text:
package org.tensorflow;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
import static org.junit.Assert.fail;

import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.junit.runners.JUnit4;

/** Unit tests for {@link EagerOperation} class. */
@RunWith(JUnit4.class)
public class EagerOperationTest {

  @Test
  public void failToCreateIfSessionIsClosed() {
    EagerSession session = EagerSession.create();
    session.close();
    try {
      new EagerOperation(session, 1L, new long[] {1L}, "Add", "add");
      fail();
    } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
      // expected
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void outputDataTypeAndShape() {
    try (EagerSession session = EagerSession.create();
        Tensor<Integer> t = Tensors.create(new int[2][3])) {
      EagerOperation op =
          opBuilder(session, "Const", "OutputAttrs")
              .setAttr("dtype", DataType.INT32)
              .setAttr("value", t)
              .build();
      assertEquals(DataType.INT32, op.dtype(0));
      assertEquals(2, op.shape(0)[0]);
      assertEquals(3, op.shape(0)[1]);
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void outputTensor() {
    try (EagerSession session = EagerSession.create()) {
      EagerOperation add =
          opBuilder(session, "Add", "CompareResult")
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const1", 2))
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const2", 4))
              .build();
      assertEquals(6, add.tensor(0).intValue());

      // Validate that we retrieve the right shape and datatype from the tensor
      // that has been resolved
      assertEquals(0, add.shape(0).length);
      assertEquals(DataType.INT32, add.dtype(0));
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void inputAndOutputListLengths() {
    try (EagerSession session = EagerSession.create()) {
      Output<Float> c1 = TestUtil.constant(session, "Const1", new float[] {1f, 2f});
      Output<Float> c2 = TestUtil.constant(session, "Const2", new float[] {3f, 4f});

      EagerOperation acc =
          opBuilder(session, "AddN", "InputListLength")
              .addInputList(new Output<?>[] {c1, c2})
              .build();
      assertEquals(2, acc.inputListLength("inputs"));
      assertEquals(1, acc.outputListLength("sum"));

      EagerOperation split =
          opBuilder(session, "Split", "OutputListLength")
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Axis", 0))
              .addInput(c1)
              .setAttr("num_split", 2)
              .build();
      assertEquals(1, split.inputListLength("split_dim"));
      assertEquals(2, split.outputListLength("output"));

      try {
        split.inputListLength("no_such_input");
        fail();
      } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
        // expected
      }

      try {
        split.outputListLength("no_such_output");
        fail();
      } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
        // expected
      }
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void numOutputs() {
    try (EagerSession session = EagerSession.create()) {
      EagerOperation op =
          opBuilder(session, "UniqueWithCountsV2", "unq")
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const1", new int[] {1, 2, 1}))
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Axis", new int[] {0}))
              .setAttr("out_idx", DataType.INT32)
              .build();
      assertEquals(3, op.numOutputs());
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void opNotAccessibleIfSessionIsClosed() {
    EagerSession session = EagerSession.create();
    EagerOperation add =
        opBuilder(session, "Add", "SessionClosed")
            .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const1", 2))
            .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const2", 4))
            .build();
    assertEquals(1, add.outputListLength("z"));
    session.close();
    try {
      add.outputListLength("z");
      fail();
    } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
      // expected
    }
  }

  @Test
  public void outputIndexOutOfBounds() {
    try (EagerSession session = EagerSession.create()) {
      EagerOperation add =
          opBuilder(session, "Add", "OutOfRange")
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const1", 2))
              .addInput(TestUtil.constant(session, "Const2", 4))
              .build();
      try {
        add.getUnsafeNativeHandle(1);
        fail();
      } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
        // expected
      }
      try {
        add.shape(1);
        fail();
      } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
        // expected
      }
      try {
        add.dtype(1);
        fail();
      } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
        // expected
      }
      try {
        add.tensor(1);
        fail();
      } catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e) {
        // expected
      }
    }
  }

  private static EagerOperationBuilder opBuilder(EagerSession session, String type, String name) {
    return new EagerOperationBuilder(session, type, name);
  }
}


If someone told me that this photo (which is unedited by the way) was taken from real-life scenery, I would not have believed it.
My friend, Jennifer, came by my home on a very early morning back in October and made me get up and go on a walk with her out to Radnor Lake.
I am grateful for that invitation that morning. I would not have seen something God made so breathtakingly beautiful.
I am grateful that at a morning my heart needed healing, He found a way to make it happen.


text:
Protest statement against Mio Sugita
We hereby demand that LDP House of Representatives member Mio Sugita withdraw her statement, issue a public apology, and resign from her position.
We strongly protest against LDP House of Representatives member Mio Sugita's statement on "women can tell lies as much as they want," and demand that she withdraws her statement, issues a public apology, and resigns from her position.Her statement has resulted in the "second rape" of victims of sexual violence and constitutes sexual discrimination. It is also considered hate speech that could hamper efforts to eliminate sexual violence.
We have launched "Flower Demo" in March 2019 with the aim of eliminating sexual violence and building solidarity with victims of sexual violence in the aftermath of a series of acquittals for perpetrators of sexual crimes. Currently, demonstrations are being organized on the 11th of every month in all 47 prefectures nationwide.
Two of the four acquittals that had triggered the launch of Flower Demo involved sexual abuse of daughters by fathers. Although one of the perpetrators charged with sexually abusing his 12-year-old daughter was ultimately fined for possessing child pornography, his sexual abuse charge was dismissed on the grounds that "the victim's testimony was not credible." (Proceedings for this case are currently underway at the High Court.)
The will and voices of women are often neglected in our society, where women are required to behave according to stereotypes and any claims made by victims of sexual violence are usually met with skepticism. When such claims are made, the victims are often accused of attempting to ruin a man's life.
Sexual violence is not taken seriously and the words of victims are often ignored. Even a 12-year-old girl can be thought to have lied to bring down an adult man. It is the sexual discrimination inherent in our society that has allowed sexual violence to fester.
Flower Demo has empowered many women to take to the streets and start giving voice to the past experiences that they have suffered. What became clear was that it is not the case that victims are unable to speak out, but that they have been compelled to stay silent because no one would believe them even if they had spoken out. In many cases, there was no hard evidence to be presented to the police and no witnesses. Moreover, perpetrators of such crimes often have a high social status, and it is not uncommon for some of them to even be fathers of the victims. Many victims had not been taken seriously by the police, and the cases of sexual violence that have been trialed in court represent nothing more than the tip of the iceberg.
The voices of victims of sexual violence have exposed the cruel reality that it is not the case that victims are unable to speak out, but that our society has been unwilling to listen to them.
However, our society is changing.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As you all know, Annette has been practicing up for the PSAT exam. She took it October 14 at the public high school and we promised to tell you how it went. All was fine until the Math section. The instructor somehow "forgot" to give them the typical "__ minutes to go" warnings and declared "Time's Up"! That left many students with answers they had planned to go back to! (That is how they teach you to take the exam, leave those you're not sure of and go back.) It was frustrating for all the students. Oh well, we move on, right?!
Can you arrange for Jane to stand behind Lee and for Lee to stand behind Jane at the same time?
VIOLA My matter hath no voice, lady, but to your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear. Is TRANSLATED: My matter can be told to no one, lady, but to your own most receptive and willing ear.
Annette loves Shakespeare and encouraged us to not give up. In the end, Garrett and I were glad we let her continue reading. It was an amazing play. Get a spoonful of patience and check it out!
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Answer to Brain Teaser Yes. If they stand back to back!


