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Catriana kept a precise log of where they had... 218 [Mar. 4th, 2010|02:23 am] Catriana kept a precise log of where they had been and what they had said and done thereDevin had assured her they could rely on his memory, but she kept her notes nonetheless In public the Duke now called himself "Tomaz "Sandre" was an uncommon-enough name in the Palm, and for a mercenary from Khardhun it would be sufficiently odd to be a riskDevin remembered growing thoughtful when the Duke had told them his new name back in the fallHe'd wondered what it was like to have had to kill his sonEven to outlive his sonsTo know that the bodies of everyone even distantly related to himself were being spreadeagled alive on the death-wheels of BarbadiorHe tried to imagine how all of that would feel Life, the processes of living and what it did to you, seemed to Devin to grow more painfully complex all through that fall and winterOften he thought of Marra, arbitrarily cut off on the way to her maturity, to whatever she had been about to becomeHe missed her with a dull ache that could grow into something heavy and difficult at timesShe would have link post comment

I wanted to know everything about themI knew the... 10 [Feb. 13th, 2010|02:54 am] I wanted to know everything about themI knew the stats, the RBI, the ERAs, their batting averages, how much they got paid, and how they came up 1 from the minorsI wanted to know everything because I wanted to be just like them Every time, as a 9 or 10 year-old kid, when I stepped up to bat or played first base or catcher, I wasn't me It's one of the most powerful ways we learn that we often lose as adults Today, I watch young kids playing basketball near my home On the court they're not little Johnny link post comment

He had known the city's maze of streets... 296 [Feb. 12th, 2010|02:47 am] He had known the city's maze of streets infinitely better than the Barbadians who were barracked hereKnown which houses could be quickly climbed, which roofs led to others, and which to avoid as dangerous dead-endsIt had been important, in the life they'd led, to know such things He'd cut south and then east from the market, and then scrambled up to the roof of The Shepherd's Crook, their old tavern here, using the slanting cover of the adjacent woodpile as a springboardHe remembered doing the same thing years ago, dodging the night watch after curfewRunning low and quickly he crossed two roofs and then spanned a street by crawling along the top of one of the ramshackle covered bridges that linked houses on either side Behind him, far behind him very soon, he heard the sounds of pursuit being balked by seemingly inadvertent thingsHe could guess what those things link post comment

Then, they buy a new car, new furniture and new... 171 [Feb. 11th, 2010|02:34 am] Then, they buy a new car, new furniture and new appliances to match [heir new houseAil of a sudden, they wake up and their liabilities column is full of mortgage debt and credit-card debt They're now trapped in the rat race The process repeats itself More money and higher taxes, also called bracket creep, A credit card comes in the mail A loan company calls and says their greatest "asset," their home, has appreciated in valueThe company offers a "bill consolidation" loan, because their credit is so good, and tells them the intelligent thing to do is clear off the high-interest consumer debt by paying off their credit cardAnd besides, interest on their home is a tax deductionThey go for it, and pay off those high-interest credit cardsThey breathe link post comment

It has taken him a long time to adjust to seeing... 437 [Feb. 10th, 2010|03:06 am] It has taken him a long time to adjust to seeing Sandre without his dark Khardhu guise"You will be going back after the wedding, then?" he asks, feeling a sadness at the thought of another parting ahead "I think I must, though I will say that I'm tornI feel too old for governing anyone nowAnd it isn't as if I have any heirs to groom After a moment's stillness, Sandre takes them smoothly past the darkness of those memories: "To be honest, the thing that interests me most right now is what I've been doing here in TiganaThe mind-linking with Erlein and Sertino and the wizards we've managed to find "And the Night Walkers?" Devin asks "Indeed, Baerd's Carlozzini as wellI must say I'm pleased that the four of them are coming with Alienor to the wedding "Not as pleased link post comment

"You are going to have to teach me how to use a... 609 [Feb. 6th, 2010|03:01 am] "You are going to have to teach me how to use a bow," Devin said"There's less wear and tear Then something seemed to occur to him"An assassination?" he said to Alessan"In the mountains? Surely not!" Alessan's expression was grimShe carried a moon bow with a lock of his hairThe mountain taboo has obviously been lifted, at least for the purposes of murder Baerd's features creased with concernHe sat on his horse quietly a moment, then: "So he had no option reallyHe link post comment

