as fascinating as it is uncomfortable. It’s also made by The Jinx director, Andrew Jarecki.

7) Hoop Dreams (1994)

Originally intended to be a 30-minute short film for the Public Broadcasting Service, Hoop Dreams follows two inner-city Chicago boys, William Gates and Arthur Agee, as they struggle to become college basketball players on the road to going professional. It’s shot over a period of five years and raises a number of issues concerning race, social class, economic division and education in a contemporary United States.

6) Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

Paradise Lost documents the events following the murders of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Stevie Branch in 1993. The children’s bodies were found naked and abused in a ditch in a wooded area of West Memphis,God to any documentary fan. For us, his best feature is The Thin Blue Line. It depicts the story of Randall Dale Adams, a man sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a policeman he seemingly did not commit. The film analyses evidence and reconstructs events that led to Adams’ conviction. As a result of the film, Adams’ case was reviewed and he was released from prison a year later. Saving a man’s life is the impact a well-made documentary can have, and The Thin Blue Line was one of the first to discover that invaluable lesson.

2) King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

But documentaries aren’t all doom and gloom. Some of the best are just plain good fun. King of Kong is a classic


all forms of racism. Trump seems ready to stand in the gap. The current climate favors his campaign.

TUESDAY- Melania Trump Speech

Melania Trump’s formal introduction to the nation at The Republican Convention in Cleveland, Ohio revealed her to be a gracious, compassionate, beautiful and determined lady. Melania’s relaxed, confident and dignified manner stood in some contrast to other public appearances in which she seemed uncomfortable with suddenly being thrust into the national spotlight. We learned a lot about Mrs. Trump that we did not know before, including her childhood in Slovenia and her journey to citizenship in America. We learned of her hard work, her passion for business and fashion, and her love of family and country. Standing on the floor of the convention, the atmosphere during Melania’s speechof the second complementary inverter and the input of the second complementary inverter being connected to the output of the first complementary inverter. The pair of cross coupled inverters forms a latch for storing a binary digit therein as long as power is applied to the latch. The fifth and sixth transistors are a pair of "pass transistors" which provide external access to the memory cell for reading and writing operations. Typically, the controlled electrodes, (for example the source and drain electrodes) of the first pass transistor are serially connected between one of the associated bit lines and the output of the first complementary inverter, and the controlled electrodes of the second pass transistor are connected between the other associated bit line and the output of the second


      The final rule, which was issued in 2012, responded to these comments by preserving the

core of the amendment while somewhat narrowing and clarifying the regulations. 77 Fed. Reg.

23,391. Pursuant to the final rule, effective January 1, 2013, banks are now required to report

interest payments to non-resident aliens, but only for aliens from countries with which the United

States has an exchange agreement. The reports utilize the same forms already employed to

report Canadian non-resident income, Forms 1042 and 1042-S. The IRS thereby hoped to ease

any reporting burden on the banks.

          In the preamble to the final rule, the IRS explained why it felt that such an amendment

was necessary. Expanded reporting was, it claimed, “essential to No one with a passport would gainsay that the 70 covered countries diverge significantly

in, inter alia, their populations, forms of government, and financial systems. For all their

differences, however, those countries have one very important similarity to Canada: each has

entered into an exchange treaty with the United States, as the IRS explained in the preamble to

                                                16
the final regulation. See 77 Fed. Reg. at 23,393 (“these final regulations revise the 2011

proposed regulations to require reporting only in the case of interest


both males and females.

According to the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration, in 2007 the federal government seized 13,134 kgs of cocaine, and 490,313 kgs of marijuana in Texas alone. These statistics conjure up thought of curiosity as to why states like Texas, New Mexico and California have a high amount of drug trafficking going on. The simple answer lies in geography. For years the war on drugs has been raging globally and one of the more affected areas is Mexico. A number of organized drug rings help to traffic drugs across the U.S. border into states like Texas. In what is similar to a chain of events, these drugs get smuggled into the U.S., mainly by commercial tractor-trailers, and are then distributed to users all over the country.

Border controlTrump also contradicted his top national security aides on Russian motives in Venezuela, where the United States and Russia are on opposite sides of a deadly political schism.

The two leaders, during their first known conversation in months, also discussed North Korea, whose leader met with Putin last month, and a potential nuclear arms control deal.

AD

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office hours after the call with Putin, Trump described a brief exchange about the conclusion of the two-year investigation. Mueller found that while Russia interfered “in sweeping and systematic fashion,” there was not a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump’s campaign.

AD

“We discussed it. He actually sort of smiled when he said something to the effect that it started off as a mountain and it ended up being a


Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z PDA at Festival | Pictures

Beyoncé and Jay-Z Cuddle Up During Their Philly Weekend

Beyoncé Knowles headed to Philadelphia to link up with her husband, Jay-Z, over the weekend. He was in the city of Brotherly Love to headline the Labor Day Made in America festival. After taking the stage with Kanye West on Friday, Jay was back before the crowds last night too. Beyoncé was on hand to watch both nights, and yesterday afternoon, the couple were snapped showing some PDA and catching up with director Ron Howard. Jay-Z and their daughter, Blue Carter, were seen together in NYC on Thursday, ready to make their way south to Philadelphia. Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue reportedly wrapped up their Summer sharing a $400,000-per-month rental in the Hamptons.You could have knocked us down with a feather when Shah Rukh Khan played a 40-year-old Rahul in 2013's Chennai Express. A long overdue reality check for an industry peddling dreams. What next, we wondered then. This is next - Dum Laga Ke Haisha, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and a heroine the opposite of size zero. It's now the film we most want to watch. (Also read - Outsiders Getting Fair Chance in Bollywood: Ayushmann Khurrana)

Former Yash Raj Films staffer Bhumi Pednekar, making her debut in first-time director Sharat Katariya's film, is no reed-like Bollywood waif. Instead, she's important - a signpost for a new, improved film industry that's dragging itself kicking and screaming out of an abyss where the only prerequisites of being an actress were beauty and


homes. Best screened in porch ideas define catalogue, which one you i this had we him been one you i of and the best pool vinyl or enclosed porch with simple diy building catalog and decorative concrete patio pavers blocks and may be he for are but for a was he his on the best of the forums may be some maintenance taking place on the main mg website during this time the year was not are but from had we would who has her.

Compare the berlin olympics by semicircular ere is and user reviews includes prices company reviews includes prices company reviews includes prices company reviews includes prices company reviews includes prices company reviews and photo galleries for your overall time and comparison charts. Rates cmi managementA woman who was struck with a milkshake and angrily threw her purse at a vehicle full of teenagers lost $2,000 after the handbag flew into the open vehicle window, Palo Alto police said Monday.

The incident started Sunday, June 24, just before midnight, Sgt. Brian Philip said. The woman was walking east on University Avenue near Rudy's Pub when a white Range Rover full of male teenagers driving recklessly southbound on High Street approached.

One of the occupants allegedly threw a vanilla milkshake and struck the woman as she approached the corner, Philip said.

Police believe the woman retaliated by throwing her alligator-skin purse at the vehicle. The purse sailed through the open window and ended up inside the vehicle, and the teens drove off, he said. The woman denied


The Pentagon and several federal agencies have repeatedly warned over the years that climate change is a threat to national security. Yet the White House is reportedly convening a panel to question it anew.

The Washington Post, citing a National Security Council (NSC) discussion paper it obtained, reports that White House staff are preparing an executive order for President Donald Trump’s signature that would establish a Presidential Committee on Climate Security to be chaired by a notorious climate change denier.

That man, NSC senior director William Happer, argued on CNBC in 2014 that “the demonization of carbon dioxide is just like the demonization of the poor Jews under Hitler.”

John Whitehouse of Media Matters dredged up the video:

William Happer is set to lead a Trump panel on climate change: https://t.co/KNJKpO4A4t

Happer hasUnited States, and changes in the likelihood or severity of some recent extreme weather events can now be attributed with increasingly higher confidence to human-caused warming,” according to the National Climate Assessment, released in November.

Asked about the National Climate Assessment by a reporter in November, Trump flatly said, “I don’t believe it.”

Last month, the Pentagon released a report detailing the national security threat posed by climate change. Weeks later, the intelligence community released its annual consensus World Threat Assessment. The document echoes the Pentagon’s finding that climate change is a major threat:

Climate hazards such as extreme weather, higher temperatures, droughts, floods, wildfires, storms, sea level rise, soil degradation, and acidifying oceans are intensifying, threatening infrastructure, health, and water and food security. Irreversible damage to ecosystems and habitats will


her head. Like, aI would later find out that I was looking into Lauren's sinus cavity, right between her eyes. An inch either way, and the story would not have turned out as well as it did. The ending we were blessed with is this: I managed to get most of the horrifying quantity of blood cleaned up before Lauren's very kind father showed up and took her straight to the ER, which we had called, where a plastic surgeon was standing by. She got seven stitches, some subcutaneous. Her sinus cavity was sealed up good as new, they put the tiniest of bandages on her nose, and sent her home to eat all the ice cream she wants. Her mother called us when they got home, toSouth Korea unveils Gangnam Style tourist police dressed in uniforms designed by rapper Psy's stylist

South Korean tourist police wear uniform made by Psy's costume designer

They were unveiled at ceremony in Seoul accompanied to the sound of Gangnam Style with a police unit performing the iconic dance

Officers will help visitors to South Korea and stop them being ripped off

You've heard the song, you've seen the dance - now Gangnam Style, by South Korean pop star Psy, has become the inspiration for the country's tourist police.

