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What Do Symmetries Tell Us About Structure?
Thomas William Barrett
Philosophy of Science (4):617-639 (2017)
Mathematicians, physicists, and philosophers of physics often look to the symmetries of an object for insight into the structure and constitution of the object. My aim in this paper is to explain why this practice is successful. In order to do so, I present a collection of results that are closely related to (and in a sense, generalizations of) Beth's and Svenonius' theorems.
Theories and Models in General Philosophy of Science
DOI 10.1086/699156
philsci-archive.pitt.edu (no proxy)
philsci-archive.pitt.edu [2] (no proxy)
journals.uchicago.edu (no proxy)
Categories for the Working Mathematician.Saunders Maclane - 1971 - Springer.
Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time.Tim Maudlin - 2012 - Princeton University Press.
What Scientific Theories Could Not Be.Hans Halvorson - 2012 - Philosophy of Science 79 (2):183-206.
On Empirically Equivalent Systems of the World.Willard van Orman Quine - 1975 - Erkenntnis 9 (3):313-28.
Are Newtonian Gravitation and Geometrized Newtonian Gravitation Theoretically Equivalent?James Weatherall - 2016 - Erkenntnis 81 (5):1073-1091.
Definable Categorical Equivalence.Laurenz Hudetz - 2019 - Philosophy of Science 86 (1):47-75.
How to Count Structure.Thomas William Barrett - forthcoming - Noûs.
On Representational Redundancy, Surplus Structure, and the Hole Argument.Clara Bradley & James Owen Weatherall - 2020 - Foundations of Physics 50 (4):270-293.
Some Philosophical Prehistory of the (Earman-Norton) Hole Argument.James Owen Weatherall - 2020 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 70:79-87.
Theoretical Equivalence in Physics.James Owen Weatherall - unknown
The Empirical Status of Symmetries in Physics.P. Kosso - 2000 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 51 (1):81-98.
Sophistication About Symmetries.Neil Dewar - 2019 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 70 (2):485-521.
Physical Symmetries, Overarching Symmetries, and Consistency.Daniel Peterson - unknown
Notes on Symmetries.Gordon Belot - 2003 - In Katherine A. Brading & Elena Castellani (eds.), Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections. Cambridge University Press. pp. 393--412.
The Priority of Internal Symmetries in Particle Physics.Aharon Kantorovich - 2003 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 34 (4):651-675.
Empirical Assessment of Colour Symmetries.Lewis D. Griffin - 1999 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 22 (6):952-953.
Information Originates in Symmetry Breaking.John Collier - unknown
Laser Experiments and Various Four-Dimensional Symmetries.J. P. Hsu - 1977 - Foundations of Physics 7 (3-4):205-220.
Symmetries and Noether's Theorems.Katherine Bracing & Harvey R. Brown - 2003 - In Katherine A. Brading & Elena Castellani (eds.), Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections. Cambridge University Press. pp. 89.
About Some Symmetries of Negation.Brigitte Hösli & Gerhard Jäger - 1994 - Journal of Symbolic Logic 59 (2):473-485.
Symmetries in the Physical Laws of Nature.E. Schmutzer - 1971 - Scientia 106 (6):66-76.
The Metaphysics of Invariance.David Schroeren - manuscript
A Puzzle About Laws, Symmetries and Measurability.John T. Roberts - 2008 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 59 (2):143-168.
Laws and Meta-Laws of Nature: Conservation Laws and Symmetries.Marc Lange - 2007 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (3):457-481.
Symmetries and the Philosophy of Language.Neil Dewar - 2015 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 52 (Part B):317-327.


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Fiji Year 10 Provisional Examination Results Released
The Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts confirmed that the external examination provisional results for Year 10 were released to schools yesterday and will be available to students and parents
by ministry of education, heritage and arts
Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy.
The Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts confirmed that the external examination provisional results for Year 10 were released to schools yesterday and will be available to students and parents from 8am, today.
"The 14,519 students who sat for the exam can get the results online and from their respective schools and District Offices," said Mr Reddy.
"Overall, the result is quite pleasing relative to last year. Last year, we note that, for a pass in English and best 5 subjects, 42 per cent of the students passed whilst this year, we have a pass rate of 45 per cent.
"This is a good sign that we are improving performance of more students following the reforms (see table)
"We also note that pass rates in the compulsory subjects that is, English (60 per cent), Mathematics (34 per cent), Basic Science (45 per cent), Social Science (42 per cent) and Commercial Studies (38 per cent) have all improved significantly relative to last year.
"I acknowledge the effort and hard work that has been put in by all the students.
"This is the second year after the re-introduction of External Examinations at Year 10 and I am sure all children are eager to know their results. I urge all children to be proud of their results and see what you need to plan upon for your future.
"Year 10 is particularly important for secondary school students as their next educational journey will very much reflect the career choices they make.
"That is, students will have to carefully evaluate the subjects and combinations they intend to pursue in Year 11 and those subjects and combinations will to a large extent determine their future jobs," said Mr Reddy.
"This year due to Cyclone Winston, many of our students, teachers and school infrastructure were severely affected and I take this opportunity to thank all in the Cyclone ravaged zones for your continued commitment.
"At a time of disaster and suffering, our nation stood fast to the task of prioritising education and I applaud the relentless sacrifice and efforts of all stakeholders during those times," said Mr Reddy.
The Education Minister added that, as the results have been released well before the end of 2016, parents and children have ample time to prepare for the 2017 academic year. "We are mindful that the students have to plan for the subject combinations that they will take up in Year 11.
"Therefore, the space given can be utilised by children to acquaint them with the various subject combinations. By now I am certain that all Year 10 students have already made these plans and so they can communicate with friends, peers, teachers and other authorities to be fully aware of how they can plan for the new year.
"We urge students who have an aptitude or interest in technical area to enrol at one of our Technical College Campuses and pursue Certificate II level studies in any of the Trade area.
"The trade skills and qualifications are in huge demand not only in Fiji but globally and I do hope our children will take advantage of the programmes that we offer at our Technical College Campuses.
"The students can get information on the courses and programmes from their nearest Technical College Campuses or refer to the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts website: www.education.gov.fj
I again congratulate all students who sat for the exams and urge you to take important lessons from your results as you step into a new year.
"I also wish to remind you to be safe in the holidays and look after your health."
Source: Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj
Dr Mahendra ReddyExternal Examinations at Year 10FIJI NEWSMinister for Education Heritage and Arts
Acidic Rainfall Likely From Increase In Sulphur Dioxide Concentration

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Indigo Avenue offers a variety of gently used women's clothing.
What's trending on campuses across the nation? Thrift shopping. Balling on a budget is hard in college, but this list of Richmond shops may be your ticket for that next social outfit. Check out the store that works for you and grab some friends for some ultimate Macklemore-style thrift shopping.
Indigo Avenue / This is my go-to shop right off campus and all-time favorite. A consignment store located across from the Tuckahoe Village shopping center, Indigo Avenue offers a variety of gently used women's clothing. Lots of brands -- from Anthropologie, to Free People, to Frye and more -- can be found here.
Looking for a great place to consign? Search no further, because Indigo Avenue makes it easy to become a vendor. Get a monthly check for any items that sell and use it toward store credit or more shopping funds!
Finicky Fox / The prep student's dream: Finicky Fox is located in Gayton Crossing and has been outfitting Richmond for over seven years. The small shop offers a wide selection of brands oriented toward the New England Prep style. J. Crew, Ann Taylor and Lilly Pulitzer are just a few of the many treasured brands that this store offers.
Clementine / Operating in the heart of Carytown, Clementine, along with its sister shops Clover and Ashby, gives a vibrant display of posh brands that make the perfect statement on campus any time of the year. Living on a college budget can be tough, but Clementine's prices on brands such as Barbour, Burberry, Kate Spade and Tory Burch make it easy to shop on a budget.
Ashby / Known and loved by many students at the University of Richmond, Ashby has a mix of local Richmond maker pop-ups and consigned clothing. Everything from statement jewelry to shoes to clothes can be found in this indy-themed store. Reasonably priced and gently worn clothing can stock closets with the newest trends for men and women.
Buffalo Exchange / Offering the largest variety of clothing and brands in Carytown, Buffalo Exchange just opened its doors in Richmond this fall. Don't be overwhelmed by the selection, though -- every rack is categorized by style or type of clothing. Check out its newest trade-ins for your next winter wardrobe piece.
Okay, but seriously, this place is one of my favorites. Similar to Ashby, Uptown Cheapskate has a variety of new and used jewelry, shoes and clothes. With options for men and women, the store is a sure seller for anyone.
Want cash up-front? Yep, they'll offer you that, too. Bring in any gently used clothes from brands such as lululemon, Nike, Free People, American Eagle, Urban Outfitters and more and get cash in exchange for your wares. The best part? You can shop while you wait!
Goodwill / Ah, yes. Almost every town has one, and it's become the thrift-shopping hub. You name it. Goodwill probably has it.
You know the drill. Each rack is organized by clothing type and laid out in a beautiful array of seasonal variety. With great prices and staple closet items, Goodwill will almost never let you down.
Pro tip: Check out its selection of Levi's jeans for all of your DIY distressing needs.
Hopefully, this list will spark a weekend adventure. Make it a day, shop around Carytown and eat a meal at one of its many restaurants. Or, head out to Short Pump and hit up the mall after stopping by those consignment-deal stores.
Maybe you'll even discover the dream piece you've been searching for.
Contact senior lifestyle writer Emma Phelps at emma.phelps@richmond.edu.


