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Putin and Chubais Move to Clean House
- By Alla Startseva
- May. 15 2003 00:00
But with parliamentary and presidential elections now just months away, the country's political and corporate elite are starting to take notice of what may be the most important and politically sensitive campaign issue of them all -- the national housing sector.
The issue of preserving, let alone improving, so-called communal systems -- the maintenance and repair of buildings and the supply of basic services such as water, electricity, heat, gas, sewage and garbage -- has been ignored for decades.
But not any more.
On Thursday, senior government officials, lawmakers, captains of industry and providers of communal services will convene for a two-day forum titled "Reforming the Housing Sector 2003 -- Time for Making Strategic Decisions."
Putin lit a fire under the government last month, calling for urgent action on housing reform and scolding officials for what he called the "social tensions" that are emerging from "the lack of elementary order" in the sector. The president said he was shocked when he discovered just how bad things really are: "I was stunned when I was told that electricity is being supplied by verbal agreement, absolutely on a whim."
Lawmakers were quick to sense the urgency and exploit the issue politically, calling Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to the floor of the State Duma to explain what he planned to do about the crumbling, corrupt and debt-ridden industry, which directly affects nearly every person in the country and employs 3.6 million people who earn on average less than $90 per month.
The solution, Kasyanov said, is to introduce competition into the sector by taking it out of the government's hands in order to create a "real business project out of a black hole."
"The concentration of all the public's pains," Kasyanov told the Cabinet, "is connected to the housing sector. This is the most sensitive reform."
But while the government is not yet ready to turn the entire sector over to private firms, it is willing to let a consortium of powerful businesses -- led by the two most influential of them all, state-controlled monopolies Unified Energy Systems and Gazprom -- share the burden, and profit it from it if it can.
In what sounds eerily similar to the scandalous loans-for-shares deals of the mid-1990s, which temporarily bailed the government out of a fiscal hole while simultaneously enriching a clutch of well-connected insiders, UES, Gazprom and a handful of private companies, including Vladimir Potanin's giant Interros holding, have been given the green light to take control of vast swathes of housing infrastructure in exchange for assuming responsibility for communal services in regions where that infrastructure exists.
The potential pitfalls are enormous -- but so are the potential profits. Public and private expenditures on communal services last year totaled more than $17 billion. However, where huge chunks of that money end up is largely anyone's guess under the current system.
UES and Gazprom say streamlining the industry will allow it to recoup the billions of dollars owed to it by current communal services providers. They also expect it to turn into a moneymaker.
Anatoly Chubais
Enter Chubais
Led by Anatoly Chubais, the loans-for-shares architect who now heads UES, the consortium, called Russian Communal Systems, is confident it can succeed where the government has failed, making the venture profitable enough to encourage investment in the sector. UES and Gazprom, in particular, stand the most to gain, as they hope to recoup billions of dollars owed to the sector by current communal systems providers by streamlining the massive bureaucratic machine in which they operate.
All that is needed, Chubais says, is to decrease theft, cut expenses and install better management. "We will put everything in basic order. Our team is able to manage this task," Chubais told reporters when he unveiled his plan in March.
Chubais' confidence is reflected by the amount of money RCS says it will invest in the project -- up to $500 million -- but half a billion dollars is just a fraction of what will eventually be needed. Experts say the industry has been underfinanced by about $2 billion per year over the past decade, and even the government admits that modernization will cost more than $15 billion.
Take heating for example. According to a recent study by the presidential administration's auditing directorate, 73 percent of boilers and 65 percent of all pipe networks in apartment blocks are "depleted," resulting in as much as 60 percent of all residential heat supplies being wasted.
The Kremlin's financial watchdog also found that:
the number of malfunctions has increased fivefold over the last decade.
the national heating network suffered more than 1,500 failures last winter alone, a 20 percent increase on the year resulting in 75 "major" crises in 38 regions.
for every 100 kilometers in the heating network there were on average 200 ruptures or other incidents requiring repairs last year.
And that's just heat. Equally crucial -- and decrepit -- is the water system. For example, more than a third of all the water supplied to households is officially considered "unhealthy," according to government estimates, while water waste due to faulty pipes is about 40 percent, or nearly three times the average for developed nations.
"The ineffective management of housing and utilities services and a lack of coordinated measures at the regional and federal levels are the main reasons behind the crisis in the sector," the presidential auditors said on the Kremlin's official web site, www.kremlin.ru. "Creating the legislative basis, ensuring financial stability, budget support, tariff policy and the formation of a services market in the sector remain uncoordinated."
The Money Disappears
What is needed, the Kremlin watchdog said, is a new law on housing reform to create the legal mechanisms for competition.
The government tried this approach in 1993, but made little progress, save for grouping municipal housing and utilities departments into regional units. The sector never became competitive because the newly created regional companies retained control at the municipal level while federal and regional budgets continued to subsidize them.
But in a classic series of hide-the-budget-money moves, nearly all of the regional companies' municipal departments have changed their names and locations numerous times over the last five years, making them virtually impossible to collect debts from, let alone control.
The total bill for consumer services last year came to 554 billion rubles ($17.7 billion), about 60 percent of which was paid by residential customers, while federal and regional budgets covered about 30 percent, leaving some 60 billion rubles in cross-debts between customers, suppliers and middlemen.
What's more, the federal government says a large portion of these budget funds are either stolen or misused by municipal authorities, meaning local communal service providers rarely see a kopek for their services. As a result, the government says, 70 percent of all communal services companies are bankrupt and collectively owe more than 3.5 billion rubles in back wages. (In some regions, like Kamchatka, communal service workers haven't been paid since last summer.)
The debt maze has resulted in consumers' owing communal services providers about $6 billion, while the providers owe about $9 billion to energy suppliers, mainly UES, Gazprom and coal companies.
Cleaning House
With the system spinning out of control, housing specialists say it is clear that something must be done quickly, which is why the government, having failed in the task, is turning to Chubais, as it has in the past when faced with a seemingly impossible task, to begin cleaning house.
The UES CEO is starting at the regional level, where 11 administrations -- Chelyabinsk, Kirov, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Omsk, Orenburg, Perm, Rostov, Saratov and Volgograd -- have already agreed to turn over control of their housing service units to RCS.
Improvements, however, will likely neither be quick nor easy. Other regions, such as the vast northwestern republic of Komi, have tried to introduce competition into their communal services industry, but without success.
Komi's capital, Syktyvkar, organized a tender several years ago to manage one of the city's housing services companies, but the administration didn't like the winner, so the idea was simply abandoned, said Nadezhda Kulik, deputy head of the city's housing services who has worked in the sector for 18 years.
Kulik said that if the situation in Syktyvkar is anything to go by, Chubais and his RCS consortium will have their hands full. "The local administration doesn't allocate any repair equipment, transportation, uniforms or instruments. Workers have nothing with which to remove snow or fix anything," she said.
"Out infrastructure is ruined. Work is only done in an emergency, when a pipe finally bursts. It is becoming worse and worse every year," she said, adding that workers' morale couldn't be worse. Most of her employees, she said, applied for the job as a last resort: "The work is the least prestigious and the salaries, which are ridiculous, are not paid for months."
Nadezhda Kosareva, president of the Moscow-based Institute for Urban Economics, said the situation is the same throughout the nation.
The system is literally communist -- created by communists under communism -- and it hasn't changed a bit legally, she said.
"All the relationships within the sector were built on administrative principles, not economic principles. That is why it is impossible to describe the structure of the sector from an economic point of view."
A Soviet Maze
By law, local authorities alone are responsible for communal services. The federal government can only pass vaguely worded laws that are little more than recommendations to municipalities.
"Due to the differentiation of powers, municipal authorities are not obliged to obey federal laws concerning the housing sector," said Kosareva.
And those federal laws that directly affect the sector and that local governments must adhere to only make matters worse for the most part.
Last year, for example, parliament passed a law to increase salaries for teachers and state health care specialists without allocating additional funds for local administrations to pay them. As a result, local authorities either funded the wage hikes from the housing sector or simply chose not to increase salaries.
The whole system seems custom built for corruption.
Here's how it works: municipal authorities are not allowed by law to manage communal properties themselves, so they are obliged to create a management company to take over all rights and responsibilities for those properties. But once that happens it becomes virtually impossible to take back these properties, even if a management company runs afoul of the local administration, because it can hold on to that property as long as it wants.
The catch is that the head of the municipal government has the power to hire and fire the director of the local management company, thus controlling the company's money flows.
Now, just as communal services workers have no incentive to work, these management companies have no incentive to square their accounts. It makes no sense to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against them because legally their assets are considered "socially significant," meaning they cannot be sold in any liquidation proceeding.
The bottom line is that nearly all of these companies are bankrupt even though they can never be declared so.
"In addition to corruption in the sector, there is complete muddle -- both financially and legally," Kosareva said.
Jolting the Status Quo
When Moscow allocates money to municipal administrations for their annual budget, that money is not earmarked, meaning local authorities can spend it on things it isn't intended for. (That is why it is not uncommon to see employees of the local water company decorating the streets with flags on national holidays instead of fixing broken pipes.)
For municipalities, which act as the supplier, middleman, customer and inspector all at once, the status quo is just fine.
"Tariffs [and thus revenues] grow every year, the Finance Ministry allocates funds, but it all disappears somewhere," said Kulik from Syktyvkar.
Another disincentive for communal services providers to streamline their operations is that tariffs are set based on how much it costs to provide a service.
Although housing and public utilities tariffs, which are controlled at the regional level by special commissions, rose 20.7 percent in the first quarter of the year, or 3 1/2 times faster than inflation, service companies generally make no effort to reduce expenses by modernizing because the regional energy commission would react by reducing tariffs and thus their revenues.
This is the main reason private companies have no interest in the sector -- there is no way to guarantee a return on their investment.
Another reason is the lack of property rights. Investors need guarantees that they can manage assets on a long-term basis to make any investment worthwhile, but the government has thus far refused to adopt a law on concessions that would strengthen renters' rights.
Most developed countries have some kind of concessions law, and the result is more efficiency, which usually results in a 30 percent drop in expenses, said Natalya Orlova, chief economist at Alfa Bank.
Orlova said that in Western countries, where tariff policies are predictable and property rights are strong, communal services is one of the least risky and most profitable areas of the economy. Energy giants E.ON and Ruhrgas, for example, have managed to successfully provide communal services in Germany.
Playing Monopoly
RCS will officially be registered this month with a charter capital of $40 million. UES and Gazprom, through its pocket bank Gazprombank, will each own a 25 percent stake while the rest will be evenly split among the other five members of the consortium -- Interros, Renova, Evrofinance bank, YevrazHolding and Kuzbassrazrezugol. RCS plans to establish regional subsidiaries in which it will hold stakes ranging from 100 percent to 25 percent.
The idea is to convince local mayors to turn over, say, all the heating infrastructure of his or her town for 10 years or so in exchange for a promise to provide stable heat supplies and maintain and modernize the infrastructure. The catch is that municipal authorities do not have the power to set tariffs for non-city-owned companies, so for the project to be profitable for RCS the consortium must be able to convince regional energy commissions, which are controlled by regional governors, to set tariffs at a level to its liking.
"UES and Gazprom have the political power to work around the system," Orlova said.
It's a simple formula for success: strong political ties, good crisis management and financial clout -- RCS has all of these and can quickly cut costs and turn a profit in the sector in a given region, Orlova said.
The Political Payoff
Energy analysts who track UES and Gazprom say the whole idea of creating RCS likely originated in the Kremlin, which wants to avoid recurring winter heating crises that have claimed hundreds of lives over the last few years -- especially with the presidential election just 10 months away.
It would also give Putin greater control of the regions, as any weakening of the power of municipal authorities gives the Kremlin a chance to strengthen its control of the regions, strengthening the so-called power vertical. It is easier for Putin to come to terms with Chubais than thousands of local chiefs.
But Putin isn't the only one who stands to gain.
"Improving the housing sector is in the interest of both Putin and Chubais," said Orlova.
Conquering the housing sector while overseeing the world's largest electricity company would give Chubais unprecedented political power.
In addition, rebuilding the national power sector offers Chubais, who has been dubbed the most-hated man in Russia for his past privatization shenanigans, something of a last chance to put a shine on his tarnished historical record, and the housing sector represents the last mile of that quest.
Kosareva of the Institute for Urban Economics said that if the RCS project can succeed in a few regions, Chubais could regain the people's trust and get them to believe in his pro-market reform mantra again.
Dmitry Orlov, deputy head of the Center for Political Technologies, called the housing sector "the last enclave where Chubais can improve his image as a reformer because no one has tried to reform the sector before."
"If Chubais can manage to turn the sector around, he will wash away his image of a poor privatization master forever," Orlov said, adding, however, that he doubts Chubais will succeed.
But if he does, it would be a fitting accomplishment for the man who essentially created the oligarchs as a class and drove perhaps the final nail in the coffin of communism in the process.
"The housing sector is the only untouched socialist industry left in the country, and all the political parties cherish and care for it because it gives them a wide area for populist activity," Kosareva said.


