve mentioned before, they’re usually better than most mainstream media outlets at reflecting the fact that gay/lesbian/queer/trans people also have sex sometimes. At least usually they are?
The thing is that while the anonymous production assistant is definitely bisexual, she doesn’t actually have sex in the entire week she records, not even according to our wide-ranging and generous lesbian definition of what might be considered sex. And, oh, right, she doesn’t have a boyfriend. She makes this point very clearly when she refers to the man she’s been seeing as “Non-Boyfriend” throughout the entire piece.
For SEO and layout purposes, it’s best to keep article titles short, like under 12 words, and so it’s entirely possible that that’s the only thing fueling NYMag’s slight misrepresentations here.After reading about Vivien “Bisexual Slutface McGee” Leigh, however, I was maybe a little sensitive on this issue, and couldn’t help but wonder: was this editing for brevity, or was this about the stereotype of the bisexual as the girl who always does “sleep with everyone,” or as the girl who’s always dating a man and thus calls the authenticity of her queerness into question?
The most hardcore parts of Bisexual Production Assistant’s week are “one instance of phone sex” and another of “heavy petting,” and many commenters on the piece are full of righteous indignation about the lack of follow-through within the article. In fact, most of them are pretty dismissive of BPA’s sex life in general; to me, though, for someone who says she’s not in a sexual relationship, “five acts of masturbation, one act of phone sex, one act of heavy petting, one make-out-and-leave with ex-girlfriend, multiple instances of office flirtation” really doesn’t sound so bad. Do we have higher expectations for bisexuals’ sex life because we expect them to be sex-starved maniacs? Or do I just not get laid that often and I’m way off? I guess that’s up for you to decide judgmentally in the comments.
And while most commenters were more into putting down Jersey than putting down bisexuality (I guess there’s a reason it’s not NJMag) there were still several who thought the insight that “she decided she was “bisexual” at Mt. Holyoke, and “she’ll be straight again in six months” was both original and funny. To which I can only answer – really? In this article she mentions two male sex/romantic partners, one past sexual relationship with a woman, and one partner of indeterminate gender. Also, she’s 23, which makes it likely she’s been out of school for at least two years. Commenters on New York Magazine articles: what does it take, beyond HAVING SEX WITH BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, for you to buy this person’s bisexuality? Starring in a major motion picture in the 1940s and then engaging in a string of hush-hush affairs with other international starlets? Because trust me, I’m sure a lot of us would like that too, but sometimes being an underpaid production assistant who has to get up at 5:30 am to commute into the city is the best we can do. For that we apologize.
It’s possible that we’re reading too much into this; the art of taking offense needlessly on the internet is not hard to master, and these are arguably not the most objective or representative samplings of public opinion on bisexuality. Maybe we’re a little softhearted towards Vivien Leigh because she’s pretty and Bisexual Production Assistant because she kind of reminds us of someone we possibly hooked up with a few times. But also, man, you guys! What is your deal! What did we ever do to you? | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Project Summary Intranasal oxytocin (OT) decreases alcohol craving and affective dysfunction in abstinent alcoholics, providing a potential pharmacotherapy for alcoholism. Excessive habitual ethanol use dysregulates mesocorticolimbic reward circuitry which may include decreased OT activation of neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Here, we propose that ethanol dysregulation of OT signaling specifically alters oxytocinergic innervation and OT receptor (OTR) expression within the VTA, which in turn, facilitates ethanol-seeking in an effort to maintain VTA activation. Recently, we discovered that VTA neurons that synthesize glutamate (GLU) and dopamine (DA) express OTRs indicating the complexity of OT regulation of VTA function and reward. Our use of advanced neuroanatomical techniques combined with in vivo optogenetics provides a unique opportunity to quantify ethanol-induced plasticity in OT signaling in the VTA as well as the consequences of this plasticity on reward seeking behavior. Specifically, we will use genetically altered mice, directed viral gene transfer, and in vivo optogenetics to identify and manipulate pre- and post-synaptic OT signaling in the VTA after daily binge ethanol intoxication. These studies will test the overall hypothesis that manipulations of pre- and post-synaptic OT signaling in the VTA alters reward states and that OT regulation of VTA circuitry and positive reinforcement is impaired by daily binge ethanol intoxication. Aim 1 will quantify the impact of daily binge ethanol intoxication on the number and phenotype of OTR-expressing neurons in the VTA by delivering Cre- inducible adenoassociated virus to mice that have Cre recombinase directed to the OTR gene (OTR-Cre). The effects of daily binge ethanol on hypothalamic OT mRNA and oxytocinergic innervation of the VTA will be quantified using amplified in situ hybridization and mice with Cre recombinase directed to the OT gene. Aim 2, will reveal functional consequences of ethanol-induced structural plasticity by evaluating how daily ethanol intoxication affects operant responding for stimulation of presynaptic or post-synaptic OT signaling within the VTA, which will be recapitulated using in vivo optogenetics. These experiments will determine whether daily binge ethanol decreases OT reward signaling by altering OT fibers and/or OTR expression by DA and GLU neurons in the VTA. Elucidating the impact of daily binge ethanol intake on endogenous OT regulation of VTA neurons will inform pathophysiologic mechanisms of alcohol use disorder and guide the development of novel therapeutic interventions for alcohol use disorders, particularly as they might differ according to sex. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | NIH ExPorter |
Frank Nicklin
Sir George Francis Reuben Nicklin, (6 August 1895 – 29 January 1978) was an Australian politician. He was the Premier of Queensland from 1957 to 1968, the first non Labor Party premier since 1932.
Early life and career
Nicklin was born in Murwillumbah, New South Wales on 6 August 1895, the son of newspaper proprietor George Francis Nicklin and his New Zealand-born wife, Edith Catherine, née Bond. He was educated at Murwillumbah Public School and Highfield College in Turramurra, Sydney. In 1910 the family moved to Beerwah in Queensland, where Nicklin's father took up banana farming. Nicklin enrolled in the army in 1916 served with distinction during World War I, where he was promoted to corporal and was awarded the Military Medal. On his return to Queensland he bought a small pineapple farm at Palmwoods, 100 kilometres north of Brisbane, through a soldier-settler scheme. Nicklin saved wisely and put his farming experience to good use, and his farm succeeded where many others failed. He led many fruit-growers' organisations, and then became involved in Country Party politics.
When the Member for the solid Country Party seat of Murrumba retired in 1932, Nicklin became the new candidate for the hybrid urban-regional seat in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. He won the seat, although the Country and Progressive National Party Government of A. E. Moore was heavily defeated. Nicklin, therefore, entered Parliament as a humble opposition backbencher. He transferred to the newly created Sunshine Coast seat of Landsborough in 1950.
Nicklin was a popular and hardworking local member, and remained popular throughout very difficult times for the Country Party in Queensland. The opposition was fractured and weak, and the Government of William Forgan Smith very secure. Nicklin's preferred area was agriculture, and he made many speeches on the subject.
In 1941 the opposition suffered another severe defeat, with Labor winning 41 seats to the Country Party's 14 and the United Australia Party's four. After the election, the Queensland caucuses of the two non-Labor parties decided to merge as the Country-National Organisation. Opposition leader Ted Maher stood down, and Nicklin was elected to lead the merged party. The merger fell apart in 1944, but Nicklin remained as head of a Country-UAP coalition.
Nicklin was leader of the opposition for sixteen years, losing five elections in a row (1944, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1956). In 1942 Labor abolished full preferential voting in favour of first-past-the-post, meaning that the Country Party and UAP could no longer rely on each other's preferences in seats that they both contested. Even more damaging to the coalition's chances was the introduction of a zonal electoral system in 1949, in which seats in the traditional Labor north and west of the state required fewer members than the Country-Party dominated south-east or the Queensland People's Party (formerly UAP, soon to be the Liberals) dominated metropolitan areas.
Despite these setbacks, Nicklin was never challenged for the leadership. Many coalition members appeared to have despaired of ever defeating Labor, and were content to simply represent their constituencies. Accordingly, Nicklin was left to handle most of the business of opposition. He acknowledged to a 1955 conference of leading Country Party figures that their chances of ever being seated to the right of the speaker were slim, but he continued as opposition leader anyway. After the 1956 election, in which he was severely defeated by Labor's Vince Gair, Nicklin considered retiring from politics. However, his fortunes would soon change.
The late 1950s saw increasing fear of communism in Australia, and increasing tensions between the Parliamentary Labor Party and the party's union-dominated Central Executive (QCE) in Queensland. These tensions boiled over in 1957, when the QCE pushed the Government to introduce three weeks' paid leave for public servants. Gair refused, and Nicklin backed him, arguing that the QCE was dominated by unaccountable left-wing trade union leaders with communist sympathies.
On 24 April Gair was expelled from the ALP, and he and his supporters formed the Queensland Labor Party (QLP). This body would later join the anti-communist Democratic Labor Party (DLP) which had arisen out of a split in the ALP in Victoria. Reduced to a minority government, Gair negotiated with Nicklin for support from the Country Party in Parliament. However, Nicklin broke them off at the suggestion of federal Country Party leader Arthur Fadden (himself a Queenslander), who believed that given the ructions in Labor, Nicklin had a good chance to become Premier himself.
On 12 June 1957, Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice of Queensland Alan Mansfield (Governor John Lavarack was indisposed) ordered Parliament to reassemble. Shortly after 10:30 pm that night, Treasurer Ted Walsh moved that supply be granted to the Gair QLP government. The remnants of the ALP, now led by Jack Duggan, crossed the floor and voted against the Government. Sensing his long-denied chance had come, Nicklin instructed the Coalition to block supply as well, bringing the Gair government down. It had been the shortest session of Parliament in Queensland's history.
Premiership
In the ensuing 3 August elections, every QLP MP faced an ALP challenger, while every ALP MP faced a QLP challenger. This created dozens of three-cornered contests, and the two Labor factions could not direct preferences to each other even if they'd wanted to do so.
Taking advantage of the split in the Labor vote, Nicklin's Country-Liberal coalition came to power with 42 seats – the first non-Labor Government since 1932. The two Labor factions won only 31 seats between them. Nicklin was the first of six consecutive Country/National Party leaders to become Premier.
Nicklin's first priority was to reverse the zonal electoral system in favour of his Government. Nicklin's redistribution was fairer than Hanlon's, but it still favoured the Country Party. The far-western region went down from five seats to three, and the provincial cities (which had traditionally voted ALP) were separated from their hinterlands, in which new Country Party seats were created. As a result, Liberals gained new seats in Brisbane, and in return they agreed not to contest the zonal electoral system, despite the fact that it allowed the Country Party to be the senior coalition partner even if it won fewer votes than the Liberal Party (which it did after 1966). Another electoral reform in the form of compulsory preferential voting was introduced in 1960, when it became clear that the QLP no longer posed a threat, and that QLP voters were likely to give their preferences to a Country-Liberal coalition over the ALP in any event. Largely on the strength of QLP preferences, the Coalition scored a healthy four-seat swing in the 1960 state election—the first time since 1912 that a non-Labor government had been reelected. The QLP eventually became the Queensland branch of the Democratic Labor Party.
The Country and Liberal Parties enjoyed a harmonious relationship, with Nicklin and Liberal leader Kenneth Morris being friends as well as colleagues. The parties had some disputes over seat allocation in the mid-1960s, and Morris was not always an easy man to work with, but on the whole the Nicklin Government saw a period of remarkably cordial relations between the Nationals and Liberals, especially compared with the strife of later years. Morris retired in 1962 and was succeeded by Sir Alan Munro, also a staunch coalitionist. After only three years, Munro handed the Liberal leadership to Sir Gordon Chalk, who was also a very staunch coalitionist.
By comparison with the political turbulence in Queensland during the 1950s and the 1970s, the 1960s were singularly subdued. Primarily the Nicklin Government concentrated on employment relations and on developing the state's infrastructure. In general, Nicklin saw little reason to lose electoral capital by passing tough industrial relations laws during times of prosperity. However, the most serious crises of the Nicklin Premiership were based in poor handling of unions.
In 1961, at Morris' insistence, the old Industrial Court was replaced by the Industrial Relations and Arbitration Commission, which had less power. It could not raise award payments, although it could decrease them. At the time, the miners of Mount Isa Mines (MIM) were lodging a claim for a wage rise, which could not go through the new commission. This resulted in a strike which only ended with an uneasy truce. The dispute broke out again in 1964, and again the mine needed to be closed down. Here, Nicklin acted erratically. First he did nothing for months, then passed a harsh order-in-council expanding police powers to deal with the strike. This came just as the issues behind the strike were being resolved, and caused the negotiations to break down again. While the mines could eventually reopen, Nicklin was condemned for poor handling of the crisis.
As he was leading a government that lacked experience, Nicklin knew that he would be relying heavily on Queensland's leading bureaucrats. He treated the public service union with care, restoring the privilege of a half-day's leave to visit the annual exhibition.
Nicklin viewed his own achievements as Premier in terms of state development. Like most Queensland Premiers, he believed in building and capital works. Under Nicklin, road mileage doubled, irrigated land doubled, and a number of projects such as the Moogerah Dam were undertaken. Mining boomed – total mining output almost trebled, and Weipa became the largest bauxite mine in the world. The Nicklin Government, especially through effective Treasurers such as Tom Hiley, was good at attracting foreign customers for Queensland's minerals and other produce.
Probably Nicklin is best remembered for his probity, which earned him the nickname 'Honest Frank'. It is not recorded who first coined the term, but it spread quickly and was widely accepted, even by Nicklin's opponents, as being accurate. Nicklin was not widely known when he became Premier, and while he was too modest a man to indulge in self-aggrandising publicity he was skilled enough as a politician to benefit from the way in which his reputation for decency stuck with him.
Nicklin held his Cabinet to high standards. He was only forced to dismiss ministers on two occasions, once for tax evasion and once for a sexual harassment scandal, and in both cases he lied to cover the real reasons for the ministers' departure. These stories seem to be the only deliberate untruths he ever told to the public while in office. Nicklin's hold over his cabinet was firm, and there was no question that ministers who could not live up to Nicklin's standards were summarily dismissed.
From 1966 Nicklin's health declined markedly, and at the end of 1967 he announced that he would retire from politics on 17 January 1968. He had served 35 years in the legislature and 27 years as leader of the non-Labor forces in Queensland. His 10 years and five months as Premier was then a Queensland record. In 1968 he was knighted, and in a rare concession to formality chose to be dubbed 'Sir Francis'. He died on 29 January 1978, aged 82. At his own choice, he was not given the pomp and ceremony of a state funeral.
Assessment
In many ways, Nicklin broke the mould of Queensland Premiers. Neither authoritarian nor populist in temperament, he was willing to share the power for which he had been forced to wait many years, and he was prepared to defer to those whom he knew to possess greater knowledge or talent than he. Both of these traits made his Government successful. His outstanding achievement was probably the mere fact that his Premiership was such a quiet and uneventful time. He was friendly and well liked by the people of Queensland, and was known as 'the gentleman Premier'.
Still, there is some debate over whether Nicklin's geniality was entirely genuine or whether it concealed an iron fist. There were rumours that he inspired fear in his cabinet, although this is common among successful Premiers and Prime Ministers. He remains something of a paradox – determined yet open, honest and outwardly benevolent. Not the wisest or most imaginative of Queensland Premiers, he nonetheless achieved a good deal without needing to hog the limelight. He was lucky to have been in office during a time of stability and prosperity, and it is true that his administration benefited from the parlous state of the ALP after Gair's downfall. Even so, his Premiership is generally considered by historians to have been a success.
The state electorate of Nicklin and the Nicklin Way arterial road, both based on the Sunshine Coast, are named in his honour.
References
Further reading
Stevenson, B. (2003). "George Francis Reuben Nicklin – The Gentleman Premier," in The Premiers of Queensland (Eds. Denis Murphy, Roger Joyce, Margaret Cribb and Rae Wear), University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia.
Category:1895 births
Category:1978 deaths
Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Queensland
Category:Premiers of Queensland
Category:Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Category:Australian politicians awarded knighthoods
Category:Australian recipients of the Military Medal
Category:Leaders of the Opposition in Queensland
Category:20th-century Australian politicians | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., Monday denied the Trump administration’s attempt to move lawsuits challenging President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE’s national monument rollbacks to a Utah court.
In a brief order that did not explain her reasoning, Judge Tanya Chutkan said she wouldn’t move the three cases challenging Trump’s cuts to the Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
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The Justice Department argued that since the protected areas are in Utah, the case would be appropriately heard in federal court there.
“The presidential proclamation modifying the monument was signed in Utah; the implementation of the proclamation will occur in Utah; and that implementation will most directly affect Utah residents,” attorneys for Trump wrote in similar motions in the various cases.
“Transfer is warranted because that strong local interest outweighs the District of Columbia’s tie to the claims and plaintiffs’ selection of this forum.”
Conservation and American Indian groups, including the Navajo Nation and the Sierra Club, said the D.C. court is more appropriate because parties bringing lawsuits have a degree of deference in picking the venue, among other reasons.
“We are pleased that Federal Judge Tanya S. Chutkan has agreed that it is the right of plaintiffs to choose where they sue. This includes the tribal sovereign nations seeking to protect Bears Ears and is why the lawsuits opposing Trump’s actions can rightfully be heard in a federal court in the U.S. Capital,” Nada Culver, senior counsel for the Wilderness Society, one of the groups involved with the cases, said in a statement.
“National monuments belong to all Americans and not just individual states or the special interest groups that would exploit them for mining, drilling and development,” she said.
Chutkan was nominated to the bench by former President Barack Obama Barack Hussein ObamaThe Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Obama shares phone number to find out how Americans are planning to vote Democrats' troubling adventure in a 'Wonderland' without 'rule of law' MORE, who created the original Bears Ears monument in 2016.
The cases concern Trump’s decisions in December 2017 to shrink the size of Bears Ears by about 85 percent and Grand Staircase Escalante by about half. Trump argued that both southern Utah sites unnecessarily restricted activity from nearby residents.
Obama created Bears Ears and former President Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonEpstein podcast host says he affiliated with elites from 'both sides of the aisle' Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court Business groups start gaming out a Biden administration MORE created Grand Staircase Escalante to protect what they saw as important artifacts, ecosystems, Indian cultural sites and other features. They used the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives presidents wide authority to protect land that is already owned by the federal government.
The conservation and Indian groups say the Antiquities Act doesn’t allow Trump or any other president to revoke or shrink an existing monument.
In her order, Chutkan also ordered the Trump administration to notify the litigants two days in advance of any “ground-disturbing” activities in the former monument areas, such as mining or exploration for minerals.
She also asked all of the parties involved to propose a schedule to submit briefs laying out their arguments in the underlying case. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Introduction {#s1}
============
To understand how the neocortex processes sensory information, we need to establish the relationship between the functional properties of individual neurons and the wiring diagram that connects them together. One of the main obstacles to this goal is that sensory responses can only be measured *in vivo* whereas neuronal connectivity is typically mapped *in vitro*. By gaining access to the subthreshold membrane potential, *in vivo* intracellular recordings partially bridged this gap and greatly improved our understanding of the synaptic underpinnings of sensory receptive fields (Borg-Graham et al., [@B4]; Bringuier et al., [@B5]; Hirsch et al., [@B20]; Priebe and Ferster, [@B39]; Wehr and Zador, [@B54]; Higley and Contreras, [@B18]; Tan et al., [@B50]). However, intracellular recordings alone cannot disentangle the functional properties of individual synapses distributed across the dendritic tree. Recent progress in optical imaging techniques has created new opportunities to examine the functional connectivity of cortical neurons (Jia et al., [@B24]; Marshel et al., [@B33]; Bock et al., [@B3]; Chen et al., [@B7]; Ko et al., [@B30]; Rancz et al., [@B40]; Varga et al., [@B52]). In particular, the Konnerth group has been able to successfully image dendritic sensory responses of putative synaptic origin in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons *in vivo*, across several areas of the mouse neocortex (Jia et al., [@B24]; Chen et al., [@B7]; Varga et al., [@B52], also see Svoboda et al., [@B46], [@B47]; Helmchen et al., [@B17]; Takahashi et al., [@B48]). Individual neurons were labeled with a fluorescent calcium-sensitive dye through a patch pipette before imaging evoked responses in dendrites with two-photon microscopy. These sensory-evoked calcium signals were then used to infer the functional properties of presynaptic inputs and analyze their organization on the dendritic tree. Importantly, to ensure that the dendritic calcium signals are of synaptic origin, spikes must be prevented from back-propagating into the dendrites (Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). This was achieved by injecting current through the patch electrode to hyperpolarize the neuron below spike threshold.
{#F1}
To date, the mouse is the only mammalian species where dendritic synaptic inputs have been imaged *in vivo*. However in primates, cats and ferrets, the primary visual cortex (V1) is organized into precise maps for a variety of stimulus attributes, e.g., orientation, direction, ocular dominance, and binocular disparity (Grinvald et al., [@B16]; Hubener et al., [@B21]; Ohki et al., [@B36]; Kara and Boyd, [@B26]). These feature maps may be associated with wiring strategies that are different from those used in rodent V1.
Unfortunately, stable long-lasting patch recordings with simultaneous sub-cellular imaging *in vivo* are more challenging in large mammals. Significant brain pulsations are associated with respiration and heartbeat. The cortical tissue may also be more opaque under two-photon microscopy in non-rodent mammals like cats. Moreover the feline arachnoid and pia are relatively thick and tough, so a large positive pressure is needed to keep the tip of the patch electrode clear of cellular debris. Large positive pressure is impractical, because it may lead to an accelerated accumulation of fluorescent dye in the extracellular space, which will reduce the calcium indicator signal-to-noise ratio in dendrites (Jia et al., [@B25]). Thus not as many whole-cell recordings may be attempted at a given cortical site in cats compared to rodents. Together, these limitations make imaging the dendrites of whole-cell patched neurons very difficult in the non-rodent mammalian brain.
As an alternative to whole-cell patch, a sharp intracellular microelectrode can be used to load the calcium indicator into the neuron and record the membrane potential (Jaffe et al., [@B23]; Svoboda et al., [@B46], [@B47]; Helmchen et al., [@B17]). Intracellular recordings *in vivo* can be obtained in cat V1 using both techniques, but typically last longer with sharp than with patch electrodes (Borg-Graham et al., [@B4]; Bringuier et al., [@B5]). Moreover, due to the small tip diameter of the sharp pipette, dye leakage in the extracellular milieu is negligible. Thus, several attempts at intracellular recording are possible in the same cortical region of interest without changing the electrode. Once intracellular access has been gained, the neuron can be loaded quickly by applying current of the appropriate sign (Svoboda et al., [@B46], [@B47]; Helmchen et al., [@B17]). However, due to the large impedance of sharp electrodes, even with good quality recordings (high input resistance) it may be difficult to inject sufficient current to hyperpolarize the membrane potential below spike threshold during a barrage of sensory-evoked EPSPs.
In the present study, we evaluated three different strategies to prevent spiking in neurons loaded with a calcium indicator via a sharp electrode: (1) hyperpolarization by injection of negative current, (2) pharmacological intracellular blockade of voltage-gated sodium channels with QX-314, and (3) near-somatic ejection of GABA from an iontophoresis electrode glued to the sharp intracellular electrode. The last strategy currently appears to be the most promising tool for mapping the functional connectivity in the neocortex of non-rodent mammals.
Materials and methods {#s2}
=====================
Animal preparation
------------------
Physiological experiments were performed in cats of either sex (postnatal days 28--42). All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Medical University of South Carolina and were based on those previously published (Kara and Boyd, [@B26]; O\'Herron et al., [@B35]; Shen et al., [@B41]). Anesthesia was induced by IM injection of ketamine (20 mg/kg) and acepromazine (0.2 mg/kg) and maintained by isofluorane (1--2% during surgery, 0.5--1% during imaging). The depth of anesthesia was assessed throughout the experiment by monitoring the electrocardiogram and the electroencephalogram. The animal was paralyzed with vecuronium bromide (0.2 mg/kg/h, IV) and artificially ventilated through a tracheal cannula. The end tidal CO~2~ was maintained between 3.5% and 4.5%. A heating pad maintained the rectal temperature between 37.0 and 38.0°C. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, IM) and atropine (0.1 mg/kg, subcutaneous) were injected to prevent inflammatory reactions and to reduce secretions, respectively. A headplate was cemented to the skull over the primary visual cortex, a 1.5 mm × 3 mm craniotomy was performed and the dura was resected. To reduce heart and respiratory induced pulsations, the underlying cortex was covered with warm agarose (2.5% in ACSF) and the craniotomy was sealed by a coverglass (5 mm diameter, 0.17 mm thick, World Precision Instruments) (see Figure [2A](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Additional warm agarose was applied to the edge of the coverglass and adjacent bone for increased stability (Figure [2A](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). The coverglass had a \~1 mm diameter hole to allow access for the microelectrodes (Figures [2A,B](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). The hole was pre-drilled in the coverglass before the experiment started by placing the coverglass on a silicone-coated slide and using a carbide \#1 (Miltex) dental bur (Figure [A1](#FA1){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix).
{ref-type="fig"} in Appendix for detailed steps on the assembly of double barrel electrodes.](fncir-06-00101-g0002){#F2}
Visual stimulation
------------------
Drifting (2 Hz, 25--100% contrast) square- or sine-wave gratings were presented at a variety of orientations, directions of motion, spatial frequencies, spatial positions, binocular phase disparities, and monocularly through the left or right eye. For ocular dominance or binocular disparity assays, each animal viewed monoptic and dichoptic stimuli displayed on a CRT monitor (160 Hz) through custom ultra-fast ferroelectric liquid crystal shutters. All other tests were conducted monocularly through the dominant eye. Visual stimuli were presented for 4--8 s interspersed with equal duration blank periods and the stimulus sequence was repeated 2--10 times.
Intracellular electrophysiological recording and dye loading
------------------------------------------------------------
Sharp microelectrodes were pulled from filamented borosilicate glass capillaries (1.5 mm/0.84 mm, outer/inner diameter) using a horizontal micropipette puller (P-97, Sutter Instrument Company). The resistance of the microelectrodes was \~90 MΩ (range 70--110 MΩ) when filled with 2 M potassium methyl sulfate (Acros Organics) and 2--4 mM Oregon Green BAPTA-1 (OGB-1) hexapotassium salt (Life Technologies) at pH = 7.3--7.5. In some cases the pipette solution also contained 20--100 mM QX-314 (Alomone Labs) to block voltage gated sodium channels (Figure [2C](#F2){ref-type="fig"}) and 200 μM Alexa Fluor 633 hydrazide (Alexa 633) (Life Technologies) to label neurons with a red, calcium-insensitive dye. Intracellular membrane potentials were recorded using an Axoclamp 2B amplifier (Molecular Devices) in bridge mode. Signals were low-pass filtered at 3 kHz and digitized at 10 kHz using Micro1401 hardware and Spike2 software (Cambridge Electronic Design). Electrodes were inserted at a 30° angle and advanced to 200--400 μm below the pia, until a neuron was impaled. Immediately after impalement, negative current was delivered to stabilize the recording and to help the diffusion of the negatively charged OGB-1 into the neuron. The neurons included in our data set had resting membrane potentials of −65.5 ± 10.4 mV, input resistances of 37.7 ± 10.7 MΩ and spike heights of 44.6 ± 8.0 mV (all values mean ± SD). Dendrites were sufficiently labeled for calcium imaging 20--30 min after impalement. We used this loading time to map the preferred orientation, the preferred spatial frequency, the ocular dominance and the receptive field location of the spiking responses.
Double barrel electrodes and GABA iontophoresis
-----------------------------------------------
Iontophoresis electrodes were pulled using the same type of glass capillaries as for sharp electrodes. The puller program was modified so that the shank length of the iontophoretic electrode was comparable to the sharp electrode (\~8--9 mm) and the tip diameter was larger for the iontophoresis electrode (\~1 μm) than for the sharp electrode (\<0.2 μm). The iontophoresis electrode was bent to an angle of \~30° by pressing on the shank (\~5 mm above the tip) with a 16G needle during exposure to the heating filament of a vertical puller (PE-2, Narishige, see Figure [A2](#FA2){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix). The iontophoresis electrode was mounted on an electrode holder connected to a micromanipulator, while the sharp electrode was mounted on a glass slide using molding clay (Figure [A3](#FA3){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix). The tip of the sharp electrode was brought into focus under the 10× objective (UPlanFl N 0.3 NA, 10 mm WD) of a brightfield microscope. Then, the shank of the iontophoresis electrode was brought in close apposition to the shank of the sharp electrode by using the micromanipulator (Figure [2D](#F2){ref-type="fig"} and Figure [A4](#FA4){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix). The tip of the sharp electrode protruded in front of the tip of the iontophoretic electrode by \<20 μm. A thin layer of optical glue (NOA 81, Norland Products) was applied on the shanks with a 23G needle, as close as possible to the tips without clogging them, and cured by exposure to UV light (ELC 410, Electro-Lite Corporation) (Figure [A4](#FA4){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix). The iontophoresis electrode was then filled with 0.5 M GABA (pH \~5.5) and 50 μM Alexa Fluor 594 hydrazide (Alexa 594) (Life Technologies) (Figure [A4](#FA4){ref-type="fig"} in Appendix). Iontophoretic currents were generated by a current source (Microiontophoresis Current Programmer 260, World Precision Instruments). Before placing the double barrel electrode in the cortex, we checked that the two electrodes were not clogged by passing current through each of them. Leakage of GABA during electrode advancement in the cortex was prevented by using retention currents of −8 to −10 nA. Each time we obtained a stable intracellular recording, we determined the minimal ejection current necessary for suppressing the spike responses to optimal visual stimuli. This current, typically +5 to +10 nA, was then applied during functional dendritic imaging.
Two-photon imaging
------------------
### Hardware
OGB-1 fluorescence was monitored using a custom-built microscope (Prairie Technologies) coupled with a Mai Tai Deep See (Newport Spectra-Physics) mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser (810 nm or 920 nm). Excitation light was focused by a water-immersion objective (Olympus LUMPlan Fl/IR 40×, 0.8 NA, 3.3 mm WD). The average power delivered to the brain was kept below 40 mW. Two non-descanned photomultiplier tube (PMT) detector channels (Hamamatsu R3896) were used with a primary dichroic (700dcxr, Chroma) and IR blocking filter (ET 700 sp-2p8, Chroma), and barrier filters (Chroma) customized for the fluorophores of interest: ET 525/50m-2p for OGB-1, ET 665/40m-2p for Alexa 633, and HQ 645/70m-2p for Alexa 594 (see Shen et al., [@B41]). Scanning was performed using two 6 mm galvanometer mirrors. After dendritic functional imaging, z-stacks were acquired for *post-hoc* reconstruction of the dendritic tree in Neurolucida software (MBF Bioscience).
### Intracellular loading of OGB-1 salt for dendritic imaging
Sharp microelectrodes included 2--4 mM Oregon Green BAPTA-1 (OGB-1) hexapotassium salt, as described above (see "Intracellular Electrophysiological Recording and Dye Loading").
### Bulk loading of OGB-1 AM for population cell body imaging
Our procedure was adapted from Stosiek et al. ([@B45]) and described in detail elsewhere (Kara and Boyd, [@B26]; O\'Herron et al., [@B35]; Shen et al., [@B41]). Briefly, 50 μg of OGB-1 AM (Life Technologies) were dissolved in 4 μl DMSO with 20% pluronic acid F-127 (Sigma). This solution was further diluted to 1:10 with pipette solution (150 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM KCl, 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4), for a final concentration of 1 mM OGB-1 AM. The solution also included Alexa 594 (50 μM) for pipette visualization. This dye solution was loaded in a patch pipette (tip diameter \~1--2 μm) and pressure ejected (50--90 pulses, 1.0 s pulse duration, 2--10 psi) into the cortex \~200 μm below the pia. After an hour the dye was fully taken up by neurons.
### Analysis of calcium transients
XY-T images of OGB labeled neurons were analyzed using customized Matlab (Mathworks) software. Regions of cortex were imaged at 364 × 353 pixels (42 × 41 μm) to 512 × 512 pixels (300 × 300 μm) at 0.64--1.64 s per frame. Images were realigned by maximizing the correlation between frames.
For OGB-1 AM bulk-loading experiments, cell bodies were identified automatically through a series of morphological filters that defined the contours of cell bodies based on intensity, size and shape. Dendritic segments were initially \~2 μm in size, selected manually. Based on the similarity of response selectivity in adjacent dendritic segments, in subsequent iterations of the analysis we increased the size of each segment up to 25 μm. In a given iteration, all segments had the same size. For the purposes of comparing the three methods of spike suppression, only a small representative subset of visually responsive dendritic segments are shown in Figures [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}--[8](#F8){ref-type="fig"}.
{#F3}
Time courses of calcium transients were extracted by calculating mean pixel values within cell bodies or dendritic segments. The fluorescence during visual stimulation was divided by the average fluorescence during the 4--8 s baseline period prior to each stimulus to obtain the visually evoked change in fluorescence (ΔF/F). Visually responsive cell bodies or dendritic segments were defined by ANOVA across blank and *n* visual stimuli (*p* \< 0.01). Cell bodies or dendritic segments selective for particular stimuli were defined by ANOVA across *n* stimulus periods (*p* \< 0.01).
### Spatial extent of suppression during GABA iontophoresis
An iontophoresis electrode was positioned in the center of a region of layer 2/3 cortex that was bulk-loaded with OGB-1 AM. In the first control, somatic calcium indicator responses to gratings drifting in one direction were measured before, during and after GABA iontophoresis at varying current intensities (Figure [9](#F9){ref-type="fig"}). The residual response in each cell was quantified as (R~GABA~/R~control~) × 100, where R~control~ and R~GABA~ are the responses before and during GABA iontophoresis, respectively. This ratio is sensitive to noise in very weakly responsive cells. Thus, when plotting the residual response as a function of distance from the GABA electrode (Figure [9F](#F9){ref-type="fig"}), visually responsive cell bodies that showed no significant difference in the presence and absence of GABA (*t*-test, *p* \< 0.05) were scored 100 (no effect). In a second control, eight directions of drifting gratings were presented to assess the orientation selectivity index (OSI) of each cell in the presence and absence of GABA (see Figure [10](#F10){ref-type="fig"}): $$\text{OSI} = \,\frac{\sqrt{\left( {\sum R\left( \mathbf{\theta} \right)\sin\left( {2\mathbf{\theta}} \right)} \right)^{2} + \left( {\sum R\left( \mathbf{\theta} \right)\cos\left( {2\mathbf{\theta}} \right)} \right)^{2}}}{\sum R\left( \mathbf{\theta} \right)}$$ where *R*(θ) is the response at stimulus orientation θ.
Intrinsic signal optical imaging of orientation maps
----------------------------------------------------
Intrinsic signals were recorded as described elsewhere (O\'Herron et al., [@B35]). Briefly, the cortical surface was illuminated with red light (630 nm) while the animal viewed stimuli of varying orientations (5 s duration interspersed with 14 s long blanks, 8 directions of motion, 4--8 repeats). The reflected light was captured using an air objective (Olympus UPLFLN 4×, 0.13 NA, 17 mm WD) focused 600 μm below the surface and recorded by a CCD camera (Adimec-1000) mounted on the two-photon microscope. False color orientation maps were generated in Matlab by vector averaging the responses at each pixel in the region of interest.
Results {#s3}
=======
Sharp electrodes were used to record the membrane potential and infuse OGB-1 salt in 31 pyramidal neurons in layer 2/3 of the cat visual cortex. In 16 of these neurons, recording durations were long enough to measure the membrane potential while imaging visually evoked responses on dendrites (median recording duration: 80 min, range: 25--200 min). In a given neuron, visually evoked spikes were suppressed by one of the following strategies: (1) hyperpolarization by injection of a constant negative current (*n* = 5 neurons); (2) blockade of voltage-sensitive sodium channels by including QX-314 in the electrode solution (*n* = 7 neurons); or (3) GABA iontophoresis near the soma of the intracellularly recorded neuron from an iontophoresis electrode glued to the sharp electrode (*n* = 4 neurons).
Spike suppression by negative current injection
-----------------------------------------------
The effectiveness of negative current injection in preventing spikes varied across neurons and depended also on the type of visual stimulus presented. The neuron shown in Figure [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"} was recorded upon the presentation of monocular visual stimuli. Spikes were prevented by reducing the contrast of the gratings to 25%, and by injecting −0.5 nA of current intracellularly. At the same time, we imaged OGB-1 fluorescence in an oblique dendrite. We found that ocular dominance varied along the length of the dendrite. One segment (Site 1) responded only to stimulation through the ipsilateral eye, whereas an adjacent segment (Site 2) responded both to stimuli presented to the ipsi- or the contralateral eye (Figure [3E](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). Since spikes were prevented by negative current injection (see intracellular membrane potential traces in Figure [3D](#F3){ref-type="fig"}), the differences in ocular dominance between the two imaged sites are likely of synaptic origin. However in 2 of 5 neurons, negative current injection was insufficient to prevent spiking in response to optimal stimuli. For the neuron shown in Figure [4](#F4){ref-type="fig"}, visually-evoked responses were recorded by presenting optimal gratings varying in binocular phase disparity (contrast 50%). At the preferred disparity phase, spiking was prevented during some repeats but not during others (compare membrane potential traces in blue and red, Figure [4C](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). As a result, the disparity phase preference of the imaged basal dendrite shifted from 0° in the absence of spikes, toward 45°, the preferred phase of the spike responses (blue vs. red in Figures [4D,F](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). Moreover, all eight dendritic segments examined had the same preferred phase disparity when spikes leaked but a wider range of preferred disparities when no spikes occurred (data not shown). Thus, as seen in the mouse neocortex (Jia et al., [@B24]), spikes back-propagating from the soma can invade the basal dendrites of cat layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons and mask the functional properties of the local dendritic inputs. We therefore investigated pharmacological strategies to prevent spiking.
{#F4}
Spike suppression by intracellular QX-314
-----------------------------------------
QX-314 is a membrane-impermeant lidocaine derivative which blocks voltage-gated sodium channels when applied intracellularly (Connors and Prince, [@B8]). In the cat visual cortex, we found that 100 mM QX-314 blocked sodium spikes in the recorded neurons (0 of 2, 1 of 2, and 3 of 3 neurons suppressed with 20, 50, and 100 mM QX-314, respectively). In these neurons where sodium spikes were blocked, stimuli moving in different directions still evoked large membrane depolarizations (Figure [5](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). While recording the membrane potential of the neuron, we also measured changes in calcium indicator fluorescence in basal dendrites, which showed responses to a broad range of orientations and directions (Figure [5D](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). However visual stimuli also evoked QX-insensitive spikelets with amplitude (10--20 mV) and duration (10--20 ms) similar to dendritic calcium spikes previously observed in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons (Figures [5E,F](#F5){ref-type="fig"}, compare with Hirsch et al., [@B19]; Svoboda et al., [@B46], [@B47]; Larkum et al., [@B31]). Thus, it is unclear whether the dendritic responses originated entirely from local synaptic inputs, or whether they were influenced by dendritic spikes initiated elsewhere in the somato-dendritic tree.
{#F5}
Dendritic spikes (QX-insensitive spikelets) would blur the functional differences between synaptic inputs to distinct dendrites and could make a dendrite appear more broadly tuned than the local synaptic drive. QX-insensitive spikelets were a common feature in neurons when using 50--100 mM QX-314 (*n* = 5 of 7 neurons tested, also see Hirsch et al., [@B19]; Svoboda et al., [@B46]). QX-314 may facilitate the generation and propagation of calcium spikes by increasing the membrane resistance at resting potentials (Stafstrom et al., [@B43], [@B42]; Svoboda et al., [@B46]; Waters and Helmchen, [@B53]; Humeau and Lüthi, [@B22]). We could sometimes suppress these QX-insensitive spikelets by delivering additional negative current (also see Hirsch et al., [@B19]) and concomitantly obtain tuned calcium responses in dendritic segments (Figure [6](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). First, we found that intracellular injection of −0.7 nA current suppressed spontaneous QX-insensitive spikelets (Figure [6E](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). Second, when this current was applied during visual stimulation, we observed depolarizing plateau responses free of both sodium spikes and QX-insensitive spikelets (Figures [6C,F](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). Therefore the imaged dendritic responses were likely of synaptic origin, and informative of the orientation and direction tuning of neurons presynaptic to the recorded cell (Figure [6D](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). However in two other neurons, even large negative currents were insufficient to completely suppress QX-insensitive spikelets (not shown). We conclude that the potential effect of QX-314 on dendritic calcium electrogenesis may be difficult to control in some layer 2/3 neurons of the cat visual cortex.
{#F6}
Spike suppression by GABA iontophoresis
---------------------------------------
Pharmacological suppression of spiking can also be attained by iontophoresis of GABA in the vicinity of the intracellularly recorded neuron. To this end we assembled double-barrel electrodes consisting of one sharp intracellular electrode protruding slightly in front of an iontophoresis electrode (Figure [2D](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). After the sharp electrode impaled a neuron, we measured input resistance and recorded visually evoked spiking responses (see "Materials and Methods"). Thereafter, GABA was ejected from the iontophoresis electrode. When the tips of the two electrodes were less than 20 μm apart (Figure [7A](#F7){ref-type="fig"}), low iontophoretic currents (+5 to +10 nA) were sufficient to rapidly, completely, and reversibly quench spiking responses to optimal visual stimuli (Figure [7B](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). The amount of iontophoretic current necessary to prevent spiking was further minimized by the additional delivery of a small negative current through the sharp electrode. As a result, we were able to measure the orientation tuning of inputs on dendrites (Figure [7C](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). The preferred orientation matched that of the local cortical region, which was measured by intrinsic signal optical imaging (Figure [7D](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). The very small positive extracellular current (≤10 nA) we used for ejecting GABA did not in itself produce a depolarization since the membrane potential down state was unaffected (see horizontal dotted line in Figure [7B](#F7){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F7}
When the multi-barrel electrodes were fabricated with large inter-tip distances between the sharp intracellular and GABA iontophoretic electrodes, much more iontophoretic current (+70 nA) was necessary to suppress the responses to optimal stimuli (Figure [8](#F8){ref-type="fig"}). The larger quantity of GABA released could affect the functional dendritic inputs to the imaged neuron (Figure [8C](#F8){ref-type="fig"}) by inhibiting other neurons located in the vicinity of the tip of the iontophoresis electrode. Therefore it was essential to determine the relationship between the spatial extent of GABAergic inhibition and the intensity of the iontophoretic current.
{#F8}
In two separate control experiments, we labeled populations of layer 2/3 neurons with OGB-1 AM (*n* = 2 cats). First, we presented a stimulus whose orientation was near optimal for all the imaged neurons and measured the somatic calcium response while GABA was delivered from an iontophoresis electrode identical to those used for making double-barrel electrodes (Figure [9](#F9){ref-type="fig"}). As expected, GABA iontophoresis suppressed responses in cell bodies that were located close to the electrode, and this suppression increased in strength and spatial extent with the amplitude of the iontophoretic current. At low current intensities (+5 to +10 nA), suppression was restricted to a radius of \~50 μm around the electrode tip; neurons located more than 100 μm away were generally not suppressed (Figure [9](#F9){ref-type="fig"}). Second, we found that +5 to +10 nA GABA iontophoretic currents had little effect on the structure of the cortical orientation map (Figure [10](#F10){ref-type="fig"}). The preferred orientation across the imaged neurons was not significantly different before and during GABA iontophoresis (Kruskal--Wallis test, *p* = 0.13, *n* = 110 selective neurons). Orientation selectivity across the population was significantly decreased by GABA iontophoresis at +20 nA, but not at +5 nA and +10 nA (Figure [10C](#F10){ref-type="fig"}, Kruskal--Wallis and Tukey tests, *p* \< 0.05, *n* = 130 responsive neurons).
{#F9}
{#F10}
Discussion {#s4}
==========
We have shown that the location and selectivity of sensory-evoked synaptic inputs can be measured by changes in calcium indicator fluorescence on dendrites in the cat visual cortex. Subcellular mapping of functional inputs was possible only when action potentials in the recorded neuron were prevented, which we verified by intracellular sharp electrode recording. We compared different strategies to prevent spiking, and found that GABA ejection from a perisomatic iontophoresis electrode provided the best control. To our knowledge this is the first time that functional inputs have been mapped on the dendritic tree of cortical neurons in a non-rodent mammal.
The development of dendritic imaging using fluorescent calcium indicator proteins and synthetic dyes *in vivo* holds great promise for the study of cortical functional connectivity (see Grienberger and Konnerth, [@B15] for a review). Single-cell loading of synthetic calcium indicators was first achieved with sharp intracellular electrodes (*in vitro*: Jaffe et al., [@B23], *in vivo*: Svoboda et al., [@B46]). However the first successful functional imaging studies of dendritic synaptic inputs *in vivo* relied on whole-cell recording through patch electrodes (Jia et al., [@B24]; Chen et al., [@B7]; Varga et al., [@B52]). One advantage of the whole-cell patch electrode is that it offers good electrical access to the cell\'s interior, resulting in efficient control of neuronal activity. Moreover, the position of the electrode in the cortex can be adjusted to label a targeted neuron (Margrie et al., [@B32]; Nevian and Helmchen, [@B34]; Kitamura et al., [@B29]).
Compared to patch electrodes, sharp electrodes are much thinner, and therefore much more flexible. This flexibility provided good intracellular recording stability in the cat, after we dampened brain pulsations by covering the craniotomy with agarose and a coverglass. The time required for labeling neurons was comparable to the loading times reported previously in sharp and patch intracellular recordings (Svoboda et al., [@B46], [@B47]; Helmchen et al., [@B17]; Jia et al., [@B25]). Finally, since the dye does not accumulate in the extracellular space as the sharp electrode is advanced inside the neocortex, intracellular recordings can be attempted many times with the same electrode at a given cortical site. Thus, sharp recordings may provide higher rates of success for simultaneous intracellular recording and two-photon dendritic imaging in large experimental preparations.
Hyperpolarization by current injection through the sharp electrode is the most straightforward strategy to control spiking in the recorded neuron. In practice however, the maximum negative current our sharp electrodes can deliver is approximately −1 nA. This is seldom sufficient to completely prevent spikes in response to optimal binocular stimuli, which evoke a large excitatory drive in cat cortical neurons (Freeman and Ohzawa, [@B13]; Kara and Boyd, [@B26]). The current needed to block all spikes may be reduced by presenting low contrast stimuli or by mapping the receptive fields with sparse or dense noise, but the dendritic calcium signals would also be correspondingly weaker.
QX-314 is an appealing pharmacological alternative to current injection for blocking spikes (also see Takahashi et al., [@B48]), but it also has drawbacks. First, its action is fast and irreversible, thus precluding the comparison between functional inputs, i.e., synaptic/dendritic responses, and output, i.e., spiking responses. Second, QX-314 does not only block the voltage-gated sodium channels involved in spike generation; it also affects other sodium, potassium, and calcium conductances (Stafstrom et al., [@B43], [@B42]; Andreasen and Hablitz, [@B1]; Perkins and Wong, [@B38]; Talbot and Sayer, [@B49]). Intracellular infusion of QX-314 increases the membrane resistance of neocortical pyramidal neurons (Stafstrom et al., [@B43], [@B42]; Waters and Helmchen, [@B53]). This in turn may decrease the threshold for calcium spikes and facilitate their propagation across the dendritic tree (Svoboda et al., [@B46]; Paré and Lang, [@B37]; Humeau and Lüthi, [@B22]). Additional studies are needed to establish how QX-insensitive spikelets and their suppression by current injection depend on cell type and sub-laminar location.
Multi-barrel electrodes are typically used to study the *extracellular* responses to sensory stimuli during the iontophoretic administration of various pharmacological agents (Stone, [@B44]; Kara and Friedlander, [@B27]; Katzner et al., [@B28]). Double-barrel electrodes for simultaneous *intracellular* recording and local iontophoresis *in vivo* are much less common (but see Douglas and Martin, [@B10]; Frégnac and Shulz, [@B14]; Ego-Stengel et al., [@B11]; Ferron et al., [@B12]). We found that intracellular recordings *in vivo* were not more difficult to obtain with the double-barrel electrode, compared to the conventional single sharp electrode. Moreover, of the three spike suppression methods tested, local GABA iontophoresis offered the finest control such that the spiking responses to optimal binocular stimuli could be completely prevented with +5 to +10 nA of iontophoretic current. Our results and an earlier study (Ferron et al., [@B12]) suggest that the prevention of action potentials by local GABA micro-iontophoresis occurs primarily by shunting the membrane conductance with a minimal change in the resting membrane potential. These data are consistent with the high levels of expression of GABA~A~ receptors on the cell body and axon initial segment of cortical pyramidal neurons (Douglas et al., [@B9]). Moreover, unlike QX-314, suppression by GABA iontophoresis was reversible such that within a matter of minutes from switching from ejection to retention current, the visual response recovered completely. In addition, other types of regenerative potentials, e.g., dendritic spikes, were also absent during GABA iontophoresis, ensuring that the calcium responses we observed originated from local synapses.
Our double-barrel electrodes were fabricated such that the tip of the iontophoresis electrode was located close to the soma of the recorded neuron, enabling GABAergic inhibition of spikes at low current intensities. Delivering additional hyperpolarizing current intracellularly through the sharp electrode further minimized the GABA iontophoretic current that was needed to prevent all spikes. Most of the neurons suppressed by +5 to +10 nA GABA iontophoretic currents were located less than 50 μm away from the electrode tip. This corresponds to approximately 30 neurons (Beaulieu and Colonnier, [@B2]), of which \~10% are likely to send inputs to the soma and basal dendrites of the imaged neuron (Thomson et al., [@B51]). Thus, just a few of the many thousands of excitatory synaptic inputs on the imaged recorded neuron will be turned off by +5 to +10 nA GABA iontophoretic currents. Other neurons, whose dendrites cross into the region where GABA is released, may also become less responsive, but our data indicates that their tuning properties should be preserved: indeed with +5 to +10 nA GABA iontophoresis we did not observe any significant effect on the structure of the local orientation map and the OSI of the local population of neurons (Figure [10](#F10){ref-type="fig"}). In addition, the calcium influx in dendrites associated with synaptic activation of spines (Chen et al., [@B7]) may also be reduced in the vicinity of the iontophoresis electrode, but is unlikely to be vetoed because the vast majority of inhibitory synapses on dendrites are located on shafts, not spines (Douglas et al., [@B9]). Overall, these data and earlier studies suggest that while very local micro-iontophoretic application of GABA may affect the amplitude of the calcium influx at a small minority of the imaged synapses, their selectivity is unlikely to be affected. We do not recommend the use of GABA iontophoretic currents of +20 nA or higher because they distort local functional maps and selectivity (Figures [10B,C](#F10){ref-type="fig"}).
As a future development of our technique, intracellular recordings may not be required for dendritic functional imaging provided that the iontophoretic current has been calibrated for spike suppression in a particular preparation. Neurons could be sparsely labeled by electroporation or by a genetically encoded calcium indicator, e.g., GCaMP6 (Chen et al., [@B6]), and their spikes suppressed by GABA iontophoresis from a single electrode brought close to the labeled soma.
In conclusion, the choice of patch vs. sharp electrodes for dendritic functional imaging with synthetic dyes depends on the experimental model being used. In small animals such as rodents, patch electrodes are preferable, due to their lower impedance. In large mammals such as the cat, sharp electrodes may be more suitable, because they provide long-duration intracellular recordings and because the dye does not accumulate in the extracellular space as the pipette advances to the neuron. More generally, by providing a means to apply pharmacological agents such as neuromodulators or channel blockers *in vivo* while simultaneously imaging calcium responses in dendrites, double-barrel electrodes could advance our understanding of the role of synaptic plasticity and dendritic excitability during sensory processing.
Conflict of interest statement
------------------------------
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
We thank J. Kaufling for technical assistance with the fabrication of double barrel electrodes; G. Aston-Jones for the Axoclamp 2B amplifier; P. O\'Herron, J. Woodward, and A. Riegel for comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the US National Eye Institute (R01EY017925 and R21EY020985), Dana and Whitehall Foundations to Prakash Kara.
{#FA1}
{#FA2}
{ref-type="fig"}).](fncir-06-00101-a0003){#FA3}
{#FA4}
[^1]: Edited by: Edward M. Callaway, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, USA
[^2]: Reviewed by: Stephen D. Van Hooser, Brandeis University, USA; Frédéric Chavane, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
[^3]: †These authors contributed equally to this work.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Central |
As millions of decent families face benefits cuts, one woman who's never worked in her life is investing hers... in a £4,500 boob job
Unrepentant: Kelly Marshall believes all mothers should be given cosmetic surgery
Most families who are due to lose their child benefit are worrying about how they'll make ends meet without it.
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She saved her benefit money to help pay for breast enhancement.
And as many parents envisage tightening their belts after the Tories announced plans to cut the benefit for higher-rate taxpayers, she plans to save more of hers for liposuction and a tummy tuck.
Miss Marshall, who has never worked, rakes in almost £29,000 a year from benefits - and last year spent £4,500 to go from a 34A to a 34DD.
She explained: 'I have wanted a boob job since I was a teen. But it wasn't until I had five children that I could afford it - with all the extra benefits I get. Now I hope to have liposuction, a tummy tuck and regular Botox.
'I thought having children would make my boobs bigger, but that never happened so I decided to do something about them.
'I saved money from my benefits for four months to cover half the cost and put the rest on a credit card, which I pay back with my benefits.
'I know most people will think it is wrong I am spending taxpayers' money on my looks. But I deserve it because I am a good mum. Having children has taken its toll on my body. All mums should be able to have cosmetic surgery.
Luxury-living: Miss Marshall with her five children by four different fathers, from left: Mia, 11, Nio, ten, Lenni, three, Kallie, 11 and Lewis, 16. Each of their bedrooms has a flat-screen TV and they also have a Playstation3, a Wii and an Xbox 360
Wanting for nothing: Miss Marshall has an entire wardrobe just for her jeans
Before the operation: Miss Marshall, 32, receives monthly payments of £870 in housing benefit, £975 in child tax credit, and £303 in child benefit
'I don't care that it is at the taxpayers' cost,' she told Closer magazine. 'I am just proud of my looks and family - and it's my decision what the money is spent on.'
Miss Marshall, 32, receives monthly payments of £870 in housing benefit, £975 in child tax credit, and £303 in child benefit, giving her an income equivalent to a pre-tax salary of £39,000.
On Monday, George Osborne announced plans to prevent families on benefits receiving more than £26,000 a year.
The Chancellor said the aim was to put a cap on the maximum amount it is possible for any one person to claim and linked the figure to the average working income.
Critics pointed out, however, that any working household would need to earn at least £35,000 to take home £26,000.
Miss Marshall has no plans to start working. She once went to a job centre, but quickly realised she would be financially much better off if she did not work.
'What's the point? My mum worked all her life and she paid taxes so I feel I am getting what I deserve,' she said. 'Some people might think I am a scrounger.
'But I don't think me or my children should miss out on nice things just because I have never worked.' Miss Marshall's children, aged between three and 16, don't appear to miss out.
They all have the latest computers and gadgets, and the family have been on two holidays abroad this year.
They have a PlayStation3, a Wii and an Xbox 360 and each of the children has an additional games console to themselves.
This week's Closer magazine
However, Miss Marshall said: 'They only have three laptops between them so I might have to buy another one soon because they don't like sharing.'
She also wants them to experience the benefits of travel.
'I always take the kids abroad,' she said. 'We have been to Tenerife and Cyprus, and this year we have been to Magaluf twice.
'Each holiday costs about £2,000, but it's good to get away, and the kids and I deserve it.'
Back home at the detached house that she shares with Lewis, 16, twins Mia and Kallie, 11, Nio, ten, and three-year-old Lenni, Miss Marshall has furnished each of the four bedrooms with a flat-screen TV and keeps a separate wardrobe just for her jeans.
She also says she has a penchant for designer labels, which is shared by her daughters, who 'love Armani'.
However, although Miss Marshall receives more than many hard-working families she admits that she has also run up £10,000 of debt. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
The Biggest Loser (season 6)
The Biggest Loser: Families is the sixth season of the NBC reality television series The Biggest Loser. The sixth season premiered on September 16, 2008, featuring Alison Sweeney as the host and Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as the contestants' trainers.
The cast was revealed on August 29, 2008. Eight duos began the challenge, for a total of 16 contestants.
From Week 1 to Week 5, the Green, Red, Orange and Brown Teams (husband and wives) trained with Bob, while the Purple, Gray, Yellow and Pink Teams (parents and children) trained with Jillian. In Week 5, these "Family Teams" were disbanded and the contestants were split into the Blue Team and the Black Team. In week 8, the teams were split again and the competition went into individuals. Amy Cremen was originally under Jillian's training, but in week 5, was placed in and eliminated under Bob's training. Phillip Parham started the competition under Bob's training but was eliminated under Jillian's training.
Michelle Aguilar was named the Biggest Loser on December 16, 2008, after losing 110 pounds. She won $250,000. Heba was named the Biggest Loser of the eliminated contestants, and won $100,000.
Contestants
Total Votes counts only the votes given to the eliminated contestant that were revealed at the elimination. The total does not count unrevealed votes (if the contestant has already received the required number of votes needed to be eliminated).
Weigh-Ins
Teams
In week 5, the teams were shuffled up. Heba won the temptation that gave her the power to choose the new blue and black teams, and as a result, Heba, Vicky, Brady, Amy C. and Amy P. formed the new Blue Team, while Shellay, Phillip, Michelle, Renee, and Coleen formed the new black team. When Ed re-entered the game in week 8, he went to Bob's Blue Team.
Game
Results from "Eliminated Players" Weigh-in.
Week's Biggest Loser
Immunity (Challenge or Weigh-In)
Last person eliminated before finale (by America voting).
Winners
$250,000 Winner (among the finalists)
$100,000 Winner (among the eliminated contestants)
BMI
Normal (18.5 - 24.9 BMI)
Overweight (25 - 29.9 BMI)
Obese Class I (30 - 34.9 BMI)
Obese Class II (35 - 39.9 BMI)
Obese Class III (greater than 40 BMI)
Notes
In week 7, the Black Team lost the team challenge, and as a penalty, Michelle's weight loss was not counted towards their total team's weight loss.
Weigh-In Figures History
On-ranch weigh-in figures (except between week 12 and finale)
At-home weigh-in figures
Weigh-In Percentages History
On-ranch weigh-in percentages (except between week 12 and finale)
At-home weigh-in percentages
Total Overall Percentage of Weight Loss (Biggest Loser on Campus)
Bold denotes who has the overall highest percentage of weight loss as of that week
Elimination Voting History
Immunity
Immunity, vote not revealed
Below yellow line, unable to vote
Not in elimination, unable to vote
Hidden vote
Eliminated or not in house
Valid vote cast
Below yellow line, America Votes
Last person eliminated before the finale (by America voting)
$250,000 winner (among the finalists)
Episode summaries
Week 1
First aired September 16, 2008
The Biggest Loser: Families includes eight duos – four married couples and four parent-child pairings. It was announced that the married teams would train with Bob on his side of the gym, while the parent–child teams would train with Jillian on her side of the gym. As with prior seasons, the contestants were selected in surprise announcements—among notable ones, the Pink team was announced during a service at Fellowship Church (the large DFW-area megachurch).
The teams visited with Dr. Robert Huizenga, or Dr H., who showed the contestants how unhealthy they had become up to this point in their lives. The doctor displayed images of the contestants' unhealthy bodies, and explained their biological age (age based on health) as compared with their physical age (age based on how long the person has actually lived). All of the contestants' biological ages were significantly older than their physical ages; all gained at least 10 years, and two contestants were actually 25 years or more older internally than they were externally.
The teams participated in the first challenge, which was a mile hike over a hill. There were seven prizes available for claiming: $5,000, a luxury spa and massage, a 24-hour visit home, a phone call home, an extra vote at the elimination, 24 hours alone with their trainer, or immunity at the weigh-in. The last pair up the mountain would have to claim a two-pound penalty for their total weight loss. Due to health concerns, both Jerry (Yellow) and Tom (Gray) had to sit out the challenge. Colleen of the Yellow team made it up the hill first and claimed immunity. The Gray team won the extra vote, the Red team won the 24-hour visit home, the Green team won the luxury, the Orange team won the $5,000, the Pink team won the phone call home, and the Purple team was rewarded with 24 hours with their trainer. The Brown team came in last and were given the two-pound penalty.
At the weigh-in the Brown team had the highest percentage of weight loss for the week despite their two-pound penalty. The Orange team and the Green team fell below the yellow line with the lowest percentages of weight loss. At the elimination ceremony only the votes of the Brown, Red and Gray teams were revealed. The Gray Team won the extra vote at the challenge, and cast two votes. All three teams voted for the green team. Having received four out of the seven votes, the Green team was the first team to be eliminated.
Week 2
First aired September 23, 2008
Alison addressed the teams, warning them that during previous seasons, on average, teams only experienced an average of 2% weight loss during week 2. She offered the teams an opportunity to participate in an auction, bidding on their percentage of weight loss for their duo. Teams started bidding at 1%, and incremented by 0.1%. The winning duo was the Yellow team, bidding to lose 2.4% of the weight that week, the equivalent of 14 pounds total. The prize for achieving this goal was $10,000; if penalty for not achieving this goal was to automatically be placed below the yellow line.
At the challenge, teams were to go down a Slip 'n Slide, then walk back up a hill. For each timed round, team members took turns on the hill. If a contestant did not make it up the hill within the time limit, their team was eliminated from competition. The last team remaining was declared the winner, and won a call home. Ed and Heba of the Orange team won, and then Ali told them that they would be able to choose another team that would also be allowed to call home. They gave that chance to the Red team, Amy P. and Phillip.
Teams were then visited by celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito, who worked with one member of each team to make a healthy, affordable meal. The non-cooking contestants selected the Amy C. of the Purple Team as having cooked the best meal. As a prize, the Purple Team was awarded a year's worth of groceries.
At the weigh in, Amy P. and Phillip won while Tom and LT fell below the yellow line, with LT having gained three pounds. The Yellow team weighed in last, losing only 11 combined pounds, falling three pounds short of their goal, and were placed below the yellow line as a penalty. Of the five teams that could vote, the first three all voted for LT and Tom, the Gray team, resulting in their elimination.
Though the outcome would not have changed salt was added to the wounds when Heba and Ed went against their word and voted the grey team out after being saved by grey the previous week.
Week 3
First aired September 30, 2008
For this week, the contestants spent most of the week on a trip in the Grand Canyon. During the trip, it is shown that the contestants may have not exercised as much as they should have, and had a difficult time adapting to the new environment.
This week's challenge was a canoe challenge. Players would have 90 seconds to paddle their canoe out into the water, then after that, players from the other teams would have to pull in opponent's canoes to stop them from paddling out more. The Orange Team won the challenge and were rewarded with a stay in a luxury RV while the rest of the teams remained in tents. While at the canyon, the contestants celebrated Colleen's 24th birthday.
Upon returning to the ranch, the contestants and trainers have conflict over the lack of exercise. The contestants complained of either not knowing how to use the equipment given to them or being in an environment not conducive to exercise.
At the weigh-in, Ali announces that starting this week, only one family will fall below the yellow line instead of two. The family below the yellow line will have to pick one of the family members to be eliminated, and that team will have the only vote at the elimination. The Red Team was the biggest loser team of the week, with a percentage of 2.95%, while Colleen & Jerry fell below the yellow line for the second week in the row; with Jerry gaining 2 pounds. After an hour of deliberating, the Yellow Team decided to send Jerry home to allow his hamstring injury to heal.
Week 4
First aired October 7, 2008, and October 8, 2008, due to the presidential debate
The episode begins with Colleen in the confessional talking about what it's like being the only one without her partner. Later, Amy P. and Phillip (Red Team) cash in their prize for their 24-hour visit home, which they won in the first week, and back at the ranch, the purple team used their 24 hours with their trainer, also a prize from the first week. Jillian took the girls to a fitness center for personal training. She found it difficult to work with Shellay, as she was always reluctant to work out as hard as Amy C.
For the Week 4 challenge, contestants were made to stand on a bar in a pool full of water, while holding another bar overhead. During the challenge the pool was drained, thus affecting the buoyancy of the contestants (making it harder for them to hold the bar). After 90 minutes, with the rules changed to where the contestants could hold the bar with only one hand, several contestants began to fall into the water and were eliminated. Over the next 10 minutes, the remaining teams are eliminated until only Vicky, from the Brown Team, and Amy C. from the Purple Team, were remaining. After nearly 2 hours of the challenge, Amy C. finally dropped and Vicky was victorious. As a prize, the Brown team received a package from home. They also got to pick another team to receive the same prize. Vicky and Brady selected the Purple team, who were runners-up in the challenge.
Later on, while working out, Jillian found out that her players were not keeping up to her standards, thus sending her into a rage. She even went as far as kicking Amy C. out of the gym. But she came back later, and Jillian complimented her for her choice.
At the weigh-in, the elimination risk was once again based on last week's twist: only one team would fall below the yellow line and had to decide between them who would continue on the ranch and who would go home (if Colleen were to fall below the yellow line, she would go home automatically). The Biggest Losers of the week were Vicky and Brady of the Brown Team, with a total loss of 2.30% (12 lbs) while the Orange Team fell below the yellow line, by only one pound (Heba managed to lose 8 lbs, but Ed pulled a 0). The Orange team decided to send Ed home, with Heba remaining on campus, joining Coleen now as the only two contestants without their partners.
At home, Ed has done very well, losing over 85 lbs from his starting weight of 335 lbs.
Week 5
First aired October 14th, 2008
The temptation is one that could turn the game upside down forever. The contestants were in a room with baked goods. Whoever ate the most calories in 10 minutes would be able to choose the new teams, black and blue. However, the lights were off so no one could see who was eating what. In the end, Heba won the temptation and kept her original team except for switching Phillip to the black team and putting Amy C. into the blue team. The challenge this week was the longest challenge in Biggest Loser history. It lasted for 14 hours. The teams would have to walk up and down the mountain for 14 hours. After they reached the top or bottom of the mountain, they had to take a picture. If all 5 members were in the picture, they would get a bonus point. After several hours, it started to become hotter and hotter. Everyone decided to take a break. Shellay and Colleen wondered if the other team was actually telling the truth. They were thinking of going out during the break to walk but did not. In the end, the black team won the 2 pound advantage at the next weigh in. Also, Brady walked the most out of anyone, by walking 20 miles. Michelle was emotional because she thought her dad wouldn't love her if she loved her mom. Jillian let Michelle talk to her dad and he encouraged her to stay and said she was his inspiration. He thought that what she was thinking was silly and that he loves her. At the weigh in, Ali wonders if Michelle is going to quit, and in the end, Michelle ends up staying. The black team loses a combined total of 30 pounds plus the 2 pound from the challenge. The blue team had to lose more than 33 pounds in order to stay safe. Amy C. lost 9 pounds moving out of the 200s and weighing 199. Brady, Vicky, and Amy P. all lost 6 pounds. The pressure was on Heba and she had to lose more than 6 pounds. Phillip was thinking she would not be able to lose more than 6 pounds, since she had lost 8 pounds the week before. In the end, Heba lost another 8 pounds and the black team had to vote someone out. At an emotional voting ceremony, Colleen had to break the tie breaker between Renee and Shellay, and Shellay was voted out. This was a very tearful elimination. Shellay feels like she is now 30 years old and has continued to work out. Shellay started the competition wearing a size 18 and is now a size 10. Shellay hopes to be a size 6 at the finale.
Week 6
First aired October 21, 2008
The Blue Team leaves the ranch with Bob to visit a gym called Absolutions, where the team takes part in self-defense exercises. The Black Team remains on the ranch to try their hand at a rope course, which forces Colleen to attempt to overcome her fear of heights. The challenge this week involves the contestants walking on a circular balance beam above a pool of water. For each revolution completed by a contestant, their respective team earns one point, requiring a total of twenty five points to win. If a contestant loses his or her balance and falls, that person must wait until all other members of both teams also fall into the water before being allowed another attempt. The entire Blue Team falls almost immediately without scoring a single point, while the Black Team manages to keep at least a single member throughout the competition, and eventually wins 25-0. As a prize for victory, the team receives a live conference with loved ones.
At the weigh-in, The Blue Team loses and is forced to go to elimination. Amy P. pleads her case to her group on why she "is not her husband", but Heba and her allies Vicky and Brady still hold a resentment against Phillip. The three friends all decide to vote Amy P. off. Since leaving The Biggest Loser, Amy is now a size 8, and hopes to continue her pursuit of weight loss.
Week 7
First aired October 28, 2008
The episode began with the eight remaining contestants meeting Ali outside for this week's temptation, which was a calorie quiz; a revised version of "This or That?". They had to guess which of two foods had fewer calories. If the teams got it right, they would get a point. The first team to five points would win. For the first three rounds, the Blue and Black Teams were tied, but eventually, Blue pulled ahead and won the temptation, and the prize was a 40 lbs advantage, which the teams would learn about later.
The challenge this week consisted of both teams hanging from cranes having to hold up their own body weight. Both teams were able to hold on for about 50 minutes. After 30 minutes, each team had to let one player let go of their weight. The Blue Team chose Vicky, and The Black Team chose Michelle. The black team had to hold up 918 pounds (this included the 40 pound addition the blue team won in the Temptation) and the blue team had to hold up 932 pounds. The blue team won giving them the right to pick one person from the black team to sit out at the weigh in.
Later that week, Heba from the Blue Team is seen getting into another fight with Phillip about him talking about her behind her back, though he is never shown talking about her off-camera. The fight gets so out of control that Colleen goes outside.
At the weigh in the Black team went first. The Blue Team chose Michelle to have her weight not count towards the Black Team's total. Despite this, she only lost 2 pounds. Colleen also lost 2 pounds, and Phillip & Renee both dropped 3 pounds each. Collectively, (and without Michelle) The Black Team lost 8 pounds with a total percentage of 1.18%. The blue team had to lose 11 pounds to win the weigh in.
History was made, as Brady was the first blue team member to weigh in and had dropped 13 pounds, which was more than enough to defeat the entire black team. He became the first person to have a weight loss that was high enough to beat out an entire team. Then Vicky had shed 2 pounds, and Heba & Amy C. also dropped 6 pounds each (Alison also said that percentage-wise, Amy C. was the Biggest Loser so far) The Blue team lost a total of 27 pounds, or 2.9%. Renee of the black team is the biggest loser from her team giving her immunity at the elimination.
At the elimination, the Black Team revealed their votes, with Phillip getting 3 out of the 4 votes. As a result he was eliminated, which left Jillian's Black Team an all-girl Black Team (it also left Brady as the sole man of the ranch).
Meanwhile, the home-footage shows us that when Phillip returned home, he surprised his wife Amy P. (who had been eliminated the previous week) in the mall, with a ring. He proposed to her, and then the two of them remarried there, with their friends & family watching. Phillip has lost over 100 pounds since starting on the ranch.
Week 8
First aired November 11th, 2008 due to the election on November 4th
Ali announced that the Blue Team and the Black Team will merge into one team, which means that the competitors will now compete as individuals. All of the eliminated contestants returned to the ranch for a chance to stay, which was decided by a step challenge. If the contestants were to come back solely based on weight loss, Phillip would have been the one to come back, but this was not the case this season.
The person who would be allowed to return was based on the challenge this week that determined who would stay and who would go. The task was simple but difficult. Do 1,000 steps up and down, and the first one to do it would come back into the game and win immunity for the week. In the end, Ed won after being the first to reach 1,000 steps, with Stacey close behind with 987.
At the weigh in, Ali reminded the contestants of the rules: the two individuals with the lowest weight loss percentage would fall below the yellow line and be up for elimination. Ultimately, Brady and Michelle fell under the yellow line and the Black team assumed the Blue Team would stay together and vote Michelle out. Ali told everyone that a twist was going to happen and that it never happened before in Biggest Loser history. After the weigh in, they immediately went to the elimination room and deliberated together about the two contenders up for elimination. Although most of the Blue team was confident, Amy C. voted for Brady, which created a 3-3 tie. Brady was eliminated since he had a lower percentage of weight loss.
Brady started with a size 48 waist and is now a size 34. He has lost 100 pounds and teaches his children healthy ways of eating and exercising. Brady continues to lose weight and hopes to look skinnier at the finale.
Week 9
First aired November 18th, 2008
The contestants received a surprise as it was 80's week at the ranch. Vicky plotted revenge against Amy C. after she went against her team and voted-off Brady the previous week. As motivation, Vicky created a sign on her door stating, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I will not rest until that lying bitch is out of this house." In the challenge, the contestants had to hold onto a rope attached to large buckets of water over their heads while answering 80's trivia questions. The starting weight of each bucket was equal to 50 percent of that contestant's body weight. If a contestant answered a question incorrectly, water was added to the bucket (in an amount equal to 25 percent of that contestant's body weight). If the contestant answered a question correctly, the contestant could add water to another person's bucket. Michelle won the 80's trivia challenge after promising her mother a new purse if her mother would let go. As a reward, Michelle was allowed to choose between $5,000 or the ability to give a 1-pound penalty to anyone at the weigh-in. She was given until the weigh-in to make her decision. Later, Bob urged the blue team to try to "move forward" and bury the hatchet. Amy C. eventually apologized to Vicky, who accepted her apology, but stated that she still did not trust Amy C. At the weigh-in, Michelle announced that she was giving Vicky the 1 pound penalty. Colleen lost the least, placing her below the yellow line with Vicky, who lost 6 pounds, which was reduced to 5 points with the penalty. Had she not been given the penalty, it would have been Heba below the yellow line instead. Colleen reacted very emotionally in disappointment after learning that she had lost only three pounds, causing Jillian to react very emotionally as well. At the vote, Amy C. decided to join her team in voting off Colleen, who received 3 out of 5 votes, as Michelle and Renee voted for Vicky. Colleen's elimination left the mother-daughter team of Michelle and Renee as the last two members of Jillian's black team.
24 hours later, the home footage shows Colleen celebrating a welcome home party, reuniting her with Jerry, who was previously eliminated 6 weeks ago. She now wears a size 10 dress, lost 51 pounds during the show, hopes to weigh 147 pounds at the finale in her effort to become the winner among eliminated contestants.
Week 10
First aired November 24, 2008
It's NFL week at the Biggest Loser ranch, and NFL stars Jerry Rice and Steve Young pay a visit to give the contestants a little challenge of their own: an obstacle course including strength training, catching, running, and tackling. The contestants had to run the course once, and then a second time, and whoever beat their time by the largest margin would win. The contestants were not told about the second trial until after the first trial was finished, to make sure they put forth an honest effort both times. In the end, the winner was Vicky, who held back in the first trial and beat her time by 23 seconds, after realizing that there might be a second trial. For her efforts, Vicky won $50,000 to be donated to the school of her choice to support an NFL sponsored fitness program for children.
The second reward challenge had an NFL theme as well. A football was fired into the air, and the contestants had to catch or retrieve it. Whoever retrieved the ball had the power to put it in any of the other contestants' bins (and as a side bonus, anyone who caught it in mid-air won $500 cash). Once a contestants bin had ten footballs in it, that contestant was eliminated. Vicky won this challenge as well, winning an all-inclusive trip to the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Ed won $500 for catching one ball. A few of the contestants were critical of Vicky's behavior during the challenge, in particular when Vicky put a ball in Amy C.'s rack when she had a perfect opportunity to eliminate Ed.
At the weigh-in, Michelle lost 10 pounds (5.38%), which was her best week since the first week, making her the week's Biggest Loser. Amy C. and Heba were both below the yellow line, with Amy C. in last place for the week.
After deliberating in the elimination room, everyone cast their votes. Michelle & Renee voted for Heba, while Ed voted for Amy C. It was up to Vicky. Amy C. believed that since they 'reconciled' last week, Vicky would keep her in, but her dreams were dashed when Vicky revealed that she had made promises to both Heba and Amy C., and ultimately voted for Amy C. Because the votes were tied 2-2, and Amy C. had a lower percentage of weight loss for the week, it was Amy C. who was eliminated.
At home, she's now able to go clothes shopping for regular clothing. She started out as a size 22, and is now a size 8, and hopes to weigh less than 130 pounds at the finale.
Week 11
First aired December 2, 2008
The five remaining contestants traveled to New York City, where they received a makeover. After having their hair cut, colored, and styled at the Stuart Hirsch Salon, they met with Christian Siriano at Macy's to pick out new clothes in preparation for their appearance on the Tyra Banks Show. On the show, the revealed their new looks and met with their family members who were there as a surprise. Backstage after the show, the contestants received $1000 gift cards from Macys. The next day, they worked out with their
family members at various locations around New York City.
After returning to Los Angeles, the contestants competed in a reward challenge for a two-week trip for two to the Fitness Ridge Resort and Spa in St. George, Utah. The contestants had to wedge themselves in a box suspended fifteen feet above water. Vicky dropped out of the competition first, but did not want to drop due out of fear. Michelle eventually won the competition, but Vicky refused to drop even after the competition was over. She ultimately did jump into the water after receiving encouragement from the other contestants.
At the weigh-in, Ed and Renee had the lowest percentage of weight loss and fell below the yellow line. The Blue team refused to vote for Ed, and it was Renee who was eliminated by a vote of 2 to 1.
At home, Renee has been doing some public speaking and leads a fitness group at her place of employment. Since starting the show has lost a total of 95 pounds and dropped from a size 22 to a size 8. She hopes to be a size 6 by the finale.
Week 12
First aired December 9, 2008
Renee's elimination in the previous week left Michelle as the last black team member still on the ranch. While she is distressing over separating with her mother, Vicky, Heba, and Ed celebrate being in the final four. The trainers take the contestants to various spots on the ranch, to help them reflect on how far they've come over the past 12 weeks. Afterwards, Alison shows them a package that contains the clothing that the contestants wore upon first arrival at the ranch. All of the contestants chose to burn this clothing, promising never to return to their original physical condition.
When Vicky told Bob that she had learned a lot about nutrition, she also stated that she did not learn anything about herself. Bob told her that Ryan (the winner of the first season) now weighs at least as much as he did when he first started the show, if not more. Ryan began the show weighing 330 pounds, and lost 122 pounds, or 37% of his body weight back in 2004.
The final weekly challenge involved a reflection upon their past weekly weight losses. The contestants had to run around a race track, carrying the exact number of pounds they've lost since arriving on campus. They each wore various articles of weighted clothing, and after each lap, dropped a piece representing their weight-loss for the corresponding week. They had to run eleven laps, representing the eleven weeks the contestants had been on campus. Michelle and Ed were nearly tied the entire race, but after eleven laps, Ed ultimately emerged victorious and won the Biggest Loser meal plan, along with $10,000.
At the penultimate weigh-in, Michelle lost 9 lbs putting her in first place for the second time and guaranteeing herself a spot in the "Final 3" along with Vicky, who dropped 6 lbs. Heba lost 7 lbs and Ed gained 2 lbs, putting them both below the yellow line. But in a surprising twist, Ali revealed that instead of the contestants making this decision, it would be up to the American public to vote (similar to season 5).
In the confessional, Ed asked that people vote for his wife, Heba, instead of him, saying that she deserved it more than he did, while Heba asked the people to vote for her.
The decision was left to America to choose which one moved on as the third and final contestant competing for the grand prize of $250,000, and the results were revealed during the live finale on December 16, 2008.
Week 13 (Finale)
First aired December 16, 2008
The finale began with a recap of the entire season, after which Ali revealed who (between Heba and Ed) would be the third finalist in the competition for $250,000. Despite pleading to America to vote for his wife, it was Ed who won, with a whopping 84 percent of America's vote. Heba was "eliminated", which meant that she would be in the competition for the $100,000 prize.
The eliminated contestants were introduced four at a time, starting with Adam & Stacey (Green Team), LT & Tom (Gray Team), Jerry & Colleen (Yellow), and Shellay & Amy C. (Purple). Before the weigh-ins continued, Dr. Robert Huizenga informed Jerry that since starting the show, his health had a dramatic turn around. He started out on 5 different medications, 3 different life-threatening diseases, could barely walk 3 minutes on a treadmill. But since then, he's gotten off of all his medications, he was running 5K's, and he has increased his expected lifespan by 24 years.
The last five contestants were weighed in next: Phillip & Amy P. (Red), Brady (Brown), Renee (Pink), and Heba (Orange). Heba was last to weigh in, and she had dropped 138 pounds from 294, making her the winner of the $100,000 consolation prize.
The final three, Vicky (Brown), Michelle (Pink), and Ed (Orange) changed into their original Biggest Loser uniforms (with the exception of Michelle, who chose to wear her Black shirt). Since Michelle had the highest weight loss percentage of the three, she was allowed to choose the order in which they were weighed.
Ed was the first to be weighed in, and from his starting weight of 335 pounds, had dropped 139 pounds, giving him a weight loss percentage of 41.49%. Vicky was next, and from her starting weight of 246 pounds, she had shed 101 pounds, two pounds short of beating Ed, putting her in second place with 41.06%. Finally, Michelle weighed in, and it was revealed she had dropped 110 pounds, enough to beat Ed, take home the $250,000 prize, and become the second female winner in US Biggest Loser history.
The final results were directly affected by America's vote: Heba had a percentage of 46.94, compared to Michelle's 45.45. If voting had gone the way Ed and Heba wanted, Heba would have been the Biggest Loser, and Amy P., whose percentage was 45.85 would have won the at-home prize.
After the Show
NBC has announced that there will be another "Did They Keep The Weight Off" special, which will feature more than 40 Contestants from all 7 seasons so far. Those confirmed to appear in the episode include: Finalists Michelle, Vicky, and eliminated contestants Renee, Colleen, Adam, Stacey, Amy C., Shellay, Amy P., Phillip, and Jerry.
References
External links
The Biggest Loser: Families Website
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Hegemony
Hegemony, the dominance of one group over another, often supported by legitimating norms and ideas. The term hegemony is today often used as shorthand to describe the relatively dominant position of a particular set of ideas and their associated tendency to become commonsensical and intuitive, thereby inhibiting the dissemination or even the articulation of alternative ideas. The associated term hegemon is used to identify the actor, group, class, or state that exercises hegemonic power or that is responsible for the dissemination of hegemonic ideas.
Hegemony derives from a Greek term that translates simply as “dominance over” and that was used to describe relations between city-states. Its use in political analysis was somewhat limited until its intensive discussion by the Italian politician and philosopher Antonio Gramsci. Gramsci’s discussion of hegemony followed from his attempts to understand the survival of the capitalist state in the most-advanced Western countries. As a follower of Karl Marx, Gramsci understood the predominant mode of rule as class rule and was interested in explaining the ways in which concrete institutional forms and material relations of production came to prominence. The supremacy of a class and thus the reproduction of its associated mode of production could be obtained by brute domination or coercion. Yet, Gramsci’s key observation was that in advanced capitalist societies the perpetuation of class rule was achieved through largely consensual means—through intellectual and moral leadership. Gramsci’s analysis of hegemony thus involves an analysis of the ways in which such capitalist ideas are disseminated and accepted as commonsensical and normal. A hegemonic class is one that is able to attain the consent of other social forces, and the retention of this consent is an ongoing project. To secure this consent requires a group to understand its own interests in relation to the mode of production, as well as the motivations, aspirations, and interests of other groups. Under capitalism, Gramsci observed the relentless contribution of civil society institutions to the shaping of mass cognitions. Via his concept of the national-popular, he also showed how hegemony required the articulation and distribution of popular ideas beyond narrow class interests.
Gramsci’s analysis of bourgeois hegemony was grounded in detailed historical analysis, but it also carried clear implications for revolutionary socialist strategy. The acquisition of consent before gaining power is an obvious implication, and here Gramsci offered a distinction between two strategies: war of maneuver (in essence a full frontal assault on the bourgeois state) and war of position (engagement with and subversion of the mechanisms of bourgeois ideological domination). But it is important to recognize that Gramsci understood hegemony not simply in terms of ideas but also in relation to processes of production.
One of the most-extensive applications of Gramsci’s conception of hegemony has been to the analysis of international relations and international political economy, via the so-called transnational historical materialism. Scholars within this tradition have been careful to distinguish their project from the way hegemony has been used within orthodox (predominantly) realist international relations (IR). In state-centred IR analysis, hegemony denotes the existence within the international system of a dominant state or group of states. In the branch of realist analysis known as hegemonic stability theory, the presence of a hegemon (say, Britain in the 19th century and the United States after 1945) generates patterns of stability within the international system. The hegemon has a self-interest in the preservation of the system and is, therefore, prepared to underwrite the system’s security with its military might. At the same time, the hegemon is responsible for the formulation of the rules that govern interaction within the international system.
The transnational historical materialist school sees states as important components of hegemonic orders but associates hegemony with the economic, political, and social structures that facilitate particular patterns of production within the world economy. These world orders function via the propagation of rules and norms, many of which are given legitimacy through international organizations and institutions and of which the most crucial tend to govern the conduct of monetary and trade relations. International institutions are thus seen as either conduits for the legitimation of particular regimes of capitalist accumulation or devices to absorb potentially counter-hegemonic ideas and social forces. Thus, for instance, the hegemonic order of the 19th century was underwritten by institutions such as the gold standard and norms such as free trade, as well as by British military power and the global reach of the British imperium. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Lauren, an anti-abortion sidewalk counselor, stands outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization's clinic, the only facility in the state that performs abortions, Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Jackson, Miss. A federal judge is temporarily blocking a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Lauren, an anti-abortion sidewalk counselor, stands outside the Jackson Women's Health Organization's clinic, the only facility in the state that performs abortions, Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Jackson, Miss. A federal judge is temporarily blocking a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, the most restrictive abortion law in the United States.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The most restrictive abortion law in the United States was in effect less than 24 hours before a federal judge temporarily blocked it Tuesday during what could become a long legal fight between Mississippi’s Republican governor and the state’s only abortion clinic.
Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday signed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks’ gestation, and it became law immediately. The clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, quickly sued, arguing the law is unconstitutional because it bans abortion weeks before a fetus can survive outside the womb.
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U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves heard arguments Tuesday before granting the clinic’s immediate request for a temporary restraining order.
“The Supreme Court says every woman has a constitutional right to ‘personal privacy’ regarding her body,” Reeves wrote in a brief decision that quoted previous legal rulings on abortion. “That right protects her choice ‘to have an abortion before viability.’ States cannot ‘prohibit any woman from making the ultimate decision’ to do so.”
Reeves said in court that the “ultimate question” is whether a state can ban abortion before viability. He asked: “Does the state have the right to trump the woman’s right to have control over her decisions, over her body?”
Reeves did not rule from the bench but granted the temporary restraining order about an hour later, noting that clinic lawyers said a woman at least 15 weeks pregnant was scheduled to have an abortion Tuesday afternoon.
One of those lawyers, Rob McDuff, said the woman’s next available appointment would be March 28 because physicians travel from out of state to work there. He said the clinic does not perform abortions after 16 weeks of pregnancy, and March 28 would put her beyond that.
Clinic owner Diane Derzis told The Associated Press that the woman was able to have the abortion Tuesday after Reeves temporarily blocked the law. The woman previously underwent counseling more than 24 hours in advance, as required by a longstanding Mississippi law.
The 15-week ban and responding challenge set up a confrontation sought by abortion opponents, who are hoping federal courts will ultimately prohibit abortions before a fetus is viable. Current federal law does not.
Some legal experts have said a change in the law is unlikely unless the makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court changes in a way that favors abortion opponents.
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Derzis said she was “delighted” Reeves temporarily blocked the law. Speaking of abortion opponents, she said: “This is just another one of their tactics to get before the Supreme Court.”
Bryant said in a statement that the judge’s order is “disappointing.” The governor said the law “protects maternal health and will further our efforts to make Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child.”
Dr. Sacheen Carr-Ellis, medical director of Jackson Women’s Health Organization, argues in the lawsuit that viability varies from pregnancy to pregnancy depending on the health of the mother and the fetus, but that “no fetus is viable after 15 weeks of pregnancy.”
Paul Barnes, a special assistant state attorney general, argued the law serves Mississippi’s “interest in protecting maternal health and the state’s interest in protecting unborn life.” He said viability was considered to be around 28 weeks at the time of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, and about 23 or 24 weeks in more recent court cases.
Reeves said in his order that the Mississippi law “places viability at 15 weeks — about two months earlier than where the medical consensus places it.”
McDuff said the law keeps women “from making their own decisions about whether to bear children.”
“There has been no case in which a law like this setting a ban at some point prior to viability has been upheld on the merits in the face of a constitutional challenge,” McDuff said.
The law’s only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it “incompatible with life” outside of the womb at full term, or if a pregnant woman’s life or a “major bodily function” is threatened by pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape and incest aren’t exempted.
Mississippi previously tied with North Carolina for the nation’s strictest abortion limits, at 20 weeks. Both states count pregnancy as beginning on the first day of a woman’s previous menstrual period, meaning their restrictions kicked in about two weeks before those of states whose 20-week bans begin at conception.
The Mississippi clinic performed 78 abortions in 2017 when the fetus was identified as being 15 weeks or older, the lawsuit says. That’s out of about 2,500 abortions performed statewide, mostly at the clinic.
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Associated Press writer Jeff Amy contributed to this report.
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Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus . | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
LONDON — A member of the Islamic State extremist group who was part of a notorious quartet that orchestrated the beheadings of Western hostages in Syria has been identified, according to news reports.
The man, Alexanda Kotey, 32, is thought to be half Ghanaian and half Cypriot. He was part of the group nicknamed the Beatles, led by the Islamic State’s most infamous executioner, Mohammed Emwazi, better known as Jihadi John. Mr. Emwazi was killed in an American airstrike in November.
American officials could not be immediately reached to confirm the reports, which were published on Sunday by The Washington Post and BuzzFeed. A spokeswoman for Britain’s Home Office said she could “neither confirm nor deny” the reports.
The group is believed to have killed the American journalists James Foley and Steven J. Sotloff, and their beheadings were captured on videos in which Mr. Emwazi was seen reading a statement criticizing President Obama and the American military operation against the Islamic State in Iraq. The captors also beheaded the American aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig, previously known as Peter, as well as two Britons and a Japanese hostage. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s Hanergy Thin Film Power Group <0566.HK> is under investigation by Hong Kong’s market watchdog, a source told Reuters just hours after the company lost half its market value of nearly $40 billion in 24 minutes on Wednesday.
Trade in the stock was suspended after the plunge, which left analysts just as puzzled about the sudden drop as they had been about a long run-up in the share price of the company, which manufactures solar panel-making equipment.
A source familiar with the situation later said Hanergy had been under investigation for several weeks by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for alleged market manipulation.
A spokesman for the SFC declined to comment, and Hanergy officials were not available to comment when called at their Beijing offices.
The company, controlled by founder Li Hejun, said in a statement that trade had been suspended “pending release of an announcement containing inside information”.
Before the stock plunge, Hanergy had seen its value climb five-fold since September. At its share price peak in March it was worth $48 billion, more than its nearest two dozen rivals combined and making Li one of China’s richest men – even as analysts and market watchers questioned the validity of some of its bullish proclamations.
The stock’s precipitous tumble came shortly after the beginning of the company’s annual general meeting in Hong Kong. Li did not attend the meeting, and the company’s chief executive declined to comment on the share price plunge, according to local online media reports.
Li had attended an opening ceremony for a new company centre in Beijing instead.
The 47 percent slide in the stock price left the company with a market value of $21 billion. More than 170 million Hanergy shares were traded in the first hour of Wednesday’s trading session, far more than its daily average over the past month, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Volatility on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has increased since the creation of a link-up with Shanghai in November that has brought in massive inflows from China.
Analysts following the stock said they did not know the reason for the plunge.
“God knows. I don’t know,” said Charles Yonts, an analyst at CLSA in Hong Kong, adding that he had not noticed any change in the fundamentals of the company.
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange declined to comment on the reason for the suspension, as did the local regulator. Shares in Hong Kong can remain suspended for months.
The rout follows a 37 percent drop in the share price of U.S.-listed Chinese solar panel maker Yingli Green Energy Holding <YGE.N> overnight after it said in its annual report that there was “substantial doubt” over its ability to continue as a going concern due to indebtedness.
Yingli later said its statement had been taken out of context by some media and it was confident of its ability to service the global solar market and had taken substantive steps related to its debt repayments.
Hanergy has made bullish comments about its thin-film technology for solar panels but some experts say its products are not efficient or cheap enough to take any major market share from conventional panels made with crystalline silicons.
Another concern cited by analysts is that Hanergy relies on its parent company – Hanergy Holdings Group Ltd – for most of its revenue and profits. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Courses
Cat. I This course introduces students to issues in the study of writing such as the history and uses of literacy, the relationship of thought to language, the role of writing in producing knowledge, and research on composing. The focus of the course will be on professional and academic writing. The course will be organized around a series of interrelated research questions: How do writers in professional and academic settings know when they have something to write about? How do they define a problem to investigate? How do they define or construct an audience to address? How do they locate their work in relation to others? work? How do they know which forms of writing to use? Why do they write in the first place? What functions does writing perform?
Cat. I Rhetoric concerns both the art of mastering the available means of persuasion and the study of how oral, written, and visual communication projects the intentions of individuals and groups, makes meanings, and affects audiences. the purpose of this course therefore is two-fold. It is intended to help students become more effective communicators by learning about the rhetorical situation and various rhetorical techniques. and it is designed to help them understand how various forms of communication work by learning some of the strategies of rhetorical analysis.
Cat. I This course explores how visual design is used for purposes of identification, information, and persuasion. It looks at many modes of visual communication, such as icons, logos, trademarks, signs, product packaging, infographics, posters, billboards, ads, exhibits, graffiti, page layout, films, television, videogames, and web sites. The course provides an overview of the history of graphic design movements, as well as analytical tools to understand how visual design encodes messages and the role visual communication plays in contemporary culture.
This course will apply classical and modern rhetorical concepts to analyze various texts and speeches in order to identify the means of persuasion to a particular end. Students will write short analytical papers that critically assess various rhetorical and communicative approaches. The goal of this course is to enable students to see rhetoric in action in order to both engage with the material critically as well as produce effective discourse to meet various situations.
This seminar will cover basic principles of prose style for expository and argumentative writing. Students will learn to evaluate writing for stylistic problems and will learn revision strategies for addressing those problems. The ultimate goal of the seminar is to help students write sentences and paragraphs that are clear, concise, and graceful. In the first part of the course, students will review parts of speech, basic sentence types, and sentence and paragraph structure in order to understand how sentences are put together and the impact their construction has on readers. Then, through hands-on writing exercises and extensive revision of their own and others? writing, students will learn strategies for tightening their prose (concision), achieving ?flow? (cohesion and coherence) and improving usage (language specificity and precision).
Recommended background: WR 1010, Elements of Writing.
This course will examine how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavor to communicate across cultures. Students will develop a personal and theoretical understanding of the cultural origin of people?s values, ideologies, habits, idiosyncrasies and how they affect communication across cultural, racial, ethnic and gender lines. Through observing, studying and experiencing incidents of cross-cultural communication, they will begin to examine and develop skills that are necessary for effective understanding and for successful intercultural communication among majority and minority groups.
Recommended Background: WR 1010 Elements of Writing
This course will introduce students to methods and processes for writing documents based on large complex data sets. Students will learn methods for analytics-based presentations including invention, organization, interpretation, and form. The course will briefly examine database development but through a rhetorical lens, as a way to understand how database structures influence information production. The majority of the course will cover case statements, metrics, data literacy, verification and utility, and operational applications for analytics. Readings and assignments will include some theory, problem-based learning, and case studies.
Suggested Background: Two courses in Rhetoric and/or Writing. Helpful courses could also include one of: WR 3210 Technical Writing, WR 3310 Digital Rhetoric; WR 2211Rhetoric of Visual Design, CS3431 Database Systems I; MA 2611 Applied Statistics I; MIS 3720 Business Data Management; BUS 2080 Data Analysis for Decision Making; or equivalent
This course focuses on effective communication within a scientific or technical community. Students will analyze a number of genres, such as academic articles, research reports, grants, lab reports, and conference proceedings in order to codify the conventions. Students will then switch from analysis to production, writing and revising disciplinary writing for academic and specialized audiences.
Recommended background: WR 1011 Writing About Science & Technology, WR 2211 Rhetoric of Visual Design, WR 3210 Technical Writing, WR 3214 Writing About Disease and Public Health, or equivalent
Cat. I. This course is designed for students who wish to work intensively on their writing. The course will emphasize the processes of composing and revising, the rhetorical strategies of written exposition and argumentation, and the reading and citation practices central to academic inquiry. In a workshop setting, students will write a sequence of short papers and complete one longer writing project based on multiple source texts; learn to read critically and respond helpfully to each other?s writing; and make oral presentations from written texts. Where applicable, the topical theme of the class will be provided via the Registrar?s office. Note: Students who have taken EN/WR 2211 cannot receive credit for this course.
Cat.I This course will examine the appropriate dissemination of scientific information in common science writing genres such as science journalism, consulting reports and white papers, and policy and procedure documents. In a workshop setting, students will write and revise documents that promote broad understanding of scientific research and analysis of specialized knowledge. Course lectures and discussions investigate ethics of scientific reporting and teach students how to recognize deceptive texts and arguments (both quantitative and qualitative). The course is reading and writing intensive and is intended for students with backgrounds in a scientific discipline who are interested in applying their disciplinary knowledge. Note: Students who have taken EN/WR 2211 cannot receive credit for this course.
Cat. I. This course emphasizes the standard written genres of professional, workplace
communication. Students will analyze the history, purposes, conventions, and social consequences of a variety of business communications, focusing on digital and print correspondence, reports, and proposals directed to internal and external audiences. Students will learn about the culture of a professional environment and the role of writing in structuring identity and relationships within that context. Classes will be conducted as interactive writing workshops in which students assess and respond to rhetorical scenarios and sample texts from a variety of professional worksites. Students will create portfolios, producing professional writing samples they may use on the job market.
Suggested background: WR 1010 or WR 1011. Note: Students who have taken EN/WR 2210 cannot receive credit for this course.
Cat. I. This course is designed for students who wish to work intensively on their writing. The course will emphasize the processes of composing and revising, the rhetorical strategies of written exposition and argumentation, and the reading and citation practices central to academic inquiry. In a workshop setting, students will write a sequence of short papers and complete one longer writing project based on multiple source texts; learn to read critically and respond helpfully to each other?s writing; and make oral presentations from written texts. Where applicable, the topical theme of the class will be provided via the Registrar?s office.
Cat. I. The course is for students who may wish to make careers in journalism or
communications and for those who wish to understand the history, function, production and contemporary challenges of print journalism. Students will analyze articles from newspapers, magazines and Web sites. They will learn and practice the skills of the journalist: finding the story, researching, interviewing, writing on deadline, copy-editing
and proof-reading. Classes will also cover matters such as objectivity, fairness, ethics and libel, as well as wider issues of mass communication such as agenda setting, citizen journalism and the implications of converging media. To give students a more keen sense of audience, work will be read and discussed in class. Students will be urged to write for the college newspaper. Publication beyond the campus will be strongly encouraged.
Cat. I This course explores how visual design is used for purposes of identification,
information, and persuasion. It looks at many modes of visual communication, such as icons, logos, trademarks, signs, product packaging, infographics, posters, billboards, ads, exhibits, graffiti, page layout, films, television, videogames, and web sites. The course provides an overview of the history of graphic design movements, as well as analytical tools to understand how visual design encodes messages and the role visual communication plays in contemporary culture. Students will write about and create a number of visual media in this projectcentered class. Suggested background: WR 1010
Note: Students who have taken EN/WR 3211 cannot receive credit for this course.
Teaching Writing introduces students to the theory and practice of written
composition. Students research and read about the writing process and how best to support it through the practice of explicit teaching and tutoring. They learn specific strategies that can support writers as they plan, draft, and revise written work in a number of genres, and they study effective ways to provide helpful feedback on drafts. They also learn about and practice navigating the social, political and interpersonal dynamics of the teacher/tutor-student relationship through a tutoring internship at the Writing Center and through assignments prompting them to develop lesson plans and instructional handouts. This course will help students improve their own writing and read their own and others? writing more critically. It will be especially useful for those who plan to teach or tutor writing in the future.
Recommended background: WR 1010 Elements of Writing Note: Students who have taken WR/EN 3011 Peer Tutoring in Writing cannot receive credit for this course.
Cat. I. Rhetoric concerns both the art of mastering the available means of persuasion
and the study of how oral, written, and visual communication projects the intentions of individuals and groups, makes meanings, and affects audiences. The purpose of this course therefore is two-fold. It is intended to help students become more effective communicators by learning about the rhetorical situation and various rhetorical techniques, and it is designed to help them understand how various forms of communication work by learning some of the philosophies and strategies of rhetorical analysis. Recommended background: Introduction to Rhetoric. Note: Students who have taken RH 3112 cannot receive credit for this course.
Cat. I. Technical writing combines technical knowledge with writing skills to communicate technology to the world. This course introduces the fundamental principles of technical communication, and the tools commonly used in the technical writing profession. Topics include user and task analysis, information design, instructional writing, and usability testing. Students learn to use the technical writing process to create user-centered documents that combine text, graphics, and visual formatting to meet specific information needs. Students create a portfolio of both hardcopy and online documentation, using professional tools such as FrameMaker, Acrobat, and RoboHelp. Recommended background: WR 1010, or equivalent writing course.
Cat. I. This writing workshop focuses on the purposed and genres of writing about
disease and public health. We will consider how biomedical writers communicate
technical information about disease and public health to general audiences; how writers capture the human experience of disease and health care; how writers treat the public policy implications of disease; and how writers design publicity to promote public health. We will examine such genres as the experimental article, news reports, medical advice, profiles, commentary, and public health messages. Recommended background: WR 1010 Elements of Writing or equivalent writing courses.
Cat. I The purpose of this course is to help students develop or improve the skills of written expression. Small groups are formed in which participants present and discuss their original work in either fiction or poetry.
This course will explore the changing nature of rhetoric and communication in a digital environment by articulating a theory of rhetoric that accounts for digital communication. In a seminar format, students will read and respond to a number of readings that consider the roles of databases, algorithms, social networks, and the like on contemporary communication practices. Students will put into practice their theories on digital rhetoric through a series of class projects: website design, podcasting, interactive storytelling, database design, virtual representations, and the like. Throughout the course, students will recursively understand their practices through theoretical works and gain new insight into theory through the practice of writing in digital spaces.
Recommended background: WR 2211 Rhetoric of Visual Design.
Cat. I This methodology course introduces students to issues in the study of writing
such as the history and uses of literacy, the relationship of thought to language, the role of writing in producing knowledge, and research on composing. The focus of the course will be on professional and academic writing. In this project-based class, students will develop research questions, construct a relevant method study, and carry out that study. The purpose of this course is to add to students analytical approaches to writing and communicative situations. Recommended background: WR 1010 Elements of Writing, WR 2310 Rhetoric of Visual Design, WR 3112 Rhetorical Theory. Note: Students who have taken RH 3111 cannot receive credit for this course. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
No I stated that the methods were scientifically proven to a high level of probability.According to your argument the peer review process proves thet the Science methodology worked and the european methods failed because they did not find anything.The peer review studies the european studies actually recieved do not evaluate accuracy just reproducibility as I have told you many times before.Actually only one European study recieved any kind of peer review process.Your logic just gets you into a mess
Wrong about the european methods. They could detect XMRV in the positive control i think. I did not check now, but i'm pretty sure it's that way. And probably they also returned a negative result for the negative control.
But that was my last reply to that discussion. If you reply to this, i will not continue. Your choice.
Wrong about the european methods. They could detect XMRV in the positive control i think. I did not check now, but i'm pretty sure it's that way. And probably they also returned a negative result for the negative control.
But that was my last reply to that discussion. If you reply to this, i will not continue. Your choice.
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no Eric they said they could but did not publish the fact.These are the same people who failed to comply with scientific proceedure and ethics and used a false cohort. once the study was published they rerospectively saidthat they could without providing any evidence.The other european researchers refused the offer of a positive sample.You have used many words and offered nothing but ill informed speculation .You have nothing to continue with you never had any coherent argument in the first place.Science deals in established facts not supposition
no Eric they said they could but did not publish the fact.These are the same people who failed to comply with scientific proceedure and ethics and used a false cohort. once the study was published they rerospectively saidthat they could without providing any evidence.The other european researchers refused the offer of a positive sample.You have used many words and offered nothing but ill informed speculation .You have nothing to continue with you never had any coherent argument in the first place.Science deals in established facts not supposition
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I will break my word and come back for one more reply, even though i know it's not a good thing to do. But i want to correct this. You should be a bit more exact, it's not the first time you make claims about previous statements by either you or me that are untrue, as documented by this very forum (anyone can go back to the postings in question and check as long as you don't edit them). If you go back and read what i've written, you will see that i said "positive control", not "positive blood sample". I realize though that a blood sample is probably the better control.
[Edit: And even though i very much hope that the WPI is right, you don't mention the fact that the Dutch group at least claimed to have proposed to the WPI to exchange cohorts. We have to see everything, not just what we want to see.]
If you're so sure, why don't you accept my offer to have a jury, i suggest at least one person holding a PhD in microbiology, give their opinion?
Now this will be my last reply, no matter what you say.
Omg.. this is going pretty far now. Martlet, i will send you a scan of my passport, birth certificate, same for both of my parents if you like. If you agree in writing that you will not pass them on and delete them after looking at them. Will that be enough to convince you? If not, what do you need?[Moderator message: Have removed personal identifying information.]
The picture will be up until 17/5 16:00 CEST. I kindly ask everyone not to download them and not to pass the links on. Maybe this would even violate the terms and conditions of the hosting site, i did not check that.
I actually do put my money where my mouth is, in every regard. All i have said on this forum i can prove.
I will break my word and come back for one more reply, even though i know it's not a good thing to do. But i want to correct this. You should be a bit more exact, it's not the first time you make claims about previous statements by either you or me that are untrue, as documented by this very forum (anyone can go back to the postings in question and check as long as you don't edit them). If you go back and read what i've written, you will see that i said "positive control", not "positive blood sample". I realize though that a blood sample is probably the better control. If you're so sure, why don't you accept my offer to have a jury, i suggest at least one person holding in PhD in microbiology, give their opinion?
Now this will be my last reply, no matter what you say.[/QU
Opinions have nothing to do with the scientific method Eric.There were no positive controls.Mclure used water.Groom used patients with lllnesses related to endogenous retroviruses.our dutch friends used porcine virus.
If they had used a positive control they would have been in danger of having their methods disproved would they not?
In scientific terms a positive control and positive blood sample is exactly the same thing
You are probably the least qualified poster to complain that another persons post should be more exact as you have used no facts whatsoever
Here is a scan of two of my passports, the current one and an old one, to document how long i have been a Swiss national (since birth and so have been my parents, my family has always been Swiss).
Furthermore, i have added screenshots of both the donations i have generated for the WPI.
If you look at the screenshots you will see that my version of Windows is not an english one.
Those are the thumbnails and links to the pictures
EDIT: The little heart is for all my friends here ;-))))
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Eric, you do not have to prove to who you are. I believed you when you said English is not your first language. I have had several Swiss friends, most who do not use English as well as you do.
I would suggest you delete your personal information from the above post, for your own ID safety.
Eric, I think you should remove that personal stuff for your own safety. This forum can be viewed by anyone (so non-members as well as member), and you need to be careful about potential problems with identity theft.
And from what I could tell (I was only skimming some posts) Martlet was not criticising you re which was your first language etc. I think she was making a genuine mistake, and not a criticism.
Eric, I think you should remove that personal stuff for your own safety. This forum can be viewed by anyone (so non-members as well as member), and you need to be careful about potential problems with identity theft.
And from what I could tell (I was only skimming some posts) Martlet was not criticising you re which was your first language etc. I think she was making a genuine mistake, and not a criticism.
Orla
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Yes, I think Martlett was just saying that your command of English is as good as one who has it as a first language.
I'm well aware that this forum is publicly accessible and i was thinking about what i'm doing before doing it.
Anyone who can read a telephone directory can get my name (and here it's not even visible). Neither is my date of birth, height etc. a secret. From that picture noone can get the complete set of my personal data. Just the passport number was critical for security reasons, i felt.
The only thing i was worried about is that someone could take this as a model to forge a passport. But i'm sure there are plenty of such pictures available already, so that should not be a problem. Publishing it might be illegal after Swiss law though, i did not check that, but i guess i'll take that risk.
Please tell me what dangers you see, i'm curious. This is not a credit card number. I don't see what anyone could do with this information.
And knackered, the person who edited your image did quite a good job, but i think anyone can see that the letters in my image don't look like letters inserted by a photo processing software. If it was you, then i suggest you put your time and talent to better use.
Please tell me what dangers you see, i'm curious. This is not a credit card number. I don't see what anyone could do with this information.
And knackered, the person who edited your image did quite a good job, but i think anyone can see that the letters in my image don't look like letters inserted by a photo processing software. If it was you, then i suggest you put your time and talent to better use.
Eric
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It was just a silly joke Eric. Type Batman Bin Suparman in to google and you'll see that image all over the place.
As far as I am aware, Eric, you did not state your nationality. Location is meaningless, given that many of us live in countries other than those of our birth. If English is not your first language, then you should be taking my mistake as a compliment!
Now once again, please get back to the subject of this thread. Everyone.
Gerwyn knows that all she has a propensity to make cutting comments at times and we, as moderators, hear about it.
I'm afraid I made a blunder which provoked Gerwyn. In the course of switching between the four studies available, I got fixated on a problem in the paper by Groom et al. Gerwyn apparently didn't recognize my humble appeals for direction to the source of some information on samples as real. I had pretty well written the Erlwein et al. paper off, and didn't realize I was supposed to be reading that. We were talking at cross purposes, and I was at fault for not catching my error.
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It is fine to point out errors; please do not point them out in a belittling or condescending manner - do not question peoples intelligence or motives. IF everyone treats each with respect we can have fantastic conversations about all areas under the sun. Let's let the debates continue.
Others put forward "beliefs" for other quite different reasons.
We have had many examples of the latter in recent days and week
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Please debate the posts on the facts not on their ulterior motives - of which quite frankly none of us has any idea or any way of finding out. For one thing its difficult to know where to stop.... If you think someone is simply being disruptive and rude please communicate that to the moderators otherwise please DO NOT bring conspiracy theories regarding forum members into the conversation.
Here's my assessment - questioning facts is fine, questioning Gerwyn ability to comment and qualifications is questionable altho I would note that Gerwyn has certainly done that in the past . Overall I think questioning qualifications is dangerous - things can go south quickly - and its better not to do it. I encourage people not to do that - things get personal too quickly.
We can have it all you know - Gerwyn's curiosity and interest and informed ideas and discussions that don't get personal and turn into pissing contests. Lets just resolve to have it all.
If people stopped repeating unfounded propaganda and did not come from other forums to cause mischief for political reasons we would be in even better shape.I generally get combative when people repeatedly make claims they pretend to be based on science when they are not.I do that because i think it.s wrong to distress vulnerable people with such tactics.I generally only do it when people keep presenting the same faux claims time and time again despite being presented with the scientific evidence to the contrary.I do admit that I put the sensitivities of the many well ahead of the sensitivities of the few.If they cant stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.Yes I do get cutting as a last resort.I have never insulted anyone personally and anyone presented with the same spiel time and time again would be at least a little cutting and probably do a lot worse
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a and did not come from other forums to cause mischief for political reasons we would be in even better shape.
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We have banned several people who were obviously here to cause some mischief.
I do admit that I put the sensitivities of the many well ahead of the sensitivities of the few.If they cant stand the heat stay out of the kitchen.Y
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Please keep providing your analysis and digging into the topics at hand but please do not do so in an insulting manner.
One more thing: This same poster thought it was perfectly all right to mock Gerwyns punctuation, a blatant attempt to trivialize his arguments. (This was not the gentle teasing Gerwyn's idiosyncratic way with the keyboard has sometimes received, given and taken with high affection)
The only thing that i really can't accept is people making up weird assumptions about my motives. That's going too far. I'm in this fight because i have CFS myself and if people accuse me of being dishonest and trying to hurt the cause, then i hope they are aware of the gravity of what they are saying.
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This has got to stop. The Forum is filled with all sorts of different types of patients who have different viewpoints and probably different types of illness. We need to have the room to have have different opinions aired without someone questioning another person's motives or illness.
Tone is an interpretation and not fact.I do not apologise for being direct but I have never knowingly belittled or insulted anyone.I strongly resent the accusation that I have.Dismantling an argument is not like dismantling a person.If belittling is the issue then i am not the guilty party, there are however many members of the forum who are guilty of that charge.They engage in it repeatedly without censure of any kind
I express my views honestly and sincerely and if that upsets people because they don't like what they hear then that is not my fault
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Its not because Gerwyn is presenting the wrong facts - its not because at times she is very aggressive in her posts. This is not rocket science. This is not an attack against Gerwyn. This is a problem for the moderators who are committed to having an even tone on the Forums and have to deal with complaints about that. This is a fixable (although not necessarily easy) issue. We had one person state they were leaving the Forums on this thread and another, to my impression, suggest that they might be. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Product: CATIA – Elfini Structural Analysis (EST)
Product Overview
CATIA – Elfini Structural Analysis (EST) extends the capabilities of the GPS product to include multiple analysis cases for static, frequency, and buckling analysis. This product is more tailored to the needs of specialists, while maintaining a consistent user interface between specialists and design engineers. This common user interface promotes the teamwork between various disciplines to shorten the design analysis turnaround time.
Enhances the visualization of all analysis specifications with the display of loads, restraints, and mass on the mesh or geometry, including the visualization of analysis results with image customization and the simultaneous display of multiple images.
Includes state-of-the-art high performance solution technology, including parallel processing and Lanczos solution, for the faster solution of large models.
Allows vibration analysis of prestressed parts.
Allows reports to be customized.
Product Key Customer Benefits
Advanced properties
EST provides more advanced ways to define the properties of the analysis model. It allows orthotropic materials to be defined where the material properties vary in different directions. It also allows membranes and shear panels to be modeled, and provides support for bar elements and more complex definition of beam elements.
Composites analysis
EST can use the specification of the layup of a composite part defined using Composites Design (CPD) or with an xml file, and calculate the appropriate composite material definitions. EST also allows plots of various composite failure measures to be created allowing designers to predict if composite designs will fail.
Advanced loading
EST provides a number of more advanced loading options than are available in GPS, enabling more accurate ways to represent the operating conditions being assessed. These include:
Bearing loads: These can be used to represent the loading transmitted through a bearing without having to model the bearing in detail. The profile of the load, its direction, and angle of application can all be specified or defined using Knowledgeware.
Thermo-mechanical loading: The temperature distribution of the parts can be specified, allowing the thermal stresses caused by those temperatures to be calculated.
External loads: Loading data derived from applications external to CATIA V5 can be used. The loads and their spatial position are specified in Excel spreadsheets or text files and these data are then mapped onto CATIA geometry and associated finite element mesh. This capability allows the behavior of the part or assembly to be studied based on loading from experimental calculations, test data, or simulations performed by other simulation programs.
Inertia relief
If the loading is out of balance, EST calculates and applies a uniform acceleration allowing a static solution for models that are not fully constrained.
Inertia definition
Lumped inertia at a point can be defined allowing a more accurate definition of the mass and inertia distribution when performing dynamic analysis.
Preprocessing visualization
EST provides additional tools to visualize and check the analysis specifications including loads, restraints, and added mass. The resulting images can also be customized using symbols, text, etc.
Multiple load cases
In many industries, such as aerospace, it is common to solve many hundreds or thousands of load cases. EST allows multiple linear load cases to be easily defined on a part or assembly and solved simultaneously and efficiently. EST also allows load cases to be combined, allowing the response to additional loading scenarios to be studied quickly and efficiently.
Buckling analysis
EST can estimate the load at which a component will buckle, using eigenvalue buckling techniques.
Advanced vibration analysis
While GPS allows the natural frequencies and mode shapes to be calculated, EST offers more advanced capabilities. The Lanczos solver is more efficient, particularly when large numbers of modes are required on large models. The modes and frequencies can be calculated for a preloaded structure, so that the load stiffening effects are accounted for. Frequency shifting also allows more accurate results for the modes in the frequency range of interest.
Controlled accuracy
GPS allows the user to specify a global target error which controls the adaptive meshing process. EST also allows the target error to also be specified locally on points, lines or surfaces, allowing more accurate results to be obtained in areas of interest, with a somewhat higher margin of error elsewhere.
Analysis of large models
On multi-core computers EST can reduce the solution time for large models by running in parallel on multiple cores.
Result evaluation
GPS allows the displacements and stresses in the structure to be reviewed. EST extends that to include the strains, contact pressure, and the forces in constraints and at restraints. When multiple load cases have been analyzed, envelope plots are available to determine the worst case from a series of load cases. Results plots and reports can be customized to match a user’s particular needs. Local and more advanced sensors are available, i.e. to visualize the force flowing through a portion of the structure. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
We’ve reached the point in this shit show where one Trump lawyer goes after another Trump lawyer. Snakes eating snakes. We’re gonna need more popcorn. On Tuesday, long-time Trump lawyer Jay Goldberg appeared on MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber. And he totally threw new Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani under the bus. Melber asked Goldberg right […] | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
What began as a harrowing account of child abuse suffered by a former professional English soccer player last month has lifted the lid on what could be one of the worst pedophile scandals Britain has ever known.
Andy Woodward, 43, who played in the lower divisions of English soccer, told the Guardian newspaper in an interview two weeks ago how his life had been ruined because he had been molested as a boy by a youth team coach.
His frank revelations of the sexual abuse he endured three decades ago prompted more than 20 other former professionals to come forward with their own distressing stories of suffering at the hands of sexual predators in the sport.
The allegations of child sex abuse in English soccer from the 1970s through to the 1990s has shocked Britain and led to deep soul-searching in the game amid fears hundreds of young boys might have been involved.
In a sign of how widespread the abuse might have been, British police said on Thursday that about 350 victims had come forward to report sexual abuse within soccer clubs and indicated the number was likely to rise.
Easy access to kids
Britons are still reeling from another massive pedophile scandal involving one of their most-loved celebrities, Jimmy Savile, a cigar-chomping BBC television star who abused hundreds of youngsters over six decades.
Savile used his fame to gain access to children and then cow them into silence. His crimes did not come to light until his death aged 84 in 2011.
"It is a sickeningly familiar tale," an editorial in the Sunday Observer said. "Report after report has revealed how institution after institution — the Catholic church, the BBC, the National Health Service, councils acting in loco parentis for children in care — have chosen to look the other way when signs emerged of child abuse within their walls."
'Staggering'
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) charity said that a helpline dedicated to the soccer abuse scandal had received 860 calls in its first week.
The charity's staff had made 60 referrals to police or social services in the first three days, triple the number made in the wake of a similar scheme set up for victims Savile.
"We've had a staggering surge in calls to our football helpline which reveals the worrying extent of abuse that had been going on within the sport," said Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive.
The only way that this gets dealt with is through openness and honesty and everyone exposing what has happened. — Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn on allegations of soccer child sex abuse
Meanwhile, English soccer's governing body, the Football Association, has launched an internal review into what it admitted could be one the sport's biggest crises, but cast doubt on claims that some clubs had tried to cover-up allegations.
"If the FA have made errors, we will own up to them as must the rest of football if avoidable errors have been made," Martin Glenn, the FA chief executive told reporters on Thursday.
"The only way that this gets dealt with is through openness and honesty and everyone exposing what has happened."
On Tuesday, Barry Bennell, 62, who was a talent spotter at Crewe Alexandra and a coach at Manchester City, was charged with eight historical sex offences against a 14-year-old boy. They included indecent assault, inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency and assault with intent to commit buggery.
Victims tell similar tales of how they were targeted while they were playing for youth teams and feared speaking out would wreck their boyhood dreams.
'My belief is that there's hundreds'
"My life has been ruined until the age of 43," Woodward, a former Crewe player, said in his Guardian interview. "We've seen with the Jimmy Savile case how people have had the courage, yet I'd say within the football world it's even harder to speak out."
Among the former players who waived a legal right to anonymity to tell their stories are former Manchester City player David White, who won an England cap, and another ex-England striker Paul Stewart, who had a successful career at Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
"My belief is that there's hundreds," a tearful Stewart told BBC TV last week, saying he believed the scandal would prove to be worse than the Savile revelations. "The access to the children at sport level is very easy and it's perfect ground for [child abusers] to prey."
The NSPCC has not ruled out suggestions the abuse is still ongoing.
"It would be naive to assume that all of the concerns that are being disclosed and being talked about are in the past," said Jon Brown, the NSPCC lead on tackling sexual abuse.
"There are many parallels between Savile and what we are seeing and hearing. Savile's victims were very effectively silenced, they were told they wouldn't be believed." | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Raul Meireles and Luis Suarez scored the goals as Liverpool eased to victory.
Kenny Dalglish named an interesting team, with Luis Suarez on the bench and Dirk Kuyt upfront alone.
Tony Pulis played a 4-5-1 shape – John Carew made his full debut.
First, it’s difficult to know how much to read into this Liverpool system. The use of a three-man defence is extremely unusual in the Premier League – this was the first time a true three-man defence has been used in 2010/11 by any side (drawing a distinction between three- and five-man defences), and in that respect, it was a very interesting decision.
Height?
On the other hand, there’s also a feeling (as Liverpool journalist Paul Tomkins put forward last night) that the formation was used primarily because Dalglish wanted to get more height in the side. This wouldn’t be the first time this season a manager has done something specific to deal with Stoke’s threat from set-pieces – when Manchester United played them earlier this season, Sir Alex Ferguson played Patrice Evra on the left of midfield, in order to get more height in the side with the use of John O’Shea at left-back. It wasn’t indicative of a long-term strategy – Evra hasn’t played at left midfield since, and Dalglish might not play three at the back after this.
As it turned out, the height wasn’t as important as one might have expected. Rory Delap was only a substitute, so Stoke possessed little threat from throws, whilst Pulis’ side didn’t win a single corner.
Formation match-up
The game was interesting, however. Pulis chose to use a 4-5-1 rather than a 4-4-2 formation, which, as discussed before, often gives the side with a three-man defence a bit of a problem – they’re overstocked at the back (3 v 1) which is fine defensively, but leaves a shortfall somewhere else on the pitch. Liverpool had the benefit of Daniel Agger being comfortable on the ball and able to move into midfield successfully, whilst Martin Skrtel did similarly with less impact.
Liverpool were effectively using four central midfielders in addition to two wing-backs, and they dominated possession (although any side playing any formation generally dominates possession against Stoke). Steven Gerrard and Raul Meireles played reasonably high up the pitch, which pushed Salif Diao and Marc Wilson back, and opened up the rest of the central midfield zone for Fabio Aurelio and Lucas Leiva to patrol, with only Dean Whitehead sporadically closing them down. As a result, they kept possession easily there, with both Aurelio and Lucas ending with an 89% pass completion rate.
Lack of chances
The forward pass was sometimes more difficult, however, and both Gerrard and Meireles came deep to pick up the ball, leaving Dirk Kuyt isolated and lacking support. For his part, Kuyt had an excellent game and held the ball up very well throughout, but that hold-up play has to be combined with midfield runners, and in the first half Liverpool were too slow to get up the pitch towards him, and took until the 36th minute to test Asmir Begovic.
Defensively, Liverpool were simply better prepared for the game in terms of tracking runners and knowing their individual roles. Communication was good between the wing-backs and the back three, with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly passing on the responsibility of the Stoke wingers at the correct points. When it was the reverse situation, Stoke looked baffled when it came to dealing with wing-backs – their wide midfielders tracked Johnson and Kelly very deep and Stoke often ended up with two right-backs or two left-backs. Kelly had a better game than Johnson – but then he was on his natural side and could overlap more comfortably, whilst Johnson kept coming inside into the centre of the pitch where Liverpool had enough players already. When playing this system, the wing-backs do need to stay wide to stretch the opposition.
by Guardian Chalkboards
Stoke were pretty poor, and had a similar problem with a lack of support for Carew. He competed well with the Liverpool back three, winning six from 10 headers, but couldn’t do it all on his own. Stoke’s real area to exploit was in their own full-back position – with Liverpool playing no natural wingers, they had time on the ball and space in front of them – but too often they simply hit the ball long, summed up by Danny Higginbotham’s chalkboard.
by Guardian Chalkboards
Second half
Liverpool produced relatively little early in the second half, though Meireles gave them the lead when he smashed the ball into the net following a blocked Steven Gerrard free-kick.
Suarez’s introduction for Aurelio pushed Gerrard deeper and made Liverpool 3-4-1-2, with Suarez upfront with Kuyt, and Pulis responded by going 4-3-3, with Ricardo Fuller on the left and Jermaine Pennant on the right either side of Carew. This was the correct move to try and counter a three-/five- man defence as it results in one of (a) the centre-backs being drawn wide, (b) the wing-backs being pushed back or (c) neither, and the players being left unmarked.
However, it wasn’t a particularly brave 4-3-3, with Pennant still expected to track back and help out defensively. Telling Pennant and Fuller to stay high up against the Liverpool defensive line on the touchlines for the final 20 minutes would have been a much more interesting approach.
Suarez got a goal on his debut from a ball over the top (and thanks to a terrible offside line) to seal the victory.
Conclusion
The new formation worked well for Liverpool – although they rarely looked certain to break the deadlock at 0-0, they were clearly the better side. The specifics of the formation are less important than the news that Dalglish is willing to change his tactics and strategy to suit individual opponents.
Stoke were disappointing – Pulis left it late to change things, and they didn’t test Pepe Reina until the 80th minute.
Related articles on Zonal Marking: | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Kurt Robertson
Kurt Robertson, also known as "Dirty Kurt" (born July 21, 1965 in Vancouver, British Columbia), is a Canadian punk rock guitarist and musician. Robertson was a member of Vancouver-based Celtic punk band The Real McKenzies from 1993 to 2013, appearing on their first seven full-length studio albums. In 2014, he joined the skate punk band SNFU.
Biography
Early years and career
Robertson was born with a congenital heart problem and was adopted at birth. He grew up on Quadra Island before the early death of his adoptive parents. He then returned to Vancouver.
In Vancouver, Robertson played with the groups Curious George and Stick Monkey. Curious George released the album Children of a Common Mother in 1989 on the Nemesis Records imprint. Robertson later joined the band JP5, led by Gerry-Jenn Wilson. They also released one album, Hot Box.
With The Real McKenzies
In 1993, Robertson joined The Real McKenzies, initially as a guest member to replace guitarist Tony Walker for a single gig. Robertson stayed with the band, and remained in various capacities for 20 years. He performed with the group on their first three albums and through numerous tours.
Robertson took a hiatus from the band in 2005 when his girlfriend was pregnant with a child. He returned to the group in 2007 and appeared on their next four studio albums. He was only able to perform on select tours, however, due to his familial obligations and health problems. After suffering a heart attack and further complications from his condition, he left the band in 2013.
With SNFU
The following year, SNFU vocalist Ken Chinn assembled a new lineup of his recently splintered band to tour behind their latest album, Never Trouble Trouble Until Trouble Troubles You. Robertson was recruited, and joined the band for their subsequent tours.
References
External links
The Real McKenzies official website
Category:1965 births
Category:Canadian punk rock guitarists
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from Vancouver
Category:SNFU members | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Investigations on radiosensitive and radioresistant populations of Drosophila melanogaster. XIV. The genetic factor rar-1: effects in immature oocytes and their inhibition by caffeine.
The genetic factor rar-1 is part of the system of relative radioresistance that has evolved in the irradiated population ROI4 of Drosophila melanogaster. Previous data tentatively indicated an inhibition of rar-1 by caffeine. The present work was devoted to an extension of these caffeine studies to various end-points of genetic radiation damage induced at various exposure levels in immature oocytes of ROI4, of the contemporaneous control population Berlin wild K, and also in those of a substitution stock that carries rar-1 but not the other factors of relative radioresistance in ROI4, namely rar-2 and rar-3. The results show that it is the effect of rar-1 which is inhibited by caffeine. They confirm that rar-1 affects pathways of mutagenesis which produce recessive and dominant lethals but not chromosome losses. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
Table of Contents
Physical Characteristics of the Golden Retriever
Title Page
HISTORY OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
THE GOLDEN COMES TO THE USA
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
SIZE
COAT AND COLOR
TIME AND EXERCISE
DISCIPLINE
ORAL FIXATION
NOT A GUARD DOG
THE GOLDEN'S NATURAL APTITUDES
BREED STANDARD FOR THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
YOUR PUPPY GOLDEN RETRIEVER
WHERE TO BEGIN
COMMITMENT OF OWNERSHIP
PREPARING PUPPY'S PLACE IN YOUR HOME
WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY
PUPPY-PROOFING YOUR HOME
FIRST TRIP TO THE VET
INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY
YOUR PUP'S FIRST NIGHT HOME
PREVENTING PUPPY PROBLEMS
COMMON PUPPY PROBLEMS
EVERYDAY CARE OF YOUR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
DIETARY AND FEEDING CONSIDERATIONS
WATER
EXERCISE
GROOMING
TRAVELING WITH YOUR DOG
IDENTIFICATION
TRAINING YOUR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
HOUSEBREAKING
KEEP THE "PUPPY" IN YOUR PUPPY
ROLES OF DISCIPLINE, REWARD AND PUNISHMENT
TRAINING EQUIPMENT
TRAINING BEGINS: ASK THE DOG A QUESTION
THE BASIC COMMANDS
WEANING OFF FOOD IN TRAINING
OBEDIENCE CLASSES
OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR LIFE
HEALTH CARE OF YOUR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
SELECTING A VETERINARIAN
PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
SKIN PROBLEMS IN GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
FOOD PROBLEMS
EXTERNAL PARASITES
INTERNAL PARASITES
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS IN THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER
YOUR SENIOR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SENIORS
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE TIME COMES
BEHAVIOR OF YOUR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
THINK LIKE A DOG
AGGRESSION
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
CHEWING
DIGGING
JUMPING UP
BARKING
FOOD STEALING
BEGGING
SEPARATION ANXIETY
COPROPHAGIA
SHOWING YOUR - GOLDEN RETRIEVER
OBEDIENCE TRIALS
AGILITY TRIALS
TRACKING
FIELD TRIALS
HUNTING TESTS
Copyright Page
**Ears** : Rather short with front edge attached well behind and just above the eye and falling close to cheek.
**Eyes** : Friendly and intelligent in expression, medium large with dark, closefitting rims, set well apart and reasonably deep in sockets. Color preferably dark brown.
**Nose** _:_ Black or brownish black.
**Mouth** : Strong jaws, with perfect scissor bite (i.e., upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set to the jaws).
**Forequarters:** Muscular, well co-ordinated with hindquarters and capable of free movement. Shoulder blades long and well laid back. Legs, straight with good bone. Pasterns short and strong, sloping slightly.
**Head:** Broad in skull, slightly arched. Stop well defined but not abrupt. Foreface deep and wide, nearly as long as skull. Muzzle straight in profile, blending smoothly and strongly into skull; when viewed in profile or from above, slightly deeper and wider at stop than at tip.
**Neck** : Medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy, muscular appearance. Untrimmed natural ruff.
**Body** : Well-balanced, short coupled, deep through the chest.
**Physical Characteristics of the Golden Retriever**
(from the American Kennel Club's breed standard)
**Color** : Rich, lustrous golden of various shades. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat.
**Back line** : Strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup.
**Coat:** Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Outer coat firm and resilient, neither coarse nor silky, lying close to body; may be straight or wavy.
**Tail** : Well set on, thick and muscular at the base, following the natural line of the croup.
**Hindquarters** : Broad and strongly muscled. Legs straight when viewed from rear.
**Size:** Males 23–24 inches in height at withers; females 21.5–22.5 inches. Weight for dogs 65–75 pounds; bitches 55–65 pounds.
**Feet** : Medium size, round, compact and well knuckled, with thick pads.
The Golden Retriever is the most beautiful and talented of the retriever breeds. It was originally developed to retrieve birds shot down over water. Dogs are trained, as shown here, with a dummy.
**HISTORY OF THE** **GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
The youngest and most beautiful of the retriever breeds, the Golden Retriever was originally developed as a waterfowl dog. Although still an admirable shooting dog, the Golden today spends more time romping with the family than in the duck blind or the field. Often considered the ideal dog to hunt over, compete with or just live with and hug a lot, the Golden has something to offer the sportsman, dog fancier or professional dog lover.
The Golden Retriever can trace its ancestry back to a single breeding and the first pair of yellow retrievers destined to be called "Golden." The fancy is indebted to a Scotsman, the former Sir Dudley Marjoriebanks, first Lord Tweedmouth of Guisachan at Inverness, Scotland, and the first "breeder" of our golden dog.
Typical of 19th-century aristocracy, Tweedmouth was an avid sportsman and waterfowl enthusiast. His passion as a hunter was equaled only by his dedication to the sporting dog, having owned and bred Beagles, pointers, setters, Greyhounds, Scottish Deerhounds and Irish Water Spaniels.
During the 1850s he turned his attention to the moderatesized retriever varieties who were the "water dogs" of that era. Such dogs were known to be desirable combinations of setters and spaniels and other working varieties. They possessed great courage, strength, sagacity and temperament, and, not surprisingly, a superior nose. Although color was unimportant to most sportsmen, who understandably cared more about working capabilities, Tweedmouth was a true vanguard of his time and was bent on developing a yellow retriever strain.
**The color of the Golden Retriever is any shade of rich, lustrous golden. They are powerful for their size and highly intelligent.**
For many years the dog fancy embraced the romantic myth that Tweedmouth had acquired his first yellow dogs from a troupe of Russian circus dogs. That "golden" tale was dispelled by the late Elma Stonex of Somerset, England, the recognized judge and breeder of the Dorcas Goldens, a noted authority on Golden Retrievers who researched and uncovered the true history of the breed.
In an article in _Dog World_ magazine, Mrs. Stonex wrote of information published in 1952 and 1953 in _Country Life_ magazine. Contributed by the sixth Earl of Ilchester, a noted historian and sportsman, the articles revealed the breeding records of his great-uncle, Lord Tweedmouth, from his kennel at his Guisachan estate.
Those records, dated 1835 through 1890, contain no reference to dogs of Russian origin. They indicated that Tweedmouth purchased his first yellow retriever in Brighton in 1865, a dog named Nous (the Greek word for wisdom) out of a litter of otherwise all-black Wavy-Coated Retrievers.
Recorded as bred by the Earl of Chichester, Nous is shown in photographs from 1870 to be a large and handsome dog with a very wavy medium-color coat, very much resembling the modern Golden Retriever.
Two years later, Tweedmouth's cousin, David Robertson, presented him with a Tweed Water Spaniel named Belle. David lived at Ladykirk, which was located on the Tweed River, and the Tweed Water Spaniel was the preferred hunting dog of that region. Historians describe the Tweed Water Spaniel as "a small English Retriever of a liver color" (liver meaning all shades of sandy, fawn or brown), a dog with a tightly curled coat who was an apparent descendant of the composite "Water Dogs" of the early nineteenth century. Belle was destined to become the foundation of Tweedmouth's plan to develop a yellow retriever breed.
**Golden Retrievers were developed as outdoor dogs. They were regarded as companions for the lonely hunter, assistants to bring in downed game, and handsome working animals. To this day Goldens enjoy outdoor activities more than anything.**
**Even though Golden Retrievers are large dogs, heavily boned and muscled, they can maneuver gracefully, hunt for long hours in the field and run at a rapid, sustained pace.**
**GOLDEN VIRTUES**
Early writers spoke of the virtues of the Water Spaniel, ancestor of the Golden Retriever. "He rushes in with the most incredible fortitude and impetuosity, through and over every obstacle that can present itself, to the execution of his office... He rivals every other breed in his attachment to his master." Those same words easily describe the twentyfirst-century Golden.
In 1868 the now-famed breeding of Nous and Belle resulted in four yellow pups that Tweedmouth named Ada, Cowslip, Crocus and Primrose. He kept Cowslip to continue his pursuit of breeding yellow retrievers, and gave the other three pups to relatives and friends who shared his dream of producing superior yellow dogs. Ada was given to his nephew, the fifth Earl of Ilchester, who founded the Melbury line of retrievers and often crossed his yellow progeny with other Wavy-Coats and Labradors.
**Golden Retrievers are often credited with having derived from the Tweed Water Spaniel. They possess a great love of water.**
In 1873 Cowslip was bred to another Tweed Water Spaniel, also given by David Robertson, and Tweedmouth kept a bitch pup he named Topsy. Three years later Topsy produced Zoe, who was later bred twice to Sweep, a descendant of Ada and bred by Lord Ilchester. In 1884 Zoe whelped another litter, this time sired by Jack, another son of Cowslip, who had been sired by a red setter in 1876. This litter produced a second Nous, who is the final link between Tweedmouth's breedings and today's Golden Retriever.
This second Nous was bred to a dog named Queenie, who was out of Nous' sister and a black Flat-Coat sire. Two pups, Prim and Rose, no doubt named for their generations-removed ancestors, are believed to be behind the first two Golden Retrievers registered with The Kennel Club of Great Britain.
This last yellow litter from Nous and Queenie, recorded in 1889, shows four different lines going back to Cowslip in five generations. Linebreeding of this nature was most unusual in those days, so Tweedmouth was a true pioneer of his time.
**GENUS** _**CANIS**_
Dogs and wolves are members of the genus _Canis_. Wolves are known scientifically as _Canis lupus_ while dogs are known as _Canis domesticus_. Dogs and wolves are known to interbreed. The term canine derives from the Latin derived word _Canis._ The term "dog" has no scientific basis but has been used for thousands of years. The origin of the word "dog" has never been authoritatively ascertained.
Although reading about "Dogs A and B" bred to "Dogs C and D" and beyond can become somewhat tiresome, these important detailed records reveal how the Golden's yellow coat became the hallmark of the breed. The second Lord Tweedmouth followed his father's dream and bred yellow retrievers until Guisachan was sold in 1905, although sadly, he failed to keep records of his breedings.
**A Golden Retriever, bringing to the hunter a downed pheasant. Goldens must have "soft mouths," which means they don't damage the game when they retrieve it.**
The final connection between Tweedmouth's yellow retrievers and today's Golden pedigrees is contained in a letter to his daughter, Marjorie Lady Pentland, written by John MacLennan, one of the Guisachan keepers. MacLennan had a litter of pups from a daughter of Lady, a bitch owned by the Hon. Archie Marjoriebanks, Tweedmouth's youngest son. In his letter, MacLennan stated he had sold two pups to the first Viscount Harcourt, founder of the famous Culham Kennel, whose dogs are behind the entire Golden Retriever breed. Those two pups are believed to be descendants of Prim and Rose, and the foundation stock of the Culham line.
Lord Harcourt was a major player in those early Golden years and was the first exhibitor to show the breed in England (then known and registered as Flat-Coats, Golden) at the Crystal Palace show in 1908. His great sires, Culham Brass and Culham Copper (1905), were registered with The Kennel Club in 1903 and 1905.
In 1906 Lord Harcourt was joined in the ring by Winifred Maude Charlesworth, the most notable of early Golden aficionados. Mrs. Charlesworth spent 50 years breeding, training and campaigning her beloved Goldens. She was the force responsible for the formation of the Golden Retriever Club in 1913, and for many years she served as Honorary Secretary for the Club. That same year, also largely due to Mrs. Charlesworth's efforts, Goldens were afforded their own category and registered as "Yellow or Golden Retrievers." The "Yellow" was officially dropped in 1920.
The importance of Mrs. Charlesworth to the Golden breed is legendary among Golden fanciers. Under the prefix of Normanby (later changed to Noranby), her breedings to Lord Harcourt's famous sires appear in every Golden Retriever pedigree today. She was a dynamic personality, and her dedication to the breed established the Golden as a premier gun dog in the British retriever world. Active in field trials as well as conformation, Mrs. Charlesworth was dedicated to the preservation of the working Golden who combined both type and soundness. Her dogs were sound and powerfully built, with lovely heads, and took honors on the bench and in the field. Her energy and enthusiasm in both venues promoted the Golden as a most capable gun dog who was competitive with the other retrievers of that time. In her 1933 book, she credits Lord Tweedmouth as instrumental in obtaining her first Golden, Normanby Beauty, which leads the reader to assume that bitch was directly from a Tweedmouth breeding.
**During the early 20th century, the Golden Retriever was referred to as the Yellow Retriever. The term "yellow" was formally dropped in 1920 in favor of the current name.**
**BRAINS AND BRAWN**
Since dogs have been inbred for centuries, their physical and mental characteristics are constantly being changed to suit man's desires for hunting, retrieving, scenting, guarding and warming their master's laps. During the past 150 years, dogs have been judged according to physical characteristics as well as functional abilities. Few breeds can boast a genuine balance between physique, working ability and temperament.
In the early 1900s, retrievers of all colors competed in the field trial meets. In 1904 the International Gundog League Open Stake was won by a "liver Flat-Coat" who was recorded as sired by Lord Tweedmouth's Golden Flat-Coat Lucifer, an accomplishment heralded by some historians as possibly the first Golden Retriever field trial win. The important fact remains that most Goldens of that era who competed on the bench also took honors in the field.
# **THE GOLDEN COMES TO THE USA**
British immigrants brought Golden Retrievers with them to North America in the late 1800s, and Goldens from Britain and Canada were imported to the US during the 1920s. In 1925, the Golden Retriever was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and by the Canadian Kennel Club in 1927.
**BE A "SPORT"**
Yellow pups occasionally appear in litters of all-black retrievers. The color is due to a recessive gene. Such deviation from the normal pattern is considered a mutation, and the resulting yellow pup is called a "sport."
American sportsman Colonel Samuel S. Magoffin founded the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) in 1938 and acted as the club's first president. His hard-working hunting dog, Speedwell Pluto, became the breed's first AKC bench champion in 1930. Magoffin also takes credit for owning the second and third bench champions as well. The breed's first national specialty show and field trial took place in 1940 in Wisconsin. The conformation specialty was won by Beavertail Gail Lady. Both the show and the field trial were equally supported, and early Golden club members were dedicated to establishing a handsome, working retriever in the US. Today the emphasis in the States is clearly on conformation, and the national specialty usually has at least five times as many show dogs as field dogs entered. The club publishes a bi-monthly newsletter called the "Golden Retriever News." The GRCA, in an effort to promote the breed's natural hunting abilities, introduced special Working Certificate Tests and, in an effort to promote the breed's prowess in conformation, obedience and field work, started the Versatility Certificate program. Both of these programs award titles as suffixes to the dog's name (WC, WCX, VC and VCX).
**Whether you are considering a Golden Retriever as a pet, show dog, field worker or competition dog, the breed is among the most handsome of all pure-bred dogs.**
**One of the Golden Retriever's most admired characteristics is its water-repellent undercoat, which essentially keeps the skin dry, thus making the dog more buoyant.**
The Golden Retriever has enjoyed tremendous popularity in the US, beginning in the 1940s and continuing to this day. Only the Labrador Retriever outranks the Golden Retriever as the most popular sporting and pet dog in the country.
**CALL ME "HONEY"**
In India, a six-year-old police-trained Golden Retriever named Madhu (the Indian word for honey) was used to guard the palace grounds and home of the late Prime Minister Nehru.
There are too many Golden Retriever breeders who have made American breed history to name them all. Some of the most influential kennels include: Gilnockie, Rockhaven, Stilrovin, Cragmount, Goldwood, Beautywood, Gunnerman, Tonkahof, Sprucewood, Cheyenne, Sun Dance, Golden Knoll, Malagold, Pepperhill, and many others. All these early kennels produced not only bench champions but also hard-working hunters. Goldens have left their mark not only on the conformation ring but, more impressively, on the obedience and field trial worlds. The first three Obedience Trial Champions, the highest possible title in AKC obedience competition, were Golden Retrievers. Likewise, there are many Field Champion Goldens as well, though few Dual Champions (earning both a Champion of Record in the show ring and a Field Champion title). Stilrovin Nitro Express became the breed's first Dual Champion, earning his Field Champion title in 1942 and his bench title in 1947. The last such Dual Champion was Tigathoes Funky Farquar, owned by Dottie Mikeska, who earned this title in 1979. In today's American Golden scene, there are few to no contenders for this elusive title of titles!
**Golden Retriever puppies are very playful and mischievous. Few can resist the charms and antics of a pair of Golden pups. They usually mature mentally when they are about two years old.**
The Goldens in the 1930s claimed a few Best in Show awards; the first such winner was the breed's first bench champion, American and Canadian Ch. Speedwell Pluto (1933), followed by Ch. Toby of Willow Loch (1938). The first Golden to win Best in Show on more than one occasion was Ch. Dzar of Wildwood, who won six shows between 1946 and 1950. Many Best in Show Goldens have followed in these footsteps, and today Goldens are a popular choice for that highest of conformation wins.
**Retrieving and swimming come as naturally to a Golden Retriever as being a devoted companion dog. here a Golden Retriever fetches a downed duck.**
**CHARACTERISTICS OF THE** **GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
It might be _apropos_ to call the Golden Retriever the "golden treasure at the rainbow's end." As the ideal all-around companion and sporting dog, the Golden offers something for every person or inclination. Tweedmouth's masterful linebreeding cemented the superb qualities of his yellow retrievers and, many generations later, Goldens remain the most versatile of the retriever breeds. Supremely intelligent and blessedly trainable, they also remain as devoted to their masters as the dogs of yore. Their talent is without equal, and the modern Golden excels in every canine discipline, including simple household amusements such as stick-fetch and shoe and sock theft. The Golden's disposition is as sunny as his outer coat, and he is considered by many to be the perfect family dog, the ideal companion for all ages and activities.
While the Golden Retriever may be the ideal dog, not every person is an ideal owner. You may love dogs and have a soft spot for the Golden, but love alone is not enough. Consider the big picture before you add a Golden to your household.
**If you want to keep your Golden Retriever looking as beautiful as this dog, you must be prepared for the daily grooming and exercising of your pet.**
# **SIZE**
The Golden is a medium-to-large-sized dog who requires a good bit of space indoors and out. Everything about the dog is big, including his hairy paws, which will track mud and dirt onto your kitchen floor. His happy wagging tail will sweep your prized glassware from low-standing table tops. His natural curiosity will lead to rows of nose prints on the glass above your windowsills. Given a single opportunity, he will claim at least two couch cushions or your easychair. A fenced yard or large-sized kennel run is a must to safely confine and exercise a large and energetic Golden Retriever.
**Goldens thrive on fun activities with their owners. Few breeds demand as much time and energy from their owners as the Golden Retriever. This fellow is ready for more!**
# **COAT AND COLOR**
Part of the Golden Retriever's universal appeal is his lovely golden coat. Although a wide variety exists in length, texture and color, the golden coat is still his most distinguishing characteristic. Colors range from very pale cream to gold, but excludes dark red or mahogany shades. The lighter shades are more common in the show ring, with proponents of the darker golden passionately dedicated to their color preference. Most coats are straight to slightly wavy and of medium length, although longer coats also are more common on the bench. Coat color also has no bearing on intelligence, temperament or ability. Professional grooming is an option, but if you decide to use a grooming service, investigate the cost and be sure you can handle that expense.
# **TIME AND EXERCISE**
The biddable personality of the Golden Retriever is no accident. His strong work ethic and desire to please were traits important to Lord Tweedmouth and were paramount in his yellow strain of dogs. As a gentle, friendly dog with a most forgiving disposition, the Golden wishes only to make his owner happy. He will not thrive in solitude and needs to live as part of his family unit.
Goldens are also natural athletes who are joyful workers and willing to try any sport or physical activity as long as there is a human at the other end. These are energetic dogs who require exercise and an active lifestyle to channel their enthusiasm in the right direction. A play area is not enough. Your Golden will not exercise without you. YOU are his reason to run, walk or play. You must commit to at least one good walk each day, plus daily games of fetch, Frisbee games or bumper chasing (those large canvas rolls sold in pet shops and pet-supply catalogs for retrieve-a-holic dogs). Daily exercise periods will keep your Golden physically fit and stimulated and too tired to entertain himself destructively. Exercise is also a natural canine (and human!) stress-reliever and will help prevent symptoms of separation anxiety and other stress-related behaviors from occurring.
**"DOUBLE-COATED"**
As if one coat isn't enough, the Golden is a "double-coated" breed, possessing an outer coat of long silky guard hairs and a soft downy undercoat that insulates the dog from temperature extremes, an important characteristic in a dog who must retrieve birds, especially waterfowl, under all weather conditions.
**The two photos show normal Golden Retriever hairs magnified 60–150 times their actual size.**
**frayed**
**The two photos show distressed hairs that are smashed**
Although most Goldens are energetic adolescents, some lines of show dogs produce more laid-back pups with lower energy requirements. If your canine companion goal is a Golden couch potato, research breeders who do not stress the working aspects of the breed. Be sure the puppy's parents are calm individuals both indoors and out; scrutinize their response to play activities. Check the breeder's references and past puppy owners to learn more about the temperaments of other pups. Good research should produce puppies you will enjoy living with.
**THE HUNTER'S COAT**
The Golden coat can create problems for the hunter, who must comb out seeds, burrs and tangled twigs after a long day in the field.
**Goldens can be highly trained as hunting dogs. They can be trained to respond to various whistle commands, in addition to hand signals and verbal commands.**
**This Golden puppy didn't know that digging up the yard is forbidden. Proactive training is a must with Golden puppies. Be certain your pup understands all the household rules.**
# **DISCIPLINE**
Even laid-back Golden Retriever puppies will require training to learn the rules of their new human world. Although highly trainable, Goldens are not born already trained, a surprise to some new owners who expect their Golden puppy to behave like the model Golden citizens they see on television. Good manners are not included in his purchase price. It is up to you to teach your Golden acceptable behavior in your home and in your neighborhood. That means weekly obedience classes with an experienced instructor and practice sessions with your Golden every day. If you cannot or will not commit to the time constraints of puppy training, perhaps you should rethink your decision to get this dog.
# **ORAL FIXATION**
As a breed, Goldens are very oral dogs; after all, let us not forget their retrieving heritage. From pup to senior, most Goldens love, indeed they need, to have something in their mouths. It does not matter if that object is a toy, a table leg or your left hand. What is important is that this dog loves and needs to chew.
One of your major puppy challenges is teaching your puppy what he may or may not put between his tiny teeth. That will take effort, time and patience, but your pup is worth all that and more. Read the sections on techniques to discourage inappropriate chewing. If by four or five months of age, your pup still chews destructively, seek the help of a professional canine behaviorist. The dog may in fact be fine, and the problem might be you.
# **NOT A GUARD DOG**
Given all the people-friendly qualities of the breed, it is no surprise most Goldens fail as guard dogs. The typical Golden might lick a home invader to death, which is not protection at its best. A Golden can be encouraged to give a warning bark, but his wildly wagging tail is a dead give-away.
**"SNOW NOSE"**
A Golden Retriever's nose may turn slightly pink during long periods of very cold weather. Called a "snow nose" the discoloration is normal and the nose will return to black when warm weather returns. The color of the nose leather sometimes fades in older dogs and may become pinkish-brown as the dog ages.
However, despite their ingrained friendly attitude, stories abound about Goldens who have sensed danger to their families, especially their children, and reacted to protect them. While most Goldens owners believe their dogs would give up the family silver, they also trust that their dogs would rise to their personal defense.
# **THE GOLDEN'S NATURAL APTITUDES**
## **OBEDIENCE AND AGILITY**
As sporting dogs, Goldens are naturally athletic. They are also very trainable and obedient. Therefore, it is no surprise to see a large entry of Goldens in obedience competition and agility trials. Depending on how much advanced training you want to do with your Golden, these are areas in which the Golden excels and may be of interest to the Golden owner.
## **OTHER PURSUITS**
The Golden Retriever has branched into many other areas beyond the show ring and field, all of which demonstrate the breed's unwavering devotion to humankind. The Golden has been used in every imaginable pursuit, including drug and arson detection, where the breed's super "sniffer" is put to great service; therapy work for nursing homes, children's hospitals and correctional facilities, where the Golden's sweet and steady temperament makes the dog ideal for sensitive interfacing with the elderly, the infirmed and the incarcerated; service work for the blind and the deaf, where the breed's superior intelligence and trainability, reliability and adaptability give the disabled companionship and assistance in their everyday lives; search-and-rescue work, where the breed's nose, persistence and work ethic enable the dog to save lives. Goldens were among the breeds employed in the search-and-rescue efforts at the Oklahoma City bombing and the World Trade Center "Ground Zero" recovery project.
**The everfriendly Golden Retriever makes a far better guide dog and hunting dog than he could ever make a guard dog. This young pup has a bright future ahead of him.**
**Golden Retrievers and their owners frequently participate in field trials. Goldens are naturally obedient, intelligent and very trainable.**
**Thousands of Goldens are trained as guide dogs for the visually impaired with dignity and devotion.**
**BREED STANDARD FOR THE** **GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
In order to appreciate, select and understand a proper Golden Retriever puppy or adult, it's important also to understand the American Kennel Club standard for the breed. Breed standards are the guidelines which have for decades preserved the qualities that define each breed of dog. Standards have been developed to protect and advance the soundness, temperament, natural ability and personality reflected in those qualities. Let us look at some of the key attributes of the Golden, as outlined in the following excerpts from the AKC's breed standard.
**General Appearance:** A symmetrical, powerful, active dog, sound and well put together, not clumsy nor long in the leg, displaying a kindly expression and possessing a personality that is eager, alert and self-confident. Primarily a hunting dog, he should be shown in hard working condition. Over-all appearance, balance, gait and purpose to be given more emphasis than any of his component parts.
**Size, Proportion, Substance:** Males 23–24 inches in height at withers; females 21.5–22.5 inches. Weight for dogs 65–75 pounds; bitches 55–65 pounds.
**The Golden's kind and intelligent nature shines through in his eyes and overall expression.**
**Head** : Broad in skull, slightly arched laterally and longitudinally without prominence of frontal bones (forehead) or occipital bones. Stop well defined but not abrupt. Foreface deep and wide, nearly as long as skull. Muzzle straight in profile, blending smoothly and strongly into skull.
**Eyes** : Friendly and intelligent in expression. Color preferably dark brown.
**Ears** : Rather short with front edge attached well behind and just above the eye and falling close to cheek.
**Nose** : Black or brownish black.
**Neck** : Medium long, merging gradually into well laid back shoulders, giving sturdy, muscular appearance.
**Back line:** Strong and level from withers to slightly sloping croup, whether standing or moving.
**Body:** Well-balanced, short coupled, deep through the chest. Chest between forelegs at least as wide as a man's closed hand including thumb, with well developed forechest.
**Tail** : Well set on, thick and muscular at the base, following the natural line of the croup.
**Forequarters** : Muscular, well co-ordinated with hindquarters and capable of free movement. Legs, viewed from the front, straight with good bone, but not to the point of coarseness.
**Feet** : Medium size, round, compact and well knuckled, with thick pads. Excess hair may be trimmed to show natural size and contour. Splayed or hare feet to be faulted.
**Hindquarters** : Broad and strongly muscled. In a natural stance, the femur joins the pelvis at approximately a 90 degree angle; stifles well bent; hocks well let down with short, strong rear pasterns. Legs straight when viewed from rear.
**Coat** : Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Outer coat firm and resilient, neither coarse nor silky, lying close to body; may be straight or wavy. Untrimmed natural ruff; moderate feathering on back of forelegs and on under-body; heavier feathering on front of neck, back of thighs and underside of tail.
**Color** : Rich, lustrous golden of various shades. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat. With the exception of graying or whitening of face or body due to age, any white marking, other than a few white hairs on the chest, should be penalized according to its extent.
**Gait** : When trotting, gait is free, smooth, powerful and well co-ordinated, showing good reach.
**Temperament** : Friendly, reliable and trustworthy.
**BODY**
**The body must be well balanced and short coupled.**
**HEAD**
**The foreface should be deep and wide, nearly as long as skull, as shown on left. Incorrect head shown on right.**
**FORELEGS**
**The forelegs should be straight and the shoulders well laid back (left). Weak, narrow forequarters shown on right.**
**TAIL**
**The tail is carried level with back (left) never curling at the top. Incorrect tail shown on right.**
**GAIT**
**Stride is powerful and free with no sign of hackney action. Correct gait on left, hackney gait on right.**
Finding a healthy, happy Golden puppy from an experienced breeder is the best path for the new owner. This pup is from Gold-Rush Kennels.
**YOUR PUPPY** **GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
# **WHERE TO BEGIN**
If you are convinced that the Golden Retriever is the ideal dog for you, it is time to learn about where to find a puppy and what to look for. Locating a litter of Golden Retrievers should not present a problem for the new owner. You should inquire about breeders in your area who enjoy a good reputation in the breed. You are looking for an established breeder with outstanding dog ethics and a strong commitment to the breed. New owners should have as many questions as they have doubts. An established breeder is indeed the one to answer your four million questions and make you comfortable with your choice of the Golden Retriever. An established breeder will sell you a puppy at a fair price if, and only if, the breeder determines that you are a suitable, worthy owner of his/her dogs. An established breeder can be relied upon for advice, no matter what time of day or night. A reputable breeder will accept a puppy back, without questions, should you decide that this not the right dog for you.
When choosing a breeder, reputation is much more important than convenience of location. Do not be overly impressed by breeders who run brag advertisements in the presses about their stupendous champions and working lines. The real quality breeders are quiet and unassuming. You hear about them at the dog trials and shows, by word of mouth. You may be well advised to avoid the novice who lives only a couple miles away. The local novice breeder, trying so hard to get rid of that first litter of puppies, is more than accommodating and anxious to sell you one. That breeder will charge you as much as any established breeder. The novice breeder is not going to interrogate you and your family about your intentions with the puppy, the environment and training you can provide, etc. That breeder will be nowhere to be found when your poorly bred, badly adjusted fourpawed monster starts to growl and spit up at midnight or eat the family cat!
**YOUR SCHEDULE...**
If you lead an erratic, unpredictable life, with daily or weekly changes in your work requirements, consider the problems of owning a puppy. The new puppy has to be fed regularly, socialized (loved, petted, handled, introduced to other people) and, most importantly, allowed to visit outdoors for housetraining. As the dog gets older, it can be more tolerant of deviations in its feeding and outdoor relief.
**When meeting with the breeder, be clear about what your intentions for your Golden Retriever will be. You cannot buy a pet-quality Golden and later decide that you want to show him.**
Socialization is a breeder concern of immense importance. Since the Golden Retriever's temperament can vary from line to line, socialization is the first and best way to encourage a proper, stable personality.
Choosing a breeder is an important first step in dog ownership. Fortunately, the majority of Golden Retriever breeders are devoted to the breed and its well-being. New owners should have little problem finding a reputable breeder who does not live on the other side of the country (or in a different country). The American Kennel Club is able to recommend breeders of quality Golden Retrievers, as can any local all-breed club or Golden Retriever club. Potential owners are encouraged to attend dog shows and obedience trials to see the Golden Retrievers in action; to get an idea what Golden Retrievers look like outside a photographer's lens. Provided you approach the handlers when they are not terribly busy with the dogs, most are more than willing to answer questions, recommend breeders and give advice.
**PUPPY SELECTION**
Your selection of a good puppy can be determined by your needs. A show potential or a good pet? It is your choice. Every puppy, however, should be of good temperament. Although show-quality puppies are bred and raised with emphasis on physical conformation, responsible breeders strive for equally good temperament. Do not buy from a breeder who concentrates solely on physical beauty at the expense of personality.
**Making a choice of which Golden puppy is best for you depends upon what you want in a dog. A show dog requires brains and beauty; a hunting dog requires stamina, trainability and musculature; a pet requires personality and soundness. All require good health and good breeding.**
Once you have contacted and met a breeder or two and made your choice about which breeder is best suited to your needs, it is time to visit the litter. Keep in mind that many top breeders have waiting lists. Sometimes new owners have to wait as long as two years for a puppy. If you are really committed to the breeder whom you have selected, then you will wait (and hope for an early arrival!). If not, you may have to go with your second- or third-choice breeder. Do not be too anxious, however. If the breeder does not have any waiting list, or any customers, there is probably a good reason. It is no different than visiting a restaurant with no clientele. The better cafés and restaurants always have a waiting list—and it is usually worth the wait. Besides, is not a puppy more important than a cup of java?
Since you are likely choosing a Golden Retriever as a pet dog and not a working dog, you simply should select a pup that is friendly and attractive. While the basic soundness of the breed is intact, the temperament may present trouble in certain strains. Beware of the shy or overly aggressive puppy; be especially conscious of the nervous Golden Retriever pup. Do not let sentiment or emotion trap you into buying the runt of the litter.
**BREEDER RULES**
Breeders rarely release puppies until they are eight to ten weeks of age. This is an acceptable age for most breeds of dog, excepting toy breeds which are not released until around 12 weeks, given their petite sizes. If a breeder has a puppy that is 12 weeks or older, it is likely well socialized and housetrained. Be sure that it is otherwise healthy before deciding to take it home.
The gender of your puppy is largely a matter of personal taste, although there is a common belief among those who work with Golden Retrievers that bitches are quicker to learn and generally more loving and faithful. Males learn more slowly but retain the lesson longer. The difference in size is noticeable but slight.
**Bring the family along to assist in selecting the pup. The Golden you choose and each member of your family should share a mutual affinity for each other.**
Breeders commonly allow visitors to see the litter by around the fifth or sixth week, and puppies leave for their new homes between the eighth and tenth week. Breeders who permit their puppies to leave early are more interested in your money than their puppies' well-being. Puppies need to learn the rules of the trade from their dams, and most dams continue teaching the pups manners and dos and don'ts until around the eighth week. Breeders spend significant amounts of time with the Golden Retriever toddlers so that they are able to interact with the "other species," i.e., humans. Given the long history that dogs and humans have, bonding between the two species is natural but must be nurtured. A well-bred, wellsocialized Golden Retriever pup wants nothing more than to be near you and please you.
**STRESS-FREE**
Some experts in canine health advise that stress during a dog's early years of development can compromise and weaken his immune system and may trigger the potential for a shortened life expectancy. They emphasize the need for happy and stress-free growing-up years.
# **COMMITMENT OF OWNERSHIP**
After considering all of these factors, you have most likely already made some very important decisions about selecting your puppy. You have chosen a Golden Retriever, which means that you have decided which characteristics you want in a dog and what type of dog will best fit into your family and lifestyle. If you have selected a breeder, you have gone a step further—you have done your research and found a responsible, conscientious person who breeds quality Golden Retrievers and who should be a reliable source of help as you and your puppy adjust to life together. If you have observed a litter in action, you have obtained a firsthand look at the dynamics of a puppy "pack" and, thus, you should learn about each pup's individual personality—perhaps you have even found one that particularly appeals to you.
**When you buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should get a copy of the registration and the pedigree. The breeder should be able to answer all of your questions about the kennel, health concerns and the breed in general.**
However, even if you have not yet found the Golden Retriever puppy of your dreams, observing pups will help you learn to recognize certain behavior and to determine what a pup's behavior indicates about his temperament. You will be able to pick out which pups are the leaders, which ones are less outgoing, which ones are confident, which ones are shy, playful, friendly, aggressive, etc. Equally as important, you will learn to recognize what a healthy pup should look and act like. All of these things will help you in your search, and when you find the Golden Retriever that was meant for you, you will know it!
Researching your breed, selecting a responsible breeder and observing as many pups as possible are all important steps on the way to dog ownership. It may seem like a lot of effort... and you have not even brought the pup home yet! Remember, though, you cannot be too careful when it comes to deciding on the type of dog you want and finding out about your prospective pup's background. Buying a puppy is not—or should not be—just another whimsical purchase. This is one instance in which you actually do get to choose your own family! You may be thinking that buying a puppy should be fun—it should not be so serious and so much work. Keep in mind that your puppy is not a cuddly stuffed toy or decorative lawn ornament, but a creature that will become a real member of your family. You will come to realize that, while buying a puppy is a pleasurable and exciting endeavor, it is not something to be taken lightly. Relax... the fun will start when the pup comes home!
**PEDIGREE VS. REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE**
Too often new owners are confused between these two important documents. Your puppy's pedigree, essentially a family tree, is a written record of a dog's genealogy of three generations or more. The pedigree will show you the names as well as performance titles of all the dogs in your pup's background. Your breeder must provide you with a registration application, with his part properly filled out. You must complete the application and send it to the AKC with the proper fee. Every puppy must come from a litter that has been AKC-registered by the breeder, born in the USA and from a sire and dam that are also registered with the AKC.
The seller must provide you with complete records to identify the puppy. The AKC requires that the seller provide the buyer with the following: breed; sex, color and markings; date of birth; litter number (when available); names and registration numbers of the parents; breeder's name; and date sold or delivered.
**Golden Retrievers typically have large litters, sometimes as many as a dozen puppies. Potential buyers have many adorable contestants to review.**
**PUPPY APPEARANCE**
Your puppy should have a well-fed appearance but not a distended abdomen, which may indicate worms or incorrect feeding, or both. The body should be firm, with a solid feel. The skin of the abdomen should be pale pink and clean, without signs of scratching or rash. Check the legs to see if dewclaws were removed, as this is done at only a few day old.
Always keep in mind that a puppy is nothing more than a baby in a furry disguise...a baby who is virtually helpless in a human world and who trusts his owner for fulfilment of his basic needs for survival. In addition to food, water and shelter, your pup needs care, protection, guidance and love. If you are not prepared to commit to this, then you are not prepared to own a dog.
You should think long-term when you consider buying a dog of any breed. Food, veterinary care, training, possibly doggie day care, are short-term as well as lifetime expenses and will seriously impact your budget. You must allow for your pup's initial veterinary care as well as the future and ongoing costs of routine shots and check-ups, spaying/neutering, possible emergency care and medications for the inevitable canine illnessses your dog may experience. And as with a sick child, canine emergencies need attention now, not later when you collect a bonus or commission.
Wait a minute, you say. How hard could this be? All of my neighbors own dogs and they seem to be doing just fine. Why should I have to worry about all of this? Well, you should not worry about it; in fact, you will probably find that once your Golden Retriever pup gets used to his new home, he will fall into his place in the family quite naturally. But it never hurts to emphasize the commitment of dog ownership. With some time and patience, it is really not too difficult to raise a curious and exuberant Golden Retriever pup to be a well-adjusted and well- mannered adult dog—a dog that could be your most loyal friend.
**Don't forget that you are not buying a stuffed doll. With ownership comes responsibility. Your Golden puppy will depend upon you for food, shelter, training and companionship.**
**WHAT'S ILP?**
If you have acquired a puppy and have no interest in showing or breeding, you can apply for an ILP or an Indefinite Listing Privilege, which affords your dog the opportunity to participate in obedience, agility, tracking and many other performance events. An ILP does not replace the dog's registration certification, and all ILPs must belong to an AKC-recognized breed and be spayed or neutered.
# **PREPARING PUPPY'S PLACE IN YOUR HOME**
Researching your breed and finding a breeder are only two aspects of the "homework" you will have to do before bringing your Golden Retriever puppy home. You will also have to prepare your home and family for the new addition. Much like you would prepare a nursery for a newborn baby, you will need to designate a place in your home that will be the puppy's own. How you prepare your home will depend on how much freedom the dog will be allowed. Will he be confined to one room or a specific area in the house, or will he be allowed to roam as he pleases? Whatever you decide, you must ensure that he has a place that he can "call his own."
When you bring your new puppy into your home, you are bringing him into what will become his home as well. Obviously, you did not buy a puppy so that he could take over your house, but in order for a puppy to grow into a stable, well-adjusted dog, he has to feel comfortable in his surroundings. Remember, he is leaving the warmth and security of his mother and littermates, as well as the familiarity of the only place he has ever known, so it is important to make his transition as easy as possible. By preparing a place in your home for the puppy, you are making him feel as welcome as possible in a strange new place. It should not take him long to get used to it, but the sudden shock of being transplanted is somewhat traumatic for a young pup. Imagine how a small child would feel in the same situation—that is how your puppy must be feeling. It is up to you to reassure him and to let him know, "Little buddy, you are going to like it here!"
**MALE OR FEMALE**
An important consideration to be discussed is the sex of your puppy. For a family companion, a bitch may be the better choice, considering the female's inbred concern for all young creatures and her accompanying tolerance and patience. It is always adviced to spay a pet bitch, which may guarantee her a longer life.
**Your vet should examine your new Golden acquisition and evaluate its overall condition and health. He will also prescribe a program of inoculations against major canine diseases.**
**You have just brought your Golden Retriever puppy home. Are you prepared for the first night? Have you obtained the necessities?**
# **WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY**
## **CRATE**
To someone unfamiliar with the use of crates in dog training, it may seem like punishment to shut a dog in a crate, but this is not the case at all. Crates are not cruel—crates have many humane and highly effective uses in dog care and training. For example, crate training is a very popular and very successful housebreaking method. A crate can keep your dog safe during travel; and, perhaps most importantly, a crate provides your dog with a place of his own in your home. It serves as a "doggie bedroom" of sorts—your Golden Retriever can curl up in his crate when he wants to sleep or when he just needs a break. Many dogs sleep in their crates overnight. When lined with soft blankets and a favorite toy, a crate becomes a cozy pseudoden for your dog. Like his ancestors, he too will seek out the comfort and retreat of a den—you just happen to be providing him with something a little more luxurious than leaves and twigs lining a dirty ditch.
As far as purchasing a crate, the type that you buy is up to you. It will most likely be one of the two most popular types: wire or fiberglass. There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. For example, a wire crate is more open, allowing the air to flow through and affording the dog a view of what is going on around him. A fiberglass crate, however, is sturdier and can double as a travel crate since it provides more protection for the dog. The size of the crate is another thing to consider. Puppies do not stay puppies forever—in fact, sometimes it seems as if they grow right before your eyes. A Yorkie-sized crate may be fine for a very young Golden Retriever pup, but it will not do him much good for long! Unless you have the money and the inclination to buy a new crate every time your pup has a growth spurt, it is better to get one that will accommodate your dog both as a pup and at full size. A large-size crate will be necessary for a fullgrown Golden Retriever, who stands approximately 24 inches high.
**PREPARING FOR PUP**
Unfortunately, when a puppy is bought by someone who does not take into consideration the time and attention that dog ownership requires, it is the puppy who suffers when he is either abandoned or placed in a shelter by a frustrated owner. So all of the "homework" you do in preparation for your pup's arrival will benefit you both. The more informed you are, the more you will know what to expect and the better equipped you will be to handle the ups and downs of raising a puppy. Hopefully, everyone in the household is willing to do his part in raising and caring for the pup. The anticipation of owning a dog often brings a lot of promises from excited family members: "I will walk him every day," "I will feed him," "I will housebreak him," etc., but these things take time and effort, and promises can easily be forgotten once the novelty of the new pet has worn off.
**No creature is more impressionable than a young Golden Retriever. Embark on your pup's training with kindness and consistency and you will be rewarded with an obedient companion.**
## **BEDDING**
A blanket or two in the dog's crate will help the dog feel more at home. First, the blankets will take the place of the leaves, twigs, etc., that the pup would use in the wild to make a den; the pup can make his own "burrow" in the crate. Although your pup is far removed from his den-making ancestors, the denning instinct is still a part of his genetic makeup. Second, until you bring your pup home, he has been sleeping amid the warmth of his mother and littermates, and while a blanket is not the same as a warm, breathing body, it still provides heat and something with which to snuggle. You will want to wash your pup's blankets frequently in case he has an accident in his crate, and replace or remove any blanket that becomes ragged and starts to fall apart.
