text:
Axcend Focus LC®
App Note Request
Additional Applications
About Axcend
Axcend Team
Axcend CEO and Co-Founder on the state of the economy: Don't Panic…It's Déjà Vu All Over Again…"
Don't Panic… It's Déjà Vu All Over Again
June 6th , 2022
This article was guest written by Glen Mella, CEO and founder of Axcend and member of the TechBuzz advisory board. He is a recent inductee into the 2022 WIN100, the Wasatch Innovation Network's peer-voted initiative to recognize the state's top 100 entrepreneurs deemed "most likely to create a high-growth company in the next 2-3 years." Mella also serves as a mentor for the WIN100 cohort.
Yogi Berra is credited with the famous quote, "It's like déjà vu all over again." His line reminds me of the current economic outlook and the growing chorus of daily doomsday predictions. Consider the following press headlines from just this past week:
No doubt, the combined impact of multiple factors—the FED interest rate hikes, recent
stock market sell-offs, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, soaring gas prices and dreadful inflation (to name a few)—make us leery about the near-term financial headwinds. But as one participant in the Utah tech community for the past three decades, I encourage everyone to calm down and try not to be consumed by the negative hype. Opportunity always emerges on the other side of adversity.
Human nature goes guardrail to guardrail when it comes to bull vs. bear market forecasts. We're either in the greatest, never-ending boom in history, or it's a total disaster and everyone should just sell, close the doors, and find other careers besides
tech. Neither is true. Myopic paranoia and self-fulfilling prophecies lead to poor decisions, both institutionally and individually. Operators, investors, and TechBuzz readers don't have to magnify the hype. We can and should learn from the past and realize that the expansion and contraction of global economies is normal, and even healthy.
For context, here's a little from my background. I graduated college in the early 80s, in the middle of the longest post-WW2 recession up to that time. U.S. unemployment was 10% and mortgage interest rates were 15-18%. (We were fortunate to get a 15% loan on our first home purchase). Placement stats out of school were significantly lower than today and you had to hustle to land that first job. The tech industry was in its infancy, and few could have imagined the incredible innovation and vast fortunes the next 40 years would bring.
As a leader and officer of a recently IPO'd company in 2000/2001, I lived through the infamous bursting of the dot-com bubble and felt firsthand the impact of the wild swings in the financial markets that followed. At that time, it was hard for anyone to fathom how the tech economy would recover, but boy did it ever. The next expansion period saw increased deal flow and venture investing again, with phenomenal growth and financial outcomes for tech innovators and risk-takers.
Then 2008/2009 brought the subprime mortgage meltdown, and once again—tanking markets and disastrous headlines. This time politicians decided to bail out some of the behemoth "too big to fail" companies, and new lessons were learned about speculation and growth. Interestingly, though housing and construction markets were devastated at the time, the company I was helping lead had remarkable growth and success in that industry (and continues to do so). To all our delight, what followed was a decade of unparalleled economic performance and value creation throughout the global economy. Nearly all of us working today are the beneficiaries of the pioneering, groundbreaking companies and industries that emerged in the recent boom cycle. And what a ride it has been.
Few could have predicted the world's worst global pandemic in 2020-21 or the supply-chain disruptions and jittery market swings that impact us today. Yes—a lot of economic factors are pounding us now and things will be tighter for a while. But let's pay attention to lessons from history before deciding to change careers, go back to school, or live in a bunker eating the food we grow:
A recession is defined as a contraction in economic growth lasting two quarters or more as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP). Starting with an eight-month slump in 1945, the U.S. economy has weathered 12 different
recessions since World War II and up until the COVID-19 pandemic, which ended the longest period of economic expansion on record. On average, America's post-war recessions have lasted only 10 months, while periods of
expansion have lasted 57 months.
"The historical odds of making money in U.S. markets are 50/50 over one-day periods, 68% in one-year periods, 88% in 10-year periods, and (so far) 100% in 20-year periods. Anything that keeps you in the game has a quantifiable
advantage." (Morgan Housel, The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness).
Including dividends, the Dow Jones Industrial Average returned about 11% per year from 1950 to 2019.
Business Insider highlights 14 companies who are all household names that were started during recessions.
Astute operators and investors learn to prosper in both growth periods AND downturns. The principles for building or backing great products and services that solve massive customer pain are the same. Take it from Yogi—a market reset isn't new and doesn't portend the end of the world as we know it. Most of us will navigate rough seas multiple times in our careers. Find a way to keep your eye on the horizon while still making smart choices and course corrections to thrive and prosper in today's reality. Take heart—the best days for Utah's tech industry are still ahead.
Glen Mella. "Don't Panic… It's Déjà Vu All Over Again"
Techbuzz. https://techbuzz.news/don-t-panic-it-s-d-j-vu-all-over-again/. Accesses 13 June 2022
← Improving Chromatography for Analysis of Biological and Pharmaceutical Molecules
Use of Micro, Capillary, and Nano Liquid Chromatography for Forensic Analysis. →
Axcend® is a provider of innovative, compact capillary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems that deliver dramatic improvements in portability, ease of operation, rapid and convenient deployment, and coupling to other analytical systems.
5252 N. Edgewood Dr. #185
Provo, UT USA 84604
© Axcend 2021 - All Rights Reserved.


text:
Location: Keno
Postby Fells » Fri Apr 01, 2011 12:11 am
The tiniest of fires danced in the ash-laden hearth, its flames subdued by lack of fuel or possibly just the understood need to be small. Small, insignificant, and completely unworthy of the attention of anyone or anything passing. Tattered rag curtains had been drawn across the lead pane windows to hoard its light. The faint smear of smoke trailing from the chimney, she could do nothing about. Hopefully the world outside would take no notice.
Fells leaned against the far wall of the abandoned little cottage, sprawled out on the floor like a puppet wired too tightly to properly collapse once her strings had been cut. The fire was a risk and she knew it, only chancing it because of the rain that needled the cottage's roof and still dripped off of her soaked leather. "So," she murmured. "This might'a been a bad idea." Angry, worried voices on her buzzbox shored the verdict up, though she could barely hear them for the speaker being all but muted. They were much fainter than the howl that split the air somewhere in the distance. That was probably distant. She could hope it was distant. The chair she'd propped into place against the already-barred door was doublechecked yet again. She did her best to ignore the clawmarks that rent the bar itself. It'd probably hold.
The cottage was comfortably small, littered with signs of its previous owner and, less than comforting, of his fate. Fells lit a candle that rested deep in a green bottle, filling the small space around her with safer, dimmer light. The tinted glow illuminated a pair of worn boots still set at the foot of a bed, as though ready for the next day's work. The mattress itself was torn and ruined, goose down spilling out where it'd been raked open. She did her best not to focus on it, resting her eyes on the barred door instead.
Shoulda brought Shad, the little voice of reason whispered in the back of her mind. It'd be safer, y'know they's jest home worryin'. An' y'ain't practiced 'nough fer this. Y'need sommat else here. Yer no good 'lone, an' -- As was so often the case, Fells shut Reason down, along with her box a moment later. The hearth's risky fire was company enough.
In the crackling silence it was a different voice, brusque and demanding, that invaded her thoughts as it was so prone to doing as of late. They'll see who's a damn Earner! Fells snorted and shook her head, willing it into silence. She wouldn't call for help out here. She'd do the job, she'd get what Botch needed, and she'd get the Nether back to Shad and Era and her children. "Surelike, darlin'," she murmured into the empty space, settling in to face the door with her back to the wall and her blades at hand. Wet leather creaked. "We'll show 'em."
The Job.
Rain beat off of the gryphon's wings as they cautiously made their way through what scant tree cover there was, not daring to fly any higher. Not with siege engines full of festering plague lining the nearby road. It was slow going, and Deposit yearned to bank and tear up into the sky proper. The Wall loomed high above the trees, seeming to grow as they approached it, a cold and unfeeling sentinel to guard against the uniformed rows of Forsaken that patrolled the woods.
Fells scowled and urged her bird to the ground instead. They'd make a less obvious target, though Deposit seemed none too happy with the decision. "Jest stay quiet," she hissed, heels digging into his disobedient flank. She was one to talk, her hypocritical buzzbox alight with channels that demanded answers. For a second Fells thought that she was seeing things; another channel's light appeared to burn insistently through the trees in the distance, though her box was currently shoved deep into her pack. Fells reached behind her, verifying the familiar lump of its bulk beneath the leather.
Still that glow beckoned, tiny and orange-red in the distance against the wall. "Huh."
Deposit didn't want to be turned, so she forced him with reins dragged almost wholly to the left, craning his head nearly to his shoulder. "Bastid bird, c'mon," she groused through clenched teeth as he reluctantly fell into step in the direction she intended. That buzzbox glow brightened through the trees as they picked their way carefully towards the great wall. Eventually it bloomed into a campfire, its orange aura battling for existence against the miasma. Fells slipped out of the saddle and sent Deposit into the air. The little campsite was tucked against the far corner of the Wall and she hadn't seen a patrol, but she'd be safer approaching on foot than on a gryphon who probably wouldn't mind seeing her get et.
The scent of a cookfire's meal met her first, faint and lean. Fells made herself thin against a tree's straight trunk, leaning just far enough to see what might be waiting for the meal. It couldn't be Forsaken. They didn't wait to cook their meat, not from what she'd seen of the fallen.
