text:
R.U.R.
Dimensions: 0.2" H x 8" L x 5" W
Publisher: Dover Publications
35 ratings arrow_drop_down 4.2 Out of 5
Karel Capek
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Thank you for checking out this book by Theophania Publishing. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you soon. We have thousands of titles available, and we invite you to search for us by name, contact us via our website, or download our most recent catalogues. R.U.R. is a science fiction play in the Czech language by Karel Capek. R.U.R. stands for Rossum's Universal Robots, an English phrase used as the subtitle in the Czech original. It premiered in 1921 and introduced the word robot to the English language and to science fiction as a whole.The play begins in a factory that makes artificial people called robots. Unlike the modern usage of the term, these creatures are closer to the modern idea of androids or even clones, as they can be mistaken for humans and can think for themselves. They seem happy to work for humans, although that changes and a hostile robot rebellion leads to the extinction of the human race. After finishing the manuscript, Capek realized that he had created a modern version of the Jewish Golem legend. He later took a different approach to the same theme in War with the Newts, in which non-humans become a servant class in human society. R.U.R is dark but not without hope, and was successful in its day in both Europe and the United States.
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R.U.R. was written by Karel Capek
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For many lifelong Republicans and committed conservatives, as well as dozens of down-ballot Republican candidates, the redefinition of their party and the tone of the nominee are simply unacceptable. That's clearly why Mitt Romney, the Bush family, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and others refuse to back Trump.
Of course, some high-profile Republicans — from House speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wisc.) to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida — hesitated to embrace Trump but eventually backed him. They promised (or at least hoped) that Trump would "grow" as a candidate when the general election arrived.
After some staff changes, the Trump campaign is quicker to issue clarifications and corrections following the nominee's interviews. But otherwise Trump has evolved little as a candidate since entering the presidential contest more than a year ago.
Whatever Trump's personal weaknesses — and the list is very long — he is in the process of undermining the entire rationale for the Republican Party.
Trump's Republican Party echoes the economic populism of the Democratic Party. It ignores the party's traditional cultural values, and it now has turned its back on the GOP's foreign policy worldview. Indeed, Trump's view of Putin and how countries should "get along" shows the kind of naivete normally associated with the most liberal of Democrats.
Even worse, Trump's message is not about the limits of political power — it is about the unlimited nature of his own power and abilities.
All of this raises the question of whether Republican officeholders and party leaders who announced their support for Trump will now reverse themselves and pull their endorsements. Though Sen. John McCain of Arizona has come close, it's very difficult to believe many will take that dramatic step.
Like Ryan and McConnell, most will criticize a Trump statement or otherwise indicate a different point of view. But pulling an endorsement is a much bigger step.
Most, if not all, of those unshakably loyal Republicans apparently have concluded that Clinton is so untrustworthy and her politics so far left that any Republican is preferable, no matter how flawed that person may be. For many, the election is about only the Supreme Court.
It's easy for those Republicans to rationalize supporting Trump, no matter how vulgar he is or how far his views stray from what only a couple of years ago was Republican orthodoxy. "He's not Hillary Clinton" covers a lot of Trump's shortcomings.
Why am I so skeptical that mainstream Republicans who have already climbed out on the Trump limb will turn around and crawl back? Because that is not how American politics works.
Something very similar happened back in 1998, when Democrats circled the wagons and stuck by Bill Clinton even though he had a very inappropriate relationship (including in the Oval Office) with an intern and lied to the American public. Democrats turned the scandal into a partisan fight.
"The lack of resignations suggests that members of the administration are either so obsessed with power or so jaded and unprincipled that they can ignore the President's lies to them and to the country," I continued.
Like Bill Clinton back then, Trump's behavior has been so far over the line — with his comments ranging from incoherent to inaccurate to outrageous — that it is remarkable so many Republicans continue to support and defend him.
In spite of all of the talk about weaker parties and the growing number of independents, partisanship runs very deep in American politics. It is easier and probably safer politically to hunker down with fellow partisans than to break from the crowd.
Character and principle are qualities that are in short supply on both sides of the aisle.
But that certainly is nothing new.
Stuart Rothenberg writes about the politics of the presidential and congressional races.


intended for a mature audience.
"But we've had these tickets for months." Dani said. "What's so important that you'd skip on the concert now?"
Jennie shrugged helplessly. "It's just...family stuff, I guess."
Dani rolled her eyes. "God. Did your mom ground you again or something? We weren't out that late last Friday."
Jennie rubbed at her temples as she switched the phone to her other ear. It seemed like they'd had this conversation dozens of times in the last month. Dani couldn't understand why her friend was suddenly so unwilling to do so many of the things she'd always loved before, like going cruising around the countryside with their older friends or hitching lifts into Fort Qu'Appelle to go rent movies. And Jennie certainly couldn't tell her the real reason. Her mother had been very clear on that.
"No one is supposed to know what we are, Jennie." Noreen had said. "No one. Not your friends, not your teachers. No one."
Jennie chewed at her knuckle as Dani continued on her tirade about how lame Jennie's mother was. It was killing her not to be able to let her friend in on the secret. They'd been friends pretty much forever, and they'd never kept secrets from each other before. Even when Jennie had stolen Dani's favorite pair of jeans (the ones she'd been jealous of for months) and claimed that they must have left them behind at the beach, she'd eventually come clean and apologized when the strain of lying to her friend had gotten too much to bear.
Worse, Jennie had really wanted to go to this concert. Regina was far enough off of the major concert circuit that few of the really good bands stopped by on their way between Vancouver and Toronto. When Jennie had found out that Dream Arena, practically her favorite band in existence, would be doing a show only a 45 minute drive away from her house, she'd freaked out. It had taken three months of allowance and all of her savings to buy the ticket, and now it was all wasted.
All because of her stupid family's stupid curse.
"I gotta go, Dani." She said, interrupting her friend's rant. "I—um—don't feel well."
"Oh." Dani sounded hurt. "Well, just think about it, okay? I mean, if we say that you're at my house studying, your mom will never find out."
Jennie frowned. She'd completely missed her friend's explanation of her plan to sneak Jennie to the concert, but even if it had been ten times better than the plans Dani usually came up with, it wouldn't have worked. Dani didn't know, and couldn't know, that Jennie would die if she got too far away from her family's ancestral lakes and streams.
Dani mumbled a half-hearted goodbye and hung up the phone, and Jennie threw her own receiver at the pile of pillows on her bed. This sucked.
Finding out that her family came from a bloodline of ancient water spirits had been amazing at first. After her family had revealed themselves to her, she had discovered a tunnel in the pond outside her house. It led her to the heart of Crooked Lake, deep below the spring ice still covering the surface. She'd spent hours exploring the murky depths, and had eventually been joined by her older cousin, Alex.
Seeing his familiar face twisted and distorted by the strange, delicate new bone structure and covered silver fish-like skin had taken some getting used to, as had the feeling of drawing the cold lake water into her lungs. But both of these discomforts had been forgotten when compared to the sensation of drifting effortlessly through the water like a ghost. She didn't swim, precisely, but each movement of her arms sent her gliding through the water as though it were air. It was exhilarating. She'd never imagined that anything could move like her people did, swirling and spiralling easily through the dark waters of the lake, passing the sluggish fish as quickly and easily as a bird flew overhead.
Even Alex, who was a self-proclaimed car nut, had to admit that he enjoyed 'flying through the water' even more than driving his prized Torino. After several hours, they had finally climbed out of the pond and sat, panting and laughing in the chill night air. Jennie had found it strange that the frozen waters of the lake had seemed merely cool to her skin, but that the much warmer night air felt so cold that she'd shivered uncontrollably. Alex had explained that their ability to resist the cold only worked so long as they were in contact with the waters of their people. Jennie had tested that theory, slipping back into the pond. As expected, the water felt blessedly warm after the biting cold of the air above, even though ice still circled the edges of the dugout.
Her mother had come out of the house then and scolded them both for 'doing that out in public'. The family's front yard, screened from the highway by a thick copse of trees, was hardly public property, but Noreen had reminded them both that the neighboring houses, a mere 10 minute walk from where they lived, could see the pond from through their windows.
"Yeah, with binoculars." Jennie had replied, but her cousin seemed cowed by Noreen's warning. Apparently, being found out for what they were was a crime so terrible that no one would tell her what the punishment for it would be.
There were so many rules, and so few solid answers about her people. When she'd asked why Alex could live on his farm outside of the valley while the rest of them were trapped inside, her mother had explained that his house was built over a spring that ran into the valley. The waters were enough to keep the curse from affecting him while he was inside the house, and he carried a large bottle of spring water with him whenever he was out ploughing the fields or buying supplies in town.