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Recursos Técnicos - Notas de Aplicación
Detection and Automated Imaging of Regions of Interest (ROIs) when Performing Whole Slide Imaging (WSI)
Related Products: Lector Multi-Modal y de Captura de Imágenes Celulares Cytation 7
Related Sample File: Prostate tissue array H and E multiple ROIs
Author: Peter J. Brescia, Applications Scientist, Applications Department, BioTek Instruments, Inc., Winooski, VT
In today's research and clinical environments, there is a movement towards Whole Slide Imaging (WSI) as a means to transform physical specimens mounted on traditional microscopy slides or various sample vessels into a digital medium. Once digitized, the data can then be easily stored as a shared resource for a variety of purposes including pathology, diagnostics, and as scientific research and educational tools. The digital format is amenable to analysis using both traditional human methods as well as increasingly powerful computational algorithms. Augmented microscopy allows for the development of streamlined methods to locate Regions of Interest (ROIs) on a slide, within a microplate well or within a given sample. Once ROIs are selected, automated image acquisition is performed using a range of available imaging methods and subsequent automated image analysis, as required.
Since the development of the first instruments to visualize microscopic objects by Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th century, efforts have been focused on improved methods to capture and analyze those objects1. While the first images consisted of hand drawings, some of which were quite elaborately detailed, in the latter half of the 20th century technological advancements allowed for digital imaging and subsequent computerized methods of analysis2. Sample variety spans the diverse biological and physical universe including tissue acquired in clinical settings for diagnosis, samples in basic research initiatives across disciplines and organizations and those suitable for educational and/or collaborative purposes3. Analyses include quantification of a range of observable parameters such as object counting and quantification of object size as well as more challenging metrics such as area, pixel intensity and subpopulation analysis of objects in multi-channel fluorescent images. Furthermore, digital images provide a means to standardize and automate analysis of some of the information present in a more precise, reproducible, and objective manner compared to traditional human analysis2.
Around the turn of the century the emerging focus on whole-slide imaging (WSI) of glass slides began to receive broader acceptance with improvements in rapid image acquisition and data management solutions4. Much of the driving force for this development was digitization of traditional histology slides that can be viewed via a computer monitor or mobile device for clinical pathology2. In particular, relieving the burden of routine image analysis of standard screening would significantly increase sample throughput3. However, the applications are very broad for such technology, having merits in academic research, pharmaceutical drug discovery and development programs as well as for biotechnology companies. The objective is to simplify the workflow by quickly identifying regions of interest (ROIs) using a low-magnification optical path followed by image acquisition of the selected region at a higher magnification.
The ROI feature can be useful for scanning a slide containing one or more tissue sections in color brightfield (CBF), for example H&E stained histological tissue sections or biopsy cores. The usefulness is extended by scanning fluorescently labeled tissue section(s) and imaging those ROIs using one or more channels at higher magnification such as for the assessment and quantification of biomarkers4. Additionally, more traditional imaging modes such as CBF, brightfield, and phase contrast can be combined with fluorescent channels resulting in rich data set. Provided here are two examples of the use of a combination upright and inverted automated image acquisition system for performing WSI employing ROIs where applicable.
Figure 1. Whole Slide Imaging (WSI). Upright camera and optics can quickly image a large number of samples mounted on a single glass slide at low magnification. Regions of interest (ROIs) are identified and subsequently imaged at higher magnification for analysis.
Cytation™ 7 Cell Imaging Multi-Mode Reader combines automated digital upright and inverted widefield microscopy with conventional multi-mode microplate reading in a unique, patented design. The inverted microscopy module provides sample visualization from 1.25x to 60x magnification in fluorescence, brightfield and color brightfield for a broad range of applications. The upright microscopy module with reflected light imaging enables even more applications such as ELISpot or fast slide scanning and ROI detection workflows. Cytation 7 includes continually variable bandpass monochromators for versatility and performance for general multi-mode plate reader applications. Temperature control to 45 °C, optional Peltier Cooling Module, gas control and shaking expand the applications for kinetic cell based assays. Cytation 7 is controlled by Gen5™ software, which combines ease-of-use with powerful processing and analysis capabilities.
Figure 2. Cytation 7. Upright and inverted microscopes provide wide range of magnifications (1.25x-60x). The upright, low magnification optical path is used for Whole Slide Imaging (WSI). The inverted microscope is then used to image Regions of Interest (ROIs) at higher magnification using a variety of imaging methods (i.e., phase contrast, epifluorescence, color brightfield, etc.).
Stomach tissue, H&E stained (Carolina Biol. Supply Co., Burlington, NC, USA). Human Prostate Tissue MicroArray, H&E stained (Cancer) PN: NBP2-30169 (Novus Biologicals Europe, Abingdon, UK). WSI of the stomach tissue was performed at 2x magnification, 4x4 montage, using transmitted color brightfield via the upright digital microscope in the Cytation™ 7 to visualize and select ROIs. Three ROIs were selected and imaged at 10x magnification in color brightfield via the inverted WFOV digital microscope. WSI of the microarray was performed at 2x magnification, 3x5 montage, using transmitted color brightfield via the upright digital microscope to visualize and select ROIs. Fifty ROIs were selected and imaged at 10x magnification in color brightfield via the inverted WFOV microscope.
Human Prostate Tissue MicroArray
A microarray of prostate tissue cores containing 40 adenocarcinoma samples, with histologic grades (Gleason scores) ranging from 6-10, and 9 matching normal tissue samples, from patients between the ages of 44 and 75 years old, were H&E stained for imaging. Sample cores are 2.0 mm in diameter with a section thickness of 4 μm arranged in a 5x10 matrix. Initial WSI was performed using the parameters listed in Table 1 generating a single large, low-resolution image of an area slightly larger than that containing the tissue cores. ROIs were selected for each core to minimize imaging of the background area. The ROIs were subsequently imaged at 10x magnification using the parameters listed in Table 1 resulting in 50 unique sets of tiled images (3x3 montage) for each sample core; 49 prostate tissue samples and one carbon location marker. The images were processed into a single image using automated image stitching resulting in 50 individual images for future analysis and archiving (Figure 3).
Table 1. Cytation 7 imaging settings.
Figure 3. Human Prostate Tissue MicroArray. (A.) Low-resolution image of microarray, (B.) representative image of a 3x3 stitched montage of a prostate adenocarcinoma using WFOV camera at 10x magnification and (C.) representative image of normal matched prostate tissue as describe above.
Mammalian Stomach Tissue: Cardiac, Fundic and Pyloric Regions
Three sample tissue sections representing the cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions of the stomach with a section thickness of ~4 μm arranged under a 18 mm, circular coverslip were imaged. Initial WSI was performed using the parameters listed in Table 1 generating a single large, low-resolution image of an area slightly larger than the coverslip. ROIs for each tissue section were selected to minimize background area and imaged at higher resolution using the parameters listed in Table 1 resulting in three unique sets of tiled images (3x6, 2x4, and 3x7 montages) for cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions, respectively. Tiled images were stitched into single images using automated image stitching resulting in three individual images for future analysis and archiving (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Mammalian Stomach: Cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions. (A.) Low-resolution image of tissue samples, (B.) selection of ROIs, (C.) stitched image of ROI at 10x magnification and (D.) zoomed area representative of high-resolution stitched image.
The ability to capture images digitally has led to a paradigm shift resulting in simplified workflows and sharing for diagnostics, education, and basic scientific research. Automated imaging solutions have further expanded the capabilities by offering rapid whole slide imaging (WSI) or other various vessel types to determine regions of interest (ROIs) for subsequent higher resolution imaging and analysis. Additionally, the inclusion of multiple imaging modes such as color-brightfield, phase constrast and epifluorescence microscopy greatly expands the breadth of possible applications. Two examples shown here - imaging of prostate tissue cores and stomach tissue sections in color-brightfield - show the ability to rapidly image entire vessel surfaces at low resolution, select only those regions of interest, and capture highresolution images of the ROIs using automated imaging methods.
This results in a powerful system, that when coupled with image-based computational analysis tools, provides a viable solution to increase sample throughput.
Meijer GA, Beliën JA, van Diest PJ, Baak JP. Origins of… image analysis in clinical pathology. J Clin Pathol. 1997;50:365–70.
Aeffner, Famke; Zarella, Mark D.; Buchbinder, Nathan; Bui, Marilyn M.; Goodman, Matthew R.; Hartman, Douglas J. et al. (2019): Introduction to Digital Image Analysis in Whole-slide Imaging: A White Paper from the Digital Pathology Association. In Journal of Pathology Informatics 10. DOI: 10.4103/jpi.jpi_82_18.
Gurcan, Metin N.; Boucheron, Laura E.; Can, Ali; Madabhushi, Anant; Rajpoot, Nasir M.; Yener, B. (2009): Histopathological image analysis: a review. In IEEE reviews in biomedical engineering 2, pp. 147–171. DOI: 10.1109/RBME.2009.2034865.
Zarella, Mark D.; Douglas Bowman; Famke Aeffner; Navid Farahani; Albert Xthona; Syeda Fatima Absar et al. (2019): A Practical Guide to Whole Slide Imaging. A White Paper From the Digital Pathology Association. In Arch Pathol Lab Med 143, pp. 222–234.
AN051420_06


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HomeNewsIt's time to pass gender bill – Senator Olujimi
It's time to pass gender bill – Senator Olujimi
Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP – Ekiti South) on Thursday, said it is time to pass the Gender and Equitable Opportunities Bill 2022, as the 2023 general election approaches.
She stated this at a one-day Policy Dialogue on "Gender and Equitable Opportunities Bills: Challenges, Prospects and Way Forward" held in Abuja on Thursday.
She said that addressing the issues in the bill and the subsequent passage before the election would ensure active participation of women.
"The elections are very close and that is why I believe if we can tidy up as soon as possible we can take a second reading as soon as possible and leave the third reading to after the elections have taken place in March.
"Between March and May, we have that window and then we can lobby and get it passed. I believe the time to pass the gender bill is now. It has lingered too long," she said.
Giving the history of the bill in the Senate which had failed passage five times, the lawmaker said the contentious issues in the bill made her reintroduce the bill in the 9th Senate.
"The bill was named Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill in Nigeria but renamed 'Gender and Equitable Opportunities Bill 2022'.
"With the renaming, we have removed the seemingly contentious issues. The contentious issues included the word equality which we have changed to equitable.
"The time has come for men to take up the bill as their own, they need to make it a bye-in."
Olujimi, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, noted that 51.2 per cent of the population which were women could not be shut out.
"Women are shut out and we are sitting believing it is well. It cannot be well except that portion of the society is taken care of.
"This bill has suffered greatly in the national assembly. It suffered three assemblies; and it is struggling in this fourth. And the reason is simple. It is only because it is based on gender.
"If it was a general thing, it wouldn't have been so difficult."
She urged the members of the national assembly to give women a chance "to put a foot in the door.
"Why have we never had a 10 per cent participation in the national assembly?
"We must be able to set the pace, we must have a law that is binding so that when I want to contest, someone will not say you are a woman," NAN quoted her as saying.


