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Episode 4: The Font
Magic Story Apr 4, 2022
These familiar halls, polished and carefully curated, were as sacred as a church to Xander. Tonight, on the eve of the Crescendo, he was determined to walk them all one final time and savor their splendor. Moments of peace were fleeting, and if his informants and assumptions were correct, there would be blood before the new year arrived.
"This is one of my favorites." Xander paused before a statue of an angel cradling a babe. "Every time I look at it, I think of my own mother." If only he could remember anything about her.
"It's beautiful." Anhelo humored him. Xander could feel his general's confusion as he followed Xander about the museum. Anhelo checked his timepiece. "My lord, if we are going to make the Crescendo on time, we should begin preparing for our departure."
Xander didn't move. Instead, he continued to stare at the peaceful visage of the woman. Had there ever been a time in New Capenna where such peace and tranquility truly existed? Had there ever been a time in his life?
He chuckled softly to himself and murmured, "I'm going soft in my old age."
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Xander folded both hands on the top of his cane. The golden claws he had adorned his fingers with tonight clanked against the metal. "You should go to the Crescendo and check on Elspeth in my stead."
As of the last update Xander received from her, she had done well infiltrating the Cabaretti. But no word yet on the Font. Still, he had every faith in her. There was something unique about Elspeth. He'd quickly gleaned she would never really be one of the family. There was an air about her of greater purpose. Perhaps that was why he had ultimately decided to open his archives to her.
"Are you not attending?"
"Not this year."
"But the Font—"
"I should like to stay here." Xander interjected.
"Xander, what troubles you?" Anhelo rested his hand lightly on Xander's elbow. The touch betrayed his deep worry. "You're not yourself tonight."
"You fret too much." Xander patted Anhelo's hand. "You will serve me best by going in my stead to the Crescendo. We wouldn't want the Cabaretti mistaking my absence for a Maestro slight."
"They will anyway, since I am not the leader of the Maestro."
"But someday soon, you will be."
"Pardon?"
"Go on. We will discuss more on these matters after the new year," Xander encouraged. He had never outright planned succession with Anhelo. It had always been assumed, but in a distant, far-off manner. But there wasn't time any more to prepare, and Xander could only hope Anhelo was ready. "Tonight, you are to go and enjoy yourself at the Crescendo and report back on any strange happenings, that's an order."
"You're sure?"
Xander looked back to the statue, using the motion to glance out of the corners of his eyes without Anhelo noticing. They're close. "I am very sure. Now, go, Anhelo. Use the receiving door to leave." The back door most don't think or know of.
"As you wish." Anhelo bowed his head and set off. Xander watched him leave with a sigh of relief he didn't bother hiding.
He stared back up at the statue as he waited. Would he meet his mother again once he had departed this long-occupied and aching mortal coil? Was there even enough soul left in this old vampire-demon that there could even be an "after" for him?
Movement ended his musings.
Xander turned to face the living shadows at the far end of the hall. Into that gloom, he asked, "Have you finally come to kill me, Adversary?"
Art by: Matt Stewart
Elspeth stood on the dance floor of the Vantoleone with a platter in hand. Jinnie had kept true to her word. After a few menial tasks—not much different than the tests Xander had put her through—she had given Elspeth a position helping with the Crescendo.
As a part of the floor team, Elspeth was well positioned to see and hear everything. Moreover, she could move unbothered. No one paid any of the uniformed staff any mind. They were as unimportant as the pennons hung against the pillars or the overgrown flowerpots at the base of each one.
Art by: Kasia 'Kafis' Zelińska
Well, she didn't go entirely unnoticed.
"Elspeth," Jinnie approached, her usual entourage of Kitt and Giada flanking her. "I'm glad we ran into you. I hope you're finding the Crescendo worth your effort?"
"And more." Elspeth forced a smile.
"Just wait, the real fun hasn't even begun yet." Jinnie helped herself to two of the cheese-filled pastries on Elspeth's platter and handed one to Giada. Per usual, the teen remained silent, her eyes hungry for something her mouth couldn't fill.
"I caught Kitt's performance already," Elspeth said.
"And? What's your review? Spare me no details!" Kitt perked up.
"It was lovely."
"That's hardly a critique at all." Kitt groaned.
"I'm afraid I'm not well versed in music so I can't give you much more than that." Elspeth offered an encouraging smile to placate her.
"Speaking of performances, I need to check on something for ours," Jinnie said to Giada then turned to Kitt. "I could use your hands, if you don't mind?"
"For you? Never."
"Do you mind keeping an eye on Giada for a moment?" Jinnie asked Elspeth.
Giada wasn't that young to need a constant chaperone. But Elspeth had seen over the past few weeks how Jinnie doted on and coddled Giada. It was a relationship Elspeth had yet to fully make heads or tails of. She'd think it sweet and sisterly, if not for the perpetual discomfort that radiated off the young woman.
"It's no trouble," Elspeth said.
"Thanks, you're such a doll." Jinnie squeezed her shoulder and started off with Kitt.
"Would you like another?" Elspeth asked, holding out the tray for Giada.
"No, thank you." So, she could speak. "I'm afraid if I eat anything else I'll be sick."
"Are you not feeling well?" Elspeth eased the platter away.
"Nervous," Giada admitted. "This performance means so much to Jinnie, the Cabaretti, everyone."
"What type of performance is it?" Elspeth worked to sound casual. A harmless question, nothing more.
Giada glanced askance. "You'll see soon."
"Sorry about that!" Jinnie promptly returned and took Giada's hand. "Are you ready to change the plane?" Giada didn't have a chance to respond before Jinnie tugged her away.
Apprehension curdled Elspeth's stomach. Something was wrong. Every fiber of her being told her so. The sensation was further compounded when she saw Maestros begin to move behind Jinnie and Giada. She knew the look in the vampires' pale eyes. They were out for blood.
Elspeth quickly stepped away from the main floor and into a back room where she set down the platter. A few of the other floor staff gave her questioning looks, but none stopped her as she dashed back out into the main hall of the Vantoleone.
Giada was already on stage, Jinnie behind her. Four Cabaretti men manhandled a large empty bottle onto the stage, bringing it before Giada. The vessel was nearly as large as Giada herself.
"This year, the Cabaretti promised a Crescendo unlike any other. Now, we will make good on that promise," Jinnie announced.
Elspeth reached for the knife Xander had given her, hidden in her coat. It was the only weapon she had, and the only thing she could conceal in the attire the waitstaff were all required to wear. Elspeth hoped she wouldn't need it.
Jinnie said something to Giada, and the teen stepped toward the enormous bottle. She took a bracing breath, a look of sheer determination overcoming her. Giada touched it with both hands.
Light exploded.
The room let out a collective gasp of surprise. Like the rest of them, Elspeth was left blinking away the blue haze that the blindingly bright light left behind. As the stage came back into focus, murmurs rippled across the crowd. None could believe what they saw, Elspeth included.
The empty bottle was now filled with Halo. Tiny, golden bubbles rose from a cerulean bottom to a rosy top. Darker currents swirled within, like dusk filtering through water, and a distinct haze clouded the air around it, as if the condensed power within could barely be contained by its glass casing.
The horrible truth of what she had just witnessed began to dawn on Elspeth. There was no way the bottle could've been swapped. It was far too massive for that. It would take far longer than a flash of light to fill it.
"Your eyes don't deceive you." Jinnie responded to the collective skepticism of the room once she had managed to get Giada stable on her feet, though the young woman was still swaying slightly, visibly weary. "In front of you all, with no tricks or games, we have made Halo from nothing. You are the first witnesses of a new order—an order that no longer knows limitations and is no longer held back by diminishing supply." She paused for emphasis; the room was enraptured. Jinnie motioned back to Giada. "Behold, the Font!"
The crowd erupted with cheers. These people saw a resource, a tool, a solution to a problem plaguing them. All Elspeth saw was an exhausted and trapped young woman.
Their "new era" would come at the cost of Giada's life.
Shadows clung to the man approaching Xander. They hung to every fold in his pristine pinstripe suit, every hammered adornment of the armored plate that framed his shoulders and chest. Former attendants and allies Xander might have once thought of as his own family rushed around the Adversary's bat-like wings, weapons drawn.
The first thing he offered the turncoats in return was a bitter smile. Next, he would offer them their own hearts.
The last few loyal officers in his employ were already cut down, no doubt. Old wounds and aching bones be damned, he would return that favor in kind, even if it was the last thing he ever did. He had readied himself tonight. Come what may, he wouldn't go down without a fight.
The first of his former assassins charged.
Xander shifted his weight entirely onto his good leg, threw one hand back, tossed his cane up with the other, and caught it by its end. Steel rang out against steel as he deflected the assassin's dagger. The other vampire's eyes went wide with shock.
"I gave you that dagger," Xander snarled. "Don't think I gave you a tool I didn't know how to best." With a twist of his wrist, he disengaged from the blade and brought the handle of his cane into the man's neck with a satisfying crunch.
Another was coming for him. Xander slid his grip forward on the cane. He flicked his thumb and disengaged a secret locking mechanism. The hilt of the hidden blade popped loose of its scabbard. Xander grabbed it, slashing through the air and sending a spray of ash across the room.
He used the death as a distraction, strategically retreating into his museum. Others were already giving chase. But Xander knew the pathways better than any of his people. He had been the one who built this place. Its father. Its curator.
In the narrow access halls between the galleries, he could prevent himself from being flanked, picking them off one by one as they came to him. He might have them beat in skill, but he was still an old man. He could tolerate pain, but he didn't have the stamina to take them on all at once.
Xander crossed through the main hall of the museum. Shots rang out and bolts of magic chased his heels, leaving pockmarks in his marble floors. The quarry for this stone was no longer in operation; his pristine haven would never be the same after tonight.
He made it to a stairwell, gritting his teeth and ascending as fast as he could. Assassins scampered behind him, but Xander's knowledge of the museum continued to pay off and he managed to stay ahead. He burst through a door, wind accosting his face the moment he took in the crisp air of Park Heights. Breathless, Xander spun and barricaded the door to the viewing deck.
There wasn't much space on the balcony. It was meant to be a small sculpture garden, a reprieve to take in the splendor of the skyline among some pieces from the museum's collection. Xander walked to the edge, catching his breath.
How he loved this view.
Mighty wings buffeted behind him. With a rumble, the Adversary landed.
"Did you really think you could escape me?" His voice was gravel rattling against pure hate. "To a balcony!" He howled with laughter, drawing air into his lungs to stretch out his chest and expand his wings for emphasis.
"Hardly." Xander turned to face him. "I thought without your hired help we might have a fair fight."
"I don't play fair."
Xander didn't either. He lunged forward without warning. The Adversary went to deflect the sword with his bare hand, mouth set in a snarling grin of delight. Xander feinted, disengaged underneath the Adversary's wrist, and twisted to bring the point up right in the soft spot underneath the Adversary's jaw—the only vulnerable flesh exposed on his armored body.
But the Adversary was faster. Perhaps enhanced by Halo. Perhaps by an evil that was greater than Xander could ever imagine.
Xander never saw the Adversary lift his other hand to point at him.
The bang of magic reverberated through Park Heights. But the last thing Xander heard as he staggered away was the clattering of his trusted sword, the tool of his infamy, slipping from his fingers for the last time. His foot met open air, and he plummeted into the clouds below.
Art by: Yongjae Choi
The cheers of the masses turned into screams. All around them, revelers threw off the colors and signets of their family and reached for their weapons. No family was exempt from infiltration by the Adversary.
Elspeth drew the knife Xander had given her and began pushing through the crowd. The Cabaretti on the stage dropped the large bottle of Halo, the precious substance spilling a rainbow waterfall around Jinnie's feet. The Halo bubbled as if boiling, evaporating as starbursts and rings.
"Jetmir!" Jinnie called out over the crowd. Giada, forgotten, inched toward the back of the stage, gloved hands covering her mouth in shock.
"Jetmir!" Jinnie's eyes landed on a distant point, halfway through the room. Elspeth followed her gaze, seeing the horned leonin who ruled the Cabaretti, cornered and outnumbered. Jinnie leapt into the fray, weapons drawn, leaving Giada behind.
Shock and rage coursed through Elspeth, and she channeled the emotions into a quick jab at a would-be attacker, rendering him harmless in an instant. Giada was their precious Font. She was giving her life for the Cabaretti and their Halo. And for what? To be abandoned. Sure, Jinnie had left Cabaretti agents with her. But they weren't enough to handle the seven others scrambling up the stage.
Throwing elbows, squeezing past people, leaping over bodies, Elspeth pushed her way through the blood and chaos to the stage. She vaulted onto the platform as the last of the Cabaretti guards fell, turned into pincushions by the Adversary's loyalists now advancing on Giada. Elspeth didn't waste a second. She brought the butt of her knife down onto the back of the neck of one on her right. The man on her left tried to jab for her, but Elspeth was prepared for the motion and grabbed him by the wrist, clutching in such a way that his fingers went limp. She spun as the third lunged for her, tossing the man into the new attacker.
"Giada," Elspeth said calmly, despite the rising chaos. She knelt down before Giada, looking into her dark eyes, not unlike Elspeth's own. "Would you like me to take you from here?"
Giada inhaled slowly, the breath quivering at the end. "Yes." She spoke for the first time in what sounded like a hopeful manner. "I know a back door."