Jennie mulled over this as she stared out of her bedroom window at the moonlight reflecting off of the lake. If Alex could leave the valley, why hadn't anyone else tried it? Were they so scared of the ancient shaman's curse that they wouldn't even try to leave? She hopped off of the stool she'd been standing on and began to pace around her room. Maybe, in the old days, there'd been no reason for anyone to leave. They could always go into the town of Fort Qu'Appelle, which was located just a little further west in the valley, if they wanted to shop or watch a movie.
The more Jennie thought about it, the more she became convinced that no one in her family had ever come up with a plan to leave the valley. She felt a tight, warm excitement in her chest, the same feeling she always got when she'd come up with a sneaky prank or clever plan that she couldn't wait to try out. If Alex could take water out of the valley, then why couldn't she?
She checked the hallways to make sure her mother couldn't overhear her, and then called Dani back.
"Omigod, this is going to be so awesome!" Dani was so excited that she was nearly vibrating, and Jennie felt much the same way.
Everything had gone perfectly so far. She'd told her mother that she was going to be staying at Dani's house for the weekend so that they could work on their geography assignment together. Then, while her mother was away at work, Jennie had snuck down into the basement and found her mother's hiking backpack. It was the sort that had a water tank inside it so that the hiker could drink without stopping. This pack was now hidden inside her red and black backpack, and no one had even commented on it. She always tended to carry her backpack with her instead of a purse, so not even Dani had noticed that there was anything out of the ordinary about her.
Not that Dani would have noticed anything that wasn't Dream Arena related at the moment, but Jennie thought it was best to be cautious. She might be disobeying her mother by sneaking away from home, but she wasn't about to mess up by giving away their family secret by being careless.
She felt both terrified and excited as the truck crested the top of the hill. She had never been out of the valley before and was looking forward to seeing the rest of the countryside, but at the same time she wasn't entirely sure how the curse would affect her. She held her breath, but felt only a brief tingle of heat course through her body as they continued on the highway.
Dani's brother glanced sideways at her from the driver's seat. "You okay? You look at little pale."
She nodded and took a sip from her water bottle, which was also filled with water from the valley. The feeling passed. "Yeah. Just a little carsick, I guess."
Dani's brother laughed. "Well, don't be sick in my truck, okay?"
Jennie promised that she wouldn't, and then went back to staring out the window at the broad expanse of prairie rolling past them. She'd seen pictures of it before, of course, but there was something hypnotizing about the endless horizon stretching in all directions. At times, it seemed like the truck wasn't moving at all, but that an endless stream of fence posts and telephone poles had begun to parade past. Jennie was mesmerized, and felt a little exposed without the comforting hills of her home around her.
Dani, who had been to Regina plenty of times before, hardly seemed to notice the scenery. She chatted endlessly about the upcoming concert, and her excitement was infectious. By the time the city came into view on the horizon, the two girls were talking so quickly that Dani's brother had simply turned up the radio rather than try to follow the conversation. He dropped them off near the concert hall and told them to give him a call when the concert was over.
The two girls got into line outside the concert hall. The doors didn't open until 7:00, so they had some time to kill. They stood around chatting about their favorite Dream Arena songs and comparing their knowledge of the lead singer's love life until Jennie suddenly felt weak and feverish. She sipped at her water bottle, but while the fever disappeared, she continued to feel a little unsteady on her feet.
"God, are you alright?" Dani asked as Jennie leaned heavily against the wall. "You look sick."
"I'll be fine." Jennie said. "I think those burgers we had for supper didn't agree with me."
Dani didn't seem to believe Jennie's reassurances that she was fine, and hovered protectively close as Jennie sat down on one of the concrete dividers. Jennie joked around, trying to convince them both that she would be fine once they got inside the concert hall, but she was starting to get nervous. Her water bottle was nearly empty, and she worried that she would run out of lake water before the concert was over. She promised herself that she would sip at the water more slowly from now on, and would just have to ignore the sickly hot feeling that was beginning to prick at her skin.
More and more people were arriving now, and Dani went to hold their place in line so that they'd be near the front when the doors opened. Jennie surreptitiously refilled her water bottle from the tank in her backpack and then went to join Dani. She stumbled as she stood, feeling a terrible nausea sweep through her, and tried to pretend that she'd merely tripped on her own feet.
Dani was watching her carefully as Jennie joined her in line. "You sure you're alright? We can call my brother if you're really sick."
"No." Jennie said quickly. "No, I'm fine, really. Besides, they're just about to open the doors. I'll just get some aspirin or something from a vending machine once we're inside."
Dani looked like she wanted to argue, but the crowd suddenly began moving as the doors were unchained and held open. Jennie felt trapped as the mob pressed in on her from all sides. She wasn't used to this many people in such close proximity to her, and no one seemed to care how much they pushed or shoved her. She had a brief moment of panic when a tall man shoved between her and Dani and she lost sight of her friend's pink-tipped hair in the crowd. She stopped dead, letting the crowd shove their way past her, and looked around frantically.
Dani was standing by the entrance to the stairs, waving for her to catch up. Jennie let out the breath that she'd been holding and darted towards her.
They climbed several flights upwards before they found their seats. Jennie had heard that the concert hall was large, but she had imagined it as only being a little larger than the bleachers that had been set up during the All-Nations Pow Wow that their reserve had hosted several years ago. This stadium was so large that they could have held twenty Pow Wows inside it. Jennie craned her neck up, staring at the intricate network of metal rafters overhead, and then tried to locate the stage.
"It's all the way over there?" She squinted down at the tiny square several levels below her.
Dani sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah. That's what we get for buying cheap seats."
"Those were the cheap tickets?" Jennie could hardly believe it. She squinted down at the people filing into the seats below. "Jeez... How much are the ones right by the stage?"
Dani laughed. "You really, really don't want to know."
The girls settled in to await the opening act. Dani pulled out a bag of chips that she'd smuggled in and offered some to Jennie, but Jennie was still feeling sick to her stomach. Worse, her head was now starting to pound. She caught herself taking a long pull from her water bottle and had to force herself to stop before the bottle was empty. When she stopped drinking, the headache came back worse than it had been before.
Jennie gritted her teeth and tried to ignore her discomfort by flipping through the pamphlet she'd been given. They still had well over an hour until Dream Arena took the stage, and the performance would go on for at least an hour and a half after that. She would have to make the water last if she was going to make it to the end of the concert.
Dani continued to chatter away, and Jennie was finding it increasingly harder to try and match her friend's level of enthusiasm for the concert. Dani, seeming to sense this, gave Jennie a chance to rest and turned to talk to the group of older boys who were sitting beside them. Jennie was glad for the chance to just sit quietly and gather her strength. She watched the distant figures of the opening band's roadies scrambling around the stage as they conducted sound checks and set out the band's instruments.
Finally, the lights dimmed and an announcer walked onto stage to introduce the opening act. Jennie had never heard of them before, but she was grateful that things were underway. Her nausea had subsided, but it had been replaced by a terrible thirst and an ominous ache in her joints. She felt like she was coming down with the flu, and when she checked her forehead, it was hot to the touch. She stripped off her sweater, wondering if anyone else in the thick press of people felt claustrophobic.
Luckily, Dani seemed oblivious to her friend's discomfort as the opening act came out on stage and started to play. She hooted and applauded while Jennie did her best just to remain upright and pretend to smile. She didn't want to ruin the concert for her friend, and was content to just sit and listen to the band play. They weren't half bad, even if the bassist seemed to be drunk enough that was a wonder that he hadn't yet passed out into the front row. Dani glanced down at her as she got up and started to dance, and Jennie gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
The opening band was four or five songs in when Jennie decided she couldn't take it anymore. The fever had really taken hold now, and the air around her seemed so hot that it burned. She put on her backpack and stood up, surprised at how weak she felt. The backpack now felt like it was full of bricks, not water.
"I'm going to the bathroom." She yelled into Dani's ear. "Be right back."
She wasn't sure if Dani had heard her over the din, but her friend nodded and then patted her cell phone, indicating that Jennie could call her if she got lost. Jennie smiled and pushed her way through the crowd to the blissfully empty aisle. She nearly ran back down the stairs to the ladies room. Several women were in line when she got there, but she made her way past them to the dirty sinks. The cold water felt amazing as she splashed it on her face and arms, and she wondered if she could get away with spending the entire concert in the bathroom.
She very quickly came to the conclusion that her earlier plan was not going to work. Her water supply wasn't going to last until the end of the concert, let alone until the next day when they were supposed to return. She felt a thrill of fear when she realized that her concern now shouldn't be whether or not she could hold out until the end of the concert, but whether or not she could survive until she got home.
