text:
/*
#######################################################################
#		SYMBIOT
#
#		Real-time Network Threat Modeling
#		(C) 2002-2008 Symbiot, Inc.	---	ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
#
#		Symbiot Master Library
#
#		http://www.symbiot.com
#
#######################################################################
#		Author: Borrowed Time, Inc.
#		e-mail: libsymbiot@bti.net
#
#		Adapted from a library authored by BTI and available
#		from http://www.bti.net
#
#		Created:					27 Oct 2003
#		Last Modified:				11 Dec 2003
#
#######################################################################
*/

#if !defined(SYMLIB_TIME)
#define SYMLIB_TIME

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Includes
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
#include "symlib-config.h"

#include "symlib-defs.h"
#include "symlib-exception.h"

#if TIME_WITH_SYS_TIME
	#include <sys/time.h>
	#include <ctime>
#elif HAVE_SYS_TIME_H
	#include <sys/time.h>
#else
	#include <ctime>
#endif

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Begin Environment
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
namespace symbiot {

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Definitions
//---------------------------------------------------------------------

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Forward Class Declarations
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
class TTimeObj;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Class TTimeObj
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
class TTimeObj
{
	public:
		TTimeObj ();
			// Constructor

		TTimeObj (const TTimeObj& obj);
			// Constructor

		TTimeObj (const struct tm* timeStructPtr);
			// Constructor

		TTimeObj (time_t unixSeconds);
			// Constructor

		virtual ~TTimeObj ();
			// Destructor

		virtual void Clear ();
			// Resets the internal slots.

		virtual void SetNow ();
			// Sets the internal date/time information to right now.

		virtual void SetDateTime ();
			// Sets the internal date/time information to right now.

		virtual void SetDateTime (const TTimeObj& timeObj);
			// Sets the internal date/time information.

		virtual void SetDateTime (const struct tm* timeStructPtr);
			// Sets the internal date/time information.

		virtual void SetDateTime (time_t unixSeconds);
			// Sets the internal date/time information.

		virtual void SetDateTimeFromString (const std::string& dateTime, const std::string& format);
			// Sets the internal date information based on the textual
			// representation given by dateTime, formatted according to the
			// format argument.  Uses the strptime() function; see that function's
			// man page for details.

		virtual void ZeroTimePart ();
			// Resets the time portion of the internal date information
			// to midnight.

		virtual void AdjustDate (int dayDelta, int monthDelta, int yearDelta);
			// Adjusts the date portion of the current value by the
			// indicated arguments.

		virtual void AdjustTime (int hourDelta, int minuteDelta, int secondDelta);
			// Adjusts the time portion of the current value by the
			// indicated arguments.

		virtual struct tm* GetTimeStruct ();
			// Returns a pointer to the time structure stored within
			// this object.

		virtual time_t GetUnixSeconds () const;
			// Returns the time information currently stored in the
			// object in Unix seconds format.

		virtual std::string GetFormattedDateTime (const std::string& formatString) const;
			// Method returns a string version of the current object value
			// formatted through strftime().  The argument is passed through
			// to strftime() and used to determine the final format.  Up to
			// 256 characters will be returned.

		// Read Accessors
		inline int Month () const
			{return (fTimeInfo.tm_year ? fTimeInfo.tm_mon + 1 : 0);}
		inline int Day () const
			{return fTimeInfo.tm_mday;}
		inline int Year () const
			{return fTimeInfo.tm_year + 1900;}
		inline int Hour () const
			{return fTimeInfo.tm_hour;}
		inline int Minute () const
			{return fTimeInfo.tm_min;}
		inline int Second () const
			{return fTimeInfo.tm_sec;}
		inline bool DaylightSavingsTime () const
			{return (fTimeInfo.tm_isdst > 0);}

		// Write Accessors
		inline void SetMonth (int month)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_mon = month - 1;}
		inline void SetDay (int day)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_mday = day;}
		inline void SetYear (int year)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_year = year - 1900;}
		inline void SetHour (int hour)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_hour = hour;}
		inline void SetMinute (int minute)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_min = minute;}
		inline void SetSecond (int second)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_sec = second;}
		inline void SetDaylightSavingsTime (bool isDST)
			{fTimeInfo.tm_isdst = (isDST ? 1 : 0);}

		// Comparison Operators
		inline bool operator== (const TTimeObj& timeObj) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() == timeObj.GetUnixSeconds();}
		inline bool operator== (time_t unixSeconds) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() == unixSeconds;}
		inline bool operator== (struct tm* timeStructPtr) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() == mktime(timeStructPtr);}

		inline bool operator< (const TTimeObj& timeObj) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() < timeObj.GetUnixSeconds();}
		inline bool operator< (time_t unixSeconds) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() < unixSeconds;}
		inline bool operator< (struct tm* timeStructPtr) const
			{return GetUnixSeconds() < mktime(timeStructPtr);}

		template <class T>
		inline bool operator!= (T& value)
			{return !(*this == value);}

		template <class T>
		inline bool operator<= (T& value)
			{return (*this < value) || (*this == value);}

		template <class T>
		inline bool operator> (T& value)
			{return !(*this <= value);}

		template <class T>
		inline bool operator>= (T& value)
			{return !(*this < value);}

		// Arithmetic Operators
		inline TTimeObj operator+ (const TTimeObj& timeObj) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() + timeObj.GetUnixSeconds());}
		inline TTimeObj operator+ (time_t unixSeconds) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() + unixSeconds);}
		inline TTimeObj operator+ (struct tm* timeStructPtr) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() + mktime(timeStructPtr));}

		inline TTimeObj operator- (const TTimeObj& timeObj) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() - timeObj.GetUnixSeconds());}
		inline TTimeObj operator- (time_t unixSeconds) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() - unixSeconds);}
		inline TTimeObj operator- (struct tm* timeStructPtr) const
			{return TTimeObj(GetUnixSeconds() - mktime(timeStructPtr));}

		// Assignment Operators
		inline TTimeObj& operator= (const TTimeObj& timeObj)
			{SetDateTime(timeObj); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator= (time_t seconds)
			{SetDateTime(seconds); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator= (const struct tm* timeStructPtr)
			{SetDateTime(timeStructPtr); return *this;}

		inline TTimeObj& operator+= (const TTimeObj& timeObj)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() + timeObj.GetUnixSeconds()); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator+= (time_t seconds)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() + seconds); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator+= (struct tm* timeStructPtr)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() + mktime(timeStructPtr)); return *this;}

		inline TTimeObj& operator-= (const TTimeObj& timeObj)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() - timeObj.GetUnixSeconds()); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator-= (time_t seconds)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() - seconds); return *this;}
		inline TTimeObj& operator-= (struct tm* timeStructPtr)
			{SetDateTime(GetUnixSeconds() - mktime(timeStructPtr)); return *this;}

		// Casting operators
		inline operator struct tm* ()
			{return &fTimeInfo;}
		inline operator const struct tm* () const
			{return &fTimeInfo;}

	protected:

		struct tm								fTimeInfo;
};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Global Function Declarations
//---------------------------------------------------------------------

unsigned long MinutesWestOfGMT ();
	// Returns the number of minutes west of GMT the local time zone is.

double CurrentMilliseconds (int precision = -1);
	// The current time in millisecond accuracy, to the given level of
	// decimal precision (a -1 indicates full precision).

//---------------------------------------------------------------------
// End Environment
//---------------------------------------------------------------------
} // namespace symbiot

//*********************************************************************
#endif // SYMLIB_TIME

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


These items get used time & time again in my kitchen.
I couldn't live without them, and I think once you've used them, you'll understand why!
My Immersion Blender might as well be my third arm. And I love this Choose-Your-Color Option!
Wouldn't even attempt to make gravy without my flat whisk!
A good "instant-read" thermometer is a MUST for making cheese and fudge.
I sub coconut oil for so many different fats. It is amaaazingly luxurious and tasty.
PB2 is peanut butter with the fat removed. It is great for Smoothies when you want to keep things low-calorie!


