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Alcohol & Drug Rehab in Basingstoke
Addiction, whether to alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medication – is a malaise affecting every corner of the UK; contrary to popular representations in the media, this is not an issue limited to Britain's inner cities, but one which causes personal tragedy and social strife right across the land, including in suburban areas like Basingstoke.
However, although this problem is already an incredibly serious one – and unfortunately is worsening year after year – help is out there for addicts in Hampshire and anywhere else wishing to turn their lives around.
If you or a loved one are wrestling with addiction, read on to find out how rehab can set you on the path to recovery.
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Drug & Alcohol Rehab Services in Hampshire
What Is Rehab?
Residential rehabilitation – "rehab" – is widely accepted as the most effective approach to the treatment of addiction, in terms of overcoming the immediate challenges of physical and psychological dependency whilst also creating a strong platform (via a holistic combination of therapy, medicine, dietary and fitness regimes, peer-group support and more) upon which an addict can build a solid, lifelong recovery.
Rehab involves attending (usually as an inpatient, although outpatient options are available) a dedicated facility for a programme of treatment aimed at cleansing the addict's system of substances of abuse before using various therapy models to uncover and address the root causes of addiction.
At rehab, patients have 24/7 access to highly qualified and experienced medical professionals, whilst being able to focus solely upon their recovery in an attractive, tranquil environment perfectly conducive to mental and physical healing. Moreover, rehabs are totally confidential institutions, ensuring that patients can relax confident that their condition will not become common knowledge in the outside world.
How Can I Get Someone into Rehab?
Addiction is a devastating illness that ruins lives, and the sooner an addict can take the first crucial step and reach out for help, the sooner they can be on their way to a holistic treatment program at rehab and, subsequently, to a life free of substances of abuse. The NHS provides an array of addiction treatment services, including rehab; however, places are extremely limited and waiting times lengthy at best.
If you or a loved one desperately need the professional help which rehab can provide, you may not wish to waste another second before exploring some of the private options available to you: call 0800 024 1455 now to discuss next steps.
Advantages of Private Rehab
Rehab provides a peaceful, secluded, secure and confidential setting in which an addict can focus fully on their recovery without the distractions and temptations of the outside world and the environment in which they have succumbed to repeated substance abuse and addiction.
Upon entering rehab, an addict will undergo a thorough assessment before embarking on a period of detoxification supervised and assisted by highly experienced medical personnel on hand to assure that detox and withdrawal are as safe and as comfortable as possible. After detox, patients engage in various forms of therapy – both one-to-one and group – aimed at addressing the root causes of their addiction and developing the defence mechanisms necessary to safeguard against relapse; they will also benefit from bespoke dietary and fitness plans and from an array of other resources available on site.
At the end of a stay in any quality rehab, patients will receive free aftercare for up to a year: recovery is not complete the moment a patient walks out of the facility but is an ongoing process with numerous pitfalls which rehab can continue to help the recovering addict navigate around.
What Does Rehab Cost in Hampshire?
The cost of private rehab in or near Basingstoke can vary significantly by treatment programme, and depending on which of a variety of optional extras are selected. As a rough guide, standard costs range from between £5,500 and £11,000 per month, though the cheapest rehab treatment can start from as little as £834 per week. For more details, call 0800 804 4755.
NHS Addiction Treatment Options Basingstoke
If you feel that private rehab is currently not an option for you for reasons of cost, or if you do not feel that you are able to spend the required time away from family and/or work obligations, do not despair: various NHS and charity resources can be found in Basingstoke and across Hampshire which can help you combat your addiction. Consult your GP about which of these resources may be available to you and would be most appropriate for your specific situation.
Advantages of NHS Treatment
The primary advantage of NHS treatment is, of course, financial: private rehab comes at a cost which may be off-putting to some addicts (although set against the costs – financial and otherwise – of addiction, this investment may be comparatively minor) and NHS options are free at the point of use.
They are also very accessible geographically in that the NHS operates in every corner of the country (though waiting times vary and may be substantial). Furthermore, the NHS offers a high standard of service although quality of care varies.
Find Private, Luxury Treatment Centers in Basingstoke
Addiction Support Groups
A number of organisations exist across the country to provide assistance to recovering addicts, and some of these operate a support group model. Support groups are groups of individuals who are themselves recovering addicts – some only recently free from addiction, while others may have been clean for many years.
They come together at regular meetings to give and take mutual support: sharing their stories of addiction, giving advice on how to resist relapse, showing solidarity and sympathy when group members are struggling, and providing the simple companionship which can mean so much in times of difficulty and loneliness.
Support group attendees can come from all walks of life, brought together by their shared experience of addiction and recovery; typically, attendance at support groups is free and the only qualification for participation is a commitment to leading a life free of substance abuse.
The most famous support group organisation, and the one on which most others are modelled, is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) which was founded in 1935 and runs on a 12-step programme of personal and spiritual development, with one of the steps being a recognition that a higher power – such as God – can assist with an alcoholic's recovery.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA), founded in 1953 and based directly upon the AA model, is the second-largest support group organisation worldwide and caters to recovering drug addicts specifically. In a similar vein, but supporting those recovering from addictions to specific substances, are Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Heroin Anonymous (HA), Marijuana Anonymous (MA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA), all of which operate 12-step programmes.
There are also support groups such as Al-Anon and Nar-Anon assisting the families and friends of addicts which typically hold meetings alongside those for the addicts themselves.
Support groups typically meet weekly, though each local chapter is managed independently and meeting times and venues are subject to change.
Each local support group chapter is run independently, and meeting schedules and venues are of necessity subject to change. To find information on meetings in or near Basingstoke, see the relevant websites: Alcoholics Anonymous,Narcotics Anonymous; Cocaine Anonymous; Heroin Anonymous; Marijuana Anonymous; Crystal Meth Anonymous.
Types of Counselling
One form of assistance for recovering addicts which is especially beneficial for those with extremely busy schedules is individual counselling – which can be engaged in either following attendance at rehab or other treatment as a supplementary aid to recovery, or potentially as a means of managing an addiction prior to engagement in a full treatment programme.
Private addiction counsellors operate very much like regular psychotherapists, though with an obvious emphasis on tackling the causes and consequences of addiction. Private counsellors offering a wide variety of different approaches to therapy can be found across the country; they can be seen by private appointment on an ongoing basis – usually weekly – and typically charge a fee per appointment. Some counsellors make themselves available for emergency access while others limit access to working hours.
How to get to Primrose Lodge from Basingstoke
Primrose Lodge is a unique rehab clinic located in the historic town of Guildford, Surrey. Boasting a private gymnasium, purpose-built treatment rooms and en suite bedrooms, this attractive, spacious building is the perfect getaway for those battling addiction.
Primrose Lodge's highly experienced staff are on hand 24/7 to ensure patients' safety and comfort. Integrated treatment programmes designed to address the root causes of addiction are provided in a tranquil and confidential environment in which patients can focus wholly upon their recovery.
To get to Worplesdon from Basingstoke, take the A3010 to the A339 and thence to the M3. Stay on the M3 to junction 4, then take the A331 exit. Stay on that road to the B3411; continue onto B3405 and then join the A324. Join the B3032, take the B380 and finally the A322; follow signs to Worplesdon.
GU3 3RY


It's immensely gratifying to horror fans that Get Out's Jordan Peele has stayed in the genre, but it should be noted that his sophomore effort is arguably more ambitious than his knock-out debut. A bloody crowd-pleaser with big shocks and big laughs, it's a commentary on the state of the nation that takes great pains to make sure it operates within the genre rules it sets for itself, and it really does swing for the fences. Us may lack the clockwork precision of its predecessor but it cuts like a knife (or a pair of murder scissors) and it's a damn good time.
Lupita Nyong'o is tremendous as Adelaide Wilson, forced to face her fears when she, her husband (Winston Duke, wonderful as an amiable dad) and their two kids (Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex) head to their holiday home and the beach where she got lost as a child. As eerie coincidences start stacking up, Adelaide's nerves are shredded and she becomes convinced that something bad is on the way…and it is. That night, their home is invaded by their nightmarish shadow doubles who are intent on tearing their happy life apart.
Once again, Peele is more than happy to acknowledge his influences but while the first half of Us is full of Easter eggs for horror buffs it's also a showcase for his confidence as a filmmaker, particularly when it comes to managing tone. You're not going to find many directors who can successfully flip from Haneke-homaging to chuckles on a knife-edge, and an early take on Funny Games' unforgettable opening confrontation sets the template for a high-stakes blend of jumps, giggles and chills as the doubles start to play (Nyong'o doubles up to great effect as Adelaide's croaky, straight-backed doppelgänger but Joseph's creepy smile got the best crowd reactions at our screening) and we root for this family's survival.
He clearly wants to cover a lot of ground in terms of audience response – one of the great joys of Us is just how weird the film is willing to go – and while the commentary isn't exactly subtle as social divisions and fears are explored, it's played at the same pitch as the genre elements and the film takes great care to make sure everything works in tandem.
It all builds to a fantastic crescendo as the family fights back and the neighbours (the perfectly cast Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker) get involved, but there's still the final act to go. Peele makes some narrative choices here that will prove divisive and there's certainly too much explanation/exposition, but the ideas and themes he's exploring are interesting enough to withstand a bit of monologuing before the big finish.
For all the immediate fairground ride fun it offers, much of the real pleasure to be had with Us will come from the discussions you'll have afterwards and it certainly demands another viewing.


Hardcover. New York, David McKay, 1st, 1952, Book: Good, Dust Jacket: None, Hardbound, 158 pages. Brown illustrations by Baker. Description of book pasted to front endpaper. Illustrated endpapers. Previous owner's signature half-title page. Light soiling to endpapers, covers. Spine faded. Corners a bit bumped.


The leader of Jindai High School's karate club, he is extremely skilled at karate. However, he is extremely nearsighted and can see clearly only when wearing his glasses, which leads to several comic incidents. His sense of pride cannot accept the fact that he was defeated by Sousuke, and is constantly challenging him to rematches - which Sousuke usually avoids - intentionally or not. He has a huge crush on Kaname, but in the short story Irrelevant Emotion accidentally indicates Sousuke when he is confessing his love for Kaname. Thus, it is thought throughout the short story that Sousuke and Tsubaki are homosexual. In the Fumoffu! anime, Mizuki falls in love with him in the last episode, but in Irrelevant Emotion she falls for him after he narrowly saves her from falling out a window. His character is similar to Ranma ½'s Ryoga for his determination to defeat his rival, and Mousse (Ranma ½) for being a nearsighted rival.


