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PILLAR OF IMPOTENCE
In the past week, the people of Gaza have been subject to some serious Israeli attacks. Some Hamas leaders and militants have been murdered and many more Palestinians - innocent civilians, babies, kids, women and elders – have lost their lives. Yet, Gaza is celebrating with the Hamas leadership never more popular.
So here is an interesting anecdote that deserves our attention. During the recent clashes Gazan militants launched more than 1,500 rockets at Israel. These rockets caused rather limited damage with more than six Israeli fatalities. Militarily at least, this is far from a great achievement. And yet the Gazans are celebrating.
Would Israelis be happy to learn that 1,500 of their rockets had had such limited effect? Would any western army accept such a result at such a cost? The answer is a categorical NO.
But the Palestinians are ecstatic, why, because they know they have won the battle and are now set to win the war. They won the battle, not because they killed six Israelis - actually they would have won it without hitting one single Israeli. They won it because they managed to deliver a message to Israel, world Jewry and the whole world.
For many years I have argued that the Palestinian war of the rockets should be seen as sending a message: 'Israelis! You are on stolen land! You took our houses, villages, cities, fields and orchards. You pushed us into the desert. You surrounded us with barbed wire. You starve us and you kill us simply to suit your political ambitions. So this rocket is a message to you all. Think about us and then look at yourself in the mirror. Enough is enough!'
For more than six decades the Israelis have dismissed this message. They surrounded themselves with ghetto walls and have sealed their skies with an Iron Dome. However, with Tel Aviv now under attack, Israel and Israelis have been confronted with their original sin.
In the last two days, the entire Israeli media has admitted the colossal defeat of the so-called Operation Pillar of Cloud. On November 23, the Israeli right wing Ynet wrote, "Hamas stood up and won almost all fronts… Hamas has managed to turn focus on Gaza, it made it into the centre of the political discussion." It seems that the most hawkish Israel government ever, has failed to beat either Hamas or the Palestinian spirit. The Palestinians are stronger than ever while the Jewish State has been exposed as an impotent manic-depressive collective driven by a neurotic and impotent leadership.
If Zionism was ever there to counter Jewish diaspora ghetto paralysis, just to ensure that 'never again' Jews would be 'led like lamb to the slaughter', Netanyahu, Barak and Liebermann have proved in the past week that paralysis is inherent to Jewish political culture. Like all bullies, they are obsessed with power, but when they meet defiance, their vile paradigm instantly collapses.
Speech can provide us with an insight into what we most lack. Speech can reveal that which we prefer to keep hidden. But speech is also often rather misleading, there to shape our lies into a truthful narrative. But it is these 'true lies' that provide an access to the fearful-self. It is these 'true lies' that reveal the unconscious. So, when, for instance, Jewish 'anti' Zionists preach to us about Jewish 'humanism and universalism', they are obviously lying yet are they not also expressing a yearning for such an ethos to really exist in their own culture?
Israelis are obsessed with 'deterrence' only because, deep down, they are aware of their own vulnerability. Israelis are fanatical about 'deterrence' because they know that when push comes to shove, they themselves are actually powerless.
Similarly, when Israel refers to itself as 'The only democracy in the Middle East', is this not because Israel would really love to be such a true democracy? In other words, often, when we speak we demonstrate what we most lack, that is, that which we miss and desire, yet we cannot admit this to ourselves.
When Netanyahu decided to designate his latest massacre as a Pillar of Cloud, he actually tried to disguise from himself and his people the fact that in reality, he is actually an impotent, and the cloud is actually one big duvet of lies, there only to conceal his shame.
Israel and the Israelis love to talk about their 'power of deterrence' - Israeli actions, there to deter Palestinians and Arabs from even contemplating the possibility of challenging the Jewish state. In fact, the entire Israeli foreign and military policy can be realised with reference to that power.
Israel likes to see itself at the core of its neighbours' anxiety. This explains the Israeli fascination with the accumulation of nuclear bombs and other WMDs. It explains the policy towards Iran and it also explains its brutal attitude towards the Palestinians.
Israelis are obsessed with 'deterrence' only because, deep down, they are aware of their own vulnerability. Israelis are fanatical about 'deterrence' because they know that when push comes to shove, they themselves are actually powerless. They are now exposed for what they are: a fragmented society dominated by egotistic hedonism. Israelis know that their underbelly is very soft indeed.
Israeli collective melancholia must be realised in the light of their inevitable encounter with their true nature. As Ynet admits, they have been defeated in almost every possible respect. As a society, they have been caught naked and their imaginary collective bond has proved to be a farce.
In spite of Israel's mighty, sophisticated army the Hamas leadership, together with the people of Gaza, remained defiant. In spite of relentless air raids, and till the very last moment, Hamas kept firing their rockets reminding Israelis what life in Gaza is really like.
When it seemed that the IAF had done its worst (but achieved so little), the Israeli government called on its 75,000 reservists, hoping against hope that such a move would bully Hamas into surrender. Again they were wrong. Ismail Haniah made things very clear when he invited the Israeli reservists to try their luck and enter the strip. Israel was caught with its trousers down - and, believe me, the vision of their collective genitalia was not a pretty sight!
'Unconscious is the discourse of the other' says Lacan. The fear of impotence is not the fear that you may not be up to much in bed, it is actually the unconscious nightmare that everyone around you is saying behind your back that you're not up to much in bed. Israelis not just now admitting their impotence to themselves, they are also aware of now being seen as a bunch of arrogant, cowardly and helpless barbarians.
By the time it became clear that the Pillar wasn't even semi-erect and the Cloud couldn't cover even that embarrassing truth, Netanyahu, Barak and Liebermann as well as the whole of Israeli society realised that nothing was left of Israel's power of deterrence - for the Palestinians have lost their fear.
2 Responses to "PILLAR OF IMPOTENCE"
I'm amazed at how people forget that the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and Golan Heights were once part of other countries and only after those countries attacked Isreal - and lost, did those territories become a part of Isreal. And then even when Isreal gives back the Gaza Strip, with a "no more attacks" agreement, and is attacked continually again, do they return fire. Study the region history and you'll see that the Palestinian have through the decades been offered solutions, which they have rejected. You'll see other Arab nations refusing to take in those Palestinian. And you'll also see that Hamas chooses to embed themselves deep within the residential areas of Gaza forcing their citizens to live in that war zone. So spin it all you wish the truth will set you free.
By gsv on Nov 26, 2012
Atzmon is not even trying to hide the fact the he thinks that deliberate targeting of civilians is a legitimate means of solving a political dispute. He thinks that because his view of the conflict is the only legitimate one, the only legitimate response to such "resistance" is waving a white flag. He rejects dialogue as a valid form of political discourse.
It is this strategy of forcing things to go the way you want them to, refusing to see the other as an other, that leads to limpness and frustration. We will see if Hamas continues down this path.
If anything good came out of this, it is that there is now an element in conservative political Islam — the new Egyptian government — that seems ready to cut a deal. This can only strengthen those Israelis who likewise see meeting somewhere in the middle as the only way out. May it happen soon.
By Owen Goldin on Nov 27, 2012


The Data Centre Dynamics (DCD) Awards has announced MainOne CEO, Funke Opeke, the 2018 Data Centre Dynamics Business Leader of the Year during the 2018 edition at the Royal Lancaster, London on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
The Business Leader of the Year Award recognises a company or individual who has done the most over the past 12 months to build the profile of the data centre industry to key stakeholder groups including investors, shareholders, financiers, owners, operators, the media and/or government.
Selected by an independent panel of data centre experts from hundreds of entries from across the world, Opeke was recognized for her role in leading her company, MainOne to success in West Africa, taking on the task of building a Tier III certified data centre from the ground up with cables connecting it to the rest of the world, as well as her ability to assert herself, deliver results and actively take on challenges within a male-dominated field while encouraging other women in her team to do the same.
Other big winners of the night include Equinix, CyrusOne, Microsoft, American Express, Next DC, Apple and Akamai.


When you drive down Collingwood's main street, it's impossible to miss the unusual building on the west side near Loblaw. People often ask about it so here's the scoop.
The address is 44 Hurontario Street and locally, people just call it the federal building as it is the property of Public Works Canada. It is home to Service Canada and of course, is open to the public during business hours.
Next time you are downtown, do take a moment and pop in to see this gem.