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Cloverleaf's Sarasa Sivapatham shots past Norton's Bailey Shutsa during the first half.
Cloverleaf's Maddie Boltz (22) and Jenna Oliver battle Norton's Kaylee Murawski for a rebound during the first half.
WESTFIELD TWP. — The margin between first-place Norton and the Cloverleaf girls basketball team on Wednesday was razor thin.
While the Panthers walked out with a 47-46 Portage Trail Conference Metro Division victory, they did so knowing the Colts gave them everything they wanted.
Leading at intermission and at the end of three quarters, Cloverleaf (8-7, 6-3) certainly played the part of PTC spoiler before experience and want-to by Norton (12-3, 9-0) won out.
The Colts survived a disastrous first quarter where they gave up a 15-1 run and turned the ball over 11 times. They even took the lead on a basket by Cam Tripp (8 points) before the break after going on a 20-6 run of their own.
"We've been in a funk and we knew we had to come out big for this game," said Cloverleaf center Mckenna Jordan, who had 14 points and 15 rebounds. "We grinded it out and decided, 'No, we're not going to lose. We're going to compete,' and we did. We came out strong and battled until 0.8 seconds.
With four senior starters in its lineup, Norton showed just a bit more patience in the end.
Down 38-34 with 5:55 remaining, the Panthers went on an 11-2 run to take a five-point lead with 1:19 remaining.
Hosey (15 points, 10 rebounds) led the charge and wound up scoring her 1,000th career point late to keep the Colts at bay.
Up by as many as five down the stretch, the Panthers were able to hold off Cloverleaf to keep a stranglehold on the league race.
That's not to say Cloverleaf didn't have a chance to make things even more interesting down the stretch.
Maddie Boltz (9 points) scored with 13.8 seconds remaining and was fouled with the score 45-44, but missed from the charity stripe.
The Colts shot 7-for-17 from the line or things could have been even tighter, though Norton was just 12-for-29. In the fourth quarter, Cloverleaf was 0-for-4 and the Panthers were 7-for-14.
The Norton junior varsity beat Cloverleaf 46-33. Brenna Holliday and Laurell Brown paced the Colts with nine points apiece.
Norton— Madison Burns 2-0-4, Kelsey Hosey 5-5-15, Nicole Lester 2-0-4, Bailey Shutsa 2-1-6, Bryana Housley 3-0-6, Kaylee Murawski 3-2-8, Logan Favor 0-4-4, Kylie Lewis 0-0-0, Samantha Bucha 0-0-0, Riley Ballinger 0-0-0, Gabriella Destefano 0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-12-47.
Cloverleaf — Maddie Boltz 4-0-9, Tori Smith 4-0-8, Jenna Oliver 3-1-7, Mckenna Jordan 6-2-14, Cam Tripp 2-4-8, Bailey Freeland 0-0-0, Sarasa Sivapatham 0-0-0, Meagan Scheck 0-0-0. TOTALS: 19-7-46.
3-point goals— Shutsa, Boltz, Rebounds— Norton 35 (Hosey 10), Cloverleaf 38 (Jordan 15). Assists— Norton 12 (Housley 6), Cloverleaf 10 (Oliver 5). Records— Norton (12-3, 9-0) Cloverleaf (8-7, 6-3). Juniorvarsity— Norton 46, Cloverleaf 33.


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Aides to the senators wait in the hall as Thursday's meeting takes place.
We're covering breaking news on Capitol Hill tonight. The Senate still has to vote on Pres. Obama's stimulus plan. There was talk of an all-nighter. But we're told that's no longer the plan. So, what's the hang-up? We'll have the new details from CNN's Dana Bash and Ed Henry.
Just moments ago, Pres. Obama spoke at a retreat for House Democrats in Virginia. He called on the Senate to pass the stimulus plan. It felt like a campaign speech, a campaign to get the deal done. We'll play the passionate plea for you.
There's also new fallout over Michael Phelps' bong hit seen around the world. One endorsement deal has gone up in smoke. And, the Olympic hero has been suspended from competitive swimming for three months.
Do you agree with the punishment?
And, could there be a change soon at the Supreme Court? Justice Ruth Bader Gisburg is hospitalized tonight after undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer. Will she step down? And, if so, who might be her replacement.
We'll have these stories and more tonight on AC 360°.
Editor's Note: Lenny McAllister shares his insight on the political issues at http://www.lennymcallister.com and is a member of the North Carolina Republican Party Executive Committee.
Last night, my Young Republican Meeting was abuzz about Michael Steele's historic victory as the first African-American chairman of the Republican National Committee.
In Charlotte, our 70 member group of 18-40 year-olds is like the hundreds of other YR groups around the country. Unlike traditional Republicans, we tend to view race issues very differently. Unfortunately, we are not as diverse as we would like to be - at least not yet. We know that we have to change that , and we want to change that.
A small band of masked intruders has broken into the secure White House grounds and has evaded capture by agents of the new Obama administration, officials said today.
The National Park Service is in pursuit of one very large raccoon and several medium-sized raccoons, who have been spotted roaming the grounds around the Executive Mansion and the West Wing, a spokesman said.
"The idea of raccoons on the White House grounds give us great pause," spokesman Bill Burton said.
So far, the raccoons have evaded capture despite the presence of several "live traps," which are essentially cages with a one-way doors to keep the animals inside.
The traps are baited with apples, cat food and peanut butter, Burton said, but so far to little avail.
None of the raccoons have been seen in the past week, but officials said they still believe the wild animals are roaming the premises. The hunt continues, Burton said.
If the animals are captured, Burton said, the National Park Service will release them, unharmed, into an unspecified wooded area.
President Obama moved Wednesday to rein in the pay of executives whose companies get taxpayer bailout money - putting a $500,000 cap on annual compensation, limiting "golden parachutes" to departing bigwigs and requiring corporate boards to adopt policies on luxury expenditures such as lavish entertainment and parties.
Corporate watchdogs applauded the intent of the new measures, but compensation experts cautioned that abundant loopholes - and crafty lawyers - could undermine any lasting effect.
"You're pitting a group of government bureaucrats against compensation consultants and lawyers who are paid lots of money, and they're pretty damn smart," said Graef Crystal, a former executive compensation consultant who has written six books on the subject. "It's a lot easier to find ways around things like this than it is to invent them in the first place."
Filed under: Bailout Turmoil • Raw Politics • Wall St.
A bipartisan group of senators said Thursday they were going "line by line" through the economic stimulus bill as they try to reach a compromise on an amendment to cut some spending from the package.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, said there is a "backbone" to a deal, but the details were being worked out between the 12 Democrats and five Republicans at the meeting.
"It's been a painstaking, very thorough, very comprehensive process," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Republicans have objected to some provisions in the bill that they say have nothing to do with stimulating the economy.
Collins said she was originally in favor of a bill that would have cost about $650 billion, but after meeting with President Obama, she was convinced of the need for a proposal that would be in the neighborhood of $800 billion.
Obama held a series of one-on-one meetings in the Oval Office on Wednesday with key senators still on the fence.
Collins said she went through some specific programs with the president to see which ones he would be willing to cut.
"But I will tell you, particularly on my side of the aisle, there is a vigorous debate over what the size of the package should be," she said Thursday.
"We don't want a package that is too small because that will end up just wasting money. On the other hand, we're very leery of having an enormous package that would not be necessary and would just boost the federal deficit," Collins said as Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, nodded in agreement.
Watch this video to hear audio from the cockpit of the US Airways plane that landed in New York's Hudson River. The FAA just released new audiotapes of the flight that crash-landed in the river.
Editor's Note: The State Department confirmed that Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns arrived in Moscow on Wednesday and will discuss the use of the Manas military base in Central Asia with Russian officials.
AA U.S. troop guards the main access checkpoint to the Manas Air Base on December 18, 2008.
You might never have heard of it, but there's a tiny, impoverished Muslim country that's been playing a crucial role in America's "war on terror." And now it says it doesn't want to do that any more.
Kyrgyzstan, lodged between China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, says it will close a key U.S. airbase that supports operations in Afghanistan. The country's president says the U.S. base will have to find a home elsewhere.
After the so-called 2005 Tulip Revolution, Kyrgyzstan became known as an islet of democracy in a region that is home to some of the world's most entrenched dictatorships. The largely peaceful protests swept to power a new president who promised to liberalize the press, fight corruption and bring more democracy to Kyrgyzstan.
The lessons of Daschle: Can Obama reboot?
In his book The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama offered a paean to the glories of flying on private jets. He lovingly described his first trip on a Citation X: "The plane took off, its Rolls-Royce engines gripping the air the way a well-made sports car grips the road ... I could see how people might get used to this." The punch line of the story was that Obama's staff asked him to give up the practice, which was legal, because he was the Democrats' Senate point man on ethics reform. "It was the right thing to do, but I won't lie," he admitted. "The first time I was scheduled for a four-city swing ... flying commercial, I felt some pangs of regret." The traffic was awful. His plane to Memphis was late. But then he found himself in an intense conversation about stem-cell research with a man suffering from Parkinson's. "These are the stories you miss, I thought to myself, when you fly on a private jet," he concluded.
President Barack Obama, who has been reversing course on a host of Bush administration policies, Thursday will make a bid to expand and strengthen one of the programs most closely associated with his predecessor.
George W. Bush created the White House faith-based grant program, and Obama intends to keep the same structure. But Obama is going a significant step further, with the creation of a new board of advisers whose recommendations will be woven directly into his policy-making apparatus.
Under Bush, a White House-based program to encourage grants to faith-based social service programs began with high hopes and a barrage of publicity. But over time this Bush hallmark suffered amid complaints from many of its backers that it had become marginalized and used for partisan purposes by White House political aides.
Under Obama, the President's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will allow 25 faith and secular leaders to provide regular input on policy and to advise the White House faith office, which is tasked with distributing grants. Obama is slated to announce the council Thursday and meet privately with members at the White House.
The council will pull together an evangelical megachurch pastor, a Reform rabbi, a former Southern Baptist Convention president and the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The membership is intended to cross the political and religious spectrum, fulfilling Obama's promise to run an inclusive administration. But with the diversity could come conflict.