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We have come a long way when it comes to crushers. Where original crushers were just a couple of hand-held stones; we now have access to powerful crusher machines that reduce the size of raw materials in high volumes.
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text:
Raising The Debt Ceiling Is Constitutional
October 30, 2015AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
What Is Flawed Is Congress's Constitutional Power To Make More Debt Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – "Patrick Henry, Colonel William Grayson, James Monroe, many, many anti-federalists, as they were called, that opposed ratification kept asking why the borrowing power was put in there, and why it was the first one." Check out today's transcript...
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August 11, 2015AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – The way it would work and the way it was pitched in the ratifying conventions, and the way it was discussed in the drafting convention was that the founders had a great fear that if you left election or selection of the presidency in the hands of the...
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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 15 March
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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 15 March 2013 On this day in 1820, Maine joined the union as the 23rd state, part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The population of Maine at that time was nearly 300,000 and the territory consisted of nine counties and 236 towns. It took delegates three weeks...
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January 23, 2015AbbyMcGinnisDaily Clip
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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 13 September
September 13, 2014AbbyMcGinnisThis Day in Founder's History
On this day (or the 18th, depending on the source) in 1789, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton began negotiations to secure the first loan to the U.S. government, referred to as the "Temporary Loan of 1789," in order to pay the salaries of the President and members of Congress. Find out what else happened...
On this day in 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury by President Washington. Initially Robert Morris had been appointed Secretary of the Treasury, but Morris declined the office and recommended Hamilton for the position. Find out what else happened on This Day in Founders History at mikechurch.com
This Day In Founding Fathers History – 17 July
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This Day in Founding Fathers History - Where we bring you important dates in the lives and history of the Founding Generation. Another birthday on this day in 1744, that of Elbridge Gerry. Gerry assumed the office of vice president under President Madison after George Clinton died in office, and Gerry too died in office...
Kevin Gutzman – 1787 Constitution Convention, Federalists Lied
June 19, 2014AbbyMcGinnisInterviews
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What Really Happened At Start Of Federal Convention Of 1787, Pt. I
June 2, 2014AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Interview with Kevin Gutzman – Federal Convention Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – "Let's get to the matter at hand here with Professor Kevin Gutzman, who is one of the foremost authorities on James Madison. I wanted to start with the introduction of the Virginia Plan, which happened 237 years ago today. Governor Randolph was, of...
How Federal Convention That Produced Constitution Came About
May 18, 2014AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Federal Convention and the Constitution Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – "So how did they arrive in Philadelphia on the 14th of May 1787? They were supposed to have this convention. And why would we care about that today? Well, the reason we ought to care about it is because of the pretenses under which they...
This Day in Founding Founders History - Where we bring you important dates in the lives and history of the Founding Generation. One notable birthday on this day in 1749, that of William Blount. Find out about him in today's Founders History...
This Day In Founding Fathers History – 25 March On this day in 1788, Federalist No. 74 was published in the New York Packet, entitled "The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive," authored by Alexander Hamilton. 1 This day is celebrated as Maryland Day. It commemorates this...
This Day in Founding Founders History - Where we bring you important dates in the lives and history of the Founding Generation. One notable birthday on this day in 1748, that of Elias Hicks.
This Day in Founding Founders History - Where we bring you important dates in the lives and history of the Founding Generation. Two notable birthdays today, that of John C. Calhoun and Grover Cleveland… the last Jeffersonian.
National Military vs Militias
February 25, 2014AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
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Are You A Jeffersonian (good witch) or a Hamiltonian (bad witch)?
December 28, 2013TheKingDudeTranscripts
Mandeville, LA - Exclusive Transcript - This subject seems to keep coming up on the Mike Church Show: Has the saturation point for the American sheople's faith in their governments to avert the looming fiscal crisis been reached? Mike's take is "yes" and this is evidence by the surge of support for Ron Paul and...
David Simpson's Financial Sanity In Three Easy Lessons
November 22, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – Now you and I can talk about preserving my Financial Sanity in Three Easy Lessons, your new book. David Simpson, whom many of you know, he's been on the show many times, he's provided financial counsel to me in the past. What are the three easy lessons? Check out...
Interview With Jeff Taylor On His Book "Politics On A Human Scale: The American Tradition Of Decentralism"
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – There's a new book out called Politics on a Human Scale: The American Tradition of Decentralism. It's published by Lexington Books. Dr. Jeff Taylor is the author. I read part of this essay to you last week and I've referred to it a couple other times last week. Dr....
Perhaps Rand Paul Didn't Technically Plagiarize But His Scholarship Is Highly Lacking
November 6, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
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Yankee Northerner Timothy Pickering Supported Secession Of The North
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Patrick Deneen Asks A Great Question: "What Is An American Conservative?"
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Thomas Paine's Question Is Still Valid Today: Are We Slaves To The State?
October 9, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
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Obama's Veto Will Be For Partisan Rather Than Constitutional Reasons
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How Did The United States Go From Articles Of Confederation To Constitution?
September 17, 2013AbbyMcGinnisThe Founders
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Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – Think about this for just a moment. Madison is going to take Hamilton to task because Washington is not going to war, or is not going to act as an ally in a war. James Madison's point is: Even when it comes to declaring neutrality, that's still not a...
Will We Eventually Cleanse The Currency Too?
August 8, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
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Constitutional Traitors In The Senate, Big Surprise
April 12, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – I want to repeat, there are three instances under which the militia would fall under the control of the Congress, and then only to write rules for how they should be disciplined. The three instances are: there is a declaration of war, the country or a state has been...
Don't Be Surprised When Politicians Act Like…Politicians
April 11, 2013AbbyMcGinnisDaily Clip
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – This is what you get when you don't study history and when we think we're just us and there was no history that came before us because we're so arrogant and conceited. You do know that it was members of the Roman Senate, senators, that killed Julius Caesar, or...
John Taylor On Taxes – Once They Start, They Never Stop
March 12, 2013AbbyMcGinnisTranscripts
Mandeville, LA – Exclusive Transcript – The citizens of this country are just as stupid as we can be, and that includes our forefathers who are just as lazy and apathetic as we could be. All the powers that we have granted that we refuse to reclaim are just mindboggling. The tyranny that could be...
This Day In Founding Fathers History – 12 March, 2013
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Kevin Gutzman Interview – James Madison, Rand Paul, and much more…
February 6, 2013AbbyMcGinnisInterviews
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The Founders Did Not Intend For Us To Be In Constant Debt, Much Less $16 Trillion In The Hole
January 15, 2013ClintStromanFounders Television
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This Day in Founders History – 9 August
August 9, 2012AbbyMcGinnisThis Day in Founder's History
http://media.blubrry.com/crusade/p/www.mikechurch.com/mc-media/post-show-show/FH_080912.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS[private FP-Yearly|FP-Monthly] If you're having problems playing the video, please download it, there may be an incompatibility with your browser. [/private] This Day In Founders History – 9 August On this day in 1790, Robert Gray docked his...
This Day in Founders History – 4-5 August
August 4, 2012ClintStromanThis Day in Founder's History
http://media.blubrry.com/crusade/p/www.mikechurch.com/mc-media/post-show-show/FH_hd_080412.mp4Podcast: Play in new window | Download | EmbedSubscribe: Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS[private FP-Yearly|FP-Monthly] If you're having problems playing the video, please download it, there may be an incompatibility with your browser. [/private] This Weekend In Founders History – 4 & 5 August On this day in 1790, the Revenue-Marine was...
DeceptiCONNED: Boehner Congress LEads the Planet In New Debt Created
June 4, 2012TheKingDudePile Of Prep, Prep Archives 2012
Oy! VA Governor McDonnell says that borrowed money, printed out of thin air helped VA balance its books in 2009 Kaufman: Ron Paul, the Thin Man cometh is either a harbinger of the future or the last gasp of an optimistic attempt to save the former DeceptiCONNED: Just as I have lamented like a...


Pictures and graphic designs by Justin Gordon.
Pictures by Adam Ryan Morris, Jennifer Johnson and Erik Ljung.
Pictures and video taken by Billie Carter-Rankin.
Pictures taken by Mahdi Gransberry.
Pictures taken by Cade McGown.
Pictures taken by Jefferson Soesetyo.
Pictures taken by Michelle McAdams.
Pictures taken by Sabrina Johnkins.
Pictures provided by Michael Alston.
Pictures taken by Fred Young.


text:
The Duckworth Family Tennis Facility
Live Stats/Video
Tigers Face NC State in ACC Second Round Thursday in Cary, N.C.
By: ClemsonTigers.com
Match Information vs. NC State:
Who: No. 9-seed Clemson Tigers (13-12, 6-8 ACC) vs. No. 8-seed NC State Wolfpack (16-13, 7-7 ACC)
When: Thursday, April 26, 9 a.m.
Where: Cary Tennis Park, Cary, N.C.
Live Scoring: theACC.com
Social: @ClemsonWTennis on Twitter & Instagram
Clemson Notes:
– The Tigers (13-12, 6-8 ACC) finished the ACC regular season with two road matches, a 4-3 upset over No. 22 Virginia in Charlottesville on April 20, followed by a 4-0 loss to No. 3 Georgia Tech in Atlanta on April 22.
– Against the Cavaliers, Clemson won the doubles point, and Fernanda Navarro at No. 2, Sydney Riley at No. 5 and Daniela Ruiz at No. 6, won their singles matches to secure the upset.
– Ruiz, the Tigers' lone senior and a three-time team captain, has now clinched the victory in the team's last three wins, also doing so on the road at Pittsburgh on April 6 and at home against Louisville on April 13. The match against Louisville was Ruiz's Senior Day, and she ended up clinching the win in a third-set tiebreak.
– Ruiz leads the team in overall wins, dual match wins and ACC wins, with a 22-15 overall record, a 12-8 mark in dual matches and a 7-6 ledger in conference play.
– Ruiz was named a recipient of the 2018 ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship. The Beni, Bolivia native will graduate from Clemson in May 2018 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, and has already begun taking classes toward a master's degree in that field.
– Junior Marie-Alexandre Leduc is ranked 23rd in the nation in singles according to the ITA poll released on April 24. Leduc has a 20-10 overall record, an 11-7 record in dual matches and a 6-6 mark in ACC play. She has played all 18 of her dual matches at No. 1 singles, and has eight wins over nationally-ranked opponents on the season.
– Leduc and fellow junior Fernanda Navarro are ranked 20th nationally in doubles. The pair is 19-7 overall, 11-4 in dual matches and 6-2 in ACC dual matches.
ITA Rankings:
NC State – 38th
Clemson – 40th
Marie-Alexandre Leduc (Clemson) – 23rd
Anna Rogers (NC State) – 89th
Adriana Reami (NC State) – 103rd
Marie-Alexandre Leduc & Fernanda Navarro (Clemson) – 20th
Anna Rogers & Claudia Wiktorin (NC State) – 26th