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Midsummer Night's Dream Tragedy Scene Analysis
The Ironic Scenes of Shakespeare's Famous Play "Never did mockers waste more idle breath," cried Helena, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, incorrectly thinking she was being mocked (Shakespeare 3.2 170). This is one of multiple examples of dramatic irony in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows more about a character 's situation than the character does.This is one of three types of irony, the other types are situational and verbal. All these types of irony are used throughout the play, in many different situations.The three main examples of irony in this play, however, are dramatic irony. The use of dramatic irony in A Midsummer Night's Dream made the play more humorous, interesting, and entertaining to read or watch. The main example of dramatic irony in A Midsummer Night's Dream occurs in the middle of the play and it adds chaos and entertainment to the writing. In Act III, Scene II, Helena believed she was being mocked by Demetrius and Lysander. Leading up to the scene, Helena loved Demetrius, but both Lysander and Demetrius loved Hermia. Because Demetrius and Lysander both randomly fell in love with Helena, she was led to believe she was being made fun of. Demetrius and Lysander were also confused because they knew it wasn't a joke, and they truly loved her (Shakespeare 3.2 125-355). This is an example of dramatic irony because the audience knew something the characters didn't. The readers knew a love potion was put into both Lysander and
Piggy Character Development
Irony can be many different things and situational irony stood out when Jack sets the fire to roust Ralph from the forest. This is a violent seen, Ralph and jack go at it, they were always in competition with each other. Not knowing that this was the scene that was going to get them rescued, it turned the book around. "The world, that understandable and lawful world, was slipping away."
Examples Of Dramatic Irony In The Crucible
Most irony is used intentionally, but in some cases it can be used unintentionally. Irony is used to illustrate a point which is better than just plainly saying something. The Crucible contains several examples of dramatic, verbal, and situational irony. Dramatic irony is a situation of shock or drama in a story.
Essay On Kate Chopin's Use Of Situational Irony
Kate Chopin used situational and dramatic irony in order to buy some mystery and it can leaves you thinking at the end. Situational irony is when the opposite of what you expect happend. The other irony Kate Chopin uses is Dramatic wich means when the audience/reader knows something that a character doesnt. One type of situational irony that louise was happy when she found out that her husband was dead. This is situational irony because most woman would be sad.
Dramatic Irony In The Crucible
someone could be smiling and laughing, but inward could be miserable. The abundant examples of irony in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible hints that appearances can often be deceiving from reality. Verbal irony has created confusion and suspicion because people say things, when they mean an entirely different definition. Situational irony causes tension and suspicion because expectations in the audience and cast aren't met.
Miss Strangeworth's Letter Irony Analysis
77 Words | 1 Pages
Irony is used in this story to express how generous and nice Miss Strangeworth may seem, but at the same time it shows just how evil a person can be. When Miss Strangeworth drops the letter, that's an example of situational irony. When Miss Strangeworth writes the letters to the people of the town, that's an example of verbal irony. When Miss Strangeworths roses are found destroyed with a little note, that's an example of dramatic
Irony In The Awakening
Dramatic irony occurs when the significance of a character's words, intention, and actions are known to the audience or reader but not the other characters. For example, the relationship between Robert and Edna continues to grow and we know that, but not Mr. Pontellier. Verbal irony is when words
Use Of Dramatic Irony In Romeo And Juliet
Dramatic Irony in Romeo and Juliet The play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, can be described as confusing, well written, dramatic, emotional, sorrowful, ironic, and much more. Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony makes the play much more enjoyable and realistic. Dramatic irony is used throughout the whole entire play, especially in Acts III, IV and V. Each Act has dramatic irony concealed beneath Shakespeare's beautiful Old English language. Juliet spoke in a very complex way. Most of what Juliet told her family, could be taken in two completely different directions.
Irony And Vampirism In Macbeth
The one scene that uses irony is when King Duncan finds that a man was a traitor and gives Macbeth the title Thane of Cawdor believing he is a good man in Act 1, scene 2 page 353. What though the audience knows, that he doesn't is that Macbeth will kill him and take over his throne. Another memorable example deals with the invitation of Duncan over to Macbeth's quarters to eats with them, where he believes that macbeth is a kind man and a good friend. But as soon as Duncan falls asleep, Macbeth stabs him and kills him for once and for all in act 2, scene 1 page 368. This is an ironic because once again, the audience knew what was coming despite of Duncan's
Examples Of Dramatic Irony In An Inspector Calls
This is the first example of dramatic irony, which in this play happens mostly because of the difference in time periods of when the play was set and
The Labyrinth Literary Analysis
Dramatic irony is when the viewer/reader knows something that the characters don't. Situational irony is when there is a
Literary Analysis Of Kate Chopin's The Story Of An Hour
One example is when Mrs. Mallard says, "free, free, free!" (Chopin). The reader would expect Mrs. Mallard to be upset at the loss of her husband, but in fact, she is actually feeling relief from it. Mrs. Mallard is happy because she is now free from living under her husband. Another example of Kate Chopin's usage of irony is at the end when its said, " they said she died of heart disease- of joy that kills" in a since they are right.
Compare Oedipus And Willy Loman
Throughout both plays, dramatic irony is used to portray the protagonists as tragic heroes and deliver their meanings as a whole. The heroes are not necasarilly aware of these events of dramatic irony, but they are apparent to the audience. One example is when Oedipus refused to believe Teiresias the blind prophet about the truth of his actions and the prophecy. Oedipus called him a "… sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man," when ironically Oedipus , "with both [his] eyes", was the one blind to the prophecy and the severity of his actions (Act1.
Irony In The Tell-Tale Heart And The Lottery
Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" and Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective. Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" emphasizes on how a man's thoughts and perception can affect oneself and other's lives.
A Midsummer Night's Dream Act 2 Scene 1 Analysis
In William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream the circumstances surrounding love have been put into question, this occurs when a magical nectar is put in the eyes of three major characters, and changes their feelings towards the people in their lives. Titania, Lysander and Demetrius all have had the nectar put into their eyes, though Demetrius avoids having this done to him in act 2 scene 2 which is the scene that the focus of this paper will be looking at. Throughout the play, we focus largely on the love life of Helena, which unfortunately does not seem to exist. She is in love with Demetrius, whom does not care for her in the same way, he does not cherish her at all before he is under the influence of magic. Once Lysander declares
Romeo And Juliet Literary Devices Essay
Dramatic irony is when the audience or reader know something that the characters are unaware of. In Act Two Scene 3 line 44, Friar Laurence asks Romeo, "God pardon sin! Wast thou with Rosaline?" (2.3.44) and this adds suspense to the play, therefore making the plot more interesting. What this quote means is that Friar Laurence thinks that Romeo has been with Rosaline all night, even though he was with Juliet.
More about Midsummer Night's Dream Tragedy Scene Analysis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: Auto-scroll in div with React Having a div with dynamic logs content (props.logs), How can I auto scroll to the bottom?

    <Collapse isOpened={isOpened} >

    </Collapse>

A: The problem is you are passing the ref to the div element in which your component is rendered. I would suggest you use a dummy div at the end of your content and then scroll to that whenever your component is updated. Just check with this modified code.

  <Collapse isOpened={isOpened}>

  </Collapse>

;

Attaching a sandbox with the same scroll functionality. You can check and modify based on your requirements.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: Strange GIT remote url git remote -vv

shows
origin  username@source:/var/git/repo.git (fetch)
origin  username@source:/var/git/repo.git (push)

What does it mean "source:" is it some kind of protocol?
One more thing it works without password but if use usual URL it requires password.

A: It works without password because it is an ssh url, and:

*

*your private key (in ~/.ssh/id_rsa) is not passphrase protected (or it is and is still managed by the ssh-agent)

*your public key (~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub) is registered in the source server at ~username/.ssh/authorize_keys file.

if I use usual URL it requires password.

If you are talking about an http(s):// url, then yes, it would require a username and a password.