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A New Westeros
Rhaenys Baratheon May 17
So, 99% of this season sucked. 8x02 remains the only good thing to happen to this season. And I've decided to rewrite season 7 and 8. Why? Because this season might be the worst thing to happen to me, and I've been stabbed before.
I actually kept some things from the season that I didn't mind so much. I'm sure you'll notice.
>>Season Seven<<
A Dragon on Foreign Soil
>>Riverlands<<
Disguised as Walder Frey, Arya poisons all the Frey Bannerman at the feast she throws for them. Finally taking revenge for the Red Wedding. She leaves all the women alive to spread the word that "the North remembers". She then leaves the Riverlands, heading towards King's Landing to murder Cersei. She sees a group of Lannister soldiers but covers her face and continues on the road, not wanting to risk a fight.
Sandor and what remains of the Brotherhood without Banners take shelter in an old farm that Sandor had once robbed. Thoros has a vision of the White Walkers advancing towards the wall, searching for something but he doesn't know what and Beric admits he doesn't know why he keeps being resurrected. That night, Sandor buries the bodies of the farmer and his daughter instead of leaving them inside to rot.
>>Beyond the Wall<<
Bran and Meera continue traveling towards the wall. Meera is torn up over the death of Summer, Hodor and Leaf but continues to pull Bran along. Once they get to the wall, Bran uses his three-eyed raven powers and his relation to Jon Snow to convince Edd to allow them back through the wall.
>>Winterfell<<
Despite Sansa trying to convince him to take the Karstark and Umber castles, Jon forgives the youngest members of the families once they swear their loyalty to him. Jon notices the creepy way Littlefinger stares at Sansa. Jon gives Tormund and the wildlings the task of manning East-Watch-by-the-Sea. He also tasks all Northerners to start training their men, women and children to fight. They receive a message from Cersei, demanding the North's loyalty, but Jon doesn't put much stock into it since winter has come and he doesn't think Cersei would send her army. Sansa warns him not to underestimate Cersei. Littlefinger keeps trying to get closer to Sansa and Brienne takes notice.
>>King's Landing<<
Cersei is angered when Jon doesn't bend the knee to her since she knows Daenerys Targaryen is already on her way to Westeros, leaving her with two powerful enemies and not a lot of allies. Euron Greyjoy arrives with the Iron Fleet and a question for alliance and marriage. Cersei denies him but Euron promises to return with something that will change her mind.
>>Oldtown<<
Sam continues serving the Maesters on his journey to becoming one himself. While tending to the patients, he runs across Jorah Mormont who asks if Daenerys has arrived in Westeros yet. Sam doesn't know but makes sure to stop by and check on Jorah more often since he feels like he owes it to Jorah's father.
>>Dragonstone<<
Daenerys finally arrives in Westeros. Landing in Dragonstone- the place where she was born. She and her advisors enter the castle and her soldiers check to make sure there are no threats. Tyrion watches her dragons fly from the war council rooms window.
While meeting with her war counsel, Dany questions Varys' constantly shifting loyalty, while he reassures her that he only does what he thinks is best for the common people, Dany is still weary of him. She tells him that if he ever feels she is betraying the people, she should tell him, but if he betrays her that she will execute him. Yara Greyjoy and Ellaria Sand both want to launch an offensive against King's Landing, but Dany doesn't want to destroy the people or city. Tyrion suggests her armies take Casterly Rock while the Westerosi armies siege King's Landing, Olenna Tyrell tells her to ignore Tyrion and be a dragon. Dany takes Olenna's advice and entrusts the siege of King's Landing to the Unsullied, Martells and Greyjoy's- leaving the Dothraki to defend Highgarden and her dragons to patrol the waters of King's Landing and keep any supplies from reaching the city.
Maester Ebrose tells Jorah that his greyscale is too advanced to treat and that he has a maximum of six months until the greyscale kills him, that or suicide, which would be preferable to a slow greyscale death. Sam doesn't accept the diagnosis and searches for an alternative antidote. He comes across a complicated procedure that could cure Jorah, but when he shows it to Ebrose he's denied from performing it because it could cause the greyscale to infect him it as well. Sam decides to take the risk and performs the painful procedure on Jorah in secret.
Jon slowly realizes that a King has more to do than just give orders and plan battles when the grain stores are brought up. Jon seeks Sansa's council on how to deal with the problem, which she gives. They have all the Lords deliver their grain stores to Winterfell since snow could stop any supplies from coming in. Jon warns Littlefinger away from Sansa, threatening to kill him if he so much as lays a finger on his sister. Jon talks to Davos about finding things to fight the coming dead, including weapons. He sends a raven to Sam, asking him to look through the Maesters archives for anything.
Arya stops in an inn to grab some food before continuing towards King's Landing. While there she runs across her old friend Hot Pie. He gives her a pie and asks what she's been doing all these years. She tells him she's been in Essos, traveling. Hot Pie tells her he's been cooking at the inn and figured out a new pie crust recipe, he asks her what happened to Gendry since the last time he saw her- they were together. Arya tells him they were separated and that she thinks he's dead. Hot Pie tells her he's sorry and Arya nods, before Arya can leave he asks if she's going to Winterfell because her brother is the King. Arya turns and heads North instead of South. On the road to Winterfell she runs across a wolf pack lead by Nymeria and begs her to come home with her. Nymeria says goodbye to the other wolves and follows after Arya.
Cersei appeals to lords for support against Dany, including some of House Tyrell's bannermen, portraying Dany as a dangerous foreign invader coming to kill everyone. Jaime offers to make Randyll Tarly Warden of the South if he joins them. Qyburn demonstrates a new weapon - a scorpion- for Cersei; its bolt pierces the skull of Balerion.
>>Narrow Sea<<
Euron attacks Yara's navy. Euron kills Obara and Nymeria while his men abduct Ellaria and Tyene Sand. Euron then takes Yara as his prisoner. Theon, triggered by the violence from his time with the Bolton's, jumps overboard, abandoning Yara in Euron's hands.
One of the remaining ships from Yara's fleet fishes Theon out of the water. When he claims to have tried to save Yara, they don't believe him, saying he would be dead if he had tried to save Yara. Theon urges them to head back to Dragonstone so he can tell Dany what happened with her allies and find a way to save Yara.
Euron drags Ellaria, Tyene, and Yara through abusive crowds in the streets of King's Landing who scream obscurities at them. He gifts the Sands to Cersei for the death of her daughter, who accepts his alliance and promises to marry him when the war is won. In penance for killing Myrcella, Ellaria and Tyene are bound and gagged in the dungeon. Cersei kisses Tyene with the Long Farewell and tells Ellaria she will be kept alive to watch her daughter die and decompose. The Iron Bank comes to collect the Lannisters' loans. Cersei uses Daenerys' arrival as a possible investment, and secures a fortnight to pay the debt.
Ebrose proclaims that Jorah is healed of greyscale and releases him from the citadel. Jorah plans to return to Daenerys and thanks Sam for all his hard work in healing him. They shake hands, the first time Jorah has touched another person in a long while. Jorah leaves, heading back towards Dany.
>>Highgarden<<
Expecting Tyrion to have attacked Casterly Rock, Jaime takes the Tarley's and Lannister forces to Highgarden. They're shocked to find the Dothraki forces surrounding Highgarden. Olenna sends a raven to Dragonstone to inform her of the Lannister movements in the Reach.
Dany is discouraged and angry to discover that her Dornish and Ironborn allies have been murdered captured. She's angry that Tyrion couldn't predict the Greyjoy attack before it happened since it's his job to know the enemy and give her an upper hand to win. She continues to question him after receiving Olenna's raven, Dany is grateful to have listened to Olenna and kept the Dothraki on Reach soil.
Sansa and Jon are still preparing the supplies for winter, competently managing to run the North. Littlefinger continues to try and manipulate Sansa, telling her to "fight every battle, everywhere, all the time" so she'll always know what to expect. Bran and Meera arrive, Sansa and Jon are reunited with Bran. Later, the three of them sit in the Godswood. Jon and Sansa are confused by Bran the Three-Eyed Raven, and Sansa is disturbed by his knowledge of her suffering. After she leaves, Jon chastises Bran on bringing up painful memories for their sister. Bran tells him that Dany has landed in Westeros and that they'll need her for the coming war with the Night King.
Highgarden
Olenna sits in her study, drinking wine and watching from the window as the Dothraki and Lannister forces meet. We continue to flash between the battlefield and Olenna alone, it shows the stillness that has fallen over Highgarden since the death of her family. The fighting continues, a maid escorts a Tyrell Captain into her study- he tells her that the Dothraki have captured more than three dozen men, but that Jaime Lannister has managed to escape with a few men. Olenna orders some of the men to continue searching for Jaime before finally pulling out a scroll and beginning to write to Daenerys, telling her that House Tyrell is still standing and loyal to the queen and that the Dothraki have defeated the Lannister army. She also mentions that they found a strange weapon that seems to have been built to kill a dragon.
Cersei is staring out the window of her room, watching the city. Qyburn enters and she asks him what he's found. He tells her that they've started mass producing the scorpions and positioning them of the walls of the city, he also says that he's discovered a new loan they can take out from the Iron Bank that would allow them to employ the Golden Company of Essos. Cersei says Qyburn should enlist Euron to ferry the sellswords across the Narrow Sea, then she asks if there's any word on Highgarden. Qyburn tells her no ravens have been received.
Gendry is working at the forge when he hears two men on the street talking about the new King in the North. He asks if the Bolton's have turned against the Lannisters and both men laugh before telling him that all the Boltons are dead- Jon Snow took back Winterfell with an army of Northmen and Wildlings and was named King in the North. Gendry returns to his forge, shoves some things into a bag and grabs his warhammer. He takes one look back into the forge before heading towards the gates of King's Landing.
Littlefinger is sitting with Bran in Bran's rooms, he gives Bran the Valyrian steel dagger that almost murdered him when he was in a coma. Bran accepts the knife but doesn't give Petyr any information about what he's done away from Winterfell, unnerving Littlefinger by repeating 'chaos is a ladder'. Littlefinger leaves the room and Meera enters. She tells him that she's going to leave Winterfell to ready her family and their men for the fight coming. Bran takes her hand and tells her he's grateful for all she's done and all the sacrifices she's made to protect him and get him home again. They hug and Meera tells him that she'll be back to protect the realm from the Others when the time comes. Once she leaves, Bran stares into the fire, his fingers playing on the edge of knife.
Arya arrives in Winterfell. She's stopped by the guards who don't believe she lives there, Arya tells them that if they don't get out of the way, she'll move them and they won't like how. Jon, having heard the commotion comes to the gate, when he sees Arya he shoulders his way past the guards and picks her up. She holds onto him tightly and, for the first time in years, she feels tears on her face. Jon pulls away from her, holding her face in his hands and kissing her forehead. He pulls her inside, finding Sansa and Bran eating breakfast in the main hall. Sansa and Arya hug and Jon rolls Bran out from behind the table, Arya dropping to her knees to hug him tightly. Later, Brienne and Podrick are sparring and Arya comes into the yard, asking to fight Brienne. Jon and Sansa are watching from the closed in balcony. The two of them fight to a drawl and Jon claps slowly, reminiscent of Ned.
Theon arrives in Dragonstone. He tells Dany what happened and that he wants to take his leave to save his sister. Dany tells him that the siege of King's Landing is going according to plan. Her soldiers aren't allowing anyone into the city, her dragons are destroying any supply ships coming through and it's close to impossible to leave the city and if he were to try and save Yara, he would certainly be killed by Cersei. Tyrion tells her the Martell forces, led by the remaining Sand Snakes, want to invade the city to save Ellaria and Tyene. Dany tells him to keep holding the lines until she's sure the city can be taken with limited casualties. Varys tells her there's a large group of common people trying to leave the city and she should allow them safe passage through her army. Dany agrees, sending a raven to Grey Worm to let the civilians through without harming them in any way.
>>On the Roseroad<<
Jaime, Bronn, and a handful of Lannister soldiers are hiding from the patrolling Dothraki and Tyrell men. Bronn is angry because, as he tells Jaime, if he dies without getting paid, he's going to rise out of the grave and kill Jaime again. They continue traveling through the Reach, hoping to make it to King's Landing without being discovered.
Valar Morghulis
The captured Lannister and Tarley men are put into cells, until the war is over and Dany decides what to do with them all. Randyll Tarley is brought to Olenna, she tells him to bend the knee to Dany and keep his House from going extinct, like hers. Olenna knows they offered the Tarley's the South and asks him if it was worth it. "They killed my son, they killed my granddaughter and my grandson. All I have left is the weight of my House. But you, Lord Tarley, you have your family. Why risk them for this betrayal?" They speak and Olenna can tell that Randyll isn't going to change his mind about being loyal to Cersei, she sends him back to the dungeon and brings back Dickon. She tells him that if he bends the knee to Dany, she'll arrange his marriage to one of her granddaughters and he'll be the Warden of the South after she's passed. Dickon says he wants the lives of his father and family ensured before he agrees to anything. Olenna nods.
Bran is using his powers to watch the Night King and his army as they continue to search for something. He tries to discover what they're searching for but there's an odd magical energy blocking him from finding out. When he awakens, Bran tells Jon and Arya they should send ravens to every Lord in Westeros to warn them and ask for their men in defending the realm. While Jon goes to the maester, Arya goes looking for Sansa. She finds her sister and Littlefinger talking quietly in a corner, when she's spotted Petyr quickly excuses himself and Arya questions Sansa why she's keeping Baelish around. Sansa tells her it's for the Vale, but Arya doesn't accept it as a valid reason, "There's something else going on, something that he's planning, and I'm going to find out what."
Ebrose receives Bran's raven and discusses the message with other Archmaesters. Sam interrupts to vouch for Bran, and asks the Archmaesters to use the Citadel's authority to prepare Westeros for war against the undead. Archmaester Ebrose decides the matter needs further study and assigns Sam to continue transcribing old diaries. Sam continues looking for answers to the Others problem, he finds an entry about a large cash of dragonglass under Dragonstone. He sends Jon a raven.
Dany is pleased to learn about her armies victories and the continued success of her siege on King's Landing. She receives three ravens- one from the King in the North, and one from Olenna. She and Tyrion discuss Jon's story of 'dead men' and 'Night Kings', Tyrion says she should form an alliance with Jon and the North, since she will be the only Queen soon. She tells him to send a raven to Jon, letting him know that she'll consider his request for help against his dead men. She thinks Olenna's idea of marrying the Tyrells and Tarley's is a sound idea as long as they remain loyal to the crown. Jorah arrives to Dragonstone and is reunited with Dany, swearing his loyalty to her. The last scene is of Dany, reading the last scroll and smiling before she calls for Theon to be called into her study.
Jaime returns to Cersei via the smuggler tunnels and declares the war unwinnable for the Lannisters. That without her dragons and only her Dothraki and Tyrell allies, she beat the Lannister and Tarley forces. Cersei tells him it's his fault for losing the Reach and their army for underestimating the Dragon Queen and their dwarf brother. She leaves Jaime standing on the map of Westeros, meeting with Qyburn about their food stores falling shorter and shorter everyday. Qyburn tells her they'll only be able to feed the people for another month at most because all their shipments are intercepted by the dragon. She asked when the Golden Company will be arriving with Euron and he tells her it'll be another half a month.
>>King's Road<<
Gendry is traveling up the road towards Winterfell, carried on an old horse. He's barely sleeping, traveling through the day and most of the night. He reaches an inn and decides to use the last of his money for some bread and cheese for the road. He's shocked to find Hot Pie there, they talk about what they've been doing since they were apart and Hot Pie tells him Arya will be very happy to see him again. Gendry quickly packs up the new supplies, which Hot Pie only took half the money for, and rides faster towards Winterfell.
Arya, Brienne, and Jon meet to discuss Littlefinger in the Godswood. All three of them convinced they have to get rid of him to protect the North and Sansa. Jon says they should arrest him and hold a proper trial once the dead have been dealt with, Arya thinks they should just kill him and Brienne thinks arresting him is a good idea but waiting until the defeat the dead is a mistake. Jon and Brienne are called away by Davos on other business and Bran is pushed into the Godswood by Sansa, he tells Arya and Sansa that Petyr has more crimes that they don't know of. He tells them it's too dangerous to keep him prisoner because he always finds a way to get out of trouble. The scene ends with Arya and Sansa sitting next to each other, leaning on the Heart-tree as Nymeria sits by Bran's wheelchair.
Littlefinger watches Sansa, Arya and Bran in the Godswood. Trying to overhear what they're saying but every time he tries to come closer, Nymeria growls and glares around the Godswood. He walks out of the woods, making his way to Sansa's rooms, waiting for her to return. When she does, he questions her about Arya. Sansa tells him that Arya is planning on betraying him but that she's on his side and will protect him. Petyr says that she and Jon should confront her about plotting against the Lord Protector of the Vale, because that's what honour demands.
A lonely horse comes through the gates, Arya and Bran are coming back into the castle from the Godswood when Arya spots the man on the horse. He's older, taller, but undeniably her childhood best friend. She waves the guards aside and takes him inside with Bran. While she goes to get him something from the kitchen, Bran introduces himself and thanks him for protecting his sister. Gendry is a little weirded out but accepts his thanks with an awkward nod. Arya comes back with his food, he thanks her and they sit silently while he eats.
The Golden Company is arriving with Euron's fleet. They're prepared for a fight but no one shows up to attack them and they make it into King's Landing without problem. Cersei, Jaime and Qyburn are watching the ships unload the men and horses and she's drinking wine, asking him how many men there are. Qyburn says twenty-two thousand. The scene changes to show all the men getting off the ships, a pair of boots lands on the dock and the screen travels up to reveal the smirking face of Daario Naharis.
Jaime watches Euron and Cersei as they discuss their upcoming marriage. He stares down at his hands, eyes flickering between the golden hand and the flesh and blood. When Euron leaves Qyburn and Cersei alone, Cersei brings up the wildfire catches underneath the city. Jaime's hand grips onto the hilt of his sword and he turns away from Cersei and Qyburn as they discuss.
Outside of the city gates, Dany and the last of her forces arrive. She asks if Cersei has surrendered yet and Grey Worm shakes his head, telling her both of the men sent to ask for her surrender have their heads on spikes. Tyrion advices Dany to wait until the people turn on Cersei, like the slaves did in Meereen, but Dany knows Daario and the Second Sons are inside and will be able to help defeat the Lannister forces and Golden Company. She tells Tyrion that she's waited years for her Throne and months for Cersei to surrender. That she's finished being patient. Jorah asks if Tyrion can talk to Cersei and convince her to surrender herself for a trial but Tyrion tells him the only thing Cersei loathes more than Dany is Tyrion. Dany gives the order for Grey Worm to raise the Targaryen flags and begin their march forward.
>>The Iron Islands<<
Theon, what's left of Yara's fleet and Rheagal head to the Iron Islands, to take them back in the name of Dany and Yara, and to keep Euron and Cersei from having anywhere to run to. There are only a few ships at the Islands and they surrender once they see the dragon. They try to name Theon as the liberator of the Islands but he refuses, saying it was all in the name of his Queens- Dany and Yara. Now that the Iron Islands are independent but in an alliance with the mainland.
The Iron Throne
Dany and the army move forward, Dany ordering all of her men to avoid civilian casualties before she mounts Drogon and takes off into the air. She can see the whole city from the air and she sees the devices Olenna was talking about, aiming straight towards her and Viserion. She watches the gates open and the Golden Company and Second Sons come pouring out, the Second Sons behind the Golden Company.
Jaime comes into the throne room to tell Cersei that the army and two dragons have began to march forward and the people are revolting, wanting to get out of the city. Cersei orders the Golden Company to defend the city in front of the walls while the Lannister army protects the streets and the people. Jaime nods and heads out, brushing past Qyburn and several men as they enter the throne room. Jaime makes it down to the commanders and passes on the orders. From the balcony he can see most of the men who visited Cersei slipping from the castle and disappearing in the hectic streets of King's Landing. His brows furrow and he walks back towards the throne room.
Both dragons dive in time to avoid being killed by the first wave of scorpion arrows, but Viserion's torso is scratched by one and he's bleeding. Dany waves him away from the battle and he crashes behind her army with a pitiful screech. The army charges forward and the Second Sons turn on the Golden Company. Dany destroys the scorpion on the gate, using the high sun to dive and destroy them one by one as the men fight below. The Martells are the first ones to crash through the gate, followed shortly by half Unsullied while the Second Sons and the rest continue killing the Golden Company. Dany lands on one of the crushed towers, staring at the Red Keep before glancing down to watch her army sweep through the streets of the city.
Jaime comes into the throne room and asks Cersei who those men were. She turns to him, "What do you think she would do if she found us? What would she do to you, the man who murdered her father, to me, the Queen? I would rather die than let her have the satisfaction of ordering my execution." Jaime stares at her as she turns to watch the city, "Cersei, what did you do?" Qyburn and another man come in, Cersei looks at them and nods her head. Jaime stops them from leaving but Cersei tells him to get out of the way. Jaime notices the smell Qyburn and the man have, the scent that Aerys had. He grips Qyburns robes and turns to Cersei, "wildfire?"
Dany is feeling like she's won when the Lannister soldiers drop their swords and she can see the Second Sons have defeated the Golden Company. In the corner of her eye she sees a spark of green before chunks of the city burst into green flame, building collapsing and people's screams filled the streets. Dany watches, unmoving, as her soldiers try to flee from the city, trying to dodge falling buildings and fire. Lannister men running behind them, innocent people shoving their way as they try to reach the gates. Dany stares on in horror, watching the Red Keep.
After seeing the leaks for the finale, I'm absolutely disgusted and disappointed. Did you guys know that there's a petition up about redoing the entire final season? <- I'm linking it because holy shit, that's a lot of signatures. Anyways, I know this isn't a perfect season, but it was written in a week and I've done my best to keep to the characters and try to tie up loose ends. See you in part two.
Linked Wiki Entries
Lyanna Mormont
Stark Direwolves
𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖞𝖊𝖓
Now that's what we needed! That's what should've happened instead! Great job! :heart: :heart: :sparkles: :sparkles: :sparkles:
2 Reply May 18
Rhaenys Baratheon Author
Благодаря мила :blue_heart: :blue_heart:
Reply to: Rhaenys Stark
Нямам търпение за част 2 :sparkles: :sparkles: :smile: :smile:
Reply to: 𝕼𝖚𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝕿𝖆𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖞𝖊𝖓
Незнам кога обаче ще има част 2 :joy: :joy:
Baella
Dragons deserve more love. Especially like Viserion. They jsut decided to give him to NK.
I love her relationship with her kids in the books, it's the sweetest thing. Wish the show had shown that more

