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Tales of Mystrum - The Arrival (Prologue)
Tue, 2015-10-06 11:47 — Migrate Wizard
Psycho Circus
Tales of Mystrium - The Arrival
Tales of Mystrum
Mystrum
Old Vault Category:
Old Vault ID:
Sliding from the multi-colored mists surrounding the mystic portal was a wizened old man, with long, flowing white hair, and a snowy white beard. As he stepped forth into this new world, pulling the length of his dark purple robes up, he looked out across the fertile grassy expanse of land, sighting on the village just over the rise. He smiled, nodding in silent satisfaction at his arrival to this place. The magical aura was strong, indeed, here, just as it had been when he'd first decided to come here from Earth, a realm almost totally devoid of magic.
Yes, this place would serve well as his new home. Wrapped deep in his cloak, the heft of the huge sword slowed his pace a bit as he walked towards the village. He could feel its magical energies twining about themselves, building up strength. Sighing, he waved his hands, muttering an incantation to cast a spell of lightenment on the heavy blade. Blue magical energy flowed from his fingertips and enshrouded the outline of the sword hidden deep in his cloak. After it subsided, the weight decreased greatly, allowing his robes to be worn a bit straighter.
Soon, he was at the top of the rise, where a procession of people took notice of him. One being, appearing almost as a child, so thin and fine boned was he, stepped forward from the group, a short slim fellow with long chestnut brown hair, and asked, "Can we help you, sir? I don't recall seeing you here before. Are you lost?" The being's dark brown eyes glittered with kindness, and his delicately pointed ears protruded ever so slightly from beneath his hair.
The old wizard chuckled softly, and replied, "An elf, of all beings, an elf!" He looked the elf over rather thoughtfully, scrutinizing his fine features and pointed ears carefully. "I take it that you are full grown, yes?"
Eyes shining with mild amusement, the elf responded, "Yes, I am full grown, though I am still a bit young." He wasn't sure of what to think of this old human, dressed in dark purple robes, carrying a long staff, with a shiny chrome-like sphere at the end of it.
The old mage touched his face thoughtfully, eyes glazing slightly with the look of far away thought. "Young...I was young once. And I will be again...though that will be a long, long time away." He glanced back down at the elf, then up at the rest of the group.
There were eight in all; four elves and four humans, among which were two female elves and two female humans. The old magician studied them each in turn, and then said to the only member of the party to have thus far spoken, "I never thought I'd ever truly see an elf, though I have foreseen it. This place must be truly special, indeed, my young friends." He rapped his staff against the soft grass as he centered himself among the group. "And, my gentle beings, just where is it you are going?" The gleam in his eye could have been mischief, or madness.
The mixed group of travelers looked at each other in confusion, then the one that had been speaking so far said, "We are headed to Trahn, a very small community south of here." He drew himself up, obviously expecting a bad reaction to his next statement. "We are adventurers. We are going to help out as many of the people in Trahn as we can from the raiding orcs, trolls, and griffins."
The old man's eyes grew very wide, and he began laughing, which quickly escalated into a high-pitched shrieking cackle. He fell to his bottom on the ground, rolling over and over as he fought to restrain his mirth. The group looked at each other as all their faces flushed hot with embarrassment.
After several long minutes, the old man rose shakily, still chuckling. Wheezing for breath, he sputtered, "Orcs, trolls, and griffins, eh? Well, my young friends, if there be elves, then I guess there be orcs, trolls, and griffins as well!" He headed off, walking due south a few paces, then stopped, looking back at the flustered group.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" he shouted. "We have a gaggle of orcs, trolls, and griffins to get rid of for this little town of yours! Let's not keep those poor, good souls waiting!" He turned and continued on his way, muttering and waving his arms about rather madly, seemingly oblivious to the group of adventurers now.
The rest of the group looked at each other again, then plodded out after the old crazy man, heads bowed, faces determined. Occasionally, one would look at the other as if to ask if this was a bad idea. The look they received was always pained, but full of curiosity, despite themselves.
After several hours of walking, night finally drew near, and the band of adventurers, along with the old man, decided to make camp. Aurich, the elf with the long chestnut brown hair, was intrigued by this old codger, despite his peculiar behavior. Lenae, his fair-haired sister, was less than enthused by him. Chaz, the stern gray elf, thought idly about what would happen if he cut his throat, except for there was a feeling of great power about this old wrinkled human that evoked primal fear in him, as well as the rest of the group.
Fiora, the dark haired wood elf, considered him like an elf that had reached the age of about eleven hundred years or so, a bit addle-brained at best. She was irritated, but other than, she wasn't overly bothered by him.
Jaman, the wiry brown haired human, felt like he could learn a thing or two from the old goat, if he was indeed a wizard. Dina, the blonde human, and Lara, the black haired human, both felt he was probably senile, and a bit "touched" by the One in a special way that normal people were not. Morag, the red haired swordsman, big, beefy, and strong, felt that at best, the old goat was an escaped patient of some healer that had been mind wiped, or worse.
Having learned all their names as they had walked, the old man had learned quite a bit about each as they had traveled. They were all getting pretty suspicious, as would anyone faced with the same circumstances. The only problem was that none of them knew exactly how to breach the subject with the old man. Finally, a resolution presented itself. As he prepared the fire, Jaman asked him, "Sir, you still have not told us your name. Are you a wizard, perhaps one that we might have heard of?"
The gleam returned to the old man's eyes, that spoke of both mischief and madness it seemed, and he answered, "A wizard? Why, yes I am, young Jaman. One of the strongest wizards to be found in my homeland, I was...or am...or shall be. It is truly hard to keep track of these days." His eyes got that far away look again, for a moment, then he said, "My name is a rather simple one, my children. It is rather doubtful that you have heard it. I, my young companions, am Merlin."
Lara poked at the fire with her short sword, stirring up sparks that wafted off into the darkening sky. "I have never heard your name mentioned before, venerable sir. Are we to take it that you are of renown?" Her tone sounded doubtful at best. His name didn't sound anything like any name she'd ever heard before, neither local, nor from any traveler that passed through Wynon.
Merlin's eyes twinkled yet more, and he asked, "Do any among you study the Arcane Arts of Magic?" He eyed each in turn, waiting for a response. The firelight reflected in those eyes that burned with either genius or madness, and in the chrome sphere atop his staff as well, which he waved about with in seemingly random sweeps of his arms.
The question took the group of adventurers completely by surprise, given the way things were. Anyone would know the answer to that without having to ask, they all thought. Dina shook her long blonde hair behind her shoulder, her deep blue eyes finding Merlin's. "A strange question, honored one. Of course there are some among us who study magic. Nearly everyone in the world knows a few spells, at least." Her eyes flashed with something like a mixture of fear, contempt, anger, and a compassion for a warped, crazy old man.
"Easy, Dina," soothed Aurich. "Sir Merlin apparently has forgotten this tiny bit of useless information by now, as I'm sure his magic is quite powerful for one of his years." The veiled warning in his words was not lost on Dina. Aurich felt this insane old man was a powerful wizard, indeed, apparently. A glance at the rest of the group revealed that his words were not lost on them, either. Aurich was the most powerful wizard among them, and he himself was inexperienced at a great many things, to say the least. Aurich was only nineteen, very, very young for an elf indeed.
Aurich cast an uneasy glance over his companions. Judging from the looks on their faces, they agreed. No matter how crazy the old man seemed, he was in all likelihood a very, very powerful wizard. Merlin, however, seemed not to notice their unease in the slightest. He looked at all of them, smiling slightly, his eyes reflecting the orange light of the campfire.
Merlin stared at the group, which stared back at him in turn. It seemed a very odd sort of stalemate. When no one spoke, Merlin asked, "Come, come. Which among you are the strongest wizards?" His gaze swept over all of them, eyes glittering with that almost maniacal gleam. Finally, his eyes rested upon Aurich.
"I am one of them," Aurich managed to get out in some semblance of calm, albeit a rather shaky calm. "I have practiced magic more than most of the others." There, he'd said it. That cold, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach just grew deeper and colder. He didn't know why, but he had the definite feeling he'd just laid his neck on the chopping block.
There was an uneasy stirring among the group as Aurich spoke. Jaman nervously offered, "And I as well." From the look on his face, he was almost sick with worry over what would happen next. It was strange for the others to see normally easy going and friendly Jaman, everyone's friend, being uneasy with even this deranged old man.
Merlin, however, seemed oblivious to their tension. Smiling, he leaned towards the two young men and said, "Show me your most impressive spells, my young mages. Fear me not, young ones," he added. "For it is not my intention to harm you. I wish only to learn from you, and, perhaps, teach you something as well!"
Aurich and Jaman looked at each other, then at their companions. The thought Learn and teach? ran like quicksilver through their minds. Surely even this ancient one must be a very accomplished master of magic. His presence, his bearing, even his eyes screamed it for all to see and hear. After several long seconds, they decided Merlin wasn't going to harm them. Now that everyone seemed a bit more at ease, Jaman stood up, uncertain at first.
After several seconds of thought, he spoke an incantation, waved his hands about, with thumbs touching and fingers spread, and arcs of flame leaped from his fingertips, scorching the leaves of several overhanging branches. A few moments later, the flames died down, leaving only a couple of dying embers glowing near the fire.
Merlin laughed, and clapped his hands heartily. "Very good! Very good, my young wizard!" The old man clasped Jaman's shoulder in a surprisingly strong grip. "Now, young Aurich! Let's see your spell!" He turned his attention to the elf with the attentiveness of a rabid theater fan in the first row at the last performance of the land's greatest troupe in the area for years to come.
Concentrating, Aurich spoke his incantation and made the appropriate gestures, summoning the magical energies forth from deep inside himself. Suddenly, the camp was surrounded by nine elves, all identical to Aurich. Merlin eyed each, laughing and delighting in the fact that they all looked, acted, and moved exactly like the other eight.
"Wonderful! Simply wonderful, my young ones!" The old man patted Aurich on the back as his eight duplicates winked out of existence. "Most impressive, indeed! Rarely have I encountered such talent in ones so young!" He continued to cackle and laugh to himself for long moments, again seeming almost oblivious to the group.
Morag, though, did not seem so impressed with the old man. The young, but powerful warrior snorted derisively and shook his head, until he could take no more. He stepped towards him, his already rough voice gaining more edge with his skepticism. "They've shown you their magic, old man. You still haven't shown us anything yet!" His hand rested comfortably on the hilt of his long, curved sword, clearly ready for a fight.
Merlin seemed nonplused, however, even as the rest of the party gasped in surprise, and Lara began to admonish him in hushed tones, her eyes widening as she watched Merlin stand. He merely laughed, and replied, "You're right, my young warrior! It is only fair to let you see a touch of my power as well!" He seemed to be searching for something for a moment, as the group of adventurers looked on, then finally deciding he couldn't find it, turned back to the red headed human.
The old wizard cackled, speaking in a strange language, and waved his hands about in intricate patterns. Four glowing spheres materialized about the old man, each about three feet in diameter. For all intents and purposes, they resembled will-o-wisps.
The globes slowly whirled past Morag and the others, moving like glowing insects across the land. Morag snorted in disgust, eyeing the old wizard harshly. He guffawed, "That's a touch of your power? The Dancing Lights spell?" His laughter shook him all over, his light armor rattled as he slapped his leg. "One's Blood, old man, even I can cast that one!"
Merlin smiled as the spheres floated away from him towards the row of trees beyond the campsite. He didn't seem overly concerned with Morag's obvious disdain for what he was seeing thus far. He simply asked, "But, my young Morag, does your spell do this?" The spheres were slowly circling a mighty oak tree.
The old man's tone seemed rather odd. They each glanced at each other, wondering what he meant. Aurich stared at the spheres, and then his mouth dropped open. "Morag," he said. "Those aren't dancing lights. They look like..."
The four spheres seemed at that very moment to explode in a blaze of blue, large streaks of lightning lancing forward to strike the tree, effectively cutting it in half, sending it falling with its ends glowing in embers. The mighty tree seared and sizzled in the night, and when it hit the ground, it did so with a loud, low rumbling boom that carried for long moments after the tree had struck ground.