She chewed at her lip and stared at herself in the mirror, overcome by anxiety. She looked terrible. She'd expected her cheeks to be flushed with fever, but instead her skin was pale and dry. She peeled a flake off of her nose and stared at in horror. What was she going to do?
She remembered Dani telling her about how she'd had to catch a bus back to Fort Qu'Appelle with her brother before he'd bought his truck. Jennie, who had never been on a bus anywhere, was curious about it had worked, and had pestered her friend with questions. It was hard to recall the details of their conversation through the fever-fog in her brain, but she thought she remembered Dani mentioning that the bus station was downtown.
Jennie retraced her steps to the ticket counter at the front, and asked the man behind the desk if he knew where the bus depot was. He gave her directions and asked if she would like him to call a cab for her. She nearly hugged him, for she'd been planning to walk the twelve blocks to the depot, and the thought of calling for a ride had never occurred to her. Shakily, made her way out into the cool night air and sat on the concrete divider to await her cab.
By the time she reached the bus depot, she felt like she was burning from the inside out. Her skin felt tight and as dry as rawhide, and she realized with horror that she was clutching her wallet so tightly that her knuckles had cracked open. Thin red lines crisscrossed the joints, but no blood flowed from the wounds. She yelped and hid her hand, swapping her wallet to her left hand as she waited for the cab driver to give her some change. Then, she darted inside and ran to the nearest open ticket counter.
"When's the next bus to Fort Qu'Appelle?" She asked.
The tight-lipped woman in the transit uniform turned a bored gaze upon her. "There's one leaving in fifteen minutes, but it's full."
Jennie bit at her lip to hold back the tight feeling in her throat. "Is there any way I can switch with someone?" She said. "I really gotta get home. It's important. I'm...I'm sick."
The woman frowned and leaned forward to get a better look at her. She took in the young Native girl's torn jeans, black t-shirt, heavy mascara and blood-shot eyes, then pursed her lips in disgust. "We don't allow anyone high on the bus. Company policy."
Jennie would have broken into frustrated tears had her tear ducts been working properly. She clenched her fists so tightly that she felt more skin crack and flake off. "I'm not high! I'm just sick. I...I forgot my medicine back at home and I really, really need to get back so I can take it. You can even call my mom. She'll tell you. She's really worried about me right now."
The lie seemed to work. The woman sighed and turned back to her computer. After a few moments of endless clicking, she finally turned back to Jennie and took her credit card. "They're already boarding, so you'll have to be quick."
Jennie scooped up her tickets and the receipt as soon as the woman handed them over and then ran towards the loading area as fast as her unsteady legs would take her. In her head, she was trying to remember how long it had taken them to get into the city by truck. Dani's brother had driven fast, and it had only taken them a half an hour to get to the city, but she knew that buses were slower and had to stop often to pick up new passengers. Could she hold on for forty minutes? An hour?
She would have to. She didn't want to think of what would happen if her supply of lake water ran out before she reached the valley.
She slumped down into her seat and hugged her backpack tightly to her chest. The water tank felt terribly light, but the sound of water sloshing around in its bottom was the only comfort she had.
This was a stupid idea. She thought bitterly. I shouldn't have tried to leave the valley. I knew what would happen if I did.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been huddled in the seat before everyone finished boarding and the bus rattled into life, but when the bus lurched forward at the first stoplight, she nearly slid out of her seat. The woman sitting next to her grabbed her by the shoulder to steady her, and the touch of her fingers digging into Jennie's flesh was agony. She cried out and flinched away from the woman, pressing herself into the cool metal of the bus' side. The grandmotherly woman stared at her in dismay and then pointedly turned away and pretended to be interested in the scenery.
Jennie hardly noticed the other woman's discomfort. It was difficult to care about much of anything except her pain. Her mouth and throat were so dry that every breath she took felt like it was rubbing her insides raw. Her tongue felt swollen, and her skin felt like it was stretched so tightly across her body that it was beginning to tear every time she moved. She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled her hood over her head, trying to block out the noise and light of the world so that she could focus on simply enduring the ride. Every minute she could hold on for brought her a little closer to home, and to help.
Her mother would know what to do. She kept repeating that phrase to herself as she fought back panic. Her mother would take her to the lake and everything would be all right. Except that her mother didn't know that anything was wrong, and no one knew where she was right now. Jennie wished she'd been smart enough to call home while she was still at the bus station, and then whimpered quietly to herself as another wave of white-hot anguish flowed through her.
She was being consumed. She had no other thoughts but her pain and her fear. She struggled to remain awake, to hold on just a little longer, but it was getting harder and harder to even draw in a breath. She imagined herself simply fading away to dust, right here in the bus, and wondered how the woman next to her would take it.
She lay back and let the inferno consume her.
She hung alone in the dark.
There were no stars. There was no sky. There was just the endless emptiness of the world before creation, and her blazing light in the center of it. Like a tree ever-burning, she could feel the flames consuming her, her flesh flaking away into ash even as her body repaired itself.
There was pain, but the pain was as irrelevant as up or down in this in-between place. She was aware only of the void around her, and of the low, pulsating noise that called to her from somewhere out in the dark. The sound was barely louder than a whisper, but she could feel each beat vibrating through her as though she were the skin of a drum.
A light appeared in the distance. In the midst of so much nothingness was as shocking to her as the sudden rush of perspective. The concept of far returned to her mind, and she began to walk towards the distant spot on the horizon. Each of her footsteps fell in time with the beat thrumming through her and all around her.
As she neared it, the spot of light resolved itself into a campfire. The flames that danced inside the ring of stones seemed dim and cold compared to her inner torment, but they were bright enough to illuminate the man who sat beside them. He was unaware of her presence, but stared into the flames before him as he beat upon a deerskin drum.
She felt pain then, but it was not the pain of her own burning. She knew this man. She loved him, and he had been taken from her a long time ago.
The shock of this realization was so great that she went to her knees and stared at him through the flames of the campfire. His face seemed at once strange to her, and as familiar and comforting as if she'd known him her whole life. She reached towards him, the light from her flaming skin tracing shadows across his cheek and lips, but if he felt the heat of her presence, he did not acknowledge it. He continued to beat upon the drum, and then began to sing. His voice, so high and clear in the silent world, made her heart flutter strangely in recognition.
He sang a wordless song of loss, a mourning song of such sorrow that she longed for him to stop. Tears of fire streamed down her face, and she saw her own pain reflected in his features. She tried to call out to him and reassure him that she was there, that they could be together again, but no words came from her parched throat. She tried to reach for him again, but found that the song held her wrapt and immobile. She could only watch from the flames as he stood and began to dance around the fire, pouring out his grief to the empty skies.
Then, as his song was reaching its crescendo, a great roaring drown out all other noise. She looked up to see a torrent of water crashing towards them. Suddenly released from her paralysis, she leaped forward and wrapped her arms around him as the wall of water towered overhead.
He seemed shocked to find someone else there and nearly pulled away from her burning glory. Then, surprise and recognition spread across his features and he returned the embrace, squeezing her tightly.
The water crashed down all around them.
She clung to his chest, but it was no use. The pain of her previous burning was nothing compared to the feeling of the turbulent water sweeping over her. She could feel herself beginning to break apart as the renewing fires of her body were doused. He cried out silently as she was torn away from his grip, and she watched helplessly as the crush of water swept down into his lungs. In seconds, she'd lost sight of him in the dim, murky waters.
Bits of her body flaked off. Her arms snapped off easily, like twigs, and drifted away from her. Smaller chunks of ash trailed after them, the remnants of her shoulder, and she had the brief impression that she was still reaching after him even without her arms. The water tumbled her over and over, sloughing off more pieces of her body. She could feel her face crumbling in on itself, and her last glimpse of this world were the trails of black flesh that flowed away from her eyes like tears.
Water replaced void, though it was no less black and empty. The ache of loneliness was all that remained of her, and even that sensation was fading, drifting away on dark waters.
Jennie gasped in a lungful of water. She thrashed, still caught in the dark waters of her dream, and was amazed to find that she had a body to move. Firm hands caught her and held her still, and after several seconds of panic she was able to realize that the waters she floated in were comforting and still, not the raging torrent she'd just experienced.
A hand caressed her cheek and she opened her eyes to see her mother's face. Or, rather, something that looked mostly like her mother's face. There was algae growing on her mottled skin and long, feathery weeds had replaced her hair, but the face was still undeniably her mother's. She stared urgently at her daughter, her eyes darting over every inch of Jennie's face as if she had not seen her in years, and then her features crumpled into an expression of delighted anguish. She hugged Jennie tight, and Jennie found herself returning the embrace with a desperate strength. Underwater, sound and tears were both lost to the depths, but Jennie was sure that they were both crying.