Elspeth nodded and stood, glancing over her shoulder at their assailants, rousing with groans. More had noticed them on the stage and were beginning to charge.
"This way." Giada tugged her hand, and Elspeth followed her stage right. They ran past the panels of forest-green curtains and deep into the wings. The heavy velvet muffled their steps. But it also concealed those giving chase.
Elspeth strained her hearing to listen for their pursuers. "Get down!" Elspeth put her weight in her heels, holding onto Giada's hand.
She spun the teen toward her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and bringing Giada to the ground with her as a blade ripped through the curtain at their right. Elspeth released Giada, rising. Judging from the slash, she could make a confident assessment as to the build of their attacker. And when her dagger sank into a man's gut with a gurgle, she knew she was right.
Stepping back, Elspeth gave Giada a nudge. "Keep going."
If Giada was shaken, she didn't let it show. She dashed off into the darkness with Elspeth close behind. She supposed Giada had seen far worse throughout her time with the Cabaretti. The thought filled her with a profound sorrow.
Giada was just a child. What had her life been like so far? Elspeth doubted it had been anything close to good. She knew a prison when she saw one, even if there were no bars and the wardens were dressed in sequins and gold.
"Over there," Giada whispered, pointing to the left as they emerged from the curtains that hung along the wings. Elspeth followed her through stacked props and instrument cases. Two more men caught up with them, but Elspeth quickly dealt with them both. If she had time, she would hide the bodies to cover their trail, but it was best for them to keep moving. Once they were out, they could slip into the city proper and get lost among the populace.
Giada grunted as she pushed open a heavy backstage door. Elspeth put her shoulder in to help. The door hadn't been used in some time and squealed loudly as it permitted them access to an alleyway.
The goons at the far end caught sight of them before they'd taken more than two steps, no doubt alerted to their presence by the noise of the hinges. Elspeth cursed their luck. Had they still been facing the other way, she might have managed to get the drop on them.
Art by: Bud Cook
"There's more coming from inside," Giada said, glancing back toward the theater.
"I know, stay close." Elspeth held out her knife. What she wouldn't give for a spear or sword.
"Looks like we have two escapees," one of the guards said.
"The Adversary told us no one is making it out of there alive—sorry, ladies." The other cracked his knuckles.
"Should we call for reinforcements?"
"No, I think we can handle these two on our own."
Elspeth could tell by their smirks that these guards underestimated her. "I'd like to see you try."
Without warning, a flash of green blazed through the air from somewhere behind them. Charged with magic and cool green flame, the arrow exploded with a howl into a ghostly viridian wolf. It landed on the back of one of their first would-be attackers, driving him to the ground. The man yelled an obscenity, trying to twist away, but the spectral wolf sunk in its claws.
Art by: Olena Richards
"What the—!" His companion didn't have time to finish. Two more shots were fired, summoning two more wolves.
The green-hued beasts made quick work of the two goons, their sharp teeth more effective than Elspeth's knife could ever be. Giada clung to Elspeth's side, half hidden as the creatures turned toward the two of them. Emerging from their spectral haze was Vivien.
"I told you I would find you again."
"Vivien." Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief and then looked to Giada. "Vivien's an ally; she can be trusted." Elspeth hoped.
Vivien's expression briefly touched on surprise, but she didn't object to Elspeth's claims. "I have news for you, on the matter we last discussed. But first, let's get somewhere safe."
Elspeth and Giada were halfway down the alley, nearly to Vivien, when the door to the theater blasted open behind them, launched off its hinges. The metal echoed loudly as it skidded to a stop. Jinnie, Jetmir, and a group of Cabaretti walked out from the smoking doorway.
"Oh, thank goodness, Elspeth," Jinnie heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you for keeping Giada safe."
Elspeth gave a wary nod, continuing to inch backward. Giada followed her lead, moving in tandem with Elspeth. She glanced down at the teen, who gave her a worried look in reply.
The same dread that filled Elspeth when Giada had taken the stage returned in force.
"Come, we have a secret passage out through the theater. Bring Giada here."
No. The word rose clear and true, resonated from the very depths of Elspeth's being. Under no condition should she ever bring Giada back to these people who would use and imprison her.
But it wasn't Elspeth's choice.
Elspeth locked eyes with Giada, trying to communicate without words. I will do what you desire, she thought, but didn't say so outright. She wasn't going to boldly go against the Cabaretti before knowing Giada's wishes. What do you want?
Giada's hand slipped into hers and she gave a light tug, much like she had when they'd started her flight.
"We're going somewhere safe. We'll return when things are quiet," Elspeth called back.
"We are 'somewhere safe.'" Jinnie's usually jovial nature began to slip away. Underneath was the woman who had earned her place as the adoptive daughter of Jetmir and his right hand. No one climbed as high as she did in New Capenna without leaving a trail of blood behind.
"It's better if we split up, for now."
"Bring Giada to me." Jinnie began to stalk forward.
Elspeth's grip tightened on her knife. She didn't want to fight Jinnie. The woman hadn't been unkind to her, but she was also the one who would turn Giada into a tool. Before Elspeth could make up her mind—fight or flight—a green arrow arced overhead.
It exploded into a beast far greater than a wolf. Clawing itself out of the viridian fire, the loops of a scaled dragon filled the alleyway. Two mighty wings stretched up to the very tops of the nearby buildings. Elspeth could only see the back of the spectral dragon, but if its front was even half as imposing, there was no way Jinnie was going to get to them.
Elspeth looked over her shoulder at Vivien, who lowered her bow. Green-fletched arrows smoldered in her quiver, illuminating the braids on the side of her head.
"Shall we?" Vivien gave a slight smirk.
The three of them ran into the night.
"Not so smug now, are you?" Ob Nixilis wiped ash off his hands. The mighty head of the Maestros, the infamous Xander, master assassin. Not the master of anything now. Ob Nixilis snorted and spit on the mutilated body that lay at his feet. The vampire was hardly recognizable after the fall, especially after Ob Nixilis vented some of his frustrations at the vampire's frustrating tenacity.
"Boss." A young man ran out of the building, stopping short when he laid eyes on the carnage. He was a Maestro. Ob Nixilis wished he could hear what was going through the man's head as he laid eyes on the mutilated body of the assassin he'd once so revered.
"What?" Ob Nixilis demanded.
"I. . ." The young man swallowed hard and tore his eyes from the remnants of Xander. "I have word from the Crescendo."
Ob Nixilis could tell by the man's shifting gaze and uncertain stance that the news would not be good. And if he was going to be given bad news, then he would sweeten it with a bit of torment first by making the kid sweat. "Good. Tell me of my triumph."
"Everyone was in place, just as you ordered. We quickly took control of the situation in the Vantoleone."
"But?" Ob Nixilis encouraged, allowing his voice to be dangerously quiet.
"But. . ." He fought for words, crumbling under the weight of Ob Nixilis's stare. "The Font escaped."
Ob Nixilis grabbed the man by the throat and hoisted him into the air. He swung like a ragdoll, kicking helplessly, clawing instinctively at the bracers Ob Nixilis wore. "Tell me, how did the Font escape if everyone was 'where they should be?'"
"We—we don't—there was another—unaccounted for," the man wheezed.
Ob Nixilis tightened his grip slightly and briefly fantasized about squeezing so hard the man's head would pop off like a cork. But he released his grip. He still needed these worthless amateurs to do his dirty work. The man fell to the ground, clawing at his already bruising neck, gasping for air.
Ob Nixilis looked back to the remains of Xander. He grimaced, but not at the carnage he'd wrought. No. . .he was disgusted with himself. He'd missed something. Even from beyond the grave, Xander had played him.
"No matter," he snarled. "I'll find it, even if I must burn this city to the ground."
"Boss, the Cabaretti are all but neutralized—" Four other officers rushed out from the museum, stopping a few steps from their gasping friend. "We see you already know."
"Yes, I have been informed of your failure." Ob Nixilis forced the words through teeth clenched so tightly his jaw popped. "The Maestros are in hand. What of the others?"
"Jetmir escaped but was gravely wounded. The Cabaretti will crumble once he falters—and we'll see he does," one reported.
"The Brokers and Obscura have crawled into their holes and shadows, though we pursue them as well. The Riveteers are thoroughly compromised. The fighting is hot in the Caldaia; we'll have the situation in our control soon."
Ob Nixilis cracked his knuckles and rolled his head. "I want the families' heads. All of them. Bring me every last one, attached at the neck or not."
"And the Font?" the only one of his generals still brave enough to speak asked.
"Two of you—lead the hunt for Jetmir and Jinnie. If anyone will know how to track down the Font, it'll be them. The other two, form search parties of our own for the Font. And when you find it, bring it to me, and your cups will never be empty and your families will want for nothing."
The city was on fire. The families were at war.
Art by: Nestor Ossandon Leal
Elspeth, Vivien, and Giada fled through the streets, dashing up iron stairwells and onto rooftops as they raced through the Mezzio.
"It never fails to astound me how quickly things spiral out of control once a balance is upset." Vivien appraised as they caught their breath.
"Where are we going?" Giada asked.
Elspeth wracked her brain. The early places she'd holed up in on arrival were now burning. The Maestros weren't an option, either.
"I have an idea." Elspeth recalled her second mission for Xander. "There's a warehouse not too far from here—it's abandoned. It might be safe."
"I'm not sure why you bother," Vivien said under her breath for only Elspeth to hear. "These family feuds aren't the real threat."
"I don't care about the families right now." Elspeth turned to hide her face from Giada so their companion wouldn't hear. "I care about a young woman who's in danger." Who deserves so much more than she's ever gotten. Elspeth would've given anything when she was trapped and helpless for the first years of her life to have someone fighting for her. No one had been there, then. Filling that role for Giada now felt like breaking a cycle, like giving hope to the scared, trapped girl that still existed deep within Elspeth's soul.
"Then we see her safe and disengage." Vivien folded her arms. "You and I have more pressing matters to deal with. Things that only people like us can handle."
Elspeth had a thousand burning questions about what Vivien had found but kept them to herself for now. There would be time to ask when they were no longer fleeing for their lives.
"Am I clear?" Vivien asked, direct but not unkind.
"Perfectly. We see Giada safe and then we move on."
"Good. Now, lead on to this warehouse."
"I will, but first, I'm going back to the Maestro headquarters." Elspeth started toward a nearby ladder. "I need a better weapon than a knife. You two wait here until I return. If something goes awry, we meet at the bench in Park Heights."
"Understood." Vivien knew exactly what bench Elspeth meant.
"What?" Giada grabbed her hand. "I'm going where you go."
"I don't think it's a good idea. It's too risky to bring you into another family's den," Elspeth said gently.
Giada considered it a moment, released Elspeth, then said, "You're right. I'll wait here with Vivien."
Elspeth managed to make it to one of the civic elevators without major issue. There were a few opportunists who made the mistake of trying to attack her along the way, but Elspeth could handle them with ease.
She knew something was wrong the moment she approached the museum. There were no guards out front. Ash dusted the entry stairwell, turning it as pale as bone. The Adversary's attack wasn't just on the Crescendo tonight.
Fortunately, her time cataloging all the various pieces in Xander's collection had given her an in-depth knowledge of the museum. She used a side receiving door, smashing in the lock with her knife and rendering the blade useless. She was committed to finding a new weapon now.
Elspeth crept through the dark halls. The stink of death was heavy in the air. She could almost feel an ominous presence stalking the corridors in the form of enemies she had yet to meet and was determined not to. She hid the second she heard footsteps, then used two connected rooms to work her way around the noise and into one of the armories.
What weapon to pick? Elspeth scanned her choices. There were daggers, whips, swords. Voices froze her in place.
"You don't think it was really the new recruit, do you? The one Xander seemed to take a shining to?"
Elspeth's stomach churned. The way the man spoke about Xander, the state of the museum. . .she knew what had happened here. Her hands balled into fists.
"It looked like her."
"The Adversary has deemed her as target number one, and the Cabaretti say she's out, too. Doesn't matter if she's the one who took the Font or not, she's got nowhere to turn; she'll be dead soon enough."
They were all after her now, starting with the two quickly approaching the armory. She steeled her resolve and turned toward the weapons. Hiding or playing down her skill and powers from now on would be pointless. A sword it would be.
She didn't have time to carefully assess which sword was the best weight for her frame. She ran her hands over the hilts, wondering if one of these was the weapon Xander had alluded to when they'd last spoke. The voices were nearing. She picked one on nothing but instinct and fled into the night.
The way those men talked made her sound like an easy target.
She was going to prove them all wrong.
Art by: Rémi Jacquot
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The Natural Fertility program at Living Room Acupuncture works from the inside out. First we find out the root cause of your specific issues and then we make a customized program the help you reach your goal. Most of our patients see noticeable improvements in their basal body temperatures and menstrual cycle in the first 90 days.
In recent years more people are turning to acupuncture to help increase the success rates of IVF and IUI. In many cases, couples are using acupuncture to help relax the body and the nervous system from the emotional and physical stress associated with these procedures. Acupuncture can help.