**A MOUTHFUL**
Never house your Golden puppy in a kennel run with gravel or similar flooring. Golden puppies are notorious chewers and will happily dine on small, loose stones. Veterinaruians' stories abound about puppies who are presented for emergency surgery because they have ingested objects thought to be impossible to swallow.
## **TOYS**
Toys are a must for dogs of all ages, especially for curious playful pups. Puppies are the "children" of the dog world, and what child does not love toys? Chew toys provide enjoyment to both dog and owner—your dog will enjoy playing with his favorite toys, while you will enjoy the fact that they distract him from your expensive shoes and leather sofa. Puppies love to chew; in fact, chewing is a physical need for pups as they are teething, and everything looks appetizing! The full range of your possessions—from old dishrag to Oriental rug—are fair game in the eyes of a teething pup. Puppies are not all that discerning when it comes to finding something to literally "sink their teeth into"—everything tastes great!
**Many top breeders recommend the use of a crate in training. Your local pet shop should have a full range of dog crates from which you can select the size, style and color of your preference.**
Golden Retriever puppies are fairly aggressive chewers and only the hardest, strongest toys should be offered to them. Breeders advise owners to resist stuffed toys, because they can become de-stuffed in no time. The overly excited pup may ingest the stuffing, which is neither digestible nor nutritious.
Similarly, squeaky toys are quite popular, but must be avoided for the Golden Retriever. Perhaps a squeaky toy can be used as an aid in training, but not for free play. If a pup "disembowels" one of these, the small plastic squeaker inside can be dangerous if swallowed. Monitor the condition of all your pup's toys carefully and get rid of any that have been chewed to the point of becoming potentially dangerous.
**Your local pet shop will have a wide assortment of dog toys. Do not offer your dog toys designed for children. Human toys can be dangerous because they are usually too flimsy and may contain dangerous dyes.**
**CRATE TRAINING**
During crate training, you should partition off the section of the crate in which the pup stays. If he is given too big an area, this will hinder your training efforts. Crate training is based on the fact that a dog does not like to soil his sleeping quarters, so it is ineffective to keep a pup in a crate that is so big that he can eliminate in one end and get far enough away from it to sleep. Also, you want to make the crate den-like for the pup. Blankets and a favorite toy will make the crate cozy for the small pup; as he grows, you may want to evict some of his "roommates" to make more room.
Be careful of natural bones, which have a tendency to splinter into sharp, dangerous pieces. Also be careful of rawhide, which can turn into pieces that are easy to swallow or into a mushy mess on your carpet.
**GETTING TO KNOW YOU**
It will take at least two weeks for your puppy to become accustomed to his new surroundings. Give him lots of love, attention, handling, frequent opportunities to relieve himself, a diet he likes to eat and a place he can call his own.
## **LEAD**
A nylon lead is probably the best option as it is the most resistant to puppy teeth should your pup take a liking to chewing on his lead. Of course, this is a habit that should be nipped in the bud, but if your pup likes to chew on his lead he has a very slim chance of being able to chew through the strong nylon. Nylon leads are also lightweight, which is good for a young Golden Retriever who is just getting used to the idea of walking on a lead. For everyday walking and safety purposes, the nylon lead is a good choice. As your pup grows up and gets used to walking on the lead, you may want to purchase a flexible lead. These leads allow you to extend the length to give the dog a broader area to explore or to shorten the length to keep the dog close to you. Of course there are special leads for training purposes, and specially made leather harnesses for working Golden Retrievers, but these are not necessary for routine walks.
**The retriever breeds are the most oral of all dogs. While a young pup's nip is harmless, an owner must discourage such behavior at once.**
**Golden Retrievers have very strong, sharp teeth that are capable of destroying most ordinary toys. Offer safe, durable chew toys to your dog.**
## **COLLAR**
Your pup should get used to wearing a collar all the time since you will want to attach his ID tags to it. Plus, you have to attach the lead to something! A lightweight nylon collar is a good choice; make sure that it fits snugly enough so that the pup cannot wriggle out of it, but is loose enough so that it will not be uncomfortably tight around the pup's neck. You should be able to fit a finger between the pup and the collar. It may take some time for your pup to get used to wearing the collar, but soon he will not even notice that it is there. Choke collars are made for training, but should only be used by an experienced handler.
**PUPPY PROBLEMS**
The majority of problems that are commonly seen in young pups will disappear as your dog gets older. However, how you deal with problems when he is young will determine how he reacts to discipline as an adult dog. It is important to establish who is boss (hopefully it will be you!) right away when you are first bonding wiith your dog. This bond will set the tone for the rest of your life together.
**TOYS, TOYS, TOYS**
With a big variety of dog toys available, and so many that look like they would be a lot of fun for a dog, be careful in your selection. It is amazing what a set of puppy teeth can do to an innocent-looking toy, so, obviously, safety is a major consideration. Be sure to choose the most durable products that you can find. Hard nylon bones and toys are a safe bet, and many of them are offered in different scents and flavors that will be sure to capture your dog's attention. It is always fun to play a game of catch with your dog, and there are balls and flying discs that are specially made to withstand dog teeth.
## **FOOD AND WATER BOWLS**
Your pup will need two bowls, one for food and one for water. You may want two sets of bowls, one for inside and one for outside, depending on where the dog will be fed and where he will be spending time. Stainless steel or sturdy plastic bowls are popular choices. Plastic bowls are more chewable. Dogs tend not to chew on the steel variety, which can be sterilized. It is important to buy sturdy bowls since anything is in danger of being chewed by puppy teeth and you do not want your dog to be constantly chewing apart his bowl (for his safety and for your wallet!).
## **CLEANING SUPPLIES**
Until a pup is housetrained, you will be doing a lot of cleaning. "Accidents" will occur, which is okay in the beginning because the puppy does not know any better. All you can do is be prepared to clean up any accidents. Old rags, towels, newspapers and a safe disinfectant are good to have on hand.
## **BEYOND THE BASICS**
The items previously discussed are the bare necessities. You will find out what else you need as you go along—grooming supplies, flea/tick protection, baby gates to partition a room, etc. These things will vary depending on your situation but it is important that you have everything you need to feed and make your Golden Retriever comfortable in his first few days at home.
**Puppies learn from watching. If you are bringing a second dog into the household, the puppy will follow the older dog's example—a great aid in lead training and lots more.**
# **PUPPY-PROOFING YOUR HOME**
Aside from making sure that your Golden Retriever will be comfortable in your home, you also have to make sure that your home is safe for your Golden Retriever. This means taking precautions that your pup will not get into anything he should not get into and that there is nothing within his reach that may harm him should he sniff it, chew it, inspect it, etc. This probably seems obvious since, while you are primarily concerned with your pup's safety, at the same time you do not want your belongings to be ruined. Breakables should be placed out of reach if your dog is to have full run of the house. If he is to be limited to certain places within the house, keep any potentially dangerous items in the "off-limits" areas. An electrical cord can pose a danger should the puppy decide to taste it—and who is going to convince a pup that it would not make a great chew toy? Cords should be fastened tightly against the wall. If your dog is going to spend time in a crate, make sure that there is nothing near his crate that he can reach if he sticks his curious little nose or paws through the openings. Just as you would with a child, keep all household cleaners and chemicals where the pup cannot get to them.
**You should always clean up after your dog. Pet shops sell special tools that enable you to perform this essential task as simply as possible.**
**FEEDING TIPS**
You will probably start feeding your pup the same food that he has been getting from the breeder; the breeder should give you a few days' supply to start you off. Although you should not give your pup too many treats, you will want to have puppy treats on hand for coaxing, training, rewards, etc. Be careful, though, as a small pup's calorie requirements are relatively low and a few treats can add up to almost a full day's worth of calories without the required nutrition.
It is also important to make sure that the outside of your home is safe. Of course your puppy should never be unsupervised, but a pup let loose in the yard will want to run and explore, and he should be granted that freedom. Do not let a fence give you a false sense of security; you would be surprised how crafty (and persistent) a dog can be in figuring out how to dig under and squeeze his way through small holes, or to jump or climb over a fence. The remedy is to make the fence high enough so that it really is impossible for your dog to get over it (about 3 yards should suffice), and well embedded into the ground. Be sure to repair or secure any gaps in the fence. Check the fence periodically to ensure that it is in good shape and make repairs as needed; a very determined pup may return to the same spot to "work on it" until he is able to get through.
**PUPPY-PROOFING**
Thoroughly puppy-proof your house before bringing your puppy home. Never use roach or rodent poisons in any area accessible to the puppy. Avoid the use of toilet bowl cleaners. Most dogs are born with toilet bowl sonar and will take a drink if the lid is left open. Also keep the trash secured and out of reach.
**Stainless steel or sturdy plastic food and water bowls are good choices for your Golden. Also necessary are stands on which to elevate the bowls as a bloat preventative.**
# **FIRST TRIP TO THE VET**
You have picked out your puppy, and your home and family are ready. Now all you have to do is collect your Golden Retriever from the breeder and the fun begins, right? Well...not so fast. Something else you need to prepare is your pup's first trip to the veterinarian. Perhaps the breeder can recommend someone in the area who specializes in Golden Retrievers, or maybe you know some other Golden Retriever owners who can suggest a good vet. Either way, you should have an appointment arranged for your pup before you pick him up and plan on taking him for an examination before bringing him home.
**Keep your eye on your dog when your flowers bloom. The scent brings both retrievers (they have very sensitive noses) and biting insects together. Blooming flowers should be off-limits to your Golden. Goldens are frequently allergic to flower pollen.**
**INVISIBLE FENCES**
The electrical fencing system, which forms an invisible fence, works on a battery-operated collar that shocks the dog if it gets too close to the buried (or elevated) wire. There are some people who think very highly of this system of controlling a dog's wandering. Keep in mind that the collar has batteries. For safety's sake, replace the batteeries every month with the best quality batteries available.
The pup's first visit will consist of an overall examination to make sure that the pup does not have any problems that are not apparent to you. The veterinarian will also set up a schedule for the pup's vaccinations; the breeder will inform you of which ones the pup has already received and the vet can continue from there.
# **INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILY**
Everyone in the house will be excited about the puppy's coming home and will want to pet him and play with him, but it is best to make the introductions low-key so as not to overwhelm the puppy. He is apprehensive already. It is the first time he has been separated from his mother and the breeder, and the ride to your home is likely the first time he has been in a car. The last thing you want to do is smother him, as this will only frighten him further. This is not to say that human contact is not extremely necessary at this stage, because this is the time when a connection between the pup and his human family is formed. Gentle petting and soothing words should help console him, as well as just putting him down and letting him explore on his own (under your watchful eye, of course).
The pup may approach the family members or may busy himself with exploring for a while. Gradually, each person should spend some time with the pup, one at a time, crouching down to get as close to the pup's level as possible, letting him sniff their hands and petting him gently. He definitely needs human attention and he needs to be touched—this is how to form an immediate bond. Just remember that the pup is experiencing a lot of things for the first time, at the same time. There are new people, new noises, new smells and new things to investigate: so be gentle, be affectionate and be as comforting as you can be.
**If you own a Golden Retriever, you must have a trusted vet to maintain your dog in good health, to arrange a vaccination schedule and to recommend the most up-to-date medications as needed.**
# **YOUR PUP'S FIRST NIGHT HOME**
You have traveled home with your new charge safely in his crate. He has been to the vet for a thorough check-up; he has been weighed, his papers examined; perhaps he has even been vaccinated and wormed as well. He has met the family, and he's licked the whole family, including the excited children and the less-than-happy cat. He has explored his area, his new bed, the yard and anywhere else he has been permitted. He has eaten his first meal at home and relieved himself in the proper place. He has heard lots of new sounds, smelled new friends and seen more of the outside world than ever before.
**PUPPY EXPENSES**
Grooming tools, collars, leashes, dog beds and, of course, toys will be an expense to you when you first obtain your pup, and the cost will trickle on throughout your dog's lifetime. If your puppy damages or destroys your possessions (as most puppies surely will!) or something belonging to a neighbor, you can calculate additional expense. There is also parasite control, which every dog owner faces more than once. You must be able to handle the financial responsibility of owning a dog.
**Even a frightened Golden Retriever will welcome attention from his new family members. Most Golden pups adjust quite easily to their new environment.**
**TRAINING TIP**
Training your puppy takes much patience and can be frustrating at times, but you should see results from your efforts. If you have a puppy that seems untrainable, take him to a trainer or behaviorist. The dog may have a personality problem that requires the help of a professional, or perhaps you need help in learning how to train your dog.
That was just the first day! He has tuckered out and is ready for bed...or so you think!
It is puppy's first night and you are ready to say "Good night"—keep in mind that this is puppy's first night ever to be sleeping alone. His dam and littermates are no longer at paw's length and he is a bit scared, cold and lonely. Be reassuring to your new family member. This is not the time to spoil him and give in to his inevitable whining.
Puppies whine. They whine to let the others know where they are and hopefully to get company out of it. Place your pup in his new crate in his room and close the door. Mercifully, he may fall asleep without a peep. When the inevitable occurs, ignore the whining: he is fine. Be strong and keep his interest in mind. Do not allow your heart to become guilty and visit the pup. He will fall asleep.
**Breeders arrange for their puppies to meet new people while still with their dam. These pups are always the best socialized.**
Some breeders suggest moving the crate into your bedroom at night for the first several weeks. Sleeping in your room will not spoil the puppy. It will make him feel secure and continue the bonding process throughout the night. Beyond that, if the puppy needs to relieve himself during the night, you will be able to whisk him out immediately. Do not ever give in and remove him from his crate or allow him into bed with you.
Many breeders recommend placing a piece of bedding from his former homestead in his new bed so that he recognizes the scent of his littermates. Others still advise placing a hot water bottle in his bed for warmth. This latter may be a good idea provided the pup does not attempt to suckle—he will get good and wet and may not fall asleep so fast.
Puppy's first night can be somewhat stressful for the pup and his new family. Remember that you are setting the tone of nighttime at your house. Unless you want to play with your pup every evening at 10 p.m., midnight and 2 a.m., do not initiate the habit. Your family will thank you, and so will your pup!
**CHEWING TIPS**
Chewing goes hand in hand with nipping in the sense that a teething puppy is always looking for a way to soothe his aching gums. In this case, instead of chewing on you, he may have taken a liking to your favorite shoe or something else which he should not be chewing. Again, realize that this is a normal canine behavior that does not need to be discouraged, only redirected. Your pup just needs to be taught what is acceptable to chew on and what is off-limits. Consistently tell him "No" when you catch him chewing on something forbidden and give him a chew toy. Conversely, praise him when you catch him chewing on something appropriate. In this way, you are discouraging the inappropriate behavior and reinforcing the desired behavior. The puppy's chewing should stop after his adult teeth have come in, but an adult dog continues to chew for various reasons—perhaps because he is bored, needs to relieve tension or just likes to chew. That is why it is important to redirect his chewing when he is still young.
# **PREVENTING PUPPY PROBLEMS**
## **SOCIALIZATION**
Now that you have done all of the preparatory work and have helped your pup get accustomed to his new home and family, it is about time for you to have some fun! Socializing your Golden Retriever pup gives you the opportunity to show off your new friend, and your pup gets to reap the benefits of being an adorable furry creature that people will coo over, want to pet and, in general, think is absolutely precious!
**THE RIDE HOME**
Taking your dog from the breeder to your home in a car can be a very uncomfortable experience for both of you. The puppy will have been taken from his warm, friendly, safe environment and brought into a strange new environment. An environment that moves! Be prepared for loose bowels, urination, crying, whining and even fear biting. With proper love and encouragement when you arrive home, the stress of the trip should quickly disappear.
**What could be as reliable and consistent as the mail carrier? Here's a Golden exception to the rule.**
Besides getting to know his new family, your puppy should be exposed to other people, animals and situations. This will help him become well adjusted as he grows up and less prone to being timid or fearful of the new things he will encounter. Your pup's socialization began at the breeder's kennel but now it is your responsibility to continue it. The socialization he receives up until the age of 16 to 20 weeks is the most critical, as this is the time when he forms his impressions of the outside world. Be especially careful during the eight-to-ten-week-old period, also known as the fear period. The interaction he receives during this time should be gentle and reassuring. Lack of socialization can manifest itself in fear and aggression as the dog grows up. He needs lots of human contact, affection, handling and exposure to other animals.
Once your pup has received his necessary vaccinations, feel free to take him out and about (on his lead, of course). Walk him around the neighborhood, take him on your daily errands, let people pet him, let him meet other dogs and pets, etc. Puppies do not have to try to make friends; there will be no shortage of people who will want to introduce themselves. Just make sure that you carefully supervise each meeting. If the neighborhood children want to say hello, for example, that is great—children and pups most often make great companions. Sometimes an excited child can unintentionally handle a pup too roughly, or an overzealous pup can playfully nip a little too hard. You want to make socialization experiences positive ones. What a pup learns during this very formative stage will impact his attitude toward future encounters. You want your dog to be comfortable around everyone. A pup that has a bad experience with a child may grow up to be a dog that is shy around or aggressive toward children.
**Puppies should be accustomed to relieving themselves outdoors in designated areas. This is called housebreaking.**
**MEET THE WORLD**
Thorough socialization includes not only meeting new people but also being introduced to new experiences such as riding in the car, having his coat brushed, hearing the television, walking in a crowd—the list is endless. The more your pup experiences, and the more positive the experiences are, the less shocking and scary it will be for your pup to encounter new things.
## **CONSISTENCY IN TRAINING**
Dogs, being pack animals, naturally need a leader, or else they try to establish dominance in their packs. When you bring a dog into your family, the choice of who becomes the leader and who becomes the "pack" is entirely up to you! Your pup's intuitive quest for dominance, coupled with the fact that it is nearly impossible to look at an adorable Golden Retriever pup, with his "puppy-dog" eyes and his too-big-for hishead-still-floppy ears, and not cave in, give the pup almost an unfair advantage in getting the upper hand! A pup will definitely test the waters to see what he can and cannot do. Do not give in to those pleading eyes—stand your ground when it comes to disciplining the pup and make sure that all family members do the same. It will only confuse the pup when Mother tells him to get off the couch when he is used to sitting up there with Father to watch the nightly news. Avoid discrepancies by having all members of the household decide on the rules before the pup even comes home...and be consistent in enforcing them! Early training shapes the dog's personality, so you cannot be unclear in what you expect.
**Your Golden's first "pack" is his litter, led by his dam. Your family becomes his new pack, and you, his new leader.**
You may want to attend a puppy class and early obedience training with your puppy. A class environment is good social stimulation for the puppy and for you. It will also motivate you to train your puppy and practice when you are not in class so you do not appear foolish in front of your trainer and fellow puppy owners. Investigate the cost of puppy lessons so you do not omit this important aspect of Golden ownership.
# **COMMON PUPPY PROBLEMS**
The best way to prevent puppy problems is to be proactive in stopping an undesirable behavior as soon as it starts. The old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" does not necessarily hold true, but it is true that it is much easier to discourage bad behavior in a young developing pup than to wait until the pup's bad behavior becomes the adult dog's bad habit. There are some problems that are especially prevalent in puppies as they develop.
## **NIPPING**
As puppies start to teethe, they feel the need to sink their teeth into anything available... unfortunately that includes your fingers, arms, hair, and toes. You may find this behavior cute for the first five seconds...until you feel just how sharp those puppy teeth are. This is something you want to discourage immediately and consistently with a firm "No!" (or whatever number of firm "No's" it takes for him to understand that you mean business). Then replace your finger with an appropriate chew toy. While this behavior is merely annoying when the dog is young, it can become dangerous as your Golden Retriever's adult teeth grow in and his jaws develop, and he continues to think it is okay to gnaw on human appendages. This is a very oral breed with a natural tendency to chew and nip. He does not mean any harm with a friendly nip, but he also does not know his own strength.
**Puppies enjoy all kinds of toys, especially stuffed animals that squeak. Do not allow children to provoke the puppy as this can lead to nipping.**
## **CRYING/WHINING**
Your pup will often cry, whine, whimper, howl or make some type of commotion when he is left alone. This is basically his way of calling out for attention to make sure that you know he is there and that you have not forgotten about him. He feels insecure when he is left alone, when you are out of the house and he is in his crate or when you are in another part of the house and he cannot see you. The noise he is making is an expression of the anxiety he feels at being alone, so he needs to be taught that being alone is okay. You are not actually training the dog to stop making noise, you are training him to feel comfortable when he is alone and thus removing the need for him to make the noise. This is where the crate filled with cozy blankets and a toy comes in handy. You want to know that he is safe when you are not there to supervise, and you know that he will be safe in his crate rather than roaming freely about the house. In order for the pup to stay in his crate without making a fuss, he needs to be comfortable in his crate. On that note, it is extremely important that the crate is never used as a form of punishment, or the pup will have a negative association with the crate.
Accustom the pup to the crate in short, gradually increasing time intervals in which you put him in the crate, maybe with a treat, and stay in the room with him. If he cries or makes a fuss, do not go to him, but stay in his sight. Gradually he will realize that staying in his crate is all right without your help, and it will not be so traumatic for him when you are not around. You may want to leave the radio on softly when you leave the house; the sound of human voices may be comforting to him.
**CHEMICAL ALERT**
Scour your garage for potential puppy dangers. Remove weed killers, pesticides and antifreeze materials. Antifreeze is highly toxic and even a few drops can kill an adult dog. The sweet taste attracts the animal, who will quickly consume it from the floor or curbside.
**POISONOUS PLANTS**
_Below is a partial list of plants that are considered poisonous. These plants can cause skin irritation, illness and even death. You should be aware of the types of plants that grow in your yard and that you keep in your home. Special care should be taken to rid your yard of dangerous plants and to keep all plants in the household out of your Golden Retriever's reach._
**American Blue Flag**
**Bachelor's Button**
**Barberry**
**Bog Iris**
**Boxwood**
**Buttercup**
**Cherry Pits**
**Chinese Arbor**
**Chokecherry**
**Christmas Rose**
**Climbing Lily**
**Crown of Thorns**
**Elderberry (berries)**
**Elephant Ear**
**False Acacia**
**English Ivy**
**Fern**
**Foxglove**
**Hellebore**
**Herb of Grace**
**Holly**
**Horse Chestnut**
**Iris (bulb)**
**Japanese Yew**
**Jerusalem Cherry**
**Jimson Weed**
**Lenten Rose**
**Lily of the Valley**
**Marigold**
**Milkwort**
**Mistletoe (berries)**
**Monkshood**
**Mullein**
**Narcissus**
**Peony**
**Persian Ivy**
**Rhododendron**
**Rhubarb**
**Shallon**
**Siberian Iris**
**Solomon's Seal**
**Star of Bethlehem**
**Water Lily**
**Wisteria**
**Wood Spurge**
**Yew**
**Internal Organs with Skeletal Structure**
**EVERYDAY CARE OF YOUR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
The responsibility of owning a Golden Retriever is a long-term commitment that will affect your life every day as you care for your growing puppy and mature adult. The author has owned as many as eight Goldens at a time, yet even the keeping of one dog is an enormous job. Owners must be properly informed about the feeding of the Golden Retriever, the grooming and exercise requirements and much more. Let's begin by looking at the various aspects of feeding the Golden Retriever.
# **DIETARY AND FEEDING CONSIDERATIONS**
You have probably heard it a thousand times, "You are what you eat." Believe it or not, it's very true. Dogs are what you feed them because they have little choice in the matter. Even those people who truly want to feed their dogs the best often cannot do so because they do not know which foods are best for their dogs.
Dog foods are produced in three basic types: dry, semi-moist and canned. Dry foods are the choice of the cost-conscious because they are much less expensive than semi-moist and canned. Dry foods contain the least fat and the most preservatives. Most canned foods are 60–70-percent water, while semi-moist foods are so full of sugar that they are the least preferred by owners, though dogs welcome them (as a child does sweets). You must always feed your Golden a quality food, and such a product will cost more than generic and over-thecounter brands sold at a local grocery store.
Pet shops sell the premium brands of dog food, which are designed for pure-bred performance animals, whether show dogs, field dogs or the like. These premium brands are the ones recommended by vets and breeders for pure-bred pet dogs as well. Unlike the store brands, which are cheaper in price and quality, the premium foods contain less filler and more meat products. The price you pay for premium dog food will be reflected in your dog's coat, overall health and temperament. Quality foods contain balanced nutrition for your dog, so that supplementation is not necessary, though you should discuss this with your breeder. Some breeders contend that a complete diet could never "come in a bag," just as you could not expect a human child to grow up properly only eating a dry cereal. Thus, some of these breeders add vegetables, eggs and fresh meat to their dogs' diets on occasion to give them some natural nourishment. Most agree that such supplementation does not harm the dog, though it could make the dog more fussy. Further, many object to the preservatives in the dry food, which give the "complete diet" a shelf life of a year or more.
**Golden Retrievers simply must be fed a proper, balanced diet in order to stay healthy and fit.**
**Your Golden Retriever breeder will advise you on the best brand food to feed your puppy. It is recommended to continue feeding the same brand that the breeder has been offering.**
**FOOD PREFERENCE**
Selecting the best dry dog food is difficult. There is no majority consensus among veterinary scientists as to the value of nutrient analyses (protein, fat, fiber, moisture, ash, cholesterol, minerals, etc.). All agree that feeding trials are what matter, but you also have to consider the individual dog. Its weight, age, activity and what pleases its taste all must be considered. It is probably best to take the advice of your veterinarian. Every dog's dietary requirements vary, even during the lifetime of that particular dog.
If your dog is fed a good dry food, it does not require supplements of meat or vegetables. Dogs do appreciate a little variety in their diets so you may choose to stay with the same brand, but vary the flavor. Alternatively you may wish to add a little flavored stock to give a difference to the taste.
Three stages of development must be considered when selecting a diet for your dog: the puppy stage, the adult stage and the senior or geriatric stage.
**TEST FOR PROPER DIET**
A good test for proper diet is the color, odor and firmness of your dog's stool. A healthy dog usually produces three semi-hard stools per day. The stools should have no unpleasant odor. They should be the same color from excretion to excretion.
## **PUPPY STAGE**
Puppies have a natural instinct to suck milk from their mother's teats. They exhibit this behavior from the first moments of their lives. If they don't suckle within a short while, the breeder attempts to put them onto their mother's nipples. A newborn's failure to suckle often requires that the breeder handfeed the pup under the guidance of a veterinarian. This involves a baby bottle and a special formula. Their mother's milk is much better than any formula because it contains colostrum, a sort of antibiotic milk that protects the puppy during the first eight to ten weeks of their lives.
**Golden Retriever puppies should be allowed to nurse for at least six weeks. The last two weeks of this period should begin the slow introduction of canned food.**
**Once a puppy is in your home, it may not eat as vigorously as it did while at the breeder's home. Competition for food at the feed tray entices the puppies' appetites.**
Puppies should be allowed to nurse for six weeks and they should be slowly weaned away from their mother by introducing small portions of canned food after they are about one month old. Then dry food is gradually added to the puppies' portions over the next few weeks. By the time they are eight weeks old, they should be completely weaned and fed solely a puppy kibble. During this weaning period, their diet is most important as the puppy grows fastest during its first year of life.
**Hand-feeding pups when the need arises requires an excellent-quality formula and diligent attention from the breeder.**
Golden Retriever pups should be fed three meals per day when they are six to eight weeks of age. At eight weeks, the pup can be fed twice per day. Fussy eaters may require an additional smaller meal to maintain a good weight. Growth foods can be recommended by your veterinarian, and the puppy should be kept on this diet for up to 12 months. Puppy diets should be balanced for your dog's needs, and supplements of vitamins, minerals and protein should not be necessary.
## **ADULT DIETS**
A dog is considered an adult when it has stopped growing in height and/or length. Do not consider the dog's weight when the decision is made to switch from a puppy diet to an adult maintenance diet. Again you should rely upon your veteri-narian to recommend an acceptable maintenance diet. Major dog food manufacturers specialize in this type of food, and it is necessary for you to select the one best suited to your dog's needs. Active dogs may have different requirements than sedate dogs. A Golden Retriever is fully mature around 12 months of age, though it often takes another 12 to 18 months for dog to reach its peak as a performance animal.
**Clean water should be available to all dogs. Golden Retriever puppies would often rather swim in water than drink it!**
Discuss the diet of your active Golden Retriever with your veterinarian or breeder. Some dogs require more food to maintain their weight than others. Also discuss supplementing your Golden's diet with fresh foods with your breeder. Every dog welcomes fresh meat in his diet, and most dogs show an interest in vegetables as well. Experiment to see what your Golden likes. Provided you don't overdo these supplements, you will be adding to your dog's nutrition. You also may wish to discuss vitamin and mineral supplements with your breeder, which may or may not be of value to your dog. A good barometer for the quality of your dog's food comes from the other end of the dog. If your dog's stool seem loose or excessive, the food he's eating is likely more filler than meat. Since Goldens are prone to bloat, it's advised that you test your dog's food before choosing a brand. Most manufacturers are happy to provide you with a sample of their brand. Place a few pieces of the dry food into a glass of water. If the food swells to five or six times its original size, it is not recommended for the Golden. This is how the food will react in your dog's stomach, and that is not acceptable in a deep-chest breed that is prone to bloat.
**GRAIN-BASED DIETS**
Some less expensive dog foods are based on grains and other plant proteins. While these products may appear to be attractively priced, many breeders prefer a diet based on animal proteins and believe that they are more conducive to your dog's health. Many grain-based diets rely on soy protein, which may cause flatulence (passing gas). There are many cases, however, when your dog might require a special diet. These special requirements should only be recommended by your veterinarian.
**As your Golden Retriever matures, his dietary needs change. Active working dogs will require a different nutritional base than will ordinary house dogs.**
**Since the Golden Retriever was developed as a water dog, puppies have an incurable affinity to water.**
## **SENIOR DIETS**
As dogs get older, their metabolism changes. The older dog usually exercises less, moves more slowly and sleeps more. This change in lifestyle and physiological performance requires a change in diet. Since these changes take place slowly, they might not be recognizable. What is easily recognizable is weight gain. By continually feeding your dog an adult maintenance diet when it is slowing down metabolically, your dog will gain weight. Obesity in an older dog compounds the health problems that already accompany old age.
**FEEDING TIPS**
Dog food must be at room temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. Fresh water, changed daily and served in a clean bowl, is mandatory, especially when feeding dry food.
Never feed your dog from the table while you are eating. Never feed your dog left-overs from your own meal. They usually contain too much fat and seasoning. The normal food is usually balanced, and adding something extra destroys the balance.
Dogs must chew their food. Hard pellets are excellent; soups and stews are to be avoided.
Except for age-related changes, dogs do not require dietary variations. They can be fed the same diet, day after day, without their becoming bored or ill. Experiment with different flavors featured by the manufacturer.
**Exercise is required for your Golden Retriever's mental and physical well-being. It's great for the owner's good health, too.**
As your dog gets older, few of his organs function up to par. The kidneys slow down and the intestines become less efficient. These age-related factors are best handled with a change in diet and a change in feeding schedule to give smaller portions that are more easily digested.
There is no single best diet for every older dog. While many dogs do well on light or senior diets, other dogs do better on puppy diets or other special premium diets such as lamb and rice. Be sensitive to your senior Golden Retriever's diet and this will help control other problems that may arise with your old friend.
**Nothing compares to a run on the beach for an adult Golden!**
**If you play ball with a Golden Retriever, be sure the ball is large and tough enough that your dog cannot destroy or swallow it.**
# **WATER**
Just as your dog needs proper nutrition from his food, water is an essential "nutrient" as well. Water keeps the dog's body properly hydrated and promotes normal function of the body's systems. During housebreaking it is necessary to keep an eye on how much water your Golden Retriever is drinking, but once he is reliably trained he should have access to clean fresh water at all times. Make sure that the dog's water bowl is clean, and change the water often.
# **EXERCISE**
All dogs require some form of exercise, regardless of breed. A sedentary lifestyle is as harmful to a dog as it is to a person. The Golden Retriever is a sporting dog with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Regular walks, play sessions in the yard, or letting the dog run free in the yard under your supervision are all sufficient forms of exercise for the Golden Retriever. For those who are more ambitious, you will find that your adult Golden Retriever will be able to keep up with you on extra long walks or the morning run. Not only is exercise essential to keep the dog's body fit, it is essential to his mental well-being. A bored dog will find something to do, which often manifests itself in some type of destructive behavior. In this sense, it is essential for the owner's mental well-being as well!
**GROOMING EQUIPMENT**
How much grooming equipment you purchase will depend on how much grooming you are going to do. Here are some basics:
• Natural bristle brush
• Slicker brush
• Metal comb
• Scissors
• Blowdryer
• Rubber mat
• Dog shampoo
• Spray hose attachment
• Ear cleaner
• Cotton balls
• Towels
• Nail clippers
**Before bathing your Golden Retriever, use a natural bristle brush to reach through the top coat.**
# **GROOMING**
## **BRUSHING**
The luxurious Golden coat is both a bane and a blessing. Lovely to look at, yes, but frequent grooming is required to keep it healthy and attractive. Twice-weekly brushing sessions are a must if you hope to control casting coat (shedding) and keep those silky strands from floating onto your furniture and into your salad bowl. Casting coat is most troublesome in spring and again in fall when the Golden sheds its downy undercoat to prepare for the changing season. That often surprises a new owner who is not prepared for clouds of dog down rolling across the floors and carpets.
## **BATHING**
Dogs do not need to be bathed as often as humans, but regular bathing is essential for healthy skin and a healthy, shiny coat. Again, like most anything, if you accustom your pup to being bathed as a puppy, it will be second nature by the time he grows up. You want your dog to be at ease in the bath or else it could end up a wet, soapy, messy ordeal for both of you!
Brush your Golden Retriever thoroughly before wetting his coat. This will get rid of most mats and tangles, which are harder to remove when the coat is wet. Make sure that your dog has a good non-slip surface to stand on. Begin by wetting the dog's coat. A shower or hose attachment is necessary for thoroughly wetting and rinsing the coat. Check the water temperature to make sure that it is neither too hot nor too cold.
**A Golden should be groomed daily, but a minimum schedule is twice-weekly intense brushing and combing. Use a metal comb to untangle knots.**
**THE WASH CYCLE..**.
The use of human soap products like shampoo, bubble bath and hand soap can be damaging to a dog's coat and skin. Human products are too strong and remove the protective oils coating the dog's hair and skin (that make him water-resistant). Use only shampoo made especially for dogs and you may like to use a medicated shampoo which will always help to keep external parasites at bay.
Next, apply shampoo to the dog's coat and work it into a good lather. You should purchase a shampoo that is made for dogs. Do not use a product made for human hair. Wash the head last; you do not want shampoo to drip into the dog's eyes while you are washing the rest of his body. Work the shampoo all the way down to the skin. You can use this opportunity to check the skin for any bumps, bites or other abnormalities. Do not neglect any area of the body—get all of the hard-toreach places.
**Since Goldens love the water, they are easily bathed in a small pool outdoors when the weather permits.**
**Your local pet shop will undoubtedly have many types of grooming tools from which to choose.**
**If you have a swimming pool, you will have to train your Golden how to enter and exit properly. Goldens love to take a dip on their own, but you must keep a close eye on them.**
Once the dog has been thoroughly shampooed, he requires an equally thorough rinsing. Shampoo left in the coat can be irritating to the skin. Protect his eyes from the shampoo by shielding them with your hand and directing the flow of water in the opposite direction. You should also avoid getting water in the ear canal. Be prepared for your Golden to shake out his coat—you might want to stand back, but make sure you have a hold on the dog to keep him from running through the house.
## **EAR CLEANING**
The ears should be kept clean and any excess hair inside the ear should be trimmed. Ears can be cleaned with cotton wipes and special cleaner or ear powder made especially for dogs. Be on the lookout for any signs of infection or ear-mite infestation. If your Golden Retriever has been shaking his head or scratching at his ears frequently, this usually indicates a problem. If his ears have an unusual odor, this is a sure sign of mite infestation or infection, and a signal to have his ears checked by the veterinarian.
**THE DRY CYCLE...**
Once you are sure that the dog is thoroughly rinsed, squeeze the excess water out of the coat with your hand and dry him with a heavy towel. You may choose to use a blowdryer on his coat or just let it dry naturally. In cold weather, never allow your dog outside with a wet coat.
There are "dry bath" products on the market, which are sprays and powders intended for spot cleaning, that can be used between regular baths, if necessary. They are not substitutes for regular baths, but they are easy to use for touch-ups as they do not require rinsing.
## **NAIL CLIPPING**
Your Golden Retriever should be accustomed to having his nails trimmed at an early age, since it will be part of your maintenance routine throughout his life. Not only does it look nicer, but a dog with long nails can cause injury if he jumps up or if he scratches someone unintentionally. Also, a long nail has a better chance of ripping and bleeding, or causing the feet to spread. A good rule of thumb is that if you can hear your dog's nails' clicking on the floor when he walks, his nails are too long.
Before you start cutting, make sure you can identify the "quick" in each nail. The quick is a blood vessel that runs through the center of each nail and grows rather close to the end. It will bleed if accidentally cut, which will be quite painful for the dog as it contains nerve endings. Keep some type of clotting agent on hand, such as a styptic pencil or styptic powder (the type used for shaving). This will stop the bleeding quickly when applied to the end of the cut nail. Do not panic if this happens, just stop the bleeding and talk soothingly to your dog. Once he has calmed down, move on to the next nail. It is better to clip a little at a time, particularly with black-nailed dogs.
**Your Golden puppy's ears should be cleaned weekly with a cotton ball or specially made wipes for ear cleaning.**
**You should trim your Golden's nails carefully so that you don't cut the quick. Clip a little at a time to avoid the possibility of hurting the dog, especially in dark nails where the quick is hard to see.**
**PEDICURE TIP**
A dog that spends a lot of time outside on a hard surface such as cement or pavement will have his nails naturally worn down and may not need to have them trimmed as often, except maybe in the colder months when he is not outside as much. Regardless, it is best to get your dog accustomed to this procedure at an early age so that he is used to it. Some dogs are especially sensitive about having their feet touched, but if a dog has experienced it since he was young, he should not be bothered by it.
Hold your pup steady as you begin trimming his nails; you do not want him to make any sudden movements or run away. Talk to him soothingly and stroke his fur as you clip. Holding his foot in your hand, simply take off the end of each nail in one quick clip. You can purchase nail clippers that are specially made for dogs; you can probably find them wherever you buy pet or grooming supplies.
# **TRAVELING WITH YOUR DOG**
## **CAR TRAVEL**
You should accustom your Golden Retriever to riding in a car at an early age. You may or may not take him in the car often, but at the very least he will need to go to the vet and you do not want these trips to be traumatic for the dog or a big hassle for you. The safest way for a dog to ride in the car is in his crate. If he uses a fiberglass crate in the house, you can use the same crate for travel. Wire crates can be used for travel, but fiberglass or wooden crates are safer.
**There are many types of nail clippers available at your local pet shop for clipping the Golden's nails.**
**Your Golden should never be loose in the car when you are driving. For longdistance trips, a large crate in the back of the vehicle is the safest option.**
Put the pup in the crate and see how he reacts. If he seems uneasy, you can have a passenger hold him on his lap while you drive. Another option is a specially made safety harness for dogs, which straps the dog in much like a seat belt. Do not let the dog roam loose in the vehicle—this is very dangerous! If you should stop short, your dog can be thrown and injured. If the dog starts climbing on you and pestering you while you are driving, you will not be able to concentrate on the road. It is an unsafe situation for everyone—human and canine.
**TRAVELING SAFELY**
The most extensive travel you do with your dog may be limited to trips to the veterinarian's office—or you may decide to bring him along for long distances when the family goes on vacation. Whichever the case, it is important to consider your dog's safety while traveling.
For long trips, be prepared to stop to let the dog relieve himself. Bring along whatever you need to clean up after him. You should bring along some old towels and rags, should he have a "bathroom" accident in the car or become carsick.
## **AIR TRAVEL**
If bringing your dog on a flight, you will have to contact the airline to make special arrangements. It is rather common for dogs to travel by air, so major airlines have policies and procedures for pet travel. The dog will be required to travel in an airline-approved crate; you may be able to use your own or the airline can usually supply one at extra cost. To help the dog be at ease, put one of his favorite toys in the crate with him. Do not feed the dog for several hours before the trip to minimize his need to relieve himself. However, you must certify that the dog has been given food and water within a certain time frame of check-in.
Make sure your dog is properly identified and that your contact information appears on his ID tags and on his crate. Check with the airline for specific labeling requirements. Except for very small pets that are allowed in the cabin in their crates, animals travel in a different area of the plane than human passengers, and, although transporting animals is routine for large airlines, there is always the risk of getting separated from your dog. Check with the airline for additional rules regarding crates, food, etc., and follow them carefully.
**TRAVEL TIP**
When traveling, never let your dog offlead in a strange area. Your dog could run away out of fear, decide to chase a passing squirrel or cat or simply want to stretch his legs without restriction—and you might never see your canine friend again.
## **VACATIONS AND BOARDING**
So you want to take a family vacation—and you want to include _all_ members of the family. You would probably make arrangements for accommodations ahead of time anyway, but this is especially important when traveling with a dog. You do not want to make an overnight stop at the only place around for miles and find out that they do not allow dogs. Also, you do not want to reserve a place for your family without confirming that you are traveling with a dog because if it is against their policy you may not have a place to stay.
Alternatively, if you are traveling and choose not to bring your Golden Retriever, you will have to make arrangements for him while you are away. Some options are to bring him to a neighbor's house to stay while you are gone, to have a trusted neighbor stop by often or stay at your house, or to bring your dog to a reputable boarding kennel. If you choose to board him at a kennel, you should stop by to see the facility and where the dogs are kept to make sure that it is clean. Talk to some of the employees and see how they treat the dogs—do they spend time with the dogs, play with them, exercise them, etc.? You know that your Golden Retriever will not be happy unless he gets regular activity and attention. Also find out the kennel's policy on vaccinations and what they require. This is for all of the dogs' safety, since when dogs are kept together, there is a greater risk of diseases being passed from dog to dog. Many veterinarians offer boarding facilities; this is another option.
**Don't forget to give your Golden time to stretch his legs (on lead, of course) when traveling.**
**If you cannot take your dog with you on vacation, you should locate a suitable kennel in your area to ensure that your dog is in good hands while you travel.**
**COLLAR REQUIRED**
If your dog gets lost, he is not able to ask for directions home. Identification tags fastened to the collar give important information—the dog's name, the owner's name, the owner's address and a telephone number where the owner can be reached. This makes it easy for whoever finds the dog to contact the owner and arrange to have the dog returned. An added advantage is that a person will be more likely to approach a lost dog who has ID tags on his collar; it tells the person that this is somebody's pet rather than a stray. This is the easiest and fastest method of identification provided that the tags stay on the collar and the collar stays on the dog.
**Be certain that your Golden's collar fits properly and that his identification tags are attached securely.**
# **IDENTIFICATION**
Your Golden Retriever is your valued companion and friend. That is why you always keep a close eye on him and you have made sure that he cannot escape from your property or wriggle out of his collar and run away from you. However, accidents can happen and there may come a time when your dog unexpectedly gets separated from you. If this unfortunate event should occur, the first thing on your mind will be finding him. Proper identification, including an ID tag, a tattoo, and possibly a microchip, will increase the chances of his being returned to you safely and quickly.
**IDENTIFICATION OPTIONS**
As puppies become more and more expensive, especially those puppies of high quality for showing and/or breeding, they have a greater chance of being stolen. The usual collar dog tag is, of course, easily removed. But there are two techniques that have become widely utilized for identification.
The puppy microchip implantation involves the injection of a small microchip, about the size of a corn kernel, under the skin of the dog. If your dog shows up at a clinic or shelter, or is offered for resale under less than savory circumstances, it can be positively identified by the microchip. The microchip is scanned and a registry quickly identifies you as the owner. This is not only protection against theft, but should the dog run away or go chasing a squirrel and get lost, you have a fair chance of getting it back.
Tattooing is done on various parts of the dog, from his belly to his ears. The number tattooed can be your telephone number or the dog's registration number. When professional dog thieves see a tattooed dog, they usually lose interest in it. For the safety of our dogs, no laboratory facility or dog broker will accept a tattooed dog as stock. Both microchipping and tattooing can be done at your local veterinary clinic.
**Golden Retrievers love the water and are not afraid to jump, even from heights. Hunting dogs develop true style and talent in their "diving" patterns.**
Your Golden Retriever puppy is a blank canvas. Everything he becomes is dependent on the education, patience and energy of his owner.
**TRAINING YOUR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
Living with an untrained dog is a lot like owning a piano that you do not know how to play—it is a nice object to look at, but it does not do much more than that to bring you pleasure. Now try taking piano lessons, and suddenly the piano comes alive and brings forth magical sounds and rhythms that set your heart singing and your body swaying.
The same is true with your Golden Retriever. At first you enjoy seeing him around the house. He does not do much with you except eat, drink and exercise. Come to think of it, he does not bring you much joy, either. He is a big responsibility with a very small return. Often he develops unacceptable behaviors that annoy and/or infuriate you to say nothing of bad habits that may end up costing you great sums of money. Not a good thing!
Now train your Golden Retriever. Enroll in an obedience class. Teach him good manners as you learn how and why he behaves the way he does. Find out how to communicate with your dog and how to recognize and understand his communications with you. Suddenly the dog takes on a new role in your life—he is smart, interesting, well behaved and fun to be with. He demonstrates his bond of devotion to you daily. In other words, your Golden Retriever does wonders for your ego because he constantly reminds you that you are not only his leader, you are his hero! Miraculous things have happened—you have a wonderful dog (even your family and friends have noticed the transformation!) and you feel good about yourself.
Those involved with teaching dog obedience and counseling owners about their dogs' behavior have discovered some interesting facts about dog ownership. For example, training dogs when they are puppies results in the highest rate of success in developing well-mannered and well-adjusted adult dogs. Training an older dog, from six months to six years of age, can produce almost equal results, providing that the owner accepts the dog's slower rate of learning capability and is willing to work patiently to help the dog succeed at developing to his fullest potential. Unfortunately, many owners of untrained adult dogs lack the patience factor, so they do not persist until their dogs are successful at learning particular behaviors.
**You are personally and solely responsible for molding and training your Golden Retriever puppy. Are you ready for this responsibility?**
**Training the Golden puppy should involve the whole family. Every member of the family must understand what is expected of the puppy and how to instruct him.**
**HONORABLE MENTION**
Dogs are the most honorable animals in existence. They consider another species (humans) as their own. They interface with you. Yuo are their leader. Puppies perceive children to be on their level: their actions around small children are different than their behavior around their adult masters.
Training a puppy, aged 8 to 16 weeks (20 weeks at the most), is like working with a dry sponge in a pool of water. The pup soaks up whatever you show him and constantly looks for more things to do and learn. At this early age, his body is not yet producing hormones, and therein lies the reason for such a high rate of success. Without hormones, he is focused on his owners and not particularly interested in investigating other places, dogs, people, etc. You are his leader: his provider of food, water, shelter and security. He latches onto you and wants to stay close. He will usually follow you from room to room, will not let you out of his sight when you are outdoors with him, and will respond in like manner to the people and animals you encounter. If you greet a friend warmly, he will be happy to greet the person as well. If, however, you are hesitant or anxious about the approach of a stranger, he will respond accordingly.
Once the puppy begins to produce hormones, his natural curiosity emerges and he begins to investigate the world around him. It is at this time when you may notice that the untrained dog begins to wander away from you and even ignore your commands to stay close. When this behavior becomes a problem, the owner has two choices: get rid of the dog or train him. It is strongly urged that you choose the latter option.
**OBEDIENCE SCHOOL**
Taking your dog to an obedience school may be the best investment in time and money you can ever make. You will enjoy the benefits for the lifetime of your dog and you will have the opportunity to meet people with similar expectations for their companion dogs.
Occasionally there are no classes available within a reasonable distance from the owner's home. Sometimes there are classes available but the tuition is too costly. Whatever the circumstances, the solution to training your Golden without obedience classes lies within the pages of this book.
This chapter is devoted to helping you train your Golden Retriever at home. If the recommended procedures are followed faithfully, you may expect positive results that will prove rewarding to both you and your dog.
Whether your new charge is a puppy or a mature adult, the methods of teaching and the techniques we use in training basic behaviors are the same. After all, no dog, whether puppy or adult, likes harsh or inhumane methods. All creatures, however, respond favorably to gentle motivational methods and sincere praise and encouragement.
**Golden Retriever puppies possess great willingness to please the humans who surround them. It is easier to train a puppy that has been loved and socialized.**
**Bonding with a puppy has many benefits. Goldens would rather play with a human (you!) than with other dogs. Take full advantage of this trait.**
# **HOUSEBREAKING**
You can train a puppy to relieve itself wherever you choose. For example, city dwellers often train their puppies to relieve themselves in the gutter because large plots of grass are not readily available. Suburbanites, on the other hand, usually have yards to accommodate their dogs' needs. Outdoor training includes such surfaces as grass, dirt and cement. Indoor training usually means training your dog to newspaper, although this is not recommended with a large dog like the Golden.
When deciding on the surface and location that you will want your Golden Retriever to use, be sure it is going to be permanent. Training your dog to grass and then changing your mind two months later is extremely difficult for both dog and owner.
Next, choose the command you will use each and every time you want your puppy to void. "Go hurry up" and "Go make" are examples of commands commonly used by dog owners. Get in the habit of asking the puppy, "Do you want to go hurry up?" (or whatever your chosen relief command is) before you take him out. That way, when he becomes an adult, you will be able to determine if he wants to go out when you ask him. A confirmation will be signs of interest, wagging his tail, watching you intently, going to the door, etc.
**TAKE THE LEAD**
Do not carry your dog to his relief area. Lead him there on a leash or, better yet, encourage him to follow you to the spot. If you start carrying him to his spot, you might end up doing this routine forever and your dog will have the satisfaction of having trained _you_.
## **PUPPY'S NEEDS**
Puppy needs to relieve himself after play periods, after each meal, after he has been sleeping and any time he indicates that he is looking for a place to urinate or defecate.
The urinary and intestinal tract muscles of very young puppies are not fully developed. Therefore, like human babies, puppies need to relieve themselves frequently.
Take your puppy out often—every hour for an eight-week-old, for example. The older the puppy, the less often he will need to relieve himself. Finally, as a mature healthy adult, he will require only three to five relief trips per day.
## **HOUSING**
Since the types of housing and control you provide for your puppy have a direct relationship on the success of housetraining, we consider the various aspects of both before we begin training. Bringing a new puppy home and turning him loose in your house can be compared to turning a child loose in a sports arena and telling the child that the place is all his! The sheer enormity of the place would be too much for him to handle.
**Housebreaking can begin at the breeder's home. A Golden puppy quickly learns the texture of his relief area and will continue to search for it when the time comes. Your breeder can advise you on how to complete the process.**
Instead, offer the puppy clearly defined areas where he can play, sleep, eat and live. A room of the house where the family gathers is the most obvious choice. Puppies are social animals and need to feel a part of the pack right from the start. Hearing your voice, watching you while you are doing things and smelling you nearby are all positive reinforcers that he is now a member of your pack. Usually a family room, the kitchen or a nearby adjoining breakfast nook is ideal for providing safety and security for both puppy and owner.
**CALM DOWN**
Dogs will do anything for your attention. If you reward the dog when he is calm and attentive, you will develop a well-mannered dog. If, on the other hand, you greet your dog excitedly and encourage him to wrestle and roughhouse with you, the dog will greet you the same way and you will have a hyper dog on your hands.
**It's advisable to walk the puppy to his designated area on a lead. A puppy will do his best to tell you when it's time to go out. It's up to you to recognize his body language.**
**KEY TO SUCCESS**
Most of all, be consistent. Always take your dog to the same location, always use the same command, and always have him on lead when he is in his relief area, unless a fenced-in yard is available.
By following the Success Method, your puppy will be completely housetrained by the time his muscle and brain development reach maturity. Keep in mind that small breeds usually mature faster than large breeds, but all puppies should be trained by six months of age.
Within that room there should be a smaller area that the puppy can call his own. A cubbyhole, a wire or fiberglass dog crate or a fenced (not boarded!) corner from which he can view the activities of his new family will be fine. The size of the area or crate is the key factor here. The area must be large enough for the puppy to lie down and stretch out as well as stand up without rubbing his head on the top, yet small enough so that he cannot relieve himself at one end and sleep at the other without coming into contact with his droppings.
Dogs are, by nature, clean animals and will not remain close to their relief areas unless forced to do so. In those cases, they then become dirty dogs and usually remain that way for life.
The crate or cubby should be lined with a clean towel and offer one toy, no more. Do not put food or water in the crate, as eating and drinking will activate the pup's digestive processes and ultimately defeat your purpose as well as make the puppy very uncomfortable as he attempts to "hold it."
## **CONTROL**
By _control_ , we mean helping the puppy to create a lifestyle pattern that will be compatible to that of his human pack _(you!)._ Just as we guide little children to learn our way of life, we must show the puppy when it is time to play, eat, sleep, exercise and even entertain himself.
Your puppy should always sleep in his crate. He should also learn that, during times of household confusion and excessive human activity, such as at breakfast when family members are preparing for the day, he can play by himself in relative safety and comfort in his crate. Each time you leave the puppy alone, he should be crated. Puppies are chewers. They cannot tell the difference between lamp cords, television wires, shoes, table legs, etc. Chewing into a television wire, for example, can be fatal to the puppy, while a shorted wire can start a fire in the house.
If the puppy chews on the arm of the chair when he is alone, you will probably discipline him angrily when you get home. Thus, he makes the association that your coming home means he is going to be scolded or punished. (He will not remember chewing up the chair and is incapable of making the association of the discipline with his naughty deed.)
Other times of excitement, such as family parties, etc., can be fun for the puppy, providing that he can view the activities from the security of his crate. He is not underfoot and he is not being fed all sorts of tidbits that will probably cause him stomach distress, yet he still feels a part of the fun.
## **SCHEDULE**
A puppy should be taken to his relief area each time he is released from his crate, after meals, after a play session, when he first awakens in the morning (at age eight weeks, this can mean 5 a.m.!). The puppy will indicate that he's ready "to go" by circling or sniffing busily—do not misinterpret these signs. For a puppy less than ten weeks of age, a routine of taking him out every hour is necessary. As the puppy grows, he will be able to wait for longer periods of time.
**THE CLEAN LIFE**
By providing sleeping and resting quarters that fit the dog, and offering frequent opportunities to relieve himself outside his quarters, the puppy quickly learns that the outdoors (or the newspaper if you are training him to paper) is the place to go when he needs to urinate or defecate. It also reinforces his innate desire to keep his sleeping quarters clean. This, in turn, helps develop the muscle control that will eventually produce a dog with clean living habits.
**A fenced yard or large secure enclosure is ideal for giving Goldens safe off-lead exercise.**
**POTTY TIPS**
When housebreaking your puppy, restrict water intake after evening meals. Offer a few licks at a time—never let a young puppy gulp water after meals.
Never line your pup's sleeping area with newspaper. Puppy litters are usually raised on newspaper and, once in your home, the puppy will immediately associate newspaper with voiding. Never put newspaper on any floor while housetraining, as this will only confuse the puppy.
Keep trips to his relief area short. Stay no more than five or six minutes and then return to the house. If he goes during that time, praise him lavishly and take him indoors immediately. If he does not, but he has an accident when you go back indoors, pick him up immediately, say "No! No!" and return to his relief area. Wait a few minutes, then return to the house again. Never hit a puppy or put his face in urine or excrement when he has an accident!
**Canine Development Schedule**
It is important to understand how and at what age a puppy develops into adulthood. If you are a puppy owner, consult the following Canine Development Schedule to determine the stage of development your Golden Retriever puppy is currently experiencing.
This knowledge will help you as you work with the puppy in the weeks and months ahead.
**Period** | **Age** | **Characteristics**
---|---|---
**FIRST TO THIRD** | **BIRTH TO SEVEN WEEKS** | Puppy needs food, sleep and warmth, and responds to simple and gentle touching. Needs mother for security and disciplining. Needs littermates for learning and interacting with other dogs. Pup learns to function within a pack and learns pack order of dominance. Begin socializing with adults and children for short periods. Begins to become aware of his environment.
**FOURTH** | **EIGHT TO TWELVE WEEKS** | Brain is fully developed. Needs socializing with outside world. Remove from mother and littermates. Needs to change from canine pack to human pack. Human dominance necessary. Fear period occurs between 8 and 16 weeks. Avoid fright and pain.
**FIFTH** | **THIRTEEN TO SIXTEEN WEEKS** | Training and formal obedience should begin. Less association with other dogs, more with people, places, situations. Period will pass easily if you remember this is pup's change-to-adolescence time. Be firm and fair. Flight instinct prominent. Permissiveness and over-disciplining can do permanent damage. Praise for good behavior.
**JUVENILE** | **FOUR TO EIGHT MONTHS** | Another fear period about 7 to 8 months of age. It passes quickly, but be cautious of fright and pain. Sexual maturity reached. Dominant traits established. Dog should understand sit, down, come and stay by now.
NOTE: THESE ARE APPROXIMATE TIME FRAMES. ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN PUPPIES.
Once indoors, put the puppy in his crate until you have had time to clean up his accident. Then release him to the family area and watch him more closely than before. Chances are, his accident was a result of your not picking up his signal or waiting too long before offering him the opportunity to relieve himself. Never hold a grudge against the puppy for accidents.
Let the puppy learn that going outdoors means it is time to relieve himself, not play. Once trained, he will be able to play indoors and out and still differentiate between the times for play versus the times for relief.
Help him develop regular hours for naps, being alone, playing by himself and just resting, all in his crate. Encourage him to entertain himself while you are busy with your activities. Let him learn that having you near is comforting, but it is not your only purpose in life to provide him with undivided attention.
**Successful Golden Retriever puppy training is greatly aided by the use of a crate, in which the puppy can be restrained. The standard wire crate is inexpensive and allows the puppy to still feel a part of his environment.**
**HOW MANY TIMES A DAY?**
AGE| RELIEF TRIPS
---|---
To 14 weeks| 10
14–22 weeks| 8
22–32 weeks| 6
Adulthood| 4
(dog stops growing)
These are estimates, of course, but they are a guide to the minimum opportunities a dog should have each day to relieve itself.
Each time you put a puppy in his crate, tell him, "Crate time!" (or whatever command you choose). Soon, he will run to his crate when he hears you say those words.
In the beginning of his training, do not leave him in his crate for prolonged periods of time except during the night when everyone is sleeping. Make his experience with his crate a pleasant one and, as an adult, he will love his crate and willingly stay in it for several hours. There are millions of people who go to work every day and leave their adult dogs crated while they are away. The dogs accept this as their lifestyle and look forward to "crate time."
Crate training provides safety for you, the puppy and the home. It also provides the puppy with a feeling of security, and that helps the puppy achieve self-confidence and clean habits.
Remember that one of the primary ingredients in housetraining your puppy is control. Regardless of your lifestyle, there will always be occasions when you will need to have a place where your dog can stay and be happy and safe. Crate training is the answer for now and in the future.
In conclusion, a few key elements are really all you need for a successful house- and cratetraining method—consistency, frequency, praise, control and supervision. By following these procedures with a normal, healthy puppy, you and the puppy will soon be past the stage of "accidents" and ready to move on to a full and rewarding life together.
# **KEEP THE "PUPPY" IN YOUR PUPPY**
Before we discuss the roles of discipline in training, let us take a time-out for a discussion of fun and play in your puppy's schedule. As canines, Goldens are social animals and thrive on play and interaction with their masters (and other dogs, too). Exercising and playing with your Golden Retriever puppy help to burn some of his gundog fuel and gives the dog focus. Trying to obediencetrain a Golden who is hyper and wound-up is practically impossible. Further, a playdeprived Golden can become destructive as he tries to find ways to release his pent-up energy.
Outline a schedule of activities for your blossoming Golden pup that includes canine-human games as well as safe doggy exercises. The word "retriever" is not in the Golden's name for nothing! Puppy catch is a great way of occupying the Golden, who is content to fetch a ball or flying disk for hours (if you have the time!). The author doesn't advise games of chasing because it can imprint on the Golden that it is okay to run away from his master. Likewise, tug-of-war is not advised as this dominance game can give the puppy the impression that he can climb to the top of the heap and become "top dog." The role of top dog is always reserved for his master and trainer.
All work and no play makes your Golden an unhappy, unfocused pup. Make time for play in your schedule and soon your Golden Retriever and you will be bonding and sharing quality time during training sessions as well.
**MEALTIME**
Mealtime should be a peaceful time for your puppy. Do not put his food and water bowls in a high-traffic area in the house. For example, give him his own little corner of the kitchen where he can eat undisturbed and where he will not be underfoot. Do not allow small children or other family members to disrupt the pup when he is eating.
**Ideally your Golden puppy will find and mark a place that he will always use to relieve himself. If there is an area of your yard that you do not want him to use, it's best to deny him access.**
**PLAN TO PLAY**
The puppy should also have regular play and exercise sessions when he is with you or a family member. Exercise for a very young puppy can consist of a short walk around the house or yard. Playing can include fetching games with a large ball or a Frisbee. (All puppies teethe and need soft things upon which to chew.) Remember to restrict play periods to indoors within his living area (the family room, for example) until he is completely housetrained.
# **ROLES OF DISCIPLINE, REWARD AND PUNISHMENT**
Discipline, training one to act in accordance with rules, brings order to life. It is as simple as that. Without discipline, particularly in a group society, chaos reigns supreme and the group will eventually perish. Humans and canines are social animals and need some form of discipline in order to function effectively. They must procure food, protect their home base and their young and reproduce to keep the species going.
If there were no discipline in the lives of social animals, they would eventually die from starvation and/or predation by other stronger animals.
In the case of domestic canines, dogs need discipline in their lives in order to understand how their pack (you and other family members) functions and how they must act in order to survive.
A large humane society in a highly populated area in the US recently surveyed dog owners regarding their satisfaction with their relationships with their dogs. People who had trained their dogs were 75% more satisfied with their pets than those who had never trained their dogs.
**THE SUCCESS METHOD**
Success that comes by luck is usually short-lived. Success that comes by well-thought-out proven methods is often more easily achieved and permanent. This is the Success Method. It is designed to give you, the puppy owner, a simple yet proven way to help your puppy develop clean living habits and a feeling of security in his new environment.
_**6 Steps to Successful Crate Training**_
**1** Tell the puppy "Crate time!" and place him in the crate with a small treat (a piece of cheese or half of a biscuit). Let him stay in the crate for five minutes while you are in the same room. Then release him and praise lavishly. Never release him when he is fussing. Wait until he is quiet before you let him out.
**2** Repeat Step 1 several times a day.
**3** The next day, place the puppy in the crate as before. Let him stay there for ten minutes. Do this several times.
**4** Continue building time in five-minute increments until the puppy stays in his crate for 30 minutes with you in the room. Always take him to his relief area after prolonged periods in his crate.
**5** Now go back to Step 1 and let the puppy stay in his crate for five minutes, this time while you are out of the room.
**6** Once again, build crate time in five-minute increments with you out of the room. When the puppy will stay willingly in his crate (he may even fall asleep!) for 30 minutes with you out of the room, he will be ready to stay in it for several hours at a time.
Dr. Edward Thorndike, a noted psychologist, established _Thorndike's Theory of Learning_ , which states that a behavior that results in a pleasant event tends to be repeated. Likewise, a behavior that results in an unpleasant event tends not to be repeated. It is this theory on which training methods are based today. For example, if you manipulate a dog to perform a specific behavior and reward him for doing it, he is likely to do it again because he enjoyed the end result.
Occasionally, punishment, a penalty inflicted for an offense, is necessary. The best type of punishment often comes from an outside source. For example, a child is told not to touch the stove because he may get burned. He disobeys and touches the stove. In doing so, he receives a burn. From that time on, he respects the heat of the stove and avoids contact with it. Therefore, a behavior that results in an unpleasant event tends not to be repeated.
A good example of a dog learning the hard way is the dog who chases the house cat. He is told many times to leave the cat alone, yet he persists in teasing the cat. Then, one day he begins chasing the cat but the cat turns and swipes a claw across the dog's face, leaving him with a painful gash on his nose. The final result is that the dog stops chasing the cat.
**GENTLE TEACHING**
Golden Retrievers are known to be "soft" dogs who learn best with gentle teaching. A Golden thrives on praise and knowing he has pleased his person. Never physically abuse your dog or hit him with your hand, foot, newspaper or other object. That will only teach the dog to be afraid of you.
# **TRAINING EQUIPMENT**
## **COLLAR**
A simple buckle collar is fine for most dogs. One who pulls too hard on the leash may require a choke collar. Be cautious with a chain choke collar, as this can damage the Golden's coat around the neck. Only in the most severe cases of a dog's being totally out of control is the use of a pinch collar recommended. However, Goldens _never_ should be subjected to such a device.
**Dogs need discipline as well as love and companionship.**
**FETCH!**
Play fetch games with your dog in an enclosed area where he can retrieve his toy and bring it back to you. Always use a toy or object designated just for this purpose. Never use a shoe, sock or other item he may later confuse with those in your closet or underneath your chair.
## **LEAD**
A 1- to 2-yard lead is recommended, preferably made of leather, nylon or heavy cloth. A chain lead is not recommended, as many dog owners find that the chain cuts into their hands and that frequently switching the lead back and forth between their hands is painful.
Within the first few days in your new home, introduce the light lead to the puppy. Do not attach the lead and attempt to drag the puppy around the neighborhood. Simply attach the lead to the collar and let the puppy wander around the house. Supervise him so that he doesn't manage to knock over plant stands, small tables or the like. You can play with the puppy while he is trailing the leash behind him. Toss a ball to distract him from the leash, which may be upsetting him. Once he is comfortable with the leash, you can move the game to outside. Within a few days, you can take the end of the lead and walk together around your yard.
**Make training time fun time, too. The intelligent Golden can easily be taught tricks like "give me your paw."**
**Choose the Right Collar**
The BUCKLE COLLAR is the standard collar used for everyday purpose. Be sure that you adjust the buckle on growing puppies. Check it every day. It can become too tight overnight! These collars can be made of leather or nylon. Attach your dog's identification tags to this collar.
The CHOKE COLLAR is designed for training. It is constructed of highly polished steel so that it slides easily through the stainless steel loop. The idea is that the dog controls the pressure around his neck and he will stop pulling if the collar becomes uncomfortable. _Never_ leave a choke collar on your dog when not training.
The HALTER is for a trained dog that has to be restrained to prevent running away, chasing a cat and the like. Considered the most humane of all collars, it is frequently used on smaller dogs for which collars are not comfortable.
## **TREATS**
Have a bag of treats on hand. Something nutritious and easy to swallow works best. Use a soft treat, a chunk of cheese or a piece of cooked chicken rather than a dry biscuit. By the time the dog gets done chewing a dry treat, he will forget why he is being rewarded in the first place! Using food rewards will not teach a dog to beg at the table—the only way to teach a dog to beg at the table is to give him food from the table. In training, rewarding the dog with a food treat will help him associate praise and the treats with learning new behaviors that obviously please his owner.
# **TRAINING BEGINS: ASK THE DOG A QUESTION**
In order to teach your dog anything, you must first get his attention. After all, he cannot learn anything if he is looking away from you with his mind on something else.
To get his attention, ask him "School?" and immediately walk over to him and give him a treat as you tell him, "Good dog." Wait a minute or two and repeat the routine, this time with a treat in your hand as you approach within a foot of the dog. Do not go directly to him, but stop about a foot short of him and hold out the treat as you ask, "School?" He will see you approaching with a treat in your hand and most likely begin walking toward you. As you meet, give him the treat and praise again.
**Your local pet shop usually has a wide variety of leads from which you can make your choice.**
The third time, ask the question, have a treat in your hand and walk only a short distance toward the dog so that he must walk almost all the way to you. As he reaches you, give him the treat and praise again.
By this time, the dog will probably be getting the idea that if he pays attention to you, especially when you ask that question, it will pay off in treats and fun activities for him. In other words, he learns that "school" means doing fun things with you that result in treats and positive attention for him.
Remember that the dog does not understand your verbal language, he only recognizes sounds. Your question translates to a series of sounds for him, and those sounds become the signal to go to you and pay attention; if he does, he will get to interact with you plus receive treats and praise.
# **THE BASIC COMMANDS**
Now it is time to apply our positive training methods to actual obedience commands. Do not become disheartened if your Golden doesn't pick up his first lesson or two immediately. Every dog is different, and some dogs learn instantly and others require repetition and patience. Do not give up on a command until the dog has learned it. Remember to keep lessons upbeat by using a happy, energized voice. Your dog doesn't know the word "sit" or "down" (yet!), but he does recognize your tone of voice. Sometimes in life (and dog training) it's not what you say—it's how you say it. This life mantra applies to training dogs as well.
**Once your Golden is sufficiently trained, you can practice your commands and incorporate a favorite game into the sessions.**
**If your Golden Retriever has received training throughout his life by various members of the family, he will respond positively to both children and adults.**
## **TEACHING SIT**
Now that you have the dog's attention, attach his lead and hold it in your left hand and a food treat in your right. Place your food hand at the dog's nose and let him lick the treat but not take it from you. Say "Sit" and slowly raise your food hand from in front of the dog's nose up over his head so that he is looking at the ceiling. As he bends his head upward, he will have to bend his knees to maintain his balance. As he bends his knees, he will assume a sit position. At that point, release the food treat and praise lavishly with comments such as "Good dog! Good sit!", etc. Remember to always praise enthusiastically, because dogs relish verbal praise from their owners and feel so proud of themselves whenever they accomplish a behavior.
**Since most Goldens love to eat, using food rewards is an absolutely foolproof way to train this breed.**
You will not use food forever in getting the dog to obey your commands. Food is only used to teach new behaviors, and once the dog knows what you want when you give a specific command, you will wean him off of the food treats but still maintain the verbal praise. After all, you will always have your voice with you, and there will be many times when you have no food rewards but expect the dog to obey.
## **TEACHING DOWN**
Teaching the down exercise is easy when you understand how the dog perceives the down position, and it is very difficult when you do not. Dogs perceive the down position as a submissive one, therefore teaching the down exercise using a forceful method can sometimes make the dog develop such a fear of the down that he either runs away when you say "Down" or he attempts to bite the person who tries to force him down.
**PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT**
• Have training lessons with your dog every day in several short segments—three to five times a day for a few minutes at a time is ideal.
• Do not have long practice sessions. The dog will become easily bored.
• Never practice when you are tired, ill, worried or in an otherwise negative mood. This will transmit to the dog and may have an adverse effect on its performance.
Think fun, short and above all _positive!_ End each session on a high note, rather than a failed exercise, and make sure to give a lot of praise. Enjoy the training and help your dog enjoy it, too.
Have the dog sit close alongside your left leg, facing in the same direction as you are. Hold the lead in your left hand and a food treat in your right. Now place your left hand lightly on the top of the dog's shoulders where they meet above the spinal cord. Do not push down on the dog's shoulders; simply rest your left hand there so you can guide the dog to lie down close to your left leg rather than to swing away from your side when he drops.
**You can train your Golden Retriever to retrieve almost anything! It's better to use a retrieving dummy or a toy than a natural tree branch, which might have been treated with a toxic insecticide.**
Now place the food hand at the dog's nose, say "Down" very softly (almost a whisper), and slowly lower the food hand to the dog's front feet. When the food hand reaches the floor, begin moving it forward along the floor in front of the dog. Keep talking softly to the dog, saying things like, "Do you want this treat? You can do this, good dog." Your reassuring tone of voice will help calm the dog as he tries to follow the food hand in order to get the treat.
**Shaking hands is among the most common tricks to teach your dog. Goldens are naturally very friendly and happy to lend a paw.**
When the dog's elbows touch the floor, release the food and praise softly. Try to get the dog to maintain that down position for several seconds before you let him sit up again. The goal here is to get the dog to settle down and not feel threatened in the down position.
## **TEACHING STAY**
It is easy to teach the dog to stay in either a sit or a down position. Again, we use food and praise during the teaching process as we help the dog to understand exactly what it is that we are expecting him to do.
**DOUBLE JEOPARDY**
A dog in jeopardy never lies down. He stays alert on his feet because instinct tells him that he may have to run away or fight for his survival. Therefore, if a dog feels threatened or anxious, he will not lie down. Consequently, it is important to have the dog calm and relaxed as he learns the down exercise.
To teach the sit/stay, start with the dog sitting on your left side as before and hold the lead in your left hand. Have a food treat in your right hand and place your food hand at the dog's nose. Say "Stay" and step out on your right foot to stand directly in front of the dog, toe to toe, as he licks and nibbles the treat. Be sure to keep his head facing upward to maintain the sit position. Count to five and then swing around to stand next to the dog again with him on your left. As soon as you get back to the original position, release the food and praise lavishly.
To teach the down/stay, do the down as previously described. As soon as the dog lies down, say "Stay" and step out on your right foot just as you did in the sit/stay. Count to five and then return to stand beside the dog with him on your left side. Release the treat and praise as always.
Within a week or ten days, you can begin to add a bit of distance between you and your dog when you leave him. When you do, use your left hand open with the palm facing the dog as a stay signal, much the same as the hand signal a police officer uses to stop traffic at an intersection. Hold the food treat in your right hand as before, but this time the food is not touching the dog's nose. He will watch the food hand and quickly learn that he is going to get that treat as soon as you return to his side.
**Teaching a dog to sit/stay is easy when you use food and praise in the training process.**
**"WHERE ARE YOU?"**
When calling the dog, do not say "Come." Say things like, "Rover, where are you? See if you can find me! I have a cookie for you!" Keep up a constant line of chatter with coaxing sounds and frequent questions such as, "Where are you?" The dog will learn to follow the sound of your voice to locate you and receive his reward.
When you can stand 3 feet away from your dog for 30 seconds, you can then begin building time and distance in both stays. Eventually, the dog can be expected to remain in the stay position for prolonged periods of time until you return to him or call him to you. Always praise lavishly when he stays.
**When teaching your Golden to come, never use the word "come."**
**"COME"... BACK**
Never call your dog to come to you for a correction or scold him when he reaches you. That is the quickest way to turn a "Come" command into "Go away fast!" Dogs think only in the present tense and he will connect the scolding with coming to his master, not with the misbehavior of a few moments earlier.
## **TEACHING COME**
If you make teaching "come" a fun experience, you should never have a "student" that does not love the game or that fails to come when called. The secret, it seems, is never to teach the word "come."
At times when an owner most wants his dog to come when called, the owner is likely upset or anxious and he allows these feelings to come through in the tone of his voice when he calls his dog. Hearing that desperation in his owner's voice, the dog fears the results of going to him and therefore either disobeys outright or runs in the opposite direction. The secret, therefore, is to teach the dog a game and, when you want him to come to you, simply play the game. It is practically a no-fail solution!
To begin, have several members of your family take a few food treats and each go into a different room in the house. Take turns calling the dog, and each person should celebrate the dog's finding him with a treat and lots of happy praise. When a person calls the dog, he is actually inviting the dog to find him and get a treat as a reward for "winning."
A few turns of the "Where are you?" game and the dog will figure out that everyone is playing the game and that each person has a big celebration awaiting the dog's success at locating them. Once he learns to love the game, simply calling out "Where are you?" will bring him running from wherever he is when he hears that all-important question.
The come command is recognized as one of the most important things to teach a dog, but there are trainers who work with thousands of dogs and never teach the actual word "Come." Yet these dogs will race to respond to a person who uses the dog's name followed by "Where are you?" For example, a woman has a 12-year-old companion dog who went blind, but who never fails to locate her owner when asked, "Where are you?"
Children particularly love to play this game with their dogs. Children can hide in smaller places like a shower or bathtub, behind a bed or under a table. The dog needs to work a little bit harder to find these hiding places, but when he does, he loves to celebrate with a treat and a hug from a favorite youngster.
**Your Golden must be trained to heel. He should remain close to your side and anticipate your next command.**
## **TEACHING HEEL**
Heeling means that the dog walks beside the owner without pulling. It takes time and patience on the owner's part to succeed at teaching the dog that he (the owner) will not proceed unless the dog is walking calmly beside him. Pulling out ahead on the lead is definitely not acceptable.
Begin with holding the lead in your left hand as the dog sits beside your left leg. Move the loop end of the lead to your right hand but keep your left hand short on the lead so it keeps the dog in close next to you.
Say "Heel" and step forward on your left foot. Keep the dog close to you and take three steps. Stop and have the dog sit next to you in what we now call the "heel position." Praise verbally, but do not touch the dog. Hesitate a moment and begin again with "Heel," taking three steps and stopping, at which point the dog is told to sit again.
Your goal here is to have the dog walk those three steps without pulling on the lead. When he will walk calmly beside you for three steps without pulling, increase the number of steps you take to five. When he will walk politely beside you while you take five steps, you can increase the length of your walk to ten steps. Keep increasing the length of your stroll until the dog will walk quietly beside you without pulling as long as you want him to heel. When you stop heeling, indicate to the dog that the exercise is over by verbally praising as you pet him and say "OK, good dog." The "OK" is used as a release word, meaning that the exercise is finished and the dog is free to relax.
If you are dealing with a dog who insists on pulling you around, simply "put on your brakes" and stand your ground until the dog realizes that the two of you are not going anywhere until he is beside you and moving at your pace, not his. It may take some time just standing there to convince the dog that you are the leader and you will be the one to decide on the direction and speed of your travel.
**HEELING WELL**
Teach your dog to heel in an enclosed area. Once you think the dog will obey reliably and you want to attempt advanced obedience exercises such as off-lead heeling, test him in a fenced in area so he cannot run away.
**THINK BEFORE YOU BARK**
Dogs are sensitive to their master's moods and emotions. Use your voice wisely when communicating with your dog. Never raise your voice at your dog unless you are angry and trying to correct him. "Barking" at your dog can become as meaningless as "dogspeak" is to you. Think before you bark!
Each time the dog looks up at you or slows down to give a slack lead between the two of you, quietly praise him and say, "Good heel. Good dog." Eventually, the dog will begin to respond and within a few days he will be walking politely beside you without pulling on the lead. At first, the training sessions should be kept short and very positive; soon the dog will be able to walk nicely with you for increasingly longer distances. Remember also to give the dog free time and the opportunity to run and play when you are done with heel practice.
**Heel training requires constant repetition and experience. Start the training indoors, if possible, where there are few distractions like other people or vehicles. Goldens make excellent guides for the vision-impaired. This Golden is being trained at The Seeing Eye®, Morristown, NJ.**
# **WEANING OFF FOOD IN TRAINING**
Food is used in training new behaviors. Once the dog understands what behavior goes with a specific command, it is time to start weaning him off the food treats. At first, give a treat after each exercise. Then, start to give a treat only after every other exercise. Mix up the times when you offer a food reward and the times when you only offer praise so that the dog will never know when he is going to receive both food and praise and when he is going to receive only praise. This is called a variable ratio reward system and it proves successful because there is always the chance that the owner will produce a treat, so the dog never stops trying for that reward. No matter what, _always_ give verbal praise.
# **OBEDIENCE CLASSES**
As previously discussed, it is a good idea to enroll in an obedience class if one is available in your area. Many areas have dog clubs that offer basic obedience training as well as preparatory classes for obedience competition. There are also local dog trainers who offer similar classes.
At obedience trials, dogs can earn titles at various levels of competition. The beginning levels of competition include basic behaviors such as sit, down, heel, etc. The more advanced levels of competition include jumping, retrieving, scent discrimination and signal work. The advanced levels require a dog and owner to put a lot of time and effort into their training and the titles that can be earned at these levels of competition are very prestigious.
**OBEDIENCE CLASS**
A basic obedience beginner's class usually lasts for six to eight weeks. Dog and owner attend an hour-long lesson once a week and practice for a few minutes, several times a day, each day at home. If done properly, the whole procedure will result in a well-mannered dog and an owner who delights in living with a pet that is eager to please and enjoys doing things with his owner.
# **OTHER ACTIVITIES FOR LIFE**
Whether a dog is trained in the structured environment of a class or alone with his owner at home, there are many fun activities that can bring rewards to both owner and dog once they have mastered basic control.
Teaching the dog to help out around the home, in the yard or on the farm provides great satisfaction to both dog and owner. In addition, the dog's help makes life a little easier for his owner and raises his stature as a valued companion to his family. It helps give the dog a purpose by occupying his mind and providing an outlet for his energy.
Backpacking is an exciting and healthful activity that the dog can be taught without assistance from more than his owner. The exercise of walking and climbing is good for man and dog alike, and the bond that they develop together is priceless.
If you are interested in participating in organized competition with your Golden Retriever, there are activities other than obedience in which you and your dog can become involved. Agility is a popular and fun sport where dogs run through an obstacle course that includes various jumps, tunnels and other exercises to test the dog's speed and coordination. The owners often run through the course beside their dogs to give commands and to guide them through the course. Although competitive, the focus is on fun—it's fun to do, fun to watch, and great exercise.
**Golden Retrievers can accomplish anything they are trained to do. Few breeds have the trainability and adaptability of the Golden. Here's a Golden backpacking on vacation.**
**A BORN PRODIGY**
Occasionally, a dog and owner who have not attended formal classes have been able to earn entry-level titles by obtaining competition rules and regulations from a local kennel club and practicing on their own to a degree of perfection. Obtaining the higher level titles, however, almost always requires extensive training under the tutelage of experienced instructors. In addition, the more difficult levels require more specialized equipment whereas the lower levels do not.
**Burns**
Place the affected area under cool water; use ice if only a small area is burned.
**Bee stings/Insect bites**
Apply ice to relieve swelling; antihistamine dosed properly.
**Animal bites**
Clean any bleeding area; apply pressure until bleeding subsides; go to the vet.
**Spider bites**
Use cold compress and a pressurized pack to inhibit venom's spreading.
**Antifreeze poisoning**
Immediately induce vomiting by using hydrogen peroxide.
**Fish hooks**
Removal best handled by vet; hook must be cut in order to remove.
**Snake bites**
Pack ice around bite; contact vet quickly; identify snake for proper antivenin.
**Car accident**
Move dog from roadway with blanket; seek veterinary aid.
**Shock**
Calm the dog, keep him warm; seek immediate veterinary help.
**Nosebleed**
Apply cold compress to the nose; apply pressure to any visible abrasion.
**Bleeding**
Apply pressure above the area; treat wound by applying a cotton pack.
**Heat stroke**
Submerge dog in cold bath; cool down with fresh air and water; go to the vet.
**Frostbite/Hypothermia**
Warm the dog with a warm bath, electric blankets or hot water bottles.
**Abrasions**
Clean the wound and wash out thoroughly with fresh water; apply antiseptic.
_Remember: an injured dog may attempt_ _to bite a helping hand from fear and confusion. Always muzzle the dog before trying to offer assistance._
**HEALTH CARE OF YOUR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
Dogs suffer from many of the same physical illnesses as people. They might even share many of the same psychological problems. Since people usually know more about human diseases than canine maladies, many of the terms used in this chapter will be familiar but not necessarily those used by veterinarians. We will use the term _X-ray_ , instead of the more acceptable term _radiograph_. We will also use the familiar term _symptoms_ even though dogs don't have symptoms, which are verbal descriptions of the patient's feelings; dogs have _clinical signs_. Since dogs can't speak, we have to look for clinical signs...but we still use the term _symptoms_ in this book.
As a general rule, medicine is _practiced_. That term is not arbitrary. Medicine is a constantly changing art as we learn more and more about genetics, electronic aids (like CAT scans) and daily laboratory advances. There are many dog maladies, like canine hip dysplasia, which are not universally treated in the same manner. Some veterinarians opt for surgery more often than others do.
# **SELECTING A VETERINARIAN**
Your selection of a veterinarian should be based upon both his convenience to your home and his skills with small animals, especially dogs. You want a vet who is close because you might have emergencies or need to make multiple visits for treatments. You want a vet who has services that you might require such as a boarding kennel and grooming facilities, as well as sophisticated pet supplies and a good reputation for ability and responsiveness. There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait a day or more to get a response from your veterinarian.
**Never compromise in your selection of a veterinarian. Find a vet who offers the services you need and with whom you feel comfortable.**
All veterinarians are licensed and their diplomas and/or certificates should be displayed in their waiting rooms. There are, however, many veterinary specialties that usually require further studies and internships. There are specialists in heart problems (veterinary cardiologists), skin problems (veterinary dermatolo-gists), teeth and gum problems (veterinary dentists), eye problems (veterinary ophthalmologists) and X-rays (veterinary radiologists), and surgeons who have specialties in bones, muscles or other organs. Most veterinarians do routine surgery such as neutering, stitching up wounds and docking tails for those breeds in which such is required for show purposes. When the problem affecting your dog is serious, it is not unusual or impudent to get another medical opinion. You might also want to compare costs among several veterinarians. Sophisticated health care and veterinary services can be very costly. Don't be bashful about discussing these costs with your veterinarian or his staff. If several treatment options are available, cost may play a role in deciding which route to take.
**Your Golden Retriever's teeth should be checked regularly by your veterinarian.**
# **PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE**
It is much easier, less costly and more effective to practice preventative medicine than to fight bouts of illness and disease. Properly bred puppies come from parents that were selected based upon their genetic disease profile. Their mothers should have been vaccinated, free of all internal and external parasites, and properly nourished. For these reasons, a visit to the veterinarian who cared for the dam (mother) is recommended. The dam can pass on disease resistance to her puppies, which can last for eight to ten weeks. She can also pass on parasites and many infections. That's why you should visit the veterinarian who cared for the dam.