Jennie sank back after a moment, still weak from her ordeal. Noreen took her by the arm and began to drag her back to shore. They surfaced under an unfamiliar dock, and Noreen peered around to make sure they were alone before boosting Jennie up onto shore overhead. The rocky, trash strewn grown felt wonderfully cool to her skin as she lay panting on the ground.
Jennie watched as her mother hauled herself out of the water, marvelling at how the strange features melted away as soon as she left the water. "How did you find me?" Jennie asked.
Noreen took a moment to get her breath back before she responded. "When you passed out on the bus, they looked through your wallet and found our phone number. I got here as fast as I could." Then, the relief on Noreen's face turned to anger. "That was a very stupid thing you did, Jennie."
Jennie face felt hot, but it was not the curse this time. She looked up at the night sky, shaking her head helplessly as she tried to explain what had possessed her to try leaving the reserve. "I know, Mom. I thought I had it all figured out, but it was so stupid. I don't even know why I tried. I...I thought I was going to die."
Her mother looked at her sternly. "You almost did. You were hardly breathing when I got to you, and they were gonna call an ambulance. I had to convince them that you were allergic to peanuts so they'd let me take you back to the car." Her mother's face crumpled up again, and she reached over and pulled Jennie tight against her side. "You stopped breathing then, and I thought I was going to lose you."
Noreen stopped speaking, but leaned down and pressed a hard kiss on the top of Jennie's head. Jennie felt herself start to cry, and she didn't try to hide her tears. She sobbed, too overwhelmed by fear and shame and bitter frustration at having gotten herself into such trouble over something as stupid as a concert. Her mother held her close and stroked her wet, tangled hair until the chilly night air left them both numb and shivering.
"C'mon up, my girl. We've got to get you to the car before someone notices us out here." Her mother said, and helped her to her feet. With her arm over her mother's shoulders, Jennie was able to stumble to the vehicle and collapsed gratefully into the passenger's seat as soon as her mother had opened the door for her. Noreen got into the driver's seat and fired up the engine to circulate warm air through the vehicle, but didn't start driving yet. She let the car idle as she stared out at the lake and rubbed feeling back into her hands.
The silence stretched on for a long time before Noreen spoke. "You've always been the smart one, you know. So smart, so careful. I really thought you weren't going to be as dumb as I was at your age."
Her mother's words shocked Jennie. "You mean—?"
Noreen finished the sentence for her, nodding her head. "Yeah. I tried sneaking away when I first found out, too. Went out cruising with a guy I had my eye on." Jennie's mother smiled grimly to herself at the memory. "It scared him so bad that he left the reserve and never came back, and then your grandmother, she made me clean out the outhouse for the next year."
Jennie was stunned. The thought of her serious, responsible mother disobeying the rules and sneaking away to be with a boy was almost too much for her to deal with at that moment. She laughed, and then clapped her hands over her mouth. Her mother snorted and glanced sideways at her.
"Go ahead and laugh. It's actually pretty funny, now that I'm older." Noreen said. Then she patted Jennie on the knee and handed her a tissue to wipe her face with. Considering that she was soaking wet, Jennie thought it was a bit futile, but the concern behind the gesture touched her just the same.
"So. Are you going to try it again?" Noreen asked.
Jennie shook her head. "God, no. I was dumb enough to try it once, but I don't want to go through that again!"
"Ok then." Her mother said. "Let's go home and get into some dry clothes."
The car pulled out onto the road that followed the lake back to their reserve, and as they sped past the dark waters, Jennie wondered if the shaman and his fiancée had ever found one another underneath the lake or if they drifted still, forever lost and forever alone.
That thought would haunt her dreams for many nights to come.
Go to The Ones Who Call 2011.


text:
US Forest Service announced plans to enhance the historic Trail of 100 Giants and to rebuild the Needles Fire Lookout Tower, which was destroyed by a wildfire in July, in California's Sierra Nevada mountain range (1); but in the aftermath of Reno, Nevada's, 2,000-acre Caughlin Fire, fire officials offer a few tips on how to prepare your home for the approach of wildfires (2). Texas Forest Service was honored for battling wildfires on the grounds of Fort Hood this past year (3); and although thousands of acres in Bastrop State Park burned in the Labor Day wildfires, some areas are still green, according to the park manager (4); while Heart of the Pines Volunteer Fire Department got a special treat from the TV program Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to make up for what wildfires in Bastrop County destroyed (5); but with 63 million acres of timber, the $23 billion Texas forest industry has been impacted by recent wildfires (6). US Forest Service finalized plans for dealing with restrictions on air-tankers using retardant to contain wildfires per the agreement with a Montana judge, with 12,000 maps showing sensitive areas on nearly 100 national forests nationwide (7); and although a wildfire that burned over 309,000 acres in Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has only grown 1 acre in size since October, it continues to smolder underground (8). The next article takes a look at Israel's firefighting and replanting capability in that arid Middle Eastern nation (9); while a wildfire has been reported in Manang in the Himalayan nation of Nepal (10). Heading to Australia, the controversial issue of buying back property in high-risk bushfire regions of Victoria is explored by the next item (11); where a woman has been accused of defrauding the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund of $30,000 (12). A 50-hectare bushfire burning in South Australia's Barossa Valley has been brought under control (13); and Biosecurity SA provided some tips on livestock safety in the next article (14); while BAE Systems has donated laser binoculars to Country Fire Service to be used at their Mount Lofty lookout tower in the Adelaide Hills (15). Having already suffered through one recent 45,000-hectare bushfire, officials in Nannup Shire, Western Australia, fear that they could not survive another such blaze (16); but a research scientist from Forestry Tasmania weighs in on the issue of using Australia's forests as green fuel (17). And finally, CAL FIRE found something better to do with trees left over from their forest thinning projects: donate them as Christmas trees!
(1) Forest Service plans for Giants, Needles
(2) How to Help Your Home Survive Wildfires
(3) Wildfire Responders Honored at Fort Hood Appreciation Event 12/14/11
(4) Recovering: Crews forging trails in Bastrop State Park after wildfire
(5) Bastrop family sees new home on 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'
(6) From the Ground Up - The Texas Forestry Industry
(7) Forest Service Chief Signs Record of Decision for Aerial Fire Retardant Application
(8) Ga. swamp fire still smoldering but barely growing
(9) Growing and Planting Trees in the Desert:
(10) Wildfire in Manang
(11) Home owners weigh bushfire buyback
(12) Woman accused of bushfire appeal fraud
(13) Bushfire in the Barossa
(14) Be alert to livestock bushfire threats and survive summer
(15) Laser binoculars to help bushfire fight
(16) Nannup Shire not prepared for another bushfire
(17) Can't see the forest fuel for the greens
(18) CAL FIRE donates more than 60 trees for needy families through the Visalia Salvation Army

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Making daily workouts and regular meals a priority because self-care is foundational, which has helped a lot.
Went up the metrocable all the way to the top and Parque Arvi, which was cool! I went a year ago, but didn't make it all the way.
Continuing to work on learning Spanish via Duolingo and being annoying (or maybe adorable?) to locals. Nowhere near conversational yet, but at least getting past transactional.
Intense. But my team are amazing, which makes it feel possible. Can't wait to show the world what we've been working on.
Went to an iOS meetup in Spanish which I understood… enough of, so that was an achievement!
My usual breakfast spot, and regular food places Sushi Market (omg the view, and the walk down after – I love it), Tabun (hummus!), La Provincia (mushroom pate) and Carmen (great internet and excellent food), and my fave tea place Pez en Agua.
Watching How I Met Your Mother, and reading Who Do You Love (really liked this, even though I've been reading it slowly).
@Vole_Facts: [pic] Voles sometimes like to kick back and enjoy a little bit of grass.
@ShowAndHide: [pic] Under the sunny grey skies , Cascais!
@ShowAndHide: [pic] When sweet pink became adorable blue by Estoril !
@ShowAndHide: [pic] I just saw this amazing @leilajeffreys at a friend's. Showing and not Hiding this one!
@ShowAndHide: [pic] Shooting with Vera under the sun!


The other day I attended a cocktail reception in the lobby of The Harrison, a new luxury condominium, at 205 West 76th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
The Harrison's elegant lobby features a series of Romanesque arches and columns, English oak millwork and a grand stone fireplace.
The two twin tower complex will have 132 apartments, studios, 1,2, 3 and 4 bedroom penthouses. The two buildings are joined by a four-story public area.
the smaller building looks over 76th Street, facing south.
Amenities include: An Equinox Gym in the building and membership is included in the common charges. Entertainment Lounge, Landscaped Outdoor Garden, Dinosaur Themed children's play area. Rooftop Sun Terrace, Related Signature Services, 24-hour attended Garage.