Well I'm happy to see passionate fans. A nice and a resulted work you gave us here. Yet, don't speak for us, please.
Read 2 more replies
Reply to:
You're welcome then! I'm just hoping he publishes one of them soon, because it's been eight years since the last one and that's just too long!
Yes, that's too much :weary:
It's gotten to the point where I'm worried I'll die before I read the canon ending
Nymeria Stark of Dorne
I love this re-write Ally! At one point I wanted some popcorn especially with the Starks reuniting and working as a team to get Little Finger the hell outta here. But what granddaughter was Olenna talking about to marry to Dickon?
In the show, one of the girls that was with Maergery in KL calls Olenna 'nana', I think she was Alle Tyrell, one of margaery's cousins - but she disappeared from the show when the Tyrells ended up murdered. I'd assume they went home with olenna
Got it. Please continue, I wish this is what we got instead of the nonsense they're trying to pass of as good television or story telling. Everyone has tossed their arcs and their words. All the dialogue is gone.
Reply to: Nymeria Stark of Dorne
You're so right and thank you, Nym, that means a lot :heart: I'll be posting season 8 sometime this month but I don't know when
Meyer27 :wolf: :snowflake:
I could only see the whole thing being redone years from now after all the books are done. Would be awesome
Oh definitely, I'd love to see the canon ending instead of D&D poorly written Fanfiction
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The Australian Government National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers. It provides Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.
receive reasonable and necessary funded supports.
The scheme provides access to early intervention for children from birth to age 6 with developmental delay. It will not replace the supports provided by mainstream services including early childhood education and care services under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education (2005).
Children in receipt of a NDIS package will continue to be eligible for departmental inclusion programs available to approved kindergarten services.
It is beneficial for ECEC services to have an understanding of the NDIS and the different support available to children and their families. Watch the latest webinar on Introduction to the NDIS for ECEC services and their staff.
NDIS website – provides advice on Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) partners and Local Area Co-ordinators (LAC), ECEC case studies, information sheets and resources.
NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention approach – outlines the scheme's strategy to provide timely access to early childhood intervention for children who have developmental delay or disability.
2016 Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) conference video clip – watch a short video clip from the ECIA conference that outlines the benefits of early childhood intervention.
The Inclusion Hub – established by Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA) to help understand and navigate the NDIS, the website includes resources that are useful for ECEC educators.
The Early Intervention Indigenous Liaison Officer Program – supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families navigate early intervention and the NDIS.
Queensland Government website – Keep up-to-date with Queensland's preparations and find NDIS resources and events, including subscription to the NDIS update.
NDIS Auslan videos to assist the hearing impaired with the NDIS.