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Someone Bought A $1 Million Powerball Ticket In Superior
Nick Cooper
Nick Cooper Published: January 25, 2021
Someone's recent visit to a Kwik Trip in Superior was a very lucky one!
The Wisconsin Lottery shared via their social media pages on Monday morning that a $1 million Powerball winning ticket was sold at a Kwik Trip in Superior for the Saturday drawing (January 23).
The lucky winner visited the Kwik Trip at 2807 Tower Avenue in Superior, though it was not immediately shared by the Wisconsin Lottery if the winner has been identified yet.
The Wisconsin Lottery's website notes that along with the $1 million winning ticket purchased in Superior, a $23.2 million ticket for Saturday's jackpot was also purchased in New Jersey.
The winning numbers were 5, 8, 17, 27, 28, 14.
This follows recent buzz around both the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots reaching highs last week before both saw winners. Someone won a $731.1 million Powerball jackpot from a ticket purchased in Maryland on January 20. Another lucky person won $1.05 billion on January 22 from a ticket purchased in Michigan. That billion-plus dollar prize is the third largest lottery prize in the history of the United States. Wow!
The million dollar Powerball ticket purchased in Superior isn't the state's largest lottery winner. in March of 2019, a $768.4 million ticket was purchased in New Berlin, Wisconsin. That just so happens to be the 4th largest jackpot in U.S. history.
Just in case you're curious, the largest lottery jackpot won across the border in Minnesota actually had to be split. The $448.4 million jackpot from August of 2013 had two winning tickets, one sold in Minnesota and the other in New Jersey. This was the 21st largest jackpot in the country's history.
To whoever won the million dollars in Superior, congratulations!
13 Photos Every Minnesotan Has Taken At Some Point
Filed Under: kwik trip, powerball, Superior
Categories: Duluth / Superior News, Featured