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Davos dynamics: from talk to action?
If you were to check the diaries of leaders from around the world, mid-January is likely to be marked by one word: "Davos".
It wasn't always like this. In contrast to the 3,000 plus delegates from 90 different countries expected at this year's event, the first – in 1971 – was attended by only a few hundred people. They were there on the invitation of the event's founder, Klaus Schwab, a German economics professor who had recently returned from a year at Harvard and wanted to share his experiences and newly acquired knowledge of American management techniques.
Two years later it started to consider global economic and social issues, with the first political leaders invited. In 1987 it changed its name from the European Management Forum to the World Economic Forum, and its annual conference was well enough known to be referred to simply as "Davos".
As the prestige of the conference grew, more politicians, thought leaders and celebrities began attending the event. Today, it attracts a veritable who's who list of politicians, business people, philanthropists, celebrities and athletes.
Leading on leadership?
Following on from last year's theme of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution", Davos 2017 will be focusing on "Responsive and Responsible Leadership". According to the conference organisers, this means: "Responsive and responsible leadership requires recognising that frustration and discontent are increasing in the segments of society that are not experiencing economic development and social progress. Their situation will only become more uncertain with the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on future employment".
It's a theme set to be picked up by the week's headline speaker, Xi Jinping, who will become the first Chinese president ever to attend Davos and will be participating in a plenary session on "inclusive globalisation". While he is likely to gain much of the spotlight, the agenda over the week offers plenty of opportunities for other leaders to make their mark: US Vice President Joe Biden will make a brief appearance to discuss his initiative to eradicate cancer, British Prime Minister Theresa May will make what is billed as a "special address" and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde will contribute to a session on "A positive narrative for the global community". These are just a few examples – there are plenty more.
For Klaus Schwab, though, the week's discussions are underpinned by the urgent need to find solutions to the multitude of challenges which adorn today's political landscape. "The world is fundamentally transforming technologically, economically, socially and politically," he writes in his pre-event blog. "The ongoing transformation needs to be shaped by appropriate policies and institutions. There are no simple, ready-made solutions. What we urgently need are pragmatic and future-oriented actions, even in the form of small steps, to provide positive narratives."
Oxfam's Winnie Byanyima agrees that urgency is a pre-requisite but, by contrast, is thinking big in her drive to end inequality. She writes: "Governments lead, but so do the super-rich, many of whom are gathering in Davos. Together they have a pivotal role to play in creating a world where we can all be fortunate and not just the few. Yes, that does mean redistribution. Governments should end the extreme concentration of wealth in order to end poverty. This means tackling tax dodging, but also increasing taxes on wealth and high incomes to ensure a more level playing field and generate the billions of dollars needed to invest in healthcare, education and job creation."
There is no doubt that Davos will once again garner numerous headlines, tweets, blogs and news reports over the next few days. That's a given. What will be more interesting is if practical solutions emerge from the forthcoming discussions, solutions that can have a real impact on citizens worldwide. Watch this space.
- How governments can governments meet the challenges of today – and tomorrow. It's not easy for governments to achieve positive results, admit Sir Michael Barber and Dr Melanie Walker – but it can be done. They explain how
- It's all about impact. Governments need to rethink and reset their approach to delivery, suggests Larry Kamener
- Data to delivery. Former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor, Martin O'Malley, tells us about a new approach to governance and delivery
- The God Revolution. Public impact is easier said than done, admits former UK Cabinet Secretary Lord Gus O'Donnell, who explains why impact is rarely viewed as a key priority among policymakers
- Voices of delivery. A selection of government delivery leaders reveal how they seek to implement policy proposals

subset: commoncrawl


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And in the case of the "test" in question, rust was not an issue.
No amount of chrome will mitigate the issues experienced. If there were enough debris to prevent extraction, it wouldn't have chambered fully in the first place.
Chrome doesn't magically make ammunition chamber past heavy fouling or debris and then allow extraction whereas a non-chrome chamber wouldn't.


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Ultrasound too early?
anyone else go in too early for an ultrasound? Went in at 6 weeks based on my period but the sac is measuring 5 weeks 4 days so can't make out much except small smudge inside it. I think I did ovulate like 3 days later than you would w a 28 day cycle so makes sense - hoping when I go back in a week will see a heartbeat! Anyone else go in too early?


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El Cajon police arrest man, recover gun, after brief foot chase
El Cajon police officers chased and arrested a man who they believe robbed a man at gunpoint Tuesday morning, police said.
Someone called 911 shortly before 7 a.m. to report a robbery on Orlando Street, north of Main Street, El Cajon police Lt. Eric Taylor said.
Less than 15 minutes later, officers spotted someone matching the robber's description near First Street and East Madison Avenue, said police Lt. Rob Ransweiler.
Officers went to contact the suspect but he took off running, the lieutenant said. After a short pursuit, the man was arrested without incident.
Police recovered the victim's personal property and a gun, and the victim identified the suspect, Ransweiler said.
The 22-year-old man, who police said was a transient, was booked into jail on suspicion of robbery, resisting a peace officer and violating his parole.
City News Service contributed to this report.


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Park EZ - Tucson Airport TUS- SOLD OUT
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Operation Hours
The parking lot and your vehicle is accessible 24/7
Arrival Info
After many years serving the community, Park EZ is no longer operating at 6627 S Tucson Blvd.
A great new operator has come into the market and will offer a great resource for the community, and we wish them luck in the years ahead.
Thank you to all our customers who have supported this local business for over 50 years.
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FREE transportation to and from all terminals.
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Tuscon's Park EZ (formerly Park N Fly) offers parking close to Tucson Airport. This location is open 24 hours a day and offers free transportation to and from all the terminals at TUS. The shuttles run every 3-5 minutes and you will receive assistance with your luggage, also for no extra charge. The cost of parking at Park EZ is very competitive. Park EZ also offers car care services, a free car wash, free bottled water, free newspapers, and they run the Frequent Parker Bonus Program. Self Park customers are asked to stop at the desk to register, park your car and the shuttle will pick you up at your car and assist with your luggage. On your return to TUS please wait for the shuttle outside Baggage Claim at the Shuttle Stop or call 520-746-3133.
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- TransWorld Skate
Ted can finally can skate again. And because of it, he's been loving all the clips he's been getting. Does his bitterness have to do with the fact that he hasn't been able to skate? Does it piss you off when he describes his mediocre backside tailslides and compares them actual "good"skating. Consider yourself lucky! Ted is back. Press play.