Tonight..South southeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet. Period 3 seconds. Intracoastal waters a light chop.
Friday..Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Period 4 seconds. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers and Thunderstorms.
Friday night..West northwest winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas around 2 feet along the coast and 2 to 3 feet in the gulf stream. Period 4 seconds. Intracoastal waters a light chop. Slight chance of showers in the evening. Chance of showers and slight chance of Thunderstorms after midnight.
Saturday..East northeast winds 5 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Period 4 seconds. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers in the morning.
Saturday night and Sunday..East southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intracoastal waters a light chop.
Sunday night..East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop.
Monday..East winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intracoastal waters a moderate chop. Slight chance of showers and Thunderstorms.
Monday night..East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with occasional seas to 5 feet. Intracoastal waters choppy in exposed areas. Slight chance of showers and Thunderstorms.
Tuesday..East winds 15 to 20 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet with occasional seas to 5 feet. Intracoastal waters choppy in exposed areas. Slight chance of showers.
Synopsis.. SE winds are forecast to veer and increase from the sw tonight into Friday morning as a cold front approaches the region. Then, Friday night into Saturday morning, winds will veer from the w/nw after frontal passage. For the time being, small craft should exercise caution across the offshore atlantic waters and lake okeechobee throughout the day tomorrow. Increasing chance for showers and Thunderstorms Friday into parts of the weekend, particularly for the atlantic waters. By next week, a persistent easterly flow returns with the potential for increasing winds and waves.
Gulf stream hazards..None. The approximate location of the west wall of the gulf stream as of apr 25, 2019 at 1200 utc... 7 nautical miles east of fowey rocks. 12 nautical miles east northeast of port everglades. 10 nautical miles east southeast of lake worth. 13 nautical miles east southeast of jupiter inlet. This data courtesy of the naval oceanographic office.
and vis should remain inVFR conditions through Friday.
the atlantic coast and kept higher winds into the overnight hours.
Otherwise, little change to the forecast.
the main story here is what the storm prediction center is saying.
Previously, a good chunk of south florida was under a "marginal"
chance for isolated thunderstorms across the region tomorrow.
for pops for the time being due to low confidence.
the atlantic beaches by early next week.


The suspect being sought was originally described by Cook as a lone white male. The amount of money taken was undetermined at the time of the incident.
Barnesville's finest. She must be kin to the armed robbery guys with the Zorro masks. If only the US had a "Improper use of a human brain" law.
is that the owner or the employee?
I cant believe someone would be stupid enough to do this. There are other places that actually keep cash. A title pawn makes loans and pays with checks. Some people will do anything for a dollar!
"YOU LIE!", Alison Leanna Cook.
No Redneck Robber? My time was wasted in the futile search for a non existant crook. Oh well! I didn't find a robber, but, I found the finest girl who ever filled up and stretched out a pair of Wrangler jeans. Bonnie Lou is now my "gurl". A real Pike County gurl!
I hope this fine newspaper posts the photo of the actual THIEF so that all the suspected Redneck robbers and thieves will feel they have been vindicated.
Good job to the Bville investigators...crime doesnt pay...SHe thought out her story pretty good but not good enough...maybe next time.
I KNOW U CAN'T WRAP UR MIND OUTSIDE OF THE SMALL TOWN IN WHICH U LIVE BUT BELIEVE ME THERE IS A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE OUTSIDE UR TRAILER PARK DOORS!! OY YEAH AND THAT BLACK OBAMA U SPEAK OF YUP HIS RUNNING IT. JUST BURNS U UP DOESN'T IT??
Of course this can be tied to Obama. She was justing trying to get her bailout he promised.


Lin Sponsler has her own bookkeeping business and is a certified Quickbooks consultant. She grew up in Ohio and was an Ohio art teacher after graduating from Ohio Northern University. After coming to California in 1975 she took accounting classes at MPC and started doing computerized bookkeeping for her contractor husband and other various small businesses. Ten years ago she started bookkeeping at an Episcopal church in Pacific Grove and soon found herself being recommended by the Rector, Richard Leslie to work at All Saints. Among all of her clients she loves her two church families the most and enjoys the relationships she has made being a "church bookkeeper". She lives in Salinas and has two grown sons in Seattle along with an adorable 5 year old granddaughter.


Manchester City's highly anticipated season launch party, City Live, is less than two weeks away and we're giving Bluemoon members the chance to be a part of it!
As an unexpected bonus, the Manchester Camerata will be opening the event, which takes place at Manchester Central on Wednesday 5 August, and we thought who better to accompany the prestigious orchestra than the very same fans who come together everyday on bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk and open every City game with a rendition of Blue Moon?
We would need you to be at Manchester Central at 6pm on the 4th of August to rehearse.
If you would like to join the choir then please contact citylive@bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk to register your interest and we will confirm by Thursday.
This post is sponsored by Bet365, a legal bookmaker.


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Former England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright said that there is no way that the current Arsenal team can challenge for the title. He said that the team will need some new signings in order to win the Premier League and he does not see this happening as long as Arsene Wenger remains in charge.
He said that the current team is only good to challenge for a place in the top four and that here also there is no guarantee that they will finish in the top four. He believes that both Sanchez and Ozil should have been sold during the summer since they do not want to extend their contract with the team. This will have given the manager time to look for a replacement, but instead, they have allowed these players to remain in the team.
Ian Wright said that there are so many players in the Arsenal team that has been underperforming for so long and that the manager has refused to offload them. He said that this is the reason why Arsenal has one of the highest wage bills in the country.
Ian Wright said that Gazidis had promised last year that there would be changes at Arsenal this season, but so far he does not see anything worthwhile that has happened.
He said that the team is still struggling and that they have not brought in enough quality in order to challenge for the title. He feels that the team has stopped progressing and they are now on a downward spiral.
He does not think that Arsenal will be able to challenge for the title this season as there are some other teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs who are far superior to them.
December 20, 2017 indexArsenal, Arsene Wenger, Chelsea, Ian Wright, Manchester City, Manchester United, Mesut Ozil, Sanchez, Tottenham Hotspurs
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The 2007 AFC Asian Cup Final was a football match that took place on 29 July 2007 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, to determine the 2007 AFC Asian Cup champion. Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia 1–0 with a Younis Mahmoud header from Hawar Mulla Mohammed's corner in the 73rd minute sealing the victory.

This was Iraq's first appearance in the final of an Asian Cup, while Saudi Arabia had appeared in five of the previous six Asian Cup finals, winning three of them (1984, 1988 and 1996). This final was only the second all-Arab final in the tournament's history, after 1996.

Iraq had reached the final against expectations, with the team being forced to train outside of their war-torn country and suffering from transport problems and a lack of facilities. After eliminating South Korea in the semi-finals, Iraq almost pulled out of the final when two bomb attacks targeted celebrating fans and killed at least 50 people, but they decided to play on after a grieving mother said she would not bury her deceased son unless the team won the title.

The result saw thousands of Iraqis spilling onto the streets to celebrate the victory, and the win helped to unite the people of the nation. Iraq's achievement is seen as one of international football's greatest giant-killings and one of the sport's greatest fairytale victories. The win saw Iraq qualify for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. The tournament's closing ceremony was held immediately prior to kickoff.

Background
The final was played between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Iraq, coached by Brazilian Jorvan Vieira, qualified for the final after topping their group where they earned an emphatic 3–1 win against tournament favourites Australia. A 2–0 quarter-final win over co-hosts Vietnam followed before they defeated South Korea in a penalty shootout in the semi-final. Saudi Arabia, also led by a Brazilian coach (Hélio dos Anjos), topped Group D before 2–1 and 3–2 wins over Uzbekistan and Japan respectively in the quarter-final and semi-final stages saw them into the final. For Iraq, victory would bring its first ever Asian Cup title, whereas Saudi Arabia were playing for their fourth title.

After their semi-final victory, two bomb attacks deliberately targeted celebrating Iraqi fans in Baghdad and killed at least 50 people. The Iraq team held a meeting to discuss whether they should pull out of the final to avoid more potential bloodshed, but they decided to play on after a grieving mother appeared on television and said she would not bury her deceased son unless the team returned home as champions.

Before the game, the record between the two sides was 12 wins for Iraq, 7 wins for Saudi Arabia and 9 draws. Iraq's most recent victories had come in the form of 5–1 and 2–0 victories at the 2005 West Asian Games and a 2–1 win at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, meanwhile Saudi Arabia defeated Iraq 1–0 in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup and had also won the most recent match between the teams with a controversial 1–0 win in the 18th Arabian Gulf Cup earlier in 2007.

Returning players
Among the players in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup squads, the following played in the 2004 meeting which Iraq won 2–1:

Route to the final

Match ball
The match ball for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup Final, announced on 15 May 2007, was Nike's Mercurial Veloci. The ball features four blue streaks with gold coloured trim with each host city's name inscribed, as well as the logo of the AFC Asian Cup.

Match officials
Mark Shield, from Australia, was named as the referee of the final, together with Turkmen Begench Allaberdiyev and Maldivian Mohamed Saeed as the assistant referees, and Kuwaiti Saad Kamil Al-Fadhli as fourth official. Earlier in the 2007 Asian Cup, Shield took charge of the South Korea–Saudi Arabia and Indonesia–South Korea matches in the group stage. He had previously taken charge of the second leg of the 2006 AFC Champions League Final as well as matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 2004 AFC Asian Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Match

Summary
Both teams named unchanged starting line-ups from their semi-finals. Iraq dominated the first half of the match, and had chances to score through Qusay Munir and Younis Mahmoud before Karrar Jassim's shot was saved after a mazing run through the Saudi defence. Saudi Arabia's first significant chance was a long-range shot from Taisir Al-Jassim in the second half which was saved by Noor Sabri. The Saudis survived a scare when Younis Mahmoud and Nashat Akram both had close-range efforts saved in quick succession by Yasser Al Mosailem. Saudi Arabia struggled to deal with Nashat Akram's creativity in midfield as he made a number of chances for Iraq. The deadlock was broken on 73 minutes when Hawar Mulla Mohammed's corner sailed over Al Mosailem and was met with a header from Younis Mahmoud. After taking the lead, Iraq continued to attack and almost doubled their advantage when Mahmoud was played through on goal by Akram, but the striker's effort was saved by Al Mosailem. Iraq were left holding their breath in injury time when Saudi Arabia striker Malek Mouath's header bounced just over the crossbar, but the final whistle blew moments later to signify that the Lions of Mesopotamia had won the Asian Cup for the first time.