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AKA: 炎のらびりんす (Honou no Labyrinth)
Genre: Comedy, romance, fighting
Length: OAV series, 2 episodes, 30 minutes each
Distributor: R1 DVD from Anime Works / Media Blasters out of print.
Content Rating: PG-13 to R (fan service, language, crudity, adult situations and themes, violence)
Also Recommended: Labyrinth of Flames is best recommended for people who enjoy having their flesh set aflame.
Notes: All rights earlier owned by CPM has been lost. The show is currently unlicensed.
Labyrinth of Flames
I'm just going to lay out the whole plot, since I need it as a background for stressing the series' worth. Galan, a bumbling samurai wannabe, is given a short sword by Natsu, a girl who apparently likes him. When she invites him back to her house, they meet Datenoshin, Natsu's suitor; Kasumi, Natsu's anemic handmaiden; Carrie, a 'reporter'; and Natsu's lecherous father. When Natsu announces that she has intentions to marry Galan, rather than Datenoshin, who was chosen by her father, her father instructs Datenoshin to take the sword from Galan, as it is a ceremonial wedding gift among her family. Natsu's aunt intervenes, Datenoshin runs away, and robot puppets attack them. Kasumi beats them up, due to a transfusion of 'ninja juices.' Carrie announces that she's actually an Interpol agent, and that Natsu's father's girlfriends, who are shown for approximately twenty seconds in the first episode, are criminals after the sword, which is a map to a stash of money. Galan and the women proceed to fight for most of the rest of the series.
I should have returned this DVD the instant I hit the 'Languages' menu and found the background to consist of an incredibly close-up view of a woman's chest, nipples fully erect.
Labyrinth of Flames probably ranks among the worst anime I've ever seen. The plot is nearly nonexistent, and not in a good way. The series seems to rely on the plot, except for the fact that there isn't much in the way of a continuous plot. For the first five minutes, it's about a klutz who wants to be a samurai. For the ten minutes after that, it's about Natsu being in love with the klutz. For the ten minutes after that, it's about Galan and Datenoshin competing over Natsu. For the next half hour, it's about everybody trying to beat up robot-using bandits. Throughout the entire thing, the camera finds its way into girls' busts or under their skirts if at all possible. And I do mean if at all possible. Meaning that if there's a girl on screen, and nothing of extreme importance is happening, their underpants are likely showing, if they're not dominating the screen altogether. For about the first three times, it's okay, but when the entire show's animation revolves around circumventing women's clothing, you might as well just go get the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and imagine them drawn in anime style.
The bulk of the humor is nearly as sad, and revolves around two things:
1. Natsu's Father likes sex.
2. Galan is a screw-up.
Ha ha! I'm sure you're all rolling on the floor vomiting up blood from your extreme laughter at this point. There is other humor, and some of it is decently funny. About the height of it is the killer death robots drinking tea as the wait for Galan to fight them. Oh, darn, I just revealed the funniest moment to you. Now you don't have to rent this piece of crud to see it.
The English dub is another area in which Labyrinth of Flames falls flat. The voice acting is sub-mediocre, overall. And instead of changing the mouth animations for the English dub or simply translating the speech and leaving the mouths as they are, sentences seem to be padded and shrank to match the characters' mouths. While this normally wouldn't be much of a problem, they repeatedly made sentences overly long, simply to match the animation. The dub ends up sounding really unnatural in some places as a result. The sub, showing the normal translations, reads much more smoothly.
It does have mostly good music. There, now nobody can say I was purely critical.
If you like bathroom humor and really like undergarments, go ahead and add a star or two. Just don't say I didn't warn you. — Jed Stevens
Recommended Audience: Late teens. There are plenty of views of every female body part with as little covering as possible, though nothing that would be considered actual nudity. There's also some language, and crude humor. The DVD character sketches gallery does have topless women.
Version(s) Viewed: R1 DVD
Review Status: Full (2/2)
Labyrinth of Flames © 2000 Studio Fantasia / Bandai Visual / Nippon Columbia


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This is a moving spiritually strengthening biography of an orthodox monk who dedicated his life to serving God and helping so many of his spiritual children. It is a compilation of scripts from all these people sharing their experiences. It is without doubt Fr Simon will one day be canonised through the work during his time on earth and through his capacity to heal and comfort in the name of The Lord.
This is a moving spiritually strengthening biography of an o ..


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It is a dream for every girl to have a well toned and perfect figure. If you are really serious, you can also have such a body with a little time, commitment and dedication. Here are some tips that will help you achieve a perfect body.
The diet you follow must be in accordance with your needs and requirements. What worked for one person may not work for the other person. So, have your own diet plan and follow it.
Have lots of water, this will help in keeping you full.
Have fruits and vegetables rich in fiber and nutrients. Instead of having snacks like chips and fried items, have them in the evening when you feel hungry.
The time you have your food is equally important as what you eat. This helps in keeping you healthy. Have your dinner at least 2 hours before you sleep.
Instead of having large meals two or three times a day, have small meals 4 or 5 times a day. This will reduce your craving for food.
Have your food on a small plate. If you put the same food on a large plate, you may feel that you are eating less. So, try to use a small plate. This really works.
Consume stir-fry dish or salad without any unwanted sauces or dressings.
If you like to have something sweet after dinner, you may have fruits to which a little honey is added. This is healthy.
Skipping meals is not good. It makes you starved, and at the end you will start eating everything that you can get your hands on. This makes you gain weight rather than lose weight. Starvation also makes your body deprived of nutrition and this can cause health problems.
Sometimes, when you feel thirsty, you may think that you are hungry. At such times have a glass of water or fresh juice. If you are still not satisfied, then you can have a light snack.
The food we make at home is healthier as we make it with care, adding only healthy ingredients. So, instead of eating out, try to make food at home as much as possible.
This does not mean you can have anything. Out of the healthy foods you choose, you can have what you love to eat. Have you favorite fruit, vegetable and so on.
Some eat more when they are happy, sad or depressed. Emotional eating is not healthy. Have a control over what you eat when you are emotional. This will prevent unhealthy eating and keeps you fit.
Diet has an important role in helping you lose weight. 80% of your fitness is decided by your diet and only 20% is decided by the exercise you do.
Before you start measures to lose weight, you must make a note of how much weight you want to lose. This depends on your height, age, health and bone structure. Remember that it is a gradual process and will take time. Now make up your mind and stay committees to it.
When you make a stir fry dish, use tofu paneer instead of normal paneer.
Be true to yourself and note every food you consume along with the quantity.
Understand how the food is made; whether it is grilled, boiled, stir-fried, steamed or just fried. If fried, check how much oil was used.
Most important of all is to stick to your food journal. Note down everything you eat.
You must know what food is rich in each nutrient that is essential for you and eat accordingly.
Soybeans, hot peppers, spices and fish are good for improving your metabolism.
Oats, lean meat, rice, pulses, fish, strawberries, bananas, raspberries, sprouts etc are rich in fiber.
Oranges, red bell peppers, broccoli, raisins, berries, cherries etc are rich in antioxidants.
It may sound weird, but it really works. When you make a note of whatever you are eating for a week, then you will be aware of what you are consuming and what food you have to replace to become more fit.
By sharing your servings, you tend to eat less, especially if you are offered huge servings.
Have plenty of water. You may also have smoothies, but take care not to ad too much of sugar. Avoid packaged fruit juices, cold drinks, alcohol and so on.
It is important that you exercise daily, along with the diet you follow. Start with simple exercises and then you can proceed to do harder ones. Jumping ropes, squats, cardio exercises etc are good for you. You can even set a gym at home. Walking is also good and keeps you healthy. Always remain active and motivated.
If you have close friends who are also trying to lose weight, pull them in and get going. This will help in motivating you and keeping you on track.
Every time you reach a milestone, reward yourself. This will keep you motivated.
Through away over sized dresses and get clothes that measure an inch or two lesser. This makes you work consistently so that you can fit into the dress.
Check your weigh daily and see whether you are losing weight. This will let you know whether you are on the right track. If there is a sudden increase in weight over a week, it means that some correction is needed in your diet and exercise.


The start of the year, post harvest (and drought) saw us moving more feed in the off–season than we have for a long time. Surplus silage and straw that had been sitting around for a couple of years was put to good use by farmers through the wet late autumn weather. It was good to see a lot of the older feed getting used up in a time of need instead of being wasted. It has made way for us to restock with new fresh material in the coming months. Hopefully Mother Nature will play ball and help grow some good quality crops.
I must make mention of the outstanding efforts of our Feed Rep., Bruce Lilley over the winter. For every person that phoned looking for a load of straw or silage, Bruce found some. Even when stocks were running as low as I have ever seen them, he managed to keep people going. It was great to see our vast web of contacts being put to use. I hope that it has become an invaluable service to our clients over the years; we aim to always have a feed solution.