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Big hearted members of staff from Specsavers in Hamilton battled it out on giant inflatables in a fun event – and their sporting prowess helped raise hundreds of pounds for St Andrew's Hospice.
Group of 10
A team from the Quarry Street store took part in It's A Knockout at Strathclyde Park at the start of May. And through sponsorship and donations, the group of 10 raised £1,000 for the cause.
The team took top spot in their category, fighting off competition from five other businesses.
A word from our store director
Specsavers Hamilton store director Emma Foster said: 'The event was great fun and everyone in the team really put their heart and soul into all the challenges.
'We're very proud to have raised such a fantastic amount for the hospice and I hope that the money will make a big difference to individuals and families who are battling cancer.'


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EVERTON striker Louis Saha has been called up to the France squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Belarus and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Les Bleus coach Laurent Blanc has opted for Saha, while Lorient frontman Kevin Gameiro is named for the first time as the French prepare for the double-header next month, taking on Belarus on September 3 and Bosnia four days later.
The striker, who has played 18 times for his country and scored four times, notched his first goal of the season in Everton's 5-1 victory over Huddersfield Town at Goodison on Wednesday night.


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Below are some random thoughts on this coming Sunday's message. We hope they create a little time in your day to reflect on the journey of faith and life. If they spur any thoughts, quotes, or experiences, please share them. God moves among us as we share with each other.
Imagine that you purchased an old sofa at Salvation Army for $20. When you get it home, you discover that it has wads of $100 bills stuffed inside--$40,000 in total! What would you do?


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Terrorist violations of the Genva Conventions
By ignoring these violations the media continues to act as an aider and abettor of these violations of the Genvea Conventions and the rules of war. Its acts of willful ignorance to the violations should continue to be challenged by the blogs and people in the media like Malkin. When are people like Howard Kurtz going to take on this fraudulant reporting?
What kind of cold-blooded thugs use ambulances as killing aids or propaganda tools? Islamic terrorists, of course, have an unsurpassed history of using emergency vehicles as tools of their murderous trade. International charities and media dupes have gone along for the ride.
In March 2002, Israeli Defense Forces discovered a bomb in a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance near Jerusalem. The bomb, packed in a suicide belt, was hidden under a gurney carrying a Palestinian child. The driver confessed that it was not the first time ambulances had been used to ferry explosives.
Female suicide bomber Wafa Idris, who blew herself up in a January 2002 attack in Jerusalem, was a medical secretary for the PRCS. Her recruiter was an ambulance driver for the same organization, which receives support from governments worldwide and the American and International Red Cross.
As I reported in May 2004, an Israeli television station aired footage of armed Arab terrorists in southern Gaza using an ambulance owned and operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) -- which has received more than $2.5 billion in taxpayer subsidies. Palestinian gunmen used the UN emergency vehicle as getaway transportation after murdering six Israeli soldiers. Senior UNRWA employee Nahed Rashid Ahmed Attalah confessed to using his official UN vehicle to bypass security and smuggle arms, explosives and terrorists to and from attacks. Nidal 'Abd al-Fataah 'Abdallah Nizal, a Hamas activist, worked as an UNRWA ambulance driver and admitted he, too, had used an emergency vehicle to transport munitions to terrorists.
Peter Hansen, the head of the UNRWA, huffily denied that its vehicles were being exploited by terrorists. But a few months later, he told Canada's CBC TV: "I am sure that there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll and I don't see that as a crime."
When they're not being used to ferry weapons, ambulances serve as major stage props for Hizballah news productions. I remind you again of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's description last month of Hizballah's ruse: "They had six ambulances lined up in a row and said, OK, you know, they brought reporters there, they said you can talk to the ambulance drivers. And then one by one, they told the ambulances to turn on their sirens and to zoom off, and people taking that picture would be reporting, I guess, the idea that these ambulances were zooming off to treat civilian casualties, when in fact, these ambulances were literally going back and forth down the street just for people to take pictures of them."
Keep all this context in mind -- and keep the summer's bombshell blog revelations of Photoshopped war fauxtography by Reuters and staged photos by other media outlets in mind--as we move on to the events of July 23. According to the Lebanon Red Cross, two of its ambulances were deliberately struck by weapons in Qana, Lebanon, while performing rescue missions. The international press, which has stubbornly ignored the prolonged exploitation of emergency vehicles by terrorists, immediately accused Israel of committing "war crimes."
Massive rust and corrosion around the hole suggest the damage may have occurred before the alleged strike. Moreover, a missile explosion inside an ambulance would not leave the rest of the vehicle as intact as the supposedly targeted ambulance remained. A paramedic quoted by several media organizations claimed a "big fire" engulfed the inside of the vehicle. But photos of the ambulance allegedly consumed by the fire showed gurneys and seats intact and minimal damage to the interior.
What is the response from all of the media hypers of the alleged Red Cross ambulance missile strike last month? The same response they've had to the jihadists' past ambulance hoaxes: Nothing.


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New Jersey Boy Scout Raises Shoes and Hopes for New Jersey's Poor
Corey De Leon is a young teen who has proven his understanding of the phrase "I am my brother's keeper". A member of the Northvale Boy Scout Troop 124, Corey has taken on the tremendous task of collecting 20,000 pairs of gently used and new shoes for the needy. Developed as a project to qualify for an Eagle Badge, Corey has managed to collect 11,000 pairs of shoes to date. Working with Dr. Dan Margolin of the Foot and Ankle Center in Oradell, NJ, Corey has accomplished what most would dismiss as impossible.
With the help of a shoe distributer in Teaneck, NJ, 4,500 pairs of new shoes have been donated to Project Homeless Connect events across the state. These shoes will be available to attendees of events in Bergen, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Ocean, Passaic, and Somerset counties.
A freshman at Northern Valley Regional High School, Corey has taken time out of his busy schedule of sports, music and classes to pound the pavement and come up with 11,000 pairs of shoes to donate to those in need. We applaud Corey in his efforts to make a difference. In the lives of so many, these small tokens can have a huge impact. Corey's work is an example of the power of one. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday this week, Corey reminds us that as individuals we have the power to do great things and our power to make change is magnified when we work together!


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text: Mixed Media painting of Girl running in her blues with purples and oranges of adventure. Made partly digital and partly by hand, used Epson Claria® Hi-Definition Inks and India Inks on Arches velin museum rag paper 315 g/m2. Matted 8" x 10" for final size of 11" x 14", plain white double mat.


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No entity has more influence over health care in Arkansas than the Arkansas Medical Society. If you are ready to take an active role in channeling that influence, consider running for the AMS Board of Trustees.
There are currently 38 District Trustees representing ten geographic areas of the state. Half of those positions are up for election/reelection every year. District Trustees are elected directly by AMS members in their respective district through a written and online ballot. Voting takes place from February 15 through February 29, 2020. The AMS Board of Trustees meets quarterly for approximately two hours.
Terms are for two years with a limit of four consecutive terms beginning May 2020. Winning candidates will be notified after March 1st and should be prepared to attend the AMS Annual Membership meeting on May 1st at the Doubletree Hotel in Little Rock.


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Pallet Stabilisation using adhesives provides a cost effective and safe means of transporting goods across different locations with efficient use of space. Palletising with adhesives provides a more stable load, preventing products moving on the pallet and therefore minimising product damage. Packaging and barcodes are not obstructed or damaged by adhesive and there is no moisture trapped as with foil or film. Using adhesives in pallet stabilisation significantly reduces shrink film and interlayer costs, and the cost of disposal/recycling is minimised.
We have a range of products available such as Technomelt X-47, which is a rubber based solution, and Technomelt 7220-21 PS, a non rubber solution. Contact Us for more information.


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Meg Manning currently works for the Children's Trust as the Director of Home Visiting Training and Professional Development. With an academic background in Child Development, Meg has extensive experience both working with young children and providing training on early education topics. Previously, Meg directed an early literacy program for young children and has worked as a preschool teacher.
Lee MacKinnon is the Home Visitation Training Specialist at the Children's
Trust where she develops and provides training for Healthy Families
Massachusetts and other home visiting models. Her academic background is in
child development, early childhood education, and early childhood home
visiting. With more than 25 years in the field, she has developed and
coordinated family support and education programs, as well as trained early
childhood teachers at UMass Amherst. Lee has been a Healthy Families Massachusetts
Core Trainer for 15 years, as well as a National Trainer for Healthy Families
Tammy Bernardi, is the Prevention Training Specialist at the Children's Trust. Her academic background is in early childhood development, early childhood education, and advocacy for child and family policy. With over 20 years in the field she has experience in early childhood programs, early childhood home visiting, and home visiting program development. Additionally, she has extensive experience the past 13 years training for professionals in early childhood screening, curriculum use, supervisory skills development, and communication approaches when working with families.