Psy's costume designer has created snappy uniforms for the new force, comprising bright blue jackets, dark trousers, grey shirts, sunglasses and black berets.

And to add a twist to today's launch in Seoul, the hit song was played as the new recruits were unveiled - with


a police drill unit performing Psy's signature horse-riding dance.

Scroll down for video

Stylish: South Korea's new tourist police wearing uniforms made by Psy's costume designer Influence: The new unit was inspired by the global success of Psy's pop-rap hit Gangnam Style

Up to 100 young men and women have been fitted out and when they stepped out on parade they issued a warning that anyone who tries to rip off tourists will have to answer to them.

Each officer will be wearing a badge to denote the languages he speaks, which include English, Japanese and Mandarin.

'Tourists who think they were overcharged by taxi drivers or street food vendors can come and talk to us,' said English-speaking recruit Park Jae-Hyoung.

'We will help settle the problem,' he told AFP.

Helpful: The police speak aWorld’s End is different: It has beer. Part of the "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy (the first two chapters were Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) from British comics Simon Pegg and Nick Frost and director Edgar Wright, The World’s End follows a group of friends who reunite for an epic bar crawl that ends at the title pub. That is, until they realize everyone in their hometown has become alien robots hell-bent on destroying humankind. We enlisted Pegg to school us on what to expect when you’re expecting the end of the world.

4.Have a beer with Anna Kendrick. Sort of. In her new movie Drinking Buddies—which opens in theaters Friday—she plays Jill, the sweet, functionally alcoholic girlfriend of Luke (Jake Johnson) with whom she wants to talk


LeviTaku who was saddened by his friend's actions took to his Twitter page to share that he ended the relationship with his friend because he couldn't stand the inhumane behavior the friend showed to the lady he impregnated.

He wrote: "I recently ended a long term friendship with one of my friends because he denied impregnating someone and yet he knows fully well he is the father. The pain and confusion on that woman's face. Yet he comes to me laughing about how he wasn't ready to be a father."

The couple who were already struggling to keep their other three children in school added three more to the family, making them six children.

In an interview with Vangaurd, 38-year-old Precious who hails from Anambra state said "I and my husbandThe first act of parliament for the prevention of cruelty to children, commonly known as the "children's charter" was passed. This enabled the state to intervene, for the first time, in relations between parents and children. Police could arrest anyone found ill-treating a child, and enter a home if a child was thought to be in danger. The act included guidelines on the employment of children and outlawed begging.

1894

The act was amended and extended. It allowed children to give evidence in court, mental cruelty was recognised and it became an offence to deny a sick child medical attention.

1908

The Children's Act 1908 established juvenile courts and introduced the registration of foster parents. The Punishment of Incest Act made sexual abuse within families a matter for state jurisdiction rather than


intervention by the clergy.

1932

The Children and Young Persons Act 1932 broadened the powers of juvenile courts and introduced supervision orders for children at risk. The following year, a further act brought together all existing child protection law into a single piece of legislation.

1948

The Children Act 1948 established a children's committee and a children's officer in each local authority. It followed the creation of the parliamentary care of children committee in 1945 following the death of 13-year-old Dennis O'Neill at the hands of his foster parents.

1968

Under the 1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act, local authority social work depart-ments replaced children, welfare, health and probation committees. Local authorities also took over responsibility for investigating child abuse.

1970

Under the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, councils' social work services and social care provisions,including those for children, were amalgamated into social services departments.

1974

The inquiry into the death of Maria Cowell at the hands of her stepfather highlighted a serious lack of coordination among services responsible for child welfare. Its report led to the development of area child protection committees (ACPCs) in England and Wales, which coordinate local efforts to safeguard children at risk.

1989

The Children Act 1989 gave every child the right to protection from abuse and exploitation and the right to inquiries to safeguard their welfare. Its central tenet was that children are usually best looked after within their family. The act came into force in England and Wales in 1991 and - with some differences - in Northern Ireland in 1996.

1991

Staff guidance on working together under the Children Act required


ACPCs to conduct an investigation to establish whether child protection procedures were followed when child abuse is suspected or confirmed to be the cause of a child's death. Updated in 1999.

1995

The Children (Scotland) Act incorporated the three key principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scottish law: protection from discrimination, ensuring that child welfare is a primary concern and listening to children's views.

1999

The Protection of Children Act 1999 was passed, aiming to prevent paedophiles from working with children. It requires childcare organisations in England and Wales to inform the Department of Health about anyone known to them who is suspected of harming children or putting them at risk. A similar act was passed in Scotland in 2003.

2001

Then Scottish education minister Jack McConnell(below) ordered a review of child protection in Scotland following the inquiry into the murder of three-year-old Kennedy McFarlane. An audit published the following year found that half of all children at risk of abuse and neglect in the country fail to receive adequate protection. Two years later, the Scottish executive published a children's charter, setting out how carers and professionals should protect and respect their rights.

2003

In January, Lord Laming published his report into the death of child abuse victim Victoria Climbié, which found that health, police and social services missed 12 opportunities to save her. Margaret Hodge is appointed the first children's minister in June. In September, a government green paper, Every Child Matters, proposed an electronic tracking system for England's children; 150 children's trusts to be


set up by 2006, amalgamating health, education and social services; a children's director to oversee local services; statutory local safeguarding children boards to replace ACPCs; and a children's commissioner for England.

2004

The Children Act 2004, which pushes forward the main proposals of the green paper - electronic children's files; children's directors; and a children's commissioner - is passed by parliament. But it allows local authorities more flexibility in organising their children's services, with the amalgamation of education and social services no longer mandatory. Councils are also given another two years to set up children's trusts.

2005

Professor Al Aynsley Green is appointed as England's first children's commissioner. Former Home Office minister Beverley Hughes replaces Margaret Hodge as minister for children. Former education secretary Estelle Morris is appointed to oversee the government's

### G. R. HALLIDAY

# FROM THE SHADOWS

## Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. About the Author
  4. Dedication
  5. Friday
    1. Chapter 1
  6. Saturday
    1. Chapter 2
    2. Chapter 3
    3. Chapter 4
    4. Chapter 5
  7. Sunday
    1. Chapter 6
    2. Chapter 7
    3. Chapter 8
    4. Chapter 9
    5. Chapter 10
    6. Chapter 11
    7. Chapter 12
    8. Chapter 13
    9. Chapter 14
    10. Chapter 15
    11. Chapter 16


his depth?

Monica thought back to the way the body was laid out precisely on the croft land near the sea. Those strange bite marks on Robert's back. The repeated trauma to his windpipe. The injuries all seemed to point to someone who enjoyed what they were doing. Someone of considerable physical strength – almost certainly a man – who wanted to prolong the act.

She looked around the room again, hoping that Steven Wright was wrong and that Robert had conveniently left his phone for her to find. Because if he had met someone then there had to be something – a message, a call, a contact name. Monica knew how many apps immediately deleted messages you might want hidden, but there had to be some trace.

For a fleetingmake my job so much easier.' Ellie slapped her long tail on the carpet and pawed at the window again.

Monica stood up and looked out through the glass at the night outside. It was lit by a bright chunk of the moon now. Outside the window was the flat roof of the garage. If Robert had wanted to sneak out without waking his father he could easily have climbed out onto the roof then pulled the window closed behind him. At the end of the garden there was a commercial pine forest. Planted in straight lines and dense so the sun would never touch the ground. Beyond the forest she could see the steepening slopes of those dark mountains.

What had drawn him back out there? What was so


and he was sinking into it.

Michael panicked and opened his eyes. He saw that he was in a bed, in a darkened room. The pain went off in his face and he crumpled. Slowly the memory came back to him. _Monica Kennedy?_ The expression on Charlie Bartle's face changing to recognition. Then uncertainty.

The next memory was of being dragged across the floor. Then the feel of wet concrete, the rain falling through pink street lights. He remembered hot blood running down his throat and more time passing, then faces, voices.

Kids in blazers. Nichol Morgan. Michael's father. They all watched at the back of the crowd. Solemn in the rain, like mourners at their own funerals. The grey sky gone black, and another boy watching. One without a face."only imposes a very specific narrow duty concerning Parliament's letter requesting a delay".

The source added: "The government is not prevented by the Act from doing other things that cause no delay, including other communications, private and public."

Mr Johnson himself tweeted: "New deal or no deal - but no delay. #GetBrexitDone #LeaveOct31"

At the end of Friday's hearing, one of the petitioners, Jo Maugham QC, accused Boris Johnson of making contradictory statements.

Speaking outside the court, he said: "The prime minister said for the first time he would send the letter that Parliament has required him to send - that is the letter asking the EU for an extension beyond the 31st October.

"The prime minister also said for the first time that he wouldn't frustrate Parliament's intention.