text:
If Bill de Blasio's talking, he's probably lying
Social Links for Michael Goodwin
Bill de Blasio Zuma Press
More From: Michael Goodwin
Classified docs scandal is unboxing the Biden family business
Blue meanie Joe's divisive cop tirade is the president's latest battle with facts
End of an error of shielding the Bidens as classified documents scandal puts Joe's presidency in peril
Real message from Kathy Hochul's State of the State? Escape from New York
Congress dithered while US withered
Don't blame the horses for the funky smell of the carriage deal. The stench comes from City Hall.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is consistent. He'll never tell the truth when a lie will do. Or several lies when one isn't enough, as has been the case from Day One with his bid to ban horse carriages.
His initial claim that he was motivated by concern for the horses was regarded as a pile of manure wrapped in cash. Big-bucks backers wanted the real estate where the horses are stabled, and they joined forces with animal-rights extremists to help push de Blasio's 2013 campaign.
The mayor tried a similar scam with Uber. His funders in that caper were medallion owners, and de Blasio obliged them by claiming that Uber was causing congestion and should be stopped. But a recent $2 million study the mayor commissioned essentially concluded that de Blasio made up his own "facts," just as he is now making up his own "facts" about accidents and congestion caused by the horses.
Wait, there's more. He claimed the number of homeless people living on the streets had fallen, when it actually increased, as he later was forced to admit.
He claimed the infamous rubber rooms, where excess or suspended teachers did nothing for years on end, had been eliminated. The Post put the lie to that claim with its Sunday story showing a teacher sleeping in just such a room.
The pattern is disturbing, and the result is obvious. New Yorkers cannot rely on their mayor to be straight with them.
Beyond de Blasio's own damaged reputation, there is an enormous cost to the city when cynicism is the only rational response to everything he says. Even routine government functions are suspect, leading to polarization, gridlock and lawsuits.
His horse-carriage announcement is a classic example of how the mayor's double-dealing ways leave everybody bruised and angry, and for no real civic gain.
After secret negotiations with the Teamsters, which represents carriage drivers, de Blasio agreed to move the horses into an empty facility in Central Park that the city would renovate. Neglected until the end of the talks were the nonprofit conservancy that runs Central Park, and pedicab owners, who would be banished to its northern end.
In effect, the mayor agreed to give the horse carriages a valuable monopoly on tourists in the heart of the park and build them a stable at public expense. That's how banana republics work.
Asked how much the stable fix would cost, de Blasio told reporters, "we don't have a final figure," while insisting it would be a "good investment." Yet news organizations report that other city officials readily put the cost of the renovation at $25 million.
Why wouldn't the mayor come clean on the price? If he really believes it's a good use of $25 million of taxpayer money, he should argue his case. But to give the price would open his claim of a "good investment" to a cost-benefit challenge, which he clearly doesn't want. Transparency for thee, but not for me.
All this to "solve" a problem that didn't exist.
The infuriating irony is that Midtown streets around the park are chaotic and congested, but the deal would do nothing to make them less so. The pedicabs, for instance, are a special menace as they run red lights, weave in and out of traffic and go the wrong way on busy streets.
But their risky street behavior will not be changed by the deal and had nothing do with why de Blasio restricted them in the park — he did it to sweeten the offer to carriage owners. He called the restriction "an adjustment in terms for balance," which sounds more elegant than admitting that the pedicabs were sacrificed so he could keep his promise to his funders.
Similarly, a case can be made to house the horses in the park, instead of on the far west side. But the impact on the park of a large, busy facility and the added traffic it will bring should be debated as a proposal with the public, not hailed after an agreement was hatched in secret.
But acting in the public interest would require a mayor who sees telling the truth as something more than the last resort.
Indeed, the mayor's aversion to straight talk has no limits. Asked by a reporter Monday when he had last visited Central Park, the Putz responded, "That's a good question. I will have to get back to you."
It only hurts when we laugh
A friend sends a laugh from the crowd. She writes:
An elderly man had a stroke and an ambulance took him to a hospital as his family followed. After some time, an ER physician appeared wearing a long face.
"I'm very sorry to have to give you folks some very bad news," the doctor said. "Your grandpa's heart is beating but he's brain-dead."
Whereupon, Grandma wailed: "Oh, dear God! We've never had a liberal in the family before!"
Hill gets 'bye' with a little help from friends
As the evidence piles up that she mishandled classified material, Hillary Clinton is rolling out a shield against indictment: powerful friends.
Beyond gushing praise for President Obama at Sunday's debate, she's touting the endorsement of Eric Holder, the former attorney general. Holder remains close to Obama, so his support could be a "back-off" warning to FBI agents on her case.
During the debate, Clinton botched her line when she said, "There should be no bank too big to fail and no individual too big to jail."
What she meant to say was, "Except me."
UK plan Trumps Donald's
Donald Trump is driving the Brits nuts — and giving them ideas on how to solve their radical Muslim problem.
Take British Prime Minister David Cameron. Back in December, he said Trump was "divisive, stupid and wrong" to call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. Parliament even debated whether to ban Trump from the country.
Yet now, Cameron is proposing a course that could be harsher: He is threatening to deport married Muslim women who don't learn English to a "high standard."
"We will now say if you don't improve your fluency, that could affect your ability to stay in the UK," he wrote.
He argues that mandatory language classes could help stop the radicalization of Islamic youth, saying there are 38,000 Muslim women in England who cannot speak English and 190,000 additional ones with limited skills.
He said those on spousal visas would have to pass language tests after 2½ years, or face being booted. It's not clear if their children would have to leave, too.
The plan has unleashed a storm of criticism, with Cameron accused of "stigmatizing" Muslim women and stoking bigotry.
Perhaps he'll call Trump to commiserate — and apologize.
pedicabs
Read Next Bernie has his biggest lead over Hillary yet

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Keeping It Reel
film reviews and movie discussion
DAVID LYNCH: THE ART LIFE (2016) review
tags: David Lynch: The Art Life, documentary, film, Jon Nguyen, Olivia Neergaard-Holm, review, Rick Barnes, Steven Attanasie
by Steven Attanasie
produced by: Jon Nguyen, Jason S., Sabrina S. Sutherland
directed by: Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes, and Olivia Neergaard-Holm
rated: NR (some language and adult imagery)
runtime: 88 min.
U.S. release date: March 31, 2017 (limited) and April 28, 2017 (the Music Box Theatre, Chicago, IL)
"All I wanted to do was paint. It was like I couldn't control it."
Equal parts memoir and metaphor, "David Lynch: The Art Life" is ostensibly a documentary about the notoriously cagey director's lifelong obsession with painting. Having emerged from the other side of it, however, I can state for the record that it's more candid and heartwarming than I ever expected. I also know more about David Lynch's formative years as an artist than I ever thought I would. What a bizarre combination of elements swirling around in my head, but such is ninety minutes spent in the company of America's most esoteric director.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen at least one of Lynch's more outré works about suburban life – like "Twin Peaks" or "Blue Velvet" – that the director himself more or less grew up in one of his own films. He recounts many stories about bizarre occurrences in his childhood neighborhoods—ranging from his birthplace of Missoula, Montana to Boise, Idaho, eventually Washington, D.C., and a half dozen others. A particularly vivid tale about a nude woman, bleeding from the mouth, and wandering up the driveway of Lynch's boyhood home. Another finds the young man attending his first day of school in Virginia as a hurricane made its way ashore.
The dreams he concocted – both in his head and subsequently on screen – only elaborate on such grotesqueries. It's part of what makes him, for lack of a better term, "David Lynch." This film has the same no holds barred candor that made "The Kid Stays in the Picture" such a terrific autobiographical documentary, but with a Lynchian slant of course. It's clear he's psychoanalyzed himself to death, leaving him to present a well-rounded version of his adventures as a young man.
The constant therapy Lynch relied on throughout his life has been painting. It's clear that he views it as more than a hobby, and while that certainly gives this film its title, there's clearly more here than just him jawing about painting. To him, it's life. It's not a metaphor for life, it simply is.
Lynch takes us up to the production of his first film, "Eraserhead," making this something of a more interesting counterpart to last year's "De Palma." Where Brian De Palma loved talking about his work and its meaning, Lynch mines his younger years for tales, leaving us to continue sussing out what his films are all about for ourselves. De Palma felt there was no secret hidden in his childhood from which he derived his work and seemed loathe to talk about his past. By contrast, the clues to Lynch's work are littered throughout the experiences and dreams of his youth, and as we see him interact with his preschool-aged daughter, it's clear he's wistful for those formative escapades.
I never imagined I would discover that Lynch's most comfortable mode is that of father to a preschooler with whom he adorably holds court throughout the film. The singular imagery he's produced on screen throughout his career never made me think he could be such a tender and attentive father, yet there he is, proving me wrong again. He paints alongside her, and though he exposes his psyche through his art work and the various paintings he shows us throughout the film, it is in these moments that he shows us his soul.
Yes, David Lynch is curmudgeonly, and a chain smoker, and stubborn, but he's also open, and honest, and loving, and doesn't seem to have an irascible bone in his body. Unlike so many other documentaries about directors, this one succeeds in feeling at home alongside the work of its subject. It doesn't necessarily feel like " "a David Lynch movie", so to speak, it certainly feel Lynchian. His hand is felt throughout, silently guiding the film the way he'd like it to go, but thankfully the triumvirate of filmmakers brought in to document the film have their own secret agenda.
Maybe Lynch knew, maybe he didn't, but Jon Nguyen, Rick Barnes, and Olivia Neergaard-Holm do an outstanding job of giving us the portrait of this unique artist that we needed, and not necessarily the one we wanted. There's probably juicier stuff in that other film we've imagined in our heads, but maintaining the mystique is all part of the Lynch mythology. Sometimes less is more. Here, less is everything.
RATING: ***1/2
NOTE: "David Lynch: The Art Life" will be shown at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago as part of a career-spanning, week-long David Lynch retrospective that starts tonight. For details, including a full schedule and ticket information, click here.
← GRADUATION (2016) review
THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS (2017) review →
Donate to Keeping It Reel!
CATS (2019) review
Interview with MOVING PARTS writer/director Emilie Upczak
BOTERO (2018) review
MOVING PARTS (2017) review
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019) review
Fanboy Planet
IMDB: The Internet Movie Database
Just Hit Play
Larsen on Film
Screen Crush
The Dissolve


text:
Vertex Signs Seven-Year Contract Extension With NV Energy
- Third contract extension as part of a long term outsourcing partnership -
Vertex, a leading global business process outsourcer and IT services company, today announced the signing of a seven-year contract with NV Energy, formerly Sierra Pacific Resources Company. It is the third contract extension for this successful outsourcing partnership.
NV Energy is a public utility that generates, transmits and distributes electric energy to approximately 1.2 million customers. Their service territory covers over 54,500 square miles of western, central and north eastern Nevada, including the cities of Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Elko, and a portion of eastern California, including the Lake Tahoe Area. NV Energy also provides natural gas to over 145,000 customers in the Reno-Sparks area.
Under the terms of the agreement, Vertex will continue to provide E-CIS software hosting and application management in addition to bill print and mail services to 45,000 California customers located in and around the Lake Tahoe region.
"We are very pleased to continue our highly valued relationship with NV Energy, whom we consider to be a true partner", said Richard Charles, Senior Vice President of Utilities for Vertex. "We will continue to put forward our best resources to provide superior customer service to assist our client in optimizing value and operational excellence through their utilization of E-CIS."
About NV Energy (NYSE: SRP)
Headquartered in Nevada, Sierra Pacific Resources is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries were known as Nevada Power Company, the electric utility for most of southern Nevada, and Sierra Pacific Power Company, the electric utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. Sierra Pacific Power Company also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada. The subsidiaries now operate as NV Energy. NV Energy will continue to focus on a state wide three-part energy strategy that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, the development of new renewable resources, and adding generation that uses the cleanest available technologies.
About Vertex
Vertex was founded in 1996 as a subsidiary of British utilities provider, United Utilities, Plc. The company has grown organically and through acquisition to offer transformational outsourcing (BPO) and information technology services capabilities to utilities, financial services, retail, telecommunications, travel and central and local government sectors.
In July 2008, Vertex acquired Alliance Data's Utility Services division. Today, Vertex employs over 8,000 people across the UK, North America and India. In the utility sector within North America, Vertex has 2,500 dedicated practitioners, 18 centers of excellence, and more than 70 electric, gas and water clients.
Media Inquiries to:
Diane Webb, Vertex Business Services Marketing Director
(T) 972-348-5495
(E) Diane.Webb@Vertexna.com
Deborah Morris, Vertex Public Relations Manager
(T) 0151 4439830
(M) 07827 304207
(E) Deborah.Morris@Vertex.co.uk
RSS FeedVertex Feed


text:
Nival Interactive est une société russe de développement de jeux vidéo. Son principal studio est basé à Moscou. Nival Interactive est une filiale de Nival Group fondée en 1996 par Sergey Orlovskiy.