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International Students and the Job Search, Part I
by Kaitlin Schafer | April 30, 2014
Anyone searching for an internship/co-op or job in today's market faces tough competition and being an international student can add an extra level of difficulty.
Although the job hunt can be frustrating, I've had the pleasure of working with many international students who have secured internships or full-time positions while hosting career related events on campus. Based on my experience, I'd like to share a few common themes I've found to be true in student success stories:
Develop a well-written resume:
The resume will determine how successful you are in attracting potential employers – focus on your strengths and achievements! Check out the ECS resume template for international students.
Don't put your eggs all in one basket:
In other words, do not place ALL your time, energy, and effort into studying and getting that 4.0 GPA. Take some time outside of classes to speak with people who are working in the same career you want for yourself. Take advantage of every networking opportunity you can possibly fit into your schedule! Work a part-time job if you can fit it into your schedule. I've met international students who have lined up interviews by chatting with employers at conferences, job shadows, information sessions, LinkedIn, and alumni events on campus.
Be prepared to educate employers:
It is crucial to learn as much as possible about your visa status and all the regulations that are associated with that status. Do not assume that employers know what's involved in hiring an international student. After listening to many success stories, I've found that quite a few students actually informed their prospective employer about their status and the particular steps needed to be taken in order to get hired.
For example: most international students on F-1 student visas are eligible for 12 months of "practical training" upon completion of their studies without any job offer or letter from an employer. Students who graduate with a STEM degree are eligible to remain in the US for an additional 17 months on an (OPT) STEM extension. Therefore, as an engineering student, you can start by explaining to your potential employer that you have employment authorization for 29 months that requires absolutely no work on their part.*
If you are not familiar with the terms "curricular practical training" or "optional practical training," visit the OIA website to learn more! The Office of International Affairs offers excellent workshops that will provide you with complete and accurate information regarding your work options. After attending these workshops, you will be able to communicate this information in a more clear and confident manner.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks for Part II of this topic.
"We should not only use the brains we have, but all that we can borrow."
-Woodrow Wilson


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Weir and Sons are delighted to announce the broad selection of Rolex Oyster Perpetual Professional models currently in stock at our Dundrum Store.
For almost a century, Rolex has been associated with the quest for excellence inherent in sport. Today, Rolex is present at the most prestigious events in golf, sailing, tennis, motor sport, and at equestrian tournaments.
Rolex believe in the spirit of adventure that lies within each man and woman. This innate potential gives pioneering individuals the courage to follow their passion and reach beyond the limits of their own mental confines to benefit their communities and the wider world.
Models include: GMT – Master II, Explorer, Explorer II, Submarnier, Sea-Dweller, Yacht-Master, Cosmograph Daytona
The watch pictured below is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer, with its distinctive hour and minute hands and its landmark black dial with luminescent indices and large Arabic numerals at 3,6 and 9 o'clock, makes this watch highly visible.
It is designed for optimal legibility even in the dark – a crucial feature for explorers.
Rolex uses 904L stainless steel for its steel watch cases, which is mostly used in the high technology, aerospace and chemical industries, where maximum resistance to corrosion is essential. This model is equipped with calibre 3132, a self-winding mechanical movement entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex. It features a Parachrom hairspring and Paraflex shock absorbers, offering greater resistance to shocks and to extreme conditions. It is a certified Swiss chronometer watch that has successfully passed the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) tests. Case diameter 39mm.
For further information on the Rolex Professional models please contact our Dundrum store on +353 1 2157845 or visit weirs


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This is the last week of my writing vacation. I couldn't get into the swing of things after Tinker, but now I'm beginning to get bored anew. It's time to get started on the third installment of the Sanguire series.
As a bit of a tease, here's an excerpt from the first book, A Strange Path. This scene was the inspiration for a short story I've written, Want.
Whiskey sighed, forcing herself to relax. Using a lighter for illumination, she whispered the words twice more until it burned hot in her hand. Satisfied, she flicked the lighter closed, and gingerly dropped it beside her. She left the book in her lap, wanting it ready in case she needed to refer to the words, and began the meditation.
As before, her first run through awakened something within. This time, she kept her eyes open, curious to see if the words did indeed become as visible as they felt. They didn't. Despite her disappointment, a rush of excitement gushed through her veins that didn't correspond with environment.
The second repetition triggered an ache in her belly, a combination of hunger and lust that left her dizzy. The little light available in the clearing coalesced about her, a bubble of heat that tightened with each passing second, surrounding her, filling her. Unable to keep her eyes open, she closed them, beginning her third round. With no visual distraction, she felt as before that the words tasted and smelled different. This time, they were spicy and wet like a woman in rut. Her body sang with answering desire as she started the fourth and final recitation. Again sparks of fire crossed her closed eyes, coalescing into shining images. Again she heard music, calling from a distance, urging her close. Again, she lost sense of time and place, tumbling into a vision.
"Who is she?"
"One of the O'Toole clan."
The music welled up around Whiskey as she watched a young version of the woman from her nightmare dance about a ballroom, emerald dress flowing gracefully behind her. She waltzed with a dapper young man who paid her very close attention as they whirled around. Others also watched them dance, mostly envious young men. Understandable since she was undoubtedly the most gorgeous woman in the room.
Scanning the crowd, Whiskey found herself inexplicably bored though she'd never attended a function such as this. She barely gave the odd clothing a second glance. As the dancers moved closer to her position, she realized she sat on a stage of sorts, a long table stretching out to either side. Detritus from a rich meal scattered on a plate in front of her. Before she could focus on her table mates, the woman flowed past directly below.
"I want her."
"Yes, My Ninsumgal," a familiar yet strange voice said. "I'll see to it."
Whiskey stood on a balcony, enjoying a cool spring evening. Peripherally she noted a city beyond the stone wall, her gaze remaining in the garden below. A handful of young women teased, and giggled among themselves as they played in a fountain. Their laughter rang off the walls, inviting her to smile in vicarious longing. She sensed that it had been some time since she'd felt as carefree as these women, despite the fact they were of an age with her. The women were either daughters of nobility or their hand maidens. At this point the determination of rank was impossible, as all manner of haughty decorum had long been long abandoned in light of the water play.
Musicians played somewhere, their music less stuffy than in the previous vision. Torches flickered here and there, providing illumination as the sky turned gray and then a deep blue. Stars slowly spread across the darkening sky, jewels across the vast quilt of night. None of them sparkled as much as the jewel in the garden.
Whiskey remained in shadows, watching the intriguing woman from the dance floor as she stood dripping beside the fountain. Her dark hair damp, wilted ringlets hung about her face, generous lips opened in laughter at the antics of someone else. Her dress, a simple affair of burgundy hung tight against her body, showing off a delectable feminine form. Whiskey tested the air, searching, locating her scent, a spicy odor that promised fire and sweetness. As if aware of her audience, the woman paused in her play, looking up at the balcony. Several moments passed, Whiskey's eyes meeting hers, knowing the woman detected her outline in the shadows.
The woman's glance dropped away, decorous, a delicate blush coloring her skin. Another girl ran by, startling her and she automatically splashed her playmate, receiving a thorough drenching in response. When she looked up at the balcony again, she held an inviting shy smile.
Whiskey felt the full effect of arousal flood through her body.
"I want you," she whispered.
Whiskey sat at a small table in her room, fire blazing nearby, a light repast spread out before her. Across the table, brilliant green eyes regarded her in unskilled flirtation. Whiskey's heart trilled as she remembered this scene; she'd seen this moment the night before when leaving the hotel.
The woman's lips curved into a smile as she tasted something or other from the meal before them. "These are very good, Ninsumgal." Her voice held a musical lilt, one Whiskey identified as Irish.
She didn't answer, too intent on this vision licking her rich red lips, something she vowed to do herself before the morning dawned. She leaned back in her armchair, lazily swirling the contents of her glass around as she watched with hooded eyes. Both of them knew it was a matter of time before Whiskey took her.
They had plenty of time.
Those lips, swollen from many kisses, opened as the woman cried out. She leaned against the corner of a four-poster bed, one hand holding the carved wood, steadying herself. The other buried in Whiskey's hair, the fingers digging into Whiskey's scalp. The woman's naked thighs spread wider, hips hitching as Whiskey expertly tongued her.
Whiskey breathed in the scent of spice, pleased at her catch. The woman writhed against her touch, the sight and sound setting Whiskey's heart pounding uncontrollably. Unable to hold herself away, she dived back into the heady taste, slaking her thirst with the liquid fire of her lover's arousal.
Whiskey burst from the dream state, panting with uncontrollable lust. Her body on fire, she still tasted the woman on her lips, smelled her on her fingers. Gasping, she stumbled to her feet, the book tumbling to the mulch below. She shook with the effort of calming herself, soothing the rampaging desire until she could think.
What the hell was that?


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Latest Project
Details on our latest special series, which to be fully launched in 2020, looks at the violence of disappearance.
New York Times
Series of conversations with leading thinkers as featured in The New York Times Opinion Section.
LA Review of Books
Series of conversations with leading thinkers, writer & artists as featured in a dedicated section in the LA Review of Books.
Key Thinkers
Introductory lectures to the most important historical and contemporary theorists dealing with the problem of violence.


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You will receive a weekly email from Bond Tilli giving you opportunities to invest, often giving you access to the best units and prices. Please ensure you add our email address, firstname.lastname@example.com, to your contact list so you don't miss out on any future updates and information related to your chosen investment.
For news and updates, follow Bond Tilli on Twitter,and Facebook.