The Harrison has applied for (LEED Silver certification) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the country's most popular green benchmark.
Certification of silver, gold or platinum can happen up to a year after the building is completed. Green buildings are required to be 14 per cent more efficient than regular building codes dictate.
532 square foot studio for $765,000.
A 1 bedroom/ 1 bath 706 square foot unit asking $1,190.
A junior 4 /2 bath apartment asking $1,650,000.
Three 2 bedroom/2 bath homes ranging from $1,775,000 to $2,100,000.
Three and four bedroom units including two penthouse apartments with terraces range from $3,150,000 to $6,000,000.
To receive available listings at The Harrison or any other new development in Manhattan click here.
The building near the amsterdam looks really good. Thanks for the updation.


Neil Morgan, Managing Director - Pubs & Restaurants looks back at the 2016 pub market.
We all had such high hopes for 2016, but the reality is that it all turned out to be a bit of a damp squib.
Independent pub deals are still happening, and we see the occasional acquisition and expansion by one of the smaller multi site operators, but the big deals just haven't been taking place. We've seen a drop in the number of pubs coming to the market across the year, and while some areas of the UK retain a sense of being bulletproof about them, on the whole it's been a quiet 12 months, with transaction volumes down. This could shortly be set to reverse, as the demand for quality managed houses is currently outstripping supply, which in turn is driving prices up for those assets that do transact, making it an attractive time to sell.
It's fair to say that the market has been muted for a number of reasons – obviously, we have to mention Brexit, but the introduction of the Pubs Code (and the Market Rent Only legislation contained within it) and changes to the Insurance Act have undoubtedly had an impact on the sector, and cost pressures including the introduction of the National Living Wage have also played a major part.
On Brexit, we saw the Pound hit 31-year lows immediately after the unexpected result of the referendum was announced, which has proved to be a double edged sword for operators. The rising cost of imported wet products has begun to hit margins, although the increase in inbound tourism and growing popularity of staycations has provided a boost for those pubs with letting rooms. We expect an air of uncertainty to continue into early 2017, through the end of Q1 when Article 50 is expected to be invoked, and potentially beyond.
Overall trading performance has been mixed, and publicans have, on the whole, found it to be a tough year.
The ALMR Christie & Co Benchmarking Report 2016, released in September, confirmed what we were hearing and showed that the average costs associated with running a pub are at a seven-year high, with payroll costs accounting for almost 30% of turnover.
With the Government looking to introduce an Apprenticeship Levy and increases to the rates of National Living and Minimum Wages further, some pubs and bars are having no choice but to absorb at least some of these additional payroll costs. Businesses need confidence and certainty in order to plan and invest, but uncertainty over the UK's exit from the European Union could undermine confidence in the sector and threaten investment, particularly if restrictions over foreign labour are introduced.
Of course, 2016 was the year when the Government also gave something back to the pub industry. In April of next year, we'll see a redistribution of business rates, which, as well as cutting the burden for most operators outside of London and the South East, will mean that many smaller pub businesses will no longer have the added pressure that these caused. The threshold has more than doubled for those eligible to pay from £6,000 to £15,000 and for many smaller independent bar and pub operators this may help to offset the rise in operating costs faced by the publican.
However, the news is not all positive, as those operators due the largest falls (including those in the North) will have to wait several years to see the full impact due to a proposed 4.1% cap on first year reductions, whilst those in London and the South East could see first year increases of up to 45%.
In a tremendous boost to the sector, then Chancellor George Osborne also announced a cut in Stamp Duty on commercial property sales, meaning that pubs selling for less that £150,000 will no longer be subject to Stamp Duty payments. Although this will only affect pubs in a few areas of the UK, it will act as an encouragement to those looking to make a purchase. Even so, at the reduced rate, a potential publican buying a pub for a more realistic £270,000 will save in the region of £5,000, so it's not all doom and gloom.
In short, and to paraphrase David Frost, this was the year that wasn't. It's been sticky and tricky for some operators, and the external pressures on the pub industry have been numerous to say the least. However, we're a lot clearer now about how the land lies now that the Pubs Code is in place, and if operators can keep a handle on their costs, we should see things start to settle and then move forward on our way into 2017.
Private Equity, multiple operators, family brewers and to an extent national pubcos have cash available and are very keen to acquire but there are few major targets available. As a result, many are looking at buying small packages and in some cases single sites, which is to the benefit of individual publicans looking to sell.
2017 could be an interesting year.
Considering an exit? Overseas Buyers And Hotel Groups Invest Heavily In The Northern Hotel MarketA valuer comes to call Bridging the gap between the UK and AsiaCould a relaxation of childcare ratios be inevitable? China's shock currency devaluation: What it means for Asian investment in European markets Christie Finance comments on the recent Bank of England announcement Courteney Donaldson participates in the Connect Childcare 'The Annual Large Providers Group 2015' event Budget commentary from Steve Rodell, Christie + Co Head of Retail Budget commentary from Courteney Donaldson, Christie + Co Head of Childcare Spain's record tourism rates good news for Hotel sectorTory childcare pledges – our verdictNorth West Pub Market at its most vibrant since 2006Election day commentary from Chris Day, Managing Director of Christie + CoChristie + Co Retail team to attend the National Convenience ShowRising volume for cosmetic dentistry drives dentists' incomes by 20% Are Central London restaurant rents spiralling out of control?Denplan launches new partnership schemeWill the general election stifle improving business confidence?City slickers key to country pub tradePartnership is key to deliver effective and sustainable childcare provisionA year of opportunity for commercial property financeThe role of private equity in the forecourt market Scottish dental market - demand and supplyThe truth about pub valuations Investigating Asian interest in HotelsHow will the pub sector be affected by Budget 2016?Nightclubs still need investment to thriveGetting back in the habitForecourt FutureDon't be afraid of dwindling Chinese investmentThe rise in private dentistryWhat's in a brand? Hotel brand switching, repositioning and re-flaggingHousing through integrationRelationships matterHave pub tenants really won the battle? Time will tell...Taking heed of (the right) adviceProviding the ACS with a property perspectiveWhy hotel owners and operators should be looking upSchool values: what is your school really worth?Christie & Co dental team to exhibit at The British Dental Conference & ExhibitionRent review brewing? Here's what you need to knowThe Scottish Pharmacy market - Demand is the drugDental practice values: Is the North-South divide fact or fiction?It's worth going "round the Wrekin" to invest in the West MidlandsSigns of optimism for Aberdeen's licensed tradeWhy pub operators need to adapt or dieDon't take a risk on regulationPicking the right moment to sell your dental practiceTime for a hair of the dog?Living the DreamIn review - What the Childcare sector has seen in H1 2016Asian investors are seeking bargains after EU referendum Pub owners: everything you need to know about assets of community valueNo post-Brexit blues for the day nursery sectorDeferred Consideration - A necessary evil?The North West Hotels market will reap huge rewards from an influx of interest and capitalGetting your strategy rightThinking about selling your business? Where to start in choosing your agentDentistry - A sector ripe for consolidationScottish hotel market proving resilient despite political uncertaintyAdditional costs could undermine growth in the pub sectorWhy London will always be a capital place to investLooking forward to the BDIA ShowcaseScottish pubs market continues to weather the stormsBold decisions will reap rewardsThe changing face of valuationWhy the CEE hotel investment market is boomingClear skies ahead for the North East licensed marketHigh value convenience stores: still at the top of buyers' shopping listsConsidering the sale of your dental practice in 2017?Go East: why the pub market in East Anglia is luring former publicans back to the tradeUnderstanding the pharmacy cutsBusiness Outlook 2017 - A View from Chris DayKnow your buyers in the dental practice marketHow changes to business rates will impact the day nursery sectorThe return of confidence in the children's home marketTesco and Booker: changes ahead for independent retailers?Why pub buyers should be heading south in 2017The Year of the Rooster brings investment from the Far EastThe new Quality Payment Scheme - a mixed reaction from the pharmacy industryChildcare business owners: the importance of understanding security of tenureApril 2017: a perfect storm for licensed hospitality businessesInternational Women's Day: be bold for changeA view from the panel at PUB17The hostel market and its growing investor appealWhat potential buyers are looking for in your dental practiceDoes the removal of PDRs for pubs mean an end to ACVs?The changing picture of childcare in WalesThe South region - high demand and low supply is good news for hotel ownersWhy valuing an educational business is a specialist valuer's appointmentNo end in sight for hotel consolidation It's busy up north in the childcare marketGE 2017 manifestos: childcare and education policies reviewedAlmost a year on from the introduction of the Pubs Code, what happened to the "unintended consequences"?Private Equity and the changing landscape of the dental sales market Is extended-stay the new panacea for the hotel industry?How does the care sector benefit from the Government's decision to suspend historical penalties regarding sleep-in shift pay?What does the McColl's and Morrisons partnership mean for the retail market?Pop up restaurants: the advantages of a short term leaseA second opinion could maximise your