Historique
Nival est créée en 1996 par Sergey Orlovskiy à Moscou. L'entreprise s'est initialement centrée sur les jeux de stratégie (avec des éléments de jeux de rôles). Ses productions les plus connues sont Etherlords, Blitzkrieg et Silent Storm. Nival Interactive réalise en 2006 le cinquième opus de la série Heroes of Might and Magic, franchise détenue par Ubisoft.

Le studio est également le développeur de deux moteurs de jeu populaires : Silent Storm Engine et Enigma Engine.

Au début de l'année 2005, Nival est racheté par Ener1 Group, une société basée en Floride pour environ 10 M$.

Le , Sergey Orlovskiy contrôle à nouveau pleinement la société.

Jeux développés
Rage of Mages (1998)
Rage of Mages II : Sortilèges (1999)
Evil Islands: Curse of the Lost Soul (2001)
Etherlords (2001)
Etherlords II (2003)
Blitzkrieg (2003)
Blitzkrieg 2 (2005)
Blitzkrieg 3 (2015)
Silent Storm (2003)
Silent Storm: Sentinels (2004)
Hammer & Sickle (2005)
Night Watch (2006)
Heroes of Might and Magic V (2006)
Heroes of Might and Magic V: Hammers of Fate (2006)
Heroes of Might and Magic V: Tribes of the East (2007)
Frontline: Fields of Thunder (2007)
Allods Online (2009)
King's Bounty: Legions (2011)
Emaki (2012)
Prime World (2012)
Prime World: Alchemy (2012)
Prime World: Defenders (2013)

Lien externe
 Site officiel

Notes et références

Développeur de jeux vidéo
Éditeur de jeux vidéo
Entreprise de jeux vidéo ayant son siège à Moscou
Entreprise fondée en 1996

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Budget adopted by Plymouth council with no tax…
Budget adopted by Plymouth council with no tax hike
By Times Herald |
PUBLISHED: December 9, 2013 at 7:16 p.m. | UPDATED: September 23, 2021 at 10:42 a.m.
PLYMOUTH – The final, $21,021,288 2014 budget, which keeps the millage rate at 1.6 mills, was unanimously adopted by council Monday night.
The budget has a reserve fund balance of $5,988,716 at the end of 2014, including more than $3 million in cash, said Plymouth Finance Director Timothy Creelman. The available fund balance decreased from $6,678,813 at the end of 2013 to $5,988,716.
The budget has contractual increases in salary for police and administration employees. Health care costs are up about $300,000, and there is an additional $240,000 for three additional police officers in the budget, Creelman said.
The average residential home is assessed at $180,000 and the township tax will is expected to remain at $288.
Council also transferred $1.5 million from the reserve fund into a capital reserve fund for future construction projects or equipment purchases.
The $20,004,345 final 2013 budget was unanimously adopted by council in December 2012 with a real estate tax rate that remained flat at 1.6 mills. The owner of a home assessed at the township average of $180,000 will pay $288 in local real estate taxes in 2013. The 2013 budget represented a 3.2 percent increase over the $19,389,192 2012 budget.
A public hearing on the transfer of a liquor license from the Sandwich Mill at the Kulpsville Town Center to the Weis Market at 200 Ridge Pike was held by council before the regular council meeting. The license transfer was approved.
Attorney Mark Kozar, representing Weis Market, said the liquor license will be used in the cafe of the market, which employs 120 part-time and full-time workers. 'The company is planning a multi-million dollar remodel of the store,' Kozar said. 'We are requesting the license transfer for the consumption of beer on-premise and the hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., six days a week and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. There is a supermarket-imposed, two-beer consumption limit.'
No one from the public spoke in favor of the application or in opposition to the application.
In other business, council unanimously approved a four-year contract with AFSCME District Council 88. The local union represents about 40 workers in the Plymouth public works department including sanitation, parks and highway workers.
The basic contract includes a 3.5 percent salary increase in the first, second and third year and a 4 percent pay hike in the last year of the contract. Any workers hired after Jan. 1, 2014 will receive 60 percent of the current laborer's pay rate, and any foreman and superintendent will receive 75 percent of the current pay rate.
'This contract is a great job for the township,' said Council Chairman Sheldon Simpson.
Council members Vincent Gillen and Maria Weidinger were given thank-you plaques at the end of the meeting. Their council terms end at the end of the year.
Follow Carl Rotenberg on Twitter @CarlWriter.
Times Herald
Video of Plymouth Meeting native, journalist hit by car on live TV goes viral


text:
FACT SHEET: Obama Administration's Record and the LGBT Community
Gary Carnivele Jun 10, 2016
President Obama Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have made historic strides to expand opportunities and advance equality and justice for all Americans, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Americans. From major legislative achievements to historic court victories to important policy changes, the President has fought to promote the equal rights(…)
109 Equality California-Endorsed Candidates Celebrate Primary Election Victories Posted on June 9, 2016
Jason Howe Jun 10, 2016
Equality California today announced that 109 of its 116 endorsed candidates won enough votes in their individual races in the California primary election to advance to the November 8 general election or to win their race outright."This election year is of enormous importance to the LGBT community," said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California.(…)
Activists Accuse Israel of 'Pinkwashing' to Attract Tourists While Neglecting LGBT Groups
Meka Beresford Jun 7, 2016
The Israeli Government has been accused of 'pinkwashing' to attract tourists, while neglecting LGBT groups. Tel Aviv held its pride parade last week and spent $2.86m on advertising to attract tourists from around Europe to attend the event. LGBT campaigners criticised this move stating that the sum was 10 times the annual amount spent on LGBT(…)
Crushers of Comedy Presents Sonoma County Comedy Fest 2016 July 15 & 16
Gary Carnivele Jun 6, 2016
The wine country comedy production, Crushers of Comedy is launching the inaugural Sonoma County Comedy Fest 2016 at the iconic Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, California. The two-day world class stand up comedy festival will feature well-known comics from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. The festival will also welcome comedy's most celebrated(…)
State Senate Approves Bill Requiring CSU, Community College Job Candidates to Reveal Sexual Harassment Past
Steve Lee Jun 6, 2016
California's State Senate has approved a measure to require California State University (CSU) and community college academic or administrative job applicants to disclose whether any final administrative or judicial action found them guilty of sexual harassment. "My bill, SB 1439, puts a wrench in the 'pass the harasser' cycle that protects predators in our state(…)
Sonoma County Pride Parade a Community Celebration in Guerneville
Angela Hart Jun 6, 2016
Clad in neon pink sequins and flowers, "Diva D" boasted before hundreds of people in downtown Guerneville Sunday that Sonoma County's Pride Parade is more successful than it's ever been. "We were a smashing success last year," said "Diva D," as David Goyes is known in drag. And turnout at this year's festival celebrating the(…)
Equality Forum to Hold LGBT Civil Rights Summit During Democratic National Convention
Against the backdrop of a major, national audience, Equality Forum, the nation's oldest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights summit, announced plans today for this year's summit to be held July 25 through July 28 during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pa. Equality Forum 2016 will bring together elected officials, newsmakers and(…)
Obama Issues Pride Month Proclamation: Let's Celebrate Our Progress And Eliminate Prejudice
Gary Carnivele May 31, 2016
Since our founding, America has advanced on an unending path toward becoming a more perfect Union. This journey, led by forward-thinking individuals who have set their sights on reaching for a brighter tomorrow, has never been easy or smooth. The fight for dignity and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people is reflected(…)
Gov. Jerry Brown Endorses Hillary
California Gov. Jerry Brown this morning issued an "open letter to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents." He writes: On Tuesday, June 7, I have decided to cast my vote for Hillary Clinton because I believe this is the only path forward to win the presidency and stop the dangerous candidacy of Donald Trump. I have closely(…)
Match Releases New Study on LGBTQ Single Population
Match, the world's largest relationship company, today debuted LGBTQ in America, the largest nationally-representative study of American singles who identify as LGBTQ. Conducted by Research Now in association with evolutionary biologist and gender studies professor, Dr. Justin R. Garcia of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, the data reveals new social commentary into the evolving attitudes,(…)