She shouldn't have been surprised to see Gilneans so close to the Wall. Or at least, she assumed they were. The few that weren't sporting tattered longcoats and well-kept hats were clad in fur coats of a distinctly different nature. They milled around the few tents with an air that eerily reminded her of Precosia after being scolded; a dark air of frustration stained with anger clung to each of them like a sheen of sweat. The men scowled, the women kept their eyes on the ground. The wolves among them bristled and snapped at nothing. One of them sniffed the air. His eyes narrowed and his head jerked around to where she hid, fangs bared and growling. Her heart stopped. He couldn't see her. Probably. Right?
It wasn't until the others took notice that she began to think that she might have picked a better place to nose around. The malevolent maws of three tattered Gilnean wolves snuffled in her direction, and the men yet to shift were eyeing them warily and reaching for muskets. She had to get better at this.
Clearing her throat, Fells slipped out of the shadows with hands raised. "Hey, m'folk. I ain't dead," she declared loudly. As an afterthought, she tugged away the mask that hid her features. "See? M'livin'!" That didn't keep two of the worgen from bounding to her, snorting hot breath into her face as they tried to sniff out the telltale signs of decay. They had to be looking for something newly turned, a fresh one that could be sent as a spy. Fells dared let her gaze fall past the pair to the campsite beyond, silently wondering what would possibly be worth spying on.
"She's clean," one groused, gravelly and growling as he stood back. They towered over her when they stood upright, but she didn't flinch away, instead flicking a gaze over their tattered shreds of clothing and dull coats. Both stood aside for the weary man who pushed past them. His gaze was no less judgmental than her own, and for a moment she was acutely aware of every scratch and stain on her leather. "What do you want," he intoned quietly, gaze boring through her.
Military. He had to be. Or noble? Maybe both. Fells stood all the straighter, not that it did much good. He had at least three inches on her and was somehow more intimidating than the looming figures that slunk back towards the campsite. "Jest scoutin', ser. What're...?" She nodded past him at the figures slowly settling back into the slow pace of their routine. "Yer awful close t'the fight, don' y'know there's Forsook out there?"
He snorted derision and shook his head, finally stepping aside and waving her past. Her ignorance must have earned her passage in. "There's worse than that, poppet," he grumbled without a sliver of affection. "An' we've fought it all, in case our state didn't show it. Here, we've got tea. Oi, Tess!" Tea. Out here. True to his word, the older woman whose head popped up at his call appeared to be tending to a kettle over the flames. Fells shook her head in disbelief. Gilneans. "There's a good miss, see that this, err..."
"Fells Dr...Clemens." She edged past the apparent commander, unintentionally following his direction: sit, drink tea, and then be on her merry.
He eyed her, but shrugged. "Right then, Miss Dr'clemens." He nodded smartly and briskly offered forth a gloved hand. "Maximilian Lew, Gilneas Liberation Front, at your service." Which was an odd thing to say, considering that he brushed her off onto the woman safeguarding the tea pretty much immediately. "See that Fells has a nice sit-down and then help her with directions if she needs."
He turned on his heel without waiting for a reply, and Fells didn't dare call a thanks after him. Not in such close proximity to the battlefront. "Charmin' fella, yer Max."
"'e does wot needs doin'," the woman replied, though her attention was wholly fixed on Fells's face. The examination was keen enough to make her want to pull her mask back into place. "You're 'ealthy?" she whispered, eyes wide and sallow skin licked by the light of the campfire.
Fells tugged up one of the stools that rested nearby. "Umn, last I checked, yes'm." Other than just being old, Tess seemed normal enough; maybe the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth were pinched with more strain than age, and maybe she was paler than she ought to be, but she was living yards away from a warzone. "Y'ain't?"
Her answer came in the form of a jet of steam from the kettle's spout. They'd wisely removed the whistle. "'ere, luv." Mismatched mugs were offered. Fells held them both as tea was poured. "Yew shouldn't be out 'ere. Nothin' stays 'ealthy out 'ere for long. Are yew..." Shaking hands set the kettle down and then waved for her mug. Tess sipped before asking. "Are yew goin' in there?"
"So you're goin' to Gilneas alone."
"Didn' I jest say I ain't."
"Yeah, an' I think you're fuckin' lyin'. 'Cause I can tell you don't want us with you. So just don't get cursed."
Fells lifted her chin. "Ayeh, am. Right after, y'know." She lifted her mug before sipping. "Tea." It scalded the roof of her mouth and she pretended not to notice.
She expected the old woman to tut and shake her head and warn her against it, maybe murmur disapprovingly about folly and ignorance. Instead Tess's eyes lit up and she pulled at a golden chain that adorned her neck. A plain, numberless key dangled from the end. "Luv, could yew do a favor for me."
"Favor." Fells leaned in and squinted at the key. "What kinda favor?"
Tess cast a glance about the camp and lowered her voice to a haggard whisper. "There's a bank in Southglen, I meant to get my safebox out before Geoff and I..." She sucked in an uneven breath, then ground the threat of tears from her eyes with the heel of her palm. "If yew can get into the vault, and get my safebox, luv..." Arthritic fingers fumbled over the necklace's clasp, and she let them fall to the side when Fells reached to help. The iron key fell into her gloved palm, and Tess closed her fingers over it insistently before sitting back and cupping her mug. "...I swear on my name I won't tell a soul wot yew do with anythin' else inside."
Unspoken implications rang clear as a bell. "M'goin' in t'find the tree," she answered hesitantly. "Tal'doren. Fer a...friend. Needs it fer his longear ritual. Issit close t'there?"
"South. Just south, through the Blackwald. Please, I don't want to leave it to those rotten, blighted -- "
Ceramic cracked. Fells glanced at her hand; Tess's knuckles were white where they clenched around the mug, and tea leaked out around fingernails that had lengthened into claws. Tess kept her eyes narrowed and fixed on the ground. What wrinkles had previously been there seemed to smooth away under the force of flesh that craved transformation. "So," Fells murmured quietly, palming the key and tucking it deep into a pocket. "Been t'Darnassus yet?"
The Elf.
"I'm sorry I don't measure up to the little happy fantasy world in your head. I'm sorry that havin' two men gettin' along ain't enough for you."
Fells's jaw clenched so hard that it hurt. Her nostrils flared, and it was a lucky thing she was too short to meet most Darnassus foot traffic eye to eye; the last thing she needed was to get arrested for glaring some random stranger to death.
Of course Era was mad again. Of course he was! It was only, what, the fifth misunderstanding that one or more of the three men in her life had blown obscenely out of proportion? Wasn't "single" supposed to translate to "simple"? Wasn't it enough that she had to deal with three actual children, without a second set of overgrown ones fighting over her like a favored toy?
"Why'm I askin' s'damn many stupid questions," she growled under her breath.
Her pulse pounded behind her eyes as she veered away from the peaceful marble temple. She didn't want to take this mood out on Zeve, and she doubted she'd be able to avoid it if she went to see him right then. Despite being, in some twisted way, the most to blame for the latest fountain of rage, he hadn't really done anything to deserve her wrath. On the contrary: Zeve was a help. Dear, sweet Zeve, who lit up every time he saw her, who knew who he was and who he wanted to be for her, was everything she could have asked for at the moment. He was happy to be with her, and just as happy to let her do the things she needed to do.
That made him the precise opposite of Era, who didn't know what he was about and seemed to want nothing more than to tie her down worse than she'd ever been bound before. And Shad? Shad was a lot of pretty words, a lot of promises and urgings to go and be free as she wanted, but the minute she showed signs of doing something he didn't agree with?
"I can go 'lone."
"No, you cannot."
She didn't know precisely when she decided to go. It was somewhere between slipping into armor and heading towards the city's glowing portal tree. Aboard the ferry, she had the presence of mind to actually let someone know why she wouldn't be found when he went looking. Or if he did. "M'gonna git started onna way. Won' go in 'thout ya."
"WHAT?" Era exploded over the thoughtstone. "NO! GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!"
Again with getting to make her own choices. Shad and Era both needed to decide what they wanted to be. Druid, friend, lover, babysitter, what? "Oh hush," she groused, whistling for her stolen gryphon before the ferry even landed. "I ain't goin' in."
The panther's thoughts needled at her, every bit as acute as the wind whipping her hair into knots as she and Deposit streaked towards the broken country. "Thought you wanted to see him before you left."
Sure. Now he cared. Or maybe he just wanted to flop back again, get Shad encouraging her to go out and be her own woman and make her own choices. Until it came at odds with their plans. What kind of freedom was that? Her reply was forcefully clipped. "Ayeh welp, changed m'mind."
"Why."
The shoddy dam that held back her temper cracked. "'Cause I don' wanna deal withit! Him or you! I wanna go an' scout an' do sommat simple!"
"So you're goin' to Gilneas alone," he sneered
Fells breathed, deep and even. Era was bad enough, and where was Shad? Silent. Of course. "Didn' I jest say I ain't."
"Y'know what? Fine." As if on cue, Silverpine's border approached, and she sent Deposit diving down into the trees. If Era was fishing for reassurance, she was simply too frustrated to provide. He didn't get to shut her out, blame her, and then hope that her tattered nerves could pick him back up. Maybe he'd learn to be more careful what he wished for. "Right the now, I don' want no one with me."