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Stunning 2 Bedroom for lease in The Prestigious Plaza II
Posted by Emily Ray-Porter Group on Tuesday, October 18th, 2016 at 2:02pm.
Stunning corner 2 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom condo at the prestigious Plaza II. The open floor plan is perfect for entertaining. Kitchen with NEW appliances features Wolf gas cook-top, oven and microwave, Subzero refrigerator & Miele dishwasher. The open living and dining area boasts a gas fireplace, wall of windows and access to the large balcony. The spacious master suite with his and her marble bath and large walk-in closet is sure to impress.
2828 Hood Street 802 is offered for lease by the Emily Ray Porter Group of Dave Perry Miller Real Estate
Call (214) 296-9155 for more information and availability


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What you will learn
- Day makeup, fashion makeup, runway makeup and accompanying hair-styling techniques
- Editorial/photographic makeup and styling
- Character/period makeup and styling
- Special effects makeup and body painting
- Character and aging makeup and hair applications
- Male makeup
- Wig and prosthetic application, facial hair trimming and application
- Portfolio development
- Business skills, practice professionalism and customer service
Career options
Work as a makeup artist or counter salesperson at cosmetic companies and department stores. Enter the creative industries and work in film and TV, stage production or on photo shoots.
- Makeup artist
- Makeup counter salesperson
- Fashion makeup artist
- Film makeup artist
- Stage makeup artist
Equipment and Course Related Costs
- WelTec specialist makeup and hair kit (SFX and fashion products and tools) $880.00
- Digital camera
- Craft and stationary equipment
- Suitable clothing complying with programme dress code
- Students will have to organise/provide suitable models, as instructed by tutor, for all practical work.
- Study material/ text book. Price approx. $150.00 TBC
Entry criteria
Under 20
NCEA level 2, or above
If you're 20 years or over, you may qualify for special admission on this programme. Contact us if you don't meet the entry criteria as provided on the Under 20 information.
All students will be required to have a makeup kit and digital camera for photographic work.
International students
Minimum IELTS (academic) score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5.
Check out the Te Auaha Makeup Instagram >


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RICHMOND, Texas – A family is demanding answers after its loved one's gravesite was damaged.
The Hernandez family said it is having a difficult time getting answers from the cemetery's management.
People visit the cemetery in Richmond every day to remember their loved ones, but when the Hernandezes came to visit their mother's gravesite on her birthday, they made a discovery that, they said, made them relive the pain of her death two decades ago.
"This is all we have of her left and it's sacred to us," the woman's son, Ruben Hernandez, said.
Imagine Hernandez's surprise and sadness on Saturday when his family discovered his mother's gravesite of more than 20 years had been buried in dirt and her steel-crafted grave marker had been broken apart.
The family took photos of the damage.
"When we found it, this piece was 3 feet, 4 feet back there," Ruben said while pointing at a photo.
"You couldn't even see the border. There was a mound of dirt here with all the flowers that we had planted here," Rachel Guerrero-Hernandez, the woman's daughter-in-law, said.
The Hernandez family said it spotted damage to other gravesites as well, and when family members contacted the San Gabriel Cemetery Association, they were told they were on their own.
The association had no comment for KPRC2, but the signs outside the cemetery say members are responsible for their gravesite maintenance, in addition to a $150 annual maintenance fee.
Hernandez said seeing the damage takes him back to the pain he felt on the day his mother was buried.
"We didn't have much, but she made it work and I think that's what really bothers me the most. It's just disrespect," he said.
Yolanda Balarrama Gallegos was a single mother who raised seven children. Her children remember her as a hardworking woman who loved life.
What they want, 20 years after her death, is an explanation for the damage to her gravesite and repairs made to her final resting place.
"We just want to see what's going to happen and if they can replace it. That's all I really want," Hernandez said.


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Kerry Washington Stuns In Sequins At CFDA Awards
We love, love, love Kerry Washington and she looked amazing, yet again, at the CFDA Awards in New York City on June 5.
It's a huge night for designers and celebrities alike and Kerry Washington did not disappoint with her fashion forward look. She attended wearing Prabal Gurung and looked absolutely gorgeous. The head to toe dress was sequins and strapless, and accentuated with a wide yellow "belt." Hosted by Seth Meyers, the show took place in NYC on June 5. Guests sipped on Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé during the night while mingling with the fashion elite. Kerry was a presenter at the prestigious event, giving the award to the winner of the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent.
Prabal Gurung posted a sketch of the design on Instagram and wrote: "A labour of love created for the one and only Kerry Washington. PG Muse Kerry Washington wears the Atelier Prabal Gurung lemon, jasmine and ivory paillette and Swarovski Crystal holi powder brushstoke hand embroidered strapless gown to present at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards. Designed with the support of @swarovski."
Along with her outfit, we were obsessed with her hair and makeup. Her rocked the "wet look" in her hair along with super dark, smokey eyes paired with a nude lip. She's a Neutrogena brand ambassador, so you can get her look at the drugstore — love that! Her go-to hairstylist Takisha Sturdivant Drew frequently uses the Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo to get rid of any buildup on the scalp, followed by the Neutrogena Triple Repair Deep Recovery Hair Mask used as a conditioner to make hair super soft and shiny before red carpet events. It looked super healthy, that's for sure!
Kerry is taking her role as a Neutrogena Ambassador and Creative Consultant a step further this summer. She just posted on Instagram a cute image of her holding their sunscreen and urging everyone to stay safe. She wrote: "Teaming up again with @Neutrogena to ensure you don't let someone you love go uncovered this Summer. Help teach your kids to use sunscreen by applying it on yourself so they can see you – then have them #MimicMommy #proudcreativeconsultant." We love that!
HollywoodLifers, did you love Kerry Washington's dress at the CFDA Awards?


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Decorators Printed 'A' Letter Alphabet Golden foil Balloon 16 inch (Pack of 1)
Decorators Printed 'A' Letter Alphabet Golden foil Balloon 16 inch (Pack of 1)
- Air-filled only. No helium required. Balloons do not float. Fast and simple at-home inflation – inflate with enclosed straw and it's ready
- Reusable- insert the air blowpipe straw into the valve and squeeze the out of the balloons lightly, fold them up and store them away from direct sunlight.
- Easy at home assembly and set up. The self-sealing Balloons will arrive uninflated. Simply insert a straw into the plastic valve at the bottom of the letter and slowly blow to inflate
- Hang Balloons on wall. To put up Balloons, use tape or string to attach the Balloons to the wall or hang from the ceiling
- size height is 16 inches approx
Kolkata – Same Day Delivery Available
Rest of India – 3-5 days
Remote Areas – 6-8 days


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I honestly think the reason the game is crashing so much is because it is so darn buggy. I wonder is there anyone out there that the game has not crashed on them???
Hasn't crashed yet for me and I've played for a solid couple of hours, using the trainer. I actually press two, three, four, five, at the start of every turn and just before the end, even if I don't use them.
Thank you for great trainer guys. Wanted to check why could there be prblem that my Num 1 option is not working? it doesnt even say activated just silent;( tried reassigning to another button same story. PLEASE HELP
Have you made sure that numlock is on?


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|Spirit System
|[ New Spektrum Multi adapter ]
|Page 1 of 1
|ZeXx86 [ Thu 06. Sep 2018 14:07:25 ]
|Post subject:
|[ New Spektrum Multi adapter ]
From today you can order new Spektrum Multi adapter!
This will allow you to connect up to 4 satellites with the Spirit Pro unit. And up to 3 satellites with the smaller Spirit units.
When using GeoLink modules you will be able to use enough satellites from now.
Connection is simple - main cable is connected at the RUD port and the single wire at the AIL pin.
Both additional satellites are powered through dedicated power supply for additional safety. This mean that even in case of complete malfunction including a short of the satellite the second one will be still fully functional.
|Page 1 of 1
|All times are UTC + 1 hour
|Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group