Mawson Collins is a qualified RICS regulated property practice, offering agency, Landlord & Tenant advisory, valuation and management services to the Channel Islands markets.
Our client base comprises commercial and private client landlords, tenants and financial institutions across the Islands, all backed by over 50 years' combined expertise in our field. Major clients now include ComProp, Sure, PwC, Canaccord Genuity, Jacksons C.I., SandpiperCI and Guernsey Electricity.
The team comprises founding Directors Howard Mawson and Mike Collins, the Office Manager, Lisa Collins, Jeanne Le Cocq in Residential Lettings, Sally Nickolls in Business Development, Geoff Mauger and Shane Brouard in Management, Adele Prus in Management Support and Lisa Bellis and Laura Gallienne in Accounts. Kim Morton and Sofia Self look after Reception and assist with Office Administration.
Our offices at L'Islet are only fifteen minutes from St Peter Port and close enough for us to visit the bulk of our clients and their buildings quickly whenever required, and to react quickly to emergencies '24/7', 365 days a year.
For visiting clients, there is parking outside the front door and a warm welcome inside it.
Howard is a RICS Chartered Surveyor of over 25 years' experience gained from covering both the UK and Channel Islands' property markets. He specialises in commercial sales, leasing, valuation and rent review and became a RICS Registered Valuer in 2010.
Mike is a former qualified electrician who entered the property field in 2001 with a very strong knowledge of building services, structural matters and contracts, allowing him to offer an innovative perspective to clients. This combined skills-set is rare amongst Channel Islands' property managers.
Lisa studied at Guernsey College of Further Education to achieve distinctions at RSA 1, 2 and 3 level, en route to securing her Diploma in Secretarial Procedures in 1990. Her considerable managerial PA skills naturally make her a critical part of our business.
Jeanne covers Residential Lettings and also works on our ever-expanding management portfolio. She offers considerable experience in her role, having previously worked for one of the Islands' largest estate agencies, handling all types of lettings from one bed flats to larger prestige homes.
Geoff holds a degree in Estate Management from Cardiff University and has over 35 years' experience in property sales. Before joining us he was co-owner of his own agency business and prior to that was a sales manager and property auctioneer at another leading firm of agents.
Shane spent his early years of employment working in the building industry before moving on to work in the finance sector for a fiduciary firm where he gained valuable experience in the administration and activities of residential and commercial property holding entities. Shane is now applying the skills he has gained in both industries by working as a Property Manager for Mawson Collins.
Adele joined us from the Guernsey College of Further Education where she studied a BTEC in Business Studies, achieving excellent grades in all modules. Previously our Receptionist, her aptitude is such that she has now moved into a management support role to assist our busy team with various administrative tasks.
Having worked in various sectors of the estate agency business for over 10 years, Sally enjoys the fast-paced nature of the job and has cross-market experience in both Residential lettings and sales. In addition to offering agency and management support across the company, her role as Business Development Assistant involves networking across our client portfolio and wider business contacts to promote our various professional services.
Lisa went straight into the world of finance from school, working for an international bank, firstly as secretarial support and then banking administration. In 1996, she moved into Securities Administration. After a career break, she joined us in 2012.
Laura worked in finance for several years before pursuing her ambition to be involved with property in 2008. Since then she has gained valuable experience working within the world of estate agency in various roles which has included managing a property portfolio and more recently, accounts. Laura is now applying the skills she has gained to assist Lisa Bellis in our busy accounts department.
Kim has over 30 years office-based experience working in Finance, Law and HR. Prior to this she lived and worked in the UK. When not working she enjoys all manner of activities including holidays, cycling and sports.
Sofia has spent the first part of her working life in retail, where her hard work saw her promoted to Supervisor before she left to join us. She is fluent in Portuguese and when not working enjoys art and design and spending time with friends and family.


My name is Charles and I currently live in Columbus, Ohio. I currently work as a systems programmer, but I have worked many areas of the computer industry since 1987 giving me a wide range of experience, knowledge, and skill sets.
I started working in multimedia and graphic design in the early nineties with an interest in doing art for the music industry, such as cd covers, posters, and web design; although, I am open to any work and even do children's illustration from time to time.
My art is dark and generally fits in well with the metal, goth, and industrial scene. If you like dark symbolic things I am sure you will find something of interest.
Photoshop, Cinema 4D, Poser 5, Bryce 3D, Flash MX, Freehand, and many other Windows, Mac, Linux Open source applications like the Gimp, Inkscape, etc. I use a Canon 10D as my main digital camera and an Epson 2200 for printing.
Acrylic paint, pen, pencil, airbrushing, tattooing, and sculpting in different clays.
Apache, IIs, MySQL, Flash, Python, PHP, and rarely ASP.
Fruityloops, Acid, Soundforge, Reason, and Audacity.
If your interested in having work done or have an inquiry of services please go to my [Services and Contact] page.


Saving bank account is most preferred method to keep extra money but saving bank accounts only gives interest in range of 4-6%. What to do to earn maximum interest. Well today we will discuss 10 best Saving Bank accounts with auto sweep facility which can earn more interest.
If you have lot of cash lying idle in your bank account and you don't want to invest this money for long term.What you should do?
Well one way is to make Fixed Deposit of this money. But if you are too busy and forgot to make FD you may lose interest earning, another option is to enable Auto Sweep facility in saving bank account.
What is Auto Sweep Facility?
Auto sweep facility provides combine benefit of saving bank account and fixed deposit. This facility interlinks your saving bank account with fixed deposit account.
This facility makes sure that extra money crossing threshold limit defined by you will automatically get transferred to fixed deposit account and you will earn better return.
Example How Auto sweep facility can earn you more return?
Suppose your saving bank account has Rs. 1 lac for 1 year. In normal saving bank account it will earn interest 4% which is Rs.4000 for year.
If you have auto sweep facility with threshold limit of Rs. 10,000 than additional Rs.90000 will form fixed deposit and earn 8% interest.
At year end you will earn Rs. 400 interest earn from Rs. 10,000 plus Rs.7200 interest earn from Rs.90000. So Total interest will be Rs.7600 which is far greater than interest earn in first case.
Today multiple banks provide auto sweep facility but they name it differently. HDFC bank calls it Sweep-in. ICICI bank calls it money multiplier and SBI calls it saving plus. Below is list of 10 Best Saving account which can earn maximum interest.
According to me this account is idle place to keep emergency fund. So if you are keeping your fund in saving bank account make sure you take auto sweep facility to earn better returns.
You were aware about auto sweep account earlier? Do you think this information will be helpful to you? Do share your comment in section given below.
Kindly tell that which bank offers the lowest threshold limit with an okay kind of interest rate? or rather, can you please mention which bank offers how much threshold limits?
If you can go for SBI it is offering threshold limit of Rs.10,000.You are likely to earn around 8% interest rate from SBI autosweep.
Sir,me cisf(peramilitary force) me job karta hu. Sir hmara sbi me salary account hai..sbi me MOD balance k liey minimum threshold bal 25000 hai..aur interest/year 7.75 hai.. Plz sir,guide me k kis bank me MOD K LIEY minimum threshold bal limit kam hai and interest rate zyada..hamara paramilitary account hai..hmare se related koi aur plan hai to plz btaein ,sir…thanking you..
Right now no such account is available, however i will try to find and share information.
Normal FD rates are applicable in these cases. You can refer to https://moneyexcel.com/11253/latest-fixed-deposit-rates-july-2015 for latest interest rates.
What is the criterion for using this top 10 list.
Even PNB offers auto sweep with good interest rates.
I think SBI offers the lowest one.
This list is created to provide information to reader about this facility. It is not in any particular order.


In "what does your handwriting say about you" we learned that the way we write can reveal great deal about our personalities. For instance, the people who use small letters are said to be shy, withdrawn, or meticulous while those who tend to opt for moderate letters are well-adjusted and adaptable. Using wide spacing, on the other hand, indicates a person who enjoys freedom and doesn't like to be overwhelmed or crowded. The shape of letters can also tell something about your personality traits. For example, using rounded letters shows that one is creative and artistic; pointed letters are indicative of aggressive and intense behaviour.


Over the past seven years I spend some of my time in casinos playing video poker (the rest, playing blackjack). Why video poker? Because I can get the edge in video poker and make money as I have done playing blackjack. Here's how I did it.
There are three important steps to become a skilled video poker player. First and foremost, you need to join the casino's players' club. It costs you nothing and every time you play video poker be sure to insert your player's card into the machine's card reader. This way, the casino can keep track of how much you play and how long you play. Based on your playing habits, you will get comps, including cash back from some casinos. This will help increase your overall return. In fact, depending upon on how much cash back (or free play) the casino gives you, you can often turn a negative expectation video poker game into an overall positive expectation game.
Step #2 is also easy. It involves looking at the pay schedule on the front of the machine to select only the highest-paying machines to play.
For example, one of the most prevalent video poker games is Jacks or Better. But not all Jacks or Better machines have the same payoff. In order to locate the highest-paying machine, you need to check what the machine pays off for the full house and flush per coin play. On most machines it pays 8 coins for a full house and 5 for the flush per coin (or even less). That's not good enough (the overall return for an 8/5 machines is 97.3 percent). What you want is a machine that pays 9 coins for the full house and 6 coins for the flush. These 9/6 machines return 99.6 percent for perfect play.
Summarized below is the complete pay schedule for the full-pay Jacks or Better machine. Given a choice, always select a machine that has the pay schedule listed below.
Where can you find these full pay machines? Go to http://vpfree2.com and you'll find information on the best video poker games for each casino across the U.S.
You'll also find the above pay schedule on progressive Jacks or Better machines. On these machines, the payoff for the royal flush increases as more coins are played. Progressive 9/6 machines are actually quite good because as soon as the payoff for the royal flush exceeds $1,220 (quarter denomination) or $4,800 (for dollars) the machines overall return exceed 100 percent. I often play in a Mississippi casino that has a progressive 9/6 Jacks or Better game (at quarter, half-dollar and dollar denomination); this game has been quite profitable for me.
There are other types of video poker games that offer the skillful player as good, and in some cases, even better returns. Some include 10/7 Double Bonus, Deuces Wild that pays 5 coins for Four-of-Kind and Not So Ugly (NSU) Deuces Wild. If all this is Greek to you, don't fret. Just stick to the 9/6 full pay Jacks or Better to start and you'll do just fine.
The third step to become a successful video poker player is to learn the correct playing strategy for the game that you are playing because the playing strategy for, say, a Jacks or Better game is much different than the one for a Deuces Wild game. You'll find a beginner- and intermediate-level strategy for several video poker games at www.wizardofodds.com. You need to print and learn this strategy, which will tell you which cards to hold and which to discard. You should also bring a video poker strategy card with you when you play (they are casino-legal) so you'll never make a playing mistake. I like the strategy cards by Bob Dancer and Liam Dailey (available in my store at www.bjinsider.com).
Let's put it all together to see how you can gain the edge playing video poker. Remember that progressive Jacks or Better game that I play? Let's assume the royal flush is high enough that my return for playing is 99.7 percent. This casino normally gives players 0.13 percent in free play based on your coin-in (total amount wagered). Several weeks ago, the casino had a 10-times point promotion meaning you got 10-times your slot points for that day. This increases the amount of the free play you will get at the end of the day from 0.13 percent to 1.3 percent times your coin-in. If you add the 1.3 percent in free play to the 99.7 percent return on the game, my overall return was 1.01 percent, meaning I had a one percent advantage over the casino during this promotion. And get this: I'll also get coupons in the mail from this casino in the future for more free play (bounce back coupons), free rooms, meals and other goodies just for playing a casino game where I had a 1 percent edge. Not bad.
Here's a true story about a successful video poker player who happens to be my father-in-law. At age 87, I taught Pete (who used to be a losing slot player) how to play video poker skillfully. Over the past several years, using the techniques I outlined above, he has quadrupled his bankroll. (Note: He just turned 91 and he's still winning.) One of the keys that he will say that helped him learn the strategy was practicing on my computer using video poker training software (he practiced until his accuracy was at least 99 percent before he risked any money in a casino; for information on these software programs, which I also use when I teach video poker to students in Las Vegas, go to my store on www.bjinsider.com).
If you want to learn more about video poker, I can recommend the books Frugal Video Poker by Jean Scott and Viktor Nacht, and the new book, Video Poker for Intelligent Beginners by Bob Dancer (also available on www.bjinsider.com).