text:
The Sauer Press
A Very Brief Biography
BUY STAR-CROSSED!
The List of Books I Wish I Had Written
that squinchy face you make when you taste something Sauer
This one time, when I wanted to start a band…
There are a few things that I'm rather good at, nigh semi-proficient. You know the saying, "Jack of all trades, master of none?" Well, just call me Jack (Jill?), give me a square block of Los Angeles to blow up* and some terrorists to torture, and I'll save the day yet.
One thing I'm actually not so good at but pretend to be better at than most in order to be somewhat ironic and hipster-y, but not so hipster-y that I stray into the gray area between douche-canoe and git-clog and start popping collars and whitening my teeth, is playing the guitar. I'm proficient, nigh somewhat sonorous, but what I really want to do is have a band just so I can have a cool band name. Yep. It's like getting a dog just for the sake of naming it Monsieur Rochambeau du Bastille avec Les Sprinkles, nee Foofoo Cuddlypoops (or Megatron)
And while I may be horrible at naming things — novels, children, blogs, the machines at work (which are all named after Star Wars characters, so don't sue me, George Lucas) — I'm rather fantastic, nigh awesome at naming bands. See, you gotta be somewhat referential to pop culture, but not so much that your band's name is That's What She Said (or Megatron), and it has to roll off the tongue easily. Sure, any schmuck can go and name his band The Snogging Penelopes, or The Leafy Manhood of Odysseus, but that's kind of a mouthful, albeit it feels good in your mouth. And any joe-schmoe can go and name his band Hello, My Name Is… but a band like that is bound to drift off into obscurity after their first indie-pop-rock-hit.
How's about Ilsa's Glove, eh? It's got the pop culture, the Cordelia-approved mouth texture, and follows the traditional Proper Name's Object format.
Or what about Bruce and the Boomsticks? Sure, technically none of my band members (which, at last count was…me) are boys, but that doesn't even need to be addressed until the monkeys monies roll. And who doesn't love a nice, succinct alliteration? Which, of course, spawns Dewey and the Decimals. Yeah, I spent a good portion of my middle-school years volunteering at the local library where I re-shelved books and memorized the Dewey Decimal system. I like to think of that as Useless Talent #34. And to think, there are 33 more before that and maybe a gazillion after that. Yep, Useless Talent #249 is to exaggerate things to the gazillionth degree.
The Juice Boxes is also another one that I really like, though is a little too dreamy shoe-gazer pop for me. There's also a really hilarious scene in Day Watch where evil Yegor is sipping out of juice box that has "evil" in Russian written on it before trying to suck the life juices out of Svetlana. Now, if you haven't seen that movie and that rather insane description of it didn't make you want drop everything you're doing and bow to the awesomeness that is Konstantin Khabensky, stop reading my blog. I mean, come back! For the love of God, come back! I'm lonely. (There's also a hot make-out scene between two ladies! Got you back, didn't I? Male selective-typing FTW.)
The Toe Tags is for an alt-metal, industrial goth band. The Past Participles are for a cerebral, minimalist avant-garde folk band. And let us not forget: Melissa Reads the Phonebook.
Alas, my own musical aspirations will probably never come to fruition, so I'm now giving these away for FREE on the internet as a show of good faith. I expect you to pay me royalties if you become famous. If you don't, well, don't let the un-cool kids come to this site. We wouldn't want the riff-raff coming in, now would we?
*I can never figure out why, with the proliferation of people who have last names ending in -auer, a la Jack Bauer, Matt Lauer, and Eddie Bauer, people insist on still pronouncing my last name as Saywer. As in friend of Huckleberry Finn. Or sewer. As in the thing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live in. There's also sauerkraut, which I hate, but also serves to correctly pronounce my name, if not be a stinky reminder of Germanic food. Sour. Like, if I were to marry a relative of Jodi Sweetin, I would be Mrs. Sweetin-Sauer. Or if I were to marry someone whose last name is Lemon, I'd be Mrs. Sauer-Lemon. I think people are afraid to say "sour," so they pawn it off as something that's even worse than "sour." Please, for the sake of the children — my future children — buy my books when I publish them so I can become famous and end the dispute once and for all.
profemkay
Music, Random
Bruce Campbell, he does that rock thing...well you know, that squinchy face you make when you taste something Sauer, we didn't see any donkey demons, your mom
MK Sauer
Your humble narrator.
The Brown Tweed Society
Daisy Owl
Fake Science
Mikhail Bulgakov's Master and Margarita
Russia!
Write or Die
Getting to Know Me
Muscial [sic] Mondays
You Know How Tags Work, Right Emkay?
alliterations amwriting Angel Anton Yelchin arkham horror because Muse needs to be related to GOOD vampires book review Boris Akunin Bruce Willis Buffy comics cult favorites D&D dan simmons demons fedoras Fright Night get thee to a nunnery! Han Solo I'd treat her real sweet I'm going to go cry in the corner now I am sick and tired of these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday-to-Friday plane if the world is so beautiful why do roses have thorns indie comics joey lawrence and keanu reeves may be the same person Joss Whedon Jung fits in here somewhere too Kismet - the Flying Douche-Canoe leeloo dallas multi-pass legwarmers literature macabre Macabre Melissa strikes again marvel MK Ultra commands mmmm....nachos mood movies mullets Muse my mom mythos NaNoWriMo paradox pianos polyphony pop culture references publishing query letters RPGs Russian authors Russian symbolism sci-fi self-publishing Shakespeare short stories skeletons Star-Crossed steampunk steampunk zombies stephen king writes like how cap'n kirk speaks Stevie's mom Sveden yeah sweet dreams are made of this symbolism The Lost Boys top ten lists updates vampires werewolves Writing writing style you can't handle the truth your mom zombies


Community Self Storage's commitment to the community!
There are so many ways that Community Self Storage gives back, it's nearly impossible to list them all. Choosing to give back to our community is one of the most important things we can do to transform our lives and the lives of others. Community Self Storage is continuously looking for ways to make a real, lasting difference in the community. It's easy to get inspired with a cause you truly care about and it's rewarding to see your direct impact. A strong community with a high quality of life means safer, healthier lives for you and those around you.
Thank you for your ticket purchase for The Women's Fund's Rockin' Resiliency Luncheon on Sunday, October 28, 2018. Thanks to you and hundreds of others, our event raised more than $200,000 and was a huge success!
We could not achieve any of these services or have these outcomes without generous supporters like you. We sincerely appreciate and are thankful that you chose us as your giving choice.
Houston USA Dance wishes to thank for your generous contribution in celebration of our Gala on Saturday, October 8th. The net proceeds from this event will support the ongoing dance programs through Houston USA Dance.
Thank you so much for supporting Chapelwood School's Dinner and Silent Auction. The evening was a great success! Our original goal was $10,000; and with your generous Silent Auction donation of the Storage Space at Community Self Storage, you helped us more than double that goal!
On behalf of the Chapelwood School Staff, I want to thank you again for your support of our school.
Thank you for partnering with us and supporting the critical research of the Foundation Fighting Blindness and our Houston Dinner with your generous donation from Community Self Storage. Your gift has already been invested in current research. Together, we can ensure that no valuable research studies go unfunded.
We're succeeding because of you. Because there are so many promising clinical trials underway at this time, I'm confident that you and I will one day soon be able to say we found a cure for blindness.
So, thank you for giving millions the gift of hope.
Thank you so much for the wonderful contribution to Episcopal High School. The climate control storage unit is going to be a great addition to the Gala's Silent Auction. Your continued auction support is greatly appreciated.
On behalf of The Children's Fund, I want to thank you for your generous contribution of storage space over the past year. Your contribution has enabled us to further our mission to financially assist children's charities in Houston that do not have the size or skills to adequately fundraise on their own behalf. The Children's Fund gives 100% of what it raises to the groups it supports. We have no overhead or paid staff, just committed volunteers positively affecting the quality of life of children in need.
Thank you for your support of The Children's Fund.
Thank you so much for your contribution to the EHS Auction 2013: A Gatsby Knight in Black & White. With your generous support, this year's Auction will surely be exceptional.
On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students at Episcopal High School, thank you so much for playing a role in our children's education. We are grateful for your generosity, participation, and support.
THANK YOU for your Sponsorship of FFPS Team  in [Spring Branch/Memorial] for the Spring 2013 Season.
Your sponsorship has ensured FFPS is "MAKING YOUTH SPORTS FUN AGAIN" with FFPS' unique equal play system, trophy to all, and positive coaching and positive parent training. FFPS' mission is to ensure every player feels as a valued member of the team. FFPS does not have tryouts. Everyone plays equal time. No one is turned away. Thank you for being a part of this unique program. Your generosity has also made FFPS affordable.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT SEASON!!