## **WEANING TO FIVE MONTHS OLD**
Puppies should be weaned by the time they are about two months old. A puppy that remains for at least eight weeks with his mother and littermates usually adapts better to other dogs and people later in life.
**Normal Golden Retriever Skeleton**
In every case, you should have your newly acquired puppy examined by a veterinarian immediately. Vaccination programs usually begin when the puppy is very young.
The puppy will have its teeth examined and have its skeletal conformation and general health checked prior to certification by the veterinarian. Many puppies have problems with their kneecaps, cataracts and other eye problems, heart murmurs and undescended testicles. They may also have personality problems and your veterinarian might have training in temperament evaluation.
## **VACCINATION SCHEDULING**
Most vaccinations are given by injection and should only be done by a veterinarian. Both he and you should keep a record of the date of the injection, the identification of the vaccine and the amount given. The first vaccinations should start when the puppy is 6–8 weeks old, the second when it is 10–12 weeks of age and the third when it is 14–16 weeks of age. Vaccinations should never be given without a two- to threeweek lapse between injections.
**HEALTH AND VACCINATION SCHEDULE**
Most vaccinations immunize your puppy against viruses. The usual vaccines contain immunizing doses of several different viruses such as distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza and hepatitis. There are other vaccines available when the puppy is at risk. You should rely upon professional advice. This is especially true for the booster-shot program. Most vaccination programs require a booster when the puppy is a year old and once a year thereafter. In some cases, circumstances may require more frequent immunizations. Canine cough, more formally known as tracheobronchitis, is treated with a vaccine that is sprayed into the dog's nostrils.
The effectiveness of a parvovirus vaccination program can be tested using the parvovirus antibody titer to be certain that the vaccinations are protective. Your veterinarian will explain and manage all of these details.
## **FIVE MONTHS TO ONE YEAR OF AGE**
By the time your puppy is five months old, he should have completed most of his vaccination program. During his physical examination, he should be evaluated for the common hip dysplasia and other diseases of the joints. There are tests to assist in the prediction of these problems. Other tests can be run to assess the effectiveness of the vaccination program.
Unless you intend to breed or show your dog, neutering/ spaying the puppy at the appropriate age is recommended. Discuss this with your veterinarian. By the time your Golden Retriever is around six months of age, he can be seriously evaluated for his conformation to the breed standard, thus determining show potential and desirability as a sire or dam. Of course, desirability as a workingdog sire or dam has less to do with the breed standard than it does training and performance. If the puppy is not top class and therefore is not a candidate for a serious breeding program, most professionals advise neutering the puppy. Neutering has proven to be extremely beneficial to both male and female puppies. Besides eliminating the possibility of pregnancy and pyometra in bitches and testicular cancer in males, it inhibits (but does not prevent) breast cancer in bitches and prostate cancer in male dogs.
## **DOGS OLDER THAN ONE YEAR**
Continue to visit the veterinarian at least once a year. There is no such disease as old age, but the bodily functions of your dog do change with age. The eyes and ears are no longer as efficient. Liver, kidney and intestinal functions often decline. Proper dietary changes, recommended by your veterinarian, can make life more pleasant for the aging Golden Retriever and you.
**Together with your vet, you can develop a schedule of vaccinations and routine exams to keep your Golden healthy throughout his life.**
**CHECK-UPS**
A dental examination is in order when the dog is between six months and one year of age so that any permanent teeth that have erupted incorrectly can be corrected. It is important to begin a brushing routine at home, using dental-care products made for dogs, such as special toothbrushes and toothpaste. Durable nylon and safe edible chews should be a part of your puppy's arsenal for good health, good teeth and pleasant breath. The vast majority of dogs three to four years old and older has diseases of the gums from lack of dental attention. Using the various types of dental chews can be very effective in controlling dental plaque.
By the time your dog is a year old, you should have become very comfortable with your local veterinarian and have agreed on scheduled visits for booster vaccinations. Blood tests should now be taken regularly, for comparative purposes, for such variables as cholesterol and triglycerides levels, thyroid hormones, liver enzymes, blood cell counts, etc.
The eyes, ears, nose and throat should be examined regularly and an annual veterinary cleaning of the teeth is a must. For teeth scaling, the dog must be anesthetized.
# **SKIN PROBLEMS IN GOLDEN RETRIEVERS**
Veterinarians are consulted by dog owners for skin problems more than for any other group of diseases or maladies. Dogs' skin is almost as sensitive as human skin and both suffer almost the same ailments (though the occurrence of acne in dogs is rare!). For this reason, veterinary dermatology has developed into a specialty that is practiced by many veterinarians.
Since many skin problems have visual symptoms that are almost identical, it requires the skill of an experienced veterinary dermatologist to identify and cure many of the more severe skin disorders. Pet shops sell many treatments for skin problems, but most of the treatments are directed at symptoms and not the underlying problem(s). If your dog is suffering from a skin disorder, you should seek professional assistance as quickly as possible. As with all diseases, the earlier a problem is identified and treated, the more successful is the cure.
## **PARASITE BITES**
Many of us are allergic to mosquito bites. The bites itch, erupt and may even become infected. Dogs have the same reaction to fleas, ticks and/or mites. When you feel the prick of the mosquito as it bites you, you have a chance to kill it with your hand. Unfortunately, when your dog is bitten by a flea, tick or mite, it can only scratch it away or bite it. By the time the dog has been bitten, the parasite has done some of its damage. It may also have laid eggs to cause further problems in the near future. The itching from parasite bites is probably due to the saliva injected into the site when the parasite sucks the dog's blood.
## **AUTO-IMMUNE SKIN CONDITIONS**
Auto-immune skin conditions are commonly referred to as being allergic to yourself, while allergies are usually inflammatory reactions to an outside stimulus. Auto-immune diseases cause serious damage to the tissues that are involved.
**As breathtaking as the great outdoors can be, dogs can be affected by parasites, pollen and other problems while touring the countryside.**
**You should inspect your Golden's skin regularly, looking for rashes and parasites. Hold the hairs apart with your hands to expose the skin.**
The best known auto-immune disease is lupus, which affects people as well as dogs. The symptoms are variable and may affect the kidneys, bones, blood chemistry and skin. It can be fatal to both dogs and humans, though it is not thought to be transmissible. It is usually successfully treated with cortisone, prednisone or similar corticosteroid, but extensive use of these drugs can have harmful side effects.
## **ACRAL LICK GRANULOMA**
Golden Retrievers and other dogs about the same size (like German Shepherd Dogs) have a very poorly understood syndrome called acral lick granuloma. The manifestation of the problem is the dog's tireless attack at a specific area of the body, almost always the legs. They lick so intensively that they remove the hair and skin, leaving an ugly, large wound. There is no absolute cure, but corticosteroids are the most common treatment.
**Acral lick granuloma, similar to a hot spot, is of undefined origin. The dog constantly licks at a spot, usually on its leg, until the area becomes a raw, open sore.**
## **AIRBORNE ALLERGIES**
Just as humans have hay fever, rose fever and other fevers from which they suffer during the pollinating season, many dogs suffer from the same allergies. When the pollen count is high, your dog might suffer but don't expect him to sneeze and have a runny nose like a human would. Dogs react to pollen allergies the same way they react to fleas—they scratch and bite themselves. Golden Retrievers are very susceptible to airborne pollen allergies. Dogs, like humans, can be tested for allergens. Discuss the testing with your vet or a veterinary dermatologist.
# **FOOD PROBLEMS**
## **FOOD ALLERGIES**
Dogs are allergic to many foods that are best-sellers and highly recommended by breeders and veterinarians. Changing the brand of food that you buy may not eliminate the problem if the element to which the dog is allergic is contained in the new brand.
Recognizing a food allergy is difficult. Humans vomit or have rashes when they eat a food to which they are allergic. Dogs neither vomit nor (usually) develop a rash. They react in the same manner as they do to an airborne or flea allergy: they itch, scratch and bite, thus making the diagnosis extremely difficult. While pollen allergies and parasite bites are usually seasonal, food *allergies are year-round problems.
**DENTAL HEALTH**
You are your dog's caretaker and his dentist. Vets warn that plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth will damage the gums and allow bacteria to enter the dog's bloodstream, causing serious damage to the animal's vital organs. Studies show that over 50 percent of dogs have some form of gum disease before age three. Daily or weekly tooth cleaning (with a brush or soft gauze pad wipes) can add years to your dog's life.
## **FOOD INTOLERANCE**
Food intolerance is the inability of the dog to completely digest certain foods. Puppies that may have done very well on their mother's milk may not do well on cow's milk. The result of this food intolerance may be loose bowels, passing gas and stomach pains. These are the only obvious symptoms of food intolerance and that makes diagnosis difficult.
## **TREATING FOOD PROBLEMS**
It is possible to handle food allergies and food intolerance yourself. Put your dog on a diet that it has never had. Obviously, if it has never eaten this new food, it can't have been allergic or intolerant of it. Start with a single ingredient that is not in the dog's diet at the present time. Ingredients like chopped beef or chicken are common in dog's diets, so try something more exotic like ostrich, rabbit, fish or even just vegetables. Keep the dog on this diet (with no additives) for a month. If the symptoms of food allergy or intolerance disappear, chances are your dog has a food allergy.
Don't think that the single ingredient cured the problem. You still must find a suitable diet and ascertain which ingredient in the old diet was objectionable. This is most easily done by adding ingredients to the new diet one at a time. Let the dog stay on the modified diet for a month before you add another ingredient. Eventually, you will determine the ingredient that caused the adverse reaction.
An alternative method is to carefully study the ingredients in the diet to which your dog is allergic or intolerant. Identify the main ingredient in this diet and eliminate the main ingredient by buying a different food that does not have that ingredient. Keep experimenting until the symptoms disappear after one month on the new diet.
**HYPOTHYROIDISM**
Hypothyroidism is a complex metabolic disease associated with malfunction of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include coat problems, hair loss, obesity, inactivity and lethargy, infertility and sezures. Treatment involves daily thyroid supplementation. Early-onset hypothyroidism is thought to be heritable.
# **EXTERNAL PARASITES**
## **FLEAS**
Of all the problems to which dogs are prone, none is more well known and frustrating than fleas. Flea infestation is relatively simple to cure but difficult to prevent. Parasites that are harbored inside the body are a bit more difficult to eradicate but they are easier to control.
To control flea infestation, you have to understand the flea's life cycle. Fleas are often thought of as a summertime problem, but centrally heated homes have changed the patterns and fleas can be found at any time of the year. The most effective method of flea control is a two-stage approach: one stage to kill the adult fleas, and the other to control the development of pre-adult fleas. Unfortunately, no single active ingredient is effective against all stages of the life cycle.
**FLEA KILLER CAUTION—"POISON"**
Flea-killers are poisonous. You should not spray these toxic chemicals on areas of a dog's body that he licks, including his genitals and his face. Flea killers taken internally are a better answer, but check with your vet in case internal therapy is not advised for your dog.
## **LIFE CYCLE STAGES**
During its life, a flea will pass through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa or nymph and adult. The adult stage is the most visible and irritating stage of the flea life cycle, and this is why the majority of flea-control products concentrate on this stage. The fact is that adult fleas account for only 1% of the total flea population, and the other 99% exist in pre-adult stages, i.e., eggs, larvae and nymphs. The pre-adult stages are barely visible to the naked eye.
## **THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE FLEA**
Eggs are laid on the dog, usually in quantities of about 20 or 30, several times a day. The adult female flea must have a blood meal before each egg-laying session. When first laid, the eggs will cling to the dog's hair, as the eggs are still moist. However, they will quickly dry out and fall from the dog, especially if the dog moves around or scratches. Many eggs will fall off in the dog's favorite area or an area in which he spends a lot of time, such as his bed.
Once the eggs fall from the dog onto the carpet or furniture, they will hatch into larvae. This takes from one to ten days. Larvae are not particularly mobile and will usually travel only a few inches from where they hatch. However, they do have a tendency to move away from bright light and heavy traffic—under furniture and behind doors are common places to find high quantities of flea larvae.
The flea larvae feed on dead organic matter, including adult flea feces, until they are ready to change into adult fleas. Fleas will usually remain as larvae for around seven days. After this period, the larvae will pupate into protective pupae. While inside the pupae, the larvae will undergo metamorphosis and change into adult fleas. This can take as little time as a few days, but the adult fleas can remain inside the pupae waiting to hatch for up to two years. The pupae are signaled to hatch by certain stimuli, such as physical pressure—the pupae's being stepped on, heat from an animal's lying on the pupae or increased carbon-dioxide levels and vibrations—indicating that a suitable host is available.
Once hatched, the adult flea must feed within a few days. Once the adult flea finds a host, it will not leave voluntarily. It only becomes dislodged by grooming or the host animal's scratching. The adult flea will remain on the host for the duration of its life unless forcibly removed.
## **TREATING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE DOG**
Treating fleas should be a twopronged attack. First, the environment needs to be treated; this includes carpets and furniture, especially the dog's bedding and areas underneath furniture. The environment should be treated with a household spray containing an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) and an insecticide to kill the adult fleas. Most IGRs are effective against eggs and larvae; they actually mimic the fleas' own hormones and stop the eggs and larvae from developing into adult fleas. There are currently no treatments available to attack the pupa stage of the life cycle, so the adult insecticide is used to kill the newly hatched adult fleas before they find a host. Most IGRs are active for many months, while adult insecticides are only active for a few days.
_**EN GARDE:**_ **CATCHING FLEAS OFF GUARD!**
Consider the following ways to arm yourself against fleas:
• Add a small amount of pennyroyal or eucalyptus oil to your dog's bath. These natural remedies repel fleas.
• Supplement your dog's food with fresh garlic (minced or grated) and a hearty amount of brewer's yeast, both of which ward off fleas.
• Use a flea comb on your dog daily. Submerge fleas in a cup of bleach to kill them quickly.
• Confine the dog to only a few rooms to limit the spread of fleas in the home.
• Vacuum daily...and get all of the crevices! Dispose of the bag every few days until the problem is under control.
• Wash your dog's bedding daily. Cover cushions where your dog sleeps with towels, and wash the towels often.
When treating with a household spray, it is a good idea to vacuum before applying the product. This stimulates as many pupae as possible to hatch into adult fleas. The vacuum cleaner should also be treated with an insecticide to prevent the eggs and larvae that have been collected in the vacuum bag from hatching.
The second stage of treatment is to apply an adult insecticide to the dog. Traditionally, this would be in the form of a collar or a spray, but more recent innovations include digestible insecticides that poison the fleas when they ingest the dog's blood. Alternatively, there are drops that, when placed on the back of the dog's neck, spread throughout the hair and skin to kill adult fleas.
## **TICKS**
Though not as common as fleas, ticks are found all over the tropical and temperate world. They don't bite, like fleas; they harpoon. They dig their sharp proboscis (nose) into the dog's skin and drink the blood. Their only food and drink is dog's blood. Dogs can get Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick bite paralysis and many other diseases from ticks. They may live where fleas are found and they like to hide in cracks or seams in walls. They are controlled the same way fleas are controlled.
The American dog tick, _Dermacentor variabilis_ , may well be the most common dog tick in many geographical areas, especially those areas where the climate is hot and humid. Most dog ticks have life expectancies of a week to six months, depending upon climatic conditions. They can neither jump nor fly, but they can crawl slowly and can range up to 16 feet to reach a sleeping or unsuspecting dog.
## **MITES**
Just as fleas and ticks can be problematic for your dog, mites can also lead to an itchy nuisance. Microscopic in size, mites are related to ticks and generally take up permanent residence on their host animal—in this case, your dog! The term _mange_ refers to any infestation caused by one of the mighty mites, of which there are six varieties that concern dog owners.
_Demodex_ mites cause a condition known as demodicosis (sometimes called red mange or follicular mange), in which the mites live in the dog's hair follicles and sebaceous glands in larger-than-normal numbers. This type of mange is commonly passed from the dam to her puppies and usually shows up on the puppies' muzzles, though demodicosis is not transferable from one normal dog to another. Most dogs recover from this type of mange without any treatment, though topical therapies are commonly prescribed by the vet.
**INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR (IGR)**
Two types of products should be used when treating fleas—a product to treat the pet and a product to treat the home. Adult fleas represent less than 1% of the flea population. The pre-adult fleas (eggs, larvae and pupae) represent more than 99% of the flea population and are found in the environment; it is in the case of pre-adult fleas that products containing an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) should be used in the home.
IGRs are a new class of compounds used to prevent the development of insects. They do not kill the insect outright, but instead use the insect's biology against it to stop it from completing its growth. Products that contain methoprene are the world's first and leading IGRs. Used to control fleas and other insects, this type of IGR will stop flea larvae from developing and protect the house for up to seven months.
The _Cheyletiellosis_ mite is the hook-mouthed culprit associated with "walking dandruff," a condition that affects dogs as well as cats and rabbits. This mite lives on the surface of the animal's skin and is readily transferable through direct or indirect contact with an affected animal. The dandruff is present in the form of scaly skin, which may or may not be itchy. If not treated, this mange can affect a whole kennel of dogs and can be spread to humans as well.
The _Sarcoptes_ mite causes intense itching on the dog in the form of a condition known as scabies or sarcoptic mange. The cycle of the _Sarcoptes_ mite lasts about three weeks, and the mites live in the top layer of the dog's skin (epidermis), preferably in areas with little hair. Scabies is highly contagious and can be passed to humans. Sometimes an allergic reaction to the mite worsens the severe itching associated with sarcoptic mange.
Ear mites, _Otodectes cynotis,_ lead to otodectic mange, which most commonly affects the outer ear canal of the dog, though other areas can be affected as well. Dogs with ear-mite infestation commonly scratch at their ears, causing further irritation, and shake their heads. Dark brown droppings in the outer ear confirm the diagnosis. Your vet can prescribe a treatment to flush out the ears and kill any eggs. A complete month of treatment is necessary to cure the mange.
Two other mites, less common in dogs, include _Dermanyssus gallinae_ (the poultry or red mite) and _Eutrombicula alfreddugesi_ (the North American mite associated with trombiculidiasis or chigger infestation). The poultry mite frequently lives on chickens, but can transfer to dogs who spend time near farm animals. Chigger infestation affects dogs in the Central US who have exposure to woodlands. The types of mange caused by both of these mites are treatable by vets.
# **INTERNAL PARASITES**
Most animals—fishes, birds and mammals, including dogs and humans—have worms and other parasites that live inside their bodies. According to Dr. Herbert R. Axelrod, the fish pathologist, there are two kinds of parasites: dumb and smart. The smart parasites live in peaceful cooperation with their hosts (symbiosis), while the dumb parasites kill their hosts. Most worm infections are relatively easy to control. If they are not controlled, they weaken the host dog to the point that other medical problems occur, but they do not kill the host as dumb parasites would.
**DEER-TICK CROSSING**
The great outdoors may be fun for your dog, but it also is a home to dangerous ticks. Deer ticks carry a bacterium known as _Borrelia burgdorferi_ and are most active in the autumn and spring. When infections are caught early, penicillin and tetracycline are effective antibiotics, but, if left untreated, the bacteria may cause neurological, kidney and cardiac problems as well as long-term trouble with walking and painful joints.
## **ROUNDWORMS**
The roundworms that infect dogs are known scientifically as _Toxocara canis_. They live in the dog's intestines and shed eggs continually. It has been estimated that a dog produces about 6 or more ounces of feces every day. Each ounce of feces averages hundreds of thousands of roundworm eggs. There are no known areas in which dogs roam that do not contain roundworm eggs. The greatest danger of roundworms is that they infect people, too! It is wise to have your dog tested regularly for roundworms.
In young puppies, roundworms cause bloated bellies, diarrhea, coughing and vomiting, and are transmitted from the dam (through blood or milk). Affected puppies will not appear as animated as normal puppies. The worms appear spaghetti-like, measuring as long as 6 inches. Adult dogs can acquire roundworms through coprophagia (eating contaminated feces) or by killing rodents that carry roundworms.
Roundworm infection can kill puppies and cause severe problems in adults, as the hatched larvae travel to the lungs and trachea through the bloodstream. Cleanliness is the best preventative for roundworms. Always pick up after your dog and dispose of feces in appropriate receptacles.
## **HOOKWORMS**
In the United States, dog owners have to be concerned about four different species of hookworm, the most common and most serious of which is _Ancylostoma caninum,_ which prefers warm climates. The others are _Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma tubaeforme_ and _Uncinaria stenocephala,_ the latter of which is a concern to dogs living in the Northern US and Canada, as this species prefers cold climates. Hookworms are dangerous to humans as well as to dogs and cats, and can be the cause of severe anemia due to iron deficiency. The worm uses its teeth to attach itself to the dog's intestines and changes the site of its attachment about six times per day. Each time the worm repositions itself, the dog loses blood and can become anemic. _Ancylostoma caninum_ is the most likely of the four species to cause anemia in the dog.
Symptoms of hookworm infection include dark stools, weight loss, general weakness, pale coloration and anemia, as well as possible skin problems. Fortunately, hookworms are easily purged from the affected dog with a number of medications that have proven effective. Discuss these with your vet. Most heartworm preventatives include a hookworm insecticide as well.
Owners also must be aware that hookworms can infect humans, who can acquire the larvae through exposure to contaminated feces. Since the worms cannot complete their life cycle on a human, the worms simply infest the skin and cause irritation. This condition is known as cutaneous larva migrans syndrome. As a preventative, use disposable gloves or a "poop-scoop" to pick up your dog's droppings and prevent your dog (or neighborhood cats) from defecating in children's play areas.
## **TAPEWORMS**
There are many species of tapeworm, all of which are carried by fleas! The most common tapeworm affecting dogs is known as _Dipylidium caninum_. The dog eats the flea and starts the tapeworm cycle. Humans can also be infected with tapeworms—so don't eat fleas! Fleas are so small that your dog could pass them onto your hands, your plate or your food and thus make it possible for you to ingest a flea that is carrying tapeworm eggs.
While tapeworm infection is not life-threatening in dogs (smart parasite!), it can be the cause of a very serious liver disease for humans. About 50% of the humans infected with _Echinococcus multilocularis_ , a type of tapeworm that causes alveolar hydatid, perish.
## **WHIPWORMS**
In North America, whipworms are counted among the most common parasitic worms in dogs. The whipworm's scientific name is _Trichuris vulpis_. These worms attach themselves in the lower parts of the intestine, where they feed. Affected dogs may only experience upset tummies, colic and diarrhea. These worms, however, can live for months or years in the dog, beginning their larval stage in the small intestine, spending their adult stage in the large intestine and finally passing infective eggs through the dog's feces. The only way to detect whipworms is through a fecal examination, though this is not always foolproof. Treatment for whipworms is tricky, due to the worms' unusual lifecycle pattern, and very often dogs are reinfected due to exposure to infective eggs on the ground. The whipworm eggs can survive in the environment for as long as five years; thus, cleaning up droppings in your own backyard as well as in public places is absolutely essential for sanitation purposes and the health of your dog and others.
**NOT A DROP TO DRINK**
Never allow your dog to swim in polluted water or public areas where water quality can be suspect. Even perfectly clear water can harbor parasites, many of which can cause serious to fatal illnesses in canines. Areas inhabited by waterfowl and other wildlife are especially dangerous.
## **THREADWORMS**
Though less common than roundworms, hookworms and those previously mentioned, threadworms concern dog owners in the Southwestern US and Gulf Coast area where the climate is hot and humid. Living in the small intestine of the dog, this worm measures a mere 2 millimeters and is round in shape. Like that of the whipworm, the threadworm's life cycle is very complex and the eggs and larvae are passed through the feces. A deadly disease in humans, _Strongyloides_ readily infects people, and the handling of feces is the most common means of transmission. Threadworms are most often seen in young puppies; bloody diarrhea and pneumonia are symptoms. Sick puppies must be isolated and treated immediately; vets recommend a follow-up treatment one month later.
**ROUNDWORMS**
Average-size dogs can pass 1,360,000 roundworm eggs every day. For example, if there were only 1 million dogs in the world, the world would be saturated with thousands of tons of dog feces. These feces would contain around 15,000,000,000 roundworm eggs.
Flushing dog's feces down the toilet is not a safe practice because the usual sewage treatments do not destroy roundworm eggs.
Infected puppies start shedding roundworm eggs at three weeks of age. They can be infected by their mother's milk.
## **HEARTWORMS**
Heartworms are thin, extended worms up to 12 inches long, which live in a dog's heart and the major blood vessels surrounding it. Dogs may have up to 200 worms. Symptoms may be loss of energy, loss of appetite, coughing, the development of a pot belly and anemia.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. The mosquito drinks the blood of an infected dog and takes in larvae with the blood. The larvae, called microfilariae, develop within the body of the mosquito and are passed on to the next dog bitten after the larvae mature. It takes two to three weeks for the larvae to develop to the infective stage within the body of the mosquito. Dogs are usually treated at about six weeks of age and maintained on a prophylactic dose given monthly.
Blood testing for heartworms is not necessarily indicative of how seriously your dog is infected. Although this is a dangerous disease, it is not easy for a dog to be infected. Discuss the various preventatives with your vet, as there are many different types now available. Together you can decide on a safe course of prevention for your dog.
**TAPEWORMS**
Humans, rats, squirrels, foxes, coyotes, wolves and domestic dogs are all susceptible to tapeworm infection. Except in humans, tapeworms are usually not a fatal infection. Infected individuals can harbor 1000 parasitic worms.
If dogs eat infected rats or mice, or anything else infected with tapeworm, they get the tapeworm disease. One month after attaching to a dog's intestine, the worm starts shedding eggs. These eggs are infective immediately. Infective eggs can live for a few months without a host animal.
# **HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS IN THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
It is an unfortunate dog fact that as a breed becomes more popular, health problems increase proportionately. Sadly, Goldens are no exception. While some genetic disorders are common to most large sporting breeds, others have become more prevalent in Goldens in recent years. Hereditary disease can make life difficult or painful for the afflicted animal, and it might, in some cases, be fatal for the dog.
**Compare the two hip joints and you'll understand dysplasia. On the left is an x-ray of a dog with hip dysplasia; on the right is an x-ray of a normal dog's pelvis.**
## **HIP DYSPLASIA**
Simply stated, hip dysplasia (HD) means abnormal or poor development of the hip joint. It occurs most commonly in large breeds of dogs and is known to be inherited. A severe case can render a hunting dog worthless in the field, and even a mild case can cause painful arthritis in the average house dog. Diagnosed only through X-ray examination, less severe cases may go undetected until the dog's ability becomes impaired.
While hip dysplasia is largely an inherited condition, research shows that environmental factors play a significant role in its development. Overfeeding and feeding a diet high in calories (primarily fat) during a puppy's rapid-growth stages are suspected to be contributing factors to the development of HD, and heavybodied and overweight puppies are more at risk than pups with very lean conformation.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is dedicated to establishing control programs to lower the incidence of hip dysplasia in pure-bred dogs. The X-rays of Goldens over 24 months of age are reviewed by three board-certified veterinary radiologists, whose consensus determines the scoring of the hips. OFA numbers are assigned to those scores of "Excellent," "Good" and "Fair." Hips that are designated "Borderline," "Mild," "Moderate" and "Severe" are ineligible for an OFA number.
**The normal hip joint on the left and the dysplastic hip joint on the right.**
**DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIP DYSPLASIA?**
Hip dysplasia is a fairly common condition found in Golden Retrievers, as well as other breeds. When a dog has hip dysplasia, his hind leg has an incorrectly formed hip joint. By constant use of the hip joint, it becomes more and more loose, wears abnormally and may become arthritic.
Hip dysplasia can only be confirmed with an X-ray, but certain symptoms may indicate a problem. Your Golden Retriever may have a hip dysplasia problem if he walks in a peculiar manner, hops instead of smoothly running, uses his hinds legs in unison (to keep the pressure off the weak joint), has trouble getting up from a prone position and always sits with both legs together on one side of his body.
As the dog matures, he may adapt well to life with a bad hip, but in a few years the arthritis develops and many Golden Retrievers with hip dysplasia become crippled.
Hip dysplasia is considered an inherited disease and can usually be predicted when the dog is three to nine months old, although OFA evaluation and diagnosis cannot take place until after two years old. Some experts claim that a special diet might help your puppy outgrow the bad hip, but the usual treatments are surgical: the removal of the pectineus muscle, the removal of the round part of the femur, reconstructing the pelvis and replacing the hip with an artificial one. All of these surgical interventions are expensive, but they are usually very successful. Follow the advice of your vet.
**Elbow x-rays of a 4-month-old retriever's foreleg.**
The OFA also registers carriers of elbow dysplasia, craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO), osteochondritis dessicans (OCD), ununited anchoneal process and other heritable diseases. The purpose of such screening is to eliminate affected dogs from breeding programs with the long-term goal of reducing the occurrence of hip dysplasia in affected breeds.
Goldens who show marked evidence of hip dysplasia should never be bred. Anyone looking for a healthy Golden puppy should make certain the sire and dam of any litter under consideration have their certificates of clearance.
## **ELBOW DYSPLASIA, OSTEOCHONDROSIS AND OCD**
Similar to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia is a structural problem of the joints which causes frontend lameness in some large breeds of dogs. The symptoms most often appear in the growing dog, usually occurring between four and eight months of age, and range from mild to severe. Diagnosis is by x-ray examination, and affected dogs should not be used for breeding purposes.
Osteochondrosis is a degenerative cartilage disorder, which in time progresses to osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). This most often affects the front legs, and is seen primarily in large breeds.
## **CATARACTS**
A cataract is an opacity of the lens of the eye, which has been found to be hereditary in the Golden Retriever. While some cataracts do not interfere with a dog's vision, others can progress into complete or partial blindness. Fortunately, today surgery is available to correct some types of cataracts.
Cataracts can be diagnosed by a veterinary ophthalmologic examination as early as six months of age. Eyes should be examined annually until at least three years of age as cataracts can occur later in the dog's life. All Goldens should be cleared before breeding, and affected animals should not be bred.
**The typical posterior subcapsular cataract appears between one and two years of age, but rarely progresses to where the animal has visual problems.**
## **RETINAL DEFECTS**
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and retinal dysplasia (RD) are the two most common inherited retinal defects of the retina (or light receptor area of the eye). The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) works in conjunction with board-certified canine ophthalmologists to help eliminate heritable eye defects from pure-bred dogs. Only members or Diplomats of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) are allowed to collect data. To be certified, dogs must be permanently identified (via tattoo, microchip or DNA profile) and pass a painless examination for heritable eye diseases. Unlike the progressive deterioration of PRA, RD does not result in total blindness, but will affect a working dog's ability to function at a chosen task.
**Your Golden Retriever's eyes should be clear and bright. Any cloudiness or opacity on the lens could indicate a potential problem.**
The outcome of a dog's CERF examination will be stored in the database, created to help generate research reports about the incidence of the diseases in each breed. The dog's names are never revealed in these reports. Your vet or CERF can connect you with a board-certified ophthalmologist to acquire your dog's eye clearance.
## **EPILEPSY**
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder caused by abnormal electrical patterns in the brain. It affects almost all breeds and mixed breeds, although a higher incidence is found in Golden Retrievers.
Primary epilepsy, also known as idiopathic, genetic, inherited or true epilepsy, is difficult to diagnose and there is no specific test for the disease. Primary epilepsy usually occurs between the ages of six months and five years of age.
Secondary epilepsy refers to seizures caused by viral or infectious disease, metabolic disorders, chemical or nutritional imbalance or traumatic injury. Seizures are also associated with hypothyroidism, which is an inherited auto-immune disease common to many pure-bred dogs.
Although epilepsy is difficult to diagnose, dogs suffering recurring seizures, especially from an early age, are unsuitable breeding candidates.
**PET ADVANTAGES**
If you do not intend to show or breed your new puppy, your veterinarian will probably recommend that you spay your female or neuter your male. Some people believe neutering leads to weight gain, but if you feed and exercise your dog properly, this is easily avoided. Spaying or neutering can actually have many positive outcomes, such as:
• training becomes easier, as the dog focuses less on the urge to mate and more on you!
• females are protected from unplanned pregnancy as well as ovarian and uterine cancers.
• males are guarded from testicular tumors and have a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.
Talk to your vet regarding the right age to spay/neuter and other aspects of the procedure.
**MEDICAL PROBLEMS SEEN IN GOLDEN RETRIEVERS**
**YOUR SENIOR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
**Don't expect your Golden Retriever to act young forever. A Golden in his "golden" years requires special love and attention from his family.**
The term _old_ is a qualitative term. For dogs, as well as their masters, old is relative. Certainly we can all distinguish between a puppy Golden Retriever and an adult Golden Retriever—there are the obvious physical traits, such as size, appearance and facial expressions, and personality traits. Puppies that are nasty are very rare. Puppies and young dogs like to play with children. Children's natural exuberance is a good match for the seemingly endless energy of young dogs. They like to run, jump, chase and retrieve. When dogs grow up and cease their interaction with children, they are often thought of as being too old to play with the kids.
**THE GOLDEN YEARS**
The bottom line is simply that a dog is getting old when you think it is getting old because it slows down in its general activities, including walking, running, eating, jumping and retrieving. On the other hand, certain activities increase, like more sleeping, more barking and more repetition of habits like going to the door without being called when you put your coat on.
On the other hand, if a Golden Retriever is only exposed to people over 60 years of age, its life will normally be less active and it will not seem to be getting old as its activity level slows down.
If people live to be 100 years old, dogs live to be 20 years old. While this is a good rule of thumb, it is very inaccurate. When trying to compare dog years to human years, you cannot make a generalization about all dogs. You can make the generalization that 11 or 12 years is a good lifespan for a Golden Retriever, which is quite good compared to some other pure-bred dogs that may only live to 8 or 9 years of age. Some Golden Retrievers have been known to live to 15 years. Dogs are generally considered mature within three years, but they can reproduce even earlier. So the first three years of a dog's life are like seven times that of comparable humans. That means a 3-year-old dog is like a 21-year-old human. As the curve of comparison shows, there is no hard and fast rule for comparing dog and human ages. The comparison is made even more difficult, for not all humans age at the same rate...and human females live longer than human males.
**SIGNS OF AGING**
An old dog starts to show one or more of the following symptoms:
• Sleep patterns are deeper and longer and the old dog is harder to awaken.
• Food intake diminishes.
• Responses to calls, whistles and other signals are ignored more and more.
• Eye contacts do not evoke tail wagging (assuming they once did).
• The hair on its face and paws starts to turn gray. The color breakdown usually starts around the eyes and mouth.
# **WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SENIORS**
Most veterinarians and behaviorists use the seven-year mark as the time to consider a dog a"senior." The term "senior" does not imply that the dog is geriatric and has begun to fail in mind and body. Aging is essentially a slowing process. Humans readily admit that they feel a difference in their activity level from age 20 to 30, and then from 30 to 40, etc. By treating the seven-year-old dog as a senior, owners are able to implement certain therapeutic and preventative medical strategies with the help of their veterinarians. A senior-care program should include at least two veterinary visits per year, screening sessions to determine the dog's health status, as well as nutritional counseling. Veterinarians determine the senior dog's health status through a blood smear for a complete blood count, serum chemistry profile with electrolytes, urinalysis, blood pressure check, electrocardiogram, ocular tonometry (pressure on the eyeball) and dental prophylaxis.
**NOTICING THE SIGNS**
The symptoms listed below are symptoms that gradually appear and become more noticeable. They are not life-threatening; however, the symptoms below are to be taken very seriously and a discussion with your veterinarian is warranted:
• Your dog cries and whimpers when it moves and stops running completely.
• Convulsions start or become more serious and frequent. The usual convulsion (spasm) is when the dog stiffens and starts to tremble, being unable or unwilling to move. The seizure usually lasts for 5 to 30 minutes.
• Your dog drinks more water and urinates more frequently. Wetting and bowel accidents take place indoors without warning.
• Vomiting becomes more and more frequent.
Such an extensive program for senior dogs is well advised before owners start to see the obvious physical signs of aging, such as slower and inhibited movement, graying, increased sleep/nap periods and disinterest in play and other activity. This preventative program promises a longer, healthier life for the aging dog. Among the physical problems common in aging dogs are the loss of sight and hearing, arthritis, kidney and liver failure, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and Cushing's disease (a hormonal disease).
In addition to the physical manifestations discussed, there are some behavioral changes and problems related to aging dogs. Dogs suffering from hearing or vision loss, dental discomfort or arthritis can become aggressive. Likewise. the near-deaf and/or blind dog may be startled more easily and react in an unexpectedly aggressive manner. Seniors suffering from senility can become more impatient and irritable. Housesoiling accidents are associated with loss of mobility, kidney problems, loss of sphincter control as well as plaque accumulation, physiological brain changes and reactions to medications. Older dogs, just like young puppies, suffer from separation anxiety, which can lead to excessive barking, whining, housesoiling and destructive behavior. Seniors may become fearful of everyday sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, heaters, thunder and passing traffic. Some dogs have difficulty sleeping, due to discomfort, the need for frequent potty visits and the like.
**WHAT THE OWNER CAN LOOK FOR**
**IF YOU NOTICE...** | **IT COULD INDICATE...**
---|---
Discoloration of teeth and gums, foul breath, loss of appetite| Abcesses, gum disease, mouth lesions
Lumps, bumps, cysts, warts, fatty tumors| Cancers
Cloudiness of eyes, apparent loss of sight| Cataracts, lenticular sclerosis, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia, blindness
Flaky coat, alopecia (hair loss)| Hormonal problems, hypothyroidism
Obesity, appetite loss, excessive weight gain| Various problems
Household accidents, increased urination| Diabetes, kidney or bladder disease
Increased thirst| Kidney disease, diabetes mellitus
Change in sleeping habits, coughing| Heart disease
Difficulty moving| Arthritis, degenerative joint disease, spondylosis (degenerative spine disease)
**IF THE OWNER NOTICES ANY OF THESE SIGNS, AN APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE MADE IMMEDIATELY WITH THE VETERINARIAN FOR A THOROUGH EVALUATION.**
Owners should avoid spoiling the older dog with too many fatty treats. Obesity is a common problem in older dogs and subtracts years from their lives. Keep the senior dog as trim as possible since excessive weight puts additional stress on the body's vital organs. Some breeders recommend supplementing the diet with foods high in fiber and lower in calories. Adding fresh vegetables and marrow broth to the senior's diet makes a tasty, low-calorie, low-fat supplement. Vets also offer specialty diets for senior dogs that are worth exploring.
Your dog, as he nears his twilight years, needs his owner's patience and good care more than ever. Never punish an older dog for an accident or abnormal behavior. For all the years of love, protection and companionship that your dog has provided, he deserves special attention and courtesies. The older dog may need to relieve himself at 3 a.m. because he can no longer hold it for eight hours. Older dogs may not be able to remain crated for more than two or three hours. It may be time to give up a sofa or chair to your old friend. Although he may not seem as enthusiastic about your attention and petting, he does appreciate the considerations you offer as he gets older.
**SENIOR DIETS**
Your senior dog may lose interest in eating, not because he's less hungry but because his senses of smell and taste have diminished. The old chow simply does not smell as good as it once did. Additionally, older dogs use less energy and thereby can sustain themselves on less food.
Your Golden Retriever does not understand why his world is slowing down. Owners must make the transition into the golden years as pleasant and rewarding as possible.
# **WHAT TO DO WHEN THE TIME COMES**
You are never fully prepared to make a rational decision about putting your dog to sleep. It is very obvious that you love your Golden Retriever or you would not be reading this book. Putting a loved dog to sleep is extremely difficult. It is a decision that must be made with your veterinarian. You are usually forced to make the decision when one of the life-threatening symptoms listed above becomes serious enough for you to seek medical (veterinary) help.
If the prognosis of the malady indicates the end is near and your beloved pet will only suffer more and experience no enjoyment for the balance of its life, then euthanasia is the right choice.
**TALK ABOUT IT**
The more open discussion you have about the whole stressful occurrence of losing your dog, the easier it will be for you when the time comes.
## **WHAT IS EUTHANASIA?**
Euthanasia derives from the Greek, meaning "good death." In other words, it means the planned, painless killing of a dog suffering from a painful, incurable condition, or who is so aged that he cannot walk, see, eat or control his excretory functions.
Euthanasia is usually accomplished by injection with an overdose of an anesthesia or barbiturate. Aside from the prick of the needle, the experience is usually painless.
## **COPING WITH LOSS**
The decision to euthanize your dog is never easy. The days during which the dog becomes ill and the end occurs can be unusually stressful for you. If this is your first experience with the death of a loved one, you may need the comfort dictated by your religious beliefs. If you are the head of the family and have children, you should have involved them in the decision of putting your Golden Retriever to sleep. Usually your dog can be maintained on drugs for a few days while it is kept in the clinic in order to give you ample time to make a decision. During this time, talking with members of the family or religious representatives, or even people who have lived through this same experience, can ease the burden of your inevitable decision. In any case, euthanasia is painful and stressful for the family of the dog. Unfortunately, it does not end there.
## **THE FINAL RESTING PLACE**
Dogs can have the same privileges as humans. They can be buried in a pet cemetery in a burial container (very expensive); buried in your yard in a place suitably marked with a stone, newly planted tree or bush; or cremated with the ashes being given to you.
All of these options should be discussed frankly and openly with your veterinarian. Do not be afraid to ask financial questions. Cremations are usually mass burnings and the ashes you get may not be only the ashes of your beloved dog. If you want a private cremation, there are small crematoriums available to all veterinary clinics. Your vet can usually arrange for this, but it may be a little more expensive.
## **GETTING ANOTHER DOG?**
The grief of losing your beloved dog will be as lasting as the grief of losing a human friend or relative. In most cases, if your dog died of old age (if there is such a thing), he had slowed down considerably. Do you want a new Golden Retriever puppy to replace him? Or are you better off in finding a more mature Golden Retriever, say two to three years of age, which will usually be housetrained and will have an already developed personality. In this case, you can find out if you like each other after a few hours of being together.
**Discuss the option of a pet cemetery with your vet.**
The decision is, of course, your own. Do you want another Golden Retriever? Perhaps you want a smaller or larger dog? How much do you want to spend on a dog? Look in your local newspapers for advertisements of breeders in your area, or, better yet, consult your local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals to adopt a dog. It is harder to find puppies at an animal shelter, but there are often many adult dogs in need of new homes. You may be able to find another Golden Retriever, or you may choose another breed or a mixed-breed dog. Private breeders are the best source for high-quality pure-bred puppies and dogs.
Whatever you decide, do it as quickly as possible. Most people usually buy the same breed because they know (and love) the characteristics of that breed. Then, too, they often know people who have the same breed and perhaps they are lucky enough that one of their friends expects a litter soon. What could be better?
**Cemeteries for pets sometimes have special areas for the ashes of your beloved pet.**
**CDS: COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME**
_"Old Dog Syndrome"_
**T** here are many ways to evaluate "old-dog syndrome." Veterinarians have defined CDS (cognitive dysfunction syndrome) as the gradual deterioration of cognitive abilities. These are indicated by changes in the dog's behavior. When a dog changes his routine response, and maladies have been eliminated as the cause of these behavioral changes, then CDS is the usual diagnosis.
More than half the dogs over eight years old suffer from some form of CDS. The older the dog, the more chance he has of suffering from CDS. In humans, doctors often dismiss the CDS behavioral changes as part of "winding down."
There are four major signs of CDS: frequent accidents inside the home, sleeps much more or much less than normal, acts confused and fails to respond to social stimuli.
**SYMPTOMS OF CDS**
**FREQUENT HOUSEBREAKING ACCIDENTS**
• _**Urinates in the house.**_
• _**Defecates in the house.**_
• _**Doesn't signal that he wants to go out.**_
**SLEEP PATTERNS**
• _**Awakens more slowly.**_
• _**Sleeps more than normal during the day.**_
• _**Sleeps less during the night.**_
**CONFUSION**
• _**Goes outside and just stands there.**_
• _**Appears confused with a faraway look in his eyes.**_
• _**Hides more often.**_
• _**Doesn't recognize friends.**_
• _**Doesn't come when called.**_
• _**Walks around listlessly and without a destination.**_
**FAILURE TO RESPOND TO SOCIAL STIMULI**
• _**Comes to people less frequently, whether called or not.**_
• _**Doesn't tolerate petting for more than a short time.**_
• _**Doesn't come to the door when you return home from work.**_
**BEHAVIOR OF YOUR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
As a Golden Retriever owner, you have selected your dog so that you and your loved ones can have a companion, a protector, a friend and a fourlegged family member. You invest time, money and effort to care for and train the family's new charge. Of course, this chosen canine behaves perfectly! Well, perfectly like a _dog_.
# **THINK LIKE A DOG**
Dogs do not think like humans, nor do humans think like dogs, though we try. Unfortunately, a dog is incapable of figuring out how humans think, so the responsibility falls on the owner to adopt a proper canine mindset. Dogs cannot rationalize, and dogs exist in the present moment. Many dog owners make the mistake in training of thinking that they can reprimand their dogs for something he did a while ago. Basically, you cannot even reprimand a dog for something he did 20 seconds ago! Either catch him in the act or forget it! It is a waste of your and your dog's time—in his mind, you are reprimanding him for whatever he is doing at that moment.
**MORE HARM THAN GOOD**
Punisment is rarely necessary for a misvehaving dog. Dogs that habitually misbehave probably had a poor education and they do not know what is expected of them. They need training. Disciplinary behavior on your part usually does more harm than good.
**Since we can never expect a dog to speak our language, we must learn to speak "dog." A puppy showing you his belly indicates his total submission and trust.**
The following behavioral problems represent some which owners most commonly encounter. Every dog is unique and every situation is unique. No author could purport to solve your Golden Retriever's problem simply by reading a script. Here we outline some basic "dogspeak" so that owners' chances of solving behavioral problems are increased. Discuss bad habits with your veterinarian and he/she can recommend a behavioral specialist to consult in appropriate cases. Since behavioral abnormalities are the leading reason that owners abandon their pets, we hope that you will make a valiant effort to solve your Golden Retriever's problem. Patience and understanding are virtues that dwell in every pet-loving household.
**IT'S PLAY TIME**
Physical games like pulling contests, wrestling, jumping and teasing should not be encouraged. Inciting the dog's crazy behavior tends to confuse a dog. The owner has to be able to control his dog at all times; even in play, your dog has to know that you're the leader and that you decide when to play and when to behave mannerly.
# **AGGRESSION**
Although nobody considers the Golden Retriever to be a mean or vicious breed, aggression is always a concern among dog owners. Goldens are not naturally aggressive, but aggressive tendencies can show up in dogs of any breed for a number of reasons.
Aggression, when not controlled, always becomes dangerous. An aggressive dog, no matter the size, may lunge at, bite or even attack a person or another dog. Aggressive behavior is not to be tolerated. It is more than just inappropriate behavior; it is not safe. It is painful for a family to watch their dog become unpredictable in his behavior to the point where they are afraid of him. While not all aggressive behavior is dangerous, growling, baring teeth, etc., can be frightening. It is important to ascertain why the dog is acting in this manner. Aggression is a display of dominance, and the dog should not have the dominant role in its pack, which is, in this case, your family.
It is important not to challenge an aggressive dog, as this could provoke an attack. Observe your Golden Retriever's body language. Does he make direct eye contact and stare? Does he try to make himself as large as possible: head up, chest out, tail erect? Height and size signify authority in a dog pack—being taller or "above" another dog literally means that he is "above" in the social status. These body signals tell you that your Golden Retriever thinks he is in charge, a problem that needs to be addressed. An aggressive dog is unpredictable: you never know when he is going to strike and what he is going to do. You cannot understand why a dog that is playful and loving one minute is growling and snapping the next.
**Golden Retriever puppies learn manners from their dams. Licking the neck of the dam indicates the subordination of the pup to the pack leader.**
**The posture of a strange dog can tell you whether he's being friendly or threatening. Most Goldens are outgoing and approachable.**
**INCOPLETE SOCIALIZATION**
Fear in a grown dog is often the result of improper or incomplete socialization as a pup, or it can be the result of a traumatic experience he suffered when young. Keep in mind that the term "traumatic" is relative—something that you would not think twice about can leave a lasting negative impression on a puppy. If the dog experiences a similar situation later in life, he may try to fight back to protect himself. Again, this behavior is very unpredictable, especially if you do not know what is triggering his fear.
The best solution is to consult a behavioral specialist, one who has experience with the Golden Retriever if possible. Together, perhaps you can pinpoint the cause of your dog's aggression and do something about it. An aggressive dog cannot be trusted, and a dog that cannot be trusted is not safe to have as a family pet. If the pet Golden Retriever becomes untrustworthy, he cannot be kept in the home with the family. The family must get rid of the dog. In the very worst case, the dog must be euthanized.
## **AGGRESSION TOWARD OTHER DOGS**
In general, a dog's aggressive behavior toward another dog stems from not enough exposure to other dogs at an early age. If other dogs make your Golden Retriever nervous and agitated, he will lash out as a defensive mechanism. A dog who has not received sufficient exposure to other canines tends to believe that he is the only dog on the planet. The animal becomes so dominant that he does not even show signs that he is fearful or threatened. Without growling or any other physical signal as a warning, he will lunge at and bite the other dog. A way to correct this is to let your Golden Retriever approach another dog when walking on lead. Watch very closely and at the very first sign of aggression, correct your Golden Retriever and pull him away. Scold him for any sign of discomfort, and then praise him when he ignores or tolerates the other dog. Keep this up until he stops the aggressive behavior, learns to ignore the other dog or accepts other dogs. Praise him lavishly for his correct behavior.
**EYE CONTACT**
If you and your on-lead dog are approached by a larger, running dog that is not restrained, walk away from the dog as quickly as possible. Don't allow your dog to make eye contact with the other dog. You should not make eye contact either. In dog terms, eye contact indicates a challenge.
## **DOMINANT AGGRESSION**
A social hierarchy is firmly established in a wild dog pack. The dog wants to dominate those under him and please those above him. Dogs know that there must be a leader. If you are not the obvious choice for emperor, the dog will assume the throne! These conflicting innate desires are what a dog owner is up against when he sets about training a dog. In training a dog to obey commands, the owner is reinforcing that he is the top dog in the "pack" and that the dog should, and should want to, serve his superior. Thus, the owner is suppressing the dog's urge to dominate by modifying his behavior and making him obedient.
**Meeting along the trail is enjoyable for the hikers. When introducing your Golden to strange dogs, it's best to keep all dogs on lead in case one dog becomes aggressive.**
An important part of training is taking every opportunity to reinforce that you are the leader. The simple action of making your Golden Retriever sit to wait for his food says that you control when he eats and that he is dependent on you for food. Although it may be difficult, do not give in to your dog's wishes every time he whines at you or looks at you with his pleading eyes. It is a constant effort to show the dog that his place in the pack is at the bottom. This is not meant to sound cruel or ruthless. You love your Golden Retriever and you should treat him with care and affection. You (hopefully) did not get a dog just so you could control another creature. Dog training is not about being cruel or feeling important, it is about molding the dog's behavior into what is acceptable and teaching him to live by your rules. In theory, it is quite simple: catch him in appropriate behavior and reward him for it. Add a dog into the equation and it becomes a bit more trying, but as a rule of thumb, positive reinforcement is what works best.
**DOGGIE DEMOCRACY**
Your dog inherited the pack-leader mentality. He only knows about pecking order. He instinctively wants to be top dog, but you have to convince him that you are boss. There is no such thing as living in a democracy with your dog. You are the leader; you make the rules.
**Not usually considered "pack dogs," Golden Retrievers generally do very well in large groups. Some owners own a half dozen dogs and allow them to romp and play together constantly.**
With a dominant dog, punishment and negative reinforcement can have the opposite effect of what you are after. It can make a dog fearful and/or act out aggressively if he feels he is being challenged. Remember, a dominant dog perceives himself at the top of the social heap and will fight to defend his perceived status. The best way to prevent that is never to give him reason to think that he is in control in the first place. If you are having trouble training your Golden Retriever and it seems as if he is constantly challenging your authority, seek the help of an obedience trainer or behavioral specialist. A professional will work with both you and your dog to teach you effective techniques to use at home. Beware of trainers who rely on excessively harsh methods; scolding is necessary now and then, but the focus in your training should always be on positive reinforcement.
If you can isolate what brings out the fear reaction, you can help the dog get over it. Supervise your Golden Retriever's interactions with people and other dogs, and praise the dog when it goes well. If he starts to act aggressively in a situation, correct him and remove him from the situation. Do not let people approach the dog and start petting him without your express permission. That way, you can have the dog sit to accept petting, and praise him when he behaves properly. You are focusing on praise and on modifying his behavior by rewarding him when he acts appropriately. By being gentle and by supervising his interactions, you are showing him that there is no need to be afraid or defensive.
**BELLY UP!**
When two dogs are introduced, they will naturally establish who is dominant. This may involve one dog placing his front paws on the other's shoulders, or one dog rolling over and exposing his belly, thereby assuming a submissive status. If neither dog submits, they may fight until one has been pinned down. This behaviour can be upsetting for owners to watch, especially if your dog takes one look and throws himself on the ground. The biggest mistake you can make is to interfere, pulling on the leads and confusing the dogs. If you don't allow them to establish their pecking order, you undermine the pack mentality, which can cause your dog great stress. If you separate dogs in the middle of a fight, the interference may incite them to attack each other viciously. Your best choice is to stay out of it!
**NO KISSES**
We all love our dogs and our dogs love us. They show their love and affection by licking us. This is not a very sanitary practice as dogs lick and sniff in some unsavory places. Kissing your dog on the mouth is strictly forbidden, as parasites can be transmitted in this manner.
# **SEXUAL BEHAVIOR**
Dogs exhibit certain sexual behaviors that may have influenced your choice of male or female when you first bought your Golden Retriever. Spaying/ neutering will eliminate these behaviors, but if you are purchasing a dog that you wish to breed, you should be aware of what you will have to deal with throughout the dog's life.
Female dogs usually have two estruses per year with each season lasting about three weeks. These are the only times in which a female dog will mate, and she usually will not allow this until the second week of the cycle. If a bitch is not bred during the heat cycle, it is not uncommon for her to experience a false pregnancy, in which her mammary glands swell and she exhibits maternal tendencies toward toys or other objects.
Mounting, most often seen in unneutered males, is not merely a sexual expression but also one of dominance. Be consistent and persistent and you will find that you can "move mounters."
# **CHEWING**
The national canine pastime is chewing! Every dog loves to sink his "canines" into a tasty bone, but sometimes that bone is attached to his owner's hand! Dogs need to chew, to massage their gums, to make their new teeth feel better and to exercise their jaws. This is a natural behavior deeply imbedded in all things canine. Our role as owners is not to stop chewing, but to redirect it to positive, chew-worthy objects. Be an informed owner and purchase proper chew toys like strong nylon bones made for active dogs like your Golden Retriever. Be sure that the devices are safe and durable, since your dog's safety is at risk.
Again, the owner is responsible for ensuring a dog-proof environment. The best answer is prevention; that is, put your shoes, handbags and other tasty objects in their proper places (out of the reach of the growing canine mouth). Direct puppies to their toys whenever you see them tasting the furniture legs or your sleeve. Make a loud noise to attract the pup's attention and immediately escort him to his chew toy and engage him with the toy for at least four minutes, praising and encouraging him all the while.
Some trainers recommend deterrents, such as hot pepper or another bitter spice or a product designed for this purpose, to discourage the dog from chewing unwanted objects. This is sometimes reliable, though not as often as the manufacturers of such products claim. Test out the product with your own dog before investing in a case of it.
**SMILE!**
Dogs and humans may be the only animals that smile. Dogs imitate the smile on their owner's face when he greets a friend. The dog only smiles at his human friends. He never smiles at another dog or cat. Usually he rolls up his lips and shows his teeth in a clenched mouth while he rolls over onto his back, begging for a soft scratch.
# **DIGGING**
Digging, which is seen as a destructive behavior to humans, is actually quite a natural behavior in dogs. Although your Golden Retriever is not one of the "earth dogs" (also known as terriers), his desire to dig can be irrepressible and most frustrating to his owners. When digging occurs in your yard, it is actually a normal behavior redirected into something the dog can do in his everyday life. In the wild, a dog would be actively seeking food, making his own shelter, etc. He would be using his paws in a purposeful manner for his survival. Since you provide him with food and shelter, he has no need to use his paws for these purposes, and so the energy that he would be using manifests itself in the form of little holes all over your yard and flower beds.
**MOVING MOUNTERS**
Males, whether castrated or not, will mount almost anything: a pillow, your leg or, much to your horror, even your neighbour's leg. As with other types of inappropriate behavior, the dog must be corrected while in the act, which for once is not difficult. Often he will not let go! While a puppy is experimenting with his very first urges, his owners feel he needs to "sow his oats" and allow the pup to mount. As the pup grows into a full-size dog, with full-size urges, it becomes a nuisance and an embarrassment. Males always appear as if they are trying to "save the race," more determined and stronger than imaginable. While altering the dog at an appropriate age will limit the dog's desire, it usually does not remove it entirely.
Perhaps your dog is digging as a reaction to boredom—it is somewhat similar to someone eating a whole bag of chips in front of the TV—because they are there and there is not anything better to do! Basically, the answer is to provide the dog with adequate play and exercise so that his mind and paws are occupied, and so that he feels as if he is doing something useful.
Of course, digging is easiest to control if it is stopped as soon as possible, but it is often hard to catch a dog in the act, especially if he is alone in the yard during the day. If your dog is a compulsive digger and is not easily distracted by other activities, you can designate an area on your property where it is okay for him to dig. If you catch him digging in an off-limits area of the yard, immediately bring him to the approved area and praise him for digging there. Keep a close eye on him so that you can catch him in the act—that is the only way to make him understand what is permitted and what is not. If you bring him to a hole he dug an hour ago and tell him "No," he will understand that you are not fond of holes, or dirt, or flowers. If you catch him while he is stifle-deep in your tulips, that is when he will get your message.
**NO JUMPING**
Stop a dog from jumping before he jumps. If he is getting ready to jump onto you, simply walk away. If he jumps on you before you can turn away, lift your knee so that it bumps him in the chest. Do not be forceful. Your dog will realize that jumping up is not a productive way of getting attention.
# **JUMPING UP**
Jumping up is a dog's friendly way of saying hello! Some dog owners do not mind when their dog jumps up, which is fine for them. The problem arises when guests come to the house and the dog greets them in the same manner—whether they like it or not! However friendly the greeting may be, chances are your visitors will not appreciate being knocked over by your boisterous Golden Retriever. The dog will not be able to distinguish upon whom he can jump and whom he cannot. Therefore, it is probably best to discourage this behavior entirely.
Pick a command such as "Off" (avoid using "Down" since you will use that for the dog to lie down) and tell him "Off" when he jumps up. Place him on the ground on all fours and have him sit, praising him the whole time. Always lavish him with praise and petting when he is in the sit position. That way you are still giving him a warm affectionate greeting, because you are as excited to see him as he is to see you!
# **BARKING**
Dogs cannot talk—oh, what they would say if they could! Instead, barking is a dog's way of "talking." It can be somewhat frustrating because it is not always easy to tell what a dog means by his bark—is he excited, happy, frightened or angry? Whatever it is that the dog is trying to say, he should not be punished for barking. Only when the barking becomes excessive, and when the excessive barking becomes a bad habit, does the behavior need to be modified.
**Jumping up is unacceptable behavior in any dog, especially one as heavy as the Golden Retriever. Although he thinks he's being friendly, jumping up can be dangerous and must be properly handled.**
**There are no limits to the talents of the Golden Retriever. While not many Goldens are employed as sled dogs, this gifted Golden joins his Samoyed housemates to be the exception!**
If an intruder came into your home in the middle of the night and your Golden Retriever barked a warning, wouldn't you be pleased? You would probably deem your dog a hero, a wonderful guardian and protector of the home. However, if a friend drops by unexpectedly and rings the doorbell and is greeted with a sudden sharp bark, you would probably be annoyed at the dog. But in reality, isn't this just the same behavior? The dog does not know any better...unless he sees who is at the door and it is someone he knows, he will bark as a means of vocalizing that his (and your) territory is being threatened. While your friend is not posing a threat, it is all the same to the dog. Barking is his means of letting you know that there is an intrusion, whether friend or foe, on your property. This type of barking is instinctive and should not be discouraged.
**THE DOG IN CHARGE**
Barking is your dog's way of protecting you. If he barks at a stranger walking past your house, a moving car or a fleeing cat, he is merely exercising his responsibility to protect his pack (YOU) and territory from a perceived intruder. Since the "intruder" usually keeps going, the dog thinks his barking chased it away and he feels fulfilled. This behavior leads your overly vocal friend to believe that he is the "dog in charge."
Excessive habitual barking, however, is a problem that should be corrected early on. As your Golden Retriever grows up, you will be able to tell when his barking is purposeful and when it is for no reason. You will become able to distinguish your dog's different barks and their meanings. For example, the bark when someone comes to the door will be different from the bark when he is excited to see you. It is similar to a person's tone of voice, except that the dog has to rely totally on tone of voice because he does not have the benefit of using words. An incessant barker will be evident at an early age.
There are some things that encourage a dog to bark. For example, if your dog barks nonstop for a few minutes and you give him a treat to quiet him, he believes that you are rewarding him for barking. He will associate barking with getting a treat, and will do it until he is rewarded.
# **FOOD STEALING**
Is your dog devising ways of stealing food from your kitchen cabinets or pantry? If so, you must answer the following questions: Is your Golden Retriever hungry, or is he "constantly famished" like every other chow hound? Why is there food on the counter top within the dog's reach? Face it, some dogs are more food-motivated than others. Some dogs are totally obsessed by a filet of beef and can only think of their next meal. Food stealing is terrific fun and always yields a great reward— _food_ , glorious food.
The owner's goal, therefore, is to make the "reward" less rewarding, even startling! Plant a shaker can (an empty can with coins inside) on the counter so that it catches your pooch offguard. There are other devices available that will surprise the dog when he is looking for a mid-afternoon snack. Such remote-control devices, though not the first choice of some trainers, allow the correction to come from the object instead of the owner. These devices are also useful to keep the snacking hound from napping on furniture that is forbidden.
**THE "QUIET" COMMAND**
To encourage proper barking, you can teach your dog the command "Quiet." When someone comes to the door and the dog barks a few times, praise him. Talk to him soothingly and when he stops barking, tell him "Quiet" and continue to praise him. In this sense you are letting him bark his warning, which is an instinctive behavior, and then rewarding him for being quiet after a few barks. You may initially reward him with a treat after he has been quiet for a few minutes.
# **BEGGING**
Just like food stealing, begging is a favorite pastime of hungry puppies! It yields that same great reward— _food!_ Dogs quickly learn that their owners keep the "good food" for themselves, and that we humans do not dine on kibble alone. Begging is a conditioned response related to a specific stimulus, time and place. The sounds of the kitchen, cans and bottles opening, crinkling bags, the smell of food in preparation, etc., will excite the chow hound, and soon the paws are in the air!
**Goldens can become beggars. They will put on their most enchanting face and whine until you share your food with them.**
Here is the solution to stopping this behavior: Never give in to a beggar! You are rewarding the dog for sitting pretty, jumping up, whining and rubbing his nose into you by giving him that glorious reward—food. By ignoring the dog, you will (eventually) force the behavior into extinction. Note that the behavior likely gets worse before it disappears, so be sure there are not any "softies" in the family who will give in to little "Oliver" every time he whimpers, "More, please."
# **SEPARATION ANXIETY**
Your Golden Retriever may howl, whine or otherwise vocalize his displeasure at your leaving the house and his being left alone. This is a normal case of separation anxiety, and there are things that can be done to eliminate this problem. Your dog needs to learn that he will be fine on his own for a while and that he will not wither away if he is not attended to every minute of the day. In fact, constant attention can lead to separation anxiety in the first place. If you are endlessly coddling and cooing over your dog, he will come to expect this from you all of the time and it will be more traumatic for him when you are not there. Obviously, you enjoy spending time with your dog, and he thrives on your love and attention. However, it should not become a dependent relationship in which he is heartbroken without you.
**Goldens get lonely without almost constant attention from their masters. Owning two Goldens can reduce the stress of separation anxiety, though the dogs will still keenly anticipate your return home.**
One thing you can do to minimize separation anxiety is to make your entrances and exits as low-key as possible. Do not give your dog a long drawnout goodbye, and do not lavish him with hugs and kisses when you return. This is giving in to the attention that he craves, and it will only make him miss it more when you are away. Another thing you can try is to give your dog a treat when you leave; this will not only keep him occupied and keep his mind off the fact that you just left, but it will also help him associate your leaving with a pleasant experience.
**I'M HOME!**
Dogs left alone for varying lengths of time may often react wildly when you return. Sometimes they run, jump, bite, chew, tear things apart, wet themselves, gobble their food or behave in other undisciplined manners. Allow them to calm down before greeting them or they will consider your attention as a reward for their antics.
**Golden puppies want to please you. If you can make your intentions clear to your puppy, he will obey you and be delighted that you are pleased.**
**SEPARATION ANXIETY**
The number of dogs who suffer from separation anxiety is on the rise as more and more pet owners find themselves at work all day. New attention is being paid to this problem, which is especially hard to diagnose since it is only evident when the dog is alone. Research is currently being done to help educate dog owners about separation anxiety and about how they can help minimize this problem in their dogs.
You may have to accustom your dog to being left alone in intervals, much like when you introduced your pup to his crate. Of course, when your dog starts whimpering as you approach the door, your first instinct will be to run to him and comfort him, but do not do it! Really—eventually he will adjust and be just fine if you take it in small steps. His anxiety stems from being placed in an unfamiliar situation; by familiarizing him with being alone, he will learn that he is okay. That is not to say you should purposely leave your dog home alone, but the dog needs to know that while he can depend on you for his care, you do not have to be by his side 24 hours a day.
When the dog is alone in the house, he should be confined to his crate or a designated dog-proof area of the house. This should be the area in which he sleeps and already feels comfortable so he will feel more at ease when he is alone. This is just one of the many examples in which a crate is an invaluable tool for you and your dog, and another reinforcement of why your dog should view his crate as a "happy" place, a place of his own.
# **COPROPHAGIA**
Feces eating is, to us humans, one of the most disgusting behaviors that their dog could engage in, yet to the dog it is perfectly normal. It is hard for us to understand why a dog would want to eat his own feces. He could be seeking certain nutrients that are missing from his diet, he could be just plain hungry or he could be attracted by the pleasing (to a dog) scent. While coprophagia most often refers to the dog's eating his own feces, a dog may eat that of another animal as well if he comes across it. Vets have found that diets with a low digestibility, containing relatively low levels of fiber and high levels of starch, increase coprophagia. Therefore, highfiber diets may decrease the likelihood of dogs' eating feces. Both the consistency of the stool (how firm it feels in the dog's mouth) and the presence of undigested nutrients increase the likelihood. Dogs often find the stool of cats and horses more palatable than that of other dogs. Once the dog develops diarrhea from eating his own feces, he will likely quit this distasteful habit, since dogs tend to prefer eating harder feces.
**PHARMACEUTICAL FIXES**
There are two drugs specifically designed to treat mental problems in dogs. About 7 million dogs each year are destroyed because owners can no longer tolerate their dogs' behavior, according to Nicholas Dodman, a specialist in animal behavior at Tufts University in Massachusetts.
The first drug, Clomicalm, is prescribed for dogs suffering from separation anxiety, which is said to cause them to react when left alone by barking, chewing their owners' belongings, drooling copiously, or defecating or urinating inside the home.
The second drug, Anipryl, is recommended for canine cognitive dysfunction or "old dog syndrome," a mental deterioration that comes with age. Such dogs often seem to forget that they were housebroken and where their food bowls are, and they may even fail to recognize their owners.
A tremendous human-animalbonding relationship is established with all dogs, particularly senior dogs. This precious relationship deteriorates when the dog does not recognize his master. The drug can restore the bond and make senior dogs feel more like their old selves.
**Although Goldens are superaffectionate, it's better not to engage in mouthto-mouth moments.**
To discourage this behavior, first make sure that the food you are feeding your dog is nutritionally complete and that he is getting enough food. If changes in his diet do not seem to work, and no medical cause can be found, you will have to modify the behavior through environmental control before it becomes a habit. There are some tricks you can try, such as adding an unpleasant-tasting substance to the feces to make them unpalatable or adding something to the dog's food, which will make it unpleasant-tasting after it passes through the dog. The best way to prevent your dog from eating his stool is to make it unavailable—clean up after he eliminates and remove any stool from the yard. If it is not there, he cannot eat it.
Never reprimand the dog for stool eating, as this rarely impresses the dog. Vets recommend distracting the dog while he is in the act of stool eating. Another option is to muzzle the dog when he is in the yard to relieve himself; this usually is effective within 30 to 60 days. Coprophagia is seen most frequently in pups 6 to 12 months of age, and usually disappears around the dog's first birthday.
**As a working gun dog, the Golden Retriever is an exceptional hunter and athlete.**
**SHOWING YOUR**
**GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
When you purchase your Golden Retriever, you will make it clear to the breeder whether you want one just as a lovable companion and pet, or if you hope to be buying a Golden Retriever with show prospects. No reputable breeder will sell you a young puppy and tell you that it is _definitely_ of show quality, for so much can go wrong during the early months of a puppy's development. If you plan to show, what you will hopefully have acquired is a puppy with "show potential."
To the novice, exhibiting a Golden Retriever in the show ring may look easy, but it takes a lot of hard work and devotion to do top winning at a show such as the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show, not to mention a little luck too!
**AKC GROUPS**
For showing purposes, the American Kennel Club divides its recognized breeds into seven groups: Sporting Dogs, Hounds, Working Dogs, Terriers, Toys, Non-Sporting Dogs and Herding Dogs.
The first concept that the canine novice learns when watching a dog show is that each dog first competes against members of his own breed. Once the judge has selected the best member of each breed (Best of Breed), that chosen dog will compete with other dogs in his group. Finally, the dogs chosen first in each group will compete for Best in Show.
**Ribbons, medals and trophies bedeck the walls of famous dog homes. Winning in the show ring indicates that a breeder has been successful in his program.**
The second concept that you must understand is that the dogs are not actually compared against one another. The judge compares each dog against his breed standard, the American Kennel Club (AKC)-approved written description of the ideal breed specimen. While some early breed standards were indeed based on specific dogs that were famous or popular, many dedicated enthusiasts say that a perfect specimen, as described in the standard, has never walked into a show ring, has never been bred and, to the woe of dog breeders around the globe, does not exist. Breeders attempt to get as close to this ideal as possible with every litter, but theoretically the "perfect" dog is so elusive that it is impossible.
**Competing in an all-breed show with your Golden Retriever is an exciting prospect. It takes many years of experience to become a competent, consistent dog handler.**
If you are interested in exploring the world of dog showing, your best bet is to join your local breed club or the national parent club, which is the Golden Retriever Club of America. These clubs often host both regional and national specialties, shows only for Golden Retrievers, which can include conformation as well as obedience and field trials. Even if you have no intention of competing with your Golden, a specialty is like a festival for lovers of the breed who congregate to share their favorite topic: Goldens! Clubs also send out newsletters, and some organize training days and seminars in order that people may learn more about their chosen breed. To locate the breed club closest to you, contact the AKC, which furnishes the rules and regulations for all of these events plus general dog registration and other basic requirements of dog ownership.
The AKC offers three kinds of conformation shows: an all-breed show (for all AKC-recognized breeds), a specialty show (for one breed only, usually sponsored by the parent club) and a Group show (for all breeds in the Group).
**BECOMING A CHAMPION**
An official AKC champion of record requires that a dog accumulate 15 points under three different judges, including two "majors" under different judges. Points are awarded based on the number of dogs entered into competition, varying from breed to breed and place to place. A win of three, four or five points is considered a "major." The AKC assigns a schedule of points annually to adjust to the variations that accompany a breed's popularity and the population of a given area.
For a dog to become an AKC champion of record, the dog must accumulate 15 points at the shows from at least three different judges, including two "majors." A "major" is defined as a three-, four- or fivepoint win. The number of points per win is determined by the number of dogs entered in the show on that day. Depending on the breed, the number of points that are awarded varies. In a breed as popular as the Golden Retriever, more dogs are needed to rack up the points. At any dog show, only one dog and one bitch of each breed can win points.
Dog showing does not offer "coed" classes. Dogs and bitches never compete against each other in the classes. Non-champion dogs are called "class dogs" because they compete in one of five classes. Dogs are entered in a particular class depending on their ages and previous show wins. To begin, there is the Puppy Class (for 6- to 9-month-olds and for 9- to 12-mon olds); this class is followed by th Novice Class (for dogs that have won any first prizes except in the Puppy Class or three first prizes the Novice Class and have not accumulated any points toward their champion title); the Bred-b Exhibitor Class (for dogs handled their breeders or handled by one the breeder's immediate family); American-bred Class (for dogs br in the USA!); and the Open Class (for any dog that is not a champi
**The American Kennel Club encourages Junior Handlers to become involved in dog shows. There is no better education for the next generation of dog people.**
**Golden Retrievers are popular show dogs around the world. This Golden is an accomplished champion from Europe.**
The judge at the show begins judging the Puppy Class, first do and then bitches, and proceeds through the classes. The judge places his winners first through fourth in each class. In the nextlevel class, the Winners Class, th first-place winners of each class compete with one another to determine Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. The judge also places a Reserve Winners Dog and Reserve Winners Bitch, which could be awarded the points in the case of a disqualification. The Winners Dog and Winners Bitch are the two that are awarded the points for the breed, then compete with any champions of record entered in the show. The judge reviews the Winners Dog, Winners Bitch and all of the champions to select his Best of Breed. The Best of Winners is selected between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. Were one of these two to be selected Best of Breed, it would automatically be named Best of Winners as well. Finally the judge selects his Best of Opposite Sex to the Best of Breed winner.
**SHOW ETIQUETTE**
Just like with anything else, there is a certain etiquette to the show ring that can only be learned through experience. Showing your dog can be quite intimidating to you as a novice when it seems as if everyone else knows what he's doing. You can familiarize yourself with ring procedure beforehand by taking a class to prepare you and your dog for conformation showing or by talking with an experienced handler. When you are in the ring, listen and pay attention to the judge and follow his/her directions. Remember, even the most skilled handlers had to start somewhere. Keep it up and you too will become a proficient handler before too long!
**JUNIOR SHOWMANSHIP**
For budding dog handlers, ages 10 to 18 years, Junior Showmanship competitions are an excellent training ground for the next generation of dog professionals. Owning and caring for a dog are wonderful methods of teaching children responsibility, and Junior Showmanship builds upon that foundation. Juniors learn by grooming, handling and training their dogs, and the quality of junior's presentation of the dog (and himself) is evaluated by a licensed judge.
**Showing is hard work for the dogs, too!**
**There are many obstacles which must be overcome in agility trials for dogs. These trials are almost always very competitive, but also a lot of fun.**
At a Group show or all-breed show, the Best of Breed winners from each breed then compete against one another in their respective groups for Group One through Group Four. The judge compares each Best of Breed to his breed standard, and the dog that most closely lives up to the ideal for his breed is selected as Group One. Finally, all seven group winners (from the Sporting Group, Toy Group, Hound Group, etc.) compete for Best in Show.
**MEET THE AKC**
The American Kennel Club is the main governing body of the dog sport in the United States. Founded in 1884, the AKC consists of 500 or more independent dog clubs plus 4,500 affiliate clubs, all of which follow AKC rules and regulations. Additionally, the AKC maintains a registry for pure-bred dogs in the US and works to preserve the integrity of dog sport and its continuation in the country. Over 1,000,000 dogs are registered each year, representing about 150 recognized breeds. There are over 15,000 competitive events held annually for which over 2,000,000 dogs enter to participate. Dogs compete to earn over 40 different titles, from Champion to Companion Dog to Master Agility Champion.
**Golden Retrievers participating in the Parade of Tartans are favorites of the Scottish and Irish. This event took place in Colorado.**
To find out about dog shows in your area, you can subscribe to the American Kennel Club's monthly magazine, the _American Kennel Gazett_ e and the accompanying _Events Calendar_. You can also look in your local newspaper for advertisements for dog shows in your area or go on the Internet to the AKC's website, www.akc.org.
If your Golden Retriever is six months of age or older and registered with the AKC, you can enter him in a dog show where the breed is offered classes. Provided that your Golden Retriever does not have a disqualifying fault, he can compete. Only unaltered dogs can be entered in a dog show, so if you have spayed or neutered your Golden Retriever, you cannot compete in conformation shows. The reason for this is simple. Dog shows are the main forum to prove which representatives of a breed are worthy of being bred. Only dogs that have achieved championships—the AKC "seal of approval" for quality in pure-bred dogs—should be bred. Altered dogs, however, can participate in other AKC events such as obedience trials and the Canine Good Citizen program.
**Golden Retrievers can retrieve small birds and well as large game fowl. This dog has retrieved a pigeon.**
**CLUB CONTACTS**
You can get information about dog
shows from kennel clubs:
American Kennel Club
5580 Centerview Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606-3390
www.akc.org
United Kennel Club
100 E. Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo, M1 49002
www.ukcdogs.com
Canadian Kennel Club
89 Skyway Ave., Suite 100, Etobicoke, Ontario
M9W 6R4, Canada
www.ckc.ca
The Kennel Club
1-5 Clarges St., Piccadilly,
London W1Y 8AB, UK
www.the-kennel-club.org.uk
# **OBEDIENCE TRIALS**
Obedience trials in the US trace back to the early 1930s when organized obedience training was developed to demonstrate how well dog and owner could work together. The pioneer of obedience trials is Mrs. Helen Whitehouse Walker, a Standard Poodle fancier, who designed a series of exercises after the Associated, Sheep, Police Army Dog Society of Great Britain. Since the days of Mrs. Walker, obedience trials have grown by leaps and bounds, and today there are over 2,000 trials held in the US every year, with more than 100,000 dogs competing. Any AKC-registered dog can enter an obedience trial, regardless of conformational disqualifications or neutering.
Obedience trials are divided into three levels of progressive difficulty. At the first level, the Novice, dogs compete for the title Companion Dog (CD); at the intermediate level, the Open, dogs compete for the title Companion Dog Excellent (CDX); and at the advanced level, the Utility, dogs compete for the title Utility Dog (UD). Classes are sub-divided into "A" (for beginners) and "B" (for more experienced handlers). A perfect score at any level is 200, and a dog must score 170 or better to earn a "leg," of which three are needed to earn the title. To earn points, the dog must score more than 50% of the available points in each exercise; the possible points range from 20 to 40.
Each level consists of a different set of exercises. In the Novice level, the dog must heel on and off lead, come, long sit, long down and stand for examination. These skills are the basic ones required for a wellbehaved "Companion Dog." The Open level requires that the dog perform the same exercises above, but without a leash, for extended lengths of time, as well as retrieve a dumbbell, broad jump and drop on recall. In the Utility level, dogs must perform ten difficult exercises, including scent discrimination, hand signals for basic commands, directed jump and directed retrieve.
Once a dog has earned the UD title, he can compete with other proven obedience dogs for the coveted title of Utility Dog Excellent (UDX), which requires that the dog win "legs" in ten shows. Utility Dogs who earn "legs" in Open B and Utility B earn points toward their Obedience Trial Champion title. In 1977, the title Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh.) was established by the AKC. To become an OTCh., a dog needed to earn 100 points, which requires three first places in Open B and Utility under three different judges. The first dog to earn the OTCh. title was a Golden Retriever named Moreland's Golden Tonk, owned by Russ Klippie.
**Goldens act like a bunch of kids having their first swim of the season. Goldens love water and you can take advantage of this natural trait by using them as hunting dogs.**
# **AGILITY TRIALS**
Having had its origins in the UK back in 1977, AKC agility had its official beginning in the US in August 1994, when the first licensed agility trials were held. The AKC allows all registered breeds (including Miscellaneous Class breeds) to participate, providing the dog is 12 months of age or older. Agility is designed so that the handler demonstrates how well the dog can work at his side. The handler directs his dog over an obstacle course that includes jumps as well as tires, the dog walk, weave poles, pipe tunnels, collapsed tunnels, etc. While working his way through the course, the dog must keep one eye and ear on the handler and the rest of his body on the course. The handler gives verbal commands and hand signals to guide the dog through the course.
**Agility trials have become the rage of the dog world. Jumping through a tire is one of the events at agility trials.**
# **TRACKING**
Any dog is capable of tracking, using its nose to follow a trail. Tracking tests are exciting and competitive ways to test your Golden Retriever's ability to search and rescue. The AKC started tracking tests in 1937, when the first AKC-licensed test took place as part of the Utility level at an obedience trial. Ten years later in 1947, the AKC offered the first title, Tracking Dog (TD). In 1950, the first Golden Retriever to earn the TD was Featherquest Trigger, owned by Marjorie Perry. A chip off the old block, Trigger was the son of Goldwood Toby UD, the first Golden to earn the UD title in an obedience trial. It was not until 1980 that the AKC added the Tracking Dog Excellent title (TDX), which was followed by the Versatile Surface Tracking title (VST) in 1995. The title Champion Tracker (CT) is awarded to a dog who has earned all three titles.
# **FIELD TRIALS**
Field trials are offered to the retrievers, pointers and spaniel breeds of the Sporting Group as well as to the Beagles, Dachshunds and Bassets of the Hound Group. The purpose of field trials is to demonstrate a dog's ability to perform its original purpose in the field. The events vary depending on the type of dog, but in all trials dogs compete against one another for placement and for points toward their Field Champion (FC) titles. The first Golden to become a Field Champion in the US was FC Rip, owned by Paul Bakewell III, this back in 1939.
Retriever field trials, designed to simulate "an ordinary day's shoot," are popular and likely the most demanding of these trials. Dogs must "mark" the location of downed feather game and then return the birds to the shooter. Successful dogs are able to "mark" the downed game by remembering where the bird fell as well as by the correct use of the wind and terrain. Dogs are tested both on land and water. Difficulty levels are based on the number of birds downed as well as the number of "blind retrieves" (where a bird is placed away from the view of the dog and the handler directs the dog by the use of hand signals and verbal commands). The term "Non-Slip" retriever, often applied to these trials, refers to a dog that is steady at the handler's side until commanded to go. Every field trial includes four stakes of increasing levels of difficulty. Each stake is judged by a team of two judges who look for many natural abilities including steadiness, courage, style, control and training.
# **HUNTING TESTS**
Hunting tests are not competitive like field trials, and participating dogs are judged against a standard like in a conformation show. The first hunting tests were devised by the North American Hunting Retriever Association (NAHRA) as an alternative to field trials for retriever owners to appreciate their dogs' natural innate ability in the field without the expense and pressure of formal field trials. The intent of hunting tests is the same as that of field trials, to test the dog's ability in a simulated hunting scenario.
The AKC instituted its hunting tests in June 1985, and popularity has grown tremendously. The AKC offers three titles at hunting tests, Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH) and Master Hunter (MH). Each title requires that the dog earn qualifying "legs" at the tests: the JH requiring four; the SH, five; and the MH, six. In addition to the AKC, the United Kennel Club also offers hunting tests through its affiliate club, the Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. (HRC), which began the tests in 1984.
**RESCUE PERSONNEL**
On the tracking course, Golden Retrievers earn tracking titles that rival the hound breeds known for their scenting prowess. This has a practical function as well...that famous Golden nose also works in search-and-rescue operations around the world. During every international disaster, from mudslides to earthquakes to terrorist bomb sites, Goldens join the ranks of rescue personnel to help find victims buried beneath the mud or rubble.
KENNEL CLUB BOOKS® **GOLDEN RETRIEVER**
eISBN : 978-1-593-78873-5
Copyright © 2003, 2009 • Kennel Club Books® • An Imprint of I-5 Press™ • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™
3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA
Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Photography by:
Norvia Behling, Liza Clancy, David Dalton,
Kent and Donna Dannen, Doskocil, Isabelle Français,
Gold-Rush Kennels, Bill Jonas, Carol Ann Johnson,
Alice Pantfoeder, Mikki Pet Products, Antonio Philippe,
Nikki Sussman, Karen Taylor, and Alice van Kempen.
Illustrations by Renée Low.
Thanks to _The Seeing Eye®,_ Morristown, NJ.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Books3 |
Q:
Do heavier java libraries cause Google App Engine to take longer in starting instances?
Do heavier java libraries cause Google App Engine to take longer in starting instances?
Even if the libary isn't used at all until later?
A:
The answer to this is yes. I tested it by doing a simple hello world servlet. It averaged about 2 seconds to load. Then I added a bunch of libraries that I didn't even use. Then it averaged about 4 seconds to load.
Though it could just be that the server was running slower while I did my second test. I only did a few tests for each case.
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | StackExchange |
Immortalization and neoplastic transformation of fetal rat intestinal epithelial cells: morphological and cytogenetic analysis, (proto)oncogene expression and effect of gamma-interferon on cell growth.