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Disney Says "Star Wars" Spin-Off Films are Origin Stories
Disney already revealed that after the release of "Star Wars: Episode VII," which will be directed by JJ Abrams (Star Trek) and released in 2015, the studio plans to release a series of standalone spin-off films focusing on different characters from the "Star Wars" universe.
During a recent investor conference, Disney CFO Jay Rasulo described the standalone movies as "origin story films," hinting that we'll get to see how some of the franchise's most popular characters started out.
Rasulo went on to say that a "Star Wars" film will be released in theaters each year starting with 2015. The standalone movies have been rumored to focus on Han Solo and Yoda.
Star wars: Jar-jar Binks Origins
Very off topic: If I'm in Paris and want to go see insidious 2 in theaters. One: Is it out here in theaters? And two: Would it be English speaking or French?
parle vous f*ck you?
dont you or anybody around have a smart phone
pages translate ya know
and if youre going to the movies in PARIS of all places you better be taking a frogette with you
this years is about over
either dates are gonna get pushed back or production will suffer from a rushed job
Christmas time would be good release dates
nerds dont care
Im sure they would have english showings along with dubbed french if the movie is available in the first place
if you want to go just for the experience Im sure there would be english films for ya
i saw Universal Soldier 2 in english
Thanks guys. It really doesn't Matter now if it comes out In October lol I'm leaving the 21st. Just wanted to watch the film, didnt wanna have to wait a whole week, looks like I'm going to have too :P
mehh0408 writes:
"it would be french speaking.frogs are very patriotic and wouldn't have it in english.
Read more: http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=29411#ixzz2em9qfDr7"
1. No one are more patriotic than americans-morons
2.Why would Paris (wich is France btw you stupid kid) show movies in english? Does usa show movie in french? owned kid
I've actually seen a couple movies in Toronto shown in French. Owned "Kid".
And it was a simple question jackass.
if i was you TAN
i would find the swankiest theater there and take lots of pics and have a yourself a tanny good time
take notes of snack bar offerings
and maybe a nice smelly french whore
cress writes:
Hey Tan, maybe take a break from seeing movies, and see the sights that Paris has to offer. f*ck movies for the moment.
i was thinkn the same,CRESS
but TANs gonna be TAN
and where are your actor ideas for origin films
ex. Gabourey for Death Star, Khloe for Sarlacc Pit Monster
etcetera etcetera etcetera
Charlie Sheen gets high school diploma
Oh I'm going to the eiffel tower tomorrow lol, And I've seen SO many place around Europe so far, just left Monaco the morning lol I'm seeing the sights guys, I was just saying if I've got a could hours to blow, why not go see a movie?
So many errors.. This phone sucks lol Anyways.. I'm seeing the sights don't worry.. Any suggestions?
not bein sarcastic cress,JIC
i think thats awesome,TAN
lots of beautiful girls,sights and delicious food/drink, ya bastard
Of course it'll be an origin story.
Cannon writes:
Further proof that Kennedy/Disney either have no understanding of the franchise or, by simply not caring, no appreciation; because Star Wars was never really character driven storytelling to begin with, not even the way Marvel is character based, which is really what they're going for anyhow.
Ray Dolby dies at 80:
http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/news/genius-sound-engineer-ray-dolby-628426
Skywalker121289 writes:
They are just sucking the mythos dry. Worst concrete news I've heard so far about this whole merger- these people are supposed to appear from out of the dusk in these films. We want them to be epics, not convoluted young adult fiction novels, where every single detail of these character's lives is on display. That meme of the stupid Bieber generation being new 3 characters is already coming true. Stay the **** away from the Original Trilogy, Disney, or so help me...
LOL Every girl would get a 10/10 lol
No wonder no one posts here save the usual suspects. Twenty posts talking about Tanman f*cking off in Paris.
Anyway. Basically what Disney is saying is they're going to turn Star Wars into Marvel. Make a bunch of origin stories and then tie/feed them into new ensemble franchise installments where everyone comes together.
It's a rather intelligent strategy but I think at some point the Department of Justice may have to invoke the Sherman Antitrust Act on Disney for monopolizing the summer tentpole season.
Here's some news to steal, Alex
J.J. Abrams �emotionally hurt� by Star Trek video game
http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/j-j-abrams-emotionally-hurt-star-trek-video-195042442.html
"LOL Every girl would get a 10/10 lol"
You do know most "women" in France are really castrated gay men, right? That's why they have so much body hair, stink of balls and run screaming when real men arrive (i.e., the Germans).
"and maybe a nice smelly french whore"
Even tanman wouldn't want to f*ck mehh0408's mother.
@mehh0408: neither Rambo or Tanman are American, you f*cking idiot. And tell your smelly French whore mother to close her damned hairy legs. She's melting the cheese and re-fermenting the wine.
Donald Duck writes:
Does anyone want to see origin stories for ANY Star Wars characters aside from Han Solo, Yoda, and maybe Boba Fett? I doubt it.
I'm even more confident that no one gives a sh*t about any of the prequel characters enough to wanna see films about their back-stories.
Disney wants to see them, and if they're Star Wars and packaged up prettily, you can bet they'll make a sh*tload of money, not to mention the video game, toy and theme park dividends.
This is a huge win for Disney, and a brilliant marketing direction.
"A ton of money they will make".
Yeah, you're right, I keep forgetting it's Disney. It's still difficult for me to process that Disney now has both Star Wars AND the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
I think Disney should focus on 3-4 core characters for these side movies, just like the Marvel Universe has their core characters (Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Ant-Man soon enough) who get their own films outside the big Avengers movies. Do Han Solo 1, Han Solo 2, Yoda 1, Yoda 2... rather than one movie each for Yoda and Han Solo and then using the other two open slots for films about lesser characters like... I don't know, Mace Windu or Qui-Gon Jinn.
AND Disney should use the "Cinematic Phase" model for Star Wars that they've been using for Marvel.
'Mama' Director in Talks to Helm 'Mummy' Reboot for Universal
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mama-director-talks-helm-mummy-629026
For instance: Han Solo 1, Yoda 1, Star Wars Episode 7 in the first phase
Han Solo 2, Yoda 2, Star Wars Episode 8 in the second phase (along with 2 other solo films for new MAIN characters from Star Wars Ep. 7)
Yeah, basically.
I'm not saying this is a good idea for the general audiences, or Star Wars fans, but if you're the guy at Disney, one of the main guys, and you're looking at how your company's stock moves on the New York Street Exchange, if you're the guy that has to bring the stockholders good news, then this decision is pure gold, and from that perspective, I'm impressed.
I wonder if they'll do like you said: make a Yoda Origins movie. One that explores the origins of the Force, perhaps the Jedi too. Origins of the Republic would be interesting to see.
There's a LOT they could do, and the opportunity to expand the canon Star Wars story mythology is almost beyond imagination.
My only concern is Disney may finally do what not even Lucas has accomplished: burn people out on the franchise.
Lol mink, my 10/10 comment was referring to the On going joke of me giving everything a good review and just ignore that twat, we probably won't even see him comment for another month. And come on mink, I can use all the attention I can get haha
As for this news and such, Iunno if I'm all about it. If you delve to much into each characters past you could ruin the character all together.
Like seriously who the f*ck NEEDS to know what Han Solo was doing before the first star wars. Leave that stuff a mystery or you'll take all the pleasure out of that series. Don't milk it f*ckers...
Milking it is exactly what they're doing, and they know it. They also know you'll line up at the theater to see whatever they make.
I was reading Blake Snyder's Save the Cat! book, which discusses how to write screenplays Hollywood will want. One of the things Snyder says over and over is that Hollywood really only wants "template" movie or films with built-in franchises, and then Snyder lists ten templates the film industry uses, and has used for a hundred years, to make films.
Snyder then goes on to say that it isn't that Hollywood is lazy or uncreative, they just whole-heartedly believe in Sam Goldwyn's adage of "Give me the same thing... only different!".
See what I'm saying? Hollywood knows what you want to see even if you think you know differently, and they're doing that with these Star Wars films. They're hitting the template are while also tapping into Star Wars' massive built-in audience.
You say you won't go see them, but you and I and Disney know you will.
*area.
*s.
I'd still plow her.
Yeah.. I'm not saying I won't see it, but I don't see the point lol
The last erotic movie I saw was Diabolique. Stone didn't show off her wares and I got pissed. Never again will I make that mistake.
Did Jar Jar Binks ever actually say "Meesa gonna DIE?" in any of the Star Wars movies?
Charlotte Rampling from Dexter hit it big in what is supposed to be one of the hottest erotic films of all time: "The Night Porter". I've never seen it.
Anyway, she made that movie many years before her face began to melt.
Damn it. A couple of days ago, I saw a YouTube video that featured a loop of a bikini-clad Kate Upton doing a weird dance with Daft Punk's "Around the World" playing in the background. Now I can't find it...
I wanted to watch it to get the image of ol' melty face outta my head.
If Frank Oz can write and direct a Yoda origin movie before he croaks I would definitely like to see that because hopefully it would turn out to be a good film.
Joe Johnston should make a Boba Fett film and secondarily it could be solid.
A Han Solo origin film feels needless though.
Crambo- A simple "lol" after each sentence lightens up what you're typing. It's like an exclamation point to me, If I don't have an "lol" somewhere then for you you know I'm angry or making fun of you. For example
Crambo's a f*cking Fagget
-Compared to-
Lol, Crambo's a Fagget
See what I mean? That's really the only reason Ido it. It's scone a habit :P
Mink- How'd you guys like the latest episode of Dexter? I've not much liked this season, But I gotta admit I'm looking forward to these final episodes. Looks good to me.
I'm going to bed, So I most likely won't see your answers btw. I'll just respond to them in tomorrows article. Night f*ckers :)
I really need to start proof reading my comments before I send them.. I f*cking hate making several mistakes.