Morag's face evinced a look of fear as the four globes struck out at the tree. He shouted, "Wow! Like lightning!" He glanced from the fallen tree back to the old wizard, who waved his hands, making the four globes disappear, in fairly obvious disbelief. Morag shook himself as if to assure himself he'd truly witnessed what he'd just seen. He gingerly walked up to Merlin, eyes wide with a mixture of fright, awe, and amazement.
The others were standing slack jawed in awe. None of them seemed capable of movement or speech. They stared at the tree, then at Morag, and finally at the old man. Merlin simply folded his arms across his chest and smiled at the group. Morag finally found his voice, "You, you are truly a powerful wizard!" The shock was very evident on his visage. He knelt at the old man's feet. "How may I serve you, Lord Merlin?"
The rest of the group wasn't sure about what to do next. This question seemed to spark something within them and they all began to clumsily move about. Some attempted to kneel; some fell to a sitting position in shock. Merlin frowned at them, then grabbed Morag by the arm, and with a strength not evident in his frame, hauled him to his feet. "I am no lord, nor do I want servants!" He began pacing among the group, waving his hands about, which caused the entire group to flinch with each gesture.
"I came here to find a new home, in a world with plenty of magical energy, where magic is not a dying art!" His eyes blazed with a fervor of the like never seen by the young adventurers. "I want to find a place to settle, where I can teach apprentices and further the Arcane Arts of Magic!" The power of conviction was in his words, the group could all agree to that. The old one was indeed passionate, this was for certain.
He rounded on the group again, eyes ablaze with magical energy and conviction. Most of the group shied away from the ferocity of the old one's gaze. He didn't seem malevolent, but he definitely seemed out of sorts. They didn't wish to risk an explosion of temper, under any circumstances. Aurich looked at Jaman, who returned his glance. This was their chance. Jaman swallowed, then stammered, "S-sir, Aurich and I would like to b-be your a-appren-apprentices." He shrank back from Merlin's intense expression, fearing a violent response.
"Do you now?" asked the old mage. The wizard's face softened, and his gaze cooled to a normal countenance. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, eyes getting that far-away look again, then replied, "I will have many apprentices here, many indeed..." Looking back at the boys, he continued, "Yes, yes! Very well, my young friends!"
The old wizard grabbed his staff, and started into the woods. The group stared at each other, then at the retreating wizard. Merlin stopped after several yards, turning back to face the group. "Well, what's wrong? Did you forget how to walk? We have much work to do, much work!" The group dazedly began gathering their equipment. This adventure was turning out to be far more interesting and strange than any of them had anticipated.
Merlin laughed, a deep chuckle that rose in pitch. His feet plodded relentlessly over the ground, shaving distance off their trip in rapid strides. "Yes, yes! Much work indeed! Come along, now! We have orcs, trolls, griffins, and other assorted beasts to defeat! Much magic to explore!" He was once again walking off into the darkness. His voice, seemingly ranting, carried back to the group of adventurers as they followed after him in dazed shock.
Lara sidled up to Aurich as they followed the loudly expounding old human and asked in hushed tones, "Aurich, are you sure about this? This old man could kill us all in the blink of an eye!" She herself knew almost nothing of the arcane art, but she knew power when she saw it. Her face told Aurich that she indeed saw power in this old man, who was not quite what he seemed, it appeared.
Aurich looked first at Merlin, eyes intent, and then back at Lara, his expression set in determination. "More sure than I've ever been of anything in my life." Aurich's eyes spoke the tale. This ranting and raving old man had to be the most powerful magic user the world had ever seen. Surely such a force had to be for good?
Behind them, Aurich's sister Lenae, her sharp ears catching the whispered conversation, shook her head slowly. The fair female elf didn't share her brother's optimism. She could only hope her brother knew what in the world he was doing.
Four days had passed, and the group was once again at ease around the old wizard. Aurich and Jaman had begun their apprenticeship with Merlin, having learned much in the time they had spent together. The rest of the group had learned quite a bit as well, hesitantly at first, but becoming more relaxed as time passed.
Looking up, the group saw smoke from a chimney rising over the hill. Trahn was just over the rise. Morag, who had been complaining about his sore feet, said, "Finally! Now we can at least rest in an inn, instead of the blasted woods!" His pace seemed to quicken a bit, and he shook his feet with each step, humming a hearty war anthem as he plodded towards the small town.
Truth be known, the entire group, with the possible exception of Fiora, was looking forward to a bed, instead of a forest floor. The tired, hungry travelers smiled as they approached the little town, relieved that they wouldn't be subjected to Morag's incessant grumbling for a few days now, as they had for the entire trip thus far.
As they entered the tiny town, Chaz broke off from the rest of the group, his long sword drawn. As the rest took notice, Morag also drew his sword, and joined Chaz. Lara, Dina, and Fiora took protective positions around Aurich, Lenae, Jaman, and Merlin. Lenae, worry crossing her fair face, her blonde hair blowing in the gentle breeze, asked Dina in a whisper, "What is it? What's wrong?"
Dina's icy blue eyes scanned the trees around the road into the little town, and focused on a rooftop barely visible to the left. She whispered back to Lenae, "I don't know for sure. But something has Chaz's attention, and that means trouble."
Lenae thought over what Dina had just said. It was true: Chaz's instincts were very sharp for such a young elf. If he thought there was trouble, there was probably trouble. Silently, the remainder of the group listened intently, eyeing all the surrounding brush suspiciously. Time itself seemed to almost stop, as only the buzzing of small insects and the chirping of birds seemed to fade and disappear. The silence that followed was almost overpowering.
Suddenly, Morag's voice thundered through the trees in a loud battle cry. Lara, Dina, and Fiora's muscles tensed in anticipation, as sounds of a fierce battle rang out from the direction of the rooftop. The other warriors of the group gathered themselves and quickly began planning how to enter the fight without endangering the wizards. Merlin spoke up, "Perhaps the boys require help, my young friends! Quickly! Into the fray!" With that, he disappeared. Those remaining stared at the place where he had only seconds before been in open mouthed awe.
Finally, after collecting themselves, the rest of the group stumbled into the overgrown area of trees after gathering themselves from the stupor of amazement at Merlin's power. They broke out into a clearing where Morag and Chaz battled eight skeletons and two giant scorpions. The two immense scorpion beasts were black, with stingers tinged with dull red, apparently from dried blood, and were screeching horribly. The skeletons gave the distinct impression of being true undead, for they glowed softly in the dim, overcast sunlight, and reacted with no pain to the strikes brought against them.
Before them, the battle lay in panoramic squalor. Morag swung his long sword through the midsection of a skeleton, evading the apparition's savage sword thrust at his head. His blade cut through animated bone, severing the undead thing's spinal cord. The undead creature shrieked in rage and clattered to the ground, a useless pile of bones. Morag yelled in triumph, his smile encouraging the advance of his companions.
Fending off a stinging attack from one of the giant scorpions, Chaz kicked the helmet off another of the skeleton warriors, effectively blinding the spirit. It stumbled about, swinging blindly at the sounds of its enemies. Dina swiped at it, taking its head from its body, reducing it to a pile as well. Chaz swung with strength belying his size. With his second stroke, the stinger was lopped off the end of the giant scorpion's tail, sending it shrieking into what were apparently the ruins of a once great castle. The trail of blood was thick and horrid with stench.
Aurich, trembling, waved his hands before him as a skeleton advanced towards him. After he and the rest had entered the clearing, they had spread out to help their friends. His hands glowed, and then a burst of magical energy lanced outward from his hand to blow half of the skeleton away. The skeleton advanced one more foot forward, then collapsed into a heap of bones.
The remaining skeletons converged on the small group, fighting furiously with the skill of great swordsmen. The group of adventurers fought mightily against their supernatural opponents, slowly killing the frightening creatures. Morag, sighting Fiora, yelled, "Where in the Pit is Merlin?" His enemy fell into a scattered lump of bones as he hacked repeatedly at the thing. Each of the party was engaged with keeping their heads on their bodies as the skeletons slashed at them heavily.
Fiora, her own blade flashing quickly, parrying several attacks, shouted back, "I don't know! He disappeared!" She ducked beneath a killing swipe at her head, swept the bony legs out from under the creature, and removed its head with a swift strike.
As Morag split his enemy in two, he muttered, "It figures! He's just so powerful, he couldn't fight like a man!" He stomped across the fallen thing, blade lifted, preparing to strike, when he suddenly realized the wind was blowing very hard.
The small group looked up, pausing in their battle, to see dark skies, and the old wizard Merlin on the roof of the ruins. The old man's face was dark with power, eyes flashing. His voice was booming, incredibly loud, as he waved his hands about his head, speaking in a strange tongue, casting a spell of unbelievable proportions.
The little clutch of adventurers covered their ears as thunder boomed loudly above them, and scrambled for cover as lightning blasted the remaining skeletons and scorpion into ashes. When the smoke cleared, they all shakily stood, gaping in awe at the old wizard.
"By the One, what happened?" asked Dina, brushing her hair back behind her shoulders. She was scraped up a bit, bleeding from about four scrapes. The others were scratched up as well. Her gaze flowed over everyone, clearly rattled.
Chaz, brushing grass out of his long silver hair, replied, "Some kind of spell, I guess. One I've never seen before." He sheathed his sword, and moved towards the entrance of the ruins. Nothing else seemed ready to leap at them from the ruins, or from the woods surrounding it. "Let's go see what we can find!" His enthusiasm was evident, and catching.
Shaking her head, Lenae spoke out, "But wait! It could be dangerous!" She pointed to the lump of ashes that once was a gargantuan scorpion. "The other one of these things ran in there!" She trembled, obviously not wanting to come face to face with the injured and enraged scorpion.
The others followed with their eyes to where Lenae gestured, sobering as understanding sank in. Finally, Lara spoke, dark eyes flashing, "Lenae is right! We mustn't allow our victory here go to our heads! We must be careful!" She cautiously approached the opening of the ruins with an air of apprehension. The rest followed behind cautiously.
Jaman glanced back at Merlin, who simply smiled and shrugged, and followed the rest of the party inside. He could smell the sharp odor of decay strongly as he crept into the long deserted building.
Inside, Aurich led the way, a pale blue light illuminating the way ahead of him. The old and moldy furniture, scattered and broken, reeked with decay, animal droppings, and only the One knew what else. The trail the wounded scorpion had taken through the catacombs was evident; furniture was overturned, making them reek anew of mold, decay, and age. There was also, of course, the trail of black blood, barely visible in Aurich's blue light.
Morag, headstrong as always, headed straight down the corridor, venturing deeper into the ancient castle. Fiora, headstrong as Morag, followed quickly behind. Noticing their departure, with only Morag's hastily lit candle and Fiora's low light vision to lead them, Lara called, "Morag, Fiora, wait! There could be trouble down there!"
Merlin, sighing with wizened experience, said, "Rest easy, young Lara. It has been my experience that those gifted in the arts of warfare rarely think with their heads, only with their weapons." He got that faraway look again. "The only truly thinking warriors I've ever encountered were Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table."
Lenae, looking at Merlin as though he was blanking out again, asked, "Who is Arthur? I've never heard of him before." Even his name sounded otherworldly, for no one she knew ever mentioned a name as foreign as that one. She still had a couple of reservations about their new friend, it seemed.
Merlin, starting down the corridor after the two warriors, his staff radiating a bright light, replied, "It's very doubtful you would ever have heard of him, young one. Arthur was the King of Britain, a very wise and benevolent ruler." His eyes seemed to mist over as they advanced down the dark corridor.
"I would be honored if you would tell us a few tales of this noble Arthur," said Aurich, passing Merlin and his sister. "Only, let's try to live through this long enough first." With a last glance behind him, he headed into the corridor after his friends, the look of determination in his eyes not lost on the old man.
Dina, sword drawn, and Lara, sword also drawn, followed Chaz as he passed the four wizards and advanced down the corridor, still staying within reach of Merlin's light.
Tales of Mystrum: The Arrival - Prologue © Psycho Circus
Migrate Wizard:
Tales of Mystrum - The Arrival (Chapter One)
Tales of Mystrum - The Arrival (Chapter One) ›