investmentThe London hotel market – challenges, activity and the opportunities The importance of taking the right advice when selling your businessUK Licensed Sector Back on the Menu for Private EquityThe day nursery market in the MidlandsInternational activity in the childcare market continues to riseWhat does the potential acquisition of Nisa by the Co-op mean for the wider retail sector?An update on the Scottish day nursery marketWhat do interest rate rises mean for our sectors?Why are international investors interested in Birmingham?A new breed of purchaser in the dental market?The 11th China Tourism Forum: Innovations in Hospitality and Tourism Practices sponsored by Christie & CoHow will the Autumn Budget affect the pubs sector?An update on the childcare sector following the Autumn BudgetProspects of Autumn Budget mean big tech change for retail sectorOverview of the hotels market in the NorthShare vs asset sales: what you need to knowChristie & Co attends the I-EDU Education Industry Investment Conference, Hong KongAn update on the day nursery market in Yorkshire & the North EastAn update on cost increases in the UK childcare sectorAn insight into the hotel investment market – IHIF 2018International Women's Day – Changes and opportunities for women in the property sectorA three-child policy in China – what are the implications for the day nursery sector?Christie & Co celebrates their employee achievement awardsWorld Oral Health Day - An overview of the dental market in the North WestAn update on the tourism market in the North WestIt's a postcode lottery for fundingHotels and tourism in the South West provide consistently successful business opportunitiesThe impact of electric vehicle charging points on petrol filling stationsWhy Yorkshire is the UK's growing tourism hotspot An update on the garden centre market in the UKWhat impact is the 30 hours free childcare policy having on nursery operators?Business bites – brokering the right dealChristie & Co hosts inaugural 'Prescription for success' event for first time pharmacy buyersThe UK pubs sector – prime for investmentThe rise of the multi-faceted leisure destination Business bites - Private dental practices in vogue as buyers seek out qualityHas the Scottish nursery sector reached a crisis point?Independent operators discuss restaurant sector trends at industry roundtable hosted by Christie & Co and Goodman DerrickThe next big thing – the multi-site regional pub operatorReduction of the Tier 2 visa caps a reassuring sign for the care sectorThe current state of the social care market and what the future might bringGoing it alone - How do you get your foot on the ownership ladder?How accommodating for all levels of service can bring your dental practice to new heightsChristie & Co hosts the Loop – Hotels event for women in hospitalityChristie & Co hosts day nursery sector seminar for operators and investors Opportunity knocks for the growing independentThe private dentistry demandFirst time buyers: finding success in your searchWhat does Brexit mean for the UK Pharmacy market?Is selling a charity as daunting as it seems? Christie & Co sponsors Women's Entrepreneur ConferenceBack to Business: Takeaways from the Pharmacy Show 2018Christie & Co hosts seminar for first time buyers in the day nursery sectorLooking ahead in hospitality: reflecting on the Annual Hotel Conference 2018Too Little, Too Late?What the Autumn Budget means for the Retail sectorIndependent schools and their valuable contribution to society Funding continues to challenge the care sectorFoster care and children's home provision needs support to meet children's services demandsCross party support for private partner childcare providers in Scotland Christie & Co attends inaugural European Dental ForumChristie & Co launches first annual 'Dental Industry' report with panel discussionInternational pupils in British independent schools – A global outlook Local economy boost and more opportunities following removal of the Severn Bridge tollsBusiness bites – five years of rapid change in the dental sectorBusiness Outlook 2019: South West & Wales regional focusBusiness Outlook 2019: North West regional focusBusiness Outlook 2019: Midlands & East Anglia regional focusBusiness Outlook 2019: South regional focusBusiness Outlook 2019: North East regional focus The evolution of the high streetBusiness Outlook 2019: Scotland regional focusPUB19: A workplace culture that encourages staff retention and promotes innovation drives success in the industryEmbracing the future – The introduction of tech-led learningChristie & Co sponsor the World Forum on Early Care and Education 2019 in MacaoWhile the high street struggles with rapid job losses, the convenience sector shows resilience Adult social care welcomes new recruitment campaignKeeping informed on ever-changing childcare best practice is keyExploring alternatives to increasing airport capacityBringing early years business advice to the GESS Future Leaders Seminar in DubaiCelebrating International Women's Day at Christie & Co and in the wider property marketBusiness bites – regional overviewBuyers go for growthWhere has the narrowing of the gender pay gap STEMmed from?Women in Healthcare Property Forum roundtable discussion at Christie & CoGrowing appetite for UK education from Chinese families fuels international investment despite Brexit fearsDublin: Too hot to handle or not quite boiling?


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Dr. Lara Benoiton
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand
Dr Benoiton is a SET Trainee in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS) currently working at Northshore Hospital, Aotearoa New Zealand. She graduated from the University of Otago Medical School in 2010. Her previous training posts include Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital, with a combination of full time and flexible training. Her research interests include paediatric OHNS and otology. She lives in Auckland with her husband and two children.
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Bellingen Shire Council Mayor, Cr Dominic King, is calling for the state government to place a moratorium on logging until the fire emergency is over and there is time to assess the forestry estate. Cr King said loss and fragmentation of habitat is recognised as a key threat for endangered species and as such highlights the importance of protecting our remaining forests. "This region's unique forests are recognised as one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and with more than 150,000 hectares of forest burned in these unprecedented fires in and around our shire we cannot afford to lose any more environmentally significant habitat." With the continued devastation from the Spring 2019 bushfire season and loss of critical habitat and koalas across the mid north coast, Mayor Dominic King is calling for the suspension on logging in Bellingen Shire and regions suffering extreme bushfire threat until the following occur: 1. The immediate threat of bushfires subsides within the region 2. Rainfall of 160-200mm across the region is received to support the effort to stop the current fires. It is council's understanding that this is the estimated required rainfall to manage the fire risk as provided by the Rural Fire Service). 3. An assessment of the impact the fires have had on koala habitat and endangered plant communities is conducted by qualified professionals 4. The number of koalas and endangered plant communities lost to fires are quantified. In March 2018 council considered a notice of motion expressing concern about budget, staff cuts and restructures taking place within the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the risk this presents to the economy, visitor safety, public amenity and the environment. Council has also endorsed in principle the establishment of the Great Koala National Park and committed funding to the development of a business case to garner government support. The main objective of The Great Koala National Park is to protect koalas and their habitat through adding an additional 175,000ha of native state forests across the Mid North Coast to existing protected areas, significantly enhancing and protecting the natural environment. Also, at its October 23 meeting, Bellingen Shire Council voted to support the Kalang Headwaters Nature Reserve Proposal, which aims to protect the health of the Kalang and Bellinger Rivers and its iconic forests by preventing industrial logging in the headwaters of the Kalang River and remaining areas of the Bellinger River not yet protected in national parks or nature reserves. The Headwaters Nature Reserve Proposal was developed by the Friends of the Kalang Headwaters in collaboration with the Bellingen Environment Centre, Kalang River Forest Alliance, National Parks Association of NSW and a significant number of concerned members of our community. "There are already more than 3,500 signatures on the petition to the NSW Parliament supporting the Headwaters Nature Reserve proposal, which is a strong indication that there is widespread community support in our shire, the region and beyond to protect this area from industrial logging," Cr King said. Council has made representations to the Premier, The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, the NSW Environment Minister, The Hon. Matt Kean MP and our local State Member, The Hon. Melinda Pavey in its endeavours to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and protection of our world heritage listed forests. Cr King pointed to the strong community-driven campaign opposing Forestry Corporation's plans to log compartments in the Kalang headwaters and the importance of protecting the areas significant biodiversity. "We have a responsibility to protect our local natural environment, and by preserving the health of our rivers, valleys and forests we will ensure that our shire continues to remain a unique and important habitat for endangered wildlife and plant communities."
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/janene.carey/230d9334-a2b6-4697-bcab-7d9a27215805.jpg/r0_767_4016_3036_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
November 27 2019 - 10:22AM
Bellingen Shire's mayor calls for moratorium on logging during fire emergency
Cr Dominic King, mayor of Bellingen Shire
Bellingen Shire Council Mayor, Cr Dominic King, is calling for the state government to place a moratorium on logging until the fire emergency is over and there is time to assess the forestry estate.
Cr King said loss and fragmentation of habitat is recognised as a key threat for endangered species and as such highlights the importance of protecting our remaining forests.
"This region's unique forests are recognised as one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and with more than 150,000 hectares of forest burned in these unprecedented fires in and around our shire we cannot afford to lose any more environmentally significant habitat."