"Devin that one's yours, make me proud, lad His... 390 [Feb. 5th, 2010|03:03 am] "Devin that one's yours, make me proud, lad His standard exhortation"Then all of us are together on the 'Circling of Years' Catriana my love you are sure you can go high enough, or should we pitch down?" "I'll go high enough," Catriana replied terselyDevin thought her tone spoke to simple nervousness, but when her gaze met his for a second he recognized that earlier look again: the one that reached somewhere beyond desire towards a shore he didn't know "I'd very much like to get this contract," Alessan di Tregea said just then, mildly enough "How extremely surprising!" Devin snapped, discovering as he spoke that he too was nervous after allAlessan laughed though, and so did old Eghano walking through the door with them: Eghano who had seen far too much in too many years of touring to ever be made edgy by a mere auditionWithout saying a word, he had, as he always had, an immediately calming effect on Devin "I'll do the best I can," Devin said after a moment and for the second time that afternoon, not really certain to whom he was saying it, or why In the end, whether because of the Triad or in spite of them, as his father used to say, his best was enough The principal auditor was a delicately scented, extravagantly dressed scion of the Sandreni, a man, in his late thirties, Devin guessed, who link post comment

"Devin that one's yours, make me proud, lad His... 562 [Feb. 5th, 2010|03:03 am] "Devin that one's yours, make me proud, lad His standard exhortation"Then all of us are together on the 'Circling of Years' Catriana my love you are sure you can go high enough, or should we pitch down?" "I'll go high enough," Catriana replied terselyDevin thought her tone spoke to simple nervousness, but when her gaze met his for a second he recognized that earlier look again: the one that reached somewhere beyond desire towards a shore he didn't know "I'd very much like to get this contract," Alessan di Tregea said just then, mildly enough "How extremely surprising!" Devin snapped, discovering as he spoke that he too was nervous after allAlessan laughed though, and so did old Eghano walking through the door with them: Eghano who had seen far too much in too many years of touring to ever be made edgy by a mere auditionWithout saying a word, he had, as he always had, an immediately calming effect on Devin "I'll do the best I can," Devin said after a moment and for the second time that afternoon, not really certain to whom he was saying it, or why In the end, whether because of the Triad or in spite of them, as his father used to say, his best was enough The principal auditor was a delicately scented, extravagantly dressed scion of the Sandreni, a man, in his late thirties, Devin guessed, who link post comment

His standard exhortation"Then all of us are... 562 [Feb. 5th, 2010|03:03 am] His standard exhortation"Then all of us are together on the 'Circling of Years' Catriana my love you are sure you can go high enough, or should we pitch down?" "I'll go high enough," Catriana replied terselyDevin thought her tone spoke to simple nervousness, but when her gaze met his for a second he recognized that earlier look again: the one that reached somewhere beyond desire towards a shore he didn't know "I'd very much like to get this contract," Alessan di Tregea said just then, mildly enough "How extremely surprising!" Devin snapped, discovering as he spoke that he too was nervous after allAlessan laughed though, and so did old Eghano walking through the door with them: Eghano who had seen far too much in too many years of touring to ever be made edgy by a mere auditionWithout saying a word, he had, as he always had, an immediately calming effect on Devin "I'll do the best I can," Devin said after a moment and for the second time that afternoon, not really certain to whom he was saying it, or why In the end, whether because of the Triad or in spite of them, as his father used to say, his best was enough The principal auditor was a delicately scented, extravagantly dressed scion of the Sandreni, a man, in his late thirties, Devin guessed, who made it manifest, in his limp posture and the artificially exaggerated link post comment

Devin saw that the man was small, not much bigger... 875 [Feb. 4th, 2010|02:59 am] Devin saw that the man was small, not much bigger than himself, perhaps thirty years old or a little more, and that he was moving awkwardly and clearly in pain, with Alessan's arrow in his arm Ducas was looking at his wizard"Sertino, what is this?" he said, with an edge in his voice "Sorcery," the wizard said bluntly "What? His?" Ducas nodded towards Erlein It was the wounded man who spoke, his eyes never leaving Alessan's face"Not this poor wizard'sIt is real sorcery, thisIt is the power of Brandin of Ygrath that keeps you from hearing the name With an angry motion Ducas swept his hat off, revealing a balding dome with a fringe of bright red hair"And you, Naddo? How do you hear it, then?" The man on the ground swayed unsteadily on his feet link post comment

The previous chapter ended with the diagrams... 359 [Feb. 3rd, 2010|03:09 am] The previous chapter ended with the diagrams illustrating that most people work for everyone else but themselvesThey work first for the owners of the company, then for the government through taxes, and finally for the bank that owns their mortgage As a young boy, we did not have a McDonald's nearbyYet, my rich dad was responsible for teaching Mike and me the same lesson that Ray Kroc talked about at the University of Texas The secret is: "Mind your own business/' Financial struggle is often directly the result of people working all their life for someone elseMany people will have nothing at the end of their working days Again, a picture is worth a thousand words Here is a diagram of the income statement and balance sheet that best describes Ray Kroc's advice: Most people Your Profession -> Your Income The link post comment