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jazz Archive
The Very Best Of…Concord Jazz Artists
By Bill Kopp
compilation, jazz, new release, review
Because Concord Music Group has acquired the licensing to some of the most venerable labels in all of music (Stax, Fantasy, Riverside, Prestige, and others) as well as large chunks of the work of some of the world's most important artists (Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra), they have – in addition to their excellent reissues
Catching Up With Modern Jazz, Part Two
compilation, jazz, reissue, review
A quick roundup of some notable jazz releases, from your friendly neighborhood jazz novitiate who nonetheless knows what he likes… Toots Thielemans – Yesterday & Today (Universal Music) My first – and for many years only – exposure to the Belgian harmonica player's music was his work on Billy Joel's kinda cheesy "Leave a Tender
Catching Up With Modern Jazz, Part One
jazz, reissue, review
As many readers know, I'm a relative latecomer to appreciation of jazz. Other than a copy of Weather Report's Heavy Weather LP, my record collection was all but jazz-free until I picked up a good condition (monaural) vinyl copy of Cannonball Adderley's Somethin' Else at a garage sale sometime in the early 90s. Though it
Album Review: Vince Guaraldi – The Very Best of Vince Guaraldi
compilation, jazz, review
The music of Vince Guaraldi could well be described as "jazz for people who don't like jazz." And even knowing what little I do about Guaraldi the man, I strongly suspect that he'd be pleased with that description. He was a hipster-looking pianist who created arguably the most accessible body of work in the jazz
Album Review: Ray Charles — Genius: The Ultimate Ray Charles Collection
jazz, pop, r&b, reissue, review, soul
The word Genius is thrown around far too cavalierly. At this writing, Michael Jackson (the self-proclaimed King of Pop) has been dead only a few days, and tributes everywhere call the onetime child star a genius. Oh yeah? I recently sat through Martin Bashir's 2003 documentary Living With Michael Jackson (an icky title in light
Youth at Jazz: Keeping the Jazz Fires Burning in WNC
interview, jazz
WNC's long "roots music" tradition is well-known and justifiably celebrated. But there's a whole lot more going on musically in the region, and much of it has an equally important connection to history. Asheville's Youth At Jazz program is at the forefront of efforts to link today's youth to the proud tradition of the American


The Wah Wah Valley solar energy zone (SEZ) is located in Utah northwest of the Escalante Desert. The SEZ is located on BLM-administered land within the Cedar City Field Office.
The Wah Wah Valley solar energy zone (SEZ) has a total area of 6,097 acres (25 km2). In the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS, 224 acres (0.91 km2) of the Wah Wah Wash were identified as non-development areas, leaving the SEZ with a potential developable area of 5,873 acres (23.8 km2). No additional changes to the SEZ developable area were made in the Final Solar PEIS.
The Wah Wah Valley SEZ is located in Beaver County. The SEZ lies in Wah Wah Valley, a narrow valley northwest of the Escalante Desert across the Shauntie Hills, and between Wah Wah Mountains to the west and southwest, Shauntie Hills to the south and southeast, and San Francisco Mountains to the east. In 2008, the county population was 7,265, while adjacent Iron County to the south had a population of 45,833. The largest nearby town is Cedar City about 50 mi (80 km) southeast.
Land within the SEZ is rural, undeveloped scrubland characteristic of a high-elevation, semiarid basin. Vegetation consists primarily of low shrubs with broad expanses of gravel and sand flats.
State Route 21 passes through the northern portion of the SEZ. A ranch with some land under irrigation is located at the northern boundary of the SEZ. An historic power line, unpaved roads and wire fences cross the SEZ. Part of the SEZ is authorized by the BLM for grazing. The SEZ may be used by local residents for general outdoor recreation, including backcountry driving and off-highway vehicle use, recreational shooting, and small and big game hunting.
Mountains surround this remote location, and there are few people living nearby.
There is good access to the SEZ from State Route 21, which runs from west to east through the northern half of the SEZ. Transmission access to the Wah Wah Valley SEZ does not exist. The availability of existing transmission near the SEZ is under investigation, but there is a designated transmission corridor running east-west through the SEZ along State Route 21. As of May 2012, there were no pending solar applications within the SEZ.


The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 GAMING OC series delivers a superior PC gaming experience compared to its last gen counterpart. Powered by the new NVIDIA Turing GPU architecture and the innovative GTX platform, featuring 6GB GDDR5 192-bit memory interface that has a 1860 MHz Boost Clock. Built with Gigabyte's Windforce cooling see improved performance in your GPU as the fans alternate their spinning motion allowing hot air to be pushed out fast whilst reducing turbulence. With a unique blade fan and 3D Active Fans driving cooling performance you can expect low temperatures even at high loads, and to help the direct touch technology is were the shape of the copper pipes maximizes the direct contact with the GPU resulting in faster heat transfer.


The season premier of the BEARcast – WrestleCast! We're back and we're in full swing. So special that Fred and I were together LIVE to discuss it all. Everything from the past few weeks including this Monday's RAW and a few previews of the upcoming Night of Champions.


Using the data of the fifth population census of China in 2000 and the data published by Urban Statistical Yearbook of China, this paper analyzes the growth status of large cities, medium cities and small cities in China, researches the adverse impacts of containing the development of large cities on urbanization in China at the moment, and puts forward the strategy for China's urbanization in the future. The study argues that it is an inevitable trend for large cities of China to grow and expand under the circumstances of rapid development of urbanization. The urban development policy of Chinese government, that is "controlling sizes of large cities", should be revised in order that all of cities of different population sizes can develop healthily, and environmental damage and resources' waste in urbanization of China can be reduced as far as possible.


text:
Q: What's the maximum supply voltage for a OPA2134PA? I built a MOSFET driver using a TI 741 op-amp, sounds like garbage - because you know... its a 741.
I decided to continue my endeavors and purchase some better preamps and settled on a half-dozen TI Burr-brown OPA2134PA.
I know this is a basic question, but I would really appreciate the assistance:
What is the maximum supply voltage for this IC? I've got a dual DC 16v (36v total) supply. Will that cause issues?
I'm afraid I've fried all of them because they got EXTREMELY hot just by connecting the power pins. I even tried reducing current by connecting a 4.7k resistor between pin-7 and my positive supply - it still got super hot and produced no output! I'm at a loss!
IC in question:
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Texas-Instruments/OPA2134PA?qs=7nS3%252bbEUL6uyT34OzaiM4g%3D%3D

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Selling a car - magazines vs web sites?
6$ into $10 000? THIS REALLY WORKS!!!!
FS: Rover SD1 Body Kit and Alloy Wheels.
Toyota Corolla Estate for parts and spares.
1993 Vauxhall Corsa 1.5D Merit.
# Get FREE Sony VAIO, iPod, Xbox, PlayStation, or Cell Phone when you spend $40..!!
Join UK's new carsite for all brands!
Moveing from San Diego what kind of car should I get?
Lemon Aid - The Art of Buying a CAR not a LEMON!
where to find cheap used cars to buy?
FA: 2003 (53) Mondeo TDCi Zetec (130BHP, 6 Speed) -- stunning!
FS: Sera or Supra - one should go!
Ferrai on the cheap !!!
Phew!! 07:06 ....and winding down.
FS: 1935 Daimler 15 - restoration project!