The permanent SLC-11 and -41 intestinal epithelial cells respectively immortalized by the E1A and large T oncogenes and their clonal derivatives showed a cytogenetic heterogeneity characterized by a near diploidy in SLC-11 and -12 cells and a generalized polyploidy in SLC-41 and -44 cells. Persistence of chromosome translocations and trisomy 3 were observed. The expression of the E1A oncogene in immortalized SLC-11 cells is associated with a strong repression of c-fos transcription during the exponential growth, as compared to the resting phase or to control rat fetal intestinal epithelial cells. The transcription of c-myc was also reduced in SLC-11 cells, especially in confluent cells. A complex relationship between the levels and size of the c-fos, c-myc mRNAs and the expression of the E1A oncogene was therefore observed in SLC-11 cells. Immortalized SLC-11 and -41 cells showed a remarkable growth inhibition in response to recombinant rat gamma-IFN. Neoplastic transformation by activated human Ha-ras in SLC-12T and -44 T cells confer resistance to the antigrowth effects of IFN. The combination of culture conditions using defined medium, membrane matrix (laminin, collagen, proteoglycans) and intestinal mesenchyme revealed the persistence of the undifferentiated phenotype of the E1A, large T-immortalized and Ha-ras-transformed SLC cells in vitro or in the nude mice. In association with the intestinal chick endoderm, SLC-11 cells possess some inductive properties on the differentiation of villi projections arising from the chick endoderm in vivo. In contrast, SLC-41 cells were induced to differentiate in enterocyte-like cells by the intestinal chick mesenchyme. The immortalized and Ha-ras-transformed SLC cells therefore constitute new models in the sequential analysis of the molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in the proliferation, differentiation and oncogene-mediated neoplastic transformation in gut. Further attempts in SLC cell differentiation have to be accomplished using chemical inducers for prolonged periods of time, or by transfection of intestinal epithelial cells using temperature- or glucocorticoid-inducible vectors. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
The Beauty of a Beast
with Belle and the Dragon
by
Tony Myers
The Beauty of a Beast
Copyright 2016 by Tony Myers
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without permission from the author. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations.
www.tonymyers.net
Acknowledgments
I would like to start by saying thank you to my wife Charity for proofreading the manuscript. Thank you for your patience in working through my book. I love you so much. In regard to editing, I also want to say thank you to Stephen for "coming out of retirement" to edit the manuscript. I know you spent many hours on it, and for that I am extremely grateful.
To the fans of Singleton and Stealing the Magic, I must say that your emails, comments, and words of encouragement were extremely motivating in my ambition to write another book. Your support kept me writing on the hard days. Thank you so much! I take all your encouragement to heart.
I also want to thank Mitch and the whole crew at the Waterloo Chick-fil-a. You guys provided a wonderful atmosphere for writing this book. The service is always friendly, and the food is always tasty. Keep up the good work, my friends.
Our small group also deserves a large amount of gratitude for their encouragement and support. Thank you guys especially for the 5-hour energy drink that pushed me to the finish line.
My family is wonderful. I want to thank both my immediate and extended family. I appreciate all the excitement and interest in the book. You are always supportive of me as an author and for that I'm so grateful. I especially want to mention Charity, Hannah Beth, Anthony and Elliot. I love you guys so much!
Lastly, I would like to give my love and gratitude to God. I once was blind, but now I see. I'm so thankful for the Amazing Grace that is found in your Son. He is the one who saved me... opened my eyes. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise!
<>
To my wife, Charity,
## לִבִּי
ἀγάπη μου
Thankful for this journey we have together. We were meant to be.
<>
Belle and the Dragon
A short prequel
by
Tony Myers
1
Belle awoke and sat up in her bed. She was breathing heavily. It was early, still dark out. Her dreams had awakened her again. This was a common occurrence. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked around the room. Looking to her right, she could see rain beating against the window.
Pulling the covers off, she quickly slid out of bed and walked toward the window. She looked out to the mountains in the distance, admiring them from afar. Belle enjoyed being in a room far above the tree line. For as long as she could remember, she had lived in this tower. It was the highest spot in the castle. Being the only daughter of the king definitely came with its perks. Everyone in the villages greatly admired King Sebastian's twenty-year-old beautiful daughter, and this quiet tower provided the great peace she needed in her world of fame.
She tried to think of her dream. She so deeply wished she could remember it. Only bits and pieces would come to her. What was it? she thought to herself. It was a strange feeling. Intuitively Belle knew this was the same recurring dream she was having every week. The strange thing, too, was that something was not right with the dream. She just couldn't place what it was, but she knew something was wrong. A piece of it was troubling. The desire to remember was growing every week. She would have given a lot of gold to help figure out the nature of her dream.
The lightning continued to strike in the distance. She wondered if she could go back to sleep. She walked back to her bed and climbed under the covers. She looked over at the lantern on the table beside her bed. Her medicine was sitting next to the lantern. The nursemaid must have come in and left it while she was sleeping. Picking up the small cup, Belle drank it down quickly. It tasted terrible, but she had become immune to the taste a long time ago.
For as long as she could remember she had taken medicine. The nursemaid would routinely bring it in at night, and she would take it first thing when she woke up. Belle wasn't totally sure what it was for, but her father always said it was for her demeanor and anxiety. Many times she had asked her father if she would ever be cured. He would always tell her that their doctors could retest in a few years and see if it was helping. She knew it would never happen.
Belle gathered her brown hair in a ponytail and tied it back. She readjusted her pillow before lying down. Shutting her eyes, she tried to relax. She could hear more than just the rain on the window pane. At first she thought it was her imagination, but after a while she knew that it wasn't. She heard voices coming from downstairs.
What's going on? she thought to herself. It's too early for Father to be engaging in matters of business. She quickly got back out of bed and headed for the door. Turning the handle, she opened the door slowly. The voices became louder. She could hear shouting and arguing.
Belle quickly walked to her bed and grabbed the lantern. Lighting the lantern, she walked back toward the opened door. She slowly crept down the spiral steps of the tower. The voices grew louder with every step. Her father's voice was clear, but many of the other voices she did not immediately recognize.
Reaching the bottom, she peeked around the corner into the meeting room. She could see a large round table and her father, the king, on one end arguing his point. He was dressed in a dark red robe with his crown sitting on the table. His long curly, brown hair could be clearly seen. His advisor, Hector de Serpent, was close to his side, gritting his teeth angrily as a few strands of dark black hair covered his face. On the other side of the table were about a dozen fully-armed knights, who were ready for battle. It looked as if her father, King Sebastian, was angrily arguing and pleading with them. Belle tried to listen in on what was he was saying but struggled to grasp the full context of their conversation. Across the table from the king, the chief knight of the realm, Michael, was arguing on behalf of his men. Belle couldn't hear him very clearly but could tell he was trying to make a case against what King Sebastian was saying.
Belle knew that Michael de Bolbec was the only person in the whole kingdom who could argue with the king in such a fiery tone. He had proven himself in various battles in defense of the kingdom and had accomplished much, even at the age of 25. He was strong, brave and handsome and, though it was never said, Belle knew that her father was trying to groom him to one day be her husband. It seemed that everyone in the kingdom knew of this fact, which always made conversation with Michael a little awkward.
"Listen, I'm not into the game of appeasement," Michael said, jamming his index finger on the table. His voice was strong and could be recognized anywhere. "This creature has oppressed us long enough. I say it's time to strike and time to strike hard."
The King shook his head, "Michael, what are you talking about? He has left us in peace for years. The people barely remember the last victim."
Michael hit the table hard with his fist. His blond hair partially covered his face as he shouted angrily, "Peace, you think this is peace? The people live in fear of him. He sits there day after day on our border, waiting for someone from our land to come close."
"Hold your tongue, Michael!" Hector responded, pausing a moment to lick his lips. His voice reminded Michael of what a human snake would sound like. "You ought to know better than to talk to the king in this way. You ought to be bowing before him, not talking to him in his manner." Hector quickly pulled a dagger from his side. Michael remained unfazed, not in the least bit scared of Hector.
"Quiet down, Hector. I can handle this," King Sebastian spoke. Hector lowered his dagger, giving Michael an angry look. Belle despised Hector. He always dressed himself in dark green clothing and seemed to linger in the shadows. She often objected to the advice and opinions he seemed to plant in her father's mind. She wished he would listen to her warnings, but it was always to no avail.
"Ok, listen, King," Michael said, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "This creature needs to be shown strength. I'm not sure if my men and I will be able to quietly hunt him down and destroy him, but I'd say at least let's come to him with swords drawn ready to fight. Some of these creatures are conscious enough to detect emotions like fear and courage. Let's show him the latter. Let's show him the strength of the kingdom."
Though no one directly said it, Belle knew the creature they were referring to... a dragon; a cave dwelling dragon that caused the people of Mendolon to live in fear. On his own, he had created a forbidden territory east of the kingdom that the people stayed away from. His cave sat in the middle of this ten-mile territory. The townspeople refused to enter the area. In the past some of the new travelers to the kingdom thought the dragon was a myth, but five years ago any talk of a myth was put to silence. A merchant was eaten when he tried to take a shortcut by journeying through the area. His bones were later found at the edge of the territory. The dragon left them as a warning for the people.
The king continued, "Michael, we don't cross into his border and he stays out of ours. This dragon has shown reserve and respect for our kingdom."
"Respect... respect?" Michael countered, "You think living at our border and threatening to kill our people is a sign of respect? And answer me this, why has he suddenly decided to dwell at the edge of the border and blow fire into the surrounding fields?"
The king shook his head, "You are not listening to me. The proper way to go about this is not through a fight with a dragon. How many soldiers would we lose? Are you willing to sacrifice a few men from your band of knights just to kill a rather small dragon that lives, not in our towns, but outside our border?"
Michael couldn't help but smile in sarcasm at the king's use of the word small. Though compared to other dragons he was quite small, this one was no less intimidating. He would still rival the size of an elephant, and his sharp teeth and massive tail would leave anyone cowering before him. "My king, also think about this... if this beast was sent away, the trade routes to the east would be opened. Our neighbors would see it as a sign of goodwill."
The king rubbed his forehead out of frustration. He spoke a little quieter, "Michael... my knight, you are not even thinking rationally now. Those to the east of us are savages. They would have nothing but war from us." His voice was rising at this point, "Please, will you just let me explain my solution before you keep objecting."
Michael took a deep breath and looked back at his knights. They seemed to be waiting patiently while he made his opinion known to the king. Michael had argued his point mightily and, so far, wasn't getting through. He decided to yield to the king. He spoke in a calm voice, "Ok, King, tell me, what do you have in mind for this creature?"
King Sebastian bowed his head gently in a sign of appreciation, "Thank you for seeing the light. I will proceed." He turned now to his advisor, "Hector, please bring in the statue." Hector quickly retreated to a set of large double doors behind the king.
A puzzled look spread across Michael's face as Hector opened the doors. He beheld the statue that two royal servants brought in on a cart. Hector helped guide it into place by the table. Michael couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. It was a wooden statue of a dragon. It was about five feet in height, beautifully designed, and very well detailed. Hector was a master craftsman, and seemed to have spent hours on this fixture under the king's orders. The teeth and the claws were each uniquely crafted, and even each individual scale looked to be crafted with great detail. Hector spoke up, "We plan to overlay it with gold before setting it on the border of the dragon's territory."
Michael's mouth dropped open as he searched for words. On one hand the structure was a beauty to behold. It was possibly Hector's greatest work. The detail was incredible. But on the other hand, he couldn't believe what the king was proposing. Offering some type of idol to the dragon was not the road Michael wanted to venture down. "No.... no!" he said shaking his head. "This is definitely not the side of the kingdom we want to show the dragon."
"Michael," the king stuck his hand out, trying to calm him, "Hear me out, the dragon will see the time we spent on this and its beauty and he will look on us with favor."
"He will definitely look on us with favor," Michael shouted, "because he will think he's a god to us!"
"Listen, my knight. We just need to leave it at the edge of the territory and let him think what he wants."
"King, you are my king, but in all due respect for you and the kingdom... I will not bring this piece of wickedness before him. This idea is most shameful, and definitely below your dignity."
Hector could not contain his rage any longer. Before anyone could react, he quickly pulled his dagger again and lunged over the round table toward Michael. "How dare you speak to the king in this manner!" he shouted as he passed over the table.
Taking a step back, Michael quickly picked up his shield to intercept the approaching dagger. The dagger hit hard against the shield. The blade snapped in half upon impact. Hector landed on his feet and tried to gather himself quickly. Turning around, he wasn't able to react in time to see Michael's shield being driven into his face. Everyone could hear the crack of Hector's nose breaking.
Hector fell to the floor. Blood was already starting to flow from his nostrils. Michael walked calmly over to where Hector was lying on the ground face up. An expression of terror was clearly visible. Michael slowly unsheathed his sword and held the tip toward Hector's throat. "What were you saying, Snake?" he spoke quietly. Everyone watched in amazement at Michael's poise.
Hector hissed as he spoke, "You're not man enough to drive me through anyway. Go ahead and do it if you choose. I bet you..."
"Men, stop this non-sense," King Sebastian said, rolling his eyes. "Hector, get off the floor and get back over here before you hurt yourself." Pushing Michael's sword aside, Hector quickly got up and ran toward the king's side. The blood from his nose stained his mouth and chin. Michael sheathed his sword as his enemy retreated.
The king continued, "Well, like it or not, we are delivering this statue to the edge of the woods. You can either support me as your king or you can..."
Crash! The king turned to see the statue lying flat on the ground, knocked off the cart. A few of the wooden claws and teeth had broken off during the fall, and there were other large cracks in the body of the structure. A mixture of anger and confusion could be seen on the king's face because beside the fallen statue, he was looking into the face of his only daughter, Belle.
With all the commotion with Michael and Hector, they had failed to see Belle pick up a javelin mounted on the wall and approach the statue. Swinging the javelin as hard as she could, she had knocked the statue off the cart and onto the floor. She now stood beside the broken structure, still in her nightgown, but looking more like a warrior with the javelin in her hand.
"Belle, what do you think you are doing?" her father spoke, a little more confused than angry.
Belle was a little scared as she spoke, "Father, I want to know what is happening. And please," she paused, just for a moment, "I want to know how I can help." Though she tried to look and sound tough, her voice was naturally soft and pleasant. It was always inviting to all who heard it.
The room had gone silent for a moment. Tensions had been rising all morning, and it was as if Belle's presence had brought everything back down to a calm level. All the knights had grand respect for the king's daughter. She was always kind to the townspeople and sought to befriend them when she could. She truly represented the best of the kingdom of Mendolon.
Michael took a deep breath and spoke quietly, "Belle, the dragon has been coming out of his cave the last two days and traveling to the edge of his border, sometimes into our territory."
"You can't prove that," the king countered.
Michael continued, "Regardless, he is burning the fields on the edge of our border, destroying crops and killing a few livestock. I'm sure you've also heard the rumors that he growls at night, giving off a warning to those nearby."
"Belle, we are debating what is the proper procedure to deal with these current developments," her father added.
Everyone stood in silence for a few seconds trying to process everything that had happened and everything they had discussed. The mood had become noticeably less tense. Michael and his knights took seats at the table. Belle quietly sat down before speaking up, "Father, I think we should follow Michael's plan. This dragon has been pestering us for years now, and maybe in the past the people were content to let him live on as long as he left us unbothered... but, Father, now is the time to fight back. He is again bringing fear to the townspeople and threatening us. He is one of the smallest dragons we know of; surely men with half the skill and courage of Michael have slain dragons greater than the one we face. I'd say let's take up arms and confront him at once." Michael couldn't help but smile slightly at Belle's confidence in him.
The king gently sat down at the table. He shook his head in exhaustion. He was angry at Michael. If it weren't for his loyalty and valor in battle, the king would have surely demoted him a long time ago. He rubbed his hands through his thick brown beard as a plan formulated through his mind. He wanted a way to turn this situation around for his own glory and fame... or better yet, for the glory and fame of his lineage.
Standing up, the king grabbed for his crown and placed it on his head. He was ready to issue a decree. "Ok, this is what I propose. Today, we lead a procession through the town with Michael and his knights on the way to fight the dragon. Let the people see we are going to strike."
"I agree, my king," Michael responded.
"But let me say this," the king continued with a smile on his face, "At the front of the procession beside Michael will be my daughter leading the way."
This caught Michael off guard. He did not like the sound of this. "With all due respect, Sire, I do not agree with this decision. Yes, your daughter is skilled with the sword and will be a knight in her time, but I don't think she is quite ready to face a dragon. I know you want..."
"Let me finish," the king responded, "Belle will accompany you on this journey in full battle attire, but she will only go with you so far. Let the people see you ride through town and into the territory, but right before you are to do battle with the dragon in his lair, find a safe haven for Belle. Let her see the battle and claim the victory for it in the end. It will unite the people under my throne, and confirm my lineage against rebellion for a generation."
Michael thought about this proposal from the king. He didn't like the idea of bringing Belle along, but he liked it a lot more than any plan of appeasement the king had offered. Standing up from the table, he cracked his knuckles as he looked sharply at the king. "We will prepare at once, and leave as soon as the townsfolk begin to enter the markets." The king nodded in approval.
Belle stood shocked. She couldn't believe she was about to go on a dragon hunt.
2
Belle led the way on horseback through the center of town, dressed in her own armor. It was a beautiful purple and white pattern. It looked quite fitting for a princess, yet still ready for battle. A small sword was bouncing gently off her side with every step of the horse. She wore no helmet, just a simple crown on her head. Michael and his men were following close behind Belle. Michael chose his eight best men to accompany them on this expedition. He didn't want any trouble from the dragon. The knights were in their traditional battle armor, whereas Michael was dressed in his unique warrior-like armor. It consisted of a grey fabric material with a metal vest covering his chest and traditional metal gloves to cover his hands. He wanted the protection yet valued the ability to be mobile during a battle. Unlike the other knights, he wore a helmet that left his face exposed. The king wanted the people to see the face of the realm's chief knight.
It was prime time for the merchants. The streets were busy with people buying and selling in vast array. Many had stopped their transactions to watch the brigade of soldiers pass through the streets. Some of the young girls ran in excitement to see the king's beautiful daughter pass through their midst. They clapped and cheered at the sight of the princess. Belle smiled and waved to the crowds as they showed their affection. A part of her felt deceptive leading knights through town like this, knowing that she was not going to engage in battle. In her mind she reassured herself that this was bringing the people hope, giving them something to rejoice about. Her father's presence often brought dissension among the people. She was thankful that she could bring unity.
A young girl ran up toward Belle's horse in a full sprint. She couldn't have been older than nine. She was bouncing with excitement. "Whoa, hold up!" Michael said, holding out his hand to slow the girl. She stopped in her tracks.
"It's all right... let her come," Belle said, motioning with her hand for the girl to come closer. As she approached the horse, Belle could see that the girl held up a flower to her. Belle smiled as she gently took it from the girl's hand. It was a daisy. The petals were nearly perfect. Stopping her horse in place, she put the flower in her hair, right by her ear. Giving the girl a small wink, she gave her horse a light kick as they continued on. The young girl waved as she ran back to her mother.
"It seems the townspeople are quite fond of you, Your Highness," Michael said, riding alongside Belle.
"Maybe they're cheering for you, the king's chief knight," Belle said, still waving to the people.
Michael laughed slightly, "I can assure you they're not. The princess of the land is the one they want to see."
"Michael, you know the people love you and appreciate your services to the kingdom."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, I know they see me favorably, but you know as well as I that their true affection rests with you and you alone."
Belle kept smiling and waving to the people. She genuinely loved them. More than anything she wanted them to feel safe and at peace in the kingdom. She was happy that after many years the threat of the dragon that lived at their borders was finally going to be eliminated.
<>
It had taken them most of the day to reach the southeastern edge of the kingdom. They were currently on the outskirts to the kingdom's border close to the dragon's territory. A few small villages were located in this region of rolling hills. They were simple farming communities. Occasionally the king would send guards through the area for collecting taxes or for the issuing of new decrees, but for the most part these villages governed themselves.
Michael, Belle, and the knights passed through the center of a small village located in a wooded area. A few houses lined the side of the road. On any other occasion, the people would have only given a slight notice to knights passing through their village, but as of late, the people were anxious to see the kingdom deal with the threats from the dragon. The group of knights was definitely a positive sign for the people, and seeing the king's daughter riding with them was also a joyous sight.
A few times each year, Belle would travel to these outlining towns, usually with a couple of knights by her side. She wanted to see the people's faces. In her heart of hearts she truly loved them and wanted them to experience lives of peace and tranquility within the kingdom of Mendolon. She worked hard at learning names and remembering the occupations of the people she saw more regularly. She knew that one day she was going to be their queen, and they would be her people.
Coming to the end of the line of houses, Michael instructed the men. "This road should take us right into the dragon's territory. We have about another mile to travel and then we will stop for food before proceeding into the territory." No one responded. The men were loyal and followed his orders without question. They trusted him.
Belle spoke up, "Michael, I'm surprised we are entering on the south side. The dragon has been spotted more by the villages on the northwestern side of the territory."
Michael nodded without making eye contact. "I figure that is where the dragon might be spending most of his time. He may not expect anyone to approach his cave from the southern route."
"I'm surprised that we would need to take such precautions with a group of eight men and this small of a dragon."
Michael smiled as he turned to look at Belle, "Your confidence in me and my men is quite flattering, but I'm trying to eliminate any chance of an incident. This dragon has shown quite a bit of intelligence and I don't want to underestimate him in any way." Michael paused for a moment, "Even though he is small, he is still a fire-breathing dragon."
Most of the women in the kingdom admired Michael for his strength and good looks. He was truly a symbol for the kingdom and King Sebastian would not hesitate to parade him around the villages with a brigade of troops. Belle, on the other hand, admired him for his bravery and humility. She wished more people could see that side of him.
They trotted along in silence for a minute or two. Belle and Michael were about ten feet in front of the others. The sound of the horses' hooves was soothing as they traveled closer to the dragon's territory. None of the men seemed scared. They found their confidence in their leader.
Belle broke the silence, "At times you really surprise me, Michael."
"Oh, how so?"
"You often fall in line with many of my father's wishes and desires. Why are you so loyal to him and give him so much respect?"
Michael spoke calmly, "Belle, I don't know how much you heard this morning, but we were arguing for quite a while about what to do with this dragon."
"Yes, I know, but even still, you are here doing my father's bidding... even bringing me along. You know my father can be a harsh man at times. Why do you have such an allegiance to him?"
Michael waited just a moment before speaking. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. "My allegiance is to freedom, justice, and peace. Yes, your father is harsh at times, but he has provided a stable realm for the people of his kingdom. I will seek to maintain that. I will honor him as our king... for the sake of the people."
Belle was happy for these few minutes alone to talk with Michael. She wanted to speak with him more in depth. All morning she had suspected that something was on his mind. It may have been a simple inflection in his voice, or possibly the way he was not making eye contact, but somehow Belle knew Michael was hiding something. He was truly a man filled with honor and truth, and most of the time he would easily give himself away if he wasn't being completely honest.
"Michael, I know this dragon needs to be dealt with, but he has been here for years and not crossed our borders. Why the urgency? Couldn't this dragon just be making us aware of his presence? Reminding us of his territory."
"Isn't ridding our border of a fire breathing dragon enough motivation?"
Though Belle often came across as sweet and soft spoken, she did have a determined side to her personality that wouldn't give up till she got the answer she was looking for. "Michael, please," she said reaching over and grabbing his arm, "You give yourself away so easily. What is really going on?"
Looking down at Belle's hand holding his arm seemed to soften him. Though at times he tried not to think about it, he knew the rumors among the townspeople that one day they would wed. He looked up at her eyes as they were fixed on his. He knew there was no need in hiding anything, especially since she was accompanying them on this journey. He looked back at his men before speaking, "Belle, something does not add up with this dragon."
"What do you mean?" she said, releasing his arm.
"I mean the whole situation. It's always disturbed me. For one, have you ever heard of a dragon positioning itself directly between two kingdoms, and marking off its boundary? Usually they live far off, hoarding and protecting whatever gold they have accumulated. I have never heard of a dragon dwelling this close to such a populated region, much less two vast kingdoms."
"Michael, that was about twenty years ago when he marked off his territory. You would have been young. Do you even remember that time?"
"I do. I was five at the time. People were filled with fear, wondering what the implications of having a dragon at our borders would mean."
"I can imagine that was a hard time to grow up," Belle said softly.
"For a time it was. I remember as a boy hearing about how the dragon had marked the border of his territory with fire. Among the townspeople they nicknamed the area Dragon Waste. Quickly, stories began to grow about the size of the dragon and if this would somehow incite a war with our neighbors to the east. I believe at that time, every boy in the kingdom had visions of growing up to become a dragon hunter."
Belle was anxious to hear more as her father never talked much about it. "What happened, Michael?" she inquired. "Do you remember why the kingdom did nothing about it at the time?"
Michael shrugged his shoulders, "Life moved on. After he marked his territory the people knew to stay out of it. We didn't cross his border and he stayed out of our villages. Other matters then concerned us as a people. King Sebastian, your father, heard rumors of war to the north. We thought we might be headed into it. Our attention was turned there. One day turned to another and the dragon was slowly forgotten."
"You know, when you put it like that, it is strange that we, as a kingdom, have just come to accept a dragon living this close to our border."
"Precisely. The whole situation is odd." Michael paused for a moment as if he was in deep thought, "But at the moment there is something else that has brought even more curiosity to me," he said, brushing his blond hair out of his eyes.
"Oh, and what's that?" Belle said, puzzled.
"The king is right on one thing... for years this dragon has lived at our border in solitude. The only incident was the passing merchant that went into his area. But still, he has never directly threatened us like he is doing now."
Belle thought for a moment about what Michael was implying. She figured she would ask directly, "So what's your point? What do you think is happening?"
"This dragon is being provoked. He would not act like this unless something was making him angry." Michael stared hard into the distance. "And maybe not necessarily something... but possibly someone."
<>
They reached the border of the dragon's territory in the middle of the afternoon. They stopped for a quick meal and to check supplies before heading into the area. A wooden sign stood at the border warning all travelers, "Dragon Waste: KEEP OUT! Enter under no circumstance." Michael gave it only a passing glance as they proceeded forward.
The day grew dreary as they traveled through the territory. Belle wondered if it was going to rain. She figured rain would actually be an advantage in battling a fire breathing dragon. Soon the trail faded away. Plant life had overtaken it. Michael's top soldier, Gideon, directed them according to a map of the area. Gideon was in his late forties, and he had been in the territory a couple of times before the dragon had settled. The dragon's cave was nearly in the center of the territory, and it would be at least an hour before they arrived.
Belle had felt a little anxiety when they first entered the territory, but as the journey dragged on, the anxiety slowly faded. Occasionally glancing at the soldiers, she saw no fear in their eyes. She gleaned much confidence from their demeanor. They followed their captain whom they trusted. He was focused. From their earlier talk, Belle knew that Michael had questions about this dragon. There was a mystery with this dragon, and Michael was ready to explore.
Besides the overgrowth of plant life, the territory did not look much different from the outskirts of Mendolon: a thick forest followed by a small open plain, followed by a cluster of trees. Belle's mind went to the battle that would be fought. She wondered how close she would be. She wondered how much she would be able to see. Or how long would it last? Surely a dragon this small would be a quick victory for Michael, especially with the amount of men that were brought along.
A rustle in the woods startled the company. Everyone stopped and looked to their left. Every man's hand instantly went to the hilt of their sword, except for Michael who went for one of his daggers attached to his belt. For a distant enemy he would not hesitate to throw a small dagger. The men watched closely as a rabbit bounced from a small bush on a hill. The tension eased and the men continued on.
Since they entered the territory, no one had said a word. Gideon and Michael led the way, and Belle was surrounded by knights on both sides. She longed for conversation. She wanted her questions answered. Her mind slowly drifted to her recurring dream. She had a faint hope that something on this journey would jog her memory and help her remember it. Belle felt as if it was on the edge of her mind, just waiting to be grasped. Oh, how I wish I could remember it, she thought.
Without warning, Michael stopped the company. They were on the edge of a clearing of trees. A small hill lay just before them. "We're here, men," Michael said in a quiet voice. Belle thought this was odd as she couldn't see the cave from where her horse stood. The men quickly dismounted from their horses and tied them to nearby trees. Belle followed suit.
Michael continued, "Gideon, you take the men around to the front of the cave and wait for me. I will make sure Belle is situated before joining you."
"We will wait," Gideon responded obediently. Michael and Belle watched as the knights walked around the hill, swords drawn, ready to fight. It was obvious the entrance to the cave was on the opposite side of the hill. Belle hoped she would be positioned where she could see the battle transpire.
"Belle, I'm going to position you here at the top of the hill among those two small trees," Michael said, pointing to the top of the small hill. "Common to most dragons, at this time he should be sleeping." Michael began leading her up the hill. She was a little disappointed as a part of her wished that somehow Michael would have allowed her to engage in the fight.
Michael further explained the plan. "Our strategy is simple. We attack the dragon while it is sleeping. If it awakes, it will have nowhere to go. Our numbers should overwhelm him pretty easily."
"What if he decides to breathe fire on you?" Belle said bluntly.
"Highly unlikely. If the dragon is trapped, most of the time they won't breathe fire, knowing that in a confined space the fire might lead to their own demise."
Reaching the trees on the top of the hill, Belle could see there was a steep cliff on the side where the opening of the cave was. Looking over the cliff, she could see she was about twenty feet off the ground. She could also see knights at the base. Michael gave a small wave, indicating he would be ready soon.
"I'd advise you to lay low among the trees. If the dragon seems to somehow get past us, he will probably head for the horses. Up here you will be completely out of the battle."
Michael looked off into the distance when he spoke. He did not face her. Belle could tell his mind was occupied. In the past she had seen Michael before small battles, and this was completely unlike him. "Michael... is everything ok?"
"You can take my shield," Michael said, completely ignoring the question. "You can use it to cover yourself, just in case the dragon is not in the cave. As soon as the battle is done, I will come for you. Remember to stay here."
Michael turned to leave. "Michael," Belle said, reaching out and trying to grab his hand. Failing to grasp his hand, her fingernails tore the cloth around his forearm, just above his gloves. Her grip was tight. Michael stopped. Looking down, Michael could see the torn cloth around his forearm. He looked up at Belle, making direct eye contact.
She continued, "Michael, I'm sorry, but is everything ok? Do you need me in this battle? I can help you guys. I've..."
"Belle," Michael said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I know you are a capable warrior, and have shown valor, but... I will follow your father's wishes. You will be safe here."
He tried to turn away again, but she held tight. "Tell me, is everything all right? You don't seem yourself. What is it?"
Michael took a deep breath as he looked off into the distance. It seemed as if he was trying to choose his words carefully. "I keep thinking about our earlier conversation about this dragon."
"Do you still have questions about this whole situation?"
Michael looked right at her, "I do and the more I think about it... the more questions I have. Something is going on, and I want to get to the bottom of it."
3
Michael came off the hill and walked toward the front of the cave. Forced by habit, he found himself checking the daggers on his belt. He made sure they were all in their proper place and ready to be used if need be. He carried his sword on his back. As opposed to a typical knight's sword, he preferred a shorter one. His current one was about a foot and a half in length. It was light-weight and could easily be pulled in the midst of combat.
He found his knights at the mouth of the cave looking into the entrance. Many of them already had their swords drawn. A couple of them looked worried. Seeing Michael approach, Gideon took a few steps toward him with news. "Sir, we believe the creature is awake," Gideon said quietly.
"Oh, what makes you say that?"
"We can hear his faint growls. He sounds to be about fifty to seven-five yards in." Gideon had always been blessed with a keen sense of hearing. It had proven to be a great asset in battle.
"Well, I guess there is not a moment to lose," Michael said, placing his helmet on his head and drawing his sword. "Follow me, men." With both hands on his sword, Michael proceeded to enter the cave. The knights did the same and followed behind their captain.
The knights were as quiet as they could be as they entered. They had all gone through immense training and knew how to sneak up on an enemy. Every drop of water and every slight kick of a rock seemed to be exaggerated in their minds. With every step, Michael went further into the darkness of the cave and closer to the growling of the creature. Sweat beads formed on his forehead. He was waiting for the right moment to charge the creature. One of his men had the assignment to light the torch just as he sprang into battle.
Michael's mind quickly flashed back to the time of his youth. He remembered as a boy hearing about the dragon coming to their borders. He remembered the fear in the eyes of townspeople. He remembered the desire to one day slay this dragon and bring peace to the realm. The feelings from his youth came back. He was truly ready to put an end to this dragon... to put an end to fear.
Michael quickly looked back at his men, making sure they were still in step with him. He could see them clearly against the light coming from the opening of the cave. Turning toward the back of the cave, he could see nothing, only hear the growling.
The growling became louder with every step. It sounded irregular—in fact, it sounded as if the creature might be hurt. As he stepped closer and closer, he noticed that the growling was a lot less robust than what he had anticipated. In fact, he wouldn't characterize this as growling at all, more like moaning. Something wasn't right, he could sense it... he could almost feel it.
Michael stood for a moment and listened to the growling. It was constant. He studied it carefully. It sounded somewhat familiar. It was a sound he had heard before. He tried to remember where and when. He knew it hadn't been that long ago. Michael closed his eyes to think, to try to remember. Searching his mind, he knew it was from one of his journeys a few years ago. He was traveling abroad on a mission. It was at a time when... he remembered what it was.
Standing at ease, he looked back at his men. "Bernard, light the torch," he said, not bothering to be quiet.
There were a few seconds of silence before Bernard responded timidly. "But Sir, this was not in our plans. I don't think..."
"Bernard, just do it," Michael said unafraid. The torch was quickly lit, piercing the darkness. The men gazed with fear to see a creature by the back of the cave. Two small piles of gold lay around him. The creature was obviously in pain and not at all what they were expecting.
They will never forget the sight they saw. There was no dragon. A lion had been caught and placed at the back of the cave in the midst of the dragon's gold. He was stuck in a large pile of rocks that covered his back hind legs. He was unable to move. His front legs and face were covered in scratches and blood. The lion longed to be released.
Confusion clouded the face of every man. Gideon was the first to speak, "Sir, what is going on? This is definitely unlike a dragon keeping his prey alive. Or is this the trick of some man?"
"Oh, most assuredly this is the work of the dragon. No man could be in here long enough to catch a lion in the midst of the dragon's gold."
Michael and Gideon both took off their helmets in frustration. They desperately wanted answers. Gideon spoke, "Well, why is there a lion caught in the back of his cave? What does all of this mean?"
Michael looked back at Gideon. He wasn't sure what to say. There was a mixture of fear and wonder in his eyes. He remembered something he had said to Belle earlier that morning, This dragon has shown quite a bit of intelligence and I don't want to underestimate him in any way.
After a few moments of contemplation, Michael broke the silence with an answer to Gideon's question. "It means it's a trap. We have to get out of here right now! Hurry!"
<>
Belle lay on the hill under a bush, wondering how long this dragon hunt would take. She wondered what it would be like to battle a dragon. The castle library had a book with various tales of dragon hunts through the last hundred years. She had read it many times. Some of the tales were extravagant, where full armies were needed to protect cities and keep the creatures at bay. Others were minor where a single brave warrior would institute some sort of plan of trickery, in order to slay the dragon and claim the gold for himself. She wondered if some of those stories were slightly exaggerated as there weren't any eyewitnesses besides the actual dragon slayers.
She heard thunder in the distance. She had hoped that the storms of the day had passed in the early morning. The ground was cold and gave her a slight chill. A butterfly came flying past her eyes and landed right in front of her. It was close, and she could see his pattern clearly. Its wings were a beautiful green and blue pattern. Streaks of black lines ran through the colors, reminding Belle of a church's stained glass windows. She lay perfectly still as she didn't want to disturb this beautiful sight. He was gently flapping his wings, exploring some of the wet leaves on the hill. Belle couldn't help but smile, thankful she could see this simple wonderful sight.
The butterfly suddenly flew away as the thunder grew louder. In fact, it was terribly loud and seemed to be steady. Turning her head slightly to the side and listening closely, she realized this wasn't thunder at all. It was the sound of the air being pushed by the wings of a large flying creature... the wings of a dragon.
Looking up high she could see him. He was a dull red color. And though one would still consider him a small dragon, he was slightly bigger than she had imagined. He looked angry as he flew over her head. His eyes looked intent with evil as he snarled. She could see his razor sharp teeth and the spikes running down his back. She was thankful that Michael had brought as many men as he did.
Flying close to Belle, he lowered himself near the front of the cave. Belle crawled from her hiding position and crept quietly to the edge of the small cliff in front of her. Peering over the edge, she could see the dragon was blocking the entryway to the cave. He let out a loud shrieking roar as his mouth opened wide. He was ready to kill.
It was a trap, Belle thought to herself. This dragon had somehow manipulated the men into entering the cave, and now they were trapped inside with no way out except through the dragon. All he would have to do would be to fill the cave with a constant stream of fire until every man was killed. The plan was diabolically ingenious.
Belle began to panic at the thought of the men inside. Fear gripped her.
<>
Michael ran toward the front of the cave just in time to see the dragon descend right on the opening. His men were right behind him. They were trapped with no way of escape. The dragon let out a loud roar. "Steady men!" Michael yelled, as he quickly tried to think of a plan.
Before the soldiers could react, the dragon pivoted himself to his side and swiped the front of the cave with his tail, knocking the men against the side wall of the cave. Michael was the only one to escape from the tail's swipe. He had quickly dropped his sword and dived over the sweeping tail as it approached him. Dirt and mud covered his face.
Quickly gathering himself, Michael wiped his face and checked his bearings. His men lay against the side of the cave moaning in pain. They had hit hard against the side wall. Turning to face the dragon, Michael could see the creature standing tall and his neck starting to glow. He knew the fire was coming soon. His men were defenseless and would be killed in an instant.
He spotted a round shield lying right next to him. One of his men had dropped it when he was hit by the dragon. With great speed Michael picked it up and ran toward the dragon. "Dragon!" he yelled as he ran, looking to redirect the creature's attention.
The dragon turned to face Michael, and let out a steady stream of fire. Within twelve feet of the creature, Michael crouched low and held the shield in front of his body. He felt the impact of the fire against the shield. It was extremely hot, and the metal from the shield was heating up quickly. He knew eventually his arm would start to burn. He wondered how long he could hold it. Fire was also coming off the edges of the shield as it was deflected. The cave was also heating up rapidly, turning it into an oven. Michael wondered if this would be his end.
<>
Belle watched from the edge of the cliff as the dragon breathed fire into the cave. It was a horrible scene. She knew the men were in there suffering. She wondered what she could do. Trying to think of something, she frantically looked around the hill. A large rock caught her attention. Quickly picking it up with both hands, she lifted it high above her head and threw it down toward the dragon. She watched as the stone grazed the side of his body and fell to the ground. The creature was unfazed by it.
Starting to panic more, she searched for something else to throw: a larger stone, a log... Something caught her eye. It was under the bush where she was lying. Running over to it, she picked it up and gripped it tightly. She had had a fair amount of training with the sword and it was time to put it to use. Running back to the edge of the cliff, she looked over to see the dragon still breathing fire into the cave. She knew this was her moment... and it was now or never.
She gathered all the courage she could find, and with all her strength she jumped off the cliff, her sword pointed downward toward the dragon's body.
<>
Just when Michael thought he could hold the shield no longer, the dragon stopped. He let out a loud shrieking groan. Michael quickly threw down the shield that was blazing hot. He grabbed his arm.
Looking up, Michael saw a very curious sight. Belle was on the top of the dragon with her sword planted firmly in him. A dark green substance oozed from the dragon's body. Shaking in pain, the creature threw Belle off of himself. She rolled off the side of him and onto the ground. She hit hard and cried out in pain.
The dragon turned to face the princess lying on the ground. He was angry. He put his foot over her and pressed her gently against the ground. His neck started to glow. Belle's eyes grew large as she knew the fire was coming soon. Her life flashed before her eyes. Curious thoughts filled her mind. She remembered portions of her dream.
Michael, seeing what was transpiring, quickly reached to his belt and grabbed one of his daggers. As fast as he could, he threw it with all his might toward the face of the dragon. The dagger soared through the air and implanted itself squarely in the right eye of the creature. It went in deep.
The dragon groaned in pain as never before. He reared back and lifted his leg. Belle rolled free to safety. The dark green blood started to flow from the eye of the creature. He took a few steps backward and tried to grasp the dagger with his front legs. His efforts were in vain.
A few of Michael's men had gathered themselves and were now at his side. They now had the upper hand. Assessing his situation, he knew he had to get the dragon out of the entryway of the cave.
"Shields up," he said to the five men at his side. They quickly held up their shields and stood in battle stance. "Get ready, men... charge!" Michael yelled as the men ran toward the dragon with their shields held high covering their chest. As they got close to the dragon, each man lunged forward hitting the dragon with the force of their shield and bodies. The dragon fell back a few feet, catching himself on his left side. The front of the cave was now open.
The dragon was now moving erratically and seemed to be in a lot of pain. He could not see clearly after being blinded in his right eye. He took a swipe toward the men with one of his legs and knocked them all toward the ground. The dragon continued to frantically groan in pain from the sword and dagger planted in him.
Michael was angry. He was angry at this dragon for hurting his men. He was angry at this dragon for threatening Belle's life. He was angry at this dragon for tricking them, luring them into the cave. And he was angry at this dragon for the fear he caused the people of Mendolon over the years. He had had enough.
Slowly rising to his feet, he looked confidently at the dragon... he was unafraid. He was ready to put an end to this dragon. A few moments passed before Michael picked up one of the shields his men dropped and held it in his hand. Motivated by his anger, he threw the shield with all of his might. It soared through the air and struck hard against Belle's sword implanted in the dragon's side. The sword twisted, opening up the wound even more. A fresh stream of dragon blood flowed from his side. The dragon shuddered in pain as he screamed profusely.
Michael's men regrouped and gathered to his side as they watched the dragon. He scratched against the soil, searching for comfort from his pain. The shrieks grew more irritating to the men. Gideon was the first to speak, "Sir, what is your next move? Should we attack?"
"No," Michael said quietly. "Let him now feel the fear that he implanted in our people all these years."
The dragon had obviously given up. He was no longer worried about killing his intruders. He was in grave pain. His wings began to flap, and before anyone could realize what was happening, the dragon took off and flew into the distance. He was going north, far away from the kingdom. Michael stood watching the dragon until he could see him no more. He was thankful this dragon was gone.
4
Gideon ran to where Belle was lying among the edge of the woods. She was obviously in pain, clutching her side. "Princess, are you ok?"
Her eyes were closed and she was wincing in pain. She spoke quietly, "Yes... I'll be fine. I think I might've broken a rib when I fell."
Gideon crouched beside her on one knee. "Well, it looks like you were ready for a dragon hunt after all."
"Thanks, don't mention it," Belle said, trying to catch her breath. Belle always found Gideon's presence comforting. He had a father-like demeanor, and his thick mustache always brought a smile to Belle.
Michael walked over to join them. "Gideon, how is she?" Michael asked.
Gideon rose to his feet, "Oh, she'll be fine. A little banged up, but in a couple days, she'll be back on her feet."
The other soldiers were attending to a few men who were injured from the swipe of the dragon's tail. Michael spoke up, "Gideon, check on the men. I want a full assessment of our injuries. There is still work that needs to be done."
"Yes sir," Gideon said, nodding his head and walking toward the men.
Michael's attention was now turned to Belle. He was so proud of her, and impressed by her bravery. She had never even seen a dragon before, and to jump on his back from a cliff required a large amount of courage. With a little more training, he knew she was going to be a great warrior.
Dropping to one knee, he put his hand on her head as he spoke, "Belle? Are you okay?"
"Michael... yes, I'm fine," she said, slightly opening her eyes.
Michael spoke softly, "You showed much courage and bravery today. I know I speak for the men in this brigade in saying we are forever in your gratitude."
"Thank you, Michael," she said, grabbing his arm. "I guess all those stories about dragon battles weren't exaggerated after all." They had been through a lot and they couldn't help but smile at each other. Never did Belle ever think that she would be in a situation where she would have to save Michael de Bolbec. People in Mendolon were always talking about the strength of the realm's chief knight, and for the king's daughter to save him in a battle was truly ironic.
Gideon and the other soldiers gathered by Michael and Belle. Belle slowly released his arm as Michael rose to his feet. "Gideon, what's your assessment?"
"A couple of broken arms, brushes, cuts, and a few massive headaches, but nothing that should hinder us."
"Good. I want you to escort Belle and the injured men back to the castle. Upon arrival, be sure to alert Hector that we will need nurses to help with the injuries." Gideon nodded his head in approval. Michael continued, "Bernard, I want you to release the lion in the cave."
Bernard's eyes got wide, "The lion? Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean... lions can bite people."
"Thank you, Bernard. I'm well aware of that," Michael responded. "I will remind you that we did just fight a dragon. Take another man with you, and just get this done. This lion has suffered enough."
Michael took a deep breath as he contemplated what to do next. The men could tell he had something on his mind. He looked out into the woods to the east. He knew that this was the last step in the mission. "Whoever's left, follow me into the eastern woods."
Michael turned and walked toward the east. Two of his men abruptly followed him. One of them spoke up, "Sir, may I ask what are we doing? The mission is accomplished. Why aren't we going back?"
Not breaking stride, Michael responded, "The mission is not done... There is a mystery yet unsolved. We need to find out what provoked this dragon."
<>
It had been a long day for Michael and his men. Michael had warned them the day before that they might be engaging in a dragon hunt today, so they all had woken up early to prepare. Michael, particularly, had only slept a couple hours as he was anticipating the mission. But even with the lack of sleep, fatigue had not yet set in. His adrenaline was still going strong as they sought to solve this present mystery.
The three men trekked farther into the woods. They were headed east. The terrain was a little different on this side of Dragon Waste. The trees and their branches were thicker, and covered most of the overhead light. Every few feet there seemed to be a large rock that jutted from the ground, oftentimes covered with moss. They all knew that the more one traveled toward the eastern kingdom, the rockier the ground became.
The men traveled slowly with Michael in the lead. No one said a word. They all felt a little strange traveling in this territory unabated. For the past twenty years it was left uninhabited, except for the dragon. And even before the creature took over this region, none of the men had journeyed this far east. They couldn't help but visually explore their surroundings as Michael led them.
The men had not gone far when Michael stopped them. "What is it?" one of the men asked. Michael pointed ahead to an area about thirty yards in front of them. Nothing looked different to the men. There were a few large trees with a couple of large rocks lying beside them. It didn't look much different from every other spot in this area of the woods.
"I don't see anything," one of the soldiers stated.
"Look closely," Michael replied, slowly walking forward.
All three men continued closer to the spot where Michael was focused. The two knights reached for their weapons. As they got closer to the spot, all three men could clearly see a figure seated comfortably with his back to a tree. He had a small knife in hand and was casually slicing an apple. There was a book by his side. About twenty feet from his spot a tent rested. It was obvious he had been lodging there for a few days.
"Lovely day for a walk in the woods," the individual said, not breaking focus from his task.
All three were stunned by his candor. The knights' eyes were wide, wondering what Michael's next move would be. He was relaxed, not fearing any harm from this trespasser.
The individual continued, "May I interest you fellows in a slice of a Grimdolon apple. You won't find them in your kingdom, and they are a rare delicacy even in mine. I need to be sure..."
"What are you doing here?" Michael said sternly.
"Well, currently I'm taking a break from my book to satisfy my hunger. Reading modern philosophy surely makes one's head spin, and can make one work up quite an appetite."
"No, what are you doing in the dragon's territory?" Michael said, staying focused.
"I think you actually mean former dragon's territory. I assume you boys took care of it." The other two knights just looked at each other. They were obviously confused by everything transpiring.
"We took care of him," Michael replied. "Now tell us what you are doing here?"
"Well, then let me first introduce myself, I am..."
"Yes, I know who you are, or rather what you are... Beast!" Michael replied. He was in fact a beast from the eastern Kingdom of Grimdolon, the land of beasts. Like his kind, he was mostly a mixture of man and lion, with a few scattered characteristics of a wolf. He was dressed properly, in a red jacket and slacks. On his face was an affluent pair of eyeglasses. It appeared that he was either a beast of nobility or worked in an important role for the king of his realm.
"And I know who you are, Michael de Bolbec, chief knight for King Sebastian, and fiercest protector of Mendolon."
"Why are you here? Do you know how dangerous it is for you to be here? Our king has an order of immediate death to anyone who crosses into this territory."
"Yes, I am familiar with all the laws and edicts from your kingdom and they weren't going to stop me."
"But you provoked a dragon!" Michael said angrily. "Do you know what you could have done? He's been burning fields on the edge of our kingdom and killing livestock. You could have cost us the lives of innocent people. And my men today have been badly wounded by that creature."
"Yes, Michael, I know and for that I am very sorry, but I know what I had to do. It was a necessity. Truly, it will all become clear soon," the beast spoke calmly.
Michael ran his fingers through his hair. "Listen, you could have started a war. Our king is going to be furious when he finds out that a beast from Grimdolon provoked this dragon."
The beast took a deep breath and stood to his feet, "I don't know if you are going to believe me, but in the long run I am actually trying to prevent a war from happening."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm saying that I had to provoke the dragon. I needed to talk to you. I needed to get your attention, and this is the only option I had."
Michael rubbed his chin as he paced to his side. The knights had heard everything but still wondered what was transpiring. The beast did not take his eyes off Michael as he bit into a slice of apple.
A few moments passed before Michael interrupted the silence. "Beast, you are speaking in riddles. Please tell me plainly what you are inferring."
"Michael de Bolbec," he paused for a moment, "I'm trying to tell you that something is coming." He spoke seriously, looking directly at Michael. "And it will strike fear into the hearts of your people and put into motion events that could reshape every kingdom of this world."
Michael was taken off guard by the sudden seriousness of the beast. "How sure are you of all this?"
The beast took off his eyeglasses. "Oh, believe me when I speak. I am risking my life trying to get you this information."
Michael wondered what his next move would be. He knew that he just couldn't let this beast go free. He had broken one of the king's strictest laws. All neighboring kingdoms knew of this law. The king would be swift in his punishment, and this beast would surely face death.
Michael breathed deeply as he looked back at his guards. "Lock him up... be sure the king does not see him. Bring him to my lower chambers and chain him there." The men went to grab the beast, who willingly submitted himself to the knights.
Michael added one last admonition. He spoke softly, "And for now... do not mention this to anyone."
The Beauty of a Beast
Prologue
Once upon a time in a distant land there were two kingdoms that dwelt next to one another. They lived in peace but were not fond of each other. They kept their distance and didn't cross into each other's lands for fear of war. This pattern went on for the last hundred and twenty years.
The kingdom to the west was called Mendolon. It was a kingdom of men. It was a rich land full of farming and craftsmen. Foreigners often traveled there to trade for the bountiful supplies of the land. Sometimes their kings were peaceful and sought only the welfare and peace of their own people. Other times, their kings were full of greed, seeking riches and power at the expense of others. Their current king, Sebastian, was a man of ambiguity. He was not hostile to other kings, but did not agree to treaties either. The kingdoms of the world were often confused by his actions. He had one daughter named Belle. She was the pride and joy of the kingdom. The people of Mendolon knew she was the one who truly held the kingdom together.
The kingdom to the east was called Grimdolon. It was a kingdom of beasts. The race of beasts was often described as a mixture of man and lion with subtle characteristics of a wolf. They were known for possessing natural intelligence in regards to philosophy, the arts and the ways of the world. Their land was dry and their soil was rocky. Their only crops grew to the northeast in the kingdom's orchards. They relied mostly on mining and fishing for their livelihood. Others in the world knew very little about the comings and goings of the beasts. It was a small kingdom with a population under eight thousand. The beasts were a passive people that often dwelt in isolation.
For years these kingdoms continued in peace, not disturbing the other. They didn't even allow trade routes to pass between them. Over the years, men had occasionally acquired a beast from a neighboring country as a slave, but this was rare. Men simply did not have any correspondence with beasts. The two kingdoms of Mendolon and Grimdolon dared not cross each other's border. At one point in their recent history a dragon had even taken up residence between the kingdoms and any attempt at becoming allies quickly fell into a distant dream. Stories of the other kingdom became history, and history became legend.
But just when the flow of history seemed to be a steady flowing stream... everything changed. Six months ago random crimes began occurring in the kingdom of Mendolon. There were sightings of a beast. Rumors quickly began to spread that a beast from Grimdolon had entered their villages and begun terrorizing the people of Mendolon. The people called this beast, "The Savage." At first he appeared to be working alone, but as time when on, the people of Mendolon became convinced that he had gained a following and was working with a band of criminals. There was also talk among the people that he possessed some type of magic. The townspeople lived in fear of where the Savage and his followers would strike next.
The people of Mendolon cried out to their king for help. They begged and pleaded with him to find relief. He did all he could to neutralize the threat of the Savage, but nothing seemed to work. The king's most superior warriors, the Knights, worked seamlessly to find their enemy, but it was always in vain. Occasionally they would find some of his followers and prevent an attack from occurring, but most of the time they seemed to be one step behind the Savage's attacks. Through it all the people of Mendolon felt helpless. The questions remained... Who could defeat the Savage? How could order and peace be restored to the kingdom?
<>
It was late in the evening in Mendolon. The markets outside the castle were filled with people, finishing their buying and selling for the day. There was the usual buying of food and household goods, but mostly the buying of gifts. People felt safe with the castle being close by. Torches lit up the streets. Children laughed as they ran through the markets. It was winter and snow was lightly falling. It was a pleasant scene on the streets of Mendolon.
There were many markets throughout the kingdom. Each village had one, and each was known for its specific specialty. The eastern villages traded tools and farm equipment, while the markets to the south specialized in fruits grown not far from the coast. The western markets, not far from the castle, traded an assortment of everything, but were primarily known for having a large variety of gifts and trinkets. Foreigners would travel many miles and stay in nearby inns just to visit this exquisite market.
Currently, music was being played by musicians carrying various instruments in the streets. One would not travel very far before hearing the sound of a lute close by. Merchants welcomed the music as many thought it relaxed the people of the kingdom. It made them feel at peace while journeying through the streets. With the recent mischievous attacks throughout the kingdom, any semblance of peace was greatly welcomed.
Children laughed, music played, the snow was still falling gently. It was a beautiful scene... until it was all disturbed. A large explosion blasted out from one of the shops. People fell to the ground. The music stopped. Debris flew through the air. The next few moments were chaotic. A thick mist began to disperse on the crowd. People were screaming, running for their lives. The exploding shop was burning, and there were random fires in the streets. Parents ran, frantically dropping their gifts, carrying their children. A few villagers ran through the mist toward the burning shop, wondering how they could help.
The situation seemed like it couldn't get any worse until from out of the crowd, someone yelled, "A beast!" This sent the people into absolute panic. They screamed in fear, knowing that the Savage was attacking. Others in the crowd yelled for help. Still others confirmed the people's fear, shouting, "Run from the beast!" Screaming and chaos engulfed the streets. Many people would later claim they saw a horde of beasts.
It was about ten minutes later that a company of knights came on the scene. The people were beginning to clear out. Their swords were drawn, wondering what they would find. The mist was clearing away, and they saw a few dozen people lying on the ground injured, crying for help.
The leader of the group, Michael de Bolbec, quickly issued orders, "Put out the fires, save everyone. Bring them to the castle's infirmary. It looks like the Savage and his flock has struck again."
"Should we keep our swords drawn?" another knight asked.
"No, it looks like we are too late. The Savage is gone. This was all he wanted."
"What did he want?"
Looking around, Michael assessed the situation further. He took a deep breath before speaking, "He wanted to strike fear in the hearts of our people."
Chapter 1
Belle sat under a tree sharpening her sword. Currently, she was taking a break from her training. She was dressed in her warrior attire. It was light gray with a woven purple pattern that clearly distinguished her as the princess. Daily she woke up early to further her training in knighthood. Just having celebrated her twenty-first birthday a month ago, Belle's desire was to be the best in the kingdom. Every morning, under the cover of darkness, she would leave the castle and travel a half mile deep into the nearby woods to train. She went through a strict routine of sword practice, followed by various obstacle course training. She would climb ropes, jump over logs, crawl under brushes, and scale a twelve-foot rock wall. Belle wanted to be ready for anything in battle.
Being the only daughter of the king, she had to wake up early every morning for training. Her beauty and pleasant personality made her the center of popularity and fame in the kingdom. She was always kind and welcoming, even to the poorest peasant. If this location was discovered, word would quickly spread around town and the people would flock to her. In order to have a secluded spot to train, she had to keep this spot quiet. Only a few people knew where she was each morning.
In the past, Belle took time with the townspeople and worked hard at remembering their names. She purposely made trips into the kingdom's towns to visit with the people. Her desire was to ease tension in the kingdom between common folks and royalty. Her father, King Sebastian, wasn't always the most gracious and righteous ruler. He was harsh with people and often handed out stiff penalties for insulting his kingdom. Knowing that one day she would be queen, she hoped to bring peace to the realm.
Belle stood to her feet, holding her sword in her right hand. She rotated her wrist checking the blade. Light gleaned off it as the sun was starting to rise through the trees. She would have to hurry to finish her training this morning. Running off in a sprint, she sheathed her sword on her back. She approached a net that was spread out a foot above the ground. She quickly dove under it and crawled as fast as she could. She could feel the weight of the sword with every inch. Reaching the end, she stood to her feet and ran up a few flights of steps to a rope positioned over a mud pit. She grabbed the rope and swung over the pit. As she reached the end of the pit, she let go of the rope and dove onto the ground, quickly rotating herself into a somersault. She brushed her long brown hair out of her eyes to get a clear view of the twelve-foot-high stone wall in front of her. She began methodically ascending, taking special note as to where to place her footing.
Even though Belle had always been naturally skilled in swordsmanship and agility, this was her routine every morning for the past eight months. Ever since her battle with the Eastern dragon, she had been motivated to accelerate her training as a knight. She wanted to fight for the kingdom's peace and freedom. She wanted to lead her people in these ideals and she wanted the people to trust her and to find their confidence in her.
The events of the last week kept running through her head. The Savage's attack on the markets had been his most terrorizing yet. It was public. Many people claimed they saw a horde of beasts scavenging the shops, wreaking havoc to all in their path. Two people were killed in the attack and many others were injured. The knights that arrived on the scene were able to put out the fires and bring some order to the chaotic scene. But the damage had already been done, and the people were very shaken up. The attack seemed to be a statement by the Savage that he was no longer content to work in the shadows. He wanted to be seen. He wanted to be feared. Belle so badly wanted to catch the hideous beast. She hated that the Savage was terrorizing her people and creating an existential fear over the realm. Her desire was for the people to feel free and to not live in this fear the Savage was bringing.
Reaching the top of the stone wall, Belle quickly caught her breath before jumping to a nearby tree branch. She grabbed the branch with both arms and swung herself to a lower branch a few feet away. She took note of the slight crack the branch made when she grabbed onto it, telling herself to choose a different branch the next time. Swinging her feet back and forth, the princess gained enough momentum to catapult herself forward onto the ground right in front of a scarecrow she had set up. Within a fraction of a second she pulled her sword and quickly cut off the head of the straw structure. Mission completed.
Belle was stumbling less and getting faster each morning. She wanted to show her father that she was truly a knight worthy of all her accolades in swordsmanship and agility. He always doubted her and never truly thought she was as good in battle as everyone said she was. She felt that she still had much to prove to him. This doubt by her father provided an extra motivation to catch the Savage. It would be exactly what she needed to show him that she was worthy of knighthood.
The sound of horse's hooves startled her. She looked up to see Michael, the king's chief knight, coming close. He was one of the few who knew of her training ground. Belle and Michael had been working together a lot more since the battle with the dragon eight months ago. Along with other knights, they had been responding to the Savage's attacks and rescuing any townspeople that might be in danger.
On this day, Michael was dressed like a commoner, which was a rare scene these days, as he was most always wearing his armor. He had been working constantly to find the Savage. Michael came within a few feet of Belle before stopping his horse and dismounting.
"I hope no one saw you come this way," Belle said, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and sheathing her sword.
Michael smiled as he spoke, "Belle, you can assure yourself that a true knight of the realm knows when he's being watched or followed."
Belle nodded, knowing this to be true. Michael was the best and she knew he would always be careful to never give her spot away. "Sorry, I just want to stay focused. This area has provided a great solace for me to complete my training. I'd hate for it to be found out."
Seeing that she had been training hard, he held out a small water skin for her to drink. "Thank you," she responded, taking a drink.
Michael casually walked around her training area, admiring the obstacle course and challenges she had set up. "You've made some improvements since the last time I've been here. You've done well."
"Thanks," she said, putting down the water skin. "I don't want there to be any doubt about my knighthood. I want the people to know that I'm ready to protect them."
Michael brushed his blond hair out of his eyes. "Belle, you know the people of Mendolon are aware of your abilities. Your heroics with the dragon are becoming a legend in neighboring kingdoms. People are starting to ask about the 'Princess Dragon Slayer.'"
Belle couldn't help but smile at Michael's flattery. Though there were tensions in the kingdom, it was obvious to all that Belle and Michael had grown closer. The rumors began to pick up again about an eventual wedding. Both tried to suppress any thought of a relationship at this time as the most pending duty ahead was catching the Savage.
"So Michael, what is the meaning of this visit?" she said, hoping to quickly change the subject.
Michael turned and walked close to where she was standing. Even though he knew that they were alone, he wanted to be sure there was no chance someone could hear what he was about to say. "I think we might have found the Savage's main hideout."
"What? Where?"
"Shh... No too loud... The old ruins north of the kingdom."
"That is many miles away from the western markets," Belle responded, a little puzzled by his suggestion. "I don't even know if that's under my father's control anymore. I thought one of the northern kingdoms inhabited that area."
"It would make sense as to why we can't find him. Also, it would explain why his attacks are sporadic."
Belle was shocked. The fight against the Savage was becoming hopeless, but now to receive news like this was incredible. It was the biggest lead they had received in a long time. So many questions raced through her mind, "Who knows about this?"
"Just myself, Gideon, and Hector."
"What? You told Hector. Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"Yes, He's been designing new armor for me that will make it easier to maneuver in a battle. I need it to be ready for tonight."
"What about my father? Does he know?"
"Not yet. I'm trying to keep this as quiet as possible. Take no offense, but your father has been quick tempered as of late and I don't want him ordering an all-out assault. The nations around us and the empire to the far north are primed for war; any careless action could be interpreted wrongly."
"But you know he's going to find out soon."
"Certainly," Michael responded, not in the least bit concerned. "I want to break the news to him later in the day after Gideon has come up with a comprehensive strategy. I want the king to see that we can infiltrate the ruins with a small company of knights."
Belle stood staring at Michael. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The past six months had been some of the worst days for the kingdom. So much time and effort had been placed in trying to find the Savage, and to now know his location and to hear of a plan to take him down was overwhelming.
"Michael, make no mistake that I'm coming with you," she said, taking a step closer to him.
"Of course, that's why I came to find you, so you can be preparing."
"When do we leave?"
"At nightfall. We will meet early after midday to discuss our plan of attack. We will need to be as coordinated as possible. I believe the Savage's followers will most likely be gathered at the ruins as well. We cannot take any chances."
Belle knew that her training was done for the day. All of her energy needed to be preserved for the attack later that night. She knew Michael would need her ready in this confrontation. "I'll be ready," she replied confidently.
Michael mounted his horse and grabbed the reins. "I'll see you in the king's war room after the noon meal. Everyone should be well informed by then."
Michael was about to turn and leave the area when Belle stopped him, "Wait! one more thing." There was one question still on her mind that she couldn't shake. "How did you find out about the ruins? How do you know the Savage is hiding out there?"
Belle did not take her eyes off of him. Michael de Bolbec was the most honest man she knew, and she could easily tell when he was hiding something, or not being completely honest with her. He ran his fingers through his hair, wondering how much information he should disclose. After a few moments of silence, Belle spoke up, "Do not hold back from me. We've been through a lot so far."
The young knight looked off into the distance as he wondered how to respond. "Belle... I have a source that is helping us decipher the actions of the Savage."
Belle was quite surprised, "Michael, you never told me this. Who is this 'source' that you have?"
Michael searched for words. He had given so much information so far, and any more would truly be an extra burden for this morning. "All in time... Everything will be clear soon enough."
Belle was even more confused. She wondered exactly what was going on, "But... Michael... are you sure this information is correct? How do you know you can trust this source of yours?"
Michael took a deep breath as he looked toward the ground, searching for words. He shrugged his shoulders before looking at Belle and speaking, "In honesty... I'm not sure if I do trust him... but at this point he's our only option. And he may be the best chance we have of securing peace in our realm."
"But what if this is a trap tonight? What if this source of yours is leading us to our doom?" Belle said, speaking with obvious concern in her voice.
Michael looked squarely at Belle, knowing there was a lot of truth to what she was saying. Much like her, he was eager to catch the Savage and was willing to take risks in order to secure his imprisonment. He knew that eventually drastic measures would have to be taken in order to catch this villain. Michael responded in the only way he knew how, "Well... for the sake of peace among the people of Mendolon, that is a risk I'm willing to take." Michael quickly kicked his horse as he rode to the south.
Belle watched him as he left. She couldn't help but admire him for his bravery.
<>
"What?" King Sebastian stated. It was the middle of the afternoon and he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You think you found the hideout of the Savage?"
"That's correct, Your Majesty," Michael confidently stated, "And we are prepared to strike tonight."
The king stood from his seat and put his hands on his head. He gently pulled on his long brown hair, excited about the news. Finding the Savage had consumed his thoughts these last months. He couldn't believe that Michael had located his hideout. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get all our soldiers mounted at once. Let's attack him before he can strike."
"King, let's slow down, just a little," Michael said, holding up his hand to quiet him. "The Savage has been one step ahead of us in every way. If we start mounting up soldiers, he will somehow get word and prevent our attack. He might even use it to his advantage."
"Michael, are you crazy? We can't wait," Sebastian said, frustrated. "We have to strike now."
"Yes, my King, I understand, but using an army is not the way to attack. He's crafty and somehow he has eyes on the kingdom. Most definitely he will see us coming."
Sebastian sat down, trying to calm himself. He closed his eyes and gently stroked his beard. He spoke softly, "Well, what do you suggest we do?"
Michael nodded his head in approval. He wanted to show the king patience, and that a well thought out strategy had been devised. "We attack the Northern Ruins tonight under the cloak of darkness. Hector and Gideon are planning a strategic attack from the northwest. The Savage will not see us coming. We will penetrate any defenses he might have, and overthrow his hideout before he realizes what is happening."
"How many knights are you thinking about taking?"
"About a dozen."
King Sebastian nodded his head in approval. He realized the wisdom in the plan, and he was excited to finally take down this menace to the kingdom of Mendolon. It had given him far too many sleepless nights, and the fear that the Savage was bringing to the people of the kingdom was starting to reach him as well. He was happy to have a plan in place to take down this beast. Still, one question plagued his mind, "Michael, may I ask, how did you come to find the hideout of the Savage?"
Michael stood, wondering what to say. He knew he couldn't reveal his source to the king for fear of possible treason. He decided to dodge the question, "King, you just authorize the attack, and let me worry about where I get my information."
The king smiled with contempt at his chief knight. If anyone else in the kingdom had spoken to him like that, he or she would have been locked away immediately. Any other time the king would have at least reprimanded him, but for right now he had other things on his mind. "Very well then, get your men ready. I look forward to hearing of a successful campaign."
Chapter 2
The Knights of Mendolon approached the Northern Ruins. Snow was lightly falling through the air. They were about a mile from their destination, regrouping at the edge of a wooded area. The ruins consisted of a small decaying castle with a wall around the perimeter. Though the castle had much wear and tear, the wall itself had held strong. Over a hundred years ago, these ruins had served as the castle of Mendolon, but since then the kingdoms of the north debated about whose land it was. King Sebastian didn't care about the area, and he let the kingdoms of the world do with it as they wish.
Michael and Belle were with a dozen other knights. Gideon, Michael's second in command, was among those in the troop. The king's assistant, Hector, was with them as he had devised the plan of penetrating the walls and entering the ruins. The plan was for Michael and Belle to scale the back perimeter of the wall and clear away any guards on the top. Next, Belle would find the front gate, and open the doors for the brigade of knights to enter. By the time the Savage and his followers figured out what was happening, it would be too late.
"Knights, try to stay hidden for as long as you can when approaching the gate," Hector said, giving out orders. The hissing of his voice sounded even more frightful at night. His dark green apparel along with his black hair gave him a very sinister look. "Most likely the Savage will have a few guards stationed on top of the wall with arrows. Keep close to cover if possible." Gideon nodded his head in approval.
Hector then turned to face Michael and Belle. Strands of his long black hair covered his face. He continued, hissing as he talked, "The two of you need to be quick. I don't know how many men the Savage has working with him and it's best if we keep the element of surprise in our favor for as long as possible." He paused a moment to clear his throat. "When you reach the top of the wall, do whatever you can to keep the men from calling for reinforcements."
"I understand," Michael responded. "Belle and I will clear the wall. She'll look for a quick way to open the front gate. I'll try to find and capture the Savage." Michael turned to the others, "Gideon, after you and the knights are inside the wall, try to detain any of the Savage's followers. Belle, once the courtyard's secure, enter the castle and rescue any hostages the Savage might be holding in the dungeon."
"Yes, Captain," they all responded in agreement. Everyone understood the severity of this mission. The Savage had been terrorizing the people for months, and this was the best shot they had at putting a stop to it. Hector had even made Michael and Belle special armor for this mission. Michael's was a dark grey suit made of a flexible thin metal that form fitted to his upper body. He had a small sword on his back and a belt full of daggers around his waist. A simple hood was over his head to conceal his hair. Belle's armor was a warrior's outfit that was her usual grey with a few dark purple patterns. It was durable and flexible for battle, yet still gave the distinction of royalty. Being that she was the king's daughter, Hector always thought Belle's armor should be worthy of a princess.
Everyone was ready to disperse. Michael and Belle would be taking a more northern route for a mile to the back wall, while the knights would travel south to the front gates. Michael turned to walk away when Hector stopped him, "Michael, be careful in that armor. The material is flexible, but nowhere near as strong as a traditional suit. It will not hold up against a direct stab from a sword. Your speed and the element of surprise will be the best advantage you have in that armor."
Michael couldn't help but smile at Hector's warning. "Hector, I appreciate the concern. I'm beginning to think we've become friends."
Hector snarled and gritted his teeth. "Just take care of the princess, and come back alive." Michael nodded in agreement as he turned to walk away.
<>
Belle scaled the back wall of the ruins. It was an easy climb as it was made of thick stones that jutted out, making for easy hand holds. There were also cracks in the wall that were large enough to fit one's hands. Michael was just in front of her and about at the top. They were trying to be as quiet as possible as they didn't know who they would meet at the top of the twenty-foot wall.
Belle felt sweat beads rolling off her forehead with every climb. It was getting close to midnight, and she hadn't taken her evening medicine. She wondered if it would calm her nerves at this point. Once they made it to the top, she knew that her job would be to cover Michael with her bow, while he directly engaged the guards. For the past few months they had worked with each other enough to know each other's fighting styles and when the other would need a helping hand. They truly were great partners.
Reaching the top of the wall, Michael flung himself over, and then quickly reached back and helped Belle ascend the last few feet. "Watch closely," he said, looking directly into her eyes. "I'm going to try to make this quick." Belle nodded in approval.
Michael ran off with a sprint toward the first guard who was watching an area to the back left of the castle. He was dressed in dark clothing but was without armor. Under the darkness of night, he had failed to see Michael and Belle reach the top. When Michael came within fifteen feet of him, the guard realized that an intruder was approaching. Before he could react, Michael pulled a dagger from his belt, and threw it at his right shoulder. It easily penetrated where his shoulder met his arm. The guard screamed in pain. With his left fist, Michael quickly punched him in the stomach, buckling the man over, and then with his right hand he rammed the guard's head into his knee knocking him out cold. The body fell to the ground.
About twenty feet away, another guard was getting an arrow ready. Michael sprang toward him and rolled into a somersault. Belle quickly fired an arrow that penetrated the guard's arm. The bow dropped out of his hand. Quickly arising from his somersault, Michael jumped and spun into a fierce spinning kick. His boot connected with the side of the guard's head, knocking the guard off the wall outside the ruins. The guard fell to the ground not far from where Gideon and the other knights were stationed. Gideon motioned to the men. That was their cue to start approaching the gate.
Michael barely had time to react when he saw the blade of another guard swiping downward toward him. He quickly jumped out of the way, and punched the guard right in the face. He heard a cracking sound. The guard stumbled a few feet back, and before he could gather his wits, Michael drew a dagger and threw it at the guard's wrist. It pierced his skin, and the man gave a loud shriek, dropping his sword. In order to quickly quiet the man, Michael lunged forward and kicked him in the stomach with his knee, knocking the guard backward off the wall and into the courtyard of the ruins.
Michael watched in disappointment as his body hit the ground. He knew it would only be a matter of seconds before he was found. Belle quickly ran over to where Michael was standing. He turned to face her, "Well, I guess the plan is now accelerated. Let's go."
Michael and Belle ran off with a sprint toward a staircase that would bring them to the front gate. Michael bounded down the steps as quickly as he could, often skipping three or four steps. Belle was right behind him. Reaching the bottom of the steps, he didn't even stop to check and see how many guards were stationed close to the gate. At this point he figured speed would be his best advantage.
Running into the courtyard, he saw three guards that looked as passive as any guard could possibly look. Swiftly Michael drew a dagger and flung it at the tallest one, puncturing his bicep. He yelled out in pain. The other two guards were confused to see a dagger suddenly in their comrade's arm. Michael sprang forward and kicked one of the unharmed guards out of the way. Pivoting, he threw his right elbow into the head of the guard with the dagger in his arm. He fell backward.
The last guard still standing threw a punch at Michael. It was easily blocked, and Michael kicked him in the stomach. Turning around, Michael threw a dagger toward one of the guards lying on the ground. It penetrated his side, and he was not to be worried about any more. Turning to the guard who tried to punch him, Michael grabbed him by the head and flipped him over his back. He quickly got down on one knee and delivered a punch directly to his forehead, knocking him out.
Michael turned around to see the guard with the dagger in his bicep, swiping toward him with a sword. He promptly jumped backwards and reached for a dagger. Michael was ready to throw it when he saw Belle block the guard's sword with hers. She pulled back and took a swipe at him. He blocked, and then pulled back to take a swing at her. She jumped out of the way and spun herself around, sweeping his legs. The guard fell onto his back. His head hit hard. Dazed, the guard tried to arise. Belle then struck him as hard as she could with her forearm. She would have a large bruise, but the guard was no longer a threat.
Michael put the dagger back on his belt. From what they could see, there were no more guards in sight. The coast was clear. "Nice work," he said, relaxed.
"Not bad yourself," Belle returned, sheathing her sword. "I can tell you've been training with the daggers. Your accuracy was flawless."
He nodded slightly in approval, "All for the service of the kingdom." He removed his hood, and brushed his blond hair out of his eyes. His mind quickly went back to the task at hand. "Belle, get the gate open for the men, and search the castle for hostages. Have our men arrest all the guards and have them placed outside the gates after the castle is cleared. I'm going after the Savage," he said, running toward the castle.
"Be careful," Belle yelled to him. There was obvious concern in her voice.
<>
Gideon and the knights were about thirty feet away when the doors began to open. Belle had removed all the barriers and pushed with all her might to open the doors. The men could tell she was struggling and quickly ran to assist her in prying them open. The knights grabbed both doors and pulled. It was just a few moments later before the doors were completely open.
"What took you so long?" Gideon said sarcastically. His thick mustache curled as he smiled.
"Oh, you know Michael, he's always taking his time," she responded. She felt a lot more relaxed now that she had the knights inside the castle walls. "Gideon, you and your men search the courtyard. Make sure all threats are neutralized."
She turned to the knight Bernard, who was responsible for the torches. He carried them in a bag on his back. "Bernard, come with me. I'm going into the castle, looking for prisoners."
"But... the Savage is a monster... and it's really dark in there," he said, worried. Bernard was very skilled with the sword, but often struggled with uncertain fears.
"Yes, Bernard, that's why you're coming with me. You have the torches."
Gideon broke in, "We will do as you command, your Highness. We await your return."
"Thank you, Gideon," Belle said, running off toward the castle. Bernard followed close behind.
<>
Michael crept through the hallways of the castle ruins. He was as quiet as possible. It was dark, but thankfully there were a few cracks in the walls that let in light. He wondered where the Savage might be hiding. Before the mission, he had looked at a map of this abandoned castle and memorized a few key locations where one might find the beast. Currently, Michael was heading for the throne room.
Turning a corner, he saw a small torch on the wall giving off a faint glow of light. He hid in the shadows, wondering how many people were inside. He heard no one and saw no one. He quickly moved through the light and close to the double doors of the throne room. Reaching the throne room doors, Michael crouched down in the shadows. He checked the daggers around his belt to make sure everything was in the proper place for a quick attack.
He pulled on the right door and found that it opened easily. He slid into the room quickly and hid in the shadows. Scanning the area, he found that it was empty. A large crack in the wall let in the moonlight. He could see two large dilapidated thrones at the end of room, and to the left of them a single door which led to the king's personal living quarters. Quietly he moved through the long throne room toward it. He decided to pull his sword just in case he had to engage in close range combat.
Reaching the door, Michael found that it stood slightly open. He peeked into the room but saw no one. He opened the door a little more to let in some of the light. The chief knight slowly looked into the room and could clearly see that it was empty. He opened the door more to let in as much light as possible.
It was obvious that someone had been living in this room. There was an unmade bed on the far wall, along with scraps of food by its side. Along the side wall he saw a desk with about a dozen books stacked in order. Papers were scattered on the desk and the floor. He made his way over to them to see what he could find. Some of the books seemed to be on the history and customs of the people of Grimdolon. Others were on the tales of dragons and one was on the legend of the Undying Land across the Sea. He recognized many of the writers as being scholars from northern providences. He found them curious. Looking through the scattered papers, he couldn't find anything that looked valuable. It was mostly just notes that someone had taken from studying these books.
He was about to turn and leave when he noticed another book on the floor behind the desk. It was open and looked to be shredded. Some of its pages were scattered around. Michael bent down to get a closer look. Picking it up, he could see that it was a history book on ancient kings and kingdoms of distant lands. He wondered why the Savage needed it. Many of its pages were torn and missing and others were ruined. He laid it back on the desk. Being a lover of books, he closed it reverently. In a strange way he felt sorry for it, hoping no more harm would come to the book.
<>
Belle and Bernard were on the east side of the castle descending a flight of steps. They were headed to the castle's dungeon. Belle had her sword drawn and was in front. She stayed close against the wall and meticulously moved from step to step. Fear gripped her. She wondered what they would find at the bottom of these steps. Bernard was behind her with a small lit torch. He was constantly checking in front and behind to see if he could see anyone.
Reaching the bottom, Belle peered through the doorway into the dungeon. There were five prisoners sleeping on straw, locked away behind steel bars. Three were middle aged men, one looked to be a teenage girl, and the other was an elderly woman. They were all dressed in rags and looked greatly unkempt. There was one guard in a chair, sleeping against the wall. The keys to the prison were hanging on his belt. Looks to be an easy task, Belle thought to herself.
Belle slowly took a step into the room, her sword in her hand. She was trying to be as quiet as possible as not to wake the man. Looking over at the prisoners she could see one of the men stirring. She turned her focus toward the guard and slowly approached him. Each step was meticulously taken.
She was about ten feet from the guard and ready to engage when she heard a loud crashing sound coming from the doorway. The guard was completely surprised and fell backwards out of his seat. Belle glanced behind her to see that Bernard had tripped on the bottom step and had fallen through the doorway. All of the prisoners were also startled and wondered what was transpiring.
The guard looked up and saw Belle standing in front of him. He tried to gather his wits. He quickly stood and drew his sword. Belle stepped closer to confront him. He swung his sword at her. Belle blocked easily, and kicked his knee. The guard stumbled and took a step back. Belle swung at the guard, and likewise he held his sword up in order to block. Belle pulled back, and swung again; this time to his right side. He blocked again. Belle quickly pulled her left arm back and punched him square in the cheek bone. The guard fell back against the wall and before he could react, Belle hit him again, except this time with the hard handle of her sword. The guard lost consciousness and fell to the floor.
Belle took a deep breath and sheathed her sword. She noticed her hair had come undone during the fight. Since the guard was no longer a threat, she took a moment to tie her hair back in a ponytail. She took her time as she was quite out of breath at the moment.
She turned around to see Bernard gathering himself and brushing the dirt off his armor. Disappointed with himself, he looked at Belle with great embarrassment on his face. "Your Highness, I'm so sorry. I was just entering to see how I could help, when I took notice of the prisoners, and my feet got caught and I..."
Belle didn't know what to say. She could tell Bernard was very sincere. She patted him on the shoulder like a child, "Bernard, what's done is done. Let's get these prisoners freed and to safety." She crouched down beside the unconscious guard and grabbed his keys.
"Oh, one more thing," Bernard said, timidly. "You won't tell Michael about this... will you?"
Belle looked up at the twenty-year-old knight, feeling compassion for him. She smiled slightly, "No... I don't see any reason why we need to tell Michael. This can be our little secret."
"Oh, thank you so much."
"No problem, let's get these prisoners freed."
Taking the keys, Belle fumbled through them, trying to figure out which one would unlock the door. The prisoners saw what was transpiring and began gathering what little possessions they had. Two of the middle-aged men were helping the elderly woman stand to her feet. The teenage girl began to tear up seeing Mendolon's princess standing at the prison doors trying to get them open.
After a few minutes of trying a number of the keys, she finally heard the clicking of the lock, and the prison door swung open. Bernard quickly entered the cell and picked up the elderly woman in his arms. "Thank you, thank you," the teenage girl said, giving Belle a quick squeeze.
Belle addressed the group, "How is everyone? Are you able to move?"
One of the men stepped forward. "Yes, none of us are injured physically, just malnourished." He pointed at Bernard, "If he can carry the old woman, I think we are all good to run out of here as fast as possible."
"That won't be necessary," Belle spoke softly, trying to reassure them. "Our men have mostly secured the castle. We should have nothing to worry about. Most of the guards have been detained... everything's going to be all right."
The men stood silent, looking at each other. One spoke up, "You have the Savage and his beasts detained?"
Belle was a little confused, "No, but shortly, the Savage should be detained. All the guards we found were human. We believe we got most of them."
The man across from Belle stood wide-eyed, shaking his head. "Your Highness, you are wrong. The Savage has been torturing us with his own legion of beasts. He also runs experiments on us, trying to see what we are most afraid of. If you haven't captured the Savage or his army yet... I suggest everyone evacuate right away. He has a weapon I don't think anyone is ready to face."
"A weapon?" Belle said, troubled. "What is it... What does he have?"
The man took a deep breath. "He has... fear, and he seems to wield it like a sword."
Belle now knew they had underestimated this enemy.
Chapter 3
Michael continued his quest through the castle. Cracks in the wall gave him just enough light to guide his way. He stayed in the shadows as much as possible. His dark grey warrior suit helped conceal him. He was now journeying through a long hallway. An old rug lined the floor. So far in his exploration of the castle, he hadn't seen anyone.
Reaching the end of the hall, he found a stairwell to an upper floor. He briefly looked inside and checked the corners, scanning for a surprise attack. He saw no one and heard no one. Quietly he entered the stairwell and proceeded up the stairs. The area felt cool. It was dark. He drew his sword from his back. He didn't want to get caught unprepared. The chief knight wanted to be ready for anything.
It was times like this that he thought of his late father, Albert de Bolbec. He was the bravest knight in all the realm. There was no equal to him in character or in swordplay. He was truly a legend. When Michael was young, he lost his father in a battle in the northeast. Michael then determined in himself, that even as a young man, he would take his father's place and become the best knight in the entire realm. As he grew up, it was obvious that he had the same genes as his father, and that being a knight was part of his destiny. He knew that if his father could see him now, he would be proud of his son.
Ascending the steps, he could see the faint glow of a light at the top of the steps. With each step the light became stronger. He could see the top of the steps. He relaxed his breathing and continued to climb as quietly as possibly.
Reaching the top step, Michael could see that the light was coming from a large candle in this room. He slowly removed his hood and peeked in the room to get a better view. It was some sort of study. There were a couple of bookcases against the wall, along with a large table in the center of the room. Books and papers were scattered on the table, along with a few miscellaneous objects that looked to be used for experimentation. Michael could also see a skull, and beside it a cage with a few mice inside. There were many other fascinating items in this room, but none of them caught his attention. For in the middle of the room... he saw a figure.
The figure was dressed in an all-black coat that stretched down to his boots. A hood covered his head and face. Michael could not make out any of his features. His arms were also covered. He was frantically moving about the room gathering any papers and scrolls and stuffing them into a leather bag. Michael caught a glimpse of his torso and could see he was heavily armored. He watched closely and could also see the long nails and fur on his fingers as he gathered objects. Michael knew right away that this was the Savage.
Michael wanted to watch his movements for just a moment, seeing if he could glean any information concerning what he was doing. He couldn't believe he was watching the creature that had eluded him and his men the last six months. He could feel his anger rising inside of him. This creature had brought so much pain and suffering to the kingdom. He was ready for peace to be restored.
It was without warning that the beast stuffed the last scroll into his bag and turned to the doorway, heading straight toward Michael. Michael knew he would be seen instantly. Without giving it much thought as to how to engage this creature, instinctively Michael jumped from the shadows and kicked him directly in the middle of the stomach. The beast fell backwards into the room, bumping the table. He dropped his bag, and his papers were scattered along the floor. His hood was still covering his head and face. Michael lunged forward and took a swipe with his sword. The beast moved to the side, barely dodging the sword. Quickly, the beast turned and jumped on the table, reaching for the candle. Michael was just about to pull one of his daggers, when the beast grabbed the fire of the candle and the room went completely dark.
The darkness paralyzed Michael. He couldn't see a thing. Without warning Michael felt a boot from the beast kick him squarely in the jaw. He yelled in pain as he fell to his side. Quickly gathering himself, he planted his back against a nearby wall and tried to quiet his breathing. He could hear the initial sounds of movement by the Savage, but then everything went silent. A dagger was still in Michael's hand, and he was ready to attack... but in the darkness, he wasn't sure where.