text:
BusinessChevron Right IconOil & Gas
New Zealand halts new offshore oil and gas search in clean energy drive
Thursday, 12 April 2018 9:58AM
Camera IconUnder the Government's green energy agenda, it will not issue any more permits for offshore oil and gas exploration.Picture: McClatchy Tribune
Signalling its commitment to a clean energy future, the New Zealand Government has announced it will not issue any more permits for offshore oil and gas exploration.
The announcement won't affect existing permits for exploration or extraction, meaning the industry is likely to continue in the area for several more decades.
Still, the move is a change in direction after voters last year elected the liberal government led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. That followed nine years of conservative leadership under a government that favoured expanding the industry.
Ms Ardern has pledged to go green by reducing the country's net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Her Government also plans to plant 100 million trees each year and ensure the electricity grid runs entirely from renewable energy.
The oil and gas industry is relatively small in New Zealand, employing about 11,000 people and accounting for about one per cent of the overall economy. It is dwarfed in importance by farming and tourism.
Still, the industry is important to the Taranaki region, where most of the activity is concentrated.
New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom told Radio New Zealand the move was a "kick in the guts for the future of the Taranaki economy".
But Ms Ardern said nobody would be losing their jobs as a result of the move.
"We're striking the right balance for New Zealand," Ms Ardern said. "We're protecting existing industry, and protecting future generations from climate change."
Environmental group Greenpeace hailed the move. Russel Norman, the group's executive director in New Zealand, said the country "has stood up to one of the most powerful industries in the world".
The move does not apply to onshore exploration permits. The Government said those would continue for the next three years and be reviewed after that.
Australian writer charged in ChinaPremium
Asbestos discovered at Woodside's Karratha Gas Plant
Oil & GasEnergyWorld NewsEnvironment