I issued myself a little challenge this week. I took this black and white Banana blouse and styled it three different ways. So the posts this week are going to be short and sweet with different ideas revolving around this top. Honestly, I had a total blast trying to come up with options for this because it was super fun pulling out all sorts of ideas and seeing what worked. If you are a lover of outfits like I am, you should do the same just for the heck of it.
For the first look, I styled this blouse for work. This is a very typical office-looking look. Buttoned up with statement necklaces and a blazer is something (that you know) I am loving right now, and all can easily be worn to work. I decided to put on heels with this but know that I am shaking my head and chuckling because I would probably never wear those heels to work since I am on my feet all day, navigating through desks and backpack minefields, but I wanted to do something more than these bow flats that I would most likely wear. Regardless, this is a very simple and classic way to style this top for work.
Shop Black Tees, Tan Maxi Dresses, Black Wedge Shoes, Soludos Espadrilles and more. Get this widget.


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Urgent Team
Convenient Pay
New Walk-in Urgent Care Center Opens in Franklin
Franklin, TN (December 11, 2019) – Urgent Team Walk-In Urgent Care opens today in Franklin at 509 Hillsboro Rd., next to Kroger Fuel.
"As we continue our expansion in Tennessee, we are very pleased to now offer quality, affordable and convenient walk-in health care to the Franklin community," said Nancy Becker, Division Vice President, Urgent Team.
The Franklin location is open seven days a week and provides treatment for injuries, illnesses and conditions, such as:
• Asthma and allergies
• Ear and eye injuries
• Flu, colds and viral illnesses
• Skin conditions, including burns
• Bites, stings, allergic reactions
• Stitches
• Broken bones, sprains, strains
• School, sports, wellness and DOT physicals
• Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting
• Immunizations and vaccinations
• Urinary tract infections
• Occupational health services
Leading the health care team are Nurse Practitioners Rachael Neudecker and Lucy Sturdivant. Neudecker has experience in both urgent care and hospital settings. She most recently served as a nurse practitioner at Fast Pace Urgent Care in Lexington, TN. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Sturdivant, will transfer from the Urgent Team location in Dyersburg where she served for five years. She brings 12 years of experience treating patients of all ages, providing both acute and chronic care in hospital, clinic and long-term care settings. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Science in Nursing.
Urgent Team – Franklin is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome or for added convenience, patients can schedule a same day or next day appointment online with Hold My Spot™. Most insurance plans, TRICARE and VA, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as cash and credit cards, are accepted.
About Urgent Team
Urgent Team is part of the Urgent Team Family of Centers, one of the largest independent operators of urgent and family care centers in the Southeast. The Urgent Team Family of Centers provides quality and affordable family healthcare at 59 locations under six brands: Urgent Team (throughout Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee); Physicians Care (throughout Tennessee and Georgia); Huntsville Hospital Urgent Care (throughout North Alabama); and Baptist Health Urgent Care, Sherwood Urgent Care and Washington Regional (throughout Arkansas). Urgent Team's convenient, walk-in centers provide a range of healthcare services including treatments for injuries and illnesses, occupational health and wellness care. Urgent Team offers 24/7 online scheduling with Hold My Spot™. Urgent Team's company headquarters are located in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit UrgentTeam.net.
Our Family of Centers:
School & Sports Physicals
Dermatology (Murfreesboro, TN)
Medically-Supervised Weight Loss
Our Family of Centers
Baptist Health Urgent Care
Huntsville Hospital Urgent Care
Physicians Care
Sherwood Urgent Care
Washington Regional Urgent Care
Our Guest Experience
Billing Questions: 800.678.7070
Corporate Office: 615.988.2000
Media Inquiries: 615.988.2018
Email: info@urgentteam.com
Disclaimer | Non-Discrimination | HIPAA & Privacy Policy | Equal Opportunity | © 2020 Urgent Team. All rights reserved.


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South Africa Immigration
South Africa To Roll Out New Passport Services In New Zealand And Other Countries
Targeting nations with a high population of South African nationals, the Department of Home Affairs claims that it would increase the usage of a South Africa Visa Facilitation Services (VFS) model for passports in 2023.
In June 2022, the department started a trial operation in the UK through VFS Global to evaluate the VFS model, which it said was a big success.
VFS Global provides technology and outsourcing services to international governmental organizations and diplomatic missions. Through its physical offices and online platform, it enables the application of passports and visas, and it streamlines the administration, payment, and delivery of the paperwork once it has been processed.
The group handles administrative and non-judgmental activities for governments relating to visas, passports, and consular applications, as well as identification and citizen services.
As a result, diplomatic missions (i.e., embassies and consulates) can efficiently manage their time and resources so that they may concentrate on the vital duty of reviewing visa applications and reaching conclusions.
South African people have been allowed to renew their passports at the VFS Global locations in the UK while the pilot program has been in effect.
According to home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi, "In order to test the viability of the VFS model and service that they offer to other governments throughout the world, the department took a decision to implement the test passport application pilot project in the UK."
"Since its launch, the turnaround times for passport issuance have reduced from six to twelve months to one month."
According to him, the model uses courier services to send passports to the UK, which helps speed up the documents' delivery to applicants.
In response to a written parliamentary question this week, Motsoaledi stated that the department now intends to extend the system following an evaluation by the project team in November and December 2022, subject to the service provider's availability.
"The model will be extended to other countries with a high concentration of the South African population," he said.
The Minister stated that the Department wants to expand its service offerings to Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America (USA), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and France.
Although the trial period with VFS Global will end on December 31, 2022, Motsoaledi said the Department is already looking into its options to reduce the danger of being without a service provider once the contract expires.
The initiative halted in August 2022 after the transaction advisor hired in the process was found guilty of fraud "in another case," according to the Minister. The government had first initiated a public-private partnership project to find a service provider to handle similar services.
He stated that there is a new procedure in place to select a new transaction advisor.