Considered to be the best popular biography of John Baptist de La Salle in English, this work incorporates modern research to provide an illuminating background on the life and charism of the Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It describes De La Salle's increasing involvement in a process whose outcome he'd never envisioned. This biography sheds new light on the enduring elements of the Lasallian charism—a reliance upon Divine Providence and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a spirituality grounded in ministry, a practical effort to help the poor improve their lot, the application of innovative concepts in schools and other educational projects, and the ministry of the laity in the Church. The title comes from the prayer often said by the saint, "O Lord, the work is yours."


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Kitchen Towels Laden With Bacteria
From the WebMD Archives
By Steven Reinberg
MONDAY, June 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Is your kitchen towel making you sick?
The answer could be yes if you use the towel for many purposes, have a large family and are not a vegetarian, according to a new study of germs lurking on towels.
Forty-nine percent of the kitchen towels collected for the study were laden with bacteria, and the bacterial count increased with the number of family members and kids, researchers from the Indian Ocean island/nation of Mauritius reported.
"Cross-contamination is happening in the kitchen, and those bacteria could reach our food and cause food poisoning," said lead researcher Susheela Biranjia-Hurdoyal. She is a senior lecturer in the department of health at the University of Mauritius.
Specifically, the researchers found that towels used for a variety of tasks -- such as wiping utensils, drying hands, holding hot utensils or cleaning surfaces -- had more bacteria than towels used for one task. In addition, damp towels had more bacteria than dry ones, the investigators found.
Of the 49 samples that were infested with bacteria, 37 percent had Escherichia coli (E. coli), 37 percent had Enterococcus, and 14 percent were infected with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
For the study, Biranjia-Hurdoyal and her colleagues sampled 100 kitchen towels that had been used for one month. They classified the types of bacteria on the towels and also how much bacteria was present.
Higher rates of S. aureus were found among low-income families and those with children, the findings showed. The risk for E. coli was higher in damp towels than dry ones, from towels used for several jobs rather than single-use ones, and from those used in non-vegetarian households.
Both E. coli and S. aureus were found at higher rates in families with non-vegetarian diets.
E. coli is a normal bacteria found in the intestine and is released in large numbers in human feces. S. aureus is a bacteria found in the respiratory tract.
The researchers' advice? "Avoid humid and multi-usage towels," Biranjia-Hurdoyal suggested.
Kevin Sauer is an associate professor of dietetics at Kansas State University College of Human Ecology in Manhattan, Kansas. He said, "The key advice is to remain attentive to food safety when preparing food in the home, which includes proper hand-washing, avoiding cross-contamination, and cooking and storing foods at the right temperatures."
In a food-handling study he did in 2015, Sauer found that cloth towels were the most contaminated.
"However, even when provided with disposable single-use paper towels, participants were still observed using these in a way that led to additional contamination of contact surfaces," he noted.
Sauer advised that people should avoid using towels in place of hand-washing, because they can easily become contaminated with harmful germs from raw meat and poultry juices.
"Furthermore, reusing contaminated towels to wipe hands or other surfaces can easily lead to cross-contamination, and therefore should not be reused throughout meal preparation, since they too can contribute to contamination of hands, surfaces or other food products," Sauer said.
Findings from the study were scheduled for presentation Saturday at the American Society for Microbiology meeting, in Atlanta. The findings should be considered preliminary because they have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
WebMD News from HealthDay
SOURCES: Susheela Biranjia-Hurdoyal, Ph.D., senior lecturer, department of health, University of Mauritius, Moka; Kevin Sauer, Ph.D., associate professor, dietetics, Kansas State University, College of Human Ecology, Manhattan, KS; presentation, June 9, 2018, American Society for Microbiology meeting, Atlanta
Copyright © 2013-2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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The Western Railway disclaims responsibility; Dinaz's case dismissed…
Bombay | Mumbai | News | outrage
The Western Railway disclaims responsibility; Dinaz's case dismissed as low priority
The Railway Claims Tribunal of the city is least bothered about Dinaz N. Chhapgar(56) who was injured due to one of the windows of the Reservation Centre building falling on her back. She went through a surgery to fix three fractures – one in the right shoulder, another in her vertebrae and another in her ribs. Dinaz Chhapgar had to spend over Rs. 80,000 for her treatment. In a classic case of adding insult to injury, the Western Railway informed her that her case doesn't come under the Railway Claims Tribunal.
It might strike some as ironical that Dinaz had been to the station that day to buy tickets for a religious trip to Udwada. Remembering the unfortunate day, she told us, "I bought the tickets that day, December 16th, and as I stepped out of the Reservation Centre building at Churchgate, something heavy came crashing down on my back. I immediately lost consciousness. I was told later that it was a part of a window that was being renovated."
Her eyes shone with tears as she recalled the pain. "I screamed at top of my voice; it was the worst moment I had ever experienced. I fell face-down and my entire weight fell on my injured side and ? there are, truly, no words that can explain the pain I went through. I was then rushed to the Parsee General Hospital by the railway authority."
Dinaz spent a month in a wheel chair and took three more months to recover and get back to the Central Bank of India, Tardeo branch, where she holds the post of Assistant Manager. "The railway officers who visited me on the same day at the hospital gave Rs.5,000 to my brother to start the treatment. When my brother asked about rest of the amount of the compensation, he was told that it will be given later but that amount was for the time being," she told us.
Operating her broken arm meant living with a rod in her body for the rest of her life.
"Till today I suffer from a continuous, excruciating pain in my back," said Dinaz. "It is as if the tissues of my back bone are separating from each other and insects are crawling in and around my fractured spine. I cannot sit for a long time. That one second of mishap has changed the way I will live my life until I pass away. The compressed fractured T6 cannot be operated on to
complete recovery because of osteoporosis noted."
When we contacted the Railway Claims Tibunal about her case, one of the officers on the condition of anonymity denied any knowledge of it.
"I can't remember any such case," he said. "I will search for her application and see whether it qualifies for compensation." When asked how much time the exercise might take, he replied, "I have no idea. There are many such cases and, in fact, even more serious ones pending."
Original article here
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Zubin Kapadia	on June 7, 2020 at 5:53 AM
WELL … SAY WHAT… WE BREAK ALL THE RIBS OF THIS UNKNOWN RAILWAY OFFICIAL AND LEAVE HIM TO THE MERCY OF THE RAILWAY AUTHORITIES. THEN… LETS SEE HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES FOR THIS BASTARD'S COMPENSATION TO COME IN… HEH!??
Zubin Kapadia	on June 23, 2007 at 1:54 PM
"I can't remember any such case," he said. "I will search for her application and see whether it qualifies for compensation." When asked how much time the exercise might take, he replied, "I have no idea. There are many such cases and, in fact, even more serious ones pending."