text:
Ardania: The Majesty Campaign Setting (3.5e Campaign Setting)
(Redirected from Ardania: The Majesty Campaign Setting (DnD Campaign Setting))
1 Ardania, The Majesty Campaign Setting
1.1.1 Krolm creates the First Humans
1.1.2 The Rise and Fall of Brashnard
1.1.3 The Great Magical Cataclysm
1.1.4 The Dragon Wars
1.1.5 The Birth of Lunord and Helia
1.1.6 The Beginning of the Kingdom Age
1.1.7 The Cities of Lunord and Helia
1.1.8 The Return of the Barbarians
1.1.9 The Ten Thousand Arrows War
1.1.10 The Six Winters' War
1.1.11 The Fall of Garuta and Rendishire
1.1.12 The Appearance of Vendral
1.1.13 The Dark Age of Humanity
1.1.14 The Three Monster Kingdoms
1.1.15 The Rise and Fall of the Goblins
1.1.16 The Rise and Fall of the Serpent Empire
1.1.17 The Emergence of the Witch King
1.1.18 The Origins of Sydrian, Ardania's First King
1.1.19 The Making of Ardania's Greatest Hero
1.1.20 The Quest for the Holy Chalice
1.1.21 The Disappearance of Sydrian
1.1.22 The Seven Children of Lunord and Helia
1.1.23 The Crusade of Makkat the Madman
1.1.24 The Creation of Godly Artifacts
1.1.25 The Arrival of the Elves
1.1.26 The Spread of the New Religions
1.1.27 Good King Teevus, the First King of Valmorgen
1.1.28 The Reemergence of Wizardry
1.1.29 The Emergence of the Liche Queen
1.1.30 The Appearance of the Black Phantoms
1.1.31 The Rise of Dark Wizardry
1.1.32 The Battle of Ravenswood
1.1.33 Andravus's Minotaur Invasion
1.1.34 The Abominable Creations of Pyrog the Shadowed
1.1.35 The Appearance of Dirgo
1.1.36 Of Warriors, Paladins, Rogues and Warriors of Discord
1.2 Pantheon
Ardania, The Majesty Campaign Setting[edit]
In anticipation of the newly announced Majesty 2, and to honor the critically aclaimed Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, I have begun a new project to bring the Majesty Franchise to the Dungeons and Dragons RPG style.
So prepare to step into a world like no other. Ardania is a land filled with adventure and danger. A land filled with back-stabbing rogues, noble paladins, magic-weilding wizards, rage-filled barbarians and other brave adventurers of all stripes. A land where evil is only just held bay, and sinister forces gather to destroy you at any opportunity. A land of endless possibilities for adventure...
Based on Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, from Cyberlore, and Majesty: Heroes of Ardania, a popular online RPG, Ardania: The Majesty Campaign Setting is a D&D style take on this classic game. Prepare for the adventure of your life...
This is the history given by Majesty: Heroes of Ardania RPG.
Krolm creates the First Humans[edit]
When our land was young, the lone deity Krolm, Lord of the Wild, looked out across Ardania and felt his rage grow. No creatures knew of him - none could spread across the land and do his bidding. From his rage came life - the first Humans to walk in Ardania. They were Barbarians, followers of Krolm.
A simple philosophy bound these Barbarians together. They believed that strength is power and that the unknown must be conquered. Their god supported them in war against Ardania's perilous mysteries. They made a crude living off the dangerous land. Little else mattered.
The Rise and Fall of Brashnard[edit]
A small group of Barbarians stumbled upon a source of great magical power. One of these men, Brashnard, was transformed. He halted his wandering and his weapon training and turned to study. Other Barbarians grew increasingly suspicious, and the greatly intensified when Brashnard succeeded in creating Ardania's first and most powerful magical item - Brashnard's Ultimate Sphere of Power.
Brashnard wanted his brethren to understand the useful nature of his studies and not to fear them. While demonstrating the wondrous powers of his Sphere to the warlord Rogna BloodAxe, Rogna grew deeply afraid and killed the Wizard. With one crushing blow from his axe, he then shattered the Sphere.
The Great Magical Cataclysm[edit]
When Rogna shattered the Sphere, he unintentional released all magical energy stored within the Sphere all at once, caused an Magical Cataclysm of unapparelled destruction. The cataclysmic release of magical energy destroyed both Rogna, his tribe and much region they inhabit, creating what now known as the Desolate Wastelands.
The Sphere split into seven shards, which were collected by the remnants of Brashnard's disciples, who have survived the Magical Cataclysm. They combed the newly formed wasteland for the Seven Shares and hid them in the Western Provinces. They placed each shard within magical vaults, guarded by terrible guardian monsters, hidden deep with Dark Forest. Than Brashnard's apprentices went into hiding, practicing and refining the arcane arts in secret.
It took more than 2,000 years for magical study to once again surface in Ardania.
The Dragon Wars[edit]
The Barbarians made great inroads throughout the lowlands, pushing back other creatures and taking land to support their normadic lifestyle. They began to get noticed by some of Ardania's most powerful monsters. Infuriated with the encroaching Humans, the Dragons counterattacked. They rose from their underground lairs and followed their Dragon King, Andraxal-Kerlazor, into battle. The Barbarians couldn't stand the tremendous force of the flying beats and began to lose ground rapidly.
Krolm knew that he had to intervene, or his minons would fail. He took physical form and traveled north past the Hellfire Mountains to Dtar-Mordin. Here lived the Dwarves, a small race that excelled in the workings of steel and stone and lived primarily underground. Krolm made a deal with them. He would infuse the entire Dwarven race with greater strength. In return, the Dwarven Queen Dorva Stoneback fashioned for Krolm a sword to kill Andraxal-Kerlazor. The Dwarves' enhanced strength helped them push out from their caverns and settle on the surface, largely in the Valley of Gur-Mechina.
The battle between Krolm and the Dragon King was the most ferocious the young world had ever seen. When the dust finally cleared, the Dragon King was slain and buried, with the sword still embedded in his chest. The Dragons were broken and scattered, not to be organized again until Scrylia the Serpent Queen gathered them under her command 1,500 years later. Andraxal-Kerlazor's sole hatchling, Vendral, was only a yearling at the time of his father's death. Without proper training he could never become a true Dragon King, and so his father was the last Ardania has ever seen.
The Birth of Lunord and Helia[edit]
Krolm was severely wounded in the battle and it took centuries for him to fully recuperate. During this time, his Barbarians began to drift from his teachings - some of them even settled into permanent villages. During this time Krolm sired a boy and a girl to rule while he rested. None know the identity of the mother. His son Lunord became The Moon God and his daughter Helia, The Sun Goddess. Krolm did not know that they would one day overthrow him.
The Beginning of the Kingdom Age[edit]
In one numberless year, after a string of numberless centuries, something simple but remarkable happened. One of these new settlements, Garuta, desired to keep a written record of its history. A lowly scribe, Kyra Rundelsnark, was hired by the village leader to perform this duty. She started her reports at year one. Her numbering system quickly spread across Ardania. Thus, our yearly calendar begins when Kyra Rundersnark, who incidentally had terrible handwriting, began her new job. As you know, our years are now called Kingdom Age, or K.A.
The Cities of Lunord and Helia[edit]
Of the many city states in Ardania, only two grew into prominence, Garuta and Rendishire. Garuta was a most impressive city built on steep, rocky spires. As the ideology of its citizens drifted away from Krolm, Lunord came into favor. The first Temple to Lunord was a massive structure capping off Garuta's great stone terraces.
Those men who fully dedicated themselves to Lunord were called Adepts. Lunord bestowed upon them a cup of his own devising, the Holy Chalice. This relic brought good health to the Adepts and was stored in the upper reaches of the temple.
Many days travel to the southwest lay the city state of Rendishire. In many ways, this settlement was Garuta's complete opposite. Rendishire was a grand sprawl, filling the valley at the base of the Hellfire Mountains. While this was not a well-protected position, it lay on a major trade route of the time. Soon a new race settled in Rendishire, with only a grudging welcome: the lowly gnomes.
The people of Rendishire began to worship Helia. The women warriors who served Helia were known as Solarii. Helia granted them the Sun Orb, a scintillating magical relic that brought strength to the Solarii. It was kept in the temple's giant rotating solacranum.
The Return of the Barbarians[edit]
By K.A. 300, these city states were each run by powerful monarchs. Meanwhile, many people yearned for the old ways, and they finally broke away from the city states to continue their nomadic heritage. They left the pace and pressures of the city behind, along with their belongings, once again bringing Barbarians to Ardania. Also at this time, Krolm regained consciousness on his path to recuperation.
The Ten Thousand Arrows War[edit]
It seemed inevitable that Garuta and Rendishire would fall into conflict - over trade, over land, or over religion. Lunord and Helia became outright enemies as they each struggled to become Ardania's most powerful deity. The battles between the city states began in K.A. 412 and lasted more than 80 years. This devastating was, later called the Ten Thousand Arrows War, took a great toll on the Humans of Ardania. Smaller city states were forced to side with one or the other. Whenever one side gained an advantage, the other took it back. Incidentally, it is certain that sprawling Rendishire would have fallen were it not for their industrious Gnomes. Both the Holy Chalice and the Sun Orb were lost during the war.
The Six Winters' War[edit]
The Barbarians suffered the most, however. They were forced into service by the city states and routinely betrayed and used as disposable troops. Krolm looked on with growing rage and used what little strength he had recovered to send word to his Barbarian leaders. He told them to strike back at the followers of his children. The city states were weakened from the long war and were too focused on each other to see the surprise attack coming.
The ensuing conflagration so weakened Helia and Lunord that the day and night skies dimmed and there was no season but winter for the next six years. The Barbarians fought against both city states, who in a last-ditch effort put aside their hatreds and united against the followers of their father. During this brief truce, Helia and Lunord sired seven children, four of them quadruplets. These children did not play a part in the world until much later.
The Fall of Garuta and Rendishire[edit]
The Barbarians were victorious, and they shattered both Garuta and Rendishire in what we now call the Six Winters' War. They swore that never again would they ally with the followers of another god.
The Appearance of Vendral[edit]
Near the end of the Six Winters' War, at the end of the Ten Thousand Arrow War, an ill omen for humanity occurred. The two-headed Vendral, now grown into adolescence, was seen for the first time. He destroyed an entire village in one hour. From that day until present, every century or two, Vendral has awakened for a short time and caused terrible havoc.
The Dark Age of Humanity[edit]
In K.A. 500, all of the Human city states had been destroyed, with only small villages and outposts left clinging for survival. Barbarians roamed the land again, but in far fewer numbers and without the overwhelming power they enjoyed 500 years before. These were the darkest days for humanity, during which all may easily have been lost.
The Three Monster Kingdoms[edit]
Three monster kingdoms rose across Ardania as the humans fell. One was led by a magical and purely evil creature - the Witch King. He commanded the allegiance of thousands of the ancient Daemonwoods as well as other, lesser creatures. The second was Scrylia, the Serpent Queen. She gathered a formidable army of Dragons, Greater Gorgons, Medusae, and Harpies. The eldest son of Helia and Lunord, a foul, mishappen god called Grum-Gog, formed the final monster kingdom. His followers consisted of legions of Goblins as well as a smattering of Trolls.
The Rise and Fall of the Goblins[edit]
Despite their tenacity and ferocity, the diminutive Goblins were never able to expand their kingdom very far. Pushed by Barbarians on one side and devastated by Dragons on the other, they fled into the Hellfire Mountains and were reduced to a small, struggling populace. To this day, Grum-Gog still plans for an eventual Goblin conquest of Ardania.
The Rise and Fall of the Serpent Empire[edit]
Scrylia, on the other hand, nearly did conquer Ardania. Her powerful forces scattered everyone in her path. Just as she was planning to destroy the remaining Human outposts, her forces mutinied. The Medusae were furious at being subordinate to the Greater Gorgons, and launched a civil war with help from the Harpies. Unwilling to get caught up in the conflict, the Dragons left and returned to their underground lairs. The Greater Gorgons were nearly exterminated, with only a few escaping to the Northern Reaches. Scrylia herself was killed in the fighting. Victorious in their civil war, the Medusae and Harpies were left without the aid of the Dragons, and the entire serpent kingdom quickly crumbled.
The Emergence of the Witch King[edit]
The Witch King, having weathered the Serpent Queen's advancement, was next to try to dominate Ardania. He spread a horrible curse of pestilence throughout the land, weakening his enemies and causing massive natural destruction. He made one error, though, and that was when he stumbled upon Lunord's Holy Chalice in a hidden stone vault. As he was not ordained by Lunord to transport the Chalice, he could not remove it from the vault. Instead of sealing and burying it, though, he grew attached to it and returned to drink the blood of his victims from it. In the end, this attraction would be his downfall.
The Origins of Sydrian, Ardania's First King[edit]
The man who eventually drove off the Witch King and returned humanity to its path of greatness was Sydrian, known now as the Wandering King. Sydrian was born to Gwnella, the leader of Thallis, a city state allied to Garuta during the Ten Thousand Arrows War. After the Six Winters' War and the fall of Garuta, Thallis became a small outpost of men and women who hunkered down to protect themselves from the Ardanian anarchy.
They were unsuccessful in this attempt. Scrylia's forces burned the entire settlement to the ground 15 years later, in K.A. 515, during a massive Dragon assault. Young Sydrian was only three years old at the time. A Gnome, whose name was never recorded, grabbed the son of Gwenella and risked his own life to take him to safety. From this tragic beginning, Sydrian began a new life in the wilds of Ardania. Not much is known about his childhood, but when he reappeared 13 years later he was an impressive warrior.
One day, Sydrian was wandering when he heard sounds of fighting nearby. A Caravan heading to the Human enclave of Cullian had been waylaid by a band of Trolls. Sydrian rushed into the fray to help the guards. His natural talent for battle was astounding, and the Trolls were reduced to pools of their mucous-like flesh before they knew what hit them. The guards took Sydrian to Cullian where the prince of the enclave eventually adopted him.
The Making of Ardania's Greatest Hero[edit]
As Sydrian grew to manhood, he became leader of the prince's guard. Under his leadership, the guard was well known for its compassion to the Cullain people and its dedication to duty. All seemed to be going well for young Captain Sydrian, but fate's unpleasant touch was reaching out for him.
It began with a few missing Caravans in K.A. 539. Then several travelers were found brutally slain in the nearby forests. The threat to the enclave became obvious. Some force was behind these attacks and Sydrian dedicated himself to stopping it.
In doing so, Sydrian made the biggest mistake of this life. He formed a party of his strongest and bravest soldiers to seek out and destroy this menace. Fueled by determination, they marched deep into the wilderness following clues left behind by the murderers. While they were gone on the search, the city came under a massive attack by creatures of all shapes and sizes, Sydrian had fallen for a decoy.
The Quest for the Holy Chalice[edit]
When he returned, Cullain lay in ruins before him. Though Sydrian's home and family were destroyed, his sense of duty grew stronger than ever. He needed to end the nightmare that Ardania had become. That night he had a vision. He saw the Witch King sitting in a stone vault and knew that the Witch King was behind the destruction of his adopted home. But his vision focused on what the Witch King was drinking from, Lunord's Holy Chalice. If he could claim the Chalice, it would provide humanity with the power to withstand the Witch King's terrible curse. People would unite and fight back against the horrors of the land.
With his greatest warriors, Sydrian led a crusade across Ardania, battling the minions of the Witch King whenever possible. All the while, they gathered clues as to the whereabouts of the Holy Chalice. The selfless acts of Sydrian's forces attracted the atteion of other brave heroes, who joined him. Soon the ranks of Sydrian's Knights swelled, allowing them to cover even more territory.
Desperate for the Humans to help against the rising tide of monsters, the Dwarven settlements to the north sent Sydrian priceless gifts. The bulk of the gifts consisted of 60 swords that were particularly effective against magical creatures. The Dwarves also created a stunning crown of gold and precious Dwarven steel. The crown was rumored to give Sydrian and any of his blood descendants even greater wisdom in their rule.
Flickering hopes began to take root in the minds of the Ardanian people. Everyone referred to Sydrian as king. Eventually, in K.A. 564, he gathered enough clues to track down the Chalice. He assembled a handpicked group of men and women and led them on the final quest for this sacred relic.
He lost 23 good knights getting to the vault, but Sydrian finally claimed the Holy Chalice. Lunord permitted him to carry the relic, and he brought it back with him. The Holy Chalice spread health and strength to the Human settlements within a week's travel in all directions. With the people renewed in courage, Sydrian was easily able to muster enough strong men and women to meet the Witch King head-on in battle - and to eventually prevail. The Witch King fled and his forces were decimated in K.A. 578.
Sydrian never ruled a settlement, which earned him the title of the Wandering King. But he is regarded as Ardania's first king. If you are reading this tome, then his blood flows through your veins - for you are his direct descendant.
The Disappearance of Sydrian[edit]
After the Witch King's defeat, people clamored for Sydrian to establish a government and rule the land; but he did not. He said governing was something he would not be good at, and instead he appointed his daughter Rallia to the role. Ardania's first queen built on the great achievements of her father and founded the basis for governing that we still use today.
As for Sydrian, it appears that he hid a poisonous wound received in battle with the Witch King. He became somewhat delusional, and one night he simply disappeared. Many years later, in K.A. 599, an old man wandered into a small fishing village on an island just off the west coast of Ardania. He wore the tattered but familiar robes of the Sydrian order. When asked who he was, he looked confused, hesitated, and then said, "Sydrian. Sydrian, of course!" The townsfolk laughed, thinking him a deluded fool.
Two days later, the old man died, under the care of a local innkeeper. In disposing of the man's belongings, the innkeeper was astonished to find what appeared to be the Holy Chalice in the man's carrying bag. He gathered the townsfolk to show them his remarkable discovery, but when he returned, the Chalice and the body of the old man had disappeared. The island was renamed the Isle of Sydrian.
Sydrian's mark on Ardania is unmistakable. He forged order from chaos and saved humanity from extinction. In all of our history, there is no greater hero.
The Seven Children of Lunord and Helia[edit]
With the destruction of Garuta and Rendishire, and all throughout the Age of the Sydrian Knights, the popularity of Lunord and Helia greatly waned. There remained some followers of both gods, and they still argued with each other constantly. Krolm had followers as well, but they were battered and disorganized by the endless wars.
All seven of Lunord and Helia's children were conceived and born during the Six Winters' War, K.A. 494-499. Their first child, who became Grum-Gog the Lord of Pestilance, rallied his Goblin and Troll followers into terrible defeats in battle, as mentioned earlier. Their second and third children were also misshapen beasts, and neither was even strong enough to be a god. Url-Shekk was the second child, a massive three-headed creature that hated light. This infuriated Helia, who cast her child into the Nether World. Occasionally, it pushes through into Ardania where it relieved its suffering by torturing lesser creatures, such as Humans. The third child, Rrongol, was extremely dim-witted. It followed his father's every step until Lunord grew frustrated and cast it into the mortal world.
Helia and Lunord finally had success with their children in their quadruplets. They had two girls and two boys, all of whom were gods. Like their parents, each pair became polar opposites. Krypta became the goddess of death and her sister Agrela, goddess of life. Fervus became the god of chaos and his brother Dauros, the god of law. All four of them headed in their own ideologal directions, which would soon splinter Ardania into even more religious factions.
The Crusade of Makkat the Madman[edit]
Upon his death, Sydrian had returned the Holy Chalice to Lunord. With his relic, Lunord was better able to communicate with his Adepts. Helia was not, as her Sun Orb was still missing. Lunord chose the Adept Makkat the Wise to hear the message of his children's arrival. Makkat was struck by lightning while polishing the horns of the Temple to Lunord, and he fell into a deep coma. When he finally came to, he began jabbering about his vision. Because of his, he was nicknamed Makkat the Madman.
He told of how Lunord and Helia sired four new gods. He said that Lunord felt defeated as he and his sister's stuggle had caused so much hardship to humanity. He wanted to be left alone, and for his children to be worshipped. He did not want history to repeat itself. Makkat held up Lunord's Holy Chalice as proof of his words.
Divisions appeared everywhere. Many Solarii and Adepts left their orders in disillusionment, while others stayed on and branded Makkat a heretic. People everywhere cautiously began to look at the new gods, unsure of whether they were real of not. Makkat accumulated a dedicated legion that traveled with him and began to force this new belief system on religious practitioners.
Those who continued to adhere to the belief that Lunord or Helia reigned supreme were cast out, thrown into dungeons, tortured until they agreed to follow the new gods, or simply killed. The violence did not bubble over into everyday life of Ardania very often; it usually remained inside religious circles. But within this realm, it was explosive.
Prince Quinn of Mayhew attempted to confront The Madman and his crusading zealots. He organized a force to stand against Makkat. Learning of this, Makkat infiltrated Quinn's ranks and subverted his key officers. When the two forces met in battle, most of Quinn's army deserted and he was killed. This moment marked the last major resistance to the new gods.
The remaining Adepts and Solarii became champions of combat to protect themselves, although to this day they still do not work together. Helia's Solarii finally killed Makkat in K.A. 642, after 11 years of his crusade. The remaining followers of Lunord and Helia celebrated the day, but Makkat's detath only served to boost the popularity of the new gods. The new religions adopted a gentler face, drawing new believers in droves.
The Creation of Godly Artifacts[edit]
The new gods each created an artifact, although theirs were not as powerful as their parents'. Krypta made the Holy Bell, the symbol of approaching death. Agrela fashioned the Magic Ring, containing the power of health. Fervus created the Eternal Candle, which flickered with the essence of chaos. Dauros created the Holy Book of Law.
The Arrival of the Elves[edit]
During this time, a new race appeared in the land. Elegant blue ships sailed into Ardania from the east. Elves disembarked, set fire to their ships, and formed their own settlement in the Treldan Wood. They would not speak of where they came from, only saying that whatever was here was better. They introduced gambling, alcohol, and other vices of pleasure to Ardania.
The Spread of the New Religions[edit]
Soon, temples to the four new gods were found in almost every town, though never all at once. Due to their opposing natures, these gods also created friction between their followers. Unlike before, however, this general dislike has never erupted into open battle. Healers of Agrela and Priestesses of Krypta refuse to build temples near to each other. Cultists of Fervus and Monks of Dauros also refused to do so. Over time, this has evolved into Healers and Cultists avoiding each other, as well as Priestesses and Monks - although these enmities are not as deep. Temples to the old gods, Lunord, Helia, and even Krolm, also continued to exist.
Good King Teevus, the First King of Valmorgen[edit]
At this time the other great line of sovereigns, after your own, was initiated. Good King Teevus was the first of the Valmorgens. He, more than anyone, helped reduce the animosity between the old and new religions. He proudly proclaimed himself a follower of all deities, explaining that their various belief systems represented different aspects of a complete individual. While many followed Teevus's example, in practice they usually favored one god over the others.
The Reemergence of Wizardry[edit]
Another major event during this time was the reemergence of Wizardry. After so many centuries of turmoil, there was finally enough calmness for Libraries to be erected and learning to gain in priority. One of these scholars, Tholar, founded the first Library of the arcane arts. Over time, people from all of Ardania with the gift of magic came to study with him. His Library evolved into the first Wizard's Guild. Wizardry had finally became part of Ardania; it had been 2,000 years since the first Wizard, Brashnard, was slain.
Tholar himself began writing the Grimoire Arcanus, the master book of spells that is hand-copied by each Wizard Guildmaster and added to as new incantations are discovered. He and his assistant created the Lantern of Andrevyll, which sends magical powers through the air to remote towers. It was his grandson, Tholar III, who invented the Bellanus Orb, which is strong enough to channel the most powerful magics.
The Emergence of the Liche Queen[edit]
Also of note at this time was the arrival of the Liche Queen. This evil-tempered monstrosity was the first high priestess of Krypta. She tried to advance her studies too quickly in an attempt to make Krypta more powerful than the other deities. While performing a dangerous ritual, her mind snapped and instead of honoring death, she became the sworn enemy of all living things. She was the first recorded undead creature in Ardania. The Liche Queen fled into the Dark Forest, was involved in some terrible atrocities, and has not been seen since that time. It is likely that she perished in her insanity.
The Appearance of the Black Phantoms[edit]
Another unfortunate addition to Ardania during this time of relative calm was the Black Phantoms. No one knows where these strange, incredibly powerful, magical apparitions originated. It is also unclear what they are after. What is clear is that any who have fought against the Black Phantoms have perished.
The Rise of Dark Wizardry[edit]
Many kingdoms emerged in Ardania during this time, each with its own sovereign. This period is primarily marked with smaller battles, alliances, betrayals, and petty feuds between these young kingdoms. Smaller wars were fought against monster kingdoms as well, but no conflicts threatened to engulf all of Ardania as they had in the past. The time was also known for the sinister workings of a new breed of evil, the dark Wizard.
One example of dark wizardry came from the Goblin Priests of the Grisnot tribe. Likely with the divine assistance from Grum-Gog, they magically altered normal spiders into the vicious Giant Spiders that we must contend with today. The tribe intended to use them as war steeds, but instead, the Giant Spiders immediately attacked their masters and devoured every last one of them.
The Battle of Ravenswood[edit]
The Giant Spiders did find a master, however, and it was not the Goblins. The Witch King reemerged from hiding with an army of Daemonwoods and Giant Spiders and assaulted the kingdom of Ravenswood in K.A. 1205. This area was largely populated with Barbarians and the new, more refined frontiersmen who called themselves Rangers. The battle was costly to the humans, but in the end they prevailed. The Witch King once again escaped. The few surviving Barbarians and Rangers made a blood pact of friendship, called the Treaty of Ravenswood, which still stands today.
Andravus's Minotaur Invasion[edit]
Another dark Wizard operating during this time was Andravus. He was the Wizard advisor to the queen of Lormidia. He became power-mad and desired the throne for himself. Andravus retreated into his studies and invented the ultimate front-line troop, the minotaur. He created an entire army of these beasts and marched them on Lormidia. Many brave and worthy warriors fled from this seemingly unbeatable army.
By coincidence, the large yearly gathering of Barbarians took place at this time, right on the outskirts of Lormidia. Before they knew what was happening, the Barbarians were surrounded by minotaurs. Every last one of them would have been slain had it not been for Tholar IV.
This descendant of the great Tholar had traveled to Lormidia to investigate allegations of Andravus' twisted work. He arrived in time to see the Barbarians being surrounded in a hopeless situation. Tholar IV used the local Wizard's Guild to cast Invisibility on every single one of the Barbarians - a remarkable feat of Wizardry endurance. With the Minotaurs confused, he then teleported into the middle of the Barbarians and began to cast swarms of meteors at the Minotaurs. The beasts quickly fled the battle. Tholar IV died from exhaustion that day. It was this selfless act that led the Barbarians to throw aside their distrust of Wizards, and to vow allegiance to their new allies.
Unfortunately, no one was able to stop Andravus and his Minotaurs from then crushing Lormidia. The once-great city was leveled. Andravus tried to rebuild it, but he could not control his Minotaurs, who loved to destroy much more than to build, and no Humans wanted anything to do with him. A counterattack led by the Valmorgens and the Sydrians in K.A. 1415 was successful, Andravus was killed, and his foul warriors scattered across the land.
One contingent of these Minotaurs headed north through the mountains. They attacked a Dwarven outpost at Torin's Peak in K.A. 1418. The only remarkable fact about his minor skirmish is that the Dwarves successfully used their new Ballistae to destroy the Minotaur attackers.
One great Minotaur leader, Gorsha Blackhoof, was responsible, as I'm sure you know, for stealing the Crown of Sydrian from our kingdom. One day this relic will be returned, and until then, each sovereign of Sydrian must get by with just his or her natural wisdom.
The Abominable Creations of Pyrog the Shadowed[edit]
Another evil Wizard, Pyrog the Shadowed, also performed his foul experiments during this period. He mutated existing plantlife into the Flowering Strangleweed. After his "success" with this procedure, he next worked on a much bigger scale. Pyrog combined parts of Dragon, his own Wizard's blood, bits of a lowly hummingbird, as well as other unrecorded ingredients, resulting in the terrible Evil Oculi. Pyrog apparently died while attempting to create a new magical creature far stronger than the Oculi. This was certainly for the best as far as humanity is concerned.
The Appearance of Dirgo[edit]
One other creature of note first seen during this time was Dirgo the Cyclops. This massive creature lived on a small island off the eastern shore of Ardania. No one knows how old he is, or even if he is mortal. Apparently, a sailor disembarked on his island and shot his eye through with an arrow.
Suspicions have fallen on the elves but they claim that none of their kind has set foot on a sailing vessel since landing in Ardania. Regardless, Dirgo now wanders the land in a blind rage, smashing what he can in hopes that eventually he will smash the sailor responsible.
Of Warriors, Paladins, Rogues and Warriors of Discord[edit]
New disciplines of training and study became available during this time as well. The best fighters from the city and palace guard started the Warriors Guild, to venture into the wilderness to destroy evil where it bred. The teachings of Dauros reignited the idea of the Sydrian Knights, who are now called Paladins. The warped rituals of the Cultists brought the brutish Warriors of Discord into being. The growth of the kingdoms also brought about the Rogues, with their ramshackle guilds. As mentioned before, heroes with a taste for travel formed into guilds of Rangers.
Humanity has come so far and been through so much, but the journey ahead is still fraught with danger. The great prophet Juleck has seen times of great difficulty ahead. The monsters have been dormant for too long; signs point to them rising again.
Pantheon[edit]
Krolm, the Lord of the Wilds, is the Father-God of all other deities (Except perhaps the Forgotten One). Betrayed by his own children - the new gods of Ardania, he broods alone with no allies. His followers are Barbarians who shun other religions. Ardanian worshipers of Krolm embrace the term barbarian not only as an apt description but as an honorable title. Armed with axe and club and fueled by the boundless rage of their jealous elder god, woe be to any foe who crosses the path of a rampaging Barbarian!
Helia is the Goddess of the Sun. She is opposed to her brother Lunord. Her followers are the Solarus. The Solarii (plural of Solarus) are the warrior women of the Sun-Goddess Helia. With her blessing, the Solarii wage war against evil. Each Solarus bears the sigil of Helia, a massive spiked mace, with which she may focus the sun's energy into cleansing fire-magic.
Lunord is the God of the Moon. He is opposed to his sister Helia. Adepts are the swift, mystic warriors of Lunord, war-god of the Moon & Wind. They move quickly from battle to battle defending the kingdom and bringing honor to their god. They are good fighters, as any follower of a war-god should be. They prefer light armor so they may stay fleet of foot.
Agrela is the Goddess of Life and is allied with her brother Dauros. She is opposed to Fervus and Krypta. Her followers are Healers. Healers are the care-givers of Ardania. They are more concerned about the well-being of the citezenry of the kingdom than they are about politics or defense of hte kingdom. Some healers have even been known to take pity on the enemies of the kingdom - even when the kingdom is under attack. Luckily, this is a rare occurrence.
Dauros is the God of Justice and is allied with Agrela. He is opposed to Fervus and Krypta. His followers are Monks and Paladins. The Pious followers of Dauros, God of Law, Monks are not tempted by the allure of Elven vices. They dedicate themselves to refining body and soul. They are widely acknowledged as some of Ardania's fiercest fighters, but they accomplish this by using only their bare hands and lightning-fast reflexes. Magic is also part of the Monk's arsenal. Their vow of silence lends them an unassuming image in Ardania's society.
Fervus is the God of Chaos. His followers are Cultists and Warriors of Discord. He is allied with Krypta and is opposed to Agrela and Dauros. Little is known about the odd followers of the god known as Fervus. They seem to worship all things natural but they also revel in discord and chaos. It is difficult to engage them in intelligent discourse which explains the difficulty in understanding their ways.
Krypta is the Goddess of Death. Her followers are mysterious Priests. She is allied with Fervus and opposed to Agrela and Dauros. The sinister followers of Krypta, goddess of death, are well versed in all forms of necromancy. A priestess commands powerful death spells and with time may raise a retinue of skeletons to serve as her personal guards.
Grum-Gog is the power-hungry lord of the goblin race. He protects the goblin people as a whole. Goblin priests are the servants of Grum-Gog. They seek to spread disease and pestilence throughout the land.
The Forgotten Goddess was a deity of the Northlands until the new gods came along and pushed her out of memory. Now her only followers are monsters and society's misfits and outcasts. Some theorize that she is the mother of Lunord and Helia. The Forgotten One claims no temples.
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Join us for a unique experience at The Lodge at Atlantic Beach, situated on the 1st Fairway of one of Cape Town's Premier Golf Estates. In keeping with the philosophy of relaxed, comfortable and coastal living, our guests may take full advantage of all the amenities on the Estate. These include the use of the Golf Course and Club House where our guests are entitled to temporary membership, the Elemental Health & Beauty Salon, Fitness Centre, tennis courts and swimming pool at the Estate's Leisure Centre all of which are in walking distance of The Lodge and within the secure access controlled estate grounds. The Lodge has 20 well appointed rooms, most of which overlook the 1st Fairway of Atlantic Beach Links-type course where the springbok mingle with the golfers in the natural fynbos surroundings.