After the match, Nashat Akram was named the Most Valuable Player of the match, with Younis Mahmoud receiving the award for Most Valuable Player of the tournament and sharing the top scorer award with Yasser Al-Qahtani and Naohiro Takahara. The Iraqi team, a mixture of Sunni, Shia and Kurdish players, received international acclaim as they helped unite the people of a fractured, war-torn nation in celebration. Iraq's manager Jorvan Vieira said he was proud of how the players won the cup in spite of their limited preparation but also announced that he was stepping down as Iraq manager after the victory.

Details

Statistics

Reaction and impact
The Iraqi team, a mixture of Sunnis, Shias and Kurds, received worldwide acclaim for becoming continental champions from a background of bloodshed and violence and helping to unite a fractured nation.

Football commentator Simon Hill described it as "unbelievable" and one of football's greatest fairytale victories, noting that the team had been without a coach until two months before the tournament and had experienced troubles with travel and training. Waleed Tabra, media officer for the national team, said that he couldn't find the words to describe the joy brought on by the win, describing it as the "biggest win the nation has ever had" and noting that the victory allowed people who were living in hardship to celebrate "far away from politics".

Iraq midfielder Nashat Akram, who expressed after the game that there is "only one Iraqi people" and that the win was for them, described the poor conditions and preparations that the Iraqi team faced before the tournament, revealing that he had already booked tickets home in anticipation that Iraq would be eliminated in the group stage. British football journalist James Montague has since described it as the best achievement in international football history due to the difficult conditions experienced by the players and the significance of the victory for the country.

See also
 Iraq–Saudi Arabia football rivalry
 Sports and politics
 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, which Japan won despite the disastrous Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

References

External links
 Iraqi Football Website
 Iraq at the 2007 Asian Cup
 10 Best Moments in Iraqi Football
 History of Iraq National Team