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


With having a brilliant first season the Club are expanding and looking for coaches for the following age groups; U13s / U15s / U16s and U17s.
FA Level 1 minimum required or aiming for a Level 1 - We are looking for passionate, Creative, and willing to coach the respected teams to a great level.
Looking for an experienced coach, may suit parent coach.
Must have or be willing to get enhanced DBS and attend any relevant courses.
Must have or be willing to work towards a coaching qualification - We are willing to pay for a coaching qualification for the right coach.
We looking for new coaches to take over a team, that will be playing in the Selkent League next season.
u7s, u8s & u9s teams available.
We pay our coaches £15.00 per session.


text:
Excerpts from our long-established personal vintage Halloween collection representing the high watermark of condition and rarity.
We periodically add photographs as we maintain our archive.
Invitation on cardstock with original envelope, USA, Whitney Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, early 1920s, 4.75″ h x 2.5″ w
Invitation on cardstock with original envelope, USA, Whitney Company of Worcester, Massachusetts, early 1920s, 2.5″ h x 4.75″ w,
Set of four JOL invitations, USA, Dennison, (printed name), first appeared in their 1925 Bogie Book, 3″ h x 3″ w (closed).
This Hallowe'en invitation box has outstanding graphics. It's not marked but the JOLs along the edges and the use of a fat font are hallmarks of early Dennison. Measures 4.5″ h x 5⁄8″ w x 5.5″ l.
Enveloped set of 5 Hallowe'en Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1922. Envelope: 5" h x 4" w. Contents: 3.25″ square (unopened). This is perhaps the earliest Beistle packaging I've seen. Beistle issued these folding invitations during the span 1918-1925. This set represents the earliest and rarest of the iterations. It's devoid of the detailed artwork that festooned the later Party Helps enveloped set. Beistle's first inclination was to issue things in somewhat plain envelopes, with envelopes getting more ornate during the production run. Beistle's Hallowe'en Party Helps, 1923-1925, contained six folding invitations. Beistle's boxed and enveloped sets Hallowe'en Party Decorations and Hallowe'en Party Decorations Children's Hallowe'en Party Book, copyrighted 1923, consisting of thirty pieces for a party of four, contained four punch-out invitations printed on one side only.
Complete boxed set of 6 Novelty Invitations and 6 Envelopes, USA, Beistle, (no mark), late 1920s. When opened the old witch pops up. Box: 5.25″ h x 4.5″ w. Invitation: 5.75″ h x 6″ w (open). Shown are two invitations (one open and one closed) and one envelope.
Tri-fold invitation with witch chasing sprite, USA, Dennison, first appeared in their 1921 Bogie Book, 3.25″ square (closed). This was sold with stock number H77.
Cat busting through scroll invitation, USA, Dennison, (printed name), first appeared in their 1929 Price List pamphlet, 3.75" x 3.5" w. Note the unpunched section mid-right side.
Tri-fold invitation with startled boy peeking through fence, USA, Dennison, first appeared in their 1920 Bogie Book, 3″ h x 4.25″ w (closed).
Enveloped set of 5 Assorted Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1920. This is perhaps the earliest Beistle packaging I've seen. Beistle produced three versions of these folding invitations with subtle design and packaging variations during the span 1918-1925. This set represents the earliest and rarest of the iterations and probably dates to 1918. The envelope is made of a noticeably heavier card stock. Envelope: 5″ h x 4″ w. Invitations: 4.5″ h x 2.5″ w (closed).
Tri-fold invitation with two arched-back black cats fighting on a fence, USA, Dennison, late 1920s, 2.5″ h x 3.75″ w (closed).
Enveloped set of Four Assorted Hallowe'en Folding Invitations, USA, Beistle, (no mark), 1918-1922. These tri-fold invitations were issued during the span 1918-1922. This set represents the earliest singular iteration. Two Halloween party sets: Complete Party Outfit boxed set, 1918, consisting of seventy-four pieces for a party of eight and Complete Party Outfit enveloped set, 1922, consisting of thirty-five pieces for a party of four contained eight and four assorted invitations respectively. Envelope: 7.5″ h x 5″ w. Invitations: 3″ h x 8.25″ w (opened). JOLs: 3″ h x 2.75″ w. Beistle assigned stock number 610 X to this set.