text:
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8 July 2019, 11:32 | Interview | |
Orthodox Church of Ukraine undergoing a catharsis – Cyril Hovorun
Euromaidan Press talked to Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun, PhD, Senior Lecturer at Stockholm School of Theology, former Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the UOC MP (pictured on the left), to understand how the OCU has been developing the last half a year and what impact Filaret's actions could possibly have.
28 June 2019, 08:00 | Interview | |
A patriarchate for the UGCC is not only a title. Above all, it's a way of existing, — His Beatitude Sviatoslav
Recently, there was information that Pope Francis is preparing a surprise for the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. The pontiff wants to meet with the UGCC leadership to discuss a number of themes in ecclesiastical and social life. According to the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), whom RISU had the opportunity to interview, such a meeting is truly very important.
22 November 2018, 14:51 | Religious studies |
Moscow's canonical raiding
In the context of recent events in the Orthodox world, disputes over the boundaries of church institutions often arise between the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine accuses Russia of misappropriating the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis. In its turn, Moscow appeals to the fact that the ancient Kyiv Metropolis differs from the territory of modern Ukraine. RISU decided to clarify this topic, getting advice from historians. Based on this research, we prepared an infographic.
25 September 2018, 14:21 | Religious studies |
A Different Approach to the Ecclesiastical Discussion about Ukraine
The first question that arises concerning Ukraine is this: with what right and based on which holy canons, does Russia today claim the ecclesiastical and administrative dependency of the Metropolis of Kyiv?
Latest photos and video
Dr George Weigel's Presentation during Heart to Heart 2019 in Philadelphia
Go to photo gallery
eBook Now Available: The Ecumenical Patriarchate and Ukraine Autocephaly | 17 July 2019, 10:48 | Monitoring
Pope and UGCC leaders discuss current church mission in war-torn Ukraine and in communities throughout the world | 15 July 2019, 14:06 | Monitoring
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the countries' rabbis also went to war | 12 July 2019, 15:19 | Monitoring
All calendar
9 November 2012, 12:20 | Announcements
Ecumenical Memorial Service in commemoration of Holodomor victims to be held in Tokyo
The service will be held at St. Alban's Anglican Church Kamiyacho (near Tokyo Tower) on Friday, November 23, 2012, at 5:00 p.m.
5 November 2012, 11:59 | Interchurch relations |
UOC-MP Rep: Recognition of Baptism in UOC-KP by UGCC Makes No Difference
The Secretary of the Department of External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) commented on the response of the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to Patriarch Filaret regarding the Sacrament of Baptism.
22 October 2012, 11:04 | Interchurch relations |
Synod of Kyivan Patriarchate Inquires About Position of UGCC on Repeated Baptism
The Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) on 20 October addressed the clergy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) with the request to state their position regarding the rite of baptism performed in UOC-KP.
6 October 2012, 07:58 | Interchurch relations
Best Practices: Presentation of Interdenominatinal Projects at Conference of Reconciliation Group
During the second day of the conference "The Art of the Coexistence of Christians: History Lessons and Challenges of Today" held in Yalta on the initiative of the international group Reconciliation, the participants considered practical initiatives uniting Christians of various denominations.
5 October 2012, 07:45 | Interchurch relations |
In Yalta Representatives of Various Faiths Study the Art of Coexistence
The conference "The Art of the Coexistence of Christians: History Lessons and Challenges" brought together about thirty experts and practitioners from Ukraine, Belarus, Germany and Poland to discuss the practical dimension of Christian cooperation. The organizer of the meeting, which takes place October 4-6 in Yalta, is the international group Reconciliation in Europe.
17 September 2012, 09:54 | Interchurch relations |
Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada Addresses Synod of Bishops of UGCC
The Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada, Metropolitan Yurii (Kalishchuk) addressed the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at its session on 10 September.
20 August 2012, 15:52 | Interchurch relations |
UGCC Ready for Dialogue with Moscow Patriarchate
The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) Sviatoslav Shevchuk is of the opinion that without a dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate, "it is impossible to stop the Russification of Ukraine and Ukrainophobia in Russia."
23 July 2012, 12:39 | Interchurch relations |
Head of UGCC Open to Dialogue With ROC
Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) told the Italian published edition Il Regno that he is open to dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church.
6 July 2012, 09:39 | Interchurch relations |
Archbishop of UOC-Moscow Patriarchate Pleased With Cooperation With Catholic Community of St. Egidio
The Administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patrtiarchate (UOC-MP), Archbishop Antonii (Pakanych) of Boryspil met with a professor of the Roma Tre University, Secretary General of the Community of St. Egidio, Adriano Roccucci in the Kyiv cave Monastery on 5 July.
28 June 2012, 15:19 | Interreligious & intercultural tolerance | |
Orthodox destroyed the tent with the Adventists books
In the village Orlyne (Crimea) representatives of the Orthotox community destroyed the tent with religious books establised by the Seventh-Day Adventists Hope Channel. As we see on the video posted on YouTube on June 26 and raised a storm of comments in social networks among Ukrainian protestants.
18 June 2012, 12:44 | Interchurch relations |
Fr. Ivan Dankevych: In central Ukraine UGCC goes to those who need it
The site Orthodoxy in Ukraine on June 15 released material in which the deputy head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), Fr. Mykolai Danylevych, accused Greek Catholics in concealing their religious identity during the establishment of new parishes in the Khmelnytsky region and proselytism in central and eastern regions of Ukraine.
UGCC head: Tragedy of Orthodox Church in Western Ukraine not caused by our existence or our presence
Patriarch Sviatoslav was asked by journalist from the Polish news agency KAI about the relationship between the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and how to establish a dialogue between these churches.
Patriarch Filaret: Failure to recognize autocephaly not big misfortune
Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) believes that the only difference between the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate and Kyivan Patriarchate is that the Kyiv Patriarchate has not yet been recognized by other national Orthodox Churches. However, this phenomenon is temporary, because sooner or later the Ukrainian Churches will unite.
1 June 2012, 09:42 | Conferences, seminars, researches |
Conference Marking 50th Anniversary of Second Vatican Council Held in Lviv
On May 31, at the Catholic University in Lviv, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, a three-day international conference was launched.
30 May 2012, 14:11 | Interchurch relations |
Patriarch Sviatoslav Greets Metropolitan Volodymyr on 20th Anniversary of Primate's Service
Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church sent a greeting letter to Metropolitan Volodymyr of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his ministry in the Kyiv cathedra.
30 May 2012, 12:10 | Freedom of Conscience |
Officials and Activists of UOC-MP in Sumy Prohibit Baptists to Organize Event for Children
The Executive Committee of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy prohibited the Church of Grace of the All-Ukrainian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christian Baptists to conduct children's events "Joyful Playground."
29 May 2012, 13:46 | Conferences, seminars, researches |
Clergymen and Scholars in Lviv To Celebrate 50th Anniversary of 2nd Vatican Council
On 31 May-2 June, an International Scholarly Conference "2nd Vatican Council: Gifts of the Spirit – Church Mystery – Human Testimony" will be held at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the 2nd Vatican Council.
22 May 2012, 11:51 | Church-state relations |
Patriarch Filaret: Independent Ukraine Not Possible Without Independent Church
During his recent visit to Bukovyna Region, Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) expressed an opinion that an independent autocephalous Church will be established in Ukraine only when the Ukrainian state becomes strong.
22 May 2012, 09:28 | Inter-Orthodox relations |
Patriarch Filaret: UOC-MP Keeps Faithful By Deceit
During his visit to the Bukovyna region, Patriarch Filaret commented to our RISU correspondent Yurii Chornei that anouncements on the walls of churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) equate people baptized in the Kyivan Patriarchate with people who have committed suicide and thus who are not to be prayed for.
Synod of Kyivan Patriarchate Passes Address to Bishops of UOC-MP
Representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyivan Patriarchate (UOC-KP) are convinced that deprivation of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate's status of independence and self-government would turn it into a puppet of the Russian Church and state power.
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text:
Collision in Bloom
Still in London. Inside Killigan's.
Aurora was sure that her ears were bleeding from the thunderous applause as she walked off the stage. As she walked past well-wishers and congratulators to her small makeshift dressing room she wondered if this was how her mother felt after a show. Did she feel that same giddy relief that it was over yet experience that anticipation for the next time?
The noise faded into the background; Aurora was enveloped in self-induced silence, alone with her sadness—a sadness that came out of nowhere, it seemed. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Why was she so sad all of a sudden? Her family was here, safe and out of the rain, and she got to perform for the people whom she loved, for the people who mattered the most to her. The crushing despair she felt made no sense.
She walked into her little dressing room and dropped down into a chair. She wanted to go out and see her family, but not like this. She stared at herself in the mirror, frowning at her reflection.
"Snap out of it, Bloom," she muttered. "Everything's all fine and dandy and you're just finding something to complain about." Then she looked down at her hands. "But I do wish Mum was here right now…"
Not sensing Aurora's melancholy, Jamie stampeded into the room out of nowhere and hugged her tightly, making her feel like her brain was going to ooze out of those aforementioned ears.
"Jamie…?!" Aurora managed as the chair stopped teetering. "I…don't think…I can breathe…!"
There was a pause, then Jamie disentangled himself. He smiled at her sheepishly and Aurora rolled her eyes. "What? Can't I be happy that we did such a wonderful job up there?"
"Not that happy, Jamie." Jamie stared at her for a long time until a smile began to form on the corners of her lips. "Oh alright. I'll admit, it was smashing being up there with everyone cheering us on and clapping along with the music."
"See?" Jamie said, grinning. "I knew you liked it. Perhaps you're going to become a big star or something. And then I can say that I worked with the talented Aurora Bloom."
Aurora waved it off as she had other things on her mind. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Have you seen my family? I thought they might be looking for me after the show."