1
2007 in Iraq
2007
2007
2007

July 2007 sports events in Asia
2000s in Jakarta
Politics and sports

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Fiction Friday: The Farmer's Daughter Chapter 28
October 23, 2020 October 22, 2020 / Lisa R. Howeler
I'm pushing through The Farmer's Daughter, hoping to finish the first draft so I can gut it later. Ha. Seriously, I like the story, there are just some parts I want to change a bit. Sharing the chapters of my book on my blog helps motivate me to complete the books, knowing I can always change things later. If I had a bigger following than I do, I probably wouldn't share a semi-first draft of my novels on my blog, but I like my small "following" and how you're all supportive and give me ideas for future chapters, and even future books.
A reminder to my blog readers who read Quarantined, it is out on Kindle now. For this week only I am offering it for $.99 on Kindle to allow my blog readers time to download it at the lowest price. If you don't have a Kindle but would like a copy, let me know, and we'll figure out a format that works for you. If you miss the deal, don't worry, the book will only be $1.99 in the Kindle store since it is less than 100 pages.
To catch up on the rest of The Farmer's Daughter, find the link at the top of the page or click HERE. Or you can wait until February when I release it in Kindle on 2.21.21
Alex stretched his legs in front of him under the table at Lenny's Diner, leaned back in the chair and groaned softly.
Matt chuckled. "Doing okay over there, farm boy?"
Alex rubbed his shoulder. "I always forget how much work it is to get the farm ready for winter. My muscles have been screaming at me."
Their friend Troy, sitting across from Alex, winked at him. "Sounds like you need a night out."
Alex shrugged. "Nah. I'm good. I just need a hot shower and a good night of sleep."
Matt was still in his police uniform and Alex couldn't help but notice the appreciative glances cast in the officer's direction from many of the women in the diner. As usual, Matt was oblivious. He had to return to work after this impromptu lunch Alex had invited him to.
Troy worked for the Tanner's, helping with the additional farmland the company had added a few years ago and he'd rode to town with Alex to pick up a part for one of the tractors at the local hardware store.
"We haven't seen you at the bars lately, Alex," Troy said as the waitress brought the drinks. "What's up with you?"
I'm growing up, Alex wanted to say.
"Just been enjoying some solitude," he said instead, deciding not to add that he was actually enjoying that solitude with Molly when they could find time alone.
He found it uncanny that at the same moment he thought of Molly she appeared out front of the restaurant, talking to the librarian. What was the librarian's name again? He thought Molly had said her name was Ginny. They'd been attending art classes together.
He started to smile as an idea struck him; a way to make his friends think he hadn't lost his way with women, when he knew he had and didn't mind at all.
"What do you boys think about Jason's sister? She's good looking, right?"
Matt raised an eyebrow. "Um. Yeah. She is, but you better not be noticing."
Alex laughed, looking out the window at Molly. "Why?"
"Because Jason will kick your butt for checking out his little sister," Matt answered with a tone that signaled he thought Alex had lost his mind.
Troy shrugged. "I don't know, she's a little too big for me. Nice girl though."
Alex took a sip of his soda, still watching Molly talking with the librarian, and then smirked.
"She's just right for me. I like a girl with some meat on her bones." He winked at his friends. "More for me to hold on to."
Matt rolled his eyes. "Dude. You're so going to end up with a bloody nose if Jason ever hears you talking like this."
Troy laughed and punched Alex in the arm.
"Yeah, seriously, Stone you better watch it. Jason will kick your butt to next week if he hears you talking like that about her."
Alex looked at Troy and Matt and rubbed his thumb and index finger along his unshaven chin. "I bet I can get her to go out with me"
Matt shook his head. "You're too old for her. She doesn't want to go out with an old man like you."
Alex's grin widened. "Hey, she's only a few years younger than me. I bet you she will." He stood up from the table. "I'll be right back."
"Dude! Don't make an idiot out of yourself!" Troy called after him.
"More than you already are anyhow," Matt added with a laugh.
Alex stepped into the sunlight on the sidewalk as Ginny climbed into her car.
"Thanks for letting an old lady share with you, Molly," she said.
Molly laughed softly. "I'm so grateful you did and stop calling yourself old."
When Ginny drove away Alex walked toward Molly, knowing he was in full view of Matt and Troy.
"Hey, beautiful," he said softly, stepping behind her. "What was that all about?"
Molly turned and the smile she flashed him made his heart pound. He hadn't expected his body to react so viscerally to being so close to her, not now, after he'd already told her how he felt, and she'd said she felt the same.
"Hey, yourself. You know Ginny, don't you? She's the librarian down at the Green Leaf Library. We were just chatting about – life, I guess you'd say." She tipped her head slightly, still smiling "What are you doing in town?"
He jerked his head toward the diner front window. "Just having some lunch with the guys."
Molly glanced throw the window and saw Troy and Matt watching and smiling, which made her wary.
"Uh huh. What are you boys up to?"
"I told them I was going to ask you out." He stepped closer and laid a hand against her waist. "Want to help me have some fun with them?"
Molly's cheeks flushed warm. She twisted her finger in her hair, as Alex stepped closer to her. He slid his other arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"Out here? On the street? Where everyone can see?"
He moved his head closer to hers. "I doubt anyone will even notice the farm hand kissing the farmer's daughter on a public street."
Molly glanced around her at the cars and trucks on Main Street, people walking with their heads down, looking at their phones. She knew he was right. None of those people cared about two people they didn't know sneaking a kiss on the sidewalk. She looked back at Alex, smiling as he leaned closer and caught her mouth with his.
She closed her eyes and the kiss lingered before he slowly pulled away.
"See you later," he said softly, taking her hand in his.
Molly laughed softly, shaking her head. "I have no idea what is going on but, yes, I'll see you later."
Before she walked away, he pulled her back toward him and kissed her briefly again, then looped his thumbs through his belt loops and watched her walk to her truck across the street.
Matt and Troy were shaking their heads and laughing as he walked back to the table a few moments later.
Matt smirked, cocking an eyebrow as he sipped his soda. "You're already seeing her, aren't you?"
Alex sat down, looking smug. "Maybe."
"And Jason doesn't know?" Troy asked.
"Not yet but her dad does," Alex said. "He caught us a couple weeks ago. I figure he's told Annie by now too."
Both of Matt's eyebrows were up now. "Caught you? Dude! Caught you doing what?!"
Alex raised his hands and shook his head. "Kissing. He caught us kissing in the barn. That's all."
"I don't think Jason is going to like it," Troy said shaking his head.
"Me neither," Matt agreed. "He knows you too well."
Alex shrugged. "He'll be fine. I'm not who I used to be. He knows that." He looked at the two men who were watching him with wide, unblinking eyes. "I'm changing. For Molly. She's worth it."
Matt grinned as he set his drink down on the table and looked over Alex's shoulder. "Well, I hope you're right about Jase, because here he comes now and he does not look happy."
Alex turned in his seat to see Jason walking through the backdoor of the diner. He raised his hand to wave but paused mid-wave as he noticed Jason wasn't actually walking. He was storming across the diner like a freight train. Combined with the fact he was as big as a freight train, Alex had a feeling this wasn't going to end well.
He stood slowly. "Hey, Jase, you okay?"
"Am I okay?" Red flushed up into Jason's face from his gigantic neck. "Why don't you tell me what you've been doing behind my back with my little sister?"
Matt and Troy looked at each other.
Troy winced.
Matt grimaced.
"This is going to be better than the game," Troy whispered nodding at the television screen behind the counter.
Matt nodded, his eyes fixated on the scene before him.
Alex's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean what I've been doing with Molly?"
Jason towered over Alex, nostrils flared. "You know what I mean, Alex. Don't play games. I was over at the gym just now and saw you kissing Molly." He took another step toward Alex. "What are you doing messing around with my sister?"
Alex didn't take his eyes off Jason's, anger rising in him at the tone of Jason's voice. "I'm not messing around with her, Jason. I'm in love with her."
Troy raised his eyebrows at Matt and mouthed the words, "In love? Whoa!"
"She's my baby sister," Jason snapped. "You're too old for her."
Alex looked at Jason with an amused expression. "She's a grown woman, bud, and I'm only four years older than her not ten or twenty." He laughed and propped his hands on his hips. "It's not exactly like I'm robbing the cradle."
Jason's jaw was so tight Alex expected his teeth to shatter at any moment. "She doesn't need someone like you messing her head all up," he hissed, practically nose to nose with Alex now.
"Someone like me?" Alex's heart pounded in his ears. He wasn't amused anymore. He folded his arms across his chest. "What's that supposed to mean? We hang out every night and you trust me to help run your family's business but now I'm what? A piece of garbage? I've never done anything to hurt you or your family. Why would I start now? My past is in the past. You know that."
Jason tipped his face toward the floor, opening and closing his hands, snorting through his nose like an angry bull before he moved his eyes back to Alex's again. "This is my sister, Alex." He riser his eyes again, pointing aggressively at his own chest. My sister. I don't want you playing your games with my sister."
Red spread from Alex's cheeks to his ears. "You need to calm down, Jason. I'm not playing games with Molly. I already talked to your dad about this after he caught us in the barn the other night and he — "
Jason grabbed Alex by the front of his shirt and yanked him forward, almost off his feet.
More people had started watching. Matt and Troy stood up and stepped back from the table. This was indeed better than the game, but it was also getting dangerous. Matt wasn't sure if he was going to be needed professionally or not.
"He caught you? Caught you doing what?" Jason growled at Alex.
Alex put his hands on Jason's large fists, which were curled way too close to his throat, and tried to pull them away.
"He caught us kissing," Alex growled. "That's all I've done with Molly, Jason. That and fall in love with her."
Jason let go of Alex's shirt and shoved him back hard, sending him skidding across the hardwood floor on his back. Alex winced and looked up to see Jason breathing hard, standing with his arms at his sides like a WWE wrestler about to grab his opponent and slam his head into the ground.
Even he looked surprised he'd pushed Alex. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I need some time to think," he said softly before turning and walking toward the back door.
Pushing himself off the floor, Alex looked at everyone watching him, most of them smiling with amusement.
"Go watch your race," he told them, smiling. "Nothing to see here."
Matt patted him on the back as he sat down at the table.
"Well," Matt said. "That went much better than I thought it was going to. You still have all your teeth."
Troy nodded in agreement. "Yeah and your jaw isn't broken. Yet. So, there's that."
"Yet. Yeah." Alex rubbed his jawline and laughed softly. "Maybe I'll sleep in my truck tonight instead of going home."
The more Alex thought about it, though, the more Jason's reaction ticked him off and by the time he'd finished his lunch and headed back to the farm with Troy his heart was racing in anticipation of the conversation he knew he was going to have to have with Jason.
He dropped Troy off back at the farm and head back to the house to try to cool down before he encountered Jason again.
When he saw Jason's truck in the driveway he parked, but hesitated going in. He knew his blood was boiling and a conversation with his friend probably wouldn't end well if he talked to him now. Then again, if he let the anger fester the conversation would be even worse.
He opened the front door and headed straight for Jason who was in the kitchen making a sandwich, knowing he might regret it in a few moments.
"What was that all about earlier?"
Jason kept making the sandwich, ignoring him. Alex knew he heard him though. Red was spreading up his neck to his face and he was working the muscles in his jaw as he clenched and unclenched it.
After a few moments he turned to face Alex, leaning back against the counter and crossing one leg over the other, and pressing his palm against the counter. "So, tell me, Alex, are you making Molly another one of your conquests?"
"No, Jason, I'm not. I don't want to be like that anymore. You know that. I told you that after that night with that girl from the bar."
"Jessie."
"Yeah. Jessie."
"She has a name, Alex. Her name is Jessie. She's not just that girl from the bar and Molly isn't just that girl in the barn. Get it? She's my sister. She's a real person with real feelings and I don't want you toying with her and wandering off when something better comes along."
Alex seethed with anger. "That's not what this is about, Jason. Don't you get it? Molly isn't just some one-night stand for me. She's different."
Jason folded his arms across his chest and tipped his head slightly to one side. "Some one-night stand? What have you been doing with my little sister, Alex?"
"Jason, I already told you – nothing. I mean, something but not that. I've only kissed her, I swear to you. I wouldn't do that. I don't see Molly that way. Well, I mean, I see her that way but I —"
Jason took a step forward, unfolding his arms. "You better get your tongue untied, Alex and tell me what you mean."
Alex slid his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. "I want something different with Molly. I feel something deeper for Molly. Deeper than a physical connection. I love her personality and talking to her and just being with her, as much as I like," Alex dropped his gaze from Jason's and kicked at the kitchen floor with the tip of his boot, his hands in his pockets. "As much as I like looking at her." He looked up at Jason again. "Jason, I love Molly. I've loved her for a long time and I've never made a move on her, tried to seduce her, whatever you want to call it. Don't you think if I thought of her as just some conquest I would have made a move before now? I cracked about three months ago. She was running herself down and . . ."
Alex tossed his arms out to his side and cursed. "Jason, I had to show her she was worth more than she thought, that she was worth something to me, that I love her the way she is and wanted her the way a man wants a woman no matter what she thinks of herself. I wanted her to know that what I see isn't what she sees."
A deep scowl clouded Jason's expression as he took another step toward Alex, his arms still folded tight across his chest. "So, you showed her in what way?"
"I kissed her, Jason," Alex snapped. "I already told you. For God sake, do I have to keep going into detail about this? Some things are allowed to be private between a man and a woman, even if the woman is your sister. All you need to know is that I did not 'deflower' your sister."
Jason tipped his head down, a smile crossing his lips reducing the anger he'd been feeling. He looked up at Alex again, trying not to laugh. "Dude. Did you just use the word 'deflower'?"
Alex laughed softly, glad for even a small break in the tension. "Yeah. So?"
Jason laughed out loud and playfully punched Alex in the arm. "I'm just about to believe you on all this. I think my sister has screwed you all up in your head. You're definitely not the Alex I'm used to."
Alex rubbed his arm, wishing Jason had pulled the punch a little more.
"Yeah, and maybe that's a good thing," he said, his smile fading into a more serious expression.
Jason nodded. "Yeah. Maybe it is."
Alex rubbed the back of his neck, stepped back, and leaned against the door frame. "Give me a chance, okay, Jason? Give me a chance to prove I'm changing."
Jason shook his head, turning back to his sandwich on the counter and taking a bite. "I want to, Alex. I do. It just makes me nervous knowing my sister is involved and that if you fall back into your old ways, she's the one who is going to get hurt."
"I understand," Alex said. "But I can tell you, I'm doing all I can to make sure she doesn't get hurt." He shrugged and stepped forward from the doorway. "Help keep me in line, if you're worried. Help me be a better man. For Molly."
Jason remained quiet for a few moments, eating his sandwich without looking up. He wanted to be there for his friend, and he wanted to protect his sister at the same time. He only hoped he could do both. He shoved the last bite of sandwich in his mouth, wiped his hands on his pants, and then held out his hand toward Alex. When Alex took it he pulled him in close for a hug.
"I'll do the best I can, buddy."
Alex clapped Jason on the back. "Thanks, Jase." He pulled out of the hug. "Listen, though, let's get one thing clear. I like hugging your sister way more than I like hugging you."
Jason laughed and shoved Alex gently back.
"Whatever, dork." He leaned back against the counter. "Hey, you know I'm not perfect either. I made my share of mistakes in college. You've never ragged on me about them, or told anyone, and I want you to know I really appreciate that."
Alex nodded. "No problem, bud. None of that was my story to tell. I've always known it was up to you to tell the people in your life about your life back then. And I've always known that even if you do tell them, they'll still love you, just like I do."
Jason drank the last of the water in his glass and set in in the sink. "Yeah, maybe. I don't know about that."
He turned back toward Alex. "Listen, just because I'm agreeing to try to help you become a better person," He stepped toward his friend, pointed at him as he narrowed his eyes. "doesn't mean I still won't kick your butt if you hurt, Molly. Got it?"
Alex nodded. "Got it." He let out a long breath. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
"So, this is exciting." Molly slid in the seat across from Liz at Pam's Diner, which wasn't owned by, or even employed, a Pam. "Us. Out. Together. Alone. Without a tracker in your neck from your parents, I hope."
Liz laughed. "Yeah. I know. Honestly, I think they were afraid to let me out of their sight, but when you actually showed up to pick me up, they knew I wasn't lying about us going out together."
Molly was glad Liz and her parents had finally talked and that Liz was staying with them while she decided her next step.
"So, you guys talked?"
Liz nodded.
"What did they say?"
Liz sighed. "That they love me. That they're sorry they had no idea what was going on. They're blaming themselves. I honestly didn't expect that." She twirled her straw in her ice water. "I don't know, maybe I've been too hard on my parents all these years. My mom literally sobbed and said she felt like the worst mother ever. She hugged me and promised to pay more attention, begged me to never try that again."
"What did they say about the baby?"
"Surprisingly, they didn't lecture me. They didn't point out my mistakes." Liz turned her head toward the window, tears glistening in her eyes. She swallowed hard and shook her head slightly. "They told me they loved me and that that my mistakes don't define me."
She looked back at Molly and swiped at a tear that escaped the corner of her eye. "They're really happy about becoming grandparents and told me they will help however they can."
Molly smiled and squeezed her friend's hand. "That's awesome news. How are you feeling about it all, though?"
Liz let out a shaky breath. "I'm terrified. Most women would be excited, but I don't feel excited at all. I just feel absolute terror at the idea of being a mother."
The waitress set down their drinks and Liz took a long drink from hers.
"I'm not ready for this, Molly. Not at all. I'm not mature enough. I mean, I know I'm closing in on 30 but my head is in the clouds half the time and I obviously don't know how to cope with my toxic thoughts or feelings. How can I raise a child? I'm going to give birth to an irresponsible, insecure, emotionally unstable hypochondriac."
Molly laughed softly, but then shook her head. "Liz, you may be jumping the gun a bit on deciding who your child is going to be. You're also selling yourself short. That's not who you are. You're strong. You're smart. You're loving. But the truth is, you can't do it alone. You're going to need to ask God to help you."
More tears filled Liz's eyes and she nodded. "I know. I'm just too embarrassed to talk to God right now."
Their conversation paused as their food was placed in front of them.
"Do you think God doesn't know your heart?" Molly asked as the waitress left. "He knows your shame and he's already covered that with the sacrifice of his son. Remember?"
Liz looked out the window, wiping her eyes again. "I'm trying to remember that, yes. I'm just going to need a little longer, I think."
She sniffed and blew her nose on a napkin. "Matt showed up at the hospital. A couple days after I was admitted."
"I'm sorry? What?" Molly's eyes widened. "That's a huge development. What happened?
"He heard about my overdose from his co-worker who showed up with the ambulance. I was so out of it I don't even remember a cop being there. Matt said the guy knew we'd gone out a couple times and thought Matt already knew. He had asked Matt if I was okay."
"Oh. Wow."
"Yeah. So, that was awkward."
"So, what did you say to him?"
Liz took a bite of her burger. "I thanked him for checking on me and just told him my life was pretty messed up right now so I didn't think I could keep going out with him."
"And he said?"
Liz laughed. "Molly, now you sound like me with you and Alex, which reminds me — how is all that going?"
Molly held up a hand. "Tell me about Matt first and then I'll tell you."
Sighing, Liz wrinkled her nose at the memory of her conversation with Matt. "He told me if I ever needed anything to call him but that he understood. And, no, I did not tell him I am pregnant." She sipped from her soda. "Now, tell me about you and Alex. How are things going? Still exchanging kisses behind the hay bales?"
Molly swirled a fry around her plate. "Um.. . yeah, you could say that. Dad walked in on us one night last week."
Liz raised an eyebrow, her burger part way to her mouth. "He walked in on you? One night?" She set the burger down on the plate. "Explain. Now."
"We were kissing," Molly said with a laugh. "That's all. It was a truly amazing kiss, though."
Liz stared with wide eyes, her chin propped on her hands. "What did your dad say?"
"Honestly? He acted like I was 15 instead of an adult." She scoffed as she picked at the bun on her chicken sandwich. "He was all flustered and saying things like 'how long has this been going on?' It was like I was caught kissing a Capulet."
Liz blinked in confusion. Molly rolled her eyes. She tried to think of a more modern example that Liz might understand.
"It was like I was dating someone from a rival clique on a CW show."
Liz nodded. "Oh. I see." She started eating again. "Yeah. Your dad really does need to realize you're an adult now. You know what would help drive that home for him?"
Molly smirked. "Eloping with an older man?"
Liz leaned slightly over the table toward Molly. "Are you planning to do that?"
Liz held her hands up in front of her. "Okay, okay. So instead, I think you should move in with me like we talked about. You know I can use the support and well, you can use it as a way to push yourself out of the nest already."
As Molly opened her mouth to answer Jessie Landry and Maggie Baker appeared as if out of nowhere at the end of the table. Molly had Liz had graduated from high school with Hannah. Jessie was a couple of years older, but Molly knew of her and, more importantly, her dating habits.
"Hey, girls," Maggie said with a friendly head tilt. "Do you mind if we join you? All the other tables are full."
Maggie had always been polite enough, Molly thought, but she was a horrible judge of character, hence her hanging out with Jessie.
The pair shoved their way into the booth — Maggie next to Molly, Jessie next to Liz — without waiting for an answer.
Molly and Liz shot each other surprised looks.
"Thanks, girls, we appreciate it," Jessie said reaching over to Liz's plate and snatching a French fry. She turned her attention to Molly, plastering a broad, fake smile on her face. "Oh my gosh, Molly, I haven't seen you in forever. How are you?"
Molly's muscles tensed. "Good."
Jessie's eyes slid down from Molly's eyes to her chest and back. "You look . . . well, great. Have you lost weight?"
Maggie smiled apologetically and spoke before Molly could answer. "Sorry we busted in on your private conversation, ladies. We were just starving. We've been at the gym."
Molly shrugged. "It's fine."
She slid her gaze over to Jessie busy eating Liz's fries.
Jessie and Maggie placed their orders when the waitress came back to refill Liz and Molly's drinks. When the waitress left Jessie turned her attention to Liz.
"Liz, where have you been? I haven't seen you at Woody's in weeks."
Liz shifted uncomfortably and sipped her soda. "Been busy at work."
Jessie smirked. "Oh. Is that what they're calling it these days?"
Liz scowled. "Excuse me?"
"Never mind," Jessie said with a small laugh, looking at Molly. "Hey, Molly, doesn't that sexy Alex Stone work at your family's farm?"
Liz raised an eyebrow at Molly who cleared her throat. "Yes. He does."
Jessie's smirk seemed permanently plastered to her face and Maggie was shaking her head and smiling.
Jessie leaned back, stretching an arm along the back of the booth behind Liz. "It must be fun looking at him all day. He's hot."
Molly eyed Jessie suspiciously. "Yeah. I guess so."
Liz caught Molly's eye and jerked her head toward the front door. "Let's go," she mouthed.
"Wasn't he the guy you went home with a few weeks ago?" Maggie asked Jessie.
Jessie pushed the tip of finger in her mouth to suck off the salt from the fries. Light bounced off her calve-high silver boots as she crossed one long leg over the other. "Uh-huh."
"So?" Maggie watched her expectedly. "Is he a good kisser or what?"
The smile on Jessie's face was what Molly could only describe as a smug leer. "Well, I don't like to kiss and tell, but…" The giggle that escaped Jessie grated on Molly's nerves. "Let's just say that lifting hay bales isn't the only thing Alex Stone is good for."
The waitress set Maggie and Jessie's food down in front of them.
"Come on, Jess, spill the beans," Maggie said. "It was more than kissing, wasn't it?"
Jessie winked, stabbing a fork into her salad. "It was definitely a night to remember."
Liz shot Molly a look that spoke volumes. She knew that Liz was sending her a warning message to stay calm.
"Stay calm," was almost exactly what Liz said when they were outside, walking toward Molly's car after Liz had skillfully changed the subject from Alex, telling Maggie and Jessie she had to get back to work.
"Promise me you'll talk to him, Molly."
Molly let out a long breath and tilted her head back to look at the sky, blinking back tears.
"Molly, look at me."
She looked at Liz. The tears were threatening to spill over.
"Talk to him," Liz urged. "Don't take Jessie's word for it. You know what kind of person she is. You know she's a liar and she's, well, I hate to say it, but she's a . . . ahem . . .very loose woman."
Jessie's "loose" reputation is what worried Molly the most, considering Alex had once had a somewhat similar reputation when Jason had first brought him to the farm.
She rubbed a finger across a tear that had escaped from the corner of her eye. "That's the nice way to say it, I guess."
"Molly." Liz placed a hand on Molly's shoulders. "Promise me. Talk to Alex."
Molly nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes and willed the tears away. "I will. Later. For now, let's go grab some ice cream before I drive you back to jail. I mean, your parents."
Liz looped her arm through Molly's. "Actually, you're going to drop me off at the store. Linda wants to talk to me about what shifts I can work. I'll walk back to my parents."
"Liz —"
"Molly, I'll be fine. Really. I've got to get back on my feet sometime and you can't babysit me forever, okay? I want you to go back to the farm and talk to Alex. Straighten this out before it gets out of hand."
Molly nodded, but as she walked back to her car, the idea of ice cream abandoned, her stomach ached and emotion clutched at her throat. Alex had told her only a week ago that he loved her and wanted to take things slow. Was he lying? Was she another notch in his bedpost like her grandmother had said? Or was there another reason he had said he wanted to take things slow? Maybe she wasn't as attractive to him as Jessie Landry was to him.
Then there was that whole thing outside of the diner. Maybe kissing her had been a bet he'd wanted to win. She remembered the kiss on the overlook and shook her head. That kiss had been too amazing to be faked. And the way he'd looked at her? The words he said? She'd gotten to known Alex really well in five years and she knew when was lying. There was no way he had been lying.
"Molly, this is stupid," she said out loud, pounding the steering wheel. "Jessie Landry is a liar. You know that." She rubbed her fingers across her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "You are not in the middle of a romance novel where the man finally tells the woman he loves her and then the woman finds out a secret and they break up. This is real life. I'm sure there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this." She sighed and turned the key in the ignition. "Now, stop talking to yourself like a crazy person and go talk to Alex."
By the time she reached the farm, though, her internal dialogue had swung back and forth between trusting Alex and believing Jessie so many times she couldn't even think straight.
She pushed the truck into park and turned the engine off, staring at the open barn door, chewing on her lower lip, her stomach still aching. She was grateful she had work to do in the barn for the rest of the day and could use it as an excuse to not talk to Alex. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever, but she needed to for now because she didn't want to confront him with her emotions as raw as they were at this moment.
fiction, Fiction Friday
blogging fiction, christian fiction, clean fiction, Fiction Friday, fiction stories, fiction writer, fiction writers
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4 thoughts on "Fiction Friday: The Farmer's Daughter Chapter 28"
Pingback: Sunday Bookends: Recommending Silas Marner (regretting I mocked it), reading suspense and watching post office detectives | Boondock Ramblings
I was so glad that Alex and Jason worked things out so there wouldn't be any tension with Molly. Then that Jessie girl just had to show up and now there's tension anyway! I can't wait to find out what happens next!
Tension, drama — looks like Molly's life isn't as routine as she thought at this point