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Pursuit Dynamics
Steam-based technology developer Pursuit Dynamics says that it is going to focus on its two main divisions and it is seeking partners for other operations.
Pursuit still has £6.1m in the bank but it needs to stem the cash outflow or that will not last long. Cost cutting, including the departure of the finance director, will reduce the cash outflow by £450,000 a month. Higher revenues would help but this year they are only expected to be £1m.
The failure to secure a significant contract from Procter & Gamble led to a collapse in the share price. At 12.25p a share, down 0.88p, Pursuit is valued at £10.6m. A recent rights issue raised £8.88m at 100p a share.
The focus will be the public safety and brewing and food operations. Pursuit is identifying potential investors or partners for the waste treatment and bioenergy operations.
Pursuit is still looking for a new chief executive.
Download the latest AIM Journal from http://www.hubinvest.com/AIMPDFJune2012_33.pdf


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Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017: Tilleke & Gibbins' IP Practice in Thailand Earns Top Ranking
Tilleke & Gibbins' intellectual property (IP) practice has been recognized by Chambers Asia-Pacific with a "Band 1" ranking for the tenth consecutive year in 2017. The important milestone reflects the firm's continued commitment to legal excellence and its client-centric focus.
The Chambers editorial accompanying the ranking recognized Tilleke & Gibbins IP practice group for its highly experienced teams of patent and trademark experts, who have assisted clients across the region, particularly in criminal and civil IP litigation. One satisfied client stated, "The quality of work product is generally very good. Often we have time-sensitive matters and they turn it around very quickly." Local market sources are all in agreement that "their IP work is without rival in South-East Asia. They manage work in difficult jurisdictions pragmatically and realistically and with clear lines of communication."
The editorial highlighted the firm's notable practitioners, including Darani Vachanavuttivong, co-managing partner and managing director of Tilleke & Gibbins' IP group, who maintains a truly regional practice in the patents area and regularly advised clients across Southeast Asia. As deputy director of the firm's IP group, Alan Adcock was also recognized by peers and clients alike for his experience. Market sources described his work as "very impressive," and go on to remark that he "works for a very large number of multinationals and is highly responsive, has deep expertise and just has a really lovely ability to synthesize really complex regulated stuff in a really client-friendly way."
More information on the rankings can be found on the Chambers Asia-Pacific website.
RELATED INSIGHTS
Vietnam Earns Top-Tier Rankings in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
Tilleke & Gibbins was awarded Band 1 rankings in Intellectual Property and Tech/Media/Telecom (TMT) in Vietnam in the 2021 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific, one of the most highly regarded directories of law firms in the region. This is the 13th year in a row the firm's high-powered intellectual property practice in Vietnam has achieved a Band 1 ranking. In its editorial commentary, Chambers praised Tilleke & Gibbins as a "[s]tandout IP firm with a significant capacity for the prosecution and enforcement of patents, industrial designs and trademarks." For TMT, the firm was lauded for its "[i]mpressive practice with expertise spanning technology market entry, media distribution and sponsorship, and telecoms regulations," and was one of only two firms ranked in Band 1 for Vietnam. Tilleke & Gibbins was also recognized in Corporate/M&A for the 11th year in a row, and was placed among the top eight firms in the country in Employment, in Chambers' first-ever rankings in Vietnam for the practice area. In addition to the practice rankings, lawyers from the Vietnam offices were honored with six individual rankings, with Thomas J. Treutler (Band 1), Loc Xuan Le, Linh Thi Mai Nguyen, and Trung Nguyen recognized for Intellectual Property; Kien Trung Trinh for Corporate/M&A; and Waewpen Piemwichai for TMT. The firm was also ranked in nine practice areas in Thailand, with 11 lawyers earning individual rankings, and additionally earned recognition as a top corporate law firm in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar. For full details on the rankings, please visit the Chambers and Partners website.
Tilleke & Gibbins Thailand Receives High Rankings in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
The 2021 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific has been released, with Tilleke & Gibbins earning high honors across the full range of practice areas and individual rankings in Thailand. The firm received Band 1 rankings—the publication's highest recognition for practice areas—for its intellectual property and employment practices. The full practice-area rankings for Tilleke & Gibbins in Thailand are summarized in the table below. Each ranking in the guide is accompanied by an analysis, originating from Chambers and Partners' direct interviews with clients, highlighting specific areas of strength for each respective practice. In the 2021 editorial about the firm's intellectual property practice, Chambers notes that Tilleke & Gibbins is a "market-leading firm," while a client commenting on the aviation practice was quoted as saying that the firm "is absolutely excellent and they provide a superb service. They are extremely diligent and thorough." The firm's insurance practice was also praised by a client, who said, "Their key strengths are an in-depth understanding of the insurance business and local practices, fast and commercially-minded advice, and the benefits of being a full-service law firm. Their relationships with local regulators and the industry associations are very strong." Chambers Asia-Pacific also ranks leading individual practitioners in each jurisdiction. This year Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers earned a total of 19 individual rankings, with 11 of those for nine professionals in the Bangkok office, as detailed in the table below. Tilleke & Gibbins' offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam also received outstanding recognitions from Chambers and Partners. The Chambers Asia-Pacific rankings are based on in-depth market research, including input from our clients and other legal practitioners, are a reference guide to the top law firms and legal professionals across the Asia-Pacific region. To read the full rankings and analyses, please visit the Chambers and Partners website.
Tilleke & Gibbins Offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar Awarded Rankings in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
In the recently released 2021 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific, one of the premier rankings directories of top law firms around the world, Tilleke & Gibbins has received outstanding marks for the work of its offices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar. These come in addition to the firm's top-tier recognitions in Chambers' Thailand and Vietnam rankings. Tilleke & Gibbins' office in Cambodia was ranked Band 2 for General Business Law—a boost from last year's Band 3 ranking, and a strong reflection the Phnom Penh office's sustained, strong performance across the full range of corporate legal practice under the expert direction of partner Jay Cohen, who also received a Chambers Asia-Pacific individual ranking. Tilleke & Gibbins' IP and regulatory affairs boutique in Indonesia also took a step forward in the listings, earning a Band 4 ranking in the Intellectual Property category. In Laos, Tilleke & Gibbins was ranked in Band 3, with an individual ranking for office head, Dino Santaniello; while in Myanmar, the firm received a Band 4 ranking. Each ranking in the guide is accompanied by an analysis drawn from Chambers and Partners' direct interviews with clients, highlighting specific areas of strength for each respective practice. For instance the 2021 editorial about the firm's intellectual property practice in Indonesia quotes a client as reporting that "Tilleke & Gibbins provides a very high quality of service," while the analysis for the firm's office in Laos quotes a client as noting that the firm's lawyers "explain practical measures in detail," which is extremely helpful for people unfamiliar with both Lao law and the intricacies of its implementation. The Chambers Asia-Pacific rankings are based on in-depth market research, including input from our clients and other legal practitioners, are a reference guide to the top law firms and legal professionals across the Asia-Pacific region. To read the full rankings and analyses, please visit the Chambers and Partners website.


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Q: LWJGL OpenGL sprite sheet I am new to OpenGL and am currently trying to render a cube with four faces, each with a different texture.
As you all know, having a separate texture for each face type is very memory intensive and makes the application slow.
At the moment I am trying to use a texture sheet for the sprite. I have the graphic file with each texture 16x16 pixels with 256 sprites arranged in a square (16x16).
I know that
GL11.glTexCoord2f(1.0f, 0.0f);
GL11.glVertex3f(1.0f, 1.0f,  1.0f);
GL11.glTexCoord2f(0.0f, 0.0f);
GL11.glVertex3f(0.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f);
GL11.glTexCoord2f(0.0f, 1.0f);
GL11.glVertex3f(0.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
GL11.glTexCoord2f(1.0f, 1.0f);
GL11.glVertex3f(1.0f, 0.0f, 1.0f);

gives me a rectangle with the whole sprite sheet so u and v of glTexCoord2f have to be less than 1.0f.
What I need now is a formula which will calculate the u and v of any sprite id in the texture.
The IDs go as following in the texture bitmap:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 16 20 21 22 23 24...

and I'd like to have a u and v for any of these IDs. The last bit isn't explained very well, so I'll explain it better if you would like.
Thank you in advance!

A: The locations of the sprites' texture in the image are in a 16 x 16 array, so the location of a texture (if you count the first one as 0) are:
row = texNo / 16;
col = texNo % 16;

The coordinates are then:
u0 = row / 16;
u1 = (row + 1) / 16;

v0 = col / 16;
v1 = (col + 1) / 16;

Then replace 1.0f with u1 or v1 as appropriate and 0.0f with u0 or v0 in the glTexCoord2Df calls.