If you've been looking for an affordable version of the Huawei P20 and the upcoming honor 10 is still out of your budget, there's good news because a brand new Huawei smartphone has made an appearance on SIRIM. A phone that could very well be what you've been waiting for.
According to this new entry in the SIRIM database, it appears that a Huawei smartphone bearing the model name ANE-LX2 has just received approval from the certification agency. This model name belongs to the third sibling in Huawei's P20 series of smartphones — the Huwaei P20 Lite — which we found out already went on sale in Europe before the global launch of the P20 and P20 Pro.
Does this mean that Huawei's launching the P20 Lite in Malaysia soon? Well, it looks like the answer is a little bit of a yes and a no. This is because the Huawei P20 Lite also goes by another name: Huawei Nova 3e, a device that was just launched in China back in March, also before the official launch of the P20 and P20 Pro.
Essentially, it's the country's version of the Huawei P20 Lite. It's got a 5.84-inch Full HD+ display in front, a Kirin 659 octa-core processor inside, 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage that you can further expand with a microSD card. Keeping the lights on is a 3,000 mAh battery with support for 9V2A fast-charging.
Additionally, the Huawei Nova 3e comes with a dual-camera system at the back that combines a 16MP f/2.2 aperture main camera with PDAF with a 2MP secondary camera for depth effects. In front, you're getting a 24MP selfie shooter. There's also a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can breathe easy.
At the back, you'll also find a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which is the most significant differentiating feature between it and its more expensive P20 sibling.
Right now, one of the biggest questions is if the device will come as the Huawei Nova 3e or as the Huawei P20 Lite. Considering the strength Huawei's Nova branding already has in Malaysia, it seems pretty likely that the device will launch here as the Nova 3e — especially since that would eliminate any dilution of the Huawei P series name.
Regardless of the name, the key thing for any mid-range handset is its price. Last year's P10 Lite was priced at RM1,299 on launch so we're expecting the P20 Lite/Nova 3e to hover around that price bracket too. We're not sure which storage option we'll be getting locally, but the Nova 3e in China retails for CNY1,999 (around RM1,252) for the 64GB variant and CNY2,199 (around RM1,377) for the 128GB variant. This likely means that the P20 Lite/Nova 3e will retail for below RM1,500.
Either way, it looks like the local launch of the Huawei P20 Lite/Nova 3e is imminent. Is this something you're looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below.


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Чернолу́чинский — дачный посёлок в Омском районе Омской области. Административный центр Чернолучинского городского поселения.

Население —  чел. ()

География
Дачный посёлок расположен на берегу реки Иртыш, в окружении лесов — Чернолучинско-Красноярского реликтового соснового бора, примерно в 55 км от Омска. Является омским «лечебным уголком».

По автомобильным дорогам расстояние до областного центра города Омск составляет 54 км, до районного центра посёлка Ростовка — 70 км

История
Название производно от названия расположенного в 5 км к югу от Чернолучинского села Чернолучье, основанного в 1670 году. Село Чернолучье, в свою очередь, получило своё название по расположению в «Чёрной луке» — излучине реки Иртыш.

Основание посёлка связано с организацией Красноярско-Чернолучинской санаторно-курортной зоны. В 1954 году здесь открыт Иртышский дом отдыха, в 1963 году — спортивно-оздоровительный лагерь Омского сельхозинститута, в 1978 году организован первый лагерь «Научного общества учащихся» (отряды математиков и физиков) Омского госуниверситета. В 1962 году Чернолучинская зона объявлена курортом местного значения.

Статус дачного посёлка — с 31 августа 1958 года.

Население

Инфраструктура
В посёлке сосредоточено большое количество санаториев и здравниц областного значения, лагерей отдыха школьников.

Галерея

Примечания

Ссылки
 Официальный сайт Чернолучинского городского поселения Омского муниципального района Омской области
 Чернолучье — зелёная зона в Омске

Посёлки городского типа Омской области
Населённые пункты Омского района

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text:
Showing 1 - 1 results of 1 for search 'Walt, Stephen M., 1955-' Skip to content
Walt, Stephen M., 1955-
Israel-Arab conflicts Zionism arabsko-izraelské konflikty foreign policy foreign relations interest groups lobbismus lobbying sionismus zahraniční politika zahraniční vztahy zájmové skupiny
Stephen Martin Walt (born July 2, 1955) is an American professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. He belongs to the realist school of international relations. He made important contributions to the theory of defensive neorealism and has authored the balance of threat theory. Books that he has authored or coauthored include ''Origins of Alliances'', ''Revolution and War'', and ''The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy''. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 1 results of 1 for search 'Walt, Stephen M., 1955-', query time: 0.04s
Izraelská lobby a americká zahraniční politika
by Mearsheimer, John J., 1947-, Walt, Stephen M., 1955-
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Honoring the legacy of Sandy West, Ossabaw Island
Homicide being reported in Hinesville
VIDEO: Williams talks about Kamala Harris at rally
VIDEO: Al Hagan gets sworn in in Walthourville
VIDEO: LRMC staff get COVID vaccine
Four decades later, I'm still at it
Those Who Served
Liberty County arrests
Long County News
City, post officials off to accept award
Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas is traveling with Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo and other Fort Stewart officials to Washington, D.C., to receive the 2008 Commander-in-Chief's Award of Installation Excellence this week.
This is the fourth time Fort Stewart has received the award. The post also nabbed the honor in 2004, 2005 and 2006. After winning three years in a row, Fort Stewart had to withdraw from the competition for a year before being eligible again.
"This is a very prestigious award and we're proud of Fort Stewart," Thomas said.
As part of the award, the installation will receive $1 million dollars to make improvements and updates.
Also regarding Fort Stewart, the mayor and several city council members took a moment during Thursday's meeting to reflect on the success of
the Independence Day celebration on post, which was a cooperative event between the local community and the installation.
The officials agreed on the importance of community-wide events as morale-boosters.
"I think we fed well over 10,000 people in the span of two hours," said Thomas, who added that a lot of the food was donated by local businesses and community members. "It really shows how much this community supports Fort Stewart."
Council member David Anderson also said he was happily surprised at the turnout and Mayor Pro Tem Charles Frasier said he even learned a thing or two about country music.
"I didn't know who Trace Adkins was before, but I know. He puts on a heck of a good show," Frasier said.
In other business, City Manager Billy Edwards asked the council to set tentative dates for its 2010 fiscal year budget workshop. They agreed to meet for two, eight-hour sessions in the middle of August, where they will formulate and finalize a budget.


NEW! 4-Block Walk to Beach from Bay St. Louis Apt.
The beauty of the Gulf Coast awaits at this cozy 1-bedroom, 1-bath vacation rental in Bay St. Louis. Located on a large, lush lot only a short 4-block stroll from the beach and minutes from downtown attractions, this remodeled apartment for 8 is perfect for families seeking, sun, surf, and serenity. This acclaimed tourist town offers several annual events and sits just 1 hour from New Orleans!
Offering a beach theme and spa-like colors, this newly renovated apartment boasts a soothing ambiance that you're sure to enjoy!
Relax in the living room after a day of fishing. As you lounge on the futon and watch your favorite movie on the flat-screen antennae TV with a DVD, try not to be distracted by the delicious cuisine being cooked in the well-equipped kitchen.
With top-notch appliances, ample cookware and dishware, and several countertop appliances, the kitchen has everything you'll need to dazzle your friends with your culinary capabilities.
If you prefer grilling to sauteing, head into the large yard and throw some burgers on the charcoal grill. While the food sizzles and the adults relax at the dining table for 6, the kids can play on the large playset!
The large bedroom features a queen bed and twin bed with a twin trundle, making it perfect for families of 4 to rest your sore swim legs. Four additional guests will find comfortable sleeping accommodations on the living room futon and 2 cozy cots.
Voted one of 'America's Coolest Small Towns' by Budget Travel Magazine, Bay St. Louis offers over 100 brand new boat slips, covered platforms, and gorgeous views, making it ideal for fishermen and beach bunnies.
After grabbing a cup of coffee at the Buttercup Cafe, head 4 blocks down the road to the beach. You'll be able to swim, boogie board, sunbathe, and snorkel within minutes of the home. The fishermen of the group will love the top-notch trout fishing available at Rutherford Pier.
The 'Second Saturday Art Festival' is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. You'll find featured artists, music, delicious food and lots of people milling about the streets as you peruse the many exhibits.
If you find yourself in Bay St. Louis in early October, be sure to attend the Annual Cruisin' The Coast. With live music, a swap meet, an auto auction, and more, Cruisin' The Coast has something for everyone.
You'll also be within 2 miles of the Hollywood Casino and The Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino, Mississippi's only Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay signature championship golf course and the first resort course in the world to be granted the Audubon Silver Signature Status by Audubon International.
If you start to crave city excitement, take a day trip to New Orleans, located just 1 hour away.
- Amenities include a well-equipped kitchen, flat-screen antennae TV with a DVD player, charcoal grill, outdoor dining table, swingset, large yard, free WiFi, parking for 2 vehicles, and more!