The Double Vision series grabbed my attention the first time I saw the cover, then when I read the blurb it had me, so I added it to my ever growing TBR list. Finally, after lingering at the edge of my mind I looked into grabbing a copy. Unfortunately, the ebook wasn't available to me in Australia via Amazon, but I wasn't going to let go. So I tracked down a paperback version at The Book Depository in the UK and ordered myself a copy.
The verdict – I loved it (see my review here). Not only is Double Vision a great series full of cool action and characters, but book 1 is set in one of my all time favourite cities, Paris. My plan was to order a copy of book 2 and continue the series, but over time my TBR got the better of me … yes, I have to admit that I lost control. Fast forward to October 2014 and you can imagine how I felt when I heard that book 3 was released. "Doh!" to quote a famous American. Now I not only have to read book 2, but also book 3. Both are still blipping away on my radar, and I know that the next couple of months are already packed full. DING! I've just had a great idea! I think I'll look for them in bookstores during my US travels in November/December, I think they'd be a great souvenir.
Anyway, back on subject … I decided that I wanted to share the series with visitors to my site even before I've read them, as I feel they'd be a great idea for Xmas gifts. Given that I won't post my own reviews for books 2 & 3 for a couple of months, I thought it may be a good idea to create a post with links to some Amazon and Goodreads reviews.
Are you keen to see more from Double Vision star, Linc?
You're welcome. I love the series.
I'll be looking out for 2 & 3 in the bookshops. It's good to buy yourself gifts too!