A: The sprite sheet extends from 0..1 in u and v.  If it's 16x16 then the upper left corners are at n/16, m/16 where n, m range from 0..15.  If your sheets are all 16x16 you can simplify your life by factoring out the 1/16th into the texture matrix:
        glMatrixMode(GL_TEXTURE)
        glLoadIdentity()
        glScalef(1f/16f, 1f/16f, 1f)

That would let you address a sprite at 0,0, 1,0, 2,0, etc. with integers because of the scaling in the matrix.
A further advantage of using the texture matrix like this is that your texture coordinates become integers and now you can use an integer type in your vertex array or VBO to represent the texture coordinates.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When it comes to lifting weights, some of us are tempted to always go as heavy as we possibly can; Put another plate on the barbell, grab the heavier set of dumbells, up the resistance on the cables, etc., because the more we push ourselves, the better the results- right? Well, not always. When you start to compromise form to add weight, you could be causing yourself more harm than good. Proper form when it comes to any exercise, whether it be deadlifting, chest press, or just bodyweight squats, is crucial. Keep reading to learn why proper form is so important for any form of exercise.
Poor form during exercise can lead to a number of injuries, due to misalignment or overcompensation from certain muscle groups. This can put an immense amount of pressure on muscles, tendons, and joints, leading to acute and overuse injuries. The last thing you want is a setback from an injury. Take it slow, practice proper form, and you'll slowly build the strength to gradually add weight.
If you've been working a specific muscle group consistently but realizing you have not seen any "gains," it could be time to review your form. If your form is incorrect, you could be completely missing the muscle group that you're trying to target. For example, if you're doing bicep curls with a heavy weight that requires almost your entire upper body to move just to reach the top of the movement, chances are your biceps are not doing all of the work. Try a lighter weight, and focus on form keeping the rest of your body still, and isolate only the bicep.
Using proper form during exercise can help to improve breathing, and therefore give you more power for your workout. If you're using incorrect form, you may actually be exerting more energy than necessary. Take advantage of proper form and get the most out of your workouts while using your energy wisely!
Proper form during all exercises can be a difficult skill to master, especially if you're new to lifting. That's why the certified personal trainers are here to help! Sign up for a 1 on 1 session today at Back Bay Fit to review your form with a personal trainer, and learn new techniques to get the most out of your workouts. Fill out an online form or give us a call today at 617-450-0001 for more information!
Are you getting enough protein with every meal? A high protein diet helps to increase your metabolism, as it causes a rise in TEF, or the thermic effect of food. This is the amount of energy expenditure required to process and digest the nutrients in your meal. In simpler terms, your body has to work harder to break down the protein and is, therefore, burning more calories in the process. Protein has the highest TEF, in comparison to carbs or fats. Eating protein also helps to keep you more full which can help to prevent you from overeating, a key factor in losing weight.
Drinking water is a vital factor in weight loss for a variety of reasons. To start, people who drink water to replace sugary sodas, juices, or energy drinks, are likely to be more successful with their weight loss as they're drinking fewer calories. Drinking water before meals can also help you to feel fuller, and therefore you'll eat less. Additionally, drinking water can temporarily boost your metabolism. According to studies, drinking 17 ounces of water can speed up your resting metabolism rate by 10-30% for an hour. Additionally, if you're drinking cold water, your body will use more energy to heat it up to body temperature.
You may have heard the term "HIIT" being used frequently across the fitness industry, and for good reason. High-intensity interval training is just as it sounds; It's a training technique where you give 100% effort during quick, intense bursts of exercises, completed in intervals. HIIT is a great option when trying to lose fat, as it will increase your metabolic rate, even after you've completed the workout.
Losing weight and getting toned can be a difficult process, but having someone to guide you along the way can help to keep you on track. At Back Bay Fit, our programs include HIIT training, lifting weights, cardio, and more to boost your metabolism and get you the result you're looking for. To learn more about our programs, visit our personal training page, or contact us to sign up for a consultation today!
As you get older, it is still important to get out there and stay active. It is crucial to physical and mental wellbeing, as muscle loss increases a bit more rapidly once you hit the age of 40. At age 30 your muscles just begin to lose their mass, but once you hit the age of 40, it is a more rapid decline, and you can lose as much as 23% of muscle by the age of 65. Let's take a look at the aspects of well-being that fitness effects.
Weight: Activity can help to decrease fluctuations in weight, as well as moderate weight at a specific level so that one is within a healthy range.
Eases Pain: Back pain can be decreased by exercise, as exercise can increase flexibility and help to improve posture.
Illness: The impact of illness will be decreased, meaning that you will feel less sick when you get a cold, etc. and be feeling great more often.
Disease: Disease rates such as Alzheimer's, obesity and heart disease can be dramatically reduced by exercising.
Mobility & Balance: While maintaining a healthy exercise schedule, many individuals find that they have a better stamina and endurance for walking, as well as the decreased chance of falling due to better balance.
Flexibility: By working your muscles, they have the ability to stretch and increases flexibility, making everyday tasks much easier.
Sleep Quality: By working out, sleeping becomes easier. This is true of people of all ages and can be very helpful the higher in age you get, as while you need less sleep, you still need quality sleep to be able to function right during the day.
Mood & Confidence: Working out releases serotonin, which can improve mood, as well as self-confidence.
To learn more about exercises, or personal training services in Back Bay and Arlington, MA, feel free to contact us by filling out our contact form or call us directly at 617-450-0001.
Now that it's January, many people may be in the process of hitting some health goals as their New Year's Resolution for 2018. This is very common, but where does one start?
You should start with the basics. It can be extremely difficult and discouraging to throw yourself into too much at once. Starting with a few beginners moves and moving up from there, you can succeed in filling your goals and have a happy, healthy new year!
What Exercises Should I Try?
Squat Jump: A squat jump can be a fun way to get moving. Start off with your legs shoulder-width apart, then squat down, and use this energy to jump. You should make sure your knees do not cross past your toes when squatting, as this can cause some knee problems if done over a long period of time.
Side Lunge: Begin by standing with your legs a few inches apart. From here, step to the side and squat down a bit. Similar to the squat jump, make sure to watch your knees!
Single-Leg Hip Raise: This exercise is a bit different. Start with your back on the ground, with your legs bent in a bit. Straighten one leg, and lift your glutes so that your hips are equal. From here, hold for a few seconds and then drop back down slowly.
Glutes Bridge: The glutes bridge can be done almost anywhere, which is why it is a great exercise. Similar to the exercise above, you start on your back with your arms comfortable next to you, while making sure that your legs are bent up with your feet planted about a foot away from the rest of your body. From here, all your do is lift your hips and hold for a few seconds.
Step Up: The step up exercise is as it sounds, just stepping up. You can do this at a gym onto a platform, or even by using the stairs more often.
Every year, the clock begins again, and many people want this fresh start to become a part of their life as well. Many people make a New Year's Resolution, but, many people also break this resolution within the first month. This can be attributed to a few different things, including goals that are too high and a change in lifestyle that is not manageable long term. Let's look at a few of the things you can do this new year to make sure your resolution stays in place.
Create Goals Within Reason: By creating manageable goals, you can maintain them. One example of this is going to the gym. If you are not working out at all, it can be difficult to go 5 days a week just because it's the New Year. Start off by going twice a week, then over time, work in another day, and work yourself up to your end goal. Throwing yourself into a different lifestyle can be too much and discourage many from continuing with their progress after a few weeks.
Keep a Schedule: By creating a schedule for your goal, you are more likely to do it. There are two routes you could go with this. Going back to the gym example, you could say, "I want to go to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday", or you could go down a different path, look at your schedule at the beginning of the week and say, "Okay I can fit in a workout on Wednesday morning and Thursday after work". By doing things repeatedly, they can become a habit, so make sure to get into a good habit such as this!
Be Accountable: Simply saying you are going to do something is a bit different than going through with it long-term. By holding yourself accountable, you can get back on track at any time.
Forgive Yourself: The first step to any misstep is forgiveness. Again, with the gym metaphor, if you miss one session, or can only go once that week, it's not the end of the world. Just get back in there the next week and continue to the best you can! By consistently thinking about how you messed up, you can hinder your future progress, so don't worry about it and get back in there the next week. Many people will stop trying to achieve their goals and say "well, I missed this, so what's the point?", but you can do anything you set your mind to!
Add Friends to the Mix: Friends can be great because they are supportive and can help keep you on track. By creating similar goals, you can also motivate each other to continue!
You have most likely heard, "make sure to stretch beforehand" a LOT, especially when you first started working out, but was it ever explained why that is? Did you ever understand the reasoning behind stretching before any exercise? As it turns out, there are a lot of reasons why this is extremely important and crucial to your wellbeing. Let's take a look at some of these reasons why stretching is important.
This is probably the biggest thing in regard to stretching. Stretching and getting your muscles moving prepares them before doing any activity. This being said, it relieves stress and tension in the muscles when they tighten up. These muscles typically tighten to defend the body when anxiety and feelings that are overwhelming hit the body. Stretching reverses this and can make your days much more comfortable.
The more you move, the more flexible you will become. Similarly, stretching becomes much easier over time. It is much better for the joints and can help you avoid joint pain, as well as strains to the muscle and overall damage to your body's muscles. You range of motion has the opportunity to increase, and your balance can become better as well.
Soreness is typically caused by a lack of blood flow to certain areas of the body before exercising. By stretching, you increase the blood and nutrient supply. Your blood flows better, and because of this nutrients are carried through the blood and spread throughout the body much better than they would have without stretching beforehand.
Stretching helps to strengthen your muscles with ultimately leads to proper alignment of muscles, meaning that your chest muscles typically become more vertical. Due to working on computers all day, many people have this issue. The chest muscles tighten up and therefore pull your entire body forward into a slouching position. This can work wonders on your muscles and lengthen tight muscles like never before.
Kickboxing is one of the best workouts that you can do for yourself. High-energy kickboxing can be a huge motivation for your workout schedule and even make you want to workout even more. This being said, it is a total body workout unlike any you've ever tried. Let's take a look at some of the other benefits that come along with incorporating kickboxing into your workout schedule.
Reduce Stress: Boxing has been shown to reduce stress along with feelings of anxiety, depression, and anger. Being able to put all your energy into this one exercise, and focusing on it can really help to take your mind off of other things as well.
Boost Confidence: Kickboxing can help to boost your confidence by allowing you to take control of situations and focus.
Improved Coordination: Improving your coordination occurs because when you are kickboxing, you are inherently improving your core muscles which helps a lot with coordination, as those muscles are the ones that keep you upright and balanced.
Energy Boost: Working out releases endorphins, so therefore you will get an energy boost from a kickboxing class.
Better Posture: As mentioned above, the core muscles are vastly improved over time when one goes to kickboxing. The core muscles are was affect posture, so by increasing the strength of these muscles, you will be able to better your posture.
Burn Calories: Burning calories is always a plus! Kickboxing is one of the best exercises for burning calories and you can actually burn around 750 calories per hour just from this exercise.
Self Defense: By learning kickboxing, you are also learning self-defense. All of the moves you learn in a class can be applied to real life.
Improved Endurance: Since kickboxing is a heart-pumping cardio exercise, if you continue to do this exercise over a long period of time, you will improve your endurance.
To learn more about exercises, or personal training, feel free to contact us by filling out our contact form or call us directly at 617-450-0001.
Core Training is something that we often hear about nowadays. While fitness has always been important, it has become increasingly important due to daily lives. Many people are very busy, and because of this, they believe that they do not have time or energy to get a workout in during the week. Going to the gym can be a bit difficult, especially if you are very busy, but there are a few things you can incorporate at home that will get you a bit fit, including core training.