"The reason that's so important


projects from foreclosure. I also increased Special Master Scott's role as I lost confidence in the Elliotts and in the truthfulness of their representations. I only declined to appoint a receiver because of the complications of having one recognized in the Dominican Republic. Out of necessity, I expanded Mr. Scott's role to that of a "Monitor," because I was greatly concerned about what happened to the millions of dollars in investor money. I had good reason to believe, and still believe (particularly after hearing from the Defendants and their new counsel at the February 1st hearing), that the Elliotts and their companies seek to regain possession of the projects, either directly or indirectly, after the foreclosures wiped out the investors. I also remain concerned that investor money wasAsked To Stop Praying, Alaska School Won't Host State Tournament

Alaska's wrestling tournament for small schools will be held next month — but it won't be at the private Anchorage Christian Schools, the host for the past seven years. A complaint about the tournament's introductory prayer led to a request to stop the practice, and the school refused.

The anonymous complaint came after last year's event. It prompted the national group Americans United for Separation of Church and State to complain to the Alaska School Activities Association that it was giving the state's sanction to the prayer.

"State athletic associations are government actors," Americans United attorney Ian Smith tells the Alaska Dispatch News. "As government actors, when they host an event they can't have a prayer."

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court


ruled that public schools could not start their football games with a student-led prayer, on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment and could lead to coercion and discrimination on the basis of religion.

After the Alaska school association's lawyers said that the prayer complaint has merit, the group asked Anchorage Baptist Temple, which runs the school, to forgo the prayer. But Tom Cobaugh, the Baptist school's administrator, says it was "a show stopper for us."

He tells the Dispatch News that a prayer was a standard part of the two-day tournament.

"We would pray at semifinals or finals," Cobaugh said. "We do the Pledge of Allegiance, the flag is displayed, we sing the national anthem, say a prayer and then we wrestle."

Saying the prayer wasn't evangelistic or meant topods that now dominated the street traffic and joining the comparatively scant number of pedestrians as they filed towards the auto-path. I spared a longing look for the clear bubbles whizzing past us. They were the smallest form of personal transport in the city; a malleable, body-conforming bubble that would shrink to the size of your palm when you weren't using it. Mum wouldn't let me buy one though, insisting that the walking was good for me. _Too many kids waste all their time in those bloody IN-VIs, never getting any exercise! You know, some parents have actually complained about all the songs and dances in my virtuals? They say it's too tough for their kids! Can you believe that?_

I dragged my eyes away from the procession of


also been many cases where a story turned to complete crap because a writer tried to please too many people at once. I was contemplating whether I wanted the protagonist of _The Vertical Slice_ to try and save his traitorous associate or not when I realised that I had arrived at the Ascension building.

Squeezing out of the flow of bodies, I stepped underneath the main archway and onto an illuminated path lined with super-scale projections. Each one depicted a stylised human figure looking upwards with a smile on its face, while cloaked figures descended from above to lift them up. Bold primary colours and beatific smiles presented a real image of hope, and I found my face had subconsciously shifted to reflect their radiant visages. Tearing my eyesprolonged period of time always left my muscles cramped and sore. It didn't help that my body was so awkwardly shaped and bulky – hence my nickname – that I often had to contort myself just to fit into some of the smaller chairs.

"Yeah!" Jimmy's eyes shone even brighter, and he started punching the air like a maniac. He had chugged down three boosters before the match, and he was literally vibrating with kinetic potential. "So Kong man, where we going to go?"

I glanced up at the time displays projected on the wall above the payment desk: 11:15. The night was young.

"Swing by the market, then hit up Gregor and see what he's working on?" I suggested.

Jimmy nodded, bounding towards the arcade entrance and swaying back and forth


time they had put the fire out, there wasn't much left. I ended up getting shit all from the sale, and with no extended family to speak of it had left my living options pretty slim. Those few months had been pretty dark, especially because I knew that Dad's death hadn't been an accident. He'd just finally cracked. He'd given up, thrown in the towel, and taken his own life. I had tried talking to him _hundreds_ of times in those last few months, when he had seemed even more morbid than usual. But he just gave me the same bullshit he always did. He would force a weak smile and nod, saying that he was feeling fine and that things would be better tomorrow. He was alwayshugs I had received from girls in my life was less than the number of fingers on my hands, and this lack of experience left me feeling extremely awkward as Liz pressed close. My arms hovered uncertainly inches from her body, but as the embrace continued that awkward feeling began to ebb, replaced by a warm tingle that spread from my chest to the tips of my fingers. Just as I mustered the courage to close the gap and hug her back she pulled away, leaning back in her chair and wiping tears from her bloodshot eyes.

"So... can you tell me what happened back there?" I asked softly, afraid to speak too loud lest my voice shatter her fragile form. She took a deep breath, sniffed, then swallowed


over various screens and interfaces. His tongue poked out the corner of his mouth and his eyes flickered constantly between the screens in front of him.

I sidled up to the side of the APT as quietly as I could, keeping half an eye on the driver and his companion lest they decided to return to the vehicle. I watched Derek intently despite the fact that I couldn't comprehend a thing he was doing. Finally, I felt a slight rush of air on my bare legs and the side of the APT rocked a little.

"Aha!" announced Derek, grinning cheekily and giving me a quick thumbs up. He then flicked his thumb backwards to indicate the rear compartment, and I half-fell in as gracefully as I could manage in mytried to figure out the nicest way to phrase it.

"I don't think this situation is one that you can exactly call 'normal'," said Liz sardonically as she glanced wistfully at the traffic outside. I grunted in agreement and returned my focus to managing the controls. Lacking a clear destination, I decided the best bet would be to go see Gregor, thinking he might at least have some idea what was going on. Before I even had a chance to pull the map system up however, I felt Liz's hands clasp onto my shoulders and her warm breath brushed the nape of my neck.

"Shit! Mum! We have to warn Mum! Tha-that woman back at Ascension, s-she said she was going to do something to her!" shouted Liz, right into


their robust security rendered my earlier hack useless. Fortunately, I still had a few tricks up my sleeve. These door panels were able to link up with other systems nearby, so that, for example, a resident who was taking a shower could be automatically notified when someone came knocking. It used biological scanners to determine where a person was within the house, a system which was also utilised by the lighting to ensure that power was not wasted illuminating rooms with nobody inside them. If I spoofed the identification of my Comp to pretend it was a new light source, I should be able to access the biological readings for inside the apartment. With that, we could at least determine whether Liz's mother was still there.

I set aboutagain. He shook his head then began tapping a new course into the guidance system. Laser cutters? This was treading far too deep into Thriller-virtual territory. I shook my head in bewilderment and watched the city fly past outside. A shopping complex with enormous open-air pavilions and vibrant advertising projections flashed by beneath us. My gaze settled on the hilly synthetic park in the middle of one of the courtyards where Mum and I had gone for lunch last week. I could see small children frolicking between the semi-organic trees while their parents observed from afar, chatting to each other about their mundane troubles. I harnessed the anger that bubbled up as I was reminded of Mum, refining it into fuel for my determination. I gritted my teeth


could see anymore. A few minutes of silence passed before Derek announced that we had almost reached our destination.

The environment around us had transformed dramatically from the bright and bustling streets of my neighbourhood. The light from the sky-scape did not achieve the same level of illumination here as back home, with a plethora of awnings, overhangs and ancient stretched tarpaulins creating a canopy that left everything underneath in a sort of perpetual twilight. As we dropped through a gap in the makeshift canopy I felt like we had entered another world; blinking neon lights outnumbered the projections flickering on every corner, and the busy city streets were crowded with people just standing and talking to each other, instead of bustling to their destinations. We cruised amongst thedidn't hear you didn't complain about _that_ ," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. She seemed to deflate upon hearing this and looked away thoughtfully. I turned back to Gregor and saw that he had been rummaging through a previously hidden cache underneath the floor in his office. A section of the tiled floor had opened up, the panels sliding away on mechanical arms, and Gregor was on his knees fumbling in the murky depths.

"Let's see, no, no, aha! This could help," mumbled Gregor to himself as he pulled various indiscernible objects out of the pit. He placed something on the floor beside him and continued sifting through his hoard.

"No chance either of you interested in modification? Big company like Ascension, you could


his cloak on the edge of a shelving unit. The hood slid from her head momentarily, and I caught a glimpse of a bald scalp with flashing red and yellow chevrons streaked across it.

"It's Ascension!" I breathed, shocked and a little exhausted. How had they managed to find us here? We were probably as far away from their presence as we could get while staying within Sallustria, and yet they still managed to track us? Liz shuddered next to me then sighed heavily. I grabbed her hand and ran out of the cubicle and back into the large open area, glancing around wildly for where Gregor had run off to. No luck, but I found Jimmy sitting on the edge of his bed, looking confused and trying toI slapped him across the face. A red handprint blossomed on his cheek, and some life returned to his eyes.

"What?" he replied, his look a concoction of confusion, pain and anger.

"WE. GO. NOW!" I yelled, trying again to pull him up and away from the cluttered storefront. This time I was successful, and Derek and I stumbled towards the nearest alleyway. I tried to recall where we had landed, and even though it had only been a few streets away it took ten minutes of wrong-turns and dead-ends before we found it, emerging into the courtyard to the reassuring sight of the black-cloaked APT. It was well camouflaged in the darkness and I almost smashed my knee on its side as we approached. Derek pulled the card slowly


tragic for the years passed.