I last did this trek last year, but I never made it to the Trig Point on Thorpe Fell Top, or even bothered with Crookrise Crag Top. It's only over the last six months or so that I've developed an obsession with Trig Points - that really doesn't sound healthy reading that back either! So this jaunt was simply unfinished business, to get to the Trig on Thorpe Fell Top, and after climbing Sharp Haw recently and seeing Crookrise Crag Top on the other side of the valley, with it's white trig Point just about visible from the summit - to scale that too.
Well May has been a tricky old month again, but on this day it was lashing down! On approaching Skipton even the top of Skipton Moor was in cloud. So at this point finding the Trig on top of Thorpe Fell Top was looking, well, bleak to be fair.
Anyway I began the march up through the drenched streets of Skipton, with most tourists sheltering under shop frontages and wearing those see through plastic mac things that makes you look like a tourist even more. The rain was rushing down the gutters of the town, and the sky looked as if it had a lot more to come yet!
Cracking views if you can take the wind!
It's pretty high on the rock which holds the war memorial in position, and has been suggested that it's higher than the trig Point on Thorpe Fell Top.
Now earlier I was talking about unfinished business in regards to the Trig Point on Thorpe Fell Top, as the war memorial was as far as I went last time, partially because it was October and light was failing me, and this isn't the sort of place you'd want to be at night - at least without a tent.
At this point I started to get worried about the huge rain storm that seemed to be heading in my direction. Buckden Pike and Great Whernside had been visible a few minutes before the photo's above were taken, however they had both now disappeared, along with Meugher and the storm was heading in fast!
Great post, looking NNE from home(Earby) I can see these hills and just make out the war memorial.
Thanks for the comment Danny. Beautiful part of the county around there. It's a great walk, and it feels so remote when your up there. I really must set my sights on that area more often.