The Curse.
Zevedron Bosch twitched, and Fells knew to stay at arm's length. It was the worst of his symptoms, an outward sign of inner urges that they were not discussing. It persisted through potions and -- his most recent attempt at coping -- running himself to exhaustion. His efforts left him too worn out to move, but still he twitched, and the days that followed only saw a marked increase in the lengths it took to earn him a moment's peace.
All of them knew that they should have taken him to Darnassus sooner. They just didn't know that their hesitation had consequences beyond Zeve's growing mental and physical exhaustion.
Side by side, they both peered up at the druid who loomed over them like a displeased parent. "It doesn't matter how you contracted the curse." His voice was water flowing over smooth riverbed stones and expressed not a whit of distress. It reminded her distinctly of Shad when he was at his most wroth, and it was how Fells knew that they were indeed in trouble. "Now we have to resort to more severe measures. You've gone too long with it in your blood."
Fells and Zeve exchanged a brief glance, containing "I told you so" and "I know, I know" in unspoken seconds. "Right, well I'm here now, mate," Zevedron said, shifting his attention back to the druid. "Figure there's like to be somethin' we can do what'll make things right?" His voice held all the strain that was easily visible in clenched fists and dark eyes sunken with exhaustion. His first rest for a week had come in the form of a dreamless sleep potion on the voyage over, and it wasn't enough by half.
"What kinda measures're we talkin' 'bout here?" Fells added, though it appeared as though the elf ignored her completely. His whole focus was fixed singularly on Zeve, as though weighing options based solely on the signals he could divine from the way the man spoke and moved. He was likely testing him with senses Fells couldn't perceive; Shad could have an especially keen sense of smell when he needed to.
Zeve shifted his weight under the scrutiny, and eventually tightly crossed his arms. All the better to hide hands that kept twitching every time a breeze stirred. Fells should have really stood downwind. "Right." Whether he meant to snap or not, Fells couldn't say, but the druid's countenance darkened just a hair. "Are you goin' to answer the miss or not, mate? If you can' help -- "
"Allonel Stonewaker," he interrupted, holding a hand up for their silence. "We will help you, Zevedron Bosch. I simply worry that we won't have time to gather what we need. The Howling Oak, I fear, won't be enough to aid you in your transition. Tal'doren could be required."
Zeve quirked a brow. "How do you figure on movin' a big feckin' tree then? Or are we goin' home?"
"We'll retrieve a branch when we're next able."
Something in his tone gave Fells pause. "When yer 'next able'." His nod was noncommittal. "In the habit'a sendin' yer folk inta Gilneas t'fetch twigs?" No nod answered, though he leveled a cool gaze at her. Fells grinned broadly. It really was the perfect excuse, wasn't it? And here they'd been trying to talk her out of it altogether. "An' y'need this t'help him."
"We do."
"Miss..."
"No, no truly now." Her grin grew, broad and self-assured. "I'll do it." She and Shad could fetch his branch and the pictures she wanted for him, all in one tidy little bundle. And what was he going to do, say no when his humanity hung in the balance? "I'll go inta Gilneas."
Worse than being caught in it, he knew he couldn't refuse her help. Zeve sighed and shook his head, crossed arms falling limp at his sides. "At least promise me yer gonna take Ears 'long with."
"Pfft, 'course. Why wouldn' I?"
Re: Flux
Postby Shad » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:48 pm
In the deepest jungles of Haemon Shadowind's mind, the cycle began anew.
"I HATE HIM!" It always did begin with rage. Rage was natural, or as Zeve would say, Right. It was the guardian emotion of the upright beast who prowled the hidden paths in the form of Bethekk's avatar, exacting a toll of wrath on every vine that dared cross his path. No stray thought could assuage his fury; rather than calming him, his conscience's every argument only fed his indignance, fueling the counter-strike that tore it down.
Really, he should have been more reasonable. Yes, he and Zeve had started off on the wrong foot, or possibly wrong feet, but it was just a series of misunderstandings. Era had been...well, an obnoxious cat, and Zeve had taken the feline's wicked edge as a hint that he was a brute-force personality. But they'd worked that out, right? So what if it had been almost immediately followed by the panther spilling what should have been a secret? Fells needed to know that the worgen was struggling, that he needed help. Now, had she really needed to know about the sweet kitty dreams she was crushing every time she smiled adoringly at THAT BASTARD DOG?
It didn't matter. It didn't matter why Zeve had told her. It didn't matter why he challenged, or why they both got riled just about every time he and Era matched wits. What mattered was that Zevedron Bosch was an invader. He was a rival, edging in on the panther's rightful territory, and hadn't he already taken enough?
"I HATE HIM!" As the tall feline figure reared back to roar his venom to the skies, another roar echoed behind him. Fury, lust, all the base instincts he tried so hard to shore away in the name of his half-complete metamorphosis from animal to man surged dangerously at the banks of their river, smashing into rocks of stubbornness and whipping themselves into frothing rapids. Here and there the water reached into the sky like flecks of foamy spittle that spattered on the storm-weakened sandbars that guided rather than contained the flow.
Claws set into the trunk of the tree that Shad had forced upon him. Nurture it, he'd said, and it will be beautiful: four people, three bodies, one family. But every time he tried, the sick, triune love grew gnarled and twisted, blackened and weak. "I didn't WANT THIS!" he snarled, ripping away bark and rotting affections. "I don't wanna share her! I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO!" When tearing proved unsatisfactory, he took to beating at his work, first with paws, but ultimately thrashing his whole form against it. "I was THERE for her! I worked, I PUT IN MY FUCKING TIME! SHE SHOULD BE MINE NOW!" His shoulder, imaginary though it was, began to ache from the battering, and still he kept at it, his voice cracking as he expended every ounce of frustration he'd amassed. "That bastard never had to deal with LAZ'S SHIT! WHY can he just WALK IN and TAKE HER THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME? SHE! SHOULD! BE! MINE! MINE! MINE!"
At last, the tree gave way. Groaning, creaking, it tilted in a slow arc toward the ground. It should have been satisfying, a victory: a choice to either get what he wanted or flip double birds and leave. But the tree's dying sighs brought him to his knees. You sound just like Laurus, it whispered.
The feather-light touch of the fallen canopy was all that was needed to break him. It effortlessly smashed the banks of the river, spilling out an ever-widening torrent of emotion. The water's momentum didn't abate as it approached; like an avalanche, it hurled itself ever faster through the jungle, tearing up trees by their roots and carrying them along. Era slumped, resigned, and in the eternity of an eye's blink, the wall of fury swept over him without a single effort expended on escape.
In the deluge's wake, nothing but a tiny, drenched, black housecat remained, alone in the barren wreckage of his home.
"..Look, Fells, I...I'll try harder," he whimpered over the box. "Just....like elf said. Do what you want." To her and to Zeve, apologies dribbled out. "I'm sorry if...if I been...an asshole. I...we can try. Again."
"I'm afraid if you send him off 'cause'a me you'll end up resentin' me. I...I wanna bend for you."
"I just can't keep makin' missteps like this."
Nothing is more pathetic than a drenched housecat.
I don't know if you know this, but baby bears are precious and soft. --Mylune
Zve
Postby Zve » Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:42 am
"Ishnu-alah, Zevedron Bosch." Zeve opened his eyes to find the frowning visage of Allonel Stonewalker peering down at him. "It is time." He turned to leave without waiting for Zeve to push himself up off of the mossy ground. The druid's stride was broader; Zeve had to hurry to catch up to him as they strode out from beneath the Howling Oak.
The morning light of the elven capital left him squinting and shielding his eyes. Of course, Stonewaker seemed to have no troubles with it. Nothing seemed to shake the ageless people here. While the kal'dorei did not seem to like humans as a general rule, they seemed to particularly dislike the Gilneans, Zeve had found. Some of the elves may have pitied the cursed humans, but not openly and not to the point of kindness—least of all, it seemed, the druid who was supposed to help them.
Stonewaker strode silently to the couple huddled together at the path's end: Maynard and Millie Wheelwright, Zeve's fellow afflicted and partners in the ritual to come. They'd spoken little to Zeve, aside from cursory introductions. Small talk. How are you, who are you, are you cursed too? Gilnean small talk, these days, took on a darker bent than in years prior.
Seeing them leaning on each other, eyes dark and faces drawn, Zeve wondered how long they had been trying to resist the curse without the help of the druids or potions or his preferred method of running himself to collapse.
Stonewaker nodded curtly at the couple, then began walking toward the forest, away from the path and the rest of the city. Zeve and the Wheelwrights followed uncertainly. Millie looked warily between her husband and the departing druid. "Where are we going?" Her voice didn't tremble, but was clearly being kept under tight control.
The druid didn't respond at first, reaching the thick treeline before looking over his shoulder. "A place where we will be alone." The three humans stared back at him expectantly. Seeing that his followers would not be satisfied with a partial answer, Stonewaker turned back to the treeline, sliding effortlessly into the underbrush without causing more than a slight disturbance in the foliage. His voice called out to the Gilneans, "There is a grove several miles north. We will begin there."
Maynard urged his wife forward, and Zeve nodded with as much encouragement as he could muster as they followed the druid into the forest. Stonewaker delayed just long enough to leave a luminous handprint on the south-facing bark of one of the great trees, then forged ahead without further comment. Maynard frowned at the glowing mark, then looked back to his wife. Her facade was slipping already, anxious exhaustion pinching her features. "Can't we just fly?"