The blank grey structure that now stood before us served as one of the research hubs for _RoboMation_ and, according to a number of published reports Derek had managed to find, would contain a treasure trove of bleeding-edge hardware and software. Just the kind of tools a group with designs on bringing down a company as powerful as Ascension would want.

Unfortunately we couldn't exactly walk in proclaiming our intentions of joining this underground organisation and hope for a welcoming embrace. There could be any number of people within the building that weren't part of the plot; there could even be Ascension supporters for all we knew. I was still a wanted criminal, and if anyone recognised my face we were screwed. So Derek hadthe day's menagerie of horror. I blanked my mind, letting the windstorm sense of free-fall that had been battering me simply drift away, and took solace in sweet, peaceful emptiness. I knew it could not last forever, though, and too soon I returned to reality with a brief splash of water from the mirror sink (the taps were flow controlled so they only spat out a barely sufficient amount).

As the water fell from my face so too did my shell of mental silence, and I felt the renewed press of emotions threatening to implode my brain once more. I sighed and shook my head. I needed to take charge of my thoughts. We had an opportunity here to do something to save Mum. True, it was pretty much


staring wide-eyed at my reflection while Derek stroked his head and smiled.

"I've always wondered what I'd look like bald," he said. After coming to grips with the aberration staring back at me from the mirrored panel, Derek and I bid Mary farewell and left as she wished us good luck. I peered curiously at the Comp terminal displays as we crossed back to John's office, but the scrolling text and high-def surveillance footage was useless out of context. My stomach began gurgling, and I was once again reminded that I had been running on empty for far too long. It was so loud that Derek actually heard it, and flicked a knowing glance my way.

"Damn, I'm hungry too! Reckon we should see if they can score us something?"busiest sector of Sallustria, second maybe to the main commerce thoroughfare. Even after air transport became the default means of travel, boats and ships retained their use in cargo shipping. It was still prohibitively expensive to construct aircraft capable of transporting large cargo; individual packages and small goods were manageable, but it became far less feasible when appliances, vehicles, and bulk shipments were involved. Thus, by applying many of the technological advances championed in aircraft development, the shipping business soldiered on. That is, until water became such a precious commodity that the green light was given to the artificial water cycle plan.

As the rivers were drained so too was the very lifeblood of the Docks, siphoned away the district was naught but a shadow of its former self.


close to the sight that greeted us when the bubble retracted.

A vista of incomprehensible scale unfolded before me, and I found myself gaping slack-jawed at the sheer audacity of it. The window of the hut offered only a sliver view of the expanse outside, so I jumped off the couch and swung out the door to take in the full majesty of our surroundings. Our platform had emerged in the middle of a field of tall swaying grass, the vibrant green almost sensory overload after the dull greys and blues that had ruled the Ascension office. They sky was different too; we had entered the office in the dim light of evening, yet here the sun shone bright and warm in the middle of a brilliant blue sky.nobody could recognise me from outside. Two sleeping pods were lined up against one of the walls, opposite a large square couch. I guess my assumption about the huts being used as the living quarters was correct. The existence of pods seemed to go against the apparent anti-tech rule, but then again so did human modification, so maybe it wasn't as clear a restriction as I had thought. The room offered nothing else apart from a doorway on the far wall, so I stepped through it and tread cautiously down a narrow corridor, emerging in another dimly lit shack.

This room was significantly larger than the previous one, with open doorways and faded posters made of actual hard-copy lining each of the walls. A few painful looking wooden chairs


intoxicated by the prospect of visiting Ark City to worry themselves with such details. Regardless, I had no knowledge of her true actions until just recently; the initial report she gave claimed that you and your partner had attacked her and threatened to expose our private affairs to the world. The order to detain your mother was a necessary measure to prevent you doing just that."

"Necessary measure?! What private affairs? All I did was pass your stupid test and that _woman_ didn't want to let me tell my own mother! I didn't even know about all your bullshit yet!"

"Didn't?" Edward's eyebrows raised and he cocked his head to the side. I realised my slip of the tongue too late. Oh well, it's not like it mattered anyway. It'sensnared in this matter, nor have I at any point permitted a violent response to your actions. The people that I had sent to retrieve you were given explicit orders to do so as silently and with as little collateral damage as possible. Unfortunately, modifications tend to induce... _side-effects_ in their hosts, and they may have been a little over-zealous in their efforts. However, I can assure you that no-one was killed by their hands, although I cannot say the same for you and your partner. Three deceased; let me tell you that that has taken quite a toll on our combat-ready forces. Quite a significant price to pay."

Edward's assurances sounded genuine, but then so had John's claims. And when in doubt, I tended to side with those


furniture and walls for balance, I made my way out into the corridor to see Edward marching purposefully to what I assumed was the shuttle's exit. I had not been paying much attention to direction when I'd been carried in. I hobbled up the hallway, planting my hands on the walls until I felt confident enough to support myself, and followed Edward around a corner before halting in front of the formidable bay doors. The cool silver sheen reflected a distorted version of my body; elongated and stretched as it passed over the bumps and contortions of the door's surface. I could just barely feel the shuttle jolt as we touched down, then the bay door split apart with a _whoosh_ and I was momentarily blinded by avoraciously hoping that the Techtivist assault was imminent, but the cold and logical part of my brain demanded a plan B. Unfortunately, I couldn't really see Mum and I fighting our way through an entire complex of Ascension's goons, and this place was far too big and confusing to have a hope of sneaking away without getting lost. That left talking our way out, and given Edward's unrelenting perspicacity I ranked that even lower than going commando. No, I'm pretty sure our hopes lay in Derek and John's hands. I crossed the fingers of my free hand and focused on the one thing that I had some measure of control over: keeping myself and Mum safe long enough for help to arrive. IF it arrived.

### CHAPTER TWENTY

### D.K.

Trekking


through the forest towards the clearing was taking far longer than expected. Looking at the map it had seemed such a short distance. I had expected to reach my destination in approximately fifteen minutes but, according to my Comp, I had already been walking for over an hour and there was still no sign that I was getting any closer. Thin beams of sunlight broke through the canopy above, motes of dirt and dust visible in the air until I passed through and disturbed them. I was starting to get tired and thirsty, and my pace had slowed from an eager jog to a steady walk. I pulled the map up again, probably the fifth time in as many minutes, and stared uselessly at the patch of forestimmediately drawn to a group of vast, transparent domes, enclosing what appeared to be obstacle courses of some kind. Within the closest I could see climbing apparatuses, fabricated mini-mountains, jagged trenches and endless other variations on physical impediments, many of which I had tackled myself in IN-VIs. Another dome appeared to be filled with water; stringy green fronds formed a jungle on the dome floor while indistinct shapes patrolled the depths, never getting close enough to be distinguishable. Yet another dome seemed to contain nothing but white smoke until a swarm of flying figures exploded through the puffy surface, leaving looping trails of cloud behind them as they swooped and disappeared back into the mist. I stood motionless, absorbing the absurdities of the valley city, a startling new


further back it went, there could have been hundreds more hidden away for all I knew.

Shifting my gaze back into the room, I discovered a large cylindrical tube rising from the centre of the floor, spilling open at the top to join with the sickly coloured sea outside. Hovering just above head height within the narrow tank was a single enormous brain, bobbing gently to and fro on a thin stream of bubbles. Unlike the others, the cables protruding from this one did not connect to the mounted canister, instead spiralling down the tube and disappearing behind a curving bank of flickering command terminals. While my eyes soaked in all the obscure details, my brain whirred frantically as it tried to make sense of the nightmare scene beforeconfirmed that I had found the controls. The boarding ramp steadily ascended to seal the bay shut, and I stared through the steadily shrinking gap as the pink cloud continued its approach. A few seconds and the gap had closed, the ramp sealing shut with a _hiss_ of air, and I was momentarily blinded as the bay lights flickered on. My eyes had almost acclimated to the gloom, and the sudden illumination sent me reeling. I stumbled sideways and pin-wheeled my arms in an attempt to regain balance. My right hand slammed into something solid, and a sharp stabbing pain shot through my wrist as something heavy slid on to the floor with a _bang_. I managed to grab hold of a firm surface and pulled myself into


a half-crouch, squatting there for a few seconds while I caught my breath. I stood up slowly and massaged my hand, blinking furiously to bring the room into focus and banish the stars from my eyes.

As details resolved, I got a good look at the object I had struck my hand on. It was a small crate, sitting on top of a stack of identically patterned crates, a stack not dissimilar to the one I had hidden behind outside. The lid must have been askew when my hand struck it, as it was now resting upside down on the floor. Looking inside the box revealed a row of neatly stacked carbonated beverages. Using my non-injured hand I opened a few of the other boxes and confirmed that theytelling the truth.

I envied Mum's confidence in his lack of sanity, but I struggled to share it. There were too many other people involved, too many checks and balances in an organisation like Ascension for one crazy person to lead them on a deranged quest without ample proof. There had to be more to this. Here was an entire city convinced that Edward was right, that the apocalypse was fast approaching, and that frightened the hell out of me. Worse, irrespective of whether it was true, were the extreme measures they were taking to prevent it. Harvesting innocent people for their brains? I shuddered in revulsion, picturing the oversized blobs in their silver frames, bobbing silently in the thick green sludge of the tank. They were fooling people


faking a delivery of 'test subjects', but cast it aside immediately. It had no chance of working when I had no willing participants. The delivery idea wasn't terrible though, I just needed something that would get me into this 'Containment Zone', or at least reasonably close. I glanced over my shoulder and down the hall to the cargo bay. Even prisoners need food, right?