<>
Gideon and his men checked the courtyard. The guards had been gathered together and tied up. Many of them were in pain. Everything was now quiet. Gideon twirled the ends of his mustache in nervousness. Things seemed to be a little too quiet, and there was no sign of any other guards. The knights were now regrouping at the front gate.
"Did you find anything?" Gideon asked his men.
"No... no sign of anyone," one of the knights responded. "It looks like if there was anyone else, they had already cleared out."
Gideon rubbed the top of his head, running his fingers through what little hair he had left. He was in his late forties and had been on many expeditions through the years, but still he had never seen anything quite like this. He was a little confused by this whole ordeal. He spoke quietly, "Then I wonder why the Savage had guards only watching over the walls. Something doesn't add up."
He was looking back and forth around the courtyard. Nothing seemed out of place. He then explored the front gate. Gideon was just about to walk away when something caught his eye. Just outside the doors of the gate, he saw an odd looking set of footprints in the snow coming from outside the walls. They were running through the gate. He went out to get a closer look. Kneeling down, he could see the prints were obviously of someone stumbling. He looked to the left of the gates and could easily trace them to their original spot.
The footprints came from the spot where the guard fell from the wall after he was kicked off it by Michael. Upon close examination, he could see the guard had landed in a spot where snow had piled from the wind. He survived the fall, Gideon thought to himself. If he was able to stumble through the gate, he might've warned others. I have to let our men know right away.
Running back to the gates, Gideon cried, "Men, we have to brace ourselves, there was..." It was too late. As Gideon was approaching the gate, the large wooden doors slammed shut. He feared for his men.
Inside the walls, the knights were confused by the sudden shutting of the doors. They drew their swords and quickly stood in a circle with their backs to one another. They all looked around frantically for where their enemy might appear.
A mist began to descend on the courtyard. The knights wondered where it came from. The guards who were still tied up cried out in terror. "Please, no, you can't do this to us. After all we've done. No, stop!" The mist grew, creating a fog in the air. The guards squirmed, trying to get free from the ropes that bound them.
The mist became so thick that the knights couldn't see a thing. "Steady, men," one yelled out. All the men held their swords out, wondering what they would face.
At first it was just the faint sound of a growl. It sounded like a vicious lion, except with a higher pitch. Fear gripped the men as panic started to settle in them. The growls became louder and more dreadful. It was the cry of a wild beast that was hungry for blood. "A beast!" one of the knights shouted. Soon they were all crying out in fear.
"A beast!" one would yell.
"Get away," another screamed.
The scene was chaotic. Through the mist they all saw nothing but terrorizing beasts, gritting their teeth. All of them were over six and a half feet tall. Their eyes were blood red, and their claws were untamed. What little clothes they were wearing were rags. They pounced on the men, stripping them of their swords. The men tried to fight off the ravaging beasts in any way they could. The ones who were still on their feet ran frantically.
It was at this time that Belle and Bernard arrived in the courtyard with the prisoners. They heard the screams of the knights within the misty area. They were all stunned for just a moment. "We've got to help them," Belle said, drawing her sword.
One of the male prisoners quickly grabbed her arm and held her back. "Princess... I'm sorry," he spoke softly. "There's nothing we can do at the moment but wait, and hope they survive." Belle felt utterly helpless.
Listening outside the doors, Gideon heard everything. It truly frightened him. He wished more than anything that he could be inside those walls helping his fellow knights in whatever way possible. He began beating on the doors. "Open up... open up!" he shouted, hoping someone on the other side would hear him. He took a step back and drew his sword, hoping someone would respond. The screaming continued on the inside. It was driving him crazy. He began kicking the doors, hoping for some response. Maybe, just maybe, he could lure the attackers outside the walls.
A moment later the doors began to slowly creak open. Gideon could see nothing but the mist. It started to slowly move out of courtyard through the doors. He wasn't sure how to react. If the attackers came out the doors he wouldn't be able to see them coming. He moved out of the center of the doors and to the side. His plan was to hide behind the opening doors for just a moment while the heavy mist cleared out. If an enemy stepped out of the walls and spotted him, he would be ready with his sword.
The attack went on for just a few more seconds. The mist was starting to become less dense as it was dispersing through the gate and out into the open. One by one the beasts got up and ran through doors, leaving all the men alive but injured. One knight remained lying on his back, trying to fight off a beast. Loud screaming came from the man, while the beast growled. Seeing that the others were running through the gate, the last beast stopped his fight with the man and held the knight's head down against the ground. The beast lowered his face as close as he could to the knight. With a hideous growling voice, the beast spoke, "Warn your king that the Savage is coming for his kingdom, and he cannot be tamed." The knight could feel the beast's breath against his face. He continued, "Nothing can stop him. Fear will overcome!" The beast roared loudly in the knight's face once more before letting go and running off.
Gideon was hiding behind the doors when he saw the horde of cloaked figures run though the entryway. He presumed they were beasts. The mist seemed to leave when the last one left. Gideon thought it best not to engage them in battle since a whole horde had basically run through at once. His mind was now completely focused on his fellow knights. After waiting another minute, he sprang from the shadows and ran through the doors. His men were on the ground in pain, and many were in shock from what had just occurred. Belle and Bernard were already ministering to a few of the men who had severe wounds. Gideon looked around to see if he could find answers to what occurred. He turned to Belle, "Belle, what happened?
"I'm not sure. We arrived as the mist was falling on the men. They weren't able to see their enemies and were attacked. They were helpless," Belle said as she put pressure on a neck wound of one of the knights. There was great urgency in her voice. "What were you doing outside the walls?" she asked.
"I was exploring a pair of footprints in the snow when the doors shut." He had many questions about the attack, "Was that really a group of beasts that attacked our men?"
Belle was troubled, burdened by everything that was happening. "I'm not sure. They didn't seem like typical beasts from Grimdolon. They were vicious and terribly fierce."
The freed prisoners began to help Belle and Bernard in whatever way they could. Belle shouted out orders and told one of the men to search for medical supplies. Gideon saw she was beginning to panic. "Belle, tell me what can I do to help?"
"Take care of these men. I'm going to find Michael!" she shouted.
<>
Michael sat against the wall with his sword in hand. He sat in near complete darkness. There was just a little light coming from the doorway that helped him get his bearings. He wondered if the Savage was still in the room. A few minutes had passed, and he hadn't heard a sound. He wondered what his next move should be.
Feeling the area around him with his hand, he began to move ever so slightly through the room toward the doorway. The room was completely silent, and Michael was careful, as he didn't want to disturb anything and give away his position. He was thankful for this new armor Hector had designed. It proved to be immeasurably valuable at this time.
Reaching the doorway, Michael quickly moved out of the room into the top of the stairwell. He looked around frantically for any signs of the Savage. Even in the cold winter air, sweat beads rolled off his forehead. He waited a few moments before moving. Occasionally he heard a sound, but quickly realized he was hearing noises coming from outside the castle. He wondered how his men were fairing.
It was at that moment that Michael heard footsteps coming up the stairwell. Looking down the steps, he could see Belle ascending. She was holding a torch and checking her bearings as she climbed the steps. She looked worried. As she got close, Michael called out to her, "Belle, hold your position!" Belle quickly put her back to the wall, and pulled her sword.
She answered back, "Michael, are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I confronted the Savage in this room not long ago. He may have escaped, but I need to know for sure."
Belle waited a few seconds before answering. "What would you like me to do?"
"Use caution, but come, meet me here. I'll explore the room with the torch." Belle began to slowly ascend the rest of the steps, watching for any enemy that might come her way.
Upon reaching him, Michael whispered to her, "Hold the torch into the room. I want to make sure this beast is gone." Belle nodded in approval. She did as he asked. Michael ducked low and scanned the room. It appeared empty, confirming his suspicion that the beast had left earlier.
Pulling back, he looked up at Belle, "Hand me the torch. I'm going to enter the room and light the candle I saw earlier. Watch the room for me." Belle had many questions, but she knew they would have to wait. She handed over the torch and Michael entered the room. Belle grabbed her bow and pointed an arrow into the room. She would easily let it fly if she had to. Michael quickly found the matches beside the candle and lit it. The room brightened as the wick caught fire.
Michael turned, checking the room one more time. "I believe it's safe to enter, Belle. It looks like the Savage fled the room when I confronted him earlier."
"Michael, I hate to say it, but that might not even be our biggest problem. It appears that rumors are true. The Savage has a horde of beasts assisting him. They attacked us earlier."
"What! What happened?" Michael asked, desperate for information.
"In the courtyard a thick mist fell on our men. They couldn't see a thing. A band of beasts descended on them, brutally attacking them."
"Is everyone ok?"
"I don't know. Gideon and Bernard were attending to them when I left to find you."
Michael couldn't believe what he was hearing. This mission was supposed to be the end of the Savage's reign of terror, but it seemed like things were only getting worse. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath, "Where are the beasts now?"
"They left. It appears one of the guards we knocked from the wall tipped them off. I would assume he opened the doors for them to escape."
"Well then... we must hurry," Michael said sternly. He turned to the table in the center of the room and began searching through many of the scrolls and books.
Belle could tell he was looking for something, "What are you doing? Shouldn't we be leaving?"
Michael didn't take his eyes off the task at hand, "The Savage was working on something before he left. I think he got word we were coming and began packing up some of his work."
Belle was puzzled, "What? Are you sure? How do you know this?"
"I watched him before I attacked. He was moving quickly and was recklessly throwing a lot of papers and scrolls into a bag that he was..." Michael stopped mid-sentence. Looking onto the floor he saw the shoulder bag the Savage had dropped during their fight. There were a few papers that had fallen out when Michael kicked him. He cleared a spot on the large table and spread out the contents of the bag.
Belle looked inquisitively at the contents. She saw maps of the villages of Mendolon, along with notes along the margins. There was also a map of the castle, along with detailed accounts of who worked and resided there on a daily basis. There were notes concerning where to attack, if a siege on the castle was planned. Michael grabbed one of the scrolls and slowly unrolled it. They were surprised by what they saw. On the scroll were names of the knights and what some of their routines were, along with the names of some of their relatives and family. Belle even saw a list recorded of her daily activities, including her morning training routine. "What is all this?" Belle said quietly.
Michael stood silent for a few moments before answering, "It looks like the Savage's plans are deeper than we anticipated." Michael rubbed his chin, deep in thought, wondering what to do next. He took a few more minutes to read some of the materials before issuing an order, "Belle, we need to get our men out of here, and back to the castle."
Belle was still puzzled by everything, "But... Michael, what does this all mean? What are the Savage's plans? What does he want?"
Michael took a deep breath. "I'm... I'm not entirely sure... but whatever it is, it can't be good."
Chapter 4
A few days had passed since the raid on the Northern Ruins. The knights were still recovering from the attacks from the beasts. Most of the men were not seriously injured, but they were dealing with the psychological scars of being attacked by the horde of beasts. Many of them felt incapable of further confronting the Savage and his followers.
After the raid on the castle, Michael, Belle, and Gideon led the evacuation of the castle. Leaving the ruins, they took a southern route back toward Mendolon. Hector had arranged for a caravan of wagons to pick up the knights and any hostages. He met them a few miles from the abandoned castle. It was a difficult journey as many of them were paranoid of another attack from the Savage.
At present, Michael and Gideon were sharing with King Sebastian the information they had gleaned from the Savage's notes found in the upstairs study of the ruins. It was early morning and tensions were high as Michael pleaded his case, "King, the Savage is not what we thought. He is much more calculated and cunning than we have anticipated. We must use all our resources and take every precaution."
The king rested in his chair while he listened to the men. His eyes were closed and his left hand was over his face, hoping this would all go away, "Michael, I hear what you are saying, but this will throw the whole kingdom into a panic."
"King, did you hear me? The Savage is watching us. He's not working alone. Somehow he has spies watching us."
"Please, King, hear what Michael is saying," Gideon added. "He truly knows what's best for the kingdom."
The king slammed his fist against the table and stood up in a fury. His long curly brown hair bounced as he stood. "You think he knows best?" the King said angrily. "Last I checked, I was still king!"
Michael held his hands up, trying to calm the situation. "Listen, Your Majesty, try to hear what I'm saying. The Savage is not going to continue to just plan acts of terror and mischief. He is planning a coordinated attack against the kingdom and your reign."
"You don't think I see that?!" the king shot back. He ran his fingers through his beard as he paced back and forth. He was trying hard to calm himself. The Savage had been a nuisance for the past six months, and the king hoped that this enemy would have been disposed of by now. It was frightening news to hear that the Savage had notes concerning a layout of the castle as well as the daily schedule of all the knights.
After a few moments, Michael decided to break the silence. "Please, King, will you grant me to speak my mind? Let me say what I think, and then you may do as you wish."
The king took a deep breath and sat down comfortably in his chair. He nodded and held out his hand toward Michael, as if to say "proceed."
"Very well," Michael said. "I suggest we call to arms all the soldiers and able- bodied men of the land and make them aware of what is transpiring. Set watches throughout the villages. As my men start to recover, I will spread them throughout the land. They can give instruction to the townspeople as well as provide a presence of comfort among the people. Any information or leads concerning the Savage will be brought directly to Belle or myself. And then..."
"Oh, Michael..." the king stood up again. He was frustrated.
"What's the matter, my king?"
King Sebastian cursed under his breath, "It's so close to the time of our Winter Ball... In the past this has been our time to show our confidence and strength to the kingdoms of the world."
Gideon shouted out, "But that's not the purpose of the Winter Ball. It is..."
Michael quickly cut him off. "Gideon," he spoke softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Let me handle this one."
Michael turned to King Sebastian and continued. "Listen. I'm not saying to cancel the Winter Ball or any of the other celebrations. I think they will actually give the people hope." The annual Winter Ball was the most festive event of the kingdom. All the nobles and most of the knights of Mendolon would be in attendance along with their families. Many of the kingdom's wealthy citizens would also be present, along with a few dignitaries from Mendolon's few allied nations.
"Well, is there anything else you would suggest, O Great and Wise Knight?" the King said sarcastically.
Michael took a deep breath, "Yes, there is actually one more thing." He paused just a moment to absorb the weight of what he was about to say. "King, I think you should seek refuge in one of our allied nations over the sea."
"What? Are you crazy?" the king shot back.
"Listen, Your Majesty. The Savage has detailed plans concerning the castle and the people in it. It seems like you will be the eventual target."
The king pulled his hair in frustration. "But... I can't.... I just can't... not right now."
Michael continued, "Don't worry about the kingdom, my king. I will be advising my men concerning the security of the castle, and I can rely on Hector for running the castle itself. Your daughter, as always, will serve as a symbol of hope in your absence." The king closed his eyes and shook his head. He did not like what Michael was saying, but in his heart of hearts he knew that what he was suggesting was the best plan of action. Any objection he tried to conjure in his mind seemed pointless.
Michael continued. "It won't be long. I know I can catch this beast. Trust me, King. This is the correct plan of action."
There seemed to be a strong tension in the air as Michael and Gideon waited for King Sebastian to respond. At times he could be unreasonable, so they wondered what he would say. He seemed to be thinking intently about the suggestions made. The king rubbed his forehead in deep contemplation. It was a full minute before Sebastian broke the silence, "Very well, I will leave at once. I will be accompanied by a small troop of soldiers. I will travel north."
"What? Where are you going in the north?" Michael responded. "I would think traveling over the sea would be the safest route."
The king turned to walk away, "You heard me. I will go to the north to the Lost Mountains. I will stay in seclusion until the Savage is captured."
<>
It was getting late in the afternoon and Belle was still training on her obstacle course. After discovering the Savage's plans, she knew she had to change her routine. She no longer came out in the early morning to the course but rather waited until the afternoon. She also took a handful of soldiers with her to help stand watch as she trained. They proved themselves valuable in that a couple times she had called on them to assist her in her training.
She had heard of her father's plans to travel north, and this motivated her even more to defeat the Savage. The winter season and particularly the Royal Winter Ball was a majestic time of celebration for the kingdom of Mendolon. For Sebastian to miss it was quite a big deal. It was the one time all year that the people truly saw their king as a benevolent ruler as opposed to a wealth-obsessed tax collector.
Currently she was practicing sword fighting with Bernard as the other soldiers looked on. They used long blunt swords to practice dueling. Bernard was very skilled in technique, but Belle's speed often got the better of him. At this moment, Bernard had her backing up in a defensive position. She never wanted anyone to go easy on her just because she was the princess. She always told them to give her their best. She was thankful that Bernard never held back.
Belle jumped back as Bernard took a furious side swipe with his sword. Belle crouched and spun into a side kick, sweeping his legs out from under him. Bernard fell hard to the ground on a small patch of snow, dropping his sword. Quickly standing up, Belle held the dull tip of the sword to Bernard's chest as he lay on the ground. Bernard let out a deep breath... he was exhausted.
Belle pulled back her sword, "C'mon Bernard, let's go another round."
"Your Majesty, I think I might need a break. We've been at this for over an hour," Bernard said through heavy breathing.
"But don't you want to beat me? I'm starting to get tired, and you really are doing better," Belle said, trying to encourage him.
"Ok," Bernard's eyes were closed as he lay on the ground, "Just let me take five minutes... and then I'll continue to help you train."
She sheathed her sword, "Very good. Take all the time you need, Bernard."
Belle walked to a nearby tree where she kept a water skin. Lifting it high, she took a large sip of water. Maybe taking five minutes was a good idea after all, she thought. She was thankful for these last few days to get away and train. Since the night of the raid on the northern ruins, she had not slept well. Her recurring dream had returned, and it consumed a lot of her thinking. In some regards it was becoming an obsession with her.
Her dream was a pleasant dream in many regards. She was entering the Royal Winter Ball, and there were crowds of people welcoming her as she entered. She was dressed beautifully. Her dress was full and eloquent. It was a deep purple color. She wore white gloves and her brown hair was curled and pinned up. As she walked by the guests, they welcomed her and commented on how beautiful her dress was. She found her herself smiling and quietly saying "thank you" as she passed by individuals. Music played gently in the background.
In her dream she would make her way to the dance floor. She could hear the sound of violins. When the guests cleared the floor... the dream started to turn. Something was not right. She felt that she was not supposed to be there, and it wasn't unfolding properly. In the dream she was pulled between desires of wanting to stay and wanting to leave simultaneously. She would scream out on the dance floor, "Please, let me go. I don't want to be here. This is not right. I must go now!" It was at this point that she would always wake up and remind herself that it was only a dream. This had been her normal routine off and on for the past nine months. But for the last few nights since the raid, it had occurred every night.
Bernard was just now getting onto his feet and stumbling over to where Belle stood. He collapsed on the ground right by her, resting his arms under his head like he was ready to take a nap. "Belle, I'm ready to start again, whenever you are," he said through muffled speech.
Belle took another sip of water, "Oh... it's ok, Bernard. I might take a few more minutes to rest if that's ok with you."
Bernard took a deep breath. "If you insist," he said, drifting off to sleep.
The soldiers who were watching the southern perimeter reached for the hilts of their swords as they heard a horse approaching. They quickly relaxed their grip when they saw Michael come into view on the road. He was dressed in his warrior gear, as he wanted to be ready at any moment for an encounter with the Savage. He didn't seem to be in a hurry, but Belle had worked with him enough to know that he had something on his mind. Entering the area, he dismounted his horse and approached Belle.
"What brings you out here today, Michael?" Belle said, greeting him.
"I guess you've heard about your father's plans to hide in the north," he spoke quietly.
"I have," Belle said, brushing a strand of brown hair out of her face. "I think it's a good plan."
"Yes, and then I'm going to..." Michael stopped mid-sentence. "What's with him?" Michael said, pointing at Bernard lying on the ground.
Belle looked over at Bernard sleeping on the ground. He was quietly snoring at this point. "Oh... him. Yeah, he's just waiting for me to rest up, so we can continue with my training."
"I see... that's very gracious of you, Your Highness," Michael said, smiling slightly. He continued, "Anyway, the king is hoping to depart as soon as he can. He should be fine as he's taking a band of soldiers with him, and he's traveling roads that belong to our allies. He's left you and me in charge until he gets back."
"Well... he does think we make a great team," Belle said jovially. Michael tried to stay focused but couldn't help but blush just a little at Belle's comment. They had been working so fervently for the past few days that Michael hadn't given much thought to the king's eventual plans to see them wed.
He continued, "The castle's dungeon will be cleared out for the most part, but I'm going to move a special prisoner down there."
Belle was confused, "What? What are you talking about?"
Michael looked off into the distance, contemplating the magnitude of what he was about to say to Belle. He took a deep breath before speaking quietly, "It's my source. The one I was telling you about."
Her eyes grew wide, "The one who led us to the Northern Ruins?"
"Yes, that's the one. He's been imprisoned in the barracks of my house."
Many questions flooded Belle's mind, "Who is he? Where did you find him?"
Michael looked around again to make sure no one was overhearing them talk. He got close to Belle's face, and talked softly, "Eight months ago after the dragon hunt we found him living in the woods. He's the one who provoked the dragon."
Belle was utterly shocked, "What! You have him in your barracks? Why didn't you turn him over to my father?"
Michael anticipated all these questions, "Listen Belle, you know how hasty your father can be. I knew he would order an immediate execution of him. I didn't want that to happen. He said that he had information concerning the Savage that was helpful, and so far he has been accurate." Belle paced just a little as Michael's information sank in. What Michael did in hiding his prisoner was a case for treason against the king. She knew Michael would not do such a thing unless there was validity to what he was saying. She was stunned. She greatly wondered where all this would lead.
"Tell me more about him," she said, hungry for information.
"He's a young noble from another kingdom. I would guess he's a little younger than me. He is very intelligent and very knowledgeable of this world."
"How..." Belle stumbled over her words. "How was he able to pin down the location of the Northern Ruins?"
"After every attack from the Savage, I brought him back clues and evidence and he was able to piece everything together and come up with a location of where the Savage was hiding."
Belle paced slightly, turning to face the sun that was beginning to set. She comfortably crossed her arms as the information sank in. She felt the information Michael was sharing with her was invaluable. It motivated her even more to find the Savage and capture him. She wanted to accelerate the plans. "Well, I'd say that settles it. Especially with the notes we took from the ruins. Let's have your source look at them. If you're confident in him, let's get all the information we can from him and catch the Savage."
Michael ran his fingers through his hair as he looked off into the distance. Belle could tell he had something on his mind. "What is it, Michael?" she said, grabbing his arm.
"Listen, Belle. This is where it gets interesting. He's now refusing to talk to me."
"What? Why?"
Michael shook his head, "I'm not entirely sure. But ever since we got back from the ruins, he says he wants to talk with someone else."
"Who?"
Michael looked directly into Belle's eyes, "You, Belle... he wants to talk to you."
"Me? Are you joking?... Why?"
"I'm not sure. I've tried to bargain with him, but he refuses. His one request is to talk to the princess of the land."
Belle continued to pace as she thought about what Michael had just said. She thought everything sounded quite curious. Intuitively she had a lot of precaution, but the desire to catch the Savage outweighed everything. Turning to Michael, she shrugged her shoulders and smiled slightly. "Ok, I don't see what the problem is. Let me meet with him and get the information we need."
Michael took a deep breath, seemingly reluctant to let this plan go through. He spoke quietly, "Very well... let's meet at the castle after sunset and I will brief you on everything he's told me so far."
Michael turned to walk away, but Belle quickly reached out and grabbed his arm. She wasn't finished yet. Belle knew him well enough to know that he was hiding something, and, more specifically, he hadn't answered one of her questions. "Michael, before you leave... I need to know something. Please tell me, who is he?... and what's his name?"
Michael nodded his head slightly and looked off into the distance. He knew this question would come, "His name is Jean-Luc Pascal, and he's a beast."
Chapter 5
Michael led Belle through the back halls of the castle toward the dungeon. The area of the castle was dark with only a few small torches lighting the hallway. Belle couldn't believe how everything was unfolding. The thought of her father going to the north was still fresh on everyone's mind, and now she learned that Michael secretly had a beast imprisoned for the last eight months. She wondered if everything would ever truly return to normalcy.
Belle tied her hair back into a ponytail as she walked, trying to get herself mentally ready for this task at hand. "I still can't believe you had a beast living in the small prison in your house," she said to Michael.
"Yeah, sometimes it's strange even for me to think about," Michael said quietly. "But truly, I felt as if I had no other choice."
They came to a stairwell at the end of the hallway. Michael turned to face her, "Belle, this is where I leave you. Try to relax, but don't give him too much information about yourself, as I don't fully trust him yet."
Belle nodded her head as she took in the information from Michael. She felt a mixture of both anxiety and wonder as she thought of meeting this beast. "Michael, is there something that makes you doubt him? Has he been untrustworthy in some regard?"
Michael shook his head as he looked back down the hallway from where they came. She could see the apprehension on his face. "No, nothing like that... I just feel like," he paused a moment. "I feel like he's hiding something... like he's leading us on. I think he wants something from me, and I'm not sure yet what it is."
They stood in silence for a few moments wondering what to say next. Michael scratched his head as if he was in deep thought. Belle wondered if he was starting to have second guesses about letting her talk to the beast. She spoke up, grabbing his arm, "Listen, Michael, I'll be careful. Please, don't worry about me. I'll remember the mission and try to get as much info as I can from him."
Michael felt reassured by Belle's confidence. "Ok. Gideon is coming here soon. I told him to wait here just in case you need anything. Things are moving quickly, and I'm going to head home. I'm going to be leading the knights into the towns tomorrow trying to set up small local troops of soldiers to watch for the Savage. Take as much time as you need with the beast. Try to glean as much information as you can from him. I'll check in with you in the early morning in case he led on to any valuable information."
"Thanks, I'll do my best." Belle said, turning to descend the steps.
"Oh, one more thing, Belle," Michael said, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned to face him. "Yes?" she replied.
"Do listen carefully to every word that he says... he tends to subtly speak in riddles," Michael said, trying to prepare her as much as he could.
Belle nodded her head, slightly confused. She wasn't sure how to respond to this last comment. She simply turned and descended the steps.
The steps spiraled down to the lower dungeons of the castle. The stairwell was dark; the only lights came from the main floor and the dungeon. Belle walked down carefully, making sure not to stumble. She wished she would have taken her medicine a little earlier on this particular night. She felt anxious. Just for a moment she instinctively reached for the hilt of her sword before remembering that she was in her own castle. It had been a couple of years since she had been in the dungeon. All prisoners that were kept in this prison were either captured in close proximity to the castle or needed to be interrogated concerning the larger workings of Mendolon. All others were taken to the large prison chambers a few miles east of the castle. Currently in this dungeon besides the beast, Jean-Luc Pascal, there were only three lower level criminals. They had been caught trying to rob the castle's markets in the last few days.
Reaching the bottom steps, she could hear the playing of a violin coming from the farthest prison cell. The other three prisoners were located close to the steps. They stopped chatting at the sight of the princess emerging from the stairwell. The dungeon was dark. Belle could barely make out the faces of the men. "Good evening, M'lady," one of the prisoners said, greeting her.
Belle smiled slightly as she proceeded down the hallway toward the sound of the violin. She brushed a strand of hair out of her face as she walked. There were about five cells on each side separating the beast's cell from the other prisoners. Michael said that he wanted to keep him isolated as well as comfortable in his conditions.
The beast's cell came into view as it was more lit up than the rest of the dungeon. As Belle walked closer, she could see that it was not a typical prison cell. It looked comfortable. There was a well-made bed, along with an end table with a lantern sitting on it. There were also a couple of wooden chairs along with a beautiful rug and a large bookshelf that seemed to contain fifty books or more. As she stepped right in front of the cell, she could see a figure in the middle of the room playing a slow-methodical piece on the violin. It was Jean Luc Pascal, the beast.
He looked to be just under six feet in height. He had long curls of brownish-blond hair rolling down his back. He was very thin for a beast, looking no larger than a man with broad shoulders. Like most beasts, he was a mixture of lion and man, with a few faint characteristics of a wolf. Besides the other night at the ruins, Belle had only once seen a beast traveling a northern road. Jean-Luc looked much more like a man than the one she had seen in the past. He was dressed properly in a red jacket with a white shirt underneath, dark slacks, and a worn pair of shoes. He wore eyeglasses, which gave him even more of the look of a man.
Seeing Belle in the corner of his eye, he finished playing his piece and turned to face her. He peacefully put down his violin on a nearby chair. "Good evening, Your Highness," he said as properly as could. Belle stood silent, not sure what to say. She had never spoken to a beast before. This was not what she expected.
Jean-Luc comfortably took a seat in one of his chairs, adjusting his glasses. He broke the silence, "I'm really glad Michael allowed my request and let you come see me."
"Yeah," she said, still a little stunned by the whole situation. This was truly like nothing else she'd ever experienced. She spoke quietly, "You're... you're a lot smaller than I anticipated."
Jean-Luc laughed slightly, "Well... it's a pleasure to meet you too, Your Highness."
"Oh, no... I'm sorry," Belle said, stuttering over her words. "I've just never met a beast before, and ... this is not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"I'm not sure. To be honest, this whole situation is very different for me. I just learned that you were helping us catch the Savage, and that Michael has had you imprisoned for the past eight months," Belle said with poise.
"Well, as in everything that Michael does, I would say he has treated me very fairly. For being imprisoned, he has actually made my stay as comfortable as it can be - even helping me to feel at home in my new cell," Jean-Luc said, looking around at all the amenities in his cell. He seemed completely comfortable as he spoke. He shrugged his shoulders, "And to be honest with you... I did provoke the dragon which has to be worth some form of punishment."
"Why were you in the dragon's territory on that day?" Belle said, amazed at how relaxed she had become so soon.
He nodded his head in approval at the question, anticipating it would come. "I needed to get Michael's attention. I needed to warn him about the Savage."
"Do you know the Savage, personally?"
"I would not say he is a friend, rather someone I'm just familiar with." He stopped to point at something behind Belle, "Bernard came down earlier and left a chair for you."
Belle turned to see the chair sitting against the wall. "Thank you," she said, retrieving the chair and taking a seat.
"Now, where was I... Oh yes, the Savage. His real name is Dominique Delano. Supposedly he was doing some mining in the northern parts of Grimdolon. I heard about him from some of our townsfolk."
"What did they say about him?" Belle asked inquisitively.
The beast took a breath, "To be honest, those working around the area described him as being mad. He can't be reasoned with or controlled. They say he had a lust for power and clearly knows what he wants. It drove him to madness."
"What was he doing in Grimdolon's mines?"
"Not sure, exactly. There are many mysterious materials to be found in those mines. I'm sure you've heard the rumors about our mines." Belle nodded in agreement. From childhood schooling, everyone knew that Grimdolon was known for its mining and that it was the kingdom's main source of wealth. Their land was rich in minerals and other various resources that could be used for anything from medicines to synthetic materials. The beasts of Grimdolon also found gems and other rubies in certain areas of the mines.
Belle was hungry for more information. She wanted to figure out what the Savage was currently planning. She continued, "Michael and I found his plans in the Northern Ruins. We know that he is planning some sort of attack on the castle, and particularly, my father."
Jean-Luc nodded his head, "Correct. He thinks that he will be able to overthrow the kingdom of Mendolon with a small band of followers. He will stop at nothing until he accomplishes that goal."
Belle was on the edge of her seat at this point. She didn't want to miss anything Jean-Luc was saying. "The notes we found at the Northern Ruins had a list of every knight along with a thorough map of the castle. I must admit, it was quite frightening to see," Belle said honestly. "Do you know what specifically he is planning?"
Jean-Luc stood up, rubbing his chin in deep contemplation. "I'm not sure yet... I need a little more information before I can come to a conclusion." He paced his cell, trying to put pieces together. The beast stopped for a moment before looking directly at Belle, "Can you think of anything else you've seen in the ruins that might help us with this mystery?"
Belle rubbed her forehead, trying to think of anything she saw or heard, "No, nothing comes to mind."
Jean-Luc paced near the front of the cell. He was sure there was something that could help him piece all this information together. He was wondering if he had missed something in all the conversations he had had with Michael.
Belle tried to think of something to say that would help the situation. She broke the silence, "Some of the townspeople say he has magic."
This stopped Jean-Luc right in his tracks. He looked at Belle with a slight smile on his face. "Magic?" he said inquisitively.
"Yes, that's what I've heard, and I guess I saw a little bit of it the other night while we were at the ruins. He created this smoke screen as his fellow beasts attacked our men. The Knights couldn't see what was coming."
Jean-Luc stepped as close as he could to Belle and spoke through the bars, "Belle... may I call you, Belle?"
She became a little nervous with how close he was to her. "Sure, that should be fine. Michael said we are close to the same age."
"Very well... Belle, I will encourage you with this thought, and if I were you, I would greatly take it to heart." He looked directly at Belle, "Perception is not always reality... Just because Sir Delano is spreading rumors that he has magic, doesn't mean he actually possesses it."
Belle stood up, stepping a little closer to the prison bars. "Wait... you're saying that the Savage spread those rumors himself about having magic?"
"Precisely. He does not operate in reality. He just manipulates everyone into thinking that he has more power than he really does."
A strand of brown hair fell in front of Belle's eyes. She brushed it to the side. "Jean-Luc, how is he doing this? How is he eluding all our knights and successfully striking different parts of the kingdom?"
Jean-Luc stood silent for a moment, seemingly caught off guard by something Belle said. Belle wondered why the silence all of a sudden, "Jean-Luc, are you ok?"
He closed his eyes for a quick moment and shook his head, "Sorry... As I was saying, he manipulates you. Fear is his main weapon. The Savage wants you living in fear and constantly wondering what he's going to do. He is not operating in reality... only perception."
Belle was confused by this whole exchange with the beast. She feared he was talking in riddles like Michael had warned her. Worse yet, like Michael, she could tell that this beast was hiding something from her. She felt like he was starting to play games with her. She became frustrated. "I feel you are hiding something from me. Please, tell me plainly what you mean by all this, Beast."
Jean-Luc simply nodded in response before calmly walking over and picking up his violin. He took a seat close to the cell bars. It looked as if he was trying to carefully choose the words he was about to say. Belle could tell he was calculating the depth of everything he was saying. This worried her greatly. The beast took a deep breath before speaking to her, "Well... you are actually correct, Your Highness." He took off his glasses and was now looking straight at Belle. "I do have secrets, but I'm not ready to disclose them yet. If I gave everything to you at once, you would be finished with me."
"Secrets... what are you talking about?" Belle was starting to get a little angry at this point.
"Belle... you must open your eyes." Jean-Luc's eyes were still fixed on Belle as he spoke very intently in a hushed voice, "Look around you, Your Highness. You know this kingdom has secrets. They surround your life. Widen your gaze. Open... your... eyes."
Belle stood silently, looking at the beast. She didn't know how to respond. She started to become somewhat frightened of Jean-Luc and what he may be implying. The princess was ready to leave. She turned to walk away. "That'll be all today... Beast."
She was a few steps down the hall when Jean-Luc quickly stood up and stopped her. "One more thing, Your Highness."
Belle turned to face him as he spoke. "You said that in the Northern Ruins, you and Michael found a list of all the knights along with their daily schedules."
"That's correct," she said softly.
"Did you find anything concerning Michael de Bolbec in the Savage's notes?"
Belle thought for a second as she tried to remember everything she'd seen that night. "Actually... no we didn't. Nothing about Michael."
"Let me draw one conclusion," Jean-Luc said with wide eyes, grabbing the prison bars in front of him. He spoke in a rushed voice, "The notes on Michael weren't there in the upper room of the ruins because the Savage and his followers had taken them out. They probably had been referring to them frequently as of late. I would easily venture to say that Michael is their first target, and they are going to strike against him as soon as they can. I would make sure he is safe."
Belle put her hands over her mouth as she remembered Michael's last words about heading home to get some sleep. She knew he was in danger. She quickly ran out of the dungeon.
Chapter 6
Michael stirred the fire in his fireplace. It was a cold December evening and he wanted to be sure it burned strong through the evening. He hadn't been sleeping much as of late. Between his discussions with Jean-Luc and his constant research on the Savage, sleep had become a forgotten luxury. He had another busy day tomorrow so he wanted to be sure to get a good night's rest before venturing out into the towns.
His home was located east of the castle about three miles. The house was considered quite large for someone who wasn't royalty. It consisted of five bedrooms, a study, a kitchen and small dining area, along with a library. It was made of stone, and contained both a second story and a basement. His great-grandfather had built it many years ago, and through the decades many of his family members had lived there.
Michael took off his boots and set them by the fire, hoping they would dry during the night. Working late nights and early mornings as of late, he appreciated the opportunity to relax. Earlier he had made himself a cup of tea. He reached for it and took a sip. Steeped perfectly, he thought to himself. He rested his head against the back of the rocking chair.
He closed his eyes and thought of the townspeople he would face tomorrow. How he wished that he was traveling to the towns tomorrow bringing good news. For the past six months, he felt like his only interaction with the people of Mendolon had been warnings and precautionary visits to their towns. Earlier this year he had hoped that ridding the eastern border of the dragon would be a momentous occasion, but it actually opened the greater mystery of the Savage. In his heart of hearts, Michael longed to ride through the towns telling people that peace and justice had been secured for years to come. He wanted this for the people of Mendolon more than anything.
He took another sip of tea as he felt the temperature in the air drop. Putting down his tea, he went to retrieve a blanket from his bedroom. Walking the hallway, he grabbed his bicep and flexed. His muscles were still a little sore from the raid on the ruins a few days ago. It was only at down time moments like this that he realized how sore they were. It reminded him that as strong as he was, the ultimate victory could not come from him alone. Even as the realm's bravest knight, he was finite.
Reaching his bedroom, he grabbed a blanket off his bed. He was about to exit the room when he realized the temperature in the room was much cooler than the rest of the house. It stopped him in his tracks. He looked to the south side of the room and there he saw a window was open. Michael quickly got down on the ground and pulled a small blade he hid under his bed. There was no reason for that window to be open. The obvious conclusion was that someone was inside his home.
He stood against the wall and looked down the hallway back toward the living room area. The house was silent; he heard nothing. He slowly made his way down the hallway, checking each room he passed by. His mind wondered if this was a common burglar ... or something more sinister.
As he got close to the fireplace room, Michael could see that it was starting to fill with smoke. He wondered if the intruder was spreading his fire and if he was going to be a victim of arson. He began to move a little faster. His weapons were kept in a small armory closet off the main living area. At a time like this he really wished he had his daggers handy.
<>
Belle quickly ran up the steps from the dungeon. She found Gideon at the top, on the verge of sleeping. She startled him with her urgency, "Gideon, we've got to head to Michael's house, and we must leave at once."
He quickly shook himself awake and stood up. "Why, what's going on?"
"Jean-Luc, the beast, thinks the Savage is going to target him first," she said moving quickly down the hallway.
Gideon followed her. "What makes you think that? We didn't find anything in the Savage's notes concerning Michael, and besides, his private residence has been a secret for years."
"I don't know how, but Jean-Luc says that the Savage knows more about us than we think. He ultimately wants to overthrow the kingdom, and he plans to do it by first taking down the kingdom's chief knight."
"What do you suggest, Your Highness? Most of the knights are still recovering from their injuries."
"Gideon, call a few dozen of the castle's soldiers into service. I'm afraid of what we might face at Michael's dwelling."
<>
Reaching the main living area, Michael quickly realized that the room was not filled with smoke at all. It was a thick fog-like mist in the air. He knew instantly that this was an attack from the Savage. He gripped his sword tightly, not able to see much of anything. The fog continued to spread rapidly.
He was almost at his armory when he heard a figure spring from behind him. He quickly turned and met the figure with his sword. It was a ravenous beast, who looked to be hungry for blood. Michael met him with his eyes and looked into the monstrous face. The creature growled at him as their swords pressed against each other. Michael jumped back, and felt the hands of another creature behind him. He quickly turned and slashed the beast. The creature groaned, as Michael figured he might have taken off one of his fingers in the swipe. Being aware of his surroundings, he turned around, and blocked another swipe of the sword from the first beast. He couldn't see much in the mist, and it took him completely off guard when he felt another creature land a punch to his left side.
Michael stumbled to his right, and then felt another beast's bicep around his throat squeezing. Pushing back with his feet, he slammed the beast against a nearby a wall. This helped him get his bearing to where he was in the house. The beast squeezed tighter. He felt his mind begin to fade. He knew it was now or never.
With his sword still in hand, he stabbed the beast's forearm that was squeezing his neck. The beast loosened his grip as he screamed in pain. With his right elbow, Michael turned and hit the beast in the head. He spun around completely and took a swipe with his sword. He was not sure of the damage he had done.
Another beast grabbed him from behind. Startled, he dropped his sword. He took no time in flipping the beast over his back. He picked up his sword and took off running to where he thought his front door was, hitting his toe on a chair on the way out. For a moment he had forgotten that he had taken off his boots earlier in the evening.
Michael was almost at the front door when he saw it open, and two more large, angry beasts entered the doorway. They both had swords, and there were others still in the house. He knew he wouldn't survive a battle with all of them. Quickly, he looked for an escape. Turning to his right, he could see the faint light from a window. He threw his sword down and sprinted toward it. He dove head first with his arms out in front. The glass shattered as he hit it and passed through to the outside. His body naturally went into a somersault as he hit the ground. His hands began to bleed heavily from the shattered glass.
Getting to his feet, Michael was stopped directly in his tracks. There in front of him was a brigade of rough-looking men standing around the spot where he landed. There were about a dozen of them standing in a semicircle around him. Michael was pinned between the men and his house. The men had somber looks on their faces and their clothes were disheveled. What Michael noticed most of all was that each man had a bow and arrow in hand, and they were all pointing them directly at him. He knew this was his point of surrender. He put his hands up showing that he was not prepared to fight back.
A few minutes passed and no one said a word. The men just stood staring at Michael with their arrows raised. Finally, two of the men moved out of position and a dark figure passed into the circle. Michael knew who it was. He had seen him before, just a few nights earlier. It was the Savage.
He was dressed in all black with a hood over his head. Even though it was dark, Michael could see portions of his face this time. His eyes particularly seemed to glow from under the hood. They were a deep red color. Michael could also see a little bit of the dark brown fur from his face. He saw the same hands as he had a few days ago. His claws looked a little longer this time. They reached out toward Michael and threw his face into the ground.
"That's for striking my men at the ruins," he said with a deep, vicious voice.
Michael wondered if he should try to fight back and somehow gain the upper hand. He thought otherwise as he would probably be met with a dozen arrows if he tried.
The Savage then delivered a swift kick to Michael's ribs as he lay on the ground. He groaned in pain, grabbing his side. "And that's for striking my beasts tonight," the Savage said with an even angrier tone.
Michael brushed his blond hair out of his face. "Well..." he moaned as he spoke, "at least you could've made it a fair fight. Five or six against one doesn't seem very fair."
The Savage laughed quietly as he spoke, "It would seem that the 'Great Knight of Mendolon' is not as strong as the people think."
Michael rose to one knee, and spoke with vengeance. "And blinding a guy's vision during a fight doesn't seem very honorable. But I have to remember that a beast that targets women and children at markets doesn't have any honor."
This seemed to infuriate the Savage. He quickly walked back over to Michael and drove his face back into the ground. He pushed as hard as he could as he spoke through gritted teeth, "Listen, you Mendolon filth. You will not speak to me like that." He stopped to growl in his ear, "I know your comings and goings. I know you have Jean-Luc tucked away in your silly little castle that I will soon rule from."
Michael tried to raise his face out of the snow on the ground, but one of the troops holding an arrow quickly came and drove his foot into his back, putting further weight on him. The Savage got down close to Michael's ear as he spoke, "I imagine Jean-Luc has told you how I operate." He growled again in his ear. "I take away your vision, your perception. The only thing you are able to see are my beasts striking you.... Your sight is gone and it leaves me to move in ... with fear."
Michael had had enough. He decided he wouldn't go down without a fight. With all his strength he quickly rolled himself over. In one swift moment he sat up and punched the man with the arrow in the stomach with his left fist, and then took a swipe at his face with his right. The man fell backwards dropping his bow and arrow. He turned to attack the Savage, but it was too late. An arrow was sent flying through the air from one of the men and it penetrated Michael's flesh next to one of his shoulder blades.
Thankfully, the arrow did not go deep. He stopped briefly to wince in pain. The Savage quickly hit Michael with his fist on the side of his head. He fell to the ground. "That's enough, men. Tie him up, and let's take him to our lair."
A few of the men approached Michael and tied his hands behind his back. Another threw a black cloth bag over his head. All he could see was complete darkness.
<>
It was just over a half an hour later that Belle, Gideon, and a troop of soldiers arrived on the scene. Michael's house had been damaged profusely in the attack. The Savage and his followers had broken through windows, doors, and even a section of the roof. Debris was scattered everywhere and it looked as if a number of things had been stolen from the house. Belle had only been to Michael's house once years ago with her father. She remembered the trip fondly and hated seeing his house like this.
"The Savage really came at him with full force," Gideon said, looking through some of the debris scattered around. Belle didn't respond. She felt on the verge of tears. She was scared for her friend.
Gideon opened the armory closet beside the fireplace. "It looks like the Savage didn't find Michael's personal armory."
Belle took a quick glance at it. "Take all the weapons and bring them back to the castle," she requested. "Gideon, have the men search the house and gather anything that looks to be of personal value. Word will begin to spread of this attack to some of the nearby residents. I want to be sure all of Michael's belongings are well-secured."
"It will be done," Gideon said, nodding his head. He began the task at once.
Belle took one more look at the house before heading outside. She had seen enough. Stepping outside, Belle took a deep breath of fresh air. She put her hands in front of her eyes trying to hold back the tears. Horrible thoughts gathered in her mind as to what may have happened to Michael. She worried that he may not even be alive. The thought sickened her. She sat down on the steps outside his front door. "You have to be strong," she whispered to herself. Belle had never met her mother, as she had lost her shortly after she was born, but it was especially at times like this that she wished her mother was around to help her glean strength.
She started to sing a song she'd learned from one of the castle gardeners, "Daffodils, lilies... the beauties of the fields. The crops are growing high and strong... what will they yield? The season comes and then they're gone, through all the changes of the year, help me be strong."
The princess felt a tear roll down her cheek. She wiped it away and stood to her feet and then let her hair down to help her relax. She knew the time called for her to be strong and to start thinking of a plan. Where was the Savage now hiding? How would they find him? Every angle would need to be explored. She would spare no expense. Looking back into the house, she beheld its ruined state. Was there a clue she was missing? How would she open her eyes, widen her gaze? What would Michael advise her to do at a time like this?
Belle was about to enter the house again when something on the doorframe caught her attention. She examined it closely. It was a clump of dark grey fur stuck to the doorway. It looked to be from a beast, possibly the Savage. Even though it seemed insignificant, she wondered if she should have this examined further. Who could help with something like this? She thought to herself, I wonder if anyone could make any sense out of ...
A passing thought came to mind... she knew of another possibility to explore.
Chapter 7
"You can't be serious!" Hector hissed as he followed Belle through the castle's back hallway toward the dungeon.
She didn't break stride as she spoke, "We have to trust him. He is the only one we know who has inside information on the Savage."
Hector grabbed Belle's arm, stopping her in her tracks. "I didn't like the fact that Michael brought a beast into our dungeon but now you want to release him and let him explore Michael's house. You don't even know if he's telling us the truth, and you want to trust him?"
Belle pulled her arm away from Hector and turned to face him. More than an hour had passed since examining Michael's house. Gideon and his men had found nothing significant at Michael's home that would lead them to the Savage. Belle's idea was now to bring Jean-Luc to the house and see if he could find anything among the debris that would be helpful. She knew it was a very risky move, but she thought it was truly their best option. "We have to do this. Michael is captured, and we've got to save him before it's too late. I don't see what other options we have at this point."
Hector pulled his black hair in frustration, "But the king will never have this. Letting a beast out of prison to capture another beast is insanity."
"Hector, he led us to the Northern Ruins, where we almost caught the Savage. It was the first lead we've had to catching this villain. Let's bring him to Michael's house, and perhaps he can see something that we can't." Belle pleaded with him, "Maybe there's a clue, or some sort of detail that we haven't uncovered. We must do whatever we can to catch him... Will you not at least consider it for my father, so he may return?"
Hector shook his head, thinking hard about Belle's proposal. He did not like her idea, but he knew it was possibly the best option they had to catch the Savage. Hector feared that with every passing day, the Savage was gaining more followers. Especially with Michael captured and the king not even in Mendolon, he greatly feared that the Savage was gaining the upper hand on the whole kingdom.
Hector spoke quietly, "What if he tries to bargain with you?"
Belle nodded her head and brushed her hair out of her eyes. She was prepared for this question, "I'm not sure what he wants, but I know my limits."
Hector breathed deeply. He knew this truly was the best path forward to catching the Savage. He gritted his teeth as he spoke, "Just be sure this results in the demise of the Savage." With that, he turned and walked back down the hallway.
Belle watched as he walked away and eventually left her sight. She knew the mission that now lay before her. She wondered to what extent Jean-Luc could help. She began to slowly descend the steps toward the dungeon. It was dark, and there were no sounds coming from the dungeon this time. It was after midnight and Belle figured the other prisoners were probably asleep at this point.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, she saw that her assumption was correct. The other prisoners were resting peacefully. A torch lit her way to Jean Luc's cell. She found him sitting in one of his chairs, relaxed. His arms were folded and it looked as if he had been falling in and out of sleep. His glasses were still on and he was still wearing his red coat. With Michael captured, she felt a great urgency to get answers from him, but she also remembered Michael's admonition that Jean-Luc seemed to speak in riddles. The princess knew she would still have to proceed cautiously with him.
"Jean-Luc," Belle said quietly.
He raised his head and looked up at Belle. He stood to his feet. "Your Highness, welcome back. I wasn't expecting you this soon." He was calm, but there was obvious curiosity in his voice. "What has become of Michael?"
"We were too late. You were right. The Savage came for him and took him. His house was in shambles."
"Hmm... this is unfortunate," Jean-Luc said, shaking his head. "I did not anticipate this move by Sir Delano. I figured he would strike the castle first, but it appears that his moves are more calculated. It looks like he is biding his time before an all-out strike on your father's dynasty."
Belle sat down on the chair that had been placed there earlier in the evening. She remained focused. "I wished we would have seen it sooner. Michael was our leader. We can't afford to lose him. If the Savage is manipulating us with fear, Michael was our best option against him. He knows no fear."
Jean-Luc took off his glasses and cleaned one of the lens with the end of his coat. He smiled slightly as he spoke, "Well, in actuality, that's where you are wrong, Your Highness. Michael does know fear."
"I know you've spent a lot of time with Michael lately, but I've fought with him in battle and I can tell you he's not afraid of anything."
Jean-Luc put his glasses back on his face. He was relaxed as he spoke, "Michael does, in fact, know fear, and that's what makes him so strong. Men like Michael seem unafraid at times because they know that their lives are ultimately fragile. They do not trust in themselves but know that they must trust in things greater than themselves. That's how he deals with his fear."
Even though Belle did not want to be too hasty with him, she knew that time was limited and she wanted to keep the conversation focused on how to save Michael. She quickly changed the subject, "Jean-Luc, we searched his house but didn't find anything that would direct us to the Savage's location."
Jean-Luc remained calm. "Yes, Belle, you have to remember that the Savage, Sir Delano, is like a calculated mad man. He does the best he can to keep his locations secret."
Belle took a deep breath before going further. She knew that what she was about to say would change the whole conversation. "Jean-Luc, we need your help. We want you to come with us and explore the house. See if you can find anything that will help us determine where they took Michael."
Jean-Luc couldn't believe what he was hearing. He sat quietly for a few moments before responding, "You want to release me?"
"No... well, yes, sort of, we just want you to explore the house with us and see if there is anything we've missed."
Jean-Luc nodded his head as he listened. Things were accelerating faster than he anticipated. "Well, that's very good, Princess. Aren't you a little worried I might run off during this excursion?" Jean-Luc said confidently.
Belle nodded her head in agreement. She was at a slight loss for words, and truly wondered if this was a good plan. She looked down at her boots as she spoke, "Jean-Luc... it appears that we have to trust each other."
Jean-Luc gave her a half smile before speaking, "Very good, Belle, I'm glad to hear you will not be keeping me in chains."
"Of course," she said quietly, "Talking it over with Gideon, we knew you would never agree to it if you were chained, and we want you to trust us, like we are trusting you."
"You are learning well, Your Highness. Please, tell me, what else is there for me? Surely you discussed the conditions of bargaining before coming down."
Belle was speechless. "I... I'm not sure. We were in a hurry to get Michael freed. What... what is it you want?"
Jean-Luc reached over and grabbed a cup that was on a nearby table. He casually took a sip, never taking his eyes off Belle. He gently placed it back on the table before speaking, "Well, it seems that things have changed quite a bit. Belle, it seems like you have inadvertently handed me all the power in this negotiation."
Hearing Jean-Luc say this brought lots of anxiety. Ironically, she greatly wished Michael was by her side during this dialogue. She wondered what exactly Jean-Luc was talking about. Even more, she wondered if she could really trust him. "Please, Jean-Luc, we must act fast. What is it you want?"
He stood from his chair and paced with his hands behind his back. Belle could tell he was in deep thought. He rubbed his chin as he thought about how to accurately relay his request. Moments seemed to drag on as Belle tried to guess what he would say. The dark prison was completely quiet aside from an occasional dripping of water a few feet from Belle. The silence added to her worries as she sat waiting for Jean-Luc's request.
After a minute or two, he turned to face Belle and spoke quietly, "Your Highness, I desire what most beasts desire." He paused briefly, "To be treated kindly in the world of men."
Belle was puzzled at the request, "Of course... please go on."
"I want to go to the Winter Ball. I want to meet the nobles of your kingdom. I want to freely mingle among the guests, and I would like the pleasure of escorting you to the ball, Princess."
Belle stood to her feet. She was shocked by the request. Many ideas circulated in her mind. The first thing she thought of was her dream. She wondered if there was any connection with Jean-Luc's request. Second of all, she wondered how Jean-Luc's request would be taken by the rest of the kingdom. The kingdoms of Mendolon and Grimdolon were not allies and people may not be accepting of a beast at their ball, especially since one of his kind had been terrorizing the people for the past six months. She didn't think this was a good plan. She tried to counter, "What if I petition my father to open up trade routes with Grimdolon? Surely that would be a great benefit to your kingdom. The people would..."
"Your Majesty, surely my accompaniment wouldn't be that bad." Jean-Luc spoke with a smile, "And honestly, I can be a gentleman."
Belle crossed her arms and shook her head. She was growing impatient. "Jean-Luc, this situation is serious. Michael is captured by the Savage. We have to make haste to save him. There's no time to lose."
He took off his glasses and spoke sincerely, "I know, and I'm very sorry about that, but I feel my request is simple and more than fair. Please, Princess... will you accept my proposal?"
Belle took a deep breath. She knew in her heart of hearts that Jean-Luc's request was rather small if it would result in the rescue of Michael de Bolbec. His request also gave her a small amount of reassurance that he would not run off while exploring Michael's house. At the moment, the best option seemed to be to agree to the plan. "Ok, I accept your offer. I'll make sure Gideon and the others are ready to leave at once."
"Wait!" Jean-Luc said, stepping forward and grabbing the bars to his cell. "First of all, thank you for accepting my offer, Belle. I look forward to it." Belle nodded in approval, trying to stay focused.
He continued, "I want to propose that we wait till the morning to leave. We can start at first light."
Belle quickly objected, "But we can't wait another minute. Who knows what the Savage is doing to Michael. We can't waste any more time. There are..."
"Belle," he said quietly, interrupting her. "We will be in a much better situation if we wait till morning. I don't want to miss anything in the darkness. I want to be able to see everything."
"But what about Michael?"
"I imagine that the Savage has bigger plans for him, and he will be kept alive. Sir Delano is calculated, and it seems that he will try to use his hostage to his advantage." This brought Belle a lot of fear. She wondered how the Savage might try to manipulate Michael. She remembered the hostages in the ruins talking about the experiments the Savage ran on them, testing to see of what they were most afraid. In the end Belle knew she would have to agree with Jean-Luc's demands. He now seemed to hold all the power.
She spoke sternly, "We will leave at first light. Be prepared."
"Thank you, Princess," he said quietly.
<>
Michael awoke with his arms stretched out, chained to the wall. Trying to move his hands, he realized that one of his little fingers was broken. He had trouble breathing and guessed one of his ribs was also broken. It felt as if every muscle in his body was sore. He could see that a considerable amount of blood had come from a wound in his head. The last thing he remembered was having a black bag thrown over his face and then being beaten by the Savage's followers. He wondered how much time had passed since the invasion of his home.
Looking around, Michael found himself in a very dark, damp place. There was a torch on the wall about ten feet in front of him. Its light was faint and made it difficult for him to find his bearing. At first he wondered if he was in some type of cave, but he quickly noticed the brick structure of the wall. He realized it was manmade. He wondered if he was underground, possibly in a dungeon. He looked feverishly for a clue to his whereabouts.
It wasn't long before he heard voices approaching him. He held his head up, trying to see who was coming. Just a few moments passed before he saw a creature dressed in a black cape and hood step into the torchlight. He threw open his cape, and Michael was able to catch a glimpse of his ferocious hands covered in fur with long nails protruding from the fingers. He spoke harshly, "Welcome, Michael de Bolbec." The Savage quickly drew his arm back and struck Michael squarely on the side of his head. He let out a groan as the sting of pain rushed through his jaw.
He continued, "Your kingdom is going to crumble, Michael, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
Michael looked to the side and spit a considerable amount of blood out of his mouth. "What do you want?" he said, mustering what little voice he had.
The Savage laughed under his breath. Michael could not see his face, but he could see the piercing red eyes emerging from under his hood. The Savage grabbed Michael's face and turned it to look directly into his eyes. "I have big plans for you, Michael de Bolbec." He growled slightly before continuing, "You are seen as a symbol for this kingdom and I plan on using that. You will become a symbol of fear for Mendolon."
Michael looked back straight into the Savage's eyes. He didn't back down. The expression of his face turned to anger at the mention of terrorizing the people of Mendolon. His mind went back into thinking like a knight instead of a prisoner. What could he learn about this beast? How would he escape these chains?
<>
Belle entered her bedroom tower. It was late. She had much anxiety and didn't know how she would be able to sleep. From her conversation with Jean-Luc, many reservations passed through her mind. A part of her worried if she had let him have too much power over her and promising him an invitation to the Winter Ball would be too much. Another chief concern was the fact that Michael would spend the night in the custody of the Savage. She greatly hoped Jean-Luc knew what he was talking about in reassuring her that Michael would be kept alive. It all felt like more than she could handle.
She quickly put away her armor and dressed into her nightgown. Belle figured she would at least try to get some sleep before the morning. She wanted to be at her sharpest when examining Michael's house with Jean-Luc. Crawling into bed, she rested her head on her pillow and readjusted her blankets. It was a peaceful night. She could hear a light breeze blowing outside against her window. With her father gone, along with some of the servants, there were no faint traces of voices heard from downstairs. It was truly peaceful.
The princess began drifting off to sleep when, all of a sudden, she thought of something. Sitting up in her bed, she looked over at her nightstand and saw her medicine sitting by her lantern. Realizing she had forgotten to take it earlier, she quickly reached for it and drank it down. Hopefully, it would help her sleep.
Chapter 8
Belle and Hector waited at Michael's house along with a company of soldiers. Soon enough a carriage would arrive bringing Jean-Luc Pascal to inspect the area. Gideon and Bernard were attending to him. The sun was just starting to rise over the trees to the east. The temperature was a little warmer than usual for this time of year.
Currently Hector was complaining that the carriage hadn't arrived. "Your Highness, this plan of yours seems to be falling apart already. I thought you said they were to arrive early this morning. What's taking them so long?"
"Hector, please, calm down. I'm sure Gideon is just taking his time to make sure everything is well-secured before they transport Jean-Luc."
Hector paced back and forth pulling at his disheveled black hair. His long green robe collected snow as he walked back and forth. "First, you want to involve a beast in this manhunt, and then you waste our time not having him here at the right time. You are showing yourself unfit for the knighthood you desire."
"Listen, I'm doing the best I can," Belle said, trying to hold back her anger. "My father's gone and Michael is captured. More than anyone, I want the Savage captured and everything back to normal."
"Well, then you need to start listening to me. I am your father's top advisor. If he were here, I wouldn't be ignored like I am now."
"Hector, all of us are needed to catch the Savage. We just don't have any other option at this point. This might not come to anything, but I think it's best to at least try and see if Jean-Luc can spot anything."
Hector growled under his breath and looked off into the distance as he tried to think of what to say next. He hated that the king's daughter was giving the orders at this point. He felt confident that the king would have left him in charge if he knew that Michael was captured. He gritted his teeth as he spoke, "If anything goes wrong with this beast, I will hold you personally responsible."
Belle nodded as she spoke, "I understand. Like I said, I believe he will truly help us..."
Belle wasn't able to say anything else. At that point a two-horse carriage came down the path leading to Michael's house. She could see Bernard riding up front with the driver. It was obvious that Jean-Luc was inside. Belle turned and started to walk down the path to meet the carriage. A few soldiers followed suit. Belle was anxious for answers to Michael's whereabouts.
The carriage stopped as Belle met them on the path, not far from the house. "Good day, Your Highness," Bernard greeted her.
"Same to you, Bernard."
The door to the carriage opened and Gideon climbed out. He stroked his mustache as he climbed down the steps.
"Did everything go well in bringing him?" Belle said, questioning Gideon.
"Yes, everything went fine. He was very compliant and didn't say a word in the carriage. I chained his hands as a precaution."
Belle could tell Gideon looked a little worried about bringing him to Michael's house. "Is there anything else, Gideon?"
Gideon looked directly at Belle as he spoke quietly, "I'm not sure. But like Michael said before, I don't think he's being completely honest with us. I feel like there is some game he is playing with us. Like we are pawns, falling into his trap. Something is going on that we don't know about."
Belle knew what Gideon was saying was correct. They all had felt it at one time or another. Jean-Luc was hiding something. It made everyone nervous. She felt as if she was standing on the edge of a cliff, wondering if this was the right route to take. She hoped this plan would truly turn out for good and not for harm. Belle looked back at Michael's house before speaking up, "I don't know what other choice we have. I think this is a risk we have to take."
Gideon scratched his short hair, thinking hard about this whole unfolding of events. He shrugged his shoulders. "I think you're right; we don't have any other option at this point."
"Very well... let's bring him out."
"Bernard," Gideon said loudly, "Bring the beast out." Without hesitation Bernard stuck his head in the carriage and ordered Jean-Luc out. Hector and the rest of the soldiers joined the rest of the group by the carriage. It was just a few moments later that Jean-Luc emerged from the carriage's door. He had on his signature eye-glasses along with his red coat and a white shirt underneath. His long brown hair was tied back. Unlike many beasts, he was wearing boots, which to many, signify that he possessed a large amount of wealth or was some type of nobility back in Grimdolon. He stood tall on the steps of the carriage and took a deep breath of fresh air with his eyes closed.
Belle was the first to speak, "Thanks for coming, Jean-Luc."
He calmly walked down the steps and examined the group. He smiled politely before speaking up, "You're welcome, Princess. Happy to help."
Everyone was silent, not sure what to say. There were many in the company of soldiers that had never seen a beast speak before. They were stunned. Jean-Luc continued, "Well, I must admit that I haven't been able to get outside much these days... but lovely weather you're having. Your kingdom is quite nice with a fresh dusting of snow."
"Thank you," Belle responded.
"You're welcome. Now... what do you say we get these chains off and start exploring the house? Time is wasting."
Gideon approached Jean-Luc with a key. He started the meticulous work of unlatching the locks and unwrapping the chains. Hector objected loudly, "What are you doing? You can't unchain this beast. What if he escapes?"
Belle turned to face him, and spoke quietly, hoping Jean-Luc wouldn't hear, "Hector, this is what we agreed to do. We want to show our confidence in him. Hopefully he will give us information we need."
Hector shook his head in anger. He spoke very loudly so Jean-Luc would hear. "This is crazy. This beast doesn't need to be walking freely. He should be in chains."
Jean-Luc looked up and faced Hector. He quickly countered, "Well, I'm sorry, my good fellow... but most of us aren't where we should be these days. I imagine the museum would be a most appropriate place for you. I would think people could learn a lot about abnormalities in personalities by studying you."
"Watch your tongue, Beast," Hector said as he walked away.
The chains fell to the ground. Jean-Luc rubbed his wrists, grateful for the freedom. "Thank you," he said very quietly. He adjusted his coat, and began walking toward the house. His pace was slow and he seemed to be looking all around, observing his surroundings. He did not seem to be in much of a hurry.
"Jean-Luc, is there anything you would like to see of first priority?" Belle asked.
"I would like to see the house first," he said, still walking slowly.
"Of course you want to see the house." Belle was a little frustrated by the answer. "Any specific room you would like to see in the house?"
Jean-Luc looked over at Belle and smiled slightly, realizing his answer was a little too obvious. "Belle, how about you take me to the house and show me anything you think is significant."
"Right this way."
Belle led him inside the disheveled home. It was still in disarray. Hector was inside, speaking with a couple of soldiers. "Good day, gentlemen," Jean-Luc said as he walked past them. Hector snarled in return.
Belle led him to Michael's bedroom where the window was still open. "We believe the Savage entered through this window."
Jean-Luc closely examined the window for anything strange. "I don't believe the Savage entered at all," he spoke without breaking his concentration. "Sir Delano seems to hide in the shadows these days. He has enough followers to do his dirty work."
Jean-Luc looked down at the floor where he saw a small knife. He picked it up and examined it. He seemed intrigued by it. It was dirty and had a few chips in the blade. Instantly, Belle became nervous. What if she had underestimated Jean-Luc? What if he was biding his time till he was able to escape from prison and find a weapon? What if he attacked her? Many thoughts passed through her mind as her hand instinctively went toward her sword at her side.
Jean-Luc looked up at her and spoke, "Obviously this was dropped by one of the Savage's followers. Were any other weapons found in the house?"
"Yes, we found Michael's armory by the fireplace room. It seems as if he wasn't able to retrieve any weapons during the ambush. A fight happened by the fireplace room. We found Michael's sword close by."
"Well... shall we have a look?"
Belle and Jean-Luc entered the main living area of the house only to find that the whole brigade of soldiers had joined them inside. To Jean-Luc's disappointment, it was crowded. He wanted room to explore. Hector quickly approached Belle and pulled her aside. He was angry. "Your Highness, I must say, you're wasting our time. The Savage is probably ready to strike again, and all you want to do to watch this manipulative beast try to find a way to escape."
"Hector, give him time. We haven't been here long."
"Princess, this beast doesn't know what he is doing. For all we know he could be working with the Savage."
Belle put her hand up, trying to calm Hector. "Listen, please, for the sake of the kingdom, let's give him a few minutes and watch and see if he finds anything." Hector and Belle turned to watch Jean-Luc for a moment as he examined the room. He was observing a spot on the wall. He was looking at it closely, squinting his eyes just a little as he focused on it. He then touched the spot with his fingers and examined them. Without warning, the beast then put his fingers to his lips and tasted the substance he found.
Hector couldn't bear to watch anymore. He turned to Belle and spoke loudly, "That's it, Your Highness, I will not sit around while this beast walks around freely and makes a fool of the kingdom! I'm heading back to the castle to see if there's anything that will lead us to Michael." Hector turned and shouted an instruction to the men, "Soldiers of Mendolon, we're going back to the castle. Follow me."
The men started to exit the house when Belle grabbed his arm. "Hector, listen to me. Give him a chance. I'm almost certain he won't try to escape. Let's trust him just a little."
An angry look formed on Hector's face. Belle could see his yellowing teeth through the strands of dark black hair over his face. He spoke through gritted teeth, "You stay here and follow this dim-witted beast. I don't care if he runs or stays here. I'm going to save Michael, and one day you will thank me for saving this pathetic husband of yours."
Belle took a step back. She was incredibly angry at Hector. She didn't know how someone could be so cold, especially at a time like this, when Michael's life was on the line. She was worried about him and truly feared for his life. Hector's words cut deep. Michael was a person of great honor, and the thought of him being tortured was unbearable. She pulled her sword and held it to her side. She couldn't remember a time she was so furious. "You need to watch your words, Snake."
"You couldn't do it if you wanted, Princess." He laughed slightly. "You better be glad your father is the king. If not, I would have put you in your place a long time ago... little girl."
They stared at each other for just a few moments before Hector turned and left with the soldiers. Belle wanted to stop the men and plead with them to stay. A part of her was very frustrated at everything transpiring, but another part of her was truly scared. She wanted their help. She wanted guidance. Even though she now had this reputation of being a princess dragon-slayer, there were times when she just wanted to be a simple princess in her land. She wanted to be vulnerable- to cry with others if need be.
The room cleared, leaving only her and the beast, Jean-Luc, who seemed unfazed by everything happening around him. Looking outside, Belle could see Gideon and Bernard out front as the soldiers walked past them. She was thankful they were sticking with her on this mission.
She took a seat on a nearby chair. "Jean-Luc, it looks like the kingdom is losing faith in me."
Jean-Luc was crouched down on the floor looking at something. He smiled as he spoke, "Belle, this will work out nicely. The area is now uncluttered. Plenty of room to explore." Belle couldn't help but smile a little at the irony of Jean-Luc's positive attitude. She was thankful he was as calm as he was.
He held up something small in his hand. "Your Majesty, I'm finding little bits of hair all over this room, obviously from the fight that ensued. This might sound strange, but did anyone find a cluster of hair by any chance?"
Belle was shocked by his question. It was like he could almost read her mind. "Yes... as a matter of fact, here by the door." She led him over to the front entryway and showed him the cluster of hair she found the night before.
"Interesting," Jean-Luc said, studying it closely. He adjusted his glasses to get a good look at it. He then reached out and grabbed the clump of hair with his thumb and index finger on his right hand. He felt the texture of it, and then held it up to the light. "Well, well, well... it looks like the Savage didn't completely cover his tracks this time."
Belle looked over her shoulder to see Gideon and Bernard watching them from a few feet away. They waited patiently for any command Belle might give. "I'll be right back," she told Jean-Luc. He nodded in response, not taking his eyes off the clump of hair.
Approaching the two knights, Belle spoke quietly, "Thank you so much for staying. It means a lot."
"Anything for you... Your Highness," Gideon said, smiling through his thick mustache.
"We explored the house. Jean-Luc seems to have found something of interest with the bits of fur around the house."
"Do you think he will be able to lead us to Michael?" Bernard asked anxiously.
Belle shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. He hasn't said much yet about his findings. All I do know is that Michael trusted him with the information we found at the Savage's ruins. I think, for Michael's sake, we should let him take his time."
Gideon rubbed his chin as he listened. "Yeah, I agree with you, Your Majesty. I think he's our best chance at finding Michael."
"Could he tell if Michael was injured during the fight with the Savage's followers?" Bernard asked.
"No, but yesterday we think we found some of his blood by one of the windows. Not much though."
Bernard took a deep breath and shook his head. He admired Michael and was thankful Michael had given him a chance at being a knight, even with his long list of gaffes. Bernard felt a tear roll down his cheek as he thought about his leader and friend under the clutches of the enemy.
Belle rubbed his arm and smiled, "Don't worry, Bernard. We will get him back. We'll do whatever it takes."
"Thanks," Bernard said, wiping his nose.
Belle knew it was time to get back to work. "Well, I'm going to go see if there is anything else that..."
Gideon interrupted her, "Wait... where is Jean-Luc?"
Belle turned to see that he was gone.
<>
Northeast of Mendolon, not far from the mines of Grimdolon, King Sebastian stood in a dark room of an old cabin located in the dense woods. It was lit only by a single candle. There were a handful of soldiers with him. Tensions were high. In the middle of the room sat a beast from Grimdolon. He was beaten and tied up. Blood covered the fur around his head. He was a large, older beast, and he had put up quite a fight with Sebastian's men before eventually giving up.
The beast was a miner from the northern area of Grimdolon. He was one who was working closely with the Savage before he started his escapades in Mendolon. Sebastian wanted him captured and interrogated. He wanted to see if this beast could help in any way with the capture of the Savage.
"Tell me, Beast," Sebastian asked, "What do you know of Dominique Delano, the one they call the Savage?"
"I know nothing. He worked in the mines east of me. My crew was looking for diamonds and gems."
Sebastian turned to the soldier beside him. "Hit him," he said casually. A soldier, dressed in full armor approached the beast and hit him squarely in the face. He groaned in pain.
Sebastian bent down and got right in the beast's face. "Do you want to tell me the truth now, Beast? We know you're in charge of a division of the mines. Tell us everything you know about him."
The beast took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. He was a stubborn beast who had spent many years in prison before working the mines. He didn't like being bossed around. He spoke with his eyes closed, "Look, he was anxious for a job. I knew it was a little unorthodox, but we tried to keep his hiring quiet, and I figured we'd give him a chance. We needed workers."
"Go on!" Sebastian demanded.
"Even though the workers quickly realized he was a little strange, we decided to keep him... that is until we discovered he was stealing portions of our gleanings."
Sebastian nodded as he rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know all of this. Tell me more about who he is. Why is he attacking Mendolon? What does he want?"
The beast looked to the side toward the ground and spit some of the blood that filled his mouth. He looked at the king in front of him demanding answers. King Sebastian of Mendolon was the last person he wanted to help. He had heard the stories about him and wasn't about to give him what he wanted. He stared directly at him as he spoke, "O wise king, by the questions you are asking I take it you've never met him."
Sebastian could feel his blood pressure start to rise. The beast continued, "I find all of this quite astounding... since you did try to hire him."
"What?"
The old beast smiled back at the king, "Don't think I don't know. He was stealing from our mines for you."
The king couldn't take anymore. "I've heard enough!" he said angrily, leaving the dark room.
"Wait," the beast shouted. Sebastian turned to face him. The beast continued, "May this terror that's happening in Mendolon be a lesson to you, King, of what happens when you try to employ a madman." The large beast leaned forward in his chair, "And now you've lost control."
The king briskly left the cabin. He slammed the door shut behind him. Even though it was morning, the density of the woods along with the trees overhead made the morning seem very dark. Sebastian found it most appropriate as it was how he felt at the moment. Life was spinning out of control, and he longed for stability.
Turning to his left, his eyes met with the character in the shadows who was leaning against the side of the cabin. Sebastian had called for him. He was an assassin from the north. Sebastian had called on him for protection while he was away from the kingdom. He was dressed in full armor with a mask covering his face. Sebastian walked over to where he was standing. The figure stood upright waiting for the king's command. Sebastian looked to his right and to his left before whispering to the character, "Kill the beast inside. I have no use for him."
<>
Belle raced into Michael's house. "Jean-Luc!" she shouted, wondering if he'd gone back inside to investigate. She looked all around the fireplace room. No trace of him. She turned and went down the hallway. She continued to call out, "Jean-Luc... Jean-Luc." She heard nothing. Where could he have gone? she thought to herself.
She started to panic, running back outside. Gideon was checking the woods at the edge of Michael's property. Bernard was nowhere to be seen. A myriad of thoughts passed through Belle's mind. Fear was starting to creep in. She wondered why she ever trusted this beast. Michael specifically told her not to fully trust him. He warned her about Jean-Luc having ulterior motives. She feared what would happen if Jean-Luc was never caught.
She turned to her left and sprinted to the side of the house looking for any sign of the prisoner. The wind started to blow gently against her face. The snow was drifting slightly. She didn't know if she should reach for her sword or not. Jean-Luc didn't seem as if he wanted to hurt her. In fact, just the opposite. In the short time together, it was as if they had become friends.
Reaching the back of the house, she could see Bernard with his back turned to her examining something. She ran toward him, wondering what was transpiring. "Bernard," she yelled out. He turned to see Belle running toward him. He said nothing.
Upon reaching the knight, she could see all her fears were in vain. In front of Bernard was Jean-Luc crouched down, examining a spot on the ground. It looked to be a boot print on the ground. Belle felt silly for her sudden surge of panic. Jean-Luc looked as if he was in deep thought, studying the spot.
Belle breathed heavily trying to catch her breath. "Jean-Luc, what are you doing? Did you find anything?"
"Interesting," he said under his breath.
"What is it?"
He slowly rose to his feet. He adjusted his glasses before speaking. "It is faint, but I detect a trace of freshly molded clay mixed with a hint of sewage."
Belle was confused, "I don't understand, Jean-Luc. What are you implying?"
"I'm trying to say, there is only one place in Mendolon that has an underground sewage system, and some of its caverns are newly molded."
Belle couldn't believe what Jean-Luc was implying. "Are you saying the Savage and followers are in the sewage caverns just south of the castle?"
"Exactly," Jean-Luc said with confidence. "I would say, let's go immediately."
Chapter 9
Belle, Jean-Luc, Gideon, and Bernard traveled to the south of the castle. The sun was high in the sky as it was just after noon. There was an entrance to the castle's sewage caverns on this side of the castle. Jean-Luc requested they leave immediately for the tunnels. He felt as if the element of surprise was their best virtue. Bernard had a slight phobia about underground tunnels, but Belle and Gideon did not stop to question their excursion. Michael needed saving and if this was where he really was, then they dare not hesitate.
The entrance to the caverns was built around a small freshwater stream that led to the western sea. These caverns had been constructed less than a year ago, and the sewage system of the castle was still not fully functional. Bernard particularly was thankful for this fact. They advanced slowly into the opening by the stream. The opening was an arch that was about fifteen feet high and twelve feet across. It resembled a cave with a stream running through it. Belle couldn't help but think of the Dragon's cave she had been in earlier in the year.
"Try not to make too much noise as we enter the caverns," Jean-Luc said nonchalantly. "I believe there will be an echo."
"Do we have a plan once we get in there?" Belle asked, readjusting her hair into a ponytail.
"Let's stick together as best as we can," Gideon said. "If anyone sees Michael or thinks they know where he is, don't hesitate to direct me to him."
"What if it's a trap?" Bernard asked.
"Hopefully Jean-Luc is right, in that this attack will catch them completely off-guard," Gideon added.
Belle led the way quietly through the caverns as she was anxious to save Michael. There was a small dry walkway on the side of the tunnel beside the stream. She was out in front with Jean-Luc behind her and the other two knights in back. She had never been in these caverns; she had only seen them as they were constructed into a sewage system for the castle. They were built by redirecting a waterway close to the castle. A small portion of these caverns were built years ago and were meant to be a large dungeon for prisoners. Sebastian's family did not like the idea of a massive dungeon on the castle's premises. He decided to move Mendolon's main prison off site. It was now located east of the castle.
She wondered what they would face in these tunnels. Would there be a horde of beasts that they would confront? Or possibly the Savage himself? Looking around at her companions, she wondered if they were enough to combat whatever foe they would face.
Moving through the caverns, the four traveled further into the darkness. Belle suppressed her fear as much as she could. She was determined to save Michael. Turning around, she could see Jean-Luc as a small amount of light was coming from the opening of the tunnel. He was confident, seemingly unmoved by everything around him. She was amazed by his wisdom and demeanor. It was hard for her to grasp that they were approximately the same age.
After walking in the darkness for what seemed to be fifteen minutes or more, they came to an intersection in the tunnels. Three paths lay in front of them. Belle peeked around the corner down the tunnel on her left. It was a dry tunnel with no water flowing. She could see a torch burning along with about half a dozen men under the light. Some were sleeping, one was eating, and the others looked to be gambling with a game of dice. There were a few weapons sitting by the men's sides, but not enough to be of any concern.
Belle turned back to speak to Jean-Luc. She whispered to him, "Six or seven men around this corner. We can easily surprise them. It should be quick."
Jean-Luc nodded in agreement. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. She could feel his mane against her cheek. "I would guess they are guarding Michael. If you engage the guards, I'll take Gideon in closer with me and see if we can find Michael or maybe even the Savage."
"Agreed," she said. She waited just a moment for Jean-Luc to relay the plans to Gideon and Bernard. Belle grabbed her bow from her back and quietly pulled an arrow from her pouch. Michael had done so much for her and the kingdom of Mendolon. It was time for her to repay the favor.
"Let's do it," Jean-Luc whispered to her.
The next few minutes were quite chaotic. Belle quickly turned the corner and aimed at one of the men. She released the arrow, and the man cried out in pain. Gideon and Bernard sprang into action as the other men tried to get their bearings. They did not know what was transpiring. Some tried to grab their swords, while others were trying to see what had happened to their comrade.
Belle grabbed another arrow and shot it at another one of the men. He screamed out in pain. Bernard and Gideon engaged a couple of the men in a sword fight. The weary men were no match for the knights of Mendolon. Jean-Luc looked on as the swords were clanging. Bernard fought vigorously and was able to knock his opponent's sword out of his hands. As Gideon's sword was locked with another man's, the aged knight was able to use his strength to push his opponent against the wall before knocking him out with the hilt of his sword.
Belle was about to pull another arrow when she felt the slash of a sword against her upper arm near her shoulder. She dropped her bow. Jean-Luc ran forward and tackled the man, sending his sword flying. Bernard quickly came over to help. The man surrendered in fear, seeing a beast on top of him. Jean-Luc reared back and hit him with his fist as hard as he could, knocking out the man.
He ran to Belle to see the damage done. She was on her back grasping her right arm with her left hand. "Let me see it," Jean-Luc urged. Pulling back her hand and tearing away the fabric on her sleeve, he could see that it wasn't deep. "It will most likely leave a scar, but I think you'll be fine."
Belle sat up as she spoke, "Don't worry about me. Bernard and I can handle these men. Take Gideon and find Michael!"
"We'll find him, Your Highness," Jean-Luc said, running past the fallen men and further down the tunnel. Gideon quickly joined him, following close behind.
The Savage looked on as his men were defeated. He stood in the darkness in the tunnel across from where the fight was raging. He was disappointed, angry that this hideout was found so soon. The caverns had provided great access to spy on the castle, and a refuge of escape when he knew the knights of Mendolon were pursuing him. He knew that he now had to change his plans. The Savage looked down at the knife in his hand. A plan formulated in his mind. This was not what he had planned, but he knew that drastic steps had to be taken. Nothing could stop him from his plan of conquering Mendolon and infecting the whole kingdom with fear.
<>
Hector called out orders among the soldiers. They had arrived back at the castle earlier in the day and were now regrouping at the castle's war room. There were maps spread out on a round table and about a dozen men stood about dressed in full armor. They were tired and losing hope in the king's advisor. He hit the table as spoke.
"You men are not looking hard enough. The Savage has to be located close to the castle. He's watching us."
A young soldier from the group stepped forward, removing his helmet, "Please, Sire, we've checked every dwelling in these parts. These are simple townspeople who are terrified of that beast."
"He must have allies," Hector shouted, his black hair falling in front of his face.
"Please, under your orders we've been on high alert for the past three days. We've not seen our families. They are scared."
"I don't care!" Hector shouted, hitting the table hard. "If you haven't noticed I'm trying to protect everyone in this whole blasted kingdom, your families included!"
The men thought he sounded even more like a snake when he was angry. Another soldier stepped forward, "Listen, Sire, maybe if we see what this other beast has to say, maybe..."
"I don't care what any other beast has to say. We are going to find the Savage before he destroys us."
Everyone in the room was then caught off guard when they heard footsteps on the far stairwell. The room fell silent and all eyes turned to see who it was. They were surprised to see one of the castle servants descending the steps accompanied by a teenage boy. This seemed to infuriate Hector even more.
"What is the meaning of this?" he said, excoriating the servant. "You know better than to interrupt us."
"Much apologies, Your Grace, but this boy arrived at the castle a few minutes ago with an urgent message I think you'd like to hear."
The boy stepped forward. He was shy and intimidated by all the eyes watching him. Hector spoke up impatiently, "Well... let us hear it. We don't have all day."
The boy took off his hat and looked down at the floor. By the look of his clothes he was obviously a peasant and had never been inside the castle, much less spoken before the king's chief advisor. "I was down on the western shore playing near the castle's waterway."
"You know peasants aren't supposed be close to that area!" Hector shouted.
"I know... I ... I know I'm not supposed to, but I saw something down there, and I thought I had to come at once."
"Yes... what is it?"
"I saw the Princess Belle, along with two knights. I could tell by their different armor. They looked like they were on a mission, and the strange thing was they had a beast with them. I hid myself and tried not to watch, but I've never seen a beast before and I think..."
"Stop!" Hector said, holding out his hand. "Where did you say they were going?"
The boy was nervous. "I'm not sure, but they seemed to be approaching the castle's water system, but I don't know what happened, and..."
"That's enough," Hector said, interrupting him. "Thank you, Peasant." He looked toward the servant, "Be sure he is rewarded for his help."
"It will be done, Your Grace."
Hector turned to address the soldiers, "Men, take up your arms. We leave immediately for the western shore by the castle's sewage outlet."
<>
It wasn't much longer that Gideon and Jean-Luc arrived back at the site of the fight. Bernard had defeated the last of the men, and was now helping Belle wrap her wound. They were surprised to see them back so soon. "Did you find anything?" Belle asked inquisitively.
"No," Gideon responded, "There is nothing further down this tunnel. I think these men were supposed to be looking out for intruders."
"I guess our next option is to try these other tunnels," Belle said, standing to her feet. She rotated her arm to make sure the bandage would stay on. She was thankful that the cut on her arm wasn't deep. She felt a little embarrassed for letting her guard down during the fight.
She continued, "Let's try the tunnel across the way." Gideon and Bernard nodded in agreement as they crossed the waterway to the tunnel opposite them. The water was about knee deep. At this point Bernard was very thankful the sewage system was only partially functional.
Belle was about to enter the water when she slipped on a wet stone close to the water. Jean-Luc reached out his hand and caught her before she was able to fall in completely. Their eyes met as Jean-Luc spoke, "Careful, Your Highness. The stonework is a little slippery."