So, What is Core Training?
Core training refers to the training of the core muscles. The core is the area including the front, back, and sides of the midsection. There are many different muscles in this area, but all of them are included. The training aspect relates to the stabilization process of these muscles, and core training specifically refers to the act of doing exercises in order to develop and strengthen these muscles.
Why Do We Train Our Core?
We train our core for a lot of different reasons. The first being that life has become increasingly sedentary, especially in the United States, where we often drive places or get there via train/subway, etc. For this reason, core training can help to keep the body strong, as a whole. It also takes a short amount of time to do these exercises, and because of that reason, they can be done at home.
There are also some more physical reasons that it is necessary to keep up with core training. The main reason that this is important is that if these muscles are weak, it is possible to have excessive lower back pain, which really causes a lot of problems over the course of the day. Having a strong core has also been known to very much help with good posture. Without strong core muscles, it is difficult to hold the body up, and as a result, you get bad posture.
When you head into the gym, sometimes it can be extremely daunting, as there are so many options of exercises that can be done. Since there are so many options, sometimes it can be easy to follow a guide of a few different exercises, with the weight increasing over time, or decreasing with an increase in reps. Sometimes, however, it is good to change it up a bit and give something a try. Here is a small guide to a few moves that will really show a difference when doing an arm workout.
Bent over dumbbell rows: To do this exercise, lean over slightly and then extend your arms in front of you. From here, one would extend both arms outward until they are straight out to your sides. This helps to work the shoulder muscles and can help to build muscle in the back area. Leaning forward creates more of a pull, making the exercise a little more difficult than your ordinary dumbbell rows.
Chest fly handoff: A chest fly handoff is like a chest fly, but instead works with one dumbbell. This is where the handoff comes into play. Start off by laying on the ground or on a bench. Then, start off with your arms directly above the chest area. From here, you will be extending both arms straight outward (with the dumbbell in one hand), so that they are parallel to the ground. From here, extending your arms back in the air and switching dumbbells to the other hand works to make sure both sides of the body get the same workout. This really works the chest area.
Shoulder cycles: This exercise is simple. Start by standing with your feet a shoulder's width away. From here extend the arms up to your side, lifting them to be parallel to the floor. From here, extend them to be in front of you. After this, you will be reextending them out to your sides and then back down. Doing this may seem simple at first, but you will really start feeling it a few in, so maybe starting with a lower weight would be beneficial to your productivity.
Overhead tricep extensions: This exercise will really work your triceps, and is kind of fun! Start with your arms extended over your head, holding the dumbbell, and slowly bend your elbows so that the weight is basically behind your head. If you cannot do this, even bending your elbow a little bit will still work the muscle!
Half kneeling bicep curls: Bicep curls are one of the most well-known arm exercises, but why not do two things at once! Kneeling can help your body to balance better, and the bicep curls help to build muscle in the area they are named after.
How Can I Fight Bloating?
Bloating is a general term for any kind of abnormal gas swelling or increase in the diameter of the abdominal area. This can hurt, and be rather painful, but can also cause the feeling of a tightened abdomen and growling of the stomach. While sometimes there is no way to avoid this, there are some things that you can change about your lifestyle, or add to it, in order to avoid and cut out bloating as much as possible. Let's take a look at some of these changes.
Increase Potassium Intake: Increase potassium intake can really help you in the sense that it acts as an electrolyte, which helps so much in balancing different levels in the body. When it comes to balance, it can balance out water, fluid and sodium levels inside of the digestive tract, which can counteract against bloating.
Exercise: exercises such as cardio and core training can help with bloating in two different ways. Regarding cardio, it has been known to pass gas through the system, and core training can be used to make you feel less self-conscious about your stomach area.
Drink Water: Drinking water will have the same effects as potassium intake. The more water you drink, the more balanced out your digestive tract will be. The water essentially flushes out anything in your body that is normal, but causes pain. It can help to reduce the gas in the stomach immensely.
Drink Tea: Different types of tea, specifically like peppermint tea, has antispasmodic and relaxing properties which can help to relieve pain and cramping in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in the bile duct and gallbladder.
Decrease Salt Intake: Salt, while delicious tasting, leads to excess water retention and because of this, makes you feel bloated. By decreasing this, you allow the water to leave your system.
To learn more about bloating, or exercise and diet, feel free to contact us by filling out our contact form, or call us directly at 617-450-0001.
As of lately, we have seen a lot about meal prepping and its benefits. Meal prepping has seen to be skewed towards only people who go to the gym all the time, but it really is something that everyone can do, as it has amazing benefits. Planning your week of food is not only beneficial to people wanting to lose weight or gain muscle, but also for people who want to get in the habit of spending less money while also saving time and energy on cooking every single night.
Alongside this, many people find themselves in the middle of a dilemma. Do I stay up late and finish cooking a meal for tomorrow, or do I go out for lunch and spend money? While this seems to be a daunting question, there is more than two options. The final and third option is meal prepping one or two days a week.
Let's look at some of the benefits of meal prepping a little more in depth.
It is almost always cheaper to buy and cook your own food and this is no different than that. While cooking can sometimes be expensive, buying in bulk and cooking for the entire week can ensure that you will not go out and spend money and you also will not have to continually buy groceries throughout the week. Alongside this, freezing food is also an option so that you can go back to it a few weeks later if necessary.
Time is valuable, especially in today's climate. While most everyone has an extremely busy schedule, it can be easy to want to take the convenient route. Meal prepping can be the convenient route, believe it or not. Having food readily available in the fridge really take the question of, what do I want for lunch today, off the table, and makes the decision simple.
While not everyone is trying to lose weight by meal prepping, this strategy will help you to learn portion control, which is a valid skill to learn. It will help one to lead a more healthy and happy lifestyle, while also making life easier.
To learn more about our partnership with Kettlebell Kitchen, or about us, feel free to contact us by filling out our contact form, or call us directly at 617-450-0001.
Personal Training is often regarded with the misconception that it is very expensive, but nowadays, that is not necessarily the truth. Personal training has a lot of benefits for everyone and can really help shape a healthy lifestyle is a great way. Having another person there while you work out is really great for accountability, as well as motivation. As a matter of fact, there are so many other great things about having a personal trainer, so let's check them out.
Having a personal trainer really helps to establish a habit of exercise, which has a massive affect in the long-term, as it helps to shape a healthy lifestyle and viewpoint on exercise. This makes being healthy and exercising a priority, which is truly the end goal. Many people think that the end goal to exercising is losing weight, or gaining muscle, but it is mostly about developing a healthy lifestyle that is attainable and maintainable.
Alongside this, personal trainers can help to keep you accountable, as having someone else looking out for your health really makes an impact, to both motivation and attitude. This being said, you can see better and faster results from this. While exercising by yourself, it is easy to waste time or become distracted, but with a trainer, they can make sure that you are spending time on the right kinds of exercises to fit your goals. If you only have short periods of time to work out, you are most likely to see the best results.
When it comes to balance in your exercise regime, there is pretty much two things it comes down to—fat loss and muscle gain. Regarding these two things, a trainer is trained for long periods of time to be able to find your perfect balance in a short period of time. This really ties a healthy lifestyle in together with getting quick results. While it is not a band-aid quick fix, personal training provides you with the tools you need to succeed.
Personal trainers can teach you the perfect form and the proper technique for many different moves, and because of this, you are less likely to get injured. Staying safe and injury-free is a necessity, and having a trainer will ensure this is the case. This is essential to the long-term maintenance of a healthy lifestyle. On top of this, utilizing a personal trainer is a safe option for people who have previously had injuries.
To learn more about our personal training services, feel free to contact us by filling out our contact form, or call us directly at 617-450-0001 or 781-643-0002.
Listening to music while working out can benefit you by motivating you to work harder. Because of this, it can help you to do 1-2 more reps per set, which adds up to a lot over time. It can also do a lot to elevate your mood and make you happier, which could also make you want to do more, or return to the gym more often. While listening to music is great for your workout, listening to music that is too fast or too slow could have opposite effects, so make sure that you're listening to music that is at a good pace for you and your workout.
Doing cardio after lifting weights allows for your body to burn fat faster. Why? Because working out allows your body to generate ATP, and ATP helps you to burn fat. Instead of doing cardio first and having to break through all the layers to get to ATP, it is more beneficial to lift first, get to the point where there's only less layers to get through until the ATP is generated, and then do cardio, where you can almost immediately break through to that fat-burner.
There are many perks of interval training, most to do with efficiency and effectiveness. This is because alternating intensities of lifting and cardio workouts has you continually burning calories for hours afterward. This is great for your heart, and on top of that, it builds up your endurance and is more time efficient, so it's easy to fit in your schedule.
Stretching is crucial, and probably the most important part of any active person's daily life. This is because stretching helps you avoid injury. While it is a preventative measure, it also helps to get you more flexible and strong, which is what everyone wants out of a workout. Lastly, stretching helps with your mobility and endurance in the long-term.
All in all, the importance of stretching, eating well, and utilizing strategic workouts is essential to maximizing your time at the gym. Schedule a free consultation with us today, or check out of class schedules for group fitness!
Need to Hydrate? Which is Better: Water or Sports Drinks?
After working up a good sweat during your workout you'll need to rehydrate, but which is better for you, sports drinks or water?
Sports drinks work by providing your body with electrolytes, carbohydrates, and calories. The electrolytes in sports drinks are usually sodium, chloride, or potassium, which ensure that the cells in your body are working properly. While working out, you will lose some electrolytes, so that is why you need to stay hydrated while exercising. During a normal workout, usually an hour or less, you only lose a few electrolytes. Electrolytes lost during moderate workout sessions can be replaced by drinking water and maintaining a healthy diet.
There are situations however, that warrant drinking a sports beverage. If you are working out vigorously such as running long distances or lifting a substantial amount of weight, you will lose many more electrolytes that water alone cannot replace. Working out in a hot environment, even moderately, also calls for a sports drink.
Most people don't drink enough water in their daily lives, even though it is essential to protecting the body before, during, and after exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines recommend that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid two hours before exercising, to promote proper hydration.
If you are looking to lose weight, you also need to consider the fact that sports drinks contain calories and sugar. If you are not working out vigorously, you will not burn those extra calories! Drinking sports drinks when not working out, much like soft drinks or juices, will add up and work against your weight loss goals.
The key takeaway here is, unless you are training extensively or under high temperatures, stick to water to hydrate your body throughout your workouts!
When it comes down to losing weight, many people believe that you just need to eat less and exercise more to achieve your goals. In reality, you need to eat the right foods, at the right time, at the right portion. More importantly, feeding your body before and after every workout is crucial for burning calories, keeping energized, building lean muscle, losing weight, and speeding up recovery time. If you work out on an empty stomach often, you'll only lose muscle and not actually burn fat. Eating before a workout will ensure you draw protein from the right sources, maintain your metabolism, and have enough energy to power through your workout!
You'll need to start refueling 30 minutes to an hour after your workout! After exercising, your muscles will be depleted of glycogen, which fuels your energy to workout. Consuming protein and a little bit of carbohydrates after your workout will refill energy stores, build and repair muscle, and help keep your metabolism burning.