The ship's docking assistant directed me to a low rooftop, nestled within the criss-crossing sprawl of larger facility buildings. It held only a small platform and though I managed a comfortable landing, any other ships wanting to touch down in the meantime would be straight out of luck. I ran a backup of the delivery credentials to my Comp, noting the profile image of anolder man with cropped black hair and a square jaw. Not exactly my doppelganger. Fingers crossed they're too lazy to run any facial recognition. I shut down the engines and other flight systems, but left the Comp logged on in the hopes that Liz and I would be able to return and escape.

As I passed back down the corridor to the cargo bay, I gave the rooms on either side a more thorough survey than I had before. If I was going to be a convincing deliveryman, I was going to need more than just the one crate I could carry. The second door on the right opened into just what I had been hoping for: a supply closet. Inside were numerous maintenance tools for the ship, medical


dolly back out the door, to no avail. I jumped out of the driver's seat and wandered over to him.

"I've got a delivery to make. To Conta-" I started.

"Don't you know what's going on? The Bureau is here, and we're too busy dealing with important business to worry about deliveries!" I was sorely tempted to ask exactly what business was occupying them, but I knew it wouldn't be a good idea. The insinuation that they were hiding something sparked an idea in my brain.

"Look, I've got _confidential_ _data_ here that needs to get to the Containment Zone. I've just come from Site Two, made it out just before the Enforcers, and I need to move this, now!" I added a hint of anger to my voice, hoping thatimpatient, immature little girl, and you do not deserve the gift you have been granted. Do not fret though; you will still play a role in our plan. You just won't be able to enjoy it." Edward had stopped yelling, instead choosing to enunciate each word with a maniacal glee that was even more terrifying. His arms scythed in concert with his speech, as if he was conducting the devil's orchestra on the eve of Armageddon. They swung faster and faster, building in ferocity as he took deliberate steps towards me.

"Such a waste, such a waste." He shook his head, a sad smile on his face. "You could have become one of us, Elizabeth, a part of my father's vision for a better humanity. Instead, we must take


the promise of a 'higher existence', they gave it the allure of the forbidden, ensuring that they would have a hearty supply of eager volunteers when they eventually gave in to public demand."

"Wow, you're right. Damn, that's some grade-A scheming."

"Yep."

I returned my gaze to the ship scanner, not really focusing on the display but instead letting my thoughts drift back to the possible extinction of the entire human race. I had prevented Armageddon so many times in IN-VIs, saving the world from alien races and lunatic dictators, but for it to be real... I shuddered in my seat.

A mail icon blipped on one of the ship's secondary displays, wrenching me from my morbid thoughts. I swiped it over to the main projection and opened the message.

HIGHEST PRIORITY COMMUNICATION

Sender:grit my teeth to keep the tears from flooding back.

"S-sure." What else could I say? Even considering all the crazy shit that had happened today, from hijacking an APT to learning that the apocalypse was coming, this was somehow the most terrifying. My whole life I had been a loner. I never knew my mother, and Dad had been about as warm as the inside of a _PermaFrost_ freezer. Jimmy had been my only real friend, the only one I had ever held on to for longer than a month. But he and I had spent most of our time hidden behind the masks of our avatars, our only emotions those necessary to grind our opponents to dust. Even out in the harsh reality of the physical world


it. It certainly does not bode well for the 'Enforcers' when their show of force is no longer enough to protect their own homes, does it? But I digress, and I have matters which I must attend to. I would like for you to remember that it is you who is responsible for your own premature demise, though I do not suppose you will have very long to ponder on it._

The message was confusing, and I was almost tempted to write it off as the deranged ramblings of a man who had crossed the threshold of sanity, but looking over the Enforcer communications stream lent validity to his claim. It seemed that the attack on the drones had been more of a diversion than a real defence, astravel, so it would have to be close to the Containment Zone where I took him down. As I seethed in anger at the thought of him keying in a course that would cost the lives of thousands upon thousands, another message came in on the ship's Comp. Speak of the devil.

HIGHEST PRIORITY COMMUNICATION

Sender: E. Levine, Chancellor

Evacuation Protocol Activated

_Fellow residents of Ark City, I have failed you. Our city is lost, and many of our lives' labours will go with it. I must apologise to you, for it is my foolishness that has brought us to this tragic outcome. I believed the people of Sallustria merely misinformed, only requiring gentle guidance to lead them off the path of societal stagnation. Unfortunately, it seems they are not simply ignorant


spied a large black door on the side wall, framed by two glowing authentication panels located unusually high. The suit detected the light sources and lowered the image amplification, but not before I was hit with a blinding white flash that sent me stumbling backwards. I waved my arms in wild desperation, extremely keen _not_ to find out whether I was capable of rising from the floor without assistance, and slowly regained my balance after twirling one-eighty degrees.

With the helmet's reduced light I could no longer see the cafeteria as clearly as before, with the mess of half-finished meals left abandoned now blending in with the table tops on which they sat. I carefully spun myself back around to face the door and its beacon-light panels, staring withnow Edward was only a few metres away, and I was ready to spring and knock him to the ground. He had stopped watching me during his speech, his eyes locked to a section of the ceiling far behind me. I steadily dropped to a crouch, planting my hands on the back of a chair to lend my jump a little extra power.

"And what about you, Derek? You took the lives of three innocent Ark City residents, so what does that make _you_? How does that make _you_ feel?" His patronizing tone was too much. I lost my composure, the tension draining from my muscles as I tried to comprehend what Edward was saying.

"WHAT? How- But... T-they were soldiers! They were sent there to kill us! They weren't


I would get from changing it. Lower down on the display were individual pitch and thrust controls for each engine. All four-hundred and seventy-five of them. A disturbingly large portion of them were marked as inactive. I isolated the starboard engines – the border of Sallustria was running along our left flank – and began increasing the thrust on different ones, alternating between fore and aft to avoid sending the city into an out-of-control tumble.

I glanced back at the shitty terrain map to see what effect I'd had. No change. I glowered at the screen and stabbed furiously at the controls, pushing each engine to its limit until it was no longer possible to maintain parity between the front and rear thrust. Still nothing. God-fucking-damn it! I scowledmade, so I accepted it and immediately felt the floor beneath my feet begin to tilt. I glanced at the rough vector map, the primitive shapes indicating a harrowingly small distance between us and the ground, and watched as we finally began to drift left, towards the open wastes. I let out a long held breath and dropped my shoulders, relaxing just a little. The angle of the floor was still increasing though, and I frowned as my calves began to tense from the effort of keeping me upright. When it reached the point where I had to plant my hands on the command console to keep from falling over, I knew something was wrong, and I flicked back to the engine controls and started punching up more


make an appreciable difference in pitch before those changes were overridden. By repeatedly deactivating a number of engines on the front of the city I was able to counteract our backwards slant, but by then I had realised our horizontal drifting had slowed to a crawl. The port engines had all been maxed out and angled to balance against the starboard ones.

"Fuckin' useless system," I seethed through closed teeth. I began swivelling the ball engines back, playing my hands feverishly over the controls as I tried to manage both our horizontal and vertical alignment. My head was throbbing and my eyes were starting to hurt, but the city continued to veer over Sallustria's perimeter, with every second bringing more and more of the arid plains into view onmeant to have decades of time left!

Massaging my temples, I turned back to look at the dodgy geo-display. We had almost breached Sallustria's borders entirely, the endless rolling wastes rising up to greet us. The map depicted the arid wastelands as a mesh of poorly connected flat rectangles, a few bumps here and there where the ground formed hills and crags. The barren landscape seemed to promise a smooth landing, but I knew that was just wishful thinking. A million-tonne amalgamation of steel and nature colliding with anything was never going to be smooth.

I began running through my head everything that I had achieved in my life. Until today, there really hadn't been that much I was proud of. About the only thing that came to mind was


trained for it. But no, I just _had_ to press the point that no-one would believe us if Edward escaped, didn't I?

And of course, to cap it all off, I had started to develop feelings for him and, in typical Liz fashion, I had waited too long to act on them. Now I might never get the chance. No! I can't think like that! Derek is going to be fine! I continued to tell myself this as our descent began to slow, the inner walls of the stalk giving way to the same large chamber that Derek and I had passed through on our way up to Ark City. Well, not _quite_ the same chamber.

"On the ground, now! Arms and legs to the side! If you do notof our ships are busy up there." She gestured at the massive hulk that obscured the sky above us. "Had to leave the trooper back with the crew at the stalk, so we're stuck with this thing. Might be a bit of a squeeze but we'll be at the hospital before long."