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Stalker's Top Ten 2008: Firebug Productions
Firebug is a Filmstalker regular who has been following the site for some time now. He's what I would call an online friend, of which I am happy to say I have made quite a few through Filmstalker, and he shares a passion for films, except his is somewhat more approaching an obsession.
He opens his Stalker's Top Ten list with a quote which I once said about him, and I hold by it. This is his first list for his top ten films of 2008, and we have a couple more lists to come from him. I suspect this series may well run into the first few weeks of next year, which is just fine.
If you want to contribute yours, there's still time, just head to the end of this article to find out how.
"The most amazing passion for film I've ever witnessed"
When Richard says that I have a passion for watching movies he isn't kidding. I have yet to meet anyone who watches movies on the scale that I do.
My passion for movies really started at the end of 2003. I have no clue how many movies I watched that year but it must have been quite a few because I decided that in 2004 I was going to watch 365 movies, that is one movie for every day of the year. However 365 wasn't a round enough number for me so I decided that I would watch 400 movies. Now obviously keeping track of that many movies just in my head would be impossible so I kept a list. In the end I watched 417 movies in 2004. Unfortunately since then my movie viewing has taken a rather drastic fall ending in a pathetic 192 movies watched in 2007. Until 2008 that is.
This year has seen several big changes in my viewings. The first would have to be the purchasing of my very first large screen TV. My choice was the Sony X-Series 46" Full 1080p HD LCD TV. It cost me a small fortune but it's been well worth every last cent. Coupled with my Playstation 3 and the best HDMI cable on the market watching movies at home has never looked so good. The second big change has been my foray it Blu-ray. So far I only have 6 titles but the picture quality really has to be seen to be believed. In the coming years I am hoping to upgrade as much of my collection of over 400 DVDs to Blu-ray as I can. The third change came just this month when I got MySkyHDi installed in my flat. For those of you who don't know what that is it allows me to record up to 2 movies on different Sky channels while watching a third channel. This has effectively quadrupled the number of movies I can watch at home. Just last week alone I watched 20 movies, only one of which was at the cinema, the rest on Sky.
At the time of typing this article I have watched 372 movies so far in 2008. With only 5 days of work left for this year for me that leaves a lot of spare time to watch many more movies and I'm certain that I can not only break 400 movies for this year but that I can better the 417 I watched back in 2004. I just had a quick count and of those 372, 189 of them I saw at the cinema. That equates to around $2,200 I've spent at the cinema this year. But enough of that, here are my top ten movies for 2008.
1 - Gone Baby Gone
I can't say I've ever really been a big fan of Ben Affleck acting of course on the other I've also never really disliked him. But with Gone Baby Gone he isn't acting, he's directing and what a change that is. If you don't mind the subject matter then this movie is absolutely magnificent. It's both thrilling and emotional at the same time and is completely driven by the plot and characters. No need for showy special effects here. Last year I saw Ben's younger brother Casey Affleck in The Assassination Of Jesse James which he was excellent in. In Gone Baby Gone Casey has the lead role and he does a fine job of it. Casey isn't exactly an imposing person but he does a great job of holding his own against other characters even when the odds are stacked against. I'm certainly not one to cry in movies but Gone Baby Gone was a very emotional movie especially towards the end and it had tears welling up in my eyes. Ben Affleck has done a fantastic job behind the camera and I hope that he continues this way.
2 - The Dark Knight (Filmstalker review)
The Dark Knight was easily the most highly anticipated movie of 2008 and did it live up to they hype? Most definitely. From the first time I saw the trailer for TDK I was hugely excited to see it. Having seen Batman Begins in 2006 and seeing the life that had been breathed into it with Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale I could barely hold my excitement in leading up the TDKs release. After my initial viewing of it I felt a little bit deflated. I had hyped myself up that much that it wasn't as great as I had lead myself to believe it was going to be. However in the weeks and months following that day the more I thought about it the better it was in my mind. Last night I watched it again but this time at home on Blu-ray and it was quite honestly the single greatest viewing pleasure I've ever had. The picture quality was utterly incredible and what I wouldn't have given to have surround sound. Watching it the 2nd time was even better than the first time. Heath Ledgers turn as The Joker is truly amazing. As I was watching it I had to keep reminding myself that it was him under all that make up. There has been a lot of talk about Ledger and whether he deserves an Oscar for his role and I wont say here whether I think he does or not but the fact that (for me personally anyway) you aren't keenly aware that it is actually him in that role speaks volumes about how well he played that role.
Before TDK Batman Begins was my choice for the greatest comic book movie ever made but now there is a new winner. Christopher Nolan has crafted not just the greatest comic book ever but also a truly epic movie worthy of all the praise it has received.
3 - No Country For Old Men (Filmstalker review)
The 2008 Best Picture Oscar winner. Over the years they have been working together, the Coen Brothers have made some unforgettable and classic movies. No Country will surely go down as one of their best. The best part of this movie is in the casting. Before No Country I had only seen Josh Brolin in lesser roles but in No Country he takes the lead and does a fine job it. Tommy Lee Jones is perfectly suited to his role as weary old timer sheriff. Javier Bardem also does a great job as a remorseless psychopathic killer. Many people have criticised the ending of the movie but I for one thought it was appropriate and a good way to end the movie.
4 - There Will Be Blood
If you have seen this movie then surely the one thing that will stick in your mind is that of Daniel Day Lewis' powerhouse role in it. He hasn't been in many movies in the last decade; in fact Blood is only the third movie he's been in over the last decade but what a job he does. There is no doubt in my mind that he deserved the Oscar for Best Actor. Blood is one of the 6 titles I have on Blu-ray and once again the quality is terrific; since watching this movie all DVDs I have watched look pretty poor in comparison.
5 - Juno
What a wonderfully charming movie this was. Ellen Page does a great job as Juno in the movie and I couldn't help but like her. In fact every actor in this movie does a great job. While this movie has its detractors going on about the issues of teen pregnancy it is still just a movie and doesn't necessarily represent what goes on in the real world, it really is a lovely and lovable film.
6 - In The Valley Of Elah
This is another great and emotional movie that stars Tommy Lee Jones as a former MP searching for the people who murdered his son. Jones is again perfectly suited to this role as in No Country.
7 - Happy Go Lucky
Talk about a happy feel good movie. Sally Hawkins plays a primary school teacher that is constantly happy and I do mean constantly. I found myself smiling and laughing through the entire movie especially the scenes when she tries to cheer up her driving instructor played by Eddie Marsan. The scenes between these two were a real pleasure to watch, on the one hand you have Poppy (Sally Hawkins) who just cannot for the life of her be bought down from her cheerfulness and on the other hand you have Scott (Eddie Marsan) who is a particularly angry and sometimes racist man. The two are basically complete opposites of each other and when they get together for driving lessons it makes for some very memorable scenes.
8 - Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
Right from the opening scene this movie packs a punch and for those of you that have seen it you'll know what I'm talking about. It is about a robbery that is supposed to get a couple of guys some quick money but in the end goes horribly wrong. We follow the lives of all the characters involved over several days and the movie flips between not jut the characters but also the timeline of their involvement. I have always liked Philip Seymour Hoffman and have enjoyed watching him in all the movies I have seen him in. Ethan Hawke also does a good job in this movie.
9 - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Judd Apatow has been on a pretty big role with comedies since the release of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Walk Hard is no different. Walk Hard is a spoof on such movies as Walk The Line and Ray and while you don't need to have seen either of those movies to like Walk Hard it does help. On the day that I saw Walk Hard I was in a particularly bad mood but 5 minutes into this movie I was in tears of laughter. John C Reilly's roles in comedies over that last few years have been great to watch, he certainly does it well (especially when teamed up with Will Ferrell). Walk Hard has some great one liners and some great scenes spoofing other well known movies and is easily one of the funniest of the year.
10 - After The Wedding (Efter brylluppet)
After The Wedding is a Danish drama that stars Mads Mikkelsen as a man who discovers a life altering family secret. This is the sort of movie I truly love, one that is propelled along solely by the storyline and the actors. The acting is top notch and the story is relatively simple yet allows the characters many different emotions and puts them in a lot of different situations.
Wow, that's a good list with some unusual choices in there. I love the fact that Before The Devil Knows You're Dead is in there and Gone Baby Gone is number one, but No Country For Old Men seems a bit high for me, and Walk Hard? Well how can you argue with a man who has perhaps seen more films than anyone else this year?
Have you seen more? Disagree or agree with the list? Let Firebug know in the comments. In the meantime, if you want to look at the other lists that have been sent in, then just head to the Stalker's Top Ten section.
Or maybe you want to submit your own list? Well that's easy too. Write about any film related list you like from your favourite to your worst, from the actors to the characters, anything to do with film in 2008. Have a think and send your list to Stalker's Top Tens as soon as you can.


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Jon Snow Finds Out He's Aegon Targaryen, Twitter Users React
Spoiler alert! We've got Game of Thrones, season 8 details ahead.
Only in Game of Thrones will your potential right to take the Iron Throne overshadow the fact that you've been romantically involved with your own aunt. Being painted as the bastard son of Ned Stark for so long, Jon Snow finally learning that he is, in fact, a Targaryen was just the reveal GoT fans needed on night one of the series' last, 6-episode hurrah.
We've been gearing up for the Jon/Daenerys Targaryen alliance to further unfold since they finally got together at the end of season 7, but who knows how the coalition could crumble now that Jon knows the truth about his bloodline?
The best part is that fans on Twitter seem far more interested in the incest than they are in whether or not Jon will pull one over on Daenerys for the throne – but avid show-watchers obviously have their speculations.
"Hey Jon. You know she's your aunt, right?" #GameOfThrones pic.twitter.com/MFmIvdoHrY— James Hibberd (@JamesHibberd) April 15, 2019
Jon Snow trying to figure out how he's related to Dany #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/2OJaf3ZXY4— Anna Menta (@annalikestweets) April 15, 2019
Diehards who have been reading the George R.R. Martin books alongside the HBO series realize that the show has now surpassed the plotline of the books. Considering the season 8 finale is set in very secretive stone at this point, this could mean that whatever ending the Jon/Daenerys storyline comes to in the show could actually differ from whatever ending Martin comes up with in the book series, and fans are ready for the potential of two different outcomes.
As final-season hypotheses soar, Jon Snow actor Kit Harington can't help but look back on his experience and feel immense gratitude. He sat down with Willie Geist on TODAY to revel in his involvement with the show. After revealing that the series gave him his wife, lifelong friends, and a jumpstart to his acting career, he concludes, "There aren't words to describe how I feel about it."
Know what else there aren't words to describe? The way Twitter users feel about Jon Snow getting it on with his aunt.
Sam: Jon you are a Targaryen— Sthabiso Mthambo (@MthamboZn) April 15, 2019
Jon Snow thinking "that's why the dragons were giving me that look"
#GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/hKd0XdEC6j
Boys: this story is so confusing, she's your friend's friend????— Sara Voss (@saravoss25) April 15, 2019
Also boys: Daenerys, DAUGHTER of Rhaella and Aerys Targaryen, SISTER of Viserys and Rhaegar and therefore AUNT of Jon Snow who is the RIGHTFUL heir to the iron throne UGH PLZ KEEP UP
#GameOfThrones Aegon Targaryen next time he sees his auntie Daenerys Targaryen pic.twitter.com/W0fYgBCZj7— ᴊᴏᴋᴇʀ/ғᴀʀʜᴀᴅ ❄-- (@ReaIJoker) April 15, 2019
"You are Aegon Targaryen true heir to the Iron Throne." #GameofThrones #ThronesYall— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) April 15, 2019