How does the Visual Jockey Two plugin works?
It's not a plug-in. It's a (video) sample pack.
Download, install and you should find the video loops assigned to a sample bank.
This is very cool. Great quality and sweet looking varied video visuals! Nice job and thank you for this video sampler.


text:
Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment
Mery L. Suni, Edisson Pascual, Enoc Jara
Estudio de las poblaciones amenazadas de la flora
© 2011 Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas UNMSM. Ismene amancaes "amancay" is a bulbose species typical of the central coast vegetation of Peru called "lomas". This species sprouts in June during the beginning of the winter-fog period. It has large yellow, aromatic flowers valued for their ornamental value. Our goal was to examine the reproductive development of Ismene amancaes in its natural environment, and we recorded monthly observations during a yearlong study. Observations of the interior of the bulbs allowed recording of the beginning of floral bud formation and development, relating them to leaf formation and edaphic humidity. We found that the first floral buds develop the year before their emergence in December, reaching a maximum number of floral buds in February, during the Summer. Floral bud differentiation starts after leaves that will emerge the following year have developed. This occurs during a period of maximum decrease in edaphic humidity and an increase in air temperature (November). The inflorescence is the only branching that develops while the apical bud continues developing leaves. In June, the small inflorescence reaches the neck of the bulb and surpasses it followed by those leaves developed before the inflorescence that surround both the inflorescence and the apical foliar bud. The foliar bud will continue its development, and in July two of the leaves expand, while the smaller ones remain inside the bulb until the following year's Lomas season. It can be noted that the reproductive success of Ismene amancaes in its initial development depends on the photoreserves accumulated in the bulb the previous growth period.
Dive into the research topics of 'Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Ismene Agriculture & Biology 100%
Amaryllidaceae Medicine & Life Sciences 85%
Inflorescence Medicine & Life Sciences 81%
buds Agriculture & Biology 39%
bulbs Agriculture & Biology 29%
Humidity Medicine & Life Sciences 27%
inflorescences Agriculture & Biology 25%
Flowers Medicine & Life Sciences 15%
Suni, M. L., Pascual, E., & Jara, E. (2011). Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment. Revista Peruana de Biologia, 293-297.
Suni, Mery L. ; Pascual, Edisson ; Jara, Enoc. / Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment. In: Revista Peruana de Biologia. 2011 ; pp. 293-297.
@article{b77e6ebb110b479f9f30cee03d6fedd0,
title = "Reproductive development of {"}amancay{"} Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment",
abstract = "{\textcopyright} 2011 Facultad de Ciencias Biol{\'o}gicas UNMSM. Ismene amancaes {"}amancay{"} is a bulbose species typical of the central coast vegetation of Peru called {"}lomas{"}. This species sprouts in June during the beginning of the winter-fog period. It has large yellow, aromatic flowers valued for their ornamental value. Our goal was to examine the reproductive development of Ismene amancaes in its natural environment, and we recorded monthly observations during a yearlong study. Observations of the interior of the bulbs allowed recording of the beginning of floral bud formation and development, relating them to leaf formation and edaphic humidity. We found that the first floral buds develop the year before their emergence in December, reaching a maximum number of floral buds in February, during the Summer. Floral bud differentiation starts after leaves that will emerge the following year have developed. This occurs during a period of maximum decrease in edaphic humidity and an increase in air temperature (November). The inflorescence is the only branching that develops while the apical bud continues developing leaves. In June, the small inflorescence reaches the neck of the bulb and surpasses it followed by those leaves developed before the inflorescence that surround both the inflorescence and the apical foliar bud. The foliar bud will continue its development, and in July two of the leaves expand, while the smaller ones remain inside the bulb until the following year's Lomas season. It can be noted that the reproductive success of Ismene amancaes in its initial development depends on the photoreserves accumulated in the bulb the previous growth period.",
author = "Suni, {Mery L.} and Edisson Pascual and Enoc Jara",
language = "American English",
Suni, ML, Pascual, E & Jara, E 2011, 'Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment', Revista Peruana de Biologia, pp. 293-297.
Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment. / Suni, Mery L.; Pascual, Edisson; Jara, Enoc.
In: Revista Peruana de Biologia, 01.12.2011, p. 293-297.
T1 - Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment
AU - Suni, Mery L.
AU - Pascual, Edisson
AU - Jara, Enoc
N2 - © 2011 Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas UNMSM. Ismene amancaes "amancay" is a bulbose species typical of the central coast vegetation of Peru called "lomas". This species sprouts in June during the beginning of the winter-fog period. It has large yellow, aromatic flowers valued for their ornamental value. Our goal was to examine the reproductive development of Ismene amancaes in its natural environment, and we recorded monthly observations during a yearlong study. Observations of the interior of the bulbs allowed recording of the beginning of floral bud formation and development, relating them to leaf formation and edaphic humidity. We found that the first floral buds develop the year before their emergence in December, reaching a maximum number of floral buds in February, during the Summer. Floral bud differentiation starts after leaves that will emerge the following year have developed. This occurs during a period of maximum decrease in edaphic humidity and an increase in air temperature (November). The inflorescence is the only branching that develops while the apical bud continues developing leaves. In June, the small inflorescence reaches the neck of the bulb and surpasses it followed by those leaves developed before the inflorescence that surround both the inflorescence and the apical foliar bud. The foliar bud will continue its development, and in July two of the leaves expand, while the smaller ones remain inside the bulb until the following year's Lomas season. It can be noted that the reproductive success of Ismene amancaes in its initial development depends on the photoreserves accumulated in the bulb the previous growth period.
AB - © 2011 Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas UNMSM. Ismene amancaes "amancay" is a bulbose species typical of the central coast vegetation of Peru called "lomas". This species sprouts in June during the beginning of the winter-fog period. It has large yellow, aromatic flowers valued for their ornamental value. Our goal was to examine the reproductive development of Ismene amancaes in its natural environment, and we recorded monthly observations during a yearlong study. Observations of the interior of the bulbs allowed recording of the beginning of floral bud formation and development, relating them to leaf formation and edaphic humidity. We found that the first floral buds develop the year before their emergence in December, reaching a maximum number of floral buds in February, during the Summer. Floral bud differentiation starts after leaves that will emerge the following year have developed. This occurs during a period of maximum decrease in edaphic humidity and an increase in air temperature (November). The inflorescence is the only branching that develops while the apical bud continues developing leaves. In June, the small inflorescence reaches the neck of the bulb and surpasses it followed by those leaves developed before the inflorescence that surround both the inflorescence and the apical foliar bud. The foliar bud will continue its development, and in July two of the leaves expand, while the smaller ones remain inside the bulb until the following year's Lomas season. It can be noted that the reproductive success of Ismene amancaes in its initial development depends on the photoreserves accumulated in the bulb the previous growth period.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85044863690&origin=inward
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85044863690&origin=inward
Suni ML, Pascual E, Jara E. Reproductive development of "amancay" Ismene amancaes (Amaryllidaceae) in its natural environment. Revista Peruana de Biologia. 2011 Dec 1;293-297.