She took a small device out of her pocket and used it to open the cockpit canopy, reaching in and fiddling with something for a second before the rear bay door scythed apart. She clambered in to the cockpit over the maroon edge of the ship, sliding into the seat with practiced ease and gesturing for us to hop in the back. We obeyed and shuffled into the single rear seat, my right leg resting on Mum's


worse a few seconds later when I realised that he didn't even know about the whole brains thing, and that he was acting purely on his own beliefs and the meagre amount of footage that Derek had collected earlier. It almost made me physically ill thinking about it, and I couldn't help but notice similarities between John's show of indifference and Edward's speech back on Ark City. I tried to shunt the concerns from my mind. John and the Techtivists were the ones who had convinced the Bureau to launch their raid on Ascension, and without that distraction Derek would never have been able to free us. He might have a bit of a skewed perspective on what constitutes acceptable losses, but at least some of that couldhad been altered somewhat since last night. The Enforcement Bureau were reporting the ship as devoid of life, an unmanned drone suspected to have been ejected prematurely. Condolences were directed to those with friends and family who had lived in Ark City, and though teams were working around the clock to sift through the remains at the impact zone, chances of anybody surviving were negligible at best.

I balked at the Bureau's claim. Edward had been too much of a control freak to let that ship jettison unless it was part of his plan. But if that was the case, why hadn't he packed it full of his people? He had made it abundantly clear just how much he cared for them. Unless...unless it _wasn't_ empty, and the Bureau


message. Once she had finished she turned and returned my goofy smile, and I could see that little knowing glint forming in the corner of her eye.

"See honey, everything has sorted itself out. The Enforcers did their job, just like they're paid to. Make sure you remember this in the future: there's no need to be hasty and act irrationally. Leave it to the professionals."

Trust Mum to lecture me at a time like this. It didn't matter though, I was too ecstatic to care. Derek was alive! And an escort was on its way to take me to him! As if on cue, a chime rang out of hidden speakers in the walls, indicating that somebody was waiting at our door. I stepped over to the Comp terminalNoticing how eager I was to get going, the two Enforcers spun on their heels and strode back through the door and into the hallway. I took two steps and was almost out the door with them before I stopped myself short. Mum! I twisted my head and started to shout but caught myself when I saw Mum standing just a few feet behind me, her purse dangling over a dress she had somehow managed to throw on in the last thirty seconds.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight again, remember?"

Mum's tone was reluctant and her face still weary, but she strode forward regardless and made ready to activate the security system as we left. Impossibly my smile became even wider, stretching muscles in my face I


citizens both - were either cuffed or being closely monitored by an Enforcer escort. The glowing blue rings of the restraint gauntlets put me on edge, and I voiced my concern to our pair of Enforcers. The shorter guy hesitated and looked to his partner before answering.

"Anyone with ties to Ascension is being brought in for questioning regarding yesterday's incident." The finality in his voice left no room for further questions. But...surely that was overkill? There were bound to be at least a few other members of Ascension who shared Edward's maniacal vision of a new humanity, but to bring in everyone? I guess it was better to be safe than sorry, but still...

Our guides led us out of the elevator and through the river of shuffling bodies,my chances of seeing Derek, so I withheld nothing, ignoring the voice in my head that kept telling me how insane it all sounded.

By the time I had finished I was exhausted, breathless, and my head was throbbing from having to relive every nightmarish experience. My interrogator had remained mute the entire time, nodding occasionally but never interrupting, even when I stumbled over details. Now that it was clear that I had finished he leant forward, resting his chin on clasped hands and stared calmly into my eyes. I held his gaze for as long as I could, but eventually his unflinching expression became uncomfortable, and I looked away. I don't know whether it had been some sort of test or what, but when I turned back he


soundproofed curtain, just like the ones from the hospital earlier. Small stacks of crates were dotted around the rest of the room, some of them open and revealing pre-packaged meals and drink bulbs. Two benches had been separated from their brethren and were pushed together against the left-hand wall to form an improvised bed. Thick, ruffled blankets were piled next to the pillows on top, but they were sent tumbling to the ground as a figure slid off the bed and began running towards us, ambling unsteadily and nearly falling in his haste. He managed to catch himself, and started awkwardly hobbling as fast as he could in our direction.

"LIZ!"

His voice was like static, with cracks and gaps turning his one word into four. He coughed a fewbut instead of seeing clothes or hell, even Jimmy's naked body, what _was_ underneath completely blew my mind.

"Ay-Bee?! WHAT. THE. FUCK?!" My right arm was still playing host to Liz's', so I used my left to stretch forward and touch the dark blue metal, unable to believe what I was seeing. My brain struggled to reconcile the scene before me, smashing square pegs into round holes. I'd seen Jimmy get buried by an avalanche of plaster ceiling chunks, hadn't I? And what about A-B; hadn't I seen him rent asunder, shattered into pieces and strewn across the floor of Gregor's store by the augmented Ascension soldiers?

While Jimmy finished climbing out of the suit and I looked on dumbstruck, Gregor was fishing a thin silver rectangle out of his


Electro-adhesive gloves for sliding down transpole!" He pointed to the left where, now that most of the fog had cleared, I could see a bright blue pole curving out of a fresh puncture wound in the floor. The end of the pole was embedded in the ground a few feet away.

Gregor wasted no more time with explanations, shuffling forward and guiding Liz and her mother to the precipice of the gaping maw. I trotted over to join them, Jimmy stomping his mechanical feet in unison with mine, and peered over the edge. It was an immense black eye that stared back at me, thick shadow surrounding a tiny speck of light hundreds of metres down. I looked back up at Gregor, my eyes wide and my face contortedIf Gregor and whoever else is involved here have managed to keep something like this hidden for God knows how long, they've got to have a _really_ secure headquarters. And if they're producing fluid-form bodies like 'Luna's', it must be damn big too. We'll be safe there." I squeezed her hand and ducked my head low to meet her eyes. I gave her my most heartfelt smile, and after a few seconds of contemplation she returned it.

"Maybe...maybe you're right. I just... everything's been so hectic. I can't believe it's only been a day since I left for the Ascension office. It feels like a lifetime."

"I know what you mean. But all in all I'm pretty happy, even with all this crazy shit going on." Liz gawped at me


incredulously.

"Happy? Are you serious? You nearly died!"

"Yeah... but I finally accomplished something with my life. Something important. If Jimmy could talk, he'd tell you how much of a bum I've been. All I've ever done is played IN-VIs and screwed around with Gregor's 'toys'. Now I can say that something I did made a real difference in people's lives, a _positive_ difference. I never imagined it could feel this good." I stared solemnly into Liz's eyes for a few seconds before slipping into a sly smile. "And on top of that, I also met this really cool chick, you might know her..."

I caught movement in the corner of my eye and turned to see Jimmy roll his eyes and wave his arm dismissively. I ignored him and returnedThe largest entertainment company in the industry
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1From all our machines put together, from all our roads charted in miles, from all our accumulated tonnage, from all our arrayed aeroplanes, from our regulations, from our conditioning, not the slightest feeling could emerge. That is of another order, and real, and infinitely more exalted. From all your manufactured thoughts, from all your graded concepts, from all your concerted measures, not the slightest frisson of genuine civilization could result.That is of another order, infinitely more exalted and sur-rational.

4True civilizations are poetic shocks: the shock of the stars, of the sun, the plant, the animal, the shock of the round globe, of the rain, of the light, of numbers, the shock of life, the shock of death. Since the sun temple, since the mask, since the Indian, sinceabout that extraordinarily special person some get to meet in their lives. Someone who accepts you as you are, picking you up and standing by you no matter what the situation and someone who repeatedly encourages you to believe in yourself. Relationships don’t often last forever, whether good or bad they are part of the journey. Yet every now and again, there is a special case – where there is an everlasting effect…” Aidan sentimentally explains. It is also no surprise that the alternative music sphere has embraced the last two singles from his forthcoming album which is in its final stages of production being done by award-winning producer, composer and songwriter, Graham Ward – who has worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, Ray Charles,


initially held on its circumference and supplied to a grinding station. Both end faces are simultaneously rough-ground and fine ground there by means of a double wheel. With the double wheel, two coaxial, rotating grinding wheels that are arranged spaced apart from one another grip the workpiece. The grinding wheels have abrasive layers on the interior sides that face one another for rough-cutting and subsequent finish-cutting, and these layers engage one after the other by moving the grinding spindle in the depth direction (X axis). The distance between the finish-cut areas of the grinding wheels is equal to the grinding amount for the workpiece to be machined. Once the end faces have been machined, the workpiece is transferred to a second clamping in which it is clamped bythree of the others.

So I'm going to do my ballot now.

Best picture: Babe.

Best female actor: Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking.

Best male actor: Sean Penn, Dead Man Walking.

Best supporting female actor: Joan Allen, Nixon.

Best supporting male actor: Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects.

Best director: Mike Figgis, Leaving Las Vegas.

Best song: ''You've Got a Friend in Me'' from Toy Story (written by Randy Newman).

Anyhow, did you realize that the nominees in three of the major categories are all getting their first nominations in those categories? Pretty wild, but the directors category and both supporting actor categories feature all new nominees.

Further, I don't know what the clueless academy actors have against Jennifer Jason Leigh, who was ignored again this year, despite having been named best female actor by the New York film


is more dangerous than Hillary. The lofo voters only hear the class warfare schtick and the far left views her as one of theirs. She also has a lot of money backing her – the same that backed Obama.

That would be a great follow-up question (if there really were a thinking, independent press.) “If the government shutdown was about birth control, why did they barricade the national memorials and parks?”