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Jason Bourne Review
Back in Boredom.
You'd think after returning to the role that made him an international superstar, Matt Damon would put a little more passion. Or how about the director? Or how about the screenwriter? Or how about literally anybody involved in this bloody production?
So Jason Bourne has been living off the grid for the past decade after his adventures in The Bourne Ultimatum, when Nicky (Julia Stiles) returns to his life to let him know that he indeed hasn't remembered everything. In fact, his dad was apparently responsible for the program that created him. Of course, Nicky only got this information while she was hacking the CIA to uncover their latest and greatest Black Ops program, which puts her and Bourne in the US Government's crosshairs. Tommy Lee Jones as the new CIA director and Alicia Vikander as the head of the CIA's cyber ops have Nicky killed, thus setting a chain of events more improbable than the last shitty James Bond movie.
If you've never seen a Jason Bourne film, then perhaps you'll be surprised by the plot twists but I doubt it will captivate your interest since the film's script, acting, and directing do its best to bore the ever living shit out of you. But before I slag them off, I need to rag on the plot just a little more, because it is absolute cold diarrhea refried on a paper plate. Jason Bourne takes separate plot details from the first three movies (not the fourth, because honestly, who the fuck remembers Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy), and mashes them together to give you more of the same shit you saw before.
"Oh yeah? But did the old movies talk about social media? Check and mate, motherfucker."
You have the super assassin out to kill Bourne like they did in each freaking movie, played here by Vincent Cassell. You also have a "new" black ops program being built from the remains of Jason Bourne's original program like in Ultimatum. You have Bourne sifting through his recently-recalled memories like in Identity and Supremacy. And of course, you have the insider at the CIA who wants things to change in the spy industry as in Supremacy and Ultimatum. Is there a car chase that caps everything off in the end just like in Supremacy and Ultimatum? You bet your sweet ass there is.
Now, remaking certain scenes from previous adventures isn't necessarily a terrible idea, but you have to give your audience something, anything new as in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. For the seventh installment, you had brand new characters with fleshed out goals, personalities, flaws and challenges being put through similar situations as before, but their reactions based on their characteristics make for compelling viewing. For Jason Bourne, you're given jack shit. Matt Damon's character is a freaking flat line from beginning to end; he doesn't change, he doesn't grow and nothing in his life has been altered for the better or even the worst. The events of this movie were essentially a distraction from his life of making money in illegal fighting rings before he fucks off to the ether.
Not even the world around him changes. It would at least give the movie something to turn Bourne into this force of nature that the CIA or other government and private entities have to deal with as he messes with their toys. But no, all we get is some vague plot involving social media that felt crowbarred in when the filmmakers realized "Jason Bourne remembering his dad" adds nothing to the character, the franchise or even the world surrounding them so they had to raise the stakes some-fucking-how.
"I'd honestly be more pissed with you taking a dump on my movie if I was even remotely interested in this piece of shit." Weren't you paid millions of buck for it? "Gotta pay my bills since Ben got Batman"
What kills this movie's interest further is that we're provided an ensemble cast sleepwalking through their performances. Of note was Tommy Lee Jones, who sat on his ass for a good portion of this film literally phoning in his performance by acting in a Bourne movie's favorite location, computer rooms with maps and surveillance equipment. He's absolutely dull here, and doesn't even make for an interesting villain the way Chris Cooper or Brian Cox in the first two films.
However, his boredom with the material pales in comparison to that of Alicia Vikander, who I swear must have been reprising her robotic nature from Ex Machina. However, I reread my review and remembered that her style came more from trying to emulate human emotion rather than simply trying to be a robot. So that's when I realized that she was likely being directed to do that by Paul Greengrass because he forced Julia Stiles do the exact same shit. And it didn't make any sense there either, because I remember showing plenty of emotion in her interactions with Matt Damon during Ultimatum, whereas in this movie, she speaks her line in this awkward stilted style that launched me out of the bloody film.
Hell, Matt Damon may as well be going for a little snooze in every scene he's in. He has significantly less lines for this outing while keeping up a monotone voice that doesn't even fit him after we last saw his character nearly a decade ago. Not even his action scenes pack any feeling, but they may have more to do with Greengrass' awful shaky cam nonsense.
To stimulate the effect of watching a Greengrass movie, simply take this image with your smartphone and shove it around a few times to get the full experience.
I know everyone thought it was groundbreaking in the first few years of the 2000s, but the camera work cheats you out of seeing anything remotely cool as the camera wobbles up and down, side-to-side like the dude holding it is drunk as hell. Every fist fight save for the last one is poorly shot, poorly edited to do its best to prevent you from figuring out what the hell is happening. The only breath of life this entire movie has is a car chase during the end in Las Vegas that still manages to go on way longer than it should. Damon and Cassell drive a Camaro and SWAT van respectively as they pursue each other through the Strip, destroying nearly everything in their path (but somehow their vehicles keep going until the film contrives a way for them to stop).
Contrivance really is the word of the day here. Because everything from character motivations to plot development to action scenes feel forced. Nothing gels and nothing feels like a natural development. It's as if Greengrass and the screenwriter were told to include specific scenes in specific locations, and they tailor made (poorly) a film that had all of it. All with the passion of a toll booth operator handing out change to each driver.
Nothing in this film felt inspired, nobody involved in the production gave a shit they were making a spy movie, and no summer movie has managed to bore me to sleep the way this film almost succeeded. I didn't let it beat me, but I don't think I won anything of importance.
If pressed for positives, I'll admit it was nice to see a spy franchise use a woman for more than a romantic interest and attempt to give her an interesting perspective while operating in the CIA. But Vikander is not given nearly enough to save this movie from absolute mediocrity. And since that's the best I could do, with nothing of interest to hold me in any of the characters, story, action sequences or even developments in the franchise itself, I have to give this…
SOME OL' BULLSHIT
Posted in Review, Some Ol' BullshitTagged 2016, alicia vikander, bourne, bourne identity, bourne supremacy, bourne ultimatum, crap, jason bourne, matt damon, shit, spy, tommy lee jonesBy Chris Jaramillo9 Comments
9 thoughts on "Jason Bourne Review"
screenzealots says:
Love love LOVE this review. You are right on!
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About Lisa Mason, the Author
lisamasontheauthor
Lisa Mason, Fantasy and Science Fiction Author
Archives for posts with tag: Magazine story
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories Lisa Mason "A Must-Read Collection" The San Francisco Review of Books in Print and an Ebook Worldwide New Reviews #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #storycollection #fantasyandsciencefiction #publishedfiction #shortstories #publishedstories
Updated for 2019! Published in print in seven countries and as an ebook on eighteen markets worldwide.
As I mulled over my published short fiction, I found seven wildly different stories with one thing in common–a heroine totally unlike me. I'm the girl next door. I have no idea where these strange ladies came from.
In The Oniomancer (Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine), a Chinese-American punk bicycle messenger finds an artifact on the street. In Guardian (Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine), an African-American gallerist resorts to voodoo to confront a criminal. In Felicitas (Desire Burn: Women Writing from the Dark Side of Passion [Carroll and Graf]), an immigrant faces life as a cat shapeshifter. In Stripper (Unique Magazine), an exotic dancer battles the Mob. In Triad (Universe 2 [Bantam]), Dana Anad lives half the time as a woman, half the time as a man, and falls in love with a very strange lady. In Destination (Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction), a driver takes three strangers from a ride board on a cross-country trip as the radio reports that a serial killer is on the loose. In Transformation and the Postmodern Identity Crisis (Fantastic Alice [Ace]), Alice considers life after Wonderland.
Five stars on Facebook and Amazon! "Great work, Lisa Mason!"
"Hilarious, provocative, profound."
From Jeanne-Mary Allen, Author on Facebook and the Book Brothers Blog: "Kyle Wylde and I are thrilled to have found such a talented, dedicated, and brilliant collection of shorts in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories…Your style/craft is highly impressive."
From the San Francisco Book Review: "Strange Ladies: 7 Stories offers everything you could possibly want, from more traditional science fiction and fantasy tropes to thought-provoking explorations of gender issues and pleasing postmodern humor…This is a must-read collection." http://anotheruniverse.com/strange-ladies-7-stories/
From the Book Brothers Review Blog: "Lisa Mason might just be the female Philip K. Dick. Like Dick, Mason's stories are far more than just sci-fi tales, they are brimming with insight into human consciousness and the social condition….Strange Ladies: 7 Stories is a sci-fi collection of excellent quality. If you like deeply crafted worlds with strange, yet relatable characters, then you won't want to miss it." http://www.thebookbrothers.com/2013/09/the-book-brothers-review-strange.html#more
5.0 out of 5 stars This one falls in the must-read category, an appellation that I rarely use.
"I have been a fan of Lisa Mason from the beginning of her writing career, but I confess that I often overlook her short fiction. That turns out to have been a big mistake! I have just read Strange Ladies thinking I would revisit a few old friends and discover a few I had missed. Well, I had missed more than I had thought, and I regret that oversight. This collection was so much fun! I loved each and every story and enjoyed their unique twists, turns, and insights. I thank Ms Mason especially, though, for the high note ending with the big smiles in Transformation and the Postmodern Identity Crisis. Uh oh, I guess I still am a child of the summer of love. Well played. You made me laugh at the world and myself."
"I'm quite impressed, not only by the writing, which gleams and sparkles, but also by [Lisa Mason's] versatility . . . Mason is a wordsmith . . . her modern take on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is a hilarious gem! [This collection] sparkles, whirls, and fizzes. Mason is clearly a writer to follow!"—Amazing Stories
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection that will make you think
"My definition of a good short story is one that you keep thinking about for days, and this book had several of them."
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories ("A must-read collection—The San Francisco Review of Books). On Nook, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo.
On Kindle at US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories is in Print in the U.S., in the U.K., in Germany, in France, in Spain, in Italy, and in Japan.
Join my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=23011206 and support me while I recover from the Attack. I've got lots of goodies there for you with more on the way.
Donate from your PayPal account to lisasmason@aol.com.
Visit me at www.lisamason.com for all my books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, worldwide links, covers, reviews, interviews, blogs, round-tables, adorable cat pictures, forthcoming works, fine art and bespoke jewelry by my husband Tom Robinson, and more!