text:
Sinkhole aliens show up for early voting
By Taylor Cuzino | October 19, 2020 | 1
Today marks the start of early voting in Florida. Experts expect a record turnout after more than 25 million citizens in other states have already gone to the polls.
In early October, a sinkhole opened up in Trinity on Little Road in front of Varsity Club Sports Bar. Since its inception, officials say the sinkhole has continued to grow. Currently, it measures about 45 feet in diameter and 130 feet deep.
Throughout the day today, voters on their way to the polls made hundreds of calls to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. Reports came in of "aliens shooting out of the sinkhole and crawling toward the Pasco County Government Center." Many reported that the aliens looked like or were disguised as "the elderliest of the elderly," some saying they were "at least 200 years old."
Reportedly, the aliens were anti-maskers, forcing poll workers to wear heavy-duty masks, face shields and Hazmat suits.
One worker, Pauline Shakers, recounted an incident that she was disappointed in, but not surprised by: "An alien and his daughter came to the door, oblivious to the line forming around the building. The alien could barely walk even with his walker. The woman told him to sit in the lobby, until she caught up to him in line, and put on his mask. He sat down, coughed, exhaled and then put on a Florida Gators mask. Several people got out of line and went home to shower." Shakers called her husband and told him to buy a power washer before she got home. She anticipated today would be her last day.
On the way home from the polls, voters described seeing the aliens crawling back toward the sinkhole. When one went back in, two blasted out. Those that didn't return to the hole day drank at the bar next door.
← Early voting begins today in FloridaStingray that killed Steve Irwin gets job at Stingray Chevrolet →
About Taylor Cuzino
Taylor Cuzino is a comedic writer whose dream in life is to write for sitcoms. She has stupid tattoos and loves bulldogs. In her free time, you can catch her sleeping and shopping at Target.
View all posts by Taylor Cuzino →
Mileva Maric on October 19, 2020 at 6:52 pm
Great story! Great graphics!