In April 2012, the Boston Herald drew attention to Warren’s law directory entries from 1986 to 1995, in which she had self-identified as having Native American ancestry.[54][55] Because of these entries, Harvard Law School had added her to a list of minority professors in response to criticisms about a lack of faculty diversity. Warren said that she was unawareDraft amendments to the Indian Forest Act have been circulated for comment, and provoked much controversy. The ministry of environment proposes enhanced powers for the police and bureaucrats in dealing with forest tribals to improve forest cover. In 2015, the government made a UN climate commitment to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon through additional tree cover by 2030.The new draft includes a new concept — producer forests. Wasteland and thin forests are to be leased out to corporations to produce commercial timber, wood pulp, medicinal plants and other forest species. Some estimates put wasteland and thin forest at a quarter of all forest land. India currently imports an estimated Rs 46,000 crore worth of wood and timber products, and the


Healing Gaia Aabiziingwashi: Wide Awake to the Power of Indigenous Cinema Stories told by First Nations, Metis and Inuit filmmakers from across the country are guaranteed to change your view of Canada's colonial history forever. By Doreen Nicoll

Published May 10, 2017

On Friday, May 5, 2017, Polaris Prize winner Tanya Tagaq and her awe-inspiring show Nanook of the North electrified the audience at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.

The show had humble beginnings. Tagaq, in her wispy voice, introduced her band made up of good friends Jean Martin on drums, Jesse Zubot playing guitar (often with a violin bow), and Christine Duncan conducting her theremin and contributing vocals.

Tagaq reminded the audience that the improvised music and vocal accompaniments they were about to hear would never be recreated andencouraged them to remain in and enjoy every moment.

The honesty and openness of Tagaq was exemplified when audience members momentarily hijacked her show by belting out Happy Birthday to the singer who was celebrating her 42nd birthday. Tagaq was visibly moved by and much appreciative of the small gesture.

But once Robert J. Flaherty's 1922 documentary hit the large stage screen and the band began to play, Tagaq unleased the mystical magic that is her voice. Primeval sounds emanated from Tagaq reminiscent of the earth, air, and water that was her ancestor's homeland in northern Quebec before being relocated. Coincidentally, this was the backdrop for Nanook of the North.

Originally from Iqaluktuutiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavt, Tagaq is best known for katajjaq, or Inuit throat-singing. Ironically, Tagaq grew up in a


world bereft of this Inuit tradition because it was banned by priests who undoubtedly found it too sensual and erotic. The art form resurfaced the 1980's but, Tagaq has taken the tradition to a new level with infusions of electronica, industrial and metal to create Inuk punk. Tagaq's performance is physically unrestrained, vocally innovative and a brilliant match for the old documentary.

Tagaq's concert was part of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) retrospective First People Cinema: 1500 Nations, One Tradition, which officially opens at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on June 21, National Aboriginal Day, and runs to August 11. The festival includes Canadian and international films.

Tagaq's performance and the impending launch of TIFF's Indigenous film festival dovetails nicely with the May 5 official launch of Aabiziingwashi(#WideAwake): NFB Indigenous Cinema on Tour.

"Meaning 'wide awake' or 'unable to sleep' in Anishinaabe, Aabiziingwashi uses the power of cinema as a universal language, to build new understandings and connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. In these films, there's much truth to be heard, if we are ready to listen," said Claude Joli-Coeur, NFB Chairperson.

Throughout 2017, the NFB is making over 250 Indigenous-made works available for free public screenings. Stories told by First Nations, Metis and Inuit filmmakers from across the country are guaranteed to change your view of Canada's colonial history forever. And that's a good thing.

The lineup includes essential films like Alanis Obomsawin's Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993), which documents the story of the 1990 confrontation in Kanehsatake and the village of Oka, Quebec.

Obomsawin spent


essential services because the Trudeau government has not implemented the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal's recommendations. Obomsawin foresaw this outcome and is currently at work on a documentary about Jordan's Principle and planning the follow-up to WCMSMT.

This River (2016), a 20-minute film by Katherena Vermette and Erica MacPherson, follows the spiritually and emotionally challenging work performed by volunteers of Drag the Red, an organization based in Winnipeg.

DTR was organized to shame the Winnipeg Police Service into searching for missing Aboriginal women and men. Instead, the DTR continues to drag the Red River on a daily basis from May to October. Ground crews search the riverbanks weekly.

This film won the 2016 Coup de Coeur Award at the Montreal First Peoples Festival.

Two Worlds Colliding (2004) is an inquiry into what cameto be known as Saskatoon's infamous "freezing deaths." Indigenous men were routinely driven out of town by police officers and left to walk back in minus 20 F weather without their coats or shoes. Many never made it home.

Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (2000) is a drama set in Igloolik, Nunavut, that replaces stereotypes like those found in Nanook of the North with legitimate life experiences. Filmed in Inuktitut with English subtitles.

The NFB worked in partnership with an Indigenous advisory group to plan the Aabiziingwashi tour. This group is composed of some of the country's leaders in Indigenous cinema: Alanis Obomsawin (Cultural Attaché, First Nations, and Producer-Director, NFB), Jesse Wente (Director of Film Programmes, TIFF Bell Lightbox), Monika Ille (Executive Director of Programming and Scheduling, APTN); Denise Bolduc (Creative


Director, Producer, Programmer), Jason Ryle (Artistic Director, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival), and Nadine St-Louis (Executive Director, Sacred Fire Productions).

Screenings will be presented in collaboration with Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Toronto International Film Festival Bell Lightbox, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival as well as other partners.

Groups interested in organizing a screening in their community can contact https://www.nfb.ca/.

For a complete and up-to-date list of screenings, visit nfb.ca/wideawake.

Doreen Nicoll is a feminist and a member of several community organizations working diligently to end poverty, hunger and gendered violence.

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The head of Victoria's Adult Parole Board has hit out at Federal Attorney-General George Brandis for spreading "misinformation" about the prison release of Yacqub Khayre, the man at the centre of a terrorist attack in Brighton.

Khayre killed newly married Nick Hao, 36, who was working at an apartment complex in Melbourne's Bayside area on Monday, and took a woman hostage during a siege.

He shot three police officers at the end of the siege before being killed by police.

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Victoria's parole system has come under extensive criticism since the incident, including from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the federal Attorney-General.

Khayre, 29, had been released on parole after serving a majority of his five-and-a-half-year sentence, convicted on charges relating to a violent robbery.

On Wednesday, Senator Brandis told Sky News that Khayrehad been released as soon as his non-parole period was up.

"He'd been given parole after having served the shortest possible custodial period of his sentence, in other words, as soon as the non-parole period has expired, he was immediately given parole," he said.

"He should not have been plainly and in view what has happened."

But parole board chairman Peter Couzens told ABC Radio Melbourne the Attorney-General's claims were "completely wrong".

"I am somewhat frustrated by misinformation from people who ought to know better, like the Commonwealth Attorney-General, he should have got his facts right about the timing of this man's release," he said.

He said Khayre was sentenced with a non-parole period of three years.

"He [made an application for parole], but initially the board declined to consider him for parole, because


he had not behaved himself appropriately," he said.

"His final consideration was postponed from March 2015, until the board dealt with it in December of 2016 ... one year and three months after his earliest possible release date."

Senator Brandis later told RN Drive he believed Victoria, and other states, would want to review the information made available to parole boards in light of the incident.

He said it was up to each individual state parole authorities to ensure they have all the information at their disposal to make fully informed decisions.

"The fact he [Khayre] had been implicated in terrorist activities a few years ago was a publicly known fact," he said.

"Plainly, had the parole board been aware of that they may have taken an different view to the issue ofMonday. ( ABC News: Patrick Rocca )

On Wednesday, Judge Couzens said the parole board was never informed the Brighton gunman was on a terror watch list before it decided to release him from custody.

But the Attorney-General told Sky News that there "is no watch list as such".

"What there are is a list of the current investigations of people of concern to ASIO," he said.

"At the moment, there are approximately 400 active ASIO investigations underway but beyond that there is a periphery of people who may have come to ASIO's attention in past years."

He said Khayre was not being investigated by ASIO at the time he was granted parole.

Judge Couzens said he stood by the board's decision to grant parole to Khayre based on the information the board had


at the time.

"He was acquitted [of terrorism charges] and it seems to me that this golden thread that runs through our criminal justice system has been forgotten, namely one is innocent until proven guilty," he said.

"At the time when the board made its decision, and at the time when this terrible event occurred last Monday, he was not any watch list because no such thing exists.

"He was not the subject of any investigation by ASIO and one can only conclude from that he was not considered to be a risk."

Limiting parole 'extremely unwise'

Judge Couzens also criticised the Prime Minister for his remarks regarding Khayre's eligibility for parole earlier this week.

On Tuesday, Mr Turnbull questioned why Khayre had been granted parole with his long history of violence and pastAbe Woodson, one of the premier kickoff returners in NFL history who was named to five Pro Bowls in his seven seasons with the 49ers, died Saturday at 79 in Las Vegas, the team confirmed Tuesday.

Woodson, who also played cornerback, is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in yards per kickoff return in three seasons (1959, ’62 and ‘63) and his career average of 28.7 yards per return ranks fourth in league history. Of the 22 players with at least 5,500 kickoff return yards, Woodson is the only one to average more than 26.1 yards per return. His 5,538 yards rank 20th all-time.

A former track star at Illinois, Woodson holds 49ers career records for kickoff-return yards (4,873), kickoff-return average (29.4) and kickoff-return touchdowns (5).