text:
Eros and Revolution
The Critical Philosophy of Herbert Marcuse
Studies in Critical Social Sciences, Volume: 86
Author: Javier Sethness Castro
In Eros and Revolution, Javier Sethness Castro presents a comprehensive intellectual and political biography of the world-renowned critical theorist Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979). Investigating the origins and development of Marcuse's dialectical approach vis-à-vis Hegel, Marx, Fourier, Heidegger, and Freud as well as the central figures of the Frankfurt School—Horkheimer, Adorno, Neumann, Fromm, and Benjamin—Sethness Castro chronicles the radical philosopher's lifelong activism in favor of anti-capitalism, anti-fascism, and anti-authoritarianism together with Marcuse's defiant revindication of global libertarian-socialist revolution as the precondition for the realization of reason, freedom, and human happiness. Beyond examining Marcuse's revolutionary life and contributions, moreover, the author contemplates the philosopher's relevance to contemporary struggle, especially with regard to ecology, feminism, anarchism, and the general cause of worldwide social transformation.
Preliminary Material
Pages: i–xi
Introduction: Marcuse, the Utopian
Early Years: Childhood and Youth, War and Revolution, Romanticism, Utopian Socialism, Hegel, Marx, and Heidegger
Militant Theorizing in Resistance to Fascism, 1933–1945
State, Freud, and Orphic Marxism: 1945–1960
Radical Struggle in the 1960s
Marcuse's Final Decade: Continuities, Discontinuities, and Intensification (1970–1979)
Nature and Revolution
Critique of Marcuse
Marcusean Politics in the Twenty-First Century
Javier Sethness Castro, MSc. (2008), London School of Economics, is the author of Imperiled Life: Revolution against Climate Catastrophe (Institute for Anarchist Studies/AK Press, 2012) and For a Free Nature: Critical Theory, Social Ecology, and Post-Developmentalism (Lambert Academic Press, 2013). He contributed to Multidimensional Marcuse: Radical Thought/Action Today (Palgrave-MacMillan, forthcoming) and has participated in several International Herbert Marcuse Society conferences.
1. Introduction: Marcuse, the Utopian
Idealism, Materialism, Romanticism, and Judaism
Marcuse's Importance for Radical Politics Today
PART I: MARCUSE'S LIFE, 1898-1979
2. Early Years: Childhood and Youth, War and Revolution, Romanticism, Utopian Socialism, Hegel, Marx, and Heidegger
Childhood and Youth, War and Revolution
Post-War Investigations: Aesthetics, German Romanticism, and Hegel
Friedrich Schiller and Charles Fourier: Utopian Socialism
Marcuse's Torturous Relationship with Heidegger
Hegel's Ontology and the Theory of Historicity (1932)
Hitler's Accession and Flight of the Marcuse Family and the Frankfurt School
3. Militant Theorizing in Resistance to Fascism, 1933-1945
Negations (1934-1938)
Studies on Authority and Family
Marcuse's Direct Investigations of Nazism
Early Theories of Social Change
The Progression of Marcuse's Thought on Art's Functions Under Fascism
Reason and Revolution (1941)
4. State, Freud, and Orphic Marxism: 1945-1960
Post-War Studies: "33 Theses," Francis Bacon, Lukács, Goethe, Friedrich Hölderin, and Erasmus
Continued Investigations of Historical Progress, Russian Studies, and the Trajectory of Communism and Reason during the Early Cold War
Communism and Reason during the Early Cold War
On Sartre's Existentialism
Orphic Marxism and the Struggle of Eros against Thanatos
Lectures on Freedom and Progress in Freud's Theory of the Instincts
Marcuse's Debate with Fromm on Freud, Therapy, and Adjustment
Soviet Marxism: A Critical Analysis (1958)
The Ideology of Death
5. Radical Struggle in the 1960s
Marcuse on Cuba
Continued Engagement with Critical Theorists and Lecture on Weber
Humanism, Feminism, and Revolution
Critical Reflections on Science and Technology
One-Dimensional Humanity: Diagnosis, Reflections, and Recommendations
Marcuse on Marx, Louis Napoleon, and Benjamin
Justification of Revolutionary Praxis: "Repressive Tolerance," "Ethics and Revolution," Guerrilla Warfare, "The Question of Revolution," and "Thoughts on the Defense of Gracchus Babeuf"
Psychoanalytical Interventions
Activism against the Vietnam War
Summer 1967 Lectures before the German SDS and Congress of the Dialectics of Liberation: On Utopia, Radical Opposition, and Violence
1968: A New Dawn for Humanity?
An Essay on Liberation (1969)
Other Interventions from 1969: On Student Protest, "The Relevance of Reality," Qualitative Change, and Self-Determination
The 1969 Debate with Adorno on Theory and Praxis
Revisiting "Repressive Tolerance" and Civil Rights with the ACLU and Fred Schwarz of the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade
"Marxism and the New Humanity: An Unfinished Revolution"
"Freedom and the Historical Imperative"
6. Marcuse's Final Decade: Continuities, Discontinuities, and Intensification (1970-1979)
Marcuse's Assessment of the State of the Radical Opposition in the Early 1970s: "Cultural Revolution," "The Movement in a New Age of Repression," and "A Revolution in Values"
Revolution or Reform? Marcuse's Debate with Popper
Counterrevolution and Revolt (1972)
Marcuse's Late Championing of Feminism
International Relations: Vietnam and Israel/Palestine
Continued Engagement with Aesthetics
"It is Right to Revolt" and "Theory and Politics": Late Discussions with Sartre and Habermas
Marcuse's Final Interventions in Life: On Political Violence, the New Left, the U.S.Bicentennial, "The Reification of the Proletariat," Rudolf Bahro, Technology, and Ecology
The Aesthetic Dimension (1978)
PART II: REFLECTIONS ON MARCUSE
7. Nature and Revolution
Nature, Evolution, and Morality
"Repressive Tolerance" and Radical Struggle for Animal and Earth Liberation Today
8. Critique of Marcuse
The Limits to Integration
The Problem of Sources: Political Philosophy and Empirics
Marcuse the Edelkommunist
Marcuse the Zionist?
Feminism, Gender, Eros
Conflicts with Poststructuralism and Postmodernism
Marcuse on Authority and the Transition: Between Jacobinism and Anarchism
PART III: CONCLUSION
9. Marcusean Politics in the Twenty-First Century
Radical Ecological Politics
Feminist Socialism and Anarcha-Feminism
The "World Mind" in International Relations: Global Anti-Authoritarianism
Means and Ends: The Question of Counter-Violence
Close: Eros and Revolution
All those interested in Critical Theory, Marxism, anarchism, social and political psychology, radical philosophy, existentialism, Romanticism, feminism, ecology, anti-militarism, and revolutionism: academic and public libraries, specialists, undergraduate and graduate students.
Critical Social Sciences, Social Sciences, Social & Political Philosophy, Philosophy, Sociology & Anthropology, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology, Intellectual History, History
xi, 410 pp.
Social Sciences E-Books Online, Collection 2016


text:
Home > NewsRelease > The Differences Between the TM and ® Trademark Symbols
The Differences Between the TM and ® Trademark Symbols
Michael Kondoudis -- DC Trademark Lawyer
Dateline: Washington, DC
When you see a company's logo, there is usually a little symbol next to it. But what does that symbol mean? The two most common symbols are the TM and the ®. They may look similar, but they actually have two very different meanings. Keep reading to learn the difference between the TM trademark symbol and the ® trademark symbol.
The TM symbol stands for 'trademark.' It can be used with any word, phrase, or logo that a company feels represents their brand. The TM symbol does not have to be registered with the government to be used; however, businesses can only use it once they have proof that they are using it as a trademark. common law rights.
The ® symbol stands for 'registered trademark.' This means that it is a trademark that has been registered with the government. In order to use this symbol, businesses must first register their trademark with the USPTO.
The bottom line is that if you want to use the ® symbol, you must register your trademark with the USPTO. However, you can use the TM symbol even if your trademark is not yet registered. Doing so will help you protect your rights to your word, phrase, or logo by indicating that you are already claiming ownership of it.
About Michael Kondoudis
For more than twenty years, Michael Kondoudis has been the go-to trademarking expert for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Michael is a USPTO-licensed trademark and patent attorney, educator, speaker, and author of the Amazon best-seller: Going From Business to Brand. He is also an authority trusted by national news media on major trademark stories involving NFTs and the Metaverse. For more information, visit www.mekiplaw.com.
Get E-mail Alerts When Michael Kondoudis -- DC Trademark Lawyer Sends news releases.
Name: Eunice Lee
Group: The Law Office of Michael E. Kondoudis
E-mail: elee@mekiplaw.com
Jump To Michael Kondoudis -- DC Trademark Lawyer
2. Patent
3. Brand Strategy
4. Trademark
5. Metaverse
6. Patent Law
7. Sports and the Law
8. Trademark Law
9. Trademarks & Patents


text:
/* Author: Jeroen De Maeyer */
/**
 *    This test checks the basics of a StateValidityChecker:
 *        - Can we create one?
 *        - States inside and outside joint limits.
 *        - States that are in self-collision.
 *        - Position constraints on the robot's end-effector link.
 *
 *    It does not yet test:
 *        - Collision with objects in the environment.
 *        - Orientation constraints, visibility constraints, ...
 *        - A user-specified feasibility function in the planning scene.
 *
 *    The test do show what is minimally required to create a working StateValidityChecker.
 **/

#include "load_test_robot.h"

#include <limits>
#include <ostream>

#include <gtest/gtest.h>

#include <moveit/ompl_interface/detail/state_validity_checker.h>
#include <moveit/ompl_interface/model_based_planning_context.h>
#include <moveit/ompl_interface/parameterization/joint_space/joint_model_state_space.h>
#include <moveit/planning_scene/planning_scene.h>

#include <ompl/geometric/SimpleSetup.h>

/** \brief This flag sets the verbosity level for the state validity checker. **/
constexpr bool VERBOSE{ false };

constexpr char LOGNAME[] = "test_state_validity_checker";

/** \brief Pretty print std:vectors **/
std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const std::vector<double>& v)
{
  os << "( ";
  for (auto value : v)
    os << value << ", ";
  os << " )";
  return os;
}

/** \brief Generic implementation of the tests that can be executed on different robots. **/
class TestStateValidityChecker : public ompl_interface_testing::LoadTestRobot, public testing::Test
{
public:
  TestStateValidityChecker(const std::string& robot_name, const std::string& group_name)
    : LoadTestRobot(robot_name, group_name)
  {
  }

  /***************************************************************************
   * START Test implementations
   * ************************************************************************/

  void testConstructor()
  {
    ompl::base::StateValidityCheckerPtr checker =
        std::make_shared<ompl_interface::StateValidityChecker>(planning_context_.get());
  }

  /** This test takes a state that is inside the joint limits and collision free as input. **/
  void testJointLimits(const std::vector<double>& position_in_limits)
  {
    // create a validity checker for this test
    auto checker = std::make_shared<ompl_interface::StateValidityChecker>(planning_context_.get());
    checker->setVerbose(VERBOSE);

    robot_state_->setJointGroupPositions(joint_model_group_, position_in_limits);

    // use a scoped OMPL state so we don't have to call allocState and freeState
    // (as recommended in the OMPL documantion)
    ompl::base::ScopedState<> ompl_state(state_space_);
    state_space_->copyToOMPLState(ompl_state.get(), *robot_state_);

    ROS_DEBUG_STREAM_NAMED(LOGNAME, ompl_state.reals());

    // assume the given position is not in self-collision
    // and there are no collision objects or path constraints so this state should be valid
    EXPECT_TRUE(checker->isValid(ompl_state.get()));

    // move first joint obviously outside any joint limits
    ompl_state->as<ompl_interface::JointModelStateSpace::StateType>()->values[0] = std::numeric_limits<double>::max();
    ompl_state->as<ompl_interface::JointModelStateSpace::StateType>()->clearKnownInformation();

    ROS_DEBUG_STREAM_NAMED(LOGNAME, ompl_state.reals());

    EXPECT_FALSE(checker->isValid(ompl_state.get()));
  }

  /** This test takes a state that is known to be in self-collision and inside the joint limits as input. **/
  void testSelfCollision(const std::vector<double>& position_in_self_collision)
  {
    // create a validity checker for this test
    auto checker = std::make_shared<ompl_interface::StateValidityChecker>(planning_context_.get());
    checker->setVerbose(VERBOSE);

    robot_state_->setJointGroupPositions(joint_model_group_, position_in_self_collision);

    // use a scoped OMPL state so we don't have to call allocState and freeState
    // (as recommended in the OMPL documantion)
    ompl::base::ScopedState<> ompl_state(state_space_);
    state_space_->copyToOMPLState(ompl_state.get(), *robot_state_);

    ROS_DEBUG_STREAM_NAMED(LOGNAME, ompl_state.reals());

    // the given state is known to be in self-collision, we check it here
    EXPECT_FALSE(checker->isValid(ompl_state.get()));

    // but it should respect the joint limits
    EXPECT_TRUE(robot_state_->satisfiesBounds());
  }

  void testPathConstraints(const std::vector<double>& position_in_joint_limits)
  {
    ASSERT_NE(planning_context_, nullptr) << "Initialize planning context before adding path constraints.";

    // set the robot to a known position that is withing the joint limits and collision free
    robot_state_->setJointGroupPositions(joint_model_group_, position_in_joint_limits);