"Nope, I haven't seen them," Jamie answered. "But then again, it is quite hectic out there. I'm sure we'll get a visit from Cam here in a moment about an encore performance."
A movement over Jamie's shoulder caught her attention. She climbed to her feet and Jamie turned around to see Rory stride into the room with Cameron behind him. At the sound of their footfalls, Jamie and Aurora paused and stared at them.
Rory's blue-green eyes shifted from Jamie to Aurora, then back again. Jamie and Aurora shared a glance as Rory's expression didn't change. It wouldn't have disturbed Aurora at all if it hadn't been for the look in Rory's eyes. Something was wrong.
"Rory?" Aurora frowned at him, then looked to Cameron. "Cameron? What's the matter?"
Rory's eyes dropped down and away. Cameron stepped forward, expression solemn. A quiver started in Aurora's belly, but it was not a nice one.
"Aurora, love," Cameron began, "we need to talk."
Aurora tilted her head at the somber tone of the usually jovial, witty Cameron Byrne. "Is it about the performance? Because we can change—"
"It's not the performance, Aurora," Cameron interrupted. "It's something more serious." Aurora opened her mouth to ask, What could possibly be more serious? Cameron hastily added, "It's your dad."
Dad? Aurora instinctively leaned back on the chair, not sure she could keep her feet for much longer. She was so afraid to ask, but she had to know.
"Cameron, what's happened to my dad?" Aurora wanted to know. Suddenly, Cameron looked away, too. What was it with him withholding information from her like this? Angry, she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him until he looked at her. "Goddammit, Cameron—!"
"You really should not hear this from me," Cameron said tightly. "I don't think I should be the one to tell you. It's not my place." He took her hands from his shoulders, which were as limp as floppy rag dolls. "Aurora, your brother and sister are outside. I think they should be the ones to tell you, not me."
Horrified, Aurora stared at him as her eyes filled with tears. "What happened? Is my father…?"
"Just go, Aurora," Rory broke in, his voice unusually husky. "Don't waste any more time here."
There was only one word in her mind as she pushed past Cameron and Rory: move.
At that instant, it was the only thing she could do.
Rosalind Bloom considered herself a strong woman. She had lived through the untimely death of her husband and countless other loved ones, managing to erect and maintain a pillar of strength around her. She remained strong raising her only son, the son she had so many hopes for. She had lived through his childhood, his rocky and rebellious adolescence, then his star-studded adulthood. She grinned with pride when he gained his accolades, gasped in horror when he fell, sighed with relief when he picked himself back up again.
She did not want to out live him. She did not want to stand over his grave knowing that it should be her six feet under instead of him.
Rosalind paced the waiting room at the hospital alone. Her grandchildren, battling the congested traffic, were on the way, while Della's sisters and cousins were on airplanes headed toward London. Well, except for Laine, who now worked at this London hospital because she wanted to be nearby. Rosalind knew that things would be considerably more stressful if it had not been for Laine and her promises for an update as soon as she was able to step away.
The raven-haired doctor looked harried and exhausted when she finally visited Rosalind. There was a smudge of blood on her green scrubs and her short black hair was mussed. The two women shared a hug before Laine stepped back to look Rosalind in the face.
"They've run some scans on Orlando and they now have him in surgery," Laine explained to Rosalind. "His left leg was horribly broken in the accident, and they've got to set it along with some other things. Obviously, there was some internal damage. After that, they want to see how the brain scans look. The aim is to make sure he doesn't have any brain damage."
Rosalind covered the doctor's hand with her own, sensing Laine's barely harnessed grief. "And how about your sister?"
Laine's lip trembled slightly, but she kept her composure. Better than I would have, Rosalind mused with some admiration and sorrow. "I haven't…I mean, I don't know if I could stand it if something…" Laine broke off and inhaled deeply. After a moment, she tried again.
"I haven't had a good chance to check up on her yet," Laine explained in a steadier voice. "I…I know she's okay. They've assured me that she's okay, but…" Laine squeezed her eyes shut. "She was so happy yesterday afternoon when they told her, and if something's happened to end it—"
Rosalind placed her hands on Laine's shoulders. "End what, Elaine? What are you talking about?"
The elevator slid open several feet away and the hallway was suddenly filled with noise. Even though the doors to the waiting room were closed, Rosalind could hear her grandchildren's voices, accompanied by a few others she couldn't place at the moment because she wasn't paying attention. Rosalind just stared into Laine's tired blue eyes for the answer to her question.
"Elaine…?" Rosalind began.
"All I can say is that she finally got what she wanted," Laine said quietly.
Rosalind could not break her gaze from Laine as realization dawned. Face slack and mouth open in shock, Rosalind idly raised a hand to her heart as her grandchildren stormed into the room, flanked by Keira and Nia. Ariel came and hugged Rosalind as soon as she laid eyes on her. Closing her eyes, Rosalind wrapped her arms around her granddaughter and squeezed.
"My Ariel," Rosalind murmured against the teenager's long brown hair.
"Tell me they've told you something about Daddy, Nana," Ariel said tearfully. "Please tell me he's alright."
"Aunt Laine, have you heard anything?" Gus asked his aunt as the others stood by and watched Laine with rapt interest.
In a softer tone than she used with most patients' families, Laine told them what she had told Rosalind just moments before about what she knew. Taking it all in, everyone stood there silently. Laine hugged them all before she dashed back into the fray to see if there had been any change in Orlando's or Penny's conditions.
"Maybe you all should sit down," Nia suggested as she surveyed the weary family. "It's going to be a while, unfortunately."
"She's right." Gus led his grandmother and little sister to the couch nearby, while his twin remained standing. She had her back to them, and the way her shoulders heaved, it was clear that she was crying.
Gus rarely witnessed his sister cry. Even when she fell and scraped a knee, or stubbed her toe on a chair leg, she'd just swear and walk it off. But he had a feeling that giving a good yell of Bloody hell! and stalking away would help matters here. Gus ached to comfort her, but Ariel had his hand clasped in a death grip, so he could not leave his baby sister.
So Keira went to her instead. She enveloped Aurora in a tight, warm hug even as her own eyes watered. Nia looked on, trying not to burst into tears herself.
It was during this quiet moment of misery that the doors opened again. Everyone looked up in half-hope, half-dread as Jacqueline Gannon slowly walked in.
The blonde looked like she had walked miles without an umbrella. Her hair was stringy and limp, whatever makeup she wore smudged. Her skin was pale, making the streaks of eyeliner stand out in sharp contrast. The doors closed behind her neatly and quietly but she said nothing, just staring at the Bloom family, Keira, and Nia as if she didn't know where to begin.
"Hey," Nia greeted Jacqueline with a bit of concern. "Where have you been this whole time?"
Jacqueline pursed her lips together for a moment, then spoke. "I've been…talking with the police," she replied.
"The police?" Rosalind blurted. "What exactly did you tell them?"
Nia wrapped an arm around Aurora's shoulders as Keira, brown eyes filled with anger, glared contemptuously at Jacqueline.
"Now would be a good time for you to tell us what happened, Jacqueline," Keira began in a strained voice.
Seeing the grief flicker in Jacqueline's eyes, Rosalind placed a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Keira…" she began.
Jacqueline raised a hand. "No. You have a right to know. Right now, I'm the only person who can shed some light on what happened tonight."
Earlier that night.
In the middle of Aurora's rocking rendition of George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You," Penny started to look a little green.
Orlando was the first to notice. Jacqueline and Ariel were totally engrossed in the music, clapping along with the rest of the spectators. Orlando was, too, but Penny's peculiar pallor caught his immediate attention. Penny was good at hiding her emotions or physical ailments to people she didn't know very well. Orlando, however, knew Penny extremely well, and he could sense her discomfort as it began to outweigh her excitement and happiness over Aurora's performance. Silently, he reached across and placed a hand on hers. She looked up at him, blue eyes filled with bewilderment.
"Are you alright, love?" Orlando asked in an undertone that could be heard under the music.
Penny mustered up a smile. "What do you mean? I'm fine. It's just all the excitement, that's all."
As Orlando studied Penny intently, Jacqueline glanced over at him. Jacqueline's mouth was open as if she were going to speak, but the look in Orlando's eyes startled her a bit. Her jaw tightened and her mouth closed slowly as Penny barely held her ground underneath his intense gaze. Jacqueline told herself that he only looked at Penny that way because she was his dead wife's sister and the aunt of his three children, but an uncomfortable tingle started at the base of her spine.
"Don't you lie to me, Penelope," Orlando warned, still gazing at Penny so intently he probably could have stared a hole through her head. "Are you sick or not?"
Penny straightened and seemed to find some of her trademark valor. "Would you stop badgering me? I said I'm fine, Orlando. Besides, you should be worrying about watching Aurora right now. She comes first right now."
Orlando gritted his teeth together for a full thirty seconds. At that moment, Aurora completed "Got My Mind Set on You" and the crowd clapped and cheered enthusiastically, particularly the ones on the dance floor in front of the stage. Orlando, sitting on the higher level of the dining room with his companions, idly clapped along, glaring at Penny. He turned and watched the stage Cameron talked about the next song.
"This song is not quite one of Aurora's favorites," Cameron told the audience, and Aurora made a face that indicated that was an understatement. Jamie laughed along with the audience. "But once we heard her rehearse this song, we knew she had to sing it tonight. I feel it makes her come out of her shell a bit more than the last three songs." Cameron shifted and started at Aurora. "So, Aurora love? Would you mind performing the next song for us?"
"Do I have a choice?" Aurora asked, which inspired more laughter.
Aurora started the song, a cover of an old R&B song that Orlando hadn't heard of before. Jamie played the piano and another employee, a mere shadow at Aurora's back, played the drums. Both supplied backing vocals and helped give the song a more soulful sound. But the voice that came out of Aurora Bloom this time wasn't sweet; this time it had more grit and more depth. People filled the dance floor for the chance to sway cheek-to-cheek to the music. The change in his daughter filled him with pride…
I know it's not the first time
That you ever felt this way before
Ooh, but those memories are still lasting
Of the pain you got for your trusting
So when love calls you walk out the door, ooh, but this time, boy…
Until his eyes rested on Penny again. She looked like she was about to toss her dinner onto her new Ferragamo wedges, which would have horrified her in any case.
"Penelope…" Orlando began in a tone that indicated that he was about to admonish her.
Irritated, Penny climbed to her feet. "Would you just shut up? I'm fine. And to prove it, we're going to dance." Penny grabbed Orlando's hand before he could protest. Penny dragged him around the tables and down to the open area that served as the dance floor.