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Get it? The other plateau? Aside from Apple's revenue growth?
I know, I'm not doing myself any favors with the bad puns…but it is my blog. 😉
As the title implies – and as prior posts on OpEx have posited – I'm not expecting any big surprises from OpEx for the remaining two quarters of fiscal 2014. If this is your first visit here ever or in a while (hi there!), what I mean is OpEx looks to remain fairly close to the current, $4.3-4.4B or so range (give or take a hundred million :P) unless Oppenheimer suddenly guides otherwise.
Why Apple's OpEx has suddenly gone stair-step for each fiscal year, I still don't know, but the profit implications remain the same. Lower revenue quarters in the fiscal year will look "artificially" worse given the "constant rate" OpEx Apple's using.
Let's update the Oppenheimer's-OpEx-guidance-range-vs.-actual section from last quarter.
Q1 2013 (Fiscal calendar): Point guidance – $4.05B; actual $3.85B – guidance $200M / 5.2% higher than actual
Q2 2013: $3.8-3.9B; actual $3.791B – guidance was $9M / 0.2% higher than actual (based on lowest point in the range)
Q3 2013: $3.85-3.95B; actual $3.823B – guidance was $27M / 0.7% higher than actual (based on lowest point in the range)
Q4 2013: $3.9-3.95B; actual $3.841B – guidance was $59M / 1.5% higher than actual (based on lowest point in the range)
Q1 2014: $4.4-4.5B; actual $4.383B – guidance was $17M / 0.4% higher than actual (based on lowest point in the range)
Oppenheimer continues to be very precise, and yet also consistently conservative, when it comes to OpEx guidance. Of course, given that theory of planned OpEx allocation I have, precision may not be nearly as difficult as it might otherwise seem. 😉
Next up, the updated overall OpEx chart, along with my "estimate" that "should" be very close to actual given that prior recent history holds.
If Oppenheimer's pattern of guiding slightly above projected actual OpEx holds, there will be higher variance in OpEx range than last year. Then again, an $80M or so difference in OpEx for a quarter that may see revenues down $14B or so sequentially hardly represents a break from the apparent current trend.
So I think it's still pretty safe to predict June quarter OpEx guidance to be within $4.3-4.5B.
Well, that was pretty easy, wasn't it? The benefits of laying groundwork in prior quarters, I suppose. That leaves some time and writing space for OpEx components, and it'll be a quick discussion.
In the recently-concluded January quarter, share-based compensation expense was $681M. Oppenheimer guided March quarter share-based compensation expense of $590M, a decrease of about $90M. That alone may explain most of the "relatively modest" sequential decline in OpEx.
Assuming the remaining components of OpEx stay in about the same proportion, I doubt Apple shareholders will be all that upset with a controlled, steady, year-on-year increase in good old R&D spending. Just as long as that continued R&D investment "shows up" in new products and/or new product categories in relatively short order.***
Next up, should I get there – revisiting Apple's overall gross margin and regional operating margins.
*** Of course, it's very likely that "today's R&D dollars" are being spent towards research and development well beyond 2014.


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William Hill
William was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Mayfair Capital in March 2014.
William supports the members of the Mayfair Capital board on the development of the business, assists in enhancing the firm's corporate governance, expanding its relationships within the investor community and he is the Chairman of the firm's Investment Risk Committee.
William was former Head of Property at Schroders which he joined in 1989, having begun his investment career in 1985 after qualifying as a chartered surveyor with Drivers Jonas. He stepped down as head of property at Schroders at the end of October 2013.
A past chairman of the Association of Real Estate Funds, William is a member of the BPF Finance Committee, sits on the Investment Advisory Committee of the Goldsmiths Company, and is a Director of the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust.


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Pars-plana fluid aspiration for positive vitreous cavity pressure in anterior segment surgeries
Thomas Kuriakose, Smitha Jasper, Sherina Thomas
Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence Address:Dr. Smitha JasperDepartment of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College, Schell Campus, Arni Road, Vellore - 632 001, Tamil Nadu IndiaSource of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: NoneCheck2DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_939_17
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_939_17
Positive vitreous pressure due to misdirection of aqueous or choroidal effusion leads to shallowing of the anterior chamber (AC) before or during anterior segment surgeries. This shallow AC if not addressed makes surgery difficult and increases the risk of surgical complications. Methods to prevent and manage this condition described in literature are not without problems. We describe a minimally invasive technique of passing a 30G needle through the pars-plana to aspirate misdirected fluid from vitreous cavity either as a prophylaxis just before surgery or during it, thereby decreasing positive vitreous pressure. This technique, used in 12 eyes, seems to be effective in patients with angle-closure glaucoma, malignant glaucoma, and per-operative sudden increase in vitreous pressure during surgery. Small-incision surgeries are ideally suited for this procedure. This minimally invasive technique is simple to perform and complications are unlikely to be more than what is seen with intravitreal injections.
Keywords: Anterior segment surgeries, pars-plana fluid aspiration, positive vitreous pressure


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"Our company uses The Gallagher Law Firm for our business organization and planning, and other miscellaneous business. My family is using their services f...Read More
Jennifer Tichelaar, attorney at The Gallagher Law Firm, PLC, recently obtained a nondischargeability Judgment of her Nevada client's $9,674,057.18 Nevada District Court Judgment. The underlying Nevada state court litigation involved a dispute regarding a casino development project in Dayton, Nevada.
The Nevada District Court entered a default against the defendants following the defendants' flagrant and continued failure to appear and participate in the litigation process with the obvious intent to delay and postpone the proceedings. The Nevada District Court heard proofs and entered a Judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $9,674,057.18 with specific findings of fraud and misrepresentation.
In June 2011, the Defendant filed Bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. Plaintiff's filed an Adversary Proceeding which requested an order of nondischargeability pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(3).
The parties filed Collateral Estoppel Briefs and the Court heard oral arguments in May 2013. On July 17, 2013 the Honorable Jeffrey R. Hughes issued a Bench Opinion holding that Ms. Tichelaar's client's $9,674,057.18 Nevada District Court Judgment is to be given collateral estoppel effect and is nondischargeable.
When applying collateralestoppel principles to a nondischargeability proceeding, a bankruptcy court is directed to apply the law of the forum where the original proceeding took place. Marrese v. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 470 U.S. 373, 380 (1985). The Nevada courts have stated four requirements must be met for issue preclusion to apply: (1) the issue decided in the prior litigation must be identical to the issue presented in the current action; (2) the initial ruling must have been on the merits and have become final; (3) the party against whom the judgment is asserted must have been a party or in privity with a party to the prior litigation; and (4) the issue was actually and necessarily litigated. Five Star Capital Corp. v. Ruby, 124 Nev. 1048, 1055 (2008).
The Bankruptcy Court found that the default entered against the defendant was not a 'true default' in which the defendant did not participate in the proceedings, but rather was a default entered as a sanction. After a thorough analysis of relevant case law, the Bankruptcy Court was satisfied that the State of Nevada's elements of collateral estoppel had been met and therefore the defendant was precluded from re-litigating the fraud allegations in the Bankruptcy Court. As a result, the Bankruptcy Court entered a Judgment holding that the $9,674,057.18 Nevada District Court Judgment against the defendant is nondischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(3).