text:
OPEN_RDO_CONVERTER_SMR2RDOX_NAMESPACE

// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// -------------------- RDOLexer
// --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
class Converter;

class RDOLexer: public yyFlexLexer
{
public:
    RDOLexer(Converter* pParser, std::istream* yyin, std::ostream* yyout);

    void loc_init();
    void loc_action();
    void loc_delta_pos(int value);
    void setvalue(int value);

    Converter* converter();

    void enumBegin();
    void enumReset();
    bool enumEmpty();

    int* m_lpval;
    YYLTYPE* m_lploc;

protected:
    virtual int LexerInput(char* buf, int max_size);
    virtual void LexerOutput(const char* buf, int size);
    virtual void LexerError(const char* msg);

private:
    std::istream* m_yyin;
    std::ostream* m_yyout;
    Converter* m_pParser;
    bool m_enumEmpty;
    int m_array_param_cnt;
};

CLOSE_RDO_CONVERTER_SMR2RDOX_NAMESPACE

#define LEXER     reinterpret_cast<rdo::converter::smr2rdox::RDOLexer*>(lexer)
#define LEXER_POS (*LEXER->m_lploc)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Below is more information about the seminars in Poland and Germany this summer. Click the images to open the PDF files.
Helin is moving to Portugal! Good luck, and come back soon!
No practice on Friday 5 April, as the hall is rented out to other activities.
The AGM will be held on the 15 March 2019. See PDF below. Welcome!
Spring term begins today! Welcome!


1. deeds of daring-do -- I couldn't find this one so I'm guessing on the spelling, etc. I think it means brave deeds -- as in "tales of daring-do."
2. tour de force -- pronounced TOUR-de-FORCE, French phrase for "display of technical virtuosity; powerful exhibition of skill." (From "Le Mot Juste" edited by John Buchanon-Brown, 1980, 81, Vintage Books).
3. idee fixe (with one of those little marks over the first "e" in idee) pronounced EE-day FEEX, literally French for "fixed idea; obsession, preoccupation." From "Le Mot Juste."


<input id="submitbutton" type="submit" value="Click Me" onclick="Hello()"
// Displays Hello World in a popup box.
Figure 23-1 shows the page that is rendered by using the preceding code.
When the Click Me button in Figure 23-1 is clicked, the popup box shown in Figure 23-2 is rendered.


Is an individual performance complaint an outlier or a trend?
Is a performance problem caused by my platform, my customer's page layout, or a third party?
Which objects are causing performance problems today?
In this talk, Norm and Buddy will review techniques and tips for doing root cause analysis with RUM data. At the end of this presentation you will be able to leverage the latest timing APIs in browsers in new ways, to do more than understand whether there is a problem, but also discover how to fix it.


The Maison rectangular extending dining table, 4 upholstered dining chairs and upholstered dining bench makes room for everyone. And thanks to its classic French style and wonderful craftsmanship, everyone dines in elegant style.
Beautifully made from solid American white oak and oak veneer, this large dining table extends to accommodate 8 with a pull-out leaf. The elegantly carved top rests on a turned double pedestal base for a more traditional look, yet the smooth finish feels quite contemporary.
Seating includes four upholstered dining chairs and an upholstered dining bench. Both styles have sturdy oak frames, slender solid American white oak legs, high supportive backs with inward-curving sides and well-cushioned seats. Upholstered in your choice of slate or almond fabric, seat backs are buttoned and edges are piped.
The Maison rectangular extending dining table, 4 upholstered dining chairs and upholstered dining bench is part of the Maison furniture collection.


text:
Als franko-sächsische Schule wird ein Stil der karolingischen Buchmalerei bezeichnet, der sich im heutigen Nordfrankreich entwickelte. Eine Vorreiterrolle hatte das Kloster Saint-Amand inne, daneben traten unter anderem die Abteien in St. Vaast in Arras, Saint-Omer und St. Bertin in Erscheinung. "Franko-sächsisch" meint fränkisch-angelsächsisch und bezieht sich darauf, dass der Stil im Frankenreich auf die insulare Buchmalerei zurückgriff. Der Buchschmuck blieb weitgehend auf Ornamentik beschränkt, figürliche Darstellungen fehlen fast völlig.

Ein frühes Beispiel dieses Stils ist ein im zweiten Viertel des 9. Jahrhunderts für Ludwig den Deutschen geschriebener Psalter aus Saint-Omer. Die franko-sächsische Schule setzte sich seit der zweiten Hälfte des neunten Jahrhunderts im gleichen Maße durch, wie die an der Antike orientierte höfische Buchmalerei ihren Niedergang erlebte. Die bedeutendste Handschrift dieser Art ist die sogenannte Zweite Bibel Karls des Kahlen, die zwischen 871 und 873 im Kloster Saint-Amand entstand.

Einzelnachweise

Karolingische Buchmalerei
Kunststil des Frühmittelalters

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: CouchDB _session not returning cookie Environment:

*

*CouchDB 2.2.0 running on VirtualBox, running up-to-date Debian image.  Network type is bridged, all ports are open, no https.