    // create position constraints around the given robot state
    moveit_msgs::Constraints path_constraints;
    Eigen::Isometry3d ee_pose = robot_state_->getGlobalLinkTransform(ee_link_name_);
    path_constraints.name = "test_position_constraints";
    path_constraints.position_constraints.push_back(createPositionConstraint(
        { ee_pose.translation().x(), ee_pose.translation().y(), ee_pose.translation().z() }, { 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 }));

    moveit_msgs::MoveItErrorCodes error_code_not_used;
    ASSERT_TRUE(planning_context_->setPathConstraints(path_constraints, &error_code_not_used));

    auto checker = std::make_shared<ompl_interface::StateValidityChecker>(planning_context_.get());
    checker->setVerbose(VERBOSE);

    // use a scoped OMPL state so we don't have to call allocState and freeState
    // (as recommended in the OMPL documantion)
    ompl::base::ScopedState<> ompl_state(state_space_);
    state_space_->copyToOMPLState(ompl_state.get(), *robot_state_);

    ROS_DEBUG_STREAM_NAMED(LOGNAME, ompl_state.reals());

    EXPECT_TRUE(checker->isValid(ompl_state.get()));

    // move the position constraints away from the curren end-effector position to make it fail
    moveit_msgs::Constraints path_constraints_2(path_constraints);
    path_constraints_2.position_constraints.at(0).constraint_region.primitive_poses.at(0).position.z += 0.2;

    ASSERT_TRUE(planning_context_->setPathConstraints(path_constraints_2, &error_code_not_used));

    // clear the cached validity of the state before checking again,
    // otherwise the path constraints will not be checked.
    ompl_state->as<ompl_interface::JointModelStateSpace::StateType>()->clearKnownInformation();

    EXPECT_FALSE(checker->isValid(ompl_state.get()));
  }

  /***************************************************************************
   * END Test implementation
   * ************************************************************************/

protected:
  void SetUp() override
  {
    // setup all the input we need to create a StateValidityChecker
    setupStateSpace();
    setupPlanningContext();
  };

  void setupStateSpace()
  {
    ompl_interface::ModelBasedStateSpaceSpecification space_spec(robot_model_, group_name_);
    state_space_ = std::make_shared<ompl_interface::JointModelStateSpace>(space_spec);
    state_space_->computeLocations();  // this gets normally called in the state space factory
  }

  void setupPlanningContext()
  {
    ASSERT_NE(state_space_, nullptr) << "Initialize state space before creating the planning context.";

    planning_context_spec_.state_space_ = state_space_;
    planning_context_spec_.ompl_simple_setup_ = std::make_shared<ompl::geometric::SimpleSetup>(state_space_);
    planning_context_ =
        std::make_shared<ompl_interface::ModelBasedPlanningContext>(group_name_, planning_context_spec_);

    planning_scene_ = std::make_shared<planning_scene::PlanningScene>(robot_model_);
    planning_context_->setPlanningScene(planning_scene_);
    moveit::core::RobotState start_state(robot_model_);
    start_state.setToDefaultValues();
    planning_context_->setCompleteInitialState(start_state);
  }

  /** \brief Helper function to create a position constraint. **/
  moveit_msgs::PositionConstraint createPositionConstraint(std::array<double, 3> position,
                                                           std::array<double, 3> dimensions)
  {
    shape_msgs::SolidPrimitive box;
    box.type = shape_msgs::SolidPrimitive::BOX;
    box.dimensions.resize(3);
    box.dimensions[shape_msgs::SolidPrimitive::BOX_X] = dimensions[0];
    box.dimensions[shape_msgs::SolidPrimitive::BOX_Y] = dimensions[1];
    box.dimensions[shape_msgs::SolidPrimitive::BOX_Z] = dimensions[2];

    geometry_msgs::Pose box_pose;
    box_pose.position.x = position[0];
    box_pose.position.y = position[1];
    box_pose.position.z = position[2];
    box_pose.orientation.w = 1.0;

    moveit_msgs::PositionConstraint position_constraint;
    position_constraint.header.frame_id = base_link_name_;
    position_constraint.link_name = ee_link_name_;
    position_constraint.constraint_region.primitives.push_back(box);
    position_constraint.constraint_region.primitive_poses.push_back(box_pose);

    // set the default weight to avoid warning in test output
    position_constraint.weight = 1.0;

    return position_constraint;
  }

  ompl_interface::ModelBasedStateSpacePtr state_space_;
  ompl_interface::ModelBasedPlanningContextSpecification planning_context_spec_;
  ompl_interface::ModelBasedPlanningContextPtr planning_context_;
  planning_scene::PlanningScenePtr planning_scene_;
};

// /***************************************************************************
//  * Run all tests on the Panda robot
//  * ************************************************************************/
class PandaValidity : public TestStateValidityChecker
{
protected:
  PandaValidity() : TestStateValidityChecker("panda", "panda_arm")
  {
  }
};

TEST_F(PandaValidity, testConstructor)
{
  testConstructor();
}

TEST_F(PandaValidity, testJointLimits)
{
  // use the panda "ready" state from the srdf config
  // we know this state should be within limits and self-collision free
  testJointLimits({ 0, -0.785, 0, -2.356, 0, 1.571, 0.785 });
}

TEST_F(PandaValidity, testSelfCollision)
{
  // the given state has self collision between "hand" and "panda_link2"
  // (I just tried a couple of random states until I found one that collided.)
  testSelfCollision({ 2.31827, -0.169668, 2.5225, -2.98568, -0.36355, 0.808339, 0.0843406 });
}

TEST_F(PandaValidity, testPathConstraints)
{
  // use the panda "ready" state from the srdf config
  // we know this state should be within limits and self-collision free
  testPathConstraints({ 0, -0.785, 0, -2.356, 0, 1.571, 0.785 });
}

/***************************************************************************
 * Run all tests on the Fanuc robot
 * ************************************************************************/
class FanucTest : public TestStateValidityChecker
{
protected:
  FanucTest() : TestStateValidityChecker("fanuc", "manipulator")
  {
  }
};

TEST_F(FanucTest, createStateValidityChecker)
{
  testConstructor();
}

TEST_F(FanucTest, testJointLimits)
{
  // I assume the Fanucs's zero state is within limits and self-collision free
  testJointLimits({ 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 });
}

TEST_F(FanucTest, testSelfCollision)
{
  // the given state has self collision between "base_link" and "link_5"
  // (I just tried a couple of random states until I found one that collided.)
  testSelfCollision({ -2.95993, -0.682185, -2.43873, -0.939784, 3.0544, 0.882294 });
}

TEST_F(FanucTest, testPathConstraints)
{
  // I assume the Fanucs's zero state is within limits and self-collision free
  testPathConstraints({ 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0 });
}

/***************************************************************************
 * MAIN
 * ************************************************************************/
int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
  testing::InitGoogleTest(&argc, argv);
  return RUN_ALL_TESTS();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Monday Medley
how sweep it is Break out the brooms today: It's Curling is Cool Day, a time to pay tribute to everyone's favorite winter sport. Well, favorite after ice hockey, figure skating, skiing, speed skating, bobsledding, skeleton, luge, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ski jumping, ice climbing, snowmobiling and ice fishing. But seriously, how can you not like a sport that uses rocks and brooms, looks like shuffleboard on ice and is followed by post-match beer drinking? So in honor of curling, here's a trivia question: Do you know what curling stones are made of? A. Marble B. Granite C. Onyx D. Quartzite E. Kryptonite The correct answer is B. All official curling stones come from two places: Ailsa Craig, an island off the coast of Scotland, and the Trefor Granite Quarry in Wales. one by one Focus. Tuesday is Single-Tasking Day, which is an ideal time to concentrate on just one thing for longer than, oh, 10 seconds. After that grueling exercise, go ahead and check your phone. And check your phone. And check your phone. The day's organizers respectfully note that multitasking actually reduces productivity and increases stress. forever in blue jeans Thursday is Levi Strauss' birth anniversary (1829-1902). The German immigrant created the world's first jeans for California gold miners in 1873. In tribute to the jeans genius, here are some observations about his enduring invention: "I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity -- all I hope for in my clothes. -- Yves Saint Laurent "Jeans fit the mature male one of two ways, both dirigible in nature. You make a public impression that's either Hindenburg or Goodyear blimp." -- P.J. O'Rourke "When you're wearing jeans, there's a shift in your center of gravity." -- Ray Stevenson "Jeans represent democracy in fashion." -- Giorgio Armani The whole tooth Saturday is National Tooth Fairy Day. So brush, floss and be grateful you don't have to work the graveyard shift and handle other people's molars and pillows. time marches on March arrives Sunday. Get ready to celebrate: It's Employee Spirit Month, International Mirth Month, Mad for Plaid Month, National Caffeine Awareness Month, National Frozen Food Month, Optimism Month and Sing With Your Child Month. Oh, and National Umbrella Month, presumably in places where it rains. Today -- Emily Blunt (32) Tuesday -- Edward James Olmos (68) Wednesday -- Tea Leoni (49) Thursday -- Fats Domino (87) Friday -- Josh Groban (34) Saturday -- Jason Aldean (38) Sunday -- Lupita Nyong'o (32) Compiled by Scott Smith from Chase's 2015 Calendar of Events and other sources.


Moyamoya disease or Moyamoya syndrome is a very rare, but extremely serious pediatric condition. Children who suffer from this disease have narrowed and thickened internal carotid arteries. The carotid arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the important areas of the brain.
Because these arteries are thickened and narrowed, the natural flow of oxygen-rich blood to the child's developing brain begins to slow down gradually. The constriction also increases the probability of blood clot formation.
The initial symptom of Moyamoya disease is typically a stroke or a mini-stroke, which is medically referred to as recurrent transient ischemic attacks. These symptoms may be accompanied by seizures or paralysis and muscle weakening on one side of the body. Children may also experience cognitive decline and headaches.
One of the most common medical recommendations for Moyamoya disease is aspirin, which may be an effective way to bolster blood flow to the brain. However, most children who suffer from Moyamoya syndrome will require surgery to restore oxygen-rich blood supply to the brain.
The encephalo-duro-arterio-synangiosis (EDAS) treatment is an indirect bypass method of revascularization. During EDAS, a temporal superficial artery is connected to the surface of the brain. A hole is then created in the skull beneath the artery, which is sutured to the brain surface. Over time, the process of angiogenesis forms small, arterial vessels to the brain. It usually takes anywhere from six to eight weeks after the procedure for the new blood supply to form.