"Thank you," Belle said, gathering her footing. They quickly made it across the waterway to where Gideon and Bernard were waiting. They then proceeded slowly, with Gideon and Belle in front. Bernard tried to quiet his breathing, but found it difficult to calm himself. He was terrified of what he may face. He was terrified of the Savage. The traumatizing battle at the Northern Ruins had left a deep imprint on his mind. Seeing his comrades in utter terror was not an image he could erase. Some of them still hadn't fully recovered from being ambushed by a horde of angry beasts.
Belle and Gideon also wondered if this was going to be the moment they would met the Savage face-to-face. They didn't know what to expect. Rumors had spread among the townspeople of his power and his magic. They wondered if they would encounter him alone or would he have others with him? Belle wondered if it was actually a good plan to come just the four of them, or should they have waited for reinforcements? She held her sword in her hand, ready to strike at the first thing she saw.
"I think I see a light up ahead," Gideon said, interrupting her thoughts. There was a turn coming in the tunnel, and there was a faint flicker of torchlight coming from it. They progressed toward it, ever so slowly. No one said a word for the next minute as the light became stronger with every step. A part of Belle, hoping to find Michael, wanted to run right around the turn.
Everyone was in complete focus when a figure passed in front of the light into their tunnel. He was moving at full speed toward them. They could hear him growling ravenously as he progressed toward them. "Stop," Gideon yelled out, holding up his sword. The figure did not stop. As he came closer they could tell it was a large beast. Belle quickly sheathed her sword and grabbed her bow. The beast was only a few feet away when she let the arrow fly into the leg of the creature. He stumbled, falling to one knee. Gideon jumped toward the beast and knocked him on his side. He held his sword to the beast and the creature knocked it out of his hand. Belle and Bernard ran to help restrain the beast. Jean-Luc, seeing the other three locked in a fight with the creature, saw this as an opportunity to search for Michael.
Even though it was dark, the three knights could see they were fighting against a large beast, one dressed in rags. They could tell the beast was bleeding badly and obviously in pain from a wound around his mouth. The arrow in his leg was also causing him a large amount of pain. He growled ravenously as the three held him down. With one of his hands free Bernard pulled his sword and was ready to strike when Belle called out, "Wait!"
Bernard stopped instantly. Belle noticed that the beast was starting to slow down in his struggle. "I think he's giving up," Belle said confidently. Belle and Gideon continued to hold down his arms and his growling faded into a low murmur.
The three watched the beast, slightly mesmerized by him. Bernard was the first to break the silence, "What... what should we do?"
"Bernard," Gideon said, "Grab the rope. Let's tie him up and take him out of the tunnel." Bernard swiftly opened his pouch, searching in his bag for the rope.
As the beast stopped resisting, Belle turned to Gideon, "Do you think we caught the Savage?"
A puzzled look came across his face, "Possibly... I'm not sure."
<>
Jean-Luc ran further down the tunnel toward the torch. He turned the corner to his right. The torch was burning bright and beside it was Michael de Bolbec, the great knight of Mendolon. He had cuffs around his wrists that stretched his arms out, chaining them to the walls of the tunnel. Jean-Luc could tell that Michael was injured. He quickly made sure everything was clear, and then approached Michael. His head was slumped forward and he was passed out.
Assessing the chains, Jean-Luc found the locks on the cuffs were weak. Usually he kept his claws fairly short for a beast, but he was thankful that were just long enough to pick the locks. He worked meticulously at it while listening for any sounds of an enemy. The first lock didn't take him long to open. The first cuff fell to the ground and Michael's body dropped to his right. Jean-Luc caught him before his body could hit the ground. Michael woke up, a bit startled.
"What... what's happening?" his faint voice said.
"Michael, my friend, it looks like irony has struck. You've been in chains, and now I am the one rescuing you."
Michael tried to gather himself as quickly as possible. At first he thought his mind was playing tricks on him when saw a beast working to release his wrist, but after a few seconds he realized that Jean-Luc was the one freeing him. "How... did you ... you get out?"
Jean-Luc laughed slightly. He didn't answer Michael's questions, but kept focused on the chains.
Michael wiped his eyes as he tried to speak, "You're supposed... you're supposed to be locked up."
"Well... sorry to disappoint you," Jean-Luc said as the other cuff fell to the ground. Michael was still weak, so Jean-Luc picked him up and carried him back toward his companions.
"They... they shouldn't have let you out," Michael said, falling back asleep in Jean-Luc's arms.
Jean-Luc took a deep breath as he turned the corner, carrying Michael's body. He spoke softly, "Dearest Michael... I fear you might be catching on to my plans."
Chapter 10
Three days passed since the rescue of Michael de Bolbec from the Savage. Jean-Luc had carried Michael out of the sewer tunnels while the three knights made sure the injured beast was securely restrained and taken from the caverns. Hector, along with a company of soldiers, arrived at the tunnels shortly after the knights exited. Michael was swiftly taken to the castle's infirmary along with the injured beast. Hector's men were then able to enter the tunnels and capture all of the Savage's men. They were brought to the castle's dungeon where they were kept for interrogation.
Things seemed to calm around the kingdom of Mendolon. Rumors spread among the people that the Savage had been captured by the princess. Tensions relaxed and the townspeople began to travel more freely among the villages. The markets were open again. Belle didn't issue an official statement from the kingdom of Mendolon for a couple of reasons: One, because her father had still not returned and she didn't want to issue anything official without his guidance. Two, she was uncertain if the beast they caught in the tunnels was truly the Savage. They all thought it was strange that he had given up so easily when they found him there.
Currently, Belle, Gideon, and Hector were in the castle's war room discussing what they all thought in regard to the nature of the injured beast. They had all tried to interrogate the beast the last few days but found that he was not cooperating. Gideon was frustrated and rubbed his forehead as he spoke, "I don't know what to make of this beast."
Belle chimed in, "It is very curious the way he gave up the fight immediately. As I said before, it makes me wonder if he was a prisoner of the Savage, released to throw us off course."
Gideon rubbed the ends of his mustache in deep contemplation. Michael was still recovering from his imprisonment and wouldn't be in full strength for another several weeks. Gideon wished he was present at this discussion. He would have been a great help in deciphering this riddle. Gideon looked at the far wall as he spoke, "Or maybe this is another deep rooted trick by the Savage. Maybe his capture was on purpose so he can actually get into the castle. Maybe he's right where he wants to be."
Belle walked over to a nearby window and looked out, trying to ease her mind. She was dressed elegantly in a white and gold flower dress since she planned on venturing into the markets today. It was a dress truly worthy of a princess. Currently two things consumed her mind: Michael's recovery and the new demeanor of peace among the people of Mendolon. The people greatly rejoiced in the rumors that the princess of the land had caught a rogue beast in the castle's tunnels. She hated to think that this newfound joy might be in vain.
Hector, still seated, interrupted the silence, "I say we press the other prisoners harder. Do whatever it takes to make them talk."
Gideon shook his head. "No... they're not talking. They fear the Savage more than any of us."
"Who are they?" Belle spoke up, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes.
"It looks like they are just a bunch of thieves and criminals that the Savage hired from distance lands. I wonder how much of his plans they actually know," Gideon responded.
The room went back to silence as the three of them pondered what their next step would be. The kingdom's Winter Ball was just a week away and they wanted to be certain they could reassure the townspeople the kingdom was safe. Belle turned from the window and walked quietly toward the table in the center of the room. She took a seat before speaking, "What of the beast? I know he has been silent thus far, but maybe there is some way to get him to talk to us."
"Possibly," Gideon said, nodding as he spoke. "His injuries seem to be quite extensive. I think we should give him a few days before we try to interrogate him."
Hector hit the table as he stood to his feet, "You imbecile! Don't you realize my men have already tried that option?"
"Your men?" Gideon said, startled. "You think you're in charge now?"
"Yes, my men." Hector quickly shot back, "I am the king's chief advisor! Who else would be in charge of the royal soldiers when the king is gone and his chief knight is..."
"Stop it," Belle interrupted. "This won't help anything." She stood to her feet. "Hector, you say you've already tried to interrogate this beast... correct?"
"Yes... Your Highness," he answered with a slight bit of sarcasm in his voice.
"What did he say? Were you able to get anything out of him?"
Hector looked down at the table and began to laugh. His stringy black hair hung down as he laughed. Belle and Gideon looked at each other puzzled. "What is it, Hector?" Gideon said quietly.
"You fools... this beast is not talking to us."
"Why not?"
Hector ran his fingers through his hair, giving them a clear view of the sinister expression on his face. "This beast will never talk to us because someone has permanently thwarted that."
"What do you mean?"
Hector laughed again. "I mean that someone has cut out his tongue." Belle and Gideon looked each other confused. This situation continued to baffle them.
<>
Belle rode on horseback through the markets east of the castle. Bernard was walking by her side in full armor. He was acting as her bodyguard as there were many people in the street. Belle had had enough of discussing the Savage with Hector. She wanted to be out among the people, and even though there were still unanswered questions, she was thankful to see the people at peace, carrying on simple commerce. Families were joyously shopping with children running back and forth between their parents and the shops. At any other time, most of the townspeople would have stopped and taken notice of the princess riding through the markets, but at this particular time, most were thankful of the rumors of the Savage's apprehension and were excited to be shopping in the markets.
Belle rode through the center of the streets. A few young girls stopped to smile at the princess. She could tell they were admiring the silver tiara she wore. Belle simply smiled and waved as she passed by. Bernard couldn't help but smile himself at the sight of how much children loved the princess of the land.
"The people seem so happy, Bernard," Belle said. "It's great to see the market completely open again."
"I agree, Your Highness," Bernard replied. "I actually think this is the most people I've ever seen here."
The newfound joy of the people seemed to relax Belle and Bernard. Normally, when Bernard was in full armor, he habitually kept one hand on his sword, just so he would be ready to strike in an instant. On this occasion, a townsperson would walk up close to Belle and give their greetings, but even still, Bernard felt no threat anywhere around them.
Bernard broke the silence, "Any item you to wish to purchase today, Your Highness?"
Belle smiled and looked down at Bernard, who was leading her horse, "No, I'm just enjoying seeing the people shop. It makes me thankful for the simple gifts of peace and tranquility that we so often take for granted."
"I agree, Your Highness."
"How about you, Bernard? Is there anyone special that you need to purchase a gift for?" Belle had a mischievous look on her face. Most of the knights knew that Bernard had a particular interest in one of the castle's servant girls who was close to his age.
He blushed slightly as he looked up at Belle. "Maybe a simple gift would be appropriate," he said with a smile.
Belle and Bernard rode through the market for another hour or two. Clouds started to form overhead as it got later in the day. Belle wondered if it would rain before too long. Thinking of Bernard and how much he had walked, Belle thought they ought to start bringing this trip to a close. As they started to head back toward the castle, Bernard spoke up, "Do you think Michael would mind visitors at this time?"
Belle thought for a moment. "I think it should be fine. His mother's been with him most of the day. If you want to go as soon as we get back, I will hold off my visit till later in the evening."
"Are you sure, Your Highness?"
Belle knew that Bernard greatly admired Michael and would want to visit him as soon as possible, "Yes, Bernard, you go ahead. I'll stop in and see him when you're done. I'd hate to burden him with too many visitors at one time."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I promise I won't be too long. I'll notify you as soon as I'm done. Is there somewhere you will be waiting?"
Belle looked off into the distance as she answered Bernard, "No, there is actually someone else I need to visit first."
<>
Belle headed down the steps to the castle's dungeon. No matter what the time of day, it was dark. A few of the castle servants would make sure the torches on the walls were kept burning. The last couple days had been busy in the dungeon as the Savage's men were kept down there. Gideon, Hector and others had been down frequently to interrogate them and search for answers. Their efforts had come up short as the Savage's men weren't talking. Hector had them moved to the large prison east of the castle. The dungeon was now quiet again. Only two prisoners remained: the injured beast and Jean-Luc Pascal.
Belle had wanted to talk with Jean-Luc since they got back. Many various duties had come up and this was the first opportunity she had to speak with him. Above anything, Belle wanted to thank him for his efforts and for not betraying their trust. He had done very well in the tunnels, fighting the Savage's men and rescuing Michael. Any questions or doubts she had about Jean-Luc were quickly vanishing.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, Belle looked into the injured beast's cell. He was lying on his side curled up in a fetal position. She figured he was sleeping. A passing thought came to her mind to wake him and see if there was any way she could get anything more out of him. Even if he was missing his tongue, maybe there was some way this beast could answer some of her questions. Quickly thinking otherwise, she decided to leave him alone. She knew any attempt to question him at this point would be in vain, and besides, if he wasn't the Savage, then she figured he deserved some of her pity.
Belle moved further down the hallway toward Jean-Luc's cell. She walked slowly as she didn't want to startle him. Standing in front of his cell, she peeked in to see him reading a book. He was relaxed, sitting comfortably in his chair with his glasses on. The light brown hair of his mane was tied back, and he was dressed comfortably as if he was going to bed soon.
Belle stood staring at him for a few seconds before breaking the silence, "What are you reading?"
"Grimdolon poetry," Jean-Luc said, not taking his eyes off of his book. "Bernard found this book in the depths of your library. He is quite a nice fellow if I must say so myself."
"I'm glad he's taking good care of you."
Jean-Luc smiled slightly as he put down his book and turned to face Belle. "It's nice to see you again, Belle."
"And you too," Belle said politely.
Jean-Luc grabbed a cup from a nearby table and took a drink before speaking, "Is there anything I can do for you on this fine evening?"
Belle looked down at her feet. She blushed ever so slightly. She felt a large amount of gratitude for Jean-Luc's help with the rescue efforts in the tunnels. Looking up at Jean-Luc, she brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes before speaking, "Jean-Luc, I want to thank you for your help in the tunnels. I truly don't think we could have done it without you. The kingdom owes you a large amount of gratitude for your service."
Jean-Luc smiled back at Belle. "The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty," he said, giving a small nod.
"And Jean-Luc..." Belle paused, briefly. She looked directly at Jean-Luc. "Thank you for coming to my aid during the fight." Jean-Luc's smile grew larger. He could tell Belle was very sincere in her gratitude. He closed his eyes, not wanting to say too much. The beast realized he was starting to win her trust. He didn't want that to change.
They were silent for a few seconds as Jean-Luc pondered what to say next. He decided to simply change the direction of the conversation. "Belle, I heard you stop for a moment at the bottom of the stairwell. Were you considering trying to interrogate the injured beast?"
Belle shrugged her shoulders, impressed by Jean Luc's observations. "I don't know... Hector feels like it is in vain trying to get any information from him."
Jean-Luc nodded his head, "Well... Your Majesty, in this instance Hector is correct. I imagine he told you the beast has a debilitating injury. He won't be speaking with you anytime soon." Jean-Luc paused just a moment before continuing, "And even if he could, he wouldn't. He fears the Savage much more any of us."
Belle stepped toward the prison bars. "Jean-Luc, are you saying you know for sure that this injured beast is not the Savage?"
"Oh, I am quite certain of it, Princess."
A look of confusion came on Belle's face, "How... How do you know this?"
Jean-Luc chuckled slightly, "There are many things about this predicament that I'm quite confused about, but one thing I know for sure is that this injured beast is not the Savage."
"Jean-Luc, tell me how you know this."
"Patience, Belle... Patience." Jean-Luc paused briefly before continuing, "For one, this would be highly uncharacteristic of how the Savage has worked in the past. He is always sheltered by a number of criminals. He doesn't seem to act alone." Jean-Luc rose to his feet, "Also, this beast doesn't seem to match the evidence found at Michael's house. I can tell this beast was not at Michael's house."
Belle paced slightly as she began to process what Jean-Luc was saying. In the back of her mind she kept reminding herself of Michael's admonition that Jean-Luc tended to speak in riddles. "Well, who is this beast and why would the Savage cut out his tongue and have him captured?"
"I believe his name is Remy, and I would guess that he was one of the mine workers that helped the Savage, Sir Delano, steal some of the mining resources."
Belle was confused, "Why would he turn himself in like this?"
Jean-Luc adjusted his glasses, "Isn't it obvious?... Remy was just a pawn. Sir Delano turned on him and had him caught by us as a simple diversion. But first he cut out Remy's tongue to make sure he didn't give away any of his plans."
Belle was starting to get a little upset. She grabbed the prison bars in front of her, "Jean-Luc, please speak to me plainly. A diversion for what? What is the Savage doing by all of this?"
Jean-Luc took a deep breath and sat down again. He took another drink from his cup and looked straight at Belle. He spoke quietly, "Princess... you must remember what I said before... the Savage only operates in perception, not reality."
"How so?"
"He wants all the people of Mendolon thinking he is caught. He wants the kingdom and the townspeople to let their guard down before he attacks again. Somehow he will find a way to plant rumors among the people that he is caught."
Belle felt frustrated, hearing Jean-Luc's information. She didn't know what their next move should be. A sense of hopelessness came over her. She wondered how long this villain would wreak havoc in the kingdom. The princess had many sleepless nights, and just when she thought the end was near, it was snatched away from her. Looking behind her, she walked over and grabbed the chair Bernard had originally placed by the wall.
Jean-Luc could tell she was frustrated. "Well, don't be upset, Belle. We are making progress. Hopefully soon we can get a step ahead of him."
Belle took a deep breath and shook her head. She rubbed the back of her head as she tried to think of something to say. She was at a complete loss. "Ok... Jean-Luc, what's next? What should we do?"
Jean-Luc was silent for a few moments. Belle could tell he had something on his mind. A big smile came on his face as he leaned forward, "Belle... what we need to do more than anything is get ready for the Winter Ball. I've never been to one, of course, and I'm quite excited."
Looking down at her feet, Belle smiled at the irony of the situation. Jean-Luc continued, "Surely you don't mean to cancel the ball?"
"No... I guess the ball has just been the furthest thing from my mind these last few days."
Jean-Luc continued to smile, "Belle, we have so much to do. I need to know what you're wearing so we can coordinate colors, and of course, I will need to find out what type of flowers you like, and..."
Belle couldn't contain her laughter as she spoke. "Jean-Luc, you're in a dungeon. How do you think you will be able to buy flowers?"
"Well, I was hoping I could grow some for you, though we don't tend to get much sunlight in these parts."
Belle blushed as she stood to her feet and looked toward the stairs. "Jean-Luc, I really should be going. I'll come back tomorrow, and we can talk about the Winter Ball more in depth."
Jean-Luc calmly stood to his feet and took a bow. "I look forward to it, Your Highness."
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc," Belle said, bowing in return. As she made her way toward the steps she turned and look over her shoulder one last time... toward Jean-Luc's cell. She couldn't help but smile.
Chapter 11
Belle peeked into Michael's room in the infirmary. She could see his mother by his side placing a cold cloth on his forehead. Michael was lying in bed with bandages covering his arms. Belle thought he looked a bit thinner. She knocked on the door as she pushed it open.
"Come in," Michael's mother said as she turned to see who was entering.
"It's me," Belle said with a smile, entering the room.
"Oh, welcome, child," she said, standing and giving Belle a hug.
"It's great to see you," Belle said, returning the hug. Michael's mother, Helen, had always enjoyed seeing Belle. She loved her greatly as both a princess and as a possible future daughter-in-law. Helen was a kind-natured woman who never seemed to worry. She always wore a big smile and always considered others above herself. She lived in the southern part of the kingdom by the ports. In the last twelve years she had remarried after Michael's father was lost in battle. They had a daughter nine years ago who adored Michael.
Releasing Belle, she looked back at Michael. "He's having a very good day. He was even out of bed this morning. Doctors say he should be back to his normal self in a couple of weeks."
"Oh, mother," Michael spoke up. "You ought to be heading home. Your family needs you. The castle has good doctors. I should be fine."
She smiled back at her son, "Michael, it's like they say... once a mother, always a mother." Belle enjoyed watching their interaction. She continued, "And besides, you still have a fever."
Belle laughed slightly. "Michael, I think we need to start bringing your mother with us in battle. Her resiliency would be a valuable asset."
"Belle, don't get her started... she might actually consider it." The three of them had a good laugh together. They were thankful that Michael was safe and seemed to be on the road to recovery.
Michael's mother, realizing that it was starting to get late, thought she ought to be heading home. "Well, my son, I do think this time you are correct. I probably should be going. Belle, it sure was good to see you."
"It truly was great to see you too," Belle said with an affectionate smile.
"Mother, will you be ok traveling home by yourself this late? It looks like it is going to rain, and..."
Helen shook her head, "Michael, you worry too much. I'll be fine. You rest up. I'll come and see you again in a couple of days."
"Thanks, Mother... love you."
"Love you too," Helen said, walking over and giving her son a hug. She then looked toward Belle, "Take care of him."
"I will," Belle said, reassuring her.
Michael's mother said goodbye one last time before leaving the room. Belle quietly walked over to Michael and took a seat beside his bed. "How are you really doing, Michael?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "A few broken ribs, sore arms, along with some deep cuts on my back, and like Mother said, a terrible fever, but... other than that I feel great."
Belle laughed a little and rubbed his forearm, trying to comfort him. "Knowing you, Michael, I'm sure you will be back to your old self in a few days."
He smiled back at Belle and reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight. He was grateful for her visit. Michael was thankful to have her in his life. It was great to call her both partner and friend. "How are you doing?" he asked her.
Belle looked away from Michael as tears started to form in her eyes. She brushed her hair out of her face as she tried to gather herself. She took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm thankful to have you back." The tears started to roll down her cheeks. "When we learned you'd been captured, I thought we'd lost you forever. I felt lost, helpless... afraid."
Michael nodded in agreement, trying to empathize with the princess. In his heart of hearts, he truly wished the whole kingdom could see this moment. Her affection and care for people was truly something to admire and surpassed anything he'd ever seen in any other person of royalty.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Michael spoke up. "How were you able to find me?"
"Jean-Luc was able to figure out your location by examining clues at your house," Belle said calmly.
"What has been your impression of him?"
Belle shook her head, trying to find the right words to say. There were many things about Jean-Luc she was still unsure of. "I don't know, Michael... I think you're right. It does seem like he's speaking in riddles. I can't figure out his plans."
"Do you trust him?"
Belle smiled as she looked down at her feet. "I don't know. He has done everything we've asked him, and he's been true to his word. At this point I think I have to, as I have no reason not to." Michael took a deep breath as fatigue started to set in. He closed his eyes. "Michael, I can come back another time if you're feeling tired," Belle said softly.
"No... it's fine," Michael said with his eyes still closed. "Were you able to get any information from the beast you captured?"
"No, we weren't able to. He's unable to talk. We're wondering if this beast is the Savage. Jean-Luc is sure he's not, but Gideon and I..."
"Jean-Luc is right," Michael said, interrupting. "The Savage is using this beast to buy himself some time. He wasn't expecting to be found in the tunnels, so he used this beast to briefly throw us off course and to manipulate the perception of the townspeople."
"Yeah... that's what Jean-Luc says."
"What else does he say?"
Belle sat quietly for a few moments trying to gather her thoughts before she spoke. "He says that we need to open our eyes and see clearly what is going on. He says that our perception of everything is wrong and is not reality. There are secrets, he says, that have not yet been uncovered."
Michael opened his eyes and looked straight at Belle. "This is what worries me about him. Like you, I want to trust him, but a part of me is afraid to."
"I agree, Michael... but I don't know what else to do. I think he's the best option we have to find the Savage."
Michael closed his eyes again. The medicine he took earlier was starting to have its effect. He felt himself starting to drift away.
Belle wasn't sure what to say. She actually wondered if she should say anything at all. Michael seemed to be getting more tired, and she figured it would be best to leave and let him get some rest. "Michael, all this can wait for the morning. You need your rest."
Belle rose to her feet and she started to leave. Michael grabbed her arm and opened his eyes. "Belle, if I may make one request."
"Yes... anything."
"Would you mind singing a short melody as I fall asleep?" Michael said through his weariness.
Belle smiled as she sat down beside Michael. She loved to sing and was happy to do it for her friend. She briefly thought about what song to sing before she began. The princess chose a song her nursemaid used to sing to her when she was a little girl.
She sang softly, "Through clouds and stars, and skies of blue... drift off to a land that's meant for you... from there you'll find your peace and rest... there're beaches and waves and beautiful sunsets... now I will go if I may... so sleep peacefully and dream away."
Michael quickly fell asleep. He looked to be in near perfect peace. "Sweet dreams, Michael," she said as she stood to leave.
<>
Jean-Luc sat in his dungeon cell, fiddling with the strings on his violin. He was unable to sleep. He had been imprisoned for a long time and he was ready to leave. The events of the rescue kept playing through his mind. He had greatly enjoyed getting out of his cell and doing something profitable. The brief taste of freedom reminded him what he was missing in the outside world. "Patience, patience," Jean-Luc kept telling himself. He did not want to get ahead of himself.
He had broken a violin string earlier in the evening while trying to tinker with the tune of the instrument. The violin was his escape on these long nights in the cell. It occupied his mind and was helpful in getting his mind off his current state in the prison cell. Currently, he was trying to see if he could salvage the string he had broken. He had broken many strings during his time in prison and he dreaded requesting another one, as he felt he had already exhausted his allowance.
Jean-Luc heard footsteps coming and stopped to listen carefully. It had to be the middle of the night. He wondered who could be coming. Putting down his violin, he tried to analyze the footsteps. The individual was just a few feet away when Jean-Luc realized who was coming, "Hector, you are staying up late these days. I think there are some mice running around here if you are dealing with late night hunger."
"Shut up, Beast," Hector said as he came in front of Jean-Luc's cell. His green clothing could be recognized anywhere.
"Well, I'm just trying to be hospitable, since it is late and you..."
"Quit your fooling. Do you think you can fool me?"
Jean-Luc adjusted his glasses and thought for a moment before answering. "Is that a trick question?" he said calmly.
"You listen here, Jean-Luc Pascal. I've heard about your plans to attend our ball and I'm on to you. Unlike others in this castle, I've spent time in Grimdolon. I have been with your kind."
"Hector... what is your point?"
Hector stepped right up to the bars and nearly put his face through them. "The point is that I know what your plan is. You can't fool me. I'm going to do whatever it takes to stop you."
Jean-Luc rested his hands in his lap and looked directly at Hector, "No... no you won't. You need me, Hector. You know you can't stop the Savage without me."
Hector pulled on his hair in frustration, and gave a faint hiss. He was getting angrier by the moment. "Don't begin to think you have the upper hand. I'm the king's advisor. I'm in control here. I'm..."
Hector stopped midsentence as Jean-Luc abruptly stood to his feet. He looked deeply at Hector. "Do you feel... in control?"
The two men stood in silence, looking at one another. Hector didn't know what to say. Jean-Luc stepped close to the prison bars and continued, "Because ever since I stepped into the dragon's territory eight months ago, I've had two main objectives, and currently I seem to be on the path to completing both."
Hector clinched his teeth in anger. He knew Jean-Luc was right. He spoke quietly, "As soon as the morning comes... I'm going to tell Michael what you're up to."
"Fine, go ahead. What do you think that will accomplish?"
"He'll... He'll throw you out of the kingdom."
Jean-Luc laughed under his breath as he sat back down. "Hector, are you listening to yourself? Do you really think Michael de Bolbec would throw me out of this kingdom?"
Hector hit the bars with his hands. He knew Jean-Luc was correct and that there was no viable option for stopping him at this point. He stuck his index finger through the bars as he spoke harshly, "Mark my words, Beast. I will do everything in my power to break you, and if you ever get what you are hoping for, I will do everything in my efforts to stop you."
Jean-Luc smiled at his enemy, "Have a good night, Hector. Sleep well."
With one last angry hiss, Hector stormed out of the dungeon.
<>
Belle awoke from her dream. She looked around, steadying herself, making sure it was just a dream. It was the middle of the night. She could hear rain coming down outside. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. A lit candle was still burning beside her bed, giving her a faint glow of light.
Her recurring dream had returned. It had been a week since she'd last had it. It was the same as always. She would enter the Winter Ball and greet the people as she passed through the crowds. When she arrived at the dance floor, she would realize that something was not right, and she would flee. She would always wake up startled and have to take a few moments to calm her nerves.
It seemed interesting that the last few instances she could remember a few differences in her dream. This time in particular she remembered that her dress was different each time. Recollecting on it, Belle knew that the differences were not just subtle patterns or tints of colors, but major changes in the style and color of the garments. She wondered if there were any hidden meanings in this difference.
Belle threw her covers off and walked toward the window. The rain was beating on the window. She found it soothing. It looked as if it was going to let up sometime soon. Looking out to the mountains, she thought of the Northern Ruins. Even though the raid on the ruins was less than two weeks ago, with everything that had occurred, it seemed like months. She remembered how naive she was in thinking that they would rid themselves of the Savage at that time.
Her nerves started to settle and she thought it was time to head back to bed. She walked back to her bed and gently slid under the covers. Laying her head down on her pillow, she fell asleep.
Chapter 12
A week went by and the kingdom of Mendolon was still at peace. The people continued to assume the Savage was caught. Belle and Hector ordered the townspeople to continue to set watchmen around the villages, but for the most part the people went back to their lives as normal. King Sebastian had still not returned. Hector had twice been in contact with him since he left. He had warned Sebastian not to return to the kingdom since the Savage was possibly still at large. Even with Sebastian gone, the people's spirit was not dampened. The markets stayed open later than usual, and the people continued to purchase gifts and various items.
Currently around the kingdom there was much excitement with the Winter Ball occurring tonight. The castle was decorated beautifully and many preparations had already had been made for the grand occasion. Belle and Jean-Luc had met every day to discuss the event. Jean-Luc wanted to know all the specifics about what to wear and what dances he would need to know. Belle, on the other hand, was concerned more about having a beast at the ball. She had told many of the nobles and high ranking officials that he would be present. She warned Jean-Luc that there would be some that would disapprove of him being at the ball, even if he did save Michael's life.
It was the middle of the afternoon, and Belle was in one of her dressing rooms of the castle getting her hair done. Three teenage servant girls were attending to her. Two were working on her hair while another was doing her nails. She was dressed in an exquisite light purple ballroom gown. The royal seamstress had spent several months sewing it in anticipation of this event. The servant girls thought it was one of the most beautiful dresses they'd ever seen.
"Oh, Belle, you're going to look absolutely gorgeous," said the girl filing her nails. "I can't wait to see you out there tonight."
"I wish I had brown hair like you, Belle," another one of the girls said. "It is so beautiful."
Belle smiled at the girl's compliment, "Well, maybe one of these years I can do your hair and nails, and you can attend the ball."
The girl laughed in return, "Oh, don't be silly. The Winter Ball would never be the same without you. The people are going to love you and your dress."
Belle loved these girls and had such a good relationship with them. She instructed them to call her by her first name and told them they were always welcome to approach her if they needed anything. Belle wanted them to know that they weren't there just to serve her and the dignitaries. She wanted them to feel like they were a part of the kingdom.
They continued to laugh and talk for another half an hour. Belle greatly enjoyed these moments. It was definitely different than any conversation she would have with any of the nobles later that night. The banter took a definite turn when one of the girls asked about Jean-Luc. "Belle, there are many rumors about the beast going to the ball. What is he like? I've never met a beast before."
Belle looked at her reflection in the mirror as she thought about how to respond, "Well, he's thin, wears glasses... His name is Jean-Luc."
The girls continued with their work as they listened. "I mean more... what is he really like? Are you afraid of him?"
Belle smiled a little at the girl's curiosity. "Jean-Luc is... he is..." Belle struggled with the exact words to say. "Jean-Luc is smart, mysterious, and musical. He loves his violin and is usually playing it when I see him.
The girls worked in silence for a few moments while they tried to imagine the personality of the beast. The girl filing her nails stopped briefly and looked at Belle, "Your Majesty..."
"Please, call me Belle."
"I'm sorry, Belle..." she said, looking down at her feet. She hesitated briefly before speaking, "Is there anything to be afraid of? I've heard people say beasts are very frightening."
Belle could sense the fear in the girl's voice. She reached over and put her hand on the young girl's arm, trying to reassure her. "No. I would say there is nothing to be afraid of. He is nothing like the rumors you've heard."
One of the girls fixing her hair spoke up, "What is his personality like? Hopefully he's not like the boys our age."
Belle couldn't help but laugh at the young girl's comment. "No... no, I would not say he's like that. Jean-Luc is very kind in his own sort of way. He's well thought out and seems to be very intentional at everything he does. He doesn't act rashly and is not quick tempered.
"Sounds like a gentleman," one of the girls chimed in.
Belle thought for just a moment before answering. "Yes... yes, I would call him a gentleman," she said with a smile.
<>
Belle walked down the steps of the dungeon. She held up her dress a little to make sure it didn't drag against the floor. Jean-Luc had requested that she meet him at his cell. He wanted to have the pleasure of escorting her to the ball. Currently she wondered if this was a good idea. The spiral staircase down to the dungeon was difficult to maneuver in her ballroom gown.
She reached the bottom of the steps. Everything was quiet. The injured beast had been moved to the prison facility east of the castle. Now only Jean-Luc remained in the dungeon. She watched her steps closely as she made her way to the end of the hallway. Reaching the front of the cell, she found Jean-Luc standing close to the bars anticipating her arrival. He was dressed in an exquisite dark purple coat with a white shirt. His hair was pulled back, and his mane was cut short. There was no mistaking he was a beast, but Belle was surprised at how much like a man he looked.
"Good evening, Your Highness," he said politely, holding out a flower.
"Good evening," Belle returned. She gently reached through the prison bars, grabbing the flower. She held it to her nose and took in the aroma. It was a red rose, her favorite. Some of the merchants of the markets would have them imported from countries across the southern seas. Belle knew this was an exceptional gift for this time of year.
"Might I add, that you look absolutely beautiful tonight, Belle," Jean-Luc said sincerely.
"Thanks, Jean-Luc. Where did you get this flower?"
Jean-Luc shrugged his shoulders, "I have my resources."
Belle smiled. "It was Bernard... wasn't it?"
Jean-Luc laughed. "Of course, he truly is a nice fellow."
Belle took the key from her hand and unlocked Jean-Luc's cell. She opened the door for him as he stepped out. He was excited for this rare chance to get out of his prison cell. "We'd better be going. Many of the guests have already arrived. We don't want to be too much longer."
"It would be an honor," Jean-Luc said, excited to get to the ball. Jean-Luc escorted Belle out of the dungeon. The ballroom of the castle was located on the north side of the castle and as was the custom, the princess was supposed to arrive by carriage. Belle felt it was a little bit of a silly tradition as they could have easily walked, but nevertheless she obliged.
The carriage took a short detour along a few roads by the castle before arriving at the ballroom. Looking out the window, Belle could see many of Mendolon's nobles exiting their carriages and making their way up a long flight of stairs to the ballroom. Their carriage stopped in front as a footman opened the door for the princess to step out. He held out his hand as she stepped onto the ground. Many dignitaries were already present, making their way into the ball. Belle waved at Gideon's wife as she passed by. She blew a kiss in return.
Jean-Luc stepped from the carriage and readjusted his jacket. He felt great and was excited for the evening. "This is most exciting. I'm eager to see what the decorations will be like."
"Well, stay close to me. Remember there are some who are nervous with you being here."
Jean-Luc smiled as he spoke, "I will be on my best behavior, Your Majesty." He held out his arm for Belle to take hold as they walked up a flight of steps toward the exterior entrance. There were lights and various extravagant decorations lining the stairwell. Mendolon soldiers could be seen everywhere in armor. Hector had ordered most of them to be on duty. The king's knights were invited to attend the ball, and all were present except Michael.
Belle stumbled slightly on a step. Jean-Luc was able to steady her before she completely fell. "Careful, Belle," he commented. "I'd hate to see you twist an ankle before we even make it inside." She simply smiled and rolled her eyes in response.
Reaching the top of the steps, Jean-Luc could see there was a large courtyard in front of the ballroom's entrance. There was a large fountain in the center of the area with a few hundred people on each side, greeting one another and casually talking. He could see a few musicians on the sides along with a table of food. Everyone was dressed in fine attire that looked worthy of people of royalty. He couldn't help but stare as he tried to take it all in. "Belle, I must say, Mendolon truly knows how to conduct a ball."
"Thanks. It has been a tradition for many years. I think each year the royal decorators try to outdo themselves from previous years."
"Well, some year we will have to borrow your decorators to help us plan a Winter Ball like this in Grimdolon."
Belle laughed under her breath. She grabbed his hand, "Let's go ahead and make our way through the crowd. Everyone will expect me inside when the dance begins." Belle made her way through the people, leading Jean-Luc. She smiled and nonchalantly greeted lots of people as she made her way toward the ballroom. Jean-Luc observed a few stares from folks as he passed by. He tried to smile as casually as possible, hoping it would calm some of the onlookers.
Belle was making her way through the crowd when an elderly lady stopped her. "Belle, my dear, it is great to see you."
"Great to see you too," she returned. The two quickly embraced.
Releasing her grip, Belle turned to Jean-Luc, "Jean-Luc, this is my nursemaid, Elise. She helped take care of me when I was a young girl."
"Pleased to meet you," Jean-Luc said, reaching out and grabbing her hand and kissing it.
Elise smiled in return, seemingly not afraid in the least bit of the beast. "I hear you are the one who rescued Michael."
Jean-Luc shrugged his shoulder, "Well, I mustn't take all the credit. Belle and some of the knights were essential parts of the mission as well. We all worked together."
Elise reached over and rubbed Jean-Luc's arm. "Nevertheless, thank you for your service to our kingdom. We owe you a large amount of gratitude."
"Thank you. You are too kind."
Elise turned to face the princess, "Belle, it is truly great to see you. I know the castle is big, but we need to make it a point to see each other more often."
"I agree," returned Belle.
"Take care, my princess," she said, giving Belle one more tight squeeze before saying goodbye one last time. Belle and Jean-Luc continued to make their way through the crowd. Jean-Luc followed close behind as best as he could while Belle greeted guests.
As Belle passed by the people, she thought of her dream. She wondered if this whole event would shed more light on what was occurring in the dream. A part of her wondered if after tonight it would stop. Possibly something would be fulfilled that would cause it to cease altogether. As best as she could she tried to suppress those thoughts. The Winter Ball was a joyous event and she determined in herself not to let anything damper this occasion.
Arriving at the exterior doors to the ballroom, Jean-Luc looked in wonder at the grandeur of the building. It was made mostly of windows with beautiful stone work between the glass holding everything into place. The building was only one floor with a high thirty-foot ceiling. The light from the chandeliers reflected beautifully through the glass.
The tall doors opened and a trumpet blew as Belle slowly entered. There were a few hundred more guests inside, and many standing near the front doors stopped their conversations to view Mendolon's beloved princess enter the ballroom. "Good evening, Your Highness," she heard someone say.
"Good evening to all," she said with a smile to the few dozen guests who stopped to greet her. A few nobles approached her to welcome her and comment on her dress. Jean-Luc stayed close to Belle's side as she made her way through the crowd. Stepping close to a table with food, Jean-Luc grabbed a glass of wine. Taking a sip, he realized how much he missed the taste of wine, even if it was quite a bit different from the kind made in Grimdolon.
Belle continued to greet as many of the people as she could. Jean-Luc could easily see how much the people loved her. He had heard rumors of her love for the people, but it was remarkable to see up close how much she cared for them. Even though some were uncomfortable with him being there, she took great strides to make sure everyone knew he was responsible for saving Michael de Bolbec. He truly admired her for her kindness.
As the evening progressed, the guests began to make their way to the dance floor. The pleasant sounds of string instruments started to play. Jean-Luc turned to Belle. "Your Highness, I know there are many you want to greet, but if you will be so kind, could you spare a moment for a dance?"
Belle smiled, "I guess this was part of the bargain." Jean-Luc held out his hand as she reached for it. They danced around the ballroom as the music played. Some in the crowd began to follow suit. Others in the crowd stood and watched Belle and the beast dance. Most had never seen a beast before, much less seen one dance.
"You seem to have experience dancing," Belle said as they moved around the floor.
"We beasts do have our own celebrations. Nothing this extravagant of course, but we do our best."
"I can tell you've had lessons," Belle said quietly.
"You can thank my father for that. As a little boy, I thought it was rubbish, practicing all this dancing. I guess in the end Father knew what he was doing."
They continued to move around the dance floor as the crowd continued to circle. They laughed and talked casually. Before the ball, Belle thought it might be strange to dance with a beast, but now in the moment nothing of the sort passed her mind. Jean-Luc was such a good dancer that she seemed to forget any concern she once had.
As the music started to cease, Jean-Luc stopped to take a bow. Belle followed suit. As Jean-Luc arose, he could see a man approaching Belle from behind. He seemed to be walking briskly. The man reached out to grab Belle's shoulder. Jean-Luc quickly intercepted his hand and pulled him to the side. "I don't think so," Jean-Luc said calmly. He then bent the man's wrist back, forcing him to one knee. "Sorry to say, my good lad, but she's with me tonight," Jean-Luc said before squeezing his hand tight. Belle could hear the crack of a bone.
"What are you doing? He's just a peasant," Belle said to Jean-Luc, trying to stay calm. She was thankful they were on the edge of the dance floor where not many people were seeing what was transpiring.
"Have mercy, please," the man said as he struggled with the pain. Jean-Luc released the man as he fell to the ground, grabbing his hand.
"Be gone," Jean-Luc said to him. The man swiftly got up and ran through the crowd toward the edge of the room. He seemed quite embarrassed.
The music started to play again, and Belle quickly grabbed Jean-Luc for another dance. She was bewildered by that whole exchange and thought the best solution would be to nonchalantly start another dance and act like it didn't happen. She was a little upset at Jean-Luc for making a scene, especially since many of the guests were uncomfortable with him even being there. "Jean-Luc, what was that all about?"
"Just looking out for you, Princess," Jean-Luc said without breaking his focus.
"He's just a simple peasant. He probably just wanted to meet me or give a gift. That was completely uncalled for."
Jean-Luc spun her around so she could see the peasant through the crowd. "Belle, can you see him?" They continued to dance as he spoke.
"Yes, it looks like he might be nursing his wounds."
"Look carefully at his attire. Yes, his coat is worn and made of a cheaper material, giving the look of a peasant. But look at his shirt. The stitching by the collar is intricately designed and seems to have taken much time. Plus, the overall design seems to say that it belonged to a person of royalty."
Belle focused on the man as best as she could. She was a little far away, but she could tell clearly that Jean-Luc was correct about his shirt. It did not belong to an ordinary peasant. He continued, "I know you can't see it from here, but his shoes are made from a fine leather material. They are definitely not the shoes of a peasant, probably just the best he could steal before the evening."
"Are you saying he was a thief?"
"Precisely. I just wanted to make sure he didn't try to steal anything else tonight."
Belle nodded in agreement, now understanding Jean-Luc's reasoning. "Well, in that case. Thank you for protecting me."
"Anytime," Jean-Luc responded nonchalantly.
Belle smiled as they continued to circle around the dance floor. The music changed its tone and became quicker in tempo. Belle was enjoying the evening and seemed to get lost in the fun of everything. They talked and laughed casually as they spun around the dance floor. The troubles of the kingdom seemed to vanish in the enjoyment of the evening. She was so thrilled to see many of the knights and their families enjoying the evening as well.
The princess and Jean-Luc danced on and off for the next half hour. Things seemed to be going well when all of a sudden Jean-Luc's mood changed during a dance. He became more stern, and he looked as if he was contemplating something. "Jean-Luc, what's wrong?" Belle asked.
Jean-Luc looked toward a large window and squinted his eyes. He released one of Belle's hands and readjusted his glasses. "I think it's time to change things up a bit."
Abruptly he moved to the center of the dance floor with Belle. He held his arm up and twirled her before grabbing her waist and dipping her. Many in the crowd took notice. He then picked up the princess by the waist and spun with the music. "Follow my lead," he told Belle as quietly as he could. The crowd was in awe for the next few minutes. Jean-Luc led Belle in one of the most exquisite and difficult dances of Grimdolon. The guests clapped as Jean-Luc executed the moves flawlessly. Belle was amazed at how he led her and how easy he was to follow. Everyone else in the crowd had stopped dancing at this point to watch the beauty and the beast. The kingdom of Mendolon had never seen anything quite like it.
As the music began to slow, Jean-Luc stopped and took a bow toward Belle. Belle reciprocated as the guests clapped in appreciation. Standing back up straight, Jean-Luc smiled to the crowd as he quietly said, "Thank you." Belle clapped with the crowd, amazed at his ability.
The clapping began to quiet and Jean-Luc spoke up to address the crowd, "People of Mendolon, you have been too kind. If I may, I would like to lead the princess in another one of our Grimdolon dances." The crowd began to clap again in excitement. Jean-Luc smiled as he held up his hand to quiet them, "But I must say as it is our tradition, this dance can only be done under the light of the stars." The guests began to speak to one another in excitement, and they began moving outside toward the courtyard.
Everything took a few minutes to get into place. The musicians found a spot where they could easily be heard. The stars were still out and hundreds of candles lit the way on the edge of the courtyard. The temperature was moderately cold, but the people did not seem to mind. The excitement and thrill of the evening seemed to surpass everything else.
The music began to play and Jean-Luc grabbed Belle by the hand. Belle noticed that his attention seemed to be elsewhere. He kept looking toward the sides of the crowd, searching for something. He was not focused on dancing; he simply danced around in a circle around the courtyard. The crowd seemed to notice and began talking amongst themselves. They wondered what was going on.
"Jean-Luc, what is happening?" Belle asked, a little confused by this whole ordeal.
Jean-Luc bit his lip and kept looking toward the crowd. He looked worried as he began to speak. "Belle... I think... I think..."
"Yes, what is it?" she said, worried.
"I think we are about to..." Jean-Luc was interrupted as a massive explosion occurred in the ballroom. The large windows blew out into the crowd as pieces of the front wall fell to the ground. A cloud of dust and debris engulfed the crowd. People began screaming while others ran for their lives. The scene quickly became chaotic as fire blazed from the ballroom.
<>
Michael was in his room in the infirmary when he heard the explosion. He was attempting to do push-ups but found the wound in his shoulder blade very tender. Hearing the explosion, he pulled himself to his feet using the bed post as a brace. He slowly walked to his large window and looked outside. There was dust and debris in the air. He could see the smoke rising from the ballroom. Looking through the clouded air, he could see the glow of the fire coming from the building.
Michael wondered how many people were inside. He wondered if Belle or any of the other knights had been harmed. He wondered if the Savage was now attacking the people. Panic started to set in. He looked over at his bed and could see his sword standing against the wall. His legs were still healing from the imprisonment. He knew there was nothing he could do at the moment.
Looking out the window, Michael could feel the anger and the rage growing inside of him. He wanted to protect the people of Mendolon, and he hated anyone who brought such destruction upon them. He wanted to destroy this beast, no matter what it took.
<>
Belle began to pick herself up as she had fallen to the ground during the explosion. She couldn't see a thing as dust from the explosion was filling the area. Her hearing began to return and she could hear the screams and sheer panic from the guests of the ball. Standing to her feet, she wondered if she was seriously hurt. Her arm was bleeding slightly from her fall, but she felt no other serious injury.
Turning to her side, she saw Jean-Luc on the ground, grabbing his leg. Apparently, he had injured it during the explosion. Belle ran to him. "Jean-Luc, are you ok?"
"Yeah," he said, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Is there anything you need?" she said urgently.
"I'll be fine. Check on everyone else. Those closer to the building most likely weren't as fortunate."
Belle promptly stood to her feet and ran toward the dilapidated building. The dust in the air started to clear. Most of the guests began to stand to their feet and check on their loved ones. There was screaming everywhere as those that were able began to run from the castle's premises. Many were bleeding, particularly from the glass blown from the windows.
Reaching the building she saw about a dozen people knocked out on the ground. She began checking those closest to her. Thankfully they all seemed to be breathing. From the corner of her eye, she saw a man buried under a slab from the building. He was trying to free himself. Belle ran to the man quickly and with all her might lifted the slab just high enough for the man to slide himself out. "Thank you," he mumbled as he tried to catch his breath.
Gideon ran to the scene carrying a sword. There was great urgency in his voice, "Your Highness, are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine. What's your assessment of the situation?"
Gideon shook his head, "I've not found any enemies. A few of the knights are checking the crowd for anyone suspicious. The soldiers have the castle under tight security and are watching the exits."
Belle continued to check on the people lying on the ground. "What about the guests?"
Gideon was quick to answer, "Many injuries, but no fatalities found so far. Thankfully, all of the guests had come outside to the courtyard to watch you and Jean-Luc dance."
She looked Gideon square in the eyes as she processed what he just said. Rising to her feet, Belle looked across the courtyard back toward Jean-Luc. He was still on the ground grabbing his leg. Their eyes met. Jean-Luc brought everyone outside, she thought to herself, How did he know there was going to be an explosion?
Chapter 13
Belle slowly walked down the steps toward the dungeon. Five days had passed since the Winter Ball. The kingdom was in an all-out panic. All commerce had stopped. The markets were closed, and there was talk among some of the townspeople of moving across the southern sea. Soldiers were dispersed among the villages of Mendolon. Everyone in the land was to keep watch for any potential information leading to the capture of the Savage or any of his allies.
King Sebastian was still in hiding. After the ball, Hector had met with him privately along a northern road and advised him not to return. The king spoke of war with Grimdolon. Hector advised him otherwise since the Savage was currently crippling all their resources and personnel. The citizens of Mendolon also saw his absence as a sign of the kingdom heading toward complete disorder. Going to battle with their neighboring kingdom was not possible.
The attack at the Winter Ball had left Belle completely dejected. She felt inadequate as both a princess and a knight of Mendolon. Hopelessness consumed her. Once again, she saw no end to the Savage's reign of terror. The people of Mendolon had suffered enough. She longed for peace and tranquility in the kingdom.
Belle watched her step closely as everything was completely dark. The torches hadn't been routinely lit the last few days as every available man was put on watch for the Savage. Jean-Luc's lantern at the end of the hallway was the only light in the whole dungeon.
She reached the bottom of the steps and slowly approached Jean-Luc's cell. She hadn't seen him since the explosion at the Winter Ball. He had sustained a leg injury in the blast and was now walking with a cane while his leg healed. After the explosion she was able to take him and all the other injured citizens directly to the castle's infirmary. Jean-Luc refused to be cared for but instead requested to be brought directly back to his cell. With all of Belle's duties in helping to disperse troops around Mendolon and caring for the injured, she hadn't had an opportunity to visit him since the attack.
Stepping in front of Jean-Luc's cell, she found him peacefully eating his supper. He looked comfortable. Seeing Belle in front of the cell, he paused briefly and looked up at her. He smiled as he spoke, "Good evening, Belle."
She said nothing in response. She quietly took a seat on the chair in front of his cell. She looked over at his plate and could see he was eating a meal of bread and ground beef. Jean-Luc could tell she was examining his plate, "Strange meals Bernard brings me sometimes," he paused briefly, "but I mustn't complain. You have treated me very well since I've been here." They sat in silence for a while, searching for something to say. Belle struggled to know what to think. Many emotions filled her heart and mind.
After finishing his meal, Jean-Luc shrugged his shoulders, "Belle, I'm sorry our evening together turned out..." he paused, searching for words, "turned out... rather unpleasant."
"When did you know there was going to be an attack?" she said, seemingly ignoring his statement.
Jean-Luc looked off to the side as he shook his head, "I had a feeling early on that he might try to attack the Winter Ball."
"Is that why you wanted to attend?"
Jean-Luc looked directly at Belle and spoke sincerely, "Honestly... I was hoping I was wrong. I was truly having a pleasant evening. How many times in life does one get an opportunity to escort the princess of Mendolon to a royal ball?"
"How did you know there would be an explosion?" Belle asked directly, seemingly not interested in the small talk at the moment.
Jean-Luc nodded his head, readjusting his glasses before speaking. "I noticed irregularities among the guests, and particularly among the peasants. Like I said at the ball, I first noticed it in the thief who approached you. There were clues in his demeanor and clothing that tipped me off to the true identity of some of those in attendance. I then watched the edges of the room and could see a coordinated effort to attack the ball. Men seemed to be getting into position for some sort of attack."
"Is that why you had everyone follow us outside?"
Jean-Luc closed his eyes as he spoke, "Precisely... I just wished I could've warned everyone sooner, but I feared no one would believe me if I spoke outright of an attack."
Belle brushed the hair out of her eyes as she looked to the side. She felt tears beginning to well up in her eyes as she thought back to the night of the attack. The screaming of the injured haunted her.
"How many were killed in the explosion?" Jean-Luc inquired.
With both hands she wiped the tears from her eyes as she tried to gather herself. She took a deep breath before she spoke, "As of right now, none. A couple of the servants are in dire condition." Jean-Luc rubbed his chin as he listened intently to Belle. He was thankful for news of no fatalities. Belle continued, "Thankfully everyone followed us outside, including the servants. Your Grimdolon dance was enough to bring everyone outside."
"How many were injured?"
"Many. I don't know for sure, but I know it was at least a few hundred. Many of the injuries were quite substantial too."
Jean-Luc slammed his fist against his table as he stood to his feet. He was trying to stay calm. Belle was caught off guard as she'd never seen such emotion from him. He paced just a little before calmly sitting back in his chair. "I truly wish I could've seen everything sooner. The Savage is giving me a number of surprises. He's not who I thought he was."
"How so?" Belle asked, puzzled.
Jean-Luc took off his glasses and rubbed his fingers against his eyes as he spoke, "When I first came to Mendolon, I thought the beast, Remy, who we found in the tunnels, was Dominique Delano. Now after examining all the evidence, it is clear that the identity of the Savage is a lot more complicated."
"Do you have any idea who he really is?"
Jean-Luc rubbed the back of his head in contemplation before speaking. "I have some ideas, but the overall picture is not yet clear. Even my perception of things has been clouded. I need more evidence. I need to widen my gaze just a bit more."
Belle leaned back in her chair. The feeling of hopelessness kept growing. She was discouraged knowing that Jean-Luc did not have all the answers. She did not know what the next move would be. Gideon and Hector were at a loss, and Michael wasn't yet fully mended. She felt a huge weight on her. She longed for answers, "Jean-Luc... what do you... I mean should we... I think..." The princess wasn't sure what to say or ask. She covered her face as the tears began to roll down her cheek.
Jean-Luc stepped closer to the bars of his cell. He felt compassion for the princess of Mendolon. He looked at her with great sincerity. He felt it was now time to test her true honesty with him. He spoke softly, "Belle, why are you here?"
"Why do you think?" she spoke somewhat angrily. "We need to catch this beast. He's raising havoc in the kingdom and..."
Jean-Luc raised his hand to stop her. "Belle... no... why are you really here?"
She shook her head as she was frustrated, "Jean-Luc... I... I..."
He spoke quietly and intently, "Belle, why are you here?"
Belle hesitated. The tears kept falling. She wiped her eyes one last time before looking at Jean-Luc. She spoke truthfully, "Because I'm scared, Jean-Luc. I'm scared for the people of Mendolon. I'm scared the Savage is going to strike again. I'm scared that the kingdom will never be the same. I'm just scared."
"And why are you here?"
She brushed her hair out of her face again as she spoke quietly, "Because I'm scared and ... this is the only place in the whole kingdom where I feel safe." Jean-Luc nodded, knowing she was telling the truth. He was thankful for her honesty. He had worked hard to get to this point. She was now trusting him.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Belle no longer felt the need to search for answers from Jean-Luc. She needed a friend to sit with and talk to. She felt safe with Jean-Luc; both physically and emotionally. Especially with her father gone, others in the kingdom looked to her for answers. She truly felt no obligation being with Jean-Luc.
A few minutes passed before Jean-Luc broke the silence. "Belle, tell me about yourself. What would you desire to do if the kingdom was safe?"
Belle shook her head, "I don't know... I would love to finish my training so that..."
"No, Belle," Jean-Luc interrupted. "I mean apart from all of this; apart from your duties as princess. Where would you go? What would you do on a quiet day?"
Belle bit her lip slightly as she thought about what to say. "I don't know... I used to play the harp... sing on occasion. Sometimes, I like to go the southernmost village and listen to their chorale. They have wonderful voices."
"Do you sing yourself?"
"No... just to myself. I've never had a voice quite worthy of performances."
"I'm sure your humility surpasses your ability."
"Thanks," she said, playing with the end of her long brown hair.
Jean-Luc continued, "What else, Your Highness? What keeps you up at night?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "I like to read on occasion, but I wouldn't say it keeps me up at night."
"Oh... and why's that?"
"Honestly, I haven't slept well the past year."
"Do the images of the dragon still haunt you? I hear he had you in his grip before Michael came to the rescue."
"No... the dragon doesn't haunt me. He never did. I believe Michael took care of him permanently."
"Then what is it, Belle?" Jean-Luc asked, leaning forward, hungry for answers.
Belle looked down at her hands and casually twisted a purple flowered ring on her hand. She wondered how much more she should say. Michael's warning of not fully trusting Jean-Luc came to the forefront of her thoughts. She would hate to say much more and then see it somehow used against her.
Jean-Luc could tell she was contemplating how much to say. He knew there was something clearly on her mind. "Tell me... what is it, Belle?"
Belle looked up at the beast. She hesitated just a little before speaking. "I have a recurring dream that comes at least weekly. It's unsettling. It makes it hard to fall back asleep once it wakens me."
"And what is the nature of it?" Jean-Luc asked curiously.
Belle spoke slowly, "I'm at a ball. At first I thought it was the Winter Ball, but now I'm not so sure. I enter the ball and am greeted by the guests. I walk slowly to the middle of the room. I'm dressed elegantly in a royal gown. People compliment my dress and wish me well as I make my way through the crowd." Belle hesitated.
"Yes, go on," Jean-Luc said quietly.
"I make my way to the center of floor, when I suddenly feel very out of place. I know I shouldn't be there so I become distraught and leave the ball abruptly. The guests seem disappointed and urge me to stay."
"Do you think this dream was some type of warning for the Savage's attack?"
Belle shook her head, "No... it's hard to explain, but somehow I think this dream is bigger than the attack."
Jean-Luc squinted his eyes as he focused in on Belle, "Then why do you feel out of place at the ball?"
Belle didn't think she should say anything more. She rose to her feet. "I think I should be going. Hector is going..."
"Belle," Jean-Luc said abruptly. "Please... why do you feel out of place at the ball?"
Belle sat back down, realizing she had already said too much, but knowing there was no turning back. "I'm not myself. I'm someone else, and I know I shouldn't be there. I feel... unwelcomed."
Jean Luc nodded inquisitively as he listened. "Can you explain more?"
"I don't know. The rest of the dream becomes unclear. Something is stopping me from remembering."
Jean-Luc stood to his feet and began pacing the front of his cell. This new bit of information from Belle was quite intriguing. Open your eyes, he kept telling himself. He felt as if he was in a room with boxes with locked hinges, each containing a secret waiting to be revealed. He wondered which one to pursue first.
Belle continued, "What are you thinking, Jean-Luc?"
He turned to face her. "All of this is quite interesting. I'm going to need your help, Belle."
"Ok," she said, somewhat confused.
"The ruins north of the kingdom... I'm going to need you to explore them further."
She stood to her feet, "But Michael searched most of the ruins before finding the Savage. He said there wasn't much of consequence besides the upper room where we caught the beast. I don't think there is anything left to be found."
"Was anyone else with Michael while he searched the castle?"
"Well... no, but I'm sure he was thorough in his search and..."
"Don't you think it's a good idea to have another set of eyes exploring the castle? Remember, at the time Michael was not particularly looking for clues. He was looking for the Savage himself."
"Jean-Luc," Belle was bewildered at this point. "Jean-Luc, I don't know what I'm going to be looking for. Michael said there was nothing else of consequence. We found everything."
"Your Majesty," Jean-Luc spoke calmly. "I'm telling you, everything that you know will be challenged. How you perceive things doesn't always correspond to reality."
Belle was getting frustrated at this point, "You keep saying that... but what does it mean? Do you want me to question everything... to become a skeptic about everything I see and think?"
"No... no," Jean-Luc said, staying patient. "I just want you to know for sure what you believe and know to be true. I want you to realize that your initial perception isn't always correct. Sometimes one needs to explore deeper to discover the greater truths about reality as well as the world beyond. I want you to think through what you perceive and what you believe. I want you to ask questions, explore, and find the truth. It will set you free."
Belle looked squarely at Jean-Luc, not breaking her focus. A part of her wanted to ignore this suggestion by Jean-Luc, knowing that this was the riddles Michael warned her of. The urge to walk away was strong, but in the end she knew she couldn't let this suggestion go unexplored. Jean-Luc was responsible for Michael's rescue as well as saving the guests at the ball. She owed it to him to chase this idea.
"I'll wait till morning, then I'll set out with a few soldiers, and ..."
"No, leave tonight. Go alone. You will need to be completely undistracted. Take Gideon or Bernard if you think you need protection, but I think the Savage has begun his master plan. He is setting up for his final attack, and he won't be watching the route north."
"I just don't understand, Jean-Luc. I don't see where all this is going. I don't see how this will end."
Jean-Luc sat down comfortably in his chair. He did not take his eyes off Belle as he spoke, "Belle, all things will be made clear in time. You said you liked to read. Well, imagine this ordeal with the Savage is a book you are reading. I will simply tell you that you are headed for a surprise ending, and not even I know how it will all end."
Belle stood in silence, looking at Jean-Luc. Her mind was clouded. She was not sure what else needed to be said. "Ok, I will leave at once for the ruins. I'll report back in the morning at sunrise."
Chapter 14
The journey to the Northern Ruins proved to be a difficult one. Belle took a more hidden route through the mountain trails. Snow was falling. She was on horseback, wearing a cloak and hood to protect her from the inclement weather. The princess was alone as she had immediately departed. It was about a two-hour ride on horseback to the ruins, and she had already gone most of the way. So far she had seen or heard no one.
Her conversation with Jean-Luc kept playing through her mind. Belle wondered if there was something she was missing in the conversation. She knew he was holding back answers to many of the questions that she had. A part of her also wondered what was the true purpose of this excursion. What is it I'm looking for? Belle thought to herself. How can I widen my gaze? Further open my eyes?
She arrived at the ruins. The doors of the front gate were still standing open. Belle rode through without stopping. A lone deer was grazing to her left at the far end of the courtyard. Seeing Belle, it stopped briefly to gaze on the princess. Approaching the front doors of the old castle, Belle dismounted and tied her horse to a nearby post. She pulled off her hood and looked around the courtyard. The fresh coat of snow had added a layer of tranquil beauty to the area. Everything was quiet. There was no sign of anyone.
Belle patted her horse gently on the shoulders. "Stay here, boy... I'll be back shortly," she said quietly. She pulled on the front doors of the castle and found they opened easily. A small patch of snow fell from the door and landed on Belle's head. She gently brushed it to the side and entered the castle.
Nothing had changed since she was last there. There were cracks along the walls and ceiling that let in a little moonlight, but overall it was very dark. There were torn tapestries along the wall and on the floor. A few dilapidated rugs lined the walkways. She found it hard to imagine that it was once a majestic palace.
She made her way toward the stairwell leading to the tower where Michael had first encountered the Savage. If only we could've been here a couple weeks earlier, she thought to herself. I wonder if we could've stopped everything then. The stairwell was dark but light enough for her to see her way up. She watched each step carefully as some of the steps were broken.
Arriving at the top of the steps, she entered the Savage's study. Everything looked the same as they had left it. She and Michael had gone over everything in the room very thoroughly the night of the attack. This is where they had found the layout for Mendolon's castle along with the routine of the knights. The room was mostly empty as all the books and items had been removed.
Belle looked at some of the bookcases along the wall. As an avid reader, she had read many stories where hidden passages could be found behind bookshelves. She pulled the largest one with all her strength. Belle backed away as it started to fall to the ground. It came tumbling down with a hard crash. Looking up at the wall, she found it empty. She shook her head in frustration. She knew this was not what she was looking for. She was looking for something unseen the first time; something ordinary that meant more than when first seen. Belle thought about going back to the dungeon where she and Bernard had first rescued the prisoners, but in her heart she knew that too was not what she was looking for. Where did Michael go before the tower? What did he see?
<>
Michael walked the halls of the castle. It was the middle of the night. He knew he probably wouldn't be seen since most of the knights had been spread out among the far reaches of the kingdom trying to find the Savage. Many of the castle's servants were also gone as some were injured in the Winter Ball attack, while others had quit and moved across the sea. Those who were left were kept on essential daytime tasks. None were left on the night shift.
Michael made his way to the steps leading down to the dungeon. He thought about the night when he was captured, when he brought Belle to this same spot. It was the first time she had met the beast. He slowly made his way down the steps as he was still recovering from his injuries from the Savage.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, he made his way to Jean-Luc's cell. He found the beast asleep with a blanket pulled over him. Michael couldn't see his face because he was facing the wall. "Jean-Luc," he said sternly. "Wake up."
Jean-Luc turned over in his bed to face the one calling out to him. He reached over to a nearby nightstand where his glasses were sitting. He brushed his hair out of his eyes as he put his glasses on. "Michael, it's good to see you out of bed and walking," he paused briefly, pulling off his blanket, "but couldn't this have waited till morning? Citizens of Grimdolon usually like to sleep through the night."
"Jean-Luc, you know why I'm here." Michael looked at him very intently. He would be unmoved.
Jean-Luc looked at him with pity in his eyes. He knew Michael had figured out his true mission. "I'm sorry to say, Michael... I've already made great progress in my plans. You've been very kind, but I don't think you can stop me."
He decided to hold nothing back. "Are you trying to overthrow our kingdom?"
Jean-Luc looked at him with a slight bit of disappointment. "Is that what you believe, Michael? After all this time?"
Michael shook his head and turned to look away from Jean-Luc. A mixture of emotions raced through him. A part of him felt used, knowing this beast was using him to accomplish his own objectives. But another part of him felt grateful for all Jean-Luc had done in helping to catch the Savage, as well as rescuing him from the sewer tunnels. He felt trapped in the middle of Jean-Luc's plans.
Jean-Luc broke the silence, "Michael, I'm sorry. This is nothing personal. You have been more than fair with me and nearly treated me like a guest while I've been in this prison. You are truly an honorable knight."
Michael rubbed the back of his neck in deep contemplation. He paced the dungeon floor just a little before turning and looking directly at the beast. He spoke with great intention in his voice, "Jean-Luc, I will stop you, and I will use all my power and everything in my disposal to do so."
Jean-Luc stood to his feet. He felt sorry for the chief knight of Mendolon. "Michael, you are a person of great power and strength, but I must say in this instance... there is nothing you can do."
Michael stepped closer to the prison bars. "Do you realize what is at stake here, Beast? I am the sworn leader of the knights of Mendolon. I have vowed to protect this kingdom and everything in it. I cannot nor will I hold back."
Jean-Luc stepped closer to Michael. "You can't stop me." His voice was raised at this point, "Have you not put everything together? Do you not yet realize that this is bigger than any feud we might be having?"
"You're bluffing, Beast, I will stop you."
"Listen, Michael, I will tell you why you can't stop me," Jean-Luc said, holding out his index finger and pointing it at Michael. "Go to the castle library. Find out why there was a dragon on the eastern border of Mendolon."
"What? Is this another one of your riddles?" Michael said with a bit of confusion.
"No... no more riddles. No more games. Find out why the dragon was between our kingdoms. It will provide the answers you seek."
Michael was deeply confused by this suggestion by Jean-Luc. He hadn't thought much about the dragon hunt the last few months. Trying to catch the Savage had consumed his mind. He wondered why Jean-Luc wanted him to research the history of the dragon now. He didn't understand what it had to do with anything at present. "Tell me what I'm looking for, Jean-Luc."
The beast nodded his head. He spoke calmly, "Find books on Grimdolon's history. Look from our perspective on why the dragon was there. Many things will become clear."
Michael took a deep breath. His brushed his blond hair out of his eyes. He was frustrated with how this conversation was going. He didn't want to chase any more riddles from Jean-Luc, but in the end he knew that after he saved him from the tunnels, he owed him this much. "Jean-Luc, I will do this... but you must assure me this is not one of your tricks."
Jean-Luc closed his eyes as he spoke softly, "Do as I say and your eyes will be opened."
Michael nodded his head as he turned to leave the dungeon. He was eager to get the answers he sought and ready to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"Oh... Michael," Jean-Luc said, stopping him.
"Yes?"
"I want to assure you of one thing," Jean-Luc said, looking directly into Michael's eyes. "We will catch the Savage... no matter what it takes."
Michael nodded once more as he turned to walk away.
<>
Belle checked room after room in the ruins. So far she had found nothing but mice droppings and rusty relics from days past. She wondered if Jean-Luc was mistaken in his suggestion to search these ruins again. Michael had been thorough in searching everything. Surely anything remotely significant was taken back to the castle.
She had been searching the castle for two hours now, and she was beginning to feel the darkness of the castle waning on her. Fear was starting to set in. Belle pulled her sword, just in case she met anything. She was thankful for every window on the wall and every crack on the ceiling that let in any light. As she walked the halls of the castle, she found herself singing to bring comfort to herself. "The dark of night can feel so cold, but do not fear I'm often told. The light of day will be here soon, so just walk in the light of the moon."
The princess arrived at the throne room. The large crack in the ceiling let in light from the moon. She noticed the two dilapidated thrones at the far end of the room. Both were made of metal and were rusted. One even had a dead vine draped over the back of it. Belle thought of the kings and queens of old that used to sit there. She tried to imagine the room filled with guests and nobles of the kingdom. It truly would have been a glorious sight to see.
She moved past the thrones and came to the king's personal living quarters. It was obvious that someone had recently dwelt here. She remembered Michael mentioning that he found where the Savage had been staying. Looking around the room, she saw a bed on one side of the room along with a desk. The desk had various books sitting on it; one caught her eye. It was written in Latin and some of its pages were shredded. She checked the floor and could see more of its pages on the floor.
Reaching down, she picked up a few of the pages and looked through them. Even though the Savage had torn some to pieces, it was obvious the pages were from a once treasured book. It was a book about ancient kings and kingdoms of distant lands. There was one section on a page that had notes written on the side. The section was about the king of an ancient land called Babylon. The king's name was Nebuchadnezzar. Belle's Latin was a little rusty but she was able to translate it in her mind as she read. The great, powerful king, Nebuchadnezzar, was struck by God with madness and turned into a beast. He stayed this way seven years before he was turned back into a man. Belle had heard the story once before as a young girl. She found it to be an interesting story, especially since they had a whole kingdom of beasts living to their east.
A note in the margin caught her eye. The handwriting looked rough and abrasive. It read, "Is there a way to wield this power? How can I use this ability against the people of Mendolon?"
Belle was struck by what she'd just read. This is what the Savage wanted to do. He was trying to obtain this type of power to change the people of Mendolon into beasts. Was this the magic that the people of Mendolon claimed he had? she thought to herself. Many questions arose, but she realized this was what she was looking for. She quickly gathered all the loose pages she could find. Running as fast as she could, she left the room. She couldn't get back to her castle fast enough.
<>
Michael sat in the depths of the Mendolon Library surrounded by books and parchments. Many were covered in dust. A single candle lit his way as he read and studied. The more he read, the more questions arose. Growing up, he had always thought it was strange that a dragon was dwelling between the two lands, and seemingly left alone by King Sebastian and the knights. Searching fervently, he looked for anything that might give him a clue as to how the dragon was related to the Savage and Jean-Luc.
He opened a book entitled History of Grimdolon Under the Rule of King Bayle. He read about Bayle's early disputes with a young Sebastian of Mendolon, and how they were on the verge of war. He read that multiple times Bayle tried to appease Sebastian in any way he could, but in the end it was all in vain. According to these books, war was inevitable.
Michael kept reading until he found that Sebastian grew tired of his neighbors to the east and decided to strike the heart of Grimdolon. As he kept reading he found the connection Jean-Luc wanted him to find. Michael couldn't believe what he was reading. It all happened right before the dragon's territory was established. He hit the table with his fist and leaned back in his chair. It was all coming together. How could I have been so blind? he thought to himself.
Standing to his feet, he put his hands on his head as he realized the implications of what he had just read. As much as it hurt, he knew he would not be able to stop Jean-Luc.
Chapter 15
It was midmorning. Michael, Belle, Gideon, and Hector met in the war room of the castle. Belle said it was urgent. She believed she had new information concerning the plans of the Savage. They all came without delay as they were hungry for answers. Even with the soldiers of Mendolon spread out throughout the kingdom, nothing had been seen or heard from the Savage since his attack at the Winter Ball.
Currently they were all gathered around the circular table ready to hear the news of Belle's discovery. She had met with Jean-Luc that morning to get his opinion on everything before reporting it to the others. She hoped it would be well received. "Thank you all for coming so urgently. I want to relay to everyone my findings from last night."
"Last night? Where were you, Your Highness?" Gideon asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I traveled to the Northern Ruins to..."
Hector quickly interrupted, "What? Under whose authority? Don't you know you could have gotten yourself killed?"
"Hector, relax," Belle said. She hadn't slept all night and wasn't in the mood for an argument with him. "Jean-Luc advised me to explore the ruins one last time before we..."
Hector hit his fist against the table, "Is this what we're going to do? Just keep taking advice from that condescending beast... look where it has gotten us so far. I say we put an end to him, and..."
"Let the princess talk," Michael said, interrupting Hector. Michael was the only one seated. Even though his posture was relaxed, he was close to full strength and complete recovery.
"I checked all the rooms again, searching for anything I might find to help us."
"I thought we cleared the castle fairly well," Gideon said, speaking up.
"We did, but Jean-Luc advised me to look again through the castle for anything that would possibly have significance. I searched every room and came up empty... until I came to the throne room." Michael nodded his head as he listened to the princess. The memories from the raid on the ruins came back to him. He remembered checking the area she spoke of.
Belle continued, "Behind the throne room was his personal quarters. He had a number of books he was reading, all on various topics. In the midst of it all I found a book on the history of ancient kings and kingdoms of distant lands." Gideon and Hector leaned in, anxious for what she would say next. "He was reading about the story of an ancient king named Nebuchadnezzar who was struck with animal madness, and turned into a beast for seven years. On the side of one of the pages, the Savage made notes about this incidence. He asked if he could wield this power and use it for his own evil purposes."
"What, that's impossible! ... Or is it?" Gideon asked, almost scared to let the thought pass through his mind.
"Gideon, I was wondering the same thing too. It seems impossible, but..." Belle paused briefly to collect her thoughts.
"What, princess? Tell us," Hector demanded.
Belle bit her lip and took a deep breath before speaking, "Think about the Savage's followers and those that attacked the knights at the ruins. He had an army of beasts."
"I don't think I'm following you, Belle." Gideon commented.
"Have any of us heard about a troop of beasts passing through the northern lands and into our borders? Have any of you heard news from anywhere about Grimdolon beasts leaving their borders to raise terror in our lands?"
They all thought about what Belle was saying. No one had heard any news from anywhere about beasts leaving Grimdolon and traveling west. Because it was a kingdom of beasts, Grimdolon's borders were usually watched closely. Any news of beasts leaving would quickly spread to surrounding nations. Belle continued, "None of us have heard any reports like that, but what we do know is that the Savage has built up a small army with criminals from our own kingdom. He promises them power and opportunity. He gains their trust and then turns them into his own army. I don't know how he does it but..." She hesitated briefly, "I believe he is somehow possessing the power to transform men into beasts."
"You can't be serious, Belle," Gideon said, trying to object. "It just sounds impossible."
"Impossible?" Hector said with anger. He turned to face Gideon, "It's time you stop doubting this beast's powers. Don't you know he worked in the mines of Grimdolon? It seems he has found some sort of resource that gives him this power. We need to take seriously the magnitude of this threat."
"Have you talked to Jean-Luc about it?" Michael asked. Hearing the name of Jean-Luc, Hector shook his head in frustration.
"I talked to him briefly about it, but I thought it would be good for all of us to hear from him." This statement caught the other three by complete surprise. Belle held out her hand toward a far door, and they all turned to see Jean-Luc emerge from it. He tugged on the top of his red jacket to straighten it and then adjusted his glasses as he made his way to the table. He walked with a slight limp.
"Good morning, everyone," he said with a smile.
"How did you get out?" Hector said through gritted teeth. "Last I checked you were still a prisoner in this kingdom."
Belle held up her hand as she spoke, "Hector, please, I let him out. I want you to hear everything from him."
"No... no... I've waited long enough for this beast to bring us the Savage. I'm done with him. He's no longer going to lead me down a stupid rabbit hole."
"But let's give him a chance," Gideon said. "I want to hear what he has to say."
"Give him a chance? Gideon, do you remember why this beast was in our prison in the first place? Do you remember the dragon hunt, and how the princess was almost killed? I should have recommended this beast be killed as soon as I heard about him. This is preposterous."
"Hector, hear him out," Michael demanded.
"No, I've had it. You keep letting him lead you, but I'm finished with all of this." Hector abruptly turned and left the room. The three knights were sad to see him leave. Even though Hector lost control of his emotions on a regular basis, he was very intelligent and a well-equipped strategist in certain areas of battle. Belle thought about pleading with him to stay, but in the end she knew it would be in vain. He slammed the door hard behind him as he left.
The four sat in silence for a few moments before Jean-Luc spoke up, "Maybe he was just a little hungry. I sometimes get a little irritable when I haven't eaten anything in the morning."
"Beast, what do you know about this power the Savage possesses?" Michael asked, seemingly ignoring Jean-Luc's statement about Hector.
Jean-Luc ran his fingers through the bottom of his mane. He thought about how to exactly respond to Michael's question. He looked into Michael's eyes, wondering if he found anything in his research. He wondered how much Michael now knew. "Michael, it is not a question of what I think. I don't know if you would believe if I told you the truth."
"Jean-Luc, no more games," Gideon interrupted.
"Yes, I'm going to tell you honestly and clearly." Jean-Luc briefly looked over at Michael and saw him nod. He knew that Michael believed him. He continued, "I think you are actually asking the wrong question. I think instead of asking if he can turn people into beasts, I would instead be asking where he is going to use this supposed power."
"Where is that?" Gideon asked.
Jean-Luc leaned forward in his seat. "Think about it. How has he used this 'power' so far?"
"Criminals, thieves, those that are seeking to break the law."
"So listen to me, where is the next obvious place he will strike?"
Gideon's eyes got wide as he thought of the answer to the question, "The kingdom's prison east of the castle."
Jean-Luc nodded his head, "Precisely."
Michael rose to his feet, "We will leave at once. Belle, find Bernard. Gideon, get our weapons ready. We will catch this beast before he strikes."
<>
Jean-Luc stepped back into his cell as Belle closed the door behind him. He turned to face her, "Belle, I would advise you to reconsider. I do believe I can help you on this mission."
She brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I know... but I don't know how the townspeople would react if they saw you walking around freely. After the attack at the Winter Ball, some have suspicions that you were somehow connected."
"Belle," he looked at her sincerely. "Most know those rumors are improbable."
She nodded slightly. "I know, but I do think the best thing for our situation is to keep you here while the knights explore the prison."
Jean-Luc took a deep breath, giving up the fight. "I see... you're probably right. I'd hate to stir up any more suspicion."
The princess smiled back at the beast behind the bars of the cell. She was grateful that he understood. "Thanks for your help this morning. I'll come back right away and report to you what we find."
"I look forward to it," Jean-Luc said, returning the smile. He watched as Belle turned to leave the castle dungeon. He stepped closer to the bars to watch her ascend the steps, making sure she was out of sight.
Knowing he was alone, Jean-Luc slowly walked over to his bed and sat down. He looked around the dungeon one last time, double checking that he was alone. He heard no footsteps. He knew he was safe. Looking down at his left hand, he released his grip on the object he held. It was the key to his cell. He had stolen it from Belle when they were in the war room. He was thankful no one saw him take it.
He tried to think of his next move. I wonder how everything will play out, he thought to himself. Finality feels so close now. I cannot fail... no... I will not fail. He closed his eyes as he tried to settle his nerves.
<>
Belle, Michael, Gideon, and Bernard made their way to Mendolon's main prison. They were on horseback as Michael led the way. All were dressed in their respective armor. Mendolon was unique to other neighboring kingdoms in that they kept most of their prisoners away from the castle. King Sebastian had many people captured over time and wanted them staying away from the castle. The prison was located a few miles east of the castle. Gideon and Bernard especially knew the way well as they had recently taken the prisoners from the tunnels there. It could hold over two hundred men. At this point, it was well over half full. Most were common criminals, some were prisoners from other kingdoms, and others were sympathizers to the Savage.
Arriving at the prison structure, Michael jumped off his horse and quickly tied him to a tree. The other three knights followed suit. The prison was a cold, gray building that contained two hundred small cells for prisoners, along with a kitchen, and a few other miscellaneous storage rooms. In front a small wall established a courtyard for the prisoners where they were occasionally let out for exercise. The prison usually had ten soldiers on duty to guard it. One knight was assigned yearly to lead the soldiers who guarded it.
The four knights approached a soldier seated by the front gates of the wall. "Greetings," Michael said sternly. "We are here on official business of Mendolon, and we..." Michael stopped in his tracks. He noticed the soldier looked nervous with his hand on his sword. He was sweating and pale.
Michael dropped to one knee and was face to face with the guard. He spoke softly, but with conviction. "What is happening?" he asked the soldier.
He was young, probably no older than nineteen. He was breathing intensely. The soldier shook as he tried to speak, "H...He...H...He."
"Michael, what happened to him?" Belle asked, hungry for answers.
"Shh... relax," Michael urged the young man. "Can you tell us what's happening in there?"
"He ... he was here. He came last night with a band of followers. They clouded our vision. A band of beasts struck, killing most of our men." Belle, Gideon, and Bernard pulled their swords thinking the Savage was inside.
"You say... he was here."
The soldier nodded his head and spoke very quietly so the other three knights could not hear, "Yes, that's right. He left this morning with a few of his followers. They... They told me not to tell anyone what I saw. They threatened my family."
Michael continued, looking right into the man's eyes. "I'm going to need you to open those doors behind you."
The soldier shook his head, "But he said if I opened the door, he would kill me."
Michael turned briefly to look at the three knights behind him. He then turned back to face the young soldier, "What's your name?"
"Amis," he said, shaking.
"Amis, I'm going to send you away with the three behind me. They are going to make sure he doesn't come for you."
Belle, Gideon, and Bernard were confused by this last statement by Michael. He rose to his feet and turned to face them. "I'm going need you three to head back to the castle right away."
"What? We can't. Not if the Savage is in there," Gideon objected.
"Well, that's the problem. The Savage isn't in there."
"Then... who's in there?" Bernard asked.
"Just some of his followers and probably the released prisoners."
"How do you know this?" Belle questioned.
"By listening to what Amis just said. I'm thinking the Savage came and took over this prison last night. He wanted us to come here so he could enter the castle and attack. It's a diversion. You have to get back right away."
"What about you?" Belle asked urgently.
"I'll do my best to make sure these prisoners aren't released into the castle. I'll create a distraction so their eyes are focused on me. You, Gideon, and Bernard can face the Savage without fear of an army of his followers entering the castle."
Bernard quickly objected, "Don't even think about it. I'm staying with you, Michael. You can't do this alone."
"Bernard, after the attack on my house, I know what I'm up against. I'll be ready for anything..."
"It's out of the question. I'm coming with you."
Michael knew there was no sense arguing with Bernard at this point. Time was of the essence. "Ok... stay close to me, and do as I say." Michael turned back to Amis. "Open the door." He ordered the soldier.
Amis slowly got up from his post and approached a large lever on his left. Bernard walked over to help, realizing that the young soldier in his present condition would not have enough strength to pull it down.
As the doors began to open, Belle grabbed Michael's arm. He turned to face her. "Michael, are you sure you are ready for this? Are you sure you're completely healed?"
Michael looked down at Belle's hand on his forearm. "I'm ready, Belle, and I know this is what needs to be done."
"But... but," Belle objected, "What if there's too many of them?"
"There's no time. We have to act now."
Belle wasn't sure what to say. She had been anxious for her friend and partner to return to full strength. She didn't want anything to happen to him. "What if he's turned them all to beasts? What if you can't escape?"
Michael looked directly into her eyes, "If this is the price of freedom for the people of Mendolon, then I'm ready to pay it."
Belle knew there was no use going any further in the conversation. They had had to act fast. "Goodbye, Michael," she said, reaching up and embracing him. He put his arm around her, returning the embrace.
They released each other as the doors began to open. The hinges strained, making a loud groaning sound. Michael quickly ran back to his horse and grabbed a shield he brought with him. Gideon and Belle along with Amis ran to their horses and untied them before mounting. Belle pulled Amis onto her horse with her.
"Be careful," Michael said, giving one last note of caution. "I'm not sure what the Savage is exactly planning... be on your guard at all costs."
"We will, and you likewise," Gideon said, riding off on his horse. Belle followed close behind him. She looked over her shoulder and looked at Michael one last time before he was out of her sight.
"Bernard, are you ready?" Michael asked his fellow knight. Bernard nodded slightly as he pulled his sword. He felt his nerves beginning to take over.
The courtyard was quiet as Michael and Bernard walked through it. It was about thirty yards in length and width. It was empty. They heard or saw no one. The ground was barren as there wasn't much snow. It consisted of mud with a few patches of dead grass scattered on the ground. Michael held his shield with one hand and kept the other hand close to his belt of daggers. He was ready to pull one in an instant.
They approached the doors to the prison. There were two small wooden doors with gold rings for opening them. "Open up the doors," Michael said to Bernard.
"Ok," Bernard said with baited breath. Michael held up his shield and pulled a dagger as Bernard reached for the doors. Both men were startled as they heard growling behind them. They quickly turned and looked behind them. They could see no one, but they quickly realized that the courtyard was beginning to fill with a mist.
Michael turned to his fellow knight, "Bernard, it's me they want. I would advise you to head outside and barricade the doors. Be sure no one gets out."
"But... but..."
"Do it, Bernard!" Michael shouted. Bernard quickly left, not wanting to stick around any further.