3-month undated planner with beautiful watercolor and geometric pattern in blue. The undated planner gives the option to swap and change throughout the year. Great for using at the office or home.
Also, Includes additional lined and grid pages, plus monthly planning pages.


Imagine having seizures that can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Sometimes you fall to the ground unconscious– staring into space, while your muscles stiffen and twitch.
Lupus Awareness Month, which includes World Lupus Day celebrated on May 10th, was established to spread understanding about lupus, as well as to promote research, measures, and treatments to better handle the disease.
Famous British musician Seal is known for his soulful music, as well as the scars that mark his features. Though many wonder what the cause is, the true culprit is lupus; specifically, discoid lupus erythematosus, a rare form of the condition.


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Stolen is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Simon West and starring Nicolas Cage, Danny Huston, Malin Åkerman, M. C. Gainey, Sami Gayle, Mark Valley and Josh Lucas. The film follows a former thief who has 12 hours to find $10 million and save his daughter from his former partner. It was released in the United States on September 14, 2012.

Plot

In New Orleans, Will Montgomery and Vincent Kinsey are preparing for a heist, aided by Riley, their getaway driver, and Hoyt, a computer security expert. They are watched by FBI agent Tim Harland, who knows that Will and Vincent have been casing a jewelry store for several weeks and plans to arrest them mid-crime.

Will and Vincent break into the neighboring toy store, blowing the adjacent wall. Harland gives them a few minutes before sending his agents into the jewelry store, but Will and Vincent are not there, having instead used the toy store to gain access to a bank. In the vault, Will collects $10 million in wrapped bills and drags away Vincent, who had been eyeing a stack of gold bars. They come across a janitor in a back alley. Vincent attempts to kill the man, but Will stops him, and Vincent accidentally shoots himself in the leg. As their escape van pulls up, Vincent gets in and drives off, leaving Will stranded with the money and the FBI closing fast. After a car chase, Will is cornered in an abandoned building. Agents arrest him but find no evidence of the money.

Eight years later, Will is released from prison. He is taken back to New Orleans by Harland, believing that Will stashed the money before his arrest. He warns that he will be watching Will closely. Will returns to his daughter Alison, finding that she is struggling with abandonment issues. She refuses to let him talk to her, instead handing over a package addressed to him that was left there that morning. She goes off in a taxi, which is shown to have been trailing Will since his release.