Handmade Citrine Jewelry - November Birthstone. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings.
sunny color has made it a gem thought to radiate positive energy.
add a warming glow to the necklace.
citrine and accented with 14K gold filled beads.
Attached to gold filled French wire, 2.25" long.
an inquiry and I will be happy to make a custom order for you.
wine. It is is the most valued color.
shaped. Finished with sterling silver French wire.


An unidentified San Francisco 49ers cheerleader dropped to her knee Thursday night during the U.S. national anthem, in what appears to be the first public protest by an NFL cheerleader.
While the rest of the cheerleading squad stood in unison during "The Star-Spangled Banner," one woman knelt down and put her hands on her hips.
The woman pictured kneeling ahead of the 49ers' matchup against the Oakland Raiders has yet to be identified.
The 49ers are the former team of Colin Kaepernick, who famously knelt during the anthem back in 2016 to highlight police brutality against African-Americans.
The movement then spread around the league and took several different forms, with some choosing to link arms in solidarity rather than kneel.
In May, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell introduced a policy that would require players to stand or remain in the locker room during the during the anthem.
The policy would fine players who chose to sit or kneel during the pre-game performance. The NFL put the policy on hold for the 2018 season to allow for further discussion between the league and the union, the NFL Players Association.


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« Still, Pretty Good Year: Part IV. ALCS, Conclusion | Main | Still, Pretty Good Year: Part V. World Series, Cont'd »
Still, Pretty Good Year: Part V. World Series
Part I Part I Cont'd Part II Part III Part IV Part IV Cont'd Part IV Conclusion
By the time he pitched his first World Series game in 2004, Pedro Martinez was well past his prime, though he summoned as much as he could of his old fire. By the time Josh Beckett was an inning in to his appearance in the 2007 World Series, it was his second Fall Classic by the tender age of 27. Going to the World Series with Josh Beckett in 2007 was like getting to go to the World Series with the 1999 version of Pedro.
He was vicious. He was ruthless. He was aflame on the mound, calling down spirits. His fastball was filthy. His curveball was devastating. He opened the 2007 World Series with three straight strikeouts.
Here in Game 1 I felt a sense of unreality similar to what I experienced in 2004, as the Sox scored run after run and the first game of another World Series began looking more like an interleague blowout you might switch off in the middle of the regular season. "Are we dead?" I IMed Sam in disbelief. "Is this heaven?" Sometimes, watching it on DVD, I still feel that way.
This was thought to be Curt Schilling's last stand, and would wind up being a bullpen performance for the ages, but what I remember most about this game, now that some time has passed, is 'God Bless America'.
It was sung per tradition during the 7th inning stretch, by, of all people, Boys II Men. This was in keeping with a strange 90's theme to postseason performances, which also saw a random appearance by Paula Cole.
If you'd asked me what I thought of Boys II Men in their heyday, which was approximately the same time I was investing most of my disposable teenage income on fishnets and eyeliner, my response probably would have been to mimic sticking my finger down my throat. They were the epitome of cheesy, manufactured, personalityless pop music.
And yet when they came to sing during Game 2, the intervening years of mediocrity in the music industry made them look like ghosts from a generally more talented age.
I remember that for this game, like many of the games, I was at my best friend's house in Brookline, watching with her and her boyfriend Ryan, also a good friend. And for some reason, Boys II Men or no Boys II Men, I remember that moment so clearly, the warm mellow harmonies from the a capella group booming over a quiet, rapt crowd at Fenway Park on the TV, the sudden sense of the cold vastness of the world and our contrasting coziness in this unexpected, perfect moment. A moment where suddenly it occurs to you that you are in the midst of joy it will take you years to fully fathom.
Believe me, I never thought I'd feel that way about Boys II Men.
I think some similarly unrealistic nostalgia was also the basis for my other most vivid meta-memory of this game: Dan Shaughnessy's vitriolic column the following day, Oct. 27 (the anniversary date of the '04 victory, no less).
It plopped into our punch bowl after all the happiness of Game 2, written with the bitterness unique to someone who knows his influence is waning.
Really. It has come to this. The Sox are so good and they've been clutch for so long (five straight postseason wins and six straight Series wins) that they've spawned a small legion of new fans who have no idea what rooting for the Red Sox was like. And so now we have some alleged "fans" who aren't satisfied with just another world championship. They want the cherry on top. They want all the Fenway trappings to go along with it: "Sweet Caroline," "Dirty Water," the Dropkicks, the Irish Step Dancers, and Papelbon Riverdancing on the Fenway lawn with a bottle of Korbel in his pitching hand and a Luis Tiant cigar in his mouth.
It's no longer about the contest. Now it's performance art with style points.
Peter Gammons, the greatest baseball writer of them all before he became Hardball Guru of ESPN, yesterday said, "Right after the game Thursday, I ran into a guy who said, 'I hope they lose a couple in Denver so they can come home and win it.' Wow. Now it's not just about getting a Mercedes. They want a blue Mercedes."
HOW DARE YOU JUDGE YOURSELVES WORTHY!? How dare you presume to make requests of the fates? How dare you venture the thought that everyone's had on their minds at least at one point or another, that we still wonder and fantasize about what it would be like for the Red Sox to win the World Series at Fenway Park for the first time since the turn of the 20th century? The gall! The audacity!
Look at it this way: that's the last thing left. It's the last stone of the Red Sox's previous legacy still unturned. Fenway Park has seen brilliant and important games—Game 6 in '75, Games 4 and 5 in 2004—but it has yet to be officially consecrated in our lifetime with a Championship victory at home. And I don't think there's an honest Red Sox fan on the planet who wouldn't say they've wondered what it would be like, or thought about how it could actually be brought into being.
I've heard it said about babies born during or after 2004, "Awww, he / she will never know a world in which the Sox haven't won the World Series recently. Isn't that great?" And yes, I think it is great. Maybe there's a certain blessedness about that ignorance. Maybe there's a certain beauty in Red Sox fans so confident, so comfortable with a team that's finally given them reason to be. Maybe that's the sign we've finally arrived at the world we all dreamed about for so long.
Unless, of course, we weren't really dreaming, but rather delighting somehow in the misery. I suppose there are some, like Shaughnessy, who fall into that category, and their bitterness now makes me more frustrated than even the most ignorant statement I've heard out of the mouth of a 'pink hat'. At least the 'pink hat' has the general right idea: that sports, and winning, are to be enjoyed. They are to be reveled in. They are life affirming and social and fun.
You know what would make all of the blasphemous forgetting worth it? If in another three years nobody remembers what the Curse of the Bambino was, either.
Tomorrow:Daisuke, adjustments and expectations; Bobby Kielty, hometown lad
March 21, 2008 in Red Sox, Songs of My Fathers | Permalink