Zeve shrugged. "Figure not. Best try an' catch up." He took the lead, pressing through the dense brush. The Wheelwrights held fast to each other, and Zeve ground his teeth in frustration. Their closeness wasn't the easiest thing to bear, not when he was trying so hard to keep his own thoughts in check.
Fells had gone alone to Gilneas. Knowing that there were Forsaken, feral worgen, and whatever else might have decided to crawl out of the Nether to ruin his home, she had gone alone. She wanted to go alone so that she could prove she didn't need help. Feck-all on needing help, I just want to help. Stubborn... He shook his head and looked back, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Been through worse'n this, eh?" Neither responded.
Whatever trick of nature allowed Stonewaker to pass through the woods unmarred, he wasn't passing its benefits to his wards. But if the druids wouldn't or couldn't help without requiring hiking, scratches, and possible rashes, Zeve wasn't about to balk now. Still, it seemed they followed glowing handprints for hours before they caught up to Stonewaker.
It wasn't clear if the druid had chosen the clearing at random, divined by some sense the others couldn't see, or if they'd been headed here all along. It was wide and clear, the floor dense and plush with moss that was dotted with smooth stone. Shallow springs marked its corners, holding back the towering trees that stretched and bent to blot out the sun overhead. Zeve caught his breath, subconsciously unwilling to disturb the still air of the living cathedral.
Stonewaker sat cross-legged on a large, flat stone set more or less in the center of the place, his eyes closed. "We will perform the ritual here." Without opening his eyes, he pointed to each of the springs. "Drink."
Zeve and the Wheelwrights obeyed, greedily cupping handfuls of the clear water. It was cool and refreshing, and without thinking Zeve splashed some of it over his face. Right, doing a fine job of being proper and respectful. Water dripped off of his chin, and Stonewalker eyed him impassively. "Come. Sit."
As the Gilneans settled to the grass in front of him he went about what little he had in the way of preparations, methodically unwrapping small linen-bound bundles. He produced three gnarled sticks, the wood dark and not at all resembling the trees which surrounded them. With casual, practiced precision, the druid set one branch between himself and Millie and another between himself and Maynard. "Many of your people were found before they left your home, shortly after they had been afflicted. Because the rage of Goldrinn had been with them only a brief time, and with the aid of Tal'Doren, the druids of my order were able to guide them quickly to control over their curse."
The druid placed a third branch, tied with a scrap of red leather, between himself and Zeve. "It is no longer safe to perform the ritual beneath Tal'Doren thanks to the Forsaken who ravage the land with their plague and your feral brethren." Zeve winced at that last. He could still clearly remember the night Fells had inadvertently led him into Duskwood. He had been able to hear the worgen there, smell them, and call to them. He had nearly...he shuddered, shaking the thought off and returning his attention to Stonewaker. The druid couldn't read minds, but his glowing eyes seemed to see Zeve's thoughts. "You have managed the curse longer than most of your people, but at a high cost. Our ritual will require more of you than it did of the others."
Zeve nodded, giving Stonewaker a grim smile. "Comfortin', thanks." To his surprise, the druid smiled back. The expression was cold and pitying.
"What do we have to do?" Maynard asked. "We're ready." The farmer's jaw was set, his arm around his wife.
Stonewaker opened his arms. "Lay down and close your eyes." Zeve's smile faded and he nodded with weary determination. Wheelwright had the right of it—they needed to be done with this. As the three Gilneans settled on the grass, Zeve looked over to see the Wheelwrights share a brief kiss before closing their eyes. He frowned, closing his own. Time later. Fells would be back from Gilneas and safe, he would be better, and there would be --
"The tree, Tal'Doren, was the home of the Druids of the Scythe, once called the Druids of the Pack." Stonewaker's voice cut into his thoughts. "When those druids lost themselves to the rage of Goldrinn, the Wolf God, Shan'do Stormrage banished them to the Emerald Dream to sleep under the tree Daral'nir."
Although he couldn't see the druid, the voice moved closer. Zeve felt something being placed on his chest. "Just as Daral'nir soothes the cursed druids who gave into the beast and abandoned balance, let Tal'Doren soothe these lost children." The druid repeated the mantra again, and again. The words began to flow together and for a moment the quiet bubbling of the springs grew louder. Water over rocks, wind through the leaves, "Let Tal'Doren soothe these lost children..."
His thoughts melted away.
Soft. Warm. Peaceful. Perfect. "Heya, ser."
Light crept through his eyelids, momentarily blinding him. The figure leaning over him came into focus slowly, first a dark splotch against the window and then, slowly, a familiar figure. She smiled as fingers worked through his hair. "Fell 'sleep on me."
"Did I?" He held his head as he sat up, shaking away cobwebs.
"It has been nearly an hour." Shad spoke from the door, his familiar figure stretched too tall against architecture meant for someone shorter. Fells grinned at him, and the smiles of the twins in Shad's arms echoed her own. "It is a beautiful evening outside. You are going to miss it."
He didn't have much choice in the matter when Fells took his hands, laughing as he pulled him to the door. "C'mon. Mayhap we can go fer a walk." There wasn't time to judge the strange weight to her words, not when she led him through the doorway and his heart stopped.
Gilneas, whole and unbroken. He could tell as easily as though he were surveying the land from overhead. The Wall was intact, the hills were filled with white and brown dots where livestock grazed far below. He looked back at the house they'd been in: the Bosch manse, built on the southwest cliffs overlooking the ocean. He pulled Fells out of the path of an ornate carriage, the revelers inside laughing raucously, and she stayed close in his arms after. The setting sun's orange light danced in her eyes as she laid her head on his shoulder, easing into his warmth. "Look, Botch," she murmured, pointing to the east. Low-hung in the sky, the yellow light of the full moons illuminated the landscape below.
A tightness gripped him. Zeve blinked as his limbs stretched, as bones and muscles cracked and tore and reformed. It came as naturally and unintentionally as breathing. Instead of agony it was as comfortable as donning familiar clothing. Fells slipped her small hand into his and stood on tip-toe to scratch behind his ears. He slumped, smiled, at let his tongue loll out; it was embarrassing, but he didn't care—everything felt good. Warm. Soft.
"Zevedron?" A woman's voice called to him from inside the house. And when she appeared in the doorway he recognized her face. It explained her voice. His heart caught in his throat.
"Mum?"
Cessily Bosch stepped from the porch to meet them, shared a warm smile with Fells, then reached up to scratch behind Zeve's ears. It occurred to him that he should be ashamed to have her see him shifted, but her smile reassured him. She was just as she had been when he left Gilneas almost seven years ago: regal, defined, and proper—kind and right. Her hand rested on the side of his face. "My favorite son...I'm so very glad you're home."
Zeve frowned. "Da?"
She shook her head, patting his cheek. "He's not here, dear. Please, come inside. You and your wife will be warmer. And I do want to see you with my grandchildren." Taking his other hand, she and Fells both led him back toward the manse.
Once inside, they both left him in their wake in favor of heading towards the hearth. A massive silver panther sprawled on his back, half overrun by tiny figures. Fells scooped Junior up when she lowered herself to the rug. He didn't recognize the dark-haired infant that his mother claimed. From between them the beast pulled its lips back, showing long white fangs in a brutal grin. "Era?"
"Who else, feck-head. Holdin' down your hearth. You're welcome." Zeve approached slowly, eyes fixed on the smallest. His mother cooed at the babe she cradled, offering a finger that was claimed with chubby little hands and greedily brought down to its mouth. His gaze slipped to the other, a tiny girl with dark pigtails that seemed intent on trying to pull out as much silver fur as she could. Her giggling played on the air like music.
"What? I don'..." Fells glanced up at him, then laid Junior -- her youngest, she only has the twins and the baby -- back against Era's flank before crossing to him, her smile amused and teasing.
"S'wrong, darlin'?" she purred, slipping behind him to snake arms around his torso. Even with his height, she was somehow able to whisper directly in his ear. It sent all the wrong shivers down his spine. "Don' y'know yer babes?" No...I don' have minis...Can't, they'd be...
His mother positively beamed from her place on the rug, turning to allow him to see the child she cradled. "You made me a grandmother, Zevedron." The infant had one canine fang dug deep into her finger, blood trickling out onto its bib. A wave of revulsion roiled in his gut. "I'm so proud." When his daughter turned to him, her eyes flashed gold in the firelight.
He would have stumbled backwards, but Fells stood firm and held him all the tighter. "Calm down, Zeve," intoned Shad, his smile placid and fixed as he stepped forward. "Everything is fine. Just as I told you it would be."
"Yeah," came the panther's lazy voice from behind him. "Chill out, come cuddle?"
"Come cuddle with me." Fells's invitation fell secretive and quiet on his ear. For a moment, the edges of reality blurred when her fingers slipped low in an obscene caress. "C'mon. Yer frettin' over nothin'. Come with me."
Era and Shad began laughing in the same voice. His son whimpered as his daughter began to keen. Zeve almost stumbled as he turned away from the sitting room, heading for the door. All at once his mother was at his arm, her voice sickly sweet in its comfort. "It's alright, dear, everything is fine."