Then he breasted the hill with a surge and a... 437 [Feb. 2nd, 2010|03:14 am] Then he breasted the hill with a surge and a gasp And he stood upon the summit, exactly where the shadow-figure had stood, and he looked away to the west, toward all the empty valleys and ruined hills beyond, and saw nothingThere was no one there at all He turned quickly north and then south, his chest heaving, and saw that the army of the Others, too, seemed to have entirely melted awayHe spun back to the west and then he understood The green moon had set He was alone in this wasteland under a clear, high dome of brilliant, alien stars and Tigana was no nearer to coming back than it had ever beenAnd his father was still dead and would never come back to him, and his mother and sister were dead, link post comment

A moment later he opened them again, to look at... 484 [Feb. 1st, 2010|02:58 am] A moment later he opened them again, to look at Sandre across the fireThe Duke was gazing steadily into the flamesDevin wondered what he saw thereHe wondered, but he didn't really want to know, Erlein was a shadow, a darker place in the world against the dark by the riverbankDevin lifted himself on one elbow to look for Baerd, but Baerd had gone away, to walk alone in the night Alessan hadn't moved, or opened his eyesHe was still playing, lonely and high and sorrowful, when Devin fell asleep He woke to Baerd's firm hand on his link post comment

Clare laid down his paper, and set down his... 47 [Jan. 30th, 2010|02:26 am] Clare laid down his paper, and set down his coffee-cup, and looked at Tom ?Why Tom, what?s the case? You look as solemn as a coffin ?I feel very bad, Mas?rI allays have thought that Mas?r would be good to everybody ?Well, Tom, haven?t I been? Come, now, what do you want? There?s something you haven?t got, I suppose, and this is the preface ?Mas?r allays been good to meI haven?t nothing to complain of on that headBut there is one that Mas?r isn?t good to ?Why, Tom, what?s got into you? Speak out link post comment

The Asiatic Society has, amongst other benefits,... 453 [Jan. 29th, 2010|07:18 am] The Asiatic Society has, amongst other benefits, caused many valuable works to be translated, which could not have otherwise been published The Horticultural Society has been ridden almost to death, and is now rousing itself link post comment

Here you are safe!" I turned to her, and... 470 [Jan. 28th, 2010|02:12 am] Here you are safe!" I turned to her, and looking in her eyes said, "But you? It is for you that I fear!" Whereat she laughed, a laugh low and unreal, and said, "Fear for me! Why fear for me? None safer in all the world from them than I am," and as I wondered at the meaning of her words, a puff of wind made the flame leap up, and I see the red scar on her foreheadDid I not, I would soon have learned, for the wheeling figures of mist and snow came closer, but keeping ever without the Holy circleThen they began to materialize till, if God have not taken away my reason, for I saw it through my eyesThere were before me in actual flesh the same three women that Jonathan saw in the room, when they would have kissed his throatI knew the swaying round forms, the bright hard eyes, the white teeth, the ruddy colour, the voluptuous lipsThey smiled ever at poor dear Madam MinaAnd as their laugh came through the silence of the night, they twined their arms and pointed to her, and said in those so sweet tingling tones that Jonathan said were of the intolerable sweetness of the water glasses, "Come, sisterCome!" In fear I turned to my poor Madam Mina, and my heart with gladness leapt like flameFor oh! the terror in her sweet eyes, the repulsion, the horror, told a story to my heart that was all of hopeGod be thanked she was not, yet, of themI seized some of the firewood which was by me, and holding out some of the Wafer, advanced on them towards the fireThey drew back before me, and laughed their low horrid laughI fed the fire, and feared them notFor I knew that we were safe within the ring, which she could not leave no more than they could enterThe horses had ceased to moan, and lay still on the groundThe snow fell on them softly, and they grew whiterI knew that there was for the poor beasts no more of terror And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloomI was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terrorBut when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me againAt the first coming of the dawn the horrid figures melted in the whirling mist and snowThe wreaths of transparent gloom moved away towards the castle, and were lost Instinctively, with the dawn coming, I turned to Madam Mina, intending to hypnotize herBut she lay in a deep and sudden sleep, from which I could not wake herI tried to hypnotize through her sleep, but she made no response, none at all, and the day brokeI have made my fire and have seen the horses, they are all deadToday I have much to do here, and I keep waiting till the sun is up highFor there may be places where I must go, where that sunlight, though snow and mist obscure it, will be to me a safety I will strengthen me with breakfast, and then I will do my terrible workMadam Mina still sleeps, and God be thanked! She is calm in her sleep? JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL 4 November, evening-The accident to the launch has been a terrible thing for usOnly for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago, and by now my dear Mina would have been freeI fear to think of her, off on the wolds near that horrid placeWe have got horses, and we follow on the trackI note this whilst Godalming is getting readyThe Szgany must look out if they mean to fightOh, if only Morris and Seward were with usWe must only hope! If I write no more Goodby Mina! God bless and keep youSEWARD'S DIARY 5 November-With the dawn we saw the body of Szgany before us dashing away from the river with their leiter link post comment