Tags "Destination", "Felicitas" in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, "Guardian", "The Oniomancer", "Transformation and the Post-modern Identity Crisis", "Triad", Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Desire Burn: Women Writing from the Dark Side of Passion, Fantastic Alice, fantasy, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason on Twitter, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Lisa Mason's Patreon Page, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine stories, Magazine story, Patreon, Published Book, Published Stories, Stories, Story Collection, Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, Stripper, Unique Magazine, Universe 2, Universe 2 edited by Robert Silverberg
Categories "Destination", "Destination" in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, "Felicitas", "Felicitas" in Strange Ladies, "Felicitas" in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, "Guardian", "Guardian" in Strange Ladies, "Stripper" in Strange Ladies, "Stripper" in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, "The Oniomancer", "The Oniomancer" in Strange Ladies, "Transformation and the Post-modern Identity Crisis", "Transformation and the Post-Modern Identity Crisis" in Strange Ladies, "Triad", "Triad" in Strange Ladies, 2019, Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, author, Book Review, Books, Booksellers, Bookstore, bookstores, Contemporary Fantasy, Dark modern fantasy, dark urban fantasy, Delightful Lisa Mason Story, Desire Burn (Carrol & Graf), Desire Burn Women Writing From the Dark Side of Passion, Desire Burn: Women Writing From the Dark Side of Passion, Desire Burn: Women Writing from the Dark Side of Passion (Carroll & Graf), Ebooks, Editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Facebook, Facebook Author Page, Facebook Personal Page, Fantasy, Fiction, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Lisa Mason's Patreon Page, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Magazine Story, modern fantasy, New York Public Library Recommended Book, New York Times Notable Book, Patreon, Philip K. Dick Award Finalist, Print Book, Published Book, Published Stories, Published Worldwide, Publishing, San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book, Science fiction, Science Fiction Comedy, Science Fiction Humor, Short Stories, Stories, Story Collection, Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, The Official Lisa Mason Website, Unique Magazine, Universe 2, Universe 2 (Bantam)
"Taiga" Has Been Published in Not One of Us, Poetry and Fiction Digest #61, April 2019! Inspiration for My Story "Taiga" Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #sciencefiction #PhilipKDickAwardFinalist #aliens #psychology #poetry #womenssciencefiction
I appreciate SF stories that explore the inner space of humanity, rather than the outer space of the universe with space ships, space travel, ship's captains, and the like. So I prefer stories that delve into psychology rather than rocketry.
In "Taiga" I got to do both.
But more than that, believe it or not, I was thinking about the adoption of our Angora-Siamese cat, Athena a few years ago. And of our other cats, and of people's pets in general.
I mean, think about it: a kitten or puppy is with her mother, her litter mates. Then, without warning, she is whisked away from the family she knows and taken by a huge creature—that would be you or me—and placed in a strange cavern—your house or mine.
The kitten or puppy doesn't know your intentions, whether you mean her harm or good. Maybe you offer food that she doesn't like or can't eat. And the kitten or puppy can't communicate with you, not really. Not at first. You speak in abstract sounds that to her have no meaning.
Only through a learning process can she discern your intentions and your wishes for her.
I ratcheted that up one or two fantasy levels to a human placed in a similar situation and let Katarina figure out how to survive.
You may obtain of Digest # 61 at https://not-one-of-us.pub/about/subscribe/
From the author of Summer of Love (a Philip K. Dick Award Finalist and San Francisco Chronicle Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Love-Travel-Lisa-Mason/dp/1548106119/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/summer-of-love-a-time-travel-lisa-mason/1104160569.
The Gilded Age (a New York Times Notable Book and New York Public Library Recommended Book). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. BACK IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Time-Travel/dp/1975853172/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gilded-age-a-time-travel-lisa-mason/1106038566.
The Garden of Abracadabra ("Fun and enjoyable urban fantasy . . . I want to read more!) On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW IN PRINT! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978148291/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-garden-of-abracadabra-lisa-mason/1108093507
Arachne (a Locus Hardover Bestseller) is an ebook on US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. On Kindle worldwide in France Kindle, Germany Kindle, Italy Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, Spain Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Brazil Kindle, India Kindle, and Japan Kindle. Back in Print! Find the beautiful trade paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/198435602X or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arachne-lisa-mason/1000035633.
Cyberweb (sequel to Arachne) is on US Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also Kindle worldwide on UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Brazil Kindle, France Kindle, Germany Kindle, India Kindle, Italy Kindle, Japan Kindle, Mexico Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, and Spain Kindle. Back in Print at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984356941 or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cyberweb-lisa-mason/1001932064
Strange Ladies: 7 Stories ("A must-read collection—The San Francisco Review of Books). On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle world wide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. NOW IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ladies-Stories-Lisa-Mason/dp/1981104380/ or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/strange-ladies-lisa-mason/1115861322.
One Day in the Life of Alexa ("Five stars! An appealing narrator and subtly powerful emotional rhythms"). On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. Order the beautiful trade paperback NOW IN PRINT at https://www.amazon.com/One-Life-Alexa-Lisa-Mason/dp/1546783091 or IN PRINT at Barnes and Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-day-in-the-life-of-alexa-lisa-mason/1126431598.
Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition, A Lily Modjeska Mystery (Five stars) On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands. SOON IN PRINT!
Shaken (in Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.
Hummers (in Fifth Annual Year's Best Fantasy and Horror) On BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.
Daughter of the Tao (in Peter S. Beagle's Immortal Unicorn) on US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.
Every Mystery Unexplained (in David Copperfield's Tales of the Impossible) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.
Tomorrow's Child (In Active Development at Universal Pictures) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.
The Sixty-third Anniversary of Hysteria (in Full Spectrum 5) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.
U F uh-O (Five Stars!) on BarnesandNoble, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.
Tesla, A Screenplay on US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, BarnesandNoble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on Kindle in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, and India.
My Charlotte: Patty's Story on Barnes and Noble, US Kindle, UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, Netherlands, and Mexico.
"Illyria, My Love" is on US Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Kobo, and Smashwords. Also on UK Kindle, Canada Kindle, Australia Kindle, Germany Kindle, France Kindle, Spain Kindle, Italy Kindle, Netherlands Kindle, Japan Kindle, Brazil Kindle, Mexico Kindle, and India Kindle.
Please visit me at Lisa Mason's Official Website for all my books, ebooks, stories, and screenplays, reviews, interviews, and blogs, adorable cat pictures, forthcoming works, fine art and bespoke jewelry by my husband Tom Robinson, worldwide links, and more!
And on Lisa Mason's Blog, on my Facebook Author Page, on my Facebook Profile Page, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on LinkedIn, on Twitter at @lisaSmason, at Smashwords, at Apple, at Kobo, and at Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
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Categories "Taiga", "Taiga" an SF story, 2019, Athena our cat, Authors, Fiction, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Interview, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Literary science fiction, Magazine Story, Not One of Us Digest #61, Not One of Us, Issue # 61, April 2019, Poetry and Fiction, Published Story, Science fiction, Short Story, Speculative Fiction, Taiga, a story by Lisa Mason
"Taiga" Has Been Published in Not One of Us, Poetry and Fiction Digest #61, April 2019! What the Story is About (Not Too Many Plot Spoilers) Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #sciencefiction #PhilipKDickAwardFinalist #aliens #psychology #poetry #womenssciencefiction
"Taiga" is the story of Katarina Malkovich, an immigrant from Lithuania to the U.S. who becomes a trained NASA astronaut. NASA prefers people with professional scientific degrees, and Katarina is a psychiatrist. She's en route on a space shuttle with an international crew bound on a routine mission to the International Space Station when the shuttle shudders—and they're sucked through a near-space black hole to another universe.
Confronting an unknown constellation of stars, she and the crew find themselves orbiting above a huge frozen planet with evidence of an environmental catastrophe. Their shuttle crash-lands—and Katarina confronts an alien. An alien twenty times bigger than she is.
Juxtaposed with Katarina's dire predicament (will the huge alien imprison her? slaughter and eat her?) and her urgent need to communicate with the alien are her memories of when she was sixteen and living Lithuania. She befriended the thirty-year-old distant cousin of her mother, Alex, a refugee from war-torn Ukraine deeply disturbed by a suppressed trauma. Her tragic interaction with Alex becomes a touchstone for her life to come.
No more plot spoilers! That's a lot of plot for a 6,000-word story! And alien-ness on several levels.
You may obtain a copy of Digest # 61 at https://not-one-of-us.pub/about/subscribe/
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Categories "Taiga", "Taiga" an SF story, 2019, Aliens and Alien-ness, Authors, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Literary science fiction, Magazine Story, Not One of Us Digest #61, Not One of Us, Issue # 61, April 2019, Published Story, Short Story, Speculative Fiction, Taiga, a story by Lisa Mason
Sold "Bess" Flash SF story to Daily Science Fiction Yesterday Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #magazine story #flashfiction #sciencefiction #speculativefiction
March 9, 2019 //
In late December, 2018, I sent a flash story, "Bess", to Daily Science Fiction, on online magazine specializing in fiction of 1,500 words or less.
I received a notice in late January, 2019 that the story had "made our second round, rarified company that more than 90% of submissions do not reach."
The editors then warned me that I would have to wait another two weeks, up to a month.
More than a month had passed as of today. Did one of the editors have the flu? Crash her car in a snow storm? Or were the editors mulling the story over only to reject it?
Tonight I received an email stating, "We would like to publish your story, "Bess", in Daily Science Fiction."
This is the first time I will be publishing in this magazine. YAY!
I told husband Tom Robinson I should come up with a flash fiction every week. Or at least every month. Fresh, original ideas that have a beginning, middle, and end—they can't just be word jazz—are surprisingly difficult to dream up.
And editors have their preferences for topics. If a story doesn't fit their vision for their magazine, it won't sell even if it's good. That's just the reality. There are several venues for flash fiction, so I would have some rounds to make. But I could wind up with twelve to fifty-two unsold flashes.
Which could go in a story collection that Bast Books would publish in a heartbeat. There are so many opportunities for writers out there today.
Anyway. I was in need of some good news today. Go to Daily Science Fiction at https://dailysciencefiction.com/ edited by Michele-Lee Barasso and Jonathan Laden.