It's real love
Don't be afraid of the way you feel
(Ooh, don't be afraid now, baby)
It's real love (Oh…oh…oh…oh…)
"And just what will this prove?" Orlando asked as she turned to face him.
Penny tilted her head at him and took his hands in hers so that they could sway together. "That's you're just crazy, Orlando."
I'm not the one who hurt you, boy
And with love there's no real guarantee
If you believe in what you're feeling
And you wanna make love to me, oh, baby
Orlando sighed. "Penny, look. I'm sorry if I've been overbearing. But you have to understand that I care about you." Then he paused as something occurred to him. "Did Aurora just say something about sex?"
Penny rolled her eyes, seemingly almost back to her old self again. "Orlando…?! Back to the situation at hand," she said, exasperated. "You need to let up on me. You forget, I'm almost the same age as you. You can't order me around like some older brother or something."
"As true as that may be, love, I have to say it again: I care about you." Penny looked away. "What? Did you think that I would ignore that something is wrong with you?"
It's real love (It's time to do it right)
Don't be afraid of the way you feel (Ooh, I need you tonight, I need you right now)
It's real love (Oh…now what you got to say, baby)
Penny sighed. "No. I didn't. But I really wish you would concentrate on Aurora right now. You know I can take care of myself."
Orlando stared at her again, that intense look in his brown eyes that made her mouth go dry. Not that she'd let him have the satisfaction of knowing. It would be like relinquishing some of her power, and if there was one thing that Penelope Henderson held on to, it was her designer shoes, her Maybelline mascara, and her power.
"I honestly think you need more taking care of than you like to admit," Orlando said quietly.
"Oh? And would you like to be the one to do that for me?" Penny demanded, blue eyes flashing and a little bit of life coming back into her cheeks.
Orlando stopped swaying to the music, but Penny felt a little shaky then as Orlando kept staring a hole through her, his eyes boring through hers. "I would if you would just stop trying to be bloody Superwoman, Penelope."
Penny didn't blink. She was miserable all over, but she didn't blink. "And what would Jacqueline have to say about that?"
Don't be afraid of the way you feel (Ooh, yeah, yeah, baby)
Open your heart and you'll see it's real (Ooh, it's real love)
Don't be afraid of the way you feel (I'm not the one who hurt you)
It's real love (Give your love to me)
The silence between them could not even be penetrated by the music. They hardly noticed it now as the space between them was rapidly filling with the whispers of unrequited love from years past, present, and future. A door had been opened, and now it was too late to slam it shut. The damage had been done.
Before Orlando could reply, a voice behind him said angrily, "So this is the British gentleman you've thrown me over for."
Penny's eyes widened in shock, then her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Orlando turned around and faced the person behind him.
Harold Carson was the consummate picture of the Hollywood lawyer. He seemed to be well-preserved for his age, sporting a well-toned body and healthy skin, and the only whispers of maturity were his pewter hair and the laugh lines around his eyes. But he was not laughing tonight.
"Harold?" she blurted in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"I'd ask you the same thing but as I have eyes, I can see what you're doing," Harold replied tersely, gesturing to an irritated Orlando. "I guess I wasn't good enough for you, Penny, was I? What does this guy have that I don't have?"
"Damn right you weren't good enough for me," Penny snapped. "I love Orlando and have for a long time. He would do anything for me, even help me do the thing that I want most: having my own baby. Now get out of here and find someone else to bother."
Penny's words seemed to wound Harold like an arrow going at high velocity. He took a couple of steps back with his hand over his heart as if the words had a tangible force. Penny spun around on her heel and stalked off. She walked past a concerned Cameron Byrne as Harold's face twisted into a mask of rage and he lunged for Orlando.
"Bloody hell," Cameron muttered under his breath before jumping into the fray.
Penny saw the movement, paused and turned. Cameron was restraining Harold, who was red-faced with anger and spitting out threats. Orlando, meanwhile, appeared calm on the outside, but Penny could see him ball up his fist in preparation for a fight. Not a good sign.
See, she knew him well, too.
"Orlando, don't," Penny pleaded with him and tugged on his arm. "This is neither the time nor the place. Please, don't give him any more attention than he deserves, which is none at all."
I need you by my side, boy
Uh, let's make it last forever
It's real love (Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, no, baby)
Orlando stood there for a second, weighing his options as Harold spat at him to fight. Then he looked back at Penny and saw the worry and misery in her eyes. A pang of guilt speared through Orlando and he took Penny's hand.
"You're right," he conceded. "I'm going to take you home, love. You need some rest."
Penny nodded wordlessly. She turned around to walk to the exit and came face-to-face with Jacqueline.
There was something in the blonde's eyes. Penny could not tell if it were fury, jealousy, concern, or a mix of the three, but it made her stop short because of the intensity of it. She wasn't sure if Orlando could notice until he went to the woman and clasped her hands in his.
"Jacqueline, I've got to take Penny home," he told her in an undertone. "She is not feeling well. It shouldn't take me long, and I should be back to see the end of Aurora's set."
"But Orlando," Jacqueline started to protest. Penny noticed that there was more concern in her eyes now.
"It'll be okay. I'll be right back, I promise, love." He placed a quick kiss on her temple. "Tell Ariel where I've gone, and be sure to tell Keira, Gus, and Nia the same thing when they get here."
Without pausing to hear if Jacqueline had anything to say about that, Orlando took Penny's hand and led her out. Harold broke away from Cameron and stormed out after them. Jacqueline did the same, weeding her way around the tables and out of the dining room. And still Aurora sang, not knowing what had just taken place on the dance floor in front of her.
Seeing a puzzled Ariel sitting at the table by herself, Cameron sighed and sat down beside her. "Need some company, love?" Cameron asked the befuddled teenager. She was too flabbergasted to refuse his offer for company.
Don't be afraid of the way you feel (Time is right tonight)
Open your heart and your heart and you'll see it's real (I need to, I need to, I need to hold you tight)
Outside, meanwhile, Jacqueline heard thunder rumbling as Orlando opened his car door for Penny. She ran for Orlando's car, her shoes clacking on the sidewalk, as he rounded the front to get to the driver's side.
"Orlando!" she called. "Orlando, wait!"
Orlando paused. His eyebrows furrowed as he laid eyes on her. The rain began to spill from the sky, soaking their clothes and hair. They gazed at each other silently, one assessing the other.
"Jacqueline, what's the matter?" Orlando yelled over the rain.
"Please don't go, Orlando!" Jacqueline called back. "Can't you stay?"
A pained look crossed Orlando's features, and he shook his head. "Please try to understand. I have to do this. Penny means a lot to me."
Jacqueline didn't squelch the frisson of jealousy that made her ask, "And what about me, Orlando?"
The rain fell, a rhythmic hiss around them, and people fled for shelter or tried to brave the coming storm. The world was filled with the sounds of falling rain, disbelief and surprise, and umbrellas in bloom. For a long time, it was the only sound between them. Neither spoke.
Finally Orlando said, "We'll talk later, Jacqueline. Now is not the time for this." Then he got in the car without another word and left.
The enormity of had just happened weighed on Jacqueline so much that she just stood there in the rain, shell-shocked. Jacqueline watched Harold zoom off in his car after them. Her hand went instinctively to her cell phone in her jacket pocket, but after a moment, her lips set in a firm line. She was tired of helping, tired of doing things that would help others, especially Penelope Henderson. If Harold wanted to catch up with her, fine; he could. Jacqueline Gannon was not going to be the one to stop him.
The room was silent once Jacqueline finished her narrative. Nia pursed her lips together, watching Keira and Aurora worriedly, knowing that they had the biggest and most fierce tempers in the room. Much to her dismay, Aurora moved away from her grandmother, twin and little sister and toward Jacqueline.
"So you didn't try to stop Harold at all," Aurora said in a low tone that reminded everyone of Orlando when he was angry. "You knew that he was unstable and would try to hurt Aunt Pen and you didn't even stop him?!"
Jacqueline stared at the eighteen-year-old with tears running down her face. "What could I have done? Laid down in front of his car and put my own life in danger? It would have taken a Herculean effort to stop him, Aurora. I am not superhuman."
"I don't think you're even human," Aurora remarked bitterly.
Nia climbed to her feet, hurt that two people she cared about were fighting with one another. "Aurora," she started.
"Aurora, please," Ariel broke in gently. "Don't do this now."
"Bollocks! I am so bleeding sick and tired of tiptoeing around Jacqueline like she's some sensitive child," Aurora burst out angrily. "I don't understand why my father loves you. No—wait, I see why. Because he's a good, decent, caring man and you do nothing but trample all over him to get what you want. I wouldn't doubt that you're good at that."
"How dare you?" Jacqueline demanded. "How dare you stand there and malign me like you're the poster child for decency?"
"I may not be, but I'm not the one who can't stick when the going gets tough," Aurora shot back.
Rosalind rose and stood in between them, the tension in the room so thick it could have choked an outsider. Rosalind saw the resentment and fury in her granddaughter's brown eyes, then the resentment and fury in Jacqueline's eyes. Even though Aurora had voiced some of her own deepest opinions about Jacqueline, it was not the time to voice them. Orlando and Penny were fighting for their lives, and here they were fighting with one another.
Faced with her grandmother, Aurora backed down noticeably. Chastised, Aurora lowered her head and said nothing. Rosalind then shifted toward Jacqueline, words of admonishment on her lips.
They died when Laine entered the room.
Laine looked exhausted when she walked in. She looked like she had lived through a thousand lifetimes. Rosalind understood; tragedy had a way of aging a person. Nia, Keira, Ariel, and Gus noticed her presence and came closer. Seeing that Rosalind's eyes were focused on something beyond her, Jacqueline spun around quickly. Seeing Laine there gave her a jolt since she was identical to Penny. But she said nothing.
Laine ran a hand through her hair before speaking to them. "Orlando's out of surgery," she told them. "He's in a room now if you want to visit him. But you'll have to do it in pairs. They won't allow more than two at a time."
"Nana, you go first," Gus offered. "You're his mum, and I'm sure you want to see him very much right now."
Rosalind opened her mouth to protest, but everyone insisted that this was the best thing. Rosalind chose Ariel to go with her, and Laine led them to where Orlando's room was. Once the door had closed, Aurora gave Jacqueline a scathing look and went to the window where she could watch the rain. Keira went to her. Uncomfortable with the thick silence and tired from the night's events, Gus offered Nia a candy bar and coffee. Nia tried to get Jacqueline to join them, but she hastily waved them off and left the room. Exhaling heavily, Nia leaned on Gus and went with him for sustenance.


text:
Homer Garden Club
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