With the continued devastation from the Spring 2019 bushfire season and loss of critical habitat and koalas across the mid north coast, Mayor Dominic King is calling for the suspension on logging in Bellingen Shire and regions suffering extreme bushfire threat until the following occur:
1. The immediate threat of bushfires subsides within the region
2. Rainfall of 160-200mm across the region is received to support the effort to stop the current fires. It is council's understanding that this is the estimated required rainfall to manage the fire risk as provided by the Rural Fire Service).
3. An assessment of the impact the fires have had on koala habitat and endangered plant communities is conducted by qualified professionals
4. The number of koalas and endangered plant communities lost to fires are quantified.
Other measures taken to protect world-heritage forests
In March 2018 council considered a notice of motion expressing concern about budget, staff cuts and restructures taking place within the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the risk this presents to the economy, visitor safety, public amenity and the environment.
Council has also endorsed in principle the establishment of the Great Koala National Park and committed funding to the development of a business case to garner government support. The main objective of The Great Koala National Park is to protect koalas and their habitat through adding an additional 175,000ha of native state forests across the Mid North Coast to existing protected areas, significantly enhancing and protecting the natural environment.
Also, at its October 23 meeting, Bellingen Shire Council voted to support the Kalang Headwaters Nature Reserve Proposal, which aims to protect the health of the Kalang and Bellinger Rivers and its iconic forests by preventing industrial logging in the headwaters of the Kalang River and remaining areas of the Bellinger River not yet protected in national parks or nature reserves.
The Headwaters Nature Reserve Proposal was developed by the Friends of the Kalang Headwaters in collaboration with the Bellingen Environment Centre, Kalang River Forest Alliance, National Parks Association of NSW and a significant number of concerned members of our community.
"There are already more than 3,500 signatures on the petition to the NSW Parliament supporting the Headwaters Nature Reserve proposal, which is a strong indication that there is widespread community support in our shire, the region and beyond to protect this area from industrial logging," Cr King said.
Council has made representations to the Premier, The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, the NSW Environment Minister, The Hon. Matt Kean MP and our local State Member, The Hon. Melinda Pavey in its endeavours to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and protection of our world heritage listed forests.
Cr King pointed to the strong community-driven campaign opposing Forestry Corporation's plans to log compartments in the Kalang headwaters and the importance of protecting the areas significant biodiversity.
"We have a responsibility to protect our local natural environment, and by preserving the health of our rivers, valleys and forests we will ensure that our shire continues to remain a unique and important habitat for endangered wildlife and plant communities."


I said to Steve Weiss, our resident artist and blacksmith, "Can you make me a piece for the front gate? I want it to express who we are and our passion for alpacas! Take your time, I'm in no hurry because I'm happy to wait for your inspiration.".
A few months later we ran into Steve at the local shop and he told me he had his inspiration and did I have any pictures that he could look at. Steve had never seen an alpaca up close in real life. I happened to have an alpaca magazine with me on that day and handed it to him to take home.
A few weeks after that meeting, we ran into Steve again at the local shop and he announced that he had made a start on the piece and invited us to go down to his amazing open air gallery to have a look at it. We were busy that day so didn't make it there for a few days. As we walked part way down Steve's driveway, I was stopped in my tracks. There standing in his workshop was this stunning alpaca, meticulously carved out of a large piece of steel plate. I was struck with awe at the beauty of this piece that said everything I wanted to express in a simple shape. Better still, Steve, from an engineering perspective added a cria to physically balance the piece. But it told the whole story in this beautiful piece of art and captured the spirit of a dam and her cria.
I told Steve that he had achieved the spirit and marvelled how he was able to come up with the design. To further enhance the story, Steve channelled the Peru Incas and painted it gold.
Heartfelt thanks for all their help and enthusiasm to Steve & Janka Weiss, Steve & Fiona Henley, Josh Hartmann, Michael & Sandra Tyshing and of course their amazing daughters.


As an occasional performer at the excellent Buxton Word Wizards poetry slam group, I was asked if I'd like to contribute some limericks to an exhibition, set up to mark Sir Edward Lear's bicentennial. The plan was to display two hundred original and new limericks in the beautiful dome at the University of Derby's Buxton Campus. The exhibition opens today and is open to the public (free entry) until 11th August. I believe four of my limericks are in there somewhere and I'll be setting off for Buxton as soon as possible to see if I can spot them, oh and to read the other 196, of course.


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5 of the best electric cars to suit every budget
Looking to make the move to an electric vehicle? Check out our pick of 5 of the best electric cars to suit every budget
Written by Verity Hogan Wed, 06 Jan 2021
With a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars due to take effect in the UK in 2030, the demand for electric cars looks set to surge in the next few years.
So, if you're considering going green with your next set of wheels, here are five of the best electric cars to suit every budget:
For performance: the Tesla Model S
Tesla is probably the first brand that springs to mind when you think electric car. The Model S was Tesla's first mass-market all-electric car and launched in 2012.
But despite being a veteran in the industry, it still performs. With two electric motors, all four wheels are driven through a single-speed transmission and the P100D offers 0-62mph in less than 2.5 seconds. You can also expect to get over 200 miles from a single charge and Tesla has one of the most comprehensive charging networks in the world.
The Tesla Model S is at the pricier end of the electric car market, but you can find used models for under £40,000.
For value for money: the Nissan Leaf
Looking for something that's less likely to break the bank? The Nissan Leaf is much more affordable (especially a used model) and was awarded Car of the Year at the 2019 Stuff Gadget Awards.
Thanks to its 50kW CHAdeMO rapid Charger, the Leaf charges from 20% to 80% in just 60 minutes. And there are models to suit different driving styles. The 168-mile range Leaf is great for city driving while the 239-mile range Leaf e+ can cope with longer commutes.
When new, the Nissan Leaf retails at £29,790 but second-hand options are available, starting at just £8000.
For high-end reliability: the BMW i3
Small but mighty, the BMW i3 offers the German manufacturer's inherent style and reliability in an all-electric package. It goes the distance too; getting between 182 and 188 miles from a full charge and there are over 14,000 UK charging stations to make it convenient as well as eco-friendly.
Its eco-credentials are impressive: 27 used plastic bottles go into every car as part of the seats and doors, natural materials are used instead of petroleum-based plastics, and the BMW plant in Leipzig runs entirely on renewable wind power.
New models start at £39,690 but you can find used models for half that price.
For versatility: the Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Road trip anyone? The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is a great all-rounder with space for all the family. With a driving range of up to 193 miles, it can work for daily commutes and longer journeys, and the touch screen entertainment screen will keep the kids entertained. It's been designed with the driver in mind and the standard models offer a host of bonus features including heated seats and steering wheel and dual zone climate control when the weather heats up.
Bluetooth technology also means you can schedule your charging times and set your desired interior temperature before you get in. So, your car can be defrosting on the drive while you finish your morning coffee. A full charge at home takes around 6 hours or just 57 minutes at a rapid charging station.
You can find used Hyundai Ioniq Electrics for around £18,000 while new models start at £30,950.
For smaller budgets: the Renault Zoe
If you're looking for a budget-friendly city car, the Renault Zoe could be the car for you. And despite its small size, it can cover big distances with a range of up to 245 miles on just one charge. Equipped with a 100kW motor, newer models offer 135 horsepower and 245Nm of torque, which means you can expect smooth acceleration on the motorway. The car will also update you on the energy you're consuming as you drive so that you can adjust features like the heating, air conditioning or max speed to help conserve power on the go.
A new Renault Zoe will start at £26,995 but used models (which may not have all the latest features) can be found for as little as £6,000.
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Verity Hogan
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Terrorism is becoming normal, and that will be its undoing
Fintan O'Toole: Attacks on civil society are futile. Humans have a great capacity to just carry on
Sun, Jun 4, 2017, 18:07
Fintan O'Toole
Workers around the London Bridge area talk about how they feel on their first day back in work after the weekend's events.
Police respond to the terror incident in London on Saturday night. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
After every terrorist outrage there is a renewed commitment from political leaders to defeat terrorism. But the underlying truth is that terrorism is self-defeating. It suffers the paradox of all forms of outrage: the more of it there is, the less effective it becomes. And for much of the world, terrorism is becoming normalised: it is part of the texture of contemporary life.
This is not, of course, to diminish the horror and sorrow of events like those in London on Saturday night or to dismiss the depravity of those responsible. Nor is to say that the people and networks who carry out these crimes do not need to be fought with every effective weapon that is compatible with the continued existence of an open democracy. But these attacks on civil society are futile, because there is nothing the terrorists can do about the human capacity to just carry on.