We always try our best to make sure all guests can enjoy the same entertainment, relaxation, excitement and joy – regardless of your physical skills. We want Pite Havsbad to be open for everybody.
Unfortunately, some disabilities limit the possibility to enjoy some parts. With this information, we want to guide and help you plan your visit.
In this document, we have gathered information about availability at Pite Havsbad. From elevator measurements, parking spaces and guide dogs to the availability in the water park. And some more! If you have audio description in your browser you can find all the necessary information down below.
If you still have any questions, we're just a phone call away. Click here to get to contacts.
We always try our best to make sure all our guests can enjoy Pite Havsbad. This document is here to help you plan your visit.
We have two disability parking spaces 25 meters from the hotel. The main parking lot is about 50 meters from the hotel. Outside of Skeppet are two disability parking spaces 25 meters from the entrance.
Hotel lobby The entrance is at ground level and have automatic doors, 170 cm between door frames.
The hotel rooms are on multiple floors In two different buildings. Both of the buildings have an elevator to all floors. We have seven rooms built for disabilities. But over 100 rooms are big enough for wheelchair users.
There's an elevator in all buildings. In the glass hotel the opening is 85 cm and in the older building it's 90 cm.
There are multiple disabled toilets in the building.
All buildings have stairs and support handle.
Three conference room and the large congress hall, are hearing aid compatible.
The waterpark is on ground level and is easy to access with a wheelchair. The locker rooms have low placed lockers. Inside the waterpark, you can get by elevator to the second level and the sun terrace, bar, whirlpools and sauna. Lift to get in the pool and one whirlpool. Five disabled toilets.
The Spa is at ground level and easy to access by wheelchair.
The restaurant is at ground level and easy to access by wheelchair. A disabled toilet is just outside the restaurant.
Both the Pub and grill is at ground level and easy to access by wheelchair.
At bigger events, we always make room for wheelchairs. At the smaller ones in the restaurant you can easily fit a wheelchair at the tables.
The camping area is flat and easy to get around. Most of the roads are tarmac. All our Bungalows are newly renovated and have wide door frames, both on the outside and inside. Most of them have wheelchair ramp or equivalent. A temporary wheelchair ramp can be organized to some of the other cottages as well, order when making your reservation.
Skeppet (The ship) is 100 meters from the hotel. The entrance is at ground level. Automatic doors (push button). 84 cm between door frames. 1 disabled tolílet. Most of the activities and the bar and restaurant is on floor 1. Most of the activities is suitable for wheelchair users, for example, bowling, dome cinema, recording studio and billiard. The adventure golf is slightly hilly.
The restaurant, Skeppet and Tavernan have vegetarian meals and Skeppet and The restaurant have lactose free meals. If you have any other allergies, don't hesitate to tell us and we will try our best to fulfill your needs.
Guide dogs are allowed in all hotel rooms.
There's no smoking in our cottages or in the hotel. Cats and dogs are allowed on the first floor in the K-hotel. Keep on a leash in common areas. We have plenty of cottages that are dog-friendly, just tell us when you make your reservation.
Tell us your special needs when you make your reservation so that you can have the best possible visit.
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Mr. Metselaar was trained as a pharmacist at the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Utrecht University and invented the liposomal corticosteroid technology platform. From 2005 on he managed the company's research projects, patent portfolio and daily operations. He leads the pharmaceutical development of the company´s proprietary technology into clinical applicable products.
Mr. Rutten has 17 years of experience in management, business development and marketing in the biotechnology industry. His previous experience include positions within large and small biotechnology organizations in the U.S., Netherlands, Asian Pacific, India, Canada, and Mexico. Mr Rutten currently is director of Clinquest Services, co-founder of Audion Therapeutics, a company targeting hearing loss and of Dybly, a cardiovascular therapeutics company based in Basel, Switzerland. Mr. Rutten received his Masters in Biotechnology from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands.


Energen (EGN) announced two separate purchases of oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin that are prospective for the Wolfberry play. The company expects to pay approximately $211.9 million for the acreage.
Energen is paying $157.5 million for acreage in Martin and Howard counties in Texas with proved and probable reserves totaling 16.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). The properties contain 24 producing wells and an estimated 113 future drilling locations.
Energen is paying $54.4 million for acreage in Glasscock County, Texas. The properties have proved, probable and possible reserves of 8.9 million BOE, seven producing wells and an estimated 81 future drilling locations.
Energen said that the two property packages have current production of 1,500 BOE per day and the company expects the deals to close before the end of 2012.
The company expects to target the Third Bone Spring sands, Avalon Shale, Wolfcamp Shale, and the Wolfbone play across its Permian Basin portfolio.


English comedy sensation BILL BAILEY is not to be missed when he comes to the Gold Coast this October. Known for his sellout worldwide tours and numerous appearances on popular TV shows such as Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI, Bill Bailey is nothing short of one of the world's most sought-after comedians. He was named one of the 50 Funniest Acts in British Comedy by The Observer, and was voted the seventh best stand-up comic on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. He's a household name all over the globe, and his hilarious stand-up shows are guaranteed to have you in stitches from start to finish, no matter what you're background is!
This 2018, Bill Bailey brings his newest worldwide tour EARL OF WHIMSY to Australia, and it's a must-see for his dedicated Aussie fans as well as anyone in the mood for an evening of nonstop hilarity. Famous for his unique stand-up routines that often incorporate live music with a comedic twist, Bill Bailey won't disappoint with his new tour that will mock hilarious topics from Britain's past and present, as well as the origin of the 'Knock Knock' joke, a funny story about Nicki Minaj, a mass German singalong, and more. His fans know that his shows often cover a wide range of subjects, and offer an entertaining spectacle that everyone can join in with.
Bill Bailey's EARL OF WHIMSY is all set to be another sold-out tour, so make sure to catch it this spring on the Gold Coast. He'll be performing one exclusive date at The Star Gold Coast on Broadbeach on October 27 - bring your mates and family along!


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Home / Stock Picks / Stocks to Sell / Will Valeant Shareholders Get ANYTHING? (VRX)
Will Valeant Shareholders Get ANYTHING? (VRX)
VRX stock seems to be undergoing a slow liquidation. Retail investors like us get the short straw.
By Dana Blankenhorn, InvestorPlace Contributor	Mar 14, 2017, 10:17 am EST	 March 14, 2017
Final chords are sounding for Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX). Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management has finally admitted defeat, taking a $2.8 billion loss and liquidating its position in VRX stock.
Ackman reportedly got a minimum of $11.10 per share for the stake, with the stock closing on March 13 at $12.11 and preparing to open for trade March 14 at $10.86.
Diamond Hill Capital Management has also dumped its Valeant stake, preferring to bet on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN).
Some hedge funds are still active in the company, which appears to be undergoing a slow liquidation. The latest assets to be sold were the skin care line, which drew $1.3 billion from L'Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY), and Dendreon, a one-time high-flier in prostate cancer, which got $820 million from a Chinese company.
Take What You Can Get
The problem for Valeant is the debt it took on during its asset-buying binge early this decade, which was predicated on its ability to raise prices on generic products and book the profits in Canada.
That long-term debt burden stood at nearly $30 billion at the end of last year, and the $2.1 billion earned through the latest sales will barely make a dent in it.
This means some analysts still think VRX stock a good short, even at $10 per share, believing the company will soon be worthless as interest rates rise and it starts to violate profit covenants on the debt.
The hedge funds remaining in the stock take solace from a March 10 statement from the company, to the effect that it had won consent for refinancing and an amendment of its credit agreements. In the deal, Valeant is taking out new loans maturing after 2022 to repay loans that come due before 2022, rolling over the debt and giving the company more time to raise cash.
VRX recently offered to cash out $1.6 billion of debt paying 6.75% at close to its face value — an offer which expires on April 3.
Valeant's main leverage with creditors is now that it may default entirely on its debts and leave them with nothing, if it is pushed to the wall.
The creditors are taking the threat seriously.
What Is Left of Valeant?
The best asset left on the board is what's left of Bausch + Lomb, the eye care company bought for $8.7 billion in 2013. CEO Joseph Papa had said as recently as September that dermatology and eye care were "core assets" the company would never sell.
The bullish case for Valeant is that the recent asset sales came at good prices and that the company has bought itself time, at least out to 2019, to complete the liquidation of the company. But it has now sold out the fastest-growing part of Bausch + Lomb, and its own guidance on margins shows margins declining.
Meanwhile, Salix, its other big asset, is facing an SEC investigation over matters predating its acquisition by Valeant, even as it beefs up the Salix sales force to sell more of its Xifarin drug for irritable bowel syndrome and Relistor for opioid-induced constipation.
Valeant originally bought Salix in 2015 for $14.5 billion, but a deal to sell it for $10 billion late last year to a Japanese company fell apart.
Bottom Line on VRX Stock
There are ways for sharpies to make money in a liquidation of assets, using their ownership as leverage to get the best deal for themselves.
This is not something an investor can get into.
Investors who ignored repeated warnings to get out when the company was worth something need to head for the exits now. As I reported, a good earnings report didn't help VRX stock, now down about 20% from that report's release.
The ship is going down. Stop listening to the orchestra and get on the lifeboat.
Dana Blankenhorn is a financial and technology journalist. He is the author of the sci-fi novella Into the Cloud, available at the Amazon Kindle store. Write him at danablankenhorn@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @danablankenhorn. As of this writing, he was long AMZN.
Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2017/03/valeant-pharmaceuticals-intl-inc-shareholders-get-anything-vrx-stock/.


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