His children—not my children!--began to howl. Panicked, he blindly charged through the door and back out into the night. Ocean air washed over him, though he was met with something altogether different from Gilneas.
A tree. Oceans of green, and a great, dark tree. The massive sentinel was twisted and bent, but seemed to belong in this place. He saw the worgen, then; hundreds or perhaps thousands of them slept beneath the tree and would continue sleeping there forever. A voice spoke from within and around the tree, from the roots and from every full, blood-colored leaf: "Daral'nir."
The sleeping worgen began to sing. He remembered the sound from the night in Duskwood, what he could hear and Fells could not. Zeve's eyes began to burn with the strain of keeping them open. Can't... He felt himself sink to his knees. Can't... A cool breeze blew by, smelling faintly of mint and tea. Zeve was lying on his side, blinking slowly. No... His eyes closed.
The diffused purple light of Darnassus greeted him, illuminating the canopies of the great trees. Birds dipped through the intertwined branches. Everything was a tangle of green and purple, life and light. Zeve blinked, realizing he was still lying on his back. "...Right."
Letting his head fall to the side, he saw Stonewaker seated on his stone in the middle of the grove. Glowing eyes caught the slight movement; the druid gestured for Zeve to stand before turning his attention back to the still-sleeping Wheelwrights. Zeve rubbed at his face, rolling into a sitting position. The branch tied with red leather fell to the ground and he picked it up, turning it over slowly in his fingers.
The explanation came reverently. "When the Druids of the Pack lost themselves to Goldrinn's fury, Shan'do Stormrage banished them to Daral'nir. Daral'nir brought tranquility to the druids, but will forever keep them asleep within the Emerald Dream."
"Forever..." Zeve looked up at his guide. "If I'd stayed..." He looked at the Wheelwrights. "If they stay..."
Stonewaker gave a ghost of a smile, still watching the sleeping couple. "Tal'Doren is connected to Daral'nir. If you had chosen to stay, you would have slept as surely as the druids sleep beneath Daral'nir."
Zeve blinked, shaking his head. "Forever."
"Until you were eaten or returned to the earth, yes." The druid was entirely matter-of-fact.
Zeve gazed at the Wheelwrights, still shaking his head. "Why didn' you tell us? What if somethin' happened? Feck, what if somethin' happens?" He pointed at the couple.
"If you had known, you would have tried to prepare. You would, perhaps, have reconsidered. Telling you would have served no purpose but to worry you. And since you had no choice in this ritual--"
"No choice? Feck-all, mate, I came here of my own feckin' free will."
"Did you? Either you would have undergone the ritual, or you would have become feral and have been hunted down—by your own kind or by the Kal'dorei. If not for this ritual, the most you could have hoped for would have been eternal sleep under Daral'nir or death. Knowing your people..."
Maynard Wheelwright stirred, then a moment later Millie's eyes fluttered open. Stonewaker dropped his voice so only Zeve could hear. "Did you really have a choice?" Zeve scowled as the druid pushed a small bag of jerky toward him. "Eat. Drink. We shall begin again in a few hours.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Sunday Short Reads
Self-Guided Courses
Manuscript Review Program
Science as Story
Write Now at CNF
About the genre
CNF in the Classroom
Support CNF
CNF Foundation
Creative Nonfiction Magazine
True Story Magazine
In Fact Books
The Genre
Issue #47, Winter 2013
Resurrecting Our Printed Past
An interview with Stephen Knezovich
Robyn Jodlowski
Stephen Knezovich, whose work is featured in issue #47, is an editor, writer, and collage artist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work, often inspired by archaic words, strange idioms, and clichés, is hand-constructed from images found in vintage books and magazines. By day, he serves as Creative Nonfiction's associate editor and director of CNF's Mentoring Program.
To see more of his artwork, please visit his website.
Artists who collaborate with Creative Nonfiction generally read the essays first, then come up with their illustrations. How did this process work for you?
Well, considering I'm an editor at CNF, I had knowledge of what was going into the issue as the pieces were selected. As Lee points out in the issue's editor's note, the fact that all the essays were written by women was more happenstance than anything else; we chose the pieces because 1) they were really good, and 2) we could tie them together by their content, which, for the most part focused on science and the senses—hearing, vision, etc. And since illustrators are chosen after we select the essays, trying to match aesthetics and whatnot, these underlying themes were our starting point.
Our first thought was to see if we couldn't scrounge up some fair-use science and medical illustrations or something. And we found some, but decided that even these images would need … something more to make them work. So, since I've been constructing collages independent of my work at CNF, we decided that maybe I should give illustrating the issue a go.
I started by tracking down some really old source materials—century-old medical textbooks and the like—along with some old books and magazines I use for my personal work. I began clipping images that had a literal connection to the essays—diagrams of brains and eyes and guns, for example. Once I had a pile of images for each essay, I did what I always do: deconstruct the images, rearrange them, and juxtapose them until something comes together that makes aesthetic, if not literal, sense.
What similarities do you see between the creation of literary and visual works of art?
My work is often inspired by language. In fact, it started as a vocabulary-building exercise.
In 2008, I signed up for a word of the day email service, thinking I'd learn some new words. I had just begun working at CNF, and I guess was experiencing some anxiety about my abilities. I started getting these daily emails that mostly contained bizarre and often archaic words, but they just weren't sticking—and, in all honesty, unless I was going to enter a professional Scrabble competition, it's probably for the best. But there they were, every day in my inbox. But what to do with them? I could have unsubscribed from the service, but that felt too easy, so I decided to make collages of the words—not necessarily trying to capture their definitions, but using them to tell a small story. I guess I thought this gave me some ownership of the words. Of course, none of them have entered my daily conversation, but I definitely found a new hobby.
Over time, I started to explore idioms and clichés, and then finally I just started telling my own stories.
Then there's also the larger connection the medium has to my life in publishing. My primary source materials are forgotten bits of the industry's past—vintage books and magazines and assorted ephemera—deemed no longer useful or relevant by their original owners, and rescued from thrift stores and attics and antique shops.
So maybe what I'm really trying to do is give these publications a second life.
You're a writer, too—fiction and screenplays mostly, right? Is your writing process similar?
I'd have to say no. The collages often come together quickly, while writing, for me, is always an epic struggle. I think I've been working on the same handful of short stories for a decade now. I never send them out for publication, I just keep rewriting them over and over again. It's ridiculous.
As for screenplays, those often materialize quickly, too. But I don't write many of those on my own. It's always a collaborative process with an end goal and a shooting date. Besides, screenplays require very little of the same kind of detail required in a short story—there's very little need to get too descriptive. The locations and the actors take care of a lot of that. Action, dialogue, and story—that's it.
What's your creative process usually like? If you had to give it a label (something like evolving doodles, energetic emission) what would it be?
Deconstruction, and addition by subtraction.
What drew you to collage work? Why vintage images?
As I said, I work in publishing, and I think I'm just trying to resurrect some of the industry's lost artifacts.
Plus, I can't paint.
What can collage do that whole-cloth creation can't?
I don't know, really. I guess I see it as being similar to writing. The building blocks already exist—language and grammar in the case of writing, images and perspective in collage—and anyone can do it, but the art is how you combine and present these existing elements.
In much of your art, you manipulate people's faces. Why that particular theme?
This is more of a recent development, but I guess one of my goals is to completely divorce source images from their original context. Removing or manipulating someone's face is the easiest way to do that.
Can you talk about your decision to use pink on this issue's cover?
Honestly, that wasn't my decision, but was born from conversations among CNF's managing editor Hattie Fletcher, our art director Seth Clark, and myself.
Even though the "all women" theme was inadvertent, we decided to own it, and thought it might be fun to play off the clichéd women's magazine cover treatment—think Cosmo—but to do it with a wink. And, for better or for worse, there's hardly a more obvious female signifier than the color pink. So, we went for it. Personally, I think this is the best cover we've ever done … but I'm a bit biased.
How about the "form" of the woman on the cover? I think it strikes a nice balance between a kind of trucker-flap outline and a realistic body type. Was that intentional on your part?
Thanks, but I didn't really make the trucker-flap connection until after the issue was published. I did, however, intentionally remove the woman from image. I wanted to address the recent VIDA count—that female writers are often missing or under represented in the pages of many magazines—so I literally removed a woman from her "natural" magazine habitat (wearing a swimsuit on the beach), and filled the space she left behind with scraps of paper.
In six words, give us your artist statement, world view, or life's story.
Attempts at resurrecting our printed past.
Everyone has different qualifications for what makes a piece of art great. What are yours?
Honestly, I have no idea. My background is in English; I didn't study the visual arts. But, I guess the determining factors are the same—and for me, all I know is when something—a painting, a collage, an essay, a novel—feels right. It's a gut reaction: do I like it? Does it make me feel something? Am I responding favorably to those feelings? Yes yes and yes? Then it's art to me.
Robyn Jodlowski is a former editorial assistant at Creative Nonfiction. She is also an editor at Longform.org and teaches at the University... read more
Two on Two
Once upon a time, a long time ago, I rambled through thickets of brawny power forwards and quicksilver cocksure guards and rooted ancient... read more
What's the Story #1
What's In This Name -- And What's Not?