Perhaps the single most notorious phrase to have emerged from the Northern Ireland conflict was the claim by the British home secretary Reginald Maudling in 1971 that the situation in Ulster represented "an acceptable level of violence". Most people, quite rightly, found this language repellent, oozing a terrible smugness about suffering and death. But there was also an uncomfortable core of truth in Maudling's claim. No level of violence is or should ever be morally or politically acceptable – but societies do learn to live with a surprisingly high level of dread.
We know this very well in Ireland. The Troubles, after the initial shock, acquired an element of the surreal. The most shocking thing for foreigners visiting, say, Belfast in the long years of conflict was not the troops and armoured vehicles on the streets or the ever-present possibility of bombs or murders. It was the normality. Mundane reality was not displaced by the violence but continued alongside it.
Threat level from paramilitaries remains 'severe', Oireachtas told
Varadkar and world leaders to sign online anti-terror pledge
Bomb near Sufi shrine kills at least 10 in Pakistan's Lahore
This condition is not quite universal now, but it is becoming a common experience. Most contemporary people live in parallel mental universes. One universe is stable and steady and familiar. The other is full of horrors. We try to keep them apart because how else can we live? And this double-mindedness is not primarily a result of terrorism. It's just the way human existence is. We all know that terrible things can happen to us at any moment, even in the most peaceful and secure societies. Illnesses and accidents are always waiting to claim us and our loved ones. Death is always at the edge of our peripheral vision – always has been and always will be.
It's because this is just part of the human condition that people are able to deploy it in the face of terrorist atrocities. When attacks like the London one happen, journalists and politicians reach for words like heroic and courageous to describe the determination of ordinary people to carry on with their lives. But it's not heroic: it's just human. We are compartmentalising creatures. If we were not, we would be so consumed by anxiety that we could not function at all.
So the terrorists are not really up against the heroism of mundane life. They are up against its very mundanity. This quality is not very nice. It involves a hell of a lot of forgetting, the deployment of a defensive force field that keeps away the knowledge of what we hear and read and see. It makes us collude with oblivion: all but those who were personally affected by Saturday night's atrocity will have blanked out the names and faces and the mutilated bodies within months, even weeks. This is not something to be proud of, but it is the way we survive.
We need both to fight against this tendency and to embrace it. The fight against it is partly a matter of language: the dead deserve better from us than the deadening cliches that we roll out again and again – monsters, insane, cowardly, heroic, courageous. They do not deserve knee-jerk political responses that demonise suspect communities or inadvertently collude with the killers in undermining the values of an open society.
But we also have to acknowledge the plain fact of resilience. The stuff that people tend to say in the aftermath of an atrocity – that London, Manchester, Madrid, Paris, Brussels or New York will never be the same again – is well meant. But it's not true. And saying it only feeds the narcissistic delusions of the terrorists. It is what they want to believe, and believing it justifies in the zealot's overheated mind the cruelties he inflicts. The truth is that places recover with shocking alacrity. Even after the megaterror of 9/11, New York quickly went back to being New York.
It's much, much harder to terrorise a population into submission than official and unofficial purveyors of mass violence always think it is. Normality isn't a fixed state but a spectrum with a remarkably wide range. Terrorists are contemptible for many reasons, but one of them is the stupidity of not knowing this. They try to magnify themselves with epic acts of cruelty. In the end they are diminished and defeated by the strange ability of human beings to step around the pools of blood, keep going and forget.
Reginald Maudling
Manchester(GB)
Sri Lankan security forces on high alert for potential further attacks
Sri Lankan authorities received detailed warning 12 days before attack
Death toll in Sri Lanka bombings revised down by about 100
Defence Forces chief on a mission to modernise
Father and son who fled Syria buried after Christchurch shooting
New Zealand shootings: Hate weaponised to go viral
Frenchman jailed for life for first Isis attack in Europe
As the threat of terror increases throughout Europe and the world read the latest news, opinion and analysis as it happens here


WASHINGTON — A Texas elector said Monday that enough is enough — he will not cast his vote for President-elect Donald Trump as part of the Electoral College process on December 19.
Christopher Suprun, a paramedic from Texas who served as a firefighter during the Sept. 11 attacks, wrote in an editorial published in The New York Times that even though he is a Republican elector, he will not vote for Trump.
Suprun will cast his vote along with the other electors (538 in total) from every state and the District of Columbia on December 19 as part of the Electoral College process.
Suprun ends the editorial by saying that the electors still have a chance to unify behind a Republican alternative such as Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Along with Suprun, 36 other electors planning to vote for Trump would have to abandon their vote for him — which is almost beyond the realm of possibility. Even if Suprun doesn't cast his vote for Trump, Trump is headed toward the 270 votes he needs to become president in January.
"He does not encourage civil discourse, but chooses to stoke fear and create outrage," Suprun wrote in the editorial.
Suprun added that Trump's actions, such as saying "Russia should hack Hillary Clinton's emails" and urging "violence against protesters at his rallies during the campaign" show that he is not qualified to be president.
He also wrote about how the advisers Trump surrounds himself with, including retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn for National Security Adviser and Steve Bannon, a former Breitbart executive named to a senior adviser position, are not positive influences on him.


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Paralympic medallist shows Lottie Doll the best curling techniques as part of Women's Engineering Society campaign
Astrid Prado
Thornliebank
aprado@star-ref.co.uk
Aileen Neilson, a Paralympic bronze medallist and current captain of the Team GB curling team, joined forces with Star Refrigeration to encourage young girls to pursue a career in engineering
#LottieTour entered its third year this month, visiting locations across the UK to showcase the work of engineers in action. Initiated by the Women's Engineering Society (WES), the campaign features a relatable children's doll – Lottie- who drops in to various engineering organisations in a bid to encourage young girls to consider a career in the industry.
As part of the tour, Lottie visited long-term supporter of the WES's efforts, Star Refrigeration, a leading manufacturer in the UK industrial refrigeration and heat pump sector. Joining Star's engineering team at their headquarters in Glasgow, Lottie learned about their work and was photographed in a diverse range of engineering environments. But, the highlight of Lottie's visit was meeting with Paralympic Bronze Medallist Aileen Neilson at Stirling's curling academy -The Peak-, where the Paralympic and Olympian teams trained ahead of the games.
Aileen shared her insights on how refrigeration engineering had contributed towards delivering the perfect stone at the Paralympic games while she waited for the rest of her curling team to arrive for a group training session. Aileen said, "The team that conquers the ice is the winner. Contrary to common believe, it is the ice and not a country that it is my greatest opposition. It's the team that gets to grips with the speed of the ice and the swing of the ice that's the one who will come out on top."
Not only have Star been instrumental in delivering the top-quality ice necessary for Aileen and her teammates to perfect their technique at the curling rink, but the opportunities they provide for females looking to pursue a career in the industry are ones which any youngster should grab with both hands according to Aileen. For those who might be reluctant to become an engineer because of the stigma associated with it as a 'male' career, Aileen pointed to her own success.
Aileen said, "I would definitely encourage any girl. I was the first female to lead the wheelchair curling team and now that I've done it, there are lots of other females following suit. You can lead the way and inspire and motivate others to do the same. So be the first and don't let anyone tell you it's not possible, because it is". Aileen's personal motto is sage advice for young girls in all walks of life. As she puts it, if any questions remained about what girls can do,"Wish it, dream it, do it".
Star's business development manager Anne Flanagan was also onsite to meet Lottie and Aileen and she highlighted the often-underappreciated importance of engineering to every aspect of our daily routines. "Engineering is vital to our modern way of life - medicines, the internet and beer would all not exist without the work of refrigeration engineers and this is just one sector of the engineering industry," she said.
Of the #LottieTour campaign in general, Anne was optimistic that it could make a real difference to gender stereotypes and the changing face of the engineering industry. "The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineers in Europe and we hope to change that through campaigns such as this. I had never met Aileen until now, but her words have inspired me and I hope that young girls feel the same way."
In total, more than 150 volunteers have participated in Lottie's third annual tour, which has taken in such exotic international locations as Dubai, Finland and the USA. Closer to home, she has visited a multitude of engineering companies in Britain, including Star Refrigeration, the National Grid, Aston Martin and Balfour Beatty.
Those interested in becoming involved in next year's campaign – which will mark the centenary of the WES's foundation – are advised to contact the WES Young Members' Board at ymb@wes.org.uk. Meanwhile, Lottie's exploits from this year can be viewed during Tomorrow's Engineers Week (5-9 November 2018) by searching #LottieTour on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or following @YMB1919 and @Lottie_dolls on Twitter.
For more information on Star Refrigeration's involvement in the development of the UK's first National Curling Academy – The Peak- visit /case-studies/stirling-curling-rink-uk%E2%80%99s-first-national-curling-academy.aspx