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A lich, a Paladin and a succubus walked into a forest. Although it seemed like the beginning of a bad joke, this was currently Valeria, Fizzy and Xera's reality. The gnome glanced up at the floating undead several times before screwing up the courage to speak up.
"Uh... uhm… Valeria?"
"Hm? What is it, little one?"
"Why did you stand up for me back there?"
"Oh that? I was simply doing my duty."
"What duty?"
"What sort of worthless woman would let her future husband's precious little pet waste away like that? You're so small, weak and fragile that I couldn't help myself."
Anger once again flared up in Fizzy's eyes. The surge of rage that had been somewhat dispelled by the monster's ridiculously named 'Operation TASTYCOCK' had come back with full force. Not because she had been called a pet, the gnome had already come to terms with that reality and accepted it as a fact. The reason she was angry was because this incorrigible pervert had taken pity on her.
"No need to thank me," said Valeria, adding more fuel to the flame.
The gnome's grip on the handle of her improvised warhammer tightened and she grit her teeth. Just whose fault was it that she was feeling so miserable in the first place?! She wanted to take a swing at this stupid bitch and smash her teeth in. But she couldn't, her reason wouldn't let her. The difference in Status and Levels meant that act was the equivalent to suicide. Even if Paladins were the natural enemy of undead, liches were their antithesis and were well equipped to fight the living. So a fight between just the two of them at this stage was sure to end in the gnome's demise.
"Sorry to break this up," butted in Xera, "but the Master has need of the lich."
The yellow dots in the Valeria's eyes almost became heart-shaped for a moment.
"Yes. Something about having to go back to that white tower," added Xera.
"Then I shall return to my darling's side immediately ~♡!"
She bolted off back the way they came from, twirling and spinning merrily through the air as she did so.
The reason Boxxy had called her back was because it wanted to return and retrieve its forgotten dagger. Even if it wouldn't be very useful against golems, that didn't mean it could just leave it behind. However, that weapon was in the middle of a Blight-infested stretch of land crawling with the undead. If it didn't have to deal with those pests then it could make it there and back in half a day.
Which is where Valeria came in. The lich had started bragging at length about her Skills shortly after she was… recruited. The Lord of the Dead Skill in particular was what the Mimic was interested in. It was a Skill that appeared to be exclusive to liches, something no human Necromancer could ever hope to obtain.
According to Valeria, it not only strengthened all minions under her command, but also allowed her to dominate and control the feral undead that appeared naturally due to the Blight. If she was telling the truth, then she could direct those rotting vermin away from Boxxy, allowing the Mimic to travel unhindered. Doing so would not only allow her to rebuild her private army, but would also allow Fizzy plenty of time to rest and recuperate.
The Mimic had determined that this course of action was the most efficient, and was not, as the delusional woman was assuming, going for a romantic moonlight walk.
Now that it was just Fizzy and Xera, the gnome found herself temporarily at a loss.
"You should get busy," suggested the succubus. "If you drag my Master down with your poor performance then you will not be forgiven."
"Ah… Right. Th-then you will help me hunt, right?"
"Haah, I suppose I should."
The two of them then roamed the sparsely forested area for a while before running across a large black bear. It was then charred even blacker by Xera's magic and died in an instant. Even if it was big and looked menacing, it was only a Level 20 beast. The gnome took out her dagger and started carving up its meat into appropriately sized steaks. She would then grill them up, eat her fill and preserve the rest with salt, courtesy of Boxxy's Storage.
The succubus sat down on a nearby rock and merely watched the gnome work with a vaguely dissatisfied look on her face. The Paladin noticed her glare, which made her feel a little uneasy.
"D-Do you hate me?" asked Fizzy in an effort to strike up a conversation.
Her choice of topic was perhaps a little weird, but the succubus was already feeling bored. Exciting and fun things happened all the time whenever her beloved Master was around, but that also meant that things were incredibly dull whenever it wasn't. Therefore, she felt she might as well indulge the gnome with a bit of idle chatter to kill time.
"I do."
"Don't take it personally though. I dislike all mortals that aren't Master. Also most of the immortals, now that I think about it."
"I see."
Silence once again dominated the scene, broken up only by the wet sounds of a knife digging into flesh.
"Can I ask what your real name is?" continued the gnome.
"You know there's no truth to the myth you can control a demon if you know its name, right?"
"Th-that's not it! It's just… your name isn't actually Snack, is it?!"
"Hmm… Actually, you're right. It isn't. I should see if I can have it changed to that."
"... Huh?!"
"I am my master's Snack. Is it really so wrong to have a name that reflects that?"
"You… You like being eaten?!"
"No, I don't you foolish creature," said Xera. "I love it. I adore it! I need it! Being devoured the instant I was back in the physical realm was the best welcome back gift I could've asked for! Hnnn! Just thinking about it is… Mmmmnn!"
Realization dawned on the gnome as she watched the succubus's expression grow twisted by lust. Come to think of it, didn't this demon eagerly shout 'Do me! Do me!' during this morning's incident?
"That is why I'm sure I will never lose to that uppity ghost. Master likes my flavor the best!"
That's not something to be proud about! retorted Fizzy inside her own head.
Still, that made it official. The number of incorrigible perverts around Boxxy was not 1, but 2. Actually, given this pattern, it was highly likely that the red demon was one as well. How come they've all gathered around a monster that had absolutely no sex drive? That Mimic had made it clear it did not enjoy the act very much and simply used it as 'practice.' A fact the gnome was inclined to believe, given how it didn't assault her all this time. If it wasn't for Valeria, she wouldn't even be in this situation where she feels disgusted to be inside her own body. Maybe she should just kill herself and-
Fizzy immediately shook away the dangerous thought that crept itself inside her skull. She decided it would be best if she simply ignored that hopeless slut of a demon and resumed preparing the bear's meat. After separating what looked to be the best pieces, Fizzy started a fire and grilled them roughly. She then gorged herself on as much of the tough, bland meat as she could stomach and packaged the rest for later. It should last her for a few more days before it goes bad. Once she was done, she walked over to a random, soft-looking patch of grass and instantly fell asleep under Xera's watchful eye.
Fizzy partook in what could only be called the sleep of the dead. She was so tired, she couldn't even dream, let alone have nightmares. In fact, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that the real nightmare was when she was awake. But, at least for tonight, circumstances had conspired to let her enjoy a proper rest for the first time since she was imprisoned. She slept from before sundown until well after sunrise, for a total of 13 hours.
The gnome sprang to her feet the instant she regained consciousness and looked around in a sort of panic. She was so used to being woken up with violence hat her subconscious mind perceived her late, peaceful morning as something out of the norm. It took her a minute or so for the haziness to clear from her mind, and she calmed down soon after. Looking around she saw the succubus was exactly where she was when Fizzy fell asleep - sitting idly on a nearby stump and staring off into the distance. The scorch marks in her surroundings suggested she had taken to flinging Fireballs to alleviate her boredom, although there were a few charred remains scattered around as well.
She didn't seem to notice the gnome had woken up, so Fizzy greeted her to get her attention.
"G-good morning."
Xera's eyes turned away from the unseen horizon and stared contemptuously at the pint-sized Paladin.
"Oh, finally awake?"
"I hope you got plenty of rest and do not embarrass my Master."
"I won't. Trust me, upsetting Boxxy is the least- the last thing I want to do."
"Hmmm, well so long as you understand."
"And uh, wh- where is-"
"On its way back. I think they'll be here in about half an hour, so we better get back to the entrance."
"Alright. You, um, you didn't do anything weird to me while I slept, right?"
Xera was the individual who was responsible for manipulating Fizzy's memory in the first place, and she always did it after putting the gnome to sleep with magic, so this was a very valid concern. One that Fizzy's tired mind failed to take into account the night before. However, the succubus didn't answer her with words. She merely smiled mischievously before turning around and heading off toward the tall black spire in the distance.
"Hey! You didn't do anything weird to me, right?!"
The worried Paladin kept asking the succubus over and over, but didn't get any response one way or the other. It was highly possible that Xera didn't do anything and was simply stringing the poor girl along just for kicks. However, Fizzy couldn't accept a naive answer like that. She searched through her memory in an effort to spot anything out of place, any time she might have lost. Unfortunately, it was all there. The imprisonment, the abuse, the violence, the horrible event that took place yesterday morning - all of it was vividly brought up.
She kept worrying over this until they made it back to the outskirts of the Spire of the Jade King. They arrived at roughly the same spot where the group had split up the day before. Kora was already there, waiting for them while sitting down on the ground.
She greeted the two with a wave of her hand. Her only hand.
Fizzy recoiled in horror when she realized that mountain of muscle had been mutilated horribly. She was missing both left arms, half a right arm and most of her left leg. Large chunks of the left side torso had been ripped out, and both her magnificent horns were snapped off.
"Are you okay?! What happened to you?!"
"Nothing much. I was just giving those golem guys a try to see how strong they were. I got a bit carried away and challenged 3 of them at once."
"So? How were they?" asked Xera, matter-of-factly.
"They're hard, and faster than they look. I guess about Level 40, maybe 45. They're pretty good with those shields and the spears are quite bad as well, but those short swords are the worst. They're much sharper than they look."
She wiggled her stumps as if to prove a point.
"Swords? What swords?" asked Xera.
"They pull them out from somewhere if you break their shafts. They get super pissed and start attacking like mad."
"Shouldn't be a problem once the Master gets back."
"Yeah. Wish it'd hurry up already, though"
"How can you two be so calm?!" shrieked Fizzy. "Bitchface lost two arms and a leg, and you two are just-"
"You wanna die, you little shit?!"
Kora's strangely cheerful atmosphere disappeared in an instant as she let her bloodlust flow freely. Having been suddenly threatened like that, the gnome could do little more than reflexively scream and jump behind Xera for cover.
"Come on," shouted Kora, "call me that again! See what happens!"
She stood up on one leg and took a few threatening hops towards Fizzy and the slightly sniggering succubus. Even if she only had about 60% of her body mass left, Kora was still as intimidating as ever.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I don't know what I said, but I'm sorryyyy!"
"Like fuck you don't know! I told you to only call me by my name, didn't I?!"
"But I did! It's Bitchface McWeaksauce, isn't it?! … Huh?"
Kora had grandly introduced herself yesterday, so Fizzy was dead sure she got her name right. So how come it didn't feel right? The fiend in question felt her anger subside for a bit due to the weird situation. Her eyes moved between the succubus and the gnome, as if she was trying to piece something together.
"You… Your name was Corny Fizzle-something, right?"
"N-no. It's Cornhole Jizzbu… cket?"
Both of the confused women stared at each other with dumb expressions.
The sudden silence was interrupted by Xera, who was unable to contain her laughter any longer.
"Ahahahaha!" she erupted. "Hah hah haaaahahaha!"
"You whore!" roared Kora. "I'll get you back for this!"
Having realized exactly which part of her memory was tampered with seemed to dispel the effects of the Dreamweaver Skill from Fizzy's mind. The implanted memories faded away and the real ones rose to the surface. The gnome naturally realized that Xera had been messing with her after all. A fact which caused her to snap.
"Uhm, excuse me, Koralenteprix?" she asked with an almost innocent smile.
Having someone properly call her by name like that seemed to drastically improve the fiend's mood. She gave Fizzy a toothy smile while puffing out her chest.
"Yep, that's me!"
"Can you hold down Snack for me, please?"
"You don't have to tell me twice!"
The fiend then jumped through the air and crashed right into the still giggling succubus, knocking them both down to the ground and pinning her under her weight. Fizzy then walked over to where the slightly stunned Xera's head was and took out her weapon.
She repeatedly and rhythmically smashed the succubus's face in as Kora kept her pinned. Fizzy didn't hold back at all and really put her back into each swing.
Both Kora and Xera were a Warlock's familiars. That meant two very important things. One - they were unable to go against direct orders, and two - re-summoning them would get rid of any and all injury, even death. Those two morsels of information were something that Boxxy explained to Fizzy and Val the day before. However, Fizzy had briefly forgotten about them from the shock of seeing Kora's mutilated form.
But now that she remembered, she rationalized that it was fine to kill the slut, right? It's what the masochistic bitch seemed to want, so it was fine if she smashed her head open like a fucking tomato, right?!
She stopped after the sixth hit and held her bloodied wrench overhead. Was it really okay? She decided to ask Kora, just in case.
"It's fine if I kill her to death, right?"
"I wouldn't if I were you," said Kora. "The boss gets a bit mad if you make it waste MP like that."
"I think she's good for 1 more hit though."
"Fuuuuuu," exhaled Fizzy while relaxing her hands.
She put away her weapon and smiled weakly at Kora.
"Thanks. I really needed that. Hitting things in the face is strangely relaxing, huh?"
Even if violence was the main cause of the gnome's stress, it might just prove to be the outlet she was looking for.
"I know, right! I gotta say, you hit well for a pipsqueak!"
"I'd appreciate if you stopped calling me that."
"I call 'em as I see 'em, pipsqueak. I mean, you're so tiny you barely get up to my kneecaps!"
"Bet I'm taller than you when you're on 0 HP."
"Oh? Is that a challenge?"
The bloodthirsty look in the fiend's eye immediately made Fizzy bow down on all fours with her forehead touching the ground. It was a magnificent grovel that would undoubtedly get 10 out of ten points if someone were to score it.
"I'm sorry! I got carried away and became cocky! Please forgive me, miss Koralenteprix! Ma'am!"
Of course Kora couldn't actually kill the gnome. Boxxy had given them both explicit orders to keep Fizzy alive. However, that didn't mean the fiend couldn't bitchslap her for being an uppity cunt who didn't know her place.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, pipsqueak."
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