Ever since I began to write and to teach writing 20 years ago, people have been asking me to explain the genre in which I work—this... read more
Giving Form to Chaos
An interview with David Wallace
David Wallace, whose work is featured in issue #44, is a collage artist, graphic designer and musician living in Pittsburgh, Pa. His work... read more
What's the Story #47
This issue of Creative Nonfiction features a dialogue with Cheryl Strayed, who has achieved fame and acclaim recently as the author of the... read more
Related Issue
Seriously beautiful essays about serious topics, all written by women more
Exploring the Boundaries
Under the Umbrella
Writer at Work
Issue 72, Games
The Power of Play more
What is Creative Nonfiction?
Lee Gutkind
Picturing the Personal Essay: A Visual Guide
Tim Bascom
How to Write Like a Mother#^@%*&
Elissa Bassist & Cheryl Strayed
AfterWORDS: Procrastination Bingo
The Serious Business of Play
Sasha Barab and Alan Gershenfeld
Inside Out and Outside In
Gabe Montesanti
A Priest Walks into a Bar
Sarah Shotland
Terrance Flynn
Subscribe to Creative Nonfiction
Purchase a subscription to Creative Nonfiction
Monthly mini-magazine
Accepted Year-Round
Pitch Us a Column
Receive E-News
What is Creative Nonfiction? Support Creative Nonfiction
607 College Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Phone: 412-404-2975 Email: information@creativenonfiction.org © 2012


Here's the latest 'e-news' from the Ashtar Command, since their last message on 20th Feb. As usual, their update is comprehensive and very re-assuring.
"Star nations which are part of the alliance supporting Earth's ascension have begun beaming their Light fervently onto the planet. Their increasingly strong presence in the Earth's atmosphere can be noticed by earthlings in resonance with their energy frequency. These troops of light ships and vessels are from star systems as near to Earth, in terms of number of light years, as the Pleiades and as far as where the cosmic being Lenduce is stationed, outside this galactic constellation. The Ashtar Command is the surveillance unit enforcing the integrity of their involvement in Earth's ongoing ascension. However the Ashtar Command has no direct control or responsibility over your co-creation should you choose to work with energies that are not from the legitimate source. Tune in to your heart center to identify and distinguish the origination of your contacts with the star beings. If fear or any of its sub-expression is aroused in your mind or body as you attempt to identify these sources, we would recommend you apply the power of God within you to demand that these unloving energies be cleared of your aura completely.
b) align and integrate your 3rd dimensional body with the 5th dimensional energy matrix; the latter actually encompasses the former. This helps you with staying on earth's ground safely before Earth's transition to the next energy band is completely over.
The Ashtar Command shall transmit more messages periodically to assist you through this thrilling flight to a higher state of consciousness. Know that you're being watched over and you are safe. I am Commander Ashtar".
More information about the star alliance in support of Earth's ascension and your affinity with them will be channeled at the Song of the Stars Workshop, along with energy transmissions for awakening your 5th dimensional body. Check out workshop programme. Blessings, Ann.


Listen & download to the entire album by Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] for free.
A brand new album from Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] yes, the most exciting album with great tracks. This is a fantastic album, download free! Download Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] album from Uploaded, Rapidgator, Télécharger, zippyshare, Turbobit, 4Shared, mediafire, utorrent, mega, torrents, where download?, iTunes Version, FLAC, Gratuit Leaked, new album, Album Download, zip_download, rar_download, Tour Concert, HASITLEAK!, Listen and Download. Enjoy here! in https://t411-music.club. FREE~~FULL LINK DOWNLOAD Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] Album ~MP3~ [ZIP] Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] .rar Download [Free] Download Andrea von Kampen – Old Country (2019) [320KBPS] album in mp3, rar, zip, torrent.


text:
Filler Fluff Stuff
Posted by 2plus2isjoe under Smith Westerns, The Active Set, The Futureheads, The Morning Benders
It's one of those days where I've been listening to bits and pieces of new music but nothing's really jumping out at me as the subject of a major post. "So," thought I, "why don't I write a little bit about each one?" And here we are.
I was a little suspicious of Smith Westerns at first. They claim to be influenced primarily by '70s glam rock but they peddle just the kind of fuzzed-out retro garage beloved by Black Lips. Add to to that the kind of purposefully badly recorded vocals that have really never done anything for me and we have the makings of a forgettable band. But on listening closer, the glam influences come through, not in the instrumentation but in their approach to songcraft. There's a sense of disinterested cool that slows the songs down but a need to play the guitars as loud as possible and it's in those moments of sheer abandon that this sounds less like a group of kids wanting to sound like their contemporaries and more like a band who play exactly how they want to – just as Marc Bolan did all those years ago. This is shambling, kick-drum heavy rock designed to chill out to in summer and irritate your parents, which, given the ridiculous youth of the band, is probably exactly what it was meant for.
Smith Westerns – Be My Girl (YSI)
Whenever I hear that The Futureheads are going to release a new album, I get a mixed sense of joy and trepidation. You see, I consider their debut album to be almost perfect; completely full of breakneck post-punk pop songs that grab you and refuse to let go until Barry Hyde's wonderful vocals have finally given out. Since the halcyon days of that first album, they've never quite lived up to that genius again. News and Tributes was a far more self-conscious album, and one that I felt didn't suit the band and This Is Not The World regained some their initial enthusiasm but never quite reached the heights of that first effort. But after hearing their new 'Heartbeat Song', I can't help but feel that third time's a charm. It certainly wouldn't sound out of place on the debut album, but there's enough of a change in tone to avoid making it a replication. Possessing the kind of youthful exuberance (and oddly, a similar guitar tone in places) that Blink-182 used to do so well, but with a British punk sensibility firmly in place, the signs for fourth album The Chaos are very good indeed.
The Futureheads – Heartbeat Song (YSI)
The Futureheads – Struck Dumb (Changed at label's request)
This one comes courtesy of Hanan over at Music Induced Euphoria, whose sheer irrepressability about how good this band are won me over. The Morning Benders don't disappoint – at least as far as I can tell by listening to 'Excuses'. Built around a furiously strummed acoustic guitar and the occasional echoing drum, this possibly simplistic song is elevated into the blue skies of the stratosphere by Chris Chu's summery vocal tones, beautifully old-school, almost barbershop, harmonies and the gorgeous string-filled crescendo of an ending. Look up the cover of their new album Big Echo and you'll see just why they chose that image of seaside bliss as soon as you hear this song.
The Morning Benders – Excuses (YSI)
The Active Set are another one of those bands who've had a track sitting in my inbox for a fair old while, and made me regret it once I've listened to them. 'Sea Legs' is a slow-building beast drawing on elements of The National (epic, dark, full of drums), early Bloc Party, Echo & The Bunnymen and god knows what else. It's a long track at over five minutes, but the band pack so much action into that time that it could easily be twice as long and still sound full. What centres it all is Matthew Stolarz' mournful vocals that flicker between British inflections and the LA punk that he once was, saying very little, but saying it well. 'So far I'm still looking to the land, I haven't found my sea legs/And so far I haven't got a plan, I'm set adrift upon these troubled waters' is a beautiful refrain and one that frames the bulk of the song, letting it evolve into something far louder before joining in and making it seem almost transcendent. Beautiful, heartwrenching stuff.
The Active Set – Sea Legs (YSI)
Damn You Lostprophets!
Posted by 2plus2isjoe under Lostprophets, The Cure, The Futureheads
NME this week released a compilation of covers of The Cure, who have just been entirely rightly given the NME Godlike Genius award. Now the worth of this album was always going to be in question, because surely we should hear the band themselves and, whilst some of the covers are pretty good, there was always the chance of a song by The Cure being absolutely ruined by a lesser band. And guess what? Lostprophets managed just that, the Welsh bastards. By not changing any element of "Boys Don't Cry" except the vocals into a ridiculous faux-american whine, I may never enjoy the original song again, for fear of the painful memories.
Luckily, The Futureheads manage to salvage it a little by putting their usual harmonic genius to good use on a cacophonous version of "The Lovecats", so please, do yourself a favour and listen to that instead.
The Futureheads – The Lovecats (YSI)


text:
Tinseltown/Shutterstock Gage Skidmore/Flickr (CC BY SA 2.0) (Licensed) Remix by Jason Reed
Report: Trump knew about Stormy Daniels payment months before he denied it
This issue continues to confuse.
Josh Katzowitz
While talking with reporters on Air Force One a month ago, President Donald Trump said he didn't know about a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair between the two.
But on Friday, the New York Times reported that Trump actually knew about the payment made from his attorney Michael Cohen to Daniels months before he denied it to reporters.
It's unclear when exactly the president knew about the payment, though the Times reports the chief financial officer of the Trump organization knew since last year that Trump had reimbursed Cohen.
This is a story that's returned to the spotlight after Rudy Giuliani, recently hired as one of Trump's lawyers, went on Sean Hannity's Fox News show this week and admitted that Trump had reimbursed Cohen and that he knew he was doing it, directly contradicting what Trump and Cohen had previously said.
"That money was not campaign money," Giuliani said. "It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violations… funneled through a law firm and then the president repaid it."
Then, in a series of tweets, Trump confirmed Giuliani's account.
"Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth," Trump said. "In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction."
On Friday, Trump also said Giuliani is a great guy and that he'll eventually "get his facts straight."
If you're confused about whether Trump knew about the payment and when he knew about the payment and whether the payment was a campaign violation, you're certainly not alone. This week's news has muddied those waters even more.