I was makin' up a litter in the monkey house for... 142 [Jan. 27th, 2010|02:07 am] I was makin' up a litter in the monkey house for a young puma which is illBut when I heard the yelpin' and 'owlin' I kem away straightThere was Bersicker a-tearin' like a mad thing at the bars as if he wanted to get outThere wasn't much people about that day, and close at hand was only one man, a tall, thin chap, with a 'ook nose and a pointed beard, with a few white hairs runnin' through itHe had a 'ard, cold look and red eyes, and I took a sort of mislike to him, for it seemed as if it was 'im as they was hirritated atHe 'ad white kid gloves on 'is 'ands, and he pointed out the animiles to me and says, 'Keeper, these wolves seem upset at something' "'Maybe it's you,' says I, for I did not like the airs as he give 'isselfHe didn't get angry, as I 'oped he would, but he smiled a kind of insolent smile, with a mouth full of white, sharp teeth'Oh no, they wouldn't like me,' 'e says "'Ow yes, they would,' says I, a-imitatin' of him'They always like a bone or two to clean their teeth on about tea time, which you 'as a bagful' "Well, it was a odd thing, but when the animiles see us a-talkin' they lay down, and when I went over to Bersicker he let me stroke his ears same as everThat there man kem over, and blessed but if he didn't put in his hand and stroke the old wolf's ears too! "'Tyke care,' says I' "'Never mind,' he saysI'm used to 'em!' "'Are you in the business yourself?' I says, tyking off my 'at, for a man what trades in wolves, anceterer, is a good friend to keepers "'Nom,' says he, 'not exactly in the business, but I 'ave made pets of several' And with that he lifts his 'at as perlite as a lord, and walks awayOld Bersicker kep' a-lookin' arter 'im till 'e was out of sight, and then went and lay down in a corner and wouldn't come hout the 'ole heveningWell, larst night, so soon as the moon was hup, the wolves here all began a-'owlingThere warn't nothing for them to 'owl atThere warn't no one near, except some one that was evidently a-callin' a dog somewheres out back of the gardings in the Park roadOnce or twice I went out to see that all was right, and it was, and then the 'owling stoppedJust before twelve o'clock I just took a look round afore turnin' in, an', bust me, but when I kem opposite to old Bersicker's cage I see the rails broken and twisted about and the cage emptyAnd that's all I know for certing "Did any one else see anything?" "One of our gard'ners was a-comin' 'ome about that time from a 'armony, when he sees a big gray dog comin' out through the garding 'edgesAt least, so he says, but I don't give much for it myself, for if he did 'e never said a word about it to his missis when 'e got 'ome, and it was only after the escape of the wolf was made known, and we had been up all night a-huntin' of the Park for Bersicker, that he remembered seein' anythingMy own belief was that the 'armony 'ad got into his 'eadBilder, can you account in any way for the escape of the wolf?" "Well, Sir," he said, with a suspicious sort of modesty, "I think I can, but I don't know as 'ow you'd be satisfied with the theory "Certainly I shallIf a man like you, who knows the animals from experience, can't hazard a good guess at any rate, who is even to try?" "Well then, Sir, I accounts for it this wayIt seems to me that 'ere wolf escaped--simply because he wanted to get out From the hearty way that both Thomas and his wife laughed at the joke I could see that it had done service before, and that the whole explanation was simply an elaborate sellI couldn't cope in badinage with the worthy Thomas, but I thought I knew a surer way to his heart, so I said, "Now, MrBilder, we'll consider that first half-sovereign worked off, and this brother of his is waiting to be claimed when you've told me what you think will happen "Right y'are, Sir," he said briskly"Ye'll excoose me, I know, for a-chaffin' of ye, but the old woman here winked at me, which was as much as telling me to go on "Well, I never!" said the old lady "My opinion is this: that 'ere wolf is a'idin' of, somewheresThe gard'ner wot didn't remember said he was a-gallopin' northward faster than a horse could go, but I don't believe him, for, yer see, Sir, wolves don't gallop no more nor dogs does, they not bein' built that wayWolves is fine things in a storybook, and I dessay when they gets in packs and does be chivyin' somethin' that's more afeared than they is they can make a devil of a noise and chop it up, whatever it link post comment