*Vue3.js app (not using any Vue functionality to access the DB)

*Remote access JS package:

*

*axios

*fetch

Browser: Chrome latest
Relevant CouchDB local.ini settings
[couch_peruser]
enable = false
delete_dbs = false

[chttpd]
port = 5984
require_valid_user = false
proxy_use_secret = false
bind_address = 0.0.0.0
authentication_handlers = {chttpd_auth, cookie_authentication_handler}, {chttpd_auth, default_authentication_handler}

[httpd]
bind_address = 127.0.0.1
enable_cors = true

(default authentication handlers set in default.ini)
authentication_handlers = {couch_httpd_auth, cookie_authentication_handler}, {couch_httpd_auth, default_authentication_handler}

[couch_httpd_auth]
secret = (hash num)
require_valid_user = false
allow_persistent_cookies = true

[cors]
origins = *
headers = accept, authorization, content-type, X-Auth-CouchDB-UserName, origin, referer
credentials = true
methods = GET, PUT, POST, HEAD, DELETE

What Happens
If I do the query via curl, I get a cookie in the response.
Here's the curl call:
curl -v http://couchman.lcldev:5984/_session \
  -H "Content-Type:application/json" \
  -H "X-Auth-CouchDB-UserName:<uname>" \
  -d '{"name":"<uname>","password":"<passwd>"}'

And here's the response:
< HTTP/1.1 200 OK
< Cache-Control: must-revalidate
< Content-Length: 47
< Content-Type: application/json
< Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2018 21:16:10 GMT
< Server: CouchDB/2.2.0 (Erlang OTP/19)
< Set-Cookie: (cookie info)
<
{"ok":true,"name":"<name>","roles":["<roles>"]}

Yay.  I get a cookie.
But if I call it from within my app (with either fetch or axios), I only get these headers:
Response headers:
  cache-control,must-revalidate
  content-type,application/json
  server,CouchDB/2.2.0 (Erlang OTP/19)

No Set-Cookie header.
So, what's up?  What am I missing?

A: Answered in first comment - see thread for more info.


Leather sneakers for kids Flexible sole with good traction.Best boots for high instep childWeak pronated ankles boots for girlsBest support at the heel to keep the foot elevated and in anti pronation bestFashion designer orthopedic sneakers for girls Quality l..
Orthopedic sneakers for kids wide feetGood sneakers for a boy with ankle support to prevent pronation. Arches added to the sole of the model. Ankle high for support and will not bent in the back of the style. Orthopedic best for kids.Flexible soles for ru..
High top infant walking shoes with support Walking corrective shoes for toddler girls.Proper arches and ankle support for a child truly ortho high tops. Pink best quality smooth and patent leather leather.White polka dots decorative for any season best. Best f..
Euro comfort shoeAnkle pronation and tip toe stop best kids shoes, orthopedic, Quality shoes for kids with arches forming little feet and posture. Best high top for any season. Great quality leather, color and fit. You child will enjoy those boots They w..
Pink metallic leather sneakers for toddler Shoes to correct pigeon toe for toddlersWeak ankles best leather shoes for kidsPeach and pink combination, lovely. Metallic pink/peach/fuchsia/pink shinny leather. Arches in the soles of the sneak..
Teen boys shoes for ankle supinationAnkle supportive and does not bend in the back Heel is reinforced with leather and added to rubber sole. That feature alone prevents pronation.Wide width teen boys leather shoes from EuropeStylish teen's boy elegant yet casu..


text:
About CERA
How to join CERA
Auction of street name plates
Most of the old street namplates, that had been replaced by the cast iron reproduction plates, have been sold. However a few are still available. Contact us if you'd like one of these. Full details here.
Percival House redevelopment
Ealing Council have selected house builders Galliford Try to redevelop its offices at Perceval House. Although the building is just 30 years old, Ealing says that the building services, such as air conditioning, lifts and plumbing, are nearing the end of their life. Galliford Try's proposals will almost treble the floorspace on the site. There will be a 7–10 storey office building facing Uxbridge Road for the Council's reduced staff, and a smaller library to replace the one in the Broadway Shopping Centre. Behind the offices 271 new homes will be built in a very cramped series of housing blocks ranging from 3 to 20 storeys high. The tallest of these – a 20-storey tower, 6 storeys higher than the Dickens Yard towers – would be located on Longfield Avenue facing the old Fire Station. Key to the plans is that half the new homes will be affordable.
The Council's plans have attracted nearly 800 objections. These include a lengthy submission from CERA which points to numerous areas where the plans conflict with the Council's own planning policies; we are particularly critical of the height and bulk of this Council scheme and the impact it will have on several Conservation Areas, including those within CERA territory. Strong objections were also received from Historic England, the Government's advisers on the nation's heritage, which observes that the height and design of the scheme will harm Ealing's conservation areas and nearby listed buildings. It wants the scheme reduced in height. HE is particularly critical of the impact on the view from the Grade II* listed bridge in Walpole Park.
It is not too late to register your objections to the scheme which you can do if you follow the link here and click on Comments.
Ealing Council are in the process of disposing of Ealing Town Hall on a 250 year lease to a hotel developer. They intend to include the Memorial Hall building containing the Victoria Hall, Princes Hall and their ancillary rooms in this disposal. These buildings were built on surplus council land at the rear of the Town Hall site to commemorate Queen Victoria's 1887 Golden Jubilee.
The building was paid for by public donations and in 1893 a charitable trust covering the building was established to manage the halls and rooms for public hire for meetings and social events. This was to be operated completely separately from the other town hall buildings and any surplus funds, after providing for operating costs and maintenance, were to be distributed to local charities.
The original trustees were the members of the Ealing Local Board - the predecessor of Ealing Council. Subsequently the duties of trustees have passed to the members of the Council.
The Council has failed to manage the trust correctly. Operation and maintenance of the trust property and income generated from it became merged with that of the town hall. There are no separate accounts for the trust, which makes it impossible to understand the true financial position.
Claiming that the Trust is no longer financially viable, the Council has asked the Charity Commission if it can change the trust wording to allow it to hand over the halls to a commercial hotel operator on a 250 year lease along with other parts of the town hall site. Public access to the halls will be much more limited than presently and the hotel operator will seek to make profit from them. The Charity Commission has told the Council to consult stakeholders first.
Ealing Voice web site, and
Ealing Today web site
CERAs Will French descibes the situation in this interesting video from Exposure Box here
Previously proposed view from Haven Green
9-42 The Broadway
The site was recently sold by Benson Elliot to British Land. A few days before the planned Public Enquiry, British Land withdrew the controversial planning application for this town centre development. We await a decision on costs incurred in preparing for the Public Enquiry..
British Land is about to start, what will no doubt be engthy planning of a different scheme on the site. Hopefully, they will fully take account of the huge amount of criticism of the Benson Elliot scheme from local residents and Historic England. There is likely to be a different shopping layout on two levels, some offices as well as flats and a lower overall height of the scheme adjacent to the railway and Haven Green. However, British Land appears to be in no hurry to proceed with comprehensive redevelopment of the site and may well undertake improvements to the existing shops as a short/medium term alternative.
Restoration of Cast Iron Street name plates
CERA has worked with Ealing Council, through the Ealing Broadway Ward Forum, to restore the original cast iron street name plates and to introduce replicas where these were missing. All original plates have now been restored and replicas have been installed in streets to the west of Mount Park Road. Phase II is now underway to install replica plates in Gordon Road, Castlebar Road and surrounding streets.
The following chart shows all the original signs that we found and have had restored.
chart showing all name plates prior to restoration
Mount Park Crescent before and after restoration
2019 CERA Autumn Newsletter A3.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [12.9 MB]
2019 CERA Summer Newsletter A3.pdf
2018 CERA Winter Newsletter A3.pdf
2018_09 CERA Autumn Newsletter A3.pdf
2018_07 CERA Summer Newsletter A3.pdf
2018_02 CERA Winter Newsletter A3.pdf
2017_03 CERA Spring Newsletter A3.pdf
2016_05 CERA Spring 2016 Newsletter.pdf
Contact us on info@cera.org.uk
© CERA


Good Morning!!! Each Thursday we have an artists' breakfast at a lovely diner in Inwood, WV. We share ideas, critique each other's work, learn new concepts, and participate in art shows together. It's one of the nicest things I can do for myself and best way I know of to be encouraged to keep painting and growing!!!
I watched one of Linda Baker's DVDs on the techniques that she uses in her watercolor paintings. She does like 5 layers - each masked - to the point that the last layer is just the darks between the remainder of the painting which has been masked at various levels. She pours paint, she uses pipettes - lots of fabulous color and still keeps in mind elements and principals of design. I can't wait to try it!!!
This was SO MUCH FUN to paint! I've been wanting to do it for a long, long time and couldn't figure out how to do the sheet music. Watercolor pencils are great, but look like crayon when used dry....I could have done pen and ink, but hard to draw something this tiny accurately. Then I learned about using Thai paper and voila!!! Taped it to sheet of copy paper, scanned the music and printed it! Paint write over it when it's dry! Very fun and I can't wait to find more uses for it. Thank you Karlyn Holman!!!
I'm very proud of my friend and fellow artist, Gail Cox! Click here to see great article in today's paper about the work she does with our local Veterans!