*First Published: May 5, 2018, 8:18 am
Josh Katzowitz is a staff writer at the Daily Dot specializing in YouTube and boxing. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A longtime sports writer, he's covered the NFL for CBSSports.com and boxing for Forbes. His work has been noted twice in the Best American Sports Writing book series.


Astrolog 5.41G - overview of changes.
Detailed description of changes I have made in original version of Astrolog, are given in history of changes. But there changes are in chronological order and it's difficult to see main changes. Here changes are devided between different areas, which helps to see, what's made.
Alois Treindl modified Astrolog 5.40 and named new version 5.41. It contains the new Swiss Ephemeris instead of the older Placalc ephemeris. The responsibility for this modification is with Alois Treindl. Original Astrolog 5.41 with all related files is available at ftp://www.astro.com/pub/astrolog/.
I used Astrolog 5.41 as a base, where are moved my changes, made in previous versions.
Back to Valja's astrology page.
Corrected calculation of Alcabitius house cusps. Thanks to Per Dahlin (capella@algonet.se) who sent me definition of Alcabitius house cusps.
Fixed original Astrolog omission, where in case of -sr switch (equatorial coordinates instead ecliptical) coordinates of house cusps aren't transformed from ecliptics to equator, and planets itself was on equator, but was placed to ecliptical houses.
All -Z switch (Horizon) charts must be independent from -sr switch, because image of visible sky relatively to local horizon must be independent of coordinate system we use for planets (equatorial, ecliptical or some other). In original Astrolog all outputs of -Z switches changes in case of additional switch -sr. All routines, connected with -Z switch, transforms first coordinates from ecliptic to equator and then from equator to local horizon coordinates. In case of -sr switch first transform from ecliptic to equator is superfluous, because in case of -sr switch coordinates are already given in equatorial system. Since 5.30b this bug is fixed.
In Windows version using of parallel-contraparallel aspects can be set very simply. But Transit To Transit and Transit To Natal Hits are calculated for normal aspects independent of setting of Parallel aspect switch. Only effect is change of aspect names from conjunctions and Oppositions to Parallels and Contraparallels, but used are really normal aspects, also trines, squares etc. In original Astrolog searching of parallel and contraparallel hits is absent at all. In changed version this omissed part is added and is possible to search also Parallel and ContraParallel aspects like it was possible with normal aspects.
Fixed bug, where applayng-separating of comparison charts natal - progressed and natal - transit was wrong. Now with -rt and -rp switch natal chart planets velocities are made zero, and -rt (or -rp) with -a switch give correct applay-separate aspects (like -T switch).
Fixed bug in calculation of Gauquelin sectors in polar zone. In this case some planets can not rise and set during a day. Astrolog restricts such planets, but original version don't restores old restriction set when returning to standard wheel.
Uncorrect object name "Nadir" has been replaced by corret "IC". Nadir has different meaning than IC, Nadir is the point on the sky opposite to Zenith.
Changed calculations of house cusps in Polar Zone. In some situations in Polar Zone (named by Per Dahlin "circumpolar situations") pairs ASC - DES must be reverted, because Zodiac is ascending in reverted direction. In such situations original Astrolog until 5.30 gives in most cases wrong house cusps. Since vesion 5.40 original Astrolog reverts ASC - DES.
1) MC is defined as upper culmination, then MC - IC aren't flipped, but MC is under horizon.
2) MC is defined as culmination above horizon and MC - IC are flipped.
In changed version user can select, flip in circumpolar situation only ASC or both ASC and MC, and house cusps seems correct.
Added Uranian Proserpina. So Astrolog 5.30e has 9 Uranians instead original 8. Proserpina is Uranian #8, (obj. #40) and last Uranian Poseidon is obj. #41. Remember about corresponding changes in astrolog.dat. All info about Proserpina I have is available here.
Added two points on the sky - Centrum of our Galaxy and Apex of Sun. There are different data, better seems data from "Brockhaus ABC der Astronimie" (Leipzig 1961).
Best data of Centrum of Galaxy gives J. Shklowsky (- 17h 42' 30" -29 deg 02', results of radioastronomy).
Planets powers calculations are overwritten.
Changed calculation of position powers: Added decreasing of power, if planet is in falling or debilitating sign or house. In aspects powers sum calculations now are used position powers of planets, given in first column, instead of fixed from astrolog.dat - now powers of aspects depends from planets positions.
Astrolog routines gives possibility to include to powers calculations also addition of power, if planets are in reception. Now planet powers are calculated in separate routine used for both -a and -j switches. Taked into account are: ruling, exalting, fall and debilitating in sign and house, also RECEPTION for main planets. As earlier, planet give addition to rulers through sign and house, also house cusps give addition to sign rulers.
1) classical (natural ruler) - ruler of 1st house is Mars, ruler of 2nd house is Venus etc.
2) accidental (situative ruler) - ruler of house is planet, which rules sign where is house cusp.
Contemporary astrologers uses mostly situative rulers, and natural rulers are used as auxiliary.
Original astrolog uses in power calculations only natural rulers.
1/2 is given to natural rulers.
1/2 is given to situative rulers.
-YOP 0.5 - sets for parallels power 0.5 (for conjunction is 1.0).
Aspect powers calculation is changed. With -a and -a0 switches instead of fixed powers of planets given in astrolog.dat file, powers calculated with -j switch are used (really, only positions part). In case of comparison charts for natal and progressed charts are used calculated planet powers, for transiting planets respective transiting powers from astrolog.dat file. If two natal charts cahrts are compared, calculated different powers for both charts are used. Changed are also power calculations with -T switch, now "-Tn" and "-rt infile now" gives same result.
By analogy with sign's powers calculations is added house's powers calculation. (in DOS version switch -j0).
See also more detailed description of power calculations in changed versions.
Added alternative way to restrict stars. Originally if all stars are unrestricted, using of -U switch caused garbage of graphics wheel chart from aspect lines between all stars, also star orbs are fixed 2.0 deg.
Since version 5.30a are added switches, which allows SET aspect ORBS for stars (in degrees), default 1.2 deg, and switch on/off alternative star restrictions.
In alternative case automatically are unrestricted only stars, which conjuncts or have any aspect with other unrestricted objects. These "unrestriciton rules" can be set by user.
Stars needs really very narrow orbs, about 1 deg or narrower, and in version 5.30a orb additions of objects aren't used for aspects with stars, because orb-addition may be in this case greater than orb itself.
Original Astrolog has ability to display positions of 177 Arabic Parts. But there aren't displayed aspects to other objects. Since version 5.30a is added possibility to show only Parts, which have some aspects with other unrestricted objects, and to show these aspects. Orbs can be set by user, default is 1.0 degree.
Here you can look example of output with default settings.
Since version 5.41Cstars calculations moved to Swiss Ephemeris, which improved precision of calculations. Additional file fixstars.ast is necessary. That's specially modified file fixstars.cat from SWEPH, which contains data of about 800 fixed stars (actually fixstars.ast is last version of fixstars.cat, where data of stars, used by Astrolog, are copied to first 74 lines). There are traditional name of star (like Aldebaran), canonical name (like alTau), ephemeris and magnitude. Without this file all stars calculations are made as in previous versions.
Since version 5.41E aspects between fixed stars are removed from all outputs.
Alternative stars restriction works now also with parallels. So if (with active "alternative restriction") you switch to parallels (View -> Parallel Aspects), unrestricted will be stars which parallels some object (if you increase apect numbers for alternative restriction, there will be unrestricted stars with contraparallels too).
That caused also changes in info-borders of graphical wheel charts (look just below).
Changed info-border in graphics wheel charts. In case of progression chart are displayed natal data, and also time and Julian day, where chart is progressed. In case of comparison charts are displayed info of both charts and for second chart is marked which chart it is: comparison, transit or progressed. These data changes respectively in case of animation. In case of graphics wheel charts can be displayed info about aspects: sums of harmonic and tension aspects, conjuctions, total aspectation (in case of single wheel just same info like in last line of -j0 text output).
In graphics wheel chart between house (sign) cusps and house numbers (sign icons) are added icons of dispositors.
In graphics wheel charts is changed dashenness of aspects lines: now aspect line is solid if orb of real aspect is below 1/4 of maximum allowed orb for current aspect (not fixed 2 degree independent of allowed orbs). In case of narrow orbs about 2 degree original Astrolog shows all aspects with solid lines, changed one only exact aspects with orb below 0.5 degree.
Changed -j -X graphics chart: situative rulers hierarchy is added, so now here is three hierarchy: sign dispositor, house natural dispositor and house situative dispositor. Here you can also compare outputs of original and changed versions of Astrolog.
Added new switch -Ze, where outputs are relatively to equator instead of local horizon. These outputs gives good illustration to parallels- contraparallels. Combinations -Z0e and -Ze0 are legal, also with -X switch. In Windows version added respective control in menu "Rare switches".
To graphics outputs with -Z -X switches (overview of space relatively to local horizon) are added positions of ecliptics (dark gray dashed line) and space equator (light gray dashed line). On ecliptics curve are marked beginnig points of zodiacal signs. So finally there are local horizon (horizontal stright), space equator (light gray dashed line) and ecliptics (dark gray dashed line). Point 0Ari is marked as red, 0Lib as green and all other beginning points of zodiacal sings as white points on ecliptics curve.