Epoiesen continues to percolate away in the background. I thought y'all might be interested to know where we're at. Because of the experimental nature of this project, the library was a bit nervous about having us in the 'regular' location on their server (I chose an importune time to ask: Carleton had just had a run-in with ransomware and other assorted digital shenanigans). Instead, we'll be outside the firewall, in the 'DMZ'. I rather like that. The URL will be a subdomain of the main library site. It's active right now, but cloaked a bit longer while I get a few more pieces and responses in.
My ambition is to do a formal 'ta da!' at the start of the 2017-18 academic year. If you've got material that you think might be suitable please get in touch. Get in at the beginning! HeritageJam was a huge inspiration, so see their gallery for examples of things that might spark ideas. I'm also looking for people to act as Respondents – that is, peer reviewers who write (or craft) from a personal engagement with the pieces. They would write about the way the piece has moved them, or troubles them, or pushed them to see things differently, or sparks various thoughts… The idea is that this will start a dialogue that the reader can continue in the margins – Epoiesen is equipped with the Hypothes.is web annotation framework. (Every piece that goes up by the way – whether a submission or a response – will get its own DOI).
Below, I've copied the text from the 'about' page for this journal/zine/site.
I think that generative art should ideally retain two disparate levels of perception: the material and visual qualities of a piece of art, and then a creation story or script and the intellectual journey that led to the end result. It possibly should bear marks of that intense interaction with the spatial environment that the visible work manifests.
Epoiesen accepts code artefacts, written submissions in text files (.md) written with the Markdown syntax, videos, 3d .obj files, html, or other formats (contact us if you are unsure: we encourage experimentation). Digital artefacts should be accompanied by the descriptive paradata or artist's statement.
Submissions will be reviewed, and the reviews will be published at the same time as a Response, under the reviewers' own names. Submissions and Responses will each have their own Digital Object Identifiers. Epoiesen eventually will be indexed; it is supported by Carleton University's MacOdrum Library. Submissions are accepted at any time, and published as they become ready. Each year's submissions will be organized retroactively into 'annuals'. The entire journal will be archived and deposited in a dataverse-powered repository at Carleton University.
There are no article processing fees. We are generously supported by MacOdrum Library at Carleton University for at least five years.
This website is generated from a series of markdown formatted text files, which are run through a series of templates to create the flat-file html architecture.
Michael Gove, the Conservative British politician, said in the run-up to the United Kingdom's 2016 referendum on European Union membership, "people in this country have had enough of experts"(Mance 2016). And perhaps, he was right. There is a perception that archaeology is for the archaeologists, history for the historians. On our side, there is perhaps a perception that speaking to non-expert audiences is a lesser calling, that people who write/create things that do not look like what we have always done, are not really 'serious'. In these vacuums of perception, we fail at communicating the complexities of the past, allowing the past to be used, abused, or ignored, especially for populist political ends. The 'know-nothings' are on the march. We must not stand by.
In such a vacuum, there is a need for critical creative engagement with the past (see Holtorf, 2007). In Succinct Research, Bill White reminds us why society allows archaeologists to exist in the first place: 'it is to amplify the whispers of the past in our own unique way so they can still be heard today' (White 2016). We have been failing in this by limiting the ways we might accomplish that task.
Epoiesen is a place to amplify whispers, a place to shout. Remix the experience of the past. Do not be silent!
Mance, H. (2016) 'Britain has had enough of experts, says Gove', Financial Times Jun. 3, https://www.ft.com/content/3be49734-29cb-11e6-83e4-abc22d5d108c.
White, B. (2016) 'Archaeologists: Please Remember Why We Exist' Succint Research Nov. 2, http://www.succinctresearch.com/archaeologists-please-remember-why-we-exist/.
Previous PostBots of Archaeology: Machines Writing Public Archaeology?


text:
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C.A.S. was established in 1984 to produce for the audio and visual industry. In 2002, C.A.S. added AV installation, design and retail as a natural progression of the business. It started when C.A.S. was asked to broadcast the original music we were creating, throughout client theme parks, outdoor venues and corporate environments.
Now C.A.S. not only works with film directors and ad agencies, but partners and produces AV installation for architects, construction companies, property managers and proprietors. In both commercial and residential industries, C.A.S. has painstakingly taken the time to stay with the latest trends in product development and services.
BA Music Theory and Composition, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. Post Graduate studies in conducting and composition with Joel Thome and Manny Albam.
Member: InfoComm, NARAS, NATAS, Ad Club.
Scores and audio produced for national ad campaigns, TV and film.
Client Projects: BMW, Mercedes, Goretex, Party City, Volkswagen, Hard Rock, Bell Atlantic, AT&T, FAA, Mannington, Polygram Records, Frank Zappa – Zappa's Universe, Columbia Records, Bally's Park Place, Giorgio, Bayer, Squibb, PBS, NJ Transit, Michaelangelo Productions, Pep Boys, Bear River Casino, Miss New Jersey, Miss America, NJN-The New Jersey Channel, WLIW-Long Island, WQED-Pittsburgh, Joan Cusak's Local Flavor, Guy Fieri's Diners Drive-ins and Dives, and many more.
Installation Clients include: Caesars Entertainment, Harrah's, Bally's, Hilton, Bozzutto, Intec, Philadelphia Zoo, Inspira, AtlantiCare, Susquehanna Bank, Founders, McDonalds, Resorts Intl, Ark Restaurants.
© CAS Music Productions and Installations, LLC
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text:
Pine Tree Promotes Michael Gold to EVP, Chief Operating Officer
By Pine TreeFebruary 3, 2019February 9th, 2020Front Page, News, Press Releases, Team
NORTHBROOK, Ill. (January 31, 2019) – Michael Gold has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of Pine Tree, according to Peter Borzak, CEO of the Northbrook-based retail real estate firm. Gold has been with Pine Tree for nearly five years, serving most recently as a Senior Vice President in Asset Management. In his new role as COO, he will have broad oversight over the company's corporate operation and its portfolio, which currently sits at approximately $800 million.
"As Pine Tree continues to grow alongside its expanding retail real estate portfolio, Michael Gold's promotion to COO will help us more effectively and efficiently advance our goals," says Borzak. "We're very excited for Michael to fill this new role."
Prior to joining Pine Tree, Gold was with CBRE where he represented retail landlords and tenants in the leasing of shopping center space in the Chicago area. A Chicago native, he earned an MBA from DePaul University's Kellstadt School of Business, and is an active member of ICSC.
About Pine Tree:
Pine Tree, LLC is a Northbrook, Illinois-based full-service real estate company specializing in retail. Since its founding in 1995, Pine Tree has acquired 97 properties and completed over $2.1 billion in transactions. The company's projects are located across the United States.
Photo of Michael Gold:
http://dodier.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/michael_gold_MG_4123_edited.jpeg
Kasia Yuska
kyuska@dodier.com
DODIER & COMPANY
40 Skokie Blvd, Suite 610
info@pinetree.com