Hello, my account friends 752 [Jan. 26th, 2010|11:45 am] Welcome to my first blog link post comment

Int'l Activists Protest against Blockade on Gaza [Jan. 26th, 2010|09:47 am] "by Saud Abu Ramadan Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis together with foreign activists demonstrated on Thursday against a tight Israeli blockade which has been imposed on the Gaza Strip for more than three years. Palestinian demonstrators from Gaza and 86 foreign activists as well as Israeli Arab demonstrators rallied at both sides of Erez crossing on the borders between northern Gaza Strip and Israel against the blockade. Deposed Prime Minister of Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haneya told Arab Israelis that they strengthened the steadfastness of the Gaza residents in their stance against Israel. ""We succeeded in overcoming the occupation's plans. We are certain we will meet at the al-Aqsa mosque and that Jerusalem will continue being Arab and Islamic,"" Haneya told the protestors. The foreign activists arrived in Gaza on Wednesday night from Egypt though Rafah border crossing, the only entry that bypasses Israel. Several anti-Zionism Jews also joined the protest at the Gaza Strip side. One of the Jews, who comes from the United States, told the demonstrators that ""I pray to God that the state of Israel vanishes because it was established on a territory that never belonged to it."" He said on behalf of the Jews ""I apologize to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip for the crimes, which were committed in Gaza during the last war,"" describing the state of Israel as ""the evil Satan."" ""We the Jewish people don't want a Jewish state to be established on the land of Palestine. The land of Palestine is for the Palestinians and not for the gang of this Zionist group,"" said the Jewish demonstrator. Hundreds of demonstrators, who gathered near the northern Gaza Strip town of Biet Hanoun, chanted slogans against Israel and called for an end to more than three years of the tight siege on the impoverished enclave. Yousef Barakat, an American-Palestinian, said he left the Palestinian territory in 1948 when he was 12 years old, adding that he is now 62 years old. ""I can never forget Palestine, and this state (Israel) is a fascist state,"" he said. Jamal al-Khodari, chief of the Popular Committee to Challenge Gaza blockade, called for an immediate end to the blockade and reopening all the crossing points either between Gaza and Israel or between Gaza and Egypt. Israel and Egypt have sealed the Gaza Strip off from all but vital humanitarian aid since Hamas ousted Fatah-dominated Palestinian security forces and seized power in the coastal enclave in June 2007. Spokesman for the deposed Hamas government in Gaza told reporters during the protest that the Palestinian people ""will keep trying to sue the Israeli criminals of wars at the international courts."" On Thursday, Egypt allowed the entrance of 86 foreign activists, out of 1,500 foreigners, into the impoverished Gaza Strip ruled by Islamic Hamas movement, Palestinian officials said. Hamdi Shaath, head of the committee to challenge the Israeli blockade, told reporters that the 86 foreign activists crossed into the Gaza Strip late on Wednesday night through Rafah border crossing between Gaza Strip and Egypt. He also said the 86 foreign activists are mainly American, British, French and Japanese, adding that they are only part of 1, 500 foreign activists, who are still stranded in Cairo and trying to reach the Gaza Strip through Rafah border crossing. ""The foreign activists are coming from 43 countries, and they include 700 Americans, 300 French as well as Jewish activists. They have been waiting in Cairo for one week, and Egypt has just let 86 of them to cross,"" said Shaath. The 1,500 foreign activists were planning to march from Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip against the Israeli blockade and to mark the first anniversary of the 22-day Israeli war on the Gaza Strip that ended on Jan. 18. ""The 86 activists will stay in Gaza for several days, hoping that Egypt would let the rest of the activists to cross within the coming two days into Gaza,"" said Shaath. The foreign activists will visit northern and eastern Gaza Strip which was destroyed during the Israeli war on Gaza. They will also visit hospitals and meet with senior Hamas leaders. On Dec. 27, 2008, Israel launched a massive military offensive on Gaza which the Jewish state claimed was aimed to halt Gaza rocket and mortar attacks. Some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed during the war. " link post comment

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