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Categories "Bess" an SF flash story, "Bess" in Daily Science Fiction, 2019, About Writing, Authors, Daily Science Fiction, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Magazine Story, Science fiction, SFWA, SFWA Qualified Market, Short Story, Sold Story
Interview Re: "The Bicycle Whisperer" My Story in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction @fandsf May-June 2018 Issue Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #speculativefiction #YAstory #bicycles #publishedstory #magazinestory #TheMagazineofFantasyandScienceFiction
January 1, 2019 //
And wrapping things up for 2018, here's my interview with Stephen Mazur for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction regarding "The Bicycle Whisperer" in the May-June 2018 issue. You can also find the interview online at http://www.lisamason.com/bicycleinterview.html and at https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/2018/06/15/interview-lisa-mason-on-the-bicycle-whisperer/.
Attention SFWA members: Please consider the piece for the Nebula Award in the short story category. You should be able to find a digital edition on the SFWA website.
Tell us a bit about "The Bicycle Whisperer."
The title references the 1995 novel, The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans and the story's plot evokes some of the novel's essentials. A girl and her beloved horse are severely injured in an accident. The injuries aren't just physical, but also emotional. In a desperate attempt to heal girl and horse, the girl's mother takes her on an arduous cross-country trip in search of a man with an uncanny sympathy with horses, especially damaged horses. A horse whisperer. He helps heal both the girl and the horse and reconciles horse with rider.
Readers and reviewers have responded emotionally to "The Bicycle Whisperer", some disturbed by the end, some finding the story sad, some believing the forgiveness. I'm just glad people are responding emotionally. Emotions are what fiction is all about, even speculative fiction.
What was the inspiration for this story, or what prompted you to write it?
I was pushing a shopping cart out of the grocery store when I noticed a teenager wandering around the parking lot. He was hitting up shoppers for money. They ignored or shunned him. He had that confused, despondent look of someone who had just been kicked out of the house or fled from there, for his own reasons.
I put my groceries in the car and rummaged around in the glove compartment. I almost never carry cash these days! I found only a crumpled dollar, approached him, and offered it. I said, "Promise me you won't spend this on drugs." He gratefully took the dollar and said, "I promise." I said, "Are you going to be okay?" He gave me a sunny smile and said, "Sure." And it was like looking down into his soul.
When I drove away, imagining what his life was like, the Lone Rangerette stepped out of the shadows and said, "Forget about him, you are going to write about me!" "The Bicycle Whisperer" is as much her story as Shimano Stella's and Simon's. With luck and work, the Lone Rangerette, her sentient bicycle Scout Regalia, and her mobile AI Tekto may have their own YA novel in a year or so.
Was "The Bicycle Whisperer" personal to you in any way? If so, how?
I'm fascinated by people's propensity to anthropomorphize everything. From the love we lavish on our pets (I'm a crazy cat lover myself) to attachments people form to inanimate objects. I had a college friend who was inordinately attached to his beat-up Chevy. He'd gone through several unhappy romantic relationships, but his car—he called her "Clementine"—stayed with him through thick and thin. Just the other day, a reader posted on my Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/lisa.mason.7393264), saying how much he appreciated the story and that he seriously loved his bicycle from 1974 when he was in college in Austin, Texas. And he referred to his bicycle as "she."
I've enjoyed the sentient car stories recently published in F&SF so I was inspired to write about a sentient bicycle and her troubles. It's not so far of a stretch to imagine how emotionally attached people could become to AI. Would AI have emotions, too? By definition not, but it's fun to imagine that they would.
What are you working on now?
More stories, always! The YA mentioned above, set in a gritty near-future. A high-concept SF novel. And an urban fantasy. I'm even revisiting a concept I filed in the to-do box, involving a woman detective in 1960s San Francisco. The latter is not fantasy or science fiction, but I enjoy mysteries and should probably write at least one.
Anything else you'd like to add?
As always, people can visit me at http://www.lisamason.com for my newly reissued trade paperback books, ebooks, interviews, blogs, adorable cat pictures, and my husband Tom Robinson's bespoke art, mobiles, and jewelry. My latest novella, published in trade paperback and as an ebook, is One Day in the Life of Alexa, and has been well received with five-star reviews.
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Interview Re: "Aurelia" My Story in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction @fandsf January-February, 2018 Issue Lisa Mason #SFWApro #SFWAauthor #darkfantasy #publishedstory #magazinestory #TheMagazineofFantasyandScienceFiction #NebulaAward
December 28, 2018 //
Here we go, my interview with Stephen Mazur for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction regarding my story "Aurelia" in the January-February, 2018 issue. You can also find the interview online at http://www.lisamason.com/aureliainterview.html and at https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/blog/2018/01/22/interview-lisa-mason-on-aurelia// If you're a SFWA member, the story should be on the website for your free download. And please consider the work for the Nebulas!
Tell us a bit about "Aurelia."
I call "Aurelia" my Alfred Hitchcock story. Great wealth, a troubled marriage, a mysterious, possibly psychologically challenged wife, a fabulous but spooky mansion, a murder mystery. If Hitchcock's film "Vertigo" had supernatural elements—and I wish it did!—that would approach my vision for the story.
I've always been fascinated by stories that present the supernatural from a psychological point of view. "My Dear Emily" by Joanna Russ springs to mind. I'm particularly fascinated by the chapter in The Unicorn Tapestry, by Suzy McKee Charnas, which is told from the point-of-view of a psychotherapist who has been asked to counsel Dr. Edward Weyland, a faculty member and professor at her college who has acquired a reputation for being mentally unsound. At first, Weyland resists her therapy, then he begins to describe what sounds like an extreme urban lifestyle. It is revealed, finally, that these are his hunting habits in New York City and he is a vampire.
I wanted Aurelia to be a mystery, perhaps psychological, perhaps not.
There is an incredible Mediterranean mansion in the Sausalito hills named Villa Aurelia, which I had an opportunity to tour at length. I was so inspired by the house that I looked up the name and discovered that "aurelia" derives from the Latin "aureus", meaning golden. The word describes a chrysalis, deriving from the Greek for golden, the final pre-adult stage in the life cycle of a butterfly, in particular certain nymphalid butterflies. The chrysalis is decorated with fine gilt features.
Aurelia, in her human incarnation, is like a chrysalis before she manifests as a full-blown, supernatural, blood-drinking—plot spoiler omitted!
Robert refers to her villa as a golden cocoon. He senses that the house itself has supernatural power.
Coincidentally, I happened to be reading an anthology of vampire stories that included the E.T.A. Hoffman classic "Aurelia". I'd never encountered the story before, which is not a typical vampire story. There, too, the Big Reveal of the wife's true nature is the whole point of the story.
How do you view Robert, the protagonist of your story? Is he sympathetic or does he get his just desserts?
Oh, he's an SOB. But he's a charming and witty SOB with whom you'd like to go to your favorite Italian restaurant and drink a lot of merlot. At thirty, he's totally cynical about love and marriage and already promiscuous. He's hardworking but he carefully considers whether his conduct as an attorney is unethical, how he can avoid getting into trouble, and does it anyway.
He's loyal to his best friend Trevor, to the law firm they work for. And he sincerely loves Aurelia and supports her "right to be different."
However! Aurelia has bespelled Robert right from the start. She's sensed him from afar, sought him out. He senses her presence watching him before he even meets her. She proceeds to make him her human servant.
Plenty of supernatural entities require human servants to negotiate their way in the human world, people the supernatural entity doesn't kill or transform into their own kind. Dracula has a human servant, Renfield, who is driven mad.
So even though Aurelia seems as if she's been taken advantage of by Robert, in fact she's the one in control. His activities in the human world are of no interest to her. She needs him to take care of the house, of her, and provide her with progeny. Which he does.
So it feels as if he's gotten his just desserts. But for me, Robert's end is tragic, the inevitable, inexorable result of him discovering the truth about Aurelia.
What did you learn for this story that you did not already know, if anything?
I researched butterflies, how they undergo amazing physical transformations in their lifetimes, what they eat—not only pollen from blossoms! How they use scents to attract mates and repel enemies, and relentlessly pursue procreation. Some females mate with multiple males to ensure they conceive. Some lay multiple eggs, some species a single egg.
Aurelia chooses Robert because of his strong reproductive urge. As a human servant to a supernatural entity, he realizes he's become a sex addict in the human world. He's not happy about that. He senses that his addiction stems from Aurelia's bespellment.
Aurelia doesn't care—she needs his urge toward her in order to produce the daughter she needs to continue her supernatural line.
Also, in terms of research, I wasn't that familiar with E.T.A. Hoffman's body of dark Victorian fantasy beyond his story, "Aurelia." I learned about his other classic story, "The Nutcracker."
"Riddle" in the September-October 2017 68th Anniversary issue of F&SF and now "Aurelia" in the January-February 2018 issue have started a mini-trend for me of dark modern fantasy. I mostly write science fiction and modern fantasy. In both of those F&SF stories, I plumbed some depth of darkness in myself—to my surprise.
Then I realized I'd written another dark modern fantasy, "Felicitas," that fits right in with this mini-trend. The story also presents a supernatural female monster and her troubles with men and sex.
"Felicitas" is written entirely from the supernatural entity's point-of-view and was published in Desire Burn: Women Writing from the Dark Side of Passion (Carroll & Graf), edited by the late Janet Berliner, who was the president of Horror Writers of America at the time. I republished the story in Strange Ladies: 7 Stories, my collection of previously published short SFF fiction. You will find the ebook on all the retailers. As of December 2017, you will also find the book in print at https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Ladies-Stories-Lisa-Mason/dp/1981104380/. Enjoy!
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"The Bicycle Whisperer" Interview with F&SF Lisa Mason Story Published in the May-June 2018 Issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Lisa Mason #speculativefiction #sentientbicycle #runaways #publishedstory #magazinestory #SFWApro #SFWAauthor
Readers and reviewers have responded emotionally to "The Bicycle Whisperer", some disturbed by the end, some finding the story sad, some believing the forgiveness. I'm just glad people are responding emotionally. Emotions are what fiction is all about, even science fiction.
So there you have it, my friends! The May-June issue will be on the newsstands for only two more weeks. Look for it!
Celestial Girl, The Omnibus Edition, A Lily Modjeska Mystery (Five stars) On Nook, US Kindle, Canada Kindle, UK Kindle, Smashwords, Apple, and Kobo. On Kindle worldwide in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, Mexico, and Netherlands.
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Categories "The Bicycle Whisperer", "The Bicycle Whisperer" in May-June 2018 FandSF, 2018, A.I., Artificial Intelligence, Authors, Bicycles, C.C. Finlay, Interviews, Interviews about Writing, Interviews with Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author, Lisa Mason Fantasy and Science Fiction Author On Facebook, Lisa Mason Interview, Lisa Mason Official Website, Lisa Mason on Facebook, Lisa Mason Romantic Suspense Author, Lisa Mason Screenwriter, Lisa Mason Urban Fantasy Author, Published Story