Michael knew what would be coming soon. He faced it at his house, and he was ready for another fight. He felt fear beginning to creep in, but knew it had to be suppressed. He must not lose.
Chapter 16
The courtyard continued to fill with a heavy mist. Michael held his shield tightly, knowing his vision would soon be completely obstructed. He wondered what he would soon face. He heard the front gates shut and he knew Bernard had safely made it outside. The growls became louder and stronger. He knew a company of beasts were ready to attack.
He heard the sound of bow strings being pulled back. He dropped to one knee and completely hid behind his shield. Arrows began flying by the dozen. The shield clanked with every hit of an arrow. Michael caught sight of a few arrows flying over his head and to his side.
After a few seconds the arrows ceased. Michael stayed behind the shield a little longer just in case a few were still coming. The mist had totally encompassed him, and he had no visual perception of when the next attack was coming. He heard footsteps coming close. He peeked over the top of his shield. Without warning a beast grabbed the top of his shield. Michael pushed the beast off with all his might. He quickly grabbed a dagger off his belt and threw it in the direction of the beast. He heard the beast yell out in pain.
Suddenly another growl came from his left. He blindly threw another in the direction of the growl. As he heard that beast yell out in pain, he heard another beast on his right. He quickly drew his sword and swiped in the direction of the beast. Though he couldn't see where he struck, he knew he had made contact with his enemy.
He was then completely caught off guard by the beast in front pushing him into a wall. His back hit hard against the wall as his sword fell to the ground. The beast grabbed Michael around the neck and lifted him off the ground. Michael tried punching him in the stomach before feeling the handle of a dagger he had implanted. Michael grabbed the handle of the dagger and pushed it further into the beast. The beast screamed out in agony as he released Michael. Back on his feet, Michael spun around and kicked the beast in the face. The beast fell further into the mist, out of Michael's sight.
A few more beasts approached from his left and his right. He quickly threw daggers and braced himself for any further attack that might come his way. He wondered how long this would last. Will the mist ever clear up? he thought to himself. Were most of the prisoners turned into beasts? How many would he need to fight off?
Another beast approached him from the front. Michael quickly picked up his sword and engaged the beast. The beast grabbed the blade of his sword and then gave him a fierce head-butt. Michael took a step backwards, recovering from the hit. "No fear," he whispered to himself. He grabbed a dagger from his belt and stuck it in the beast, before pulling back his sword and taking a swipe. He wasn't sure where he hit the beast, but he knew he had done substantive damage.
He was caught off guard when he heard a familiar sound in the distance. It was the creaking of the gates. They were opening. He then heard another beast approaching on his right. He threw a dagger in that direction, hoping it would make contact. He thought of Bernard out front, I hope he's ready for what he may face.
Michael's mind quickly went back to the task at hand as he could hear beasts approaching from every direction. He whispered to himself, "Stay alert, Michael... no fear."
<>
Belle and Gideon arrived at the castle. They had dropped off Amis with a soldier who was guarding the markets. The princess ordered him to protect Amis whatever the cost. They made their way through the gates and into the castle's courtyard. Everything was quiet.
Looking to her left, Belle saw a castle guard lying on the ground, completely motionless. She knew the Savage had struck. "Quick, let's get inside." Belle and Gideon went straight through the castle's front door. They found the inside in disarray. Chairs were knocked over. Glass from broken windows was scattered about. It was obvious a fight had occurred.
Looking around the room, Belle found another wounded soldier lying on the ground. She ran to him and found that he was breathing and conscious. "Gideon," she called to her fellow knight. Gideon quickly joined her. They could tell instantly that he was hurt badly. Belle knelt down close to the man.
"What happened?" she asked urgently.
"The Savage came with a few men. They struck before we could realize what was going on," the man said, holding tightly to a wound on the right side of his chest. "They struck me first, and I decided to play dead. I knew we had no chance."
"How many were there?" Gideon asked.
"I guess he had about five men with him," the soldier winced in pain.
"Where is Hector?" Belle asked.
"He... he... was taken to the dungeon, along with another soldier."
Belle thought of Jean-Luc. She wondered if the Savage knew that he had helped rescue Michael from his hideout in the tunnels. The Savage somehow knew lots of information about the kingdom and the castle. He had to know at this point Jean-Luc was helping to find him. Belle quickly reached for her bow, fearing the worst. "Gideon, we must hurry. I fear what the Savage has already found."
<>
Bernard heard the gates begin to open. He quickly ran against the door and tried with all his might to keep it from opening. He pushed hard but quickly found that it was in vain. Backing up a few feet, he pulled his sword and held it firmly in one hand, his shield in the other. When the doors began to open a little more he could see a man, a prisoner, squeezing through.
"Stop, proceed no more!" Bernard shouted. The man took no notice of Bernard as he was seizing his opportunity for freedom.
As the man squeezed himself free, he ran from the gate toward Bernard. Bernard lifted his shield and hit the criminal in his upper body, knocking him to the ground. Bernard quickly realized that another man had come through the gates. "Stop!" Bernard yelled as the prisoner ran past him. He turned to see another man freeing himself from the gate. Bernard lifted his shield and struck that man in the head. He fell to the ground unconscious.
Bernard then pointed his sword at another man coming from the gates, but he quickly realized that it was in vain as men began to pour from the prison gates. He engaged a few more of the men before being knocked down by a large prisoner. He fell on his back and quickly rolled sideways to the edge of a wooded area. Fearing for his life, he jumped to his feet, ready to engage his attacker. He looked up and realized that the men weren't ready to fight. Freedom was their first priority.
As the last man ran past Bernard, he looked through the gates. He saw the misty fog in the courtyard. He looked closely as the fog was beginning to thin out. He could see Michael in the midst of it fighting off two beasts with his sword in hand. While he was watching, a beast grabbed Michael from behind and tried to choke him with his forearm. Without hesitation Michael flipped the beast over his shoulders and threw him into another beast in front of him. Michael then jumped back as two other beasts were approaching.
Bernard knew he had no time to waste. He quickly picked up his sword and gripped it firmly. Even though he was filled with fear, he knew he had to help his friend. "For Mendolon!" he yelled as he ran into the prison's courtyard. The mist was clearing even more. He could see the beasts attacking Michael. He slashed one on the back as he came near. Bernard turned to his left and fought with another beast.
The beasts were distracted by their new opponent. This gave Michael just enough time to gather himself and go on the offensive. Picking up his shield, he charged toward one beast and knocked him over with the force of the shield. As soon as the beast was on the ground, Michael delivered a forceful blow to his cheek bone. He could hear a loud crack.
Standing up, another beast approached him, trying punch him in his midsection. Michael blocked the punch and delivered his own jab to the beast's stomach. The beast hunched forward as Michael grabbed the back of his head and rammed it into his knee. The beast fell backward, but swiftly tried to get back on his feet. As the beast was looking up, he saw the right boot of Michael coming toward his head. The impact was significant and the beast fell to the ground unconscious.
Michael looked over to see the last beast holding Bernard against the ground as they fought. Bernard held the beast's arm back as the beast was trying to plunge a knife into his chest. Looking down, Michael saw the handle of a dagger protruding from a fallen beast. Michael quickly reached for the dagger, pulling it from the beast. He promptly threw it toward the beast's hand. His accuracy was flawless as it stuck through the beast's hand. He dropped the knife as he yelled out in pain. Bernard pushed the beast off himself and reached for his sword. The beast was at his mercy.
Bernard was about to strike when Michael yelled out, "Stop!" Bernard halted, but still held the beast at knife point.
Michael walked over to where Bernard was standing. Bernard breathed heavily as blood ran from his head. The beast was on his knees also breathing heavily. Without the mist, he looked much less intimidating. "I want to hear what he has to say," Michael said calmly.
The beast spat in his direction, "I'll never talk to you."
"Beast, I'm in no mood for mindless banter. Start talking now or I'll have Bernard run you through."
The beast snarled in return. "You would never dare, Michael de Bolbec," the beast said condescendingly. "I know who you are, Chief Knight of Mendolon. I know you would never hurt someone at your mercy."
Listening to the beast, Michael could tell there was something different about this beast. In the past he had met beasts from Grimdolon, and he could tell this one was altogether different.
Bernard held his sword closer to the throat of the beast. "Talk, Beast. Did he turn you into a beast too?" The beast looked at Bernard with a somewhat strange look in his eyes. He looked puzzled but somewhat intrigued at Bernard's question.
Michael looked closely at this beast. He could tell something strange was going on. He was curious as to what this beast knew. He turned away from the beast and Bernard, trying to gather his thoughts. He rubbed the back of his neck as he wondered what to do. What does this beast know? How can I make him talk? He paced back in the direction of his sword.
He reached down to pick up his weapon, when something caught his eye. It was the beast he had knocked to the ground and punched in the cheekbone. He remembered something peculiar in his scuffle with him. He walked over to the fallen beast in order to get a closer look. Instantly he could tell something was unusual with this beast. He stooped down to get a closer look.
"Michael, what are you doing?" Bernard called out.
A few seconds passed as Michael examined the beast. Bernard started to grow impatient, "Michael... what is it?"
"I'm... I'm not sure," Michael said examining the body closely. He reached out to touch the beast's face. Something's not right, he thought to himself.
<>
Belle and Gideon hid in the shadows as they made their way further through the castle. Their weapons were ready in case they were ambushed. They were heading in the direction of the dungeon. Gideon led the way as Belle covered him with her bow. They now stood before two large doors that led into the war room. Gideon pressed his ear against the door. He listened carefully.
"I hear a few men talking," he whispered.
"How many do you think?" Belle asked.
"Not sure. I'd say let's strike fast. If there's too many, let's retreat back through these doors."
Belle nodded in approval. She got her bow ready. Gideon stood in position and grabbed the door handle. Gideon counted slowly, making sure Belle was ready, "One... two... three!"
With great speed Gideon threw open the door as Belle stuck her bow inside. She let an arrow fly at the first man she saw. It penetrated his shoulder. There were five men in the room, and they all seemed caught off guard by what they saw. Without wasting any time, Belle grabbed another arrow and let it fly -- this time into one of the men's legs. He fell to the ground in pain.
A couple of the Savage's men dove behind some of the large wooden chairs, while another grabbed a shield and ran toward Gideon and Belle. His sword was pulled. Belle quickly dropped to the ground and swept his legs out from under him. The man fell to the ground, dropping his sword. Belle stooped down and delivered a hard hit with the handle of her sword. He was unconscious.
Gideon entered the room with his sword drawn. He started fighting the man with an arrow in his arm. The man proved to be no competition as his main fighting arm was injured. Gideon quickly knocked his sword out of his hands before running him through with his own sword.
Belle picked up the shield her opponent had dropped and ran to the other side of the table, looking for the men who hid from her arrows. She was looking to her left when one of the men jumped from her right side with a swipe of his sword. Belle jumped to the side as the sword cut into the large wood table in the center of the room. Belle quickly hit the man with the armor around her forearm. The man fell to the side as Gideon was coming forward to help. Gideon delivered another blow to the man's head, one that seemed to knock him out.
Turning and looking at the steps on the far end of the room, Belle could see a shadowy figure run up the stairwell. She knew it was the Savage. Curiously he had two cloth bags in his hands. She turned and saw Gideon with his back turned, fighting with the last of the Savage's men. She knew this was her chance to face the beast that had been terrorizing the land of Mendolon for too long. She gripped her sword tight as she ran toward the steps.
Belle knew these steps very well as they led to the tower of her bedroom. The Savage would be cornered and trapped once he reached the top. She ran as quickly as she could. The stairs were a little dark as only one of the torches was lit. She considered grabbing it, wondering if she could use it in fighting the Savage. Running past it, she figured it would be more of a liability in fighting him.
She reached the top of the steps and found her bedroom door open. She grabbed her bow along with an arrow and pointed it into the room. Belle slowly entered, knowing there was nowhere else for the beast to be. It was quiet. Looking around the room, she saw no one. It was empty. Taking another look, she did notice that her window was open. She wondered if maybe the Savage was scaling the outside of the tower.
The princess slowly made her way toward the window. Her breathing was heavy. She tried to steady her arm as she was shaking just a little. Fear began to set in. She brushed a few strands of hair out of her face as she proceeded. She wondered how far down the beast could have made it in such a short amount of time. A breeze blew in from the window as she arrived at it. She slowly peeked over the edge of her window sill and saw... no one. Where could he be? She thought to herself.
It was without warning that the room began to fill with a mist. Belle tried to run toward her door, but then heard it abruptly shut. She knew that it was too late. She could see that the Savage had been hiding above her in the rafters of her room. He was wearing a black cloak that covered his head and cast a shadow over his face. Before she could shoot an arrow, she saw him jump down into the mist. She lost sight of him. Her perception was diminished.
The Savage let out a heinous laugh as he began to speak, "Ha, ha, ha... You fell right into my trap, Your Highness. I was waiting for this moment. There is no more escape."
"What do you want?" Belle said with fear.
"Hmmm... I want madness in Mendolon. I want chaos. I want the power of fear."
Belle held out her sword. "Show yourself, Beast!" she shouted.
The mist began to clear just slightly as she heard the Savage speak, "As you wish, Your Majesty."
Belle looked around, trying to find him, wondering where he went. "Show yourself!" she shouted again.
It was then without warning that Belle felt a rope around her neck. The Savage was behind her pulling it tight. Belle dropped her bow and grabbed the rope with both hands, trying to give herself a little air. The Savage pulled tighter as he threatened her, "You are going to be my spectacle. The whole kingdom is going to see your death... ha, ha, ha... and they will never recover from the fear that will ensue."
The Savage began pulling her toward her window. She now knew why it was open. She kept trying to fight, but was quickly losing air. Belle dropped to her knees as everything started to become blurry. It was then in that moment that she thought she heard another voice coming from the doorway... the voice of Jean-Luc Pascal.
<>
Gideon entered the dungeon to find Hector imprisoned along with another knight. Both looked to be injured. "Hector," Gideon called out, approaching their cell. "Are you all right?"
"No, of course we're not all right. The Savage has taken over the castle." Hector said, irritated by the question.
"Yes, I know," Gideon responded, finding the right key to open the cell. "Belle and I defeated his men. They were stationed in the war room. They looked like they were planning... or waiting for reinforcements."
"Yes, you fool, the Savage has released the prisoners from the dungeon. They are coming for us. There is no time to lose. We have to seal the front gates. Where is the princess?"
"I'm not sure," Gideon responded. "I think she ran after the Savage while we were fighting."
"Cursed!" Hector snarled angrily, "Open these doors. We must act quickly."
The doors to the cell opened up. Hector and the knight briskly walked out of their cell. Grabbing the keys, Gideon ran further down the dungeon with the keys in his hands.
"Where are you going?" Hector yelled out.
"I'm getting Jean-Luc. I'm sure he can help us in this..." Gideon stopped mid-sentence as he stood in front of Jean-Luc's cell. He was surprised to find the doors open, and Jean-Luc gone.
Chapter 17
The Savage loosened his grip on Belle when he saw Jean-Luc. He clinched his teeth at the beast standing in the doorway. "You!" the Savage yelled out in disbelief.
"Release her!" Jean-Luc shouted.
"You're supposed to be injured," the Savage said angrily.
Jean-Luc held out a short blade he had taken from the war room. "Sorry to disappoint you," he said, sarcastically. "I knew you were watching us closely, so I figured I needed to fake an injury to get a step ahead of you." Jean-Luc took a step further into the room. "Now as I was saying... Release her immediately," he said firmly.
The Savage growled through his teeth before speaking, "You can't stop me, you Grimdolon filth. I know who you really are."
Jean-Luc held up his blade and took a step a closer to his enemy, trying to provoke him to a fight. The Savage laughed sinisterly from under his hood. He released Belle completely and pushed her to the ground. As she hit the ground hard, she let out a gasp of air. The world around her was still a blur. The Savage's attention was now fully on Jean-Luc Pascal. He methodically took off his hood to reveal his vicious complexion. He was by no means a typical beast from Grimdolon. He looked to be some type of werewolf with ferocious razor sharp teeth. His eyes were a strong red color that couldn't be missed. The very sight of him had struck fear in the hearts of the people of Mendolon. Jean-Luc, on the other hand, was not intimidated by what he saw.
The Savage had a long thin blade of his own that he quickly unsheathed. As he walked toward Jean-Luc he spoke menacingly, "This is going to bring me great pleasure putting an end to you."
Jean-Luc braced for an attack, trying to predict his enemy's first move. The Savage quickly sprang toward Jean-Luc, swiping his blade downward. Jean-Luc held up his own blade to block the attack. The Savage then pulled back and quickly took another swipe. Jean-Luc blocked again before moving against the wall. The Savage pointed his blade forward in order to run him through. Jean-Luc quickly rolled off the wall and unto the floor. The Savage turned and took a swipe downward. Jean-Luc swiftly blocked again.
Jean-Luc tightly held his blade as the Savage continued to push down hard against his blade. Jean-Luc groaned as he held his blade. He knew he had to do something quickly. The Savage was overpowering him. In one quick motion he moved his head out of the path of the Savage's sword and released his own blade. The Savage's sword hit hard against the ground. With all his strength Jean-Luc delivered a punch directly into the left eye area of the Savage. The Savage reared back, somewhat stunned from the blow.
Knowing this was his chance to attack, Jean-Luc pushed his enemy off and rolled to deliver another punch. The Savage blocked Jean-Luc's punch, catching it in the palm of his hand. The Savage then delivered a malicious head butt to Jean-Luc. He fell back a little before the Savage delivered a quick punch to his cheekbone. "Aww!" Jean-Luc screamed out.
The Savage quickly jumped on top of Jean-Luc and delivered another blow to the other side of his head. He reared back again to deliver another punch, but Jean-Luc blocked it before it landed. Jean-Luc didn't have time to react before the Savage delivered another punch with his other fist. The Savage was now moving at great speed and was determined not to let go of Jean-Luc before he was lifeless.
Belle was starting to regain her bearings just a little. Her head hurt severely from the lack of oxygen. She could see the two beasts fighting, and Jean-Luc was on the defensive. With the little bit of strength she had, she removed the rope around her neck. She breathed heavily. "Jean-Luc... Jean-Luc," she mumbled, afraid for her friend. She wondered if this would be the last time she would see him.
<>
Michael and Bernard raced on horseback back toward the castle. They knew they had to move quickly. They figured out that many of the released prisoners were on their way to the castle to assist the Savage. Being just a few hundred yards away from the castle, they started to pass many of the prisoners who were running toward the castle. Some they even knocked down as they passed by. "Careful, Bernard!" Michael yelled as a prisoner fell into the path of Bernard's horse. Bernard moved to the side of the road as he raced past.
Seeing a group of prisoners blocking their path, Michael shouted back at Bernard, "Follow me." He quickly turned off the road and took a path north of the castle, going uphill.
"Where are we going?" Bernard shouted back.
"I'm going to cut through the forest, close to where Belle trains."
"Are you sure that will give us enough time before the prisoners reach the castle?"
Michael took a deep breath, hoping his timing was correct. "I guess we'll have to see."
The men raced through the forest as fast as their horses could go. They jumped over fallen logs and ducked under low branches. Bernard was starting to feel a little sick from the rough journey. He had always been prone to motion sickness. Michael remained focused as he knew another fight would ensue when they reached the gate. Out of habit, he found himself checking his daggers. Unfortunately, his belt was empty as he had used all of them on the beasts at the prison. He knew he would be relying solely on his sword in this upcoming fight.
They continued past Belle's training area. Bernard thought about his time training with Belle. He hoped the princess was ok. He was curious as to how she and Gideon were faring inside the castle. After their fight at the prison, he wondered what type of trickery the Savage might be employing. He wouldn't put anything past their enemy at this point.
The castle came into view and the knights could see about a dozen prisoners coming within a few feet of the open gate. Being uphill from the gates, Michael quickly sped down toward it. A couple of the prisoners saw Michael coming toward them and dispersed, not wanting to risk a fight with him.
Reaching the men, Michael jumped off his horse and onto a man, tackling him to the ground. With great speed he leapt back onto his feet. Another prisoner was just past him, entering the gates. Michael grabbed him by the back of his shirt collar and pulled him out of the gates and onto the ground. Another prisoner took a swing at him. He easily dodged the punch before delivering a fierce punch straight to the man's nose. The prisoner clumsily fell to the ground.
A few of the other prisoners approached Michael ready for the fight. Michael pulled his sword and held it out to the men. They all stopped in their tracks, knowing Michael's ability with the sword. Half of the men had previously been captured by him. It was at that time that Bernard arrived, quickly dismounted his horse, and ran to Michael's side.
"What's our plan, Captain?" Bernard asked nervously.
"No fear," Michael answered back, not taking his eyes off the men.
The prisoners began to form a semicircle around the two knights. They had no weapons. Michael figured they were going to try to lead him away from the gate in order to get the others into the castle. He knew he had to keep the men out, no matter what. "I'm sorry, men, but the only way you're getting into the castle is through me," Michael said, undeterred.
The men began to step closer to the two knights. Michael clinched his sword tightly as he looked into the eyes of his attackers. He hoped Bernard would be fine in the midst of this fight.
The prisoners were just a few feet away when Michael heard a loud creaking sound. He glanced behind him to see the doors of gates closing behind him. He looked back at the prisoners and saw they were a little confused. A few rushed toward Michael and Bernard. Michael quickly delivered a fierce kick to the face of one of the prisoners. The man spun and fell to the ground. Michael gathered his bearing and in an instant held up his sword to the next prisoner approaching him. The man stopped instantly. Michael could see the man eyeing the closing gates of the castle. "Don't even think about it," Michael whispered to him.
The creaking of the gates quieted down as the doors shut. The remaining prisoners looked in despair, knowing they were too late. They all looked at each other, wondering what to do next. The man with Michael's sword by his neck began to slowly step back. Michael and Bernard held steady as they wondered what would happen.
It was without warning that one by one the men began to run away from the two knights. They ran in different directions, knowing they had to escape before being put back into prison. Bernard began running toward them. Michael reached out and grabbed his arm. "No, Bernard," he said calmly.
"But I think we can catch a few before they get too far," he said, trying to pull away from Michael's grip.
"Our first priority is the security of those in the castle. Belle and Gideon may be..."
"Michael!" A voice called out from on top of the wall.
He was happy to see Gideon at the top. "Gideon! What's going on inside?"
"You were right. The Savage is here. Belle and I defeated a number of his men. I found Hector imprisoned in the dungeon."
Michael was happy to hear a little bit of good news. He was curious for more information. "What of Belle?"
Gideon shook his head, "I'm not sure. I lost her sometime in the fight with the Savage's men. I think she went after him. Hector's looking for her now."
Michael took a deep breath, hoping the princess was okay. He feared for her life.
<>
The Savage continued to strike Jean-Luc as hard as he could. Occasionally Jean-Luc could block one of the punches, but the Savage was relentless. The blows kept coming. Blood ran from Jean-Luc's head as it soaked his fur. The Savage growled as he delivered each punch.
As he began to grow a little tired, he let up from his punches and grabbed Jean-Luc's neck and squeezed it tightly. "You thought you could stop me, Jean-Luc." The Savage snarled as he spoke. "You gave up so much, and now you will die in this forsaken tower." Jean-Luc grabbed the Savage's hands and pulled them away just slightly, giving himself a little bit of air. The Savage grabbed the collar of his red coat and quickly pulled his upper body up and slammed him back down against the floor. His head hit hard.
The world went blurry to Jean-Luc. His strength was giving out. The Savage patiently stood to his feet and delivered a kick to his midsection. He looked to his right a few feet and caught sight of his sword that he dropped earlier in the fight. He smiled as he walked calmly to the spot and picked it up. He was ready to put an end to Jean-Luc.
Belle could see everything transpiring in front of her. She tried to pick herself up, but found she had not fully recovered. She knew that any attempt to fight with the Savage would be in vain. Trying to think of something quick, she looked over to see her bow lying on the ground. She wondered if she had enough strength to fire an arrow. Reaching for it, she picked it up and notched an arrow in the bow string. She slowly rose to her knees.
Jean-Luc looked over at Belle and saw what was transpiring. He knew that any arrow shot would not penetrate deep into the Savage's flesh. Desperately he looked around the room for any solution to defeating the Savage. As the Savage was getting close to Jean-Luc, he spotted something curious beside Belle. It was a cloth bag about a foot in diameter. It looked to be completely filled. Jean-Luc knew it belonged to the Savage, and he knew what was in it. He quickly thought of a plan.
The Savage was now standing over Jean-Luc with his sword in hand. He held it high with the blade pointed down. Jean-Luc knew he had to act fast. He quickly yelled out toward Belle, "Belle, stab the bag with the arrow!" The Savage was caught off guard by Jean-Luc's statement. He looked toward Belle and could see she was right beside his cloth bag.
It took Belle just a moment to process what was occurring. She looked to her side to see the bag lying beside her. "No!" The Savage yelled out. Belle quickly stuck her arrow into the bag and pulled it out. A small hole formed in the bag, and a white powder slowly trickled from it.
Seeing the Savage was distracted, Jean-Luc lifted his foot and kicked the Savage in the stomach. He fell back a few feet, still not taking his eyes off of Belle. "Shoot him, Belle!" Jean-Luc yelled out urgently.
Belle pulled back on the bow string and aimed her arrow. "No... don't do it!" the Savage yelled out, pleading.
Not persuaded by the Savage's plea, Belle released the arrow. It swiftly flew through the air and penetrated the Savage's left thigh. He fell to his knees and screamed out in horror.
Jean-Luc rose to his feet as the Savage moaned and groaned in pain. He grabbed at the arrow and pulled it out. He fell to the ground and started grabbing at his head. His mind seemed to be in agony. Jean-Luc slowly walked over to where he was struggling. He reached down and pulled him up, grabbing something on his head and pulling hard. Jean-Luc then threw him back onto the ground, where he continued to scream.
Belle looked at the decrepit figure on the ground and saw the body of the Savage... but with the face of a man. She looked back up at Jean-Luc a little confused at what was transpiring. He then threw a mask down on the ground close to where the man was struggling. Looking closely at the man, Belle could see that it was the thief that approached her at the Winter Ball.
Taking a deep breath, Jean-Luc spoke confidently, "There never was a Savage... just cheap tricks and manipulation."
"Aww!" The thief groaned as he grabbed at his head.
Jean-Luc continued, "The mist that he used was made from a strong hallucinogenic powder found in the mines of Grimdolon. The same powder that just entered his blood stream." Belle looked over at the cloth bag again to see a little bit of powder coming from the hole in it.
Jean-Luc brushed dust off his clothes as he continued, "I caught a hint of the powder's taste at Michael's house after the attack. Then after examining the cluster of boar's hair on the door frame, I knew that he was altering our perception even more than I first realized. I knew that the fur was not from an authentic Grimdolon beast."
"Help me!" the struggling man yelled out.
Jean-Luc now directed his speech toward their enemy, "The capture of Remy threw me off a little but I quickly realized that he was the only true beast working for you. He was simply brought along as a decoy that could later be disposed of. At the Winter Ball it was even more apparent that you only had hired criminals and thieves, not beasts. The beasts were only the product of hallucinations and these foolish masks." Jean-Luc took a step closer to his enemy before continuing, "The masks your men wore helped to exaggerate the fear in people's minds while also providing protection from the hallucinations." Belle couldn't believe what she was hearing. She didn't know what to think or feel. It was all truly mind boggling.
Jean-Luc cleared his throat as he spoke further, "Now, Dominique, it is great to see you as you truly are. I heard rumors about you in Grimdolon and your plans to prey on the fears of others. I just never figured that you were actually a man."
Dominique Delano rose to his feet. His eyes watered as he pulled his hair and shook from the pain of the substance in his body. Jean-Luc calmly took a step closer to the struggling man. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Dominique, but I am no hallucination. I am truly real... not simply a product of perception."
It was then that Jean-Luc took another step toward Dominique and let out the fiercest growl he could. Dominique screamed in fear as the substance in his body was exaggerating everything. He grabbed his ears and stumbled backward, tripping over his own feet. Seeing him trip, Belle reached out to grab him... but it was too late. Dominique fell backwards out of the open window of the tower. He screamed in terror as he fell.
After standing in silence for just a moment, Jean-Luc ran to the window. He looked forty feet down to the ground and saw Mendolon's enemy lying at the bottom of the tower, not moving. It was almost as if he couldn't believe his eyes. For the past six months he had been following clues, looking for answers in the search for this madman, and now it was all complete. The Savage was truly defeated.
He now directed his attention completely to Belle. He slowly walked over to where she was resting. She sat with her head against the wall, still trying to regain her composure. Jean-Luc simply sat down beside her and put his arm around her to comfort her. She rested her head on his shoulder as she was completely exhausted. "Is he gone?" she asked, closing her eyes.
Jean-Luc simply nodded his head before speaking softly, "Yes... he is gone... he is gone."
They both felt like a weight had been lifted off of their shoulders. The Savage had consumed their attention for the last six months and now he was gone. Belle nearly fell asleep, resting on Jean-Luc's shoulder. Feeling a sense of compassion and sympathy for the princess, he gently stroked her soft brown hair. He knew that the others should be informed of the Savage's demise as soon as possible... but for right now he was content to just sit with Belle.
Chapter 18
Belle walked the markets of Mendolon. It was late in the evening. The sun had set a half hour ago. The markets were filled with children laughing, music playing, and the vast purchasing of foods and gifts. The citizens of the kingdom rejoiced in their newfound freedom. Belle took great pleasure in this sight.
A week had passed since Dominique Delano fell from the tower and any fear of the Savage was completely eradicated. Word spread quickly as people soon discovered that the Savage was simply an elaborate scheme from a madman. Any following he had was dispersed. Many of his men along with the escaped prisoners were either hiding throughout the kingdom or trying to escape to distant lands. Many of the knights were commissioned with the task of tracking them down and bringing them back into custody. So far about a third of them had been recaptured.
A group of young girls ran toward Belle, excited to see their princess. The youngest was in front and couldn't have been more than six years old. Approaching Belle, the young girl held up a purple flower for the princess. Belle smiled as she took the flower. It was obviously an artificial imitation as a real flower at this time of the year would have been an expensive gift.
"Thank you so much," Belle said as cheerfully as she could.
The group of girls stood silent and smiled as they were a little too shy to speak at the moment. Belle held the flower up to her nose and pretended to smell it. "Mmm... smells wonderful," Belle said, trying to the make the girls laugh. They giggled slightly at the princess's humor.
Belle then stuck the flower in her hair to show her appreciation. The girls smiled broadly at Belle's gesture. She continued, "Be safe, girls, and again, thank you for the flower."
"Goodbye," the oldest girl said. Each of the girls gave the princess a hug before turning and running back to their parents. Belle appreciated these little moments, and more than ever was thankful that there was peace and safety in Mendolon.
Belle continued to walk the streets as it was starting to get late. She greatly enjoyed the music and the scenery, but her mind kept going back to her castle. She thought of her friend, Jean-Luc Pascal, still locked away deep in the dungeon. She had visited him every day since the fight with Dominique Delano. He had sustained a few injuries in the fight, but was quickly recovering. Belle, Michael, and Gideon had made sure the townspeople knew that a beast from Grimdolon named Jean-Luc was instrumental in defeating the Savage. This helped to greatly lessen any animosity the people of Mendolon had toward Grimdolon to the east.
Belle had hoped Jean-Luc would have been easily released after assisting the knights in defeating the Savage. She felt this was an easy decision and should have happened right away. Unfortunately, Hector was adamantly against it. King Sebastian had not yet arrived back in Mendolon, and Hector wanted to wait for an official word from the king before this prisoner was released. Belle felt this was a great injustice. After all Jean-Luc had done, she thought he should be rewarded, not imprisoned.
The princess looked back at her castle. She felt sadness for her friend sitting all alone in the prison while the people of Mendolon rejoiced and found rest in their freedom. She knew she had to do something. Belle cared for him greatly. He deserved better than this.
<>
Jean-Luc sat in his cell trying to read a book under lantern light. It was approaching midnight. He found sleep difficult these days as he was greatly distracted amidst everything that had happened. He was thankful Dominque Delano was defeated, but was disappointed in himself that he hadn't stopped him earlier. He wished he would have put some of the clues together sooner, and maybe prevented some of the chaos and loss of life that had ensued.
The beast put down his book and took off his glasses. He rubbed the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. He had lived in this cell close to nine months and he had become comfortable in it. He was confident he would be freed soon. He just hoped it would be sooner rather than later. Hopefully by then his last objective could be accomplished. He had no doubt he was on the right path. Things seemed to be going as planned, he just hoped...
Jean-Luc's thoughts were broken as he heard footsteps coming down the steps. He had heard this sound enough to know exactly who it was. He quickly stood to his feet and put on his red coat. He couldn't help but smile as he realized everything was coming together.
The princess of Mendolon came into view. She was dressed in her princess armor and seemed to be in a hurry. "Good evening, Belle. This is a pleasure to see you as it is quite late."
She didn't make eye contact with Jean-Luc, but rather was focused on unlocking the door to his cell. "I'm setting you free, Jean-Luc."
"Your Majesty... are you sure you want to do this? Surely your father hasn't approved this yet."
"I don't care what my father says," Belle said as she opened the door. "It's not right for you to be locked away in this dungeon. Not after all you've done for us."
"But they will know you set me free," Jean-Luc said as he stepped out of his cell.
"Let them do as they will. Come! Follow me. Many of the knights and soldiers are watching the southern routes as the prisoners are trying to escape from Mendolon. We must take the northern road just north of Dragon Waste. We must hurry."
Belle led Jean-Luc out of the castle. Two horses were waiting for them outside the castle gates. Jean-Luc quickly mounted and then turned to Belle behind him. "Belle, you'll have to lead me through these roads. I don't know them well."
Belle grabbed her saddle and quickly mounted. They galloped away under nightfall.
<>
Jean-Luc and Belle rode swiftly into the night. More than two hours passed as they rode over hills and through small valleys. Their horses kept up a steady speed as they continued east. They saw no one as they rode under the cover of darkness. At times Belle had to stop and recollect on which trail to take. She was thankful for the occasional trail sign that helped direct them.
Jean-Luc followed closely behind Belle. The wind blew gently against his face as he rode. It refreshed and awakened him. He was constantly examining the terrain as he rode, trying to get his bearings. The scenery was gorgeous. He hadn't seen much of the outside world the last nine months and now he now found himself more than ever enjoying the scenery. Occasionally Belle would point ahead, instructing him on which direction they were going.
As the border of Grimdolon got close, Jean-Luc's horse passed Belle's. He sped ahead. Belle followed suit. She wondered what was going on. It was then without warning that Jean-Luc turned off to his right on a thin trail Belle could hardly see. They ascended steadily. The horses slowed their pace as they continued to elevate.
They reached the top of a large hill and Jean-Luc's horse came to a stop. He quickly dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby tree. Belle was confused by the ordeal, "Jean-Luc, what are you doing? We're almost over the border."
"I want to show you something, Belle," he said quietly. Belle was a little confused as she dismounted and walked her horse over to a nearby tree opposite to where Jean-Luc was standing.
As she walked over to where Jean-Luc was standing, she took notice of her surroundings. She could see clearly as it was a beautiful night with the stars shining brightly. They were on a grassy plain on the top of this hill. There was a lone apple tree close to Jean-Luc. She could see he was overlooking the kingdom of Grimdolon in the distance. The castle could easily be seen as lights shone out from it. Only a few other lights could be seen as most of the citizens of the land were sleeping.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Jean-Luc said as Belle came close to him.
It took Belle a moment to process what he said. She was still a little confused by this whole ordeal. She gazed across the whole landscape... Jean-Luc was right. It truly was beautiful. Grimdolon looked like such a peaceful, quiet kingdom. The tranquility of it made Belle herself feel at peace. She spoke softly, "Yes, it is, Jean-Luc. It looks wonderful. The castle especially looks magnificent."
One of the branches of the apple tree hung just over Jean-Luc's head. Without much effort he reached up and picked the lowest hanging apple. He turned to her and spoke with nostalgia in his voice, "This is the only Grimdolon apple tree west of the kingdom. I used to come here as a boy with friends and pick apples. My father would, of course, reprimand me severely for coming into this territory."
"How are they able to still grow through the wintertime?" Belle asked curiously.
"They are unlike other fruit as their thick skin causes them to survive nearly all temperatures." Jean-Luc gently tossed the apple in his hand. He smiled briefly, recollecting on the memories he had of coming to this spot and collecting apples. He was happy to be coming home.
It was in that moment that Belle realized that everything was coming to a close. It seemed so sudden. She and Jean-Luc had developed a deep friendship over these last few weeks. They had worked together so closely in trying to catch Dominque Delano and now everything was over. Jean-Luc would leave and she wondered if she'd ever see him again. She was saddened by the thought of it all. She wasn't ready for it to be over.
They stood in silence for a few moments before Jean-Luc turned to her. His thoughts were similar to Belle's. He knew this couldn't be the end. He spoke quietly, "Come with me."
"What?" she said, turning to face him.
"Come with me, Belle. Come see Grimdolon. I want you to see the people, and I want them to see you. Stories and legends of your beauty and virtue have reached our people. I want them to know that the stories were only half the truth."
"Jean-Luc... I... I can't. I must get back before anyone knows we're gone, and..."
"Belle, most likely everyone already knows we're gone. Hector has spies watching the castle just in case any of the escaped prisoners try to attack it. I would imagine they are already looking for us." He paused just a moment before continuing, "Please, Belle, consider what I'm saying. Come with me."
Belle looked down at her feet. She was unsure as to what she should say exactly. She had never been to Grimdolon and the thought of seeing the kingdom resonated in her heart with wonder. She also knew there would be repercussions if her father ever found out she had explored Grimdolon with Jean-Luc. She wished time could stand still.
Looking deeply into Jean-Luc's eyes, she grabbed his hands as she spoke, "Jean-Luc, these last few weeks have been wonderful with you, and..."
"Just say yes," Jean-Luc pleaded.
"I've enjoyed all our times together, and dancing with you at the ball was wonderful. You have truly been a gentleman, far more than I could ask." She paused briefly as she looked out on the kingdom. She smiled as she looked back at Jean-Luc. She had made her decision, "I would love to see Grimdolon with you."
Jean-Luc smiled back. He felt as if all the world was right in that moment. He gently squeezed Belle's hands as he looked deeply into her eyes.
They were suddenly startled by the galloping of horses' hooves. Jean-Luc turned to see Hector leading a brigade of a dozen soldiers on horseback up the hill. Bernard was also with them. The men came close to where they were standing. Belle could see the disappointment in Jean-Luc's face. He was too late.
"There he is!" shouted Hector. "Lock him up."
"Hector, you sure know how to spoil a moment," Jean-Luc said, disappointed.
"Shut up, Beast! We were on to you right away. You ought to know better than trying to trick me by having the princess release you."
"Well, I do believe the princess can make her own decisions."
A couple of soldiers began to approach Jean-Luc. He stepped aside from Belle and shot her a quick smile. Turning back to the men and before anyone could react, Jean-Luc quickly reached for one of the men's swords and unsheathed it. He spun around and held it out in a defensive position toward all the others. Hector's men quickly drew their swords.
"Stop!" Belle yelled, trying to calm the whole situation. "It doesn't have to be like this."
Everyone stood in silence for a few moments before Jean-Luc held up the apple he had picked from the tree. He showed it to the soldiers as he was speaking, "Honestly, it is a long ride back to the castle." He began peeling his apple with the sword. "I figured I ought to peel the skin off this apple. The skin can be most unappealing."
"Enough of this," Hector shouted, "Bernard, get the sword, chain him up."
Bernard stepped forward among the crowd of men. "But sir, don't you think we ought to at least hear what..."
"I said lock him up," Hector said, hissing as he spoke.
"Bernard, you don't have to do this," Belle said, stepping close to Hector, trying to take command.
"Princess, these men listen to me," Hector said, pointing his index finger in her face. "You know the king would not let this beast go free."
Belle put her hand on the hilt of her sword. More than ever she felt like pulling it and challenging Hector. Anger was building in her. She gripped tight on the hilt of her sword.
"I wish you would," Hector said, challenging her.
"Everyone... I believe I'm ready to go," Jean-Luc announced to the crowd, interrupting Belle and Hector's conversation. He walked past the soldiers who first approached him and gently tossed the sword at their feet. He took a bite of his apple.
Belle ran to him, "No, I won't let you go back to that dungeon. You don't deserve this. I want to go with you. I want to see your kingdom."
Jean-Luc turned to face her. He smiled as he spoke to her sincerely, "Belle... it's all right. I don't want to see anything happen to you. I just want to tell you..."
"I said lock him up!" Hector shouted again, pushing a couple of soldiers toward the beast. Jean-Luc didn't put up a fight as the men tied his arms behind his back. The men then pulled him toward a carriage that they had brought. Jean-Luc was then ushered into it and the door was shut behind him.
Upon hearing the door shut, Belle lost control of her emotions. "No, you can't do this. I won't let you do this." She pulled her sword from her side and approached Hector. She was only able to take a few steps when her sword was knocked out of her hand and unto the ground. A couple of soldiers quickly grabbed her arms, restraining her. "No, you can't do this, Hector. I order you to release him. Your authority doesn't matter. You're being a coward."
Hector turned to face Belle. His black hair covered his face. He gritted his teeth in anger. He was tired of this young princess questioning his authority. He was going to show her who was in control. "Lock her up!" he shouted to his men.
"What?" they said, confused.
"I said, lock her up!"
The soldiers stood frozen in silence, not sure what to do. After a moment in silence, one of them spoke up, "But... she's the princess. We can't lock her up."
"I said do it... and do it now!" Hector said with fury.
With great hesitation the men took Belle and slowly walked toward the carriage. The door was open and Belle was placed inside beside Jean-Luc. Upon seeing him, she started crying ever so slightly.
"Well... it is great to see you, Belle, but I must admit I thought our hillside view was a much better place to spend time together."
Belle couldn't help but laugh a little at the irony of Jean-Luc's humor. She loved how he could keep his wit in any situation. She looked into his eyes as she spoke, "Jean-Luc, I'm so sorry this happened. After all you've done for us, all I wanted was to see you freed."
Jean-Luc started to feel the tears form in his eyes. "Thank you, Belle. In all honesty, right now I'm just thankful to have this time with you. I've cherished every moment we've spent together." He paused just briefly before speaking to her again with great sincerity. "I love you, Belle. I truly do. Your kindness and beauty far exceed any of the legends told about you. I'm thankful I got to have you in my life, even if it seemed like it was just for a moment."
Belle rubbed his mane as she looked into his eyes. The tears were falling from her eyes. She slowly leaned forward and laid her forehead on his shoulder before speaking ever so quietly, "I love you too."
Jean-Luc simply leaned forward and kissed her forehead. He was thankful for this moment.
<>
Michael walked out of the gates of the castle as Hector and his men came riding back to the castle. It was early in the morning. The carriage was in the midst of the company. Seeing Hector, Michael walked straight toward him. "Hector, what is the meaning of this late night escapade?"
Hector stopped his horse and abruptly climbed off, "The beast, Jean-Luc, was caught escaping our kingdom along with the princess, who was committing high treason."
"You can't be serious? You have Belle locked up?"
Hector spoke calmly as he took a step closer to Michael, "Any traitor to the kingdom is a traitor to the king himself, even if it happens to be the king's daughter."
"You have really overstepped your authority this time. You can't arrest Mendolon's princess," Michael said, clearly angry.
Hector gave a mischievous smile as he walked close to the carriage and opened the door. He did not take his eyes off of Michael as two soldiers came and pulled Belle and Jean-Luc from the carriage. Jean-Luc was still in chains. "Don't tell me what I can't do," Hector said directly to Michael.
Bernard emerged from the group and walked to where Michael was standing. "I'm sorry, Michael. I didn't want any part of this. He was determined to capture Jean-Luc, no matter what."
"It's ok, Bernard. I won't let him get away with this."
At that time Gideon stepped through the gates with a small company of knights. A few were carrying torches to light the way. Gideon was rubbing the edges of his mustache, a clear sign of his anxiety. "Hector!" he called out as he approached the group. "My men will take it from here. We have installed chains on the wall of one of the cells. He won't be able to escape this time."
"Gideon!" Michael objected.
"I'm sorry, Michael. He is a fugitive of the kingdom. We cannot take his crimes lightly." The knights grabbed Jean-Luc and Belle and started walking them through the gates toward the castle. Gideon and Bernard's eyes met briefly. Gideon nodded his head briefly. Bernard quickly realized a plan was in motion.
Hector laughed as he walked past Bernard and Michael. The hissing in his voice was obvious as he spoke, "It looks like you've lost this time, Michael de Bolbec. Eventually, you too will do my bidding."
Michael watched as Hector with the soldiers at his side marched through the gates of the outer wall. Michael whispered to Bernard, "We've got to keep him out of the castle." He knew he had to do something quickly. Trying to stop him, he shouted in Hector's direction, "You know something, Hector..." Michael quickly searched for the right words to say, "You're nothing but a coward. That's what you are today and that's all you will ever be." Hector stopped in his tracks and turned to face Michael. He gave him a sinister look as he looked directly at Michael. His anger was rising within him.
Bernard wasn't sure what to do in that moment, but he knew he needed to help Michael keep Hector out of the castle. Not knowing what to say, he spoke up, "And Hector, you... you... you smell bad too." Michael turned to face Bernard, somewhat confused. Looking back at Michael, he simply shrugged his shoulders, hoping that would suffice for any explanation.
Hector pulled on his hair in utter frustration. "That's it!" he yelled as he ran to where Bernard was standing. He tried to reach for Bernard with his long nails. Michael along with the soldiers quickly got between the two men in order to keep them separated. Chaos ensued as Hector was viciously trying to attack Bernard. No swords were pulled, but a few bruises did occur as Hector was trying everything to get to Bernard.
As the scuffle was transpiring outside, Gideon, along with a company of knights, led Jean-Luc and Belle toward the castle dungeon. They already had Jean-Luc's chains off him. "Hurry, we don't have much time," Gideon said as they walked briskly through the castle.
"Gideon, what is going on?" Belle said, confused.
"We can pass Jean-Luc through the castle's port tunnel and toward the sea. There we have a small boat waiting for him, that is, if he knows how to sail."
"I do," Jean-Luc said affirmatively.
"Excellent! We will chain up the beast, Remy, in place of Jean-Luc. It should throw off Hector for a few hours, maybe even a day or two. Jean-Luc, we will need your coat to put on him. If you don't mind parting with it?"
"Gladly," Jean-Luc said, taking off his red coat that he had worn for so long.
"Belle, we will need you to head to your tower where you will need to stay for a few days. For now, it may be the best thing we can do to keep you out of the dungeon."
Belle tried to think of the right words to object to the plan. Just a few hours ago she was dreaming of seeing Grimdolon with Jean-Luc. She wanted to be with him. She didn't want this to be goodbye. Truly, she thought, this cannot be the end. It was all happening so fast.
Gideon continued, "We must hurry. Knights, escort Jean-Luc out at once. We do not want to be discovered."
"This way," one of the knights instructed as they started to walk away.
"Wait!" Belle yelled out. She quickly ran to where Jean-Luc was standing and threw her arms around him. She held him tight. His arms closed around her. She closed her eyes as she placed her head on his shoulder. The tears began to well up in her eyes. She ran her fingers through his hair. She wasn't sure what else to do or say.
After a few moments Jean-Luc pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Goodbye, Belle," he said softly.
Belle squeezed his hand for as long as she could as he stepped away from her. She watched as he turned and walked down a long hallway, and then eventually out of sight.
Chapter 19
Belle stood looking out the window in her room. It was a beautiful day in Mendolon. The sun was shining bright, and the snow was starting to melt. Belle was dressed in her signature purple and white princess dress. She thought about leaving the tower and venturing out into the markets. She could see them in the distance. With her windows open she could faintly hear the sounds of people buying and selling goods.
Three weeks had passed since Jean-Luc departed from her. She missed him greatly. It only took one day for Hector to discover that Jean-Luc had left. He was very upset for a while but a small part of him was actually relieved that Jean-Luc was gone for good from the castle. King Sebastian had still not returned from the north, but when he did Hector planned on keeping Jean-Luc's escape a secret from him for as long as he could. He knew the king would be most displeased finding out Jean-Luc was imprisoned and then escaped. Belle was thankful that Hector didn't try to go after him. She was somewhat comforted knowing that he had most likely made it home safely.
Belle closed her eyes and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. Her afternoon fatigue was starting to take over. Sleep had been difficult these last few nights. Her dream was back and it seemed to becoming more and more clear every night. It would still awaken her suddenly during the night. Strangely, she was starting to find it comforting. It was like a faithful friend that was with her, no matter what the circumstance may be.
The princess walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. She wondered if she should take a short nap before heading out into the markets. Her mind was saddened by the thought, knowing that the last time she was in the markets was the day she set Jean-Luc free and tried to help him escape to Grimdolon. How she wished he was still within the castle, waiting for her in the dungeon. She longed to see him.
Looking toward the small table beside her bed, she saw the small cup of medicine that was so often sitting there. She hadn't been taking it the last few days. She picked the cup up and stared at the thick green liquid inside it. Holding the cup, she stood from her bed and walked back toward the window. Belle took one last look at the green liquid before throwing it out as far as she could. She never wanted to see it again. Her father never told her what it was really for. It was a concoction created by Hector and in her heart she truly knew that its purpose was not for her good and well-being. She would not be taking it anymore.
She looked as far out of the window as she could. Thinking of the "medicine" she had just thrown out the window helped her to suddenly build a greater resolve within herself. She was done with living within this castle. So many secrets surrounded her life and she was done acting like they didn't exist. No longer would she ignore them and distract herself. She would get to the bottom of everything. Belle decided she would leave tonight and find answers.
<>
Jean-Luc sat in his room all alone. The last three weeks he had stayed in isolation. He was spending lots of time deep in thought. Many of his relatives were thrilled to see him again, but they all knew that he was not the same. They knew he had fallen in love with the princess of Mendolon. Many wondered if he would ever be the same.
He heard a knock on his door. "Yes... you may enter."
A young servant named Jonas opened the door and stuck his head in. "Sir, may I bring you something to eat? It's starting to get late."
"No... no thank you," Jean-Luc replied passively.
"But sir, you have barely eaten these last three weeks. Many are worried about you."
Jean-Luc looked down at his feet, taking in Jonas' words. It was true. Upon first arriving, he was excited to see his friends and family again, but as time went on he became more and more depressed, saddened by the fact that he and Belle were apart. He had fallen victim to her beauty and charm. Her beauty and grace had surpassed any expectations he had had about her. She was truly amazing, and he didn't want to live without her.
Jonas continued, "Sir, please will you hear my admonitions? We cannot have you like this. Many are depending on you." Jean-Luc said nothing in response, but just sat rubbing his eyes. His appetite had left long ago, and as a consequence he was much thinner.
Jonas wasn't sure what to say at this point. This had become a common routine the last few nights. He took a deep breath as he slowly turned to leave.
As Jonas opened the door, Jean-Luc spoke up, "Jonas."
"Yes," he said, turning to face Jean-Luc.
"Be sure to let me know right away if she is seen."
Jonas nodded in response. "Do you really think she will come?"
"I'm not sure, but," he paused just a second, "I must hold on to hope for as long as I can."
<>
Belle hid among the trees in the woods overlooking her training grounds. She thought she heard something, so she quickly ducked to hide. She was dressed in a black hood and cloak. Leaving the castle proved to be surprisingly easy, but she knew knights were patrolling the woods, searching for escaped prisoners. She would take her time escaping to Grimdolon. At all costs she didn't want to be caught.
Waiting a few minutes without hearing anything, she figured all was clear, so she began to make her way through the edge of her training area. She moved slowly, trying to be as quiet as she could be. She was carrying only a small bag under her cloak and a small sword at her side. She wanted to be able to move as quickly as possible.
Belle was just about through the area when a voice spoke out from the darkness, "If you take the northern route, you will most assuredly get caught."
She turned quickly, grabbing the handle of her sword. She was relieved when she saw the man calling to her. She spoke calmly, "Michael, you completely startled me."
"Sorry," he said, stepping from the darkness. He walked close to where she was standing.
"How did you know I would be leaving?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Gideon, Bernard, and Amis have been the main guards watching the castle at night. I told them to inform me if they ever saw you leaving."
Belle smiled slightly, figuring it was a little too easy to leave. She pulled the hood off her head and brushed her hair out of her eyes. Even though it was hard at the moment, she knew she had to be completely open with Michael. "I'm sorry, Michael, but I have to leave."
Michael looked off to the side as he spoke, "I know. I feared this day would come."
Belle wasn't exactly sure what else to say. She deeply cared for Michael and appreciated who he was. It truly was an honor to work alongside him. "Michael, I just want you to know that you are one of the most honorable men I've ever met. Thank you for always treating me with great respect. I consider it a true honor to call you my friend."
Michael nodded in appreciation of her compliments. "Thank you, Belle, you too. I hope you find what you are looking for."
Belle smiled, thankful that her friend was understanding. She felt tears beginning to swell up in her eyes. Even though she knew her destiny was with Jean-Luc, she would greatly miss Michael. "Please, Michael, take care of Mendolon for me. You are the greatest hope for the kingdom."
"Thank you, Belle," he said softly. "I will never give up. I will continue the work that you started for all of us."
They stood in silence for a moment before Belle spoke up, knowing she needed to be going shortly, "I'm sorry, Michael. I must be going. I hope it isn't too long before we see each other again."
"Yes, I hope the same," Michael said in response. He continued, "Belle, I would advise you to pass by my house. You are welcome to take my horse. I would then encourage you to take a more central route and travel through Dragon Waste. Most of the knights and soldiers have been moved to the perimeters, looking for the escaped prisoners. You should be able to move about with relative ease. You can leave my horse at the former dragon's cave. I will come for him tomorrow."
"Thank you, Michael," she said as she put her hood over her head and began to walk away.
"Oh, one more thing," he said, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned to face him, "Yes?"
He looked straight at her as he spoke confidently, "I do want you to know that I am happy for you, and I am thankful that you will at last have answers to the questions in your life. I truly believe this is your destiny."
Belle smiled at Michael one last time before speaking up. "Goodbye, Michael," she said as she began to walk away.
Michael watched as she walked away into the dark of night. He knew this was the right decision for her, but he would truly miss her being a part of his life. "Goodbye, Belle," he whispered under his breath.
<>
Michael entered through a small door on the exterior of the castle. This was his usual entrance at night. He tried to be as quiet as possible. As he shut the door, he was startled by the small light of a candle entering the room. He turned to see that it was Gideon and Bernard. They had seen Belle leave and had informed him. He knew they were anxious for news about her.
"How did it go? Did you find her?" Gideon asked.
"I did. She was passing through her training grounds," Michael responded quietly.
"Well... is she leaving for Grimdolon?" Bernard asked.
Michael took a deep breath, nodding his head. "Yes, she is leaving... and doesn't plan to return."
Gideon and Bernard were shocked at the news, even though they knew it was inevitable. Michael had shared with them the books he had read in the depths of the library. They knew that this truly was the best plan for her. Even though the three men would miss her severely, they knew she had to fulfill her destiny. Leaving Mendolon was exactly what she needed to do.
Bernard shook his head as he seemed greatly rattled by her leaving. Like many, he loved the princess and appreciated everything she stood for. He stepped closer to Michael as he spoke up, "Michael... I just... I mean.... How are we to carry on without her? What... What are we to do now?"
Michael put his hand on Bernard's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Men, I'll tell you what we are to do." He looked at both men as he spoke, "We continue on, fighting for what the princess stood for: Peace, Hope, Love for the Kingdom of Mendolon."
<>
Belle made her way through the territory known as Dragon Waste. It was the former inhabitance of the dragon. Darkness still encompassed the land as it was the early morning. She had traveled many miles through the night. Michael was right; the interior of the land wasn't thoroughly guarded. Soon after leaving Michael, she had seen a few soldiers traveling on horseback. They were easily adverted as she ducked behind a tree and covered herself with her cloak. The rest of her travels had been uneventful, for which she was grateful. She was thankful Michael loaned her his horse for the journey. He had run hard through the night. She felt a little remorseful leaving him at the former dragon's cave, but she knew Michael would come for him as soon as possible. Even though it was a long journey, she was now thankful to be close to her destination.
Her mind wondered as to what she would find when she entered Grimdolon. She wondered how she would find Jean-Luc. Three weeks ago he had left rather abruptly, just with a simple goodbye. She wondered if he would be expecting her, or if he would be looking out for any news of her coming. She hoped she would not be viewed as a threat by anyone she met. Mendolon was not seen as an ally and she hoped her coming would not be met with suspicion.
Her train of thought was broken by a sudden command in the darkness, "Halt! Who goes there?" the voice said.
Belle looked around to see where it was coming from. She saw no one.
"Who goes there?" the voice shouted again.
Belle took off her hood, trying to show that she wasn't a threat. "I am Princess Belle of Mendolon. I was coming to your kingdom of Grimdolon. I'm looking for the beast called Jean-Luc Pascal."
Belle looked from side to side while a few moments of silence passed. It was then that she saw three Grimdolon warriors emerge from the dark forest. She felt a little worried as one was holding a bow with an arrow pointed toward her. All three were quite a bit larger than Jean-Luc and were dressed in thick armor. They appeared calm as they approached Belle.
Belle continued, "I'm looking for Jean-Luc Pascal. Do you know him?"
The beasts looked at each other, contemplating what to do next. The middle beast lowered his bow and arrow and stepped forward. He spoke quietly, "Come with us."
The beasts led Belle through the eastern side of Dragon Waste. The sun was starting to rise and a faint amount of sunlight was starting to emerge through the trees. Belle was thankful for the light as the road became more and more rocky. Even with the light she stumbled more than once on a loose rock.
No one said anything as they passed through the land. One of the beasts had run on ahead back toward the kingdom after they met Belle. Apparently he had to inform someone of their return. Belle thought possibly it was because additional guards were needed to watch the border. Once the dragon left, Grimdolon had seen the need to secure the border with Mendolon, as the kingdoms were not on friendly terms.
The two beasts seemed focused on the journey. Belle was between the two warriors as they walked through the wooded area. Occasionally, Belle would look back at the beast behind her. They were unfazed by the princess. They seemed to be unmoved by anything around them. She wondered what specifically their orders were and where exactly they were taking her.
Eventually they emerged from the woods and into the kingdom of Grimdolon. The terrain looked dry and rocky. There were a few small houses on the edge, along with the castle in front of them. It looked faintly familiar from the sight she saw a few weeks ago with Jean-Luc. Strangely, a small gathering of beasts was watching as the warriors emerged with the princess. Belle saw male and female beasts, along with a few children. She found herself staring as she had never seen beast children before. They were creatures of beauty.
More beasts emerged from houses and ran to see the princess as she made her way toward the castle. Many pointed and whispered as she walked past them, following the warrior in front of her. She did not feel threatened in the least by anyone or anything she saw. They were creatures of peace.
Coming within a couple hundred yards in front of the castle, the warriors stopped as they stood amongst a company of beasts. In front of her was a small group of seven beasts, four males and three females, all different ages. She stood before them as tears started to swell in their eyes. One of the women held her hands over her eyes as she wept. More beasts started to gather around her, forming a circle around her and the warriors. Belle wondered what she could say to the ones crying. She felt confused by the whole ordeal. She spoke ever so quietly, "Why... Why are crying?" No one said a word as the group of beasts now numbered a few hundred. Belle wondered when this would end.
The quiet of the crowd was interrupted with the sound of a horn. It was loud and majestic. "Make way for the king," a herald shouted. The beasts started to clear the way and an opening emerged in front of the castle... and there in front of her, Belle saw the young king of Grimdolon... Jean-Luc.
For a king, he was dressed simply in a purple coat with a white shirt underneath. His slacks looked to be made of the finest material. A well-polished sword hung by his side. A small crown was on his head. Even though he was noticeably thinner, Belle thought he looked majestic as his mane had grown back in full glory after he had cut it for the Winter ball. Now seen in this light, outside the damp dungeon of Mendolon's castle, he truly looked like a king.
Approaching her, the crowd stood in complete silence. He smiled as he spoke, "Hello, Belle. I am so glad you've come."
Belle was amazed as she looked at the king. She wasn't sure what to say as she gazed at him. "Jean-Luc... you look... you look wonderful."
He laughed slightly under his breath. "Thank you."
Belle looked at the faces of the beasts in the crowd. She wondered if her mind was playing tricks on her. Was everything she was seeing truly real? She didn't know what to think or feel at the moment. "Jean-Luc... is this... is this real? Is this who you really are?"
Jean-Luc looked at the beasts in the crowd as they looked back at him. The beasts were watching their leader closely. It was as if they wondered what he would exactly say at this moment. He adjusted his glasses slightly before speaking, "Belle... This is real. This is who I am." He paused briefly to choose his words correctly, "But I think the real question is not who I am, but rather who are you?"
Belle was stunned by the statement and question, but she knew Jean-Luc was right. The real mystery was her identity. The questions in her life needed answers. She stared directly at Jean-Luc as she spoke, "I... I'm not sure."
Jean-Luc nodded as he stepped closer to Belle. He looked directly at Belle as he spoke, "Belle... close your eyes."
Belle wasn't sure what to do. She just looked at Jean-Luc, trying to figure everything out. Jean-Luc spoke again, this time a little more quietly, "Belle, close your eyes." She closed her eyes, following Jean-Luc's request. He continued, "Now, I want you to focus, and tell me ... what is your dream."
She thought for just a moment, concentrating hard, trying to recollect on every detail. "There is a ball. I enter, dressed as a princess. I greet the guests as they welcome me and comment on my dress. Music plays gently in the background. I make my way to the dance floor."
"Yes, go on," Jean-Luc said patiently.
Belle took a deep breath. This is where it had started to become clearer within the last few weeks. "The guests clear the floor for me to dance. My partner is on the other side of the room coming for me. I think it is Michael, but I can't see him clearly. I begin to realize that I'm not supposed to be there. The guests try to stop me, but I know I must leave. I flee the Ball, worried, confused, wanting more than anything to find answers."
Jean-Luc nodded, knowing things were becoming clearer. "Belle, now, think carefully. Why are you not supposed to be there?"
"I'm not supposed to be there because," she paused briefly as she realized the impact of what she was about to say. "I'm not supposed to be there because... I'm a beast, and I don't belong at the ball." She opened her eyes and looked at Jean-Luc, "I belong in Grimdolon."
Jean-Luc took another step closer to her. "Belle, you are correct. That is who you really are."
Belle didn't take her eyes off Jean-Luc as he reached for her hand. He knew he would be answering a lot of questions all at once. He wanted to be sure he was clear. He continued, "Belle, King Sebastian has been trying to provoke a war with Grimdolon for many years. He wants our land and our mines. Knowing you were pledged to me, the future king, he had you kidnapped not long after you were born. Then with the help of Hector, he developed a 'medicine' from a chemical in our mines that would transform you into a human."
The sun was now in full view. Belle could now see everything clearly. She looked again at the beasts in the crowd. No one seemed surprised as most knew this history. So many questions plagued Belle's mind. She wasn't sure what to ask next, "Why would Sebastian do this?"
"Like I said, he was trying everything to lay claim to our land. Capturing you and turning you into a human was another way for him to try to show his strength over us. He thought that we would surrender once he captured the future queen of the land."
Belle closed her eyes, trying to absorb all the information she was being given. Opening her eyes, she continued to look at the faces in the crowd. Her eyes were then locked with the seven beasts in front of her, particularly the woman crying. She turned to Jean-Luc, "Who are these people?"
Jean-Luc looked at her sincerely, "Belle... this is your family."
"My family?" Belle said, astonished.
"Yes, Belle. You are the youngest daughter of a wealthy merchant." Jean-Luc then pointed to the members of her family. "This is your father and your mother, along with your three brothers and two sisters."
Belle's mother started to cry even stronger. Her hands covered her mouth and nose. Belle couldn't hold back any further. She ran and embraced her family as they all huddled around her. Everyone was crying at this point. Belle squeezed them tightly. Being in their arms felt strangely familiar. It was like she knew this was where she needed to be.
She embraced each member of her family individually before turning to face Jean-Luc. There was one more thing she needed to have answered. She stepped close to him, "Jean-Luc..."
"Yes," he said quietly.
"You are now the king. You risked everything to come for me. Why did you do it?"
Jean-Luc smiled, knowing this question would come. "Belle, I once heard the story of a distant king, who stepped down from his throne to rescue those that he loved. He even went so far as to give his life for them." Jean-Luc paused just a moment before continuing, "Hearing this story of this righteous king, I knew that I could do no less." Jean-Luc looked off into the distance as he continued, "Once I became king about a year ago, I determined that I would do whatever it took to save the one I love. I would save the one I was destined to be with."
Belle reached up and rubbed his mane as she looked deeply into his eyes. Tears began to form in her eyes. She smiled as she spoke softly, "Thank you, Jean-Luc. Thank you for helping me to see clearly."
Epilogue
Hector traveled north of Mendolon. It was late at night. He was alone. Word came that King Sebastian was finally coming back to the kingdom, and he wanted to be the first to reach him. Dressed in his green robe, he would be easily recognized, but this did not concern him. He was anxious to update the king on all that had occurred.
He wondered if the king had heard that they had the young king of Grimdolon in their possession. Hector didn't figure out who Jean-Luc was until a week before the Winter Ball. By that point there was nothing he could do. Jean-Luc had proven himself vital in their hunt for the Savage. Without him, Hector feared the Savage and his followers would destroy the kingdom.
The light of a torch was coming toward him down the road. It was King Sebastian among a company of soldiers. The king was on his horse while the soldiers walked beside him. The king's crown gleaned off the torch light as they walked closer. Sebastian looked quite intimidating with his red robe draped over him while riding on his white stallion.
"Good evening, O King," Hector said as they met on the road.
Sebastian stopped his horse and dismounted without addressing Hector. He then turned to one of his soldiers, "Take the reins. I prefer to walk."
The king calmly walked beside Hector as the two headed toward Mendolon. He spoke quietly, "I have heard news that Grimdolon's new king, Bayle's son, was in our possession."
Hector snarled as he spoke in frustration, "I can't believe I didn't see it earlier. That foolish man, Dominque Delano, blinded me."
"Yes," the king replied patiently. "Let this be a warning to us to never again hire a madman that we can't control."
The two men continued their walk to the south. The soldiers were following a few feet behind. Hector looked behind him, making sure no one was listening before he spoke. "King, what are we to do now? The princess has returned to Grimdolon, and the dragon is no longer protecting our border to the east."
Sebastian breathed deeply, "The eastern border is the least of my worries. I only had the dragon dwelling there just in case Grimdolon was to retaliate for us capturing the princess. Right now all those dreaded beasts are busy rejoicing in the return of their princess. I do believe we have some time before they think about starting a war with us."
Hector wondered what their next move would be. For years they had been trying to conquer the land of Grimdolon. After the capture of the princess, Sebastian had made an alliance with the dragons in the north. He was able to manipulate one into living east of Mendolon. He hoped this would further intimidate the beasts of Grimdolon, while also providing protection for the eastern border. Unfortunately for Sebastian, within the last year he soon found out that dragons can't be tamed. He was quite upset when the dragon started striking the edges of Mendolon and the knights had to finally drive him away from the territory. Looking back on it, he truly wished Michael would have just agreed to his original plan of appeasement of the dragon.
Sebastian's latest plan was the hiring of Dominque Delano. His job was to steal a hallucinogenic mineral from the mines of Grimdolon and then use it against the people of Mendolon. Dominque was to impersonate a beast while striking the people. Sebastian's overall goal was to provoke the people of his kingdom against the beasts of Grimdolon and thereby start a war based on the people's anger. But as he came to find, a madman doesn't keep to the plan. Dominque Delano's newfound power consumed him and he decided to strike not just against the citizens of Mendolon but against the king and the kingdom itself. Sebastian and Hector lost control and now they were paying the price for their actions.
Hector continued, "King, my fear is that this whole plan is out of our control. Once the people figure out you kidnapped the princess of Grimdolon, they will never rise up and go to war against the beasts."
Sebastian nodded his head passively. He seemed unmoved by Hector's pleas. He continued walking calmly toward his kingdom. Hector couldn't take the king's silence, "Please, O King, you must take heed to what I'm saying. We will lose if we don't..."
"Calm down, Hector!" he said, interrupting his advisor. "I'm close to persuading our allies in the north to join with us against the beasts."
"What!" Hector couldn't believe what he was hearing. "They'll never join anyone. You can't persuade the dragons in the wars of men!"
Sebastian laughed under his breath before turning to face Hector. "O, believe me, Hector. Once we have the power of dragons on our side, there will be no stopping us. We will gain the whole world."
Hector looked into the eyes of his king. He wasn't sure what to say. Corresponding with dragons was a dangerous thing. They seemed to have their own plans and could easily take over the hearts of men. Fear arose within him. Hector was scared of what the king would do to gain the power of this world. It appeared he would do anything... even if it meant losing his soul.
<>
King Jean-Luc was inside his castle gates, waiting for Belle. A few days had passed since Belle arrived at Grimdolon. Today was going to be the official pronouncement that the princess had been rescued. The citizens of Grimdolon peacefully waited outside the gates, ready to see their new queen. They didn't mind that she was currently a human. They knew the best doctors in Grimdolon were working furiously to figure out a way to transform her back into a beast. Jean-Luc wondered if she would be back to her original form by their wedding in six months.
Jean-Luc tugged at the edges of his purple robe. He was still getting used to it as he had spent many months inside the dungeon of Mendolon, wearing the same few outfits over and over again. Some of the warriors at his side laughed at him, seeing how uncomfortable he was in this new attire. Jean-Luc smiled at their amusement, "It's not easy being king. If you keep laughing, I'm going to make all of you start wearing robes like this." They laughed harder, thrilled that Jean-Luc was back at his rightful place as king.
They were all caught off guard by the sight of Belle approaching them. She was dressed in a new dazzling purple dress made by the best seamstresses in Grimdolon. The dress sparkled as it was made with gems found in the mines. Her crown also shined beautifully as it was made from a rare translucent stone. It reminded Jean-Luc of a beautiful star shining bright in the sky.
She smiled as she approached Jean-Luc. "Hello, Jean-Luc," she said pleasantly.
He was speechless as he gazed at her. She truly was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. It was as if her outer beauty shined bright and reflected who she was on the inside.
Belle continued with a big smile on her face, "Well, this is truly a first. I can't remember a time when you had nothing to say."
Jean-Luc laughed slightly as he adjusted his glasses, "I can't believe how beautiful you are. When I set out to rescue you, I never dreamed that you would be as wonderful as you are. I can't believe that you will be my bride."
"Thank you," she said softly, grateful for his compliments.
"I remember the first time you said my name. It penetrated deep into my heart, reminding me that I was coming not just to defeat Dominque Delano, but also to save you. The thought that you were pledged to me from birth overwhelmed me. I knew more than ever that all those months spent in the dungeon were truly worth it."
Jean-Luc's young servant, Jonas, interrupted them, "Pardon me, Sire, but the people are waiting."
"Thank you, Jonas." Jean-Luc turned to his men and spoke confidently, "Open the gates. It is time for the people to meet their queen."
The gates of the castle started to open slowly as the warriors pushed them. Belle wondered if she was ready to meet the people of Grimdolon. Especially being a human, she wondered if she would fully be received as their queen. She grabbed Jean-Luc's hand and squeezed tightly. Jean-Luc turned to face her. She spoke softly to him, "Jean-Luc, I'm nervous. I'm not sure what to do. I've never been a queen before."
Jean-Luc smiled as he looked into her eyes, "Have no fear, Belle. Just stay by my side... and I will lead you."
Belle couldn't help but smile back at him as she felt reassured. Jean-Luc had rescued her, saved her. There was nowhere else she wanted to be, other than right by his side. "Thank you, Jean-Luc," she said softly in return.
The journey continues in the sequel, Knights of Mendolon.
Coming Spring 2018
About the Author
<>
Tony Myers is a fiction author. He enjoys finding creative ways to illustrate and communicate truth. He and his wife, Charity, currently live in Waterloo, Iowa with their four children. He can be contacted through his website, www.tonymyers.net, or through Twitter @tony1myers.
Also, check out Tony's first two works of fiction, Singleton and Stealing the Magic. Both are available at most online book distributers.
Singleton
"From the moment I opened up the book I was unable to close it and I read it one day. I was intrigued and involved with each detailed description of the characters and was able to picture the story playing out in my head the whole time. It is a great mystery with plot twists and I can't wait for the movie version."
* Fafo Sardiña
Stealing the Magic
"Myers delivers a page-turning mystery that grips the reader with its relatable characters and compelling plot."
* Pamela Crane, suspense writer
"Stealing the Magic is a thrilling story about a group of college kids who get involved with a strange and mysterious magician. The story is compelling, intense, exciting and keeps you guessing till the very end! Besides being a gripping, action-filled tale; the book communicates good morals and life lessons such as loving your family and being strong in your convictions even when people are telling you otherwise. The book was fun to read and extremely hard to put down! Stealing the Magic captivates readers with excitement and suspense."
* Allisa Gartin
| tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | BookCorpus2 |
Mystic — The Hampton Inn has been shut down after a sprinkler pipe froze and broke in the building’s attic this morning, causing extensive water damage.
The hotel will remain closed while repairs are underway, according to Old Mystic Fire Chief Ken Richards.
No one was injured, but the broken pipe cause water damage to the first, second and third floors of the building, said Richards Sunday morning.
Richards said approximately 30 guest rooms at the hotel, which is located at Hendel Drive and Route 27, were affected by the broken pipe and six were severely damaged. All guests have been moved to other local hotels, he said.
Old Mystic firefighters were originally called to the hotel at 4:50 a.m. to check out an odor of something burning but did not find anything. Another alarm came in at 7:42 a.m., at which time they found water damage to the ceiling.
The firefighters were still on scene at 11 a.m., moving in and out of a hotel lobby littered with pieces of crumbled dry wall. Water dripped from the lobby’s ceiling.
Specialized equipment for water removal was called in from Mystic Fire Department, Quiambaug Fire Company, Oswegatchie Waterford Fire Department, Montville Fire Department and Niantic Fire Department, according to Richards. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
Distribution of Na, K, Rb, Cs, and 137Cs in some Austrian higher fungi.
The level of 137Cs in 28 species of mushroom collected and analyzed between 1986 and 1992, after the Chernobyl accident, are reported. Xerocomus badius was found to accumulate 137Cs (the median value of 58 samples is 3667 Bq/kg). The 137Cs content of Rozites caperata, Scleroderma vulgare, and Tylopilus felleus exceeded 600 Bq/kg. Some of these samples collected in August 1992 were investigated for their 134Cs and 137Cs content as well as their Na, K, Rb, and Cs levels by applying instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The results show a high correlation coefficient (0.80) between the contents of 137Cs and Na, but none between 137Cs and K. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | PubMed Abstracts |
2018–19 LBA season
The 2018–19 LBA season, also known as Serie A PosteMobile for sponsorship reasons, was the 97th season of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) since its establishment. It is the men's top professional basketball division of the Italian basketball league system. The regular season began on October 7, 2018 and finished on May 12, 2019, with the playoffs started in May 18 (dependent on an Italian club qualifying for the 2019 EuroLeague Final Four, 2019 EuroCup Playoffs or for the 2019 Champions League Playoffs) and finished in June 22.
As in previous years, Molten Corporation provided the official ball for all matches.
AX Armani Exchange Milano were the defending champions.
Umana Reyer Venezia won their 4th title by beating Banco di Sardegna Sassari in game 7 of the finals.
Teams
Promotion and relegation (pre-season)
A total of 16 teams contested the league, including 15 sides from the 2017–18 season and one promoted from the 2017–18 Serie A2.
Alma Pallacanestro Trieste was the promoted club from the Serie A2 Basket after beating Novipiù Casale Monferrato at game 3 of league's playoffs, and returned to the top division after a 14 years absence.
Trieste replaced Betaland Capo d'Orlando who were relegated during the previous season.
Number of teams by region
Notes
2017–18 LBA champion.
2017–18 Serie A2 champion.
Venues and locations
Personnel and sponsorship
Managerial changes
Changes from 2017–18
As in previous seasons, LBA clubs must play in arenas that seat at least 3,500 people. From 2017–18 season, all clubs must host their home playoffs matches in arenas with a seating capacity of at least 5,000 people.
Rules
Each team is allowed either five or seven foreign players under two formulas:
5 foreigners from countries outside the European Union
3 foreigners from countries outside the EU, 4 foreigners from EU countries (also including those from countries signatory of the Cotonou Agreement)
Each club can choose the 5+5 formula, that consists of five Italian players and five foreign players, and the 3+4+5 formula, with five Italian players, three foreigners from countries outside the EU and four foreigners from EU countries or "Cotonou Countries".
At the end of the season there will be a prize of €500.000,00 for the top three ranked teams, that had chosen the 5+5 formula, considering the playing time of Italian players, and €200.000,00 for those teams that will obtain the best results with their youth sector.
Regular season
In the regular season, teams played against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The eight first qualified teams advanced to the Playoffs, the last seven qualified teams were eliminated, while the last one qualified team was relegated and replaced by the winner of the playoffs of the second-level Serie A2 Basket. The matchdays were from October 7, 2018, to May 2019.
League table
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after completion of each round. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 13, but then postponed and played between rounds 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for round 16.
Updated to match(es) played on May 12, 2019. Source: LBA
Results
Notes
AX Armani Exchange Milano won the game on the road 91-81, but OriOra Pistoia awarded 20-0 win over Milano due to playing James Nunnally while he was under suspension.
Vanoli Cremona won the game on the road 105-100 after an overtime, but awarded 20-0 win over Banco di Sardegna Sassari due to coaching Gianmarco Pozzecco while he was under suspension.
Statistical leaders
As of May 12, 2019.
Points
Assists
Rebounds
Valuation
Other Statistics
Individual game highs
Source: RealGM
Awards
Finals MVP
Austin Daye (Umana Reyer Venezia)
Most Valuable Player
Drew Crawford (Vanoli Cremona)
Best Player Under 22
Tony Carr (Red October Cantù)
Best Coach
Romeo Sacchetti (Vanoli Cremona)
Best Executive
Simone Giofré (New Basket Brindisi)
Round MVP
Playoffs
The LBA playoffs quarterfinals and semifinals were best of five formats, while the finals series were best of seven format. The playoffs began on May 18, 2019, and finished on June 22, 2019.
Final standings
Serie A clubs in European competitions
Supercup
The 2018 Italian Supercup, also known as Zurich Connect Supercoppa 2018 for sponsorship reasons, was the 24rd edition of the super cup tournament of the Italian basketball. The Supercup opened the 2018-19 season on 29 and 30 September 2018, and it was contested in the PalaLeonessa in Brescia.
Qualified for the tournament were Fiat Torino and Germani Brescia, as Italian Cup finalists, AX Armani Exchange Milano and Dolomiti Energia Trento as LBA Playoffs finalist.
AX Armani Exchange Milano beat the tournament host Germani Basket Brescia 59-81, while Fiat Torino beat Dolomiti Energia Trento 81-72.
AX Armani Exchange Milano was the Supercup winner for the third consecutive season after beating Fiat Torino in the final 82-71. Milano used an 11-0 run to start the second quarter and jump in front. Milano held a 41-31 lead at halftime, then Vladimir Micov nailed three triples early in the third quarter to open a 55-38 lead. Torino closed in with a 0-12 run in the fourth quarter, but Artūras Gudaitis had a three-point play to extend it to 76-67, and sending Milano on its way to victory. Micov and Gudaitis scored 17 points apiece to lead Milano to its first trophy of the season. Nemanja Nedović scored 14, and Mike James had 10 in a victory. Tony Carr paced Torino with 15 points, while Tekele Cotton, Tyshawn Taylor and Jamil Wilson scored 11 apiece.
Vladimir Micov was named MVP of the competition.
Cup
The 51st edition of the Italian Cup, knows as the PosteMobile Final Eight for sponsorship reasons, was contested in February 2019. As in the previous edition, Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence hosted the Cup. Eight teams qualified for the Final Eight were Avellino, Bologna, Brindisi, Cremona, Milano, Sassari, Varese and Venezia.
Fiat Torino were the defending champions.
Segafredo Virtus Bologna stunned AX Armani Exchange Milano 84-86 and Vanoli Cremona defeated Openjobmetis Varese 82-73 in the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Thursday. The game was not as close as the final score would indicate with Bologna leading by multiple possessions throughout the fourth quarter and Milano only getting within 2 on a Curtis Jerrells triple on the buzzer. Tony Taylor scored 23 points and Pietro Aradori 16 for Bologna, which took a big step towards adding to its record eight Italian Cup triumphs. James Nunnally paced Milano with 19 points while leading scorer Mike James shot just 1 for 11 on three-pointers and finished with 13 points. For Cremona, Drew Crawford scored 22 points and Wesley Saunders added 20.
On the second night of the Italian Cup quarterfinals, Banco di Sardegna Sassari edged Umana Reyer Venezia 88-89 behind 24 points from Dyshawn Pierre and New Basket Brindisi out-gunned Sidigas Avellino 95-98 as Adrian Banks poured in 26 points.
Vanoli Cremona will play New Basket Brindisi in the final of the Italian Cup. In the semifinals, Cremona topped Segafredo Virtus Bologna 102-91 as Travis Diener netted 26 points on 6-for-9 three-point shooting. Mangok Mathiang added 19 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Brindisi held off Sassari 86-87, with John Brown scoring 20 points, and Jeremy Chappell collecting 18 points plus 9 rebounds.
Vanoli Cremona lifted the Italian Cup for the first time after beating New Basket Brindisi 83-74 in the final. Wesley Saunders posted 18 points and 9 rebounds and Drew Crawford also scored 18 to lead the winners. Michele Ruzzier added 12 points off the bench. Cremona used a 9-0 second-quarter run to surge ahead from a 25-25 tie and led 45-37 at halftime. The lead stood in double figures for most of the second half and Brindisi never got closer than 6. John Brown posted 21 points and 8 rebounds and Tony Gaffney scored 19 in defeat. Drew Crawford was named Panasonic MVP of the competition.
References
External links
Lega Basket website
Category:Lega Basket Serie A by season
Italian
Category:2018–19 in Italian basketball | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Wikipedia (en) |
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
When getting your kicks on route sixty-six….don't forget San Bernardino
"What happens when public employee unions begin calling too many of the shots in government?”“Yet on close examination, the city’s decades-long journey from prosperous, middle-class community to bankrupt, crime-ridden, foreclosure-blighted basket case is straightforward — and alarmingly similar to the path traveled by many municipalities around America’s largest state. San Bernardino succumbed to a vicious circle of self-interests among city workers, local politicians and state pension overseers.
Little by little, over many years, the salaries and retirement benefits of San Bernardino’s city workers — and especially its police and firemen — grew richer and richer, even as the city lost its major employers and gradually got poorer and poorer.”
“In bankrupt San Bernardino, a third of the city’s 210,000 people live below the poverty line, making it the poorest city of its size in California. But a police lieutenant can retire in his 50s and take home $230,000 in one-time payouts on his last day, before settling in with a guaranteed $128,000-a-year pension. Forty-six retired city employees receive over $100,000 a year in pensions.
Almost 75 percent of the city’s general fund is now spent solely on the police and fire departments, according toa Reuters analysis of city bankruptcy documents – most of that on wages and pension costs.”
About Me
BS Economics, cum laude, Private and Public Sectors, 1979, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
Undergraduate Minor in General Insurance.
Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Huebner School of Economics, American College, 1992, Bryn Mawr, PA.
Life Underwriter Training Fellow (LUTCF), 1986, National Association of Life Underwriters, Washington D.C..
Currently enrolled and completed one half of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) from the American College.
38 years insurance industry experience. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | Pile-CC |
The Embassy has been notified of a planned demonstration on Saturday, 9 December 2017, from 16:00 to 18:00 in downtown Oslo. The demonstrators will walk from Parliament to the Israeli Embassy. The demonstration is in protest of President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Norwegian Police may close areas/streets with little or no notice. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | OpenWebText2 |
Recessed lights, such as downlights, are light systems or light fixtures that are installed in a hollow opening within a ceiling, wall, or other structure. The recessed light generally includes a housing mounted in the ceiling and a lighting module removably attachable to the housing. The lighting module generally includes a light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), compact fluorescent lamps (“CFLs”), high-intensity discharge (“HID”) lamps, or incandescent lamps. When installed in the housing and powered on, the light source provides inconspicuous light that appears to shine from a hole in the ceiling or other structure where the recessed light is installed.
Housings for recessed lights typically include a lamp holder for holding the lighting module in place. Some conventional lamp holders employ torsion spring retainers that accept torsion springs attached to the light source. When in place in the torsion spring retainers, the torsion springs hold the lighting module in place in the housing. The torsion springs also interact with the torsion spring retainers to pull the lighting module into the housing during installation. However, the installation of lighting modules using conventional torsion springs can be clumsy and difficult for users. The design of conventional torsion spring retainers also makes the torsion springs more susceptible to slipping from the torsion spring retainers.
Lighting modules for recessed lights typically include an electrical connector that attaches to an electrical connector of the housing to receive power for the light source. This electrical connector of conventional lighting modules is often mounted in a vertical orientation on top of or above the lighting module's heat sink, adding height to the lighting module. The added height increases the required installation space for the recessed light. In addition, the vertical orientation of the electrical connector causes flexible conduits or cables connected to the electrical connector to extend higher above the lighting module before turning in a horizontal direction due to the required bend radius of the flexible conduit or cable. The position and vertical orientation of electrical connectors for conventional lighting modules also make it more difficult to connect the lighting module's electrical connector to the housing's electrical connector. | tomekkorbak/pile-curse-small | USPTO Backgrounds |
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