Animation of such picture gives good possibility to look to moving of planets and important points in time and hepls to understand problems with polar MC and Asc.
To graphics wheel and biwheel charts added new feature. Original Astrolog (and all previous changed versions) shows all exact (or nearly exact) aspects as solid lines, undependently of real power of aspect. That means, exact aspect between two very weak planet is solid, and not exact (but much more powerful) aspect between two important planet is dashed.
Astrolog 5.30f allows to change dashennes of aspect lines relatively to calculated power, not exactness. That means, solid are all aspects with power more than 8.0 (default setting), and weak aspects are dached even they are exact. New feature is realized in "bonus mode" (-Xi switch or pressing the i key in graphics wheel window). That allows change between "aspects by exactness" and "aspects by power" by the fly. In some cases changes in chart are great, in some cases small. To be sure, which mode is in using, to info border just below "Astrolog 5.30f" in bonus mode are now words "Bonus mode". Originally in bonus mode are shown only planets without aspects.
One can change minimal aspect power to be solid by new switch -YPp.
Default value is 8.0. In Windows version value can be changed in menu "Obscure settings".
Added new graphics output - local horizon chart in Prime Vertical coordinates. In original Astrolog -Z0 switch has different meanings in text and graphics modes. In text mode it gets output with prime vertical coordinates, in graphics mode it's local horizon output (same with -Z), but with other point of view, named in Windows version "Horizon Chart Displays With Polar Center" (choose it in "Chart" -> "Chart Settings", then "Local Horizon" chart and then Graphics).
a) Tension - harmonic chart. On graphics wheel chart instead of standard aspects distribution of tensions/harmonics are displayed. Over the Zodiac for every point is calculated sum of powers of all aspects to this point, oppositions and squares has negative influence, trines and sextiles positive (conjunctions aren't taken into account as neutral). Tension points are placed near center, harmonics near outside of wheel. Result is like some flower, where petals shows harmonic areas, intervals between petals shows tension areas. Ring in center shows neutral level. This chart can be reversed, and petals shows tension areas.
b) Aspectation chart. By analogy, for every point is calculated sum of all allowed aspects to this point, but now all influences are summarized with same sign. Now petals shows more aspected areas in a chart.
Both charts can be rescaled.
a) In case of comparison charts orbs are temporarily decreased (look above), so "flower" can be with very sharp petals, but one can use -YOc switch to smooth picture. -YOc 1.5 seems enough.
b) In different comparison charts different planet powers for outer planets ring are used: for comparison (-r0) planet powers are calculated (look point 7 above), for transit planets respective transit influences from astrolog.dat are used. Powers for inner planet ring are calculated like for natal. Here you can look such transit chart, where orbs are temporarily decreased 1.5 times (switch -YOc 1.5 used).
Text output for such charts is added to standard influence output (-j0). There are six columns: name of planet, sum of harmonical aspects (trines and sextiles), sum of tension aspects (squares and oppositions), sum of harmonical and tension aspects, where tension aspects are negative, sum of conjuncions, total aspectation of planet. Note, that these aren't planet powers but parameters of respective point on chart. In other words, third column correspond to -Xa and -XA switches, and fourth one correspond to -Xc switch.
See also another description of flower graphics, sent to alt.astrology.
In comparison grid charts transit-natal (both text and graphics) is now used different planets restriction set for both input charts, second set is transiting planets restriction set (originally in this case was used for both charts one restriction set from first chart).
In case of comparison charts and parallel-antiparallel charts all orbs and orb-additions are temporarily decreased and restored after calculating of chart. In case of parallels-antiparallels also powers of aspects are decreased 4 times. Now no need to change aspect orbs in case of comparison or parallel-antiparrelel charts - they are automatically decreased.
To disallow this option enough to set both coefficients to 1.0. In Windows version these switches are available in menu "Aspect Settings".
In standard text chart is added column with planet ruling, exalt etc in house, corresponding to situative house ruler. So after house number in column Rul. is now two letters - first one corresponding natural ruler, second one corresponding situative ruler.
In aspect configurations list (in dos version switch -g0) added "Mystic Rectangle" and "Kite". Aspect configuration list is now printed out also with aspect list (switch -a0). "Mystic Rectangle" and "Kite" are described in lesson by L. M. P. McPherson.
To switch to parallels in command line (DOS or Unix) version (in Win version it's simple), there is new switch -YSP. It's useful in different cases (like in combination with -d switch to see parallel-contraparallel events during day/month).
Added new feature. In original Astrolog user can customize rulership of a planet using switch -YJ. That means, changed are data, where planet is argument and sign is value, and lot of planets can be marked as rulers of same sign. But in original versions until 5.30 included, this switch don't changed data, where sign is argument, planet is value, and here for every sign is only one planet marked as ruler. Graphics dispositor chart uses just these data and this chart was independent of switch -YJ.
Example below changes ruler of Virgo to Proserpina and ruler of Libra to Chiron.
Here you can look an example of such chart.
This switch changes also data, where planet is argument, that means, no need for additional switch -YJ <object> <sign> <old_value>. Such change of ruler of sign changes also results of planets powers calculations, because changed version of Astrolog uses dispositor data in power calculations.
Using of this switch is probably very rare, so best way is put it to astrolog.dat file.
Added support of 8-bit characters in any place (name, place, custom interpretation etc.). In graphics mode Astrolog uses his own fonts, so here is compiled in support of codepage 850 (international latin). Support of 8-bit characters allows use of national characters, placed in second half of codepage. In text mode actual codepage of computer is supported.
planets and aspects, where are described meanings of planets in signs and houses and their aspects.
houses, where are described meanings of positions of house cusps, planets in houses etc.
meanings of stars (if these are unrestricted).
Added alternative interpretation of positions of dispositors in signs and houses. You can find such interpretation in book "The Astrological Tarot" by Georges Mushery, published in 1994 by Senate, an imprint of Studio Editions Ltd, London.
Added alternative interpretation of TRANSIT-NATAL comparison charts, analogious to earlyer alternative interpretation of natal charts.
NOTE, that interpretation is read from additional text files, which must be filled by user. Here you can see full description of this feature. Sample interpretation files with descriptions are in file interalt.zip.


I have tried reinstalling, rebooting etc etc with no luck. We employ a team from around the world. Printer Mechanism Rear View ig. Check if the timing belt is broken. Inclusive of all taxes.
Check the level of IC3B Pin E05A03 Functions Table Ribbon Gear Cover Removal ig.
It takes 25 ms for the paper feed motor to restart from the stop mode. How can this be resolved.
Posted by binutp on Jun 22, Item s Added To cart Qty. Refer to the "Optional Interface Technical Manual" for details. When assembling the paper guide roller, insert the sprocket shaft from the side with the T-shaped notch.
Via Timavo, 12, Milano. The paper guide plate is not in the right postion.
The max point reward for answering a question is Posted on May wipro lx 800 dx, Help Center Got a question? Friction Feed Operation Fig. When removing these units be careful not to damage the plastic clips. However, troubleshooting may be accomplished more easily by following the process shown in Figure You might have dust blocking this sensor. Add Your Answer Tips for a great answer: No result found for "OK".
A system can be constructed easily using this IC. The paper guide wipro lx 800 dx weak. When this voltage is not stable, such as at either kx leading or trailing edge when the printer power is turned on or offthe reset circuit prevents the CPU from running.
Remove the left shaft holder and the paper feed knob from the platen unit. The left and right shaft holders can be removed at the same time.
Sometimes, after upgrading to a newer operating system such as Windows 10, problems can occur because your current driver may only work with an older version of Windows. Reads the state of the paper end sensor.
The platen gap is not wipro lx 800 dx adjusted. The printhead is mounted on the carriage, and the entire unit is moved right ld left along the carriage guide shaft and plate.
The printer mechanism does not initial- ize at power on. The interrupt routine is executed at the trailing edge of this signal.
Normal with Notch 2. The operation codes are fetched at approximately 1.
Tab Tab Printer mechanism bottom view Fig. The printing is misaligned dur- ing bidirectional printing.


We prepare federal, state and local tax returns for individuals and businesses. We offer a full range of tax planning and compliance services and will work with you year-round. We can implement tailor-made due-date tax compliance monitoring systems to prevent costly interest and penalty assessments attributable to late filing.
As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor®, we have access to software, support, information and resources necessary to give the outstanding service and support to our QuickBooks and small business clients.
We have the capability to provide a comprehensive payroll service that can be precisely designed to meet your unique needs. Based on our consultation with you, we will design a payroll service that is optimal for your company needs.


Looking forward to seeing more adventures! Thanks for sharing, guys! I'm sure that you will be able to dilute your texts with more rich keywords if possible! We can be of use- check it out by following the link mentioned above!
Great write up! I am very impressed with this subject of your post. I haven't found this interesting post anywhere else. Really, I must appreciate your work.
We look forward to the advent of the new adventures. It was long enough for you to share your impressions of the last trip.


Has anyone sucessfully used Dnoise (the demo version) with Awave Studio 8.0? Awave studio supports Active X plugins, but it is not on the list of those with which Dnoise is tested... When I try to process a file with the Dnoise plug in, I am left with a 64ms of silence regardless of the length of the original file. Comments appreciated!