You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour. You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.
You have two cows. You go on strike because you want three cows. The cows go on strike to keep out American hormone-fed milk and launch a stampede through a McDonalds franchise at Euro-Disney. The French Cow Liberation Front hacks into the Cheddar website with images of Roquefort and WAV files declaring "Vive la France!" You go to lunch and drink wine. Life is good.
You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains. Most are at the top of their class at cow school. You then create clever cow cartoon images called Cowkimon and market them Worldwide.
You have two cows. You reengineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves. They are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour. Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You break for lunch. Life is good.
You have two cows. You have some vodka. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 12 cows. The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.
You have 5 cows, they're healthy and produce x amounts of milk/month. Soon there are 10 cows, then 20, then 30. When the number reaches 40, suddenly 38 cows literally disappear. Some Senegalese breeders accuse Mauritanians. The Mauritanians say they're innocent. Some fight starts, and someone dies. The story gets told and retold by the press. People's fears and angers are being played with. A few hundreds Mauritanians get slaughtered in broad daylight, their shops and businesses are vandalized & burned. State of emergency is declared in Senegal. In the meantime, everybody forgets about the cows.
You have one cow. The cow is schizophrenic. Sometimes the cow thinks he's French, other times he's Flemish. The Flemish cow won't share with the French cow. The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow's milk. The cow asks permission to be cut in half. The cow dies happy.
You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two. You don't milk them because you cannot touch any creature's private parts. You get a $40 million grant from the U.S. government to find alternatives to milk production, but use the money to buy weapons.
1990's: You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when the cow drops dead. The other sues sheepherders, claiming that the immigrant Belgian Sheep are carrying Mad Cow Disease (even though no sheep have ever caught it) and that they should be detained and destroyed by a Secret Dairy Tribunal set up by the FDA.
2009: You have two cows. You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one. You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows. You are surprised when one cow drops dead. You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses. Your stock goes up.
You have two cows. Your neighbour has none. You feel guilty for being successful. You push for higher taxes so the government can provide cows for everyone.
You have two cows. Your neighbour has none. So?
You have millions of cows. They make real California cheese. Only five speak English. Most are illegal. Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
You have two cows. Your dairy operation is productive, and you sell 80% of the milk to the US market. The American government decides that you are taking advantage of federal subsidies to dump milk on the market below cost, and slaps you with 25% "countervailing" duties, to protect the interests of the above-mentioned American Corporation. Angered and enraged in typical polite Canadian fashion, you cheer on the Canadian hockey team to pound the USA team 5-2 and win Olympic gold. You let out a cheer, wave the Maple Leaf a bit, then apologize for the outburst and get back to milking your cows.
You have two cows, but only need the milk from one. So you sell one cow to an American company, who markets its product as being "pure Canadian milk." That American corporation prospers thanks to its "pure Canadian" marketing campaign. Meanwhile, you continue to sell the milk from your one cow at the same price in the same way. Canadian media finds out about the original "cow to America" transaction and creates a major story throughout Canada about how the big, greedy, successful American corporations prey on the ma and pa corporations North of the border. Influenced by the media, you file an unsuccessful lawsuit towards the American corporation. Upon the failure of the lawsuit, the Canadian media once again complains about the big, greedy American corporations.Three months later, you decide you don't like the cow farming business anyhow, so you sell your remaining cow to the same American corporation that bought the first cow, and go into the ping-pong ball manufacturing business.
You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. Sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States, leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public buys your bull... you now have enough cash to buy cow shredders.
A Corporate Accountant has 2 cows. One he calls Capital, the other OMA (Operations, Maintenance & Admin). He doesn't feed OMA very much, so she gets sick and almost dies. He decides to throw her a few scraps from Capital's trough until the new fiscal. She limps along but won't give any milk, meanwhile Capital is so full she can't eat anymore. The accountant decides to lay off the worker that feeds OMA as it must be his fault... he saves the wages for himself. OMA dies 2 days later, so he puts Capital into service (OMA's stall) and expects things to change now that he has a new healthy cow. He fills out the required CRA Process form and orders a new Capital cow, but the new OMA is too weak to mate... the accountant decides to reorganize and buy more bulls... that will surely produce more milk!