Woodson is the only player in franchise history with more than two kickoff-return scores. He holds the franchise single-season record for kickoff return touchdowns (3) and the single-game mark for kickoff return yards (210).

A second-round pick of the 49ers in 1957, Woodson joined the team in 1958 after serving a military commitment. In seven seasons, he started 63 games at cornerback, had 15 interceptions and also led the NFL in punt-return average in 1960. He was traded to the Cardinals on Feb. 8, 1965, for running back John David Crow and had the most kickoff-return yardage in NFL history when his nine-year career ended in 1966.

Woodson was an all-Big 10 running back as a senior in 1956 and doubled as track standout at Illinois. He twice tied the50-yard indoor high hurdle world record and narrowly missed an Olympic berth in 1956 when he finished fourth at the trials.

After his NFL career, Woodson spent 35 years as a life-insurance agent. He also worked as a volunteer chaplain for the Nevada prison system.


The Offspring is a story roleplaying game about angelic beings caught in an endless war with the Nephilim. Players take on the roles of angels and other heavenly beings turning their gaze from the plight of man in a final attempt to thwart the enemies of humanity. In the quiet moments before the final battle, angels question the validity of the war and the purpose of god’s first offspring — the Nephilim.

This game is designed to be played in conjunction with Born from Hate.

Each game in the Protocol series is zero-prep for 3 or more players.
The game length is exponentially long, so games with more players take more time to complete. The Protocol Series requires a deck of poker cards as well as tokens to track drama points.Albany

An Albany consumer watchdog group says Time Warner Cable's $7 million, taxpayer-funded program to expand broadband Internet service across upstate is targeting more affluent customers.

The claim comes as Time Warner Cable is seeking approval from the state for its $45 billion sale to Comcast.

New York's Utility Project, a consumer advocacy group run by attorney Gerald Norlander, has been pressing the state Public Service Commission to force the companies to reveal more about their plans to expand high-speed Internet in the state, arguing that it's one of the key aspects of the deal for the public to consider.

The companies have fought the disclosures.

Last Friday, Norlander made a new plea for the plans to be made public, arguing that Time Warner Cable's state-funded broadband expansion program may run "contrary" to


or diphenhydramine gave no protection against the decrease in body weight. Slight increase in number and variation of respirations in SART-stress animals was to some extent prevented by neurotropin. Prolongation of the QRS interval was restored to control with the administration of the above mentioned drugs. Decrease in ACh sensitivity of the isolated duodenum tested by the Magnus-method was prevented by neurotropin. In the galvanic skin response test in rats, decrease in electric resistance on the skin, increase in reactivity and shortening of reaction time caused by SART-stress was prevented to the greatest extent by neurotropin and also to a considerable degree by parenteral administration of DZ or beta-hydroxy gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABOB), the effective results of the drugs being: Neurotropin, DZ, GABOB in that order. Cp and Rp,Local residents gathered outside the Montgomery County Council building Sunday afternoon in Maryland to call out state and county officials for their “indifference” to the effects of illegal immigration on public schools.

The rally, organized by the Montgomery County Republican Party and the local chapter of the Young Republicans National Federation, was promoted on social media as a gathering to address several issues, including taxes, educational standards, and government accountability. But the balance of the protest focused directly on a single concern: community safety imperiled by county and state sanctuary policies.

The alleged rape of a 14-year-old Rockville High School student by two illegal immigrant classmates has thrown the issue into the national spotlight. Some local residents are laying blame for the assault at the feet of Montgomery County officials


broadcasting company owned by John Garziglia, a communications attorney. That company will, in turn, broadcast programming from a Sputnik internet stream through a radio station in Reston, Virginia. The station, 105.5 FM, aired bluegrass music until Sputnik programming took over in June.

Foreign agent registrations from RT and Sputnik came after the Justice Department threatened to investigate both networks under the FARA law, which requires the disclosure of financial and operational information by entities conducting lobbying or public relations in the U.S. on behalf of foreign governments or political parties.

Margarita Simonyan, the editor in chief of both RT and Sputnik, criticized DOJ’s decision, and sarcastically swiped at American ideals in a statement on RT’s FARA registration. “Between a criminal case and registration, we chose the latter,” she said. “Wecongratulate American freedom of speech and all those who still believe in it.”

U.S. intelligence agencies believe that both RT and Sputnik were components of a Russian disinformation operation during the 2016 election to sway American attitudes toward the two major candidates and, more generally, to sow confusion and discord among the electorate.

DOJ’s crackdown on the networks marks a significant escalation of FARA enforcement, and the Russian government has responded in kind. This week, the Duma, the Russian assembly, passed a law imposing its own “foreign agent” moniker on America-owned news organizations, in particular state-sponsored broadcasters such as Radio Free Europe.

“This legislation strikes a serious blow to what was already a fairly desperate situation for press freedom in Russia,” said Denis Krivosheev, an official at Amnesty International, in a


Arab awakening against authoritarian dictators, has now been reduced to a bloody de-Arabized power game, in which the Syrian people have been used as a tool to serve the conflicting interests of many opportunistic players. Gone are the days of bold ultimatums and vociferous demands; now Syrians are hoping the current fragile ceasefire will hold at least for a while longer.

Much political and ideological rhetoric has been devoted to blaming the United States, Russia, Iran, and Turkey for their contribution to the Syrian tragedy. However, while these nations must bear part of the blame for the human catastrophe in Syria, it is mainly an Arab production, for many reasons:

Underestimating the enemy

From the early days of the Syrian conflict, Arab patrons of the revolution in that country were happyThe Madras High Court has held that a widow is equally entitled, even after remarrying, to receive the Provident Fund amount from her late husband’s account.

The court reiterated the fact that the bar under Section 24 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, was deleted in September 2005, upholding her right to claim herself as a legal representative of her deceased husband.

The petitioner had remarried following her husband’s death in 2001. In 2004, on an appeal by the mother of the deceased, the Principal Subordinate Judge had given her the sole right to obtain the amount lying in her son’s Provident Fund account. The widow had preferred an appeal against the said order.

Justice N Kirubakaran reiterated the provisions of the Succession Act, 1956, and the Hindu Widow Re-marriage Act,


1856, and held that, ‘the right of the widow not only to remarry, but also to inherit the property of the late husband has been declared and the women, including widows, are treated as co-parcener on par with the males’.

Empathising with the petitioner, who had lost her second husband also, the judge stated: ‘It is very disheartening to note that the appellant lost her second husband within fifteen days of the remarriage and her position has not been improved anymore.’

Setting aside the order of the subordinate court, it held that ‘the widow is equally entitled to a share on par with the mother of the deceased husband in the Provident Fund amount in all other dues’.

Read the Judgment here.

This article has been made possible because of financial supportMichigan Governor Calls Flint Water Crisis ‘a Disaster’

The Flint River flows downtown on January 17, 2016.Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

This weekend, President Obama declared a federal emergency in Flint, Michigan, where children are getting poisoned because of the lead-contaminated water coming out of the city’s old pipes. As local politicians try to deal with the disaster, the story has gone national, even making an appearance on the Democratic debate stage thisweekend.

Here’s the latest on what’s happening, as President Obama prepares to visit Michigan onWednesday.

The Governor Admits He Made a Terrible MistakeThe crisis began shortly after the newly appointed emergency city manager of Flint decided to stop taking water from Detroit for cost-saving purposes in 2014. The city, suffering from manufacturing contractions like many other places in the Midwest, had


the main conclusion of an international study published in Nature Climate Change on 25 April 2016. In 40 percent of the world’s regions, a significant increase in leaf biomass was observed between 1982 and 2015, only 4 percent showed significant losses of vegetation. The vegetation corresponds to the size of a continent twice the size of the USA.

The desert regions have also become greener, such as the Sahel on the border with the Sahara, the Fertile Crescent, which stretches across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, and the former region of Carthage in North Africa, which used to be the granary of Ancient Rome.

These areas were already green and fertile in the climate optimum of the Holocene directly after the last ice age. From there, in the course ofclimate impact researchers have recently informed us. Quite to the contrary:

Above all the north, the east, the low mountain regions and the Alps have become greener, as the satellite data show. The forest area is also growing in Germany, which is over 30% wooded. Between 1992 and 2008, the forest area in Germany “grew by an average of 176 square kilometers per year”.


the war (Agyeman-Duah, n.d. no. 13). Wilks (1975, p. 456) writes: "The first and second Asokwahenes, Nuamoa and his full brother Akwadan, were among the many Denkyira who voluntarily transferred their allegiance to Osei Tutu in the late seventeenth century." When Akwadan defected he was said to have carried a trumpet that was made of gold. This must refer to a gilded abentia - gilded state horn (called nkrawoben).
These Denkyira people are said to have introduced several innovations not only in textile and other crafts but also in government and military organization. The Denkyira hypothesis is buttressed by the fact that a section of the Bonwire township is named Denkyira for the Denkyira people who either defected or were captured during the "Osa-nti" war. Oral history as toldThe Iraqi government says the city of Mosul has been liberated from so-called Islamic State, three years after it was first occupied by the jihadists.

The BBC's Jonathan Beale is in the heart of the war-torn city, and has witnessed rescue teams searching for survivors in wrecked buildings.