Will goes to a nearby bar where Riley is working. As they talk, the package starts to ring. Will finds a cell phone inside, and the caller reveals himself as Vincent, the driver of the taxi, who has now kidnapped Alison, and he demands the $10 million from the heist within 12 hours. Vincent says he will be tracking Will via the phone and will make regular calls that Will must answer or Alison will die. Vincent drugs Alison and locks her in the taxi's trunk (killing a motorcycle cop in the process).

Will, aware that Harland's men are also following him, uses the Fat Tuesday celebration to escape. He purchases a second cell phone to redirect calls from the first, then plants the first phone on a leaving train to throw Vincent's tracking off. Will explains the situation to Harland, vowing that he burnt the $10 million just before he was arrested, and asks for help. Harland rejects this, showing that Vincent was reported dead a year prior, a burnt body identified by DNA.

Will is forced to steal FBI credentials to find the current address of Hoyt, who is revealed to be working with Vincent and helping to track the phone. They have a brief standoff (in which Hoyt reveals Vincent lost his leg, which affected his sense of touch due to the gunshot he received) before the FBI agents arrive and kill Hoyt before he can fire on them. Will escapes, then talks to the taxi dispatcher, where they help identify Vincent's taxi and current location. In a celebration parade, Will finds that the taxi belongs to another driver, and that Vincent has masked the taxi number and stashed his cab's GPS system in the car.

Will is captured again by Harland's men, but when they do not let him answer Vincent's call, Will escapes after crashing the vehicle. On the call, Will tries to explain the money is gone, but Vincent doesn't believe it at first, then states Will must come up with a way to replace Vincent's lost share, reminding him of the deadline.

Will gets an idea. With Riley's help, they tunnel up below the bank where the gold was stashed and use a thermal lance to melt enough of the gold before their actions are detected. Riley drives off to distract Harland. Will takes the gold to Vincent at an abandoned amusement park, but Vincent lights the taxi on fire with Alison still inside. Will and Vincent fight, and Will takes a gunshot. He still manages to douse Vincent in gasoline and set him ablaze, giving him time to drive the taxi, first straight into Vincent, then into a nearby pond.

As he races to free Alison from the submerging vehicle, Will is attacked by a now disfigured Vincent, (who due to his nerve damage doesn't feel his injuries) but impales him on a crowbar. Will rescues Alison, while locking a dying Vincent into said trunk of his sinking taxi, before collapsing on dry land just as Harland arrives in a helicopter. Harland assures Alison that Will will be okay, convinced now of Vincent's guilt, and Will is taken to get medical attention.

Sometime later, Will, Riley, and Alison are enjoying an afternoon barbecue, still being watched by Harland from a distance because some of the bank gold is still missing. Will finds a chunk of the melted gold in Riley's truck—the missing amount—and he and Riley debate whether to keep it or throw it away, the latter clearing Will of any wrongdoing. After a thought, Will throws the gold into a bayou, leaving Harland without any evidence, so he ends his monitoring. Unknown to Harland, Will threw away a decoy, and leaves the nugget on the table as the three go to enjoy lunch.

Cast
 Nicolas Cage as Will Montgomery
 Danny Huston as Agent Tim Harland
 Malin Åkerman as Riley Simms
 Sami Gayle as Alison Montgomery
 Mark Valley as Agent Fletcher
 M. C. Gainey as Donald Hoyt
 Josh Lucas as Vincent Kinsey
 Tanc Sade as Peter
 Demetrice J. Nguyen as Mark
 Sam Velasquez as Knuckles

Production
Filming began March 2012 in New Orleans. It was released in U.S. theaters on September 14, 2012, and by Lionsgate in the UK on March 22, 2013.

Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 20% based on 20 reviews, with an average rating of 4.01/10. On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Stolen was a box office bomb in the United States, receiving little publicity and grossing just $183,125 across 141 screens on its opening weekend. The film was pulled from theaters after two weeks, making a total of $304,318. The film grossed $17,967,746 worldwide.

References

External links

2012 films
2012 action thriller films
2010s chase films
2012 crime action films
2012 crime thriller films
2010s heist films
2010s road movies
2012 psychological thriller films
American action thriller films
American chase films
American crime thriller films
American heist films
American crime action films
American road movies
Films set in amusement parks
Films about child abduction in the United States
Films about bank robbery
American films about revenge
Films directed by Simon West
Films scored by Mark Isham
Films set in New Orleans
Films shot in New Orleans
Nu Image films
Saturn Films films
Wonderland Sound and Vision films
2010s English-language films
2010s American films

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


My sense of humour, my passion for underdogs (children, abused women) my love of crossing cultures and learning languages.
When you think you are special you are probably not. But we are all amazing!
I don't know. I was hoping you folks could tell me that.
my eyes water when i poo.
My IQ was tested at 132 in 2nd grade. Retested at 140 a few years back. I'm writing 3 novels simultaneously (one's an alternate history 1950's, another is a Lovecraftian horror, and the other is a pan-dimensional young adult romance) I take photographs with vintage cameras, and I shoot targets with antique guns, I wear a pith helmet out sometimes, my role-model is Theodore Roosevelt, I play guitar and autoharp and I'm learning violin, I like to go camping with only a knife as my supply, I write electronic music on the computer, and I play airsoft on a regular basis. All that, and I'm 19. I have one life to live. I'm going to make the most of it. Alright, I'm done tooting my own horn now.
I am Russian, vegetarian, bisexual, and atheist, and a feminist. And I like books, gasp. Where I live, that makes me extremely odd and different (dunno about special, most people around here seem to think I am a leper of some sort).
your thoughts make u different.
I don't know that it makes me odd, different or special, but people say I have an extremely dry sense of humor.
I'll turn any situation into a laughing matter.
My DNA, just like yours makes you different & special. If you knew the mathematical chance of your specific sequence, you'd be in awe of yourself and others. It's society that pretty much kills it for the rest of humanity.
I've not seen a single episode of "American Idol", and I don't care to either.
What happened to calling anybody "sweetie" or "darling"?


It's okay to leave. It's okay to say no.
Stay with yourself. Say yes to you.
You don't have to stay at your job, or in the relationship, or in your hometown or anywhere you no longer feel at home.
You don't have to say yes to the family dinner, or the extra project, to your friends or the worlds expectations.
It is okay to leave situations that no longer serves you. It is okay to say no to things that no longer fulfills you and that makes you say no to yourself.
"Well, that's just selfish!" some might say. But the thing is: You were given this life. You are here and you are here for a reason. The only way you can honor and live that reason is by being true to you. To your inner voice. To your calling. That's how you serve. By being you. By taking responsibility for your needs and your desires.
You were not only given this life, you were given a life with so much privilege. You have a free will. Most of you reading this have all the opportunities in the world to live and love and create. I don't think that's coincidence. But with all this privilege comes responsibility.
Playing small or making excuses is not how you honor this precious gift of life at this place in this time. You honor it by being true to you first and foremost. And when you tune out the noises of the world and tune in to yourself you will be given the guidande to the next step, one step at a time.
It doesn't have to be big or extravagant, it only needs to be true. And only you know what is true to you.
You can do this. I believe in you. Stay in yourself. Stay in your power. And trust that all that you need on your path forward will be given to you when you need it.
ps. if you feel you need guidance on this journey, I'm here to serve you.
Oh, I know, that's a hard truth, and for many people, really provocative. But let's be honest. You're leaving early from one thing to be late to the next. Always rushing, hurrying, feeling inadequate and not enough. Why?
Most people answer: Because I have to! You don't understand, I have so much to do!
Your life is a consequence of a lot of choices you've made so far. And you constantly striving for more is a choice you might still be making. A choice.
We don't have to live in big beautiful homes. We don't have to work full-time. We don't have to have lots of hobbies and activities and friends that we need to fit in. All of this is a choice we make.
We choose when enough is enough. What's enough for you? How much money, stuff, activities or medals do you really need? Really?
Honestly, guys, think about it. If you feel really busy in your life and you don't like it, then change it. Choose again. It's up to you. If you don't want to make a change well, then, that's also a choice you make. Sure, if your life is really crammed right now it might not go overnight, but if you're committed to changing how things are you will change how things are.
Some people sell everything to travel the world. Some people choose not to have kids to be able to live more freely. Some people pay others to do what they don't have time to do. Some people live a really minimalistic life to give room for more space and less work. Some people are really good at saying no to lots of things so that they can say yes to free time. Some people become monks, or nuns or move out into the woods.
Whatever choice you make, remember this, if you choose to be busy, it's totally up to you.
Does this provoke or inspire you? I'd love to hear from you!
Everyone is talking about it but so few make it part of their lifestyle and daily routine. I'm one of the believers that meditation does change lives so this is my attempt to help you figure it out.
Meditation builds a space between your thoughts and yourself. When you meditate you practice non-attachment to thought. You don't have to believe in everything you're thinking. The mind is crazy at times. Over time, meditation increases this space in between your wiser self and the monkey mind. With this space you can choose your reactions and you take back the power over your life.
Meditation activates your body's healing ability. When you sit down, relax and tell yourself that it's safe to relax you automatically activate the parasympathetic nervous system and the body's healing ability. Your body is so wise, and cool, and good at what it does, but you need to give it the right circumstances to do its job. When you meditate your body can work its magic.
Meditation increases your awareness of your inner guidance system. As you close your eyes to the outer world and open up to your inner world you also realize there is a wisdom inside of you that is constantly guiding you in life. This is your power. Whether you want to call it intuition, gut feeling, higher power or something else, this guidance is always available to you if you just learn to listen to it.
I could go on and on about many more of my why's of having a regular meditation practice but I'll stop there because each one of these three makes the investment of meditation so, so worth it.
So, if it's so great, why don't everyone do it? Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I think one of the obstacles people find is that they make it more complicated than it needs to be. These are my tips to get started.
Start short and simple. It really doesn't have to be fancy at all. Sit down in your sofa, close your eyes and count your breaths for ten breaths. So, that's it. You've meditated. You can build from there. But you don't have to. Just doing that a couple of times a day could work miracles.
Don't expect your mind to be blank. Your mind is a great tool for thoughts and that's its job so it will most probably continue, whether or not you meditate. Your job is to not attach to the thoughts, just observe them and get back to whatever you're focusing on, e.g. your breath. If you notice your mind is great, that's awesome, you're noticing!
Be kind with yourself as you practice. Don't expect miracles in a week. Be gentle with yourself as you trial and error. Try different variations, methods, teachers and techniques. Hang in there and trust that millions of people and thousands of years of practice can't be wrong. Forgive yourself instantly when you miss a day and get on it again.
I truly hope this helps because I really believe that meditation can change lives and will change our society as more and more start looking inward and taking responsibility for their own life and well-being. You are not a victim of your circumstances but a creator of your reality. If you want a crash course I highly recommend Headspace and their free Take 10 introduction. It's 10 minutes a day for 10 days with lots of instructions and cute animations to get you started. If you want a sustainable meditation companion over time I love Insight Timer which is a free tool with thousands of guided meditations and the ability to build your own.
So what say you, have I convinced you to get started? If you're already a meditator, what's your main why and best tips for someone just getting started? I'd love to hear from you.
I see so many people spending money on clothes, or interior design or even travel, but not in themselves. Yet, they feel miserable in their clothes and homes and vacations because they don't have the relevant tools and practices to befriend themselves.
Let's be a part of that paradigm shift. When you feel good about yourself you don't NEED any of that stuff. You might WANT it as a bonus but your happiness does not rely on it. That's where we need to go.
I've never ever regretted investing in my own personal development, and I've done A LOT. Even if some investments have been deeper and some more shallow, they've still given me invaluable experiences that I'll remember for life.
You are all you have. Spending time on getting to know and befriending yourself is the best investment you can make. Do you agree?


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Kate Cross column: Making history with Heywood, a fresh challenge with Lancashire, but we can't wait for the Ashes
In her first exclusive column, Lancashire CCC, England and Heywood CC bowler reveals why she has been doing media interviews from around the world
Kate Cross
Kate Cross, Jordan Clark, Paul Horton, Alex Davies and Arron Liley during Lancashire's media day in April
To keep up with Rochdale news sign up to the MyRochdale newsletter here
IT has already been a hectic summer for Heywood CC, Lancashire and England fast bowler Kate Cross - and an Ashes series is still to come.
Here, in the first of her exclusive columns for M.E.N. Sport, she looks back at how she made history earlier this year, a new direction for both Lancashire and Heywood, and the joys of 7am sprint sessions as she prepares to take on the Aussie...
Well, what a season 2015 has been so far. Not even sure where to start. I'm going to try and sum up the last 2 months of my life in a nice little blog for you all.
There's no lightning without THUNDER!
So Lancashire Ladies have had a revamp. Ahead of our first white ball/coloured kit season, the Lancashire Cricket Board went one step ahead of other counties and gave us our own little 'LCB Thunder' tag – a really clever way to keep our association with Lancashire County Cricket Club but removing the 'ladies' term from the name.
We have been completely spoilt by the Board, having all our kit provided this season as well as being invited to join the men's team for the media day back in April, which allowed us to show off our new sponsors – Myerscough College.
We are so grateful for the continued support by both organisations. And, of course, the day wouldn't be complete without a team selfie!
A great day and one which I will remember for a long time – not just because we are bridging the gap between the men's and women's game, but because it was the setting for my fake wedding to Lancashire all-rounder Jordan Clark.
Yes, I voluntarily put on a wedding dress and held his hand in some very forced romantic shots to help promote Emirate's Old Trafford's wedding package.
In Pictures: Lancashire's Media Day
In Pictures: Lancashire Media Day
Something I fear might come back and haunt me in later life. But don't we make a lovely couple?
On the pitch we have struggled to find our feet in Division One of the Royal London Women's One-Day Cup, following promotion last season.
We have played three and lost three so far, which is obviously pretty disappointing but mostly because we have yet to really show our capabilities.
WATCH: Behind the scenes at Lancashire's media day
We have a promising young side with the likes of Emma Lamb and Ellie Threlkeld and we have signed Sophie Eccleston from Cheshire, another youngster involved in the England age group set-up.
We can offer a lot more as a side and, hopefully, we will start challenging some teams in our next fixtures which aren't until mid-July.
This Girl Can…
In between playing for Lancashire, I have been filling my weekends back on my home soil playing men's cricket for Heywood in the Central Lancashire League.
I made my debut in April, becoming the first girl to play in the CLL. But having grown up playing boys cricket at Crimble, I was a bit surprised that this caused a little ripple of excitement on social media.
After I played my first game against Clifton, I found myself on the phone to journalists and broadcasters as far away as India and New Zealand, which was different. It must have been a slow news week over there!
Kate cross in action for Heywood CC
However, it did entertain me that my brother Bobby's dropped catch (off my bowling!) went viral, and just when he thought it had all died down, I am now mentioning it in my column! Sorry Bobby.
But in all seriousness, I have loved the challenge of playing men's cricket. The margin for error as a bowler is tiny, making me work really hard for my wickets, and if nothing else I love proving to people that girls can be just as good as blokes!
Ooops! Bobby Cross after dropping the catch off Kate's bowling
As a member of England women's team, I hope we are turning a few heads and proving to some 'traditionalists' that cricket is no longer a 'man's sport'.
Sky Sports News even picked up on my story and came down to film a T20 match against Littleborough. I sent the lads a message the night before reminding them to brush their hair because they were going to be on the TV!
Thankfully, Bobby held on to one off my bowling – he's not daft is he, could you imagine how viral that footage would have gone?
But it was brilliant to see the club getting some deserved promotion – after all, it's not every day you see a Heywood result popping up on SSN!
Kate Cross makes history as the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire Cricket League. She played for Heywood CC against Clifton CC.
A new direction
Heywood have recently made the bold decision to withdraw from the 123-year-old Central Lancashire League and apply for the newly-formed Greater Manchester Cricket League for next season.
It was a decision which really hasn't been taken lightly by the club. It's always going to be difficult to leave a league which you are a founding member of.
However, the club has recognised there needs to be a change in order to develop cricket in the north west and I for one am really excited by the prospect of the whole thing. Times are certainly changing.
Did someone mention the Ashes?
The England squad are training for a pretty big event which kicks off in Taunton on July 21 - the Women's Ashes.
The time for us to defend our 'Big Urn' is fast approaching and we can hardly wait.
Kate Cross in action for England (Image: ©womenscricket.net)
There is something so special around the buzz of an Ashes summer and we are so lucky that we have extra coverage this summer with Sky Sports and BBC Radio broadcasting every ball of our multi-format series.
We have been putting some seriously hard yards in down at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough. We have been nailing our fitness in the gym and particularly on the astro – I can't say that the 7am sprint sessions have been my favourites but we know it will be all worth it come mid-July.
MORE: Jasmine Titmuss' Captain's Blog: Behind the scenes with Lancashire's Women's team
Lancashire CCC
Littleborough
Heywood
England Cricket Team
Micah RichardsMicah Richards predicts Man City's Premier League success rate over next decadeManchester City are on course to secure their fourth Premier League title in the last five seasons.
Greater Manchester News'42 Bus' Zine - Claire WrayCheadle photographer Claire Wray spent two years on the iconic and chaotic number 42 bus
Why next-day train tickets from London to Manchester after 2.35pm just got £100 more expensive


History - Manasseh Lodge No. 182 - A.F. A.M.
Manasseh Lodge No. 182 was established in the town of Manassas under dispensation on February 10th 1875 and received its charter on December 15th of that year. Several previous lodges had existed in Prince William County during the 19th century, but by 1866 they had either become extinct or moved to new locations. Nevertheless, interest remained in establishing a Masonic Lodge in the community. Masons began meeting in the home of Lieutenant William S. Chase in 1870 and eventually petitioned the Grand Lodge of Virginia to be received under dispensation in 1875. Alexandria Washington Lodge No.22 provided much support during this period and donated Masonic paraphernalia to the new lodge.
After receiving the charter Manasseh Lodge moved out of Brother Chase's house to new quarters. Its first home was in the George Washington Hickson Building, where it resided from 1874 until 1904. Then it was relocated to the Blume building, on Center Street between Main and Battle streets where it remained until December 1905.
A significant part of the downtown area of Manassas burned on the night of December 5th 1905 when embers, thrown from a passing freight train, caught in the sleeping town. The fire resulted in the destruction of 35 homes, numerous businesses, and the loss of the original lodge paraphernalia and charter. The minutes survived because the Lodge Secretary George C. Round, the first secretary and a charter member, maintained them at their home for transcription. The Grand Lodge sent a replacement charter on December 23rd, 1905. Occoquan Lodge No.130 donated new paraphernalia at this time including the Wardens' and Master's chairs. During the next two years the lodge met in the First National Bank of Manassas, the building is presently occupied by a gift store and is located across the street from the Olde Towne Inn, and also occasionally met in the Presbyterian Church on Main and Church streets.
Despite the setbacks of the fire, the brethren of Manasseh Lodge persevered and built a new lodge building on the south side of Center Street between Main and Battle Streets. The cornerstone was laid in 1906 and the building was occupied by July 1907. As with most construction in old town Manassas following the fire, this edifice was made of brick. A stone square and compasses were placed at the top of the front facade. This structure followed a familiar plan by housing a business on the first floor and the lodge above it, and served as the meeting place of the lodge for nearly 70 years.
In the early 1970s it was decided that a new site was needed to house the lodge and a piece of land was donated by the widow of Brother Seine B. Cockrell on Cockrell Rd. Construction began in 1975 and was finished in 1976. Manasseh Lodge 182 has resided there to the present time.